11 minute read
Hostess with the Mostess, At Home
Hostess with the Mostess
AT HOME How to tune in, stay grounded, and make self-care a priority
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WRITTEN BY JESSICA COMEGYS • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRITTANY STRICKLAND
As much as I love hosting a fancy dinner or sophisticated soiree, I also love being at home with my boys. Between running a restaurant, the website, private catering, and all the other hats I wear, I have to admit that the “slow down” over the past year has been a welcomed change. Don’t get me wrong, I love being busy, and even thrive when I’m “burning the candle at both ends,” But even I need down time. Time for self-care, self-reflection, proper rest, and time to nourish relationships. So rather than show you how to throw another fabulous party, I’d like to give you a look inside how I maintain balance by living The Luminous Lifestyle (more on that in a min)… and hopefully inspire you to take your own wellness journey. Because wellness isn’t just the food we eat, it’s an all-encompassing lifestyle.
In normal circumstances, mothers (and fathers too) are master jugglers: balancing relationships, career, self-care (if there’s time), and the challenges of child-rearing. Many of us are usually overwhelmed and exhausted (and several were pregnant and birthing babies during the pandemic). We should also observe pockets of gratitude, discovery, and reaffirmed love. It’s clear that the parents in all forms... are among the heroes in these tender and unprecedented times. So it is important to practice self-love by taking care of yourself. When I studied holistic wellness coaching at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the core concept is what they call “Primary Food,” These are not foods that we eat, but rather food for our soul. Relationships, Spirituality, Career, Social Life, Education, Physical Activity, Home Environment, Finances, etc... All of these aspects of life feed your mind, body and soul. And if out of balance, it can strongly affect your health and wellness.
When this change in pace first occurred almost one year ago, at first I was bored. How would we possibly stay home for weeks on end? That slowly faded when I realized how out of balance my life had been after opening Glow. And now I was getting an up close viewing of my 6+year+old son changing daily, having real conversations with my husband, even all of us cozying up in the bed to watch a movie together. This time has given me a chance to open my heart and mind to the connection with my own intuition. By short meditation breaks, long baths, humming in the kitchen with William, I have really retuned into my overall wellbeing* learning to choose joy by focus on positives instead of all the negatives we are being fed. During this time when there weren’t a lot of social gatherings and parties to host, I knew that so many of us were looking for ways to stay healthy and find peace, so I created an online learning program on how to clean up your diet, get balanced, and live The Luminous Life. Here are a few topics and tips pulled from the program itself on how you can tune in, stay grounded, and boost immunity exclusively for Lola readers.
Get Grounded
Our immune system works its hardest when it’s supercharged with electrons, which can be obtained in abundance in a surprisingly simple way: by walking barefoot on the earth. Because our feet are locations for the connected muscular webbing known as fascia, absorbing energy through the feet - a practice called grounding or earthing - promotes healing throughout the entire body.
Many of us do not experience these incredible effects because we a constantly separated by shoes, sidewalks, as much by our busy minds and schedules. So now that you maybe aren’t so busy, try grounding to absorb a charge of the earth through physical touch. My husband is always shouting out to William “put your shoes on!” While I’m whispering in his ear to run barefoot and free! We always turn and laugh at “daddy” who smirks back knowing he’s lost the battle. So while you are outside barefoot, show gratitude to the earth for the beauty it gives us each day. The sun for rising and setting. For the wind that blows, the rain that falls, the air you breathe, and the food that you eat.
Take a Quick Hiatus
Artificial blue light on your phone can inhibit sleep, hormone balance, and has been connected to a slew of health issues. Without resorting to a doomsday attitude or giving up modern life luxuries, venturing out into nature like we talked about before can have a profound effect of your wellbeing. The simple act of disconnecting with this tech universe has been shown to boost mood, increase libido, stabilize hormone levels, and reinstate a healthy dose of natural melatonin. Who wouldn’t want all of those things? Not to mention, you don’t have to take on the burdens of everyone you barely know by seeing their rants and angry posts.
Self-Care & Meditation
I am lumping these together because I often do them together. My favorite form of self-care is a long bath, so I start by dry brushing before I hop in the bathtub with Epsom salts and a face mask. Our skin is our largest organ, and it is also our first line of defense. By sloughing off dead skin, we are exfoliating aswell as stimulating the lymphatic system. It is responsible for filtering out the toxins in our body, but it requires stimulation to work. Dry brushing, massage, rebounding (aka jumping on a trampoline) or turning upside down are easy ways to support
the lymph system. Dry brushing also just feels good! So start at the feet and work your way up to your neck in slow soft circles. Once you have dry brushed in the dry tub, rinse all your dead skin down the drain and run the bath. Epsom salts help relieve sore muscles and also latch on to toxins. Once you are relaxed and have applied your brightening face mask, start your meditation ritual.
Meditation mighty not be an immediate direct line to the all knowing universe and thus solve all my problems like I once thought, but rather it can help right now, in this moment, as I currently am. Slowing your breathing in deep rhythmic patterns can significantly reduce stress and reform your thought process into a more balanced state. There are a few apps out there that have guided meditation to help you get started if you are new to the practice.
Eat Plant-Based
“Plant-based” is the diet du jour. But while it’s touted as promising effortless weight loss, radiant skin, and protection against a host of diseases* as a lifestyle, it’s a bit vague. Is it vegetarian? Vegan? Flexitarian? Where does paleo fit in? What about (gasp) keto? Ruffles are “plant-based”—are they allowed? What does it really mean?
It means basing your diet on plants. And to focus on what you can eat not what you can’t. The more whole fresh plants you get into your body every day, means the more essential nutrients you’re getting like antioxidants, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, water, fiber, and life energy. What it DOES NOT mean is eating “vegan” junk foods or 75 versions of avocado toast. It’s a celebration of abundance, a love affair with health.
Nurture Relationships
Relationships aren’t static* they are living, dynamic aspects of our lives that require attention and care. Start at home by taking the time to have meaningful conversations with your spouse over cooking dinner together. Involve your children in the conversation and practice of listening and receiving the information and feelings associated with communication. As mothers we feel we are constantly listening to chatter, but slowing down and sparking new ideas and sorting through feelings as a whole family unit can do wonders for your relationship and your health. This should start at home but continue over into friendships as well.
I hope this has given you some helpful starting points to get your life a little bit more balanced. Take some time for you. And whoever it is in your life that you are caring for today and however you’re showing up, always remember that you’re doing your very best - and the kids are all right.
If you’d like to learn more about The Luminous Lifestyle, my virtual “learn at your own pace” program is available at HelloLuminousYou.com..
You didn’t think I was going to leave you without a delicious recipe did you? Never! Keeping in line with our topic, I decided to do something a little different. One of the ways that we can treat our bodies and our planet with love is by reducing the amount of bulk meats we buy at the grocery store. Most all of my friends husbands hunt in some form or another, and let’s be honest, the meat usually gets lost in the deep freezer. My husband duck hunts so I asked a friend if she’d trade some duck for a venison tenderloin. Before you crinkle your nose, this isn’t your dads fried back strap recipe. Venison can be very tender and if cooked right, can rival the most expensive beef tender on the market. It’s also very lean and free of hormones and steroids. An animal in its natural habitat and on it’s natural diet is how it was meant to be consumed.
I seared this prized cut and drizzled a red wine pomegranate sauce over the top. Served with a browned butter mushroom barley and creamy lemon yogurt dressed greens, rounds out this healthy week night dinner.
Red Wine Pomegranate Glazed Venison
Loin of venison, trimmed of all silverskin 1 garlic clove, crushed 4 sprigs of fresh thyme 4 tbsp of butter salt pepper RED WINE POMEGRANATE SAUCE 1 garlic clove, crushed ¼ cup sugar 1 sprig of fresh thyme 1 sprig of rosemary 2 cups of red wine, good quality 1 cup pure pomegranate juice
• The red wine sauce can be made in advance. Add ingredients to small sauce pot and simmer until reduced by half. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon. • For the venison, heat a large heavy bottom skillet or cast iron skillet on med high heat. Add vegetable oil to lightly coat pan. Season the venison with salt and pepper liberally. Sear on all sides about 2 mins per side. Add herbs, garlic, and butter to the pan and based the venison. Turn the heat off and leave it to rest about 10 mins for med rare. Slice and serve with glaze drizzled over top.
Browned Butter Mushroom Barley
Any chewy grain, such as wheat for hulled or hull-less, 20–30 avoid scorching, until golden berries, farro, or even brown minutes for pearl. Drain; spread brown all over, about 5 minutes rice, can replace the barley. out on a baking sheet and let longer. 1 cup hulled, hull-less, or pearl barley Kosher salt • cool. Meanwhile, cook shallots in 1/3 • Reduce heat to medium and add thyme sprigs, garlic, and 2 shallots, thinly sliced into rings cup of oil in a small saucepan butter to skillet. Tip skillet 1/3 cup olive oil + over medium heat, swirling toward you so butter pools at 2 tablespoons olive oil 8 ounces mushrooms (such as maitake, chanterelle, and/or oyster), torn or cut into large pieces pan occasionally to keep shallots from burning, until golden brown, 5–7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer shallots to paper towels to edge and use a spoon to baste mushrooms with foaming butter; cook until butter smells nutty. Using a slotted spoon, transfer mushrooms to a small Freshly ground black pepper drain; season with salt. Let cool. bowl, leaving thyme and garlic 2 sprigs thyme Set shallot cooking oil aside. behind. 1 garlic clove, crushed • Heat oil in a large skillet • Toss barley, cilantro, parsley, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter over medium-high until just lemon juice, 1½ oz. Parmesan, 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 cup chopped fresh parsley beginning to smoke. Arrange mushrooms in skillet in a single layer and cook, undisturbed, and 2 Tbsp. reserved shallot oil in a large bowl to combine; season with salt and pepper. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice until undersides are golden Add mushrooms; toss again to 1½ ounces Parmesan, shaved, brown, about 3 minutes. combine. • plus more for serving Cook barley in a medium pot of boiling salted water until tender, 50– 60 minutes Season mushrooms with salt and pepper, toss, and continue to cook, tossing often and reducing heat as needed to • Just before serving, top with fried shallots and more shaved Parmesan.
Apple Pecan Lemon Salad
FOR THE CREAMY LEMON DRESSING: 3/4 cup crème fraiche or plain Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice Zest of one lemon 2 tablespoons honey ½ teaspoon kosher salt FOR THE SALAD: 2 heads Romaine lettuce, chopped 2 large Honeycrisp apples, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 cup pecans 4 oz. aged white cheddar cheese, grated with a potato peeler or large grater 1 tablespoon minced chives
• To make the dressing, combine the crème fraiche or Greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth. Set aside. The dressing can be made up to 2 days in
advance. • To assemble the salad, place the lettuce in a large bowl.
Drizzle lemon juice over the apple slices and toss to prevent them from browning. Add the apple slices, candied pecans, grated cheese, and chives to the salad bowl. • Add the creamy lemon dressing and toss until salad is well coated. Serve immediately.
