What’s The Tea: 2020 So Far

Friends, it’s been forever since I’ve shared a “What’s the Tea” post here on Inspired by Charm, so that’s what I’m doing today. Here’s an update on my life and several new-to-me favorites.

In my recent “Top Ten of 2019” piece, I asked for ideas for the blog, and one of you suggested a “What’s the Tea” post. The timing was perfect since I had been making a list of things I wanted to tell you and trying to figure out the best way to share them. I was even brainstorming new series ideas for letting you in on what’s happening here, totally forgetting about “What’s the Tea.”

So, my plan is to be a bit more regular with the “What’s the Tea” posts. I’ll try to do one once or twice a month to keep you updated on life and share new finds. lease let me know what you think about this in the comments below along with anything you’d like to read about in such posts.

2020 So Far…

I began January with lofty goals for 2020. As you can see by the lack of content here and on Instagram, it’s been a slow go. While one part of me is annoyed that I haven’t met the month with more gusto, another part of me has delighted in the rest and reflection.

I’ve decided to look at January as a trial month for 2020. After a quiet and slow month, I’m feeling a bit more energized about moving forward. Just this week, I’ve been much more consistent with my diet and exercise, more productive, and filled with a growing excitement to create.

I suppose that’s the goal after all. Listen to what you need, give yourself some grace, and move forward. I needed a break from everything, and now I feel ready to tackle what’s next. I hope you can do the same for yourself if you’re feeling like I did.

With that being said, I did want to share a few little gems with you today. I compiled a brief list of favorite new purchases and what I’ve been reading, listening to, and watching. I hope you have fun looking through the list and find something that helps you or makes your life happier.

Enjoy!

Recent Purchases:

I have been trying to reign in my spending since the holidays, but there are a few things I recently purchased and am loving.

Tidbits Planner – I’ve been hunting for the “perfect” planner since I started using planners. I’ve spent a bunch of money on them but never found the right fit for me. That was until this year when my friend and fellow blogger Cami of Tidbits created the Tidbits Planner!

I’ve been using it consistently since January 1 and can’t say enough good things about it! It has a smart layout that works for me, and there’s a lot of room for additional planning and list-making. Plus, it’s well-made, and the simple design is beautiful. The icing on the cake is that it’s a bound book but still lays flat.

Side note: These Frixion pens are my favorite! They are ERASABLE. I’m not a fan of pencil, but need something erasable for planning. These pens are the tea!

In other words, if you’re looking for a new planner, Tidbits Day Planner comes with my highest recommendation. You’ll find more about it here.

Meal Prep Containers – As I mentioned above, I’ve been trying to be more conscious about what I eat. The end of 2019 was not good for my waistline. Even though I don’t have a full meal prep schedule, I’ve been trying to make meals and snacks ahead when I can. I purchased these meal prep containers from Amazon and have been so impressed with them. (I purchased a set of the single compartment ones and a set with double compartments.)

I use the containers to store overnight oats. I also cut up fruits and veggies so there’s something healthy to grab when I’m feeling peckish. When I’m cooking dinner, I try to prepare 3 or 4 portions so that I have a few meals ready to go. This is a huge time saver since I don’t have to prepare a full meal and clean up after it every evening.

Of course, you don’t need these specific containers; any container will do. But I have been using these daily and love them, so I thought they were worth mentioning.

Crafting:

I’ve partnered with Brother Crafts, and over the next few months, will be using their new ScanNCut machine. (It’s similar to a Circuit or Silhouette. With it, you can cut patterns, designs, labels, etc. from paper, felt, vinyl, etc. It’s a cool machine.

I’ll be sharing several different crafts over on my Instagram page. (You can see the first one here.) If there is anything you’d like to see or think I should create, please tell me in the comments below. I’ve had the itch to craft so I think this machine is going to be fun to play with.

Currently Reading:

I’ve said this on the blog many times: I love books but don’t consider myself a big reader. (I do admit I love listening to books on Audible.) However, one of my goals this year is to cut down on my phone time. So almost every night I’ve been reading at least a half of an hour before lights out. It’s been one of the best new habits. For my first book, I decided to read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I just started it a few weeks ago, and I’m already more than halfway through the book! (This is a big personal accomplishment.) I’ve been engrossed in the story and my new habit. (As you can see from my bedside table, my next book is The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. I’ve heard wonderful things about that book, too!)

Listening to:

I also recently started listening to a few podcasts. There are thousands of podcasts, which feels a bit overwhelming to me, but I found a few (5 or 6 at the moment) that I’m enjoying so much. I listen to them when I’m in the car or the kitchen. I was also excited to discover I can play them through my Sonos speakers (which I love) via Spotify. At some point, I will share all of them with you, but the one I’m loving at the moment is The Creative Exponent podcast. It’s hosted by Marian of Miss Mustard Seed and Shaunna of Perfectly Imperfect. I greatly admire both of these women and thoroughly enjoy their conversation and thoughts on creativity. If you’re in a creative field or want to tap into your creative side, give their podcast a listen!

What I’m Watching:

And finally, I’ve been watching a few television shows as well. I don’t watch much TV, but I wanted to find a couple of things for those times I want to hang out on the couch. And while I’m a little late to the party, I have been greatly enjoying Stranger Things. In actuality, I started watching it about a year ago, and for one reason or another stopped after about 7 episodes. Typically, I’m not a sci-fi person, and it does get a bit spooky and gruesome at times, but overall I love it!

I’ve also recently fallen back in love with Superstore. This was one of my favorite shows, but I hadn’t watched the past two seasons. I’ve now been catching up while on the elliptical. It’s been a good way to force some much-needed exercise upon myself. Any other Superstore fans out there? Cheyenne makes me laugh out loud every episode. I love her character!

And that’s a wrap on this first What’s the Tea post of 2020! I hope you’ve enjoyed catching up on what’s happening over here. Have a wonderful week!