spring has almost sprung!

time to "switch out" dry winter skin for fresh, soft-as-a-baby-lamb spring skin!   check it out-  www.tinyurl.com/refreshandrenew

From Oil to Salve... Magic!

i just finished a fresh batch of paw salve... check out how it's made!  


first the oil must be infused... i used the heat method- since chicago doesn't have a ton of sun right now... ;)
half of the oil i use is comfrey-infused...

and the other half a blend of rose, lavender, chamomile, and calendula...

look at that beautiful green comfrey oil!

i keep the infused oils in a mason jar until i'm ready to cook up some paw salve...

so when i'm ready...  it goes in a pan (a pan i ONLY use for my herbal products!) with some beeswax...

and when the beeswax is melted, it gets poured into a pyrex until it cools enough to add the vitamin e and essential oils... and then poured into the plastic jars.  and POOF!  boo boo goo paw salve is born!

simple is best!  this healing salve is perfect for anyone with paws- pooches, putty tats OR people!  www.tinyurl.com/booboogoofactsheet

Do That Voodoo That You Do SO Well!

one of my favorite things to make are my doggy voodoo dogs.  they were inspired by the final project i created for the first herb training i did with tonja- a first aid kit for a broken heart.  the kit had various herbal remedies- hawthorne tincture, rose tea, healing foot bath, etc....-  but the "star" of the kit was my "reverse" voodoo doll.  it's "reverse", because instead of inflicting pain, you send love.  with each push of the pin (into the blooming heart), you send love to the person you're thinking about.  love not pain!  yeah! 

when i got boo last january, my whole life began to revolve around dogs (clearly...!) and when i did my second herb training at moondance, i decided to do a doggy first aid kit.  hence the creation of doggy voodoo dolls.  they are perfect for a dog owner who travels a lot, someone whose dog is ill, or just anyone who is in love with their pooch.  the dolls are made with repurposed fabric and sewn by hand.  by me.  with lots of love and intention.  :)  

so the next time someone tells you to "stick it", maybe it will have a whooooooole new meaning.  


happy holidays!    

The Wandering Boo

faithful companion and inspiration for doggy products...   moondance shop dog for the past year...  budding celebrity...  my little boo.  *sigh*

Traveling Tools of the Trade

mason jars, pyrex measuring cups, measuring spoons, chopsticks, spatulas, strainer, cheescloth, stainless steel pot, french press, electric kettle...  herbs!  beeswax, oils, essential oils...  curing tinctures and infusions... the list never ends...  can't wait to make some chicago-based product!!

Life is Full of Delightful Little Surprises...

the wandering herbalist finally wandered to boulder (i.e. mecca) last weekend.  i have many fond memories of boulder, as i did my yoga teacher training with the incomparable ashtanga master, richard freeman.  basically, the only time i go to boulder is to do yoga or meditate!  this time, though, i was visiting a friend, and it was all about restaurants, bars and theater.  a different type of meditation, i guess... life is all about balance, right?!

my host, bud carson, is a friend who is also a wanderer (and sometimes san francisco cab driver) and he's staying in boulder for an undetermined amount of time.  he's renting a place in a cute little neighborhood that butts up to the hills, but is still a three-minute drive to the pearl street mall.  oh, the benefits of living in a tiny town!  anyway, my pal is very aware of my herbal life, and couldn't wait to show me the contents of the medicine cabinet in his apartment.  wha'?  huh?  he sublets from a guy, so i have to say that my initial reaction was "why do you want to show me his 'old spice'?  why do i care?"... and THEN... he opened the cabinet door... and... (*cue angels singing from the universe*)  wowwww!!!

tinctures and flower remedies and essential oils, OH MY! cayenne!  clove bud!  and yarrow? yarrow?  who knows about yarrow?!  in essential oil form, it's great as an anti-inflammatory (and more), but it's amazing metaphysically to support dreams and visions.  LOVE IT!  i have to say, though, that the best part was that he had my favorite eo of all time- rose geranium.  aaaahhhhh.  home sweet home.  ;)  fortunately, i had the pleasure of meeting the owner of all these treasures, and as it turned out, he had studied to be an herbalist.  duh!  of course! he actually went to the same school as tonja, the owner of moondance.  again... of course!  he even studied with susun weed, my hero!  *sigh*  oh, boulder...  how i sometimes love ya'...  

**check out my wandering friend's book at www.myfarecity.com.  it's a very entertaining- and pretty saucy- read...**

We Pause for Paws!

the first official product the wandering herbalist created was "boo boo goo", a healing, herb-infused salve for dogs, cats, AND humans!  named after my beloved dog, boo, this salve is nourishing to the skin and is highly effective for healing any skin irritations.  what makes it different from most other products on the market?  i infuse the oils with healing herbs- comfrey, calendula, rose, lavender and chamomile.  infusing pulls out the therapeutic elements, thereby highly increasing the effectiveness.  it doesn't just smell and feel good, it HEALS!  check out the fact sheet...


available in denver at moondance botanicals, earthlings, and sixth avenue pet source.  and from the wandering herbalist anytime!  just email me- thewanderingherbalist@gmail.com.


chicago plans keep brewing...  updates a-followin'.  ahoy!  

exfoliate and steam and a fresh mask... OH MY!

the first offering on the traveling herbalist's CHICAGO menu is the fresh, fabulous face party! it all starts the last week of december! get your glow on just in time for new year's eve!

using fresh, hand-crafted moondance botanicals (www.moondancebotanicals.com) products- we will:

1. exfoliate (with honey-almond, or cleansing grains- made with powdered oats, white clay and poppy seeds)

2. cleanse (with lavender silk, a luscious non-soap cleanser)

3. herbal steam (choose from soothing rose/calendula or tonifying lavender/fennel)

4. fresh masks! (seasonal! but always includes chocolate-rose... yummMmm...)

5. product product product! spritzers, serum, moisturizer and eye cream. *big sigh*

i will come to your home or office, anywhere in the city of chicago. $25/person, five-person minimum. enjoy a 20% discount on any moondance product ordered the day of your spa party! your fresh skin care will be boxed up and shipped out the same week. who needs the sun in the dark chicago winter... we'll all soon be glowing!

*would you like me to set up wine and food for your spa party? i WILL! i have lots of cool friends who do and sell cool stuff! we'll "tawk"...*

chicago arrival!

our arrival date has been determined! we (me, my dog, boo and my bff, matt) leave denver on monday, december 28th, so should be in chicago no later than tuesday afternoon! let's do facials!

menu of mobile services to come! see you in the windy city!!!