Could the shroom make you bloom? 🍄

Today, we’re talking old stuff . . .

Medicinal mushrooms that have been around for thousands of years. Ancient marriage advice for newlyweds. Textiles you can wear today that were recovered in mummies’ tombs. Ancient loofahs. You get it . . . old stuff 👵.

So here we go. Pull up your granny panties, adjust the bifocals, and put down your knitting:

• Shroom Bloom: From the dirt to your vanity.

• Fashion: Linen, for the ease and breeze.

• Seeking Solitude in the Summer: say it with me, and

• A new crush on the Dry Brush.

FASHION: You’re basically twinsies. 👯 You and linen. It’s durable and strong, like you. It keeps its cool when things heat up, like you. It’s elegant yet relaxed. And, it’s a timeless beauty. Just. like. you.

Show me a more feminine textile.

We’re loving it as a sweet, boxy tank, a buttoned midi skirt, and a handmade belted dress (or a budget friendly pop of color). How about a well priced, ethically-made blazer that will work for summer’s cool nights? Don’t forget linen pants — breezy and versatile. Here’s how to style those pants. And please, can someone (please!) say yes to the vest?

When we say old, we mean ooollllddd.

SUMMER REST: When I ask how summer is going, 100% of people have the same response: “It’s crazy!” 😖 Maybe it’s the lack of schedule, lack of sleep, lack of time. We want to squeeze as much out of summer as we can, 🍊 but it’s really squeezing us. Take this as your invitation to rest and reset.

Here’s one way to calm the crazy:

Seek solitude.

When was the last time you were alone? With no phone, distractions, or podcasts playing in your ear? Solitude deprivation is a thing. Some say it’s the new smoking. In his book Digital Minimalism, Cal Newport calls it the “state in which you spend close to zero time alone with your own thoughts and free from input from other minds.”

So, carve out some time. Ditch the phone. Light a candle, breathe, pray, journal. Write a letter to a friend. Go for a long, sauntering walk. Sit on your front porch and sip some coffee. Stare at a blank wall. 😆Solitude can look different for everyone, but the effects look great on everyone: increased productivity, better relationships, improved self-knowledge.

SKINCARE: Love your face so mush. 🍄 With so many seeking non-toxic skin care, it’s only natural to see mushrooms move from our kitchen (or the dirt) to our vanity. What’s all the fuss? Mushrooms contain beta-glucans to hydrate and protect your skin barrier while soothing redness and irritation. (Think: rosacea, acne scars, and sensitivity). They also boast vitamin D, melanin-inhibiting compounds for those dark spots, and antioxidant properties. They’ve been around for generations, so it’s not just a fungi fad.

Here’s your mushroom skincare routine: First, hydrate and plump with this fragrance and synthetic-free tremella gentle cleanser. Next, smooth on an all day long hydration serum (amazon best seller). Try the best selling, light weight Fresh Dew moisturizer with all natural ingredients. Long lasting, anti-aging, hydrating primer AND SPF 30? Sounds magical.

Now for your evening skin: treat yo’ self and splurge with this detox clay mask. Next, a retinol alternative serum— perfect for those who aren’t ready for a full retinol effect. Finish with a peptide and plant moisturizer. Stay on brand with this cute mask.

Heal from the inside out, no cap. 🍄

DRY BRUSHING: Move over, loofahs! We’ve got a new brush crush … and we’re going au natural. Dry brushing is just that — brushing yourself with a dry, natural fiber brush prior to your shower. Why’s there so much skin in the game? This ancient massage technique exfoliates dead skin, stimulates lymphatic draining, rids your body of toxins, and promote circulation. Some claim it reduces cellulite … but that’s a little sus. Still, it’s effective and inexpensive.

While there’s no one right way, here’s a how-to video that explains it well. Try this top selling dry brush with 27K reviews or try a one with a handle for all the hard to reach places. Don’t forget to moisturize and hydrate afterwards.

• Better out than in — take an “awe walk” for a mental health boost.

• Ikea meets the Hunchback — I knew they were going to ruin it … 😑

• What’s Plutarch got to do, got to do with it? ❤‍🔥

• It’s dirtier than a toilet seat and you use it every day.

• An honest essay on the challenges of cross-culture dating.

• 🎢 Thrill Seeker? Read this first.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

We all know it, but how well do we live it? replace the word “love” with your first name and read it again …

Signing off until Wednesday, yours truly,