Heartwarming Sentimental Gifts…

I’m finally secure enough to say that I think my love language is, in fact, a gift. I used to think that only extremely materialistic people chose that as their Number One, but it finally clicked for me. Why do I love gifts so much? Well, it’s not so much that I love the THING I’m getting, but I love when the gift shows that someone GETS me. Someone has paid close attention to my interests. Someone saw something and immediately thought of me. Or, the gift has a deeper meaning. Bonus points if the gift captures a memory of us together somehow. I’m a softy through and through, so if it strikes an emotional chord, that’s a huge win.

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Well, if you know someone like that, you’re in the right place. These are some gift ideas for the sentimentalist in your life.

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1. Custom Floral Book Embosser

2. A beautiful frame (Option 1) (Option 2)– Print a picture of your favorite memory together.


3. Customized Foil Map Art Print Option 1 or Option 2 (some ideas: pick their favorite city, the place where you first met, or your first home together)

4. Custom LED music plaque (with QR code to scan & play) Option 1 or Option 2

5. Night Light Custom Star Map (you can pick a specific meaningful date and time)

6. Have a board game you love to play together? Find a really luxe version of it! – Scrabble & Monopoly at Anthropologie.

7. Is there a recipe that’s passed down in your family? Check out this Custom Engraved Cutting Cheese Board or Handwritten Recipe Cutting Board

8. A Year of Connection Card & Journal Set – Think of this as the gift that keeps on giving: Each week in the year ahead, they’ll be encouraged to send a card to someone in their life and then reflect on how it made them feel.

9. A Portable Photo Printer – for the one who loves to capture the moment

MAKING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR MENSTRUAL PHASE

Today, I want to share with you 5 ways you can make the best out of your menstrual phase. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you concrete tips to guide you through your menstrual journey. Specifically, during your menstruation and luteal phase as both can be emotionally overwhelming, tiring, and uncomfortable. You also might experience PMS symptoms during those phases which make us go through a festival of emotions. Menstruation is not fun and I want to share with you how you can make the best out of it!

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Physical activities 🧘‍♀️

The first way you can make the best out of your menstrual phase is through physical activity. By that, I don’t necessarily mean an intense cardio workout, I mean more a physical activity like walking or yoga. Body movement is a wonderful way to soothe premenstrual symptoms. It notably improves blood circulation, regulates your mood, and calms painful cramps. Plus, I always feel like shit and bloated during my periods, and body movement helps with that.

Taking time off 🍸!

In general, your menstruation phase calls for relaxation. It’s the moment your body asks for you to take it slow and rest. So, a second way you can make the best out of your menstrual phase is by taking some time off. I take my menstruation phase as an opportunity to rewind and make time for myself. It’s my self-care moment of the month. This is when I usually paint or read a book on my very comfortable couch. It’s not the best time for me to socialize or go partying, but I love having solo dates and just chilling at coffee places!

Hot infusions 🫖

The third way you can make the best out of your menstruation is through tea! Herbal infusions are another way you can relieve emotional and physical PMS symptoms. Here are some of my recommendations:

🌼Chamomile to relieve cramps and reduce stress

🌱Raspberry leaves to soothe cramps

🌸Valerian to relieve cramps, soothe anxiety and help with sleep

🤍Ginger to relieve back and stomach pain and soothe digestion

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Food during your menstrual phase🥑

A healthy diet is an important aspect of everyone’s life and for each phase of our cycle. Some of the general rules you can follow are to try to favor fruits, legumes, and vegetables, keep yourself hydrated, avoid eating transformed food in big quantities, and eat diverse sources of proteins. During your menstrual and luteal phase, you can opt for food rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin E such as bananas, sweet potatoes, raw spinach, or dried tomatoes. During that phase, I love to eat warm food that feels comforting and that doesn’t make me feel bloated. I’ve also read that caffeine can make your cramps worse, it’s something I’ve also noticed, so opt for herbal tea instead which has a lot of benefits.

S*xu*l activities 🍑

Finally, one way you can make the best way out of your menstrual phase is through sexual activity. This is definitely personal and more of a preference, but I find that it’s a great way to soothe cramps, strengthen your relationship with yourself and your partner, and just feel good in general. This is of course something you should talk to your partner about ahead, keep an open mind and set boundaries if needed. You can also find comfortable ways to do it, like putting a towel on the bed or doing it in the shower. It’s really up to you and your partner!

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That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed reading this post today and I will see you on my next blog post 🤍!

HOW TO RECHARGE WHEN YOU FEEL DRAINED

Today, I am sharing with you how to recharge when you feel drained, after a long day at work or school. I am all about staying productive and working hard to achieve one’s goals. But, I am solely against tiring yourself out to a point where you can’t function or even enjoy life.

So, in this post, I want to share with you how you can recharge your mind and body when you feel tired and drained.

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Engage your senses 👂

The first way you can recharge your mind and body is by engaging your senses, in a way that makes you more aware of your surroundings and that allows you to be more present. What we see, feel, hear, touch or taste can also affect our mood for the better. You can choose to light a scented candle, turn on the tv to listen to some ambient music and relax on your couch.

Take a break from technology 📱

The second way to recharge is to take a break from technology. Social media can specifically feel emotionally draining and can take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. So, taking a break from your phone can help you unwind and free your mind from overwhelming media presence. During that time, you can engage in a relaxing and fun activity and this brings me to my next point.

Engage in a relaxing activity 💆‍♀️

Engaging in a relaxing and fun activity that you enjoy can help you recharge your mind and body. Hobbies have been shown to reduce stress levels, enhance work performance, increase happiness, and improve sleep patterns. It’s also another wonderful way to practice mindfulness daily.

Take a warm shower or bath 🧖‍♀️

Another way to unwind after a hard day is to take a warm shower or bath. Taking a warm shower allows you to get rid of any negative energy you might have accumulated during the day and also, to relax your muscles and ease the tension. To enhance my bath experience, I love to light scented candles and put on some music. That way, I engage my senses while relaxing in my bathtub.

Meditate 🧘

The fifth way to recharge your mind and body is to meditate. Meditation is a perfect way to practice mindfulness. It allows you to be more present and grounded but also helps manage your stress. It’s an ideal method to clean your mind of unwanted thoughts and rebalance your energy. I know meditation can be tricky, especially for beginners but let me give you some tips.

First, start meditating for 5 minutes or less. With time, you’ll be able to meditate for longer. Second, the point of meditation is not to not think at all but instead, to focus your mind. While meditating, I love to practice visualization and I usually like to put myself in my happy place. I also transform my thoughts into clouds and imagine they slowly shift away while I look at them pass by. This is a wonderful way to calm my mind and relax my body.

Sleep Early 🌙

The last way to recharge when you feel drained is quite simple and that is to sleep early. Most of the time after work I am too lazy to do anything productive so, I always choose to sleep early and wake up at sunrise to tackle the next day in full force..(okay not that early but you get the point). Sleeping is also the one biological way your body can recharge and rest!

How To Recharge When You Feel Drained

In today’s fast-paced world, life can feel pretty draining and tiring but there are some simple exercises you can do daily to recharge your energy and unwind after work. I hope you find this post helpful and I will see you next time🤍!

Why Are People Taking a Shot of Olive Oil in the Morning, and Should I?

Every year, there always seems to be a wellness trend that takes the world by storm (CBD and gua sha have entered the chat), and this year, it seems to be taking a shot of olive oil in the morning. If your TikTok algorithm is anything like mine, you might land on videos with juice recipes for blemish diys, makeup tutorials, wellness recipes, and Amazon Must Haves. But when I started to see more and more videos on #guthealthtok of people taking a shot of extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice in the morning, I had to see what the craze was all about. Read on for my deep dive into the fad taking TikTok by storm and whether or not a shot of olive oil and lemon juice should be added to your morning routine.

@yourkoreanunni

happy skin + gut = try it for a week 😮‍💨 #skincare #health #guthealth

♬ original sound – AMAHREE
@yourkoreanunni

My wellness routine! What works for me might not work for you so… try it? #oliveoilshot #guthealth #wellnesstips

♬ original sound – Soo Youn Lee

What are people saying?

If your “For You” page hasn’t fed you videos of people taking a shot of EVOO yet, here is a rundown of what the TikToks are saying: If you take a shot on an empty stomach, it can coat the walls of the stomach, improving mobility throughout the colon, and allow smooth bowel movement and digestion. Some people add a splash of lemon juice for benefits like improved digestive health. Even though it’s currently a TikTok trend, taking a shot of olive oil isn’t anything new: Communities around the Mediterranean have been doing this for decades, and the use of olive oil for both nutritious and medicinal properties dates back to as early as Ancient Egypt

@mediterraneandiet

Ignore the clueless so called “experts”. Here’s what you need to know about getting the best olive oil! #oliveoil #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanfood #bestoliveoil #foryou #healthyliving #greece #greek #evoo #dietitian #nutritionist

♬ original sound – Mediterranean Diet

If I’m being honest, taking a shot of EVOO doesn’t sound incredibly appetizing, but I’m all about dissecting wellness trends and figuring out ways to improve my overall health. So I asked experts whether or not the shot was worth the hype. If this trend has sparked your interest as much as it did mine, keep reading to hear what the experts have to say about the benefits of olive oil and whether or not we should hop on this trend too.

Benefits of olive oil

When it comes to whether or not olive oil is healthy, the rumors are true. Olive oil is a superfood that contains anti-inflammatory qualities, helps supports the growth of healthy bacteria and improves brain function. “Olive oil contains polyphenols and a fatty acid profile that may help to diversify healthy gut bacteria and reduce harmful bacteria,” explained Cassie Brown, MS, CHHP. “We need these fats to support our cognitive health, proper energy function, and nerve function, and they can help protect against diseases, promote satiety, slow our digestion for proper absorption, help the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, and help hydrate and keep our cells proliferating.”

@insulinresistant1

Extra-virgin olive oil and my blood sugar. Does this superfood spike my glucose levels? #bloodsugar#insulinresistance#prediabetes#oliveoil#insulinresistant1

♬ original sound – Justin / Stop Spiking Sugar

Like other healthy fats, olive oil can help improve your gut’s microbiome. “Healthy fats help your gut absorb certain micronutrients like vitamins A, D, and K, which are key for optimal health,” agreed Tara Bassi, MS, CNS, LDN. It is also very heart-friendly, thanks to its ability to assist in regulating cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Bassi explained that maintaining healthy blood sugar levels can also impact your weight and overall digestive system.

@askdebbieabouthair

Lose weight & belly fat with extra virgin olive oil learnontiktok foryou bellyfat healthy weightlosstips selfcare health naturalremedy

♬ original sound – Ask Debbie About Hair & Health

So is the trend worth it?

It is no secret that olive oil is our friend: EVOO makes for a perfect kitchen staple and is great for our everyday diet, but is it necessary to start our mornings with a shot? Brown expressed that there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to treating any symptom, and while there’s a lot of research on the health benefits of olive oil in general, there’s no research backing up that taking a shot of it on an empty stomach is more beneficial.

@mandanazarghami

Reply to @stephyt91 Olive oil lemon juice shot recipe🖤 #guthealth #weightloss #oliveoilshot

♬ As It Was – Harry Styles
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Instead, she suggested that you can reap the benefits by pouring it on a salad, mixing it in a dressing, or adding it to a smoothie or meal just like you would any other healthy fat. Bassi agreed that just adding some olive oil to your meals throughout the day would be beneficial. However, everybody is different, and just because a ritual is not studied does not mean it can’t make you feel good. If you are interested in trying the EVOO shot, it’s probably not harmful to take it in shot form (unless you have certain conditions that affect fat absorption), so talk to your doctor to identify if the extra dose of healthy fats is right for you.

@abbeyskitchen

Sure, olive oil is healthy for you and your skin. But you don’t need to be taking shots of it to be a “hot girl”. #oliveoil #glowingskin #glowing #healthyskin #healthyfood

♬ original sound – Abbey Sharp