I feel like I’ve lived several lives the past two months.

I set aside time to prioritize other areas of my life, and thus, have so many new, beautiful, lively, eventful, fast-paced, tragic, melancholic, reflective memories. These memories are full of growth, discomfort, friendship, love, and patience.

A song from COIN’s new album I’m Not Afraid of Music Anymore I’ve been loving lately:

Strawberry Count: 1

REFY Beauty Summer Color Collection - Papaya

I love REFY’s branding, aesthetic, and vision. Is it peak minimalism with its various shades of beige? Yes, however, it works so well for them. I was ecstatic to see new blush and lip shades drop for the summer and knew I had to buy them. I got the shade Papaya and the pop of color is so fresh and bright— perfect for any look.

The summer color collection includes a lip blush, tinted lip gloss, and cream blush. The lip and cream blushes are so soft, velvety, and vibrant. The tinted lip gloss layers perfectly on top of other lip products. My favorite part is that lip and cream blushes can be used interchangeably on either the lips or cheeks.

Nasal Rinsing

Whenever I need to clear my sinuses or want to remove irritants, I’ve been turning to nasal rinsing for relief. This method works so well, I don’t know why it took me this long to try it. Actually, it’s probably because it seemed a bit scary and intimidating at first. After seeing a couple of videos online and reading the instructions it came with thoroughly, I tried it out and to my surprise, it was really easy!

I will give a fair warning, though, for those of you who have never tried it before, it feels a lot like when you jump in a swimming pool and get water in your nose. It stings sharply at first, but then eases as you continue rinsing. Just keep powering through and it’ll be over before you know it.

I first tried a neti pot, however, I found that the water drained out slowly from my nose— far too slow. The gentle pressure from squeezing a sinus rinse bottle offers the perfect water pressure and allows me to clear out my sinuses in 2-3 minutes. This makes nasal rinsing so easy to add to my nightly routine. I don’t rinse every night, but I try to after attending a crowded event or if my nose is feeling a bit stuffed up.

Core Power High Protein Milk Shake - Strawberry

To up my protein intake, I’ve been stocking up on these Core Power protein shakes and they’re so good. I opt for the 42g of complete protein bottle because omg that’s a lot of protein. I particularly like the strawberry flavor because it tastes just like strawberry milk. I drink these on the days when I work in the office since I famously go to work unprepared without breakfast or lunch (we have a cafeteria where we can buy food, okay?). They me feel fuller and more satisfied in between meals.

Also, friends, if these are not healthy or have any adverse health effects, please do not tell me. I know everything is healthy in moderation and I have these maybe once or twice every two weeks.

Shout-out to my boyfriend Tyler for taking a photo of his drink! I sadly drank all of mine before I could take a photo for the blog.

Strawberry Count: 2

Trader Joe’s Chicken Breakfast Sausage Patties

I saw these new chicken breakfast patties at my local TJ’s and before knowing if they were good or not, I knew I had to try them. My suspicions were correct, they’re delicious! I enjoy them as part of a breakfast sandwich, with egg, cheese, and spinach, or in a burrito with egg and cheese. Either way, they’re delicious and I will be rebuying again.

Trader Joe’s Organic Peanut Butter & Cocoa Crunch

Some mornings are a bit slower. Instead of cooking a nutritious and balanced meal, I opt for cereal. TJ’s new peanut butter cereal is yummy and satisfies my cereal craving. It has a strong peanut butter and chocolate flavor. The crunch is nice, too.

Coconut Milk

Every morning I make a protein smoothie at home with frozen strawberries and bananas, protein powder, milk, yogurt, peanut butter, and now with coconut milk. It makes the smoothie much creamier and taste more tropical. My first thought after adding a splash of coconut milk was that my smoothie tasted similar to the ones I’d buy from smoothie shops such as Jamba and Nektar Juice Bar. Something about those smoothies always tastes way better than the ones I make at home, but adding coconut milk gets me one step closer to theirs.

Strawberry Count: 3

Social Media Break

Earlier in the fall, I took an extensive social media break. I deleted all the apps and forced myself to stay off my phone as much as possible. I ate my meals while staring out the window. I laid in bed and stared at my ceiling, thinking about life and centering myself. My screen time on my phone averaged 3 hours one week. It was beautiful and peaceful, and I felt free.

I simply wanted a break to improve my mental and physical health. We weren't meant to stare at screens all day, constantly being overstimulated by new and ever-evolving stories at such a rapid pace. I have since returned (and now find it hard to turn off my phone again…) to continue staying in touch with friends and news going on around the world. I definitely need to continue taking social media breaks in the future, even if they’re short and sporadic, prioritizing my health and well-being.