But First, Self-Love

With Valentine’s Day approaching this week, there’s a lot of talk about love. Whether you are celebrating love with your significant other, family member, friend or even your furry pet, any kind of love is beautiful, but the relationship we need to focus on is with ourselves. The media talks a lot about self-care rituals (which looks different for us all) but what we need to prioritize is self-love and actually speaking positively to ourselves internally. 
I recently took a spin class where they put our stats up on the board and showed us our rank a few times throughout the class. This is when I realized the importance of self-love and having positive internal conversations with yourself. When I switched to a positive mindset, it made pushing through the class a lot easier, versus having negative thoughts and telling myself, “You aren’t good or strong enough.” and guess what… during that last sprint in class I kicked my name a few spots higher up on the rank list. 
If there’s ever a time where you doubt yourself or are maybe feeling down/overwhelmed by all of this Valentine’s Day talk this week, I have come up with a few journal exercises to help you remember you are loved and that you truly are a total badass. 

Grab your journal and start writing:

Today I have accomplished _____
I feel proud of myself when _____
I feel the happiest when I’m doing _____
3 things that bring me peace are _____
My favorite feature about myself is _____
Necklace: Bali Malas
Shoes:Adidas
Remember, you are a total badass. 
XOXO,
Gee Nicolette 

Blueberry Lavender Almond Hot Chocolate

Looking for a delicious drink to help you warm up during the crazy winter weather? After taking a trip to Trader Joe’s, I found this Blueberry Lavender Almond Beverage. I typically use almond milk in my coffee, but today I was craving chocolate (but then again, when am I not?), so I opted for a hot cocoa drink instead. 
You will need: 
Hot Chocolate Mix
Saucepan 
Mug
Any toppings you typically like add to your hot chocolate
Directions:
In a saucepan, add Blueberry Lavender Almond Beverage (1 cup per serving). Once the almond milk is heated, add in hot chocolate mix and stir well. Serve in a mug and add any additional toppings! 

Stay warm and enjoy!
XOXO,
Gee Nicolette 

Himalayan Salt Block Cooking

We all known Himalayan salt is a huge trend right now (salt lamps, caves, seasonings, etc.). My sister  recently gifted me a Himalayan Salt Block used for cooking and I am already in love.
If you’re a foodie or love to cook, you should definitely consider investing in one of these babies! You can purchase one at a specialty cooking store or online here. You can cook with your salt block on the grill or over a gas stove. If you want to serve cold dishes on the block you can chill it in the refrigerator. 
There are so many benefits to cooking with a Himalayan salt block:
•Adds healthy minerals to foods (Himalayan salt is better for you than table salt) 
•Enhances flavors of foods (no need to add a ton of seasoning to food- just a little EVOO)
•Holds heat longer (this is great if you are using your salt block to serve food on at a party)
•Antimicrobial
•Easy to clean

Happy Eating!
XOXO,
Gee Nicolette