April went by so fast, I can’t believe I’m writing another edition of “Things I’m Loving Lately.” I hope so far you are enjoying this series! It’s been great for me to run this series to find things that are new that I can still love during this quarantine. I always think to myself “what would be on this list if we were not in quarantine?” Unfortunately, we will never know! I just have to focus on the present and things that I can find small joys in!
In this April recap of things I’ve been loving lately, I’ll share a new desk item that’s been a game changer in my productivity, my favorite drink and new favorite TV shows!
New desk monitor
In April, I was looking for a bigger second desk monitor because the one I had before was about 13”. It was a size that was helpful to have as a backup on days where I had to work from home in the before life, but now that we’re in “who knows when this will be over” WFH life, I needed something to replicate my desk setup in the office. I was missing my desk at work! I caved in and invested in a bigger monitor; it’s been LIFE CHANGING! I got the Sceptre 24” curved monitor with the HDMI cable. I love this sleek, curved monitor because it looks really nice and I can have two reports up on a split screen on my second monitor and have my email and Slack up on my laptop screen. I can work on reports faster and have a bigger view so I’m not spending time scrolling or losing my spot in what I’m viewing. This monitor was definitely worth the investment; it’s important for me to be able to create the comfortable environment that I had in the office so I can continue to be productive and efficient!
Decaffeinated milk tea
I love coffee so much; I 100% have a caffeine addiction. I would never do those “no coffee for 30 days” challenges because I would never put my body through that withdrawal torture! But, I did want to reduce my coffee intake because in quarantine, it’s very easy to drink multiple cups of coffee throughout the day. When I need an afternoon pick me up, it’s less about the caffeine and more about the trigger that coffee gives me in the morning. There’s something about a hot drink that helps me sit down and concentrate for a long period of time. So, I’ve been resorting to decaffeinated milk teas. I am reducing my caffeine intake so that I only drink one cup of coffee a day and I’m still getting that afternoon pick me up that I’m looking for. If I have an afternoon milk tea, I won’t have one at night. But, on days when I don’t have an afternoon milk tea, I’ll always have milk tea at night while I’m relaxing and watching TV. I have two decaffeinated tea options: Earl Gray from Bigelow and Chai from Twinings. I put a decent helping of honey and a splash of whole milk to keep it sweet and creamy. It’s delicious and makes me feel focused when I need it or cozy when I’m prepping for bed!
Dave, #blackAF, and The Last Dance
I’m obsessed with these new shows that have come out recently:
Dave: This scripted comedy series follows the life of David Burd aka rapper Lil Dicky. If you don’t know who Lil Dicky is, go look up his songs on Spotify! If you do know who he is, watch Dave! It’s a well written, well casted, and well shot show that shows Dave navigating the music industry with his friends and convincing the world that he’ll be the best rapper alive. I laughed throughout this whole season and I can’t wait for a second season! You can watch Dave on Hulu.
#blackAF: This is another scripted comedy series on Netflix that seems to be loosely based off of television writer, Kenya Barris, life who is most famously known for creating the hit ABC show, Black-ish and it’s spin-off shows. This show is filmed “Keeping up with the Kardashian” style by one of Kenya’s daughters who is trying to get into film school; highlighting what it’s like growing up in a rich, black household and how her parents navigate parenting and the world around them. I will say it’s probably not a show for everyone, but for someone like me who loves anything that is overdramatized and puts a comedic spin on serious topics, I’m all for it.
The Last Dance: This basketball docu-series that showcases Michael Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s is amazing! If you love MJ and love (and miss) basketball, then please watch The Last Dance. It has everything you need in a great sports documentary: talented players, sketchy business management and all the drama that comes with it! I was extremely young (mostly not even alive) during this time period so I definitely had no idea the true greatness of Michael Jordan (and all the other players during this time) until watching this documentary. You can watch The Last Dance on ESPN.
You can find more posts in this series by clicking here. What are things that you’ve been loving lately that are new to you? Leave in the comments below!