This week in New York, we experienced the first snowfall of the year. A brief and glittery show of wonder, it drew our attention to things to come.
How is it that autumn seems to slip so quickly into ether? The smell of leaves, replaced by angular barren trees, biting wind, holiday carols and the inevitable dark descent into the slushy biting winter.
So before I begin posting about holiday getaways and wintery escapes, I'd like to give one more ode' to autumn- crispy, colorful, aromatic, earthy, winsome, autumn.
One of my favorite farms to visit in October is Shlagel Farms in Waldorf, Maryland. A working farm in its 101st year of operation, a trip to Shlagel Farms is as informative as it is picturesque, family friendly and engaging.
I was startled awake by the alarm. Where was I? My friend Krista's head popped up in the bed next to mine. I took in our white room. The thick white duvets, plush velvet bedposts. Then I remembered.
Slowly we made our way off Collins Ave towards the ocean.
The sand slid over our toes as we sank into the earth with each step.
6:00 am
"Maybe the clouds are covering the sun?" Krista suggested, pointing across the ocean, towards a dark sky.
6:02 am
A breakthrough!
6:05 am
Standing at the edge of the sand, the waves washed over my feet and ankles. The water, warmer then the air, was welcoming. It was clear there would be a show.
6:10 am
A coral shell is thrust towards me compliments of the ocean waves. I retrieve the shell, rinse the sand from it and admire its beauty. The sky too is coral.
6:15 am
Reclining in beach chairs, we stare transfixed as the sun, blood orange, stretched through the clouds.
The green of the water, the gray dawn clouded sky, seagulls playing between undulating waves....
6:20 am
A distinct orange hump can be seen over the horizon. The sun, like a a beach ball being buoyed along the surface of the ocean.
Slowly rising, parting clouds. Small clusters of people have gathered to admire the scene.
The wind picks up. I tie a beach towel around my shoulders like a cape. Super-Sunrise Goddess to the rescue!
There is something so refreshing about a town that rings with the babble of fresh water springs!
A few weeks ago, we made the trip from Brooklyn to Saratoga Springs to visit my sister and her boyfriend Alex. It was a relaxing weekend, seeped in autumn colors, amazing food and beautiful scenery.
About thirty minutes outside of Albany, Saratoga Springs makes a beautiful weekend retreat. Home of the famed Saratoga Races (July-September) and summer home of the New York City Ballet, Saratoga offers world class entertainment with a charming and village-like feel. Saratoga's downtown is walkable and full of top notch restaurants, boutiques, gallery spaces and bars.
A few paces from the main drag, you'll find block upon block of immaculately restored Victorian homes. Colorful gables and shutters decorate the streets. One almost expects to see parasols, top hats and stagecoaches.
Saratoga is splendid, but it is more than just a pretty setting. Saratoga is seeped in history and tradition.
Saratoga is home to the famed Saratoga springs, a series of naturally carbonated mineral water springs lauded for their healing and curative powers.
The Iroquois and Mowhawk Indians celebrated the medicinal properties of the springs bathing in and drinking the waters. Later, George Washington was said to drink and bathe in the springs, he even tried unsuccessfully to purchase the springs which were considered during the Colonial times to heal ailments from rheumatism, diabetes, heartburn, liver and kidney problems, cancer, malaria and hangovers.
By the 19th century, wealthy and famous New Yorker's would retreat to Saratoga Springs, New York for luxurious spa getaways in the springs.
Today, you can sample the water from about 17 different springs. Each spring has a slightly different taste and apparently depending upon the time of the year, the water tastes different. An ambitious visitor to Saratoga can take a walking tour and sample each spring. I myself, made it to two of the spring fountains before deciding that the water was not for me. I couldn't get past the strong odor of sulfur.
An easy weekend trip to take from many points in the Northeast (New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, to name a few) Saratoga is well worth exploring.
During the summer there are races and cultural events like the New York City ballet. In the autumn, Saratoga is bright with fall leaves and apple picking. Saratoga transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season and is home to manicured gardens during the spring.
As my fingers strike the keys, my throat burns, it feels like a small match as been lit between my tonsils. My temples pulsate to the tempo of my typing. I'm in trouble. I've got something resembling a cross between a sinus infection and a cold. Luckily, I've got an antidote.
As cold and flu season looms ominously before us, I have been busy in my kitchen preparing herbal tinctures.
I rely on tinctures as both preventative medicine and as my first line of defense against colds and minor upsets.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting a series of tincture recipes that you can make in your kitchen.
What is a tincture?
A tincture is a herbal infusion, where fresh or dried herbs are blended with either alcohol or (in the case of this recipe) apple cider vinegar. The result is a liquid medicine taken usually by the teaspoonful.
Tinctures date back to the Egyptian times where formulas for cordial infusions were found and preserved. Tinctures were used prevalently in Medieval Europe and are a part of traditional Chinese, Indian (Ayurvedic) and African herbal medicine.
I first encountered the making of tinctures during my Ayurvedic studies. Tincture making is empowering and surprisingly easy.
Here is my recipe for an apple cider vinegar based tincture to combat coughs-
Cough Tincture
Handful of fresh basil
1 tablespoon of dried anise seed
1 clove of ginger
apple cider vinegar
Wash and chop the fresh basil on a cutting board then place the cuttings inside a clean mason jar.
Wash and chop your ginger and ad the slices to the mason jar along with the anise seed.
Pour your apple cider vinegar over the herbs until they are covered.
Affix the lid tightly and shake vigorously.
Store the mason jar in the fridge for two weeks shaking daily.
After two weeks, you'll be ready to strain the liquid using a cheesecloth or strainer into amber or cobalt bottles.
Store your tincture in the refrigerator and use within six months.
For adults 1 tspn when needed. For children 1/2 tspn when needed. For toddlers 1/4 tspn when needed.
*This recipe uses apple cider vinegar so that it is safe for children and pregnant women. You may substitute 80 proof vodka.
Stretched before you, are acre upon acre of apple orchard. The afternoon sun, bursts through the leaves cascading downwards in powdery rays you want to run your fingers through.
The trees, low to the ground are heavy with plump apples, not waxy like the ones in the super market, but a bit ashen, some draped in spider webs.
"Apple!!!! Apple!!!!" Ohm implores on his tip toes, eyes hopeful, fingers spread wide atop outstretched arms.
Mark wipes a small apple clean and hands it over. Ohm's fingers close in on the prize as he takes a crispy bite.
"Mmmm..."
He's all teeth, before setting off to explore the rows of apple trees.
Apple picking is one of my favorite autumn activities and being from upstate New York, I must say, we've got the BEST!
From Western New York to Long Island, there is no shortage of apple orchards to choose from. We went to Saratoga Apple in Saratoga Springs, about a three hour drive from New York City.
With acres of apple trees, a farmer's market, live music, hayrides, a baby kangaroo (yes, a kangaroo) and the best hot donuts and cider (possibly in the world), Saratoga Apple was well worth the trek.
Here's how it works, you purchase a bag, there are three sides and you're free to collect as many varieties of apples as you can fit. If you're not sure what apple tickles your fancy, they have apple tastings. I was a big fan of the Crispin!
Once you've got your bag, you have two options really:
a) Set off by foot to pick the apples of your choice
b) Enjoy a tractor ride to the specific apple tree section of your choice (there's a lot of space between the varieties in some instances)
After you've picked your apples, you might as well stay for lunch (there's a cafe), have some hot apple cider and fresh warm donuts (so incredibly amazing!!!), enjoy the live music and browse the farmer's market.
Saratoga Apple, 1174 Route 29, Schuylerville, NY 12871
The air, sticky with dew, forms a white cobwebbed haze.
Everywhere, there's evidence of the late afternoon rain shower. Beads of water form atop leaves giving the appearance of small translucent buttons which I fight the impulse to push.
The leaves make no crunch beneath my feet. My steps are silent, deliberate and metered. I have to concentrate in order not to slip from the slick surface of the leaves and onto the sticks and acorns that pepper the ditch near the road.
A frog sings in the distance. Birds call and respond from tree tops, hidden from sight by the colorful leaves.
Webs, beaded with dew, take up space between branches and limbs.
On a branch, a wooly caterpillar crawls, slowly, steadily, brown and black stripes, undulating along.
Devoid of chlorophyll, displaying their true colors, leaves, red, yellow, burnt orange rain down from tree tops. I catch a few in the palm of my hand for later.
I wasn't always a beach person.
For the first twenty years of my life, I liked the idea of the ocean, of the rolling waves, but had never had a moment of true connection.
Then I visited Thailand, Khao Lak, to be specific. It was as if I saw the water, the ocean, for the first time. The Adaman Sea was warm, the gentle waves, playful, inviting. From my waist to my feet, I could see the subtle layers of water and life.
Then I went to Mozambique. In Inhambane, I fell in love. I would spend hours diving beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean. I'd watch the clouds, intent to note a change in formation, a change in hue as the twilight hours marked the end of a new day.
Then I went to Barbados. On Brandon's Beach I'd swim in the warm water wrapped in the cloak of midnight. Floating on my back, bobbing with the ebb and tide of the waves, I admired the stars, the moon.
Then I went to Costa Rica. In Cahuita, I learned the art of the dead mans float and would spend the afternoons atop the water's surface staring at the sea urchin and barracuda fish below me.
Like old lovers seamlessly re-kindling their love, the ocean and I are always a few steps from each others.
World travel can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be. With these simple tips, you'll be ready to travel the world with ease!
Book a hotel with a local flair! When it comes to accommodation, look for something with a local flair. Chain hotels (unless you’re on a rewards kick) are not your only option. Explore smaller boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and apartments for a more personalized experience.
Venere is a great site for finding unique accommodations both around your home and all the way to the far east!
Roll your clothes, forget folding! Not only do you get fewer wrinkles when you roll your pieces together, but they take up much less space in your suitcase. I typically roll pants together in one pile, shirts in another, dresses in another, sweaters in yet another. It works beautifully. Small items like underwear, bras and socks, I simply place in any open space.
Avoid traveling with toiletries! Traveling with shampoo, conditioner and body wash can be a huge pain. Bottles can break due to temperature changes and pressure, with the potential of wreaking havoc on the items in your suitcase. If you’re going to a hotel, chances are you’ll have access to toiletries. If you’re staying in a populated town in the developed world, chances are, if you don’t have access to toiletries in your hotel, you can obtain them easily, in travel sized portions. A bonus to ditching the toiletries is that as long as your bag is compact, you now qualify to carry your items on board since you’ve ditched the liquid. This makes getting out of the airport so much easier.
Always tag your luggage! I use a simple tag that clearly shows my name and phone number. You just never know. I’ve had to deal with numerous luggage mishaps and it is so much easier to re-connect with bags when they’re clearly labeled with specific identifying information.
Be the person who volunteers to give up your seat in exchange for travel vouchers! If possible, volunteer to give up your seat in exchange for a travel voucher. Flying for free is GREAT! I rarely pass up an opportunity to volunteer my seat. Not only do you end up with free flight vouchers, but you’re given hotel accommodations for the evening, food vouchers and other perks (including first class upgrades when available). There was a stretch of time last year, where I flew to Alaska from New York for free on vouchers, then volunteered my seat to collect more vouchers that allow me to fly to Washington state where I had the opportunity to volunteer my seat again, which allowed me to then purchased a round trip ticket to Tokyo for less than $200- all because I volunteered my seats!
Hire a car service in advance from the airport! Planning to take a taxi to your destination from the airport? It is usually cheaper to hire a car service than it is to take a taxi from the taxi queue. A little research can save you a lot of money.
Resort Hoppa is a great site for finding transportation from the airport!
Store your bags at the airport! Making use of an extended layover to explore a new city? Many of the major international airports will store your luggage for you. This service is also great if you’ve got a really long layover and a lot of bags you don’t feel like dragging around. Alternatively, if you want to avoid the hassle of baggage claim altogether, you can hire a company like Bags Vipto retrieve your luggage for you and deliver it to your hotel or place of accommodation, leaving you free to clear customs or go on your way with ease.
Never exchange money at the airport! The best way to get ripped off is by exchanging money at an airport- the rates are ridiculous! Use your card until you get where you’re going and go to a bank, or exchange some money at home before you leave.
The sun is high in the sky, but the air is cool. As you walk, your hair rises for a moment, before coming to a rest against your neck, sweeping against the tops of your shoulders. The crunching sound at your feet is dramatic as you step over yellowing leaves.
Autumn in Brooklyn is glorious. The humidity finally gone, the sun still out, people take to the streets pushing strollers, walking dogs, nursing lattes, holding hands, ready to soak in everything this short season has to offer before sweaters are replaced with coats, flats with boots, and an afternoon walk through the park with staying indoors.
Ft. Greene park, in Brooklyn's beautiful Ft. Greene neighborhood is an ideal place to enjoy an autumn Saturday.
Neatly manicured, draped in trees, bordered by Brooklyn's classic tree-lined brown stone dotted streets, Ft. Greene park on an autumn Saturday is the place to be.
If you're the solitary type, take refuge on one of the many old-fashioned benches with a good book, journal or sketch pad.
If you're a parent, take advantage of the large playground, the chance to let your little-one run free. Help yourself to a seat as it may take a while. There's so much to do.
If you're in love, bring a blanket, a bottle of wine, a fanciful snack and lay beneath the trees with your beloved.
If you're an aspiring naturalist, there are plaques to identify the various species of flora.
Do you like football or soccer? Join in one of the many ongoing games.
Into Farmer's Markets? Every Saturday, along the edge of the park closest to the playground, you'll find an intimate Farmer's Market.
Visiting Brooklyn for the first time? I suggest grabbing brunch at one of the many restaurants along DeKalib, Myrtle or Fulton, before spending a lazy afternoon in the park.
Brooklyn, Ft. Greene in particular, has a lot to offer. Ambling along the rows of historic brownstones you'll find boutique shops, wine bars, and amazing restaurants. If you're truly up for an adventure, a scenic walk to the Brooklyn Bridge takes about 40 minutes.
Do you have a favorite park to visit in the autumn?
Making your own almond milk is surprisingly easy and quite frankly addictive. I've been drinking almond milk for years, but with my growing distrust of carrageenan, an ingredient in processed almond milk which is known to disrupt the digestive track and cause internal inflammation, I'm growing weary of commercial brands. In fact, after reading the ingredients on the labels of my almond milk containers, I was taken aback by the number of ingredients I wasn't able to identify.
No more mystery milk for me!
After experimenting with a number of recipes, I fell in love with this one. I am a big fan of creamy vanilla flavored slightly sweetened almond milk, this recipe caters to that.
Ingredients:
1 cup raw organic almonds
2 cups purified water
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
You'll Need:
Blender
Mason Jar
Strainer or cheesecloth
First you need to soak your almonds in a glass bowl for up to two days (no less than one night). I use two parts of water for one part almonds. The longer you soak your almonds the creamier the milk, so if you like thinner milk (think skim), you'll want to soak overnight, but if you enjoy a whole milk texture, you'll want to soak for two nights.
Next, you'll need to drain the water from the almonds before placing the soaked almonds in your blender. Add to the blender the purified water, raw honey, vanilla extract and sea salt.
Blend these ingredients together until the liquid is creamy. Note, there will be a bit of froth at the top and your grated almonds will settle to the bottom, but the liquid in the center should be creamy and even. Strain the milk from the almond meal at the bottom using a cheesecloth or strainer.
Store your almond milk in a mason jar. Note- fresh almond milk will only last about three days in your refrigerator (hence the small batch recipe). You will want to begin the prep work for your next batch immediately.
The almond meal is a delicious additive in a bowl of cereal or oatmeal. It also adds a wonderful nutty flavor to baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and seasonal breads aka- pumpkin!
It is amazing how many facts, thoughts and ideas we hold onto during the day. I am not by nature a trip planner, however, when I couldn’t remember the name of the boutique hotel in Santa Fe, where I’ve been plotting a stay for months, I decided perhaps, just maybe, it was time for me to take a moment and write some things down.
I think weekend trips are so much more difficult to plan than longer trips. On a long trip, you have time to feel out your environment, explore, get local recommendations without the pressure of a schedule. It takes a bit of planning to use your time effectively on a weekend or long weekend stay.
In these situations I try to focus on the intent of my trip (if any) and isolate one or two activities, restaurants and a place to stay in the heart of my chosen scene.
There are three weekend (or long weekend) trips I’m in the process of planning for this fall:
1) Santa Fe, New Mexico
I’ve never been to Santa Fe, but I’ve been wanting to go for a while. Perhaps it’s the writing of Barbara Kingsolover or my holistic, new age, proclivities. As an East Coaster, the American Southwest is an exotic unknown land. I look forward to photographing the desert and gazing at the stars.
Hotel:The Inn of the Governors, a cozy boutique hotel that seems to both blend into the environment around it and stand out like a piece of art.
Places I plan to visit: Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe Railyard Artisans Market at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market where I want to try the local cuisine which is supposed to have it’s own unique flair. I love Mexican food and I hear they do it well in Santa Fe.
2) London, England
I’m only planning a weekend in London because I’ve already been- twice. On this trip I want to focus on the British preoccupation with tea and on Literary tours.
Stay:The Hotel Ibis, a modern British hotel conveniently located in Central London.
Places I plan to visit: I want to sit on the bank of the river Thames and write, Camden Lock Market, People watching at Piccadilly Circus, Postcard Tea, and the London Eye.
Tours I plan to take:Literary London WalkWhere I intend to sip tea:The Goring Afternoon Tea
3) Miami, Florida
I’ve only ever passed through Miami. Each time, I wished I could stop, slow down and take a moment to explore. The focus of my weekend in Miami will be on food, fun and Miami Beach, South Beach to be specific.
Stay:The Raleigh Hotel SoBe a beautiful Art Deco style hotel right in the middle of all the action. This is a definite splurge, but every now and again- why not? I’ve stayed in my share of hostels.
Places I plan to visit: South Beach and Lincoln Road
Where I intend to eat: Versailles Restaurant, Naomi’s A Taste of Haiti, The Cypress Room, Restaurant Michael Schwartz (Yes, I plan on gorging myself.)
Do you prepare for weekend trips or is it simply c'est la vie?
It has happened. I've started a full time job after my two year hiatus to raise Ohm, write and travel. To say that this adjustment has been easy, would be a lie. The days are long, my 90-minute each way commute from Brooklyn to the Bronx is insane, having two viable hours in which to spend time with my son and husband while trying to make time to write and travel has taken creativity, humor and patience.
In the spirit of carrying on by all means necessary, I will focus for the next few months on weekend getaways.
Autumn seems the perfect season to launch this exploration. It is the quintessential season of the quick crisp weekend away.
Last weekend, Ohm and I, along with my friend Freddy, set out to explore breathtaking Beacon, New York. It was the perfect Saturday day trip from New York.
Now that I'm back in Brooklyn, all I can think about is the shining sapphire view of the Hudson, the Victorian charm of Main St., and the artistic quirk of the boutiques and galleries.
Beacon, is spectacular!
Deep in the Hudson River Valley, about an hours drive from Manhattan, lies a stunning and artistic little town called Beacon. The drive alone, along the Taconic, through Westchester County, past Bear Mountain and beyond Putnam, New York (probably not in this exact order) is a serene field of green and calm.
Whether for the day as we did, or for an overnight stay at one of the beautiful colonial Bread and Breakfasts, Beacon, New York is a destination that is sure to invigorate your soul.
As the season transitions and sniffles and congestion begin to replace the languid sighs of summer, it is the perfect time to brew a fresh pot of tasty medicinal thyme tea.
Thyme, a natural expectorant has been used medicinally for ages in the Mediterranean, England and Egypt as a tea to treat coughs, colds and bronchitis- ailments that tend to manifest in the Fall.
Thyme comes in many varieties, my favorite for tea being Lemon Thyme for it's lemony and zesty flavor.
There are many ways to prepare the tea, but I prefer to use fresh, not dried herb sprigs that I've gathered from my fire escape herb garden.
I pluck about five to seven sprigs for two cups of water. I boil my water first, then let the thyme seep for ten minutes in the boiled water.
If you have a toddler or young child with a cough (as cough syrup isn't safe for young children), you can take the same preparation and fill a small teacup halfway with the freshly prepared thyme tea. Add two teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon of Braggsapple cider vinegar then fill the other half of the teacup with orange juice. This is a wonderful cough and congestion remedy and it's tasty.
Overhead, the sky was awash in confusion. A thick haze of gray stretched across the horizon. Seagulls and pigeons flew in graceful loops, the seagulls dipping every so often into the water.
In the sand, children built sandcastles, played with shovels and buckets, and set to work burying dads. Groups of hipsters with fedoras and novels huddled under umbrellas, groups of girlfriends in bikinis chatted lazily beneath the haze. The waves lapped at the sand with mediocre force as the wind created a perfect warm clear day. It was, despite the haze and threat of rain, a perfect Labor Day beach day.
This Labor Day, I went to the brand new and improved Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York. I hadn't been in years, and not since hurricane Sandy devestated the beach front. There were definite reminders of what had been. Sand bags lined the base of the boardwalk, a few houses along Ocean Drive remained boarded up and damaged, but it's not what wasn't but what was.
Rockaway Beach is a great beach. With a section for surfing and a section for swimming and miles of sandy beach, it is the perfect waterfront getaway. Here you can swim, you can relax and when you're done you can visit the delicious food kiosk which offers a great selection of healthy food from veggie burgers to fresh squeezed juice. Yes, they've got your standard hot dogs, fries and frozen yogurt as well.
Pushing my stroller along the wooden boardwalk, I am struck by something. This is not the beach I remember, it's so much better.
It's hard to believe that summer is being replaced by fall already. Where did the time go?
On Saturdays, when we're in Brooklyn and not on the road, Ohm and I visit Prospect Park.
It is important to me, to expose him to the many green spaces the city has to offer. Spaces that encourage the imagination and develop an appreciation for nature.
When we travel to the park, I leave all toys and distractions at home because I want Ohm to be present in the discovery and wonder of the park's beautiful environment.
At two, Ohm is a natural explorer. Once safely inside the park, he's out of the stroller leading the way. He is allowed to choose the trails we walk along and the direction that we amble. I stop when he stops and point out interesting observations along the way.
"Wow! That is a very tall tree! I wonder how tall that tree is. You look very small compared to such a large tree."
"Tall tree! Big!" Ohm squeals with delight as he runs to touch the trunk.
"What does the trunk feel like? The bark is so rough. This must be a very sturdy tree."
"Rough." Ohm repeats, while rubbing the trunk of the tree.
We meander some more, make some more observations.
"Look at the apples. What small apples. I wonder what tree they came from?"
"Where are the flowers? What color are the flower's petals?"
We happen upon a clearing. We take a moment to collect sticks and bark. I begin to draw shapes in the earth with the sticks. Ohm follows suit singing his ABC's. I draw each letter and help him trace the shape with his stick. We make it to O before he becomes distracted by a group of children blowing bubbles on the lawn behind us, we join them.
The children weave around each other in an attempt to catch a bubble before it disappears. Running in circles after clusters of bubbles that vanish before nearing him, Ohm seems to have developed a strategy. He stands still, watching the bubbles hover above before slowly descending around him. Keying in on one or two bubbles he waits patiently before the satisfying pop.
"Boom!" He giggles popping the bubbles.
"Boom. Boom!"
A minute later he is off, chasing a golden retriever down a path towards a tunnel.
"Dog. Woof woof." He calls.
Soon he realizes that once he's in the tunnel, his voice creates an echo.
"Hello." He calls standing perfectly still. "Hello!"
A second later, he's off once more.
It's a beautiful thing to tag along with a toddler in the process of discovering the world.
Every city and suburb in almost every country around the world has some sort of open green space. When we're not in Brooklyn, we get to discover new green spaces all over the country and world. It's the perfect free of charge, low maintenance, accoutrement-free toddler friendly activity.
What activities do you engage in when going on an adventure to the park with a tot?
Over the Labor Day weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting and sitting down with bloggers Rhonda and Sheree Washington. Twin filmmakers and Travelers based in South Carolina, we spent a majority of our time talking about their exciting and relatively new mentorship program- Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program, which gives support to professionals navigating the murky waters of transitioning careers.
I am fascinated by this program on many levels. For starters, I know too well what it's like to feel stuck in a job I loathed, yearning for the opportunity to break into another field, follow another path. I am also curious because I'm relatively new at running my own business. I've made lots of mistakes and am still trying to figure things out.
While relaxing alfresco with green juice, Rhonda and Sharee, answered some of the burning questions I had about the Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program so I can share them with you. I've heard from a hand full of you who are interested in switching to careers focused around travel, international non-profit management, diplomatic work and teaching abroad. This post is for you.
S: How did the mentorship program come about?
R&S: Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program came about after we realized that transitioning to a new career requires a mentor. Our mentor is a film producer and having her in our corner stepped up our professionalism in Film, webshow development, and blogging. This mentoring program provides a platform for mentors and mentees to meet, and with our love of travel, we have incorporated an optional international retreat. The first international retreat will be January 17-20, 2014 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The program fee is $149 for mentees and mentors. The mentees experience in a foreign country relates to being outside of their comfort zone, which is needed in transitioning into a new career.
S: How does the program work?
R&S: The Mentees complete an application at the website www.weconnectedprod.wix.com/takealeap at a of cost of $50 for 1st year of mentorship and a $30 renewal fee each year of additional participation. Mentees are adults seeking to find their purposeful career. We identify a seasoned professional mentor/career coaches that correlates with the mentees new career aspiration. The mentees and mentors must communicate at least once a month via email, phone call, Skype, and/or in-person. mentees must also complete journal assignments, forum discussions, and financial/career planning tools. The optional international retreat is a weekend intensive seminar in which we facilitate with concentration on the career and financial planning aspects of transitioning to a new career. There are no fees to be a mentor.
S: How do you go about matching your mentors with the program participants?
R&S: We post the Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program link on our Take A Leap blog, twitter, Facebook, and email. Mentees contact us via social media, email, and/or phone call. Once they have submitted the application and paid the $50 fee, we find mentors through our personal and social media contacts. The mentor and mentees are provided each others contact information.
S: What words of advice do you have for twenty and thirty something's looking to switch careers?
R&S: Don't let fear of failure keep them from pursing their passion and purpose. They may encounter naysayers, but keep being positive. Network with people and join an organization in the new career field. In regard to having a mentor, take heed of their advice in opportunities and avoiding pitfalls. Final advice would be is to have Spiritual Faith.
S: What is your most memorable success story from your program?
R&S: The Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program is fairly new. The most memorable success was receiving an application less than 24 hrs after launching the program on June 15, 2013.
S: If someone is interested in being mentored through your program, how should they contact you to sign-up?
R&S: They can email us with questions at weconnectedprod@gmail.com and visit the Take A Leap Career Mentoring Program website at www.weconnectedprod.wix.com/takealeap We have a Frequently Asked Questions document and Mentee application under the Program tab.
There you have it. If you're interested in mentoring or being a mentee, take a leap, know your happiness and self-fulfillment are vital to living a healthy and balanced life and contact Rhonda and Sharee.
I've been thinking a lot about mindfulness. About how I can approach each day with a set intention and tune in, really be aware during each moment. Thus began my experiments with energizing water with crystals.
Now before your eyes haze over and you write me off as a new age quack, consider for a moment, the undeniable science behind the notion of energy transference; after all, everything is energy. Energy can be transferred from one form to another and can not be created or destroyed.
Crystals have long been held in high esteem as gatekeepers of energy. Each unique type harnesses specific energies and attributes. Placing a crystal, bursting with energy in water creates an environment of transference. The energy from the crystal is absorbed into the water and then once consumed, that property or intention is transferred to a person on a cellular level- hence a somewhat tangible way to practice mindfulness and active intention.
How does it work?
By placing a crystal in purified water for a set period of time, the energetic vibrations of the crystal are transferred into the water. Upon consumption, the energetically charged water is absorbed into the body and a transformation occurs however slight.
Are there health benefits?
Crystals emit negative ions. Negative ions have been proven to promote health and well being because they create an alkaline quality which boosts pH balance and antioxidant levels. Water infused with negative ions released from crystals is detoxifying because free radicals are neutralized leading to cellular health and a reduction in toxicity.
What do I do?
Charging water with crystal energy is a fairly simple process. First, wash your crystal(s) in a solution of sea salt and warm water.
Place your crystal(s) in a glass jar (mason jars are perfect) and add purified water. You want to avoid tap water as the chemicals used to process the water can interact with the crystals. Let the container sit overnight or approximately eight hours.
For an additional twist, you may want to set your jar outside to soak in rays from the sun during the day, or beneath the full moon at night to absorb the moon rays.
The moon is said to provide abundance, peace, calm and love, while the sun is said to energize, provide confidence, and enliven.
How do I know what crystals to use?
It is best to use rough crystals and not smooth polished ones as chemicals may be used in the smoothing process. Below are some crystal suggestions. You want to make sure that you choose a non-toxic crystal that doesn't contain metal. Do a bit of research before you purchase your crystals.
Rose Quartz- Unconditional love, spirituality, tolerance, joy, heart healing
What does this have to do with mindfulness?
Let's say you're developing a practice of setting a daily or weekly intention. If you would like to focus one week on peace for example, you can make a large batch of crystal water infused with amethyst. When you drink your water, you will be reminded of your peaceful intention. In addition, the energy of peace will be absorbed into your body to assist with your work.
So, how can this practice influence my physical health in a tangible way?
Let's say you have high blood pressure or hypertension (we can use the same example of amethyst infused water) the water which is vibrating with the energy of peace, stress relief and balance will be absorbed into your being. On a cellular level, you'll reinforce these states. Mentally and physically you will begin to alter.
Interested in giving it a go? Here are some resources that should help:
For a unique New York City experience, explore the Bronx River Forest. That's right, Bronx forest. There is a forest in the Bronx. A true, honest to goodness forest. If I didn't see it for myself, I never would have believed the stories of its existence.
You descend into the Bronx River Forest, much as you would any other city park. Follow the downward sloping path into a surprising gathering of trees, note the sudden quiet, the thickening canopy of green above, the soothing hum of rushing water, the call and response of cicadas, you are suddenly transformed. The air is decidedly clear. Your feet sink into the fluffy soil below. You've discovered a special place.
One of the oldest forests in New York City and a natural flood plain, the Bronx River Forest, home to the magnificent 23 mile Bronx river, is the perfect place to explore walking trails, go fishing, or rafting. Whether you live in the city and are looking for an autumn day trip or are visiting the city and want to do a little more than pound the pavement, the Bronx River Forest is a sanctuary worthy of exploration.
For up to date seasonal happenings, check out www.bronxriver.org.
Autumn is perfect time to take a trip to the country to soak in the colors, crisp air and quiet. Here's what happened when I ventured to the Catskills recently.
This week in New York, we experienced the first snowfall of the year. A brief and glittery show of wonder, it drew our attention to things to come.
