‘Tis the Season

We know how stressful the holiday season can be. And we want to help. Of course we encourage you to schedule time with us in our Community or One on One Clinics. But we also pulled together this list of things for you to see, do and create in the Baltimore area during this special time of year. From the Mend Team to you, enjoy our Favorite Holiday Stress-Less Tips.
 

Sarah O’Leary, Owner and Acupuncturist

  • The Chef Shop is definitely a 2017 favorite for fun date nights or things to do with your best bud during this festive, social season. Learn to make Thai street food or butcher a whole hog! The class offerings are generous and often changing. The best part: the adventure ends with a great meal. We are tickled to host our staff holiday dinner at The Chef Shop this month!
  • Charm City Craft Maffia’s Holiday Heap is one of our absolute favorite Holiday Markets. We promise a very productive and fun day there! See this year’s vendor list here.

 

Kim Hennessee, Director of Operations

  • Give the gift of a warm bath. Hit up any one of our local favorite makers to make a very cool bath kit. We love the Bath Fizzies from Biggs & Featherbelle.
  • Consider taking your mom to a crafty-to-do-thing in lieu of a gift. She always loved the stuff you made her! Our neighbor B.WIllow has the most generous, interesting calendar of workshops, like this Terrarium Building Workshop.
  • Our Remington sister The Movement Lab is always up to something. Check out their special event mid-month: Meditate to Create. This workshop starts with a gentle yoga sequence to get you out of your holiday-head. Then you will be handed a canvas and supplies and lead through a special December mandala drawing – an ancient and proven technique to find inner peace and creative flow.

  

Amanda Schulz, Office Manager

Holiday hair in festive colors courtesy of local salon Fringe on Huntingdon!

 

Jen Doll, Administrative Assistant

My fave holiday tip is to add bitters back to the plate. Traditional American diets and holiday foods are often heavy and don’t include this important flavor that stimulates our digestive enzymes and processes to avoid the typical post-meal malaise. Collards, brussel sprouts, arugula, dandelion greens, and just about any dark green vegetables will do the trick! You can also buy digestive bitters to take before or after your meal. Zensations in Hampden has a selection of bitters and other goodies from local herbalists including Hey Thanks! Herbal Co.
 

Nikki Hatch, Acupuncturist

  • Craving warm goodness? Try turmeric tea latte!
  • Take a stroll down 34th Street for Winter Wonderland lights galore!
  • Check out the Baltimore Free Farm Winter Craft Show on December 3, 3-8pm at 3510 Ash St.
  • Catch a breather from holiday buzz and meditate every Tuesday in Hampden : Itineris, 2050 Rockrose Ave, Baltimore, 6-7:15pm
  • Feeling crafty? Make a wreath or check out the Holiday Open House Sundays at the Cylburn Arboretum

 

Alexandra McElwee, Acupuncturist

My Christmas gift to y’all: ‘To Die For’ Vegan Mexican Hot Chocolate for 2
 

Sarah Wehner, Acupuncturist

  • We go every year to the Charles Village Snowflake House Tour (this year it’s December 17th). I love house tours in general because you’re both walking and cozy, getting in the festive spirit and inspired without doing any of the work! Plus it supports the Village Learning Place.
  • As an extrovert I tend to pack the whole calendar with things to do and at the end of the season feel overcommitted. I’ve gotten into the habit of looking at my December calendar and saying no to 1 or 2 things, freeing up some space for spontaneity and rest. Kind of like Coco Chanel’s advice to stand in front of the mirror and take one thing off before you go out.

 

Jaime Kauffman, Marketing and Program Manager

  • Impress friends and family this holiday season with my mom’s biscotti recipe. This is a recipe that’s been perfected over the years and deceptively easy to make. Last year, I made batches of different cookies and packaged them for stocking stuffers. The biscotti were a big hit and the perfect shape for stockings.
  • Support local artists and makers! There are always tons of great holiday craft shows to check out (see this year’s comprehensive list by Bmore Art) but I’m most excited to see what the Industrial Arts Collective has in store for us with their Made in Baltimore pop-up shop in the historic bank building at the corner of North and Charles.

 

And of course,

A gift card to Mend!