By Liz Thompson •
November 17, 2009
Who doesn’t love the spicy scents of the season, right? But you have to admit, summery scents are always welcome. Enter the newest creations from Jurlique: Body Wash and Lotion in the gorgeous scents of Rose, Lavender, Citrus and (here it is!) Jasmine.
I have been lucky enough to sample the latter and, let me tell you, it is delicious. The Shower Gel is thick and rich and foamy. And the Body Lotion – which on first impression seems a little thin – is actually very hydrating and leaves skin incredible smooth. Really! But my favorite part of the whole experience is the luscious scent. Subtly, fresh Jasmine that actually smells like the real deal and not a plastic imitation because it is made from natural essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance. Leaves you smelling yummy all day.
By Liz Thompson •
October 25, 2009
Summer may be gone for now, but certain bits of it last on: memories, vacation photos……new sun spots.
Several visitors have written to me asking for help reducing the appearance of sun spots and freckles. Though nothing short of completely avoiding the sun will totally keep spots at bay, being liberal with the sunscreen and choosing a few targeted products will definitely help.
By Lisa Kivirist •
September 2, 2009
One leaf on the maple tree turned bright orange. The apples on our trees now droop with bounty. The local drive-in went to weekend-only hours and starts movies around 8:00 pm because that’s when it gets dark now here in Wisconsin. Deep sigh. Yes, those bittersweet signs of fall are in the air.
My advice on how to deal with this transition? Throw a potluck party celebrating the abundance of summer while you still can. Call it post-gardening season therapy. There’s nothing more cathartic than feasting with friends, savoring and reminiscing about the bounty of this year’s harvest –- while undoubtedly starting to plot for next year’s growing season.
Here’s a mini-cornucopia of ideas to get you started. For more detail, check out my piece in Hobby Farm Home magazine: The Community Table: Celebrate your local bounty with a potluck meal of regional fare.
1. Focus on Fresh Bounty
Tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, salad and spinach greens.
By Becky Striepe •
August 13, 2009
It’s been hovering in the upper 90s here in Atlanta, and weather like this makes me crave ice cream like no other. This year, I’m on the hunt for my favorite vegan ice cream! The plan is to try new pints each week and share my findings right here. I know, it’s a tough life I’ve got.
This is going to be the last week for this challenge. Next week, I’ll do a wrap up and pick a favorite!
While staring at the frozen foods, I realized that despite reviewing vegan ice creams for weeks and weeks, I’d somehow managed to not pick a soy-based brand the entire time! Let’s be honest here: part of that was intentional. I’m not a fan of that soy aftertaste, especially in desserts. Still, in the name of science, it felt like the right thing to do, so I grabbed a pint of Soy Delicious green tea ice cream. This is a soy-based brand made by Turtle Mountain: the same folks who produce the Purely Decadent coconut-based ice creams. It’s gluten free and the label touts that it’s “fruit sweetened.” Here’s how it stacked up:
By Emily Konkler •
July 29, 2009
Not long after working for Eco-Tique, an eco-friendly fashion boutique in St. Paul, Minnesota, I began rummaging the internet for fantastic eco-friendly designers that struck my fancy. About a day or so into my search I came across She-Bible; my heart stopped. I had found my organic soul-mate. All of us ladies at Eco-Tique went a bit gaga for She-Bible and immediately began selling the spring garments at the store.
Since finding She-Bible I’ve had my eye on quite a few items, pining over them each day with or without drool running down my chin, a couple of them being The Faithfull Pantsuit and The Bandit Scarf. I’m pleased to announce, for my birthday, I purchased both these items and am overflowing with bliss. Everything I’ve bought from She-Bible (six items- I like to keep track of my She-Bible closet count) has exceeded my expectations, always modern, artistic, unique and inspiring.
By Emily Konkler •
July 27, 2009
Necklush is quite possibly a gift from God made by the hands of two men, Stephano Diaz and Troy Mattison Hicks. The Necklush (patent pending) was created in Brooklyn, NY and was first sold on the streets of NYC. Now available on Etsy, Supermarket, online retailers, and the duo’s very own site it’s sure to win over any accessory addict, like myself.
Necklush can be worn by males or females all year round making it an essential eco-friendly accessory. Each scarf (print included) is handmade to order, use only non-toxic inks and many colors are available in organic cotton!
By Suneet Bhatt •
July 23, 2009
I’m getting older. I realize this because the arrival of summer just doesn’t matter as much as it did before. Beyond serving as an indicator for when I can stop wearing sweaters and when I need to start giving up my weekends in favor of weddings, summer brings little in the way of day-to-day change.
That’s not the case for the younger kids in my life—little cousins, nieces, nephews. To them, summer is the light at the end of the tunnel. There are no weddings (or at least, nothing they need to plan for). There’s only opportunity.
I am fascinated by what “opportunity” means to this generation. When I was young, I had two non-religious opportunities to get involved. I could volunteer at our local hospital, or I could volunteer with our local congressman. I ended up doing both—and feeling fulfilled by neither.
By Becky Striepe •
July 23, 2009
It’s been hovering in the upper 90s here in Atlanta, and weather like this makes me crave ice cream like no other. This year, I’m on the hunt for my favorite vegan ice cream! The plan is to try new pints each week and share my findings right here. I know, it’s a tough life I’ve got.
OK, confession: We had a strange temperature drop over the weekend, but I remained dedicated to my quest. This is in the name of science, after all!
I got adventurous this week and picked up a pint of organic, gluten free Banana Fudge ice cream from Good Karma. Like the Purely Decadent last week, this one is not soy-based, but it isn’t soy free, either.
On Monday night the Lady Rogue Business Network, local underground supperclub Rogue Apron’s business-oriented spin-off, hosted a Bring Your Own Pint Ice Cream Social. What better opportunity to try out a new ice cream and see what other folks thought?
By Lisa Kivirist •
July 23, 2009
July ushers in the epitome of summer garden abundance here in Wisconsin. So I was disappointed to see my local supermarket in town selling a teeny “fresh” box of basil from California, a quarter of an ounce for $2.49. With these high ingredient prices, it’s no wonder making your own pesto hasn’t evolved to higher home culinary status.
But ignore that price tag. With a little planning, you can make the amazing homemade, local pesto that will keep you savoring summer all winter long. Here are a few frugal tips to get you started:
1. Grow Your Own Basil
There’s a reason why fresh basil comes with such a high price tag: the herb is incredibly hard to keep fresh. From the moment it is cut, the leaves start to wilt, making transport very difficult. One of the most economical ways to get your feet wet in gardening is to grow basil (or any fresh herb you use frequently), which can readily be grown in a container or pot.
By Becky Striepe •
July 16, 2009
It’s been hovering in the upper 90s here in Atlanta, and weather like this makes me crave ice cream like no other. This year, I’m on the hunt for my favorite vegan ice cream! The plan is to try new pints each week and share my findings right here. I know, it’s a tough life I’ve got.
In the spirit of eating less soy, I went for a pint this week with a coconut milk base. This one does have some soy ingredients, so if you’ve got an allergy you’ll want to beware. Some of their flavors are completely soy free, but the Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl contains soybean oil and soy lecithin. Enough with the allergy information already! Let’s get to this week’s frozen vegan treat!
By Lisa Kivirist •
July 16, 2009
Every mid-July, I hit a culinary rut. An odd confession, I realize, given that right now fresh garden fare is edging on peak abundance and gifts me with a daily cornucopia of seasonal produce for ingredients. But as the zucchini harvest piles up on the kitchen counter this time of year, I feel a bit overwhelmed and uninspired. I crave a fresh cooking groove.
However, I’ve learned that just like any artist needs to at times rekindle a creative muse, we foodies too need a dose of cooking inspiration, especially during this time when we have a bounty of fresh fare to savor.
Here are three tips I’ve discovered for shaking up a peak summer cooking rut, followed by a summer breakfast classic we serve at our Wisconsin B&B, Inn Serendipity: Zucchini Feta Pancakes, that will cure any summer cooking rut that ails you:
1. Flip Savory and Sweet
Twist the expected menu and serve a familiar item category a new way. For example, most folks expect pancake to be bread-like and sweet, swimming in a pool of syrup.
