I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
I’m unabashedly obsessed with trying new beauty and personal care products. And if you’ve been reading the blog and following along, you’ll know that the shift towards clean, nontoxic finds is a primary focus for me.
Simply put: I want to feel good about the products and ingredients I’m using, the products I’m ingesting, hello, Moon Juice dusts, and the products I’m applying and using every day. Products like charcoal cleansers, all natural toothpaste that actually works, and candles that that have intoxicating scents but not toxic fumes.
And you’ll notice those feelings are spreading to every area of WOM. For example, we recently welcomed French Girl Organics to the Shoppe; this amazing all natural and vegan brand has gained a cult-like following and can be spotted in Vogue, Goop and the like. It’s THAT good.
There are a lot of products out there, but the fun part is that I’m constantly discovering new-to-me brands and lines that are proving themselves as contenders (and mainstays) in my daily routine. So naturally, when I find good ones, I’m here gushing about them to you! I’m sharing more than a dozen goodies worth buying in the breakdown below; check them out and let me know if you’ve become obsessed with any just like I have. And of course, leave a comment with any other finds I should add to my list. Truly, MKR
P.S. Find other clean beauty roundups here and here.
P.P.S. We’re welcoming FGO (French Girl Organics) to Waiting On Martha Home with FREE SHIPPING and a FREE mini Rose Lip Scrub with and $50 FGO purchase. Just enter code FRENCHGIRL at checkout. xo
Petal, a hyper floral concoction by Boy Smells is a must-have; think notes of tree flowers, rose sage and patchouli.
Why WOM loves it: Like the rest of Boy Smells’ collection, this candle is safer than your common toxic candle culprits. The coconut and beeswax blend is poured in a glossy black glass tumbler (which we love to corral makeup brushes later!). It also comes ready-to-gift in a blush pink carton.
Made in California, this sustainable natural toothpaste safely whitens teeth, removes plaque and freshens breath. Safe, yet effective ingredients include: baking soda, birch xylitol and premium mint oil.
Why WOM loves it: Toothpaste is a no-brainer when giving your personal care routine a makeover; it’s easy to swap for a nontoxic alternative like this one. It’s fluoride-free, tastes great, and is creamy and non-gritty. David’s also uses 98% USA ingredients (read: supports our economy with US jobs!).
This edible “enlightener” has been alchemized to align you with the mighty cosmic flow for great achievement. It’s used to support superior states of mental clarity, increased memory and better ability to handle stress. It’s great to add to nut milk, coffee, tea, hot or cold water, and can easily blend into a smoothie. Ingredients include: Astragalus, Shilajit, Maca, Lion’s Mane, Rhodiola, Ginkgo and organic Stevia. If you don’t take our word for it, take the masses. Brain Dust is the most highly reviewed & loved of all the dusts. I’ve been using it for about a week and swear my brain fog is already better!
Why WOM loves it: We think of this as a true “healing force” made of of raw vegetables, fruits, petals, herbs, roots, nuts, and seaweeds that helps as a daily nourishment to our busy, busy minds. Something to keep in mind though, out of all the dusts this one might taste the worst on its own. I’ve read that some people can handle it in their coffee, but I’ve found the only way to mask the taste is in my morning smoothie.
Power Dust has been alchemized to support you for peak performance, strong stamina and longevity, while aiding in healthy recovery. This ingestible helps regulate your body’s energy, metabolic function and helps you withstand stress and injury. It’s great to add to nut milk, coffee, tea, hot or cold water, and can easily blend into a smoothie. Ingredients include: organic Astragalus, Ginseng, organic Eleuthero, organic Schisandra, Rhodiola and organic Stevia.
Why WOM loves it: It’s a great addition to our healthy living routines, and it works to relieve stress, boost metabolism, tame inflammation and so much more.
If you’re like me then you have the hardest time falling a sleep. Well I’ve got your solution…Dream Dust, a soothing edible “nightcap” that’s been alchemized to lull you into deep, restorative sleep. It’s great to add to nut milk, coffee, tea, hot or cold water, and can easily blend into a smoothie. Ingredients include: Zizyphus, organic Schisandra, organic Chamomile, Polygala and organic Stevia.
Why WOM loves it: It’s an organic and wild crafted sleep aid, using calming herbs that work gently and effectively. And I promise, it works!
French Girl Organics brings us a luxurious bronzing body oil that’s infused with a lightweight blend of nourishing oils, mineral oxides and pigments to moisturize the skin while leaving a subtle, sun-kissed glow.
Why WOM loves it:
It’s a safe, nontoxic way to get a mid-summer glow any time of the year. The subtle shimmer and lovely scent (jasmine/neroli) is just enough, too,. Its bottle also happens to be gorgeous; we don’t mind looking at it on our countertops!
A safe, nontoxic deodorant (that ACTUALLY WORKS) made up of coconut oil, shea butter and kaolin clay helps absorb sweat and keep the underarm dry and comfortable. Additional ingredients include: tea tree oil (has powerful antibacterial properties to benefit your skin and is an effective all natural deodorizer) and pumpkin seed (helps reduce redness and itching).
Why WOM loves it: We’re always on the search for a natural deodorant that really works, and doesn’t make us smell funky…and this one is one of them. It’s free of aluminum compounds, parabens and artificial coloring agents, too.
This mask works to rebalance skin and draw out impurities, while infusing it with major moisture. The gelée offers the moisture rich consistency, while the black silt brings a cooling, fresh and supple feeling to your skin.
Why WOM loves it:
I bought this mask when I read on Byrdie Beauty how it was one of the most amazing masks on the market. And while I’m not sure it’s the most amazing mask I’ve ever used, it is in my weekly rotation and makes my face as soft as a baby’s bottoms. It’s remarkable how moisturizing, yet brightening its effects on the skin are.
Say hello to French Girl Organic’s invigorating rose & mint infused sugar scrub. It’s formulated with nourishing butters to gently remove dry skin, smooth out rough patches and leave lips supple and moisturized.
Why WOM loves it: The polish’s rose/mint scent is utterly divine, and it does the trick when we’re looking to give our lips some much needed TLC all year ’round. It’s also very gentle where other lip scrubs we’ve found to be on the rougher side, so great for sensitive skin!
A gentle, anti-aging oil blend rich in skin-supporting fatty acids and essential oils to ease under-eye inflammation and eliminate fine lines.
Why WOM loves it: It’s a super gentle product that easily fits into our nighttime routine. And the gang’s all here with this one: rose hip oil, argan oil, rose geranium oil, evening primrose oil and more.
This deep cleansing, detoxifying cleanser is perfect for blemished and acne-prone skin. It’s easily application, subtle and lovely scent, and nice price point make it a team favorite.
Why WOM loves it:
It’s effective, yet super gentle, too. The line is also hand-crafted here in Atlanta, and the company helps provide provide soapmaking skills and business training to women in developing nations by donating a portion of each sale to the Lovin’ Soap Project.
This one’s a super moisturizing coffee scrub that’s been formulated with coconut oil, vanilla bean seeds and natural cane sugar to tone and firm the skin.
Why WOM loves it:
It smells like heaven, and exfoliates and moisturizes all in one.
French Girl Organic’s luxurious body oil is formulated with a lightweight blend of nourishing oils and botanical resins to leave skin supple and glowing. Available in 2 scents: Jasmine/Neroli and Rose/Ylang.
Why WOM loves it: It’s entirely vegan and organic, and offers a subtle scent and glow after massaging into the skin. It also works wonderfully with a few drops in the bathtub for a nice, long soak!
A perfectly masculine-yet-feminine scent, Replica Jazz Club is a cult favorite for a reason. Top notes include: pink pepper, primofiore lemon and neroli oil, with a middle of rum absolute, clary sage oil, java vetiver oil. Lastly, the base hints at tobacco leaf absolute, vanilla bean and styrax resin.
Why WOM loves it: It’s a woodsy and earthy scent that’s intriguing and refined.
This is another French Girl Organics gem; it’s a creamy, non-foaming face and body wash formulated with activated charcoal, green tea extract and soothing aloe and jojoba oil that gently detoxifies and balances the skin.
Why WOM loves it: It double as a make-up remover and cleanser, and has 100% plant ingredients that are 100% vegan friendly. Plus the price point is pretty great!
This argan-based hair oil infused with the scent of Moroccan rose is a must-try. It delivers instant shine and deep moisture for long-term hair repair. I use this at least two times a week, and a little goes a long way with this oil
Why WOM loves it:
We’re always on the hunt for a hair oil that gives our strands a little TLC. It’s great to apply to towel-dried hair, and works like a charm if you use it as a hot oil treatment, too.
A paraben & fragrance free non-toxic mascara with an innovatively-engineered silicone applicator brush that provides each lash with an even dose of creamy, buildable formula to amplify volume and length without caking, crumbling or flaking.
Why WOM loves it:
It lengthens, it doesn’t flake, and it’s free of many major toxins and harsh chemicals you’ll find in many other top mascara brands. A better question would be, what’s not to like?
Over the past year I’ve become addicted to all things Smith & Cult. The colors are GORGEOUS, and it’s free of all the bad stuff (ie. chemicals). It’s custom-tailored to provide high-performance color and Pillow Pie is my new go-to light pink.
Why WOM loves it:
We’ve tested a lot of nail polishes over the years, and Smith & Cult is simply the best. Plus it’s free of all your typical nail polish chemicals: Dibutyl phthalate-free; toluene-free; formaldehyde-free; formaldehyde resin-free; camphor-free; ethyl tosylamide-free; xylene-free; triphenyl phosphate-free. And if you needed another reason, it’s all made right here in the USA.
There’s nothing better than versatile pieces that can take you from the boardroom to Friday night drinks with your girlfriends. And while many of you may think that a blazer is not that piece, I’m here to tell you it is.
Take my navy belted blazer for example. Easily paired with slacks, a silk blouse and pointed toe pumps to rule your nine to five. Then just as easily paired with a pair of jeans and statement heels for happy hour. In fact my favorite way to wear this blazer is actually with a lace body suit underneath for date night. With just a peak of lace showing I still feel comfortable, covered up, and sophisticated, but just a tad on the saucy side.
And you don’t have to spend a fortune, this blazer is actually from Zara! Sadly, like all great Zara finds, it’s sold out, but I’ve linked similar blazer options here, here, here and here, and I’m OBSESSED with this striped one! I wore this jacket on stage at Create & Cultivate late last year, and it seriously made me feel like a million bucks the second I put it on. Can’t beat that!
Just keep in mind you want a blazer to be tailored, but not tight, and very few blazer will EVER fit you correctly off the shelf. My suggestion, especially if you’re investing in a more expensive one, size one size up and then take it to a tailor. That way you’ll have the length working for you which is where I find so many people get the look all wrong.
Another thing that happens to help this outfit is my favorite new ZAC Zac Posen bag. The overall structured feel of the bag accented with the delicate flowers is my favorite combo of masculine and feminine. Plus with the navy and red colors you don’t have to only wear this floral bag in spring. And just a little something to brighten your Friday, we’re giving away one of these killer ZAC Zac Posen bags (retail value $550)! Enter the giveaway via the Rafflcopter below, and good luck friends. xo Truly, MKR
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As you read yesterday, we recently set out on a pretty epic road trip throughout South Carolina, eating and drinking our way through a handful of the state’s must-see cities. And as we were driving from Greenville to Hilton Head and then onto Sea Island for The Southern C Summit, Columbia was a no-brainer for a pitstop. It was my first time in town, though Kat had been during college for a game or two to visit friends. It didn’t take me long to see that this was one FUN town on a college game day. The plethora of local breweries, great spots to catch some good grub, and the overall setup of the town really built the scene for a perfect weekend in the south. And as someone who didn’t have college football at their school, I can appreciate that more than you know!
We really lucked out with our itinerary on this part of the trip and our time in Columbia; the AFWF team powwow’ed with the state of South Carolina for must-eat, must-drink stops for us to get a feel for the place, setting us off in the fanciest Lexus SUV to roll us around in style. And after we were done in Columbia, we had our eyes set on a quick stop in Beaufort and finally settling in Hilton Head for the night.
The first on our list for the day was Rise Bakeshop, which was named Columbia’s Best New Restaurant last year by the readers of Free Times. Owned by Chef Sarah Simmons (who also owns CITY GRIT and Birds & Bubbles in Manhattan), the place boasts a big menu of southern staples at a fast-casual frequency. It’s the perfect place for a great biscuit, drool-worthy breakfast or lunch sandwiches and top quality salad bowls… basically everything they serve (minus the cheese) is prepared in-house using only the best ingredients. It was totally right up our alley; the team piled up on sweet and savory treats for later, only after talking to the lovely Chef Sarah and hearing her story. This talented lady really knows her stuff; she’s been recognized as one of the most creative people in business, a new and notable chef, and one of America’s best new cooks, and many more accolades by Food & Wine, Zagat and Fast Company magazine just to name a few. Her drive and passion for the industry was contagious, too; she told us about her big plans to continue paving the way in Columbia for top-scale dining. We definitely plan to keep an ear out for her next endeavor…with Columbia only three hours away from Atlanta, it would be a great excuse to come check out a new restaurant of hers and have a little weekend getaway.
After our stop at Rise, we piled back in the car to make our way to 2Fat2Fly where friends/owners Ramone Dickerson and Cory Simmons have in all seriousness, changed the game with their absolutely, ridiculously awesome stuffed chicken wings. That’s right; you read that correctly…stuffed chicken wings. The name may be my favorite part about the biz too with a play on the stuffed chicken that are too fat to fly! We arrived hungry, because we didn’t want to waste this chance at this when-in-Rome experience here in Columbia. And a side note, the guys were sweet to let us come in; they were actually closed for dining because it was Super Bowl Sunday and the team was busy in the back preparing catering orders all day long. But the boys showed us the utmost southern hospitality as they brought out some of their finest stuffed wings for us to enjoy (with the place to ourselves!). And man, the lineup was creative, innovative and irresistible: mac & cheese, chicken & waffles dunked in maple syrup, jambalaya rice & sausage, collard greens & rice and lastly, jalapeno, bacon & cheese. Insane, right?! They were some of the best wings we’ve ever ate…I mean just mind blowing how they actually stuff them. We definitely put a dent in the platter in front of us, but alas we did go home with some wings that we knew would be just as good heated up later that night!
We knew we wanted to pop around Columbia for a little bit longer, and since the city has a great brewery scene, we stopped by River Rat Brewing next for a flight of craft beers. The brewery was super laid-back and welcoming; one of those places where you’d want to hang out with a few of your friends for a few hours. It had a great, large outdoor area that would be so perfect for sunny weather and a good #SundayFunday. The space was awesome, and one we’d definitely recommend visiting for yourself.
Before we knew it, it was time to hit the road again, and we wanted to swing through super charming Beaufort on the way to Hilton Head. Whenever you’re passing through South Carolina, it’s really worth your while to stop through here; the quiet streets of antebellum homes nestled on the water make it the most idyllic little town. If you have time, be sure to rent bikes and meander the streets covered in Spanish moss; they’ll take your breath away! And if you have time to catch a quick bite, you must go to Q on the Bay for some of the best BBQ around (with Alabama white sauce of course), and homemade strawberry cake (recipe stays in the family…don’t worry I’ve already tried to get it).
Our final stop on deck for this epic South Carolina road trip: Hilton Head. It was such a treat to get a little taste of springtime weather here, and the cool ocean breeze and sand between our toes put a smile on all of us. We had a ton of recommendations to go check out Hilton Head Brewing Co., the island’s first brewery located on the north end. We were so glad we did; after getting a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery, we enjoyed tasting several of their finest IPA’s at the bar. The new-to-town brewer, Nick Farstad, impressed us with his drive to get the brewery back to booming post-Hurricane Matthew, and he was great to teach us about the diverse flavor profiles of some of the brewery’s most beloved beers. We left there wishing Nick and team the best in his efforts to “put HHI on the [beer] map.” We know we’ll be back for another round soon!
Our last (and maybe my favorite) reservation found us at One Hot Mama’s, the culinary brain child and family-friendly BBQ joint by the talented Chef Orchid Paulmeier. You may remember Chef Orchid from season 7 of The Next Food Network Star! Chef Orchid sure knows what she’s doing; the spread set us back a few lbs. probably (because we just couldn’t leave any bites left behind), and we all settled into a comfortable and happy food coma after we devoured what was on the table. I think my favorite dish was the juicy-wet ribs, but I know that Kat couldn’t stop talking about those wings and Kathryn loved the macaroni & cheese. The one thing we could all agree on though; the chocolate, bacon pecan pie. Bold statement here, I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a better dessert! Definitely worth a visit when you’re on HHI.
Whew! To say we had a great time meeting these talented chefs, eating this fantastic food and enjoying these drinks throughout South Carolina is a major understatement. Big thanks to AFWF, Discover South Carolina and Lexus for making it all happen. I know I can speak for the team in saying how fortunate we felt to have had the chance to see some of these hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems around the state. It’ll make it even more fun to meet up with the chefs at this year’s Atlanta Food & Wine Festival during the first weekend in June! Early Bird tickets go on sale 3.24, so be sure to set a reminder in your calendars…it’s one of my favorite events all year! Check out a few peeks from last year’s festival below (but most importantly, read about the tasting tents you’ll want to visit first!) to see what all of the buzz is about. Truly, MKR
