The Bidwell Chronicles

Five Must Haves for Winter Beauty

2011-11-22T06:15:00.016-05:00

Winter has already reared its head in much of the northern hemisphere. Time to adapt your wardrobe and beauty routine. Here are our top five must-haves for the season:

1. Tights! We've seen gorgeous tights available in colors and patterns that will add punch to your typically neutral winter garb. Warm up with argyle, sweater knits and multicolored stockings to wear under skirts, dresses and tunic tops. Styles range from neutrals to metallics in eye-popping hues of aqua, purple, red and orange. Check out the selections at HUE, Modcloth and Kohl's.

2. Metallic Nail Color! Silver, gold, bronze and gunmetal, there seems to be no limit as to color choices this year, but they must be glitzy and they can even be magnetic. How cool is this? Nail lacquer that achieves unique designs with metallic particles to create a pattern on the nail using magnetic forces. It's true! You can get this amazing new accessory at Sephora.

3. Skin Smoothers! You too can have baby soft skin all winter long. How? Exfoliate, my dears, every day if you dare. New formulations of body scrubs include skin-loving butters, oils and nutrients along with body buffers like jojoba spheres, fine grain sugar and mineral salts. Bidwell Botanicals offers numerous options including holiday faves Gingerbread Latté and Sugar Plum. It's a one step exfoliating and smoothing process you can do in your shower. Just wet your skin, scrub gently with the product of your choice and rinse clean leaving skin super soft and glowing. On sale now through the end of November!

4. Hair Tamers! Cold air, snow, rain and dry indoor heat can wreak havoc on your tresses. Lucky for you there are so many choices right on your drug store shelves to help keep you locks in line. Calm frizzies with L'Oreal EverSleek Frizz Taming Crème Serum, used along with the EverSleek sulfate-free shampoo and smoothing conditioner, your hair will be full of body and free from flyaways. I've used this product on my naturally crazy curly hair and it works miracles!

5. Sweaters! You have to stay warm outside but you don't want to get heat stroke indoors so layer, layer, layer! Cardigans are awesome to wear over turtlenecks, tees or blouses and fit smoothly under your jacket or coat. Give your winter wardrobe a color boost with these classic cardigans in colors and patterns that are sure to please. Ann Taylor offers super fine wool sweaters in colors like fresh tulip and spiced cherry. Their Loft selections include this party-pretty sequined draped cardigan and they're offering 40% off your entire purchase! Looking for a quick color fix for less cha-ching? Target offers the Mossimo Women's Ultrasoft Cardigan in a plethora of colors for under $10.00.

So there you have it! What are your must haves for the winter season?

Sugar and Spice

2011-09-26T20:56:00.004-04:00

Here comes my favorite time of year! I love the cooler weather, changing leaves and all of the fall/winter holidays. So excited to bring back our classic holiday products! Our Spiced Pumpkin gift set is on sale until September 30th. Get one (or more) of these deliciously scented goodies. They make perfect host/hostess gifts and appreciated tokens of your affection as holiday gifts. We're offering 20% off each set that includes a jar of our award-winning Shea Butter Sugar Scrub and a bar of Spiced Pumpkin Soap all wrapped up in a festive gift box. Just use check-out code: spice09.

Happy Mother's Day (coming soon!)

2011-04-28T14:36:00.005-04:00

Pssstt... did you know that Mother's Day is May 8th? I know, it sneaked up on me too! Fear not, friends, you can spoil her with our natural spa, bath & body treats, including decadent moisturizers, scrubs, artisan soaps & more. Still can't decide? We have instant E-gift cards to save your day and pamper your Mama!

You'll save 20% with discount code: lovemom8
Sale Dates: 4/29 - 5/8, 2011.
Purchase $75 + get free domestic shipping!
Free samples in every box!

Good Morning, Sunshine!

2011-03-29T11:09:00.002-04:00

At a recent doctors visit I learned that many people have vitamin D deficiency. One of the most natural sources of vitamin D is sunshine. Your body does not naturally create vitamin D, it was designed to make it through sun exposure - UVB rays to be exact. We've all been drilled to stay out of the sun due to skin cancer concerns, and rightly so. Be smart and wear sunscreen as directed and limit your time in direct sun especially during peak hours in the middle of the day. You do need a bit of sun time to recharge your vitamin D batteries and just 15 minutes a day will help boost your levels naturally. A little bit will do ya!

Lip Service

2011-02-23T22:43:00.003-05:00

Considering the recent weather events I'd wager a guess that a lot of you are suffering from painfully chapped lips. Am I wrong? Didn't think so! The number one BEST way to cure winter-lip problems is to prevent them in the first place. Too little, too late? Try these tips:

Protect and soothe lips with a highly emollient lip care product. One that contains occlusive oils such as petrolatum or beeswax are best. Vegetable oils such as castor or shea butter will help to retain moisture and keep the tender lip area from being battered by cold winds and dry indoor heat.

True Fact: DO NOT constantly lick your lips! This habit might bring temporary relief to dry lips but saliva contains digestive enzymes that can do more damage than good to already chapped lips. The moistness will evaporate very quickly and will actually make your lips drier.

You might not think about this as much when it's freezing outside, but it's really important to make sure you take in the recommended amount of water each day all year round. This helps to maintain your body's hydration levels and will aid in keeping skin and lips healthy.

Try to include foods that are rich in Vitamins A, B, C and B2 in your daily diet to help maintain healthy skin and lips.

When purchasing lipstick go for the moisturizing types that contain extra oils and butters to keep lips soft and supple.

If your lips are mega-chapped and cracked apply a dab of Vaseline over your favorite lip care product, Blistex or Carmex are great choices, just before you go to sleep. This will go a long way to healing and protecting your poor abused pucker.

I hope these hints help. Smile! Winter can only last, what, another few months or so?

What is Cyber Monday?

2010-11-28T16:37:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow, November 29th, is Cyber Monday. What's that, you ask? Why it's the internet version of Black Friday, only this time there's NO lines, NO traffic and NO insanity! Just great savings on awesome gifts for every deserving boy and girl on your list! 24 hours - FREE shipping (in USA) - FREE gift wrapping - FREE gifts for you! Just use code CYBER10 at check-0ut to receive your discount. What's not to love?! Need more info? Click Here and then Go! Go! GO!

Giving Thanks

2010-11-11T10:41:00.010-05:00

For those of us residing in the USA, Thanksgiving Day is right around the bend. How did it get here so fast? If you're having family and friends over for the big feast you'll no doubt be anxiously going over the details to make sure everything is ready so you can avoid last minute panic attacks.

Here are a few suggestions to keep you sane this season:

Make a list (and check it four times!) of the food you will need to purchase to feed your crowd and then some. No one wants to run out of food on Thanksgiving Day!

Buy your turkey(s) frozen in advance and make sure you take them out of the freezer and put into the fridge with enough time to fully thaw before the big T day. (Don't ask me how I know this...)
Do you have football fans coming over? Don't fight it - they're going to want to watch the games all day long. Make sure the cable/satellite/whatever-you-use is working correctly, cordon off an area for their viewing pleasure (preferably one with doors to shut so their exuberant cheering or booing can be somewhat muted) and make sure you have finger foods for them to munch on in the hours before the big event. Trust me on this.

Purchase beverages including bottled water, wine and/or beer, coffee, and cider to have on hand for thirsty guests before, during, and after the meal.

Check to make sure you have enough seating for your guests. Nothing worse than coming up a chair short (well - running out of food or burning the turkey might qualify). If you need to rent tables or chairs, make sure you call early to reserve what you need and then pick it up the day before.
If you're making the pumpkin pies, do NOT forget to add the sugar to the recipe before baking. (Again, don't ask me how I know these things.)
If children are in the mix of company this year, having something for them to do besides run rampant around your good china is a very good idea. Set up a game room, crafting area or, if the weather permits, a play area outside. Holiday movies on demand are life savers if they run out of constructive things to occupy their time. If you're renting DVD's, do so early as the good ones will go quickly!
If you have any questions - and I do mean ANY - about recipes, decorations or entertaining check out Martha Stewart's Thanksgiving pages. http://www.marthastewart.com/thanksgiving-index

Above all else, make sure you take some time to reflect on what you are truly thankful for and spend some quality time with your loved ones. Life is too short to waste on family squabbles and hurt feelings. Remember to give of yourself this holiday season. This will not only help those in need, but will lift your spirits and provide a warm fuzzy feeling we're all striving to attain this time of year. Go forth and celebrate!

Fact or Fiction - You Decide

2010-08-25T10:11:00.002-04:00

For all of you that purchase from independent manufacturers of bath and body products, please weigh in on the proposed "Safe Cosmetics Act 2010". If this proposal goes through as it is written at this time many, MANY small businesses will be forced to close due to the restrictions, testing requirements and fees that will be involved. If nothing else, prices will be forced to go up to cover the costs of the requirements that would be enforced. Read the information, watch the videos both for and against and decide for yourself. If you wish to sign the petition opposing the current proposal and get additional information follow the link below.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/oppose-hr-5786-safe-cosmetics-act-of-2010/

To Preserve or Not to Preserve...

2010-05-22T13:27:00.007-04:00

It seems the whole world is going "green" or at least intimating they are. There is a lot of talk out there about foods, medicines and cosmetic products that contain alleged harmful chemical substances. Some of them do, but not all of what is being labeled as unsafe ingredients actually deserve the bad name. So what is the truth? It really depends on your source of information. Cosmetic chemists, doctors and cosmetic business owners might have different opinions on some ingredients than nature activists and self-proclaimed cosmetic cops. You've heard the saying,"If it's on the internet, it MUST be true!" Not always. You have to make sure your sources are legitimate and not just spewing scary information to get you to purchase a certain product or join their organization.

One of the hottest and most belabored topics is preservation of cosmetic and personal care products. There are numerous preservatives on the market ranging from parabens to essential oil mixes that claim to protect products from mold, yeast and fungi, among other things. Many of them work, some of them not so much. There are also a lot of cosmetic and personal care companies that make preservative-free claims. Some of them are telling the truth, the others, well, not so much.

One thing that remains a hard and fast rule is that water-based products or those that are likely to be exposed to water/moisture/humidity that are not properly preserved will eventually become hosts to any number of microorganisms that thrive in that environment. I prefer to use products that have been adequately preserved with tested, tried and true preservatives that will protect my products and my customers from being contaminated with say Staphylococcus. Yuck! Okay, so that's an extreme example, but the possibilities of contamination are many and varied and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to use products with "stuff" growing in them, I know I don't.

There are many new preservative systems popping up in the industry and hopefully some day we will find a way to preserve personal care products with completely natural ingredients. Scientists are working on it as we speak! The microbes have had a few zillion years to get really good at what they do. In the meantime we will use proper preservation techniques, good manufacturing practices and packaging that helps to maintain product integrity to ensure you get all the good stuff out of our spa and bath treats, and none of the bad!

"M" is for Mother

2010-04-14T17:18:00.008-04:00

Mother's Day is a very important and traditional holiday. Really. It is! Well I think it is because I just happen to be a mother. The good kind. I believe Mother's Day should be every day or at least once a week, but that's just me. At this point in my life my expectations for Mother's Day bliss are pretty minimal. My children are all grown and mostly out of the house with their own lives and busy schedules so I don't expect them to make a big deal out of it. A little deal would be nice.

What do you do for your mom on Mother's Day? Flowers? Candy? A card? Come on. You can do better than that! Nothing says "I love you" more than a unique, well thought out gift - money is not the object here. I remember when the kids were younger we spent the day in the yard making a garden. It was one of the best gifts I have ever received. If you're stumped for original ideas, here are a few to help spark your creativity.

Is your mother into arts and crafts? Find out what her current fave hobby is and make her a basket of supplies. For instance: a sewing fan would love to receive multiple colors of thread, cute buttons, gift cards to their favorite fabric store and perhaps a few sewing magazines that include projects, ideas and industry news. You could even pack these supplies and more into a sewing basket. They come in all shapes and sizes so you're sure to find one to suit Mom's fancy.
Your mom is a budding chef? How about registering for a culinary class at your local Wholefoods Market (or similar establishment in your area) and go with her. She'll not only learn some new techniques, she will get to share her love for cooking with you.
Get the gardening mom everything she needs for a kitchen herb garden. Herbs are super easy to grow and can be used in the kitchen and for all sorts of craft projects. She can grow them on her kitchen windowsill, the back porch or in a garden plot. Plants to start her out: parsley, rosemary, thyme, mint and dill. Need a little inspiration? Check out this herb guide for tips on herbs to grow, flavors and uses.

Each mother is unique and deserves something special to show her she is appreciated and loved. It really isn't about expensive or lavish gifts. Personally I prefer gifts from the heart that are thoughtful and meaningful. I bet your mom feels the same way.

The Truth About Bath Salts

2010-01-29T10:44:00.008-05:00

We've all heard that too much salt in our diet can be a bad thing. A little for seasoning (unless you have been restricted by your doctor) is a good thing as many salts contain trace minerals like calcium and iron. My Nana used to say, "Moderation in all things and you'll live a long life." When it comes to using salts for bath therapy, I believe more is better.

Why use salt in your bath? Some benefits include soothing stressed muscles, easing the symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and helping to draw out toxins. Think natural healing mineral baths or hot springs that people flock to for help with any number of ailments. Not to mention the soothing aromatherapy effects of soaking in a scented salt bath. Salts change the osmotic balance of the water so that less water is absorbed by the skin through osmosis, thus reducing the pruning effect you might experience after soaking in the bath and effectively softening the skin.

Types of commonly used bath salts:

Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate for body detox, sore muscles and skin ailments)
Sea Salt (sodium chloride contains therapeutic trace minerals)
Dead Sea Salt (contains a multitude of natural beneficial minerals)
Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda softens the water, soothes itchy skin)
Sodium Sesquicarbonate (alkalinity source that helps soften water)

There are many types of exotic salts that may be incorporated into salt bath therapy such as:

Hawaiian Red Alaea - Rich in trace minerals and iron oxide.
Himalayan Pink - Ancient deposits of this crystal salt are mined from deep inside the Himalayan Mountains and provide beneficial amounts of 84 trace elements & iron.
Organic Grey Sea Salt - Organic sea salt from the Isle of Noirmoutier undergoes no treatment after harvesting allowing it to keep its essential nutrients.
Cyprus Black Sea Salt: Crystal salt pyramids that are mixed with activated charcoal to increase the natural detoxifying properties of the salts.

Bath salts are available on nearly every drug store or grocery shelf these days. Though all products are not created equal and some use more of the fillers than the beneficial salts, most serve the purpose of relaxing and soothing while you bathe. Whether you prefer scented, moisturizing or herbal bath salts your options are fairly limitless.

You can make your own simple bath salt mixture with Epsom salt or sea salt. Just throw a cup or two into warm running bath water and get in when the salts are dissolved. Add some fragrance or essential oil and a few drops of vegetable or nut oil (olive, sunflower and macadamia nut are all good choices). Be careful getting out of your bath if you add oils as the tub can get slippery. For best results it is suggested that you soak for about 20 minutes and use a good lotion or cream after drying off to help retain skin moisture.

Spa Therapy

2010-01-20T09:53:00.007-05:00

We all need a bit of TLC once in a while and indulging in a bit of spa therapy might just be the ticket to beat the winter blues. If you can afford to go to a spa and partake of their many and varied services, by all means do so. Some spas, like Canyon Ranch, offer everything from manicures to a full week of restorative treatments, nutrition counseling and more. If you feel the need to spa but don't want to spend the money or time try creating a quick in-home spa experience.

What you will need:
scented candles
relaxing music
exfoliant (sugar or salt scrub)
mineral soak, oils or bubble bath
massage oil or moisturizer
cozy bathrobe and towels

Now that you have your accouterments make sure you have at least an hour to yourself without interruption. Turn off your cell phone and tell your family you're not to be disturbed. Pour a glass of wine or get a chilled bottle of mineral water, go into your bathroom and lock the door. Turn your music on low, dim the lights and light a few candles. Spa time!

The first thing I do is run a warm bath with a moisturizing mineral soak or bubble bath so it's ready when I want to step in the tub. While the bath is filling I use this time to exfoliate. I have a separate shower/bath, if you don't you can just wait to run the bath when you're done with your treatment. Step into your shower to moisten your skin and use your selected scrub to buff away dry, dull skin cells from top to bottom using gentle circular motions to help stimulate blood circulation. Don't forget to give special attention to elbows, knees and feet. Rinse the scrub off with warm water.

Time to sink into a scented tub of soothing water and soak for about 20 minutes. That should be enough time to drink your wine or mineral water and let the cares, aches and pains of the day fade away. When you're done with your soak, lightly pat your skin dry and apply your choice of moisturizer. If you're lucky to have someone willing to give you a massage, go for it. If not you can use a gentle kneading motion when you apply your lotion to further relax and rejuvenate your muscles. Use a good foot cream and slip on a pair of cotton spa socks, slide into your warm, cozy robe and you'll be ready to drift off for a well deserved nap or a good night's sleep.

It's easy and inexpensive to treat yourself to a relaxing spa experience. You can add additional treatments like pedicures and manicures, facial steams, face and body masques and hair treatments. Spa days will help you refresh your outlook and relax your body, mind and spirit. It does take some scheduling in our busy lives, but of course, you know you're worth it!

All I Want For Christmas...

2009-12-11T10:49:00.005-05:00

Every year when my kids ask me what I want for Christmas I tell them, "Peace on Earth." I would settle for peace in my general vicinity but as with most folks there always seems to be some drama or excitement going on. At least I'm never bored! My favorite part of the holidays is the family and friend time. I look forward to being surrounded by loved ones exchanging gifts, hugs and laughs.

This is going to sound really hokey but I really do love to give. Receiving is nice but not necessary. If I could I would love to give my children everything they desire. A new car. An acceptance letter from Harvard Divinity. A good job with good pay. Financial security all around and good health would be a bonus. Can I do this? Of course not! They have to work for these things and then they will hopefully reap the rewards. The best gift I can give them is my unconditional love and support, and that I do and have done all of their lives. Unfortunately you can't wrap that up and put it under the tree so I will have to come up with something a bit more tangible.

So what do I really want for Christmas? How about snow on Christmas day? Okay so that's a wish. How about a quiet day spent with my family or an evening out with my husband? Realistically I'd like a toaster that actually works properly - a four slice toaster that does bagels, thank you! A day at the spa is always welcomed. Oh, and as long as we're dreaming, remember diamonds are a girl's best friend. I'm just saying...

What's on your wish list?

Chocoholics Unite!

2009-12-04T09:21:00.014-05:00

It's getting pretty cold even here in the south and that makes me want to sit by the fire with a delicious cup of hot chocolate and the treat du jour. Some of my fondest childhood memories revolve around hot chocolate, even if I did live in Florida. We used to go ice skating in the summer (yes, it was an indoor rink) and they sold scalding hot chocolate in Styrofoam cups. It was amazing to be cold in July! I gulped down the boiling brew with my friends while throwing the shaved ice from the Zamboni at one another after our skating sessions. Ahh, good times!

I freely admit that I'm a chocoholic and it is my humble opinion that really good hot chocolate does not come in a pouch you add boiling water to. No, my friends, you must work for really great things and rich, decadent hot chocolate is one of them. You can go to Williams-Sonoma and purchase their shaved hot chocolate but I prefer to make my own mix and keep it sealed in a canister or Tupperware for use at my leisure, not to mention I can tweak it to my personal preference.

Easy Shaved Hot Chocolate Recipe:
Chocolate, any kind, any flavor but keep in mind the finer the chocolate the better the brew.

Using a food processor or sharp knife, chop the chocolate course bits. You want it to be small enough to melt quickly in hot milk. Store chocolate shavings away from heat in a sealed Ziplock, airtight Tupperware or sealed food-safe cello bag inside of a decorative tin and use within 2-3 months. Trust me the use-by-date won't be a problem!

To Make:

Milk, whole is preferable but you can substitute 2% if you must.
Unsalted Butter, optional but amazing
Flavoring of choice

Heat 8 ounces of milk gently on your stove top (or quickly in your microwave oven) and add 1 ounce (about 3 Tablespoons) of the chocolate shavings and stir to melt completely. Tada! You have just made one crazy-good cup of cocoa. Take note from my previously mentioned childhood experiences and make sure you don't make the milk too hot. To make a super rich treat add 1 teaspoon of unsalted butter to the milk before heating. Not dietetic by any means but oh so yummy!

Flavor Additions:

Flavored chocolate such as peppermint, white chocolate, dark, semi-sweet or milk chocolate bars.
Want an Aztec experience made easy? Try the Dagoba Xocolatl Bar with chilies and cocoa nibs, or add a touch of chili powder (just a touch!) to your cup.
Add a dash (or more) of Grand Marnier, Peppermint Schnapps, Kahlua, Godiva or Baily's Irish Cream and top with whipped cream.
Add any variety of flavor extracts or drink syrups available at your local gourmet market. You only need a touch as they are concentrated. Imagine butterscotch hot chocolate with french vanilla whipped cream drizzled with butterscotch sauce. Mmmm!
Garnish with mini chocolate morsels, chocolate curls, colored candy sprinkles or crushed peppermint candies. Rim the edge of the cup a la martini style with colored sugars or edible glitter.
Add a swizzle stick. Candy canes, cinnamon sticks or make your own chocolate stirrers with plastic spoons dipped in chocolate.

Here are a few ideas for gifts for your favorite chocoholic: (hint, hint)

For the young or young-at-heart Gingerbread Boy S'Mores from William-Sonoma (LOVE this place!)
Handmade Marshmallows? Yes!! Melt in your mouth or your cocoa, these blocks of deliciousness will forever change your views on marshmallows in a bag: 2 Sisters Cookie Bakery
Create a basket of heavenly delights including your homemade cocoa mix, a large mug, a selection of small bottles of liqueur, decadent chocolates or fancy cookies and a box of handmade marshmallows (yes, Virginia, you can make your own).

Now go start a fire, slip into something cozy, whip up some insanely satisfying hot chocolate and curl up with your favorite (insert book, guy or girl, pillow, pet) - you get the idea.

Holiday Sales and Online Shopping Tips

2009-11-29T16:45:00.006-05:00

I love shopping on the web and with independently owned businesses. Check out my faves list below and get all of your holiday shopping done in a snap!

Savor the Success Holiday Catalog (http://www.savorthesuccess.com/uploads/downloads/various/Savor_Catalog_2009.pdf)Savor the Success, a boutique social network and PR cooperative for women entrepreneurs, provides an easy way to support this movement with its second annual Holiday Catalog. Representing the best in beauty, baubles, baby gear and more, gift givers can find something for everyone on their list and support the economy.

Verve Cards (http://www.vervecards.com)
"VerveCards.com, home of “wry and snappy, never sappy” ecards for savvy senders, is running a 2-for-1 Holiday Sale starting Cyber Monday! Buy 1 Gift Membership, and get the 2nd one FREE! (Or, if you’re not yet a member, join for just $14.95, then get a FREE Gift Membership to give away.)

PSI Bands (http://www.psibands.com)
Shop Black Friday. NAUSEA FREE travel. Enjoy $3 off a set of Psi Bands on Amazon.com, http://bit.ly/5TKc4m, code: HAPITRVL

Celebrate Green (http://www.celebrategreen.net)
50% off 11 awesome eco-friendly gifts and one service from Celebrate Green! http://bit.ly/75TSXZ

CyberMonday Special: Enjoy FREE Gift/FREE Ship (US-48) on orders over $75 at ECStewart/CalligraphyPets http://ow.ly/GXEZ

Cyber Monday @ Biscuits by Lambchop: Free shipping & gift w/orders over $75 when you mention CyberMonday09http://bit.ly/77gCdC

Don't forget to shop Bidwell Botanicals' Cyber Monday Super Sale and save big! You will find gifts for everyone on your list, great prices, complimentary gift wrapping and free shipping to your door. We'll even throw in a free gift for you on orders totalling $50.00, and we will ship to you or direct to the recipient. It doesn't get any better than that!

Happy! Happy! Joy! Joy!

Surviving the Holiday Blitz

2009-11-24T09:22:00.006-05:00

It seems that the holidays rush in and out faster every year. I love this time of year and I want to savor and enjoy every moment of the family time, sparkling decorations and tradition. It is also our busiest time of year at Bidwell Botanicals so it's definitely a juggling act to get everything done and still have time to relax. I thought I would share a few strategies with you that I've come up with over the years that help me balance the crazy with the calm so I can enjoy the season.

I do a lot of my gift shopping online. Not only do I save gas and don't have to stand in line, I also find unique gifts that I wouldn't find in the big box stores.
Love to make cookies? Me too! Save time by making a base recipe and adding different ingredients to make lots of different cookies from one main batch!
Hosting a brunch? I started making breakfast casseroles a few years ago and they are delicious life savers! I put the main ingredients together the night before and pop it in the fridge. Remove 30 minutes prior to baking in the morning and you can serve it warm and have time to make mimosas and mingle with your guests.
Cooking for a crowd can wear you out. Try making as many things ahead of time as you can so you only have to make a few things the days of the feast. Desserts, side dishes and even the main course can be made in advance and reheated before serving. Here's a planning guide that helps.

Make it a priority to slow down and enjoy the warm feelings of the holidays that are here and gone so quickly. It's really the little things in life that make it all worth while. Spending time with your family and friends sharing good food, good drink and good conversation will help to make the season merry and bright. Cheers!

What is Your Aromatherapy?

2009-10-28T09:40:00.009-04:00

Aromatherapy by definition is the use of fragrances to affect or alter a person's mood or behavior. You likely experience it all the time without even being aware of it. For instance when I open the bag of coffee beans in the morning and sniff the exhilarating aroma of rich roasted coffee it actually makes me feel more energized even before my first cup. The intoxicating scent of fresh gardenias gives me a feeling of peace, as does the smell of rain.

Aromatherapists use essential oils of flowers, herbs and other botanicals to help heal and nurture their clients physically and spiritually. Lavender and vanilla are a psyche soothing combination while grapefruit and peppermint energize and rejuvenate. Clary sage helps to reduce stress and Pine Needle may bring a sense of well being, which explains why Christmas trees make me feel so good - or is it the presents 'neath the tree?

While essential oils are used by practitioners it is my opinion that all scents, smells, aromas, whatever you want to call them, can stimulate a response. Whether they bring back memories of places, people or time or give you a certain emotional or physical feeling, they do have an affect on us. The smell of pumpkin pie makes me feel cozy and comforted because it reminds me of holidays with family back home. Now for some that might induce a stressful feeling but thankfully it's a good one for me.

Do you surround yourself with fresh flowers? Have scent diffusers or candles burning? Revel in the grocery fruit aisle? What is your aromatherapy?

Think Pink!

2009-10-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bidwell Botanicals wants to do our part in helping to find the cure. We are offering our Think Pink Spa Pack at $5.00 off and donating 25% of the profits from this item to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Think Pink Spa Pack is a delectable collection of our Spun Sugar spa products packaged in a beautiful eco-friendly pink organza tote. The set includes Hydrating Body Milk, Shea Butter Shower Crème and Lush Lip Care. We're including a pretty pink journal and bookmark while supplies last. Hurry! Sale ends on October 31st at midnight.

It Makes Scents!

2009-10-06T21:21:00.012-04:00

It is a popular notion that memories can be triggered by aromas, but is this a scientific fact? You betcha! There is definitely science behind this phenomenon. Scent molecules are carried to the olfactory tract that just happens to reside next door to the amygdala which performs a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions. Odor-evoked memories are usually emotionally potent and often very vivid.

You have probably had this occur uncounted times in your life and not even realized that scent was the trigger of the emotional memories you experienced. When I smell musky aromas like patchouli or a woody incense I am immediately transported back to the early 70's and a groovy little shop on the beach that sold all sorts of jewelry, t-shirts, black light posters and other various sundry items that my mother wouldn't let us look at. The memories are very distinct and include the senses of sight, sound and smell. I was only about 13 years old and though it was a really long time ago (more than I'd care to admit!) the memory feels very fresh, like it just happened yesterday.

Stimulating scents are all around you from the grilled burger aroma being pumped out by Burger King that makes you feel hungry, to the ever expanding home fragrance products now available on every grocery and drugstore shelf. In the cosmetic and household fragrance industry you will find many scents that are made to not only emit a pleasing aroma but to evoke pleasurable memories that will keep you coming back for more. Each holiday season when we bring back our Spiced Pumpkin body care line we have customers gushing about their memories of the aroma of homemade pumpkin pie wafting in the air from the kitchens of their mothers or grandmothers and it makes them feel warm and cozy all over. That's the idea!

Some scents have calming effects like lavender, chamomile and vanilla, while others are meant to energize and rejuvenate such as peppermint, grapefruit and neroli. Aromatherapy has its origins in antiquity and many holistic and alternative health practitioners value the therapeutic properties of essential oils to help treat myriad maladies including depression, migraines, stress and sinus problems. You have likely heard the term "Chakra" that has come into mainstream vogue of late but has actually been practiced for centuries. Chakra is a Sandskrit word that means "wheel of light". According to traditional Indian medicine Chakra refers to each of the seven energy centers located along the midline of the body starting at the base of the spine and ending at the crown of the head. It is said that when all the Chakras are open and radiant the Chakra system is balanced, creating harmony between the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of a person.

I believe there is a valid argument that the smell of almost everything can affect you. They may trigger vivid memories, offer healing when used properly or evoke feelings of energy, peace or comfort. I advise caution when using essential or plant-based oils as some are very strong and a number of them should be avoided during pregnancy. Now that you have a starting point why not check into ways to naturally modify your moods and possibly your over-all health? It makes scents, right?

What's New in October?

2009-10-02T11:07:00.006-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Help Bidwell Botanicals and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation work towards a cure. We offer our Think Pink Spa Pack that includes our exclusive Spun Sugar Shea Butter Shower Crème, Hydrating Body Milk and Spun Sugar Lush Lip Care. The set comes packaged in our new eco-friendly pretty pink organza tote. We will donate 25% of our net sales from these gift sets to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Celebrate Autumn with the spicy goodness of Bidwell Botanicals' Spiced Pumpkin Artisan Soap. It's a little slice of heaven for your shower. Check out the Spiced Pumpkin Gift Set that includes our signature Spiced Pumpkin Sugar Scrub and Spiced Pumpkin Artisan Soap all wrapped in a festive fall package perfect for seasonal holiday gift giving.

Cosmetic Ingredients 101 - Part 2

2009-09-21T08:13:00.009-04:00

Today we'll discuss some of the scary-sounding ingredient names on the labels of your favorite personal care products. I have heard comments about people scanning cosmetic labels for "bad" ingredients like acids, alcohols and hydrogenated oils when really most of these are pretty benign. Let's investigate a few of the more common ingredients in this category.

Stearic Acid: A wax-like fatty acid that is made from animal or vegetable fats/oils via hydrolization. We use the vegetable source in our products to help thicken and stabilize lotions and creams. Stearic Acid is also commonly used in the cosmetic industry to help harden soap bars.

Hyaluronic Acid: In cosmetics it is used as a hydrator that can hold 1000 times its own weight in water. It's useful in moisturizing treatments to aid dry and/or mature skin as it helps to hold moisture in the skin. It is also purported to help draw ingredients deeper into the skin, but that is still being studied. Hyaluronan is a major component of your skin, where it is involved in tissue repair. You might recognize the trade name Restylane. This is hyaluronic acid in injection form used by dermatologists to help fill in facial wrinkles by temporarily plumping the skin.

Cetyl Alcohol: A member of the fatty alcohol group this ingredient is typically made from vegetable matter like palm or coconut. It is used in cosmetic products as an emulsifier, emollient or thickening agent and is nothing like the alcohol you're used to seeing on the drugstore shelves.

Citric Acid: A weak organic acid that is found naturally in many fruits, and is abundant in citrus fruit such as limes and lemons. While there are myriad uses for citric acid it is typically used in cosmetic formulations to adjust the acidity (pH) or in combination with sodium bicarbonate to create an effervescent product such as bath bombs. It is also used in detergents and water softeners as a chelating agent.

So there you have it. These are only a very few of the typical ingredients found in products on your drugstore shelves or beauty counters. While the words "acid" and "alcohol" jump out at you from the ingredient label they are not always as scary as they sound. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding ingredients you would like to investigate, please leave your comments on this post.

Cosmetic Ingredients 101

2009-09-16T11:34:00.028-04:00

Are you a label reader? I am and I always have been. I want to know what's in the stuff I put into and onto my body. I prefer to go organic if given the choice, but I'm not gonna lie, I love the variety of fragrances, flavors and colors available in the market today. I believe in a good balance between nature and science to make Bidwell Botanicals products safe, effective and as natural as possible and still have desirable fragrance and eye appeal. I'd like to think that other manufacturers of bath and body products do the same.

So, how do you know what these things are that you see on the product labels? You could do your homework and research the web looking up chemical names and botanical information, but that's time consuming and tedious for most us, and all resources are not accurate. You could trust the information you get from the website you buy your products from, but let's face it, you typically get the information they want to project rather than the truth, the whole truth and nothing but. To help you along your way I offer Cosmetic Ingredients 101. A continuing series of blog posts divulging the secrets of cosmetic and personal care ingredients including everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask, or you asked but you never got an answer that you understood.

Today we start with three very basic ingredient categories that are commonly used in the manufacturing of personal care products.

Water (Aqua): I know this is a no-brainer, but if you read the ingredient labels of water-based (hydrous) products you might see a lot of variation where water is concerned and it can be confusing. I've seen Distilled, Spring, Deionized and even Rain water listed as the first ingredient. Why so many different types? Water is not just water as it has minerals and chemicals depending on where it came from. We try to avoid using water with minerals or chemicals in it as it can create problems with other ingredients so we use steam distilled water and it is sterilized before inclusion in our formulas.

Some products list herbal or fruit infusions complete with the herbs, fruits or what-have-you as their first ingredient. That's a bit misleading as the actual levels in these infusions rarely contain a significant amount of the botanical materials and they should be listed separately and probably further down on the list. That is not to say they don't add to the product efficacy, but you probably wouldn't want to use a facial toner, for example, that has a very high percentage of peppermint or citrus extract as it could prove irritating. Keep that in mind when you're perusing the myriad choices on the drug store shelf. If it's at the top of the list presumably there's more of it than what's at the bottom.
Sodium Hydroxide (aka Lye): This is a critical ingredient in soap making. It is not, however, present in its original form in the finished product, at least it shouldn't be. This is one of the reasons why many manufacturers don't list it on their ingredient disclosure. It is what makes oils and water into soap - period. At some point in the process of taking a variety of ingredients and combining them to make soap sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide will have to be included. This is true for all types of true soap, including most liquid soap products and melt and pour soaps (aka glycerin soap). Some syndet (synthetic detergent) bars can be made with surfactants and waxes but they are not considered a true soap by the legal definition. There are hybrids of soap and syndet out there but where there is soap there is, or at least was, lye.

So if someone tries to tell you that they make soap without lye - well that's sort of a lie. They themselves might not be handling the lye but when the initial soap base was made it included lye or you'd have a puddle of oils and water in your soap dish. Any questions? No? Good. We'll move along then. (stepping off the proverbial soapbox)
Humectant: This is a broad category so we'll skim it today and delve deeper later. A humectant (pronounced hyoo-mek-tuh nt) is by definition: a substance that absorbs or helps another substance retain moisture. There are many varieties of humectants including natural and man-made sources such as honey, vegetable glycerin, lactic acid, propylene glycol and hyaluronic acid. All help to reduce transdermal water loss (TEWL) and attract and retain moisture.

All right students, that's all for today. Next time we'll examine some of the mysterious chemical names you can't decipher on the labels of your favorite beauty products. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding subject material please leave me some feedback. Class dismissed!

Keeping it Real

2009-09-10T08:50:00.012-04:00

We all know that television commercials and glossy magazine ads are a form of creative marketing. By that I mean they embellish the truth - a lot. Commercials that promise long, lush, natural looking lashes are particularly amusing to me. You too can have the lashes of the stars if you purchase several pairs of mink false eyelashes, but realistically you're not going to turn average eyelashes into doe-eyes with mascara alone. Magazine ads that show models with flawless complexions and perfect bodies touting any number of products or services and eluding that you will get the same results are just a tad exaggerated. Actually not even the beautiful people are as perfect as they are portrayed with the wonders of photo and film editing creating unattainable perfection.

Now, admit it, you are compelled by some of these ads to try the products. I know I am and I'm thrilled when something does some of what it was advertised to do. Mostly I'm disappointed but I am also realistic. I know full well that I will never look like a 20 year old model telling me that if I use (insert product name) that I can have wrinkle-free, pore-less skin like hers. I didn't have skin like hers when I was twenty!

In partial defense for this mummery, selling products in a glutted market and hard financial times has to be very creative in order to first get our attention and second prompt us to buy. It's highly doubtful than anyone is going to use "real" women in ads to promote beauty products. I suppose it's just the nature of the beast. We want to be beautiful so they show us what our culture considers the epitome of beauty and encourage us to strive for that unrealistic portrayal.

In my humble opinion we are all beautiful in our own way. I think the old cliche about inner beauty being the most important is for the most part true. For without grace and beauty of the heart and soul of a person outward beauty is only a window dressing and nothing more.

Top Ten Reasons to Start Your Holiday Shopping Now!

2009-09-03T09:28:00.006-04:00

It's already Labor Day Weekend! How did that happen? It seems the months just keep flying by and I can barely make plans and the month is over. I know most of you probably feel this way too, and that's why I'm offering my top ten reasons to start your holiday shopping now list:

September quickly becomes December in a wink of an eye! Don't be fooled by glimpses of summer still in the air. We're heading into Autumn people, and you know what comes next!
Take advantage of end of summer and Labor Day sales where you can scoop up all kinds of cute clothes, beachwear for the mid-winter vacation to the south and tons of gifts at outrageously cheap prices to store until December.
If you're looking for something particular and unique do it now. You're likely not the only one looking for it and if it's truly unique there won't be many of them to go around. Jump on it!
Holiday decorations are on sale all over the place right now. I picked up some very cool Thanksgiving table decorations for a very good price at Michaels. If you're planning on crafting decorations get in to your local craft store now as most are super stocked with supplies and you'll have time to get it done before the holidays begin.
Shop online? I know that a lot of people think web shopping means instantaneous gratification. Those of us that supply you with goods also get crazy busy during this time of the year and we adore customers that put their big holiday orders in early. It gives us time to get things made and shipped in a timely manner. It also gives you time, God forbid, to exchange items that were not exactly what you wanted, wrong size, color, etc and get the returns to you on time.
Lots of stores offer pre-holiday sales sometimes to move out old stock to make room for new items, but many times they cut prices on new items to make sure they make their profits early in the holiday shopping season.
Things can get a little crazy around the holidays with relatives stopping in, school productions, office parties and more. Getting your gift shopping done, wrapped and ready to give in advance will take a bite out of the frantic times to come.
Check for purchase incentives as many companies are offering buy 2 - get 1 free, or a gift with purchase that you can either keep for yourself or give to someone else.
I don't do huge, angry crowds, especially during a season I prefer to feel joyous and at peace with the world. Let's face it - standing in line with a bunch of grumpy, tired and frustrated people on Christmas Eve all fighting for the last "insert item name" is not my idea of a good time. By getting out there now there's plenty of merchandise, I can spread my spending over a few months and skip the mobs in December.
My top ten reason to start your holiday shopping now: (drum roll please) In the words of a wise comedian, "Git er done!" It never fails that if I procrastinate something happens and I wind up in an insane rush and for me that just takes the joy out of the holiday.

Those are my reasons to get a jump on your gift giving this year. In blog posts to come I'll give you some good suggestions on what to give, how to wrap it, where to buy and get great prices.
So put on your comfy walking shoes, make a list and check it twice, get a grip on that Visa and let's shop!!

Tomatoes and Peppers and Cukes, Oh My!

2009-08-26T10:20:00.006-04:00

In my opinion there is nothing quite as satisfying as harvesting the fruits of our labors. It gives me a feeling of confidence, that if I had to I could provide my family with sustenance in hard times. Many years ago my young children helped me with the garden and I used this quality time to teach them that food doesn't just grow on the shelf in the grocery store. That people had to work hard to bring forth such goodness and we should be thankful for their efforts.

People ask me why I bother growing vegetables and fruits that I could easily pick up at Harry's or even the local grocery store. First and foremost, I don't consider this work. It's a hobby and a passion. I know it sounds hokey, but watching a seed turn into a plant that gives forth fruit - well that's just amazing to me. I like knowing how my produce was grown and that they have no pesticides or other chemicals in them. I like picking tomatoes just before we eat them or munching on a crunchy kosher dill that I made in my kitchen.

Life can be overwhelming in many ways. Working in the garden slows time down a bit. The simple tasks of weeding, pruning and picking produce seem to make my life a little less insane. I won't lie - I am thrilled by the look on someone's face when I serve them a tomato basil salad with fresh mozzarella and they swoon with delight. Sharing our bounty with friends, neighbors and even local restaurants makes me feel like I'm accomplishing some of my goals to make this a better world. Lofty, I know, but in my small way I'm making a difference in someone's life. My version of paying it forward.

Our summer garden is winding down with September right around the corner, but here in the south we can still grow things like peas, lettuce and spinach before the first freeze. Then I can spend the cold winter months planning my next garden, pouring through seed catalogs and searching the web for that perfect heirloom tomato I can grow next year. It's the little things in life, my friends.

Figs! Glorious Figs!

2009-08-24T08:59:00.005-04:00

It's fig harvest time at Bidwell Botanicals. We love figs but the crop this year is insane! We leave the very top ones for the birds (also because we can't reach them). What to do with all of these luscious fruits? Here are a few ideas:

For an easy and delicious appetizer stuff ripe figs with goat cheese, wrap in prosciutto and grill or broil until warmed through. Drizzle with honey and serve warm. In a word: amazing!
Stuff chicken breasts with cheese, fresh spinach and chopped figs. Bake until chicken is done and serve with couscous or wild rice.
Eat them on ice cream, sliced into salads, or fresh off the tree.
Make preserves, chutneys or freeze figs in syrup (http://www.pickyourown.org/figs.htm)
Share them with friends, neighbors or local restaurants.

Check out the CDC for more information on figs: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/month/figs.html

Dog Days

2009-08-12T15:27:00.005-04:00

It's mid-August in the south and it is hot. How hot, you ask? Well it's so hot that the tar on the street is squishy. It's so humid that my carefully straightened hair now looks like I have a perm. Now that's hot! What can you do during these Dog Days of summer to stay relatively cool? I've got a few suggestions:

If you have a pool or access to one by all means use it! There's nothing like floating in cool water to help bring down the temperature. Add a cold glass of tea or lemonade to that and you have Nirvana.
Keep a fine mist spray bottle of water in the fridge. Add some lavender or cucumber hydrosol and use it to spritz the back of your neck, face, and anywhere else you require instant refreshment.
Drink plenty of water. There's nothing like dehydration to make you feel sluggish.
Speaking of dogs, DO NOT leave your pup in your car with the windows up when it's this hot! Remember to have plenty of fresh water for them to drink, especially if they stay outside during the day. They feel the heat too!
Dress in cool, comfortable clothing. Light colors not only look cooler they also help to reflect light and don't hold the heat like darker colors. Natural cottons, bamboo or hemp fibers are best.

Hang in there! The summer heat is nearly over for most of us. Personally I am looking forward to the first brisk morning of Autumn. Then I can start complaining about the cold.

What are Phthalates?

2009-07-26T10:23:00.006-04:00

There has been a lot of talk about phthalates in the news lately and most of us probably never heard of them until now. Phthalates (pronounced tha-lates) are a group of chemicals used in hundreds of products like toys, medical supplies, vinyl flooring, food packaging and cosmetics. In cosmetics they are employed as solvents or plasticizers in products like perfume, nail polish and hairspray.

According to the FDA it is not clear what dangers phthalates may pose. In a study by the National Toxicology Program concluded that reproductive risks from exposure to phthalate esters were minimal to negligible in most cases. There are many reports and commentaries that link use of phthalates to reproductive damage due to exposure during fetal development, premature puberty and other endocrine disorders.

Because of the concerns many cosmetic and fragrance manufacturers are discontinuing the use of phthalates in their products, Bidwell Botanicals included. Though there is no conclusive research that definitively states the dangers we feel it is best for our customers to use fragrances and ingredients that are phthalate-free.

For more information about phthalates please visit the following web sites:

US FDA/CFSAN - Phthalates and Cosmetic Products
Consumer Product Safety Commission - Guidance For Complying With Phthalates Requirements
P&G Beauty and Grooming - Phthalates Safety in Cosmetics
PCPC - Phthalates

The Summer Harvest Series - Part II

2009-07-15T15:43:00.011-04:00

Let's continue talking about the things you can do with your backyard harvest of fruits and veggies as previously mentioned in the blog post: An Overabundance of Produce . There are numerous choices for pickling, canning and fresh use, as well as fresh skin care you can DIY. Skin care? With fruit and vegetables? Absolutely! Strawberries are astringent and wonderful for facial masques when mixed with, what else, cream or honey. Cucumbers are soothing and cooling and help to reduce redness and irritation. Oh, and figs are not just for jams and Fig Newtons! You can even use tomato and garlic for oily skin care. No really - you can!

Host a Girls Spa Night or have fun with your kids whipping up a bevy of delicious recipes for your skin. Here are a few easy DIY formulas to get you started.

Strawberry Cucumber Smoothie Facial Masque:
(makes 1-2 applications)
You will need:
Fresh ripe strawberries - 3-4 large
2-4 Cucumber Slices
Honey - 1/2 tsp
Cream or Half & Half - 1/2 tsp
Olive Oil or Sweet Almond Oil (Optional - skip if your skin is oily)
Glass or Plastic bowl
Fork
Small, clean paint brush with soft bristles (Optional)
Wash and dry face or area to be treated prior to application.

Cut off the stem and cut up the strawberries and place them in a bowl. Smash with a fork until smooth. Add the honey, cream and oil (if using) and blend together.

Now for the fun part! It's easier, and more fun, if you have a partner for this procedure. Have them lie back and close their eyes. Place cool cuke slices on over their eyes to soothe and rejuvenate - it also helps to keep the masque out of their eyes especially when kids are doing this. Using your clean paint brush or clean fingers apply a thin layer of the strawberry mixture to the face avoiding the eye area. Relax for 5 - 15 minutes. Remove cucumber slices and wash face thoroughly, pat dry and use a moisturizer if desired. Discard any left over mixture.
Guacomole Hair Conditioner (makes 1 application)
1 Ripe Avocado
1/2 - 1 Cup Mayonnaise (depending on length of hair)
Skin and remove the pit from the avocado. Place in a bowl with the mayonnaise mash and mix thoroughly until you have a creamy paste.
Apply to scalp and hair and cover with a sheet of plastic wrap or a shower cap if you have one. Let the mixture sit on your hair for about 20-30 minutes. If you're doing this with youngsters you might have to cut that short but it will still help.

When time is up remove covering from hair and wash as usual, making sure all of the product is rinsed out. Typically you don't need a conditioner as the treatment should suffice. Kids love this treatment because they get to put "Gak", as my kids called it, in each others' hair and they don't get yelled at for it! Discard any left over mixture.

More Quick Ideas:

Use the same method as the Guacamole conditioner and substitute ripe bananas or mango and plain yogurt for the avocado and mayo.
For a soothing moisture masque mix an envelope of plain Aveeno oatmeal and enough honey to make a paste. Pat onto clean face, very gently rub in a circular motion without tugging at your skin for about 5 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
For oily and blemish prone skin make a garlic and tomato masque. I know it sounds ridiculous, but trust me it works! If you can get deodorized garlic puree at a health food store that's best for obvious reasons. If not, well you'll keep the vampires at bay, but it might leave you craving lasagna. Mix into 1/2 cup of tomato puree or tomato juice - 1 tsp honey or glycerin, 1 tsp garlic puree. If using tomato puree you might want to add a little water to thin it just a bit. Smooth mixture over face and allow to set for 5-10 minutes, rinse clean with warm water.

Have fun being creative. Your kids and/or girlfriends will love you for it, and so will your skin!

An Overabundance of Produce

2009-07-13T10:12:00.005-04:00

Every so often our gardens gift us with an overabundant harvest. This year it looks like it's going to be tomatoes and peppers. I'm not complaining. It's just that I have this really strong aversion to wasting things and I can only give away so many fruit and veggies to friends and family before they start running when they see me coming.

I am going to attempt to can salsa this year because we love it and I'll have all of the components readily available. I make it fresh all the time, but to put it up will be a new experience. I have been searching applicable recipes and thought I'd share a few with you. Salsa, it seems, can be made from almost any fruit or vegetable or a combination thereof.

Tomato Tips: There are a few guidelines to ensure the best quality salsa when canning. The type of tomato you use in important. Meatier, firmer tomatoes, such as Roma or other paste varieties hold up better than your average salad tomato. Don't use overripe or spoiled tomatoes for canning recipes. It's a "recipe" for disaster and the flavor will be undesirable to say the least. Green tomatoes and or tomatillo are also a good choice and can be substituted for all or part of the tomatoes. For recipes that call for peeled tomatoes you can easily skin them by dipping them in boiling water for about 30-60 seconds and drop them in a bowl or sink full of ice water. The skins will easily slip off.

Chile Tips: Peppers use in salsas can be anywhere from mild to super hot depending on your personal preferences. If you're using hot peppers do yourself a favor and wear rubber gloves while cutting them and for God's sake do NOT touch your eyes or any other part of your body until you remove the gloves and wash your hands as the result of not following this tip is not pretty - believe me!

Generally speaking the smaller the pepper the hotter it will be. Leaving the seeds in the recipe will increase this heat as the capsicum is concentrated in the seeds and pith of the peppers. You may sub out any chile for another, just keep in mind that the end result should be edible and not burn the skin off your tongue.

Some suggested milder varieties include Anaheim, Ancho, New Mexico 6-4, Big Jim, Chimayo, and Hungarian Yellow Wax. You can also sub in mild peppers such as sweet red, green or any other color bell peppers, Giant Marconi or the new varieties of mild jalapeno.

To take your salsa up a notch add any of the following chiles for a bit of fire: Serrano, Cayenne, Habanero, Chile Piquin, and Tabasco. Use sparingly unless you like to set your mouth on fire. Jalapeno peppers are a common choice as they add a bit of heat and unique tang to salsas and are readily available. If you don't grow peppers or can't find them fresh locally you can use canned chiles instead. For a change of pace try roasting your peppers and tomatoes (whole) on the grill to char the skin and place in a brown paper bag until cool enough to handle. The skins will just slide off leaving delicious roasted flavor to add to your salsa.

I won't go through the entire method for canning but suffice it to say for safety's sake follow the manufacturer's directions. Fill hot clean jars with the hot salsa, being careful not to leave any salsa on the rims. Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp paper towel. Put on lids and screw on metal bands. Process according to directions and test for seals when jars are cooled. Anything that is not completely sealed should be refrigerated and used within a few days. Do not - I repeat - DO NOT take any chances when it comes to canning. Botchulism is just not worth the risk!

Tomatillo Green Salsa

Yield: 5 pints

5 cups chopped tomatillos
1 1/2 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
1/2 cup seeded finely chopped jalapeños
4 cups chopped onions
1 cup bottled lemon juice
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 Tbsp ground cumin*
3 Tbsp oregano leaves *
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and stir frequently over high heat until mixture begins to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle hot salsa into pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet altitude; 20 minutes at 1,001-6,000 feet; 25 minutes above 6,000 feet.

You may use green tomatoes in this recipe instead of tomatillos.

*Optional

Chile Salsa

Yield: 7 to 9 pints

10 cups peeled, cored, chopped tomatoes
4 cups chopped onions
1 cup vinegar
6 cups seeded, chopped chiles*
3 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Combine ingredients in a large saucepan. Heat to a boil and simmer 10 minutes. Ladle hot salsa into pint jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner: 15 minutes at 0-1,000 feet altitude, 20 minutes at 1,001-6,000 feet; 25 minutes above 6,000 feet.

*Use mixture of mild and hot chiles.

NOTE: The only changes you can safely make in these salsa recipes are to substitute bottled lemon juice for vinegar and to decrease the amount of spices and herbs. Do not alter the proportions of vegetables to acid and tomatoes because it might make the salsa unsafe.

A few links to spark your creativity:
One Particular Kitchen: Salsa Roja
Karina's Kitchen
How to can anything!

Have fun making delicious salsas to enjoy all year long

Skeeter Beaters

2009-06-10T10:18:00.007-04:00

Summertime has a lot of good points: Warm weather, swimming pools, gardens blooming and many excuses to perfect your recipes for homemade ice cream and frozen drinks. Unfortunately in order to enjoy all of this outdoor activity we must deal with the ever present mosquito. They come in many shapes and sizes but all of them bite and are annoying, to say the least.

What attracts a mosquito attack on some and not others? There are many theories including what unique chemicals your perspiration contains, what you eat, the cologne you wear and even the color of your clothing. Each type of mosquito is attracted to different qualities. Needless to say they are drawn to moisture of any kind and breed like - well like mosquitoes - in even a tiny amount of standing water, so dump out any you see after it rains.

So how do we deal with these creatures without killing all the beneficial insects or poisoning our environment? Here's a few ideas on how to keep your summer evenings naturally mosquito free:

Citronella candles or oil torches lighted at intervals around your yard, patio or pool will help keep mosquitoes at bay. The carbon dioxide released while the candle or smoke rings burn is an additional deterrent.
Essential oils of citronella, lemongrass, geranium or cedar mixed with a carrier such as grain alcohol and dabbed or sprayed on skin and clothing will help to deter the biting bugs.
Don't have time or inclination to make your own brew? Try these natural commercial products: Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, St. Gabriel Laboratories Organic Mosquito Repellent, Mosquito Fighter.

Enjoy your summer!

Why Exfoliate?

2009-06-01T18:15:00.010-04:00

Many people ask this question when they are first confronted with a body scrub be it salt, sugar, pumice or any of the myriad varieties available on the market today. First, what does exfoliation mean? Basically it is the process of shedding flaky dead skin. An extreme example is when you peel after a sunburn (bad you!). Your skin exfoliates constantly as the cells reproduce and slough off. Scrubs are "mechanical exfoliants" like sandpaper on wood, but not that abrasive. Body scrubs are meant to gently abrade the surface of the skin to help speed up cell renewal by removing old cells.

Why do we need to help these lazy cells to jump ship and make way for the new cells? Let's get technical for a moment. Starting from conception your body begins to produce cells. This is a continuing process and as you grow and mature your body produces thousands upon thousands of cells to replace those that naturally die off, a process called apoptosis (AKA cell suicide). Not all cells reproduce and as you age even the ones that do start slowing down, especially skin cells. It's all down hill after you hit your mid-twenties. Sad, I know!

What all this boils down to is as you age your skin can start to look dull, drab and lifeless. If you have dry skin scrubs will help with the flakes and most will moisturize as well giving your skin a smooth, soft appearance. If you have oily skin you might experience a sludgy look due to over-production of sebum that can attract dirt and hang on to those pesky old cells. Using a good scrub will help eliminate the build up of old yucky skin cells and keep your skin bright and luminous.

Another reason to use a scrub is because you indulge in spray tanning. Ask anyone who's had this treatment what happens if your skin is flaky before application. They'll tell you that the "tan" can be uneven, discolored and will quickly flake off. Using a scrub with no greasy residue, like our Shea Butter Body Scrubs (on sale this month too!) will ensure a smooth results and a longer lasting tan. Ask your technician if they favor a particular product before your appointment date. You don't want to use something that will make your skin tacky or slick as the product won't adhere and blend correctly.

I hope this answers the question: Why Exfoliate? Your skin will feel and look fabulous. You'll wonder who you lived without them for so long. So what are you waiting for? Get glowing!

Minty Fresh

2009-05-30T11:17:00.010-04:00

No herb garden is complete without mint. What would Derby day be without that quintessential drink the mint julep? It is a primary ingredient in Greek cuisine, adding a wonderful flavor to lamb dishes. Spring peas with mint is to die for!

Mint belong to the genus Mentha, in the family Labiatae (Lamiaceae) which includes other commonly grown oil-yielding plants such as basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, lavender, pennyroyal and thyme. Within the genus Mentha there are several different species, varying in their appearance, aroma and end use. The most common ones are spearmint (M. spicata), peppermint (M. × piperita), eau-de-cologne mint (M. × piperita var. citrata) and apple mint (M. rotundifolia). All are low-growing plants, readily sending out runners, or stolons, which develop new roots and shoots at the nodes.

GROWING:
Mints do best in deep, rich soils of friable texture high in organic matter. The preferred pH range is from 6.0–7.5. A higher water requirement means that soils must be deep and well drained while holding plenty of water. That said, mint seems to grow anywhere it pleases.

Mint can be propagated either vegetatively or by seed. Vegetative propagation is achieved by digging up plants in late winter or early spring and dividing them into runners with roots, then replanting. This will prevent the plants from becoming root-bound and prone to disease, ensuring strong, healthy plants for the new season.

Be aware that mint is definitely invasive. It reproduces from long, creeping stems that spread out just under the soil surface whenever they get a chance. If you plant them directly in your garden we recommend you plant it in containers, preferably with bottoms, sunk into the soil. This is probably not going to contain it forever but it will buy you some time. We usually plant our mint in containers on our deck. This keeps it in check and in close proximity to our kitchen. If you're growing in pots remember you will need to water more often and use a diluted water soluble fertilizer since you'll be flushing the nutrients from the soil on a continuous basis.

VARIETIES:
To list all the available varieties of mint would take more space than we have available! The most commonly available are:

Peppermint: sweet, strong mint flavor. It flavors many candies. Shiny, dark green leaves, some with a purple tinge.
Spearmint: flavor stronger and less sweet than peppermint. The curly variety is very ornamental. Used to make traditional mint sauce for lamb.
Pennyroyal: a ground cover and a very tough plant that spreads quickly. Do not ingest pennyroyal, especially if you're pregnant. It's used as a bug repellent.
Corsican Mint: mat-forming ground cover that can be walked upon, releasing its creme de menthe fragrance. Often used to flavor liqueurs, along with peppermint. Tiny, moss-like leaves are bright green, and they appreciate some shade.

Other varieties include scents such as apple, chocolate (my favorite!), orange, pineapple, grapefruit and even banana! For information on more varieties available try Richter's Herbs, Mountain Valley Growers, The Tasteful Garden. If you prefer to grow from seed: The Herb Cottage.

CULINARY USES:
Spearmint, peppermint and applemint sprigs can be added to drinks and fruit dishes as a garnish. It also makes a refreshing tea.
Serve this mint sauce with roasted lamb for a delightful summer meal.

Mint Sauce:
Fresh mint - 4 Tbsp., finely chopped
Boiling water - 3 Tbsp.
sugar - 1 Tbsp.
salt - ¼ tsp
Vinegar - 3 Tbsp.
Stir the mint into the boiling water. Add the sugar and salt.
Leave until cold. Add the vinegar and mix well.

MEDICINAL AND COSMETIC USES:
The menthol in peppermint soothes the lining of the digestive tract and stimulates the production of bile, which is an essential digestive fluid. A hot cup of herbal tea is an excellent way to settle your stomach after a big meal. A handful of mint steeped in boiling water for ten minutes is all you need for a comforting mint tea.

To make a facial astringent combine 1 Tbsp. cleane fresh peppermint or spearmint and 1 cup witch hazel in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Steep in a cool, dry place for one week, shaking occasionally. Strain and pour into a bottle or spritzer to use. Probably best to keep in the fridge if you are not adding preservative and it's a great way to chill out in hot weather. Good for normal to oily skin. Makes about a six-week supply.

Moth Repellent -Tie branches of mint together and wrap lightly in cheesecloth (to avoid flaking). Hang the bundle upside down with a ribbon in your closet.

Make a foot scrub by combining 1 cup unflavored yogurt, 1 cup kosher or rock salt or white sugar and 3/4 cup fresh mint leaves. Apply to feet. Use a damp washcloth to gently scrub rough spots. Rinse feet and apply lotion.

CRAFTS:
Refreshing Potpourri:
Combine 1/2 cup orris root and 1 Tbsp. of essential oil lavender or peppermint. Add 2 cups each dried orange mint, dried spearmint, dried peppermint, plus 1 cup each dried thyme and rosemary. Combine gently; try not to crush leaves. Store in a covered jar. To use, shake the jar gently, then open.

Holy Basil!

2009-05-24T18:12:00.007-04:00

Basil is one of the most important and versatile herbs grown. Not only is this annual herb used in many styles of ethnic cooking, but it comes in many flavors, as well. Sweet Basil is probably the most common types and it is easy grow.

Cultivation
In colder zones, start basil indoors in mid-spring. The seeds can be sown directly into the garden in warmer areas. Seedlings should not be set outdoors until all danger of frost has past and the plant has four true leaves. Basil transplants easily. Plants can also be started from cuttings or rooted suckers.

When plants are established, pinch out the top. This encourages a bushier plant. Continuous picking will prolong the life of the plant. Basil also does well in containers, but make sure you water when needed and let the soil drain between watering. Too much and you will drown the plant. Keep the purple type basil in full sun to retain their vibrant colors. Be sure to pinch out the flowers until you are ready to harvest the leaves as it will have the strongest and best flavor at the time they are about to flower. To hold back flowering as long as possible, simply snip off all developing flower buds as soon as you see them. In basil they are easy to recognize by their stacked, nearly leafless structure.

If you let the plant go to seed in the garden you will have baby basil popping up everywhere in the next growing season. In warmer climates they will sprout almost immediately. You can either grow them where they rooted and thin them or let them get to the "two leaf" stage and prick them out into either containers or other spots in the garden. You can never have enough basil!

Companion Planting
It is said that basil improves the flavor of tomatoes. They also go hand in hand in the kitchen. Basil aids in repelling mosquitoes and flies, which is always, to borrow a phrase, a 'good thing'!

Culinary Use
Basil has a strong clove-like flavor and fragrance. The flowers and leaves are best used fresh and added only during the last few minutes of cooking. Basil works well in combination with tomatoes. Finely chopped basil stirred into mayonnaise makes a good sauce for fish. Use as a garnish for vegetables, chicken and egg dishes. Large lettuce-leaf basil can be stuffed as you would a grape leaf. Basil can be dried in the microwave until crisp but still green. Much of the flavor is lost this way, in my opinion, but can still add it's distinct taste to pizza toppings and garnish many dishes.

Additional Information
Check out these links for additional information on growing, buying and using basil.

Buon Appetito!

Rosemary - The Herb of Remembrance

2009-05-20T14:27:00.005-04:00

"There's Rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember..." William Shakespeare - Hamlet. Rosemary is quite a memorable herb. Rosemary was named the Herb of the Year in 2001 by the International Herb Association. It was one of the herbs introduced to Britain by the Romans and this piny-scented plant is still particularly loved today by the Italians and the British, who use it frequently in their cooking. In ancient Greece and Rome rosemary was believed to strengthen the memory, which accounts for its being known as the herb of remembrance and fidelity.

A sprig of rosemary was often placed in a bride's bouquet or worn at funerals, and those taking examinations would twine rosemary into their hair or massage rosemary oil into the forehead and temples. This may well have worked, for rosemary stimulates the circulation, increasing the blood supply to the brain. Rosemary was also said to ward off infection and apart from the traditions associated with it and its many culinary, medicinal and cosmetic uses, rosemary makes an attractive addition to the herb garden.

The plant is native to the Mediterranean but although it prefers coastal conditions, it has been known to thrive as far inland as as the Sahara Desert. A perennial shrub, rosemary has spiky, evergreen leaves which are dark and glossy on the upper side and gray-green and downy underneath. The small, blue nettle-shaped flowers appear in May to June and are a great attraction to bees and butterflies. The shrub will grow to 4-5 ft and a few bushes planted together will make a compact, fragrant hedge.

CULTIVATION:
More at home in the Mediterranean than colder climates, rosemary requires a sheltered spot in which to grow - a south or west-facing wall is ideal - and light, limey but above all well-drained soil. Seeds are difficult to germinate as well as very slow to grow and the best way to propagate rosemary is either by cuttings or from layering. A new plant can easily be produced from an old by firmly pegging down a small branch into the soil with a piece of wire or twig until the roots are established and then removing it carefully from the parent plant.

Keep the young plant moist but not too wet as the roots easily rot. The new plants should be transplanted in the early autumn to allow them to harden off before the winter, and they may need to be protected with straw where winter conditions are severe. Once established, rosemary bushes do not like to be moved. If this is attempted, the leaves will often turn brown and die, so if it is necessary to transplant try to avoid cutting any roots when doing so and retain as much of the original ball of earth as possible. If happy in its position, rosemary can last for about 30 years. Trim it lightly to maintain its thickness.

PRECAUTIONS:
Do not use any part of a plant for food or cosmetic uses without thoroughly washing it first to remove all soil or contaminants. It's prudent not use any plant that was sprayed with pesticides as many skin rashes, irritations or allergies can result, and I would highly recommend growing your own herbs without chemical additives; many plants will thrive on a sunny windowsill, porch or deck if you have no place for an outdoor garden.

USES:
Rosemary has long been known for its therapeutic powers. Try placing a sprig under the pillow of a sleeper who suffers from nightmares - it often produces a miracle cure. Both rosemary oil and rosemary tea have many uses and the herb makes an excellent skin tonic and astringent as well as a hair conditioner, not to mention a delicious flavoring in food.

ROSEMARY TEA
This can be used as an aid to digestion and taken at bedtime as a soothing drink to calm the nerves and induce sleep. Use about 15 ml ( 1 tablespoon ) of crushed rosemary leaves - fresh are better than dried - per cup of boiling water.

HAIR CONDITIONER
This recipe has an excellent conditioning effect on the hair, helping to control dandruff and even, it is alleged, curing baldness. Take a bunch of fresh rosemary and crush or chop the leaves; add 300 ml ( 1/2 pint ) boiling water and allow to stand for an hour, then drain. Use it as a final rinse after washing and towel - drying the hair.

Summer Scents

2009-05-14T08:17:00.004-04:00

Summertime, and the livin' is easy... well if it isn't it should be! Whether you're lounging around the pool, hitting the beach or backyard cook-out you will be dressing cool and feeling fresh. I like to lighten up my fragrance choices in the warm weather. The breezy scents of crisp linens, powdery florals and refreshing fruits help me keep my cool when it's hot. Here's a few to try:

Mirabilis: AKA Four O'Clock has sparkling top notes of fresh lemon and Damask plum. An enchanting heart of white iris, lily of the valley and spicy carnation with a sensual base of ground nutmeg, soft sandalwood, sheer musk and oakmoss.

Eternal Spring: Sheer layers heirloom roses, lavender, gardenia and wood violets. A true floral that is completely feminine and absolutely romantic.

Strawberry Frappé: Juicy ripe summer berries mingled with melon, citrus and green apple.

Grapefruit Passion: Refreshing blood orange and ruby red grapefruit oils grounded with dark patchouli. A sparkling citrus scent with hints of intrigue.

It's the Little Things

2009-04-11T10:46:00.011-04:00

Lately things have been a bit crazy around here. Lots of work, little time and too many personal traumas all at once. I'm trying to cope, be productive and focus on the things I need to do. I won't go into too much personal detail but suffice it to say I'm a bit overwhelmed. There have been other such times, better or worse, as I'm experiencing now. I devised a strategy long ago to deal with the stress and it works more or less no matter what is going on. I'm not saying that you won't feel the pain of the problems, but should you follow this technique they will be much easier to deal with.

The first thing you must understand is there are some things you cannot change no matter how hard you try. If you say the Serenity prayer it fits in here nicely. This is the hardest thing for me partly because I'm a mom, and we fix things, right? Well we can't fix everything try as we might. Prioritizing the things you can deal with helps immensely. Focus on doing what you can to help the situation, devise a proposed plan for what you can do in the future and then you have to let the rest go. Not so easy, trust me I know, but it will help you keep your head above water no matter what the situation.

Here's a peek into recent events in my life. My dog has recently been diagnosed with incurable cancer. To say that we're devastated would be an understatement. She's been a constant source of joy and comfort to us for 8 years and I'm shattered to think of losing her. Okay, step one is knowing I can't change the outcome in the end. I've dealt with that temporarily and now, step two, I'm focusing on keeping her as healthy, happy and pain free as I can until it comes time to let her go. That could be in a few days or a few months depending on how fast the disease progresses.

Step three, letting the rest go is very difficult for me. It took my daughter telling me that it was depressing everyone else even more when I cried every time Madi did something cute that I knew I would only see maybe a few more times. Her exact words were, "Mom! Stop being such a buzz kill!" That kind of shocked me out of my daze. Now I stop myself from thinking about the end of all of this because until that time there's nothing else I can do but what I'm doing. I'm enjoying her company and spending more time with her, taking pictures and giving her treats. Making a few more memories to hold on to when she's gone.

Life's not fair sometimes, but all in all I believe it's the little things that count. The every day things that often get little notice. The smell of clean laundry, the warmth of a hug and the waggy tail and love from a cherished pet.

Happily Handmade

2009-03-31T08:23:00.004-04:00

Do you Indie? I do. What's an Indie? Glad you asked! I quote the from the Happily Handmade Giveaway website: "Indie is more than a word, it’s a state of mind. It’s about supporting small businesses and independent artisans. It’s about cherishing the quality of something handmade, not mass produced. To be indie means to ascend to a new level of creativity, originality, and forward-thinking, challenging the notion that quality is synonymous with size. To support indie is to make the conscious decision to purchase from an independent crafter and not a big box retailer."

Want to get in on some of this indie goodness? It's easy! Just enter the Happily Handmade Giveaway starting Wednesday, April 1st by visiting Bidwell Botanicals or any of the Indie Shop Sponsors. Look for the Happily Handmade Entry Site badge and follow the instructions to enter. You may enter once through each of the Indie Shop Sponsors’ sites. Visit them all to increase your chances of winning! Be sure to follow the steps listed on each sponsor website for specific entry requirements, as each site is different.

The giveaway entry period runs from April 1st through May 13th. No entries will be accepted before or after these dates. Winners will be notified on May 18th, and an official list of winners will be posted on the Happily Handmade website as soon as they have been confirmed. To get the scoop on the rules and preview the indie goodies being given away visit the Happily Handmade website. Good luck!

Lovely Lavender

2009-03-19T09:25:00.007-04:00

To celebrate our spring-like weather I offer you a short course on herbs. We'll start with my favorite (hey I'm the author!) Lavender. This pretty purple flower is well known for its unique fragrance. The Greeks and Romans favored it in their bath water. Its name is derived from the Latin lavare, "to wash" so that makes sense. Lavender was used extensively in Europe during the 17th Century to mask household smells and stinking streets. Stories that the glovers of Grasse, who used lavender oil to scent their fashionable leather, were remarkably free from plague, encouraged other people to carry lavender. Ladies of refinement carried lavender sprigs tucked into their tussy mussy. A beautiful addition to any bouquet, it was also a very good way to daintily avoid unpleasant odors.

Lavender has long been used medicinally, the oil of the flower being the most popular. The flower is also infused as a tea to soothe headaches, calm nerves, ease flatulence, fainting, dizziness and halitosis. It is said that if you add 6 drops to an irritable child's bathwater it will help calm them. Now that's a bonus! Lavender was used during the World Wars as an antiseptic and is to this day, a dominating choice in the fragrance industry.

Essential oil of lavender is one of the safest and most widely used oils in aromatherapy for its calming and antifungal properties. We use lavender oil in many of our bath and body products not only for it's heavenly scent but also for its ability to relax and soothe. While it is relatively safe, remember the oil is essentially a plant derived concentrated medicinal and as such should be used with care and never at full strength on the skin or taken internally. If you have plant allergies you should be wary of products containing essential oils as they could cause a reaction. It's always best to test first than be sorry later.

Lavender in many forms is readily available at plant nurseries and home improvement centers. Do yourself a favor and buy a pot as it's hard to grow from seed and will flower faster. Put it on your deck or plant it in the garden in a sunny spot by favorite chair so you can enjoy the fragrant flowers all summer long.

Spring Cleaning

2009-03-10T15:39:00.005-04:00

The past few days have been insanely beautiful here in the south. It feels like spring has arrived and many of our trees are bursting with bloom - oh and pollen. Yes, that lovely yellow demon powder that coats anything that holds still long enough including our outside kitty. So while we're tempted to just throw open the windows, having to clean all that yellow powder off everything and dealing with the allergic reactions it causes in my son is not, to borrow a phrase, a good thing.

Spring is also the time to think about refreshing your home. Here's a tip to bring out the shine in your bathroom and kitchen. Need to scrub and don't want to use the harsh stuff? No problem. Just whip out the multitasking baking soda and add a touch of lemon juice for grease cutting and whitening power. Using a damp sponge scrub away the soap scum and grime. This is less abrasive than your average cleansing powder, is non-toxic and it will leave the tub and sink sparkling clean and smelling fresh. Pouring a bit of the baking soda down the drain will to help freshen there as well.

As for the yellow demon dust: swish, rinse, repeat... swish, rinse, repeat... you get the idea.

Lent = Diet Time

2009-02-24T18:18:00.006-05:00

I've always tried to use the Lenten season to jump on my diet plan. It seems like a good time to do it with all that Catholic guilt I harbor from my childhood. I tell myself that I'll give up this, that and the other thing and pump up my exercise routine so that when we open the pool shortly after Easter I won't cry when I put on my bathing suit for the first time. Does this work? I really don't know because I've never actually done it, but it is a good plan in theory!

Six weeks of extra exercise and less chocolate seems like it would be easy enough, but I stink at deprivation, especially when it comes to food. I can actually gain weight when I go on a diet. I think my body goes on famine alert and holds on to every fat cell and calorie it can get its greedy little mitts on. Oh, and my mind plays tricks on me. It's so not fair! It tells me that I give up so much already for my kids, husband, business, etcetera that I shouldn't have to give up the little bit of chocolate I indulge in (or the sushi, tea biscuits or bread). When it comes to exercise I do have some legitimate excuses but if I really wanted to I'm pretty sure I could walk briskly around the block several times a day. Then that little demon in my brain kicks in. "It's cold! It's raining! My feet hurt! I have too much work to do!" You get the idea.

So this year I'm really going to do it! No really... I am. I will start small. Minuscule. One day at a time. So no chocolate tomorrow (I'm already crying about this). Then one less teaspoon of sugar in my coffee. Once around the block when it's not raining. Maybe I'll get a Wii Fitness. Yeah, that's it! I'll join a gym. I could do that! See what I'm saying? I set myself up for failure if I reach too high and for me that means sticking to the once around the block for a few days and shelving the gym thing. After all I need to save my money for that new swimsuit. No really...

Beauty Tip of the Day: Pucker Up!

2009-02-17T09:26:00.004-05:00

For a perfect kiss soft lips are a must. Get yours there by gently (and I do mean gently) exfoliating your pucker. You can do this daily by using your soft bristle toothbrush after you brush your teeth. Lightly go over your lips, focusing on the outer, dryer edges to help remove flaky skin. Another way is to use a bit of your sugar scrub while in the shower and your lips are wet being careful to use a light touch. Don't forget to use an emollient lip product to help retain natural moisture and protect from the ravaging effects of wind, sun and pollution. XOXO!

Beauty Tip of the Day: Have A Nice Hair Day

2009-02-11T11:12:00.003-05:00

Here's a quicky: Is your hair giving you static? Those wispy tendrils on an otherwise smooth do can be calmed with just a dab of your regular hair conditioner. Rub a few drops of the conditioner between your palms and lightly pat down the fly away hairs. This will help control the static throughout the day without weighing down your coif.

Beauty Tip of the Day: Flake Off!

2009-02-09T07:42:00.006-05:00

I am starting to sound like a broken record, but exfoliation is the name of the game, people. As we grow older our epidermis does not shed its dull layer of dead cells as quickly as is used to. Even you youngsters need to help nature along to avoid flaky skin, especially if you indulge in tanning of any kind. There are any number of ways to accomplish this task.

You can take the easy route and use a pre-made product like Bidwell Botanicals Shea Butter Sugar Scrubs, or Cactus & Ivy's Fresh Breeze Loofah Scrub to effectively buff your skin, moisturize and rinse clean in one easy step.

If you prefer the homemade route you can use any kind of small grain sugar ie: brown, raw, white or turbinado. Many people prefer the texture of a salt glow. Be careful not to do so if you've just shaved the parts you're scrubbing. Think beach water and newly shaved legs, ouch! If you only have a large grained product at home you can refine it in your coffee grinder. For that matter you can use ground coffee.

To make your own scrub you will need:

Vegetable oil such as sweet almond oil, extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil. All of these are readily available on your grocery store shelf. Try Wholefoods for their huge selection of veggie oils, many of them organic.
Scrubby of your choice such as white cane sugar, brown sugar, turbinado sugar or fine grain sea salt.
A bowl or cup and mixing utensil.
Source of water - preferably a tub or shower.
Cleanser
Moisturizer

Start by mixing your choice of exfoliant one to one with the oil and set to the side. A 1/4 cup of each should do for total body treatment. Moisten the area you are going to treat with warm water. Sit at the side of your tub or stand in your shower with the water off. Stir the mixture as it will separate and scoop out about a tablespoon. Start at the top of the area you are going to treat and work your way down. Gently scrub in a circular motion to help increase blood flow. Focus on dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet. I do not suggest using this treatment on your face as the skin is very fragile. When you're done shower off the residue using a gentle cleanser. This treatment can make your shower floor slippery so be careful. Step out, dry off and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Voilà! Baby soft skin. If you're planning a trip to the spray tan booth make sure you do this a day in advance so there is no oil residue on your skin (ask your technician just to make sure). If you use one of Bidwell Botanicals scrubs or similar products you can use them the same day as they leave no oil residue on the skin. This treatment can be done as needed, usually twice weekly will suffice depending on your skin type and will help keep the flakes and itchy skin away all year long.

Beauty Tip of the Day: Step Right Up!

2009-02-07T09:13:00.007-05:00

We've discussed this before but it bears repeating. One of the most neglected parts of our body are our feet. They get the least amount of love and literally carry us through our day. We stuff them inside wool socks and leather boots during winter and walk barefoot on hot sand during summer. They are forced to tolerate everything from stiletto heels on city sidewalks to hiking boots on the trail. Isn't it time you paid them back for all of their hard work?

Here's an easy three step pedicure you can do at home.

Take a warm bath with a moisturizing additive like Bidwell Botanicals Shea Butter Shower Crème & Bubble Bath. What? Why take a bath? Why not? Your feet will be soaking in the tub the whole time so indulge me.
When you're finished bathing dry off all but your feet and wrap up in a warm robe. While sitting at the edge of the tub use a combination of 1 part honey and 2 parts salt or sugar to scrub your still damp feet. Rinse well and drain the tub. Pat dry the moisture from your feet.
Moisturize! I can't stress this enough especially in these cold, dry winter months. You can use anything from Vaseline to your favorite body lotion, the more emollient the better. The idea is to retain as much of the moisture in your skin as possible and doing so after this treatment is about ten times more effective than at any other time. Slip on a pair of cotton socks and go to bed.

There you go! You've killed two birds with one stone with the bath and your feet will thank you in the morning. That's a win/win situation if you ask me.

The Thoughtful Valentine's Gift Guide

2009-02-05T10:27:00.001-05:00

What? Another holiday? Enough already! Valentine's Day is only a week away and waiting until the last minute could be fatal - well to your love life anyway. My husband was smart when we set the date to be married he pushed for a week after February 14th. Why? At the time he said it was so that it would be close to the sweet holiday but every year when he took me out we wouldn't have problems getting reservations. Uh-huh. Guess which two occasions we combine celebrating now. Smart guy.

So what do you get your Valentine after you just showered them with gifts for Christmas? Check out the guide below to help you give them something sweet without blowing your budget. It really is the thought that counts. That and getting them the gift on time!

Gift Certificates - while they may come across as a fast fix for a forgotten gift they are usually a pretty safe bet if you pick the proper place to purchase it. Try to steer away from a generic "Visa" gift card a that doesn't show a lot of thought. Select a gift card for her fave exotic flower shop or vegan spa. Find out what clothing boutique she'd love to shop in but feels she can't afford to indulge in. Nearly everything is available online and most places offer e-gifts so you're still safely within the time limits of getting it to your honey by the 14th. Do yourself a favor and don't send it to her via email. Trust me. Print it out and put it in a well thought out card or better yet gift wrap it.
Does your guy love to play golf? Would he like to play better? Go to a local sporting goods shop and they can tell you where you can purchase a certificate for pro golf lessons. This goes for tennis, skiing, fly fishing, sky diving and just about any other sport you can think of.
Is she/he on a weight loss plan? That kind of rules out chocolates but you can still give them the sweets without the calories. Many bath & body companies offer delicious alternatives to eating candy in their product lines. A tiramisu freak? La Dolce Diva. Addicted to chocolate? Chocolate Obsessions.
Please guys, don't buy a generic "heart pendant". It's okay, we all make mistakes, but this year surprise her with a creative piece of one-of-a-kind jewelry. You don't have to break your bank and your options are limitless. Anna Sofia Designs offers a bevy of beautiful handcrafted paper jewelry. Luka Designs offers gorgeous seasonally inspired pieces. Jala takes colorful fabrics and traditional jewelry design elements to a new level. My favorite is their silk collection. Delish!

So what have we learned? The idea is to put some thought into the gift you're giving. It doesn't have to be expensive or lavish, but you do need to zone in on the one you love and give them something tailored to their tastes. Gals, go to a (insert sport) game with him if you usually avoid it. Have a beer and try to look like you're having a good time! Guys rent her favorite mushy movie, make popcorn and settle in for some hugging and kissing in front of the TV. You might even shed a token tear during the sad part. Okay - that's overdoing it but you get my drift.

Love to all!

Beauty Tip of the Day: Sweet Buns

2009-02-03T16:53:00.007-05:00

You thought I forgot, didn't you? Sorry, it's been one of those days! Here is your late, but not forgotten beauty tip of the day:

Are you bothered by a lumpy butt? No, not your boyfriend! You know what I mean. Think of all the lovely words used to describe that evil condition that plagues us after puberty and more often than not, childbearing. Orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese butt, the mattress phenomenon, and my all time fave, hail damage. Cellulite (adiposis edematosa), as if we don't already know more than we want to, describes the appearance of fat deposits that appear just below the skin usually located in the abdomen, thighs and/or buttocks region. Both men and women are affected by this condition, though it occurs a lot more often in women. Of course, right?

How can we avoid this condition? We can't really as you can be genetically predisposed (thanks Mom). It is possible to limit the occurrence and appearance by eating healthy fibrous foods, staying active and limiting smoking or drinking alcohol as it reduces blood flow. I read that "Wearing thongs, boyshorts, or sleeping naked can reduce the impact underwear plays on cellulite's development." This tip must have been written by a man, but in essence it makes sense as it would help increase circulation in the gluteal area.

Try this quick treatment to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. After a warm shower use a mixture of olive oil, brown sugar and coffee grounds as a body scrub, focusing your attention on the areas where cellulite tends to occur (butt, thighs, belly, etc). Rub in gentle, but firm circular motions for about 10 minutes and then wash off with a cleanser and warm water. What does this do besides make you smell like breakfast? The caffeine in the coffee grounds will help to increase circulation and firm up the appearance of your skin while the sugar and oils exfoliate and smooth. The massaging is a critical component in this treatment as it helps stimulate lymphatic flow. Try this inexpensive but effective treatment at least 3 times a week.

Additional recommended treatments include massage, ultrasound, and ginkgo biloba just to name a few. I recently heard that a good spanking (lymphatic drainage massage) will help the blood flow and reduce the lumps. I'm just saying...

Beauty Tip of the Day: Dazzle Them!

2009-02-02T12:40:00.006-05:00

Keep teeth strong and dazzling white the natural way: eat fruit. Well not just any fruit, but fruits that contain malic acid including apples, strawberries and pineapples. Don't believe me? Drink a cup of tea, coffee or a dark soda. Then take a fresh strawberry, cut in half and rub the fruit across your teeth a few times. Voilà! The malic acid acts as an astringent and helps remove stains from enamel. Cool, huh?

Some suggest you mix the pulp of the fruit with baking soda as a tooth paste, but be aware that while this works amazingly well over time baking soda treatments can cause sensitivity and should be limited to a few times a week.

So when Mom said, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" I guess she meant the dentist.

Beauty Tip of the Day: When Live Gives You Lemons...

2009-02-01T09:19:00.006-05:00

Here's a beauty tip for your home. We are really busy and everyone eats at different times in our house, so we use our microwave oven a lot. When it's time to clean and refresh your nuker try this natural and cost effective cleansing technique.

Pour 2 cups of water in a microwave safe container and mix in a tablespoon or two of straight citrus juice, either fresh or bottled. Lemon, lime, grapefruit - it's your choice. Microwave the water uncovered until it reaches boiling and continue to boil for a minute or two allowing the steam to build up in the unit. Leave the oven closed and let the cleansing steam work to remove odors and food particles. After 5-10 minutes open the oven door (there will be a lot of steam so be careful) and remove the water/citrus juice mix and dump it down your food disposal to help refresh it too. With a damp towel wipe down the inside of your microwave and let it stand open for a bit to air out.

If your microwave just needs a quick refresher wet an absorbent cleaning rag or towel (I use a bar towel) with water mixed with lemon juice and place in the unit. Nuke for about 2 minutes and let set for another 2 minutes. Wearing gloves to protect your hands - the towel is going to be pretty hot - wipe down the inside of the microwave and throw the towel in the wash. Don't you just love a simple solution!

Beauty Tip of the Day: Shiny Locks

2009-01-30T09:59:00.003-05:00

Try this quick tip for keeping dark hair shiny. Chop some fresh rosemary leaves into a two cup heatproof measuring cup. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over and let steep for about 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves, a coffee filter in a small strainer works very well. Add a tablespoon of white vinegar and cool to room temperature. Wash your hair and condition as usual then use the rosemary infusion as a final rinse.

Rosemary brings out the highlights in dark hair and conditions the scalp to help prevent dandruff. If you're a blond you can use the same procedure with chamomile flowers. Calendula flowers will help bring out the auburn highlights in any hair color, especially those leaning toward an auburn hue. If you don't want to mess with straining the liquids ask your local Wholefoods market or herb shop if they carry heat sealable tea bags. You can purchase them online at Majestic Mountain Sage.

Beauty Tip of the Day: Love Ya Honey

2009-01-29T09:24:00.004-05:00

I love honey! There, I said it and I'll shout it from the roof tops. What's not to love? Its thick gooey goodness goes from sweetening my morning tea to soothing my skin. Who could ask for more? We keep the bees in business at Bidwell Botanicals by using copious amounts of honey in our products. Why? Just to name a few benefits: Honey is a natural humectant. That means it attracts and retains moisture and that's good for your skin and hair. Honey is rich in vitamins, minerals, natural enzymes and amino acids that give it antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. See! And you thought it was just tasty on English muffins.

Here's a quick tip: Slightly warm about 1/4 cup of honey (dark and organic if you can get it). You only want this to be warm to the touch so be vigilant and don't over heat it.

While the honey is heating spin some old fashioned rolled oats in your clean coffee grinder or food processor. You can also use plain colloidal oats available as Aveeno. It comes in convenient pouches and you'll only need about a 1/4 of a pouch. Store the rest in a ziplock for future use.

Once the honey is warmed add the oatmeal and mix it up. Apply to a clean, dry face with your fingers avoiding the eye area. Gently massage the oatmeal/honey mixture with slow circular motions. This will stimulate your skin and help to remove dull skin cells. When the honey cools off enough to get hard to move around, about 5 minutes, it's time to rinse off the masque with warm water and pat dry. Apply a good facial moisturizer (with honey of course!) and marvel at your gorgeous glowing skin. How sweet is that!

Beauty Tip of the Day: Beau-Tea

2009-01-28T17:52:00.007-05:00

We promote natural skin care here at Bidwell Botanicals. I have had many requests to share information so I've decided to try and post one easy beauty tip every day. (The keyword is try!)

Do you have dark circles and puffy bags under your eyes? Try using a few bags of your own, tea bags that is, as cool or warm compresses. Have your morning tea and share a cup with a friend. Wring out the bags so they are still damp and leave them on a plate or paper towel until they are slightly warm or cool to the touch. When they're ready to use lie back, put one tea bag over each eye and relax for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags and rinse your face when done to remove any residual tea. The tannins in the tea help to reduce puffiness and soothe tired eyes. Too rushed in the morning? Do it at night just before going to sleep.

Make sure you use caffeinated tea for the tannins. Try green tea as it contains a natural anti-inflammatory called Catechin (EGCG) that helps to ease puffiness and irritation. Use chamomile, lavender, rose or other herbal infusions for their soothing aromatherapy and anti-inflammatory properties.

Simplicity. That's the Ticket!

2009-01-20T18:04:00.008-05:00

Back to basics. This is a phrase you're going to be hearing a lot of in the near future. We are starting to see it in commercials, magazines and TV shows. Basics can mean many different things depending on who you're talking to. It's all relative to a person's level of income, social status and location. For some it might mean eating at home once in a while and not driving the Hummer as much to save on gas. To others it will mean bringing back the ways of their parents and grandparents by making less expensive meals, using coupons or hanging their clothes out to dry.

However you look at it the time has come to cut back, do your part and make do. We're reducing what we spend on entertainment, food and luxuries. My children are adults now so it's a bit easier to control the budget, but we still have to feed and house four people and various pets so things can get pretty tight if we're not careful. One of the things I've started doing is going back to my mother's recipes. I grew up in a family of seven siblings with very little income but we always seemed to eat well and I never remember thinking I was going without. My family enjoys simple, flavorful foods that are easy to make and go a long way so it's a win/win situation for me.

I will share my mom's recipe for Spanish Chicken & Rice, but keep it under your hat. It's a family secret! The amount below will feed 6 hungry teenage boys or dinner and left-overs for an average family.

Spanish Chicken and Rice

1 chicken cut into pieces (with skin or without)
3 cups uncooked rice (I use Minute Rice)
2 cloves garlic, smashed
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce
3 cups chicken broth (you can use bullion cubes and boiling water)
1/4 cup olive oil (you can use any vegetable oil but EVOO tastes best)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350º F.
In a large frying pan heat 1-2 teaspoons olive oil. Wash and pat dry the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken to hot pan skin side down and brown lightly, about 5-8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a 9" x 13" baking dish and bake at 350º F for 20 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking add 1/4 cup olive oil to the frying pan you used to brown the chicken. On medium heat add the chopped onions and garlic and saute until onions are soft.
Add 3 cups of uncooked rice and stir to lightly brown. Add the tomato sauce, herbs and chicken broth and bring to a boil, then remove from heat.

At this point the first cook time of the chicken should be done. Carefully spoon the rice mixture on top of the chicken and spread to cover. Bake uncovered an additional 20-30 minutes until chicken is done. We serve this with garlic bread and a big green salad. It is simple and delicious. You can gussy it up a bit by adding mushrooms, olives or peppers if you like but we adore it just the way it is. Leftovers are even better as the flavors have time to mingle!

My mother passed away some years ago and we all miss her terribly, but her creative frugal ways and determination to raise her family well will stay with us always. When I put the food in the oven tonight I silently thanked her for the important life lessons and wisdom to teach us to make do and make it good. I have a feeling that will come in handy these days.

No More Resolutions!

2009-01-05T16:17:00.015-05:00

I officially resolve not to resolve this year. It's just too depressing when I make a resolution and then don't stick to it. I thought about it, really I did, but I just don't want to make promises I can't keep, even if they're only to myself. Maybe I could resolve to take life as it comes with just a bit of pre-planning of course. I should take it easy on myself for a while. I'm kind of burned out trying to be everything to everyone last year. Martha Stewart can rest assured that she is still the queen in that department.

If you're going to make a resolution try to make it something that you might at least attempt to accomplish. How about resolving to have ice cream or one small piece of amazing chocolate at least once a month? Grant yourself the indulgence of a spa day whether it is at a facility or in your own home. At least treat yourself to a pedi-mani and lunch with a girlfriend every now and then. How about a shopping trip and you can only buy things for yourself no matter how cute that sweater would look on your daughter. Yes, I speak from experience!

We women are much too hard on ourselves. We strive to be experts in child guidance, transportation, culinary arts, home decorating, garden design and domestic engineering but when it comes to giving yourself permission to take a nap, read a book or relax in the tub (God forbid!) we lose all focus. I say in 2009 we - you and me - decide that we deserve to relax and enjoy our lives. Easier said than done I know. If you can make resolutions to lose weight, get out and exercise, organize your files or quit smoking surely we could make the time to follow up on a few enjoyable resolutions. Happy New Year!

What's With These Kids?!

2008-12-30T09:32:00.000-05:00

I have five children, two belong to my husband and three are mine from a previous marriage. The two he owns lived with their mother across the country so I had limited access to them over the years. My husband and I have raised the three I brought to the mix. We've tried to raise them up with morals, good self-esteem and a sense of personal responsibility. We've found that the concepts we pushed mostly became apparent when they reached their mid-twenties.

It seems my son, our youngest, and his friends are in their own generation category. Let's call it the "I want it and I want it now!" generation. These young adults (and I use the term loosely) seem to think that working for what you want is a ridiculous waste of time and energy. Why do that when you can just whine, bully and manipulate your way into getting your way? I'm not sure where this attitude came from, as at least in my son's case he was raised in the same household as his sisters who do not behave like that, but the sense of entitlement without reciprocation is definitely rampant in his group.

Our children worked part-time while in high school, especially during the summer break. We encouraged them to save their money. When my son started working just before he turned 16 as a bag-boy (can we still use this term?), all of his friends thought he was being punished. No really - they actually thought we made him work because we wanted to abuse him. It seemed to them that they should not have to work at that tender age, yet they wanted to be treated as adults. That translated to "give me what I want but don't make me do anything for it."

Our lessons to him would have been a lot easier if only more of his friend's parents would have jumped on the bandwagon. I know - believe me I do - that letting them do what they want is much easier for the time being. The problem is you eventually pay for your lack of perseverance. All you have to do is let up one time and they run with it. If they stick their hand out and you place currency in it you will be expected to do so for until the end of time. If you throw your hands up in despair and say, "Do whatever you want!" you're doomed for eternity. If a child remembers nothing else you've taught them they will remember what buttons to push the next time they want something.

We are still hoping these kids will grow out of this phase, some of them have, but it has lasted a long time. I believe that time and reality will be their teachers now and the lessons will be much harder than the ones we tried to teach them. When you are a youngster and you don't have any money to buy something you want it's frustrating. When you can't pay the rent or buy gas or food as an adult the lesson is a bit more harsh. Nevertheless you will eventually learn to do what you have to do to get what you want and hopefully that won't include robbing gas stations.

It's painful as a parent to see your kids go through these trying times. I just wish they would learn from our experience and skip the harder lessons of life when they can. I'm betting my mother felt the same way, and trust me when I tell you that I thought I knew what was best for me. Not so much. I only wish she were still here so I could apologize to her every day for driving her nuts when I was a kid. Nothing like the reality of life to put things in proper perspective.

The Cheerleader's Guide to Life or How to Motivate Yourself

2008-12-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

It seems I spend a lot of time being a cheerleader. I was a cheerleader in high school, pom-poms and saddle shoes, the whole nine yards. I have a whole slew of motivational tidbits stored up in my brain. I've cheered my children on to help them attain excellence in sports, academics and reaching personal goals. I've pep-talked my siblings, rah-rahed co-workers and generally uplifted the spirits of those around me for years. It doesn't always work but I sure give it the old college try.

So why does this technique not work so well on me? I think it might be because I know the drill. If anyone tries to give me the old one-for-the-Gipper speech I just roll my eyes. I know a cheer when I hear one. In fact, I hear them rolling around in my head in the morning when I wake up, "Get up! Get moving!" When things are crazy and I'm running around in circles it's, "You can do it! You can do it! You can! You can!" No more pom-poms or back flips, but it's still the same idea.

I plan to work on ways to self-motivate this coming year. I want to employ techniques that will help me stay inspired, stay on task and generally moving forward in both my business and personal lives. There are so many things I want to accomplish and seemingly so little time to do it that keeping up my energy and focus is going to be a major priority. I believe that setting attainable goals will be key to my success.

I will promote my business. I will resume my exercise routine and I will write that book one blog post at a time as a mentor suggested. Go Team!!

Indie Shopping TV: Recap!

2008-12-12T18:42:00.006-05:00

It was very exciting to be featured on the first ever IndieShopping.tv segment today! I was a little nervous as I've never been involved in this type of media before, but Donna Maria, the consummate professional that she is, breezed her way through any of the start up glitches we experienced with ease and took us along for the ride. All in all it was lots of fun, and that's what this is all about! I can't wait to see the next show and hope to be a part of many in the future.

And now for your viewing pleasure is the un-cut, un-edited version of our very first show!

dM experienced a few audio challenges out of the block, but if you fast forward through the first quarter or so of the video, the show begins! And don't forget, that my site at http://www.bidwellbotanicals.com is open 24/7 to serve you and products are still available for shipping in time for Christmas!

Indie Shopping TV!

2008-12-11T09:57:00.005-05:00

Bidwell Botanicals is going to be on live TV tomorrow!! Indie Shopping TV, that is!

Indie Shopping TV is the first live video chat e-shopping portal designed especially for Indie products and the people who love them. And Bidwell Botanicals is the very first line to be featured!!

Join me and other Bidwell Botanicals product lovers LIVE at http://www.IndieShopping.TV at 12:15pm EST tomorrow, December 12, when we'll be demonstrating our fabulous holiday sugar scrubs and offering them at a special price just for you!

There will be live product demonstration by the show host, plus a live chat so you can talk with me!! We'll also be joined by other Bidwell Botanical product junkies live, from the convenience of your laptop!! It's going to be a blast!!

Special pricing will apply during the LIVE show so mark your calendar, set your alarm, auto-email yourself or whatever you have to do to catch this exciting show. I can't wait to see you there as Bidwell Botanicals helps bring you the best of the holiday season in a live show format. It's cutting edge, it's so easy and most of all, FUN!

Date: December 12, 2008
Time: 12:15pm EST
How to Join: Log onto http://www.IndieShopping.TV

We'll do the rest! See you then!

All I Want for Christmas...

2008-12-04T08:25:00.010-05:00

I am a great gift buyer. Ask anyone who knows me, I'm all about the giving part but not so good at the getting. Every year my kids ask me what I want for Christmas and I tell them, "World peace, or at least in this house." It's not that I don't appreciate receiving gifts it's just much easier and more satisfying for me to bestow gifts upon someone else than to receive one myself.

This year my family asked me to make a wish list. It's harder than you might think! Oh, there are things I want and really some I need, but most of them would not be in their price range or they are intangible and pretty much unattainable. So to placate them I made a list and put it on the front of the fridge with all of theirs. Here it is:

Peace on Earth or one week of no fighting, bickering or other nastiness in this house.
A family member, not Mom, makes dinner at least one night a week, preferably Mondays. (I specify family member to rule out Ronald McDonald, The Colonel or Pop Eye.)
Snow in the month of December. Just a little to make it all Christmassy.
A heartfelt hug when I look like I need one.
Buy or make me a gift that you think I will like.

The last one would be the hardest for most people because you have to put some real effort into it, especially when you're on a tight budget like most of us this year. My mother, wise woman that she was, used to tell us to buy or make a gift that we would want to receive ourselves. This works well with most friends because you usually have a lot in common and you can sort of put yourself in their place. It's much harder to do this for your mother. I'm trying to instill thoughtfulness in my children by making them think about the person they're giving gifts to and not just picking up something sparkly from the store. Will it work? I'll let you know after Christmas!

Cyber Monday Super Sale!

2008-12-01T08:05:00.005-05:00

Shop Bidwell Botanicals' Cyber Monday Super Sale and save time, money and your sanity. Unique pampering gifts for everyone on your list, great prices, complimentary gift wrapping and free shipping to your door. We'll even throw in a free gift for you on orders totaling $50.00 or more. It doesn't get any better than that!

Sale starts December 1st at Midnight and ends at 11:59 PM EST. That's 24 hours with 25% off all regularly priced merchandise! Plus amazing deals on exclusive gift sets and selected products that will not be offered at any other time this year! Just enter the discount code: CYBERMONDAY in the voucher section when you check out and your discount will be applied. It's that easy to wrap up all of your holiday shopping with the click of a button!

Cyber Monday SuperSale begins at 12:00 Midnight EST, December 1, 2008 and ends at 11:59 PM December 1, 2008 EST. *Free standard shipping within the USA on all merchandise purchased on December 1, 2008. International orders will incur shipping charges before processing.
Complimentary gift wrapping is optional and must be requested at checkout in our comments section.
The discount code: CYBERMONDAY should be entered in the voucher section upon checkout. If you do not enter the checkout code the discount will not be applied.
Free gift is added to orders totalling $50.00 before tax or shipping fees. Gift is our selection and is not refundable.
Discount code is good towards regulary priced products and will not be applied to the purchase of items on sale. Your order will be adjusted to reflect the correct amount before processing. Discount code is good on December 1, 2008 ONLY!

What's It All About?

2008-11-20T11:11:00.007-05:00

T-Day aka Thanksgiving Day is just about here. I have pies and stuffing to make. A house to clean and prepare for family that will be staying with us. Food to buy- LOTS of food! I am busy with making and sending out orders and trying to finalize some new products that will launch after the first of the year. Thinking about making enough food to feed an army and making sure I have enough clean towels and blankets is almost beyond my comprehension right now.

As a retailer I understand why most of the stores and advertisements have been pushing Christmas for weeks now. Local stores couldn't get the Halloween stuff off the shelves fast enough to insert the Christmas merchandise. Thanksgiving is hitting late this year so Christmas will be here before we know it making it a short shopping season. If you sell online it's even shorter if you want to deliver before the big day. All of this combined with the tight economy is making a lot of people very nervous that the most lucrative time of the year will not be quite so lucrative this year. Stress much? Who? Me?

Okay, breathe! Let's remember what this holiday is supposed to mean to us. Obviously thankfulness and reflection, but it's also about family, friends and sharing quality time with them, especially on this symbolic day. I try to take time to remember how lucky I am. I will be surrounded by my family (yes, that's a good thing!) We will be able to feed the masses in a warm and cozy environment. I remind myself that there are many who are not so blessed, and even more who have nothing at all.

Why not do something this year to help those that are less fortunate? There are many local charities in every community that will gladly accept donations of food, bedding and clothing, not to mention your time. Most grocery stores have donation bags pre-packed that you can purchase as you're checking out that they will deliver. You can donate to food banks, serve meals in your local homeless shelter or volunteer for Meals on Wheels. Get on your computer and search for local charity organizations or check with your church to see if they are planning any charity events. Unfortunately there is no lack of need, but there is lack of warm bodies to help.

Here's a short list to give you some ideas:
Meals on Wheels
Homeless Shelters
Toys for Tots
Children's Charities
St. Vincent de Paul
American Red Cross

Now get out there and make a difference!

Handmade Holidays

2008-11-16T11:04:00.027-05:00

The sluggish economy gives me great pause when I think about holiday gifting this year. I have a large family and though we don't have strict rules about gift giving, I do try to give something to each of them every year. It can get freakishly expensive when you have 6 siblings and a variety of off-spring, spouses, in-laws and friends. They all get soap, that's a given, but I like to change it up a bit each year so they don't get bored with my gifts.

In years past I have done foodie gift baskets, home-spa weekend packs, movie night gift certificates and a variety of cookie, candy and baked goods. I've been working on this year's gift ideas and I think we'll keep it simple and fun with some handmade goodies and unique accoutrements. I can't tell you what I'm doing here because my family reads my blog - Right, guys?

Here's a few ideas to get your creativity going:

Homemade marshmallows, holiday mugs and coffees and/or hot chocolate mixes in a decorated basket. Kick it up a notch by adding a small bottle of decadent liqueur, a CD you burned of classic holiday music and a log for the fireplace. If you don't want to make the marshmallows yourself you can get them at Babycakes (and while you're there check out her incredible cupcakes).

A great gift for tween and in-between girls is a kit for making fairy dusting powder. You will need cosmetic glitter or mica, cornstarch and a small container for mixing and storing. Add a powder puff or soft brush, some glittery hair accessories and you'll be her BFF! You can get everything you need to make the fairy dust online at Coastal Scents.
Is someone on your list a bit stressed this year? Give them a coupon book you make on your home computer with coupons for things like free babysitting, a movie or lunch date with you, a foot massage - you get the idea. Upgrade this gift by presenting it with a good bottle of wine, imported beer or home spa goodies.
For someone who has no time to cook make pasta sauces or casseroles that you freeze in either single or family portions that they can just pop into the oven or microwave at a moments notice. Use disposable containers so they don't have to clean up afterward. They'll love you for it!
You know the old saying, "The way to every man's heart is through his stomach." Truer words have never been spoken! Is your guy the outdoors hiker type? Check out House of Jerky. They carry all kinds of great tasting jerky including exotic types like gator, salmon and and buffalo. You can purchase a Jerky of the Month pack for the gift that keeps on giving. There's even an option to purchase a Hero Pack that will be sent to your fave soldier with free shipping and a personal note. Pretty cool!

I hope this post will motivate your gift-giving-self to present unique and personal gifts this year that will put holiday smiles on your loved ones faces and will have you saying Ho! Ho! Ho!

Changes in Attitude

2008-11-12T10:30:00.006-05:00

Years ago when I was going through a tumultuous period in my life a good friend of mine suggested I try to simplify my daily existence. I thought he was crazy at the time as I had 3 young children, was in the middle of a divorce and trying to decide where my life would go from that point on. He suggested a few books that might move me in the right direction and gave me pep talks along the way.

So just how do you simplify your life? Part of it is prioritizing. You have to decide what people, things, etc, are the most important to you and sort of let the rest go on the back burner. This doesn't mean you have to divest yourself of all your earthly possessions and ditch all of your friends and obligations. It's more putting them in order of importance and need and dealing with the rest as you get to it. If there are things you can eliminate that seem to be taking up too much of your time and effort with little return on your investment then maybe it's time to cross some things off your to-do list for now and free up precious time for what really matters to you.

Another tip I picked up along the way was to start each day on a positive note. You know, just as you're waking up and your brain starts kicking in with all the noise of what you have to do, what is happening, yada, yada, yada! The thoughts that make you want to pull the covers over your head and hibernate need to be pushed out by cognitive positive thoughts. You have to train yourself to do this and sometimes it just doesn't work, but I've found it to be a great motivational tool.

Just start with "today I'm going to accomplish things!" or "It's a great day and I can't wait to get started!" I know- sounds pretty lame when all you really want to do is crawl to the shower and the coffee pot, but it honestly does work. The idea is to surround yourself with positive thoughts and feelings, even if they only come from within you. Negative feelings just kind of sap the yippee out of your life. Try to repeat this process throughout your day to keep the good vibes going. If you're coming across as positive and happy it will spread to those around you. Hey, it's better than giving your co-workers your cold, right?

Cold Weather Skin Care

2008-11-03T08:12:00.010-05:00

November is here and cold weather is right on its heels. Take some time to prepare your skin to withstand the blustery winds and dry indoor heat now and throughout the Winter months.

One of the very best way to prevent dry flaky patches is to help your skin retain its natural moisture balance. Moisturizing right after your bath or shower, especially just before bed, helps to form a barrier to slow transdermal moisture loss. Using a good moisture cream or body butter every day, especially on areas known to be trouble spots like elbows, knees and feet, is very effective.

Another trick is to promote new cell growth by removing dull dead cells from the surface of your epidermis. Your body naturally sloughs off dead skin but the removal rate is sometimes not what we'd like it to be. That can cause clogged pores and skin that appears dull and dry. Try using an all over body scrub to exfoliate the dead layer of cells and help promote new cell development. Think of it as deadheading your pansies to bring out new flowers. Take a jar into your shower or tub and use it 2-3 times a week for optimal benefits.

If you're a bath lover, like me, make sure you only soak in that warm (not hot!) water for about 15-20 minutes. As comforting as a hot bath or shower seems, they can actually cause moisture to evaporate from your skin. Using a bath additive or body wash with emollient qualities will help to minimize this effect, and don't forget to moisturize right after patting your skin dry.

Treat your body with TLC and you will reap the reward of soft, supple skin all year long.

Why Shop Online?

2008-09-28T09:14:00.007-04:00

Shopping online used to be scary. You never knew when, or if, you would get your order. Who were these people you were giving your private information to? Who else was getting the information? In 1996 when we applied for our first merchant account and told them we were selling "online" they looked at us like we were speaking another language. We had to walk the guy through what we did and how we kept the information safe, encrypted and that we were not going to sell it to the highest bidder. Let's just say the bank monitored us pretty closely during the first few years.

These days online stores are the norm. Nearly every retailer, large and small, has a presence online. There are many reasons to shop online. Here are just a few:

Anything you want you can find online.
Shop in London, Sydney, Canada or Los Angeles without leaving your kitchen.
Find unique items made by independent designers you can't find anywhere else.
Buy your Christmas presents without changing out of your pajamas.
Buy a gift today and have it delivered across the country, gift wrapped, tomorrow!
Save gas, time, money, aggravation and energy.

To ensure a pleasant experience there are a few things you should do prior to whipping out your credit card. Make sure the business you are buying from is legit. They should have contact information, including a phone number and address. If you've never purchased from them before and have any questions, call them. Shopping cart systems are extremely safe in general. Your information is transferred in an encrypted format to a secure database and is regularly purged for safety against hackers.

For your part you should read the shipping and return policies just in case. We offer a no questions asked return policy for 15 days after retail purchase. Every company has different rules so make sure you know what they are before you give them your money. If you're shopping on Paypal, Ebay, Etsy, or one of the many online shopping malls read their policies as well. Make sure to check the shipping policies as they may differ during the holiday rush time of year. You want to give yourself time to receive the merchandise in time. Doing your homework in advance will save you aggravation later.

Still not convinced? Check out these scenarios:

You need to buy a last minute Christmas gift for your niece in Florida. You get dressed, hop in your car and discover you need gas. So you whip around the corner to the local gas station and find a line around the corner! You sit in line for 30 minutes (or more!) wasting yet more gas, money and time, to pay $4.25 a gallon. You make your way to the local mall and find you have to park in Timbuktu. As you get about half way across the parking lot it starts to rain and you forgot your umbrella in another country. You run to the doors and squeeze your way into the crowded mall of harried shoppers.

Since you have no idea what you want you have to push from store to store all carrying pretty much the same things. You finally settle for something and stand in line to pay a harried cashier. When you finally make your way home you have to wrap the gift, box it up and then go back out to the even more crowded post office to send the thing out! Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Alternatively you pull on your cozy bathrobe and make yourself a cup of tea. While it's steeping your flick on your computer, go to Google and start a search for that gift you need. You sit down in your warm house, listening the the pleasant patter of rain on your windows while perusing the limitless options available to you online. You find the perfect unique gift, maybe even a one-of-a-kind, at a great price to boot. You enter your credit card or Paypal information, choose over night delivery to your niece with gift wrapping and hit "submit".

You have just purchased the perfect gift and will receive glowing praise for a job well done while saving gas, money, the environment and your sanity. I ask you, can it get any easier?

September Savings!

2008-09-21T08:27:00.004-04:00

We've got Fall Fever at Bidwell Botanicals! It's time to stock up on new and traditional Bidwell Botanicals Fall and Holiday product selections. Get a jump on holiday shopping and take 20% off all online purchases during our Member's Only Fall Savings Days. Use discount code: FALL08 at checkout.

As always, all orders over $50.00 receive a complimentary gift and over $75.00 enjoy free shipping within the USA.

Fall '08 sale prices in effect through September 30, 2008 on all regularly priced merchandise. For more information, call 1.888.360.3398 or email at sales@bidwellbotanicals.com.

Offer valid at Bidwell Botanicals Online store only through 11:59 p.m. EST September 30, 2008. Offer not valid at Bidwell Botanicals wholesale partner locations. Offer may not be combined with any other offers, coupons or discounts. Offer not redeemable for cash, gift certificates, gift cards, nor is it valid toward previous purchases. Gift cards, gift wrap services and taxes are not applicable toward purchase requirements. We reserve the right to cancel any order due to unauthorized, altered or ineligible use of discount and to modify or cancel this promotion due to system error or unforeseen problems.

Cancer is the Devil!

2008-09-04T10:16:00.007-04:00

Cancer and I have a hate/hate relationship. Obviously no one likes cancer, but I really, really hate this disease in all of its ugly forms. A little personal history: I lost my mother (breast cancer), my father (Adenocarcinoma) and my 3 year old daughter (Rhabdomyosarcoma) just to name a few. To say that cancer scares me to death is an understatement. I know many people survive the disease and ensuing treatment, and research is providing more answers every year. Unfortunately those closest to me were not so lucky.

When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer I was completely devastated. I still had her twin sister and my younger daughter at home to care for while she was spending 90% of her time in the hospital for surgery, treatment and complications of the two. I was exhausted and an emotional wreck. She was diagnosed in late September and died one month later. I felt like I couldn't breathe for at least a year. If not for my other children and my family rallying around me I doubt I would be here today. I lived in fear for years that her identical twin would get the disease too. Her doctors did not have enough information to assure me that would not happen. This was many years ago but the emotional wounds are still deep and painful.

I have tried over the years to help where I can both financially and by donating my time to the cause. Each year we promote our Think Pink Spa Pack and donate 50% of the profits to the Susan G. Komen Organization. We support the Relay for Life program and donate regularly to the Children's Cancer Foundation. I would do anything in my power to help find the cure and make sure no one has to go through the pain I and countless others have experienced. There are many worthy organizations working hard to develop tolerable treatment and ultimately a cure. Please make time and dig deep to help them meet their goals.

The Beauty of Natural Soap

2008-08-29T18:52:00.012-04:00

I am biased, I admit it. I am totally in love with true soap. I love making it, using it and just looking at it. You can't buy true soap on your grocery store shelf for $0.59 a bar. Even the "natural" soap they promote can contain syndets (synthetic detergent) to increase foam and bubbles and extra additives to make it last longer. While most of the ingredients are benign in nature they can strip your natural oils. You know, the old "squeaky clean" feeling?

So what is "true" soap? Simply said soap is made with an alkali (sodium hydroxide) and an acid (oil). When these two things are mixed together in the right proportions you get soap through saponification. This process produces glycerol and fatty acid salts - better known as soap. Most of the large manufacturers of soap use an intensive heat process and siphon off the natural glycerin. This is one of the reasons soap off the drugstore shelf can be very drying to your skin.

If you're a label reader like me then you probably know what is in most manufactured soaps and other toiletries. If you're not you should really start checking out what you're putting on your body. A large number of commercial bars are made with tallow (beef fat) which renders a hard bar with lots of suds. Using tallow is not bad, unless you're a vegetarian or do not like using animal based products on your body. There is chatter that tallow or lard used in soaps will clog your pores or promote blackheads. I don't know if this has ever been proven scientifically. I do know that once the saponification process occurs there should be little fat and no lye present in the finished product - only soap.

The major difference between commercial soap products and true soap - specifically handmade soap - is that during the process of saponification natural glycerin is produced. In handmade soaps that glycerin is retained in the finished product versus the common commercial practice of removing the glycerin so they can resell it into the industry where it is more lucrative for them.

The soap we make is vegetable based and contains additional nurturing ingredients like goats milk, honey and all of the natural glycerin to help retain your skins natural oils. This makes a huge difference in how your skin will feel after bathing. With continued use of true soap I have found my skin doesn't itch or dry out like it used to when I was using commercial products.

You can conduct your own study. Buy a bar of true soap, making sure there are no ingredients in the product that you might be sensitive to, and use it exclusively for a month. If you're like most people you will be converted. The range of handmade soaps available today provides consumers with an astounding array of choices. Have dry skin? Try a milk soap with honey and oatmeal. Acne prone oily skin? Choose a soap with clay and tea tree oil. You can even exfoliate while you wash with the many scrubby bars available with everything from ground pumice to cranberry seeds. The cost of handmade soaps is admittedly higher than the store bought versions, but as the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for." Try it - You'll like it. Trust me.

Suggested Links:
Bidwell Botanicals
Ablutions Spa
Flower Peddler
Om Aroma & Co

Product of the Day

2008-08-22T07:58:00.004-04:00

Today Bidwell Botanicals is serving up our new Goji Berry & Quinoa Seed Sugar Scrub. It smells like a fresh berry patch in the shop today, yum! This juicy number is loaded with skin-loving shea butter, nutritive quinoa seed oil and antioxidant goji berry extract. Goji berry boasts one of the highest levels of free-radical fighting antioxidants of all the superfruits. We've added a touch of organic quinoa seed for that extra boost of exfoliation. Check it out - your skin will thank you!

Have I Mentioned It's Hot?

2008-08-11T18:28:00.005-04:00

I'm sure I have. I believe I say it about 100 times a day now, a number that sadly enough matches the temperatures we've been having recently. If August were wiped off the map and we could just jump into September I would be a happy camper. Alas, we all know that's not going to happen so I thought I would list some ways that I've found help me to keep my cool when it's- well HOT!

Everyone knows a dip in the pool or a cool shower will help bring your body temperature down but that's not always an option. I keep a spray bottle of mineral water mixed with a bit of lavender and mint hydrosol and some aloe juice in the fridge. When I'm in a hurry and just need a quick pick-me-up I indulge in a few spritzes at the back of my neck, my face and anything else that's exposed. It dries quickly but leaves a fresh, cool feeling that helps beat the heat.

Drink lots of water. I know, you've heard that before, but it really is something we all tend to forget. Iced tea and juice are good but they also contain calories, sugar and caffeine. Water will refresh you and help restore any fluid lost when you sweat. Stay away from sodas if possible when your outdoors on hot days. The caffeine and carbonation tend to dry you out and can leave you feeling woozy.

I grew up in the South and believe it or not we had no air conditioning in our house. Florida gets pretty hot and humid in the summer- make that all year. I remember some of the older ladies used to sit on their front porch with a glass of ice and a fan. They would take out a cube and rub it all over the back of their neck, face, arms, etc. Kind of messy but effective. You can get basically the same relief with a neck cooler. They come in several different forms, some with polymer beads that hold water for evaporation cooling and others are strips of freezable gel that you insert in a sleeve of fabric. If you're crafty try making one yourself: http://www.ehow.com/how_2073447_make-neck-cooler.html

I hope these tips help you to stay cool for the remainder of the summer. I have high hopes of an early Autumn this year. Hey- a girl can dream, can't she?

Ho! Ho! Ho! It's Hot!

2008-07-30T13:58:00.005-04:00

I'm trying to get my head wrapped around the fact that we have to start making our holiday products. Yes, it's July and it's HOT! Yesterday it was about 100 degrees outside - in the shade. I truly love the holidays and one thing I like best is the cold weather. I know - I live in the south - but here in the north Atlanta burbs we do get cold temperatures in the Winter and even some snow most years. Today is not one of those days.

This year we're offering several new "flavors" including Gingerbread Latté, Hot Buttered Rum and Peppermint Silk. It smells heavenly in the work shop! When people come by they wonder what we're cooking. We have to get moving because products will be available starting mid-August.

So I guess we'll turn down the AC and try to pretend it's December. Maybe I should put on some Bing Crosby music?

They Like Us!

2008-07-17T19:24:00.005-04:00

Just a quick note to thank the folks at Examiner.com for showing Bidwell Botanicals some love!

Food, Glorious Food!

2008-07-16T19:32:00.007-04:00

My birthday was last Sunday (nope, not tellin' my age) and my dear husband took me out for a day away from work and home. That's not as easy as it sounds, believe me! I am a major homebody/workaholic and getting me to take a whole day off takes quite a bit of creative effort.

He started off by taking me out to our current favorite restaurant, Sugo, in Roswell on Saturday evening. This little gem is a unique combination of Italian and Mediterranean foods. Delicious pastas, creative tapas, seafood and varieties of chicken, beef and pork dishes to please every palate. I love that they have specials so there is always something new to try. I had the most amazing diver scallops and shrimp with smoked salmon and a lovely sauce with mascarpone cheese. You just have to try it to believe it.

My husband opted, as he often does, for a variety of small tapas plates including bacon wrapped dates and piquant peppers, stuffed baked calamari and an antipasto salad with fresh mozzarella drizzled with rich balsamic vinegar. He topped that off with the Mediterranean Mussels and some of Sugo's delicious warm bread for dipping into the rich tomato putanesca sauce. Of course I had to have a taste and shared some of mine with him too. All perfect as always.

They offer a large wine list, full bar and coffee menu. Their dessert menu is short, but sweet with the expected tiramisu and divine chocolate mousse cake, but also some creative gelato offerings. Our pick: Limoncello gelato swirled in a champagne flute and topped with light whipped cream. To. Die. For! To top off the wonderful food and service the owners of Sugo sent me a coupon via email for a free entree (up to $16.95) for my birthday. How sweet is that?! Go if you get the chance (they have two locations: Historic Roswell (770.641.9131) and Roswell North (770.817.4230). Make reservations and bring your appetite!

On Sunday we had lunch at a local deli and then went to do some birthday shopping at Ann Taylor Loft - yay! My favorite place to plunder. Before starting our next adventure in shopping we stopped in at our new favorite gelateria, Dreamy Gelato and Chocolates, at the Avenue in Forsyth. It's not a chain to my knowledge so if you're not local you will just have to use your imagination. I've had several different flavors but I think coconut has to be my new fave. Yummy! Creamy, sweet and delicately flavored in a delicious waffle cone. Wow! I think I might have to get my husband to take me back tonight! If you get a chance you really must check them out.

After dashing through the rain to several other stores (how lucky am I, girls?) and tucking my stash into the car we continued on to our dinner destination. My husband likes to surprise me with interesting restaurants and he was dead on as always with Babette's Cafe in Atlanta. A quaint little provincial style establishment that is both cozy and romantic. They offer a full bar and a large wine and beer list. Prices are moderate and reservations are suggested.

It was obvious by the familiarity between the staff and patrons that this is a bistro that is visited again and again, and I now know why. The food was perfectly cooked with generous portions and delicate seasoning. We sampled several of their "small plates" including crispy potato chips baked with gorgonzola cheese, a variety of French cheese with a date and almond spread and slices of raisin walnut bread. All very unique and very tasty.

My husband had the steamed mussels in a delightfully different white wine sauce with strawberries and serrano peppers. Since it was my birthday I decided to go for the grilled beef tenderloin - I know - bad me! But it was oh-so-worth-it. Tender perfectly cooked tenderloin with a mild gorgonzola cheese sauce and a side of lightly breaded spicy onion rings. I only got past the first half of the entree and I was stuffed! My daughter was ever so pleased to receive the left-overs and devoured it sans silverware shortly after we got home. A lovely meal and a wonderful end to my 30th birthday... No - really... Okay, 31st?

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

2008-07-06T09:30:00.004-04:00

I generally keep my political opinions to myself, but recently a proposal by the FDA to dramatically change regulations concerning the manufacturing and sales of cosmetic/beauty products has really hit home. So I am here asking you to spread the word and let your voice be heard!

The Globalization Act of 2008 is a grand (ie: overblown) proposal that will definitely put a huge number of small indie manufacturers and retail/wholesale concerns out of business in one blow. Unfortunately I am not exaggerating. Many of these new proposed regulations and fees would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible, for most small companies to absorb. If you currently purchase from Bidwell Botanicals, or any other small cosmetic companies, you will find that if this Act goes through your only choices left in the market will be big box businesses, thus greatly limiting the variety and price ranges that are currently available to you.

The Globalization Act of 2008 is a huge document that really boils down to the FDA laying the ground work for monopolization of the marketplace by proposing manufacturing practices and fees that small or fledgling companies could not possibly comply with and keep their financial heads above water. The registration fees alone - which could add up to approximately $12,000 per year - would certainly put many businesses at risk of permanently closing their doors.

I do not deny the importance of a regulating agency to help make sure that cosmetics and health products are produced safely. I have no problem reporting my ingredients and product claims to the FDA. I do have a problem with proposed laws and fees that will squeeze the life out of small businesses leaving a huge vacancy in the creativity and range of prices that will be available to you as a consumer.

What can you do? Please view this short informational video which outlines the steps you can take to help ensure that your choice to purchase from independent business owners, and for those people to actually provide those services, is left intact.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW9SlqiA_DI

I thank you in advance for your support!

Happy July 4th!

2008-07-02T22:27:00.004-04:00

I'm so ashamed! I've been severely lacking in my blogging the past few weeks. We've crazy busy with work and family obligations. Lots of birthdays in June and July in my brood (including mine coming up but that's another blog). Believe it or not I'm rushing to finalize our holiday '08 products and packaging and I need to have it done right after the 4th. So I will just wish you and yours a Happy Independence Day. Play with fire (grill - I mean grill!), eat watermelon and run around your backyard in your bathing suit with a sparkler. Be careful - you could put an eye out with that thing... Ahh go ahead - live a little!

Summer Skin Savers

2008-06-15T09:43:00.005-04:00

Even though the calendar still says Spring it appears that Summer is in full swing here in the south. We spend more time outside working in the garden, swimming in the pool and socializing than any other time of the year. It's time to talk about protection... skin protection that is. The harmful UV rays of the sun can make spending time outside a real pain! I've gathered some helpful hints to make your Summer safe.

The sun is our friend but we need to screen out some of those powerful rays. Dermatologists generally recommend a sunblock product with an SPF of at least 30. Sunscreens should be applied 15-20 minutes before sun exposure to allow a protective film to develop, then reapplied after water contact and sweating. Some sunblocks can lose effectiveness after two hours, so reapply frequently. Wearing a hat and sunglasses will help to protect you even further. Limit your sun exposure especially if you are fair skinned or burn/freckle easily.

The top 5 sunscreen brands recommended by Dermatologists are:

Neutrogena - Contains Helioplex™, shown to deliver very high, very broad and photo-stable UV protection, providing a high level of UVA protection.
Coppertone - One of the best known suncare products offers numerous variations of suncreen options.
Anthelios - A L'Oreal exclusive contains Ecamsule (Mexoryl XL) shown to reduce the skin damage associated with UV exposure.
Blue Lizard - An Australian brand now made in Tennessee that uses a unique formulation including a micronized Zinc Oxide that allows the protectant to form an even barrier against UV rays.
SolBar - Comes in an SPF 50 with broad spectrum protective ingredients to help extend the amount of time you can safely stay in the sun.

Unfortunately even when we try to avoid it sunburns happen. Try these steps to help alleviate the pain and suffering:

Soothe your skin using a washcloth soaked in cold skim milk. The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that will helps ease discomfort. You can also try cool wet compresses or Witch Hazel for 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a day to relieve pain and itching.
Protect the burned skin from the sun. (nothing feels worse than more sun on your already damaged skin - ouch!)
Apply a good moisturizer, such as Hydrating Body Milk, 3 times a day to reduce dryness and peeling.
Hydrate! Drink lots of water and avoid alcoholic and carbonated beverages.
To relieve pain and reduce inflammation, take aspirin, NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen), or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
Soak in a cool tub with oatmeal (Aveeno makes a good one) added to help relieve itching and soothe the burn.

Note: If your skin blisters, you run a fever or you feel dizzy, faint or very dehydrated contact your doctor for additional treatment. Don't fool yourself - a sunburn is a burn and may require medical treatment.

Stay safe - Have fun!

Step Right Up!

2008-06-02T21:42:00.008-04:00

If you're like me, the last thing you think about in your beauty regimen are your feet. I admit it - I'm guilty of tootsie abuse. I stand on my feet many hours a day and wear ruts in the workroom floor. I go barefoot in the summer time and fall into bed too tired to moisturize my poor peds after my evening shower. It's criminal, I tell you! If you're ready to stop the cycle of abuse there are a few simple things you can do even once a week to make amends and get those toes in top shape.

1. The first thing you have to do is schedule about 30 minutes without interruption. Yeah, I know, but you deserve at least half an hour to yourself. I do this at night so the moisturizer has time to soak in really well and it's relaxing. Assemble your pedicure accoutrements:
Towel, plastic tub or bathtub, foot soak, exfoliating scrub (Peppermint Buffing Creme) or pumice stone, moisturizer for feet, nail clippers, emery board, cuticle stick and spa socks or white cotton socks. Nail polish is a plus if you have time to let it dry well.

2. Pour comfortably warm water into a plastic tub big enough to fit both feet up to your ankles. You can also just shallowly fill the bathtub and sit on the side. Add some Epsom salts, oatmeal (the old-fashioned kind) or any variety of botanicals you have on hand like rose petals or mint leaves. Use your imagination or use a product specifically made to soak your feet like our Cooling Peppermint Foot Soak. Lean back and soak your feet for about 10-15 minutes. Yes - I said to sit down in one place for one quarter of an hour! Read, watch TV or just meditate, it will be over before you know it.

3. Rinse feet with warm water and drain the tub. Massage damp feet with your scrub product or a pumice stone, concentrating on extra rough areas. I usually do this for about 5 minutes per foot for a thorough treatment. Rinse feet again and dry well.

4. Now is the time to push back your cuticles and clip or file nails as necessary. If you're going to polish your nails use a light moisturizer, our Peppermint Foot Cream is a good one, and wait until it dries before you start. Give polish plenty of time to dry before going to bed or putting on shoes. If you're not using polish, I suggest a heavy duty product like PM Foot Repair to help seal in moisture. Then slip on a pair of light cotton socks and you're done. You'll wake up to soft, pretty feet ready for those new sexy sandals.

Take care of your feet. After all, they do get you where you're going.

Watching the Garden Grow

2008-05-26T20:24:00.004-04:00

Here in the south we have some pretty short Winters so the arrival of Spring is refreshing but not earth shattering. Summer just sort of slides right in behind Spring and the next thing you know the temperatures are in the 80's and everything in the yard, especially the weeds, have just taken off. Seeds sown in hope last Fall shoot up and set flower in the blink of an eye.

Each year in late Spring when things start budding my husband and I begin our daily "yard walks." We begin at one end of the back yard and make the rounds to see how everything is doing. Dead-heading annuals, picking a stray weed or pesky beetle and always talking about what we'll add next year. This year we added a few more blueberry and raspberry bushes. One can never have enough raspberries in my opinion. Our figs are heavily fruited and hopefully we'll get more of the them than the birds do this year. We've also added several types of peppers for salsa this summer. I am in love with fresh salsa served over grilled chicken or fish. Now if I could just get the cilantro to stop bolting before everything else is ready I'd be in good shape.

It has taken me a long time to somewhat master the growing conditions and seasons here in North Georgia. I grew up in sandy, hot and humid Florida where we could grow things year round as long as we kept it watered. When I first got here I killed a lot of poor plants because I put them out too early. I now follow the "April 15th and not before" mantra my landscaping pal taught me. The soil in our yard was as hard as a rock and took an auger to plant anything more than one inch deep. That was 10 years ago and since then we've amended the soil each year with organic compost and use raised beds for much of the vegetables and other annuals. It's still a work in progress but that's the fun of it.

My husband and I took advantage of the holiday and sat in our glider on the upper deck lazily rocking away part of the afternoon. There's something magical about the early Summer garden. The water from our pool reflects on the deep greens of the new foliage of the forest of trees lining the perimeter of our property, sending dapples of liquid gold throughout the canopy. Even if you're not in the water it seems to make the yard cooler just by being there. The birds, bees and butterflies flit from one side of the garden to the other performing their dedicated services of bug control and pollination. Soon it will be time to weed the herb garden and harvest the lovely tomatoes and squash. But for now I can just sit and watch the garden grow.

If It's Not One Thing...

2008-05-25T08:47:00.003-04:00

Please give me a break! I've had problems with my back for ages apparently due to athletics and idiocy of my youth. Not one particular problem but the pain seems to randomly migrate from one place to another. If I have a month with relatively no back pain it's a miracle!

This month it's my upper left quadrant, including neck, shoulder and everything in between. Muscle spasms, stiffness, pain - oh yeah - it's awesome. Now this would be enough to slow me down but my body seems to react to a lowered immunity with a vengeance. I have had a sinus/cold thing going on for about a week now. If I didn't think it would stuff me up more I'd have a good cry. Instead you're stuck listening to me whine.

I see a chiropractor who is very good at relieving my symptoms, but this just keeps coming back and usually at night so I can't sleep. Obviously that isn't helping matters. Today when I cough, which is often, it's creating painful twinges under my left shoulder blade that radiates pain like a super conductor throughout my back. I'm not loving life this morning.

Oh, and the kids drank all the milk last night so I couldn't have tea this morning. Hmphh!

A Bidwell Botanicals Update!

2008-05-12T09:01:00.012-04:00

We recently hit a growth spurt here at Bidwell Botanicals and proud parent that I am, I wanted to share our progress with you. Our products are now being offered in Norway, Abu Dhabi, Greece, and soon traveling all the way to the Cape of South Africa. I would like to tuck myself into one of the boxes and tag along to these exotic destinations!

We've added several new products to our line-up:

Mangosteen & Açaí Berry: A refreshing fragrance coupled with some of nature's best antioxidants to help fight free radicals and boost skin cell regeneration. Enjoy these benefits in our exclusive Shea Butter Sugar Scrub, Hydrating Body Milk, Shea Butter Bod y Wash and our new Trilogy Body Butter™.

Trilogy Body Butter™: Indulge your skin with the triple moisturizing power of Trilogy Body Butter™. Replenishes skin with Mango, Shea and Cocoa Butters and helps to sustain moisture throughout the day. Infused with beneficial botanical extracts and nutritive oils to protect, renew and rejuvenate your skin.

Coming soon:

Goji Berry & Quinoa Seed: A fresh berry blend with the powerful punch of organic Quinoa Seed. Goji berry boasts one of the highest levels of free-radical fighting antioxidants of all the superfruits. We team this awesome performer with organic Quinoa (pronounced /keen-wah/ ), the "Mother of all Grains" for gentle exfoliation in our Shea Butter Sugar Scrub, and Quinoa Seed Oil to impart moisture benefits and high levels of tocopherols.

Bidwell Botanicals Home Care: We can't wait to introduce our new line of natural home care products! Refresh your home and laundry with natural essential oils, vegetable based cleansers and aromatherapy scents like Ruby Red Grapefruit and Lavender Fields to help create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in your home. You might even enjoy the cleaning process and we know you will appreciate the results.

Last, but not least, we welcome our new employee, Megan, and look forward to her help in the packaging & shipping department. She comes to us with years of experience in retail and we plan to put her experience to good use as we pick out our holiday '08 gift packaging this summer.

I'm off to plant more heirloom tomatoes and peppers. We grow organic veggies and herbs every summer in our kitchen/deck garden and in the bigger garden in the yard. This year we've added several new heirloom types including the Black Krim and Black Cherry Tomatoes. They grow alongside of our fave Cherokee Purples, Sweet Basil, Greek Oregano, and varieties of peppers, summer squash and eggplants. The raspberries and blueberries are fruiting heavily this year. I see some delicious preserves in our future. I hope you can get out and get a bit dirty this weekend too.

Hugs and Kisses, or the Lack Thereof

2008-05-06T13:46:00.011-04:00

You all know about Empty Nest Syndrome. Though my "nest" is not yet empty I think I might have a mild case of its lesser known evil twin No Hugs & Kisses Syndrome. I was thinking about it the other day after I dropped off my nearly 19-year-old son at work. When he was young and I took him to school he would smother me with kisses and hugs before leaving me for the day and again when he came home in the afternoon. Now I'm lucky if I get a "Thanks for the ride, Mom" out of him. I realize that he's an adult now but no matter how old my children get they're still my children, right?

It comes and goes but I feel that something has been missing in my life for some time. It occurred to me recently that the problem is the lack of physical affection from my brood. When you're used to years of hugs, kisses and fixing boo-boos it feels pretty strange when all of a sudden (or so it seems) your kids don't need you for those things any more. Okay, that's not entirely true. They do seem to need me for rides, occasional loans and Sunday dinners, but things have definitely changed.

Maybe I just didn't want to see that they're saving their hugs and kisses for other people now. Not that there is a limit of affection one can give in a day but apparently hugging your mother is so not cool after a certain age. I remember my mother telling me she felt the same way. Although in her case there were so many of us that by the time she got to the last kid the older siblings were providing a new crop of kidlets for Grandma to cuddle. So while her arms were usually kept busy I now understand how she felt.

My children are old enough to have their own babies that I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to snuggle with, but I'll gladly wait until they finish their educations and figure out what they want to do with their lives. No baby pushing from me! Well, maybe just a little nudge?

Now go give your mom (or your kids) a big hug. Happy Mother's Day!

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No... It's a Super Fruit!

2008-04-20T09:10:00.020-04:00

What is all the fuss about these so called "super fruits"? They're not really new by any means as they have been cultivated in their various locations for centuries. Recent studies have shown some incredible discoveries so I decided to do some investigation. Connecting the dots between their benefits of ingestion and topical uses made perfect sense and we began using the extracts, pulp and oils of the fruits and seeds in some of our products. (see links below)

Let's go over the top contenders:

Açaí Berry: (ah-SAH’-ee) The berries are produced by a palm tree that grows in the Amazon region. Recent studies have shown the small grape-like berries to possess high levels of antioxidants. Historically, Brazilians have used açaí berries to treat digestive disorders and skin conditions. In skin care açaí is being used to prevent signs of premature aging and inflammation of the skin. Studies have shown the extracts of the berries and oils made from the seed contain high levels of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals to help promote skin cell health and fatty acids and phytosterols to help to preserve collagen and boost skin cell regeneration.

Goji Berries: Historically used in ancient Chinese medicine, this amazing fruit packs a powerful punch of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Recent studies have shown that extract of the berries helps to calm skin sensitivity, irritation and redness. They are a rich source of beta-carotene and Vitamin C, and chock full of antioxidants to aid in neutralizing skin-damaging free radicals.

Mangosteen Fruit: The mangosteen hails from Southeast Asia. Studies have shown that this very perishable fruit and its rind contain a powerful class of antioxidants (xanthones) known to protect and nourish the skin and aid in the fight against free radicals. I have been told that the flavor of the fruit is incredible, but I doubt I will get a chance to eat any fresh unless I travel to Asia as it is hard to come by in North America. I do drink the fruit juice mixed with cranberry, pomegranate, blueberry and açaí berry and it's very tasty.

Pomegranate: A legendary fruit with ties to ancient times is native to the region from Afghanistan to the Himalayas in northern India and it is now grown commercially in many locations around the world. It's no news that the pomegranate is busting out all over with antioxidants. Polyphenols from pomegranate are known for their potent anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranate seed oil helps to refine skin tone and high levels of ellagic acid help boost collagen production. The bright red fruit tastes amazing and it is good for you inside and out. What's not to love?

Quinoa: (KEEN-wah) Not a fruit, but an ancient grain that deserves top ranking in the super-foods club originated in the Andean region of South America. Quinoa was revered by the Incas who called it "the mother of all grains." Quinoa contains extremely high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and is a natural source of Vitamin E and antioxidants. Quinoa oil imparts excellent emollient and moisturizing properties to the skin. It also enhances circulation in the skin area treated to help aid revitalization of the dermis.

How's that for a crash course? Don't you feel smarter already? You can find these ingredients and more in our Mangosteen & Açaí Berry, Sanguinello & Pomegranate, and coming soon, Goji Berry & Quinoa Seed collections at Bidwell Botanicals.

You knew I had to throw in a sales pitch eventually, right?

Airing Your Laundry

2008-04-18T19:26:00.008-04:00

My mother always warned me about airing my dirty laundry in public, but that's not what this post is about. (You knew that, didn't you?) It's about the cost of natural gas or electricity that we use to dry our clothes when there's perfectly good air and sunshine outside our back doors, and it smells better too. Well, I guess that depends on where you live. That might not be the case in Los Angeles or Detroit, but you know what I mean.

When I was first married I lived in a quaint little neighborhood with a fenced-in backyard where I could actually hang our laundry on a clothesline to air dry. What's a clothesline, you ask? It's this really nifty gadget - a string or wire - heavy duty of course, and you use clothespins (another nifty gadget) to secure your t-shirts, jeans and unmentionables out in the sunshine to dry - for free. Oh, and not one of our neighbors called us to angrily complain or report our unsightly mess to the neighborhood association.

There are actually restrictions in many places, including the city I live in, that make it illegal to hang your clean laundry outside to dry. You can get fined for this horrible wanton act! Now I'm not talking about hanging your undies in the front yard for all to see or tossing your towels and jeans over your porch railings for days on end. I mean a discreet little clothesline strung between trees or poles behind your house where no one can see it unless they're spying on you. What would that hurt? Does it actually bring the level of the neighborhood down because you want to save a few bucks? Isn't this the age of "going green"?

If you happen to live in the country or outside of the suburbs you could probably get away with at least hanging out your towels and sheets. I realize it's not terribly convenient but once you dry off with a fluffy towel or plop face down into a pillow that smells of sunshine and fresh air you might find it addictive and worth the effort. If you like the additional fragrance that you get with laundry additives you could use a linen spray with lavender to add a calming floral scent.

Back in my grandmother's day they used drawer sachets, not only for keeping their laundry fresh but also to help ward off moths and other undesirable critters. A sachet is simply a small bag or pouch filled with dried herbs or flowers. You can fill a small muslin drawstring bag with cedar chips and hang it in your closet to keep moths away from woolens and keep clothes smelling fresh. I keep a little satin pouch with dried lavender and rose buds in my lingerie drawer. Shhhh... don't tell my husband, he thinks I smell that good naturally.

The naysayers would complain that if you let one person do it then everyone would do it and it could get out of control. Maybe, but I highly doubt it would lead to anarchy.

Sources for Clotheslines and Supplies:
Whitney Design Outdoor Dryers
The Clothesline Shop

Put a Spring in Your Step!

2008-04-14T14:54:00.015-04:00

Spring has sprung as the saying goes. Here in the south we've already been treated to bursts of bright yellow daffodils and forsythia, clouds of cherry blossoms and dazzling red tulips dotting front yards and street corners all over town. Masses of vibrant azaleas grace landscapes with shades of pink, white and crimson. The dogwoods recently bloomed in pink and white showing off their southern charm, while drifts of multi-colored pansies happily bob their heads during our frequent spring showers. Birds and butterflies are in abundance, as well as the constant drone of the carpenter bees as they do their hovercraft impersonations looking for a mate and a place to nest.

The temperatures are just about warm enough to set out our summer annuals. I say just about because today we actually got a little bit of snow. That's right... here in the deep south we had snow flakes falling in the middle of the day. Crazy! I'm good with this cold snap though, because soon enough the only cool air we'll get will be blowing out of our air conditioning units, and I have to pay for that pleasure.

I went out and snapped a few shots of the first spring flowers and plants. As you can see some of them are still sporting a light coat of yellow pollen. Anyone familiar with spring in the south knows what I'm talking about. Thankfully the recent rains have washed away a lot of the evil dust, but more is to come with the setting of pine cones and flowering magnolias. It's a small price to pay for the beauty Spring brings us each year, even if some of us have to view it from behind our tightly closed windows.

Making Mud Pies

2008-04-11T21:38:00.014-04:00

Do you remember when you were a kid and the days seemed to stretch endlessly in front of you. Back then television was something we watched for maybe an hour on Saturday morning to catch the new cartoons. Long hot summer days were spent running around our backyard from the pool to the swing set and back again. Most days we had a sun shower or two late in the afternoon that produced just enough rain for one of our other favorite activities: making mud pies. There's nothing like digging your little fingers into cool wet mud and creating masterpieces to present to your mom and dad who politely pretended to taste them and proclaim them the most amazing creations ever made! Then it was back to running through the sprinkler with a dash into the pool for good measure to wash away the remnants of our day's endeavors before going in for supper.

Now that I'm older I still like to play in the mud, only now the mud is clay. Sea clay, rose clay, cocoa clay, stark white kaolin; the list goes on and on. I've formulated with gorgeous mineral clays from around world including Australia, Israel, France and Morocco. They come in a dizzying array of colors and textures and are enriched with the mineral deposits indigenous to their homelands.

What can you do with clay, you ask? We use them in soaps for their cleansing, soothing and drawing powers. Body and facial masques are made moisturizing, astringent or soothing. Rose and white clays are best for mature or sensitive skin types while sea muds and green clays possess powerful drawing power to pull impurities from your skin.

To make a simple facial masque try this:

1 Tablespoon of Bentonite or Kaolin clay
Liquid of choice (water, honey, cream, yogurt or hydrosols are excellent choices)

Using enough liquid to make a paste, stir into clay until you reach the desired consistency. Using clean fingers or a facial brush spread the mixture over clean face avoiding eyes and mouth. Lie back and relax allowing the paste to work for 10 - 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water until completely removed. Splash face with a cool water rinse, gently dry with a soft towel and apply your favorite moisturizer. Discard any remaining clay mixture. Your skin will feel incredibly soft and clean.

Even though the endless days of your youth may be behind you it's never too late to make time for yourself. So go ahead and make a mud pie, or better yet pamper your skin with a beneficial mud masque and regain that youthful glow.

Heaven in a Bag

2008-04-09T19:18:00.006-04:00

I went to Whole Foods today (better known as Harry's Farmer's Market around here). I love that place! Being a weekday before lunch hour it was quiet and I could roam around and sample fruits, cheeses and other assorted yummies set up in the aisles. I picked up a brie cheese and smoked turkey panini with fresh basil and tomatoes and a delightful organic mango smoothie by Naked Juice Company for my lunch. Can you hear me sighing with delight?

As I searched for some organic fruits and berries for photo work today I found the most amazing thing ever! I love dried goji berries. I order mine from an organic grower in Tibet to help support their co-op, and also because no one was carrying them locally at that time. They carry several kinds at Harry's now and it's always a good idea to have a back-up source. As I was browsing the shelves of exotic ingredients I spied a bag on the bottom shelf that looked intriguing. Egad! Organic goji berries covered in dark chocolate by Himalania. They were $5.99 for a 6 oz bag; pricey, but I had to try these.

If you've never eaten goji berries, they taste like a cross between dates and dried cranberries. Not too sweet with a slightly tart aftertaste. Goji berries (also referred to as Wolfberry) are one of the newly acclaimed "super fruits" and have been cultivated high in the Himalayas for centuries. I initially tried them to see what all the fuss was about and now eat them because I really like them. So I figured goji berries covered in deep dark chocolate would have to be good, right? I can't tell you how good (mostly because I'm currently stuffing them into my mouth). The dark chocolate adds a whole new level to the flavor. Plus it's ... well... chocolate! Of course chocolate has its own antioxidant health claims to boast these days, but I always knew it was a super-food. No really, I did!

If you get a chance to try these I heartily recommend them. I wonder what these would taste like sprinkled on top of this freshly made gelato I picked up at Harry's?