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Life, Living, Wellness

Determining Your Values + Why It’s Important

January 12, 2025

When life gets busy and the world around us feels overwhelming, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters. That’s where determining your values comes in. Understanding what drives you and what aligns with your deeper purpose isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative. Whether you’re navigating career choices, personal growth, or everyday decisions, your values act as a compass that guides you toward a more intentional and fulfilling life.

 

Why Determining Your Goals and Values Matters

A clear sense of your goals and values provides a solid foundation for decision-making. It helps you:

  1. Make Decisions with Confidence: Decision-making becomes easier when you know what matters to you. Whether choosing a new career path, deciding how to spend your time, or handling conflicts, determining your values allows you to align your choices with your deeper intentions.
  2. Create a Sense of Purpose: Understanding your core values connects you to a greater purpose. Your actions become more aligned with your true self, leading to a more authentic and satisfying life.
  3. Avoid Burnout: When you focus on what really matters, you’re less likely to waste time and energy on things that don’t contribute to your well-being or long-term goals. This balance fosters resilience and prevents burnout.
  4. Build Stronger Relationships: Whether in your personal or professional life, knowing and expressing your values leads to deeper, more meaningful connections with others who share similar principles.

 

How to Identify Your Values

Identifying your values is a crucial step toward living a life aligned with your authentic self. Here’s how you can begin:

  1. Reflect on Past Experiences: Look back at moments in your life when you felt particularly proud or fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What values were being honored in those moments? These reflections can help reveal the principles that are most important to you.
  2. Consider Your Role Models: Think about the people you admire and why you look up to them. What values do they embody? This can give you insight into the characteristics and beliefs you value most.
  3. Explore Your Interests and Passions: What activities or causes make you feel alive and energized? The things that light you up are often directly tied to your values. Take note of the experiences that inspire you.
  4. Evaluate Your Current Life: Look at your current situation—your work, relationships, health, and personal life. Are there areas where you feel disconnected or unfulfilled? This could indicate where your current values may be misaligned with your actions, providing a clue about what matters most to you.
  5. List Your Values: If you’re unsure where to start, you can use a list of common values (such as honesty, compassion, independence, creativity, or community) to help identify which resonates most with you. Here’s a list of common values to guide your process. Circle the values that feel most important to you, and start to notice any patterns. Once you have a clearer understanding of your values, you can begin to make choices that align with them.

 

Our Values:

At milk + honey, we believe in living with intention and purpose, which is why our values shape everything we do. Here are a few values that guide us:

Integrity: We strive to do the right thing, even when no one is looking.

Excellence: We have high standards for ourselves. We’re dedicated to constantly learning and improving across the organization.

Kindness: We exude genuine care to one another.

Inclusiveness: We embrace diversity and inclusion in all of our team, guests, ideas, and partners.

Connection: We view our services as a means to foster a genuine bond with our guests and to the community at large.

These values guide our decisions, help us create meaningful experiences for our guests and employees, and ensure that we stay true to our mission. Learn more about our values at milk + honey here.

 

Conclusion: The Power of Values in Decision-Making

Understanding your values is a powerful tool for living an intentional, balanced, and fulfilling life. By taking the time to reflect on what truly matters to you, you can make better choices, build stronger connections, and create a life that aligns with your deepest aspirations. Whether you’re facing big decisions or small moments, your values will always be there to guide you. 

 

PS: We’re Here To Help

If this year you want to prioritize healing, balance, health, or a something similar, we have a wide selection of holistic wellness services and a program designed to make investing in rest and self-care easy and rewarding

Austin, BEES, Green, Ingredients, Living, News, Products

Honey, We’ve Got BEES by milk + honey!

September 28, 2017

apiary montage copy

The U.S. honeybee population has been dying off in droves and the impact of this has a rippling effect on both our economy and on the global food supply. At the commercial beekeeping level, beekeepers are experiencing 30 to 50 percent hive loss (on average!) due to the not-so-mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder. Additionally, there have been major declines in native bee populations, which hold serious consequences for our native landscapes.

Let’s put it in everyday life perspective. Here’s what a meal without honeybees might look like, pictured below.

picnic without bees copyConsider that 90 percent of the wild plants you see around your neighborhood and 35 percent of the produce section in your local grocery store require bees to survive. Without bees, there will be a significant reduction in the quality and length of our planet’s health and human existence. Scary, right?

This is where our own story began in June 2015.

Alissa Bayer, milk + honey founder and owner, wanted to find a way to help the bees in the most direct way possible. So, in the winter of 2014, she reached out to Anna Gieselman. You may recognize Anna’s name from her gorgeous bee-inspired jewelry line, Bee Amour, which we sell in most of our locations. Or perhaps you know Anna as one of our original massage therapists. She has been a part of the milk + honey since our earliest days in 2006 and she also happens to be an experienced beekeeper.

Together, they partnered up to create an urban apiary, BEES by milk + honey.

Under milk + honey’s sponsorship, Alissa and Anna sourced bees from fourth-generation beekeepers at Bee Weaver, who have been raising bees without the use of chemical interventions for more than 15 years. Our small, but growing, urban apiary started as 10 hives in total — six were hosted on some beautiful land off of Bee Cave Road and four hives are located on a rooftop near 5th Street and I-35 (the old Progress Coffee spot!) — and today, we have more than a dozen thriving hives located in East Austin.

At our apiary, we practice “organic” beekeeping, meaning we choose not to use chemicals to treat the bees for pests. We raise our bees with the intention of supporting them through non-aggressive beekeeping techniques and with the goal of raising healthy strong hives for our environment. We have also started a beekeeping apprenticeship program for milk + honey employees, in the hopes of educating even more people about the importance of bees.

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Ultimately, we hope to see the apiary continue to thrive and expand in the coming years, as well as use the bees as a tool to keep the conversation going about the role humans must play in cultivating a healthy ecosystem.

Wondering how you can help, too?  Here are a few tips on how to start:

  1. Make a commitment to buy only organic produce and nuts when available and possible. By shopping at the numerous local farmers’ markets, you support organic growers and beekeepers in town. {FYI, this is a comprehensive list of food that requires pollinators.}
  2. Plant bee-supportive plants and do not use pesticides on those plants.
  3. Make a DIY solitary bee house.
  4. Petition Congress and local government officials to create and support bee-friendly agricultural policies and laws.

You can follow milk + honey and Anna’s beekeeping adventures on our Instagram as well as on Anna’s Instagram and Facebook page. Plus, stay tuned for more blog posts about what we are up to right here!

Body, News

Warm Up With Our New Seasonal Scrub: Pumpkin Spice

September 22, 2017

Chef Name: Food Network Kitchen Full Recipe Name: Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole, Pumpkin Spice-Cranberry Muffins, Pumpkin Spice Buns, Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Talent Recipe: FNK Recipe: Food Networks Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, as seen on Foodnetwork.com, Food Networks Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice French Toast Casserole, as seen on Foodnetwork.com, Food Networks Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice-Cranberry Muffins, as seen on Foodnetwork.com, Food Networks Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice Buns, as seen on Foodnetwork.com, Food Networks Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal, as seen on Foodnetwork.com Project: Foodnetwork.com, FN Essentials/Weeknights/Fall/Holidays Show Name: Food Network / Cooking Channel: Food Network

Pumpkins, brown leaves, and crisp cool air are all signs that fall is officially here (even if we won’t feel that crisp air here in Texas any time soon!). Starting today, we’re offering our new seasonal scrub, Pumpkin Spice. Filled with warm, earthy notes of pumpkin seed, nutmeg, and ginger, this invigorating blend will nourish your body and calm the senses. The scrub is made with organic raw sugar, which gently buffs away dry, dead cells to reveal fresh, soft new skin. Ground cinnamon, clove, and ginger work together to plump your skin, improve evenness and elasticity, and provide antioxidant protection against harmful free-radicals. Lastly, ground pumpkin seed, which is packed with vitamins A and E, promotes cell rejuvenation, providing a barrier against skin-damaging external pollutants.

What treatments feature our Pumpkin Spice Scrub?

Pumpkin Spice Scrub + Steam + Massage

Renew and refresh your skin with this invigorating treatment. First, our seasonal scrub gently exfoliates dead skin cells to give brighter, softer, and more nourished skin. A relaxing steam, followed by a 45-minute Signature Massage, completes this treatment and leaves your mind and body feeling soothed.

Pumpkin Spice Scrub + Manicure and Pedicure

The scrub purifies the skin while nutmeg and clove oil provide anti-aging antioxidants. This treatment includes the same care as our Lux Combo.

 

Photo Credit: Food Network

Products, Skin

New In: OSEA Vitamin C Probiotic Polish

July 26, 2017

 

Achieve a soft, glowing complexion with the new Vitamin C Probiotic Polish ($108) from OSEA. This gentle exfoliant brightens your skin and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Here are the five key ingredients: 

  • Pomegranate Extract removes surface build up, reduces the appearance of blemishes, and protects against environmental aggressors like pollution.
  • Ground Bamboo and Rice powder extracts gently exfoliate dull, dry skin.
  • Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, helps brighten and even out skin tone.
  • Plant-derived probiotics help smooth out the skin’s texture and reduce the appearance of blemishes and redness.

How Do I Use This Product?

The Vitamin C Probiotic Polish is gentle enough for most skin types with the exception of super-sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin should mix this product with OSEA Ocean Cleansing Milk for a more gentle formulation.

How to use: First, dispense 3/4 tablespoon of powder into your hand and add in a couple drops of water. Rub the powder-and-water mixture into your hands until the consistency changes from a powder to a creamy paste. Once it’s in paste form, apply it to your face in a circular motion. Make sure to avoid contact with your eyes.  Next, massage the paste into your skin for a minute; then rinse with warm water. For best results, use it at night, two to three times a week.

 

 

OSEA Vitamin C Probiotic Polish is available at our 2nd Street District, Hill Country Galleria, South Lamar, and River Oaks locations.

Skin, Skin Care

What One Esthetician Uses in Her Day-to-Night Skincare Routine

July 20, 2017

Before and after her days in the spa, 2nd Street District esthetician, Jessica, takes care to practice what she preaches. As in — she takes her morning and evening skincare routines very seriously. We asked Jessica to share her Holy Grail products and processes with us in the hopes that you, too, will be inspired to kick up your skincare game a notch or two.

Continue Reading…

Products, Skin

Get Rid of Neck Wrinkles With CosMedix Illuminate & Lift

July 19, 2017

While the skin on your face is delicate, there’s one part of your body that’s even more so: your neck and décollete. The skin on this area of your body is thinner and contains less natural oils than the skin on your face. Combined with sun damage, the skin on those areas can wrinkle and develop age spots faster than any other part of your body. That’s where the new CosMedix Illuminate & Lift Treatmen($70) comes in.

This neck and décollete treatment contains super ingredient, Edelweiss stem cell extract, which helps to brighten skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and firms loose, sagging skin. In an independent study of Edelweiss stem cell extract, people saw up to a 56 percent decrease in sagging skin on their neck in only three weeks and a 10 percent decrease in wrinkle depth in just six weeks.

 

 

          The Best Way To Apply CosMedix Illuminate & Lift

After cleansing your face and neck, apply a small amount onto your hand. Place that amount on your décollete using upward strokes and gently massage the cream into your skin up to your jawline. For best results, use twice a day.

 

CosMedix Illuminate & Lift Treatment is available at our 2nd Street District, Hill Country Galleria, South Lamar, and River Oaks locations.

{Photo Credit: InStyle.com}

Salon

What’s the SALON by milk + honey Apprentice Program?

July 17, 2017

In order to foster growth, empowerment, and a positive environment for all our employees, milk + honey offers benefits and opportunities that far exceed industry norms. The SALON by milk + honey Apprentice Program is one such example of this commitment.

Led by full-time SALON by milk + honey stylists, the Apprentice Program is designed to offer advanced training in techniques, formulation, and client experience to new cosmetologists, and lasts approximately 10 months with formal classrooms held once a week. In addition, our apprentices gain cut, color, and styling knowledge as well as glean insight into true behind-the-chair experiences from a Program Mentor, which is meant to enhance their classroom education.

Today marks the start of a new class of SALON by milk + honey apprentices and we thought it would be fun to meet them!

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