Mimi Takes Five - #392

ONE // Nap Dress

My most recent Nap Dress acquisition is the Seraphina in Pink Sweet Peas. I'd been eyeing this beauty for just about a year but never pulled the trigger. I love the Seraphina silhouette as it's a more elevated and dramatic Ellie. I also adored the bold hot pink print and could envision it in my wardrobe without any issues. I just found it to be on the pricey side and didn't want to commit at the original price point. That being said, I kept an eye on it and waited for a good sale. That moment happened in early January and I was finally comfortable with the price so I treated myself. This is the opposite of am impulse purchased. I'd been planning this one for a while and the wait paid off because it is everything I hoped it would be!

TWO // French Onion Sourdough

There's no stopping me now! I've got a strong starter and a new-found confidence in my sourdough making. This journey has been a roller coaster. I've been feeling inspired to branch out and try different flavours and inclusion combinations. Last weekend, I wanted to attempt a French onion sourdough, one with caramelized onions and Gruyère cheese. All the flavours of a classic French onion soup - a favourite in our house. First off, I messed up my water measurement so had to enlist the help of my husband to figure out the ratios of the rest of my ingredients. Not a big deal, but ended up with more dough, so a bigger bread. Once that hiccup was solved, I added cheese and onions into every stretch and fold. Once bulk fermentation was done, I added the rest of the inclusions in my lamination before shaping. Everything was looking good so far. I ended up having to bake for a bit longer because of the size of my bread (and probably the inclusions, too). That meant it had a nice caramelized bottom, which just added flavour. My inclusions were well dispersed but it seems all the bubbles ended up at the top of the loaf... Overall it was a great success and the flavour was beyond. It smelled and tasted exactly like French onion soup. This was a winner, for sure!

THREE // Strawberry Bag

It's no secret that I love a whimsical bag or purse. I've got a good little collection going and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. While I've gotten a few from Kate Spade and Aldo, some of the cutest finds have been from Bath & Body Works. Yup, the soap and candle store! I think they are marketed as cosmetic bags, but I use them as purses. I've even gone so far as adding my own cross-body strap in the past. Luckily for me, it appears they are being designed more and more with straps now. That's the case with this cutie strawberry bag. How adorable is it with its little gems on the front? There was no moment of hesitation when I saw this in store. Immediate purchase with zero regrets. I can't wait to style this newest fruit purse (I already have a watermelon). A cute purse can really add some flair to an outfit and the beauty of a handbag is that you won't outgrow it. I plan on carrying my whimsical purses for the rest of my life!

FOUR // Fresh Hair

Boy was I in dire need to get my hair done... The last time I got my roots done was on December 20th, the day we left on vacation. It was a busy day - went from the salon to the airport! That being said, it's been quite a few weeks since then and my roots were looking pretty grey and outgrown. I won't complain about the growth rate because I know that's a blessing. However, I needed to address the ever-apparent colour change. So that's just what I did! I went for my usual maintenance appointment, got the roots touched up and got a slight trim to maintain healthy hair. I'm a creature of habit and know how I like my hair, so just stick with it. Whether it's a big change or not, a trip to the hair salon always does a girl some good. I feel refreshed!

FIVE // Bath Bombs

Bath season is ongoing so I had to do a bath bomb restock as I'd depleted my stash. I find a soothing bath is one of the best ways for me to really hit pause and relax. It forces me to not multi-task. I've used up all the bath bombs I'd gotten before the holidays so, naturally, I hopped on over to Lush to make a new selection. I was loving the fresh, more springtime offerings and ended up getting a mix of old favourites and new discoveries. I grabbed a Love Letter (just in time for Valentine's Day) because I tend to return to the seasonal favourites. If I'd tried it and liked it before, it's an easy add-to-cart decision. I also grabbed an Equity, which has been a favourite from the very beginning. This one is part of the regular selection and if you are a citrus scent lover, this one is for you. It smells so fresh and invigorating! I then gravitated to another orange-scented bath bomb, the We Put the Whole Fruit In. This one really packs a punch scent-wise. Finally, I had to get a Luna's Butterfly because it was too whimsical and colourful to leave behind. I can't wait to try the new ones and find out if they'll be repeat purchases.