Coming to Terms with Sesame Place

 

"So, what did you do this summer?"

"Well, I had a baby and a month later, we went on vacation to....er....Sesame Place."

"Oh..." (insert attempt at a polite smile).

I live in New York, and even though I'm in my thirties, none of my friends have children. In many ways, life has continued as it was before, but there are definitely moments when the two worlds collide.

I never thought I’d see the day when I’d trade in my carefree adventures abroad for weekend trips to kid themed amusement parks. But it has happened.

At least to an extent.

I will always be a globe trotter. I just, trot with a finicky entourage of the three and under demographic whose interests tend to keep my husband and I a little closer to home (for now…).

At first we did well. When my first son was born, our traveling lifestyle continued un-altered and strong as ever. We got him a passport and jetted off with our easygoing, compliant, sweet boy to Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Jamaica, on and on. Our little nugget has more passport stamps than many adults.

But then he turned two. Suddenly jetting off to Asia or Europe or to the grocery store down the street became a challenge. Then our second son was born, and it was clear we’d have to tweak and re-define the way we travel as a family.

Namely, trips needed to be as kid friendly and sanity preserving as possible.

So when our then two year old, launched an I want to spend my third birthday at Sesame Place campaign, we shrugged our shoulders, scratched our heads, got a little sweaty about the palms and said okay.

A quick two-hour drive from Brooklyn, Sesame Place, in lovely Bucks County, PA, was one of our summer vacation destinations.

I’m not a fan of amusement parks, but Sesame Place, I could handle.

Sesame Place it turns out is a fabulous place to turn three.

It was such a relief to be in a place that celebrated children. The rides were toddler friendly, the bathroom was toddler/baby/family friendly, snacks were easy to get, and the atmosphere was overwhelmingly happy and fun.

Then there was the BIG parade!

And it was so much fun! I mean, it was completely campy and corny, but just looking at the sheer excitement on Ohm's face as his favorite neon colored furry friends made their way down the street, made the entire trip worth it. The energy was infectious. Mark and I let ourselves go and cheered and waved with the rest of the under six crowd.

Sometimes, it's just not about you.

Sometimes, you have to accept that life brings changes.

This year, we did Sesame Place and not Rio, but I would have it no other way.

Mint and Ginger Arnold Palmer Iced Tea

Okay, it’s really hot. I mean summer hot. Almost hotter than it was during the actual summer.

I don’t get it. I spent the second half of August, eager to break out my Autumn wear and sip on a pumpkin spice latte, and I have, but now I find myself regressing a bit, because of the post Labor Day temperature increase.

It was 84 degrees today, that’s legitimate summer weather. So I made a legitimate summer drink. I whipped up a pitcher of refreshing mint and ginger Arnold Palmer Iced Tea.

It was so refreshing.

Here's what I did:

Into my teapot, I tossed four mint tea bags and 1 tablespoon of shaved ginger root. I filled that pot with water and let it boil.

Meanwhile, into my pitcher which holds about a liter, I squeezed the juice of five lemons. To make my simple syrup, I added a very full tablespoon of organic raw honey. The citrus helps to dissolve the honey. I just had to swirl my spoon around with vigor.

Once the contents of my teapot had cooled (I waited two hours), I removed my teabags and added my tea to my lemony simple syrup.

Before cooling in the refrigerator. I sliced a sixth lemon into thin rounds and set them free to bob and adorn my drink.

After another two hours in the refrigerator, my drink was ready.

There are Perks to Flying with Kids!

Recently, I had the smoothest, most serene travel experience of my post- 9/11 life. No, I didn't walk, ride my bike or take the train- I flew.

No, I didn't cram all of my belongings into a carry on bag so I wouldn't have to wait on line to check luggage.

No, I didn't leave my laptop or kids at home, so that my hands would be free and I wouldn't have to fumble and bumble at the security checkpoint.

Here's what happened.

After navigating our way out of the JFK long term parking lot (an adventure in an of itself), my husband and I, along with a really large rolling suitcase, three carry on bags, a three year old on the verge of either breaking down or breaking for it (depending on the moment) and a crying infant, strapped in a carrier, stumbled onto the Delta check-in line. Our arrival was neither pretty or graceful, but that is neither here nor there, because we arrived with two golden tickets- our lovely children.

Immediately, the Delta employees swooped in. Since we didn't have a free hand to actually use the self check-in kiosk designed for convenience, an employee quickly took care of it for us, double checking to make sure or lap child seat was also secure (this can be a pain). My husband was led to an agent, so that our bag could be checked quickly and here are some of the other perks we enjoyed that fateful morning:

• We were ushered through to the front of the security line. If you're traveling with kids, you get to go through the line designated for the handicapped and people traveling with special needs. It's usually located to the left of the really long and winding regular person's security line. When you've got kids, you're VIP baby!
• After checking our tickets and passports, the security officer, suggested that we may want to enjoy the specialty checkpoint for TSA prechecked individuals. There should have been a red carpet. That's what it felt like. We didn't have to remove a single item from our carry on bags. No shoes had to come off of our feet. Even the apple juice my little guy was sipping on, that I forgot to throw away, before going through security (because I figured he'd have plenty of time to finish it on that crazy line) went right on through without a pause. The entire security line, plus check-point took maybe five minutes total. We're actually signing up for the TSA precheck service since we tend to fly a lot and not always with the kids.
• When we arrived at our departure gate (literally fifteen minutes after stepping into the airport), we were informed by the agent that we'd be bumped up from regular Economy to Economy Comfort since you know, we had the kids and all. Suddenly, it didn't matter that the man sitting in front of me decided to recline his seat all the way back as I held my sleeping two month old on my lap. We had plenty of room, and we were among the first people to depart the plane (I hate being stuck in the back while people toggle their luggage out of the overhead bins).
• Upon departing the plane, since we were one of the first five people to exit, we bumped right into the pilot, who saw our three year old point at the cockpit and he invited us in for a cockpit tour. He got to press buttons and touch levers. The experience was priceless!

As for the actual flight, after the excitement of the adventure subsided, both little ones passed right out. Not a peep was heard and mommy got to read a novel!

Thanks JFK and Delta for a quick and painless flight.  There are definitely perks to flying with kiddos!

DIY Tea Tree/Peppermint Mouthwash

DIY Tea Tree/Peppermint Mouthwash

To be honest, mouthwash really isn’t my thing. I tend to gargle with it when I have a sore throat or tooth pain, but mouthwash for the sake of gargling daily is not a part of my regular regiment.

It is however, my husband’s thing. He’s lost without his mouthwash.

Completely disinterested in my numbing clove anti-septic mouthwash (which to be fair, is best gargled with a sore throat, tender gums or sore tooth due to its intense numbing and anti-septic properties) he wants one thing- a minty fresh experience. I concocted this naturally crisp and minty fresh mouthwash for him. It was a big hit. DIY Tea Tree/Peppermint Mouthwash!

If you’re a fan of a minty gargle with an anti-bacterial and anti-microbal punch, then this very simple, completely natural, and shockingly inexpensive, recipe is also, for you.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 cup distilled water

1 teaspoon baking soda

20 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops peppermint essential oil

Here’s what to do:

Combine your ingredients into a jar (mine is a recycled tomato sauce jar) and shake vigorously until the contents are combined (the water should go from cloudy to clear).

You can store this mouthwash on your bathroom counter for daily use.

Farmer's Market Salad or Brussels Sprouts Take Center Stage

My recent trip to the Rochester Public Market was thrilling. The glorious sights and scents of autumn came alive.

Farmer’s markets make me giddy. Waist deep in freshly harvested vegetables, my three year old and I started grabbing with little thought as to how everything would go together.

Before I knew it, I was at home, hungry and staring at an assortment of vegetables. I knew I wanted my hearty stalk of brussels sprouts to take center stage and from here my brussels sprout salad was born.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Brussels sprouts (grilled and halved) String beans (ends cut off and chopped into inch long segments) Cherry tomatoes (halved) Craisins Walnuts Fresh lemon Olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

Here's what to do:

Half your brussels sprouts and grill them in the oven at 375 degrees (about eight minutes) until the edges turn brown and crispy. Wash and cut your green beans into inch long segments. Saute for five minutes (I used a dash of canola oil). You'll want your beans to be nice and vibrant and crisp.

Toss your brussels sprouts, green beans, craisins, and walnuts together. Add your halved cherry tomatoes. Splash on your olive oil. Squeeze a lemon into the mix and add some salt and pepper. Toss and savor!

Drawing Inspiration From Zanzibar!

We arrived in February during the Sauti Za Busara Music Festival, my two girlfriends and I. The hotel we reserved online was booked when we went to check in. All of the other hotels on the island were full. We overheard a South African man tell a Belgian woman about a beautiful hotel on the water at the northern tip of the island and thus began our two week improvised and utterly whimsical adventure in Zanzibar.  Everything worked out perfectly in the end and exceeded expectations. There was romance, there were encounters with wildlife, there were private beaches and music, savory food, perfect weather and more intended and unintended adventures than I can count.

When I think of Zanzibar, I am reminded of:

• Rolling green spice plantations, the greenest, green, in vibrant bursts and dewy shadows. A cacophony of hues. A reminder to breathe, savor, and let go.

• The deep and stirring sound of the Islamic call to prayer.  Everything would stop once the song rang out. The echo seemed to emanate from every building in Stone Town, reverberated off the fishing boats docked in the still water. Colorful mats were unfurled as around us, people dropped to their knees in ritual prayer.
• The rich musk of the earth, the fragrance of fresh rain combined with the sweet crispy smoke of a wood burning stove. This scent followed us from the sprawling spice plantations inland, to the coral forests and even the white sand beaches along the coast.
• Covering my head in Stone Town and feeling like I was in another world. My first time in a Muslim country, we followed polite protocol when wandering through the bazaars and markets in the less touristy areas. I was draped in a long white crepe scarf with blue and gold embroidery at the edges that I picked up in Ethiopia during an epic layover belonging to another adventure. Beneath that scarf, I witnessed the heartbeat of Zanzibar. So many wonderful smells, colors and textures were presented to me in the markets and bazaars.
• Attempting to climb to the top of a palm tree and failing every time, but believing with each attempt that the next would be my moment of glory.
• Hakuna Matata- really there were no worries in the Zanzibar of my memory. There was a care free charge in the energy in the air. The climate, mild, the people friendly and strikingly beautiful. A UNESCO world heritage site, the old colonial buildings of Stone Town, stood resplendent in the setting sun. Intricate Arabic architecture gave the space a distinctive charm and character. The happy hiccups of spoken Swahili, "Jambo" or "Mambo," or being greeted with the Islamic phrase "Assalam Alaikum." I found my land of Hakuna Matata.

Zanzibar, what a pleasure and an honor it was to be in your presence.

The product that was inspired by my adventures in Zanzibar is the Zanzibar Body Butter, an ultra-moisturizing creamy shea based body butter with earthy hints of clove, cardamom and sandalwood.

If you can’t experience Zanzibar in person for yourself, take the journey with a Zanzibar Body Butter.

From now, until next Wednesday (10/1) enjoy 10% off the Anchorage Body Butter (by entering the code ZANZIBAR at checkout) and enjoy!

Click HERE to purchase.

Turmeric Tea: Your Relationship With Turmeric Could Be A Lifesaver!

I love turmeric tea. I try to drink it as often as I can.

Turmeric contains so many exquisite healing properties and tea is a great way to get your days worth.

This particular tea happens to work wonders at relieving sore/itchy throats, but I don't want you to put this recipe away until you feel ill. Most importantly, this is a powerful every day tea, that will help boost your immune system so you hopefully won't have to worry about that sore/itchy throat.

Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent. When I took my course in Ayurveda, we spent the majority of our time waxing poetic about the many virtues of this unassuming little root.

Turmeric should be your best friend!

Turmeric is known to:

• Lower blood pressure
• Heal arthritis
• Protect against cancers
• Protect against Alzheimer's
• Lower cholesterol

In other words, your relationship with turmeric root could be a lifesaver.

Since, I don't load up on curry everyday, turmeric tea is the way I make room for this miraculous root.

Here's how I make it:

How do you Summarize An Entire Short Story Compilation in Sixty Seconds? Developing my 60 second agent pitch

I've spent a little over six years, writing, editing, work shopping and re-writing the sixteen travel inspired short stories that comprise my beloved manuscript.

I know my characters, their wants and obstacles inside out. I'm bewitched by my settings time and time again and know every nook and cranny of the world I've created. I've worked hard to weave a unifying theme to tie together the vast stretches of seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years that I've been working on this project.

Tomorrow, I will have one minute, one impossibly ephemeral minute to pitch my manuscript to an agent.

I'm in a slight (or not so slight) panic. How am I supposed to condense my manuscript full of diverse characters, settings, conflicts, desires and story lines into one gasp of a sentence?

As writers, we know that every word counts. We're adept at cutting out the fat. How then do you summarize an entire short story compilation in sixty seconds-how?

When asked about my short fiction project, I tend to sputter and flail. I find it impossibly difficult to talk articulately about my writing. Around in a jumbled circle I go. I'll share a general overview, launch into the specifics of a few of my tales, talk about my travels and the different settings they've inspired and then, if I haven't completely lost my listener, I'll talk about my theme and perhaps dive into a few more story lines. A concise "so what are you writing?" elevator pitch I do not have.

As if working with a puzzle, I was up into the wee hours of the morning, piecing together (hopefully) the right words, hooks, and snippets for my one minute pitch. I'm down to seventy seconds and am feeling close to being able to give it a go.

How do you condense six years, sixteen stories and 41,000 words into a breathless minute? I've got no choice but to figure it out.

Usually the things that scare you the most lead to tremendous growth. I'm terrified, excited and intrigued by this pitch opportunity. Having never done this before, I have nothing but experience to gain.

When I write my follow up post, I'm sure I'll have nuggets of wisdom to share. Either way, this pitch is pushing me towards my goal of publication because the next time I'm asked about my manuscript, whether it be a curious stranger at a networking event or an agent or editor at a major publishing house, I'll be ready to deliver my impossibly possible sixty second short story manuscript pitch.

Now, back to shuffling my words around...

Have any of you ever pitched a manuscript to an agent? What was that experience like?

Say Hello Autumn with Delicious Moist Pumpkin Bread!

With the official start of autumn just around the corner, I've decided to celebrate by baking delicious, moist, pumpkin bread.

One of my favorite things about autumn are the flavors and aromas that arise from baking fall inspired quick breads.

Pumpkin bread is my favorite quick bread variety. This particular recipe is as rich and moist as it is healthy.

Chia and flax give it an extra anti-oxidant, omega-3 and fiber burst, while the olive oil gives it a rich round flavor. Dark chocolate chips, craisins and walnuts give the bread bursts of delicious holiday flavors. Together, the ingredients will help you ring in the autumn in festive style.

Here are the ingredients:

1 can of pumpkin (15 oz)

1 cup sugar

2/3 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup chia

2 tablespoons ground flax

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/8 cup evaporated milk

4 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cups walnuts

1/2 cups craisins

1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Here's what to do:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. You'll want to place your baking rack at the bottom of the oven to ensure the best bake.

In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients (sugar, brown sugar, flour, baking soda, sea salt, chia, flax, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking powder) and set it aside. Make sure your dry ingredients are fully blended.

In a smaller mixing bowl, combine your wet ingredients (pumpkin, evaporated milk, vanilla, olive oil, eggs).

Mix your chocolate chips, walnuts and craisins into the wet ingredients.

Mix your wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl. Once again, make sure everything is fully blended.

Pour your mix into a greased loaf pan and place in the oven (remember to lower the rack).

Bake for an hour, or until your loaf his risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Set your pan out to cool (about another hour) before you slice and enjoy this delectable autumn treat.

Fun Around and In Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo!

I was being pulled downwards, sharp branches poked at my hair and face. "Come inside the big-bom mommy." I got down on my knees, trying not to wake my newborn who was strapped to me. "It's a Wigwam, Ohm. This is where the Lenape Indians lived." I was crawling over leaves and sticks. "Come inside the Indian house. I'm going to make some food." The little hand tugged again with full force and I was inside. "Sit mommy, sit!" I did as I was told. Above, an intricate system of reeds and bark came together to form a roof, one that allowed the stream of afternoon sun to penetrate in shimmering brilliance. As my three year old pretended to cook over an open fire, I settled onto my tree stump bench with my newborn in anticipation of the imaginary meal I was about to partake in. We came to Prospect Park to visit the zoo. What we found was an entire historical experience. It says, Zoo entrance, but when you walk beneath that arch, the first thing you're met with is a model Lenape village. Children (and adults) can play in the model wigwams while learning about New York's original inhabitants. Once you're on your way again, down the path headed towards the zoo, another surprise awaits. The historic Lefferts House, once owned by Continental Army Lieutenant Pieter Lefferts and his family, is now a museum, free to the public and open for exploration.

Built in 1783, the house and farm have been preserved as a museum of family life in the 1800's. On the great lawn, children can wear stilts and play with toys such as wooden hoops that were popular in the 1800s.

Inside, Ohm ran giddily from room to room, touching and experiencing it all (luckily the touching was encouraged by the museum which caters to small children). "Look mommy, I'm eating corn." "Look mommy, I'm playing a game." "Come on, we have to play the piano!"

An hour later, we emerged from the 1800's. Ohm, yawning, swore he was still ready to explore the zoo. A big fan of tiring him out, onwards we marched, down the path towards the zoo, past the historical carousel, past the ice cream vendors and pretzel vendors and hot dog vendors, onwards and onwards, until we made it to our destination. I had known for a while that there was a Zoo inside Prospect Park (Brooklyn’s Central Park) but I never took the time to stop by for a visit. At the end of the day, every New Yorker knows that the sprawling Bronx Zoo is where all of the animals live. I wasn’t so sure about this Prospect Park Zoo business. But since we don't live in the Bronx, we live in Brooklyn, within walking distance to the park, I figured it was high about time we became acclimated with our own backyard.

The Prospect Park Zoo, is a small zoo, it’s actually just the right size for a toddler. The grounds are beautifully manicured with gardens and sculptures, its compact size is not overwhelming and is quite accessible for little ones. You will not find lions, tigers and bears at the Prospect Park Zoo. Instead, you’ll find sea lions, red tailed pandas, ground hogs, farm animals, llamas, mongoose, and other small wonders.

Ohm didn’t seem to mind. His three year old attention span could only handle so much stimulation. After the Lenape wigwam and the Lefferts house and the petting zoo, he was walking on sunshine. He had a great time without the lions, tigers and bears and I was happy I didn't have to drive to the Bronx and fight for parking. I had no idea there was so much to do around and in Brooklyn's Prospect Park Zoo. We'll be back!

Drawing Inspiration from France

During my first year as a teacher in 2003, I shared a crappy apartment in East Harlem, ate in almost every night, made few purchases and hoarded my money so I could spend the summer in France. It began in September as a crazy idea. After dinner one evening, my friend Fred said "we should go to Paris."

Of course we should, I agreed. I mean, who doesn't want to go to Paris?

By October, we had an elaborate plan. We were going to take on as much of France as possible for four weeks over the summer.

While my friends bought new shoes and bags, I saved and saved. I would go shopping in Paris I told myself ( this was before the Euro overtook the dollar).

I wish I had a fancy photo collage to share with you of my enchanting time on the Parisian shore, but I don't. In 2003, I was still working with Kodak fun saver cameras (yes, remember them). This was before I had a digital camera and way before I could have ever conceived of an iPhone or of blogging (gasp!). All of my photos from France lie in a scrapbook (oh my gosh, remember those), in my house in Maryland. I'll have to dig them out later. In the meantime, I will continue like the rest of the posts in this drawing inspiration series.

When I think of France, I am reminded of:

• Drinking red wine at a busy outdoor cafe. The breeze, warm on my shoulders as we watch people parade by. Often we'd order things we never heard of as an experiment and why not; the food, almost without exception, no matter what we ordered, was spectacular.
• Taking in a new French film a week. The small intimate theatre in Paris that I visited was the perfect place to practice my French. In the velvety darkness, I wracked my brain to recall the French I learned  from elementary school through college. I saw every film that was being shown and got a crash course in French culture and fashion while doing so.
• Breakfast! Oh, the glorious breakfast pastries, croissants, pain au chocolates and the savory quiches and tarts complimented by the strongest, smoothest, soul fulfilling coffee. My tongue has yet to feel so happy and alive.
• Eating buttery baguette on the banks of the river Seine. A moment of stillness, beautiful simplicity, as the rest of Paris hustled and bustled in the distance.
• Evening in Pigalle. The midnight sky. The smoky amber glow of cafes. The cluster of artists that set up camp along the narrow cobblestone streets. The sweet taste of hot sugar and lemon crepes.
• Landing head first at the base of the Basilica Sacre-Coeur. Eye to the lense of my sophisticated Kodak fun saver, in search of the perfect panoramic shot of Montmartre from where I stood at the top of the Sacre-Coeur. One false step forward (no fair how looking through the camera lense distorts your sense of space) and I'm suddenly airborne, tumbling head and elbows first down the hallowed stairs of the Sacre-Coeur. A crowd of horrified Italian tourists gather around me, pull me to my shaking feet. Scraped elbows, chin and knees and no photo to show for it. I wish I could say this was the last time I ever used a fun saver.
• Strolling down the Champs Elysee, the Tour Eiffel, elegant and fragile in the distance. Spreading a picnic blanket over the lawn at its base and taking it all in, pen in hand, thinking I'm going to come back here when I'm in love....
• Beneath the glassy top hat of the Louvre, into a world of heat and color. Searching for my favorite Chagall (the one with the green goat beside a lady in red beneath a crescent moon) when someone caught my eye, a mischievous lady in grey, the Mona Lisa up close- beguiling eyes and that signature gamine smile.
• Rolling fields of green, right before the land meets the sea. Colorful manicured gardens and lavender carried for miles in the breeze.

France, what a pleasure and an honor it was to be in your presence.

Two products were inspired by my time in France, the Paris Fragrance oil, a light, roll on formula that epitomizes romance and pleasure, with notes of lavender and jasmine and the Provence Whipped Body Butter, a creamy, whipped butter scented with lavender.

If you can’t experience France in person for yourself, take the journey with a Paris Fragrance Oil or a Provence Whipped Body Butter.

From now, until next Wednesday (9/17) enjoy 10% off the Paris Fragrance Oi and the Provence Whipped Body Butter by entering the code FRANCE at checkout) and enjoy!

Click HERE to purchase.

DIY All Natural, Oil Absorbing Translucent Facial Powder

Are you ready to make a DIY All Natural, Oil Absorbing Translucent Facial Powder?

A few weeks ago, I spent a pretty penny on a bottle of Bare Minerals liquid make-up. It looks amazing, so I'm not complaining, but when the saleswoman asked if I wanted to buy some translucent powder to set it, I gave her a confident "No!"

Liquid make-up, I have NO idea how to make. Translucent facial powder however, I do!

Translucent powder is so easy to make. It takes about four brisk steps. The result, is a silky, long lasting, oil absorbing powder that is as curative as it is fabulous.

DIY All Natural, Oil Absorbing Translucent Facial Powder

To make this powder, you'll need: cornstarch (2 teaspoons), cocoa powder (1 teaspoon), bentonite clay ( 2 teaspoons) and turmeric (1/8 teaspoon). Organic, high quality ingredients are always best!

Before I get into the steps, I'd like to wax poetic about the ingredients.

Bentonite Clay: An ancient healing clay, bentonite clay is made of aged volcanic ash. Very fine in texture, this powder has the ability to draw out toxins, chemicals and heavy metals from your skin. Bentonite clay carries a powerful negative electric charge. Once the clay combines with water (aka your perspiration) it gets to work, purifying and removing toxins. Never use a metal spoon to scoop or mix your bentonite clay because the metal with interfere with the healing electric charge.

Turmeric: Turmeric is an ancient healing spice. Used often in Ayurvedic preparations, turmeric contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Used externally for beautification in India and Thailand, turmeric fights blemishes, rashes and wrinkles.

Cocoa Powder: Not only does cocoa powder smell and taste delicious, it's full of antioxidants for rapid cellular regeneration. Cocoa also neutralizes harmful free radicals.

Cornstarch: Cornstarch is for more than cooking! This highly absorbent and light powder soothes skin while drawing out impurities.

Here's how to make your powder:

 

There you have it- all natural, oil absorbing, translucent facial powder!

This version is so much cheaper and is completely free of chemicals, metals and other synthetic products that are unfortunately found in many commercial make-up brands.

* You can find bentonite clay at most health food stores, or on Amazon.com or through Mountain Rose Herbs!

Fig and Strawberry Quick Jam

If you’re a regular on this blog, I don’t need to tell you how much I love biscuits. A natural compliment to my love of biscuits is my new found fascination with making quick jams. Quick jams are great because you get instant gratification. Simply jar and consume. Quick jams can live in your fridge for up to ten days (hence the small batch).

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 pint of figs

5 large strawberries

1 teaspoon of sugar

¼ cup water

1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice

Here’s what to do:

Wash and remove the stems from your figs. Slice each fig in half and place into a saucepan.

Rinse and remove the tops from your strawberries. Slice each strawberry in half and add to your saucepan.

Add the sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes until the mixture takes on a jelly-like consistency.

Allow to cool before storing in a small mason jar.

You can store your jam for up to ten days in the refrigerator. YUM!

Drawing Inspiration from Anchorage, Alaska

It was around this time two years ago when I first encountered Alaska. As August, slowly dissolved into September, there was a definite chill in the air, a hazy coolness descending from the surrounding mountains.

With great enthusiasm, I set  off to explore Anchorage with its exotic mountainous vitas, babbling glaciers and vibrant autumn colors.

When I think of Anchorage, I am reminded of:

• Breathing as if for the first time. There's something so invigorating, almost minty, about the air in Alaska. It's crisp, it's so clean, it's saturated in possibility and wonder.
• The rush of anticipation. Everywhere I went, I was on the lookout for wildlife. The anticipation was thrilling. Will I encounter a school of salmon, a moose, a bear? Despite all of the moose and bear signs, I encountered neither, instead I happened upon a large and very angry elk- SURPRISE!
• Smoked Salmon- The soft, chewy, flavorful smoked salmon that comes from Alaska is heavenly. Aromatic, rich, slightly oily, if you're a fish person, this is a true treat.
• Panoramic black mountains at times, barely perceptible, tucked beneath a blanket of crepe-like fog. Mountains add texture and drama to the skyline in Anchorage. Everything else seems so small, almost insecure in their presence.
• 50 Shades of Gray! As in the sky, after the rain, layered like sedimentary rock, gray upon marbled gray. Gray is indeed a color with personality and charm.

Anchorage, what a pleasure and an honor it was to be in your presence.

The product that was inspired by my adventures in Anchorage is the Anchorage Body Butter, an ultra-moisturizing creamy shea based body butter with hints of peppermint, rosemary and eucalyptus.

If you can’t experience Alaska in person for yourself, take the journey with an Anchorage Body Butter.

From now, until next Wednesday (9/10) enjoy 10% off the Anchorage Body Butter (by entering the code ANCHORAGE at checkout) and enjoy!

Click HERE to purchase.

DIY Organic Face Wash: Cleanse and Detoxify without all the fuss!

DIY Organic Face Wash: Cleanse and Detoxify without all the fuss!

So I’m going to let you in on a little secret. It’s going to seem so easy, strange and counterintuitive, you’re probably not going to believe me.

But since I said I was going to let you in on this secret, I can’t turn back now, so here goes…

All you need to cleanse, detoxify and balance the natural ph of your beautiful face is apple cider vinegar and coconut oil.

WHAT?!?!

STOP!  CRAZY!  NOT DOING IT!

OFFICER, ARREST THIS WOMAN!!!!

I know, I know…

For most of us, myself included (at first), it sounds absurd. Wash with oil? Isn’t the purpose of washing to get rid of the oil? Apple Cider Vinegar smells funny, I don’t want that anywhere near my face!

I completely get it.  I used to have oily, acne prone, sensitive skin and was absolutely not going to put oil on my face. But then I tried it. And it worked. And I haven’t looked back. Let me break it down for you…

 Why Coconut Oil works:

-Antioxidant properties (smoothes out wrinkles)

-Antibacterial and antifungal (gently destroys all of the things you don’t want on your face like acne)

-Oil dissolves oil (the oil on your face that makes you feel swampy and gross is dissolved  gently)

-Coconut oil, draws impurities out of the skin. It acts as a magnet for clogged pores, absorbing the dirt and oil that will disappear when you wipe it off.

-Moisturizing and gentle (gently moisturizes to the extent that it doesn’t strip your skin of oil which causes skin to overproduce; instead, coconut oil will cause you to naturally produce less oil and won’t leave you dry and raw).

-Celebrities with multi million dollar bank accounts and the ability to purchase the latest thousand dollar whale placenta fortified miracle cream, use it (hello Gwyneth and Giselle).

Why Apple Cider Vinegar works:

-Unblocks pores (so skin can breathe)

-Antiseptic and antibacterial (fights both acne and pollutants)

-Contains beta-carotene, which helps to fight free radicals (the result, that stunning youthful glow)

-Acidic in nature, it helps to restore the balance of our skin’s pH factor, since it has a pH very similar to what is ideal for healthy skin (traditional cleansers strip our acidic balance, leaving us prone to skin problems).

-Once again, celebrities with multi million dollar bank accounts and the ability to purchase the latest thousand dollar bat poop fortified miracle cream, use it (hello Scarlett).

Here’s what to do:

1)    Get a small one ounce spray bottle and fill it with 1/2 way with raw organic apple cider vinegar and 1/2 way with distilled water

2)    Take a small jar (4 ounces is great) and spoon it full with organic unrefined coconut oil

Here’s how to wash:

1)    Wet your face with warm water

2)    Spray your face with the apple cider vinegar (mind the eyes)

3)    Scoop about a ½ teaspoon full of coconut oil and massage it in a circular motion over your face and neck

4)    Wipe the oil away in the same circular motion with a warm, wet cloth

5)    Pat or air dry

6)    Smile at your dazzling image in the mirror and blow yourself a kiss. You look fabulous, you’re chemical free, and you’ve saved money with your new beauty regiment.

*Note how soft your skin is.

Delicious Crunchy Granola Goodness!

Granola has so many virtues- it's hearty as a meal or snack, it makes a delicious crunchy topping, it's gluten free, it's high in fiber, it's versatile, and it is just oh, so, good!

When I make granola, I love to get creative adding tropical fruit, coconut, and of course, my favorites- chia and flax. You can also add protein powder to your granola, which I do for my husband Mark in a separate tray (I can't stand the taste of protein powder).

Granola crumbles are fabulous because they have so many healthy uses. On their own, you can place in a bowl with milk for a delicious breakfast cereal. Add to a bowl of oatmeal to create a hearty and complexly flavored hot cereal. Throw a hand full in a plastic zip lock bag for an on the go snack, or sprinkle over Greek yogurt for some added texture and crunch. I’ve even baked these bad boys into some chewy oatmeal craison cookies for an added zing. Whatever your pleasure, you really can’t go wrong.

Feel free to substitute the fruit I have chosen if it doesn’t suit your palette. My three year old and I happen to be a mango and cherry fanatics. Simple raisins work fine, they just take me back to the monotony of elementary school packed lunches, I’m still not ready to accept raisins into my life, when cooking I tend to avoid them. Anyhow-

To make delicious, crunchy, granola goodness…

You’ll need:

2 cups oats 3 tablespoons chia 3 tablespoons flax 1 ½ cup shredded coconut ½ cup dried cherries ½ cup minced dried mango 1 cup almonds (I prefer whole for texture) 3 tablespoons coconut oil ¼ cup raw honey ¼ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Here are the steps:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, combine your oats and almonds. Once blended together, pour into a baking dish and cook for 15 minutes until toasty.

Allow this mixture to cool before returning it to your mixing bowl where you’ll add your chia, flax, coconut, mango and cherries.

In a saucepan, combine your coconut oil, vanilla, sugar and salt on low heat, stirring until blended.

Remove from heat and add the honey, stirring once again to blend.

Add your wet ingredients to your dry ingredient bowl and mix very well.

Spoon your granola back into your baking dish and cook (we’re still at 350 degrees) for 30 minutes.

Allow the granola to cool before breaking it into crumbles using a spatula.

Store in a mason jar in a cool dry cabinet until ready to use.

Lavender Aloe Salve

This weekend, my dear friend Krista gave me a gorgeous cutting from an aloe she's growing.

The hearty cutting was just oozing aloe gel and my herbalist heart skipped a beat, for it was time to make a salve.

A few weeks ago, I posted an all natural antiseptic recipe, this salve can compliment that recipe as an ointment to apply afterwards, or you can use it alone.

My aloe and lavender salve is gentle, will not sting, and provides relief and cleaning to minor wounds, burns and scrapes.

Lavender essential oil, is not only wonderfully fragrant, calming and floral, it also serves as a natural anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. Lavender naturally moisturizes the skin, reduces swelling and eases pain.

Aloe vera is cooling and is very effective at treating inflammation. Aloe also aids in the regeneration of cells, helping to heal wounds quickly as well as to reduce scarring.

It's really the perfect marriage!

To make the salve, simply follow these instructions:

I used a 1/2 0z. container, the proportions therefore reflect this measurement.

First, I cut off a section of the aloe trimming. I took from the widest point to yield the most gel. I cut the leaf in half and slowly allowed my aloe gel and juice to drip into my container. Once full of aloe vera gel, I aded five drops of lavender essential oil before capping my jar and giving it a good shake to mix.

When I'm ready to use, I apply with a cotton ball to avoid contaminating the batch with my fingers. As long as it's in an airtight jar, this salve can be stored in a cool dark place and will last for several months (hence the small 1/2 oz. batch).

Remember, this can be used alone as a mild and gentle antiseptic, or you can apply this salve after my natural antiseptic as a cooling calming salve to promote regeneration and healing.

Drawing Inspiration from Thailand

This Sunday, just like last week, I had the opportunity to vend my darling creations from Sojourn. Herbal Apothecary. This weekend brought the Rattled Expo in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, a hip venue for expecting moms and parents of the all natural, holistic, urban proclivities.

As an ETSY seller, it was really great to meet people and witness their impressions and get their feedback. Things I can't do from my virtual storefront. Sometimes, you've just got to get out there.

In the spirit of getting out there, this post is going to focus on an enchanting place, very far from my home base in New York. A place I first visited in 2004, a few short months after the terrible Asian tsunami. Even then, Thailand was radiant.

I've made several (24+ hour) treks to Thailand and after each one, I'm compelled to return. A visceral place, there is so much to taste, smell, touch, hear and see, that despite the distance, I am drawn back to this place of overwhelming beauty.

When I think of Thailand, I am reminded of:

• Full body Thai massages on the beach. In the distance the Adaman Sea roars as I lie upon a flat bed of colorful silk in deep meditative bliss. My chakras dance as coconut oil is rubbed into my skin, every care, every strain, released into the ether. Being in the moment has never been so fabulous.
• Smooth cool tiles beneath bare feet. Before entering any house, places of worship and many shops, you must leave your flip flops outside. Not only is it a symbol of respect, to tread quietly, humbly, shoes are also left behind for cleanliness. I loved this gesture, the feeling of being so light, the connection to the ground, almost cat-like.
• Open air Buddhist temples, ornate statues, shimmering golden monuments, the beauty of the human form, meditative silence high up in the mountains, a jungle of green, a chorus of birds and frogs at times unseen.
• The deep dark well of wisdom that are an elephants eyes. Each time I go, I make sure to carve out time to spend with elephants. Thailand is a land full of Asian elephants, beautiful humble giants of the forests.
• Resiliency and kindness, two qualities embodied by many of the people I had the pleasure to come across. My first trip was a volunteer trip at the end of the Asian Tsunami in 2004. I was humbled to be in the presence of people who were so at peace in the wake of such an awful disaster. Despite the devastation, there was a feeling of positivity and renewal. Despite the sadness, there was the air of acceptance and survival. The art of non-attachment is present in Thailand.
• Staring up at the giant pearly Buddha feeling so small, inspired and vital.
• Sweet coconut water taken directly from a round coconut warm from the sun. The coconuts in Thailand yielded the sweetest most energizing water. Everywhere, there seemed to be trees, heavy with coconuts. The air in the countryside of Khao Lak was perfumed by coconuts with a hint of jasmine and a splash of rose.
• The marvelous flavors of Thai food. Everything so intentionally balanced and spiced. The delicious coconut, peanut, lemongrass infused goodness. My mouth salivated from the curries, my heart sang from the fresh fruit, I remain taken by the succulent seafood, fresh from the sea, plump snapper prepared a different way every night.

Thailand, what a pleasure and an honor it was to be in your presence.

The product that was inspired by my adventures in Thailand is the Thailand Body Butter, an ultra-moisturizing creamy shea based body butter with hints of jasmine, coconut and rose.

If you can’t experience Thailand in person for yourself, take the journey with a Thailand Body Butter.

From now, until next Wednesday (9/3) enjoy 10% off the Thailand Body Butter (by entering the code THAILAND at checkout) and enjoy!

Click HERE to purchase.

DIY Cold and Cough Tonic

With a little help from a few simple items, most likely already in your pantry, fridge or spice rack, you can create nourishing medicinal preparations that will keep you in balance the natural way.

There is a resurgence of treating ailments the good old fashioned natural way with great cause considering the amount of chemicals, artificial dyes, and artificial preservatives found in many over the counter cold and cough remedies (have you read the warning labels on these? Don't mix with...Don't drive if....May cause drowsiness, dizziness, ulcers....)

I'm not saying not to seek medical treatment or take medicine for the major things, let's face it allopathic medicine is one of the greatest comforts of living in the modern era, but for the small discomforts, the coughs, the colds, you have more power than you may think. Using everyday foods, spices and herbs, you really can combat a majority of life's minor illnesses and discomforts.

When you first begin to feel that foreboding scratch in your throat, or notice that your cough and sneeze are becoming a problem, this all natural cold and cough tonic will get you back to 100% in no time!

To make you will need: 4 cups water 3 tablespoons Raw apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Raw honey 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper 1 whole Ginger root

Bring your water to a boil in a saucepan. While your water is boiling, rinse and slice your ginger root, then add to your water.

Let the mixture come to a full boil before reducing the heat to a simmer. Add your turmeric and cayenne pepper. Simmer for ten minutes and remove your mixture from the hot eye. Add your apple cider vinegar and mix with a spoon. Pour 1/2 cup to a cup into a mug ( you can strain the ginger out or you may leave the bits of sliced root- depends on your personal preference) stir in your honey and consume while warm. Store any extra in a mason jar. Drink twice daily.

This tonic is safe for children and will not leave you the least bit groggy, dizzy, or incapable of driving or operating machinery.

Drawing Inspiration from Mozambique

Drawing Inspiration from Mozambique "Mmm...what is this one called?"

"Mozambique."

"Mozambique? Like the country?"

"Yes, exactly.  I'm a traveler. The scents of my products are all inspired by places that I've traveled to and fallen in love with."

"I like that. What else do you have?"

After going through each item in my product line, the lady in purple settled on a Paris fragrance oil and a Zanzibar body butter.

Last weekend, I was invited to participate in Brooklyn's Summer Style Market as a vendor.

It was really great to interact with buyers and discuss my products.

People were particularly interested in my choice of fragrance and the names of the different products. As I described the essential oil aromatherapy blends that provided fragrance to each product, I noticed conversations almost always turning to travel as I attempted to articulate exactly what I was attempting to evoke or was inspired by.

I went home that night and began a running list of inspiration, country by country, memory by memory. Like poetry, memories began to fill the page and I realized I had a post.

Have you ever traveled to a place that moved you so deeply it changed the person you are for the better? That's how I feel about Mozambique. The experience wasn't perfect (there was the huntsman spider attack, the time I woke up to about twenty hornets in my bedroom, I caught the South African flu, we ran out of water in our well) but it was the perfect experience for me at the time.

When I think of Mozambique, I am reminded of:

• The beauty of a sunrise and setting. Before I moved to Mozambique, I had no understanding of how astounding and breathtaking a sunrise and sunset could be. I thought I knew, but I had no idea  The purple and otherworldly cerulean bursts of color, expanding over the horizon to signal the start of a new day and then the golden translucent rays that  cascaded downwards softening the landscape before handing off the baton to the moon were soul stirring.
• Orion's Belt. Almost every evening I could clearly see the constellation Orion's Belt. The sky over Mozambique at night seemed so much bigger, so much closer. Clouds of fine stardust swirled here and there. Shooting stars danced over the Indian Ocean.
• Finding peace in the darkness. At night, I used to walk and walk, the only light illuminating my path came from a very large and low pearly moon. Bell frogs and crickets serenaded me in the distance as my feet moved slowly, meditatively over the fine sand that covered the earth.
• Feeling the warmth of the earth, as if it were a living, breathing, warm blooded being. Often barefoot, I was able for the first time to feel the warmth of the earth beneath my feet when I walked. The ground, red and compact, grassy and soft, or sandy and dry was always warm and alive. It bore a distinct smell, musky, spicy and grounding.
• Being greeted by strangers and friends with a warm smile no matter what. Inhambane, Mozambique is known as "Terra da boa gent" (land of the good people) for a reason. Smiles and warmth are everywhere. People helped each other and could be trusted. It was here in the brush of Inhambane, that I slept at night with my doors unlocked, left my shoes on my porch and went to fetch water or take a bath (in the communal bath hut behind the community well)  leaving my front door wide open for ventilation. Never did I encounter a problem. Warmth and determination radiated off of people. Wide smiles were a constant reminder that if a people whose country was less than a decade out of a civil war which resulted in a relative genocide could be so resilient, so happy, then I, certainly had no excuse to be anything but grateful and joyous for the life I have been given.
• Hitchhiking. In Inhambane, hitchhiking to get from place to place is both common and safe. Though it was nice to get into a car and meet new people (especially during the rainy season), I usually sought out trucks. The best seat is in the bed of a pickup truck, face to the moon, sun, or clouds, hair dancing in the breeze, a magnificent expanse of countryside before you.
• The power of saying yes- yes to the market woman who offered to take you to her home to feed you, yes when you're offered a local dish at a restaurant, yes to children wanting to touch your skin, clothes and hair, yes to people wanting to practice their English with you, yes to the artisans from Zimbabwe who invite you to storytelling circles near the ocean, yes to the rolling waves of the warm Indian Ocean, yes to the stray dog who wandered into your kitchen and made you smile, yes to the beautiful man who invites you to his home town, yes, to the woman asking for money on the side of the road, yes to taking it all in. Yes, yes, yes, one of the most liberating words in the English language.
• There's life outside of my native tongue. I had six months to learn Portuguese in preparation for this trip, the idea of existing after six months without English at first was terrifying, but it all worked out. There is so much more to communication than words. The lively seductive lull and fall of Portuguese, a language that romances harder than Casanova made my English speaking tongue spasm with effort when it came to pronunciation and verb tenses but I took it all in. I learned, I functioned and I survived.
• Tropical fruit warmed in the sun. Large ripe mangoes, passion fruit and papaya. The sweet smell of a freshly sliced mango after it has been warmed by the sun. The sour fragrant flesh of a passion fruit. The soft give of papaya. The peace that comes from living in a place where you don't have to buy organic because everything, by default, is anyway.
• Rising with the morning sun!

Mozambique, what a pleasure and an honor it was to call your shores home.

The product that was inspired by my adventures in Mozambique is the Mozambique Fragrance Oil, a jojoba oil based roll on fragrance stick with an earthy scent lightened by exotic floral and citrus undertones.

If you can't experience Mozambique in person for yourself, take the journey with a Mozambique Fragrance Oil stick.

From now, until next Wednesday (8/27) enjoy 10% off the Mozambique Fragrance Oil (by entering the code MOZIE at checkout) and enjoy one final summer hoorah!