Birthdays have always been a hit or miss for me. I either love it or hate it. My 21st birthday I spent alone with COVID, but had wonderful friends who sat out in the cold to spend time with me. My 23rd, Denver and I spent it with friends, and for my 24th we spent time on our own watching Barbie. This year, I will be celebrating with Denver and with my friends. Sweet and simple.
Since I have this wonderful blog, I wanted to reflect on the little joys I have found this year. Some of my favorite things, comforts, routines, and mini-obsessions.
📚 Books I’m Loving
Wildly enough, a lot of my favorite books have been ARC’s recently! What have I specifically been loving though? Well, I’m glad you asked!
- The Book of Blood and Roses, Annie Summerlee — a wonderful fantasy book that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did! I think about this one often!
- The Primrose Murder Society, Stacy Hackney — cozy mystery that made me question even the most unlikely suspects.
- Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus — historical fiction has never been my jam, but this one was!
🍿 Current Snack Obsessions
I’m a foodie! Snacks are truly a love language, and here are my current favorites:
- Yogurt and Granola — such a simple and easy snack but add in some strawberries and honey… mwah!
- Spicy Pickle Kettle Chips — genuinely such a wildly great chip! Pickles and spicy? Yummy!
- Honeycrisp Apples — I love apples… and this apple with a little peanut butter? Give me!
🧖♀️ Self-Care Staples
I try to fit in self care every single day, even when it’s hard. Here’s some of my favorite ways:
- One Mile Walk — it always leaves me feeling refreshed after a long day at work.
- Chores in the Morning — completing my chores in the morning makes me feel accomplished before I go into work!
- Playing Video Games — I have been loving the gaming scene recently, and recently started getting back into The Sims 3 again.
👕 Clothing/Cozy Things
My aesthetic right now is: soft goblin. Functional, gentle, slightly chaotic.
- Alum Sweatshirt
- Winnie the Pooh Fuzzy Socks
- My Light Wash Jeans
Honorable Mention: claw clips! I prefer them over hair ties and they’re harder to loose.
🌀 Routines That Are Keeping Me Grounded
Not every day is a win, but these small things give me a small win:
- Reading before bed — Although I’m looking at a screen, aka my Kindle, it feels nice to be able to settle down before falling asleep with something low energy like reading.
- Sunday/Wednesday Reset — I always do a “everything shower” on Sundays and Wednesdays which makes me feel refreshed. Plus, doing a little house cleaning helps!
- Gym Time with Denver — Trying to go to the gym five days a week is very enjoyable for me. He pushes me to my limit, and handles my attitude on bad days.
🕯️ Birthday Energy Summary:
This year, I’m trying to enjoy the little things. The small joys. The slow progress. The ordinary days.
No more “new year, new me”. Just softness and small sparks of light.
Here’s to another year of becoming.
💛
— Rebecca
Living With B 
What are your thoughts?