Playing Favorites

Monday, February 19, 2018
Playing Favorites is a monthly series where I share my latest obsessions, favorite finds, and any kind of entertainment (books, movies, TV, podcasts, and magazines) that I am loving. Here's what I am loving this month.

1. Word Connect - It's not often that I download game apps on my phone, but Word Connect is challenging because my mind doesn't work the way the game is designed. But the more I play the game, the better my mind becomes at unscrambling letters to create words. I don't play it everyday, but I like it as a distraction when necessary.

2. The Ordinary - I first read about this cult skincare favorite back in November in Vogue magazine while on vacation in Florida. I followed the parent company on Instagram and made a mental note to check out the product in more depth when I returned home. It sort of fell off my radar until a few weeks ago when I finally got around to ordering it. This highly advanced form of retinoid is claimed to be a skin changer. It's still too soon for me to see any results, but I'll definitely post an update after 6-12 weeks of use.


3. Refinery29's Money Diaries - A few months ago, I accidentally happened upon this incredibly addicting series which features a Millenial female's money diary for a week. Once you start reading, it's difficult to stop. It's a fascinating glimpse into the lifestyles, routines, and spending habits of other women. It features women of different ages, occupations, and cities and is an honest account of what each spends during a typical week in her life.

4. Silk Sleep Mask - Before I had children, I was a software consultant who spent most of her time traveling to client sites. My job took me to Europe on several occasions, and as a perk, I was always permitted to fly business class when traveling trans-Atlantic. I was always given sleep masks, but they totally creeped me out. I couldn't imagine sleeping in total darkness like that, and as a result, I never used the masks. It wasn't until recently when I was listening to a podcast (see #5 below) that I started to realize that sleep masks have some genuine benefits that I need to start taking seriously. So, I bought one, and guess what? I love it! I use it every night and wonder how I ever got a good night's rest without it.

5. Forever35 Podcast - It's no big secret that I feverishly devour podcasts. You can read about a few of my favorites here. I recently discovered the Forever35 podcast, and I cannot get enough. With a strong focus on skincare, the hosts Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer dish about their favorite products and ways they treat themselves to the ultimate self-care. I've been introduced to so many great skincare products and routines that I otherwise would never have known about. So much good info here!

6. The Woman In The Window Audiobook - Don't you love when you find a long lost item hidden deep in the depths of somewhere in your house? I recently cleaned out my desk drawer, and I found a $30 gift card to Audible that I was given at a blogging event a few years ago. It had no expiration date, so I got right to redeeming it. The first book I downloaded was The Woman In The Window, a heart-pounding thriller that, surprisingly, has been great for listening during my workouts. It keeps me running and walking at a quick pace, and it's perfect for the Stairmaster, too!

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