February 2023
Things giving me life this February.
Well, today the weather feels like spring. What a tease. While winter won’t concede just yet, here are a few simple things I’ve enjoyed in this season of natural refrigeration.
Bath Time
I decided to stop drinking for a year. Instead of pouring myself a glass, I’m now pouring myself a bath. And it is EVERYTHING. Epsom salt is the main ingredient and adding whatever other concoctions, it’s proven to boost mood, detoxify, and is now the essential element for dark, cold nights. for added wellness, take a book, put on music & leave your phone on silent. highly recommend.*
A Gentleman in Moscow by amor towles
I have been charmed and delighted by this book. set in 1920s Moscow, it tells the story of one aristocrat spared the banishment to Siberia in exchange for banishment living out the remainder of his days in a hotel, never to set foot outside again. hopeful and upbeat, it’s a fun world to step into.
Reading how characters, fictionalized or memorialized, handle disappointment helps ask myself, “How would I react to imprisonment in a hotel for life?” I don’t know but my life is sure better than banishment. I’ve got a pretty good life.
I’ve been on an Apple TV kick this month. I stumbled upon this show, about a group of MI5 agents shunned to a less sexy job title. Very British, it’s the dry humor mixed with great casting and perfect set design. 6 episodes and two seasons so far, easily bingeable, you’ll be asking for more.
Creepy, mysterious, and thrilling, it is both futuristic and nostalgic, with a sinister undertone. It is thought- provoking, taunting and haunting. which makes it all the more reason to keep watching. I’m late to the party, but whoa.
*Does adding a bathtub to your home increase your resale value? The short answer is yes, with many US homeowners recouping around 60% of their investment from having a bathtub installed in their home. But why is that? Bathtubs are seen as more of a luxury fixture whereas showers are more appropriate for everyday use. The tub falls into the category of another commodity in a house. Sellers who have the most commodities—or amenities—win because their houses appeal to the widest audience and you’re always trying to expand the buyer pie. (But also, you win as a homeowner because you get to use the bath. Luxury doesn’t have to be expensive.)
Sources to backup my ritual while reminding you I’m a realtor are found Here & Here
(Photo taken at Highlander Mountain House. Should you need a little trip, this hotel and Highlands, North Carolina are worth a visit.)
Happy false spring. Until next month.
XOXO,
Amelia
A house has a number, a home has name,