Check This Out Corner
Every blog post features a "Check This Out Corner" at the bottom of the post. These are recommendations for anything and everything (entertainment, food, activities, hobbies, and more), which usually coincides with the topic (although it doesn't always). These are some things we think you will like or could potentially change your life.... not to be dramatic or anything.
Although we highly recommend reading each blog post to see each recommendation, The Corner is the one-stop shop for things you should check out, in our humble opinion.
One of my favorite books:
You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
by: Jen Sincero
A fantastic 2000's movie:
A Cinderella Story with Chad Michael-Murray and Hillary Duff
One of my favorite books:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab. This book was so beautifully written, I wish I could reread it for the first time. The plot will make you appreciate what you have in your life. I am grateful for this book
A throwback song:
You King of Anything by Sara Bareilles
A classic throwback song that lives rent-free in my head.
A very short & powerful read:
The Butterfly Effect
by Andy Andrews
A calming video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP3A3jReX6A
A video that helps me release some mental fog (crown chakra)
A song to dance to:
Happy by Pharrell Williams
I know you have heard it, but blast that today. Sing the words as loud as you can. Literally, dance like nobody's watching. Be Happy.
One of the best songs ever:
I Lived by OneRepublic.
I hope it reminds you I love you and all I hope you get in your life (including love). Play this at my funeral.
A body product:
Stress Relief Eucalyptus scent from Bath and Body Works.
It has a green label, and it works wonders.
An incredible book series:
The Series of Unfortunate Events books
I loved them as a kid and even re-reading them as an adult brings me joy. Hopefully the Baudelaire orphans teach you a little bit about making the best of the worst.
A children's book for adults:
You Are Special by Max Lucado
Remember that no one else can make you feel ANYTHING without your consent. Adults learn more from this book than kids do.
A helpful list:
Military One Sources guide to sending care packages to deployed soldiers.
Know a solider who is away? Don't know a solider who is away? Send a care package anyway, its the least we can do for those who do so much for us
A time management system:
These seriously have been a game changer in helping me with the formation of habits and making sure that I don't “start them tomorrow.”
A helpful tool:
www.checkfresh.com
When you enter the batch number of a beauty product, it tells you when the batch was created. This helped me find bottles of lotion still lurking in my backlog that had been expired for YEARS. Your body deserves better than trying to use up expired stuff, toss it
A classic and timeless book:
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
One of my favorite books of all time and the decal on my MacBook. Remember that being too much of the boy or too much of the tree isn't okay. Friendships are intended to be symbiotic. If it's toxic then leaf (see what I did there?)
A magical calming soundscape:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD5o9codaXg
I listen to things like this all the time when I need to really focus on something. This Forest Witch Bookshop sound has quickly become one of my favorites for the magic it brings. It's what I listened to while writing this blog post
An organizational service:
The Modest Home
The brand new Home section of our website and the brand new The Modest Home Facebook page and Instagram.
A life staple:
Water. Plain ole, good for you water.
Water doesn’t need to look a certain way to be important, and neither do you. Drink some water and remember who you are
A new hobby:
Journaling.
Get a journal and write down five things you are grateful for each day.
My personal favorites are Archer and Olive journals, but if you're a digital person, the notes app works just as great, too.
A cozy game:
Stardew Valley.
One of my favorite video games of all time. It is a steal at the price point and there's so much to do that one might never complete it.
A relationship changer:
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
Learning how someone in your life expresses love and how they want to receive it can help rework your relationship from feeling one-sided. There is a free quiz online, and I promise it is worth taking.
A cool human:
Loewhaley on TikTok is incredible when it comes to handling situations in the workplace.
Even if you don't have any coworker drama, it's a great laugh mixed with an oooh burn. Toodaloo!
An inspirational speech:
Brene Brown, one of the greats, on the topic of boundaries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WpdsRPzKco
A few ways to learn about you:
Learn about yourself, you are someone worth getting to know.
A crucial part of relationships:
The Five Apology Languages by Garry Chapman (founder of The Five Love Languages)
You are going to mess up in relationships, that's given. Apologizing to your partner in the way that they need to hear it takes effort.
A perfect product:
Pinch Me Therapy Dough
Not only is it fun and relaxing to play with, but it can serve as a five-second pause prior to sharing something that you maybe shouldn't.
An important number:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
You are not alone. You will survive. You matter
An important decision:
BetterHelp: Online Therapy.
Check out the option to get help from the couch in your pjs, there are also tons of discount codes to save you money. Wine pairs well with therapy.
A cool app:
Reflectly: A Journal of Happiness
This is an app that asks you a question a day and allows you to reflect on your mood and the day's events. I know that future me will be grateful to be able to look back at the writings of past me.
A powerful read:
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
A loved book on the path to becoming a better, more enlightened person who lives for the moment and doesn't take one second of life for granted.
An impactful read:
90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life by Don Piper and Cecil Murphey
I read this book a few years ago and it has still been impactful on me years later. If this is something you're interested in, there is a life after this one. Read about a man who saw it.
A refreshing beverage:
Pabst Blue Ribbon - have one in honor of my grandfather, he will be cheers-ing you up in heaven.
Bonus points if you do so wearing plaid.
A perfect classic movie:
The movie Dirty Dancing.
Its a classic if you have never seen it and it is just as great the second time around. Drink a Pepsi while you watch it for bonus points.
An uplifting news network:
A luxurious self-care product:
A gateway fantasy series:
A Court of Thorns and Roses.
I will never stop recommending this series to people. It is one of my all-time favorites.
“To the people who look at the stars and wish” “To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered."
A world to keep exploring:
The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
I have recommended more books than anything in this portion of my blog to date. I recommend today the series that started it all.
To the little girl who read over one million words, we are at millions and counting now.
A sweet treat:
A belt it out song:
A free resource:
Zola
A website that made planning our wedding much easier at the high price of $0.00.
A perfect creature:
Snuggles from a kitten.
Listen, I don't make the rules around here, but I am just saying, it hasn't made me sadder yet. *shrug*
A underutilized skill:
A tool for adults too:
Reward charts.
Not just for children, and surprisingly inspirational. My current reward is a bottle of wine and reading one of my favorite books to my husband. That is totally worth folding some clothes for.
A relaxing good for you drink:
If you ever need a pick-me-up there's nothing like a warm cup of cheer to make you feel just a little better.
A great hair product:
Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask
I started using this and I am obsessed with it. It makes my hair feel so soft and strong. It is a step that I have added and actually look forward to completing, which is a win-win for me!
A helpful service:
Modern Fertility.
Not only was I able to do fertility testing from the comfort of my own home, but all ovulation tests and pregnancy tests can be scanned and uploaded into the app. You can log all symptoms and have it generate clear records for your medical professionals. Best of all, it's free.
A classic Disney movie:
Toy Story.
If you haven’t seen it, where is the rock you live under? Not only is it great at highlighting changes and overcoming hardships (not limited to Space Ranger challenges), but it is totally Andy Vixen approved (If you KNOW you know.)
An inspiring organization:
A curated playlist:
Baby Einstein's Free Spotify Playlist
If you have kids or even if you don't, classical music is great for everyone.
As said in the Disney Pixar Movie The Incredibles, “Who is ready for some neurological stimulation?”
A new recommendation soon:
A new blog post is on the way, and along with it, a new addition to The Corner!
A new recommendation soon: