They say “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” —George Santayana, And I think we can take that sentiment and use it in our every day lives. Taking a moment to pause, reflect with curiosity and love, and take a lesson from that is so powerful. Then let it go and move forward with a fresh mindset and confidence. Don’t dwell, don’t regret, don’t judge, don’t live in the past but learn from it instead.

Not only is it the end of a month but it’s the halfway point of the year. When was the last time you sat with yourself, your thoughts, no distractions, and reflected? Listened to your thoughts as your thoughts alone? Scanned and tuned into your body? We need to be taking these mental and physical checkpoints and getting connected with ourselves more often. I know it feels uncomfortable but it is sooooo good for us. It allows for forgiveness, empathy, learnings, deeper thoughts and creativity. Time moves so much quicker when we are constantly distracted and filling our time with external noise. We must make time for intentional silence and boredom.

With that being said, let’s get intoooo my top 10 favorites of the month! These are things I recently discovered and love, my tried & trues, rituals I can’t live without & more. All things vetted and loved by me. Let’s get into itttt….

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1. Movement as a Ritual

I feel like my brain fully developed when I realized that movement doesn’t have to be this chore, it can be something I crave and love doing, the ultimate way to tune into and honor my body. I don’t have to go to the gym & lift weights if I am not feeling it, I can light a candle in the evening at home and do body weight and deep meditative stretches.

Someone asked me the other day how I find discipline to do things I know are good for me but seem hard. My answer was something like this, I think it’s a mindset shift. As women we often don’t respond well to rigidity, restriction & rules. We are ever flowing and fluid beings. We must romanticize the things that make us feel good and make them fun, instead of feeling like they are a chore to check off the list. Health and wellness looks different for each individual, and you must find the ways that make YOU feel good!! Once you find those things, you’ll notice that you look forward to them and crave them. Remember that health is abundance not scarcity and restriction. It should be adding to your life, not taking from it.

A lot of figuring this out requires what I was talking about above, intentional time to separate from the noise and tune into your own mind and body. Once I found movement I loved, it allowed me to find my breath & my strength again. I wake up and WANT to move my body because it makes me feel so good. I do believe all of this connects. Giving yourself time to connect and get to know yourself opens up a sense of self, which allows for a deeper understanding and respect for your mind and body. When you love and respect your mind and body, you only want to do things that make it feel good. You cut through the noise and the bullshit and listen to your gut.

2. Boncharge Red Light Mask

One of my favvvv lil rituals for healthy skin. Been using this mask for years now and I always notice a positive difference in my skin when I am using it consistently. Feels more smooth, even & glowy.

I love the mask because it’s really personalized and customizable. You can choose red light, infrared light, or both. You can customize the time and the intensity, there are different levels to choose from. I literally wake up and do 10 minutes before getting up in the morning from bed, it’s one of the easiest low-lift hacks for healthy skin. Since I will be spending so much time in the sun this summer, I will continue to be consistent with it because it stimulates cellular energy and collagen production, which can help repair UV sun damage and oxidative stress. Another tip: go outside during the sunrise & sunset!! The sun naturally emits red & near infrared light during that time!

I love partnering with Boncharge, Boncharge really cares about quality, prioritizes clinical trial support and has some of the highest standards when it comes to red light therapy. You can use my code ELLA20 to get 20% off your order!

3. Sardine Summer

Tomato girl summer? Check. Sardine summer? Check check honey. The girls are eating sardinessss yessssss. But before I get into why&how I have been enjoying them, I think it’s important to remember where they came from. I love THIS article about the history of sardines.

Sardines have been re-claimed as an aesthetic food, but before this they were never fancy. They were a staple in Portuguese and Mediterranean cooking. They were sustenance for people doing hard work with their hands, dinner for people who couldn’t afford dinner. I think it’s important to remember where they came from, and eat them with humility. In all that we consume, remembering and honoring where it came from and connecting with the source of our food cultivates a deeper sense of gratitude & nourishment.

Sardines are one of the most nutrient dense foods, these lil fish have some of the most bioavailable form of heathy omega-3 fatty acids. They’re also rich in protein, vitamin d, zinc, and important vitamins and minerals. They are SO wonderful for our skin health, hair and nails, brain health & bones. A few ways I love eating them:

• In a bowl with coconut oil rice & carrot salad

• Mashed with lemon on a rice cracker

• Wrapped in seaweed and eaten like a handroll

• Mashed in a salty spicy pasta sauce with either tomato or lemon (or both)

• On a snack plate with crunchy crackers

• Pickled sardine salad—like tuna salad but with sardines

• Mashed with dijon mustard and lemon with potato chips

I’ve been eating sardines every day and I can’t wait to share more creative ways to enjoy them! Would love to hear how you enjoy them too.

4. Intentional Boredom

I wrote about this last summer and wanted to bring it here again (maybe I will deep dive into it more) but boredom is a privilege.

We live in constant overstimulation, distracting us from mental downtime to the point where we become physically uncomfortable sitting still and doing nothing. It’s really scary if you think about it. A lot of us can’t just sit and enjoy a coffee or a meal by ourselves without our phones. In the elevator, in the subway, everyone’s staring at their screens. It’s so black-mirror coded.

Being bored allows the center in our brain that creates, thinks & imagines to thrive. Our default state is fight or flight, but to sit in that uncomfortable state of boredom helps us find peace, creativity and healing. We need to be okay with just being. Sometimes the most productive things we can do for our minds is take a break from productivity as a whole. Practice intentional boredom!!!

5. Overalls

Guys I am just living in these overalls. I can’t stop. A few years ago I thought I could never pull off overalls and now all I want to do is live in them. They are so comfortable, so cute and easy to throw on, you can dress them up or make them super casual. I just love ‘em and I get so many questions about them whenever I am wearing them! I will have these forever.

6. Plastic-Free Razor

A few years ago I really wanted to move away from my razor because it’s used in all my intimate parts and a lot of times is made with plastic or has like a gel-residue substance that has who knows what in it, so I switched to a 100% stainless steel razor and let me tell you I used that thing once and immediately went back to my plastic razor because I cut myself soooo bad it felt so dangerous and hard to use and scared me. So I decided nevermind.

This year though I came back around and decided to experiment with some more razors and happened to find this Weighted Metal Razor, I have been using it for a few months and I love it. I was EXTRA cautious at first because I was kinda traumatized by my first time I tried to use one of these razors but this one made it a lot easier and I became comfortable with it quicker. The entire razor is plastic free and made not to rust. I feel like it allows for a super smooth shave.

7. Weighted-Walks

This is my new favorite thing to do when I don’t feel like going to the gym. I have become a little obsessed with ankle weights I have like a million pairs because I will double up on my ankles and also put them on my arms when doing at home workouts.

Now when I don’t feel like lifting weights I will put them on my ankles and arms and just go for a walk like usual. It’s kind of like wearing a weighted vest (which I also love doing), but it activates different muscles and I feel like challenges me in a different way. It elevates my walk and makes me feel like I got a good workout in in a super low effort way.

8. Mineral Sunscreen

Sunscreen is such a hot topic. There are two sides of the spectrum, it’s an absolute necessity and you must wear multiple layers every single day put it on as soon as you wake up or else, and then there’s it’s a scam and it’s not good for you. So much fear based noise, I mean it’s just insane hahaha I understand from a third party perspective why people are like fuck health and wellness I cannot keep up with this shit. But I believe that the truth always lies somewhere in the middle, at least for me.

I am not someone who wakes up and puts on sunscreen. I don’t wear sunscreen on a gloomy rainy day, or much at all during the winter. I wear sunscreen on my face/neck/chest more than anywhere else, I think it’s important, and I wear sunscreen everywhere when I am going to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time. ESPECIALLY after the winter when my body is not yet adjusted to the sun. BUT I don’t fear the sun.

I will dive into this deeper in a separate substack, but there are many ways to protect your skin from the sun. Physical sunscreen like a hat or clothing, adjusting to the sun by exposing yourself during the sunrise and the sunset when the rays are not strong, ditching the sunglasses during peak hours, eating well, and mineral sunscreen.

When I am wearing sunscreen, I am wearing mineral sunscreen, specifically non-nano zinc oxide. A lot of sunscreens out there are made with a potion full of chemicals that I don’t totally trust, so mineral is my tried and true. I also have sensitive skin that breaks out easily so I am usually seeking out sunscreens that are non-comedogenic. I have a roundup of some of my favorite mineral sunscreen options here.

9. Backgammon

The best game ever. I got this beautiful personalized backgammon board for Cooper for our anniversary last year and we actually have used it every single day since. It’s such a great gift and it’s also the perfect summer game. We bring it everywhere, to the park, to the beach. I was laughing so hard the other day because I saw this guy pull up to the bar with backgammon….genius I must say.

10. Tomato Girl Summer

It’s the season of the tomato. We’ve been waiting for this all year girls, and we’ve made it. Cherries & tomatoes. Two of my favorite fruits.

My favorite tomatoes are heirloom tomatoes & sungold tomatoes. Sooooo juicy and gorgeous and really all you need are a drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil and flakey salt, maybe some fresh basil to be delicious. Toasts, pastas, sandwiches, bowls, salads, the possibilities are truly endless.

Stay tuned next Sunday for July’s seasonal menu!!!!

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So excited to go into the second half of the year with you all. Love ya love ya love ya.

XO - Ella

PS: Always me know if you have any questions! I linked everything I talked about here in my ShopMy page, some are affiliate links some are not. I also reorganized my entire ShopMy + Amazon Storefront so if you are looking for something I posted about hopefully you can find it easier.

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I have been loving spring so much so far minus the allergies and the weather extremities that le…

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Before we dive into the new month I am sharing my top 10 favorites from last month! Everything from bev recipes to new rituals to products I have been loving. ENJOY <3

Reminder I am going live with Carly from Donabe with Me on Sunday at 5PM EST for a live cooking class! We’re making Gingery Chicken, Spinach & Daikon Rice Porridge. Feel free to join and watch or follow along and cook! More details here.

Now let’s get into itttt…..

1. Morning Bevs & Pages

It’s absolutely no surprise that I love a slow morning. Slow mornings have been life-changing for me mostly because they have been the starting domino in creating an environment for a regulated nervous system. I used to wake up every morning in a rushed panic with the mindset that I was already behind, and that created the perfect fight or flight storm for the entirety of my day. So slowing down, having a peaceful morning instead allows me to move through my day with calm and peace. For me how I wake up sets the pace for my whole day. In this routine, I have been re-introducing my morning pages.

A while back I read The Artists Way, and I need to open it up and read it again, but in the beginning Julia Cameron references “The Morning Pages” as a ritual to clear the mind and get rid of stagnant energy that is blocking creative flow. Basically sit down and write three pages when you wake up. Stream of consciousness. Although I don’t force myself to do the full three pages because when I do that I end up doing nothing at all, I do have myself just sit down and write, even if only for a few minutes. It’s been a really nice morning practice. And ofc I am doing it while sipping on my morning bevs. Lately the lineup as been morning beauty protein hot cacao (which the recipe for this is below), lemon ginger water, and my mineral tea blend. So good.

Also btw I don’t go on my phone or screens for the first 30 minutes to an hour within waking up. I highly recommend.

2. Matcha Kokoro

AND SPEAAAAKING OF BEVS……MATCHA KOKORO OBVIOUSLY.

Omg I can’t believe we launched only a few weeks ago?!? It actually feels like you guys have had it in your hands forever. I am still pinching myself at how positive the response has been. Seeing you all love Matcha Kokoro as much as me, feeling all the love & care that went into it, making it a part of your morning rituals, makes me cry happy tears!!!! I am so so grateful for you alllll.

Matcha Kokoro is in stock!!! We did our second drop towards the end of April so if you want to refill or try it for the first time it’s there for you! This is a limited time offering so make sure to grab it while you still can.

Cosmic Cultures is actually in Japan right now meeting with the farmer that created Kokoro and giving them all of your amazing feedback, I know they will be so touched and grateful by everything you guys had to say. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

PS, sharing one of my favorite quotes from one of the farmers in Japan, “The more green the Earth is, the more peaceful the nature is, and the more peaceful people become.”

3. Black Seed Oil

Also known as “The Cure for Everything but Death”. I love black seed oil, it truly does aid in every ailment. Stomach ache, acne, sickness, inflammation—black seed oil. It’s quite strong but I have actually grown to love the taste. It’s nice with some lemon or raw honey to wash it down. Black Seed Oil is rich in thymoquinone, which gives it its powerful antioxidant properties.

I have been taking this Black Seed Oil lately (you can use “GLOWWITHELLA” as a discount code) which I like because you can pump it straight into your mouth. More about black seed oil in this in depth article:

WARKITCHEN

#092 The most underrated natural antibiotic

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2 years ago · 138 likes · 11 comments · ROCKY

4. Bath Time

My goal in my future home is to have a bathtub that is separate from my shower….dreamy. But until then I am in my 1bath nyc apartment, and I am trying to still romanticize bath time! Baths are an ancient beauty ritual, and they are a wonderful way to detoxify our bodies and SWEAT.

Before bathing I like to clean my bathtub, I will usually use hypochlorous acid and then do a full steam to sanitize.

I also recently invested in a bath filter for my water (I used to just turn on the shower and let the bath fill up because I only had a shower filter lol). & then my bathtub is reaaaalllyy old and the pipes are a little bit scary so I also got a drain stopper to clog the bath. Add some mineral salts and voila! Love doing some dry brushing before and turning on all the red lights in my bathroom to really set the vibe.

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5. Outdoor & At-Home Movement

The weather has been really nice lately and so going to the gym has just been turning me off. I don’t want to be stuck inside in the air conditioned fluorescent crowded gym when I can be frolicking in the park (although there is room for both). So when I am not going to the gym I am balancing it with outdoor & at-home movements.

I have to say…at home workouts have been really fun for me lately. I feel like they allow for a full mind-to-muscle activation like no other. ALSO—you can set the vibe entirely how you like. Candles, dim lights, soft high frequency music. A workout can be a low-stimulation nervous system regulating and calm practice, it doesn’t have to be so draining and overstimulating—this mindset has changed my lifeee and has made me crave working out vs. dread it.

I have found there are a few tools that have really been helpful for me:

• Stakd Mat: love this because it folds up really easily and I don’t have a ton of room

• Ankle/Arm Weights: I put these on my ankles and on my wrists and it completley elevates the workout. I really like these ones too they don’t bother me as much

• Resistance Bands: I use these daily

• Free-Weights: One pair of 10 pound weights is all I need for lifting at home

• Pilates ball: LOVE this especially for core activation

No gym membership, no problem. Also very easy to travel with (esp the ankle weights).

6. Morning Beauty Protein Hot Cacao

The creamy, energizing, heart-opening, creativity sparking drink I have been sipping on every morning. It’s just so divine. And it’s true what they say…having protein within an hour of waking up has actually improved my life and this has been the easiest way for me to do it. Over 30g of protein, and filled with nourishing functional ingredients that fuel me and make my skin glow.

Ingredients

• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder*

• 1 tsp grass-fed gelatin**

• 1 scoop collagen*

• 1/2 oz of ceremonial cacao*** OR 1 tbsp raw cacao powder + 1 tsp unrefined coconut oil

• 1 tsp raw honey*

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 3/4 cups milk

• 1/4 cup filtered water

• pinch of salt

Recipe

1. Add everything to a frother or a hot chocolate maker to steam and froth, (if you don’t have this, heat everything together on a stove top, whisking often until everything is combined, then blend or froth together until creamy and combined)

2. Top with hot water as needed, if you like it thick and creamy don’t add any, if you like it a bit thinner add 1 tbsp at a time

3. Enjoyyyyy

• *discount is ELLA10

• **discount is glowwithella

• ***discount is ELLA03633

7. Sardine Brekky Bowl

This is usually my second breakfast, my real food breakfast after my hot cacao. I have been eating sardines sooo often lately and they are just so incredible. Full of nourishing healthy fats and proteins. One of the most bioavailable sources of omega-3s. This has been my favorite way to enjoy them!

The deets:

• Rice cooked in filtered water and coconut oil

• Carrot + beet salad with lots of evoo, vinegar* and salt

• Sauerkraut or kimchi

• Sardines

• 8 minute medium boiled eggs

• Coconut aminos + black sesame seeds

& BTW another fav….is this *tangerine vinegar oh my goshhhh I have been drowning everything in it. It’s mind with a hint of sweetness and acidity it’s just perfect and has been my go to for carrot salads. Honestly all of their fruit vinegars are insane so I recommend the trio. Such a good gift too.

8. Getting Ready in the Morning

My home is my office. My office is the kitchen and when I am writing and working on my computer I am doing it from the couch or dining room table. This can definitely be uninspiring and reaaalllyyy tests my motivation+procrastination. I find myself cleaning up around the house instead of focusing on a task or just getting distracted with things a lot easier. During the winter especially I found myself staying in my pajamas all day and rarely leaving the house (nyc winter blizzard things).

SO I decided to change things up as soon as the weather started warming up. Instead of rolling out of bed and staying in my pajamas, I act as if I am getting ready to go “into the offic”e after my morning routine. I change out of my pajamas, I do my skincare routine, I put on some makeup, and I go outside. I get some light walking and movement in and see the sun. When I come back I have a new sense of motivation. It helps to split up my day and make me feel like I am entering a new stage of production. Also a weird hack but I am a shoeless household, but I heard that wearings shoes can help work from home better so I have been putting on indoor shoes to help with that lol. Weird hack but it works. Once I am done with the workday, I go outside get some more movement or maybe go to the gym, and then shower. Breaking up my day like this helps me not feel so stuck and stagnant working from home which helps with my productivity and creativity.

I also have been loving my light glowy makeup routine, lmk if you want me to share it.

9. Digestive Bitters

Digestive! Bitters! Always! If you have been following along with me, you know this is nothing new. I have carried digestive bitters in my purse for over 5 years now. It is one of the tools that helped me to rebalance my stomach acid and stimulate healthy digestion when I was struggling with sibo.

When I was really struggling I’d take them 15-30 minutes before every meal, a dropper straight into my mouth. Now I don’t take them as often, but whenever I go out to eat or have a heavier meal they are always there for me.

My favorite are the original bitters & the citrus bitters (citrus are more mild for people who can’t handle the bitterness) but you can use discount GLOWELLA15 on everything! I love that they have a travel spray too.

For a gluten/dairy heavy meal when I am going out to eat I also love my gluten+dairy enzymes.

10. Berry Vitamin-C Maxxing Smoothie

This has been my favorite refreshing & nourishing snack on a hot day.

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen wild blueberries

• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries

• 1/4 cup frozen raspberries

• 1 serving acerola cherry vitamin C

• 1 scoop protein powder

• 1/4 cup skyr yogurt or kefir

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 tsp raw honey

• pinch of salt

• 1/4 cup milk

Recipe

1. Add everything to a blender, finishing with milk

2. Close the lid on the blender and give it a shake if its a handheld blender

3. Pulse to blend until everything is smooth and combined (if blender gets stuck, shake or use tool to mix around, if it still stays stuck, add more milk or water 1 tbsp at a time to blend)

4. Top with granola, cacao nibs, bee pollen & enjoy!

I use the beast stainless steel blender.

Let me know if you have any questions! I linked everything I talked about here in my ShopMy page, some are affiliate links some are not. I also reorganized my entire ShopMy + Amazon Storefront so if you are looking for something I posted about hoefully you can find it easier.

Let me know if you have any questions at allll… & stay tuned this weekend for May’s Seasonal Menu + Live Cooking Class on Sundayyy!! Wooooo!!!

XO - Ella

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“May your choices reflect your hopes, instead of your fears.” -Nelson Mandela

“It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” -Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I have said this before but one of the biggest shifts that I made in my life was making decisions out of love and excitement vs. out of fear and anxiety. & it is easier said than done. I used to live in a chronic fight or flight state and it’s natural to revert back to that state, because unfortunately that is my “familiar hell”.

With the constant negative overstimulation in the world it’s easy to develop a fear mindset and constantly live in that fear, making choices because we fear certain outcomes. I see this a lot in the world of health and wellness especially, with all of the fear mongering out there. That fear manifests into physical pain and illness.

& I see the same in interpersonal relationships, we are so fearful of being vulnerable, being let down, being hurt, being betrayed, that we’ve stopped living and expressing our true love and emotions. What’s the point of language if you don’t say what you feel? -Cherub. Queue up that song.

So many doors open, we are rewarded with so many opportunities, when we take the leap. Every rejection, every failure, is redirection and a learning experience. & this is my energy going into this spring season.

I can’t wait for the month of April, the trees are slowly starting to bloom and I am so excited!!!! But first, let’s get into my top 10 favorites for March…

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1. Warm & Savory Breakfast

There is really no such thing as a “breakfast” food or a “lunch” food. Once you realize those invisible barriers don’t really exist in adulthood a whole new world of opportunities opens up lol. I have realized that I love a warm and savory breakfast in the morning, and that is coming from someone who used to eat smoothies and fruity oatmeal and yogurt bowls every day. Now I find myself craving more warming, nourishing, meals like soups, porridge, congee, stew. I have been loving a traditional Japanese breakfast as well—some rice, miso soup, salmon, pickled veggies. So delicious and makes me feel so good going about my day.

2. Cooking in the Donabe

I am in love with my donabe!!!! If you don’t know what a donabe is it’s a traditional Japanese clay pot and it can be used to cook soso many delicious meals. Plus it is just beautiful and I love it sitting out on my counter. I’ve been using it to cook a lot of rice, congee, and one pot meals.

3. Neck Fascia Release

Every morning I like to do a sternoleidomastoid release. We have these muscles on the right & left side of our neck. I have TMJ and also just stiff neck/trap/jaw muscles. A couple of years ago my acupuncturist taught me this neck release massage and it’s truly life changing. She actually taught me it when I was dealing with hormonal acne on my jawline because it helps to stimulate the lymphatic system.

For the left side I gently lean my head down to the right, and starting at the top very gently pinch and knead in downward strokes down the muscle with both hands, using my thumb, pointer & middle finger. & repeat for the other side.

This helps with posture, muscle tightness, jaw tightness, tension headaches, posture & more!

4. Acupuncture

& speaaakinggg of acupuncture. It is truly just the best. If you have the resources, I highly recommend you find an acupuncturist you love and trust and make it a part of your routine. A lot of insurances actually cover acupuncture nowadays.

Literally for any ailment I have, there is an acupuncture point that helps with it. Digestion, PMS, allergies, tightness, pain, headaches, sickness, etc!!! It is so incredibly healing every time I go to acupuncture I leave feeling a million times better. I have recently been going again for a knee injury.

If you can’t do acupuncture, I also love an acupressure mat. Whenever I use this consistently in my routine it helps immensely with pain, tension, stress and sleep.

5. Milk Frother

I have been on the hunt for a good electronic milk frother that makes the perfect microfoam for latte art and is made of less plastic materials & I have founddd itttt. I decided I wanted to invest in a good one because I have been dealing with bad ones that break after a few months or are super inconsistent.

This milk frother definitely is a heftier price (like why are so many milk frothers out there so expensive??) but it works. It creates the most gorgeous microfoam for lattes at home, plus you can customize it to work for plant based milks as well, just takes a little tuning in. Been loving it for my lattes.

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6. Everything-Smoothie

I know that above I said I have been loving a warm and savory breakfast but I don’t always wake up in the mornings super hungry so this is my go to when I am in that phase. I feel so much more clear headed and energetic in the mornings and throughout the day when I get good protein and nourishment within an hour of waking up (and pre-caffeine) so this smoothies is my go to when I don’t have a lot of time. I call it my everything-smoothie. Or cement-smoothie lol because it kind of just looks like cement. It’s a little wild but I love it and it makes me feel good. Basically just a way to load up and fuel as much as possible in one shake. I usually don’t add ice or frozen fruit because I like warmer beverages for my digestion in the morning.

Ingredients (measure with your heart):

• A2 Whole Milk (I use family farmstead)

• A2 Kefir or Skyr

• Egg Yolk

• Chocolate ABC Protein Powder (discount is ELLA10) OR Grass-Fed Beef Protein Isolate Powder (discount is ELLA10)

• Collagen Powder

• IGG Powder (& sometimes leaky gut revive)

• Grass-fed Beef Gelatin (discount is glowwithella)

• Scoop of Black Sesame Butter

• Cacao Nibs

• Pinch of Salt

• Sometimes a lil raw honey

& just blend everything together!

7. Glow Sunscreen

I keep getting asked what that bronzy glow base is underneath my makeup & it’s this glow mineral sunscreen! I used to be obsessed with bronzing drops and so that is like this but in sunscreen form. It puts the best bronze glow on and I love it I know I am going to be using it alll the time come summer too! I don’t wear sunscreen every day but I like to wear it in long-periods of sun and especially in sunshine post-winter as my skin is not used to the sun at this point. I’m super picky about the sunscreen I use on my face so it always has to be mineral & non-comedogenic and this one is!

8. Night-time Routine

A couple of weeks ago I sent out a substack about my wind-down routine, how I wind down to get the best nights sleep, and this month I have added onto it.

I am definitely a warmer sleeper, I prefer to sleep in a colder room and I don’t sleep with clothes on. So this may sound counterintuitive, but somehow it works. When I am winding down and getting in bed, I fill up my hot water bottle and lay it on my stomach while reading, and then I also put on wool socks. Keeping our feet warm is wonderful for regulating overall body temperature, and it increases blood flow and circulation, so doing this actually helps me fall asleep faster, stay asleep, and stay cooler throughout the night.

It’s so soothing & it just works, try it and let me know.

9. Matcha Whisk & Set

I have found a new love for matcha chasens & whisk holder sets. I got a lot of questions about the pink one I have been using so I wanted to share it here. I love the contrast of the green & the pink I think it is so beautiful.

I also get a lot of questions about the whisk I use, I use this premium one (discount is ELLA10), and I feel it makes such a huge difference in the texture, smoothness and making of microfoam in my matcha (tutorial for how I make my matcha here).

10. Stainless Steel Masher

I have been making banana bread like 2-3x a week it is a little bit insane the quantity I have been making it. It started out as an obsession with creating the perfect recipe and recipe testing and now I have turned into a monster. Truly. But I can’t stop.

With that being said I found the perfect masher for the bananas—this stainless steel masher, it’s become one of my favorite kitchen tools this year. It’s just great quality, non-toxic and I know I will have it forever & ever. Works for ground beef, avocados, and I can’t wait to use it on all of the gorgeous spring and summer fruit!

Let me know if you have any questions! I linked everything I talked about here in my ShopMy page, some are affiliate links some are not.

Stay tuned this weekend for APRIL’S SEASONAL MENU!! YAY!!! XO - Ella

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Last week I got teased that we’d officially reached the peak of winter & the hardest part was behind us but I feel like the end of February always delivers a harsh reality check, this time in the form of a blizzard.

This is the stretch of winter that always feels hardest. We are close enough to spring to feel it, but it’s still far away. We’re in the 4th month of winter. The days are getting longer but we haven’t had steady sunshine in months, it’s still gray, still cold.

I really think this is when it’s easy to burnout, we start acting like spring energy is already here, make more plans, push ourselves harder, even though we’re still in winter. So I’ve been reminding myself not to force spring before it arrives (it’s hard), but this in-between season is still meant for slowing down and resting. Spring will come as it always does, and when it does, we’ll have that much more energy because we allowed ourselves to conserve and truly just be in winter.

& for my friends who have sunshine and warm weather right now, please bask out there and enjoy it for me. All I am craving is laying outside and soaking up the sun I can’t waiiiitttt.

Before we head into the month of March, it’s time to share with you my top 10 favorite things from February. Things that I loveee & have brought me immense joy and value that will be sticking with me for time to come. Let’s get into it!!

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February Top 10 Favorites

1. Eating My Hydration

My skin has stayed really plump and hydrated this winter, and I can probably accredit some of it to my skincare, but I think most of all it’s because I have really prioritized eating my hydration.

I have been drinking so many teas, broths, soups, elixirs this winter and my skin has never felt better. All of the healthy fats, mineral rich tonics, gelatin, collagen, seasonal fruits like stewed apples and pears. All of these support healthy skin hydration.

One of my favorite meals has been chicken essence soup. It is a Traditional Chinese Medicine healing recipe using veggies and fruits (napa cabbage, carrots, onion, apple, pear, ginger, etc…) and chicken (either a whole chicken or pieces) and cooked completely waterless and slowly, so all of the juices from the ingredients in the soup create the rich broth. It is sooooo delicious and flavorful and healing. I eyeballed my recipe, but if you are looking for a good recipe I recommend checking out this one. I made mine served with some miso butter rice.

2. Loose Leaf Tea Jar Refill

My beverage lineup has been sooooo good this week because I refilled my loose leaf tea jars with new blends this past weekend and I have been lovingggg them. For reference, these are the jars I use. I source most of my teas from mountain rose herbs, heavenly teas & full leaf tea.

My blends this week:

• Antioxidant & Nourish Skin Blend: rose petals, chrysanthemum, rose buds, goji berries, licorice root

• Sleepy Time Blend: chamomile, passionflower, honeybush, skullcap

• Energizing Mineral Blend: moringa, peppermint, lemon verbena, stinging nettles, oatstraw

I’ll usually have the mineral blend when I wake up in the morning, my skin blend in the late morning/afternoon, and my sleepy-time blend before bed with some milk. Also blending in a little collagen with it has me sleeping like a babbbyyy.

3. My Favorite Sweater

I feel like everyone has their OG go to sweater, and this has become mine. The use I have gotten out of this sweater more than makes up for the price. I wear it multiple times a week. Pretty much every time I go outside to do something social or try to look somewhat cute and put together lol.

It is the perfect winter layering sweater, keeping me warm, and I know it is also going to be the perfect sweater on those crisp spring days. It is cozy, not itchy, and made of 100% wool, I just love it. I got one for Cooper too and now he wears it all the time.

4. Book of the Month

My book club book this month is Red Rising, and I highly recommend it! The genre is dystopian, and the best I can describe it is like a Hunger Games meets Divergent type of vibe, but its own world. In the beginning of the book it can be a little confusing as you are deciphering the plot, setting and characters for the first few chapters but it all comes together and it’s really good. I am definitely going to be continuing the series! I wanna hear what books you guys are reading this year. PS: it is a pretty dark book.

5. Salt Water Gargling

So I grew up warm salt water gargling whenever I had a sore throat, recently my throat has become quite dry and irritated because of winter and I started salt water gargling again. & then I learned that salt water gargling is actually a way to regulate the nervous system. Not only is it antibacterial, it also stimulates the vagus nerve which is great for activating the rest&digest parasympathetic nervous system, invoking that calm and relaxed state. So it’s like a two in one.

I don’t do it every day, but I do love it as a morning/evening routine to clear bacteria out of my mouth and also calm me. I also have really been loving beekeepers naturals nighttime propolis throat spray before bed, their og propolis spray has always been a staple for me and idk how I didn’t know about this one before but I love it in the winter, it’s super soothing and helps me sleep better since it’s so dry out.

6. Steamer

I recently posted a little Sunday reset video and whenever I do that the number one question I get is WHAT is that steamer. It really is an all in one amazing machine that makes cleaning so much more fun & easy. It’s something I invested in a few years back and it’s one of the few things I brought with me across the country in my move from LA to NYC lol. I love it because it helps to lift any stains or grime and then also cleans and sanitizes all at the same time. My Sunday resets never feel fully complete without it, and I am excited for the Spring cleaning bug to hit me and do a full steam of my whole apartment.

7. Konmari Folding Method

So Cooper and I have made it a priority to really study and understand the Japanese habits of cleaning & living. Both of us are the way where a clean space is a clean mind and vis versa, if a space is cluttered so are our minds. One of the first books we got is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

There are sooo many great bits and bobs in this book, my favorite one being every single thing in your space should have a home, and then one of the other one’s I have been loving learning is Marie Kondo’s Konmari folding method.

I am really going to implement this fully to my home and closet when Spring comes and I have more energy to put into all of this (preparing rn lol) but this method of folding clears up so much space, and is also weirdly quite therapeutic.

I am so looking forward to a big spring cleaning sesh. Like I want to tear everything apart and then put it all together again, really excited for all the drawers because those are the things that are out of sight out of mind but like really do make a difference when they look nice. Anyways, can you tell I am ready for this blizzard to be over and for spring to arrive??

8. My New Signature Scent

I actually hate perfume. Like I can’t smell it without getting extreme nausea and headache. I am soooo sensitive to fragrances they make me feel physically ill, even the one’s that claim they are “natural” (I’ve been hurt in the past). But I do love scents! I have been on the hunt for a quality natural signature scent that I love that doesn’t make me sick. And I finally found it guys. I almost wanted to gatekeep this, but that felt wrong because I love you guys and I know so many of you are in the same boat as me when it comes to fragrances.

ESAS Eau Naturelle*. I actually got this one and the iris milk and they are both so good. Scent is subjective, but the best way I can describe the eau naturelle is like an addictive rich creamy vanilla. The iris milk is more of a fresh light herbaceous creamy floral. Both smell soooo good. Both are made without hormone disruptors or nasty preservatives. These are the only one’s I’ve tried so far but I want to get their whole lineup of scents & try them all. For a second opinion, I know I am not the only one addicted because Cooper is obsessed with the scent when I wear it.

*I also messaged them for a discount code for you guys & they were soso nice and gave me one for 15% off! You can use the code “GLOWWITHELLA”. Sensitive girlies if you try, report back.

9. Vanilla Powder

Well now that we’re talking about vanilla. I think you guys know how much I love vanilla. The scent and the flavor. You can never have too much vanilla. I am usually a vanilla bean paste/vanilla extract kinda girl, but lately I have been really loving vanilla powder. It has incredible flavor, it’s alcohol free so it won’t burn off when you use it (also the better option if you have histamine issues). It’s 1:1 ratio to vanilla extract, so 1 tsp of vanilla extract would be 1tsp vanilla powder.

I usually use this one, but I also bought some in bulk recently too because I have been using it so often. There is nothing like seeing the gorgeous vanilla beans too when you are eating/drinking. So beautiful.

10. Stainless Steel Blender

I wrote a substack last year or maybe the year before about better-for-you kitchen swaps, and one of them was swapping plastic for stainless steel. At that point I was still using a plastic blender and my next goal was investing in a stainless steel one. I got suuuuper lucky because my Christmas gift from my mom last year was the Stainless Steel Vitamix Container, which I’ve been loving.

But the blender I use most is actually the Beast Bullet Blender (I have a mini and a mega one), it’s the one you see in all of my videos, and is unfortunately plastic but I love it so much I have just kind of turned a blind eye. And then I got an ad recently that they made a stainless steel one?!?!?! I was like how could I not know this!! So yes I just ordered the stainless steel base/cup (you don’t need to buy a whole new blender if you already have one) and I am really really excited about it. My dream kitchen swaps are truly fulfilled.

Let me know if you have any questions! I linked everything I talked about here in my ShopMy page, some are affiliate links some are not.

I will talk to you all in MARCH!!! Stay tuned this Sunday for March’s seasonal menuuuu!! XO - Ella

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Okay before we get too deep into February I need to share with you all of my favorite things from January. New things I tried, tried and true things that will be sticking with me & things that brought me immense joy & value.

So let’s get into it….

January Top 10 Favorites

1. Black Sesame

Idk if you’ve noticed but I’ve been shoveling black sesame paste by the spoonful on the daily. Sprinkling black sesame seeds all over my food. I’m obsessed. Yes I love the taste, but the benefits of black sesame are endless. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, black sesame can help to promote hair growth and health, and even reverse greying. Black sesame seeds are also incredibly antioxidant, fiber & calcium rich, and full of healthy fats. They are amazing to have always but especially during winter when it’s cold & dry, aka why I have been having so much of it (I do feel it helps to keep my skin plump & hydrated).

I buy the Kevala black sesame tahini & then organic black sesame seeds (you can also make your own paste/tahini by roasting and blending the seeds!).

When blended into something creamy it literally tastes like cookies & cream. It’s so good in a nourishing latte with some cacao, scooped onto a bowl of porridge, sprinkled on congee or rice, mixed into cookies and granola (I love my black sesame cacao granola), and I also have a really delicious black sesame bar recipe coming on my meal shortcuts this Sunday so stay tuned.

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2. Bringing a Notebook & Book with me Everywhere I go

This was one of my 2026 intentions and I’ve been LOVING IT. I wanted to physically record as much as I do digitally. I am really out of sight out of mind, so having a book/journal as easily accessible as my phone makes it so much easier to grab for that instead of mindless scrolling.

I recently read this study about how people who physically write at least 10 minutes a day have the sharpest, clearest minds as they age. I truly feel such a big difference in my mental and even my physical health when I choose paper over screen. Writing more, reading more, even if just for 10 minutes is so therapeutic.

I feel a difference in my mood, focus, energy, CREATIVITY! Everything feels better when I replace screens with paper.

3. Grocery Delivery

So I actually enjoy going into a grocery store and having it be an experience, like that was one of the highlights of my day when I lived ini LA. However…..when the weather drops below 0 and snow is covering the pathways so that you can’t even walk….It’s time to phone a friend. I also have realized that it is way harder to go to multiple grocery stores and shlep around in New York, it would take an entire day, so grocery delivery has become my best friend because now I really only need to go to the farmers market & I am good to go!

There are two services I use religiously that I am in love with:

1. Farm to People. Discount to order is “GLOWWITHELLA”. I LOVE farm to people. They make it so easy to get farm fresh, local, organic, QUALITY seasonal produce. When people ask where I get more gorgeous produce, if it’s not the farmers market it’s Farm to People. Rosa Radicchio, Watermelon Radish, Beautiful Citrus & they also have more than just produce! Dairy, Meat&Seafood (really good grass-fed beef, pasture raised chicken & wild seafood), Eggs, Bakery, etc. I remember I first found them because I saw they sold pasture raised organic eggs for less than $10 and I was like wowww ok. The yolks were orange and gorgeous. They highlight each farm that they source from so everything is really traceable and transparent. You can basically think of it as a farmers market that delivers. They also do CSA boxes :)

2. Thrive Market. Discount to order is thrivemarket.com/glowwithella. If you know me you know I will vouch for Thrive Market forever. I have been a member for over 5 years and in that time I have saved over $5000 on groceries by ordering from them. This is where I get alllll of my pantry staples. They have the best quality items for the best price, and whenever I order my box literally shows up in two days.

4. Focus & Mood Support

PS: Always do your research before taking anything new!!! This is what has worked for me but everyone is different.

I have been reading a lot about saffron for a natural alternative to reducing anxiety, depression and supporting overall mood. I happened upon this mood support supplement and I have been absolutely loving it, I was first drawn to it because it has a high dose of saffron, it’s organic and no weird fillers or ingredients. I think it’s such a great little addition to my routine especially in the winter when seasonal depression can definitely take a hit. I also try to consume saffron too. I made this saffron chai latte blend that I have been absolutely loving.

& then I love taking the saffron alongside my l-theanine (Zuma discount code is GLOW), which has been a wonderful support for me to naturally help with focus, adhd & overall mood as well.

5. Foot Care Routine

So back in the day when I worked at the farmers market, I was on my feet for hours and hours at a time and I developed severe foot pain. I have insoles in my shoes, and I also since then have really prioritized “foot care” sounds so weird to call it that but yah idk what else to call it hahaha. There are a few things I do that help me so much.

First, stretching my feet is so important. I do full-body deep stretching every day, so before I stretch I love to do acupressure on my foot. I have an acupressure mat but I also love using a physical therapy ball. I will roll it out on the bottom of my feet, for 1-2 mins per foot. This is great for our feet AND our full body, since the bottom of our feet have receptors that connect to our fascia and nervous system, so it actually can loosen up & relax our whole body and even better improve lymphatic flow.

Then at night, I wear yoga toes when I do legs up the wall. I know this sounds crazy but these things actually helped my foot pain soooo much back in the day and I swear by them now. Our feet are boxed in in these tight shoes all day when ancestrally they are actually supposed to be stretched out, these help relieve pain & improve mobility as they help our feet return to their natural state.

6. Cozy PJ’s

I love a cozy matching loungewear set especially during winter all I want is to be cozy and cute. I recently just got these Organic-Cloud Knit Lounge Pants & Matching Top (my Pact discount code is glowwithella20) they are just so buttery soft and I’ve been living in them. I love everything from Pact, their leggings (I always wear to the gym), their airport sets, underwear, everything is such good quality. And wearing non-toxic clothing made of good materials has been top priority for me especially in times of detox like sweating/working out/sleeping.

7. Hot Bevs

In last week’s substack I told you a little bit about how much drinking warm beverages & eating warm foods have completely transformed my digestion regularity for the better, it’s insane. So I am always drinking warm bevs now. Loose leaf tea & warm lemon ginger water in the mornings. Warm lattes. Whenever I go out to eat I will ask for a hot water with lemon, I highly recommend.

I also have been drinking so much broth. I love making my own but I also always have a cabinet filled with Fond Bone Broth because it is just the best bone broth ever I love them so much. Regenerative, organic, glass bottles, gelatinous and the most flavorful and delicious broths ever. I always have the lemon-garlic-radish, turmeric-black-pepper, fennel-bayleaf, & unflavored beef on deck (my discount code is GLOW).

My overall favorite tea has been my de-bloat blend with goji berries added in. I love sipping on this in the morning time:

De-Bloat Tea

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups peppermint

• 1/2 cup fennel seeds

• 1/2 cup licorice root

• 1/4 cup orange peel

• 1/4 cup rooibos

• 1/4 cup dandelion root

My method is I combine all the dried herbs/spices to a large bowl, mix to combine everything evenly, then store in an air tight jar! When I want tea I add 1-2 tbsp to my tea infuser in my mug and pour over hot water (usually ~210 degrees F). Then let steep for 10-15 minutes, remove strainer & enjoy. For this blend I add a scoop of goji berries to each serving as well.

8. All-Purpose Wipes

I now have these earth-friendly wipes & dispensers in each room in my apartment and it makes me so happy. I found Biom this year and I love them. They make all-purpose cleaning wipes that are safe for skin and surfaces, microplastic free, biodegradable, made with natural fragrances or fragrance free, and completely non toxic. I love them because they are safe for every surface, wood stainless steel, granite etc and then I can also use them on my hands/skin!!

They also look good sitting out, they have beautiful dispensers to refill, and keep wipes fresh. I have a Eucalyptus one for my Santal-Escape wipes, a Terracota for my unscented, and then I have the White one for the flushable wipes in my bathroom!

It has just been so convenient having these because if there is ever a mess I can just grab a wipe and instantly & safely clean. It wastes so much less paper towels. I’m partnering with Biom this month and I’m really excited about it :)

9. Japanese Walking Method & Chinese Longevity Movements

When I need a more laid back day at the gym, I have been using these two methods and they make me feel sooooo good.

I like to start out with the Chinese longevity movements as they help to wake up the body and promote lymphatic drainage, circulation and flow. I start with tapping my lymphnodes to wake them up, I also like doing this on a vibration plate machine at the gym if possible! Start with little lymphatic hops, then arm swings, spinal twist, trunk twists, body waves, underarm tapping & marching!

Next up Japanese Walking is a form of interval training that helps to get the heart rate going! Every 3 minutes, walk normal for 3, then walk fast for 3, then continue switching until 30 minutes is reached! I like to go on a slight incline when I do this too. It’s a really easy workout to follow when you feel tired and don’t know what to do.

& then I of course always follow up any workout with at least 20 minutes of deep stretching, truly my favorite part of any workout lol. My next goal is to get back into yoga because I really miss it!!!

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10. Salted Vanilla & Maple Millet Porridge

My go to breakfast lately!! It’s like a warm hug. So warming & nourishing. Serves 2.

Ingredients

• 1 cup millet

• 1.5 cups whole milk

• 1.5 cups filtered water

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

• Toppings of choice (I like adding granola or seeds for crunch, skyr, jam, fruits like apples, pears, persimmons, citrus…)

Recipe

1. Lightly pulse millet in a blender or food processor until the grain is half floury & half whole (Option to rinse the millet at this stage in a mesh strainer to remove any bitterness)

2. Melt butter in a pan and add in millet to toast for a couple minutes, mixing around

3. Pour over milk and filtered water and maple, mix and bring to a boil

4. Reduce heat to low and cover, cook for about ~20 minutes, stirring occasionally until softened and desired consistency is reached

5. Once done, remove from heat and stir in vanilla

6. Serve and build your bowl with preferred toppings!

I love love love writing these because it helps me reflect back on my last month, think intentionally about what I loved & what gave me energy, what I can leave back, and move forward with excitement :)

Hope you all enjoy, and stay tuned this Sunday for February’s meal shortcuts, yay!!

XO - Ella

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