Mainstays Sanza Rattan 4-Piece … curated on LTK

Spring has sprung! 🌷 The pas two weeks in Ohio have been absolutely beautiful with all the trees and flowers blooming. We (read: my wonderful husband) put our hammock up and have been getting the yard and back patio cleaned up and ready to enjoy. We’ve had the same affordable red Mainstays outdoor dining table set for nearly 6 years and the chairs have finally worn through, so I’ve been looking at new ones in our lawn and garden center and on Walmart.com! Check out my favorites here: http://liketk.it/3dqzu Sooo many cute and cozy options! What’s on wishlist for creating the perfect outdoor oasis? 🎍🪨 #liketkit @liketoknow.it

#LTKhome

#LTKfamily

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Mainstays Sanza Rattan 4-Piece Wicker Patio Furniture Conversation Set, Beige | Walmart (US)

Better Homes & Gardens White Classic Metal Outdoor Hanging LED Candle Lantern, 14" | Walmart (US)

Woodstock Percussion Chimes of Tuscany | Walmart (US)

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Mainstays Albany Lane 6 Piece Outdoor Patio Dining Set, Red | Walmart (US)

Better Homes & Gardens Harbor City Patio Fire Pit Dining Table | Walmart (US)

Mainstays Finne Isle Quilted Outdoor Double Hammock in Mint | Walmart (US)

Better Homes & Gardens Lantis Patio Wicker Hanging Chair with Stand and Blue Cushion | Walmart (US)

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Mainstays Outdoor Wood Porch Rocking Chair, White Color, Weather Resistant Finish | Walmart (US)

Better Homes and Gardens Ventura Boho Stationary Wicker Egg Chair | Walmart (US)

Tall Mocha Mainstays Patio Heater | Walmart (US)

Mainstays Owen Park 28 inch Round Wood Burning Fire Pit | Walmart (US)

Best Choice Products Handwoven Cotton Macrame Hammock Hanging Chair Swing for Indoor & Outdoor Us... | Walmart (US)

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Mainstays Forest Hills 5 Piece Patio Dining Set - Beige | Walmart (US)

drlaurencastle

Current favorite morning ritual 🧘‍♀️ listening to @drjoedispenza meditations… in my pajamas on the couch in this cozy little corner of our living room with all three of the kittens (Fluffy, Olive, Pickle)🐈🐱🐈‍⬛

🔗 PJs, couch, curtains, plants, pots, and macramé hangers all linked in my LTK! 🪴 🛋️ 🪟

#LTKhome #LTKfindsunder50 #LTKstyletip

Finally buying myself some legit scrubs! 💙 I tried on all the brands we carry at Walmart and these Dickies scrubs came out on top! They have a thicker material than the Scrub Star ones which were my second favorite option. I love the edgy grommet details against the flattering silhouette, and the high rise pants with elastic waistband are so comfy! I am usually between and small 4-6 top and medium 8-10 bottoms, the small top and small pants fit me perfectly with no need to size up here! I got them in black too 🖤

#LTKfit #LTKunder50 #LTKworkwear

I’m a little jealous that everyone is getting these cool #gettheWchallenge boxes but TBH I’m not in love with the contents inside. 😬 So, I decided to make my own healthier version to enjoy when we watch my favorite team from Ohio win the big game! Swipe to check our my swaps! 😁
My swaps are what I like to call “healthy crap” because they’re still processed foods, but they have less inflammatory ingredients as sweeteners and fats. I know many people feel it’s not worth the money to buy more expensive junk food, but personally whenever I have an option that is even incrementally better, I’ll take it! 😃
On the flip side, if I’m at a party and didn’t have a chance to bring my own dish or snack to share, then you can bet I’ll still eat the chips, maybe indulge in a diet soda, and not stress about it one bit. 😌 And as always, find a way to eat some real food too, like some fresh veggies and hummus, or a good quality charcuterie board with no-nitrite meat, organic cheese, fruit slices, and pickles! 😋
It’s what we do 80-90% of the time that really matters, so we can still live a little and be guilt free about it now and then ☺️

#2022BetterYou - Move Your Body 🤸🏻‍♀️ Yoga is my go to movement of choice. It’s gentle, easy, and I can practice it any where. Whether a simple twist before I get out of bed, a few cat-cow stretches or a child’s pose on the floor, or a forward fold in my chair. 🪑

My flexibility has waxed and waned over the years. Sometimes I wonder just how far I’d be now if I had been more consistent when I first started back in college (who else was introduced to yoga in that 70 minute #P90X yoga video?!) 😆
But that’s the beauty of yoga. There is no comparing. No judging. No criticizing. There is only where you are today. Acceptance. Looking inward. Breath. Pose. Practice. 🧘‍♀️

I’ve had the same yoga mat and microfiber towel for over 10 years now, and I bought them both at none other than Walmart. We actually have a fabulous selection of yoga props in store, so that’s what I’ve rounded up for this post. I hope you’ll check it out and consider adding a yoga practice this year. Namaste! 🙏

#LTKSeasonal #LTKfit #LTKRefresh

#2022BetterYou - hydration challenge! I have always struggled to drink enough water. Coffee? Could drink that all day. Plain water? No chance. I’ve bought every kind of water bottle you can imagine, but I have found that a good old quart size mason jar and a stainless steel straw get the job done just fine, as long as I have my electrolytes! That’s my secret to staying hydrated. My favorite brands are:
1. Ultima Replenisher - I learned about them from @stacysims in my masters program. I am obsessed with the blue raspberry flavor! 🫐
2. SOS Hydration - discovered them through @socialnature when I got a coupon for a free pack at Walmart! Watermelon is my fav from them. 🍉
3. LMNT Electrolytes - these are pretty intense on the saltiness. Many can get by with half a pack. They have a chocolate flavor that’s like healthy hot cocoa! 🍫

I like to aim for one jar around lunch and my second jar around dinner. I think it makes this very doable!

#LTKSeasonal #LTKfit #LTKRefresh

#2022BetterYou challenge!

Catching up on my first 2 of 25 daily posts for this @spotlightsocialchamps challenge that I am *so* excited for!

I was so busy kicking off the first work week of year that I forgot to share these! 😆

So, first up is none other than my #1 recommendation to literally everyone: increase your intake of veggies and fruits.

My favorite way to do this is the Big Awesome Salad formula!
Grab a big bowl and add:
1. Leafy greens 🥬 (arugula is my fav)
2. Chopped up fruit 🍎🍓
3. Extra colorful veggies 🥕🥦
4. Onions 🧅 (so good for you!)
5. Nuts 🌰
6. A little bit of organic cheese if you tolerate it 🧀
7. Drizzle with a healthy dressing (at @walmart, I like @primalkitchenfoods or @tessemaes which you can shop at the link in bio or below) or just balsamic vinegar and olive oil! 🥗

But really, any extra produce you can manage is well worth it! Whether it’s an apple a day or some carrot sticks for a snack, every little bit counts. Food is should be delicious and enjoyable but it’s also energy and information for your cells! 🧬🔬

#LTKSeasonal #LTKRefresh #LTKfit

It wouldn’t be April Fool’s Day in Ohio without some snow! (Did you see my stories today?!) ❄️ Planting a garden is always a challenge since we have to time everything just right, watch the weather forecast, and bust out the tarp to cover things when we get those spring frosts. But, whether you are planting a garden in your yard, installing some raised beds, trying out some container gardening, or using a small indoor setup, growing your own fresh herbs and veggies is one of the best things you can do! 🪴 It’s fun when it works, it saves you money, it’s great for your health, and like they say, the food just tastes better when it comes straight from the work of your own hands. 👩‍🌾 Check out your local garden center at @walmart or shop online and have everything you need to get started with gardening sent right to your door, all linked here: http://liketk.it/3bUGS
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#liketkit @liketoknow.it

Spring Cleaning 🧽

Did you know that @walmart had an entire section on Walmart.com called “The Clean Living Shop” under the Household Essentials department, that is full of (mostly) better for you brands?

The challenge though, is not every product on that page is truly clean... “greenwashing” is a term used to describe products that market themselves as all natural or healthy or clean, but are still potentially harmful or unhealthy. I see brands like Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation sometimes being called out for this, but you truly have to evaluate each product on its own, because some of their items score an A on EWG while others score lower. But, that’s still better than most conventional cleaners that score an F! Sometimes, you just have to do your best.

To make that easier, I took the time to comb through the Environmental Working Group’s Top Green Cleaning Product list and Guide to Healthy Cleaning to round up these best products that we carry online.

Unfortunately, almost all of the cleaning products in store shelves right now do not score very well on the EWG app, but I think that will change as the demand for green cleaning products increases. Until then, thank goodness for Walmart+ and next day delivery!

And and if you’re in a pinch, my go to DIY cleaner is just baking soda and vinegar! Super cheap and works just as well as most other cleaners.

Shop the products here: http://liketk.it/3bqP3

What cleaning supplies are in your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry cabinets? 🧺 🚽

#liketkit @liketoknow.it

Let’s talk about hormones! And babies! 🚺👶🏻
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I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked when or if I’m gonna have a baby. Not that it’s anyone’s business anyway. I’ve just never really been a baby person 🤷🏻‍♀️
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So, I spent the last 11 years on the Nuvaring; blissfully ignorant of my body’s natural cues, as I opted to skip my cycles most months. It was awesome.
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But the more I learned about Functional Medicine, the more I wanted to understand my own hormones and work with my body instead of overriding my system. I couldn’t reconcile the fact that I go out of my way to avoid endocrine disrupting chemicals in my food, water, personal care products, and cookware but my last vice was intentionally using these synthetic “hormones” to disrupt my own HPATG axis. 🧐 Don’t get me wrong; birth control was a wonderful thing for me, as it is for many women. But for me, the time had come to explore other options.
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So, at the end of last year, I finally quit my Nuvaring and transitioned to Natural Family Planning to track my cycles. (Check out @nfppharmacist if you need help with this!) I’m glad I made this decision now so that I have time to figure it all out while my body gets back to its natural state, because it doesn’t often revert back overnight! (Currently reading @drjolenebrighten’s Beyond the Pill to help with that!) 📖
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Whether you’re trying to conceive or trying to avoid, I love that @walmart has tools to help you manage your reproductive health, be it birth control from the Pharmacy or OPKs like @modernfertility or @clearblue monitors. And if you are expecting, the baby registry is perfect way to get everything you need for your little one, including clean baby products and cute organic clothes. 🎀 #walmartwellness #walmartbabies #iworkatwalmart http://liketk.it/39mRl #liketkit @liketoknow.it

The easy way to eat Organic on a budget: look for the purple label at Walmart! 💟 #WalmartTricks
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There have been some amazing book launches this past week by a few of my favorite functional and integrative medicine doctors:
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@drewramseymd: Eat to Beat Depression & Anxiety
@drmarkhyman: The Pegan Diet
@drwillcole: Intuitive Fasting
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Do you know what they all have in common?
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Organic produce 🥦🍓🥬🫐🥑
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“In order to make an organic claim or use the USDA Organic Seal, the final product must follow strict production, handling and labeling standards and go through the organic certification process. The standards address a variety of factors such as soil quality, animal raising practices, and pest and weed control. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.”
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Ultimately, this makes the food better for the environment and better for you.
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One of my favorite #WalmartTricks for making it super easy to shop healthy at Walmart is to look for our purple Great Value Organic items! 💟 There’s organic produce, meats, eggs, pantry staples, and more.
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If cost is a concern, start by choosing organic for the EWG “dirty dozen”. Check out my LIKEtoKNOW.it to see these 12 items plus a few more of my favorite organic picks at Walmart!
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#iworkatwalmart #walmartwellness
http://liketk.it/39j1m #liketkit @liketoknow.it

#LTKfit #LTKSeasonal #StayHomeWithLTK

Happy Valentines Day 💘

Seth and I spent our morning sipping coffee and listening to records, just like we did on my first weekend stay in Dayton 10 years ago. ☕️🎧

When we planned our engagement photos in 2016, we knew we wanted them to reflect us and be meaningful to look back on. Music has played such a big part in our lives, and we missed it so much in 2020! Here’s hoping we get so some shows in 2021. 🎼

Hope you spend you day with someone you love, doing the things you love together. ❣️

#iworkatwalmart #valentinesday

#LTKVDay #LTKSeasonal #LTKhome

Wishing I was back in Louisiana in this beautiful weather with my beautiful friends from this photoshoot! But alas, I’m ankles deep in 4 inches of Ohio snow right now. ❄️

#LTKSeasonal #LTKworkwear #LTKstyletip

Have you tried Walmart+? 📲⁣⁣
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I’m so thankful for this service that helps my family get groceries brought to our doorstep with unlimited delivery, and makes it even faster for me to grab a few things when I’m in the store with mobile scan & go! The 5 cents/gal savings on fuel is awesome too! 🚙🛒⛽️⁣⁣

#StayHomeWithLTK #LTKSeasonal #LTKfamily

Do you remember when coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and essential oils burst onto the wellness scene as the cure all’s for everything that ails you? 🥥
From the common cold to athletes foot, the list of uses seems never ending. 🍎
But in all seriousness, these three items that are now household names are three items always have on hand because they have so many applications! 💧
What are your favorite #homeremedies? 🌿

#LTKhome #LTKfamily #LTKbeauty

Sunday Funday! 🏈🏆

Who else is just here for the snacks? 🥨

We like to keep things gluten free at my house. Did you know that Walmart has an entire section of gluten free items in stores? There are lots of awesome brands that you might be surprised to find! Head over to the blog or LTK for a round up of my favorite gluten free salty snack crackers. Don’t forget to order them via Walmart+ for free shipping and no order minimum delivery!

These are perfect to go along with the charcuterie board trend; just try to fill them up with as many fruits and veggies as there are crackers, nuts, meats, cheeses, and dips! 🍇🧀

What are you snacking on during the big game?
#footballseason #iworkatwalmart

#LTKhome #LTKfit #LTKSeasonal

Let’s talk about (WFH) Fashion 👗

One thing that I love about working for Walmart is that our dress code is so relaxed! Even our pharmacists can wear jeans to work with their white coat. 👖🥼

And with so many folks living that Work From Home life, is there still a point in dressing up? Of course! You just feel more put together, and almost anything feel like a special occasion nowadays. 🥂

For me, I’m always cold, so I like wearing long sleeve shirts. But I don’t like shirts that feel stiff or tight. That’s why these Time and Tru stretch buttons down shirts are my perfect shirt! And they were on clearance for $7! I searched every store in the mall for a shirt like these for years, and they were right in front of me all along. Anyone else have a tendency to fall in love with a piece of clothing buy it in multiple colors? 🙋🏻‍♀️

Let me know:
What’s your work uniform? 👔
Or your WFH uniform? 💻

PS - these photos were actually taken prepandemic lol. What would we do without iPhone storage? 📱

PPS - I’m now on LikeToKnow.it! This is a fun little app that you can use to shop my posts! Visit this link to check it out! ❤️

#iworkatwalmart #WFHfashion

#LTKstyletip #LTKworkwear #StayHomeWithLTK