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.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Body Scrub

December 17, 2013

There is nothing more delicious than peppermint hot chocolate on a cold winter day. Oh, wait. Yeah, there s: my peppermint hot chocolate body scrub. It has all the feelings of sweet indulgence without the calories or sugar overload.

It also makes a great gift that is enjoyed by the recipient after the last holiday candy cane is gone and is super easy for you to make during the flurry of winter preparation.

So here is the recipe to make for your loved ones--and yourself:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

5-10 drops peppermint essential oil

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix until combined. To gift this, simply put the scrub in a mason jar and wrap the jar in a festive ribbon.

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!

On Hibernation

December 7, 2013

This time of year always brings out my inner bear ready for hibernation.

Although this can be the time of year for bright lights, big parties, and excessive shopping, I find that all the noise makes me pull inward rather than tempting me out of my hobbit hole.

Instead, I turn to the quiet beauty of an unexpected snow storm that turns the city into a giant snow globe, with fat snowflakes kissing the landscape and reminding its inhabitants that winter is a time for hibernation--quiet reflection, joyous introversion.

I relish the hush in the streets, the tree branches coated in velvet snow, the sky a crisp, clear turquoise. I look forward to the pot of rosemary and rose hip tea that I drink as I dress my holiday tree, the sharp scent of pine filling my home and making me long for a day of snowshoeing.

Others try to tempt me from my home with office parties or noisy shopping trips to malls, but my inner bear keeps telling me hibernate, hibernate.

I fully give into my guilty pleasure of introversion, finally, when I see the temperature won't be above 16 degrees for most of the day and that another snow storm promises to grace the city soon. It is too cold to go out for cocktails; the streets might be too icy when the sun sets. I don't need more things, especially not from a mall, just the comforting warmth of fuzzy socks and a mug of tea in hand.

I retreat to my home, my hobbit hole, my bear cave, happily toasty warm under my knitted blanket, enjoying the gentle hush of a winter day spent in cozy contemplation.

In the spring I will awaken from my dream state in search of daffodil bulbs and adventures, but for now, I do what the bear does: I hibernate, I draw inward, I wrap winter around me like a cloak and linger in the natural beauty of this meditative season.

Thankfulness

November 27, 2013

I'm sitting on my couch, drinking a cup of tulsi peppermint tea and writing.

I've spent the day with my mother and sister cooking for our big feast tomorrow: we made pies and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes, brined the turkey, and even had time to sneak in some yoga, playtime with my sister's dogs, and pumpkin cider sipping at lunch.

It was a wonderful day, the kind that revolved around kitchen and conversation. It was made even more delicious by the fact that I took the day off school to help prepare this Thanksgiving meal. I woke up feeling like a kid playing hooky, knowing full well that while I was out having fun, the rest of the world was at school (to my fanciful mind at least).

In the quiet of this evening, I realize thankfulness is an art form, best expressed in the simple actions of making cranberry sauce with both tangerine and orange slices in it because you know that's how your family likes it. Thankfulness is in setting the table just so with the fine china, napkin rings, and homemade place cards for the people you love. You can find it in your kitchen smelling of freshly baked pies, a heavenly scent for those coming home from work, a perfect perfume promising a day full of nourishment and relaxation. It is the basket of herbs shared between mothers and daughters or the gift packages sent to those away from home. All these things are tokens of thankfulness, letting those around you know that you are grateful they are in your life.

Tomorrow I will continue to celebrate my thankfulness--for my family, my friends, my readers--and relish the gravy-making and the dishwashing for what they are: acts of thankfulness in their purest form.

Warrior Tea Blend

November 23, 2013

This is a great tea for the warriors in your life. It is made up of a variety of herbs and grains that restore vital nutrients to your body and at the same time help it get rid of toxins.

I developed this blend for my brother-in-law, a personal trainer, who constantly needs to replenish and heal his body because of his constant activity. He is on his feet all day helping clients get fit, so he needed something that would give him an energy boost--here in the form of vitamins and minerals naturally found in herbs--and something that would ease inflammation and sore muscles after a day of working out. This blend is good for anyone who works long hours or needs an extra boost during the day; it provides energy without unhealthy snacking or caffeine consumption and soothes the nervous system.

I've included the recipe for this blend below, along with the health properties of each ingredient.

Warrior Tea Blend (makes about 6 cups)

2 cups roasted barley

1 cup alfalfa leaves

1/2 cup dandelion leaves

1/2 cup cinnamon bark chips

1/2 cup calendula (marigold flowers)

1/2 cup tulsi (holy basil)

1/2 cup fennel seeds

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. Enjoy!

Health benefits of ingredients:

Roasted barley: antibacterial, aids in digestion, improves blood circulation, lowers cholesterol, cleanses body of toxins, balances blood sugar levels, rich in vitamins B1, B2, iron, and fibers.

Alfalfa leaves: natural diuretic, improves digestion, rich in vitamins A, E, K, B, D, iron, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

Dandelion leaves: natural diuretic, aids with anemia, rich in iron and vitamin C.

Cinnamon: antiseptic, aids digestion, calms nervous system, anti-inflammatory.

Calendula: anti-inflammatory, aids digestion, reduces swollen lymph glands, soothes irritated skin.

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

Fennel: aids digestion, relieves bloating.

Routine as Ritual

November 15, 2013

I'm sitting on my newly furnished patio this morning, snuggled under a cranberry throw and drinking cinnamon spice coffee from a pumpkin mug. The view from my patio is stunning. The ground is littered with bright gold and orange leaves. The almost naked trees stand in stark contrast to the cloud-blanketed sky, the stone fountain in my courtyard is framed by all of this natural glory.

This first week of living in my new home--I mean actually living versus unpacking and organizing--has been a daily study in life's simple pleasures. The early morning yoga in my living room has become a delicious treat after weeks of being off my regular self-care routine. The weekly grocery store visit is a feast for the senses, especially now that the holidays are near--the produce section is overflowing with Brussels sprouts and pomegranates and persimmons, to name a few of the seductive jewels that caught my eye this time around. Grocery shopping is especially invigorating as I contemplate what delicious meals I plan to cook in my home--from the tofu, pea and spinach stir-fry with a coconut-peanut sauce to the autumn inspired afternoon tea party with a friend, to the simple nutritional yeast spiced popcorn and pumpkin hard cider for homemade happy hour with my sister. Even cleaning and doing laundry has become a meditation on the simple joys of a warm, clean home. Moving into a new space has made me hyper-aware of the magic behind my everyday routine.

While many of these activities--grocery shopping, laundry, coaxing myself out of bed early to stretch my limbs--seem like mundane routines that, like grooves in a well-trod path, are merely evidence of rote actions, they are actually delicious rituals of self-care. I take comfort in the knowledge that when I get home at the end of a long workday, my routine is in place: I water my plants, I exercise, I prepare dinner while watching the news, I dine listening to old jazz records, I read over cups of m inty sleepy time tea. It is a healing balm to a full day of caring for others--tending to my students and nourishing their writing growth. It is the promise of soul replenishment and the mending of the proverbial tears and scrapes from the day.

So the next time you find yourself in the midst of your daily routine, take a moment to pause and relish the wonder of the rituals you've built around your sense of well-being. These rituals ground. They nourish. They heal.

5 Ways to Make a House a Home

November 10, 2013

So it's happened: I've moved in all the boxes, arranged and rearranged the pantry, contemplated organizing my bookshelves better, hung every picture, and moved around furniture until it looks just right. But with all that in place, there remains quite a bit of work to be done in making my new house a home.

Here, I offer you my top five ways to make a new space more than just a place to crash, but a vital, nourishing sanctuary:

1. Cook. A lot. For friends. For family. For yourself. Nothing says home like a meal made from scratch. The first night I was relatively all moved in, I had my special moving helpers--my family--over for a big pasta dinner. And I had them over again this weekend for a nice cheese tasting and steak dinner--with a pumpkin fudge chaser thanks to Coconut Mama. I made stuffed acorn squash for myself all week and epic breakfasts over the weekend. I'll be making Tea a la St. James Tea Room in Albuquerque for a good friend next weekend. And I plan to keep cooking! The menu planning, the preparations, the enjoyable get-togethers all bring warmth to a home the way nothing else can.

2. Take a long bubble bath. Okay, so this might not be for everyone, but after long hours moving, an Epsom salt bath does wonders for the soul. It's also become a ritual for me to take a super long bubble bath in each new space I move into. There's something about letting the soapy bubbles wash over you as you get lost in a good paperback that lets you relax and feel like you're in a nourishing space. If bubble baths aren't your deal (no judgement!), craft your own ritual that allows you to feel nourished in your new space.

3. Have a pajama day. Who says jammies are just for nighttime? A home isn't a home until you spend time in it--especially down time, where you don't have to go anywhere or do anything. So set aside a day to putter around in your PJs. Have no agenda, merely float from cooking in the kitchen to lounging on the couch, to staring out your window to lingering over the titles on your bookshelves. It's a great way to get to know your new home.

4. Brew a pot of tea. Even if you don't make your own tea blends like I do, there is something about putting on hot water for tea and then drinking a pot on the couch as you sift through magazines, knit, or get lost in a good book to sooth the soul. Tea says home. And if it's a relaxing herbal blend, it might also say nap on the couch. Either way, brewing tea connects you to the rituals of your daily life--an essential aspect of making your house a home.

5. Do yoga or meditate or whatever you do as part of your self-care routine. During moving, it is easy to let your normal self-care routine (exercise, eating right, sleeping) slip in favor of getting your house settled. But as soon as humanly possible, get back to that routine. Fill your home with the tranquil energy of a good meditation session, the clean energy of a wholesome meal, the catharsis of a good yoga that wrings out the aches and pains brought on by hauling boxes.

So there they are--my tips for making a house a home. They're also useful to reconnect with your space if you've been out a lot lately. I hope they inspire you to make your living space a sanctuary that nourishes your soul. Happy homemaking!

Everyday Conjurings

October 30, 2013

Typically, when we think of conjuring magic, we imagine a wart-spattered witch hovering over her boiling cauldron whispering spells on the night of the full moon, attempting to turn the wheel of fortune to her desires.

But real conjuring is at once simpler and more magical than that. It is the basic act of focusing our energies, setting our intent to achieve desired results. This time of year, with Halloween at our doorstep, it may be easier to accept magic as a natural part of life. The stirring of red leaves across the street, the rich scent of earth going to sleep for the winter, the little creaks and whispers in the house that lull us to sleep--or sometimes wake us for no apparent reason...all are reminders of the subtle forces that stir around us. Conjuring is a way for us to become more in tune with these forces, more in tune with our deepest selves.

Think about it: we conjure every time we daydream about our futures, resolve to change something in our lives, or continue with other life patterns. We conjure when we meditate or do yoga. We conjure when we cook, our intent to nourish and love settling over the food like any spell a witch casts over her cauldron. In essence, conjuring is being conscious about the energies we choose to allow into our lives.

I've been mulling over this concept as I prepare to move into my new home--okay an apartment--now that I am ready to set down roots in New Mexico. This is a chance to let go of old ways of being, which for me means letting go of my graduate school days and all the baggage that came with that: long hours, overwork, unhappiness, stress. It is also a chance to consider the type of energy I want to bring into my new space, the type of life I want to conjure up for myself.

It has taken a lot of energy these past weeks letting go of old furniture (goodbye futon and IKEA mattress!) and investing in new, more permanent furniture (hello antique tables and shelves, iron-frame bed, and cranberry colored couches!). With each piece of old furniture or dead kitchen appliance I recycle, I say goodbye to the old stagnant energy of my past life. With each thoughtful purchase that replaces those things, I welcome in happiness and vitality. This is my conjuring of a healthier, happier, more connected life.

My family has been conjuring with me too--adding input to every decoration decision I ponder and getting ready to help move my boxes at the end of this week. These caring acts imbue my new space with a cozy warmth only family love can give. I am even happy that I am moving on Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a holiday perhaps more important to us in New Mexico than Halloween. It is a holiday that celebrates those who have come before us--relatives, loved ones, and, I would add, past selves. They come to visit, eating sugar skulls and other sweet offerings, bearing messages from beyond. When I move on this day, I will be able to say goodbye to some ghosts--my past selves that no longer serve me. This is my conjuring that lets me shed my old skin.

When I dust off my cookbooks and knitted blankets--they've been in storage for quite some time--I will imbue my life with the domestic calm I've always thrived on. I will cook meals for my family. I will continue to knit my new blanket, each stitch a link in a woven spell of security and tranquility. I will write at my big turquoise desk, a pot of tea by my side, feeling the words slip around me and spill out into my new space, coating it in well-being. I will blend my tea. I will tend my new home.

I will conjure. No cauldron necessary.

(Haunted) House Hunting!

October 21, 2013

Houses retain the energies of those who have passed through them. The longer a person is in a home, the more the house absorbs the energy of that person--for better or worse. Over the years, those energies settle into the house, becoming part of its foundation.

I've been thinking about this lately as I've finished my own search for a new home. Just as important as the big kitchen or the walk-in closet is the vibe of the home. How do I feel when I enter it? Does it invite lightness and good energy? Or am I feeling anxious and heavy as I walk from room to room? These sensations matter. They tell us a lot about the residual energy of past residents--energetic hauntings if you will.

My sister, who is also house hunting with her husband right now, always asks the same question when talking to real estate agents: why are the owners selling this home? What made the previous tenant decide to move? Her reasoning is simple: she doesn't want a house that has absorbed negative energy from previous owners. That energy remains and will then affect the quality of her household. She listens to the answers, both implicit and explicit: the family needed a bigger house after having their second child, the woman is moving in with her boyfriend--both reasons showing a home of growth and abundance.

She also listens to the half-truths the agents relate: the house was too much work, the owners wanted a change. These empty answers can sometimes inadvertently reveal the unsettled energies of the house--especially when paired with that creepy unfinished basement or the random cubbyhole built into the floor of the closet.

Recognizing a haunted house is in more than just hearing strange whispers and seeing things out of the corner of your eye. It is more than the cemetery in the back of the house, or the weird illustrations coating the walls in the attic. It's about the feel of the house. More than one friend has told me about an outwardly fine home they didn't like for no other reason than the fact that they felt uneasy in that space. These impressions tell us that it isn't the right home for us--its energies are not our energies. Or worse, there is seriously bad juju that saturates the walls, left there by former tenants.

Or course, not all hauntings are bad. My apartment in Seattle was totally haunted--it was once an old mansion that was converted into an apartment building many years ago, so naturally, it had seen a lot of things and absorbed a lot of different vibes. And not all the energy was the same from room to room in that building. The laundry room in the basement, for example, was dark and heavy, as was the greenish corridor with the yellowed sunken-in flooring you had to walk down to get to it--certainly no place I would want to find myself alone at night, even though it was tucked inside a safe apartment complex. On the flip side, my apartment itself was characterized by lots of friendly light that poured in through giant windows. It was a happy space, a sanctuary from the heaviness of school. I'd come to see my one-bedroom apartment as having its own spirit--a light, bright, playful spirit that had no room for droll professors or even more boorish theory books. I was more than happy with this haunting, as we were in perfect agreement.

I felt the same zing in that apartment as I did in finding my new place here in Albuquerque. That's how I knew this new home was right. After months of searching for the right new home, I finally found the one that spoke to me (okay, an apartment!). It didn't have creepy dark alleyways right behind it, or fake faded flowers outside its door; it didn't have dirty corners and thin walls; it didn't have sterile rooms or cold kitchens. It was simply bright light and warmth, homey and clean, at once cozy yet spacious. Our energies were simpatico.

So, is this new place haunted? Probably, but from where I'm standing, it's absorbed nothing but good energy, so I'm happy with the kind of haunted it is. I just hope it likes green chile stew and old movies as much as I do.

Nourishing Tea

October 12, 2013

Tea blending is daily magic in its most basic form: creating a healing concoction of herbs to create well-being.

The curanderas, or medicine women of New Mexico, have been doing it for years to promote health and prevent, or in some cases cure, illness. Tea blending draws from the power of the earth to nourish ourselves with the gifts of nature. I'm not saying that I'm above using Tylenol for headaches or a good antibiotic when I get sick, but a strong ginger and echinacea tea does wonders to prevent a cold, and Valerian and hops chill me out better than any shot of whiskey. Plus, taking the time to blend my own teas allows me to consciously imbue my tea drinking habit with self-care.

I feel like an alchemist when I'm in my kitchen adding a pinch of this herb and a handful of those flowers, thinking about what tastes, colors, and healing properties best work together to create a nourishing brew.

All if which is my way of saying that I've been tinkering with a new tea recipe. I've been marinating on this idea of nourishment--how do we feed ourselves, our souls, or minds, our bodies? What we ingest both physically and psychically determines our sense of personal well-being. So with this in mind, I went to work in my kitchen, playing with herbs that would both soothe and nourish for my latest blend.

This new tea has got chamomile in it, the ultimate all around comforting flower. It is known for soothing restless minds and minor aches and pains in the body. To boost the soothing properties of my tea, I also added the happy flower calendula aka marigold. This flower brings a burst of golden color to my blend, along with skin soothing and heart healing properties. The key nourishing ingredient in my blend is alfalfa, which is chock-full of vitamins A, E, K, B, and D, and minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium to name a few. The final touch to this blend is fennel seed. It helps balance the grassiness of the alfalfa with its subtle sweetness--and let's not forget that these little seeds aid digestion.

I made a cup of this tea for my mom when she was frazzled after a sleepless night. What a change it caused! Twenty minutes after a cup of this nourishing blend, she was back to her tranquil self, restored and ready to tackle the day's adventures.

I'm including the recipe here and hope that you will try it. You can find these herbs at your local herb store (mine is actually called "The Herb Store") or online at Rose Mountain Herbs. I look forward to hearing about the results!

Ingredients:

1 cup chamomile flowers

1/2 cup alfalfa leaves

1/2 cup calendula (marigold flowers)

1/4 cup fennel seeds

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. Makes 2 1/4 cups. Enjoy!

Lingering Effects of the Harvest Moon!

October 4, 2013

I'm sitting at my vintage secretary style desk from the late 1800s, sipping from a fall themed mug and writing.

I was able to get off work a little early to enjoy the crisp air and the golden late-afternoon sunlight. It is a sweet gift. Earlier in the kitchen, I played with my herbs. I think I'm on the brink of a new tea blend--a pinch of alfalfa, an even bigger pinch of chamomile, a smidge of fennel seeds, and two or three calendula buds. I let these healing herbs mingle in hot water and savor the earthy sweetness of the blend.

That's me.

I love quiet moments in the kitchen, tinkering with a new soup recipe or tea blend or body butter. I love snuggling in my jammies and reading a good fantasy novel at night (yes, with a cup of tea). I love crafting and will literally coat just about anything in glitter if left unsupervised. I love carving out time in my day to relish these simple pleasures of self-care and domestic bliss--not an easy feat considering that a teacher's job can easily go on and on and on....if I let it.

But I don't. Why? Because I believe in the power of self-care and enjoyment to make the workday smoother, the weeks bursting with the fullness of living a balanced life. Yeah, it can be hard sometimes to carve out that time, but it's worth the effort.

I'm turning these thoughts over in my head as I reflect on the bounty of this year's harvest moon or the full, golden moon that hovers in this sky every autumn equinox. Legend has it that the harvest moon is a beacon of abundance for the coming year, symbolizing the plenty of both the literal farmer's harvest and the ephemeral harvest of spiritual well-being that comes from living a balanced life. It is the moon of transitional energy, shifting away from the outward moving cycles of summer towards the inward, more contemplative activities of fall and the coming winter.

This year's harvest moon is especially important to me, as it was under this prophetic moon that I made an important transition myself. Overworked, sick (first a cold, then allergies), I found myself completely spread thin between adjusting to my first full-time teaching job and attempting to keep my tutoring business afloat. I loved both jobs dearly, but somewhere between a bowl of chicken noodle soup and struggling to grade my first round of student essays, I realized something: these wonderful opportunities were beginning to feel like horrible burdens as I attempted to give 110% to both things, which is saying nothing of my desire to have an actual personal life.

It was clear something had to change. When I first moved back to New Mexico, it was so I could teach and live a full life in the Land of Enchantment. Yet here I was, living the frantic life of my graduate school years: too much work, too little self-care. When I was in school, I didn't always have a choice about my workload, but now, I realized, I did. So I made a change--I let my tutoring go. It was hard at first to give up something I had spent so much time and energy bringing into the world, but as the weeks went by, I felt better, was happier teaching, and found myself with more delicious moments when I could stare out at the Sandia Mountains and just breath. After all, so much of my philosophy as an educator is centered on helping students find that proper balance between school, life, and work...so I have to practice my creed if I want to continue being a nourishing educator and happy person.

I am grateful for this harvest moon and the wisdom it offered me as I made my transition: it taught me that to find that joyful abundance of our lives, we have to let go of things that no longer serve our sense of personal well-being. In doing so, we create space for healthier, more productive ways of going about our lives.

It isn't always easy to find balance in your life, but if you take the time to pause, even just to linger over the golden sunlight filtering through the slowly turning leaves, there is everyday wisdom and enjoyment to be found.

Welcome to Enchantment Learning and Living!

September 21, 2013

....soon to be a regular blog about the magic of everyday living!