At our 2017 Rochester MN Moms Blog Contributor holiday party, we each brought a “favorite thing” gift to give to three other contributors and got to share what we loved about the item. One of our contributors brought a mindfulness/journaling magazine (see Bella Grace information below) that piqued my interest enough to prompt a visit to the magazine aisles at Barnes & Noble to get a closer look. I spent an hour reading through excerpts in many of the magazines (it turns out that there is a myriad of magazine choices in the mindfulness/lifestyle magazine category), and I found three that I purchased and enjoyed. I also gave two of these issues to my best friend Julie, so I’m including some of her perspective on Breathe and Bella Grace. These magazines each have different attributes that might make one the perfect fit for you!
Breathe magazine 
Breathe’s cover lists four themes: wellbeing, mindfulness, creativity, and escaping. The magazine’s contents are organized by those themes. Many of the magazine’s articles feature artwork rather than photographs, which my mind finds quite soothing. The pieces are long enough to feel substantial, but also a good length for before-bed reading if your brain has already started to slow down. Many articles (especially in the wellbeing section) include tips or steps to implement the suggestions from the article, which my friend Julie noted made it feel “actionable” to her. Advertisement-free, other than information on how to subscribe to the magazine.
$13.99 cover price
$99.50 annual international subscription, which includes 9 issues
Published in the UK, US readers can find Breathe in Barnes & Noble as well as select other stockists (I recently saw it locally at Fresh Thyme).
In the Moment presents itself in a way that should feel familiar to many US magazine readers. The are four themes found within In the Moment: wellbeing, creating, living, escaping. Articles are shorter, sometimes with more than one feature on each page. The issue I purchased included a tear-out mini magazine and a booklet titled “A Month of Happy Notes: 32 Beautiful Affirmation Notelets to Tear Out & Share.” In the Moment has advertising similar to many typical magazines, featuring products and services outside of their own magazine subscriptions.
$13.99 cover price
$49.95 annual subscription, which includes 13 issues
Published in the UK, In the Moment is sold in the US at Barnes & Noble.
Bella Grace 
Oh my, Bella Grace’s tag line: “Life’s a Beautiful Journey” suits this magazine perfectly. If I could choose a magazine to live within, I would choose Bella Grace. The photos, the art, the poetry….even the paper quality feels so luxurious in your hands. Granted, Bella Grace doesn’t come anywhere close to reflecting my actual life…but a person can dream, right? After each of the major articles, readers find a writing/journaling prompt. So if you’re like me and have fallen out of the practice of journaling, these guided exercises might really suit you. There are photos and quotes interspersed in the magazine that could easily be utilized to create an inspiration board. Readers are invited to contribute to thematic lists and the table of contents byline for those credits “Our Readers.” The magazine includes detailed information for readers who want to submit writing or other works to the magazine. Julie appreciated that the pieces were each writer’s personal story, and also noted the beauty of the magazine. Advertisement-free, other than information on how to subscribe to the magazine and its special publications.
$19.95 cover price
$69.95 annual subscription, with 4 issues annually
Bella Grace is currently available at Barnes & Noble, select retail outlets, and independent boutiques nationwide (click the link above and use the store locator). Published in California.
Of these three magazines, Breathe “fits” best for me because so many of the writers discussed topics I could relate to and see in my own life. Julie gave Bella Grace the edge for her, as she appreciated how the pieces stayed with her and stirred her thoughts. When you have a chance, spend some time in the magazine section at our Barnes & Noble and see which one you like best! If you have another title to suggest, please share it in the comments.
