Beauty is pain. I'm not sure where I first heard these words but it most likely came from my mother. I would later hear it from my grandmother, sister, mentors, and almost any women who went to great efforts to look her best. Even today I hear the words thrown around as we wear heels that blister and ache, or dresses that show too much, or hold everything in, to the point we might explode. Across generations and[...]
Tea and croissants (or any other tea time baked good) are my eucharist. It's the thing I give to almost every person that walks into my home. Its the way I heal those who aren't feeling well mentally or physically and how I, myself, come back to my body when the day just starts to feel like too much. I've often heard that the art of making tea is a meditation all of its own. This is where the iconic Japanese tea[...]
After my laptop is closed and I’ve put all the lids back on my paints the anticipation grows because I know what tonight holds for me. An hour of alone time with a good book, a subtle playlist, and a bath filled with ingredients to heal and nourish. My baths are not your childhood bath time (although I’m not against so fun toys to play with in there!) Each week I combine a variety of ingredients to make the p[...]
I remember the moment I found out the company I worked for would be closing its doors. It was the height of Covid and the last 7-days had been the hardest I’d ever worked. I was overcome with grief that the dream of this company would come to an end and also, so much relief. The truth was, I was dying inside and my body and mind couldn’t continue on like this for much longer, I was beyond burnout. We often do[...]
In July, I started a new journey to living more consciously and making more sustainable purchases. Part of this was to remove as much plastic from my life as possible, especially one-use plastic. In the world we live in, going completely plastic-free is not only next to impossible but to do it is a huge financial burden which I wasn't up for. When I do get the chance, however, I choose to buy products that are susta[...]
An hour away from the city of Denver sits a forest with a magical river that runs white. The mineral release from somewhere turns the rocks white and river’s water a beautiful turquoise that stands starkly against the Colorado landscape of deep blues and greens. White River National Forest, as it’s known to the locals, is our favorite place to escape the city and immerse ourselves in nature. So much so that we t[...]
Lesha Estrada showed up to my house looking ready for a home visit. Beautiful, professional, and eager to teach something new, not unlike how I met her 5 years earlier at a CrossFit gym. Seeing her at my door gave me a vision of what medicine would have looked like when my parents were growing up. When your Primary Care would come to your house to treat you and have a personal relationship with you. But Lesha, wasn't[...]
When I was 5 years old I would wear every piece of jewelry I owned. I wore my shoes on the wrong feet because I found that comfortable (for whatever reason) and I liked to mix patterns, at lot. It was clear, I was always meant to have a love for fashion. We make fun of this now (having learned that less is more and the right way to mix patterns) but it says a lot about who we were before the world told us who to b[...]
Editors note: I am not a medical practitioner nor am I certified in nutrition or health. Through research, personal experience and testimonies from others I've written this post. If you plan to make any changes to your lifestyle I recommend talking with your doctor to make sure this is the right step to becoming healthy for you. We’ve all heard that cholesterol is bad. Or more specifically that there is “[...]
I don’t believe in diets. Not even the Keto diet. I believe in choosing to eat foods that nourish your body, give you energy, make you look and feel your best, and being able to sustain this lifestyle for extended amounts of time. Not just your six-month fad diet. I don’t believe in diets because even when they work, they don’t last. People get tired of calorie counting, get tired of never being able to[...]