Shopping Archives - Life, Thoughts & Coffee

March 1, 2015March 1, 2015

otavalo

I’m in Otavalo, Ecuador, a city surrounded by three volcanoes; it’s a vibrant city, with a 70% indigenous population, and I want to add, it’s quite a sophisticated small city.

On Saturday people come from many different countries for the market; it’s quite a happening. Many people come to import large quantities of scarves, hammocks, hats, pants, fabric in luscious colors, bags, jewelry, paintings – it goes on and on. Here is just a small sampling of what you can feast your eyes on should you come.

Being in Otavalo is a lot of fun. I’m learning to negotiate – the art of negotiating Is a must here, and is interesting to observe.

From a very young age children help their parents. When you’re from a different culture, it’s eye-opening to observe another way. Love it!

January 8, 2014January 10, 2014

Peas

A wide bucket of peas, once overflowing, for un dolar y cincuenta centanos. When I asked for half a bucket, the woman at Mercado 10 de Agosto shook her head. I decided to not pursue the matter. I do that a lot since it’s tricky to discuss anything when at the level of using only the simplest of words in the language. That’s okay, peas are great for snacks, in sauces, soups, salads, and they won’t spoil quickly. Especially these because they’re so fresh. The one drawback was lugging them around El Centro. That’s not a complaint though, only a fact; a bucketful of peas tend to be heavy. Am I going to complain about anything after just watching the trailer from A Place At The Table with Jeff Bridges at www.UPWORTHY.com? I think not. I’m grateful for that bucketful of peas for $1.50.（＾＿＾）

I’m wishing you all the loveliest of evenings.

September 6, 2013September 8, 2013

bananas, cinnamon, and . . .

Walking away from the Mercado 10 de Agosto on Calle Larga in Cuenca without carrying a big bunch of bananas is not easy. For one thing, those big bunches of bananas look rather tempting piled so high, and, for another thing, when at the mercado, one bunch doesn’t look like much when next to piles and piles of bananas. So I buy and buy big bunches of bananas and then I’m in a race to eat them.

In the process of eating the big bunch of bananas (20!), I discovered that they’re scrumptious when thoroughly mashed and sprinkled with good quality cinnamon. One early morning, I decided to start the day that way. I shook and shook the bottle on two thoroughly mashed bananas. Then I noticed the color wasn’t quite right, and picked up the bottle – it was cayenne pepper. I looked at those mashed bananas, and wasn’t sure what to do. Then I reached for the cinnamon.

The bite of cayenne, the sweetness of bananas, the delicate taste of cinnamon – you might want to try it. Oh, yes.

I hope you can say it was a wonderful day.

Sweet dreams!

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“As soon as you wake up, take your first conscious breath, stop and say thank you, thank you, thank you.” – Panache Desai
www.panachedesai.com

April 30, 2013October 18, 2014

the mutter museum, di bruno, dandelion restaurant/pub, parc restaurant, la colombe

Did I hear you say you’re coming to Philly? Well then, let’s plan a lovely day of maybe a museum and a few places to eat and people watch at the same time.

There’s the Mutter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. I haven’t been there yet, but whenever I walk by on my way to Trader Joe’s, there are usually people entering and leaving. The grounds around the museum are lovely, and that includes the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden with benches for relaxing in a delightful and peaceful setting.
www.muttermuseum.org

Is there a question about going to the Mutter Museum, or eating before going? All right, let’s think about where to eat — perhaps at Di Bruno at 1730 Chestnut Street. There is an upstairs cafe and “weekend brunch is from10:30am to 3:pm and lunch daily from11am to 3pm, to go or to enjoy in our casual cafe.” There’s plenty of space upstairs for sitting, relaxing, and eating. Downstairs has a wonderful selection of prepared foods, including soups and sandwiches. I’ve become addicted to the Di Bruno caprese sandwich. Top-notch ingredients of tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese on panini bread is simple and delicious. The website shows that that’s not all there is at Di Bruno:
www.dibruno.com

Another place is Dandelion Restaurant Pub, at 124 South Street. It can be seen from the door nearest the Di Bruno meat section; it’s on a corner across the street. Here a hearty English breakfast is served. Have you had one of these? After consuming there’s usually no need to eat until evening. Dandelion offers an excellent selection of beer, a menu that will appeal to different palates, and afternoon tea which is from 3:00 to 5:00. And the person at the desk said, with a lot of pride, that “they serve the 2nd best hamburger in town.” It’s a charming restaurant/pub. Just is case you’re interested, they know how to make a really good campari and soda with a twist of lemon. Indeed!
www.thedandelionpub.com
www.campari.com

Another eating establishment is Parc Restaurant Bistro & Cafe at 227 South 18th Street. It’s two blocks south of Dandelion, and is across from lovely Rittenhouse Square Park. On a warm, sunny day it’s a fight to the finish:-) to get an outside table facing the park – to people watch, enjoy the greenery, and soak up the sun. If no outside seating is available, you’re still a winner because eating inside and enjoying the decor and ambiance is a pleasure, too.
www.parcrestaurant.me

The coffee at Parc is good, however, if you want to go elsewhere for an equally good cup of coffee there’s la Colombe at 130 South 19th Street. It’s opened till 7pm. Sometimes the dessert is sold out, but there’s always the coffee and the friendly staff. La Colombe is a walk along Rittenhouse Square Park (on the side of Barnes & Noble Bookshop) to 19th Street – cross the street and turn right. Order your cuppa coffee, take a seat, relax, and enjoy.
www.lacolombe.com

Rittenhouse Square Park

Is it time to see the Mutter Museum after a delicious lunch? — it’s a short walk if you stayed in the above neighborhood.

Enjoy! Enjoy!

Let’s all have a wonderful day today.

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“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” – Albert Einstein, 20th Century Nobel Prize winning physicist
(As heard on the CD, The Power by Rhonda Byrne)

December 2, 2012May 30, 2013

the celestine prophecy

The holidays are here. I love the music playing as I enter shops. There’s always this marvelous merry feeling I wish we could all bottle and have the year long. Though when I see people carrying three or four shopping bags full of gifts, I tend to hope that the givers have enough in their piggy banks to allow for stress-free buying. Because buying shouldn’t lead to this: “Stress, a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. ”

Speaking of stress free, an amazing way to keep the holiday glow is to watch a movie that gives us a sense of the spiritual part of the beautiful December holiday, since it’s so very easy to forget that the holiday wasn’t created for shopping. We’re blessed because there’s another side to us, and when we take our attention away from all the enticing ads and commercials, from all the things that take our attention away from what’s really real, and place our attention on slowing down, using our intuition, using the guidance within, focusing on and remembering what’s really important, magic begins to happen.

This is what the movie The Celestine Prophesy is all about, and what it does, it does magnificently. The special way the actors play their part based on their own spiritual life and experiences, the story, the words, the scenery, the energy of many of the people involved in the making of the movie, takes the one watching away from every day thinking to a new way of seeing life. And, if we allow, can get us into the real spirit of the holiday season, and also what we humans are really all about.
www.thecelestineprophecymovie.com/about.php

And when we watch the “Special Features” part, the writer James Redfield talks of “synchronicity.” And it becomes clear that step-by-step the making of the The Celestine Prophecy is completely aligned with the story and its meaning. When we listen to the writers, producers, directors talk about the movie, it becomes clear to us that everything was in sync because of the spiritual life of everyone involved in the making of the movie. After he wrote the screenplay, James Redfield’s intention was to place his attention on synchronicity, intuition, and guidance from within to attract those directors, producers, and actors needed. He did, they showed up, and this too is a marvelous story.

There’s a big chance that by focusing on what The Celestine Prophecy and/or the book by James Redfield is saying, we can change the way we think about certain holidays if they cause stress, because with a new awareness, and a knowing from experience that there’s guidance within, we won’t feel out of control anymore. And then, most likely our usual way of handling stress will be a thing of the past. Oh, yes.

HAPPY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND LOTS OF LOVE TO ALL OF US!

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“We wanted actors that related to all this – that were on a spiritual journey of their own.”
– James Redfield

“Synchronicity is a meaningful coincidence – something that happens that gives me an idea of what I’m supposed to do next with my life. And I have to say that sometimes I will follow those guidances, those thoughts, and, in a short run it may look like I’ve made a mistake – why did I feel that way, or think that way, or say that? And then I may find out later that there’s a higher meaning to it. I had to grow through a certain experience, or I had to become a different person, in order to live out what that was guiding me toward.”
– Salle Merrill Redfield, executive producer

“One of the most amazing things about life is that when we stop controlling we open up to a whole new possibility . . . I believe that when we do that we’re led down a whole new path. We meet people we would never have met before. We experience new things that we could never have experienced before. But we have to let go in order to do that, and it’s not easy, but I believe once we do it, we embrace this idea that we’re not fully in control of our lives. Then we see a whole new turn of events happen.”
– Salle Merrill Redfield

July 23, 2012August 1, 2012

“just label it”

The name of the website www.justlabelit.org and the following important message says it all. I copied it from an email I received after subscribing to the website. After reading it, if you want, click on to the website and add your name to the list.

“Help us find 5,000 new people to contact the FDA in the next 5 days!

Tell your friends and family why you support the labeling of genetically engineered foods with just a few clicks!

We have a right to know how the food we buy is produced. Yet the FDA’s current policy does not provide us with the ability to make informed choices about genetically engineered foods because they are not labeled.

Over forty countries – including Russia and China – require the labeling of genetically engineered foods. We have the power to fix this here in the United States, and there’s never been a more pressing time.

The FDA is on the brink of approving genetically engineered salmon, which would be the first genetically engineered animal on supermarket shelves in the United States. The salmon is engineered to produce growth hormones year-round that cause the fish to grow at twice the normal rate. The government already requires labels to tell us if fish is wild-caught or farm-raised – don’t we also have a right to know if our salmon is genetically engineered? But without labels, we’ll never know.

You stood with more than one million Americans for our right to know by contacting the FDA demanding that genetically engineered foods be labeled. But there are so many others who haven’t heard anything about the reasons to label genetically engineered foods.

Will you tell your friends, family, and colleagues why genetically engineered foods should be labeled and ask them to join you in contacting the FDA? Click here to send them a message!

You’re not alone in your support of this issue. Not only have more than a million people already contacted the FDA, but studies show that 91% of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods.

We need to let the FDA know how much public support there is for this issue. It’s our job to show them how many of us care about labeling genetically engineered foods. That’s why it’s so important to tell friends and family about this issue and the need for labeling. Can we count on you to spread the word?

Please, send a message to your family and friends with just a few clicks and help us meet our goal of 5,000 new people in the next 5 days.

Thank you for spreading the word today.”

David Bancroft
Just Label It

July 12, 2012October 23, 2014

philadelphia at south street between 10th and 22nd streets

Have you been to Philly? If not, come. A lot of changes have and are taking place. In the four years I’ve been here there are new restaurants, shops, the Barnes Museum Foundation is now in Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, more people are moving here, and though it’s a city, it’s small and not overwhelming. Travelers say that they actually enjoy flying into the Philly airport whether to visit, or to transfer to another flight, because it’s easy to get around. I agree; it has the easiness of being able to get one’s bearings which is not always the case at airports, and yet it’s well-organized.

With all that’s developing there’s a good feeling in the air. When I first moved to Philly, South Street between 10th and 23rd Streets was in the throes of, well, I don’t quite know of what. Truthfully, except for a few stores, it was uninspiring. Not anymore; it’s alive now. Here we can find an array of restaurants preparing delicious ethnic foods, and plenty of small speciality shops. People who are moving into this area and opening shops are excited about being a part of the neighborhood. When walking along and passing restaurants, I hear a whole lot of laughter.

What I’m saying is that when you’ve been to all the tourist sites don’t stop there cause you ain’t seen nothing yet. Uh-oh, maybe I shouldn’t write that. Well, I did. Philly is small, walk over to South Street and meander over to 10th Street where Whole Foods can be your landmark, then head west. I’m only going to name a few places, as you’ll easily discover the rest. Remember, Philly is the city of Brotherly Love so don’t hesitate to ask to be pointed in the right direction.

The Philly Magic Gardens at 1020 South Street will be waiting for you. If you have flowers and plants in mind, instead think mosaic. There are events, tours, workshops with Isaiah Zagar, celebration of special occasions, and more, more. Check it out: 215-733-0390 – www.phillymagicgardens.org

Next let’s go to Harry’s Occult Shop at 1238 South Street. Harry’s Occult Shop was started by Harry Seligman a pharmacist in 1917. He was a registered pharmacist and the business started as a pharmacy, most of his clients were people who had just arrived from the south and would ask him for occult powders and oils. His interest was aroused and he began researching the occult (Occult means hidden, unseen, unheard). Occult products are used to create positive energies to help bring about changes according to the intention. The upstairs rooms are used for treatments and readings. Harry’s Occult Shop: 215-735-8262 – www.harrysoccultshop.net

You were hungry and perhaps stopped at a restaurant. if not, you’re hungry now. Don’t be concerned as there are a lot of restaurants along the way to 22nd Street. First though I’d like to tell you about Mushmina at 1540 South Street, or because they can do it so much better than I can – you’ll feel their passion – I’ll let the first paragraph of their website do the telling:

“The story started with two sisters who wanted to make a difference in the developing world. One joined Peace Corps Morocco to help rural women develop business skills and the other traveled to Mali to research traditional weaving and metal-smithing techniques. Six years later, Mushmina was born. Our name Mushmina, is an endearing nickname that to us means ‘little sister’.

“Artisans we love
In Morocco we work with over 9 different regional artisan groups, employing over 75 artisans, both men and women. While we are a cottage industry business (where many women work in their homes) the Mushmina Workshop and atelier is coming soon!”

Katie O’Neill is one of the sisters, and you’ll find her at the Mushmina shop. Her face nicely expresses that she loves what she does, and is well-able to talk about any item in the store, and tell its story. I was there and I’ll be back to buy a birthday gift. Pictures also tell a story, and the website can show you the beautiful selection of bags, scarves, clothes, jewelry, shoes, slippers, etc., and of the interesting ways the sisters are growing their business. Check it out: 215-732-5500 – www.mushmina.com

It wasn’t easy choosing only three shops to write about. From here I hope you continue onward, and, if you’re so inclined, send a comment about an interesting shop you happened upon, or a restaurant, yoga place, bar, cafe, a great story you heard on South Street, etc. What caught your attention?

It looks like a lovely summer day. Let’s thoroughly enjoy.

June 10, 2012August 23, 2012

alejandro junger, m.d., film makers james and laurentine, dr. richard schulze, natural news, well being journal

Is there anyone who doesn’t want radiant health with lots of energy? Do you think this is a silly question? I don’t because a lot of the food we eat is chosen carelessly, and often it’s devoid of nutrition, loaded with toxins, dissipates our energy, and can make us feel and look not quite right. So, taking time to learn about the non-foods that find a way into our bodies helps speed us along on the path to health. Change can be difficult, it’s true; it can also be rewarding. Change tends to be especially difficult when we don’t have a clear understanding of the why and the how-to of it, and exciting when finally we do.

If you haven’t already clicked on to the following, there’s a very good chance you’ll be delighted when you do. Dr. Alejandro Junger www.thecleanprogram.com sent out an eletter about a documentary film by filmmakers James and Laurentine. I think you’ll really like and appreciate it and the website www.hungryforchange.tv

And . . . in his book CLEAN he mentioned Dr. Schulze’s website www.herbdoc.com We can access many interesting healing stories from people who say they’re forever grateful to Dr. Schulze for giving them their health back. His website also is packed with possibilities that can lead us to change (not overwhelming though; I don’t do overwhelming). And . . . Dr. Schulze on his website mentioned the following www.naturalnews.com
– also too good to pass over.

We’ve not a thing to lose in checking out these websites, and a whole lot to gain. All we have to do is read, learn, appreciate what they offer, and be happy they’re available. I’m familiar and delighted with all of them and trust you’ll be too.

So, let’s toast to change and to our very good health.

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“Doctors who . . . parlay a mere risk factor like cholesterol into something more are misleading the public as well as themselves. . . . Thousands of people die of heart attacks every year who have ‘perfect’ cholesterol. The reverse is also true: people with horrendous cholesterol levels live to advanced old age without suffering any heart problems.” – Deepak Chopra, M.D. In “Healing the Quantum Heart” from Give Yourself Health: Thoughts, Attitudes and Your Health, available at PDF at www.wellbeingjournal.com in “Products/Services” – from Well Being Journal

www.wellbeingjournal.com

February 21, 2012October 17, 2014

essene market&cafe, and the house of tea, ltd

This past weekend I meandered over to Essene Market&Cafe in Philadelphia to buy chick pea miso and wheat-free Tamari at WWW.ESSENEMARKET.COM”>WWW.ESSENEMARKET.COM On the way to, and directly across the street from Essene was a shop called THE HOUSE of TEA.Ltd. The shop’s window beckoned tea lovers by enticingly displaying some teapots and accessories from around the world. Yerba mate was on my list so I went in and took a place on line. It was a small shop and it felt as though it had history. I didn’t mind standing in that particular line listening to customers ordering. There were many wooden bins filled with teas I’d not heard of, and customers easily paid much more than I was used to paying for a few ounces of tea. Quality tea, I thought, as I continued to wait. I bought yerba mate and left knowing it wouldn’t be my last time in that little shop.

Now this is what I want to tell you. A few days later I checked the website of this small shop with history: WWW.HOUSEOFTEA.COM and was treated to a wonderful biography of the founder of the tea shop. And all I want to say is that if there’s any one reading this who can’t decide what to do in life, as odd as this sounds, you just might find inspiration when reading about the life of the founder of the small tea shop. Click “Our Heritage” and read about “Nathaniel Litt, architect, circus clown, magician, chef, jam-maker and tea shop owner – changing careers seemed as easy as changing his socks. If he got interested in something, he simply did it.” And I want to add that he didn’t do anything half way; he trained at some of the best places.

Ah, life, how very interesting it all is.

It’s another beautiful, warm and sunny day where I am, and I hope it’s the same for you.

Let’s enjoy.

November 13, 2011January 21, 2012

pesky little creatures treated the natural way

When I was in Boquete, Panama a friend I’d met there took me to visit a woman who produced the most luscious raspberries I’d ever seen. We visited her garden, and then went into her large kitchen where jellies, jams, and sauces were everywhere, ready for the marketplace. This is the way she kept her raspberries from being eaten by pesky-little creatures: She had a spray bottle, and in it was some soap (what kind of soap I don’t know), and in that bottle she also put hot spices. That made all the difference. I remembered the raspberry woman in Panama when I began clearing notes from a folder and read: “A spray to repel garden insects can be made from ground red pepper pods and water. It’s sprayed on the plants to keep pepper-hating insects at bay.”
from the book, HOT STUFF by Jessica B. Harris

This year I was forced to figure out how to keep a mouse at bay. I still shiver thinking about it. After researching, I went shopping for peppermint oil, whole cloves, ammonia, cayenne pepper flakes, and Bounce sheets. I used everything on the list. The Bounce sheets were placed here, there, and everywhere. I put whole cloves and cayenne pepper flakes in little cheesecloth-type bags and hung them here, there, and everywhere. Ammonia* and peppermint oil was poured on small cosmetic cotton pads and put into plastic caps and placed, well, you know where. Thankfully I was scheduled to leave for a week. I admit that I wasn’t too keen on returning because my imagination was entirely focused on a mouse dancing around my apartment after nibbling on chocolate.
*toxic – not recommended.

I wish I’d had the presence of mind to write down the website address whose owner so generously gave all that information. It worked! It worked! And whoever you are, thank you from the bottom of my scared-of-mice heart. How I wish I could say I wasn’t scared. I’m working on it though.

“Readers of the 1888 Farmer’s and Housekeeper’s Cyclopedia sprinkled cayenne pepper in nooks and crannies to keep ants away. This one really works; I’ve tried it with squirrels that took over a summer cottage.”
from the book, HOT STUFF by Jessica B. Harris

One more thing about cayene pepper: “More recently, a book on natural beauty cures published in the French West Indies suggested using red bird peppers to prevent hair from falling. Five of the small chiles are left to macerate in two cups of oil. The oil is then massaged into the scalp.”
from the book, HOT STUFF by Jessica B. Harris

David Wolfe writes about hot peppers and hair loss in his book, THE SUNFOOD DIET SUCCESS SYSTEM. He wrote that caution must be used when applying pepper oil to the scalp as it can burn if not done properly, and, of course, no one wants the experience of hot pepper oil in one’s eye. In the book that I have he explains the why of hair loss on pages 484-485.
www.sunfood.com

Do you agree that we live in a fascinating world?