There are seasons of life— specifically, within that most urgent of life’s microclimates, work— where any calm, repose, and peacefulness are to be fundamentally mistrusted, because the prolonged presence thereof erodes the will and fortitude inexorably, and presages the snapping-backward of the winch of stress that recoils, inevitably, with a psyche-rattling crunch precisely when one wishes it wouldn’t. One is both tempted toward annoyance that one’s character blooms so beautifully under the keyed-up pressure, and is drawn toward the succor of the little treat:
Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Hydrating Lip Balm. I dislike dryness and my lip balm standards are extremely high, let alone my lip gloss standards which require new chart real estate. This is good.
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster. Vitamin C was the only thing missing from an otherwise straightforward and simple skincare regimen. This one smells nice.
Alosoft Aura Shorts. It is my inalienable right as an American woman to wear 2” inseam shorts absolutely everywhere in the summertime (and, if I’m being honest, under my floor-length trashbag-reminiscent puffer coat in the wintertime) if I so please.
Joanna Czech facial roller. This was an extremely unexpected but highly delightful deep-quar gift. It sits next to my desk and I find myself reaching for it more and more lately to undo the thrust-forward posture that unexpected plan changes and scope creep induce.
French hair pins. I am, as they say, “on a journey” to training myself out of my typical hair-securing method (two small alligator clips, topknot) and into something with slightly more polish and a moderately slower decay rate. I have a nice one and a couple of cheap ones, both types work fine. The larger your hair is the larger the pin you’ll need.
LesserEvil Himalayan Pink Salt Organic Popcorn. Lately all I want is salt. I will be adjusting my potassium and sodium intakes accordingly; in the meantime, there’s this, which is disturbingly addictive. Popcorn perhaps an affection (affliction?) universal amongst nice office ladies.
Homemade fruit pies. I’ve made a few lately. They’re worth the trouble. Crust is a master-able skill; make it the day before in a double or quad batch, freeze the unused, it’ll keep for a few weeks.
Another peek at a few favorite books on my to-read pile that I’ve read, and intend to re-read (when? The world wonders, wailing):
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
Orlando (Virginia Woolf)
The Notebook, The Proof, & The Third Lie (Ágota Kristóf)
The Shadow of the Torturer (Gene Wolfe)
The Great Fire (Shirley Hazzard)
The Glory of the Empire (Jean d’Ormesson)