Embodying all that is good in our lives may be challenging in these times. We understand completely and were inspired by this very challenge to look around our shop and within our own lives to find the things that are inspiring us. This newsletter is chalked full of ways to find grace, create rituals, and add different ingredients into your lives to promote wellness. Our team member, Steph is our guest writer as she shares her choice to focus on hope and wellness. Sam offers her secret to caring for her skin after Masking UP all day and invites you to join her Thursday, August 10th for Thursdays at Home: Pairing Art + Food.
Examine the photo of Sam's lunch above, how is the food a reflection of the background? What colors are thru lines? Do the crumbled pecans mirror the crushed brick fragments? Or do the grapes pull the chartruese out of the moss?
Look for expanded shop hours beginning September 1st. We'll go back to our standard 10 am - 6 pm Monday - Saturday, and 11 am - 4 pm on Sundays. We still offer items online, non-contact pickup, local delivery, complimentary gift-wrapping, and appointments for private shopping. We continue to be grateful for your support and encourage you to please reach out and let us know how we can support you.
Grace in the time of pandemic
There is really no better expert on how to choose well and be happy, no matter what the circumstances, than Edith Eger, a Holocaust survivor who became a therapist specializing in trauma. Here are two quotes from her wonderful book The Choice:
“We can’t choose to vanish the dark,
but we can choose to kindle the light.”
“What are you going to do about it?
I believe in the power of positive thinking—
but change and freedom also require positive action. Anything we practice, we become better at.”
So today I find myself sitting down to write and think about wellness during a time when good health is truly a gift and a blessing. Even without a global pandemic, lamenting and ruminating on the negative is a very tempting and seductive path to allow the mind to settle on. I try to look for the grace, for the new skills that we are all learning, for the new insights about ourselves and others. My focus is on the good and I hope that we can think about this time as a collaboration, as a coming together. I am looking for ways to enjoy the gift of life that we all share. Essentially I am looking for a choice... to choose to allow anxiety to rule the day or to find the grace, hope, and joy in all the little things within my control.
Here is my question to all of you: What are you doing to help yourself make the best choice in these troubling times? Please share your ideas, your skills, your insights--so we can all grow together.
Thank you, stay safe and healthy, be well.
Steph
Spices of Life
There are many evidence-based health benefits of adding spices like cinnamon and ginger's cousin, Tumeric to your diet. Common in stews, curries, and baked goods, these two spices have been shown to help the chances of disease and protect the heart. New to using Tumeric? Try this recipe for comforting Golden Milk from Minimalist Baker.
Written Rituals
Rituals make all the difference in our ability to feel grounded. We are fans of kicking it old school inside and outside the kitchen - why not close that laptop and embrace the written word, literally. A handwritten note or card grounds you in the present moment act of writing and helps create a connection to another in a time in which what separates us is often exploited. Support the Postal Service and make someone's day with a handwritten, handmade card from Ravenswood, wrap your fingers around a well-crafted pencil by Blackwing, or leave a sweet note on your child's or partner's at-home desk with a Little Notes cards from women-owned E. Frances paper.
Soothe
Ginger is known to be a natural and effective stomach soother. We love ginger and carry it in many forms from candied, to pickled, syrups, ale, and even crystalized stem. It's as popular as ever in cocktails too, but seriously, next time you are suffering from stomach upset - give it a try without the vodka. Or if you have a friend suffering from morning sickness or enduring chemo, Gin-Gins make a thoughtful gift.
Soup for the Soul
There are lots of claims about the health benefits of bone broth out there, but we are not here to tout it as a miracle cure. What we will say is making your own bone broth or stocks have lots of benefits including the ability to reduce food waste, control ingredients, and save money. And who doesn't love a good chicken noodle soup when feeling under the weather? Freeze broths by the quart and have on hand when needed. Need inspiration to get started? Pick up Brodo at the shop and peruse our selection of ceramic bowls or a beautiful mug by local potter Kris Busch.
Quali-TEA Hydration
Matcha leaves are grown on green tea bushes kept under shade. The shade increases the amount of chlorophyll content in the leaves, which is what makes them bright green and full of nutrients. The leaves are picked by hand and the stems and veins are removed. Read more about Matcha Tea and its potential benefits. . . and explore adding time in the afternoon where you can take a break and savor a warm drink.
Mask UP
Ok, so here's the deal - if you are doing you're part and wearing your masks, sometimes for 8 or 9 hours a day, you might be suffering from "maskne" or skin irritation. Lotion, make up, and our recent tropical weather conditions all contribute, so we'll let you in on Sam's favorite skin Ayurvedic skin product, Yogis Glow. This isn't available at the shop and we aren't paid to promote it, but we love highlighting the often unknown benefits of food and plants:
Sandalwood brings cooling, Rose brings glow, Papaya and Curry leaves calms rashes, Turmeric, Amalaki and Neem are antiseptic, antioxidant, Clay absorbs extra oil, Aloe Vera & Marigold boosts circulation and heals sunburns, almond nourishes, Tomato, Lime, Carrot, and Cucumber helps in acne & blemishes. If you are curious about the eastern study of food as medicine, Ayurveda, check out Indu Arora's Instagram.
Side note: Sam's daughter calls this "face curry" because it does indeed smell like you are cooking Indian food. It can be mixed with yogurt, honey, or rosewater to create a mask with additional benefits.
Gather for a casual experience of paring art with food or beverage.
Tune in live to explore pairing art and food or beverage with co-host Kayleigh Dance and featured guest Sam Eibling and hear their interpretation of the piece offered. Participants will learn more about the artist's work and an opportunity to submit photos of their inspired creations.
