self-care Archives | The Wildflowers

Right now I am all about slowing down, being intentional and relishing in those small moments of beauty throughout the day. I bought this Kate McLeod Moisturizing Body Stone a while ago from a Facebook ad (If you’ve read my blog before you know my running joke that that’s the only way I shop lately. But I have no shame in it. Shopping that way has introduced me to sooooo many small shops all over the world that I get to support.) and it has become such a lovely addition to how I take care of my skin.

I love the story behind this brand. Once a chef, the owner Kate McLeod, created these stones in her kitchen after being encouraged to only put safe products on her skin. All natural ingredients and a message of the magic in being present in the moments where you are taking care of yourself. Intentional self-care. To me that means not just going through the routine of putting your lotion on, doing all the things…but taking a moment to relish in it. Kind of a revelation these days. And trust me, as a mom of two little ones, sometimes it’s a successful day if I’ve remembered to drink some water and take my vitamins. But it feels so so good and indulgent to really take care of yourself….like really show up for yourself. Take your time, love yourself, repeat your affirmations while you slow down and set your intentions on the temple that is your body.

These body stones provide an opportunity for all of this. Yes, they are made with cocoa butter, pure essential oils and other goodness that is healthy and good for your skin. But they require a little more attention than slathering on a bottle of a lotion.

These body stones are probably different than the type of moisturizers you are used to. They require softening in your hands in order to work as they soften with body heat. After softening the stone in your hands for a few seconds you rub the stone all over your body as it softens even more. You can then gently rub in the moisturizer further. It’s thick, it’s luxurious and it’s intensively moisturizing.

The body stones come wrapped up in beautiful muslin material.

The packaging is gorgeous and thoughtful and also sustainably farmed and reusable. Their message is inspiring. And their plant-based product works. I have just loved unwrapping my stone in its beautiful little canister and muslin, using it after a bath while repeating, “My body is beautiful. My body is healthy. My body deserves my time and attention.” Slowing down is beautiful.

These stones have really helped my skin through the winter dryness but the real reason I wanted to write a post about them is because of how great they’ve been for my little girls. My post before this is about baby wipes- but ultimately about putting only healthy ingredients on your baby’s skin and these fall into that category. Tessa has loved letting me rub this into her skin after a bath and it has really moisturized Charlie’s arms which normally have quite a bit of keratosis pilaris on them. To me, they are perfect for little ones. A safe moisturizer and another opportunity to slow down with our children and love on them.

I got the “Mini Grounding Stone” and the bamboo holder. The Grounding Stone’s scent is heavenly to me- vetiver (which is my favorite oil) + bergamot. The scent is light and if I had a critique that would be it- I wish it had a stronger scent. The stones are not cheap, one reason I started with the “Mini”. But you are buying into a philosophy and an invitation to love yourself a little harder and supporting a woman-run small business. As their website says, “It’s everyday magic.” And this mama recommends!

I’ve posted about Sarah Scarborough, aka The Tea Huntress, before- she is the founder of Firepot Chai here in Nashville. It’s one of my favorite little spots in the entire city and Charlie and I (and now Tessy too) have loved many, many little day dates here before the park. If you haven’t been to the shop in 12 South- start there.

But if you’re outside of Nashville- and of course local too- I want to introduce to you Sarah’s tea membership. Yes if you love tea, you will love this membership. But for me it’s not even as much about the tea as it is all the beautiful + spiritual tools the membership brings. It brings me so much joy to find it in the mail. Along with tea, there is a “The Ritual of Tea: A Guide” booklet and one or two little soul gifts to go along with the theme for the month.

“The Ritual of Tea is an invitation to slow down, a meditation reconnecting you to self and others and an exercise to cleanse your body, mind, and spirit.”

I am writing this in November of 2020 so this month’s booklet is all about the beginning of the quiet time of year, when the days are short and perhaps dark and life is inviting us to slow down and be still. Paired with a beautiful oolong tea, the November box came with incense and a copper holder. In month’s past, we have received beautiful gemstones, cleansing tools like natural sea sponge, meditation guides and reminders to look inward and love yourself. It really has become one of my favorite things and I treasure the booklets for all their wisdom- I use them often in my meditations.

But I will tell you that this November box is the last of this membership. Sarah has relaunched “The Tea Huntress” and is evolving the membership from monthly to quarterly. The new quarterly boxes will be filled with more tea and more tools to last the three months. So wherever you are reading this from, I highly, highly recommend this membership. For the tea lovers and the ones needing those beautiful little reminders of life’s beauty and nature’s invitation to revel in her.

“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves- slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.” – Thich Nhat Hahn

Kate McLeod Body Stones | A Lovely Addition to Your Self-Care Routine

You Will Love: Tea Membership with The Tea Huntress