~ real food, balanced living ~
and then came fall, the season of the soul that reminds us over and over again how beautiful it can be to gather, rest and let things go
So here we are in the third week of November and as many of us prepare to gather for a season of celebration, I thought it might be fun to share some holiday favorites with you – tablescapes, decorating inspo, gifty things – it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these and I thought we could probably all use a little joy….
I could stare at these wonky characters all day long (current screensaver so I kinda am).
If you do nothing more than roast them with a little olive oil and salt, I think you’ll be really happy with the results. They ask little and give a lot….
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One of those i can’t believe it’s tofu tofu dishes:
sofritaaaas ….
Introduced to the world through none other than Chipotle fast casual dining….
When life gives you green tomatoes, fry them!
Our tomato crop has been a little spotty this year; a combination of nocturnal nibblers and drought conditions has led to some arrested development and before losing another on-its-way-to-red tomato, I decided to pluck some of the firm green ones and try something new….
Sun-kissed lips and dehydrated skin will love this deep soothing balm made from a base of mango butter, beeswax and coconut oil and gently fragranced with essential oils of mandarin, lavender and cedarwood — basically, you’ll want to keep a jar of this heavenly moisturizer in every room in the house (and maybe toss one into the glove compartment too!)….
My fruit preserving career took off during Covid and there’s no stopping this runaway train.
For many, it was sourdough; for this girl, it was jammin’ and I’m happy to report that this exploration has lead me to discover that it’s not only a very doable process (no need to be psyched out) it’s also enormously satisfying (the sound of the lids sealing against jars alone is worth it) but, there’s more… I found a pure citrus pectin that jells with low amounts of sugar (using any sweetener of choice) — what a revelation!…
Forget the margaritas this summer and invite the girls over for rose tea instead!
(Okay, maybe do both)….
Our local pub recently added a house-made hummus to their menu and we’re pretty happy about that — (a girl needs to balance out her pub night fries after all)….
This all natural essential oil fusion has been created to soothe tension headaches, migraine and nausea. The blend offers cooling, stabilizing properties to help relieve tension and tightness while supporting calm and restoring equilibrium.
Some of the more common contributors to migraine and tension headaches include: hormonal fluctuations, environmental factors (weather/barometric pressure changes/exposure to synthetic fragrances/artificial light/other pollutants), stress — both emotional and structural (tech neck is a thing) and dietary triggers.
Understanding your personal triggers can be one of the most helpful ways to prevent and minimize onset. Lifestyle approaches and holistic health modalities, including aromatherapy, can be supportive when headache/migraine does occur.
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