The Bliss List: Summer 2018

Welcome to the Summer 2018 edition of The Bliss List! The Bliss List is a recurring blog feature where I share the things that are really lighting up my life at the moment. These could be tangible products which you might like to buy for yourself, or intangible practices you might like to try for yourself. I have pretty eclectic tastes, so the field is wide open, and the sky’s the limit on what you can find here! For a little sample, keep reading to see what made The Bliss List this season …

THE BLISS LIST / summer 2018

1. Sugar Kiss Melons! These little beauties are a fancy type of cantaloupe. When ripe, they are super sweet and practically melt in the mouth. The flavor is so perfect, they need no embellishment. They are in season now (June - September), so if you can get your hands on one (or twenty), I highly recommend you do so!

2. Sydney Brown Shoes classic clogs. Seriously, I am so sweatin’ these shoes. Sydney Brown Shoes is a luxury vegan shoe company, which fits my ethical retail requirements, and the shoes are stylish, to boot! (Ha ha! I’m so punny!) I love the flatform sole and the ease and simplicity of the style, not to mention the fact that they can be dressed up or down as occasion dictates. One day, my darlings! One day … you will be mine!

3. Counter Culture Vegan Restaurant in Austin. This is definitely a special treat kind of place, as they serve vegan comfort foods which are not always very aligned with my daily diet. But, boy, do they do comfort food well! I’ve been a couple times during my stint here in Austin. I’ve had the nachos. Divine! (And bonus points for the fact that I didn’t feel heavy or bloated after indulging!) I’ve had the Tempeh Reuben Sandwich. I did feel heavy after eating it, but it was so delicious that it was worth it as a one-time treat. They also have a few raw items of the menu, and, for the ice cream lovers out there, they serve Texas-based Sweet Ritual vegan ice cream. It’s a super casual place, as one would expect from a comfort food eatery, and the staff has always been friendly and welcoming when I’ve visited. If you find yourself in the Austin area, check them out!

4. lisaeldridge.com. I’ve been a fan of professional makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge, for many years. Recently I’ve been spending time watching her amazing tutorial videos on her website. I don’t always wear makeup, but I do enjoy it sometimes and The House of Eldridge is where I go to get great pro tips and tricks, plus tons of inspiration.

5. 1980s/1990s aerobics videos on YouTube. Yes! I’ve been having so much fun with my workouts ever since I started doing these retro routines. My favorite so far is a Jazzercise video from 1983 featuring the creator, herself. But I’ve also played around with Karen Voigt, Cher, Jane Fonda, and the King, himself, Richard Simmons. It’s easy to be excited about exercise when it’s this much fun!

6. The birds of Austin, TX. I don’t know why, but Austin seems to have a particularly large and active community of birds. There’s a congregation that holds court at the market just a couple blocks from my house. They are mostly pigeons and grackles, and they are just delightful. They gather in force at dawn and dusk populating power lines and trees and swapping seats faster than a bunch of pre-schoolers playing musical chairs. The noise of their chattering is so endearing to me. It reminds me of little southern ladies parsing the day’s gossip in the beauty parlor. I’m sorely going to miss these birds when I leave Austin.

7. Immaculate Vegan’s Instagram page. I heart Instagram. And Immaculate Vegan’s account is one of the reasons. Each gorgeous image is presented in a unifying gorgeous page design. Immaculate Vegan is a company that curates vegan fashion choices making it easier to shop both ethically and stylishly. From their website: Immaculate Vegan is quite simply about good fashion – fashion that looks good and is good, for animals, people and the planet. We select the best vegan bags, footwear, accessories and beauty products, from the best brands around the world, so you can make the best choice possible.

8. Pinterest!! Speaking of social medial sites … I also love Pinterest! In fact, during the chaos of preparing for my upcoming cross-country move, I have spent countless hours escaping to the comfort of Pinterest. I always feel better the moment I start scouring pins and boards. This site/app is an endless supply of every kind of inspiration I could ask for. And I’ve asked it for some kooky stuff. Summer moods? Check. Plantation houses in the antebellum South? Of course. Disco Fever? Yes, please! It’s all here. So, whenever I find myself feeling a little blue, or a little stuck, or a little bored, I just open my laptop or my phone, and dive down a Pinterest hole. Like a charm!

9. I’ve saved the very best for last: My niecelet: Burdie Lee! If I’m honest, this little bug tops all my lists of favorite things for all time to come. In fact, she’s the reason I’m uprooting myself again so soon after setting down here in Austin. I just couldn’t bear the thought of being away from her. I am so excited to watch her grow and learn and become an even more amazing human being. Every moment with her is magick. In fact, she is magick. And I love her with all the love in Lovetown.