Behind the Picks

Welcome to Rooted & Refined Living, a destination for curated, high-quality products designed to elevate your sensory experiences. Our carefully researched and handpicked collection features recommendations from a selection of products that are organic, fair trade, craft based, small batch, handcrafted, and other products made with love and care you can only experience from individually owned or small business. Each product has been personally researched and is used as a regular item within our household, giving you the assurance that it will provide the same sensory experience my family and I enjoy.

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Whether you're a connoisseur, a foodie, or simply seeking the best sensory experiences, our recommendations are crafted to delight and elevate your culinary and personal journey.

Explore our site to discover the finest products that promise authenticity, flavor, and a touch of luxury in every bite, sip, touch, sight, and even sound (like the satisfying snap of breaking a piece of small batch dark chocolate).

I created Rooted & Refined Living to help people cut through all of the noise when trying to uplevel their sensory experiences in the areas of food and other household items. The concept is- I have already performed the research and found these products to be the best of the best and want to share the same sensory experience I feel when I use these products.

I then started to think about why these sensory experiences, the feeling of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, is resonating more with me now than ever before.

The more I think about it, the more I believe it is a counter to the speed in which the world is living today- AI, digital, layoffs, crazy news headlines, 2 very polarizing sets of political views (especially here in the US but really all over the world), and the list goes on and on.

So many people stop for their cup of coffee at their local coffee place for some "me time" and some view it as a bit of a meditative experience, a sense of quiet in a crazy world, even if you are getting your coffee in the middle of Times Square in New York City.

My hope is that you find the same joy, relaxation, and even meditative experience when using the products I am recommending.

I hope you enjoy.

Rooted & Refined Living has been ideating around in my mind for quite some time…years to be exact. I have found that I am highly passionate about the products that are highlighted in each story. Each product is used on a daily basis by my family and me, and I wanted to have the opportunity to share with everyone else.

It wasn't until a trip to Kauai where my wife, Mary Beth and son, Michael, went on a tour of a cacao farm and had an amazing time. Michael pushed me to share my passion and thus, Rooted & Refined Living was created.

Most lifestyle and product recommendation sites give you endless options but little personal connection. Rooted and Refined Living is different because I share my own stories, the reasons behind my product choices, and how they have shaped my experiences. My goal is for you to discover products in a more meaningful way, connect with them through my journey, and easily try them yourself through direct vendor links or Amazon.

When we were kids, we loved playing in the pool and rolling down the hill in the grass. As adults, we often crave those sensory experiences, but life is often times moving too quickly.

Elevating your sensory experience means allowing you to take the time to enjoy a product based on one or more of your five senses. This could be how the feel of a bath towel makes you feel like you are vacations at luxury hotel or the wine glass that makes a good wine smell and taste great.

Sensory lifestyle stories are to give some emotional tie to a product. For example, I love maple syrup and real maple syrup tastes great. But as of now, they are all the same to me. If I was able to tie a story to one of the maple syrup's I have used, it would give more meaning to me. It's the same way a song resonates with a person based on a time period or experience that was tied to the song.

All of the products are personally used by me and my family. Some of them we have been using for 10+ years and a few for a few months now.