Cocktail Syrups & Mixers

Playtime At The Office is Big Business

When was the last time you played? Maybe if you have kids, it’s an easier question to answer. For most adults, ‘having fun’ is not on our to-do list. While we might find time to unwind on the weekend, we don’t directly equate ‘fun’ with ‘play’ and it can seem downright impossible to imagine acting playful at work. But that mindset is changing as the workforce becomes more Gen Z and Millennial than Boomer.

A slew of new research and a number of up-and-coming startups think we should play a whole lot more. Research shows we learn better when a task is fun, and approaching even the most mundane task with a playful mindset can profoundly improve our productivity. Experts suggest that a 'playtime' approach to problem solving stimulates our imagination, helping us find solutions better and quicker.

For many of us over 30, the idea of being playful at work conjures images of uncomfortable team-building games or banal holiday parties dominated by awkward banter. While many offices installed ping-pong tables and cool snacks to improve company culture pre-pandemic, startups like Marco, Confetti, and Thriver took advantage of the sudden need for virtual team-building in 2020 to curate diverse rosters of events, classes, and experiences that are anything but banal.

Marco bills itself as a cool tech savvy startup serving its own kind, from mid-week workplace going away parties, to team celebrations and company retreats, they aim to speak directly to companies that want to improve their culture-building through trendy events and in-the-moment themed play. 

Jenn Cornelius, CPO at Ritual, shares on their website that, “Marco has become my go-to partner for curated, thoughtful, and fun team experiences that keep our distributed organization connected and inspired.” 

Confetti and Thriver have cornered the remote team market with classes and shippable kits delivered directly to dispersed team members. As they confront an evolving hybrid economy, team-building companies like these are diversifying their offerings, with a roster of virtual and in-person offerings to suit the needs of their customers. As Joe, a remote worker from Minneapolis shared, “who knew I loved doing paint-by-numbers? But honestly, it felt way less awkward painting with my colleagues from the comfort of my own home.” 

Playful employees are expensive. According to preliminary findings of the Incentive Federation's Incentive Marketplace Estimate Research Study, U.S. businesses spend $176 billion per year to motivate and recognize their employees, with small to midsize companies spending an average of $14,813 per month on office snacks and beverages alone. And a typical budget for a 200-person retreat? The average is $600,000 to $700,000, or $3,000 to $3,500 a head. Some companies spend much more.

As the economy fluctuates in the coming years, it remains to be seen whether companies will continue to invest as readily in team-building. Will these startups pivot to the market and diversify their offerings as hybrid work evolves, or have they found a niche that continues to offer growth opportunities? Either way, as play becomes a ubiquitous incentive, it will be hard to remove entirely. 

New October "How to Meditate: An Introduction to Mindfulness" Class!

One of the best things I've ever done for myself was learning to meditate and create a daily mindfulness practice. Mindfulness Meditation helps me rebuff the jerk in my head who encourages me to make bad decisions; with a daily practice, I'm now able to sift through my thoughts so I'm (mostly) acting on the good ones, not the bad ones. 

In this class, you'll learn the basics of starting a personal meditation practice. I'll teach you how to relax your mind, sharpen your concentration, increase calmness and clarity, and induce sustainable, conscious happiness. Most importantly, I'll provide you with tools to reduce stress and anxiety, and become more resilient. 

This class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about mindfulness, whether you've meditated 100 times or 0. I'll address the basic barriers that many beginners face, such as: How long do I meditate? Where should I meditate? What do I focus on? How do I overcome distractions? The workshop will include some guided meditations and provide plenty of time for questions and discussion.

You will walk away with the ability to:

• create a personal mindfulness meditation practice

• reduce stress and increase calmness

• train your mind to make better decisions

• sleep better, and reduce physical pain or depression

New October "Do What You Love: How To Start A Holistic Side Hustle" Class!

Want to make money off that passion project, side hustle, or brilliant idea? This workshop is for people who want to learn how to effectively monetize a project: craftspeople, designers, tech savvies, food or gadget inventors, health & wellness practitioners, multifaceted go-getters with a brilliant idea who don’t quite know where to start. You absolutely can earn money while doing what you love, but it takes some groundwork and planning to bring in revenue.

In this workshop you will meet new colleagues, build a support network, and walk away with the fundamentals for monetizing your idea. The workshop is led by hustle entrepreneur Laena, whose mission is to help people follow their passion while pursuing financial freedom.

You want financial freedom to live your best life. You want to start that dream side hustle, but you need help. I'll give you the practical tools and know-how to get you started.

Come join my tribe of budding entrepreneurs in a safe space where you can leave your trepidation at the door. 

What you'll get:

• Inspiration and real-world knowledge

• Practical nuts & legal bolts for a lean startup

• Plumbing the question, 'can I really do this?’

• Marketing and personal branding tips

• Vital connections

New October Homemade Hot Sauce Class!

What condiment can you not live without? I confess: for me, it's hot sauce. I even carry a little bottle in my purse, for my on-the-go heat addiction. And it's amazing how fun and easy homemade hot sauce can be! I look forward to sharing my passion for preservation with you, as we make our own hot sauce together.

In this class you'll learn the simple steps of homemade hot sauce, from sourcing peppers and ingredients, cooking, and storing your batch. We'll also cover the tools and tricks of preservation and fermentation, such as safety and shelf-life, as well as various methods and canning history. You'll also get a recipe and tips as we make hot sauce together during class. 

Skill level: beginner; but those with canning skills are welcome to join and learn some new tricks.

You will walk away with the ability to:
* Source and select ingredients
* Cook and preserve hot sauce, while maximizing flavor
* Ferment your own hot sauce at home
* Share your homemade jar of hot sauce with friends!

Note: This class will be held online via Zoom. The recipe and shopping list will be sent to you after registration!

At-home fertility kits could be ‘Uber of the IVF world’ [but docs skeptical] By Jane Ridley September 23, 2019

Not exactly the behemoth of factual journalism, but this NY Post article is interesting nonetheless.

Let’s play DIY doctor!

Experts at a Manhattan fertility clinic claim they’re pioneering the world’s first do-it-yourself IVF kit. The idea is that wannabe moms can use the at-home kit to prepare to have their eggs retrieved in a doctor’s office.

The kit, which costs $850, requires only one visit to the doctor before egg harvesting. And while it could be a convenient way to handle a rather inconvenient process, doctors say patients really shouldn’t skimp on medical supervision in the midst of fertility woes.

The color-coded package costs roughly the same price as coming into the office, according to New Hope Fertility Center, which is behind the initiative. But, the company adds, there would likely be savings on commuting costs, travel time and hours lost at the woman’s place of work.

The kit contains oral and vaginal medications, nasal sprays and urine testing strips women can use to monitor their ovulation. The Food and Drug Administration only oversees IVF when it involves a third party, such as a sperm or egg donor, so this kit doesn’t come under their purview.

After a period of about 14 days, the egg retrieval is done by professionals at the clinic — but all of the preparation is done by the patients themselves.

They can either pick up the kit from the fertility center’s Midtown office or have it delivered by mail.

–The new system could just be “the Uber of the IVF world,” Dr. Zaher Merhi, New Hope’s director of research and development in IVF technologies, tells The Post.

Couple in alleged IVF mixup: Ordeal had 'horrific' effect on our marriage

“[With the kit,] there is no need to go to the the physician’s office for monitoring, for blood work or for ultrasounds. There is also the element of privacy. Who wants to have to tell their employer they need to go to the doctor every other morning for two weeks?” says Merhi.

He says that the chances of the woman’s body being in a successful state for egg harvesting for either IVF or egg-freezing after using the at-home IVF kit were around 95 percent based on testing it out on about 25 patients.

“Of course, the patient needs to be hyper-vigilant and very motivated to adhere to the correct protocols,” he says. “But if there is human error, we will reimburse them and encourage them to have the retrieval done at the clinic the next time around.”

But some doctors think it’s a bad idea for patients to prep entirely alone.

“Women actually do want to know what is going on with their bodies during an IVF cycle,” Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh tells The Post.

That’s why the San Ramon, Calif., doctor thinks it’s important to connect with a doctor prior to having your eggs harvested — that, plus her belief that it’s unrealistic and unsafe for patients to handle IVF prep by themselves.

Doctors, she points out, are key for helping patients manage medication and their possible side effects, which can include mood changes and physical discomfort. Without someone to monitor symptoms and dosage, she says, “so many horrible things can happen.

“Offering zero [as suggested in their promotional materials] or even suggesting zero visits to a doctor before an egg retrieval is silly. Minimal visits? Sure. That’s totally doable. You could do an entire IVF cycle with two visits and an egg retrieval and still keep a patient safe,” says Eyvazzadeh. “But the word ‘zero’? Give me a break.”

FILED UNDER FERTILITY , HEALTH , IVF

Lactation Cookies - Gluten-Free Muesli Milk Makers [recipe]

Muesli Milk Makers

INGREDIENTS
{wet ingredients}
1 cup of honey or maple syrup
1 cup of seed/nut butter of your choice (tahini, almond, peanut, etc)
1/2 cup coconut oil
splash of vanilla extract
2 eggs
{dry ingredients}
2 cups muesli (I make my own w/a 3:1 ratio of rolled oats to nuts/seeds/dry fruit)
1/2 cup raisins or dried fruit of your choice
1/4 cup shredded coconut
1 cup almond flour
1/4 cup flaxseed meal
1 tablespoon fenugreek powder
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 teaspoon ground fennel seed (omit if you hate this taste)
pinch of ground or fresh ginger
pinch of ground cardamom
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Warm the wet ingredients in saucepan on stove or in the microwave until melted, stir well to mix.

Cool slightly, and beat in eggs.

Add the dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Scoop with a soup spoon, and lightly press them down onto a cookie sheet to about 1 in thickness.

Bake in 350 oven for about 8 to 10 min, they should appear slightly undercooked.

Alternately, you can mold these into little muesli snack bars, or press mix into a baking dish and bake that way, cutting them into bars when they’re cool.

Lactation Cookies - Oat Chocolate Banana [recipe]

Oat Banana Ginger Chocolate Milk Makers

INGREDIENTS

{dry ingredients}
1 1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp baking power
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
generous pinch of ginger (or grated fresh)
generous pinch of turmeric
generous pinch of nettle leaf or blessed thistle (optional)
2 tablespoons fenugreek powder
1 tablespoon ground fennel seed
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1 1/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup chopped nuts, such as almonds or pecans
1 cup dark chocolate chips/bar cut into pieces
{wet ingredients}
3/4 softened unsalted butter
1 cup packed dark brown sugar (could sub molasses)
1 mashed very ripe banana
1 egg
vanilla extract or bean pulp

DIRECTIONS
I use my stand mixer for these, but you can use a handheld beater or strong-arm it just with a spoon.

Stir dry ingredients (the first 14 listed above) together and set aside.

Cream together butter & sugar for 3 minutes, add egg, banana and vanilla. w/mixer on slow, add in all dry ingredients and mix until things are just incorporated.

Using a 1/4 cup or big soup spoon, measure portions out onto sheet pan. You can roll them between your hands first for a more uniform look.

Lightly press them down to about 1 in thickness.

Bake in 350 oven for about 12 - 15 min, they should appear slightly undercooked.

Beauty Balls (raw, organic, easy, Paleo) for Breastfeeding, Energy, and Skin [recipe]

BEAUTÉ BALLS (raw, organic, easy) [recipe]:

in a food processor, grind almonds ( 1 cup), pistachios ( 1/4 cup), ground fenugreek (1 teaspoon), ground fennel powder (1/2 teaspoon), garam masala or cinnamon (pinch), turmeric (1 teaspoon), nutritional yeast (1 teaspoon), flax seeds (3 tablespoons), coconut (1/2cup); add dates (1/2 cup) and 2 tablespoons maple syrup or 2 tablespoons apple brandy (totally optional), pulse till minced and sticky. Roll into balls, roll the balls in cocoa powder, almond flour, and a handful of shredded coconut; keep in an air-tight container at room temp for 1-week, or refrigerate.

Good for your skin, good for breastfeeding (fenugreek, fennel, and nutritional yeast increase milk supply, nuts and seeds provide vital protein, good fat, vitamins, and nutrients), good for digestion, good for energy, good for kids (but maybe nix the brandy for the tots, although it’s very minimal).

New November class for Women: "Do What You Love: How To Start A Holistic Side Hustle"

Want to make money off that passion project, side hustle, or brilliant idea?

This workshop is for women who want to learn how to effectively monetize a project: craftspeople, designers, tech savvies, food or gadget inventors, health & wellness practitioners, multifaceted go-getters and women with a brilliant idea who don’t quite know where to start. You absolutely can earn money while doing what you love, but it takes some groundwork and planning to bring in revenue.

In this workshop you will meet new colleagues, build a support network, and walk away with the fundamentals of monetizing your idea. The workshop is led by hustle entrepreneurs Ami & Laena, whose mission is to help women follow their passion and gain financial freedom.

You want financial freedom to live your best life. We want to be your support network. You want to start that dream side hustle, but you need help. We want to give you the practical tools and know-how to get you started.

Come join our tribe of budding entrepreneurs in a safe space where you can leave your trepidation at the door. Sparkling water, Laena’s superpower tonic, and inspiration will be served.

What you'll get:

• Inspiration and real-world knowledge

• Practical nuts & legal bolts for a lean startup

• Plumbing the question, 'can I really do this?’

• Marketing and personal branding tips

• Vital connections

(Interactive seminar for women, inclusive of cis, trans, and genderqueer)

New Mindfulness Meditation Class Just Listed :: How to Meditate II: A Deeper Foray into Mindfulness

How to Meditate II: A Deeper Foray into Mindfulness

Monday, November 5, 8:30-10:00pm — Only $20!

One of the best things I've ever done for myself was learning to meditate and create a daily mindfulness practice. Mindfulness Meditation helps me rebuff the jerk in my head who encourages me to make bad decisions; with a daily practice, I'm now able to sift through my thoughts so I'm (mostly) acting on the good ones, not the bad ones. 

In this followup to my intro class, we'll take a deeper journey into mindfulness meditation. I'll teach you how to relax your mind, sharpen your concentration, increase calmness and clarity, and induce sustainable, conscious happiness. Most importantly, I'll provide you with tools to reduce stress and anxiety, and become more resilient. 

This class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about mindfulness, whether you've meditated 100 times or 0. You do not need to take my intro class to attend. The workshop will include breathing exercises and guided meditations, and provide plenty of time for questions and discussion.

You will walk away with the ability to:

• deepen your personal mindfulness meditation practice

• reduce stress and increase calmness

• train your mind to make better decisions

• sleep better, and reduce physical pain or depression

What Does It Mean For Women As Canada Legalizes Recreational Pot?

This week, Canada becomes the second nation in the world (after Uruguay) and the largest to allow the sale of recreational marijuana to adults over 18 (or 19 depending on the province or territory regulations). The multi-billion dollar weed industry at home and abroad will be watching closely to see how it all plays out.

For Amy Wasserman and Shega Youngson, October 17th marks a milestone for their efforts over the last few years to educate Canadians on the range of their company's products and the potential benefits of consuming them for everything from relaxation to aiding sleep to improving their sex lives. The two lead marketing initiatives inside marijuana behemoth, Canopy Growth, (TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC), the biggest pot producer on the planet, where Wasserman is Vice President of Brand Marketing and Innovation and Youngson is Senior Manager of Events and Community Engagement.

Here the brand evangelists weigh in on the business landscape for women in weed; new products, including a forthcoming cannabis beverage that Canopy Growth is developing with backing from alcohol giant Constellation Brands, parent of Corona Beer, which made a $4 billion dollar investment in the company in August; and why they believe the future in cannabis is female.

 A really interesting article on the growing industry in weed for women’s sexual health.

Best Aphrodisiacs? These Are the Foods That Actually Boost Your Sex Drive - Maxim

We all know the common aphrodisiacs: Oysters, chocolate, stimulating herbs…you know, the usual suspects. But not all “aphrodisiacs” actually work, despite being endlessly hyped as enhancing the libido.

To point out which of these do and don't work for better results between the sheets, sexpert Dr. Justin Lehmiller kindly elaborated on some recent research published in the journal Sexual Medicine Reviews, where a team of researchers analyzed scientific literature on some of the most well-known aphrodisiacs. 

So, here's what science has to say about some of the most common aphrodisiacs thought to make you hornier, harder, and better in bed.

 A fun take on using herbs to boost your sexual juju. I wish this wasn’t so dude centric, but it is Maxim….

15 Kitchen Herbs and Spices with Powerful Health Benefits – Natural Health – MOTHER EARTH NEWS

Herbs and spices in our foods have served the purpose of flavoring throughout the years, but also to provide boosts of nutrition and wellness. According to the Professor of Nutrition at the University of Miami, Dr. Moreno, “herbs and spices make food better while improving your health.”

Usually, one can easily decipher the cook behind a meal based on herbs and spices known to that cook. Much more than the taste, various herbs and spices can help to improve memory and prevents diseases and illness.

While their values may reduce during the heating process, several herbs and spices can restrain the oxidative effect from carcinogenic compounds and unstable fat.  Others simply add flavor or aid and protect the body from radical harm.

 Nice article in Mother Earth News on using herbs to heal what ails.

'This Is Us' Highlights PCOS In Season 3, But It Got A Lot Wrong About The Actual Condition

Representation propels acceptance…

But unfortunately, it also gives women a lot of completely false information. This is Us is one of the most popular TV shows, and it would be awesome if they found a way to tell a good story AND use facts to tell that story, especially when it comes to women’s health and a serious condition like PCOS. I really love this Bustle article for highlighting that.

Penis Size Study: Male Fertility Linked to Size of Genitals

Penis size has been linked to infertility in a study.

Lol. For real, ladies, there are at least a dozen articles (Newsweek, Maxim, New York Post, etc) dishing on this recent salacious study correlating penis size and fertility.  

The Rise of Egg Freezing as a Fertility Choice | Allure

You’d be forgiven for mistaking the egg-freezing advertisement for a women-only coworking space or a networking happy hour as you flicked through your feed. The ad might have shown a group of open-faced women in stylish button-downs and statement glasses toasting to one another’s good fortunes above a single phrase: “Preserve your options.”

Or perhaps it was a woman with curls that betray a certain amount of effort, her hands grabbing the zipper of her moto jacket, next to the command “Own your future.” We are Americans in 2018, and we are in the business of sales, and the best way to sell anyone anything is to tell them they need it and it is their right to have it — even if, as in this case, the “it” in question is eternal youth.

 A great article in Allure on the big $ industry of egg freezing. I hope women do their research before jumping on the industry wagon.

9 Things No One Tells You About PCOS, According To Experts

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder among women that you may be familiar with — whether you have it or you know someone who has it. But sometimes the facts on PCOS get confusing.

 This Bustle article does a good job clarifying some of the confusing aspects of PCOS.

Digital contraceptives and period trackers: the rise of femtech | Technology | The Guardian

An interesting read on the Femtech market predicted to be worth $50bn by 2025. But does $ in technology = better education? I HOPE SO.

Fertility apps are one the rise and Natural Cycles is now FDA approved

Aaaannnddd, the American media, CNBC here, has a different, more salacious/negative spin on fertility apps. Note that the argument here and in much of the mainstream media is (a subtle form of), “women are too stupid to use fertility apps correctly.” Also this article is full of misinformation, from conflating cycle tracking with contraception, to calling it the rhythm method, which it is not.