the truth serum

“We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” -Anne-Marie Bonneau, Zero Waste Chef This is a story of a boy, a bag of old batteries and a dilemma. Owen was 6 when he first tried to figure out where to dispose of used batteries in Seattle    He knew they had chemicals that were bad for the environment and shouldn’t go in the garbage.   It was harder than he thought.  After a few phone calls, but he found a safe place.  Then he started collecting from his neighbors and with...

If we’re good to our bodies‑—eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, exercising and getting enough sleep—then we usually feel pretty good, too.   But there’s one essential nutrient that up to 80% of people don’t get enough of.   Can you guess what it is? If you answered magnesium, give yourself a gold star! Magnesium plays a central role in just about every bodily process, from the metabolism of insulin to blood pressure regulation as well as being crucial to the health of bones.  It also metabolizes Vitamin D. Talk about multi-tasking! Magnesium comes in many specific forms — it’s not...

I was recently reading a blog on the Lanshin site https://www.lanshin.com/blog/the-gospel-of-hydration-for-saving-your-skin and I was completely  captivated by the idea of approaching the idea of drinking 8 glasses of water in a different way, here’s what sold me “If you know me, you know I love this book. If you see me at work, I literally do not shut up about it. When I suggest better hydrating, many patients say to me, "but I drink SO much water!" And then I ask them to take a picture of my Quench book and order it, asap.” I ordered it.  Asap.  There’s a chapter that really...

It’s hard to believe my little summer project has come to an end and I’ve consistently been doing something for the past two months. Did you catch that extra special word consistently?  I know myself and I’ve got a somewhat limited attention span and the key is consistency. I ended up throwing one more tool into the mix after I was contacted by the Lanshin Treatment Studio with an offer to try out the Lanshin Pro tool.  It’s essentially the Swiss Army Knife of the Gua Sha tools as far as I can tell.  I didn’t originally run out and...

Are you aware that our planet is facing a water crisis? I confess this was only on the edge of my consciousness until it popped up in a  couple of recent articles I read. Here’s what we’re faced with: Increasing water demand from a growing world population, coupled with climate change, making regions dryer than ever, means that we’re beginning to feel the effects of water scarcity. Already, almost 2/3 of the world’s population is faced with water scarcity at least one month out of the year. The majority of this is due to agricultural use, but a warning flag...

Not to be confused with one of my favorite Gold Bars from Fran’s Chocolates!  Oh, and if you’re ever in Seattle, a tour of Fran’s Chocolates facility in Georgetown will not disappoint https://frans.com/stores/georgetown/.   Full disclosure, not quite sure if the one I purchased actually contains any gold at all…..I was seduced by an ad on Instagram over a year ago, long before I was aware of the gold standards of gold sculpting bars from Jillian Dempsey Until I decided to do this summer project, it had sat unused in my drawer. This little summer experiment allowed it to move from...

Recently I found myself in just the right place at the right time —serendipity!  I was attending an event at the Seattle Follain store that grabbed my attention because it was all about the lymphatic system.  It might sound geeky, but for me, it’s pretty fascinating. My interest was piqued several years ago when I read an article by Lauren Roxburgh (wellness educator & “body whisperer”).  She talked about why it’s important to have a healthy one, and what it takes to get one.  Since then, I’ve kept learning and trying various techniques to keep my lymphatic system happy given...

Think of the lymphatic system like a garbage disposal.  It traps and flushes toxins from the body, but you have to “flip the switch” to make it work. When the lymphatic system is stagnant, toxins rise to the surface (where built-up toxins are stored) and must be excreted through the skin and can contribute to breakouts and congestion. To be effective, the lymphatic system fluid needs to circulate through the body - in a way similar to blood circulation. Unlike the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system doesn't have a pump -a heart- to promote circulation. Instead, the lymph system relies...

Next stop, rose quartz roller. Before we get into the review: what are the supposed benefits of facial rollers? According to Jenny Patinkin, "They are used to help improve the appearance of the complexion while also providing energetic healing." Also, they should aid with lymphatic drainage and the release of toxins, while reducing inflammation and instantly de-puff.  I have to say, this one is much easier to use than the spoons and looks quite pretty on my nightstand. I find that I’m naturally reaching for it first thing in the morning if I’ve overdone it on salt or sugar the...

Photo Credit: Tom Pilston, Save the Children, 2017 “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”- Mahatma Gandhi These are words to live by for us at Kari Gran.  Giving back is a way for us to feel more hopeful and connected in the world —we call it Simple Giving. We’re drawn to causes that help women, children and our planet —each deserves loving care and attention. How do we choose which to give our time and money to?  It comes down to what sparks compassion in our hearts — and what our gut tells us...