My Favorite Things: January 2020

Welcome to the first post of My Favorite Things where I share all about the things I am loving this month! I have so many things I want to share that I have discovered this month, so let’s get started! 

The book I read this month: Educated 

This book is SO good. This year I am trying to get back into reading more, and this book was a great start! I got it for Christmas and started it a few days after! Educated is a memoir by Tara Westover all about her life growing up in Idaho in a survivalist family who did not allow her to go to school. She didn’t even have a birth certificate until she was 9, and she still doesn’t know her real birthday! How crazy! She ended up getting into BYU after teaching herself enough math to take the ACT, and then went on to Cambridge and Harvard. It really is a great book full of twists and turns that I think every reader would enjoy. 

Earl Grey Tea Lattes 

I’m a big tea person. I love all kinds of tea, and I knew I liked tea lattes, and I knew I liked earl grey tea, but wow. This has been SUCH a game-changer because it is finally something besides coffee that I can mix with my collagen. 

If you haven’t heard of collagen, it is the most abundant protein in your body and a major building block in your bones, skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Your collagen production starts declining as you get older. Because collagen affects so many different things, it also helps a lot of different things when you take it as a supplement. The main effects that people notice are better hair, skin, and nails, as well as better gut health. It is also a great source of protein if you are trying to increase your intake of protein!

I have loved taking collagen for quite some time now, but even though it says “tasteless” I could always taste it in everything except coffee. Unfortunately, I am not a big coffee gal, so this made it hard to take collagen regularly. Thankfully, tea lattes have enough creamer in it that I don’t taste the collagen at all! I think it is safe to say this will be in my routine for quite some time, and I can’t wait to see how collagen affects me when I am able to take it regularly. 

To make your own tea latte: 

1. Make tea of your choice, this does best with more robust flavored teas, and my current favorite is obviously Earl Grey.
2. While your tea is brewing, froth up your milk or creamer. I like to use either half-and-half with vanilla and a dash of sugar added or vanilla creamer. (I love this frother if you don’t have one!)
3. Take your teabag out, and stir in your collagen. 
4. Then, pour your frothed milk over your tea and enjoy! 

Spoons

Do you get tired of using all your spoons stirring your coffee (or tea lattes)? In my apartment, my coffee and tea items are nowhere close to my spoons, and we kept running out of spoons! So I got these cute little spoons off Amazon and I love them! They come in a pack of 8 and I use them for adding sugar or honey to my drinks as well as stirring in creamer. I keep them right next to my tea kettle and use them every day. Definitely one of my favorite Amazon purchases in quite some time. 

Skin Products: Face Oil and Face Lotion 

I have lived in Alabama most of my life until I recently moved to Chicago, and my skin likes to let me know I am living in a different environment. My skin went from oily and acne-prone to dry and flaking off, and I had zero clue what to do. I did some research and discovered the Neutrogena Hydro-Boost Gel Cream. It has hydrating hyaluronic acid in it, and it helped quite a bit, but I was still having to use a TON and my skin STILL wasn’t where I wanted it. I added in this squalene oil I found on Amazon and it has been a game-changer. I also love that it only has ONE ingredient. Squalene. With the Neutrogena Gel Cream and the Squalene, I have found the perfect balance for my cold winter skin. Does anyone have any cold-weather skin remedies? Let me know in the comments below! 

Fleece Leggings  

Okay. So I have been a big fan of fleece leggings for quite some time. They are as comfortable as leggings but way warmer. A win-win right? One problem I have had with fleece leggings in the past is that they would never stay in place. Well, these leggings are SO warm and they stay put! They are honestly warmer than jeans and I have been wearing them regularly in below freezing temps with no problem! 

Dish detergent 

I have been looking for a dish soap that isn’t as irritating to my skin as Dawn and has cleaner ingredients. This month I discovered the ECOS brand of dish soap and I am loving it! It isn’t nearly as irritating, and it still bubbles up like it should. My husband, who does the dishes way more than me (thanks hubs ?), also approves of this soap swap as well! 

Label Maker 

One of my favorite products I have is this label maker. This is actually from my wedding registry, but I used it a lot this month so I wanted to share it! If you like to organize and don’t already own a label maker, you need this! It takes your organization to the next level and really helps your ability to find everything that you have neatly put away. I have all our closets labeled which is especially great when you are living in a smaller space and have to put things where they fit which isn’t always where they make the most sense. 

That’s it! The items that I have been loving in the month of January! Are there any items that you are loving right now? Let me know in the comments below! I would love to try them out!