Author: Colette Stroia

I was scrolling instagram at some point this week, and saw Taylor Wolfe pop up on my feed with a hilarious parody of a woman responding to her husband’s “What do you want for Mother’s Day?” question… 

“All that I want is a break, because I’m tired… unless it’s really nice out and then I might want to do something… Really don’t make a big deal out of it, just the right amount of a deal…” 

Very relatable and honestly, on point. Watch it for a laugh here.

All that said–the moms & mother figures in your life deserve a little something this Mother’s Day, so I put together a list of 10 things that you can gift your mom (or yourself) here to help spark some inspiration.

Shop Small! All of these products are available in-store at Haskill Creek.

**We do not receive commission from the links provided below.

1. Milk Jar Candle – These essential oil candles come in a fun glass jar, check the boxes for clean ingredients and smell great. I’ve been burning the Citrus version all spring long.

2. O My Bag Jewelry Organizer – I don’t know about you, but it feels like my jewelry is scattered around my bathroom and bedroom in random dishes and trays and boxes (could this be a product of my 10 year old pillaging my things… definitely). This jewelry organizer is perfect for taking on-the-go when traveling, or just keeping your most-worn items corralled together so you can easily find them on busy mornings.

3. True Botanicals Chebula Eye Patches – Big undereye patch fan over here! Am I wearing them right now… yes. These award-winning patches depuff, hydrate and firm. Say less.

4. Facile The Buzz Mask – This is one of my newest favorites. We brought Facile into the store this spring, and I’ve been loving several of their skincare products (and at a great price point!) but this one stands out as my favorite. Using both AHAs & BHAs it’s a chemical exfoliating mask that you can feel working, and see the results.

5. Immodest Cotton Bag – This has been my go-to tote for any and all post-work activities. Whether it’s housing soccer cleats, tennis balls, snacks or groceries, I’ve been using it daily and loving it as an upgrade to my nylon LL Bean bag (don’t get me wrong… still love that one too, but the denim is upgrading my soccer mom look and I’m here for it).

6. Adorro Metal Hair Clip – I can’t stop buying these. I have really fine hair and these clips keep it held together perfectly.

7. Alice Brainstorm Chocolates – These are always a go-to. Perfect for a dose of focus and clarity in the afternoon, and they come in a cute and giftable tin.

8. Ogee Crystal Contour Collection – I’m not a big makeup girl, but when it’s time to look slightly more put together, I reach for this contour collection every time. It’s so easy to use, and the creamy consistency makes it really forgiving to blend out if you don’t do a perfect job. 

9. Paya Hylauranic Acid Gummies – There’s something about taking supplements in gummy form that’s just  more appealing. These taste great and make you glow from the inside out.

10. Look Optic Blue Light Glasses – Is mom staring at a screen for a lot of the day? Gift her blue light glasses to help with eye strain, and potentially help her get a better night’s rest!

At Haskill Creek, regenerative agriculture, plants, and leaving the earth better than we found it is at the core of what we believe. Those who have been following along with us since the beginning, know that we started out as a USDA Organic hemp & herb company, focused on regenerative farming and taking care of the land (and ourselves!). 

Through the last 5 years, we’ve reimagined Haskill Creek’s position in what all of that means–moving from a working farm & farm store to a self-care and wellness store focused on prioritizing partnerships with brands that were working for the same things that we care about. Which is why, on this Earth Day, we’re celebrating some of our favorite brands, who are making commitments like planting trees, using less plastic, cleaning up the world’s oceans and more. Read on to learn about some of the brands we carry at Haskill Creek, and what they’re doing not just today, but everyday, for our planet.

🌿 Top 10 Sustainable & Regenerative Brands to Celebrate This Earth Day

1. Plant People

• Certified B Corporation: Demonstrates commitment to high social and environmental standards.

• Carbon Neutral: Achieved 100% carbon neutrality across their supply chain.

• Reforestation Efforts: Partners with American Forests to plant a tree for every purchase, totaling over 150,000 trees planted.​

2. UpCircle Beauty

• Certified B Corporation: Recognized for sustainable and ethical business practices.

• Plastic Negative: Removes more plastic from the environment than it produces, in partnership with rePurpose Global.

• Innovative Upcycling: Utilizes upcycled ingredients like used coffee grounds and fruit stones in their products.

• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Employs 100% plastic-free packaging, including glass jars with aluminum lids.​

3. Moon Juice

• Regenerative Sourcing: Commits to regenerative practices and sustainable wild-harvesting.

• Eco-Conscious Packaging: Uses glass packaging with compostable refill pouches made from renewable plant sources; transitioning to plant-based lids.​

4. Diaspora Co.

• Support for Regenerative Agriculture: Donated 10% of Black Friday sales to the Farm Worker Fund, aiding farmworkers' health and promoting regenerative agriculture.​

5. OSEA

• Sustainable Packaging: Transitioning to product pumps and lids made from post-consumer recycled materials, aiming for at least 50% PCR content across all plastic components.​

6. west~bourne

• Regenerative Agriculture: Partners with regenerative farmers and family-run businesses to source ingredients that promote soil health and biodiversity.

• Zero-Waste Philosophy: Originated as a zero-waste restaurant and continues to prioritize waste reduction in its product line.

• Carbon Offset Initiatives: Offsets the carbon footprint of all orders by purchasing climate credits through The Garcia River Forest Project, which protects California's Redwood Forest.

• Sustainable Packaging: Utilizes recyclable and compostable materials to minimize environmental impact.

7. Branch Basics

• Non-Toxic, Plant-Based Cleaning Products: Offers biodegradable cleaning solutions free from harmful chemicals.

• Sustainable Packaging: Utilizes refillable bottles and concentrates to minimize waste.

• Certifications: Holds Made Safe, EWG Verified, and Leaping Bunny certifications, ensuring safety and ethical practices.​

8. Kinfield

• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Prioritizes recyclable materials and offers a recycling program with TerraCycle.

• Carbon-Conscious Production: Tracks and offsets carbon emissions from corporate travel.

• Social Responsibility: Donates 2% of profits to organizations supporting access to the outdoors and environmental responsibility.​

9. Rishi Tea & Botanicals

• USDA Organic Certified: Sources teas grown without the use of agrichemicals, promoting environmental health.

• Direct Trade: Works directly with growers to ensure sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.

• Commitment to Sustainability: Supports growers who cultivate ecologically sustainable gardens in remote locations around the world.​

10. Rahua

• Sustainable Sourcing: Utilizes ingredients sourced from the Amazon rainforest through sustainable and ethical practices.

• Environmental Commitment: Supports the preservation of the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous communities.

I’m a big fan of Kroma Wellness–I’ve done their cleanse twice, and I regularly incorporate their matcha, porridge, protein powder, and broths into my daily life. I also really enjoy their superfood lattes, although admittedly I find myself reaching for them less often than their other offerings. So, when I saw this recipe pop up in my email that used their Spicy Passion Latte mix, it immediately sparked my attention. Not only did it sound delicious, but it also looked easy. Big thumbs up for both of those things from me.

With ingredients that I already had in my pantry, I was able to make these in between meetings, and they did not disappoint! Even my kids enjoyed them. My one disclaimer would be that I should have probably refrigerated the mix even longer than I did–the recipe calls for 30 minutes or until “medium hard”. I found myself rolling them into balls when I thought the mix was “medium-hard” but it was clearly not, because my balls turned out more like those haystack cookies… (Speaking of which… those are also delicous… might need to whip a healthier version of those out next!) 

Nevertheless, they turned out delicious and I would absolutely make them again. Plus, my kids also gave them a thumbs up, which is a win all around. 

Here’s the recipe: 

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 C Coconut oil, melted

• 1/2 C Almond butter, preferably raw

• 2 T Cacao Powder

• 2.5 T Kroma Spicy Passion Latte

• Generous pinch of sea salt

• 1/8 tsp Chili powder, or a few pinches of cayenne (optional for added spice)

• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon

• 1 tsp Vanilla extract

• 1 T Maple syrup

• 2-3 drops liquid monk fruit (I did not add this) 

• Cacao nibs, cacao powder, & coconut flakes for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a food processor, blend coconut oil, almond butter, cacao powder, Kroma Spicy Passion, and sea salt until smooth.

2. Add cinnamon, chili powder, vanilla extract, and maple syrup. Blend.

3. Taste, and add a few drops of liquid monk fruit if more sweetness is desired.

4. Pour mixture in a bowl, and refrigerate for approximately 30 minutes until medium-firm. You want it to be soft enough to roll into balls.

5. Using approximately 1.5 T mixture per truffle, roll into balls and cover with desired topping.

6. Ideally refrigerate for about 15 minutes before serving, and keep refrigerated.

7. ENJOY!!

Here’s a link to the original post over on Kroma’s site.

Currently reading: Dream State by Eric Puchner

(Scroll down for join link!)

We love getting book recommendations from our friends and family, and are always trying to carve out more time to read! I personally love reading, but I find it hard to prioritize when there are so many things pulling us in all types of directions.

Every year it seems like “reading more” is on my perpetual to-do list. Whether it’s beach reads, books that keep me learning, or honestly even just reading novels to my kids on a consistent basis, it’s always in the back of my mind.

One of the things we all love about Haskill Creek is the wonderful community that we have–first born out of our summer events series supporting Save Farmland 3 years ago, and continued on with painting classes, wreath making, in-store shopping events and more! We’re always looking for more opportunities for gathering, and in the spirit of both community and self-care in the form of reading, the Haskill Creek Book Club was born.

Now, we’re realists and we know that everyone’s lives are busy, so we’re not committing to more than one book a quarter–a pace with which we hope most of you are comfortable with! After we read the book, we’ll host a little get together with snacks and wine, where we can talk about what we liked and didn’t like, explore characters more deeply and talk about themes and plotlines, AND most importantly get together for a fun evening. 

Whether you’re looking for more motivation and shared accountability for picking up more books, inspiration for novels you may not have otherwise read, or want to add a fun night to your social calendar after you’re done reading, you’ve come to the right place!

So far, we’ve read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (our late-summer pick for 2024), and North Woods by Daniel Mason (we’re meeting next week–February 6, 2025–to discuss this one, you can RSVP here!) And it’s been wonderful to see interest from lots of members of our community.

If you’re interested in joining the Haskill Creek Book Club, please sign up here and we’ll send you personal updates.

Here at Haskill Creek we like to take a realistic approach to resolutions and swaps. Because yes, we are a self-care store that specializes in non-toxic and clean ingredients, but we also realize that stressing over every detail in your life is also the opposite of self-care. (Plus, that’s what our job is… we make sure that we do the stressing so that you don’t have to!) 

2025 is just around the corner, so it’s only fitting that we started thinking about our resolutions for this year. When we were thinking about how we wanted to tackle the topic this year, we thought we’d take a look at what the top New Years resolutions are, and put a Haskill twist on it. 

Related–Carrie recently introduced me to The Mingle Project, which is an initiative by Michael Smerconish, a Sirius XM radio and CNN television host, aimed at addressing societal polarization by encouraging individuals to engage with those holding different perspectives. His belief is that increased interaction among diverse groups can help bridge societal divides. 

In other words–if you spend time listening to people who have differing opinions or experiences than you do, you can gain respect and understanding for their worldview–even if you disagree or if it doesn’t align with yours. This seems obvious, but since there have been so many polarizing events in the past few years, we thought it was a good reminder.

So, we’re tackling our first two resolutions in this series with that lens in mind. Traveling more, and spending time with family and friends, can both be opportunities to gain other perspectives and go into the year with an open mind.

Resolution: Travel More

When we were talking about this list of resolutions, we were joking that this could actually be “Travel Less” if you’re like many of us who live in a large rural state and have kids in travel sports–ha! 

Joking aside, if your goal is to travel more, a great way to do this is to first define what that means for you. 

• Does it mean traveling close, and reserving more camp spots with your family? 

• Does it mean saving up for a big trip you’ve been wanting to take (See, Resolution: Save More Money)

• Is it a long weekend away with friends?

  For me, “traveling more” this year looks like this:

• A long weekend in California with girlfriends

• A family ski trip somewhere that’s not Whitefish (TBD, send recommendations my way!)

• Camping at least 5 times – Father’s Day at Lake Koocanusa and Old Salt Festival are on the books

• Heading somewhere warm for Thanksgiving–recommendations welcome here as well!

Top Tips for accomplishing this resolution:

• BOOK THE TRIP. No seriously, book a flight, or a camp spot, or an airbnb… and force yourself to commit the time.

• Make a financial plan–start saving now if you’re going on a trip that’s going to cost significantly more than your day-to-day budget allows, so that you’re not stressed about finances leading up to (or during) your trip. (A financial tracker or journal can help with this.)

• Put it on the calendar–mark days, weeks or weekends off on your calendar that you know will be a good fit for your schedule, and commit to them even if you don’t know where you’re going.

• Stay inspired! I love following travelers on Instagram for unique places or tips & tricks for traveling with family. Because we like to ski and camp, and we have kids, I follow people who fit that mold. But doing a quick search for places or topics that you’re interested in on Instagram typically yields tons and tons of inspiration!

Resolution: Spend more time with family & friends

We know just as well as anyone that life can get busy–and while it’s hilarious to see the memes and videos about mom-friends trying to schedule a time to get together (we’ll see you in April!), spending time with friends and family is really important to so many of us, and I’m definitely working on carving out more quality time with mine!

Here are some ideas for spending more quality time with those you love, and what I’m incorporating into my goals for 2025.

– Schedule Regular Meetups: Plan recurring activities like Sunday brunches, game nights, or outdoor walks.

This is definitely one I’m looking to do more of this year–I find that if I can make something a part of my schedule, and something that everyone is committed to and expects, it’s so much easier to make it happen than one-offs! Two that I’m specifically looking to incorporate are family game night on a weekly basis, (we love playing family games, my kids got Catan Junior for Christmas and it’s been a hit!) and Sunday morning walks (when the weather cooperates!). I feel so much better when I start my day with a walk, and Sunday mornings I actually have time to carve out a nice long walk, plus it’s a great way to catch up with friends!

-Prioritize One-on-One Time: Spend individual time with close family members or friends

I’m really awful at this, but this year I’m committing myself to doing one “date” a month with each of my kids individually, plus committing to more actual date nights with my husband–it’s SO easy to get swept up in the day to day and not carve out individual time. Adding it to my list!

-Unplug and be present: Put away phones and other distractions during social time.

Obvious, but also hard to do. I’m committing to putting my phone away for certain hours in my morning and evening so that I can be present with my family and friends, and not distracted by *literally everything* on my phone.

-Take a trip together: Plan a vacation, weekend getaway, or even a day trip to spend uninterrupted time with loved ones.

This is one of my favorite ways to spend quality time with friends and family. I find when everyone is removed from their day-to-day activities and responsibilities, it’s so much easier to unplug and spend quality time with whoever you’re traveling with. We already plan trips with our family and friends, but looking forward to continuing this in the New Year!

Here are some other ideas, in case you’re still looking for inspiration:

– Plan Group Activities: Host dinners, movie nights, or outdoor adventures that bring everyone together. Consider themed gatherings or potlucks to make it fun and easy for everyone to contribute.

– Combine Quality Time with Everyday Tasks: Cook meals together, run errands, or exercise as a way to bond while accomplishing tasks. Turn mundane activities into opportunities to connect.

– Start New Traditions: Create annual or seasonal traditions like a summer barbecue, holiday cookie swap, or family game tournament. Look for opportunities to make memories that become cherished rituals.

– Learn Something New Together: Take a cooking class, learn a new sport, or join a workshop with friends or family.

– Celebrate Milestones and Small Wins: Acknowledge birthdays, promotions, anniversaries, and other special moments with small celebrations. Don’t wait for big events—find reasons to celebrate everyday moments.

– Be Spontaneous: Say “yes” to unexpected invitations or surprise loved ones with an impromptu visit or outing.

– Start a Group Project: Work on a photo album, garden, or DIY project together.