Health + Wellness Gift Guide

I have to confess to having bought zero gifts for Christmas yet. When November rolls around I always swear that this will be the year that I nail down everyone's gifts by Black Friday, but inevitably the times comes and goes and the week before Christmas I'm using Amazon prime like it's a lifeline. So if you're still in the market for some gifts, I've got you covered. 

Getting and giving gifts is so much fun! Sometimes after the holidays settle down though, we realize that some of the gifts we gave (and received) aren't as useful or necessary as they seemed. They end up tucked inside a closet to inevitably thrown out. To hopefully move one step closer to stopping this unnecessary cycle I've rounded up a list of 20 health and wellness related gifts. I absolutely LOVE  practical gifts and I especially love practical gifts that enhance my health and wellness! This list includes a wide range of prices, but all are under $70. I hope that you find something to lets that loved one know that you care and that you want them to be their best selves in 2018. 

One

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

Six

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN 

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FIFTEEN

FOURTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

NINETEEN

EIGHTEEN

TWENTY

1. Spread the Love tote - $18 - So adorable and super practical considering Chicago charges a bag tax at all stores!

2. Nutrition Nerd Sweatshirt - $48 - Wear it loud and proud!

3. Black Girlfriend High Rise 3/4 length legging - $58 - Most comfortable leggings. Reasonably priced and ethically produced. 

4. Good Food Good Vibes Tank - $32 - One of my favorite tanks! 

5. Nike Run All Day Running Shoes - $70 - Favorite running shoes! 

6. Lush Thunderstorm bath bomb - $7 - What says "I love you" better than a bath bomb paired with a candle or fuzzy socks perhaps? 

7. Lush Hottie massage bar - $13 - Pair with some tea and a mug. 

8. IKEA mini cactus - $4 each - Find a cute little pot or two and fill them with these cute cacti. 

9. IKEA aloe vera - $5 - Plants are such a great way to brighten a space and make an inexpensive gift! 

10. The Love and Lemons Cookbook - $23 - There are lots of vegan and vegetarian recipes in this book. It's so great, it made it into my gift guide two years in a row. I use this book all the time! 

11. The Nutrition Stripped Cookbook - $13 - Another one of my favorites that I use all the time! The vegan caramel recipe I am obsessed with is found in there. 

12. Minimalist Baker's Everyday Cooking Cookbook - $20 - I actually don't own this one yet, but I LOVE her blog and can only imagine that her cookbook is equally as amazing. 

13. Yoga mat with carrying strap - $11 - For the person you think could use a little extra relaxation in their life. 

14. Pharmedoc Foam Roller - $20 - For the person who works out like a maniac. This foam roller is amazing! It's seriously one of my favorite things to do after a workout! 

15. Matcha Mint Maker - $35 - Because matcha is kind of hard to make on the go otherwise. 

16. POP Insulated Water Bottle - $18 - You can never have too many water bottles! Especially if they keep water cold for 24 hours. 

17. Essential Oil Diffuser - $16 - I have two of these and I LOVE them! I almost always have cedarwood oil in the bedroom and then lemon or orange on my desk. 

18. Herschel Hip Pack - $30 - This is the bag I put my phone, keys, credit card, and running fuel in during marathon training. So handy! 

19. Himilayan Salt Wall Lamp - $12 - I think these are super cute! Whether or not they work as magically as they  claim, I have no idea, but they're adorable. 

20. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet - $15 - One of my favorite pans! I use mine all the time. I can cook anything in it and even bake things in the oven on it. Such a handy pan for a really reasonable price! 

Slowing Down + A Christmas Coffee Break

When I was in high-school one of my friends told me that I liked to seem like I was busy.  I think I put my hand on my hip, stuck my nose up at him, and said in what I'm certain, was a very sassy tone, "No I don't!" 

This conversation makes me laugh now though, because he was so right. Even as a high-school student I relished in the idea of being busy.  I strived to always look busy, because being busy meant that you were important and who doesn't want to be important.

This seemingly childlike idea followed me into adulthood. I thought that if I was constantly taking phone calls, responding to emails,  and rushing from point A to point B that my value in society was made evident. If I was busy, I was important. The two went hand in hand in my head. Slowing down meant lacking in value and I didn't want to lack in value, so I never slowed down.

I feel like the busier and busier I have become as an adult though the less and less appealing it has become and the less and less I've felt it's defining hold on me, because unlike what my high-school self thought, being busy does not make you more important. I would dare to say that perhaps what we are really conveying to those around you when you're rushing around is your insecurities and misplaced values. 

I want to challenge you (and me!!) to stop trying to look or be busy, and to slow down, to stop and smell the roses, to be present and to enjoy being present.

My friend, Patricia, and I were talking about hiking the other day and I described my mindset when hiking with her. I told her that when I go hiking I am getting from point A to point B. I appreciate the exercise and will try to get to the top as fast as I can, but I am not in it for the journey. Unfortunately I think that sums up my view on life too often.

 This year I really want to make an effort to slow down more and look busy less. I want to take a coffee break in the middle of the day, watch an episode of Gilmore Girls without working on my computer simultaneously, and have a full conversation and not feel guilty about it, because I don't have to look or be busy every moment that I'm not sleeping.

This post was initially titled "coffee worth slowing down for" and I was going to talk about my Chemex and how it makes the best coffee, but the more and more I thought about that post, the more I realized that there were things in my life that I was missing because I was too busy rushing around and it wasn't fair for me to try to convince you guys that coffee is worth slowing down for, when there were a lot of other things I needed to be slowing down for that I wasn't. But, I'm learning. I'm slowly, but surely learning the importance of taking a minute to just be. To not feel the necessity to make to-do lists (I'm mildly obsessed), make plans, or think any thoughts at all is such a far gone concept for me that this is definitely going to be a process.

The first step I am taking in trying to slow down, is to be more intentional when I am drinking and making my coffee. And goodness gracious, I promise, this Chemex coffee maker makes it so beyond worth slowing down for. If you've never had a pour over before, you're missing out. Some point in the last year I switched from waking up to a pot of batch brewed coffee on our classic little 12 cup machine, to exclusively preparing myself one cup using the Chemex. It might seem like too many steps to take on before getting caffeine in your system, but it really takes no time at all and once you've done it a few times, it will be second nature. I highly recommend getting this kettle. I was formerly just boiling water in a sauce pan and it's really difficult to properly pour the water over the grounds that way. Fortunately my mother heard about this dilemma and gifted us one as a housewarming gift when we moved to Chicago and we are so, so grateful. It's made things a whole heck of a lot smoother in the morning (less scorching incidences). 

The constant battle between slowing down and being busy (whether for looks or legit hustling) is real. And being a compulsive multi-tasker struggling with some major ADD, slowing down is difficult. In 2017 I want to stop and smell the roses (or coffee) as often as possible and stop feeling the need to rush. I want to embrace the journey and not feel pressed for time. 

Fingers crossed, coffee in hand, cheers to trying. 

I hope you all are enjoying the Christmas season so far! May the rest of your 2016 be filled with coffee, gingerbread cookies, peppermint chocolate everything, and little moments to just breath and be. Merry Christmas, loves! 

What are some ways you are trying to slow down? Did you ever feel like being busy made you seem important? 

Chairs || Table (formerly sold individually and not in a set) || Chevron Throw || Fur Throw Pillow || Monogram Mug || Copper Wire Basket || Small Plate (from Anthropologie, but no longer available) || Greenery from Trader Joe's || Stockings || "Merry Christmas" Watercolor - DIYed by me || Chemex || Chemex Filters || Coffee || Kettle || Paper Straws || 

10 Things I am Thankful For This Year

Happy Tuesday before Thanksgiving, babes! 

As a kid, Thanksgiving Day meant watching the Macy's Day parade while my mom cooked away in the kitchen, rearranging our furniture and adding in card tables and chairs to fit 20+ people, pretending to care about football, and eating to our hearts content and then some. There was always strawberry-pretzel salad, more pies than we could possibly consume, mashed potatoes and gravy (Josiah's favorite), and of course turkey. 

It was always such a special time, but now that I've grown up (or at least in theory), I've come to appreciate the actual meaning and importance of Thanksgiving. With each passing year it has become less and less about the turkey or pumpkin pie and more about contentment and gratitude that is often overlooked in our everyday life. It's the time of year where we are supposed to change our mindset from I-WANT-MORE to I-AM-CONTENT-WITH-WHAT-I-HAVE. It's a time for us to be conscious about how fortunate we are to have the family and friends that we do and to make an effort to let them know we appreciate them. I'm sharing ten things that I am thankful for this year, but believe me, there are far more. Share with me what you're thankful for this year, because truly, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. #blessed (I couldn't resist).

Love you guys and I hope that your Thanksgiving is full of lots of laughter, gratitude, pecan pie, and dad jokes.

1. MY HUSBAND -  No one supports my dreams, knows my heart, or cheers me on quite like he does.

2. OUR AMAZING FAMILIES - I'm continually reminded of how amazing both my family and Josiah's family are. Listen, if you can find a family that helps you move cross-country TWICE in one year, keep them. <3

3. MY JOB - Seriously, to wake up everyday and not dread going to work is a rare find. The clients that I get to work with fill my heart and keep me going. 

4. HOPE - In a world of darkness, it's the only thing we have to hold onto. 

5. COFFEE - Because without it the world might move in slow motion. And smile less. 

6. JOSIAH'S JOB - I am so glad that he has found a job that satisfies him and treats him well! 

7. ELEVATORS - Their existence made moving to and from a 6th-floor apartment in Denver a much more manageable feat. 

8. LEGGINGS - And I don't even freaking care that they're not pants. 

9. MY GIRLFRIENDS - The value of having a tribe that stands behind you no matter what and constantly cheers you on was never as apparent to me as it has become this year. Seriously girls, I wouldn't have kept pushing on in this creative girl boss journey without you.  

10. ADVENTURES - Moving from Chicago ---> Denver and then Denver ---> Chicago again in 6 months was a gloriously, unforeseen, crazy adventure and I am so unbelievably thankful for it.  

via 

12 Holiday Gift Ideas under $40

If you've left your house at all in the last few weeks you've probably seen at least some Holiday things out and about. Starbucks Holiday drinks are officially available and Target's aisles are flooded with all things red and green and whether you're team, wait-until-Thanksgiving-is-over-to-think-about-Christmas or team Get-it-done, it is soon going to be time to at least start thinking about Christmas gifts. Where did the year go? I have no idea, but it's here and we better get ourselves together so we're not with the rest of the crazies on Christmas Eve settling on the unwanted, remaining gifts while trying to manage our social anxiety. Let's avoid that! 

My first piece of advice for you is to shop online! Typical introvert thing to say. Like, why do people even go to stores? With Anthropologie being a rare exception, because it's totally an experience to shop there and the online shipping cost is insane (seriously, like $11), I prefer to do all of my shopping online. I don't have to deal with parking, putting real-world clothes on, or leaving my cozy apartment when it's freezing! Who's with me? I've rounded up a few of my favorite items this year that I'm certain will be the perfect gifts that will have your loved ones feeling loved (and your bank account in tact). 

I would love to hear your favorites! Happy shopping, friends! 

1. Because organization is necessary, so why not do it in style. ($34)

2. If I could have a house filled with these gold mugs, I would. Grab a couple for your besties and wrap it with this. ($10)*

3. A little encouragement for that girl boss friend of yours. Just print it and put it in a cute frame! ($5)

4. For the friend with wanderlust. ($10-65)

5. A home decor trend that I am loving. ($29)

6. Take your friend's/sister's/mom's phone style up a notch (as long as she is still rocking the iphone6/6plus) ($36)*

7. For your friend who's loved the loveable losers through it all. ($28)

8. This coobook will have your friend starting off the new year right with healthy and simple plant based meals that are to-die for. It's seriously my current go-to for dinners! ($20)

9. No such thing as too many hats. ($20)

10. You should probably get this for your friend that's always cold. ($40)

11. The cutest calendar! ($26)

12. When in doubt, get a scarf. ($29)

*I recommend just going to the store if you can to avoid the insaneeeee shipping cost!