Life/Personal Things
The great shampoo bar showdown: For the past couple weeks, I’ve been testing shampoo and conditioner bars from various companies, including ones that I’ve had for a while. With the results I’m getting so far, it’s safe to say that I’ll never go back to plastic bottles! After I’ve tested each brand for a while, I’ll do a full write-up with my thoughts, or maybe even a tournament bracket, March Madness style!
Granny Clampett Inspiration: Homemade shampoo and conditioner bars, because of course I would! As I was researching different brands, I came across a YouTube video showing how to make them, and it looked really simple. I’ve DIYed just about anything you could think of, so you know I’ll probably try it at some point. :)
I haven’t given in to my DIY impulse yet because I can’t find some equipment that I thought I had. I did a ruthless purge before we moved a couple years ago, so it’s highly possible that those things are either long gone or buried in a box somewhere. If it is truly gone, I don’t want to re-buy a bunch of stuff, possibly lose interest later, and let it collect dust or eventually donate it again. It’s quite the conundrum!
Self-care moment: Over the last several months, one thing I’ve been focusing on is gradually cutting back on drinking alcohol. During the pandemic and in some of the celebratory months after things started to open up, I noticed that my consumption was more than I wanted it to be. During the pandemic, it was a coping mechanism to numb the stress. After that, it was celebratory, or even habitual, like pouring a glass of wine just because it’s Friday. Then I started drawing the connection between drinking and poor sleep, acne, and anxious thought loops. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy wine and cocktails, and right now I don’t intend to quit entirely. My goal is to be more mindful and present overall, including in my drinking behavior.
What I drink when I’m not drinking: One thing that has helped me cut back is finding alternatives for when I want to enjoy the ritual of drinking something fun other than sparkling water or herbal tea. Here are some of my favorites:
~Ghia: Their non-alcoholic aperitif concentrate with no added sugar is refreshing and citrusy with a hint of bitterness, and super fun for making mocktails. We also love their pre-mixed Ghia spritzes in cans.
~De Soi: This line of sparkling non-alcoholic aperitifs are low in sugar and come in large bottles or single serving cans. They’re infused with fruit, herbs, and adaptogens, and there’s a flavor for every mood.
~ISH Spritz: I was skeptical, but this is a dead ringer for an Aperol spritz. You’d never know it was alcohol free! Seriously. Trust. They also offer their version of a gin and tonic, lime daiquiri, and mojito.
~Homemade shrub syrup: Shrub syrups are traditionally made with a mix of fresh fruit, sugar, and vinegar and either mixed in cocktails or sparkling water for a refreshing mocktail. I made a blueberry lemon ginger shrub a few years ago, and it was delicious! I’m thinking of trying a new variation soon.
~My favorite store-bought mocktail mixers: Pineapple juice, coconut water, tart cherry juice, lemon or lime juice, sparkling water, tonic water, ginger beer. Honestly, you can take any one of these things that you have on hand and make something fun. I like a balance of sweet, sour, and bubbles. Pineapple juice, tart cherry juice, a bit of lime, and sparkling water is a delight.Current YouTube Faves:
~Future Proof and Future Proof Health: These explainer channels remind me of Adam Ruins Everything, but in short, easy-to-digest segments. They’re informative and entertaining, even though they spoil something every time.
~Humblebee & Me: I’ve been following Marie Rayma’s blog for years for her DIY recipes, so I was thrilled to find her YouTube channel. She’s full of wisdom on product formulation, ingredients, and more.Watching: Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix. Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, travels the world in search of the best food. I know you’ve seen shows like this before, but Phil is freaking hilarious, which makes it even better than the rest. His happy dance when he eats something delicious is just…amazing. Pure joy. If you need something happy to watch, this is your show.
I’m finishing up Melissa Urban’s The Book of Boundaries, and I just wanted to say that I highly recommend it, even though I haven’t finished it yet. If you’re a recovering people pleaser like me, this is a must-read to set clear, kind boundaries, which will protect your mental health, improve your communication skills, and promote healthier relationships. I’m currently working through one of the last chapters on Self Boundaries, which is really juicy
One thing referenced in the Self Boundaries chapter is Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework, which categorizes people based on how they respond to inner expectations (like a New Year’s resolution or new workout routine) and outer expectations (like a work deadline or a request from a friend or family member). This and the Enneagram are my favorite frameworks to use in team building to better understand my coworkers and establish team dynamics. Here’s a brief overview of all the types for anyone who isn’t familiar:
~Upholder: Responds well to both inner and outer expectations. If you ask them to do something, or they decide that they want to do something, they generally have no problem sticking to it. They may need help with prioritizing what’s important so they don’t get overwhelmed.
~Obliger: Readily responds to outer expectations, but struggle with inner expectations. For inner expectations, it’s helpful for them to enlist an accountability partner or some form of external motivation.
~Questioner: They meet only expectations that make sense to them, which means they make everything an inner expectation. If you ask them to do something, don’t be surprised if you’re met with a barrage of questions as they gather the information they need.
~Rebel: Struggle to meet both inner and outer expectations. When they feel like they “have” to do something, they resist it. They benefit from having information, consequences, and the freedom to make their choice.
You can take the quiz to find out your dominant tendency, and I highly recommend reading the book that goes more in depth.Given all the research I do, I’m sure it doesn’t surprise you that I’m a Questioner. :) If you know your tendency, let me know in the comments!
Tarot/SpiritualityTarot/oracle decks I’m using: Tarot de Carlotydes, Pixie Pop Tarot, There Are No Coincidences (TANC) manifestation deck
Psychic Senses: For anyone familiar with intuition or psychic work, you may have heard of psychic senses, or the “clairs,” which is how you receive intuitive messages. The main ones you typically hear about are clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairaudience (clear hearing), claircognizance (clear knowing), clairsentience (clear feeling), clairalience (clear smelling), and clairgustance (clear tasting). If you’ve worked with intuitive development, I’d be curious to know what your dominant “clair” is, if you know it. Which leads me to my next point…
Atypical Intuition: It took me a while to realize that my intuition doesn’t come through in the way that you would think. I assumed that I was claircognizant, because sometimes I would just “know” things, but I never saw visuals or heard anything. Now I know that my intuition often comes through in subtle or abstract ways. As a Generator in Human Design, I respond to things in my environment that light me up and follow threads that feel significant or interesting. I see angel numbers and animals everywhere, and I have a vivid imagination. I don’t physically “hear” anything with my clairaudience; instead, random words or phrases pop into my head in my inner voice. For clairsentience, I get chills or a lump in my throat, or I feel someone struggling even if they say they’re fine. Once I embraced this, I started to notice and trust it more. No matter how it comes through, it’s nice to have these little winks from GUS (God/Universe/Spirit) as I move through my day. Let me know if you experience this, too, or if this brings up something that you never noticed or thought of before.