Finding Wellness in a Busy Life: My Wellness Journey

By Emily on August 28, 2017

If you know me in real life, you might be surprised to see that I’m writing a blog post on my wellness journey. Wellness is not a word most people would use, if asked about me. I’ve been described as headstrong, principled, passionate, and of course, sassy. I’m “that friend” who is unapologetically herself, often inappropriate, high strung, reactive, and fiercely loyal.

These qualities, which make me a high performing individual, are also my biggest downfall. I grind my teeth, pick my cuticles, and overdo most things, sometimes to the point of injury. It’s safe to say that wellness is not a natural tenet of my being. My natural state, as described above, is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. It’s also the reason that I’ve found myself searching for wellness.

My Wellness Journey

My wellness journey started before I even knew I was on it. I came to the realization a few years ago that if I was going to be a productive member of society, I needed to make myself stop, slow down, and think about what I wanted in life. Stagnated in a legal career and reeling from a breakup, I was miserable and needed a change. What started as a few simple steps toward reducing stress has turned into a conscious effort to incorporate more wellness into my daily life. And so my wellness journey began, and continues today.

So, what exactly is a wellness journey? For me it’s a focus on living my life with more intention. At the risk of sounding cliche, I’ve made an effort to make each day impactful for myself, meaning that at the end of every day, I hope to have had some benefit to either my mind, body, or spirit.

My Wellness Journey: Mind

The first step on my wellness journey started with my mind. Before making any changes in my life, I had to decide to do it. Admitting that something isn’t right or isn’t working is difficult, but once I admitted to myself that something had to give, things started to change.

This shift in mindset came with the decision to leave the legal industry. After five years working as a lawyer, I was miserable, unfulfilled, and underpaid. I felt like a failure. Why could everyone else do it, yet I was so unhappy? The answer took the form of a myriad of reasons that, at the end of the day, truly didn’t matter. Despite the fact that I wanted out, leaving my legal career was one of the most difficult decisions of my life.

I told myself I was pivoting; not giving up. I was taking the opportunity to broaden my skills into the world of marketing. I could always go back. This shift in my perspective allowed me to focus on building a new career. For the first time in years, I felt inspired. Before long I found myself in an exciting new role backed by a strong supportive network.

This catapulted me into a new mindset. Rather than being a miserable grump, I woke up looking forward to the challenges of each new day with a positive outlook on life. I felt more alive than I had in years, smiling at the world around me and thanking people more often. This turned into a what I now recognize as a daily gratitude practice. The funny thing about this part of my wellness journey is that I didn’t even realize it was happening. It was my mother who pointed it out to me. Months after my career change, she remarked one day that I was the happiest she had seen me in years.

My Wellness Journey: Body

While in the midst of this transition, I developed a regular yoga practice. A high energy person by nature, I found myself drawn toward more active exercise like spinning, running, and boxing. But repeated injury from overdoing it brought me to the yoga mat. I always thought that yoga was an easy thing to do; something that wasn’t a good fit for me because it was too slow and not challenging enough. But I was wrong. So so wrong. I found Vinyasa Flow and fell in love with the fast-paced class. I quickly became addicted to yoga.

The practice of yoga further shifted my mindset. It made me more aware of my body and the world around me and I discovered a mental state that I had not known before: being present. The active flow of yoga helped me slow down my body and appreciate it for all of its abilities, and limitations. This awareness made room for patience and forgiveness in all aspects of my life.

My Wellness Journey: Spirit

I continued on my wellness journey alone for years, figuring that no one was a part of my personal growth but me. After all, there’s no reward or external measure of achievement when it comes to wellness. It’s just you and the world trying to be better together. Or is it?

I continued to incorporate wellness into life—essential oils for stress relief and afternoon pick me ups, surrounding myself with houseplants, and making more conscious food and beauty decisions. I was on the right track, but despite my continued attempts to incorporate wellness into my life, something was missing.

In all other parts of my life, I was part of a group of like-minded individuals: a tech community, a blogging network, a Mug Club for serious beer drinkers at a local bar (not kidding). But I didn’t have a that for my wellness-focused lifestyle. I craved connection to people. Somehow the universe heard me and I started to meet people like me.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened—at a yoga class, through a blogger event, or perhaps a chance encounter with an Instagram friend at a hair salon—but at some point in the past year I found my people. I didn’t know it at the time, but each of the people who I felt a connection with had something in common: W.E.L.L. Summit.

W.E.L.L. Summit

All of the people whose lives had become intertwined with my own throughout my wellness journey, are part of a community of people who are involved with the W.E.L.L. Summit.

What is W.E.L.L. Summit? Founded by Gianne Doherty, W.E.L.L. Summit is an curated conference that offers a 360 degree view of wellness, incorporating Wellness. Empowerment. Learning. Luxury.

An experience created to bring together like-minded people seeking to live and improve their lives through personal growth, health, fitness, and beauty, the W.E.L.L. Summit is one of a kind.

I’m lucky enough to live in Boston, the same town as the founder of the W.E.L.L. Summit, but the W.E.L.L. Summit is not a Boston-only community. Advisors and Ambassadors hail from NYC, Atlanta, California and attendees come from throughout the country. This year W.E.L.L. Summit is being held in New York City, on November 3-4, 2017 and I cannot wait to go.

The lineup of speakers includes bestselling author, Agapi Stassinopoulos; holistic lifestyle expert, Cassandra Bodzak; wellness entrepreneur Nitika Chopra, yoga teacher and author Sara DiVello among many others. W.E.L.L. Summit promises to be an experience like no other. I’ll be present (in mind, body, and spirit) at W.E.L.L. Summit in November, finding my tribe. Tickets are on sale now—won’t you join me?

Winter Day Trip to Rockport & Gloucester

By Emily on March 20, 2017

Last spring I made a conscious effort to create a list of day trips that I wanted to take in the summer. Focusing on beaches and seafood, my fiancé and I hit our fair share of towns along Boston’s North Shore, including Crane Beach in Ipswich and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea. The quaint seaside towns of Rockport and Gloucester were on my list of places to go, but due to time constraints, we never went. So, on a freezing winter Sunday, I did the reasonable thing and suggested that we take an off-season day trip.

Winter Day Trip to Rockport, Massachusetts

Knowing that there would be significantly less traffic than in the summer, we hopped in the car and made the drive up to Rockport in record time. In just less than an hour we found ourselves at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula in the heart of Rockport.

Since it’s right on the Atlantic Ocean, Rockport is more of a warm weather town. Summers are bustling with locals and tourists alike, seeking a quintessential New England experience. Rockport is 100% New England—from the fishing boats in the harbor and the rocky shoreline, to the stretch of stores in converted lobster shacks on Bearskin Neck.

That being said, the winter in Rockport is a much different story. Much of the seaside town was closed for the off-season, but we were happy to walk around and enjoy the gorgeous views.

The day was gorgeous—one of those blindingly sunny days with a cerulean blue sky. As any New Englander knows, it’s also the type of weather that makes cold days feel even colder. The 30 degree day felt more like 13 thanks to the wind, so we knew our trip to Rockport would not be an all day affair.

We walked around town and Bearskin Neck taking in the seaside sights. We managed to find a few open stores to browse through, including Tuck’s Candy, where I picked up some penny candy and saltwater taffy. Unfortunately due to the season, pickings for food were slim. Craving seafood and chowder, we drove to nearby Gloucester, less than 5 miles south of Rockport.

Lunch and a Brewery in Gloucester, Massachusetts

I had heard good things about Latitude 43 in Gloucester so we made a quick OpenTable reservation (I’m a sucker for any app with loyalty points) and within minutes we were snuggled in a warm table overlooking the harbor. Oyster addicts, we started with a dozen from Duxbury, Massachusetts. While some oysters leave you hungry, Duxbury oysters do not. They’re are large, meaty, and deliciously briny and paired well with a glass of Rosé.

We followed the oysters with a cup of New England Clam Chowder, fitting for a cold winter day, and split the local fish and chips. The haddock in the fish and chips is locally caught fried to perfection. Fresh and oh so delicate, I threw table manners to the blustering wind and ate the dish with my hands! Call me uncouth, but I believe there’s no better compliment to a chef than having someone devour a meal like an animal—thankfully I don’t think anyone saw me do it!

Following an amazing meal at Latitude 43, we popped over to Cape Ann Brewing Company next door. The Gloucester-based brewery, known for its signature Fisherman’s Brew amber lager, has a restaurant and tap room at the brewery. The beers were delicious—we split a flight of six and relaxed in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the harbor.

Warmed up with food and drink, we eventually hit the road back to Boston, promising ourselves to go back to visit Rockport and Gloucester in the summer. Have you been to either of these towns? What are your favorite things to do there?

Introducing LabGrab™ by Silk Therapeutics—Clean Silk Skincare

By Emily on March 9, 2017

One of my favorite things about blogging is the ability to use my voice to promote small businesses that I believe in, and today I’m excited to share a new product line from one of my favorite small businesses—LabGrab™ by Silk Therapeutics. My skin has been in love with the clean, silk-based skincare for over a year, so when Silk Therapeutics reached out to me to help announce LabGrab, I was happy to collaborate.

For those unacquainted, Silk Therapeutics is a local Massachusetts skincare company founded by two friends and silk scientists on a mission to produce clean skincare that works to improve your skin. With a surprising lack of regulation in the skincare industry, Silk Therapeutics set out to create products that offer the benefits of liquid silk, while being free from harsh chemicals like phthalates, parabens, and fragrances—making Silk Therapeutics the cleanest performance-based skincare on the market today. All of the Silk Therapeutics products are non-GMO and made with pure natural silk that’s cruelty free and never tested on animals.

As you might expect, developing, testing, and producing a line of products made with pure liquid silk can be pricey. But with any concentrated formula, a little goes a long way—one jar of my favorite Silk Renewing Peel lasts me about six months. That being said, the team at Silk Therapeutics found that they were spending a lot of time and money developing multiple product formulas for which, ultimately only one was chosen to go to market. This left batches of extra products just sitting in their lab.

Rather than let extra product go to waste, Silk Therapeutics’ General Manager Rachel Dow suggested to “grab them from the lab” so that others could try them at a more affordable price. And so, the affordable limited-edition LabGrab™ product line was born. Focusing on passing the cost savings over to customers, Silk Therapeutics opted for simple glass bottles and locally-sourced recyclable packaging for the LabGrab line of products.

The inaugural LabGrab line includes five limited-edition products: LabGrab Gel Exfoliator, LabGrab Facial Cleanser, LabGrab Fine Lines Serum, LabGrab Serum – Hydrate/Radiance, LabGrab Cream – Eye Renewal. I had the opportunity to try out the LabGrab Fine Lines Serum and can confidently say that it’s amazing.

The concentrated formula made with antioxidants helps reduce the appearance of fine lines while firming and brightening the skin. Comprised of only liquid silk and 7 additional ingredients (Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Fibroin (Silk), Populus Tremuloides (Aspen) Bark Extract, Sodium Anisate, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil, and Neroli Essential Oil), one drop of the serum is all you need for optimal results.

Since I started using the LabGrab Serum, the fine lines I started to develop (thanks to my 30s) are less noticeable and my skin, despite fighting the flu last week, looks brighter. The formula glides on smoothly and feels good alone or under moisturizer. It must be working because just yesterday, one of my coworkers complimented my skin!

I’m so excited about the launch of LabGrab™ by Silk Therapeutics and encourage you to try it for yourself! The limited-edition LabGrab product line launches today on HSN—check it out!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Silk Therapeutics, but all opinions and brand enthusiasm are my own.

Rose Gin Gimlet Recipe

By Emily on February 7, 2017

I love a good cocktail—wine and beer will never disappoint, but there’s something extra fun about cocktails. Over the past year, I’ve been whipping up more cocktails at home, so when Nautical Gin asked me to participate in a blogger cocktail contest, I had to say yes.

I recently discovered Nautical Gin and have fallen in love with the brand. Nautical Gin is well-balanced with 10 botanicals and a hint of sea salt—yes, sea salt! This little ingredient provides a unique subtle flavor that sets Nautical Gin apart from other gin brands.

As any cocktail lover knows, subtle flavors pair well together, so I chose to make a delicate Rose Gin Gimlet for my submission. This cocktail combines Nautical Gin with homemade rosewater to create a delicious gimlet that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year.

Rose Gin Gimlet

Ingredients:
2 oz Nautical Gin
1 oz St. Germain
1 oz rosewater
1/4 cup dried rose petals
1/2 cup hot filtered water
1 oz simple syrup
1/2 oz lime juice
2 cups ice

Directions for Rosewater*:
Pour 1/2 cup hot water over 1/4 cup of dried rose petals in sealable jar.
Let sit for 10-15 minutes or until cool.
Strain out rose petals.
Keep rosewater in sealed jar for up to one week.

Directions for Cocktail:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
Add 2 oz Nautical Gin, 1 oz St. Germain, 1 oz rose water, 1 oz simple syrup, and 1/2 oz lime juice to cocktail shaker.
Shake well and pour into cocktail glass.
Garnish with dried rose petals and enjoy!

* You can also use 1 oz of purchased rosewater

That’s it! The result is a light pink, slightly tart, delicate gimlet that smells like a bouquet of roses. The dried rose petal garnish floats perfectly for a beautiful display.

You can enjoy this delicately refreshing Rose Gin Gimlet anytime, but it’s especially perfect for Valentine’s Day. Who will you make this cocktail for?

Note: Nautical Gin provided the ingredients for this cocktail; all opinions are my own.

New Year, New You: Flywheel Boston Review

By Emily on January 24, 2017

When it comes to working out in Boston, it seems like there are endless options—everywhere you turn, there’s a new studio popping up. For many people, the availability of choices can be almost paralyzing, so it helps when there’s a studio that offers more than just one type of fitness class. Flywheel Boston is a studio in Back Bay that offers both group cycling and barre style classes in Boston.

I recently had the chance to try out a month of Flywheel classes in collaboration with Flywheel Sports, and fell in love with the studio. As a former Spinning instructor, I’m very critical of group cycling classes. Striving to set themselves above the rest, too many studios teach unsafe moves that have no place on a stationary bike. I’m happy to report that Flywheel not only passed muster in my book, but it won me over as well.

Flywheel

Flywheel’s signature Fly45 ride is 45-minutes of interval-based cardio paired with one song of upper body strength training on the bike. For those looking for an endurance workout, FlyBeats is a 45-minute ride that keeps you moving to the beat of the music on your recovery days. Both classes provide a full body workout in a reasonable amount of time.

Photo courtesy of Flywheel

My favorite thing about the Flywheel classes is that you won’t find any crazy moves in the stadium style room. No handlebar pushups, no crunching your core from side to side, and no rapid-fire tap backs. While these things might not mean much to the novice rider, this is magic to the ears of anyone whose ever almost (or actually) busted their face on or nearly fallen off of a bike while riding at another studio that incorporates bike acrobatics.

Weighted bars are used for an effective upper body workout that keeps your body stable on the bike. If that sounds scary to you, I promise it’s not. The arm workout is a welcome reprieve from an intense class. Keeping up with the class is easy to do, thanks to a TechPack attached to the bike that helps monitor RPMs, Torq (aka resistance), and Current & Total Power.

New riders are encouraged to challenge themselves while riding at their own pace. Riders with a competitive side will love the optional Torq Board, which displays the top ten male and female riders, throughout the class. Individual results of each Flywheel class are tracked and displayed in the Flywheel app, making it easy to keep tabs on your progress.

FlyBarre

On the days that you’re looking to give your booty a break from the bike, there’s FlyBarre, a total body sculpting class. The 45-minute classes combine light weight training, dance, and core exercises in an easy to follow group class. FlyBarre focuses on creating strong and lean muscles and is a perfect complement to a cycling class. There are several FlyBarre classes including a 60-minute option, FlyBarre Sport for high-intensity bursts of cardio, and FlyBarre Arms & Abs, the signature FlyBarre class with a focus on these areas of the body.

As someone who suffers from tight hips and intermittent sciatica, both of which are aggravated by the folded position of a cycling class, I appreciated the chance to stretch and strengthen my body in the FlyBarre classes. A failure at Zumba, I was hesitant to try out FlyBarre due to the dance element, but was pleased to discover that the few choreographed moves were easy to keep up with.

Flywheel Amenities

One of the best things about Flywheel is the amenities that are available. Towels, lockers, and showers are free to use at the Back Bay location. Mats and bikes are assigned so you don’t have to worry about finding a spot if your train is delayed and can book your spot next to a friend if you’re working out together. Cycling shoes that clip into the Flywheel bikes are provided to give every rider the best possible workout. Not listed on their website, the Flywheel Back Bay location has jars of extra hair elastics and ear plugs, both of which are a nice touch.

Flywheel and FlyBarre Instructors

Anyone who has attended a group fitness class knows that it’s the instructor that makes or breaks the class. At both Flywheel and FlyBarre, the instructors were energetic, motivational, funny, and encouraging. Each instructor brings something different to their class, making every workout consistent in intensity, yet dynamic in spirit.

One of my favorite things about the instructors is that they make an effort to remember you. They’ll introduce themselves to you at your first class and recognize you in subsequent classes, making every person who walks through the doors of Flywheel feel like part of a community. If you’re looking for a way to get into shape this year at a welcoming studio, sign up for your first class for just $15 at Flywheel Boston in Back Bay.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary month of Flywheel classes but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sassy in Sequins

Boston Lifestyle & Travel Blog