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Standing Desk Benefits
Hey guys- Melissa, here! To continue our wellness series, I am so happy to be here talking about standing desk benefits. It has been a year since I invested in a standing desk to have at my full-time job and I cannot express enough how much I love it. It was a big financial investment, but has been worth every dollar. The biggest benefit of a standing desk like this one from InMovement, is the ability to stand the desk up or keep it at desk level. Not all standing desks allow you the option to stand or sit, but the freedom that brings is so incredible.On average, I stand for probably 4 hours a day at work, so a little less than half the work day. Now that I have had it for a year, I cannot imagine not having a standing desk. Almost immediately, I felt increased energy, improved posture, a better mood since I wasn't on my rear all day (just thinking about that makes me cranky!), and overall my body felt more comfortable, flexible, and less stiff. I absolutely love my job, but it is 100% a desk job at the computer, so being able to stand up when I want (while still working and being productive) is such a blessing!Have you ever considered a standing desk? If so, I cannot recommend the InMovement brand enough- it comes fully assembled and is simply made to be placed on a normal desk. However, if you are looking for an at-home standing desk, we absolutely love this one from Pottery Barn.We would love to hear your thoughts on standing desks in the comment section below! xoimage via pb teen pinterest
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!
Healthy Recipes To Try This Season
Eating healthy is something that we are so passionate about because it truly effects not only how we feel, but how our bodies function! We will be doing a post on gut health soon, but as you guys know, fueling our bodies and soul with good-for-you ingredients is the core of wellness and healthy living. It isn't supposed to be strict and not fun, but inspiring, encouraging, and totally fun! There are so many wonderful foods out there and experimenting with new recipes brings so much joy and creativity. Below are some healthy recipes to try this season. We hope you love them! Also, follow our recipe board on Pinterest to keep track of recipes to try this season and beyond. xo
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balsamic roasted asparagus salad
peanut butter + banana smoothie
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Healthy Instagram Accounts That We Follow
As you know from Insta, we have officially started a wellness series for the month of January (and maybe first week of February) that we are so excited about. You can keep track of all posts in the wellness category on our homepage + here are links to a face wash routine post that went up last week, flu fighting tips, and a post on the practice of oil pulling. Today we want to share healthy Instagram accounts that we follow that always inspire us re: clean + safe products to use, wellness practices to implement, and healthy recipes to try. Enjoy, xo.
Oil Pulling Benefits
Have you ever heard of oil pulling? Normally when I ask people this, the answer is no, and I would have definitely been one of those people before. [show_shopthepost_widget id="2980099"]
Have you ever heard of oil pulling? Normally when I ask people this, the answer is no, and I would have definitely been one of those people before. I was googling natural ways to whiten teeth and discovered articles like this one, this one, and this one. I was immediately intrigued, read up on it more, and decided to give it a try once I learned about all of the oil pulling benefits. P.S. I also read that Gwyneth Paltrow is an oil pulling fan and then discovered this oil pulling kit that is sold on goop.com. I don't use this kit, although the information on the kit is very interesting and helpful; I simply use the coconut oil from Trader Joe's that is always in my pantry.As always, do research on your own before trying a new health practice (and even consult your doctor if you wish), but below are a few notes about oil pulling that I've learned. The gist of it is that you swish coconut oil (about a tablespoon) in your mouth first thing in the morning for about 15-20 minutes, then spit it out. It is supposed to rid your body of toxins by pulling the toxins out of your mouth via the gums. How fascinating is that? Oil pulling originated in India many, many years ago as a medicinal practice. It is especially good for oral health- promotes healthy gums, rids the mouth of bacteria, and also happens to whiten teeth! Not a bad bonus.A few things to note--*Very important NOT to swallow. You want to get the toxins out, not swallow them back in!*Doing it first thing in the AM before drinking or eating anything is key, because bacteria builds up in the mouth overnight.*The goal is 20 minutes, but just make it as long as you can. There are some days that I can only last 10 minutes, other days I make it to 20. Something is better than nothing!*When it is time to spit, make sure you spit out in the trash can-- coconut oil will clog up your sink drain and no one wants to mess with that.*After you spit out in the trash can, rinse with warm water (spit out) then follow up with normal brushing- preferably using clean and natural toothpaste.*I did read that you can use sesame oil or olive oil instead of coconut oil, but I have not tried it so I am not sure how those oils compare.*How often to oil pull? Up to you! I do it about 3 times a week. With anything though, it is better to start slow and not overdue it.Have you ever heard of oil pulling? Would you try it? Let us know in the comments below![show_shopthepost_widget id="2980099"]image via pinterest
Natural Flu Fighting Remedies
You might have seen on Instagram Stories that I have been pretty sick with the flu the past few days, so loading up on natural flu fighting remedies to help me feel better has been such a necessity. [show_shopthepost_widget id="2976285"]
Hey you guys! You might have seen on Instagram Stories that I have been pretty sick with the flu the past few days, so loading up on natural flu fighting remedies to help me feel better has been such a necessity. I know the flu is going around like crazy this year, and our doctor said it's the worst one yet, so I wanted to write this in hopes to help any of you going through it. January and February are key months for picking up germs unfortunately, so I wanted to share my go-to concoctions to boost the immune system and fight-off any bugs that try to get you down + I am going to share recipes I received on Instagram that have been absolute game changers. I can't thank you all enough for your amazing, holistic tips and tricks! Doing all of these things has the flu almost completely out of my system, and it is the morning of Day 3. I am still fully resting, though, and continuing these practices until I am back to one hundred percent.
I also want to state prior to that I am not a doctor; these are simply things that work best for me. The doctor prescribed me with two medications yesterday, and I almost caved because I felt so desperate. I am so happy that I believed in my immune system and stuck to the most effective methods of healing for my body. I have worked so hard to repair my gut health, and after endless research about how destructive antibiotics are to your gut, I avoid them at all costs, especially because 80% of your immune system is in your gut to protect from illness and disease.[show_shopthepost_widget id="2976285"]
WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING DAILY...
Oil of Oregano Liquid Concentrate
*2-3 drops under the tongue, 4X a day
*2 tsp every 4 hours
*Take every six hours
Epsom Salt Bath with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 5 drops of Thieves oil
*Take twice a day + drink a lot of water during and after
Vitamin D Drops - with at least 10,000 iu's
*Take under tongue twice a day
OTHER TIPS...
Constantly disinfect handles, phone, and anything you touch with Tea Tree Oil
Clean counters often with Thieves Cleaner
Wash sheets every day or as often as you physically can!
Take showers daily and wash your hands more than you can count
Drink tons of Water!!
Diffuse essential oils
Use essential oils on bottom of feet - I use Thieves and Lavender endlessly!
Get plenty of sleep!
P.S. A baked potato is my favorite, easy-on-the-tummy meal when I am sick.
I MAKE THESE DRINKS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY...
Drink One
*2 drops thieves oil
*2 drops lemon oil
*2 drops peppermint oil
*1 tsp manuka honey (this is basically an antibiotic in itself)
*half of a freshly squeezed lemon
*hot filtered water
Drink Two
*1 tsp apple cider vinegar
*half of a freshly squeezed lemon
*cinnamon
*1 tsp manuka honey
*hot filtered water
MORE OPTIONS...
*One packet in the morning on an empty stomach
*Put under tongue twice daily
Erewhon Sore Throat Tonic (they concocted this for me at the Tonic Bar to relive a sore throat)
*Available at Erewhon Market
Ingredients:
-Gyostemma Tea
-2 Caps Golden Voice
Praying that this list helps you during sick-season and beyond! Share this post with friends and family members who also might be interested in natural feel-better solutions. We would love to hear any of your tips and tricks in the comments section, too! Here's to feeling our best and staying healthy. xo
Two-Step Face Washing Routine
Hey guys, Melissa here! I am so excited to share my simple two-step face washing routine that has truly changed the state of my skin. For years, I struggled with finding a face wash or makeup-remover that worked for my skin. Then when I became more aware of toxins in products, the struggle became even more real! Some of the best products out there still irritated my skin and caused breakouts on my chin.Then two amazing things happened...first, Primally Pure reached out to Lauren and I and we became more knowledgable about their incredible line of clean skincare products. I told their founder, Bethany, and their holistic esthetician, Courtney, about my face wash issue, and they were kind enough to send me their cleansing oil for oily skin. I was of course SO NERVOUS to wash my face using oil, but I trusted their recommendation and thank goodness I did! After the first evening that I used it, I could already tell a difference in my skin the following morning. That being said, after a week, I could REALLY tell a difference. My skin looked brighter, less oily, and blemish-free. It also felt well-nourished and smooth to touch.The second amazing thing that happened was that I discovered Face Halo via this blog. It is a microfiber pad that you simply wet with warm water and gently wipe makeup off your face. You can read more about the facts, here, and the method, here. The pads come in a set of three and can be easily washed in the washing machine. I was amazed by the simplicity of this method and was THRILLED when it worked!I just realized that I totally wrote the two steps backwards, but that is because I discovered the cleansing oil before the Face Halo. That is a peak into how my brain works :) Anyway, to summarize, the first step is to remove makeup with Face Halo and then the second step is to clean with cleansing oil- this article has great directions and details about the cleansing oil method. Also, important to note, I use the oil for oily skin, but they also have cleansing oil for normal skin and for dry skin.I would love to hear from you in the comments about any face washing tips and routines that you swear by. Also, if you try this clean two-step routine, I would love to hear if it works for you as well! Praying that it does. xo Mimage via primally pure // #notsponsored
The Recipe For The Cinnamon Rolls
Happy Monday, friends! What better way to kick off the Monday after a holiday weekend than with a delicious recipe??? After many comments and messages to my + Jase's Instagram Stories, I realized that I just HAD to share the recipe for the cinnamon rolls! All credit goes to The Stay At Home Chef- this is her recipe and I am so thankful that I discovered it. As Jase mentioned on stories, we don't do the icing part because we like it better without, but totally do what works for you. I also make a few other swaps- I use ghee instead of butter, water instead of milk, and turbinado sugar instead of regular sugar. If you didn't catch these rolls over on IG stories this weekend, let me catch you up real quick...they are AMAZING. Ha, I seriously cannot gush about them enough. They are the epitome of comfort food, especially during this holiday season as a special weekend breakfast. If you give the recipe a try, be sure to come back here and let me know your thoughts in the comments! xoimage via Pinterest
The Week Of Family, Cooking, and Shopping
This week is definitely the week of family, cooking, and shopping. It is such a special time of year, but it can also be crazy busy. We are praying over all of us that we cling to calmness and not let the crazy-busy make us crazy! It is easy to get caught up in all of the pressure of hosting perfectly, cooking perfectly, decorating perfectly, shopping perfectly and everything else. However, rejoice, because we can say goodbye to all of the false perfect goals because they just aren't true. What is true is that this week is full of fun opportunities to be with loved ones, cook and eat delicious meals together, and do some gift shopping. Above all else though, we are called to give thanks abundantly this week. So, instead of getting caught up in the crazy, let's exist in the crazy (and even enjoy it) while standing firm in thankfulness with a gracious heart and a spirit of calmness, love, and joy. With that being said, we are of course going to list out a few sales that we are looking forward to (the ones that we know of so far!) + recipes that are on our want-to-cook list this week and weekend. Scroll down for more, xo.
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SALES ON OUR RADAR (c/o Glamour.com)
Alo Yoga- up to 60% off sale + 25% off full-priced items, starting Friday
Shopbop- 20% off $200 orders, 25% off $500 orders, 30% off $800 orders, starts today
Janessa Leone- 30% off hats from Friday-Monday
Hobo- 20% off full-priced styles on Friday
Krewe- 60% off frames from the 22nd-27th
Loft- 50% off everything on Friday
Anine Bing- selects boots & bags are 50% from the 24th-27th
Reformation- 30% off from Friday-Monday
Bella Dahl- 25% off site-wide on Friday
Fossil- 30% off everything from the 22nd-26th
Schutz- up to 40% off select shoes on Friday
RECIPES ON OUR LIST
this sweet potato chili from cookie + kate
chicken & turmeric soup from camille styles
roasted carrot hummus from goop
pumpkin porridge from in my bowl
flourless pumpkin cookies from chelsea's messy apron
crescent wrapped brie app from food network
white chicken chili from gimme some oven
pumpkin soup from bread & wine
garlic butter mushroom risotto from pinch of yum
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