HAPPY ABOUT OILS

Today on In Fine Feather, we spotlight our friend Jessica Frost Adams, mother of two darling girls + distributor for Young Living Essential Oils. Jessica (@happyaboutoils) sought better health, naturally, for years. Once she discovered the benefits of essential oils, she developed a passion for sharing her family's story and helping others live a healthy life. 

Tell us a little: Jessica Frost Adams, Macon, Georgia, Distributor of Young Living Essential Oils

Inspiration for becoming a distributor? As a family, YL has been life-changing for us. They have helped each of us sleep better, eliminate harmful toxins from our home, feel emotionally balanced, and supply us with healthy tools for everyday needs. Our family struggled with health issues for a few years and we searched for natural, safe methods. Now that I've found YL, my goal is to help people experience a better sense of well-being -- physically, emotionally and spiritually -- through the benefits of oils. 

Describe yourself in one word: Intentional

Personal mantra: Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your heart on fire

What makes you tick? Purpose and knowledge.

Favorite hobby? We are a very active family! Hiking is our favorite, whether in a woodsy trail or at the beach. We are always on the go and our girls are at such wonderful ages for exploring. 

Pick a superfood: Raw kale from our garden. I use it to make juice, salads, chips, etc. I love the taste and the benefits. 

Best part of the "oily" community? The Happy Oilers is one big family full of passionate people who generously share their love, knowledge and talents about oils -- but also about family, faith and business. Learning about how the human body works is fascinating and I'm continually inspired by my group.

OPEN STREETS MACON

You may remember our fine-feathered friend, Rachel Hollar, from our 2015 post on Bike Macon. Now, Rachel and her crew, along with the City of Macon-Bibb, are coordinating the first-ever Open Streets Macon, which will take place April 17th. Open Streets Macon takes a valuable public space – our city’s streets – and opens them up for people to play, walk, bike, breathe, and make their own. Modeled on tremendously successful events from around the world, including Bogotá, Colombia’s Ciclovia; Paris, France’s Paris Plage; and San Francisco’s Sunday’s Streets, Open Streets Macon will be part bike tour, part block party, and a great time for getting active, interacting with your neighbors, and enjoying our amazing city. Bring your bicycle or just your feet, and get ready to explore your community in a safer, healthier, more livable way.

“Imagine a street full of people of all ages and backgrounds, walking, biking, creating and laughing, together. A street temporarily closed to cars, but open to people. Imagine residents safely enjoying their city, socializing with neighbors, and engaging in healthy activities. Imagine if all of this were free, with absolutely no barriers to participation. By the people, for the people. Sound good yet? Bike Macon is turning this vision into a reality by organizing the first-ever Open Streets Macon event.”

Here are some things you need to know before April 17:
It’s FREE!
It’s not a race and you don’t need a bike to participate. You can walk or skate to your heart’s content.
There’s no beginning or end. Start and end anywhere!
It’s from 2 PM – 6 PM.
The flow of participants goes both ways, just like regular traffic.

For more information about this event, visit bikemacon.org/openstreets

FINE FEATHERED FRIEND: SARAH GILBERT

Haley and I are so excited to FINALLY feature our dear friend, Sarah Gilbert! We may have grown up with this girl in the heart of Georgia, but she's recently become a household name as a contestant + fan-favorite on NBC's The Biggest Loser (season 17). Even after last month's finale, Sarah is staying fit and maintaining her healthy new lifestyle -- all while building her beauty empire, securing fitness endorsements with NOW and WOD, and being THE ultimate boss babe (in our humble, totally non-biased opinion). Check out Sarah's interview with us below! 

Name: Sarah Gilbert; freelance hair + makeup artist, stay-at-home mama (the best job).

Inspo for beginning Biggest Loser? I was at rock bottom. I felt terrible about myself and had given up hope that I could be different. My job and my marriage along with my relationship with my son was suffering. I knew I needed a catalyst for change. I needed a ray of hope. Then, one day, I heard an ad for the casting call in Atlanta and that was all she wrote.

Biggest takeaway from BL? Never underestimate yourself or your impact.

Fav superfood: Cacao nibs and hemp hearts!

Health trend you are loving: Drinkable beauty products. I'm currently obsessed with adding collagen to my daily routine. I typically do 1-2 servings a day along with other similar beauty tonics. 

Preferred activity: I love walking around my city before dawn in the morning. It's not the highest calorie-burn, and it isn't the trendiest exercise, but there is something about walking around a quiet city at 5 A.M. that just settles my mind and prepares me for the day.

Personal mantra: Let go. 

Veggies via The Little Farm + Photography of Haley Sheffield. 

RESOLUTIONS

In case you missed it, we officially turned ONE! We truly can't thank our followers enough for all of the support since first launching In FIne Feather. 

IFF's original intent was to showcase the movers, shakers and makers in health throughout the South, by bringing meaningful, helpful content to our online community. Over the past year, we have highlighted health, wellness and beauty in MANY forms. In the spirit of resolving to do the same in 2016, we are putting a pause on our posts until March 1 while we gather the goodness for our readers. BUT PLEASE don't stop lovin' us on our other outlets as we'll continue to keep those current with quick tips & tricks (here, here, here & here!) 

See you soon! 
-Tess + Haley

BIKE MACON

Cheers to the new year, y'all! First of all we are turning ONE this week (!!!) but more on that later. In the meantime, it's THE TIME of year when we resolve to change up our routines and reignite our relationship with our personal health and well-being (because Christmas cookies). If you live in the Macon area, Bike Macon is the perfect opportunity to get moving -- literally! We rode along with Rachel Hollar, founder of Bike Macon aka Macon's first grassroots bike advocacy group. The organization is committed to making Macon more connected, bikeable, and walkable through advocacy, education, and creative events that allow the community to become more comfortable with walking and biking around town. Read more about Rachel and her vision for Bike Macon below!

Inspiration for beginning Bike Macon? Participation in a fun, social bike event during Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival Parade inspired me to start exploring the city by bike every day. I was having fun, saving money, and spending more time outdoors. Two months later, I applied for a fellowship to start a bike coalition because I wanted my neighbors to experience those benefits as well. In June 2015, I was selected as a K880 Emerging City Champion through 8 80 Cities and the Knight Foundation. The fellowship equipped me with the tools, networks, and resources to create Bike Macon. In just a few months, I’ve been able to engage a diverse group of stakeholders + team of volunteers to support my vision of a healthier, safer, and more socially-connected community. 

Benefits? I’ve been relying on my bike as an alternative means of commuting to work for about six months. I love that I can sneak in exercise during the day without taking extra time from my schedule. Additionally, through this group, I have met the most talented and dedicated individuals. I’m looking forward to the meaningful change this group is leading -- to help Macon become a city that embraces walking and biking as an essential form of transportation.

Personal mantra? “Mai Pen Rai” - it’s a common Thai expression meaning many things: no worries, it is what it is, it’s okay. I spent one year teaching English in Thailand and this is one of the traits I admired most about the locals. Their attitude encouraged me to never take things too seriously and face everything with a smile.

THANKFUL FOR COMMUNITY

Happy holidays, y'all! Couple of things: 

This Saturday, November 28th, is Small Business Saturday. If you've been with IFF since the beginning, you know that Haley and I created this blog out of two passions -- health and wellness + supporting small businesses across the state. Even our posts spotlighting friends overseas have focused on mom and pop shops. As advocates for our own neighborhoods (Atlanta & Macon), we were THRILLED when American Express launched #SmallBizSat in 2010 -- a rallying cry against the corporate consumerism of Black Friday and a way to celebrate Main Streets across America. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving + celebrating community, we would like to show our gratitude to our loyal readers by offering a gift basket giveaway! The basket will feature products from small businesses featured in previous posts, including Preserving Place, Meraki Botanicals and Pure Barre -- just to name a few. To enter, forward this post to one friend and then send us an email that you've done so (include their name + email as well). We'll select a winner at random and announce next week!

BEESA SKINCARE

It's that time of the year! No, not just the holidays but the season of dry and itchy skin too. I have normal to oily skin and even MY face feels the wrath of winter. At IFF, we decided to seek out a local beauty boutique -- Beesa Skincare Studio. Located on Ingleside Avenue in Macon, GA, Beesa offers spa-quality skincare treatments such as facials, microderms & waxing, all with organic ingredients. Check out our Q+A with our fine-feather friend, Brooke, below!

Tell us your name: Brooke Weatherford Kinross, owner of Beesa Skincare Studio -- a studio spa in Macon, Georgia where I offer facials, waxing and tinting with a focus on natural products with organic ingredients.

Inspiration for starting your own biz?  I love what I do -- sharing the knowledge I have gained over the past 15 years, making people feel better about themselves, and to be able to do this while balancing my family -- life is perfect.  My children are still "little", so it's important to me to be at soccer games, dance recitals and play dates while they still think I am kind of cool.

What is the goal of Beesa?  I want people to understand skin - that it is the largest organ of the body - reflecting what is going on inside of the body. Healthy skin goes beyond using quality skin care products. What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it. Many of my clients come to me with hormonal acne, or acne in general. Most women in their 40's don't understand why they are still breaking out! I try to help them pinpoint the cause of their skin challenges, whether it's a hormonal imbalance, diet, incorrect products, prescription medications, whatever the trigger may be... that way we can find a solution, not just a quick fix.

What makes you tick? I was an Environmental Studies major at Oberlin College with a focus on Organic and Sustainable Agriculture. I guess you would say I am a little bit of a hippie still to this day. It's important to me that my children get to enjoy nature and being outside as much as I have. I love buying local food and supporting local growers, cooking and entertaining, camping and being outside with my kids, catching a full moon view whenever possible and relaxing with my partner-in-crime (my husband, Steve).

Favorite Macon pastime?  Music! So much of what makes Macon so special is the music history. I carry that with me wherever I go. 

ATL LOVES #KOPYOGA

King of Pops, the beloved fresh fruit ice pops company of Atlanta, recently began hosting #KOPYOGA on the BeltLine. Over the summer, the free outdoor yoga sessions - held every Tuesday at 7 PM - have grown quickly from a few dozen to a few hundred! We were lucky enough to interview CEO and co-founder of King of Pops, Steven Carse, on why he believes in "promoting community and healthy living in an approachable way."

Inspiration for beginning King of Pops: I fell in love with the paleta (fresh fruit ice pop) during my travels to Latin America, and after years of eating, decided it would be fun to try to make and sell them myself. The perfect opportunity to do it came when I was laid off from my corporate job and needed to think of what to do next. So in the spring of 2010, King of Pops was born with only one used push-cart on a street corner.

Mission behind #KOPYOGA? Last year it started as something we did 100% for our employees and decided we might as well invite our neighbors. Between 15 and 30 people came out and it was one of the things I really looked forward to each week. I'm a beginner, and it was a nice way to work on my practice and enjoy the outdoors. We didn't do much differently this year. We started to promote earlier, but on the first day you could tell it was going to be different. Instead of a few dozen it was a few hundred. It's a testament to our community. I feel like the actual yoga practice is the least important part. It's just nice to be doing something with your neighbors. At the end of the day, that is the point. Get out and enjoy your life.

Favorite Atlanta pastime? Lately it has just been riding my bike. Whether it's an organized ride or a slow stroll on the Beltline, it is what I do to get some quality ME time.

All photos courtesy of Haley Sheffield Photography. 

BREASTFEEDING: THE ART + ACCEPTANCE

Since beginning IFF, a sentiment shared by Haley and myself is to let our images speak for themselves with little intrusion from our personal opinions. Yes, blogs are supposed to be safe places for soapboxes but I am a pretty strong-willed, stubborn, opinionated gal and didn't want my mouthy, journalistic tendencies to overshadow our intent of creating a virtual haven centered on health and wellness. However; we have recently decided to allow guest bloggers to share their stories. Personal, perspectives by way of meaningful conversations are always appreciated, no matter which side of the spectrum you fall on a hot topic.

With that said, we are thrilled to spotlight our fine-feathered friend, Jessica, and her baby boy Walden, as she gives insight in to motherhood with her piece titled: The Art + Acceptance of Breastfeeding.

Like so many of us, my breastfeeding journey didn’t come without its trials and tribulations. While producing milk came naturally, the world didn’t revolve around it. Being a working mother, I spent more time pumping away than actually nursing my son directly. I can now boast I’ve pumped in Atlanta parking decks, while driving down the interstate and at Regan International Airport, home of the infamous “sad nursing room.” 

But now, as my supply matches my dwindling demand from my son, who is just over one-year-old, my heart is heavy. We haven’t quite closed our nursing saga, but I already find myself missing it.

No longer pumping, I relish in our quiet nursing sessions, nuzzling his soft whisp of hair, rubbing his still-so-small feet, staring down at this natural marvel of nourishment, where I was able to produce just what he needs, when he needed it the most. How many times I find myself nodding to the whispers in my head – it does go by so fast.

As August declares National Breastfeeding Month, there is no shortage of information on breastfeeding and its many benefits, for both baby and mother. Each ounce of that liquid gold is priceless when we can produce it.

But I was also surprised at the benefits the breastfeeding FAQs didn’t include – namely, the determination and willpower I would gain along the way. My body had never been more of a temple than when I was breastfeeding. And there were many times I needed to find that inner-strength to make it work like we did.

There was also the protective passion I developed for other mothers as well. I was surprised at the fire that lit in me over society’s notions of breastfeeding. Was this really debatable? Do we really find something so natural to all mammals so uncomfortable to us humans?

As the #normalizebreastfeeding waved its flag, I proudly saluted its stance. Whether we breastfeed or not, whether we are parents or not, whether we are a mother or a father, we have an obligation to kindness, humanity and our own human kind to rid any sort of discomfort in the act of a mother feeding a child.

I remember the frustration I felt as a new breastfeeding mom when I saw a man go jogging by without his shirt on – his useless nipples on full, sweaty display without so much of a second thought. And here I was filled with anxiety on nursing my son in public, blanketed with a hot apron cover and wearing the right amount of buttons so that our skin-to-skin nurturing was well hidden.

There is something fundamentally unfair with our double-standard of women’s chests. The same breast that nourishes us is prized more for its sexualization. A low-cut tank top is better accepted than an unsnapped nursing tank. A cat nursing her kittens makes us stop and aww. A woman doing the same will cause disapproving clucks. Why? Because society deemed our breasts trophy animals for all of the wrong reasons, and its innocence was somehow lost. 

My fellow mothers, try to cherish this sacred, primal, precious art of breastfeeding. Don’t be afraid to demand your comfort to be the mother you want to be, in public spaces, in your work place, in the eyes of those who don’t yet understand. 

And to everyone else, let us recognize those demands as powerful. Let us support the act of breastfeeding as simply normal.

Finally, for those entering their own breastfeeding journey, here are the simple tips I learned along the way:

Find a breast friend. Tap into your sage circle of mothers and find the one whose situation mirrors yours. For me, it was my mentors who had both deftly scaled the corporate ladders and nursed like the super moms they are. If they could do it in spite of their schedule and executive demands, I certainly could, and it helped immensely to have their support and encouragement.

Don’t put a time limit on it. Sure, we all want the year that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, but it can be less and it could be longer. When you put a deadline on it, it leans more towards another looming task in an already over-demanding world. This really is a journey that’s to be taken one day at a time. You know that old saying, “It’s not how fast you go, it’s how you get there”? Well, I can’t think of anything more appropriately applied than nursing.

Nurture yourself. Breastfeeding is a perpetual give and take where every woman’s body takes on the demands differently. Don’t be afraid to prioritize yourself so you can remain the ultimate source of nutrition for your baby. Muster the courage to meet your own demands, from creating a pleasant nursing environment to relinquishing some of the other baby duties, from bottle washing to burping, to a partner. My husband graciously stood by our “I feed, you clean” mantra. After all, it was the least he could do to make up for what Mother Nature left off of him.

SWEET AUBURN CURB MARKET

Amidst Atlanta's bountiful harvest of community farmers' markets, one of our favorite everyday staples is the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. Rich in history, charm and flavor, Sweet Auburn was ranked by USA Today as the 16th Best food market around the world. The self-sustaining entity is comprised of 24 independently-owned businesses including eateries, retail shops and fresh produce. Atlanta residents and visitors can now enjoy restaurants such as Murphy’s, Grindhouse Killer Burgers, Bell Street Burritos, Sweet Auburn Barbeque and Arepa Mia. Find a listing of all current merchants here.

THE DETOXINISTA

Megan Gilmore, Georgia-grown girl and current Los Angelian, is a certified Holistic Health Counselor, trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Based in New York City, Integrative Nutrition® is the largest nutrition school in the world. Her education has equipped her with a deep knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and the importance of preventive care, which she loves sharing on her blog detoxinista.com and in her new cookbook, Everyday Detox!

Tell us your name: Megan Gilmore

City? Kansas + Georgia and currently Los Angeles.

What is your business? I’m a greeting card illustrator by day but nutrition and healthy cooking has been a passion of mine for years so I created detoxinsta.com as a creative outlet to share my favorite recipes.

Inspiration? I grew up on a terrible junk-food diet which took me years to turn around. I did a lot of yo-yo dieting and found myself obsessing over food anytime I tried to count calories. I changed my focus to eating real, unprocessed foods which was a refreshing, welcoming change. My goal with the website is to make healthy living accessible and show people that eating well can be both easy and delicious.

The Creamy Almond Butter & Spinach Shake + the Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Shake were just a few of our favorites that we found on detoxinista.com!

Pick a Superfood: Hemp seeds! They’re my favorite form of complete protein to add to my morning smoothie.

Favorite form of release? Hiking! Los Angeles has beautiful hiking trails, and getting out of nature gives me the recharge I need after working on my computer so often.

Something you miss about the South: The people! It’s true that everyone is more welcoming in the southern states.

Greatest joy of beginning Detoxinista? Hearing that someone’s life has been changed because of something I’ve shared. If my recipes make just one person healthier, I feel like I’ve made an impact on the world.

All photos (c) of Megan Gilmore

THE PEACH TRUCK

In Fine Feather aims to be your go-to guide on Georgia's ever-evolving health and wellness community. During our blogging adventures the past few months, we have traveled all across the state to showcase the movers, shakers and makers of small business in health and wellness. Today's post, The Peach Truck, features our neighbors just north who share a love of our favorite Southern staple.

ABOUT: It all started when a boy from way down in Georgia fell in love with a girl from way up in the North. The blissfully happy couple moved to Nashville where the boy couldn’t wait to share everything he loved about life in the South. The city obliged with the heat and the porch, but after searching every single market, the boy couldn't find the big, rich juicy peaches he grew up eating. What became known as the “peach problem” only had one solution; driving over 300 miles to pick his girl the perfect Georgia Peach. Love at first bite. They then decided to share this love with their new city so they traded in their car for an old truck and sold fresh fruit by the bagful. Nashville fell in love too. Within five weeks, the city consumed over 10 delicious tons of peaches. Today the boy, the girl, and The Peach Truck happily share their peach passion with locals and fellow fruit enthusiasts across the country.

Name + City: Stephen + Jessica Rose. Currently living in Nashville, TN

Inspo for your business? The Peach Truck is proud to be the Nashville arm of Pearson Farm in Fort Valley, GA. I (Stephen) grew up eating peaches right off the tree so I knew what a peach should taste like. The summer of 2012, we brought our very first crop up to the city, set up with our truck in front of Imogene + Willie and the rest, as they say, is history.

Favorite peach-inspired recipe? Peaches have long gotten caught in the dessert category. They’re so much more diverse than that. The Peach Caprese salad is a summer staple at our house.

What has been the greatest reward about beginning PT? We often sit back and talk about how shocked we are at our lives. We get to do what we love, work with people we love, and add to the flavor of our city. We couldn’t be more fulfilled doing something other than we are right now.

Favorite part about the South: The people. Anytime you get a little ways out of the city, you’re reminded of the pace of life that so many people live. It’s an exhilarating reminder to slow down, and take in the simplicities of life.

Photos by: Jamie Clayton.

PEACH DISH: PART I

This week we are SO very excited to bring you a two-part post with our friends at PeachDish! What is PeachDish? They are a national meal-delivery service that every week offers four different seasonally-inspired meals. Two are vegetarian, and two are animal protein-based and each package includes two servings of two of the week’s delicious meals. Feeding more than two people? You can amp up your quantities of one or both meals and there are no membership fees as you only pay when you receive a delivery.

For Part I, we got a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour and sat down with PeachDish President, Judith Winfrey, to discuss the ins and outs of creating this successful Atlanta-based business.

Tell us your name: Judith Winfrey, President and Owner of PeachDish.

Hometown + current city: Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

Inspiration for managing your own business? Sharing good food with the world. We are a business comprised of people who love good food and community. We exist to share quality recipes, ingredients and dishes with you. We have a goal of serving 400,000 good meals a week and want to show the world the best that the south has to offer – chefs, artisans, farmers, and makers.

What drives you? Authenticity.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of beginning PD? Working with the brilliant, dedicated team of professionals who share their joy and passion with PeachDish every week. It is humbling to lead such a talented team of bad-asses who care so deeply about giving our customers an outstanding experience.  From our Chef, to our Ops Manager, to our packers, to our tech team, our photographer, our customer service and marketing teams. Everyone brings their A-game and they are genuinely motivated by the idea of sending quality to your door.

Additionally, hearing from people whose lives have been improved because of the quality product we offer. We introduce them to incredible new culinary experiences. We share thoughtful ingredients and intelligent techniques. We make their lives easier, healthier, fresher, more convenient and delish. We help them face life’s changes, challenges and difficulties with grace. When I get a letter from a mother of two whose husband has recently had a stroke, or a family with an autistic son who loves to cook and looks forward to PD every week, or a newlywed who feels emboldened by the culinary confidence PeachDish imparts, it touches my heart and lets me know I’m doing the work I’m meant to be doing.

Photos: (c) Haley Sheffield Photography. Pictured: President Judith Winfrey, Chef Seth Freedman, Photographer Lizzy Johnston, Marketing Coordinator Caroline Clements and IFF co-founder, Tess Harper.