Hello and happy Saturday. For my American friends it’s a long holiday weekend–wishing you a relaxing, safe, and peaceful one! We’re keeping at our side garden project this weekend and also setting up a little outdoor cooking area off of our side patio. I dug up a bunch of dead shrubs and periwinkle and it’s just a blank slate now–the perfect spot for our BBQ and Blackstone. I also really want to eventually add an outdoor pizza oven and maybe a small smoker.

We’re hoping to get out for a hike with the doggies at some point and I’ll probably tune into the Monaco GP as well (even though it is kind of a boring race honestly). Low key!

I know it probably sounds like I’m gardening nonstop, and the truth is I kind of am in my spare time lately! Once mid-June hits, we are so busy with family get togethers. It’s key to get the big jobs out of the way now. I also do just plain enjoy it! It’s a natural meditation of sorts :)

Take care out there! Enjoy the usual reads and weekly catchup below.

5 Things I’m Reading:

1. The US food industry has long buried the truth about their products. Is that coming to an end?
2. How to Become a Vegetarian (or Simply Eat More Plants)
3. Compassion is making a comeback
4. The 1 Thing Almost Everyone Gets Wrong About Happiness
5. On my nightstand: This Summer Will Be Different

5 Things I’m Enjoying:

1. YouTube yoga under the canopy of trees in our yard (see photo above). Current favourites: Full Body Yoga Flow For Strength & Flexibility + Lower Body Strength + Balancing Yoga Flow.
2. Johann Hari is such an engaging writer and speaker. Honestly I’m a bit tired of the Ozempic discourse and the everyday headlines about GLP-1 agonist drugs (while also recognizing that they are a life-saving tool for a lot of folks). This discussion between Johann and Rich Roll was nuanced and fascinating.
3. Having a big time Teeccino moment! My faves are: Chaga Ashwagandha Butterscotch Cream, Dark Chocolate, and Dandelion Vanilla Nut. A hot cup with a bit of frothed cashew milk and some of Kanel’s Forbidden Tonka Sugar on top? Total bliss.
4. Made my banana bread into muffins this week and they were great. You get a perfect 12 at the same temperature and a 20-25 minute bake time.
5. May Lindstrom’s The Problem Solver Correcting Masque (affiliate link!) lives up to its name. The first time I used it, I was concerned because I could feel my face heating up (rosacea is an issue for me). Using it once or twice a week leaves my skin noticeably more hydrated, smooth, and amazingly less prone to redness. I also just love the ritual of mixing it up and the spiced aroma.

5 Questions:

1. What are your favourite plant-based sources of iron?
   Legumes in general (particularly tofu, white beans and lentils), pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, almonds, dark leafy greens like spinach and chard, spelt, quinoa, coconut milk, and dark chocolate of course! I always try to combine plant-based sources of iron with vitamin C to aid absorption and cook in a cast iron pan whenever possible.
2. Are you still cold plunging?
   Yes but not as often and never during/leading up to my monthly cycle. I turned my cold plunge tub into a planter(😂) and just do ice baths in our bathroom now with cold tap water and bags of ice from the grocery store. I still love the benefits (great for inflammation and mental health for me personally), but am much more targeted with it now.
3. I struggle with keeping herbs fresh in the fridge. Any tips?
   When I bring leafy bunches of herbs home (basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, chives, mint), I take the bands off and roll the bunches up in paper towel. Then I place them in a sealable bag. They usually keep for a week this way, which works for me. During the summer I grow my own herbs and clip as needed. Woody herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, bay) are usually fine on their own in a sealed bag in the fridge.
4. Any tips to help with doom scrolling?
   Remove or restrict the apps that enable you to doom scroll. I started limiting apps like Reddit and X to one hour a day. After doing this long enough, I eventually deleted them (and fully deleted my X account) because I was no longer interested in even using them. Freedom is an excellent app that restricts certain sites/apps for blocks of time, and it really helped me personally. I’m all for staying informed and engaging with what’s going on in the world, but there are healthier ways to do it (like a physical newspaper or newsletters like The Skimm).
5. Would you ever do a home and garden tour on Insta/your blog?
   I keep thinking about doing a Substack for home and garden stuff! It did take me two years of thinking to start this weekly Saturday feature, so hopefully the Substack doesn’t take quite as long haha.