It’s rather early this month, but here we are on the last Friday of October. I have to be honest with you my readers: I’ve been looking forward to sharing what I’ve been up to all month long. There has been so much good stuff. I don’t even know when and where or what to start with! Let’s star at the beginning of the month and work forward:
TRAVEL
We started our month of October with a fall break where we vacationed in Bali. We actually returned to a spot we’d been to before, but it was just that marvelous, AND this time we would scuba dive there. We stayed at Amertha Bali Villas–which is a total steal! The villa we stayed in was as big as our apartment here in Hong Kong plus it had a nice little pool, patio, back terrace, and outdoor kitchen area. Oh, I forgot to mention the huge outdoor shower. For you Hong Kong readers where travel in Southeast Asia is easy for us, I can’t recommend this secluded but lovely, relaxing, and ideal vacation spot. We paid under $150 a night for the best place ever! Oh, the kids had their own room and bathroom too. You can visit past posts of Amertha Bali Villas here, here, and here plus the time last year here, here, and here.
APPS
Insight Timer
I downloaded an app at the beginning of the month that is really quite cool: Insight Timer. It’s a free meditation app, but I want to say that it’s more than that. It seems almost like a meditation/social/podcast app. You can find gurus or meditation teachers who suit your needs. I’ve found some I really like and others I just don’t care for. There are courses as well which I haven’t tried yet, but plan to–they are only $4.99 which doesn’t seem like too bad a price for the chance to learn something within a ten day period. (I mean sometimes an app will cost that much.) The search filter lets you choose the type of meditation you’d like plus the duration or focus. So far these are the three people I recommend listening to: Sarah Blondin, Natalie Benns, and Vidyamala Burch. Sarah’s voice, oh my! It’s like raw silk–kind of rough but totally soft at the same time. Her meditation called, “Loving and Listening to Yourself” nearly brought me to tears. It was like receiving a huge hug from me to me. Vidyamala suffers–well no she used to suffer but now has figured out a way not to by her meditation practice. She has a course that I’d like to take. And finally Natalie. Oh! her sweet Irish voice is so charming. Natalie’s area of expertise is weight loss meditation; I love her session entitled, “Candle Flame for Weightloss.” Basically I joke with Kevin, but you’ll notice that this month I’m kind of getting a little New Age-y! Haha! It’s been fun learning about wellness.
BOOKS
The Magic
I haven’t read as much this month partly because one of the books I’m reading is a 28 day book with homework: The Magic by Rhonda Byrne. Each day there’s an entry to read, then a practice to follow. Some of the practices become daily; for example each morning begins with a list of ten things I’m grateful for in my life, and the day ends with a gratitude rock in which I recount the one thing that happened in my day that I’m thankful for. Basically, The Magic teaches the reader that the very best way to attract good things in your life is to be grateful for all that is already present. I can appreciate this mindset. A lot! I’ve have so much in my life to be grateful for. See, there’s more of my New Age-y ways sneaking forth.
Words in Deep Blue
The book I’m reading at work is a young adult love story called Words in Deep Blue, by Cath Crowley. It’s one of those stories told from two perspectives: Rachel and Henry. Also interspersed between the narrators entries are messages left in books. Henry and Rachel both work in a secondhand bookshop that has a section called The Library. In The Library books are used of tools for communication; they are not sold rather notes and letters are written in-between the pages and within the margins.
Another reason for not reading as much is because of the audiobooks I’ve been listening to…
AUDIOBOOKS
12 Rules for Life
I’ve been spending much of my time listening to audiobooks lately. It’s such a satisfying way to experience a book. There was an nonfiction audiobook I started and still need to continue but it’s quite scientific, so it’s a been a bit more complicated for my mind than what I’m used to. Yet, the first chapter of is 12 Rules for Life was so good I’d like to listen to it over and over. It will sound odd, but Jordan B. Peterson creates an analogy with a lobster; he explains why we want to stand tall with our shoulders back like a lobster. This sounds very random, but I’ll tell you what: my mantra lately has been to be a lobster, and I’ve been walking and standing more upright. I plan to look up the chapters and choose the rules of life that I’d like to follow.
Girl Wash Your Face
The other nonfiction audiobook I’ve been listening to is Girl Wash Your Face, by Rachel Hollis. This Rachel gal is so fabulous! I’m pretty much enjoying everything that she does–which is A LOT! Her husband and her have theRise Podcast, with her team she writes The Chic Site, and Rachel Hollis is also asked to be a motivational public speaker. Oh, and she writes books–good ones!
Amongst all the abundance of content from Rachel–there’s the website, podcast, YouTube channel–I chose this video of her making an audiobook which I found to be interesting. Jordan B. Peterson also read his own book. I like hearing the authors narrate their own work; I mean they really know what should be accenuated.
TV
Admittedly, TV is getting so good these days! It’s like Netflix and Prime Video are competing to create the best content. Granted, we don’t even subscribe to Hulu nor do we have Stateside channels which is just fine since we are finding more than enough entertainment from these two media moguls.
Good Girls
Gigi and I cruised through season one of Good Girls. It starts off rather corny, but then it gets so good! I means sure these ladies keep getting themselves deeper into trouble, but at the heart of their escapades is the desire to do well for their families. They’re moms, and they’ll do anything for their kiddos. There are two things I looked forward to in every episode: first, I love seeing what color of eyeliner Annie will be sporting. You can expected some of her eyeliner goodness from me! The other thing….oooh! It’s so good. The chemistry between Beth and Rio is extremely intense. I mean, holy hotness! Even Cosmo has written about this couple. I kept waiting for them to just grab one another, and I don’t mean to spoil it for you, but it never happens. Hence, I can hardly wait for season two!! Just take a look at this remix done by ROWANEDITS. (There are no spoilers–just evidence of their insane chemistry.)
A Man in High Castle
Here’s the show Vincent and I have been watching. It’s based on the novel written by Philip K. Dick which creates an alternate history to WWII. Germany and Japan won the war; the East Coast becomes the Greater Nazi Reign while the West Coast is the Japanese Pacific States. In the middle of the old USA is the Neutral Zone–basically the Rocky Mountain Range. It’s very intriguing, the plot begs lots of questions, and the acting is supreme. All the characters, even the evil ones, are captivating.
Riverdale
While this is nothing new, the kids and I are getting a kick out of the return of Riverdale. This third season is so over-the-top it has us all laughing out loud. And the amount of skin!? Wow, it’s like an abs parade each episode. It’s nice that this one comes out weekly, so there is no chance of binge watching.
The Romanoffs
My sister recommended a new show on Prime called The Romanoffs all about the Russian royal family that was murdered in one go. This show is actually quite odd: the only thing in common with each episode is the Romanoff blood line. Again, this show comes out on Fridays, so it’s nice that I can’t binge on it. It feels healthier to have to wait for a program somehow.
MOVIES
First Man
Kevin, Gigi, and I went to see First Man. What a show, and what history! My favorite part of this movie was getting to know a bit of Neil Armstrong’s personality. He has always come across as a hero, and he still is of course, but he was quite stoic. I didn’t realize this. Of course, Ryan Gosling did a great job; I won’t be surprised if he’s nominated for best actor for this role.
A Star is Born
I want to make a note about A Star is Born. The trailer alone gives me the chills. Yet, as it’s the third time around, I know–and you may know, how it ends. I can’t stand watching movies or reading books of this genre. Yes, the singing and chemistry looks amazing. Maybe I will see it, but… I don’t know.
MAKEUP
Metallic Lipstick
I have this one stick of metallic lipstick that I picked up last Christmas at HM. It’s called Roaring Twenties. You know when the lipstick comes free of the tube and gets jammed against the lid? This is what happened to my favorite lip color, so I’m constantly looking for the dupe. I’ll let you know if I ever find it… In the meantime, I’d say NYX is doing the best at metallic lippies. Them and Maybelline with Hot Lava being one of my all time favorite reds. (Are you also interested in finding the perfect metallic lip? Here’s an article from Bazaar and Glamour.)
Carmine
*Picture from the International Association of Color Manufacturers
An interesting thing happened to me this month: I wore a gorgeous purple eyeliner, but by the morning I had what seemed like pink eye. With a quick Internet search, I found my answer. Carmine is a red dye used in many make up products. Carmine is made from dead red beetles! Yes, I know, GROSS! But hey, these little dead bugs make a great color. Yet this dye can cause an allergy in some, and I’m one of them. Luckily my lips are not effected by Carmine. I’d be devastated if I couldn’t wear my red lippy.
CONNECTIONS
This month you may have noticed me highlighting a jewelry collaboration between Sabrina and Anaita. Both ladies used to live in Hong Kong, both are very creative, and both are extremely kind. If I can promote such a neat collaboration between two special women, I’m going to. If you haven’t take a look at the Eivor Collection, do go take a look.
(Unfortunately the two pieces I got, the crystal bar and this five piece earring set, are sold out. But there are many more options to admire and treat yourself!)
And, This Time Last Year….
To think October isn’t even finished! So far though it’s been a really good one. Do you have plans for Halloween? My kids are now too old, so unfortunately I do not.
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