Sunkissed Infusions :: Herbal Teas for Health, Happiness & Energy

Herbal teas, or infusions, have wonderful healing powers. I've found a new love for tea since I started my journey to a more self-sustainable and natural lifestyle.
Drinking an infusion of specially selected herbs can be a great remedy for anything from a headache to a cold to menstrual cramps. You can drink them to promote general health and ward off colds and other sickness. Or you can simply make and drink them for their delightful and lovely look and taste. 

Here's 4 different infusions that I made recently for an Open House I hosted for my natural skin care business. Some were more popular than others (as far as taste).
I invite you to try these, or versions of these! I also invite you to research these herbs. I'd look into Mountain Rose Herbs, a well respected company that has in depth information and sells of all of these and A LOT more.
If you are pregnant, breast feeding or have a serious health issue,
be sure to contact your doctor before using any herbs. 

• ROSE (Rosa spp.) + HIBISCUS (Hibiscus sabdariffa) + LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis) - This was a favorite!
  Lifts the spirit and promotes good health and positive energy
• YARROW (Achillea millefoleum) + RASPBERRY LEAF (Rubus idaeus) + GREEN TEA
   Energizes and boosts immunity
• NETTLE LEAF (Urtica dioica) + CALENDULA (Calendula officinalis) + PEPPERMINT (Mentha spp.)
  Helps relieve hay fever, congestion & colds
• LAVENDER (Lavendula spp.) + LEMON BALM (Melissa officinalis) + CHAMOMILE (Matriaca chamomilla) + BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)
  Helps relieve headaches and stress

For the above infusions, I prepared them like this:

•  one part each herb (totally about 6-8 tbsp dried herbs, 8-10 for fresh herbs)
• put herbs into a quart size (or larger) glass jar with a tight fitting lid
• fill the jar with boiling water (should completely cover the herbs)
• let sit for 20-30 minutes (the longer they sit, the stronger they will be, and their taste can change dramatically)
• strain herbs into a clean glass container, with a muslin cloth (best so you can squeeze out extra infusion) or a fine mesh strainer
• finally, enjoy a cup hot or iced- with honey, lemon, milk, agave, or all of these!
• You can pour the remaining infusion into a clean container and put in the refrigerator where it will keep for a couple of days

Another way to create a lovely and medicinal tea is to simply use a teapot with a filter in it, fill a reusable tea bag with your chosen herbs, or place the herbs right into the teapot if you like the way the beautiful herbs & flowers look floating around!
I usually use my glass teapot that I got on this page - or this one. 

Fill it with about an ounce of dried herbs (2 oz for fresh) and 12-16 oz water, bring to a gentle boil, let sit for 20 minutes, strain into your teacup, then enjoy!

If you don't have these herbs handy or can't get them at a store near you (check your local health food store), I'd suggest purchasing them here or here.

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HAPPY INFUSING!
Until next time, keep dreaming. xo

Sunkissed Quotes :: John Muir

Beautiful words from John Muir on this Thursday afternoon.
If you ever want to read beautiful things about our beautiful, natural world, get one of his books or look up his quotes on google.
Photo is from my spot on the beach yesterday- my husband and I snuck away for the morning to Santa Cruz. I did yoga on the beach for the first time - it was amazing and I wish I could do yoga on the beach EVERYDAY! 

Have a beautiful and fun Labor Day Weekend, dreamers!
Until next time, xoxo

Sunkissed Recipe :: Super Seed Coconut Granola

I love granola....on my yogurt, on my smoothies, as a cereal, on a hike, or just shoving a handful in my mouth when I'm feelin' hungry. It's so good as a snack or for breakfast, I just love it. 

I've been wanting to make my own granola for a while now, and finally got around to it! I've saved a few different recipes from Pinterest and kinda just picked and chose (did that sound weird?) from them to create my own granola divine! My husband loves a good bowl of cereal, so when he tried this and loved it, I really knew I was on to something.

Honestly, it's not complicated at all, so I'm really over-talking myself here....ha. It just takes a few extra minutes in the seed & grains aisle at your local grocery store to stock up on all the necessary ingredients. By making this yourself, you know exactly what's in it and aren't being fooled by healthy looking packaging that may contain a product with an excess of sugar, preservatives and processed ingredients!

Why your body will love what's in this:

• hemp seed (a super food) is an amazing source of protein, that's easily broken down by your body
• pumpkin seeds have free-radical fighting antioxidants, and contain zinc which is essential to a healthy immune system
• these seeds also contain many essential fatty acids, including Omega 3 & 6
• full of hearth healthy ingredients, including almonds
• coconut flakes and oil are also full of good fats, helps prevent high cholesterol and high blood pressure
• oats are always a delicious and healthy food, high in fiber and great for regulating digestion, keeping you "full" and boosting your immune system

Here's the recipe, it's really fun to make! 
This makes a large amount that will last you a while. You can half the recipe if you don't want or need a lot.

INGREDIENTS (try to buy organic if you can)

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup hemp seeds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1 1/2 cups coconut flakes (unsweetened)
• 1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit of your choice)
• 1 tsp cinnamon powder
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 2/3 cup raw honey 
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 275' F.
• Pour all dry ingredients into a large bowl and mix well. Set aside.
• In a pyrex or other heat safe measuring cup, add wet ingredients together.
• Place cup in a pot of simmering water, while stirring, until all wet ingredients have melted & mixed well together.
• Drizzle the liquid mixture over your dry ingredients and mix together well! (You can sample it here!)
• After everything is fully combined, pour granola onto a large baking sheet.
• Place into the heated oven for 35-45 minutes, until golden and slightly crispy. Every 10-15 minutes mix the granola around on the pan so it cooks evenly.
• Remove from oven and let cool completely. 
• Transfer to an air-tight container (after you eat some), where it should last a few weeks if kept in a cool, dry place.

ENJOY!!
Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Beauty :: Aloe Vera aka Goddess Juice

ALOE VERA // aloe barbadensis miller
in latin :: true shining bitter substance

photo via firstmatephoto

I'm always trying new mixtures, herbs and concoctions on my face & body. There's so many wonderful earthly creations for your face and skin, I feel like I could use something different everyday for the rest of my life!
 Lately, my skin has not been very nice to me, so I had to switch up what I have been doing for the last couple months. I read an interview of Megan Cannon on livingprettynaturally.com, where she said she has been using aloe vera on her face, neck & chest as a moisturizer every morning for the past 10 years. I never really thought to use aloe as a moisturizer each day...brilliant! Here's why:

+ aloe is 99% water so it gives your skin a TON of moisture

+ it contains a plethora of vitamins (A, C & E), antioxidants, minerals and enzymes

+ helps fight inflammation

+ contains properties that increase collagen content, soften skin, binds moisture to the skin, and tightens pores --- anti-aging goldmine.

I started using it each morning after my cleanser and toner, and it feels great. Moisturizing but not greasy at all, which is especially great in summer time. I encourage you try it out if you're looking for something different and all together BETTER for your beautiful skin. Let your epidermis drink this goddess juice.

Be careful which brand you get, as with anything, some are way better quality than others. The brand I have (click here to get some), doesn't leave my face feeling sticky and is from organically grown aloe vera plants. I usually pour a small amount in a little jar to use for about a week then keep the rest in the fridge, so it stays good longer.

my big mama in the backyard

I also found this delicious cocktail recipe on hellonatural.co that calls for aloe, cucumber & mint leaves :: so good! The possibilities are endless with this "shining bitter substance". 

Until next time. xoxo

ps: much of the "scientific info" I have here came from this article.

Sunkissed Ingredients :: Herbal Infused Salt Scrubs

My latest sunkissed product(s)! I have 3 different salt scrubs, all infused with beautiful sunkissed herbs and flowers for extra nourishing, healing and soothing benefits for your skin AND your senses. These hand crafted body scrubs all have different scents, ingredients and benefits :: and are all natural & organic.
 I hope you can try one or all of them!

BUENOS DIAS :: with mint, rosemary and eucalyptus, grapeseed oil and essential oils. 

+ smells minty fresh
+ great for morning time to wake up & energize
+ grapeseed oil protects while sea salt exfoliates
+ mint & rosemary cleanse and detoxify
+ all organic ingredients

BUENAS NOCHES :: with lavender, roses and chamomile flowers, olive oil & essential oils 

+ smells floral with hints of lavender & geranium

+ great for evening time or when you want to unwind and calm your skin

+ helps alleviate troubled or inflamed skin

+ olive oil nourishes & protects 

+ sea salt exfoliates & polishes

+ herbs and essential oils give nutrients, soothe & smell heavenly

+ organic ingredients

RICA SUAVE :: with calendula, comfrey leaf & safflower, olive oil and essential oils

+ smells strongly of lavender & slightly citrus

+ healing properties of all 3 herbs work well on irritated skin or rashes (be gentle with the scrub if you do have irritated skin)

+ high quality, cold pressed olive oil nourishes and protects

+ himalayan salt is full of minerals and nutrients that will soak into your skin 

+ all organic and natural ingredients

Don't ever discount the importance of taking time for yourself, to relax, unwind, treat yourself to beautiful and healthy products and indulge your skin in sunkissed goodness. The beauty and calmness will flow into your everyday life and give you more energy and positivity for work, tasks, family and other priorities and responsibilities.

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed DIY :: Energizing Salt Scrub

I've been working on some new products for my skin care line this past week - herbal salt scrubs! I'll have them available in my shop within the next week hopefully! 

 There's endless options for scrubs :: salt, sugar, brown sugar, honey, herbs, clay, essential oils, fruit, veggies....& many more. The kind I'm focusing on are for your body and use sea salt or himalayan pink salt & organic oils as a base.

So since I'm on this salt scrub kick, I wanted to share a simple and delightful recipe with you. This particular one is great for morning time in the shower to get you energized and ready for the day! It's really not necessary to use soap or body wash every time you shower, as it can dry out your skin. Just using this scrub (or another similar scrub) cleanses and exfoliates in a natural and gentle way.

HERE'S THE RECIPE ::

This will make about 2 applications for your whole body, so you can double or triple it if you want to make a larger batch.

INGREDIENTS

+ 3 tbsp mediterranean sea salt (fine ground) 

+ 1 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil (this helps soften & nourish your skin, while the salt is removing dead skin)

+ 1/4 lemon, squeezed

DIRECTIONS

+ In a small bowl, mix up the salt & oil first, then squeeze in the lemon juice and stir again. If you find that it's still too dry, add more lemon juice or oil. 

+ Keep in mind, you don't want the scrub to be too moist, because then the oil & salt will separate AND you'll get your shower floor really slippery.

+ Once you have that nice consistency, you can transfer your mixture into a small glass jar, or if you're going to use it right away - just take the bowl to the shower!

// TO USE /

+ Scoop scrub onto damp hands to moisten mixture a little more.

+ Gently massage into damp skin. Don't rub too hard or you'll damage your skin's protective layer (and your skin will get really red). 

+ Spend extra time on your elbows, feet and knees. Don't forget about your hands! This works great on callouses and dry fingers and hands.

+ You should start to see water beading up on your skin - that's the olive oil working!

+ It's not necessary to moisturize after using this - so this scrub accomplishes a few steps of your morning (or evening) ritual!

There you have it. I hope you enjoy this scrub and try experimenting with your own combinations! Using only all natural & sunkissed ingredients on your skin feels so wonderful and your body will thank you for it, now...and in the long run.

Until next time. xoxo

Sunkissed Dream :: the STOCKMARKET :: Craft Fair Tips

Last Saturday I sold for the first time at a maker's market//artisan fair. It was so much fun! So much work...but so much fun. Once I had everything there and set up - ready to go, it was really just about talking to people about my products and enjoying the atmosphere. It's so nice to share my creations in real life and have some face to face contact with potential customers...instead of just through my online shop.
I got to walk around a bit (since I had my little sister there helping me) and met a lot of lovely people and other vendors. My husband showed up later after he got off work, which was wonderful! He's so supportive and encouraging. 

So, I just wanted to share a few photos of my booth set up, along with a few things I learned from being a first-time vendor. I definitely learned a lot as I went throughout the day and feel like I will be way more prepared next time around. 

+ People love to sample and love things that they can take with them (i.e.: flyers/stickers/business cards/etc). Making those things easily accessible & easily seen for your customers or potential customers is important. 

+ If you do have samples or candles, have them already open for the customer to smell or try. It's more inviting and people will feel more comfortable sampling it, if it's already open for them.

+ Having a little flyer or postcard with extra information about your products & mission is great. It lets people know more about your story and gives them something to take home that will remind them about your products and your business. I just basically took some paragraphs from my About Page & Home Page of my website and put it onto a half page flyer with some nice photos and my contact info. People seemed to really like it!

+ Make sure you have a sign with your business name & what you're selling. I used an old window frame from an antique store and made a kind of simple but pretty sign that is consistent with my website and packaging. It just lets visitors know right away who you are and what they can find at your booth. Plus, if you put a logo on it, that will really help people to remember you!

+ Most people, I found, liked to just look around at my products on their own, and I just told them to let me know if they had questions. I did always make sure to say a sincere & friendly "hello" or "how are you" so I didn't seem rude. If customers feel like you're trying really hard to sell them something, they might not feel comfortable looking around that long. You can feel out a person, if they seem chatty, then talk them up! If not, just let them come to you.

+ Even if someone who seemed interested doesn't buy anything that day, they can find you online or see you at the next fair! I got a few online sales from people I met that day.

+ Make sure your prices are evident. Either price each item or make a sign with a list of prices nearby the items. People don't like asking "how much is this?" You can also lose sales that way.

+ Keep your products high. I noticed that the few products I had down on lower shelves or tables (lower than my main table height) didn't get that much attention or sales. Visitors go for what they can easily see. 

+ Keep your products organized or categorized, similar to your website or online shop. This may not work for all types of vendors, but since I had my beauty products and candles, I just separated everything into how I have it in my Etsy shop. I made signs for "Cleanse," "Moisturize," "Heal", "Soy Candles", etc. It gives customers somewhere to start and may help them find what they are looking for much easier. 

+ Be nice and friendly with your fellow vendors. Go visit their booths and ask about their products & creations. Introduce yourself, swap business cards, and maybe even trade products (I got a few products that way)! I learned a lot from talking to other vendors and found out about other market opportunities and just had some great conversations in general. Making connections is the best (and most fun) part of the whole thing, so don't stay cooped up in your booth the whole time!

+ HAVE FUN. Don't fret about sales, they will come to you. And even if you don't sell that much, you'll learn something and be even more prepared for the next time. 

The STOCKMARKET was a wonderful event! It is the second one they've had and it's only getting bigger. If you're in or around Central California on September 12 (the next event), it is definitely worth checking out - as a visitor or a vendor! They had about 60 vendors, great food trucks, mimosas, beer, live music, places to sit and hang out and indoor and outdoor areas.

My little sis and I all ready for the day. PS: that's a Mara Hoffman dress I'm wearing! Got it on Rent the Runway. If you haven't checked that website out, do it!!

Until next time. xoxo