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Holiday Recipes to Nourish Your Soul

It’s easy to get caught up in overwhelm over the holidays. But, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a competition and there really is no winner. Do what feels right for you and your family so that it’s enjoyable, but also manageable. (And if you need some inspiration, I’m sharing 7 of my family’s favorite holiday recipes in this post–scroll to the bottom for the link.) The holidays don’t mean: Spending more than you can afford on presents Cooking till you drop Staying up until 2 am to decorate the perfect house Saying yes to every social gathering. Instead, set boundaries. Create new traditions that won’t break the bank and take all day–and night. Do it if it makes you feel happy and set it aside (or banish it all together) if it causes too much stress. The most magical thing about the holidays for me, has always been about spending time with the people that matter to me most. Laughing and making memories. And sharing good food together. I hope that you and your family take joy in this collection of simple, but delicious recipes, that always make this time of year festive and special for me and my family. Sausage rolls? Potato latkes? Peppermint bark? What will you make this year? xo Sharmani Download the recipes here.

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It’s 2020. Permission to Make the Most of the Festive Season!

2020 has been a challenging year for EVERYONE; this year give yourself permission, and make a plan, to really enjoy the Festive Season! As enjoyable as the holidays can be, they can also be busy and stressful. The stresses may be very different this year, but they are real so it’s still important to make time for self care. Take time to rest and rejuvenate, practice mindfulness and movement, and allow yourself to be nourished with food that speaks to your soul. Remember to look after your skin too! At Apothekari, we’re focusing on spreading light and happiness. Let’s take a look at all the festivals celebrated around the world at this time of year. Plus, we’re sharing some of our favorite, indulgent holiday recipes – cause what’s a celebration without food?! We hope that this post inspires you to find some joy during this “most wonderful time of the year”. (Apologies for the cliché). Shop All Apothekari 1. Bodhi Day Celebrated on December 8th each year, Buddhists honor the day that Siddhartha Gautama (the founder of Buddhism, aka Buddha), achieved enlightenment through meditation. ‘Bodhi’ means awakening or enlightenment and it took Buddha 49 days of unbroken meditation to find the root of suffering and how to free himself from it. On this day, Buddhists quietly reflect the ways of enlightenment. While some eat tea and cookies, others decorate a Bodhi tree, the tree that Buddha sat under, while meditating. There aren’t any parades or fanfare, rather a quiet day of meditation. 2. Hannukah Often called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration, which takes place December 10 – 18th, this year. It commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, means “dedication” in Hebrew and begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah (a nine-branch candelabra), traditional foods, games and gifts. 3. Winter Solstice The longest night of the year falls on December 21st this year, in the Northern Hemisphere. Since ancient times, the Winter Solstice has been recognized and celebrated as the subsequent “return” of the Sun. The traditions have influenced holidays, like Christmas and Hanukkah, that we celebrate now. 4. Festivus If you’re a Seinfeld fan, then you’ll be familiar with this one! Taking place on December 23rd, this festival is a form of playful consumer resistance against the commercialization of the Christmas season. It was created by author Daniel O’Keefe and entered popular culture after a 1997 Seinfeld episode. There’s a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength”, and the labeling of easily explainable events as “Festivus miracles.” Yes, it sounds silly, but it does seem like it would be a lot of fun! 5. Christmas Who doesn’t know that this holiday falls every year on December 25th? Christmas is represented by presents and Santa Claus, but its origin is another story. The Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, and although the true date of his birth is unknown, the church fixed the date as December 25, a date which corresponds to the winter solstice on the Roman calendar. If this is true, then that means Christmas is also a day to be grateful that the darkest nights have passed and spring is coming. Santa? Today’s character is based on traditions surrounding Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century Greek bishop, the British figure of Father Christmas, and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas (based on Saint Nicholas). Holly, jolly Santa Claus is portrayed as a portly, white-bearded man, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, and he became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century. Christmas is celebrated in countries around the world, even in non-Christian countries, where many of the non-religious aspects, such as gift-giving, decorations, and Christmas trees are embraced. 6. Kwanzaa This annual African-American celebration is held from December 26 to January 1, ending with gift-giving and a feast of faith called Karamu Ya Imani. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966, with the goal to “give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society. The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning “first fruits of the harvest”. It was originally meant to be an alternative to Christmas but has turned into a celebration that many African Americans celebrate in addition to observing Christmas. Today, Kwanzaa is also celebrated outside the United States. What’s a Celebration Without Food? 7 Recipes We’re Sharing With You Holidays are made special by food prepared with love and care. They’re the ones that make an appearance for special occasions, and which may appear again and again over the years. Tradition can be very comforting, but there’s something exciting about discovering new things too. I’m adventurous when it comes to food so our holiday cooking involves some tradition plus new discoveries that I think my family will enjoy. These celebratory foods are designed to be shared and enjoyed with those we hold dear (even though we may not be able to see them in person this year). They may not lead to glowing skin, but oh, they will nourish your soul. FREE DOWNLOAD – CLICK HERE

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Get a Gift! With One Of 3 Skincare Sets

Get a gift from Apothekari when you purchase one of 3 skincare sets during the festive season! We’ve partnered up with three local companies to offer you a gift when you purchase one of the following: Shop Apothekari Ageless Skin Set Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants Promotion Details One gift per set purchased per customer Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion Doesn’t apply to past purchases Runs until December 13th or while supplies last *We reserve the right to make a substitution if we run out of your chosen gift. Gift 1: Get a Gift of Beautiful Flowers & Beautiful Skin! Ready, Set, Glow and wake up to healthy, beautiful & ageless skin with our Ageless Skin Set. Get a gift of a beautiful bouquet from Bear’s Blooms ($30 value) with the purchase of this set. We’ll include a gift card, which may be used for a bunch of locally grown flowers, which will be delivered straight to your door!* Included in the Apothekari Ageless Skin Set: A is for Anti-Aging Serum – A gentle and effective retinoid serum that helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, reduce hyperpigmentation and reverse sun damage. Use daily at night. Bespoke Vitamin C Serum – Vitamin C (choose 10% or 15%) plus antioxidants help to fight against free radicals, which can accelerate the aging process. Each bottle is made to order guaranteeing freshness. Apply daily every morning. Daily Infusion Moisturizer – Moisturize, hydrate and plump skin with this moisturizer. Use daily morning and/or night as needed. Cloud Nine Foaming Cleansing Crème (sensitive, dry skin) or AHA-Mazing Clean Cleansing Gel (all skin types) – Cleanse skin to remove dirt and makeup and ensure absorption of active treatments. Choose one. *Bear’s Blooms currently delivers to Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, and White Rock. If you live outside this area, you can substitute another one of the gifts from our promotion. Gift 2: Pamper Your Body & Your Senses Punch up the smoothness and pamper your skin with an invigorating exfoliating polish and luscious moisturizing butter for the body in our Smooth Skin Body Set and get a gift of a beautifully scented candle from Canvas Candle Company! (value $15.95) Our Smooth Skin Set contains two of our customer favorites and are perfect for bath time indulgence or to pamper someone special: Shea Body Butter – Extra-rich, protective cream made with the highest quality organic shea butter from Africa provides luscious moisture for the skin to heal dry, cracked and callused skin. Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Polish – Revitalize and invigorate your skin and your senses with our foaming body polish! The Best Coast Gold Travel Tin captures the essence of living on the West Coast of British Columbia. Enjoy the sweet scents of evergreen and cedarwood rooted with an earthy vetiver essential oil. This 6oz candle burns for up to 40 hours. Gift 3: Protect Against Odor & Protect Your ‘Stuff’ Sweat confidently and protect against odor, with our Natural Deodorant that works! Available in a set of 3 featuring a variety of essential oil blends, get a gift of a handmade and embroidered cotton pouch from KimandWhit (value $20) when you purchase this set! Use it to protect your essentials including make-up, your glasses or your new deodorant! Our natural deodorant is free from aluminum, parabens and irritating baking soda. We harness the power of enzymes to keep you feeling fresh all day!

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