my current obsessions

At the moment, I’ve become quite obsessed with a few things. So I figured here’s a chance to tell you what has been consuming my mind (in a good way!). 

This will kind of be a random list of items, but maybe you’ll enjoy it.

#1: Burt’s Bees Vanilla Bean Lip Balm

This one feels so random. In Ireland, I lost my peppermint lip balm. I’m not a huge fan of peppermint. That lip balm always made my lips feel tingly (not in a good way). But the vanilla bean lip balm feels much better. If you’re in the market for a new lip balm, I recommend this one!

#2: One Word by Meredith Andrews

Meredith Andrews, a singer I’ve longed loved, released a new album. Last I heard, she was on a worship team at Belonging Co. in Tennessee. I remember listening to her music on Pandora in the early 2010’s, a time when I wasn’t a Christian but the music still spoke to me. This new song is incredible. It’s the idea that all God has to do is speak one word to change a situation. It’s encouraging and optimistic, which is something that I always need more of.

#3: Smallville

This show is old but it’s so delightful. When I started, I was curious about it. I remember my cousin watching it and vaguely knew it was about how Clark Kent became Superman, but that was it. But now, I’m obsessed. Due to the weekly “monsters” and the mystery over each season reminds me of Fringe. Especially since it’s a blend of sci-fi and fantasy. I will say the one slightly annoying thing is the will-they-wont-they of Clark and Lana Lang. It definitely fulfills my need for a traditional TV show drama like what they used to be.

#4: Day by Day by Citizens

I have a theory that this song will be my top song on my Spotify. I have no less than 5 screenshots on this song on my phone. Everytime I hear it, it just sounds incredible. Like a classic. A Christian song that reflects the grace of God and his kindness to us.

#5: Fun drinks

I’ve enjoyed trying the Starbucks Lavender Chai. Way better than the lavender matcha at Starbucks. But I do think an iced vanilla matcha is quite lovely from Joe’s Coffee. As it gets warmer, it’ll be nice to bring in my own fun tea lattes from home.

#6: Deja vu

I’ve had a ton of deja-vu starting right when I hopped on New Jersey Transit to get to Newark for Ireland. And since I’ve returned, it’s continued. It just feels like “oh, I recognize this moment.” With my friend Kate, I was having coffee with her at Maman in the Upper West Side, and it just felt like I had this conversation with her before. It was super wild. Then when I hung out with my friend Zee, I had the same feeling. One of my friends Chloe thinks it’s a way God tells us we’re living into his prophetic promises. The word he spoke is fulfilled. It’s an interesting theory, since I’ve had deja-vu so often.

#7: Crushes

I’ve honestly had plenty of little crushes over the last year. Nothing too serious or too long. My classmate Trisha was looking at my Spotify and asking me about my dumb crush playlist. *cue deep blush* But I have been thinking about crushes a lot. Of what causes these feelings to grow or to fade. I love David Levithan’s quote from 19 Love Songs: “The difference between a crush and a love is its viability.”

#8: Localism

A while back (last August), I mentioned wanting to do a vow of stability and remaining local to discover what there is in your backyard. I’ve been listening to A Drink with a Friend with Tsh Oxenreider, and this season’s content is all about being local. It’s been a delight listening to someone else puzzle through and ideate on something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. Place is so underrated when we consider our lives, and often, we don’t know the history underneath our own feet (myself included). It’s a pleasure to listen to and I invite you to do the same.

Share with me some obsessions down below!

Signing off,

Gigi