...More Eye Pillows!

The Purple Stitch.

...That's what I'm going to call my "eye pillow making business". I couldn't decide on colors for the stitches, so I just decided that no matter what, the stitches are bright purple. They are $10 for cotton ones (front and back cotton), and $12 for the silk (this is silk all around, and the ones that are 1/2 cotton 1/2 silk). The scent's I have are:

• Peppermint & Chamomile
• Peppermint & Eucalyptus
• Lavender & Chamomile
• Lavender w/ a hint of Peppermint

AROMATHERAPY:
The Healing Properties of Scent

• Lavender: circulatory stimulant, boosts immunity. Of several fragrances tested by aromatherapy researchers, lavender was most effective at relaxing brain waves and reducing stress. Lavender aromatherapy comes from the lavender plant, and is believed to balance unstable emotions, put emotions back in control, and to bring logical and rationale back to the mind, helping such medically defined problems as hysteria, panic attacks and anxiety.

• Chamomile: It has sedative properties and will bring a state of calmness and serenity. It's great when you are feeling anxious, depressed, or overly stressed. Promotes restful sleep.

• Eucalyptus: Is extremely beneficial in its ability to treat breathing and respiratory conditions. Eucalyptus is one of the main ingredients in the commercially prepared, Vicks vapor rub. Many grandmothers knew that it was the secret to treating congestion in the chest and nose area. Eucalyptus has also shown great effectiveness in restoring mental clarity, removing confusion, and restoring a state of clearness after having head colds, or sinus congestion. It is also a great way to relieve nervous tension and anxiety.

• Peppermint: clears sinus and lung congestion. it is an energizing scent, stimulating the senses. Mood uplifting, helps to remove mental fatigue, sharpens the senses, reviving and refreshing, improves mental clarity, concentration and memory.

Lavender & Chamomile.

Peppermint & Eucalyptus.

Lavender...w/ hint of Peppermint.

Peppermint & Chamomile.

There are MANY more colors to come...I have a gazillion vintage silk scarves that are in the process of transforming into eye pillows - so if you don't see one that catches your eye, don't worry - there will be more. If you are interested in placing an order email me at cailin.callahan@gmail.com . Woohooo, eye pillows for everyone!

Paprika Facial

If Emily Corkill offers you an epic "Eminence Organic Lime Stimulating Masque with Paprika" I want you to RUN in the opposite direction as fast as you can. It's all fun and games until your face starts to burn...and turn twelve shades of red.

Anxious Energy...Breeds Productivity.

I have been super anxious. Going from my full days, mentally and physically, in Costa Rica - and returning to the winter-time paced South Jersey has thrown me for a loop. In the wintertime on the East Coast, it's like everyone goes into hibernation. They eat and get real fat, drink themselves to preservation, and then lay around. And at their defense - there really is nothing to do. Well, nothing aside from eating and drinking. All of my favorite things about the shore like fishing, surfing, clamming, hanging at the beach with my family are put on hold - until May or June rolls back around. So, with all of this restlessness due from lack of activity (add insult to injury...my damn car is broke down!) and anxious energy regarding this lack of activity and my dad's health - I decided that I needed a project. After yoga at Michelle's the other day, I was inspired by the several eye pillows that she had for savasana. Savasana is one of my favorite poses -it's also called "Corpse Pose" because you literally lay there like your dead. Lying on your back, palms facing up, uou {are supposed to} completely relax your body. After an hour of contracting and releasing poses, this is a time for the regular blood flow to return and for the body to absorb all that it's just done. Every muscle should be relaxed, including every single muscle in your face - where we hold most of our tension and stress. The mind should be clear of any thoughts, only focusing on your breath or a mantra. This pose is GREATLY aided by an eye pillow - the slight pressure it applies to the eyes, the darkness is provides, and the fragrant aromatherapy of the dried herbs in the pillow is just what is needed to fully relax into this pose. So, to calm my anxious energy - I have taken up making eye pillows...and then using them to relax! I busted out my sewing machine and the acres of fabric that I've been hording in my attic for just this occasion, and I got to work. For years I have been collecting vintage scarves and bits of fabric that I've found at thrift stores and flea markets. Also, from a sewing class in college I have a gazillion yards of the most beautiful purple silk. What I've done with the eye pillows is to do one side in the luxurious silk and the other in some fabulous fabric from a scarf or bit of soft cotton. My dad's is 1/2 camoflauge and 1/2 purple silk. My mothers is all silk, and Shawn's is all camo. The filling is simply organic Flax Seed, organic dried Peppermint and organic dried Chamomile. Others will be filled with Lavender as well. They are sassy and original and the perfect accessory for comfort and relaxation. Again, this anxious energy has been bubbling over, so I have made about 50 of these so far!! I think that I'm going to sell them on Etsy, and maybe take them around to a few yoga studios. I also have been experimenting with chic straps for yoga bags. Who knows. This could be my new calling. The person who has really fallen in love with the eye pillow is my Dad. He has been overwrought with anxiety - and with the aid of his new pillow and a breathing exercise I gave him he has been able to calm himself down to achieve some peace and serenity.

Simply learning how to take a deep, full breath can be extremely therapeutic in many situations. Deep belly breathing calms both body and mind. Deep diaphragmatic breathing also helps rid the body of gaseous chemicals and can bring as much as seven times more oxygen into the lungs as shallow breathing.

Rising and Falling Breath

Benefits: Strengthens the nervous system and calms anxiety.

How to Do It: Lie on your back with your hands resting on your abdomen. Tune in to your breath. On the inhalation, consciously expand your belly as if you were inflating a balloon. Let your breath continue rising up through your rib cage and out to the sides; you should feel the top of your lungs inflate and your collarbones rise. Begin your exhalation at the top of the lungs, so that as you release air there, your collarbones lower. As the exhalation continues-with the ribs contracting in and down-draw your abdominal muscles in and bring your belly button toward your spine. Let your exhalation be long and slow. If you are counting, try to exhale for longer than you inhale for each breath. While you breathe, keep your torso completely relaxed. Don't let the muscles in your rib cage tense or tighten as they move; simply let them expand and contract with each breath.

Sweet Onion Dip, I Love You.

Ask me what I had for breakfast.
Really, I'm serious...go ahead, ask me...

Oven Roasted Sweet Onion Dip,
with potato chips and carrots.

Bah. So freaking delicious.


Chef Ro

Rochelle & Brad had Mom, Dad, Shawn and I over for dinner last night. Brad and Ro have been feeding me for years now - and Mom & Dad have had a few of their meals as well - but this was a first for Shawn, and he had NO idea that he was in for such a treat! They have spoiled me rotten with good wine, top-notch beer, and the most delectable food for such a long time now. Whatever they produce looks straight out of Gourmet magazine- perfection, all the way down to the garnish. They cook everything - Greek, Mexican, Italian....all of it. I would say though that Ro's specialty is simplicity. Simple flavors, combined to make something outrageous. She uses salt, pepper, lemon and olive oil for most everything. And don't get me wrong, I'm not "simplifying" her cooking because she uses simple ingredients - the genius of her food is that she only uses a few things...and the food is heavenly. She tends to cook French when it comes to appetizers, dips and aperitifs, which was the case last night. Rich & Delicious. Last night we had baguettes with a mild and creamy bleu cheese spread on them - baked and then drizzled with honey. Another baguette was done with a thin slice of fliet mignon, drizzled with a red wine cooli (this is red wine and sugar that has been reduced over the stove, down to a honey-like consistency). Ro roasted shrimp in the oven, with salt, pepper, lemon and olive oil and served these jumbo-delights with some homemade thousand island-like dressing. She made a scrumptious sundried tomato dip that was served alongside veggie crudites and some home-grown radishes. She made her signature hummus with pita bread to accompany, and as always - she had a big bowl of some fantastic marinated olives on the table. My FAVORITE of the evening was Ro's HOMEMADE potato chips - sliced, cooked and salted to perfection - that were served with a OVEN ROASTED SWEET ONION DIP. Oh-My-God. Let me say that again - OH-MY-GOD. It was creamy and salty and sweet and just the most fabulous dip I have ever tasted. I put it on veggies, on chips, on crackers and just on a fork.

The Chef and I - with sundried tomato dip and hummus.

And not only does Rochelle do food - but she also works in the wine industry, so we were sipping on some fantastic top-notch Merlot, in some very-fine wine glasses. Whenever I dine at their house it's like I have died and gone to heaven.

I have to get the recipe from Ro for her outstanding onion dip, but in the meantime I found a somewhat-similar recipe online.

Ingredients:
• 2 large sweet onions (Vidalia or Walla Walla), peeled and quartered
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 whole garlic head
• 1/3 cup nonfat sour cream
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, packed
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice


Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place onion in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Toss to coat.

3. Remove white paper skin from garlic head but do not peel or separate cloves. Wrap and seal garlic head in foil.

4. Place onion and garlic on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.

5. Chop onion and place in a medium bowl. Separate garlic cloves and squeeze out pulp then discard skins.

6. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, sour cream, cilantro and lemon juice to onion mixture and mix well. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

Shawn, a SUCCESSFUL first meal @ Casa de Brad y Ro.

Big Bialetti

Woohooo, I got a BIG Bialetti!! This is particularly for Adam and Pat in Esterillos - because whenever they come over for coffee it takes a while...I need to make each bialetti separately (I only have a 3cup, which makes one cup of coffee - or 3 shots of espresso). Anyways, as soon as I landed in the states I went on Ebay and ordered myself a NINE cup Bialetti!! So exciting. Coffee makes me happy.

Pj's and Beer Holsters

My Aunt Diane, from California, sent my parents matching red pj's - with their names embroidered on them! Also in the Christmas Box was a leather beer holster. Ha. I have a feeling that my Dad is going to be living in his red onesy for the next month or so....

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays Everyone!

gifts under the christmas tree
though the best gift of all is,
being home with my family.
-cailin's christmas haiku

Yoga for Christmas.

It's been an emotional few days, and what I really needed was yoga. Yoga makes me feel at peace with myself - it is calming and energizing all at once, and it's a great way for me to connect with my feelings and understand exactly what it is that I'm experiencing and thinking. I sent out an email to Michelle {see blog below} to see if she would be up for a pre-Christmas yoga session. She happily agreed, and we had 3 other friends join us at her home in Ocean City this morning, Christmas Eve. Michelle always puts emphasis on a "mindful" practice...meaning that we aren't just going through the motions, one asana to the next, but instead focusing our practice and our energy on a certain thought, person or emotion. I instantly knew the thought that I would meditate on and I felt Michelle sending her love and energy in the same direction. Power of the mind and of the heart is such a powerful thing, and I'm so thankful for this mornings class - the peace that it brought to me and the love that it sent to my family. Thanks so much to Michelle for obliging my request and opening up her home on such short notice!

While I was doing some research online the other day I came across the CUTEST gingerbread - in the shape of yoga asanas! I printed out this photo and made it into a card for Michelle, and thought that I would share these with you. They are made by Patti Paige in NYC, and not only are they are great Christmas gift for your fellow Yogi or Yogini - but they'd be a cute gift year-round for any occasion!

http://www.bakedideas.com/

My Guru.

.Michelle.

I guess that you could say Michelle is my "guru". Since I began taking her yoga classes this past summer, she has been a constant inspiration to my personal practice as well as my professional practice. She has a passion for yoga that is contagious, and she was born to teach yoga. Her cueing makes impossible asanas possible, she fills you with confidence in your asanas and incorporates the theory of yoga into her classes - enriching the overall experience. She keeps a yoga blog, which I've mentioned before, but I feel like it deserves some special attention. It's not just about the asanas, but also about a healthy diet and lifestyle. You'd be silly to not take advantage of the knowledge that is at your fingertips, so go ahead:

http://yogababymomma.blogspot.com/

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

Arrived home just in time for a huge snowstorm. Yesterday morning I was put to work shoveling the driveway and sweeping off the cars. It steady snowed all day yesterday, through the night. Our Christmas Party was a bit smaller than planned, only the daring and adventurous making their way through the blizzard all in the name of a Callahan party. We ate and drank and ate and drank, and half the party slept over. We woke this morning for more shoveling and breakfast! I made my green scrambled eggs {portobella mushrooms, onions, spinach and asparagus} with homemade scrapple on the side and a little bowl of chili. Boom. The days plan is to play in the snow, eat, watch movies, eat, shovel, eat, watch movies and eat. I'm coming back to Costa Rica 15 pounds heavier....with a huge smile on my face.

Cold Weather, Hot Chocolate

After a day of traveling I am now sitting in Miami International Airport...ALMOST to my final destination, filthy Philadelphia. It's chilly here, yep - even in Miami! But I gotta say, I was thankful for the chilly weather - if only for a few minutes - so that I could enjoy a $3 Starbucks Hot Chocolate. Damn...deliciouso! It's little things like hot chocolate that I appreciate about being home, because hot chocolate in hot weather just isn't the same. Also, as much as I've been trying to get into the Christmas "Spirit" in Costa, it's difficult while you are wearing a bathingsuit and sweating all day. Sure, Tico's decorate with christmas lights and festive christmas trees - but nothing puts me more into the holiday mood than my parents house on the holidays - it looks like ol' saint nick just threw up christmas all over the place! Top to bottom! Christmas lights, christmas music, and christmas decorations galor. Did I mention that my ma makes egg nog that has so much booze in it that it will literally put hair on your chest and fur on your tongue?! Soooo goood. So... Ho Ho Ho, I think that I'm going to enjoy being home for the holidays. Extra hot chocolate...MmMmM.

La Dron's Strike Again!!

CSI Samara!

My last night in Samara we were robbed. The thieves got away with some sweet gear - about 18,000$ worth!! 6 Mac Laptops, several ipods, speakers, external hard-drives, cash and a boatload of clothes... they even took all of the guys flip flops from outside and the boardshorts they had hanging on the back of chairs. Poor Dietz - they took everything he owned, except for his Green Man suit and the clothes that he was wearing - boxers and a shirt that said "Babes and Waves" in neon writing. They took Lenny's whole bookbag - wallet, passport - everything. None of the guys speak Spanish, so I stayed an extra day to be an interpreter. Well, typical Costa RIca - we get down to the police station and they act as if we are the first people to EVER get robbed in Costa Rica. I can't explain it to people who haven't been here - but for those of you who are from Costa or frequent this beautiful country, you know that something as basic as filing a police report in a thieve-filled-country can take a WHOLE DAY. We were here, we were there - we talked to this person, that person and that persons friend. Brian took matters into his own hands, going around to some locals and ruffing them up and talking to his good friends who live in town and know whats up. The "OIJ" which is similar to the FBI came to our house and dusted for FINGERPRINTS. HA. We all just laughed. I'm totally bummed for the guys, but glad that none of us ran into the robbers...who knows what could have happened. The bad guys had been watching the house and waited for us to go to bed - and anyone who entered a house with NINE full grown men in it - one of them a very scary Brian Bourgeios - well, they must have been armed - cause there is no way that they had the cajones otherwise. Another quote for Costa Rica is "Welcome to Costa Rica, you've just been robbed." Have a beer. Pura Vida.

You Can't Have a PLAN in Costa Rica...but You Can Have a BEER.

Been having a good time in the house. I can't stress enough what a sweet place that Brian got - and how stoked I am on Ben paying for all the food, just letting me cook up whatever I want. It's like a mini bed and breakfast....and I think that I'm pretty good at it and that this is my calling in life. Surfed Camaronal today -- got ripped again by Ben and Brian for being a "BD"..."Barrel Dodger". Ha. Still, got some super fun waves and Nate got them on film. Woohooo. I am supposed to leave tomorrow after our morning surf. This was the plan. But...the problem is that we are in Costa Rica, and in Costa Rica you cannot have a plan. Waves should stay this way - small and fun...and their friend Johnny, who is opening a sushi restaurant, is coming over tomorrow and making sushi for all of us...IF I decide to stick around. The holdup is my yoga lesson on Thursday morning. I hate to let down my students, so I'm going to try and find a balance. Hmmmm -- I will make my decision tomorrow after the surf.

Pura Vida.

Marbella.

SO - last night we surfed Camaronal - and it was well overhead with no one out. Surfed til sunset and then headed back to the house where I made some dinner. Earlier that day I made a breakfast that Ben was stoked on...so later on he insisted that I went to the supermarket with him. He basically just followed me around with the baskets and let me buy anything and everything, and he paid for it. I was excited to have all of this food to cook and eat, and was even more excited that I didn't have to pay for it. Anyways -for dinner I whipped up some salad and pasta. MmMmMm delicious. We retired early...no need to repeat our previous night of rum and more rum. I was asleep by 8pm. This morning we were all up at 5am and prepping for an hour ride to Marbella, a spot a bit north of Nosara. The ride was bumpy and river-filled, but we arrived to perfect head high beachbreak with only 3 people out. Ben (Bouregious) is a pro-surfer and was a little bummed about the "small" waves, but inside I was doing jumping jacks!! THANK GOD! I didn't want to surf death barrels, and from the looks of it Marbella gets pretty insane, not exactly prime conditions for a log. Ben and Brian were giving me lessons on how to get barreled, legitimately and in a fast, firing wave. I wasn't so successful with this, but I did get some super fun waves and the cameraman Nate got clips of a few of em. Woohooo!! Tonight two more people arrive and for dinner we are having fish tacos!! Pura Vida.

Rum...with a shot of ginger ale.

Rum...with a shot of ginger ale.

Last night I had 3 rums, on ice -- with a splash of ginger ale and a wedge of lime. The most I've drank in a while...sleep deprived and stressed from 3 point turns, my 3 drinks put me over the edge and right to bed. The search for waves begins....