The Alphabets of [Little Things That Make My Day]

Hi, everyone!

I'm starting a new series today, featuring the A to Zs of all things that help make my day! The insignificant subjects or unimportant places may seem irrelevant sometimes, but together, they might just put a smile back on your face, be what lifts you up or give you the push to move forward! I consider myself a rather optimistic person, but there are days when I just need a little help. Well, don't we all?

So here it goes, starting from A, B and C!

[A] rt Museums

I'm not an artist but I appreciate all forms of art. The best thing about living in New York is being surrounded by the many museums and galleries. Big or small, they all have the ability to take me on an inspiring journey. The visits are often stress-relieving and enjoyable for me.

There were a few times when a visit during lunch break to a nearby exhibition turned my day around. I guess it is similar to pressing a reset button. Being in places like a museum makes me forget about what was bothering me for a little while; it allows me to clear my mind before I return to reality and deal with it.

This was taken in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love paintings of paintings.

Spending an afternoon in an art museum over the weekends often makes me look forward to the new week. And when I travel, I like spending time in various galleries, too. There is just something so refreshing about going to a place surrounded by art - it's like going to a yoga retreat for my mind!

[B] racelets

I love wearing bracelets for many reasons, but one of them is because I can actually see them whenever I look down! If you think about it, you can only see your earrings and necklaces in a mirror, but not bracelets (and rings)!

Sometimes I see earrings and necklaces as accessories that are worn for others, while my arm candies are for me, and myself. To be honest, I play with my bracelets when I'm nervous, so I think having something on my wrists just naturally calms me.

When I was younger, I would buy whatever that looks nice, but as I grew older, I started saving up for quality, long-lasting pieces that are worth the investment.

One of my current favorite jewelry brands is Monica Vinader from the U.K. The brand is relatively new to the U.S. market. In fact, they only opened their first store less than a year ago in New York. I actually knew about the brand back in college, when I studied in the U.K., so I was really excited when I came across the store in Soho. If you're ever in the neighborhood, check them out at 151 Spring Street!

[C] andles

Ah. The scent of a good candle.

One of the first things I do when I get home from a long day is lighting a candle (or two). I love having them when I'm taking a bath, eating dinner, watching tv, reading etc., everything becomes more enjoyable somehow!

I'm sure most of you are aware of Jo Malone and Diptyque candles, so I don't need to tell you how amazing they are. What I do want to share with you, however, is two great candles I recently came across.

The first one is The Mojito from Malin + Goetz. My husband sometimes points out how some candles smell way too sweet to him, but he actually really likes this one. So, this might be a good one if you're in a co-ed space.

The second one is the Castanha from Natura Brasil, a big Brazilian beauty brand. I just visited their New York store on Elizabeth Street for the first time yesterday, and fell in love with the candle collection they have!