Thursday, December 28, 2023

How 11 Female Wellness Founders Are Prepping For 2024

female founders advice

We asked 11 wellness entrepreneurs the most valuable practice they've developed as they reflect on the past year and how they're setting intentions for the year ahead! Each of these pros is part of the first-ever community membership, We Shine Well, a dot connecting concierge service for established female entrepreneurs in the wellness space. Here's what they had to say.

11 Wellness Entrepreneurs On Their New Year Prep

wellness entrepreneursSarajane Case, Enneagram & Coffee | Enneagram Coach, Author, Podcast Host  My biggest tip is not to keep your planning centralized to just the New Year. I love my New Year's planning routine. I block off an entire day and treat it like a little mini-retreat with myself to reflect, acknowledge, and honor all what the year has been and look forward to what the future holds. However, life rarely looks the way we think it will a year out. That's why I keep checking in on my plans and making adjustments every quarter, month, and week. It keeps me engaged with my goals and honors the unexpected changes that life inevitably brings.

Phoebe McPherson, Fungtion | Co-Founder and Head of Brand and Education Finding stillness is not only one of my favorite wellness practices, it is an absolutely essential one. Stillness can be found at the end of an embodying yoga practice, while on a walk with no headphones/phone calls, or in the depths of a long meditation. Once the glimmers of stillness start to emerge and my body/mind quiets, I have a wonderful, clean slate to meditate on what has been impactful in the past year and what was a learning moment. From stillness, I can approach these reflections from a place of authenticity and an open heart.
wellness entrepreneur adviceHannah Varamini, Tend Prenatal | Co-Founder I schedule a mini-retreat each quarter and at the end of the year – rest and rejuvenation is a huge part of holistic wellness. I try to reflect on wins, shortcomings, and reconnect with the larger vision of Tend – redefining the way we take supplements.

Britt Deanda, Elevate the Globe | CEO of Elevate the Globe and Founder of Studio Intune The most important thing I can do for my higher self at the end of the year is to release any resentments, disappointments or attachments to the previous year and celebrate how far I’ve come. Tara and I also use numerology and astrology for our business goals and planning. Intention setting is about being realistic and present with where you are at and what your reality is with no judgment and then creating and dreaming big from that place for what you are desiring for next year and who you are becoming!! We help so many busy moms and business owners with this in our Kundalini yoga and wellness studio, Intune through our monthly challenges and daily meditations and it’s so much more fun and enjoyable with this type of awareness and planning!

wellness entrepreneurs 2023Laura Lea Bryant, Laura Lea Balanced | Holistic Chef and Holistic Breakup Coach My most valuable tip is to make sure we understand our own definitions of the words that we use. For example, as a holistic breakup coach, I hear my clients use the word “rejection” constantly, even when ‘ghosted’ on a dating app. So I ask them, what are they ‘rejecting'? You? Do they know you well enjoy to ‘reject’ you? Could we swap ‘rejection’ with ‘disappointment’, which has much less charge and a more temporal quality? I go through the same line of questioning for words and phrases such as “closure”, “good enough”, “someone better”, “needy”.

Our definition of the words we use holds enormous power. And oftentimes, it’s not even our own definition, but instead a colloquial meaning picked up from culture or family. Going into 2024, this will become the centerpiece of my practice, edging out any other tools that I offer by far.

Mariah De La Mer, ASTARA | Founder, Author I look at everything as an opportunity to deepen within, and I find the trick is to stay neutral with both spectrums - things we might want to label "good" or "bad," then simply become experiences that afford the opportunity to strengthen internal navigation towards more of what we want to experience in the world and how we want to show up.

When I reflect back on the year, I take it all in, the places I visited, new relationships and friendships that came in or those existing ones that devolved, creative endeavors and business decisions, and I look at how I handled those, what expanded me, challenged me, inspired me and what I learned from them. I find there is usually a general theme that shows up, and is usually one I was not expecting and is fun to see emerge. And from there, I then tune into and set intentions for how I want to expand and grow the next year - places I want to visit, people I want to work with, creations that want to come through etc. from all that I have learned and grown from all the collective experiences the previous year.Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino

Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino | Doctor of Osteopathy and a Board Certified Family Physician One thing that I’ve returned to again and again, in setting intentions for the new year, is that you have to allow good things to happen to you. It’s very easy to approach life from a place of fear or anxiety - and that's natural, the unknown can be scary! But when we open ourselves up to the idea that beautiful things are ahead, we're able to truly feel when they finally arrive.

wellness entrepreneurs 2023Ava Johanna, The Academy of Breath | Celebrity Breath Coach, Founder  I always start by looking back on the year prior and ask myself: What is the one word theme or "reverse intention" that I experienced. It may be the same as the word or intention I set at the beginning of the year or I may have experienced something entirely different. For example, this past year, my word was "overflow" but looking back, the theme was "simplify." This allowed me to reflect back and see what lessons I learned and what wisdom was gained so that as I think about setting an intention for the year ahead, I can take the wisdom of "simplify" and apply it to the year ahead.

After I am clear on what my theme was, I ask myself: How can I take this theme and apply it forward? What are the things that I want to make sure I hold onto and what am I being called to let go of? Whenever I'm doing this practice, I always start with breathwork and meditation so I can ensure I am approaching these questions with a clear head and deeply connected to my own inner voice!

Susy Schieffelin, The Copper Vessel | Founder It is so important to take time to digest how far you have come in order to really tap into what is possible for the year to come! I love to look back through the photos in my phone to see where I was and what I was doing one year ago and then three years ago. It is really mind blowing to see how much has changed and how many prayers and intentions have already come true! Then I write out one milestone goal for each month in the year to come, get cozy, and relax in a sound bath to amplify the intention. This practice works like magic and it never ceases to amaze me how the intentions come true almost like clockwork!
female wellness entrepreneursErika Bloom | Founder and CEO of Erika Bloom Wellness I’ve been focusing—in my body and my life—on finding the balance between connection and ease. Movement, healing food, meditation, and self-care should be nourishing, not depleting. Softening and settling in to ease allows for greater presence, physical and mental alignment, and a deep awareness that supports a healthy, clear, authentic way to move through life.

Aimee-Jean Greenacre | Holistic Women's Life Coach In my coaching practice, I guide my clients through a reflective process that feels like taking a 360 snapshot of their lives. It involves assessing all life facets, rating them from 1 to 10. The high-rated areas? They're moments for a victory dance, a celebration of achievements and joys. But the lower-rated ones? Those are the hidden gems—the spaces that need our attention, where the magic of growth happens.

Think of it as embracing the full spectrum of experiences—acknowledging the wins but also shining a light on the spaces calling out for nurturing and development. It's in those challenging places where we find the potential for change and personal growth.

I encourage my clients to lean into these 'lower-rated' areas because, honestly, that's where the real growth lies. It's about tackling the tough stuff, the aspects we tend to procrastinate on or put off. By leaning into these spaces, we not only expand our comfort zones but also pave the way for feeling more fulfilled in our life. This is what I like to call finding your flow, a feeling of inner strength and momentum to move through life with ease and grace.

Read Next: Inside Beauty Founder Jen Atkin's New Years Goal Setting Ritual

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Your Favorite Wellness Stories of 2023 – Wim Hof, Nature’s Ozempic + More

anti inflammatory meals

We publish hundreds of wellness stories every year, but do you ever wonder which stories other readers are loving too? This year, our top wellness stories of 2023 range from practical tips to the expected trends (hello, Ozempic headline!)...

Your Favorite Wellness Stories of 2023

Here's What A Full Day Of Anti-Inflammatory Meals Looks Like |The anti-inflammatory diet is a preventative, body-balancing formula for eating well which we’ve explored in-depth on the site including this piece with Jennie. If you’ve been wanting to incorporate more foods that fight inflammation into your diet but wern’t sure how to go about it, this menu will help you out…

Jennifer Aniston's Workout Takes 20 Minutes + Leaves Us Completely Sculpted |At fifty-four, Aniston cuts a famous figure on and off stage, and it has everything to do with her long-standing commitment to fitness. Our readers’ need no reminder, but we’ll say it anyway: despite the street cred and sex appeal of a body like Jen’s, a commitment to fitness also produces sustained energy levels, better brain health, healthier hormones, and serves preventative health benefits of all kinds.

Nutritionist Serena Poon Reveals Her 11 Most Important Wellness Habits | Celebrity chef Serena Poon CN, CHC, CHN shares the most meaningful wellness habits she adheres to now. Her list of non-negotiables cuts through the noise of endless wellness tips and options we find online and brings us back to the basics, as so many longevity pros do.

Drop The Fake Vegan Protein – Are Boring Old Beans Actually The Perfect Food? |When properly prepared, these affordable and highly nutritious plants can be a game-changer for a plant-based or vegan diet — no franken-food or mystery ingredients required. The founder of Primary Beans, talks to us about traditional vegan proteins from around the world…

Cold Exposure 101: Wim Hof’s Latest Scientific Studies Will Have You Taking The Plunge | For many years now, the Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete has been the focus of every biohacking conversation we’ve heard, both here in LA and across the podcast universe. Then, in early 2020, The Goop Lab brought “The Iceman” to Netflix and the conversation really got going.The latest scientific studies will have you taking the plunge...

7 Daily Habits That Could Lead To Chronic Illness | Many pros agree that illness comes from cumulative imbalances and small bad habits that amount to much more over time. So, what are the habits and patterns we can focus on breaking? This piece comes to us from medical professor and clinical pro, Dr. Terry Wahls and explores the biggest contributing factors to chronic illness...

Fast Like A Girl: Dr. Mindy Pelz On The Truth About Fasting For Women Vs. Men | Dr. Mindy Pelz is a world-renowned holistic health expert on a mission to create a women’s health revolution and what she calls “hormonal literacy”.  We asked Mindy to share a few keys to fasting for women specifically – a fascinating topic that can help to supercharge your intermittent fasting habits…

Symptoms Of Perimenopause Can Start Earlier Than You Think. Do You Know What They Are? | How strange that menopause and perimenopause aren’t part of our regular health education. The topics are finally trending wellness and women are shedding the stigma to talk about it. Micropause founder, Emily Wagner fills us in on the basics around perimenopause and shared these in-depth insights with us…

The Experts Weigh In: Is Berberine Really ‘Nature’s Ozempic’? |  Berberine is the latest ancient remedy caught up in the viral craze. The traditional supplement is having a big moment lately as nutritionists hail its benefits as a gentler, safer weight loss protocol than Ozempic. But is it true?

Happy New Year! We can't wait to share more with you in 2024. Sign up for TCM Weekly to get our top stories mailed to your inbox every week!

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Looking Back At Our 2023 Wellness Trend Report: Trend Fatigue + Regenerative Everything

2023 wellness report

Our 2024 trend report drops soon. 'Til then, we love looking back to see how we did on the year we just lived through...

Is it safe to say that trends aren't trending? In the liminal space that was 2022, self-care necessitated a healthy dose of boundary-building and a slower pace of life for many. Meanwhile, Tiktok accelerated the pace of trends of all kinds, ironically contributing to some pretty major trend fatigue as we kick off the year of 2023. With the breakneck speed of trends mashing up against the slower pace of life, many of us were left holding our relationship to trend adherence at arm's length.

We have a complex relationship with trends overall here at The Chalkboard. As a niche, L.A.-based site, we're ahead of most wellness trends by years. And we sometimes find ourselves exhausted watching things like dry brushing or chia pudding get shoved through the morning show and social media circuits years after we know our readers have made them part of their daily routines.

That said, trends often help us to discover and learn, and -- ultimately, if we don't take ourselves too seriously -- they can be really fun. If it takes a celebrity tweet or viral video to normalize lymphatic massage, clean makeup or daily meditation, we'll take it.

Trends also clue us in to emerging technologies, which is where we start this year's 2023 report below.

If you want to learn more on what to eat, the growth of Dry January, and the top supplements, herbs and adaptogens, you know that we'll be covering all of that in our continued daily coverage!

personal health monitoring tech | For years now, biohackers and nutritionists have shown us how to harness the direct feedback from a wearable device like a Continuous Glucose Monitor or HRV device to take our health into our own hands. We expect this space to grow as consumer interest widens and as the tech itself advances.

At this year's CES tech event, several personal health monitoring devices were debuted, including  The Withings U-Scan, a pebble-like monitor that fits inside your toilet bowl and measures many of the biomarkers you'd get in a traditional urine test, from hormone levels to ketones -- including actionable daily health advice.

longevity books

3 Incredibly Good Reads On The Future Of Wellness + Longevity

The Future of Longevity  | All eyes are on Harvard genetics professor and author of Lifespan, David Sinclair PhD. Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To was published in 2019, but we'll be unpacking the nuances of this book for years. Echoing many of Dan Buettner's learnings in The Blue Zones, some of Sinclair's insights are practical --  intermittent fasting, cold exposure, and exercising with the right intensity. Others depend on technologies in medicine that are still emerging such as NMN supplementation and gene therapy. 

The father of biohacking, Dave Asprey is also a lead voice in this space. Asprey plans on living well beyond the age of 100 and continues to share all of his personal testing and research with a rapt wellness audience.

2022's Life Force was also a sign that this topic is trending with consumers in a big way. The book brought together self-help guru, Tony Robbins, Dr. Peter Diamandis of the X Prize Foundation, and biotech's Dr. Robert Hariri to unpack the latest in 'precision medicine' and its promise to optimize 'healthspan'.

That brings us to our next trend which is precision medicine and personalized healthcare itself...

precision medicine + personalized healthcare | Life Force Diagnostics puts it well: "Stop guessing, start addressing." Are your supplements, herbs, workouts and sleep schedule really working for you? Precision medicine will tell you.

There has been an absolute boom in personalized healthcare clinics over the last few years from  Forward to Parsley to Sollis Health. Most often, these clinics offer frequent diagnostics, such as blood and hormone testing, along with the clinical reporting and medical consultations necessary for consumers to make faster, better decisions about their health.

These highly attentive, personalized services are the future of preventative health and true wellness. Many of them take a holistic or functional medicine approach, which we love to see, but are still financially inaccessible for many. Like so many important trends, this one holds promise to trickle down into broader models that more consumers can hope to take advantage of in the future.everlywell test kit

at-home wellness testing | We're also seeing a boom in at-home test kit services lately which adds depth and accessibility to the personalized healthcare trend overall.

Brands like Everlywell offer every kind of health test you can imagine from food sensitivity to heavy metal testing. Others offer more specialized testing, such as the fertility testing provided by reproductive health brand, Natalist.

Some going as far as to match you with supplements or skincare that fit your personalized outcomes. Viome offers a Full Body Intelligence® test before providing consumers with precision supplements. Skincare brand Veracity assesses factors in skin health with a saliva test, followed by custom product recommendations.

Peptide therapies | Don't let the controversy over celebrity-driven weight loss trends fool you, peptide therapies are here to stay. While semaglutide made big waves last year as an off-label weight loss drug Hollywood adhered to in droves, peptide therapies extend far beyond the promise of fat loss with benefits in areas like longevity, muscle gain, and brain health. Most peptides require daily shots over the course of several months to see results and we recommend at least one specific blood test before starting. We'll be talking about all of that and the breadth of peptides available more later this month!

Adequate Sleep > hustle culture | Hustle culture is still down-trending and one thing is for sure -- Americans have had a collective awakening around just how hard we grind.

New research and a fresh transparency around sleep hygiene was just beginning to emerge before the pandemic and a large swath of wellness pros had begun beating the drum about this often neglected health metric. (We can all thank Arianna Huffington for originally cutting through the BS on the topic.) However, it wasn't until the stress of a global pandemic that this message really began to take root. In addition, a large swath of the workforce was able to trade their regular commute for an extra hour of sleep -- and the benefits became more than just theoretical.

Just in the past three months, a whole swath of health pros are now advocating that women get up to 10 hours of sleep daily! More on this topic soon.

Women's Health - Differentiated | Many of the women's health and hormone pros we're paying attention to this year have one thing in common: they are espousing the benefits of female-first research when it comes to fitness and healthcare.

We're following women like certified hormone coach, Misty Myler who is helping to popularize the notion that while men run on a 24-hour hormone cycle that peaks every single day, women run on a 28 day (average) hormone cycle that peaks once a cycle. According to Myler, "women were left out of clinical trials until 1993, meaning that the majority of what we've been taught is based off the findings of the male body and then simply 'sized down,' and taught to women as fact."

As we learn more about the history of male-based research, we're beginning to better understand the differentiation required for women's health and the protocols that best serve it.Regenerative Fashion christy dawn Farm To Closet

Christy Dawn's regenerative cotton farm

regenerative everything | We've talked a lot about regenerative agriculture over the years and organizations like Kiss The Ground and Regenerate America continue to drive change forward. We're now seeing the regenerative movement move into fashion and healthcare.

Kiss The Ground just announced a new regenerative cotton farming initiative with luxury denim brand, Citizens of Humanity that will roll out in the brands' 2023 collections. LA womenswear brand, Christy Dawn is also leading the way, establishing their own regenerative cotton farm from which many of their pieces are made.

Giving less F*cks | (I can't tell you how many 'f*cks' we've painstakingly edited out of interviews from people you love and trust here on the site. Despite it's shock value to a good cross-section of readers, there's just nothing in the English language that conveys the punch worthy of this burgeoning sentiment in 2023.)

After the greatest groundswell of connectivity in human history, we are experiencing a healthy retraction. Most individuals have made drastic (or even subtle) edits to their social relationships and overall social calendars. Thousands have left city life for good, and some of the biggest trends of last year had to do with our changing relationship to the workplace.

People are staying in, building boundaries, and being more mindful about where they spend their energy. It may not seem like a wellness issue at first, but the ramifications of this trend run deep when it comes to our emotional and mental well-being. The ramifications for brands and services in our space are also significant, as consumers experience these meaningful lifestyle shifts.

Lymphatic health | We've been covering lymphatic massage, dry brushing, foam rolling, gua sha and more for years now, but, somehow, in 2022, lymphatic health finally went mainstream. Most lymphatic health practices are pretty visual, so we're guessing that Tiktok is partly to blame, however, don't let its trendy nature dissuade you from learning more and making this a focus of your personal practice. On this topic, we're huge fans of lymphatic health pro, Lisa Gainsley, body worker, Lauren Roxburgh, traditional Chinese medicine pro, Sandra Lanshin, and the women of Wildling. Dig in and find a pro or practice that resonates with you.

fashion Trends in fitnesswear | We can't talk about trends without talking about fashion. On TCM, fashion shows up in two ways; sustainability and fitnesswear.

Per our notes above, brands like Christy Dawn and Citizens of Humanity are embracing regenerative farming at a rapid rate we didn't expect to see for years. Expect more sustainable fashion coverage from us all year.

When it comes to fitnesswear, we expect to see the loungewear trend stay as strong as ever. Top fashion trends like head-to-toe monochrome color, throwback streetwear, cutouts, midriff-bearing tops, and bike shorts all promise to stay with us. Mermaidcore, Barbiecore and all the other 'cores', easily find their place in fitwear sets from Carbon38 to Girlfriend Collective and beyond.

I also loved seeing this take on leggings on recent runways from WhoWhatWear fashion editor, Sierra Mayhew, which I think is spot on! Layered under coats or sized up and worn in fashion colors, this trend has legs.

Sculptural quirk at home | Last, but not least, I love to include design in our trend forecasting, as good design is such an important brand value for us. After all, one of the biggest trends in wellness overall this decade has been the incorporation of modern design trends!

While most design and fashion forecasters have been calling for drama as a backlash to pandemic-era calmness, I foresee many more years of close-to-nature styling, organic shapes, timeless neutral colors and a nod to ancient cultures and patterns. That need for drama will likely be expressed in the burgeoning trend of sculptural quirk we're seeing lately in statement lighting, oversized objects, and unusual natural textures and patterns in marble, stone and wall-coverings.

At home, we continue to see a boom in office and gym renovations. See one of our recent favorites here. Home equipment newbies like Frame's digitally-driven reformer, and the rise in popularity of home fitness instructors from Melissa Wood Tepperberg to Lia Bartha of the B Method mean that working out from home has never been so fun.

What did I miss? Tell us in the comments! Look forward to our massive reader poll later this winter as we take stock of all the big changes we've all been through and what you're looking forward to finding our pages in 2023. 

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Tuesday, December 26, 2023

The 31-Day Nervous System Reset We All Need This January

open breathwork challenge

“A LIFE-CHANGING DAILY PRACTICE.” Join us this January for the Nervous System Reset we all need. We’ve partnered with the Open App for 31 days of simple, science-backed breathwork and meditation to start your year right. We’re talking 6 to 15 minutes a day – and it’s free!

Enlist a friend, send this to your stressiest family member or simply crack open a new journal as we start the year more grounded, calm and resilient than ever before. Develop the foundation for a healthy mind and body while discovering breathwork and meditation techniques to regulate and rewire your nervous system. A 31-day reset is the perfect way to make space for what’s next.

Develop Life-Changing Habits In 2024

According to Dr. Andrew Huberman (Stanford 2023), just five minutes of breathwork outperformed meditation for improving mood and autonomic regulation and lowering stress.

We’re big believers in breathwork and meditation alike, but, as with most wellness practices, the challenge is creating daily rituals that stick.
open app

Thankfully, we’ve seen a pivot happening in wellness lately—despite the phenomenon that is Ozempic-mania. There’s a movement from a radical focus on metabolism to an interest in nervous system health. Ultimately, the two health interests go hand in hand as our stress resilience and daily mood affect our overall health. The shift couldn’t be more timely and we’re thrilled to partner with Open for their Nervous System Reset to help more of us discover—or simply make a habit of—breathwork and meditation.

“No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or strong you are, none of it matters if you’re not breathing properly.” – James Nestor, Author and Breathwork Expert

About Open

The Open Method combines contemplative practice, nervous system regulation, and mindful fitness to master body and mind. Known for their incredible community and making the ancient wisdom and modern science of mindfulness feel approachable, we’ve noticed a groundswell of interest for the studio here in LA amongst our community. From the weight of world events to post-burnout WFH culture, tuning into—and learning to support—our nervous system has never been more important.

The Nervous System Reset

In this 31 day challenge, you'll learn science-based breathwork and meditation techniques designed to support a more regulated nervous system. Each daily practice blends breathwork and meditation techniques curated by experts in neuroscience, fitness, and mindfulness.

how it works: 31 daily practices on the Open app are broken down into 4 weeks. You’ll learn science-based mindfulness techniques for 6 to 15 minutes a day across the modalities of meditation, breathwork, and sound. Each class is part theory and part practice — designed to teach you how to keep your nervous system healthy and cultivate habits that contribute to overall well-being.

+ Week 1 – Reset
Restore balance and optimize your relationship to stress. 

+ Week 2 – Regulate
Build resilience in the face of challenges.

+ Week 3 – Rewire
Create new neural pathways to adapt, learn, and recover quicker.

+ Week 4 – Expand
Go beyond limiting beliefs and realize your potential.
open nervous system reset

How To Join the Free Challenge

The Open app accommodates all levels, including beginners. The practices evolve with you, ensuring that whether you're new to meditation or an experienced practitioner, you'll find value in the Nervous System Reset and beyond.

Open is a mindfulness app for everyone. Download the Open app and sign up for the Nervous System Reset and you’ll also get full access to the Open app now through January 31!

This story is brought to you in partnership with Open. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. 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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PEMF Is The Health Tech Everyone Will Be Talking About In 2024

healthyline pemf devices

Some of the wellness protocols we’ve treasured for years are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. Thanks to Gen Z’s voracious appetite for wellness trends everything from gua sha to infrared saunas are now becoming mainstream. PEMF is one of the hard-core wellness technologies trending big time lately and we’ve spotted PEMF mats in a ton of LA spas and friend’s living rooms. We're thrilled about the spike in interest for one of our favorite overall health therapies and asked our writer Annie Goodman to try HealthyLine’s Rainbow Chakra Mat™ with PEMF at home. You could toss this rainbow mat anywhere for instant hard-core wellness vibes, but the PEMF and infrared functionality are remarkable…

I Tried This Trending PEMF Mat At Home

As someone who prides herself on being “in the know” about “deep wellness,” HealthyLine’s PEMF Mats have been on my radar for a long time. Whether spotted on the tables of my favorite holistic bodyworkers or in the offices of my integrative docs, I’ve seen HealthyLine’s rainbow-colored mats everywhere that matters and have always wished I could have one of my own at home. Call it manifestation, but I finally had my chance when The Chalkboard asked me for this review and HeathyLine’s Rainbow Chakra Mat™ landed on my front doorstep.

HealthyLine’s mats deliver the power of both far infrared heat and PEMF using natural gemstone therapy and the mat itself looks incredibly cool.
healthyline pemf rainbow matMost of us are familiar with the idea of infrared heat, but PEMF is still a bit mysterious. Here’s what I learned about PEMF while trying my new Rainbow Chakra Mat™...

What The Heck Is PEMF Therapy?

Have you heard of Earthing or Grounding? Grounding is the traditional healing practice of getting your bare feet on the earth to electrically reconnect with the earth’s magnetic forces. Grounding might sound odd until you realize how weird it is that your feet don’t touch the earth each day! Stop and think about the last time your body touched - not pavement, carpet, wood planks or stepping stones - but actual earth. Depending on your lifestyle and where you live, it’s kind of a trip to think about! I’ll tell you right now that, despite living a very active life here in LA, I had to think long and hard about the last time these feet touched the soil or sand without shoes on.

Science has shown that the electrical conductivity between human beings and the earth directly impacts us on a cellular level—potentially boosting our immune system’s ability to defend itself against free radicals and oxidative stress. Wellness lovers have tapped into this and many practitioners and home biohackers use PEMF therapy mats to mimic the magnetic frequency of the earth for great therapeutic benefit.
healthyline pemf rainbow chakra mat
PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field therapy) is also known as low field magnetic stimulation. It is the use of electromagnetic fields to support healing and the FDA first cleared PEMF devices for use in 2007. These mats and wraps can be a powerful health modality for anyone who finds themselves more often in front of a computer screen than a patch of grass.

PEMF works to help accelerate the ability of cells and tissues to heal faster by tapping into the natural healing frequency of earth. According to some studies, PEMF modulates inflammatory processes through the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion during different stages of inflammatory response.
healthyline rainbow chakra mat
Some benefits of PEMF therapy can include:

+ Enhancing the body’s natural recovery process
+ Potentially reducing inflammation and pain
+ Boosting energy naturally
+ Improving athletic performance
+ Promoting faster recovery from injury
+ Correcting cellular dysfunction throughout the body

This process increases electrolytes and ions, therefore supporting one’s ability to naturally heal.

All you need is a great spot for your PEMF mat or wrap at home – there are wraps for knees, pads for shoulders and even mats that fit a swivel chair! Just 15-20 minutes minimum of daily use are needed to start feeling the effects.

The 5 Therapies In The HealthyLine Rainbow Chakra Mat™

I tried the HealthyLine’s Rainbow Chakra Mat™ excited to be able to access PEMF at home daily. Unpacking the mat, it quickly became clear that I’d received more than I’d expected. The Rainbow Chakra Mat™ combines PEMF with four other natural therapies in one mat.

The great thing about this mat, and PEMF in general, is that you don’t have to thoroughly understand the technology to feel the profound benefits. There are few therapies that feel as remarkably good as lying on a PEMF mat – it's hard to explain!

01 Pemf Therapy | Set magnetic frequency settings between 1-30 Hz to stimulate cells and support the grounding of your body’s biorhythm to its natural state. Also helps rid the body of electrical interference we encounter day to day in our urban soup of wifi and what not.

02 Hot Stone Therapy | The mat’s surface is filled with seven distinct layers of gemstones. Each stone has a natural energy that pairs with one of the seven chakra points, helping to realign your energy head to toe and remove any energetic blockages. If you’re not familiar with the chakras already, don’t get hung up here. The crystals are also what make this mat so beautiful, draped around the home on your couch, bed or floor.

03 Far Infrared Therapy | The heated gemstones release far-infrared rays 4-6 inches into the core of the body to alleviate muscle and joint tension. Far infrared is deeply relaxing, helping to provide a sense of serenity that I’ve grown to absolutely crave!

04 Negative Ion Therapy | Did you know that the air near naturally flowing water like ocean waves, streams and waterfalls is filled with negative ions? Again, if waterfalls are not involved in your daily commute, I totally understand. Negative ions help to clear our surroundings of harmful agents, counteracting positive ion disturbances. The mat uses negative ion-releasing Tourmaline to do this. Negative ions can support the detoxification of your body and can enhance your mood.

05 Photon Light Therapy | Most of us have learned a bit about light therapy at this point, probably with red or blue light therapy at our facialist’s office. Multi-colored LED lights on the surface of the Rainbow Chakra Mat™ support the mood and help to revitalize the skin.

How I Experienced The PEMF Mat

As someone whose day is already filled to the brim with wellness practices and at-home therapies, I was slightly nervous about fitting in yet another thing. I don’t even take the time to meditate on a daily basis, you know?

My first thought when I received my Rainbow Chakra Mat™ was, “Where will I put this?” and “When will I use it?” However, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to integrate my new, joyful-to-look-at mat into my routine!

I decided to use my mat in the evening as a part of my end of day stretching routine or while I was watching TV. Yes, this is a wellness routine, but there couldn’t be a more passive therapy. Being able to improve my recovery and calm my central nervous system (which everyone says is my problem!) while watching TV is basically the dream.

Because stress was my main concern, I would often opt for a PEMF setting of 7-8 Hz — Mother Earth’s natural frequency and what Grounding is really all about.

While the overall health benefits are subtle so far—after all, I’m not recovering from an injury or fighting any chronic conditions—I can confidently share that I feel way more relaxed and am getting much deeper sleep. Not a small thing. In fact, after my new nightly ritual, I find that I am not as sore from my workouts the next morning.

As the mornings have gotten colder, I’ve also tried using the mat first thing in the morning — a quick dose of relaxing heat and healing PEMF without a heavy sweat while I focus on answering an email or two.

Perhaps most notably, I feel an overwhelming sense of calm the minute I lie down on my mat. The gentle infrared heat is so soothing and pulsed frequencies are something that has to be felt to be understood!

Beyond the cellular benefits PEMF provides, this mat is encouraging me to slow down and be mindful in a way I rarely am, as someone who is always racing from one thing to another.

HealthyLine’s Other PEMF Products

The rainbow mat I received is just the right size for a city dweller like me and is easy to move from room to room. There are also larger full-length mats which come at a higher price point, but might be a great investment if you have a dedicated gym or meditation at home!

There are a variety of other PEMF devices that allow for more targeted therapy no matter where you are and what you’re doing:

Tao-Mat® Pemf Pillow | This pillow delivers the same, powerful therapies as the Rainbow Chakra Mat™ for more targeted head-and-neck pain while you sleep. Not only does it help manage any chronic pain or inflammation, but this pillow helps improve your REM for better overall recovery.
healthyline pemf devicesTao-Mat® Chair | HealthyLine’s PEMF chair mat is the ideal companion for those sitting at a desk all day long in a soup of technology, suffering from minor aches and pains. Combining PEMF, Negative Ion Therapy, Far Infrared, and Hot Stone Therapy, we love that you can get all of the healing benefits of PEMF without blocking out additional time on your calendar.

Amethyst Pemf Belt | Infrared sauna belts have started to trend lately, whether to reduce belly fat, curb cramps or relieve back pain. HealthyLine’s belt goes a step beyond combing infrared with PEMF to help relieve lower back tension and abdomen discomfort. Also a great option for travel!

While I try a lot of wellness modalities, not all of them remain in my routine for long. HealthyLine’s PEMF mat gave me such a delightful, efficacious, and—dare I say luxuriously soothing—experience that I will continue to use it on a daily basis. TL;DR: I think it’s worth the investment, and it makes me feel like my in-home wellness studio is almost complete.

We've teamed up with HealthyLine to offer an exclusive discount for TCM readers so you can try this for yourself. Get 10% off your order and free shipping with code CHALKBOARDMAG.

This story is brought to you in partnership with HealthyLine. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. 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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Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Memories For Life: The Important Alzheimer’s Doc To Watch With Your Family

memories for life Alzheimer's Doc

Dale E. Bredesen, M.D., is arguably the leading neuroscience researcher on Alzheimer's and Singleton Chair in Neurology at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute. His ground-breaking work can be explored in his book, The End of Alzheimer's Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at Any Age and through the new Alzheimer's doc, Memories for Life streaming now on Apple and Amazon. Here's Dr. Bredesen about the new documentary...

Memories For Life: The Important Alzheimer's Doc To Watch Now

How many of us would like to avoid Alzheimer’s? Probably all of us, but repeatedly we have been told that “there is nothing that will prevent, reverse, or delay Alzheimer’s disease.” About 45 million of the currently living Americans will die of Alzheimer’s disease if effective treatment and prevention are not developed—a number that dwarfs the 1.1 million deaths from COVID-19. And although many think of Alzheimer’s as “Oldtimer’s,” the earliest changes on PET scans can show up in your 20s and 30s, even though the diagnosis may not be made until decades later. To make a scary situation even worse, those who have had Covid are at increased risk for the development of Alzheimer’s.

Pharmaceutical companies have poured billions of dollars into the development and testing of drug candidates for Alzheimer’s, but there is still nothing that will lead to sustainable improvement, and the recent “success” stories refer only to modest slowing (only 11% in women), not to any cognitive improvement. The lack of efficacy in drug candidate after candidate has led some pharma companies to scrub their entire Alzheimer’s programs. Indeed, the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases—from Alzheimer’s to Lewy body disease to ALS and many others—has been the area of greatest biomedical therapeutic failure. As science writer Linda Marsa said, “I don’t think we have ever seen a failure in scientific research on this massive a scale.”

We need a breath of fresh air—some good news for all of us! And an unusual combination—a Canadian singer and a Japanese filmmaker—may be providing just that, in a new documentary entitled Memories for Life—Reversing Alzheimer’s. Canadian Grammy Award-winning singer Michael Bublé is well known for his Christmas carols and smooth voice, but, as he explained in a recent interview, watching Alzheimer’s disease in his own family made him determined to help, which is why he took on the task of narrating the film.
alzheimer documentaryJapanese filmmaker Hideyuki Tokigawa became interested in the subject several years ago, because Japan, as the country with the greatest longevity in the world, has designated Alzheimer’s as the number one concern for its aging citizens. Together, the filmmaker and the singer delve into the remarkable stories of the first patients who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, told that nothing could be done, then reversed their cognitive decline. A government agent who watched her mother die of Alzheimer’s and then, when she began to develop the same symptoms, hoarded pills so that she would be able to commit suicide; an attorney who began using the wrong words and found out that she carried a key Alzheimer’s gene; a physician who was told she only had 20% of normal memory; a nursing instructor who was diagnosed after forgetting her grandchildren, and then failed a drug trial; and others, are all featured in the new documentary.

Not surprisingly, skepticism and pushback against the research that led to these unprecedented results are also portrayed, and the filmmaker does an excellent job of telling both sides of the story. As one of the patients, who has sustained her improvement for several years now, said of the skeptical physicians, “They don’t hear it because they are not ready to hear it.” And as one of the physicians who has successfully utilized the new approach described in the documentary said, “I need you to know that dementia is not a death sentence.” Each of us can judge for ourselves whether the Director has indeed made his case.

So if you’d like to avoid Alzheimer’s, this new film may just save your life. It’s now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play. Perhaps a good present for yourself this time of year!

Read Next: New Study Connects Mediterranean Diet With 40% Lowered Risk Of Alzheimer's

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Monday, December 18, 2023

Private Chef Brooke Baevsky On Erewhon, Entertaining + Egg Nog Smoothies

Chef Brooke Baevsky chef bae tips

between Erewhon runs for clients like Mindy Kaling and Adam Sandler, we tracked down celebrity private chef Brooke Baevsky to give us a few tips around holiday entertaining.

The busy private chef (Chef Bae to you, TikTok and Instagram) and Overheard Eats host can usually be found innovating health-forward recipes in her signature food-prep-friendly jumpsuit. We trust her taste and crave her food, so we knew she'd guide us right with this list of fun and practical tips for entertaining at home this season.

Should you have volunteered yourself as Holiday Host Tribute this year, Chef Bae wants to help you dispel the misconception that healthy food cannot be decadent and delicious. “Using flavorful spices, acid, and heat in your food can make it taste so satisfying without unnecessary calories and empty carbs—just food that makes you feel amazing.”

7 Ways to Host a Healthier Holiday with Brooke Baevsky

01 | Look For Additions Over Swaps | Most of my clients are gluten and dairy-free. For gluten “swaps,” I instead like to think about what I can add! For example, in a salad, instead of swapping out croutons, I add roasted seeds, nuts, and chickpeas for added fiber and crunch! For dairy-free swaps, I love using fermented cashew-based cheeses for alfredos and charcuterie board cheeses. For a dairy-free parmesan, I make my almond parm with almonds, nutritional yeast, and sea salt!

02 | Focus On Flavor | I love breaking the stigma that better-for-you and allergy-friendly food is anything but scrumptious and indulgent-tasting! I always feature at least two salads and three roasted vegetable options at the beginning of any holiday buffet spread! I make the salads fun with colorful produce, protein-filled dressings, and savory granolas. I then ensure there is a plant-based and animal-based protein option. Lastly, a fiberful carb option like an herby wild rice side.

This way, guests will naturally build their plates with at least 50% veggies and 25% protein. I never forget a dessert spread, but if guests feel satisfied and have steadied their blood sugar levels from protein, they will be less likely to over-indulge on sugary treats!

03 | Always Make Use Of Leftovers | I love making frittatas and veggie pancake avocado toasts with leftover veggies! Hot tip: for salads during a dinner party, I dress as I go and refill. Once you dress a salad, it’s hard to save it as leftovers, so don’t dress it all at once or keep the dressing on the side!

04 | Focus On Fiber + Protein | Keep your plate 50% fiber-rich veggies and 25% protein! Drink a glass of water between alcoholic beverages or mocktails and digest for 30 minutes to an hour before dessert. This way, you will be able to tell how full and satisfied you are before you indulge on sweets.

05 | Maintain Your Regular Routine | I keep my same routine! I workout four-to-five days per week, and eat a protein-filled breakfast. I try to get 100-120g of protein per day, and this helps with sugary cravings and getting low blood sugar. I also don’t restrict myself or stress about eating something. If I’m craving it, I’ll have it in moderation.

06 | Mind Your Shopping | Don’t over-shop! People typically buy 50% more food than they need. Make a list with the amounts of each item ahead of time to prevent over-buying or over-cooking. Also, cook in batches.

Desserts, dressings, soups, and prepped veggies can be frozen ahead of time. The only food I make the day-of are the oven-roasted veggies and proteins. You want to enjoy the holiday as the host and not spend the entire day in the kitchen! Also, instead of guests bringing wine or flowers, it’s okay to request a specific dish to lighten the holiday cooking load!

07 | Nourish Your Body (And Perspective) | Don’t think of eating clean as a diet or detox. It’s a lifestyle to feel your best. Swap the thinking of “I can’t have xyz” to “I can add more water, sleep, healthy drinks, and veggies to my diet to feel like I’m running on jet fuel!”

Chef Bae’s Dairy-Free Egg Nog Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients:
1 cup Malk Almond Nog
1 frozen banana
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
½ cup frozen cauliflower rice
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp almond extract
¼ tsp vanilla extract
A dash of nutmeg
Water to blend

Directions:
1. Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Add more water if you want a less thick smoothie.
2. Pour into a large glass, and enjoy!

Read Next: In The Kitchen With Mia Rigden: On Low-Sugar Snacks, Zucchini Pesto + Emergency Champagne

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This Is Lauren Roxburgh’s Daily 10 Minute Fascia Health Routine

lo roxburgh daily fascia health routine

Lauren Roxburgh is an internationally renowned author and wellness educator on all things fascia, movement medicine and emotional health. Our editor-in-chief hosted a few live events with this beloved bodyworker earlier this year where we learned this powerful fascia health routine. Lauren insists this is nearly all she does for daily exercise lately (between weekly foam rolling, rebounding and sauna!). If you'd like to learn more, check out Lauren's virtual Aligned Life Studio for 30 days free with code CHALKBOARD30. 

This flow activates and energizes your body in just minutes a day. It’s based on getting the metabolic pathways in the body—electrical circuits in the fascia. Think of it like your electrical wiring sending the electrical current (think meridians) clear and flowing. Each of these pathways is a physical and energetic, whole body pathway of tissue alive with consciousness.

The fascia connects all parts of the body and wraps around our muscles, organs, nerves, glands, and lymph nodes. This fascia network touches every cell and wraps around everything like the scaffolding of the body. The five pathways run up the front down the back, up the center and the sides of the body while spiraling around the body.

These pathways don’t just provide the scaffolding of the body. New research is showing that these fascial pathways are both a communication, network, and a conduit of electricity in your body (learn more in my comprehensive breakdown here). The reality is, we are actually semiconductors.

Things like poor posture, injuries, poor nutrition, environmental toxins, emotional issues, negative thought patterns, and even trauma can cause congestion, blockages and inflammation in these pathways, and this can make us feel sluggish, loaded and exhausted. When we engage and clear the way, these moves ignite these pathways and help clear, physical and emotional blockages. And it also helps us kick-start metabolism, simulate the lymphatic system, rebalance the nervous system, and even help us tune in to our instinct and intuition.

It’s crucial to get these pathways moving every day. This is where my 10 minute flow comes in. Each flow will engage each of the pathways to ensure we’re clearing and cleansing and firing up these fascial pathways improving regeneration. I like to call Fascia the Wi-Fi of the body so these flows are essentially going to help us upgrade our internal Wi-Fi.

Lauren Roxburgh's Daily Fascia Health Routine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkVm-6RmVvE

01 | Start with a body scan. Tune in to the sensations of your body and soul to align your body and energy from your feet to your head. Take a deep sigh.

02 | Breath of fire for 30 seconds.

03 | Body slapping. (Yes, body slapping - watch the video!)

04 | Open up the subconscious mind.

05 | Open up the metabolic five pathways in the body (Electrical circuits in Traditional Chinese Medicine Meridians):

Front Body: Inspiration - heart, lung, stomach
Back Body: Grounded - kidney
Side Body: Twist, expand and take up space while releasing anger, resentment, frustration - spleen meridian
Center Body: Restore balance of control and surrender - pelvic floor
Root - liver meridian
Spirit Body Spiral - head (awaken intuition), intestines, gallbladder, bladder meridians, neck.

06 | Bounce.
Shake.

07 | Lion's breath.

08 | Breath of fire again for another 30 seconds.

09 | Jump squat.

10 | Hum or 'om'. This affects our physiology through the release of nitric oxide.

11 | Seal the routine with a clear intention and an elevated emotion, creating a coherence of mind and body, thought and feeling.

Try this for one week - and tell us your experience below! Join Lauren's Aligned Life Studio for 30 days free with code CHALKBOARD30

Read Next: I Tried This Infrared Sauna Blanket At Home + The Hype Is Real

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Wednesday, December 13, 2023

These 7 Cozy + Clever Hostess Gifts Make Perfect Last-Minute Solutions

clever hostess gift ideas

Whether you're meeting your significant other's family over the holidays, sleeping on your great aunt's couch over Christmas, or staying with your best friend for New Year's Eve, they say a good guest never arrives empty handed.

We've rounded up a few clever hostess gift ideas you can scale up into full on holiday gifts or scale back as a sweet gift on arrival!

7 Clever Hostess Gift Ideas For Every Scenario

coffee clip scoop

2-in-1  Tablespoon Scoop-Clip + a good bag of coffee | We're obsessed with these bag clips that serve as scoops too! Buy these scoops in triplet and clip them onto a bag of hot cocoa, coffee beans like Canyon Coffee, or a good green powder like this incredible Daily Greens from Equilibria for a quick and perfect hostess gift or simple treat for co-workers and friends.

non alcoholic champagne

A bottle of French Bloom + Coupes from reidel | Staying with a sober friend or hosting one for NYE? French Bloom is the best alcohol-free sparkling wine we've tried! Buzz or no, great glassware keeps things festive - turn this hostess gift into a full-on holiday gift with these classic coupes from legacy crystal brand Reidel. Believe it or not, a set of these glasses are still dishwasher-safe.finex grill press

Finex Grill Press + Cast Iron Pans | If you know you'll be wined and dined by your hosts (or even your parents!), the least you can do is bring what's needed for the perfect late night snack. Pick up the best cheddar you can find and this special cast iron grill press for midnight grilled cheeses. Need a more substantial kitchen gift? Finex's cast iron pans are some of the most gorgeous we've seen (reminder: cast iron is non-toxic!).ember mug gifts

an Ember Mug - or two | Staying with your mom or best friend from home and plan on catching up for hours? Gift them an Ember Mug (or two!) to keep the coffees hot while you flip through endless old photos or chat until noon. Ember Mugs keep tea and coffee as that perfect first sip down to the last drop. Pairs well with the coffee scoop-clip above! natural popcorn popper

a popcorn maker | Staying with a movie-loving family? Bring an air popper and a bag or two of popcorn kernels. Air poppers avoid the dangers of microwaveable popcorn bags and be sure the popping corn is organic and non-GMO. Bonus points for a jar of nutritional yeast to add a cheesy flavor with no cheese. Wholier's spicy nutritional yeast is a TCM team fave.

Read Next: 7 Beautiful Ways To Prep A Guest Room Before Holiday Guests Arrive

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Sourdough Sugar Cookies with Nettles That Even The Grinch Would Eat

nettle sourdough cookies recipe

When these festive green cookies popped up on a friend's feed recently, I knew we had to have them on our pages! A sourdough cookie recipe with functional ingredients like nettles is an absolute TCM bullseye.

The baker behind these bites is Danielle Michaan, the creator of Coco et Sel and a culinary creative who is endlessly inspired by farmer’s market produce to her friends and family's delight at home in Montecito, California.

Danielle's recipe will thrill wellness lovers, but trust us when we say these cookies are delicious -- if you need to coerce kids or other family members to try them, simply call them 'Grinch Cookies' and you'll be good to go!

Learn a bit about sourdough in our Sourdough 101 story and let us know if you have questions for the baker in the comments below! Here's Danielle with a few notes...

Sourdough lovers, this is the sugar cookie for you! They are soft and chewy with a hint of almond and lots of vanilla. They get their grinch-y green color from stinging nettles. Nettles add a wild earthy note and nourishing properties too. Plus the vibrant green shade is perfectly festive for the holidays. Pop them in the fridge for an hour or long ferment them for a puffier cookie that's easy on the belly.

A Few Things To Know About Nettles

Stinging nettles have been foraged for centuries for their nourishing properties. They can improve circulation, lower blood sugar, and support the kidneys, urinary tract and nervous system. They have also been used for allergies, arthritis and skin ailments such as eczema.

The leaves and stems of nettle are covered with small hairs that do indeed sting! The spiny leaves must be handled with care and prepared properly to eliminate their stinging powers.

Nettles peak in the spring when the leaves are the sweetest, most tender and nutrient dense. They have a deep herbaceous flavor that makes a wild replacement for spinach. They work beautifully in savory recipes but I love dreaming up ways to use them in sweets. Their flavor pairs well with flavors like vanilla, lemon, mint and matcha.

I buy my nettles at my local farmers market. Nettles prefer moist soil and can commonly be found in the countryside, near forests and riverbanks. If you are foraging your own bring scissors and a pair gloves!
nettle cookie recipe

If you can't source fresh nettles, you could also use about 1-2 tablespoons of dried nettles from Mountain Rose or Starwest Herbs. If necessary, simply leave them out altogether—they’re still one of the best sugar cookies I’ve ever had.

Sourdough Sugar Cookies with Nettles

Makes 10 large cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
8 tbsp grass-fed unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 bunch (about 6 oz) fresh nettles. Can't source them fresh? No problem! Use 1-2 tablespoons of dried loose leaf nettles
1 large egg plus 1 yolk, at room temperature
1/4 cup sourdough discard (the leftovers once your sourdough starter has peaked - so sustainable!)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1/4 cup sugar for rolling

Directions: Make the nettle butter…
1. Prepare the nettles: pick the leaves off the nettles and wash well.
2. Bring a pot of filtered water to boil and add the nettles. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
3. Drain (save the water for tea!) and plunge into a bowl of ice water. Squeeze the excess liquid and finely chop the nettles.
4. Add the nettles to a food processor with the butter and process until smooth.

Directions: Make the cookies…
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
3. Add the egg and yolk and mix until well combined.
4. Add the vanilla, almond extract and sourdough discard mixing on low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
5. Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture and mix on low speed for about 20 to 30 seconds just until the dough begins to come together. Do not over mix.
6. Scoop 2 oz portions of the cookie dough and use your hands to roll the dough into balls. 6. Roll the dough in a small bowl filled with the 1/4 cup granulated sugar and coat all sides.
7. Place the cookie dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet and chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour and up to 2 days for a longer fermentation. For best results, I like the texture and taste when they sit in the fridge for 12-24 hours best!
8. Preheat the oven to 350°F. When the dough is chilled, place the balls on a separate parchment lined baking sheet, spacing them 2 to 3 inches apart.
9. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are set and begin to turn a golden brown. The tops of the cookies should be puffy and cracked.
10. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before using a spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack.

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Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Wear It Or Gift It? 7 Sustainable Pieces For The Holiday Season

cozy gifting guide

To gift it or to wear it? That is the shopping question of the season. And we've rounded up a few sustainable essentials that make it tough to decide! Shop of lounge-worthy basics for yourself and cozy gifts for a friend, plus New Year's party-worthy pieces you can wear or, yes, gift...
catori jewelry
shop Catori Life Jewelry | We're obsessed with this talisman and artifact-inspired jewelry line and we dare you to shop for gifts without buying a piece for yourself. Every piece is packed with meaning and sustainably made in the U.S., many used with recycled materials. From this giant scarab ring (an ancient Egyptian symbol of rebirth) to these asymmetrical amulet earrings made with raw opal, everything is 15% off through the link above!

shop Maison Trudon Mortel Parfum | From one of the world's most iconic French candle and fragrance brands, gift everyone you'd like to impress with year one of these luxurious candles and then swipe up a timeless winter perfume for yourself. Mortel is unisex blend of frankincense, myrrh and other resins that'll keep you warm through new years parties and beyond.
cozy gifting guideshop Lake Kimono Pajama Set | This flattering and wildly comfortable pajama set has to be worn to be understood. It's only a matter of time before they reach cult status, and you heard it hear first. With a wrap-style waist, and wide sleeves, this super-soft modal set make it the perfect thing to wear at home for the holidays and for wrapping up for your coziest friends.

shop Jenni Kayne Moroccan Slipper | These slippers seems to sell out often, so buy a pair to wear and a pair to gift while they are in stock. Made with shearling and suede, the traditional slipper style folds down at the heel so you can wear them two different ways. A timeless, homey piece you (or they!) will wear for years to come.

slimming loungewear

shop T/Tala sculpting cami dress | Sculptwear is having a moment lately, thanks in part to trending celeb shapewear brands. This lounge-ready dress is as sustainable as it is flattering - and incredibly affordable. Layer it under everything this winter or gift to the friend who loves to look like a snack at all hours.

shop Girlfriend Scoop Unitard | For the girl who does it all. Pair this bodysuit with a cardi like the one below to get the day started, then wear it on its own for a good workout. It also pairs well with a blazer to head out for drinks, dinner, or just errands after yoga! Great gift for a stylish and fit friend. cozy beauty giftsshop Jenni Kayne Cotton Cocoon Cardigan | The sweater we have in every color! The perfectly gift-worthy Jenni Kayne Cocoon deserves a spot in every closet - or suitcase. The versatile style comes in a flattering range of cuts and colors, meaning you can shop it for friends and relatives without feeling "matchy-matchy".

shop Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump | After years of matte lipstick trends, lipgloss is finally back on the beauty map. Tarte's new gloss is holiday party-ready and makes a sweet little gift too - no glitter involved  - and no parabens either.
boots and puffer gifts
shop Freda Salvador Boot | Freds Salvador's lug sole boots are a modern girl must. The best-selling boot now also comes in a loafer style that's tough to resist. If you already own and adore the boots, buy a new pair for the bestie who's been coveting them and pick up the new loafers for yourself!

shop Varley Wilkens Sherpa Puffer |Fresh from our Gift Guides this year, Varley's lastest lust-worthy jacket combines two of our favorite winter classics: sherpa and puffer. Incredibly cozy, super-chic and sure to be pulled from friends' closets endlessly now through February - if it makes it out of your hands.

gift sustainable accessories

shop Janessa Leone Piper Beanie | This adorable essential comes from sustainable designer, Janessa Leone - a definite gift and buy for self scenario. Made from renewable (and wildly luxe) alpaca wool the Piper comes in four colors and each of your besties needs one.

shop Cuyana Concertina Phone Bag | Are you or someone in your life addicted to their belt bag? Cuyana never fails with the small accessories and this wearable phone sleeve is irresistible. Buy the pebbled Italian leather case for your mother-in-law and the croc-embossed version as an early New Year's gift for yourself.

Read Next: I Tried This Infrared Sauna Blanket At Home + The Hype Is Real

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