Finding Joy in Community

They say comparison is the thief of joy. I say community is joy’s benefactor.

Today is International Women’s Day; around the world, we women gather, celebrate our shared virtues and lift each other up. But what about the other 365 days of the year?

If I had a dollar for every woman who has confessed that they struggle with the ‘comparison game’ (especially on Instagram), I’d be able to fully fund my coffee habit and probably my houseplant habit, too. Think of how good my Instagram would look then. 😏

What’s a gal to do when you’re in between “omg so happy for you!” and the unvoiced, pestering but why not me? 

You find your community.

Where a dining room table becomes a shared, sacred space. When the ones you have on speed dial dispense their wisdom from 5,000 miles away or just the next neighborhood over. When the hardships you face fuel your bonds with one another, to be seen and known without judgment.

Because you commune, you push each other forward, you create a space full of spark and sanctity.

A space that acknowledges your why not me? is normal to feel, and reminds you of all that you are.

Being a woman is hard, and beautiful, and poetic, and magical — much like being a human. Coincidence? Nah.

p.s. — I made this lil free phone background! You can download here or save it to Pinterest.

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Meet the Mocktail That's Good for Your Health

Though we’ve made it through January and February, the sad reality is that winter’s not leaving us quite yet. (You have no idea how mopey I am about this fact).



But here’s a silver lining: You can fight the good "cold-and-flu-season fight" with this mocktail that tastes good AND helps your health. It's like an Emergen-C you can make at home and feel oh so #fancy. I promise ya, while you’re nursing a stuffy nose and using up your last box of Kleenex, this drink will become the cold remedy you look forward to.

Why's this mocktail the perfect addition to your health routine? It's the secret ingredient — elderberry! Elderberry is a naturally occurring immune system boost; it’s a great way to fight off a cold, even better when used at the first signs of sickness. Honey, especially organic, local honey, is known to reduce coughing and sweetens up the tart elderberry. Once you add a bit of mint, you’re practically on the way to a beach vacation — or at the very least a Bachelor binge, let’s be real.

Ingredients
- Elderberry syrup
- Local honey
- Berry LaCroix
- Fresh mint leaves (optional)


Directions
1. Dispense 2 tablespoons elderberry syrup and 4 tsp local honey in a small bowl. Use a small whisk to combine the two.
2. Add the honey and elderberry mixture to a can of Berry LaCroix or your favorite sparkling water.
3. Garnish with fresh mint, and kick the cold in style

p.s. if you're into Lacroix mocktails and aren't sick, try out my recipe for a Cara Cara Orange Mocktail or the Cran-Raspberry Lacroix Punch. Happy staying healthy!

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My 2019 Goals

Well, it's the 10th and I'm just now getting around to sharing some of my 2019 goals, but hey — every day is a chance for a fresh start, right?!

I love the opportunity that presents itself during the New Year season to celebrate the past and set high hopes for the future. This year, more than any singular BIG goal, I'm hoping to focus my energy on smaller lifestyle habits that I hopefully will adopt for the long haul. I read The Power of Habit last year, and I've become convinced that all BIG goals are achieved by pursuing small, attainable actions.

So, here are some of my (hopefully!) attainable action steps for 2019:

Make time for breakfast
I'm the type of person who genuinely forgets about breakfast a lot. (Unless it's a weekend and "breakfast" means "brunch" — in which case, I never forget). But during the week, I tend to get ready for the day and then just... start working. Sometimes I have a latte for "breakfast" and sometimes I don't eat at all until later in the afternoon. Breakfast sounds like a peaceful meal if I'd make time for it, so I think I'll try that this year.

Try four new recipes each month
I love learning more about food, and the CSA Austin and I joined last year was so good for us. This year, I want to expand on the types of food we make at home. There's nothing wrong with having good standby meals, but I really enjoy following creative recipes and experiencing new flavors together. So, more of that in 2019!

Make $$$ in a garage sale/Insta sale/DePop sale?
Purging some unwanted items has been on my goal list for a while, but I haven't been prioritizing it. When I have free time with opportunities to purge, I tend to decide that time is more worthwhile spent having coffee with a friend or running errands. Maybe this is the year I actually take Marie Kondo's advice rather than just bingeing her show on Netflix. 😆

Less screen time/more time for what matters
A funny fact about me: I am kiiiiinda behind in iPhone technology. By that I mean, I have a 6S that I got a couple years ago, and I haven't updated it for fear the operating system will freak out on me. (It's happened before). I'm planning to upgrade my phone soon and take full advantage of the screen time controls.

In addition to that, Austin and I are aiming to instill "no media Monday" at home this year. Instead of being on our phones or watching TV, the plan is to do literally anything else — go on a date, have a dance party, clean the house, read a book...  You get it! This is the goal I'm most excited about and that I think will make the biggest impact. I'm excited to see how this unfolds!

Do you have any goals for 2019? I'd love to hear 'em. 💕

P.S. Outfit details! I'm obsessed with Everlane right now, so... here ya go: Sweater // Pants // Hat (this is the same one in beige, but I got mine locally from The Market)

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