One Year, 10 Self-Care Discoveries

One Year, 10 Self-Care Discoveries - Pura Vida Sometimes - SmartyPants, JR Ethereal, Iredale

The last year was challenging for many of us – personally, professionally, politically. It’s easy to get swept-away by headlines and hype, and to fall down the rabbit hole of social media. But for me, everything outside my control incited a journey into how to create balance, mindfulness, and contentment. In the present. Within myself. Small breaks between the madness. Self-care allows us to slow down, focus, and listen to ourselves on a deeper level, without being drowned out by the white noise (or the crash, boom, bang) of ordinary life. Whether we’re tired parents, busy professionals, or burdened citizens, […]

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5 Self-Care Hacks for Busy Parents

5 Self-care Hacks for Busy Parents - Pura Vida Sometimes - bath time

I think I’ve passed the point in my life when resolutions are important. Every year I want to lose weight, eat better, sleep more, be a better person. But in the last few years, the journey has become exponentially more important than the destination: why do I want what I want, and how do I move in the right direction? With a very limited budget of time for myself, I’ve devised a few self-care hacks which I hope will serve you. Last year about this time, rather than resolutions, I set the intentions for myself of making space, finding balance, being […]

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Create a Moment: Spa on the Road

Create a Moment - Spa on the Road - Pura Vida Sometimes

If you’re single and your time is all your own,  enjoy it. For the rest of us, we have to take full advantage of the intermittent and fleeting moments of respite to self-indulge. Business trips, for me, are long days of hard work and evenings in the home-away-from-home spa. Seize the opportunity to create a relaxing experience when and where you can. When I travel, I’m most often in 4- and 5-star hotels, far nicer than anything I’d be able to afford on my own. And although I’m working 10 to 12 hour days talking to people and wishing I […]

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3 Beauty Oils That Had Me at Hello

Beauty Oils on Pura Vida Sometimes

If I could go back in time share some words of wisdom with my tween self, I’d say, “Little G, eat whole foods and less sugar both for health and vanity, Noxema is not the answer to all your skin woes, just one dab of Electric Youth will do ‘ya, and a big one: middle school really sucks, but hang in there – nerds rule the world and you’re of royal lineage.” Still working my way up… Discovering beauty oils changed my life, and I doubt I’ll ever again buy another conventional moisturizer. These are the reasons, for me, there’s […]

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Stayin’ Fly with Toiletries in Check

Stayin' fly with toiletries in check on Pura Vida Sometimes

When you spend a lot of time on the road, you develop efficiencies so you can sleep that extra half hour, get through security quickly, roll up to the gate just as the doors are closing, and arrive at your destination with all your belongings intact. Whether I’m planning an overnight trip or a two-week vacation (I wish!), I’m happy to share my system with you for smooth travels, as far as travel toiletries are concerned. Be ready to skip town: I always leave a set of travel-ready toiletries packed and ready to go waiting patiently in the closet for […]

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