If you like our home, then you will love the home of Meta Coleman!

The home of Meta Coleman was brought to my attention by my sister, we are both big fans of Svenskt Tenn and the Josef Frank textiles. So when my sister came upon the home of Meta Coleman on Cup of Jo she forwarded it to me. She didn't even notice that within the text there was a reference to our mom's *fantastic* waffles (if you don't already use the recipe it's here on my blog). We had a good laugh about the whole thing all the while drooling over Meta's drop-dead gorgeous home!

Turns out we have similar dogs, our kids are close in age and we are both born from Immigrant parents. It's amazing how many people I have found through my shop and the internet who have gone on to become my closest friends. I look forward to a long friendship with Meta too. I encourage anyone to reach out when you find someone who seems to have the same interests as you do - I do it all the time, sometimes I am WAY off... but from time to time it's magic!

our home

Meta's home

I wish my dog had been sitting in front of our photo!! but yea, I'd say we think alike - but I am oh so jealous of her amazing credenza! Read all about Meta and see additional photos of her BEAUTIFUL home in Utah on Cup of Jo.

WASTED! The Story of Food Waste...

I don't care how careful you are to use the whole plant in your cooking this is going to open your eyes! What a great movie for all Americans to see - it's not shaming, because maybe you didn't even know this but this movie will teach you how to eat the whole pant... it's okay and even delicious!

This movie is in Theaters and On Demand now....

Matcha Latte Recipe

Here it is folks... I've had a few frantic texts requesting the recipe so here you go!

So yes, this is my new JAM as the young kids say (haha) - bye bye coffee... HELLO MATCHA! I've been telling you all for years about taking Astragalus for your immune system, but since I have been drinking Matcha instead of coffee in the morning there is no need! My allergies are at bay and I have no need for coffee. This is terrific! I also think it's good for our bodies to switch things up. I think it would be optimal to fast each month or so... but I never seem to get that done. In the mean time just drink this... it's super delicious!

I got my recipe from my niece while we were on our summer vacation in Colorado.  She made them for us every day so when I got home I ran out and got everything - I will say this, this stuff is NOT CHEAP but it's a big initial investment but it will have you set for a long while. I think it's also a good idea to mix things up a bit and come up with your own recipe. Mine is different every day so let's say it's a variation on the below recipe.

MATCHA LATTE
you will need a blender or vitamix - if you don't have a vitamix go out and get yourself one it will change your life!

ingredients
1 tbsp + hemp seeds - to make the milk
1 tsp + matcha (finely ground matcha green tea - it's basically a powder)
1/2 - 1 tsp morniga (again finely ground leaves) - immune booster
1/2 - 1 tsp ashwaganda - I love the SUN POTION brand - their website has all the benefits listed and they are many!
1/2-1 tsp collagen
my neice uses 1/2 a date I like a whole date
(she also adds cashew butter or something and I will do that if I am not going to have breakfast but if it's just a drink I leave that out)
1/4 - 1/2 tsp vanilla (just a few drops)
1/2 - 1 tsp cinnamon
filtered water
... I think that's it, however you can add anything!

take the hemp seeds and about +/-2 cups of water and blend those into a milk. It will get a bit warm and this is good to help mix in the tea. You can also make the whole thing warm/hot with hot water! (my sister likes it like that but it's too thick for me)
When you have your milk put in your other desired ingredients and blend for a while so that it gets warm and a tiny froth. I pour over a 2-3 ice cubes so that it's not too thick - I guess I like it watered down (I'm a weakling). When I drink it it's not cold but not hot either... healthy!

I can't wait to hear from everyone... tell me how MUCH you love this!

zenbunni - new moon: rabbit report

I don't know about you but the newsletters I choose to get have become a slim group of lovely happy emails that I am actually excited to get... I look forward to them - some for their graphic beauty and some for their delightful information. ZenBunni is a bit of both, this is a youthful couple who always enlighten me about things be it - biodynamic chocolate or the moon phases (I think they have a lot to do with each other...) - and I also just like who they are and how the move in the world. If you have a friend that is going to California I have one suggestion, ask them to bring you back some of their chocolate! Or you can sign up for their chocolate club (yes, you heard me right there's a club for chocolate and why are you not ALREADY part of this club you may ask!) I have been trying to bring their chocolate into the shop for a while now, but haven't gotten around to it, I promise to try to make it a priority! But for now sign up for the CHOCOLATE CLUB: 


On each Full Moon you'll receive a variety of ZenBunni chocolate goodies not available in shops + other delights ranging from Biodynamic Seeds and Teas, the highest quality skin care products, hand crafted art pieces, and endless more collaborations with Makers and Earth Friends.


Now, doesn't that sound delightful! It's $39per full moon cycle and so wonderful. Don't miss signing up for their new moon rabbit report, it's a check-in and for instance the one I got today reminded me to check-in with natures cycle. I think the summer is a very busy time for everyone, carting our kids from camp to sleepovers, etc... and we rarely take the time to give to ourselves, slow down, walk into the garden and find the wonder that is growing in our back yards. We ask our kids to do it, but sometimes we forget to do it ourselves. They reminded me to take a nap in the afternoon, which I shall do tomorrow just because they told me to - they used the term "self-nourishment" and I like that term!

enjoy and I hope you sign up for their newsletter! (and I HOPE you have signed up for mine too!)

click here to visit their blog
or
click here to visit their website

home made cashew milk

Have you ever tried to make your own nut milk? It's delicious and not difficult. I tried quite a few different kinds of nuts and grains but I like cashew milk the best and it's the easiest. I only make the milk for my morning coffee so I don't need much - but you could easily make more for consuming. You would not believe how delicious your own nut milk is in coffee!

Take a look at the ingredients of any nut milk you are currently using... yuk right!? gums and other things you might not want to consume. That as well as I was drinking it every day with my coffee and I couldn't stand it anymore. The only thing you have to do is remember that you need to soak your nuts overnight (oh my kids would hysterically laugh if I said that out loud). I love almond milk but it's way too difficult to do on a daily basis (you actually don't need to make it every day - I make it every OTHER day... and I think you can refrigerate for three days and it's okay). So, that brought me to walnuts, amaranth, oats, I've tried quite a few things and sometimes when I don't have enough of one I just combine a few. At any rate I have found that cashew milk is the easiest (you don't even have to strain it!) and it comes out a milky white color that looks like... well... MILK!

RECIPE
take a large ball jar and put about 1/3 cup of nuts in (you will be surprised how few nuts you need to make the milk) and just a few grains of salt - you are basically sprouting the cashews. Fill jar 3/4 with filtered water. You can also add: cinnamon or any spices you like?

Let jar sit over night on counter.
In the morning you can just throw in blender (or even better in a vitamix) and blend for a couple of minutes. You don't even really need to strain it but you can just in case there are lumps. From time to time I add some honey or agave for a bit more flavor. If you don't use it all right away refrigerate and use within 2 days.

In the wintertime when I drink hot coffee I warm up the nuts and water before I put in vitamix - I even add some coconut oil - which is super delicious! Otherwise, I make cold brew coffee with my home made cashew milk... YUM!

night time photo of cashews soaking and my cold brew coffee so I'm all set in the morning!

Inner Garden :: Flower Essence Therapy - LInda Beal

Recently my 11 year old daughter has been very lackluster with regards to school, she loves school don't get me wrong, it's the learning part that she finds uninteresting. Her symptoms arrive as soon as the teacher hands out a sheet of math to work on, she zones out - sound familiar? I don't know about you but that describes myself, my husband but somehow not our son - just can't wait to attack that worksheet - who knew!? We have had teachers who had a serious concern about Franny, until they met her parents... somehow just meeting us secured the fact that it might just run in the family - DAYDREAMERS. I'm not proud of it, it certainly didn't make things easy, but I feel that if she can learn to take an interest in any aspect of school, she will be fine.

Then Linda Beal walked into my store - she changed our lives. We have used Bach's Flower Remedies over the years, I used rescue remedy during pregnancy and after for breastfeeding support (see more information on that in a previous post here) and I gave my husband (unknowingly) sweet chestnut to lift his depression and it worked. So when she told me that she works with healing with flower remedies, I lit up like a light! I knew this was the answer for Franny - to help with her focus and boredom at school.

Flower essences can help us gently release unwanted emotions and behaviors, while helping to foster our innate strengths.  Used widely in Europe for many decades, flower essences are remedies made from the blossoms of plants and trees and are taken orally in liquid dropper form or applied topically.  Within the context of Flower Essence Therapy, flower essences work subtly to affect profound change. This just speaks to the way that Franny operates, anything related to nature or a flower.

I was lucky, I also had the chance to sit down with Linda and she created a remedy for me as well. I told her that I wasn't really sure what to work on because I feel I have way too many emotional issues to focus on one. She sat me down and we went through what came up for me and it was just spot ON. Linda is a trained and experienced flower essence practitioner, she has been helping people for most of her lifetime. It is not easy to put into words but I feel less complicated, more in tune - I don't want to bore you with my problems but I feel lifted and supported, but from within.

As for Franny, she loves Linda, I think children just know when people are good for them. They sat down and had a conversation that was very comfortable for Franny, Linda uses kinesiology to find the remedy that supports each person. Franny had an immediate response when she started taking her remedy. She said she felt very 'awake' while in school and her teacher told me that Franny is participating more rigorously. We haven't had our normal stressful conversations about school and studying that we had before - which always ended in tears no matter how 'softly' you approached the subject. Her attitude now comes from a place of strength and she's not making excuses for everything.

Each person has their own remedy which Linda puts together with you while you are in your session. You look through the meanings of the flowers that pertain to your 'spirit' or constitution and you can gain wisdom on your blockages. We will probably see Linda again to adjust but for now it's exciting to see how this helps. Linda suggests that Flower Remedies can help with:

   * separation anxiety
   * shyness and social sensitivity
   * focus and concentration
   * self confidence
   * performance anxiety
   * academic overwhelm

I had the chance to sit down with Linda and talk to her about what she does. Here are some questions that I came up with for Linda to help you get familiar with the process. My favorite part about talking with Linda is that I always learn something from her, this is what a good friend is all about, you respect someone to listen deeply to them and learn from what they are saying. When Linda and I talk I find myself hanging on her every word.

CS: How do you feel diet enhances or works with the flower remedies?
LB: Because flower remedies assist us to assist ourselves, anything that brings us into greater strength, clarity, balance and alignment enhances their work. So, indeed, a diet of pure water and ample hydration, along with fresh, nutritious and anti-inflammatory whole foods provide the perfect foundation for flower essence therapy.
As with so many other things I also think of one's "diet" on various levels… In addition to being conscious about what we physically ingest, we may also being to consider what we are "feeding ourselves" and absorbing on a sensory level, an emotional level, and on an intellectual level. What are we exposing ourselves and our children to on all these levels and how "digestible" is it? Just like eating too large a meal, "too much" on various levels can truly be too much to process and lead to a feeling of sensory, emotional or intellectual overwhelm. In this way, we choose healthy and enhancing foods and "feasts for the senses", while forgoing the junk food and toxins.

CS: 2. I feel that Franny's issues were a bit subtle - how profound have you found the remedies to be on larger 'issues'?
LB: Flower remedies help us to release our own imbalances, whether subtle or more complex. Children are usually able to cast off 'issues' quite quickly. In contrast, more complex issues that stymie us have often developed over time and become more enmeshed with our sense of self and involve working with a trained and experienced flower essence therapist in a more sustained manner. Unlike some medications which attempt to alleviate the symptom(s), flower essences help us to resolve the cause and bring us back to our own self-alignment. Everyone is on their own healing journey. I love to say, flower essence therapy may feel like a "snail's pace" at times, but it is truly ones "soul's pace". You can't source it. You can't rush it. But you know when you or your child has resolved the "issue".

CS: 3. What brought you to flower remedies?
LB: My quest to find the most natural and non-intrusive ways to help children heal themselves began at age 17 and led me, two decades later, to my work with flower remedies. Along the way, I became a special education teacher and a Waldorf education teacher and I used Bach Flower Remedies and Perelandra flower essences. However, when I discovered the anthroposophically based Flower Essence Society and their work in California, I found the answer to my quest.

CS: 4. Can you talk a bit about your kids and your use with flower remedies with you and your family.
LB: My daughters were extremely sensitive as children and flower essences were, and still are, a constant in their lives, as well as mine. A specialized flower remedy has accompanied them over each "threshold" they have crossed, whether academic (grade school through graduate school) or emotional/social. Flower essences have helped them, now ages 26 and 22, to strengthen and sheathe themselves, while simultaneously allowing them to retain their glorious innate gifts of empathetic awareness and sensitivity.

CS: 5. Are there some other things that you like to suggest to do in conjunction with the flower remedies? (meditation or reiki or something?)
LB: Flower essences help us to connect to ourselves and Nature, so the best "environment" that we can provide for this healing work, for ourselves and/or our children, is a safe and loving space and quiet, calm time, along with time in Nature, and any other health-giving practices. In addition, I like to ask my clients to engage in some ongoing creative activity, such as journaling, visual journaling, or an art for that they enjoy, which encourages them to express themselves and may also, hopefully, profice a kind of "mirror" for their growth.
CS: It's so interesting that you say that because I innately wanted to write down what I was feeling, my thoughts in a simple way so that I could remember the changes or shifts that were taking place for me.

CS: 6. I like to ask people to share one of their favorite recipes - I have found that when you trust someone you like to eat alike :)
LB: My absolute simplest, but tried and true, favorite healthy, anytime snack, pick me up, and palate cleanser that went into my girls school lunches, on road trips, to potlucks, and is a fun breakfast staple: "Cinnamon Apples"! I cut up tart, organic apples (I prefer granny smith or gala) into slices and festively arrange them on a pretty plate, then sprinkle them with cinnamon. That's it. And if I am over-zealous with my cinnamon apple offering, I use the uneaten slices to make applesauce!
CS: (I think I should share my Apple Tea recipe with Linda! right!?

If you want to contact Linda Beal visit her website: Inner Garden - Flower Essence Therapy all of her contact information is listed on the website and read more about her transforming work. I just can't say enough about how it has helped our family, on a very profound level. All of us have benefited from her work. I am so excited to keep an ongoing openness and awareness as my friendship with Linda continues.

cold and flu season

 Just about each year I write about Cold and Flu season - you can read some of my history here - and just so you know many of the remedies that we have used over the years we are still using and I still believe in them so check out my old blog posts for more information. But lately I have been thinking about how illness usually follows an intense sugar time. For example Valentines Day - which I believe has turned into another candy-fest. It takes a toll on our bodies, and moreover our kids bodies. That amount of sugar can easily debilitate our bodies, lower our immune system and it becomes so much easier to get the cold or flu.

Our tried and true remedies that we still use are salt baths, Astragalus (I put a piece of the dried sticks into my tea for just about every day in the wintertime), exercise and a daily turmeric tea (see recipe below). You can drink this tea year-round!

DAILY TURMERIC TEA
mix a paste of 1/3 cup of honey and 2 tsp turmeric and keep in a jar, it will last you about a week.

1 tsp of turmeric/honey paste
drizzle of coconut oil
pinch of pepper
squeeze a wedge of lemon and then throw the whole thing in there (the oils from the skin are the best part for you - so be sure to use organic lemons!)
warm water


Nobodies perfect mind you and when we are given the okay to eat chocolate and candy with a holiday it's next to impossible to ignore it. I just find it funny when after the Holidays or after Valentines day everyone is so "surprised" that people get sick! Like they didn't see it coming... Well from now on you won't be surprised, you will remember these words and maybe the tenth time you will say to yourself let's try to have a holiday without sugar! I haven't been able to do it yet...

stay well!

What next

Looking at my post from yesterday I am reminded of my optimism, which I will continue to have because it's all that keeps me going. In the meantime I will take this time to be quiet, introverted and cleanse. It could be easy to turn to other things (especially since there are more legal forms now in many states) but I challenge you to take this time to become stronger, ignite from within, maybe this will become an impetus to meditate, strengthen your mind body and spirit - to stretch, eat better and show this country where it's strength lies.

It was a very long night in the USA with the election of a new president. I've been on social media and there is a lot of complete shock and disbelief, and I have been hearing from many of my clients since the announcement. Indeed, if you are involved in many progressive ideas about the raising of our children, the state of our natural environment, women's rights, etc - then this election has been pretty shocking. But, it has me thinking as well. When I began Nonchalant Mom in 2004 the political climate was not very different from what happened today. My ideas for what I wanted to do with my business and how I wanted to present and run my business may have been a little more surprising and out of place then, but the core ideas remain the same. Needless to say, it was a challenge then, and is still a challenge now, to declare that you want your business idea to respect small crafts people and designers, that I want my business model to be a holistic benefit from the creators of many of my small labels I represent right through to the way I present the items I sell. I wanted to find things that showed respect between peoples and also respected the environment in the best ways possible. I didn't want to disregard the maker's and manufacturers of the things I sell/sold. I wanted to treat them with respect, I wanted them to treat me with respect and most importantly, I knew then that I was interested in small manufacturing, choosing to work with people who are respectful of their manufacturing process and people. I wanted to do something that felt right - something that felt good for both the people who make and provide beautiful things and for the people who would become my clients and buy and wear (or use) those beautiful products. And, though it looks like the social and political climate here in the USA (if not the world in general) is going to take a turn for some unsure outcomes - I felt it was and is very very important to remind myself and to remind any of you who follow and support my business I am invested in you as well. A good solid fight for the progressive ideals I built my little business on top of - a good fight for our children, for our family,  for our friends, and for ourselves to do and make things that we all can use and enjoy.

As always this also involves food so here's a good way to start - bring your lunch with you to work, play or to keep yourself from not eating snacks or food that is not good for your body. This photo is my lunch (well just one of the jars). I make brown rice a few times a week and we either use it for dinner and then I use the leftovers for lunch. I mix in roasted vegetables, nuts, steamed greens or even last nights leftover salad! I keep a jar of my home made tahini in the fridge to drizzle on top (that's the second jar) and I honestly can't think of a better, more satisfying lunch.

I heat it up in the morning so that it's at least luke-warm (which is fine and delicious too) by the time I eat it (yes, I could maybe use a thermos but I am a little too attached to these jars).

TAHINI RECIPE
(I personally don't measure anything but you may want to the first few times you make it until you come up with your own favorite recipe)

1/2 - 1 cup tahini
juice of 1 lemon (use more if it's not juicy)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
salt & pepper
add water to your liking - I like my slightly thick, but I know some people like it very watered down

blend in your vitamix or blender until smooth and creamy
keep in a jar for up to two weeks in the refrigerator (you will certainly use it before then!)

If you are really on top of things its nice to top your jar lunch off with gomasio (see link for recipe) or toasted seasame seeds or just about any toasted nut

Coffe and coconut oil

I was introduced to the most delicious coffee from my healthy friend Rebecca who lives on Martha's Vinyard and teaches yoga there (link below). It has now become an obsession with me and I can't wait for my morning coffee!

coffee - espresso or whatever you like
1 TBSP - organic coconut oil
throw in your vitamix and froth

(I put almond milk in there too just cause that's the way I roll.. I don't know if Rebecca approves of that but I just didn't tell her about that part!)

When I need some healthy 'friend-wisdom' I talk to Rebecca, everyone needs a friend in their life like Rebecca, my sister and our extended macrobiotic friends are always a great help too. I asked Rebecca to break it down for me, this new coconut oil/coffee contraption that I have fallen in love with and this is her FULL unfolding why this coffee is not only delicious but better too! 

Coconut** meat, butter and oil is a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT oil) which is easily used for sustained energy by the body (unlike longer chain fats that take a lot of digesting, and are harder on the liver to process). 

Choosing to have a healthy, clean (no chemicals) fat in the morning, especially if having a stimulant like coffee or cocoa (preferably organic, fair trade coffee and organic raw cacao--dark chocolate) is way better than no fats or no protein, or worse straight grain-based carbs in the morning, and/or low-fat or skim animal fats that are non-nutritive, and stressful on the body to try to function on.

**always go organic, and fair trade like Dr. Bronners or Nutiva when able

Coconut oil is also great to cleanse your skin in the morning and your internal system... It has naturally occurring Caprylic and lauric acid, which easily becomes monolauric acid a very effective and gentle anti-fungal which both helps rid the skin and body of non beneficial cellular inhabitants, like candida albucans and the clumping, strapping yeast bio-films that can wrap around our organs, or around undigested proteins. 

The coconut's protective oil also cleanses the coffee (beans) of inevitable molds that love to grow on nuts, seed pods and berries... They are delicious and nutritious that's why and how we grow on them too- nuts, seeds, berries are rich in anti-oxidants and protective phyto (plant) nutritives that naturally (through nature's wisdom) ward off potential infections that weaken their every cells' membranes and hence their bodies' chance of survival, driven by the soulful miraculous drive to live, express itself fully and aromatically and reproduce... (Just like us humans). Thing is molds, fungi, viruses, and bacteria also all want to survive and thrive and reproduce... And often their souls get off balance (with too much of a good thing, like sugar or polysaccharide over abundance and like humans they feed on this more is better energy and get ego driven or just gluttonous and take advantage of the off-balanced systems and eventually the etremism overtakes them, and they burst with a destructive force of enoughness...or spoilage... (Just like us humans)... But ya know nature has her way with us life-forms... And she keeps on keeping on, new forms, new energy will always arise and be born again to survive, thrive and reproduce before dying once again.

I'm leaving that last part in there for you to chew on... I thought about taking it out but it was part of Rebecca's full unpacking and I just that well... heck... you might want to hear all that!

Have a great morning and get on with your DAY!

rebecca's blog link is here

uM, this looks GOOD! - Little Moss in South Dartmouth MA

outside Little Moss in South Dartmouth, MA

yea, I can tell a good chef from her photo :)

Every once in a while I get a heads up on something great going on... I sift through loads of emails to find the good ones, and yep! this is a good one. Little Moss in South Dartmouth, Mass is going to host a couple of amazing chefs from the South! So for a few days you can enjoy the southern trappings of Chef Whitney Otawka, who is part of the culinary team behind the South’s famed Greyfield Inn (yes, I now want to go there, on our next hike down south) – an historic 16-room Inn located on the remote Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia. 

this is the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island, GA

From Tuesday, August 23 through Sunday, August 28, Whitney and her partner Ben Wheatley will host a dinner series and menu takeover at Little Moss – a South Dartmouth restaurant that offers locally sourced food that evokes the rich, maritime history of the village’s whaling port. Whitney and Ben will create a special menu that highlights their experience cooking in the coastal South – but with New England ingredients. I can't wait for this and it's certainly worth the hike from Rhode Island!

I love the idea of checking out a town with an event in mind, and this is such a perfect event. No reservations (so could get crazy) so I say let's GO FOR IT!
 

that's where I'll be sitting August 23rd!

 

Food 52

Recently, a friend of mine gave me a copy of the Food 52 - Genius Recipes and I am just crazy about it! I immediately started making things from their wonderful recipes. Each recipe is from a list of greats like Julia Child (I just made her zucchini gratin with my overload of zucchini from the farm), Hervé This on chocolate and so many more... Last night I made the Hervé This Chocolate Mousse that is simply made with water (it's a Molecular thing)... it turned out incredibly amazing!

So obviously you can see a trend here... Food 52 goes on my list with recipes from Martha Stewart, Ottolenghi and the Fat Radish cookbook as my favorites! They also list my go-to summer recipe that I use for just about everything during the summer. Their Toasted Orecchiette with Zucchini, Corn, and Crème Fraîche recipe is one what I thought I created, but I guess not, but I make it all summer long with whatever vegetables I have on hand. Lately I have taken out the pasta part and just make a nice grilled fish, tofu or sausages and then serve with vegetables made in this simple way, with a bit of crème fraiche, pepper and lemon to make them more interesting.

Then I found that Food 52 has everything! Their website is a bit like a Crate and Barrel for the kitchen only, with EVERYTHING for the kitchen, cook books, and well just believe me when I say EVERYTHING you could ever want in a beautifully photographed website (and NO I do not work for them! haha). My reason for writing this blog was not to talk about the food, but I have a hard time not going there... but to tell you that whatever I don't have for kids, they have on their website! They have great kitchen-type things for kids and it's a great place to get lovely gifts for that budding Chef in your family! Just cute as can be.... link to kids here.

five things I'm doing this week...

I get a weekly newsletter from the ladies at 'of a kind', it's called 10 things we are doing this week and I always love to read it! They are delightfully useful and from time to time I pass their ideas onto you! So I decided it was a good idea I start a 'five things I'm doing this week' - because I knew it was impossible that I come up with 10 things each week! I think I can keep this going by keeping my 'things' short and sweet... things you can just do - without a DIY video or anything.

five things I'm doing this week....

1. reading my favorite book in a LONG time - The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney - mostly because of the endorsement of Amy Poehler - I'll read just about anything this hilarious lady thinks is good.

2. Vitamix of the week - coconut water, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 lime, nectarine, handful of arugula, pinch of pepper, small handful of walnuts and some more water and ice! yUM!

3. my new frida No. 6 clogs! obsessed.... obsessed! happy feet!

4. The 'perfect shirt' by Auntie Oti - going on my favorite for three weeks now so I figure it should be on the list!

5. Scallops... I would make scallops every day if I could! I am lucky, my shop shares the same mall as the best fish shop in Rhode Island - Ocean Catch Seafood - I've been grilling them on salads, serving with a mustard sauce (Swedish mustard, sour cream, salt and pepper) and tossing them with quinoa. Every which way they are delicious! (I usually marinate them in olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon - then pan grill them in a really hot pan in some ghee.

I hope you enjoy this new section on my blog as much as I enjoy all of these things!

recipe :: cashew lemon drink

This is my new vitamix obsession - I made this up because it's all of my favorite things in one drink!

It's good hot or cold! (bonus) and I'm just about certain I could have it every day. I use a lot of water so it's not heavy or doesn't way you down... just keep it light and yummy.

CASHEW LEMON DRINK (SMOOTHIE)

1/2 lemon (I just cut off the ends but leave the peel, that's good for you!)
1/2 apple or pear
handful of raw cashews
2-3 dates
1 tsp (or more) of cinnamon
good size chunk of fresh ginger

2-3 cups of purified water
2 ice cubes (it's just enough to make it cool, but not freezing)

blend in vitamix on high

enjoy! (and kids love it too)

have a great weekend!

2016 and what's ahead...

I find myself coming into this new year with more questions than answers, I hate that! It leaves an undone feeling in my head and in my heart, like something just needs to be checked off the list, but I can't. So I am trying to find more simplicity in my life (I think I always say that, but since our life is so up in the air, I really need simplicity now). Selling our house last year started us on the road to hone things in and focus ourselves. We rented a larger house than we really need so we moved our operations in-house for the time being. Besides our town doesn't have any nice retail space at the moment (always looking though) so I am going to wait for something good. My husband is painting in one room, and I run my retail operation out of two rooms - it's crazy but incredibly convenient. We chose to have the entire family sleep in one room, thinking this was just a short-term move, but we have ended up loving it. Both my kids talk in their sleep so it's my favorite moment, around 11pm when they practically talk to each other in their sleep. We all like to read before we go to bed so I love when we all climb into our beds and get our books out.

With this move I hope to start making things again, for now it's a bit under wraps, when I get things going I will be sure to let you in on what the heck is going on! I have missed being a 'maker' and I am excited to get back onto that train, selling things that people make is wonderful but I miss the rush of making something I am proud of and can call my own. I am moving my website into the territory of only made by hand in USA (or sometimes Scandinavia) and expanding my second-hand (flea market) section. And I will say this... one of my priorities is to make a new website - AMEN you say, right!

We are still searching for a place to live, so keep your emails coming. We have heard from many of you on Santa Fe, Colorado and Utah... but I know there are more creative pockets out there and we intend to spend some road trip time this year checking places out! All I can say is I need a town that has a decent bakery where we can get at the very least an amazing croissant (non-existent in our town!). Part of me just wants to find an Inn somewhere and become a caretaker! Stay Tuned....

Here are some things that I am into at the moment:

1. Home made energy drinks made with my Vitamix. I don't have many specific recipes because I just use the fresh produce I have in my fridge or on my counter. But yesterday I made one that was WONDERFUL! First I soaked a handful of cashews overnight in warm water. Then I added: 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch cardamom, 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar, heated almond milk and I think that's it.. so delicious! I have also been making the gojii berry tea quite a bit (see a few posts down).

2. I have a Pandora selection that I started with 'Gordon Lightfoot' and I love it! - I know almost every word to all the songs... it makes for a nice day, it's good homework music, and the whole family likes it.

3. Yoga pants - it's inevitable when you work at home... yoga pants + black crane = love (don't tell Momo I said that...). The Spring collection will be here soon - can't WAIT!

4. I am a scent person, I am crazy for oils and scents - as long as they are natural. So I am always looking for something new, I love the scents we carry by the guys at Village Common. I keep a roll-on in the pocket of my coat - there's nothing better on a cold wintry day than good simple scent! There are no wordy scent descriptions necessary, the ingredients are just what is in the bottle and they are all wonderful and full of life.

5. I think, but I have no proof, that Jasmine keeps away cold and flu - I was once told to put some on a napkin and wave in front of my babies face when she had a cold. I thought it worked then and I still use it on myself and my kids in the winter months. I 'think' it works :)

6. Astralagus - I am completely convinced that this amazing root keeps me healthy and free from sickness. I use the dried root every day in my tea. If you can't find it at your health food store email me and I will send you some! (link to my blog about this healing root)

7. Playing guitar with my kids.. well Franny moved over to the Cello but Sander and I are still working on the guitar and we love it.

I wanted to give you ten ideas but I have to get back to work! Another thing I want to do more of this year is blogging... but keeping them short and sweet.

have a good day!

wellness tonic, elixir.. whatever you want to call it - I'm into them!

If there is one thing I am sure of in this new year it's that I love a good elixir! Last year I got a vitamix for myself for my birthday (I love getting myself a good birthday present!) and I have been crazy about it every since. I know that a lot of people like to make smoothies, but I like it for making sauces for veggies and elixirs. I like to call them elixirs because they are about 80-90% water (and sometimes I add coconut water for a 50% water/50% coconut water combination). I like to use whatever I have in my kitchen and I grow my own spearmint, parsley, basil, cilantro, rosemary and sage year round in my windowsill. My favorites are rosemary and spearmint, I rarely make anything without them. Next on my favorite list are turmeric and ginger, if I add some kind of green I can almost leave it at that if it's all I have. As for greens you take what you like.. for me that's romaine and arugula (and I just use a handful, I don't like it thick and heavy). And OH, never leave out the lemon... you will miss it if you do! and throw the whole thing in there because the essential oils in the skin are the best part for you (I cut off the rough ends but that's it!). And usually black pepper... that's my spike.

I was really inspired by this article in the New York Times - T Magazine, 5 Drink Recipes to Sip Your Way to Wellness. It has 5 great drinks that I am dying to try - I've already made Dimes's Goji Berry and Ginger Tea. I really liked this recipe because it was warm! I'm always looking for something to warm me up! It's delicious and really has a get-up-and-go for me, I immediately felt I had more energy and yes, it made me feel warm all over (best part).

For Christmas I got a few cookbooks (which I will talk more about later), and so far my favorite is Near and Far by Heidi Swanson. It's an amazing cookbook and laid out so thoughtfully I read it through immediately just like a book! Delightful. I got my everyday first thing in the morning elixir from her - lemon, turmeric, honey, black pepper and coconut oil - it's amazing! I drive my kids to school, if I didn't we would have go get up god-awful early so I ALWAYS take this delicious warm drink with me in the car on the way to school.

And you know when dinner is done but you just want something sweet... well our whole family goes crazy for this drink (I hate the word smoothie so I'll leave it at 'drink')

1-2 frozen bananas (I always keep some perfectly ripe frozen bananas in the freezer for this type of emergency)
1 cup almond milk
1 cup other milk like rice, oat or soy
just a dash of cardamom (what you can pink between your fingers is perfect)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
agave to taste (just a bit is fine)
1/2 - 1 tsp vanilla sugar (love this stuff)

blend until smooth in a vitamix, you might need to add more milk to get it going but do it until it's just going so that you can almost eat it with a spoon it's so thick! In the summer you can add cashews and ice and make it into ice cream! but for now this is cold enough for me.

YUM

Can You Dig This - fantastic Doc!

I can't wait to see this movie! It's showing tonight in Newport RI at the Jane Pickens if you are a local - and what better a movie to see just before Thanksgiving! If you aren't a local, find this movie and see it!

It's going to change the WORLD!

happy gardening

recipe :: BA seeded whole grain soda bread

I am making my way through the recipes in the latest Bon Appétit (November 2015) issue. This is such a terrific issue for Thanksgiving ideas and MORE. First off I had to make this delicious recipe for soda bread! It just grabbed me and I had to make it right away, and while this loaf quickly disappeared (this is the only photo I was able to snap) the whole family loved it.

Even the kids craved this bread - more healthful and delicious than sugary pumpkin and banana breads. It's a perfect snack when kids come home from school with nut butter or any favorite spread. Next up... I am going to start taste testing the side dishes for Thanksgiving - the mushroom dish is next!

Bon Appétit Soda Bread (here's the link to the recipe on the BA website)

SEEDED WHOLE GRAIN SODA BREAD

1/4 cup millet
1/4 cup quinoa
2 Tbsp. amaranth
1 cup old-fashioned oats (plus more for topping)
2 1/4 cups buttermilk, divided (plus more for brushing)
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil (plus more for pan)
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. flaxseed
1 Tbsp kosher sale
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (plus more for topping)
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter cut into pieces
3 Tbsp. brow rice syrup (I used maple syrup)

Mix millet, quinoa, amaranth, 1 cup oats, 1 cup buttermilk, and 1/2 cup water in a small bowl. Cover and let sit 8-12 hours. (Alternatively, bring ingredients to a simmer in a small saucepan over low hear. Remove from heat and let sit until mixture is thick like porridge, about 2 hours.) I actually started to make this then realized the 8-12 hour delay so I put it in the fridge for about 18 hours or so... then took it out and let it come to room temp.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8" diameter cast-iron skillet or cake pan. Whisk whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, flaxseed, salt, baking soda, and 1/4 cup sunflower seeds in a large bowl. Work in butter with your fingers until largest pieces are pea-size. Make a well in the center and add brown rice syrup, oat mixture, remaining 1 1/4 cups buttermilk and remaining 1 Tbsp oil. Mix with wooden spoon until dough is smooth, homogeneous, and still slightly sticky.

Form dough into a ball and place in prepared pan. Brush with buttermilk; top with more oats and sunflower seeds. Cut a large X into the top and bake until golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of loaf registers 190 degrees. 55-70 minutes. Let cool in pan.

it's one of those recipes where yours will look almost identical to the one in the magazine!

good luck! (up next... page 103 - Herby Barley Salad with Butter-Basted Mushrooms)

recipe :: Paleo Eggs

I can't believe I took so long to post my world famous Paleo Eggs! (haha) This past summer it was my go-to when we had guests or big parties that went into the next day, cause that's what happens when you live by the beach! And even though it's only the SECOND day of November I am already getting excited for all the visitors coming for Thanksgiving. In fact my daughter said to me on Sunday (the day after Halloween, she was already moving onto the next holiday) "So what is our menu for Thanksgiving?" and next... "who is coming!" yes I have created a couple of party monsters!

This is a great recipe for big crowds, or even little crowds because your whole family will like them, my kids like them just because we gave it a funny name PALEO EGGS! We are not on a Paleo diet or anything (not saying I wouldn't LIKE to be on that diet - sounds fantastic) we just like these eggs, it's got everything we love all in one dish!

So here we go, make your own variation, add what you want, it's a bit of a veggie "pitti-panna" but we like ours a bit on the spicy side, my kids don't really love that part but I think it's good for them to have hot and spicy from time to time. I believe the variation builds a good palate :)

PALEO EGGS
6-8 eggs (I usually do as many eggs as I have people-but some people like two eggs)
Kale, Beet Greens or any other greens you have! I've tried almost everything!
1 Yellow Onion or Leeks
2-4 cloves garlic
red pepper flakes (to taste approx. 1/2 teaspoon is good)
salt and pepper
optional: Mushrooms, Beets, Squash... almost anything!

I make them in the largest cast iron pan that I have. I use olive oil but you could also use coconut oil, whatever is your favorite. Saute onion, then add garlic then add your greens - you want to have quite a bit, enough to generously cover the bottom of the pan by about 3/4 inch or so. Saute all so that they cook down and generously season with your favorite seasoning, salt pepper and red pepper flakes. Make as many dents into your greens as you have eggs and carefully crack your eggs into the dents. Then cover and cook until your eggs are just about done (it's like poaching eggs in greens!) - remember they will cook a bit when you turn off the heat so don't overcook. Add a bit more fresh ground salt and pepper and bring the pan to the table! (it looks SO nice!). Then scoop out an egg for each person with a healthy portion of bread (okay so that's NOT the Paleo part! haha)

enjoy! what's in YOUR Paleo eggs - comment or send me an email!

really yummy kimchi

While visiting a friend recently in Vermont we went to her local tiny farmers market, whoa! No such thing in Vermont... a Vermont farmers market is chock-full on wonderful local people all making something wonderful, delicious and even printing t-shirts! Well, we were just short of looking for real estate... But for now, we will stick with Rhode Island (and visit Vermont every chance we get!).

My hands down favorite was this delicious kimchi! By Finallie Ferments, you can order from them! If you are having trouble finding delicious kimchi in your town - here's your ticket to the most delicious I have tried! This pink one was my favorite, spicy and really delicious. They also have curry and plain all super duper yummy!

visit their website here

You can also visit my blog for a previous post on fermenting and kimchi etc... click here

ps. keep your gut healthy and clean by eating kimchi every day!

Sun Potion

Since I bought my Vitamix last year I have been sort of obsessed with juicing and love to have one or two juices a day. Now that the weather is a bit cooler, I just don't use any ice (I never used much just two or three cubes) but now room temperature is just fine. I make one in the morning and then save a jar in the fridge for later in the day, then if I want to do a cleanse I just cut out food and have only the juices (not often enough).

As a chill enters the air I like to switch over to teas - my morning tea is from the cookbook Near & Far by Heidi Swanson (filled with amazing recipes by the way!). Her daily tea of tumeric, honey, black pepper, lemon and coconut oil is my new favorite and I throw in a piece of Astragalus root (which you can probably find at your local health food store) it will boost your immunity and it helps me with my seasonal allergies.

I am completely into adding herbs to tea - since I live in rural Rhode Island I have never found a source that I believe in or anyone who seems to have the same use and meaning in using their teas... UNTIL NOW... bumbadada!!! I came upon Sun Potion on Instagram (there is a reason to follow the @thehermeshippie).

Take a look at their website and read through the descriptions and find what works for you. I like Mucuna Pruriens Powder - which helps with brain function, elevates mood and soothes the nervous system (because I don't know what is happening to me as I get older but my nerves are always on edge!) and Rhodiola - but I don't take them together and only when I need them. I also think that the Rheishi Mushroom powder is good too, because I have learned that it's good to have mushrooms every day (and I know I don't do that through my food) and the Rheishi mushroom is a superfood. It is called "the mushroom of spiritual potency" and it holds its place as an essential ingredient in a healthy life.

Give them a try and see what works for you - everything is wildcrafted, organic or small batch and I don't know why but the fact that they are out of Santa Monica.. well I just trust that for some reason.

Visit their website and then send me an email and tell me happy you are that you found them!! And if you think I should sell them at Nonchalantmom... email that too!

www.sunpotion.com