If you walk into any store, the section for personal care items and beauty gifts are is probably through the roof. There are just so many options nowadays but, if you’re like me, you want to give gifts that are actually useful. Most people have a set skincare or beauty routine already so what can your gift provide to enhance that?
If you’ve been around here before, you know how these Friday Fives work. I’m keeping the list of beauty gifts simple and showing five items both women and men can benefit from! There’s no shame in the beauty game!
I recommend creating a gift set with 2-3 of the items. 😉 Or, you can grab several of whichever stands out to you and gift it as a stocking stuffer for your pals. Whoever you’re gifting to this year, you can’t go wrong with any of these products!
Before getting into jade-rolling, I had begun a routine of self-facial massaging. The roller is an excellent tool to help ease stiff jaw muscles and encourage blood flow. After jade-rolling, my face feels the way my body does after I do a workout. It feels refreshing and full of energy! I’ve also seen improved skin texture, wrinkle reduction (I have a bothersome one between my brows), and reduced inflammation and under-eye discoloration.
Oils have become the new moisturizer. That’s not to say you shouldn’t ever use a moisturizer but oils can help assist your skin with locking in moisture! Rosehip oil is my ideal choice because it is very gentle, soothing, rich in vitamin E, and, in my experience, it has been non-comedogenic. Perhaps you’ve heard of the coconut oil craze. While I like using coconut oil in food, and occasionally as a hair mask, I wouldn’t put it on my face. It’s extremely rich and might benefit mature skin better. Otherwise, opt for gentler oils like rosehip!
If someone says they don’t like face masks they are either downplaying their love or they haven’t found the right face mask! The Detox Me mask if unique in that it provides the skin cleansing properties you want in a mask but it won’t make your skin feel stripped! It provides moisturization thanks to the Argan oil base. Another thing I love about it is the Dead Sea salt microparticles which gently help exfoliate your skin. It truly is a multitasking product. If you want to purchase it, use this link or include the code MELANIEM to score 15% off your order!
Okay, so, essential oils might not scream beauty but they are amazing gifts that can be utilized for beauty purposes. You can squeeze a bit of your moisturizer into the palm of your hand and then add a drop or two of essential oils. I named both lavender and frankincense but really you could just use one or the other and still see benefits. Whichever you choose, the essential oils should be pure grade, like the kind from Young Living, and not contain additives. Oftentimes, I’ll even add a drop to my rosehip oil (mentioned above) and my skin loves it! The essential oil + moisturizer/oil trick can be done for your face or body!
I’ve saved the best for last! Okay, all of the products I’ve named today are beyond clutch (is that word still trendy?) but these gloves are amazing. The charcoal exfoliating gloves are a better alternative to those round plushy loofahs that you might have hanging in your shower. I don’t know about you but I have a hard time feeling clean without scrubbing my skin. I used to buy sugar scrubs left and right but now I mostly just use these gloves. No need to worry about them being too rough, though—it’s all about the pressure you apply. To use: you simply put on the gloves in the shower, add a drop of soap, and start scrubbing your body. They last forever, too! I pop mine into the washing machine once in a while to freshen them up and they’re good to go.
That brings us to a wrap with my five beauty gifts! No pun intended. Okay, semi-intended. I hope you’ve gathered some ideas for stocking-stuffers or easy beauty add-ons to enhance other gifts you may be buying for friends and family. Hey, and, if nothing else, I would recommend picking up these products for yourself because they are game-changing.
For my pals in the USA, Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Are you cooking for your extended family or friends? I don’t typically have that responsibility but, as my interest in cooking has grown over the years, I now want the challenge. I’m looking forward to trying out healthier versions of Thanksgiving dishes on my family this year. In light of that, I’m sharing some tried and tested recipes that I love and think your Thanksgiving company will, too!
If your family is anything like mine, they want a no-frills Thanksgiving dinner. So, this is not the time to make a fancy rice pilaf, homemade bread rolls, or whatever artichoke appetizer you found on pinterest. When time is of the essence, you’ve got to consider what is really worth your effort.
For example, a few years back I made a cranberry sauce from scratch. It was so good! (Here’s the recipe if you’re interested). At dinner, my dad and sister tried it but that was it. I had cranberry sauce leftover for days because the rest of my family preferred the canned stuff they were familiar with.
Incidents like that make me frustrated and want to throw in the towel for cooking for my family. I absolutely HATE food waste but I also don’t want to be stuck eating my prepared dish for three days or more! Therefore, my tip for getting your family/friends to eat your dish is: DO NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE. If the only cranberry sauce available was mine, I bet I wouldn’t have come home with a bowl full.
What was today’s post about? Oh yes, Thanksgiving dishes. I digressed. Anyway, I’ve tried all of these recipes (except one, noted) and think they can hold a worthy spot at the Thanksgiving table.
Sweet Potato Casserole is a solid dish on it’s own but I bet your guests won’t even detect the butternut squash. You get the caramelized sweetness of the sweet potatoes without all the heaviness. The butternut squash helps to lighten things up and the pecan crumble makes this practically dessert-worthy WITHOUT all the sugar in the classic dish.
Instead of mashed potatoes and gravy, make this mushroom gravy pie! Expect everyone to swoon and be begging for the recipe. Okay, I can’t say I’ve been begged for the recipe but the dish was well-received when I made it. If your family is super picky, you could omit the kale and everything will still be delicious. Plus, the pie works as a side to turkey or a main for the vegheads (like myself) at Thanksgiving!
If there is a vegetable that is most widely accepted, it would be cauliflower. Cauliflower has made its mark but I still wouldn’t go wild with it for Thanksgiving. In this salad, I love the tender cauliflower combined with toasty almonds and the creamy tahini dressing. The cauliflower salad is perfect because guests can get a few florets without feeling like they are taking away from the other Thanksgiving dishes they prioritize eating.
Show me someone who doesn’t like carrots. I bet you’ll have a hard time finding that person. If you have a group of vegetable haters at the table, like me, then stick with familiar vegetables. The carrots develop next level sweetness while roasting! In contrast, the curry spice provides some balance so you don’t feel like you’re eating straight up candy. (Not that anyone will confuse carrots with candy….) Also, the spice level is super light so it won’t interfere with the flavor profile of other dishes at the table.
I mentioned at the beginning of the post that I would include one recipe that I haven’t tried. This is it! I’ve made some other Hummusapien recipes and have been pleased so I don’t doubt this one will be great. If you’ve been looking for a green bean casserole that doesn’t used canned soup or mystery dry onions then we’re in the same camp! My mom usually makes green bean casserole with both of those ingredients but this year I’ll be in charge of the dish. I’m very excited to clean up the casserole and use real, whole food ingredients!
Remember that family meals require a little bit of compromise. Sometimes it is easier to go the pre-made route with certain dishes. Though, if you or someone else at your table has dietary restrictions then it will be much appreciated to have some allergen-friendly dishes. Just some food for thought as you go about preparing a Thanksgiving meal plan.
Also, if you want some more plant-based Thanksgiving inspiration, you can see these recipes and more over on my Pinterest Board!
Are you a podcast-listener? I can’t say I’ve always been into podcasts because only in recent years did I discover the magic that they offer. I thought podcasts were only for NPR business folks and religious expression but that’s only a small fraction of the podcast universe. As a matter of fact, they’re so diverse that today I’m sharing my favorite health and wellness centered podcasts.
Before we get to the list, I know there are some people out there who need some convincing. If you have yet to get into podcasts, here are some reasons why I love them:
1. They serve as an educational tool and offer exposure to people and ideas you may not otherwise hear about
2. An episode or two in the morning or the evening helps me ease into/out of my day
3. It feels like I’m sitting in on a conversation with friends when I listen to podcasts
When I started listening to my first favorite podcast, I enjoyed knowing there were many episodes for me to listen to and jump around with as I pleased. (Back in the day that was Stuff Mom Never Told You). Once I caught up with all of the episodes, I took a years-long break from podcasts.
Now, I’m back at it and exploring other podcast series! There’s a few that I keep on rotation and am siked to recommend. I hope some of these strike your interest or encourage you to give listening to podcasts a try if you don’t already!
This high-vibe podcast started out as being an inspirational interview series between Jordan Younger, the woman behind The Balanced Blonde blog, and entrepreneurs in the health and wellness industry. Slowly, it transitioned into more of a holistic health and spirituality podcast. Jordan keeps it real and gives listeners some next-level vibes that I can’t say I’ve found elsewhere. There are some stand-alone episodes that I really enjoy but you get a better feel for Jordan’s journey (and yours as you go along with her) if you listen from the beginning.
I first became obsessed with Kalyn’s Coffee Talks on her YouTube channel. She touches on everyday issues like anxiety, stress, time management, and more. Kayln is young but she is extremely helpful for advice on manifesting positive life changes. During her short but informational podcasts, she’ll talk through how a subject affects her and address the unconscious processes we may go through. On each episode, she provides suggestions for kicking bad habits and tips for how to be your most productive and badass self. These are GOLD.
Talia, the host of the PiMP podcast, is a ball of energy! She is so passionate about the benefits of plant-based foods while also providing tools to make it doable for everyone. Her podcast episodes are very insightful because each episode narrows in on specific topics related to physical, mental, or dietary health. The podcast is also a great resource for any and all sorts of healthy living tips you could ever want!
This is a fairly new but awesome podcast addition to the health and wellness sphere. My Instagram pal, Andrea, co-hosts the podcast but I’m not playing favorites here. The Vreeken Bessa Show feels like a cozy sit-down with girlfriends discussing holistic health and women’s issues. Some topics you may have read about or heard of before but still give the episodes a listen—the hosts put a fresh spin on them that you won’t want to miss. The show is only a few episodes in so definitely start with the first episode.
OPP is hosted by the amazing blogger and cookbook author Jessica Murnane. She speaks to other bloggers, authors, scientists, and revolutionaries in different fields. She has her own set of health issues so she does a beautiful job of bringing that to light and providing specific resources for listeners and their varied concerns. I love how easy it is to jump around amongst episodes so if you want to dive into some random favorites of mine, check out: Episode 19:Finding Your Gift With De’Mar Hamilton of The Plain White T’sand Episode 95Are You an Empath?+Strategies for Sensitive People with Dr. Judith Orloff.
It was very hard to keep this list at just 5 because I have a lot of podcast loves. I’ll save my other genre of podcast faves for another day. 🙂 If you listen to podcasts, what genre do you like? I’d love to hear any podcast recommendations!
The weather is cooling down slowly but surely! Even in my little corner of Southern California, where the sun is always ablaze, the days don’t seem as hot. Lately, I’ve been starting my mornings by opening the windows all over my house. I love to feel the freshness of the outdoors come into my house. It not only invigorates me to get my work out on (so I can warm up!) but it also makes me crave some warm drinks.
So, today, I bring you five of my favorite winter drink recipes! (No alcohol involved 😉 )
Some Tone it Up recipes can be a miss but, other times, I love their ingenuity. Beets in a latte? It sounds a little funky but it is totally worth trying! It’s a cozy beverage to have in the morning or filling enough to satisfy a sneaky late-night craving.
The classic hot water with lemon has its benefits but it can get a little dull. Upgrade the classic combo with this recipe that includes some yummy ginger, honey, and cloves!
If you haven’t heard of golden milk, you’ve surely been living under a rock, right? No offense but golden milk is only the best thing to ever happen to coffee-free lattes. Like, ever. I dig this recipe for Golden Milk because of the added spices. Some recipes only ask for turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger. That tastes swell but I LOVE a little cardamom or nutmeg to give a more elaborate flavor profile. Plus, dates as a sweetener? You can’t go wrong there!
Again, another basic but essential recipe for your drinks arsenal. I love the warm scents of cinnamon and baked goods and homemade cider provides a similar appealing aroma. Plus, is there anything more delicious than cider?! I think not! I’m planning to cook up a pot (maybe in a crockpot ala Half Baked Harvest ) soon!
I’m wishing you all good health this upcoming holiday season. Though, if you happen to feel the start of a cold coming on, be sure to load up on some healing tonic. This anti-inflammatory tea only takes three ingredients and it feels so soothing in the body.
Thanks for reading my list of favorite warm beverages. You may have noticed something chocolatey was missing from the list? Yeah, rest assured, I will be drinking some hot cocoa this season! I’ve been working on a sugar-free protein-packed hot cocoa recipe for you all so stay tuned. 😉
Hey friends! Who else is struggling to find consistency in their life when everything feels so up in the air? Is it just me? I’d like to blame it on the changing seasons. Each year, when fall comes around, I feel a sense of refresh and rebirth hit me. Something about the season has always caused that. Maybe it has something to do with my birthday being in the fall? Who knows? 🙂
Now, onto some favorites from this week!
Pacifica eyeliner
Just like mascara, quality eyeliner is difficult to find. I use so many Pacifica products already so I knew I could trust them for sustainable, cruelty-free ingredients. To my surprise, the eyelineris very smooth, but not oily or soft, and has great wear-time. It applies with ease and just a bit of powder around the area keeps the liner from transferring. You can find Pacifica makeup in select stores but I buy mine from iHerb! (Code: MUS0884 for 5% off!)
Lauren Gleisberg Fall Challenge
If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m trying to kick my butt into shape. I started Laruen Gleisberg’s Fall Challenge this week and boy, oh boy, does she mean business. My arms hate me as I write this. They’re so sore–in a good way! Though, the reason I like her workouts is because her workout plans target every muscle. Most workout programs will boast that same hook but Lauren splits up workouts by muscle group so every day you’re targeting a new spot. I personally find this to be extremely helpful for arm workouts in particular. You can work “arms” on back-to-back days as long as you’re targeting different muscles! Anyway, I’m following her free challenge and loving it so far!
Spiralized and “riced” vegetables
In addition to hitting my workouts harder, I am trying to ease off of the carbalicious life I’ve been living all summer. When I was having all sorts of stomach issues, soaked and soft-cooked grains were one of the foods I leaned on. Thankfully, I’m better able to digest the vegetables that I couldn’t at the time. So now, I’m trying to make meals with vegetables playing main stage. I’m looking to non-starchy veggies, breaking out my inspiralizer, and getting creative. Here is a dish I made myself earlier in the week:
A bed of mixed greens, topped with sauteed zoodles and onions, a beet and carrot “rice”, hummus, and fresh cilantro.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Back in high school, I was able to read many classic literature novels thanks to my Honors English classes. I’d say those classes really opened up my eyes to some interesting and impactful works of fiction. I’ve always been a fan of reading but usually YA fiction. Somehow, I haven’t really kept up with classic lit into adulthood but I’m glad I picked this one up.
The novel is downright eerie. It follows a young girl named Esther Greenwood as she has a sort of quarter life crisis. She feels she should be appreciative of her accomplishments but she just isn’t happy. She is frustrated with her job and the company she keeps. Her passion for writing is dwindling and her interest in life overall. The melancholic story was almost hard to read at times because, as a reader, I felt I could put myself in her shoes. I cringed at the sinister thoughts that crossed her mind but I understand them. It isn’t a feel-good read but, nonetheless, I think it is an important book to read because it portrays a very real and personal idea of what depression is like.
Daniel Caesar’s music
My taste in music is rapidly expanding this year! I never used to listen to soulful, bluesy, or rap music but look at me now! All of Daniel Caesar’s music is so, so good—check him out on Spotify! My favorite songs are Japanese Denim and basically everything from his album Freudian. I’ll include a video of a song from that album called “Hold Me Down”:
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