M Banks

 

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New Hobby, Who Dis? 6 Clever Experiential Gift Ideas We Love

A pretty gift provides a sparkle of excitement, but a new hobby can kick off a much higher level of joy and self-knowledge. This season, we're making an effort to give more sustainable and more meaningful gifts, and this list of experiential gift ideas is the perfect place to start.

Don't get us wrong, we 're not forgoing clean candles and cute sweaters as gift list go-tos, but for the loved ones on our list who crave something a little more experiential, give them the gift of a new hobby instead. The following ideas are fun if you do it just once, but even better if you dive in and keep practicing...

Wheel Pottery | There's just something deeply meditative and rewarding about sitting down at a wheel and modeling a functional vessel - with your hands - our of silky, natural clay. Our favorite spot in LA is Still Life Ceramics. Based downtown at ROW DTLA with a new Santa Monica location coming soon, the vibe is just right. You can purchase a one-off class or a monthly membership that gives you unlimited access to clay and glazes.

Homesteading | Up in NorCal, Women’s Heritage leads workshops that teach women how to homestead according to the three founder’s skill sets. The founders include a folk herbalist, and animal specialist and a home cook extraordinaire. See our features on the ladies here. 

Flower Arrangement | Support your local florists and learn a new skill in the process. A quick online search should reveal plant and flower arranging classes in your area. Its a slow and beautiful craft, and a chance to turn nature into art. Swoon over our floral workshops on the site -- start with the one shown above.

Breathwork | Breathwork isn' a hobby per se, but gifting a friend a private session or group workshop can kick off a new passion for it with benefits that will last a lifetime.

Wildcrafting | We've been enamoured with WildCraft Studio School in Portland for years. If you don't live in the PNW, don't panic -- every so often they host workshops elsewhere as well. Check out our feature on their leather sandal class and this 'it' bag workshop too.

Bread Baking | It's an art, its a science, it's the perfect new hobby for your homiest friend. As baking bread takes several hours, it's unlikely that you'll find a class to purchase. Instead, buy your baker-to-be a couple of essential cookbooks (this or this), some key break baking tools, or a live sourdough starter. Better yet, make your own sourdough starter (recipe here!) and gift a piece to your friend.

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7 Beauty Gifts That Are Completely Sustainable

As we gear up for a season of gratitude, and a brand new year shortly after, we're looking for simple ways to integrate eco-friendly habits into our daily lives. We want to use our dollars to support brands that help us help our environment. Whether you're hunting for great gifts or re-stocking on makeup and skincare, why not give these sustainable beauty brands a go?

One of our favorite places to shop for clean, values-driven beauty is The Detox Market. They are just as obsessive as we are about quality, ethics and pretty packaging -- and have pointed us in the direction of some amazing sustainable beauty brands. Discover a few of our fave clean, effective and eco-conscious products...

Aether Beauty: Amethyst Crystal Gemstone Palette | Aether created one of the first zero-waste palettes and it's pretty close to perfect. These versatile shadows contain organic coconut oil and organic shea butter for a smooth, buttery application with serious color payoff. Rounded out with soothing lavender oil, the shadows are designed to flatter all skin tones and last. CHECK OUT

Kjaer Weis: Lip Tint | Kjaer Weis makes some of the most elegant refillable beauty products out there. This chic little lip tint leaves the lips moisturized, with a modern, not-too-shiny finish. The ingredients are perfectly clean and the packaging is sturdy enough be used again and again. CHECK OUT

 

The Organic Skin Company: Cheeky Lips Pod | This eco-conscious brand plants one tree for every product purchased - and they tell you so when you open the box. Their focus is on creating your own makeup palette to enhance your natural beauty. Their vividly pigmented multi-use creams impart a long-lasting, healthy glow featuring a splash of organic sunflower and castor seed oils ensure a smooth application, while pomegranate and rosemary supercritical extracts nourish all skin types. CHECK OUT

Kaia Naturals: The Vitamin Cleanse Wipes | These gentle, makeup removing wipes are the sustainable answer to single-use wipes. They are crafted from 100% biodegradable and compostable unbleached bamboo and soaked in vitamins C, E, and B12—plus antioxidant-rich honey and skin-softening sunflower seed oil. CHECK OUT

Alima Pure: Satin Matte Foundation | Alima pure believes in using minimal ingredients for maximum impact. They have spent over a decade being carbon neutral by offsetting 100% their carbon emissions. Many of their products can be refilled to reduce waste. CHECK OUT

 

 

True Organic of Sweden: All You Need Is Me | All You Need Is Me is an effective multi-use balm that protects the skin against weather and wind, soothes irritation, relieves minor sunburn, whitens and reduces age spots, helps heal minor scrapes and deeply hydrates for soft and supple skin. This tube is made out of sugarcane, filled with 100% natural ingredients (95% of which are certified organic). CHECK OUT

Meow Meow Tweet : Grapefruit Baking Soda Free Deodorant Stick | This brand's signature is biodegradable packaging and fun cute designs! Plus, the completely deodorant actually works! CHECK OUT

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This Wellness Gift Is A Total Game-Changer (And Under $30)

You’re on a 3-plus hour flight, and to say you’re getting restless is an understatement. Your feet are asleep, ankles feel swollen, and you just can’t find a comfortable position.

It’s the middle of the workday...and you’ve already been on your feet for five hours. The backs of your knees ache and you feel light-headed. The clock is moving at a snail’s pace.

If you can relate to either of these scenarios, you’re not alone. Standing or sitting for long periods of time can be hard on our bodies and we feel it. But what if we told you there was one product that could drastically improve your well-being in both of these situations—and almost effortlessly?

Well, there is: compression socks.

Why Everyone Should Have (At Least One Pair Of) Compression Socks

We know, we know. At first glance, compression socks seem a little old school. (Yes, doesn’t your grandpa wear them?) But recently compression therapy is seeing a wellness-focused comeback—thanks to its low-effort ability to increase energy, and reduce inflammation and swelling.

Compression therapy works by squeezing the leg tissues and the walls of the veins in your feet, which creates pressure that helps blood in those veins return to the heart more efficiently. Fresh, oxygenated blood benefits countless aspects of your health, regardless of age.

Ever feel like your ankles have gained five pounds after a flight? That’s normal. When circulation gets hampered, fluid can start to pool in the feet and ankles, leading to uncomfortable swelling. Compression socks can help prevent this fluid buildup and also support the movement of lymphatic fluid, which means your cells get the attention they need to live their healthiest life—even when you’re rushing around all day or stuck on a plane for hours on end.

Getting the blood in your feet and legs flowing will help decrease soreness and cramping, so athletes, doctors, and anyone on their feet for long periods of time can also benefit from the added support of compression socks.

Not All Compression Socks Are Created Equal

If the knowledge above was enough to convince you to take a pair of compression socks for a spin, there are a few things to know before you buy. First, not all compression socks are created equal. In fact, most compression socks on the market are expensive, too tight and unattractive.

Luckily, Comrad compression socks have been lovingly designed to support your feet just the right amount—and make sure you look good doing it. Comrad's daily essential knee-high compression socks come in styles like Indigo with White Stripes and colors like Muted Rose, giving you the look of a dress sock but also the moisture-wicking, antimicrobial support of an athletic sock, and the health benefits of a compression sock. Sounds like a win-win-win, doesn’t it?

As an added bonus, each pair costs less than $30 dollars, making them the perfect wellness gift that won’t break the bank.

Our Top Picks From Comrad

berry Dip Dye | The dip dye. Yes, compression socks are functional, but they might as well be a little fun too. Show off the ombre while you lounge at home or let them remain a mystery under long pants as you adult your way through the work day. Shop Now

Muted Rose with indigo stripes | Pink socks, yes -- but modern pink socks. We love it when pink masquerades as a neutral and this stripey, yet functional sock pulls it off perfectly. Shop Now

Grey with Charcoal Stripe What is it with grey on grey stripes? If you're anything like us, this will match a half down sweater and T's already hanging in our closets. It's classic, timeless and - somehow - just a little bit comforting. Shop Now

Ready to experience that Comrad Compression Socks feeling?
Use our exclusive Chalkboard offer for 25% off your first purchase. Just use the code: CHALKBOARD25

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On CBD + Promising Research On Depression

We're constantly learning more about the functionality of CBD from one of our favorite brands in the space. From day one, the team behind Foria has been in full sprint to educate the public on the importance of CBD for a wide variety of conditions and concerns. Having met the team and enjoyed watching the brand's rise to popularity, we're sharing more from Foria — this time on the topic of mood and depression, something so many of us struggle with at this time of year more than any other.

TCM readers can now try Foria's Basics tincture or capsules for 20% off—possibly the best gift you'll get or give this season. Here's the emerging research on CBD as it relates to mood and depression according to Foria... 

Many people still believe that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, a serotonin deficiency. But according to Genevieve R. Moore PhD, a Yale-educated biologist, while serotonin is definitely part of the big picture, the verdict is still out about who could use more or less serotonin—and depression is linked to many other neurotransmitter imbalances.

Depression is connected to conditions like inflammation and structural brain changes resulting from trauma or chronic stress—all of which could be the real cause of the imbalances that lead to mood changes. Ultimately, there is a wide net of influences contributing to whether or not a person gets trapped by depression. These include:

+ genetics
+ physical illness
+ chronic stress
+ stressful life events
+ past trauma
+ physical pain
+ social isolation
+ other emotional disorders

With so many different avenues leading to the condition, it should be no surprise that there is not one single miracle cure for depression. What helps a person recover from depression is highly individual. And those who take a multi-pronged approach to recovery may often have better results than those who depend on a single solution.

On Neural Regeneration + Healing Your Brain

Although SSRIs cause an immediate spike in serotonin levels, it can take weeks before mood improves, if at all. Scientifically speaking, serotonin levels may not be directly responsible for healing from depression—so what is?

It turns out that when people suffer from depression, a specific region of the brain known as the hippocampus can atrophy and even shrink (the hippocampus is responsible for memory, learning and emotion). Fortunately, this unique part of the brain is also capable of recovering. It can grow new neurons and form new connections (a process called “neurogenesis” or “neural regeneration”), something we once thought only young brains were capable of. But research has since revealed the ability of our brains to change throughout our lives, an ability named “neuroplasticity.”

The reason antidepressants work for some is that they actually stimulate neural regeneration in the hippocampus. This could be why antidepressants take weeks to kick in—brain neurons need time to heal, grow and form new connections. If this is news to you, that’s because the cutting edge of depression research right now is hippocampal neurogenesis.

What we’ve learned so far is that although antidepressants can help to stimulate neural regeneration, a wide variety of other lifestyle choices and supplements can also help with this process.

How CBD Stimulates Neural Regeneration

Cannabidiol recently gained FDA approval as a cannabis-derived drug to treat epileptic seizures. According to researchers, the major reason it works for seizures is that CBD protects neurons in the hippocampus—the exact brain area that is atrophied in depressed people—and there’s interesting evidence from both animal and human research. For example:

Rodent Evidence | In epileptic rats, CBD treatments reduce neuron atrophy and death in the hippocampus.

Human Evidence | Like depressed people, chronic users of THC tend to have a smaller hippocampus, but CBD (in higher-CBD cannabis) helps prevent this shrinking.

Scientists think CBD could protect or regenerate the hippocampus via the following pathways:

Endocannabinoids | Endocannabinoids are used throughout the brain and body to help regulate memory, appetite, inflammation and more. CBD’s impact on the endocannabinoid system is complex, but it appears to increase the brain’s natural levels of endocannabinoids. In mice, CBD increased levels of anandamide in the hippocampus—which then stimulated neuron growth.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) | This protein helps existing neurons survive, while encouraging the growth of new neurons and connections (synapses). Multiple rodent studies have observed that CBD increases BDNF levels in the hippocampus while simultaneously reducing depressive symptoms. (However, not all studies agree, so this continues to be investigated.)

Serotonin receptors | Similar to the antianxiety drug buspirone, CBD activates a type of serotonin receptor (5-HT1A). These receptors control a wide variety of other neurotransmitters, and buspirone has been shown to increase neurogenesis in the opossum hippocampus so it’s likely CBD could have similar effects.

PPARγ | When CBD binds to this receptor, it tells DNA to start manufacturing a wide range of neuron-protecting and anti-inflammatory compounds. Scientists recently discovered that this receptor also helps CBD stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis.

Clues That CBD May Help With Depression

It’s one thing to prove that CBD helps protect and grow neurons (which it does), but proving that it can be useful for treating a disease as complex as depression will be difficult. Although large-scale human trials are not available yet, preliminary evidence is promising:

the circumstantial evidence | There are conflicting reports about whether cannabis use contributes to depression or helps relieve it. However, when medical marijuana becomes available, young American men (ages 20-39) experience a drop in suicide rates. Also, a few years ago, a drug for weight loss was developed that worked exactly the opposite way from cannabis—by inhibiting the body’s endocannabinoid system. Shockingly, it was discontinued almost immediately because it drastically increased people’s risk for depression and suicide. Needless to say, the importance of endocannabinoids in mental health caught the attention of scientists.

Experimental evidence | Clinical trials are currently underway to examine CBD’s effectiveness at relieving anxiety, and anxiety can be a major contributor to depression. Although we lack controlled experiments testing CBD as a treatment for depressed humans, pre-clinical experiments on rodents have been promising. CBD helped relieve depression in rats, even when they also suffered from diabetes. However, this benefit wasn’t immediate: Scientists had to give them a few doses of CBD, starting 24 hours before testing. Another study found that a single dose of CBD had rapid antidepressant effects on both mice and rats, lasting up to seven days after the treatment. Additionally, in mice, CBD’s antidepressant effects are even more effective when combined with an SSRI. (In case you’re curious how scientists measure rodent depression: The most common experiment is to place mice or rats in deep water and record how long they keep swimming. The ones that give up faster are considered depressed. Don’t worry, the scientists don’t let them drown.)

Growing Your Brain Toward The Light

Depression is a mental trap. And it takes time and patience to rewire a depressed brain. If you suffer from depression, harmful mental patterns can be reinforced by everything from your own thoughts, to imbalanced neurochemistry, to unhealthy neural connections. You might need support in all three of these categories to find lasting recovery.

Although molecules (including CBD) can help your brain circuitry grow and form new connections, you’re still in charge of what types of new connections are made. If you combine brain-focused treatments with psychotherapy, self-help books or sources of inspiration, you can help your brain grow in a new, more loving direction.

And there are many other ways to help your brain grow new neurons other than with CBD or antidepressants. (See our piece on natural ways to heal your hippocampus for more ideas to include in your self-care routine.) CBD is not a first-line depression treatment, although you might find it useful as part of a long-term recovery plan. If you’re in the middle of a crisis or considering suicide, we urge you to call a hotline or seek professional support. Also, talk with your doctor before incorporating CBD into your self-care routine, especially if you take prescription drugs with potential interactions.

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.

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NYC Sip Of The Month: Scary Spiced Latte At The Clean Market

When resident foodie and cocktail connoisseur Kat Odell tells us we need to try something, we do. Enter the Scary Spice Latte from modern apothecary Clean Market in NYC. It's equal parts delicious, clean and healthy (see: chia, blue flower and oat milk). Lucky for us, she's sharing how to make it at home.

What I drank: Clean Market’s Scary Spice Latte

Why I drank it: Because the SSL is the new PSL. I love the flavors of fall and winter, especially in drink form, but most of what’s on the market isn’t entirely clean. But one of my favorite healthy markets in NYC, Clean Market, has a totally good-for-you version that’s made with chai spices, antioxidant-rich butterfly pea flower (hence that fun blue-green hue), honey, ginger juice and your milk of choice.

Why you need it: Because not only is this drink totally warming and delicious, but it’s packed with ingredients that support a strong immune system (and also, brain health!). Plus, it’s super easy to make on your own with the below recipe.

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How To Decorate Cookies With Botanicals According To Martha Stewart

These botanical cookies are equal parts gorgeous and delicious -- the perfect excuse to linger in the kitchen and make something over-the-top. We're delighted to share Martha Stewart's own recipe for flower-embellished cookies from her 95th (!) cookbook out now, Martha Stewart's Cookie Perfection. Yes, this recipe involves tweezers but if you're a fan of Stewart you've come to expect that.

We've included the old-fashioned cookie recipe, which you could replace with any sugar or gluten-free recipe of your choice -- what we're really after here is this gorgeous style of decoration from the queen herself. (Make sure those pistachios are Sicilian!) 

Flower-Embellished Wreaths
Makes about 16 cookies

FOR THE COOKIES
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/4 tsp coarse salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
finely grated zest of 1 orange (about 1 Tbsp)
2 Tbsp brandy
Lemon Glaze (recipe below)

To make the cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium-high, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg, orange zest, and brandy until well combined. Gradually add flour mixture and mix on low until just combined. On a lightly floured surface, shape dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to overnight.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using a 31/2‑inch fluted round. Use a 1-inch round cutter to cut out centers of cookies. Reroll scraps once. Transfer wreaths to parchment-lined baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until set and golden around edges, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire racks and let cool completely.

Lemon Glaze
Makes about ¾ cup

1 large egg white
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted, plus more if needed
1 to 2 tsp fresh lemon juice

In a large bowl, whisk together egg white, sugar, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice until smooth. If necessary, add up to 1 teaspoon lemon juice to reach desired consistency. If glaze runs down edges of cookie, add more sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. If glaze is too thick, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time. (Use immediately, or store at room temperature, with plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, up to 2 days, or refrigerate up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using.)

To decorate the cookies: Place lemon glaze in a shallow bowl. Working with one cookie at a time, dip cookie top side down in lemon glaze to coat surface, allowing excess glaze to drip back into bowl. Transfer glazed cookies to a wire rack or baking sheet. Working quickly before glaze sets, use tweezers to decorate cookies with toppings, if desired. Let stand at room temperature until completely dry, at least 2 hours. (Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to overnight.)

for the embellishments
candied ginger, finely chopped (recipe below)
candied citrus, finely chopped (recipe below)
pistachios (preferably Sicilian), finely chopped
sugared flowers, such as small pansies, rose petals, and violets (see recipe below)

Sugared Garnishes - mint leaves and small edible flowers, herb sprigs, and berries
This technique can be used for mint leaves and small edible flowers, herb sprigs, and berries. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg white and 1 tablespoon water. Holding the mint leaf or other garnish with tweezers, brush egg white onto surface to lightly coat both sides. Sprinkle superfine sugar over surface and transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to dry, about 8 hours. (Garnishes can be made 1 day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.)

Candied Citrus - oranges, lemons, or grapefruits
With a sharp paring knife, slice the ends of oranges, lemons, or grapefruits. Following the curve of the fruit, cut away the outermost peel, leaving most of the white pith on the fruit. Slice the peel lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips. In a medium pot of boiling water, cook peel until tender, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer peel to a wire rack set over a baking sheet; spread in a single layer to dry slightly, about 15 minutes. In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add peel and boil until it turns translucent and syrup thickens, 8 to 10 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer peel to wire rack, separating the pieces as needed. Let peel dry 1 hour. Toss with 1/2 cup sugar to coat.

Candied Ginger
In a saucepan over medium heat, bring 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water to a boil. Cook, stirring, until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, peel 2 pieces (6 inches each, about 8 ounces) fresh ginger. With a sharp paring knife, slice ginger crosswise very thinly (about 1/8 inch thick). Add ginger slices to pan; simmer over medium-low heat until translucent and tender, 20 to 25 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer ginger to a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with parchment; let drain. Reserve ginger syrup for another use (let cool; refrigerate in an airtight container up to 1 month). Pour 1/4 cup sugar into a small bowl; coat ginger slices, 1 or 2 at a time, in sugar. (Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 month.)

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