That Brainy B LLC

02/22/2026

The story of tea is a bit of a mystery, and maybe… a transparent belly?

I took the day to relax yesterday and really soak in everything. Hunty and I enjoyed a fresh batch of sweet french toast, and ended the day with a dinner date night at home.

Final session thoughts:

Ahh yes, the interesting story of tea and its discovery! I actually have been working hard behind scenes on this blog post that you can sneak peak. Do you know the difference of tea vs a tisane? I definitely perked up when I heard Abril Donea touching on this story, among many other special cultural traditions!

Kay Raier briefed the 6 tissue states and gave a good guideline I will be holding onto: “If you have had the pain/symptoms for a year, it will probably take at LEAST a month to recover.” Dr. Rosita Arvigo gave a very interesting suggestion of corn silk and green bean infusion, and mentioned abdominal therapy (which I heard many times throughout the conference).

Jessica Bergeron brought some delicious ideas of course, and reminded us where pre-meal salads originated from. She also brought up cravings and what they could be saying. Natalya King really focused on the importance of looking at the skin and “feeding,” it good nourishing food.

One final reflection later today, in the meantime -> learn more about true tea 🍵

What’s the difference between tea and tisane? Learn how green, black, white, and herbal infusions differ—and why the distinction matters.

02/21/2026

THATS A WRAP —> The last day of the conference and I am sad to say see you later! Today was jam packed with wonderful speakers and stories, I want to try and continue this theme with brief Fridays ‘flections.’ Every single day I learn something new, so why not reflect and share my learnings with you guys too?!

I have really learned a lot about myself this conference, which was NOT expected. Hearing from Laura Ash gave me some clarity in how I want to explain my story in branding. This is something I have been struggling with…She also gave a great tip to *do something you love every single day*, which is so important to hear!

Steven Yeager spoke on quality control and regulations for purchasing herbs! He gave a little sneak peek into Mountain Rose Herbs process, which further solidified my support for their business! Jasper Degenaars brought some great knowledge on mushrooms, and how to stay educated and aware as a consumer 🍄

For my monthly reflections, updates, favorites, and more: SIGN UP FOR THE BRAINY BEMUSE (Sent the last Monday of each month!)

https://www.thatbrainyb.com/newsletter

02/20/2026

Rose 🌹 ~ A beautiful and often underrated flower. Do you know how much potential this hundred petaled beaut truly can hold?

This year I was drawn to explore rose more, and I tried various projects from syrups to hydrosols. Ironically, it’s been touching me even throughout the conference! Taryn Forrel from Traditional Botanicals touched on using herbs for joy and ‘wonder.’ Simply smelling rose can change your physiology! Rose is often associated with supporting the heart, and a simple smell can relax your blood vessels!

YUP, that’s exactly why I chose rose for my blend. Not going to lie, I got a little ego boost from listening to this one. Together the herbs work to soften and support the heart and digestion ; providing a warm invitation to feel calm and connect more. If that sounds like something you need, be sure to stop in Sprouted Branch for Lover’s Quarrel tea blend (in the cute little pink box). More reflections later today, soaking up the last of these sessions!

02/20/2026

Finally got stuff cleaned up, and brought up some more biz cards! Final reflections:

Heard from Dr. Jacqui Wilkins on some simple ways to integrate herbs into our daily life! I am very inspired to learn about trail snacks (herbs to eat on the go), and test out different herbal broths. Honestly I could go for sipping some straight broth with my sinuses and sore throat currently….

She gave some awesome ideas, including steam inhalation! This is such a soothing practice that actually can support in preventing sickness too in some cases. The act is relaxing alone, but also moistens your mucus membranes. Try my recipe below OR purchase in store next week -> limited amount. Or make a nice streamy cup of tea, and be sure to stop and sniff ‘er before you drink 😂👃🌹

Tomorrow I will be busy busy trying to catch the last sessions AND working on some special infusions 🤔
(excited to share more on that soon)

https://www.thatbrainyb.com/brainyblog/soft-return?rq=Steamy

This is a simple steam blend you can make at home using dried herbs and flowers. It’s meant to be approachable and flexible, something that you can adjust to what you have on hand or what you’re drawn to in the moment. Whether you follow it closely or use it as a starting point, the process itse...

02/19/2026

Whoops, I lost track of my reflections! Onto day 4, but let us reflect on day 2:

Heard from David Winston on inflammation, one of my many favorite teachers. Coming from a more scientific and medical background, I find his education easy to translate and extremely valuable. He touched on the important topics of herbs, phyto-pharmaceuticals, and placebo!

Did you know the traditonal Ayurvedic ‘pairing’ for turmeric is ginger (not black pepper like you might initially think..)? Fun facts about turmeric, often the curcumanoids are isolated/extracted and poorly absorbed, which is why you combine with black pepper. Turmeric root alone does not reallyyy need this combination, but combining with ginger creates a synergistic “boost.” Ginger also acts as a catalyst to help with absorbing the curcumin, and can speed up gastric emptying. Both are “anti-inflammatory” but taking a brief look:

Ginger -> supports circulation and reduce nausea
Turmeric -> support joint health and reduce inflammation

It’s always important to ask ~ where is the inflammation coming from? More reflections later today, feeling a bit under the weather 🤒

02/17/2026

This week I am embodying a sponge 🧽
Yesterday was day one of the 2026 Herbalism Conference and I am just catching up! As promised, I will be sharing my thoughts and reflections from each speaker I tune into!

This is a great opportunity for me to brush up on my herbal knowledge, and hear what others across the globe are doing 🌎

Day 1 Reflections: I tuned into Rosemary Gladstar and Sajah Popham. One of the first themes that popped out at me, Rosemary noting the kitchen as “world saving.” She gave some lovely ideas on using herbs for hope, courage, and connection. Highlighting to start small and simple with respect for the wildlife and ecosystem!
Sajah Popham brought input on synergy and how some plants work for certain people but not others. If you know me you know I could shout this at the top of my lungs 😂🥴

He gave a great example using chamomile: you can have three blends all containing chamomile that all do very different things in the body.

Day one was great, day two has been phenomenal so far with two speakers left! Little reminder: LQ tea blend is still available at Sprouted Branch and More Than Sprouts -> Perfect for transitioning into spring and supporting stress. This blend is not only supportive and nutritive, it’s also so delicious! Cleansing grains are now available as singles!

02/11/2026

This is so true!

While I fully believe that plants do have the same potential as pharmaceuticals: there is a time, place, AND PERSON. It is dependent on not only your personal constitution, but also the recommending herbalists.
That is why you can be looking for pain relief, and find hundreds of different remedies to try. How do you know which one will work for you?

Unfortunately us Herbalists don’t always have the ‘answer’ right away either, but we work with you to create a most aligned protocol!

Herbalism is definitely an art 🎨

02/10/2026

Last chance…
This week is the LAST week for our Lover’s Quarrels box. Perfect for your girly friends, or a simple self care treat!

A soft return to the present moments. A gentle cleanse to reveal the blush between. Support for finding common ground, and work through stressful moments. This box just has all of that PLUS lots of love and personal touches from yours truly.

If a gift box isn’t really your thing but you still want to support: stop in for a tea sample which you can now purchase separate. Lover’s Quarrel blend will still be avaliable after Valentines Day. Few earrings and cards still available 💗🥰

02/05/2026

IT’S BACK! The annual Herbalism Conference by Herbal Academy is just around the corner: A lovely FREE opportunity to hear from herbalists across the globe 🌿

This was a huge jumpstart to my herbal career, maybe it could be for you too.

I am really looking forward to ALL the sessions, but especially:
David Winston -> Herbal Strategies for Inflammation
Gaz Oakley -> Old Ways, New Tables
Jessica Bergeron -> Wellness in Plain Sight

Just to name a few among the MANY brilliant speakers. Join my learning group to share reflections & thoughts!

https://tickets.herbalismconferences.com/2026-virtual-herbalism-conference

1 week only... Grow your herbal knowledge through connection, shared learning, and practical insight.

01/30/2026

Presence over Pressure

After much reflecting and prayer; I finally came to a decision… My services have been updated to reflect what I feel most comfortable offering! It has always been important to me that I work to stay ethical and in lane of my personal expertise.

It isn’t about fixing you, you aren’t broken (even if we feel like it)! It’s about learning to listen to our bodies, then learning to translate the response into gentle natural practices.

This month I want to invite everyone to join me in reminding ourselves: Presence over Pressure

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

01/28/2026

Why do we fight?

Often times we get frazzled by the chaos in our environment, and it has a direct effect on our relationships. It’s not just romantic; it’s friends, family, co-workers, even roomates. It builds up to the point of breach, and then we fight.

Communication is such an important aspect to ALL relationships, but it is not linear. It involves reflection and emotional understanding.

Read more about Emotional Attunement vs Atonement + Tips for Conflict in Couples

When disagreements flare, science-backed strategies and a soothing tea can turn sparks into growth: slow your breathing to activate the parasympathetic system and lower reactivity, name the emotion to reduce its intensity, and use “soft start-ups.” Sip mindfully together or during a cooling-off ...

01/26/2026

Lover’s Quarrel is officially here!
This past week I have been teasing some BTS peaks into this project. Last week was spent putting all these lovely boxes together. Hunty even attempted to help me with my bows but as we can see, I don’t even know how to tie them quite right 😂
These boxes are full of hard work and love! Only available locally as I work to offer shipping.
Available @ Sprouted Branch, Apotheosis-MN, and More Than Sprouts (sent some up, should be there in the next couple of days!