I could really go for a few hours in this hammock today. This photo reminded me of home: the dark sand, the craggy shore, the color of the ocean…relaxes me just looking at it. Yesterday I spoke to some of my family — they were on the beach, swimming and relaxing by the water, and I was missing my annual visit home. But I couldn’t think of a better reason to miss out on a Nova Scotia summer this year.
Image spotted on Pinterest
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by Margaret Cabaniss
One of my favorite podcasts, the Slate Culture Gabfest, recently encouraged listeners to send in songs for a “summer strut” playlist — music that made them feel like…well, strutting down the street in the summertime. The resulting list was something of a mixed bag, but it made me think about the kind of music I like to listen to in the summer — only for me, in this heat, my preferred mode is less strutting than, say, porch-settin’.
So, in honor of my vacation this week — during which I’ve become something of an expert on settin’ — I thought I should put together a little playlist of my own: something that makes you want to sit out on the porch in the heat of the afternoon, kick back with a cold drink, and sweat it out to some summer tunes. Apparently, for me thatmeans some roots rock, a little soul, and a sprinkling of gospel, blues, and country. It may be a little random, and I definitely could have spent some more time tweaking it here and there…but my raft in the lake is calling. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments!
Image: Colleen Duffley for Coastal Living
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I’ve worked as a life coach for a while now and notice some trends when it comes to what people are struggling with. Increasingly there are issues stemming from what I might call “the problem of overabundance.” People have too much stuff and don’t know how to manage it; too many activities and don’t know how to prioritize them; too much space and can’t figure out how to best use it and keep it clean.
To some degree most of us can relate to this, even if we don’t live in large McMansions or spend all day in the car shuttling children to umpteen activities. Too much clutter. Not enough time. Too much to do. How many times have I heard clients say these words? How many times have I said them myself?
An article about a new book called Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century recently caught my attention. The book is a result of a 12-year study by UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology Press and looks at how middle-class American families spend their time and money, what parts of their homes are most used, and what aspects of home life cause the most stress. Over a four-year period, anthropologists taped the activities of 32 families, tracking their every move and measuring stress hormones at regular intervals. Here are some of their findings:
There’s much that could be said about these findings and their ramifications for families and the wider culture. When I’m coaching, it’s not my job to play sociologist or anthropologist, but to help a client to see that she has choices. Thousands of decisions — big and small — brought each of us to this very moment in our lives, and if we know where we want to go, we can begin to make decisions that will take us there — including things like what new rules we’re going to set about what comes into our homes, what systems we can use to better manage clutter, where we will shop, how we’re going to live as a family each day.
Can you relate to this problem of overabundance? What decisions have you made to address it?
Image found here
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It’s mid-week already, and I don’t know about you, but I could use a long, deep breath and a cold, refreshing drink. This pitcher of peach lemonade — served at our anniversary party and snapped so artfully by our friend Hal — makes me feel for just a moment that I’m sitting in our courtyard at sunset with my feet up, sipping something tangy, sweet, and cool, and breathing easy. I hope it brings a slow moment to your day, too.
Image: Hal
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It used to be that when you purchased organic food, it came from small producers in your region who were committed to making sure nothing chemical or artificial touched their crops. There were no organic certifications per se, and health food stores and co-ops were the primary places to find such food, unless you went directly to the growers and farmers yourself.
That’s basically how it was when I grew up. We were definitely that weird family that had its own root cellar, ordered bulk foods from a local co-op, made things like sauerkraut and canned preserves, milked goats, and hung fruit to dry on a line over the wood stove. (And to think my parents weren’t even hippies.) Nothing was ever labeled “organic” — you just knew how things were grown and raised because you knew (and/or trusted) the people growing or selling your food.
Since then, demand for organic food has grown by leaps and bounds. Large agribusinesses and food companies jumped on the trend a while back, purchasing many of the small organic businesses, and increasing their own organic crops. Now, most organic food in the average grocery store is produced by multinational companies and grown in China, South America, and Mexico.
This article in The New York Times is a fascinating look at “Big Organic” versus “small organic,” and what’s involved in the “certified organic” label that we’re all encouraged to seek. It’s a fascinating read, but the bottom line is this: Your certified organic food may not be completely organic.
Also, it’s important to keep in mind that just because something isn’t certified organic, doesn’t mean it isn’t grown that way; small farmers usually just can’t afford the costs of certification.
These days, when it comes to buying food, my own rules of thumb go something like this:
You should grow as much of your own food as you can. Since we’re growing zilch at the moment, I’m going to move right along…
I buy local as much as possible, and seasonal. There are exceptions to this, but if I have a choice between a locally grown head of lettuce from the next state over, and a certified organic head of lettuce grown in Mexico, I will hands-down choose the former. But I will also choose certified organic strawberries from California over strawberries grown in my state that have been heavily sprayed. The decisions I make all depend on what the food item is, whether it’s seasonal, whether I know anything about how it’s grown and treated, and what my various options are, if any. Local, seasonal, organic — I do my best to weigh them all together.
I buy from farmers’ markets and from growers that I know — including Amish farmers. (Thank the Lord for the Amish.)
I choose small company brands rather than large company brands as much as possible. So, for instance, I prefer Eden products to Cascadian Farm.
I have my own source for sustainable fish and seafood. If I didn’t have that, I’d be super picky about what seafood I buy in a supermarket, since navigating which fish to buy from where is confusing. I’d use this as one of my guides.
What are your rules of thumb when it comes to organic vs. local vs. seasonal? And if you read this article, what did you think?
Image: Zoe Saint-Paul
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by Alissa Lively
This past weekend, the Wall Street Journal ran an article about the exploitation of a booming new market for technology: children between the ages of four and twelve. Through the use of enticing free downloads and instant-purchase upgrades, kids are getting hooked on digital games — and their parents are being left on the hook with the bill.
The main focus of the article is the financial ramifications of these games and the need for more regulation of the entertainment technology industry. It illustrates how game developers and companies such as Apple and Disney are attracting a much younger audience while making it easier for them to become consumers and more difficult for their parents to do their own regulating.
Some ploys of games like “Pet Shop Story” and “Sweet Shop” include roadblocks, where children must pay to continue playing or wait a day before their digital pet is available again; purchasable digital currency that allows access to upgrades; and a continual influx of new pets and game levels that render the earlier ones obsolete.
While I do find this cashing in on the manipulation of kids and their parents disconcerting, I think there are issues here that the Federal Trade Commission can’t address with panels and rulings. It seems to me that the increased reliance on technology for children’s entertainment is causing a rift between those children and reality. By that I don’t mean that kids can’t tell the difference between online games and the real world, but that every minute spent making “milkshakes” on an iPhone is time not spent learning about their own environment.
One of the parents interviewed commented that his 7-year-old son “does not yet understand money.” It struck me as a perfect example of how too much time invested in technology can be detrimental to a child’s perception of reality. In their app games, kids enter their parents’ codes, and the new upgrade or farm animal is instantly available — whereas with slower technology like books and toys, kids have to save up their own money (recognizing that it takes effort on their part) or ask their parents to take them to the store (recognizing that it takes effort on their parents’ part). All parents have to help their children learn that money doesn’t grow on trees, but the instant gratification of effortless online purchases makes the subject even more nebulous.
There is a very cute video making the rounds of a baby who thinks that a magazine is an iPad that doesn’t work. Around the :40 mark, when the print images fail to slide off the page when she swipes her finger across them, she tests out her finger to make sure that it still works by poking her own leg. While the video was posted as a tribute to Steve Jobs, I think it shows how children are shaped by their toys and their environment — and that an iPad cannot offer anything to the development of a baby’s mind that can help her understand the world a little better.
I must sound like I’m super anti-technology, but I’m not. I love my blogs and email and Facebook. But even as an adult, I sometimes have a hard time extracting myself from the interwebs and re-immersing myself in real life. How much harder must it be for children, who are raised on these devices? And while I don’t advocate pulling the plug on all technology for children (I’m all for that movie that keeps my kids in place for an hour when I’m desperate to get something done), I do think it’s an important reminder that we parents are the ones with the perspective — and it’s up to us to set the limits in order to foster the development of our children’s minds.
Do you regulate the use of technology in your home? How do you find the right balance for your family?
Image: Jesus Diaz
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Last week, B and I spent a gorgeous evening cruising down the Severn River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, to Annapolis, Maryland. We didn’t exactly sail down the river; we were on a motorized yacht, to be precise. But slipping through the water and watching other boats go by made me think about how water activities help rejuvenate us and connect us to the elements — sky, water, wind, weather.
I grew up on the Atlantic — I could see it from our windows. It was part of every day life. When the weather was warm, we swam, we sailed, we canoed. You learn a lot from being close to the ocean — humility, for one thing. It’s both beautiful and terrifying, and it commands respect. This is true of any substantial body of water, really.
It’s that time of year when I wish I could walk 20 feet and dip my feet in the ocean, or start my day with a swim, but to be able to walk down the end of our street here in the city and gaze out at the harbor definitely counts for something.
How about you — has water played a significant role in your life? Are you partial to rivers, lakes, or oceans? If you could do some boating, which would you choose: sail boat, canoe, kayak, or a cruising vessel of some kind?
Images: Zoe Saint-Paul. You can see part of the U.S. Naval Academy in the lead photo.
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This is my view at the moment, when I look up from my computer screen: our little friend Napoleon trying to cool himself down on our old wood floors. I feel his pain — it’s too hot here in Maryland already! I’m usually prepared to wilt during July and August, but here we are at the end of May and it’s already barely tolerable outside. It looks like I’ll need to pull out my cool-down tricks a little sooner than I thought. Here are some of the things I’ll be turning to over the next few months when temps are raging:
Cold showers
Really, is there any substitute when you need a fast cool-down? When my toes won’t curl because the humidity has blown them up beyond recognition, the only solution is to throw myself into a cold shower. Funny thing is, half the time it doesn’t end up being super cold, because the ground water is so warm. But it’s enough to return me to some degree of normalcy.
Homemade lemonade
Just last night, I grabbed a lemon, squeezed it, and added some ice, water, and honey — voila, a quick lemonade! For an extra yummy version, however, I’m definitely turning to Ann’s lemonade with a twist as soon as I can get my hands on a big bunch of basil. Have you tried it? You must.
Iced coffee
Do you remember Mags’ post last summer about the perfect iced coffee? I’m not even a coffee drinker, but it’s the best treat in the summer. For the dummy version, I stick a cup of brewed coffee (Counter Culture roasts my favorite beans) in the fridge to cool down. Then I simple pour it over ice, add cream and agave nectar, and I’m all set. Not as special as Mags’ version, but in a pinch, it definitely works.
White garments
I love white clothes, but they don’t like me — mainly because I stain every white thing that I wear, no matter how hard I try not to. But in hot weather, I break out the white anyway — white tanks, tees, blouses, and flowy linen skirts. Actually, I don’t own a flowy white skirt; that sounds way too dangerous. But I might have to make an exception if things get crazy hot around here.
Spicy foods
Counter-intuitive, right? It’s basically the homeopathic principle that like cures like. In many warm-weather countries, spicy foods are served because they make you perspire — and perspiration, when it evaporates, causes the body to cool. Although hot weather makes me crave simple, fresh meals, I do sometimes like to order (or make) some spicy Thai, Mexican, Indian, or Ethiopian and see if I can sweat out some of the heat.
Crisp cotton sheets
High-quality, crisp, cotton sheets can really make you feel cool at night. For some reason, they also have to be light-colored; dark sheets make me feel warm. That may be psychological, but we know that color — or at least our perception of it — affects our emotional state. When I see white or light-colored sheets, I feel cooler. Now, if I could just pay someone to regularly iron our sheets, that would make them extra awesome.
Cooling herbs
There are various herbs that have a reputation for being cooling — mint, lemon verbena, cilantro, and parsley, to name a few. They are great additions to salads, drinks, and side dishes in hot-weather months. One of my favorite things to make is salsa with all the gorgeous tomatoes that come into season and plenty of fresh cilantro. I’ve also been adding a lot of mint and parsley to my green shakes lately.
Gin & tonic
I love a good cocktail on a steamy summer night, but a gin and tonic made with Hendrick’s (or a small-batch artisanal gin) is the quintessential hot weather drink. I’ve been using Q tonic water, which is not cheap, but if you only treat yourself every now and then, it’s worth it. A little bit of fresh lime juice with a lime wedge on the glass is the necessary touch.
And last but not least:
Spend the next three months in Nova Scotia
This is my dream — to spend summers in Nova Scotia at our cottage, where typical summer temps are mid-high 70s and I can swim at our own private beach in the warm Northumberland Strait and eat fresh veggies from my mum’s garden. Sadly, I’m not sure I’ll get there this year, but I’ll be living vicariously through all of my siblings and their kids — and dreaming about my next visit.
You know, I think I just got a bit cooler writing all of this down. What are your favorite ways to beat the heat?
Images: Zoe Saint-Paul. For the record, no brands listed above paid me to mention them here — I just like these products and wanted to share them with you.
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You may remember my saying that I don’t have a personal Facebook page. I think it goes back to a call I got from my brother John a few years ago: He had naively signed up “to see some friend’s photos,” and within 24 hours his entire past — elementary school classmates, kids he rode the bus with, old neighbors, ex-girlfriends, former colleagues, you name it — were all friending him.
The thought of this happening to me was overwhelming. I was already having trouble staying in touch with my nearest and dearest; how was I going to manage oodles more people who wanted to connect?
Just to spell it out, besides my mother and father, I have nine siblings, seven brothers/sisters in-law, and 14 nieces and nephews — so that’s 32 people in my immediate family. I also have four godchildren, plus a myriad of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and then there’s B’s family, who are now my family, too. All of these loved ones live far away, so staying in touch means phone calls, emails, Skype, Facetime, good old fashioned snail mail, and planned visits when possible.
I’ve also attended three universities, held a million jobs, lived in two countries — including six states — and all along the way made amazing friends, some of whom live in other parts of the world.
I now also know fabulous people through the blogosphere and connect with wonderful readers like you every day. I’ve got a (rather neglected) Twitter account, an e-list (that hasn’t heard from me in a while), a Pinterest account, and a SlowMama Facebook page. There’s more, but I’ll stop.
I love people and consider relationship building to be one of the things I’m good at. And (dare I say it?) I’d like to be open to new and more relationships, because meeting and bonding with great people is one of the best things in life. But at times, I’m bewildered about how to manage it all.
Can you relate?
Here’s what I’ve learned so far that’s helped me (and I’m still learning, so if you’ve got a few thoughts or tips on this, I’d love to hear them):
Okay, now it’s your turn. Any words of wisdom?
Image: Zoe Saint-Paul
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Hello, I'm Zoe Saint-Paul. I'm a writer, life coach, and new mama to twins who's trying to live "slower" in a speed-obsessed world. Here we chat about life and love, food and design, and everything in between -- all at the right pace. So grab some tea, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. Feel free to reach out and contact me.
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