Kombucha has been around for 2,000 years. It originated in 220 B.C. China where it was consumed for its detoxifying & energizing properties. That makes me about 1,999 years late to the kombucha party, but I'm a fan now. How about you?

Most people, like me, wonder what is kombucha? What's it made from? What's the alcohol content of kombucha? Where to buy kombucha tea? Can you buy a kombucha starter online?  What are some of my favorite kombucha companies? Well, my friend. I answer all these questions & more. Why? Because I had the same questions! Keep reading to find out about kombucha.

But what is kombucha?

At its core, kombucha is a beverage created by fermenting tea with a culture of yeast & bacteria. It looks a bit like an at-home science experiment, which it basically is. I mean, you can literally buy kombucha starter kits online. Kombucha is lightly effervescent. Think of it as a sparkling tea-based juice drink with a bit of bubbly goodness. Kombucha tends to have some alcohol content, some brands have more & some have less.

GT's Third Eye Chai, Euphoria, & Rose kombucha flavors

Kombucha, kefir, kimchi, kvass, miso, sauerkraut, tempeh, pickles, yogurt are popular fermented food & drink. Each has its own unique flavors, properties, & gut health benefits.

As a San Diego blogger & digital influencer, I'm happy to report there are many kombucha options in the area. Many of these establishments have kombucha that contains alcohol content, so it's an excellent alternative to heading to a brewery, bar, or distillery. There isn't much kombucha in North County San Diego yet, but perhaps in the foreseeable future.  ~*~ just putting those vibes out there, you know? ~*~

Where to buy kombucha tea in San Diego?

Babe Kombucha

Bootstrap Kombucha

JinBuCha

JuneShine

Living Tea Brewing Co.

Seven Seas Kombucha Brewing Co.

TapShack

GT's kombucha flavors

GT's Kombucha - Love, love, love this brand. My all-time favorite is GT's Rose kombucha. It has rose hips, rose water, rose petals, as well as their organic & raw kombucha. It's what dreams are made of. It has 4% alcohol content. I usually split up drinking this over 2 days.

Health-Ade Kombucha - My coworker a few years ago used to do promotional work with Health-Ade so she gave me a few bottles to try. It was my very first dabble with kombucha. They have a variety of kombucha flavors like cherry berry, ginger lemon, & pink lady apple. Find Health-Ade Kombucha on Amazon.

JuneShine - JuneShine is a local San Diego kombucha brand. As a local San Diego blogger, I was invited to their Scripps Ranch media party grand opening. Their kombucha is made with green tea, as opposed to black tea. JuneShine kombuchas have 6% alcohol content with kombucha flavors like Honey Ginger Lemon & Midnight Painkiller (charcoal, pineapple, coconut, orange, & nutmeg).

Better Booch - Better Booch sent over a few of their 16-ounce cans to try such as Morning Glory (peach & black tea), Citrus Sunrise (grapefruit, sage, pu erh tea), & a couple others. The LA-based premium small craft kombucha brand expanded to San Diego in 2019.  The kombucha flavors are approachable; you can taste the tea & tang from kombucha without an overwhelming punch. This is an excellent kombucha brand to try if you're new to kombucha. Find Better Booch on Amazon.

Brew Dr. Kombucha - You might've heard of their Clear Mind kombucha with rosemary, mint, sage, & green tea. They also have Chai Apple, Strawberry Basil, Superberry, & fun limited-release kombucha flavors like Vanilla Oak. Mmmm. Vanilla Oak. You might be able to find Brew Dr. Kombucha at your local Target, Vons, Albertsons!

The GT's Rose kombucha is my favorite flavor of all-time

Can you buy kombucha starter kits online?

Why yes, you can buy a kombucha starter online! Gotta love being able to shop from the comfort of your own home! Whether you want San Diego kombucha or perhaps kombucha with alcohol, there are some kombucha companies to suit your needs.

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click &/or make a purchase through certain links on this site or my social media platforms, I may make a commission from that click &/or purchase. It's at no additional cost to you. Learn more about my disclosure.

Sometimes I casually lie down on a bed of needles to release tight muscles & relieve stress. What the hell am I babbling about? Does it help with shoulders or back pain? What about neck and back pain? What about using an acupressure mat for feet or other areas of the body? How many minutes do you stay on it? Do acupressure mats really work? How do you acupressure your feet? Which is the best acupressure mat? Pain sucks, so let's do what we can to keep it at bay. Do you have problems like that also? You don't have to be in pain forever. Acupressure mats might be useful. Get familiar with what the spike mats can do.

This magical invention is called an acupressure mat & acupressure pillow. The acupressure mat and pillow set only cost $20. It's spectacular! You can buy it from Amazon & you totally need a mat in your life. Keep reading to find out all about what it does, how to use it, & where to buy one. I bought the ProSource acupressure mat.

What Does an Acupressure Mat Do? Do acupressure mats really work?

Choose a surface to put it on, whether it's the floor or your chair, couch, against the wall. The harder the surface, the more pressure you'll feel. Acupressure mats are basically a bed of nails. At its core, an acupressure mat is a self-applied acupuncture device. You can lay on it, roll on it, sit on it, stand on it, stretch on it. The spiky bits on the mat hit your acupressure points to assist in any back or neck and shoulders pain. You can use it for your feet, legs, arms, & various areas of the body. You use your own weight of your body to heal your body. I've been using the acupressure mat and pillow for over a year, so I developed an understanding of how to use the spike mat & how it benefits me. I use it frequently, especially when my back acts up. Acupressure mats are pretty cool.

The acupressure mat intrigued me with its intimidating bed of nails spiky look, so I searched for it on Amazon right away. As you know, I love Amazon, especially for practical blog props to elevate my flatlays & photography. Once I found out the set only costs $19.99 I bought it right then & there. Bing bang boom! That was the start of my love for acupressure mats. 

I chose the grey acupressure mat & pillow set. Chic. Timeless. But the acupressure mats are available in a delightful range of colors like black, blue, green, pink, purple, & orange. Which color would you pick?

What are the acupressure mat benefits? Do acupressure mats actually work?

Do acupressure mats do anything? I roll out my spike mat, lie down on it, then roll gently side to side to help release tension in my upper back pain. Essentially, you relax on this “bed of needles” to massage various pressure points on your body.  The little spikes can potentially help you self-massage, relieve stress, tension, or pain. It might even help you fall asleep. 

It helps relieve pain in my right shoulder blade from an injury I got in college. It relaxes my muscles in a way nothing else has (other than the equipment my physical therapist used during my semester of rehabilitation. The acupressure mat & pillow set turned out to be one of my favorite Amazon purchases of all time. So worth it. Use it again & again for only $19.99. Worth it for lower back pain. Don't forget that this also comes with an acupressure neck pillow, not only the mat. Your neck could get some relief, also.

It feels great on your feet, too. If you stand directly on your feet, you'll be applying maximum pressure of all your bodyweight. Use one foot at a time to apply pressure to work on tender areas or increase blood flow. It feels like a foot massage. You can check out a reflexology foot map to see which pain points correspond to what.

Acupressure Mats

When my shoulder acts up, I use the acupressure mat because it relieves tension. It truly makes the area feel better, relaxed, and relieved. You can use it to help with muscle tension and deep relaxation. 

In this post I'll answer your top questions such as: Should I Use Peppermint or Spearmint? How Do I Make the Fresh Mint Tea? What's the Difference Between Peppermint & Spearmint? How Does Mint Tea Help Relieve Symptoms?

Should I Use Peppermint or Spearmint?

What's the Difference Between Peppermint & Spearmint?

Peppermint has a higher menthol content, making it more minty refreshing taste & potent in flavor: think peppermint bark. Peppermint is often used medicinally to soothe aches or relax muscles. Peppermint packs a punch. It's considered spicier than spearmint, giving it the "pepper" name in peppermint. Good for drinking too.

Spearmint is lighter, more delicate, & less likely to overpower other spices. Spearmint can be found in sauces or your next mojito. Spearmint goes well with feta, tomatoes, olives. You might find spearmint in Greek food like tzatziki or maybe Vietnamese Banh Mi. Spearmint is used in foods & for drinking. 

How Do I Make the Fresh Mint Tea?

1. Boil water & pour into a mug.
2. Pluck a couple stems & fresh leaves. Add it to the hot water.
3. Let the stems & peppermint leaves steep in hot water for 5 minutes.
4. Muddle or mash the mint or spearmint leaves & stem to release more flavor & the natural oils in the water. Hooray for herbal tea medicinal properties.

You could always add mint leaves to water for infused cold water! Feels great on a hot day. You can blend peppermint and spearmint together. You can't go wrong with a hot cup of tea.

Do I Only Use Leaves? Do I Throw Away the Stems?

Use both! Both the leaves & the stems contain flavor. It comes down to which you like better. If you toss the stems, you're not getting the maximum benefits from the mint. Pluck off parts of the leave & stem simultaneously. It's better to use the whole thing if you can.

Fresh Peppermint Tea Benefits: How Does Mint Tea Help? What is the Benefit?

Is mint tea good for you? Mint has a potent but pleasant smell. Botanicals like ginger, peppermint, spearmint, & fennel are known for their natural herb remedies. Are there potential health benefits? But mint is pretty cool herb because of its versatility. Oh yes, there are mint tea benefits! Here are a few things peppermint & spearmint can help with:

Allergies - Mint contains an antioxidant & anti-inflammatory agent called rosmarinic acid, which means drinking peppermint tea may help with allergies, boosting your immune system.

Bad Breath - Have bad breath? Well, drinking peppermint tea may help with that! It'll leave you with a fresh minty taste, especially if you chew the leaves. Thanks to the menthol.

Caffeine-Free - Sip this any time of day without jitters or crashing. No caffeine! I enjoy drinking peppermint before bed for calming effects.

Common Cold / Sore Throat - The menthol can have a soothing, cooling effect on your throat.
Decongestant - Mint contains menthol which is a natural aromatic decongestant to may help break up phlegm & mucus.

Indigestion / Gas - Need some help with your IBS symptoms? Studies show that mint improves symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome like abdominal pain or menstrual pain or menstrual cramping. This may help with digestion.

Can I use a peppermint or spearmint tea bags instead?

Yes, totally. Use whatever you have on hand. Relief is relief. You'll get more of the natural nutrients with the fresh version, but organic peppermint tea or spearmint packaged/bagged tea might do the trick. You can also buy organic dried peppermint tea leaves or dried spearmint leaves in bulk to use for tea. Peppermint tea is very popular! The benefits of peppermint tea make it even tastier! I love drinking peppermint before bed. Choose whichever you like better.

Where can I buy it?

Ready to enjoy the mint tea benefits or the health benefits of peppermint tea? You can buy fresh peppermint or spearmint at your local farmers market, grocery stores, or herbs section. It can be fresh potted mint or loose leaf tea, use what works. You might be able to find edible essential oils too. If you can't find it, here are some online options:

- Peppermint tea bags
- Spearmint tea bags
- Organic peppermint leaves
- Dried organic loose leaf spearmint

I'm drooling, lying on the couch, eating a liquidy black bean soup, watching CSI: Miami on Netflix while the left side of my mouth is completely & utterly numb. How did it get here? Why is saliva falling out of my mouth? What's going on? Well, let me fill you in. Wondering about the gingivectomy recovery experience? How bad is the gingivectomy pain? Keep reading. 

DAMN YOU WISDOM TEETH! There I said it. Some of you may have experienced a wisdom teeth extraction. It's a pretty standard procedure to get them taken out since many of us don't have enough room in our mouths to keep them. If you do, you're lucky! The wisdom teeth are technically your third & final set of molars; they usually pop up in your teens & 20s. 

I got my wisdom teeth removed in 2013. I had three of them. My recovery was relatively easy. Of course, there was a bit of discomfort & some aching. I slurped on some soft foods & liquids, relaxed & let it all heal. There were no issues. Now fast forward three years. I'm not a doctor, so don't take this as medical advice. It's just my own gingivectomy recovery experience.

What is a gingivectomy? 

The gum tissue where my wisdom teeth were & my current molars are decided to heal up stupidly, causing infections & other issues. My dentist recommended getting the extra gum tissue or deep pockets removed. So I did. The surgery is called a gingivectomy, where excess gum tissue is removed to reduce diseased tissue & pockets that trap bacteria in the deep pockets. It is a surgical gum disease treatment. I split the gingivectomy procedure into two procedures because it was more most cost-effective through insurance. I already did my right side a couple months ago. Now for my left side.

Depending on the severity, your gingivectomy procedure may include major gum removal or reshaping the gum line. It may take several visits to the oral surgeon / dentist office. Your dentist may use local anesthesia to numb the area. 

Gingivectomy Procedure Survival Kit

You'll need:
- Neosporin
- Q-Tips
- Face Ice Pack
- Soup
- Advil &/or Tylenol
- Reading pillow
- Aura Cacia Chill Pill essential oil blend

What can I expect after a Gingivectomy?

Day 1: Gum Tissue Removal

The procedure took about an hour to remove gum tissue. They applied a topical numbing cream & then injected me with something to ensure my gums were totally senseless. No pain. All I felt was a slight pinch. I was awake during the procedure & kept my eyes closed most of the time. That's the beauty of local anesthesia. It's pretty freaky to open your eyes & watch people with a scalpel hack away in your mouth's gum tissue. I could feel the slight discomfort & tension of the scalpel on my teeth as they removed excess gums. Mine used a scalpel, but your surgical procedure might use a laser to remove loose gum tissue. 

Now I'm lying in bed eating soup & avoiding chewing anything on my left side. My mouth is still numb but the feeling will go away in a couple hours. Today is all about icing my mouth & just resting & recuperating. The healing time for the gingivectomy procedure took a couple weeks. Soft foods for the next few days. For a surgical gum disease treatment, it didn't take too long.

Day 2

For the first 24 hours after the operation, I'm supposed to ice my left cheek with an ice pack for 15 minutes on, 15 minutes off. I didn't strictly follow this. Every four to six hours, I took two Advil & a Tylenol as ordered. I followed the pain-relieving guidelines after my numbness subsided & the aching came through. Some facial swelling. At night, instead of taking the Advil/Tylenol combination, I took two Tylenol PMs. Always read the label!

Oh my lord. My jaw is sore. I can open barely my mouth to a third of its capacity. So much discomfort it feels like someone sucker punched me in the face a few times. Rinse with a solution of warm salt water every 6 hours, or follow doctor's orders.

FYI: During my first procedure I received a cut right at the corner of my mouth/lips during the stitching part. Apparently, this is called angular cheilitis; thanks for the info Google. Any movement seemed to open the wound & keep it cracked. My advice to you is to specifically request for them to lubricate your mouth & lips to avoid this error in the future. I asked for Vaseline twice during my second procedure & this absolutely helped.

Since I woke up with an incredibly sore mouth, I did the Advil/Tylenol combination & iced my cheek. I felt better after a couple of hours. Today I'm supposed to do a warm saltwater rinse instead of the 15-minute icing intervals. I did a rinse in the morning & in the afternoon.

Day 3

I didn't take any pain medication today. I'm a little sore but nothing I can't survive. I'm sticking to mashed foods, soft foods, liquids, & soups because I can't chew on my left side. The foods & liquids are not delicious but what can you do when you're in pain?

Day 4

My gums are doing well. I did a saltwater rinse. Even though I'm not actively trying, I can feel the stitches in my mouth. As ordered, I've been using the Peridex solution every day & night on the gums rather than brushing them. Other than that I brush my teeth as usual, simply avoiding the affected area. Same foods & liquids. Can't wait to eat real food.

Day 5

My mouth & gums barely hurt at all, no pain! Yay! I can somewhat chew & eat.

Day 6

My stitches are coming out. My jaw feels funky though. I think it's a bit sore from being open during the procedure & having to exclusively eat with my right side.

Days 7 - 10

Everything is almost back to normal. Healing well. There's only a mild sensation of awkwardness in my jaw & gums.

Day 14

I feel back to normal. I visited the periodontist today & he said everything looks great. There's a bit of swelling & healing left, so he wants me to come back in two weeks. My tip to those who are getting a gingivectomy surgery: if you're healing well, schedule your checkup 3 - 4 weeks from your initial procedure to allow time to heal, so you don't have to keep come in multiple for a 5 minute check up. 

Day 21

Day 32

Have you had your wisdom teeth removed? :]

Quinoa is a magical little grain that's high in protein & gluten-free. In fact, it's actually a seed. I want to show you a wonderful way to give it some natural flavor. That said, you definitely don't toast quinoa in the toaster! Hehehe. Keep reading to learn how to toast quinoa.

1. Locate your quinoa. Found it? Got it? Good. Moving on.
2. Preheat your pan. No need for oil.
3. Gently rinse your quinoa. There's often dirt & other bits o' nature in there.
4. Add your desired amount of quinoa to the pan.
5. Stir lightly until toasty.

Ok, so yes those are the basics.







You really need to keep your eye on the pan, constantly moving the quinoa around. If you don't it'll burn. You'll know your quinoa is just about ready when you start to hear some slight crackling. This means they're getting nice & toasty. You'll see the edges start to brown. You'll smell a lovely waft of aromatic flavor -- kind of nutty.

before, nice & white

before, nice & white

Slight crackling. Brown edges. Fragrant smell. These are signs you know it's cooking & that it's just about ready. You may toast the quinoa for however long you prefer. Simply monitor the brownness. Let that be your guide because you don't want it to be over toasted or burned.

after, so toasty.

after. mmm.

After your quinoa is toasted, cook as directed. This usually means boiling it for about 20 minutes. Add water to your pan & just let it simmer over low heat until ready. The usual ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Substitute couscous with quinoa in this cumin chickpea dish. Do you have much cooking with quinoa experience? Was learning how to toast quinoa useful? Have you ever tried toasting your quinoa prior to eating it? :]

Ingredients:

1/4 onion

1/2 cup green beans

1 carrot

5 florets of broccoli

1/4 cup cauliflower

1/2 yellow squash

2 cups cabbage

2 cups pasta

1/4 cup cashews

1 citrus fruit

All measurements are approximations and do not need to be followed exactly.

1. First things first, heat up your pan to medium heat and add some oil. Chop your onion and green beans. Toss the onion into the pan. Wait until it cooks a bit then drop in the green beans until both begin to brown.

2. Slice your broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower and yellow squash. Chuck them all in the pan on medium heat, stir and cover it up. Let the veggies cook for about 15 minutes. Since there's a large amount of vegetables, it needs time to thoroughly get warmed up.




4. Mix in some spices with your veggies. Mine includes basil, black peppercorns, coriander, garlic, mustard seed, oregano, paprika, parsley, red chili pepper, rosemary, sea salt and thyme.  But you can use whatever you have in your pantry.

6. Now for the final touches! Top off the dish with cashews, citrus and Thai peanut sauce. My peanut sauce is from Sprout's and it's completely vegan. But I've found a vegan version at Target too. That's all, friends. Enjoy!


When it comes to my meals, I like to keep them tasty but easy. Try out my healthy vegetarian recipe out tonight! Everyone, especially you, will be impressed by your culinary skills.

Spaghetti Squash Salmagundi

Ingredients:

1 spaghetti squash

any vegetables in your fridge

seasoning

In case you were wondering, salmagundi is a medley, hodgepodge, mixture, jumble. This healthy vegetarian recipe is simply a general guide to making a delicious spaghetti squash dish, not anything exact. You can include a mishmash of veggies. You may add any and every vegetable you have at your place.

Spaghetti squash is an excellent substitute for pasta, hence the name.  This is a low carb healthy vegetarian recipe/ According to Better Nutrition, spaghetti squash is a watermelon-shaped squash that's low in calories and carbohydrates and high in beta-carotene, fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Dang, this squash has got it all! 

Alright, let's get started!

1. The first thing you need to do is cut your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. This can be tough because they're pretty thick. Then take a spoon and scrape the goopy insides and seeds. You can save the seeds and bake them if you want. 

3. Now chop up your veggies. Veggies are a huge part of any healthy vegetarian recipe. I cut onion and green beans and added them to a pan on medium heat. After those cooked and browned a little bit I tossed in asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and red bell pepper. Cover the pan and stir occasionally. It takes a while to cook since there's quite a mass of vegetables in there.

4. Your spaghetti squash ought to be ready by now. Take a fork and poke it. If it's soft and goes through easily, it's ready. If not, keep baking it. Once you remove the squash from the oven, get a large bowl and a fork. Start scraping! It's super easy to do. It breaks apart into spaghetti-like pieces. Rad, right? Add more spices and seasoning. I included a no salt seasoning, which included garlic, onion, basil, oregano, rosemary and parsley.

5. Everything should be ready to go. Mix cooked veggies and the squash together. Now's the time to add more spices, if necessary. I'm a taste-as-I-cook kind of gal. I added pepper, thyme and an everyday seasoning which included sea salt, mustard seeds, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika and chili pepper. 

Okay, so that's the easy cheap vegetarian recipe for ya. This makes quite a lot of food. Serve for friends and family or save for leftovers. Plus, this dish is extremely versatile. One day I added tomato sauce for a yummy pasta dish. The next day I put a dash of teryaki sauce for an Asian-inspired meal. 

Please let me know if you decide to try this healthy vegetarian recipe out!

Bon Appétit!

16. Just do it - If there's something you've been putting off, right now is the time to do it. Seriously, there's no time to waste. If your credit bills are piling up, do something about it. If you've been madly in love with your best friend for the last year, just tell her. If you feel like you've put on a few pounds, go to the gym.

17. Things take time - You can't rush life. Some things require much time and effort. But don't give up simply because it seems arduous or unpleasant. Take it one step at a time. A day may seem long, but it'll seem short in a week.

18. Get out of the house - Seriously. Get out of the house. If you find yourself feeling cooped up and anxious, get out of there as fast as you can.

19. Dine with friends - Got nothing better to do? Buy some groceries and cook dinner with a buddy at your place. Or you two could go to a cafe for a cappuccino and scone. Regardless of where or what you eat, nothing bonds friends more than food. Take the time out of your busy schedule to retain the friendships that you presently have.

20. Productive days are the best - Remember that feeling of accomplishment that rolls over you when you did everything you needed? You did the laundry, the dishes, washed the car, took the dog for a walk, cleaned your entire bedroom and finished all your school work. When you use your time wisely, the day flies by, memories are made, things get done.