Tush Treatment: Not Just For Tushes!

 Terrific Tush Treatment

Last week, during our fall veggie canning enterprise, my husband burned his finger. You know how small burns can hurt like fire sometimes?  Well, though my husband qualifies as a strong masculine type, he can be a bit of a baby about small injuries like this.  So, I dashed upstairs and grabbed my Terressentials Organic Terrific Tush Treatment Push Up.  As I was applying the Tush cream to his wound he asked, “What is this stuff'?” “Uh...uh, well,” I stammered, “it's Tush Treatment from our baby line.” 

Not looking him in the eyes, I went about my work.  He didn't even pull his hand away or complain at all.  Living with me, he has learned to go with the flow...somewhat.  After some minutes, I asked him how his finger was doing and he said it was just fine!  With all those great organic “skinful” ingredients in our Tush Treatment, maybe it shouldn't only be used for tushes.  

So spread you wings and apply your Tush Treatment to elbows, feet or dry skin patches, and of course, small burns.  Our Tush Treatment has a wonderfully fresh “new baby” smell with organic vanilla and organic essential oils of lavender and rose geranium to name a few.  Don't be afraid to experiment with Terressentials organic products.  Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies.

Spread the organic LOVE.

Stop by our Tent at Chartreuse & Co. Tag Sale on October 18th from 9-4

Stop by our Tent at Chartreuse & Co. Tag Sale on October 18th from 9-4

Enjoy the relaxing aromas of our hand-crafted, certified organic body care products. Delightfully overwhelmed by all those antiques and curios?  Take a break and experience the fresh scents and soothing ingredients of Terressentials' organic skin care products. Click here to find Chartreuse & Co. Tag Sale.

Small Miracles

Photos and Text: Mary

What's your favorite animal? Dogs and cats, our best friends and loyal companions, are popular choices. Whales and dolphins, elephants and pandas, eagles and penguins--the cuddly, exotic and majestic “charismatic megafauna” of the world always make the top ten list of favorites.

My favorite animal is an insect. Yuck, you may say. No way. Well, I'd like to rally support for an amazing creature, delicate but strong, beautifully colored, an unbelievable traveler – the monarch butterfly.

The Monarch Butterfly: Unbelievable Traveler

We've been watching for monarchs in the gardens here at Terressentials, and occasionally we're thrilled to find them feeding on the nectar of the many flowers blooming at this time of year. The monarch butterflies we see now started life as small larvae that hatched from eggs laid on milkweed plants (the only food for monarch caterpillars). This summer I temporarily adopted a monarch caterpillar and observed its transformation. The caterpillar fed on milkweed, grew and then entered the pupa stage, encasing itself in a hard, protective covering (the chrysalis). Magically, the gorgeous black and orange butterfly emerged from this shell within two weeks and stretched its wings in the sun for several hours before taking its first flight.

The Monarch Butterfly: An Amazing Transformation

This transformation, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to butterfly, is amazing in itself, but it's common to all butterflies and moths. The truly astounding part of the monarch story begins with the butterflies that hatch in the late summer and fall. They are the ones destined for an epic journey, the same journey undertaken by preceding generations. The monarch butterflies east of the Rocky mountains migrate en masse to their wintering grounds in Mexico. They follow the same route that their ancestors took and may even return to the very same TREE! Somehow, they know the way. These delicate insects, weighing no more than 0.026 of an ounce and with wingspans of 4 inches or less, may travel up to 3000 miles! The same butterflies that make the long journey south in the fall survive through the winter then begin traveling north in the spring, breeding along the way. Three or four new generations of butterflies will live and die before the southward migration begins again in the fall.

After emerging from its chrysalis, a monarch dries its wings.

Now that you're suitably impressed, it's time to become concerned. Unfortunately, our amazing monarchs are in real trouble. The monarch population has declined precipitously since its peak in 1996, due to destruction of its food sources and habitat. Milkweed, which is necessary for monarch caterpillars to grow and develop, and nectar sources for the butterflies (wildflowers, for example) are being mowed and poisoned (using toxic herbicides) along roadsides and in agricultural areas. Pesticides intended to control unwanted insects and weeds are also killing monarch caterpillars and butterflies. Furthermore, the monarchs' overwintering habitat in Mexico is being lost due to illegal logging.

We know what the problems are. The Monarch Task Force of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC), recommends that we do the following:

• Plant milkweed! As we've learned, monarch caterpillars need milkweed for food. You can find out which species of milkweed are appropriate for your area, as well as how to grow and plant them, by visiting the Monarch Watch website (www.monarchwatch.org). Monarch Watch sells milkweed plants and also offers free milkweed plants to qualifying schools and non-profits.
• Plant butterfly nectar plants! Monarch butterflies need the energy from nectar for breeding, for their long migratory journey, and to build reserves for surviving the winter. Add butterfly-friendly plants to your garden, along fence lines and in containers on your deck . . . And do not use pesticides! Nectar sources that grow well in the mid-Atlantic region include marigolds, Zinnias, Cosmos, Asters, Joe Pye Weed, Sweet Alyssum, and Goldenrod.
• Encourage public land managers to create monarch habitats! Roadsides and public parks are great places to establish “Monarch Waystations”, which include milkweed, nectar sources and vegetation that provide shelter for butterflies and larvae.
  
  

  

  Milkweed is the only food source for monarch caterpillars.

  Because the monarchs are strong, I believe they will survive and their numbers will rebound–but only if we do our part to maintain the habitat that they need. Their survival in a rapidly developing world will be a sign of hope, an indication that human beings truly value the beauty and wonder of these small miracles of nature.
  
  Resources: 
  

  • http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/monarch-butterfly/  
  • Monarch Task Force of The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) brochure, “Protecting Monarchs” (www.pollinator.org)  
  • www.MonarchWatch.org 
  
  

World Beat

Working in a store that promotes fair trade is wonderful because I am surrounded by arts and crafts created by talented people from all over the world. In addition to these beautiful goods, I am also surrounded by global music. Putumayo is a company that makes CD compilations of songs related to a particular theme or ethnic culture. 

The Yoga and World Yoga CD's are both soothing music which inspires both meditation and relaxation. The American Blues and Rhythm and Blues CD's are both classic blues tunes as well as remakes of songs. The Taj Mahal CD has a version of “Cakewalk Into Town” which is a blast! Women of Africa is a great mixture of diverse, soulful and inspirational music from all over Africa, that is fun, upbeat contemporary music that I can really relate to. The Acoustic Cafe and Acoustic America have mellow and fun tracks you can sing along with. 

My favorite choice though, is Arabic Groove. The Arabic Groove CD is a collection of funky contemporary dance party music from North Africa and the Middle East. Women of the World is my second favorite CD. It is a compilation of beautifully written songs by women from all over the world. There is also a Women of Jazz CD that is so good, it makes me proud to be a woman! The Vintage France and French Cafe CD's make you feel like you are walking around the Eiffel tower. I love these compilations because they never get old. I can listen to them over and over again and always hear something new and different. It is so refreshing to hear the diversity of so many different bands compiled on one album. People often ask me which CD is the best and that is really hard to answer! They are all so good!

Stop by soon and pick up a few Putumayo CD's to enliven your life, soothe your soul, inspire your creative muse and burn those winter calories as your feet dance to some fun and lively world beats and rockin' rhythms!

Tea Love

Thanks Ginny!

 It can be argued that the heart is our emotional center. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that the “shen,” which translates to spirit or mind, resides in the heart. You can prove this theory yourself. Think about the last time you were emotionally distraught, you may have experienced a dull pain deep in your chest.

Regardless of whether or not the heart is the seat of our emotional consciousness, it's so essential to take care of this vital organ. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention website states that heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the US. All the more reason to nurture your heart!

Terressentials offers a tasty, nourishing Pukka Tea blend called “Love Tea.” This tea contains a delicious combination of chamomile, elder flower, marigold petals, licorice root, rose petals and lavender flower. While lavender and rose act to warm the heart, the elder and chamomile calm and relax the body, and licorice root adds a sweet, soothing undertone. In its beautiful deep pink box, this tea would make a wonderful gift for your Valentine or any other tea lover in your life.

 Another Pukka blend perfect for when you're in need of a little comfort to get you through these cold winter days, is the “Elderberry and Echinacea with Elderflower.” This tea is super fruity and offers some immune support when you most need it. Along with the elderberry, echinacea root and leaf, and elder flower, this tea also contains licorice root for a rich, sweet flavor while the addition of anise and peppermint lend a minty, spicy bite. To add to the fruity fullness, there's a citrus surprise: orange peel and acerola orange essential oil.

Come to Terressentials and browse our section of Pukka teas displayed on our colorful wall. There's nothing like a hot cup of tea to warm you, heart and soul.

Homemade Cream Cheese Peppermint Mints

Here's a fun Valentine's Day treat you can make which is super easy. These melt-in-your-mouth sweet mints will impress your loved ones because they were made especially for them. It's one of the easiest candy recipes around.

You'll need:

4 oz organic cream cheese, softened at room temperature

3-4 cups organic powered sugar

¼ tsp organic peppermint extract (you can add a little more if you want a bolder peppermint taste)

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. In a medium size bowl, combine softened cream cheese, 3 cups powered sugar and peppermint extract. Form into a ball, adding more powdered sugar if needed so it isn't sticky. Taste to see if you would like a little more peppermint flavor added.

Roll the mixture into small balls and place on waxed paper. Flatten with a fork dipped in powdered sugar. You can also make cut-outs using tiny cookie cutter, or decorate with chocolate chips, a drizzle of melted chocolate or even sugar sprinkles. Let dry on waxed paper for at at least 2 hours, then put in air tight container, separating layers with waxed paper, and refrigerate.

You will be so pleased to find how delicious these little mints are!

Valentine's Day Everyday

Ah Valentine's Day! The day of LOVE. A day to show appreciation for that special someone in your life, or so the greeting card companies say. We, as emotional human beings, tend to put great value on this day-waiting, sometimes in vain, for that box of chocolate or that bunch of roses or the tender verse from the object of our desire. But, I say, look around! Love is all about you everyday, not just on Valentine's Day and it doesn't always have to be about you. Don't wait for someone to throw you a line of love, cast out yours first! Offer kind words, a smile, a chocolate, a flower, or a small trinket or even a wave! If love comes from the heart it will bestow an awesome vibe on the chosen ones, even if your chosen one is a stranger on the street. This year, my Valentine's Day gift to you is a beloved poem from my childhood:

Thanks plaisanter~!

What the Brownie Kept

A brownie found a feather white.

He gave it to an elf.

He could have put it in his cap

And kept it for himself.

A brownie found a pebble bright.

He gave it to a gnome.

He could have kept it for himself

To brighten up his home.

A brownie found a milkweed pod.

He gave it to a sprite.

He could have kept it for a bed

To nestle in at night.

A brownie found a pumpkin seed-

He found it in a ditch.

Instead of keeping it himself,

He gave it to a witch.

The brownie found some special thing

Almost every day,

But all he kept was just the joy

Of giving things away.

--Leland B Jacobs

Remember, everyday can be Valentine's Day if we treat each other with respect, care, love, compassion, and appreciation.