Check the entire “5 things that bring me joy this week” weekly series here, a collection of seemingly insignificant things that serve as a reminder to appreciate the little things — those small joys that make a difference in our day-to-day.

Steadily, the first month of this year is going by, and I’m still in sort of a daze. Things have been so hectic on the personal front, while still having to maintain everything else, and well, I’ve been busy in a lot of ways! Taking it day by day.

That aside here’s another installment of my weekly series highlighting 5 things that bring me joy this week. Read on for the list:

• the radiant makeup look thanks to this moisturizer (a bit more about it here). It’s shocking how quickly (and badly, I must say) my skin reacts to cold weather, and with that occurring here on and off, this 4 hyaluronic acid cream-to-water skin hydrator sure has been helpful.

• the [usually vegan] delicious pita bread pizzas I make quite often (twice already this week). Using whatever ingredients I have on hand (tomato sauce, favorite seasonings, and usually bell peppers, mushrooms, Greek olives, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, etc.), I make sure I sprinkle a generous amount of garlic and oregano before baking until the ingredients turn golden brown. They are even more delicious if topped with feta cheese or fresh mozzarella before going into the oven, but most of the time, I skip the cheese and keep it vegan. These pizzas bring so much joy, haha!

• long, hot showers on cold days. This is definitely a pleasure that comes with a lot of guilt — living in California for a while makes you painfully aware of your water use, especially in a state that frequently deals with severe droughts and water restrictions. Florida generally doesn’t have that problem, and I sometimes allow myself the luxury of enjoying that long and hot shower, especially when temperatures drop — it does bring joy!

• finally getting my hands on this ultra-famous mascara that I’m excited to try. I have seen so many people talk about how great it is, and now I’m about to find out for myself.

• planning some outdoor activities this upcoming weekend. For lack of time, we haven’t ventured into nature lately, and I miss it. Planning on changing that this week, and I’m so excited!

What’s bringing YOU joy this week?

xo,

Em