Hope

“Only in the darkness can you see the stars.”  Martin Luther King Jr.

It's December 21, 2012 and in the northern hemisphere the winter solstice.  It is the darkest day of the year, but also one of my favorites, since from here, the days get longer, or rather, the amount of light we gain each day will become longer.  The light will increase by seconds at first, and then to minutes, eventually leading to one of my other favorite days, the summer solstice. 

There will also be the galactic alignment today.  

This alignment took 26,000 years to occur, 

and now as one cycle ends another begins...   

It has been a week of sadness here in the U.S. after the events in Newtown, Connecticut.  Hearts everywhere are heavy for the loss.  It has got me to thinking about light and darkness and about grief and hope.......And how when we are experiencing times of great darkness and grief, somewhere on the other side there is light and hope.........this I think, is what we reach for.......
So, tonight, if you by chance are outside looking at the great vastness of dark......remember the stars.....reach for the light....

With much love,

“Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,

Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-nots of the angels.”

― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

"There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." -- Edith Wharton 

Cleaning With Essential Oils

     For many years now, I've used natural ingredients to clean my home.  Vinegar and baking soda have been my mainstays, but adding essential oils to your arsenal can target specific types of problems, enhance the effectiveness of other ingredients, and, of course, make your house smell great.  

I still get amused when I add the baking soda to the vinegar.  It creates that foamy, volcanic mess and I feel like I’m a little kid.  The baking soda gives a little grit to the vinegar and acts like a scouring powder.
     Vinegar on its own is an amazing cleaner.  It cuts grease, deodorizes, dissolves hard water spots and is effective at killing mold.  Its uses are virtually limitless.  Combing certain essential oils to it like lemon, lemongrass, tea tree, and cinnamon adds other beneficial properties as well.

 Lemon and lemongrass essential oils have antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.   Adding them to vinegar makes an all purpose cleaner that can be used on many types of surfaces throughout your home.   It’s a safe way to clean kitchen counters, microwaves, kitchen floors, cupboards, and the refrigerator.  

Tea tree is another essential oil effective for cleaning your home.  It has powerful fungicidal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties.  This is a heavy hitter and is effective in places where there are germs or mold.  

Cinnamon is another essential oil that is antimicrobial and fungicidal.  Combined with vinegar which is proven to also kill molds, you have one powerful cleaning agent on your hands.  It's really perfect in the shower or bath on tile and grout.  Sprayed or diffused into the air in small amounts can also help destroy airborne mold spores and microbes.   Some studies suggest this beneficial effect can continue days or even weeks after the first application.  Cinnamon essential oil is immensely strong.  It needs to be diluted greatly.  I would only suggest using this solution in a spray bottle as it is contained and easily applied with minimal skin contact. And of course caution should be used, as it can cause burning, redness and irritation to the skin. I use this with gloves and the spray bottle and have been very happy to have great results without any problems.   

Recipes

All Purpose Cleaning Solution

1 cup vinegar

1 cup water

1 teaspoon lemon essential oil

1/2 teaspoon lemongrass essential oil

spray bottle

Combine ingredients together.  Always shake well before using. If you would like to use tea tree oil in your all purpose cleaner, omit 1/4 teaspoon of either the lemon or lemongrass and add 1/4 teaspoon of tea tree oil.. 

Tea Tree Cleaning Solution

1 cup water

1 cup vinegar

2 teaspoon tea tree oil

spray bottle

Combine ingredients. Shake well before using.

Serious Cinnamon Mold Destroyer

2 cups vinegar

1 teaspoon cinnamon essential oil

¼ tea tree essential oil
spray bottle

Shake the solution well before using, spray directly onto the affected areas, let sit for a few hours, rinse, and wipe off.  Use an old terry cloth towel or microfiber rag to clean off the dark spots after the mold has been killed.

Homemade furniture polish
1/4 cup Olive Oil or Sunflower Oil
1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
15 drops of your favorite essential oil : Lavender, Patchouli, Lemon, Orange etc.

Mix together well and dab on cloth.  This actually makes quite a bit depending on how much you need.  Store what's leftover in a glass or plastic container.

Miscellaneous tips to clean the home

-Scouring pads to help in those tough places.

-Hydrogen peroxide  to disinfect ( It's cheap and readily available at most pharmacies and grocery stores)

-Vinegar in the laundry to soften and deodorize
-1:1 ratio of vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors

It gives peace of mind using natural ingredients such as these to clean our houses.  There’s no place like home after all.   It’s the place we return to after a long day of work and a cozy haven to relax, unwind and enjoy.  It makes sense that we would want to have a healthy, "clean" environment to live in. 

* Essential oils are generally safe, but they are concentrated, so, a little bit goes a long way.   Use safety precautions as you would normally with cleaning products.   If individual allergies or reactions occur, discontinue use….

The Present Moment: A Catalyst for Change

Quote by Annie Dillard 

I came across this sign on a road trip several years ago and it stopped me in my tracks.  It was one of those times where I took a left turn into the unknown, and from there a series of happy accidents ensued.  

This quote has remained meaningful to me.  It was the beginning for me like a little seed taking root or a door opening to a new path.  Sometimes I meditate on it, turning it over like a smooth stone in my hand.  What a reminder it is, a gift, and catalyst for change. 

The present moment is sacred, because it’s the only moment we ever really have.  It's some sort of miracle to be present experiencing life in all it's fullness.  And when we realize that our lives and days are really just moments, it challenges us to think more deeply about the way we spend those moments and how we appreciate them.  

It may change what we think is important. Questions may rise to the surface such as: What brings me happiness?  What brings me joy? What makes me feel alive? And...If not now, when?  As we begin to listen to and trust the voice within, we can begin to transform our lives, taking steps towards the life we want to live.

It’s no easy task to always be conscious of this. We are beautifully human after all.  The wonderful thing though, is that the present moment is always happening.  Right now for instance and we always have a second and third chance to remember, to begin again, and reorient ourselves towards the life we want to live.  

Sometimes it takes practice to be in the moment.  Meditation is a great tool.  You can also start by just slowing down.....here are some ways to begin....

When you eat a favorite meal or desert, take your time...savor all the flavors, the textures and the aromas....

Next time you're with a friend or a loved one, remember how this person is a gift in your life.......look into their eyes, smile at them, actively listen.....

When you find yourself outdoors in nature, take a second or two....look around you, what do you notice? what do you hear?  

When your pet greets you, spend time with them, pet them, feel how soft they are and feel in your heart the love they give!

Related article: Lessons in Exercise - The Present Moment
                               Let's Dance - Marching to Your Own Beat

Simple Pleasures : Chocolate Toast and Coffee

One Saturday morning I woke up with a craving for a chocolate filled croissant from Whole Foods.  Oh so good, and with amazing coffee they serve there from a local non-profit company called Building New Hope, it’s a simple, delicious treat.  It's especially nice to savor the flavors of black coffee and dark chocolate together, mmm, a perfect pairing. Taking small bites of the croissant, I bide my time, while letting the coffee cool enough to enjoy the flavors together.  I would really like to take big giant bites, but thank goodness for the hot coffee teaching me patience and the art of anticipation.

Anyway, it was a beautiful, lazy, summer, Saturday morning.  The air so mild you could easily slip outside, still in your pajamas, to sip your coffee or tea and quietly revel in the newness of the day.  There wasn’t a bit of me that wanted to hop in the car and drive 35 minutes to Whole Foods….So, I decided to make do with the ingredients I had on hand……..this is what I came up with…..

Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 – 3 Slices Rustic Italian Bread with a good crust

Butter

. 75oz of Your Favorite Dark Chocolate Bar ( usually a little less than ½ a bar )

Directions

To melt, place chocolate in a glass pan at 170 degrees in the oven for about 10 – 12 minutes or until completely melted.  In the mean time, toast and butter your bread to your taste.…….When the chocolate is ready spread on each toast evenly and serve with a cup of steaming coffee……..

Serves 2

Related article: Fresh Tomato and Arugula Pasta: Mmmm, It's so Good

Wabi Sabi

Wabi Sabi is a Japanese aesthetic that can be described as "the beauty in imperfection" or "simple elegance."  Wabi means something like "rustic" or "imperfect", while Sabi’s translation is "beauty that comes with age."  Like many colloquial terms, good books and poetry, the idea of Wabi Sabi is not easily translated from one language to another.   It’s a quiet, understated beauty, reflecting its own unique essence and authenticity, one that endures time and is natural.  It’s a beauty with quirks, and individuality.

Wabi Sabi is handmade.  Its flea markets, farmer’s markets and antique stores.  It’s the green patina on aged copper, an elegant china tea cup with a chip, rustic French bread, steps worn from years of use, the lines on our faces, the snaggle in our tooth, the light in our eyes.  Wabi Sabi things tend to have some trait that distinguishes them.  They look, feel and even taste differently.  It could be the slight asymmetry of blown glass or the hammer marks in forged metal.  It could be the sweet tart taste of a wild apple or the thick texture of handmade paper.  It’s believed that these qualities only add luster and depth to the object.  The chips, cracks, and worn edges are part of the story and what make it lovable.  It accepts impermanence as part of life, change as inevitable, and beauty being intrinsic.

Our culture has forgotten perhaps what natural things look like.  Much of what we see, eat and buy has become homogenized, massed produced and stamped out.  We’ve come to expect things to be symmetrical, smooth, refined, perfect and packaged.  While those are fine qualities, Wabi Sabi offers a different perspective.  

It allows things to be as they are.  It finds beauty and meaning in the imperfection of things, in the gray areas of life.  It understands that these changes, imperfections, and quirks add authenticity and richness to life.  It values and finds a place on the shelf and in the cupboard for those things that differ.  It understands that it is through nature and nurture through experience and lack through what it has endured and hasn't that one's natural beauty becomes clear. 

Buying Local: Let’s Go Antiquing!

Buy fresh buy local!  Have you heard this slogan before?  It’s so true, nothing like farm fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy and meats from local farmers.   The thought of how beautiful fresh greens, herbs  and berries are this time of year is mouth watering.  Buying local helps our communities thrive and sustain not just through hard economic times, but always.  It's a win - win for all of us and it makes our communities stronger economically, culturally and socially.

But what about a butter dish?  For example, where does someone go to get a new butter dish, a local one that is?  Ours broke (again) and I was left wondering?.....So, I went to a couple of local antique stores and low and behold, I found one, a silver one to be exact with a sweet blossom on top. It even had a glass liner inside to put the butter on top of!  I mean, it’s a little funky, a little out of the ordinary, maybe sort of like my grandma’s, but beautiful and functional. 

The past few holidays I’ve tried to buy as many gifts locally as I could and this past year I went antiquing to find a little whimsy for everyone.  I hadn’t really been to an antique store in a while and I was kind of amazed at how many beautiful and functional things they had.  The prices were pretty reasonable too, considering that most often what you see there is better made, from better quality materials and is designed beautifully too.   

Seriously though, there is something for everyone with an array of styles from deco to boho and everything in between.  It’s a visual feast steeped in history and narratives from the past that fuels the imagination.  People were certainly clever back in the day.  Things were made and meant to last, designed not just for function, but visually too. 

So next time you have to replace a mug or a dish or need some holiday decorations or a table cloth think about your local antique store.  Often times we can find new uses for items.  For example, little plates that are missing their tea cup could be turned into soap dishes or beautiful dessert plates.  Old handkerchiefs can be turned into cloth napkins.  Old linens can be turned into a zillion things like embellishments for clothes and purses or even turned into a stuffed animal or a pillow.  Let your imagination take over….let the possibilities unleash…..take the leap and follow your heart.

beautiful china plates missing their cups (soap dishes), funny salt and pepper shakers, linens, old hankies, records (remember those?), jewelry, pottery, kitchen ware, ( manual egg beaters, cookie cutters, crockery, silver, forks, knives, orange/ lemon juice juicers… ) furniture, books (classics, poetry, all kinds)wooden bowls, pocket watches, beaded purses, pipes, military memorabilia, hat pins, book ends, tea pots, egg cups, book cases, end tables, lamps, chandeliers, etc, etc,.....

Here are a couple of my favorite antique stores in the north of Pittsburgh:

Amazing Grace’s Antiques & Vintage Chic Boutique:  These ladies have an eye for beauty and design.  On one visit there someone commented to me “if it’s beautiful it’s here!.” 5363 William Flynn Hwy (Rt. 8), Gibsonia, PA 15044 (412) 719 –7654 

Alison’s Alley Antiques: Specializing in the unique, unusual and useful.  A wonderful eclectic mix of items.  123/ 125 Main Street ( Rt. 8), Butler, PA  .  Across from Rite Aid in the alley(724) 712 – 1285

Wexford General Store: Two floors of treasures!….including a library and a boutique.  150 Church Road, Wexford, PA 15090, http://www.wexfordgeneralstore.com/Welcome.html (724) 935-9959

Ooo La La - Basic Sugar Scrub Recipe

Ingredients

4 ounces or ½ cup Raw Turbinado Sugar

2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Bath brush…….optional

Directions:

My sugar is a little coarse.   So, to begin, I like to put it in the food processor for about a minute or so until it becomes finer in texture. Add sugar and oil to a Tupperware container and mix thoroughly. 

I try not to use too much oil when making a scrub.  This way it delivers the perfect amount of moisturizer to the skin without the tub getting too slippery.  The finer the sugar the more oil you will need; the bigger the granules the less you will need.  This recipe is based on a finer grain sugar granule.  

Glycolic acid, which is also an Alpha Hydroxy Acid, is found in sugar and helps to exfoliate the skin.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil contains vitamin E and is moisturizing and soothing to the skin. 

Tips and Suggestions:  

It’s helpful to use a bath brush or wash cloth when exfoliating as the brush helps hold the scrub for even distribution and scrubbing.   Feel free to mix it up.  This recipe can easily be changed to sea salt, but you may need a little more olive oil.  The only thing with salt is that if you are shaving or have cuts……you are literally rubbing salt into the wound……some days that’s just no fun!  Salt has benefits too though, as it’s very cleansing to the skin and does not melt when mixing with water. (You can always shave after you're done exfoliating.)  Want a little aromatherapy? Try adding several drops of your favorite essential oil to the scrub,  And finally, have you ever thought of exfoliating your lips? Add a little honey to the sugar scrub and softly massage circles over your lips ……..the sugars will exfoliate while the olive oil with sooth and soften.....ooo lalala…….