The Intake

Editor’s Letter

I know how much you can learn from an intake. The right questions, asked well, tell you everything. So that’s what this is. The Intake is my new interview series. I’m asking people I find genuinely interesting and would want to sit next to at dinner, to fill out a chart. Their habits, their health, their secrets to well-being.

Jeannette is someone who has quietly figured out that the good life isn’t built by doing more, but by paying closer attention to what already matters. Through motherhood, building ElliotCole, and the habits she’s cultivated along the way, she’s learned that trusting yourself is often the first step toward creating a life that feels truly your own.

Jeannette Aranda is a content creator, founder of ElliotCole, and mother of two boys who has built a career around slowing down enough to notice the beauty in everyday life. Whether she’s creating, traveling, or simply making breakfast at home, she’s most interested in helping people feel more connected to themselves, the people they love, and the lives they’re already living.

CHIEF COMPLAINT

Tell me about something you were struggling with and finally figured out? Mental, physical, logistical.

For years, I thought peace would come from controlling everything, having the perfect routine, perfect relationship, perfect plan. What I’ve learned is that peace actually comes from trusting myself. The less I’ve tried to force outcomes, the more life has surprised me in the best ways.

HISTORY

Name 3 small habits that have had the biggest impact on your well-being.

• Walking every day, no matter what.

• Protecting quiet mornings before the world wakes up.

• Spending less time trying to optimize life and more time actually living it.

Tell us about a time you trusted your gut and it was right.

Leaving a marriage that no longer aligned with the life I wanted. It was terrifying, but every year since has confirmed that choosing myself was the beginning of everything better.

DIET & LIFESTYLE

Call time. Do you set an alarm? If so, what time? Walk me through your morning, what happens before anyone else needs something from you?

I usually wake up around 6-7am before my boys are up. I drink water, take a few supplements, make an espresso with whole milk and have quiet time before work. I like to ease into work instead of rushing into it. Those first quiet moments really set the tone for my day.

Breakfast. Yes or no, and if so what?

I usually reach for a bar these days. Then a couple hours later I like to eat eggs and toast.

Lunch. What’s feeding you lately? Books, food, people, share all of it.

I love a good steak with cheese, crackers, olives.. fruit. A little bit of everything.

Dinner. Dining in or eating out? 5pm or 8pm reservation? ? Who’s at your table and what are you eating and drinking?

I like an early dinner. 5:30-6pm is ideal. Burgers, steak, potatoes, rice, etc. wholesome foods are my go to.

Bedtime.

I’m pretty protective of my evenings now. Magnesium, skincare, reading something light, phone down earlier than I used to, and getting into bed feeling like I’ve actually ended my day instead of carrying it with me.

CURRENT HABITS

What does your exercise routine look like and has it changed over the years?

It’s changed a lot. I used to think working out had to be intense. Now it’s Pilates, long walks and movement that leaves me feeling better instead of depleted.

What do you eat with zero guilt? You know my philosophy. Indulge. Rest. Digest.

Bread with French butter.

Chocolate.

A burger after a beach day.

Anything shared around a table with people I love.

What’s always in your bag?

Lip balm, hand cream, sunglasses, headphones, a fragrance roller, and usually some kind of snack for me or my kids.

REVIEW OF SYSTEMS

What’s on your nightstand? And what’s in it?

A book I’m slowly reading, water, magnesium, a journal, and whichever ElliotCole fragrance I’m reaching for most that week.

A wellness purchase you were skeptical about and then completely converted by.

Red light mask.. I love it.

The product you’d be devastated if they discontinued.

Osea body oil.

Something that reminds you the world is a soft place.

Watching my boys doing anything.

A stranger helping someone.

Music in a city you’ve never been to.

Dogs choosing you for no reason.

Tiny moments that remind you people are generally good.

SOCIAL HISTORY

Name a cool girl you want to be like.

I’ve stopped trying to be like anyone else. The women I admire most have one thing in common.. they’re completely themselves.

Something uncool you think is actually cool.

Going to bed early.

Keeping your phone away at dinner.

Looking up.

Talking to strangers.

Handwritten notes.

Best gift you’ve ever gave.

Creating ElliotCole. It started as something deeply personal, and seeing it become part of other people’s lives has been the greatest gift I could give.

Best gift you’ve ever received.

My boys.

Everything else is a bonus.

RAPID FIRE

Your #1 secret to becoming a well being:

Trust yourself.

Favorite way to stay warm:

Sunshine. Coffee in hand. Sweater on.

Last thing that made you laugh out loud:

One of the memes I saved last.

Burger order:

Classic cheeseburger, fries and ketchup.

Guilty pleasure TV show:

The office.

Favorite mug:

One that’s slightly oversized, a little imperfect, and somehow makes everything taste better.

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