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.

New Mama Gift Basket

October 13, 2014

One of the chief jobs an auntie has is to make sure that the new mama, my sister, is getting the nourishment, rest, and TLC that she needs. Of course, I want to do that for baby and father too, but a new mama has a lot to adjust to after giving birth and meeting her new little one. There is no better way to make sure mama gets a little extra lovin' when she comes home than with a gift basket of goodies meant to help her heal and pamper herself. Of course, I'll be cooking some meals too so father and mother can focus on the baby, but a basket of treats help too!

For mother's day, the family put together a gift basket with all these treats to help her with her pregnancy. It occurs to me now, however, that it would not be a bad idea give her these treats now that she is home with the baby!

1. Sexy Tiger Mama Stretch Mark Cream (for giving her belly a little extra love once the baby is in this world)

2. Honey Eucalyptus Foot Soak (for mama to help soothe her mind, feet, and body; also helps reduce swelling after labor)

3. Mama Love Pregnancy Tea (also good for making sure new mama get her nutrients)

4. Women's Soothing Mint Tea (another way for mama to replenish her nutrients)

5. Weekend Head Start Bubble Bath (a great way to replenish new mama's magnesium levels and get rid of unnecessary toxins)

It is important to honor not just the baby for this big event, but all the work mama did to bring her little one into the world--this basket fits the bill!

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 Meeting My Niece

October 12, 2014

You were always a strong spirit. The first time I met you, you were an elbow pushing against my sister's stomach in time to country music, happy after a red chile enchilada dinner. You were a strong baby, even then, forged in the fires of love and hot yoga.

I witnessed your strength again as you pushed your way into this world, the monitor showing your accelerated heart rate each time you were about to take another step into the unknown. Even the nurses were in awe of your strength as you kicked and wiggled and moved your head a little. Yes, you are my sister's daughter.

I tried to remember your strength again as I held you for the first time. Yet when you were in my arms, I could only feel how small you were, how tiny and soft and new. I did not want to squeeze you too hard, although I was full to bursting with love. Once again you reminded me that you would be no fragile flower: your longer fingers, so perfectly formed down to the fingernails, latched onto my index finger and squeezed hard. Your grip was firm; now here is a woman unafraid of her strength.

Here we are, I wanted to tell you, creating our first memories together. Here we are getting to know one another. This memory will be distilled with time and crystallized in love. With more to follow.

On Being Tia, On Being Auntie

October 11, 2014

For the first time, I am Tia. I am Auntie. For the first time, I have a little niece to care for and love and offer Tia Wisdom--if that is what I can call the handful of knowledge I've gathered so far in my own journey. They are only small bits of conclusions I've drawn from the world as I've made my way through it.

There is so much I want to teach her. Things that only an auntie can. She will learn to walk gracefully in this world and to be the force of nature that she is--everything, in short, that it means to be a woman of strength. But that she will learn from her mother. She will also learn how to stay grounded, the importance of quiet, the necessity of the wilderness. Lessons she will learn from her father.

She will learn how to throw pots and garden from her grandma; in this, she will learn the value of playing with mud, of conjuring playfully. She will learn the world of symbols and dreams from her grandpa, a gift of insight and instinct in the form of quartz crystals and lumps of turquoise threaded through leather and love.

But what will I teach her?

The pleasures of a cup of tea, certainly. And the alchemy of blending herbs, so that she may know the healing power of her curanderisma roots. I will show her the magic of a polka dot dress to chase away doubt and inspire courage--and a little flirtation.

And books. Yes, books. With Tia, she will learn the necessity of a good book, the soothing balm of words on a page, the imaginative wonderings and wanderings a well-stocked library can inspire. Most of all, as Tia, I wish to show her that life is a delicious exploration, a boundless adventure, an indulgence for the senses. I wish to show her the importance of living her creed--whatever that may be--and following the call of her fox spirit wherever it may lead her.

This, this is what it means to be Tia.

I'm an Auntie!

October 10, 2014

It's official: I'm an auntie! My adorable little niece came into this world early today and I couldn't be happier! I promise to share all my excitement and thoughts on my new role as auntie soon! In the meantime, I'd love to hear your advice: what makes a good auntie?

Autumn Harvest Tea Blend

October 9, 2014

Who doesn't love a hot cup of tea on a chilly fall day? There's nothing like wearing your favorite fall sweater, snuggling under a nice knit blanket, and sinking into a good book over a fat mug of tea. Or let's not forget the pleasures of a refreshing brew to start your work day, as you breathe in the crisp air, enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage, and take that first sip of goodness.

My particular favorite hug-in-a-cup this time of year is my Autumn Harvest Blend, full of the rich spices you associate with the season and the gentle sweetness of apple bits and chamomile. I love this fruit and herb combo because of chamomile's apple-like fragrance pairs nicely with the earthiness of dried apples. The rose hips add another dash of fruitiness and host of nutrients.

Ingredients:

1 cup chamomile

1/2 cup dried apple bits

1/2 cup cinnamon chips

1/4 cup dried ginger

1/8 cup dried rose hip bits

Combine ingredients in a bowl. Store in a mason jar in a cool dry place. To use, add one heaping tablespoon of blend to 8 ounces hot water and steep for 3-5 minutes. Enjoy!

Health properties of ingredients:

Apple: contains vitamins A,C, some B and potassium; good source of fiber.

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

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

Ginger: soothes stomach pain; anti-inflammatory; aids digestion.

Rose hips: anti-aging; contains vitamins A, D, B, C, E, and K, iron, calcium, zinc, and other vital nutrients; promotes healing and boosts energy; antibacterial.

On the Blood Moon Eclipse

October 8, 2014

The blood moon.

Symbol of the abundance we draw towards ourselves. Harbinger of the final harvest before the hush of winter overtakes us.

The lunar eclipse.

You cast into darkness that which was once filled with light, not to dim our sight but to reveal the things we bury in shadow.

Together you create supercharged healing, an extraordinary revelation for those willing to listen; your alignment on this harvest season is a gift, a reminder of the blood that makes us, the life that sustains us, the spirits that guide us.

Awash in the red glow of your light, I draw abundance to me; I call life and love and creativity into my home; I open myself to you, blood moon, to cleanse me of my tiredness and recharge my soul. I bathe in your blood light to better feel the strong bones and sinewy flesh and soft skin that makes me, well me--that make me human.

Apple Crisp Overnight Oats

October 7, 2014

Cinnamon and apples are pretty much right up there with pumpkins for evoking autumnal goodness. This time of year I can't get enough of apples and cinnamon--I find a way to use them for everything from cocktails to my breakfast, to a quick snack and even dinner!

The best part about this recipe here is that while it may conjure up the flavors of an apple pie--apples cooked in sugar and ghee, topped with nutty oats and spices--it is healthier for you. I sometimes use homemade granola to finish off this meal and give it the additional crunch that a crisp offers.

Ingredients:

1 cup multi-grain oats

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons almond meal

2 tablespoons flax seed meal

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups milk

4 apples, chopped

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon ghee

1/2 cup granola (optional)

In a saucepan, heat ghee until melted and then throw in chopped apples. Allow to cook on low until softened and lightly browned, about ten minutes. Then add 1 teaspoon of the cinnamon and all of the brown sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, until sugar has coated apples. Set aside to cool.

Mix all dry ingredients (including remaining cinnamon) except the granola together in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients until combined. Then begin to add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, until thoroughly mixed. Finally, stir in cooked apples. Divide mixture evenly between 4 mason jars and let sit overnight in fridge. Top each mason jar meal with 1/8 cup of granola before serving (optional). Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!

Rethinking Everyday Magic in October!

October 6, 2014

Speaking of celebrating my one-year anniversary with this amazing and super easy subscription contest in which you can win a fabulous prize, there are some other great things going on in the realm of Enchantment Learning & Living. Not only can you continue to enjoy plenty more recipes and musing on the good life, but you can also enjoy a month of special Halloween themed blog posts in honor of the things that go bump in the night.

I've spent a lot of time on my blog talking about everyday magic--it's a central part of my writing--but with Halloween just around the corner, I began to wonder about the darker aspects of that energy. This type of magic is about more than just synchronicity and hobbit wisdom (as great as those things are); there is an equally important shadow side, if you will, to enchanted living. What about the proverbial vampires and zombies we encounter in our day? What about hexes and nightmares? These too are a part of everyday magic--as are their antidotes.

You may have seen me moving in this direction already with posts like Descending into the Underworld and the Curse of Normalcy. These too are about the darker aspects of everyday enchantment; this shadow side is not necessarily 'evil', but the realm of hidden desires, wants, fears, potentials that make up who we are; the waiting-to-be revealed wisdom just beyond the reach of our consciousness; and the violence that emerges when we cease to be true to ourselves. There is a certain amount of chills and thrills to be expected when venturing into the unknown shadow realm. It can be just as frightening as dueling with daily demons for all its ability to offer us insight into ourselves, our lives--or perhaps because it has so much potential to reveal our limitless ability to grow and change.

Sometimes the most terrifying thing in life--and the most empowering--is recognizing our full potential. So join me for this monthly meditation on the shadow realm for a more well-rounded insight on everyday magic!

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

October 5, 2014

Who doesn't love pumpkin everything this time of year? Okay, I actually know a (very) few people who don't, but that means there is more of this delectable squash for the rest of us! Now that the days are cooler, I relish waking up in the morning to these tasty pumpkin overnight oats. They chase away the chill of autumn and leave me feeling full and indulgent at the same time.

Ingredients:

1 cup multi-grain oats

2 tablespoons chia seeds

2 tablespoons almond meal

2 tablespoons flax seed meal

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/8 teaspoon ground clove

3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 can pumpkin puree

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together all the wet ingredients until combined. Then begin to add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients slowly, until thoroughly mixed. Divide mixture evenly between 4 mason jars and let sit overnight in fridge. You can top with Greek yogurt and a dusting of cinnamon if desired. Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!

One Year Anniversary Subscription Contest

October 4, 2014

Wow! I can hardly believe it but is was one year ago today that I started this blogging adventure (see how it all started here). And to think a few short months after that, I committed to a year of daily blogging. Nine months along on that road and I can't believe what an inspiring journey it's been! One of My favorite things about this project is the fact that I get to carve out time every day to simply reflect and enjoy the life lessons and simple pleasures that make up my life. It has also been a treat to share this journey with you readers and hear your stories.

To celebrate this wondrous milestone, I'm hosting a subscription contest! Here's how it works: simply subscribe to my blog by entering your email into the space provided at the end of this post or click here to enter your email address to be eligible for a gift card to amazon.com.

The 50th subscriber will receive a $15 amazon.com gift card. The grand prize of a $25 gift card will be for the 100th email subscriber! They can use this card to indulge in some simple pleasures that make their everyday life just a little more magical. I'll be announcing the winners at the end of this month.

It's as simple as that!

Why not spread the word while you're at it? Tell your friends, your family, your colleagues, your pets, your spirit guides and anyone else you can think of to enter the contest for a chance to win an amazon.com gift card. It seems to me the best way to celebrate everyday magic is to spread the love...with a champagne bubble bath as a distance second, of course!

Apple Cider Margarita

October 3, 2014

Oh yes, I went there. And I went one step further and published this with just enough time for you to get the ingredients for your weekend cocktail! This margarita came about last Friday when I found myself in need of one, but with not enough limes to do the job; I only had 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lime juice, to be exact.

Cut to me eyeing my newly purchased jug of local apple cider. A plot was hatched. Why couldn't I take the autumnal bliss that is cider and marry it with my traditional Friday night margarita? I did just that and was rewarded with a wonderfully smokey (from the tequila), tangy (from the lime and cider) sweet (from the apples and triple sec) concoction. I'm addicted. But there's only one way to see if you will be too--try it out!

Ingredients:

1.5 oz tequila

1/2 oz triple sec (optional)

3 oz fresh apple cider

1/2 oz lime juice

ice

Combine all ingredients in a glass and stir until combined. Serves one. Drink immediately. Better yet, double the recipe and invite a friend over to enjoy this blissful fall cocktail on your porch!

Want more liquid autumn? Try my Cinnamon Apple Cocktail.

On Yes's, No's, & Maybe's

October 2, 2014

This week has got me thinking about the boundaries we set in our lives (the no's), the things we choose to let into our lives (the yeses), and the things that we are okay to be happily ambivalent about (the maybes).

It seems to me life is a delicate balance between these three things. Without the no's we are forever beholden to a people-pleasing version of ourselves that leaves us an empty husk of who we could really be; without the yes's we can't let in the good people that make up part of our soul-filling intimate bonds or the impromptu adventures with them that come our way. The maybe's are perhaps more mercurial in their meaning, forever inviting us to see the possibility--and changeability--of a situation.

However you are feeling this week--full of no's, yes's, maybe's, or a little bit of each, I leave you with a few short essays on the power of these three little words:

On Being an Expert

October 1, 2014

As you walk the path of your day, there are many things demanding your attention, many groups wanting your commitment, many places hoping to pull you away from your home. Each one of them wants your promise that you will give yourself over to their cause, their creed, their life and in so doing giving up a little of yourself one drop at a time, fuel to their collective hunger.

And yet you resist the temptation to give yourself over to these things, groups, places. You save your role as Expert for just one thing. In everything else, you are an Amateur. To turn away from the noise and busyness of those demanding voices and grabbing hands and simply devote yourself to your own craft, that is the true art of the Expert.

You could count all the years, months, days you've been a teacher, listing all the lessons you've learned and doled out. But that would only be your professional expertise. Or you could explain how you work at your writing desk every day, courting words as your fingertips gently kissed your keyboard. But these words are not just the click-clack of typing nor the splash of ink on paper; they are moments lived, felt, reflected upon. You could go further still and unfurl the many years you've been a yogini (much longer than you've been a teacher) like you would your practice mat. But that would only show you so many sun salutations and a few breathing exercises.

These pieces, all of them, only dance around the heart of your Expertise. They are the threads that make up the fabric of you, fibers that weave together to form your ever evolving mastery of just one thing: Listening.

That ephemeral magic just beyond the border of too much noise and activity, too little inward reflection--and too little of what makes you smile. It eludes the masses but waits patiently for those willing to cultivate its wisdom. To listen is to tune out the white noise and become aware of the beating of your own heart, the rustle of fabric on skin as your chest rises and falls with each breath. The whispering leaves above your head. The hush of your surroundings. The almost imperceptible voice inside you that grows in strength only when you tune out the world and tune into you.

That is Listening. That is your magic, your well of inspiration. And that is what you choose to be an Expert at--open ears and open heart.

Sexy Tiger Mama Stretch Mark Cream Recipe

September 30, 2014

Stretch marks. Those beautiful tiger stripes that tell everyone you brought life into this world. I think there is nothing more beautiful than these stripes of honor. That said, a little stretch mark cream on rubbed onto a mama-to-be's belly as the baby grows nourishes the skin and fades stretch marks. Rubbing your belly with this also, according to my pregnant sister, becomes enjoyable mother-baby time (and yes, sometimes mother-baby-father time).

I adapted my recipe from Wellness Mama, swapping out some oils with vitamin E oil and adding beeswax to help lock in the healing moisture as you rub that perfect baby belly. This is also great for skin in general, especially if you have scars. I tested this concoction on myself before whipping up a batch for my sister and found that one of my scars (from a run-in with a jellyfish--another story, for another time) actually began to fade under the repeated application of this cream.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Shea butter

1/3 cup coconut butter

1 tablespoon vitamin E oil

1 tablespoon beeswax

Place the saucepan on low heat and fill halfway with water. Then place the clean tin can in the center of the saucepan. Put the beeswax in the tin can and let melt on low, about 5-7 minutes.

Slowly add other oils one at a time into tin can with beeswax and melt on low until fully combined. The new oils may cause the contents of the tin to solidify for a little bit, but just keep itti on low heat and it will eventually mix and melt. Remove from heat and pour into mason jar. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.

Nettle Tea

September 29, 2014

The nettle leaf is one of those plants, like the dandelion, that is often overlooked as a useless weed but is really one of the most amazing plants with health benefits out there. The tea it produces is my new favorite daily cup of goodness. I recently fell in love with the brew again after I found myself struggling with allergy symptoms last month. My sister-in-law, an amazing healer, told me to try drinking nettle tea. Luckily, I had some on hand. After a few cups of the herbal steep, I was feeling fit as a fiddle again! In fact, I realized that my symptoms only showed up when I had stopped drinking my nightly mint, dandelion, and nettle leaf tea blend.

Drinking nettle tea daily is worth it just to prevent any cold or allergy symptoms, but I also drink it because it boosts your immune system; relieves hypertension, bloating and cramps; reduces inflammation and allergy symptoms; contains vitamins A, C, D, and K, iron, and other important vitamins and minerals; builds energy; and even acts as a mild diuretic. What a power-packed herb! In fact, the only downside to this plant is that it might cause irritation (mild rash or upset stomach) for a few people, so it's a good idea to try just a little tea at first before committing to a cup a day. That said, I've never had any adverse effects from drinking this tea.

Ingredients:

Nettle Leaf

To brew, use one tablespoon per 8 oz hot water. Steep for 3-5 minutes. Can re-steep leaves. Enjoy!

Cinnamon-Apple Cocktail

September 28, 2014

Fall is officially here! What better way to celebrate than to whip up an autumnal cocktail? You'll get to learn about my Apple Cider Margarita later this week, but perhaps you are looking for something a little more sophisticated for Saturday or Sunday night...sophisticated or bourbon-y. This cocktail tastes like autumn in a glass: spicy cinnamon, tart apples, caramel-like bourbon. Bliss!

The surprise ingredient in this drink is apple cider vinegar. I tiny splash of it adds brightness and contrast to the drink, preventing it from being overly sweet. But be careful: more than a hint of the vinegar and your drink will be too tart.

If you want to give it a little extra sparkle, you can garnish it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and a dried apple piece as pictured here. Simply mix together equal parts cinnamon and sugar (about 1/8 cup total) in a shallow bowl or plate; next dip the rim of your cup in water and then place it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Finally, slice a dried apple piece almost halfway through and perch on the side of your glass.

The drink, of course, tastes equally delicious without this fancy wrapping!

Ingredients:

dash of cinnamon

1.5 oz bourbon (I used Maker's Mark)

3 oz fresh apple cider

1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

ice

Prepare garnish on glass, if you want to make your cocktail hour an event. Then place a dash of cinnamon at the bottom of your empty glass. Combine the remaining ingredients in a shaker and shake until combined. Strain shaker over cocktail glass until empty. Enjoy! Serves one--so double the batch and drink it with a special friend while enjoying the fading autumn light for the evening.

On Hippie Baby Showers

September 27, 2014

It is a gathering of goodwill and love for the life about to enter this world. Although we are more likely to celebrate with burning sage and rose quartz for the mother-to-be than with balloons and baby games, we come ready, yoga hippies that we are, to shower this baby with good vibes.

We do not celebrate this new life in conventional ways, but merely--after our private yoga and meditation, no doubt--unite to pay tribute to this woman's right of passage in the old way--honoring the cycle of womanhood and using our collective energy to nurture mother and child.

Like fairy godmothers in a folk tale, we all gather round and offer gifts to this new creature: happiness, love, creativity, enjoyment--each gift sealed with the good intentions of the sender. They come in the shape of clothes and diapers and toys but are no less the embodiment of the life and grace this baby will have. Though she is not in this world yet, she will absorb the feminine conjuring around her and know, even before she left her mother's womb, that she is loved.

5 Things Hobbits Taught Me about Living the Good Life

September 26, 2014

Imagine my glee when I found out that it's Tolkien Week! My little nerd heart went pitter-patter at the thought of a whole week devoted to the awesomeness of Tolkien (although really, isn't every week Tolkien week?). Then I almost passed out when I found out that this past Monday, September 22, was Hobbit Day, in honor of Bilbo and Frodo's Birthday! What can I say? It's the little things in life that make this bookworm happy.

I did have a moment of chagrin, wondering how on (middle)earth I was just finding out about this yearly celebration of one of my favorite authors and book series of all time. Still, I felt like now was a good time to talk about all the things I've learned from my favorite creatures and kindred souls: hobbits.

Seriously, I grew up reading (and re-reading) these books, long before the movies (which I watched and re-watched) came out. These books shaped the hobbit I now am: from my love of good food and even better conversation, bare feet and wild adventures, comfortable homes and long walks...the list goes on and on. But for today, I'll settle for telling you the top five things I've learned about living the good life from hobbits!

1. A hobbit hole means comfort. It is not enough to have a place to sleep or stash your stuff. A home should always be a sanctuary filled with the things you love, a refuge from the world where you can nestle in your study and read a good book or head to the kitchen and always be sure of a good meal from your well-stocked larder.

2. It's always a good time for a meal. Life is not just about surviving. It's about enjoyment. So too with food; it is not just about gulping down nourishment, but an important ritual, a pause to savor and enjoy the bounty of your life. There is no better way to appreciate this than over a good meal with family and friends.

3. Barefoot is the best way to travel. I'm not even joking about this one. After having spent one summer in my youth walking around barefoot so I could develop hobbit feet, I've grown to love my shoe-less meanderings. Even though I was later glad that I never got those hairy leathery feet, I still can't wait to kick off my shoes (cute as they are) and feel my soles firmly planted on the earth.

4. Adventure will always find you...so enjoy it! The Baggins family aren't just about enjoying the richness of home--they've been known to have a taste for adventure too. I've learned to let life take me by surprise and enjoy unexpected journeys.

5. It's the small things that matter most. This is what my blog is all about. Our lives are built on simple pleasures, like smoking your pipe on your porch--drinking coffee in my case--or relishing the everyday magic that surrounds you. Sometimes the biggest adventure of all is living your everyday life with gusto!

On Descending into the Underworld

September 25, 2014

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, as the autumnal sun sets, bathing the earth in a honeyed glow, you begin to make your descent into the Underworld.

Not hell. Not Milton's proverbial nine layers, nor religion's antidote to heaven (it might be the final resting place of vice, but what a relief not to be perfect!). Nor is it Florence's Last Judgement safely nestled in the bosom of its canonical dome and foretelling the dangers of sin. Not hell nor any of these.

The Underworld. That quiet place which is not a place, both a cave below the earth and deep inside yourself. The still place. The silent place that you retreat into when the world gets too loud and you have been too long on its surface. Like Persephone, you make your yearly transition from the spring above to the winter below, feeding upon rich pomegranate seeds and turning away from external revelries to your inward gaze. You are bound to this cycle just as Persephone is to hers; you cannot change it any more than she can. The earth pulls you into its embrace, thick roots easing your passage into your deeper sense of being, sweeping away the debris of surface living.

It is there, there in the quiet and the shadows that you may meditate, contemplate the you that is you after casting off your worldly shell. You will navigate the dark--the shadows of the yet-to-be-revealed, the wisdom courted with your solitude. That secret you waiting to be heard. Like Persephone with those pomegranate seeds, you gobble up this underground knowledge one tiny morsel at a time, feeding the flame nestled within your ribcage. Feeding the you that goes beyond day in and day out, and exists in dreams, in caves, in the Underworld. Always waiting. Always ready to welcome you back to your roots and the rich earth from which you came.

On the Apple

September 24, 2014

The original forbidden fruit, at home with Eve and wicked queens, Aphrodite, and writers looking to sink their teeth into something. It is the promise of knowledge, desires slaked, immortality, and a full belly. And yet so unassuming.

What is it about this small lumpy fruit like the one perched on a stack of books at your desk, streaked with gold and red stripes, a fat nub sticking out of its top, that makes the world run mad after it? It is sweet, yes, and pleasant to bite into, with the satisfying crunch and smack of the lips as you make your way to its core.

But even now, as you stare at its hour-glass form--its full body a faint memory of teeth marks along its edges--you wonder at its ability to tempt us, to seduce us into grasping for things beyond our private Edens. And wonder still if it is wise to submit to that temptation, to look beyond this oasis of books and words and a delicious view of a tree in its autumnal glory outside your window.

You realize it then, what power the apple holds: wonder. The ability to make us want and wonder and dream beyond our own havens, to taste a little bit of life just outside your doorstep.

So, go ahead, you tell yourself as you turn from your words for the day. Be tempted.