This easy maple-date chestnut milk recipe is made from fresh-roasted chestnuts, dates, water, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. That’s it! If you’re a local food lover, it makes a beautiful alternative to hot chocolate for warm-weather sipping by the fire. Chesnuts are the ultimate winter season crop, a lovely treat to wait for […]
Cool Ideas
5 Wonderfully Calming Qi Gong Videos For Relaxation & Energy
In an era when most of us have a heightened awareness of the negative effects of overstimulation, the slow, methodical mind-body practice of Qi Gong has become increasingly appealing. Everyone wants to feel calm and centered in their minds and bodies, right? So why not look into the time-honored healing practices of the ancients to […]
At This Charming Paw Paw Festival in Maryland, America’s “Secret Fruit” Shines
Momentum is growing behind a beautiful Paw Paw Festival that takes place at a 25-acre homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Frederick, Maryland– an event that’s fast becoming one of the DMV area’s best-kept secrets in the realm of local food. Organized by permaculturist and landscape designer Michael Judd of Ecologia […]
Understanding Gezelligheid: A Dutch Word That Captures Why It’s Important to Not Bum Each Other Out
In recent years, niche European words have become popular with English speakers all over the world as they capture perfect sentiments of universal feelings that not every language has a word for. First, of course, there was the French bon apetit (aka “enjoy your meal”); then came sprezzy (Italian slang for “stylishly messy”); then the […]
The 11 Coolest Birthday Cake Bakeries in Los Angeles
If you’re looking for an amazing birthday cake in Los Angeles, you’ve come to the right place. The City of Angels is increasingly regarded as one of the best culinary cities in America, and this is especially true when it comes to bakeries and celebrations. Like New York City, Los Angeles is a place where […]
A Simple Breakdown of The 5 Love Languages
About 25 years ago a marriage counselor named Dr. Gary Chapman wrote a now-iconic book called The 5 Love Languages (which, yes, you can buy on Amazon). Over two decades later, new generations of people continue to discover his concept of “the five love languages” and apply them to their lives and relationships. What is […]
This Cool Scientific Survey Accurately Identifies Your Character Strengths
I was first directed to the VIA Character Strengths Survey in the course of taking Dr. Laurie Santos’ class, The Science of Well-Being, which is the most popular course ever offered in Yale‘s 300-year history. As part of an initial happiness assessment, Professor Santos directed us to this character strengths test as part of a […]
The 8 Best Places to Get Birthday Cake in Chicago
Chicago is increasingly regarded as one of the best culinary cities in America when it comes to bakeries– and birthday cake in particular. It used to be that New York and LA were the only major cities putting cake artists on the map, but the advent of the TV series Cake Wars, social media, and […]
The 7 Best Natural Eczema Shampoos of 2025
It’s hard to find an all-natural eczema shampoo that works to calm itch and inflammation without chemicals. Luckily, natural anti-itch shampoos are becoming more of “a thing”, especially among online shoppers. Accordingly, natural beauty brands are responding with earth-friendly and pregnancy-safe natural eczema remedies that get better every day. Unfortunately, most over-the-counter anti-itch and anti-dandruff […]
5 Beautiful Affirmation Decks For Those Seeking More Peace
Affirmation cards, or affirmation decks, are thoughtful first-person statements that encourage positive thinking, calm, and confidence. They help you ponder ideas that leave you with a feeling of more peace, calm, and clarity than before. When either read aloud or recited silently in your mind, they encourage a positive shift in mood, energy, and intention. […]