2023 Holiday Gift Guide

Each holiday season, I do some digging on the internet to find unique gifts for my friends and family. Here are eleven gifts you can order right now!

1. Disco Ball Diffuser $34-$42

I feel like this is something everyone needs...A diffuser that also doubles as a rotating disco ball with 7 different mood light colors!

2. Crunch Cup - Cereal on the Go $20-$30 (Depends on how you purchase...Through amazon or the main website)

I am a big fan of food related gadgets and this CrunchCup is a great gift. No worrying about soggy cereal or rushing to eat your bowl in the morning. You can take this with you on the go and it doesn't require a spoon or a bowl to be laying around your car.  When you go to take a "sip," both the cereal and the milk merge.

3. Ole Henricksen Gift Set $46.20

I've tried numerous vitamin c products and I always come back to Ole Henricksen. One of the highlights of shopping during the holidays for me is the beauty gift sets.

This Radiance Retreat Skincare Set is valued at $131 and is on sale at Sephora right now for $46.20. 

This set comes with their Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, Strength Trainer Peptide Moisturizer, and Banana Bright Eye Cream.

4.  Mini Portable Sticker Printer $29.99

 

This printer uses Bluetooth and thermal inkless technology. I can't wait to get this one. It can connect to an app where you can print labels and stickers.

5. Fender Guitar Amp Key Holder $33.99

This is a pretty cool gift for any music lover!

6. UV Toothbrush Sanitizer/Sterilizer Holder Case $29.99

This serves a dual purpose; clean your toothbrush and store it from new bacterial growth. It fits most toothbrushes and can be adjusted to fit larger toothbrushes. 

7. Personalized Pillow $16.99-$53.99 (Depending on size)

If you want to get a gift for someone that has everything or whose pet is their child, you can get them a personalized photo pillow. It comes pre-stuffed. Look at the Amazon reviews for examples of the best kind of pictures to use.

8. LEGO Orchid Flower Building Set $39.99

Legos aren't just for children. There are so many options to choose from. There's 608 pieces; It would make a fun, weekend project! You can find a Lego set for anyone. From, a NASCAR car to a Friends Central Perk scene.

9. 3 In 1 Wireless Magnetic Foldable Charger $39.99-$42.99

This wireless charging station comes in a variety of colors and charges an iPhone, Apple Watch and Airpods. 

10. Cozy Loungewear Set $33.98

You can never go wrong with a cozy loungewear set. The reviews mention that this set is super soft, and people want to live in it. It comes in seven different colors.

11. Total Body Vibration Plate ($79.99-$149.99)

If you've never used one of these, you need to start. This is a game changer! I became familiar with these devices about 10 or so years ago. You can sit or stand on this vibration plate. Some gyms or chiropractors utilize this. I use it for lymphatic and oxygen circulation. It also helps burn fat and after a workout, this machine can help by reducing muscle soreness. Some say that it aids in weight loss, as the vibrations cause your muscles to contract and relax many times per second, which makes you feel as if you are exerting yourself and went through a workout.

BONUS GIFTS:

I love trying new snacks. 

Pulp Pantry

I saw Pulp Pantry on Shark Tank. They have made a healthy chip out of fresh vegetable pulp. They are made using organic, fresh veggies and chia seeds. Gluten free, plant based, full of fiber and each serving is around 150 calories. The link above is to the brand's website, but you can also find them on Thrive Market.

Wilde Brands Protein Chips

I first discovered these chicken protein chips in 2019, when I worked for a Kiss My Keto as an ambassador at the Paleo FX event in Austin, Texas. This was my favorite snack find there. I still enjoy eating these chips to this day. Their chips are made from chicken breast, egg whites and bone broth. The only comparable protein chips I've found, use milk protein powder or chicken skin and. These are hands down, my go to snack.

What's on your wishlist this holiday season? Let me know in the comments!

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

 

XOXOTheZenFashionista

 

Yom Kippur 5784/2023

Today is Yom Kippur, my favorite holiday, which is known as the day of atonement. I like to look at today as not only a time to make amends to those we may have hurt, but to also look inward and begin a new chapter with ourselves. I choose to let go of what is no longer serving me, set goals for the person I strive to be in this upcoming new year and to begin to create new neural pathways (new patterns).

As it has become a tradition…here are some life lessons from the past year.

“Life is happening now. Enjoy the present.”

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s change. A motto of mine since I was barely a teenager, is that the one constant in life is change. So many of us, are waiting…to go to the beach when we lose ten more pounds. Waiting to travel until we are done with college or until the kids are grown. Waiting for life to happen.

The right and perfect moment may never come.

Often, we are not present in our daily lives, because we are worrying about our future or preoccupied with thoughts of our past.

It’s time to follow our heart, chase our goals, and make the best of what we have. Get rid of ‘what isn’t’ and move towards ‘what can be’.  And remember that happiness is made up of a collection of small moments.

“How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”

We have a choice in how we respond in any situation.  We can’t control the words that come out of another person’s mouth, but we can control our reaction. There’s that survival instinct, that when our brains sense danger, get triggered, and we automatically go into fight or flight mode. But we can choose to respond instead of react. Think before we act. A quote by Viktor E. Frankl, that is fitting for this life lesson is: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

“There is no glory in a grind that literally grinds you down to dust.”

Our society pushes a fast pace life. It can overstimulate and exhaust us. When we complete one task, there’s another one to begin. As we race against the clock, we reach our destination quicker, but lose the experience of the journey itself.  We praise people who keep pushing and pushing themselves, even when it can be to their own detriment. The hardest thing about prioritizing self care, is not feeling guilty about it. It’s ok to slow down….to set boundaries with others, but also with ourselves.

Here are my goals for the year 5784:

Make time for self-care

Learn something new as often as possible

Work towards moving 10,000 steps a day

Try and read ten books this year

Connect more to my faith and G-d

In the coming year, I strive to be the best I can be, love myself unconditionally, and always count my blessings.

I pray for peace, understanding and lots of love for one another, as we move forward…

Gmar Chatimah Tova! May you be inscribed in the book of life!

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

 

XOXOTheZenFashionista

 

Yom Kippur Resolutions 5783/2022

It’s officially Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It’s a day of cleansing and renewal. As we make amends to those we may have hurt, we also look to the lessons we have learned in the past year. 

Here are some of the lessons I have learned:

“Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Talk about your joys.” - Rita Schiano

It’s great to have a best friend and confidant to talk to. It’s important to not hold everything in and to have an outlet. We need validation as human beings and there’s nothing wrong with that.  But sometimes, we talk about our problems and vent to a point where they take more power over us than we realize. There has to be a healthy balance.  

I don’t like to dwell on situations. I give myself time to feel how I’m feeling, and sometimes I’ll talk with a friend or journal, and I find that very therapeutic. I then find that it’s good to delve into a hobby and to shift my focus.

“The deepest well can also be drained.” - Swedish Proverbs

The more you take care of yourself, the better you take care of others. 

It’s imperative to fill your own cup. We must replenish and make ourselves a priority. 

I know that I’m a natural born nurturer. I love to be of service to others but need to work towards better self-care for myself. Little things such as, listening to music, drinking my daily bone broth, spending time in the sun etc. 

“You cannot control how people respond to your energy. At the end of the day, we are not people's ideas of us. That is a perception. How people react to you is a projection. Protect your energy.” - TheZenFashionista

How others react to us, is often not about us at all. People see one another through a filtered lens; through their own individual experiences and perspectives. While we have no control over that, we do have control over our own feelings and reactions. 

In situations where I sense myself starting to respond to negativity, I take a step back and center myself. I remember this reflection does not have to do with me and take a deep breath. 

As usual, I’ve written a list of my resolutions, but I’ve also written a gratitude list. 

I am grateful for…

• My love of learning

• The abundance of sweet friends and loved ones in my life

• The leaves changing colors in the fall

• The power of music and its ability to transcend time

• Making fresh, nourishing juice 

• Walks in nature 

• A good night’s sleep

• Being able to say no

• Shopping on Amazon 

• Clean water 

My resolutions:

To read more - 

I was the child who always had her nose in a book. I would easily read 200 pages a day. Reading expands your vocabulary, improves memory, reduces stress and best of all can transport you to another world. I really want to make it my goal to read 12 books in the next year.  Recommendations welcome!

Write/Blog on a more frequent basis -

As I’m writing this post, I feel inspired to make more of an effort to connect on here. I have a lot of content I’d like to share on TheZenFashionista. 

Stick to a regular self-care routine -

I want to create a more intentional daily self-care routine. I can get into a good rhythm of cleansing my skin, flossing my teeth, taking my vitamins etc., but sometimes I will have an off day and it seems to throw me off track. I need to remind myself that there may be a lapse in my routine and that it is ok. I can always adjust and begin again tomorrow. 

Connect more to G-d and my faith and my spirituality-

With the hustle and bustle of our daily life, we can easily feel off balance and disconnected. I tend to ground myself through a number of different ways; tuning into a religious service, which I can stream from my couch, meditation with high frequency sounds, cleansing my space with sage crystals, listening to spiritual/religious music, etc.

There are 108 days left of 2022...What is something you hope to accomplish?

In this coming year I strive to love and honor myself and remain grateful and count my blessings. 

I pray for peace, understanding and lots of love for one another, as we move forward...

Gmar Chatimah Tova! May you be inscribed in the book of life. 

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com 

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

XOXOTheZenFashionista

Yom Kippur Resolutions 5782/2021

Yom Kippur Resolutions 5782/2021

It’s been a long time since I’ve written a post, but it’s officially Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It’s a day of cleansing and renewal.

On this day, I make amends to those I may have hurt and set goals to continue on the path to who I strive to become.

I utilize my experiences during the year to learn and grow and to move forward.

It’s tradition for me to write something meaningful, but instead of my list of resolutions, I’ve also decided to write some life lessons I’ve learned over the past year.

I have been inspired by many people; many that I have met on my journey through life, and others that I have encountered through their writings.

Life Lessons:

"You’re the only person that can determine your self worth"

It’s easy to get sucked into the emotions of our loved ones. Others' actions generally have little to do with us. As human beings, we see things through a “me” lens (meaning that we see everything through our own eyes...it's our own perception). We take things personally that really are a reflection of the other person's own inner feelings and often pain.

No matter what, you are worthy of love and respect. And at the end of the day, the story you portray about your life is everything. 

"What we resists persists"

If energy flows where attention goes, then what we resist will persist. We are wildly powerful just by what we create with our thoughts and emotions. With all the turmoil and state of our world right now, I choose to focus on positive contributions to conversations and to bring joy into my day. Spending my time talking about what makes me unhappy or bashing others beliefs is counterproductive. It seems a lot of people spend their energy fighting against something they don’t like, when they could be supporting what they want to change. I choose to keep my faith and do my best to come from a place of love.

WORDS are powerful.

"You can’t take back things you’ve said"

I’m a very sensitive individual and even if I know someone might not have meant something they said, the words may still stick with me. I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I’m not trying to please everyone and I don’t need people to like me, but I admit sometimes people’s hurtful words can affect me. Similarly to what I said earlier about other’s actions; when people in our life use words against us, they are most likely projecting a belief or fear that they have about themselves. What I’ve begun to teach myself is that words are just words, without a thought put behind them. I center myself and set personal boundaries and let it go.

"I can do nothing for you but work on myself. You can do nothing for me but work on yourself"

Two of the truest statements I know are that change is the one constant in life and that the one thing each one of us can control is ourselves and the way we choose to react to situations. They tell you that you can’t begin to save someone else until you save yourself.

One of the most important things we can do is to shift our own mindset and let go of our biases. We can’t change another person, only our reactions.

"Burnout is not a badge of honor"

We live in a such a fast paced society, that sometimes we forget to breathe. It’s become the norm to feel stressed and even when we are done with the tasks at hand, we find a way to keep the rest of our plate full.

We praise people who keep pushing themselves even when they shouldn’t. We don’t know how to just relax. The hardest thing about prioritizing self care, is to not feel guilty about it. Throughout the day, I have begun to check in with myself and listen to my body's intuition more. I give myself permission to relax and slow down, even when it feels "unproductive."

“Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a rapidly changing world”

We live in an ever changing world. If you don’t adapt to the change, you’ll be left behind. If we look at things of the past, such as MySpace and Blockbuster; they didn’t move forward fast enough and other companies came out of nowhere.

The natural direction of life is downwards—towards disorder.

Nothing stays the same. Whether it be our bodies, relationships, business etc.

We have to constantly be working on these things. Constantly growing and nurturing our relationships, learning new skills and expanding our minds, getting out of comfort zone and moving forward. I have always been one to accept change and find the opportunity to grow and learn. Change is a new beginning; it's the start of a new chapter. 

Resolutions for the year 5782:

Stop saying sorry-

Three years ago I wrote a blog post, and in it I expressed my healing of always feeling the need to apologize. Well, that trigger has crept back upon me and so I’m lovingly working to retrain my neural pathways.

Travel -

The past couple years have not included very much travel. My soul craves new adventures. I feel stuck when I’m in one place for too long, but I’ve learned to be content where I’m at. With that said, I’d like to begin traveling again.

Clear out the clutter - 

It's that time again. Each year, I like to reevaluate my personal belongings; whether it be clothes, papers, etc. I always feel so much better once I do a mini purge.

Connect more to my faith and G-d -

With all the chaos around, I feel balanced when I listen to my intuition and connect to both my higher self and my faith. 

Journal More-

Writing is sense of healthy catharsis. I'd like to do more of it this year.  

In the coming year, I pray for peace, understanding and lots of love for one another, as we all navigate these trying times together.

Gmar Chatimah Tova! May you be inscribed in the book of life.

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com


To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

XOXOTheZenFashionista