Worth Noting

7 Things to Do with Your Girlfriends That Don’t Involve Drinking

Pass on the bottle of vino this time, do these activities together instead
Filed Under > Everyday

drinking

Don’t get me wrong, happy hour with the girls is one of my favorite things to do each week, and bringing a bottle of wine is always appreciated when we’re stopping by each other’s houses.  Alcohol, whether we’ll admit it or not, is a cornerstone for so many of our social activities, especially being in our late twenties and early thirties.  This realization recently had me thinking how difficult it makes it for those trying to cut back, avoid the hangovers or maybe even connect on a deeper level.  It can feel like there’s not much to do with your friends without having a drink in-hand. 

But for all of the time in between the parties, the wine nights and the happy hours, there’s a lot of life.   And these moments can offer quality time with your besties that is healthier, more stimulating and ultimately fulfilling.  In the past year, I personally have really taken a step back from going out all of the time, and now look so much more forward to catching up with my friends doing activities we love.  That includes hiking, cooking, having an at-home spa night (I’m a product junkie) and volunteering together. 

So instead of groaning about there being no things to do without drinking, get creative.  Ask yourself, when was the last time you spent time volunteering together?  Painting together?  Cooking together?  Check out my list of ideas for things to do with your girlfriends without drinking below, and tell me what you love to do with your ladies.  Cheers, Kat

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Host an At-Home Spa Night

WOM's One Love Organics Essentials Kit

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All of my friends know that I’m a beauty product buff.  I am absolutely obsessed with finding new great green skincare and beauty products.  So at the top of my list of things to do without drinking (and even on a night where they’re all out drinking without me…) is an at-home spa night.  

Get it on the calendar, and get your besties together to indulge in some self love.  Leave your phones at home (or in the other room) and set the mood with relaxing music, crystals charged, the diffuser turned on, nontoxic candles lit and don only you comfiest clothes.  

My favorite things to do: apply a detoxifying face mask, whip the Clarisonic out and exfoliate, hydrate from the inside out by drinking coconut water or aloe water, give your body a one-over with a dry brush, moisturize all over with coconut oil, apply a hair mask, and give yourself (or your friend) a solid mani and/or pedi (here’s our favorite nontoxic nail polish brand). 

Volunteer Together

3-Piece Garden Tool Set

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I’ve recently found such fulfillment in volunteering.  I think the key is finding something you really, really enjoy doing personally and figure out a way to give back.  I’ve recently become more and more interested in gardening (even if it’s just a potted plant and indoor herbs for right now).  So I was thrilled to find The Nashville Food Project, a local nonprofit that invited volunteers into their community gardens to help grow and harvest vegetables to feed the hungry around town, as well as help out in their prep kitchens. 

If you can sync up your interests, bring a friend or two along with you next time you visit your favorite charity or nonprofit.  It will be an incredibly refreshing chance to unplug, accomplish good acts together, and help each other live a fuller life. 

Have a Game Night

Travel Cribbage and Backgammon Set

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A game night at home can help take the pressure off a weekend night out on the town.  And no, I’m not talking about drinking games.  So many of the greatest tabletop games can be enjoyed with a few snacks and some laughs.  

When planning the night, poll the crowd and bring out the tried-and-true favorites, and consider having a new game to keep things interesting.  

My personal favorites include Balderdash (seriously so fun and better the more creative you get), Monopoly (because it’s a classic…I’m always the one that wants to play for 3 hours until she starts losing), Scrabble (always a family favorite), Settlers of Catan, Sorry and The Game of Life.  

Create Something

12-Piece Paint Brush Set

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Get together and flex your creative muscles; you’ll be surprised at how relaxed, recharged and rejuvenated you’ll feel after!  Whether that’s by doing a craft together, painting, drawing, coloring, making jewelry, knitting, crocheting, mixing essential oil blends or repurposing furniture, you can reap the benefits of meditative and inspiring work…you may even solve some world problems while doing so. 

Cook a Great Meal

The Yoga Kitchen

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Gathering together to cook a great meal doesn’t always require alcohol!  If you’re afraid of being tempted, I’d suggest picking up a healthy cookbook to encourage health-minded dining (why botch the light meal with one too many glasses of wine?!). 

The Yoga Kitchen and Nutrition Stripped are my go-to’s when I’m in the mood to stay in and cook with my girlfriends.  Both books make it easy and fun to bring together nourishing ingredients, without getting too out there. 

Go for a Hike

Merrell Moab Ventilator Mid Hiking Boots

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Connecting with nature is so good for your mind, body and soul, and if you can do it with a girlfriend in tow, it’s even better.  I cherish the time I spend on walks or hikes with my friends; it’s the perfect time to catch up, give advice and laugh about last weekend’s shenanigans. 

Not to mention, the endorphins, fresh air and vitamin D will have you feeling like a rockstar. It’ll help you choose positivity (and get your daily steps in!). And no matter rain or shine, my favorite parks around town include Percy Warner and Radnor Lake. 

Create Mood Boards

Zodiac Watercolor Print

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I love the idea of harnessing your goals and dreams with a strong mood board. They’re visually stimulating, inspiring and just all around beautiful on the wall.  

Invite your BFF over and hash out your color palettes, pull together your favorite art prints, and fan through stacks of magazines to piece together your board. 

Featured image, Kelli Boyd Photography for The Southern C 

5 Netflix Documentaries to Watch Now

Check out one of these riveting, thought-provoking and Must-Watch films tonight
Filed Under > Everyday

Blog_Documentaries_to_watch

After seeing The White Helmets take home the Oscar on Sunday night for Best Documentary Short, I was inspired to settle in for a Netflix night.  It’s easy to let great films, especially documentaries, slip through the Netflix cracks, so I knew it was due-time to share a roundup of must-watch, noteworthy features that you can stream at the the touch of a button. 

While thought-provoking, and if not a little emotional draining, these documentary films shed light on important issues that matter to each and every one of us.  I know I won’t be binge-watching these in a row, but I’m looking forward to delving into these topics this month.  Next up on my list?  The Ivory Game, directed by Leonardo DiCaprio (love my boy Leo).  What’s next on your watch list?  I’d love to know your thoughts on these films and other must-watch films in the comments below.  Happy watching and learning!  Truly, MKR

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The White Helmets

Orlando von Einsiedel

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This 40-minute documentary took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Short.  The film follows three rescue workers, part of the Syrian Civil Defense, in Turkey.  They work to give emergency assistance to those caught in the civil war in Syria.

 

The Ivory Game

Leonardo DiCaprio

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Step inside the scary world of the ivory trade, and follow the corrupt network from the Savannah to the streets of China. The creators had to go undercover for months to make this documentary, shedding light on the poachers and dealers that are driving elephants to extinction. All I can keep thinking is, the poor elephants! 

Amanda Knox

Rod Blackhurst, Brian McGinn

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Twice convicted and acquitted of murder of her roommate, Amanda Knox was an American student living abroad in Italy. The long drawn out case came to different conclusions, where details were dissected and analyzed for years. Watch this Netflix original and let us know your verdict. 

Cowspiracy

Kip Andersen

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This political documentary opens our eyes to the environmental effects of animal agriculture and the issue of sustainability. Odds are, you’ll watch this one and walk away inspired to do your part to help the planet, maybe cutting back (or eliminating) meat in your diet. 

The True Cost

Andrew Morgan

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This feature-length documentary will shed some light on the human and environmental effects of cheap clothes (or “fast fashion”).  This deep dive into the $3-trilled fashion industry has us thinking twice about where we’re buying our clothes. 

Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

How to Spring Clean with a Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist

Tackling Spring Cleaning Room by Room
Filed Under > Everyday

A Case for Spring Cleaning with A Printable Spring Cleaning Checklist, Waiting On Martha

Spring cleaning has always gotten a bad rap.  The annual chore of purging the whole house, whether you secretly enjoy it or not, brings about the connotation of an overwhelming slew of dirty work.  But when we actually take a second to think about it, cleaning gives you a huge sense of accomplishment, and it can be incredibly meditative and regenerative.  

A good cleaning works to clear the space, and it encourages a calm, peaceful and healthy (literally) environment.  It can also help extend a feeling of contentment with what you already have, decreasing your likelihood of spending money on things you don’t need. 

So this year, instead of moaning and groaning about it (and putting it off) I’m embracing this springtime ritual. In fact, recently, I have basked in glorious Sundays inside, where I have cleaned the house for a busy week ahead. I’m finding that the “reset” feeling is priceless, and it’s gotten me to understand the joy that Marie Kondo taught us

While spring cleaning can be great, I also understand it can be overwhelming.  So to help you get started we at Team WOM got together and created the ultimate spring cleaning, printable, checklist.   This spring cleaning checklist should quiet that feeling of where to start and make your home easier to navigate; breaking it all down room by room.  Find our printable checklist HERE.

Along with checklist I’ve also highlighted a few additional tips for those hard to clean spaces and places.  Tips like how do you actually clean your wood cutting boards, a breakdown of expiration dates, and the easiest way to tackle your blinds. And if you’re looking for some organizational inspiration make sure to check out our previous posts on linen closet, laundry room, and bathroom organization.

Lastly, I urge you to do your research and consider making the switch to non toxic cleaning solutions.  Switching to non toxic cleaning solutions is not only one of the healthiest things you can do for you and your family, it’s also the least expensive in the long run.  Cheers, MKR

P.S. While you’re degreasing, decluttering, and cleaning from top to bottom why not rid it of some bad juju with our DIY smudge sticks while you’re at it? 

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End-Grain Cutting Board in Walnut

Williams-Sonoma, $169.95

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As you’re sanitizing your wood cutting boards, stay away from the dishwasher. Instead, be sure to immediately rinse with hot water and soap, letting it dry properly and thoroughly. 

And did you know?  You can bring an old cutting board back to life and remove stains with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt and half of a lemon. Scrub all over with the lemon, then let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. If it’s a little stinky, spritz the board with white vinegar and a drop or two of lemon essential oil

Bamboo Blind 2-Inch Slats in Pecan

Overstock, $47.99

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When you tackle the blinds and curtains around the house, remember to vacuum horizontal ones across the slats, not up and down, and starting top to bottom.  Team WOM swears by the Dyson Cordless Vacuum with all sorts of detachments perfect for cleaning blinds, sofas, cars, etc. 

If you’re dusting vertical blinds, brush downward.  These motions will help ensure the blinds do not become damaged or unhinged during the cleaning process. 

2 Tier Acrylic Tower

The Container Store

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As you’re decluttering and cleaning the bathroom, pay extra attention to expiration dates on beauty products and pill bottles.  This is a great time to purge unused and expired items that are taking up precious space below the sink. Here’s a great breakdown of common expiration dates to keep in mind (it’s pretty mind blowing if you haven’t thought about it!). 

St. Honore Soap Dish

One Kings Lane, $12

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Don’t forget about sanitizing the most-used items in the bathroom like soap dishes and toothbrush holders.  These items can catch and store moisture (which is never good) and should be cleaned more frequently than you probably realize. 

Try to limit the amount of water collected by wiping down frequently after uses.  When you deep clean, soak them in hot water in the sink, or run them through the dishwasher. 

Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

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