The Five: This fragrant candle and a particular streaming service are January 2022 favorites
Welcome to The Five, aka a series rounding up my five favorite things from the month!
January may have been the longest month in history, just behind January 2021 and March 2020, so I had plenty of time to accumulate a variety of things I love.
The Koop candles
I discovered this brand on social media a couple of years ago, and after buying a few of their candles I was hooked. It’s a Black-owned brand, and I don’t think I’ve tried a scent I haven’t liked. Stacked Bread has been on heavy rotation this winter with its warm and cozy smell that can truly fill a room.
HBO Max
This is the one streaming service that currently has me in a chokehold. Netflix had a good run in December (I was accosted by “Doctor Foster” and binged “Hit and Run” and “Stay Close” while visiting my dad), but HBO Max has stolen my heart back. “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is immaculate (Mindy Kaling knows how to give us my perfect kind of show always), “And Just Like That…” unfortunately has a large amount of my attention and “Euphoria” is back in glittering and graphic action.
TikTok
I joked recently on Twitter that I have two moods: TikTok and spending money. I’ll probably get more into spending money in next month’s The Five, but I must first address my TikTok obsession. Every night instead of reading a book or doing literally anything else, I scroll for hours through the app. My FYP is at times funny, at times educational, at times sad, but it’s always a wild ride that I can’t stop; why would I want to, though? It’s a little community that makes me realize we’re all living the same experience, so both comforting and disconcerting simultaneously, but a vibe nonetheless (thanks to my little algorithm for knowing me so well, ad apologies to the FBI officer in my device who has to watch me cackling at all hours of the day and night in front of my phone screen). I’ve also been making more TikToks (a 2022 goal of mine), and you can follow me there at @heyyyitsanika. Feel free to find and threaten whoever has @heyitsanika so they can give up the goods; legally, I’m joking.
Nail art
Getting back into my quest to perfect at-home nail art has been welcome and fulfilling. Having my nails done makes me feel put together, and trying out something new more often leads me down a rabbit hole of discovery to creators who are out here making magic one fingernail at a time. Eyes open for more nail art content coming from me (including the tell-all on how to get this crystal French mani).
Pita crackers
This little snack has me in a vice grip. Specifically, the Whole Foods 365 brand is my new indulgence – and by indulgence, I mean I buy three boxes at a time so I never run out. The girls that get it, get it. Pair this with a little bougie Ithaca hummus and babyyyy, it’s heaven. Found shaking: pita chips.
xx, Anika