Block Island Organics Skincare Review

by | Jul 9, 2017 | Mindful Home, Sustainability

As a kid my family would take a vacation every summer to Block Island, a small pristine island off the coast of Rhode Island. I still go there every summer, and next summer my fiancé and I will be married there! It is one of the most special places on earth; I call it my happy place. There’s just something magical about it that I can’t put into words, but if you have ever been there you know what I mean.

So when I came across Block Island Organics I couldn’t contain my excitement!! Er-meh-gerd!!!  I know a lot of my friends and readers are conscious about what they put in their bodies and on their skin, and I’m always looking for a great organic skincare line that is safe and not in the three figures.

I’ve had the opportunity to test out their Revitalizing Night Cream for a few months now, and since it’s summer, (and I will be vacationing on Block Island next month) I can’t wait to try out their Mineral Sunscreen.

So heres what ya need to know:

  • Block Island Organics is a family business, created by brother and sister Will and Lauren von Bernuth, along with Will’s wife Kelly.
  • They are all about helping educate people on healthy sun protection and safe skincare.
  • They use NO parabens, sulfates, phthalates, dyes, artificial fragrances or gluten.
  • Products are vegan, cruelty free, and never tested on animals.
  • They use organic ingredients such as rosehip, chamomile, sunflower, avocado, and olive.

Ingredients

I believe that ingredients matter a lot when it comes to skincare and so does Block Island Organics. I love that they give full disclosure of the ingredients and their reasons for choosing them. Right on their website they have a list of every single ingredient in the products and what it is used for. For all my educated consumers out there like me who stand in the grocery store googling every ingredient before purchasing something- they’ve got you covered!

I love that there are no fragrances too, because they can sometimes irritate my sensitive skin. I find that the night cream is super moisturizing without feeling heavy and thick. Plus every time I use it I think of my favorite vacation spot!

I share this product as someone who genuinely likes and uses it. I was not paid to write this review. Hopefully you will get a chance to try out these cruelty free and vegan products if that’s your thing. Happy summer!

XO

PS.. Because I freaking love all of you so much I wanted to share my discount code if you want to snag yourself some of these kickass products. Use the code “caroline” at checkout to get 20% OFF!

 

How to Protect Your Energy From Negative People

How to Protect Your Energy From Negative People

by | Jun 28, 2017 | Self Care

We’ve all been in those situations where being in a certain environment or with a certain person feels like it drains all the happiness right out of you. Whether the situation is toxic, manipulative, gossipy, or just plain negative, we’ve all been there. Everybody knows an “energy vampire” where time spent with that person leaves you feeling depleted and irritable. We must learn to protect out energy from negative people so that we can show up in this world as our best selves and do the beautiful work we were here to do.

We often don’t consciously recognize this, but our subconscious mind is aware of it all. Becoming more consciously aware of how you are feeling in a given moment and picking up on the energy of a certain place or person is the first step in protecting your energy from negative people. Awareness is everything!

Try to identify situations or people that bring you down or take you out of your optimal state. Become aware of the energy in these situations without attaching judgement to it. When we judge we lose our energy just as easily as when someone takes it. We are basically giving our energy away for free when we make negative judgements.

Where Are You Coming From?

It’s important to distinguish between protecting your precious energy in a loving way and being closed off energetically from a place of fear. You never want to close yourself off because you are fearful of the negative people in your life. It’s adding more negative energy into your life if you do that!

It is a necessary step in the energetic protection process that you come from a place of wanting to protect yourself in a loving way, just as you would lovingly wrap a baby in a blanket; not because you are so fearful of them getting cold, but because you taking loving care of them. So take loving care of yourself when you set your intention, keeping in mind that you are protecting your precious energy in order to preserve it because it is a powerful tool in how you live your happiest life. You never want to feel shut down or disconnected from the world.

This is Your Opportunity to Grow 

Remember: The light you see in someone is just a refection of that same light that is in you, and the darkness you see in others is a reflection of the darkness in you. So the positive qualities you see in others (she’s so friendly, he’s incredibly reliable) are all qualities in yourself that you recognize in others. On the flip side the negative qualities you recognize in others are also a reflection of things you may not like about yourself (often these are subconscious).

These negative qualities in others come up in situations with people and reveal themselves to you because they are ready to be brought to the surface and healed. So when someones negative energy triggers something in you to surface, try to notice what that is and why it’s coming up for you. What part of you is getting activated by this person?  Maybe it’s an opportunity to do some deep and transformative work within yourself.

 

3 Simple Techniques for Protecting Your Energy

 

Set Your Intention: Setting your intention to protect your energy and to avoid picking up anybody’s negative energy is the first thing you must do. It tells the world and yourself “nobody’s gonna fuck with my energy today.” Setting your intention to protect your valuable energy is what helps you perform your best in the world. You have control over what you choose to see and how you choose to show up in your life. Decide that you will not be taken down by tis person or situation.

Zip up:  People can easily lift your energy or they can leave a negative energetic imprint on you if you walk out into the world with your energy field wide open. This tool will help you consciously make the decision to protect your energy before you enter a new environment. Imagine there is a zipper that begins at your toes. Grab the zipper at the front of your toes and literally zip all the way up from your toes, over your head and all the way behind your back, closing at your ankles. This is is a powerful practice for setting the intention to seal your energy and close your field before you step out into the world. This is especially important if you live in places like New York City or work in a busy office setting where it’s much easier to pick up someones negative energy.

Close your cloak: Imagine you have a big cloak over your shoulders. Set the intention to close your field and wrap your cloak around your shoulders as if you’re giving yourself a hug. This act will protect you and keep you safe. If you’re ever uncomfortable with the energy of a situation you can always close your cloak and send the universe a message that your field is shut off.

Clear energy from others: If you feel that for some reason you’ve picked up the energy of another person — positive or negative — or if you’ve lost your energy, here’s a great tool for clearing it. Simply say, “Thank you, guides/universe (or whatever you resonate with), for removing any energy I may have picked up and retrieving any energy I may have lost.” This prayer will clear it up every time.

Avocado Basil Pesto with Zucchini Noodles

Avocado Basil Pesto with Zucchini Noodles

by | Jun 23, 2017 | Recipes

One of my favorite summer flavors is basil. We used to grow tons of it in our backyard garden and have an abundance of basil in every meal. After harvesting several bunches we would come up with different ways to incorporate it into our meals. A standard tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad was always available, but pesto was another go-to summer recipe in my house.

I decided to alter this one a bit for the more health conscious by using zucchini noodles and avocado. The texture is slightly creamier as a result; tasting like a pesto, with the texture of an alfredo sauce. I eat avocado at almost every meal on a daily basis, finding different ways to use it has become a fun hobby! Avocado martinis anyone? Ok that might not be a good idea.

This avocado basil pesto recipe is simple and healthy! If you know me by now you know that I don’t do complicated recipes with a ton of ingredients. I believe that living a sustainable and healthy lifestyle is easier when simplified; as most things in life are. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did making it!!!

Cheers to a great summer!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basil leaves
  • 1/2 ripe avocado
  • 2 cloves of garlic chopped
  • 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice
  • zucchini noodles
  • *Optional* pine nuts and parmesan cheese

Directions

  • In a food processor combine  basil, avocado, garlic (or more if you like!), olive oil, lemon juice.
  • If the pesto is too thick to blend because of the avocado try adding a teaspoon of water to thin it out.
  • Toss pesto paste with zucchini noodles.
  •  *Pine nuts generally go into pesto, but I went without them this time and it turned out fine, but if you like them add in to the food processor. Same goes for parmesan cheese.
  • I also like to add some shaved parmesan on top when it’s ready to serve. Add salt and pepper to taste

Summer Melon Salad

Summer Melon Salad

by | Jun 12, 2017 | Recipes

Ok this is probably the easiest summer recipe I’ve ever created. Not only is it ridiculously tasty, but it also doesn’t need any measuring. I repeat: NO MEASURING! For all you lazy chefs out there, this one is for you. My favorite way to make food is by “eyeball measurements.” I put in the amounts of the things I want and don’t worry about the rest. Of course, in baking this is a different story.

This summer melon salad is perfect for al fresco summer dining, when the days are long and lazy. It’s also great to bring to a friend’s house for dinner, because it is such a crowd pleaser. I love the combination of the different flavors of melon here, but if you only want to use one or two types of melon knock yourself out.

Summertime flavors are, in my opinion, the most fun to work with when putting together a meal. There is so much right at our fingertips, and if you’re lucky you have a local farmstead nearby where you can get tons of fresh produce there are endless ideas.

Ingredients:

  • Watermelon
  • Cantaloupe
  • Honeydew Melon
  • red onion
  • cucumber
  • mint
  • feta cheese (optional)

Directions

  • Scoop watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon using a small scooping spoon. (Honestly, I don’t expect anyone reading this to have a “small scooping spoon” I just used a measuring spoon that happened to be the perfect shape, but if you don’t have one use a regular spoon, or cube the melon, it still tastes the same!)
  • Thinly slice the cucumber and red onion. Try using a mandolin slicer if you want them super thin. Chopping works too!
  • Roughly chop the mint.
  • Mix everything into a bowl just before serving. If you are planning it ahead of time wait to mix everything until the last minute because the juice from the melon can make everything a little soggy if left to sit too long.
  • Sprinkle feta cheese on top as an option. But it’s a great addition, and I HIGHLY recommend it.

 

Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

How to Balance Self-Care and Self-Discipline

How to Balance Self-Care and Self-Discipline

by | May 25, 2017 | Self Care

I woke up this morning with a really bad headache and no desire to workout. My thought process was all over the place, everywhere from “you deserve to sleep in, take care of yourself” to “get up and do the damn thing, you never want to workout but you just do it.” Somewhere along the way I realized it’s friggin hard to balance self-care and self-discipline. We all need both at different times, but how do you know when you really need a day off or when you’re just making excuses?

I used to make excuses all the time. Every day actually. My previous routine would go something like this: lay out my workout clothes the night before and set my alarm 30 minutes early. When the alarm went off it was usually dark and cold outside and my bed always felt so much better, so I would snooze for an hour finding some excuse why I “needed to sleep.” Day after day I went through the same cycle of wanting to get into healthy morning routine, and then sabotaging myself with excuses, citing “self-care.”

Does your self-care ever become self-sabotage?

Right? When we say “I deserve this…” what is the intention behind it? Is it to avoid something that would actually benefit us (like working out or eating right), or is it because we might actually need it.

Self-discipline is essential in creating lasting positive change in your life. The weights don’t lift themselves! You have to get up and do the damn thing! And sometimes it’s pushing through those days where you really don’t want to, that we solidify the habits we wish to create. We need self-discipline, just as much as we need self-care.

I’ve been in phases of my life where I was all one, and none of the other. That’s not healthy either, and certain’y doesn’t lead to a happy and balanced life.

So how can we tell if our self-care excuses are really self-sabotage?

 

  1. Check in with your body. If you have a torn ligament, a fever, or a migraine it’s probably time to do some self care. BUT if you’re just low in energy, feeling sluggish, or a little sore from yesterday’s workout then you should probably get up and push through it. It’s not just doing the thing every day, it’s doing the thing when you LEAST want to do it that will really create those habits.
  2. Ask yourself, what do I WANT more? Your want has to be strong, right? If you want to meditate every morning, or if you want to practice yoga before the day starts, then you sure as hell better WANT to do it. If you want to lose the weight, or feel confident in your own skin, then you gotta WANT to press play on your workouts each day. So if you’re like me, laying in bed, contemplating going back to sleep or getting up, ask yourself what do I want more: to make another excuse, or to go after my dreams?
  3. Ask yourself what do I NEED more? This is where the balance part comes in. So you’ve identified what you want; now you have to be honest with yourself. Only you will know the answer to this. Do you need to sit on the couch and watch another episode of Pretty Little Liars or do you need to get up and move your body and elevate your energy? Usually the answer is going to point you toward doing the thing you don’t want to do.
  4.  Make a plan: My plan is to exercise 5-6 days a week, I don’t have an assigned rest day, I just take it when I need it. That way when something comes up and I need to take a rest day, it’s always there for me, just not every day. The same goes for clean eating. Usually during week days I stick to a really clean eating routine, so if I get invited to a party on Saturday I can have some treats and not go through the whole psychological battle of whether I “deserve” it or not.

Always rely on your inner guidance system. When you connect to that deep knowing within, you can’t go wrong.

Take care of yourself,