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.

Dancing in the Rain

June 30, 2015

Last night I danced in the rain.

I sang with the wind. I spread my hands high over my head and tried to touch the dark clouds weighing down the evening sky; and I called upon that storm to sweep away the cobwebs and dust from my mind, to let the fat rain drops fall upon my face, a soothing balm across the tender center between both eyes.

I let the distant rumble of thunder echo in my bones and the promise of lightning tickle my long wet hair. I, I did this, making myself one with the rhythm of nature, allowing myself to understand the bigness of it, the fullness of this universe that goes beyond myself and within myself. My bare feet rooted themselves in puddles as I twirled among the rain drops and clouds thick with cleansing desert magic.

I was a spirit dancing among other spirits--trees, grass, mountains, and their guardians. I was a raindrop covering the earth with my love. I was the quiet in the storm, the stillness in the dance, the held breath between one clap of thunder and another. I was the whisper of the earth's smile.

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!

Mango Chile Lime Popsicles

June 26, 2015

As you know, I've been trying to beat the heat this week in a number of ways: avoiding the outdoors during the hottest midday hours, sipping cooling beverages, nixing cooking on the stove, sticking my undies in the freezer...you name it! Okay, maybe not the last one...although I did see Marilyn Monroe do it in The Seven Year Itch to beat the sweltering heat of a New York City summer. Fortunately for me, things are not quite so dire in the arid Southwest.

I am, however, more than happy to indulge in these healthy mango chile lime popsicles to keep cool. Like my pina colada popsicles, I use quality organic ingredients to whip up a tasty frozen treat that has way less sugars than your average store-bought popsicle--and those only natural at that. All you need is your own popsicle molds to get started.

These popsicles are a riff on the popular Mexican snack featuring mangoes sprinkled with chile, salt, and lime. I remember eating mango chile suckers as a child too; there is something perfect about that blend of sweet fruit dusted with spicy chile powder that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. (And yes, I write 'chile' with an 'e' and not an 'i' because I'm a New Mexican and that's how we spell it...but that's another story for another time!)

I've added an extra twist to this union by using Korean chile paste instead of chile powder. The result is a sweet, smokey kick at the back of your throat--but be careful, because the heat of this chile sneaks up on you. I put a little too much chile in my first batch, thinking it would be more sweet than hot. Wow were we surprised at the spiciness! With a little tinkering, I finally found the right balance of heat and sweet. That said, if you like it hot, make it hotter...just go a little at time and sample frequently until you find your right balance.

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen mango chunks

1/2 cup fresh squeezed lime juice

3/4 cup water

1 tsp Korean chile paste

Puree ingredients in a blender until smooth. Pour mixture into popsicle molds and let sit in freezer for at least two hours or until frozen. I usually make them a day ahead and let them set overnight. Let the treats sit on the counter for five to ten minutes and then remove them from the mold. Eat immediately, with gusto! Makes about 6 with a little left over for a mango smoothie, tequila optional.

Pina Colada Popsicles

June 23, 2015

So it's hot out. Like, really hot. As in 100 degrees hot! Normally I love the desert summer, but I've found myself beginning to wilt in this heat. Forget cooking anything that involves the oven or even the stove for that matter. And you won't catch me baking under the midday sun. Most of my time is now spent finding ways to stay cool in the midst of this heat wave. Luckily, I have a perfect antidote to Albuquerque when it sizzles: these pina colada popsicles. Yum!

They are reminiscent of carefree days on the beach, sipping that rum-soaked pineapple and coconut concoction finished off with a little umbrella...only better because I use only healthy ingredients in this recipe. I swap out super sugary coconut cream with coconut milk and coconut water and use frozen pineapple for that pop of fruity goodness. What's more, these are super easy to make! All you need is a popsicle mold which you can find here or at your local cooking store (and sometimes even at your supermarket).

As with my other recipes, I use only organic ingredients for maximum healthy benefits and best-tasting results. Make sure to use canned coconut; the taste is richer than the carton variety--and don't be alarmed if the coconut cream is solid at the top of the can. It mixes easily with the liquid part on the bottom once you stir it up. It would also be a good idea to whip up a double batch of these popsicles because when the temperature goes up, they go fast!

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup coconut water

1 1/2 cups frozen pineapples

1 ripe banana

Confessions of a Flower Eater

June 19, 2015

You would grow a garden in your belly if you could so that your insides are blossoms, fat with pollen and thick seeds, strong roots, and liquid sunshine. It seems terrible to confess that you know you could be like those flowers if you ate enough of them. But it is true--they would infuse their spirit into your skin and, in return, you would give them a home. Just a tablespoon a day is all it would take, you think, as you gaze out at your flower garden, that alchemical blend of growing things and medicinal petals.

So you collect your marigolds and nasturtiums, your puffs of dandelion and your fat tulip bulbs, your sharp lavender and blowsy rose petals, and you begin the task of making your meal. You could grind them up with your mortar and pestle until each bloom dissolves into a thick paste, a murky drink not unlike your compost to rest in your stomach. But where is the fun in that? How can you delight in the feel of seeds down your throat or a soft petal kissing your tongue?

So you mix up your flowers--seeds, petals, stems, roots--into an otherworldly salad. The tulip bulb is your base, thick and earthy, to welcome your eternal spring and chase away the darkness. Then you stir in yellow marigold and passionate hope, and add peppery nasturtiums, streaked with orange and red, to make you feel brave; next is dandelion (puffs, roots, leaves picked from a crack in your garden path) to echo your tulip base of infinite possibility. And a few rose petals to dust the top, a delicate perfume to soften the aspirations of the other flowers--it is enough to enjoy the beauty of this moment. Your salad isn't complete until you sprinkle blue lavender buds across your feast, adding the final touch of tranquil healing.

You devour this salad, one bite at a time, crunching down on meatiness of the tulips, the melt-in-your-mouth silkiness of the rose, until there is nothing left on your plate but a marigold blossom, somehow still intact. You pick this flower up with your fingers and bring it to your mouth. You feel the feathery petals across your tongue, the way it falls apart under the pressure of your teeth, the weight of sunshine in your belly when you swallow it. This is your garden, each piece of your summer harvest preserved inside you so that you are now part flower, part hope.

Fried Sage Chips

June 16, 2015

One of my go-to appetizers come the weekend are these delicious and easy to make sage chips. They combine my love of fresh herbs with all the tastiness of a kale chip but are dainty enough to nibble on as you enjoy an evening cocktail. I even hesitate to use the word "fried" in my blog title because these chips aren't greasy or heavy, just light and crisp.

There is nothing like the woodsy taste of the sage paired with the pop of sea salt on the tongue to prepare your palate for your evening meal. It's the taste of this dish and taking the time to enjoy a pre-dinner drink that matters, rather than filling up on a heartier snack--it's like the Italian version of an appetizer in that way, making you slow down and enjoy the simple pleasure of a luxurious dinner. Like my roasted garlic scapes, these sage chips only require good olive oil and sea salt to make them tasty--you can always add a pop of brightness to them with my 3 Citrus Himalayan Salt.

Ingredients:

1 bunch organic sage leaves

Olive oil

Sea salt

In a saucepan, heat olive oil on medium heat. Use only enough olive oil to thinly coat the bottom of the pan, about 2-3 tablespoons. Once oil is hot, place sage leaves in pan and let fry until they begin to get crispy and golden, but not burned (about one minute). Make sure not to pile too many leaves into the oil at once, otherwise they will get mushy. You may have to fry them in batches. Promptly remove from heat and set on paper towel to drain. While the leaves are still hot, sprinkle them with sea salt. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

5 Tips for a Magical Staycation

June 12, 2015

This year I decided to forgo distant travels and enjoy my hometown for vacation. There is something sort of romantic about seeing your city through the rose colored glasses of a visitor--no day-to-day worries, just pure unadulterated fun! I'll admit that one of the draws of a staycation is the idea of sleeping in my own bed and never having to worry about whether or not I packed the right wardrobe (picture me freezing in my summer dress in still wintery Rome!). You have all the fun of traveling with none of the hassle.

A staycation is a great way to indulge in the simple pleasures you can't always enjoy when you travel--like sleeping in or spending an afternoon dallying on the porch. When you travel, you want to maximize your time enjoying the magic of the destination you find yourself in--getting the most out of museums, restaurants, nature walks...and so forth. Of course, the excitement of being in a new place and saturating your senses with new experiences is awesome, but sometimes what you really need out of a vacation is a little R&R. A staycation allows you to truly rest and enjoy the comfort of your own home.

I also love that it encourages you to see your city in a new light--and hopefully take some of that carefree magic into your everyday life. After my staycation, I felt more motivated to enjoy the events and places of my town on a weekly basis. So if you want to try a staycation this year--or just add a little more fun to your summer, check out my tips for a magical staycation below.

1. No schedules! While it's true you'll want to make sure you catch that museum show or work in that trip to the mountains, you want to avoid penciling in all your free time. In fact, you should start each day with no real plans, only a handful of suggestions of what you might do. I learned this from one of my favorite Audrey Hepburn movies, Roman Holiday, in which the heroine insists on no schedules while she takes a day out of her princess-ing duties to simply enjoy herself--just one of the few travel tips I've learned from Miss Hepburn.

2. Sleep in. Have a lazy breakfast. Linger over your cup of coffee. This will help you avoid the temptation to over-schedule yourself. It's also pretty delicious to sleep in on a weekday when you know the rest of the world is at work.

3. Indulge. You know if you were on vacation, you'd be having that glass of wine with lunch or that afternoon gelato...so why not do it while you're staycationing? Have your ice cream cone. Savor that decadent lunch. Splurge on that dress. Go out to your favorite restaurant dressed to the nines. Take a long nap under a shady tree.

4. Make time for the things you love--but don't always have the energy for. I personally love looking at art, going to festivals, and yes, dancing (as you well know). That said, I don't always feel like doing any of these things after a busy work week (the allure of wearing pajamas all day is just too much to resist). During my staycation, I went to a local wine festival, several dance events, and even a film screening (after a martini at my favorite bar).

5. Be a tourist in your own city--minus the fanny pack and frumpy tennis shoes. I know this might sound super obvious, but it's important to point out that a staycation is a time to see the important stuff in your city that you wouldn't otherwise check out, like that historical monument or gorgeous nature reserve--or the host of seasonal activities and events that you say you will go to each year but never do.

What do you enjoy most about staycationing?

Roasted Garlic Scapes

June 9, 2015

Imagine my delight to find garlic scapes at the f armers' market this weekend! Here I had thought that the season for these tender shoots had come and gone without me being able to feast on these perfect greens (I comforted myself with an unexpected batch of fiddlehead ferns). For those of you that don't know, scapes are the flower stalk of the garlic plant that are harvested before they flower so the plant sends its energy into developing the garlic bulb. Picked early in the season, they have a mild garlic taste with hints of earthy asparagus. Yum!

Typically, I indulge in this magical season by feasting on roasted garlic scapes. I like to roast them for a long time so that they are one part meltingly tender and another part garlic crisps. The great thing about scapes is that they don't need much to make a tasty appetizer. In fact, I only ever use olive oil and quality salt. If I feel like getting fancy, I sprinkle some of my 3 Citrus Himalayan Salt over the curled greens.

You'll notice that I didn't specify quantities here. I roast as little as a handful to a whole basketful depending on how many people I'm serving, so the recipe is pretty versatile. Just remember that the more scapes you use, the longer you want to roast them--especially if you want them slightly crispy.

Ingredients:

Garlic Scapes

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Place washed scapes on one side of a large sheet of foil and sprinkle with olive oil and salt. Fold other half of foil over the scapes and pinch the open sides closed so that you create a little pouch for the scapes to cook in. Place on a baking sheet and let roast in over for 30 minutes to an hour. Remember, the longer you cook them, the crispier they get, so cook they according to your own preference. Let cool for five minutes before plating. Enjoy!

My Summer Fun List

June 5, 2015

Summer is *finally* here (goodbye windy stormy May)! While I appreciated last month's rain, I found myself longing for sunshine and flip flops and polka dot dresses. It was hard to feel like it was officially that carefree time for teachers when I spent most of my time indoors away from the wind, hail, and thunder.

Now that the skies have cleared and the temperatures are up, it finally feels like sweet, sweet summertime! Oddly enough, this stormy May made me appreciate all the things I love about summer--and in all honesty, sometimes neglect to enjoy when I slip into my daily routine. When fall rolls around, I wistfully look back at the time I could have spent picnicking, stargazing, or generally goofing around instead of getting locked into a set schedule (that dreadful little thing!).

This year I have decided not to let that happen and this summer fun list is going to help me make sure I indulge in all the simple pleasures of the season. After all, summer, at its best, reminds us of the power of play.

So here is my list, in no particular order, and that will no doubt continue to grow:

1. Enjoy more summer cookouts. One of best things about summer is cooking outside and lingering over a refreshing drink and good conversation. Oh, and eating smores.

2. Visit the Farmers market. A lot. To feast on all those delicious local fruits and veggies!

3. Go to a baseball game. Summer isn't summer without at least one ball game.

4. Walk barefoot. Who needs shoes when the temperature is up?

5. Have more picnics. I absolutely love throwing down a blanket in the grass to enjoy a simple feast, a good book, and a sunny day.

6. Dance. Dance. Dance. Salsa dancing in my case. Summer is the perfect time to do all the things you don't always get to do when you're in the daily grind of your regular routine--like going out dancing without having to worry about being up early the next day.

7. Go swimming. There's something about diving into a pool and splashing around that makes me feel like a kid again.

8. Stargaze. New Mexico is such a perfect place to look at the stars--which, I admit, I don't do enough of--but when I do, I feel like I could drink up those stars forever.

9. Sunbathe. Right up there with stargazing, I love (safe) sun-soaking. It feels great to shed the extra layers of clothes in favor of a bathing suit and a pair of sunglasses.

10. Drink frilly cocktails. On the porch. Sprawled on the grass. In some shaded garden nook. Poolside--wherever I can! With the bounty of the season, it's fun to mix up fruit and herb concoctions to quench your thirst. Hello, gin fizz...

11. Wear fun summer dresses. So I love flouncy dresses. Like, LOVE. Especially if there are polka dots involved. This playful season allows me to get even more cheeky with my wardrobe.

12. Stay up late reading. Okay, I've been pretty good with this one already. It is such an indulgence to get lost in a good book, especially when you know you aren't ruled by the morning alarm clock.

13. Garden. Who doesn't love fresh tomatoes from her own garden?

14. Pickle everything! This is like preserving summer in a jar--and no lunch sandwich is complete without fresh pickles.

15. Watch the sunrise. Taking time in the morning to appreciate the cooler temps and watch the city slowly wake up is the ultimate luxury.

16. Watch the sun set. With a glass of wine in hand. Too often I can come home with a to-do list (yoga, clean, eat) and lose track of those moments of stillness that allow me to savor the beauty of nature.

17. Forget schedules. Lose track of time. Often.

18. Visit museums. One of my favorite things to do, when I lived in Seattle was to visit museums, particularly one summer when the city experiences a record-breaking heat wave...and I had no air-conditioning in my apartment. Yuck! So instead of drowning in my own sweat (great for hot yoga, but not so much for getting through the day), I would go to a lovely air conditioned museum, look at art, and simply be. It occurred me that I don't do that enough in Albuquerque, so now's the time to fix that.

19. Mid-week afternoon movie watching. Who doesn't love an air conditioned almost empty theater?

20. Daydream...

...the list could go on and on, but I figure if I can even tackle half of these and enjoy a popsicle or two, I've had a nice full summer.

What's on your summer fun list?

To the Everlasting Yes!

June 2, 2015

It is not the question that matters, only the answer.

The Why is full of too many uncertainties, a tangle of threads knotted into a heavy ball of your potential histories (what was, what is, what will be, and--strangest of all--what might bes, those thin strands of chance that vanish and reform with every step in a new direction). It cannot be fathomed nor untangled; to try to separate one cord from the rest is to further knot yourself up.

And that is the reason it is not the Everlasting Why that matters, only the answer: Yes!

Let go of holding those threads so tightly and let them find their way around one another until they are not a snarl of string but a rich tapestry of the adventures you take on.

Yes, it is the Yes.

There is the thread that gives you life. You don't even need to understand, only feel it in the dreams carved into your bones. To taste it in the first strawberries from your garden or the spinach leaves with the tang of minerals from your lettuce patch. To see it in the way the robin gathers dry grass for its nest or in the industry of bees sucking down pollen from your fat hollyhocks; in the way it rains when only sunshine is promised, feeding the earth and allowing your seeds to drink up the evening's sweetness.

This is your Yes, that heady tingle of something just beyond your sight that permeates your worldly experience, filling it with light and the warming caress of an afternoon breeze. Here in the stillness is your answer. It clears away the dust and doubt, the painfully literal that, like a bookmark, attempts to pin down your story to one set page when it is an ever-evolving tapestry threading each day with new experiences.

It is tempting even to call this Yes transitory (more of that dust and doubt), but it is ever constant in the way it fills you up with breath and possibility--why not make your Yes the stuff of your everyday? Why not fill your heart with it until there is room for more Yes and more Yes and more Yes.

It is not about the Why, only the Everlasting Yes. The Yes. The Yes. The Yes.

You must only feel the Yes.

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.

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.

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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!

Easy Coconut Body Butter

April 29, 2015

One ingredient. Under ten minutes to make. Silky soft skin as a result. Need I say more? I stumbled across this body butter recipe from Living the Nourished Life on Pinterest and immediately had to try it. You know I love making my own body butters already because they are much more nourishing for your skin than traditional lotions (even organic ones that like to sneak in preservatives). Plus, they feel positively luxurious!

As easy as my body butter recipes are, I don't always have the energy to wait for beeswax to melt and then whip up my oils and other ingredients--especially this time of year when I am in an end-of-term-grading crunch. And as much as I look forward to my rich mojito body butter after a day in the sun, I find myself needing a lighter day-to-day moisturizer now that it is warmer out. Enter this decadent and easy to make coconut body butter.

You simply whip up solid coconut oil until it is nice and frothy like whipped cream; this ensures that when you slather the butter on your body, it quickly absorbs into your skin, rather than leaving an oily residue. You can add essential oils to it, but I find I like to preserve the gentle perfume of coconuts--feels so summery and festive!

Ingredients:

1 cup organic coconut oil

Place solid coconut oil in mixing bowl--don't melt the oil or it will not whip. Using a handheld mixer, whip coconut oil for 6-8 minutes, or until oil is frothy like whipped cream. Transfer to a small mason jar or other airtight container and store indefinitely in a cool, dry place. To use, simply apply to skin post-bath in small amounts. Makes about 1 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

On Living Your Creed

April 24, 2015

It is not always enough to believe--you must live it every day.

You must find your home in its embrace; however strange it may seem to others, however difficult it may be, you must turn away from other outstretched arms, seductive folds that would gather you into the temporary ease of all-inclusiveness. Yes, this collective energy can momentarily assuage the wear and tear of walking your own path but ultimately stifles you with the price you must pay for this comfort: silence. Only your voice, that seed of sound and breath, the song of who you are, the breeze that allows your wings to unfurl.

But you cannot turn your back on your creed. The one made up of lessons learned the hard way and a future paved by dreams and flashes of inspiration and--sometimes--past lives, those tatters of ghostly tendrils that snake their way through the cracks in the earth beneath your feet. It is yours and yours alone.

If you know each seed you plant will blossom, you must sow wisely. If you know each thought is a thread coloring the tapestry of your life, you must think carefully. If you know that your lungs need fresh air and open space to fill them up, you must find a land without fences in which to breathe deeply. If you know that only you can create your future, you must wake every morning to pave the next row of stones that carve out your path. If you know your life is made up of conversations with the universe, you must speak with the cosmos often, shout out to it, sing to it, and listen to its response even if no one else can understand or hear the exchange. They see only dust, where you see stars.

On Mid-Week Gardening

April 21, 2015

You are able to sneak away for a little bit--just a handful of minutes really--to tend your garden. You tune out everything except the hum of bees and the crackle of things growing. You smell nothing but damp earth and rosemary; feel thick roots twine themselves around your fingers and tender radish leaves kiss your wrists.

You know there are stacks of papers waiting for you on your writing desk along with a fresh pot of tea. But for now, you take a moment to be still, to tune into the thoughts and feelings that have been pushed to the bottom of your spine as you go about your work day. You release each lesser one as you would the weeds you pluck from your garden so that your tomatoes, as with your joy, may be plentiful. And you keep the good ones, planting them alongside your strawberries so they may grow as ripe and lush as those ruby berries.

With your bare feet on the earth, you feel the soul in your soles connecting you to that vast web of roots and minerals, leaves and petals and--soon--fruit. When your hands are blackened by dirt and your shirt splattered with water, you no longer feel the tendril of tiredness in your bones; and though you know you must clean yourself up before returning to your work, you allow your hair to be messy and loose around you, a half-curled nest like the spring onions you tended only moments ago, a reminder that you are earth and roots as much as words and tea.

3 Ways to Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Your Home

April 17, 2015

In my last post, I gave you a recipe for an all-purpose cleaner to show just how simple and affordable it can be to green your home care routine. Today I'm going to add to this by showing you how you can use baking soda--that miracle pantry staple--and vinegar to take care of some of your bigger your cleaning needs. Like my all-purpose cleaner that only used vinegar and essential oils, these easy recipes only cost you a fraction of what an organic cleaning product would and yet are as gentle on your home as they are on the earth. In fact, using baking soda and vinegar to clean your home is even less expensive than buying those chemical laden commercial products!

1. For Your Toilet: Pour 1 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda into the bowl. Scrub thoroughly and let sit for 20 minutes.

2. For the Bathtub, Kitchen Sink, or Other Tough to Clean Surface: 1/4 cup baking soda and about 1/8 cup water (enough to make a thin paste). Combine ingredients until they form a thin paste and spread across desired surface. Scrub until surface is clean and rinse off baking soda with warm water. The baking soda will not only remove soap scum and other substances but also deodorize and disinfect.

3. For a Clogged Drain: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain and 1 cup vinegar. Cover drain so that the foaming action of the two ingredients stays in the pipes. Let sit for half an hour then pour hot water down the drain. This will clean out regular build up.

These are just a few ways to use such simple products on those hard-to-tackle places in our home that often need more elbow grease to get sparkly clean. You can also use vinegar to deodorize your refrigerator (simply put an open cup of vinegar in your fridge for two days to absorb odors); placing an open box of baking soda near your trashcan will likewise get rid of any funky smells. Between my all-purpose cleaner and these recipes, you can safely and cost-effectively clean your home!

All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

April 15, 2015

With Earth Day around the corner, I find myself thinking of all the super easy ways we can be eco-friendlier in our day to day routine, especially when it comes to cleaning our homes. We often think that if we want to green our cleaning routines that we need to shell out a fortune on organic cleansers and other goods. In reality, we can be good to our environment and our wallet by going back to basics.

This all-purpose cleaner does just that, using the anti-bacterial properties of vinegar to clean your home--a recipe I learned from my mom. It can be used on everything from windows and bathroom sinks to the kitchen counter and floors. I like to throw in essential oils into this mix, usually peppermint or lavender to soften the smell of vinegar. What you're left with is a nice smelling all natural antibacterial cleaner that costs you under $1 a bottle.

Ingredients:

1 cup vinegar

1 cup water

30 drops essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake until combined. Enjoy!