Holiday Gift Giving

Today's living simply theme tackles the topic of holiday gift giving. I've made it a hard-and-fast rule this year that I am only giving gifts that feel good to me. This means:

• I'm not giving any "obligation" gifts. Yes, I will leave people off the list, even if that person gives something to me. (E.g., The co-committee chair who brings me cookies.) I will be a gracious recipient and I am letting go of the associated guilt. (This, for me, takes a lot of courage. It's easier to type than put into practice!)
• I will ask friends and family to indulge me and reduce gifts to me. For example, my brother-in-law and sister and the DH and I have decided NOT to trade gifts. In addition, two friends and I have decided to make donations to a charitable organization in lieu of gifts. That warms my heart!
• My niece is one. While I am tempted by several tea-themed gifts, I am resisting. I will give a contribution to her college fund instead. That will last a lifetime.
• I'm not giving "throwaway" gifts. Each gift I give will be something that I have made or chosen with the recipient specifically and thoughtfully in mind. No generic gifts.
• I'm not giving plastic crap. I am trying to get as much plastic as possible out of my life, so I won't give it to others.
• Where possible, I will make gifts. This provides a creative outlet (gift) for me and is a one-of-a-kind for the recipient. This is where I will spend most of my time related to gifts!
• When I purchase a gift, I will try to make that purchase from a local (non-chain) store or directly from the creator through sites like Etsy.
• I will purchase absolutely no gift-wrapping materials. I will use what I have on hand and get creative! I've seen amazing gift wrapping made from stamps and junk mail!
• Where possible, I will make donations to charitable causes. For example, each year we trade male/female gifts at my family's large Christmas Eve gathering. It's hard to make a personal gift when I don't know who will receive it. Instead, I plan to make a donation in my family's name and give that to my family member, along with some hand-made treat and/or tea.
• I will set a reasonable budget and not go over it for gift-giving. This allows me to be even more creative!

As I read this, it seems a little scrooge-ish to me. But I'm OK with that! Our world has too much excess and waste, especially this time of year. (Think of the mountain of wrapping paper thrown away on Christmas morning!) I want to minimize my contribution to this craziness.

What wisdom can you share on this topic?

Lucky Girl and Giveaway!

Thank you!

I am a very, very lucky girl! Yesterday, I won not one but TWO blog giveaways! This is really exciting and the gifters are so generous!

A special, heartfelt thanks to Marilyn at Delights of the Heart who shared this amazing fuzed glass trivet. And also to Lynn at Frivolitea for this very fun set of Crafty Girl note cards. Congratulations to both women, who are celebrating major blog milestones!

In truth, at first I felt guilty for winning two blog giveaways, and on the SAME day! But guilt is an an energy-sucking emotion. It's not productive nor where I want to spend my time. So instead, I focused on extending deep gratitude to these women, and thinking of how I could continue this theme of sharing. So I am hosting my very own blog giveaway! Between now and Saturday, leave a comment on my blog and I will enter your name in a drawing to win a sample of three fabulous teas! I will announce the winners on Sunday, Nov. 23rd. You will get to pick from several choices (including herbal, green, oolong and black).


By the way, I skipped my herbal infusion theme yesterday, but I'll get back to it on Thurs.

In gratitude,
Stephanie



*images from corbis.com

Grandma's Birthday

Happy 87th birthday, Grandma! My grandfather made the wooden jewelry box, above, for my grandmother on her 80th birthday. It is one of her most beloved possessions. Inside, the inscription says, "A labor of love."

Beauty in Lists

This gorgeous altered art journal is a gift from my very inspiring cousin (thanks, KAS!). At first, I just looked at it for inspiration, and then I finally got brave enough to write in it and fill it with dreams and plans for future creative projects.

I enjoy making lists. In my work life, lists guide me through my days and weeks. In my creative life, the lists aren't so much about what I must get done, but more about possibilities. I never expect these lists to be completely checked. Just writing them gives me a rush and a bit of confidence. If I can have the idea...I'm one step closer to actually trying it out.

I title the list "options" because that's what they are...and I include "All or None or Other" as a reminder to let go of my puritan rigidity!

Mixed-Media Tea Party

Wow - I am definitely inspired! Check out the Nov/Dec edition of cloth paper scissors for the results of the mixed-media tea party challenge! My favorite is rachel's teacups (think ta-tas). ;-)

Self Portrait 2

Yep, that's me first thing this morning. I'm doing chest-opener stretches on the exercise ball. My shoulders and chest are often tight from day-long computer work, so I do these stretches to counter. Maintaining flexibility truly is a crucial part of my body and soul. Notice my very cool teapot pajama bottoms and the oh-so-warm but not-so-sexy down-filled booties.

This activity was all about learning to use my tripod (thanks, Mom!) and the self-timer on the camera. And about seeing myself in truth, not posed, not made up, not trying to impress. This snapshot of myself is a view I've only been given through the camera lens; I've never seen myself in this pose before. I call this "offering of myself" because that's what I see.

Happy Friday!

Where Have Martha's Wrinkles Gone?

Inside this book (published in 1993) are a few photos of Martha, and I'm shocked! She has wrinkles! Somehow, in the last 5 years, she's lost them. ;-) I think it's probably the benefit of a great staff of graphic designers who airbrush her portraits. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and not say she's had "work done."

I've enjoyed browsing through the book, especially the Afternoon Tea chapter. I tried the Apple Rosemary Tea Bread recipe. I must confess, it was so-so. I loved the Rosemary aroma and flavor, but it was a fussy recipe and the results were, in my opinion, average.

Compare that to the pumpkin bread the DH just made. Wow - that was fantastic! Especially considering that he made it extra-healthy. The recipe called for 3 cups of flour. He used 2 cups of whole wheat, 1/2 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup flaxseed meal. Yummy, moist, heavenly and healthy!

Life Without TV

Living Simply Wednesdays

The DH (dear hubby) and I divorced our television six years ago. The honest truth is that I seldom miss it. I don't miss mainstream TV programming. And, in the spirit of full disclosure, we occasionally watch movies on the laptop and have the radio turned on much of the day.

People often ask me what I do with the time I don't spend watching TV, and it's a question that puzzles me. I'm puzzled because I never think "I'm not watching TV." I have many interests. The DH cooks from scratch. We go for walks, go to the library, read, Read, READ, work on projects, get more sleep. Time passes too quickly.

When I travel, I get caught up on the latest TV programs. Watching once every quarter is enough to keep me in the mainstream so that I'm not a total dweeb in social conversation. :-)

Life without TV, for me, is grand! I think my quality of life is better. Could you live without TV? What other convenience or entertainment items could you live without, for a better quality of life? Do you think I'm nuts? That's OK, too! Please tell me! ;-)

Sniffles Concoctions?

The season of sniffles is upon us. Do you have a home remedy (with tea or not) that soothes you? If so, please leave a comment and share your recipe with us!

I can remember my great-grandmother, a teetotaler, recommending a mix of honey, lemon and whiskey! What's your favorite cure?

I drink lots of ginger "tea" this time of year! I love the aroma, the spicy bite and the flavor! It warms me up. As you know, Ginger is also great for all sorts of cooking applications, and I'm a big fan of ginger beer (nonalcoholic). Ginger is good for an upset stomach.

We use the plant rhizome to make the ginger tea infusion. Peel, slice and boil. The spicier you want it, the longer it should infuse. Sometimes I allow the ginger to sit in the water overnight.

Ginger is native to India and China. It can be grown as a houseplant, or in warmer climates, outdoors. More growing info.

Do you have favorite ways to use ginger? One of my favorites it to make ginger-lemon-limeade. I replace the water with a ginger brew. I also like to punch up my chai with ginger water.

Web Roundup: Craft/Sewing blogs

Thought I'd share some of my favorite sewing and crafty blogs.

• Sew, Mama, Sew!
• Angry Chicken
• Craftstylish

What are your favorite craft/sewing blogs?

Arm Warmers

OK, I love, Love, LOVE these arm warmers! I made them yesterday using these steps and knee-high socks. (I didn't hem mine on the ends, as they are knit and won't unravel.)

Arm warmers are perfect for those 3/4 length sleeves that don't give quite enough coverage on a cool day. Or coat sleeves a wee bit short. Arm warmers fill the gap! Also very cute with the sweater vest look, as this crafty gal pointed out at Angry Chicken. And I wish I knew how to knit like Philigry!

If you're looking to buy, rather than make, check out the great ones here. I'm lusting over a couple of these!

Narcissism Flipped (Self Portrait Series)

Me, at work
We sometimes use video conferencing; it's been an adjustment to get comfortable with that!

Narcissism Flipped is my attempt at irony for this Friday theme. For the next few Fridays, I'll be posting self portraits. You probably know the story of Narcissus, and I am flipping that story. I'm trying to become more comfortable with my own image, just letting it be what it is without judging it. Not flattering or criticizing myself - just truly seeing myself. In photography, we see ourselves as others see us - not as we see ourselves in the mirror (flipped). Finally, flipped is a nod to photography's history, where images used to appear flipped through the viewfinder.

Lavender-Lemon Tea Cake

I served this tea cake at my East Frisian tea party. I chose this cake because I wanted something that would let the tea itself shine. This cake needed to play a supporting role, not the lead. I was pleased!

The recipe foundation came from here. I added a few tweaks to it, including the lemon part. So here is my version:

Cake:

1 cup granulated sugar

5 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 large egg

1 large egg white

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (next time I will try whole wheat)

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup plain, fat-free yogurt

2 Tablesp finely chopped lavender leaves (fresh) or 1 Tablesp dried

Lemon zest (I used the zest from 2 lemons)

Glaze:

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1 to 2 tsp water

1/4 tsp (or more, to taste) lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla at medium speed until well-blended. Add egg and egg white, one at a time. Beat well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, sift flour and measure. Combine the flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir well (and sift again). Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture alternately with yogurt, beginning and ending with flour. Stir in lavender and lemon zest.

Pour the batter into an 8-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for ~45-50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

To prepare the glaze (it's a thin glaze - not icing), combine powdered sugar, water and lemon juice. Adjust to the desired lemony flavor. Spread on the warm cake. Cool in pan on a wire rack approximately 20 minutes before removing from pan. To serve, slice and present on a pretty platter.

Walking Dates

My Wednesday them is Living Simply, and I want to write today about walking dates. The DH (dear hubby) and I take walking dates often. We simply go out for a long walk around town. We might wander through campus, through some pretty neighborhoods, or past my favorite ice cream stand. We typically have no route in mind - we just walk. It's a chance for us to talk or to be quiet with each other. It's typically free (except for the occasional ice cream indulgences) and good for our health. It's romantic. It's fun. It's one of my favorite ways to spend time with my life partner.

Walking helps me find my center. In fact, when I'm feeling angry or sad, or recovering from illness or a fuzzy head, a walk restores me.

Walking dates can also be time for yourself, alone. Some of my favorite walks have been solo adventures.

When was the last time you took a walking date, with yourself or another? What other simple dates do you enjoy?

If A Song Could Be President

I love, love, love the musical group Over the Rhine! One of my favorite songs is If a Song Could Be President. It's pretty, witty and appropriate for today! Give it a listen for free. Go to Over the Rhine and click the blue record player box. It's the last track.

In addition to the song above, there's a lot to like about this group. In particular, I'm in awe of the woman's voice.

I voted early, so I'm avoiding the long lines today. It's a historic moment for our country. I'm both excited and exhausted by this election season. When this is over, I hope we can all see that being American is neither red nor blue, neither left nor right.

If A Song Could Be President
If a song could be president

We’d hum on Election Day

The gospel choir would start to sway

And we’d all have a part to play

The first lady would free her hips

Pull a microphone to her lips

Break our hearts with Rhythm and Blues

Steve Earle would anchor the news

We’d vote for a melody

Pass it around on an MP3

All our best foreign policy

Would be built on harmony

If a song could be president

We’d fly a jukebox to the moon

All our founding fathers’ 45’s

Lightnin’ Hopkins and Patsy Cline

If a song could be president

We could all add another verse

Life would teach us to rehearse

Till we found a key change

Break out of this minor key

Half-truths and hypocrisy

We wouldn’t need an underachiever-in-chief

If a song could be president

We’d make Neil Young a Senator

Even though he came from Canada

Emmylou would be Ambassador

World leaders would listen to her

They would show us where our country went wrong

Strum their guitars on the White House lawn

John Prine would run the FBI

All the criminals would laugh and cry

If a song could be president

Mint

I've had a request to write about herbal teas, and I'm happy to oblige. Technically, anything without camellia sinensis (the tea plant) is not truly tea. I like to call these tea-free drinks herbal infusions (tho they may contain spices, roots, bark, etc.) or tisanes. I am planning to write about herbal infusions over the next several Mondays. I start my herbal infusions theme today by talking about the ubiquitous mint (mentha species).

Mint has been used for a variety of purposes for a very long time. The Greeks and Romans used mint in both drinking and bath waters. Mint has interesting roots in mythology, too.

"The species name Mentha is derived from Roman mythology. Minthe was a lovely young nymph who caught the eye of Pluto, the ruler of the underworld. When Pluto's wife Persephone found out about his love for the beautiful nymph, she was enraged. She changed Minthe into a lowly plant, to be trodden underfoot. Pluto couldn't reverse Persephone's curse, but he did soften the spell somewhat by making the smell that Minthe gave off all the sweeter when she was tread upon. The name Minthe has changed to Mentha and become the name of the herb, mint.

As for the origins of mint's reputation as the herb of hospitality, Greek mythology tells us the story. Two strangers were walking through a village. The villagers ignored them and offered neither food nor drink. Finally an old couple, Philemon and Baucis, offered them a meal. Before the four sat down for their meal, the couple rubbed the table with mint leaves to clean and freshen it. The strangers turned out to be the gods Zeus and Hermes in disguise. As a reward for the hospitality Philemon and Baucis had shown them, the gods turned the humble home into a temple. Mint thus became the symbol of hospitality."

-- http://www.herbsociety-stu.org/Mint.htm

Mint comes in many varieties. In my backyard, I have peppermint, spearmint, catnip (a mint variety) and chocolate mint. My favorite way to use mint is to pick fresh leaves and toss them into a teapot. I pour boiling water over them and steep to the desired mintiness.

When fall comes, it's easy to pick a few sprigs of mint and tie them together. I hang them in the kitchen so that I can grab a few of the dried leaves for a quick (and inexpensive) herbal infusion.

Mint is known for aiding in digestion. Try a few cups of mint tea when you have an upset stomach. In The Tea Deck, mint is listed as being good for nausea (especially due to motion sickness), headaches, and menstrual cramps.

In addition to the drink and food uses, mint also offers us its lovely lavender-colored flowers. I enjoy cutting these to bring inside. They grace me with their beauty and their minty aroma. Mint has a long blooming season. Cut it back to encourage even more blooms.

Mint is very easy to grow. In fact, it can be invasive, so either stay on top of it or plant in a container and don't allow it to escape! Where I live in the Midwest, mint dies back after a killer frost, but eagerly comes back in the spring. Around here, we give it very little attention - it takes care of itself.

Do you like mint? How do you like to use it?

First and third photos from wikipedia. Middle photo is mine.

October Tea II: East Frisian Tea Party

Enjoy these photos from my East Frisian tea today. I kept the menu simple, as I didn't want any of the food to compete with the tea. I wanted the focus of the menu to be all about this special tea. I served apple slices and cheese, and lavender-lemon tea bread. I will post that recipe later this week. For now, enjoy these photos and a little bit of Midwestern autumn! (Read more about East Frisian tea and how to make it here.)

Also, a special "Congratulations!" to my dear friend, AZ Tea Lover, who just became AZ Tea Lover, PhD. Yippee!

A Month of Blogging

Today starts NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), so I'll be blogging every day for the month of November. Wahoo! I'm looking forward to it! I participated last year, and this year I'm a bit wiser. I have a plan for some theme days. I believe these will make it easier on me; they'll act like guideposts and give me a focused topic. The themes are:

• Mondays - Herbal infusions
• Wednesdays - Living simply
• Fridays - Self portrait (aka Narcissism flipped)

In between, I'll be blogging about whatever my heart desires. :-)

I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

October Tea I: East Frisian Tea

My tea theme for October is East Frisian Tea. I recently had the honor to be served East Frisian tea and learn about this tea culture, then shortly after, to serve East Frisian tea to friends on a lovely fall day sitting on a deck in the woods. I am also hosting an East Frisian tea this weekend and will share photos.

East Frisia (Ostfriesen) is a region in the Northwest of Germany. East Frisia connects with the Netherlands.

Most of Germany is a coffee-drinking country, but in this particular region, tea is very popular! East Frisian tea is made from a strong black tea that is sweetened with rock candy and then topped off with real cream.

I had the great privilege of being schooled in this tea method recently from a friend whose sister lives in East Frisia. My friend served tea in delicate blue and white china. This tea is typically served in small cups, which reminded me of espresso cups, as did the tea itself - it is very strong!

To prepare the tea:

1 - Add the rock candy (called Kluntje) to the cup.

2 - Pour the tea. It should be strong and dark. Listen carefully - you will hear the rock candy popping.

3 - Add the cream in clouds, small drops around the edge of the cup. First it looks like this:

And then this:

4 - Look at the lovely design on the surface of the tea, take in the aroma, and savor the flavor.

The combination of rock candy, tea and cream allow for a layered drinking experience, especially if you don't stir the tea. (My friend indicates that East Frisians don't stir.) The first few sips allow the tea and cream to meld, and as you drink more, the sweetness enters.

As an aside, I'd like to point out that the use of cream in tea is unusual. Most tea experts prefer milk in tea, not cream. Cream is too overpowering for most teas. East Frisian tea is an exception! The tea is strong, almost concentrated. My friend said she steeped hers for 8-12 minutes and always keeps it hot on a tea warmer.

East Frisian tea is generally served with cookies or cake.

I am lucky because I have a special tin of tea that came from East Frisia. However, you can find East Frisian tea in the US. Try the Harney & Sons version. I have not tried it, but highly respect the H&S company.

I will share photos early next week from my East Frisian tea this Sunday. I'm very excited!