Summer Travel Necessities

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I. MONOS LUGGAGE

I have had this carry on for a few years and I absolutely love it. The outer shell feels sturdy and high-quality while the inside is roomy enough to fit everything I need. 

II. WONDER VALLEY LITTLE WONDERS TRAVEL SET

My favorite skincare available in TSA-approved travel sizes. 

 

III. LIGHT SWEATSHIRT FOR TRAVEL DAYS

A must for travel days. Something easy to wash and wear but doesn’t look “frumpy.” My go-to travel 

IV. LEATHER PASSPORT HOLDER 

A few years ago, I forgot my passport while on my way to Portugal. After that experience, I decided to make a leather passport holder that would be impossible to forget. It’s available at Kristiina Taylor - my namesake label. 

V. A GOOD CLASSIC BOOK

For the plane ride and evenings poolside, a good classic book is a must-have. Currently I am reading Atlas Shrugged and you can discover my must-read lists over at Meadows Book Club. 

VI. TRAVEL WATER BOTTLE

Reduce your plastic usage by choosing to bring a travel water bottle. I drink a ton of water and love Yeti and Life Straw. 

 

 

Wish You Were Here

A Holistic Approach to Skincare

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Holistic skincare is the practice of nourishing the skin from the inside out. What you eat and do has an impact on how you look and feel. Making good daily choices can approve your overall health and skin. The following are my best practices for healthy, glowing skin –


 

Eat the rainbow.

A well-balanced diet of foods packed with protein, fiber, healthy fat, vitamins, and minerals will do wonders for the body and mind. An imbalanced digestive system can reduce liver functionality and lead to inflammation. If the liver is unable to effectively work, the body can experience a myriad of skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne. A good rule of thumb is to eat the rainbow of vegetables and enjoy all else in moderation. If you don’t know where to start, reduce or eliminate the intake of processed foods and choose organic whenever possible.

Drink more water.

Getting enough water throughout the day will help skin cells hold onto the moisture keeping them plump, firm, and wrinkle free. Many don’t get as much water as they should. Listen to your body and if your skin is dry, you likely need to up your intake. If drinking tap, make sure to research your municipalities water content. Not all tap waters are clean and toxins can be present in the water supply. 

 

Wearing Matteau Swimwear

Exercise.

Physical activity is an important component of holistic health. Exercise reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) and stimulates endorphines (the happiness hormone). By lowering cortisol, the body is able to reduce skin related issues such as oily skin, acne, eczema, etc. Regular exercise also improves blood circulation which, through sweat, releases toxins, supplies the skin cells with oxygen and nutrients, and improves the complexion.

Get good sleep.

While asleep, the body repairs and restores. This recovery mode allows the body to rejuvenate itself and heal from any stressors, sicknesses, and ailments. This of course includes keeping the largest organ, the skin, healthy. Sleep also aids in collagen production, which is essential as it’s one of the main building blocks for bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Sleep will also boost blood flow, preventing dull and puffy skin.

Choose clean skincare.

Clean skincare means that every ingredient is natural and free from harsh chemicals, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetics. Some chemicals used in skincare products have been shown to cause health problems such as cancer and endocrine disruption. Endocrine disruptors overwhelm your body’s natural detox pathways, such as the liver, and causes toxins to erupt from the skin. Look at ingredients and choose organic whenever possible.


My favorite clean skincare brands include: Linné Botanicals, Wonder Valley, and Osea Malibu.

Happy Easter

Florida Farm Days

 

Badlands Journal

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Wearing the Christy Dawn Dawn Dress

 

Meadows Book Club: 2023 Reading List

1984 by George Orwell (1949)

“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (1929)

“This book is to be neither an accusation or a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped its shells, were destroyed by the war.”

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (1957)

“This is the story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world – and did. Was he a destroyer or the greatest of liberators? Why did he have to fight his battle, not against his enemies, but against those who needed him most, and his hardest battle against the woman he loved? What is the world’s motor – and the motive power of every man? You must be prepared, when you read this novel, to check every premise at the root of your convictions. This is a mystery story, not about the murder of a man’s body, but about the murder – and rebirth – of man’s spirit. It is a philosophical revolution, told in the form of an action thriller of violent events, a ruthlessly brilliant plot structure and an irresistible suspense. Do you say this is impossible? Well, that is the first of your premises to check.” 

 

Winter Thoughts and Reflections

How can one be more self-sufficient? It’s a question that I’ve been mulling ever since our pastor in Oregon preached, “Get out of Babylon.” A question that has since commanded many of my actions and decisions.

We are no longer a military family and moving from place to place doesn’t loom on the horizon in four year increments. And while it was fun to discover new places and people, the past few years had set in a sense of urgency to get out of Babylon. Our goal is to eventually live remotely off the grid. The perpetual state of impermanence of military life had prevented us from pursuing a such projects that get us closer to that goal. And this dream of a sustainable homestead takes time, care, and attention - characteristics completely at odds with military life.

But at long last, Florida marks the final chapter in our nomadic lifestyle. A new season of life is within grasp and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s certainly a strange thought to know that we can choose any state we want, any city we want, and no one is there to tell us otherwise. While Florida is beautiful, it’s not where my heart lies. Whether north or south, east or west, I do not yet know. But prayerfully out west with dry summers, genuine seasons, and snow.

Thank you for following this journey. I hope to share with you the things I learn along the way. Supporting my work means more than you know. 

Introducing Meadows Book Club

 

 
I strive to live offline as much as possible and I am a firm believer that, while useful, the internet will tarnish the mind if left unchecked. In an effort to step away from the screen, a new goal of mine is to read more. And what’s a better way than to share what I’ve read than with an informal book club?

I firmly believe that a meadow is one of the finest places to enjoy a good book – thus the inspiration behind the name. Meadows in all their beauty is where one can find solitude whilst surrounded by the peaceful embrace of nature. The warmth of the sun on the skin, soft breeze, and rustling of grasses. It’s a glimpse of heaven on earth.

There are no dates and deadlines. And I have no desire nor the time to create study questions and collect homework. Meadows is merely an encouragement to read something worthwhile.

Meadows will almost entirely consist of classic books. Those close to me know that old books hold a special place in my heart. I have an immense appreciation for letter pressed pages and typography of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And more often than I care to admit, I will comb through antique stores and resale websites searching for a well-kept copy of an interesting classic. I crave a life in another era and while God placed me here for such a time as this, a good classic allows me to transport myself back – if only for a little while.

Follow along & enjoy a good book with me.

The Little Black Sustainable Crossbody Bag

 

My classic crossbody bag is made in Los Angeles with natural vegetable tanned leather, metal hardware, with a GOTS certified organic cotton interior. While manufacturing will always produce waste, we don’t have to destroy the earth in the process. Being a good steward of the planet is the core of our ethos and plays a major role in all aspects of my business. In addition to sustainable materials, the minimal aesthetic is a nod to longevity. What’s more sustainable than buying something to keep forever? With the subtle design details, versatile look, and sleek black leather, the little black crossbody will never go out of style.