Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a new theme is suggested for bloggers to participate in. This week’s prompt is Non-book Freebie (choose your own topic that’s not related to books! This could be hobbies, TV shows/movies, bands/singers, food items/recipes, top ten things about you, your top ten favorite things, places you’ve visited, favorite fashion designers, etc. Take this time to let your readers get to know you a little!)
Hello Readers! I hope this week’s TTT finds you safe and well. We’ve been enjoying some amazing spring-like weather here in Texas, but it looks like April showers will be heading our way soon!
When I first saw today’s topic, my instinct was to do something else. Something book related. BUT I forced myself to just try to come up with something non-bookish, and I’m quite happy with the result. It ended up being so much easier than I expected. Taking a snapshot of the things I’m currently enjoying was simple, but I expect that I’ll also enjoy coming back to it in the future. Kind of like a time capsule. Maybe it’s a post I’ll need to make an annual thing. 🤷♀️😍
Let’s see some of my current favorite things (in no particular order)!
1
Trader Joe’s Organic Gingermints
We don’t have a Trader Joe’s located very near us, but we usually pop in around the holidays to pick up some fun items. During our last visit, I grabbed a tin of Organic Gingermints at the register, thinking they sounded refreshing. AND I love them. They have a nice crisp taste with just a bit of bite. My tin is almost empty, so we may need to revisit soon or I did find them on Amazon!
2
Sand + Fog Chai Candle
One of my favorite drinks is Chai tea and I love it in a candle scent, as well. When I burn a candle, I need it to be more subtle, and the Sand + Fog Chai has a nice mellow Chai scent. It’s one that is hard to find sometimes, especially since it can be more of a fall-ish seasonal item. Typically, I can find it for a good price at Homegoods or TJMaxx. However, I had to resort to ordering it through Target the last time I purchased it. Even though it’s spring here now, I’m still enjoying the scent!
3
Ted Lasso
We’ve been eagerly anticipating the return of Ted Lasso. We don’t subscribe to Apple TV+ all year, but we were able to find another free trial to use while we watch. (And I’m breaking the rules here with some bookish info, but I’m also watching The Last Thing He Told Me, based on the Laura Dave book, as well. So far, it’s spot-on with the book!)
4
Clearly Canadian
When I was a teen/young adult in the 90s, I loved to drink Clearly Canadian’s Mountain Blackberry sparkling water, and I was so happy when they brought it back! I think it’s been back for several years, but I didn’t notice it locally until last year. Now our local grocer is always stocked. It’s not something I drink regularly, but it’s a splurge item!
5
Hello Fresh
One of my favorite new discoveries is Hello Fresh! I am not a natural cook. My spouse is the better cook, but since the pandemic ended he’s been traveling for work more often. Hello Fresh allows me to feed myself and my son much easier and with much more healthy options than I’d come up with on my own. 😃 It’s easy to adjust the serving size or even skip meals for the weeks when my spouse is home. While initially I thought it would be too expensive, I found a good discount that applies every week and they offer deals and incentives quite often, too. I’m also spending much less at the grocery store, as well. And this sounds like an ad—and yes, if you click the link above and decide to try it, it is a referral for me—but it is genuinely a product I highly recommend!
6
Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum
One of the things I’m finally focusing on is self-care, and after trying a few different items, I discovered Versed: Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum. I’m not going to claim it’s some miracle worker, but I do feel like I’ve noticed a reduction of fine lines and smaller pores. 🤷♀️
7
Costa Farms Live Plants
During the pandemic, I ordered some house plants through Costa Farms and I was so impressed with how well they looked and were packaged. I even managed to keep most of them alive for over a year, and a few are still thriving! I decided to order a few more a few weeks ago, and here is what they looked like right after I removed them from the box. You have no control over selection, but I’ve always loved what they send. And while they don’t send any plant care instructions, it’s easy to identify the plants from their product page or website. Fingers crossed I can keep them alive! 🤞
8
Rachael Yamagata
While watching one of the new episodes of Ted Lasso, I recognized a song playing—a song I’d loved in the past. So of course I went searching for it, only to realize it was the song “Quiet” by Rachael Yamagata off of her 2004 album Happenstance, an album I listened to on repeat. I also discovered she has a lot of newer music I’ve never listened to, as well, so I’ve been playing her selections on shuffle ever since!
9
Nesting Measuring Bowls
One of my favorite finds are these nesting measuring cup bowls with spouts. I found these online at TJMaxx.com when I was placing a Christmas order a few years ago. The bowls were on clearance and I added them thinking they’d be a good thing to have in case I needed an extra gift for someone. Well, when they arrived and I saw how cute they were in person, I kept them for myself! Now I used them daily, especially with my Hello Fresh meals.
10
New Windows
Last but not least, after living in our house for 20+ years, we finally had new windows put in. The seal on our old double paned windows had gone bad, and we could barely see out of them. We’re enjoying them, but not half as much as our kitties, who get regular visits from the neighborhood cats. 😻
What things are you enjoying right now? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Those nesting measuring bowls are adorable! Can’t blame you for keeping them for yourself 🙂
Yeah, they were impossible to say no to. They also came in handy during all the pandemic bread baking. 😃
What cute cats! And I love Ted Lasso, too. I’m glad you decided to follow the prompt and give a glimpse of other stuff you like. 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-my-favourite-things/
Yes, me too! I’m excited to see what everyone else did this week.
I’d love to try that sparkling water. I will look for it.
Oh, I hope you like it!
Ted Lasso is great! My husband and I binged watched the first two seasons earlier this year so we’re happy the new season is finally here! haha
Yes! We watched as they were released so it’s been a long wait for us. 😃
Those ginger mints sound delicious.
Here is our Top Ten Tuesday.
I think they’re pretty yummy. Also a great palate cleanser!
I don’t really do carbonated beverages much anymore, but I did buy Clearly Canadian when I saw it in the store. I loved those back when I was a kid.
Yes, they’re so nostalgic. I love when tastes or smells take you back to a specific place and time. 😊
Great way to learn more about you Dedra. So many things to check out – especially the nesting bowls.
I hope you find some of your own! 😍
When I was a Trader Joe’s last week I picked up a tin of their chai tea mints and they are so good! I’ll have to get some of the ginger mints next time. I really like the Versed line of skin care.
They have Chai ones??!! I did not see those. I’m off to search for some. 😃
I’ll have to try some of their other products. Any you recommend?
Super cute nesting measuring bowls! I remember loving Clearly Canadian when I was young, too. I’ll have to see if my local stores carry it.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/04/18/top-ten-tuesday-free-short-fiction-for-a-freebie/
I don’t know how I ever cooked without those nesting bowls! Ha! I hope you can find some Clearly Canadian. It’s like nostalgia in a bottle. 🙂
This was great! I kind of like the idea of doing this every once in the while too… to get to know each other better! I love plants and costa farms are one of the best! I haven’t been to Trader Joe’s bc the closest one is half an hour and I’m scared I’ll get obsessed and have to go all the time. But my sister is coming this weekend and wants to go. I’ll have to try those mints!
Yes, we’re about that far from the closest one, too—without any traffic. 😃 I hope you get to pick up some mints. Let me know what you think, if you do!
Very fun list! And I love Rachel Yamagata’s songs. Her voice is so amazing. I listen to Happenstance a lot. 😀
Oh yay!! I didn’t if anyone else would have heard of her. Yes, such a beautiful, haunting voice.
My mom gave me a set of nesting measuring (cups) bowls a few years ago for Christmas. I don’t use them all that often, but they are pretty.
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-me/
Oh, you should start using them! Makes cooking so much more fun. 😃
Fun list, and wow! That Rachel Yamagata song is a real blast from the past. I remember Be Be Your Love being really popular.
Yes! I love(d) that one, too! When my husband and I did wedding photography we had Meet Me By the Water on our website, so we heard that one over and over. I still love it. 🥰
Awww
This is a great list full of random things you’re liking. I’d have to give a little thought to see what would fit a list like this for me……maybe a future freebie topic for sure!
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/ttt-freebie-personal-sharing
Yes, it was a fun little snapshot of life right now. I hope you give it a try!
I love the measuring bowls! Those are cute. I just use plastic cups.
For someone who doesn’t like to cook, they make it more fun. And they’re perfect for any drizzling recipes. 😊
Everyone raves about Ted Lasso, alas I do not have Apple TV!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2023/04/18/top-ten-tuesday-416/
I bet you can find a free trial! We do every time there’s a new season. And they still let us use it even though we’ve used a free trial before.
I think my parents may have got it for something they want to watch, so I’ll have to see if I can piggyback off them!
Lots of wonderful things to enjoy. We need to always look for those positives, the things that make us smile. I love those nesting measuring bowls, so cute and useful. Have a wonderful week, Dedra.
Yes, finding joy in even the smallest of things is so important, Carla! Happy reading this week. <3
Omgosh, RACHEL YAMAGATA!!! What a wonderful throwback. I haven’t heard that name in ages and now I’m listening to a song I was fully obsessed with by her: Be Be Your Love (from the same album you mentioned)! 😍 I LOVE Ted Lasso and binged the first two seasons so fast and I’m trying my hardest to wait for all episodes of S3 to release before watching it cos I know I’m going to want to binge it all in one go, lol. Great post, Dedra!
Yay!! I’m happy I could reintroduce you to Rachael Yamagata! I’m also enjoying rediscovering her. I do like to binge-watch, as well, but I do appreciate when a show is released one episode a week. Gives me more time to process each one and discuss with others. Which probably just means I’m old. 😂