August’s Conscious Covets
This month was all about things sweet, spicy and definitely juicy!
The Sweet
Pickled Strawberries
This is great if you have strawberries that are about to go “bunk” as we call it in our house.
To make:
Fill a mason jar with halved strawberries
Fill it up 1/3 of the way with white wine or apple cider vinegar
Fill it the rest of the way up with water
Add 1 tbsp coconut sugar
A healthy pinch of sea salt
A big pinch of peppercorns
Shake, refrigerate and give them a try after about 2 hours!
I toasted some of my favorite fermented bread by Night Owl Baker (she ships!), spread some Jalapeno cream cheese from Monty’s (she ships too!), layered the strawberries and then drizzled a little bit of local honey with some Maldon sea salt. This was a flavor explosion and a perfect morning breakfast.
I picked this up at her store in Amagansett out in the Hamptons. She doesn’t actually sell these on her website but I am sure her store would ship one to you! This turquoise was the only color option so really all you need to decide is which letter means the most to you! I have a special affinity to the color turquoise because it is also my son’s birthstone but even prior to that it was a color I have always been drawn to.
The Spicy
Put this on everything! But especially perfectly cooked boiled eggs (my fav is a 5 minute egg!) It adds a perfect mix of flavor, salt and spice to whatever you’re sprinkling it on.
The best part about the Equipt U-Wraps is how they literally give your workouts instant spice. By adding them to your wrists or ankles you’ve instantly upped the effort and therefore the results you’re going to get from your workouts. Especially if you’re tight on time which I find I always am given how much we try to fit into a summer day. Bonus, once your workout is done, leave them on for a little extra oomf to whatever you do next like I am in this photo. Let me tell you, lifting a watering can with extra weight on your wrists is a great way to multitask! At checkout be sure to use ASHLEYPATTEN for 10% off your purchase.
The Juicy
This podcast is so entertaining. It is a juicy story about two different kinds of influencers - Tanya Zuckerbrot and Emily Gellis. It’s a very juicy story and the way it’s produced makes it a very entertaining listen. Additionally, it’s a great study on diet culture, social media, and more. I very much enjoyed it and can’t wait for what is hopefully a second season.
Spicy Watermelon Basil Margarita
Back in June I got very into making watermelon juice (check out the recipe in this blog here!) In August, I had the pleasure of attending a mixology class with Casamigos Tequila at my friend and student’s house, Katie Couric! It was a blast and we made some delicious drinks. This one was by far my favorite.
To Make:
In a cocktail shake mix:
1.5 Oz Watermelon Juice
.75 oz Lime Juice (I put the juice of 1 lime in)
1-2 Slices of jalapeno
5 basil leaves
2 Oz Tequila
Muddle it all, top with ice, shake and pour over a glass filled with ice.
If you’d like to make it a little extra fancy and spicy, first rim the glass with a lime and dip it in Tajin and/or salt. At this party, they added a little gold dust into the spicy rim as well! I love edible glitter and have some by Fancy Sprinkles.
Cheers and enjoy!
Last, if you’ve been like me and in the garden non stop this summer, your nails and hands likely need some TLC.
This three step routine has been my go to for many summers as a way to keep my nails looking fresh after a weekend in the garden. Want to see this in action? Check out my instagram reel for a how to!
Using a nail brush is the best way to get all the little specks of dirt out from your nails and the crevices of your hands. Use both sides to get the most out of this brush and see the best effects.
After I have used my nail brush to clean out all the dirt, I use this scrub to freshen up my cuticles and hands. It leaves them refreshed and feeling so much better after time in the dirt outside.
I love this oil because after a good cleaning and scrub, it basically makes your nails look like they’ve just had a manicure, even if they haven’t. Give a drop to each nail, rub it in and voila your nails look salon finished in just minutes.