Pirates and Oysters and Guinness - Oh my!

Last weekend turned into a bit of a muddled mess. Iffy weather forecasts and a touch of nasty cold kept our scheduled events from proceeding as planned. BUT this weekend we shall prevail! So join us, won't you, for a weekend of pirates, oysters, Guinness, music, food and lots of fun!

Toms River Pirate Festival
Saturday, October 1
10 am to 5 pm
415 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ
Christ Episcopal Church
$10 for adults, $5 for under 18 and Seniors, under 3 is free
Live pirate music and shows all day. Imaginative and magical crafters and food vendors. This is such a fun event for children of all ages. Feel free to come in costume - although not required. Check out they're website for more details and the days schedule.

But wait... there's more...

Rescheduled from last week - the one and only

Red Bank Guinness and Oyster Festival
Sunday, October 2
Noon to 7 pm
White Street Parking Lot, Red Bank, NJ
$5 donation suggested for all those over 13
Live music from 2 stages all day, savory and creative food from over 20 restaurants, beer, intriguing information booths, vendors with fascinating wares (including yours truly). and did I mention beer.
Come celebrate the season with us!

The Guinness Oyster Festival is a fundraiser for the Jane H. Booker Cancer Center at
Riverview Medical Center, The Cancer Institute of NJ Foundation and Red Bank River Center.

Mention this post or one of our Facebook posts when you come to our booth at the festival and we'll present you with a token of our esteem and thanks.

Now - get to the festivals me hearties!

Upcoming events... and schedule changes

We love doing outdoor events - but sometimes they're tricky to manage. We were scheduled to go to the Allaire Fall Craft Festival today (Saturday, September 24). Although we love this event, we won't be there. Illness (I have a nasty bit of a cold) and iffy weather have made us decide to stay home.

Tomorrow (Sunday, September 25) is a new event, the Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival. We'll have to see how the weather goes, it may be moved to its rain date for next week. So stay tuned!

UPDATE: The Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival has been moved to Sunday October 2. Start your sunny day dances now!

Which Witch in the season of the Witch?

Soon we will be coming upon the season of the Witch. I don’t mean Halloween and “cast a spell” type of Witch (although that is coming and that’s a separate story). I mean season of the Witch … Hazel. Specifically Hamamelis virgniana, the plant that blossoms in late autumn and winter and has such fantastic healing properties.

Witch Hazel is native to the eastern part of the United States and Canada. It has several common names, including popping hazel, long boughs, spotted alder and winterbloom. It was widely used by Native American’s for a number of purposes. They used it for medicine. And because the branches were flexible yet strong, they used it to make their bows. Plants were brought over to Europe in the early 1700’s. In Middle English “wyche” meant pliable or flexible. Hazel – because the tree was similar to hazelnut. Over time it became Witch Hazel. Nothing spooky about that.

The shrub or tree can grow to be 12 to 15 feet tall. The leaves are a lovely red before they fall off for the winter. Here’s where Witch Hazel’s magic begins. After the leaves fall off, beautiful, bright yellow blossom appear in the early to late fall. At the same time, the fruit from last year’s blossoms ripens and makes an audible pop. No wonder the tree is considered to have mystical properties.

Native American Indians utilized Witch Hazel for a variety of medicines, applying decoctions and poultices on cuts, burns, bug bites, bruises, and sore and stiff joints, muscles and backs. Teas were used to help staunch internal bleeding and treat colds, sore throats and other ailments.

Another part of Witch Hazels magic is found in its strength as an astringent and anti inflammatory, as well as anti-itch properties. These enable Witch Hazel to help stop internal and external bleeding. It's a wonderful asset to skin care where it helps ease and prevent acne, tighten and tone up the skin, and help damaged blood vessels under the skin.

Witch Hazel hydrosol is also very effective in treating hemorrhoid’s and varicose veins. It’s a main ingredient in products like Preparation H Pads, Tucks, and others. The tannins and astringency help tighten the distended veins and add a protective structure to help the veins return to a more pliable, normal structure.

Witch Hazel just does so darn much. And you probably have a bottle of it in a bathroom cabinet. The Witch Hazel you find in your cabinet is most likely made from the leaves and young twigs, which are then distilled. The bark is used to make different tinctures and ointments.

I’ve always been a fan of Witch Hazel. I’ve used it straight as skin toner and in hair rinses. I’ve mixed it with different herbs for liniments and bruise treatments.

We use it in a number of our products, including our Face Toner; Dó Gréine Spray for sunburns, rashes and bug bites; Méla Tae Night Moon and Lemon Bright Hair rinses; and in one of our new skin care products (news on that one soon).

As the season of the Witch approaches, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for ghosts, goblins, flying brooms and magical winter blossoms of bright yellow, because Hazel is one of my favorite witches.

How do you like to use witch hazel?

Back To The Beach - the Beach Plum Festival that is!

This is probably one of the best events we attend each year. The event takes place at the
#1 bathing pavilion in gorgeous Island Beach State Park.

14th Annual Beach Plum Festival
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 9am- 4pm
Island Beach State Park Seaside Heights, NJ
There is park admission of $5 per car.

There will be

• A craft show and sale
• Kayak tours, nature hikes
• Beach plum picking and jelly making demonstrations
• Fly tying & casting demonstrations
• Many environmental organizations
• Children's games & activities
• Food
• Live entertainment
• And Lots more

Summer is winding down - but it's the best time to enjoy the beach and the beauty of nature. Stop by and visit with us. Mention this post - and you'll receive a free gift!

Celebrate September at the Jazz It Up Wine Festival

It's been a tough, windy, soggy week. But Labor Day weekend is here and it's time to get out and celebrate! Join us at the States Largest Wine Festival!

Saturday and Sunday, September 3 & 4, 2011
Noon to 5 pm
(raindate Monday September 5)

Admission is $25 and includes a glass for wine tasting. With over 20 vineyards in attendance - that could take you quite a while! If you are not tasting or are under 21 - it's free! Shop among the crafters and shops, check out the history of Allaire Village, dig the jazz music, and kick back!

Remember, summer isn't really over yet. So take advantage and bring a lawn chair. Stop by our booth and chat for a while. Mention this post and we'll give you a gift!

So celebrate September and enjoy the lingering summer with us. We're jazzed - hope you are too!