Roots to Leaves

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Roots to Leaves
Roots to Leaves
I Moved! Here's How I'm Setting Up My Home to be Hormone Friendly

I Moved! Here's How I'm Setting Up My Home to be Hormone Friendly

Sunday Sanctuary #17 - back in nyc, non-toxic home building, a living with a boy

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Roots to Leaves
Nov 11, 2024
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Roots to Leaves
Roots to Leaves
I Moved! Here's How I'm Setting Up My Home to be Hormone Friendly
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So….I moved!

Yup, I’m back in NYC.

Not only that, but I moved in with my boyfriend ✨

safe to say, a lot of exciting changes have happened in the last week

Back in August, I took a leap and moved out to Westchester, NY for a couple of months.

As a born-and-raised New Yorker, anything outside the city feels like stepping into a whole new world

But being away from the city’s pace, slowing down, and immersing myself in a quieter life ended up being a truly beautiful experience.

Mornings were a serene moment in nature, with sunrises over trees replacing the usual sounds of sirens and horns

I traded $55 high-intensity classes and loud music for peaceful walks through a horse farm—no $59 price tag attached

Evenings became a ritual of cooking with fresh ingredients from a local farm, a much preferred alternative to hitting DoorDash for the third night in a row

Out there, I found so many ways to settle my nervous system, recenter myself, and embrace the slower pace I’d been craving.

But I always knew this was temporary, and along with the pros came a few challenges.

I missed the vibrant energy and stimulation of NYC.

I felt a bit restricted without walkable streets, often needing to drive 20+ minutes just to get somewhere.

And, honestly, it was a little lonely without friends or family close by.

So, as much as I cherished that time, I was also ready to come back to my concrete jungle.

That said, it feels different now - I'm more intentional about keeping my sense of calm amidst the city's energy.

I’m excited to share all the details below on what this new phase looks like 👇

So here’s what you can expect in today’s Sunday Monday Sanctuary ( sorry I felt sick yesterday):

🕊️ Personal Musings: my transition back to the city, noticing patterns of “control” and cultivating a home environment that feels in alignment

☕️ Understanding: the role of household products and xenoestrogens on our hormonal health

🕯️ Recommending: some “hormone supportive” cleaning supplies that are my go-to + 2 DIY at home cleaning options

🙏🏼 The Action Step: make the swap to greener alternatives at your home (+ a hint of where to start)

My goal is to make my home a sanctuary

Coming back to the city from Bedford, I felt a deep pull to bring the sense of peace and connection to nature that I had access to there.

Being surrounded by trees and open spaces every day did so much for my mental health

Transitioning back to the city, I knew I needed to find a way to keep that experience close.

But creating a supportive, nurturing home environment isn’t just about the layout or what you stock up on—it is about creating a space of safety, peace and sanctuary.

Growing up, I moved through quite a few homes, and truthfully, many of them didn’t always truly “safe” or comfortable.

Perhaps that’s why when I have my own home, it feels so meaningful - why I feel so deeply invested in making it a place truly supports my health, my growth, and my peace of mind.

With that, it’s funny how our younger selves can sometimes take those old wounds and find ways to soothe it that may no be in alignment

While looking at furniture for this apartment, I realized just how much my search for safety was leading to a need for control and perfection.

My boyfriend and I had decided to co-create this space, making sure every piece we brought in got our mutual stamp of approval.

But as we started looking, that collaboration became unexpectedly challenging.

I was excitedly showing him the couch I’d chosen one day when he looked at it thoughtfully and, very respectfully, suggested, “Can we look at a few others?”

And let me tell you, I felt an instant wave of anger, frustration, and even resentment.

It caught me off guard and took up a lot of space in the room. I tried to push down but it just added to this air of tension.

Noticing, he gently said, “Hey, we can get whatever you want. With that, I feel like this could be a chance for us to connect and choose things for our home together. Right now, though, this couch feels like a “life or death” choice and I’m just not sure why it’s so intense”

His words hit me hard.

It made me step back and recognize just how much emotion I was bringing to what could have been a fun moment.

I realized that I’d been placing so much weight on this home—how important it was to me that every detail felt “just right” in my effort to create a sense of safety.

I was trying so hard to make this space feel perfect that I was losing sight of what truly mattered: building it together, with ease and joy.

Once I acknowledged what was happening, I could reconnect with what was really important to me.

  • I let go of some of that need for control (i.e., my boyfriend is the laundry guy and he likes a very specific brand that is not 100% non-toxic)

  • I found healthier outlets to process my emotions

  • I clarified what elements truly mattered for me in our home

And in doing so, I found a balance—allowing our space to feel safe and intentional without making every choice feel like a test.

And here’s what we’ve got so far 👇

Prioritizing the Physical:

  • Non-toxic cleaning supplies and household items whenever I can (deets below)

  • High quality water filters (yes, even in NY because our pipes are old and rusty) and/or a Mountain Valley subscription (mineral water in glass bottles)

  • Plants, plant and plants - for air purification

  • Organic bedding (we’re using Cocomat, which my boyfriend had previously 😏 pick ‘em well gals)

  • No plastic bags or plastic wrap

  • Having clear and intentional spots for things like reusable grocery bags, so that I have no excuse but to use them

  • Sourcing my food from top quality places that are within my neighborhood

  • Muted, soft colors that feel calming to my nervous system

With that, my building also has a very strict recycling protocol - which I have actually grown to love because I feel so much more aware of my trash consumption, and feel like I’m doing good for the environment

While we’re still working towards some things - like making the bedroom a no screen zone - it’s all done with grace.

Prioritizing the Emotional:

  • Each morning, I do 10 minutes of meditation

  • In the first hour of the day, I try to practice silence. If my partner is up, this gets shortened a bit and we’re still figuring out our way to do it together, but an hour for allowing myself to go inward and adjust to the day

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