I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find in those realms :)

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Button down: I love the pattern of this shirt! It’s a lightweight, 100% cotton, oversized button down with a pointed collar and rounded hem. They also sell this in a grey stripe which is also beautiful. Almina Concept, $330.00

Top: I’ve been eyeing this black top for its simplicity and versatility. I really like the option to undo the buttons up top for a more relaxed look and the detailing on the collar. It could easily be worn underneath a sweater or vest in the winter as an extra layer. Patrick Assaraf, $110.00

Sweater: Bare Knitwear recently released their fall/winter 2026 collection and it’s beautiful as always. This crewneck sweater is lovely with its ribbing detailing and deep maroon colour. It’s made from alpaca and has an oversized fit, just what we need for winter. Fieldstudy, $460.00

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Winter coat: Perhaps a bit early to be thinking about winter, but this coat is so nice! It’s a full-length coat (yay!) with a recycled nylon shell, deep pockets, and a high collar—what’s not to love? This deep brown colour is beautiful. It also comes in a green colour. Kloke, $650.00

Pants: These seem like really comfortable pants that also look polished and professional. They’re made from a soft but structured denim (75% cotton, 25% tencel) and come in a variety of colours. They have a slightly curved leg and one pocket on the back. OZMA, $420.00

Men’s underwear: If you ever need a gift for a guy, or feel like the man in your life needs new underwear, try these. I’ve shared the women’s underwear from Boody before because they’re so comfortable and the men’s version doesn’t disappoint either. These ones have a seam-free waistband for added comfort. Boody, $24.00

Hair brush: I saw someone recommend this hair brush the other day and now have it on my wish list. This brush has boar bristles and nylon pins to reduce frizz and help distribute natural oils. The handle is made from beech wood. It seems expensive but it’s actually the most affordable brush I’ve found so far that uses boar bristles. Seems luxurious! Bur Bur, $111.00

Candle holder: I have a lot of candles scattered around my house, mostly because I like the look of them. However, buying candles means you need to also buy something to put them on. I sometimes use small plates or soap dishes, but these little marble pieces are beautiful and will last forever. Lemontree, $28.00

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

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3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

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Everything that I’ve done up until this point has prepared me for this program without me knowing it. For example, my undergraduate degree in biology fits perfectly within the teachings of herbalism; I’m looking forward to (finally!) applying what I learned in biochemistry, botany, and physiology to real world contexts. My public health degree also aligns with the values of herbalism regarding health promotion and disease prevention. The training I did in plain language communication will serve me well when interviewing and treating patients, too.

But it definitely hasn’t been easy to figure this next step out (read any of my Substack posts, ha!). It has taken a lot of soul searching and watching for glimmers of happiness. I’ve spent the last several months keeping an eye out for Instagram accounts, YouTube videos, books, and websites that resonate with me and bring me pure joy. I relaxed into my body so I could feel what it was pulling me towards. I thought about where we are as a society and what I think we might need in the future. And I’ve been doing an analysis of sorts to figure out what all of these things have in common.

It has taken much inner work (and there’s still so much more to be done!) to really figure myself out. For a long time, I haven’t felt connected to anything because I wasn’t connected to myself, as cliche as that sounds. I was so focused on achieving the next thing that I had no space to truly figure out what I stood for, what my values are, what is actually meaningful to me. I didn’t let myself go enough to tap into the inner knowing that’s been there the entire time. All I had to do was pause, tune out all the external noise that told me what I should want and who I should be, and accept whatever came up.

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I also had to develop faith in my ability to help other people. For all of my adult life, I’ve been afraid that if I entered a health profession I would cause harm or make a mistake that could lead someone to poorer health. I know now that this fear is rooted in a lack of self-confidence and that it isn’t my higher self telling me not to pursue a career in health and wellness, which I always thought it was. I’m still working on strengthening my self-worth and self-confidence and know that it’ll likely take many experiences and time to build. But I’m really only hurting myself by not trying. I’m just keeping myself small and muted by not stepping into something bigger.

Apart from the inner work, I think it’s taken me so long to land on something true for me because it’s not a traditional approach—it’s one that requires a disconnection from the capitalist mentality and from a system that suggests alternative medicine is woo woo and isn’t based in rigorous science (which is not true). I think I also needed to find other women on social media practicing herbalism so that I could be expanded by that profession and see that it was an option for me. I needed to be inspired by them, to learn about their practices, and to see that their values aligned with mine. All of this discovery took a maturity and a coming home to myself that I didn’t have capacity for even a year ago.

And part of me got distracted by writing, not necessarily in a bad way though. I thought because I used to love writing so much that that was the direction I should go in. It was easy to think that writing was going to be the focus of my career going forward because, at the time, I didn’t think I had anything else to go on. It was the only clue I had to what the next phase of my life was going to look like. But I’m realizing now that it might only play a part in where I’m headed next. We all have multiple skills we can offer the world, not just one thing.

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Because the truth is that I also loved being outside in nature as a kid. I spent summers by the pond and the lake, listening to the crickets and frogs, playing in the sun and fresh air, and sleeping under the stars at night. And as I got older, I developed an intense desire to know more about what causes chronic disease and how we can heal ourselves when we’re out of balance. A lot of what I understand about health is self-taught because I loved learning about it. This was another clue that I ignored because I didn’t think it mattered. It was just a hobby. But lately I've been wondering: what if my pull towards health could be more than that? What if, as we all enter into this new era of who the fuck knows what, I could offer what I’ve been looking for all this time: human connection, depth, and healing.

I believe that we are part of nature and that nature offers us so much healing potential. I think plants surround us because we’re meant to use them as supports. As we evolved as a society, though, the Western medical model took us so far away from ourselves and our body’s healing capabilities. It offers great care for acute conditions, such as a broken arm, and can bring people back to health with surgery; there is a time and a place for its modalities. But, in my humble opinion, it completely misses the mark when it comes to chronic disease. Drugs are not a cure-all. Yes, they can be helpful in many situations temporarily. But for the most part, they mask what’s actually going on in the body. People think drugs are going to make all their pains and disease go away with little effort on their end. But this is a false belief sold to us by the pharmaceutical industry and the doctors that benefit from it.

I think the approach to healing can be so much less complicated and less costly. Stress reduction, connecting with others, being in nature, doing things you enjoy, eating unprocessed food, exercising on a daily basis, embracing the unknown with curiosity—this is how we maintain health at a fundamental human level. And plants, something we all have access to, can support us as we live our lives. I think people are starting to find their way back to herbalism and its tenets. I think they’re starting to have an awareness of the limitations of modern medicine and are searching for an approach to health and wellness that is more nourishing and accessible. I’ve realized that I want to guide people through that process.

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I still don’t have it all figured out. For example, I still have to find a regular job until I can practice herbalism. But I will say that I felt no resistance in or outside of my body when I reached for herbal medicine. The ease with which herbalism came into my life makes me believe that this is the next right step for me. This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a new phase of my life, one in which I feel more comfortable and confident in who I am and what I have to offer. I only see the next step, not the whole picture, and I’m learning to be okay with that.

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’d love to meet you there.

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However. I can confidently say that purchasing lower cost items didn’t do it for me. Nope, not one bit. Sure, I wore the items a few times and used the personal care products until they ran out. But I felt like they weren’t quite what I was looking for. The clothing felt cheap, the shampoo was heavily scented and gave me a headache, and the moisturizer just didn’t moisturize my skin the way I like. Apart from all of that, these products just didn’t align with my values. It’s not how I wanted to show up in the world. I felt like a consumer who supported fast fashion and mass-produced skincare. Truly, that’s not me. And I knew it.

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So I reconsidered my approach. Instead of being impulsive, I promised myself that I would save up for the items I really want, the ones that are made by Canadian companies or other B Corp brands. I truly want to be a more conscious consumer and stop purchasing products just because they are cheaper—and exploit workers to make them that cheap—or because other people are wearing/using them. Because here’s the thing: I love sustainably made clothing that is made with natural fibres like linen, cotton, and wool. I covet natural (i.e., toxin-free) beauty products that contain nourishing ingredients like butters and natural oils that hydrate my skin. And yes, those items cost more money to buy, and I’m willing to spend the extra money to get them. This just means then that my closet and my cabinet will have less products. I’m also very much okay with this preposition.

With this reconsidering, I felt pulled to curate my wardrobe and beauty items and only keep products that make me feel good, connected to nature, and supportive of conscious brands. Since I love (like really love) clothing and beauty products, I’ve been really enjoying the process of surveying my closet and bathroom cabinet, and only keeping the items that really matter to me and the life I’m trying to create. My goal going forward is to be very intentional and selective with my life decisions, both as they relate to my career but also regarding the products I consume.

In the spirit of curation, I thought I would share some of my favourite clothing and beauty brands with you. WARNING: most of the clothing will be expensive (compared to fast fashion or other common brands). If your priorities are elsewhere, I completely understand, and if this is the case, feel free to stop reading the post now :)

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The New York Times published an article this week that I thought was important for women’s health and so I wanted to share what they discussed here with you (in case you didn’t see it). It has taken 25 years for scientists to come to this conclusion, unfortunately. And even more problematic is the fact that many doctors still don’t know about it.

Explanation of terms

Ovaries are small, oval-shaped glands in women that produce and store eggs. Women (or those born with female organs) are born with two ovaries on either side of their uterus. Fallopian tubes are ducts that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Again, women have two, one coming from each ovary.

During ovulation, a mature egg is released from an ovary and it travels down the fallopian tube towards the uterus. If the egg is fertilized by sperm from a man, then it implants in the uterus and grows a fetus.

What the research shows

Women have approximately a 1.1% chance of developing ovarian cancer in their lifetimes (women with the BRCA1 and 2 gene mutations have a higher risk, up to 40%). Ovarian cancer is very serious and can be deadly because early symptoms are hard to detect. By the time women have symptoms, it’s often too late; no treatment will cure them. As well, ovarian cancer that’s in its early stages does not show up in tests such as ultrasounds and blood tests.

It’s now understood that most ovarian tumours start out as tiny cancer cells (hence why they aren’t detected) in the wide part of the fallopian tubes that sit against the ovaries. From there, the cancer cells can spread into the ovaries and abdomen and cause symptoms associated with ovarian cancer, like abdominal pain and bloating.

Removing the fallopian tubes can help prevent most (almost 80%) ovarian cancers in women. It’s a quick operation that takes five minutes. It is safe to remove the tubes and the ovaries are fine without them.

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I’ve been aware of my lack of self-confidence for a while now. A lot of it (if not all of it) is rooted in childhood. (I’ve written about my struggles with being labelled as quiet and overcoming perfectionism in the past.) I’m working with a therapist and other modalities, but I keep replaying the default program that’s been in my head for many years. It leaves me wondering if I’ll ever be able to push through this block and show up as my full self.

A few of the female entrepreneurs that I follow talk about the world needing what we innately have to offer and encourage people to live a life that allows them to be their true selves. Their message sounds reassuring, and I do believe in it, but I haven’t really figured out how to be authentic in a world that expects us to conform to cultural expectation. Granted, I think much of my inability to find my way stems from my childhood programming and the fact that I haven’t worked through it yet, but I wonder if maybe I also just need a slight change in perspective.

Instead of me trying to figure out how to apply what these women are teaching and bring about an outcome—because that’s also a default response of mine—I decided to think about what they’re saying, internalize the message in a way that made sense to me, and then have faith in the truth of that message.

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I will say that I’m not very good at just having faith in something. When my therapist or TBM asks me to have faith that things are conspiring in my favour (again, having faith instead of forcing an outcome), I feel myself recoiling and losing interest. I want to believe that I’m spiritual, but the spirituality at my surface hasn’t reached the core of my being yet. Instead, I have a tendency to think in black and white, to need to see to believe, to want to see the successful path before I walk it. In this context, my interpretation of the world needing what we have needed to be completely indisputable and solid. I needed to come up with a fact per se so that I had no room to poke apart its story and revert back to my old ways of thinking about myself. To do this, I turned to science and nature.

And with that in mind, their message suggests this to me: The world needs you as you truly are. That’s it. That’s the reality. We are part of an ecosystem and you are here to participate in and contribute to that ecosystem in which we all live. This means that you are inherently worthy and needed because you are a human on this planet. The world needs you to be who you are so that there is diversity. Across all ecosystems, diversity is what sustains life. When each of us embodies who we are, we personally benefit and the world thrives. Thinking that we’re not good enough as we are is futile; it’s like believing the earth is flat or that all disease is caused by “bad air”. It’s just not true, it can’t be true.

But what is true is that we are part of nature. Yes, we have highly intelligent brains and can accomplish amazing things, but when culture is stripped from us, we are literally animals (classified as being part of the Kingdom Animalia and the Class Mammalia) trying to survive on this planet, just like all the other animals out there. We pretend like we’re so much more evolved, but we forget that we are subject to the power and possibility of nature. We need air to breathe and food grown in nature to eat. We need vitamin D from the sun. We are living through wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes made by nature. We have a lifecycle and get old and die. Our society exists within the arms of nature.

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Unworthiness is just a conditioned response we picked up from culture. Great old culture has made us believe that there are levels of worthiness based on our personality, how we look, how much money we have, where we live, etc. But this is an untrue world that we (aka White men) created to perpetuate the capitalist narrative. It’s untrue because it makes us appear separate from our true nature.

This life we’ve been sold doesn’t make much sense to the natural world—a natural world that we’re a part of. Does it make sense to think that a giraffe is a better animal than a rhinoceros because it’s tall and has skinny legs? No. To suggest such a thing would be weird and untrue. Why does the same logic not apply to humans?

The next time I feel like I’m not good enough, I will remind myself that I’m just reciting culture’s propaganda. Nature, the truest force there is, needs each of us to lean into our natural tendencies, our interests, our way of being so that we can support the ecosystem of the planet. That is unquestionable. The fact is that the world needs us, as we are right now, no performance or striving required. There’s more important, worthwhile, truer work to be doing.

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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Top: For a while now I’ve admired the clothing made by the company Rudy Jude in California. They naturally dye their clothing in small batches and make everything with natural materials. I love the shape of this linen top and the buttons down the front. Rudy Jude, $464.00

Pants: I don’t usually wear white pants because I’m always afraid of getting them dirty. But after seeing these barrel pants, I think I’ve changed my mind. These are made of an organic cotton herringbone fabric, have a barrel leg shape, and two big pockets on each leg. They come in different colours and look tres comfortable. Finisterre, $180.00

Top: I just like how comfy and cozy this cotton top would be, and I like the classic baseball design. Le Bon Shoppe’s clothing is well made and washes well. Twentyseven, $120.00

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Flip flops: These sandals will be on my list for next season. They’re a bit on the pricier side for flip flops but they’re waterproof and made in Portugal (and Portugal makes good shoes). Tkees, $65.00

Gua sha tool: I don’t currently own one of these gua sha tools, but I’m curious about them. For a few years now, I’ve seen people on social media praising their ability to reduce fine lines and make the skin look smoother and tighter. I like the ritual it would provide in the evenings or mornings when/if you have some time to yourself. The Detox Market Canada, $97.00

Face mist: I’ve run out of the face mist I bought from Glow Jar Beauty and am looking for a refreshing replacement. I’ve mentioned before about how much I love Om’s products, namely their facial moisturizer and facial oil, and I bet this one would also work well for reducing redness and breakouts from the heat. Om Skin, $36.00

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Eye oil: I’ve never tried any of F. Miller’s facial products, but they seem to be fairly popular. This eye oil is made with really nourishing oils like argan, prickly pear, and seabuckthorn to soothe the eye area. This product looks divine. Ande, $92.00

Vacation idea: We stayed at a Hinter accommodation a couple of years ago in Quebec and loved it. The finishes and design of the places they have are beautiful—so relaxing and peaceful. The other day I found out that they designed a couple of spaces in the Haliburton area, which is a lot closer to travel to than Quebec. We booked the Baltic for a couple of nights in September and I’m really excited to check it out. Fort Treehouse Co.

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I’ve previously written about how looking to ancestral knowledge and ways of life might help us figure out what we could be doing with our modern lives. I understand the need to evolve as a species, but I often wonder if, in our pursuit of capitalist ideals, we lost the point of living altogether, and need to return to traditional practices to feel human again. 👇

I also wrote about needing depth and not being able to find it in culture’s assortment of worthy life paths. Over these last several months, I’ve been following my curiosities and trying to figure out what they all have in common so that I can find a way forward in career. 👇

Through these explorations, I’ve found that part of why I’ve felt so conflicted for so long about career is because the story culture tells us just doesn’t add up or feel right. There’s a misalignment between what I think is meaningful and what I’m being told to find meaning in. And instead of pushing harder to arrive at some lofty outcome, everything in me over these last several months is telling me to get back to nature—nature in the outside world sense and nature in my personal proclivities sense.

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Getting back to outside nature

I want to get back to outside nature so that I can physically escape the effects that culture has had on my psyche. The relief that nature provides has been described by many, actually.

• Author and teacher Elizabeth Gilbert described how she created a garden after experiencing the high of her bestseller “Eat, Pray, Love” so that she could come back to baseline. She advises getting “elemental”, reconnecting with fire, water, earth, and air to ground yourself in nature after love and loss. She says that nature allows you to remember your sense of belonging.

• Author and speaker Sarah Wilson talks about hiking in nature regularly to moderate her anxiety and help her process complex thoughts. She wrote her book This One Wild and Precious Life while hiking in different countries around the world. She also often talks about how walking moves at the same pace as discerning thought, explaining why we can have more productive thinking while walking.

• Doctors in Japan have been known to prescribe forest bathing to residents to help them cope with stress and burnout from modern life and improve their overall health. We now know that trees release chemicals called phytoncides and these chemicals may contribute to the benefits seen with forest bathing.

• Many philosophers like Henry David Thoreau and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that nature acts as a restorative force and allows us to escape the confines and corruption of capitalism and modern society.

A lot of times I feel like I just want to escape into the woods or to the ocean and live in peace, away from the expectations of society. Every time I think about living in nature away from the sounds of cars, trucks, and people; the light pollution; and the exhaust fumes, my nervous system sings. Each excursion in nature, whether for a short or long time, leaves me relaxed and wanting more. It quiets the mind, lets us know that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, takes us away from the stress of the lives we’ve created, and is scientifically healing. There is no doubt about it that we are meant to be in nature. It’s where we came from and it’s who we are. It gives our minds a chance to work things out and find our place of belonging.

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Returning to your own personal nature

I think we all have our own personal nature: a way we show up in the world that makes us feel our best, tendencies that make us who we are. There are many well-known and respected people who talk about how to reconnect to your true nature, indicating that culture has steered us away from it.

• Gabor Mate often talks about the need for us to get back to our true natures and what happens to us our bodies and minds when we are disconnected from it.

• Martha Beck wrote a book called The Way of Integrity, and in it she coaches people how to come back to their true nature after they’ve spent years inadvertently serving social systems.

• The philosopher Socrates has been attributed with saying “know thyself”; Kierkegaard thought anxiety was the struggle for authenticity and urged people to choose themselves; and Nietzsche said “become who you are”.

• The poet William Wordsworth thought that childhood is a connected state and that adulthood obscures the self.

The feeling of losing yourself through culture and then trying to return to your true nature seems to be a common human experience.

It’s almost like a stress ball or memory foam: no matter how hard culture tries to shape us and obscure our nature by exerting force, we’ll almost return to who we actually are, our true nature, because our nature is the truth.

And once we start looking around, noticing, becoming aware of what we’re curious about, getting back in touch with the gut feelings we had as children, we can really start to understand what we’re about, what our true nature is, and what offering we have for the world.

Have you found that nature, in all its forms, is worth coming back to? Let me know in the comments :)

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-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬Science

Researchers in Puerto Rico followed more than 500 people for about three years and found that those who used any type of mouthwash two times a day or more were more likely to have high blood pressure compared to those who didn’t use mouthwash as often. What explains this connection? A compound called nitric oxide.

Nitric oxide is a molecule made up of one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom. It is produced naturally in the body using enzymes that are located in the inner lining of blood vessels and by bacteria in the mouth. When nitric oxide is made, it relaxes blood vessels, causing them to widen. This process causes a decrease in blood pressure.

The problem with mouthwash is that it kills many bacteria in the mouth, even good ones that benefit our oral and overall health. Therefore, using mouthwash results in fewer bacteria in the mouth that can make nitric oxide. Fewer of these bacteria means that there is less nitric oxide circulating in our body. With less nitric oxide, blood pressure may go up.

This study cannot prove that mouthwash causes high blood pressure. However, it shows that there may be a relationship between the two, which is explained by lower nitric oxide availability. Other more rigorous studies have also shown that antibacterial mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth that help make nitric oxide. However, as always, more research is needed to make definitive conclusions.

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👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Dress: This is definitely what I want to be wearing right now—a loose-fitting dress that will keep me cool in this heat. This cobalt blue one by LF Markey is made of 100% linen and it has pockets :) It also comes in a beautiful red colour but it’s pretty much sold out everywhere I looked. Nouvelle Nouvelle, $214.00

Dress #2: I love this dress by Le Bon Shoppe, too. It’s also very simple but the button detailing and the cinched waist give it some interest. It can also be worn in the shoulder seasons with a light sweater over top. Slowly Slowly, $185.00

Sweater: I wanted this sweater as soon as I saw it! It’s made of a blend of linen and cotton and is a beautiful olive mixed with beige colour. I really like the rolled neck and sleeves. TOAST, $350.00

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Button down: I love the design of this shirt by the brand Noble, with its two big buttoned pockets that kind of sit sideways and front buttons that sit closer together. Such an interesting piece of clothing. It also comes in a great blue colour. Slowly Slowly, $245.00

Pants: These are 100% organic cotton pants that flare at the bottom of the leg. I like the gingham pattern (a neutral and could go with many coloured tops) and the surprise way they end at your ankle. Field Study Shop, $138.00

Slippers: These are such chic slippers and are made by artisans in Portugal. They are made of vegetable-tanned leather and have rubber sole so that you can wear them both inside and outside. They also have an antimicrobial footbed that shapes to your feet over time. They also come in black and a lovely reddish-brown colour. Beautiful! Bare Knitwear, $280.00

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Bathroom towel: This is a 100% Turkish cotton towel that is designed in Sydney, Australia and made in Turkey. The fabric is woven continuously in long lengths. Each towel is carefully cut from the connected length, leaving a small section of loose fibre at the ends to form the tassels. The tassels are knotted and finished by hand, mostly by artisan women who have passed down this skill through generations. It also comes in a gorgeous green colour. Such a beautiful towel made by a conscious company. TOAST, $141.75

Book: This is the next book on my wish list. It’s a book with pictures of homes created by people who are embracing a slower, more intentional life that includes buying local and organic, and living sustainably. Indigo, $68.00

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

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The visual didn’t help much with finding a relationship between each thing, but it helped me identify my true interests and I was able to fall asleep after completing it. The next morning, I typed all of these topics into ChatGPT1 and asked it to find the common theme between them.2 To my surprise, it came back with something that resonated with me. It said that my personal philosophy was “living in a way that is rooted, nourishing, intentional, and connected to the natural world, to craft, to place, and to thoughtful expression.” Similarly, it mentioned that my list described “a life of thoughtful stewardship—cultivating beauty, health, and meaning through close relationship with nature, craftsmanship, and intentional living.”

ChatGPT even gave me an example of what my day could look like. It said the following:

• Wake in a home filled with natural light and wood

• Tend to a vegetable and herb garden

• Prepare nourishing food

• Wear linen and wool made responsibly

• Write thoughtfully

• Walk by the water

• Use simple botanical skincare

• Read and reflect in the evening

I’ve been reflecting on this summary for a couple of days now, trying to figure out what to do with this information. I’m starting to understand on a much deeper level part of the reason why I’m struggling to figure out what to do next: what culture has to offer is not enough for me. It will never be enough. It’s mostly devoid of the richness and curiosity I want to experience. I’m seeking depth in all areas of my life— things that provide meaning, authenticity, beauty, and purpose, and culture doesn’t currently have the capacity or desire to meet those needs.

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The jobs I come across aren’t really that appealing for this exact reason. Even if I pursue writing, for example, an employer or client would have expectations of me and how much I write in a day. I may have to take on multiple projects at once to make a liveable wage. I’m sure my mental health would suffer. Many employers want you to work in an office setting at least a few days a week so they can watch you and control your time. It’s all about ego. Organizations try to exploit your skills by offering volunteer positions only. (Yes, I understand the value of volunteering, but at some point, to live in this system, I do need to get paid!) I enjoy science communication, but do people really care about what the research is showing or are they too consumed by social media and their own cultural requirements to care? And what about the need to have a revered job title, to sit in mindless meetings all day, to do what someone else tells you to do? It seems like we just do jobs to prove ourselves and show that we fit nicely into the cultural paradigm.

I’m not saying that you can’t create meaning, care, and purpose within the system we live in, because I think you can, but only to an extent. It’s clear that you must leave behind most of the cultural principles to really become who you were meant to be. I think that’s what I was trying to explore in last week’s post: Lacy and Julius don’t abide by culture in the way you and I currently do. They’ve created a meaningful life for themselves that sidesteps the system, and offers them freedom and a connection to presence that is very hard to come by in our world.

I honestly don’t know if I’ll be truly satisfied until I’m able to find a true connection with something that’s beyond culture’s control. There’s something very visceral and innate that’s driving me; I can’t quite explain it, but I know it’s important. There’s more to life than what we’ve been sold. I know this because I get glimpses of it when I look at clothing from TOAST and read about their ethos and sustainability practices; when I read about herbs and wellness practices that will improve my health; when I’m outside in nature, next to the ocean; when I see recipes made with seasonal ingredients that you can grow in your backyard; when I’m writing personal essays like this one on Substack. I can’t just ignore this stuff, even though to others it might seem silly or childish. Something is telling me to keep paying attention because in this attention I will find a way to live deliberately and beautifully.

-Natalie

*

PS: If you feel stuck or unsure of your next move, you could try this exercise. Without filtering yourself, write down all of your interests, all of the things you love. Get AI to help you find the common thread between them and make that thread your guide through this life.

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like.

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬Science

I was doing some reading about vertigo this week (I’ve been managing vertigo symptoms the last few days) and I came across a couple interesting bits of information.

Licorice root, is used across the world for various ailments. Licorice may help with vertigo that is caused by low blood pressure because glycyrrhizin, its active compound, prevents an enzyme that breaks down cortisol from working. This allows more cortisol, often called the body’s stress hormone, to stay circulating in the body. The body ends up holding on to salt and water as a result. This fluid retention increases blood pressure and blood flow to the ear, relieving vertigo symptoms. What I also found interesting is that research shows licorice acts as a broad spectrum antiviral and irreversibly inactivates the herpes simplex virus, likely due to a compound called glycyrrhizic acid. It seems that licorice may be a good addition to your diet if you get frequent cold sores because it might help stop them from forming and reduce the amount of time it takes to heal them.

Ginkgo biloba is known for its ability to increase blood flow to the head and enhance brain function. People may experience various symptoms when they don’t get enough blood and oxygen to the head, including poor memory and concentration, lack of energy, fatigue during and after exercise, depressed mood, anxiety, headache, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Specifically, research has shown that ginkgo can be used to treat peripheral blood flow disorders such as vertigo, hearing disorders, and tinnitus, which are often caused by a lack of blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to the brain and inner ear. Vertigo is one of the conditions that responds best to ginkgo extract (see Medical Herbalism by David Hoffmann).

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👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Shorts: I really love the royal blue colour of these shorts! They’re made from organic cotton canvas and would last forever. Finisterre also makes pants in this colour. Finisterre, $110.00

Tank top: I like this tank because the v-neck part doesn’t come down that far but it still adds interest to the top. It’s made from 100% cotton and comes in black and white. Almina Concept, $145.00

Cotton button down: I really like the colour of this shirt and that it has a pocket on the front. It’s made in Portugal from 100% organic cotton and is slightly oversized. I haven’t bought anything from this brand yet, but they have really great basics for men and women. They’re also a certified B corporation and use recycled and organic materials for their clothing. Colourful Standard, $130.00

Pants: These look like very comfortable pants that one could wear in the summer, and perhaps all year. They’re made with a modal fabric, are relaxed, and slightly cropped. They come in neutral colours, including brown, black, white, blue, and red. Cadets, $141.00

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Dutch oven: I was lucky enough to receive a couple of Le Creuset pieces as gifts over the years and I love every one. I use their frying pan pretty much every day to warm food or cook eggs and pancakes, and have a smaller dutch oven that I use regularly, too. One day, I’m going to buy a bigger dutch (6.7L) oven like this one to make big pots of soup in. Le Creuset, $600.00

Recipe: I started following Julius Roberts and I’m going to be making this recipe at some point this summer! In his cookbook, he makes this dish with nectarines and mozzarella cheese, so there are different versions you could create.

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Bag: A perfect beach bag for summer, this is made with wooden handles and colourful weaving. It would also be a great market bag to put vegetables and meat in. Lac Boutique, $125.00

Lip balm with SPF: I use this lip balm every day when I take the dog out for a walk. It has a nice scent that's not too overpowering and it’s moisturizing. It does make your lips slightly lighter in colour but it fades as you wear it. The Detox Market Canada, $9.00

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I suppose it’s not really a surprise, the content I’ve been writing. From a young age, I’ve felt things very deeply and earnestly. I took people’s comments and critiques very personally. And I abandoned myself because the world couldn’t clearly see who I was. I think that’s why, for most of my adult life, I’ve felt lost and confused about what I’m actually doing here. I know now that I became too focused on what I was supposed to be doing and overly dedicated to following culture’s lead. And now I’m unemployed, managing health issues, trying to find a way out.

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I’ve been experiencing vertigo the last several days and anyone who has had it knows that it’s debilitating. I’ve felt nauseous for a few hours in the past, but this is something else. I’m nauseous when I move my head down, to the right, too quickly, when I close my eyes, when I stand up too fast, when I bend down. I’m taking some medication for it, which seems to be helping, but my head still feels off. My whole body feels slow and cautious.

I have a hunch that these symptoms have nothing to do with my ear crystals being out of place, or whatever the common reason is. (I tried doing the Epley maneuver and another maneuver to try and reposition the crystals, but the movements made me feel much worse.) I think the underlying cause of many of my symptoms has to do with my dysregulated nervous system, which was probably influenced by cultural norms. In our society today, we face constant stressors such as negative thinking, work pressures, childcare demands, family issues, and the list goes on. Our body interprets these events as signals that we’re in danger and it goes into self-protection mode, causing unwanted health ailments in the process.

I follow alternative health practitioners for their advice, and many suggest that before starting any protocol or any supplements, you need to get your body into a parasympathetic state by reducing stress and letting it know that it’s safe. Only then can the body start to heal. Granted, it can be very difficult to feel safety in the first place, especially if you feel the world very deeply. This is where I look to other people for ideas and support on how to move through the day with more ease and less striving.

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When I need some inspiration, I read Lacy Phillips’s Substack. I’m drawn to her authenticity and how she shows up in the world. She’s talked about the fact that she has a sensitive nervous system and needs to cater to that by not having caffeine, not over-working, and doing things she loves. She gives me, and so many other people, permission to escape culture’s expectations and to do what’s nourishing and supportive for our own selves so that we can live the life we truly want. I’m drawn to her use of candles at night to avoid blue light from artificial lights so she can regulate her sleep cycle and nervous system. I love how her house and rental properties are designed using a mix of old and new furniture, mismatched wood accents, wildflowers from her garden, and light-coloured couches that will inevitably get dirty from kids or pets. I’m enamored by the fact that she wears white all the time even though she has a mini farm in the middle of a desert. And I feel so held by the fact that she rejects a lot of what society tell us is important or worthy.

In one of Lacy’s posts, she mentioned that she was cooking Julius Roberts’s recipes each week, with a select few in rotation. I ended up on Julius’s Instagram page and instantly noticed how his kitchen, his clothes, his hair—it all looks lived in, well used, like it’s serving a purpose, almost like he’s too busy living his life to care about perfection. Nothing looks pristine or modern. The stove is dirty, kitchen tile is broken, the couch looks like it’s been well used, his countertop is worn, his pots are brown from constant cooking, and he uses vintage plates. When he’s making his recipes live, they’re not overly measured. He sometimes looks like he’s got dirt on his hands, he picks wild garlic from beside a river for his meals, and he uses a watering can to add water to soup. Much of the time he’s making food outside in his greenhouse or sometimes on an open flame in the middle of a field. Honestly, it’s glorious to watch him. It’s so regulating for my nervous system to see someone live and be in a place that’s functional and real and easeful.

I look at him and Lacy and wonder if this is how we’re actually supposed to be spending our days: in nature, with animals, cooking with whole-food ingredients, not scared that too much butter or cheese or salt will kill us, and not caring about how other people are choosing to live and if we measure up. We need connection with wildlife, daylight and dusk, the sea, land, with loving people in our lives to have a good life, to feel fulfilled. I’m realizing that there’s this other version of living that we don’t get to see or feel or live—we don’t even know it’s available to us—because we’re too distracted by culture’s mandated way of doing things.

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I keep asking what’s wrong with me, why can’t I just feel okay already. But maybe I’m not giving culture the credit it’s due. It’s almost like we’ve been taken out of nature by our culture, placed as captives in a zoo so that we can be watched and fed information about how to live properly, and then told that we have no other option but to suck it up if we want to live a good enough life. Of course, we’re all just reacting in the way that we should to an environment that we were never meant to live, let alone thrive, in. Because of culture’s influence, living seems harder than it needs to be. We worry about losing our jobs and not having enough money and our weight and illness. We strive for and long for material things. We want what others have. We become distracted by technology so that we don’t question what the hell is going on. We become sick and tired and lonely, just like zoo animals. It all feels so insular, confusing, and unnatural.

I wonder if the system would’ve worked better if it was a short-term arrangement. For example, maybe we’d all be better off if we were meant to get what we need from culture, such as education and guidance, and then leave it all behind, using our creativity and love to power our lives and guide us forward, knowing that we’d all get sick if we stayed immersed in culture’s rhythm too long. We could return to being human and experiencing life the way we know how: by being in nature, by trusting who we are, by loving the people around us. And we would know how to do all of this by following in the footsteps of people who went before us, like Lacy and Julius.

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Since my self-protection mode keeps getting activated, I’m realizing that I need to be much more deliberate in how I live and incorporate practices from other people who’ve (mostly) left the system behind. I need to have more faith that things will work out for me. Self-abandonment only makes me feel sicker. I have to just be me. I need more deep breathing and slowness, a change in perspective, a release of perfection, a letting go of needing to know what my exact next step is going to be and how it’s all going to turn out. It’s okay to just be, to not want what other people want, to let things get dirty and old and worn, to not be so serious all the time, to let go of the things we can’t control, to feel safe most of the time, to reject some false version of perfection. Our nervous systems determine what’s right for us, not culture. And it’s absolutely vital that we find or create spaces that take us away from the artificial and abnormal so that our bodies, minds, and spirits can find peace and wellness.

-Natalie

*

Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like.

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬Science

Research has shown that trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next through our DNA, and that this trauma ultimately affects how we handle stress.

This is because our body can chemically modify the genes in our DNA in response to the things we’re exposed to in our environment, such as mental and emotional stress. These modifications are called epigenetic changes.

Specifically, if people go through a traumatic event in their lives, their genes may be tagged with certain molecules that change how the genes are expressed. When these people have children, their modified genes are passed down through the egg and sperm. The modified genes may then change how the children handle stress hormones, such as cortisol.

For example, children born to pregnant mothers that were directly exposed to the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2001 had low cortisol levels just like their mothers. Low cortisol levels have been shown to increase someone’s likelihood of PTSD. This suggests that these children may be predisposed to PTSD later in life.

The child doesn’t need to be in the womb at the time of the traumatic event, either. Holocaust survivors passed down their modified stress genes to their children years later, making their children more susceptible to stress and anxiety.

The good news is that these changes to our DNA are reversible. By having positive life experiences and working through our stresses, we can change if and how are genes are modified and pass on better outcomes to our children.

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👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

T-shirt: I like the structure of this t-shirt and the bold colour. I wear a lot of black and sometimes I get bored of not wearing something more interesting. This colour is definitely more interesting. The brand also sells other colours in this t-shirt, such as a really nice royal blue and other classic colours. Leset is an American brand; duties are included in this price. Leset, $120.00

Cardigan: I love this colour! It’s so bright and wonderful. I like the ruffle detailing around the collar, the cuffs, and up the front. It’s made from fine gauge cotton and cashmere so it would be nice and light for the summer. Alex Mill, $150.00

Tank top: I like this tank top by Naif. It’s a nice blend of linen, cotton, and silk, is wide enough to disguise bra straps, and looks like it’s loose fitting. The colour is pretty, too. Coal Miner’s Daughter, $128.00

Pants: I really like the copper colour of these pants and that they’re made from cotton only. They have utility panels on the front, which you can kind of see here, which make them look so cool. They also have an adjustable waistband and pockets at the back. Leset, $425.00

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Silk pillowcase: I don’t have one of these but apparently they’re great for your hair. This looks like a nice one that would be comfortable and would last a while. Lilysilk, $85.00

Sleep mask: Umm, and while we’re at it, let’s throw one of these in our carts! I use an eye mask at night to block out the natural and artificial light and to keep my eyes from opening (apparently I sleep with my eyes open a bit, and then I wake up with very dry eyes…). As soon as I put it on, my body knows it’s time for sleep. I got mine off of Amazon, and since it’s starting to fall apart from wear, maybe it’s time to step it up a notch and buy something a little more luxurious. Lilysilk, $45.00

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Tote bag: A perfect bag to take with you to the market or the beach or the library or anywhere else you go! It’s got interior pockets so you can separate items and it’s made out of sturdy canvas so that it always holds its shape. Mrs. Greenway, $60.00

Lip balm: I was buying a gift for someone the other day from Sahajan and came across these lip balms. If you don’t know yet, I’m a bit of a lip balm collector. I like to have one in my bag, by the front door, in my bathroom, etc. at all times so I have easy access to hydration when my lips become chapped (which is pretty much all the time). This looks like a good one to try after I finish some of my other ones, like this one and this one. Sahajan, $27.00

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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For example, Martha Beck’s work on integrity guided me out of a very stressful and ill-suited job several years ago. She made me see how I was desperately trying to meet culture’s expectations at the expense of my own health, wellbeing, and strengths.

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I remember reading one of Sarah Wilson’s posts about how she dealt with her Hashimoto’s and she mentioned that Louise Hay told her that “Thyroid problems are all about creativity being blocked.” Wilson went on to explain how striving and pushing so hard made her thyroid symptoms flare and develop pressure at her throat. I have the same pressure that appears when I’m trying too hard. Hay advised Wilson to ask her thyroid how she could love it back to life. All of this really stuck with me because for a long time, I didn’t do creative things. This philosophical and emotional approach to my thyroid health explained a lot.

When I was wrestling with my nature, Susan Cain’s book “Quiet” helped me feel seen as an introvert. Her assessments made it clear that observing the world instead of always talking is a gift (not a burden, as culture makes it seem) that I should use to solve problems, make art, and think deeply.

And the other day, I was looking for advice on writing, to know if the procrastination I was feeling, the self-doubt, and the lack of clarity was common or if maybe there was something I could do about it. I wanted to find something that would tell me whether I was on the right path or if I should stop and turn around immediately. Granted, I understand that the best advice when it comes to writing is to “just do it”, but sometimes we (i.e., me) need a little inspiration or encouragement to get things going. We need to know we’re not alone. There are many people who have gone before us and we need their loving, supportive voices to help us start and keep going.

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So, I thought I’d start compiling some encouraging resources and quotes for those of us who like to write, and for anyone who would like to be exposed to wise, thoughtful, and potentially philosophical takes on life.

Resource one

I came across a podcast called “How I Write”. The host interviews many prominent writers about their writing process and how to be a better writer. I listened to the episode with the American author Anne Lamott. She advised to resist less instead of pushing harder when trying to write and that there’s no such thing as inspiration—you just sit down and you write. When she said that “everything in you wants you to not write”, I knew that I wasn’t alone in my procrastination; even published authors face fear and self-doubt. Finally, for the more introverted souls out there: Anne says that a writer’s job is to pay attention to life as it goes by, to observe what’s happening around us, and to use those that awareness to inform our writing. I think introverts gravitate towards writing (or other, more solitary endeavours) because it allows them to be themselves, to take in the world the way they see it, to think deeply about their observations, and then express them back out into the world after they’ve been synthesized.

Resource two

The book “Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott is another great resource. I’ve just started reading it again and love the writing instructions and life lessons she weaves together so beautifully. She says, “I don’t think you have time to waste not writing because you think you’re not good at it.” This, to me, can be interpreted as who cares if you think you’re not good at it? Write anyway! You’re just wasting time by not doing it. This perspective is helpful because a very experienced writer is demanding we write even if we think we have nothing to offer.

She also writes, “You get your intuition back when you make space for it, when you stop the chattering of the rational mind. The rational mind doesn't nourish you. You assume that it gives you the truth, because the rational mind is the golden calf that this culture worships, but this is not true. Rationality squeezes out much that is rich and juicy and fascinating.” I resonated very deeply with this quote because for many years I have listened diligently to the rational mind and believed everything it told me. However, by doing this, I have become lost to expectation and lost to myself. Writing, though, doesn’t survive on the inner critic. Creativity can only be realized when you release yourself from the confines of culture and make space for your inner knowing.

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Resource three

I’ve only read about the first half of William Zinsser’s book called “On Writing Well”, but I’ve gotten a lot out of the pages I have read. I love how he recognizes how challenging writing is. I think because we all read these wonderfully creative and interesting stories, we believe that good writing must come naturally to all authors. But that’s a myth. He writes that, “Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard.” Just because you can’t get the words right the first time, doesn’t mean you’re not a writer or that you are creatively inept. Writing is a process that will inevitably involve struggle. We must accept that and keep writing anyway.

I also like this quote: “The only way to learn to write is to force yourself to produce a certain number of words on a regular basis. For one, he is essentially saying that we can all learn to be writers 😊 and that we must practice. Good writing is possible for all of us, regardless of what our ego says. We just need to commit to a daily practice.

Do you have any resources or words of wisdom about writing or life that have helped you? If yes, please share them in the comments :)

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-Natalie

*

Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬Science

A study from researchers in the UK found that 55% of adults aged 65 years and older, as well as 72% of adults in ethnic minorities that have darker skin tones, have vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency all year round, even in the summer months. Their findings suggest that being in the sun in the summer may not be enough to boost vitamin D levels in people who live in northern climates.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that is very important for proper metabolic, immune system, and bone function. You can get vitamin D by eating foods like fatty fish (e.g., sardines, trout), egg yolks, fortified dairy, and mushrooms. Vitamin D supplements are available for people with low vitamin D levels in their body. You can also make vitamin D in your skin when you expose your bare skin to sunlight.

Generally speaking, people have a vitamin D insufficiency if their blood level is between 31 and 49 nmol/L. People have vitamin D deficiency if their blood level is less than 30 mol/L. Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread public health concern because the health consequences of low vitamin D are serious. People with low vitamin D are more likely to have chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lower bone density, low muscle strength, and poor immune function.

People who live in northern climates like Canada tend to have lower vitamin D levels because they aren’t exposed to the sun as often as someone who lives in a warmer climate like Australia. As well, the sun sits at too low an angle for much of the year to drive vitamin D synthesis in the skin. For a long time, it was thought that people who live at northern latitudes could increase their vitamin D levels by going out in the sun in the summer when the sun’s rays are stronger.

But this research shows that that may not actually be the case. Regardless of how much time you spend outside in northern climates, you may still not be able to make enough vitamin D for your body to function at its best. For those of us who live where it’s colder for much of the year, we may need to supplement with vitamin D to get the levels we need.

👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Polo sweatshirt: Casual and comfortable, this polo sweatshirt from Le Bon Shoppe is made from a heavy cotton and is slightly oversized with a boxy fit. I really like the light pink colour, and the buttons and collar dress up what would otherwise be just a normal sweater. A perfect layer to throw on over a t-shirt. Goes well with shorts, too. Le Bon Shoppe, $159.90

Linen pants: I love the colour of these pants! They’d work as a great neutral to that you could wear navy blue, pink, denim shirts, striped shirts, etc. with. They have an elastic drawstring waist, a wider leg, and pockets. Perfect :) Toast, $240.00

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Button down: If money was no object, I think I would buy all the Comme Si shirts, including this umber multi-stripe silk twill one. The pattern is so lovely and the darker colours are my jam. They have other colours, such as a pink and a blue-green striping, as well. The red one is also so beautiful. Comme Si, $618.00

Shorts: I’ve had my eye on these relaxed linen shorts for a bit. They’d be great on hot summer days when jean shorts are too heavy. They come in different colours, some of which are on sale right now (like these!) and they have a longer inseam of 6” so they cover some of your thigh. Gap, $39.00

Sandals: I hear these are a really good pair of sandals. They’re comfortable, come in a few different colours (red, light brown, black, and cream), and fit to the shape of your feet over time. Oh, and they also come in half sizes :) Nordstrom, $175.00

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Hand soap: I’ve bought a couple of these hand soaps in the past and besides smelling really nice, they look so chic on the bathroom counter. They come in different scents and you can get the matching moisturizer, too. Well.ca, $29.99

Card deck: This is a card deck that gives you questions you can ask your partner to learn more about them and to strengthen your relationship. Questions include things like, “Do you have any old friends you wish you still talked to?”, “Find three things you don’t have in common but admire about each other”, and “Name one thing you find totally irresistible about your partner’s appearance”. TwentySeven, $30.00

Glasses: The ribbing of these 16-oz glasses makes them seem somehow more formal and chic. I like them, perfect for summer drinks and iced teas. They come in different colours, including pink and blue (which are on sale right now for $4 to $6), and a smaller 11-oz size. Crate and Barrel, $11.95

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Sweatshirt: It appears that we may get cooler days mixed with warmer ones this summer and so always having a cozy layer to slip into seems necessary. I love the colour of this sweatshirt and that it’s a bit more tailored than other loungewear pieces. Aritzia also has a lighter blue version which is lovely and this American brand that has a sweater that is also really nice. Aritzia, $78.00

Bra: I’ve mentioned before that I don’t spend a lot on underwear but these bras look so comfortable and so pretty. I like how this one has a deep v-neck so that it doesn’t show if you’re wearing a top that also has a v-neck. And the colour is really nice, too. Boody, $52.95

Shorts: These are a bit of a splurge but I love the red colour of these shorts and the white stripe down the side. They’re made of Japanese cupro so they feel mega soft, have a 4” inseam so your bum is well hidden, and they have pockets! Left On Friday, $150.00

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Oversized button down: If you’re looking for a button down shirt, this is a good one to have. It’s comfortable and oversized and I love the pocket on the front. I have a couple colours of this shirt and I wear them all the time. This blue colour is really versatile and is a staple in my wardrobe. Gap, $89.95

Men’s t-shirt: My husband really likes these t-shirts and so I thought I’d include it here, just in case you need to get a gift for a man in your life. They’re so comfortable and wash really well. Vuori has different styles and price points for their tops, but this one has worked out well for him. Vuori, $78.00

Ilia multistick: I’ve included this product before but I’m adding it again because it’s such a good multitasker: you can use it on your lips, your cheeks, and your eyes. I have a couple colours but I’m eyeing the colour “Ladybird” next for a neutral rose flush. The Detox Market Canada, $47.00

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Hypochlorous acid: I heard about hypochlorous acid the first time (and only time) I had a facial. The aesthetician was raving about it and it got me curious about the product and what it does. Apparently it kills bacteria that may cause acne and helps reduce inflammation without the drying or burning sensation you can get with other acids or peels. I came across the hyochlorous acid product by three ships and it’s now on my list to buy. three ships, $28.00

David Whyte poetry: I’m trying to read more poetry so that I can learn better how to write it. I really enjoy reading David Whyte’s work because he merges poetry and philosophy so well; I feel like every one of his poems speak to me in some way. I have two of his books and this is the next one I’m getting. Amazon, $25.00

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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For most of my adult life, I’ve felt like I’ve been floating, afraid to make decisions, not really sure who I am, what I’m good at, or even what I like. I’ve always thought that this was just because I just wasn’t one of the lucky people who instinctively knew what they wanted to do with their life. How satisfying it must be for those people to have that internal knowing and be able to follow it. The more I tried to actively figure out my way forward by taking personality tests, talking to friends, pleading to the Universe to give me signs, and trying different jobs, the less sure I felt about myself and what I had to offer.

I’ve cycled through different career false starts, including firings, layoffs, resignations, contract positions, temporary positions with promises of extension, positions that were supposed to be secure and turned out not to be. I’ve liked some of the work I’ve been involved with, but a lot of it seems to have been testing me to see if I’m any good at it and if I fit like I’m supposed to. Nothing really seemed to fit. I felt hopeless, like I was never going to amount to anything.

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I sit here now reflecting on why none of it worked out for me. There has to be a reason why I just can’t seem to find my place, why nothing really ever feels sturdy or like I’m going to be committed long-term. Why do I always feel so impassive when looking for jobs or never satisfied with the job I have? Why have I never been at a job long enough to build competency in a particular area? All I want is to identify as my job title like everyone else. Why can’t I just stay at a job and be reliably employed? Why can’t I get my shit together and just figure my life out?

Grief.

My grief is my unrealized authentic life. And I think that all this time, grief has been trying to get my attention through career confusion and struggle.

My grief wasn’t really noticeable, up until now. It was so subtle that I didn’t even know it was there. I was distracted by cultural expectation for so long, desperately trying to make sure I didn’t make a wrong turn along the way, that I lost touch with my deepest truth. I let other people make decisions for me so that I didn’t have to be brave and make them based on my natural inclinations. As a young adult, I could have chosen to reject socialization so that I could live a life that was meant for me. But I wasn’t aware of this choice and I sure as hell wasn’t ready to deviate from societal expectations. Doing things society’s way was a lot easier. And so my authentic self became masked by the grief of not stepping into my truest self.

Because here’s the thing: I may have thought that I wasn’t lucky enough to know what I wanted to do with my life at a young age, but I actually did. I think we all know who our truest self is deep down. In my case, my purpose came to me when I was five years old. I remember the moment so well. I sat in my kindergarten class at a big round table, seated in a blue plastic chair, trying to come up with what I wanted to do when I was older so that it could be displayed in the school’s yearbook. I remember printing the word" “AUTHOR” so carefully and so thoughtfully in a black box on a white piece of paper, and then trying to think of where the thought came from and what it meant. It seemed like a worthwhile career at the time. And for many years as a child, I wrote.

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But instead of finding a way to live the life of an author (in whatever form that takes), I, like everyone else, became socialized. I became afraid to express that part of myself because I didn’t feel like a good enough writer. I made myself believe that there were more important things to do than creative writing anyway, like science. I felt the need to conform and prove myself. Because of shame, I stopped doing the thing that made me happy. Grief appeared in the place of my authenticity. And with the grief came a lot of striving to hide the unworthiness I felt about who I was and incessantly believing in paths that weren’t right for me. For the last 20 years, it has felt like I’ve been fighting some invisible force the entire time.

I went to school for biology because science is a worthy field of study. I pretty much suffered through it, making school work all I ever did. After I completed my biology degree, I applied to train as a physician’s assistant because healthcare seemed to be the next logical step. But I didn’t get into the program. I applied for a degree program in public health. I was put on the waitlist for a while until someone else declined their acceptance. When I finished that program and couldn’t get a job, I got a job at a health-promoting juice bar. I was later fired from that place, because, let’s be honest, embodying extrovertedness to sell busy people juice isn’t really my forte. And from there on out, I never quite felt like I was hitting the mark career wise. I always felt uncomfortable, not good enough, and lost, always taking whatever was offered to me for fear that my value would vanish if I didn’t.

I now know that this misalignment occurred because I was looking for validation and acceptance in places that were never meant for me. I wanted so badly to be seen and heard, but I was going about it in ways that were so counter to my true self. Striving was only piling on the grief by forcing me away from my true path, a path that required me to accept myself for who I was, despite the outside noise telling me I should be someone different. Grief made it very difficult to succeed in a conventional sense. It seemed to sabotage my efforts and create a lot of suffering. And the suffering, I will say, has finally got my attention.

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Because I keep repeating the same patterns in my jobs and career, I can see more clearly now that I’m not going in the right direction for me. I’m starting to see how my preoccupation with abiding by culture has pitted me against myself, made me struggle unnecessarily, and forced me forget about the little girl who still lives inside me and wants to write. That little girl was never going anywhere. It didn’t matter how much I resisted her. She’s been with me the entire time, waiting for me to tell her it’s okay to come out and start writing again.

I feel myself slowly but reluctantly letting go of the desire to be known for something prestigious and the ultimate self abandonment that has to happen to get there. Before I was laid off in February, I applied to go back to school to be a naturopathic doctor; becoming more educated is a default response to my feeling of self lack. I was accepted into the program but felt so conflicted about moving forward. My stomach actually hurt when I thought about it. If I was being honest with myself, there was no part of me that wanted to go back to school and become consumed by the constant studying and assessment for another four years. I decided to decline the acceptance and grieved the fact that I’m never going to help people in a medical capacity like others do. I don’t think that’s my journey for this lifetime. No matter how badly I want that persona to be me, it just isn’t.

Right now, I’m learning how to listen to and trust my inner guidance system by tuning into any physical or emotional sensations I experience. When I see a person, a story, or a character that speaks to me, I take note. If I feel compelled to write an essay or a poem, I do it. Instead of holding myself back from being seen, I’m going to just say “fuck it” and post on the internet or apply to a job or submit my writing for competition. No overthinking or questioning. I’m just going to practice coming home to my self, even if there’s rejection or criticism involved. I’m not sure how this is all going to work out, but I think that if I can work through the grief I’ve accumulated as a result of believing what wasn’t true for me, that I will be able to return to my authentic self, the one who knew what was meant for me before I was consciously aware of it, the one who just wanted peaceful self-expression.

It sounds so cliche to say, but your genuine self is always speaking to you, whether you register it or not. I know that now. It will always be there with your shadow, waiting for you to shine your light and make the darkness of the world go away. It will be quietly, patiently, reassuringly whispering to you to come back to yourself. All the things that aren’t for you won’t feel right, no matter how hard you try or how often you deny your truth. I think we all have some sense about what our truest qualities or interests are and what makes us happy. They just get taken away from us by culture and social programming. It’s our job in this life though to come back to them, to muddle through the grief of losing our way, to save our selves and our souls at all perceived costs.

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So this is my pledge going forward: I will not abandon myself anymore. I will be brave and reconnect with that part of me that makes me feel whole, even if that part wants something that culture tells me is not acceptable. Because my nature has been given to me by a more intelligent knowing than culture. Who am I to question it? As David Whyte wrote in his poem “What to Remember when Waking", “You are not / a troubled guest / on this earth, / you are not / an accident / amidst other accidents, / you were invited / from another and greater / night / than the one / from which / you have just emerged.”

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬 A bit of science

What were the findings?

A study published by researchers in Canada, Spain, and India found that people who are exposed to artificial light at night time (i.e., from street lights, building lights, computer screens, etc.) have a 62% higher risk of asthma, an 89% higher risk of hay fever, and a 44% higher risk of skin allergies. Young adults may be more affected by light at night than adults. People who do shift work were also more likely to suffer from asthma and hay fever.

What explains these findings?

It seems likely that exposure to artificial light at night disrupts a person’s circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm is the body’s internal clock that dictates when you wake up in the morning and when you feel tired at night. Some research suggests that artificial light at night can affect genes involved in a healthy circadian rhythm. When the rhythm of these genes is affected, the body may have an inflammatory response that leads to allergic diseases.

Another reason for these allergic responses may have to do with melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that regulates humans’ sleep–wake cycle and circadian rhythm. Melatonin may also be involved in regulating the immune system by reducing IgE antibodies. The body makes IgE antibodies when it is having an allergic response to something. When people are exposed to light at night, less melatonin is produced by the body. As a result, artificial light may further exacerbate skin allergies because more IgE is circulating in the body (because there’s less melatonin to control it).

Finally, asthma, hay fever, and other allergic diseases appear to have a circadian rhythm of their own. People with these conditions may have more severe symptoms at certain times of the day because certain immune cells are circulating during the day and at night. The health of the skin is regulated by genes that are also regulated by a circadian clock. When exposed to light at night, the natural immune response and skin genes may be disrupted, leading to allergies such as atopic dermatitis.

What is the takeaway message?

People who are exposed to artificial light at night appear to be at higher risk of allergies, especially asthma and hay fever, because their circadian rhythm is off. The authors suggest that people could change their LED lightbulbs (that emit a lot of blue light and disrupt circadian rhythm) to amber bulbs, and switch computer and cellphone screens to night mode when the sun goes down to reduce how much artificial light they’re exposed to at night and to reduce their risk of allergies.

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👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

A good t-shirt: I usually wear crewneck t-shirts but I like the v-neck on this one. It also has some interesting (by that I mean that it gives the t-shirt interest) detailing around the neck and sleeves that make it look worn in. Shirts from The Bon Shoppe are really very comfortable and wash up well. Le Bon Shoppe, $91.50

Linen cotton top: This would be a cool top for the summer, while also providing some coverage for cooler days or nights. It’s made with 75% linen and 25% cotton so any initial scratchiness would be reduced. I like the feminine, textured detailing around the neckline. It comes in this cream colour, as well as blue and red. Eribe, $240.00

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Shorts: Duer makes really comfortable jeans and pants. I need some more shorts and these beige ones are on my list. Sorry, I see this is turning into a rather beige newsletter…but all are good basics! The black version of these would also make a good wardrobe staple. Duer, $89.00

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Flip flops: I was at the beach the other day and found myself longing for a pair of flip flops to slip on and off as I walked over pavement and sand. These ones from Archies aren’t cheap but they look comfortable (apparently designed by a physical therapist?) and come in many colours. Unlike really cheap ones, these would probably last a couple seasons. Archies, $50.00

Baseball hat: I came across this hat in a store the other day and wish I bought it. Yes, I’m technically trying to reduce my caffeine consumption but I love matcha and always will. TownShopGifts, $37.00

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Hair mask: I recently tried this hair mask and thought it was so nourishing. It made my hair so soft and shiny. Definitely worth a try if your hair is prone to breakage or dryness. Om, $32.00

Bath towel: Just a simple, 100% cotton bath towel that doesn’t cost a fortune. H&M, $19.99

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I was happy to be distracted for an hour from my lack of job and direction in life. I became so immersed in the lives of the characters on the show that I got a break from my own struggles. When the show ended and the TV was turned off, the heaviness of what I’m currently going through came back, and with seemingly more intensity.

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There’s a term called “post-series depression” that some people experience when finishing a television show. They feel empty and sad that they can no longer watch characters they connected with, and they are, essentially, overcome with grief. I’m not sure the term fully applies to me in this situation—I just started watching the show and I’m still trying to figure out if I like it—but I think I was potentially feeling grief after the distraction of TV was taken away. It sounds almost laughable to admit feeling grief after doing something as benign as watching TV. But I think I become so absorbed in the fake content that coming back to the realities of life hit me hard.

Does anyone else get this feeling after watching TV or going on social media?

I wrote a poem this morning about the grief and sadness I felt after turning off the TV for the night. See the words below 👇

Escapism

I slip away into the screen

consumed by its stories,

hoping someone else’s life

will absolve me of my own.

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I hardly notice the wooing

of the distraction that calls

asking me to become unknown

to myself for a short while.

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I surrender with contentedness

transfixed by relief and effortlessness

abandoning my own struggle

for strangers in another world.

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My life is always waiting, though,

for my inevitable return.

It knows I cannot escape so easily

from how I am now.

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In what feels like a moment,

the performance ends.

The screen goes dark and I am

aware of the new weight of myself.

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I want to stay in this place

where I am simply an observer,

never having to face my own shadow,

wanting to hide to stay alive.

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But the pretending is over

and I am left alone with my life.

Grief enters: I am the same person

I was when I left an hour ago.

-Natalie

*

Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬 A bit of science

Researchers have shown that the herb lemon balm improved the sleep quality of people with insomnia, suggesting that it is a natural and safe alternative to sleep medication.

The lemon balm plant has been used in traditional medicine for approximately 10,000 years for its ability to calm the nervous system. It also soothes the digestive system, and has been used to relieve migraines associated with tension, heart palpitations caused by anxiety, and high blood pressure (due to its effects on the heart and circulatory system. Finally, hot-water extracts of lemon balm have antiviral properties, potentially because of a compound called rosmarinic acid as well as other compounds. Research has shown that lotions with this extract can help reduce severity of cold sores, due to this antiviral action.

Sleep quality is affected by many factors, including stress, caffeine, alcohol, and poor breathing (that is, breathing through your mouth). Insomnia is a condition that occurs when a person has a difficult time falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restorative sleep. This causes them to be very tired during the day and to have trouble concentrating. Insomnia can also lead to poor blood sugar control, sugar cravings, and other chronic health conditions.

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Because sleep is so important to humans, it’s important to find ways to improve sleep quality. Sleep quality is loosely assessed based on someone’s ability to sleep through the night and how rested they feel during the day.

In this clinical trial (a high-quality study), researchers in Italy investigated the ability of lemon balm to improve the sleep quality of 30 adults. They used a form of lemon balm that is very easy for the body to absorb and use (it was called Melissa officinalis Phytosome). They found that lemon balm significantly reduced the severity of adults’ insomnia symptoms. Most (87%) people who took lemon balm said that it improved the quality of their sleep. It increased deep sleep, or slow wave sleep, a bit as well.

These results suggest that people could try taking lemon balm instead of sleep medications to reduce insomnia.

👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Long-sleeve: This would be a great top to wear in the summer to protect your upper body from the sun. It’s made from 100% cotton and looks so breathable. Naif is a small business in Montreal that makes sustainable clothing with fabrics such as cotton, linen, and wool. They have lots of long sleeves that will keep you cool and protected as the temperature warms. Naif, $170.00

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Button down: Comme Si has come out with new striped shirts…I really love to admire their pieces. They’re made from 100% Italian cotton poplin and come in many different colours and patterns. I like this one, but there are many to choose from. Comme Si, $418.00

Shorts: I’ve said before that I like Levi’s denim shorts, but I’ve come to appreciate Aritzia’s looser-fitting jeans and shorts. These ones are high-rise and a loose through the leg. They are made with 100% regenerative cotton and come in a few washes. Aritzia, $88.00

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Sandals: I’ve been looking around for Fisherman-type sandals (see previous posts :) and these Frye ones caught my eye. They’re more delicate and the lighter leather colour is also very nice. Heel Boy, $139.00

Bath towel: Bare Knitwear makes beautiful sweaters, and they’ve started selling other products that can be used year-round. Made in Japan from organic cotton, these very luxurious towels would make a great gift to yourself or someone else. They come in this beige colour or in charcoal. Bare Knitwear, $108.00

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Small vases: There’s this store in Elora, ON called A Natural Home that sells a lot of wonderful little trinkets for your home. I saw these the other day when I was there browsing and I wish I bought one. They’re 3” around and perfect for putting a little stem in and putting on a nightstand. A Natural Home, $19.99 (for one)

Ginger shot: I started picking up one or two of these each week at the grocery store and have really come to love the ritual of drinking it after dinner. Ginger is really great for soothing digestive upset and this little bottle packs a really potent punch. If you have acute or chronic digestive issues, I highly recommend trying this product. I find these ginger shots at Zehrs but they are available elsewhere, such as Well.ca. Zehrs, $4.50/bottle

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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Thank you for reading To The Sea! If you enjoy reading my work, there are a few ways you can support it:

1. Like and share the posts you read. This helps me understand what you want to read more of. And it’s great encouragement :)

2. Leave a comment. I’d love to know if this post resonated with you.

3. Subscribe. This allows you to stay up to date with what I’m posting. You can also become a paid subscriber if you like. I will personally thank you!

4. Connect with me on Instagram. I’ve been posting more on Instagram lately and I’d love to meet you there.

Thank you for being here!

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I love beauty in the form of clothing and home design and other things but I also love science and learning new things. So, here’s a weekly roundup of what I find on those topics :)

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🔬 A bit of science

With the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, I thought I’d write a little bit about the virus, how it spreads, and how serious it is.

🦠What is Ebola?

Ebola is a rare but very serious disease that often causes death. It is caused by a virus. There are three types of viruses that have caused Ebola outbreaks in the past: the Sudan virus, the Zaire virus, and the Bundibugyo virus.

Ebola normally infects animals like fruit bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, and forest antelope. Monkeys can get sick from the virus but fruit bats don’t have symptoms of infection. However, if humans get infected, they develop symptoms and may die from their infection. As many as 50 to 90% of people who get sick with Ebola can die from it. This high case fatality rate makes Ebola one of the deadliest diseases that affects humans.

🦠Is Ebola in Canada?

No, Ebola is not found naturally in animals in Canada. It mostly affects countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. That said, it is possible for Ebola to spread around the world if people with Ebola travel to other countries and interact with others.

🦠How do people get infected with an Ebola virus?

Ebola viruses are NOT spread through the air like the flu or COVID-19. People initially get infected with Ebola when they have direct contact with the bodily fluids or the tissues of an animal that is carrying the virus. This may happen if someone eats or butchers an infected animal.

People can then spread the virus to other people through direct contact. Specifically, someone can get infected if they touch the bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, saliva, sweat, semen, and breast milk, of someone with Ebola.

People can get sick if they touch the body or bodily fluids of someone who died from Ebola. They can also get infected if they have sex with someone who does and does not have symptoms of Ebola. The virus has been shown to stay in semen for up to two years after someone has recovered from Ebola.

You can also get Ebola if you touch surfaces that have blood, urine, feces, or vomit on them from an infected person.

People can spread Ebola to their babies when they are pregnant, when they deliver their baby, or when they are breastfeeding.

People spread Ebola once they have symptoms and will continue to spread it until their immune system has cleared the virus from their blood.

🦠What are the symptoms of Ebola?

It can take 2 to 21 days after you come into contact with Ebola to develop symptoms. The first symptoms of Ebola include the following:

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Muscle pain

• headache

• Sore throat

Then, a person can have the following:

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Abdominal pain

• Rash

• Liver and kidney problems

Some people may have bleeding inside their body and bleeding from their nose, gums, and vagina later in the disease.

The virus may also affect a person’s nervous system, causing them to be irritable, confused, and angry.

🦠Is there any way to treat Ebola infection?

There is a vaccine available for the Zaire virus. There are no vaccines or drugs available for the Sudan or Bundibugyo viruses. Researchers are trying to develop vaccines and treatments for these other two viruses.

A person has a better chance of surviving Ebola if they get medical help as soon as they have symptoms. Doctors can give a person fluids and treat their specific symptoms, which makes them more likely to survive.

🦠What is happening in Africa?

The latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. This virus has not been detected for more than 10 years.

The outbreak was declared on May 15, 2026 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, the first case was reported on April 24. The case was a nurse. Health authorities do not believe she was the first person to get sick; she was likely caring for other people who may have already been infected.

Health authorities believe that the virus was spreading for many weeks before they found out about it. They do not know for sure how many people are infected with the Bundibugyo virus or how far it has spread.

Right now, they think that there are close to 700 cases of Ebola and 160 deaths in total. Two cases have been found in Uganda. Another case has also been found hundreds of kilometres from where the outbreak began. There are likely many more cases than what is known.

Another problem is that the outbreak is happening in a conflict zone where there is a lot of violence. Health authorities think that this violence, as well as people not trusting doctors and nurses, will make it harder to contain and stop the outbreak.

🦠Will I get infected with an Ebola virus?

It is very unlikely that you will get sick with Ebola if you live in Canada. You have a higher likelihood of getting sick if you live in a country that has animals that carry the virus, if you touch or eat wild animals that carry Ebola, or if you are in contact with people from parts of the world that have active Ebola outbreaks.

You can find more information about Ebola on the World Health Organization’s website.

👚Clothing, 🏡 home design, 🌟 beauty, etc.

Button down: Ozma just restocked their Marcie shirt in this olive striped colour. I like striped shirts and the contrast of this one. This colour has been on my radar for a while. Ozma, $376.00

Long-sleeve t-shirt: Speaking of olive stripes, here’s a nautical long-sleeve t-shirt with a green Breton stripe. It’s made out of 100% heavy-weight cotton so it would be great layering piece on cooler days or nights.

Sweater: The weather here hasn’t really felt like summer lately and so I’m finding myself looking at sweaters and tops with long sleeves. I came across this Ralph Lauren sweater the other day and I immediately fell in love with the colour and its structure. It would offer warmth without bagginess. Sporting Life, $228.00

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Vest: Ande in Stratford recently brought this vest by Wol Hide in and I wanted it as soon as I saw it. I love the shape and detailing down the front. It’s made from 100% cotton and naturally dyed. It would be a perfect piece for hot summer weather (if it ever comes). Ande, $526.00

Sandals: These look comfortable and would go with a lot of my black outfits, ha! Also more stylish than Birkenstocks. They’re out of smaller sizes at Sattva but you can get them from the manufacturer; looks like they’re in Montreal. Sattva Boutique, $159.00

Protein powder: I don’t really like protein powders to be honest. I think they ruin the consistency of whatever you add them to and most are sweetened with stevia (and I also don’t like stevia lol). I’ve had this unflavoured protein powder in the past and just reordered another tub to add more protein to my tiger nut pancakes. I’m still not a fan of the consistency it creates, but it doesn’t have any flavour or sugar alternatives added to it, and the beef protein they use is easy to digest. It also comes in vanilla and chocolate flavours, and is on sale at Nature’s Source right now. Nature’s Source, $137.99 (this is the regular price; it’s on sale for 40% off now).

Lip serum with SPF: This lip serum offers SPF 40 protection and comes in three lip colours. It looks like it would keep your lips moisturized while giving them some colour and sun protection. A great addition to your lips when heading outside this summer. The Detox Market Canada, $49.00

Book: I haven’t read this one yet but I definitely want to! It’s about living in uncertainty in a world that makes us feel like we have to be certain all the time about everything we do. It spoke to me as I’m going through a period of deep uncertainty in my career. Indigo, $39.99

That’s it for now! I hope you have a nice weekend. See you next week 🙌

-Natalie

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