It’s a 5 Things Post week! Here are 5 things that I’m loving so far this year, and I think you’ll love them too….. food, zero-waste products, hair care, and tunes :) Enjoy!

1. QUINOA RICE MIX

I always pre-cook a big pot of grains to use all week in our Nourish Bowls, and last week I got a little rambunctious and mixed rice with quinoa. So good! According to gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, the number one indicator of gut health is the diversity of plants you eat, so the more variety you consume, the better! (last night we counted 17 different plants in our nourish bowl….excessive? yes. proud? also yes). Quinoa is a great addition because it’s a complete protein, which is important for overall health. Win win.

To prepare: Measure 1/2 cup uncooked rice and 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa into a pan with 2 cups water (aka 1:2 ratio). Bring the water to a boil then turn down to simmer for about 25 minutes or until the grains are a desired consistency. You may need to add more water and cook longer if the grains aren’t soft enough.

2. PAPERLESS PAPER TOWELS

This year one of my priorities is creating a lifestyle of less waste. I know it seems like a fad, but it’s actually really important and a way to better steward our health, our homes, and our environment. (I’m thinking about writing a post on all the ways Stephen and I have implemented a more sustainable, waste and plastic-free home, so comment below if you’d be interested in that!)

I got these paperless paper towels on Etsy to replace napkins and we LOVE them. They come in a pack of 30 so it’s enough to use all week before throwing them in the wash. They’re 100% cotton, soft, and absorbent. Since folding small squares of cloth isn’t how I want to spend my time, we stuff them into a glass jar on the counter as pictured above, and it works great!

3. LEATHER APPLE WATCH BAND

The idea of getting notifications on my wrist has felt completely…. overstimulating. (But I know some people love it!) So I’ve never wanted an Apple watch, but when we looked into heart rate and EKG monitors to help manage POTS, Apple won for quality and accuracy. It’s so amazing that we live in a time where life-changing technology like this exists.

I wanted a more delicate band, so we found this one on Amazon for $14.99, and I love it! So many people have asked about it, so here’s the link!

4. COCONUT OIL HAIR MASK

I’m not one to promote magic skin or hair concoctions, but this hair mask is working really well for me, so I had to share it! The vitamins and essential fatty acids in coconut oil promote hair health and growth. It’s made my hair feel so much healthier, less staticky, and I swear it’s growing so much faster. Here’s the “recipe.”

*Note that some people report that coconut oil doesn’t work well for their hair, and use caster oil on the roots instead. It seems that coconut oil works best for more fine hair types.

Coconut Oil Hair Mask:
-Brush out your hair before bed
-Liberally massage unrefined coconut oil through your dry hair, to the ends. I use about 3-4 tablespoons.
-Once the oil is in, I put 3 drops of tea tree essential oil in my palms and massage that into my scalp (optional) to help with healthy hair follicles.
-Pull it up into a bun overnight, and wash it out thoroughly the next morning.

*I only wash my hair every 3 days to keep it healthy, so I do this mask once or twice a week, before the morning wash.

(I’m by no means a hair professional, just sharing what’s working for me :)

5. SWEATER WEATHER INSTRUMENTAL PLAYLIST

We’ve been streaming the Sweater Weather Instrumentals Spotify playlist all day while we work and it’s so calming and cheerful, a good combination for focusing.

That’s a wrap! Comment below if you try any of these things, and tell us what you’ve been loving this year so far!