Self-Care Storyteller Alex Elle on Her Favorite Cookbook (It’s Ours Too!)
Welcome to Feel Good Five, where we ask people to share the stuff that helps them feel their best.
Self-care is kind of Alex Elle’s thing. When we asked the D.C.-based storyteller and wellness consultant what wellness really means to her, she had this to say: “It means taking care of myself so that I can take care of those around me. Filling up myself, so I can pour into others.”
Alex’s primary self-care practice is writing, but she’s also the host of the Hey, Girl. podcast, the creator of Today I Affirm: A Journal That Nurtures Self Care, and a vocal advocate for wellness in its many forms. A quick scroll through Alex’s Instagram feed is like a therapy session you didn’t know you needed, filled with uplifting messages and mantras to live by.
The mantra that’s most resonating with her right now? I forgive myself for shrinking into boxes that do not belong to me. “It links back to wellness in general — being able to self forgive for whatever reason, big or small, is something that a lot of folks have trouble doing,” says Alex.
Alex has a full life, carving out time for her husband and two daughters, Charleigh and Ila, inspiring her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, and playing host to a captive podcast audience. But we asked her for her five favorite ways to pause for a second and take care of herself. Here are her picks.
One of the things I just added to my kitchen is Samin Nosrat’s cookbook, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. I love it so much and I love her show on Netflix. Her book in general has helped me kind of settle into having fun in the kitchen. I love to cook, but I’m not big into recipes all the time unless I’m baking. Her book gives me the freedom to taste and test and have fun. It’s a must in the kitchen.
2. Nespresso
I absolutely love this little thing. It’s small — the most basic version they have. I pop my pod in, hit a button, have my breakfast, and my latte is waiting for me. It’s a game-changer and something that really gives me joy. I like coffee and technology and being able to intersect the two.
3. Ila Sea Salt
I have this sea salt by Ila. It’s a huge 35-ounce jar and I can use it for everything. It was definitely a coincidence, but Ila is actually my youngest daughter’s name. My husband named Ila and it’s spelled the same. We thought we had to add that to the kitchen. I do a lot of baking where I use it, but it’s also great for seasoning meat, pancakes. Just a little bit.
Shameless plug here, but my new Today I Affirm journal is out. It came out on the first of this year. It’s a journal that nurtures self-care. I created it out of a need for quick and easy access to my writing practice. When I’m having coffee and getting my oldest daughter’s breakfast together, it’s a way that we can bond and I can start my day with a clear mind. It’s a guided journal split into three sections: journal prompts, affirmation charting, and self-love letters. My quotes are intertwined. It explains to the writer how they can use the journal in a way that’s not “Dear Diary.”
I love essential oils in my water. I use doTERRA. They’re one of the only essential oils that are safe for ingestion. I have ginger and lemon and put one drop each into a liter of water and sip on it throughout the day. It’s a big part of my day that leaves me feeling refreshed. It’s a holistic pick-me-up.