20 Must-Read Books of 2023

20 Must-Read Books of 2023

Every year, the gift guide that gets the most requests is our Book Guide.  Books are the perfect gift for anyone on your list. They are also the perfect gift to give yourself to help you relax during the hectic holidays. Books are not just ink on paper; they are gateways to emotions, experiences, and ideas that will linger in our minds long after the final page is turned. Enjoy the 20 Must-Read Books of 2023!

The Girls Weekend: A Novel

Jody Gehrman

Lessons in Chemistry

Bonnie Garmus

Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing as an average woman. But it’s the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute takes a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans; the lonely, brilliant, Nobel–prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with—of all things—her mind. True chemistry results.

But like science, life is unpredictable. Which is why a few years later Elizabeth Zott finds herself not only a single mother, but the reluctant star of America’s most beloved cooking show Supper at Six. Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking (“combine one tablespoon acetic acid with a pinch of sodium chloride”) proves revolutionary. But as her following grows, not everyone is happy. Because as it turns out, Elizabeth Zott isn’t just teaching women to cook. She’s daring them to change the status quo.

The Other Mistress

 Shanora Williams

 

Adira Smith-Cortez knows how to turn around a troubled past. Now she’s a self-made multi-millionaire who takes exquisite care of herself and her only true love: her husband, Gabriel. Adira has it all—except the answer to one tormenting question: why is attentive, affectionate Gabriel cheating on her—with not just one, but two women. There’s sexy Jocelyn, a club owner. And then there’s Julianna, a celebrity makeup artist he’s even crazier about. In a tricky twist, vengeful Jocelyn offers Adira the perfect plan to get her straying spouse back . . .

 

It sounds simple: Adira will befriend Julianna through a fake identity, play on her and Gabriel’s vulnerabilities and cause them to split up permanently. Determined to reclaim her happiness, Adira won’t—can’t—stop to think what could possibly go wrong . . .

Until too many of Gabriel’s lies start adding up to a disquieting truth. Until Julianna discovers who Adira really is—and Jocelyn pushes Adira to ever-more-unthinkable extremes. With her world collapsing and shattering memories tearing her apart, how far will Adira’s obsession take her—and how much of herself is she willing to lose in the process . . .

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women

 

Lisa See

Tan Yunxian—born into an elite family, yet haunted by death, separations, and loneliness—is being raised by her grandparents to be of use. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China, and she teaches Yunxian the pillars of Chinese medicine, the Four Examinations—looking, listening, touching, and asking—something a man can never do with a female patient.

From a young age, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. The two girls find fast friendship and a mutual purpose—despite the prohibition that a doctor should never touch blood while a midwife comes in frequent contact with it—and they vow to be forever friends, sharing in each other’s joys and struggles. No mud, no lotus, they tell themselves: from adversity beauty can bloom.

But when Yunxian is sent into an arranged marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife—embroider bound-foot slippers, pluck instruments, recite poetry, give birth to sons, and stay forever within the walls of the family compound, the Garden of Fragrant Delights.

Hello Beautiful

ANN NAPOLITANO

William Waters grew up in a house silenced by tragedy, where his parents could hardly bear to look at him, much less love him—so when he meets the spirited and ambitious Julia Padavano in his freshman year of college, it’s as if the world has lit up around him. With Julia comes her family, as she and her three sisters are inseparable: Sylvie, the family’s dreamer, is happiest with her nose in a book; Cecelia is a free-spirited artist; and Emeline patiently takes care of them all. With the Padavanos, William experiences a newfound contentment; every moment in their house is filled with loving chaos.

But then darkness from William’s past surfaces, jeopardizing not only Julia’s carefully orchestrated plans for their future, but the sisters’ unshakeable devotion to one another. The result is a catastrophic family rift that changes their lives for generations. Will the loyalty that once rooted them be strong enough to draw them back together when it matters most?

Homecoming

Kate Morton

Adelaide Hills, Christmas Eve, 1959: At the end of a scorching hot day, beside a creek on the grounds of a grand country house, a local man makes a terrible discovery. Police are called, and the small town of Tambilla becomes embroiled in one of the most baffling murder investigations in the history of South Australia.

Many years later and thousands of miles away, Jess is a journalist in search of a story. Having lived and worked in London for two decades, she now finds herself unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. A phone call out of nowhere summons her back to Sydney, where her beloved grandmother Nora, who raised Jess when her mother could not, has suffered a fall and is seriously ill in the hospital.

At Nora’s house, Jess discovers a true crime book chronicling a long-buried police case: the Turner Family Tragedy of 1959. It is only when Jess skims through its pages that she finds a shocking connection between her own family and this notorious event – a mystery that has never been satisfactorily resolved.

Remarkably Bright Creatures

 Shelby Van Pelt 

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

The Bandit Queens

 Parini Shroff

Five years ago, Geeta lost her no-good husband. As in, she actually lost him—he walked out on her and she has no idea where he is. But in her remote village in India, rumor has it that Geeta killed him. And it’s a rumor that just won’t die.

It turns out that being known as a “self-made” widow comes with some perks. No one messes with her, harasses her, or tries to control (ahem, marry) her. It’s even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.

Freedom must look good on Geeta, because now other women are asking for her“expertise,” making her an unwitting consultant for husband disposal.

And not all of them are asking nicely.

With Geeta’s dangerous reputation becoming a double-edged sword, she has to find a way to protect the life she’s built—but even the best-laid plans of would-be widows tend to go awry. What happens next sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything, not just for Geeta, but for all the women in their village.

Age of Vice

New Delhi, 3 a.m. A speeding Mercedes jumps the curb and in the blink of an eye, five people are dead. It’s a rich man’s car, but when the dust settles there is no rich man at all, just a shell-shocked servant who cannot explain the strange series of events that led to this crime. Nor can he foresee the dark drama that is about to unfold.

Deftly shifting through time and perspective in contemporary India, Age of Vice is an epic, action-packed story propelled by the seductive wealth, startling corruption, and bloodthirsty violence of the Wadia family — loved by some, loathed by others, feared by all.

In the shadow of lavish estates, extravagant parties, predatory business deals and calculated political influence, three lives become dangerously intertwined: Ajay is the watchful servant, born into poverty, who rises through the family’s ranks. Sunny is the playboy heir who dreams of outshining his father, whatever the cost. And Neda is the curious journalist caught between morality and desire. Against a sweeping plot fueled by loss, pleasure, greed, yearning, violence and revenge, will these characters’ connections become a path to escape, or a trigger of further destruction?

Code Name Sapphire

1942Hannah Martel has narrowly escaped Nazi Germany after her fiancé was killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she has nowhere to go but to her cousin Lily, who lives with her family in Brussels. Fearful for her life, Hannah is desperate to get out of occupied Europe. But with no safe way to leave, she must return to the dangerous underground work she thought she had left behind.

Seeking help, Hannah joins the Sapphire Line, a secret resistance network led by a mysterious woman named Micheline and her enigmatic brother Matteo. But when a grave mistake causes Lily’s family to be arrested and slated for deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah finds herself torn between her loyalties. How much is Hannah willing to sacrifice to save the people she loves?

The Paris Daughter

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

The Five-Star Weekend

Elin Hilderbrand

Hollis Shaw’s life seems picture-perfect. She’s the creator of the popular food blog Hungry with Hollis and is married to Matthew, a dreamy heart surgeon. But after she and Matthew get into a heated argument one snowy morning, he leaves for the airport and is killed in a car accident. The cracks in Hollis’s perfect life—her strained marriage and her complicated relationship with her daughter, Caroline—grow deeper.

So when Hollis hears about something called a “Five-Star Weekend”—one woman organizes a trip for her best friend from each phase of her life: her teenage years, her twenties, her thirties, and midlife—she decides to host her own Five-Star Weekend on Nantucket. But the weekend doesn’t turn out to be a joyful Hallmark movie.

The husband of Hollis’s childhood friend Tatum arranges for Hollis’s first love, Jack Finigan, to spend time with them, stirring up old feelings. Meanwhile, Tatum is forced to play nice with abrasive and elitist Dru-Ann, Hollis’s best friend from UNC Chapel Hill. Dru-Ann’s career as a prominent Chicago sports agent is on the line after her comments about a client’s mental health issues are misconstrued online. Brooke, Hollis’s friend from their thirties, has just discovered that her husband is having an inappropriate relationship with a woman at work. Again! And then there’s Gigi, a stranger to everyone (including Hollis) who reached out to Hollis through her blog. Gigi embodies an unusual grace and, as it happens, has many secrets.

The Summer of Songbirds

Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.

Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.

But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.

Tom Lake

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart. As in all of her novels, Ann Patchett combines compelling narrative artistry with piercing insights into family dynamics. The result is a rich and luminous story, told with profound intelligence and emotional subtlety, that demonstrates once again why she is one of the most revered and acclaimed literary talents working today.

Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

When Kitty Karr Tate, a White icon of the silver screen, dies and bequeaths her multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young, wealthy Black women, it prompts questions. Lots of questions.

A celebrity in her own right, Elise St. John would rather focus on sorting out Kitty’s affairs than deal with the press. But what she discovers in one of Kitty’s journals rocks her world harder than any other brewing scandal could―and between a cheating fiancé and the fallout from a controversial social media post, there are plenty.

The truth behind Kitty’s ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them.

The House of Eve

1950s Philadelphia: fifteen-year-old Ruby Pearsall is on track to becoming the first in her family to attend college. But a taboo love affair threatens to pull her back down into the poverty and desperation that has been passed on to her like a birthright.

Eleanor Quarles arrives in Washington, DC, with ambition and secrets. When she meets the handsome William Pride at Howard University, they fall madly in love. But William hails from one of DC’s elite wealthy Black families, and his parents don’t let just anyone into their fold. Eleanor hopes that a baby will make her finally feel at home in William’s family and grant her the life she’s been searching for. But having a baby—and fitting in—is easier said than done.

The House in the Pines

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.

Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer—the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey.

At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin. . . .

Yellowface

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

Happiness Falls

“We didn’t call the police right away.” Those are the electric first words of this extraordinary novel about a biracial Korean American family in Virginia whose lives are upended when their beloved father and husband goes missing.

Mia, the irreverent, hyperanalytical twenty-year-old daughter, has an explanation for everything—which is why she isn’t initially concerned when her father and younger brother Eugene don’t return from a walk in a nearby park. They must have lost their phone. Or stopped for an errand somewhere. But by the time Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear that the father in this tight-knit family is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance. Full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, and human connection, Happiness Falls is a mystery, a family drama, and a novel of profound philosophical inquiry. With all the powerful storytelling she brought to her award-winning debut, Miracle Creek, Angie Kim turns the missing-person story into something wholly original, creating an indelible tale of a family who must go to remarkable lengths to truly understand one another.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, and this post contains affiliate links. It does not cost you anything extra.  Using these links will help MyTravelingKids continue to help you create unforgettable family memories. 

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15 Ways to Keep the Travel Spirit Alive While at Home

Buildings in Boston

 

15 Ways to Keep the Travel Spirit Alive While at Home

Traveling is one of the best ways to experience new cultures, meet new people, and broaden your horizons. I love the upbeat, relaxed mood my whole family gets in when we’re exploring a new place. No one has a care in the world. However, it’s so easy to fall back in a rut when you get home and it is not always possible to travel as often as we would like. Here are 15 ways to keep the travel spirit alive while at home.

Try new recipes from around the world

 One of the best ways to experience a new culture is through its cuisine. Try cooking a new dish from a different country and explore its unique flavors. Here are some of my favorite cookbooks that remind me of my travels:

Click here for my blog on 15 Cookbooks that Inspire Travel

Read travel books

 Reading travel books is another great way to learn about different destinations and cultures, and to get inspired about future trips. These books will make you want to pack a suitcase.

The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca 

By: Tahir Shah

Less

By: Andrew Sean Greer

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Autumn Bucket List

I LOVE FALL!  The crisp smell in the air, the crunch of leaves under your feet, and the fabulous display of color on the trees.  It’s one of my favorite things about living in New England.  However, I feel like this season goes by so quickly so we have to make the most of it while it’s here.  So, what do I do?  That’s right…a LIST! Here is a list of 35 items for my Autumn Bucket List:

Apple picking

There are so many amazing farms out there and doesn’t an apple taste best when it’s picked right from the tree, rubbed on your shirt, and you take a big CRUNCH out of one! Here are 15 of the best apple orchards in New England.

Burn some autumn scented candles

Autumn candles set the mood.  Some wonderful ones include: Yankee, Pumpkin Spiced, Village Candle, Warm Apple Spice, Yankee, Macintosh, and Sweet Water Décor, Hello Fall.

Make some gourmet s’mores

At the lake we have making s’mores down to a science.  Gourmet s’mores are when we use yummy candy bars instead of plain chocolate. This Hershey’s S’mores Caddy is great to store everything.

Make some warm apple cider

Warm apple cider is one of those drinks that immediately puts me in a calm mood. Here is a great recipe for homemade apple cider. The cinnamon sticks are key!

Time to take out those cozy sweaters

Sweater weather!! It’s a great time to invest in a few sweaters that you will wear all winter long.  Check out this gorgeous long cardigan. This jacket sweater is perfect for layering in fall. I love the wooden buttons on this cable knit sweater.

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52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 13-16

52 Weeks of Self-Care Monthly Update

These next 3 weeks of self-care are about showers, baths, smudging, and salt caves!

Week 13

Turn Your Shower into a Spa Experience

Isn’t a shower just a daily necessity? Well, yes, but it can offer more than just cleanliness—it can be a transformative self-care ritual. Step into a shower and allow the warm water to instantly wash away physical and mental fatigue. With the right products, you can awaken your senses, providing a refreshing start to the day or a soothing wind-down in the evening. A shower can provide a moment of solitude and self-reflection, allowing us to pause, let go of distractions, and focus on the present. I’m always looking for new products that turn my everyday shower into a spa experience. So, embrace the therapeutic power of a shower, savoring each droplet of water as it revitalizes your senses, uplifts your spirit, and brings a renewed sense of well-being to your day.

Let me share some of my favorite products right now!

New England Apothecary Shower Steamers

shower steamers

These shower steamers create the perfect environment for a spa experience.  Get the steamers a little wet and move them away from water and the scent will fill your shower.

Give New England Apothecary a follow:

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Plaine Products Body Wash (16 oz)

Their Body Wash gently cleanses your skin while improving tone and texture. With aloe as the main ingredient, daily use will restore nutrients without drying. It smells incredible and immediately wakes you up in the morning!

Give Plaine Products a follow:

Instagram

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Majestic Pure Blueberry Body Scrub

Body Scrubs exfoliate skin to remove dead cells, toxins, dirt & pollution from pores; scrubbing also promotes blood flow to assist in rejuvenation of skin, leaving not only your skin revived but also renewing your whole mind, body, and spirit.

Philosophy Amazing Grace

A 3-in-1, multi-purpose, fragrant gel wash to gently cleanse body & hair. This product is great for travel because it has several functions.

Rose Geranium Felted Soap by Fiat Luxe

The combination of rose geranium oil and sweet orange oil uplifts your spirits. And, with the addition of ground rose petals it makes a great facial soap.

 

Week 14

Soak in a Bath

Immersing ourselves in warm water creates a sanctuary for relaxation, rejuvenation, and self-care. A bath provides an escape from the busyness of our lives, allowing us to unwind and release tension. The warm water soothes tired muscles and eases joint stiffness, promoting physical relaxation and relieving stress. Adding natural ingredients like Epsom salts, essential oils, or herbs can enhance the therapeutic experience, offering benefits such as muscle relaxation, improved sleep quality, and nourished skin. Additionally, a bath provides a space for quiet reflection and self-introspection, allowing us to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with ourselves.

Take a peek at some for my favorite products.

Cuccio Somatology Yogahhh Milk Bath

bath milk

This amazing milk bath contains Epsom Salt which is which is wonderful for relaxation and relieving pain.

Coconut Crush Effervescent Salt Soak by Salacia Salts

Bring home the beach with this single use effervescent salt soak. Cover yourself head to toe in bubbles scented of muddled citrus, fresh pineapple, and coconut blended with woodsy, sweet notes from the sandalwood tree.

Lemon Lavender Effervescent Salt Soak by Salacia Salts

Bring home the beach with this effervescent salt soak. Sink into the tub with Lemon Lavender scented mineral salts to relax, detox, and reap the benefits of the sea at home.

Give them a follow

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Herbivore Botanicals Coconut Milk Bath Soak

Made from organic coconut milk, protein-rich coconut pulp and natural essential oils, this bath soak has luxurious softening and moisturizing properties helping to target dryness and dullness, and leaving the skin feeling silky-soft

Sweet Water Décor Spa Day Candle

The scent of sea salt, jasmine, and wood make a relaxing aroma that fills the room.

Bubble Bath Bomb Set 

Their bath bombs contain Epsom salt, detoxifying clays & luxurious butters and oils. This is perfect for stress relief and relaxation.

Deep Steep Bubble Bath

Its natural essential oils of lavender and chamomile create a tranquil atmosphere. It’s the ultimate self care!

Week 15

Go to a Salt Cave

Salt caves, also known as halotherapy or salt therapy, have been used for centuries as natural sanctuaries for relaxation, healing, and rejuvenation. These tranquil environments are crafted with Himalayan salt rocks that create a serene ambiance and release negative ions into the air. It is believed to cleanse and detoxify the respiratory system, promoting clearer breathing and alleviating symptoms of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. So, step into the serene embrace of a salt cave and embrace the therapeutic benefits it offers, allowing yourself to unwind, restore balance, and embrace a renewed sense of well-being.

Salt room of Villa Hygge Hotel, Conway, NH

Want to create a salt cave experience at home?

Plant Therapy Pink Himalayan Salt Inhaler with Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt

When you inhale through the mouthpiece, the passing moisture absorbs micron particles of the incredibly pure and mineral-laden Himalayan Pink Salt that filters through the entire respiratory system.

Himalayan Glow Salt Lamp

Himalayan Glow Pink Salt lamps are a popular choice due to their natural ionizing properties. Crystal Lamp releases negative ions into the air, which can help to purify the air by attaching to positively charged particles and neutralizing

 Majestic Pure Himalayan Salt Body Scrub with Lychee Oil

This scrub is infused with Lychee Oil complex and Sweet Almond Oil is a self-care solution for the body and soul. It will help give your skin the ultimate detox and will promote its hydration levels.

Week 16

Sage your House

Saging, also known as smudging, involves burning dried sage leaves to cleanse and purify the energy within a space. This sacred practice has been used for centuries by different cultures around the world to rid homes of negative vibrations and create a peaceful environment. As the smoke from the burning sage wafts through the rooms, it is believed to clear away stagnant energy, ward off negativity, and invite in a renewed sense of balance and tranquility.

I love my new sage bundle that I bought in Portland, Maine.

sage

Here are some other items that will help you learn the process of saging.

White Sage Smudge Candle

Cleanse your home of negative energy and invite all positive energy into your life.

White Sage Smudging Kit 

Sustainably Grown Sage, Responsibly Collected Abalone & Smudging Feather + Hand Carved Wood Stand & Chakra Bracelet

Malicious Women Candle Co – Go Smudge Yourself

The citrus and sage smell incredible. It’s a hysterical candle that would make a great gift.

 

Click HERE to see what other kinds of self-care we will be doing this year!

 

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, and this post contains affiliate links. It does not cost you anything extra.  Using these links will help MyTravelingKids continue to help you create unforgettable family memories. 


52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 9-12

field of flowers

What a relaxing month of self-care.  Spring is in the air and it’s the perfect time to start new habits of taking time each week to pamper yourself. Find some inspiration in our March Self-Care Roundup.

Week 9

Pamper Your Lips

Living in New England during winter can wreak havoc on your lips so this week let’s give them some love.  A little bit of pampering and you’ll be puckering up again.

First step is to give them a good scrub. My favorite lip scrub right now is Kiss My Grits, praline lip scrub. Made by Salacia, this scrub instantly changes the feel of your lips. It smells incredible! It is made of  Georgia stone ground white corn grits, organic sugar, organic coconut oil, pecan oil, Atlantic sea salt and vitamin E to make your lips more kissable. The scrubs come in a variety of fun flavors like Peach, Margarita, Mint Julep, Coconut Cream Pie, Praline, Blueberry, Key Lime Pie.

Give them a follow on Instagram and Facebook!

Next, follow up your lip pampering with a great lip balm. I have been alternating with these two amazing balms. The first is New England Apothecary Lip Conditioner. These silky lip balms bring the moisture right back into your lips with cocoa butter and coconut oil. They smell incredible and are perfect for every-day wear.

lip balm

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52 Weeks of Self-Care: Weeks 5-8

winter road and covered bridge

February Self-Care Roundup

Week 5

Make Time for Stretching

Stretching can help improve flexibility, reduce tightness, reduce stress, and protect your muscles from those fierce workouts you’re doing. Whether you’re doing it before a cardio workout, after a HIIT workout, or right before bed, make some time in your week to add this step to your wellness routine.

For me, yoga is the best way to stretch, so I’ve been trying to take a class twice a week.  I love to start and end my week with a class.

yoga studio

Looking for ways to stretch at home? Try these free online stretches:

10 Gentle Yoga Stretches For Beginners For Head To Toe Flexibility

Want a video? Try this 10-Minute Total Body Stretch

Looking for tools to help you stretch?

High-Density Foam Roller

ProStretch The Original Calf Stretcher

Chirp Wheel+ Foam Wheel

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52 Weeks of Self-Care

yoga on a beach

52 WEEKS OF SELF-CARE

After a few health scares this past year, I discovered the importance of self-care. Sometimes we try so hard to take care of others that we neglect making time for ourselves. Self-care allows you time to relax, recharge, and be present in the moment. It’s important to focus on both physical and emotional areas in your life.

Self-Care and Travel

I love to practice self-care while traveling and it often becomes some of the best parts of my trip.  I love to head to a spa for a signature treatment, enjoy sipping coffee in a courtyard while people watching, breathing in the salty air at a beach, and taking time to put down my camera and be present in the moment. This year I plan on recreating these moments from the comfort of my home.

Not sure where to start? Well, let’s do this together.

 I’ve come up with 52 weeks of self-care that I plan on completing this year.  I will do one each week.

Follow along on my Instagram Stories each Sunday.

Don’t miss out…give a CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM. I’ll provide plenty of DIY options, share products I use, and give you links I find.

(These are not in any order. I’ll bounce around the list with whatever feels right.)

52 WEEKS OF SELF-CARE

Make time for stretching

Enjoy a facial

Sip on a warm cup of tea

Using Essential Oils (more…)


2022 Christmas Gift Guide

Christmas gifts

2022 Christmas Gift Guide

Looking for a unique gift for everyone on your list? Here are some amazing companies that offer great products! Show them you truly know them by giving them a gift that compliments their personality. Check out our 2022 Christmas Gift Guide:

Clever Fox

Clever Fox journals

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I don’t know about you, but I can’t get through my day without my planner.  I use it to make lists, plan projects, and strategize everything I need to get done. Organization is my way to prevent stress and make plans for my future. It is a wonderful way to track your goals and help you increase your performance.

I love the high quality of all their products.  There is so much thought that went into all the details of the books. The covers are beautiful and look wonderful on my desk.

WHAT PRODUCTS DID WE GET?

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2022 Beauty Christmas Gift Guide

wrapped Christmas presents

2022 Beauty Christmas Gift Guide

Self-care is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give someone.  Taking a few minutes every day to do a face mask, nourish your skin, apply a body butter, or take a deep breath of an essential oil can add up to a stress-free day.  I am very conscious of what my daughters and I use on our bodies and these companies share the same values.  Enjoy our 2022 Beauty Christmas Gift Guide

SPArty Girl

SPArty Girl Beauty Box products

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

Self-care should be learned early on in a girl’s life. SPArty Girl encourages girls to give themselves some pampering, relaxation, and fun. Their boxes can contain beauty products, accessories, candy, and many more fun treats.  I know every girl would love to open one of these boxes!

SPArty Girl has great gift boxes that would make wonderful gifts for any occasion.  They include fun themes such as: Slime Kit, Manicure Kit, Tie-Dye Kit, Bath Bomb Kit, Lip Gloss Kit and more. I love that they have a wide range of gift boxes so there’s something for every girl on your list.

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2022 Candle Christmas Gift Guide

2022 Candle Gift Guide

No matter how crazy our day goes, I always try to light a candle to set a calm mood in our house.  The flickering of the flame and the relaxing scent sets the tone and a calmness wash over us.  Candles are the perfect Christmas gift for someone special…family, teachers, coaches, bus drivers, holiday housewarming hosts, etc. They are also wonderful ways to pamper yourself and we all need some of that! Enjoy our 2022 Candle Gift Guide.

Frostbeard Studio

Frostbeard Candle Company

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THEM

I’m not sure if you know this, but I am a former middle school language arts/reading teacher and I am obsessed with books.  I’ve been in book clubs for over a decade and there’s nothing I like better than roaming through a book store. Frostbeard Studio has a unique candle concept…all their scents are inspired by characters, stories, and the love of reading.  I was so excited to discover this candle company for book lovers!

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