Thinking Bigger: New Rhythms and Routines

What an interesting time it has been! I know we have touched so much on this on the blog, but it’s so true. This time has been unlike any other. I recently launched a new series on the blog called Thinking Bigger, and this week I wanted to touch on the idea of new routines and rhythms. I think one of the reasons we keep talking about this time is because it has caused us to pause – We’ve paused from our everyday life, from our routines, our appointments, our errands, our offices, classes, and schedules. And that pause has caused us to think. And we’ve been thinking a lot! Although some of that thinking can cause fear, much of it has been an assessment of what we used to do every day in comparison to what we’re doing now. Things I used to view as such a chore have now become cherished routines. Activities I used to never have time for are now new staples in my schedule – like planning evening meals and eating dinner with Jase, planting a garden, reading a book, or taking joy and excitement in grocery shopping at the local farm. With all this new that has come about in this season, and in light of many of us on the brink of communities opening up again, I’ve caught myself almost sad that “a return to normalcy” would mean potentially losing those routines and rhythms I’ve come to love so much in this time. What will life look like when we are able to be busy again? When those appointments, and errands, and classes, and work will fill our schedules once more?I think rather than being sad, it’s okay to ask this question, and I think it can be a positive in return. We’ve been talking about this time so much on the blog because I think we’re excited about the opportunity that all this pause has given us to become better. Better at being more present at home, better at implementing routines that are healthy and creating healthy environments, better at being intentional about our activities, thoughts, and how we fill our time. I don't know about you, but I don’t want to leave my new cherished routines behind when all this is over. I want to use whatever I have left of this pause to continue to practice them, and instill them in the rhythms of my every day so that, when I have the opportunity to fill my schedule a bit more, I will still make time for those things I came to appreciate so greatly when my schedule was less full. What new routines and rhythms have you begun or been practicing in this season that have made you better? What rhythms can you start now that you can carry with you when this time is over? My hope for you all is that you have found practices and activities that you have come to cherish during this time, those that have made you feel whole and healthy. And for those of you who haven’t yet, I hope that you take whatever time we have left in this pause to find what fills you up in that way – So that all of us can leave this time feeling and being better than when we went in. x

In The Kitchen: Adding Life to Your Groceries

Last week on the blog I started a new collection of talks around being In The Kitchen. I don't know about you, but here at LSK we've been talking so much about how this time has changed everything for us. Things that we used to think were such a chore have now become a cherished part of our routine, and we're finding ourselves digging into new passions like never before. One of those passions for me has been spending time in the kitchen – taking extra care in what I prepare, and all the steps along the way.With things being the way they are recently, I've been thinking so much more about what I use and how I use it. This week I want to share a few tips on how to preserve those precious groceries we're buying and make them last as long as possible in order to reduce waste and save on fewer trips to pick up groceries.More than ever, I think I am realizing why my mom is almost mentally trained not to waste any food considering the culture during her childhood. I always had no problem tossing certain things, but now I have a greater appreciation for what I put in my straw bag at the farm shop. These times have brought more scarcity than we have experienced in our lives, and I am all about making my produce last as long as possible + for the first time have researched what veggies remain fresh for longer.I wanted to share some tips that have really helped me. It has been such a new topic to educate myself on!

SHELF LIFE

This article and graphic have both taught me so much!

  WASHING

• Rinse with water. You can use a vegetable brush on tougher roots.
• Veggies will hold the longest if you wait to wash them right before use.

TOOLS

• Swag Bags: It keeps our veggies fresh for up to two weeks + they are made with the healthiest materials.
• Almond Cow: Jase and I were having a hard time keeping almond milk in stock. It was always out at the grocery store after quarantine started, so this has been an absolute game-changer. And it only takes 5 minutes!

HERBS

• Your herbs will be happiest standing in a glass of water, where just the stems are wet.
• Store in the fridge or on the counter.

ROOTS

• Store in the refrigerator in a container with some airflow.
• Keep potatoes in a paper bag to minimize light exposure (that is what causes them to sprout!).

GREENS

• Refrigerate in an airtight container.
• They like a little moisture but not too much. Sometimes it helps to add a damp paper towel into the container.

TIPS

• If you feel like you won't use your veggies or fruit before they will get bad, freeze them! Did you know even raw butter and cheese freezes well? Cut, peel, and remove excess from your produce, and store in these biodegradable storage bags.
• With bread that is going bad, make croutons!

Info source: @wearebrightland

Self-Care Tip: Bath Must-Haves

While there are many things about this season that have been challenging and difficult to process, I’ve been taking extra time to be grateful for the things I do have, and find light in the little activities that bring joy, rest, and make me feel whole. I think now more than ever, it’s important to find ways to take care of yourself, and to allow yourself to find peace. One of my favorite ways to practice extra self-care is by taking a bath! Here are a few Self-Care Tips and my Bath Must-Haves that have quickly become a part of my everyday routine: I often talk about this brand because I absolutely love their products! These bath soaks are made with many great (and of course, clean) ingredients including essential oils that add such a calming and soothing aspect to my bath routine! (I’ve stocked up on their bath line and love to rotate through them as a part of my bath routine).Any time I take a bath, I’ll use this beforehand! Dry brushing has so many great benefits, but before baths, especially, it’s a great way to practice self-care by activating your body’s release of toxins before you soak. These bath salts are simply the best! I love this brand because the ingredients are pure and raw, and they also assist in fighting off toxic build up in the body while hydrating and nourishing my skin - a self-care must! This scrub is an item that takes my time for self-care to the next level. It’s made with brown sugar and hydrating sweet almond oil that not only smells amazing but also leaves my skin feeling so moisturized afterwards! This sponge I’ve talked about a few times before because I simply love it! Not only is it a bath must-have staple for me, but the amount of body wash it’s helped me save has been amazing. It has quickly become a self-care item I cannot do without.I’ll use this particular bath soak on nights when I’m extra tired and need help getting rest. It’s also a great aid to your body when you feel you might be getting sick or are already under the weather! When I’m feeling stressed and want to relax, I make sure to use these bath salts that help calm my mind and soothe my muscles! I love the way it smells and knowing that it’s helping my body while I cut out time for self-care is such a bonus. However you’re feeling in this season, I hope you find time to do something that adds extra care and relaxation into your routine! x[show_shopthepost_widget id="4014588"]

Morning Must-Have: Celery Juice

As you guys know from Instagram stories, I am totally into my morning celery juice routine! In all seriousness though, celery juice is a morning must-have for me. With so many health benefits, drinking celery juice first thing on an empty stomach has proven itself to be great for gut health by improving digestion and immensely limiting bloating and indigestion. I've been on a gut-healing journey with the wisdom and guidance of Dr. Cole, and the addition of celery juice in my daily diet has been a game-changer!After six months of diligently enacting my gut healing protocol, I was still experiencing daily bloating and started experiencing constipation. Feeling hopeless, he prescribed me to do this every morning an hour before I ate food, and my bloating stopped within two days and I haven’t been bloated since + my energy has improved significantly!I use a whole stalk of celery and juice it using my juicer. So simple, and I swear by it! Also, this article is a must-read if you are intrigued by this celery juice situation. It is extremely informational and confirms a lot of what I describe in this post. Have you guys tried celery juice yet? Let me know in the comments below and keep sharing your celery juice adventures on Instagram!

THE LOOK

juicer | top | pants

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Wellness Notes | Part 2

Hey guys! As you know, I am so passionate about all things health and wellness and a BIG part of that is our diets. Feeling our best has a lot to do with what we feed and fuel our bodies with, so I am very particular about what I eat and drink!

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See below for a few notes about my personal eating habits. Also, we are excited to say that more recipes will be coming to LSK + to your inbox soon as we start exclusive content for email subscribers...coming soon! For now, check out this wellness notes post- part 1!

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I make a smoothie every morning filled with avocado, herbs, collagen, MCT oil, clean almond milk, and blueberries. It is so delicious! Before that though, I make fresh celery juice, per Dr. Cole's recommendation for gut health.

Details on both to come soon!

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My diet is filled with Kombucha for gut health and extra energy during the day. I love to snack on seasnax, Dang coconut chips (the sea salt ones), tiger nuts, and the lime Siete chips.

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When I am eating out, I lean towards wild fish cooked in healthy fats, grass fed and finished meat, and I avoid dairy, grains, sugar and gluten. Sometimes, I enjoy my cheat meal though with a glass of wine! 

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What about you guys?? I would love to hear your tips and tricks for feeling your best! xo

All The Hair Days

Friends, we are talkin' bout all the hair days today on LSK! From wash days to many non-wash days, this is our go-to routine & must-have products for simplicity, effectiveness, and cleanliness.We are believers in washing our hair about 3 times a week. I find that my hair is healthier and happier when I wash it less and let natural oils work their magic. On these days, here are the two must have items: a shhhowercap + stranded dry shampoo powder! Melissa raves about her shhhowercap & shared with me how effective it is (keeps her hair totally dry in the shower) + practical it is (can be machine-washed) + the style is chic and makes you feel pretty glam with it on. Shout-out to Lee From America for the recommendation. It might seem a little expensive for a shower cap, but it is so worth it in the long-run and much more preferable than a plastic cap, in our opinion. To get to know about my dry shampoo brand, read this Q&A with my bestie/co-founder!When the day comes to wash the locks, we love rahua shampoo + conditioner because they are both clean, safe, and toxin-free. We know the struggle of finding natural shampoo and conditioners that actually work, but rahua totally does! It is a little expensive, but worth the investment. The next must-have is this turban towel by aquis to wrap your wet hair in post-washing. I have talked about it before on IG stories and seriously cannot sing enough praises for this genius invention![show_shopthepost_widget id="3088570"]images by Jesy McKinney 

Bone Broth: Why It's Amazing

A major positive to living in Los Angeles these last few years is the benefit of discovering health practices that were not a part of my life prior to. I started uncovering the cause of my intense fatigue a few years ago, and along the way, through my reputable naturopath to the magical tonic bar at my go-to grocery store, to my recent leaky gut healing plan from my functional medicine doctor, bone broth has been a key word that keeps coming up.I personally steer clear of meat, so I love that I can supplement protein from bone broth. It is rich in minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds that are easy to absorb. Here are a few: collagen, magnesium, iron, calcium, glutamine, phosphorus, sulfur, glycine, bone marrow, potassium, zinc, gelatin and proline. The collagen in bone broth heals your gut lining and reduces intestinal inflammation + the abundance of minerals and amino acids reduces arthritis and joint point. Not to mention, it boosts the immune system in major amounts, boosts detoxification, and maintains healthy skin. Wowsers.Bone broth has become like my coffee. I love putting a spoonful of coconut oil in mine to add extra fat and calories + adding fresh ginger is super yum too! Food is so powerful, and I love that God created these things to help our body run as it is intended.My extra favorite thing to use bone broth for: veggie stir fries and soups! Who's with me in this cold weather? It is so cozy and super easy to make, smells delicious, and feeds your body with endless nutrients. Bone broth for the win! P.S. A key thing when using this is making sure it is good quality. Here is what  I use and recommend:Owl Venice: their chicken and vegan mineral broths are staples in my fridge.Kitchen Witch: I recently purchased this brand. I loved the gelatin in it because it aids to further healing of the gut.Kettle and Fire; Brothee; Epic: I haven't personally tried any of these, but I have heard great things!

Valentine's Day Wishlist

We are big fans of Valentine's Day. It's such a sweet, love-filled day and we can't help to get giddy over it. Below is our Valentine's Day Wishlist- it includes a few girly items that we would love to receive + they make great gifts for your bestie, sister, or mom. Links are below to shop and feel free to send this link over to your guy...:) Ideas can be so helpful! XO

stranded dry shampoo powder

french girl lip polish

heart socks

voluspa candle

cream blush

kosas lipstick

love themed undies

slip silk sleep mask

+ the denim jacket featured in the main image :) XO

*featured image by felicia lasala

Juice Beauty

I truly believe that I was meant to discover Juice Beauty as I found out about the clean skincare and makeup company three different ways, at about the exact same time. I took that coincidence as a cue that I needed to give their products a try. I first learned about the brand via Anthropologie's website since they sell it, then I realized that goop's skincare line was created in collaboration with Juice Beauty, and then I found out that Lauren was interested in Juice Beauty as well. Long story short, the stars aligned and Juice Beauty was brought to my attention. At the time I currently only own one Juice item, their amazing concealer, but their mascara and creamy blush are on my next-to-buy list. I love that the Juice team is so passionate about clean, safe ingredients. Also, the concealer is very effective and does not cause me to break out. I have had quite the time dealing with some acne on my chin and it is so sensitive to concealers. I want to cover it up, but with something that will not smother it, irritate it, or make it worse. I have tried so many concealers out there, and finally Juice Beauty's perfecting concealer saved the day. It's such a relief knowing that it is free of toxins and harsh chemicals. Below are a few images via Anthropologie + Juice Beauty products we want to try.*image above via the juice beauty pinterest page via this blog post

concealer | pressed powder | cream blush | mascara | lip cream