5 Things I've Been Enjoying Lately

It's time for another installment of Things I've Been Enjoying Lately, where I generally round up what's been making the rounds in my personal self-care routine of late. The month of January went by quite slowly for me, and yet somehow I'm also surprised we're already in February. 

As the weather shifts towards my least favorite form, at below 20 degrees Fahrenheit for several days in a row, I find myself hiding inside a bit less than in prior years, thanks to my energetic pup Azula, who still needs her morning walk every day. In spite of that, I feel called to cozy nights curled up under the blankets with a book or (increasingly) my Nintendo Switch. 

Maybe it's just me, but as the "unprecedented" lack of access to many of my typical small joys stretches on, I sometimes reach the end of my workday without much of a sense of how to fill my evening hours. Here's a few of the things I've been up to recently to make the most of that recharge time. 

1) Playing Final Fantasy X for Nintendo Switch 

Yes, my taste in video games is still stuck in the aughts and yes, I'm replaying Final Fantasy X instead of getting a newer game. I've been enjoying replaying old video games I never completed as a way to indulge my nostalgia for simpler times while also gaining a sense of accomplishment. I very distinctly remember the boss fight I could never get past in this game, and I'm just about up to that point again. Fingers crossed I'm more equipped now than I was then. 

2) Listening to Bravey by Alexi Pappas 

Women's Running recently started their own online bookclub, launching with Alexi Pappas' memoir, Bravey. I confess I had never heard of the Olympian and filmmaker, but decided to give the book a listen because I had a Libro.fm credit to use. It took a bit to grow on me, but I'm really enjoying spending time with Alexi on the drive to and from work as a way to put a little inspiration into my commute. 

3) Using Mad Hippie's Vitamin C Serum

For someone with a self-care blog, my skincare routine is spotty and inconsistent, at best. Lately, though, I've been back in the groove of using Mad Hippie's Vitamin C serum in the mornings before I put on my moisturizer. I love the way it smells (is that weird?) and smoothing it over my skin makes me feel like I'm taking good care of my face. Plus, what's not to love about a brand called Mad Hippie? 

4) Local Bakeries (Prohibition Pastries)

Does it make sense for me to buy baked goods in bulk when I'm in the midst of a bake-a-week challenge? Maybe not, but I adore the hand pies and pot pies from local bakery Prohibition Pastries. I recently realized I hadn't visited since they opened their new location and took steps to remedy that, immediately. I have since enjoyed several handpies and one shepherds pie, with a few more still waiting in the wings to be reheated when the time is right. 

5) Watching & sharing theories about WandaVision

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am loving the return of the weekly-installment format for releasing television content. There's something about sharing the journey alongside friends (and, okay, Twitter) that I miss with the "drop all at once" model of programming. Yes, sometimes it's fun to sit down and watch every episode at one go, but some of the anticipation and theorizing gets missed. 

Each week after I watch WandaVision, I text friends with reactions and theories in a way I haven't gotten to in quite some time. After last week's surprise cameo, I felt a rush of nerd joy I didn't even realize I was missing since the collective experience of watching movies in theaters disappeared. 

So, that's what I've been doing in my spare time recently. I'm curious to know--what does your self-care routine look like right now? 

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