Hi friends! How’s the week treating you? I hope you’re having a wonderful day! I’m off to get some blood work done for InsideTracker and filming videos all day. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Today, the gift guide fun continues with holiday gifts and under $50 faves. I know we all have a frenzy of holiday parties on the horizon, and for hostess gifts, I try to switch things up from the usual flowers or bottles of wine. (As someone who loves to host, these things are always appreciated and lovely, I just try to think of something a little different when I attend parties.)

Here are some of the fun hostess gifts I’ve found, plus some under $50 gift ideas if you’re searching for a smaller gift for a friend or family member.

Hostess gifts and under $50!

Gifts for the hostess with the mostess:

– Mini hand creams

– Truffle salt

– Unique honey set

– Marble cutting board (on sale)

– Cute apron

– Ina Garten cookbook

– My favorite local candles. I LOOOOVE these candles for hostess gifts.

– This cute succulent gift box

– Cheeky kitchen towels. These are so fun.

– Mini oil dipper set

Under $50 gifts:

– Jade roller. Liv has borrowed mine…forever… but I’m a huge fan of this one for decreasing puffiness and waking me up.

– Bombas socks or slippers. These have always been an easy holiday gift and everyone loves them. We LOVE the g

Feel the need to over-explain your actions and justify why you’ve done something? You could be worthsplaining

Picture the scene. You’re at work and decide to go out to a restaurant for lunch. When you tell your coworkers your plan, you make sure they know this is a ‘treat’ and that you’ve saved money somewhere else this week, which is why you can afford it. Or perhaps you’ve been invited out for a drink but all you really want is a night in. You say no to the drink, but then send multiple texts justifying why you need a night in (work has been so full on! I can feel a headache coming on! The cat gets lonely!).

Both of these are examples of worthsplaining. This is when we go to great lengths to justify our actions, often because we fear being judged. It may be somewhat of a habit you’ve fallen into, but it could have a negative impact on your mental health.

The fear of judgement driving worthsplaining can be a sign of low self-esteem and self-worth. It can also be a sign that we’re seeking external validation for our actions, that it’s OK for us to make these choices for ourselves.

When we live in fear of what others think and seek external validation, we chip away at our authentic self, and this is what impacts how we see ourselves, our self-esteem and, ultimately, our happiness. When we set healthy boundaries, feel confident in our decisions and turn inwards for validation, we build ourselves up, feel good about who we are and make choices that fulfil us.

If you recognise this habit of worthsplaining, how can you put a stop to it?

Recognise that you’re doing it

Awareness is the first step to stopping most habits, and it’s no different with worthsplaining. Now that you know what it is, you’ll likely recognise it more easily. Try to tune in with yourself when you need to make a decision and notice how you react. Take some time to reflect on how you coped with the decision and see if you’ve worthsplained to anyone.

Self-awareness can take practice, and building up a habit of reflection can really help. Try journaling about your day, mood tracking or ever starting a meditation practice. This all encourages us to slow down and take stock, which builds our self-awareness.

Question your motives

Once you’re more aware of what you’re doing, you can dig a little deeper and ask why you’re doing it. For example, if you want a night in and find yourself justifying it, what’s driving this? Are you worried your friends will be upset with you for not going out? Do you struggle to make time for rest and need to justify to yourself why you deserve it? Do you want your friends to agree with you, saying you deserve to rest because you aren’t sure you do?

This kind of examination can be done in several ways. You might want to journal it out alone, or you may find it helpful to work with a professional, such as a counsellor or coach to unpick what’s going on.

Set some boundaries

Personal boundaries help you draw a line in the sand when it comes to what you will and won’t do. They help you protect your peace of mind and can act as a powerful form of self-care. Try to think about some situations where you tend to worthsplain and set yourself some bou

Have you heard of Milk Punch? This old-school cocktail is made with bourbon, whisky, or brandy. It is a very lightly sweetened drink that starts with milk and half-and-half, it’s flavored with hints of vanilla and nutmeg.

What is Milk Punch?

Milk Punch is about as old-fashioned as a cocktail can get. This creamy, dairy-based cocktail actually dates back to Scotland in the 1600’s. And as far as I can tell, there isn’t just one way or accepted recipe for the drink either.

This drink was originally made and served warm, as refrigeration wasn’t a thing when Benjamin Franklin was sipping his own milk punch. Lucky for us, the cocktail is now more commonly served cold.

This particular recipe creates a slushy-like drink that is irresistible both in the winter months and in the midst of a hot summer. Imagine a boozy milkshake that’s not overly sweet, and still refreshing. Yes, it’s possible and yes, it’s good.

Milk Punch Recipe

This recipe is one that I found in my Canal House Cooks Everyday cookbook and as soon as I saw it, I had to try it. I’d never even heard of Milk Punch prior to that day.

I absolutely love finding fun new recipes to share with you and like the Italian Cream Liqueur that our friend Tony introduced us to a few years ago, this Milk Punch begged to be shared from the very first sip.

It was a real hardship, but I went ahead and made another batch to photograph and share with you this year for the holidays.

In case my sarcasm wasn’t clear enough, it’s no hardship to mix this recipe together. Pour everything into a jar and pop it in the freezer. Shake a few times as it chills. That’s it. You’ll be sipping an old-fashioned, new-to-you drink in no time!

Milk Punch Ingredients

• whole milk
• half-and-half
• powdered sugar
  Read more

Thanksgiving Sides Roundup

I saw a t-shirt the other day that said, “I’m just here for the sides” and I felt like it should be mine! Thanksgiving is all about the sides for me. I could honestly do without the turkey…shhhhhhhh don’t tell anyone, but it’s true. Give me allllllll the potatoes, rolls, stuffing, veggies, sweet potatoes, salads and gravy!! And the pie…always save room for a slice (or 5) of pie! But that’s a whole different post! So here’s a roundup of all our favorite Thanksgiving sides…

Potatoes

Let’s start with the potatoes. Are you a classic mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving person? Or do you like to mix it up? We have recipes for roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, and several cheesy potato casseroles. No matter which way you want to potato, we have you covered!

Mashed Potatoes

This is your classic, creamy mashed potato recipe that is buttery and totally irresistible! Topped with some turkey gravy and you’ve entered turkey day euphoria!

Steakhouse Smashed Potatoes

These masked potatoes have a little texture to them so we call them “smashed potatoes”. We leave the skins on and leave the potatoes a little more chunky.

Read more

Sharing a recipe for homemade sea salt hair spray you can make on the cheap (with better ingredients) and also add as a little gift or stocking stuffer.

Hi friends! How’s the week going so far? I’m looking forward to lunch with a friend and catching a hot yoga class later this evening.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a super fun and easy beauty DIY: sea salt hair spray! You guys may be familiar with sea salt spray, as it’s a great way to add beachy waves and texture to your hair. It can be used on wet or dry hair, and makes you feel like you spent the day at the beach. Store-bought sea salt sprays can cost a fortune (around $40 per bottle), so making your own is an easy way to save some money. Also, you can customize the ingredients according to your hair type and preference!

Today, I’m sharing a DIY sea salt spray recipe you can do at home. Pin this for the next time you’re looking for a quick and easy hair DIY.

Homemade Sea Salt Hair Spray

What Does Sea Salt Hair Spray Do For Hair?

My #1 fave use for sea salt spray is to create waves and add beachy texture. It also helps absorb excess oil. It enhances waves and curls and creates volume if your hair is feeling a little blah or like it needs a boost. You can also add some nourishing components, like argan oil and coconut oil for hair health.

What you will need:

1 tablespoon sea salt (Redmond’s real salt is my fave)

2 teaspoons argan oil (you can also use coconut oil)

10 oz hot water

Optional: 4-6 drops essential oil. I used lavender but you can also use any hair-friendly oils, like rosemary, rose absolute, lemon, or tea tree. I order all of our essential oils from Thrive Market and also love NOW Foods (you can use FITNESSISTA for 20% off).

A glass spray bottle

How To Make Your Own Sea Salt Spray

Step 1

Add the sea salt to a bowl and pour the hot water on top. Whisk to fully dissolve the sea salt.

Step 2

Add in the argan oil and essential oil, and continue to whisk.

Step 3

Pour into your glass spray bottle.

Step 4

Give it a shake and add a few sprays to your hair as you *scrunch* for some extra texture and volume. Store in a cabinet for up to 3 months.

Read more