Mornings with Jenna Levine of Linne Botanicals

I can't remember the first time I met Jenna Levine, but I remember when my team did. It was during an indie beauty event in which they all met her, tried her products, and insisted we feature her swearing she was the coolest woman they had met that day.

Jenna is cool. And a wealth of knowledge on botanical skincare -- a subject that more and more beauty aficionados are keying in on these days. We invited Jenna to join our Mornings with... series, a fun look at what women we love are doing at home lately...

My alarm is set for… I wake up naturally everyday around 7am. No alarm.

I can’t start my morning without… scraping my tongue with a copper tongue scrape, my own facial mist, a quick facial massage using my serum and BALANCE face oil.

Mornings are normally filled with… light exercise or stretching followed by a check in with my team.

I get my creative juices flowing by… experimenting in my home lab, cooking, dancing and being in nature.

Breakfast is normally… a superfood packed smoothie that usually includes greens, berries, homemade nut milk and spirulina, in addition to whatever is fresh and in season.

Favorite morning beverage is… a tea we make that contains 13 organic and biodynamic grown herbs to support the skin, as well as the immune, cardiovascular, lymphatic, endocrine, metabolic, respiratory, uterine, nervous and gastrointestinal systems. I also love to start the day with a homemade green juice.

My favorite moment in the morning is… snuggling with my pup and husband in bed. It’s an essential part of our daily routine and there is by far no better time of day.

On the best mornings I… take our dog, Breeze, on a hike or trip to the beach.

I start working by… rolling our functional fragrance over my forehead, temples and wrists. It contains ingredients known to stimulate mental clarity and concentration.

Healthiest daily habit… is oil pulling. I'm currently pregnant and hormonal changes during pregnancy can make gums more vulnerable to plaque, inflammation, bleeding and even gum disease so, as of late, I’ve been giving extra attention to my oral health.

I’m most obsessed with this currently… The yoga poses, Spinning Babies Inversion and the Breech Tilt. There is still plenty of time before birth for this little girl to flip into a vertex position on her own, but in the meantime it’s been a pleasure to take 20 minutes once or twice a day to rest while performing these inversion techniques. They relieve pressure, relax my hips and allow me to drain the blood from my legs. Best of all, while upside down I can feel our daughter actively move in my womb which is a wild and wonderful sensation!

I’m usually listening to… a variety of podcasts or my husband’s Spotify station - he finds the most amazing gems. While working I particularly love Afropop.

My favorite morning distraction… Breeze wanting to play.

Always thinking about lunch at… 3pm, and oftentimes later. I attribute this to my Spanish heritage! For better or worse, I get into such a concentrated state that I easily lose track of time. I’ve been trying to eat earlier and more frequently with this pregnancy however -- I certainly do love to cook and eat!

My current mantra:

"The tortoise won the race."

I love this parable. Not that I can afford to be slow, but I like the notion of persistence prevailing over quickness and vanity. As a brand founder, I have to be effective and efficient, but I also recognize that haste makes waste.

LINNÉ was built on the same principles as “slow food” and “slow fashion”. We are deliberate in our ingredient sourcing, formula development, manufacturing, and growth. This has allowed us to create a brand with a strong mission, truly effective products and a growing loyal and loving audience. It’s easy in a saturated market to compare oneself, but when I recall the tortoise, I know we are on the right path.

The recipe I’m making (and how to make it!): I made this Zucchini Carrot Morning Loaf one Sunday recently. It was an instant hit...

Preheat oven to 325

Toast 3/4 cups roughly chopped almonds and pumpkin seeds in your loaf pan.

In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/3 cup melted coconut oil with 1/3 cup maple syrup. Add 2 eggs and beat until well combined.

Add 1/2 cup milk of choice or water (I use homemade nut milk), 1 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon, a dash of cardamom and nutmeg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt.

Grate 1 1/2 cups worth of zucchini and carrots. Squeeze out excess moisture and mix in. Soak 1/4 of golden berries in hot water until they are soft and plump and fold into batter with toasted nuts.

Add 1 3/4 cups of flour. I used 3/4 cups of whole grain teff and 1 cup of sprouted ancient grain flour but you can use any flour you have on hand, as well as seed or milled flax.  Mix until combined.

Grease a loaf or shallow pan with olive or coconut oil and bake for 35-45 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

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