Organize Your Closet The Way You Get Dressed In The Morning

Jessica Valentino is the 'certified neat freak' at the helm of the The House Binder, an organizational design firm here in Los Angeles. Friends recommended Jess to us for her services and we quickly took to her sustainable approach.

Watch any organizing show and you'll see so many plastic containers. We can appreciate the value of clear, uniform tubs and bins, but it just doesn't fit with our overall goals for the home.

Jessica and team pair their keen eye for design with a desire to equip clients with an intuitive and sustainable approach to keep their homes calm and ordered. Apparently, it's working as The House Binder's client roster already includes A-list actors, musicians and L.A. execs.

These closet organization tips will shave time off your morning routine...

Organize Your Closet The Way You Get Dressed In The Morning

Get Your Closet Organized We know this sounds counterintuitive, but you have to pull everything out and start from scratch. It’s easier to tackle your closest once you have a blank canvas to start with. It's tough to visualize your new space when you’re looking at what is already existing because it’s hard to picture it any other way.

+ Get matching hangers. This is an easy one. Swap out anything mismatched to take your closet up a notch. We like velvet or wood.

+ place Undergarments at the top in a bank of drawers, a dresser, or whatever you have. This is a great place for socks also, if you’re short on space.

+ Save the hanging space The rest of your drawers can be reserved for workout clothes, sweatpants, pajamas, things that don’t need to be on hangers. Save the hanging space for your weekday attire.

+ All tops should be hung. This makes for easier flipping through. Grabbing a shirt from the middle of a folded stack is not the most practical choice. If hanging everything isn’t possible, tees can be folded accordion style in a drawer.

+ Bottoms can be folded in half and hung on regular hangers or dedicated pant hangers. Fold and stack the pairs you wear more often, hang the ones you don’t so you remember you have them.

+ For shoes: Some people like toes facing out. Others like heels facing out. Some prefer a combination. Use whichever method you prefer, but consistency is key.

+ Things you don’t use frequently or swap out often (purses, rain boots, etc.) should be up high or down low.

Most importantly, make it make sense for you. The idea is to figure out your order of operations, then lay out your closet accordingly. Left to right or bottom to top, however you get dressed in the morning is how you should categorize. Think: underwear first, top, then bottoms, maybe accessories, and then finally footwear. If you’re a bottoms first and then top person after, hang your pants above or in front of tops.

Spend a couple of hours moving things around this weekend. Your future self will thank you!

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Do You Know How To Exfoliate According To Your Skin Type?

Do less. It's tempting to over-exfoliate during the summer when we're layering on SPF and rolling around the beach, but any pro will tell you that, when it comes to exfoliation, more isn't always better. Our friends at Free People shared this reminder with us on how to exfoliate for each skin type...

One of the most crucial aspects of getting your face ready for heat, sweat, humidity and extra SPF is the all-important exfoliation. Not only will regular exfoliation help shed the dead skin cells I’m sure have piled throughout the winter, revealing an undoubtedly glorious layer of fresh skin underneath, it also helps prep and prime skin to receive whatever products you apply after a good sloughing. And with summer approaching and a skincare overhaul likely on your horizon, now is as good a time as ever to pick that scrub habit back up.

But! Do proceed with caution. Not all exfoliators or exfoliant tools are created equally, particularly when it comes to the type of skin you’ve been blessed with. There’s so much misinformation floating around about how to exfoliate your face, and the last thing I want is for you to use the wrong stuff, have a bad experience, and never do it again. What a tragedy! So, to set the record straight, here’s how you should be exfoliating based on your skin type. Adios, dead skin cells!

If you have oily skin...don't over do it!

So many people with oily skin feel that they need to dry it out in order to balance it, but that couldn’t be further from the truth, particularly when it comes to exfoliation. To keep yourself from overdoing it, opt for a chemical exfoliant over a physical one. Alpha hydroxy (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) work to break down the bonds that hold dull, dead cells on the skin’s surface. Those gently broken bonds then let dead skin shed naturally to reveal smoother, brighter skin underneath.

Try: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel or Glow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serum

If you have sensitive skin...gommage is your friend.

Most standard exfoliators — even acid- and enzyme-based ones — will be too harsh for reactive skin. To make sure you’re using the gentlest stuff possible on your face, you’ll want to use rice bran or oatmeal powders that you add water to, forming a paste. It may not feel as satisfying as a traditional scrub, but trust me when I say your skin will thank you for not irritating or scratching the crap out of it. Learn more about gommage here.

Try: Arcona Cranberry Gommage or Odacite Bioactive Rose Gommage

If you have dry skin...stick with enzymes. 

Scrubs can be incredibly harsh for dry, thirsty skin, so skip ‘em. To effectively and safely exfoliate your dry skin, you’ll want to consider fruit enzymes that eat away at the dead skin instead of physically sloughing them off with grains, beads or sugar crystals. Exfoliating, fruit enzyme-based masks are also great for dry skin since the fruit extracts are also moisturizing, so they hydrate while they exfoliate.

Try: Herbivore Blue Tansy BHA and Enzyme Pore Refining Mask or Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Smoothing Enzyme Cleansing Balm 

Balance Exfoliation with Your Other Active Products

How frequently you should exfoliate is unique to you and your skin, not necessarily based on what type of skin you have. Consider all the other products and tools you’re using that may already do some light exfoliating — serums that contain acids, retinol, a washcloth to double cleanse — and start slow.

Try exfoliating just once a week at first. If your skin reacts well, or, more precisely, doesn’t react badly, try it every few days.

The post Do You Know How To Exfoliate According To Your Skin Type? appeared first on The Chalkboard.

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5 Reminders For When The World Is Full of Grief From Mental Health Pro Minaa B.

Minaa B., LMSW is a wellness, self-care and mental health coach we admire and follow on social media. During the peak of the pandemic, Minaa founded Minaa B. Consulting Inc in response to the overwhelming request for mental health resources. She and her team of licensed mental health professionals help both individuals and organizations to establish mindful, integrative mental health policies and practices.

Following the tragic violence of the past few weeks in our nation, Minaa's insightful perspective has helped us to navigate the complex and overwhelming emotions that have followed. We hope that these insights from Minaa will help you to do the same...

01 | Remind yourself that anger and rage is a valid emotional response to trauma and injustice.

02 | Remind yourself that being exposed to numerous forms of violent trauma is not normal. Please do not become desensitized.

03 | Remind yourself that you can possess two emotions at once. You can hold space for both gratitude and grief. Let them co-exist.

4 | Remind yourself that you don't need to be caught up all the time. IT's okay to take a break from the media to grieve, process or mourn.

05 | Remind yourself that co-regulation is healing. Please don't isolate. Find someone in your community that you can lean on and process your emotions with.

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Are You Protein Deficient? The Simplest Way To Add More To Your Diet Daily

Are you protein deficient? Though most Americans are not, some health-conscious individuals are more at risk, including those on calorie restrictive diets and those who lean vegan or vegetarian who do not properly plan their meals.

Common signs of protein deficiency include moodiness, anxiousness or insomnia, trouble losing weight, muscle wasting, brittle nails, flaky skin, thinning hair and irregular periods. The body uses proteins to synthesize neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin which is why a deficiency can so aggravate our sleep and mood.

If you don’t think you’re getting enough protein or just find it challenging to find convenient protein sources within your lifestyle, a simple solution is to incorporate more protein bars. The key is in choosing one that’s functional, clean and not a sugar bomb. Our latest bar crush? B.T.R. NATION.

Last month, B.T.R. NATION founder Ashley Nickelsen sent me a ton of her functional bars in flavors like Cinnamon Cookie Dough with cordyceps and Cherry Chocolate Chip with reishi. I loved the ingredients list on the packaging and finished off the entire supply in just a couple of weeks.

I had forgotten how incredibly convenient it is to have a box of bars around. It might sound crazy, but on some days, even making a mid-day smoothie can feel like too big of an undertaking! Double that sentiment if I’m driving, traveling, or between events and healthy sources of protein are nowhere to be found. As it turns out, that’s exactly what compelled Ashley to build her brand. Stay tuned for more on her incredibly relatable story.

An Ode To Functional Protein Bars

Let’s be honest, protein bars are highly convenient, but not always delicious (or clean). B.T.R. Bars are one of our rare picks in the category for their registered dietician-approved ingredients, functional superfoods and dessert-like flavors from cookie dough to peanut butter chocolate chip.

You can order B.T.R. Bars by the boxful to keep stocked in your pantry, desk or entryway to grab as you go. Use code CHALKBOARD for 20% off site-wide plus free shipping! B.T.R.’s options are incredibly flexible which I appreciate: buy a 3-pack of boxes in your favorite flavors, build your own box bar by bar, or just order a 4-bar sample pack that’ll allow you to taste flavors first.

All 5 B.T.R. Bar flavors:

CINNAMON COOKIE DOUGH ENERGY powered by cordyceps, hemp protein, maca, and cinnamon (Tastes like a snickerdoodle!)

DARK CHOCOLATE BROWNIE RECHARGE powered by MCT oil, cacao, spinach, kale and maca (Tastes like a fudge brownie!)

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP BLISS powered by reishi, pumpkin seeds, and cacao (Tastes like a soft baked peanut butter cookie)

BANANA NUT NOURISH powered by ashwagandha, turmeric, and Himalayan pink sea salt (Tastes like banana bread)

CHERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP ZEN powered by Montmorency tart cherries, reishi, and pumpkin seeds (Tastes like a cherry chocolate pop-tart)

How I'm Using the Bars

Enjoying B.T.R. Bars all month has me back on the convenience of a good, clean protein bar! Throughout the month, I’ve found it so easy to add more protein and adaptogens into my diet each day (all without any added sugar) without any prep.

+ Faster Than A Smoothie: While working from home, stopping to make a green protein smoothie can be easy, except for the days when it’s not. On those days, I love being able to grab a Cinnamon Cookie Dough ENERGY bar for protein, plus brain and mood-supportive cordyceps and maca.

+ On-The-Go Savior: Here’s the thing, if I’m hungry in a car, airport or between meetings, it means I’m stressed to start with -- that’s when I need clean protein and adaptogenic superfoods the most. If I’ve packed along a Cherry Chocolate Chip ZEN Bar I’m always so, so relieved!

+ Smoothie Topping Upgrade: On days when I do have time to stop and make a smoothie, this is my absolute favorite way to use the B.T.R. Bars! I unwrap and chop a bar into cookie dough-sized chunks, then sprinkle them on top of the smoothie. Heaven. Any of the bars work for this, just select the functional ingredients you need most for the given day. Crumbling a bar onto yogurt or nice cream works too!

+ After-Dinner Snack: Since the bars come in cookie-like flavors they've become my ultimate evening treat. There’s nothing wrong with dessert, but I find these bars just as satisfying as any packaged cookie out there—sans the added sugar. I like to unwrap whichever B.T.R. Bar I’m in the mood for, snap it in half and throw it on a plate so that I’ve got two ‘cookies’ to enjoy.

All of the B.T.R. Bars are made with a base of nut butter, whether cashew, almond or peanut. (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip BLISS sold out 5x last year!) The protein blend varies from bar to bar, from pea and almond to hemp or pumpkin. I like to mix up the bars from day to day so that I’m getting a wide variety of plant-based proteins for a variety of nutrition.

The new Banana Nut NOURISH bar is crafted in collaboration with a registered herbalist and includes pumpkin seed protein in the blend along with organic KSM-66 ashwagandha extract (the most well researched ashwagandha on the planet!)

Shop B.T.R. Bars for 20% off

Use our exclusive code for a generous 20% off your first B.T.R. Bar purchase.

My go-to order is the 3-box bundle with 12 Cinnamon Cookie Dough Bars, 12 Dark Chocolate Brownie Bars and 12 Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars. If you want to start soft, order the limited edition bestseller sampler with only 6 bars or build your own custom box with all the flavors you want to try!

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In My Skin: Unpacking The Potent Practice of Embodiment Meditation

What is embodiment? We came across this mindfulness concept through the wise and magical holistic aesthetician, Sadie Adams, founder of celeb-adored Take Care Mind + Body studio here in L.A.

Embodiment meditation is a practice to learn the language of the body and to allow the body to inform and contain our presence and sense of self. Embodiment deepens capacity for presence, receptivity, and compassionate exchange with all of reality.

The practice of embodiment is about becoming more deeply present for direct experience. All of the feelings that influence our thinking and physical actions are stored in our bodies, as is our karma. As such, our bodies contain an innate intelligence that is often out of reach to our conscious mind.

According to Sadie, "We tend to pay more attention to the information in our heads than the information in our bodies. Embodiment meditation is a practice to learn the language of the body and to translate that information to a language our brains better understand. This awareness supports an integration of the body and mind."

Embodiment is not about thinking, it’s a process wherein the body becomes more aware of itself. This supports presence, emboldens intuition and amplifies our consciousness. It’s a way of perceiving that is beyond sensing. The practice helps us to tap into all the information coded into our physiology.Though it may be a crossover into the more spiritual side of wellness, embodiment’s impact is very physical, visceral and real.

Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen defines Embodiment in her latest book Basic Neurocellular Patterns  as “a direct experience with no intermediary steps or translations. There is no guide. There is no witness. There is the fully known consciousness of the experienced moment initiated from the cells themselves. In this instance, the brain is the last to know. There is complete knowing and peaceful comprehension. Out of this embodiment process emerges feeling, thinking, witnessing and understanding. The source of this process is love.”

Curious to dive deep, we asked Sadie to share some insights on her own practice and experience as a facilitator. Discover the depth of mindfulness embodiment mediation can offer, and how to start integrating this practice into your daily life...

What is Embodiment?

To help break down the concept, Sadie directed us to Liam McAuliffe, a healer and meditation expert with a masters in psychology. This is his explanation of embodiment:

In embodiment meditation, we apply meditative focus to specific physiological sensations, locations, and processes in our bodies. This allows us to cultivate and refine an interface between our cognitive and physiological awarenesses that’s more comprehensive than if we were to exclusively focus on the breath or recite mantras as is done in traditional practices.

Mindfulness breath practice is aimed at understanding the nature of the mind and reducing our emotional reactivity to our thoughts. The goal of mantra practice is to interrupt our habitual thought patterns while activating subtle energy centers. Though both can produce powerful physical sensations, the difference between the embodiment and these meditative practices is in the way embodiment meditation relocates the area of meditative focus from the processes of the mind to the interface between our minds and bodies.

How Does Embodiment Enhance Mindfulness?

Embodiment helps us tap into the nuanced sensory experience of living in our bodies. It helps us distinguish the difference between our defenses and the true, unadulterated essence of our identity.

We have patterns and preferences, and everything enhances our personality and sense of self — modern society encourages identification with these qualities and influences. Identifying with sensory experience and personality can diminish the connection we have to our intuition and higher sense of self. What happens if we step outside of the roles – and traumas – that we identify with, while still allowing them to be part of our development?

Embodiment is a path to presence. Creating space to explore how we exist in the world and in our bodies, can help us dis-identify with outside influences and tap more deeply into authenticity and what is arising in the current moment.

How Can It Help Us Process Trauma?

People can get attached to coping mechanisms, and this attachment can inhibit access to the root of the suffering. Presence and neutrality in a supportive situation can provoke the physical body to actually begin processing trauma without needing to talk about it.

Embodiment allows us to sit in meditation where we’re actually allowing some of that emotional intensity to process out of the nervous system — literally move through the synaptic space, arrive at our conscious awareness and, when faced without the defense of fear, eventually fall away. The body starts to become more present, and the influence of trauma is revealed without threat so the ability to approach it with presence and compassion is available.

Mindfulness is a learning to sit comfortably with oneself  as sensations rise and fall away. Our capacity for presence and stillness can be limited by trauma and unprocessed emotions. The body might learn to only feel certain sensations. Embodiment can increase our capacity to be sensitive and also grounded, so as to not get lost in the sensitivity to stimuli or past experiences.

How Can Embodiment Ease Stress + Anxiety?Many times stress and anxiety comes from a lack of presence, or the influence of unprocessed thoughts, feelings and emotions, and from the possibility of loss. So many people are stressed out about being safe when in true reality, we can’t really be ‘safe’ according the egos definition of safety. When we become grounded then we’re able to leverage the higher intellect and consciousness into the body system – it can come through and actually override some of the fear-based principles that tend to be running the show.

What It Feels Like To Be 'Embodied'It feels like a knowing, with a lack of needing. It is the consciousness of the moment experienced from the part of self that doesn’t need to be validated in order to be real and affective.

The energetic quality of embodiment is calm and comprehensive. It feels peaceful, even when one feels vulnerable or out of control. There’s not a right or wrong way to do it.

Embodiment has transformed and continues to influence the way I work, communicate, move and learn. It certainly enhances my ability to integrate information and experiences. Becoming more present and grounded changed the way that I relate to myself, to loved ones, to gravity and space – to the environment.

Living from my intellect wasn’t right/wrong, better or worse, I simply found much more available to me effortlessly through the process of embodiment. It seems no matter how deeply one knows themselves that there is evermore to perceive and explore.

Just like meditation, anyone can choose to become more embodied, but to learn more about embodiment
meditation, find Sadie and her studio practice.

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The Female Founders of Higher Dose Talk PEMF + Infrared Therapy At Home

We've been talking about the benefits of infrared saunas on The Chalkboard ever since we launched about ten years ago. (Ten years ago!) It was around that time that more wellness spas in L.A. began offering infrared sauna therapy and the buzz among wellness devotees really started to take off.

In brief, infrared saunas use wavelengths just above the red end of the visible light spectrum to penetrate deep into the body. Each session lasts about 45 minutes as is designed to increase the body's thermal energy, enhance relaxation and promote glowing skin. It's one of our favorite detoxification protocols and one of the easiest forms of cardio you'll ever try.

Fast-forward to the early 20's and there seems to be a second wave of interest happening around infrared. Spas continue to open in new cities and at-home brands like HigherDOSE are gaining major popularity with the self-care crowd.

We've been fans of the HigherDOSE infrared sauna blanket for years now (see the review here), but are just now catching on to the brand's other high-tech wellness offerings too, like the PEMF mat. At almost double the price of the sauna blanket and with tech that is still not as well known, the mat is a subtle, but powerful tool whose big "moment" may still be years away. After using it for just a month at home, I've becoming completely obsessed with mine and have since discovered that many practitioners I know use it everyday.

All that said, I interviewed the founders of HigherDOSE earlier this month and found the ladies to be  -- no big surprise -- as obsessed with wellness and it's future as our team and readership. We asked the founders, Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps to unpack everything that inspired their launch and to share more with us about their cutting edge tech...

The Chalkboard: Tell us how you two first connected and what made you decide to launch HigherDOSE?

Lauren Berlingeri and Katie Kaps: We first met through a mutual friend and connected instantly over our shared passions and interests in the future of wellness.

Lauren discovered infrared technology through her own health journey and was working with experts to learn all that she could about the benefits. Through this, she discovered that the technology wasn’t as readily available as it should be. Katie, who has a background in investment banking and start-up strategy, saw the lack of availability as an entrepreneurial opportunity. HigherDOSE was launched with the vision of making infrared more accessible to the masses and an integral part of our wellness routines.

TCM: So many wellness pros I meet had health crises that led them to their business. Was that true for one or both of you?

LB and KK: Yes, this was true for both of us. Lauren was dealing with a hormone imbalance and, after trying Infrared Sauna she finally slept through the night and found that it reduced her cortisol levels. Katie struggled with adult acne and tried everything, including two rounds of Accutane. She was looking for a more holistic solution to her breakouts and stumbled on practices like colonics and acupuncture that helped address her skin concerns, but also led to a “natural high.”

TCM: Which came first -- getting into 'biohacking' or launching HigherDOSE?

LB and KK: We were both already seekers of natural highs, which is what drew us to the benefits of Infrared Saunas and ultimately why we named the company HigherDOSE (DOSE stands for Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins—aka, those feel good chemicals in the body that deliver a natural boost).

In seeking ways to improve our health and wellbeing through natural remedies that ignite the body’s happy chemicals, we came across biohacking. We were very curious about the practices being used to optimize our health but found that the world of biohacking lacked female representation. We saw a white space here and used that as motivation to dive deeper and create our YouTube series, BIOHACKHERS.

TCM: We're so into both the PEMF mat and the sauna blanket. What have you found are the most compelling facts, stories or anecdotes about infrared and PEMF when you're talking with friends or press?

LB and KK: When it comes to infrared, some of the stories we have found most compelling about our Infrared products are how they have helped so many members of our community improve their sleep, recover after a workout, keep their immunity strong, and target common concerns like inflammation. What is really inspiring are the stories about how the products have supported some community members through some truly difficult health concerns, including Lyme disease and Fibromyalgia.

On PEMF, one of the stories we are inspired by is close to home for us. Katie’s mom thought she needed back surgery, but after using the PEMF mat for five consecutive days, her back totally healed.

PEMF grounds you in earth’s magnetic field which most of us find to be deeply relaxing. Our PEMF mat is designed in combination with infrared heat to ease chronic pain, support recovery from workouts, deepen your meditations, or experience total-body relaxation. Our mat also contains twenty pounds of healing crystals layered inside, which produce negative ions (think: antioxidants in the air) when heated.

Some of our community members have shared similar experiences with the mat and how it helped them relax stiffness in their backs and necks. We’re also inspired by the stories we see about how the mat has not just helped physically, but mentally, as people often share how the PEMF technology helps them manage anxiety and stress.

TCM: Can you share some of the science or studies around infrared and PEMF that you think are compelling?

LB and KK:  On Infrared, we often refer people to this huge bank of studies that are condition-specific. Newsweek also ran this compelling story on infrared saunas for heart health.

On PEMF, we consistently pay attention to what Dr. Pawluk has to say on the topic of magnetic field therapy HERE. These insights from Dr. Jill Carnahan are also really interesting.

TCM: Let's talk about the wellness/biohacking space right now in general. I know you two have begun co-hosting the podcast BIOHACKHERS on the topic? 

LB and KK: We feel that it is just the beginning for female biohacking, as so much of the field has a male focus. Right now, we are excited to dive deeper into the research and technologies that women can benefit from and share those findings and experiences with our audience.

TCM: What else is happening in wellness, biohacking and technology that you think is exciting? How do you explore these innovations in your BIOHACKHERS series?

LB and KK: One of the things we think is most exciting about the wellness and biohacking space right now is that, the deeper we get into it, the more it all comes back to nature and what we can learn from concepts such as the Blue Zones.

We are also excited about the work of Joe Dispenza and Jamie Wheel, and better understanding and working with our own human design and using the knowledge of what makes us tick to get more out of life and step into our superpowers.

A big focus for BIOHACKHERS is exploring the past, present, and future of biohacking, plus exploring the natural world and how tuning deeper into nature can have profound impacts on our health.

TCM: What do you hope to accomplish with HigherDOSE next?

LB and KK: In the future, we hope to focus more on the quantification and personalization of our HigherDOSE community's results as those technologies progress. The more understanding we have about what's happening in our bodies during these therapies, the more likely we'll be to stick with them and use them to our advantage in smarter and more specific ways.

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Plum + Berry Crumble From Daphne Oz’s New Cookbook ‘Eat Your Heart Out’

A best-selling cookbook author and Emmy Award-winning television co-host, Daphne Oz is also a mother of four who understands that recipes need to stay simple, clean and delicious if they're ever going to make it to the table.

We've been cooking along with the stylish mama for years. You can still grab recipes from our L.A. cooking class with Daphne here.

In her new cookbook, Eat Your Heart Out , Daphne once again shares her near-contagious love of cooking through recipes designed to keep us balanced and energized. If you struggle to join your love of cooking with your desire to feel truly well, Eat Your Heart Out  will help you bridge that gap. This recipe for a gluten- and refined-sugar free summer crumble is perfect proof...

Daphne Oz's Blackberry + Plum Crumble

Is there anything better than a warm berry crumble, bubbling with thick, garnet juices and scattered with a sweet, crunchy, nutty topping? I think not. This is just like all the ones you've had before, only without all that pesky refined sugar and flour and stuff.

Makes 6 servings

OAT TOPPING INGREDIENTS:
+ ¾ cup almond flour
+ 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
+ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
+ ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
+ ½ teaspoon sea salt
+ 1 tablespoon Date Syrup (recipe on page 244 of the cookbook, sub in this organic version if need be!)
+ 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
+ ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
+ ¼ cup full-fat goat or sheep milk yogurt, to serve (optional)

BLACKBERRY AND PLUM FILLING INGREDIENTS:
+ 5 cups fresh blackberries
+ 2 fresh ripe plums, pitted and sliced
+ 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated (optional)
+ Zest and juice from 1 lemon (about 1 teaspoon zest and 2 tablespoons juice)
+ 2 tablespoons Date Syrup (recipe on page 244 of the cookbook, sub in this organic version if need be!)
+ 1 tablespoon tapioca flour

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 3500F.
2. To make the oat topping, combine the almond flour, oats, cinnamon, cardamom, sea salt, date syrup, coconut oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl until crumbly. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make the blackberry filling. In a large bowl, mix the blackberries, plums, ginger (if using), lemon zest and juice, date syrup, and tapioca flour until combined. Place the filling into an 8 × 8-inch baking dish.
4. Sprinkle the topping over the blackberry mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
5. Uncover and bake for another 15 minutes, until the crumble is golden and the filling is bubbling.
6. Let cool for 10 minutes and serve with a dollop of sheep or goat milk yogurt (if using).

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An Ode To Ginger: 5 Benefits of One Favorite Ingredients Of All Time

Jolene Hart, CHC is the beauty editor-turned-health coach behind the Eat Pretty book series. She has helped so many of us to understand the connection between what we eat and how we glow.

We asked Jolene to share a refresher on the benefits of ginger, one of our favorite wellness ingredients of all time, prized throughout the world for it's unique flavor and potent spice. Even when it comes to the healthy ingredients we love most, sometimes we all need a reminder of just how potent these superfoods can be! Add this super-root to your shopping cart or market bag this week and watch for Jolene's apple-ginger fritter recipe later this week!

Ginger 101: The Health Benefits of Ginger

The word ginger means spirit, liveliness, or verve — reminders of the heating, stimulating benefits of ginger root for our bodies and our palates.

Ginger delivers major yang energy: fiery, circulation-boosting, and grounding.

Like its relative turmeric, ginger grows as an underground stem called a rhizome and is prized for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. So potent, in fact, that numerous studies have demonstrated ginger to be as effective as NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen in reducing inflammation and pain.

One study found ginger (at 4 daily doses of 250 mg ginger capsules) to significantly reduce menstrual pain. Another found 1500 mg of ginger powder daily to improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. And yet another found ginger supplementation to cause significant overall reductions of inflammation and oxidative stress (hello, slowed aging!).

Ginger’s 400+ bioactive compounds (the most famous is gingerol— a relative of capsaicin and piperine in peppers) give it promising cancer-preventative effects, shown in research to offer benefits against GI-related cancers like colorectal, pancreatic, and liver as well as breast and ovarian cancers.

Day-to-day, its most well-known traditional use is in alleviating nausea and GI discomfort, well-proven in studies. Ginger relaxes muscles of the digestive tract, increases gastric secretions, and speeds up digestion to ease nausea, indigestion and bloating. 

Ginger has been proven to reduce morning sickness in pregnancy and work as well as Dramamine in easing nausea and vomiting.

Notably, ginger has also been shown to improve attention and cognitive processing in otherwise healthy middle-aged women who consumed it daily.   

During cold and flu season, ginger offers preventative effects against some viruses by making it harder for viruses to attach to mucosal cells, like those in the nose and throat.

Although some practitioners may recommend avoiding ginger during the summer months due to its stimulating and heating nature, I don’t agree (after all, ginger is native to a tropical climate). In Ayurveda, ginger is known to pacify or reduce vata and kapha in the body but aggravate pitta, a reminder that it’s important to consider your body type in addition to the season when deciding when and how to include ginger in your diet. Too much ginger can irritate mucus membranes and cause loose stools and heartburn.

How To Uses Ginger In Your Diet

My favorite way to store fresh ginger is to thoroughly scrub the root (break it apart if needed to clean between any tight spots), dry it completely, then place it in a storage container in your freezer. Use a microplane grater or zester to add fresh ginger root into meals and drinks, straight from the freezer. It’s not necessary to remove ginger’s thin, papery skin unless you prefer to for aesthetic reasons.

Here are classic TCM recipes using ginger to try soon...

Sweet Potato Breakfast Muffins With Ginger + Hazelnut Flour

Coconut Gingerbread Cookie Balls

The Lili Bowl: Pistachio + Cashew-Crusted Salmon With Carrot-Ginger Dressing
The Ultimate Cold-Busting Honey Ginger Tea Tonic

A Ginger Papaya Smoothie With 6 Digestion-Soothing Ingredients

Grate fresh ginger into tea, smoothies, overnight oats, stir fries and broths. I especially love ginger in the apple fritters recipe I'm sharing later this week from my new book, Ignite Your Light.

What's your favorite way to use ginger? Drop your favorite recipe or idea in the comments!

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An Integrative Doctor’s Stuffed Bell Peppers From ‘The Wellness Principles’

Gary Deng, MD, PhD is the Medical Director of Integrative Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In his long-awaited new book, The Wellness Principles: Cooking for a Healthy Life, Dr. Deng unpacks core principles from his world-renowned career into 100 everyday recipes you'll actually use. As you cook your way through the book, you'll pick up on important tenets from traditional and holistic medical philosophies.

We'll be sharing a few The Wellness Principles book recipe recipes (now in pre-sales) all month long. The beautiful cover alone is hard to resist and we're certain it is destined to become a modern classic. Here is Dr. Deng's vegetarian take on a dinnertime recipe we all adore...

Peruvian Stuffed Bell Peppers

I learned how to make this signature regional dish in a cooking class while visiting Arequipa, Peru. We used the very spicy ají rocoto — a largish lantern-shaped chili that is much hotter than a jalapeño. Here, I replace it with red bell pepper, which has a similar shape, is widely available, and not as challenging to eat. Instead of the traditional ground meat, I use hard-boiled eggs, lentils, and yogurt to give this vegetarian dish savory flavors.

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS:
+ 2 tablespoons olive oil
+ ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
+ ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
+ ½ medium onion, chopped
+ 2 cloves garlic, minced
+ 1 cup (200 g) green or brown lentils, rinsed
+ ¼–½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, depending on your taste for heat
+ 2 cups (16 fl oz/475 ml) hot water
+ 4 large red bell peppers
+ 2 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled, and coarsely chopped
+ ¼ cup (70 g) plain Greek yogurt
+ 1 large plum tomato, chopped
+ ¼ cup (25 g) grated Manchego cheese, or a vegetarian alternative
+ Kosher (flaked) salt

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C/GasMark 5).
2. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the fennel and caraway seeds and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the onion and garlic and sweat over low heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes.
3. Increase the heat to high. Add the lentils and cayenne and let cook, undisturbed, for 2 minutes to fry the lentils a little. Stir once and cook for another 2 minutes, then add the hot water, cover, and simmer over low heat until the lentils are tender but not falling apart, about 20 minutes.
4. Slice off the top .5 inch (1.25 cm) of the bell peppers and set aside. Remove the seeds from the peppers.
5. Add the eggs, yogurt, and tomato to the lentils and mix well. Season with salt to taste. Stuff the mixture into the peppers, sprinkle with the Manchego, and set the lids on top.
6. Set the peppers in a baking dish that fits them snugly. Transfer to the oven and bake until the peppers are tender, 30–35 minutes.
Note: If you’d like the filling to have a crispy top, bake the pepper tops alongside the stuffed peppers, rather than on top.

Pairs well with a grain dish and another vegetable or salad dish for a complete meal.

© 2022 Phaidon Press Limited. Photography: Luke Albert. Reproduced by permission of Phaidon. All rights reserved.

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7 Women in Wellness Share Advice On Their Healthiest Hair Ever

We asked a handful of women with hair we always notice to tell us what they do to keep it strong and healthy. A solid fifty percent of our clean beauty research involves being curious (read: nosy!) about the women we meet and the practices they keep!

7 Women in Wellness Share Advice On Healthy Hair At Home

As you might expect from our crowd of health-minded Angelenos, tips went far beyond a good blowout -- we're talking cod liver oil, scalp massages and more than one mention of thyroid health.

Ashley Neese | Wellness Professional + Author, How To Breathe Before I was pregnant, I took this amazing herbal tincture daily that supports healthy hair growth and nourishes the scalp. It's full of hair strengthening herbs like horsetail which is loaded with silica and antioxidants as well as saw palmetto that contains a plant compound known as beta-sitosterol which reduces hair loss.

I'm keeping my hair strong by eating eggs which are high in protein and biotin, two nutrients that are associated with hair growth and by taking daily cod liver oil and collagen from homemade bone broth. I do weekly scalp massages with coconut oil and aloe vera and brush it well each day to stimulate the scalp and encourage blood flow to the head, plus it's relaxing and keeps my hair from getting super tangled.

Carson Meyer | Founder, C & The Moon  I rarely ever use shampoo! Conditioner only. Lots of it. Truth be told, I don't even know the name of my conditioner. I refill my bottle at The Well Refill in Topanga. Braids, sea salt from the ocean and sleep bring out the mermaid hair for me!

Nyakio | Founder, Nyakio Beauty I use Charlotte Mensah hair oil or Bomba Curls Forbidden Oil on my scalp. It stimulates growth and keep my scalp healthy. I also sleep with a silk cap or scarf every single night to prevent breakage. I love a scarf with the perfect amount of stretch, so it stays on my head all night.

Serena Poon | Chef, Nutritionist, Reiki Master Healthy hair is often about scalp health, so I make sure to get in plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. Since I am plant-based, I have avocado every day, along with plant-based sources for omega-3’s, such as flax seed. (TCM editor's note: learn to make flax tea here.)

Good, clean sources of protein are also key. Hair is primarily made up of proteins, so a diet rich in lean protein is necessary for healthy hair. Protein deficiency in hair usually results in dry, brittle or weak hair and hair loss. It’s also key to get enough zinc and vitamins A B C and D. 

Less is more. I use very little styling products — it weighs my hair down and has a tendency to dry my hair out. I wash just 1-2 times a week and try to avoid high heat settings on any tools

Vanessa Fitzgerald | Holistic Health Coach, Vees Honey While I was born with very thick hair, there have been years where I would watch copious amounts of my glorious mane fall to the floor and my scalp start to flake.

As a practitioner, when I see hair start to thin in either myself or my clients, I find that there is some heavy metal toxicity, mold buildup, or hormonal imbalance starting with the thyroid.

In my personal experience, it's what I put in my body that reflects in the luster of my locks. By incorporating various detox methods through whole food supplements while maintaining a balanced organic clean diet, my hair has not only recovered from great amounts of loss, but it has grown back to its' original fullness.

When it comes to detoxing and supplementing, I highly suggest working with a trained practitioner to help guide detox and provide organ support as when we go crazy on google we tend to do more harm than good.

Laurel Gallucci | Founder, Sweet Laurel Bakery My hair maintenance is simple: a 100% bamboo brush and a clean shampoo. I use Rahua. My hair tends to take up as much space as possible, and these days I don’t wear it down too much. During quarantine I turned to a daily ‘quarantine braid’ that I twist into a low bun if I need to be fancy.

Shiva Rose | Founder, Shiva Rose Beauty I try not to take hair vitamins like biotin because, though they work incredibly, once I go off of them my hair thins again. I would rather get my body to make the hair healthy factors on its own with the right food and topical oils.

About 10 years ago, I went through a period where my hair became limp and started to thin in a matter of weeks. After doing some research, and blood work, I found out my thyroid was off. When I get emails from people on my sites asking about thinning hair or eyebrows, I always ask if they’ve checked their thyroid. Secondly, I ask if they are using shampoos and conditioners without sulfates.

Now to keep my hair healthy I take bone broth daily for the natural collagen intake, plus nettle infusion or teas three times a week. Nettle leaves are also rich in minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc, which can all give our follicles a great boost. If I really need a boost I will take liver pills for a few months and add supportive herbs like amla, rhodiola, oat straw tinctures.

I use my own luster hair oil that nourishes with supervitamin for hair and also nourishes the mind and crown chakra. Bhringrai, Amla Fruit, and Brahmi Oil have been used in India for centuries to create strong, healthy, vibrant hair growth. Jojoba hydrates the hair strands inside out, while pomegranate, moringa oils stimulate the hair follicles and feed hair shaft. I usually apply a few drops to my scalp and then will pull some through the strands once a week. I also shampoo with Danish brand Harklinikken that specializes in hair growth.

Have hair facts you'd love to drop on us? Share in the comments below!

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The 7 Best Resources For Repairing Fashion Responsibly

We all know the environmental model 'reduce, reuse, recycle', but there’s another 'r' when it comes to eco-friendly fashion and it doesn't get enough attention—repair.

Buying new products, even if consciously sourced and produced, always requires new resources. The most conscious consumption? Not to consume at all. The realistic solution?  Taking great care of what you already own and investing in quality pieces that you can keep as long as possible—whether forever in your closet or destined for someone else’s.

Maintaining the goods you’ve got comes with its own challenges and a bit of a learning curve. Understanding the right tools and tradespersons for your clothing and accessories can transmute visions of disrepair into the sweetest of dreams. Whether it's sweaters, handbags or leather boots you have in mind, we’ve got you covered with the best people in the biz to meet your closet’s every need...

For Your Fabrics

Alterknit offers invisible mending for snags, holes and any other imaginable damage to your knits, wovens, and beyond. This means a meticulous re-knitting process so your moth eaten mohair will look as flawless as the day you bought it. Garments are all repaired by hand via harvesting yarn from the garment itself or accessing their extensive fiber library.

Services also include cleaning and de-pilling, which as one reviewer boasts, is “like a spa sweater retreat.” They can also do the miraculous in terms of knit customizations and alterations—tapering in or shortening sweaters to better suit your shape. For suiting fabrics, techniques include French reweaving, which looks as luxe as it sounds, or inlaid fabric replacement. Their work is completely stunning and the before and after photos speak for themselves. Although New York-based, they accept international orders through a mail-in service so you can access their talented hands wherever you are in the world.

Garment preservation can save you from needing repairs in the first place. Alterknit notes that keeping your sweaters cleaned, no matter how you choose to, will make them less likely to attract moths in the first place. They also suggest holding onto the matching yarn packets that often come with your knit garments should they ever need repair. Nothing ages a sweater or knit faster than pilling.

For a DIY alternative, the Steamery fabric shaver removes those fuzzy signs of wear that inevitably pop up to keep your coziest pieces looking fresh.

The Laundress also offers an array of products and tutorials to keep clothes clean and minimize signs of wear. Their canvas seasonal preservation storage bags and boxes help to avoid fabric yellowing and keep damaging bugs away, while neatly organizing your out of season garments. Amongst their product highlights—wool & cashmere shampoo or spray, scented vinegar to add a boost to your laundry, and the le labo santal collab that surely smells like heaven.

To extend the life cycle of your knitwear, skip an unnecessary wash or dry clean and opt instead for a refresh with Laundress’s wool and cashmere spray and a steam. Steaming your garments will help kill bacteria and also keep moths away. If you’re in the market, the space saving H2 travel garment steamer by Kexi offers an adjustable steam level for sterilization and doubles as an easy iron. It’s the epitome of efficiency and beauty. Hanging clothes to dry vs a high heat cycle in the dryer also helps to extend their lifecycle and avoid fiber breakdown.

For Your Denim

NYC-based Denim Therapy offers mending for rips in the wrong places, hardware replacement, patchwork and customized denim. Their skill set includes Japanese sashiko techniques to reinforce fabrics using really beautiful, unique stitching that transforms your once ruined patch of fabric into artistic embellishments. Send in or stop by if you’re local. They can get down with some very unique repairs so don’t be afraid to bring them your creative concepts.

For Dye Jobs

Cara Marie Piazza Nothing ruins fabric faster than an impossible to remove stain. Lucky for us natural dyer Cara Marie Piazza, a true artist who achieves the most beautiful colors and abstract patterns in her one of a kind plant dyed textiles and has collaborated with designers Mara Hoffman, Jason Wu, and KES NYC, offers an opportunity to renew your sullied sartorial selections. Through her custom natural dye services, you select the dye technique and type of item you’d like to send in—ranging from slip dresses to denim—and she takes it from there. Whether you choose a charcoal dye bath, ice or bundle dye techniques, you can be assured your garments be in good hands and return to you a work of art.

Suay Sew Shop As a semi-custom option, Suay Sew Shop offers over-dying via mail in or drop off to their LA shop. Rotating colors each month to select from include clay, blue dusk, rose, camel and charcoal. Your solid pieces will return to you a new color or over-dyed for patterned or multicolored wares. They recommend the service for natural fibers like cotton and linen, excluding silk, wool, and synthetics that may not accept dye as easily.

 

For Your Accessories

The Cobblers is the go-to for your high-end shoes and handbags. From sneakers to heels, handbags to wallets, cobblers has care for your luxury goods covered. Their services include multiple levels of cleaning, repairs, and restoration and they make it easy from the start with free video consultations or simply texting a photo to receive a quote and determine the best service for your piece.

Otter Wax If you’d rather care for your leather goods at home, try Otter Wax’s leather cleaning kit that enhances, maintains and protects all types of leather. The kit includes a flannel cleaning cloth, boot wax, cleanser, leather conditioner and oil along with instructions. You can also grab suede cleaner, leather protectant, and premium brushes all made in Portland from natural ingredients.

Reshoevn8r For your standout street shoes, Reshoevn8r offers a range of protective products for sneaker care & cleaning, including their sole shields to decrease signs of wear on treads without losing your grip and sole revive to remove the yellow oxidation that shows a shoe’s age. They also offer cleaning consultations with a pro for customized instruction in case you need a little guidance, as we all do from time to time. Preservation and repairs are nothing but a win. Not only do you get to keep wearing your favorite pieces, but you’ll save yourself time and money finding replacements while benefiting the environment in the process. They will have new life breathed in or have a fresh take and an even more beloved role in your wardrobe.

Jenny Wirt is trained as a fashion stylist in NYC, Amsterdam and LA, for brands and publications like ELLE, Glamour, Bloomingdale’s and Bergdorf Goodman. An energy healer with a Master of Physical Therapy degree and Craniosacral Therapy training, she believes in empowering women through fashion to facilitate holistic healing. 

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Candice Kumai’s Broccoli Rabe With Garlic + Spicy Tofu

This spicy broccoli rabe recipe from Candice Kumai's Clean Green Eats, really is a beauty-inducer. We first ran the recipe during her cookbook launch ages ago, but have been making the simple dish ever since. 

Clean greens and all that spice will have your skin glowing and your circulation pumping. Add this simple dish into your dinner rotation and see if you notice a difference!

Candice is one of our go-to clean eating goddesses. She knows how to load flavor into simple, super nutritious dishes like this one that satisfies on all levels...

I love the distinctive, bitter taste of broccoli rabe, which also happens to be full of vitamins A, C, and folate. This delicate sister to the turnip cooks up in about seven minutes and is delicious paired with pasta like orecchiette, lean protein, or tofu and grains. Top with crushed red chili flakes for a little heat... yum!

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3 Ways To Build The Perfect Functional Iced Latte

WHEN WARMER weather hits, there’s nothing better than an iced latte. Put that iced caffeine hit to work with functional and supportive ingredients that’ll set you up for the day ahead.

I’m going to walk you through three iced latte options with functional ingredients from Anima Mundi. Each one will take your coffee habit to the next level with benefits far beyond that kick of caffeine! Start your day with mineral-rich superfoods that’ll take your clarity and vitality even further.

First, Should I Even Be Drinking Coffee?

As a holistic nutritionist, I’m a big proponent of balance when it comes to caffeine consumption—a single cup of coffee can be a mood and motivation lifter for most.

Whether coffee is friend or foe ultimately comes down to a few factors: how your individual constitution metabolizes caffeine, the current state of your health and hormones, plus your current lifestyle, body, and personal needs.

Pausing from coffee (or caffeine in general) from time to time can have its benefits for balancing adrenal health, reducing anxiety, and regulating sleep cycles. Adding it to your routine has touted benefits of increasing motivation, alleviating depression, and improving memory.

So, is there a way to elevate your health with coffee? Absolutely! The key is in adding deliciously functional ingredients that can help balance the effects of caffeine, like Anima Mundi’s super-creamy Coconut Cream Powder, plus adaptogens and mushrooms like the ones I’m sharing below that can help support brain health, cognitive function, and immunity.

Choose Your Own Adventure: 3 Functional Iced Lattes

Here are my 3 favorite options for the perfect functional iced latte. Choose the one that suits you, depending on your mood, goals, and the day ahead!

The Keto Iced Latte. This latte is dense in healthy fats and fiber, keeping you feeling fueled longer while kicking your metabolism into high gear. The addition of coconut cream powder is an instant way to create a creamy, satisfying + delicious latte in seconds. Star ingredient: Anima Mundi Coconut Cream Powder.

The Iced Shroom Latte. A mood and immune-enhancing latte that will boost your system in seconds. Made with a base of coconut cream and heirloom cacao plus adaptogenic mushrooms, this latte packs a powerful punch that will boost dopamine, while energizing and uplifting your spirit. Star ingredient: Anima Mundi Mushroom Mocha Milk Adaptogenic Creamer

The Adaptogenic Iced Latte. The latte that will bring balance to your entire being. Paired with caffeine, adaptogens help to mitigate the potentially negative effects of excess caffeination. This combination will ground you while gently supporting your immune and nervous system. Who doesn’t need more of that? Star ingredients: Anima Mundi Adaptogens

A Few Of My Favorite Adaptogenic Additions

Ashwagandha. One of the world’s most potent adaptogens—ashwagandha helps to regulate and balance the body plus mitigate the effects of caffeine sensitivity. Both calming and gently uplifting—adding ashwaganda to your latte soothes and strengthens the body.

Lion's Mane. Known for its ability to improve brain function and cognition, lion's mane mushroom is the perfect addition for creatives, writers, and thinkers. It’s also known to reduce inflammation, support liver detoxification, immunity, and a healthy gut microbiome.

Chaga. One of my favorite immune protectants, chaga mushroom is a wonderful addition if you’re feeling run down and need a bit of an immune enhancement or inflammation support. Chaga is also helpful in balancing blood sugar.

Let’s Get Frothed

Let’s talk about the most important element to an iced latte: that froth!

To get started, you’ll want to have a blender, frother, or hand-mixer on hand. Personally, I stick with a high-speed blender to create the perfect foam, but if you’re traveling or in the office a frother or hand-mixer works!

The key to the creamiest iced latte froth is Anima Mundi’s Coconut Cream Powder or Mushroom Mocha Milk Adaptogenic Creamer blended with a little almond milk. The blend is actual iced latte perfection—next-level froth, and a decadence that can’t be denied.

Loaded with healthy fats and fiber, Anima Mundi’s Coconut Cream Powder is made with silky, organic coconut, a superfood for our skin, metabolism, and digestion packed with . The Mocha Milk Adaptogenic Creamer contains seven organic adaptogenic mushrooms plus heirloom cacao. An all-in-one, immune, mood, and metabolism booster. Seriously one of my all-time favs!

The Perfect Functional Iced Latte

Begin by making your favorite coffee. French press, pour-over, or espresso-grade coffee via your espresso maker all work. I like to brew it fresh, but you can make your coffee the night before and pop it in the fridge for convenience. When shopping, look for coffee beans that are organic and fair trade.

INGREDIENTS
+ ½ cup coffee or 2 shots of espresso (or decaf)
+ 1 cup of homemade almond mylk (or alternative)
+ 1-2 T of coconut cream or mushroom milk
+ 1 tsp of your choice: ashwagandha, lion's mane, or chaga
+ Ice of your choice!
+ Optional: 1-2 tsp of raw honey or 1-2 dates
+ Optional: Pinch of cinnamon / cardamom

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Make Coffee/espresso/decaf via french press, pour-over or the night before (and chill in the fridge)
2. Make homemade almond mylk (or alternative)
3. Add 1 cup of almond mylk (or alternative) to the blender + 1-2 tbsps of Coconut Cream or Mushroom Milk
+ (optional) Add 1 tsp of (your choice) Ashwagandha, Lion's mane, or Chaga
+ (optional) raw honey or 1-2 dates and Blend on high for 30 seconds
4. Fill your favorite coffee cup (I love mason jars) with ice
5. Pour your coffee/espresso/decaf over ice- fill ½ way, top with your fresh, frothy functional mylk blended with optional additions + a pinch of cardamom/cinnamon and voila - you have the perfect iced latte to start your day!

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6 Neutral Patterns For The Home (Hint: They’re All Checks + Stripes)

Florals for spring? Not at my house. I prefer my stems in the garden or a vase. Give me swathes of black or beige and walls of wood or glass at home.

If you can relate to my fixation with layers of neutrals at home, then these modern prints might be for you. Each check and stripe adds dimension without distraction and will meld seamlessly into a natural, modern room.

Lulu + Georgia Uma Rug | This gridded rug introduces a pattern that's near textural and, depending on how you style it, can do just about anything you need it too. We love it as shown above with black and white accessories and a nubby chair.

Lulu + Georgia Irregular Checkerboard Rug | The irregularity of this checked rug adds modern nuance and a hand-made feel to this collaborative piece by Lulu And Georgia and designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. A checkered rug look trendy now, yet promises to last the test of time, especially in this sandy colorway.

TEKLA Off-White Organic Three-Piece Towel Set | Nothing beats a fluffy set of white towels, but these striped sets from Tekla have us looking twice at prints for the oasis that is our primary bathroom. Just as every modern closet needs a good striped top or two, maybe the rule should apply to the linen closet too. We're drooling for the variety of black and white stripes available from this organically-made brand and you've got to see the set with pale blue stripes too (below!).

BAINA Checkered Towels | We'll be toting organic cotton terrycloth towels from BAINA to the beach this summer, but imagine the impact they'd make in a classic bathroom too. This is the kind of bold print we can warm to -- and once the love affair is over? Stow them away and return to your classic whites.

PARACHUTE Striped Vintage Linen Euro Pillow Cover | Designer Jake Arnold (see our profile) recently collaborated with Parachute Home on a collection of home goods and the throw pillows are a stand-out. These linen stripes will add some edge to your beige on beige couch or bed.

Jenni Kayne Alpaca Colorblock Throw | Keep your natural color story in tact with a throw that will meld all your layers in one deliciously soft alpaca throw. We love this color blocking, but if it's a solid color you're really after, all of Jenni's throws come in a range of subtle colors we adore.

The citizenry Organic Cotton Duvet Cover | A fine pinstripe on the bed can maintain the calm and neural colorstory in your bedroom while adding a subtle thrill of print. This version from The Citizenry meets our clean standards and adds just the textural detail we're looking for.

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6 Post-Pandemic Wellness Tips To Support The New You

Recently, we  spoke with Lisa McCardle, an intuitive/medium and spiritual teacher who was introduced to us by holistic bodywork coach, Lauren Roxburgh. As we shared a private conversation with Lisa about what comes next and our hopes and fears about  'getting back' to business, Lisa laughed. "There is no going back", she assured us...

There is no "going back". In 2020, the pandemic threw a proverbial wrench into the works and the master cog of a moving-too-fast world came to a screeching halt. In the blink of an eye, everything changed.

As the machine began to slowly turn again this and last year, it became essential for many of us to acknowledge that, in many ways, there is no going back to how things once were.

Many of us have seen, or maybe even experienced, the alarming increase in social anxiety that has occurred since the pandemic’s onset in early 2020. As happy as some are to get back out into the world, many are faced with a foreboding anxiety around social events, in-person experiences, and maybe even simple meals out in restaurants. Others are riding through waves of extreme PTSD.

"It is essential to acknowledge that you are a different person than you were just two years ago..."

It is essential to acknowledge that you are a different person than you were just two years ago and that the world is different too. You are no doubt more sensitive to people and your environment. You may have less tolerance for noise, light, and other external stimulation. You may also find yourself tiring more quickly than you had before or becoming overwhelmed by simple tasks. Do you find less pleasure in some of the things that used to bring you great joy?

Here are six ways to move in the world that support the new you...

01 Release the Expectations | There is no returning to business as usual. You are a different person than you were, and the world is a different place. Show up, be present and curious about what is possible, and be willing to pivot and adjust as needed. The release of expectations takes the pressure off of having to be or behave in any way that is no longer authentic and true to who you have become.

02 Pace Yourself | Moving back into the world slowly is the key. Be mindful to take one step at a time. Start with smaller gatherings before saying yes to huge gala events. Find your new comfort zone and stay there as long as you need to. Allow your new social shoes to be broken in slowly with a focus on intimacy and connection with likeminded and like-hearted people, those precious souls who soothe and inspire you. Quality over quantity is essential for an enjoyable walk in.

03 Listen to Your Intuition | When it comes time to gather, tune in to your inner wisdom. See if this experience is truly the right place at the right time for you to show up and say 'yes'. This level of listening requires pause, presence, and a willingness to get quiet and feel your way forward. Listen to your gut and not your head. Taking the 'should' off the table allows your nervous system to relax while allowing you to be guided intuitively forward.

04 Set Boundaries | This is the cornerstone of healthy communication that allows you to be in healthy relationships with those in your life. Boundaries serve to bring people together in conscious, loving, and honoring ways. The less boundaries others have, the stronger yours need to be. Here are a few:

+ It's ok to say no if you're not feeling up to a social gathering.
+ It’s ok to change your mind and say no after you have already said yes.
+ It's ok to leave early if it all feels like too much.
+ It's ok to bring someone with you. Bring your bestie who you feel comfortable with and who understands how it is for you to navigate social experiences in a new way.
+ It's ok to say, “Thank you for the invitation. My answer now is maybe. I'd like to feel into my response as the event gets closer and see how I am feeling at that time. Is that ok with you?”

05 Give Space for Integration | It is essential to give yourself some down time as well as some space for integration after a social engagement. For some, one or two gatherings a week is enough, while, for others, that is more than enough. Be mindful to take a day or more in between social gatherings to find yourself and your natural rhythm again.

06 Practice Energetic Hygiene | Saved the best for last. No doubt you take care of your physical hygiene daily. Some also support their mental and emotional systems daily, but the energy body needs attention too.

The simplest way to prepare your energy body for social engagement is to close your eyes and envision yourself in a bubble of pure white light. Put on this vision of light just like you would put on a coat when it’s chilly outside. After a stimulating social event, it is important to 'shower' your energy body. Envision light coming down from heaven and allow this light to pour over and through your body, releasing everyone and everything you encountered. You can do this simply through visualization -- or paired with an actual shower, which is even more potent. Let everyone and everything wash away. This resets your personal energy field.

It is important to know that you are not alone. We are all navigating this experience, even though it looks different from one person to another. You are doing amazingly well. Keep going. Know that, in time, you and the earth herself will be fully integrated into a healthier, happier, and entirely new way of being.

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