I recently took a trip that involved flying and staying at an airbnb. It was my first time flying since February 2020 and it felt amazing! Here's a few photos from my trip... yes, those are giant, green sea turtles in the middle pic. 🐢 💜 It had been so long that I had to repack my toiletry bags. The travel necessities that usually stay packed and ready for the next planned get-a-way or for a spur of the minute road trip had been emptied during my spring of 2020 closet clean out. Sadly they sat empty until a few weeks ago. Now I'm keeping them packed and ready for my next adventure in July! Aren't we all so excited that we're out and on the move again!??! As you pack your bags for your upcoming trips, be sure to pack your essential oil travel bundle (of course), and here are some of my other top travel tips and necessities to have on hand for a pleasant trip. No surprise that I'm going to remind you to pack a good smelling hand sanitizer. A hand sanitizer that doesn't leave hands sticky or make you start searching for a paper towel to wipe off with. I prefer a spray hand sanitizer made with essential oils and ethyl alcohol so my hands are germ free and smell good at the same time. Pack a pillow case for dirty laundry. I prefer a king sized pillow case over a plastic bag for dirty laundry storage. Clothes can still breathe and be separated from clean items. Bonus that there's less single use plastics in my travel plans too! Astro 🐱 approves of the pillow case, water bottle, hat and was 'helping' me pack. An aromatherapy spray is a must have. Consider this one of your most versatile necessities because this is a toxin free room deodorizer, air freshener, personal mist, face toner or quick mood lift - all in one! You will surely thank me for this reminder 😉 Staying hydrated during travel requires some personal planning. Try to drink a few large glasses of water or herbal tea prior to your trip to start off on the right foot. Pack a reusable water bottle and tea bags. Be sure to pack hydration for your skin too, face and body oils as well as safe for you and safe for the planet sunscreen, here's an article to help you find the perfect sunscreen for you and your family. Comfortable walking shoes and a hat to shade your face are invaluable during any vacation. During this recent trip to Maui we walked everywhere, it ended up being ok that rental cars were unavailable. We got lots of steps in and were able to admire the beauty of roadside flowers, charming properties, detoured to the beach several times and really had fun on foot vs. in a rental car. Worth reminding y'all that a face mask is still required to fly, use ride share and was also required anytime indoors while on the Hawaiian Islands. Just wear the mask! We're used to it by now and hopefully sooooo close to not needing them at all. With coronavirus case numbers diving in most — but not all — of the world, summer vacations are a part to our lives again. Travel to most countries is open, airlines have been adding flights and 7 in 10 U.S. families are planning a trip. Are you planning a trip this summer? Please comment on where you plan to travel to in 2021 and share your travel tips! Wishing you and yours safe travels and fun-filled adventures. Love, Christine

Essential oils play an important role in your skin health. These remarkable oils can also help you beat the heat, naturally of course, during the summer months. They keep us fresh by removing bacteria from the air and killing bacteria on the skin, all while boosting your mood, repelling insects, and so much more. You don't have to live in the desert to know how big of a challenge it can be to care for your skin during the summer months. It takes more than just SFP and drinking lots of water to keep your skin healthy, and hydrated. Your skin needs herbally infused, cooling recovery! Here are my favorite ZB blends to keep you cool, calm, and refreshed all summer long. No Worries Body Oil is my daytime must-have and is always within reach for dry skin 911. When I look at my keyboard and see that my hands need extra attention, I pause for a simple and oh, so necessary self-care break. The healing tea tree and refreshing peppermint oils help me to de-stress and regroup. When I've got a little extra time, I enjoy a No Worries Soak to relieve and rejuvenate my tired body - it's amazing how soaking my feet for 15 minutes can make my entire body feel better. The cooling blend of oils is just what our bodies need! After an invigorating hike or day of fun in the sun, my legs and feet are ready for a Poppin' Peppermint or Euphoria polishing scrub. These multi-tasking superstars not only exfoliate to help protect the skin from sun damage and hydrate with a soothing blend of herbs, and oil such as peppermint, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils, but they also give me a boost of energy while they cool and refresh my body and mind. Defuse spray feels amazing on my skin. Any time of day it's is my secret weapon on the go. When the heat gets particularly intense, a quick spritz on my feet, or on the back of my neck helps cool me down right away. Lavender and peppermint oils make it perfect for a post-sun or post-workout recovery pick-me-up so I can get back to enjoying the warm weather - no pool necessary! I’ve also found that this cooling spray works really well for helping take the “itch” out of bug bites and the burn out of sunburned skin. For my summertime evening ritual, Chill Out Body Oil waits on the nightstand to help me drift off to dreamland. The peppermint and lavender scents help me decompress and relax from the day. I like to lovingly rub the healing oils into the soles of my feet, pull on fluffy spa socks, and then it is lights out. The problems of the day fade away as I softly sink into my Tempur-Pedic pillow. The Dalia Lama believes sleep is the best meditation. He might be on to something! Please let me know what you think of my picks to help de-stress and moisturize, leave a comment with your favorites. While these products are great for helping you chill out all summer, be sure to hydrate internally as well with fresh water, fruit juices, and herbal teas. Keep safe while soaking up some Vitamin D by covering up with light, breathable fabrics or by using an Oxybenzone-free and Paraben-free sunscreen. We recommend carrying a full water bottle with you at all times and listening to your body’s cues. If you’re feeling tired and run down, drink a few glasses of water and rest your body and mind as needed. Looking for something extra cool to do this summer? Why not kick off your summer in health and have a blender blast! You're invited to the Magareeshi Summer Solstice Smoothie Soiree: ☀️ 5 days of smoothie making deliciousness complete with live daily guidance from Maggie Verderame. ☀️Tune in live for 30 minutes via Zoom at 10:30 am PST / 1:30 pm EST 6/21-6/25 or enjoy the full replay of each day's soirée when it's convenient for you. You get lifetime access to a private 2021 video page! ☀️Mind-blowing recipes packed with delicious, nutritious goodness. Every smoothie is made from original combinations of unique ingredients. One is more satisfying and delightful than the next. ☀️A full-page, full color, in-depth 2021 edition of Maggie's smoothie recipe e-book giving you all the nutritional value of every single ingredient in all 5 smoothies you'll learn this week. ☀️You'll have plenty of awesome new recipes to treat yourself all summer long, plus you'll be empowered with knowledge and inspiration to get creative in your kitchen, able to make your own fabulously flavored and nutritionally balanced smoothies that all your family and friends will love. ☀️A detailed shopping list emailed directly to you in plenty of time to stock up and be ready for the fun. ☀️10% off ALL Magareeshi Teas at the Shopareeshi. *** BONUS!! *** This year Maggie's giving some additional smoothie love in the form of recipes for homemade smoothie pops! Whizz these up once to keep on hand and you'll be set up with healthy sweet treats all summer. All this for just $22! Sign up today! Go to https://www.magareeshi.com/offers/LdgYFido. Use code ZBSMOOTHIES2021 to be entered to win a FREE annual Magareeshi Virtual Studio (MVS) membership - $330 value (wooohoooo!) #dryhands #crackedheels #bodyoil #noworries #sleep #guestblog #skincareevolved #summerskin #stayhydrated

You may have heard that there is a rare lunar trifecta on the literal horizon. A Super Flower Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse will appear just before dawn tomorrow, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The first total lunar eclipse in six years, the only lunar eclipse, and closest supermoon of 2021, skywatchers are truly in for a treat! You don't need any special equipment to safely view the show. And for those in places where the eclipse won't be visible, it will still be possible to catch the action live online. Even if you're not able to see the celestial event, chances are, you will still be able to feel its potent energy. What's the significance of a Flower Moon? Based in Native American tradition, the Flower Moon embodies all the spirit and energy of Beltane and of the Spring season. As the days continue to grow longer, the warmer temperatures continue to increase, and the Northern Hemisphere is in full bloom - flowers and herbs used for medicinal purposes are now flourishing. May’s Flower Moon signifies a time of love, laughter, celebration, and pleasure. Even more so with many of us coming out of hibernation from a long, difficult year, you can expect this full moon and lunar eclipse to bring a "sky's the limit" feeling to just about everything. It's a perfect time to get out and reconnect, embrace life and all its moving parts, and spend some time getting real with yourself! 3 ways to celebrate with ritual ideas: Change up the landscape of your life. Get out and enjoy some wide-open spaces and don’t forget to bring loved ones along. Soak up this powerful full moon by getting out in nature. Sink your toes in the sand. Begin tending your garden, plant seeds in containers, or harvest herbs in the moonlight. Light a fire pit and sit outside. Whether in an RV in the mountains, or closer to home, now's the time to broaden your horizons and rack up life-affirming experiences. Take note of how you're feeling. Recharge and restore your energy. Meditating and journaling are powerful yet simple ways to check in with yourself. Immerse yourself in the Moon’s soothing light as you inhale all of Nature’s beauty. Now is the time to bring goals and dreams to life, create balance, and focus your energy in directions that serve you best. Full moons are often about the release, so remember to relax and let go as we collectively ride this lunar wave. Celebrate the awakening local flora during this season of rebirth. As gardens flourish and annual herbs come to life, now is an ideal time to embrace warming herbs. Calendula, cinnamon and mint create tasty caffeine free teas that warm the digestive tract. Stoke your internal fire (and digestive system) with warming herbs. Set your alarm, make yourself a cup of tea and step outside to enjoy this magnificent eclipse. Cheers friends!

Nothing quite says "I love you" like a thoughtful homemade meal for someone you care about. While growing up, my family centered special occasions and gatherings around a glutenous spread of both healthy and indulgent offerings. The feasts lasted for hours with each guest bringing something delicious from their own kitchen to share, often times excited to be sharing their 'oh so tasty tapioca' or 'family famous lasagna'. Whether you are making a romantic candlelit dinner, breakfast in bed, or a sweet desert, I understand the value in this way of celebrating and hope to help you here with a few ideas and simple hacks to make the occasion stress-free. Breakfast Preparing a scrumptious and fancy morning meal can be done ahead of time, allowing for more snuggle time or comfortable morning conversation with your SO or family. A favorite of mine, that always gets praise, is a super easy one pan french toast bake. The ingredients: Bread, any kind that you have around will do. A variety creates a fun and sophisticated texture, perhaps best suited for a creative pallet. You know your audience, so use appropriate bread - for choosy eaters I recommend using sliced bread. Enough to fill a deep 8"x8" pan that can be used in the oven. Eggs, 6 Coconut milk, 1 can Almond or other milk, 0.25-0.50 cup Maple syrup, 1/2 cup Cinnamon, powdered, 2 tsp. Nutmeg, powdered, 1/4 tsp. Cardamom, powdered, 1/4 tsp. (optional) Salt, dash Optional, fun additions: chopped nuts, dried fruit, coconut shreds You can get creative with this dish, adding fruits, nuts or alternative sweeteners to syrup. How to put it together: 1. Prepare baking pan with cooking spray or butter option 2. Cut bread into bite-sized pieces and place into prepared pan 3. Scramble eggs, coconut milk, syrup, spices, and optional ingredients, mix softly 4. Pour egg mixture over bread, adding almond milk as needed to submerge all of the bread 5. Cover pan tightly with foil wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight, until most of the milk is absorbed by the bread My favorite thing about this dish is that it requires hours to marinate, so you must prepare it ahead of time. This will make your day so much easier! Bake it: When you're ready to cook your French Toast Bake, Preheat oven to 350 and take your pan out of the fridge Once oven is preheated, bake for 45-50 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean Let stand for 15 minutes, sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if fancy is desired Anytime, day or night Quiche, it's suitable for anytime of the day or evening. A simple vegan or dairy based quiche can be served as a light meal, appetizer or side dish. There are so many variations of quiche that I won't bore you with a recipe, but suggest you search for one that meets your dietary needs as well as ingredients on hand. If you consider yourself a creative or seasoned chef, you will find success in adding leftover cooked fridge finds to your quiche. Omit the crust and your quiche and turn into a frittata! Dinner Sitting down together for a relaxing dinner is a favorite past-time for many because it's an ideal time for connection and a lovely way to end a busy day. Preparing an enjoyable dinner for yourself and loved ones doesn't need to be time consuming or complicated either. Here are a few suggestions that are simple and affordable to make. - Baked Pasta with sauce and cheese, or with veggies and pesto. - Soup, grounding and soothing while easy to enjoy leisurely. - Roasted veggies, usable so many different ways! In tacos, on rice, in a wrap. It will be a great benefit to prep or make your entire meal ahead of time so you can enjoy the company or others instead of being stuck in the kitchen. Or you can make this an opportunity to cook and visit together at the same time! Tasking your audience with chopping, washing or mixing as you talk and create a yummy meal together. Once you have your meal ready, pull out the candles and a bottle of your favorite evening beverage and sit down for a peaceful, delicious evening together! Love, Christine

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner We love V-day as it's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate love and loved ones. It's the one day annually that encourages us to focus on how precious our love for each other really is! So consider this as your encouragement to spoil someone you love this year on Valentine's Day. Hate boring gifts? Us too! Below you’ll find a simple gift guide filled with unique inspiration and ideas for heartfelt gifts that appeal to each of the 5 senses - perfect for all the special people in your life. From our skin-loving oils to our heart-warming gift bundles, you’ll be tempted to spoil yourself too! Taste Get the most kissable lips with a mouthwatering sugar scrub. Soothe chapped lips and nourish skin - perfect full-body preparation for an intimate evening. Bonus that all of our scrubs smell amazing and are delectably sweet, naturally! Touch Get extra soft, cuddly skin with a nourishing body oil. Drench your body with moisturizing and uplifting oils - a great addition to your daily routine and perfect for a relaxing or seductive massage. Sight Set your sights on glowing skin with an at-home facial. Our ceramic bowls are hand made with love and come with a deep cleansing facial mask. Pair it with a luxurious facial oil for beautiful gift, for yourself or for your Galentine! Smell Delight their sense of smell with an aromatherapy room and body spray. We've got a blend for any occasion - whether a mood boost is needed to prepare for a busy day ahead, setting the mood for a Valentine's evening at home, or easing into a peaceful night curled up with your fur-companions. Sound Ooo, ahh! That's the sound that can be heard when our sublime Epsom soaks are experienced as part of their self-care routine or for a couples bath. Choose from Cozy, Relaxing, or Lavender soaks for an ideal evening in! As this global day of love approaches, keep in mind that you may not want to wait till the last second to order Valentine’s Day gifts. That’s especially true nowadays, with the pandemic causing mail delays throughout the country. Keep the stress-level low and start your shopping now to make sure everything goes smoothly. How are you treating and investing in yourself these days? If you feel like you don't have the time, or the resources to dedicate to self-care, please think again! Keep your self-care routine simple and flexible for the best results, YOU, above all - are worth it! Wishing you love, this Valentine’s Day and every day. XO, Christine and the ZB team

Baked apples are the kind of simple, old-fashioned dish that never goes out of style. They're easier than apple pie, warm, delicious, and depending on how you cook them - they can make for a healthy breakfast or dessert. Plus, the house smells divine while they're baking! Here's the quick and healthy-ish recipe my family and I like to enjoy during the fall and winter months. It's a combination of all the tips, and tricks I've come across over the years, modified and adapted along the way. So this is the very best recipe I've concocted after years of trial and error. Until now (when I get to share it with all of you) it has lived scribbled on a piece of scratch paper, tucked away in my recipe file in the cabinet. I have no recollection of its origins, but it's a favorite cold-weather treat in our home and I hope it will be in yours too. 1. Choose your apple First, you'll want to pick a thick-skinned, medium apple. Gala, Fuji, or, when in-season, Autumn Glory or Envy apples are a great choice because they are soft inside but maintain their shape when baked. You'll need one apple per person. It doesn't matter how many you bake at once—just choose a baking dish that'll hold your desired amount of apples without too much empty space around them. Sometimes I just make one single baked apple in a very small baking dish all for myself. This recipe will yield enough for six baked apples. If you need more or less than six, adjust accordingly. 2. Prepare your apple Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Start by washing the apples. Then, using a paring knife rather than an apple corer, remove the core and seeds carefully. Keep the bottom of the apple intact, and create a nice little vessel in the middle that you'll fill with all the good stuff in the next step. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out what you've cut out. Discard the seeds and compost the remainder. 3. Fill with goodness Place the apples snug in a baking dish. Choose a dish that has sides at least 2 inches high. In a small bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of dark brown sugar, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil, 1/3 cup of chopped pecans, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Fill the hollowed-out center of each apple to the top with the mixture - pack it in as much as you can as some will bake out of the apples. This is a very forgiving recipe and one that is meant to invoke joy, so please, have fun with it. The ingredients can be interchanged or omitted depending upon your tastes. You can try coconut sugar or maple sugar in place of brown sugar. Butter can be used in place of coconut oil. You can add different nuts. Raisins, cranberries, nutmeg, allspice, clove, cardamom, and/or ginger would all be delectable additions to this soul-nourishing dish. Whatever your heart desires, just go for it. 4. Bake, Top, and Enjoy! Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Place an apple in your favorite bowl and grab a spoon. Serve with a scoop of vanilla (or my favorite, honey vanilla) Greek yogurt, drizzle a spoonful of the drippings from the apple pan on top, and sprinkle with a handful of chopped pecans. Finally, sit back, relax, and mindfully savor every warm, delightful bite. Life is good.

We love Thanksgiving because it is an extra excuse to show how grateful we are for one another. Here are some gift ideas for any host, friend, or family member this holiday! 1. A bouquet of harvest flowers Nothing like lighting up a dreary fall day than some flowers! Not only can they brighten up a kitchen, but can make an excellent centerpiece 2. Holiday Warmth Spray Get in the holiday spirit with this spicy, warm aroma. 3. Their drink of choice Wine, beer, or spice it up with some homemade chai tea! 4. A No Worries foot soak A foot soak is an excellent gift for your host to decompress from a long day of cooking! 5. Fall soy candle What's better than a house that smells like pumpkin spice? A candle always makes for a warm, welcome gift.

Roasting vegetables may be the simplest, most rewarding meal of the fall and winter months. I can't think of a vegetable that's not worthy of roasting (well... except for maybe cucumbers). To successfully roast veggies, consider the size and texture of what you'd like to cook. Size: Cut everything to equal sized pieces for uniform cooking. The larger the pieces, the longer they'll need to cook. If you cut your vegetables into smaller sizes not only will they cook quicker, but there will also be more surface area for spices to adhere to. Texture: Harder vegetables, like potatoes, winter squashes and carrots will take 50-60 minutes total to roast. Softer vegetables, like peppers, mushrooms and summer squashes will take 40-50 minutes to roast. Instructions: 1. Preheat over to 425. 2. Toss cut vegetables in a few tablespoons of cooking oil. Consider a high heat oil such as coconut or avocado oil for a rich, even result. Use olive or canola oil for a crunchier surface area. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and spread vegetables evenly on a baking sheet. For crispier roasted vegetables (like potatoes), be sure not to overcrowd the pan. For best results, make sure the pieces do not touch. 3. I like to check and stir vegetables every 15 minutes during cooking so I can determine if the tray needs to be turned (sometimes the back left corner of my oven cooks a lot faster than the rest of the oven contents do). If you're mixing hard and soft veggies on the same tray, add the softer items after the first 15 minutes. 4. While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the rest of your meal. Here are my top 5 ways to create a delish, full meal with roasted veggies: 1. Add some crunchy nuts and drizzle with lemon-tahini dressing. Lemon-tahini dressing: Combine the following in a blender or food processor: Juice of 3 lemons, 2-3 tbsp tahini, 1 garlic clove, 1 tsp sea salt Taste and adjust as needed. 2. Serve over rice and or quinoa to create a grain bowl. Great additions: nuts, feta or goat cheese, hummus 3. Serve over a dense pasta noodle. Add pesto or Parmesan cheese and olive oil for a savory delight. 4. Choose your favorite squash (I use butternut squash for this meal), include a few heads of garlic on your roasting tray. When squash and garlic are roasted to perfection, puree with vegetable broth and 1 can of full-fat coconut milk for a delicious soup that everyone will rave about. Season lightly with salt, pepper, and a dash of allspice. 5. Chill vegetables to at least room temperature and serve over a bed of greens for a winter salad.

for our 4-legged family members Some of you had the pleasure of meeting Kona, my beloved side-kick for 18 years. She passed in February of 2016, one of the great loves of my life. Here I share with you her ‘secret fountain of youth’. When Kona was a young 11 year old dog I became dedicated to helping her age gracefully. After all, this dog had been with me through a lot!!! She walked miles with me, licked tears off of my cheeks and warded off would-be trouble makers with her meager size and determined bark. She’s my girl and deserves the very best so I sought out the best holistic veterinarian I could find and she was mind blowing! I am grateful for this experience as I believe it helped Kona live a comfortable and long life. I hope this can help you and your dogs too. The key that helped Kona live to be a spry old dog has been ‘Kona Stew’. I call it this because I’ve made it up entirely based on my visits with Dr. Stefanatos and my personal nutrition beliefs. I did notice a drastic improvement in Kona’s life when the diet switch happened. This is work. I can not lead you astray thinking that this will easy for the pet owner. It will become a weekly or bi-weekly commitment - depending on how much your fur baby eats. Recipe: 4 Organic Sweet Potatoes 12 Organic Carrots 1 head Organic Celery 3-4 Cups Filtered Water +/- ½ cup Kale, Zucchini, spinach Chop all ingredients into chunks. Place sweet potatoes and carrots into large soup pot with 2-3 cups of water (it’s not important to submerge all of the veggies and the less water, the easier it will be on you later - you’ll see). Let this mixture come to a boil with the lid on and cook for approx. 8 minutes before adding the celery, and optional zucchini, kale and spinach. Cook for an additional 10 minutes or until everything is soft. Let it cool. For the first few years I left it in this form, as a stew, and served it with boiled chicken and sometime rice or quinoa, whatever was available, and some additional water. Older dogs need more hydration than younger pups. They dry out with age just like we do (why I say to oil your skin up - but that’s a separate blog :) ) After a while I realized that it would be neater for the old dog to have it pureed so I began to blender the cooked mixture. Stored in small jars and glass containers so I can freeze most of the batch and have a few days worth defrosted and ready to go in the fridge. Kona has historically maintained a weight of 35-40 pounds. Adjust according to your dog's size and appetite. TO SERVE: Scoop ½ cup of puree, mix with ½ cup boiling water and serve over some meat source. There are vegan dogs out there, if you want that and feel that your your will have adequate nutrition without meat - Great! I’ve ended up supplementing Kona Stew with a Stella and Chewy’s dehydrated patties. Kona loves them and these days asks for a second patty. For an old dog I’m always happy to feed her as much as she asks for but please keep in mind that it’s healthiest for your dog to be a lean weight. Especially older dogs - they do best when on the slender side. Another item that was news to me is that it’s important to keep elder pets’ food and water bowls at a height well above the floor. Their spine is no longer as flexible as it once was and it’s uncomfortable for them to reach down low. Visit The Correct Height for a Dog Food Bowl for help in calculating the correct height for your dog. You can get creative with this entire process, just as you may do with your own personal cooking but keep this list in mind and avoid feeding these foods* to your dogs: Mushrooms Onions Garlic Grapes/Raisins Chocolate Avocado *If you know of any additional fatal dog ‘foods’ please leave a comment below. With love, Christine and the loving memory of Kona

Grandmas, they're the best! My paternal grandmother taught me many things over the course of her long life. She was known for her exceptional cooking and I feel over the top fortunate for the education she bestowed upon me while we worked together in the kitchen during my childhood. As an adult, I would call her weekly and the conversation always turned to what she was making and what I was making. During our talks, I often asked her about a recipe or skill/technique. Not only did Grams cook like a champ, she and grandpa had the most successful vegetable garden in all of Brooklyn! One of their most prolific annual harvests included piles of chard. Here's Grams' simple chard soup. Now that I have my own garden, I make this from my harvest several times a year. This recipe is Made with only a few ingredients A perfect simple, healthy meal Easily made ahead Ready in 30 minutes Ingredients 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 large white or yellow onion 6 cups of broth (my all time favorite for this soup and for most dishes is Better than Bullion, not Chicken stock - it's vegan and the best on the market, in my opinion) 2 bunches of Swiss chard (about 8 cups) Pepper Bay leaf Small tubular pasta noodles, like elbows or ditalini (optional) Instructions Dice onion. De-stem Swiss chard and dice the stems, set the green tops aside. In a large pot, sauté onions in olive oil for 5 minutes or so, then add the chard stems and bay leaf. Cook for 8-10 minutes until stems are soft. 4. Add greens and cook over low heat until greens are tender. 5. Serve as is or over small pasta noodles. Season with pepper (I prefer white pepper for this soup, but Grams always used black so the choice is yours!). Optional: top with parmesan cheese. Mangia!

It's true what they say-- you never stop learning. One bright side to our current situation is that it has given us the ability (and in some cases, time) to seek out different sources of knowledge. Classes and resources of all kinds have become virtual in recent months, making it easy to learn new things in the comfort of our own homes. As the weather gets cooler, now is the best time to start learning. Why take up a new hobby or sign up for a class? For one, learning new things has been proven to help build resilience. Confronting unfamiliar situations and topics throughout the learning process makes it easier to navigate the uncertainties and challenges of life. It can also help us keep our minds active and our mental health in check, especially during these difficult times. Plus, it's fun! Here are some ways you can start learning today: Take college classes online Ever wonder what it would be like to take a class at Yale? With Coursera, you can find out. Coursera is a website that offers several classes taught by professors from well-known universities for free. Take courses on your own time and make your own deadlines. If you want a certificate of completion, you may pay a little extra. Otherwise, you can still access the coursework free of cost! This is also the best time for those interested in advancing their formal education. With many institutions of higher education from community colleges to universities moving online, the opportunities to earn college credit are becoming increasingly abundant. Explore what the public library (online) has to offer The public library is a great resource to get that book you've always wanted to read. Many libraries have introduced digital library cards as a result of the closures this spring. That way, if you don't already have a card, it's simple to sign up for one online! In recent years, several libraries have expanded their ebook and audiobook offerings, even the most niche offerings are accessible in a digital format. In addition, some have partnered with online digital media services like Hoopla to provide access to movies, music, and TV shows for free! Exercise with an online community Always wanted to learn how to dance? Interested in pilates? As gyms have remained closed or in limited capacity, there are more fitness classes taught online than ever before. It is also now easier than ever to find a class at a time that works best with your schedule and learn from instructors in different time zones. In recent months, we have loved supporting small and locally-owned gyms and studios. Our favorites these days: Ashlee's Crazy Yoga, Yoga Sanctuary, and Las Vegas Pilates. Another great (and free) resource is YouTube, where it's possible to find free classes on anything from hip-hop dancing to HIIT workouts. Take up a new hobby Thanks to the internet, it is so easy to learn from hobbyists. Interested in upgrading your garden? There are YouTube videos to get you excited. Want to get crafty? Pinterest is the place to go. Patreon and Skillshare are also great places to support small artists and creatives! Professional Development and Mentoring If career advancement is something you are interested in, this is the perfect time to do it. Why not lay low while simultaneously taking advantage of courses and mentoring opportunities that are increasingly being offered online? For yogis out there, we recommend Jules Mitchell Yoga for livestream events, virtual courses, webinars, mentoring and more. We are so excited to cozy up this fall and put our brains to good use. If you are learning something new this season, we'd love to hear from you! Connect with us on social media @Zeetabody on instagram and Zeeta Body on facebook.

If you’re new to the practice of meditation and are ready to give it a try, let’s do it together! Here are a few tips to set yourself up for success before you begin. 1. Set yourself up in a comfortable position. Let’s get detailed on this because it’s very important. We’ve all seen the gurus seated cross-legged with perfect posture, their beautifully bald head reaching softly toward the sky… scrap that image from your mind for a moment. If your hips, back, neck or shoulders don’t feel good when in a cross-legged seat, find a different position for yourself. I’ve found that adding a firm cushion or a folded blanket under my butt promotes a more comfortable seated posture for myself and for many of my students. Or try sitting in Virasana (aka Hero pose) with a blanket neatly folded under your knees and feet and a block or a bolster (aka firm, supportive cushion) under your hips. Investigate options to make this better for your body, for example a rolled towel under the tops of your feet/ankle joint could make all of the difference you need. If you’re committed to sitting upright during meditation but feel like your spinal and core muscles aren’t supporting a tall, long torso, try leaning your back up against a wall or sofa. Release yourself from any ideas of what you should do physically because it’s really what happens in the mind and emotions more than your physical position that’s important during mediation. 2. Choose a space that’s free from outside distractions. This can pose an additional challenge for some, especially now that families and households are together at home more. During my personal meditation practice, I’ve found that nature sounds are lovely - not too distracting but just enough to block out the sounds of neighbors doing yard work and dogs barking. You may learn that gentle music or complete silence works better for you. If you aren’t able to set up in a quiet space, put on your headphones and choose a recording that suits you. There are thousands of recordings of nature and meditation music available on all of the platforms (Youtube, Spotify, apps etc) many of which are also free. Lastly, get yourself some earplugs and tune down all outside noise. 3. Add something simple and positive to focus on. This can be almost anything that brings you a sense of peace. Aromatherapy - spray an essential oil based mist around you and on your shirt or have a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers nearby. Repeat a mantra to yourself, such as Om. Have an affirmation in mind that you can return to anytime you find your mind wandering. A visual of a beautiful place you’ve visited or would like to visit someday. Once you’re ready with your comfortable set up, set a timer for yourself. If you’re just beginning to meditate, 5 minutes is a good start. If your timer goes off and you feel like you were ‘in the zone,’ set it for another 5 or 10 minutes. How long you meditate isn’t as important as making it a regular practice. Something that you can come to do each day, no matter how long or short of a duration it lasts. There are days when I find myself meditating in my car while I wait for a friend to arrive. Work towards a longer duration when you feel ready to do so. Final reminders about meditating: You can not do it ‘wrong’ or be 'bad' at it You will not reach enlightenment after a week or even months of practice It’s not possible to stop your thoughts or ‘turn off’ your mind Allow thoughts to arrive, as they naturally will, and acknowledge the thought so you can release it and continue with your practice Be patient with yourself, this is something to practice, not perfect Namaste, Christine