Homemade Natural Bath Bombs

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Homemade Natural Bath Bombs

It’s February, and you know what that means? Galentine’s Day. The perfect excuse to treat yourself and the people you love. That being said, do you honestly, do you even need an excuse to treat yourself and your friends? I didn’t think so.

One of the things I love about the ladies I’ve spent Galentine’s Day with is their habit of bringing little gifts to share with everyone. They’re nothing big, and often homemade, but they have a special place in my heart (and on my fridge, in my desk, etc.).

Need an idea? How about making homemade bath bombs? These bombs are, well, to use a 90s phrase… the bomb. Especially during the winter. Made with coconut oil they are not only an enjoyable part of a hot bath, but they leave your skin super moisturized (just be careful, they may leave your tub slick!). They are a bit messy to make, but super easy. You can totally do this.

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Celebrate Your Friends

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Celebrate Your Friends

February is my least favorite month of the year. It’s cold, the sun tends to hide, and even the snow that’s on the ground looks gross. Plus, the excitement and cheer of the holidays is officially over and there’s nothing much to look forward to. Okay, I take that back- some people have a long weekend at the end of February, but most of us don’t. 

Oh, and there’s Valentine’s Day. The day of the year when advertisers tell us (guys especially) that we have to spend lots of money on the person we love to show them that we actually do, indeed, love them. The day when anyone who is single, for whatever reason, notices their “singleness” in a way that doesn’t occur any other day of the year (In fact, in college, my friends and I used to wear black in honor of “Single Awareness Day”). The day of the year that’s full of high expectations and often, big disappointments.

Now, don’t get me wrong. If you love Valentine’s Day, you do you.  More power to you. I actually used to love February 14th before I was an adult. That’s when Valentine’s Day was funny cards, and craft projects, and more about friendship than romance. Honestly, I still feel the same way. I love buying silly cards and giving them to the people I care about throughout the year. Maybe Valentine’s Day has become more commercialized lately (Guys, get your girls a diamond), or maybe I just didn’t notice it as a kid.

This pull of loving a day to celebrate love, and hating a day that feels so “expensive to prove love” has bugged me for years. Which is why, when I was introduced to Galentine’s Day last year, my head (and heart) exploded. 

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Know your Type to Improve your Relationships

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Know your Type to Improve your Relationships

Have you heard about the Enneagram?  Do you know your type?

The first time I heard the word Enneagram was on a podcast sometime late 2017 or early 2018. When I really think about it, it almost surprises me that I hadn’t heard about it sooner.  It’s a personality typing system where you “choose” the type you most identify with rather than be assigned a type by taking quizzes or tests.  

I’ll be honest, I love this stuff. I love knowing it about me, and I love knowing it about all the people around me.  I want to know everything from your Love Language (mine are words of affirmation and quality time) to your Myers-Briggs (ENFJ with my E right on the E/I line), to your Tendency (Upholder with some Obliger) to which Disney Princess you are (Belle).

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19 for 2019

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19 for 2019

At the beginning of this year I began reading “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. Well actually, I began listening to it (audio books are the best). About 20 minutes in, and I was hooked. I had to do my own happiness project. Obviously.

The signs were there. One of my clients had mentioned Gretchen at the end of November, which is how I “found” her in the first place. Then, Gretchen did an interview on one of my favorite podcasts, For the Love. THEN I found out that Gretchen was leading a group of people through a year-long happiness project.

Take my money now.

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Frickin Good Life Book Club 2019

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Frickin Good Life Book Club 2019

It seems inevitable that this was going to happen. After all, I’ve written not one, but two blogs about books and reading recently (you can read them here and here). Actually, if you count the blog I wrote about cookbooks that would be three.

I guess you could say that I have thing for books.

And I guess you could also say that it’s a rediscovered passion. While I spent my childhood devouring every book that was put in front of me, up until last year the last several years the only time I read anything that was not directly “career related” was over my Christmas vacation.  Not good.

Then last year, I started reading again.  I went back and started reading the entire Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey in timeline order.  And I rediscovered how the fanciful characters and stories could take me away and help me relax. I was hooked.

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My Favorite Things #2

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My Favorite Things #2

Happy New Year! 

Two years ago, after prompting from some of my clients, I rewrote the lyrics of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music. They requested that I include my favorite health and fitness items and brands, as well as a few random things about me. The musical theatre girl in me couldn’t stop thinking about the request, and the first version of “Erin’s Favorite Things” was born. To top it off, I used the lyrics to inspire my client Christmas gifts that year… and it was FRICKin amazing (if I do say so myself).

Last years’ Christmas was all about relaxation, but as awesome as that was I still have clients who talk about my favorites. So I thought why not do a part 2? 

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Healthy Living Book List

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Healthy Living Book List

’ve always loved books, but you knew that, right?  As a true lover of reading books to escape reality, I never expected to come to love personal development and non-fiction books at all, let alone as much as I do.

So, by popular request, I’ve started curating a “reading list” for those of you who may be interested in dipping your toe into the health/fitness/personal development book realm… or, maybe you just want a book that reminds you that live isn’t all Pinterest Perfect or Instagram Impeccable!

These are all books I’ve either read, with an exception of a few which are on my “to-read” list.  All of these books are available via audiobook (♫), which is probably my favorite way to devour these types of books.  If you’ve never listened to an audiobook, give it a try and thank me later… you’re welcome.

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