5 Things You Can Do To Spread Kindness & Not Corona

1. Wash your hands — This is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick, and is the easiest thing to do! Buy yourself a big ol’ soap that smells good and wash those puppies for at LEAST 20 seconds. I’ve heard that singing Happy Birthday twice equates to 20 seconds, so have a little concert in your bathroom, make it fun and scrub those hands!

2. Use hand sanitizer — This is such an easy addition to your every day life, y’all. It is a great option for when you are somewhere that does not have soap and water for you to wash your hands. My faves at Muse Health are dedicated to helping people live healthier, happier lives, with their hand sanitizers! Their products contain 62% alcohol, backed by clinical research, made from only high quality ingredients, are FDA and CDC approved and never tested on animals. 🙌🏻 Their hand sanitizer contains glycerin and vitamins so it doesn’t dry out your skin, plus the packaging is adorable and it is the perfect size for me to carry in my purse to make sure I always have it on hand.

3. Be kind to everyone — Give an extra compliment a day. Say hi to a stranger. Wave when you walk past someone on a walk. Leave a treat/note outside for your mail delivery person. Pay for someone’s food in the drive-thru. Be patient at the grocery store and let someone older than you go before you. Tell someone you love something you adore about them. Call your grandparents. Check in on your pals. Spread joy on social media. Make a sign and put it in your window for people to see as they walk by.

4. Send a care package to an essential worker in your life — Whether it’s a letter, a thoughtful card, a gift card for them to order some food to their job or home, a fun little venmo, or a legitimate care package filled with some fun treats, try doing something extra kind for essential workers during this time. I receive love through words of affirmation and gifts, and while not everyone receives love this way, getting sent some treats is a guaranteed way to make someone smile. My friends at Muse Health are offering a discounted 4-pack of their hand sanitizer which is perfect for sharing and gifting, PLUS, don’t forget, you can use my code: MuseShelby for 20% off through July 31st!

5. Wear a mask + don’t touch your face — This one is self-explanatory, but hey, some people still are not wearing masks. Even if your city/state has not made it mandatory for you to wear a mask, just do it anyway. This is the simplest thing you can do right now to protect yourself and others. If you feel inconvenienced by the thought of having to wear a piece of cloth on your face, think about why that is, and get over it. 👍🏻 Also, keep your hands away from your face. As someone who used to chronically bite my nails (thanks, anxiety), I know that this can be hard, but this is KEY to preventing the spread of Coronavirus.

REMINDER: My friends at Muse Health are angels and gave me a discount code for y’all to purchase some hand sanitizers for yourselves or for an essential worker! The code MuseShelby will get ya 20% off through July 31st! 🧡 Go, go, go getcha some!

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This post is sponsored by Muse Health. All opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Muse Health.

Why ZeroWater Is My Water Filter of Choice

Okay, call me naive all you want, but I had NO idea how many dissolved solids are in our water, because I live in Austin where the tap water is very much drinkable and typically tastes decent. However, there are compounds like minerals, salts and organic compounds that are dissolved into water through contact with rock and other surfaces. These dissolved solids can be things like calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium chloride and sulfides (which are compounds frequently found in groundwater supplies). Once I found this out, I went on a hunt to figure out just how many TDS (total dissolved solids) were in the water I drink on the daily.

When I’m not just quickly grabbing water from the tap, I’m usually drinking water from the water filter in my fridge. A few weeks ago, if you had asked me what water filter I used, I would’ve told you that I had two big standard Brita filters currently in my fridge. Now if you asked me, I’d tell you I use a ZeroWater filter. Seriously, I threw away my Brita filters. 🤗

Why’d I make the change? 

• ZeroWater has a 5 stage filter, while a standard Brita has a conventional 2 stage filter.

• ZeroWater has an ion exchange filtration system while Brita is a carbon based filter.

• The ZeroWater filter is NSF certified to remove lead and chromium, while a standard Brita filter is not.

• The ZeroWater filter removes 99.6% of dissolved solids while a standard Brita only removes about half. (WHAT)

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My ZeroWater filter came with a digital water tester to prove its statement of pure tasting water, as well as being NSF certified to reduce lead and chromium. Naturally, I tested Austin’s tap water, my friend’s built-in fridge filter, both of my standard Brita filters AND my brand new ZeroWater filter. You could definitely say I’m thorough. 🤷🏼‍♀️ The TDS digital readings were shocking, honestly. ZeroWater was the only filter that truly ‘zeroed’ out the water. The Brita water from their standard filter had a reading of 108, and Austin tap water had a reading of 138. 

August is National Water Quality Month, and while I consider myself someone who is VERY good at hydrating and drinking a lot of water, I really want to ensure that I am drinking the highest quality water possible — which is why I’ve partnered with ZeroWater (my new favorite water filter, seriously). I’ve made the choice to drink the highest quality and purest tasting water, which ZeroWater provides by removing virtually all the dissolved solids in my water. Knowing that I am consuming the purest tasting water, virtually free of all dissolved solids, makes ZeroWater the easy choice when it comes to water filtration systems. Please let me know if you have any questions at all or visit ZeroWater’s website for more information: https://www.zerowater.com/. 

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This post is sponsored by ZeroWater, but the opinions expressed here are my own.

AUSTIN HOTELS WITH POOL PASSES TO TAKE A DIP IN THIS SUMMER

Hi, friends! I am so excited to finally be doing this whole blog thing! I was always so worried that I didn’t have enough to say, or that my blog posts would get lost in a sea of other Austin-focused blog posts — but to hell with it, we’re goin’ for it! *blogger gal*

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By popular demand (and by popular I mean like a few people requested this, so, ya know, v popular demand) I ~pooled~ together *pun intended* a list of Austin hotel pools you can purchase day passes at for a good ol’ Summer dip. I have personally been to each of these and 10/10 recommend any of them on a hot Summer day (or any day in Texas, really).

Austin Motel

Location: 1220 S. Congress Ave

• $20 pool pass // half price on Sundays for $10

• Hours: 8am — 10pm

• Everyday — sold in person at the front desk, first come first serve — you can call ahead to ensure your spot, as the pool may occasionally be closed for a private event.

• Has both a pool bar + courtyard bar 

• No outside alcohol 

• Bring your own towel

• They have just introduced their new Splash Card — you can purchase one for $100 and it’s good for 10 swims.

Hotel Ella

Location: 1900 Rio Grande

• $25 pool pass

• Non-hotel guests: Monday — Thursday from 11am-5pm

• Pool passes include valet parking, pool towel + entry to the pool and courtyard.

• No outside food or beverage allowed. Poolside dining available for purchase, provided by Goodall's Kitchen.

• Pool passes may be reserved up to one week in advance by emailing concierge@hotelella.com.

South Congress Hotel

Location: 1603 S. Congress Ave

• $30 pool pass

• Non-hotel guests: Monday — Thursday, 11am – 5pm through September 3rd

• Each $30 pass includes: entry to the pool, pool bar + pool towels. 

• No outside food or beverage allowed. Poolside dining available for purchase, provided by Café No Sé. 

• Self-parking + valet service available.

• Reservations available up to one week in advance. To book your pool day, email concierge@southcongresshotel.com your name, party size, and requested date + time.

W Austin’s Wet Deck 

Location: 200 Lavaca Street

• $10 day passes 

• Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays — Fridays

• You can also access the Wet Deck with an appointment at Away Spa, or for free during happy hour starting at 5pm on weekdays. 
  

The LINE Austin

Location: 111 E Cesar Chavez St

• $25 weekday pool pass 

• Hours: 11 am to 10pm Monday — Thursday

• Parking validation is included.

• Pool passes are available for purchase at Dean’s One Trick Pony, one of the hotel’s restaurants.

• You can purchase cocktails and food from Dean’s poolside all day long.

• LAKESIDE INFINITY POOL. That’s all.

East Austin Hotel

Location: 1108 E. 6th Street

• $25 weekly pool pass (excluding Fridays + Saturdays)

• Hours: 11am — 7pm Monday through Thursday

• On Sundays, their retro-themed (think 1960’s Palm Springs) Summer Swell pool parties are $30 + are from 2pm — 6pm through Labor Day. There will be live music (whether a DJ or a band) each Sunday + food + drink specials. Other activities + pop-ups will vary each weekend.

• They have a poolside bar serving up delicious cocktails + food, as well as an upstairs bar called The Upside.

Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt 

Location: 605 Davis Street 

• $35 weekday pool pass

• Hours: Monday — Thursday 

• Poolside bar is open from 11am – Sundown

The Wayback

Location: 9601 Bee Caves Road

• $20 day pool pass

• Hours: 11am to 6pm Tuesday — Friday

• To make a reservation, call The Wayback at 512-520-9590.

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Location: 98 San Jacinto Blvd

• $60 day pool pass

• Hours: 7am to 10pm Monday — Friday

• A pool pass allows access to the pool, locker rooms, fitness center, eucalyptus steam rooms, towels + pool toys.

• Free frozen grapes and mini popsicle cocktails are offered throughout the day. 

• You can purchase your pool pass directly at the spa.

• Valet parking included

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Cheers to pools and cocktails and literally anything that helps with the Texas heat. Fingers crossed I run into some of y’all around town at these pools!

Note: You will most likely catch me at Hotel Ella, East Austin Hotel, or the LINE Hotel. Xo.