Have I mentioned how much I love putting these lists together? Sometimes they are fluffy and fun, and sometimes they’re a little more serious and make me realize just how much I’ve actually accomplished over the past few months.
Koneko Cat Cafe
Cat cafes are more popular in Japan, but they have recently made the jump to the States and are a great way to get your fur fix when you can’t have a pet of your own. Besides the usual coffee, tea, snacks and felines, Koneko also had a monitor with short biographies of each cat. Koneko partners with several animal shelters in the area and all the cats at the cafe are available for adoption. One of the staff said that they had at least two adoptions a week! While I can’t adopt a cat anytime soon (the Italian is allergic) I will certainly be making another visit.
Self Defense Training with Prepare Inc.
On a less warm and fuzzy note, I recently co-hosted a self-defense class for NY Women in Tech with Prepared Inc. It was incredibly intense but very informative and hands-on and the instructors were able to pack a lot of information into the three-hour session. We learned how to de-escalate a situation, prevent yourself from becoming a target, assist as a bystander, and of course, physical self-defense. Obviously, I hope that I never have to use these skills. But I also believe in expecting the best and but preparing for the worst, and I can’t recommend one of Prepare Inc.’s classes enough for that reason.
Skin Laundry
My skin is incredibly finicky and problematic. You have probably gathered by now that I’m willing to try just about anything once while searching for a miracle fix, and a not insignificant portion of my budget is devoted to derm visits, medication, and monthly facials to keep things under control. So when a friend of mine recommended Skin Laundry as an alternative to a traditional facial, I was willing to give it a shot. There are plenty of detailed reviews online about the experience, but in short, I was very pleased with the results and even more pleased about being able to halve my monthly facial budget and time commitment.
The Women’s March on Washington
What can I say? If you haven’t heard of this march you were probably living under a rock during the month of January. But in case you missed it, here’s the full post along with my list of resources.
Kombucha
I have a few friends who brew and while I would rather have a vodka martini or a whiskey over a beer any day, their passion for the process is contagious. Pair that with a taste for kombucha (and the fact that it can cost $5 a bottle, ouch!) and I decided to try my hand at brewing my own. I followed this simple tutorial, and have found that it really couldn’t be a simpler or more pleasant process. I definitely recommend giving it a try if you routinely shell out for kombucha at the grocery store.
So tell me, what were the highlights from your winter season?
The post The Short List: Winter appeared first on Pixel Perfect.
