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.

Winter Wellness Tea Blend

January 11, 2014

This is another tea blend I made my family for the holiday. It's packed with everything your body needs to fight, or ideally prevent, a cold. During the winter months, I drink this tea several times a week--usually before bed, since it doesn't contain caffeine--to boost my body's immune system. The tufts of marshmallow root in the blend look like mounds of snow, adding a fun winter touch to the tea and making it a festive gift for those you know who need a little extra winter TLC.

Winter Wellness Tea Blend:

1 cup tulsi (holy basil)

1 cup marshmallow root

1/2 cup ginger

1/4 cup cinnamon

1/2 cup elderberries

1/2 cup calendula

1/2 cup rosehips

1/2 cup rose petals

Blend all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. To brew, use a heaping tablespoon per cup of hot water. Enjoy!

Health benefits of ingredients:

Tulsi: helps body adapt to stress by balancing out cortisol levels, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.

Marshmallow root: anti-inflammatory (especially for throat); contains protein, vitamins A, B1-3, and C, magnesium, potassium, and other vital nutrients.

Cinnamon: antiseptic, aids digestion, calms nervous system, anti-inflammatory.

Ginger: soothes stomach pain; anti-inflammatory; aids digestion.

Elderberries: clears respiratory tract, reduces phlegm and congestion; eases throat pain; reduces fever; contains vitamins A and C.

Calendula: anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, reduces swollen lymph glands, soothes irritated skin.

Rosehips: anti-aging; contains vitamins A, D, B, C, E, and K, iron, calcium, zinc, and other vital nutrients; promotes healing and boosts energy; antibacterial.

Rose petals: contains vitamins A, B, C, D, and E; mild sedative; anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; cleanses system of toxins.

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!

On Grocery Shopping

January 10, 2014

It's the fruit and veggies section that draws you in first--piles of oranges and grapefruits vying for your attention over mounds of ripe tomatoes and lush eggplants. And then there it is--the artichoke that seduces you with its layered petals and the promise of the fleshy heart tucked in the center of its thorny armor. On impulse, you abandon the tight outline of your shopping list and commit to the artichoke. You throw in Brussels sprouts for good measure, already planning the meal centered on those crisp sprouts sautéed with nutritional yeast and pomegranate seeds.

Each item added to the cart is a promise to nourish, to indulge, to create. You imagine each meal: from the wine you sip as you steam the artichoke and cook the quinoa, to the quick-sautéed spinach leaves fragrant with the aromas of garlic, ginger, and chile peppers, to the morning oatmeal filling the belly after yoga has filled the soul.

You even let yourself be taken in by the decadence of the cheese section--surely the weekend is not a weekend without aged Gouda--even as you ignore the cheap thrills of the chips and candy aisles. There is no room in your cupboard for food devoid of soul.

At home, you unload your culinary loot, a warm sensation spreading through your belly as your fridge fills with edible jewels, vibrant tokens of self-care and wholesome indulgence.

On Early Morning Yoga

January 9, 2014

The world is not yet up.

It is only you and the sliver of moon and your yoga mat.

You are careful at first, listening for the little snaps and pops of your joints. You feel your way through your sun sals one breath at a time, gently courting the golden morning light before it has fully woken; you coax it out of bed as you coax yourself from the warm covers with the promise of clean energy, one breath at a time through the flow of your morning devotion to earth, to sun, to life.

Each day the body is different. Today it is slow moving, relishing the way the spine elongates in the first downward dog of the day, feeling your palms and heels press against the mat, fingers and toes splayed. Each day is a new dance, a delicate tango of lunges and bends and twists; the mat is your dance partner, allowing you to fall into the rhythm of your body. Your breath is a soft symphony that greets the day, reminding you that you are alive. Each day you gently peel the moon from your skin and wrap the sun around you.

It is your moment for you, before the sun rises, the world beings to move, and you get swept up in the current of life.

On Bubble Baths

January 8, 2014

You are chin deep in bubbles--those perfect little orbs of relaxation and whimsy. The hot water swirls around your body, soothing sore muscles and a tired mind. Your head rests against the tub's lip; your toes peek out of the frothy bubbles, red from the heat.

The only way to have a proper bubble bath, you know, is to sink into it, melt into the bubbles and hot water and drift. You are not allowed to ponder anything too serious--the bubbles won't allow it. You can only let your mind meander as it will, here to reflect on the day's sunrise, or there to contemplate the pleasures of a glass of wine, or further still to the way your fingers and toes pucker like little raisins the longer you soak. Eventually, your thoughts range further--to the promise of the weekend, to the bliss of the evening dinner.

After a time, when the water has begun to cool and the bubbles begin to pop, you take up a dusty old paperback to keep you company in the tub. You read about airships and distant lands, clockwork contraptions and sweeping adventures all while soaking safely in the comfort of your ceramic oasis. It doesn't matter where you go, only that each turn of the page allows you to linger in the healing waters until the bubbles have faded and the water is no longer warm.

There is nothing to do when faced with the bleak prospect of cold water and little bubble islands but place the book down and wash quickly. You seek refuge from the faded glory of hot bubbles in your plush robe, already looking forward to your next tub indulgence.

Thank Goodness It Ain't Maybelline Homemade Mascara

January 7, 2014

Seriously. There's some scary stuff in regular mascara, and if you don't believe me just read what The Naked Label has to say about it! Even some organic mascaras sneak in harmful preservatives.

So what's a mascara lovin' lady (or guy) to do? Simple: make your own. I know it sounds like one of those crazy hippy projects--and it is--but not only do you end up with a product as good as any store bought makeup (and safer to boot), but it also costs you a fraction of what quality organic mascara does. I would typically spend $15-$20 for a good mascara. The cost of making one tube of your own is about $1-$2, maybe $4 tops if you splurge and buy your own $2 mascara tube online instead of recycling your old ones.

The only potential downside to DIY mascara is that it's not out and out waterproof--you need synthetic stuff for that. However, I find that if you add more beeswax, you get a product that is less likely to smudge under duress (rain, Lifetime Original movies, cute puppies--anything that brings on the waterworks).

So here is my recipe for homemade mascara, which I adapted from Thank Your Body, Ditch the Wheat, and Wellness Mama. Ingredients can be found at your local health food store or herb store.

Ingredients:

2 tsp coconut oil

1/2-1/3 tsp grated beeswax

1 tsp activated charcoal (or 2-3 capsules)

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 the coconut oil into the tin can and let it melt and combine with the beeswax. Once the ingredients are in liquid form, gently stir in the activated charcoal. Remove from heat and carefully pour liquid into your clean mascara tube. I do this 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 (see Thank Your Body above for pictures of this). Allow to cool before using.

On Returning Home After Work

January 6, 2014

It is quiet--a blissful sanctuary after a day of noise and movement.

You slip out of your heels, feet firmly on the ground again. Your toes wriggle out the kinks of the day, your ball and heel kiss the carpet. You consider checking your email or reading, but your mind rebels against sitting at a desk, taking in more words.

No.

Your body wants movement. The deep pleasure of yoga asana that allows your body to unfurl, releasing the paperwork and student questions with each spinal twist, until your limbs, like petals, are loose, soft.

The silence is broken only by the click of your jewelry as you begin the task of removing your armor. One by one each ring goes back into the jewelry box, each a piece of the day washed away from your skin; your earrings go next, taking with them the sound of the copy machine and sputtering coffee maker. The war paint is last--off goes the mascara and blush that separates you the teacher from you the you.

But you are not quite ready for the mat. You tend your plants. You chop up root vegetables and put them in the oven to roast. You light a candle. Each act, a simple ritual of letting go of the day and welcoming the evening. Slowly, you begin to feel your mind drift away from lesson plans towards nothing in particular.

It is at that moment that you finally turn to your mat. Your home is fragrant with cumin and roasting vegetables. Your body breathes a sign of relief to be out of the desk and onto the mat.

You relish the inevitable finish to this transition--after grounding mind and body, releasing the wrinkles of the day--when you crawl into your favorite cozy pajamas, your soft second skin, to just be.

Winter Solstice Tea Blend

January 5, 2014

I developed this blend as a gift for family this holiday (so, naturally, I wasn't able to post it until *after* they got their gifts, lest I spoil the surprise). This blend is a true tea blend, and not a tisane, or herbal tea, like the previous blends I've posted. Its base is green jasmine tea.

Typically, when we think of winter, our palates conjure up the rich tastes of the heavy, warming spices like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. But I find there is a crisper, lighter taste to the season too--one of early winter mornings and the sharp scent of citrus. This tea is meant to taste like that first day of winter: fresh, vibrant, a promise of life underneath the carpet of snow.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup jasmine green tea

1/2 cup dried raspberry leaves

1/2 cup dried rose petals

1/2 cup dried orange peels

1/2 dried ginger pieces

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and place in an airtight storage container away from light. A mason jar works well--add a ribbon to it and you've got a lovely gift!

To brew, place a heaping teaspoon in a strainer and let sit in 8 oz. hot water for no more than three minutes (the tea will get bitter if left longer). If you want a stronger brew, add more tea leaves.

Health properties of ingredients:

Jasmine green tea: loaded with antioxidants and catechins that protect the body from free radicals and other toxins; lowers blood pressure.

Raspberry leaves: tastes like a lighter, more floral black tea, without the caffeine; contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, not to mention iron, potassium, and calcium, among other vital nutrients; relieves tension and tones pelvic muscles.

Rose petals: contains vitamins A, B, C, D, and E; mild sedative; anti-inflammatory; antibacterial; cleanses system of toxins.

Orange peel: can lower cholesterol; anti-microbial; anti-inflammatory; anti-fungal; promotes healthy liver function; mood booster.

Ginger: soothes stomach pain; anti-inflammatory; aids digestion.

On Winter in NM

January 4, 2014

...because sometimes only pictures can capture the majesty of winter in the land of enchantment...

On Windsor Trail near Santa Fe ski slope. ..

On top of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque...

On Snowshoeing

January 3, 2014

There is no sound lovelier than the kiss of snowshoes on fresh snow as you glide through the sun-filled forest, marveling at the delicate tree branches coated in ice crystals.

Each step takes you further and further away from your cares until you are left with nothing but the methodical rhythm of your snowshoes flowing along the path and the sound of winter birds flirting in the trees above.

Snowshoeing is not the frantic, fast-paced drama of downhill skiing, as snowboarders whiz past you on the slopes and a helmet is advisable; nor is the plodding of cross-country skiing, with too-long feet and laborious trekking across an open field.

It is a moving meditation of heart, breath, feet--each step at once grounding you to the earth and lifting your spirits above the tree line. For several hours you are only nature's grateful visitor, sun and snow your welcome companions. You pause to admire the canyon below, feeling the world open up to you.

It is no longer small cubicles and meticulously scheduled days, but an expansive never ending abundance calling to you, beckoning you to remember a fuller, bigger life.

So you turn from the view and continue your journey deeper into nature, grateful for this reminder to always live expansively.

On the New Year

January 2, 2014

It is a clean slate. A promise of another way of being. Gone are the nicks and scrapes of the previous year--the soul healed and unblemished again after a long, restful break.

The holiday decorations have been taken down: a homey task that would seem anticlimactic after weeks of festivities, but in all actuality is a cathartic ritual of putting one year to rest while welcoming another.

The house feels quiet, clean, spacious after the last of the pine needles have been vacuumed up and any leftover ribbons and tissue paper are folded away for the next year. Sometimes you still find traces of the holiday like a stray festive card sitting on your bookshelf or a forgotten bauble resting on your writing table. Those too are soft reminders of the coming new year.

You tuck them away in storage and marvel at how fresh your home feels, how decadent it is to sit on the couch and knit and have nothing pressing to do. In a little bit you might walk to the refrigerator and rummage around for something to eat for lunch, but only if it isn't too much trouble.

For now, you sit and knit, trying to stretch out the freshness, the newness, the unblemished glory of another new year before some adventure or another lures you out of your home and the whole thing begins again.

New Year's Resolution: Daily Meditations on the Magic of Everyday Life

January 1, 2014

I am sitting at my writing desk looking at the tree outside my window and thinking about this past year. It occurs to me now in the gentle quiet of my apartment that I've spent quite a bit of 2013 talking to friends, family, and fellow teachers and yogis about finding that perfect work-life balance. We each of us went through various bumps in the year, both professionally and personally, and each bump made us reflect on how we can live more gently, with more grace.

How do we find the beauty and the majesty of life as we go about our daily routines? How do we remember to value these routines when we find ourselves grappling with the challenges life inevitably throws our way?

There is no easy answer to these questions of course. But I have found that the simple act of talking about them has made me more aware of the magic in my life: many good people to grapple these metaphysical questions with, a hot cup of home-blended tea to mull these thoughts over, and numerous other small pleasures that make life worth living.

In honor of these conversations and my own increasing need to make more space in my life for self-care and reflection, I've decided to dive into my next adventure: daily meditations on the magic of everyday living and learning.

I'm creating space to ponder the wonder of daily life--not the big giant adventures of world travel or the lofty topics education reform, but the simple small bites of hedonism (the favorite yoga pose or the evening bubble bath) that we gobble up every day like salted dark chocolate coated caramels.

In these little delights lie simple lessons of saner, gentler living. So if you are like me, searching for a daily reminder of life's wonders, join me at Enchantment Learning and Living to read and discuss my daily meditations on mindful living!