April Favourites
Alison Pegg
Whew. What a month. This month was a busy one for my day job, with long hours, both day and night, spent in front of my computer. Two big projects back-to-back wasn’t ideal, but sometimes that just the way things fall.
So if my monthly favourites have a bit of a theme – self-care – you can totally understand why. From baking to skincare, to even my entertainment, this month’s picks are all about comfort, for both my body and my mind.
Justin Bieber Essentials on Apple Music
My 30-minute outdoor walk has become a daily life-saver for moving my body but especially for relaxing my mind. Whether temps were warm or cold, I made sure to spend time absorbing the fresh air while pounding the pavement always accompanied with some move-worthy tunes. Justin’s Essentials on Apple Music does a great job of mixing his massive hits (Sorry, Intentions) with some of his hits off his new album, Justice, the playlist is track after track of bangers, perfect for busting a move or two during an afternoon walk.
Peter Thomas Roth Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches
Late nights in front a blue screen aren’t a great recipe for rested skin, and dark circles aren’t exactly the most professional thing to be sporting on a morning zoom call. Luckily, I got my hands on these eye gel masks from Peter Thomas Roth to save my first impressions. Not only do they hydrate beautifully, leaving my skin super smooth after use, they also don’t slip (!) from the eye area, even after apply my other morning serums. Highly recommend these if you’re in need of an instant eye lift.
Vincenzo
When deep into a work project with little downtime, the one thing I crave when I do get downtime is an escape. Vincenzo (Netflix) provided that escape and more. Set in modern-day Seoul, Vincenzo is the story of a Korean orphan who grew up in an Italian mafia family who returns to Korea to claim something that is rightfully is. Upon arrival, he meets a law firm that defends the “little guy” against corrupt conglomerates, and he sets his sights on taking them down while retrieving what’s rightfully his. This drama has action, comedy, cliffhangers and more, but what sets it apart from others is its heart. If you’re new to Kdramas, I highly recommend you start with this one, it’s the perfect escape.
Miso Chocolate Chip Cookies
Baking has always been a stress reliever of mine; the meticulous measuring of ingredients always has a calming effect. (Also, the results are generally delicious). I saw a chef I follow on Instagram cooking a version of this cookie on her stories, and intrigued by the inclusion of miso paste, decided to search for a recipe of my own. This recipe by Marcus Samuelsson and Tiana Gee is divine. Chock full of butter, and an entire bag of chocolate chips, it’s the miso that keeps these cookies from being too sweet, while providing a little bit of that umami taste to keep things interesting. I can honestly say these didn’t last long – they’re that delicious.
Rael Heating Patches
A (huge!) bright point of this month was my second dose of the vaccine – woo hoo! – and the side effects that came with it were generally mild. The only area where the vaccine really seemed to affect me was my menstrual cycle, my cramps were stronger and lasted a day or two longer than a normal cycle would. I’ve had these patches on hand for a while, they came bundled with Rael’s sheet masks, and they ended up being a huge comfort during an otherwise uncomfortable time. Everything I’ve tried from this brand has been fabulous.