Little Twig Organic Products

My new favorite line of skin care for little ones is Little Twig. If you want to know what lotion I've been using to massage your hands while in savasana, this is it. The Little Twig Body Milk, from their organic body care line. Its free of all he harmful and harsh chemicals you find in most skin care products like mineral oil, methyl parabens, artificial fragrances. It is pH balanced and pediatrician tested. Little Twig's extensive line includes: body oil, lotions (body milk), bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, baby powder and diaper cream.

Little Twig not only cares for your skin, they care for the environment too. In an effort to reduce waste, you can return your empty full size bottles to the company and receive a 30% discount on your next online purchase! That's good news for the environment and your wallet too.

Featured Mama: Victoria Keen of Victoria Keen Design

If you're like me, when you go to yoga class, you want to wear something comfortable, cute, and well fitting. It took a long time for me to find yoga apparel that was flattering outside of yoga class. I want to be able to wear the clothes when I leave home or the studio, not rush to jump into my "civilian wear", so nobody sees me in my workout clothes. Victoria Keen's clothing is the perfect blend of hip, stylish, comfortable and chic.
You can saunter around the city in a comfortable pair of her kali yoga pants (as seen in the top photo), hand silk-screened, with all original designs, and a tight zip-up cotton hoodie and look fabulous. She makes the coziest dresses that flatter all body types. I lived in her cotton dresses last summer, which kept me nice and cool in the summer heat.
If you are pregnant stopping by Victoria's boutique is a must on your to-do list. You'll find flowing dresses, wrap tops and skirts, boy shorts, halters and more, all made from forgivable cotton lycra blending which preserves the clothing so you can wear it postpartum as well and not have to worry about the garment being over stretched. Step out in style, showcase that blossoming belly in one of Victoria's sexy summer dresses. Her hip designs along with her beautiful graphic patterns set her apart from other designers. You'll have personal attention at the boutique and even leave with a cloth shopping bag. Her boutique centrally located downtown at 357 Lafayette Street between Bleecker and Bond houses all of her unique designs, furniture, paintings, and loads of beautiful clothes.
Currently expecting her first baby this spring, Victoria has big plans to start a maternity line and baby line of clothing in the near future. She is a part of the Mama Glow! Prenatal Yoga community. To learn more about Victoria and her company Victoria Keen Design, check her out online at: www.victoriakeen.com You can make purchases online or stop by the store when you're in Soho. Step out to prenatal yoga in style! Get a pair of those kali yoga pants, availalble in different colors and patterns.

Victoria Keen Design
357 Lafayette St
bet Bleecker and Bond
212.473.1412
B/D/F/V trains to Broadway Lafayette, 6 train to Bleecker St

Lizi's Organic Granola

It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to food. As a chef, I am excited when I find a new food product that actually entices me. I recently stumbled upon a new granola cereal created by the GoodCarb Food Company called Lizi's Granola. It's the best pre-packaged granola I've ever had. I recommend it not just for the taste but because its made from high quality ingredients mostly nuts, seeds and coconut, and not overly sweet, using blackstrap molasses and agave nectar.

It has a low GL or glycemic load which means it will have a very minimal effect on your blood sugar levels. That's great news.
The founder of the company Lizi Shaw first began making this granola on her organic farm in West Wales. And it has gotten so popular that it is now available in the USA.

I like to use it as a topping for my Acai power bowl, or oatmeal, add a half a cup to pancake batter to give added texture, or just munch on a handful, which constitutes a serving and delivers 250 calories and only 4g saturated fat. Definitely add this product to your pre/postnatal pantry. Look for this new granola at your local health food stores, Whole Foods and Westerly are carrying it in Manhattan. Or try online at www.terrafinafoods.com

Mother's Day Reflections

It's so important to remember and honor your origin, and we all come from the same place- mother's womb. That warm dark, wet, cozy, cushy place where we spent 40 weeks transforming from the spirit realm into flesh. Our mother's giving of themselves, sharing body space with us, nurturing us, carrying us, until it was time to bring us forth into the world.

Mothering takes patience, faith, and tremendous love.

May we honor our mothers and all mothers on this day. May we allow ourselves to be celebrated as mothers and mothers-to-be.

Need a house call? Dial DR 911

We've all had to dart off to the emergency room and spend our fair share of time waiting for busy, overworked doctors to see us. Sometimes you end up waiting an eternity to be seen for a non-emergency issue, but for whatever reason you can't get in to see our own doctor, or it happens to be the weekend, etc. In a city that never sleeps, where you can get nearly anything delivered to your doorstep, wouldn't it make sense to have a doctor delivery service to meet your impromptu medical needs?

Imagine a day where you can relax in your own home while receiving the very best in medical care from emergency doctors. Robert Glatter, MD, founder and medical director of DR911 has developed a "traveling practice" performing medical house calls- meeting the needs of busy New Yorkers (who don't exactly want to spend the day playing solitaire on their blackberry while on standby in the emergency waiting room at the hospital). The service is personal, comfortable, convenient, quick, and delivered with a smile. Whether you have a migraine or a muscle strain Dr 911 will promptly respond to your needs. Good news moms, Dr 911 also provides pediatric care, so you can spare yourself a trip to the ER for your little one's ear infection. Operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week and arriving at your doorstep fully equipped, what could be better.

Robert Glatter, MD is Board Certified in Emergency medicine and is affiliated with Lenox Hill and Southampton Hospitals.

Contact DR 911

website: www.dr911md.com

email: info@dr911md.com

phone: 646.761.6685

Rising up to Spring

I woke up this morning with a gentle dewy breeze slipping through my window, tickling my face. Slowly I opened my eyes and noticed right away that there was a new and distinctive quality of light in the sky. I rose up to start the day- starting with my prayers. Then gathered myself to go hike and run through the park nearby. The warmth of the morning sun and the cool breeze had Spring written all over it.

I have a background in plant science and botanical studies, so I always take note of the plants, what they are doing, how they are growing, as I am well aware that Mother Nature speaks to us through her plant world. I Sometimes I stop and pick what I consider to be powerful plant medicine-dandelion, red clover, plantain leaf, mullein; all growing in a most peculiar way. It amazes me that a tiny seed would see fit to germinate, take root, and sprout up through the cracks of asphalt- that's what I can an Uprising! Such determination inspires me to do the work that I do with Tender Shoots Wellness.

These powerful weeds are nestled in with other vegetation, so you may not even notice them at first glance. I'm starting to see a lot of dandelion and red clover bunches which indicates that it is time to collect these plants and do our own spring cleaning- internally. Dandelion is a strong bitter herb that has an astringent and cleansing action on the liver and kidneys. It helps to break down fats stored in the liver and gallbladder and promotes healthy colon function. Its a great plant to introduce especially as we transition from eating hearty winter foods to light spring inspired meals. The young leaves are a great addition to salads, and sandwiches.

Red clover has a cleansing quality as well. It is a wonder herb, used in treatment of cancer, joint disorders, skin inflammations, mastitis, it acts as a blood purifier, cleanses the liver, a diuretic- helping to remove excess fluid from the body, and helps clear the lungs of mucous, it improves overall circulation in the body.

Take a moment to check out some tasty ways to incorporate these spring cleaning greens into your diet. Enjoy.

Sauteed Dandelion Greens with Garlic
2lbs dandelion greens, thoroughly washed
2 tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic, bruised and smashed open
crushed red pepper to taste
sea salt to taste

Boil the greens in salted water for up to 5 minutes. Shock in a bowl of ice water to stop the greens from cooking, and to retain the green color. Drain and squeeze out water. Heat the oil in a skillet then add the garlic, cooking over low heat, as the garlic begins to brown add in the greens, stirring, to mix in the garlic flavor, cover and allow to cook, increasing the heat for 3 minutes. Season with sea salt and crushed red pepper. Please buy organically grown dandelion because since most folks consider them a pesty weed, they are usually heavily sprayed.

Red Clover Herbal Tea
1 cup red clover blossoms (fresh or 1/2 cup dried)
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
4 cups filtered water
honey or agave nectar to taste

Bring water to boil, add clover blossoms and mint. Allow to steep up to 10 minutes, strain off the liquid and sweeten if desired. You can find organic red clover blossoms at herbal shops and farmer's markets, and online. I get them at Integral Yoga Foods.

Welcome Springtime!

Guidance,
Latham

Pose of the Month: Vrksasana (Tree Pose)

When I observe trees I am reminded of the delicate balance of grounding, rooting into the earth and ascending, reaching towards the sky. Practice tree pose and experience the balance of levity and gravity like a tree.

Stand in Tadasana. Shift your weight slightly onto the left foot, keeping the inner foot rooted firmly into the floor, and bend your right knee. Reach down with your right hand and clasp your right ankle.

Draw your right foot up and place the sole against the inner left thigh; if possible, press the right heel into the inner left groin, toes pointing toward down the floor. The center of your pelvis should be directly over the left foot.

Rest your hands on the top rim of your pelvis. Make sure the pelvis is in a neutral position, with the top rim parallel to the floor.

Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor. Firmly press the right foot sole against the inner thigh and resist with the outer left leg. Press your hands together in Anjali Mudra (prayer). Gaze softly at a fixed point in front of you on the floor about 4 or 5 feet away.

Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Step back to Tadasana with an exhalation and repeat for the same length of time with the legs reversed.

Benefits
Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine
Stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
Improves sense of balance
Relieves sciatica