Step Inside the Healthiest Home in America + Stream This 30-Minute Music Mix to Spark Joy
Dive into 23 new stories and discover how to season food like a pro chef, to learn about the date you should *really* pay attention to on your eggs and more.
In grade school, our teachers would often remind us that March generally “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” They were referring to the weather, which has generally been pretty powerful and wintery early in the month, then starts to feel more tame and spring-like by the end.
Here in Iowa, as well as on a national scale, it seems March certainly came in like a lion politically. On the heels of the disgraceful bill that just passed in our state, and amidst all of the uncertainty in our country, I’m holding space for anyone who’s feeling less safe and less supported. Know that this Substack and all of my platforms are—and always will be—places that welcome and advocate for all forms of love and identity. ❤️
Last weekend, my latest work trip took me to Miami, where I enjoyed an audio tour of the art deco scene in Miami Beach. Along the way, the narrator explained that Miami Beach “knows no misfits.” (The rainbow crosswalk below was dedicated in 2018 to celebrate the diverse and inclusive nature Miami Beach.) The area has always welcomed immigrants, drag performers, LGBTQIA+ populations or anyone who could use a home.
Someday, I aspire for Iowa to feel like that, too. Until I can vote again (see me at the polling place day 1 of early voting!), for now, I will be focusing on building even deeper community and being the light and change I want to see. “Joy is a form of protest,” a wise friend told me this weekend. Despite it all, there’s a lot of joy to savor and share in this world.
What to Read…
If you could use a little dose of joy and serenity, you can find some via the exclusive tour of the haven below. Remember the Utah trip I mentioned last edition? This is the feature that I was on assignment to report, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out! I walk you through the highlights of the $10 million Velvære home in Park City, Utah and reveal what our homes and communities might look like in a hopeful future where our abodes and neighborhoods actually make us healthier, not just act as a shelter and a place to store our stuff. Then I speak with the developer and a couple other smart home designers to pinpoint the most impactful features of the ‘hood and home and describe how to do this in any residence—and with budget in mind.
The healthiest home piece exemplifies many things I think make my favorite stories shine: An IRL experience paired with expert intel told through a unique angle.
Better Homes and Gardens: Explore the 'Healthiest Home in America' (and the Wellness Features Worth Incorporating)
My latest first-person reported feature for EatingWell, which I shared more of the backstory about on Instagram this weekend, also fits this mold! I’ve received so many DMs and emails from folks already about how they relate with this or have a loved one who is currently struggling, and this helped them have hope. This is the power of community, of honesty and of being human; something AI could never do (well, at least not yet).
Read on to find that essay/feature as well as an array of brand-new stories that explain more about a helpful secret code hiding on your egg carton, the $3 pantry staple
(aka Justine Snacks) always has on hand and more.EatingWell: Why I Feel Like I'll Always Be in Recovery From My Eating Disorder—And That's Okay
EatingWell: 6 Underrated Kirkland Signature Products You Should Be Buying from Costco
VERANDA: 5 Design Details That Are Making Your House Look Dated, According to Interior Designers
VERANDA: 9 Grocery Etiquette Mistakes You Might Be Making—Plus, What to Do Instead
Allrecipes: Meet the Midwestern Mom Who Grew Her Backyard Garden Into a Community Farm
Allrecipes: The No. 1 Ingredient Every Kitchen Needs, According to TikTok's Justine Snacks
Allrecipes: Matthew McConaughey’s 3-Ingredient Cocktail Tastes Like Spring Break in a Glass
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs for the Best Store-Bought Pizza Sauce, and Their Favorite Is Ours, Too
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs for the Best Bean Brand, and This Budget-Friendly Pick Won
Allrecipes: I Asked 4 Chefs for the Best Hot Sub Chain and Was Totally Surprised By Their Top Picks
Allrecipes: I Asked 5 Chefs for the Best Salt, and This Brand Won by a Big Pinch
Better Homes and Gardens: The Surprising Reason Why So Many of Your Recipes Taste Too Salty
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Choose a Juicy Lime Every Time, According to Chefs and Mixologists
Better Homes and Gardens: Why Does Lettuce Turn Pink After Being Cut—and Is It Safe to Eat?
Better Homes and Gardens: Do Eggs Expire? Food Safety Experts Reveal How Long They *Really* Last
Better Homes and Gardens: Does Salt Expire? Technically No, But You Should Ideally Use It Before This Date
Better Homes and Gardens: The Frozen Fruit Shaved Ice Trend Will Make Sense Once You Try It for Yourself
Better Homes and Gardens: Meet the Sloppy Otto, Sloppy Joe's Tasty Cousin (and Your Next Go-To Sandwich)
Better Homes and Gardens: Exactly How to Store Bacon Grease, According to Chefs
Better Homes and Gardens: How to Defrost Chicken Safely, According to Food Safety Experts
Better Homes and Gardens: 17 Fruit and Vegetable Scraps You Shouldn’t Toss—and What to Do with Them Instead
Better Homes and Gardens: The Comfortcore Food Trend Inspired Our Editors to Reveal Their Favorite Cozy Meals
What to Listen To…
This 30-Minute Mood-Boosting Mix
One of the fascinating details I was reminded of while staying at and reporting on the healthiest home was that our overall environment—including the climate, people, sights, smells and sounds—can make a substantial impact on our mental, physical and emotional health. The biophilic design, clean air, natural light, soft light and quiet nature of the space had my nervous system feeling ready to rest and digest. On the flip side, constant phone pings, the 24-hour news cycle and the go-go-go state of the world these days make it all too easy to stay parked in fight or flight.
For the past decade, I’ve kept my phone alerts silent, and since the election, have set up a healthy boundary of 20 minutes of news per day max (either online, TV or via podcasts). Both of those steps have been extremely beneficial for my anxiety levels. Anecdotally, I’ve also noticed that I tend to feel less frazzled when I take a break from podcasts and stream a little music every so often instead.
Turns out, research backs this up. When study participants felt anxious or angry and listened to tunes that aligned with how they would rather feel (calmer or happier) “they were able to use music to change states,” scientists explain. The best songs to move the needle offer optimism and and uplifting message, they add.
While music isn’t a magic pill for a better mood—or a cure for the ills of the world or a replacement for things like therapy and medication when they might be buoys—it certainly can’t hurt. So using this research as my guide, I crafted a 30-minute playlist full of upbeat and chill tunes that might help instill a more optimistic aura.
Find this mix below, then I’d love to hear in the comments: What is 1 song that always boosts your mood?