I have always found joy in knowing I am taking care of myself. Whether it be with the food that I eat, the music I listen to, or the people I surround myself with, I am someone who always wants to learn and grow. 

I've realized recently that many of my daily routines and the products or even people I reach for, have an underlying theme of wellness and self-care. And so, welcome to my Things I've Been Loving for April 2018...

SUN POTION. The history and power of adaptogens and Ayurvedic medicine first intrigued me in the beginning of 2017. What interested me about this practice and these herbs was the general naturalness, wholesomeness, and its wonderful reputation seeing that it has been around for so long. I've been incorporating Reishi in my daily diet, mixing in a teaspoon of the mushroom powder with my coffee or tea. One of my current goals is to fully embrace mental clarity and I like to think that that mental health can come in the form of a little scoop. 

GREEN ALGAE PILLS. Right along the lines of adaptogens are Hum Nutrition's Daily Cleanse pills. These algae green capsules are to be taken daily to support and improve overall skin health and clear the body of toxins. Even after just a few days of taking these happy pills, I noticed a difference in my skin and the way my body felt and functioned. I think it is safe to say that these little guys have been my greatest new friend of 2018. 

PAI. The rose has so many wonderful properties and powers that it should win an award. I am familiar with rose water and rosehip essential oil, but Pai's Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil has changed my whole skincare routine. Due to my skin type, I would never generally reach for an oil, but Pai's product is filled with nutrients and antioxidants that diminish the redness and hyper-pigmentation while providing enough moisture for an entire day. LOVE. 

POETRY. A couple months late (I know), but I have finally prepared some resolutions for 2018. One of the top goals I wrote for myself was to rediscover classic literature and poetry. I am on a mission to broaden my vernacular and even find the words to describe who I am. I discovered Tyler Kent White very late at night one week and I was taken back by how beautiful his work was. He has truly breathtaking pieces for a dreamer like me. 

EMBROIDERY. A recent trip to visit my grandmother left me with a fun interest in embroidery. While the work pictured here is not my own, I am hoping to work towards pieces as beautiful and as meaningful! 

HUMANS. Sometimes social media is filled with photos and people that scream that life is perfect and beautiful and fun, but sometimes that is just not the case. I have really come to appreciate people that acknowledge the bad and offer a reminder that sometimes life actually isn't okay, but that itself is in fact okay. I discovered Kath Brose on Instagram quite a bit ago, but her words have never spoken to me quite like they have this year. She is truly a friend through a screen in the way she writes. 

It's always good to set goals.

Every summer I try to chase after something new.  Summer is a time to reconnect with yourself and just relax, but relax with intention.

So, this summer I set a new goal for myself: yoga.  I've always been interested in yoga but truthfully I've never been a regular when it comes to attending classes or even practicing a bit by myself.  The only yoga-related thing I practice regularly would be meditation.  But more on that some other time.  Basically my new goal is to become a regular and embrace all the benefits and practices of yoga inside and outside the studio.

During one of my most recent classes, I learned about one proper way to breathe.  Because yes, you can breathe the wrong way. Weird right? I learned that healthy and influential breathing does not necessarily come naturally, but comes with practice and that the end results are truly remarkable.

So, here are the three steps towards a good breath.

1. Inhale into the belly.
2. Inhale into the lungs.
3. Exhale beginning in the belly.

This new "style" of breathing is my challenge to myself this week.  Hopefully, practice will indeed make perfect and I'll feel stronger and balanced with every breath.

i must admit, thanksgiving was one heck of a fail for eating well. there was almost too much good food, and man was i weak. 

this is the part that i hate. the part when i look back and think "really...why did i have to shove that in my mouth?" 

but there is no time to waste! i have bikini to get into in 3 weeks! and i am going to rock that bikini will full confidence, so lets do this!
i have put together a little one week detox for this week...wish me luck!

Eating/Drinking:

1. majority fruits and vegetables
2. non-fat salad dressings
3. drink 3 liters of water a day
4. tea instead of coffee