Healthy Swellness: 3 Good Morning Essentials

With every day of living through the pandemic being pretty draining, I’ve come to really appreciate a few things that brighten up each morning and help set me off in a better mood for the day. Currently making my mornings better:

My Starbucks milk frother. I hemmed and hawed about buying milk frother for many, many months (maybe even over a year—I just have so many appliances, and didn’t want to add yet another). But when a neighbour was selling hers, I snapped it up and it’s by far the best purchase I’ve made during the pandemic and my most used appliance (other than my Nespresso machine). While I’ve always savoured my morning coffee, being able to make frothy lattes now elevates my morning cuppa joe and, healthy bonus, I’m getting more calcium in my diet. I truly do look feel as happy as I am in this photo when I’ve got my morning coffee! And that’s not even with latte art!

The frother I bought is an older Starbucks model that I don’t think is available anymore as I can’t find it online, but based on my months of online research, the Nespresso Aeroccino is one of the sleekest ones I’ve found (and design is so important when it’s an appliance you have out on your kitchen counter all the time). If the $100 price tag of the Aeroccino is a bit steep for you, my friend Gabrielle is happy with the FKANT handheld milk frother she recently purchased (and btw, you should follow her on IG for her delightful sardonic wit!). And yes, I discuss milk frothers with my friends, don’t you? Haha!

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Face Wash in Pink Grapefruit. Now, I’m not a morning person (although I’d like to be but I’m just not hardwired to be one) and I really appreciate anything that helps to perk me up in the a.m. and it was such a surprise to find it a brighten-my-day product in this inexpensive ($12!)  facial cleanser. The Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Face Wash‘s pink grapefruit scent is a refreshing wake-up in the shower as I cleanse my face. Plus, it contains salicylic acid so it helps clear blemishes (and I’ve been struggling with occasional maskne breakouts).

Stojo Collapsible Pocket Cup. I try my best to plan my time well, but it seems no matter what, I’m often running out of the house in a rush. So more often than not, I have to take my coffee or smoothie to go, sometimes it’s when I’m walking Billie Jean in the morning. As I’m usually getting to places on foot for my errands, a collapsible cup to go works best for me so I can easily collapse it and tuck it into my bag for the rest of the day. The only downside to the Stojo is it’s not insulated so it doesn’t keep my bevvie hot or cold (I use a Hydroflask for that, like if I need hot chocolate to keep me warm on a winter hike). My Stojo cup was a gift from a friend, who got it from Logan and Finley, an eco-conscious shop here in Toronto (shop local!). I don’t believe they carry the Stojo anymore, but they do have this glass reusable takeaway cup that looks great, love the cork band.

What are your morning essentials?

Leave a Comment December 23, 2020

Beauty Swellness: This Works GIVEAWAY

For most of my life, I fall asleep quickly and can sleep just about anywhere other than in economy class on a flight. but for the past few months, I’ve been using This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, not so much to help me fall asleep, but more for it being a nice nighttime ritual and the scent is soothing.

This Works has just launched Morning Expert, a collection of products designed to target morning skin concerns to help you wake-up well and restore morning glow. And this is definitely something I can use; I am not a morning person, and I keep late hours so mornings are rough. As I’ve only been using the products about a week, I can’t yet speak to how beneficial they are, but based on their best-selling Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (one I know many of my friends who do have trouble with sleep swear by), I’m trusting they’re going to be staples for the morning regimen.

The collection includes:

Morning Expert Wake Up Drops, a 100% natural essential oil of rosemary, peppermint and lavender. You can use it in a diffuser, sprinkle some on a warm washcloth, or into your shower (not pictured as I haven’t gotten my hands on this one yet, but will have it in a few weeks).

Morning Expert Open Eyes, with giant kelp and Persian silk tree extract, to help de-puff, detox and brighten eyes.

Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum, 2% HA complex and vitamin C to help hydrate, plump sleep creases and brighten skin.

Morning Expert Vitamin C Power Mask, a five-minute balm with vitamin C and jojoba to invigorate and exfoliate with twice a week.

Morning Expert Multi-Acid Pads, bamboo pads with azelaic acid, vitamin B3 and liquorice root, to perk up skin and help fight breakouts.

Because I want you to enjoy great mornings as well, I’ve got one prize package from This Works including the five Morning Expert products plus their best-selling Deep Sleep Pillow Spray to give away! The prize is valued at approximately $270. Here’s how to enter:

1. Check out my Instagram post for this THIS WORKS giveaway and enter there (details are on the IG post).
2. Get an additional entry by commenting on this blog post by sharing how many hours of sleep you typically get.

This giveaway ends at 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. It is open to Canadian residents. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on my Instagram Stories on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.  The prize is awarded as is.

9 Comments March 13, 2019