2016
AUTUMN SPICE
IN THIS ISSUE: ADVENTURE IN OREGON BY TASHA ELKINS TRAVELPARTTIME.COM
HEY THERE! WE DO THINGS LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY HERE. SKIMBACO LIFESTYLE DIGITAL MAGAZINE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY US. US = BUNCH OF SUPER COOL FOLKS WHO MET ONLINE, AND IN REAL LIFE TOO. THIS IS A PASSION PROJECT INSTEAD OF PUBLICATION FULL OF ADS. WITH LOVE FROM US TO YOU.
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PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNAL
FROM THE EDITOR | KATJA PRESNAL Happy Autumn! When you think of autumn, do you have a favorite scent that describes the season for you? Or does fall-time make you want to travel to a certain place? If you described autumn as food or a certain drink, which would it be? In this issue we sort of explore all of them. Leigh interviewed a world leading expert on smell, and goes in detail how scents affect us, and how it is possible to train our sense of smell. Aromatherapy with essential oils is a great way to enjoy your favorite
essential oils for fall, and diffuser blends for every mood. Of course, we love diffusing oils in our diffuser jewelry. scents, so we also feature some of our favorite
I love the scent of Scandinavian cinnamon buns, and I share my cinnamon bun memories and recipe. Tasha’s family gatherings are not the same without pumpkin pie, and she created a healthier version for guilt-free indulging. Enjoy our stories from Spain to coast of Oregon, and join us in the discussion about the trend of culinary tourism. Does tourism drive culinary experiences, or is it the local food traditions drawing visitors from afar? As always, we want to discuss today’s top trends, but appreciate traditions. In fact, we believe in finding your own style more than following trends even in fashion - and our fall fashion feature is all about shopping your own closet, and filling it with classic pieces that will pass the test of time. For those who dread the cooler weather, we hope you will get one last warm spell... with Indian summer. For those who need extra kick to feel the warmth this fall, Wes has a cocktail just for you! If you have Spotify - listen to
our
fall music playlist while you enjoy this issue!
Katja Presnal Owner | Editor-in-Chief Skimbaco Lifestyle
Pictured: The largest cinnamon bun of Sweden in Cafe Husaren in Gothenburg. No, I could not eat the whole thing!
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Fall style feature: 15 fall must haves! Best: you can shop your closet for them.
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Wellness lifestyle: Scents explained by world expert on psychology of smell.
Music: Fall 2016 music playlist and the latest in wireless audio by Sonos
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Wellness lifestyle: Essential oil diffuser blends for fall.
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Travel: Luxurious adventure through coast of Oregon.
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Food: Healthy version of pumpkin pie
FALL RECIPES: HEALTHY PUMPKIN PIE PG. 35 CINNAMON BUNS PG. 50
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Food: My love affair with cinnamon buns & cinnamon bun recipe. Lifestyle: Indian Summer - enjoying summer one more time!
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Community: Featured Skimbacoer
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Expat living: Our road to Barcelona
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Community: My Skimbaco Moments from beaches to behind the scens of NYFW
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Travel: Weekend retreats: Colorado
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Culinary travel: Do culinary experiences drive travel to certain destinations? Culinary travel: Normandy’s fall apples bring us Calvados. Culinary travel: Tasting Spanish wines
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Wellness lifestyle: Thieves - essential oil blend with history and healing power.
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At home: Eco-friendly laundry tips
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Health: 8 Reasons to Join Young Living 6
SKIMBACO TEAM KATJA PRESNAL | Editor-in-Chief/Owner | Nova Scotia, Canada Born in Finland, but left almost twenty years ago to travel the world with the love of her life and their three children. Founded Skimbaco Lifestyle in 2007 to inspire living life to the fullest. INSTAGRAM: skimbaco | katjapresnal
brooke Genn | Editor & Photographer | USA Creative and adventurous. International photographer and travel writer whose imagery draws you in and plants your feet on the cobblestone in whichever foreign town she and her husband are exploring. Prone to spontaneity, likely to set sail on a moments notice and always takes the road less traveled. INSTAGRAM: nomadicnewlyweds tasha elkins | Travel Blogger | Oklahoma, USA "I have a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering. I work in Oil & Gas. I refuse to let either of those things define me or keep me from my passion - travel,� says Tasha , who has dedicated her free-time to finding ways of making traveling feasible while having a day job. All of her tips & trips can be found at her site Travel Part Time. INSTAGRAM: weekendretreats WES HOLLAND | Luxury Lifestyle Writer | NYC, New York, USA
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Wes is a luxury lifestyle writer based in New York and the founder of Life Through Preppy Glasses He is the head of marketing and creative strategy for a top-producing luxury real estate team in NYC and the Hamptons. Wes can often be found enjoying a glass of champagne or checking out the hottest spots in the city. INSTAGRAM: wes_holland | skimbacofashion LEIGH HINES | Luxury Travel Writer | North Carolina, USA Obsessed with luxury hotels, likes healthy living and loves afternoon tea. Former TV journalist. Southern girl who loves everything European. Thinks a good luxury hotel is a destination of its own. Mother of two. Founder of Hines Sight Blog. INSTAGRAM: hinessightblog
AND CONTRIBUTORS ANDREA FELLMAN | Wanderlust Expert | Barcelona, Spain Andrea Fellman is a stylish nomad traveling the world with her husband and two kids. She was living in Costa Rica for three years and just recently moved to Barcelona, Spain. She loves coffee, adventure, fashion and staying at small boutique hotels. She blogs about life as an expat mom and shares her travel stores over at Wanderlust Living. INSTAGRAM: andreafellman kayla short | Lifestyle Blogger | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Author behind the award-winning Shortpresents.com about food, fashion, beauty, and travel. Kayla was also recently chosen as one of Huffington Post’s Top 50 Canadians among the Prime Minster, Chris Hadfield, Drake, and many extremely accomplished and inspiring Canadians. Kayla has also been on CTV, Pop Culture TV, and CBC. INSTAGRAM: shortpresents isabella presnal | Vlogger | Canada Isabella has a YouTube channel: AVloggingGirl. She has lived in five different countries and despite her young age, has traveled more than some ever will. Currently a student, and holds the executive production manager position for her school’s student news broadcast while studying for the International Baccalaureate diploma. INSTAGRAM: avlogginggirl MOONA-MARIA JOYNER | makeup artist | Navarre, Florida Easygoing but hardworking Finnish girl living the dream in Florida. Professional makeup artist and a licensed Esthetician who loves to travel. Moona is proud of her daughter, Melissa, adores her dog, Lucie, and enjoys cooking. She has worked for Dior, Lancôme and Aveda as a marketing manager, makeup artist and luxury advisor. Find Moona at the As You Like It Aveda salon in Mary Esther Florida. INSTAGRAM: Moona_Joy Carolyne Kauser-Abbott | Lifestyle Blogger | Canmore, Alberta, Canada Carolyne Kauser-Abbott has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and social media consulting. Carolyne writes Ginger and Nutmeg a travel blog for food lovers, manages a digital magazine on all things Perfectly Provence and features highquality handcrafted collections on Atelier, an e-commerce website for artisans. INSTAGRAM: atelierboutiques
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PHOTO: KATJA PRESNAL
“FASHION IS A TREND. STYLE LIVES WITHIN A PERSON.” OSCAR DE LA RENTA FALL STYLE FEATURE EDITOR: KATJA PRESNAL
It’s all about individual style, and creating a versatile wardrobe that reflects you and your lifestyle. Fashion blogger Kayla Short of ShortPresents.com gives you tips how less is often more, and how focusing on your individual style makes more sense, than focusing on trends. Keep reading and see how we styled some of the versatile wardrobe essentials in a way that it’s timeless, yet trendy. Especially travelers and minimalists will love how easy it is to get out of the house fast and look like million bucks. The best really: you can probably start by shopping your own closet first. We did.
FOCUS ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL STYLE BY KAYLA SHORT
When it comes to our wardrobes we tend to take a more is more mentality, but we don’t realize what we sacrifice in the process. In order to manufacture clothing for the same price as a latte clearly some corners need to be cut, and drowning in a sea of clothing that either doesn’t fit anymore or you just don’t know how to style is an unnecessary burden we don’t need to wear. While I understand that we want to explore trends, and try new things there’s something to be said about being able to do more with less. Getting dressed in the morning can be overwhelming at best, but toss in a chaotic wardrobe of excess into the mix, and you’ve got your self a full blown anxiety attack in the making. Instead of buying everything off the mannequin or from a magazine consider curating some great basics, and ones of good quality that you can fall back on time and time again. When you have a reliable wardrobe it not only saves you money (in the long run) it will also save you time, and stress. 11
Items you might consider investing in are pieces you know you can wear over and over again.
SHORTPRESENTS
Think premium denim, neutral palette trousers, jackets, and good quality shoes. Blouses, tops, and accessories are pieces you can easily swap around, or purchase at a lower price point and it’ll completely change your look. I am a style blogger, yet people are always shocked at how little I pack when I travel or how small my wardrobe really is, but when you know yourself and your wardrobe you know which pieces you love to wear no matter what conditions are thrown at you. It’s so much more refreshing to see how you can make something completely different by pairing it with other items than wearing a brand new outfit every day.
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PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNAL
TEXT: KATJA PRESNAL PHOTOS: KATJA AND KRISTIAN PRESNAL
FALL FASHION TIP: SHOP YOUR OWN CLOSET We had a fun photoshoot on the streets of Halifax, Nova Scotia with 15 must have fall items. If you don’t have them in your closet yet - maybe you should! 13
PHOTO: KRISTIAN PRESNAL
HAVE FUN WITH A STATEMENT HAT! Get out of your comfort zone, and try something new this fall: get a statement hat. I swear, every time I wear my bowler hat I got in Dublin, I get compliments. Hats (with exception of baseball caps) haven’t truly been popular, but in the past couple of years they have been making a come back (do you already have a fedora?). Perhaps we also have Instagram to thank for the hat trend: women have realized what a blessing it is on bad hair days to use a statement hat to still get the killer picture of yourself. Or even better: you can just mysteriously hide behind the hat. Look one of these styles for super statement: floppy hat, large brimmed hat, bowler or a fedora. Bonus points if you pick another color than black. For everyday style try: French beret, or a newsboy cap.For winter start looking for fun beanies and furry bomber hats (try solid color or all fake fur or leather instead of the plaid wool). Good news: almost any hat looks on trend right now, so let YOUR style shine. Me? I just bought a beret, and for sure will be wearing it with a peacoat this fall and winter!
BONUS POINTS: a fun hat is super instagrammable! Use #skimbaco to share your photos of enjoying life this fall!
4 MUST HAVE SHOES FOR FALL Hat takes you out of your comfort zone... but for shoes: pick comfort! 1. Pick a pair of minimal high tops for everyday use, like the Lacoste ones pictured. 2. Rubber boots keep your feet dry, but the good old Hunter wellies also look stylish enough to take them from nature walks to city strolls. 3. Dr. Martens boots are my all time favorite: timeless (yet trendy!), good quality, and ah, so comfy for walking. 4. Fourth must have shoe style for the fall: leather boots. Shorter booties are great too, but honestly, good looking long leather boots make a style statement, elevate every outfit, and go from fall to winter.
PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNAL
VESTS, TURTLENECKS + FAUX FUR Versatile, perfect-for-layering vests! I love how Kayla styles her trendy statement faux fur vest in so many ways - for example on the top of a dress, or under a leather jacket to give just a little extra warmth and glam. Army green vest is another great item in anyone’s wardrobe. For more dressed up look, try the army green vest with a black sweater dress and booties. Turtlenecks are also back!
2 MUST HAVE VERSATILE JEWELRY PIECES We might be biased, but two must have accessories are the Boho wrap choker ($23) and the Live black tassel necklace ($108) from our own ENJOY LIFE diffuser jewelry collection. You can wear both in multiple ways, and the wrap choker also works a bracelet, as pictured on the left. And of course: you will love that you can add your favorite essential oils in the jewelry!
ENJOY L I F E
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WARDROBE CLASSICS 1. LEATHER JACKET
2. COMFY JEANS OR JEGGINGS
There are so many different styles of leather jackets to choose from. Whether you go with a classic bomber, or bohemian suede jacket with fringe, but add a leather (or faux leather) jacket to your wardrobe. They might go out of style every now and then, but leather jackets always come back in style, so pick one that reflects your individual style for you to wear for years to come. Shearling bomber jacket is making a huge comeback this fall - if you dare, combine it with flare jeans.
The runways might have more wide-leg jeans this fall, but go ahead and keep wearing your skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans and your ripped ol’ favorite jeans. Only thing better than well-fitting jeans are the comfy black leggings pants. Forget about yoga pants and fun colorful printed leggings - they are comfy yes, but not a fashion statement, at least a good one... But there is nothing wrong about wanting a little stretch in your pants. The Uniqlo leggings pants are a big hit at our house. It is possible to look stylish AND feel comfy. 21
3. PLAID SHIRT Classic plaid button-up shirt is always a great choice for fall apple picking, for Christmas card photos and for ski lodge lounging. And yes, it is still popular street style item, and pairs amazingly well with other fall fashion trends, like Isabella shows in the picture on the left.
4. DENIM JACKET I am so glad I’ve saved my old denim jackets... now our daughters use my old denim jackets even though they don’t fit me anymore. The key is just to pair your old denim jacket with today’s trends or your outfit will look outdated. When shopping for a denim jacket now - pick a classic style that you can keep as a wardrobe essential for years to come.
5. MULTI-USE DRESSES Now here is an idea: use your summer dress all fall long. Use the tips from this fall feature and layer your summer dress with a turtleneck, fur vest, leather or denim jacket and either Dr. Martens or long boots, add a statement hat on the top, and you are ready to give your summer dress two more months of use. Especially flower dresses are 22 very trendy!
What’s in your Sonos?
FALL MUSIC PLAYLIST listen on Spotify
Million Reasons - Lady Gaga Still Falling for You - Ellie Goulding Drum - Mø Cool - Daya Blended Family - Alicia Keys, A$AP Rocky Follow You Home - Matt Millz 33”GOD” - Bon Iver All we know - The Chainsmokers Hurts - Emeli Sandé Love me now - John Legend The Greatest - Sia Tragedy - Norah Jones I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Bootstraps I Could Be Happy - Nouvelle Vague All to Myself - Amber Coffman
Playing music from your phone isn’t anything new - but forget about plugging it in, or having to leave your phone on a docking station. Enter the world of Sonos wireless sound system. Now when I watch movies on Netflix, I use my Sonos app to control the sound in the living room speakers, or with a few taps on my phone I can quickly change to my favorite Spotify playlist to play on all of the speakers in the house. If you are in New York City, the first Sonos store opened at 101 Greene Street, Soho, this summer. 468 Apple Stores around the world also just started selling two of Sonos’ most popular speakers — the PLAY:1 and PLAY:5. Check out Sonos products also on Amazon.
BY ISABELLA PRESNAL
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ADVENTURE WITH A SLICE OF LUXURY: ROADTRIPPING THROUGH OREGON TEXT & PHOTOS: TASHA ELKINS
The once hidden gem of Oregon is no more hidden. People are flocking there by the masses. There’s a reason people are uprooting & moving there, it’s more than majestic. If you don’t have the luxury of dropping everything & moving to Oregon, that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy it & all it has to offer. Sounds like the perfect excuse for a ROADDDD TRIPPPPP (sorry, “road trip” is a lot like “ice cream”, you just have to scream it...or at least say it with a little emphasis, come on).
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The Willamette Valley I can’t think of a better place to start than the Willamette Valley. The first lesson of the valley is how to say the name of the valley. Luckily, one of the locals shared a little secret with me - a mnemonic device. That being, “It’s Willamette, Damn It!”. You guessed it, it’s pronounced “Will-Am-Ette”. Stay in the historic McMinnville at the 3rd Street Flats. Think boutique apartment for hotel prices! When you enter each flat, you’re greeted by some fantastic chocolate sea salt caramels & a bottle of wine. It’s a great way to start a trip. We chose to stay in the 11th Flat, The Noir. USA Today named them “The Best Wine Country Hotel in America” & I can’t argue with that. There are actually 15 wineries & tasting rooms within walking distance from the flats. My two favorites though are a hop, skip & a jump away. Rex Hill, you had me at biodynamic. This is the perfect winery to begin your daily adventures at. They pride themselves in being able to teach rather than assume (that we are all wine connoisseurs that know the ins & outs of the wine world). 27
Stoller Family Estate, that tire swing you sly vineyard, you...with your green roof & floor to ceiling windows (excuse me while I swoon some more).  They have an on-site garden a few acres large that’s armed with a chef that knows how to use it! If you call ahead, you can arrange a full lunch! My favorite Pinot Noir of Willamette was found here as well as my favorite views.
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WEEKENDRETREATS
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An hour and a half east of the valley is Mt. Jefferson. There is a backpacking hike here that will take your breath away, literally. It’s just 2 miles to Triangulation Peak, but you gain 800’ of elevation! You’re just above the clouds & a short walk to one of the coolest caves you may ever visit, Boca Cave. Set up camp & enjoy an evening in the wilderness. This is a road trip must!
The Trek From Eugene to Lincoln City There is a lot to see & fantastic places to stay on this stretch of the trip from Eugene to Lincoln City through Florence & up the coast. If you plan to travel further South than Eugene - don’t miss Crater Lake!
Inn at the 5th is at the heart of it all in Eugene. Attached to the 5th Street Market you have a winery/tasting room at your fingertips. There is also a sushi place that serves delicious, purple sushi! I guess it’s the rice? Crazy. The Inn itself is just, the perfect break from hours in the car. Beautiful personal balconies, gas fireplaces, walk-in showers & free snacks . That butler pantry for room service though...it’s what made this place the real winner for me. Having my breakfast from award winning Marché (locally grown & gathered food), sitting in my butler pantry for me when I woke up - definition of true luxury. On your drive to Lincoln City, don’t miss stopping to see Haceta Lighthouse, 31 Nep-
tune State Scenic Viewpoint, or Cook’s Chasm/Thor’s Well! See if you can find the naturally occurring cave at Neptune or maybe spot a whale. Nothing compared to the way the waves sounded crashing into the rocks at Cook’s Chasm though, like thunder. Grab lunch at Clearwater Restaurant & take a stroll through Newport. At Clearwater, you don’t have to hang over the railing like a tourist to see the sea lions. Simply ask for a seat with a view! Newport is quaint tourist town. Visit Yaquina Head Lighthouse & the black cobblestone beach (on the lighthouse grounds). It is a beach composed entirely
of smooth black rocks. There is nothing quite as soothing as the Pacific Ocean raking those rocks in & out with the tide. Don’t miss the Drift Creek Falls Trail. On the trail you will find a 240’ suspension bridge, 100’ above a creek & waterfall. Take a hike down to the waterfall for some (wet) fantastic photos! For the night, check-in at the Pelican Shores Inn. Pelican Shores Inn is the perfect place to decompress after the hike, but check-in before the sun sets. Each room has a balcony with a view of the beach & a sunset over the Pacific ocean is hard to beat. A few steps from your room & you’re in the sand. 32
WEEKENDRETREATS
Grab your breakfast at Mojo’s the next morning, you won’t regret it.
the area - don’t want other people around scaring off the Bigfoot!
If you make the trek, take an hour & relax on the beach at The Wreck of Peter Iredale. Who doesn’t like a nice nap next to a giant shipwreck?
Portland. I don’t even know what to say about you. I’ve never been anywhere quite so weird (I mean this in the nicest way possible!). We met a bartender telling us about how he accidentally ingested Two more experiences I cannot dismiss... “shrooms” earlier in the day & a musician The Mt. Saint Helens lava tube caves & who refused to play if you looked at him. Portland itself. This is a true melting pot. Speaking of meltIf you can go to the Ape Caves (lava ing pots, some of the best food I’ve ever tubes) in the early morning, I highly sug- had was at La Cocina in Portland. gest it. Being in them alone with nothing Bonus: we ended our trip with a stay in but a head lamp & a hiking buddy is the one of the best AirBnB’s I’ve ever been to, eeriest thing I’ve ever done. Plus, there in the heart of the Alberta Arts District. have been some Sasquatch sightings in 33
At Atelier, we recognize the creative effort required by dedicated artists to learn a skill, practice a technique and experiment with materials. This virtual space opens the doors to those workshops giving you a glimpse into the artists’ studios, a chance to read their stories and the ability to buy their products. Our team curates the Atelier fashion collection; they search for exclusive, handcrafted, highquality, wardrobe accessories for women including jewelry, scarves, hats and sweaters. The Atelier home décor collection is carefully selected to bring you artisanal showpieces for your home and unique household gifts. Shopping in our online boutique is easy, you can decorate your home knowing that we have chosen limited production items made by real people. We invite you to meet our creators, understand their artisan stories and how and why they are pursuing a craft. Artists choose to hone their artistic talents in a workshop or studio. This creative space is called an atelier in French. Ateliers can be private areas where the artist works in a solitary envelope, inspired by their surroundings and lost in the pursuit of their craft. Ateliers can also be lively environments where a principal sets a master vision for the production of an art form that is then brought together under his/her supervision by the collective actions of assistants and apprentices. When you buy from Atelier, you can be sure of a product’s quality and know that you are helping to grow a community of talented artisans. Do you know an artisan whose work should be featured on Atelier? We look forward to hearing from you! Please get in touch at shop@atelierboutiques.com. Thanks for shopping @ Atelier!
Carolyne Kauser-Abbott Founder 34
WEEKENDRETREATS
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MISSION NOT SO IMPOSSIBLE: MAKE A HEALTHY VERSION OF PUMPKIN PIE
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Impossible pie BY TASHA ELKINS
Fall can be a rough season when it comes to curbing those unhealthy cravings & staying away from the pumpkin spice lattes. Your family is probably already discussing their seasonal get together, full of temptation. If you have the chance, challenge yourself! Volunteer to bring a dish that is typically full of bad sugars & fats, then replace those with more nutritious alternatives. Instead of bringing the traditional yams, smothered in marshmallow - opt for some sweet potatoes drizzled in maple syrup. Don’t know where to start in making a paleo-friendly pumpkin pie? Allow me to help, I’ve got just the recipe. I like to use a few Young Living Vitality oils for added health benefit in most of my dishes. The Cinnamon Bark Vitality aids in healthy digestion while the Clove Vitality promotes a healthy immune response & may support overall wellness.* The crust is where it can get tricky & I’m all about making things easy, which is why this pie is “Impossible” - there’s simply no crust! That’s how my mom made it & that’s how I make it. Most people eat the pie filling out of the crust anyhow, right? Let’s save them the hassle. If you aren’t interested in exploring life sans crust, that’s okay, the recipe works with any crust! One thing that isn’t optional however, the whipped topping. A pumpkin pie isn’t the same without some whipped topping! I never knew how easy it was to make until I created my own Cinnamon Coconut Whip. *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. 36
Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 1 - 16 oz box (or can) of organic pureed pumpkin 1 cup full fat, organic coconut milk 3 eggs đ cup pure, grade A maple syrup 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 pinch of sea salt 2 drops of Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil or 2 t. ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons cinnamon (in addition to the 2 above if using ground cinnamon only) đ teaspoon ground ginger 1 drop Clove Vitality oil or đ t. ground cloves đ teaspoon nutmeg đ teaspoon allspice
Whip Ingredients 2 cans full-fat, organic coconut milk (refrigerated) 2 Tablespoons pure, grade A maple syrup 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark Vitality essential oil For added presentation, dust the top with some cinnamon!
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Directions 1. Preheat oven to 400F 2. Combine all pie ingredients & beat until smooth 3. Pour into 9” greased pan (I use ghee). 4. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes. 5. Bake another 45 minutes at 325F (until an inserted toothpick pulls out clean). 6. Cool pie completely before slicing. 7. While the pie is cooling/baking open your refrigerated cans of coconut milk for the whip. Be careful not to shake these cans. When you open an end, you’ll either be staring at liquid or solid depending on which end you open. Drain the liquids & discard. Place the solids into a bowl. 8. Add the rest of the whip ingredients & beat it all together until peaks form. 9. Place whip in fridge, this will usually keep for almost 2 days before trying to separate. 10. Enjoy! Don’t be stingy with that Cinnamon Coconut Whip!
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CAN YOU TRAIN YOUR SENSE OF SMELL? SHOULD I STICK WITH SIGNATURE SCENT, OR MIX IT UP? WHICH ESSENTIAL OILS ARE GREAT DURING AUTUMN?
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SCENTS EXPLAINED When you take a whiff of the scent of pumpkin pie, what feeling do you have? Perhaps it gives you a feeling of comfort, or perhaps you feel sadness. How can that be? At first, you may not even realize that the scent is evoking a certain type of personal emotion, but it is. Your sense of smell is one of your most powerful senses. It is the only sense that can have a powerful impact on your memories and emotions.
BY LEIGH HINES 40
"Of all our five senses, our sense of smell is most strongly and directly linked to the part of the brain that processes emotions and memories. None of our other senses have that power, which is why it's so important — it affects our day-to-day behavior and the way we interact with others," believes Rachel Herz, leading world expert on the psychology of smell, professor at Brown University and Boston University, and author of the new book, "The Scent of Desire: Discovering Our Enigmatic Sense of Smell." Herz has spent decades researching the power of the human body's sense of smell. As the seasons change, different scents help impose times of renewal and transformation in our lives. Embracing the fragrances around us seasonally can inspire exhilaration and enhance our mood in a positive way. Autumn scents like Pumpkin, Clove, Nutmeg, Apples, Black Pepper, Balsam Fir, and Cinnamon are fantastic to bring into your home this time of year, but your nose knows if you continue to smell the same pumpkin scent over and over. Herz explains it is extremely important to have a collection of fragrances in your home, and not just one scent.
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"When you have a collection of fragrances, you can build upon your mood and emotions through smell," commented Herz. "It is a personal journey, but if your nose smells the same scent over and over then your nose will literally stop perceiving it." It's best to mix and match fragrances and personalize the scents to your liking. Everyone has a unique sense of smell, which is why personal journey and exploration are so important with our senses, especially for multiple people living in a home. For example, if you love the scent of spice and your spouse loves the scent of fresh woods, then create a blend of fragrances to complete the perfect scent that is compatible to both senses. It's easy to blend essential oils to achieve the perfect scent. Together, you may try clove, nutmeg and Idaho Balsam Fir to get that spicy-wooded aroma fragrance blend that appeals to each other's senses. Essential oils are the perfect resource to use to create unique scents and blends to impact emotions. When it comes to the senses, Herz recommends that you pay attention to what is around them.
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“IT'S BEST TO MIX AND MATCH FRAGRANCES AND PERSONALIZE THE SCENTS TO YOUR LIKING. EVERYONE HAS A UNIQUE SENSE OF SMELL, WHICH IS WHY PERSONAL JOURNEY AND EXPLORATION ARE SO IMPORTANT WITH OUR SENSES.” RACHEL HERZ LEADING WORLD EXPERT ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SMELL
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We tend to be a society of people who take walks with our headphones on or Facebook while sitting on a park bench. Herz says we need to do it differently. When you are walking through that floral garden, it's best to pay attention instead, and "stop and smell the roses.� Herz believes that the more we pay attention to the scents around us, then the better our olfactory system works. By practicing smell and smelling more, research shows you can improve your sense of smell. "The more you pay attention, then you can smell more," stated Herz. "When you pay attention to autumn, you will be surprised at how much fragrance is around you, and how it can transform you as you go from one season to the next." There is also hope for your loved one who says the smell of pumpkins makes him upset because his Mom made him eat pumpkin pie in the fall and it wasn’t his favorite food. He needs to smell more pumpkin. Again, the more you are exposed to a scent over time, the less likely you are to perceive the scent over time. Blend, blend, blend to keep your senses surprised and invigorated.
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THE PERFECT ESSENTIAL OIL COLLECTION FOR FALL DIFFUSING TIPS: Start with one to three drops and tailor amounts based on your own scent preferences. We start with our favorite scent. Be careful, some scents can overpower others. If one particular scent is too strong for you, then add one or two drops of your favorite scent from the collection. Shop for essential oils at YoungLiving.com. BY LEIGH HINES
ORANGE
CINNAMON BARK
CLOVE
NUTMEG
Orange oil offers a sweet, peaceful aroma that aids is cellular support, emotional balance, and uplifting emotions.
Cinnamon Bark is said to unlock abundance. Many use it aromatically for its warm, inviting tones.
Clove essential oil is distilled from the same spicy cloves that have been used in cooking for thousands of years. Clove essential oil promotes a healthy immune response and may support overall wellness.
Nutmeg has a warm, spicy aroma that is energizing and uplifting. Nutmeg blends well with other oils such as Orange, Clary Sage, any Eucalyptus, and Ginger.
GINGER Ginger has a warm, energizing aroma that also aids in digestion support, muscle tension, and stamina.
IDAHO BALSAM FIR Idaho Balsam Fir has a woodsy and refreshing scent. Diffuse for a grounding and calming aroma.
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DIFFUSER BLENDS Autumn Citrus
Crisp Autumn Air
ORANGE, CINNAMON BARK, CLOVE
ORANGE, LEMON, IDAHO BALSAM FIR
Spiced Chai CARDAMON, CINNAMON BARK, CLOVE, GINGER
Spiced Cider ORANGE, GINGER, CINNAMON BARK
Candid Candy WINTERGREEN, CINNAMON BARK, CLOVE
Energizing Fall CLOVE, IDAHO BALSAM FIR, BLACK
Pumpkin Pie
PEPPER, LEMON
CINNAMON BARK, NUTMEG, CLOVE
Autumn Calm BERGAMOT, CEDARWOOD
Fall Treats CORIANDER, CINNAMON BARK, CLOVE, GINGER
BERGAMOT
CEDARWOOD
WINTERGREEN
BLACK PEPPER
Bergamot’s citrusy scent can be both uplifting and relaxing. It calms and helps with female hormonal support.
Cedarwood has a warm, woodsy aroma that creates a comforting, uplifting experience. Cedarwood is a basis in many Young Living oil blends such as Grounding™, Highest Potential™, and Brain Power™. It’s well-known to provide mental focus and emotional balance.
Wintergreen’s refreshing minty aroma is stimulating and invigorating. It perfectly transitions to the holiday season.
Black Pepper is beautifully fragrant when used aromatically. Inhale directly for its energizing aroma or pair with other oils such as Peppermint, Wintergreen, or Clove.
CORIANDER Coriander has a sweet, warm fragrance that is calming and gently uplifting. It also offers pancreatic and digestive support.
LEMON This well-rounded oil is known for its energizing and cleansing properties as well as circulatory support.
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MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH CINNAMON BUNS TEXT & PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNAL
PHOTO: KATJA PRESNAL
The official cinnamon bun day is celebrated on October 4th in Sweden and Finland. In my opinion it’s a celebration worthy of adopting - or better yet... to be celebrated every week! Maybe your fall time memories are pumpkin pie scented, but mine are cinnamon bun scented. I remember baking cinnamon buns with my mother in Finland, and then teaching our children how to make them too. During the three years we lived in Sweden, I loved landing at the Arlanda airport in Stockholm, to be greeted with the scent of cinnamon buns from the airport cafes. On our trip to Gothenburg, Sweden, this summer (featured in our last magazine issue), I loved finding small cafes with my husband, stop for a coffee and share cinnamon buns. Pictured on the left: the largest cinnamon bun of Sweden - from the Cafe Husaren. Fall time and cinnamon buns always make me miss the capital of Finland, Helsinki. Cinnamon buns brought me joy and comfort when I lived there, and every time I have visited there after. When I was an engineering student in Helsinki, I would sit at the Cafe Esplanad with my friends for hours making the world a better place. We’d peel the layers of cinnamon buns and watch the autumn rain pour outside, daydreaming of the things we’d do when we graduate. I’ve tried sneaking to Helsinki to eat cinnamon buns as often as I can. Several years ago, I flew from New York to Singapore via Helsinki and on the way back from Singapore to New York I had a six hour stopover in Helsinki. Guess what I did? I took a bus downtown, walked the familiar streets, soaked in the city I loved. I walked at the market place by the strand, and then I went to have a cinnamon bun at Cafe Esplanad for the old times’ sake. It was sort of odd, the student years all I did was dreaming of leaving Finland, moving to somewhere like New York City, and I’d sit on the very same place watching the streets of Helsinki and feeling how far North I was from everywhere. Yet, then eating the familiar, but now almost exotic cinnamon bun, all I could think how I could bring a little more Helsinki into my life.
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SECRETS TO CINNAMON BUNS
Cinnamon buns have layers of cinnamon and sugar. Cinnamon bun is not a savory bread type of bun, but yet it’s not as sweet as pastries or cakes, very unique on its o w n . D o n o t m i s ta k e t h e Cinnabon-style ooey gooey cinna20 mon pastries with Nordic style cinnamon buns. There is no sticky topping, the real cinnamon buns have just a little bit of pearled sugar on the top, and they are spiced with cardamon.
CINNAMON BUN RECIPE Ingredients: The dough: 2 1/2 cups milk 2 pkg. dry active yeast (4 1/2 tsp.) OR one package (50g) fresh yeast (recommended) 8-9 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups butter 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. ground cardamom (from about 25 cardamom pods) Filling: 1/2 cups butter 2/3 cup sugar 3 tbs cinnamon Brush with: 1 egg Top with: pearl sugar (you can buy from well-equipped grocery stores and from IKEA)
50L PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNA
HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON BUNS INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Take the butter out to warm before you start baking. You will want butter softened, not melted. 2. Warm the milk so you can activate the yeast. Crumble the fresh yeast and let it melt into the milk. I highly recommend using fresh yeast if you can find it. (Check the recommended temperature from the yeast package). If using dry yeast, mix it with flour first. 3. Add sugar, most of the flour, salt and cardamon and mix by hand with the yeast-milk mixture. Use only one hand, because this dough will stick first. 4. You will notice that the more flour you add, the less stickier the dough gets, and once it starts getting easier off your fingers you are close to finding the right consistency. Now add warm butter to the dough and let the butter melt in your hands as you work it to the dough. The dough is ready when there is no clumpy butter left and the dough doesn’t stick to your fingers anymore. 5. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel in a warm place and let it rise for one hour. Option: fill the sink with warm water and put the cover dough bowl into the warm water and let it rise for 30 minutes. Make sure no water will get mixed with the dough. You can also rise it in a microwave to keep it from cold air - but do NOT turn the microwave on. 6. Remove the dough from bowl and knead lightly on floured counter and divide it in two. 7. Roll each half of dough into a 12” by 18” rectangle, it doesn’t have to look perfect. Take about 1/4 cup room temperature butter and melt it again in your hands as you spread it on the top of the dough rectangle. Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon until 51
SKIMBACO
well coated. The amounts are estimates, just cover the entire dough with the mixture. You can’t put too much butter, sugar nor cinnamon to this recipe. 8. Roll each rectangle crosswise to form an 18”-long cylinder. Using a sharp knife to cut each cylinder into 2 inch wide slices. 9. I usually unroll each slice a little and put the ending of the roll under it so the bottom of the cinnamon bun isn’t sticky and it comes off the cupcake paper easier – or in that case you don’t even need the cupcake wrappers. 10. Place each slice into a paper cupcake wrapper and place on baking sheet. Cover with a towel and allow to double in size, about 10-20 minutes. Preheat oven to 425F. 11. Break the egg with a fork well, and brush the cinnamon buns with egg once they have risen. The more egg – the shinier buns. Sprinkle with pearl sugar. 12. Bake for 5-8 minutes, or until perfectly golden on the top. Enjoy with milk or coffee. Tip: freeze some of the cinnamon buns right after they have cooled down and they’ll taste as good as freshly baked when you thaw them later.
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Indian Summer My feet were already cold, and my frock soaked from the rain. Then under the hazy sky, you came along feeling like a warm hug. You brought me one last lemonade and sunflowers. And you reminded me.. summer still lives in our souls.
Indian Summer feature. Editor: Katja Presnal
PHOTO: BROOKE GENN
Sedona Rouge Spa & Chocolatree Organic Oasis On a windy day amongst the red rocks of Sedona, two friends and I head out to try the raved-about organic, vegan chocolates of local shop Chocolatree. This place has Sedona mysticism written all over it and we embrace it fully, rocking peacefully beneath the garden trees and dangling dream catchers in beautiful, woven hammocks. We devour the famed chocolates and even try their tasty vegetarian dishes! On our way out we grabbed three ginger lemonades to go, and we head on to our afternoon appointments (hot stone massage appointments, that is!) Pre-massage we are ushered into the beautiful, outdoor spa area at Sedona Rouge. Wrapped in our plush robes and soothed by the relaxing rustle of the trees and the warm rays of the Arizona sun, we dip our toes in the water and sip on this delicious drink! Returning home has me day dreaming of this rejuvenating experience and, in the name of indulging in a little nostalgia, I’m interested in recreating the ginger lemonade! This sweet treat takes me right back to that sunny spa day in Sedona!
TEXT & PHOTOS: BROOKE GENN
PHOTOS: BROOKE GENN
Ginger Lemonade for Indian Summer 2 Cups Water 2 Rounded Tablespoons, Sugar in the Raw 6 Thin Slices, Ginger Root 3 Drops, Lemon Vitality Oil Combine water, sugar and ginger in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Once boiling, remove from heat and add three drops of lemon essential oil. Stir, let cool, refrigerate for minimum of one hour. Serve over ice. For an extra dose of refreshment, garnish with a few leaves of fresh mint!
NOMADICNEWLYWEDS
Indian Summer Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere after spell of cold weather, or first frost. The US National Weather Service d e fi n e s I n d i a n S u m m e r a s weather conditions that are sunny and clear with above normal temperatures, occurring lateSeptember to mid-November.
Scientists have said they expect 2016 to be the warmest year on record, and a warm fall only further increases the likelihood of Indian Summer.
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PHOTO: BROOKE GENN
PHOTO: KATJA PRESNAL
Perfect Boho Chic Flower for Indian Summer: Sunflowers! 58
FEATURED SKIMBACOER
NAME: SALLY CLARK I’M AUSTRALIAN, BUT I WAS BORN IN THAILAND. PROFESSION: CURRENTLY A HAPPY WIFEY, AND A FULL TIME EATER AND BLOGGER AT WWW.FLYINGFOODNINJA.COM LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST MEANS TO ME MAKING THE MOST OF ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES LIFE HAS TO OFFER AND MAKING SURE I CAN BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF EVERY DAY. MY LIFE CHANGED WHEN I REALIZED I COULD COMBINE MY PASSION FOR PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MY FOOD OBSESSED LIFESTYLE AND CREATE SOMETHING I COULD SHARE WITH THE WORLD. M Y F AV O R I T E D E S T I N A T I O N W O U L D D E F I N I T E L Y H AV E T O B E J A P A N ! T H E FOOD, THE CULTURE, THE PEOPLE AND THE WAY EVERYTHING IS PRESENTED AND DESIGNED WILL FORE V E R H AV E M E I N A W E . I DREAM OF LOBSTER ROLLS EVERY NIGHT! BUT SERIOUSLY MY ULTIMATE DREAM IS TO ONE DAY BE A JUDGE OR FOOD CRITIC ON A COOKING SHOW!
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SKIMBACO LIFESTYLE LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST SINCE 2007
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IN SEARCH OF INNER PEACE AND LIVING MY SKIMBACO MOMENTS TEXT & PHOTOS BY MOONA JOYNER
PHOTOS: JASON G. CREATIVE STUDIOS
For me, my life has always been a struggle to find my balance and place on this beautiful globe. I've moved around my entire life embracing the nomadic lifestyle. From all the places I've experienced I'm always drawn t o b e a u t i f u l s h o re l i n e s , b e a c h e s , p i e r s a n d archipelagos. I find peace when I'm surrounded by water! I can thank my Finnish roots for this. The archipelago of my hometown, Turku, will forever be my happy place!
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Occasionally on the way to work I stop for a walk on the beach. I dip my toes in the sand, listen to the waves and just enjoy the serenity. Sometimes it's hard to remember what beauty surrounds us here in the Panhandle of Florida. We are blessed with sugary white sand and the emerald green water in the Gulf of Mexico. We recently bought a house, it's amazing and terrifying at the same time! I've been together with my husband for over a decade and we have had homes together in Belgium, England, Portugal and now here in Florida. This is the first time we've decided to buy a house, trying to grow our roots deeper in one spot.
PHOTO: ADAM JOYNER
BEING PREGNANT HASN'T SLOWED ME DOWN
MOONA_JOY
I find my Skimbaco moments very unexpectedly and spontaneously! Some days we rent jet skis while our daughter is in school. Sometimes we try a new restaurant on the beach. But the most fun happens when we are all together as a family!
This summer we took a Florida road trip all the way from Pensacola to Key West totaling 2000 miles round trip! We also had an extra passenger in my tummy, we are expecting a baby girl to arrive in January! Being pregnant hasn't slowed me down; I enjoy going to the beach even more now that I don't have to worry about my beach body! For my birthday my husband bought me a Marimekko stand up paddle board, we love tak63 ing it on the water!
To balance my life I also enjoy my work as a professional makeup artist. I've been very fortunate to create some amazing connections via networking in a fairly short amount of time. The best part of my job is that I get to see a lot of the local area, sometimes the view from my office is pretty glorious! One of my best career moments has been to connect with Madeline Stuart and her mother Rosanne while I volunteered as the key makeup artist for a charity fashion show. They invited me to join them during New York Fashion Week and I had an amazing experience. It had been my dream for years to attend. I got watch all the shows from the front row cheering for my friend Madeline. It was incredible to have access to all the backstage action and see what goes on at the fittings, rehearsals, hair & makeup and interviews. I want to return to NYFW as a part of a make up team next time. I have been working for an Aveda salon as the head make up artist and marketing manager for a few years and I find it very interesting. I also love my gigs doing movies, commercials and even weddings.
Model: Madeline
Stuart. Hair + makeup: Moona Joyner Photo: Stone Sharp Images
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PHOTOS: ADAM JOYNER
Before I had my daughter I thought my globetrotting days were over but traveling with children adds a whole another dimension to the experience. You see things from a completely different perspective and find more joy in the small things and moments. I'm at peace when my daughter is happy. Soon we will have another little girl to introduce to this planet and I hope we will make the world proud by adding another adventurer!
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PHOTO: ADAM JOYNER
As for the inner peace, it's a work in progress, not tied to a time or place. It is something, I've learned, you need to carry it within. When you find your peace, embrace, cherish, and spread it around lovingly! 66
LIFETIME AS A TRAVELING FOODIE In inherited the hunger for culinary travels. With no immediate family in Montreal, we spent holiday time visiting relatives in far-flung locales. The door to a lifetime of journeys was cracked open in our toddler years. Admittedly, the cultural aspects of holidays in Europe, Venezuela and the Caribbean wasted on three kids more interested in swimming pools. My parents practiced zero tolerance for picky eaters, exposing us to new foods, exotic flavors and encouraging us to try the local fare. Now, several decades later when culinary travel is an art form, I reflect on what has inspired my inner traveling foodie. When did it start? My Hungarian grandparents, who lived in Caracas, would arrive for a Montreal visit with a suitcase full of salami (Europe), coffee (Venezuela) and rum (West Indies). Maybe they were part of the original clan of culinary travelers. The family Christmas spent in the Swiss Alps was lost on me with the discovery of Toblerone chocolate with its distinctive triangular shape inspired by the iconic Matterhorn peak. Toblerone was subsequently sold to a US conglomerate, but the tasty original version was the germ for my lifelong chocolate addiction.
TEXT + PHOTOS BY CAROLYNE KAUSER-ABBOTT
Food becomes anchor of our travel experiences
Which came first the chicken or the egg?
Today, social media fuels foodie travel dreams with “food porn” from globe trotters. So, what exactly is culinary travel in an era when you can buy strawberries all year round? Personally, food culture and traditions are probably the most important part of a travel experience. Although we do not necessarily select a destination for its food notoriety, meals often become the anchor of our experiences.
Does tourism drive culinary travel or does local food tradition act like the magnet drawing visitors from afar?
Example is when we headed to Nepal in 1995, with fully-loaded backpacks, and our goal was to trek the Annapurna Round. Surrounded by up to 8,000 meter peaks, we did not expect to be contented with menu offerings – our bags contained a supply of energy bars, trail mix and other snacks. The extra weight on our backs was far from necessary; the tea house in the mountains had variations of soup, pasta and pizza - it was perfect fare for hungry hikers. In the end, our trail mix fed a few determined mice, and the granola bars were donated to fellow backpackers. The takeaway from that trip was the pure satisfaction of real food – a chunk of yak cheese that tasted like Italian Parmesan and fresh bread from a stone oven at 4,500 m.
Marseille’s hearty fish soup - bouillabaisse – comes from humble origins, a fisherman’s broth made from leftover scraps. Today, this is a dish with a pedigree, la Charte de la Bouillabaisse (Bouillabaisse Charter), essentially an agreement between local top-rated chefs to attempt to standardize the ingredients, process and presentation. There is no question that a real bouillabaisse in Marseille is a slice of seafood lover’s heaven, but could the cruise ships in the harbor have some effect on the price? We have been fortunate to participate in many cooking classes over the years learning from masters of the kitchen. However, my favorite food encounters are unplanned. Recently, as I strolled the ancient hilltop village of Bonnieux, in Provence’s Luberon, I met “the jam lady” Isabelle Jouhanneau. She cooks small batches of seasonally themed jams made with local ingredients – the traditional way - under her brand Confitures Un Jour à la Campagne. That is my kind of culinary travel.
ATELIERBOUTIQUES 68
BY WES HOLLAND
NORMANDY’S FALL APPLES BRING US CALVADOS In the French region of Normandy, home to the famous D-Day sites and beach towns such as Deauville and Honfleur, the season is slowly changing from summer to fall. Natives return from les grandes vacances, exchanging rosé for more seasonal drinks like cider. In the Calvados department of Normandy, the fall season welcomes the arrival of a new harvest of apples, the key ingredient in Calvados, the famed French Brandy that is gaining large popularity in the United States. The French apple brandy is the perfect compliment to the cozy fall season with its subtle hint of apple and warmth that it evokes. The first known distillation of cider in France is traced back to as early as 1553. The area known as “Calvados” today was created after the French Revolution. In 1942 the appellation contrôlée, gave Calvados a protected name. This distinction guarantees that the beverage is produced in the region identified (think Champagne, for example). Along with the appellation controlee distinction, many cider houses and distilleries became to reconstruct after the war, mainly in the Pays d’Auge area. P H O T O : © W W W . C A L VA D O S - T O U R I S M E . C O M 69
Calvados, today, is an icon of the Normandy region. The drink is distilled from cider that is made from specially grown and selected apples, which come from some 200 named varieties. At cider houses expert distillers carefully select and mix ciders from these apple varieties to craft their house blend. The drink is aged for a minimum of two years in oak casks, which gives Calvados an added dimension of richness and color. Longer aging equates to a smoother drink. Calvados Boulard is one of the most renowned cider houses of the region. Dating back to 1825, the house has been family operated for 5 generations, each generation adding its own unique touch to the business. Boulard is the leading exporter of Calvados, with its ciders reaching all four corners of the globe. Traditionally, their beverage is used during a long meal to reawaken the appetite between courses, or simply as an aperitif. In modern day mixology, bartenders are finding Calvados to be the perfect base for classic cocktails such as the Manhattan or Old Fashion, especially in the fall season. This fall season, experience Normandy culture and add a dimension of apple to beverages. Replace spirits such as whiskey with Calvados in your cocktail of choice and sip the season!
Manhattan by Boulard 6cl Calvados Boulard VSOP 1 dash Angostura Bitters 2cl Red Vermouth 1 orange zest In a mixing glass, put all the ingredients and stir well less than 10 seconds. Pour in a cocktail glass previously cooled with ice.
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TASTING SPANISH WINES There is a rumor out that Garnacha will become as popular as Cabernet, Malbec and Chardonnay. Yes, Garnacha is a grape variety, and in fact one of the world’s oldest and most widely planted wine grapes that originates from North East Spain from the Aragon region, where it soon spread to Catalonia and then to other places, and it also has a long history in southern France, Italy, Croatia and even Greece. As the popularity grew in Europe, now Garnacha has also spread to Australia, North Africa and California. Garnacha has been used as the lower grade “workhorse” grape that is sweet, and capable of higher levels of alcohol, and it is often blended with many other grape varieties. It is the only mainstream grape with red and white varieties, and Garnacha wine itself can be red, white, or rosé. Garnacha is sort of becoming one of the trendy grapes on its own, as a new generation of winemakers in the original birthplace of Garnacha have taken a new approach to producing Garnacha wines in the past 20 years. Going into the future of wine producing, Garnacha shines over many other grape-varieties, and taste and the low price point are not the only reasons. Garnacha is the most ecofriendly grape in the world. In the vineyard, Garnacha is drought resistant, adaptable, self-sufficient and self-sustaining with strong roots getting water from subterranean water tables instead of depending on rainwater as most other grapes do.
BY KATJA PRESNAL 71
CULINARY TRAVEL TO SPAIN I think food and wine are two excellent reasons why anyone should book a trip to Spain. For wine lovers, Barcelona is a great starting point. Catalonia is divided in ten different wine areas, one of the most famous ones is Penedès, it is known for producing Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. Terra Alta wine region is in the southern Catalonia in the highlands, and that’s where, in the more challenging growing altitudes, where Garnacha grape shines. Garnacha is grown in other Catalan wine regions as well, but the birthplace and the main area where Garnacha is grown is west of Catalonia, in the southern Aragon wine regions of Calatayud, Carinena and Campo de Borja. On my last trip to Spain, I flew to Barcelona, and toured Catalonia is the North East part of Spain, where you can pretty much find anything; from city scenes of Barcelona to ocean side beach resort of Costa Brava to idyllic seaside town of Sitges to Pyrenees mountains in the north. Foodies love the closeness to the sea, because it means availability of amazing sea food. Several of the vineyards organized us special wine tastings, and one of my favorite one was having a picnic by the vineyards.
72L PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNA
SIMPLE GARNACHA TIPS BY WES HOLLAND
1. LEARN MORE! I had not tasted Garnacha wine previously, but I have had other Spanish varieties such as Tempranillo and Cava before. My first impression was that this is a very drinkable red wine that is worth learning more about! 2. PERFECT FOR ENTERTAINING The wines I received are good reds to have on-hand, as I feel that they would appeal to a variety of palettes. This makes Garnacha great for entertaining, they are easy to pair with, compared to some other varieties of red. The Garnacha wines have a nice body and notes of red fruit with a touch of spice. I paired it with tapas pizza and small bites for an evening with friends, and it was great!
3. EASY-GOING RED I find that some people have an aversion to reds because they find them too heavy. Garnacha is a great red with a nice body that is not too light like a pinot noir but not too heavy like a Syrah. 4. ENJOY THE PRICE POINT Granacha seems to be on average in the $10-15 range for a standard bottle here in the States. Given that price point, I think it represents a good wine for the value, and it is something to consider especially when gathering with friends or attending a dinner party. TRY THESE: Cruz de Piedra Garnacha, Terrai OVG, Las Rocas Garnacha PHOTOS: WES HOLLAND
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One of the simplest recipes I learned on my trip to Catalonia was the pa amb tomàquet. It’s as authentic as it gets, tastes good, and bonus: it’s easy and budget-friendly. Pa amb tomàquet is simply bread with tomato, known sometimes as Spanish Toast, or Catalan Toast, or Tomato toast. It is a common dish in Catalonia, and while it is a humble everyday dish, the Catalan tomato toast is also served on finer dinners, and it is eaten any time of the day. It was a signature dish that we were served on almost any meal during our wine trip around the region. There are two ways to serve this: already made up tomato bread on a platter, or bread, tomatoes and garlic stacked, and letting your guests do the
“hard work.” Frankly, the latter is more fun, and I personally also like to toast the bread right before eating, instead of toasting it prior. Since there are not that many ingredients to this dish, choosing great quality ingredients is imperative. Start with good sourdough bread, and pick small tomatoes that are ripe (soft and little bit darker in color). Cocktail tomatoes work the best, and you can leave them in the counter for a day or two to get them nice and ripe. And of course, good quality extra virgin olive oil and coarse sea salt are kitchen stables.
PA AMB TOMÀQUET, TOMATO TOAST BY KATJA PRESNAL
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Pa amb tomàquet YOU WILL NEED: 1 large sourdough bread 4-8 garlic cloves, halved crosswise 4-8 ripe small (cocktail) tomatoes, halved crosswise Extra Virgin Olive Oil salt to taste
Prepare Pa amb tomàquet:
PHOTOS: KATJA PRESNAL
1. Cut the sourdough in slices or buy already sliced bread. 2. Toast the bread — either on a baking sheet in the oven (500F for 5+ minutes) or in a toaster. 3. Slice the garlic and the tomatoes in half. 4. When the bread is toasted, take the half of a garlic glove and rub the garlic on the toast. This will get a nice subtle garlic taste. 5. Then rub the ripe tomato in the bread, until you only have the tomato skin left. Discard the leftover tomato skin. 6. Drizzle with olive oil and add salt to taste. 75
OUR ROAD TO BARCELONA From the back roads of Costa Rica to the bustling streets of Barcelona, here we go again... Moving abroad is a far off fantasy for many, and getting the chance to live in another country is an extraordinary opportunity, one that might only come around once in a lifetime. We have been lucky to not only do it once, but twice!
BY ANDREA FELLMAN
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Our family moved from California to Costa Rica three years ago and while we were ready to leave the beach life in Costa Rica, we could not see ourselves returning to the United States just yet. We like living abroad and had such a great experience in Costa Rica that we wanted to continue the adventure and do it again, but this time in a city and we wanted to live in Europe. Living in Europe has always been a dream of my husband’s, and we chose Barcelona for a variety of reasons, but the beautiful Mediterranean climate and the city’s close proximity to the rest of Europe were two of the driving factors. We also wanted our children to continue in their Spanish language education and we found an incredible International school for them to attend. REALITY CHECK We arrived two months ago but moving to Barcelona has not been as easy as our move to Costa Rica. Part of that is because of the residency visa process that we had to go through, and are actually still going through. In Costa Rica we did not apply for residency and chose to stay on a tourist’s visa, which required us to leave for a day or two every 90 days. That is not an option in Spain, because on a tourist’s visa, you can only stay in the EU for 3 months out of every six months. Meaning we would have to leave the EU every 3 months and stay out for 3 months. If you have children enrolled in school then this is clearly not an option. Moving abroad comes with a variety of challenges and when you move to a new city or country it is like wiping the slate clean and literally starting from scratch. Throw in a language barrier and cultural differences and well, even the simplest of tasks can get complicated. 77
You have to relearn everything from getting an apartment, where to get groceries, setting up a bank account, getting internet and phone service, navigating your way around a city, and not to mention making new friends. There is a lot to juggle and all of it can be mentally exhausting!
Apartment hunting was much more difficult than I expected when we got to Barcelona. One of the challenges was that , it was August, and the entire country was on holiday. On top of that, the process for seeing apartments is really time-consuming. Real estate agents only show you their 78
own listings. So you need to call and make appointments for the apartments you want to see with each individual agent. We met 10 agents and we saw 22 apartments before finally deciding on one. I was hoping to be all moved in and settled before the kids started school, which did not happen. In Costa Rica we drove our kids to school which was only a 10 minute drive. In Barcelona our kids take the school bus and it is a 45 minute commute for them. The morning walk to the school bus stop is actually a really nice opportunity to start the day. Our bus stop is eight blocks away so they ride their skateboard and scooter, which they don’t mind and when we pick them up we are able to hear all about their day on the walk home.
excited and are making lots of new friends. If there is one thing that has gone perfectly well, it’s that!
It’s ironic that everyone is always worried about the kids and asks about how the kids are doing, but really it’s we adults who have a harder time adapting. So When you move abroad with kids, you many new stresses have been piled on are also concerned about how they will top of us, and we have no one to blame handle the changes and adapt to the but ourselves! The pressure is on us to new environment. For us, this has actumake this new place a home and when ally been the easiest part of the whole you are in the midst of all the chaos you move! I believe because we did this start to wonder what the hell are we doonce before that it has really helped our ing, will all of this be worth it and did we children adjust to life in Barcelona. I can make the right choice? honestly say that they have slid into this new city life seamlessly. They love the We have been in Barcelona for two city and taking the big school bus, months and only time will tell if this was they’ve come home from school happy, all worth it, but back in Costa Rica we
ANDREAFELLMAN
used to say that “all the worst roads lead to something awesome”, so we’re 79 going to just keep on this road.
WEEKEND RETREATS: COLORADO IN THE FALL TEXT & PHOTOS: TASHA ELKINS
P H O T O S : T R AV E L P A R T T I M E
DESTINATION Georgetown, Colorado. (50 miles from Denver) REASON Adventure & Romance AIRPORT DEN Denver International TRANSPORTATION Rental Car SLEEP Hotel Chateau Chamonix A little less than an hour drive from the airport, the small, luxurious Hotel Chateau Chamonix is a rare find. Their creekside rooms host a private hot tub & gas fireplace (my personal pick), whereas their upstairs accommodations share a hot tub & host a steam shower & fireplace. You’re welcomed with a glass of wine & awoken by a gentle, almost inaudible knock - letting you know your breakfast is available for you in the two-way door. The European name isn’t just for looks, the owner lived in Europe & it is evident in the fresh fruit & chocolate filled, just-baked croissants that you’ll be served.
PACK Comfy & Casual You’re in Colorado mountains. Enjoy the fact that you don’t need “going out” attire. You will need a hiking outfit, a small pack & a couple of casual outfits. Don’t forget your bathing suit! Most of all, remember to check the temperature in the mountains, as you raise elevation the temperature drops. At the peak of a mountain it could be snowing and 70F & sunny at the bottom.
ADVENTURE Mt. Evans & the Guanella Pass Mt. Evans typically closes after the first week in October, so this is an early Fall stop. The Guanella Pass closes in December. You can almost drive to the tippy top of Mt. Evans & conquer your first 14er with little to no hiking - though there are hiking options. Once you park, walk to the peak & enjoy the view. Guanella Pass is the best place I’ve found to watch the Aspens change color. On a windy day there are places on the Pass that seem to be, literally, raining yellow. Fishing on Georgetown Lake - This lake is home to Trout, Browns, Rainbows, & Brooke’s. Should the Pass & Mt. Evans be closed, find a hike & drop a line. No matter what direction you turn, you’ll find adventure in Colorado. If you happen to be there in the cold season, ice fishing is very popular! 81
ROMANCE Stay in or take a stroll! Your hotel was built for Romance, trust me - they frown upon children. The hot tub is built for two so take a midnight dip next to that babbling stream & then cool off by the fire with a glass of wine. Georgetown itself is one of those historic Colorado towns, perfect for handholding & light shopping - so take a stroll & have a conversation! Don’t miss all of the great, local art.
LOCALS HANGOUT The Alpine Restaurant & Bar Where there’s live music (& beer), there’s locals. This place is as chill as it gets, sit at the bar & watch the train on the ceiling make its rounds. Snag a brew & throw a couple bucks in the singer’s tip jar, enjoy.
FOOD & LIBATIONS Lucha Cantina The best craft cocktails in town. Fresh food & fresh drinks! Their salsas are even made fresh daily. Hell, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen Kale on a Mexican Restaurant’s menu. Don’t worry, they have all of the typical staples, but if you don’t want something heavy, they have you covered. I was pretty surprised, but there are quite a few locals here as well. Must be the booze ;)
WALLET Total: 3-Night Trip $1181.81, 2-Night Trip $871.05 Flights: (From OKC) Roundtrip, $140 Hotel: Thursday ($175.84) & Friday/Saturday ($406.64) - Totals $582.48 (including taxes & fees) Rental Car: Compact Car, $190.33 (including taxes & fees) for 3 nights or $130.41 for 2 nights Mt. Evans: Government Fee, $10 Fishing: 1-day Fishing License, $9 Spending: I always pack $250 for a 3-night trip & $175 for a 2-night trip
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Thieves ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND WITH HISTORY BY LEIGH HINES
Essential Oils do more than just fancy our nose. Every bottle of essential oil has a powerful purpose that works in conjunction with our body’s healing power. One of the most coveted essential oil blends has a story behind it that rivals the suspense and history of a best-selling novel: Thieves. Thieves is one of Young Living’s most versatile blends. We recommend using Thieves in the diffuser, in a bath with Epsom Salt, and Thieves Vitality in a cup of tea with honey and lemon. Try also natural cleaning with Thieves line, and keep the Thieves cough drops on hand this fall and winter. Young Living founder Gary Young, while studying at Warwick London in 1991, came across a story that helped him develop the ultimate autumn scent that has become a bestselling blend for the leading essential oil company for twenty-five years. The spicy and fresh one-of-a kind scent of Thieves is a blend of Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Radiata, and Rosemary essential oils. The Thieves blend is infused in many of Young Living’s home and body products. This special line of natural cleaning with Thieves is designed to clean your home effectively and support your family’s wellness. Young said he must have read 17 different versions of the Thieves story. Stories date back to the 15th century while some stories date to the 18th century. Despite the numerous stories, there were common threads in all of them. Some stories date back to the period when the plague threatened Europe. Thieves were robbing the graves and homes of the deceased. The robberies became well-known and happened often. Mysteriously, the thieves remained well even though disease was spreading. Not only did the King want these individuals caught, but he wanted to know how they protected themselves so he could do the same for the royal family.
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“The legends speculate that the thieves believed that wearing a special combination of botanicals provided protection while they were stealing, French authorities recognized that there was such value in this mixture that upon the thieves’ capture, they received a more merciful punishment on condition that they divulge the ingredients in their secret formula to the king. The formulas also varied from one story to the next, but through my research, I was led to four key botanicals that were mentioned again and again. Those ingredients were clove, cinnamon, rosemary, and lemon—four of the same ingredients that make up Young Living’s Thieves essential oil blend today.” Gary Young
For Young’s modern Thieves formula, he added another element of protection: the plant eucalyptus radiata, which has been rare to find in those days. 84
Yes! The Thieves laundry soap bottle is small, but it is super concentrated, and washes amazing 64 loads!
ECO-FRIENDLY & money saving laundry hacks 85
WOOL DRYER BALLS Have you already heard what kind of difference using wool dryer balls makes? They are good for your wallet and environment. And when you add essential oils in the balls, your clothes will even have heavenly scent - without chemicals! Quick info about wool dryer balls: - They reduce drying time by 25% and conserve energy. - Helps to reduce static & softens clothes. No softener needed! - You can add your favorite essential oil in the balls making your laundry smell good. - Reusable up to a year, and can be washed cold. - Suggested essential oils: Lavender, Purification blend, Cedarwood. Buy now: 100% wool dryer balls, only $11.95 for six (use 3 per load) Thieves Laundry Soap $37.83Â or $28.75Â for wholesale members (concentrated -> washes 64 loads) Recommended by Katja Presnal
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8 REASONS WHY YOUNG LIVING WELLNESS LIFESTYLE IS FOR YOU
1. Essential oils offer health-promoting benefits. One essential oil bottle can last for months, and be used for multiple different purposes.
5. Try the natural beauty products and discover how to fight against wrinkles, and aging, and keep your skin healthy naturally.
2. Young Living’s natural products can enhance fitness experience, give you more energy, and help to recover faster.
6. Young Living’s natural supplements help you to meet your nutritional needs. They can also help you to lose weight or maintain healthy weight.
3. Their natural household cleaner, dish and laundry soaps help you to eliminate using cleaners with toxic chemicals. 4. Spa-like scent & aromatherapy at home! The artificial fragrances in scented candles can effect as negatively as second hand smoke from the cigarettes. Be good to yourself and start diffusing essential oils.
7. Getting enough sleep plays an essential part in your health, mood, sex life, weight control, and more. Aromatherapy can help you. 8. Save money in the long run. Essential oil lifestyle can typically save money on various ways. Staying healthier keeps your medical costs lower, and essential oils can replace other products you would normally buy.
JOIN AS A WHOLESALE MEMBER NOW! Wholesale members save 24%, and can join Essential Rewards program to gain up to 25% back in points towards free products. Wholesale membership is the only way to create an independent Young Living wholesale distributor business, and to receive commission, although business side is completely optional. 87
Join Young Living and use wholesale and enroller number: 2437916
COVER PHOTO: KATJA PRESNAL MODELS: KAYLA SHORT, SHORTPRESENTS.COM ISABELLA PRESNAL, AVLOGGINGGIRL SHOP:
ENJOY LIFE DIFFUSER JEWELRY