A round-up of all the highlights and discoveries of the month.
Favorite Book: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. From the 2nd page of this book, I found myself constantly nodding as if I were reading my own thoughts better articulated than I would ever be capable of. Anyone who has ever followed that small voice inside urging them to create something has surely experienced the struggles Gilbert describes, from the terrifying fear through self-doubts and creative blocks and the ever-looming danger of failure. Still, that small voice usually never fades away and this book is full of inspiring and motivating speeches, funny, semi-believably spiritual stories as well as practical advice for how to keep going if we ever lose faith in our own creativity.
Favorite shopping experience: Cosmetic Love. Living in Budapest, a beautiful Central European city has many advantages. Beauty shopping opportunities are not one of them, so I am heavily dependent on online shopping (#firstworldproblems). Ordering some beauty products from South Korea was, however, a first for me as well, but it turned out to be a major success. Cosmetic Love is fully stocked with great Korean products, reliable (much more than some Amazon sellers), and my package was here within a week. Very much recommended. The products are still being tested, but look out for a long post on the Korean skincare philosophy in the coming weeks.
Favorite podcast episode: John Crowley — The Real-Life Captain America and Bruce Banner (Seriously) on the Tim Ferris Show. I’m a huge of the Tim Ferris Show. He conducts great in-depth interviews with some of the most fascinating people of our times, it’s no wonder it’s often among the most popular podcasts on iTunes. John Crowley is one of those incredibly fascinating everyday heroes. He was an Ivy League graduate with a stellar business career ahead of him, when two of his three children were diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. So he left his job and started, as he put it, a race against time, to find a cure for them. It’s really impossible to give justice to his story in a couple of lines, so check it out for yourself. Its a long one, but is worth every minute, it might be one of the most powerful and emotional podcasts I’ve ever heard.
Favorite eco-friendly tool: Contigo glass water container. I try to reduce my use of plastic in all walks of life, and this little bottle is a great help with that effort. Glass water bottles are the most healthy and eco-friendly options out there. This one also looks great, which I think, however shallow that might sound, is an important factor. I’m glad to see that more and more companies realize that design can have a major positive effect on influencing consumer behavior.
Favorite make-up product: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown. The allure of well-shaped and groomed brows cannot be overemphasized. Anastasia is the queen of brows, and this little jar can be a great product for brows, if used right. It is quite pigmented and quite strong, so only a tiny amount must be used. After some less than successful attempts of heavily overcolored eyebrows, I mastered the technique – the trick is to use your hand as a palette first and loosen up the color, otherwise it will be too strong. But the end result is simply amazing, invisible correction of brows that stays all day long.
Favorites from around the Internet.
+ Confessions of an Instagram Influencer. I used to post cat photos. Then a marketing agency made me a star by Max Chafkin
+ 2 small apartments, proving that size does not matter when it comes to stylish interiors: from Coco Lapine and Desire to Inspire.
+ A Reading Guide For Designers Who Want To Write (not only for designers)
+ New furniture brand Les Basic by Alexander Lotersztain wants to help millenials slow down
+ The Fast Company Winners of the 2017 World Changing Ideas Awards
What were your favorites this month?
