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.

Check Out My New Recipe Index!

March 24, 2014

Now that I am finishing up month three of my daily blogging on simple pleasures and life lessons, I've decided to put together a recipe index to help readers (and me, to be perfectly honest) keep track of the DIY beauty recipes, tea blends, and healthy treats I post on my blog.

So if you've wanted to try that body scrub or tea blend, but don't remember what day I posted it, you can check out my new Recipe Index here, rather that sift through past blogs. Woohoo! Of course, this also encourages me to keep cooking up fun in my kitchen--from more DIY beauty treats and teas, to fun summer cocktails (and mocktails!) and simple, healthy meals.

As always, thanks to everyone for your support!

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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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!

DIY Home Spa Day in 5 Easy Steps

March 15, 2014

Sometimes I find it hard to transition from being all work to being all play. Even though I *want* to play and am physically removed from my work environment, I need a little time for my brain to catch up. I've found over the years that one of the best ways to make this transition is to have a home spa day--it's simple, fun, low cost, and relaxing. It has all the perks of a fancy day spa without the bother of needing to leave the house (yes, sometimes that is too much for me when I need to recharge my batteries!). So I've compiled a list of five easy steps to help you make your own spa day. Enjoy!

1. Set the mood with music and aromatherapy. You know how all those spas have that gorgeous mellow music play in the background to help you relax? Well, that's what you need at home, too. I like the Bebel Gilberto station on Spotify or a calming instrumental station. Another thing spas do well is the aromatherapy--they have that soothing smell of gardenias or lavender wafting through them. Scent your home with candles or essential oils that help you relax. I personally love lemon or lavender oils, especially in the spring.

2. Keep it clean....and by 'it' I mean your food. One of the most important parts of a spa day is detoxing, so treat yourself to simple light meals and fresh fruit. You want to finish your day feeling lighter and brighter.

3. Hydrate. I'm a big fan of lemon water (sparkling water too!) or water with a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in it. Both drinks help your body detox and re-energize. I also like a mellow herbal tea like mint or chamomile to help your body adjust to your more relaxed pace.

4. Take a detox bubble bath! Plan to be there awhile. We seldom get to linger and just be so really take some time to do that in the bath. Bring a book--or two--and a big glass of water or tea. Now would also be a good time to indulge in my honey face mask or other simple beauty treats like my easy peasy baking soda face scrub, which can also double as a gentle body scrub.

5. Ritualized the spa day. Start it with a gentle exercise, yoga, or meditation (or all of the above!). Really take the time to consciously focus on your personal wellness. End the day with a long nap and simple dinner (chia seed pudding might even make a healthy evening treat).

At at the end of the day, what you are doing is creating a soothing healing zone in your home using all five of your sense. A spa day is a good day to indulge in self-care and quiet--two things the world seldom values over busyness and noise. Yet if we don't take time to care for ourselves, we cease to enjoy the pleasures of everyday life.

What is your favorite home spa day ritual?

10 Things I Say I Will Accomplish Over Spring Break...

March 12, 2014

It's that time of year again--the time when spring is at your door and almost begs you to make lofty plans to soak up some of the extra energy and lightness you feel. Spring break is always like a second round of New Year's Resolutions for me; I get inspired by the time change and the birds chirping and want to do spring cleaning and tackle all sorts of long-put-off projects and adventures. So, here is my granted over-the-top-hopeful list of things I'd like to accomplish over spring break (assuming I don't just sleep my way through it).

1. Spring cleaning! It's time to dust all those nooks and crannies again--what better time to do it than when I have a whole week off from teaching?

2. Get caught up on those lesson plans! Yes, all teachers at one time or another have the faint hope that this will be the break they get completely caught up on all grading, planning, and organizing.

3. Wash the car. Seriously, it needs it.

4. Bake. Fresh bread, healthy-for-you muffins, delicate tea scones.

5. Make more body butter. Yes, it always feels great to whip up another batch of my favorite body butter, especially when I can lace it with the smell of spring. Mmmmm...lavender-lemon body butter....

6. Organize all those files that sit in my closet, slightly disheveled and feeling more or less abandoned.

7. Try new recipes--cook up a storm. Maybe even be wild and attempt some veggie sushi.

8. Tackle that new crafting project. Hell, if glitter is involved, what's *not* to enjoy?

9. Practice my Spanish. Who knows--it could very well come in handy for travel.

10. Begin organizing my planter garden. Pots need to be picked, seeds purchased, soil gathered so that I'm ready to plant when the time is right.

Ambitious? Heck yes! But sometimes these wild fantasies of what we hope to get done are half the fun of anticipating a mini-holiday.

Rose-Tulsi Breakfast Quinoa

March 11, 2014

So I am addicted to my weekday morning quinoa for breakfast. I cook it just like oatmeal but find the hearty little grain holds me better than your average oatmeal. It's simple. It's healthy. It's homey. It's full of good-for-you fats and proteins while being gluten free. How can breakfast get any better? Still, even this perfect weekday breakfast can use a little twist now and then to shake things up. I got totally inspired byNatural Vitality Living's Overnight Earl Grey Porridge--what a wicked combination of the soothing morning oatmeal with the sophistication of Earl Grey tea. Even better, I thought, would be tea like Rose-Tulsi, a blend of rose petals and holy basil, to infuse my breakfast quinoa with the taste of spring. Top that off with some Greek yogurt and fresh berries and you have the perfect recipe for a good morning!

Ingredients

2 cups water

1 cup quinoa

2-3 tablespoons honey (to taste)

2 heaping tablespoons or two bags Rose-Tulsi tea (I used Organic India Sweet Rose Tulsi Tea found in most health food stores)

Toppings of choice (I like plain Greek Yogurt and fresh berries)

I typically cook this on Sunday and store it the fridge for the workweek. It stores well and makes for a hearty breakfast on the go. The night before, bring the water to a boil and steep the tea for at least five minutes. Remove the tea bags (or strain the loose leaf tea) after steeping and allow to cool. Mix the quinoa and cooled tea together in a resealable container and let soak overnight in the fridge. In the morning, cook quinoa on medium heat for approximately 15 minutes or until grains are soft. Stir in honey to desired sweetness. Serve with fresh fruit and yogurt for a delicious, satisfying breakfast!

Makes 4 servings

On Double Yolks

March 7, 2014

The skillet is hot--as hot as the bluegrass playing in the background, as hot as the coffee in your cup. Today is a day for a bold breakfast. You shake off your usual weekday oatmeal in favor of eggs over easy, chorizo, and toast, a perfect gourmet diner breakfast made all the better for coming from your kitchen.

You crack one egg and pour it into the pan, then another. And there it is, in the second egg: a fat golden double yolk. The orbs sit piled atop one another as if caught kissing before they could disentangle themselves. You marvel at how so much yolk could fit into such a tiny little eggshell such as the empty one you now hold in your hand.

You watch your eggs cook, and a sly voice inside your head--the one who loves a good story, a good superstition--coyly whispers that double yolks are good luck, harbingers of double the grace, the plenty, the fortune. These are the stories of old wives and crones and witches that you are half-tempted to believe if only because these fat yolks nestled together in front of you seem nothing short of magic themselves.

You flip your eggs and decide to let your fanciful imagination run away with you. Double yolks are good luck. Yes, you commit to the idea. Already, as you plate your breakfast, your mind turns to the possible adventures these double yolks foretell.

Lemon-Mint Sleepy Time Tea

February 25, 2014

...because sometimes we need a little variation to our sleepy time tea.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup skullcap

1/2 cup hops

1/2 cup chamomile

1/2 cup lemon balm

1/2 cup peppermint leaves

Blend all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to an airtight container. Keep away from direct sunlight and heat. To brew, use a heaping tablespoon per cup of hot water. Add more tea per cup of water for a stronger brew. Makes approximately 2 1/2 cups of tea. Enjoy!

Health benefits of ingredients:

Chamomile: anti-inflammatory; sedative; skin softening; all around body soother.

Hops: contains calcium and magnesium among other vital nutrients; sedative; soothes PMS symptoms; diuretic; antispasmodic.

Lemon Balm: antihistamine; antibacterial; nerve tonic; digestive stimulant.

Peppermint: a cure all herb for headaches, cramps, sore throat, and stomach aches.

Skullcap: nerve tonic; tension soother; contains calcium, potassium, and magnesium, among other vital nutrients.

On Pasta Making

February 23, 2014

It is made up of nothing but eggs and olive oil and flour and a flick of the wrist.

There the ingredients sit in a pile on your kitchen counter, ready to be molded into Sunday's most glorious indulgence: fresh pasta. Sunday dinner is never a real meal without it.

You pour double zero flour on your clean counter, pushing the fine powder into a small mountain. With your fingers, you create a large well in the middle of the pile--the new home to your eggs and olive oil. You crack three eggs, letting them slip from their shell into the flour nest. Next is the olive oil, the golden liquid dropping from its spout to wrap itself around the raw eggs.

Gently, you poke the yokes with a fork and whisk the eggs and oil together until they look like a rich yellow custard. You let the fork scrape the flour edges of your well a little at a time until you've got a soft dough forming on your counter. A fork will no longer do. You use your hands, folding in the last of the flour and kneading, relishing the feel of the tender pasta dough on the pads of your fingers and palms.

You are up to your elbows in flour. That is when you know it is time to let the dough rest as you put together the pasta maker, your steel jewel that transforms the golden ball into fine strands of heaven.

You take a small piece of that ball and roll it through your machine, first once, then twice, then three times until it is a thin strip. You dust the dough again in flour then roll it through one final time so that it breaks into thin strands. You do this again and again, growing your pile of pasta until you have no more dough left.

All that remains is a pot of boiling water to transform your raw strands into edible perfection.

Honey Face Mask

February 22, 2014

I woke up this morning feeling like a simple home-spa day. It was a full week, and happily so, finished off by an all-day conference downtown yesterday. Now that I've got all sorts of professional inspiration to bring into next week, it's time to unwind and recharge. So after my yoga, a bubble bath is in order, followed by an afternoon of reading and tea drinking and yes, napping.

But before we get to the naps, I've got plans to enjoy a simple honey face mask during my spa hours. This is literally the easiest face mask on the planet--and so good for you! Antioxidant-rich honey is soothing and moisturizing for dry skin and does a great job of adding a natural glow to your face. It is also antibacterial, making it great for fighting acne and unclogging pores. Best of all, honey is gentle so it won't irritate sensitive skin. You can even add a little cinnamon to your honey to get even more antibacterial benefits, but be careful as cinnamon can irritate sensitive skin.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons organic honey

A pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Apply honey liberally to clean face and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize.

On Grocery Lists

February 21, 2014

There it is, a little blackboard sticking to your refrigerator door, a continual work in progress.

You use up your last sweet onion, caramelizing it for a mushroom pizza. As the onions simmer in the pan, filling your kitchen with their savory aroma, you take a moment to write 'onions' on your grocery list in thin white chalk. It is then you see that you also have nutritional yeast on the board and you erase it, having bought more of the cheese-like miracle on your previous grocery trip. There is now a blank space over blue corn tortillas, those kitchen staples you have had on your list for some time, the ones you keep forgetting to pick up with each trip to the grocery store.

It is your daily work of art, the truest expression of your life: the recipes you cook to nourish self and family, the ingredients that make up your week--here a wedge of aged cheddar, there more radishes because you can never keep enough of them in your refrigerator. Spinach, your perennial favorite, never quite erased from your list because you always need it.

It occurs to you as you finish caramelizing your onions that your life is made up of a series of grocery lists, each one building on the other, like layers of paint on an artist's canvas. Your life is made up of caramelized onions and red wine, chia seeds and fresh blackberries. Your life is made up of a deep desire to nourish and be nourished.

Orange Lavender Tea

February 9, 2014

This time of year, I always have the faint longing for spring. I eye the ground hopefully, looking for that first almost-there flower bulb peeking out of the earth, its green shoots braving the cold winter air, while its roots stay firmly snuggle underground. I begin to think of my garden, of the radishes and lettuces I wish to plant. I find there is no better remedy for this early spring fever than a cup of Orange Lavender tea--it has the subtle brightness of spring from the citrus and the soothing floral aroma of winter's passing from the lavender. So when you find yourself longing to be in the dirt sowing those first seeds in your garden even though spring is still a long way off, console yourself with this gently fortifying blend.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup tulsi

1/2 cup dried orange peels

1/4 cup lavender

1/4-1/2 cup spearmint (depending on how minty you want it to be)

Health properties of ingredients:

Dried orange peel: contains vitamins A, B, and C; unblocks stagnant energy.

Lavender: a traditional nerve tonic and relaxant; antiseptic and antibacterial.

Spearmint: soothes nerves, motion sickness; cures headaches, cramps, sore throats, and stomach aches.

Tulsi: helps body adapt to stress by balancing out cortisol levels, antibacterial, and anti-fungal.

On Preparing a Dinner Party

February 8, 2014

You feel like Mrs. Dalloway on the morning of her party: fresh, excited, ready to relish everything from the flowers at the market to the bright red radishes you will pair with your Toscano cheese for appetizers.

You get to use your fancy dishes--the elegant salad bowl, a gift from your parents; the cheese tasting slate board, a new-home-splurge; and the rich gold and teal cake stand, the perfect accent for your chocolatey desert. You are even pleased that your pantry is fully stocked, ready for an impromptu dinner party without much fuss. It takes only moments to sift through the contents of your freezer and refrigerator and put together a menu--braised pork chops with winter vegetables, a salad with pistachios and beets, a platter of artisanal chocolates and citrus.

Menu complete, you turn your attention to your apartment. It is clean and tidy, as it always is. You must only tuck away your knitting and blankets, leaving your couches free for guests. You pick out the records that will best fit the evening: Bill Evans, Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan. They are the perfect backdrop for a dinner with family, mellow but festive. They won't overshadow the laughter or the conversation.

The food preparations complete, your apartment fragrant with the scent of pork chops simmering in apple cider, the only thing left for you to do is don your festive dress and put on some records while you wait for your guests to arrive.

Energizer Bunny Bars

January 29, 2014

On the days I teach three classes in a row, I need a little snack to get me from my 6 am breakfast to my 1:30 pm lunch. This is especially important since I'm not the type of person who can function while hungry (that's the hobbit in me). Plus, getting too hungry can lead to grabbing easy but often unhealthy snacks on campus...so I Iike to have my stash of readymade delicious, healthy treats I can take with me to school.

One of my new favorites is this Energizer Bunny Bar, packed full of chia seeds, oats, and all sorts of good-for-you nutrients. I adapted it from the Healthy Family and Home's raw hemp and chia seed bar, supplementing ingredients with what I had on hand. What can I say? I'm an improviser. These bites store well in the fridge and freeze well too. Remember, this raw bar is full of fats--good for you, yes--but stick to a small 2inx2in square for your snack so you aren't eating more calories than you can burn. To learn more about the health properties of these ingredients, check out the link to the raw hemp and chia seed bar above.

Dry Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups multigrain oats (rye, barley, wheat)

1/2 cup organic blue corn meal

1/2 cup organic chia seeds

1/4 cup organic flaxseed meal

3/4 cups organic almond meal

Wet Ingredients:

1/2 cup organic honey

1/2 cup organic applesauce

3/4 cups organic peanut butter

1/4 cup organic coconut oil (melted/liquid)

2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract

Mix all wet ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together. Then slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, stirring frequently (you may also need to get in there and mix it up with your hands). Put mixture into a 9x10 baking dish or piece of Tupperware and press down firmly until the mixture spreads out evenly. Let chill in the fridge for at least one hour to firm up (you'll want to continue to store them in the fridge because they soften at room temp). Cut into little squares and enjoy!

Makes approximately 12 squares.

On Cooking Dinner

January 27, 2014

The news plays softly in the background, the day's events unfolding one after another in a smooth narrative stream. A glass of wine sits on the counter next to your cutting board and pile of vegetables. Thin medallions of sausage cook on the stove, perfuming the air with their rich, spicy aroma. The dhal, made up of sweet onions and cooked-down lentils, simmers on the stove, adding to the tantalizing aroma.

As you wash and slice your green beans into inch-long slivers, you let the last of the day roll off you, the last little coil of tension that your yoga loosened, if not released. You sip your glass of wine; the dry kiss of the white nectar rolls across your tongue in a burst of crisp citrus and honeysuckle. Next, you tackle the ripe cherry tomatoes which burst under your knife, spilling their wet seeds all over the cutting board. You pull a jar of olives from your refrigerator, deciding they would be a nice addition to your stir fry. You scoop a small handful out and cut them in half, popping a salty jewel into your mouth as you finish chopping.

As world events turn over to national coverage, you pile the vegetables in with your sausage, letting the flavors meld. They mix in the pan while you finish your glass of wine and the news. It is time, then, to pour the steaming stir fry over the dhal. You serve yourself in a big shallow bowl, grateful for this plateful of nourishment, this edible gift.

On Playing with Herbs

January 25, 2014

You have your jars of herbs lined up before you like wild soldiers. Each is stuffed with gifts from the ground--fat golden flowers and thick roots and long needles--each its own medicine. Here is calendula, that happy marigold, ready to soothe irritated skin and frayed minds; there is ginger root, the fiery cleanser of the solar plexus, stoking the heat, the determination within yourself; tucked in the back is that brash kitchen herb rosemary, that fearless sharp evergreen the clears the mind and heals your tired bones.

You let the scents of each open jar mingle and cloud your nose as you take first a pinch of this herb and a scoop of that. You want something--your body is humming, calling for the soothing wisdom of these plants and they answer that call with the gentle melody of tiny buds bouncing against the sides of your mixing bowl, dried leaves whooshing into the pile of your new blend.

You inhale the rich grassy scent of alfalfa leaves, hungry for their nourishment. You search through your jars looking for alfalfa's mate, that balancing force that tempers the mouthful of mowed grass with sweet and soft. Your eyes light on fennel, that little seed made up of licorice and mint; yes, this will pair well with your other leaves.

Each addition to your bowl is the promise of a new healing elixir that will float from a steaming cup and into your soul to mend, to cleanse, to ground. And though you started with your jars and only a vague sense of needing a cup of wellness, you find that after your blend is made and steeped and drunk, that what you really needed was time in the kitchen. Time to unscrew the lids on those jars of herbs and play with nature's medicine cabinet. Time to let your mind drift, to let the taste of rosemary settle on your tongue, and to have no other aim but to blend.

Easy Peasy Baking Soda Face Scrub

January 23, 2014

First I will say that baking soda is the miracle kitchen staple, good for baking, house cleaning...and beautifying. Truth be told, I'm obsessed with baking soda because of how good it is for you--a cheap, natural, healthy product you can put in almost anything to make it better.

Which brings me to my love of a good face scrub. The skin on your face is more fragile than the rest of your body, so you need something that will scrub away the dead skin and other bad stuff without irritating it. This is something I take to heart, since my skin is super sensitive--so sensitive in fact that even gentle organic products can irritate it, making it feel like it's burning or drying it out. But I do like to give my face a little extra TLC, so after some experimentation, I've found that baking soda is a perfect primary ingredient for an easy, gentle face scrub. I then use olive oil as the wet ingredient (although you could use just water or another lighter oil) because it hydrates the skin. A drop or two of clove oil gives the scrub antibacterial qualities--but be careful not to overdo the clove oil, as it can irritate your skin. I recommend using the scrub no more than once or twice a week, so you don't strip your skin of good-for-you-oils. And of course, all ingredients are organic.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup olive oil

1-2 drops clove oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and transfer to a mason jar to store. Makes a little over 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

Easy Cinnamon-Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

January 21, 2014

There are two things I absolutely love in my diet: chia seeds and the occasional desert. I say "occasional desert" because as much I am sometimes tempted to abandon myself to the pleasures of a decadent treat, I am rational enough to know that my waistline can only handle so much indulgence...so what's a woman to do? I've found the perfect answer to this question in chia seeds, the nutritional powerhouse loaded with antioxidants, calcium, and omega fatty acids.

And while we're on the subject of things I love, I'll add that I simply adore good, healthy food--fast. I enjoy cooking, yes, but if it gets too complicated than its a no go. Cooking should be relaxing, after all, not another homework assignment.

...so, back to chia seeds and my desert dilemma. I've found that when soaked in milk, these seeds soften to resemble the consistency of tapioca, making them a perfect base for a quick, healthy pudding when I feel like an easy, healthy treat.

I was inspired by chia seed pudding recipes from A Beautiful Mess and Food Fanatic but tweaked a few things based on what I had on hand in the kitchen and my love of cinnamon. I also like to top the pudding with fresh (or frozen and thawed) berries when I have them for that extra kick.

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons chia seeds
1 cup canned coconut milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp honey (plus more to taste) 1/2-1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a mason jar with a lid. Screw the lid on the jar and shake vigorously. Allow ingredients to sit in the fridge for at least one hour, making sure to flip the mason jar occasionally so the honey mixes with the other ingredients. To serve, divide the pudding between two bowls and top with more honey and fruit if desired. Makes two servings.

Weekend Head Start Bubble Bath

January 17, 2014

So you all know I love me some bubble bath!

Sometimes there is no better way, in my personal opinion, to end the week--and start the weekend--than to have a deliciously detoxing and restorative bubble bath.

My recipe includes baking soda (the wonder staple of the kitchen) because it is an antibacterial skin softener. It also clears away blemishes on the skins and pulls out toxins. The Epsom salt in the bath help heal the nervous system, decrease inflammation, and allow the body to better absorb nutrients because of the magnesium and sulfates in it. You can also add your favorite bubble bath (really is any bath complete without bubbles?) and soothing essential oils. Lately, I've been loving eucalyptus and lemon oil in my bath.

Ingredients:

1 cup baking soda

1 cup Epsom salt

10-15 drops essential oil (optional)

Bubble bath

Pour all ingredients in the bath, then add warm to hot water. Plan to spend at least 30-45 minutes in the bath so that your body can absorb all the nutrients of the salt and your skin can get nice and soft from the baking soda. Enjoy!

Keepin' it Fresh Homemade Deodorant

January 14, 2014

Keepin' the B.O. at bay is not the most glamorous of subjects, but there's nothing like solid underarm protection to make you feel like a lady (or gent).

While mainstream deodorant can promise extra strength protection against sweat and B.O., it does this with the use of harmful ingredients--check out Dying to Look Good for more info on the scary details. This leaves us with a safer, but often less effective option: all natural deodorant found at your local co-op or hippy grocery store. Safe? Yes. But if you're active like me all day, it does little to keep you feeling fresh as a daisy. Worse still, some "natural" products even contain harmful ingredients as well.

So I went in search of another option: DIY deodorant. It sounds crazy, but it totally works! Not only are the ingredients cheap household staples for the most part, but the final product works better than anything I've tried before. The recipe I have here has been adapted from ones by Wellness Mama and Crunchy Betty. The baking soda absorbs odor and, I've found, actually makes you sweat less over time. The coconut oil is anti-bacterial, while the arrowroot absorbs moisture. If you use essential oils, opt for tea tree oil or lavender oil, both of which are antibacterial. Always go for organic ingredients because they are gentler on your skin.

Ingredients:

1/4 c baking soda

1/4 c arrowroot powder

1/4 c coconut oil

3-5 drops essential oils (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl then slowly work in room temp coconut oil until all ingredients are combined. Then stir in essential oils if desired. Store in a small mason jar. Makes about 1/2 cup. Enjoy!

On Sundays

January 12, 2014

A day in the kitchen.

There is no other way Sunday should be spent. You linger amidst your pots and pans, oven and stove, concocting medicine for the week in the form of hearty winter soup for your dinners and lentils with roasted veggies for your lunches. You even tinker with your herbs and spices, lazily dreaming up another tea blend--a treat to finish off your evenings before drifting off to sleep.

It is a day of devotion to nourishing yourself and your loved ones, filling up your soul as you fill your belly, fortifying yourself for the week ahead.

A nap is in order while the soup simmers on the stove and the roasted veggies cool. You allow yourself to drift on the couch, an abandoned book limp across your chest. You relish the afternoon quiet and sink into the deep pleasure of no real agenda, no need to be on for anybody, no reason to wear restrictive clothing.

Tomorrow you will greet the world, ready for the noise and bustle--yes, even ready to wear real clothes with zippers and buttons on them. But for now, you let the smell of your winter stew tickle your nose as your mind dances between the dream world and wakefulness.

It will only be the promise of a bubble bath that inevitably lures you from the couch and the ritual of homemade pasta for dinner that steals you from the delicious hot bath. The slow easy pace of the day and luxurious family dinner will always be your restorative tonic to start the week.

On Grocery Shopping

January 10, 2014

It's the fruit and veggies section that draws you in first--piles of oranges and grapefruits vying for your attention over mounds of ripe tomatoes and lush eggplants. And then there it is--the artichoke that seduces you with its layered petals and the promise of the fleshy heart tucked in the center of its thorny armor. On impulse, you abandon the tight outline of your shopping list and commit to the artichoke. You throw in Brussels sprouts for good measure, already planning the meal centered on those crisp sprouts sautéed with nutritional yeast and pomegranate seeds.

Each item added to the cart is a promise to nourish, to indulge, to create. You imagine each meal: from the wine you sip as you steam the artichoke and cook the quinoa, to the quick-sautéed spinach leaves fragrant with the aromas of garlic, ginger, and chile peppers, to the morning oatmeal filling the belly after yoga has filled the soul.

You even let yourself be taken in by the decadence of the cheese section--surely the weekend is not a weekend without aged Gouda--even as you ignore the cheap thrills of the chips and candy aisles. There is no room in your cupboard for food devoid of soul.

At home, you unload your culinary loot, a warm sensation spreading through your belly as your fridge fills with edible jewels, vibrant tokens of self-care and wholesome indulgence.