36 Things: A SimpleSavvy Hodgepodge

As I celebrate my 36th birthday this week, I thought I’d use this opportunity to create a list, of sorts, that includes a few things:

• A little bit more about me

• Some tried-and-true #simplesavvy tips (to date)

• A few of my (current) favorite things.

It’s a hodgepodge of stuff, really. Just like your mid-30s…a real hodgepodge.

1. I constantly wear sunglasses…on my head, like a headband to hold my hair back. It’s ridiculous, honestly, and now my daughter has started to imitate this.

2. I think I may have learned more from podcasts over the last few years than I learned my entire time in college. Lately, I’ve been sharing my favorite podcast episode of the week on my facebook page - come check it out!

3. I have naturally dark brown hair that I simply can NOT embrace. Give me all the blonde highlights, forever!

4. If I had to choose one thing to give up: coffee, dark chocolate or tortilla chips, for the rest of my life, let’s just say, it would be a painstaking decision.

5. I hate accumulating things. When it doubt, throw that ish out!

6. Keeping my home clean and well-organized is a constant source of stress for me. When things are messy, I’m distracted and it makes me anxious, but I can also get really resentful about how much time household “duties” require of me on a weekly basis.

7. I’m naturally curious and I ask lots of questions. This is what makes me a good coach and I hope what will ultimately propel me to podcast host stardom ;)

8. Drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day is a game charger in terms of your health. It might take a while to make this a habit, but it’s worth the effort (and the time you’ll spend in the bathroom).

9. Don’t overcomplicate exercise. If you have classes or activities you love, try to do those as often as possible. The rest of time: walk, take the stairs. do jumping jacks, lift some weights. Focus on quick, frequent bursts of activity throughout the day. No human being was meant to sit for 8 hours.

10. Don’t buy bananas at convenient stores or coffee shops. They’re 5 times the price of a normal grocery store. It’s highway banana robbery!

11. I am an introvert who can, at times, be very extroverted, but I really like my alone time.

12. I met my husband, through a friend, at a bar. A few run-ins on the metro and a year later, we went on our first date.

13. Get in the habit of reading the ingredients in your food and products. Not sure what something is — look it up! Decide if you want to purchase it again or not. We are lucky enough to live in a time of infinite choices. We can choose better.

14. Healthy eating got you down? Think of your plate similar to your favorite black dress. What fabulous accessories (veggies!) can you add to spice things up?

15. Less scrolling and more strolling (preferably with your spouse, your dog or a friend).

16. These are my current skincare must-haves: AM - Countermatch Intense Moisture Serum, Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion, Countermatch Eye Rescue Cream; PM - Overnight Resurfacing Peel and either No. 3 Balancing Facial Oil or Cleansing Balm, as an overnight moisturizer.

17. We don’t have any pets, but we spend 30 mins every day with Daniel Tiger. If you’re a parent of a toddler and you need a few minutes to yourself, turn on PBS, slowly back out of the room and do #ALLTHETHINGS.

18. Most nights, I drink Yogi Honey Lavender tea. It’s been my go-to for years.

19. I think about food a lot. I think about what to feed my family a lot. Food is very important to me and takes up a lot of brain space, it seems; however, I’m not fond of cooking. I am a very proud “assembler” of meals.

20. Contrary to what others might think, I really don’t like shopping and I hate malls. I get overwhelmed by all the options. I would much rather find something very specific I want and order it online.

21. My No. 1 requirement for my dream home is walkability. If I can walk to a coffee shop, a yoga studio and a great restaurant or wine bar, I would never, ever move. Oh, and major bonus points if this location never gets above 78 degrees :)

22. Effective multitasking is a myth, but multi-MASKING, is a must. You CAN achieve clearer pores while watching TV, emptying the dishwasher or doing some stretches. All from the comfort of your own home. Follow it up with this super affordable, clean face scrub (yes, I use a few things besides Beautycounter) and No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil (with Vitamin C) and you will honestly feel and look like you’ve had a facial!

23. I really love fall but I’m not into any of the “pumpkin spice” hype.

24. I want to start or be part of a walking club. My entire childhood, all I did was walk places with my gfs. Now as an adult I can recognize both the mental and physical benefits of this. Who’s interested?!

25. I rarely sit down. This causes a lot of anxiety for my husband, especially when he’s sitting.

26. Let’s talk smoothies. Have you heard of Kelly LeVeques Fab 4 Smoothie recipes? The concept is this: Basically we put way too much fruit in our smoothies, people! This causes our blood sugar to spike and crash (used to happen to me all the time) and instead we need to ensure our smoothies contain the Fab 4: protein, fat, fiber and greens. Now that I invested in a quality protein powder and I’m careful to use only 1/4 a cup of fruit - game changer! I can actually drink a smoothie in the morning and it keeps me full until lunch.

27. I completed my health coaching certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in 2013. In 2016, I completed a 60 hour professional coach training program and in January of 2018, I completed my 100 + hours of coaching clients and obtained my ICF (International Coach Federation) accreditation. Interested in learning about any of this training or working with a coach? Let’s chat!

28. Odd as it sounds, Amy Poehler’s Yes Please is one of my favorite books of the last 5 years.

29. When I first moved to DC, I took Improv classes and performed in an Improv show

30. Although I’m a really slow reader, I love to read and I often feel overwhelmed by all the books I want to be reading.

31. I believe there’s a lot of benefit in writing things down. If you want to eat better, start keeping a food journal. If you want to better utilize your time, track how you’re spending it first. If you want to have a more positive outlook, write down things your grateful for everyday. Seriously, write things down, with a pen! We’re all forgetting how to write. Lately, do you ever kinda struggle with signing your name? (I know! It’s terrifying)

32. The average woman uses 12 products every day. Many of those products include ingredients that have never been tested for human safety. I joined Beautycounter because I believe women shouldn’t have to compromise their health in the name of beauty. AND because sharing about things I use and love comes pretty naturally — who doesn’t want a good recommendation?!

33. I can’t believe I’m not at 36 things yet so I’ll just say, I love Trader Joe’s (where the bananas are always 19 cents)!

34. I adore my emerald green SJP shoes I wore on my wedding day (and to many weddings after that). Probably one of the most comfortable pair of heels I’ve ever owned (I realize pointing out this pragmatic detail seals my fate as “a Miranda”)

35. Sometimes being mindful is as simple as looking up from our devices and looking around. Noticing.

36. A little savasana never hurt anyone. If all else fails, lay on the floor for 5 mins. It won’t hurt anything and will probably help.

There we have it. More difficult than I had expected, but hopefully you found something useful and/OR entertaining.

Have you thought about your legacy socks?

This past spring, we lost former First Lady, Barbara Bush. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family honored her in many sweet ways, but the one that stood out to me the most was the photo of her husband's, former President George H.W. Bush, socks during the funeral.  

Did you notice?

Bush, who is known for wearing bold, bright patterned socks, rocked a pair featuring stacks of colorful books. The socks are meant to honor Barbara's passion and her main focus during their time in the White House: literacy. This passion was further fueled by her son's struggle with dyslexia (source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/23/politics/bush-socks-trnd/index.html).  

I mean, so cute! Right?

And it got me thinking (and, of course, asking my husband), if it was the end of my life and you were going to sport socks to honor my legacy, what would they highlight?

A couple responses included:

• Avocado toast
• Vegetables
• The podcast app icon
• A vacuum (Seriously?)
• A ("clean") lipstick

I'm not exactly sure any of the suggestions (ESPECIALLY the vacuum!) truly sum up my life's work and my passions but it's definitely a start...

Because, together, they tell a story. I'm passionate about supporting women and helping them uncover smart, casual approaches to healthy living. Whether that's the food they eat, the products they use or how they navigate their transition back to work after maternity leave, I believe that unless we start feeling less stressed and more energized, we can never fully show up to do the work we're suppose to do in the world.

I want my legacy socks to reflect my #simplesavvy efforts in helping you achieve YOUR legacy socks!

Does that help shed a light on this whole coaching thing and how it might be beneficial for us to work together? I hope so. And if you would like to discuss in greater detail, let's chat.   

Don't throw the mascara out with the bath water!

When a component of your business includes education and sales for a progressive beauty company with a mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone, the women in your life MAY avoid chatting with you because they're afraid you're going to tell them EVERYTHING is harmful. Most often, women are afraid to hear this information because, in addition to being totally freaked out, they'll have to spend lots of time and money to find replacements for their favorite products, which, by the way, they are already convinced, will NEVER work as well as the ones you just "ruined for them!"     

And if it sounds like I'm speaking from experience, well, I am.

And I'm here to tell you, ladies, I come in rose-colored and rejuvenating peace.

So here's the deal: If you're interested in cleaning up your beauty routine, you don't need to throw the mascara out with the bath water and start from scratch.  

Here are a few #simplesavvy tips to help get you started:

1. First consider what do you wear most often?  If you're only wearing lipstick or eye shadow on a rare occasion, don't sweat it. Will you eventually want to choose safer products down the line when you go to replace those? Sure.  But if you're just starting out, forgetaboutit!

2. Our skin is our largest organ so what we put on it gets absorbed. Think about those products you use regularly that are getting absorbed into your skin. Whether that's a moisturizer (face and body), a foundation or bb cream, or an under-eye cream, etc, these are the types of products you want to give some attention to and consider replacing from the start with safer, high performing options. With limited funds, I would always advise a client to invest in a better moisturizer over face wash, for instance, because although you may be using that face wash on a regular basis, you're washing it off.  Prioritize replacing products that are getting absorbed.  

3. Avoid synthetic fragrance (like. the. plague ;) and choose products that use essential oils instead. Synthetic fragrances are often a blend of various chemical compounds, many of which are common allergens or have links to hormone disruption. In addition, most fragrance formulations are considered a trade secret so companies aren't required to disclose the list of ingredients -- so the formulation could contain three (3) chemicals or it could contain 20, who knows?!  And THAT, is cause for real concern.  

4. And finally, much like my philosophy around food, it's all about quality over quantity. Consider your overall skin care regime. What are your must-haves? And same goes for make-up, are there certain items, you can't live without? (HELLO! mascara & eye brow pencil! No? Just me?) Consider the long-game here. When you are running low on one of these items, reach out to your friendly, knoweldgeable Beautycounter consultant to request samples and/or set up a time to discuss your needs/concerns. By the nature of slowly replacing your products, over time, and prioritizing safety, your skin will begin to take notice. Perhaps in a few months, the amount of products you *thought* you needed will significantly decrease and make-up free Mondays won't seem so scary anymore ;)

And there you have it, a few #simplesavvy tips to jump start "spring cleaning" beauty routine.