A self-love list, an island murder getaway, and the cutest crimson songs

This week’s giveaway is Kiley Reid’s hot new release ‘Come and Get It’.

Happy Valentine’s (or Galentines’) eve!

The heart emojis and googly eyes are in the air, as is the anticipation of festival season in my city. Adelaide crams every imaginable festival into March, which is a fab idea for attracting tourists, but as a local, I sure wish they were spread out more. Our Fringe Festival starts mid-Feb, Writers’ Week is early March, and the Adelaide Festival is slathered in there too.

Think tonnes of circus, cabaret, theatre, exhibitions, comedians, musicians, art installations, and all manner of other creative events. I’ve been browsing the guides and I’m keen to catch some shows, so it’ll be a busy month or two.

But back to Valentine’s Day. I thought it would be nice to compile a little list of self-love activities for those not coupled up for tomorrow... or even if you are but could do with some pampering. Because whether it’s festival season or not, it’s time for taking care of yourself and enjoying yourself.

So, check that out below instead of the usual news section as something different for this week. : )

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The Self-love List <3

A few perk-me-ups for anytime and always:

• List your positive attributes

• Write a note to an old friend, even if you don’t send it

• Enrol in a free course – useful or outrageous

• Buy a new flavour of tea

• Write lists of your favourite things and vow to incorporate more of them into every day

• Brainstorm how could you inject more humour into your week – write funny notes to a friend, watch a stand-up comic on YouTube, join an improv group?

• Find your happy place – your garden, a comfy chair, under a tree at the park

• Schedule a future self-love day in your diary

• Buy new cheery fuzzy socks for winter

• What hidden out-of-control drawer or messy nook of your house gives you nightmares? Make a plan to declutter it, little by little

• Consider asking for help – maybe there’s an online support group?

• Join (or start!) a book club

• Plan a themed gathering with friends

• Find out how to wind down better with an improved nighttime routine

• Job bugging you? Update your resume and check out positions vacant, even if you’re not yet ready to plunge back into the job pool

• Who’s the most positive, encouraging person you know? Spend some time with them

• Write a love letter to yourself

• Schedule a health check-up because you’re worth it

• Create a new/improved budget or meal plan

• Say a kind no to something you don’t want to do – not great at it? Research how to set healthy boundaries and escape the cycle of people-pleasing

• Write down your successes, however you define them

• Visit a planetarium or sit outside and count the stars

• Search online for the music that’s best for boosting happiness and listen to it

• Reignite your passion for a pastime you used to love, and take a step towards folding it back into your life

• List all the good things in your life – big and small

• Launch a campaign to trial new things – all the nearby burger joints, finding a new exercise class, the best cupcake flavour from your local store

• Plan out your ideal date day/night and take yourself on it this weekend

• Read a book about self-love or boosting your confidence

Reviews

1.     A few months back, I was stung by a bee. I still have a large faint purple mark on my calf to prove it. More recently, a mosquito bite randomly turned into a blister and left a red welt on my Achilles. Safe to say, flying creatures hate me and my body isn’t too fond of them. With all this in mind, I tried a tester of the Sans [ceuticals] Activator 7 Body + Hair + Face Oil, available from MECCA. The oil claims, in a cruelty-free formulation, to moisturise, increase skin elasticity, and ‘aid in the treatment of dermatitis, eczema and compromised skin’. It can also be used as a hair serum, shave oil, and eye make-up remover, apparently. A one-stop shop! Well, I applied it straight out of a bath on my legs and it was a nice, light-smelling oil. My legs did seem to look less crinkly afterwards, but at the price ($60 for 250ml) I couldn’t help wondering if Bio-Oil you can buy from chemists would achieve the same results for cheaper.

2.     I raced through The Guest List novel by Lucy Foley this week. A lavish wedding is held on an inhospitable island off the Irish coast (think bogs, an on-site cemetery, treacherous seas, scary bird calls, and wind howling through the eaves of the historic hotel). Old resentments and secrets surface and make for a murderous time in the style of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None (which I loved as a teenager). It’s told from multiple points of view and has a dual timeline going, but it’s done well and it is easy to follow who’s who and what’s happening when. I worked out part of the solution ahead of time, but not whodunnit. The ending ties up in a satisfying way and the book overall would be an excellent choice for readers who enjoy both gothic tales and crime fiction.

What I’m Feelin’ Right Now

• Rose scents

• Straw tote bags

• Being unafraid of people seeing me try

• Red patent loafers

• One-shoulder swimsuits

• Lemon slice

• Peach PRC’s ‘Perfect For You’

• Black lace bralettes

• Making my own clothes, despite being devoid of even the teensiest slice of seamstress talent

Giveaway

Last week’s giveaway, The Fiction Writer by Jillian Cantor, was won by Renee Ballantyne. Hooray! I’ve emailed you, Renee.

This week, you could win a copy of Come and Get It by Kiley Reid. Enter your name and email address here for a chance to win.

Playlist of the Week

For St Val’s Day we wear red: