Chesapeake Bay Beach: A Day Well Spent!

The water was conspicuously brown truth be told. A little murky for my liking, but it was warm and gentle so I allowed myself to overlook the fact I couldn't see where I was wading.

After all the Chesapeake is bound to be a bit muddy, it's a bay after all. Right?

The air was blithe and breezy. Thin and cool despite patches of humidity.

It was seaside air. The air of ease and hope. The air of tranquility.

In the distance kayaks dotted the water, drifting towards the rainbow brushed horizon. Children played and splashed in the shallow water as couples lounged on towels, or walked the seashell studded beach holding hands.

Wearing a dress and sandals, having stumbled upon the beach completely by accident, I found a seat on an overturned tree trunk as my boys splashed in the water and ran through the sea grass.

It's been about a year since we moved to Maryland.

I'm still exploring, but I wasn't ready for this particular find.

I had been so busy getting to know the neighborhoods in Washington DC and Alexandria, Virginia, the Baltimore Harbor, and the gorgeous seaside stretches of quaint cobblestone studded Annapolis that I failed to realize I lived a mere twenty minutes from the Chesapeake Bay.

Literally, door to sand, twenty minutes!

I hadn't thought much about the Chesapeake.

I knew it was around here somewhere, but where exactly I wasn't sure. As far as beaches were concerned, I had my sights set on Ocean City and Virginia Beach. I looked forward to Chincoteague and Rehoboth, but the Chesapeake?

I had honestly written it off as a polluted has been.

I had no idea!

Dotted with public and private beaches, the Chesapeake, despite having its very real and unfortunate issues with pollution is truly stunning.

Chesapeake Bay Beach was no exception.

Free and open to the public, the beach is almost hidden. Slightly forested until a small pine needle studded sandy trail opens up revealing an expanse of sea and sand, Chesapeake Bay Beach is the perfect way to spend a summer day.

Steps from the historic boardwalk, you can stroll the wooden planks in the direction of the many restaurants boasting the best crab along the east coast or you can simply retreat to the sand or water.

Relatively shallow, surprisingly warm and calm, the water is easy to swim and wade.

And bonus, you don't have to worry about jelly fish or....sharks (gasp!)

There are fish though, tiny little things that weave this way and that in small schools.

And there are crabs. Lots of crabs.

So, perhaps maybe, you should watch your toes.

I know I will. You can't see where you're stepping after all.

When I go back, I'm going prepared and will make a full day of it. Beach bucket, Haviannas, swimming suit, fishing rod and an appetite for crab cakes.

Have you ever been to the Chesapeake?

Harlem Tea Break at Serengeti Teas and Spices

Sometimes in the middle of the roaring chaos of the city you need to do something quiet, cool and restorative.

Sometimes you just want tea- a good cup of tea and a peaceful space to duck into. An inspired space that is aesthetically pleasing and a delight to the senses.

Sometimes you simply need a sanctuary, and if you're in Harlem on a hot summer day or a cold winter evening... for that matter, there's no better escape than Serengeti Teas and Spices.

“Aromatic African, tea, coffee and chocolate blends made with love.”

— Serengeti Teas and Spices Tasting Room

In the heart of central Harlem amidst the typical clamor and bravado of any given New York day, lies a most unassuming refuge. The art is astounding, the service friendly, the baked goods delectable and the tea (the main reason you're here) worthy of praise.

Serengeti Teas and Spices features a finely curated collection of African teas and spice blends.

And if you didn't think there were teas specific to the continent of Africa...think again!

The continent boasts a vast array of teas and spices, like Rooibos tea (known for its powerful curative and antioxidant properties) and Sorrel. Conjure up images of Zanzibar (aka Spice Island) right off the coast of Tanzania and the famed trade routes positioning Africa smack dab in the middle of all of the action. African tea contains a host of influences from east to west and at Seregeti Teas and Spices one can enjoy long languid sips of the continent's finest masterpieces.

Enjoy your tea iced or hot! 

It. is. so. GOOD!

With over 100 teas to try, there is something for everyone!

But, if tea is not your thing, there's coffee. The coffee is good, but the tea (in my opinion) steals the show.

I can't get enough of their Hibiscus blends.

In addition to beverages, you can buy cafe breads and pastries.

A specialty cafe of sorts, you can come for tastings, you can bring your laptop and set-up shop, or meet a friend and grab a seat at the tea bar.

In fact, the entire shop is like a museum. Art is everywhere, much of it is on sale as well.

And bring a little shopping bag, because you can buy tea, spice blends, coffee, chocolate and tea related gifts. The entire experience is a whimsical delight.

So if you're in New York City and you're looking for a unique place to visit or bring guests in and or around Harlem, Seregenti Teas is the place to go.

Location: 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd, NewYork, NY 10027 (Harlem/NYC)

Family Friendly: Absolutely! (I bring my two and five year old and there is never a problem)

Hours: 10am-7:30pm

Why You Should Drink Alkaline Water

There are so many do's and don'ts when it comes to nutrition. It can make you want to scream.

I empathize. It can be overwhelming to track your omega-3 intake, make sure you're eating clean, count your calories, reduce the trans fats, up fresh raw fruit and veggie portions, limit your starch and carbs, eat three square meals a day, eat all three meals before dark and on and on and on.

But I do have one more good habit to push, and that is- Drink Alkaline Water!

Alkaline water?

What the heck is that you ask?

Well bare with me. I'm going to tell you all about it and then share with you a great recipe to make a glass of your own!

I was in Mexico on a wellness retreat when I first really understood the importance of an alkaline diet.

Sure I had heard people mention that it was important to eat alkaline foods here and there in the healthy food circuits in which I traveled but I was so caught up in being tri-doshic and vegetarian and at times vegan, raw and gluten-free that it was difficult to find space for yet another thing.

But luckily, going alkaline isn't too terribly complicated and once you understand the benefits, I'm sure you'll agree it's worth the effort.

So...why alkaline?

Remember that old saying - you are what you eat?

Well in so many ways that statement is true. The foods we eat contain acidic or alkaline properties. The alkaline or acidic properties in the food you eat directly alters the acidity or alkalinity- aka the ph balance of your body.

Ideally, you want an alkaline internal environment.

“Most pathogens and cancers cannot survive in an oxygen-rich, alkaline environment. For instance, oxygenated water (hydrogen peroxide) is an effective infection killer, because harmful microorganisms consistently die in the presence of anything highly oxygenated.

Our typically acidic bodies cannot retain enough oxygen to function properly or fight infections. When a body reaches a pH level of 7.4 (alkaline instead of acidic), cancers become dormant, and at 7.6, all cancers die rapidly, along with every type of invader.”

— Sarah C. Corriher

This being said, you want to eat more alkaline foods than acidic foods in order to maintain this balance.

As a general rule,  a diet of 60-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20-40% acid-forming foods creates and sustains this balance.

Um....so....what does that mean?

Typically foods like fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds and herbal teas are alkaline while foods like grains, beans, meats, dairy products, fish, fast foods and processed foods tend towards acidity.

This is wonderful news if you're already a vegan, vegetarian, a clean eater and or are following a gluten-free regimen. You may (depending upon your food choices) be quite alkaline by default.

But, if like most of us, you're left scratching your head. One way to ensure that the acidic foods you consume are being balanced by alkaline foods is by drinking alkaline water.

Now there are many different ways to make alkaline water. There's lemon water, there's the Himalayan sea salt method but my favorite blend is this- (It's quite tasty!)

Alkaline Water Recipe:

2 cups (16 oz) purified water

1 tablespoon raw apple cider

1 teaspoon liquid chlorophyll

1/2 teaspoon turmeric (liquid is best, powder will do)

Why raw apple cider vinegar?

Raw apple cider vinegar is unique in that it is alkaline forming to the body. It helps to balance the body's internal pH causing levels to become more alkaline and is a wonderful daily addition to the diet. In addition, raw apple cider vinegar has antibiotic properties (it's anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral which means it wards off infections and supports the immune system-never a bad thing!)

Why chlorophyll?

Green is my favorite color. Need I say more!

Okay, green is my fav, but all jokes aside, chlorophyll is magical. Chlorophyll is a natural detoxifier. Not only does chlorophyll have the ability to lower the body's internal pH creating an alkaline environment, but it also binds with environmental pollutants (a handful of toxic metals and carcinogens) helping to flush them out of your system resulting in an increase in energy and mental clarity. Another benefit of chlorophyll, a direct result of it's detoxification effect is clear glowing skin. Astringent and slightly minty in taste, the chlorophyll is a wonderful compliment to the raw apple cider vinegar.

Why Turmeric?

Turmeric is an Ayurvedic spice that happens to be highly alkalizing to the body. The bright yellow spice, a staple in curry, is mild in flavor, earthy and contains numerous curative properties. Turmeric is powerfully anti-inflammatory and has been used to treat cancer, arthritis, hypertension, ulcers, diabetes, colitis, acne and a whole host of other ailments.

The above recipe makes one serving of delicious alkaline water. Simply combine ingredients, swirl together with a spoon and enjoy!

The water is tart like lemonade, but not overpowering- perfect for a summer afternoon.

Note, if you're one of those people who likes their drinks sweet, then adding a teaspoon of agave or a tablespoon of raw maple syrup will do the trick!

So, keeping that 60-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20-40% acid-forming foods ratio in the back of your mind is helpful. But if you're not able to adhere to it as regularly as you'd wish, I have two words- ALKALINE WATER!

Greeting the Sun: A Sun-Salutation Sequence

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. there is no other land; there is no other life but this.”

— Henry David Thoreau