March Garden's Grace

With the early warm weather, plants have rapidly awakened, gracing us with some late March beauty.

Tiny calendula sprouts.

Johnny-jump-ups.

A wee lilac.

Nutritious nettle.

Leaves emerging from our beloved poppy patch.

A strawberry blossom - in March???

Violets multiplying beautiful blooms.

What's blooming in your yard???

Mask of the Month: Thumper's Delight

"Eating greens is a special treat. It makes long ears and great big feet." ~ Thumper (from Bambi)


With the early arrival of Spring here in Michigan, the greens have been plentiful - and so dang tasty. We've been munching on baby spinach, dandelion greens, kale and arugula to awaken our Winter bellies and open them to Springtime bounty.

We all know how good chlorophyll filled greens are for us internally. Spinach and kale are loaded with nutrients. Bitter greens like dandelion leaf and arugula assist in getting our sluggish cold weather digestion moving, allowing our body to naturally cleanse and detox itself as we head into warmer weather.

Greens work wonders when applied externally to skin, too, and mixed green masks are one of my favorites to usher in the beginning of springtime. Greens are hydrating, cooling and soothing to winter worn skin that needs rejuvenating. They plump up skin tissues and leave a glow unlike any other.

The aloe juice in this mask offers additional cooling moisture, while the avocado makes for a creamy application with an extra avocado oil moisture boost. If you have any powdered kelp or spirulina handy, it adds even more soothing and nourishing.


Thumper's Delight

1 small handful mixed Spring greens
1 small piece kale
1/2 small avocado
Aloe juice
1/2 teaspoon powdered kelp (optional)
1/2 teaspoon spirulina (optional)

Place greens, kale and avocado in a blender.

Add a few splashes of aloe juice and optional powdered kelp and/or spirulina.

Blend well into a creamy mask consistency, adding more aloe juice if needed to get the right texture.

Apply the mask to freshly cleansed and exfoliated skin. Leave on for 15 minutes and remove with a warm damp cloth. Rinse clean with lukewarm water and finish with your favorite toner (or aloe juice) and moisturizer.

Enjoy the glow!

Do you have any favorite spring greens recipes? How about a great salad dressing?

Happy Monday!

It surely has been a crazy past few weeks here, but I'm feeling like most of the crazy is finally behind us (well, at least the out-of-the-ordinary crazy - we are still stuck with the usual crazy!). The strange and scary symptoms my daughter was having are now completely gone, and while we are all still left scratching our heads (doctors included), I'm so very thankful that that is all we have to do... 

Thank you all for your comments, personal notes of encouragement and thoughts. Your support was so heartwarming :)

Soooooo! I'm getting back into the blogging groove and have some fun stuff around the bend: March's Mask of the Month, some answers to your "Ask The Esty" questions, thoughts on how you can become "Skin Care Self Sufficient" and more!

May you have a Happy Monday and your day be crazy blessed! XOXO

5 Ways to Use Kelp

I've fallen in love with powdered kelp. While I have used it before in various body care preparations, I have recently formed a new relationship with this plant after studying it with my kids through Kristine Brown's Herbal Roots Zine. If you are a homeschooler, teacher, parent or caregiver of children, I highly recommend a subscription to Herbal Roots. It is a fun and experiential way to incorporate herbal learning into kid's (and grownups) lives. We have learned so much together as a family!

Kelp is a beautiful ally both internally and externally. It is loaded with minerals, nourishing inside and out, while offering a mucilaginous (we love that word here at home!) loveliness that hydrates and soothes the skin. It can readily be found in its powdered form at your local natural foods store or online at herb suppliers such as Mountain Rose Herbs.

Just the aroma of kelp makes you feel like a mermaid frolicking in the ocean. I find myself opening a jar of it just for a sniff. It's great aromatherapy the end of a Michigan winter!

Here are 5 easy ways that we have started incorporating powdered kelp into our daily lives:


PLEASE NOTE: You may want to avoid kelp if you have an iodine allergy or sensitivity. Please check with your doc. :)

1. A simple, skin moistening facial mask
Mix a teaspoon of powdered kelp with enough water to make a runny paste. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes to become mucilaginous (hee hee). Apply to freshly cleansed and exfoliated skin and leave on for 15-20 minutes. If it begins to dry, you can remoisten the mask with wet fingertips to reactivate its gooeyness. Remove with a warm, damp cloth and follow with your favorite toner and moisturizer. This mask costs pennies and works infinitely better than many masks you can buy.

2. A nourishing hair treatment
Just as kelp is great for your skin, it is also great for your scalp (which is really just the skin on your head!). Double or triple the mask recipe above and apply to damp hair and scalp, massaging it in. Cover your head with a towel and relax for 30 minutes. Rinse out well with warm water, followed with a cool water rinse. Those with color treated or very light colored hair might want to test a patch first to make sure it doesn't affect hair color. I have blonde hair and it doesn't, but just in case :)

3. A boo boo healer
Take a pinch of kelp powder and mix with a few drops of water to make a paste. Use the paste on minor abrasions or skin irritations to soothe and help speed healing.

4. A relaxing ocean bath
Fill a muslin bag (or layered cheesecloth) with a large handful of powdered kelp and a large handful of sea salt. Toss it in a warm bath and soak your cares away.

5. A product "add-in"
Add sprinkles of kelp powder when using your current cleanser, exfoliant, body wash or body scrub to super charge your products with a hydrating boost.

Kelp powder can also be added to soups, stews or smoothies to get the internal nourishing benefits. Awesome!

Give kelp a try and rock your inner mermaid!

Do you already use kelp? How do you like to use it?

Wake Up, Sleepy Woods

Today it was nearly 70, sunny, breezy and gorgeous here in Michigan. I spent the day wandering the local woods with some herb friends, both old and new. The woods seemed to stir, with one sleepy eye open. This picture was taken in an area known by some as the "Enchanted Forest." Enchanted it was...

I close out the day, revived by fresh air, warm sun and time spent with good friends. I hope you had a joyful weekend!

Thank You For Riding Life's Roller Coaster

My apologies for the lack of recent blog posts. This past few weeks has been a roller coaster here. A few days after Valentine's Day, my oldest daughter started displaying some unusual symptoms. Out of respect for her privacy, I will not go into details, but we were initially told that she may have a brain tumor.

As you can imagine, it put a halt to our everyday lives and had us focusing on finding answers immediately.
While we still do not have concrete answers, it looks like anything serious has been ruled out, allowing us to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

These past weeks, although anxiety filled, have also been a time of careful reflection as to the larger meaning of this event in our lives as a family. It is apparent that we needed to slow down and take focus. I think we are stronger for it. And my heart has been warmed by the love and support from our family and friends during this time.

We all face these scary dips on life's roller coaster. It is part of the human experience. Thankfully, we are all on this ride together. Just remember to keep your arms inside the car at all times...:)

Love to you all today.