Small Comforts and Little Luxuries: Summer Edition

It's full blown July here in Virginia and I'm sharing a few of my current favorite things with you in this Summer edition of Small Comforts and Little Luxuries.

These posts are about the little things that don't cost a lot (though they may feel like a splurge!) but add value because they are delightful. As you seek out facets of life to enhance your own comfort, pleasure, and joy, just think of purchases like these as part of your self-care. :)

Alima Pure Luminous Shimmer Eyeshadow in Leone: $12.50

I'm in love with Alima Pure's mineral makeup line. Their luminous shimmer eyeshadow in Leone is eye brightening, and makes a perfect easy one-layer application for an almost naked summer eye. It's great for days when you want to look polished but not made up, and it double times it for date night when used as a highlighter.

Alima Pure Satin Matte Blush in Apricot: $20.00

A subtle matte orange that layers well and gives just the right warmth for cheerful summer cheeks.

Omni Focus for Mac, a Personal Task Management Platform:
$40 each, OS X/iOS 

After more than 15 years of paper agendas, I finally went digital! Since quitting formal work I have not had the same need or responsibility to be organized, but man does it feel nice to be on top of all my personal projects and commitments again.

First I transferred all my dates and scribbles from my old planner into google calendar. That alone was a huge improvement.

I dowloaded a 14-day trial of OmniFocus, which seamlessly merges your calendar and your to-do lists in a novel interface that makes the very effort to be organized both pleasant and easy.  It took me a few days to optimize use but I was convinced before the trial ended to buy an app for both my phone and laptop.

OmniFocus is the best of both worlds, merging the freedom and satisfaction that paper always offered with the electronic advantage of efficiency. No more notes scribbled on scraps of paper and stuffed in my purse, swallowed by the mess on my desk, forgotten in notes on my phone, or shuffled into a pile on the kitchen island. No more reliance on a huge hardcover agenda to lug around or forget at home. Everything important is in one place, easily accessible and synced to my phone and computer.

I feel more productive than I have in years, which may also have something to do with the fact that the boys are growing up, but either way, if you're looking for an organizational system that *could* change the way you feel in your life, you may want to check this out.

Cleopatra by Tocca:  $18.50 for miniTocca 0.5 fl oz

Inspired by the Mediterranean seductress, Cleopatra, this is my current favorite perfume for Summer. It stays in the heat, and a little dab goes a long way.

Top Notes: Bitter Grapefruit, Lush Greens, Cassis Bud
Middle Notes: White Jasmine, Peach Nectar, Tuberose
Bottom Notes: Warm Patchouli, Golden Amber, Rich Vanilla Musk

Mesh is IN! Crux Capri: $89.00

These are my go-to pants for lifting workouts. Sexy and fun, I get a lot of compliments, and the mesh is both functional and cooling.

I also have these Training Tough Crops from Lululemon, which are equally airy and better for outdoor running and sweaty SealTeamPT workouts. (If you're local, let me know if you want to come out with me and try a workout this Summer!)

Primal Pit Paste Natural Deodorant: $10.95

One of my goals this year was to reduce our use of plastics in the kitchen, and chemicals in my makeup and body care products. Throwing out the kidware and bringing in some stainless steel and aluminum options made for an easy transition and fortunately, brands like Alima Pure and Primal Pit Paste have bridged the gap in an area that I thought was going to be really tough to find alternatives I could be happy with.

I work out most days of the week doing a variety of activities from weight lifting, to walking the river, running outside with sealteampt and around town with the kids. As a former "clinical strength" deodorant girl, I am here to report that this brand (with baking soda and arrowroot powder) is very effective and works as well as any other I've tried, for the first 24 hours. After that, not so much but good enough! I've stuck with the unscented version so far, but the new coconut lime sounds like a beachy-fresh scent for swimsuit days.

Summer Strawberry Wallpapers for Phones and Desktops: 

I'm a lover of strawberry anything (and everything) and over the winter I got a strawberry tattoo that wraps my forearm so I could sport them year 'round. Now that it's mid-July, and in the mood for a girly wallpaper for my phone and desktop, I found a few options that bring a little summer sweetness to my usual online chores.

The stay sweet design is on my phone now, and Design Love Fest's little berries remind me of a pattern from some fabric on the baby blanket my mom sewed for me in the 80's, which makes me happy.

Clockwise from top right: The Wonder Forest, Design Love Fest, Designs by Miss Mandee, 

I want to hear from you! What small comforts and little luxuries are keeping you cool and feeling good this Summer?

Self Care and Keeping Organized: Part III of the Work/Life/Self Series Guest Post

In a three part interview I'm answering questions from Sarah at Next Page, New Chapter on topics ranging from career to homeschool and self care. 

Sarah and I worked for the same company in my pre-baby DC days and I'm so happy we've stayed connected over the years through our writing. She's a mama to one fiery red-head and balances a full-time job (and insane commute) with all her other pursuits. Like the rest of us she's curious how other mothers navigate work and motherhood.

Today in Part III of the Work/Life/Self series guest post I'm talking about self care and home organization. 

You can jump to the full interview HERE. Just Joining Us? Catch up on Part I and Part II. 

Copyright @ marblesrolling.blogspot.com

S: How do you manage to keep yourself mentally, emotionally and physically healthy? Do you have any daily or weekly rituals?

J: I thought for a long time that self care meant going to the dentist, getting my haircut—stuff I needed to do to take care of myself, right? I have since reframed self care as an opportunity to refuel, it's the stuff in life that brings joy and pleasure: time spent in nature, time alone to read and write and dream and plan and pursue my projects, quality time spent in deep conversations with my husband and girlfriends, good food, comfortable underwear and cozy pajamas!

I have time built into every week that I know is mine to use for these activities. Andy works late on Mondays so those evenings are always very quiet and relaxing after the kids are in bed. I also have six hours on Sundays that I usually devote to an outdoor hike and time spent writing. I workout in the early mornings or late evenings 5 days a week. This all sounds like a lot but I feel calmer and more energized to be the mom that my kids deserve when I prioritize taking care of myself.

As an aside, adequate sleep cannot be underestimated! I know it’s hard to find when the kids are young, and choosing sleep over getting things done can be tough at the end of the day when it seems there aren’t enough hours to attend to all the things that pull our attention but, if there is one simple place to start this is it! The days are exponentially more difficult when I’m tired.

It’s been an iterative process for me to identify what I need, communicate those desires to my husband, and grow increasingly willing to let go when it comes to the kids while I’m away. Self care was not part of my vocabulary for the first three years of motherhood, at least.

As for rituals, we have this little stovetop pressure steamer that froths up a dreamy foam and every morning I make a latte for myself with vanilla extract and a dash of ground cloves. I also really love my makeup brand right now and it has re-inspired my morning routine. Writing on Sundays at different coffee shops that I enjoy starts my week off right and grounds my energy.

(Read more...)

Do you have special rituals that keep you sane? Any tips to share for keeping yourself and your home organized?

Little Luxuries Bring Comfort and Joy: Winter Edition

I'm enjoying some of my christmas gifts so much that I thought I would share here in case you are in the mood to get yourself a little something to ring in the New Year. These are the little luxuries in life that bring comfort and joy to every day.

I followed Baron Fig's Kickstarter campaign last year and really could not wait for their Confidant journal to come to fruition. Baron Fig makes sketchbooks & notebooks designed with an underlying philosophy of simplicity, usefulness & community. I love the dimensions, the fact that it lays flat so you can dig into every page without a margin getting in the way, and options for blank, dot grid, or ruled pages. I also got a pack of the apprentice pocket notebooks so I can record all my little fly away thoughts before I forget them. I journal daily and I'm looking forward to filling up this pretty one with new ideas and memories in 2015.

Good travel writing is a fantastic way to get lost somewhere far away when you have only a few consecutive minutes to spare at any given time. Better than Fiction offers the unique twist of short nonfiction travel stories written by great fiction writers. I'm just a few stories in but look forward to being captivated by a new travel adventure each night before bed.  

My all time favorite Capri Blue's Volcano scent IN A SOAP! What a happy surprise under the tree. Volcano is the scent of tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens. What more is there to say? Well, it makes the whole bathroom (and nearby bedrooms) smell delicious, and it has a luscious lather. 

One of the big decisions I happily make each year is to choose an agenda. I am serious about my calendars and I heavily rely on them to stay organized. I enjoyed the Day Designer last year but decided on Emily Ley's Simplified Planner for 2015. It's full of color and downright cheerful, and it has all the space I need to keep track of my most important stuff: our daily routine, to-dos, and what's for dinner.  (She's sold out right now of all her planners, but I hear she has three new additions coming out in May and September.) 

This magazine makes me happy to tears when I read it. The writing is excellent, the photos are breathtaking, and every issue simultaneously stirs up and satisfies a mean case of wanderlust. The stories and highlights give an intimate perspective on some of the world's better known destinations but it really caters to the more obscure parts of the planet that I never knew I should consider visiting. When I want to be inspired for future family travel or just escape into dreamland the treasures inside make the vast world seem a whole lot smaller and accessible. 

Our personal philosophy and beliefs about food have been highly influenced by Sally Fallon and her book Nourishing Traditions. However, that text can feel a little overwhelming and without modern appeal. The Nourished Kitchen by Jenny McGruther bridges the gap for me with photography that invites and entices, and seasonally inspired traditional foods recipes that I want to cook and eat right now. This will likely become my next cook-through cookbook!

I recently switched all my makeup over to Alima Pure and I have never had this much fun, or felt as comfortable and confident in what I put on my skin every day. The colors. The brand. The products. Oh they are amazing, and these brushes make applying my makeup every morning effortless and even more merry. 

All year I have been documenting and displaying Roscoe's ideas, play, and process on our walls throughout the house as a way to reflect and share his learning.  I've found, however, that photos just aren't quite as illustrative in black and white. Nope. They are not. In times like these a laser color printer is pure joy!