Posts in health and wellness
Mused: Holiday Self Care Guide
Mused Holiday Self Care Guide

Last year I created a conscious holiday gift guide to suggest ethical items by independently owned brands for you to gift to your loved ones.  I felt called to take a break from providing you with more gift ideas this year.  We are so pressured during the holiday season to shop and consume, so I wanted to instead present a self-care tool guide for you to unwind and ground with.  You can find most of these items already in your home.  I’ve included a simple ritual you can perform with each object.  The rituals are meant to be simple and fuss-free, for anyone to enjoy.  While this is not meant to be a gift guide, if you do feel inclined to gift any of these items to friends and family members, consider hand-writing a note of the ritual listed (or create your own) to encourage self-care and nourishment this time of year to those around you or far away. Escape the whirlwind of holiday parties, unhealthy food, and uncomfortable family dynamics, and treat yourself to these acts of tension relief while listening to the dreamy playlist here.

One of my favorite simple practices is putting fresh, warm sheets on my bed.  The act of doing so always makes me feel connected to the place where I recharge my body. While I do this once a week for all of the linens on my bed, I change my pillowcases every few days to keep where I’m resting my head clean.  These pillowcases from Deiji Studios come in so many beautiful colors.  They’re made from 100% stonewashed French linen and will soften with wash/use.  They’re also hypo-allergenic and environmentally friendly.

Whether you’re grabbing pillowcases warm from the dryer or folded in your linen closet, familiarize yourself with the fabric.  Run your hands over the material, lift it up to your nose to get a sense of the smell.  As you slip them onto your pillows, set an intention for your evening of rest (regardless of the time of day).  Your intention can be as simple as getting a night of deep, restorative rest, or asking for your dreams to reveal some truth to you. 

Scent is a powerful yet often overlooked sense.  It is known to trigger memories and emotions and can take us to nostalgic and/or new places.  I love this incense from Haeckles - the only ingredient is lemon balm, which is used to reduce stress and increase calmness.  I also steep lemon balm into my daily infusions for a full body effect.  Read about Haeckles and their incredible story here, yet feel free to use any incense of your liking.

Take the time to light your incense and use it as a signal to pause for the day.  As the scent of your choice starts to fill the room, sit down and meditate.  Whether you do this for 3 minutes or 30 minutes, be grateful for the stillness. Pay attention to your breath, and as the thoughts come in, detach from them and release them.  Keep coming back to your breath, as it will connect you to your body.   

I light candles every night prior to going to bed.  It’s a simple ritual I’ve come to rely on, and it creates a bit of romance as an act of care to end each day. I’ve been lighting beeswax candles because they not only burn clean, but they also purify the air. Big Dipper Wax Works collects 75% of their beeswax from the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia because the crops there rank lowest in exposure to pesticides in North America.  They’re currently working on creating fair trade partnerships with beekeepers in foreign countries, where they source the rest of their beeswax.  Their product is extensively tested to insure high quality.

Prior to lighting your candles, plant your feet on the floor and breathe that grounding energy to every part of your body.  As you light them, ask for truth to be illuminated to you in anyway it needs to come through.

Simple acts we perform every day can become rituals that feed us, even in the smallest ways.  This comb by Une Heures is so beautiful that it inspired me to add hair combing into this post, yet the ritual below can be done with any comb/bush you already have.

Pay attention to the way the comb feels against your scalp and the way it catches strands of hair to smooth your locks as you brush.  Start out in front of the mirror so you can observe the process, but then close your eyes in order to feel into your body. Remember to pause each time you use an object as a tool to help serve you.

Taking a bath is perhaps the most referred to and obvious act of self care.  For those of us who have a tub and access to clean, running water - it’s truly an accessible luxury.   I was fortunate to try these bath salts by Vessel Surface Care, and I used them up in about a week (I took a lot of baths in that week).  These salts are enriched with bentonite clay, ginger, dandelion leaf, and essential oils of cypress and rosemary for aiding in the detoxification process.  This bath soak is perfect for this time of year, as we aim to unwind from all of the excess around us (sweet treats, alcohol, and perhaps even unwanted energies from family gatherings and holiday parties).  Each product by Vessel is formulated by Seattle-based health coach, Lizzy Ott.

Rather than checking your phone while waiting for the tub to fill, open your bath salts (or soap, etc.) and smell them.  Close your eyes and allow the aroma to fill your nostrils, and continue to breathe this scent into your chest.  Exhale and repeat until you feel calm and centered.  When the bath is ready, use your hands to administer the salts into the water, as opposed to pouring them directly from the bottle.  Get your body aquatinted with the product prior to soaking in it.  These acts enable a simple way to ground into your body prior to the even deeper grounding you’ll be doing when submerged in water.

I wanted to include bowls in this round-up because one of my favorite things to eat during this time of year is soup.  I’ve been making a delicious squash soup with garlic, onions, ginger, and thyme.  My body craves it.  Soup or not, eating out of a bowl is my favorite way to eat.  I have buckwheat cereal nearly every morning, and for dinner I usually make a warming mixture of veggies, grains, and herbs.   There are a ton of ceramic bowls in my kitchen cupboard (hand thrown by my housemate), and I love how irregular they are.  Each one has its own personality and feeling.  I often write about running hands/fingers over the texture of our objects, and ceramics are one of my favorite items to do this with.  The bowls featured above are by local Santa Fe artist, Kimmy Rohrs of Whiskey & Clay.  I adore all of her work.

As mentioned already, run your fingers on the surface of your bowl to take in the texture.  Notice how it feels against your fingertips and how that translates into the rest of your body.  Is it rough, soft, smooth?  Try to hold or touch the bowl with one hand as you use your other to fill it with your meal.  We can always slow down with our objects in the simplest ways.

I practice journaling nearly every day. Nearly, because I’m human and sometimes life happens, but I do commit to it as a daily practice. It helps me to center in a way that nothing else (not even meditation) does. I’ve been practicing this for over five years, and it changed the trajectory of my life when I started. These are the only journals I write in.

Check-in with your inner self. How’s your heart? When you answer, start writing with your non-dominant hand. This will feel weird at first, but it will help the truth to come through. If you don’t know where to start or if answers are not coming through easily, just scribble, draw, etc. (with your non dominant hand). It may trigger words to come, or it may be all you need to get your weirds out. Some other prompts that may be fitting for this time of year: “what do I need to feel safe?” “what would be true if I slowed down?” “how can I show up for myself in the most authentic way?” “how can I nurture my simplest needs?”

Woman x Self Practice
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I’m honored to be featured on one of my favorite websites, Self Practice. If you don’t already frequent the site or follow along on Instagram - get on it. The founder, Lauren Trend, is a dear friend, and she is truly a wonderful human being. I am always inspired by her content, but mostly by her commitment to her own practice, in order to inspire others to create their own practices. There are so many beautiful intersections with the work of Object & Us. Interview below, and you can view it here.

Name: Paige Geffen

Occupation/Business/Creative Outlet: Interior Designer, Art Director, and Founder of Object & Us 

Starsign: Leo (sun), Libra (rising), Gemini (moon)

Favourite Number: 21 

First thing you did this morning? I made myself a hot reishi drink and went outside to view the beautiful landscape here.

What does 'wellness' mean to you?
I see wellness as a holistic practice, yet there is no perfection.  We don't graduate, so I believe we are constantly working towards wellness. 'Wellness' has become a trendy commodity, but it's something that cannot be bought. No matter the amount of herbs and healthy foods you buy, wellness comes from within. To me, wellness is about taking care of myself despite how messy life may be, despite how many supplements or items I don't have access to. Lately it's been about grounding in the midst of groundlessness

Products found in your shower/by your bath? Every product by F. Miller skincare, Lesse Official face serum (need more!), Dr. Bronner's lavender soap

Three things that can always be found in your kitchen cupboard? Nettle & Oatstraw for infusions, Cinnamon, Himalayan Pink Salt.

Favourite kitchen utensil? This spoon from Wild Poppy Goods - I use it to scoop herbs, adaptogens, to grab the last bits of ghee from the bottom of the jar

Favourite Travel destination? I spent a month in Copenhagen 8 years ago, and I have been itching to go back.  I honestly haven't traveled much for leisure in a long time, but I just moved to the countryside outside of Santa Fe, NM, and it's breathtaking here.  I'm on an unknown, indefinite adventure.  I highly recommend moving to a place you've never been before - it's exhilarating.  

Currently reading? When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron, and An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin

Currently browsing (.com)? Locations for an upcoming shoot, and googling images of Timothee Chalamet ;)

Favourite breakfast food? Vegan/Paleo biscuit-like bread (I substitute flax meal for eggs in this easy-to-make box) or buckwheat with cinnamon & ghee, and breakfast sausages - in the spring/summer I make my go-to smoothie (avocado, blueberries, chard, almond butter, coconut butter, cinnamon, water).


Three items in your make up bag?  14ecosmetics foundation, a brow brush, some form of liquid/cream blush (still searching for the right brand).

An album/mix that calms your nervous system? Joni Mitchell's Blue.  I have her lyrics tattooed on my forearm, and my dog is named after her.  I am starting to tear up writing this. She is such a vision of freedom and independence, and I believe her voice can move mountains and bloom flowers simultaneously.  Also, Moon Safari by Air, anything Cat Power, anything Jon Brion.  I could go on and on... 

An album/mix that hypes you up? Swim by Caribou, It's Album Time by Todd Terje, anything Arthur Russell, Sebastien Tellier.  Again, I could go on and on...

Most commonly used apps on your phone?
Instagram, Spotify

Favourite form of movement/exercise?
Hiking, walking, and dancing - I like to keep it simple.

One thing you'd like to incorporate into your day/week that you're currently yet to?  Yoga - I used to practice and stopped when I was advised by doctors to limit my exercise due to health issues.  I feel ready to start again.  

Nighttime rituals?  I live by my rituals, and the work of Object & Us is rooted in rituals.  I wash my face and put on a face oil, listen to theta waves and/or a calming playlist, write a gratitude list.  

I feel most creatively fulfilled when... I'm cooking a meal for myself, I'm taking photographs (usually of still life's), I'm writing for Object & Us, or lying naked and thinking of/doing nothing and simply feeling connected to my body.

I'm currently working on... owning my darkness and embracing all of the parts of myself I was taught to be shameful of. I'm working on being whole in my magnificence, which means honoring the grit. I'm opinionated, I'm sharp, I'm fierce, I rage.  Someone recently told me that rage is apart of love and that I am so full of love and so full of rage. This duality is what drives me to do anything creative. This is also the duality of sexuality. I'm also working on embracing my desire - for lust, for love, for life. I don't mean chasing it, but meeting it.  

This time last year, I wish I knew... that ultimate surrender and giving up my ideas of what I felt I wanted would lead me to the most unexpected, terrifying, and beautiful places

I'm grateful for... my inner voice, the warmth of the sun on my face, my best friend and soulmate Joni (my pup), Lauren Trend (seriously). 

Nourished: Warming Tonic
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I've been making myself a daily tonic for a couple of years now, and I've become more and more connected with this ritual overtime.  It's such a simple way to nourish my health and spirit, and I love being able to customize the tonic each day.  I do this by choosing herbs, mushrooms, and adaptogens based on what my mind/body needs.  Lately I've been using a mix of reishi, chaga, eucommia bark, and ashwaghanda.  If I make the tonic late in the day or in the evening, I skip the chaga, as it can increase energy levels.  The recipe below is a staple that I modify from time-to-time.  Sometimes I'll add in vanilla or skip the ginger.  I encourage you to make it to your liking.  When traveling, I bring Four Sigmatic packets with me that just need hot water.  They're effective and delicious.  

I use the spoon pictured above as my measuring spoon for the powders, as well as the mixing spoon once I add liquid.  It's a multipurpose object that I've come to love.  It's soft and lightweight, yet smart and strong in its abilities.  While small objects like this may seem unimportant to us, they truly carry significance.  If I couldn't locate this spoon, I would manage just fine.  I'm not dependent on it.  But the significance lies in the intention.  The intention to pay attention to my body.  The intention to nurture myself.  The intention to sit in silence with just myself and a cup of warmth.   


TONIC RECIPE

  • Combine cinnamon, tumeric, and a pinch or 2 of black pepper (*this activates the tumeric) in the bottom of your mug
  • Add adaptogens/powders of choice (1/2 teaspoon each), mix all together
  • Steam just shy of a cup of mylk (or water) and pour into cup -  just enough to cover the mixture.  Stir until smooth.
  • Add a splash of freshly juiced ginger + sweetener of choice (I occasionally add honey but most of the time do not add anything to sweeten)
  • Pour the rest of the mylk until mug is full, stir, and enjoy!

* For ginger:  I do not have a juicer, so I go to my local grocery store to get 4 ounces of ginger to bring home with me and pop in the refrigerator to last through the week.  In efforts to produce less waste, I bring these tiny canning jars with me to transport the ginger in.  They also make great spice jars + salt holders.

Other ingredients to try:  Cordyceps, He Shou Wu, RhodiolaAstragalusTocos, Vanilla, Cacao

  

Nourished: Herbal Infusions
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This past summer I was with my friend Lacy and describing some of my health issues to her, when she said "infusions!  You have to try infusions!"  She told me that I was most likely mineral deficient and that drinking nettle infusions saved her skin and aided with some of her other health ailments.  I was not immediately able to implement them into my then nomadic lifestyle, but as soon as I settled down in one spot, I knew it was time to start. 

While searching youtube videos to learn how to make the infusions, I found Susun Weed.  I immediately fell in love with her, read extensively about infusions, and started to implement nettle as an everyday staple in my life.  Just three weeks later, my eczema (that I've had on and off for years, and persistently for the last two years) went away.  It didn't just subside - it completely vanished.  I have been eating a processed-free, incredibly clean diet (the basis being no gluten, no refined sugar, very minimal dairy) for five and a half years, and I have tried every natural eczema remedy to no avail.  Thank you Lacy and Susun!  

Infusions are made from herbs steeped with hot water for a long period of time.  They are extremely rich in minerals and vitamins, which are easily absorbed by our bodies (unlike taking them in other forms).  I've taken minerals in supplement form in the past with no results.  Nettle is incredible for the skin, adrenals, kidneys, and overall immunity.  I've been making a half gallon sized nettle infusion every night before bed, so that it's ready in the morning to drink all day.  When I know I will be out and about and not home, I make a quart instead.  I drink this all day instead of plain water.  Or, I fill up my cup half-way with the infusion and top it off with water.  The taste is quite earthy, which I actually really enjoy, and sometimes I'll add fresh mint for a flavor boost.  You will most likely only need a quart.  I am dealing with some extreme health issues from autoimmune/mold exposure, so I'm consuming it overzealously.  

I also recently started to add oatstraw into the mix.  This herb is incredibly calming.  It's nourishing to the nervous system and helps with anxiety, insomnia, and stress.  It's full of B vitamins, calcium (good for bones and teeth), and it's also known for increasing libido.  I love to infuse the oatstraw with lavender to sip before bed. 

In the mornings upon wakening, I drink a full cup of infusions (half nettle and half oatstraw).  Then I sip the nettle mixed with water all day, and switch to the oatstraw around 8:00 pm to help calm my energy for the evenings.  

Infusion Recipe 

  • Put approximately 4 heaping tablespoons of nettle (or oatstraw/herb of choice) in a quart sized canning jar.  

  • Boil water and pour into the jar, filling it to the top

  • Close the lid and let the infusion steep for 4+ hours

  • Strain the infusion through a tea strainer and into your cup. 

* For a half-gallon jar I add 6 heaping tablespoons.  

I like to drink them room temperature, but many prefer to have them iced.  Be sure to consume within 36 hours.  The infusions will ferment and may cause stomach upset beyond that time (you will notice if they've gone bad by a funny smell).  You can also mix different herbs together into one jar.  I'm eventually going to add more herbs into my infusions, but for now I'm introducing them one-by-one and keeping them separate so I can see how each herb effects my body/health.   Shop necessary products below.