A favorite children’s book of mine anytime but especially around Valentines.

Love this app with trainer guided workouts + playlists!  I adore wellness almost as much as photography so I could talk about mindful movement, yoga, green smoothies…any and all of it forever but to keep it brief, if you love to move, this is fun to check out.

Use the code: MELANIEMAUERCLUB for a month instead of the typical 7 days (no kickback from aaptiv, i’m just thrilled at this new workout option)…if you’ve been to a boutique gym with a trainer who guides the workout, you’ll see this is super similar.  except you get to set the time.  and it’s $10/month rather than $100+.  use the trial to see what you think!  (signing up on your phone can be quirky – doing it online was more seamless)

I’m particular about music (I want mention of women to be in a positive light, etc…hmmm, that doesn’t seem like it should be considered particular but it can narrow the list!). Aaptiv doesn’t always knock it out of the park for me on that end but it’s strides better than some gyms i’ve gone, too.

This blog post helped me understand the app (feel free to use her code – it’s also for a month!) – I use the advanced classes in strength/treadmill mostly.  I love being able to pair a 30 min run with 30 minutes of strength training.

I lost my old one so I downsized to the 12oz insulated  Klean Kanteen and I’ve been so glad I did – it’s completely portable inside a bag!  I still prefer a lidded tumbler with straw for home but this is great for on-the-go.

This non-profit that began 30 years ago in Britain has been turning my head.

Generally, they begin by turning around a school.  And then that action builds into other ancillary services provided within a community.  The founder, Steve Chalke, has written extensively and I can’t wait to read some of his books.  They’ve now grown to serve in many other countries and they have a small presence in the US.

Simplicity leads me to prefer having just one of something – but it can be a bit of a patient search to find what fits the bill.

I was looking for a pen/pencil combo (so i didn’t need to carry both)…and after a few that didn’t work out, this one made specifically for military aviators who needed these three functions (there’s also a red pen for underlining) nailed it. It’s durable & slim – and because I’ve been happily using it for several months, I wanted to pass it along in case you’d like it as well.

Most days during winter, I start work by lighting a candle on my desk. Petite pleasures make a day feel luxurious and this one also brings focus and hygge.   Do you have an absolute favorite candle?  Do tell!!  (In an attempt not to be a candle hoarder, I’m temporarily out of this one while I use the others I’m delighted to have come by).

Candles seem like the perfect indulgence for this time of year!

I’ve invited you in to the interior of our bathroom drawers it seems – but I so appreciate the practical & functional that it was only a matter of time :)

Love this simple little file – and yes, if I could wave a wand over everything in the house and have it white, I probably would (excluding Audrey’s room of course because she loves color to the nth degree…and I adore her for it).

My friend, Rebeckah shared this me with at least two years ago…but on a preview I thought it wouldn’t work because certain items that arrive in my inbox are sorted for my production manager, Kalie (emails from our lab and such).

On a closer look, I realized you select the items to ‘roll’ and I’ve been delighted how it’s simplified email.

I sometimes find myself on email lists because of a store purchase – so I unsubscribe.  But then with another purchase, I’m back on the list again…and even after using those unsubscribe buttons at the bottom, my email can still hold more than i care for.   Unroll.me is perfect!

There are a handful of subscriptions I really appreciate so they come straight to the inbox but otherwise Unroll.me makes  simple work of scanning the days email, creating a visual digest and leaving the inbox clear for notes from you :)

Happy February!!  xoxo, -melanie-