On Stress vs. Happiness: Getting to a More Successful, Happier You!

January 25, 2016January 22, 2016Leave a comment

happiness graphic

I frequently hear friends, colleagues, neighbors (you name it!) speak about how busy, stressed, or unhappy they are with their lives. They are caught up in the wrong job, feel trapped where they are, or are working to accomplish x,y, and z before they can be truly happy. This kind of thinking puts us in a negative cycle – one that often seems impossible to escape from. Not to worry – there is hope! Read on!

I came across this Ted Talk by Shawn Anchor a few years ago now, but it’s always a great reminder. Take a listen (and bookmark it to watch it every few weeks. It’s great, I promise!).

5 Practices to Help Bring you More LongTerm Happiness & Satisfaction

Work to reset your formula for success vs. happiness: We’ve grown up believing that we will become happy after we achieve success in x, y, and z. But, what we’ve now found is that once you accomplish ‘z’, you will actually move the goal post for success. That’s right – you will keep reaching! This is great as you work to become more successful, but is not great news for your level of happiness. We need to reverse our thinking to be happy in the present (that’s now!) which will allow us to ultimately be more successful.
Train your brain to be more positive with a gratitude journal: Keeping a daily gratitude journal is quick and simple. Just write 3-5 things each and every day for a month (or longer, of course!) that you are grateful for. This helps shift the lens through which you see the world to a more positive one, and will help you with number 1: resetting your formula for success vs. happiness.
Take time for self-care: I’m a huge believer in self-care. Even taking 5 minutes a week is better than nothing. Give yourself a foot rub (or get someone to give you one!), oil your body with fresh herbal infused oils, meditate, take a great bubble herb bath, etc. etc. etc. There are so many options and they will all feel so good to your body and your mind. Don’t be afraid to schedule this into your calendar. If coffee with a friend is in your schedule, a date with yourself can be in there too!
Get enough sleep: This one probably seems obvious, but so many people are not getting the sleep they need. Start by building a nighttime routine. Leave your cell phone away from the bed. Drink some chamomile or sleepy time tea. Relax. This is your time to rejuvenate for the day ahead!
Work smarter: You probably hear this all the time. But it’s true – work smarter, not harder. Focus on your happiness and you will have a profound impact on your output. Create a system for breaks and prioritization in your day and you’ll be amazed how much you get done with a clear mind!

It’s actually quite magical that only 10% of what is happening to us externally impacts our longterm happiness. The rest is up to us – up to our brains. If we can impact and adjust the lens through which our brains view the world to reshape our realities, we can literally create magical lives for ourselves. It’s a game-changer. Let’s get to it!

How will you commit to adjusting your lens to the world?

xoxleah

thank you!

January 19, 2016Leave a comment

Hello friends!

I know this is coming a little late, and we’re a few weeks into the new year already, but…

I just want to thank you all for being such a wonderful, supportive community since tsoana’s launch last summer. It’s been a wild ride, and I’ve had a lot of fun dreaming, planning, and creating for 2016. I feel like I’m in a wonderful creative cycle and many things are falling into place after thinking and dreaming of them for quite some time. Thanks for following along.

Here’s to an exciting 2016!

Let’s make it the best year yet.

thankyou-01

xoxleah

7 ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routine!

December 1, 2015January 22, 2016Leave a comment

I’ve written about the wonders of coconut before, and I’ve been using coconut oil even more in my day-to-day beauty routines since then. I love that I’m using something that I have in my kitchen and is all natural. It’s full of amazing fatty acids and other goodness that our skin and hair love!

Here are a few of my favorite ways to use coconut oil:

Lip balm || This is one of my favorites (and the easiest!). The fatty acids in the coconut oil help lock in moisture, so when using it on your lips you’re creating an oil barrier that holds the moisture in. If you don’t love the smell or taste of coconut, this might not be the best one for you!
Oil-pulling || You’ve probably heard about this one before and even might have wondered what that could possibly mean. Take a scoop of coconut oil and swish it around your mouth like a rinse. Make sure to spit it into the trash (not your sink!) to avoid clogs. Your gums and teeth will feel cleaner than ever. And some studies have shown coconut oil also helps with whitening teeth
Skin Moisturizer || Just like on your lips, coconut oil is great to use on your skin. It helps to lock in the moisture and keep you nice and soft. I especially love to use it on my feet (put comfy socks on after so you don’t slide around!), knees, elbows, and face.
Massage Oil || Smooth and isn’t absorbed immediately. Perfect massage oil. Need I say more? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give it a lovely sent as well!
Hair Conditioner || Take a little bit of coconut oil and apply to you hair roots to ends. If your hair is particularly thin, use a little less and don’t go to the roots. Do a quick wash out in the shower and feel your silky-smooth locks!
Nail & Cuticle Conditioner || Coconut oil is a great moisturizer for your cuticles and can also help strengthen your nails. An added benefit: coconut oil is anti-fungal so it’s perfect to help keep those icky feet issues away.
Make-up Remover || Coconut oil is amazingly good at removing make-up, especially the often-difficult mascara! An added bonus is the moisturizer the coconut oil will also provide around your eyes. That skin is some of the most thin and sensitive you have, so you must take good care of it! (And as a note, be careful as you use the oil to remove the make-up: don’t push too hard on your skin!)

I also love to use coconut oil in natural deodorant and soap recipes. I’ll share those later down the line!

Do you use coconut oil in any of these ways? What are your favorite ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routines?

a few things to remember as we head into the holiday season.

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015Leave a comment

snowflakes

These tips will keep your body more balanced and your digestion strong as we head into the carb and sugar-overload that is the holiday season!

Grab some greens before you dive into your meal || Make it a habit to grab a handful of greens before each meal. Not only will you be getting more greens into your overall diet (more fiber, more enzymes, more nutrients!), you’ll also be filling up a bit before the meal so you’re likely to eat less overall.
Eat some sauerkraut! || Anything pickled will do. If you’re not into that (it took me awhile to learn to like it!), try a probiotic pill instead. The goal is to keep your gut and its flora healthy for better digestion.
Drink water throughout the day || They say you should drink half your body weight in ounces of water. Make sure you’re doing this especially throughout the holiday season! It will keep you hydrated, keep things moving, and will also make you feel a bit more full.
Start off the morning with some lemon-ginger tonic || Make a quick tea tonic each morning to kick-start your digestion. Juice some lemon and grate some ginger. Add some honey and some cayenne to taste. This helps aid your digestion and keep your blood sugar levels under control. (It’s also delicious! Pro-tip: if you drink this every day, make sure you drink with a straw to avoid the acid from the lemon eroding your teeth enamel).
Opt for a breakfast smoothie || Another great way to get more fruits and veggies into your daily routine. Make sure you choose fruit lower in sugar (blueberries are a good choice!). You can also add avocado for some healthy fats. Add in some chia or flax seeds too! This will keep you full for the morning until you’re ready to grab some lunch (greens first!).
Chew your food || We all know it’s easy to chow down on all of the delicious food at the dinner table. Make sure to take a breath and chew completely between each bite. This helps with digestion and your body will need to use less energy to digest.
Take a walk || Make sure you’re exercising during the holidays to top it all off! Take a walk, do some yoga, or join your family in a fun game of catch. Anything will do. You just want to stay moving!

I hope this helps! Do you have any routines you like to add into your day-to-day as the holidays approach? I’d love to hear your advice!!

come see what’s new in the shop!

October 29, 2015Leave a comment

Yes, we’re mostly into ceramics around here, but we have many other loves as well. Photography, hand-lettering, herbal medicine, papercrafts, jewelry-making, cooking, baking, writing…to name a few!

We’re excited to announce that we’ve just launched our first line of gems and jewels in the shop. Click on over to the shop to see more, but first, feast your eyes below!

Let us know what you think in the comments!

on missing autumn.

October 29, 2015October 29, 2015Leave a comment

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

I’ve lived in California for just about 3 years. Prior to living here, I was an east coast and midwest kind of person. I never saw myself on the west coast, until, of course, I did! There are things I miss about my previous homes: the people, the pace of things, the (much lower!) cost of living. But missing autumn hits me hard every year at this time.

I love the crunch of the leaves, the crisp smell in the air, the exciting possibility that there could be flurries at any minute!

In SF, it’s still green and lush and lovely. Which I also love. It’s beautiful and amazing! This year, to help satisfy my yearning for autumn, I headed over to the National Heirloom Expo up in Santa Rosa. It was a perfect little dip into this world I miss.

Some of my favorite snaps from the day are below:

So many pumpkins, squash, and gourds. My favorites!

So, so many types of tomatoes! And we got to taste a bunch as well.

I couldn’t get enough of this colorful heirloom corn. It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?

Mushrooms and (weird) melons!

Oh, and there were tiny piglets!

I hope you’re having a lovely start to the season, wherever you may be!

let’s talk: seasonal herbal csa.

October 22, 2015October 22, 2015Leave a comment

One of the things I most look forward to as the seasons change is my package of herbal goodies coming from Wild and Wise as part of their seasonal CSA.

What’s a CSA?

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Traditionally, farms accept sign-ups from members of the community and, in return, the community members receive a box of fruits and veggies at a certain interval. You are essentially purchasing a ‘share’ in the farm to help assist production during that season. It’s a great way to receive wonderful local, fresh produce in your area!

An Herbal CSA is the same deal, except rather than purchasing a share on a veggie farm, you’re purchasing a share of an herbal garden or farm to support the growth and production of herbal medicine. I love that the CSA has spread beyond just fruits and veggies!

Choosing an Herbal CSA.

While I was on the hunt for an herbal CSA, I really wanted to find something local, something that offered a handful of products with each package, and something that was sent with the changing of seasons. For herbs, especially, the shift of seasons calls for a different set of medicines to help keep your body and mind balanced and ready for the changes the earth brings.

You may have different wants and needs for your herbal CSA, and it’s really easy to do some research to find one that works for you. I did some searches on Google as well as on Local Harvest before I came across Wild and Wise.

About Wild and Wise!

This CSA is based out of Humboldt County in California, so while it’s not immediately local to SF, I was comfortable with the herbs being grown and the medicine being made just a few hours north. The huge selling point for me on this Herbal CSA in particular was the collection of items sent at the start of each season. It’s perfect!

I also love that this is mostly a one-woman show headed by Nicole Gagliano, who puts her heart into everything she makes and really focuses on her goal of bringing community together around the common desire for local herbal medicines. Perfect! You can find more about her and Wild and Wise here, or check out info about becoming a shareholder here.

And Now for the Most Exciting Part! What Came in my Fall CSA Share.

This is the reason I really wanted to write about this wonderful CSA: I am SO excited about the items I just received for the Fall share.

In this share, I received:

Tulsi Rose Sipping Vinegar (more to come on sipping vinegars because I’ve recently become quite smitten!)
Peaceful Slumber Tea
Motherwort Tincture (one of my favorite herbs!)
Triple Berry Syrup (delicious blend!)
Herbs de Provence
Inflammation Tamer
Newsletter and little sticker!

See? What a lovely assortment of items. In the newsletter, Nicole describes each of the medicines, what they are used for and their contraindications. It’s one of my favorite parts of the season when I get to curl up on the couch and read through everything included. It’s like a little treasure chest!

So, that’s a bit about my CSA experience. I’ve really, really enjoyed it. Are you a part of any herbal or more traditional CSA? I’d love to hear your experiences and any recommendations!

**Note: these are my own thoughts and this post is in no way sponsored by Wild and Wise. (I just love the medicines so darn much!)

one of my favorite days of the year: raku day!

October 13, 2015October 12, 2015Leave a comment

Usually about once a year, I get the amazing opportunity to participate in a raku firing with some members of my ceramic community. I love anytime I get to fire my work and open the kiln to see the finished pieces, but raku is a completely different and very exciting process!

Raku firings are a special type of ceramic firing where the fired raku piece is removed from the kiln while still glowing hot. I love seeing pieces at this stage, because it isn’t typically something you get to see up close and personal. The pieces glow orange and fiery, the glaze bubbly.

After the piece is removed, it is placed in a container (we used trash cans) filled with combustible material (we used newspaper) in order to get really neat effects on the surface of the wares.

The whole process can be a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it – some of my favorite pieces have been fired this way! To top it all off, we head to a beautiful piece of land up north of Santa Rosa in northern California, and I just love being there in the hills with the amazing trees and creatures.

Between the raku and the fresh air (when away from the firing…), it is definitely one of my favorite days of the year!

Oh, and there are puppies!

Below are a few more snaps from the day this past weekend. Enjoy!

Xox.

online herbal medicine course!

September 30, 2015Leave a comment

I wanted to make a quick post to let you know that enrollment for my dear herbal medicine teacher’s first online course closes tomorrow!

Kami McBride is a fabulous teacher, and I know you’ll learn a lot from her. To learn more and enroll, click here.

You can also find some wonderful recipes in a guest post Kami did a few weeks ago on tsoana here.

If you have any questions, feel free to comment and I’m happy to answer! Her classes truly changed my life, and I learned so so much from her. Honestly can’t say enough good things!

new designs.

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015Leave a comment

It’s been a great couple of weeks with friends, family, and celebrating the Jewish New Year. It’s now Sukkot, one of my favorite holidays, as it marks the end of harvest time (and I love this time of year!).

We’ve got a lot of fun stuff cooking up for you too. More on that soon! In the meantime, take a look at some of the newest designs below:

(Let us know what you think! We’re really excited about some of the new directions we’re taking!)

I’m on a business trip up north in California for a few days this week and then head back up here again this weekend with my brother and dad (!!) for a bicycle race my brother is in. It should be a fun time, and I’ll have more updates for you next week.

In summary: things are hectic, but things are happy. Lots of love ❤

5 Practices to Help Bring you More LongTerm Happiness & Satisfaction

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Here’s to an exciting 2016!

Like this:

What’s a CSA?

Choosing an Herbal CSA.

About Wild and Wise!

And Now for the Most Exciting Part! What Came in my Fall CSA Share.

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