The A List - February Favourites
Dear February, you've come & gone now.
...but you've left me with a fair few favourites.
Quote of the month::
:: Lesson Learnt
-To enjoy the everyday mundane, the storms as well as basking in the sunshine.
-Start. Just start. Anything. Before you're ready.
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For a lot of people, February can be a bit of a dreary month.
For me, it's a birthday month.
And we all know what that means..
I'm pretty sure the words 'cake' and 'birthday'
manage to disturb even the healthiest of new year's resolutions
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Though my birthday 'wish list' was slightly different this year,
I was still spoiled with a lot of love & some very 'Ana' presents...not to mention a lot of cake!
Below are a few gifts that I would highly recommend for any camera-loving, book fanatic since this month, I've managed to surround myself with *even more* books!
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To say I squealed when I received this beauty would be an understatement!
My friends know, I am most probably the happiest when behind a camera & I had been eyeing up a Lomography camera for a while.
I've already spent a fair amount of time playing around and I cannot wait to see how the film comes out.
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::The Books
One of my absolute joys in life is reading.
Growing up as an only child, meant much of my alone time was spent with a nose firmly in a book.
Who needed imaginary friends when you could read to your heart's content and transport yourself to a mystical land of adventure?!
Recently though, I've really become hooked on non-fiction.
Here are some absolute gems for all occasions.
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To :: Inspire, Warm & Motivate Your Heart
'Thank You' - By BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live
I wrote about 'Thank you' in my last post but I really cannot get enough of it.
It's usually after an exhausting day or it's just plain dreary outside that this little heart-warmer can lighten one's heart. There's something just so special in sharing in on another person's heartfelt gratitude.
This book is definitely one to restore some faith in humanity.
Start Something That Matters - Blake Mycoskie
Learning about the journey that Blake Mycoskie went on to make international brand TOMS a success is just so inspiring. It's really reminded me just how capable the human spirit can be and how making a difference in the world is really possible from one tiny seed of an idea. This book will leave you fired up & focused.
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For :: Nutrition & Healthy Eating
Deliciously Ella - Ella Woodward
These two little wonders have been quite eye-opening.
A couple of years ago, I'd heard the utterances of 'The Alkaline Diet' and just disregarded them as fads.
Ella Woodward's story though resonates with me. As a girl that strove to take her health into her own hands, her recipe book is a result of her own delicious experiments. For a lot of people, switching to a purely plant-based diet would seem quite daunting and Ella appreciates this. As with a lot of things in life, it's perhaps better to focus on the positives rather than the negatives; she encourages you to first add 1 or 2 portions of plant-based foods to each meal rather than feel you must take other foods out.
With many of my friends gluten intolerant or dairy free, Ella's book has inspired me to become a bit more open to the fact that tasty food doesn't need to contain gluten, dairy or even refined sugar.
Eat Pretty has taught me a lot of health benefits about food I really wasn't aware of and is the perfect accompaniment for anyone that wants to educate themselves about the food around them.
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For :: Reflecting & The Soul
The Little Book of Mindfulness - Tiddy Rowan
What I Know Now, Letters to My Younger Self - Ellyn Spragins
These two books are easy to slip in and out of. I warn you though, once you start your beverage of choice may become cold and as you pore over the pages and try and absorb as much wisdom as possible from the pages.
Perfect coffee table pieces, even more appropriate accompanied with said coffee but both invite a lovely feeling of peace and contentment within the reader.
Any other books or favourites you'd recommend?
Until the next time,
Namaste | from Ananya xo