All posts by Beth Berger

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About Beth Berger

Hi there! Finding Delight is a lifestyle and lifelong learning blog written and curated by me in Alabama. Along the way, I attempt to tackle the rough real world with books, budget-livin', brainpower and all the beautiful stuff you can find when you really look. Won't you join me? The true delight is in the finding out.

Review: Sprout VoxBox

Every day life, , , , , , , ,

sprout voxbox

Every once in a while the mail-box gods shine upon me and I find myself tearing into a new treat from Influenster. The Sprout VoxBox showed up on my doorstep a few days ago and I was so excited to see what was inside. Look at all the goodies!

Orgain Organic Protein Powder in Vanilla Bean – While I’m not a regular protein powder consumer, or smoothie drinker, every once in a while I like to try one out. This sample made for a great evening snack/treat mixed with a little almond milk. I love that this is a plant-based protein powder (some that contain dairy upset my tummy) that’s organic and soy free! I would recommend it to all the vegans in my life, especially considering the price tag. This one comes in at around 20 bucks a pound.

http://www.facebook.com/DrinkOrgain

http://www.instagram.com/DrinkOrgain

http://www.twitter.com/DrinkOrgain

Ecos Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent – I received this sample of laundry detergent in the Ecos signature scent Magnolia & Lily. It’s made with gentle, plant-derived ingredients and a built-in fabric softener so I don’t have to worry about any weird chemicals giving me skin irritation. Plus, it smells fantastic!

http://www.facebook.com/ECOSLaundry

http://www.instagram.com/ECOSLaundry

http://www.twitter.com/EFPClean

Hair Food Shampoo and Conditioner – This duo is part of Hair Food’s Moisture Collection, designed to soothe dry hair by adding hydration and shine. How do they do this? Honey essences. Sound weird? A little. Basically, the brand was inspired by the way honey soothes and revitalizes your body and decided to inject the same principle into their hair care. And it totally works! My hair felt and looked way healthier after a little Hair Food love.

http://www.twitter.com/HairFoodSamples

Eatsmart Tortilla Chips – I received a full size bag of the Eatsmart Three Bean Tortilla Chips and WOW! I was impressed before I even tore into the bag just by the nutrition info and the ingredients. The chips are made with pinto, navy, and black beans with 14g of whole grain, 2g of fiber and a recognizable ingredient list. And the taste didn’t disappoint either. I got the Garlic Hummus flavor…I love BOTH those things! A match made in heaven.

http://www.facebook.com/eatsmartsnacks

http://www.twitter.com/eatsmartsnacks 

Curate Bar – I LOVE bars, like Lara and Kind, that focus on real ingredients and interesting flavor combinations. The Curate bar I found in my box definitely took a page from my old favorites’ book. The flavor, Balsamic Fig & Hazelnut, is a part of Curate’s Dark & Tempting collection, just the sort of savory meets sweet snack my taste buds are always after. The bar is made of balsamic vinegar, mission figs, orange, hazelnuts, sunflower kernels, and quinoa and makes a delicious snack to tuck into your purse for when you’re on the go and hunger strikes.

http://facebook.com/CurateSnacks

http://instagram.com/CurateSnacks

http://twitter.com/CurateSnacks

Vichy LifActiv Serum and LifActiv Supreme – And these Vichy products are the pièce de résistance! I can not tell you how sold I am on this brand after just a few days of using these products. Admittedly, I’ve never used a dedicated anti-aging product before so I really have nothing to compare it to, but the LifActiv Supreme day cream is literally blowing my mind. I really only got into skin care in the last few years, coupled with the fact that I’ve turned 30 (eeks!) and like, it was probably time to try and reverse the damage of not taking great care of my face for so long while simultaneously preparing to, you know, keep getting older. So this product couldn’t have come at a better time. It soaks right into the skin, without feeling wet or tacky, and (I can’t tell if I’m making this up or not but I don’t think I am) has instant results. What sort of results? It smooths the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while brightening and firming the skin. All FINE with me!

http://facebook.com/VichyUSA

http://instagram.com/VichyUSA

http://twitter.com/VichyUSA

Overall this was a very fun box and I truly enjoyed all the contents! If you love trying new products and posting reviews, check out Influenster. It’s totally FREE to sign up! And who knows…the mail-box gods may choose to shine down on YOU next!

NOTE: I received all of these products complimentary for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

windshield view

I hope everyone is having a great week! Did you do anything fun over the weekend? On Saturday, Chet and I went to Arcade Odyssey and Tropical Park! I like the older games at the arcade–pinball, Tapper, Burger Time. We had never been to Tropical Park before, but as with all the parks we’ve encountered in Miami it was well maintained and lots of fun. I hope all the Mamas out there enjoyed their special day on Sunday! Now, let’s talk links! There’s a lot of long-form this week so grab a cup of tea and get comfortable…

I will literally read any article written about Mt. Everest.

A fascinating look at these famous sisters. (I had no idea about most of these details!)

bell hooks on Beyonce’s Lemonade. 

If you’ve seen the FX drama The Americans then you’ll love this article.

Freezer meals!

My favorite beauty blogger/YouTuber opens up about her 9 to 5.

Star Wars and Civil War medicine.

What to watch on Netflix this month.

Is Britney Spears ready to stand on her own?

A super easy weeknight dinner. (I made them the other night and they were delish!)

Monica Lewinsky turns her dark time into a force for good.

The right and wrong way to load a dishwasher.

What are you watching?

Media, , , , ,

nurse jackie gif

Hey guys! What have you been watching lately? We’re about to start the final season of Nurse Jackie. The first season initially made me wary. (Is this show just trying to be Weeds? Why watch a hospital drama that only delves deeply into one character?) But somewhere in the midst of the second season I found myself hooked. Turns out, the show is wildly addicting, veers off the Weeds formula fairly quickly, and has many lovable characters. Zoey (pictured above in the bunny scrubs) is my spirit animal.

Edie Falco stars as Nurse Jackie, a skilled nurse with a penchant for pills. She lies, steals, and bamboozles. She hurts her loved ones. But you end up rooting for her anyways.

The show is witty, smart and unpredictable. Anyway, the whole series is streaming on Netflix, and I’d highly recommend it.

nurse jackie gif 2

Now share what YOU are watching in the comments below! xoxo 

Derby-Inspired Accessories

Fashion, Style and Design, , , , ,

derby accessories collage

As I was born and raised in Kentucky, I couldn’t resist doing some sort of Derby round-up. While I would probably feel ridiculous with a fascinator strapped to my head (even though I’d love if that weren’t the case!), here are a few other Derby-inspired accessories that I think are just as swank and sweet!

First row: Gold horseshoe stud earrings, rose print cardigan, mint julep cup set

Second row: Galloping horse necklace, Breeder’s Cup crossbody, bow hat

Third row: Louisville racehorse shirt, oxfords, KY home earrings

Thoughts? Will you be tuning in to The Run for the Roses? 

Travel: 5 ways to float a river this summer.

Travel, , , , , , , , , ,

float the river portland

Have you ever hopped in a river and made a day of twisting and turning along a watery path? Was it a lazy affair in an inner tube (perhaps with a floating cooler attached by rope)? Or were you going for the gold on some harsh rapids? Just for fun, here are five fantastic ways to float down a river…in case you get the hankering this summer. I’m feeling inspired for a road-trip already! Ready, set, FLOAT…

Above: White water raft the White Salmon River in Portland, Oregon

float the river mexico

Life-jackets in the River of Xcaret in Riviera Maya, Mexico

float the river hawaii

Inner tube the Lihue Plantation canals in Kauai, Hawaii

float the river arkansas

Canoe the Buffalo River in Ponca, Arkansas

float the river waterbom bali

Man-made currents in the Waterbom Bali Waterpark in Bali, Indonesia

Which would you choose?

(White Salmon River photo via Roadtrippers.  River of Xcaret photo via Beach Rove. Lihue Plantation photo via Roadtrippers. Buffalo River photo via Buffalo Outdoor Center. Waterbom Bali photo via Travel with Bender.)

 

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

open shutters

How’s your week going? Enjoying this hump day? Yesterday I received a very exciting package in the mail…my wedding dress! I’m giving it a few more days to make sure I’m absolutely certain but I think this one is the one. Eeeee! Speaking of exciting–isn’t this week the best? Star Wars Day today, Cinco de Mayo tomorrow, and then Derby Day followed by Mother’s Day! Let’s celebrate ’em all! Now for some links…

How did a small Midwest town end up with America’s worst HIV problem?

Stories of childbirth are absent from literary fiction.

Coffee maker cooking.

I’m guilty of using this qualifier. Are you?

America’s most popular recipe site reveals a gap between foodie culture and what people actually cook.

This history of birthing babies in Appalachia.

4 men open up about the lives they can afford.

Made me laugh.

Kids try 100 years of brown bag lunches.

A $1,000 day in Paris for $100.

Wedding photographers reveal their most memorable shots.

I NEED a pair of these genius shoes!

April favorites.

Books, Brainpower, Every day life, Food, How to's, Move, , , , , , , , , , , ,

April Favorites collage

With the turning of the calendar page from April to May, it’s time to bundle together the best products, places, media and everything in between from the last month. Here are 9 things I found myself loving in April…

1. Pocket Letters

If you follow me on Instagram, then you’ll know I’ve been going a little Pocket Letter crazy this month. I just can’t get enough. For those curious, Pocket Letters are a genius way to send someone (pen pal, friend, stranger, etc.) a little mailbox surprise! Essentially, you take a 3×3 baseball card holder, decorate it to your heart’s content, tuck in some stationery goodies for your pal, and mail it off. Here’s a TUTORIAL if you’d like to learn more. I’ve been making these for a little while now, but I only recently hopped on PocketLetterPals.com to start arranging swaps with peeps from across the country. The resulting deliveries have made mail time a giddy experience. (If you’re interested in swapping leave a comment below!) 

2. Ballet

While I’m hopelessly devoted to my yoga practice, the month of April saw me dusting off my ballet shoes for a bit of barre work. I turned to YouTube (of course!) and was able to rustle up a few videos of actual ballet classes. I then got to work and have been trying to incorporate ballet into my workout routine on a weekly basis. For me no other exercise ever seems as effective yet effortless as ballet. I can have sweat dripping down my neck all with a smile on my face. Maybe because it has been a part of my life for so long? *cue that scene in Center Stage where Juliette Simone/Julie Simon talks about the barre being home.*

3. Graze snacks

If you wanna up your snacking game, you GOTTA check out Graze. Graze is a snack subscription service that sends you 4 or 8 individually packaged snacks weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. I’ve gotten two boxes so far and I gotta tell ya…I am HOOKED. Each snack I’ve tried has been delicious and perfectly portioned. And you can’t beat the convenience! My favorite snack so far has gotta go to the Honeycomb Flapjack which Graze describes as a “rustic rolled oat flapjack with honeycomb and chocolate drizzle.” It’s legit better than a candy bar. YUM!

4. Homestead Town Hall Museum

On a recent #AdventureSaturday, Chet and I decided to explore Historic Downtown Homestead. Normally when we spend a Saturday in Homestead it’s at the beach. But this time around we decided to stay on dry land and see what else the city had to offer. Downtown Homestead is definitely a blink and you’ll miss it stretch of road but it does offer some quaint places — an old theater with a retro marquis, a park with an amphitheater, and the Homestead Town Hall Museum. After chowing down on some amazing Cuban food at a little hole-in-the-wall attached to the local bus station, we headed to the museum. Admission is free and was totally time well spent just for the eccentric docent who showed us around. (Although she did try to convince us to sit down in a couple of folding chairs to watch an HOUR long documentary about Homestead on a rinky-dink TV. Not gonna happen, lady.)

5. Free printables

One of the joys of wedding planning on a budget has been scouring the internet for ways to cut corners. My favorite way so far? Free printables. They are so fun to tinker around with. Pictured above is one I found for a Thumbprint Guestbook. It is so simple and fun! I love the idea of having it out at our reception with some ink pads and asking guests to create the leaves. Wouldn’t it be lovely to frame that as a keepsake? What a beautiful reminder of all our “people” and the special family tree we’ve created for ourselves, both with our actual family and the folks who’ve become our family.

6. Washi tape

I LOVE washi tape. This month I’ve been using it a ton to decorate pocket letters (see above) and my planner (see below). Last week we stumbled upon an office supply store that was going out of business and I stocked up. My other favorite places to find washi? Target, Dollar Tree, and Ikea. Ikea sells packs of four for FIFTY CENTS. Hello!?! Need I say more.

7. Target Dollar Spot planner

I started using my Target Dollar Spot planner on April 1st and the obsession is still going strong. In case you’re wondering, I call it the Target Dollar Spot planner because it was created from 3 components purchased at Target in the $1-$3 section. A mini binder, dividers/weekly inserts, and folders/monthly inserts. Each of these “kits” was $3. While I utilize this planner for weekly and monthly planning, I’ve also been trying my hand at planner decorating. (Inspired by CheapCraftyGirl on YouTube.) It’s a fun activity to sit down on a Sunday night and decorate the next week’s spread! And it’s also a cool way to use some of the stationery goodies I receive in my pocket letters. Paper crafting for the win!

8. The Brain Candy Podcast

Confession: I’m a LONG time viewer of The Real World, Road Rules, and The Challenge. I have never “out grown” these shows and continue to enjoy, especially The Challenge, to this day. The advent of social media has taken my interest in reality TV in a different direction. I love keeping up with cast members on Twitter and Instagram because seeing what D-List celebs do in their day to day is just as interesting (if not more) to me than watching them on a show. Anyways, that’s all to say, I follow the two ladies responsible for this podcast on social media. So when they started promoting this endeavor I was totally into it. It’s hosted by Susie Meister (RR: Down Under) and Sarah Rice (RW: Brooklyn) and is billed as “candy for your left brain and your right brain.” While some episodes are about The Challenge (both Susie and Sarah have competed multiple times on the show), many are not. They cover everything from cults to travel to DIY. It is super easy listening…kind of like you’re eavesdropping on two intelligent girlfriends having a chat. Oh, and usually wine is involved!

9. Uncovered by Leah Lax

If women and religion, and how the two intersect, is of interest to you, then this memoir is a must-read. I love learning about different religions and recently realized I didn’t know too much about the lives of Hasidic Jews. I picked up this memoir at my local library and couldn’t put it down. It tells the story of Leah Lax who left her liberal, secular home as a teenager for a life as a Hasidic Jew. Lax recounts her experiences with arranged marriage, fundamentalist faith, and motherhood during her time with the Hasidim, and exposes how her creative, sexual, and spiritual longings existed beneath the surface throughout her time there. This book taught me a lot about this particular faith through the eyes of a woman who lived it and then left it.

 

Book Review: A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay

Books, Brainpower, , , , , , , , ,

a secret kept

Y’all. I read a novel with a male narrator and the world didn’t end!!! Ok, ok…I’ve read plenty of books with male narrators before but if you’ve read this post or this one, you’ll know I typically gravitate toward a female voice…especially in fiction.

A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay caught my eye at my local library as a quick, fun read mainly because I remember enjoying Sarah’s Key when I read it several years ago. This one seemed to have a similar plot-driven-by-a-family-secret vibe. Here’s a synopsis —

Antoine Rey thought he had the perfect surprise for his sister Mélanie’s birthday: a weekend by the sea at Noirmoutier Island , where the pair spent many happy childhood summers playing on the beach. It had been too long, Antoine thought, since they’d returned to the island―over thirty years, since their mother died and the family holidays ceased. But the island’s haunting beauty triggers more than happy memories; it reminds Mélanie of something unexpected and deeply disturbing about their last island summer. When, on the drive home to Paris, she finally summons the courage to reveal what she knows to Antoine, her emotions overcome her and she loses control of the car.

Trapped in the wake of a family secret shrouded by taboo, Antoine must confront his past and also his troubled relationships with his own children. How well does he really know his mother, his children, even himself? Suddenly fragile on all fronts – as a son, a husband, a brother and a father – Antoine Rey will soon learn the shocking truth about his family and himself.

If you’ve enjoyed Mrs. de Rosnay’s previous work, I would definitely recommend giving this one a read as well. If you’re unfamiliar but love psychological fiction, like Gone Girl or A Girl on the Train, then I think you’ll enjoy A Secret Kept. While it’s less of a thriller than those I mentioned, you’ll still  find yourself feverishly turning pages as you attempt to get to the bottom of things. Similarly, if you have a soft spot for pulpy family drama books this will give you your fix. (My middle school years were spent devouring V.C. Andrews books…so I’m kind of an expert on such things. No one did family drama like good ol’ V.C.) But it’s French and written by a New York Times bestselling author so it’s FANCY!

Speaking of French…I felt totally transported to France while reading. De Rosnay was raised in Paris and then Boston. She moved to England in the 80’s to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and currently lives in Paris again. Meaning, she knows her stuff when it comes to writing about life in France and creating super realistic French characters and settings. Back when Netflix first started streaming, I went through a phase where I watched a ton of French romantic dramedies from the 90’s and early 00’s. So, I was well impressed with how easy it was to imagine this book’s plot and characters existing in that realm. Yes, I am using a Netflix binge as a barometer for realistic French-ness. Whatta ya gonna do?

 

I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to folks looking for a beach read as the temperature starts to rise!

Have you read A Secret Kept? What did you think? 

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , ,

rusty storage wall

What’s everyone up to this week? I’ve gotten back on the wedding planning wagon and am looking forward to a few purchases that should be arriving in the mail soon, including another wedding dress and 18 feet of bunting. We also scored a guestbook and a whole bunch of chalkboard signs for SUPER cheap at an office supply store that’s going out of business. Now I’ve just gotta get the invitations printed and I’ll feel proper on top of things. Hope you have a great rest of your week, and here are some little internet gems that I thought you might like…

Healers who prioritize compassion face challenges in our medical culture.

Yoga for wine lovers.

People in Shakespeare’s England were also obsessed with food.

An exploration of syndromes that are unique to particular cultures…like magical penis theft.

The relics lingering inside America’s great national treasures.

10 Trader Joe’s beauty products you have to try.

A tiny detail lost since hunter-gatherer times and how to rediscover it.

This looks like one of those rare cases of movie better than the book. (I can’t wait to see it!)

The Arctic suicides.

Ugh, too relatable.

Has the internet changed everything?

Decorating a rental on a budget.

My Notebook System

Career, Every day life, Personal, , , , , ,

notebook system

Do you have a system to keep track of all your to-do’s for the day? It may seem like a no-brainer to some folks out there, but once I developed a set-up that worked for me it was a game changer.

As you can see above, I devote a full page to each day. I borrow elements from the bullet journal system, but it’s a WAY scaled down version. Each of my tasks are given a tick box that I check off as it gets completed. If I didn’t complete the task it gets an arrow so that I know to migrate it onto my list of to-do’s for the following day. If an item no longer needs completing for whatever reason I give it a strike-through.

In the middle of the page are my notes. These are items I encounter through out the day that I want to return to and investigate further when I have more time. This little section is instrumental in keeping me focused on the task at hand. And I don’t forget about things that may be useful or interest me later. Sorta like leaving myself little breadcrumbs in the form of bullet points!

And finally, something I started in 2016, a MANTRA! I kicked off the new year with Yoga with Adriene’s Yoga Camp. The challenge included 30 yoga videos to be done every day for 30 days and each one came with their own mantra. I found these daily affirmations wildly helpful and inspirational in January so I figured, why stop here!? When I sit down with my list at the beginning of each day I find a phrase, quote, or affirmation that I can focus my thoughts towards in the coming hours.

I also borrow The Monthly Log or Calendar Page from the Bullet Journal method. That’s where the Bullet Journal similarities end. For me, keeping an index (a key Bullet Journaling component) just feels too cluttered. The full Bullet Journal system, though I tried and enjoyed it for awhile, just isn’t for me. And ya gotta find what works for you. I love my system and love that it’s adapted over time to keep me productive and my brain-space uncluttered.

OH! And for forward-planning (ie. weekly and monthly planning as opposed to daily to-do’s) I use a mini-binder planner from the Target Dollar Spot. I just started it at the beginning of April and have been trying my hand at planner decorating…..totally something I never thought I would get into but I’m absolutely loving it. Perhaps I’ll post some pictures at some point if y’all are into it.

How do you stay on top of your daily to-do list? Do you keep paper lists or are you totally digital? Have you ever tried keeping a bullet journal? Into planner decorating? Tell me everything!!!