by Paula D.
on December 30, 2021 9:44 am in Gifts
Little known fact, I’m obsessed with the classic sitcom Frasier. I’ve watched all 11 seasons at least five times. Honestly, I lost count. One episode that pops in my head often is called Selling Out (season 1, episode 9). Frasier signs with Bulldogs’s agent, the fierce Bebe Claser. She persuades him to accept commercial endorsements but Frasier, being Frasier, is confronted with an ethical issue. He doesn’t feel comfortable endorsing a product he hasn’t experienced and enjoyed. To deal with this conundrum, he tests out the advertiser’s products to determine if he will promote them on his radio program.
While my influencer status is smaller-scale compared to Dr. Frasier Crane, I feel similarly to his views on endorsement. All of the businesses, makers, or events I’ve written and advocated for over the years are people and products I truly believe in. And I feel it’s important to share that information with our community to assist our small businesses and push growth from within.
On that note, I’d like to introduce you to Omyst (OM). This product is an all natural, organic herbal first aid spray. Its healing and antibacterial properties are derived from 100% organically grown, ethically foraged plants: calendula, yarrow, plantain, and wild roses. The spray treats cuts, burns, bug bites, acne, rashes, sutures, scrapes, tattoo care and more.
Over the summer I had an incident. A bottle broke on the cement and a large piece of glass cut my leg. I had to get 10 stitches. It was a deep gash. My friend Meredith gave me her Omyst spray and said, “Trust me, it will work better than anything you can buy at the drugstore.” She was right. I used the spray three times a day. I never developed redness around the wound or swelling. And the healing process was fast. I also believe it helped with minimal scarring. I use it for any type of skin issue now and I still have the original bottle from the summer.
OM is mindfully developed by one of our own, Noreen Mulvanerty, a long-time Rockawayite. As a mother of five, and now grandmother, she has dealt with her share of cuts and scrapes! But her knowledge goes beyond beach horseplay and falls in the playground. Noreen is a retired Family Nurse Practitioner with a degree from Georgetown University. She continued her education and passion for holistic therapy at Columbia University, where she studied botanical medicine in modern clinical practice, earning a postgraduate certificate in Chinese Medicine and AMMATherapy. Her creds are legit!
Supporting our local vendors this holiday season and year-round is vital for Rockaway to continue prospering. Follow @omystfirstaid on Instagram to learn more about this healing product and visit omyst.com to purchase last minute Omyst gift packages and other items such as soaps, body creams, and lip balm. Omyst is the perfect gift for your accident prone friend, moms with little ones or any loved one, because we all need healing care from time to time!
Photos courtesy of @omystfirstaid
I’ve been to the Rockaway Hotel many times for rooftop cocktails, seasonal markets and for dinner and luncheons. The food is top-notch and the cocktails are 5-star. Whenever I walk in the door, I feel like I’m in Manhattan for the evening, yet I’m only 10 minutes from home!
Last week I signed up for my first experience at the hotel – a wreath-making class hosted by Amy Febinger. Amy is a floral designer living and working in Rockaway. She creates beautiful sculptural arrangements for all occasions including weddings, corporate events, dinner parties, and other community or family events. Amy is known for her modern, romantic aesthetic but her installations are always curated for her clients’ specific needs or celebration.
I walked up the stairs and was greeted by a server offering champagne. The room was set up beautifully with flowers and greens atop large wooden tables. Unexpectedly, Amy began the event by letting all the participants introduce themselves. We were asked to say a little bit about why we were interested in the class and what we were grateful for. It set the tone for an intimate workshop where we felt relaxed and inspired.
Amy gave us a demonstration, showing us the technique. She spoke about the different flowers and greens we can choose from and how they may work well together, based on color and texture.
Everyone chose their materials and we got to work. It’s interesting, my vision for the wreath turned out completely different than what I expected. It was a wonderful little surprise. I gravitated towards bright colors and fruits rather than heavier, classic Christmas greens.
Midway through the class, crafters started walking around admiring people’s work and asking for advice or providing feedback. It was interactive and fun to meet new people with like-minded interests. My friend Jacquie, who I signed up with, went big, bold, and organic. She was inspired by some of the creations Amy featured on her IG account. I must say, everyone was commenting on how lovely and unique Jacquie’s wreath was!
I asked Amy if she planned on another wreath-making class. She said a workshop in the spring and mid-summer was very likely.
I had such a wonderful day, the most fun I’ve had in months actually. The holiday season can be difficult or stressful for many. Taking the time to do something for yourself is so important. I’m grateful for people like Amy Febinger who follow their passion and in turn, give that light and enthusiasm back to our community.
Support local businesses this holiday season and visit bourgeonflowers.com for floral arrangement gifts. Follow @bourgeonflowers on Instagram to view Amy’s breathtaking designs. And make sure to check out The Rockaway Hotel’s happenings page (herockawayhotel.com/happenings) to find out about upcoming events!
by Paula D.
on December 9, 2021 9:49 am in DIY
It’s funny how I’ve been thinking about citrus fruits lately and it’s almost winter.
I was preparing my bath of fruits and herbs the other night. While slicing up the lemon, I remembered that my friend Jodi posted a picture of dried fruit Christmas ornaments last year on her instagram account. They looked beautiful. I wanted to try this!
I called Jodi and got some pro tips and creative crafting ideas. Below are the directions for this holiday craft.
DIY Fruit Ornaments
Supplies:
Knife
Cutting board
Baking sheet
Parchment paper or wax paper
Lemons, oranges, grapefruit or other fruit of your choice
Ribbon and/or wire hooks
Toothpick
Q-tips
Craft Items: sparkles, glue, ribbon, gemstones, etc.
Directions:
Step One: Cut the fruit into ¼ inch slices and carefully remove the seeds with a toothpick. Try to make the cut as even as possible using a sharp knife.
Step Two: Arrange the fruit slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in the warm oven set to about 150-170°F. Bake for 3-4 hours. Flip every hour. You want the fruit to keep its color, so it should not be completely shriveled. Alternatively, if you’re a planner and have the time, you can leave the fruit out for three days to dry naturally. To note, the slices will curl a bit more using this method.
Step Three: Set up your crafting station. Use a toothpick to feed the ribbon through the fruit. Use sparkles or other crafting supplies to adorn the decorations. Or keep the look natural. This is where you can get creative and make them your own – to fit your personal holiday style.
Besides this being a very affordable and fun decorating option, I like the idea of an old-fashioned Christmas. Before we had big box stores with every decoration imaginable, families used what the earth provided to them. The branches and sticks outside their home, the pine cones on the ground, the fruit they grew, and the berries on the trees. This concept is so appealing to me. Additionally, DIY decorating is less wasteful and safer for our environment. And I bet these decorations will look more beautiful than anything you can buy in a store because they’re homemade with love.
I’m very pleased with how my fruit ornaments turned out. The fruit is transparent and when the light shines from the window or the Christmas lights, it has a warm glow. Apart from using these to adorn your tree, you can also decorate holiday gift packages, string them together as garland or integrate the fruit into a winter floral centerpiece. Turn on the Christmas music and try this craft with your friends or family. And the kids will enjoy it too!
