These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad ...



Some of you are too young to get that reference. ;-)



We're a little too far away from a holiday gift idea newsletter, though you can certainly use this to help you stir up the creative juices if you're like me and already thinking about shopping so December can have at least a few moments of stillness. Last year our stillness came courtesy of a COVID house-sweep. This year I'm hoping it'll look a little different. ;-)



None of the following links are affiliate links nor do I get paid to share at all ... just regular ol' links to help you save time, but feel free to look for them wherever your favorite places to shop are.



TOOTHPASTE: Loving this Boka mint one at the moment. It's minty, but not "too spicy" according to my kids. It has better-for-you ingredients, no flouride, and uses nano-hydroxyapatite instead. Woo hoo!

DRY SHAMPOO: I use Rowe Casa's in dark and even though I just added some blonde streaks last week (first time messing with my natural hair color in SIXTEEN years), my roots are still dark so I won't need to change up the shade. It's non-toxic and bonus: you'll enjoy a little chocolate scent as they include cacao powder in the ingredients.

BOOK: I'm dragging my way through Untamed right now, not b/c I don't love it but because I haven't been setting aside enough time to read lately. Plus, I have total book jumping issues and hardly eever read just 1 at a time. (Why am I like this???) Also really looking forward to the release of A Healthier Home in February. It's available for pre-order right now. There is NOTHING like it out there and I think it's going to be a beautiful reference guide.

PODCAST: To satisfy the science nerd in me, I'm a big fan of Huberman Lab and (more sporadic release) Found My Fitness by Dr. Rhonda Patrick. Also excited for a new one that just launched called I Dare You by Jen Gottlieb.

MAKEUP: Almost all of my makeup is from Crunchi. While not inexpensive, I love the quality, the ingredients, and performance. I don't tend to wear a ton of makeup, so I justify the cost in my mind that way. ;-)

WARM DRINKS: Temperature drops call for allllll the warm, cozy drinks. I enjoy Kion coffee, Organifi Harmony, Organifi Gold in Pumpkin Spice, and Pique Tea (no tea bags, so no microplastics). Some of these make perfect gift ideas! Delicious and winter-y, but health-focused and won't add to the clutter that I think we're all trying to down-size right now.

PROTEIN POWDER: I enjoy the convenience of a protein smoothie, adding protein powder to a yogurt base and turning it into a fruit dip, baking with it, or even using it in soups. My go-to lately is Truvani. Sometimes we'll switch it up because we ran out and need something easier to find or we find a better deal for a pretty comparable product. But I keep returning to this one because I don't mind the taste, the texture, my kids like it, I like the macros (and often use 1/5 or 2 scoops at a time), and the ingredients are pretty darn clean.


I enjoy getting a glimpse into others' favorite products so I hope that this was at least entertaining for you! Keep in mind that we all have different goals, priorities, budgets, and budgeting priorities.


Happy Thursday,
Tara



P.S. If you have fat loss, muscle-building, or "toning up" goals, my Fat Loss Meal Plan is available for purchase. It's designed to taste good, of course, but also balanced in a very intentional way to help with the above goals through satisfying and nourishing meals that decrease cravings and macronutrient balances that balance blood sugar and boost metabolic rate.