I wanted to start a monthly series that highlights our recent loves without being all product focused. Don’t get me wrong, I love a product recommendation, and there are definitely a few in here, and there will be more in future instalments, but I think sometimes it’s nice to get inspiration through habits rather than purchases. So, here it is: in heavy rotation.
Expanding My Accessory Options
When I’m shopping, or just getting dressed, I’ve been thinking more broadly about how I can accessorise an outfit. Think vintage watches, silk bandanas, trucker caps, a plaid shirt tied around the waist. This doesn’t mean I’ve been rushing online to buy more stuff. I’ve simply been reimagining how I can better use the things I already own. There’s something special about developing yourself and your personal style without relying purely on new purchases.
Fun Toast and Batched Salads
Boring as a monthly fave? Yes. But hear me out. I’ve found that eating well can sometimes be difficult, especially when I’ve left it to the last minute and I’m so hungry that I can’t think of a good meal because I just start clawing at whatever’s in the fridge. Enter: the batched salad and fun toast.
You’ll remember a few months ago, lots of people were talking about dense bean salads. And damn, I really should’ve listened. For a few weeks now, I’ve used my Sunday or Monday to prep a big container of a not-easily-perishable salad. These are salads whose ingredients won’t go soggy after five minutes. Recently I’ve loved a combo of capsicum, broccolini, chickpeas, dill, parsley, mint, pine nuts and pumpkin seeds. Once batched in the fridge, this salad is truly a choose-your-own-adventure. Have it on its own, or use it to bulk out some leftovers. Even with just a can of tuna and a boiled egg, I’ve loved being able to whip up a nutrient-dense lunch with little effort.
Also, fun toast! I love a seeded loaf from Baker Bleu that can just sit in the freezer so you always have it on deck. Then, I like to have any combo of avocado, feta, ricotta, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, honey, prosciutto, basil or balsamic. I feel like disordered eating made me slightly demonise bread and toast for a while, so I’m happy to be back to my toast-loving ways.
Visible Mending
This hobby has been my obsession, and it serves two purposes. It’s kept my hands busy so that I’m off my phone more, and at the end of it, I have repaired clothes, or just a bit of added flair on my thrifted and basic pieces. If this is something you want to do, go to your local craft store and ask someone there what you’ll need, then follow YouTube tutorials on how to start.
Shopping Second-Hand
Nothing new or revolutionary here, but I did find that this month I was really overjoyed with my second-hand purchases. My fave finds have been a vintage baseball tee from eBay and a Prada Sport skirt from PDA Store. Still on the hunt for the perfect blazer though.
Human-Centred Design in the Home
Human-centred design involves putting the wants, needs and pain points of the user at the centre of the design process. While this is usually applied to business problems, human-centred design has really helped me choose what can and can’t enter my home.
I’ve moved a lot, and each time I’ve gone to furnish a new space, I stick to the same general checklist: couch, coffee table, dining table, dining chairs and so on. The reality is though, in my day-to-day life, I don’t use a dining table. I’m a serial couch-eater (sorry). So why would I have a lovely formal dining setup in my space 24/7?
The ‘dining table’ in my house is usually set up as a desk. It sits against the wall with a normal desk setup on it, just arranged consciously enough that it still looks good. On the odd occasion I do have company, I can put away my monitor, keyboard and mouse, and pull the table away from the wall.
The desk setup doesn’t look messy day-to-day because it’s considered and intentional. The table itself is a beautiful antique wooden dining table with a singular desk chair, and a few stacks of magazines and picture frames that serve as inspiration while I work, and as decor for the space.
For my current behaviour and routines, this is the furniture setup that works for me. I don’t find myself having to constantly tidy my space or ‘re-set’ at the end of each day. I’ve created a space that works with me rather than a space I simply operate in.
My suggestion for you is to take note of your routines. Where do you find yourself dropping things and leaving things? Where do you find yourself repeating the same behaviours? How can you change your space to support those behaviours better, and how can you make the most out of what you’ve got?
Batana Oil for Hair Growth
After chopping my hair into a bob two years ago, I’m finally ready to re-engage with my long-haired self. I truly believe this is my purest form. Every other night, I’ll use a wooden paddle brush to stimulate my roots, and then I massage in a decent amount of batana oil. I’ve also added some rosemary oil to my bottle so I can really get the best results.