A Few of ChibiChonk’s Favorite Things

I am being evaluated for Bipolar II.

I bet that wasn’t the introductory line you were looking for.

This post is not about my potential diagnosis, however, this potential diagnosis is, arguably, how I found my new favorite things. If I do have Bipolar II Disorder, I experience “hypomanic” episodes.

Hypomania is an abnormally revved-up state of mind that affects your mood, thoughts, and behavior, and is a potential symptom of bipolar disorder, particularly type II.¹
A hypomanic episode commonly manifests with unusual gaiety, excitement, flamboyance, or irritability, along with potential secondary characteristics like restlessness, extreme talkativeness, increased distractibility, reduced need for sleep, and intense focus on a single activity.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-hypomania-how-is-it-diagnosed-380313#citation-7

The first time I read this, I thought, this is me. I believe there is a lot of misconception regarding Bipolar disorder, but I won’t get into it here. I will say be careful with generalities and forming opinions on something you haven’t researched. I thought Bipolar disorder was just someone who had crazy mad mood swings, and I now know that isn’t really the case.

How does this tie in with my favorite things? I believe that shopping tends to be something I engage in when I am in a hypomanic state. I spend money without thought of the consequence. When I am not in a hypomanic state, I am constantly worried of the opposite. I watch our finances like a hawk, but every once in awhile, I spend with abandon. Thankfully, it has never progressed to a point where I damaged relationships or finances with my spending, but I think the possibility is there. My potential hypomanic episodes are very brief, therefore, have never progressed long enough to do any real damage.

Recently, I found these random things that have rocked my world.

**DISCLOSURE – I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NOT, BE COMPENSATED FOR ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS. I HAVE NO AFFILIATIONS WITH ANY OF THE BRANDS MENTIONED BELOW. ALL PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN PURCHASED WITH MY OWN FUNDS. MY OPINIONS ARE ORIGINAL AND NOT INFLUENCED BY MONETARY GAIN.**

THE GOODFUL TEA TUMBLE R

I saw this tumbler on a Facebook targeted ad. I know there are so many of you that hate targeted ads, but I love that I am introduced to new things without having to look for them. I love to drink iced tea, however, when I make a large amount of it, I can drink it in one day. You might not know this, but the tannin in tea can cause kidney/liver issues. Too much tea can be bad for your health. This tumbler allows me to greatly reduce the consumption of tea. Since it takes time to brew a new tumbler, it really makes me ask myself whether I really need that next tumbler of tea versus raiding the fridge without another thought. What makes me happy about this item is I can use loose leaf tea without having to worry about a tea steeper. The design of this tumbler allows you to dump your tea, any muddled fruit (yes, muddled fruit), and any sweetener in the bottom. You let it steep. Then you push the inner chamber that is filled with ice down. What you’re left with in a 16 ounces of tasty iced tea. If you like iced tea and need a way to slow your consumption down, this is a great purchase. At $19.99, it is totally worth it.

HACKBERRY TE A

To go along with my tumbler, I needed good tea. I don’t recall how I stumbled upon Hackberry Tea, but they make some pretty tasty tea. Their bright peach black tea is amazing. They carry a good variety and even sell sample bags so you don’t have to commit to a tea you might not enjoy. They’re a small family company, so I feel good about supporting them.

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP

Are you ever too old to have an awesome stuffed friend…or three?

TATCHA JAPANESE BEAUTY PRODUCTS

When it comes to skin care, I am lazy. I know what I SHOULD be doing, but I don’t. I happen to have an Ipsy subscription where I get samples of various makeup, hair care, of skin care products. It’s been really fun because I feel like I am refreshing my makeup stores without actually going and spending a lot of money to do it. In the last Ipsy bag, I received a sample of Tatcha. With one use, I was in love. My face never felt so smooth and dewy. I picked up their dewy skin set. It was a bit pricey, but worth it.