It took us awhile to get here and we’re still not technically “done” decorating (we want to hang more art, mostly!), but I can finally say that our living room and kitchen are fully set up! Today I’m sharing my process + home inspo to piece together a room without it looking like a bunch of pieces randomly thrown together. We moved 2.5 months ago after buying this house, but it took a full month for the movers to even arrive with our stuff, we had lots of expenses with more urgent homeowner things

Buying a house for the first time can be such an overwhelming, confusing process — it’s hard to know where to even begin! I’m answering all your FAQ’s here, like how much of a deposit we put down, how to figure out your home-buying budget, what to know about the real estate process, unexpected costs, getting a mortgage pre-approval, the pros and cons of renting versus owning, and so much more.

Hilariously enough, I can’t believe I’m writing this and that we actually did it. We closed on the house TODAY!

I think in the blur of the last 2 years of the housing market frenzy that came with the way the panini changed a lot of our priorities and day-to-day needs, it seemed like a “we bought a house!” announcement was popping up on my Instagram feed every other day— from IRL friends, to influencers, it felt ubiquitous, and also a bit difficult to watch when we were sharing 600 sq ft of space and WFH 24/7.

Endometriosis symptoms, severity, and experiences vary WIDELY amongst those of us who have this disease, aka 1 out of 10 women. Here, I am sharing all that I have learned about Endometriosis, how Endometriosis is diagnosed, how to manage Endometriosis symptoms, and other resources that I have found along this process.

I’m not gonna lie, one of the things I have missed the most during this pandemic (aside from the obvious stuff) are baked goods from my favorite local gluten-free and vegan bakery. I used to see a client in that neighborhood weekly, and it became a tradition of sorts to pick up a little treat after our sessions.

They have amazing GF and vegan donuts, but they also have this lemon loaf with a pink-colored lemon frosting that I could probably lick by the spoonful. When one of my favorite food brands asked me to bake a spring-y recipe for a partnership, I jumped at the chance to create a little twist on the lemon loaf I love so much.

Over the last 5 years, I’ve been actively making more sustainable lifestyle changes— everything from using reusable tote bags and produce bags, bringing reusable tumblers with me, reducing usage of single-use products, altering my buying habits and supporting sustainably-made products. Then Covid hit, and a lot of our lifestyles changed. I was no longer running around the city all day for work, we were having to order groceries for awhile for our safety, and having more things delivered to our home in general. My waste footprint shifted, with more packaging used through deliveries and groceries and single-use items for sanitization protection, so I started thinking about ways I could up my sustainability efforts at home with this new lifestyle. Here are the 5 eco-friendly quarantine trends that showed up in 2020 that I hope to continue (and have other people do the same!) this year:

In the past when I’ve gotten asked about my supplement routine, I’ve hesitated sharing because my specific regime is specific to me— but the truth is, supplements can benefit everyone. It’s nearly impossible for most people to get all of their daily requirements of vitamins and minerals solely through food these days, so it’s important that we supplement our daily routines with those vitamins needed for our bodies to optimally function for our individual health needs. I’m sharing what supplements I currently take to support my health, and why!

Where to begin?! It is actually insane how much I’ve learned in the 3.5 months we have had Benny. I will start with saying that I would say the overwhelming majority of people do not understand the amount of work / time that goes in to properly raising a puppy and how much your lifestyle changes. This guide will save you that time / research, and will make you feel as prepared as possible for when your baby comes home. It will be an overwhelming time, regardless, but this will make your life easier.

Do you guys remember that nostalgic and very specific taste of brownies made from a boxed mix? I honestly miss that classic flavor and chewy texture, and I typically am not a fan of fancy bakery brownies because they feel like they’re trying to be something that they are not meant to be. Then add in my inability to eat gluten, dairy, or almonds, and it really only left me with mixes that were pure sugar and cornstarch or tahini brownies that were good but the taste of tahini was far overpowering for what I wanted a classic brownie to be.

Enter. These. Brownies.

In this blog post, I’ve put together the most helpful information I’ve found on how you can support organizations working to fight against racism, police brutality, and policy reform, along with educational resources for understanding white privilege, resources for unlearning + learning, and more sources of perspective to fill our brains with: books, movies, articles, and more.

No matter who you are or what you do, if you are a human with a functional brain and bodily system, you experience stress. From CEO’s to scientists to stay-at-home moms to bus drivers, stress affects us all. Because of this universally shared experience, we are bombarded with advice articles on “best ways to eliminate stress,” “how to de-stress,” and there are so many products sold that promise to help make you melt or “bust” the stress out of your life.

It’s funny when I look back at some older recipes on this blog because I read my words about what was going on at the time that blog post was published, and then I am immediately flooded with memories from that era. Well, the time I am currently living in is the height of quarantining and social distancing for the sake of Covid-19. In the past 30-ish days or so, we have cooked every single meal (except 1) at home— which is truly a world record of sorts for any New Yorker. Right now is a time in which I’ve been playing Macgyver with the contents of our fridge + pantry most days, strategically using produce by the order in which they expire so that we don’t waste anything.

Not many things better than curling up with a bowl of classic chili and Netflixing, IMHO. I’ve never made chili so many times in my life as I have this past winter season, because not only is it just an amazingly easy thing to batch cook to have delicious leftovers around all week (and leftover chili is often even better!), but also there’s something just so comforting and cozy about these flavors! This easy and flexible recipe is a major household favorite over here.

Elderberry has become one of the cool kids on the block for its immunity-boosting benefits— but like many of the homeopathic health remedies that have become so popular in recent years, the European Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been used in syrups and juices for centuries for its powerful properties. Nowadays, you find them as syrups, in lozenges, gummies, and in foods.

I’m no stranger to health problems. 10 years of being a competitive athlete with countless sprains, concussions, broken things, and stitches, followed by facing a decade-long struggle with an eating disorder, a hip surgery, and an autoimmune disease diagnosis of Hashimoto’s and hormonal imbalances is a colorful collection, I’d say. As of last week, I’ve got a new, unexpected chapter to add to the list and one more pending epilogue— I found out I have adenomyosis, and as the cherry on top? I’m scheduled for a biopsy on Thursday for a lump found in my breast.

Right around this time at the beginning of December, I start craving those warming spices of nutmeg and cinnamon, and get an itch to bake all the things— so this pumpkin spice muffin recipe is the perfect combination of everything! It’s also gluten-free, vegan-optional, and nut-free, so it’s an easy worry-free crowd-pleaser for the holidays.