Women on Wellness

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

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Kristi Koch
Founder of The Lightning Co.

What is your definition of wellness?

Routinely doing your best to care for yourself.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Moving my body tied with pulling a daily tarot card.

What is a unique wellness or beauty product/procedure you’ve tried?

The Killer by Love Wellness. Look it up. Thank me later.

What is your favorite exercise or routine?

Surfing & yoga.

What is your advice for maintaining work/life balance?

Balance is subjective IMO! Some people work 70 hours a week and feel great. Some people don’t work a minute after 40 hours. Here’s what works for me — I work a shit ton. But I also rest and play a shit ton. I like to have one solid day off to not work at all. I also like having the freedom to work at midnight or work at 6am or go get a smoothie at 2pm. I realize that’s a privilege. Essentially my advice is trial and error, daily check ins to see how you’re doing, and then finding out what balance means to YOU.

How do you manage stress or anxiety?

I cry. Jk. But for real. I make sure to remind myself that it WILL pass. I try to cry, sweat, or stretch it out if possible. Stress/anxious energy stays stuck in our bodies so we gotta feel it and let it out.

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Jungle by H.E.R
Hold On by The Internet
I Belong To You by Lenny Kravitz
Bet by Mereb
By Your Side by Sade

How do you incorporate CBD into your daily routine?

I take a dose of 700MG Dazey tincture under my tongue 2/day. It’s a GAME CHANGER for my focus and reducing rain fog. I also notice that I’m much less prone to stress when I’m routine w/ my CBD intake.

What are your favorite beauty or skincare products?

I like to keep it minimalistic. I love clean beauty products that feel luxurious but simple. I’m a sucker for a sexy, earthy scent and something that makes my skin feel soft and look glowy. Below are my recurring restocks:

1. Kálos Triple Threat Masque
2. NÉCESSAIRE Body Exfoliator
3. Dazey Green Tansy Face Oil
4. The Whimsy Official Lip Gleam
5. APTO Skincare Turmeric Mask
6. Glossier Boy Brow
7. Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen
8. Dedcool fragrance #4

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up each day?

Probably think about what tattoo I’m going to get next.

What is always on your nightstand?

Weed, Moody soft lighting, body lotion, sparkling water, my glasses (why? bc we like to CHILL in bed).

Let’s connect!

April 3 2021

Tatianna Barry

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Tatianna Berry
Digital Wellness Creator

What is your definition of wellness?

Wellness is whatever makes you feel most like yourself.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Definitely therapy and EFT tapping.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up each day?

I know this is a wellness no-no, but I log onto Instagram. I follow a lot of accounts that inspire me and my wellness journey so I don’t feel like it impacts me negatively.

Do you take CBD during work? If so, how does it help?

I do! My workplace is high-stress so I like to combat that with CBD products. It helps me to feel less overwhelmed.

What is your favorite exercise or routine?

Right now stretching and yoga have been my go-to movement.

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Sexy (remix) feat. Flo Milli by JoeVille
Hurts by Joy Crookes
12.38 by Childish Gambino
In My Bag by LaVoyce

What are your favorite BIPOC wellness brands or persons?

@taylorblossom @itstracyg @lilaroosak

What is a unique wellness or beauty product/procedure you’ve tried?

The Otzi Skin Dough therapy mask is a unique product. It’s a pore treatment mask that you wear for 5 -minutes .It’s consistency is jiggly and super fun to spread!

What’s on your weekly grocery shopping list or what ingredients can you not live without?

Frozen fruit for smoothies for when I don’t feel like cooking.

What is always on your nightstand?

Something to drink so I can stay hydrated. The gold hoops I wore the day before. A notebook to write down things that may pop-up.

Let’s connect!

April 3 2021

Jena Franco

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Screen Shot 2021-03-16 at 6.14.46 PM - Jena Franco

Jena Franco
Social Media Manager + Content Creator
Los Angeles, CA

What is your definition of wellness?

My definition of wellness is doing things and surrounding yourself in an environment that makes you happy!

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Having a cup of coffee is the most important part of my wellness routine. There’s something about opening the windows and smelling the coffee brew as I great ready for my day.

What is your advice for maintaining work/life balance?

Work/life/school… I have to do all three! Agendas are my lifesaver! I make my to-do lists first thing in the morning and prioritize my tasks that need to be done immediately – sometimes that’s going to see a friend at a cafe for an hour.

What’s on your weekly grocery shopping list or what ingredients can you not live without?

My grocery list includes soyrizo (I cannot live without it), oat milk, spicy chai tea latte mix from trader joe’s, frozen fruits, bell peppers, morning star buffalo vegan chicken nuggets, and bitchin’ sauce. These are always on my list because my boyfriend and I eat and drink all of these like crazy!

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Cariño by The Marias
Cinnamon by Palehound
Wiggle Room by Drug Cabin
Stone Soul Picnic by Chicano Batman
Kingston by Faye Webster

Where do you go when you need to get away?

When I need to get away, I go to my favorite cafe with my dog Titus (he gets a puppacino). After getting our drinks, we head to the park with a blanket and book to read.

What is always on your nightstand? Why?

My nightstand is always changing. Whatever is on my nightstand is whatever I’m using at the moment, or will use sometime during the day. Sometimes it’s my coffee, chai, or matcha that I need to finish drinking, my skincare routine, my daily supplements, my comb (always my comb), or whatever I threw on top of it.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up each day?

The first thing that I do when I wake up each day is feed my cat. I don’t need an alarm, he is my alarm. My alarm that wakes me up every single day at 5 AM.

Let’s connect!

March 24 2021

Katie Keane

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Katie Keane
Girl Next Door
Chicago, IL

What is your definition of wellness?

To me, wellness is healthy habits, mindsets and actions that bring me joy so that I can be of service to others.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

My morning workout.

What is your advice for maintaining work/life balance?

I recommend taking breaks, doing things you love during the day to break it up, and also making sure you’re in a career that brings you joy.

What is a unique wellness or beauty product/procedure you’ve tried? What did you think of it?

I love doing my own gel nails. They don’t last as long as when I get them done, but it’s nice to be able to save a bit on self-care especially when I like my nails done during Covid!

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

This Could Be by Joel Ansett
Champion by Bishop Briggs
Melt by The Misters
Leavin’ by Jesse McCartney
Abba by John Mark Pantana

What is always on your nightstand?

Jade Roller, Aveeno Hand Cream, a Good Book and a few verses to read before sleeping.

What is one of your favorite or go-to recipes?

Definitely my Cosmic Brownies with Maca Frosting! You can check out the recipe here.

What are your favorite beauty or skincare products?

I love my new age-defying serum and cream from Factor Five, and I ALWAYS use “B-oil” from The Ordinary before putting on makeup. I couldn’t live without my Ordinary Toner either.

Let’s connect!

March 17 2021

Aley Arion

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Aley Arion
Writer + Content Creator
Los Angeles, CA

What is your definition of wellness?

For me, the key meaning of wellness is to be well! Well-being is easily my top priority when it comes to my overall wellness because it holistically includes my mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness. It’s all about how I feel about myself and how that reflects how I treat others too! Wholeness is definitely key when it comes to my overall wellness.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

The most important part of my wellness routine is definitely centered in the time that I spend with God. Prayer, meditation, listening to music that uplifts my spirits all play a role in my wellness because if my spiritual walk is lacking, everything else just kind of crumbles along with it! Gotta put God first in all ways!

When did you first decide to try CBD?

Funny enough, I feel like CBD found me! I get products sent to me pretty often from brands and one in particular was kind enough to let me try some of their CBD products to aid with sleep and stress. I’ve always been kind of hesitant to try out CBD, mostly because I wasn’t ever educated on it and what I did know about it were just views that I accumulated over time from other’s perspectives without forming my own opinion. But all that changed when I tried my first CBD tinctures, and that’s when everything changed! I was like, “Wait, this is what I’ve been missing out on this whole time?!?” The calm that I was able to experience with the tincture was like nothing I had ever experienced before and as someone who struggles with anxiety, it’s been a great aid (not cure) to my anxious moments. Now, that’s rolled over into my openness to try CBD in the form of face oils with Dazey and even hair care products! CBD is like a long-lost friend!

What are your favorite beauty or skincare products?

Imania Beauty is a Black-woman-owned haircare business that I have fallen deeply in love with! They have a mission to incorporate herbal healing into the Black hair care practice with their CBD-infused elixir oil and it’s honestly changed my life! I’ve been using it for about 4 months now and I am constantly amazed by the growth that my hair has seen in that short period of time. It’s just beautiful to see a Black-owned business taking up space not only in the beauty world but in the booming CBD industry as well. Especially since it’s typically been a space where Black folks have been disproportionally marginalized, criminalized, and excluded from participating in its financial benefits. So we love to see that change right before our eyes!

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Brown Sugar by D’Angelo
Sandstorm by Meraba ft. JID
John Redcorn by SiR
All to Me by Giveon
Guilty by Sevyn Streeter

Who is your wellness mentor? What do you love about them?

Writer and content creator, Alex Elle is definitely my online wellness mentor. I’ve gotten to interview her for an article when her new book, After the Rain, came out and it really felt like a full-circle moment for me. Back in 2013 when I first discovered her Tumblr, I was so amazed and inspired by her transparency and vulnerability through storytelling. As a writer and Black woman, it’s deeply and intrinsically informed how I write and share my experiences both personally and with my online community. She’s definitely my North star when it comes to wellness.

How have you been staying positive during the COVID pandemic?

I would honestly say that this has been tricky for me. When I first sat in the reality of what COVID meant to the end of one normal and the start of new normal, it was hard to deal. I was laid off from my job due to COVID, I decided not to move back home because I didn’t want to put my family in harm’s way, and the isolation caused me to experience a sense of loneliness that I had never known before. The only saving grace was knowing that although this was an individual experience, we were all still experiencing this shift on a global and collective level. Still, I had to fight for my peace of mind, and what has helped me get there is by realizing that all of this is temporary. Fingers-crossed, the extreme lockdowns and quarantine that we had this time last year was the worst that it’ll be and if we all continue to take care of ourselves and each other, we can get to an adjusted, but livable and communal experience again. So just keeping the “end goal” in mind and staying COVID-connected with friends and family had really been what’s gotten me through in the most positive manner possible.

What have you discovered during quarantine?

Two things I would say that I discovered and rediscovered are matcha lattes and Tumblr! I was always a heavy coffee drinker until I realized that it didn’t really metabolize in my body that well, so I was searching for an alternative and matcha was the way! Now, I can’t go without mine in the morning to start my day. With Tumblr, I realized I needed a space outside of Twitter and Instagram to find inspiration. A lot of ideas and concepts are just regurgitated on those platforms and there’s just always been something pure about Tumblr. It has given me the creative spark that I’ve needed so badly: no likes, no numbers, just vibes!

Let’s connect!

March 16 2021

Ashlee Wynn

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Ashlee Wynn
Content Creator
Los Angeles, CA + Atlanta, GA

What is your definition of wellness?

My definition of wellness is practicing balance and variety. I think that wellness is different for different people. We are all so different and our wellness depends and survives on that uniqueness. Wellness is always evolving and so are we.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Skincare!! Taking care of my skin has been a HUGE part of my life since I was a teen. I’ve always felt my best when I’ve taken some time to treat my skin right. Also Switching it up!! I’m a creature of habit and I find it hard sometimes to create new habits within my wellness routine. So switching it up regularly helps me out ALOT! Lol

How do you manage stress and/or anxiety?

Talking to my family members and close friends. They remind me when I’m low who a really am. When I’m down, I find myself stuck in a cycle of thoughts that aren’t true and I forget all the blessings that I have. I’m so grateful that my family and friends love me enough to help get back up when I fall. I’ve had my fair share of anxiety attacks and as I’ve gotten older I realized that I have to ask for help and my family has always been there for me when I’m stressed or full of anxiety.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up each day?

I drink a tall glass of lemon/lime water!

What is your advice for maintaining work/life balance?

Take your breaks! When you’re starting to feel the creep of comparison or doubt, take a step back. As a content creator it’s super easy to get caught up in comparison and self doubt. Take a step back and remind yourself why you’re doing what your doing in the first place! Taking time for yourself is SO important.

Did anything surprise you when you first started taking CBD?

What surprised me when I first started using CBD was how calm and focused Ive become over time. I’ve never tried CBD before and I was hesitant because my only association with CBD is weed. This subtle way of incorporating CBD into my overall wellness routine has impacted my life immensely. I’m less anxious and I am clear headed.

What is your favorite exercise or routine?

I love walking, hiking, or cardio!

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Good Days by SZA
Lucy by Still Woozy
Strawberry Privilege by Yves Tumor
Modus by Joji
Channel 12 – Flovry

How have you been staying positive during the COVID pandemic?

Scheduling as many FaceTime dates with friends and family as possible! While the distance can be hard to stay connected I always feel so much happier and positive after a catch up with those who know me best!

What have you discovered during quarantine?

Television shows/Movies have become my all time favorite rediscovery since the start of quarantine. Hulu has some amazing originals like Ramy, The HandMaids Tale, and Pen15 which I’ve never seen before because I was never at home this much to afford the time to watch an entire season in one day! Netflix also has some amazing binge worthy shows as well like The Crown, LUPIN, The Boys in the Band, and Nobody Knows I’m here; just to name a few. I was an avid movie goer before the pandemic and rediscovering different genres of films and television series have been almost essential in my overall wellness routine.

If you could only have 3 (non-essential) possessions for the rest of your life what would they be?

1. Cellphone 2. Skincare 3. Sweatpants

Let’s connect!

March 8 2021

Emmy Zobitz

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Emmy Zobitz
Digital marketing at Drink Minna
Williamsburg, NY

What is your definition of wellness?

Living your best life whatever that looks like to you!

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Water! I always notice a difference the more I drink!

What is your advice for maintaining work/life balance?

Listen to your body! Lean into taking breaks if you need or circling back to something on your to-do list, the best way to find balance is to let it shift as it needs to.

Who is your wellness mentor?

Lizzo! She’s so unapologetically herself and I love how she uses her platform to promote health at every size and just living life to the fullest.

When did you first decide to try CBD?

A couple years ago! I suffer from pretty bad anxiety and turned to CBD as a way of alleviating some of my stresses from day to day. From gummies to pre-rolls, you name it I’ve tried it and it has made such a difference with my anxiety.

What are your favorite beauty or skincare products?

I’m a huge lover of oil for my face. I have pretty dry skin in the winter so I love to lather on a thin layer of oil post bed time routine to lock in moisture over night. My favorites are the Green Tansy face oil from Dazey, Rose Hip seed oil from the Ordinary, and Castor Oil for my brows and eyelashes!

What is your favorite exercise or routine?

I love pilates! I started it a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. Because of the pandemic I haven’t been to a reformer class in almost a year but my studio, Avea Pilates offers online zoom classes which have been so great to keep me accountable and feeling strong.

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Man! I Feel Like A Woman by Shania Twain
Juice by Lizzo
Golden by Harry Styles
8TEEN by Khalid

How have you been staying positive during the COVID pandemic?

What have you discovered during quarantine?

I’m a big crafter! Over quarantine I’ve made masks and quilts with my mom, needlepointing, shrinky dinks, bedazzling, clay rings, diy home decor….you name it I’ve probably tried it! Quarantine has been such a fun time at home to pick up new hobbies and just have fun!

What is always on your nightstand?

Lip balm and hand cream! I cannot go to bed without moisturized lips, hands, and feet!

Let’s connect!

March 25 2020

Tori Bodin

WOMEN ON WELLNESS

is a place where you can discover the wellness rituals of women just like you.

Tori Bodin
Co-founder of Dazey CBD
Author of “CBD & Chill”
Oxnard, CA + Seattle, WA

What is your definition of wellness?

Wellness is all about balance. My mom always says “enjoy everything in moderation” and I’ve found it’s the best mantra for balancing work, diet, exercise and everything in between. It also means you have to be kind to yourself when it comes to indulgences and let yourself be treated every once in awhile.

What’s the most important part of your wellness routine?

Water, stretching, and CBD. If I miss just one, everything starts to go off the rails. I drink a glass of water right when I wake up each morning, take CBD with my coffee, and spend 10 minutes stretching before diving into email. I used to jump right into work and before I knew it, it was lunchtime and my entire body was tense.

How do you manage stress?

I keep a lot of lists and I use an old fashioned pen and paper because it’s just not the same in an app. I’ve also become a lot better at managing my expectations of the list. I minimize “must do’s” to 1-2 per day so that I can feel accomplished and don’t set unrealistic expectations of when I will have things completed (it always takes longer than you think).

When did you first decide to try CBD?

I was working at a tech company when a co-worker recommended I try CBD to manage my stress. At least in my experience, tech is a drinking culture and it wasn’t unusual to see beers or glasses of wine on desks starting around 4pm (sometimes earlier). While alcohol helped me decompress, it also made me lazy and overweight. I wanted something that took the edge off that I could use during work hours and that didn’t have negative mental or physical side effects.

How do you incorporate CBD into your daily routine?

I start each day with 15MG of Dazey’s Regular CBD oil and I usually take another dose of 15MG around 3pm to power through the final hours of the day. Anytime I have a headache or cramps, I will take 25-40MG depending on the severity, and sometimes on those nights where I can’t get my brain to shutdown, I’ll reach for another 15MG to help put me to sleep.

Do you take CBD during work?

I do! It helps me focus and stay more productive. I used to be overwhelmed and sloggish when I had a lot of work to get through but taking CBD regularly has really helped me stay sharp and take things one task at a time. I also tend to get really nervous and anxious for large meetings, no matter how prepared I am, and an extra dose keeps me calm and poised.

15 MINUTE PLAYLIST

Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys
Glory Box by Portishead
Slow Down by Poolside
London Thunder by Foals

What’s on your weekly grocery shopping list?

Our pantry is always stocked with chickpeas, dried mango slices, broccoli sprouts, beyond meat breakfast sausage, mushrooms, canned tuna, and hummus. We move through them all pretty quickly.

Where do you go when you need to get away?

In Washington, it’s Whidbey Island. We love the Langley area and always stop for Rainier-steamed mussels. In California, it’s Big Sur. We book reservations at the Kirk Creek campground way in advance to get our favorite campsite and we pack up the car for short weekend trips. We always stop for a burger at Nepenthe’s and I love the pink sand at Julia Pfeiffer beach.

What have you discovered during quarantine?

I signed up for Obe and have really enjoyed it! It has an awesome variation of classes (both scheduled and on-demand). But on most days you will probably find me on long walks with my boyfriend and our dog around the neighborhood. It’s one of the only times we leave the house these days.

What is always on your nightstand?

Currently: my Kindle, a Selenite candle holder I bought in Zion with a woodsy-scented tea candle, a bottle of Dazey, a seashell that I use as a jewelry dish, the Do It For Yourself journal by Kara Cutruzzula, and an extra fine Pilot pen.

Let’s connect!