At the end of every podcast episode of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, the hosts reveal one thing that’s “making them happy lately.” To help get me through the darker days of the pandemic, I adopted the idea and journaled about my personal faves. I’ve kept it up ever since. There’s enough to-do lists spilling over with errands and future goals, why not carry along a lighter list of current joys?
Maybe it’ll spread some happiness to you too? Continue reading if you enjoy randomness:
- Dawn Platinum Powerwash dish spray: It feels appropriate to start off my faves by mentioning a recent upgrade to my spring cleaning. Thanks to Vanessa Amaro, a professional house-cleaner who’s amassed 1.3 million IG followers, I was influenced to use the spray as a multi-purpose cleaner beyond the confines of my kitchen sink. It’s as basic with ingredients as you can get: soap and water and some alcohol. No harsh smelly chemicals but all the strength of one. Don’t get me wrong, a good Lysol wipe down once a week is important. But this comes in handy in between mid-week cleanings or small messes. I look forward to busting out the blue bottle that leaves dishes and house hold surfaces spic and span. The best part is the versatility. I’m no longer concerned about which cleaners don’t mix well with each other or which don’t work for certain surfaces, Dawn Powerwash works with and on practically everything. If you’re low maintenance and love a fresh laundry smell, this cleaner will be your best buddy.
- Dance 100: If you’re growing a little tired of reality love competition shows, Dance 100 makes for the perfect feel-good palette cleanser. The Netflix original features eight professional dancers competing for the $100,000 cash prize. They’re given a pre-selected song and must choreograph and dance each week with a growing number of performers starting at 15, 20 and eventually 100 dancers. I love looking behind the curtain into their rehearsals. Very few shows make me both smile from ear to ear and sweat from the couch. The interesting catch: the judges are the non-competing dancers who decide who goes home each week. The winner must not only be an impressive choreographer and dancer but equally as important is their leadership, creativity and storytelling abilities.
Take a peak at my all-time favorite performance: https://www.google.com/search?q=dance+100+brandi+dance&source=lmns&tbm=vid&bih=902&biw=1792&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS964US964&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTiq7Q5pX-AhUqN0QIHVrkDygQ0pQJKAF6BAgBEAQ#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:95123606,vid:kWpoMIpuBTE
- Quadratini: The fancy Italian packaging at my local grocery store didn’t initially catch my eye but I caved when I realized they carry them at Trader Joe’s. Something about the ringing bells and colorful homemade art puts me in an adventurous mood. I describe the hazelnut flavor as a cross between a Ferrero Rocher and a KitKat. They’re basically a candy but because they’re marketed more as wafer cookies, I allow myself to enjoy more than I probably should in a sitting. The balance of the light and airy wafer with a decadent filling will always be one of my favorite texture combos. Excited to try the lemon flavor next.
- Madewell Perfect Vintage Wide Leg: I rarely reach for denim. I prefer softer materials with some stretch to them. Overalls, jumpers, dresses, sweatpants are my M.O.
The exception: the perfect vintage wide leg pant. I purchased a black denim pair a month ago and I’ve been wearing it multiple times a week. They’re great quality, comfortable and flattering on my 5’2 frame. The high waist and relaxed fit around the leg will never go out of style for me. The best part about a black denim is the versatility of dressing it up or down. I’ve even hiked in them! Also worth noting, if you shop in store, Madewell offers free hemming services and they can ship it to you within a week timeframe. Win-win.
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