Calm Tools & Things I Actually Use

With the holiday season approaching, I’ve seen a lot of products I love lists showing up on my socials. I recently updated my own social entry page and realized that having a static place to share tools, resources, and everyday things I’ve used and loved over the years might be helpful.

Some I use daily, some I return to in waves, and a few are loved but not used right now. That said, all are shared honestly, without pressure, and not with promises of future productivity or goal setting.

Note: Some links are referral or affiliate links. Yet many things here are simple favorites shared because they’ve been genuinely helpful.

Movement & Body

Lindywell Pilates

Referral

Lindywell (started by Robin Long and previously called The Balanced Life) has been part of my life for a long time. I first shared Lindywell back in 2018 when she announced her Mind Body Pilates challenge, then again during the pandemic when I shared my favorite at home workouts, and then recently created a post again (this one has the most information)!

What kept me coming back and working out consistently was her Grace over Guilt mindset along with loving the message in the videos making me feel confident participating in front of my kids hoping they take it in. There’s no punishment for inconsistency, just encouragement to keep showing up in whatever way you can. Over time they’ve added more instructors, more programs, and even recipes (which I fully intend to use… and then forget about again).

It’s gentle, grounding, and very aligned with how I want movement to feel.

MadFit

Simply a Favorite

I found MadFit’s YouTube dance workouts during the pandemic and immediately loved them. Actually loved them enough to go back and edit her into the at home workout post. The dancing felt joyful and stress-relieving in a way my body really needed at the time. When her app launched I bought a lifetime membership that first day.

Since then, she’s added more instructors and programs. There’s less of a focus on dance within the app but they've added embedded YouTube workouts so you can still access everything in a single spot. It’s been a solid, no-pressure option that I can pick up here and there.

Yogi Flight School

Affiliate

I found Yogi Flight School at the beginning of the school year after trying a different inversion program but not feeling it. What I love most are the weekly two-hour live sessions, but not in a high-pressure way but simply as a gentle anchor. If I miss one, I usually try to watch it later that week before the next one airs so I don’t feel behind.

It’s helped me feel more confident kicking up into pincha against the wall although I’m still working toward a handstand. Crow? I can sometimes get it for a second, which feels like a win.

Yogi Flight School periodically opens registration for the full program (including live sessions) alongside free training windows. When enrollment is open I’ll share the appropriate link here.

Learning & Curiosity

Hacking with Swift

Simply a Favorite

When I was actively learning Apple development, this was one of my core resources. I started with Paul Hudson’s 100 Days of Swift and SwiftUI before eventually becoming a subscriber as I wanted access to his live events. The explanations are clear, encouraging, and designed for real humans rather than assuming prior knowledge.

I’ve been a member for years and now try to join each of the monthly live sessions, mostly because I almost always learn something new. There’s a lot of depth here, and I often feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface, which I actually appreciate.

If you’re curious about Swift or Apple development, it’s a solid place to explore at your own pace.

Hactivate: Capture the Flag Security Game

Simply a Favorite

Continuing with Paul Hudson, he recently released a capture-the-flag style security game that I really enjoyed when I first tried it. I ended up downloading it for our whole family (for both my husband and kids) since it supports Family Sharing and was originally created to help his daughter and friends enter a UK competition.

He released the game in two versions. I've played the Apple App Store version but there's also a website made exclusively to schools. You can check it out here and, at the time of creating this, he lists it as free to all UK schools and by request with less dedicated support to schools outside of the UK.

Lately, my evenings have been lower-energy or focused on SimplyKyra work so we’ve paused playing it together but I'm looking forward to returning to it once we feel that itch again.

NetGalley

Simply a Favorite

I came across NetGalley back in 2017 when looking at reviews for a pre-released Any Weir book Artemis and noticed the reviews all mentioned NetGalley. I decided to look it up, signed up, requested the book, and got it! I was hooked ever since.

Time feels more fleeting now and they keep sending out cool books that I don't want to miss so my approved books have gone up and my feedback rate has gone down. That said, the ability to request advance copies of books in exchange for reviews if amazing and I’ve used it as a low-pressure way to explore new reads and follow my curiosity without adding to physical clutter.... although now my virtual TBR pile is another matter.

I use the English .com version but it's also available in Français, Deutsch, 日本語, and in English with the UK. They've also kicked off a Booktrovert website that I've gotten emails about but haven't had the time to indulge in yet.

Everyday Calm & Home

Tea Spot

Referral

I found The Tea Spot when I was experimenting with intermittent fasting and wanted something other than water during my fasting window. At the time we drank David’s Tea but were looking for something with without added sprinkles or sugar.

The fasting didn’t stick. The tea absolutely did.

My current go-to is Black Pearls with added cinnamon sticks and dried ginger. It’s become a small daily ritual... one in which I feel the need to get experimental with and so I just ordered a few new blends to try. It’s simple, grounding, and something I genuinely look forward to.

Ginger Labs

Simply a Favorite

Back when I lived in the Mountain View, California I absolutely loved Ginger Labs non-alcoholic ginger beer. Back then Zoey was strapped in the stroller and we made Ada sit in the back while the girls carefully held their sample cups. At that time they liked and were excited for ginger beer... but only chose to drink it at the farmers market so any purchases were mine!

That last summer before we moved I walked to the farmers marked almost every week coming home with two refilled growlers for the family... I had hoped we'd get sick of it and miss it less... that never happened.

Now we live two states away and it’s still a treat we get excited about when I order a box of four growlers. It tastes amazing by itself, okay with alcohol, and sublime as floats... especially if it forms little ice crystals on the vanilla ice cream.

Lume Deodorant

Referral

I know deodorant isn't fun but figured I'd share my go to brand. I found this aluminum-free brand years ago, had a bit of trouble switching (felt super smelly for about a week), but haven't had an issue since. I make sure to stock up whenever there's a sale.

Stasher Bags

Referral

I absolutely adore Stasher Bags. I usually wait for sales to buy, and I honestly haven’t disliked a single thing I’ve purchased. This includes the plastic-wrap replacements I picked up on Black Friday after being disappointed by different brand's version.

Stasher Bags have become part of our everyday kitchen rhythm and have popped up several times on my blog including storing leftover frozen sheet pan pancakes along with a plethora of produce over the years. Practical, durable, and a swap that truly stuck.

Mason Jar Lifestyle

Simply a Favorite

When sharing Stasher bags I natural also think about my mason jars. They're perfect when storing homemade yogurt, chicken broths, and leftover soups in the fridge or freezer (don't forget to leave some headspace!). Sometimes I even use them for dry goods (kids' candy corn from the fall right now). I was never a mason jar as decor person but years ago I came across this website and loved the reusable stainless steel lids with silicone liners. From there I expanded to a cherry picker and several other speciality lids. They sell everything you could need... except for the glass jars themselves! Overall they're simple, functional, and easy to integrate without a full kitchen overhaul.

Making & Slow Projects

Girl Charlee Fabrics

Referral

I found Girl Charlee back when I was sewing more regularly and my website made at most $10 a year from sewing pattern referrals. Most of the sewing pattern companies and fabric stores seem to have since gone away but Girl Charlee is still here. I loved them for their discounted Friday (I think?) emails as those fabrics had less stress to practice with. My sewing pace has dramatically slowed, and my stash is… generous... so I haven’t justified any recent purchases but I keep looking at the emails when they arrive in my inbox.

Workspace Comfort

Ikaria Soul Seat

Simply a Favorite

I came across this chair during the pandemic and almost didn't buy it... and I'm so glad I did. Though I do think it's ruined me for normal chairs.

My soul seat has made a real difference for my body during long stretches at the computer allowing me to switch positions and posture in a way that feels more intuitive than a standard desk chair. It’s one of those background things that quietly helps... not exciting, just genuinely supportive.

Additionally, I really love the company itself. Once the spring in the perch broke and I emailed them just to find out the design had changed and was immediately shipped a replacement. This last year the wool started wearing and before deciding to patch with wool roving I messaged them for ideas... and they later followed up.

Recently the plastic in a wheel started breaking and I was pleased to see they sold both individual wheels and sets of 5 (I bought the five just in case). They also followed up asking how a free sewing pattern they released to make your own slip cover was... I hadn't sewn it yet but had downloaded just in case... that reminds me I should print it.

This list will be updated over time with things added, paused, or quietly removed. Everything here is shared as it is, not as a promise of future productivity.

This page will change as seasons do, and that’s part of the point.

I hope something here made your day feel a little lighter. If it did, feel free to share in the comments below for others.