Lavender Biscuits

"Mommy. I want biscuits!" It was my four year old. Crouched by the top of my head, hovering over me as I lay in bed.

Ugh...Not again! 

The day before I had made biscuits for breakfast and two days before that and a week before that. I was over it.

"Mommy! I want to help you make biscuits!"

That four year old again. This time, he had his arms around my neck in what I could only interpret as a hug.

Slowly my eyes opened. I nodded and mumbled some sort of agreement and before I knew it, I was up, making my way groggily down the hallway to make biscuits.

FYI- It was 6:15 am on a Sunday (the joys of motherhood!)

I went through the customary motions, pulled out my ingredients and bowls. Preheated the oven.

Then I paused. I looked around. I was waking up. My juices started glowing. I got creative.

If I was going to make biscuits, then I was going to reinvent my standard go-to.

Looking in the fridge, we had left over shredded cheddar cheese. I placed it on the counter.

I opened my spice drawer and the smell of lavender hit me. I had just purchased a bag of lavender buds the other day, they'd be perfect.

Coffee in hand, four year old ironically not in sight, I set to creating.

The result was fabulous!

I'm still patting myself on the back.

I made, lavender flavored savory cheddar cheese infused drop biscuits. The delicate balance of sweet (date sugar) and salty/savory (cheddar cheese) melded beautifully. The biscuit dough (with the inclusion of almond flour) was light and fluffy.

I added flax seed and used coconut oil for a heart healthy, omega 3 twist.

The hubby, the four year old, the one year old, were all enraptured.

Sojourner, the biscuit making mad lady had done it again!

Here's what I did-

I took:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup almond flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons date sugar

2 tablespoons ground flax

2 tablespoons ground lavender

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup cheddar cheese (shredded)

Here's what to do:

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees. Place your rack in the middle for an even heat.

In a coffee grinder, grind the flax seed and lavender buds. Set the mixture aside in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, combine your flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, salt and flax/lavender mixture.

Melt your coconut oil until it has formed a pliable liquid consistency. Stir until crumbly.

Add the cold buttermilk and cheddar cheese and stir until a smooth texture is accomplished.

Prepare an oiled baking sheet. Scoop about a tablespoon of dough onto your sheet for each biscuit. You want to create enough space for your dough to expand and rise (about an inch all around).

Cook for ten minutes or until golden brown.

You will yield about a dozen.

These are amazing!

You'll win friends, lovers, minions with these bad boys.

I hope you're prepared for what is about to happen!

These biscuits pair perfectly with honey butter and lavender jam.

Another option- slice your biscuit in half and place a fried egg, bacon (if you like it), cheddar cheese and an avocado inside. You'll be in breakfast sandwich heaven!

Banana Almond Butter Muffins

I bought a bunch of bananas at the beginning of last week. As these things tend to go, I set them on display on my kitchen table, used them as paper weights, cut a few in thin slices and attempted to coax my one year old to eat. Eventually, as these things also tend to go, I had a bunch of very ripe bananas. They were beginning to attract fruit flies. I needed to do something- FAST!

On their own, I really am not a fan of bananas. My four year old used to be, but then he changed his mind, a fact I always seem to forget when I go to the grocery store and buy a bunch out of habit. My one year old, who won't eat anything, is certainly not about to start with bananas. My husband pretends to like them, then passes them over for something less healthy.

It has become a problem, the cycle, the bananas, until now...

Though I dislike bananas as they are, I love banana flavored baked goods. I love the rich flavor combination of bananas and nut butters. I love my latest concoction- Banana Almond Butter Muffins!

Healthy, full of protein, fiber and minerals, these muffins are a great way to start the day or get a post lunch pick-me-up.

Low glycemic due to my use of coconut palm sugar and heart healthy due to the almonds and coconut oil, these muffins are a light (the addition of almond flour takes away from the heaviness), guilt free, delicious choice (as far as muffins go that is...).

Want to know what I did?

Here's what you'll need:

1 cup all-purpose flour 1/3 cup almond flour 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 tablespoons chia 1/3 cup coconut oil 2/3 cup coconut palm sugar 2 eggs 2 large mashed very ripe bananas 1/2 cup soft almond butter 1/2 cup walnuts

Here's what to do:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients minus the sugar (all-purpose flour, almond flour, salt, chia, baking soda and baking powder). Almond flour tends to clump, a sieve may work well when trying to distribute it evenly. Whichever method you choose, make sure your dry ingredients combine uniformly.

In a smaller bowl, lightly beat your eggs then add the coconut palm sugar. Mix together then add the coconut oil and almond butter. Mash and mix in the bananas followed by the walnuts. Combine these ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

Add you wet ingredients to your dry ingredient bowl and mix together. Once your batter is smooth and lump free, you're ready for the final step.

Either grease your muffin tins with coconut oil or use cupcake inserts. Fill each hole 3/4 of the way full with the batter.

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Cool before releasing your muffins.

Enjoy as they are or slather on some almond butter. They also taste great with honey butter or jam!

Makes about a dozen!

Looking for Indian Food in Washington, D.C.? Look No Further Than Rasoi Indian Kitchen

It's no secret that I love to cook. My husband Mark and I spend a lot of time in the kitchen creating meals. We don't tend to shy away from many things. There was that time we roasted a rabbit , there was the great flambé experiment of 2012 (not my finest moment in the kitchen), and that one time we came home with a paper bag full of angry wriggling lobsters.

But sometimes things are best left to the professionals (ahem- flambe). As much as I adore being barefoot in the kitchen, I equally adore wearing earrings and dining out.

When it comes to the aromatic, layered flavors of good Indian food, I prefer to eat out.

Indian food is a family favorite. In New York, we had our go to spots and now here in D.C. we have found a spot as well.

Looking for Indian Food in Washington, D.C.? Look No Further Than Rasoi Indian Kitchen!

Our food came out plated to perfection in lovely little dish sets. The flavors were all distinct and amazing! Aside from needing to order more rice, the serving size was perfect.

Rasoi is decorated beautifully and provides the perfect elegantly casual backdrop for a delicious meal.

We'll be back!

Here's how you can get there too.

Rasoi Indian Kitchen International Square 1810 K St.NW Washington, DC

Let me know what you think! Do you have a favorite restaurant in DC?

Engage Your Inner Child and Your Children Too At The National Building Museum!

Engage Your Inner Child and Your Children Too At The National Building Museum!

The National Building Museum is America's leading cultural institution devoted to building and design. We tell the stories of architecture, engineering, and construction to visitors from around the world.

Your first aha! moment will most likely come when you enter the lobby, look up at the ornate circular rotunda- the columns, stained glass, the way golden orbs of light cascade downwards wrapping you in an ethereal halo- hello world...

The second aha! will most likely come when you enter the Play Work Build room. A large blue foam Lego-like building world. Surrounded by children of all ages and stages and their unabashedly enthusiastic adults, it's where dreams are realized and innovation unleashed. In the great building dance your toddler transforms into an engineer, your kindergartener into a great inventor. Side by side creations are envisioned, constructed, destroyed, re-built, renovated, expanded upon, demolished- and on and on (the dance is never truly done).

Before you know it, hours have passed, you realize you're hungry, you can't account for the time.

The building room knows no time.

If you've got crawlers, waddlers, curious elementary aged students, inventive middle schoolers or if you've always had a sneaky suspicion a career in engineering or architecture was supposed to be your track, head to the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

The National Building Museum is a place for curious minds to meet. They host family programs, adult programs, hands on and not so hands on exhibits.

The museum is a wonderful place for children and adults to build, create, problem solve and work collaboratively- an educator or homeschooling parents dream!

Did you know that playing with blocks is essential to early development ? Studies show that children who play with blocks reap cognitive benefits that will help them with math and science later on. Block play can help with social emotional development teaching patience, problem solving, cause and effect and sharing.

Um, can I hear a hip-hip-hooray for good old fashioned play!!!!

But you don't have to be a toddler to enjoy the museum. I can not tell you how relaxing and zen it is to build. It's a complete mental reset. Like a Buddhist sand painting, you create this work of staggering genius and then you knock it down. If adult building is too crunchy granola for you, there are tons of exhibits curated specially for adults. I liked House and Home- a journey through beautiful timeless homes through the ages. If you love architecture or HGTV, you'll be smitten!

The next time you're in D.C. either with friends, for work or with family, you've got to check out the National Building Museum at (401 F Street NW)!

Have you been to the National Building Museum? What did you think?

Relish this Foolproof Panna Cotta Recipe This Christmas at Family Gatherings

Relish this Foolproof Panna Cotta Recipe This Christmas at Family Gatherings! Believe it or not, winter is right around the corner!

With the season of joy soon arriving, it’s time for you to bring your culinary skills to the forefront and try something innovative for your friends and family.

Of course, plum cake, brownies and desserts galore are predictable standards, but when near and dear ones come calling, treating them to something beyond ordinary should be your aim.

Something that is delicious and light, creamy and flavorful, like the perfect Panna Cotta!

Pair the dish with topings of your choice and bring on the Christmas charm this year like never before.

With this Panna Cotta, you’ll be sure to wish everyone a JOYFUL CHRISTMAS!

Ingredients:

• Half a cup black raisins and assorted dry fruits
• Four tablespoons of rum
• A couple of gelatin sheets
• A litre and a half of cream
• 100gms caster sugar
• A teaspoon each of allspice, ginger, cinnamon powders
• A pinch of the heavenly nutmeg powder for taste

Directions:

Place all the dry fruits in a bowl and add to this the four tablespoons of rum. Cover and let it set for half an hour.

The gelatine sheets should be pre-soaked in a bowl of water (colder the better), until the sheets are soft. Drain the excess water from the sheets with your bare hands and give it a good squeeze.

Take a deep pan and heat the spices, cream and the caster sugar to a boil.

Reduce the flame and simmer for three minutes, keeping a watch on the sugar that needs to dissolve.

Get it off the flame and remove the mix from the pan.

Whisk the mixture and place the gelatine sheets into the mix, allowing it to naturally dissolve.

Add the rum-soaked-dry fruits and give it a good but gentle mix for ten seconds.

Place the mix into deep containers and allow it to sit in the freezer for an hour or until you see it set.

When you wish to serve the dish, dip the container into warm water for the ends to loosen up within and turn the dish upside down on a flat surface.

Garnish with chocolate sauce or dry fruits, and serve!

This classy winter delicacy will be the talk of the town as you conjure magic and love in Panna Cotta!

Should you be thinking of how to serve this heart-soothing delicacy, we suggest you explore a wide variety of exquisite serving pieces, artistic three-tier cupcake stands and yummy cake dome and pedestal servers at Horchow.com.

Want some extra savings to be reflected in your checkout while you shop online? You should not wait a single minute and buy some top coupons and promo codes at Horchow today.

Pose yourself as a serious dessert connoisseur by serving your delicate delicacies in high-end luxury serving plates, all while enjoying incredible savings and bidding goodbye to overspending!

A Delicious Low Glycemic, All Natural Chocolate Milk Syrup Your Kids Will Love!

A Delicious Low Glycemic, All Natural Chocolate Milk Syrup Your Kids Will Love!

Like most four-year-olds, my son loves chocolate milk. LOVES!

For breakfast, with dinner, whenever we go out, he wants one beverage- chocolate milk.

Now, many people would say, what's the problem, he's drinking milk, let him enjoy- but all of that sugar, artificial flavoring, the artificial colors and carrageenan adds up. Think toxic sludge in the digestive tract- not so yummy, eh...

So, I've come up with a solution- a genius solution!

This one has been husband tested, tested on my kids, my friend's kids- it's golden!

This will not only satisfy your kiddos and their chocolate milk cravings, but can be used to make hot chocolate or double as fudge syrup- sky is the limit!

It's so easy to make. Trust me when I say this one is a game changer!

Here's what you'll need:

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

4 tablespoons pure maple syrup (do not even think about using Aunt Jemima! 100% pure grade A or B please!)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract ( or almond or peppermint depending on your mood!)

*a dash of cinnamon and cayenne pepper if your feeling feisty!

Here's what to do:

You'll need a container that holds about 4 ounces.

Add your ingredients, mix with a spoon and stir until uniform. I told you it was easy!

Add one to two teaspoons to your desired form of milk and voila!

HEAVEN......

*note: If you opted for the cayenne pepper, you've got yourself one heart healthy beverage (dark chocolate = antioxidants and cayenne pepper= increased circulation and low inflammation)!

What you don't use can be stored in your jar for the next time. Since there are no preservatives, you mixture shouldn't stand unused for more than a month!

The National Harbor, the Perfect Prescription for a Country Mouse in Need of a Bit of City!

The National Harbor, the Perfect Prescription for a Country Mouse in Need of a Bit of City!

Now that I live in the country, in a brick house deep in the woods where my nearest neighbors are a family of white tailed deer and the tiny red fox who lives beneath the hollowed out maple, I definitely delight in regular field trips to bustling places.

It's nice to retreat and be a country mouse, but I still have my city mouse sensibilities.

It's all about balance!

Luckily, we've got a ton of options:

D.C. is 30 minutes away

Alexandria 20

Baltimore 45

Annapolis an hour...

but the National Harbor, that shinning aquatic gem, is a quick 15-20 minutes.

The National Harbor, in Maryland, is one of my favorite quick weekend, I need to be around people excursions.

In addition to cute shops, great restaurants and public park space with scenic nautical views, the National Harbor offers a variety of rotating events from outdoor yoga to movie nights and live music.

Sidewalk cafe's and benches are ubiquitous. It's a fabulous neighbor meet neighbor, coming together of people place.

On Saturday and Sunday, you'll find a farmer's market with local seasonal goodies.

The Harbor is a great place to bring kids as there are plenty of activities for them to enjoy, from this man made beach to a carousel, paddle boats and a toddler playground.

Sail boats, water taxis and mini cruises leave from the harbor.

The Harbor is also home to a giant Ferris Wheel.

Relatively new, we went up for the first time. The line was long but moved quicker than expected. The view was okay, nothing particularly astounding, but it was a nice little adventure.

The boys had a good time and I got to sip coffee outside and mingle. It was a good day!

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit D.C. Too! Setting Up Shop In A New City

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit D.C. Too! Setting Up Shop In A New City One of my favorite things about being in a new space is the fact that everything, at least, for a little while is brand new- exciting!

A month ago, we left Brooklyn to live in a rural, forested section of Maryland.

I love it! The rustle of leaves in the wind, the way sunlight cascades over the hill out back, the deer that greet us on our front lawn every morning, the poetry of crickets at night, being connected at all times to nature!

Acres for the boys to run around on and explore.

I do miss some things about being a city person though- the neighbors, sidewalk cafes, coffee shops, wine bars, brunch, strolling by rows of historic brownstones, the culture!

Luckily, though we are far out, we're not too far.

Washington D.C., my new adopted city is a quick 30 minute drive or metro ride.

Smaller, cleaner, quieter, friendlier than my former love New York, D.C. provides us with just the right balance of community, culture, and culinary delights.

This weekend, we poked around. We had brunch, attended an event, got lost and ate a lot!

It was lovely!

As I explore, I will photograph my neighborhood walks in a series of upcoming posts.

As for now, I'll continue to design my chicken coop and rabbit cages and set up my raised beds.

Country life is definitely the life for me, but a city break every now and then is also what I need.

Are you a city mouse or a country mouse?

Paris in 24 Hours: A Photo Essay

This is a mini-guest photo post by Mark Williams, who is currently touring Europe with DJ Premiere. Mark can be found in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stones.  

Paris is always a good idea- Audrey Hepburn

  

   May the spirit of the city of lights be with you!

Satisfy Your Craving for Soda without Sugar and Artificial Ingredients with Kaya Water

Satisfy Your Craving for Soda without  Sugar and Artificial Ingredients with Kaya Water! One of the hardest things about being a mom, is getting my four year old to consume enough fluids.

He doesn't like water, is not really a fan of milk, can occasionally be convinced to drink tea if I've drenched it in honey and wants nothing to do with my apple cider vinegar alkaline morning drink.

Ohm loves soda and fruit juice. His exposure to both have been very limited, but that's all it takes for the damage to be done, this is why I'm so grateful for Kaya Water!

Kaya Water, a new line of sparkling, flavored waters is both delicious and nutritive. Inspired by the balancing tenants of Ayurvedic wisdom, Kaya water contains no preservatives, no sucralose or high fructose corn syrup, is non-GMO, low glycemic and caffeine free.

Kaya Water is sweetened simply and deliciously with organic agave nectar and stevia extract. In fact, when you look under the ingredients, you should be relieved to know you'll be able to identify and pronounce everything listed.

Kaya Water is available in three delicious flavors: Pomberry (pomegranate and blueberry), Lemon Lime, and Tropical (pineapple, mango- this is my favorite!)

Created by a local New York husband and wife team, Kaya water is derived from the very first principle of Ayurvedic medicine, kaya-chikitsa, the study of internal medicine that deals with cleansing and purification was developed with a goal of having a healthy drink that is as tasty as soda.

This is a beverage you can let your kids drink and enjoy (they don't need to know it's all natural).

It's a beverage that you can indulge in, guilt free (there are only 45 calories per bottle- yay agave!).

At $1.99 a bottle, Kaya Water is affordable and makes for a wonderful soda alternative.

You can find Kaya Water online at www.kayabev.com or at GNC and other select retailers.

A Small Good Thing is Proof that Dharma Matters!

A Small Good Thing Is Proof that Dharma Matters! Are you fulfilled, on the path to following your passions  and dharma? Or are you, like many, going through the motions to consume more and more?

I have been many things in my 36 years: an actress, a writer, a teacher, a yogi, an international aid worker, a healer, a nonprofit administrator.

I've existed blissfully outside the box and I've been caught in the cycle of go- go- go! achieve as much and as fast as possible.

Young, ambitious, and in my early twenties, I went directly from my undergraduate work to pursuing graduate work and full time employment. At 25, I had two masters degrees, a continuing education advanced certificate, was a master teacher who led workshops and trainings, wrote curriculum, taught classes after school while trying to write and act on the side and was working towards major burnout.

By my early 30's, I'd had enough. Teaching was practical and stable, it was rewarding and I was moving up the ranks quickly, but I was miserable. Though effective and talented as a teacher, I wasn't living my dharma. The things that nourished me, I had squeezed into vacations and weekends- it wasn't enough.

It wasn't until a brief stint on a commune in the Berkshires and several stints abroad where I had the benefit of solitude, nature and the ability to experience things that shook my foundation, that I had the courage to live the life I was intended to live, a life that thrills me and inspires me to no end. However shaky or unpractical, writing, having a holistic wellness private practice, teaching yoga and making handmade organic lotions may be, it is what suits me. I'm still as driven and ambitious as ever, only this time my work is on my terms. It fulfills me and I am able to provide an invaluable service to my community. The money comes and goes, but my happiness, my engagement, my sense of purpose, drive and fulfillment are satiated. I'm so happy! I'm aligned with my dharma.

I think that's why the documentary film A Small Good Thing resonated so deeply.

How can we as individuals, as a greater society, live in a better way? Everyone has a different path, a unique Dharma, but there are common threads amongst “happy people.” Winchester, MA resident and Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Pamela Tanner Boll explores these questions in her new documentary film, A Small Good Thing, screening at the Nextdoor Theater on September 11, 2015.

Following  six people in Western Massachusetts, as they commit themselves to a path of dharma and happiness instead of the practical or socially expected  path, A Small Good Thing encourages us to reflect on the purpose of our chosen work, on community and on what it means to be happy.

Does Dharma matter?

This feature-length film, which recently won Best Documentary at the Boston International Film Festival, centers on a more holistic concept of well-being − one based on a close connection to oneself, the natural world, and to the greater good.

Inspiring, beautifully spun, and thought provoking A Small Good Thing examines what it means to follow your true path on both a personal and societal level.

“A Small Good Thing does not pretend to have all the answers,” says Boll. “However, the film asks whether we can change our larger goals as a nation and learn from the rest of the world about the small truths that are the sources of human happiness. I’m so happy to be bringing the film to my hometown of Winchester for two screenings.”

Blogging is one of those things that doesn't always pay well, but the opportunities that it affords me are invaluable. One such opportunity was the ability to screen this phenomenal and inspiring film.

A Small Good Thing will screen at 6:30 PM & 8:30 PM at Fall For the Arts on Friday, September 11, at the Nextdoor Theater, 40 Cross Street Winchester, MA. Admission is free.

If you're not in MA, worry not, in the Fall of 2015 there will be several screenings in Boston, New York, and San Francisco!

Keep your eyes on your Dharma and keep your eyes open for this truly inspiring documentary!

Are you following your passion? If not, what do you wish you were doing and what can you do to get there?

2 Ingenious Ways to Maintain Optimal Health While Traveling!

Note: I received a shipment of ambronite in exchange for a review. I must tell you that I loved it. All opinions stated in this post are absolutely mine. My integrity as a holistic nutritionist is of utmost importance to me. I will never endorse a product on this blog that I have not used myself for a period of time and researched thoroughly.

2 Ingenious Ways to Maintain Optimal Health While Traveling!

I think most people would agree with the old adage that health is wealth.

Good health affords us the ability to live our best lives, to follow our passions and dreams. When longevity and quality of life are maintained an internal spring of immeasurable wealth is attained.

If you're a traveler, I don't need to tell you how important being healthy and feeling good on the road is.

With limited time to see, experience and do everything, you don't want to spend a single moment sick or feeling depleted.

Travel can be exhausting, anxiety inducing, difficult on our digestion. With the addition of introducing new foods and or climates to the body or grabbing greasy fried snacks on the go, many people don't feel their best on the road.

I could say, eat a balanced diet and wash your hands while you travel, but for those of us who have traveled along roads less traveled, especially in the developing world, you know that immune boosting balanced meals may not be available neither may running water.

Even if you are traveling along well trodden and highly developed roads, you may not be in a position to grab healthy nutritive food and maintain the good habits you have at home. We all know how easy it is to go to the drive through while on a road trip or to eat a bunch of starchy junk food while traveling. Or maybe the objective of your trip is to taste all the best barbeque south of South Carolina.

With the two products that I'm going to share with you. You can take back your nutrition and ensure that you've got at the very least, 30+ full servings of whole fruits and vegetables and enough protein to boost your energy and avoid feeling drained- even if you're jet-lagged.

2 Ingenious Ways to Maintain Optimal Health While Traveling!

1) Juice Plus+

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If you ask me, Juice Plus+ is an ingenious staple that everyone should have on their kitchen counters or in their traveling bags.

Simply put, Juice Plus+ is 30 DIFFERENT WHOLE FOODS IN A CAPSULE or CHEWABLE!

How is this possible? Well, to make Juice Plus+, chemical free, non-gmo fruits and vegetables are fully ripened (just like the garden), crushed (in their whole form, seeds, peels, etc.), dehydrated and cold dried (so nutrition stays alive). The concentrated powders are then put into a capsule or vegan chewable- ta da!

The result is a full serving of a variety of fruits, berries and vegetables for assured balanced nutrition.

This is not a replacement for the real thing but instead a simple and clinically proven way to bridge the gap between what we DO eat and what we SHOULD be eating.

For travelers, this means improved immune systems, sustained energy, optimal circulation (reduced chance of blood clots for those who have traveled long hours by plane, train or car), and many, many other benefits.

I wish I knew about Juice Plus+ when I was working and volunteering in Ghana, Thailand and Mozambique where I didn't have access to complete balanced nutrition and got sick a lot!

2) Ambronite

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAQCQXevV_0[/youtube]

Ambronite, despite it's funny name is simply fantastic!

It's an organic, all-natural, non-gmo, and gluten free drinkable supermeal.

With one serving of ambronite, you literally get an entire days worth of nutrition- it's ingenious!

There is absolutely nothing artificial in ambronite. Unlike most traditional protein powders made from chemicals in a lab, ambronite literally has the following ingredients (all of which are organic): oats, almonds, brown rice, coconut, apple, lucuma, flax, stinging nettle leaf, nutritional yeast, bilberry, black currant, mineral salt, chlorella, spirulina, brazil nut, spinach and sea-buckthorn berry.

It comes in easy to pack, difficult to puncture pouches that need to be mixed with pure water, shaken and voila!

Ambronite has a nutty taste, it's like drinking an almond milk smoothie with oats. It's very pleasant, quite thick and extremely satisfying.

This is great for car trips or long flights when you know you'll have few good quality food options and want to feel full.

Ambronite is also great for adventure travel, if you know you're going to have a full day of kayaking or hiking or even museum visiting for that matter. It just makes so much sense.

Traveling with both Juice Plus+ and Ambronite is a way to ensure optimal health, nutrition and vitality while enjoying a new space and adventure.

These two products are quick and easy ways to ensure balanced nutrition and don't need to be limited exclusively to your travels.

Very rarely do I endorse nutritional supplements and products on this blog, but I love and use both of these products and it would be selfish of me to keep it to myself.

Summer is winding down, but it's not over yet. Be a go-getter and do something this week, you've been wanting to do!

Be adventurous.

Be curious.

And most importantly, BE WELL!

Postcards from God

The sidewalks are littered with postcards from God.-Walt Whitman

      New York may be loud, it may be crazy, but in the chaos, it's easy to see the divine in the everyday!

A New Ben's Chili Bowl, A Bit of Go-Go, and A Whole Lot of D.C. Soul!

A New Ben's Chili Bowl, A Bit of Go-Go, and A Whole Lot of D.C. Soul!

Go-go, so named because the music just goes and goes, is a love child of the blues, funk, salsa, gospel, and soul that emerged in the '70s- Abdul Ali in How Washington, D.C. ,Turned its Back on Go-Go, the Music It Invented

Go-Go music is quintessentially D.C.!

It tells the story of a vibrant and resilient people. It carries hope drenched in raw, at times raunchy humor. It's syncopated soliloquies and tribal beats stir within the most conservative among us, a primal urge to dance.

Go-Go is a D.C. cultural mainstay that speaks to the soul.

Another cultural mainstay, dating back to 1958, is Ben's Chilli Bowl. A D.C. local favorite, Ben's Chili Bowl speaks through the stomach to the soul.

It makes sense then, that one complimented the other during the highly anticipated grand opening of the second H Street location of this classic D.C. eatery.

Loved by locals.

Visited by presidents and dignitaries, tourists and celebrities.

Featured on the travel channel: Man Versus Food, No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, and Bizarre Foods America, Ben's Chilli Bowl has been delighting palettes for generations.

A form of R&B founded in D.C. by Chuck Brown with roots in Africa -call and response, congas. It has jazz improvisation, it utilizes arrangements, it's instrumental, it reminds me of a drum circle, it's tribal at its core. - Mark Williams, Former Trombonist with Chuck Brown

We found our way, to the grand opening of the second Ben's Chili Bowl on H street by way of my husband Mark, a former D.C. resident and trombonist with the late but legendary Chuck Brown.

The afternoon was blazing. The sky broke apart into an abyss of blinding white light which cascaded acutely off of any and every metal surface. The pavement was so hot it was sticky. The notoriously humid D.C. air was almost drinkable, but somehow it didn't matter,  a crowd was gathering. A crowd that was growing by the minute.

Out the door of the new Ben's Chili Bowl, a line, snaked for a block and a half. In front of the bandstand, revelers gathered, dancing despite the heat, despite the sweat, to the intoxicating rythms of the Chuck Brown Tribute Band.

I wanted to run for shade, (eventually I did, sneaking into the pristine new Ben's Chilli Bowl before the rest of the public was let in- we were the first to be served!) but I found myself dancing, my one year old bouncing joyously in his carrier, my three year old bending his knees, swaying his hips to the rythms.

To the left of me, secret servicemen ushered the mayor and senators through the crowd. To the right, people of every age, race and social economic demographic effectively broke it down to the music.

For decades, the D.C. community has rallied behind Ben's Chili Bowl, it survived the race riots of the 60's, like a giant oak, it has stood the test of time.

They say it's the chili- soulful, spicy, sweet.

Some swear it's all about the chili bowl half smoke.

Whatever your flavor, whatever your fashion, Ben's is simple, sloppy, soulful, stick to your ribs food. They even have turkey options for those who don't eat red meat.

Since we ducked into the restaurant early, before the public was allowed in, to escape the heat, we were among the first to be served. Ohm even made it on the evening news as he sampled some chili fries.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29498700/bens-chili-bowl

No visit to Washington, D.C., is complete without a visit to Ben's Chili Bowl and while you're there, find some Go-Go music to listen to. It's just as unique to D.C. as Brass Band is to New Orleans, though much less popular across the country which means, it's kind of like a well kept secret, one you need to discover for yourself.

Coney Island is a Great Place for Family Fun!

Coney Island is a Great Place for Family Fun!

Enter, the infamous Cony Island-

It's overstimulating, yet surprisingly compact.

It has cleaned up its act, yet it's still a bit gritty.

Coney Island is many things- it's loud, it's fun, it's classic, it's busy and it's a great place for a good old fashioned family outing.

Honest Note: I don't suggest swimming in the water. I mean, people do (and I guess some of those people are still around to talk about it ?!?), but...er....it's kind of gross.

But Coney Island has her virtues. If you've got children, the fun park is small, the lines are short, the rides are charming and a good time will be had.

The short boardwalk offers the best of quick carnival fun, from funnel cakes, to the famed Nathan's to performers wearing snakes or dancing on stilts.

The beach (again, reference the above note)...well, it's lovely to look at from the boardwalk and it's fantastic for toe dipping. Swim at your own discretion, but either way, the sea breeze from the ocean is blissfully cooling especially in the midst of the notoriously humid New York summer.

Coney Island is not that tranquil beach escape you've been waiting all year to take, it is however, a well spent, two or three hours of bustling seaside fun.

It's definitely an ideal destination for families and multi-generational travelers.

And if you're lucky, if you stay long enough, you may get the pleasure of catching a display like this!

The Brooklyn Children's Museum Celebrates Caribbean Culture with a Festive Family Extravaganza!

The Brooklyn Children's Museum Celebrates Caribbean Culture with a Festive Family Extravaganza!

Disclaimer: I was given complementary passes to write this review. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own and are reflective of my honest impressions.

Warning: This post contains pictures and videos of the most adorable Brooklyn tots ever. Seriously, EVER! If after this post you decide to expand your family, please don't hold me accountable!

Last Saturday, my two little Wild Things and I were invited to the Brooklyn Children's Museum's- Celebrate the Caribbean Islands Day!

The Brooklyn Children's Museum regularly hosts events for children and families throughout the year and this was one of them in honor of Caribbean Heritage Month.

In past posts, I've raved about how fortunate I am to have this amazing resource within walking distance, but let me take a moment again to say that the Brooklyn Children's Museum makes me so happy. As a parent, being able to take my little ones to one place where I know they can run, interact, learn, explore and play is just magic. The Brooklyn Children's Museum inspires imaginative creative play which I love! Without video games and flashing lights, my children are fully engaged and learning for hours.

Okay, back to Celebrate the Caribbean Islands Day!

The day was so fun!

There were cultural performances and educational workshops such as:

Totally Tots Studio: Where children learned about wearable art made for Carnival season and were able to make their own masks.

Touch Tank: Caribbean Seas: In this interactive workshop, children learned about underwater animals in the Caribbean Sea.

Family Art Lab: Moko Jumbie: Here were learned the story of Moko Jumbie, a stilt walking tradition that traveled from Africa to the Caribbean. Children had the opportunity to dance on can-stilts to fun Caribbean beats.

Nature Explorers: Three Little Birds: In the greenhouse, we listened to Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds," and learned to identify three different local birds in Brooklyn.

Something Positive INC Performance: A multi-media performance that blended poetry, storytelling, theater, music and dance dedicated to the art and culture of the African Diaspora.

Father Goose: King of the Dance Party: Jamaican born entertainer Rankin Don performed as "Father Goose" in the most exciting nursery sing-along I've ever participated in. Every tot was up and dancing!!!

Animal Adventure: Caribbean Critters: Children learned about the reptiles that live in Caribbean countries and had the opportunity to pet and interact with them.

And now for some video footage- I hope you're ready!

[youtube]http://youtu.be/ks2L9h45FHs[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/qxMHHDyK7Xo[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/H65RgI8vsgk[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/pPc9lq_77ck[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/8sZkHQlwGll[/youtube]

[youtube]http://youtu.be/l_UCbkiQCfY[/youtube]

It was a long day in the hot sun, but we left energized and excited.

The Brooklyn Children's Museum hosted an incredible event that my three year old is still talking about!

If you have children, no trip to Brooklyn or New York City is complete without a visit to the Brooklyn Children's Museum! You will be so glad that you did.

4 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Summer Day Trip

4 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Summer Day Trip This is has been a busy summer for us. We're in the middle of a pretty epic move (saying goodbye to NYC is never easy!), Mark has been touring non-stop, my private practice has picked up (yay!) leading to a very busy summer.

Originally, we had intended to take a big trip, but with everything going on, that has to be pushed back until the fall. Instead, we've gone on a series of mini-trips (overnights and weekends) that have left us rejuvenated and feeling summery.

When taking mini-trips. it's easy to do something predictable and safe, but you can get so much more out of a quick trip if you throw in a new or exciting experience or two. It makes all the difference. Your mini adventures instantly go from- "that was nice!" to "SOOOO AWESOME!"

If you're ready to make the most out your your mini break, here are 4 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Summer Day Trip:

1) Seek out an experience you can't find where you live!

Don't just remove yourself from your environment, seek out unique experiences you don't have access to at home.

If you call the city home, head to the country or to the ocean, but don't stop there, do something you can't do while at home in the city. This is the key to a truly memorable experience.

On a recent trip upstate to Westchester to visit some friends for a relaxing pool side barbeque, we stopped to visit a horse farm. It was so lovely to interact with horses up close. We hardly ever get to see horses in Brooklyn. Even though we only spent an hour or so with the horses, it added a wonderful memorable layer to our day trip.

2) Interact with nature in a way you can't at home!

We live in Northern Brooklyn and are lucky enough to have access to parks and beautiful green spaces. Whereas we see plenty of green, we don't see mountain vistas or hear the lull of waves. When I plan day trips, I make sure to leave space to experience the nature in a way I can't at home. Being so acutely present is invigorating.

On a recent trip to the beach, I made time to dig in the sand, collect shells, listen to and splash in the waves. Things I don't have the opportunity to do at home. I could have simply laid on the beach with a novel and my earplugs, but I would have been robbing myself of the chance to really connect with the experience.

On a trip to Roanoke, we found ourselves in a maze of breathtaking mountains. The point was not to over-schedule ourselves (not really a problem in Roanoke) and to take the time to simply be silent and look. We went to the top of the mountains, ventured close to the winding edges, sat in stillness, the kids collected sticks. It was in many ways uneventful, but it was exactly the opposite of our experience as Brooklynites and as such, it was one of the most eventful and dynamic experiences we've had in a while.

3) Seek out destinations that appeal to multiple generations!

Even if you're not a traveling family  like we are, there's nothing like engaging your inner child or your inner old lady (or man) while on a day trip. Give yourself permission to step outside of yourself.

If you are a traveling family, a destination that appeals to both children, parents and even grandparents is a win. Parents are of course all smiles when they see their kids happy, but we're all smiles and relaxed and energized when we find or connect to something in a location that makes us happy too.

We recently visited the National Harbor in Maryland with some extended family and friends of all ages. There was something for everyone! My one year old was happy on the carousel, my three year old loved exploring the playground and the carousel, my husband and his friends got a kick out of the live music, I loved walking the boardwalk and taking in the scenic views, the grand-parents loved the world class restaurants. Actually, we all did, dinner was such a win!

4) Visit a historic landmark and learn something new!

We escaped to Montauk on Long Island for a few hours one afternoon. We could easily have spent the entire day shopping and laying on the beach, but in addition to doing that, we took the time to visit the historic lighthouse and learned so much!

I was fascinated by the stories of haunted apparitions and the fact that the slave ship Amastad once docked there.

My toddler, was captivated by the idea that there was a brilliant light at the top of the lighthouse and to this day, delights in drawing light houses with crayons and paper.

It was a small act, visiting the Montauk Lighthouse and Museum but it was such a memorable one. I was so much more connected to my experience there than if I would have skipped over it and spent that hour laying in the sand.

What do you do to get the most out of your mini-trips?     

Vanilla Chia Pudding

Dessert doesn't have to be sinful to be delicious!

This vanilla chia pudding is a delectable way to satisfy your sweet tooth while boosting your vitality and heart health.

The steps are simple. You can make a small one time serving or a batch.

For this recipe, I used a 6 oz. mason jar which yielded two servings.

Here's what to do:

           

NYC Trapeze Classes Give You Access to the Best Views in the City!

NYC Trapeze Classes Give You Access to the Best Views in the City!

From your perch over the west side highway, you see it all, in a haze of pink tinted twilight brilliance.

Left hand gripping the ladder, right arm extended towards the very tip of the Freedom Tower, you wait as the bar glides towards you.

It's your big moment.

You catch the sandpaper-rough white bar in your right hand, release your left hand. Pelvis and chest forward, chin up, you prepare to dismount.

"Ready."

You bend your knees as your toes creep over the edge of the platform.

"Hep."

You leap forward into nothingness.

The wind catches you, ushers you forward.

Your eyes are open, yet you see nothing, hear nothing, you are simply one with the wind. You are flying.

"Knees up!"

Tucking your knees towards your chin, you struggle to bring your calves over the bar, lock your knees.

"Look back!"

Releasing your hands, you arch your back, arms outstretched. This time you see everything. The setting sun, the halo of orange and pink around the glistening Freedom Tower. The soccer game on the field of green. The cars, speeding along the highway. Bikes, baby carriages, roller blades. It's the perfect early summer evening.

"Legs down!"

You regain focus, pulling your arms towards the bar, you wrap your hands around its rough frame. Slowly, one by one, you release your legs. The summer breeze envelopes you in a tight embrace as you release your hands and descend into the mesh safety net.

After two decisive bounces, you come to a stop. Slowly re-focusing on the space you now occupy after being space-less, you perceive the ground, the chairs, the instructor, the spectators.

A quick forward roll, brings you off of the net and onto solid ground. You are released from your harness. You have done many things in your life, but never have you taken flight- until now.

When I was pregnant with my second son, somewhere around the tail end of that second trimester mark, right around the time when I developed a hernia and began to wobble like a deranged duck, I promised myself that when it was over, when the discomfort passed, when my body was once again mine, I would do something spectacular, something physical to mark my return to myself.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/PetVJyUaa-s[/youtube]

Driving to work one afternoon, I found myself stuck in a traffic jam on the west side highway. For forty-five minutes I was glued to my spot, surrounded by taxi cabs and trucks. I looked to the left, to the right, I had no clear line of sight to see what was causing the jam. Then something caught my attention, something that looked like a flying person. Two flying people to be exact. Two flying people gliding on a singular trapeze, hand in hand like a circus act. I was entranced.

While my fellow commuters honked their horns and unleashed a furry of profanity as only New Yorkers know how to do, I took in the show above. One by one, two by two, I watched as people flew through the air, some turning flips, others practicing hand catches, others falling flat on their faces (hilarity) and I decided that I wanted to do that, whatever it was.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/XhzhVwTBfgk[/youtube]

Fast forward, several months later and it was my turn. For my birthday this year, my husband surprised me with a trapeze class at the Trapeze School of New York. It was my time to fly!

There were eight of us in total. Two old-timers, the rest of us brand new.

The class was two hours long. We practiced each maneuver on the floor before climbing the ladder and attempting the feat in mid-air.

It was thrilling.

It was exhausting.

Trapeze is so much harder than it looks, but once you're up there, once you're flying in tandem with the wind, the feeling is indescribable.

After seven or eight rounds, I managed to swing by my knees, stuck a back-flip dismount, and came really close to a hand-catch, all while taking in the best views in New York City (I swear I could see my Brooklyn brownstone!)

I'm going back!

I will have to wait, since I did sprain my right shoulder (a mixture of pre-existing mommy shoulder issues and hanging onto the trapeze for dear life and landing awkwardly in the net).

Sprained shoulder aside (and I mean, what is a sprained shoulder after going through child birth anyway) a trapeze class is a true adventure!

If you're in New York or  are planning a vacation in New York and are interested in taking flight trapeze style, schedule your class with the Trapeze School of New York today. It will be one of the coolest things you've ever done!

The Trapeze School of New York (353 West St, New York, NY 10014)