Issue #15: slowing DOWN

do we need to worry about tampon toxicity, being OK with not being OK, and leaning into slow fashion.

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“What if we started by slowing down and not consuming so much stuff, just because it’s there and cheap and available. It’s amazing how that process makes sense financially, it makes sense ethically, it makes sense environmentally.”
~ Andrew Morgan, filmmaker and director of The True Cost.

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SLOW DOWN? What might it do for you? How might it impact those around you and our world at large?

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tickets NOW available!

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TASTE: It’s Shrimp Weather. We LOVE shrimp over here and were excited to see this NY Times article this week! From simply grilled, or fried for exemplary salt and pepper shrimp rolls (below). They’re terrific folded into tacos or chopped into burgers. Alison Roman has an excellent recipe for shrimp Louie, a take on the classic crabmeat salad. You could consider barbecue shrimp to recall New Orleans, where oppressive, muggy-moist heat is summer’s calling card.

SEE: Taboobs. We are so excited that our friends from Complex Creatures (and WOVXN Wellness Breast.Health Guide contributors) have created a new newsletter on Substack. Taboobs is a place for honest, unfiltered conversation about all things breast health and wellness. Breast cancer survivor Tara Elmore and her breast-obsessed sister, Lisa Lundy, are on a mission to change how we talk about, think about, and care for breasts. All chests welcome.

SMELL: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse. A gift from a friend on her recent trip to Paris. The smell of this fancy-but-affordable French pharmacy beauty secret, is subtle and dreamy and can be used on your face, body and hair. 100% botanical origin oils: Tsubaki, Argan, Macadamia, Borage, Camellia, Hazelnut, and Sweet Almond. I (Rebecca) am obsessed and who wouldn’t be with a description like this “the irresistible scent of sunshine and warm sand with an inimitable dry touch to infuse your skin with radiant sensuality.”

HEAR: Natural Solutions for Thinning Hair with Dr. Fiona McCulloch. It’s estimated that over 20 million American women suffer from some form of thinning hair or hair loss. On this episode of the The Doctor Youn Show, Dr. Fiona McCulloch (author of one of our favorite books–8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS) discusses the most common causes of hair loss in women, from androgen excess to insulin resistance to nutritional deficiencies, and how to treat them naturally. They dig into what blood tests your doctor should be getting, what supplements you should consider taking, and what natural topical options can take the place of pharmaceuticals.

TOUCH: The Joys of Spending an Afternoon in a Hammock. There is no better way to slow down than to sink into a hammock for some time. From reading to napping to cloud/star gazing, the feeling created when one can suspend is magical. This coming Monday marks National Hammock Day and we are going to make a point to disconnect, find some trees, and hang!

Can we ask a favor? If you enjoy this newsletter every week, please consider sharing it with a friend (or friends)! We could use your help in growing our audience so that we can continue to do this work. Thanks!!

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Sneak Peak of Episode 9:
Intimacy + Sex + Infertility

Stay tuned next Wednesday for the full episode!
Until then, catch up on episodes you missed on our website, here on Substack, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

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Heavy Metals in Tampons

One more thing for us to worry about as menstruators…this past week there has been a lot of talk about a recent study that found toxic metals in popular tampon brands- should we be worried and what to do if you are? Check out the link above to read the NPR article or click on the image below with things to consider from Dr. Jolene Brighten.

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my (theresa) CHALLENGE: being OK with not being OK

Most days my husband walks in with the same greeting: Hoooowwww’s Ma-Ma? (Text doesn’t do him justice). His immediate check-in is felt and appreciated, but I caught myself sliding into the “I’m fine”pattern recently as we’re halfway through the crazy days of summer. Breaking the “I’m fine” cycle is something I guide my postpartum clients through - when asked how you are, say how you are, truly. Language = Understanding = Compassion. As women we slip into saying “I’m fine” when we are not. Things need to get done so we do them until our heads hit the pillows.

Read on for more on how I recalibrate (and slow down) when I find myself slipping into the “I’m fine” holding pattern as well as an exploration of SLOW fashion and how (after a week of adverstisements for Amazon Prime Days) we might add intention to our wardrobes.