These are a few of my favorite things... Jan 2022

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Hello Dear Reader,
 
This week has been a bit of a rough one so I wanted to share some of the things that are currently making my life just a little bit better. I hope they make yours a little better too. (1)



Silicone straws (https://amzn.to/3GtfxS6)


There are a lot of reasons why disposable plastic straws are the better option to be offered to the general public but if you don't need them then a reusable replacement is a good option to consider. I have been loving these silicone ones primarily because they are wider and thus easier to clean and they can tolerate both hot and cold liquids. I have sensitive teeth and at times any food or drink that is not the same temperature as my body can cause me a lot of pain, even to the point of triggering a migraine. These straws allow me to keep at least some of that temperature away from my teeth.




I started using this app to edit my photos for both Instagram and this blog. I really love a few things about it though I have found it lacking in a few features I would like. (2) Its a great app for cleaning up and unifying the look of photos through saved edit profiles that lets you quickly and easily apply all the edits you have saved to a photo. I would like the ability to do a color shift though. 

At-home gel nails (https://amzn.to/3fmHQpf) 

I was not a mani-pedi sort of person before the pandemic hit in 2020 because I found the whole experience unpleasant. Being autistic and not raised in a way that let me explore beauty products the few times I have gotten them it has been more stressful and confusing than pleasant. But with the closing of salons many people who do get them regularly started looking for at-home options and that is how I learned about these at-home gel kits. I am still learning the skills needed to do a great job with them but when I do it well the manicure lasts me much longer than traditional nail polish, and the gel nails are stronger and less prone to breaking than my natural nails. 

Kitchen gloves (https://amzn.to/3I1agl0)
The texture of some things either in cooking or cleaning can be unbearable and it makes doing the tasks needed to get the results I want also unbearable. Enter power-free, food-safe vinyl gloves. I don't love one-time use plastics so I keep the use of these to a minimum but they help me get things done with minimal that would otherwise be awful. Like cutting and seasoning raw chicken, handling deli meat, or any wet foods.

Pumpkin pincushion (https://amzn.to/3tqQ4oD)
I picked up a bag of foam and velvet decorative pumpkins from a clearance rack in my grocery store but you can find very similar ones online (like the ones linked above). I had been looking for a pincushion option that better fit my love of spooky vintage decor and one of those little pumpkins was a perfect replacement for the old tomato and strawberry combo I got as part of a sewing kit years ago. It just makes me so happy every time I see it on the shelf over my sewing machine. 


I really hope that some of these items are as useful and helpful and fun for you as they are for me! Let me know if you try them what you think. 






Footnotes:
1. Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you buy something through those links, this does not change the cost of the item for you but does help me out.
2. https://iphonephotographyschool.com/snapseed/ has a great quick and thorough tutorial for all the features and how to use them.

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