Blog Posts by The Succulent Wife

C60 Bamboo Veggie SaverI am not a big proponent on New Year's resolutions but I must say that I did make one for this year. My biggest pet peeve is wasted food (ask any of my children) and my biggest nemesis is the veggie and fruit drawer in my fridge.

We have written about c60 Bamboo's air freshener before and just learned that the company introduced a Fruit and Veggie Saver to their product line. Yes, you guessed it, it's bamboo! This produce saver has been tested and shown to keep produce fresh 80% longer than without it.

How it does it work? Simple. As fruits and vegetables ripen they release ethylene gas. The bamboo charcoal reduces this gas and allows the produce to prolong its freshness. This is an eco-friendly and money saving solution. The Fruit and Veggie Saver works for at least 6 months and can be recycled after use. It can be used for produce kept either in the refrigerator or on the counter. This is one New Year's Resolution that I can - and will - actually follow through on! To

Now that the holidays (and food-related excesses) are behind us, it's time to focus on our health. More than a few of us have an "Eating Clean" resolution on our agenda this year. Which is why it's completely apropos to introduce you to Einkorn wheat, an ancient species of hulled wheat. Einkorn, which ISN'T corn (translates precisely to "single grain" from German) is man's first form of cultivated wheat, grown by farmers over 10,000 years ago. Historically, we know that Einkorn has been forgotten and has been passed over for higher yielding and more glutinous (for bread-making) wheat crops.

But today, there is good reason to reintroduce this grain in our diet as testing that reveals Einkorn to be a much more nutritious grain. Genetically speaking, Einkorn is the purest form of wheat. It contains higher levels of protein, essential fatty acids, phosphorous, potassium, pyridoxine (B6), lutein and beta-carotene (lutein). For those with a gluten intolerance, there is evidence that

Who would not like to know their future? Especially in the launch of a new year. And, in case you've always been curious - as I have! - about the origins of the many forms of fortune telling, I thought I'd share a little research as well as a few favorite (and free!) websites that make such predictions.

tarotWhether you believe in it or not, knowing the future is not a new thing. All forms of divination come from ancient times and was a very common practice in early societies. For example, the Tarot is a deck of cards that originated over 500 years ago in northern Italy. Although the Tarot deck of 78 cards was first used as a card game, it quickly became a tool for divination. The Tarot deck consists of Major (0 - 22) and Minor (four suits of 14 cards each) arcana cards. The early Tarot deck had symbolism from the Medieval and Renaissance Europe

I became a Social Worker right after I graduated from University. When my husband was first transferred to the States, I had lots of time one my hands so I decided to try yoga. After my first yoga class I was hooked and became immersed in the yoga community to a point where I was offered a job and soon worked my way up to a senior position at a large yoga company that has studios in New York, Los Angeles and Orange County. After my two youngest were born, my career path took another unexpected turn and I was offered an editor's position for TheSucculentWife. I have enjoyed all three careers and feel blessed that I have found three very different career paths that suited who I was at that particular time of my life.

this is not the career i orderedWhen I saw the book, This is Not the Career I Ordered, by Caroline Dowd-Higgins, I immediately requested a copy. Dowd-Higgins wrote the book after she had to re-invent herself, first from a starving opera singer to a career coach and then to author.

The book is

As with all families, our Christmas morning's agenda is all about opening presents and pulling fun gifts and treats out of stockings. But before that even happens, everyone needs to hold tight until the coffee and hot chocolate drinks are made and, more importantly, that the Chelsea Buns (our Christmas morning tradition) are baked. We nibble on these wonderfully gooey, decadent Chelsea Buns that I have prepared the night and just popped in the oven that morning. They are sooooo easy to make and delicious and serve as Christmas morning breakfast appetizer, a prelude to our "official" Christmas breakfast.

The Chelsea Buns are a once a year treat that is as much anticipated as the opening of the presents.

Here is the recipe:

CaliBowlIt is one of those " wish I had thought of that!" products. One of my favorite serving bowls is a sugar bowl because it has a nice lip around the top (for the lid to sit on) that helps prevent the dip from spilling over the edge as you try to scoop it onto a cracker. It is way too small to be really practical for parties but I still bring it out knowing I will have to refill it more often. Then someone told me about the CaliBowls .

Jeff Bollengier, a native from California and surfer enthusiast, invented theses bowls purely out of the constant frustration of trying to get fresh salsa onto a chip. The lip of the CaliBowl is designed like a wave with an inward curve, that pushes the dip back onto whatever you are eating with, such as, a chip, veggie slice or utensil. So, no more slopping the food over the edge of the bowl and coming up with an empty chip. Or, unthinkably, using a finger to push the dip onto the chip. We would never do that.

Thank goodness the CaliBowls are

Karma BottlesNothing plebeian about this little California bubbly. Karma Fine Beverages has re-conceptualized how we should be drinking our effervescent wine: in single-serve (187 ml), wide neck bottles, ready for the taking right then and there, no glasses or straws necessary.

The wine itself has been described as "clean, crisp and dry". That would be exact. Nothing froufrou about this custom blend of French Colombard and Chenin Blanc. However, if you like to dress up your Brut, this wine lends itself very well to that, as does the bottle which was designed to be topped off with a variety of liquors and purées for the making of specialty cocktails.

Can you imagine the places that these hip bottles of bubbly can go? I thought you'd like to know, just in time for the Holiday and New Year's festivities.

Karma can be purchased online at Bevmo.com , and in stores at Whole Foods and World Market. Oh, and on Virgin America should you be flying soon.