This is the year to avoid that endless loop of making and breaking resolutions by making a commitment to be good to yourself. It’s not just about getting healthy — which is always a good resolve — but being your own best friend. Doing so often takes commitment and sometimes that’s easier said than done, but hopefully these ideas will set you up for success in your new year.
Skin So Smooth
Say so-long to crow’s feet — or at least lessen those superfluous smile lines — with a little help from Dr. Wendy’s Improved Wrinkle Warrior, a non-greasy face moisturizer blended with aloe vera and concentrated herbal extracts that’s pH-balanced and safe for sensitive skin. The lightly fragrant lotion is formulated by College Station resident Dr. Wendy Keeney-Kennicutt, a.k.a., The Sacandaga Herbalist, who retired from Texas A&M University after teaching chemistry for 30 years. Wrinkle Warrior is designed to be applied in the morning and at night to rejuvenate and rehydrate the skin and help eliminate blemishes; it also can be applied topically as a body cream to soothe irritated and chapped skin. $8.99.
Village Foods & Pharmacy 3030 E. 29th Street, Bryan (979) 846-8199 villagefoodsrx.com wendytheherbalist.com 1-866-264-4932
Clean Up!
Those who love to splurge on smelly soaps can choose from more than 50 fragrances, including seasonal scents and Aggie-inspired aromas, with imaginative names like Kraken, to smell like cedarwood and mythology; Mermaid, which pairs flowers and deep sea diving; and Hey Headache, combining mint with a morning breeze — a welcome respite after an overindulgent night on the town. Made for both men and women, these cruelty-free, plant-based bath products are kind to your skin, made with essential oils, rosewater, witch hazel, epsom salt, or other all-natural ingredients. In addition to their signature swirly bar soaps, products include bath oil, bath bombs, whipped body butter, shave soap, beard oil, and laundry soap. Can’t decide? Try a Mystery Box — a $15 value for $7 — filled with four samples, including a half-bar of soap and a surprise assortment of other delightfully odiferous treats.
Buff City Soap 11667 FM 2154 Suite 600, College Station (979) 703-1070 buffcitysoap.com
Make Music!
No matter what your age, it’s never too late to learn to sing or pick up an instrument for fun. The String & Horn, a 30-year-old music shop in downtown Bryan, offers private lessons or makes teacher recommendations for nearly all instruments, including guitar, woodwinds, brass, piano, and violin, and carries helpful books and beginner instruments that are affordable and durable. Starter kits include an instrument, accessories, and a how-to book in order to start your musical journey. The benefits are many, including increased coordination, discipline, patience, memory skills, and self-confidence. While you may never set foot on a stage, you’ll likely find joy and satisfaction from entertaining yourself at leisure.
The String & Horn Shop 119 North Main Street, Bryan (979) 779-8548 stringandhornshop.com
Eat Local!
Investing in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is one way to make sure you
eat your veggies, and it’s a fun way to expand your palate with new-to-you produce you might not otherwise try. By subscribing to a CSA, members help local farmers by purchasing a share of their harvest upfront, and in return, they receive a regular box of fresh, seasonal produce. The Farm at Millican Reserve offers CSA boxes that can feed, on average, a family of four. Subscribers can state their preferences or receive a random selection that contains six to nine different seasonal veggies, fruits, and herbs, which members can pick up at the farm or at the Brazos Valley Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. This winter, look forward to leafy greens and root crops, such as arugula, bok choy, beets, turnips, or watermelon radish. $27 per share; $32 one-time surplus shares may also be available for purchase.
The Farm at Millican Reserve 4349 High Prairie Road, College Station (832) 258-4496 millicanreserve.com/the-farm
Get Out!
Stretch your legs, clear your mind, and breathe in the fresh air! It’s only a short drive from B/CS to Lake Bryan where visitors can explore the great outdoors by day or set up camp and sleep under the stars. Hike the moderately trafficked loop trail that’s 11.2 miles long or ride challenging 21-mile bike trails, developed by the Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association (BVMBA). Visitors can also splash around the lake in a boat, kayak or paddleboard (available for rent), and go fishing for catfish or sunfish. During the winter, birdwatchers can be on the lookout for waterfowl and American white pelicans in large numbers. The lake, owned and operated by Bryan Texas Utilities (BTU), is open 365 days a year. $75 annual pass; $5 day pass.
Lake Bryan8200 Sandy Point Road, Bryan (979) 775-7800 lakebryan.com
