But! I’ve been doing a lot of magic around the Winter Solstice, the full moon, and the New Year, and now, clutching my trusty Scolecite (my official stone of 2019 — it opens the heart, ushers in transformation, and facilitates communication), I think I’m finally ready to sit down and write.

I was planning to say goodbye. Like, officially and forever.

2018 was such an incredible year for me! I feel like 2018 was really hard for almost everyone around me both in real life and online, and hard on the world in general. But in my own little universe, 2018 was hands-down the best year I’ve had in as long as I can remember. This is the year I really stepped back from all the extra stressors (including, for the most part, blogging). I worked on myself a lot and I grew a fucking ton this year. And after an amazing trip to Belize in August, I completely rearranged my priorities. Since then I’ve been parenting better than I ever have before, and my relationship with Waits has grown and deepened in the most beautiful ways. And about a month after I got back from Belize, I got the job! Officially and permanently! I now have a career that supports me financially as well as intellectually and emotionally, and I’m still coming to terms with how totally cool that is. I am so grateful. This year I also reconnected to my corest group of friends, and strengthened my magical practice. My soul feels nourished. I love my life!

And so, I’d thought, maybe its time to let go of blogging for good. This January 28th, 2019, I’ll celebrate 10 years of blogging. And I think that’s got a pretty nice symmetry to it.

Buuuuut then. Then! I did the thing that I always do when I’m contemplating quitting the blog. I started reading back through my own archives. I read about our family Spring Break desert road trip adventure this past year (and remembered that I’ve still never shared the pictures and stories from our day of mining for crystals). And I read about when I got my Masters degree and all I could think to do was go to the great salts flats in Death Valley, to sit in the wind and wonder. I found this absolutely adorable story, about Waits and a popsicle, that I had completely forgotten about. And I read about when I was really, seriously depressed, but at least could find flower fields and a little bit of perspective, at least for a day.

I thought about how much has changed, and how extremely, immensely grateful I am that I have all these thoughts and photos gathered here, so that I can revisit them, and remember.

I thought about future-Waits reading these posts someday, and having that window into his early life, through his mother’s eyes. I thought about, and always think about, how much I wish I had something like this from my own mom. How much it would mean to me to be able to peer through that window into her mind, to see what was going on for her during my early life. It would feel like the greatest treasure.

So okay, maybe I’m just not ready to give up on blogging completely. I want to continue to write our story.

2019. The little blog slowly marches forward. In fits and starts, with extended hiatuses and absolutely no schedule or rhythm to speak of. And thats okay. I’m excited to continue to share, little bits and pieces of my heart, here and there, when I have the time and the energy. Which isn’t much of ever these days. And that’s okay.

I’m really excited about 2019. My year to NOURISH, in every possible way. Everything is moving in the right direction and for the first time, I’m not holding my breath anymore.

I think it’s going to be okay.

Much love to you,
~Sayward

At the beginning of the year I announced, sort of on a whim, that I would be doing a “Pictures Of Things + Le Love List” post every single week in 2017. This one was supposed to be 20/52. But instead of hitting publish that week, I just stalled. And procrastinated. The truth is, I didn’t know how to put into words this thing that I’ve come to realize. I don’t know how else to say . . . I don’t want to be a blogger anymore.

I’ve been trying to find a gentler way of expressing that. And I feel like I owe you guys an explanation, so I’ve been trying to find the right words.

I still don’t think I have them, but here goes nothing.

I’ve been blogging for a long time. I mean, a really long time. And over the course of these 8 years, I have had the opportunity to do so many amazing things, and to travel, and to learn and grow. I’ve shared my highs and my lows, from birth to divorce, and pretty much everything in between. It’s been beautiful, for me, to be able to do that.

And it’s been beautiful to meet all of you. Over the years I have talked to hundreds if not thousands of people. People from all over the world. Interesting, inspiring, unique, fearless, fabulous people. And I am so grateful for that.

Back when I first started this blog, I really felt like I had a lot to share. I was practically bursting at the seems with it, so excited to learn and to grow and to play — and to do it all in public, sharing my process with anyone willing to pull up a keyboard.

But along the way, that feeling has changed for me. And especially over the last half a year or so, I’ve really felt myself transitioning into a new phase of life. And that phase feels, in many ways, a lot smaller. It also feels so much richer, and so much fuller, than my life has felt in a long time. But I’m definitely turning inward. And I just don’t feel compelled to share it in the same way that I used to.

This poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay has been my sort of creed for the past decade:

My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—
It gives a lovely light!

I’ve always reveled in my frenzied life. A million projects, a million ideas, a million plans. My most frequently asked question from readers is “How do you do it all?” And I don’t know. Honestly I don’t, it’s just always been my way, to overfill and then deal with the consequences (be they good or be they bad — or often, be they both).

But the truth is that a lot of sacrifice goes into living that way. Sacrifice that I was happy to make at the time — I was fine with forfeiting the things that felt less important to me, back then. But those things I’ve forfeited have grown more important to me as I’ve gotten older. I guess my priorities have just changed.

So over the past six months or so, I’ve been paring down my life. I graduated with my masters degree, and said goodbye to graduate school. We closed the wine bar, and Jeremy closed his retail shop. I scaled back my hours in the school gardens, and last week my contract ended. I won’t be renewing it next fall. And although I miss all of them, every single one of these things that I’ve removed has ultimately made my life infinitely more enjoyable. I feel like I have room to breathe for the first time in, well, forever.

So I’m sure you see where this is going. I don’t want to keep burning the candle at both ends. My relationship, my motherhood, my friendships — these are the places where I want to funnel my energy, right now. I want as little stress and pressure as possible, so that I can just enjoy the people and the things that I love.

This is a very different way of being, for me. But it’s how I need to be right now. It feels so right. So I’m going to stop blogging, at least in any formal capacity.

I really love having this space, as a record of my life and my kid’s life, and as a way to record our adventures. I look up recipes on here all the time! I love flipping through old posts. These pages hold such visceral and important memories for me. So the site isn’t going anywhere.

And I’ve loved interacting with all of you. I’m not disappearing completely. I imagine I’ll blog a few times a year, maybe even more. But I’m saying goodbye to blogging as “a blogger”.

And I hope that makes at least a little bit of sense.

And now, the one, the only . . . and probably the last for quite a while — Le Love List!

Making our first Meadow Tea of the season. Feels like summer! // Coworkers who bring me tangelos (my #1 favorite citrus). // Budgeting like a BOSS. // College bathroom graffiti. // Fellow share-parenting mamas who are on the exact same schedule, so we always have our kids together, and we always *don’t* have our kids together. Beach babes for sunny-baked days with our boys, or a sunset and a bottle of wine for those breezy beachy nights when the kids are away. Our schedules alway match and it makes it all so easy, and I am eternally grateful for that. // Coworkers bringing me homemade coconut yogurt, wow! // When Jeremy cooks for me. // Having a whole day to just putter around the house. Bless those day, ooooh bless them! // Calendula salve = skin magic. // Stability. // Bringing my coworkers big bundles of beautiful rainbow chard from my garden. // Daydreaming of doggos. I really want a dog. // Having a clean house. // Waits and I were on a bike ride and suddenly he hollered “A bird pooped on me!” I was afraid he was going to freak out, but then he started laughing, and he shouted with glee “Mom look! It’s good luck! I’m gonna get GOOD LUCK!!!” And it was so adorable. He’s such a little optimist, and that’s just what the world needs, I think. A little more optimism. ♥

And with that, my dears, I bid you all adieu. At least for now.

I know myself and I know that old habits die hard, so I imagine I’ll be posting more on Instagram now, as a way to stay connected. Who knows, maybe I’ll just move to microblogging completely. Either way, I’d love to see you there. @sayward

Alright, farewell friends. With love and gratitude,

~Sayward

♥

Progressives are often accused of acting like “special snowflakes”, which I guess is meant to imply that we’re delicate, and fancy ourselves as oh-so-unique and precious, and which is also made extra ironic considering the insult is often hurled at us by folks who literally lose their shit at hearing the words “Happy Holidays” OH THE HORROR.

But anyway, I like snowflakes. And you know what? They are unique, and each one is special. Every single snowflake is different. That’s what makes them beautiful.

And on Saturday January 21, 750,000 special snowflakes descended on Los Angeles. And 2,900,000 special snowflakes gathered around the globe. And they did what delicate snowflakes do when you add them all together.

They created an unstoppable avalanche.

There is a line from Hamilton: “This is not a moment; It’s the movement”.

And that’s what it felt like we were witnessing on Saturday. The birth of an entire movement. And like any birth, it will be messy, and the contractions will sometimes make us uncomfortable, maybe even be downright painful. But that’s part of the work. And there’s lots of work to do.

In the aftermath of Saturday, there has been a series of pieces written by women of color about how they experienced the marches. And although almost every woman, including the women of color, that I have spoken to or heard from (even in these pieces, to be clear) has said that ultimately, the march they attended was uplifting and positive and felt like solidarity . . . these negative experiences are *also* true. Simultaneously.

And that means there is more work to be done — especially if you are a white/hetero/cis person reading this. There is more work to be done inside our own progressive communities.

Woman in Viral Photo From Women’s March to White Female Allies: ‘Listen to a Black Woman’

When You Brag That The Women’s Marches Were Nonviolent

Women of color are being blamed for dividing the Women’s March — and it’s nothing new

One indigenous woman’s take on the Women’s March

I hope you’ll take the time to read these pieces, and please feel free to leave your own contributions in the comments, if you’ve found a voice you feel needs to be heard. And please, share your own experiences! Did you march?? Was it magical? Tell us all about it.

Solidarity, my reSISTERS!

♥

We cannot fight if we are not strong. We cannot fight if we are not strong. And in this incredibly difficult period, when all of us good people are challenged and demoralized again and again, day after day, self care is an essential exercise for staying strong. We must not get numb. We must not wear down. We must not normalize!

So — we must take good care of ourselves. And the internet is overrun with articles all about self care. “Eat right, get enough sleep, curl up with a cup of tea and a great novel,” is what most of them will tell you. Excellent advice indeed, but probably things you’re all doing already (or know you should be). So, here are some of my more . . . non-traditional . . . suggestions.

All of these are things that I’ve personally done to take extra good care of myself in these post-election weeks:




1) If You Don’t Own A Dog, Go Borrow One, And Give It A Walk.

On the very first morning after the election, I couldn’t bear to get out of bed. I was such a mess. And I was Facebook chatting with my friend Somer from The Abundance Diet, sort of commiserating back and forth in grief and disbelief, when she mentioned that dog snuggles were the only thing getting her through the day.

And I had this instant feeling of “OH MY GOD I NEED A DOG, STAT.” It’s hard to describe, I just — I knew I needed dog energy. You know what I mean? That calm, steadfast, unconditional kind of energy?

So I posted a status update on Facebook, basically asking if any of my dog owning friends would be so kind as to let me kidnap their pooch for an afternoon walk. And I was flooded with responses! Waits and I had a really marvelous afternoon walk with old Blue up there, and it was just exactly what I needed.

Science has shown that petting a dog actually changes your brain chemistry and improves your mood. And science has also shown that getting outside and walking in the fresh air causes physiological, mood boosting biochemical changes as well. So this strategy puts those two things together for a super duper mega dose of LOVE!

Go find a dog. Give it a walk. It’s guaranteed to brighten your day.

That’s right, I’m prescribing drag. Or at least, a raunchy, rebellious, irreverent art form of your choosing. Go see a body-positive cabaret, or a queer choir, or your local community theatre’s showing of The Vagina Monologues, or the traveling Sex Workers Art Show. Catch The Wet Spots on their next tour. Or, go watch some badass babes duke it out at the roller derby.

Basically, seek out performance art that’s subversive. Art that flips gender roles and body “goals” and social expectations of sexuality, femininity, and decorum. That flips them on their goddamn heads! Seek out these spaces and support the arts. I promise that you will find solidarity, strength through connection, and a really raucous good time.

Animals make everything better, and hanging out with animals that really need your love and attention is great soul medicine. At the Human Society (or local no-kill shelter, or farm animal sanctuary, etc) you’ll find animals in need of feeding, walking, snuggling, and more. Waits and I visit the Humane Society at least a few times a month. I love the kitties and the pooches, but he is completely obsessed with the bunnies! It’s pretty adorable.

Spending time with animals has a psychological and psychophysiological effect on our nervous system. And when we feel that we are acting in service of animals, this effect is amplified. So, go and do a good deed for a guinea pig, and let the oxytocin flow!

Lots of self care lists recommend listening to music that moves you, but I am specifically suggesting the folk/protest music of the 1960s. That shit is LIT UP, and it’s incredibly relevant to what we’re facing today. I made myself an epic Spotify play list full of Simon & Garfunkel, Peter Paul & Mary, America, Cat Stevens, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, etc. I listen to it all the time these days, and it fills me with whimsy, nostalgia, passion, hope, and a deep connection to my fellow warriors of the past, who fought so hard so that I may be here, fighting hard today. Powerful music.

And if by chance you are lucky enough to know some musicians, I strongly urge you to organize a singalong! We’ve had a few so far – one very impromptu one on the steps of the county courthouse on the night after the election, and one at our Wine Bar (pictured above) the week after. Both times, we put out a call for anyone who wanted to show up — with an instrument, or just their voice — to join us in solidarity and song. And it was a deeply moving experience, both times.

Singing peace songs with strangers. I can’t recommend it enough.

Nature is magic, we all know that. Any time you can get yourself outdoors, into nature, into the fresh air, into the wild — it’s time well spent. But again, here I am specifically recommending *elevation*.

The world looks so very different from way up high (I’ve written about this trick before), and sometimes a real, physical change in viewpoint is all it takes to reset your perspective.

Plus, a good Adventure Day always does the body/psyche good. So have at it, my kindred wild-hearted spirited souls. Go adventuring.

And always remember — we’re in this together. #IHaveYourBack

We had such a wonderful party planned. We wore pantsuits and we got a Trump piñata for the kiddos and there was champagne and miniature hot sauce party favors, because Hillary Clinton loves her hot sauce. It’s been an ugly, ugly election cycle, but my friends and I promised ourselves: election day would be all about celebration. Just joy and laughter and coming together to celebrate. We were so confident . . .

I woke up on November 9th at 2:30 am face planted in my couch. I had fallen asleep there, crying. We had watched the acceptance speech and I wept into Jeremy’s chest. Bitter, ugly, heaving tears. I woke up at 2:30 tangled in my couch, and stumbled to bed. And I woke up again this morning, at a more reasonable hour. I turned over, snuggled into Jeremy, and wept again. Body-wracking tears. I fell asleep crying and I woke up crying.

I spent most of the morning feeling numb. Intermittently weeping. It felt like a nightmare. It couldn’t be real.

I’m sure many of you are feeling the same way.

Jeremy has been researching expatriation. He is really into Belize. I have other friends who are seriously talking about a California secession. California got it right this election, like we always do.

But I couldn’t think about any of that. I couldn’t think. It felt like physical trauma. I didn’t know how to make sense of it, how to accept this, how to move forward.

But then I had to face the world.

Damian had taken Waits the night before, so it was time for me to pick him up at school. The first time that I would see him. And I was trying to figure out how I could look into the eyes of my child, who I have promised never to lie to, and navigate a conversation about this. I felt so despondent.

Until I did it. I picked him up and we sat in the car together and I said, “Trump was elected. How does it make you feel?” He was fighting back tears, trying to be brave for his mama. But he asked me, “When will Trump start making my friends leave?” My sweet 6 year old baby is legitimately worried for the safety of his friends.

And that’s when everything changed for me. I realized that I couldn’t leave, I won’t run away and hide. And I felt my fire returning to my body. Because this isn’t about me. None of this is about me. It’s not about me or my trauma or my tears.

And now, I feel Lit Up from the inside.

And I want you to feel Lit Up too. I am ready to get radical, and I want you to be ready, too. Because when I looked around my party on election night, I was surrounded by Mexican Americans. Gay Americans. And a whole, whole lot of Nasty Women. And that’s what this is about right now.

So please, take care of yourselves, my friends. You will need your strength because a fight is on the horizon, and we ALL need to be there to meet it. We need your body, and your voice, and your action to fight for our black and brown brothers and sisters. Our queer community. Our Muslim friends and neighbors. We need to come together and we need to come strong.

That night there were four of us left by the time Clinton called to concede. So we opened the champagne that we had thought would be for celebrating, and instead we toasted to each other. We toasted to friendship. To community. To finding your tribe and holding them close.

I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot over this past week. Thinking about how she raised me to be a warrior, and to always fight for justice. She died when I was 9 and I know she would have loved so much to vote for a woman president.

But I’m honoring her today, by choosing love. I choose LIT UP, RADICAL LOVE.

And I’m ready to fight for it.

♥ ♥ ♥

So. This post, which I intend to write every. single. year. but never actually get out in time, may actually be able to do some good this year. Yay! (or, well, boo! Sick is no fun!)

As an all-natural pharma-phobic healthy-living hippie, facing cold and flu season can be pretty confusing. The “natural remedies” aisle at your local health food store is most likely rivaling CVS in sheer size and volume of products, with each one promising it’s own miraculous one-ingredient wonder-cure.

But personally, I’m not so into the newfangled, specially-formulated power-powders. I like my remedies tried and true, and those are the ones I’m choosing to share today. My own small-but-fearsome arsenal of all-natural bug-busters. Trusted and standing the test of time, most of them are old – ancient even – because, well, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right?

Right! So here they are:


1) Dry Skin Brushing
A few months back I was chatting with an old scientist friend of mine, and she remarked that thanks to me, she’s been using a dry skin brush and loving the results (namely, a much stronger immune system – essential for her with 2 young boys). She said something to the effect of, “You know, lots of times when you blog about something it sounds pretty kooky and I have to admit, I’m a bit skeptical. But then I go do the research and it always turns out to be totally scientifically legit!” I had to laugh at that because I think it’s a great description of me: Kooky, but scientifically legit. Ha!

Anyway, dry skin brushing (I use this brush) stimulates the lymphatic system to activate blood flow and eliminate cellular waste. The increased circulation can also help to energize you, and as an added beauty bonus, it’s a great exfoliator! Use your skin brush before your daily shower, and keep your immune system going strong.


2) Green Juice // Wellness Shots
Like the dry skin brushing, green juice is great preventative medicine. Jeremy and I have been under so much stress lately, and I’ve been trying to keep the green juice flowing – pumping us full of precious antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to combat any germs that we might come across. I especially love parsley and cilantro in my green juice, since both of these are potent chelators which help to release and remove heavy metals and other bioaccumulative toxins.

I also love to make “wellness shots” (featured in the photo up top) – usually some combination of citrus like lemon, blood orange, mandarin, lime, etc, plus lots of ginger and some sort of pepper (either a juiced jalapeño or a liberal sprinkling of powdered cayenne or chili). Sometimes I add powdered turmeric, apple cider vinegar, or crushed garlic (yuck!). But the real key is citrus, ginger, and chili. Plug and chug!


3) Mulein Garlic Oil
I use this brand and I love the stuff. It’s cheap and it’s potent and it’s my number one go-to at the first sign of a sniffle.

Mullein garlic oil is actually intended for ear infections – which is how I discovered it and why I love it, because it’s safe for wee babies – but I use it for all the bad little bugs. Mullein (an herb) is an antiviral and an expectorant and has a long and rich tradition as an illness-fighting herb. And we all know that garlic is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antimocrobial immune-booster. With their powers combined, this is one of my favorite remedies. A single drop in each ear at the first sign of sickness, and in most cases it never progresses past the first stage. I swear by it!


4) Oil Of Oregano
More recently I’ve been experimenting with oil of oregano, an old hippie favorite for all sorts of ailments. This stuff is strong so be careful when using it with children. It’s powerful (which is why I like it!) and definitely worth adding to your sickness-stopping toolbox. You can read more about why I love oil of oregano, and the science behind its powerful healing properties, here.

You can buy high-quality oil of oregano online, or you can try making your own at home!


5) Neti Pot
Ahh, my dear sweet neti pot. I never thought I could love a piece of porcelain so much – especially a piece of porcelain that I fill with salt water, shove up my nose, and allow to flow through my entire sinus cavity and out the other nostril while I try not to sputter and snort and fall into a flailing mess on the shower floor.

But seriously, it’s sort of fun.

Much like dry brushing, neti can be used prophylactically as an ilness preventative. Keeping the ol’ sinuses all clean and flushed out will go a long way in upping your overall chances against some bastard bug this winter. But, if you’re a busy busy bee and you can’t make neti a regular part of your routine (like for reals, who has time for that?) it can still be used to speed along and soften up the symptoms of an already-existing cold, should one actually take hold of you. I use this popular model and I love it.

And yes, there’s will always be some immature part of me that will have to laugh when I see a stream of water pouring out of my nostril. ALWAYS.

And finally, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and drinking enough water. Probiotic rich foods, like store-bought or homemade ferments, are also a great immune-boosting addition to your diet. And remember – stress is death to your immune system! So take care of your mental health with the same love and attention that you give to your physical well being.

Ya hear me? Take care of you! ♥ ♥

At least, that’s how it’s gone so far, and that’s why I had an idea.

One of my very favorite things about this community that we’ve built here, is that it’s composed of the most incredible people. Smart and compassionate and worldly and wise – you guys are freaking amazing and you never fail to impress me. So “Hey!” I thought, “why not just put some of these questions to them??”

Duh. OF COURSE.

You guys are the *perfect* crowdsourcing focus group. With all the combined wisdom of this readership, I’m sure you guys can help each other out!

So we’ll start today, with this heartfelt email from a very very very long-time Bonzai reader. Some background, she is Estonian and lives in Estonia, and recently gave a public interview about raising vegan children which has led to some backlash. She writes:

I have something I wanted to discuss with you … as I’m raising a vegan kid (3 months now, exclusively breastfed, not even getting any other foods yet) and the society in Estonia is very conservative when it comes to different views on traditional values or raising children, I’ve already had arguments and problems with how I want to raise my son. I’m not afraid to stand for what I know is right, and I’ve got the USDA nutrition database, ADA’s position on vegan diets and other Western countries’ national nutritional guidelines to use as proof (because our national nutritional information still claims that you can’t even get all essential amino acids from plants etc), but the public attention was very hard for my parents, especially my mom. But I’m the kind of person who just can’t sit still or be quiet about my views.

Of course, I also got much support from other vegan parents who are basically hiding and afraid to ever tell anyone they raise their children vegan. It’s very very hard to get vegan or even vegetarian food here in kindergartens or schools. Later I’ve had more arguments with my parents about veganism and my son. My child’s father and family isn’t vegan but they’re very supportive about it. But as we don’t live together, my son and I live with my parents, I have to be double strong and also probably extra influential in the future when I have to start explaining to my son why the rest of the people eat so differently and think that it’s morally ok to eat animals etc. Of course veganism can be socially quite difficult as it’s such a new ‘trend’, and I know that it’s definitely much much easier in the USA (and also in many other European countries with more open societies than ours) so it must be much easier for you, too, but I assume that it’s not always, or has been, the case?

Anyway, a long story short — I would love to hear either directly from you, or if you ever have the time to write an article about it to share on your blog, if you’ve ever had problems, arguments, anything like that when it comes to being vegan and raising your child vegan. With your family, relatives, the society? It’s been so hard lately that I already dread what the future brings, if my son will feel too different from the rest of the people, that I’ve considered raising him vegetarian/omnivorous or just moving away from Estonia. Of course, if every vegan moves away, who will change the society here? I’ve also started to have thoughts that maybe all vegans are just abnormally sensitive people and have a distorted view of reality? Like, maybe it IS ok to kill animals even if you have good alternatives? There is no absolute truth anyway. Ridiculous, but I’ve been having these thoughts lately.

Much love,
*name withheld*

But I’m sure that a lot of you guys out there have gone through something like this (lord knows I’ve heard the horror stories!), so please, if you’ve ever dealt with anything similar, please share your story and your advice for how to deal with it. I have ideas, of course, but personal experience carries so much more weight.

And so I turn to you. Help a reader out!

Thank you so much.

♥ ♥ ♥

PS – Ohmigod you guys I wish you could see a picture of her baby HE IS SO CUTE. Vegan baby chubs for days. I die.

Oh I kid, I kid. Even here in SoCal we get to experience four distinct seasons. But our variation is much less variable, I guess you could say, and there’s never a time when the garden completely shuts down. So, I thought it might be fun to do a little guided tour of what’s going on, right now, during the “dead of winter” . . . and keeping in mind that it was 65 degrees yesterday. Brrrrr icy.

Right now California is in the middle of a horrible, multi-year drought. Last winter was abysmally dry, but this year has been a bit better. Better as in wetter. And this past weekend, we even had a little rain storm pass through (thank goodness!)

So on Sunday, during a break in the downpour, I scurried outside to capture a few photos from around my yard and garden. Here’s what it looks like, right now: a happy mix of fruit, flowers, fresh veggies, and in-progress preparation for the coming spring.

And that’s about it for me and my winter garden. So what about you? What’s growing right now, where you live? Anything at all? Under cloche or in greenhouse? Indoors only?

I’d love to hear from everyone out there – it’s so fun to compare the experiences of people across the country, as well as around the world. Icy cold in the northern hemisphere, sunny bright in the southern. Let’s share our gardens!

I’ll leave you with some of the absolutely beautiful bougainvillea, which basically blankets all of Santa Barbara (seriously, it’s everywhere). I remember growing up here and taking it all for granted, thinking that bougainvillea was so boring, so common. Like a magenta weed.

Of course, I was crazy! It’s an incredible plant, sprawling and vining with parchment paper buds perched in clusters like origami on the branches. And I love this stuff, now.



I’ll never take it for granted again.

♥ ♥ ♥

Alright, without further ado, may I introduce Our Lady Of Bad Assery:

Hi! I’m writing this piece right now because I believe in something big, and it’s something that requires active participation by people who care. Bonzai and its readers are a community of people who not only care about doing the right thing, but about learning and growing together; it’s really the perfect forum, so thanks for reading and sharing!

I’ve been a committed ethical vegetarian and animal lover since I was 6 years old. Like many of you, I’ve gone through countless transitions and growth spurts (pains) regarding how I want to move through this life and how I can better serve this planet. I’ve worked as an artist to connect with people and share the human experience; I got my PhD in chemistry because I wanted to better understand the way the world works and solve problems that affect us all; and now I work as a researcher for an animal rights advocate group, the Beagle Freedom Project (BFP), because I believe that even the mute deserve a voice.

I always knew that many companies still test on animals, but I really had no idea how extensively . . . I currently spend about 20 hours/week digging, verifying, emailing, leaving voice messages, and having awkward conversations on the phone with corporate reps trying to decode their intentionally ambiguous policies and trying to determine if they test their products on animals.

And here’s the thing: They KNOW that they’re in the wrong. They know that the world perspective is changing and that they’re behind the curve. Israel, India, and the entire European Union have all outright banned cosmetic testing on animals; and the U.S. does NOT require animal testing outside the purview of the FDA. These companies use scare tactics to justify baseless actions; they want us to believe that they’re protecting our children with No More Tears. And many of our favorite seemingly “cruelty-free” companies have now opened markets in countries like China that still mandate animal testing on all imported cosmetics. To further complicate matters, we all know about the “big, bad umbrella corporations”, but HOLY GUACAMOLE… I’ve been seriously shocked to learn how almost everything is owned by such a very few companies. It’s beyond frustrating to discover that some sweet little cruelty-free company with ethics I share is in fact owned by the same parent company that needlessly restrains a shaved rabbit and rubs shampoo in its eyes until they’re satisfied that the same ingredients we’ve tested and used for the past 60 years results in the appropriate amount of bleeding to deem it “safe” for me and my precious hair.

But I digress… This is about my work developing a smart phone App called “Cruelty-Cutter” that provides you with a simple way to tell if a product was tested on animals. This is about you and your voice. This is about an easy way you can further live a Socially Conscious, Totally Fabulous life!!

Please keep reading to learn more about BFP and Cruelty-Cutter:

The Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) is a small nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that advocates for, rescues, and rehabilitates laboratory animals. There are currently ~65,000 dogs sitting in cages across America for use in testing cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and household products; over 95% of them are beagles, chosen for their loving and docile nature. These animals have been bred solely for this purpose and in many cases, their genes are actually trademarked! Many have never seen the light of day and will simply be discarded when the research is concluded. These animals can’t speak for themselves in more ways than you realize: 80% of our rescues literally have no voice as their vocal chords have been cut to prevent barking and howling in the labs.

Our name suggests we only give beagles a second chance at life after lab, but we actually rescue and advocate for ALL laboratory animals (cats, rabbits, mice, rats, pigs, goats… you name it, we save it!) If you’re feeling depressed reading about these tragedies, check out the heartwarming stories of our recent rescues, and watch this incredible video of our dogs being given names instead of numbers, seeing sunlight, feeling grass on their paws, and running with joy for the first time in their lives! Get Inspired!

We work directly with private and academic labs encouraging them to release their test subjects to us for fostering after “retirement,” instead of the industry standard of euthanasia. It is central to our mission to work within the law to provide alternative homes for these unseen victims of consumerism, and as such, we have written bills to actually change laws at the state level.

Collaborating with lawyers, lobbyists, and congress, we had our first major legislative victory in Minnesota earlier this year with our Beagle Freedom Bill:

“The law is simple – all tax-payer funded labs must offer their dogs and cats up for adoption through animal rescue organizations instead of just summarily killing (as is the standard operating procedure)” – Shannon Keith, President of BFP.

Our California Beagle Freedom Bill will be back on the table in 2015, so stay tuned and get involved!!!

This is truly a TEAM EFFORT.




Ending this level of arcane, cruel, and often ineffectual testing requires a larger voice than just a few animal rights groups. It requires the hard work of conscious consumers. And, unfortunately, it requires a corporate translator: Money! Big corporations that continue to put their bottom line above the safety and health of other living beings don’t speak our language, but they sure do understand the words of our wallets. With this in mind, BFP has developed a groundbreaking App for your smart phone: Cruelty-Cutter. It allows you to scan the barcode of any beauty, personal care, or household product and instantly find out if that company engages in animal testing. You no longer have to try to remember the current status of your favorite toothpaste, you no longer have to lug a veritable phone book of company info with you … You can simply scan and shop! And what’s more, you can “Bite Back”: the Cruelty Cutter App provides you with easy access to company email and social media where you can send a message stating that you will not financially support businesses that engage in such pointless suffering. This is consumer activism at its best!

Okay… Please, PLEASE download the Cruelty-Cutter App for your phone, spread the word, and make ethics an easy part of your routine!

So. This post, which I intend to write every. single. year. but never actually get out in time, may actually be able to do some good this year. Yay! (or, well, boo! Sick is no fun!)

As an all-natural pharma-phobic healthy-living hippie, facing cold and flu season can be pretty confusing. The “natural remedies” aisle at your local health food store is most likely rivaling CVS in sheer size and volume of products, with each one promising it’s own miraculous one-ingredient wonder-cure.

But personally, I’m not so into the newfangled, specially-formulated power-powders. I like my remedies tried and true, and those are the ones I’m choosing to share today. My own small-but-fearsome arsenal of all-natural bug-busters. Trusted and standing the test of time, most of them are old – ancient even – because, well, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right?

Right! So here they are:


1) Dry Skin Brushing
A few months back I was chatting with an old scientist friend of mine, and she remarked that thanks to me, she’s been using a dry skin brush and loving the results (namely, a much stronger immune system – essential for her with 2 young boys). She said something to the effect of, “You know, lots of times when you blog about something it sounds pretty kooky and I have to admit, I’m a bit skeptical. But then I go do the research and it always turns out to be totally scientifically legit!” I had to laugh at that because I think it’s a great description of me: Kooky, but scientifically legit. Ha!

Anyway, dry skin brushing (I use this brush) stimulates the lymphatic system to activate blood flow and eliminate cellular waste. The increased circulation can also help to energize you, and as an added beauty bonus, it’s a great exfoliator! Use your skin brush before your daily shower, and keep your immune system going strong.


2) Green Juice // Wellness Shots
Like the dry skin brushing, green juice is great preventative medicine. Jeremy and I have been under so much stress lately, and I’ve been trying to keep the green juice flowing – pumping us full of precious antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to combat any germs that we might come across. I especially love parsley and cilantro in my green juice, since both of these are potent chelators which help to release and remove heavy metals and other bioaccumulative toxins.

I also love to make “wellness shots” (featured in the photo up top) – usually some combination of citrus like lemon, blood orange, mandarin, lime, etc, plus lots of ginger and some sort of pepper (either a juiced jalapeño or a liberal sprinkling of powdered cayenne or chili). Sometimes I add powdered turmeric, apple cider vinegar, or crushed garlic (yuck!). But the real key is citrus, ginger, and chili. Plug and chug!


3) Mulein Garlic Oil
I use this brand and I love the stuff. It’s cheap and it’s potent and it’s my number one go-to at the first sign of a sniffle.

Mullein garlic oil is actually intended for ear infections – which is how I discovered it and why I love it, because it’s safe for wee babies – but I use it for all the bad little bugs. Mullein (an herb) is an antiviral and an expectorant and has a long and rich tradition as an illness-fighting herb. And we all know that garlic is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal, antimocrobial immune-booster. With their powers combined, this is one of my favorite remedies. A single drop in each ear at the first sign of sickness, and in most cases it never progresses past the first stage. I swear by it!


4) Oil Of Oregano
More recently I’ve been experimenting with oil of oregano, an old hippie favorite for all sorts of ailments. This stuff is strong so be careful when using it with children. It’s powerful (which is why I like it!) and definitely worth adding to your sickness-stopping toolbox. You can read more about why I love oil of oregano, and the science behind its powerful healing properties, here.

You can buy high-quality oil of oregano online, or you can try making your own at home!


5) Neti Pot
Ahh, my dear sweet neti pot. I never thought I could love a piece of porcelain so much – especially a piece of porcelain that I fill with salt water, shove up my nose, and allow to flow through my entire sinus cavity and out the other nostril while I try not to sputter and snort and fall into a flailing mess on the shower floor.

But seriously, it’s sort of fun.

Much like dry brushing, neti can be used prophylactically as an ilness preventative. Keeping the ol’ sinuses all clean and flushed out will go a long way in upping your overall chances against some bastard bug this winter. But, if you’re a busy busy bee and you can’t make neti a regular part of your routine (like for reals, who has time for that?) it can still be used to speed along and soften up the symptoms of an already-existing cold, should one actually take hold of you. I use this popular model and I love it.

And yes, there’s will always be some immature part of me that will have to laugh when I see a stream of water pouring out of my nostril. ALWAYS.

And finally, make sure you’re getting enough sleep and drinking enough water. Probiotic rich foods, like store-bought or homemade ferments, are also a great immune-boosting addition to your diet. And remember – stress is death to your immune system! So take care of your mental health with the same love and attention that you give to your physical well being.

Ya hear me? Take care of you! ♥ ♥