It’s currently the rainy season in Hong Kong, so we have seen more rain and thunderstorms than sunny days. Along with hot and humid temperatures, we usually look forward to early mornings or late afternoons that are filled with downpours and flashes of lightning. Since we obviously don’t get snow in Hong Kong, when rainy days they do happen I tend to treat them like snow days just like back home.
I love staying home when it is raining outside. I’m one of the odd ducklings that actually enjoys when it rains – I’m not a big fan of sunshine. There’s something really comforting and peaceful about summer rains in Hong Kong that makes me want to curl up and watch the rain fall outside. When I’m not curled up under a blanket, I have listed my favorite rainy day activities below.
Read a Good Book
It should come as no surprise that I am a bookworm, especially with nonfiction and history books. Rainy days are the perfect excuse for me to curl up with a new book or even a book that I have read before that I love (I typically read all my books 2-3 times). This past summer, I picked up a few new history books that I couldn’t wait to dive into and indulge myself. The books currently on my bedside table for reading are: Empress of the East (about the life of Hürrem, the wife of Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire); The Crown in Crisis (about the abdication of Edward VII); and The Windsors at War (about the war within the royal family itself during WWII).
Make hot chocolate
I learned how to make authentic French hot chocolate while in culinary school in NYC, and it’s the only hot chocolate recipe I use to this day. I am sharing my own hot chocolate recipe here. Pour into a mug and enjoy!
Organize my closet
I tend to go through my closet every 3 months, but actually setting aside a day to go through it becomes somewhat of a challenge. Rainy days make that decision less difficult. There’s something about rainy days and organizing that goes perfectly well together, in my opinion. I sort out my clothes based on what I am keeping, what I am selling, and what I am donating.
Bake banana bread
The scent of banana bread baking is one of my favorite scents ever. It’s one that can’t quite be replicated in a candle – it has to be made to truly enjoy the aroma. Food Network has my favorite banana bread recipe, however I like to add 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg into my spice mixture and sometimes I will also add 1 tablespoon flaxseed.
Have a spa day at home
Why not have a day to pamper yourself? Put on a nice face mask, lather up your bathtub with hot water and bubbles, maybe our yourself a glass of wine or hot drink, and enjoy! My favorite face mask at the moment is this pink clay mask that is really good for cleaning the pores, but I am also a big fan of this matcha mask and this red bean mask for whenever I have an acne flare up. I also love these collagen sheet masks (I use them on the airplane!).
I love rainy days because you can take care of yourself and organize a lot of things!
I tend to read books also, and I love baking banana bread! Its so delicious and sweet.
I fancy buy rainy boots but I can’t make my choice, colorful or soft? Well, I need to make a choice quickly because next year I’m going to Ireland and I’ll need it aha!
Your pictures are as always beautiful,
enjoy your week ! Des bisous de France
Chloé
I love colorful rain boots! They add color to what would normally be a dreary rainy day outfit for me!
If you need any suggestions for Ireland, let me know! I have been a few times and it’s one of my favorite countries!
Beautiful post as always! As a history buff myself, I’m always on a look out for more books to read, and the ones you suggested seem great! I would love it if you made a post about book recommendations!
Thank you, Laurie! And thank you so much for the suggestion….. I think I will definitely do that!
Aww I do like your outfit especially your red Rubber Wellingtons and I bet you have a lot of fun splashing in puddles, me and my friends always wear our Wellingtons when we go to School on a rainy day and love to splash in puddles but never keep our Tights dry
Julie
xoxo
They’re my go-to boots in the UK and Ireland, but Los Angeles has been so rainy lately that I had to bring them out again!