Enchantment Learning & Living Blog

Welcome to Enchantment Learning & Living, the inspirational space where I write about the simple pleasures, radical self-care, and everyday magic that make life delicious.

To Be Still

May 22, 2015

Still.

That terrifying word that asks for nothing--and everything. The fearful call it static; the receptive, moving within. You must pull back from the noise and the commitments, taking care to bring each strand, those silken threads that connect you to things outside yourself, back into you, like a stray hair that you tuck once again behind your ear or coil around your bun.

Find your footing, the stillness says. Feel the way the ground presses against the pads of your feet as if hugging them. Let go of the need to run, the ragged motion keeping your soles from this earth. Here, that is where you will find your center. Not out there, here, with blades of grass slipping between your toes, the scent of rain in the air.

Become comfortable with the space you have created for silence (that most elusive of creatures, hardest of all to find and keep); relish the rich fullness that emerges in the absence of white noise, the whispers you can hear when you tune out the empty chatter.

To be still. Now that is a worthy dance.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe to my newsletter below for regular doses of enchantment. Want even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Here’s to a magical life!

The Story Eater

May 19, 2015

That is all you want to do lately: gobble them up, each story as they unfold, slurping up sentences like a strand of spaghetti, feel the tang of so many words sharp and full on your tongue.

Some you want to savor as you would an artichoke, tearing off each page and running your teeth along its fleshy insides until you reach the heart of the story, one part thorns, the other ripe flesh. It is the process of tasting your way through its earthy labyrinth as much as it is finding the tender center that fills your soul. Others you would nibble at, like a wedge of fine cheese or a square of dark chocolate, loath to rush through the velvety decadence--and some you have no patience for, tossing their thick words and empty plots aside like so much wilted lettuce for the compost, nourishing (you know not how, only that all composted things must) your future words if not yourself.

Then there are the ones you must devour in one sitting--those ripe peaches whose early blush make you unable to suffer through the tender courtship of each chapter parceled out over a series of days that they might require to fully digest. These you must bite into and greedily consume their fruit, thinking only after, when you are left with a listless paperback, that you should have taken your time, knowing full well you couldn't--only it would be something to read this part or that again with virgin eyes.

Still others you turn to time and again, the familiar comfort of a well-trod plot as with the perfume of crushed garlic and rosemary staining your hands, the sharp scent of things simmering on your stove, an invisible ink absorbed from the pages of those stories, to flow from your own pen.

Enchantment Learning & Living is an inspirational collection of musings touching on life’s simple pleasures, everyday enchantments, and delectable recipes that will guarantee to stir the kitchen witch in you. If you enjoyed what you just read and believe that true magic is in the everyday, subscribe here.

Want even more inspiration to make your dream life a reality? Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Thanks for following!

Thank Goodness It Ain't Maybelline Clear Mascara

May 12, 2015

About a year ago, I posted a recipe for my Thank Goodness it Ain't Maybelline Mascara made from beeswax, coconut oil, and activated charcoal--much safer and cheaper than your average drugstore beauty product. It has all the effects of a quality mascara without the scary chemicals. Yet even homemade mascara can be fated to cause the much maligned racoon eyes, natural enemies of a perfectly quaffed look, especially in the summer when the desert heat sets everything to melting and sweating.

With this in mind, I put together a clear mascara recipe for those hot summer days when you want to look a little extra polished but don't want to be constantly worrying about black circles around your eyes. Like any clear mascara, it offers a little extra length and curl, but won't necessarily give you the high-drama of super long, dark lashes...which is just fine by me come summer time when the less makeup, the better.

The recipe is much the same as my black mascara, swapping out the charcoal for the aloe vera gel for added lightness. The mix comes out slightly yellow in the tube because of the beeswax, but it does go on clear. Make sure when you apply it to really comb through your lashes so the oil goes on evenly without clumping. You should also run an eyelash comb through your strands to get a more even look. You can recycle old mascara tubes for this or buy new ones here.

Ingredients:

2 tsp coconut oil

1/2-1/3 tsp grated beeswax

1 tsp aloe vera gel (optional)

Melt beeswax on low heat. I do this by placing the wax in a clean tin can. This tin can then goes in a saucepan with about one inch of water in it (see photo). Once the beeswax is melted, mix remaining ingredients into can and allow to melt. Remove from heat and carefully pour liquid into your clean mascara tube. I do this by pouring from a tin can that has been pinched on one end to create a spout (again, see photo) or by pouring the cooling mixture into a plastic bag that has a corner cut out of it. Place the open corner of the bag inside the mascara tube and slowly push the liquid into the tube. Allow to cool before using. Makes one tube.

Turmeric Lemongrass Bath Bombs (sans Citric Acid)

May 8, 2015

Mother's Day is just around the corner. School is done. You have a free weekend afternoon for a bubble bath and a long nap...clearly, there are a myriad of reasons why you should make these super easy bath bombs to have on hand for those oh so important occasions! The big one, of course, is that special day we take to celebrate our awesome moms, those strong women who spend so much time caring for others that it is important that we take time out to care for and pamper them. These turmeric lemongrass bath bombs are the perfect gift for the woman who could use a luxurious soak (with a good book and a glass of wine!).

What I love about these bath bombs is that they are made without citric acid--a sometimes difficult ingredient to find and keep on hand. The cream of tartar is a perfect substitute and something we often have (and forget about) in our pantry. Turmeric is also an easy kitchen staple to add to these bombs and it is what gives them their festive sunshine hue. Don't be alarmed if this bright yellow doesn't initially come through when you mix the dry ingredients--it will once you wet them down.

Like my spring bath bombs, these hedonistic treats use the smells and flowers of spring to rejuvenate the senses. In this case, I use lemongrass, that universal revitalizer, mixed with calendula petals known for their ability to soothe the skin. Tumeric is also a wonder-cure for many skin issues from acne to eczema. The baking soda gently detoxes and exfoliates your skin while the cream of tartar softens it.

Ingredients:

2 cups baking soda

1 cup cream of tartar

1 tsp turmeric powder

4 teaspoons melted coconut oil

1/8 cup water (in spray bottle)

100 drops lemongrass essential oil

1/4 cup dried calendula petals (optional)

Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly, being careful not to raise too much dust. Then add in coconut oil and essential oil and mix thoroughly with hands, making sure that oil is evenly distributed throughout the mix. Here comes the tricky part: adding the water. You need the spray bottle to ensure that you aren't adding too much water at once otherwise your bath bombs will begin to prematurely fizz.

Going slowly, spray water into the bowl, stirring completely as you go until it is damp but not soaking wet. You will probably not use all the water in your spray bottle. You can test the readiness of your mix by squeezing together a handful of it and seeing if it sticks--if it does, you can go ahead and place it in molds or roll them into balls. If not, you'll need more water. Once you have placed the mix into molds or hand shaped it into balls, you can let your bath bombs air dry for at least two hours or up to overnight. Remove from molds (if using) and store in a dry place. Makes about 9 bath bombs. Enjoy!

Naked Margarita

May 5, 2015

Margaritas are one of the most festive summer drinks--and the ones most susceptible to too many sugar-laden ingredients. In reality, all a great margarita needs is a few things: good tequila, juicy limes, a dash of sweetness, and a handful of ice. If you want to get carried away, you can rim your glass with salt, but I never do.

With this in mind, I present to you my naked margarita, stripped from the overly-sweet triple sec or other frou-frou ingredients, so that you taste nothing but the sweet burn of tequila and lime on your tongue. I like to make mine using agave syrup. But If I'm in a pinch, I've been known to use my stevia herb simple syrup or actual simple syrup (recipe found here--just omit the ginger, or keep it for an extra kick!). Play around with the sweetness factor. I like to taste the tartness of the lime more than the sweet, so if you like a sweeter drink, by all means, add more simple syrup. Look for tequila that is 100% agave; the other stuff is full of more additives and fake coloring than actual tequila. And please, please, please use fresh organic limes--they make all the difference in the world.

Ingredients:

1 oz fresh lime juice

2 oz tequila

1/2 oz agave nectar

ice

Combine ingredients in a shaker and shake thoroughly until ice begins to melt, about 30 seconds. Strain into chilled glass. Garnish with a lime if desired. Makes one serving. Feel free to be as naked as your margarita while you drink it. Enjoy!

Stevia Herb Simple Syrup

May 1, 2015

So I know claiming to have a sugar free simple syrup recipe to share sounds too good to be true--or full of those chemical-laden alternative sugars that are way worse for you than any spoonful of the sweet stuff. This recipe, however, is really as good as it sounds and perfect for someone like me who doesn't enjoy a lot of sugar.

I used dried stevia leaves to make what is essentially a thick tea aka my simple syrup. Stevia is a herb with naturally sweet leaves. You may be familiar with it in the shape of little sugar packets which in my opinion don't taste as good as the real deal because they only use the extract, not the whole leaf. Plus, stevia leaves are easy to find at your local herb store or online here. It gives you all the sweetness of sugar without the calories.

I particularly love to use this in lemonade so I can enjoy lots of this perfect summertime drink without worrying about sugar overload. It's also great in margaritas or other drinks that require a little sugar to balance out the tartness of citrus. Be warned though, some say that one tablespoon of dried stevia is the equivalent of one cup of sugar in sweetness--so a little really does go a long way! Some people prefer to grind up the leaves and sprinkle them into their recipes, but I prefer this tea-like steep because it is less messy for mixing and easy to have on hand.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dried stevia leaves

1 cup boiling water

Pour hot water over herbs and let steep until mixture is cool. Then pour liquid through a strainer into a mason jar. Store for a few weeks in fridge. Makes about 1 cup. Enjoy!