Tag Archive for: community

Community Wellness & Workouts on The Seacoast This Summer

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Here at Bryony & Birch and Bryony Body, if there’s one thing we look forward to all year long, it’s being outside. We can weather these winters, but nothing compares to being able to do yoga or go for a paddle board on a beautiful summer day. And as you know, community is everything to us, so being able to do it with our friends and neighbors is the cherry on top. Below we’ve mapped out a few opportunities for you to get outside and get moving on the Seacoast this summer.

 

Flow & Paddle in Kennebunkport

Tuesday, July 25th, 9:30am at The Nonantum Resort

Join the team at The Daily Sweat for morning paddle boarding session in the beautiful and calm waters of Kennebunkport. Hosted at The Nonantum Resort, all you need to do is bring yourself and a water bottle. Boards will be provided!

Get more info here.

 

Image Credit: Flow Yoga Studio

Sunset Yoga at the Park in Portsmouth

Wednesday evenings, 7:30 – 8:30pm

Our friends at Flow Yoga Studio are hosting an outdoor yoga series in Portsmouth’s Prescott Park this summer. Free to join and it’s every Wednesday evening from 7:30 – 8:30pm, through August 16th.

Get more info here.

 

Image Credit: Mom Comm

Waterfront Morning Workout Series in Newburyport

Weekday and weekend mornings, through August 6th

Anna Jaques Hospital sponsors the Waterfront Morning Workout Series, a series of family-friendly, all ages workout events that are free to the public. All you need to bring is your workout mat and some water.

Get more info here.

 

Image Credit: Creek Farm

Weekly Meditation at Creek Farm in Portsmouth

Thursday mornings, 8:00am

Looking for the perfect way to start your day? Drop-in to a weekly free meditation session, offered at Creek Farm in Portsmouth. Bring a meditation cushion, a chair or take a seat on their charming stone wall. Enjoy the power of a morning meditation outside.

Get more info here.

Join us at Bryony Body for yoga classes and more

Have you checked out our yoga studio in downtown Exeter yet? Come by Bryony Body for yoga in downtown Exeter, NH and meet members of your community who also love to flow.

Book a class at Bryony Body here.

Porch Fest is Back! Here’s Everything You Need to Know

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We are thrilled to be welcoming back our favorite community event of the summer and fall seasons, Porch Fest! Starting in 2020 as an outdoor experience to draw our local community together, we’re now at the start of our fourth season and couldn’t be happier or more excited about what’s to come.

What is Porch Fest?

Porch Fest is an outdoor communal event (think: market, cookout, concert and block party – all in one.) Spanning from June to October, it features live music, food and beverage trucks, and a small business market, all held right outside, on the “front porch” of Bryony & Birch at 48 Main Street in downtown Amesbury, MA.

2023 Porch Fest Dates

Our 2023 Porch Fest dates are as follows:

  • Friday, June 16th, 5-9pm
  • Friday, August 18th, 5-9pm
  • Friday, October 20th, 5-9pm

Porch Fest is always on a Friday, so you can plan to finish up work and head out to start your weekend a little early with your family, friends and fellow business owners here in Amesbury.

What’s new at Porch Fest this year?

We are proud to welcome back so many of our fantastic vendors and are excited to have shifted the hours to 5-9pm (previously it was 4-8pm.) This later start allows for our after work crowd to drift in and not feel rushed. And a later end time gives us the chance to take advantage of that long summertime daylight that we all love so much.

Help us kick things off on June 16th!

Come on out on Friday, June 16th at 5pm to kick off the first Porch Fest of the season. For a full list of our vendors as well as any other detailed information you might need about the event, check out our Porch Fest page and share it with a friend.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Spring In Our Step! Self-Care Rituals We Swear By

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As lovers of all things self-care, we’re here for all of the new wellness trends, old classics and everything in between. As we slowly start to crawl out of the winter months and prepare for a new season of growth, warmth and re-connection, we want to make sure our skin, hair and bodies are feeling refreshed and ready.

Deep conditioning… everything

As northeasterners, we know that winter takes its toll on our skin, hair, nails and in some cases our mental health. When it comes to revitalizing our skin, we love using hemp seed oil right out of the shower – it provides the ultimate moisture (without clogging our pores.)

For our hair, we love keeping a deep conditioning mask in our shower, so we can do one treatment per week. Better yet, save yourself some time and book a deep conditioning hair treatment along with your next haircut at Bryony & Birch. Scalp massage included for free… you can’t beat that.

 

Fitness every day keeps the doctor away

If you caught Jonah Hill’s powerful documentary, Stutz, on Netflix this winter, you may be familiar with one of the fundamentals that his therapist says makes people feel more alive: our Life Force. He explains that at the most primal level, our Life Force is derived from our relationship with our physical body, and that the simple act of exercising every day is the single most effective tool we have to keep us moving forward. Whether you like group classes or 1:1 training, Bryony Body in downtown Exeter has a variety of fitness, yoga and wellness class options for you. Traditional exercise not your thing? Try having a dance party in your living room or going for a walk. Exercise can be simple!

Making hydration a priority

As a 30-something, I can say with equal parts shame and pride, that I take hydration very seriously. When I don’t get my 80oz of water per day, I feel it in my sleep quality, my energy levels and my diet. In my endless pursuit of clear skin and more energy, drinking water (and keeping track of how much I drink) is a staple in my self-care regimen. If it’s something you struggle to incorporate into your daily routine, try getting a better water bottle: anything insulated and with a built-in straw, is going to make it easy for you to get your water in while you’re on the go or sitting at your desk.

Keep your friends close

Studies show that friendship & community bring so much joy and happiness into our lives, that we can actually live longer and be healthier because of it. Having moved around quite a bit, I can attest to this. In certain phases of my life where I’ve had less community, I’ve struggled to feel myself. In other phases where I’ve had my people around, I’ve thrived. Making the effort to be near our friends, family and community is something that we all need to view as self-care because our connections and relationships are ultimately what lift us up. If you live on the North Shore or Seacoast, we invite you to follow along with us on Instagram, so you can catch our local events and communal gatherings. Here at Bryony, we RELISH in our community and feel so passionate about giving back to it!

Thank You for Coming Out to the Ice Bar Bazaar!

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Our community in Amesbury never ceases to amaze us. This past weekend, we partnered with BareWolf Brewing to throw a wintry indoor/outdoor celebration for the launch of their brand-new, locally-sourced hard cider, Dry. To say it was a smashing success would be an understatement, and we’re thinking that the Ice Bar Bazaar may need a reserved spot on our calendar every year!

Held both inside and outside at BareWolf Brewing, the event hosted a handcrafted outdoor ice bar serving their new cider, live music, a raffle, some of our favorite local vendors, food from Beefie Boys, and a hot chocolate bar in a specialty outdoor heated après-ski biergarten.

If you were able to make it out, thank you so much for coming! While we can’t wait for Porchfest to start up again, there’s something so special about everyone coming out to celebrate and relish in our local community during the cold months. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep an eye out for future events – you won’t want to miss them!

Sharing some special moments that Kate Donovan caught on camera from the day.

Happy Birthday to Our Little Hair Salon in Amesbury: 2 Years in Review!

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Here at Bryony & Birch, we’re all about celebrating milestones big and small, and this month we’re celebrating a big one: 2 years of our little hair salon’s doors being open to the Amesbury and Seacoast communities! TWO. YEARS. 🎉🎊🥂

It’s a very strange and joyful thing to celebrate a business birthday. On a personal level, it’s our baby – we’ve put everything we have into making this a successful business over the last two years. Building out the space, launching our website, hiring and training our staff, hosting Porchfest, building out a second space… it’s a lot to accomplish in just a two year timespan and we’re proud of our team and leader for making it all happen.

A quick highlight reel

Before we dive in to all of the people we’re grateful to for helping us reaching this mind, indulge us as we take a walk down memory lane to honor what we’ve accomplished over the last two years.

December 2020:
We first opened the doors to our hair salon in downtown Amesbury.

Spring 2021:
We held the first yoga class in our Amesbury space.

October 2021:
We purchased Bryony Body in Exeter.

November 2021:
We officially opened Bryony Body for business!

This calls for some gratitude

Our hearts are pretty much bursting with gratitude and appreciation for our people. Clients, vendors, partners, loved ones – we’re looking at you.

To our clients: none of our success would be possible without you booking appointments to come in, re-booking before you leave, sending your friends and family members to us, and in general – putting a smile on our face and asking us how we’re doing. You are the reason we love this work and we’re so thankful that you continue to choose us over and over again.

To our vendors: it was always our mission to be more than a hair salon and yoga studio. The vision was to be a space that connected business owners and creatives with our beautiful community. Through our retail partnerships and Porchfest, our hearts have grown at least three sizes – you make us look so good!

To our partners: to our partners who help us keep two spaces designed and maintained, our sign designer, web designer, photographer and countless other contractors and businesses who work tirelessly to keep our business up and running – we salute you and wouldn’t be here without you.

And to our loved ones: it’s no surprise that running and working in a small business takes its toll. We know that we come home tired, sore, hungry and in need of a lot of things, and if it weren’t for our loved ones standing by the door, ready to take us in, keep us warm and get us fed, we wouldn’t be able to get up each day and do it all over again. Your nourishment extends beyond each of us and into this community. You are our pillars of strength.

On behalf of all of our staff at Bryony & Birch and Bryony Body, thank you for your continued support. We’re wishing you a restful holiday season filled with as much bread and champagne as your heart desires. Cheers!

With love,

Katie

Take a deeper look behind Bryony

👉 Meet the entrepreneur, hair stylist and yoga instructor behind Bryony: Katie Cavic.
👉 Hard to believe it, but it’s almost wedding season again. First step: pick a venue.
👉 In holiday mode? Read our guide to mindful holiday shopping.

A Guide to Mindful Holiday Shopping

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When it comes to shopping of any kind, it’s safe to say that it’s a love/hate relationship. Here at Bryony & Birch, we’re pretty much all on the same page about this: we love meaningful gift giving and spending our money with brands where it counts, but we can’t help but feel the consumer-culture pressure of “more is more” because we know the truth: more is more… anxiety. So this year, our gift giving is all about intention: less gifts, more quality and at every budget level. Below is our guide to designing a mindful holiday shopping action plan.

Step 1: Make your list

Where are my Google Sheets ladies at? In our house, spreadsheets aren’t just for work stuff. I use one to map out exactly who I need to buy gifts for and ideas for what to give them. Keeping this info listed out all in one place keeps me in-check and organized, so I don’t accidentally over-buy or forget anyone.

Step 2: Jot down gift ideas for each person

Once I know who I’m shopping for, then I also list out how many gifts I need to give to each person. For example: in my immediate family, we give two gifts + a stocking to each person. For my extended family, we do one family gift. Once I have that mapped out, then I start listing out ideas for each gift. Planning out these gift ideas ahead of time, allows me to meaningfully source the gift, create it or to wait for a sale to strike.

Step 3: Sourcing your gifts

Buying on a budget

Making your list ahead of time allows you to keep an eye out for sales, which as we know – are rampant this time of year.

Buying used

Not all gifts need to be brand new. You can get a really nice pre-worn Everlane sweater on Poshmark for half the price of new and in excellent condition, and a brand new (but owned by someone else) fire truck toy on the used marketplace, Kidizen. And if your loved one loves tea sets, you could find a really unique vintage one at a local thrift shop. Pair it with a new box of tea and you have yourself a very thoughtful gift set.

Buying ethical

Making your list ahead of time allows you to research which ethically-minded brands to buy from. Our hot tip is to visit ethical & sustainable product marketplaces, so you can shop multiple brands at once.

Buying experiences

Sometimes the best gifts are tickets to a comedy show or a gift certificate to a nice restaurant or spa in town. What makes them so special is that they’re treats. And ones that someone may not necessarily buy themselves.

Not buying at all

My local friends and I exchange gifts every year, and ya know what? We don’t spend a dime. I’ve received DIY’d cocktail kits, jars of cookies, homemade dog biscuits and special handmade knit items. I love all of them because they’re a. DELICIOUS and b. from the heart. The best kind!

Step 4: Planning your gift wrapping

Aside from the gifts themselves, you’ll also want to plan a way to mindfully gift wrap your items. Sure, you could go to Target and pick up a bunch of new wrapping paper (no judgment – it’s too easy), but one thing I’ve started doing is buying my gift wrapping at my local thrift shop. Next time you check out your local thrift shop, look out for gift tags, wrapping paper, bags, tissue paper and unique containers that can all be used for your gift giving needs.

Intentional gift giving goes a long way

Taking a few extra steps to make your gift giving organized and thoughtful will go a long way in making you feel happy, relaxed and even excited about your holiday gift giving. It goes without saying that our favorite form of holiday shopping is buying local and we encourage you to check out our Holiday Event Round-Up to check out some opportunities to buy local and have fun while doing it!

Do your holiday shopping at Bryony & Birch

Come say hello and stay for some holiday shopping in store at Bryony & Birch in downtown Amesbury. We have a variety of wellness and self-care gifts (perfect for stocking stuffers), as well as a vintage rack filled with interesting pre-loved pieces! We’re always happy to make a recommendation and even point you in the direction of some of our favorite local business owners, who may have what you’re looking for.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy (and calm) holiday season from all of us here at Bryony & Birch and Bryony Body!

A Seacoast Holiday Event Round-Up: Shopping, Classes, Tastings & More

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Photo by Kate Donovan Photography

It goes without saying that the holidays on the Seacoast are the most magical time of year. And with all of the holiday lights, shopping and food, our holiday event round-up is sure to fill up your schedule. Get out with some friends and support your local artists, makers and businesses – and get some holiday shopping done, while you’re at it!

26th Annual Open Studios

Come on out to see and support our local artist community in the 26th Amesbury Open Studios. The weekend’s events will be hosted by 100 artists and makers – all over our beautiful city!

When: November 12th, 10am – 5pm and November 13th, 11am – 4pm
Where: Multiple locations
Details: amesburyopenstudios.com

The Amesbury Holiday Parade

The most festive event of the year! The 58th annual Holiday Parade returns to Amesbury again, this time with theme: holidays around the world.

When: December 3rd, 3:30pm
Where: The parade begins at the intersection of Sparhawk and Greenleaf St.
Details: amesburyholidayparade.com

Silvaticus Holiday Makers Market

Grab a brew and shop around for some unique gifts for your loved ones (or yourself!) at this local artists and makers market.

When: December 11th, 11am – 5pm
Where: Silvaticus Brewery, 9 Water St. Amesbury, MA
Details: amyvanderels.com

Newburyport’s Holiday Invitation Night

Enjoy a night of refreshments, live entertainment and gift shopping (with 15% off) in downtown Newburyport.

When: December 2nd, 9th and 16th, 6 – 9pm
Where: Village Silversmith, 34 State St., Newburyport, MA
Details: villagesilversmith.net

SeaFestival of Trees: A Holiday Wonderland

Experience the joy and excitement of the holidays on the Seacoast with glittering trees, indoor ice skating and more.

When: Weekends from November 19th – December 4th
Where: Blue Ocean Event Center
Details: https://www.bostoncentral.com/events/seasonalfun/p70607.php

Party with Bryony this holiday season

👉 Follow us on Instagram to hear our holiday season announcements.
👉 That’s a wrap on Porch Fest! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate and support our community at this year’s events.
👉 Beat those winter blues: Invest in your wellness this winter!

What to Expect at Porch Fest 2022: Music, Local Artisans & More!

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Now that we’re finally settling back into “backyard barbecue and outside adventure” season, we here at Bryony are thrilled to welcome Porch Fest back for a third year! Porch Fest was started back in 2020 as an outdoor experience to draw our local community together after so many had been isolated by the pandemic, and if you’ve never experienced Porch Fest before, be sure to stop by and check it out, because there’s something for everyone, whether you like food, shopping, or music.

What is Porch Fest?

Photo Credit: Kate Donovan Photography

Porch Fest is a once-a-month event that goes through the summer into early fall, featuring live music, food and beverage trucks, and small business showcases. It’s held right on our “front porch” outside of Bryony & Birch at 48 Main Street in downtown Amesbury, MA.

Mark Your Calendar

Our 2022 Porch Fest dates are as follows:

  • Friday, June 17th, 4-8pm
  • Friday, July 15th, 4-8pm
  • Friday, August 19th, 4-8pm
  • Friday, September 16th, 4-8pm
  • Friday, Oct. 21st, 4-8pm

Porch Fest is always on a Friday, so you can plan to finish up those work projects and kick off your weekend a little early with your local community.

There’s Something for Everyone at Porch Fest

Here’s a brief sampler of some of our fantastic vendor friends that will be available for you to experience at Porch Fest:

Shari’s Sweet Shoppe

Picture Courtesy of Shari’s Sweet Shoppe

Shari Davey runs this 100% vegan bake shop, and all her goods are animal free products with gluten free options. Delicious and organic? Count us in.

Tree Owl Healing

Picture Courtesy of Tree Owl Healing

“Nature itself is the best physician.”, says Jennifer, the founder of Tree Owl, and we couldn’t agree more. Jennifer’s handmade, small batch tinctures, teas, and elixirs are made following the earth’s natural cycles, personally foraged by Jennifer herself.

Tayla David Macrame

Photo Credit: Kate Donovan Photography

Tayla David has inspirations for your mind as well as your body, offering a variety of macrame items as well as weekly yoga classes. Whether you want to practice physical wellness or create something uniquely you, Tayla is ready to connect with you.

Fits the Vibe

Picture courtesy of Fits the Vibe

Vintage is the buzzword at Fits the Vibe! Upcycling is the way to go to practice a more sustainable lifestyle, and whether your fashion flavors run to velour tracksuits or custom patchwork joggers, the crew at Fits the Vibe has a look that’s just right for you.

Board and Brush

Picture courtesy of Board & Brush

Embrace your inner DIY with a night out at Board and Brush! A step beyond your average paint n’ sip, Julie and Curt Selby and the instructors at Board and Brush provide the tools, the supplies, and the instruction to help you create a custom wooden sign to enhance your home or office space.

Polished by P

Picture Courtesy of Polished by P

Whether you’re in need of a mani or a pedi, the vegan, non toxic, and cruelty free nail lacquers at Polished by P are what we recommend. Great looking nails and cruelty free? Yes, please.

Join Porch Fest as a Vendor

What better way to get your brand out to the community than to have the opportunity to be right in the center of it all? If you’re a small business owner, we would love for you to be a part of this year’s event! Porch Fest draws hundreds of people every year, and we want to give you the opportunity to partner with us and get your business in front of the people in your community who are looking for it. If you’re interested in being a vendor at Porch Fest 2022, or if you have any questions about being a vendor, please reach out to Katie at bookings@bryonyandbirchstudio.com to request your desired date.

We had such a great time at Porch Fest last year, and this year is already shaping up to be just as much fun. We hope you’ll come by and experience the Amesbury community at one of our Porch Fest dates this summer. We’ll be looking out for you!

Continue reading The Bryony & Birch Times:

Spring Round-Up: Our Favorite Local Businesses in Exeter

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Now that the weather is warming up, we thought we’d invite you to take a virtual stroll with us along the Squamscott River near our Bryony Body location in Exeter and let us introduce you to some of our favorite neighbors and their boutiques and shops that we’ve discovered since opening here back in the fall. Whether it’s trendy threads or tasty treats, we’re sure you’ll love supporting these small businesses in Exeter, NH as much as we do!

Forest + Ash Design Company


Photo via Forest + Ash

The founders of the design company, Forest + Ash, are Hannah and Robin, two ladies with a passion for “creating beautiful spaces with a fresh and modern approach.” We couldn’t agree more. The ladies offer design services for all your spaces, be it renovation, construction, or interior, and their shop is a treasure trove of jewelry, gifts, accessories, art, and home and kitchen decor.

forestandashdesign.com
24 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-758-3175
hello@forestandashdesign.com

 

Laney & Lu

Photo via Laney & Lue

A lot of our staff have found their way to this delightfully modern cafe. Located right next to Forest + Ash, how could we stay away? Offering a wide variety of locally sourced and organic beverages, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, and bowls, all of which can be enjoyed on their adorable outside patio. But what really won us over is how Laney & Lu’s have partnered with the local community to serve over 3500 meals to local hospitals, police and fire departments. Hearts!

laneyandlu.com
26 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-580-4952
hello@laneyandlu.com

 

Water Street Bookstore

Photo by Water Street Bookstore

We love a good stocked bookstore to go with a hot beverage from Laney & Lu’s. Whether your fancy is fiction, humor, medical musical, philosophy, poetry, science or self help, Water Street has it all, and if they don’t have it on hand, they can help you find it. The largest independent bookstore on the NH seacoast, Water Street also partners with the annual Exeter Lit-Fest and hosts local authors for talks and book signings.

waterstreetbooks.com
125 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-778-9731
info@waterstreetbooks.com

 

Soleil’s Salt Cave

Photo by Soleil’s Salt Cave

When winter has clogged our noses and dried out our skin, we head for Soleil’s Salt Cave. Soleil’s features salt caves stocked with thousands of pounds of Himalayan salt that is millions of years old. Halotherapy, or the practice of breathing in air that’s been infused with salt particles, has been used as treatment for bronchitis, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, and even Covid-19! Halotherapy improves your breathing and increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. The salt can also be beneficial for your skin, helping with conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Their zero-gravity chairs are perfect during a private session in one of their salt caves.

saltcavenh.com
130 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
(603) 418-7508
info@soleilsaltcave.com

 

Lunachics

Photo by Lunachics

Right next door to Soleil’s, you’ll find a welcoming huddle of fashionista superheroes at Lunachics! The stylists at Lunachics are here to help you find your best new look with a wide selection of merchandise from ”local, ethical, and female founded brands”. We love every one of the staff, they greet every customer with a smile and thoroughly enjoy partnering with you to put together the perfect outfit to suit your unique sense of style.

lunachics.com
131 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-777-9956
shop@lunachics.com

 

Cymbidium Floral

Photo by Jessica Theos Photography

Walking into Cymbidium Floral you are immediately surrounded by the color and fresh scents of spring, no matter what time of the year you visit, which is why it’s always a breath of fresh air to us. The owner, Jessica Christofersen, makes a weekly pilgrimage to the New England Flower Exchange to ensure that you, the consumer, gets the absolute best of flora every time you visit. Cymbidium also offers floral design services for intimate gatherings and bridal parties.

cymbidiumfloral.com
141 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-772-1300
info@cymbidiumfloral.com

 

D Squared Java

Photo by D Squared Java

One of the reasons we’ve added D Squared Java to our list of faves is not only do they have some truly stellar coffee and tea beverages (be sure to check out the spring-themed lavender latte!), but they are committed heavily to environmental sustainability. Their coffee is sourced from local vendors, as are their pastries and baked goods, and they have a loyalty program which lets you utilize your own coffee cup or travel mug, and after ten visits, you get a free cup of coffee! We’re in.

dsquaredjava.com
155 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-583-5646
dan@dsquaredjava.com

 

The Willow

Photo by HM Collins Photography

A resident of Exeter for over 20 years, the Willow has quickly become our go-to for home decor essentials. Much of their merchandise is curated from local artisans, and whether you’re looking for some extra added flair for your walls, your gardens, your tabletops, or even yourself, the Willow has something for you.

thewillowexeter.com
183 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-773-9666
shop@thewillowexeter.com

 

Stillwells Riverwalk Ice Cream

Photo by Stillwells Riverwalk Ice Cream

We like to save the best for last, and we couldn’t think of a better way to finish off our virtual stroll than at our favorite ice cream shop, Stillwells. Stillwells features over fifty flavors of ice cream, as well as a variety of sherberts, frozen yogurt, Italian ice, soft serve, and even gelato! They take custom orders for ice cream pies and cakes, and it’s a good thing they sell their ice cream sliders in six packs, because you won’t be able to stop at just one.

stillwellsicecream.com/locations/exeter
190 Water St, Exeter, NH 03833
603-777-5077

 

Yoga at Bryony Body in Exeter, NH

Photo by Kate Donovan Photography

Thanks for letting us show you around downtown Exeter. We hope the next time you’re in the neighborhood you’ll stop by Bryony Body to say hello. We offer a variety of classes including yoga, strength training, and reiki and crystal healing. A list of our full offerings can be found here. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Have the Winter Blues? 5 Ways We’re Investing in Wellness This Winter

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Winter is hard. Our skin is dry and itchy, we’re vitamin D deficient and even going for a little mental health walk can seem daunting. Thanks a lot, February windchill.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the headspace that winter is never ending and our self-care isn’t as important. Thoughts can play over again in our minds, “Well if I gain these extra five pounds, no one will really notice because of all the layers I’m wearing.” “If I don’t get this pedicure it doesn’t matter because I’m in socks and boots for the next two more months.” But listen, you deserve to feel great even if the weather doesn’t. Here are some surefire ways to get back into the rhythm of your life so that the winter blues don’t keep you down.

Invest in loungewear

Sitting at home in the same old sweats can really affect our self-esteem. One of our favorite ways to spice things up is by investing in cozy loungewear sets or a new waffle knit sweater from a woman-run small business like VETTA or Darity (if you’re nursing or pumping.) Not only do they make you feel cute and comfortable, but you’re making your dollar count by supporting a small sustainable business. Get comfy!

Use a humidifier

Purchasing one of these handy little guys for the bedroom has been saving our sinuses this winter, and our plants too! You can find these for a decent price at a local big box store. As a moisturizer enthusiast, my lotions and body oils still just don’t cut it this time of year. Save your skin and your sinuses this season and find a humidifier ASAP.

Try heat light therapy

There are so many benefits to trying relaxation, muscle tension relief or detoxification in the winter months. One way us New Englanders love to relax in the dark winter months is with heat light therapy. Not only does it have positive effects on our mood, but it also provides many benefits for blood flow and cardiovascular health. You won’t have to look far for local heat light therapy, but if you have trouble finding somewhere, ask your dermatologist for a recommendation.

Relax in a healing bath

You deserve a mystical escape from your everyday routine once and a while. Treat yourself to some holistic soap and organic wellness products from our local favorite, Rooted Body Co. and set up a healing bath with crystals, candles, bath salts, a glass of wine and some soothing music. Anything that will make you feel like you’re at a spa, right from the comfort of your own home. If you don’t have a bath, hang a Eucalyptus sprig from your shower head. Calming scents, especially while bathing, nourish our minds and bodies.

Nourish with soups & stews

Are you on a rabbit hole of soup TikToks lately? No? Just us? Soup tok is all the rage right now. Invest in a Crockpot or slow cook a soup on your stove midday while you finish your work into the evening. The scent of a warm stew brewing throughout the home is no match for winter dread. And if you prefer sweet over savory, treat yourself to a relaxing CBD baked good from our local favorite, Fairy Good Organics. We’ll take their triple chocolate brownies any night of the week!

Hopefully these tips and tricks inspire you to embrace this winter with a fresh attitude. The cold months are hard, but they make the spring and summer feel that much better. Get in touch with your body and don’t forget to indulge – you’ve got this.