Routines & Caffeine
Most if not all of us have some sort of routine. Whether it’s a weekly routine, a daily or a morning routine, or maybe it’s a workout routine or a send-your-newsletter routine which I’ve completely failed at establishing, apparently. Whatever it is, we have a routine in order to create some kind of structure in our lives. Routines are important. But sometimes we can get so comfortable in a routine that it starts to get a bit stale.
I was listening to an episode on The Inside Out podcast about “Making Life More Fun (a guide)”. Jamie and Jordan mentioned changing up their routines once they start to get too comfortable in their current ones. And the point is that it keeps things exciting. This may not be for everyone, but it makes sense for me. I get bored when things are too predictable or too repetitive. And for some reason, I associated my need for change in routine as a sign of instability and chaos. I think the only consistent routine I’ve upheld is to wake up and have a coffee every morning, first thing. So I’m here to tell you, if you’re anything like me, changing up your routine is okay if it’s not working out for you anymore and doesn’t mean that you’re a complete lunatic with commitment issues. At least not always …
The “caffeine” part that you wanted to read about
Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t caffeine you’ll want to ingest. But if you are a victim to puffy eyes and dark circles or maybe you just want longer eyelashes, The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG will be a great addition to your skincare routine. I started using this about a year ago and I’ve found it really helpful, especially for puffy eyes. I use it mostly in the mornings but sometimes at night as well and the bottle has lasted me about a year. But interestingly enough, I’ve recently been getting lots of compliments on the length of my eyelashes. My eyelashes have always been an average length, but I’ve noticed that they’re longer than I remember. Turns out, caffeine is great for eyelash lengthening. So this product is really a 2 for 1.
A gluten-free cinnamon roll recipe
The other day my husband surprised me with a KitchenAid ! So naturally, I had to bake something that same day. What did I choose? Something I’ve never made and that would take hours to make, of course. I can’t remember the last time I had a cinnamon roll. They’re not something that’s often made gluten-free. So I did a quick google search and came across this Easy Gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls recipe. I wouldn’t have used the word “easy” in the title, though. Maybe “As-Simple-As-It-Gets Gluten-free Cinnamon Rolls”? Yes. Anyway, they came out pretty good. Next time I’ll use a metal pan instead of glass (glass can cause overcooked pastries) and follow the directions a little better. Ha. But not a bad first attempt.
It was $435aud so I decided to make it myself
I feel like LisaSaysGah is a really known brand in the Instagram/YouTube/TikTok world but not so much amongst people around me. Or maybe it’s not a very popular brand in Australia. Regardless, I never buy anything from there because the prices are a little steep for me. But I like using it for inspiration. They carry their own brand but also other independent brands as well. Their new arrivals landed the other week and I fell in love with this skirt by Batsheva.
It sold out in days. It’s also neutral so it can go with a lot and be styled in different ways. A couple of days before, I had gone thrifting and found a $3 white eyelet single doona cover that I planned to get the stains out of and make something with the fabric. So when I saw this skirt, I decided I would take on the challenge. I had to spend $40 on velvet ribbon which put even more pressure on the outcome. But I’m actually so surprised and happy with how it came out! It’s pretty much identical to the Batsheva one minus the pockets. But I still think mine is better. $43 beats $430 any day.
My latest blog post:
STUTZ | A GUIDE + JOURNAL PROMPTS
By now, you’ve probably heard about Jonah Hill’s documentary on Netflix featuring his therapist Phil Stutz. Stutz tells the story of their relationship and the tools Stutz uses for life. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely helpful to watch especially if you are in a creative rut. I thought it would be helpful to create a guide if you would like to have some of Stutz’s tools handy or would like some journal prompt ideas based on the film.