tea & sympathy (a recipe): In Dreams

  I drink so much tea! Mostly herbal so I guess I should say I drink so many tisanes. I'm really trying to cut out all caffeine. There was a time when I was completely caffeine and refined sugar free and it was great! I've been trying to get back to that, but dang, I am hooked on sugar and the buzz my sleep deprived mama mind gets from black tea and coffee (and I do live in Seattle, coffee capital of the world).
  I thought it would be fun to have a regular post about tea with a recipe so here goes...

 Of all the teas I make and sell in the shop, this one-In Dreams,  is the most popular and I get the most positive feedback about the results.
  I've always had very vivid dreams. I believe that the dream world can be an alternate dimension. I have magical adventures and work on solving very real problems in my dreamscape. I make this tea when my dreams are getting funky or not showing me signs I'm able to make sense of. You can read a bit more. The most mystical herb in this brew is Mugwort.
  Mugwort is an herb sacred to the Greek Goddess Artemis (Goddess of the moon, the hunt and chastity) and has long been used as a magical aid to encourage lucid, vibrant and even prophetic dreams (it is also a thought to be a digestive aid and good for regulating a woman's moon cycle). Drank just before bedtime this tea blend will prepare you for your journey into the dream realm.

 Blend this tea with intention and please use only dried Organic herbs.

In Dreams, lucid dreaming tea:

1 1/2 Tbsp Chamomile
2 tsp Peppermint
2 tsp Catnip (Catmint)
1 tsp California Poppy
2 Tbsp Mugwort
1 tsp linden
3 leaves white sage

Mix all the herbs together in a bowl and crumble sage leaves into mixture. Store in a seal light tight container.

To brew: pour 1 cup fresh boiled water over 2 heaping teaspoons of tea blend in mesh strainer. Let steep for 5-15 minutes (covered), the longer you steep the more potent and the more beneficial constituents will be extracted from the herbs. Lovely when sweetened with a bit of honey.

 I drank some today as I was taking these pictures and my dreams have been pretty wild lately, we'll see what I dream of tonight...

 Last night my little one climbed into my bed after midnight (I was still awake thanks to the damn time change) with an annoying sniffly/runny nose, neither one of us got much sleep after that. Today was a bit of a haze but I did manage to triumphantly clean off the top of the refrigerator which was getting nuts.

Now I ahve to convince my gal that, even though it's not exactly dark outside it is still very much bedtime... Hope you enjoy this tea! xo m

winter wellness, making elderberry syrup

   I was going to write this post last night but guess what? My teeny sniffly cold turned into a full on achy, fever and chills illness. Oh boy. It's been a while since I've felt this down and out... I feel spacey and goofy in the head. Example, just five minutes ago I meant to "publish" 5 listings on etsy but accidentally hit the "delete" button. gonnnnne! Damn! So no more working today and let's get on with a wellness recipe (or two!).

 When I'm ailing I drink a little lemon, honey, ginger, cayenne hot water steamer delight all day long! It's super soothing and easy!

 While the water is boiling, squeeze a quarter of a lemon in the cup, then add a few slices of fresh ginger (I usually make a few slits in each piece of ginger), a couple shakes of cayenne pepper (wow typing is really hard when I'm sick, I keep having to go back and correct my many mistakes!!).

 Elderberry Syrup:

*1 cup fresh or 1/2 cup dried elderberries
*3 cups water
*1 cup honey

  Combine Elderberries and water in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer until elderberry/water mixture is reduced by about half (this takes about 2 hours). Remove from heat, cool a bit, strain and press juice from berries. Compost the berries. Add honey to the elderberry liquid and heat gently just to combine. Carefully pour into bottles, label and refrigerate.

  I usually double the recipe and keep a bottle in the fridge and freeze the rest to be thawed as needed.

  Elderberry syrup is really wonderful taken daily (1 tablespoon every morning) as a preventative. When you are actively sick, take 1-2 teaspoons every hour until you start to improve.

I always want to make a batch with other herbs steeped into the mix but my kiddos aren't into the idea. Elderberry syrup is really sweet and delicious so children don't need much encouragement to take it.

 I'm on my second steamer and I'm feeling all lonesome, super cranky and chilly. Whenever I get sick I feel like Samantha in this episode of sex and the city. I was laying in bed having weird fever dreams/hallucinations (my being sick also coincides with the full moon and my own moon cycle craziness) last night. Creepiness. I'm gonna watch the Gilmore Girls and attempt to wash it all away.

   I need to get my head together before the little lady gets home. There are many more holiday crafts to be made and packaged up asap...

  Now I'm off to boil another kettle of water. Another cup of hot tea... xo m