Friday, April 26, 2013

Wonderful Wild Woolies Felt Birdhouses: Exterior Decoration!


















Last summer I selected my very first Wild Woolies Felt Birdhouse. I was intrigued by these birdhouses that were made out of natural wool and couldn't wait to get one for the little birds that lived in my garden. I carefully selected which tree to hang the birdhouse from, placed it up on it limb, smiled at the sight, and let nature do its work. And, of course, nature did. In a short while, a cute little wren family had settled in. Little did they or I know what was about to happen. Over the course of the summer the natural fiber cord that the bird house hung from got rained on, beaten at by the wind, and when it could no longer support the weight of the birdhouse, nest, and birds – PLOP the birdhouse fell onto the ground. Unfortunately, before I could pick it up from the ground in my yard, my husband ran the lawn mower over it. It was ruined, but don't worry, the wrens were safe because they were visiting their cousins in the neighbor's garden next door.

So, this year I had a plan. I picked out my new Wild Woolies Felt Birdhouse and hung it with wire. I put it in our porch, away from the elements and, once again, lo and behold, a new bird family moved in. But they apparently weren't happy with the way the birdhouse looked; they wanted to make it their very own. So the birdhouse got a little bit of a makeover. Look closely at the picture to see what the birds did! Yup, you're right! They put moss on it! So, don't just walk away from a birdhouse once you put it up – check back and see if your winged neighbors decorate as well!

Mantis Shrimp: Why you DON'T mess with Mother Nature


 Thanks prilfish !

Now you may be wondering why Terressentials (an organic body care company) has an article in their newsletter about mantis shrimp. The topic of these little aquatic critters seems kind of (well, more than kind of) unrelated to body care – or is it?

Some of you may be familiar with the recent posting on The Oatmeal webcomic regarding mantis shrimp. This post caught my attention because when I first read it, I knew nothing about mantis shrimp and I was wondering why this post got so much attention. Then I read the comic and all I could think was “WOW, mantis shrimp are pretty awesome.”

As the comic shows its readers, human eyes can see combinations of basically three different colors: red, blue, and green. Think on that for a moment. All the colors of the rainbow and of the world come from delicate and complex combinations of these three colors. But mantis shrimp, why they can see sixteen different “colors.” That's every color that we humans see, then thirteen more concepts that we can't even imagine or wrap our heads around.

If that's not enough to impress you, take this into consideration: these little buggers can club or spear (depending on the specific species of mantis shrimp) its prey in milliseconds with enough power that is over 1000 times its body weight. Here is a quote from The Patek Lab, a marine biology lab from the University of Massachusetts that studies mantis shrimp:

Peacock mantis shrimp use a hammer-like appendage to smash open snail shells for food. Not only did high speed imaging reveal that peacock mantis shrimp forelimbs reach maximum speeds from 12-23 m/s (in water!), but it also showed that cavitation bubbles were forming between the appendage and snail shell. We found that, as a result of the limb's extraordinary speed, the water cavitates (vaporizes) when the limb strikes the prey. Cavitation is a destructive phenomenon; when these vapor bubbles collapse, they essentially cause a small implosion in the water which produces heat, light and sound. For example, rapidly rotating boat propellers are often badly damaged by cavitation to the point of developing holes in the metal.”

So, yeah, mantis shrimp are pretty phenomenal. Now, you're probably intrigued by these shrimp, but are still wondering what on Earth do mantis shrimp have to do with Terressentials. Give me just one moment, and I'll get to it, I promise.

Mantis shrimp evolved naturally over time just the way they are – full of color and with super-sensory abilities. They are not glowing mice or kittens manufactured in labs for scientific research and profit.

Other naturally-evolved creations of this planet include the organic herbs that Terressentials uses in our USDA certified organic body care products. These herbs are not crafted with chemicals, poked at in a petri dish, or reacted in industrial manufacturing facilities. The herbs we use grow under the sun, with the wind blowing through their leaves and the rain nourishing their roots. No chemical changes to Mother Nature's design has been enacted upon these plants. No GMOs, no pesticides, no herbicides, no irradiation. We feel this is the way herbs should be treated – as living organisms that are perfect just the way they are, without human intervention.

So be it a rainbow colored sea creature from our oceans, or bouquet of flowers in kaleidoscopic colors, Earth has provided for us and we need to respect that. We say No! to chemicals that will harm our pure, healthy bodies and No! to contaminants that will harm the planet. And a big NO! to those major corporations that are trying to pull the wool over our eyes, saying it's okay to mess with the natural, pure organisms that have evolved since the beginning of time. Be like the mantis shrimp – deliver a super-fast sucker punch to the scheming companies by proving that there are healthy, USDA certified organic alternatives to the conventional chemical junk that they've convinced people they need. Be like the mantis shrimp – see the true colors of these companies that are just trying to make a profit, and look at the labels of what you are buying. Be like the mantis shrimp – and thrive.

Luscious Mango Wood Table Ware at Patrick Street



If you’ve ever eaten a ripe mango, you know about its sweetness and all about the beautiful orange stickiness that seeps through your fingers and down your arm….

But have you ever seen or felt the wonderful lustrous quality of mango wood?

We have recently received an exciting and intriguing array of bowls, serving trays and utensils made from the eminently touchable mango wood. All of the wood used to make our creative bowls and trays is sourced from controlled, sustainable mango plantations in Thailand where older, less productive trees are harvested after 20-30 years. The old trees are replaced with young trees in a renewable process that protects the mango groves and ensures a continued and bountiful harvest of the delicious tropical fruit.

All of our mango wood items are of fairly traded origin and are produced by artisans working in safe and comfortable environments for fair wages. Interestingly, one group of artisans uses bamboo, a completely renewable and environmentally responsible resource, in the creation of their natural bowls. Working with the finest mango wood in Northern Thailand, artisans may require nearly 45 days of shaping, sanding, drying and staining to handcraft each of their artistic bowls.

Of course, we always focus on providing the finest earth-friendly products that the fair trade community has to offer and natural mango wood reflects our natural lifestyle philosophy and the true beauty Mother Nature has to offer. We've found that mango wood has an soulful, earthy elegance that lends itself to contemporary designs and we offer a variety of unique and lovely handcrafted serving pieces in natural wood tones and beautiful fun colors. The mango wood serving pieces are food safe, fully functional and ideal for fruits, vegetables, chips, salads - or a variety of other foods.

So when you visit our Terressentials Patrick Street store, take one of these gorgeous artistic mango wood treasures home with you – it just may become a coveted family heirloom! Its creative beauty is sure to inspire conversation every time you serve family and guests your fabulous organic meals using your artful mango wood serving pieces. Enjoy their mango goodness, as much as you enjoy the nectarous fruit!

By the way, cleanup is simple – Terressentials Organic Real Soap and warm water, and dry thoroughly!







Terressentials at Boonsboro's 2013 Greenfest!





Terressentials will be exhibiting our wonderful line of products again this year at the Boonsboro Green Fest. There are plenty of exciting activities for the whole family in Shafer Park. They will have collections for recyclable goods – you will be able to recycle everything from bicycles to wine corks. You will also have the opportunity to swap your kid's outgrown clothing and your sports equipment that's collecting dust. Enjoy a locally produced meal or snacks and listen to lively speakers and musical groups. There are 160 vendors – learn about energy conservation and composting, meet local farmers and jewelry crafters, pick up posies for your garden, and SO much more. Come to Boonsboro's Shafer Park May 11, 2013 from 10 am -5 pm for a fun day in the park!


Cathy's Kitchen Table: Organic Gluten-free Peanut Butter Dog Cookies




Now, a recipe for organic gluten-free cookies for our four-legged best friends. These treats contain peanut butter and oats. When using oats for your gluten intolerant dog, make sure it states on the package that the oats are gluten-free.

Organic Gluten-free Peanut Butter Doggy Cookies

(Depending on the size of cookies, the recipe makes about 30 to 40 cookies. Feel free to freeze some for a later date.)


Ingredients:

2 cups certified organic and certified gluten- free oats
1 cup organic rice flour
½ cup organic peanut butter
1 tablespoon organic vegetable oil
1 cup organic chicken broth (room temperature)
1 organic egg (beaten)



Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 300º
  2. Grease two cookie sheets
  3. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl
  4. Put in the refrigerator for half an hour to set (so it's easier to work with)
  5. Roll a ball of dough in your hand, making it the size of the cookie you want. You may need to pat with a little bit of rice flour if it is sticky
  6. Place ball on cookie sheet and flatten it with the bottom of a glass (the flatter you make the cookie, the crunchier it gets while baking) (these cookies do not spread out so you can place them close to one another on the cookie sheet)
  7. Bake 20 minutes
  8. Turn off oven, and let them continue to bake and dry in the oven for an hour (or more)
  9. Take out of oven and let cool
  10. Place in your air-tight containers marked with your pet's name so humans don't eat them all! (The cookies would not hurt us humans – they are full of things that are good for you like peanut butter and organic gluten-free oats and lack the bad stuff like sugar and salt).

Now the fun starts! Watch the expression of your pet eating one of these cookies. These cookies were dog-tested and approved by the Terressentials Team's pets.

Della, my Pembroke Welsh Corgie always wants a full size cookie. If I make the cookies smaller Della feels as if she's being short-changed and then thinks she should have two!

Christy's two dogs, Riley, a miniature schnauzer, and Zoey, an Australian border collie mix, love these cookies and were waiting at the door to get another cookie the next day.

Niki, Gail's German Shepherd, loved, loved, LOVED these cookies!

Ginger, Deb and Gene's short-haired collie, is a peanut butter freak and really liked the cookies.

Bo, Mary's black lab and shepherd mix, refused to share with his sister, Masa the cat, though she really wanted to know what he was gobbling up.

Cathy's Kitchen Table: Organic Gluten-free Lemon Bars Recipe




Organic Gluten-free Lemon Bars remind me of spring. Yellow lemon filling and the smell of citrus when preparing these bars brings a feeling of joy and happiness. Then there's the anticipation of waiting to eat one of these delicious bars with a favorite cup of hot tea or coffee. When life gives you lemons, make lemon bars! With this recipe you may substitute any other gluten-free flour instead of rice flour if that is what you have available.

Shortbread crust:

1 cup organic rice flour
½ cup organic cornstarch
½ cup organic powdered sugar
¾ cup organic unsalted butter

Lemon Curd Filling:

4 organic eggs
1 ¾ cups organic granulated sugar
2 tablespoons organic rice flour
2 tablespoons organic cornstarch
¼ cup organic lemon juice (or use 3 lemons for fresh squeezed)
1 teaspoon organic lemon zest
½ teaspoon gluten free baking powder

Topping:

½ cup organic powdered sugar



Directions to make the shortbread crust:
  1. Preheat oven 350º, grease a 9 in x 13 in pan or line with parchment paper
  2. Combine butter into rice flour and powdered sugar until slightly crumbly
  3. Pour into bottom of pan and pat evenly for a thick layer crust
  4. Bake 17 to 20 minutes until edges are slightly brown. Let cool slightly in pan.
  5. Turn oven heat to 325º

For the lemon curd filling:
  1. While the crust is baking, beat eggs until they are thick and lemon colored.
  2. Add granulated sugar and beat until smooth
  3. Add rice flour, cornstarch, lemon juice, lemon zest, and baking powder. Beat until smooth.
  4. Pour over crust and bake at a reduced heat of 325º for 20 minutes or until filling is set.

Topping:
  1. Dust with ¼ cup of powdered sugar after taking out of the oven.
  2. Let cool in pan then dust with the remaining ¼ cup of powdered sugar
  3. Slice and enjoy!

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Terressentials Mothers Day 2013 Photo Contest!



As many of you probably already know, we are having a photo contest for Mothers Day this year where you can win your mother, a loved one, a friend, or yourself (!) a lavender themed gift package.

See contest details online at this link.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Update to our Hair Help Blog!





Hi everyone! We just wanted to let you know that we added a few new blog posts about hair care to our Hair Help Blog! Now there is no need to worry — the rest of the great information that was previously posted is still available. We just wanted to add some more commonly asked questions. So feel free to browse through our Hair Help Blog to see the new posts and to learn all about true USDA certified organic hair care!

Monday, April 8, 2013

Terressentials Earth Day Contest 2013!



Thanks! presquesage


Do you absolutely love  our USDA certified organic body care products?
 
Do you wish that you could just give them away to your friends and family who are making the leap to organic like you are? We wish we could just give them away, too. But, unfortunately, we can't afford to give away our products.
Well, most days we can't, but we're going to make an exception for one day: Earth Day. 

Here's what you can win:
 
1st place wins at least $50 worth of Terressentials products of our choice and some beautiful fair trade, handcrafted gifts from our Patrick Street store.
 
2nd place wins at least $25 worth of Terressentials products of our choice.
 
3rd place wins at least $15 worth of Terressentials products of our choice.

How to participate:
 
Earth is a big planet! So this contest is open to all of our friends around
the world!
 
You can do one of two things. You can either send us a video of what you did on Earth Day, or you can send us a photo with a caption.
 
Video entries must be two minutes or less explaining (or showing) what you did on Earth Day that will have a lasting impact on you, your community, or the planet. Please upload your video to Youtube and send us the link!
 
Photo entries can have more than one photo (no more than three, please!) and need an accompanying paragraph of no more than 250 words explaining what you're doing in the photo. Photos must be no larger
than 700 x 500.
 
In general we are looking for activities that are powerful, impactful, and long lasting. So, "I rode a bike to work that day. I'm so green" is lame and won't get you a prize. We're looking for entries such as "Here is a picture of my friends and I installing rain barrels at a local elementary school that will collect rain water to irrigate the school's plants." (Sorry, but the idea of installing rain barrels is no longer an idea you can win with!)

Contest submissions must be sent via email.
 
Send your email entry with the subject line of "Terressentials Earth Day Contest Entry" to terrehelpdesk@mailworks.org !
 
Good luck and Happy Earth Day!

Entries are due Monday, April 29, 2013
by 11:59 pm EST.
 
The lucky winners will be announced no later than May 6th and may be featured in a future newsletter article and on our Facebook page !




Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Deb's Daring Discount: India Culture Challenge!


 Some lovely ladies sporting Bindis on their foreheads. Thanks mckaysavage for the photo!

 As I'm sure you know, we're doing another Deb's Daring Discount this Saturday, April 6, at our downtown Frederick store between 5 and 9 pm! Since we're rolling with the theme of Bollywood, we're featuring an India trivia game!

See our announcement here for the trivia game's rules and hints to the answers!