Gut Health + Hormones

So, this is one of those things that I know is important, but haven’t really dug too deep into. And that's our gut flora, or gut microbiome.

I’ve noticed such a difference in my health and wellbeing from when I changed my diet and started paying more attention to what I was putting into and onto my body. 

So basically you’ve got a gut full of bacteria working hard to keep your body in order. The good bacteria in our gut are called probiotics, which we’ve all heard of.

Probiotics can help break down and recycle the hormones in our body, which is great because we don’t want too much of any hormone hanging around too long. 

And the big one that comes to mind here, and in the realm of our menstrual cycle, is estrogen. If our estrogen isn’t being properly discarded from our body it can wreak havoc on a lot of things. 

I’ve mentioned our endocrine system before, but I need to start talking about it more often because it’s pretty important. It makes over 50 hormones! To be honest I didn’t even know our bodies had that many. 

Some fascinating facts I learned when researching:

+ 95% of serotonin is made in your gut. 

+ 80% of our immune system operates from the gut. 

+ there are 80 million neurons located in your gut microbiome and it is known as the second brain! 

Symptoms of an imbalance in your gut:

+ bloating and gas

+ acne and skin issues

+ not pooping regular (diarrhea and constipation)

+ headaches and feeling foggy

+ feeling anxious or depressed

+ get sick often

+ hard to lose weight

+ deficient in vitamins and minerals

+ reoccurring yeast infections

So how can you make sure you’re helping instead of hindering your good ol’ gut bacteria? 

+ Consider a probiotic, and not just any old probiotic. Do your research, go to a local health shop and ask for a recommendation. 

+ Check out your diet! You want to avoid all the processed junk available for us to eat because it’s only going to negatively impact your gut flora. Make sure you’re getting enough fiber to keep things moving, get those good good fats in your diet, and don’t be shy when it comes to fermented foods. 

+ Avoid things like stress, antibiotics, antibacterial cleaners and like I said above, processed food. Get that cortisol under control with things like sleep, meditation, yoga, journaling, whatever works for you. 

+ Take some vitamin D. It’s actually a hormone, and important to your gut health. It’s pretty easy and common to be deficient. 

+ Ditch the pill, or at least think about it. You would be shocked to learn how much hormonal birth control impacts your body. It alters around 150 different bodily functions. It throws your microbiome off balance, and can make your PCOS worse. 

There’s so much more I want to dig into in regards to this topic, and I hope to continue to do so. 

I had a lot of digestive issues before I got my diet in order and quit the pill. Have you had gut issues? How did you figure that out, and what did you do? 

Spring Additions to My Diet

I recently wrote a blog post about how my diet changes with the seasons, just with what’s available and what I feel like when it’s cold vs. hot outside. 

We’ve finally just slipped into summer officially, even though it’s felt like summer most of the spring here in Iowa anyway. 

Today I wanted to share some of the things that I added into my days these past few months. I know it will change more over the summer, but I always think it’s interesting to look at and share. 

So the first one, and the biggest change is probably fruit. I am a huge fruit fan, but it seems the only thing available in the winter is apples, which are fine. They’re good with peanut butter and on their own, but too much of anything gets old. 

Lately I’ve been really craving and enjoying mangoes and watermelon, as well as different berries (blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries). 

Fruit makes for a great addition to meals and is a great snack on their own. 

Now that the weather is nicer we’ve been going over to one of our friend's houses, as well as Michael’s parents to grill out and sit on the porch to enjoy the nice weather. 

Our favorite go-to thing to grill is definitely the vegan beer brats from Tofurkey. I mean I like veggie patties too, but I ate so many of those over the winter that it’s been good to have something different to eat. 

And it’s nice to still “participate” in things like grilling or a BBQ even though people don’t think plant-based people can. 

One of my favorite summer dishes, even though it’s really just a side dish is this chip dip that I make. It has everything from avocados, onions, black beans, corn, hot peppers, tomatoes and any other veggies you want to add. I season it up, and then have to keep myself from eating the whole bowl I’ve just made. 

It’s also a fan favorite for any type of potluck or "bring your own dish" sort of event. 

Finally, I love trying new recipes, and I’ve been really loving all of the recipes I’ve tried from Ellen Fisher’s eBook “Epic Vegan Food”. She’s one of those healthy vegans (aka doesn’t eat vegan processed junk food), so you know anything from her is really good for you. 

Not to mention her family is the cutest. 

I’ve been loving her Pad Thai recipe. I’ve only made it twice so far, but the sauce makes it so much better than other versions I’ve tried. The Pad Thai noodles seem to soak up all the juice and moisture so if you don’t have enough in your dish then it gets too dry. 

Other recipes from her book that I’ve enjoyed are her Creamy Kraut Salad and her Lentil Curry. 

And we can’t forget about her vegan nacho cheese recipe, which I’ve made and ate way too much of. She shares the recipe for this in a video of hers. 

I know that’s not a huge change or a ton of new recipes, but my diet doesn’t change too too much. I just slowly crave more and more fresh foods as the weather gets warmer. 

What have been some of your favorite recipes this season? 

How I Plan My Meal Prep | Grocery Shopping

Alright, I love getting to see the behind the scenes, inside the mindsets, of how people plan out certain things in their lives. Especially mundane “adult” tasks. So, today I’m going to try and do my best to share how I go about planning out my meal prep for the week. 

Basically what happens before I even go to the grocery store. Because going in with a plan is crucial. Not only does it help keep my sane, save me time but I also save so much money.

So, first I ask myself a few questions:

What do I have going on that week?

Is there an event where I will be eating a meal? Have I made plans to get Indian food with friends? Basically, anything that means I won’t be eating at home.

What ingredients do I have already?

Seriously, walk over to your kitchen open up your fridge, your cupboards, pantry, etc. and look at what you have. Rice, beans, veggies that need to be eaten asap? Write them down on a piece of paper. 

What meals can I make from what I already have, or maybe just need a few more ingredients for? 

It isn’t always fancy, exciting and new. But it’s important for me to use up stuff that will go bad like fruits and veggies. Things like rice and beans can always wait, but then again you already have them so why not use them? You can still make new recipes with what you have. 

What are a few meals I’m excited to make?

There’s always at least one meal (if not several) that I really want to make or try out that week. Currently, there’s a few things on my mind: Pad Thai, Onion and Potato Pierogi and Vegan Biscuits and Gravy (I’m still in search of the perfect recipe). 

While it’s important to use up what you have, it also keeps it exciting to make things you’re really excited to eat/try. 

What do I want for breakfast?

I can the same types of meals for lunch and dinner, but breakfast is a different category (although I have been known to eat leftover Pad Thai for breakfast). 

I’ve been enjoying everything bagels with hummus, oatmeal as well smoothies for breakfast. These are all super simple things to make in the morning. While I do enjoy things like tofu scramble sometimes for breakfast I really don’t need to be that fancy, and I try to keep my meal prep for lunch and dinner. 

What about snacks?

Snacks are very important, and shouldn’t be forgotten about. In the summer I love fruit as an in-between meals sort of thing. I also just go these yummy fig bars, as well as some roasted and salted pumpkin seeds. 

Ok so now that I’ve thought through all that, I’ll look at my list of meals and see if I have too many or not enough for the week. Depending on the week I like to make big batches of two to four meals. (I also have Michael to take into consideration for dinner meals and sometimes lunch as well.) You'll want to make sure you have enough portions for everyone.

Once I have the meals I’m making I’ll write out my grocery list. I like to separate the items by which store I’ll buy them from, as well as what order I’ll pick them up in the store. This might sound like a bit much but I buy very similar things and go to the same stores every week so I know that I’m going to go through the produce first, then the bakery, cans, teas/coffee, milk, and then anything like tofu or veggie dogs. 

I find that organizing my shopping list (which takes 30 seconds) helps me when I get to the store, so I don’t forget to buy something or have to zig-zag across the store to get things. But you can just write it all down on a list, whatever works for you.

Then I grab my reusable shopping bags, any bags I need for bulk items and I head out the door to the grocery store. 

Doing all the planning beforehand makes going shopping so much easier (and enjoyable) because you’re not wandering around wondering, am I out of this, should I make that? You just know what you need to buy and that’s that. 

How do you plan for grocery shopping? Any cool tricks to share? 

How My Diet Changes From Winter to Summer

While there are plenty of foods that I eat year round, my diet definitely changes with the seasons. Not necessarily through each of the four seasons, but from the warm months to the cold months. 

I shared this winter what I was eating, and so I thought it would be interesting to share how it’s changing once again now that the weather has gotten warmer (much warmer at the moment). 

I go from eating much heavier meals in the winter to much lighter meals in the summer. I crave those comfort foods of pastas, breads, and rice dishes when it’s cold out, but when it’s summer I want fresh and light things.

While I’m still cooking plenty of meals, I mean, I do love a good cooked meal, I’m adding back in fresh dishes like salads and such. (For some reason I don’t gravitate towards salad in the winter). And I get back into smoothies when it gets hot out. I love a good smoothie in the morning or post workout, but since I’m a cold being I just can’t do them when it’s freezing out or I’ll never warm back up (even if i’m inside, wrapped in a blanket with gloves and hat on).

I eat smaller, more frequent meals in the summer, grabbing plenty of snacks in between. During the winter I often have two larger meals and possibly a snack at some point throughout the day.

And another thing that’s changed in the past month is I’ve started dabbling in meal prepping. I went all in the first time I tried it, spent hours cooking, portioning, seasoning and putting into the fridge. I had multiple options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in between. 

I’ve also done it where I created 4-5 portions each of two different meals for lunch and dinner, and then made a bigger batch of oatmeal for breakfast to last the week. 

Meal prepping surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. You get such a sense of accomplishment when your fridge is full of meals ready to go, and it makes life so much easier when you can just grab, heat and eat. 

This past grocery trip I bought much more fruit than normal, mostly for snacking. I love a good bit of fresh fruit to snack on. I got blueberries, strawberries, watermelon and mango. I also bought kale and romaine for salad dishes and possibly raw tacos. 

The difference between fresh meals and cooked meals is I don’t like meal prepping the fresh meals because I think they can get a bit soggy or wilted by the time I go to eat them. 

I’ve also got the remaining bits of heavier foods to finish up from the winter like a bag of rice (I’m so close to finishing that 25 lbs!), or there’s still some ingredients that are still appealing to me like potatoes that I’ve still got in stock for things like vegan cheese (drool). 

I wish I could eat more frequent, lighter, fresher meals throughout the seasons because that is definitely when I flourish. But I don’t reach for salads when it’s cold, not to mention it’s hard to get your hands on things like fruit and avocados in the winter. 

I’m never too hard on myself when it comes to eating with the seasons and what I find myself reaching for. I just try to make sure I am getting in fresh fruits and veggies here and there. And at the end of the day if I can stay mostly away from processed foods I know I’ll feel just find, regardless of the meals I’m making.

How does your diet change from the cold to warm months? What are some dishes you’re excited to start making again? 

My Period is a Morning Person

I’m not here to brag, even though it kind of feels like that. 

I just want to share something positive about my period. So here we go. 

My period is very polite in her arrival, and what I mean by this is I never seem to start my period in the middle of the day or the middle of the night. 

It always starts first thing in the morning when I go to the bathroom.

It’s like it waits for me to wake up, walk to the bathroom and to sit down to do my business, and then she’s like “Oh hello, good we can begin." 

And each time I’m like oh hello, thank you so much for being so patient and freaking polite. 

But just because it starts so easy doesn’t mean I don’t have my difficulties with my period. 

I still get cramps which require me to plug in my heating pad and take hot baths to soothe. 

I still leak and bleed through things, a lot. 

I still get tired, and emotional. 

But my period is a breeze compared to what it used to be. And I have a few things to thank. 

+ Going vegan — I truly believe diet has so much to do with how well your body functions. And I think going vegan played a huge role in lightening up my periods, calming the PMS and all that jazz. 

+ Getting off hormonal birth control and learning about my body — Yup, finally understanding how and why my body does different things made life so much easier. I felt empowered by this knowledge. 

+ Switching to menstrual cups and period underwear — Getting all the irritants that come with disposable products away from my vagina made everyone involved just so much happier. 

So you may be thinking “Screw her and her perfect period” but I’m here to share that even though it’s such a chill period I still have period problems. But also know that it hasn’t always been this easy and that if you have a period you’re not happy with it doesn’t have to be like that. 

I’m not saying what worked for me will work for you, or that there’s a right or wrong way to deal with cycle issues. I just want to encourage you to keep searching for your solution because I truly believe it is out there. 

What is something you’ve done that’s improved your period or cycle? 

Intuitive Eating + Listening to Your Body

I just made a video this week about my five year anniversary of going vegan, which includes how it’s changed over the years for me. 

But I think one of the most amazing things I’ve learned, now that I know everything I can eat and what makes me feel the best, is how to listen to my body and what it needs/wants. 

There’s a place for treats and junk food just like there is a place for nourishing meals filled with fresh veggies and fruit. 

What I eat changes with the seasons and what’s available. 

I eat a bit heavier, with more cooked meals, during the colder months, and lighter, more fresh meals when it’s warm out. 

And I think that’s one of my favorite things about being vegan/plant-based. I can eat whatever I want and not have to worry about calories or any of that. I can just eat what my body wants and not worry about it. 

Yes, I’m blessed with a fast metabolism, but that didn’t stop me from getting clogged up and bogged down when I ate a Standard American Diet. Not to mention being almost 20 pounds heavier than I am now when I lived in Thailand. I wasn't veg then, and I drank pretty regularly, but not excessively.  

But now I’m conscious of what I eat, I know what makes me feel good and what weighs me down. 

I know you hear it all the time but it’s about balance. If I go a few days eating heavier, more processed stuff I find myself really craving/needing something fresh and light and that’s what I eat. 

I think it’s so important to listen to your body and to recognize what makes you feel good. 

I’m not a fan of food journals unless it’s to track what you’re eating and how that’s making you feel in order to discover some sore of digestive irritant. 

This is how I originally realized it was meat that was causing all my digestive woes. 

Seriously, I used to only go number two once a week. Once a week! That is insane for me to think about now, but that used to be my norm. I always had a stomach ache, was always tired and felt bogged down, especially after meals. 

Why it took me so long to realize that wasn’t normal, or good, baffles me. 

But now I know. I’ve put in the time to listen to my body, and I can balance the things that make me flourish and still get my fix of a little bit of junk food. 

What foods make you flourish, which make you feel not so great, and how do you find the balance between them?

Cheap, Lazy Vegan Meals

There are so many amazing, delicious vegan dishes out there that are an elaborate work of art. 

But what about when you’re not feeling cooking, and want your food now?

While there are days where I don’t mind putting in the effort to make something like pierogi, there are so many days where I just want something quick and easy. Because I’m a lazy vegan.

So, here’s some options for when it comes to making something easy, that’s not full of fancy, expensive ingredients. 

chickpea toast: I have to start here. It’s the easiest thing to make. Literally just pop in some toast. Open a can of chickpeas, drain it, microwave it for 1 minute and season it with whatever you like.

nachos: Put chips on a plate and whatever you want on top of it. I like cooking and crumbling up a veggie burger, or some black beans. And then I top it with things like tomato, onion, banana peppers, avocado, salsa, sriracha. Yum. 

salad: People think these are more complicate than they actually are. I like either kale or romaine as my base, and then I’ve been cutting up half an avocado, throwing a fork full of kraut in, along with some spices and then massaging it into the greens to soften it all up, and the avocado becomes a nice sauce. 

veggie burgers / veggie brats: These are great to have on hand for those days you just want to grab one, cook it in a skillet and throw it in a bun (or slice of bread in my case). And then you know the drill, top it with whatever you like. 

cous cous and soup: Cous cous cooks really really fast, around the same amount of time it takes to warm up a can of soup. I like to just get a box of cous cous and a can of minestrone soup, and voila, a meal. 

pasta: You can throw in some veggies or you can literally just do noodles and sauce. 

burrito: Sauté up some veggies, open up a can of beans, chop up some lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, throw in some salsa and sriracha and roll it up. 

Fries + vegan cheese sauce: This is a recent discover thanks to Ellen Fischer. It does take 30ish minutes to cook the potato fries, but I just mix them around in the pan every 10 minutes so it's not hard. Check out her video for the vegan cheese sauce recipe and get ready to drool

Smoothie: This is a summer thing for me. Throw a banana, some frozen fruit and whatever else in a blender. I love this either first thing in the morning or after a run.

Watermelon/Fruit: Another summer thing for me. I love just eating a nice spread of fruit for a smaller meal. I know some people don’t consider fruit a meal, but if you eat the right amount it totally is. And this is what I do for lunch when I want something on the lighter, fresher side. 

So, I know none of these are revolutionary. But they are so stinking easy. People think being vegan or plant-based is hard, or expensive but it doesn’t have to be. 

What are some of your go to lazy vegan meals?

Meals I've Been Eating Now That I'm Bored

I don’t know about you, but winter is a season full of comfort foods. They’re heavy, filling and not always the most healthy options. 

And while I try to eat intuitively, giving my body what it wants, it always gets to this point at the end of winter when I find myself weighed down and sick of what I’ve been eating. 

I wrote earlier this month about how I was over what I’d been eating for winter so today I wanted to share what I’ve been eating lately to balance out those heavy meals. 

I’ve been craving more light meals, fresh fruits and vegetables and basically foods that wouldn’t have me wanting a nap after I finished them. 

The easiest one is adding a salad to your day. People cringe when they’re told to eat salad. They think it’s so boring and unsatisfying. But that just means you’re doing it wrong. Sometimes I love salads full of other ingredients like tomato, onion, black beans, etc. and other times I just want a basic kale salad with a tasty dressing. 

Seriously, I’ve been craving salad that is literally just kale that I mash with some avocado, kraut, salt, pepper, balsamic and sriracha. There’s so much you can do with salad. If you’re not feeling greens try something like a cucumber salad with onion tomato, vinegar, salt pepper and a dash of oil. (There’s a ton of recipes online for this). 

Get on Pinterest and feel the inspiration!

Another thing that I’ve been craving and loving lately is fresh juices. Recently it’s been a basic combo of grapefruit and a few clementines that I needed to use up. And it is one of the most refreshing juices I’ve tasted. Juice is also a great way to squeeze more greens into your day. 

Along the line of liquids, I always find I come out of winter dehydrated and dry. When you’re feeling bogged down I think just drinking water is such a great trick. I always feel so much better when I’m adequately hydrated. 

But plain ol’ water can get boring. If I’m chilly I’ll make a cup of herbal tea, but now that it’s warming up I’ve been loving this light lemonade I’ve been making, and it’s so easy. Just squeeze a bit of lemon or lime into a glass of water, and mix in a bit of honey or maple syrup. You’ll be slurping that down easy. 

I’ve been avoiding pasta, potatoes, and too much bread, which were all staples in my winter diet. So many potatoes. 

Instead, I’ve been really loving rice dishes. Curries, veggie bowls, you name it. There are so many amazing recipes to try.

Last week I made a buddha bowl with roasted chickpeas that was on point. And I also made these to die for veggie rice bowls with my sister. 

Really, I’ve just been trying to listen to my body and what it wants. What are some of your favorite spring recipes to shake off the winter blues? 

I'm Bored With My Winter Meals

I wrote last week about how I was over winter and ready for spring to come. 

The same goes with my eating habits. I eat many more “comfort foods” or meals in the winter.

I’m not sure why, but I’m not super into eating fresh veggies in the winter. I much prefer warm, cooked things. I’m a cold being in the winter, and I need to warm myself with what I eat and drink. That’s why I have a problem drinking enough water in the winter as well. 

But it’s getting to that point in the season, where we’re coming to the end of winter and I’m bored with what I’m eating. I’m over the meals I’ve been making, and I’m ready to change things up. 

I also wrote a post in January about What I’ve Been Eating This Winter if you’re curious about what some of those meals are. 

And I’m at the point where I’m not craving these filling, comfort foods. I find myself wanting fresh, light meals. 

I haven’t made the transition yet into eating this way. 

To be honest I just made a huge batch of potato and onion pierogi (so good). But I did buy kale and avocados to make a quick salad to add to my diet each day. I also try to have some sort of fruit in my house to snack on when I need a little kick of something fresh. 

I’ve got a huge bag of jasmine rice that I want nothing to do with, as well as a pretty big container of couscous that I also don’t want at the moment. I know I’ll make my way through both of those eventually in the coming months, but for now, no thanks. 

I’m over bagels and oatmeal. I’m nearly over potatoes. All those heavy things I craved, hold little desire for me right now. 

I’m ready for it to get warm so I can have smoothies for breakfast, salads for lunch, and don’t even get me started on watermelon. Could I eat these things in the winter? Yes, but like I mentioned before I’m a cold person in the winter and would be miserable drinking a smoothie in the morning. 

I need to spice it up with the meals I’m making (obviously, duh). So if you have any favorite meals, share them! I also just need to get on Pinterest and do a little meal hunting. 

What I've Been Eating This Winter

I was scrolling through my Instagram the other day and I came across some of the refreshing smoothies, salads, and plates of fruit I had enjoyed in the warmer months. And while I dearly miss things like avocado and watermelon I'm still making it through the colder months just fine. 

And it got me thinking how my diet changes with the different seasons. So, today I wanted to share some of my current staple meals, regardless of how boring they might be, they are what's getting me full through the winter. 

Every now and then I like to share what I'm eating to show that you can be plant-based without having beautifully arranged acai bowls and that it doesn't have to be expensive or difficult

Oatmeal  — an easy, inexpensive breakfast that can be made without much thought. You can keep it simple with just some brown sugar, molasses or maple syrup, or you can doll it up with fruits, nuts, seeds, and countless other toppings. 

Potatoes — easy to pop two in the microwave or oven. You can pour some soup (chili or lentil) over the top of them, or you can top them with beans, hot peppers, pickled beets, sauerkraut and pickled cabbage. Potatoes is one of the things I always try to buy organic because they're on the dirty dozen list. 

Chickpea Sandwiches/toast — so easy, so filling and so customizable. I can just simple mash up some chickpeas with a few spices and sriracha or stack them to the nines with all the fixings like saurkraut, pickled beets and seeds. 

Soups — warmth is key in the winter. And whether it’s making a stew or chili from scratch, or picking up a couple cans of soup to have on hand for a quick meal, soup is an easy option. You can also add different toppings to them, eat them with potatoes or chips. And if you make a big batch from scratch it can last for quite a number of meals. Not to mention you can often make an amazing soup from leftover ingredients and vegetables in your fridge. 

Nachos — odd, I know but easy, filling and you can throw whatever you have on top of a pile of chips and it works as nachos. 

Pierogi — a little time consuming so I don’t make them more than like once a month, but they are so satisfying. I always put potato and onion in mine and then eat them with a little vegan sour cream, sriracha, and pickled beets. Drool.

Salads — a lot of my meals have been “heavy” and I guess that’s just something I crave in the winter. But I also have to balance it out with something lighter like a nice big salad. Sometimes I just want something fresh, and that’s when I go for a big salad. And there are literally so many options when it comes to salads. 

Fruit — the ultimate compliment to breakfast or any other meal to be honest. I always try to add in some fruit whether it's a snack or a side dish for the same reason I reach for salads because I’m craving something light and fresh. 

As you can see none of these are time-consuming or fancy (Pierogi maybe but they're just flour, onion and potato so therefore easy). I do try to spice things up by trying a new recipe every few weeks, but keeping things simple cut down on the time used up planning and cooking.

What are some of your staple dishes for the winter months? 

Inspiration for Gift Giving

I know Christmas is over and we’ve got a long time until it’s time to celebrate again, but I wanted to share some of my favorite presents that I gave and got this year for inspiration. Because there’s going to be plenty of times throughout this year that you want to get someone a gift. 

Presents I Gave

+ bath bombs — if they like baths, they’ll love bath bombs.

+ incense — nag champa incense is my favorite, and anyone that likes smelly goodness will love incense.

+ a journal — I kept a journal starting last Christmas and wrote an entry every day of what we did, and then gave it to Michael this year. It was a big hit. 

+ power bank — for that person whose phone battery is always almost dead. I got this Anker one for Michael. 

+ inflatable lounge — much more of a warm weather gift, but Michael is all about being comfy, and he likes to go out and sit in a hammock in the summer so I thought this would be good to have in the car for when he can’t find trees close enough.

+ string map — a lot of fun to make, and pretty simple too. Just need a board, nails, and some embroidery string. I made a map of Iowa for a friend, but you could make letters or silhouettes. So many options. 

+ packing cubes — for anyone who travels and appreciates organization. I like these. 

+ chocolate — you can’t go wrong here. 

+ gift card — let them choose their gift at their favorite store.

+ suspend game — I was looking for a white elephant gift that would be good for any age. And I found this one, which is kind of like Jenga. 

+ s’more kit — my dad is the s’more king and he likes anything chocolate. But you could do a hot chocolate kit or any number of food kits. 

+ hygge kits — or at least that’s what I called them. I gave one to two friends as well as my mom and sister. They had face masks, warm sock slippers, chocolate, a candle and incense. 

+ regifted things — you might think this is tacky, but I think it’s genius. If you have something cool that just isn’t your style or you don’t use it, give it to someone that will. 

Presents I Got

+ hanging planter — Yes, a friend made me an awesome hanging planter that’s hanging above my desk now. I love it. It looks kind of like this one. 

+ vegan “meats” — Our friend got Michael and I a selection of vegan meat from this shop we visited in Minneapolis.  

+ knitted socks, hat, cardigan — my mom is a knitting goddess and each year I get some amazing knitted goodies. So, if you can knit or crochet make something!

+ wine — you can’t go wrong with wine.

+ converted home movies — my younger brother sent in all our old home videos to this company that converted them into mp4’s that we now all have access to for the rest of time. One of my favorite gifts. 

What are some of your favorite gifts that you gave or received? 

Taking a Break From Caffeine

I decided at the end of November to take a break from caffeine. I settled on a month, who knows, it sounded like a good period of time. 

After I graduated from college I took a year-long break from caffeine as a sort of detox from the copious amounts I consumed in order to keep up with everything. 

But this time around I decided on the month of December 2017.

I wanted to take a break for a few different reasons. 

I was having trouble sleeping through the night, felt really tired in the morning, hit a wall around 2 p.m. and stuff like that.

Lucky for me I decided to go off caffeine at the same time I was sick with a gnarly cold. So, whatever withdrawal symptoms I might have had, like a headache, were all masked by being sicker than a dog to start with. 

I know everyone can't align quitting caffeine with being sick. But it just so happened to work for me. 

I knew what I would miss about it wasn’t the actual caffeine but the morning ritual of making a mug of something warm and taking that back to my office to sip on while I started my morning. 

So, I decided to pick up a few herbal teas. While green and black tea have just as much caffeine as coffee, herbal tea is naturally caffeine free. Woo-hoo!

I first bought a tulsi ginger tea and a sleepy time tea. My mom always has a box of sleepy time tea at her house and I have always liked it for when you need a little something to lull you to sleep.

The sleepy time has chamomile, spearmint and lemongrass. And I love ginger anything.

A few days later I also picked up a tension tamer tea from the same brand as the sleepytime tea. It has eleuthero, peppermint, ginger and lemongrass. 

And my most recent addition is raspberry leaf tea. It doesn’t taste like raspberry (obviously, but worth mentioning because I’m not a fruity tea gal). But it’s supposed to tone your uterus, sooth cramps, and is an overall menstrual supporter. 

I’m a bit surprised it was so easy for me to go a whole month with no caffeine. I’ve taken a few days off from caffeine here or there in the past but always found myself reaching for coffee really quickly. 

I think the trick here was replacing coffee with herbal tea. That way I can get the same sensation without needing the coffee. 

And I think once I can find some vegan hot cocoa mix that will just be an added bonus for something delicious and warm to reach for. 

Who here drinks caffeine? What’s your drink of choice? And who here has given up caffeine before?

[It's January now, and I haven't had that first cup of coffee yet, I'm waiting for the perfect one to come along.]

Discovering Lagom + How It Fits Into My Life

I first discovered hygge and it wasn’t long after that I stumbled upon lagom.

While there is no direct translation from Swedish, I liked the definition “not too little, not too much, just right.” 

I saw someone refer to it as the “Goldilocks" amount. And another said lagom is closer to “optimal”. Overall, it is a lifestyle of balance, sustainability, and frugality. 

For a minimalist like myself, lagom speaks to me. I think a lot of people think minimalism is about owning nothing, living in a destitute house of white walls, a mattress on the floor and one plate and fork. And it couldn’t be further from that. 

While yes there are those that enjoy minimalism in its extreme the vast majority of us look at it as a way to go about life. A conscious choice to be selective about what we let into our lives. Whether that’s physical things, people, experiences. It’s all about refining it down to just what brings you happiness. 

Why bother with the rest everything if it’s just going to clutter up your space and your mind? 

Unlike hygge, lagom isn’t a moment or an experience, it’s much more of an overarching concept to live by. 

When you get down to it, lagom is about striving for a balanced life that can lead you to live in your most natural state. 

Funny enough most Swedes will go “meh” at the mention of lagom because for them its something that means average and boring to them. But the rest of the world is jumping on the lagom train.  

I’m all for taking these concepts like hygge and lagom and finding the aspects of them that speak to me and infusing that into my life to make it all that much better. 

So, here’s the bits of it that speak to me:

Balanced Eating — I’ve never been too strict with what I eat. And the great thing about being vegan is I can eat as much as I want on a whole foods plant-based diet. But there will always be a place in my heart (and my stomach) for sweet things. If I’m focused on getting enough nutrition through fruits, veggies, nuts seeds, grains, etc. then I can have my cake and eat it too! 

Wasting Less — I’ve made some big changes over the past two years when it comes to this. And for the most part, they’re  simple switches. Getting reusable shopping bags, coffee cups, not overbuying on food. I don’t leave the lights on when they’re not needed, or the water running while I brush my teeth. I walk or ride my bike when possible (and it helps not having my own car). I recycle, I reuse, and the amount of trash I produce has dropped drastically. I’m still far from zero waste but I’d love to get there one day. 

Getting Rid of the Excess — Decluttering is one of the most beautiful things I do for myself. It is addicting first off because you have this amazing feeling of lightness and freedom after going through your belongings. And there’s nothing better than having just what you need, and when all of those belongings have a home. Decisions are easier, cleaning is easier. It’s a win, win!

Being a Conscious Consumer — If I want to buy something new it first gets put on my ‘want list’ and it sits there while I research the best option, cost, where I can get it from, whether I can get it second hand, etc. And often times I find that things will sit on my ‘want list’ and eventually I realize, meh I really don’t want/need that and it gets taken off the list. Decluttering was a great way to jump start how I viewed buying stuff. The same goes for starting a capsule wardrobe. 

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe — Speaking of that, it intimidated me at first but once I finally went for it and curated a capsule for each season my mornings have been so much simpler. Why have all of your clothes all together when you probably can’t even wear half of it? This doesn’t mean I’m stuck with only that capsule for the season. If I realize there’s something I need I’ll add it. And it’s a great way to actually see what you need, and what you don’t wear, and can pass along. 

Having a Mindful Work/Life Balance — This one can be tricky regardless of whether you work for someone or you work for yourself. Personally, work and non-work can blend together. Especially since I work from home. But a few things that have really helped is creating a little home office in the corner of our guest bedroom, knowing that “Right, I’m going to sit down to work from 8 -5 today.” I also find that getting ready for work (getting dressed, etc.) helps get me into the mindset. I also don’t jump straight into work in the morning or work up until bedtime either. I make sure I have time before and after my work day to do things for myself. Whether that’s journaling, yoga, meditation, hanging out with friends or family. You need to make time for yourself outside of work. 

Overall, I think there are so many elements of lagom that are already a part of my life. But I’m all for discovering new concepts and finding inspiration in them. And sharing them with you!

Are you into hygge or lagom, or is there another catchy term you are inspired by? 

My Diet + My Period

There’s no one size fits all approach to diet and menstruation. Different foods react differently person to person. And it takes a little trial and error to find your sweet spot. 

I started educating myself about nutrition my last year of college. I was having a lot of digestive issues, where I almost constantly had a stomach ache, that got worse after I ate, not to mention I would get quite bloated as well as only have a single bowel movement a week. Yeah, not good. 

Through education as well as adding and subtracting different things from my diet I have found I feel my absolute best with a balanced diet of whole plant based foods. The less processed I eat, the better I feel. 

Not only has this revolutionized how I feel, but also has shined through in my menstrual cycle as well. 

I’m no where near perfect, and there are a million different ways to be “vegan” and unhealthy. And so I can tell you there’s a huge difference between a period where I focus on staying hydrated, avoiding sugar and processed foods and jam-packing my diet with as many fruits and veggies (mostly veggies) as possible, and a period where I’m eating processed foods, breads, pastas, sugars, etc. 

My diet definitely changes with the seasons (as it should due to what plants are available and in season) but you can adapt a whole foods plant based diet to any season. 

While we usually crave comfort food in the winter as well as on our periods there are so many incredible “healthy” options. I love to make giant batches of veggie soup in the winter. I try to limit my coffee intake around my period as well as the amount of sugar I'm consuming. We all hit a wall whether it’s cold and gloomy out, or if we’re going to be starting our periods. I do my best to listen to my body instead of forcing it through the day jacking myself up on coffee. 

Avoiding sugar and grabbing something refreshing like some fruit as a snack is a great afternoon pick me up. Getting outside to run some errands or get a bit of exercise are other great options to get that pep back in your step for the rest of the day. But then there are those days (and I have at least one a month) where the only answer is a 30 - 60 minute nap (guilt free). 

Obviously, if you work in a more traditional job a nap during the work day might be out of the question, but maybe a quick cat nap when you get home and before you start your evening activities is the solution for you. Or maybe it's staying in that evening and having a low key date with yourself on the couch. 

You have to listen to your body around your period. Make sure you are eating enough, drinking enough and moving enough throughout the day. 

Some of my favorite meal/snack options:

+ noodles and veggies

+ rice and veggies

+ a big, hefty salad (yes that’s a thing)

+ veggie soup

+ fruit like clementines or grapes

+ bagel with hummus 

+ oatmeal (I'm currently burnt out on this but it's an option worth including)

+ smoothie (if it’s warm out or I’ve worked out)

+ chickpea toast/sandwich (avocados are gone for the winter, and this is the next best thing)

I say this all the time and I’ll say it again, pay attention to what you’re eating and how it makes you feel afterwords. Screw counting calories, if you’re focused on eating as many whole foods as you can, then there’s no worry about calories. 

What are some of your favorite plant based meals for the colder season?

If you're curious to learn more about your cycle, hop on over to my Chart Your Cycle course and sign up for the next session. 

Foods For the Different Phases Of Your Cycle

I’ve had countless women ask for me to cover this topic. I haven’t reached this level of cycle/nutrition connection, but I know it’s possible. 

How? 

From reading different books like Alisa Vitti’s “WomanCode” which I recommend for anyone out there with a serious menstrual issue like PCOS or Endometriosis. 

Today is a small taste of what’s in that book, which you should definitely pick up if you’re interested in the subject. 

I try to eat a balanced diet of whole plant based foods (WPBF), and so I’ve included that portion of her food suggestions today. 

Menstrual Phase:

+ healthy fats

+ root veggies

+ water rich fruits and veggies

What you’re looking to do: be conscious of both giving your body the nutrition it needs but at the same time some comfort food goes a long way in soothing during our menstrual phase. Fats help keep mood stable. 

Grains: buckwheat and wild rice

Veggies: beet, burdock, pulse, hijiki, kale, kelp, kombu, mushroom, wakame, water chestnut

Fruits: blackberry, blueberry, grapes, cranberry, watermelon

Legumes: adzuki, black soybean, kidney bean

Nuts + Seeds: chestnut, pumpkin, flax

Other: Bancha tea, miso, sea salt, liquid aminos 

Follicular Phase: 

+ sprouted and fermented foods

+ light, fresh and vibrant foods

What you’re looking to do: estrogen is dominate in this phase and you’re looking to balance this hormone out.

Grains: barley, oat

Veggies: artichoke, broccoli, carrot, lettuce, parsley, green peas, rhubarb, string bean, zucchini

Fruits: avocado, lemon, lime, orange, plum, pomegranate, sour cherry

Legumes: black-eyed pea, green lentil, lima bean, mung bean, split pea

Nuts + Seeds: brazil, cashew, lychee, pumpkin, flax

Other: nut butter, olives, pickles, sauerkraut, vinegar

Ovulatory Phase:

+ fresh juices

+ fresh, whole veggies

+ fiber rich foods

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods to keep estrogen moving through body.

Grains: amaranth, quinoa

Veggies: asparagus, bell pepper, brussel sprouts, chard, chicory, chive, dandelion, eggplant, endive, escarole, okra, scallion, spinach, tomato

Fruits: apricot, cantaloupe, coconut, fix, guava, persimmon, raspberry, strawberry

Legumes: red lentil

Nuts + Seeds: almond, pecan, pistachio, sesame, sunflower

Other: Tumeric

Luteal Phase:

+ greens

+ grains

What you’re looking to do: eat plenty of foods rich in b-vitamins, calcium and magnesium to help with mood swings

Grains: brow rice, millet

Veggies: cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collard, cucumber, daikon, garlic, ginger, leeks, mustard green, onion, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, squash, sweet potato, watercress

Fruits: apple, date, peach, pear, raisin

Legumes: chickpea, navy beans

Nuts + Seeds: hickory, pine nut, walnut, sesame, sunflower

Other: mint, peppermint, spirulina

I’ve heard a lot of people talking about intuitive eating for awhile now, and if you haven’t experienced what that actually is then I guarantee it can be quite confusing. 

We’ve been told for so long that certain things (I’m mostly referencing to animal products) are good for this that and everything when it comes to a “balanced” diet when in reality eating this way has been recking our bodies for years now. But we think, we’re doing what we’ve been told to do, eating what we’ve been told is a balanced diet so feeling this way must just be normal. 

Well, I can tell you that it’s not. I spent the majority of my life dealing with issues related to what I was eating without even thinking about it. It was only when I switched to a plant based diet that this light bulb came on. When I started feeling better and better I just thought, how did I spend all my life feeling like crap and thinking that was normal for me? 

So, while some people thrive on a strict, go big or go home diet, I encourage everyone to start recalling paying attention to what they’re eating on a daily basis, and how those foods are making you feel. And if there’s something that time and time again comes up as problematic, take a week break from it and see how you feel. 

Listen to your body and I guarantee you’ll be pleased with the results. 

Luteal/Menstrual Phase Funk

Even though I’ve dug into, and learned to love all aspects of my cycle, I am still caught off guard time to time by that week that overlaps the end of one cycle and the start of the next. 

It falls on the last few days of the luteal phase and first few days of the menstrual phase (your period). 

Today, I wanted to go over what I notice during this week and how I deal with it:

+ I am TIRED, exhausted, to a point that coffee can’t combat. 

I go to bed earlier, sleep in just a little longer, and I don’t feel guilty about it. And if there’s a day I need a nap, I take a 30 minute to an hour long nap, and don’t feel guilty about it. 

I get outside more, or just go out and run an errand. Getting up from my desk and out of my apartment usually gives me a little boost.

+ My motivation goes straight out the window.

This one is so much harder to accept than feeling tired. I get frustrated when I don’t feel that usual spark for work I normally have. 

There is only one way to handle this. Cut down your to-do list to what absolutely must get done that day. And focus on getting that done, give yourself more time and more breaks throughout the day. And if that’s all you accomplish, congratulations, celebrate it!

You can be productive on a different level when your motivation is low. Find that balance, that happy medium. 

+ Feeling blah, meh, wanting to curl up in a ball and do nothing.

There’s a time and a place to just let this take over, and I’ll usually allow myself one day to be a human blob. But if you’re going to do it, commit to it, don’t feel an ounce of guilt and really just bask in the glory of doing absolutely nothing. 

I also find time for mindless tasks I don’t make time for during the rest of the month. Usually decluttering or deep cleaning, organizing or sorting. Things that are on your to-do list but aren’t top tier essential must do's. 

+ Feeling more blue and gloomy than usual.

This is the time to pamper yourself. With food, with bubble baths, music, whatever makes you feel loved by yourself. 

It’s also a great time to do some reflection on life. Look at what you’ve been spending your time working on, or doing lately. Are you happy with how you’ve allocated your time? Are there things you wish you would make more time for? What changes can you make going forward to curate your days into what you want them to be? 

This phase (or combo of phases) is pretty much the same as the end of fall, headed into winter. Think about when the weather starts to get colder than you're comfortable with, the days get darker, shorter, more gray. You don’t just stop living because it’s not as exciting and fun. You learn to adapt and change your habits during the colder months. 

Learn to look at your cycle in a similar light. How can you adapt to make the most out of each phase? 

Embracing Your Body

#BodyPositive anyone? 

We’ve gotten a lot better recently with telling each other to love our bodies, but that’s easier said than done when we’re being bombarded with mixed messages from all angles. 

And that doesn’t even begin to include what preconceived notions of “beauty” we’ve been instilled with from childhood. 

So, how are we supposed to make peace with our bodies when we’re being told to “strive for a 'healthy' body” but “to love the body you already have”? 

I have no idea. And I don’t think it’s a one-sized fits all solution. But I can offer you my story.

I know, according to "society" I have a body type that is fitting with what others “strive" for. I’m not here to post photos of my thigh gap and tell you to eat your greens. 

I want to share two life changes that revolutionized the way I felt about my body.

I won’t get into how I used to grab at my “saddlebags” and wish for a perkier butt. 

But what’s it mean when someone who is “skinny” still feels they aren’t “there”. Who knows? 

Even the girls in the magazines don’t look like the girls in the magazines. (There’s a quote out there that is basically this). 

But moving right along. Those two changes:

Learning about my menstrual cycle and changing my diet (lifestyle). 

I know I’ve talked about these things before, but they are worth repeating over and over again. 

I don’t even know how to begin to explain the personal empowerment I discovered by ditching the pill, learning about how my body actually worked, and taking control of my own fertility. 

It made me realize how many myths there are about our fertility, our menstrual cycles, our minds and our bodies that are still prevalent today. 

Up until at least the age of 21 I didn’t know that a woman was only fertile for a few days out of every menstrual cycle. I seriously thought that we could get pregnant regardless of when we had sex. 

Knowledge is power, and that power feels good. 

I used to despise my period. It was annoying, unnecessary. It wasn’t fair that I had cramps and continuously ruined underwear. 

But when I discovered the magic behind the menstrual cycle, within the different phases and the purpose of the different functions, my world was rocked. 

No longer did I whine “Why me?!” when I cramped, but instead marveled at my body’s ability to do something without any effort from myself. To see what you are learning about play out in real life is quite incredible, and something I suggest for everyone. If there is something that frustrates you that you don’t understand, do some research. 

Moving along to my change in diet, or like I prefer to call it, lifestyle. Because diets seem to be pandered as temporary, quick fixes. Something you only have to do for a period of time before you can go back to what you were doing before. And frankly I think that’s a load of crap. 

I don’t understand how we can expect something that hasn’t been working to somehow work after we take a brief “health” hiatus from it. 

There's a quote that goes a little something like this: 

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.” 

Think of the number of fad diets you’ve seen out there that claim you can continue eating everything you love eating, you won’t have to exercise, but you’ll somehow be able to drop all those unwanted pounds?

Anything that is sold as “temporary” screams fake to me. 

The truth is so many of us don’t want to change our habits. We like what we’re doing, but we don’t like the results. We see a potential change as difficult or unenjoyable. 

“But I don’t want to eat just lettuce!"

We think that to maintain a healthy lifestyle and body we have to live in a world of deprivation when in reality for many it’s a world of abundance. 

When you cut out processed foods, animal products and focus on filling your stomach with a whole foods plant based diet you can (*gasp*) eat as much as you want. 

Discovering this world of abundance, energy and vibrance was incredible as a 21-year-old. 

Not only did my insides feel so much better (I had a lot of digestion issues before), but I started to feel better about my outward appearance as well. When you start treating yourself better in one aspect of your life it is infectious, and it spreads. 

Instead of grabbing at and complaining at my perceived imperfections I started noticing and appreciating what my body was capable of. 

If your biggest problem in life is that you don’t have a thigh gap or a flat stomach it’s time to take a step back and find the things about your body that you are grateful for. 

And even if it just starts with “I’m grateful I have two legs,” that’s something to be grateful for. Recently, I’ve been challenging myself physically, and I’m constantly aware of my gratitude that my body is able to run 10 miles, or complete a sprint triathlon. 

The moral of the story here is to find ways to nourish and enrich your body and life. Find gratitude in your days, in your abilities. Learn about your body, what makes you feel good and what doesn’t? And start doing more of what does make you feel good. 

Not Losing Your Cycle While Training

When deciding whether to train for a marathon I knew I didn’t want to screw up my cycle , and so I knew if I was going to do this I needed to do a bit of research.

According to a few different sites, at my current pace and weight I burn around 90 calories a mile, which means:

- 3 miles = 270 calories burned 

- 5 miles = 450 calories burned 

- 10 miles = 900 calories burned

While I’ve never really tracked calories, I have been more conscious of the need for me to consume more during this little adventure I’m on. 

Now, let’s talk about why it’s important to incorporate that information into your diet. 

Turns out that when you don’t have enough fuel, your body starts choosing to support functions that are vital to survival. And would you guess it? The menstrual cycle doesn’t make that list. So, your body can shut down your cycle if there’s not enough nutrition, which results in a hormonal stress response, lowering the levels of estrogen, messing up your healthy cycle. 

When you cycle starts not showing up it’s because you don’t have the necessary energy to ovulate. 

At first you might not notice anything, but that doesn’t mean it’s not affecting you. Low estrogen affects bone loss, which means stress fractures can be the first sign that something is wrong. 

If you keep training under these conditions it’s going to affect how your recover, your energy, and your running, which seems quite detrimental doesn't it?

I have found that my body (obviously) just naturally started needing more fuel as I started running more. I’ve gone from two meals and one snack a day to three meals and two snacks a day. 

I remember to eat breakfast, to fuel up before and after runs, and I eat when I’m hungry. And I’ve been keeping an eye on my menstrual cycle. 

Because I view the cycle as the canary in the coal mine. If things head south there then I know something is up. 

Loosing your period isn’t a good thing, it shouldn’t be a moment of success or relief, or a “I’m doing this right” moment. 

If your cycle disappears you need to reassess what you’re doing. Up the calories and lower the amount of exercise. And remember it took a few months or so for this to happen so it will take a few more for it to get back in order. 

While there are certainly other factors at play, time and time again it comes back to nutrition. So if you're having issues I alway suggest starting there. 

And it should be worth noting the quality of some calories over others. Make sure you are getting enough of your nutrients for good sources. Head to the produce aisle, through in some beans, rice is always easy and great, and happy eating. 

Not to mention, coming home from a long run and being able to replenish (stuff your face) with delicious, nutritious meals. 

Happy training!

Books I've Read this Summer

I’ve been working my way through a number of books this summer, and I always enjoy with others share their reading lists, so I wanted to do the same for you. 

Here are the books I’ve read, and am currently reading:

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

I picked this one up in the Portland airport before flying back down to San Francisco. I am absolutely fascinated by parenting psychology, and will read just about any book on the topic. It talks about how a number of our modern strategies for raising tiny humans are actually backfiring. It talks about sleep, praise, race and so much more!

How to be Bored by Eva Hoffman

I had no idea there were a series of books like this on by The School of Life. She talks all about how we are overactive and overstimulated. In a world when there’s so much happening, and access to distractions is so simple, we need to make sure were stepping back and unplugging at the same time. 

Goodbye Things by Fumio Sasaki

I’m a sucker for minimalism books, and there aren’t too many out there (that I’ve discovered yet anyways). This is one man’s journey into minimalism, where he shares different examples of other minimalists, how there’s no right or wrong way to do it, and plenty of tips as well as ways he’s changed since making the transition. 

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell

This one has been on my wishlist for quite some time, but now a friend and I are reading it together. I knew from the introduction that I was going to like this book. It is jam-packed with information, statistics and studies making the case for a plant-based diet. We’re just a little ways in, but I’m fascinated and excited to keep learning.

Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin

I picked this one up in Florida, after our cruise this spring and gobbled it up. I read the original Skinny Bitch years ago, but I’ve been very intrigued with all things pregnancy, fertility, birth and parenting recently and this one is good. It’s like having a chat from a smart, but blunt friend. And not to mention the push to eat plant-based. 

The Kind Mama by Alicia Silverstone

One of my favorite pregnancy books so far. I love that she is honest and loving, but also optimistic. There is so much fear around pregnancy and birth. And seeing that I want to have a kid one day, and I plan on being vegan I was curious about what that looked like. So, it has been great to discover a few books of vegan mamas. And not only a vegan pregnancy but natural birth, breastfeeding and gentle parenting. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. 

Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent

A last minute addition to this list, seeing as I just finished this two days ago. I tore through this book in a matter of a few days. It was one that you sat down to start reading, and next thing you knew you were nearly 200 pages in. Peggy is a midwife, and in this book she shares her journey by telling birth stories. I learned a lot about the history of midwifery as well as the potential issues with the future of it. I sometimes wish I would have become a midwife, but I think becoming a doula would satisfy the same curiosity while still allowing me to do other things. A must read. 

My reading wish list grows faster than I can keep up with, and I absolutely love reading, researching, learning and discovering new things. What are some of your favorite books you’ve read this summer? 

Some Of My Favorite YouTube Channels

I’ve been watching YouTube videos since high school, and while my interests have changed over the years I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite people on YouTube. 

In no particular order, here are some people/channels I love:

Sarah Lemkus 

She has an adorable little vegan family, and they live in New Zealand. She shares a lot of What I Eat In A Day videos, as well as her life in New Zealand as well as travel. 

Ellen Fisher 

Possibly my favorite family on YouTube. Ellen has a heart of gold, her husband is a sweetheart and she has two super adorable boys. She talks all things vegan, sustainable living, and her life in Hawaii. 

Raw Alignment 

She talks a lot about self-love and being vegan. She also shares her adventures, her workouts and just general feel good messages. 

Sailing LaVagabonde 

This sweet couple travel the world on their sailboat, and you get to go along on all their adventures. [And it is because of them that I discovered Patreon. It is what makes their adventure possible, and now I have a Patreon for those who want to support FemmeHead.] 

Kathleen Lights 

I’m used to watch a lot of makeup YouTubers, but over the years my interests have changed, but I will always watch Kathleen. And that’s for her personality.

Damon and Jo 

You don’t have to be rich to travel the world, and these two are a complete hoot while doing it. They have vibrant personalities and share practical travel tips. 

Sarah Norse 

She is one of those people who is living the life she wants. She does a lot of traveling, moving countries with her husband. She shares videos all about minimalism, money, travel and lifestyle. 

Alli Cherry 

She has a great esthetic, personality and shares videos on a range of topics. Everything from design, cool flea market finds, sustainable living, natural products and travel and camping videos. 

Ollie Ritchie 

Pure inspiration for beautiful videos. Gives you this nostalgic feeling for memories, places and people in your past. 

Wild Daze 

An eclectic gal sharing her adventures around the world. She’s based in the UK, goes to festivals, shares her wacky style and is unapologetically herself. 

Coolripa 

I always wanted to be the girl in high school who made her own clothes, but I didn’t have the skill or patience to do so. This girl takes her thrift store finds and turns them into adorable outfits that you want to wear. 

Lavendaire 

A calming influence on your life. She talks about minimalism, personal growth, and creating the life you want to live.  

Muchelleb 

She’s all about creating the lifestyle and space you want to live in, covering how to simplify your space, be intentional about your life, goals, minimalism and goodness like this. 

Shameless Maya 

I sometimes struggle when it comes to technology, but anytime I need an answer or some inspiration I head over to her channel. I really enjoy her Tech Talk Tuesdays as well as her just explaining different methods and techniques. 

BuzzFeed Unsolved 

I love watching BuzzFeed, but one of my favorite series currently is BuzzFeed Unsolved. They’re a hilarious duo who travel to haunted places, often staying the night, sharing the history and trying to stir up some ghosts. 

SoSonia on SoulPancake 

She makes me feel good, she makes me think and she inspires me to get creative. 

These aren’t all the channels I like, but I didn’t want to go on forever. Hopefully this will help you discover a new channel or two that you like!