New Little Favorite Things

Lately I've come across a few little things that make life sweeter.  Not a one of them costs more than $5.  Check 'em out:

Graph paper post-its, awesome photo via High Straightenence

If you are list maker like me, I think you'll love these graph paper post-its.  I saw them on Tracy's High Straightenence blog and knew I had to pick some up.  They have totally revolutionized and streamlined my list making. They're the perfect size for daily/weekly/monthly to do lists, and the graphing squares make really satisfying little check-off boxes. I love the post-it quality for sticking one on the top of my planner, which is always by my computer at the ready for the jotting of tasks and ideas.  What Type-A personality?

I've always been a dairy milk gal, with a penchant for soy lattes and the occasional foray into hemp milk.  However, almond milk kept creeping its way into conversations (one of my glowiest, loveliest friends recently mentioned it is the only milk she drinks + it is a key ingredient in my new favorite breakfast smoothie).  I picked up a carton of Pacific Organic Vanilla Low Fat Almond Milk at Trader Joe's, and now I'm totally hooked.  I love the mellow, slightly nutty flavor, and the incredible nutritional profile, complete with D vitamins, riboflavin and potassium.  Delish.

The Goodwin Project follows pro surfers Daize and Aamion Goodwin and their two young children as they make a year-long trek around the globe.  The end result of the travels will be a documentary film, but in the meantime, the family and their crew are blogging as they go, complete with breathtaking photos from all over the world.  So far they've explored Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Nepal and Thailand, with a dozen-odd equally amazing stops left to go.  Envy aside, I'm loving these travel tales and images, and the underlying message about opening up the world to your children and stepping outside your comfort zone as a parent to keep things creative and stimulating for the whole family; it is altogether inspiring. I can't wait to see the film.

Winter's dryness sneaked up on me this year, due to the mild temperatures we've been experiencing.  By Thanksgiving, though, my cuticles were cracked and bleeding from the dry air, which is both incredibly painful and rather hideous.  Something had to be done, so I picked up a tin of Badger Cuticle Care in the Whole Body section of Whole Foods, and have been applying it to my hands, massaging it into my cuticles every night before bed.  My cuticles have healed completely, and my hands feel soft and smooth.  The balm is infused with essential oils of Geranium, Mandarin, Lemongrass and Ginger, so it smells delicious and feels indulgent to slather on. This is the best cuticle remedy I've found, and priced at $5 for a tin that should last a couple months, it's a total bargain.

I wish I was a black coffee drinker.  I'm not.  Mama needs a little milk and sugar in her morning joe.  I'm always looking for ways to make coffee more interesting, so I grabbed some So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer at the store this week.  Two things I love about this product: 1) the sweetness of the French Vanilla creamer negates the need for sugar in my coffee; just a splash of the creamer and I'm good to go. I do realize that the product contains cane syrup, so I'm still getting that sugar hit, but I believe I'm getting far less than if I added regular sugar to my mug, and 2) unlike many other creamer products, this contains no oils or mono or di-glycerides or HFCS, just coconut milk, cane syrup and natural flavor.  And unlike half-and-half it is fat-free, plus you get all the health benefits of coconut milk, including immunity boosting properties, which are much-needed this time of year.  Win.

I love these tiny, simple treats.

What is your favorite simple pleasure these days?