Sometimes I feel like I have lived twenty lives. What some of you may not know about me is I used to be a bartender. It was my night job before I was married and had kids. While I don’t miss working at night and weekends, I do miss the daily contact with some real interesting individuals. I remember I had a regular customer who would come in every week with a new joke. I really looked forward to seeing him because I always knew that no matter how my day was going I was sure to have a good laugh.  I love to laugh, and to me, people ~must~ have a sense of humor or you will probably won’t last around me too long because I am laughing quite a bit.

I love storytelling and I also love to read quotes. A good quote to me is like good natural medicine, it just takes a bit to change your mood into a new direction.

I thought it would be fun to add some quotes about joy and happiness. Do you have some favorites? Add them in the comments. Also feel free to tweet these or facebook them if you like them!

1. “Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product” Eleanor Roosevelt

2. “The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; The wise grows it under his feet” James Oppenheim

3. “The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts” Timothy Dwight

4. “From contentment with little comes happiness” African proverb

5.” Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have” Hyman Judah Schachtel

6. “Cultivate more joy by arranging your life so that more joy will be likely” Georgia Witkin

7. “Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens” Andy Rooney

8. “The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one has to do” James M Barrie

9. ” Our brightest blaszes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks” Samuel Johnson

10. “In things pertaining to enthusiasm, no man is sane who does not know how to be insane on proper occasions” Henry Ward Beecher

Hello everyone! I will make this short and sweet:) I have created a new newsletter called Vitality Infusion- just for women who are in need for some self care and a good old fashioned pick me up. I will be sharing some of my favorite recipes (both food and herbal), holistic health tips, and even some easy tips to help you stay vital when it comes to your body, beauty and overall health.

So grab a glass of your favorite beverage (wine, tea or what every you like) and let’s say cheers to a more vital life!

As always, I will be available via email for questions any time.

The green subscribe box is to your left … I hope you can join us!

Warmly, Angie

Making a Small Tincture Press…. for less than 25 bucks!

Tired of squeezing out your tinctures with your bare hands?

A tincture press is not only easier on the hands, but it yields you more product, saving you money and eliminating waste.

This Method requires no welding or special tools of any kind!

1. Buy a large C-Clamp at a
hardware store (cost anywhere from $6.00 to $15.00)- or you may already have one of these in your garage.

2. Find or buy a stainless steel canister from
the restaurant supply store (or local second hand store) that will fit between the jaws of the C-Clamp. Buy the C-Clamp first, and take it with you to the store to make sure the canister will fit.

3. Get any piece of material, steel or plastic that will
support the base of the canister, as it sets upon the lower C-Clamp jaw, so that the canister won’t cave in when you begin to
clamp down on your tincture bag inside the canister. ~A small round cutting board or piece of wood~

4. You will need a round disk, which will just fit inside the mouth of the
canister (a lid works for this) so it may freely travel down the throat of the canister.

4. Have a cloth jelly strainer bag or cheesecloth big enough to fit
inside the canister

To make tincture:

A. Place the strainer bag into the canister.

B. Pour your mixture into the bag- fold the top of the bag over (or twist the cheesecloth),
and place the disk on top of the bag.

C. Place the canister in the C-Clamp with the supporting plate underneath.
D. Begin to screw the C-Clamp down. This will press the disk down on the bag. When it is as tight as you can get it, turn over the tincture press and pour your tincture into a wide mouthed bowl- continue to screw the C-Clamp down until you can turn it no
further, allowing the tincture to pour into the bowl. When you can turn it no further, you may let it sit and continue to drip the tincture into the bowl.

 
*canister size is important. The larger the square inches, the less pressure you will be applying to the
herbs. A larger canister will be able to do a larger batch of tincture, but it will also produce a slightly smaller yield, because it
will receive less pounds per square inch.

Herbal Energetics is here!

If you are a student of mine you know that sensory awareness is foundational to our work with the plants.

LearningHerbs.com has a free lesson you
can check out….

It covers…

*  using your senses to learn about herbs.

Image via Wikipedia

*  how to match a specific plant to a specific person based on
the primary actions of the herbs.

*  being able to discern the differences season, environment
and subspecies can have on an herb just by tasting it.

*  engaging your primal relationship with the plant world and
nature as a whole through your human senses.

*  learning how to know exactly which herb(s) you want in a
situation rather than having to choose randomly from a long list.

Take your work with herbs to another level and
your abilities to another level.

My good friend John Gallagher goes on a journey to visit
herbalist Kiva Rose…

Check it out!

The course is awesome – I am currently enrolled and would never recommend it if I did not have first hand experience! Kiva Rose has been an awesome mentor of mine over the years and this course is exceptional!

If you do decide to use my link from this page to purchase the whole course at  later date I will be getting a small percent of the sale, thank you so much for your support!

Image via Wikipedia

Well 2012 is here… time  for a change! I no longer teach at Universal Class… but here is the good news, I will be creating more courses right here on Authentic Mama!  I plan on adding both video and audio. Before I start I would like some of your feedback. Anyone who helps me out will receive FREE access to the first course I create- a $150.00 value! Just leave your answers in the comment below and send me a personal email with your preferred contact email (link in the upper right hand corner of the blog). As soon as the course is created I will send you an email with the course log in instructions.

My course will be centered on home herbalism. My goal is to guide you so you can have the confidence to share your knowledge with your family (and community if you wish), and make medicinal plants and wild foods part of your everyday life.

In case you are wondering if one of my classes is worth your time… here is some feedback from a prior student: “What a difference Herbalist 101, and Angie Goodloe made in my life. 1 and 1/2 years ago I was sitting at my accounting desk, taking herbalist 101 tests during my lunch break. Today, I am an artist and Holistic Practitioner, with knowledge in Herbalism, Folk and Food remedies, Supplements and their benefits, (or not), Wellness Coaching, and I have taken a nutrition course as well. To top it off, I am being Yoga cetified on the 19th of this month and my artwork has started to sell very well. This, I credit to the teaching style and wonderful soul of Angie Goodloe. If I had not taken her class first, I do not think I would have continued my education like I did. Of all the classes I have taken thus far, hands down, Herbalist 101 was the best. Angie truly cares, you are not a number, she wants to hear from you always, and instills a confidence in her students. She reads everything you write in your assignments. It is this quality in her that made me continue to educate myself, confident enough to eventually quit my day job, and do this. You will benefit from just know her. Sincerely, Laura Cantrell”

If you haven’t read some of my prior students comments about my courses you can read them HERE.

I envision a world with a family herbalist in every home.

The questions:

1. What is the single biggest fear you have when it comes to engaging in hands-on work with medicinal herbs or collecting wild plants and foods and using  them for yourself, your family, and your community?

2. What is the single biggest frustration you have when it comes to learning how to practice working with medicinal plants and foods at home or with others?

3. What happened as a result of your frustration?

4. What have you tried so far that hasn’t worked (when it comes to learning about how to work with medicinal plants and wild foods- or stepping out to start practicing herbalism in your community)?

5. If you had a magic wand, what would be the ideal solution for you (when it comes to the perfect online learning to help you achieve your goals- more support or mentoring for example… or something else)?

6. What is the single biggest question you have when it comes to practicing home or community herbalism?

7. Are there specific herbal classes you would like me to create with a more narrow focus (for example, herbs for children, herbs for women -postpartum/ pregnancy, Stress/ burnout, first aid etc) Any ideas welcome!

Thank you so much for your time!

*Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates (in the box at the top of the blog with the ‘subscribe/ sign-up’ area).

This offer expires January 31st 2012

Tips for reflection and simplifying your life – create some healthy traditions!

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.  ~Lao Tzu

Get up fifteen minutes earlier and go outside each morning. There is nothing more peaceful than the quiet of early morning. Go outside with your cup of coffee, tea, or herbal infusion and sit in quiet reflection. Think about your day and connect with nature as you listen to the wind, birds, insects, and the sounds of morning. Concentrate on your breathing and do some breathing exercises to help you feel energized and ready to tackle the day. Reserve that special time for yourself each morning and start the day off right.

 Our Family Tradition of Daily Walks…

* If going outside alone every morning seems impossible because you have little ones, take out the stroller. I have a double stroller that I have a rain cover for. We go out rain, shine, wind or snow. We have been able to connect with all of our neighbors this way, they can hardly believe we walk EVERY day so it inspires conversation- and other days barter and trade. My kids have been known to be seen walking back home (stroller full of produce) with a cucumber under each arm after we shared some of our heirloom seeds with our neighbors.  You would be surprised how much wildlife we have here to spite that we live in a suburban neighborhood. We also enjoy watching the domestic animals and their habits- one day we were even stopped by a chicken on the sidewalk! The kids and I also discuss the weather and the seasons year round and when they are in the mood to be silent (which happens at least once during our hour walk)- mama can use this walking time for reconnecting! Other benefits of this include fresh air and exercise- if mama gets cabin fever symptoms (cranky and short) we get outside immediately – even if the weather is bad it is always an adventure … and we feel revived when we return! The great thing about this tradition is the kids now hold mama accountable- what a great way to stick to an exercise routine!

“Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.” ~ Harriet Van Horne

Experience the joys of slow cooking. In this fast paced world it seems everyone touts the benefits of fast food but a new revolution has begin called the slow food movement. It is of course a more healthy way to eat but the real benefit is that you can get back to basics and cook the foods your mother and grandmother may have made and make meal times special in your house again. Create a meal plan each week and though you may spend more time cooking and a bit more money on quality ingredients, you and your family will relish the experience and time together.

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” Julia Child
Have a dinner party. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just make one or two special dishes and have guests mix their own drinks. Sit outside and talk with adults while the kids play. Perhaps you can trade dinner party nights with other families so that at east once a month you have something special and memorable to do.

Artists usually don’t make all that much money, and they often keep their artistic hobby despite the money rather than due to it. -Linus Torvalds

Get a hobby! Start a sewing project or two, take up knitting or crochet, take your camera on a nature walk several times a week, start a scrapbook. Instead of spending time in front of the TV, which will never be very memorable, use some of your free time to create something meaningful. You can even get a head start on a homemade Christmas gift list. Your parents would love to have a scrapbook of the grandkids and your best friend might like a hand knit scarf.

A good book on your shelf is a friend that turns its back on you and remains a friend.  ~Author Unknown

Start a book club. Gather together with some female friends and choose a book to read over a few weeks time. Get together once a week to discuss the pre-assigned chapters and bring finger foods. This gives you an excuse to get together regularly and you get some reading time too. The laughs and great conversations will be treasured memories for years to come.

“Cleaning house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing” Phylis Diller

Start a babysitting co-op for date nights. Most married couples who have small children will tell you they don’t get out alone together much. Do something about that! Get together with 2-3 other couples and make a plan. Perhaps on every third weekend, two of the couples will go out while the remaining couple watches all the kids. Trade off so that each couple gets a regular date night.

With a little planning you can slow the pace of life and find time for the things that mean the most to you.

Related articles

• Slow-Cooker Recipes: Healthy Eating Made Easy (everydayhealth.com)
• Slowing Down Christmas (wrightmatthew.wordpress.com)

Looking for a way to make your nature walks more meaningful for you and your kids (or others interested in plant lore)? I love storytelling,  plant legends and folklore- my other blog The Herbalist’s Path also covers some legends and folklore if you would like to check out more.

This one is a charming old fairy tale about one of my favorite flowers- The buttercup Ranunculus – The botanical name for buttercup is the diminutive of “rana”, which means frog- the buttercup loves to grow in the same habitat frogs prefer.

Image by AnneTanne via Flickr

Although they are not blooming now (we can expect them in early may around the Pacific Northwest) I thought that this bright beauty may cheer you up on a cold winter day.

The tale….

A man was so obsessed with finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow that he had no time for human relationships.

Finally when he was an old man, he did find the pot of gold and tried to hide it, but an elf who followed him cut a hole in the pot so that the gold pieces dropped out one by one.

The fairies  came along and fastened a green stem to each piece of gold so that they would not sink into the earth and get lost.

Because gold had only made the man selfish and unhappy, a good fairy turned all the gold pieces into buttercups which would bring more durable happiness to the world than gold pieces.

Resource: Profiles of Northwest Plants by Peggy Robinson

 More info on Ranunculus

Related articles

• Ranunculus Radiates Charm (funflowerfacts.com)

Sensitive to wheat ?  These flourless treats are really nice, easy and tasty. Don’t forget to check out the article on how to make your own vanilla extract below as well.

Carob Snack Balls

2 cups nuts of your choice (almonds, walnuts, pecans are nice), chopped fine
1/2 cup raw honey
1/2 carob (you can also use cocoa if you prefer)
1 tsp sea salt
1 T. all natural vanilla extract or natural vanilla flavoring (See how to make your own vanilla extract & learn more about the plant here!)

Image via Wikipedia

1 cup grated coconut

Warm honey by placing the jar in a bowl of hot water. Mix honey, carob or cocoa, salt and vanilla and mix well. You can either chop the nuts in a food processor or the blender. Process until finely chopped. Add coconut and pulse until blended. Place in bowl and add cocoa mixture, blending well.

Place greased wax or parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Spread mixture on top. Place in refrigerator until firm, typically several hours. Then form into balls, or cut into small squares.

*I buy my carob and vanilla beans from Mountain Rose Herbs- You can also buy your vanilla extract from there if you are in a hurry or want to skip making it yourself.  Also, if you buy from the above link it is a great way to support authentic mama (I get a small commission if you use the links on the sidebar or in this post to buy your herbal products- it is a great way to get the quality products you need and support this blog at the same time- thanks so much!)

I can’t beat these recipes- check them out! Related articles

• Delicious Dairy-free Carob Mousse (speltforchoice.wordpress.com)
• Cabernet Carob Cake (thedustybaker.com)
• A Reader Recipe: Gluten-Free Vegan Carob Chia Cookies (fitsugar.com)
• A Reader Recipe: Banana-Carob Protein Bars (fitsugar.com)
• I ‘Carob’ About You: Carob Cookie Confections (modcloth.com)

Vegetables & healthy herbs – getting kids interested- and yes they will actually eat them & love it!

1. Let them have their own garden plot either at home or at a community garden (this also encourages physical activity and community connection!) – Community Gardens Toolkit Click here for application in Portland Oregon and Surrounding areas    Or consider a windowsill indoor plant plant garden. Below: Horizon Herbs is a great source for seeds- I use them myself, easy herbs to grow and hey they are on sale right now for the holidays!

Horizon Herbs has an awesome introductory herb kit for children- Plus right now there is a 20% holiday discount!!!

2. Show them & talk about edible wild plants (on sidewalks and roadways- in the woods and fields as well) – kids have always been better at Id’ing plants than most adults I teach, because they lack the fear and are full of curiosity- and they are usually closer to the ground:). * Be sure to make a rule for them to run it by you before they ingest the plant or encourage others to do so however. My kids notice things that I miss everyday on our daily walk ~children are amazing~

3. Don’t let kids think green stuff is bad. That’s right. If everyone in your family eats kale and doesn’t make a big deal out of it, your child won’t realize that anything is amiss. Same goes for herbal remedies- my kids love herbal tea and herbal Tea Popsicles as well!

4. Encourage them to just “Try It” and don’t make a big deal out of it (it doesn’t hurt if you say “hey if you don’t want it I’ll eat it”) .

6. Have a farmers market or grocery store adventure where each person has to pick out a new vegetable to try.  Let them help make the list and have them responsible for gathering these items at the store. This method has a double benefit,  the kids are less likely to act up in the store if they have a special responsibly to contribute to the family.

7. Think of creative ways to cook each veggie- research recipes together. Discuss traditional uses and fun folklore.

Image via Wikipedia

8. For younger children, host a family “color” or “shape” night. Plan ahead and serve foods in that color or shape. Red or Yellow carrots or oddly shaped squash might slide right by when the little one is having fun.

9. Let them cook.- who cares about the mess, the nice thing about house work is it is always there for you when you decide to return to it, so have some fun!  Most kids learn by doing and this is no exception.

10. Let the younger kids cut up some culinary herbs with a pizza slicer / roller. This is fun for them, cuts the herbs up nicely and lets them get involved!

Have any tips of your own? I would love to hear about it-

Image by Plan for Opportunity via Flickr

Post in the comments below!

Related articles

• Indoor Winter Herb Garden (solaceandjoy.wordpress.com)
• Cheap Organic Herbs, Rise of Food-tainment, and Getting Kids to Eat Healthy (thedailymeal.com)

Image via Wikipedia

Looking for the perfect gift for the budding herbalist or herb lover in your family but don’t know where to start? The net can be hard to navigate so here are some offerings from people I trust – awesome traditional herbalists!

Check out the links below!

Kristine’s Herbal Roots zine

2012 Herbal Roots Zine Wall Calender

Herb Mentor Monthly Membership

Plant Healer Magazine

2012 TRADITIONS IN WESTERN HERBALISM CONFERENCE Sept. 13-16 in Arizona’s Beautiful Coconino Forest

Darcey Blue from Blue Turtle Botanicals 2012 Herbal CSA Membership

Ananda’s Lady’s Slipper Ring

Jim Mcdonald’s 3 dvd set

Henriette’s New book Practical Herbs

Blessed Main Herbs Jewelry

Columbines School Of Botanical Studies 27th Annual 2011 First Year Apprenticeship Field Program

Visit and choose from Heather’s Shop MRS THOMPSON’S HERBS GIFTS & FOLKLORE

Encourage them to visit and take advantage of the offerings over at Botany Everyday

Rosalee de la Forêt Children’s Cold and Flu Ebook 

Oh, and if you decide on any of these I will not be getting any small kickback- just sharing the love of what I know to be quality herb (or herbalist made)  information and products- by some of the most awesome herbalist’s I know!

Have some you would like to share- cause I know I didn’t get them all! Leave a comment today!