What is Forest Bathing?

There's very little I won't try in the name of health and wellness, but I was convinced I found my limit with this one. I assumed forest bathing involved marinating naked in a lake surrounded by trees, praying no living creature came along. That didn't seem relaxing. Thank God I was wrong!

Forest bathing is simply spending time walking, mindfully, and unhurriedly in nature, preferably in (surprise, surprise) a forest. The combo of the natural aromas, fresh air, and beautiful scenery relaxes and rejuvenates us. 

There are hundreds of essential oils available. Crazy, I know, and yes I want them all. While each one shines in its own way, many of the benefits overlap from oil to oil. Which is great news; that means you don't need to buy a massive kit to get started with aromatherapy. 

The Essential Oil Starter Kit

I've heard it said by many herbalists and aromatherapists and it's true: it's better to know one oil (or herb) and its many uses really well than it is to know a little bit about and only one way to use a lot of them. In my opinion, there are really only three essential oils you need.

Is there anything more lovely than a freshly cut avocado? No, I don't believe there is. Maybe a bowl of guacamole, maybe. Growing up in the land of fish tacos and the best carne asada fries in the world, my love affair with avocados started at a young age.  And I couldn't be happier that the rest of America is finally singing avocado's praises. You deserve it avocado, you deserve it. 

Not only are avocados incredibly delicious, they're also uncommonly healthful, versatile, and downright photogenic. Their benefits are innumerable and their uses infinite. Whether you're using the oil or the whole fruit, you're sure to reap loads of fertility, health, and beauty benefits.

Peppermint and lavender oil saved my life one day. Ok, so that might be a a bit of an overstatement, but they certainly helped, a lot.

My period had just started, and while my PMS has gotten MUCH better over the last year or so, every now and again I have cramps that don't exactly tickle. I randomly decided to blend coconut oil with lavender and peppermint oil and massage it into my back, tummy, and hips. WORKED. LIKE. A. CHARM. I was sold! Hooked!

After completing an intro to essential oils course online, I knew I had to know more about the world of aromatherapy. So I signed up for a level 1 certification course at the New York Institute of Aromatherapy. And it was amazing. 

I learned so much and I'm continuing my studies, which means I will be sharing aromatherapy information, tips, and recipes here.  

Recently and fortunately, the American idea of low fat equaling healthy has been turned on it's head. Studies and practictioners have shown just how important fat, the right fats, are to our health and fertility.

Unfortunately, not everyone is on board yet. After nearly two decades of having the medical and nutrition community (not to mention the media, our neighbors, friends, and mamas, too) tell us fat is the antichrist and behind all that is evil, it's no surprise that it's taking some time for many of us to fully embrace fat. But embrace it we must.

Contrary to what we were led to believe for soooo long, fat is not our enemy. If healthy skin, a fertile body, and a happy and peaceful mind are your goals, fat is definitely your friend.

It's that time of year again; Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Which means it's time to give, receive, and eat chocolate! I'm not sure how or why chocolate became THE go-to gift for THE romantic holiday, but I'm not complaining.

So, in celebration of love, chocolate, and the love of chocolate we're taking a look at some health and beauty benefits of one of my favorite things in the world: CHOCOLATE!

Now, before I dive into the good stuff, let me preface all of this with a gentle reminder (to myself...) that good for you does not mean go hog wild on it. The right kind of chocolate or cocoa has loads of benefits but excess is still excess.

Growing up in Southern California, the land of eternal summer, I tend to romanticize snow storms. I am almost embarrassed to admit the number of times I imagined myself lying on a (faux) bear rug in front of a flickering fire place. My outfit of choice was typically a cozy oversized sweater and knee high socks. And there was usually a good book in one hand and a hot beverage in the other. So when Old Man Winter blew into town last weekend and dumped over two feet of snow on NYC, I seized the chance to stay in, stay warm, and live out my dream.

While I don't have a fireplace or a bear rug, I do love wearing a cozy sweater, reading a good book, and sipping tea when the temperature drops. If you are anything like me, you may have been on the lookout for some new drinks to add into the rotation. My five current favorites are below.

Each recipe (I use that term loosely) is simple, just 4 ingredients or less, not including the water, milk, or sweetener, and they all happen to be super healthy. All of the ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. Some even fight against bacteria and viruses. But most importantly, they are tasty. Feel free to play around with the measurements. Find what you like and enjoy. Happy sipping, pinkies up!