monday moment of zen

“our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. we ask ourselves, 'who am i to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' actually, who are you not to be? you are a child of god. your playing small does not serve the world. there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. we were born to make manifest the glory of god that is within us. it's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. and when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. as we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

~ maryanne williamson 

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monday moment of zen

"when what you have studied leaves your mind entirely, and practice also disappears, then, when you perform whatever art you are engaged in, you accomplish the techniques easily without being inhibited by concern over what you have learned, and yet without deviating from what you have learned.  this is spontaneously conforming to learning without being consciously aware of doing so."

~ yagyu munenori

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4th annual tea trade

it's that time again.  the weather is starting to get a little cooler and i'm starting to think about all of the delicious tea that i'm going to be sipping on this fall & winter.

i can't believe that this is the 4th annual tea trade....  we've come a long way baby!!!  :)

last year we had 40+ women from all over the world (us, canada and europe).  our biggest year yet!!

if you joined us in previous years you know just how fun the tea trade is.  if you are not sure and want to talk to someone about the tea trade, leave me a comment below.  i will get you in touch with a past tea trader so they can give you their experience.

curious?  want to know more?  ready for more details??

how it works: 

• tea traders will send a sampling of 3 - 4 ounces (85 - 113 grams) to another participating tea trader. (most boxes of pre-bagged tea is usually between 1.8 -2 oz or 51 - 57 grams).  you can send loose tea or bagged tea or a combination of both.

• packages are also to include a little extra surprise.  i will be sending out questionnaires to all of the tea traders so that you will get to know your tea trader a little bit better.  please don't spend more than $10 on a little something extra.  some examples of a little extra surprise include:  a small jar of local honey, a bar of some fancy chocolate, your favorite magazine, a paperback book, something you've handmade if you are crafty, a little trinket, etc.

• to participate you must be willing to ship your package internationally. (this typically costs a little extra but trust me, if you are one of the lucky ones who gets a tea package from the uk, france, slovenia, etc you will thank your lucky stars!!) 

•  to participate you must be willing have your information shared with your tea trader.  what i mean by this is that i will be connecting you with your tea trader via email.  that way you can find out if their package was received and if you wish make more of a personal connection (i.e.  friends on facebook, email pals, etc) you can.

• please note:  you are responsible for your package getting to your tea trader.  i recommend delivery confirmation.  if your tea trader doesn't get their package you must send them another one.

more details:

• if you agree to the above terms & wish to join the 4th annual tea trade, please send an email to melitamollohan@gmail.com with the subject line "tea trade." in the body of the email please share your address. i will then match up people round robin style and give you a name and address of where to send your teas packages. all of your personal information will be kept strictly confidential (i will only be sharing your mailing information with your tea trader and no one else!!)  if you feel more comfortable providing your work address rather than personal that is totally fine. also, if you do not wish to provide your name please make sure you let me know in the email and who ever will be sending your tea package will label the envelope "tea trade" and your address.

• special prize:  i will award a special prize to one lucky tea trader. winner will be chosen at random. special prize will be announced at a later date. 

due date: please email me your information by saturday, september 15th at 11:59pm est so that we can start tea trading at the beginning of october! 

i've extended the deadline to THIS SATURDAY, SEPT 22ND AT 11:59PM EST.  so tell your friends they can still join!!!

questions??  leave me a comment below.  i'm happy to answer any questions you have about the tea trade.

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monday moment of zen

"a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle."

~ erin majors

 

image credit:  me from my candlelight yin yoga class last night

basil syrup

basil syrup

basil is a summer time favorite.  pesto for pastas, tomato sauces, salad mixes, caprese salads, lovely additions to the flower or herb beds are just a few examples as to why we love basil.

but did you know that basil is a natural anti-inflammatory as well as antibacterial, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, and antispasmodic, medicinally speaking. 

basil has an amazingly long list of ways it can help heal the body including:  

• keeps digestion running smoothly
• keeps the immune system healthy
• kidney strengthener 
• anti-stress agent
• insect bites
• mouth infections
• asthma
• bronchitis
• the common cold & the flu
• headache relief
• children's complaints such as colds, coughs, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting
• reduces cholesterol
• calms your nerves
•  plus many, many more things

 and if i haven't sung basil's praises enough, it also includes has vitamins A, C, and K as well as folate, calcium, choline, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, and sodium.

so eat some basil already will ya?!?!  :)

here's the basil syrup recipe i made today that can be used drizzled over ice cream, fresh fruits, berries, or just give your kids a tablespoon when that sore throat hits or that cough won't go away.

gather these ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh basil or 1/4 cup dried basil
1 cup water
1 cup raw sugar

step 1:

put the basil and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then turn off the heat and let steep for 10 minutes (or longer if you want it a bit stronger)

step 2:

strain off the liquid (keep this) and discard (aka compost) the basil. 

step 3:

put the basil liquid (basil tea at this point :) ) back in the saucepan and add the sugar, stir together until the sugar melts.  bring back to a boil and boil for 5-7 minutes (be sure to stir often during this process).  turn off the heat and let the basil syrup cool.

step 4:

after the basil syrup has cooled, put it in the sealed container of your choice.  label it with the date as it will keep in the fridge for about 2 months.


easy peasy and soooo delicious!!  enjoy!!

 

monday moment of zen

"when you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others."

~ peace pilgrim

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