Elena's
February Picks

My little friend, the Douni Sound Machine sits next to my bed as I drift off to its sounds of distant thunderstorms and rhythmic waves every single evening. Those of us plagued with Tinnitus know that the more you listen for the humming and ringing in our ears, the louder it gets and the harder it is to fall asleep. I love the variety of choices from whirling fans to white noise, to river streams. Ignorance truly is bliss.

Speaking of Tinnitus, one of its biggest triggers is TMJ. Some of us hold our stress in our shoulders, neck, or lower back. Many of us hold onto it by unconsciously clenching our jaws. Right before bed, I massage my jaw line and towards each ear with a Gua Sha jade facial massager. There are several ‘how to’ videos that you can find that show the amazing benefits of this ancient stone. My goal this month is to remember to get my hands on a second one for the office to quickly destress in a pinch.  Mount Lai Gua Sha

Another nighttime routine is applying La Roche-Posay Redermic Retinol for Eyes around the eye area. This wonderful cream directly addresses the concerns of fine lines and wrinkles around the delicate eye area without causing me any irritation. I use this at night and feel that it holds its own against pricier brands that delivers the same results. 

John McCann Steel Cut Oatmeal:  Nutty and hearty. One of the best foods proven to benefit your heart and colon health. I love to add fresh or defrosted frozen Maine wild blueberries, chopped up banana slices, a small dollop of Greek honey and a pinch of cinnamon.  I am simply content to live on this meal all year long.  (Found at most grocery stores.)   

Daily To-Dos notebook w/ Pilot Pens: This super-efficient notebook keeps me and my wandering brain on track and motivated to knock off my daily to-do list…while reminding me to take care of myself as well. I love Pilot Pens. They are the bomb. Smooth, non-smudging, comfortable and with just the right amount of pressure. Notebook: Amazon Pens: Pilot Pens