Self Care Is Sexy Podcast's Three Year Anniversary Episode!

Three years ago, my beloved friend Kris and I accidentally started a project together called Self Care Is Sexy.

While in college, I bought the domain, uncertain of what it would turn in to. When I brought it up in conversation with Kris, she asked if she could turn it into a podcast—a dream she’s had for many years! Three years later, here she is with over 892,000 listens, in 12 different countries, with 34 guest interviews!

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A few weeks ago, Kris approached me with the idea of returning to the podcast for the three year anniversary episode as her special guest. It seemed fitting, as I was the guest in the very first episode, and I was excited to chat about how my self-care journey has evolved over the last few years!

I invite you to listen to the very first episode, where we talk about self-care and our hopes for the podcast, and then listen to the Three Year Anniversary Episode to learn about how much has changed over the years! (We talk about naps, bouldering, therapy, inclusivity, and more!)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: February 2019

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Fortune’s Folly. Photo by Athena Delene.

1. Green EP by Fortune’s Folly
Earlier this year, one of my favorite “local” bands finally released some new music, which can be found on their Green EP ($10) ! Fortune’s Folly is based out of Eugene, Oregon and they always know how to put on a great show! Calysta’s energetic and captivating stage presence, surrounded by groovy, dynamic beats from Ira Mazie (guitar), Jesse Sanchez (bass), and Alex “Squatch” Koleber (drums) is a show you don’t want to miss in person.

The Green EP includes five new songs which will all easily become ear worms after your first listen through. While every song has had the glory of consistently playing in the background of my brain, Freak Flag is an easy favorite to sing along to—especially after watching the impressive music video!

(Side note: All of Fortune’s Folly music is fun to sing along and dance to. Support them by buying their music from their Merch Table, and see if they’re playing a show near you, soon!)

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2. The Original Air Fryer by Philips
Okay, I’m a bit late to the air fryer game, but now that I finally have one, I often find myself wondering how I’ve survived 29 years on this earth without one. Gratefully, I was gifted this Original Air Fryer ($148) for the holidays (Thanks, mom!), and it’s changed the way I cook almost everything. Vegan drumsticks? Check! Breakfast potatoes? Check! Chimichangas? Oh my—check!

Air fryers are a newer way to cook foods that could be easily fried or cooked in the oven, but in a much healthier and quicker way. This kitchen appliance circulates hot air around the food to cook it, while making it nice and crispy. There’s a knob for changing the temperature (dependent upon what you’re cooking), as well as a timer, which will start and end the cooking process. I’ve found that many of the dishes I’ve cooked so far come out being restaurant quality—especially the chimichangas! Next up on my list of food to make? Jalapeño poppers from JL Field’s book!

(Side note: Mine came with this double layer rack with skewers, making more room to cook more chimichangas at once. Would recommend!)

The Original Air Fryer. Photo courtesy Philips.

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Salted Caramel Swirl Frozen Mousse. Photo courtesy So Delicious Dairy Free.

3. Salted Caramel Swirl Frozen Mousse from So Delicious
Somehow I didn’t know this product existed until it was shoved into my hands about a week ago. While having a major chocolate craving, and after naming a variety of chocolate things I wanted (which did NOT include chocolate bars), a sweet friend of mine indulged in bringing me treats—this Salted Caramel Mousse being one of them. (Pricing varies depending on location. Use the store finder to find frozen mousse near you!)

The mousse is so light when picking it up; it feels like an empty container! The texture of the frozen mousse is ridiculously creamy, light, and fluffy. I’ve never experienced anything like it! I don’t have a lot of favorite non-dairy ice creams, but this one has quickly been added to the list!

(Side note: Check out the plethora of flavor options of Frozen Mousse from So Delicious!)

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4. Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge
I am so hashtag blessed to live in sunny Portland, Oregon, less than an hour away from the Columbia Gorge. A place that’s always beautiful for hiking, Latourell (free!) is one of my favorite hikes to do. Out of many hikes I’ve accomplished in the gorge, I find Latourell to be on the easier side, especially after the initial switchbacks that you climb to get as high as the waterfall you see in this photo to the right.

Along the way, you might find salmonberries, an arched maple tree, beautiful sword ferns, Oregon wood sorrel, and a ridiculous amount of photographic opportunities. Once you’re done, I suggest having a picnic at the view point in the parking lot, or crossing the road to have a snack at the Guy W Talbot State Park picnic area.

(Side note: The Columbia Gorge is filled with a number of waterfalls, hikes, and picnic areas where you can appreciate the forest! Remember to do your part: Leave No Trace! If you pack it in, pack it out! Mother Nature is very precious, and we need to do everything we can to take care of her.)

Lower Latourell Falls. Photo by Sarah Cadwell.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: January 2019

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Photo courtesy Maija Rebecca

1. Prints and Cards by Maija Rebecca Hand Drawn
This year, my mom and I decided to split her birthday into Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 was a fun celebration on her actual birthday, whereas Part 2 consisted of mother-daughter bonding time at Portland’s Saturday Market. While we were there, I stumbled across Maija’s booth of beautifully drawn prints and cards. I was instantly enamored and wanted to buy everything I saw!

The print that really caught my eye and has stuck with me is Act From Your Soul (starting at $15). As I’m going through multiple transitions in my life and trying to figure out what my next steps are, this was something I felt that I needed to see every day. So I bought it!

(Side note: Maija has a wonderful assortment of prints and cards to choose from in her shop! They’re all worth checking out.)

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2. Dated Yearly Planner by Passion Planner
I’m kicking off 2019 with my fourth Dated Yearly Planner ($30), and I couldn’t be happier! When I first discovered Passion Planner, it helped me organize the chaos of my life and set goals for the upcoming year—as well as helping me break down the steps to achieve them. In addition, having the weekly and monthly views at-a-glance are extremely helpful for my brain.

A final reason why I love this product? At the end of every month, there’s a month-in-review sections where you’re asked to reflect on questions like: What was the most memorable part of the last month? What were the three biggest lessons you learned? How can you reassess your priorities for next month? And how you were different between the last month and the month before it?

(Side note: Sign up for their online newsletter and/or follow them on Instagram for intermittent discounts! This planner also comes in different colors, as well as undated versions!)

Photo courtesy Passion Planner

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Photo courtesy Ahimsa

3. Women’s Derby in Black from Ahimsa
Ahimsa is the first all-vegan shoe company in the world and are based out of Brazil! When I first laid eyes on the Women’s Derby ($139), I immediately fell in love. When I tried them on and felt how comfortable they were, I knew I had to have them in my life.

Not only are they ridiculously comfortable, they’re stylish, classy, and easy to clean. The main part of the shoe is made of 100% cotton (canvas material), a biolatex interior, and rubber and reclaimed wood for the sole.

(Side note: Ahimsa’s shoes tend to run a bit on the smaller side, so I’d recommend choosing the next size up. [I’m generally between a women’s US size 9–10, and a size 10 worked perfectly for me.] These also come in Royal Blue!)

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4. 40 oz Hydro Flask in Lemon from Hydro Flask
One of the things I’ve been trying to be better about is my water consumption. From what I’ve been told (and what makes sense to me), is that one is supposed to drink half their weight in ounces in water. (For example, if one weighs 200 pounds, one needs to drink 100 ounces of water a day.) With this in mind—and how much I don’t care for drinking water—I needed to make it the easiest I could on myself with minimal water bottle refills. Hence, the 40 ounce Hydro Flask (42.95)!

So many folks have recommended this water bottle, and I finally decided to give in and give it a try. Filling up a 40 oz water bottle twice a day is easy for me to remember and keep track of. For those of you who like to drink your water cold—this is the water bottle for you. Hydro Flask bottles keep your cold drinks cold and your hot drinks hot!

(Side note: Hydro Flask has a wide variety of different kinds of containers available!)

Photo courtesy Hydro Flask

Currently Accepting Cashew Cheese Pre-Orders for Thanksgiving!

Hey folks!

Once again, I have my hand back in the cashew cheese making game and it has been a BLAST! I’ve been creating lots of delicious flavors that I can’t want to share with y’all!

These are a perfect snack for your Thanksgiving and they’re great on bread and crackers. Get some to share with your friends and family—or get some for yourself to not share with your friends and family. I won’t tell!

The images below have all the info you’ll need. If you’d like to pre-order, please fill out this form. If you have any questions at all, feel free to send me an email. xo

Last day to pre-order is Thursday, November 15th.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: October 2018

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1. Cardamom Oat Milk Steamer from Tea Bar
On my birthday this year, my lovely roommate recommended that we stop by Tea Bar (multiple locations) for some drinks before heading out for a hike. Little did I know that I’d immediately become infatuated with Cardamom Oat Milk Steamers ($6+) and daydream about them constantly.

First of all, I want to state for the record that oat milk is the best plant-based milk. I’m 110% obsessed and it’s the only non-dairy milk I ever want in my coffee/tea. Second, if you mix the heavenly elixir that is oat milk with cardamom flavoring and slow-brewed tea, you have an instant Autumnal beverage that is on par with seasonal pumpkin lattes.

(Side note: There are plenty of other flavoring and tea options on their menu! You’ll be sure to find the perfect beverage!)

Photo by Sarah Cadwell

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Photo courtesy Jackie Sobon

2. Vegan Yack Attack On The Go by Jackie Sobon
I love getting new cookbooks, and although Vegan Yack Attack On The Go ($19.47) has been out for a handful of months now, it’s a new cookbook for me!

Jackie’s cookbook is perfect for the person who doesn’t have a lot of time to cook, and/or enjoys doing meal prep for the busy week ahead. So far I’ve had the chance to make the Crustless Quiche Bites (perfect for making ahead and easy-to-eat breakfast bites, complete with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes!) and the Green Enchilada Casserole. (Talk about tasty work lunches!)

Next on my list of things to make? The BBQ Tempeh Wrap, Butternut Mac and Trees, Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells, and Pumpkin Maple Donut Holes!

(Side note: Every single recipe was taken by Jackie herself! She also has another book called Vegan Bowl Attack worth checking out, as well!)

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3. Fear Asylum at Milwaukie-Portland Elks Lodge
For the past couple of years, I’ve been coming here with the majority of my Lady Fam™ (My mother and my two aunts) to get our adrenaline pumping!

I find Fear Asylum ($15 per person) to be the right amount of scary for me: It’s not too cheesy and it’s not too traumatizing! It’s the perfect amount of scary to get the adrenaline going, but there’s also the ability to go back home and sleep like a baby. If you’re fine with actors jumping out from behind things, chasing you, splitting up your party, and some light touching, you’ll enjoy this haunted attraction!

This year’s theme is Circus of the Damned, and it opens on Friday, October 5th.

(Side note: Try to get there on the early side—the line gets long, but it’s worth it!)

Photo courtesy Fear Asylum’s Facebook Page

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Photo by Christina Domingues

4. Métier Tote in Butterscotch by Crystalyn Kae
After seeing two close friends toting around bags similar to this one, I knew that I wanted one, too!

The Métier Tote ($240) by Crystalyn Kae is rad as fuck. First of all, it’s cruelty-free and vegan! The bag is handmade in the US, and is created with glazed fabric (a canvas base, which is painted with a colored glaze), while the inside is lined with the softest microsuede! The most surprising thing I learned about this bag is that it can be thrown in the washing machine for cleaning. Another important facet is that it passes my “can I put the straps over my shoulder without the bag hitting my elbow” test with flying colors!

This bag is water resistant, light-weight, fashionable, classy, and durable.

(Side note: Not vibing with the Butterscotch color? Check out some of the other color options!)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: August & September 2018

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Photo courtesy of Will’s Vegan Shoes

1. Waterproof, Vegan Hiking Boots by Will's Vegan Shoes
As a hiker, who happens to be vegan, it can be quite the challenge to find a pair of vegan hiking boots. For me, I prefer to buy shoes in person vs. online; I can try them on and make sure they fit right, before I commit to making a purchase. Luckily, Portland's own Herbivore Clothing Company is now carrying vegan shoes (omg!), and hiking boots are included! 

As of this writing, I've taken my pair of Will's Waterproof Hiking Boots ($142) out on three adventures: Latourell Falls in the Columbia Gorge; Tom, Dick, and Harry in the Mount Hood National Forest; Tryon State Park in Southwest Portland. These boots are lightweight, have great traction, and have I mentioned that they’re waterproof? Other than needing to be break them in a tad more, there's nothing stopping me from saying that I am in love with them.

(Side note: I usually wear between a 9–10 in a women’s US size, and I got these in a 10. It mostly gives my toes enough room from reaching the tips of the boot while descending.)

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2. A La Nude Nail Polish by Ella & Mila
For quite some time, I've been looking for a pink-side-of-the-nude colored nail polish that was vegan and cruelty-free. Behold, A La Nude ($10.50) made its way into my life, and all was right with my (small and limited) nail polish world. I would describe A La Nude as classy, refined, and subtle.

I remember being surprised by how well it held up over a handful of days without chipping! I'm sure it would have lasted much longer if I didn't tackle some deep-cleaning at home.

(Side note: Looking for other fun, vegan, cruelty-free colors? Check out Ella & Mila's color list!)

Photo by Sarah Cadwell

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Photo courtesy Matt & Nat

3. Jesse Wallet in Black by Matt & Nat
After making the unintentional switch to a smaller purse, it would only be a matter of time before I figured out that throwing my punch cards, debit and credit card, AAA card, bus pass, and driver’s license into a side pocket wouldn't do. They had the potential to fall out at any moment!

When I came across the small Jesse wallet ($45), I knew it was the perfect match. Now my tiny purse is much more organized, safe, and fashionable!

(Side note: Want a pop of color to brighten up your style? Jesse also comes in other colors, like shine!) 

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Photo courtesy Herbivore Clothing Co.

4. Meat Never, Plants Forever Zip-Up Hoodie by Herbivore Clothing Company
Our Portland summer had been abnormally hot. (Global warming, anyone?) But that didn't stop me from snagging a unisex Meat Never, Plants Forever zip-up hoodie ($55) from Herbivore Clothing Co. 

As a taller lady, with lanky arms, I tend to have a soft-spot for sleeves that reach mid-finger length. There's something about it that is oh-so-cozy and feels oh-so-right.

Since the hoodie is made up of 50% poly, 25% airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, and 25% rayon, it doesn't shrink!

(Side note: Zip-up hoodies not your jam? Get a Meat Never, Plants Forever iron-on patch, enamel pin, or vinyl sticker!)

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Photo courtesy of Nu Culture

5. Bacony Chipotle Cheese Spread by Nu Culture
If I could go back in time to discover something sooner, it would be this tasty af cashew spread. A few months ago, Waz Wu (@wazwu__) of Veganizer PDX, posted to her instagram stories about how amazing these spreads were and was continuously recommending them!

One day, when I was standing in front of the refrigerated section at Food Fight, I saw these suckers staring at me, reminding me that I wanted to give them a shot. I picked up the Bacony Chipotle spread ($6.75)—as well as a few other snacks—and headed home. 

Upon setting my vegan bounty on the kitchen counter, I immediately opened the container and eagerly dipped multiple tortilla chips into this heavenly dip—I knew my life was instantly changed when I had consumed the entire container!

Don't wait longer than I did! I highly recommend  going out to snag yourself a tub of this blissful, savory cheese dip—like, five minutes ago.

(Side note: Not much of a spicy heat person? Try Nu Culture's Garden Herb spread!)

Done is Better Than Perfect.

As a perfectionist, I often get caught up with feelings of never being "good enough," which results in not putting out work as often as I'd like to.

I came across this quote today while doing research, and decided to take about five minutes and turn it into a wallpaper background for my super ancient MacBook Pro.

You're welcome to download and use it, here!

Enjoy!