5 Things I’m Loving Right Now
I thought I would do something fun and share a few things I’m loving right now. I may just make this a regular feature on the blog, as I’m super excited to share my finds with you.
Since my diagnosis, I have been branching out in all areas of my life – food/beauty/cleaning products/spirituality/exercise/mental health/etc. You name it, and I’ve been trying to improve on it. I have been working towards leading a healthier, cleaner, and more relaxed life, and it has led me to some fantastic things. So, I thought I would share a few with you!
My current favorites are quite varied. It’s a bit of an eclectic bunch, but maybe, something on the list will peak your interest.
So, here they are, in no particular order.
5 Things I’m Loving Right Now
(This post contains affiliate links. To see my full disclosure, go here.)
1. Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock
I bought this Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock over the summer, and I absolutely love it!
Both of our kids started ending up in bed with us around the end of this past spring. My son started having some sleep issues right after the start of 2021, and once I was cleared after surgery, he began making his way to our bed in the middle of the night every night. Well, when my daughter realized that little brother was sleeping with us every night… You know how the rest of the story goes.
Since we were heading into summer at the time, there wasn’t really much need for us to get up and going at any particular time. As the school year approached, though, I knew I would need an alarm clock that would wake me up, yet not disturb the rest of the family. I came across this Jall alarm clock in my searching and decided to give it a try.
It has been fabulous! This clock wakes me up, no problem, but doesn’t disturb my kids. So, I can slip out of bed and get a shower in before they even wake up.
It has so many different customizations. The light (7 different colors to choose from) gradually comes on over a period of your choosing – up to 30 minutes – before the sound alarm begins. The brightness of the light also has 20 different settings that are easily adjustable. There are 7 different alarm sounds to choose from. I have mine set to bird sounds, and it literally sounds like the birds chirping outside our windows. It has a snooze function, and the ability to run two different alarms. While it is a bit large for alarm clock, I don’t find the design too obtrusive. It really blends in fairly well.
I absolutely love the fact that this wakes me up without issue, but doesn’t disturb my kids. If you’re in the market for a new alarm clock, or just a more gentle wakeup, I highly recommend the Jall Sunrise Alarm Clock!
2. Jesus Calling Devotional
The next item on my list is not necessarily a new item to me. My husband and I have had the Jesus Calling devotional book for quite a few years now, and we have always enjoyed it. After my diagnosis, though, it truly became a lifeline for me. Keeping my faith strong during a very dark and scary time was incredibly important for me and, I believe, a big part of my swift recovery.
This book offers 365 devotionals – one for each day of the year. Sarah Young writes as the voice of God each day and provides 2-3 corresponding scriptures. This devotional has been fantastic for my husband and I, even across many years. It’s amazing how often the devotional speaks to exactly what you need for that particular day.
Bonus: I also enjoy Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado. (2 volumes, each 365 devotionals long) AND if you are a cancer patient, I have been enjoying Chris Wark’s Beat Cancer Daily, which is full of healthy living advice, as well as faith based inspiration.
3. Folly Fire Lip Gloss
Back in May, my husband got me a subscription for the Kinder Beauty box. He knew that I was wanting to dump many of my old products and replace them with better, cleaner options. The Kinder Beauty Box comes with 5 cruelty-free, vegan, and clean beauty products ranging from skincare to makeup to hair care and more. Each box is worth up to $165 and contains a mix of full size and travel size products.
It has been a great way for me to try out some new, clean beauty brands, while also being confident about the products I’m putting on my skin.
I have enjoyed a large majority of the products that I have received so far, but what is quite possibly my most favorite product to date just came in the most recent box. It is the Folly Fire lip gloss in Adrenaline Rush.
I’m not typically a lip gloss kinda girl. For me, lip gloss 1) doesn’t usually have enough pigment, and 2) doesn’t last long enough. But, let me tell you, this stuff is different. It has great pigment and lasts well, too. I mean, it’s still lip gloss. So, it’s not going to make it through your entire dinner plus wine and dessert without needing to be reapplied. However, I don’t find myself needing to reapply any more often than I do with my normal lipsticks/lip crayons, which is a win in my book. Plus, I love how shiny and shimmery it makes my lips look. I’m definitely looking for my next color in this stuff!
4. Skinny Dipped Almonds, Super Dark + Sea Salt
O.M.G. Cutting back on sugar when you have a hard core sweet tooth is not for the faint of heart. After the cancer diagnosis, I throttled way back on my sugar intake, and while it hasn’t been easy, I have definitely found a few gems along the way.
One of my favorite finds are these Skinny Dipped Almonds, Super Dark + Sea Salt. (You have to buy somewhat in bulk from Amazon, but they carry these at my local grocery store. So, be sure to check your local store out first!)
They are so good, and pretty low in sugar. They contain 4 g. of sugar per serving, which is about 16 almonds. I generally only eat about 5-6 at a time as a treat after my lunch. So, that would equal only about 1.5 g. of sugar. Woot! They are so good, and just enough to satisfy my need for a little dessert after a meal.
There are a number of other flavors of Skinny Dipped Almonds, but I have not tried any of the others. The Super Dark + Sea Salt are the lowest in sugar out of all the flavors, so I have just stuck with them.
5. Rebounder
The last thing that I have been loving lately is my rebounder. I purchased this shortly after my surgery in March and have really been enjoying it for the last few months.
During my surgery, they removed numerous lymph nodes from my pelvis. Any time lymph nodes are removed from the body, it puts you at risk for lymphedema. Lymphedema is swelling (usually in the limbs) that occurs due to lymphatic blockages. Having lymph nodes removed means I now have a lifelong risk of lymphedema in my legs.
I knew this was a risk prior to my surgery because my surgeon/oncologist laid out all of the possible risks for me, and this was a big one. So, I began researching ways to help prevent lymphedema, and I came across rebounding.
Rebounding (simply bouncing on a mini-trampoline) is a fantastic way to get your lymph system moving. The lymph system runs vertically throughout the body, but unlike the circulatory system, the lymph system has no “pump” to help circulate fluid. Rebounding is particularly good for your lymphatic system, as the up and down jumping motion helps get lymph fluid moving. This helps to clear out toxins and gives you a great workout at the same time. It is also a low impact exercise, which is great for any one, any age.
There are tons of rebounding videos and routines on Youtube, and I have really been having fun with them!
So, there you have it – 5 things I am loving right now. Does anything on this list intrigue you? What is something that you are loving right now?
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