I love the Eucalyptus shower tablets from Aura Cacia since I discovered them last year. I’m always reordering these on Amazon or picking them up at the store. But, I use them so much that they’re always running out. I saw this Eucalyptus Aromatherapy Spray from the same line at the grocery store with the idea of spaying it in the shower for the same effect as the tablets.
It’s not as strong and doesn’t last as long as the tablets, but it’s still nice and to get a whiff of this to make you feel like you’re in a spa shower when you first step in.
I spray this several times and wait a few moments before I get into the shower.
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I first learned about Farmhouse Fresh through Richmond’s own cruelty-free beauty boutique, Elements Beauty Shop. Aura Spa., one of my favorite places just
My favorite products are:
Sundae Mask Chocolate Softening Mask | $25Vanilla Bourbon Body Oil | $23
One Fine Day Flawless Face Scrub | $23
Honey Chai Steeped Milk Lotion | $15-$31
The chocolate mask smells exactly like brownie batter. It’s supposed to be softening. I find it gentle and just fun to use.
Jay’s birthday is around father’s day. When I took him for a couples’ massage, they were running a special using the Vanilla Bourbon oil. They used it on both of us and I loved the way it smelled.
I haven’t used a scrub in years, but when I got a “mini refresher facial” on my birthday, they used this one and my face felt amazing. The other thing I’ve started doing is using a washcloth instead of letting the hot water from the shower hit my face directly.
Farmhouse Fresh makes a mini pedicure kit that includes this Honey-Chai lotion, Honey Heel Glaze chemical exfoliant, and a body scrub. They were sampling it on the day we had our “bourbon massages,” and I loved the smell of the lotion, so I bought a full-size.
If you’re in Richmond, pop into Elements to play with the testers or book a service at Aura Spa. I love the facials – and don’t forget to add on a bubble bath.
I love that Farmhouse Fresh is cruelty-free. They also indicate on their site what percentage natural each product is, as well as whether its organic, vegan, and gluten-free.
“We’re big animal lovers. The FHF Ranch is located on a rolling pasture that is home to FHF fur babies of all sizes. Through veterinary care, healthy food & snacks, and unlimited hugs & love, we help animals erase the memories of their past and build new ones with our FHF family. Our team also dedicates time to rescue activities, including donating dog beds to shelters through our Dog Bed Fairy Program.”
And look at their cute staff on the farm. Love!
I got this book because Sherry from Young House Love mentioned it, and I will literally do anything sherry tells me to do. It’s one of those reads that inspires so many more.
This book introduced me to the term, “maximalism,” and inspired this leopard jacket/neon manicure/glitter sneaker combination.
“Like a kid in a candy store” is one of the most iconic images of joy in our culture, expressing the wild, almost delirious pleasure we take in being let loose in a bountiful world. When I first started hearing about the places that give people joy, I realized that many of them evoke this giddy feeling of abundance: carnivals and circuses, dollar stores and flea markets, and giant old hotels like the Grand Budapest of director Wes Anderson’s imagining. The same feeling also exists on a smaller scale. An ice-cream cone covered in rainbow sprinkles is like a candy store held in your hand. A shower of confetti, a multicolored quilt, a simple game of pick-up sticks, have this irresistible allure.
Even the language of joy is rife with excess. We say we’re overjoyed or that we’re brimming with happiness.
We say, “My cup runneth over.” And this is very much how it feels to be in a moment of joy, when our delight is so abundant it feels like it can’t be contained.”
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Meet my friend Jessica Brooks. She’s a marketer/mom/master’s student and antique-enthusiast.
She runs Renaissance RVA. If you’re in Richmond, you can see her curations in-person at the West End Antiques Mall.
We met because her husband and my boyfriend play music together.
I saw on Instagram that she started renting a space at a local antique mall selling really cool pieces, so I asked her to be part of the TFB Art Pop Up.
She also always looks elegant and has a beautiful home, so I asked her if she could share some of her style wisdom with you all.
I went to her rancher home in Southside Richmond to spend a Saturday afternoon with her and her daughter, Georgia.
Of course, I was most interested in her beauty and skincare routine. She told me that she mostly learns about new products to try from Gweneth Paltrow’s site, Goop. Here are her favorite products:
May Lindstrom The Youth Dew | $180 | Goop
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Bronze | $25 | Sephora
Euphoria Full Effect | $28.50 | Euphoria.net
Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Tinted Moisturizer with SPF | Nordstrom | $48
Eufora Full Effect – hair styling must Clarins instant smooth perfecting touch – great for hiding pores Skinbetter Science Regenerating AlphaRet® Overnight Cream – I think you can only get this through the dermatologist – I got mine from Dr. Godin’s esthetician. Here’s a link to the same onePCA Skin Total Strength Serum | Dermstore | $92- works to minimize fine lines and pores. I mix this with my sunscreen first thing every morning. Then I apply the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer mixed with the youth dew.
Tanology Drops Light Sunless Tanning Treatment | Target | $19.99
Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen | $19 | Sephora
She wants to try this serum from Vitner’s Daughter next. I heard from my friend McKenzie that it’s sold ad Need Supply in Carytown and that they’ll even give you a sample.
I also loved her cool, summer outfit. She bought the top from a little boutique in Asheville North Carolina.
“I’ve got pieces I love everywhere from Roan to the Goodwill. But also H&M, Anthropologie, Zara, Gap… I bought a really cute jacket from Goodwill while thrifting recently, and also found a vintage Express jumpsuit at a Goodwill not too long ago I really like. But if I find myself somewhere like Roan or Saks, I make sure I’m buying something timeless and can be dressed up or down so that it’s an investment piece.”
I found Jess’s pants on the Target site, and here are some similar tops:
Poetry | $149
Target | $25
Francescas | $38
Poetry | $159
Faherty | $58
She also told me some of her favorite accounts to follow on Instagram:
Architecture:@archdigest
@home
@modernhomesportland
@midmoddreamhomes
Decor & Style Inspo:
@Molly_britt – Newport Beach-based, California style
@themakerista – mom of three with an amazing design sense, lots of thrifted finds, based in Kansas City
@ashlyngoldberg – Durham based mother of two, lots of vintage, natural organic and traditional elements
@lizlidgett – art curator and gallery owner in Des Moines, Iowa
@vervehomefurnishings – local, amazing finds
@angelachruschiakiblehm – gorgeous pop art
@sothebyshome
Lifestyle/Style:
@inagarten
@whatlolalikes – AZ based mom who turned me on to May Lindstrom
@bat_gio – Italian fashion editor (formerly of vogue)
@erinfoster – hilarious, co-creator of Barely Famous
@camillestyles
Landscapes and beautiful places
@swiss – take me back
@vermontphotography – hope to visit
@villacamilla – just lovely
And… @glennclose on Instagram – cracks me up.
…and her own account isn’t too shabby. I especially love the photos from her sweet, private wedding and gorgeous honeymoon all across Europe.
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I spent the morning at Bowels Knobb Farm with Zuula Consulting for an equine-infused Communications workshop. Each of us talked about roadblocks and challenges we face personally. Mine was my struggle with teaching and feeling like I’m not doing a good job. At the end of the workshop, we were asked to write something on a rock that represented what we had worked through that day and that would remind us and keep us motivated and inspired through communications roadblocks. I wrote down the names of as many students I could think of that had ever said something. Nice to me about my teaching. It’ll be so nice to have this reminder handy. Thanks to Deanna and Meghan for putting on this workshop and thanks most of all to all these students I’ve met along the way.
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We’re so excited to welcome Kinis to TFB!
Barefoot exercise allows the activation of foot muscles to build stronger feet and legs. Gripping the floor with toes improves balance and form, and helps reduce the risk of injuries. Exercising barefoot builds a strong and healthy arch.
Learn About Kinis
They’re already been featured on Women’s Health, and we’re jumping in to help spread the word to even more people about the benefits of barefoot training and Kinis.
Ana of Rio Fitness hosted a popup workout class at 1717 Innovation Center, so we got to see a bunch of Kinis in action.
And I tested it the brand-new pink version (Nomad Lite) for myself at Gym Quest Gymnastics.
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I just finished my first week of Freshly and I like it A LOT. It’s different from the other meal subscriptions in that the meals are already cooked for you.
Last Friday, a box came in the mail with six little TV dinners.
Jay and I got six meals and split them.
Last week, I tried the cauliflower-shell bolognese and the wild-caught Mahi Mahi. Both were delicious but the pasta was AMAZING. Jay had the Chicken Livorno and the Teriyaki Salmon Cakeshe loved it too. I had a bite of the chicken and it was remarkably juicy – like I was really surprised.
Each meal has little icons to let you know things like whether the meal is spicy, Gluten Free, high in protein, and how many calories there are.
I still have an eggplant parm left before the next delivery comes on Friday. Here’s what’s coming in that order:
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This Tuesday the Richmond-based Australian Football team, RVA Lions, hosted a screening of Australian film The Merger, to celebrate World Refugee Day. McDonald’s sponsored the event as part of their worldwide Favorites campaign, which has introduced (for a limited time) international menu items to McDonald’s restaurants in Richmond.
The film, which portrays the story of a struggling Australian Football team that grows into champions through the inclusion of refugee players, debuted at the 2018 Melbourne International Film Festival.
“It’s a wonderful story,” said Manyang Reath Kher, who was resettled in Richmond in the aftermath of violent conflict in Sudan. “It brings people together. People are supposed to help each other,” said Kher about the film.
Australian football is a sport that uses a ball that is similar in shape to that of rugby, but has its own rules. Richmond is the 44th city in the United States to have a team, called the RVA Lions. It was the sport featured in The Merger, the team that included refugees went on to win a tournament.
The showing was attended by approximately 70 people, whose ticket proceeds benefitted the International Rescue Mission, ReEstablish Richmond, and the Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
“It inspires me a lot and broadens my perspective,” Shuang Hu, an exchange student from China who also attended the screening.
McDonald’s raffled off prizes, including gift cards so that audience members could try the Worldwide Favorites Menu, including the Australian feature – Cheesy Bacon Fries. Other menu items include a Tomato-Mozzarella Chicken sandwich from Canada, a Stroop Waffle McFlurry from The Netherlands, and a Grand McBacon Extreme Burger from Spain.
“My boys like the cheesy bacon fries at home,” said David Boyle, an Australian who recently moved from Brisbane to Richmond. “I’ve just moved to the U.S. willingly and it’s been difficult,” he said, explaining that two of his sons did not relocate with him. “The whole concept of refugees coming to a new place under pressure, like war, I can’t imagine,” Boyle said.
When asked what other dishes he missed from Australia, Pete Gunning, another Australian who attended the screening, said: “sausage raw”.
“There are 68 McDonalds in the greater Richmond area, and I’m always on the lookout for ways to help them support the community. The organizations participating this evening are doing the good work. I’m so happy that McDonald’s could play a small part in the celebration and fundraising efforts.” said Christina Dick of Tiramisu For Breakfast Agency, McDonalds local PR firm.
Photo by SHERITA SIN
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SPA
AURA SPA: My favorite place for massages and bubble baths! Aura is inside the Hilton in Short Pump. They carry Farmhouse Fresh products; I love the Bourbon Vanilla Body Oil, the Fluffy Bunny Shea Butter, and the Honey Chai Steeped Milk Lotion. They’re SO friendly and it’s somehow always very easy to get an appointment.
NAILS
POLISHED: Taylor from Wink told me about this place, and it’s the best pedicure I’ve ever had. I get the dip polish on my nails and I recently tried gel on my toes for the first time. It’s by the Panera in Short Pump. I sent my friend Katie here and she loved it too.
ESCAPE NAILS: They have locations in both Short Pump and Three Chopt. I’ve never had a bad experience. They have a very fancy heated toilet with lots of features.
SKINCARE
GLOW MED SPA: I love Glow Med Spa for facials. They use Skinceuticals products. I used to go more regularly, but my skin has been good lately and I haven’t felt the need. As far as aestheticians, I’ve been to Cody and Angela – love them both!
AURA SPA: I also loved my facial at Aura Spa. They used Privai products at the time, and I ought the oil they used on me. I can’t say enough how nice everyone is that works there. It’s a true spa experience. I love to get there early and take a bubble bath or get in the pool/hot tub. I also recommend the restaurant in the hotel. The last time I got a massage, I ordered a charcuterie plate and it was ready for me after I finished up. They also always include mimosas or cocktails with your service. I love it there so much.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
GLOW MED SPA: I’m about halfway through with my laser hair treatments at Glow Med Spa. It hurt SO badly on my legs, but it’s been worth it. before I got it done ,
Read MoreI know it’s not a new thing, but I recently discovered lip liner and I like it A LOT. This is Lip Cheat by Charlotte Tilbury in Pillow Talk.
It’s almost the same as my natural lip shade. I line my lips a little outside the edges and then fill in. I’ve tried adding gloss, but I like it better by itself.
The only con: It needs to be sharpened after every few uses and you’ll need to buy a sharpener because it doesn’t come with one. I got this one.
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