what I'm loving lately

this is a bit different from what's saving my life ... although, looking back at those posts, I guess most of the items that made my list aren't absolutely imperative for survival after all. but still, it seems a bit preposterous to talk about coffee creamer saving my life, so here we are. 

1) Coffee creamer in oatmilk and dairy forms. flavored coffee creamer has been a small but much appreciated highlight of my day for as long as I've been drinking coffee (i.e., twenty-plus years). I love the staples like hazelnut or sweet cream, and treat myself to seasonal flavors like peppermint white mocha or Irish cream when the mood strikes. over the past few months, I've bought the same flavored creamers from Aldi that I always do and noticed that they had a strange, slightly bitter aftertaste. that's weird, I would think. maybe I just didn't add as much as I normally do so I'm tasting more coffee. or, maybe I didn't shake up the bottle well. then I spent a week at my sister's house (snuggling my new baby twin nephews!!!!) and tried her Planet Oat Sweet & Creamy oatmilk creamer. and it tasted delicious! and actually creamy! and like a genuine food product and not a mishmash of ultra-processed oils and chemicals! 

I don't have any actual reason to drink oatmilk compared to "regular" milk, so when I came back home I decided to "splurge" and spend an extra dollar to buy the all-natural creamer that, go figure, just contains milk, sugar and added flavor. no soybean oil in sight, no sir! and what do you know? it tastes so much better! (it's Barissimo Delightfully Pure Hazelnut Creamer.)

2) new foundation. I got a sample of Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation with a Sephora order last fall, and from the moment I tried it, I realized I needed to overhaul my previous makeup regimen that included using a tinted CC cream as "foundation" topped with a mineral powder. for literal years I have been annoyed by the fact that by the end of the day, the CC cream settles into cakey bits around my nose and doesn't blend well around my temples. I also finally invested in a foundation brush rather than just using my fingers to smear it on (I know, I know). the Giorgio Armani foundation evened out my skin tone but otherwise looked like I wasn't wearing any makeup at all, creating the illusion that I have flawless, radiant skin!! and that was a great for three or four days until I used up the sample.

but, I just am not in a place in my life where I wish to spend $70 on foundation. and I'm not sure I will ever be in that place in my life even if I had three times more disposable income. so, I turned to almighty Reddit and searched for Luminous Silk foundation dupes. lo and behold, the L'Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow foundation is a very close contender, and it only costs $15.

3) Mrs. Meyers cleaning spray. okay, this is another product I discovered at my sister's and have fully embraced. I bought a multi-pack at Costco and have the daisy scent for the kitchen, lavender for the bathroom, and fresh grass for the laundry room. the spray easily cuts through dirt and grease and it smells amazing! I've found myself wiping down the counter more often just for the pleasure of inhaling the scent. the daisy scent in particular is fresh and leaves the room smelling clean and faintly floral. 

4) new art. I purchased this beautiful illuminated print of the St. Michael prayer from my friend at our school Advent market this year. (you can find her whole collection on Etsy!) I just happened to have the perfect frame for it, and it brings me a little burst of happiness every time I see it on the mantel. (I also bought some pieces from my other friend but still need to find the right frames and where to hang them -- I will make sure to update when that finally happens!)

here's a closeup!

5) sweet moments between sisters. requisite caveat that they still fight and get on each other's nerves and take each other's stuff without asking, but then these truly Precious Moments happen, and I hope this is the foundation for the relationships they will have for decades to come. and I just love that Victoria is old enough now to really understand and want to be a part of what her big sisters are doing. 

impromptu story time before bed. Victoria is reading her favourite book, "HOP HOP" as she calls it (Hop on Pop, if that wasn't clear!)

first stroller run of 2025 during our "false spring" ... we have now been back to 30-40 degree days and nasty wind but it was nice while it lasted

I purposely didn't take a video or photos last week when all four of them were singing and doing the motions to "If You're Happy and You Know It". I just sat and soaked it all up. Greta and Cece were leading the song and Elizabeth and Victoria were so excited to dance along, even if Victoria was a beat behind the others in shouting "way!" after they called "hooray!". it was just the best.

I do, however, have the following video of a toddler-only dance party while the older girls were at school. Victoria's dance moves crack us up. she keeps her feet planted solidly on the floor and just shakes her little booty around. she reminds me of one of those small wooden articulated animals that moves when you push up on the base. too funny!  

I have just now learned that this is called a "thumb push puppet", which certainly makes sense

6) Sephora resurfacing peel mask. okay, back to the superficial -- literally. I bought this last month and have actually only used it once, but even after that first use it made my skin softer and brighter. I was a bit worried about skin sensitivity but no issues there! I also was thinking there might be more peeling involved, either of the actual mask coming off like a sheet, or my skin in the aftermath getting irritated and dry, but neither was true: the mask just washed off like a normal face cleanser. and the bottle was a bargain compared to many of the other similar products on the shelf, at a whopping $18. 

7) Google lens. this absolutely saved my butt the other day when I was reasonably convinced there was a venomous spider lurking in my kitchen light fixture. I snapped a few photos, uploaded them to Google, and was relieved to discover that it was "just" an Adanson's house jumping spider. it was large and looked like it wanted to eat me but apparently it wanted nothing of the sort. and now it's disappeared somewhere and hopefully won't actually jump onto my head as one might infer jumping spiders are wont to do.

he was a big boy!!

Your turn: What have you been loving lately? Any tried and true drugstore skincare products you recommend? What do you put in your coffee?