Since early 2020 the UK has gone through a continuous cycle of opening and closing its doors throughout cities nation-wide. We’ve all eventually learned to shift our lifestyles to fit the times and personally, I’m beginning to prefer it.
After finishing up my virtual work day, I sat on the couch in my oversize tracksuit, with my instant coffee in hand dreaming about when restaurants and and stores would open again. Though I had a craving for getting back out into the world again, there is a humbleness and comfort to being at home that I’ve learned to appreciate. I explored my thoughts further and questioned, “what do I really miss about going out?” Was it the robust meals or that freshly brewed coffee at the local cafe? The atmosphere in shops and eateries? Feeling luxurious as I’d put on my stunning new outfit made of fabric that you could almost sleep in?
It then hit me: I miss investing in myself. I miss treating myself to high-quality goods and experiences after I’ve had a rough day at work, or simply because I need a little self-care. I began looking into little changes I could make to my day and routine to give me that extra lust for life and to make my time at home more comfortable.
May Round Up – At Home Essentials
by Jessie Pettit
Purista Series 300 by Melitta
Since coffee is a major factor in starting my mornings right, a good espresso machine was essential. I ended up finding the perfect machine for my kitchen which was the Purista Series 300 by Melitta. The features that stood out to me specifically were the slim design of the machine (we all know London is not known for being generous with housing space), as well as its low noise technology and new pump feature that results in better coffee extraction. I’m all for a stronger hit of caffeine in the morning! It also has a double cup feature, allowing you to brew two drinks at a time, which is great when my flatmate wakes up at the same time as me and doesn’t have to wait for his cup!
Melitta has tons of coffee machines available ranging from your classic filter coffee machine starting at £34.99 to high-end machines containing milk-frothing attachments that start at £550. The Purista Series 300 is a perfect mid-range machine, suitable for most standard kitchens and costs £400. Though it is more of a luxury piece, it is a great addition for those looking to have cafe quality coffee and a gorgeous, long-lasting coffee machine at home.
Find Out More: Melitta Website – melitta.co.uk
Ozone Coffee Roasters
Next on the list was finding the perfect coffee beans to compliment my stunning, new espresso machine. I ended up finding the speciality coffee company called Ozone Coffee Roasters. Not only do they have coffee beans available, they also have the option to get a subscription, making morning coffee more simple than ever before.
Ozone Coffee is known for changing the coffee game. They bring transparency to how their beans are sourced and are leaders in bringing sustainability to growing coffee beans. I knew I could trust their brand once I saw how closely they actually work with their producers and how much effort they put into checking in on the quality of their product by visiting their producers farms.
Not only after reading their story and learning about their efforts in the community and environment did I want to test out their product, but seeing their range of coffee with unique and bold flavours available, I could not resist the purchase.
I ended up testing out the Nova Alianca, El Yalcon S.C Decaf and Hodson. All of these flavors blew me away.
Nova Alianca was sourced from the region on Minas Gerais, and contains notes of hazelnut, milk chocolate and almond. This was perfect for those raining, cool days when you need the comfort of a warm, robust cup of coffee.
El Yalcon S.C Decaf was next to try. I generally use decaf coffee when I need to take a break from caffeine or am moving onto my third cup of coffee for the day and don’t want to be up all night. I often find it difficult to source a good decaf, as the taste doesn’t always come across as similar to caffeinated coffee. I was pleasantly surprised and ended my day with this blend. The flavor was a combination of milk chocolate, orange and brown sugar. I’m not sure of any other coffee roasters that can make a decaf blend this good.
The Last blend to try was Hodson. Containing notes of honey, fudge, and pineapple, you could imagine how intrigued I was! Once brewed, the aroma of berry, chocolate and caramel hit the air. After taking my first sip of this brew, it’s safe to say I will be starting my Ozone Coffee subscription as soon as these bags run out.
Find Out More: Ozone Coffee Roasters Website – ozonecoffee.co.uk
Fox and Taylor
Now that my luxury morning routine was coming into place, I knew the key to my physical comfort when working from home would come from the materials I have to sit in all day.
Most of us have had the experience of sitting in our PJs half of the day, until we have to jump on that unexpected Zoom call and are in a race for time, trying to find an appropriate, non-crinkled top in the wardrobe while attempting to adjust the camera so our colleagues can’t see we haven’t changed our bottoms.
I wanted an outfit that I would not feel constrained by and felt comfortable sitting in throughout the day, though I wanted to make sure this outfit would also look appropriate for virtual meetings as well as running to the shop. My ideal pieces were something versatile, chic and comfortable (the perfect combo).
The brands Fox and Taylor and Mahabis came into my radar. Both companies put a high importance on being eco-friendly in their production process as well as keeping the design stylish and long-lasting.
The Fox and Taylor brand was created by Michelle Buttery, who has designed internationally for some of the world’s leading lingerie brands, so you know she’s an expert on the look and comfort of a garment. The mission behind the brand is to be eco-conscious throughout development and create multi-functional pieces appropriate for any time of day. Not only is this brand out to save the environment, but also donates a pound from every sale toward the UK mental healthy charity, MIND.
I was very impressed by their backstory and certainly care about buying quality materials that will last and won’t cause more damage to the world, so decided to check out their range of versatile lounge wear. They have a few pieces to choose from in their range, including the long sleeve tops, camis, long bottoms, shorts and robes. Their range contains both vegan silk and sand-wash silk options. They have three color options to choose from including black, ruby and silver. I decided to go with the Black Serenity Set, which i felt would look good with everything.
Though I have not received my outfit yet, I have never been more excited to wear loungewear. These sets are stunning, soft, and look so elegant, I feel I could even wear them for a night out once things open! The price of my set was £270 In total, but I do know this will be an outfit that will last me a long time and not go out of style.
Find Out More: Fox and Taylor Website – foxandtaylor.co
Mahabis
Mahabis is the final piece to add to my list of at-home essentials. Being a women with terrible circulation and feet that could give you frost bite through a touch, I knew I had to find something to keep them toasty in order to keep me comfortable.
Mahabis are not only the cutest and coziest footwear I have ever tried on, but they also are making a big impact on the the industry and environment while also keeping your feet cradled in footwear clouds. They’re also like superheroes in the the footwear world.
Mahabis are made with premium wool that is manufactured in Italy from recycled fibres and ship their shoes in 100% recycled packaging. The shoe itself is coated in luxurious felt, then lined inside with eco-certified organic wool to regulate the temperature of your feet and contains a foam footbed for support along with responsibly sourced rubber to absorb shock.
Not only are these shoes engineered in such a clever way to provide you with extreme comfort, but they look great too! I’ve worn my Mahabis around the house, to the shop, outside to tend to the garden. They’re appropriate for a variety of casual settings as they have flat rubber bottoms so dirt doesn’t cling to the shoe.
The range of styles and colors available is so broad, that there is a perfect shoe for everyone. I went with the Mahabis Curve in Skagen Stone & Limhamn for £99. I’d highly recommend these if you are looking for the perfect at-home comfort shoe that is versatile for everyday activities.
Find Out More: Mahabis Website – mahabis.com
Though I’m sure I could have found more at-home essentials to make my space even more zen, luxurious and comforting on a regular basis, these four at-home essentials have truly brought brightness to my mornings and have given me less FOMO when thinking of the outside world.
I hope my list has inspired you to enjoy your time at home and find things that bring comfort to your every day routine because enjoying life’s little pleasures certainly makes an impact on your overall outlook.
Check out our Monthly Round Ups for further inspiration.
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