While there are a handful of critics out there, I must say – Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I think we could all use a day dedicated to expressing our love for those around us, don’t you think?
Not only is it important to show our love for those nearest & dearest to us, I find it’s a healthy practice to carve out a little time to love on ourselves.
We often pride ourselves on checking off our to-do list & maximizing every minute of every day, but rarely do we pat ourselves on the back for scheduling time to rest & reset.
This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I am treating myself to one hour of uninterrupted self-care in our cozy little bathtub. Nothing fancy – just a pretty bouquet of roses, fair-trade dark chocolate, a yummy-smelling bath bomb, candles & a good book to make it a little more special.
This year I committed to purchasing only sustainably-grown, Whole Trade flowers, which fully support farmers & their communities. You’ll always find a fresh bouquet of blooms within our home – it’s one of my favorite indulgences.
This week, February 7th – 14th, you can grab two dozen Whole Trade roses from Whole Foods Market for $24.99 (& Prime members can purchase them for just $19.99)! Divide them up into mini bud vases for all of your Galentines & arrange a few for you!
While you’re at it, grab a few chocolate-dipped strawberries (they’re $9.99 & available at Whole Foods Market from 2/12-2/14) for your tub time!
Don’t forget to save a rose for the bathtub! Throw in a fizzy bath bomb from Whole Foods Market & fill the tub with rose petals to make it a little more festive. To do this, simply remove, or peel, the petals from the stem & throw them into the water. They’ll float on top & add a floral scent to your steamy bath.
Tip: Fresh petals will last for more than one bath! Gather up petals in a small bowl after one soak & add them to hot water the following day. Do note – petals will begin to wilt after a few days so promptly reuse them.
Light a candle & soak up your quiet hour of bliss as you read & rest. With a small budget & a handful of goodies from Whole Foods Market, you’re sure to create a lovely self-care retreat so you can love those around you better.
Do you ever carve out time for a little self-care? How will you carve out an hour or two to love on yourself this Valentine’s Day week? Share your thoughts in the comments!
love,
natalie
As I inch closer & closer to 30, I realize just how important it is to take care of my skin. I took for granted my soft, dewy skin of my earlier 20s & now I’m met with dry patches & hormonal acne – ack!
Thankfully I’ve found a few practices that have significantly helped my skin & I wanted to share those with you today!
1. Drink water, cut down on coffee: I know, I know. It’s tough to read, but it’s true! I enjoy my coffee just as much as the next person, but I was replacing my need for water with caffeine far too often. It was a nasty cycle, but one I am slowly overcoming. In the middle of the day when tiredness starts to kick in, I reach for water with lemon instead of coffee with cream & it shows in my skin. To encourage your water habit, keep a pretty glass pitcher next to your desk during the day. Fill it with fresh mint, cucumber or citrus for extra flavor & fill up your glass/sip as you work.
2. Dry brush: I’ve fallen in love with dry brushing, y’all. It’s a practice I am especially enjoying during the winter months. Just a few minutes of self-care really does make a difference when it’s so cold & dark outside. It’s rejuvenating, meditative & even helps reduce dry skin while increasing circulation!
I got my body brush & my face dry brush from my shop, Freckled Hen Farmhouse. I love them because they’re made of natural materials & handcrafted in Sweden by artisans with visual impairments – an incredible product with an even more amazing mission.
Here’s a quick step-by-step on dry brushing:
Face: 1. Thoroughly clean your face, rinse & allow to completely dry. 2. Once dry, begin gently brushing your face by starting at your neck. Work your way up to your forehead, using upward motions on your neck, chin & forehead. 3. Once you arrive to your cheeks & nose, use counter-clockwise circular motions. 4. When you’re finished, apply moisturizer.
Body: 1. Jump into your shower. 2. Start dry brushing at your feet & move up your legs with each long stroke moving towards the heart. 3. Move to your arms & shoulders, moving the brush in the same direction. Pay attention to rough spots, spending just a few brief additional moments on those areas before moving on. 4. Finally, move to your sides, working from your hips to your armpits. 5. Once finished, enjoy a hot shower to remove any extra dead skin.
Please note: Dry brushing 1-2 x per week is the recommended max.
3. Skin Oil: I used to believe that oil would clog my skin, but I’ve learned that it does just the opposite. I apply my skin serum to my face & neck twice a day & it has made such a difference in combating dry winter skin. I love the Seriously Glowing Face Serum from Acure & purchase it at Grove Collaborative, but any natural blend of oils will do.
I’d love to read your tips for winter skin & more! Please share in the comments below.
love,
natalie
Let’s talk about summer meal planning.
I find it’s more difficult to plan our weekly meal plan during the summer months. Perhaps that’s counterintuitive to what you may think given the abundance of vegetables growing in our garden, but that’s the very reason why it’s so tough! I am constantly on the search for creative ways to use up our bowls of tomatoes & piles of squash, aside from my usual canning & freezing for the winter months ahead.
I’ve shared several tips & tricks for budgeting & meal planning (here, here & here), but I’ve never shared how my system adjusts during the summer months.
As with every season, I assess what we have. I check my pantry, dig around in the freezer, walk the garden & talk to Luke about what we’ll be harvesting this week. Once I’ve got a pretty general idea of what ingredients we already have on hand, I make a plan.
I pull out my favorite cookbooks (I’m a huge fan of Simply in Season & the Skinnytaste cookbooks), check my recipe box, gather saved recipes from magazines & scan my saved images on Instagram (I love that new feature!).
Once I have my recipes, I check our weekly calendar of events & plan our meals out for the next seven days (this is my favorite meal planner to date – it has the detachable shopping list, which I love). I typically only plan dinners & fill in our lunches with leftovers/sandwiches/salads & breakfasts with peanut butter toast/eggs/smoothies.
Here’s this week’s meal plan:
M: Peach & Tomato Salad (from Better Homes and Gardens)
TU: Zucchini Garden Chowder (Simply in Season)
W: Pizza Lasagna Roll Ups (Emily Bites)
TH: Grilled chicken with squash & basil salad (Simply in Season)
F – SU: Camping! (Separate meal plan)
I typically only jot down the main meal & add in fresh sides as we harvest vegetables from the garden (sautéed zucchini, roasted new potatoes, cucumber salad, etc).
As for potlucks, picnics & special events throughout the week, I make a note of sides & desserts I will need to bring.
Last week I brought along this delicious caprese salad dish to book club & thought I’d share the recipe with you!
Caprese Salad on a Stick
Ingredients:
– Cherry tomatoes, halved
– Handful of fresh basil
– Mini mozzarella balls
– Balsamic vinegar
– Olive oil
– Course sea salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
– Toothpicks or mini serving sticks for taste-testing
Directions:
Pierce one ball of mozzarella on your mini stick or toothpick followed by a leaf of basil, half of a tomato, another leaf of basil & a second ball of mozzarella. Place on a cookie sheet & repeat until you have enough tomato/basil/mozzarella sticks for your gathering.
Drizzle olive oil & vinegar on each stick. Sprinkle salt & pepper to your preferred taste. Transfer the sticks from the cookie sheet to a pretty serving tray. Refrigerate or serve immediately. Enjoy!
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How do you use up the abundance of produce in the garden during the summer months & plan your weekly meal plan? Share your thoughts below!
love,
natalie