MAY & JUNE 2021 FAVOURITES

As, uh, sort of promised I’m trying to keep consistent with my favourite posts. I don’t think realistically I can keep up with a monthly faves post, but managing every 2 months is probably doable. I mentioned in my last favourites post that these lists would be a mix bag of whatever I’m loving or obsessed with, so that could be a book, beauty product, clothing item, TV show etc. We all go through obsessions right, so that’s basically what these posts will highlight.

Ok, so there’s been TWO big changes to my life in the last few months. Getting decent sleep and no matter what carving out time for working out at least 4 times a week, so it’s not a surprise the first three things on this list are the things that helped me achieve these changes.

Magnesium & Melatonin

I’ve been struggling with sleep for over a year now. If it wasn’t severe insomnia it was nightly interrupted sleep. I was constantly sluggish, grumpy, just damn exhausted. Not to mention lack of proper nightly sleep can impact the chemicals in your body causing anxiety and depression. My anxiety in the winter was the absolute worst it’s ever been, and obviously other situations contributed to that anxiety, but since incorporating these two vitamins my anxiety has reduced immensely. I wake up feeling truly refreshed and it’s changed so much of my daily life. The melatonin aids in putting you to sleep and the magnesium aids in keeping you asleep. I’m taking 250mg magnesium and 3mg melatonin. You may have to play around in the beginning to find out what dosage of mg works best for you and when to take it, Higher dosages can make you over sleepy and actually make it harder to get up in the mornings. I tend to take my magnesium around 845pm and that’s helped a lot to not feel sluggish when waking up. The melatonin I take right before going to sleep.

Diffuser with Lavender Oil

Another amazing aid in helping me get relaxed and fall asleep faster is my diffuser with lavender oil. I just turn it on as I wind down in bed for the evening. I thought maybe it was all placebo with this one but then I ran out and didn’t go to restock right away. Even with my above nighty vitamins I noticed difficulty in being able to fall asleep and feel fully relaxed without the lavender oil.

Sweat App - FIERCE at Home Chontel Duncan

I’ve been using the Sweat app for years but for some reason just stuck to the BBG program. I loved it after having my daughter but this time around I wasn’t seeing results, or feeling any of those good endorphins after a workout. I accidentally stumbled upon Chontel’s programs on the app and I am OBSESSED. There are usually 3 main components to a weekly workout schedule, a full body AMRAP style workout, full body Tabata and then strength exercises. As you progress the strength exercises break up into 2, legs and arms., so you do 4 main workouts a week. They run from 35 to 45 minutes each, so short and sweet and such a variety of moves each workout. The biggest difference I’ve seen is in my mental state. Working out is my therapy and I’m so thankful to be able to move my body and better my mental clarity.

Stevia Sweeteners

If you saw my stories awhile back on Instagram, you would have seen my utter shock and horror at realizing I was ingesting A LOT more of my Silk Hazelnut creamer than I thought I was. Like over 500 calories in just coffee alone a day, whoops! I’m not a person who can drink their coffee without sweetness, so it was either give up coffee all together or find an alternative sweetener. I saw a story share on Healthy Planet’s Instagram account for stevia drops in Hazelnut flavour. Do you think I could find it anywhere? I went to a bunch of Healthy Planet locations and nothing. I ended up at a Whole Foods where I found it and paid an arm and a leg for it. If you ever wondered, yes, Whole Foods marks their prices WAY up compared to other stores. Best part of this adventure, I HATE the Hazelnut one but luckily on my journey all over the GTA looking for it I came across Better Stevia French Vanilla drops and Sweet Leaf Sweet Drops in English Toffee. Both of these I love and have become a daily in my coffee, depends on which flavour Nespresso I’m using and what drops I’ll use.

Garage Boyfriend Ripped Jean

You’ve seen me sport these jeans more than once on Instagram. I stumbled upon these at Garage, looking for a light wash denim mom jean. So far, every mom jean I’ve tried fits weirdly in the crotch. The girls at the store brought me these boyfriend jeans and they were the perfect fit! They’re my go to jeans for a cooler summer day. Unfortunately I can’t find them online to link, but I’m sure you can find them or similar in store now that malls are reopening.

Allison Russell

A Canadian singer who I fell in love with when I heard the song below, Nightflyer, on a television show I watch. Her voice is just beautiful and perfect for leaving on ALL day long.

Criminal Minds

Ok, I know this show is not new but maybe you didn’t know that it’s now available to stream on Disney Plus? Or, maybe you were like 10 when it first came out so weren’t allowed to watch it and have no idea what it is. I’ve been binging it all over again these past few months. I know Morgan was supposed to be the heartthrob but I always, and still, love Reid.

$7 Superstore Grocery Carnations

I feel like carnations are underrated, people make fun of them as like the “funeral” flower. I think they’re pretty and they are usually the cheapest fresh cut flowers to buy. These lil beauties I’ve been buying myself on my grocery shopping trips as a little pick me up. The best part is they LAST for like two weeks! Such an inexpensive way to treat yourself.

Honestly, this list was longer then I thought it would be and I cut some stuff out to leave for the next lists! Maybe I am a real blogger after all!

What were some of your favourites in May and June?