Hey, friends!
It’s been a hot second since I shared one of my Spotify playlists with y’all. However, because spring is finally in full force and because I’m totally digging this playlist, I figured now’s a good a time as any. It’s full of (mostly) alternative goodness and is ideal for evenings spent on the patio, sippin’ on sauvignon blanc (or whatever your warm-weather beverage of choice happens to be). I may or may not be doing so right now. ;)
I hope you enjoy it!
xoxo,
Lauren
Sadly, most household and personal care products are laden with chemicals that are known carcinogens and endocrine disrupters. Um, no thanks. If this topic is of interest to you whatsoever, I encourage you to check out EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. When I plugged my commonly used household and personal care products into these resources, I was appalled by what I found. That, my friends, is when I embarked on my journey of knowing better and doing better.
As part of that process, I’ve slowly phased out toxic products and have instead embraced products made with plant-based ingredients. Hair care products will be the last category of products to go, and I’m starting with detangler. Yep, I’m a 29 year-old chick who still uses the stuff. I’ve got lots of extremely fine hair, making for an easily tangled mess. My ends also tend to get extremely dry and frizzy, making a high-quality, conditioning detangler a must in my beauty routine.
Perhaps not surprisingly, I ended up creating my own. There’s something incredibly empowering about knowing exactly which ingredients go into something that I use almost daily. Of course, I included a variety of essential oils in my DIY concoction. After engaging in some research, I decided on the following: Sandalwood to lock in moisture, Ylang Ylang to combat static and frizz, and Clary Sage to add shine. Aside from serving as effective ingredients for a conditioning detangler, these essential oils smell fan-freaking-tastic together. Possibly the best part about this project is that I was able to throw it together in less than five minutes.
What you’ll need:
What you’ll do:
My grad school spring break was in the beginning of March, and I was determined to embark on a new adventure during my time off. Because I felt in need of a getaway, yet wanted to keep the cost down, my mom and I sought out drivable escapes. She brought up the idea of Kripalu, and I was immediately sold. My mom experienced Kripalu about 10 years ago and has always raved about her time there. However, because I’ve more recently gotten into yoga and the mind-body-soul wellness that comes along with it, this was my first time. And, certainly not my last.
If I could use only one word to describe my short, but sweet time at Kripalu, it would be “magical.” However, for the sake of this blog post, I’m happy to dive much deeper. For starters, the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is located in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. The main building is surrounded by over 100 acres of land and is situated on a hilltop that overlooks Lake Mahkeenac.
Leaving from Philadelphia, it took us about four hours to get there. Being that Kripalu is located in Massachusetts, I was expecting a much longer journey. However, it turns out that it is located just above the New York border. The latter portion of our drive was exquisite, as this region was still experiencing the Nor’easter that had hit Philadelphia earlier that week. It was both scenic and serene, as the backcountry roads that led us to Kripalu were surrounded by bountiful, fluffy snow. In fact, the snow continued through Saturday, making us feel like we were inside one of the most magnificent snow globes to ever exist. ;)
Before we arrived, we agreed to leave our phones in the car. At that point, I’d recognized that the last time I was without a phone for an extended period of time was during a life-changing trip to Costa Rica in 2012 – almost five years prior! Yikes. Well, can I tell you how liberating it was to ditch my phone for a weekend?! Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, or loading up my Amazon shopping cart with “necessities,” I engaged in soul-nourishing activities. I definitely plan on incorporating technology detoxes into my life more often.
Once we checked in, we began our weekend in the best way possible! We headed to Kripalu’s Healing Arts Center to indulge in the following services: Deep Pressure Meditative Massage, Dr. Hauschka Classic Facial, and Energy Balancing. Because Kripalu incorporates Ayurvedic principles into everything that it does, the services were arguably the best and most unique spa services that I have ever received. Each treatment was better than the next, and we left feeling like we were floating in the clouds.
Although I was unsure about what to expect from the Energy Balancing portion of our afternoon, I’m so happy I gave it a try. The energy therapist that I worked with had an incredible vitality to her, and it was truly contagious! The session involved both chakra work and affirmations, which are right up my alley. I engaged in a pretty intense journaling session after my experience, as I was blown away by the blocks that were uncovered and the auras that were visualized in just one session. Because I understand that these topics are a little too “woo-woo” for most, I won’t go into too much detail here. However, if you are interested in hearing more about my experience, I’m happy to share it with you!
After our time at the Healing Arts Center, we dove headfirst into the weekend. However, before I explain our weekend in detail, I’d like to shed light on the three different ways that Kripalu can be experienced: 1) participate in a program, 2) engage in an R&R retreat, or 3) attend a teacher training. Although Kripalu is known to host presenters that are world-renowned in the wellness world, the programs taking place during the weekend that we visited simply didn’t speak to us. And, because programs and healing arts services are add-ons, we opted for the latter. Further, while I’d love to participate in one of Kripalu’s teacher trainings in the future, my journey hasn’t led me there just yet.
With all of that being said, I’m sure it comes to no surprise that we decided to engage in an R&R retreat. Accommodations, meals, use of amenities, and participation in a variety of workshops, yoga classes, and outdoor activities are included. The beauty of the R&R experience is that you are encouraged to participate in as little or as much as you’d like; it is all about customizing it to be an experience that is uniquely yours. Want a sneak peak into what my weekend looked like? See below for a brief synopsis.
Friday, March 9th, 2018
Saturday, March 10th, 2018
Sunday, March 11th, 2018
Say no unless it’s a resounding HELL YES! That was my motto for the weekend. As such, I skipped workshops, yoga classes, and outdoor activities that didn’t excite me. During those time periods, I journaled, read, took photos, walked around the property, cat-napped, and moseyed around The Kripalu Shop. Although I’m so grateful for everything that I experienced during my weekend at Kripalu, there are three experiences that I cannot recommend enough: 1) Journaling, 2) Divine Sleep Yoga Nidra with Jennifer Reis, and 3) Vinyasa Yoga with Michael Peterson.
As a side note, I’d like to mention that, while snapping photos was an enjoyable part of my experience, every photo taken was of the scenery surrounding the property. And, because the walkways were limited due to the snow, I have few photos to share with you guys. Taking photos inside the main building didn’t feel right, as everyone at the retreat does a tremendous job of respecting each others’ desire to just… be. Fun fact: Luann and Sonja from the Real Housewives of New York were at the retreat with us, and even they were left alone so that they could unwind.
Of course, being the food-obsessed gal that I am, I would be doing everyone who reads this post a disservice by not mentioning The Kripalu Kitchen‘s unbelievable food! With an emphasis on local, seasonal, and primarily plant-based ingredients, it was nourishing, yet so flavorful. I particularly loved that breakfast was eaten in silence, as it allowed for mindful eating and time to reflect before we took on each day. Notably, it was here that I first began to wrap my head around Ayurvedic principles regarding how one should eat according to his or her dosha. In fact, I was so taken by this concept that I have since taken a crash course on Ayurveda at a local yoga studio.
Want to give their incredible house dressing a whirl? The recipe can be found here.
Admittedly, I’m already itching for my next Kripalu visit. Because we experienced it in all of its winter glory, I’d absolutely love to see what it’s like during the summer months. Hiking its beautiful trails, especially the Meditation Garden, and participating in outdoor yoga are what I look forward to the most! Oh, and remember those world-renowned presenters that I mentioned? There are some pretty badass babes presenting at Kripalu this summer! Ruby Warrington (author of Material Girl, Mystical World) and Gabrielle Bernstein (author of The Universe Has Your Back) are two of them. Decisions, decisions…
Lastly, if you’re thinking of heading to Kripalu in the near future, here’s a packing guide comprised of items that I consider must-haves:
Have you ever visited Kripalu or participated in a similar retreat? If so, please leave a comment and share about your experience!
This marks the third year that I have prepared for allergy season by ingesting small amounts of bee pollen leading up to spring. My absolute favorite ways to consume it are in smoothies or sprinkled atop granola and almond milk. Since incorporating this practice into my life, I am thrilled to say that I no longer suffer from seasonal allergies. As someone who does not like to be dependent on medication, I’m forever grateful for this natural remedy!
Bee pollen, deemed a superfood and potent antioxidant, is packed with vitamins, minerals, and all nine essential amino acids. To wrap your head around its effectiveness in relation to relieving seasonal allergies, think of it like a vaccine. By ingesting small amounts of bee pollen at a time, the allergens within it trigger the body to produce antibodies. Over time, these antibodies help the body build resistance to flower and tree pollen, thereby limiting or eradicating allergy symptoms.
Because pollen is so specific to the flowers and trees in a given region, purchasing local bee pollen is key. If you are located in the Philadelphia area, Swarmbustin’ Honey is an excellent option. They offer two varieties depending on the time of year: light, spring-harvested bee pollen and dark, summer- and fall-harvested bee pollen. Although I’m sure this goes without saying, if you allergic to bees in any way, shape or form, it’s probably best to stay away from it.
Do you have personal experience with bee pollen? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Today, I took on the daunting task of sorting through thousands of photos and videos. Deciding which to keep and which to toss was arguably the most time-consuming, emotionally-draining aspect of the whole endeavor, but the mere act of backing everything up takes time as well. Although I had been dreading this task for months, it swiftly morphed into a lesson of extreme gratitude. The highlight reel of my life quickly reminded why we collect memorabilia in the first place.
On a day-to-day basis, I find it so incredibly easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Most of the time, I can’t help but feel like I’m simply going though the motions. However, after sifting through what felt like an endless collection of photo and video footage, an overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over me. My heart felt like it was about burst. I mean, seriously, how lucky am I to have lived so much life in my short 29 years? Better yet, how lucky am I to have done so with such incredible people by my side? The best part of all is that I’m just getting started.
In the midst of re-living so many precious memories, I came across a group of photos that I had intended on sharing but ended up completely forgetting about. They were taken at Longwood Gardens on Mother’s Day of last year. I figured, better late than never, I’d share them with you guys. If Longwood Gardens is accessible to you and you have never been, do yourself a favor and visit its beautiful grounds this spring. If not, please enjoy some of my favorites from the day.
