While the entire internet seems to be meme-ing nonstop about how outrageously long this first month of 2020 has been, I actually feel quite the opposite. It seems like we just said goodbye to December and here we are again, sending off another month.
I’ve been loving the longer, sunny days, the unusually warm winter weather and the increased opportunity to get outside that they’ve provided. And, while I love a good snowstorm, I’m not complaining about the fact that it has only snowed once this month.
We’ve been going out on date nights, hiking our local trails on the weekends, taking random days off mid-week just for the heck of it, finding new shows to watch on Netflix- in short, 2020 is treating me well.
So, before we dive into February, here are some of the things that got me excited this month. Links below are affiliate links.
RAAKA CHOCOLATE
Daaaaang this chocolate is good. I’ve been eyeing it for a few years but haven’t ever tried it because real talk: it’s usually like $8/bar. for a pretty small bar. and I just can’t justify buying it for myself (I usually put expensive chocolate on my Christmas list but somehow forgot to add this one to the list this past Christmas!), so I just went without. Buuuuuut Thrive Market just started carrying it for $4.49 a bar and you bet your bum I bought myself six bars at once. It’s made from unroasted cacao and has such a rich, floral chocolate flavor that I cannot get enough of. It’s still definitely a special occasion chocolate for me since, even at Thrive’s price, it’s still kind of a lot, but I don’t mind buying a few bars here and there and savoring it like the prized possession it is. If you’re not already a thrive market member, this link will save you 25% off your first order. They’re also on amazon for closer to $5 a bar, which still is much better than I’ve seen in stores!
LIFESTRAW WATER FILTER
I’ve been on the hunt for an aesthetically appealing, affordable, minimal plastic-using, actually-filters-out-more-than-flavor-from-your-water filter for a while, and I think I’ve finally found it! We started using the Life Straw glass pitcher this month and I really like it- it’s definitely on the smaller size, so perhaps not ideal for a large family, but for just the two of us it has been perfect. Plus, it actually filters out things like micro plastics, heavy metals, parasites, pesticides and fertilizers, and looks nice enough to sit out on the table with dinner. Win win.
DERMA E NIGHT CREAM
I’m really particular about what goes on my skin (read: I prettymuch use nothing at all or DIY it with things like virgin coconut oil, raw honey, etc), but this past month I’ve been SO DRY. Like, waking up in the morning feeling like a shriveled up old lady. As fate would have it, this night cream came in a gift from a friend at the beginning of the month, and I can’t get over how wonderful it feels on my face. Maybe I’m just late to the party with night cream, but holy moisture this stuff is amazing. If you’ve been similarly feeling super dry lately, I highly recommend it!
ADULT GUMMY VITAMINS
I feel like I don’t even need to say anything else here. They’re gummy vitamins. For adults. That actually taste good enough that I sometimes wish I could eat more than a serving size at a time. And they’re made with organic plant-based ingredients, packaged in recycled plastic, and even Kevin loves them (in the men’s version, obvs). P.S. the fact that these are prenatals isn’t some sort of hint. I just wanted the folate.
That’s it! I hope the first month of 2020 was a great one- and if not, that you’re happy to be moving on to the next one!