February Favorites | “Start The Month With” Series

Hello and Welcome to JGC blog!

To those who are not familiar with this series, the theme is to share  the very best of all the things I find amusing, weird, helpful and beautiful in life.

Full disclaimer:  I may not do this every month, the number of my favorites may vary each month and it won’t always be the same items. For example instead of featuring a book, I might feature a podcast I gleefully enjoyed or instead of featuring a movie, I might feature a TV show. I can talk about cosmetic products as well as places to travel. It’s a melting pot of varieties but it’s always going to be honest.

As February is here and it brings the cold, the snow and an intense craving of my warm bed. In the midst of those delightful feelings, here are the few items I want to share:

• Movie of the month

“My Father’s Glory” or originally titled “La Gloire de mon Père” is a wonderful, wonderful movie. It’s also an old one, I was one year old when it came out in 1990.

I must have watched it at least a dozen time all through my childhood and I never got tired of it. It brings so many good, warm and nostalgic emotions in me. As a small child, I remember how much it influenced me to be adventurous, clever and loving.

This movie was based on the novel “My father’s glory” written by Marcel Pagnol, who was an iconic French novelist that delighted my early years of existence and still influence my writing to this day.

I won’t give away too much because I really hope you’ll want to watch it yourself, but if you enjoy the father/son relationship as well as mischievous scenes of exploration and adventures in the wilderness, all of this lived by a young, clever and sweet boy, then this movie is for you. It’s also a beautiful lesson on what family, love and pride means.

Oh and if you are not convinced, it has 100% on rotten tomatoes. 

• Beauty Product of the month

I’m the type of girl that is deeply into skin care product and routines because I’m too lazy to put on make-up everyday. So, I must admit than I know more about the skin care mumbo-jumbo than your average person. I’m no beauty guru though. I just like to test out and adjust what I use on my face based on what works for me.

I’ve being using the Mattifying Primer by 100% Pure for three months and just to clarify, I don’t put make-up after applying it, I just wear it as it is. (After putting on three other selected and beneficial skin care products).

This primer is awesome. I was skeptical at the beginning because I’ve heard and read so many positive reviews about it that it made me suspicious… I thought, “Darn, those people must have been paid to say this stuff” and then I started developing a very high expectation for the product when I finally got around to order it.

However, when arrived and tested out, it did not disappoint and kept its advertised promises.

First, this is a cruelty free and all natural product because I’m trying to avoid chemical on my face. Isn’t that always a plus?

This primer has really diminish my pores in a record time with daily use. It also leaves my skin feeling softer than any other product I have ever used.  It feel like silicon but it’s silicon-free and it did not cause any break-out on me. I’ve experimented less oil during the day too, it’s definitely not drying and my face just feels rejuvenated.

My only annoyance is the price which I find expensive but I cannot say that I regret buying this product, so if you are looking for a good primer, go test it out.

• Food of the month

Pelmeni, Pelmeni, Pelmeni! Oh Lord, how I love this food!

Pelmeni are one of the most famous Russian dish ever, it might look like Italian raviolis but it’s way better, trust me!

Pelmeni are dumplings stuffed with whatever meat you want. In my case I only enjoy lamb meat in them. It’s so good, it melts into the mouth, it’s salty, buttery and tender and sooooo wonderful!

Many variations can be made when you prepare this dish but generally the sauce in which the dumplings are basking in all of their glory is made with heavy cream and melted butter.

Not the most healthy meal there is but who cares when it’s that good?

If you want to try and cook it yourself, I have found the perfect pelmeni receipt for you The Spruce website.

If you’re not feeling confident in your culinary abilities, just google the nearest Russian restaurant where you can eat those!

• App of the Month

Honestly,  this deserves to be app of the year. 

I cannot get over how great the Wunderlist app has been for me since I’ve started using it, especially as a blogger.

Like all writers and creators, I’ve experienced writers block and loss of my muse. Sometimes, after a long day at work, I cannot even remember what I wanted to write about or what I wanted to edit or read or watch.

It’s so easy to lose track of your ideas and projects… or even your dreams. It’s so easy to get demotivated.

I can truthfully tell you that Wunderlist has done wonder to fix those issues for me.

I realized that organizing my thoughts and tasks in files and lists helps me actually accomplish them and in a timely order at that. It’s also a fun way to do it.

Most importantly, I don’t forget my writing ideas anymore, like ever. Now, whenever a random subject or idea pop into my mind, I immediately put it in one of the created list dedicated to my muse lit!

If you have trouble staying motivated or if you lose your focus and inspiration too easily, this app might be for you.

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Alright, well that is all for my February favorites! I hope you enjoyed this article and I hope to see y’all for the next post on this series! Stay safe and stay magical.

🙂

Find the last post of the “Start The Month With” Favorites Series here.

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