Archive for March, 2008

Liu Fang Yuan – Garden of Flowing Fragrance

Monday, March 31st, 2008

Liu Fang Yuan

Photograph compliments of Arlene Yakush

Newly opened within the compound of the
Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
is Liu Fang Yuan – California’s first classical Chinese Garden.

Carefully designed with respect to the given environment and all the necessary elements representative of a traditional Chinese Garden, this extraordinary treasure brings beauty and balance to the area, and enriches the minds and souls of all that walk along its paths.

Combining exquisite architecture, wonderful water elements and rock placement, a variety of gloriously fragrant flowers and trees, and “layers of meaning and symbolism”, one will soon realize “that there is much more to this beautiful landscape then meets the eye. ”

You could spend days exploring at the Huntington, it has so much to offer over so many gorgeous acres where the scene changes significantly around every corner, and through lovely buildings that contain galleries, exhibits and a fabulous gift shop. Make reservations for high tea, or take out simpler fare at their tasty cafe, and picnic under the trees.

Certainly an amazing way to spend a day, no matter the path you decide to venture out on.

For more information go to:

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108
(626) 405-2100

www.huntington.org

and to view more beautiful photographs of the garden and other wonderful things by Arlene Yakush, please click here.

Happy Sauntering!

Yoga Hikes at Bluff Cove, Palos Verdes, CA

Friday, March 28th, 2008

BluffCovePalosVerdes.jpg

A Message From Claudia:

Hi Lovely Friends,

Spring is in the air and all the flowers and trees are blooming and smelling wonderful. Come and join us for your Yoga Hike in Palos Verdes this Sunday March 30, 2008 from 10 am to 12 pm. Balance your body, mind and spirit with practicing Yoga at the top of the cliffs. It will be fun!

For more details click here.

Namaste,
Claudia

March Treatment Recipes

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008

Greetings!

We invite you to visit our “Treatment” page because the
March Treatment Recipes have finally been added – Yayyy!!!

This month is all about your head – anointing it, massaging it
and feeding it!

Also, you will see the debut of Claudia’s Herbal Therapy Head Wrap – an absolute must to sensationally complete any scalp treatment or hair masque – so get reading and click here!

Buckeye by Silvia Peluso

Monday, March 24th, 2008

Buckeye

Enjoy Silvia’s work up close and personal at the
Redondo Beach Art Group’s:

“Impressions of the Marsh”
Saturday, March 29 – Saturday, May 17, 2008 with (Artist’s Reception May 10, 2008 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm) at:

Madrona Marsh Preserve and Nature Center
3201 Plaza del Amo
Torrance, CA 90503

www.friendsofmadronamarsh.com

For information on future events of the Redondo Beach Art Group
check out their website at: www.redondobeachartgroup.org

and of course, to view more of Silvia’s amazing paintings and jewelry click here!

Silken Your Sanctuary

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Dreamsack

While at the Natural Products Expo last week, we came across one of the most inviting displays at the Dreamsacks booth.

Inviting both in arrangement and in the warm welcome we received from the staff. A great place for tapping into your touchy-feely side, this tactilely luxurious line of fine bedding, travel accessories, and clothing are manufactured from some of the softest natural materials around – silk, azlon from soy protein, cashmere and viscose made from bamboo.

Remember when you were a kid and you used to hide under the racks of clothes in the department store – well this thought crossed my mind briefly while thumbing through the alluring racks of robes, pajamas and loungewear – you just felt like diving right in – felt as soft as clouds look.

Check out their website at www.dreamsack.com – Even their swatch page looks soft!

Citron Tea – Good For What Ails You

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Citron teaReminder to self – be careful what you draw your attention to!

(YIKES! By the very virtue of this post I am doing it again – HUGHHH!!)
Anyway – about a month ago, I remember telling someone (and now in hindsight it may have been a bit cockily) “Oh, I never get sick, MAYBE one short cold a year, but it never lasts for very long….” HMMM…got to love how the universe works. So as I am sure you can surmise, I have been stuck with the pesky cold that is going around, on and off ever since.

The good news is my friend Seon Hee told me about this Citron Tea last time I was visiting her (and she happened to be sick), and told me she drinks it all day long when she gets a cold, and it fixes her up right quickly. (Although she didn’t really say it like that….)

So I finally had enough energy to go out and get some today, and as of the 3rd cup, I am starting to feel a bit better. Mind over matter? The placebo effect? Just the power of citrus and sugar? Hey, whatever the reason, I am up for whatever works, so I thought I should share it with you.

If you are in the South Bay, go to Market World, a fabulous Korean grocery on the southwest corner of Sepulveda and Maple in the fine city of Torrance. Or try to find it in a Korean grocery near you.

(Ps. Print quality represents my present state, my apologies. If you can’t see the label as clearly as I thought you would be able to, it says Citron Preserve on the box and Citron Tea on the Jar and it is manufactured in Korea from a company named Doowon Nonghyup)

Update: Okay, so it is a few hours after I started drinking this delicious “tea” – initially after the 3 cup I was feeling pretty good – throat/cold wise anyway, however, now I am feeling a bit nauseated, headachey, and woozey, like one usually feels after eating too much sugar, especially since I forgot to eat lunch. So just a word of caution – still love the product, but yet another lesson – Moderation is key with most things in life – and not too much sugar on an empty stomach!

Rescue Remedy – Natural Stress Relief

Monday, March 17th, 2008

RescueRemedy.jpg

So this little goodie was just one of many of the complimentary samples we received at the Natural Products show – I will be relieved to seek the sanctuary it offers next time I am in need!

Do you need help restoring emotional or mental balance?

For years the Bach Flower Essences have been able to simply and safely do just that. Based on the work of British physician Dr. Edward Bach, and formulated in part from his original list of 38 healing flowers, this blend of essences has been instrumental in bringing one back from emotional and mental distress, to a place where life can be calmly dealt with under many given stressful situations.

In times of heartbreak, grief or trauma, or if you are experiencing any extreme emotional or mental fatigue – reach for the bottle and take a few drops. It truly can work wonders. Give it a go, see how it can change your disposition, or maybe even your life. A friend of mine who had had countless sleepless nights due to a highly stressfull corporate restructure, swears it is one of the most effective sleep and stress solutions she has ever found.

And now, not only is it available in the original dropper method, but they also have sprays and chewy candy type “pastilles” if that is more palatable.

My first experience with Rescue Remedy left quite a lasting impression.

It was about 20 years ago and I was in my early twenties working at a day care center and going to school nights for Reflexology. In one of the community rooms they had at the center, one of the teachers had set up some small animal cages. One day while passing through the room I noticed the gerbils in one of the cages looked dead. I inspected a bit more closely and realized they were still breathing but very shallowly, and their tiny bodies were limp and practically lifeless. Well, work was just about over for me and I was headed to class, so I wrapped the two of them up in a small blanket and placed them gently in a shoe box. They were going to come with me to class, and I would figure out what to do from there.

When I got there I explained to my teacher what happened, and she quickly produced this curious little bottle labeled “Rescue Remedy”. She told me to keep trying to get them to drink every hour or so until they start to respond, and then every couple of hours and see how that went. They had no swallowing ability at that point and the liquid just kept spilling out of the corners of their tiny mouths. I took them home and continued to administer the drops – I can’t even remember how many times. It wasn’t looking too good. At around 1 a.m. I was exhausted and thought I would catch a little sleep but set my alarm for 3 a.m. so I could check on them. When I awoke, I checked in the box and one was missing!

Needless to say that was a tad surprising. I finally found him hiding out in a corner of my closet, and he was quite perky at that – if not a little freaked out! The other guy was moving a lot slower, but he seemed to have gotten the swallowing down. I placed him back in the box and the other in another make shift home, and went back to bed. Set the alarm for 5 a.m. Went to the shoe box and that little guy was moving around a bit. The one in the other box may well have been doing cartwheels – he was so alive. By the end of that day, I had purchased a new aquarium, a wheel and all of the other necessary components of setting up gerbil digs and I found myself the happy co-dweller of two healthy adorable (and really noisy – at night anyway) rodents!

So those are some powerful flowers -paired with positive intention – the result was miraculous in my estimation – thanks Dr. Bach!

Rescue Remedy is readily available at Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market if you have one close by you, and certain boutique health food stores, as found in smaller towns. For more information, visit their website at:
www.bachflower.com

Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim, CA

Monday, March 17th, 2008

Greetings!

Just enjoyed a whirlwind of activity over the weekend at the
Natural Products Expo, and a tasty and engaging time seemed
to be had by all!

The plan now is to share with you some of the companies we found that can help you create that comfortable haven or feeling of peace and retreat,
both on the inside and out.

If you have any previous experiences with these companies that you would like to share, we welcome you to leave a comment!

Thanks and stay tuned!

Heaven is a Cupcake

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

Dead Cupcake Carcasses

Dead Cupcake Carcasses….

That is what my friend Kris used to call them, and that was all that remained after 10 minutes of being home.

I normally don’t look through the many coupon books we receive in the mail, but just happenned to glance through one this past week and found this adorably enticing ad that was offering me a free cupcake – well, who wouldn’t want a free cupcake? Anyway, I kind of surprised myself as I was heading south on Hawthorne Boulevard that I would make a tiny confection my destinational focus for the moment – and twenty minutes away for that matter. I mean I might do that for chocolate, but for little cakes – this was a first. They made them sound so appealing though on their website (yes, I checked them out before making the trip), and thought it seemed definitely worth the ride, especially since the kids were having company after school – thought it would be a nice treat.

When I entered Baby Cakes Baking Company, I was greeted kindly by a friendly young woman who started to give me the lay of the land. She introduced me to both their cupcake selection and muffin offerings, and told me a bit about the fresh ingredients these baked-daily goodies were created with, and a little about the inspiration for this 4 month old venture. Then she offered me a free sample of the day - Espresso Cake with Mocha Chip Buttercream – oh my gosh, wow… is all I could say after tasting that…truly sublime… Then she carefully put together my six pack and my free cupcake - Rich Chocolate with Chocolate Mousse, and I was off.

All in all we sampled 5 different flavored cakes (cut them like a pie so we all could share) and they all were so amazingly delicious – rich, but not overly sweet, incredibly moist, and just really satisfying! Anyway, I think the favorite of the favorites was the Zesty Lemon with Meyer Lemon Buttercream, very complex, evolving taste, and a real wake up to the senses!

So go check out their website and explore their gallery at www.babycakesshop.com

Or better yet, drive 1 block south of PCH on Hawthorne Boulevard and try some of the samples – guaranteed you won’t be able to leave empty handed!


Never Underestimate the Power of Feet in Water

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Although other of life’s daily events have superceded the foot bath ritual begun some years ago in our family, the many benefits of this tradition should certainly be incentive to bring it back – and soon!

It is a lovely, deeply relaxing or exhilarating (depending on temperature, and additives) way to spend time with the family, or just by yourself, and it doesn’t take a lot of preparation or accoutrements. You can use a large soup pot if you have nothing else! Dishpans work great. Or hang out on the edge of your bathtub.

Hot Foot Baths:

Cover feet and ankles with hot water ranging from 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a cool wet compress on your forehead (dampen with rose water or orange blossom water, and you will know what heaven smells like!), and make sure there is a refreshing drink of cool water within reach. Soak for 5 to 20 minutes depending on your tolerance. When you are finished soaking, pour warm water over your feet, then pour cool water (always end with cool), and dry thoroughly.

Reported Benefits of Hot Foot Baths:

  • Relaxes feet and legs
  • Revives tired, sore feet
  • Eases foot and leg cramps
  • Warms the entire body and makes chronically cold feet warmer
  • Alleviates the pain of gout
  • Lessens the discomfort of menstrual cramps
  • Promotes a healthy sleep schedule
  • Tempers a pesky sore throat or cold

Contraindications to a Hot Foot Bath:

Like with anything, there are certain folks who shouldn’t engage in certain activities due to certain health circumstances.
In this instance those people include:

Insulin dependent diabetics; those with Peripheral Vascular Disease (Arteriosclerosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Buerger’s Disease); loss of peripheral sensation or frostbite.

****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is any question about the appropriateness of hot water foot soaking.

Warm Foot Baths:

This bath is more comfortable/suitable for the elderly, children, or individuals with a weakened constitution.

Water temperature should be kept between 80 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the procedure above for Hot Foot Bath, just using warm water temperatures.

Reported Benefits of Warm Foot Baths:

  • Relaxes feet and legs
  • Aids in circulation
  • Can alleviate a stiff neck
  • Relieves congestion in other parts of the body

Contraindications to a Warm Foot Bath:

****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is a question about the appropriateness of warm water foot soaking.

Cold Water Treading:

Redondo Beach

From the time I was very young one of the most delicious things I enjoyed doing was to tread ankle-deep back and forth in the cold shallow waves of Long Island Sound. There is nothing like that sensation – truly one of life’s euphoric pleasures.

If you find yourself living far away from the sea, you might at least have a bathtub to fill up with ankle level cold water (50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit) to pace back and forth in for 5 to 10 minutes. (Hold on to a railing or something – no slipping allowed!) No bathtub? How about that multipurpose dishpan again- you can kind of tread in place…Habit forming to be sure.

Reported Benefits of Cold Water Treading, or Cold Water Foot Baths:

  • Deliriously enjoyable
  • Combats exhaustion, and increases vitality
  • Assists with poor circulation
  • Great for aching, tired feet
  • Helps remedy congestion of the throat, nose or bronchioles
  • Strengthens the constitution
  • Strengthens weak ankles
  • Calms nerves
  • To ease after workout aches and pains of legs and feet

Contraindications to Cold Water Treading, or Cold Water Foot Baths:

Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis in toes, feet and ankles; pelvic inflammation; bladder or rectal inflammation, infection, or irritation; sciatica; during menstruation; or if there is any inflammation of the chest, abdomen or pelvic organs.

****Consult your physician/primary care giver if there is a question about the appropriateness of cold water treading or foot soaking.

Water is an unparalleled therapeutic resource and easily accessible to a great number of us, depending of course on where one lives. Start enjoying its many benefits – it’s like a mini vacation every time!

If you are interested in two exceptional resources on the subject, these books may be found on Amazon.com – just click on the titles.

Dian Dincin Buchman, Ph.D., The Complete Book of Water Healing
Leon Chaitow, Hydrotherapy: Water Therapy for Health and Beauty (Health Essentials Series)