Five of My Current Obsessions
It’s been awhile! A lot has happened between now and that last time I’ve posted to my blog. I have so many new ideas to share with you all, but I don’t want to overwhelm you or myself. With COVID on the rage once again, a new full-time job within my field of psychology to adjust to, and natural disasters brewing chaos and economic unrest, we all deserve a light-hearted game! I’m going to list five of my current “obsessions”, no matter how silly they might seem, I’d love to hear what some of yours are as well!
I haven’t been out very many times, because I don’t want to expose myself to anything, although I’m fully-vaccinated. I’m still a true introvert at heart and enjoy reading fantasy novels and catching up on new thriller shows like ‘See’ starring Jason Momoa on Apple TV+! I’ve been taking a lot of time to explore and learn about different cultures and religion around the world and within my current city! For the first time, in a long time, I feel stable and as though I’m building and working towards a very prosperous future. Whether it’s through my own faith within Orthodox Christianity or learning about investment portfolios, I’m at a very odd and uncomfortable but developing stage in my life currently.
One. Odd Sunglasses
I’ve been very pleased with the current selection and availability of weird off-the-wall type of fashion this year. Sunglasses are something I’ve always been in love with, but currently, I am obsessed with odd sunglasses. I’m normally obsessed with shoes or something that is always testing my budget, and thankfully sunglasses are usually not pushing the limit with prices.
I’ve also taken to discovering T.J. Maxx as an adult and how much I’m filled with pure joy and excitement as soon as I enter the store. Being surrounded by deals on all of the things I think I need just brings a wave of happiness into my mind. Of course I like to be savvy and tactful with my spending sometimes, but everyone needs some retail therapy after a rough week at work.
To me, collecting odd pieces of fashion is one of my favorite ways of expressing myself. Picking out these items for myself makes me feel as though I’m discovering a new level of authenticity and originality within myself. My preferences have changed over the years, but I stay true to what I enjoy in the moment and explore from there.
Two. Peanut Butter Crackers
For the past few weeks, my anxiety has been almost unbearable. Since my mind and my stomach are tied together, it has caused me to have to completely change my diet; thankfully for the better. I cut out all fast food, dairy, sugar, and anything with unnecessary fat or grease, and it has been working very well for me. I really only eat vegetables, rice or light pasta, and light protein such as chicken.
Since I do have the occasional sweet-tooth, one of my favorite go-to desserts during my breaks at work have been peanut butter crackers! I could eat up to a pack of them if I have the chance! I’m not typically a fan of peanut butter, but lately I have been obsessed with peanut butter crackers. It’s technically not a dessert, but it does have a little sweetness to them, and I really enjoy snacking on them at night before bed or somewhere in between my shift.
I still believe the combination of chocolate and peanut butter together is an abomination against the earth, but I can enjoy them while separated from each other. I’m looking to find some new healthy snacks that agree with my stomach and help me feel full during work, but so far, peanut butter crackers are in the lead for me!
Three. Helena Bonham-Carter (and people from the U.K. in general)
Helena Bonham-Carter is one of the United Kingdom’s most underrated actresses of all time. She has starred in many special movies and shows such as Bellatrix from J.K. Rowling’s lucrative ‘Harry Potter’ series. She has also more recently starred in Tim Burton’s unique rendition of ‘Sweeney Todd’. Alan Rickman also played a stunning role in that movie, but we’ll give Alan his own blog post at a later time.
Lately I’ve been mostly only watching British television and movies. They’re very unique to me and I love the way they speak in general. British humor is very different from American humor, as in the humor doesn’t have punch-lines and such, like Americans are used to. This is why a lot of their humor goes over our heads quite often. Diving into British television has been one of the best decisions I’ve made this year. I’ve enjoyed learning about different actresses and actors in their industry and how different it is from the American film industry.
Helena has a very unique and original taste in fashion. She isn’t afraid to wear whatever she wants, whenever she wants. She doesn’t care what others have to say about her, because she’s a phenomenal actress. Many people see her as odd or strange, because she’s different and has a different type of thought process and style to her. I truly admire her fierce originality, and I believe we should give creative geniuses like Helena their flowers while they’re still on earth with us!
Four. Amethyst
Before people begin to get riled up about crystals, let me first say my thoughts on them. I believe crystals were created by God, along with the earth. Just as grain, herbs, and everything else that has come from the earth, I believe crystals also serve a healing purpose. Anything on earth can be abused, but when used correctly and with pure intent, they can be helpful.
Now, Amethyst is a very unique type of crystal. The purple hue at the top is very precious and sensitive. If Amethyst is kept out in the sunlight, the purple will fade away completely, which is very unique and interesting to me. It’s a crystal that is meant to be kept in “darker” cooler areas; similar to the ground which it came from.
Amethyst is known for helping with anxiety, which is something I struggle with 24/7/365. I was gifted an Amethyst crystal by a friend and coworker from a farmer’s market they’d been to. I was nervous at first, and made sure to do my prayers of protection, but set it next to me while I did my daily meditation. I was able to reach a height of clarity and analytical thinking I’d never attained before. I’ve also noticed that I wake up feeling a lot more calm than I normally do on most mornings. I’m a very intensive, sporadic, and impulsive person, so waking up anxious is nothing different. It’s not something that I rely on in any way, but it has been a peaceful addition to my apartment and the Himalayan salt lamp I have as well.
Five. Tea with Creamer
This could be seen as a caveat to British culture, as it’s where I discovered it. I was up at three in the morning a few months ago, per usual, watching one of Helena’s interviews where she mentioned adding creamer to her tea. I was immediately repulsed and then paused. Different people like different things and it works for them! I hurried to the nearest small business-owned coffee shop near me and request an Earl Grey with creamer, to my surprise, that wasn’t the first time they’d heard anyone say that.
I sat in my car with the piping hot tea, preparing for the worst, and as I took one sip, my entire world was changed. I am now an advocate for tea with creamer and nothing will change what happened to me in that moment. It was very similar to having coffee with creamer, but much more subtle and there was no sudden rush of energy. One thing I don’t suggest is trying this with a tea that already has bold flavor. I wouldn’t try creamer with a hibiscus tea or a citrus tea, just because I feel like too many flavors would combine and it would not be a good time for me.
This is just a small example of some of the things I have become obsessed with over the past few months. There are many more I haven’t mentioned, but I would love to spread things out and save them for later blog posts! Now enough about me, what are five things you’ve fallen in love with this year? Let me know in the comments below!
