#sinnesfreuden

move body every day (Pilates, flexibility, yoga, dancing tutorials on YouTube — to keep my body warm and happy and my spirit entertained)

one lunch/shopping/other date with friends a week (to make sure I’m not sinking into self-isolation, to exchange words, thoughts and concepts, to laugh together)

1h of reading a day (to keep myself inspired)

one good film a week (to keep myself inspired visually, to starve off the bottomless scrolling spiral)

one outing a week (Museum, cinema, reading, anything to get out of the house and remember that there is more than darkness, sludge and dread. Also to spend time with myself (or friends/family?) and appreciate the opportunities that going to new places and seeing new things/people give me)

do something with hands (knitting, writing, anything I can hold in my hands later on to remember how I passed the time)

take care of appearance (coordinate outfits both at home and outside, do nails, use scrubs, get ears re-pierced etc to feel comfortable in my own skin and avoid sinking into apathy, to bring pops of colour into the grey)

Perfume tree probably mid-19th century, India silver, partly gilt. 31.4cm

Each of the mangoes on the tree is a perfume container with an applicator spoon concealed inside. A peacock stands on the top with circular stand on three feet.

savon du midi soaps for soft mornings, when honeyed light streams into a white tiled bathroom as hands massage hair milk into damp hair. lotion-soft skin, fluffy towels and the scent of soap clinging faintly to warm hands. the promise of breakfast by the kitchen window, a warm pastry and music playing softly as the world comes alive outside.

taking off my headphones during the walk and hearing the bird chilp. listening to Tom Misch while cleaning the bathroom (Lost in Paris specifically), the air still warm and fragrant with steam.

catching a first glimpse of the budding chestnut blossoms. the neighbour dog standing on her hind legs by the window to watch Sunny as we returned from our walk - plus Sunny standing up as well to return her companionable-curious stare.

white tea with rose petals and a brunch salad with feta, olives, tomato, fennel (plus fresh baguette with curry/mango/papaya spread!). grapefruit and orange pieces as a light afternoon snack.

the warmth that spreads luxuriously through my body after my quick pilates session. using a grape pit peeling in the shower and later lathering vanilla body lotion on warm-soft skin.

an initial shock of tobacco and powder from Divin'Enfant (after months of not touching the bottle at all), which melts into a scent so heavenly I keep stopping in my tracks to sniff around before remembering what caught my attention. opening a new jar of strawberry jam and breathing in the scent.

Vanilla Coke and a delicious fish sandwich enjoyed in the green-cool botanical gardens (as a first meal at 17:30, after stressing and running all day). Utter relief and bliss.

catching whiffs of Chance Eau Tendre throughout the day, powdery-delicate and petal-soft. It’s very comforting. Plus, the act of spraying it on was fun today too. Fragrant mist <3 (I also tried Hermès Mandarine ambree & Dior forever&ever on the skin and the latter had such a generous, mist-glittering sprayer!)

Watermelon Sugar coming on in the grocery store while I was shopping with my Harry Styles Stan friend. A little moment of summer-sweet dreams next to the cucumbers.

the many, many cute outfits (lady on the train with a tiny fluffy dog that loved my backpack straps and matched her fluffy heeled sandals. tan-blonde, Parisian chic classmate in bright blue summer dress with a fun print. classmate in leo print trousers with a white shirt and a white cardigan with Leo trim!!!! classmate with jeans he sewed patches on who then showed me that he also did rainbow colour trim on the pockets! my own white shortsleeved turtleneck + blue pleated skirt combo I’ve been excited for since last week :) )

doing a stretching routine and washing my feet before bed, the joy in feeling my limbs stretch and relax, followed by the warmth and relief pulsing through my body.