Ï

I postpone death by living, by suffering
by error, by risking, by giving, by losing.

Anaïs Nin

© Denise Blasor 

BUY EVERYTHING DAYS


It's 35 days till Christmas
and the insanity is well
underway.                                                  

Vintage Thansgiving Greeting
from thegraphicsfairy.com

The insanity being the orgy
of buying that retailers in
general seek to ignite at this
time of year through a tsunami of ads
unleashed media wide: print,
tv, radio, the internet.

Every year the barrage of
ads seems to kick off earlier
and earlier, and the siren
call has but a single theme:
buy, Buy, BUY!
It's as if people had not
bought anything over the
previous 11 months,
and they needed to be
persuaded to experience
this great, incredible,
fantastic, unique,
marvelous opportunity to fill up their homes with all manner of merchandise, because this is after all Christmas and Christmas
is all about buying, isn't it?

The annual buying frenzy used to officially begin on the Friday
following Thanksgiving but this year retailers have decided
to jumpstart things a bit earlier by opening for business on
Thanksgiving itself.

Is nothing to be held sacred anymore? Must commerce trump
the very few remaining occasions to reunite with families and
friends in celebration of the communal bonds that help to hold
our stressful and fractured lives together?

These all too brief occasions are the few times in the year when
we can take a meaningful pause in our frenetic, hectic lives
and momentarily forget the rampant consumerism that seems to
define our lives.

These are times to treasure and enjoy the presence of family
members: talk to them, share stories, listen, partake, but also
notice our surroundings, take pleasure in the traditional
foods that complement the season, perhaps even shut down
Facebook and Twitter and unnecessary distractions that keep
us from concentrating on the people around us, the people we
love.

In the end, do we really need to go to a mall on Thanksgiving
Day to buy Christmas presents?

Photography by Denise Blasor

"The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence."

Marianne Moore 

BUY NOTHING DAY at La Chiwinha

© La Chiwinha

As thousands of consumers hit the malls on Nov. 29,
Black Friday, consider participating in the counterrevolution:
Buy Nothing Day.

This international protest against unfettered consumerism kicked
off in Canada in 1992 and has spread to more than 65 countries.
The idea behind it, according to its supporters, is "not to change
habits for one day but to make a lasting lifestyle commitment to
consume less and produce less waste."

In response to this call for responsible consumerism, La Chiwinha
invites consumers to participate in a barter event to be held at the
store on Nov. 29. The activity begins at 2 p.m. and runs through
5 p.m.

"Bring food, toys, wisdom, clothing, accessories, services and
art to barter or exchange freely with other participants," reads
the store's invitation. Other objects that you might consider
bringing are books, tools, jewelry, and homemade goods.

La Chiwinha is a popular store that sells a wide range of
goods at fair trade prices, including organic foodstuffs,
accessories, beauty and home products. It also runs a small
café that serves delicious lunches and desserts made by some
of San Juan's top chefs.

In keeping with the spirit of the day, the store will not be
selling anything on Nov. 29; instead, it will barter 6 oz and
12 oz mugs for new and different mugs that you might
bring along.

Consumers who plan to attend should keep some of these
rules in mind: bring things that you no longer use but that are
still in good condition; no money will be exchanged; you can
barter as many items as you want.

Last but not least the owners of the store offered this advice:
"Take this opportunity to meet new people and of course….
have a good time."

LA CHIWINHA
1054 Calle González, Rio Piedras
787.925.0707

Photography by Denise Blasor

If you ask me what I came to do in this world,
I, an artist, will answer you:
I am here to live out loud.

Emile Zola

Copyright © 2013 by Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved ☀

                               
LA CHIWINHA, WATER CLOCKS & DIVA CUPS

A bend in the road is not the end of the road...
unless you fail to make the turn.

Helen Keller

(Photo by Denise Blasor)

 SAN JUAN OASIS: LA CHIWINHA

 La Chiwinha

TEA and sympathy are comforting. Tea, or coffee, accompanied
by a scrumptious dessert are comforting and a delight to the
palate, especially if you are enjoying the treat at one of San Juan's
best well-kept secrets: La Chiwinha.

This charming store tucked in a quiet, residential corner of Río
Piedras, within walking distance of the University of Puerto
Rico, is many things under one roof but above all it is a business
committed to serving the community and upholding fair trade
practices that help guarantee a living wage to artisans and manual
laborers in the world's poorest regions. More than 50 per cent of the
store's inventory is fair trade.

In the language of Peru and Bolivia's Aymara people, the word
chiwinha means "a meeting place" and that is precisely what La
Chiwinha has become since opening for business in 2008.

It is a welcoming store. Owners Joel Franqui and Karla
Duran -- a married couple and professional landscape architects
turned entrepreneurs -- have clearly taken a lot of care and effort
into making it the kind of place where people can feel at ease,
whether they are buying or curiously perusing through the eclectic
inventory. The decor is decidedly funky:  mismatched furniture,
disparate shelving. The cool, white tiling on the floor and the
overhead fans hark to another time. In one corner, a bookcase
invites you to pick up a book and take it with you with the tacit
proviso that on another occasion, you might leave a book there for
someone else to take home. The street-level space has the feel of a
well-lived living room: Homey, inviting, colorful.

Follow these directions to get to La Chiwinha
(the box in the middle of the map)

Here you will find food products like chocolate, grains, spices,
coffee and tea, many of them organic; beauty care and home
products, items of clothing such as T-shirts, tote bags, handcrafted
goods and toys, lovely jewelry from around the world. The store
is also a café cum compact kitchen that serves up light meals like
homemade soups and sandwiches and incredibly delish baked
goods made by some of San Juan's best bakers, including Gisela
Jung.

Franqui said he and Duran were exposed to the concept of fair trade
during their travels. "Fair trade is not charity," he explained.
"It allows people to build a dignified life through their work." One
aspect he likes about dealing directly with fair trade cooperatives is
that "you are developing a long-term relationship with a producer,"
said Franqui, adding that his store helps to support cooperatives in
more than 20 countries. The location of some of these co-ops are
marked on the large map of the world that takes up a back wall,
proof of the importance of commerce in raising the living standards
of so many.

Any day is a good day to visit La Chiwinha but Wednesday is
especially favorable because on that day the café offers a special
vegetarian lunch menu inspired by the slow food movement.
Priced at around $11 per person, the meal is served between
11:30 am and 1:30 pm.

The imperative of slow food is to celebrate regional cuisines
and to create food using the freshest ingredients, particularly
locally grown produce and fruits. Each week a different chef takes
charge in creating a delectable meal that includes two or three
choices for people to enjoy. Quantities are limited, so diners are
advised to call ahead of time, either Monday or Tuesday, so as to
reserve the plate of their choice. The menu is posted at the store's
Facebook page (check events) but keep in mind that this special
lunch will not be available in June or July, when the chefs take a
break.

In addition to its role in promoting ethical business practices through
fair trade and healthy eating through its Wednesday slow food
lunches, La Chiwinha also contributes to the community by
offering its space for workshops, presentations and performances.
These activities are usually programmed on Thursday.

No wonder then that it has developed such a devoted following.
The business has grown to the point that its owners are now
considering moving to a bigger locale that would allow them,
among other things, to run a bakery.  But for the time being,
La Chiwinha is staying just where it is, an oasis for many
in the big sprawling city of San Juan.

La Chiwinha
1051 Calle  Gonzalez Rio Piedras 787.925.0707
Hours: Monday through Friday, 11:30 am - 6:30 pm
Saturday, 11 am - 5 pm
For activities, go to http://www.lachiwinha.com

Photography by David Uozumi

"Language is the house in which man dwells."

Jean Luc Goddard

 ☛ EYE ON PRODUCTS:

IT RUNS ON WATER
Photography by Lorelei Albanese

Too many battery-operated gadgets?

Then head over to Echo Verde, purveyors of
environmentally friendly
consumer goods
and some positively astounding finds
such as a clock powered by water, instead of batteries.
It comes in a variety of colors and all you have to do with
it is change the water every four months.

There are so many interesting products in this store that you
practically need to devote a few hours to carefully examine its
many offerings. And while you look around, don't forget to
check out the marvelous repurposed pallets used as tables
throughout the store and the beautiful stained glass checkout counter.

Echo Verde is located at Montemar Plaza, which is just up the
street from Best Buy in Hato Rey.

Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 12 pm - 4 pm
www.echoverde.net    787.756.8163


MONTHLY VISITOR

If you are female and have not reached menopause, then you're
all too familiar with the monthly visitor and the requisite need
for tampons and pads. But a new product on the market could
very well do away with both those options, perhaps not for
all women but for many of them. It's called The Diva Cup,
"a reusable, bell-shaped menstrual cup worn internally,
collecting rather than absorbing your menstrual flow. Menstrual
cups have existed since the 1930s when women were searching
for an alternative to the choices of the time. Yet, its breakthrough
into the feminine hygiene industry is much more recent."

Due to the nature of the product, its mention in Consumer Planet
is not meant to be an endorsement; however, we consider it such
an interesting alternative that we encourage those curious enough
to learn more about it by going to divacup.com where they will
find plenty of information. Here in San Juan, The Diva Cup can
be purchased at La Chiwinha.

Photography by Denise Blasor

Joy delights in joy.

Shakespeare

 © 2013 Lorraine Blasor all rights reserved☂

"The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing
because you can only do a little.
Do what you can."
Liz Smith

THE SEED CARRIER

Courtesy of PortaSemilla

Baby carrier holds a special place in Nicolle Teresa's heart.

The first one she made was
when her eight-month-old
baby outgrew the ring sling
a friend had given her as a
gift. The carrier was a
revelation. "If I had known
about this style before, I would have preferred it to the ring sling. It's a lot simpler and comfortable. But people here (in Puerto Rico) are not all that familiar with it," she said. When this young mother considered a home-based, money-making
venture she didn't have to search far or wide for an idea: sharing her pleasure in a product she loved seemed the most obvious answer.

So she set up her own line of handmade baby carriers and
named it PortaSemilla (Seed carrier) so that "your seed can
keep growing close to your heart."As she writes in a brochure
for her product, "carriers allow babies to feel cuddled as
when in the womb of the mother. They can listen to mommy's voice and to her heartbeat."

Teresa's carriers, which she herself sews, are simple, colorful
and well made. Patterned after the Asian Mei Tai, they are
fashioned out of cool, easy fabrics such as tencel, linen, regular
and organic cotton (Soon she will be using hemp material).
No two carriers are alike, each one "a unique piece to make the
mother feel special." Or a father.

Certain details stand out: the padded sections at the shoulders
to ease supporting the weight of the baby and a pocket
conveniently placed to store must-carry items. The latest model
features a hoodie to hold the baby's head while sleeping.

If carrying a baby comfortably while performing daily tasks is
the carrier's main advantage, there are other benefits to be derived
as well. Teresa points out that using a carrier makes babies
happier and less anxious, helping to reduce colic episodes.
And since it maintains the baby in an upright position, babies
can pass gases more easily.

When using a carrier, correct positioning of the child is essential,
advised Teresa. More specifically, a carrier should hold the baby
with its knees in a straddle to ensure proper hip positioning.
According to International Hips Dysplasia Institute,
hipdysplasia.org, some types of baby carriers may put a baby
at risk of developing dysplasia, or dislocation of the hip, because
they restrain a baby's legs in an unhealthy position (hanging
down). This is specially critical during the first few months of
the life of the baby, when its body is still developing.

"The healthiest position for the hips is for the hips to fall
or spread (naturally) apart to the side, with the thighs sup-
ported and the hips and knees bent" in a straddle or frog
position, informs the institute through its website,
hipdysplasia.org. "Free movement of the hips without
forcing them together promotes natural hip development."

The PortaSemilla line, which also includes ring slings and
backpacks, can be found at ConCalma in old San Juan,
La Chiwinha, near the University of Puerto Rico, and
Taller Caribe in Rincón. Also available  on the internet at
etsy.com/shop/PortaSemilla and at Teresa's website
(www.portasemilla.weebly.com). For more information
(in Spanish) check http://portasemilla.blogspot.com/

Concalma, 207 Calle San Francisco, old San Juan
787.421.4212

La Chiwinha 
1054 Calle González, Urb. Santa Ríta, Río Piedras.
787.925.0707

                             FUN JEWELRY

Necklace by Raiza Ascanio 

Jewelry comes in many guises: real, vintage, costume, antique.
And then there is fun jewelry which makes up for its lack of bling
with creativity and pizzazz. Two Puerto Rican designers to watch
out for their wildly ingenious creations are Raiza Ascanio Orro
and Marsi Caraballo. Both have the knack of turning the homeliest
materials into unusual, playful pieces that any woman would enjoy
wearing.

Raiza likes to make necklaces by winding colored threads around
plain cotton cord and adding elements such as stones and tassels 
or perhaps small pencils ( to write down something on the spur

 Marsi Caraballo's Ojal Line

of the moment).

Marsi is a recycler who uses
paper postcards in lieu of
beads or precious stones.
She cuts each card into
small interesting shapes
and lets the newly
reconfigured colors create
an intriguing abstract design.
The result is a delicate pop
of color dancing at the end
of the ear wire. Or she cuts out the card

into colorful disks and joins them into interesting combinations to
adorn a simple metal chain.

Raiza's jewelry: at Concalma, old San Juan; Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR)  store, Santurce; Siddhia Hutchinson Fine Art Gallery, Vieques; online at Etsy.com or write to raizaascanio.com for more information.

Marsi:  at Concalma and on Facebook at Ojal - Wearable Collage



SIMPLE TIP:
When making pasta, don't throw the hot water away once the
spaghetti is cooked but use some of the leftover water to steam whatever
vegetables you are serving for dinner. Drain the pasta water
into a deep bowl and then pour some of it back into the pot, place a
steamer, throw in the vegetables, cover and steam. Voilá!
Since the water is already hot, you will shorten the cooking
time and in any case vegetables don't need to cook that long.
In fact, they are always tastier --and healthier -- if a little crunchy!

Photography by Denise Blasor

"Each of us is stranded on his or her own existential island."

Jonathan Franzen

 ©2013 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved✍















Copyright ©2013 Lorraine Blasor All Rights Reserved