THE FULLEST Faves IV
Arbitrary resolutions aren’t necessarily our thing, but we are big believers in incremental changes to continuously make our lives happier and healthier. This January, Nikki shares a few of the ways she’s shifting, swapping and upgrading her self-care and clean-living practices.
Going Paper Towel-Free
Our household recently went paper towel-free and it was a surprisingly easy switch to make. All it took was repurposing a bunch of linen towels leftover from my days of hosting large dinners parties. Now, we use them for everything — from spills, to wiping down counters, to our evening dinner napkins. After we are done with them, we place them in a bucket in the kitchen, and every other night we throw them in the washer. It would never have occurred to me that I could give up paper towels, especially with a toddler. But now that we’ve done it, we won’t be going back. Write to us if you decide to give it a shot!
Organic Black Fermented Garlic
A while back on a road trip I discovered fermented black garlic at my favorite pitstop — the Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op. The sweet taste is unlike anything else, and it boasts a wide-range of biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effects.
Walking
It’s something so simple but I’m a huge fan of walking. Taking up walking daily has changed my body in so many ways. I had a personal trainer for years that had me doing high-intensity interval training 4-5 days a week. At the time, I was really into it but it wasn’t a good fit for my body (I'm only 5’1’’ and it really bulked me up). Once I switched to low-intensity exercises like walking and pilates, I noticed my body released a lot of tension, including so much inflammation that I was creating and retaining by having such an intense exercise routine. Now, I feel my best when I engage in calming physical activities that still have my body moving but in ways that are more natural and feel healthier in the long run.
Living Libations Toothpaste
Wintergreen Clean is my favorite toothpaste. It’s a charcoal and mint toothpaste that is made of the cleanest ingredients, and it's glycerin-free (which is really important because glycerin actually coats your teeth and contributes to cavities). A lot of toothpaste brands use glycerin even if they are natural brands. My best advice is be aware of the different ingredients in your toothpaste and do your own research!
Raw Butter
I’d never liked store-bought butter, but at some point, I began to crave organic, raw butter and could not believe the difference. I was vegan for years, so I can easily tell the difference if something is made with butter, let alone processed butter. I am still a big fan of plant-based foods but I know animal fats are an important part of our diet, especially for optimal hormone development, so I always use raw, pastured butter in my cooking.
Farmers' Markets
In Southern California, we are blessed with having multiple farmers' markets every week, so I almost never get my produce from a regular market. I love having a connection to the farmer that grew my food and I’ve always enjoyed strolling through farmers' markets, whether it’s one in my local neighborhood, or a new market I discover when traveling. Although not much buying happens from the farmers' market while we travel, I make it a point to go so we can get a better idea of the town and its people and culture.
Spalwart Shoes
I found out about this Swedish footwear label back when they did a collaboration with Outdoor Voices. They craft all their shoes with vintage machinery from the '50s and have a simple yet elevated look. If you’re looking for a sneaker you can wear on a hike or pair with a dress, this is the brand you’re looking for!
Breakblok
I’ve fallen in love with this organic, gluten-free bakery’s Chestnut Sourdough Bread. It’s slightly naturally sweet and pairs perfectly with the raw butter I mentioned earlier, plus a pinch of Celtic Sea Salt. Their bakery is located in Santa Monica but they deliver nationwide on their website, so be sure to check them out!Nikki Bostwick is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of THE FULLEST, host of THE FULLEST Podcast, and creator of our Saffron Latte.
