When lock down first started, I resigned myself to not having the option to go to Starbucks or other coffee shops for my favorite beverages. So I started making my beverages at home, and I ended up enjoying them so much, that it’s become a normal part of my self-care routine. And I find that I actually prefer making things at home, rather than getting stuff out – including meals. Even my favorite Mexican foods that I thought I couldn’t live without!

(Cue Gollum) Yes, quarantine has taught us many things, precious! Yes, yes, yes!

So when I feel like having a tasty beverage, I make one at home and do some “extras” that make it a little more special. It sets my mood and just tastes good.

Today I am making hot chocolate.

You can use your favorite hot chocolate mix for this (or even a k-cup or Swiss Miss – whatever you like), but I am partial to Sillycow Farms. They use quality ingredients in their mix, and I love their glass packaging.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any of their mix at home, but I do have this incredible local chocolate milk that I purchased from the market that was in a glass bottle. Fancy-schmancy!

So instead of heating it on the stove top, like I normal would with regular milk to use with Sillycow, I am going to put the chocolate milk in my milk warmer/frother and warm it up.

Once it is warm enough, I add whipped cream, Ghirardelli chocolate sauce and shaved chocolate on top.

It literally takes less than a minute, and it totally dresses up a regular beverage into something luxurious! What kind of beverages do you like to make at home?

Sometimes taking a long, hot bath can be just what your soul needs. Light some candles, grab a book and have some tea…all while taking a deep soak to ease your nerves.

When I was younger, every now and again I would take a luxurious bath. I felt like I had more time then. As an adult, I’m always doing something and running through the shower is just easier…and faster. Plus, I convince myself that I don’t really have the time to lounge around and sit in a bath. But as we know, it isn’t about having the time, it’s about making the time. If we wait until we are ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives. Thank you, Lemony Snicket. You have given us infinite wisdom.

Aside from candles, a good book and tea, I love finding new bubble baths, bath bombs and bath salts. Let’s take a look at some of my favorites:

Bubble Baths and Bath Drops

Bath and Body Works Stargazing Meditation Body Wash & Foam Bath

This is from their aromatherapy collection and it smells so beautiful. I don’t think it is available right now, but Bath and Body Works is always bringing back scents. I purchased the moisturizing body wash and body cream, too. Can’t get enough of this scent!

fur Bath Drops

These bath beads are filled with oils that are perfect for sensitive skin. They remind me of bath beads that were around when I was a kid, but they are so much better because they don’t contain animal products and they are made with all clean ingredients. They are a little pricey, but they are worth it. You only need to use 2-3 drops per bath.

Bath Salts

Epsoak Epsom Salt from the San Francisco Salt Company

I love this salt! It’s very soothing and perfect when you have sore muscles. I linked the 5lb bag if you want to try it, but I actually purchase the huge, 19lb bag because we use it so much! I add my own essential oils to them, too.

Dr Teal’s Epsom Salt Bath Soaking Solution – Eucalyptus and Lavender

This is another salt option I love because it comes in a two pack. You get one 3lb bag each of eucalyptus and lavender. The essential oils are already in the salts, so it’s convenient.  

Bath Bombs

Lush Cosmetics is king when it comes to bath bombs, but I have found others that are just as lovely. Here’s one of their bestsellers, Intergalactic.

If you want to try something other than Lush, I love Life Flower.

Life Flower sells more than just bath bombs and I love that their products are ethically sourced and that they use therapeutic grade essential oils. These bath bombs are made in small batches with crystals, essential oils and pure hemp-derived CBD extract. They are on the pricier side, but they are perfect for treating yourself to something luxurious.

What are your favorite products to use in the bath?

A while ago I posted a recipe for a Berry Smoothie recipe that I like to make. I love the option of having a smoothie as a healthy breakfast in the warmer months. I’m typically rushing around in the morning and it’s easy to throw together and have on the go.

Sometimes I will even assemble the ingredients into the blender the night before. I’ll put it in the fridge, so that come morning time, all I have to do is take it out and blend.

This recipe makes two 14 ounce servings, as I like to make one for my husband, too. If you are only making one serving, simply cut the recipe in half.

Green Tea Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 whole banana
• 3 ounces of frozen pineapple
• 3 ounces of frozen mango
• 4 ounces of vanilla yogurt (I like Siggis or Activia)
• 4 ounces brewed, chilled green tea
• 4 ounces of orange juice
• 1 serving of Vanilla Whey Protein or protein powder of your choice
• 1 serving of psyllium husk powder
• 1 teaspoon of match powder

Optional:

• 1 scoop of Collagen Peptides
• 1 tablespoon of chai seeds (to be added after blending)

Instructions:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender except the chia seeds. Blend until it reaches your desired level of smoothie-ness. Add chia seeds to smoothie, stirring well to integrate them fully. Makes two 14 ounce servings.

There were some awesome movies that came out in the 90’s. And that’s why another movie marathon list from an older decade has made its way onto to my self-care list.

Perhaps being a teenager in the 90’s allowed me to appreciate good writing or deeper plots to stories. And some movies that came out were just fun, like That Thing You Do! and You’ve Got Mail. This was definitely a time where I became a fan of storytelling on film in general. I became a huge fan of Tom Hanks who is like America’s dad, hahaha! But seriously, movies like The Usual Suspects and The Sixth Sense had incredible plot twists for the time. And Pulp Fiction was the first movie where I had experienced nonlinear storytelling. I remember watching it for the first time in a movie theater filled with kids I went to school with on a Friday night and us all going back the next day to watch it again. Some of these movies also had concepts that got us thinking about our existence here, like Gattaca or are we really living in The Matrix?

Here’s my list of my favorite movies from the 90’s in no particular order…I feel like I have left some out, so if you think of one that isn’t on the list, please let me know.  What is your favorite movie from the 90’s?

• You’ve Got Mail (1998)
• That Thing You Do (1996)
• So I Married an Ax Murderer (1993)
• Fight Club (1999)
• Sneakers (1992)
• Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
• The Fifth Element (1997)
• Sleepless in Seattle (1993)
• The Crow (1994)
• American History X (1998)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• The Sixth Sense (1999)
• The Usual Suspects (1995)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Goodfellas (1990)
• Reservoir Dogs (1992)
• Pulp Fiction (1994)
• The Truman Show (1998)
• What About Bob? (1991)
• Ghost (1990)
• Edward Scissorhands (1990)
• Seven (1995)
• Heat (1995)
• The Insider (1999)
• Showgirls (1995)
• Outbreak (1995)
• The Rock (1996)
• Single White Female (1992)
• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
• American Beauty (1999)
• Pretty Woman (1990)
• Office Space (1999)
• Clerks (1994)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• Good Will Hunting (1997)
• Toy Story (1995)
• Mission: Impossible (1996)
• The Firm (1993)
• Jerry Maguire (1996)
• Titanic (1997)
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• Murder in the First (1995)
• Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
• Men in Black (1997)
• Clueless (1995)
• Dumb and Dumber (1994)
• The Matrix (1999)
• Jurassic Park (1993)
• The Big Lebowski (1998)
• Face Off (1997)
• The Fugitive (1993)
• Boogie Nights (1997)
• Groundhog Day (1993)
• Fargo (1996)
• Gattaca (1997)
• Boyz N The Hood (1991)
• Unforgiven (1992)
• The Iron Giant (1999)
• Scream (1996)
• Terminator 2 – Judgment Day (1991)
• Friday (1995)
• Schindler’s List (1993)
• Realty Bites (1993)
• Romeo + Juliet (1996)
• True Romance (1993)
• Independence Day (1996)
• Point Break (1991)
• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
• Speed (1994)
• Forrest Gump (1994)
• Wayne’s World (1992)
• Dazed and Confused (1993)
• Braveheart (1995)
• The Sandlot (1993)
• Out of Sight (1998)
• Tombstone (1993)
• Casino (1995)
• Home Alone (1990)

Happy Easter, friends!

When I was in elementary school, many students celebrated their birthday in the classroom. Their parents would bring in cupcakes for the class, and sometimes, a parent would bring in ice cream cone cupcakes. What are ice cream cone cupcakes, you ask? They are some serious sorcery! Instead of filling up a cupcake holders with cake batter, you fill flat bottom ice cream cones. After they have baked and cooled, you top them with frosting, sprinkles or whatever you’d like to add to the top. These are seriously dangerous but oh so delish.

I haven’t had one of these in forever…so I thought why not make it as a special treat for Easter? They are super simple to make and because a recipe makes 24, they are best served for a crowd. Otherwise, you will want to have more than one! Trust me.

Today I am making 24, some chocolate and confetti cake.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 package of 24 flat bottom ice cream cones
• 1 package of cake mix of your choice
• 1 tub of frosting of your choice
• Optional toppings – sprinkles and any other additional toppings you like – mini chocolate chips, mini peanut butter cups, mini m&ms, chopped nuts, etc.

Instructions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.) Place each ice cream cone inside each cup of a muffin pan.

3.) Prepare cake mix according to the instructions on the box.

4.) Pour cake batter into each cone about 2/3 of the way. Be careful not to overfill. It might be easier for you to place the cake batter inside a gallon zip top bag, cut one of the corners at the bottom and squeeze into each cone. Or you can use a liquid Pyrex measuring cup.

5.) Bake cupcakes according to cake mix instructions. Let them cool completely.

6.) Pipe on frosting to look like ice cream. You can use the gallon zip top bag trick here to make the piping easier and less messy. Sprinkle your favorite toppings on top and enjoy!

And here is our final result, complete with confetti and all!

Do you remember these cupcakes? What are your favorite ones to make?

Can I just say that watching movies from the 80’s instantly brings me back to my childhood? It’s such a comforting feeling for me. And for some reason when I am feeling stressed or anxious, just sitting down and watching one of my favorites from that decade resets my brain. I can approach things from a better place. Maybe it grounds me or brings me back to my younger self who can see the solution to my worries easier.

One thing I love to do when watching these kinds of movies is make these little pizza snacks that my mom used to make for me and my friends. You take toasted English muffins that have been sliced, top it with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni and bake them for a few minutes in the oven. Hey, don’t judge me. These snacks were everything when I was a kid!

So here is a list I have compiled of 80’s movies that I love…They are listed in no particular order. Let me know which ones I missed and which ones are your favorites!  

• Back to the Future (1985)
• Back to the Future II (1989)
• The Princess Bride (1987)
• Heathers (1988)
• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
• The Breakfast Club (1985)
• The Neverending Story (1984)
• The Goonies (1985)
• Say Anything… (1989)
• Stand by Me (1986)
• The Shining (1980)
• Sixteen Candles (1984)
• Ghostbusters (1984)
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
• Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985)
• License to Drive (1988)
• The ‘Burbs (1989)
• The Secret of NIMH (1982)
• Uncle Buck (1989)
• Hoosiers (1986)
• Beetlejuice (1988)
• Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
• Star Wars – Return of the Jedi (1983)
• Gremlins (1984)
• Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
• The Terminator (1984)
• Die Hard (1988)
• Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
• Tron (1982)
• Teen Wolf (1985)
• Footloose (1984)
• Weird Science (1985)
• Short Circuit (1986)
• Willow (1988)
• Dead Poets Society (1989)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
• The Little Mermaid (1989)
• Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• The Lost Boys (1984)
• Wall Street (1987)
• Labyrinth (1986)
• Big (1988)
• Pretty in Pink (1986)
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
• Poltergeist (1982)
• Scarface (1983)
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
• National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
• National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
• Batman (1989)
• Top Gun (1986)
• Real Genius (1985)
• Risky Business (1983)
• Romancing the Stone (1984)
• Jewel of the Nile (1985)
• Howard the Duck (1986)
• Spaceballs (1987)
• Cloak & Dagger (1984)
• Caddyshack (1980)
• Harry and the Hendersons (1987)
• Who’s that Girl (1987)
• Like Father Like Son (1987)
• Splash (1984)
• The Outsiders (1983)
• April Fool’s Day (1986)
• Children of the Corn (1984)
• Pet Sematary (1989)
• Fright Night (1985)

I know, this one seems like such a cheat for a Self-Care Sunday post! But I like it because it is simple, and it really can brighten up your day.

My husband doesn’t really buy me flowers often. But every now and again, I’ll walk past flowers in the store and see some that are pretty, and I’ll just buy them for myself. They brighten up my space, smell fresh and just overall makes me smile. And they are usually pretty inexpensive, too!

Here are some flowers I recently purchased for myself:

Do you ever buy yourself flowers? If so, what do you like to buy?

Some of us are slowly venturing out and traveling for the first time since lockdown. As much as an introvert and homebody I am, months ago, just get outside and going for a drive lifted my mood. Like they say, sometimes the best therapy is driving around listening to music.

My husband and I love to go road tripping. It’s been well over a year since we’ve been on an adventure and boy do we miss it! One thing I found that resets my mind and reminds me of why I’m focused on my goals is taking a drive, or watching videos from our past trips.

We recently started a new Channel on YouTube, called Thriving by Driving – Mindset Made Better by the Mile. As I was going through old video footage, I found this amazing drive we did through Zion National Park the last time we were out there. And for whatever reason, seeing that drive totally energizes me, resets my mindset and instantly reminds me of my why. Such as why am I working all these side hustles and trying to improve myself on every level? The reason is, I want to experience the greatness of our world and learn all I can. And I want to share our adventures with you!

So sometimes practicing self-care is getting into your car, taking a drive and listening to music. Or it can be a virtual ride. Spend some time on YouTube searching for places you’d like to visit someday. Get inspired and excited about what is to come.

There’s always room for you on our adventures, too! Check out our drive here: