The holidays are drawing to a close, and let's face it.  Most of us probably need a drink.

In preparation for the final party of the year, I thought I'd highlight some delicious herbal cocktails.  Sure you can serve the traditional beer, wine, and champagne.  But hey, why not throw some glitzy drinks in the mix, that add both pizazz and just a bit of health into your evening.  They range from simple to complicated in preparation, and somewhat healthy to gluttonous.

And here they are, in that order:

Elderflower Champagne Cocktail

Basic Recipe:
3/4 glass of Champagne or Prosecco
1/4 glass of St. Germain (Elderflower liqueur)
1 sprig of mint

*Fill a tumbler with ice (or use a chilled champagne flute).  Pour in the Champagne, then top with St. Germain.  Mix well and top with mint sprig.  To look even fancier you can put a raspberry or cherry in the bottom for a sweet finish to the drink.

Did I mention that elderflower is a great herb to use when you feel a cold or flu coming on?

Lemon-Ginger Hot Toddy

Basic Recipe:
1 oz Whiskey
1 slice lemon
1 slice of Ginger
1 tablespoon of honey
Top with hot water

*Mix well and serve in your favorite mug.  Feeling sick?  Add some Echinacea Tincture, sprigs of thyme, cinnamon stick or any other herb that will make you feel better.  This is a great winter staple!

Raspberry Lavender Margarita

Basic Recipe:

1 1/2 ounces silver tequila, such as Patron
1/2 ounce Cointreau
1 1/2 ounces raspberry puree
1/2 ounce Lime Juice
3 fresh raspberries
1 dried lavender stem

*Mix together first 4 ingredients over ice in a shaker. Shake. Salt or sugar the rim of a chilled martini glass. Strain ingredients into the glass. Garnish with raspberries skewered onto a dried lavender stem.

Chocolate Mintini

Basic Recipe:
2-5 leaves fresh mint
1/2 ounce vodka
1 1/2 ounces Chocolate Liqueur
1/2 ounce Kahlúa®

*Muddle mint leaves and vodka, add chocolate liqueur and Kahlúa® over ice in a shaker. Shake well. Swirl chocolate sauce in the inside of the martini glass, strain in mixture and garnish with more mint leaves.



Three....two....one....Happy New Year!!!!

Be well friends,
Kristin

Well, you're not alone.  The holidays carry a lot of baggage.  The (sometimes) unrealistic expectations of holiday mirth and cheer, mixed with bittersweet childhood memories, and topped with the financial burden of gift giving. At a time when we are supposed to be drawing within and slowing down, we are expected to speed up and go out.

Thus, the revival of my Restore sequence.

This is a series of poses that can be very useful in times of stress, to calm anxiety, or simply come back to balance when you are feeling run down. 


1. Start seated- Close your eyes. Focus on your breath.  Breathing in to a count of five and exhaling to a count of five.  Let your awareness settle into the present moment and notice how your breath feels in the body as you expand and contract.

2. Bound Angle- Bring the soles of your feet together, spine reaching tall.  Let your knees slowly and gently travel towards the earth.  Begin to shift your weight to your left, then forward, right, then back.  Keep slowly opening the hips by moving in these wide circles.  Repeat 3-5 times, then reverse direction.

3. Cat/Cow- Come to hands and knees (Tabletop), shoulders over your wrists and hips over heels.  Take a deep breath in and look up as you arch your back, drawing your chest slightly forward.  Exhale and round the spine, gazing towards your navel and pushing the hands down into the floor.  Repeat 3-5 times, integrating your movement with your breath.

4. Table Top Twist- Re-align yourself into table top position.  Root down through your left hand and reach tall with your right arm. Bring it slowly underneath your left arm, twisting to the left and bringing your shoulder to or towards the floor.  Stay here for a few breaths.  Repeat on your other side.

5. Child's Pose- Keep your knees wide and bring your hips towards your heels as far as feels comfortable.  Rest your forehead on the floor, a blanket, or a block.  You can always use a blanket or bolster under your belly if your knees resist.  Stretch the arms out in front of you and reach towards the front of the room.  Breathe here, then slowly walk your hands out towards the right.  Open up your side body as you push down and away with the hands here.  Walk hands back to center and then over to the left.

6. Legs up the Wall- Move to the wall with 1-3 folded blankets or a bolster.  Stack the blankets and line them (or the bolster) up to the wall.  Begin with your right hip and shoulder just grazing the wall, sitting on the side of the blanket.  Slowly swing your legs up the wall and let your head and shoulders rest on the floor.  Don't be discouraged if you need to wiggle to get your hips closer to the wall, or if it takes you a few times to get there.  You'll get there eventually. :)  Keep your legs firm on the wall, but release your arms to your sides, palms facing the sky.  Close your eyes and let all the tension and anxiety you've built through your day melt.  Stay here 5-15 minutes, then slowly bend your knees and roll off your supports.  Stay on your side for a few breaths, then slowly come back to seated.  Ahhhhhhh!!!!!

Repeat as needed.  If we can approach this time of year with a calm and balanced mind, we will most certainly find that true holiday mirth and cheer.

Be Well,
Kristin

These cold dark mornings have me literally dragging myself (and the little ones) out of bed.  Grumpy old man sounds are often emitted out of my 7 year old's mouth.  Followed by.."but I'm tiiiiired!".

We all are darling.

With the days reaching their shortest length of the year, it can be hard to be motivated to face the dark early morning hours.  Cloudy skies rob us of our Vitamin D, which depletes us of energy and focus.  While exercise, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep to begin with all help; I also have a secret weapon.  Herbal Chai. 

Don't get me wrong, I love coffee.  It gets the job done, and I am up and out the door.  But over time it also leaves me feeling depleted.  You can't stay in overdrive forever.  This is where herbal chai comes in.  It's full of nourishing herbs that warm me, wake me, and improve my digestion to leave me feeling great.

Want in on the secret?  Here's my recipe:

Herbal Chai

•  2 quarts Water                 
  
•  1/2 tblspn long pepper or Whole Black Peppercorns
•  1 tblspn Cardamon Seeds             
  
•  6 Cinnamon Sticks
• 4 slices of peeled Ginger Root    
• Dashes of Astragalus, Dandelion root, Nutmeg, & Cloves to taste
  
• 1/2 tspn of Black Tea (optional)

~Bring water to a boil.  Add all ingredients except Black Tea, then reduce heat and let simmer 30 minutes.
~Add 1/2 tspn of Black Tea and let steep 10 minutes.
~Strain, add milk honey, or maple syrup to taste


I actually make a big batch of this (with powdered ginger) to have sitting around for a quick fix in the morning.  Steep about 1 tablespoon in hot water for 15 min.  Then, just add your desired sweetness and milk, and you are ready to go.
Try it yourself, or order from our store here: http://www.banyanmoonbotanicals.com/teas.html


Be Well,
Kristin

Need an easy homemade gift idea? 

It doesn't get any easier than infused honey.  Delicious, creative, and powerful medicine.  Here's what we've been doing this week:

1. Start by filling a clean mason jar about 1/3 full of herbs of choice.  Be creative!
Here we chose a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, orange peel, cardamon, clove, allspice, and black pepper.
Mmmmm....warming digestive herbs.

We made another batch with lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm.  I feel more relaxed just thinking about a cup of tea with this to sweeten it.

2. Get a nice big jar of local honey.  Our 5 lb. jar here filled about 2 mason jars.

Still following me?  I know, it's complicated.

3. Pour honey over herbs until the jar is full.  Place in a sunny windowsill for about 2 weeks.  Strain and pour into pretty bottles. 

Be sure to save some for yourself. :)

Your sweet gift is sure to be a big hit.






Be Well!
Kristin