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.

Every week I look all around me in order to write this post and it’s not because I don’t have things that bring me joy in my life. On the contrary, there are so many, but they’re things that I don’t necessarily want to “shout out” publicly — I think there’s wisdom in keeping things to yourself and yourself only.

With that said here are the 5 things that bring me joy this week that I can share 😉:

• the magnolias blooming below our windows and their fragrance. It should be no surprise that I love Magnolias given my blog name (I started it during their season several years ago), and this sure is a happy sight.

• the moody weather today. I missed the rain and the cool temperatures are more than welcome!

• this foundation that’s the most natural-looking one I’ve come across so far. Here’s the thing — I deeply dislike the look of foundation on my skin and the long-lasting ones I’ve tried are far from making me look almost barefaced. I’ve used this one years ago and I came back to it since I haven’t found one to look as natural yet. I apply it right after this mineral sunscreen moisturizer without any issues; hours later it still looks pretty good (I do have oily skin). I’m still searching for a long-lasting foundation that actually looks like I have nothing on my skin, but until I find it, I will keep using this one.

• a cup of earl grey tea with plant-based creamer — it’s so yummy!

• this shell cup & saucer set (also here in a seafoam green). It may not be my go-to cup (it’s small), but I placed it on top of my cookbooks in the kitchen where I can admire it often, and it’s bringing me so much joy every time I see it!

  Here are a few more that bring me joy:

What’s bringing YOU joy this week?

xo,

Em