Gift Guide – For The Littles

by with No Comment Gift Guidegift ideasholidayholidaysinspirationlifestylemom lifeshopping

for the munchkins and anyone who is young at heart

Even though I created this gift guide specifically for the littles in our lives, I think anyone on your list would love to receive them because they’re all so fun! Let me explain.

Food Between Friends Cookbook – best friends Julie and Jesse (Julie is my friend and her stories will make you want to cook all the things!) whip together their favorite recipes, putting their own Southern and Southwestern spins on them in this cookbook perfect for your family! Teach ’em how to cook young, let them help you put the ingredients together, and share time in the kitchen with them … this is still one of my favorite things to do with Corrine. Available now for pre-order, March 9th is the day! I’m including it now because this kind of gift is perfect for any time of year

Annoying Orange plush toys – pssst, did you know that yours truly is the voice of Lil Sis, Annoying Orange’s little sister?! I represent other characters in the YouTube series and have been friends with the creators for over 10 years now. I’m so proud to include them in my gift guide and what they’ve accomplished, and I know your little (or your friends) would be proud to have a plush toy like this around. Squishiesss are all the rage

Valerie Confections – the most decadent of treats, this local treasure was founded by chocolatier Valerie Gordon and her partner Stan Weightman Jr. A perfect gift for the littles under the tree this year and anyone who loves a sweet treat! She’s also offering holiday menus if you live in the Los Angeles area, check it out

Paper Please stationary and gifts – founded by my friends Christine & Friedia, this local stationary shop has all of your paper needs and adorable gifts to include this holiday season. I especially love their puzzles, books, and sticker sets that you can decorate together with your little ones. Get artsy!

This Saves Lives treats – besides being delicious and nutritious, this bar saves lives. With every purchase from This Saves Lives you send a packet of life-saving food to a child in need, providing a packet of powerful peanut paste full of vitamins and nutrients specifically made to treat severe acute malnutrition. I really wanted to include this philanthropic company because … what a wonderful way to get your kiddos to eat well than to present it to them in this most beautiful packaging! I’ve had almost every one of their snack bars and I’m here to tell you that when you purchase a box for the littles, purchase a box for yourself too

And there you have it! The last of my gift guides this holiday season, I have one more treat for you coming up this Friday. I really wanted to showcase my friend’s companies, highlight local businesses to support, and encourage everyone to shop small when you can. Me love you.

Will this be for him, for her, for the littles, or for the ones that have it all?

Gift Guide – For Him

by with No Comment Gift Guidegift ideasholidayslifestyle

for him, for her – this is for anyone who loves androgyny

Keeping with the theme of supporting local and shopping small, I want to highlight some of my favorite items to gift that special fella in your life. These brands have inspired me to lean into my own androgynous side, they’re perfect for a sexy wind down, a lil spark up, and the all around chill-mode time.

Custom woodwork from my friend Aaron – hand crafted, pure art, these custom designs by my friend A Massey Design are one of a kind! I just ordered a personalized cutting board from him and this Connect Four game caught my eye when I was on his Etsy! It’s made of Walnut and brass and the game tokens are made of Zebrawood. Best part, you can customize anything in his shop with your (or your friend’s) name or logo! Gogogo

DoubleBlind Magazine – maybe they’re a reader! I love a good reader ha! This is such a good read, blending spirit and science, DoubleBlind prints biannually and should be a staple on everyone’s coffee table <3

The Sexy Smoker (of plant powered offerings…) – these perfectly pre-rolled Barbari CBD spliffs are made with CBD-rich hemp flower Suver Haze. They’re citrusy and reel in the focus while bumpin’ up the productivity… or just bumpin’ 😉

Concrete Cat Incense Bowl + Ashtray – the perfect spot to rest their Barbari spliffs or favorite incense, this ashtray bowl is handmade (so every piece is unique) and made of concrete. So dreamy!

Give them a spa day! – this cushy robe is everything! It’s luxurious and soft and will make you want to snuggle them all day. Pssst: this is a hard gift to try and not keep for yourself

Talk about Kush(y) – I swear I’m like, so good with the puns. This Kush candle from The Flower Pot is hand poured in L.A. and burns the scent of florals and brushed suede. Everything from Boy Smells is divine, but this cannabis candle is one of my favorites from their line and I know who ever you gift it to will love it just as much as I do

BONUS! Use code FLOWERPOTFRIDAYS for 15% off your cart total for anything purchased from The Flower Pot, let’s get to shoppin’!

Can you believe there are only 21 sleeps left until Christmas?

Gift Guide – For The Fitness Lover

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let’s eat the good stuff and push through the rough stuff

Setting aside time to create movement for myself isn’t always easy. Mom guilt is a real thing and even though my baby girl is a grown woman, it doesn’t mean that I don’t feel guilty, even now when I could legit retire from parenting ha!

Movement to me is my mental health. Making time for myself isn’t selfish (and f*ck it if it is), it makes me a better mom, a better girlfriend, and a better human. It opens up space in my mind to take on the day and I’m thankful for an able body that allows me to move through the muck of it all.

Connecting to our community and coaching you is a purpose of mine and giving you my energy in a place where we can laugh and sweat together (sup Zoom) is my passion. I’d love for us to not get used to the loss of human connection that this year has brought on. Let’s bring it back and eat the good stuff and push through the rough stuff. So if you’d like to move through it with us, I’ve got you.

Here are my picks for you and for the fitness lovers in your life <3

  • Lacey’s Holiday Deals + Steals – whether it be a package of Zoom classes to work out with us, your 7 day meal plan, the virtual platform, or Lacey’s Stone Tone Core program it’s all here! I hope to see you at least 3x a week to move it out and to keep it movin’!
  • Turmeric Salve – we work out at least 3 days a week and in Zoom camps we work out 5 days a week… this salve has saved my muscles. I do a bath bomb or bath soak from The Flower Pot, pop out of the bath and rub on some salve and thennn…
  • Stress Finesse – to finesse my stress I love all of TFP tinctures and this one does what it says and says what it does. Zen through plant power, I love to drop this in mid-day, light a candle, and child’s pose
  • Super Beauty Vitamins – collagen … free radicals … oxidative damage – oh my! These lil beauty babies are vitamins that protect against oxidative damage, promote collagen production, and neutralize free radicals. I keep them by my bed side table so I don’t forget to take them, rotating through these and my Ritual vitamins which you’ve heard me talk about before
  • CBD Pre-Rolled Spliffs – the word spliff is just fun to say, try it aloud. These are Barbari Airplane Mode CBD spliffs! They’re pre-rolled relaxation with CBD-rich hemp flower so you can toke it on up and relax it on down. I feel very speak easy when I smoke these chillin’ just in my robe (BONUS: enter FLOWERPOTFRIDAYS at checkout for 15% off your TFP cart!)
  • FRE Skincare – this skincare line was specifically designed for skin that sweats. I mean, how perfect is that so we don’t burn our eyes out when we’re sweating our faces off. Complete with a face wash, serum, hydrating SPF, and detox mask – they’re having a sale right now and it comes with a traveling bag so it’s perfect for under the tree or as a stocking stuffer!

So there you have it ya cool cats and kittens! My personal fitness faves, from me to you, from you to yourself, or from you to a loved one … because nothing says “I love you” like the gift of health (mental health, heart health, and physical health) <3

Tell me where you are in your shopping to do’s … 1) are you just getting started 2) did you start in February bc you’re annoying like that jkjkjkjkjk or 3) do you wait until the night before and scramble to wrap something?

2020 Gift Guides Start Here – Self Care

by with No Comment Gift Guidegift ideasholidaysmental healthwellness

Cancel your plans, I’ve got you!

Today marks the ‘almost’ end of this month and an ‘almost’ close to this wild year that has been 2020. Thanksgiving was yesterday, I hope you enjoyed your holiday however you spent it and I want to wish you a very happy National Native American Heritage Day.

So while people are sifting through online sales and email alerts for even more sales, I guess it’s time I begin sharing my gift guides for this holiday season. So cancel your plans (tbh did we really have any), I’ve got you!

This year I wanted to focus on shopping small and supporting local and I’d love for you to help me do that. Our friends who have small owned restaurants and businesses need us more now than ever and I’m so happy to share with you my close friends and brands that I love. You’ll see me highlight these kinds of offerings over the next few weeks leading into the new year.

a big part of self care is checking in with our mental health

As I speak to my personal experience with each of these brands you’ll notice that I take pause for myself because mental health is everything. Health is wealth and in my opinion mental health is equally as important as your heart and physical health.

A gift for yourself, a gift for a friend or a loved one (ahem this is perfect for moms, sisters, SIL, daughters, dad, brothers, all of ’em!), you just can’t go wrong gifting wellness.

  • OSEA Malibu – family owned and operated, this company is truly an entire family passion. Their ingredients are all organic, plant based, and their USDA certified organic seaweed (which is present in almost all of their formulations) is sourced directly from a family-operated cooperative on the shores of Patagonia. So much of their line has lived on my vanity for the past five years, it’s a spa in my very own bathroom! And today you get a FREE FULL SIZED (yes I’m screaming) Hyaluronic Sea Serum with all purchases of $135+
  • Trestique – female founded, Trestique knows how to make you look and feel your best! Their motto encompasses the “simple beauty routine” and sustainability has been woven into their product line. Goals! They’re a cruelty-free brand featuring creamy formulas and high performance built-in tools, so you get luxury products at a reasonable price. The Essential Mix featured above is less than $80 and the Mini 5 is less than $49. This year especially, my beauty routine has been a grounding sense of normalcy and this is the most perfect 5-minute makeup routine
  • The Flower Pot LA aka TFP – you’ve seen TFP all over my life, I just cannot rave enough about this company. I have a series called #FlowerPotFridays on my Instagram where I highlight TFP’s offerings and how I use them in my daily life for relief and recovery … they are my mood shifters and energy lifters! The Flower Pot was founded by my dear friend Rebecca, who personally curates these plant powered offerings for you and has aesthetics on LOCK … peep my IG for her beautifully branded gift boxes. You can always count on TFP products to be natural, non-toxic, ethically sourced, and sustainably produced. For your wellness gifts use the CODE: FLOWERPOTFRIDAYS at checkout and receive 15% off your cart total
  • the Daughter Of The Land Bath Soak, the Queen Idia candle from Liha Beauty, and the Bloom Farms Recovery Tincture featured above are all a part of my daily ritual to unwind, recover, and keep my lil spirit still
  • KNC Beauty – retinol infused eye masks… ummm they had me at retinol, yes please! In 20 minutes your eyes will be revived and bonus… they’re all natural! My favorite thing to do is to keep these babies in the refrigerator and to pop them on in the morning while I get ready. It takes my eyes from kinda wonky to totally wide eyed. So like, self care but make it fashunnnn <3
  • Mason Grey LA – I LIVE in this robe! I mean, Lacey probably wonders if I ever get around to washing it because I wear it so often, but who is really putting on pants these days? And it is the coziest, most chicest robe evaaaaar

This is one of my favorite things to do- share with you products I love, companies I support, and highlight the small businesses that could really use our business as we close out this year. Let’s support one another, let’s grant ourselves grace, and let’s find time for self care. This holiday season I hope you too find time to be still, take care of yourself, and give yourself the gift of wellness.

From me and mine, to you and yours – Happy Holidays. (I can say that now, it’s offish)

So tell me, how did you spend yesterday? I love hearing your stories <3

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Coconut donuts!

Valentine’s Day Ideas When You Have NO Idea!

by with No Comment bakingDIYholidayslifestylespecial occassionsValentine's Day

I hope today, right now in this moment, is not the first time you’re remembering that it’s Valentine’s day. I have mixed emotions about this holiday honestly – I’m a romantic at heart, but I also think every day should be special right?! I’ll save my love rant for another day, for now, if right now you’re scrambling to find a gas station teddy bear and some chocolates that will pass for the “I totally had this planned out” impression well here’s your guide to ‘fakin’ it ’til ya make it’….to the mall!

Valentine’s day gift ideas for when you have NO idea!

So it’s crunch time…. you forgot the thoughtful gift – you’ve been busy! You skipped out on making breakfast in bed to rush out to get a gift that’s you think will be more personal in gesture than making that breakfast in bed idea. Well there are a few things you can do to make it seem as though you totally had today in the bag! Also, this is for men and women, all of the ideas listed below will work whether it be for your boyfriend, girlfriend, fiance, husband, wife, child, pet goat…..all of them:

  1. Breakfast in bed – before you rush out the door to frantically find a teddy bear that’s larger than life, why don’t you just cook their favorite breakfast meal and serve it to them in bed? This will work every time, it’s so thoughtful! AND it’s budget friendly, just use what you have already in your fridge
  2. Hand picked flowers – great for men and for women, hand picked flowers are the cutest gesture, it’s sweet and Earth friendly and you can find them anywhere in your front yard… or a neighbor’s…PLUS they’re FREE! Unless your neighbor comes after you with the garden hose
  3. Love notes – love notes are great because they’re building blocks! Leave them around the house, in the bathroom (extra points for notes left in heart shapes and smiley faces), on your loved one’s car, all with personalized messages to show them that you care, that you listen, and best part…it buys you time. To either make a reservation or go out and get their favorite icecream
  4. Dinner cooked by a real life chef – yep that real life chef is YOU bud! Nothin’ says ‘”I love you”, more than a home cooked meal made with love. And bacon. Besides, all the restaurants will be over crowded and over priced. Save yourself the cold sweats of having to call around to make a last minute reservation and set the dining table for two
  5. A love basket – this is my all time favorite go-to gift! You get a basket, or a bucket, or a shoe box, whatever – you fill it with their favorite items, trinkets, snacks, and a couple of tickets to the movies and BAM, YOU are the most thoughtful gift giver evaarrrrr!

Now I’m not saying these gifts will blow them out of the water with surprise and romance, but it will make your gift more interesting, and personal to your relationship, AND it’s not super expensive or super over the top ‘buy a star and name it after them’ status. Those are for movies like “The Notebook”.

If all else fails, make them some ‘love donuts’. Picture below along with the recipe. It’s gluten free because… love. And remember, “if you’re a bird I’m a bird”.

coconut donuts
xoxo- Jess

Gluten free donut recipe for my love, Corrine.

What you’ll need: (yields 12 donuts)
For the Donuts:
1/2 cup GF flour or coconut flour
6 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2/3 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon baking soda

– Mix wet ingredients together and then stir in sifted dry ingredients, bake in a donut mold for 15 minutes at 350 degrees

For the Chocolate Glaze:
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tablespoons hot water

– Mix ingredients all together in a bowl and then glaze over the donuts once they’re cooled, top with sprinkles and kisses and you’re all done! Enjoy!
Coconut Donuts!

Gifts For Him Under $45

by with No Comment gift ideasholidays

Keeping with the specificity of ‘gifts under $45’, here’s my favorite lil somethings for that special man in your life. Or your special someone who loves androgynous gifts <3

My thought behind creating this gift guide was “what would Joe want actually use” and “what would my pops and my brother want and actually use”? Cologne, socks, trinkets, all things that are easy gifts and make for great stocking stuffers too, but these are just so damn cute! Psst and kinda chic if you ask me <3Shaving Gel ≈ Grown Alchemist is back at it with this sandalwood and sage shaving gel. It’s light and moisturizing and you won’t be able to keep your hands (and your lips) off his face. It’s a light musky scent that’s fresh and masculine.  

Leather Card Holder ≈ Baggu is one of the simplest yet functional brands. I love how this uncomplicated design is perfect for the one who doesn’t want a protrusion coming out from their back pocket. Made from a fine leather grain it’ll hold 4 cards and some cash. What more do they wanna carry around? Ah yes, whatever it is they’ll ask to put it in your purse haha *for me it’s holding Joe’s eyeglass case and chapstick. And snacks*

Backpack ≈ This is the casual backpack that can be toted from the office to the gym, from a hike to date night! It’s water resistant, has water bottle pockets, and will carry a 14″ laptop. I love that it has padded reinforced straps because if your mans is anything like my Joe he will try to carry everything in that thing! Comes in 26 colors, snag one from him and one for you!

Coffee maker ≈ This chic Chemex is the coolest and comes with or without a handle. Joe loves his morning cup o’ Joe (somehow tried to make a joke there.) but isn’t the best at it. I love you baby but your coffee could use some research skills lol. This pour-0ver allows coffee to be covered or refrigerated for reheating without losing flavor, it’s simple, and perfect for any caffeine lover.

Briefs ≈ Had to throw some Calvin Kleins up in here because if I’m gonna gift underwear, it’s gonna make the booty look good and comes in three. I really don’t enjoy unwrapping individual boxers to build a gift. He’ll appreciate these, guarantee some of his are holey. 

Bindle ≈ I included a gadget! A functional one <3 It’s a 2-in-1 stainless steal water bottle, double wall vacuum insulated with a storage compartment at the bottom! Did you hear that, a storage compartment! I don’t have to carry his keys, cash, or snackies in my teeny ass legging’s pocket. You know the “pocket”, that slit in all of our waist bands that’s supposed to be able to hold stuff? Well it holds nothing. This gift will free up your hands and his so you can do things like get handsy on hikes. 

I hope you enjoyed this lil gift guide from me to you. Next up are stocking stuffers, crowd pleasers, and the ultimate gift guide for the BEAUTY GURU in your life! Stay tuned love bugs and happy holiday shopping. Hope you don’t get too overwhelmed. When you do, come back here to home, where you can save time and monies with my cheap(er) and chic (af) gift guides.

Are you like me and you start shopping for gifts last minute? We leave on the 18th and I have yet to follow my own advice and get to shopping, I’m starting to sweat. “mama my legs are sweatin”. Quick, what movie is that from?