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Ingredient Spotlight: Almonds

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So…almonds. Let’s think about what we know about almonds (or what we think we think we know about them):

Almonds are brown. They’re oval. They’re actually a little sweet (unless you hit a nasty-bad bitter one). They’re high in calcium and low in sat-fat. And when you soak and blitz ’em up with water, spices and your favorite sweetener, you make a delicious nutmil….

Check it: Did you know that technically speaking—botanically speaking—almonds aren’t nuts? Neither did we, and it stopped us in our cold-pressed juicing, nutmilk-loving tracks. And while we here at The Juice Standard probably won’t stop calling our fave silky-sweet plant-based drink a nutmilk, in the name of vegucation, we wanted in on the skinny so we looked some stuff up.

According to Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist, The Plants That Create The World’s Drinks (2013, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), “From a botanical perspective, a nut is a fruit with a dry, hard shell. An almond is a drupe, or a stone fruit whose pit surrounds a fleshy seed,” kinda like peaches. But, Stewart continues, “Unlike peaches, apricots, and other drupes, the almond’s ‘fruit’ is nothing more than an unappetizing leathery outer membrane.”

Huh.

So the reality is that all nuts are actually dried fruits that don’t open at maturity to release their seeds. And almonds, in particular, are closely related to peaches and apricots, and likely share an Asian heritage with them (trees were grown in China some 12,000 years ago before heading to Greece by about the 5th century BC).

Thankfully, whether almonds are a fruit, a nut or a seed, all this backstory does nothing to change our knowledge about how healthy these babies are for us…especially when we eat ones that are organic.

So if you see almonds on The Juice Standard’s ingredients list (or any ingredients list), know that they’re incredibly good for you, for a kajillion reasons. And if you happen to be at a trivia night where you’re faced with the Is-An-Almond-A-Nut-Or-Not question…you’re welcome.

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Juice Hacks: Got Kiddos? Hack These Drinks For The Holidays.

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Congratulations! Got kiddos in your life? Then the rest of your holiday season will probs be filled with nights of shopping and cookie-baking, and not as much grown-up play as you’re used to.

Congratulations! Got kiddos in your life? Then the rest of your holiday season will probs be filled with nights of shopping and cookie-baking, and not as much grown-up play as you’re used to.

We know you wouldn’t trade in the werk for all the littleton delight this time of year spreads. Neither would we. But that doesn’t mean we can’t inject a little extra cheer into our own late-night reindeer games.

(And you go right ahead and take that any way you want.)

If your date nights out have morphed into wrap-fests in, huzzah! Here’s our slapdash list of tasty add-ins, swaps and ooh-la-las you can apply to some of our favorite nut milks and juices. Promise they’ll make you taste like you’re out on the town when all you’re really doing is libating through another Elf On A Shelf tableau.

We bee here for you. We admire you. So go fix these drinks. Most serve two or four adults but sharing’s optional. Beecuase while holidaying for a month is hard AF there’s no reason why it can’t taste great. #IfYoureGonnaBeeBadBeRealGoodAtIt

Non-Nog: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Magnificent; 4 ounces of either rum, brandy or bourbon or for a more traditional interpretation, a combo of all three; 1 strong shake of cinnamon and nutmeg. Combine in a high-speed blender (for froth…and if the kids are still up) or a shaker (for speed) and serve over ice. Repeat if necessary…beecuase spoiler alert: Santa really doesn’t know when you’re naughty. Note we said “when” not “if.”

Goldish Milk: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Legendary; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon rose water (optional); 2 ounces rum (not optional); freshly ground black pepper to taste. Gently heat on a stove until warm but not boiling OR combine in a high-speed blender (for froth…and if the kids are still up) or a shaker (for speed). Drink before bed and not a moment before you’re done with that elfin effer.

UnCosmopolitan: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Cosmopolitan; 2 ounces no-sugar-added cranberry juice (we like Apple & Eve); 4 ounces organic vodka (we like Prairie Organic Spirits); 2 ounces triple sec or cointreau; two shakes Angostura bitters. Combine in a shaker over ice and serve as many people as you’re willing even if it’s only yourself.

Rock Toddy: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Royal; 4 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, allspice or nutmeg; ½ teaspoon organic vanilla extract. Warm over a low flame to preserve the alcohol as well as your sanity.

For sleep, for stress, for sanity. The holidays can’t get enough maca and neither should you.

Hot ChaCha: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Happy; 3 teaspoons matcha (we think GotMatcha’s black-label is bomb); 2 teaspoons maca (we like Moon Juice’s but you can use any brand); 2 teaspoons coconut butter or coconut oil; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Combine in a saucepan over low heat and don’t allow to boil. Best enjoyed at the end of your night when you can smile on your accomplishments and gear up for another day of do-gooding.

 

 

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Menu Update: New You? Noö Nectar.

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“Nature meets neuroscience” is the party line from the noöest menu item The Juice Standard is offering for the way it’s designed to increase cognitive function, nudge neurological synapses and boost energy so we can bee the creative machines we were meant to be! (Or at the very least, to live-work-play-parent like the badasses we are with energy left to spare.)

Noö Nectar contains a combination of carefully curated brain enhancers—”nootropics“—to help the body operate optimally. Specifically, these four key neurotransmitters (plus a lot of other stuff):

  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine
  • Acetylcholine

It’s important to note that a big component to the nectar’s mix includes a mass amount of vitamin Bs. If you’re noö to liquid Bs, be aware that high doses of ’em can lead to some pretty immediate skin flushing, tingling, itching, or nausea if they’re taken on an empty stomach. And while the Noö Nectar recommendation is to ingest on an empty tum-tum, you might need to fill your belly with food, first.

The potion is delivered via a 1.7-ounce bottle that’s meant to be split into two swigs a day (though some folks who are noö to noötropics may do better spreading a bottle across two days).

At TJS we’re selling this $5/shot (Remember: One shot can be a two-day dose if that better suits your system.)

Bees, if you glean nothing else from this little update, simply do this: Run from fakemeout vitamin and biohacking boosters and toward this noö treat at our stores.

(And for the record, this “noö” spelling stuff doesn’t get old. In fact it’s noö. Soooo very noö.) Wink.

 

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Ingredient Spotlight: Pumpkin Is Not The New Black

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We’re a few days past Halloween’s sweetness and that means only one thing: With Thanksgiving on approach and December holidays close behind, the food world’s officially drenched in pumpkin and the orangey, spicy forecast ain’t changing soon.

Does that bring glee to your pumpkin-lovin’ heart or is your palate on squash overload? If you thought cold-pressed juices were safe from flavors of da-spice, you’re wrong: At The Juice Standard, we get psyched each fall for the return of a few pumpkin-spicy menu treats (which you can read about here). But unlike lots of other p-based products on the market, when we say our sumpin’ sumpins have pumpkin, we really use pumpkin. As in, real 100 percent organic pumpkin puree.

The ingredients in our Harvest Spice Bee Invincible make for one kickin’ pumpkin latte thanks to our not-so-secret ingredient: Real, honestagoodness pumpkin. (Photo courtesy of TJS Kitchen Supervisor Giselle Caceres and Bee Grace Rincon)

Here’s why: Aside from being a dependable holiday flave in everything from coffee to ice cream, pumpkin’s one of the world’s oldest members of the produce family, dating to when Colonists were introduced to it after arriving in America (thank you, Native Americans). All it took was that first Thanksgiving to fall in love in love with its fleshy orange insides, and by the end of the century—when Colonists chatted up alllll the pumpkiny fun they’d have making pies and lattes standing strong with their new BFFs for their every joint-Thanksgiving to come (sorry, Native Americans)—pumpkin became the First Fruit of the New World. Right along with the corn we stole were gifted by our new friends.

Food history lesson aside, we use pumpkin because it tastes good. And, beecause…

  • vitamins A and C (for peepers and immunity)

  • beta carotene (also good for peepers)

  • fiber (for digestion and weight loss)

  • low-cal (49 per cup)

  • phytosterols (in the seeds, which reduces bad cholesterol)

  • carenotoids (for pretty skin)

  • troptophan (an amino acid that helps your gut produce smile-inducing seratonin)

  • potassium (more than a ‘nana; way less sugar)

Moral? Like we said in this month’s inbox e-newsie, maybe we oughtta cut pumpkin some slack and not whine so loud when the industry goes a little cray by adding it to anything that’s edible. It’s the foundation of Thanksgiving, after all, and dang if it cures a lot of what might ail you. We should show respect, and not just in November.

(And we know just where you can start….)

#KnowPumpkinKnowThanksgivingNoPumpkinNoThanksgiving

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TJS Juice Hacks: Hacks Are Where It’s At

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#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Honestly? That’s what we want you to do. To think outside the box, er bottle. #RethinkWhatYouDrink. Take what you know about TJS products and deconstruct them juuuuust a little…Singleton by Singleton. Sip by sip.

Beecause a hack-is-a-hack-is-a-hack. And a hack (as we ‘splained in our cray-informative feature last month) is something you do in an effort to improve something…even if that “something” is you. You usually drink something cold? Warm it up! Steam it! Or do the reverse and order that Bee Invincible or Raw Cacao Mocha, throw it in the fridge and enjoy an icy treat whenever you’re ready.

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. But for this month’s purposes, we’re starting easy with a hack that anyone with a microwave (or a saucepan) can do…

Bee Royal Gets The Royal Treatment

Bee Royal. So much more than a cold, cold-pressed juice.

For as long as we can remember we’ve been lovin’ on the versatility of our Bee Royal.

Made from three delicious little ingredients—apple, lemon and extra ginger (and, yes: the Southern Nevada Health Department made us say “extra” since Royal’s got so much of-a da-spice…)—while this baby’s scrumptious cold, from the get-go, our bees have been…

• Heating this one up during cold-and-flu season

• Steaming it for a delicious non-caffeine warmer-upper drink, any time of year; and…

• Using it as a mixer in upleveled cocktails.

It’s a rare day that any of our juices or nutmilks are only used in one way. That’s why we wholly support hacking any and all of our offerings so you can get the most out of your purchases…not matter what time of year you buy (or sip).

Got some hacks of your own? We’ll be adding these in dribs and drabs to our social media and right there on these pages, so keep an eye out so your belly will be satisfied.

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TJS Events: Where We At

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If you follow us on Facebook here and Insta here, you see that there are in fact days when “minding the store” means hitting the pavement outside our three locations so we can better bring our product to you.

We get things added to our calendars all the time since TJS’s District Manager is a blonde-little hound when it comes to sniffing out excellent opportunities to share our juices with you. But for what’s on tap this month so far (and, for the very beginning of November) we bring you a snippet of old and a sneak peek at new things to keep on your juicy radar.

On Saturday 30 September, TJS was honored to join the Las Vegas VegFest in its quest to present healthy lifestyle options to folks interested in biohacking their systems toward supreme wellness thanks to a plant-based diet. (And if biohacking is a new term for you, learn a little more about it by clicking here on our feature from last month.)

Our bee, Angela, did a beeautiful job representing us at last week’s Las Vegas VegFest.

One of our beeautiful bees, Angela, represented the company with this bountiful table filled with vegu-cation about our products, juice fasts, and  by our very own district manager Amber Cariker.

We’ll have tons of info; the event is free; and we’ll even bee handing out coupons for product! So if you were gonna head over, find us! As always we’d love nothing more than to meet the very bees who support us (…and that means you!).

 

You, too, can look this glowy if you do some learnin’ with Integrative Aesthetics’ Jenna Kent.

Calling all licensed aestheticians (and you aestheticians-in-training, too)! On Oct. 25 at our St. Rose location, local aesthetician and owner of Integrative Aesthetics, Jenna Kent, is coordinating a meet up of like-minded industry professionals, interested in…

  • Learning on-point topics about their field (i.e., handling late clients and no-shows);
  • Hearing about new treatments;
  • Understanding how juice helps skin; and more.

Please note that this event is specifically for aestheticians. Does that mean you? Go ahead and learn more about it (and sign up/RSVP, too) by clicking on the Eventbrite link right here. Also note that for the lucky ducks attending, The Juice Standard will be serving up sips and snacks. You know. To keep you alert as you do all that learnin’.

Finally, a heads-up about November: This year the time change is Sunday, Nov. 5, which means you get an extra hour of shut eye; an extra hour to party; or an extra hour to drink juice. It also means our hours will be a-falling back as we tuck in for the start of Las Vegas’s true fall and winter. Closer to the time we’ll remind on our socials that the neighborhood stores will closer a little earlier on Sundays.

Note: We just love to collaborate! Got an event that might jive with our mission of promoting WHealth™ and wellness? Hit us up at info@juicestandard.com and someone from our end will reach out to someone on your end to see if we can make some magic happen.

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Vegucation 101: Biohacking Defined

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Biohacking is a techie term referring to the ways we can all tweak the best parts of ourselves (or, improve areas that need improving!). The beauty of it? Different tweaks to our diet, sleep and exercise can be tested based on our individual needs with the endgame goal that’s usually the same for all of us: total WHealth™.

Clear mind. Lithe body. Springy step.

Sound like feelings you’d like to reclaim from your youth? Or maybe you’re already one fly young buck who has time on their side but not a healthy constitution. 

Honestly, it matters not why you want to get WHealthy™ since we’re here to say there’s a proverbial “app” for that…or rather, a “hack.” And it’s called biohacking.

Heard much about biohacking lately? Probably, since it feels like everyone and their doctor’s bruh has something they’re testing on themselves to improve their health. If biohacking is bio-new to you, in simplest terms, it’s kinda like conducting your very own DIY biology experiment, where you, your bod and your diet are the control for testing health-improvement tactics in the name of feeling better, shining brighter and living longer (read: healthier!). 

In recent history, one of the foremost health-crazed biohackers has been Dave Asprey…basically, the Godfather of Bulletpoof Coffee™. (Shameless plug: If you like your coffee all buttered up…must try ours.)

In The Juice Standard’s world, biohacking is incredibly significant since it’s at the core of what we do when we help our Fanbees to fast using scrumptious, cold-pressed juice made from the freshest 100 percent organic produce we can get our hands on. But in the true spirit of biohacking, even the concept of fasting goes beyond simply lowering your calorie intake.

“You are what you eat” is an old adage that rings true today…but more than being the sum total of every bite you put in your mouth, eating smartly in today’s world isn’t always about what you eat… it’s also about when you eat. And if poor eating habits or a maddening sluggish digestive system have ever reared their ugly heads in your world, science says that the simple act of fasting is having far more of an impact on our health than simply making it easier to drop a few quick pounds of water weight.

The Juice Standard’s Green Fast can be great tool for folks dabbling in daily intermittent fasting (or, intermittent fasting two days a week). Its carefully combined juices deliver everything you need to give your digestion a hard-earned break. And kinda like feeding cars the high-test stuff, bennies include increased energy, glowy skin and a re-calibrated system.

Fasting is helping people live longer, better and healthier lives. Fasting can also be a lifelong tool in nearly everyone’s healthy toolbox—a “biohack,” as we mentioned earlier—for making sure our bodies are always working in the most primo way possible…from our joints and muscles right down (or up!) to our brain health and cognitive function

How does restricting when we eat make a difference on health? It’s something called “Intermittent energy restriction” or “intermittent fasting.”

According to many health professionals here in the United States and in the United Kingdom (which is where much of this research was first conducted and written about), intermittent fasting—often called “IF”— can help contribute to our improved brain health when we restrict calorie intake to set times of the day. And by set times, health professionals recommend fasting for 16 hours—basically, from your nighttime meal through to your first meal the next day around lunchtime—or, by limiting calorie intake to 500 or 600 calories for two days each week while eating 100 percent normally for the other five days.


Why does this method of fasting help with our longevity?

Similar to how weightlifting exhausts our muscles and causes them to shred and stretch before growing back harder-faster-stronger, when we push our bodies and cells to the edge of what they can handle—in a controlled way, mind you—our biological systems strengthen and learn to handle daily stressors so much better. By fasting, we are actually able to grow and improve our brain function. And frankly, that’s something that many doctors wouldn’t have believed even 10 or 15 years ago. And when cold-pressed juice (preferably vegetable juice, since it is much lower in sugar than fruit-centric recipes) is a part of someone’s IF regimen, whether you drink only juice for two days each week or you incorporate the greenest juice you can stomach for even just one meal during your day’s proverbial “eight hours of eating,” there’s no better way to flood your bod with the nutrients you need to think clearly, move swiftly, and live your healthiest life.

So if your life goals include things like…

1) Increased energy
2) Mental clarity
3) Eliminating food cravings
4) Achieving your body’s natural weight
5) Mood enhancement
6) Longevity

…our fave way to push our body’s cells toward wellness is with the greenest, most low-sugar juice we can get our lips on.

Fasting has been a game changer for a lot of people, but don’t take our word for it. Do your own research. Biohack away! See how good you can feel by replacing a few meals each week with green juice, or even by drinking only juice a few days each week. We think you’ll see, that fasting for any duration is a biohack you can live with…for a long, long time.

TJS Editorial: Coupling (With Kids) The Second Time Around

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What happens when you and your Exceptional Other aren’t the only considerations in your blossoming relationship? When your one-plus-one equals an immediate four (or five, if you count the on-the-periphery parent that helped make yours or your love’s children possible)?  

When it comes to coupling the second time around even simple math can be tricky math…but it doesn’t have to be. Especially if we’re willing to lean on the openhearted bees in our hives who are equally willing to share their been-there-done-that-and-here’s-how-to-nail-it perspectives.

So in the spirit of this, our back-to-school issue (#FallIsTheNewNewYearAfterAll) comes a narrative from TJS Content Director Jen Chase that might not have been possible without TJS Co-Founder Marcella Williams’ gorgeous advice in her June editorial on blended families.

Jen Chase, Jen Chase’s right hand, and the left side of Parker Corwin’s cheek. Kind of.

Two weeks ago, I posted that pic of my love Parker and me on Facebook with the following caption:

Who could’ve known that glances across a college acappella stage would lead to the love of my life. Anyone who questions life’s inexplicable tribulations: This.

(And since hashtags make me laugh…)

#WhatLoveLooksLike
#FinallyLivingOutLoud
#HeMakesTheBestEggs
#IAmTheLuckiest
#NotEngagedSoStopItGirls

As a stand-alone post it was a far cry from earth-shattering. Or so I thought. In my short 3 years on Facebook I’ve seen lots of folks post endearing pics of their significant others. At face value, I didn’t think mine would seem so special.

But it was.

…Far too busy figuring out how to say we were public, neither of us changed our status. Irony, oversight or totally unnecessary? Inquiring minds wanna know….

It was, because just as I’d carefully tappa-tap-tapped out my post seated so paper-close to Parker you couldn’t have slipped a sheet of Dunder Mifflin between us, he thumbed his side of our story on his iPhone. And in the aftermath of digi-inking the carefully chosen words we read aloud to each other before becoming Facebook Official, we received a ton of likes and some of the kindest comments imaginable from friends and fam who supported this very public yet very technical announcement that we are in fact a couple.

(And.good.effing thing we went public when we did. Because being overshadowed? By these two overachievers? #CantCompeteWithJamKat.)

On the surface our pic looked like two goofs in love. But the reality behind the smiles and social media was that they represented nearly 20 months of balancing a relationship we’d kept on the down-low with some and out loud with others. The “others?” Folks we’d methodically chosen to unfurl our relationship with: mums, sisters, BFFs you can’t hide jack from, and a few who could tell at first blush that after our starts and stops with pivotal people in our former lives, we’d quite obviously found our personal holy grails.

Meeting the girls? Priceless.

But the “some” who’d had zero idea that Daddy was dating? Parker’s daughters, ages 8 and 5. And they’re the “some” who made our e-reveals so sweet, since we wrote them the night of the day Parker painstakingly curated as the day to say that while Jen’s fun in a pool, a sucker for a “spa day” and the maker of uplevelled almond milk…”she’s not my friend; she’s my girlfriend.”

While our future talks had been appropriately tempered with both #daydreaming and #HopeForTheBestPlanForTheWorsting (as only the formerly spoused, difficultly uncoupled can relate to), I’d been readying for my hopeful new role for a long time. From child development blogs and evil-doer step-parenting articles to my mind’s constant screening of Stepmom, being 42 and still (yet?) not having my own child has made me highly attuned to absorbing all I can about co-parenting kiddos who aren’t mine.

I’ve known I have the tools: former nanny; younger sis with several significant special needs. I dated a wonderful man with equally wonderful twins. I love children and  know my proverbial mommy gene runs hot. But it’s never run hotter than during this relationship with the man I show daily, somehow, some way, that I was put on this earth to love him, admire him, respect him, and care for him. And, for his kids.

The girls didn’t seem to care that I traveled with Daddy to visit their grandmother up in Vermont without their knowing…but if they knew we were with horses, in the woods in winter? Might be a different story. #WhatHappensInVTStaysInVT

Don’t gag. Like most grown-ass women little girls I’d fantasized about my future love. Wherever we went, harps were gonna play, haters were gonna hate and we were finally gonna hear what it sounds like when doves cry. It took about a decade of significant loss—a parent; a marriage; intimate friendships and relationships—but I was gifted. And he’s dreamy.

It didn’t take long to become hard AF to temper waiting to game out what I could already picture as our family-of-four’s future. That is, until the perspective of Marcella Williams.

(And for those who knew I’d get here eventually, thanks for sticking with.)

When I met Marcella in 2013 I admired her graceful juggle of life, independence, #mompreneurship, and deep commitment to motherhood. And like the attuned confidante she is, she listened and advised on the topics she could tell were important to me…suggesting I get tested to ensure me girly pipes are whistle-clean in case having a baby is in my future, and not to forget adoption and fostering. Yaknow. Just in case.

Marcella’s advice always insinuated that “knowledge is power,” and that partner or not, a woman’s future is in her own hands. When she learned Parker was my future and that he has two little girls, our convos deepened. A step-mum and a birth mum, she’s also helped her own step- and bio-kiddos navigate their relationship with their new step-mum, too. And when she spoke, I soaked in her best practices for navigating what one day would become my blended little family:

Be forgiving. Be thoughtful. Be grateful. Be respectful. Be kind. Be patient. 

Followed by be patient. And more be patient. 

You can actually read her editorial about blended families right here. I’ve read it, like, 20 times, because it typifies the kind of co-parent I want to be for and with Parker; for his girls; and alongside the girls’ mum whom I’ve yet to meet. And knowing I can only control my behavior, I feel deep peace in knowing that already in the young history of this growing foursome, Parker and I are committed to showering the girls with as much positivity as possible as we show them that the addition of someone in their life doesn’t subtract someone else. In fact, joy multiplies when we groan-ups remember those tenets above and kick our egos’ collective ass.

I’m beeyond grateful I have a true north for my step-parenting compass and that I received it from a beeautiful woman who was willing to open herself to help open me. Marcella is why I wanted to share this with you. You know. Just in case you need it. Because as we like to say around here at The TJS (wait for it), #ItTakesAHive.

When littletons take the camera you never know what you’ll find….

When littletons take the camera you never know what you’ll find…take two.

 

In the last 20 months, building a relationship with the love of my life and preparing to co-parent beside him has at times broken my heart as much as it filled it. Lots of stealth tears. Intimate eyelid kisses. Pep talks. Kajillions of texts and memes to pave the way for it all to start coming together. And like Game of Thrones and killer pour-overs—#thingsworththewait—the girls’ well being had to come before our ache to spend more time together. It took faith. Lotsa fucking faith. Faith that wasn’t about staying positive until there was an outcome, but staying positive no matter the outcome.

And for us, the outcome’s still a-coming! We still live an hour and twenty apart but are committed to “more time together than not.” We’re super conscious of everyone’s need for Daddy Time (and the occasionally requested time with me…*blush*). And, we’re striving to see all sitches from all angles since we won’t be the only two parents in the game. But in this world that, in my opinion, views openheartedness as weakness—where success often means being tough, tired, busy, and worst of all, just a little bit hangry to get.shit.done—we vow to project love, and meeting each one of us exactly where we’re at. I want the girls to see Parker and me navigate our relationship and our corporation of four with genuine lightness, positivity, patience, faith, and respect. I want them to see us touch. Laugh. Kiss. Be silly. Be willing to drop everything for each another as fast as we’d drop it for them. I want them to see that I unabashedly love them. And when they’re old enough, I want them to understand it’s hella easy for people to profess love from proverbial rooftops (and for lotsa folks that works, so no judgment, Hunnies); but that in Daddy’s case, his forever keeping their best interest in mind and my implicit trust in him was the best and only path for us…20 months of waiting or not.

So many core relationship values go unlearned until the ink’s long dried on a divorce decree. But if we can model love for our kids from the get-go so they may learn to apply, appreciate, give, and demand love and respect from their first coupling or marriage, not their second or third, we groan-ups have a shot at changing what love looks like. In our case, now that the girls know Parker and I are a team, they’re finally getting to see what I’ve known since my reconnecting with their father 18 years after we first met singing at Wheaton College (the one in Massachusetts): I was made for him, and he was made for me.

So were they.

#WhatLoveLooksLike

 

 

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Bee Wanderlusty: Coastin’

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We’re continuing our annual recs for desert-leaving trips between now and Labor Day (beecause though it bee August, there’s still.so.much.time. to get your vacay drive on!)

This feature? Shares the gorge coasts of Oregon and Cali from a bee in our hive who knows ’em well: TJS District Manager Amber Cariker. 

What kind of traveler would be down with these choices? “These places connect me to the Earth, and to a community of people who are present and open-minded,” says Cariker, who’s managed the beejesus out of TJS’s three locations for the better part of a year. “I am very interested in cultivating growth in my life, and I feel an overwhelming sense of connectedness to spiritual environments. Now, I think these places run slower than the average vacation, but for the right vacationer or family, I feel these places will also help people slow down, oberve more, appreciate the stillness, and explore the unknown without fear.”

(What she said.)

Wanna slow down? In her words, here’s Cariker’s turn-by-turn account. And since, around here, if Cariker says it we beelieve it, we’re going out on a limb to say we think you should, too.

California

Avila Beach=Slice of Amber Cariker’s Heaven.

Avila Beach 

Take Avila Beach Drive to San Luis Bay Drive and then take the street for See Canyon. You should have an off-road vehicle, but let’s just say it’s been done in a Honda civic.

“You’ll drive through windy roads of rich color—trees and lush tall golden grasses—until you come out into Los Osos Road where you’ll find a treat….

Montana De Oro

The Spanish translates to “Mountain of Gold.” And from Los Osos Road, you’ll drive all the way to the end and exit at Montana De Oro. Quite a long drive, but there is an area that becomes very wooded. You’ll park and use the man-made wooden stairs to begin a trek through the trees into the forest. Staying on the trail, you will come across a rich, dark brown sand that will then lead you to a slivered opening of ocean rocks and a beautiful quiet state beach. Bring a blanket and a picnic. You won’t want to leave.

Shell Beach.

Shell Beach

A beach…with cliffs? This is THE place to watch a sunset. But you should also visit in the morning when the tide is down, and collect some pebble-like beach sand to build your at-home terrarium. The post-vacay high you feel from seeing that sand will take you back to Shell Beach with every glance. #NaturesGiftShop

Joshua Tree

Pappy and Harriets in Pioneer Town (Insider intel? Take Pipes Canyon road to get here).

So, nostalgia. I grew up dancing next to my parents on the planked hardwood floors, and the walls are cement with colored bottles in them like an old biker cantina! Harriet used to make all the food and desserts from scratch and when Pappy passed on, she sold the business to a Power Woman couple. They have gone on to turn it into an amazing music venue where Paul McCartney played last year, and they are about to have some amazing upcoming concerts: Bonobo, Iron & Wine, City & Colour.

Pioneer Town was a product of the early Western movie genre. Gene Autry helped the making of it, but it never really made amazing movies. Pappy and Harriet’s is the landmark of the Pioneer Town, but go and you’ll also be able to “walk the town” and soak in the western buildings. To think they’re now having contemporary concerts under the stars….

The Art Queen

Green enough forya? Photo courtesy of Tumblr.

Want some kitch in Cali? Head to “The Art Queen” and walk to the back of the Museum of Crochet, a sprite little building shaped like a lime-green viewfinder. When you see a key in the door, turn it. Go inside. You’ll find it filled with vintage crochet animals and sundries that’ll surely make you smile.

Sam’s Spa in Desert Hot Springs

In the heavenly place, mineral pools and soaking tubs are surrounded by grass and a man-made lake with fish and birds. Plus, there are peacocks that roam around the pools while you’re hanging out.

Peacocks, people. Peacocks. Need I say more?

Portland Oregon

Sauvies Island. Beeauty just beeyond Portland.

Sauvie Island 

This slice of heaven is great for two reasons. First: berry picking! (Entire pick-your-own flats for only $12-$15…in a place like this.) Second? Walk the aisles of lush fruit trees before heading to your next (and last) stop: The river. A river, you ask? Yes: Sauvie Island is the largest island that runs along the Columbia River…which, you can get to from the main road. If you choose to drive to the river (and I absolutely think you should), take a blanket and lay beside it. And don’t forget your parking pass for the day. I doubt you’ll want to leave.

The Overlook Park

Second on your Portland Nature Itinerary? Overlook Park.  (“Skidmore Bluffs” is also what I’ve heard it called). Many years ago, a family allowed its back yard to be turned into a park. It is now open to the public, and at first glance you feel like you’re entering a grassy field where an umbrella of a tree drapes over a bench overlooking the city, a forest park, bridges, and train tracks. But really, it’s so much more. #SeeingIsBelieving.

Where to eat, you ask? Dove Vivi features cornmeal-crusted pizza with toppings like sautéed red onions

#CouldItBeMagic? At Dovi, we say yes.

and corn and roasted poblano peppers. And Por Que No?—which, mind you, you’ll never find without at least a 30 minute wait—is beyond colorful and layered with art and lanterns and serves luscious agua frescas (cantaloupe, papaya+coconut, mango+lime, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera)…among other delicious bits. Definitely get the chips and salsa and sample the eclectic menu…especially veggie options like the seasonal taco. (Last one I had was beet, turnip, pumpkin seed, and rutabaga. A-m-a-z-i-n-g!)

Want some shoppin’? Hit Paxton’s Gate. There’s one in San Francisco, too (the original location), and no joke: #FavoriteStoreInTheWorld. It’s like the Natural History Museum…but a shop: taxidermy; bones; gardening supplies; dehyrdrated seeds and pods; books on making your own products; science; and odd collections of amazing things.

TJS Travel Edit: Bee Wanderlusty—LA

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Nope: Bee Wanderlusty’s not a new Singleton (though it should be, right?).

No, Dear Bees. This is better.

See, summer solstice was but a blink ago yet Vegas is bees-knees deep in obscene heat. That means it’s time for The Juice Standard’s annual summertime get-the-hell-outta-dodge suggestions for non-desert trips you can sked between now and Labor Day with peeps you’ve deemed travel-worthy.

(You do have folks you’d bee willing to travel with, right?)

To kick off a few non-desert travel articles, we’re starting with by far the easy-peasiest local(ish)drive: LV—>LA.

To the rest of the world, Los Angeles may be a backdrop for all-things glitz and glammy, but when desert heat hits friggin’ 118, La La Land’s cool is the one we crave…both in vibe and thermometer.

Carrie Stamps: Our in-house graphic design and LAexpert extraordinaire.

So this month, sharing a litany of her fave LA haunts is TJS’s Carrie Stamps—owner/founder of Vegas-based Scaled Design Studio—whose graphic-designy nose for style, beauty, function, and fun helps guide her to the goods in LA and beyond.

“Los Angeles is an easy destination for a weekend getaway,” says Stamps, who along with TJS Creative Director Mallory Dawn is charged with designing our dedicated inbox e-newsie, From The Humble Bee, and with making TJS print and digi-collateral look luscious.

“After a 45-minute flight from Las Vegas (or a short 3-4 hour drive), LA’s temperature drops 20 to 30 degrees and offers vibrant city life mixed with beach life.” 

Stamps is always looking out for local favorites and hidden gems (“I love the outdoor hikes, beach activity, restaurants, museums, culture and walkability in West Hollywood—WeHo—and I’m such a foodie, I have one million restaurant recommendations!”). Her best insider intel for experiencing any city? “Get out and see and do! Walk the streets. Get lost. Try something new and different.”

Don’t mind if we do, PrettyGirl. Below are places Stamps has deemed worth visiting over and over…no matter how you like to spend your time.

Get to the Griffith at night.

For Love Of The Great Outdoors

Hikes? In a city? You bet, says Stamps. “City hikes like Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood sign get crowded and touristy, but they are a worthy view. However…hiking to Griffith Observatory overlooks all of LA. A sunset hike is a real treat when it’s dark, you’ll see all the city lights for as far as the eye can see. For a real dose of Mother Nature, Topanga State Park just above Malibu is a short drive.

Broad+Museum_la_jeff+koons_la+museums_what+to+do+in+la_flowers_fun+things+to+do+in+LA_yayoi+kusama_art_art+exhibition+in+la_fashion+meets+art_fashion+blogger_Savvy+javvy_lichtenstein+art_infinity+mirrors_broad+infinity+room

Boldly hit the Broad.

For The Love of History

Hardly mere collections of old dusty stuff, LA museums are as varied as wallet-busting retail on Rodeo. “The Broad, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and The Getty offer worldly art and culture,” suggests Stamps. “The Museum of Ice Cream is a sweet treat, and The Getty is even free!”

Say yessabel to Ysabel.

Get Into My Your Belly

Beehold this summary of Stamps’ faves and you’re welcome in advance.

Get Outta My Your Belly

What goes in must come out, right? LA is notorious for its beautiful people…and how do they get their beauty? Exercise. While a fave activity is simply renting a bike on the beach in Santa Monica or jogging the beachy boardwalk from Marina del Rey, to Venice, to Santa Monica, these brick-and-mortar haunts are 100 percent Stamps-approved:

For The Love Of Nightlife

Living in Las Vegas has taught Stamps a thing or two about what appeals in a club. Rest assured these are top-notch pics for hottt (er, cool?) LA nights. #StilettosNotRequired

Piñata District doesn’t disappoint.

For The Love of a Weekend Market

“Melrose Place Farmer’s Market and Melrose Trading Post are great things to see and do on Sundays!” says Stamps, adding that not-to-miss sights also include Grand Central Market and Piñata District in Downtown LA.

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TJS Editorial—On Blended Families: They Take A Hive

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Memorial Day may bee the unofficial start to summer but we all know what really kicks off this season: the last day of school.

With today’s family as hexagonal as a honeycomb as opposed to old-school triangle or square, there can be many more personalities to traverse beyond mom, dad and kids during these seemingly endless wonderful weeks of vacation. From potential step-sibling rivalry to navigating niceties with your former spouse’s new one (#CoParentWithoutStepMurder), building a blended family with grace is certainly the #ParentingGoal but it’s not always easy…or is it?

Can building a blended family really be as easy as keeping an open mind, respecting all the parents involved and always keeping the needs of the children front and center? It can…but it takes work; patience; and maybe even some presents (though not for the fam member you might think).

To honor the onset of this, the Season of Together Time, this beautiful first-person account written by TJS COO and Co-Founder Marcella Williams shines a light on her personal experiences with her own children, and what it takes to bridge the byways of today’s blended family.

In May 2004, I found myself married and soon realized it was a package deal since, overnight, I became not only a wife, but a mother…and a stepmother at that. I had entered my stepson Drew’s life when he was just 5 years old and was even there for his first day of kindergarten, yet I had no idea how to be a stepmom since I was just learning how to become a wife. Luckily for me I had the best teacher: Drew’s mom, Kelly.

Marcella and her family celebrating Christmas—together!—in 2016. Pictured (l-r): Marcella, Maximus (8), Damian (8), Sophia (9), and Drew (17).

You always hear the drama-filled stories of blended families and thestruggles that ensue. But this story is different. This one is filled with love and gratitude, and I’m hoping it will act as a reminder that it doesn’t ever have to be ugly between birth parents and stepparents unless a family chooses it to be. And I can tell you from experience that ugly serves no one…least of all, the child.

Shortly after the wedding, we were settling into our new house…adding all of the finishing touches that turn a space into a home. While I was adjusting to new surroundings and new roles, I began to wonder if I would be a good stepmom. I wondered if I had the empathy, patience and kindness I knew it would take to be the kind of caretaker that Drew deserved. So when I was in doubt, I chose to look no further than toward the one who brought him into this world.

Honestly, I felt so lucky that I even had the inclination to do it! Kelly was one cool mama and we instantly became friends. And it was through that friendship that we were able to be the best moms for our son. (Because that’s exactly what he became the day that he and his father and I married: “Our” son.)

Together we discussed schools, homework, bedtime, and even had great communication about disciplinary actions. In other words, if Drew was grounded because he did XYZ at my house, the same rules applied in Kelly’s home, and vice versa. When we began to notice some missteps in his personality—a little more argumentative, a little less attentive at school—together, we quickly ascertained that what Drew needed was structure. Going back and forth mid-week between her home and ours wasn’t what he needed, and without second-guessing it for a moment, Kelly volunteered to let Drew stay with his dad and me Monday through Friday (which instantly made life easier on our boy since school was around the corner from our house).

Faces of well-adjusted happiness: Marcella’s family. Pictured (l-r): Damian (8), Drew (18), Maximus (8), and Sophia (9).

This move impressed me beyond measure, because in one swift decision Kelly proved herself secure enough to put aside her ego for the sake of what was best for Drew. Her grace and mental agility proved to be one of many lessons I learned from her and called upon as different situations unfolded during our evolution as a blended family.

Fast forward to the following May. Mother’s Day was around the corner and when Kelly came to pick up Drew, she had a special present for me. It was my first Mother’s Day present, a Dooney and Burke purse which, until that point in my life, was the nicest purse I had ever owned. I was honored and shocked, to say the least. It was such a heartfelt gift that I still have because of the memory attached to it. She didn’t have to gift it. She didn’t even have to show me kindness, or go above and beyond to bridge gaps or pave roads for better communication. Yet she did. Why? Because it wasn’t about her or me, but about him, our son Drew, who is now 19.

Today, I strive to be similar and supportive for my own birth-childrens’ stepmom. I want her to know that I am rooting for her to succeed every step of the way. I know she has no intention of replacing me, or turning the kids against me. And I know this because I left my ego back in 2004.

But I also know this because I am confident in my role as their mommy. When my three children asked me if I was happy or sad that Baba (Greek for “Dad”) was re-marrying, I smiled with sincerity and assured them that they were so lucky, and that his new bride was just one more person to love them. This assurance helped them be more accepting of her. It helped the transition to be more smooth, and it minimized any extra stress they may have had during what society deems as an intrinsic time of challenging change.

People do not always remember what you said or did, but they do remember how you made them feel. I always work to ensure my kids know that they can express their concerns, their dreams and their struggles without fear of judgement or condemnation with me. With me, they have a kind ear and unconditional love.

So. If I could lend advice to my children’s new stepmom (or any new step- or co-parent), it would be this:

  1. Bee Patient. Great relationships aren’t built overnight. They take time, and an endless amount of compassion and nurturing (and that goes for both the co-parent/stepparent relationship, as well as the relationship between the children and new stepßparent). Count the mini victories rather than wait for the big reward. It could be a genuine smile from across the room from a child who is grateful to see you at their school performance, or their rush to you when they fall off your bike.(Also…bee patient in the warming up of your partner’s ex. Patience is very important at this time.)
  2. Bee Forgiving. When children go back and forth between homes it can take a toll on their spirit. There is generally a transition day or two where they need to adjust to your house rules. In a perfect world, both houses would have the same ones, but that is not always the case. Learn to work with your situation, not fight against it.
  3. Bee Thoughtful. When you make plans, whether together or apart from the stepchildren, think about how it effects the entirety of the group. Make sure your actions cannot be deemed as alienation. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself how you would feel. This goes for the children as well as any step-parents.
  4. Bee Grateful. The universe has blessed your child(ren) with more people to love them. While old wounds may not be healed, and words may have gone unsaid, your children have new beginnings and need your support to see the brighter side of the situation. They will look to you for guidance in these ever-evolving relationships. They will mimic you. So lead by example with a grateful heart.
  5. Bee Respectful. Do not bad mouth anyone in front of the children. Just don’t. It is very hurtful for the child to ever have to hear ill words about someone they love so much. No child deserves to feel that pain. Honestly, I can’t stress this enough other than to say just.don’t.do.it. Remember: The child will remember what they hear, and when they grow up, they will resent the badmouther, not the badmouthee.
  6. Bee Kind. And bee kind especially to yourself. Don’t buy into the whole “love them like your own.” That does not happen overnight. (Truth? Sometimes it never does.) You did not fall in love in a day, and you did not give birth or help conceive them. Allow time to play its role. Bee friends first. And do not beat yourself up if your “motherly” or “fatherly” instincts don’t kick in right away. Remind yourself that you are doing the best that you can, and trust that through consistency in your words and actions, you will in fact build bridges and mend gaps.

Together—collectively—we are raising the future leaders of this world, and that’s something that has never taken just one person. It truly takes a hive.

 

5 From The Hi5e: Earth Day’s Dead Sexxxy

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From time to time The Humble Bee runs a feature with five items about one topic we think is relevant to your health or well being (…or, something funny; or a swath of info you shouldn’t live without). Called 5 From The Hi5e, our hope is to give you the skinny on stuff you’ll find rad. This month?

For all you likeminded bees who do your best to recycle, to put your money where your intention is and just be a good worker-bee renter on this planet for your time here, in honor of Earth Day on 22 April we discuss the ways that TJS gives back to the universe through mindful practices we employ at our three stores. Hopefully, learning a little more about what we do will make you even happier that you choose to juice with us. Beecause remember: #ItTakesAHive. 

To The Juice Standard, every day is earth day.

That’s not to sound trite; but our simple juicy truth is that the environmental practices that TJS employs to stay kind to Mamas Nature and Earth are so important to this company, some of ‘em are written right into our standards. (Need a refresher? Click here.)

To us, that there is a day dedicated to global awareness of the actual globe is as good a reason as any to wax poetic about some of the high-fiveable things our company does to help our corner of Nevada—the world, really!—tread as lightly on this earth as possible.

1) We Know How To Pulp, Pulp It Up.

We’re extremely proud that from the get-go, the produce TJS has pressed into pulp has been donated to our local farmers’ and home gardeners’ composting collections to the tune of about 40 gallons a week. (Hooray, desert farming!)

We have families come in on the reg from places like Pahrump to get buckets of compost for their chickens—carrots are a big winner, so we hear—and as the spring unfolds, we’re even more proud that we’ll be actualizing a long-held hope of co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams when TJS partners with Glen Taylor Elementary School (go, Titans!) and its garden club by donating pulp and peels to help feed the club’s “red wrigglers” (worms!) through worm tubes that Glen Taylor’s girl scout troop built and implemented throughout the school’s five-bed garden. (The school also sports an herb spiral and hummingbird habitat.)

TJS is eager to infiltrate neighboring local school systems to support kids’ gardening programs just like Glen Taylor’s…one compost donation at a time. And since each of our 16-ounce glass Singletons hold the juice of roughly 2-3 pounds of produce, you bet yer sweet bippy we have a lot to share!

All of this pulpy stuff brings up a tender point: People sometimes harp about the waste with juicing (like this old article from Modern Farmer did a year ago). But the truth is, there’s waste in pretty much all corners of the culinary world, from the citrus we peel to the fat we trim to the chaff we separate from wheat. As our bees know, TJS holds environmentalism near and dear. Hopefully other areas of restaurantdom will, too, as media shine a light on mindful topics like composting and how much more can be done to reduce waste in this world.

2) Our Glasses Are Always Full AF.

Last fall, Jamie and Marcella made the choice to end TJS’s 3-and-a-half year program of accepting back our bees’ empties, sanitizing them, and re-bottling TJS’s juices and nut milks into responsibly recycled 16-ounce glass “Singletons.” (Get the full down-low here.)

So why’d we stop? Keyword in that above sentence was “responsible,” as in it was no longer responsible to use so much water to complete our Singletons’ #CircleOfLife. We are in a desert, after all. So, yeah: Not responsible.

Two good things came out of shifting TJS’s environmental perspective from recycling to water preservation: Singletons dropped in price by a buck, and since our neck of Nevada started curbside recycling pickup, there were still options for our bees to do the right thing. Cuz remember: #ItTakesAHive. #AndSimba.

3) Like Sands From The Juice Glass….

Speaking of Singletons, did you know that when our glass bottles break down, they turn to silica? Dasright: Glass is basically silica. So even if bottles weren’t recycled (which we know you bees would never dream of not doing), our Singletons will someday become, yaknow: a beach.

This point really goes back to Jamie’s and Marcella’s choice to not bottle in plastic…opting for the vessel that keeps on giving for, like, ever. You can do your part, too: bee like us and choose glass whenever you can.

4) Feed The Bees, Feed Thyself.

File under advocacy: You can help increase the bee population by planting shrubs and trees that attract our little fuzzy-bodied friends. With the bee beeing TJS’s mascot (and the underlying reason for being for Jamie and Marcella), we care hella lot about the plight of the bee (click here for more on this topic in this month’s newsletter). Thanks to organizations like The Honeybee Conservancy, we can learn how to help attract them so they can bee all they can bee, too.

5) Feed Thyself, Heal Thyself.

Think that food can bee a first line of defense in how we care for our WHeatlh™? Earth Day is the perf day for thinking about the choices you can make about where you shop, and what you get once you’re there. And ultimately, how you stock your kitchen, pantry and medicine cabinet is how you’ll stack your gut against disease, malaise, and all kinds of other words that end in “se.”

Tomatoes at the Charles Square Farmer’s Market in Cambridge, Mass. (aka, near Hahvid Yahd).

So what can you do? Hit a farmers market; grow container herbs; plant a garden; buy organic when possible (or consider sacrifices in other areas of life to feed your organics habit). And what about once you get all that goodness at home? How can you feed thyself to heal thyself…from the inside out? Drink water! Or, donate to a water conservancy; volunteer at a food pantry; serve food to the homeless; replace something in your med-cab with an essential oil that came from a source that takes good care of its farmers; buy fair-trade coffee; hell, buy local coffee (like what we get).

From what you eat to the doctors you seek, a thousand little choices about where you shop, what you buy, who treats you, and what you do with with your knowledge adds up to a WHealthy™ handful of things that not only support the people you love…but they support the people who provide the things you love. There’s positive power in that on Earth Day, and it’s positively powerful to pepper these elements (and more!) throughout your everyday life.

(Can you feel the love tonight or what?)