Lately I’ve been feeling like my well is running low…
Not like an actual physical well (because I don’t have a well in my condo!), but I mean the well for, like, my soul — the deep place inside of you that soaks up and stores inspiration and keeps you going. The part you can draw from when you want to do something creative.
I really haven’t been good about refilling my well lately or, to mix metaphors, I really haven’t been good about recharging my batteries. Or adding gas to my creative tank.
Reading helps. And listening to music. And watching brainless TV. And laughing. And any downtime, really. And going for walks. But one of the things that also helps is surrounding myself with beautiful things, and here are a few things I’m surrounding myself with this week to help me “refill my well.”
This notebook by Denik, for starters. I found it on my trip to Tahoe this fall, and I’ve been saving it to use on a rainy day. I love the colors on the cover and the message, “Don’t Quit Your Day Dream,” and the lovely silvery font. The purple and blue speak to me.
Don’t you love new notebooks? — the blank pages and all the possibilities? I’m calling this my “Silver Linings Journal” because I’m going to use it to write about any positive things that happen to me.
It’s so easy to fill journals with bad things, isn’t it? I totally get that, and I’ve done it many times before because it feels good to unload when you aren’t feeling great, and when you don’t want to burden your friends and family. It’s just easier sometimes to lay it all out in a journal.
But I really want to use this journal to celebrate all of the silver linings and good things that happen throughout the day.
Next up…
Plants. When I surround myself with plants, I just feel…happier, so while I was at Trader Joe’s last weekend I took some time to smell the roses, so to speak, and admire their beautiful flowers and greenery.
This little glitter tree came home with me!
I had to do it. Isn’t it the cutest!? It’s sprinkled with glitter. There’s glitter in the leaves, glitter in the pot. It’s glorious! There’s glitter everywhere.
It’s here on my desk with me right now. I still have to name him (I’m pretty sure it’s a him)…
Speaking of TJ’s, I also got myself this tiny bouquet of flowers while I was there. It was about $5 and has little hydrangeas and other cute, springy sprigs. There’s also a little pinecone in it, which is hidden in this picture for some unknown reason… I guess she was shy!
Next up…
The new Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Palette takes my breath away every time I open it.
Hourglass mixed the three blushes in this palette — coral Incandescent Electra, warm peachy brown Brilliant Nude and lavender Euphoric Fusion — with their high-shine Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder highlighters, then added finely milled flecks of golden glitter, which gives the blushes a “Let’s go to Vegas!” vibe.
The finishes are shinier and sparklier than the powders in the original Ambient Lighting Blush Palette a few years ago, so watch out! — sparkly Karen is a-comin’! 🙂
It’s $62 and available now at Sephora stores and sephora.com.
Last, but not least, my new Sweater Weather candle from Bath and Body Works, because…cold weather and candles, ya know? I think they just go together well.
I hope you take some time this week to recharge and refill your well. Sending you lots of love and a big hug. ❤️
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I’m sorry to hear about you not feeling well emotionally speaking, I send you lots of hugs and good vibes.
So I think we should talk about really light things to energize yourself, I finished the first season of Jane the Virgin and I liked is not a tv series I need to watch the second and third season right now but I’d watch them when Netflix has them.
Now I’ll watch Breaking Bad and Gilmore Girls (also I need to search Golden Girls online).
About music I’m really loving the Dream on cover The Voice judges made, also Halsey’s Colors (but it isn’t a happy song so maybe you should skip it), Taylor Swift’s Starlight (super romantic). Also in Spanish but with the rhythm to make you feel better listen to La Bicicleta (Shakira and Carlos Vives) and Duele el corazón (Enrique Iglesias).
I’ve written a lot I know but listen also to Celia Cruz’s Ríe llora, and check the lyrics I think is what you need to hear.
Lots of hugs.
Thanks, Efra. I’ll take all those good vibes! I’m doing better now; been getting a lot done and just trying to remember to enjoy the small things during the day without getting caught up in my to-do list.
I’m totally taking your music list down! Oh, and P.S., did you know Enrique Iglesias is half Filipino?!
BIG HUGS BACK TO YA!
I’ve seen her mother in some tv programs and I knew she had to be part Asian but I’d have never thought she was Filipina. That’s so cool, maybe you’re as cool as he but you haven’t realized it.
Get a good rest my friend, tomorrow is a new and brighter day.
Happy Thursday! What’s on the agenda for today? Hopefully more books and relaxing!
I need to do some paperwork at uni but I hope everything ends fast, I don’t feel like going because it takes me around an hour to get there.
But after that I might go swatching some stuff or return immediately home to tidy a little my bedroom and watch series. Also I should read more the book I’ve just started: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt.
Have a nice day Karen!
What a cute little tree! I love getting a brand new notebook and filling it with good things. I’ve heard about gratitude journals before, but it’s something I could put into practice.
I love Bath and Body Works candles! I bought a few during their Black Friday sale, but I might need to go back and get Sweater Weather. What a cute name!
Sending lots of hugs and purrs your way. I’ve been buried with work lately and it’s making me feel kind of grinchy. I think a glittery tree on my desk is in order. 🙂
I’ve heard of gratitude journals too! I don’t know why I never thought to start one. Seize the day and all! 🙂
What candles did you get at the Black Friday sale? I’m about to burn Marshmallow Fireside right now (it’s my evening scent).
Hugs to you and all the kittehs!
This is a great reminder to recharge. Thank you!
You’re welcome. I hope you get some meow time to yourself soon!
Yeeees, very pretty notebook. And I like the look of a that three wick candle!
And the candle smells great! It’s always nice to have a good-smelling space, ya know? 🙂
I feel like downtime really helps a lot, but it is the one thing there rearely seems to br rnough of.
I know! If only I could just have four more hours in the day. I think that’s the minimum I’d need to be thoroughly refreshed at the end of each day.
Karen what a beautiful post. I feel inspired. I’ve been finding it hard to get excited about the holidays without my girls here, and a little thing like your glitter tree helped. I want to go find one. Or two! Or three!
It’s actually so hard to find balance and get back to “ourselves” when raising a brand new human. We love them so deeply, and, while we become a lioness protecting our young and can’t imagine life any other way, it is a profound change to who we are. Let me start the positivity train by thanking you for your good vibes and your kindness. When you and/or Connor Claire pop up in my social media feed, I am instantly happier. I smile, and either swoon over the beauty goodness you are sharing, or go gaga over your beautiful wee angel. Your honesty makes the beauty world a better place.
Hi Jane,
It blows my mind that one of these days that one day my Connor Claire will be a big girl like your girls. Getting a little weepy… I’m excited to see her grow up into a young lady, but I also know I’m going to deeply miss this time, even though it’s tiring. Thank you for always being a supportive friend, and for your sweetness and kindness. Sending you a big hug from wet, rainy Northern California.
Karen, I’m really glad you’re taking care of yourself this way! Letting your well run dry happens so easily with an infant in the house — you really do have to make a conscious effort! And I *love* that notebook, the message and the colors! The tree reminds me that I want to get one of the tiny potted rosemary Christmas trees that the grocery stores around here sell in December… they smell *so* heavenly, and are much more practical in our little apartment. I’m definitely going to take a look at that Hourglass palette. I adore their powders, but I’m afraid this particular palette may be a bit warm and sparkly for me; we’ll see. I just treated myself to some gorgeous silk and cashmere scarves that went on sale on Nordstrom’s web site. I love scarves; it’s amazing how a little square or strip of silk can light up your face or totally transform an outfit. I’m often fascinated by the way different colors are used together in the prints. It’s one of the things I love about cooler weather; I can wear my scarves! And they still fit even if you gain or lose weight, and can last a lifetime if you take good care of them 🙂
Hey Fran,
Yeah, the palette’s really beautiful. It is very sparkly though and very warm, so it might not be your type of makeup. Give it a swatch though just in case (because you never know). I don’t know if you’ve ever seen or tried the individual blush pans, the ones in the Hourglass permanent line, but they’re beautiful. They’re not too sparkly, look totally natural on skin and they last forever.
I love wearing scarves, too. They can add so much to a simple outfit without putting in a lot of effort! I get mine from Ann Taylor (usually on sale) or Anthropologie. Now I’m going to look around on the Nordie’s site to see if I can find anything. Thanks for the heads up! 🙂
Yes, Hourglass’ Ethereal Glow is my favorite, most-used blush 🙂 and I do use their first blush palette, especially Mood Exposure. And I do love Radiant Magenta, but the gold in it really pops against my skin — it’s a good blush for me to wear with Lady Danger, as long as I use a light hand.
I love all the colors, so I keep looking for ways to wear them all. Scarves are great, because a print may have just a small pop of golden yellow, bright orange, lime green, or some other color that’s a bit hard for me to pull off in larger quantities. Once the silk scarves on Nordstrom’s web site go on sale, they can disappear really quickly. During their black Friday/cyber Monday event I bought a couple that I really liked at full price, then they went on sale this week. So I just called and got the sale price applied retroactively — they price match if you purchased the item within the past fourteen days — but you have to call right away, because once the item sells out and disappears from the web site, you’re out of luck. One of my favorites from that order is the Echo Floral Silk Square Scarf (I love both the black and the white prints on this one!). I also love the BCBGMAXAZRIA ‘Moon Calendar’ Silk Scarf.
Don’t quit your daydream- I love it!!
Lovely post, Karen! Sending good vibes your way <3
I am glad that you are taking initiative in filling up your well. Sometimes we get so caught up with life that we tend to put ourselves last. Those flowers are beautiful. The candle makes want to go into bath and body to go take a sniff. That journal reminds me of a daily one that I have, where you fill in the blank. Which has been ignored for a few months good thing its meant to be used for years. Thank you for being so personal with us Karen! Take good care of yourself and family. ❤❤❤
Thank you Genesis. 🙂 I hope you get some time to fill up your well (if it needs any filling) soon! Take care.
Oh, you need to get to TJ’s and get their balsam and fir tins, they are $4 and are awesome.