16 Essentials Inside Jenni Kayne’s Entertaining Supply Closet

Jenni Kayne knows how to host. We've shared many a special occasion at the designer's gorgeous LA home. We love her conscious and tasteful approach to styling her home by the seasons.

Jenni’s best insights have been captured in a beautiful new book, Pacific Natural.

The debut book from this sharp-eyed designer is a guide to hands-on living, decorating and entertaining by mother nature's clock. Organized by season, this entertaining manual if full of incredible ideas for dinner menus, tabletops, simple crafts, and supplies to keep on hand to pull off entertaining effortlessly.

Inside Pacific Natural, we found this list from Jenni on how to stock the ultimate entertaining supply closet. With a few key, nature-inspired pieces, any gatheringcan quickly become an effortlessly elegant affair.

The Ultimate Entertaining Supply ClosetLinens | Layers of neutral hues sit well on any table. Consider a runner, a set of 6-12 napkins, and a tablecloth.

Candles | Candles create an ambiance with low lighting. Don't forget to protect surfaces from drips of was with candleholders or bases.

Pottery + Ceramics | Keep an eye out for those special pieces you'll love to display. Use for flowers and as centerpieces.

Wood Bowls | These rustic vessels are great for serving or for decor filled with fruit, veggies, florals, or a mixture of all three.

Wood Boards | Layer these full of appetizers like cheese and crudites.

Leather Cord + Jute Twine | Use leather cords and jute twine to wrap gifts, as a napkin holder, or to tie herb bundles and florals together.

Cardstock | Add a personal touch with handwritten or printed place cards, menus, and thank-you notes.

Glass Jars | Gather a variety of shapes and sizes to gift, craft, and store dry goods.

Linen + Burlap | Use linen and burlap to wrap gifts, as a drop cloth for craft tables, and you can even make your own tablecloth runner.

Glassware | Keep a variety of glasses on hand that are versatile enough to use for wine, water, or cocktails.

Plates, Bowls + Cutlery | Earthy neutrals let the food be the focus and work for every occasion.

Carafes | Help your guests help themselves by filling carafes with water or mixed drinks.

Folding Tables | Quickly put together a table. Thow a nice linen on top and your guests will never know the difference.

What essentials can’t you live without for effortless entertaining? 

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Grill Poach Broil Roast: How To Cook Wild Salmon

TCM Classics --This story on how to cook wild salmon originally ran in 2017 but we loved it so much we decided to bring it back.

 We counted and there are approximately a million reasons to love wild salmon. But according to the queen of clean, craveable cooking, Pamela Salzman, how to cook wild salmon can be narrowed down to just seven simple, drool-worthy techniques. 

Wild salmon is a super-powered source of protein full of healthy fats and essential nutrients, and is also an amazingly versatile ingredient to work with. We learn so much every time we're in the kitchen with Pamela, but this guide on how to cook wild salmon is one of our favorite resources from the healthy pro! This collection of salmon-cooking tips and recipes comes straight from the pages of Pamela's new book, a treasure trove of simple, healthful recipes, called Kitchen Matters that shows exactly why Salzman's Hollywood cooking classes are so popular. 

Wild salmon is the ultimate anti-inflammatory food with its substantial stores of omega-3 fats. I am not as big a fan of farm-raised salmon though. This is a controversial topic since many experts believe that some salmon is better than no salmon. Farmed salmon is higher in contaminants than wild and when the fish are raised in pens and fed soy and food coloring, their nutritional benefits decrease. In addition, genetically modified salmon are out there, too. I would opt for wild as much as possible. Keep in mind, “Atlantic” salmon always implies farm-raised and “Alaskan” is always wild.

Wild salmon has a season, which is usually from about May to October. (If you see “fresh” wild Alaskan salmon being sold in the winter months, it is probably farm-raised). However, there is no reason to avoid eating fish if you can only find frozen/defrosted varieties available.

Here are seven different basic techniques for how to cook wild salmon. Note that wild salmon is often thinner than farm raised and will cook more quickly, so if you are using the following recipes with farm raised, you may have to add some extra time. [olists num=1][olists num=2][olists num=3][olists num=4][olists num=5][olists num=6][olists num=7]

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How To Overhaul Your Closet The Sustainable Way

Closets, we're coming for you. Between our seasonal craving for spring cleaning and the recent Marie Kondo hype, there's never been a better time to do a deep dive into your wardrobe and edit it to reflect your truest style - and your values.

Integrative physical therapist, Jenny Wirt, offers a unique holistic healing service called a ‘conscious dressing consultation’ which helps facilitate mind-body healing through a total wardrobe reboot. We tried it and loved it — a combination of remote healing work, chakra balancing, Pinteresting and a closet detox. Learn all about it below and book a consult here.

Just head she's sharing her top tips for a meaningful and sustainability-focused closet cleanout...

In case you didn’t already know, your skin is your body’s largest organ and the fashion industry is one of the world’s largest polluters.

Have you considered all the ways these have an effect on your health? What is your gorgeous skin absorbing, and not able to eliminate, as a result of the clothing you wear each day?

About conscious dressing consults: I support women in healing inside and out, restoring the connection to their power and creating shifts in their bodies through conscious dressing. I start with a remote mind-body healing session to assess your chakra system, masculine/feminine balance and any blocks in your beliefs preventing you from dressing how you’d like. I assess your skin tone, body shape and aesthetic preferences then I make recommendations for proportions, necklines and colors to promote healing through chakra balance, ones that also suit your complexion. I provide a mood board, personal consultation guide, a self-closet edit with a follow-up and ten shop-able pieces. I also offer a three-month subscription with ten shop-able pieces per month to build your new wardrobe.

How To Overhaul Your Closet The Sustainable Way

Here are six tips to use your consumer power to create shifts to benefit the health of your body, the planet and our collective psyche:

Natural fabrics | They allow your skin to breathe and properly perform its function of eliminating toxins. They are more environmentally friendly than synthetics, which contain substances such as formaldehyde and petrochemicals, emit CO2 during production and are higher water consumers. Although natural is a better choice, not all naturals are created equal. Bamboo, although technically natural, is heavily processed to achieve the softness of fabric that it’s not an ideal option. Cotton, although breathable, can still be laden with pesticides, which may be absorbed into your body via your skin. When your body heats fabric, it opens your pores and increases absorption of the chemicals the fibers hold. (Gross.) These chemicals have been linked to decreased fertility, brain and fetal damage. Fabric choice is especially important to your reproductive health in regards to what you’re wearing underneath your clothes that can to be readily absorbed into your most delicate parts. Best bets are organic cotton, linen, silk, wool, tencel and hemp. They’re often softer, too.

Plant-based dyes | The dying process can be not only harmful to the environment via water pollution and consumption, but also harmful to your skin via toxic chemicals that can irritate skin, cause cancer and do not have to be disclosed on the label. Just like you may follow with skin care, putting clothes on your body that are dyed with food you would eat is a far better option. Brands like Awave Awake are achieving stunning colors using plants.

Transparency | If a brand isn’t bragging about the way they treat their healthy business practices in terms of production, environmental impact, fabrics and dying process, chances are there isn’t anything to brag about. Keep this in mind as not only a humanitarian effort, but the entanglement theory of quantum physics, which tells us we are each affected by one another. Making sure your clothes are being made by human beings being treated like human being ensures that high vibe quality. A few brands I love are: Veja, Swedish Stockings, Awave Awake, Knickey, Arthur Apparel, Ooloop, Amour Vert, Reformation.

Alter verses Acquire | Consider taking a look at the pieces in your current closet that don’t feel fresh and fun. Can you alter them in some way so they work better for you? Bringing up the hem of a shirt or skirt, opening the neckline or changing the color via plant-based dyes can breathe new life into your wardrobe. The less demand, especially for fast fashion, the less product produced to ultimately end up in landfills.

Invest in quality | Long-term, even though it may come at a higher price tag, is a better return on investment for your cost per wear than a garment that won’t go the distance. Buying higher quality shoes, for example, will last you years and can be re-soled or repaired instead of moving onto the next. This also ties in with the final tip...

Know thyself | It may not immediately come to mind that being self-aware is sustainable, but stay with me. We often purchase pieces that don’t suit us because of a sale or as a quick decision, but then you don’t end up wearing it and it cycles out of your closet. This leaves you with a constant need to refresh with new pieces. Learning your body shape, skin tone and aesthetic preferences empowers you to make stronger purchases that work for you in all possible ways. You will be less likely to toss sartorial selections you feel great in and love to wear.

Learn all about the magical mind-body practice of craniosacral therapy from Jenny Wirt here.

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Wallet Wellness: Can These Crystals Help You Manifest Money?

Let's be real. All of those adaptogens, acupuncture appointments and therapy sessions can cost a pretty penny. Are you really living well if you're going broke in the process? Striving for financial wellbeing is as important for your healing journey as your nutrition and fitness goals, which is why we love the following tips to help manifest money from the crystal pros at Energy Muse. Crystals aren't a cure-all but they can help bring our intentions to life -- learn how to manifest money and attract abundance with the rich energy of these precious stones...

As much as you can’t buy happiness, having a healthy and stable relationship with money is an important component of living your best life. Wanting more money doesn’t make you selfish or greedy, in fact, it has the opposite effect. By knowing what you are worth and value, calling more money into your life becomes a reflection of what you deserve. When you are ready to attract success, abundance and prosperity, it’s time to call on the power of manifestation.

Can Crystals Help Manifest Wealth?By setting your mind to what you want to achieve in the financial department, you can turn your thoughts into reality. Expand your manifestation practice with the amplifying energies of crystals to attract more money.

Manifesting money can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be that complicated or intimidating. The first step is to be clear on what you want to manifest. Do you want a specific amount of money? New financial opportunities? Once you’ve decided what to manifest, allow your crystal to hold your intention so you can bring it to life.

Which Crystals Should I Use?Because there are different ways to go about manifesting money, there are also different crystals for the job. Choose one of the following crystal actions to bring your specific financial goals to life:

Citrine | Citrine holds the energy of the sun to raise your vibration and fill your spirit with positivity. This money stone gives you the mindset you need to send positive energy out into the universe. It helps attract the wealth you want.

Tools:
Pen and paper
Citrine point

How-to:
While holding your citrine point in your non-dominant hand, write down a list of what you want to manifest. Be specific! Hold your Citrine point in your hands, and say I am a money magnet eight times to program your crystal with your wealth intention.

Place your Citrine point on top of the paper with your list underneath to amplify your intention.

Pyrite | Pyrite is the ultimate crystal for manifesting money because it looks just like gold — and it has a rich energy, too. When its confidence and willpower you need to manifest money, reach for a Pyrite crystal to give you the bold energy to go after what you want.

Tools:
Your business card, business proposal, contract etc.
Pyrite crystal

How-to:
Place your Pyrite crystal on your desk or workspace on top of your business card, a proposal, a contract or even your bills to call wealth and financial success into that area of your life.

Aventurine | A stone of luck, Aventurine helps you arrive in the right place at the right time. It encourages you to say yes to opportunities that present themselves so you can increase your luck and bring more money into your life.

Tools:
Aventurine stone

How-to:
Place an Aventurine stone in your bra, pocket or purse to enhance your luck and supercharge your manifesting powers at all times.

Explore more ways to use healing crystals to attract the life you want with these guides from Energy Muse.

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How To Prioritize Self-Care (Even If You’re Too Busy)

Self-care should never be an afterthought, though modern life offers plenty of excuses to drop it down our list of priorities. When life ramps up its pace, it's that much more important to prioritize self-care. Holistic life coach and new TCM contributor, Maytal Phillips, is sharing how self-care is not a waste of time, but rather a way to become a more productive and present human. Discover how this working mama makes space for some much-needed self-love...

If you’re like me, you’re obsessed with all things in the holistic/self-improvement/health and well-being space. Self-care has recently become a hot topic floated as living a better life, being more productive and/or feeling less stressed. Self-care is defined as the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, especially during periods of stress.

Yet, it becomes optional between work, taking care of families and other priorities. Everyone talks about the importance of self-care but the struggle is real when it comes to actually taking it on. Here’s why we avoid self-care and why it's critical for our well-being to prioritize self-care...

What Gets In The Way of Self-Care?

The top reasons we avoid self-care begin with these all too familiar words: I don’t have time, which ultimately ends being it’s not a priority. And the truth is, as a mom or entrepreneur or both, you’re busy beyond words and the thought of adding one more thing to the day is unfathomable.

Let’s deal with the topic of time — what I call the vicious time circle phenomenon. We begin our day in a certain mental space, one that we may not be aware of, but probably looks like I have so much to do and I have no idea how it will get done or my all-time favorite I hope I get through today. We’re exhausted and can’t see through what needs to get done, and this is the lens we view the world and colors our actions for the day. So, we’re not present, we take twice as long to complete tasks, we feel guilty and it's followed by more exhaustion. It’s a self-perpetuating limiting belief — I’m not good enough — and one that keeps us from growing and expanding and, ultimately, living a life that works.

Why Is It Important To Prioritize Self-Care?

What if we injected some self-care into the day? Taking even the smallest amount of time to yourself will break up the vicious time circle and provide the space to rejuvenate, replenish and then go back to what needs to get done. When your mind has space, your physical body has the opportunity to regenerate. Similar to meditation, your brain needs a break too.

Part of the brain is called the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is the thinking part. When you do work that requires concentration, this part of your brain keeps you focused on your goals. The PFC is also responsible for logical thinking, executive functioning and using willpower to override impulses, which is a lot for one part of the brain to take on. Working for long stretches without break leads to stress and exhaustion. Taking breaks refreshes the mind, replenishes mental resources and helps with creativity. This, in turn, allows you to be more present during work and taking care of the kids.

What Can We Do To Prioritize Self-Care?

Allowing yourself even ten minutes a day to read, get a manicure, do a digital detox, meditate or whatever it is you need allows for a break in the perpetuation of the vicious time circle. The feeling of guilt and shame around not doing it all takes up mental space and keeps you from being present and productive. Self-care breaks up the self-imposed myth that you’re not enough and, on a physical level, it allows your brain time to reset. It’s not a waste of time — self-care actually creates time.

Keep in mind that self-care requires us to create and engage in a habit that is not only unfamiliar to many of us but seems to be contradictory to the societal pressures of being a badass girlboss. The reality is, however, that self-care is both badass and essential to being your own amazing girlboss.

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How Chronic Emotional Stress Can Hurt Your Health

Stress happens -- it's normal, but if you're always in that state your body could be working overtime to get back to balance. There's an inextricable link between our emotions and our organs (learn about it here). How do we better manage our emotional stress to reach a higher level of health and well being? We love this list of tips from Dr. Ben Kim at Food Matters all about managing emotional stress, and what happens if we don't...

What's the most powerful step you can take to dramatically improve your health? My answer is this: Learn how to effectively manage emotional stress.

All of my clinical and personal experiences over the years have me convinced that no other factor has more influence over your health. Not diet, not exercise, not even how much you sleep. Why is emotional stress one of the most significant causes of all chronic health challenges? Because your body cannot defend itself against the damage that emotional stress quietly creates over time. Your body pays a heavy physiological price for every moment that you feel anxious, tense, frustrated, and angry.

I'm not suggesting that you should strive to never feel these emotions. Anxiety, tension, frustration, and anger all serve important purposes when they first arise. The danger is in experiencing these emotions on a chronic basis.

What's The Problem With Emotional Stress?

Emotional stress sets off a series of reactions in your body that involve your sympathetic nervous system, the portion of your nervous system that would increase your chance of surviving if you were to run into a mountain lion during a hike. In such a situation, your sympathetic nervous system would:

+ Speed up and intensify your heart and breathing rates, so that you could have more oxygen and nutrients available to your muscles to run or fight.
+ Divert the bulk of your blood supply to your large muscles groups to run or fight.
+ Slow or even shut down your digestive system so as to not waste blood, nutrients, and oxygen that could be used to run or fight.
+ Stimulate the release of extra glucose into your blood to give you a burst of energy, just as a cheetah's spleen gushes extra blood into its circulation when it needs a burst of acceleration.
+ Cause your adrenal glands to release epinephrine and norepinephrine into your system to increase cardiac output and increase blood sugar.
+ Stimulate the release of cortisol from your adrenal glands to increase blood sugar and energy.
+ Increase the diameter of your pupils to allow for more light to enter your eyes and more acute vision for fighting and running quickly on any type of terrain.

Clearly, it is to your advantage to have a healthy sympathetic nervous system, one that is capable of providing all of the functions listed above during physical emergencies. What you don't want is for your body to experience all of the above on a continuous, low-grade level because of emotional stress. And this is exactly what many of us are suffering from in today's hectic world.

Emotional stress is immensely harmful to your health because your body reacts to it in the same way that it would react if you came upon a wild mountain lion. Not always to the same degree, of course, but there's no question that your sympathetic nervous system increases its output whenever you feel anxious, tense, frustrated, or angry. In other words, whenever you feel stressed.

There's really no need to provide a list of health conditions that are partly caused by emotional stress, because every health condition is partly caused by emotional stress. Emotional stress always equals increased output by the sympathetic nervous system, which always equals accelerated aging and breakdown of your tissues.

So what can you do to effectively manage emotional stressors in your life and prevent them from creating health problems?

How To Manage Emotional Stress Daily

Breathe deeply + regularly | Doing so can actually decrease the tone of your sympathetic nervous system and increase the tone of your parasympathetic nervous system, which is the portion of your nervous system that promotes relaxation and good digestion.

Actively Relax | Spend some quiet time every day in prayer, meditation, or a purposeful relaxation session All three have been scientifically proven to facilitate a relaxation response in your body that can decrease blood pressure, decrease pulse rate, and improve blood circulation. Meditation and relaxation sessions can be greatly enhanced by listening to any number of audio CDs that are designed to facilitate optimal relaxation and mental clarity.

Practice visualization | Almost all great athletes practice some form of visualization. As author Wayne Dyer says, "you'll see it when you believe it." Spend some time each day visualizing yourself going about your day in a balanced and emotionally poised manner. You can include visualization in your prayer/meditation/relaxation session.

Balance Your Diet | Make sure that you are getting the nutrients that you need for a healthy nervous system. Your nutritional status can make all the difference between being able to handle a certain amount of stress without breaking down vs. quickly suffering health problems when faced with stress. While it's important to your overall health that you eat a well balanced and nutrient-dense diet, for emotional health specifically, it is important to ensure adequate intake of B vitamins, vitamin D, and two long chain omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA.

Be honest about your feelings | There's a reason why know thyself is a wise proverb/saying in virtually every culture of our world. Striving to know yourself and what you are truly feeling on a daily basis is absolutely essential to preventing unpleasant but genuine emotions from becoming chronic states. Anger, frustration, and anxiousness can all help to fuel personal growth and character development if you are honest with yourself and seek to discover their root causes. One of the best methods I can recommend to increase your awareness of what you are truly feeling is journal writing. The rules are simple: no censorship, no possibility of another set of eyes being able to read your thoughts, just pure flow of thoughts from your mind and heart onto a piece of paper or your computer screen. Regular journal writing in this manner can be extremely beneficial to your emotional health.

Move your body | It's a well-established fact that regular exercise is one of the best habits you can adopt that will help you avoid depression and stay emotionally balanced. It doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do. What's important is to be active and use your joints and muscles on a regular basis. Don't make the mistake that many health-conscious people make and fret over the percentages of carbs, protein, fat, raw food, and cooked food in your diet while neglecting the emotional stressors in your life.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs. 

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Ballerina Misty Copland On Balanced Eating + Bonding With Meghan Markle

1. Ballerina Misty Copeland has created an impressive legacy. Through hard work and fierce belief in herself, she rose the ranks to become first African American principal dancer for the  prestigious American Ballet Theatre. The inspiring athlete is also the author of a gorgeous and empowering book Ballerina Body, and has a new fitnesswear collab with Under Armour we love. We're inspired by her long list of achievements, but even more so by her dedication to balanced living.

We've chatted with Misty a few times over the years, including alongside Meghan Markle when her lifestyle blog, The Tig, was still up and running. Meghan shared a deep sense of love and admiration for Misty saying,

 "Here’s the thing—as a bi-racial woman, I know what it’s like to want to follow your dreams and hear a lot of “no’s” along the way—not as a reflection of your talent but because you’re just not quite how they envisioned the role. And you may remember my story of being a little girl and wanting a doll that looked like me: well, Misty is that real life doll—the role model, the pretty princess, the ballerina that the 10-year-old me so desperately needed to see. "

We've loved learning about what this beautiful ballerina eats, and how she balances the demands of her figure-focused job and the purity of her passion. Here are a few of our favorite takeaways...

Snack Healthy + Often | Ever wondered what a ballerina eats between studio sessions and how she eats on her days off? Misty shared that she likes to "carry [my] own small bites so [I] don’t wind up grabbing whatever’s available — and often not so healthy — when hunger pangs hit." Misty loves nuts and fruits, as they're easy to tuck into a bag and are tasty enough to satisfy cravings for salty or sweet.

Hydration Is Everything | Staying hydrated is key for athletic performance, but also for managing cravings between meals. According to Misty, "you can’t go wrong with water. It’s a sugar-free elixir that your body can’t live without, and it also helps quell your hunger. Often when we think we want to eat, we’re really craving water instead."

Come Prepared | When on the go, staying on track with nutrition goals means coming prepared. Misty shared this: "Airports are starting to feature healthier options than the traditional burgers and pizza, but to be safe — and save a few dollars while I’m at it — I like to take along packaged food that I can rely on to give my body what it needs, especially if I’m heading overseas. I usually carry packets of plain oatmeal, packaged tuna, whole wheat crackers and nuts."

Dine Out Wisely | When dining out, Misty admitted that it "can be tough to stay committed to healthy eating, especially when you’re surrounded by other diners ordering delicious-looking sweets and fried foods. But you can summon the willpower to stick to your eating plan and still feel satisfied. Even if I’m eating at one of my guilty pleasures, Red Lobster, I go with options that don’t have a ton of empty calories added to them. For instance, I’ll order the crab legs and a garden salad. Go for clean! That could be a piece of fish that isn’t breaded or fried, a salad or vegetable, and quinoa, lentils or couscous instead of rice."

Do Dinner Right | Treat yourself with delicious, whole food nutrition -- and maybe a little something extra -- at the end of each day. "My ideal dinner is a piece of grilled salmon. I’d have it with roasted onions, carrots and butternut squash seasoned with rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper. Since I would have been conscientious all day, hydrating constantly with water, I’d have a glass of Prosecco and maybe a peanut butter cookie for dessert!"

Love these insights from Misty? Learn more about her daily diet here.

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Spicy Instant Pot Thai Tofu Curry With Kabocha Squash

Making a full meal in twenty minutes is not an easy task. Making it healthy too? Even more of a challenge. Unless, of course, you've got an Instant Pot and this mega-delicious Massaman thai tofu curry recipe. We spotted this simple dish in The Essential Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook by healthy blogger Coco Morante and had to share. Loaded with plant protein, healthy fats and a kick of spice, we can't think of a cozier -- or quicker -- way to fuel up...

If you’re a chili head, you’ll appreciate the generous amount of Massaman curry paste used in this Thai-style dish — it’s not shy on spice. When buying curry paste, check the ingredients to make sure it is vegan. (Aroy-D brand is a great choice.) Their coconut milk is excellent and consistent in quality, too.

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TCM Item of the Week: The Ultimate Everyday Flats By Hobes

No well-rounded wardrobe is complete without a few key staples -- like jeans that fit flawlessly, a perfectly hemmed white tee, and a pair of comfy but stylish shoes you never want to kick off.

Our Spring Shop is full of these sustainable staples this season, but there is one standout piece we can’t stop wearing — or talking about. Discover why we're obsessed with Hobes’ leather flats in this edition of TCM Item Of The Week...

What It Is: Hobe’s The Point leather flats. These beautiful flats we're born from a personal struggle to find the perfect pair of everyday shoes. Hobes founder Georgia Hobart was on a mission to create a pair of flats that are soft and comfortable, classic in style, and above all else, lightweight for travel. Hobes checks all the boxes for all-purpose kicks that don't lack in style points. They're the ultimate addition to any modern wardrobe.

Why We're Obsessed: Last year, our Editor In Chief shared her daily LA routine with the brand and was gifted a pair of these laceless leather wonders in white (above). We’re not going to tell you she wears them daily to the office — but practically.

The comfy slide-on shoes are made without laces for an undone, effortless look we love. Made using traditional Italian techniques, they’re durable AF and easy to collapse down for travel. As any fashionable traveler knows, finding a compact shoe that can be worn dressed up and down is nearly impossible, but these little flats fit the bill. We love their timeless feel for travel photos galore.

What To Do With Them: Wear them everywhere, stare at them lovingly, talk about them at brunch, buy more pairs etc.

On a Marie Kondo cleaning kick? Shoes can be the hardest thing to streamline. These well-designed flats are a great addition to a capsule wardrobe. We also love the lace-ups in a rainbow of soft neutrals and The Points in soft and shimmery gold!

Pick up a pair of The Point Hobe here.

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How To Recover From Estrogen Dominance With Whole Food Nutrition

Food is medicine and we don't mean that as a metaphor. When it comes to addressing common yet uncomfortable conditions like hormonal imbalance it can be tempting to take aggressive measures. What we really need is to be gentle to our bodies, to listen to their cry for help and to treat them with the best care in the form of good, natural nourishment.

Holistic Nutritionist and women's wellness expert, Kristin Dahl, has been talking to us about estrogen dominance all month. According to Kristin, "estrogen dominance is one of the most common hormonal imbalances women experience, which can be due to either excess estrogen or a lack of progesterone in the body. Either way, there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone and this imbalance can negatively impact health in numerous ways".

We broke down the topic here and dove into some fascinating details here. Below, Kristin is sharing how to get back to balance using clean, whole food nutrition. As with any medical concern, it's important to check in with your doctor, but this holistic guide is a helpful place to start your journey back to balance...

How Do I Use Foods To Heal Estrogen Dominance?

Increase + focus on these foods:

Eat lots of whole foods from the Brassica family and cruciferous vegetables (great at supporting the liver’s detoxification process). Increase fiber, probiotic-rich foods and water.

Aim for 2.5 liters of pure filtered water daily to help remove toxins and excess estrogen from the body. Water is needed for all bodily functions including healthy bowel movements.

Whole food simply means food in its natural form (the way it is right after harvesting). A diet high in processed and refined carbohydrates and sugars can increase estrogen to unhealthy levels. Increase whole foods such as root vegetables, dark leafy greens, kale, collards, berries, quinoa, avocado, nuts and seeds. Increase intake of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, kale, watercress, turnip, horseradish, mizuna and cilantro. (Note: If eaten raw, this family of vegetables can inhibit thyroid function.)

Fiber is critical for healthy bowel movements, which is the main way for excess estrogen to exit the body. The general rule is at least 35 grams of fiber per day. It is easy to reach this if consuming a whole foods-based diet. Fiber-rich whole foods include broccoli, pears, lentils and ground flax seeds. If you’re in need of more fiber, try having oatmeal and/or oat bran a few times a week or psyllium husks. Fiber is a natural source that binds to estrogen excreted by the liver and brings it into the intestinal tract for elimination while preventing estrogen reabsorption. Try psyllium husks powder (200 mg daily) and plenty of water.

Probiotic-rich foods are essential to digestive health, energy production, healthy skin and metabolism of hormones, but will also create an environment of higher good bacteria in the gut. This reduces the risk of bad bacteria converting estrogen that reaches the bloodstream and promotes regular bowel movements and elimination. Eat probiotic-filled foods like cultured vegetables that are fermented (kimchi and sauerkraut), coconut kefir, apple cider vinegar, natural kombucha (look for low-sugar content) and organic tempeh and miso.

Eat plenty of healthy fats that support healthy hormones like avocados, walnuts, olive oil, coconut products, nuts and seeds. Flax seeds contain lignans that help balance hormone metabolism and block the negative effects of excess estrogens.

Eliminate and Reduce These Foods:

The Standard American Diet, consisting of sugar, wheat, dairy and artificial ingredients, is a nightmare for the human body. The guidelines from the SAD are wreaking havoc with our blood sugar and hormones. Foods are processed with xenoestrogens in the form of chemicals, hormones and antibiotics — substances which contribute to the increase in obesity by adding to fat storage in cells and burdening the liver, which is trying to detoxify excess estrogens.

Limiting animal products (meat, dairy) is especially important — and this is mostly to avoid conventional animal products. Choose only grass-fed, free-range and organic, but also be mindful of the overall intake of these products as well.

Use only organic soy and in moderation. If you choose to consume soy, choose organic and fermented soy, such as miso and tempeh as the healthiest way to go.

Limit alcohol and caffeine. The liver is forced to work extra hard to eliminate alcohol from the body and so it cannot focus on eliminating estrogen and other toxins at the same time. The estrogen marked for elimination then accumulates in body fat instead and is recirculated in the body. Excessive intake of caffeine exhausts the adrenal glands and can further drain these glands which increases estrogen levels.

Be conscious of drinks. Replace cold drinks with water, smoothies and herbal infusions. Replace warm drinks with herbal teas (e.g. dandelion, burdock and milk thistle teas), which support the liver’s detoxing process. Order caffeine-free lattes such as turmeric lattes, pumpkin lattes, hot cocoa, etc. The key is to use natural, healthy products and minimize the consumption of dairy.

In general, enjoy fresh, organic, raw or lightly cooked produce as much as possible. Eat organic, free-range, grass-fed meat, poultry and dairy in limited quantities. Avoid commercial wheat, and if you must occasionally eat wheat, make it organic (try sprouted/fermented options like sourdough).

Replace refined sugar with natural sweeteners like dates, honey or maple syrup, again in small quantities.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs. 

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10 Essential Travel Tips From The Ever Stylish Molly Sims

Mama, model, author and wellness lover to the max, Molly Sims has a lot going on. We've loved picking her brain over the years, scooping up inspo on how to live well and make your mark without sacrificing on the self-care front.

Molly recently wrapped the filming of her new Netflix project in Hawaii and is launching a new collection of non-profit supporting, custom-embroidered accessories with designer Rachel Miriam. As we start fantasizing about spring and summer getaways, we asked Molly, a former TCM guest editor, to dish out some of her most essential travel tips...

When Packing...

Stay organized with pouches. I have a line with Rachel Miriam (launching March 28th!) where you can customize your bags to say whatever you’d like. I have one for my jewelry, makeup, skincare, etc. I use the large pouch to carry any snacks I may bring and then the Dopp kits to stay organized. You can literally use them for anything— I even use the large tote as a diaper bag. It'll make you look chic!

Pack Some silk. I love to bring a silk pillowcase and eye mask. Slip has a great travel set, I don’t know how I ever traveled without it. If I have to work once I arrive at my destination I don't want any creases on my face, I need to look well rested.

Jewelry hack. When packing, I’ve discovered the best way to organize necklaces is by placing them through straws. That way they’ll never get tangled and you won’t sit in your hotel trying to salvage them. This is a great way to make use of old straws you don’t want to toss and add to our landfills.

Wear layers for your travel outfit. Depending on where I’m going, I’ll wear a t-shirt or long sleeved shirt, leggings, sneakers or boots, and a cardigan. You always want to be comfortable and warm on a flight.

Be cozy. I always pack a soft pair of socks and a pashmina for travel. (I hate using airplane blankets.)

Pack your meals and snacks. I never ever eat airplane food. Generally, you don’t know what’s in it and I’d much rather eat a healthy salad or snacks I pre-pack. I love to make protein balls to bring, and hummus and carrots. There’s a great place in Santa Monica called Tocaya Organica that has the best burritos that you can make vegan or paleo — it’s my travel staple.

Stay connected. Pack chargers, AirPods and an iPad or laptop. For some reason, I’ve been on a few long flights lately that don’t have televisions. This makes the time pass extremely slow. Make sure you’re prepared with an iPad or laptop if this is the case so you’re entertained throughout your flight. I always bring chargers and airpods because I like to catch up on podcasts as well — and you don’t want to land with a dead battery.

At The Airport...

Disinfect everything. I cannot afford to get sick when I travel. Whether I’m with my kiddos or flying solo, I disinfect my chair, the arrests, the tv screen — if I’m going to touch it during my flight, you bet it’ll be disinfected with Wet Ones. I also always have hand sanitizer on me and reapply throughout the flight.

Stay hydrated. Stay hydrated both internally and externally. I’m that weirdo on a plane with a sheet mask, a Jet Lag mask from Summer Fridays and a huge water bottle. For every hour I’m on a plane, I try to drink a bottle of water. Do not drink alcohol on planes — it will dehydrate you more than you even know.

TSA Pre-check + Global Entry are life-savers. I hate waiting for my flight at the airport. Depending on the destination, and because of TSA PreCheck, I’ll arrive at the airport only an hour before takeoff.

Loving these travel tips? Discover another one of our essential airport hacks here

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5 Picks We’re Shopping Inside Nordstrom’s Green Beauty Pop-Up

Inside Eyebrow Guru Kristie Streicher’s Daily Beauty Routine

Bow to the brow queen, Kristie Streicher. The LA-based beauty pro is revered for her ability to turn even the skimpiest of brows into a fluffy yet elegant pair. With over twenty years of experience and clients including Emily Blunt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz -- and just about everyone else in LA -- it's pretty obvious why we picked her to join our Green Goddess Guide series.

Kristie can usually be found at Striiike, the Beverly Hills studio she shares with her sisters Ashley (who does hair) and Jenn (who does makeup). Kristie's claim to fame is her trademarked Feathered Brow technique. The innovative and totally natural process brings overplucked arches back to a state of being full and lush. Kristie's sorcery can now be channeled at home with her new Essentials Eyebrow Grooming Kit -- a perfectly curated toolbox that includes access to exclusive brow training tutorials from Kristie.

Bold brows started making a comeback in the past few years as people have gravitated more and more towards embracing natural beauty. A well-crafted pair frames our face and works like the ultimate accessory, one that requires little else to look polished. Kristie's own face is a perfect example; we love her simple yet sophisticated approach to beauty -- and her A+ picks for the ultimate beauty capsule.

From a French toner to German night cream, and regular visits to the Korean spa, we're loving all the ways Kristie keeps her glow game strong. Gather inspo galore below...

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How To Made Avocado Chips With Hemp Seeds + Nutritional Yeast

Avocado toast has a cute and crave-worthy little sister; these addictive avocado chips. Made with our favorite fatty fruit, protein-packed hemp seeds and the queen of umami nutritional yeast, homemade avocado chips are upping our snack game in a major way.

The recipe comes from The Essential Vegan Keto Cookbook which has some genius dishes for a very tricky combination of nutritional needs. High fat, low carb and entirely plant-based, these avocado chips are a pleasant surprise -- and a 'need to bookmark now' kind of recipe. Serve them with pesto, salsa, hummus or heck, a petite pile of fresh avocado because self-love...

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How To Turn Roasted Veggies Into Soup With Basically Zero Effort

Learning how to make soup from roasted veggies is a simple technique that can change the way you meal prep. We love this easy recipe from Rawsome Superfoods, the latest cookbook by vegan blogger and best-selling cookbook author Emily Von Ewu.

The process unfolds in two basic steps: roast up a pan of your favorite veggies -- in this case, cauliflower and carrot -- then give them a whirl in the blender with a bit of coconut milk and broth until the texture is just right. That's it! While your veggies are getting toasty in the oven, you have time (and free hands) to prep other elements of your meal -- or actually take time to chill, if that's what your body needs.

You can use any veggies you like, including ones that you previously roasted. We love to store the soup in glass jars to enjoy throughout the week, or single serving portions to stash in the freezer to pull out when we're too tired to cook.

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Take The Quiz: Do You Have A Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance can be a confusing thing to decode. Our hormones drive every function, and dysfunction, in our bodies. When something is out of whack, our bodies will let us know -- often in the form of common symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and painful periods. Learning what to look for gives us major power over the state of our well-being.

Dr. Jolene Brighten is a women's naturopathic medical doctor, author and leading expert in hormonal birth control related problems. Her latest book, Beyond The Pill is an educational guide to claiming back our hormonal health. It's by no means anti-birth control, but rather a toolbox of information and resources to help women make the best decision for themselves and support their body whatever stage they are at.

Below is an abbreviated version of the hormone quiz Dr. Brighten uses to help determine which hormonal imbalances you might be struggling with. Once you understand your hormones you can seek out the right kind of help, and begin your journey to resetting them and reaching better health.

The Hormone Quiz

Here's how to take the quiz: As you read through the eight categories, mark down the symptoms that apply to you currently. Total up your symptoms in each category, note how many apply to you and jot down the number in the box next to "TOTAL". Once you've gone through each of the categories, take a look at Dr. Brighten's results at the end.

Category A

I experience bloating or puffiness.

I feel irritable or experience mood swings.

I experience heavy, painful periods.

I have gained weight or have difficulty losing weight, especially around my hips, butt, and thighs.

I’ve been told I have fibroids.

TOTAL:  

Category B

I’m emotionally fragile and/or I feel nostalgic about the past.

I have difficulty with memory.

My periods are fewer than three days.

I struggle with depression, anxiety, or lethargy.

I have night sweats and/or hot flashes.

TOTAL:  

Category C

I experience PMS seven to ten days before my period.

I get headaches or migraines around my period.

I feel anxious often.

I have painful, heavy, or difficult periods.

My breasts are painful or swollen before my period.

TOTAL:  

Category D

I have abnormal hair growth on my face, chest and/or abdomen.

I have acne.

I have oily skin and/or hair.

I have areas of darker skin (e.g., armpits)

I’ve noticed thinning hair on my head.

TOTAL:  

Category E

I have a low libido or diminished sex drive.

I struggle with depression, have mood swings or cry easily.

I have no motivation.

I am tired or fatigued throughout the day or have been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.

I’m unable to gain muscle, and I’m losing muscle mass.

TOTAL:  

Category F

I feel tired in the morning, even after a full night’s sleep.

I depend on caffeine to get through my day.

I want to take naps most days.

My energy crashes in the afternoon.

I crave salty or sweet food.

TOTAL:  

Category G

My life is crazy stressful.

I feel overwhelmed by stress.

I have extra weight around my midsection.

I have difficulty falling or staying asleep.

My body is tired at night, but my mind is going a mile a minute—“wired and tired.”

TOTAL:  

Category H

I have brain fog or feel like my memory isn’t quite what it used to be.

I’m losing hair (scalp, body, outer third of the eyebrows).

I’m tired no matter how much I sleep.

I’m constipated often and need a stimulant (like caffeine) to get a bowel movement.

I’m cold and/or have cold hands and feet.

TOTAL:  

Answer Key

0 or 1 box checked in a category = This category is unlikely to be a culprit in the symptoms you’re experiencing.
2 to 3 boxes checked = This just might be your troublemaker, meaning right now this is likely the dominant hormone aggravating your symptoms.

Category A: Too Much Estrogen

Category B: Too Little Estrogen

Category C: Too Little Progesterone

Category D: Too Much Testosterone

Category E: Too Little Testosterone

Category F: Too Little Cortisol

Category G: Too Much Cortisol

Category H: Too Little Thyroid Hormone

Dr. Brighten’s complete Hormone Quiz can be found in her book, BEYOND THE PILL: A 30-Day Program to Balance Your Hormones, Reclaim Your Body, and Reverse the Dangerous Side Effects of the Birth Control Pill. 

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs. 

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Get A Glimpse Inside This Epic LA Marathon Recovery Pop-Up

Once the hard work is over, the healing can begin. Crushing a marathon is a major accomplishment and deserves the best kind of self-care. Following the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon, which kicks off this Sunday, March 24th, Lululemon is hosting the ultimate mind-body recovery experience -- and it looks legit.

RCVR by lululemon is an immersive runner's recovery pop up created for LA Marathon finishers and L.A.-area fitness enthusiasts alike. Running from March 25- March 27 at PLATFORM, Culver City's beautifully curated new shopping center, the pop-up features a range of recovery modalities, including Lululemon's Virtual Reality breathwork Program EMBODY, cryotherapy, hot stone massages, meditations and so much more. Reserve your spot (for free!) here.

Lately, we've been focused on the importance of recovery when it comes to reaching our fitness goals, and this list covers all the bases -- mind and body. If you're used to going all out with your workouts, taking time to maximize recovery might feel like an extra step, but it's a necessary one. Whether you're marathoning this weekend or just seeking inspiration for new ways to treat yourself well, you've got to check out this list of powerful, holistic recovery modalities...

Theragun | This recovery tool is one of our new favorites, and they'll be offering sessions with it at the recovery pop-up. The high-frequency, high-amplitude neuromuscular percussive therapy device provides muscle activation, recovery, and pain relief. Think of it as a super-powered personal massage that doesn't just punch down on muscles, but actually helps release tension in a totally tangible way.

Breathwork |  Your breath can be a powerful healing tool if you know how to use it. At the pop-up, Lululemon will be hosting a variety of breathwork experiences. We've got our eyes on the session led by Reis Paluso, an official instructor of the Wim Hof Method which teaches powerful, science-backed breathing exercises that help you take control of your body and relieve stress.

Yoga + Meditation | There's noting like a good, long stretch after a strenuous workout. Yoga helps us increase flexibility and improve alignment. Guided meditation is a perfect mindful pairing to help anchor that sense of relaxation and calm. Lululemon ambassadors will be teaching classes throughout the pop-up to help you unwind.Cannabis for Recovery| Yes, you read that right. Dosist, the makers of the cute portion-controlled cannabis vapes above, will be offering a talk with a neuroscientist about the science behind cannabis for recovery. Learn all about your body's endocannabinoid system, and why cannabis works so well for helping our bodies heal, here.

Mobility Class | Hosted by Evolution Physical Therapy, this class addresses the mechanics of movement to help prevent injury and improve athletic performance.

Normatec suits | These weird-looking leg-sleeves are actually dynamic compression devices designed to help athletes recover faster between training. The unique compression technology gets blood flowing and helps muscles relax so they can repair.

Essential Oils | Wellness brand SAJE will be offering a sampling of essential oils to help with recovery. Essential oils can have a profound impact on the way our bodies work and can help bring you back to a state of balance. Learn all about the potent mind-body effects of essential oils here.

Vitamin Shots + IV | Intense workouts, like running a marathon, can be majorly depleting. A vitamin shot or IV can deliver necessary nutrients right into the bloodstream and can help bring your body back to equilibrium quickly so it's able to heal efficiently. LA local go-to, Drip Doctors, will be offering vitamin shots and more to help boost energy, immunity and balance. Learn all about the benefits here.
Infrared Sauna| There is nothing better than hopping into a hot sauna when you're muscles need a break. Infrared lights penetrate deep into our muscles to help us sweat, relax and repair. The benefits of an infrared sauna include reduced pain, improved circulation and deep detox. Hot Box Sauna is setting up shop for the pop-up -- learn more about the benefits of infrared saunas here.
Cryotherapy | Cryo Cafe LA will be offering sessions at the pop-up. Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy, is the localized use of super-low temperatures for just a few minutes to reduce inflammation and help soothe sore muscles. Cryotherapy is an athlete's best friend for treating tissue lesions, including microtears that are common after strenuous workouts.

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The Smart Girl’s Guide: 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Shopping for CBD

From capsules to tinctures, we have a lineup of pretty CBD products on our desks at all times — can you relate? Proven to help with stress, anxiety and inflammation, CBD has become an instant cultural phenomenon and modern wellness mainstay.

The trouble is that industry regulation is lagging behind the beautiful flood of well-designed CBD products we've seen over the past year. As we're collectively just starting to unlock CBD's incredible healing potential, it's important to become an advocate for yourself when shopping around. Knowing what questions to ask and which brands to trust is key to staying safe and to seeing results.

A new online space, Prima, is here to help us make sense of the world of CBD. The digital magazine, educational hub and soon-to-be online shopping resource prides itself on a commitment to transparency. They embrace CBD as we do — fueled by the wisdom of holistic traditions and empowered by modern botanical science.

As with any natural supplement, your fave CBD product deserves thorough investigation before it becomes part of your daily routine. Admittedly we're quick to try a buzzy new CBD cream or hemp-laced drink, but do we really know what we're getting from them? How do we decode product labels and determine which delivery method is best for our needs?

We asked Prima co-founders, Christopher Gavigan — a wellness power player who helped launch The Honest Company with Jessica Alba — Honest Company alum, Laurel Angelica Myers, and former beauty executive, Jessica Assaf, to help guide us through the essential do's and don'ts when shopping for CBD. Read on to discover what these pros think consumers should know about navigating the CBD 'wild west'...

How To Shop For Safe CBD Products

In the new and blooming hemp CBD market, there is just as much consumer confusion as there are products on the shelves. With no federal oversight, there aren’t any safety standards, testing requirements or regulatory systems in place to ensure product safety and efficacy. For now, the burden falls on us as consumers to determine whether products are safe. Let us help with our tips for shopping for CBD:

Find purpose-driven brands | And especially ones with sustainable sourcing. Transparency matters, first and foremost. Because the CBD industry is so new and underdeveloped, it is critical to know the faces behind the brand you choose to buy from. Intentions are everything, and it’s important to understand why a specific brand decided to enter the space and how they are taking precautionary action to ensure product safety and quality. Hemp is a bioaccumulator, meaning it absorbs compounds (both bad and good) from the soil. Healthy hemp starts with healthy soil, so choose mission-driven brands committed to sourcing from organic cultivation practices.

Choose broad-spectrum | Be sure to seek out broad-specturm CBD over CBD isolate. The hemp plant contains hundreds of therapeutic compounds: cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, amino acids and more that work synergistically with our bodies to support our health. These compounds activate one another and work best in unison, so choose products that contain a range of compounds, not just CBD. CBD isolate refers to a product that is stripped down to contain only CBD, a single molecule, without any of the other compounds. Use broad-spectrum products which contain a rich cannabinoid and terpene profile (with no detectable THC, the single intoxicating cannabinoid) for maximum benefits.

Request test results | Request pharmaceutical-grade third-party test results. Always look for (or request) “finished product” test results (not Certificate of Analysis from the raw materials supplier) from a pharmaceutical-grade, credible independent lab. Review the levels of cannabinoid and terpene content, and undesirable constituents like pesticides (including glyphosate, the harmful by-product of the herbicide Roundup), residual solvents, heavy metals, bacteria and mold in both the active ingredient (CBD or hemp extract) and the finished product. Most high-integrity brands feature test results on their website, but if not, buyer beware.

Optimize for bioavailability | Many cannabinoid products on the market are blended with carrier oils like MCT oil, hemp seed oil and olive oil. These aren’t the best for the body to properly process and absorb because the body actively digests and processes out the cannabinoids in the liver (so only a small percentage actually impacts your body). Look for sublingual, alcohol-based sprays and tinctures (applied under the tongue) instead of oil-based products to ensure better bioavailability and rapid uptake.

Understand the ingredient list | And a product's preservative system. The other ingredients in the product are just as important as the carrier ingredient. Review the full ingredient list and look out for red flags like potentially harmful synthetic chemicals (or even sugar) that undermine the quality of the product. Understand the preservative system so you can evaluate the safety of the product and its shelf life. Study each and every ingredient like it’s your job.

Evaluate the dose of active CBD | Pay special attention to the total cannabinoid content in each product — especially per serving and in total. Many brands are misleading consumers by using hemp seed oil (which does not contain meaningful levels of cannabinoids) instead of CBD-rich hemp extract. And dose matters: In order to feel the benefits, you need a significant dose (100 to 750 mg) of cannabinoids per product.

Choose sophisticated formulations | Especially in convenient formats. Many products on the market (hello, tinctures) are not intuitive, easy or natural to use (holding oil under the tongue is just plain weird). You shouldn’t compromise your lifestyle to accommodate an inconvenient product form. Choose products that easily integrate into your life: Drinks, nutritional supplements (like soft gels) and skincare topicals are three delightful formats we love right now.

Integrate a holistically healthy lifestyle | In order to ensure a positive experience with hemp CBD, make sure you are sleeping well, eating whole foods, hydrating with clean water, working out, using non-toxic skincare, using digital devices less and are taking better care of yourself in total. CBD is not an all-encompassing cure-all or panacea, and in order to feel the benefits you must commit to a holistic lifestyle of healthful wellness practices.

Start slowly + monitor results | If you're just getting into CBD, start with a small, consistent dose, monitor results and adjust as you go. CBD products are generally considered individualized, meaning everyone experiences the plant differently. There isn’t a standard dose that works well for everyone, so start with a small dose (like 5 to 10 milligrams) twice daily and monitor how you feel. It takes time for our bodies to adjust and find the right balance of cannabinoids in the system, so commit to a consistent dose twice a day accompanied by a large glass of water.

Reflect + repeat | Repeat use over time is critical: Use products consistently, supported by a healthy diet and lifestyle and work to monitor your results. For some people, it may be more impactful to evaluate what you don’t feel (such as the absence of stress, aches and pains, anxiousness, mood irregularities or sleeping issues). Stay positive — changes may be subtle at first, so be patient and listen to your body. It just may be the perfect time for that gratitude and five-minute mindfulness journal to reflect on how you feel.

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In The Spring Shop: 27 Sustainable Fashion Staples We Love

Who needs floral prints when all of California is in full bloom? In this year's Spring Shop, we've curated a collection of elevated basics for your closet. Everything in The Shop is sustainable on some level, making each purchase a a small, but stylish move in the right direction.

We've chosen a notably neutral palette for everything in the spring collection. A great organic white t-shirt or pair of recycled jeans is sustainable on many levels: not only are they made responsibly - and possibly better for your skin, but they'll carry you through season after season and pack to wear with just about anything you've got. Those are the kinds of lasting essentials we had in mind for this Spring's Shop.

Neutral pieces make a great foundation for a colorful life. Bring your own color to these pieces by pairing them with a rosy cheek, bold lip, a glassful of neon smoothie or armload of farmer's market produce. Real life is full of color -- sometimes a simple wardrobe lets life's hues shine all the more!

A few things we kept in mind while selecting brands to include in The Shop were transparency, high-quality craftsmanship designed to last (the opposite of fast-fashion), eco-friendly manufacturing practices and earth-friendly materials. Not every brand included here qualifies for all of the above, but each one is participating in the sustainable fashion movement in a way we love.

More than a few white lace pieces from Reformation are included (meet the founder here). Go ahead and embrace your feminine side and wear it head-to-toe or rough it up with some of the recycled denim in The Shop. Stock up on Baserange's modern, essential underthings -- this soft bra in nude is made from sustainable bamboo. Heard of Austrailian brand, Bassike? We've included their viscose and silk pant - made with high-quality design and sustainable manufacturing in mind.

Don't miss the denim from Re/Done and LA-base Amo, the organic cotton bodysuit by Skin, or all the lovely footwear from Stella McCartney, Veja, Ulla Johnson and Jenni Kayne.

What are your favorite responsible fashion brands? We'll be talking about them all today in The Chat. Pop over, join the discussion and find a few new favorites!

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Why We’re Freaking Out Over Radiant – The New Cookbook You Need

Every once in a while we stumble upon an amazing new cookbook that just gets what we're living for; powerful plant-based eating, functional ingredients — and perfectly dreamy photography. Our latest crush -- whose gorgeous cover will be proudly showcased on our shelves for the foreseeable future -- is Radiant: The Cookbook by Portuguese chef and nutritionist, Mafalda Pinto Leite.

We added Radiant: The Cookbook to our January shop just after its launch and readers picked it up by the armload. Behind that coffee table-worthy cover lies a world of plant-based eating that’ll inpsire you and nourish you on levels you may never have experienced.

Radiant illuminates the healing properties of edible plants and herbs and shows us how to use them as fuel for all the things we're working towards daily: to boost brain power and energy, balance hormones, improve digestion, even out our moods and get our skin glowing.

While Radiant is mainly a cookbook, it’s also an encyclopedic guide to discovering the magic of whole foods. If you’ve been looking for a guide to all things plant-based, but don’t know where to start, Radiant will teach you how to begin and help you find the kinds of recipes you’ll stick with for life.

Mafalda has made food's role in beauty and holistic health her life’s work for the last fifteen years. She's worked in food arenas around the world -- including Jamie Oliver's first restaurant, has published six cookbooks and has her own line of transformational foods, Puro Sumo, that is as every bit gorgeous as you might assume.

Mafalda believes that food can be healing medicine and a beauty regimen all in one -- she created her new cookbook to show us how.

Radiant breaks down into three parts:

Part one... explains how nutrient-rich ingredients can transform health and beauty.
Part two... breaks down the best fruits, veggies, spices and adaptogens, the nutritional benefits for each and what they're best used for.
Part three... is full of the healthy, light and absolutely beautiful recipes you’ll need to put them into play!

If you’re not the ‘diet’ type, but want to learn how to incorporate the most powerful plants you can into your diet for health and beauty, Mafalda’s guide will take you through education, sourcing and shopping, all the way to fork and plate.

The idea of a life filled with functional lattes and avocado-drenched salad dressing is what all this wellness stuff is about — its a thrill, not a chore to eat well. Grab a copy of Radiant and take a deep-dive into Mafalda’s beautifully holistic “inside out” approach to well-being. Here’s a spot-on recipe for spring to get you started...
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Grab a copy of Radiant: The Cookbook + get glowing!
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Happy In The Kitchen: 9 Pretty Kitchen Tools To Use Everyday

Order delivery or whip up something in the kitchen? These pretty kitchen tools might just influence you to spend more time actually cooking and less time on those delivery apps.

Cooking at home with whole food ingredients means we're much more likely to get major nutrition each week, a wider diversity of plants in our diet, and fewer ingredients that our bodies do better without. When time is limited, which it often is, turning to delivery or takeout is a dreamy short-term solution. But if you're looking to build healthy habits that last, it's important to put effort into enjoying the process of cooking for yourself.

For us, stylish little kitchen goods like these spark joy and keep us interested. Why not make great design a priority in the little daily chores of life? Whether that means this set of golden colanders or a simple gold clip rather than a chintzy plastic one, pretty kitchen tools can add a sense of delight to the smallest tasks and help us fall in love with cooking at home...

Flared Teak Root Serving Bowl | Plain? Yes. Boring? No. Keep a giant bowl like this one on the counter and fill it with your farmers market haul from the weekend. We dare you not to eat more plants when they're lounging around looking this good. CHECK OUT

Brushed Gold Colander Set | Who says rinsing veggies and grains needs to be a purely utilitarian process? As functional as they are glam, these gold colanders are almost ridiculous, but guaranteed to make you smile. Even the most boring task can become a style moment. CHECK OUT

simple Linen Apron |  You are what you eat, but what about how you prep? This rustic-chic linen apron gets the job done while evoking French countryside feels. Perfectly placed pockets make it easy to glide through prep, looking like you really know what you're doing. We love the ritual of putting on an apron to signal to ourselves that it's time to simply cook and unwind.  CHECK OUT

Brass ktichen Scissors | Yes, a great knife is key for kitchen success, but here's a hot tip: you can do just about anything you'd use a knife for with a pair of kitchen shears instead. Cut fish, slice veggie noodles that are too long, snip herbs, chop a full head of romaine or open up that fresh package of kelp noodles in a flash. These sturdy stainless steel snippers offer an unexpected style moment with their matte brass finish  CHECK OUT
Brass office Clips |These simple office tools double as our favorite kitchen accessory -- learn more about one of our favorite kitchen hacks here. Whether you've got a bag of grains that need re-sealing or a stash of veggie chips you'll get back to later, a gold binder clip is a pretty, plastic-free way to seal and store. | CHECK OUT
W&P Spice Grinder | This pastel porcelain spice grinder is a design dream. Grinding your own spices, from peppercorns to cardamom pods, ensures that you get all the benefits they have to offer. The nourishing oils in spices tend to dry up quickly in pre-ground form. Grinding spices yourself delivers major flavor and health-boosting properties -- and provides a pretty style-moment if you've got one of these grinders on hand. CHECK OUT

wooden Pan Brush | Washing dishes doesn't have to be chic. But, adding style points to the experience with this handcrafted pan brush just makes us happy. This brush gets in the grooves of any pan, making clean-up easy -- and dare we say cute? Get one to stash by the sink and another to scrub down potatoes, carrots and other dirty roots.  CHECK OUT

Bee's Wrap Reusable Food Storage | These beeswax-coated cloths are hand-crafted in Vermont, washable, re-usable and entirely eco-friendly. The sheets can be molded to fit over any bowl or around any half-used produce, creating a seal that will keep your food fresh. This pretty kitchen tool will totally change the way you see leftovers -- and provide a sustainable substitution for less-than-cute plastic wrap and aluminum foil.  CHECK OUT

Brass Utility Rail | This multi-purpose rack is a stylish way to save counter space and keep other kitchen tools organized. Line up a few pretty cooking tools, fill the rack full of clean fluffy dishtowels or use it to hang fresh herbs - snip a few for a fresh cup of tea while you clean up.  CHECK OUT

The post Happy In The Kitchen: 9 Pretty Kitchen Tools To Use Everyday appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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