Winner Winner!

After an incredibly scientific drawing that consisted of: 
"Honey, pick a number between 1-12." 
"Four." 
"Thanks Honey."

We have a winner!!

Lucky number 4 was my good friend Cathy! So... Miss Cathy... let's talk! Cathy gets to choose one of the products that Oak Tree Apothecary offers which includes a tincture, bath salt, tea, mist spray, or flower essence! 

Congrats Cathy!

A new drawing will happen at the end of May. <--- Starting a tradition! I look forward to seeing you all there! 


Happy Weekend!
~Birdie

Sweepstakes!

In a shameless effort to build a following I am giving away something free! Yep! You heard me: 

FREE!!!!

Yes... free.  


The Catch:


All you have to do is click "Follow" under the "Keep Tabs" header on the right side of the blog. 

Somewhere over there ----------->

The Picking:


I will do a random number drawing. The name that coincides with the number on my "Followers" list will be the winner! The winner will be announced in a blog post on Saturday. Must enter by Friday, 11:59PM (Pacific Standard Time) to be considered. 


The Prize:


A tincture, mist spray, or 8 oz. bath salt of the winner's choice! Cool, right!? 

Best of luck Followers!!
~Birdie

Medicinal Roots - Week 1 Response

Question:
Here's a question straight from my facebook status:
I've been having throbbing headaches the last few days. I'm concerned that it is associated with a spider bite I got camping this weekend but I JUST started getting cramps so I now believe it has to do with PMS. It's very strange though, I have never had headaches with my menstrual cycle until this month. I do however, get terrible cramps that have been diminishing with the use of my birth control, although I'm bad about taking it every day at the same time.
What home remedies do you have for my PMS symptoms?


Answer:
If this is a new birth control pill that you have been prescribed, your headaches are likely coming from this. Your cramps may be less severe, but your headaches will likely become more frequent, especially pre-menstural. It is the curse that comes with the Pill. I had similar difficulties; painful, debilitating headaches the last 2-3 days before my period. I stopped taking the pill a month ago and my first cycle came and went with only 1 headache. I am hoping that next month I won't have any headaches since the chemicals from the drug will be out of my system. Since then, I have started working with a chemical free/natural way of preventing pregnancy that is widely used throughout the Catholic Church (I stumbled upon it during some personal research.) As for you, be sure to eat plenty of food that is rich in nutrients and iron. Also - try taking your pill every night just before you go to bed. This will help with timing - although timing won't cause any issues other than forgetfulness. If your symptoms continue, contact me and we will look deeper into your personal constitution (your chemical/bodily make-up). 


Iron Rich Foods:

• Red meat (Yes I just said red meat)
• Eggs - their yolks particularly
• Spinach
• Turkey
• Beans, lentils
• Artichokes
• Apricots

To help the Iron be better absorbed into your body, pair it with Vitamin C. 

Vitamin C Rich Foods:

• Bell Peppers
• Strawberries
• Broccoli
• Tomato
• Oranges

It is amazing how much our diet can affect our entire system. By making sure you are absorbing the proper amount of nutrients, especially during menstruation, we are able to exist pain and ailment free on a daily basis.

Herbal supplements you might want to try:

Cramping:

• Red Clover Tea
• Chamomile Tea
• Peppermint Tea
• Red Clover, Chamomile, Peppermint Tincture
• Cayenne Pepper ointment applied externally to lower stomach area.

Headaches:

• Skullcap, Peppermint, Feverfew Tea - or -
• Skullcap, Peppermint, Feverfew tincture (Availably for purchase May 1st)

PMS Mood Swings:

• Hawthorne and Motherswort Tincture (Also available May 1st)

Try this recipe to get a good dose of Iron and Vitamin C Rich foods:

Stuffed Bell Peppers:

Ingredients:

4-6 Bell Peppers (any color)

1/2 cup brown rice

1/4 finely chopped broccoli

1/3 cup corn

1/3 cup chopped spinach

1/2 lb. ground beef (preferably grass fed, locally purchased)

1/2 cup chopped tomatoes

1 cup black beans

1/2 chopped yellow onion (optional)

1 lemon

16 oz marinara sauce

• Cook brown rice until tender. Preheat oven to 350*.
• Cut tops off of bell peppers and de-seed. Cut stem out of top of pepper, save top. Place peppers in a casserole dish.
• Combine onion and ground beef in a skillet. Cook until browned.
• Combine broccoli, corn, spinach, tomatoes, beans, and cooked onion and beef into a bowl. Pour marinara sauce into the bowl and mix. Squeeze lemon juice into the bowl, mix.
• Stuff bell peppers with the mix. 
• Cook in oven for 45 minutes.

Vegetables will still be crunchy, but this is a good thing. Crunch means vitality, vitality means life. We want to eat live foods, not dead ones to harvest as much nutrients out of them as possible.

If you add crumbled goat cheese on top... mmmm! 

Keep me posted,
~ Birdie

Medicinal Roots - Week 1

Well Hello there!


I was inspired by an old friend this evening to begin a new weekly blog posting and I am so excited to get it started!


Ask me a question, list a concern, or curiosity regarding your health or the health of someone you know in the comments of the Monday night blog post titled "Medicinal Roots". I will pick the question I am best able to answer and post the answer during the week with a holistic, natural health approach. 


Questions can be regarding headaches, stiff joints, emotional stuckness, stress, fears... basically they can be anything pertaining to your health! This means physical, emotional, spiritual... the whole works!


I might ask a lot of questions in my answer to help you think through to find your own answers. I might remain broad in a general response to connect with a larger audience. Or I might dig deep and give a really specific answer. It all depends on the topic! So give it a shot, what is there to lose? All names will remain as confidential as I can make it - don't want to ask your question in the comment box? 

Email me at: Oaktreeapothecary@gmail.com

I look forward to your questions and am excited by your interests in your health and how to reach your fullest potential! 

Cheers,

~Birdie

Spontaneous Nuptials

I started a fun, very sentimental project this week after a very special occasion this last Wednesday night (4/20/2011). Beau and I, in a very small ceremony of two witnesses, exchanged vows in a lifelong commitment to one another. That is... we got married!! It was a fun dash to the alter with a week to prepare and two very close friends in support. Whitney was an amazing whirlwind of creativity, acting as our wedding planner, photographer, stylist, make-up artist, hair stylist, florist, maid of honor, and witness. (Did I forget anything? Probably.) Her husband, Matt, joined us as well and was a wonderful support for us acting as best man, our second witness, and chauffeur. They were amazing. (THANK YOU GUYS!!) We couldn't have done it without them.

After fun photos, a beautiful and quick ceremony, and dinner with Matt and Whitney; Beau and I escaped home to relax for the evening. I unwrapped my bouquet that Whitney had so expertly put together, and placed it in some water. Now, personally, I am terrible at drying flowers myself and I rarely find an appropriate use for them so I felt in somewhat of a conundrum; How could I preserve this moment and experience without making it look horrible or wasteful? Then it struck me.... I could make a flower essence! Stroke of genius... I must admit. 

Throughout the day of a wedding so much attention is paid to the bride's bouquet. So much love and positive intent surrounds the bouquet and so many caring, happy hands hold it. What better way to capture that energy than to harvest the bouquet's essence?! 

So I set out to work.

Giant jar, halfway filled with purified water.

Snipped off a few of each of the different flowers
 allowing them to plop into the water.

Inside the jar.

I let it sit out overnight to soak up the energy of the moon.

Then I let it sit out in the sun to soak up the day's energy as well. 

I removed the flowers with a metal spoon.

You can see that the water is pink now. 

After removing all of the flowers and their little pieces from the water, I filled the jar with 80 proof vodka to preserve the "mother essence" an equal amount to the water. This Mother Essence should last us the next 20 years... and when we run out? We renew our vows, make another bouquet, and thus... another essence! 


I love this idea because of the simplicity of it, but also the usefulness of it. I will use this essence in my cooking, we will take drops of it when we are feeling low or down... or when we just can't seem to see eye to eye. We will apply it to our children (when that day comes) to calm them.... we will use it anywhere we feel there is a need for an extra dose of love. It is perfect. 


I encourage all brides to consider this idea for their bouquets. I made a large amount, but even a 16 oz mason jar will last years when diluted correctly. See my previous post regarding how to make flower essences and their proper dosages HERE. 


Happy Wedding Planning,
~ Mrs. Birdie

Mist Sprays

Keep your eyes peeled for healing mists soon to be available as well!

~Birdie

Medicinal Tinctures

(Well... let me be the first to admit that I am terrible at this whole "write everyday" thing. Terrible. But I'm writing now.... so let's move on.)


I'm excited to report that on May 1st I will have my first batch of medicinal tinctures available through Oak Tree Apothecary. 

Feverfew, Hawthorne, Turmeric, Cayenne

To start, I chose three important herbal combinations... and I have yet to come up with creative, trendy names for them... so bear with me. 

Hawthorne and Motherswort - This amazing concoction is a heart protector and healer, blood pressure stabilizer (if high, it will lower; if low, it will raise), heart rate relaxant, anxiety and stress buster, and mood swings/PMS neutralizer! Taken orally. Perfect on so many levels. 

Yep... I can't spell.. it's ok- that's what autocorrect is for.

Turmeric- King of the "Anti's" - This plant is unbelievable... a true blessing of nature. Click HERE to see a list of all its medicinal uses and therapeutic actions. To name a few: Anti-tumor, thyroid strengthener, anti-bacterial, antioxidant, blood purifier, adrenal support, and liver cleansing.  Caution: Do not take while using any blood thinning medications. 

Skullcap, Feverfew, and Peppermint - Headache and migraine relief! Taken orally. Can be massaged into the temples. Excellent pain relief for those chronic and sometimes head aches. (Also great for bug bites when applied topically.)

Cayenne - (Available May 6th) - Anti-inflammatory, blood pressure stabilizer, heart healer, first aide miracle worker! Great for colds/sore throats, cuts, bloody noses, heart problems, heart attacks, menstrual cramps, ulcers, blood pressure, to stop bleeding, and so much more! 

My favorite photo... frozen jar from ice cold vodka.

I will be sure to let you know when the tinctures available and have been posted... May 1st and May 6th. See you then!


Happy Healing,
~ Birdie

Home

There is a place where love flows strong. Where the embrace of the trees and the soft grass warms you on the coldest of Autumn days. There is a place where the river speaks to you and the birds fly with a careless freedom. A place where you can almost hear the rumble of the ocean in the distance. Frogs and crickets resound in harmony in the Spring's evening and the frozen dew crunches underfoot in the Winter. 


Home. 

Home can mean many things to each of us. There is the classic "Home is where the heart is" or the faded memory of a backyard swing from childhood. We remember the faces and the noises of home. The streets that wind their way to the house we grew up in. The swimming hole we spent our summers. The Post Man who brought you letters. We are lucky to have these memories. Memories we all too often take for granted in our busy lives. I am reminded of this every day, with gratitude, because of my job working with foster children. There are some people who don't have memories of a home. Of faces and noises. Of a post man or swimming hole. Their memories are lost, tucked behind a darker scene that often times replays in their minds. Questions override statements of childhood truths. Questions and uncertainty. I am thankful to have been blessed with the memories and knowledge, the safety and excitement that I had when I was a child. I am thankful to know that no matter where my life's journey has brought me thus far, there is still more adventure to come. I am one of the lucky ones. 

I hold these memories close to my heart and cherish each and every one of them. I remember the babysitter I had when I was a toddler and the porcelain doll I broke while at her house. I remember the swing in her backyard and the flowers that danced in the wind next to her house. I remember my elementary school, so majestic and historic. The play ground and the fields. The frozen morning milk. I remember the trees. There were so many trees. Pine and oak. Cedar and Spruce. The dogwood tree in the front yard at my mother's house that I used to climb. The blossoms were heavenly. The walnut tree in my father's backyard that we also climbed. There is the river, all the rivers. So much water. The ocean not too far away. The sand and the warm breeze from over the horizon. The candy. Oh how I have missed the ocean and the forests. These, above all else, remind me of home. The waterfalls and the moss. I have never felt alone while exploring the many trails. The rushing water, the swaying trees. Always have I had companions in my journeys. I have missed my ancient friends.

There are many eager faces awaiting me at home. My parents, my grandparents, my friends. Faces that, although weathered by time in these last 7 years, will always be familiar and welcoming to me. There are no words here.


Today we received incredible news. We will be going home. Beau received a job offer from a community college in Oregon. He starts this Fall. 

Beau will work here.

View of Umpqua River from his campus.

The river that runs through the town.

Fish ladder. Look at those trees!

Sometimes there will be sunshine.

I would like to live here. Thank you.

I'm coming home.


~Birdie

Because I was.

Birthday Getaway

No, no, no... I'm not shooing my birthday away - did you read my last post? I am very excited about turning 25. I'm beginning to feel like a genuine adult now. As mentioned before, I am looking to celebrate this year and make it memorable as I feel that turning 25 has lots of reasons to warrant remembrance. So to start off that resolution, I want to go here:

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Amazing, right?! I already have Beau convinced that THIS is where we have to go. This is Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona, Arizona. I had no idea Arizona could be so undeniably gorgeous?!?! I was so blind! But blind I am no more! 


The cabin pictured is part of Forest Houses Resort; 14 cabins located on 20 wooded acres high in Oak Creek Canyon, this place is a nature-lover's heaven and a city dwellers safe haven! With no TVs, phones, computers or internet, and NO cell phone reception we will truly be in paradise, shut off from the world, away from the busy-ness of life. I cannot wait! What an incredible experience this will be and it isn't expensive either! The cabins range from sleeping 1-5 and you can bring your pets! (Although we will likely leave Izzie-bot with her Grammy and Grampy so that we parents don't have to worry.) 


The cabin we are looking at, a little studio with a gas fireplace, shower, and full kitchen, and a deck that over looks a spring, is only $95 a night... YES PLEASE! 


We will cook our own meals, go on hikes, play in the water, meditate, lay out under the trees, get lost in the woods and eachother, and enjoy every breath-taking minute.


Of course... now that I have this plan, I think to myself... it would be such a shame to go to such a beautiful place, commune with nature, enjoy some long overdue dirt-rehab, and not have a proper camera to document it all... hmmmm...  so about that birthday list... I think I found my first wish.


Birthday Planning,
~Birdie


*Note: All photos were borrowed from other websites. Click on "Source" under the photos to see where I got them from.*

Thoughts, Ideas, and Plans - Oh My!

In one of my SWIHA classes (yes, I pretty much live there and am oh so very happy to!) we talked about blogs. We brainstormed and went over a few blogging techniques to help the blog be in tip-top shape. One of the suggestions for proper blogging etiquette was to blog every day... this does NOT seem like an easy task to me as I typically only blog when I have something important, valuable, nonsensical, or educational for my whopping 6 Followers to enjoy... I try not to bog down this blog with every day rantings or inspirations, philosophies or whimsies because I want you to get the good stuff, the pulp, the pertinent information. BUT I am willing to give it a try. So that is my first Thought. I am going to try to start blogging more often, even if I don't have a huge project or update, etc. To start, I am going to write about things that caught my attention throughout the day and go from there. Wish me luck!


My Idea is this- it is April. My birthday is in June. That's 2 months to start thinking about things. Usually I am not big into my birthdays because, honestly and perhaps shockingly, I don't like being in the spotlight. It makes me feel selfish. (That's a long story.) So I typically let my birthday pass without making a big hub-bub about it, no party, no presents, no cake, etc. It's just another day. BUT I am willing to give it a try. After all, it is my 25th birthday which to me is very important. This marks a Quarter of a Century on this beautiful Earth. This means I am half way to 50! This means that I am half way through my 20's which means I am almost 30 and officially not a "young 20-something". This is a big day and is worthy of celebration. With that said, I think I am going to start a birthday list. I have a few wants and desires that sure would be the Bee's-knees if I could get them on such a momentous occasion. They would really be a great way to embark on the next 75+ years of my life! (YES! I do intend to live so long!) The birthday list will follow in a later blog once I get a chance to put it together. Keep an eye out. It should be a good one.

Ok, ok... maybe no fireworks.

I need to write down a list of blogs I want to create and share. There are so many subjects I could put on that list, it is silly. Really really silly. So many many things. I better start writing them down. I've learned recently that I need to stop living in my mind so much and start listening to that voice inside me (my intuition). I need to start following my heart and letting the Universe take the lead - I have control issues sometimes. Here's the Plan... I'm going to stop trying to control where my life ends up. I'm going to stop planning so many years in advance (yes, I have a 10, 20, and 30 year plan.) I'm going to be spontaneous again, if I haven't forgotten how. I'm going to allow adventure to happen and I am going to take full advantage of the opportunities that come my way. 


Let's put it this way: If Life is a Horse then the reigns that control the Horse control Life as well. If I hold on to the reigns I can direct the Horse to go anywhere I want it to go. It has not choice. That is how I have been running my life as of late. Complete control. If I drop the reigns and let the Horse take control, chaos would surely ensue. There would be no direction or containment. The Horse would run amuck. If I hand the reigns over to the Universe and instead I pick up a carrot on a stick and stretch the stick out in front of the horse so that the carrot then dangles just out of reach, I now I have direction and intent - "I would like to go this way" - but the Horse still has a choice. The Horse can choose if he wants to chase the carrot or if he wants to go left instead of right. With this intent I can direct the path of my life, but I don't have complete control... and I am becoming increasingly OK with that. 

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And so I say: 

"I would rather have a carrot on a stick then a hold of the reigns." 

My new mantra. I think it is fitting... especially when you know what the heck I'm talking about. 

Letting Life Begin,

~ Birdie