Hi there! Wishing everyone an amazing Self-Care Sunday. And I’ll say it again, if you are having your “Self-Care Sunday” any other day of the week, I wish you a wonderful Self-Care Day.
The ‘Self-Care Sundays’ articles were inspired by people who work in the service industry, like me. However, they also serve as a guide for what to do in Savannah on a Sunday!
Given that many restaurants and attractions are closed on Sundays in Savannah, it can sometimes be tricky to find activities for the day. If you are new here, start with my Guide to Self-Care Sundays to set yourself up for success and learn what Self-Care Sundays are all about!
It’s been a long and hard week (get your mind out of the gutter), but Sunday is a day of renewal, so this Sunday I want to make it count.
Here are my three goals for this Self-Care Sunday:
- Do something for my physical and emotional health, like yoga, a long walk, or go for a swim.
- Get some groceries for the week and attempt to meal prep.
- Have one luxurious but reasonably priced treat.
Meal Prep for Mental Health.
Sometimes, when you give your whole week to your service industry job, being productive on your day off is difficult.
The service industry is often emotionally draining: You need to smile and give your best energy to strangers for countless hours at a time.
I love the restaurant where I currently bartend, but it took me years to get here. It was like a bunch of bad dates and toxic relationships until I finally found “The One.”
Even bartending in some of the best fine dining restaurants in this city, I often encountered a toxic culture laced with all kinds of drama. It was exhausting. It is often the nature of the job that creates the urgent need to take a day and empty out all the anxiety in your mind.
In search of fresh and vibrant ingredients, I highly recommend visiting the Forsyth Park Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. It makes Sunday meal prep way more exciting, knowing you got your fresh produce from local farms.
I always recommend shopping seasonal veggies for the best flavors too! And the best prices. Shopping in season is always more affordable. But, if you didn’t get a chance to shop the market, the selection of organic produce at Brighter Day is often very good.
| BRIGHTER DAY NATURAL FOODS |
|---|
| 📍 1102 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31401 📞(912) 236-4703 🌎 https://brighterdayfoods.com/ |
| Perfect little store for natural foods, clean beauty products, organic supplements and deli. |
I think that’s the only place where I have seen fresh turmeric on a regular basis. After getting the bright yellow spice in the spice aisle at the grocery shop my whole life, I didn’t even know what it was. It looks like weird ginger—they are related roots, after all.
If you are into green juices like me, adding a piece of fresh turmeric is a super-boost for your immune system and energy! Here’s a super quick recipe for a green juice: 1 celery bunch, 3 green apples, 2 pieces of ginger (unpeeled), one piece of turmeric, 1 cucumber, half a broccoli crown, juice of 3 limes. All veggies raw, put them thru a juicer and enjoy fresh. It yields 2 large glasses of yummy renewing green juice, for you and someone you love
Honestly, eating all those veggies doesn’t sound nearly as appealing to me as having that refreshing juice. Brighter Day also sells fresh-made peanut and almond butter! No palm oil or additives, just nuts. I get this when I make this West African Peanut Soup, which is ridiculously good. Try it.
I also buy my garlic only at Brighter Day. I’m so particular about my garlic; it has to be organic and not deformed or have secret mini cloves.
These are my life goals: Perfect garlic bulbs.
You would think I was some kind of health freak if I didn’t indulge in a glass of champagne at any given opportunity. But what can I say, life is a balancing act.
Yoga for Aching Bartenders.
After shopping and meal prepping two veggie lasagnas and three soups—all in the freezer for a week of meals—I’ve decided that today I’m taking a yoga class at the Savannah Yoga Center.
| SAVANNAH YOGA CENTER AND ORDINARY MAGIC SHOP |
|---|
| 📍 509 Barnard St, Savannah, GA 31401 📞 (912) 232-2994 🌎 Savannah Yoga Center |
| Beautiful locally owned yoga studio connected to a magical shop. |
A rare treat, but sometimes necessary for a new burst of inspiration.
This has been my go-to yoga studio since I moved here in 2005. They used to be located on Bull Street and Anderson Street for years, which is a noisy and busy intersection. But now they moved to the quieter and more peaceful Barnard Street.
To be truthful, I was always intimidated by these super flexible teachers with goddess vibes, but they have always been so welcoming and amazing. I HIGHLY recommend taking a class at this studio. It has a small staff, and it is a local business owned by Kelley Boyd. I have never personally met her, but I am a super fan of her studio and her magical shop.
Now that they have moved to Barnard Street, their space is more beautiful than ever. The studio room is connected to their Ordinary Magic shop, where you can buy crystals, tarot cards, candles, incense, and everything to create a magic yoga space at home.
This is one of Savannah’s unique shops where you can find items that normally can’t be found anywhere else. They even offer tarot card reading sessions.
I have always admired the artwork portrayed in tarot cards, but that’s as far as I go.
While I’m not personally into tarot and crystals, I know that yoga does wonders for a bartender who needs to carry wine boxes, change kegs, and shake cocktails all week. Yoga is magic healing for the body without drugs.
They offer live online classes from $10 and in-studio classes for $22. I remember when their classes used to be $25, but they lowered their price to make it more accessible to the community.
They currently have a deal of $59 for three weeks of unlimited yoga for Savannah locals if you want to try all their classes and get serious about your yoga. A generous deal and a great opportunity!
They even offer a 10-class pass for $195 if you want to try 10 classes for $19.50 each. If you don’t want to commit to anything, just drop in for the $22 class price, which is what I usually do since I practice yoga at home with YouTube videos and candles. I buy my candles and incense from the Ordinary Magic shop.
Bubbles for Less
After having my Sunday yoga class and being so productive, I am urgently craving a treat.
You remember the Cheers song? “Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name…” I have a couple of places like this in Savannah: one of them is Circa 1875, the other one is Ardsley Station.
| ARDSLEY STATION |
|---|
| 📍 102 E Victory Dr, Savannah, GA 31405 📞 (912) 777-5888 🌎 https://ardsleystation.com/ |
| Friendly local eatery with amazing specials and delicious offerings. |
Ardsley Station has delicious food, a great vibe, and they are always so nice. They always greet you with a smile. It is reasonably priced, and the space is lovely. The building is where The Atlantic used to be back in the day, a beloved neighborhood restaurant.
Not the same following or restaurant, but i have to say, it hasn’t lost that magic.
I can’t hide my love for Ardsley Station; you would think they are sponsoring this post. No sponsorship, all me. True love. These are just my insider tips, between us friends: Ardsley has happy hour EVERY DAY. Twice a day. That’s what I call generous.
There’s something special about booking a vacation, paying bills, making grocery lists, or even paying taxes that just makes it better if you are having a glass of sparkling wine at the bar while you do it. One time, we booked an entire trip to Europe while sipping cocktails and sparkling wine at this bar.
We tipsily booked flights, Airbnbs, and everything else. I’m surprised we didn’t end up somewhere remote in Eastern Europe… that would have been fun too!
By now, I have tried almost every appetizer and other menu offerings. Needless to say, this is my go-to place.
PRO TIP: If you are nursing a hangover from overindulging Saturday night, go here at 3 p.m. on Sunday and get their poutine app on happy hour and a light beer. Not only is it very generously portioned, but it is THE CURE.
Wishing you an amazing Self-Care Sunday and hope today is super fulfilling for you! If you feel like spending money on a class or go out for a drink and meal, here are some ideas for a wonderful Self-Care Sunday on a budget.
Love always,
Vanessa
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