Eu'Genia Shea

Knowing my incredibly smart, talented friend Nas, it was not entirely surprising when she surprised us with her new business: a premium line of  shea butter products. Since she's the daughter of the president of the Global Shea Alliance (Eugenia Akuete - the company's namesake!), it's also not surprising that she is able to import some of the highest quality shea nuts available, picked by an all female co-op in Northern Ghana. Despite knowing all this - call me a skeptic - I still wasn't entirely sure that this product was for me. I ordered sparingly, just in case, but I've never been more happy to be proven wrong!

It's hard to say what won me over first, but I think it was the adorably cute tin packaging. Not far behind was the idea that my dear friend spent nights at her own kitchen table making it's contents. Most importantly though was the fact that the quality of the product was superb - far beyond any of my prior experiences with shea. It's only been a few months, but Eugenia is now indispensable for me; I favor the grapefruit shea butter for daily use. Now, with many of these adorable tins in my bathroom (and many more given to my family - they make great as gifts!), I urge all of you to try it out. If you don't believe me, perhaps you'll place more stock in coverage from New York Times' T Magazine, Fast Company, or MSNBC (which recently interviewed Nas as part of their "Born in the USA" segment). 

Check her website out here: http://www.eugeniashea.org

Watch her segment on MSNBC!  http://www.msnbc.com/newsnation/watch/born-in-the-usa--eu-genia-shea-461436483651





Walrus & Carpenter

There is nothing better than good locally sourced food, good people, and good presentation. I love having my camera when all three collide in an epic trifecta. An old college friend of mind posted a review of a Seattle restaurant called the Walrus & Carpenter, and the review was so appealing that when I was there recently, I had to stop by. 

To be honest, we almost missed it... in fact, my husband and I even sat down and got a menu at the restaurant right in front of it (not knowing you have to walk past it to find this gem tucked off the main street). As soon as I realized my mistake I looked at my husband sheepishly, admitting I pointed us in the wrong direction. At that point he left it up to me... leave, or just eat at this other cute place we had stumbled on. We had literally walked around Seattle all day, we were so tired. But.... I wanted to find "THE place", so we politely excused ourselves and found our way to the right place. Boy, are we happy we did. What a great place! 

If you dont live anywhere near Seattle... check out their website to really see what you are missing: http://www.thewalrusbar.com



TL7

A few weeks ago, on our way back from the Maroon Bells in Aspen, Nick and I stopped at T-Lazy 7 ranch to say hello to these beauties. With all the rain in Colorado this past month, the green was like nothing I've ever seen. It was truly magnificent.

Tide Pools

We've taken many recent visitor to the Tide Pools near our house.  To my surprise, they really were filled with anemones, urchins, sea stars, sea slugs and beautiful shells.