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My Uncle Ray, my dad's brother, was a really nice guy. When I was collecting pictures for this story, I reached out to my cousins, Liz and Maryann to find a few to add to this post. During that exchange, Maryann shared that she used to set up her Barbie house and cottage on my uncle's billiards (pool) table, where he would have been playing the game of 8 ball. Maryann mentioned the table's green felt was the grass for her house. As you will read below, as important as billiards was to my uncle, family was more important. Below is the 4th story in my dad's series of posts. At some point, I will need to give them their own category on the website. If this is your first time reading my dad's stories, you can catch up on the first one, Family Storytelling Tradition With Papa Fiore . If you want to keep up with the stories as well as my Sensory Experience reviews, please subscribe here . ---------------------- Brother Ray My Uncle Ray, playing billiards at a local pool hall. There is an old saying that rings true now and forever. "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your relatives". I was lucky to have a brother who had my back his entire life. Ray passed away a couple of years ago, but he remains alive in the hearts and minds of myself and his two daughters Liz and Maryann. Ray's last couple of years were tough and the devotion and dedication of Liz and Maryann gave him the strength to hold on as long as he could. I would like to pay homage to my brother in this the fourth installment of my writings. I am 4 1/2 years older than Ray. This is not an approximation but as real as it gets. My birthday is April 1 and Ray's birthday was September 30... 6 months to the day. Ray (left) and my dad, Tony as kids. When Ray was 14, he took an interest in pool. He watched it on television and marveled at the skill of the players. At 16 years old he started going to the pool hall at the corner of Richmond Avenue and Richmond Terrace. My parents weren't thrilled with the idea since the characters that hung around there had questionable backgrounds. Mom and Dad came up with an idea. Why not give Ray a pool table as a Christmas present. A nice idea but it wasn't cheap since a regulation pool table cost about $800... a lot of money back then. It seemed important enough to make such a sacrifice, and they wound up buying an old fashion pool table with tunnels, not a net. The sound of pool balls rolling through the tunnels could be heard from the basement where it was placed throughout the house. Also, the idea of separating Ray from his questionable friends wasn't working since they found a new pool hall at 252 Van Pelt Avenue... the home of Lou and Flo Fiore. Game of 8 Ball Handwritten story from the first of 6 pages that my dad sent to me. Ray loved the pool table, and he would play from early morning to late night. He became good enough to enter tournaments and win his share. Ray became well known in Staten Island pool circles and he got to a point where he could run 10, 15, 20, 25 balls in a row. Few players wanted to play against Ray so he started to go to bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn and he became a skilled 8 ball player for $5 to $10 a game. The game of 8 ball involves hitting the white cue ball into a rack of 15 balls. Of the 15 balls set up in a rack eight are solids (1 to 7) and the others are stripes (9 to 15). Players must pocket all balls in their designated group (solids or stripes) before pocketing the 8 ball in a designated pocket to win. When Ray aimed the cue ball at the rack he almost always got either a stripe or solid ball in the pocket. Then he methodically ran the other balls and then made the 8 ball. Ray became so good at 8 ball that few wanted to challenge him. Until he met "Sailor Bill". Sailor Bill My Uncle Ray playing billiards. Sailor Bill was sitting at a Brooklyn bar one day watching Ray polish off one player after another. Bill was a retired Navy man who was about 70 when 18-year-old Ray Fiore met him. He approached Ray at the Brooklyn bar and said "I would like to challenge you." Ray said "I don't want to take your money old man." Sailor Bill said "I'll take that chance. How much do you want to play for?" Ray said "One game for $5 dollars." Sailor Bill said, "Come on if its only one game lets play for $20." Ray said "If you insist." Ray said... "You can break". The old sailor studied the board picked out a pool stick and then proceeded to clear the table in a couple of minutes. Ray didn't know what hit him. After two rematches Ray was out $60 without taking a shot. They sat at the bar and Bill bought Ray a drink. He said "Ray you have a lot of potential. I can teach you a lot if you are interested." Ray said sure and for the next couple of months Sailor Bill was a frequent visitor to the Fiore house. Where Ray was able to run 25 balls in a row, Sailor Bill could run 100. He was right out of the movie with Jackie Gleason playing Minnesota Fats. Ray just playing around. Sailor Bill told Ray he saw the pool table in geometric terms, triangles, rectangles and squares and he knew where the cue ball was going to land 5 shots from now. After Sailor Bills lessons, Ray became better than ever. Throughout his life he never stopped playing pool and won many more games than he lost. The Final Hustle At Ray's funeral I gave a eulogy which was about one of Ray's last pool games. Tony (left) and Ray as adults, January 2014 It was great that at the end of our work careers we wound up at the same company... MarketSource Corporation in Cranbury, New Jersey. We had a Christmas luncheon and after it was over Ray asked a few of us to join him at this new restaurant in Cranbury that had a pool table. So about 6 of us joined Ray at this place and we sat at a table having drinks and watching this hot shot named Mikey polish off one player after another in 8 ball. So Ray approaches Mikey and says wanna play. Mikey says, "I don't want to take your money old man". Ray says no problem... How much you want to play for?" "How about $20... You can break". I'm thinking bad move Mikey. Five games later, Mikey is out $100 and he has taken only a few shots. He can't believe what happened to him. Then I look over and in the corner of the bar Mikey and Ray are talking intently. Then I see Ray hand over the $100 he just won back to Mikey... who leaves the place. As Ray returns to our table, we ask him why he gave Mikey his money back. Ray says Mikey told him he has a couple of young kids and the money was for Christmas toys. Then a bar patron who heard Ray's story chimes in... "You got to be kidding... Is that what he told you". Ray said yes and he even gave him $20 of his own money. The bar patron says... well Mikey is not married and has no kids. In fact, he is a big playboy. Ray's smile turns into a laugh. "Well, I guess the hustler got hustled". That was Ray... as kind a person out there. A great brother, husband, father and grandfather. I am so lucky to have him as a brother.

As I look out the window just now, I am watching the tree branches whisk together in the constant wind from today's weather. It reminded me of trying to fly a kite when I was a kid. Each of the kids creating their own Newport kite flying experience at Brenton Point State Park Flying a kite when you are little is one of the great fun, sensory experiences we didn't realize we were having. Most of us were probably trying to fly kites that cost only a few dollars from the local store and tried with all of our might to run as fast as we could to get it up in the air and fly. We would run, and it would fall, and we would try again and again, sometimes in our yards when there was no wind at all. Wind or no wind, the problem most of us experienced was that the kites we were trying to fly were not really designed well. However, if we did get the kite to fly, even for a few seconds, it was the greatest accomplishment of the day, bringing smiles through dinner and stories to our friends that it was flying miles up in the air. Here is the open field outside of our kitchen window. The lack of obstruction causes the wind to whip onto the side of our house. There are a few places I think about when I think of the best places to fly a kite. The first as it turns out is the big open field next to my house, with nothing to slow down the wind, it often whips across the field to the side of our house. We notice it more lately from the windchimes we set up to prevent (unsuccessfully) the woodpeckers from making our house look like Swiss cheese with all of the holes they are creating. The second really windy spot we visit is in Aruba. In the area of Palm Beach, there are trade winds that flow 24 hours a day, which really help the heat feel manageable. Because of these trade winds, there are so many kite and wind surfers which are so much fun to watch. I tried kite surfing once and found it extremely challenging as I kept smashing into the water more than I was standing on the board. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Reconnect with kite flying to experience the joy of curiosity and wonder that comes with your childhood self." The third place, which is going to be the focus of my story is the winds at Brenton Point State Park in Newport, Rhode Island. Before I get back to the kites, I would like to spend a few minutes to share my love of Newport. I didn't start going to Newport until I met Mary Beth. She grew up in Rhode Island and her mom, dad, and her would go to Newport on a regular basis for as long as she can remember. On a Saturday morning multiple times a year, they would pack it up the car with a picnic and spend the entire day there. Their favorite spot was at Brenton Point, which boasts a rocky coastline, a view of the island of Jamestown, and a beautiful state park, which is usually full of people just enjoying the weather, view, and a Del's Lemonade . Del's is a Rhode Island staple consisting of a semi frozen (slushy style) lemonade, mixed with the juice and the rind of the lemon, and sugar, served typically by a local high school or college student. There is a Del's Lemonade food truck every time we go to Brenton Point. Of course, Mary Beth and her parents were always in line getting at least a few Del's during their visits. I met Mary Beth at Bryant College (now University) in Smithfield, RI, about 40 minutes from Newport. It wasn't long before I started to visit Newport on a regular basis, sometimes just the two of us, and others with her parents on those same Saturday picnics in the summer, and then with the kids. Newport has so many great activities. Outside of Brenton Point State Park, there is the scenic drive on Ocean Ave (sometimes referred to as Ocean Drive), as it winds around the coastline. On Ocean Ave is the iconic Castle Hill Inn, as well as some beautiful old homes including one owned by Jay Leno. As you drive up from Brenton Point, past Jay Leno's house is what Newport is probably best known for, which is the historic mansions on Bellevue Avenue, with the largest one, The Breakers, at over 65,000 square feet. These mansions are available for tours and weddings (if you can afford it. I heard the average wedding in these mansions cost about $250,000). The Newport Mansions are now a part of the historical society but were once owned by New York's elite like the Vanderbilt and Astor families, until inheritance tax caused many of the children not to be able to afford them. On the opposite side of the mansions is the Cliff Walk, which is a 3-mile paved (mostly) trail on the ocean with one side of a view of the ocean (and view of Middletown) and the other side a view of the mansions. Bowen's Wharf in downtown Newport during the winter off season, which is why it is so quiet on the streets. Newport is also home to a great downtown on the waterfront, with so many boutique shops, restaurants, and bars off of the famous Thames Street. The most famous area is Bowen's Wharf, which is home to one of our favorite restaurants, The Mooring (actually on Sayer's Wharf according to their website, but just a few steps away ) , and a great tour company around the harbor and island, Sightsailing of Newport . One of their boat captains is also my friend and one of my college roommates, Jeff Sevich. Jeff is the Captain of the Starlight boat, which can host 2-6 guests. With so many great topics on Newport to talk about, maybe I will do a separate post on the Starlight tour, bringing in some of my college memories. Jeff and his wife Nancy (who we also met and became friends with at college), both "retired" 10 years ago and moved full time to Newport and now fix up and rent homes. If you have an interest in staying in the Newport area, I would highly recommend renting one of their two rental properties, Open Concept Beach House and Beach House , both located in Middletown, RI, just one town over from Newport. Emma and me at one of our picnics. For me, I think it's now been 30 years since I have been going to Newport and have so many other places and activities to share in future posts. For this story, I will stick to Brenton Point. I started joining Mary Beth and her parents for the picnic's each year and as we started having kids, the one car ultimately turned into two having to fit 7 people and all of the picnic items. Picnics with her parents were events, not just packing a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Her dad, and now passed on to Mary Beth, would make Italian subs with all of the fixings and chips. We upgraded from a card table to an 8' table, tent, chairs, and a few TV trays to eat off of. This is why we needed two cars. I keep trying to convince Mary Beth that we should bring down the Ooni to make pizza's but in the back of my mind, I know that is a project when we are at home and it would be a bigger challenge for us in a secondary location. We would spend all day there, typically getting there around 11:00 in the morning (following our 90-minute drive from home), usually getting the same spot at the end of one of the parking lots so we could have the extra space on the side to play games or fly kites. Newport Kite Flying Experience Kite flying at Brenton point has a combination of little kids getting their first kites to experienced adults using two hands to do tricks. We did invest in some good quality kites from Newport Kites when the kids were little so they could actually fly the kites. I can remember having to hold the string with one hand while the kids would hold onto the handle because if they let go the kite would certainly fly away, especially being hundreds of feet in the air. Emma running with her kite at Brenton Point State Park As an adult, it was so fun to watch the excitement in our kid's eyes and the smile on their faces when the kite was up in the air. As well, it is also fun to watch the experienced adult kite flyers perform their tricks and realize how much skill is needed to make such beautiful art in the sky. I think the last time we went; I let the string go as far as it could unwind which was really fun to see how high it could go and then spend what felt like hours trying to bring it back to Earth. Newport Kite Festival Every year in July, Newport hosts its annual Kite Festival. This year will be its 40th anniversary, held at Brenton Point State Park. If you want to see a visually spectacular event, spend time with family and friends, take some amazing photos, or just sit in the wonder and awe of kite flying at its best, this festival is for you. And the best part, it's free. This year's festival will be held on July 11-12 at Brenton Point State Park, rain or shine. To plan your event, visit Newport Kite Festival . "I'm changing lives one kite at a time. When families feel the wind's power through a simple string, something profound happens." - Ron Kitt, Festival Director Frequently Asked Questions Is Brenton Point State Park free to visit? Yes, Brenton Point State Park is free. Many families come for large picnics, and every spot has a view of the ocean. Are there trash facilities at Brenton Point State Park? No, it is a carry in, carry out policy. This means that if you have a picnic, your are responsible to bring your own trash bags. Can I buy a kite while I am at Brenton Point State Park? Yes, Newport Kites has a mobile truck right on the field at Brenton Point State Park. What activities are at the Newport Kite Festival? In addition to watching the kites and being near the ocean (what more could you want), there will be a candy drop for the kids to enjoy. Plus, you will be there with your friends and family, so it is bound to be a great time. Start Your Own Kite Flying Sensory Experience If you are looking to reconnect with the wonder of your childhood self, a Newport Kite flying experience will allow you to reach for the sky! Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Cover photo by Joanna Kosinska *There is a special discount code at the end of this story* The Search for Better Olive Oil My visit with Louie and Tina at their house. I learned about how they got started on this olive oil journey. Turns out as I was writing this and pulling the links to from the website, I just placed an order for the Tesoro Italian Olive Oil. I had to wait 9 months as the farm had issues with shipping internationally. Now that it is back in stock, it will be in my pantry within the week! My journey to get to these high quality, Italian olive oils didn’t come overnight. This was a long process where I didn’t realize what I was missing until we found Madge & Louie’s. The Tesoro olive oil was the best I ever had. The bottle to the right is an organic version from the same producer. Like many of you, I started out with the olive oil and vinegars that were in the local supermarket and then would buy in bulk when we went to the local wholesale club. From there, we started purchasing olive oil and vinegars from those specialty stores that pop up in the highly popular tourist areas, which for me was in Boston and Newport, RI. Over time, while we were seemingly happy with the olive oils, the vinegars just didn’t taste like what we would get in a nice restaurant. The Love of Italian Olive Oil One day a few years back, we participated in a virtual pasta making class from a great local Italian restaurant in the Worcester, MA area called Volturno. As a part of the pasta we picked up, they shared a small sample of some olive oil. We loved their food (they were the first pizzeria in Massachusetts certified by the  Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana  and I figured they had to use some quality ingredients to make the food that good. I decided to give them a call, and they put me in touch with Louie. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Embrace the peppery finish. Take a moment to drink a small amount of the olive oil by itself. That distinct sensation at the back of your throat is sensory proof that you are tasting authentic, high-quality olive oil." Here is where it got interesting. I sent Louie an email asking for a vinegar recommendation and he asked for my phone number to give me a call. From there, we spoke for about 30 minutes with him asking me all sorts of questions around what I was using it for (ie. cooking, salads, bread dipping). We also talked a lot about olive oils during the conversation with Louie asking me questions which led to me buying a few. In addition, Louie also sent me a bunch of small samples to try. This olive oil changed my life in so many ways from feeling better to being the basis for my TEDx Talk. During the conversation, we also spoke about the benefits of olive oil, specifically some of the olive oils that have a very high polyphenol count like Azienda Agricola Le Tre Colonne 1000+ Olisir . While I am not a medical doctor and would encourage you to do your own research, polyphenols help reduce inflammation in the body. This led me to ultimately give it a try. Taking a tablespoon a day, I felt about 10 years younger in about 2 weeks as my body felt so much looser. I even did a TEDx Talk on it called How Drinking Olive Oil and Curiosity Changed My Life .   Meeting Louie and Tina Yesterday (at least at the time of writing this), I had a unique opportunity to meet Louie and his wife, Tina. Tina and Louie run the importing, and Johnny Madge finds the farms/producers. Louie and Tina live about an hour away and I made a special visit to meet them. They were nice enough to have me visit them at their house, which is where they run the business.  It was so much fun. I was like a kid in a candy store. Getting to meet Louie and Tina and learn a bit more about their business, how they got started, and even sampling some of their vinegars was a treat to say the least.   What a perfect way to end the story with some Italian olive oil for dipping! We first had a tour of the operation. The olive oil is stored in a special temperature-controlled room in the basement with dehumidifiers running constantly. Louie also shared details like purchasing high quality shipping boxes to ensure the product is delivered without damage.   Picture of our vinegar tasting in Louie and Tina's house. My favorite was Caterina Balsamic Vinegar . We then walked upstairs to his kitchen where we talked about how they got started. They were on their honeymoon in Italy and the local Innkeeper shared that they should go down to the local olive oil and wine bar run by Johnny Madge. It was at this point in time when the business idea struck and two years later, they were in business. Johnny himself recently got married and moved to Spain where he opened an olive oil and wine bar in Valencia, Spain. He now operates "day" tours in Spain and continues to do week-long tours with Tina and Louie when "Madge and Louie’s" hit the road  "off the beaten path"  to various locations throughout Italy. Johnny Madge Farm2Table Tours Italy (TripAdvisor) . Louie and Tina then offered to do a vinegar tasting with some samples they received from one of their vendors, plus a few of the vinegars I was familiar with and purchased before. After tasting 7 different vinegars, I am happy to say I really liked the one I currently use, Caterina Balsamic Vinegar . The great thing about tasting good quality vinegar is that it doesn’t make your head spin around from the bite. These vinegars are smooth and were very enjoyable.   Me holding a bottle of my favorite olive oil, Tesoro, along with wine, Vuaria, from the same producer, FEUDO DISISA Circling back to the Tesoro olive oil. Louie shared with me that the same producer makes wine as well. Once I try it and if it’s as good as I hope, I will share a story on that as well.   Elevating Everyday Cooking Fast forward to today, I have a pantry full of these olive oils and vinegars, and it elevated our cooking, salads, and bread dipping. My wife shared with me that this was her favorite of all my purchases. It’s also probably the one that I have spent the most money on since we started a few years ago. And do yourself a favor, ask Louie for some product recommendations.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do! 6 Month Update Since initially writing this post, as well as Josephinenhütte Hand Blown Wine Glasses: Review and Sensory Experience , I found that my favorite Olive Oil, Tesoro , which is from FUEDO DISISA in Sicily, Italy, also has a corresponding set of wines, of which I found one of them in my local wine shop (and just got a bottle from my mom for my birthday)! Frequently Asked Questions Are Italian Olive Oils worth it? Absolutely! Especially ones that have been hand selected. As with any farm based product, selecting one from a small producer will create some much more complexity to the flavor of the olive oil, and in turn, the recipe you are making. Do you have a favorite Olive Oil for bread dipping? Yes, TESORO by FEUDO DISISA is by far the best. It has a complexity of flavor that doesn't require any spices to be added like most olive oils. Just dip, taste, and close your eyes to elevate your sensory experience. Where can I purchase the best Italian Olive Oils and Vinegars? I highly recommend Extra Virgin Olio by Madge and Louie's. Madge is an expert in the selection of the Olive Oils and Vinegars and Louie is the local US distributor. Louie can recommend the right product based on your needs. Does a good Olive Oil have a peppery finish Yes, A good olive oil, particularly an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), has a peppery finish due to the presence of oleocanthal, a natural phenolic compound found in the olive fruit juice. This finish is an easy way to determine the quality of the olive oil. Start Your Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Sensory Experience If you’re curious to start your own Olive Oil and Vinegar sensory experience, I’ve listed my favorites below. Give a few a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Here is a collection of some of my Superior Nut company 4lb bags of nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Salted Mixed Nuts, and Brazil Nuts). About 25 years ago, I was leading a small sales team outside of Boston. During the holidays, the team and I would package up and share some gifts of appreciation. Spoiler, these gifts weren't the elevated snacking experience from Superior Nut Company, but I will get to that in a minute. We didn't have a lot of discretionary budget to use, so for the local clients we purchased some homemade cinnamon swirl bread from a bakery not far from our office in Lexington, MA. There was nothing like buying 10 loaves of freshly baked cinnamon bread and having the car smell warm and cozy. Salted Brazil Nuts are a daily staple for Mary Beth and me. For the clients that were a bit further away, we sent them a 2lb block of chocolate from a well-known brand you would find in your local supermarket. The blocks of chocolate needed to be special ordered as you can imagine but the reaction we would get from the customers was always the same, which was the following "it was memorable and way too much to eat alone". By this time, I was in my late 20's and well indoctrinated into Mary Beth's family, having been married for a few years and dating since we were 19. Her dad used to do something different for gifting during the holidays. Every year, he would go to the local nut store and buy a massive amount of salted cashews or mixed nuts and drive all over New England giving them to his clients. Mary Beth and I even got a tin of nuts every year for the holidays. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Don't let the stubborn pistachios shells ruin your experience. Instead of using your fingers, open it with another shell, using it as a wedge between the nut and the shell. Your fingers and your patience will appreciate it." As well, whenever Mary Beth and I would go to her parents' house, which was just 1 town away, there would always be nuts on the counter for us to snack on. I never really gave it much thought over the years, and while I ate nuts, it wasn't a staple in my daily diet. As a result, when we did buy nuts over the years, the purchases were from random locations with no real intention. At least once or twice a week, I eat walnuts in the morning, as well as on pancakes and waffles. We first started buying our nuts at the local supermarket, probably some of the brand names that they sell at the eye level of the shelves, and didn't think much of it, especially since we didn't eat many of them. Over time, initially when Wegman's Food Stores opened up in the area, and then again with Whole Foods, they had the bins of nuts and seeds for individuals to self-service, with the periodic overflow of the container when I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have been (I know I am not the only one who did this). Mary Beth and I used the self-service bins for a few years, especially as our eating habits were changing for the better. This lasted up until Covid when the food stores eliminated the self-service capabilities at the time (they have since reinstated them). However, with the lack of self-service capabilities and our taste buds changing for a better tasting nut, we couldn't go back to the store-bought nuts. They just didn't taste as fresh, nor did they have the same flavor profile. As a result, we had to find somewhere new to source our nuts. The Superior Nut Company Comeback I had to ask Mary Beth what the name of the company was that her dad used to buy his nuts from. She mentioned it was the Superior Nut Company based out of Cambridge, MA. Since my father-in-law used to work it Boston, it was a simple, quick trip over the Charles River to Cambridge to pick up his nuts every holiday season. For me, while Cambridge is only an hour a way, I have opted to use their website to order. As a side note, I did find out that Mary Beth's cousins not only still purchase from Superior Nut Company in person (and have for so many years), but they also buy in massive bulk and store it in their second freezers to last the year. Raisins are great standalone, mixed in with oats and bananas, and combined with cashews. An Elevated Snacking Experience Today, I find myself ordering every few months as Mary Beth, Matthew, and I all eat nuts on a regular basis. Mary Beth and Matthew like the salted mixed nuts and the salted Brazil Nuts. Michael eats nuts once in a while as does Emma, which are usually Pistachios and peanuts. While I will eat those as well, I usually rotate a daily morning snack of cashews, almonds, and walnuts (all unsalted). We also have a rotation of California Pistachios and on occasion, I will purchase the Turkish Antep Pistachios, which are out of this world delicious and an elevated snacking experience. I have also been buying their raisins which are fantastic as well. I also found a recipe for candied walnuts. It took me a few different recipes to find one that actually works the way I was expecting it to (you know, the one you buy at the local corner store or farmers market that tastes so good). All prior attempts didn't have the egg white which is the key to getting everything to stick to the walnut but not have the walnuts stick to each other. The recipe is from Sugar Spun Run . What made the candied walnuts standout was the combination of everything I have been sharing so far with ingredients from my prior stories. 1 egg white (local or pasture raised are the best in my opinion) Water Vanilla extract (I will have a future post on this but to give you a preview, I order from the Vanilla Company Walnuts Sugar from Burlap & Barrel Cinnamon also from Burlap & Barrel Salt from Slack Tide Maine Frequently Asked Questions Does Superior Nut Company have a sister website with a different name? Yes, you can also order through NutsinBulk . It is the same exact offering from what I can tell. Can you pick up your nut order in person in their Cambridge, MA store? Yes, when ordering, you have the option to have it shipped or be available for pickup. How are Turkish Antep Pistachios different from California Pistachios Turkish Antep Pistachios are more flavorful and have a more intense buttery taste. Are Turkish Antep Pistachios more expensive than California Pistachios? Yes, probably by a factor of 2 - 2.5x the cost but the flavor profile makes up for the cost increase. Start Your Own Nut Sensory Experience If you are looking to upgrade your snacking experience, Superior Nut Company will satisfy your cravings and elevate your sensory experience. Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Mary Beth and me on our most recent trip to Stowe, Vermont in front of one of the famous covered bridges that Vermont is known for. Last night, I met a woman, probably in her mid to late 20s who was going up to Stowe, Vermont with her boyfriend in a few weeks. It will be her first Stowe, Vermont getaway and she was so excited. Her anticipation of the hopefulness that there would still be snow on the ground in early March, coupled with the idea of getting a breakfast with real Vermont Maple Syrup , is a scene out of a Hallmark movie. The conversation quickly brought back some great memories of how much I love Stowe. Mary Beth and I have been there a few times, both just the two of us and with the kids. One of the many waterfalls we saw during our weekend trip. If I remember correctly, this was on our way up to Smugglers' Notch and was about a 20-minute easy hike into the waterfall. If you are not familiar with Stowe (3 hour drive north of Boston), it is known for so many family friendly attractions including skiing on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak mountains, experiencing the awe of multiple waterfalls, driving through and stopping within Smugglers' Notch (my favorite), as well as taking a tour and getting ice cream at the Ben & Jerry's factory, and walking or biking on the bike path that starts in downtown and winds its way through corn fields, rivers, and views of Mount Mansfield. When I think of Stowe, I think of two very special trips with Mary Beth. The first was for our first anniversary where we drove up from Stanford, CT where we were living at the time. We booked a stay at the Stone Hill Inn. I have some vivid memories of our first trip including walking the grounds and how beautiful the rooms were. We still have our Christmas ornament (which I dug through all of our Christmas boxes to find the ornament and take a picture). The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "A weekend getaway at your favorite home away from home can be just right to help relax, reset, and clear your mind." The second trip as a couple was for our 25th anniversary which we celebrated after our 26th anniversary. Stay with me here as this needs a bit more prelude. Our kids threw us a surprise anniversary party for our 25th. They even worked with Mary Beth's best friend to fly up from Georgia. So not only was the party a surprise, but the best friend's visit was a bigger surprise. We had a great time at our house celebrating with our friends and family. One of our 25 dates- Mary Beth and I on our visit to Stamford, CT. We visited where we used to live, walked around downtown, and took a stroll by the water on the Long Island Sound. Mary Beth's gift to me was a booklet of 25 dates. It was a bit easier now to do things as we had all three kids in college and we were quasi-empty nesters, at least for a few months each semester. The book was for us to do 2 dates a month for 12 months, culminating in a trip to Stowe, going back to the Stone Hill Inn. We did a lot of fun activities including glass blowing, a trip back to Stamford, bowling, visiting new restaurants, entertaining with friends, picnic in Boston followed by a visit to the Friends Experience. The gift, which was very creative on Mary Beth's part, allowed us to experience so many new things. I think glass blowing was my favorite. We made wavey bowls (mine was much wavier than Mary Beth's). We loved it so much, we took the kids back and make Christmas balls. Another one of our 25 dates- The Friends Experience in Boston. We watch Friends every night before bed. At the end of the 24 dates, we would celebrate our 25th anniversary with a weekend getaway. We also waited the year as we didn't have any kids left in the house. So, this is why we celebrated it following our 26th anniversary. Stowe Vermont getaway Date number 25 was to go back to where it all started and book a trip to Stowe and stay at the Stone Hill Inn. My memory of this trip is much clearer as it was only 16 months ago. We packed our bags and off we went. Smugglers' Notch area, Stowe, Vermont. I made sure the picture was big so you can feel the magnitude of the beauty of the location. As well, if you have been keeping track, I also shared a review and recommendation of a Smugglers' Notch Maple Works , a perfect pairing to remember your Stowe vacation. We left early in the morning to take advantage of the brisk fall day, shortly after the height of leaf peeping season with all of the fall colors. Our first stop was at Ranch Camp Stowe for lunch, which is a bike shop that has a fantastic restaurant. We visited a few shops and waterfalls up in the Smugglers' Notch area where we did some hiking as well. West Branch Little River nestled in the Smugglers' Notch area of Stowe. This was on one of our hikes. Following the hikes, we made our way to the Stone Hill Inn. The location is just off of the main road but not visible with the exception of the Inn's signage. You have to take a winding road up a few hundred feet and when you get to the top of the hill, the 9-room luxury Inn just appears nestled between a bunch of trees, including a small walking path for guests. The main attraction to the Stone Hill Inn is relaxation. Outside of the personal attention each guest receives upon check-in, the Inn excludes New England charm. Each room has a fireplace that sits between the bedroom and the bathroom which provides a sense of luxury (and warmth) in both rooms and ultra comfortable beds. The bathroom is spacious highlighted by a 2-person jacuzzi tub. All of the rooms are located on the main floor, with a walkout porch transporting you to the grounds. As we checked in, we were greeted by the Kristie and Todd Roling, the owners of Stone Hill Inn since December 2016. There was one person checking in before us, so I started looking around and noticed that Todd was an Emmy Award winning Cinematographer. Two of his Emmys were on display which was cool and unique to see. Mary Beth and I at Stowe Cider. Believe it or not, it was our first time trying cider. Kristie escorted us to our room which included a fireplace, and luxury bathroom. Mary Beth and I after a long day's trip got takeout from American Flatbread pizza, which holds up to my pizza snob standards ! The next day we got to experience the first of two amazing Vermont home cooked breakfasts at the Inn and then headed off for a bike ride on the path in town followed by some shopping downtown and then a stop for some cider at Stowe Cider . We had a great dinner at Harrison's Restaurant , which was hosting a very intimate wedding party with just immediate family at the table next to us. The thing I remember most about the Stone Hill Inn is the small, easy, 1/4 mile or so walking path winding through the woods that I believe I remember Kristie and Todd sharing that they made themselves. Since it was the fall shortly after the leaves fell, I recall having fun kicking up the leaves and listening to the crunch of each step with the smell of the crisp fall air. Stone Hill Inn Breakfast. One of the things that makes the Stone Hill Inn such an amazing destination is the full and elegant breakfast that is provided. Our trip had to end the next day, but not before we had our second Vermont home cooked breakfast at the Inn, holding us over for our 4-hour trip home. If you are looking for a truly Stowe, Vermont based experience (adults only), I highly recommend the Stone Hill Inn. I know you will love it. Frequently Asked Questions What are some unique activities to do in Stowe? One of the more unique things is to visit the Smugglers' Notch Distillery where you can not only sample award winning vodka, gin, rum, and bourbon, but also a phenomenal maple syrup. What is your favorite part about Stowe? The winding walking/bike path is by far my favorite. It starts in the downtown area and extends for 6 miles with views crossing over the river and mountains. Depending on the time of year, we also road past farmers markets and a corn maze. How difficult is the hiking in Stowe? There is hiking trails for all ages and abilities. My wife and I are between beginner and intermediate levels and have seen some amazing waterfalls, some within only 1/4 mile from the start. Note: Since I started this website 18 months after our last trip to the Stone Hill Inn, I didn't have any pictures of the Inn itself. With permission from the owners, Todd and Kristie Roling, they allowed me to use a few of their corporate pictures including the breakfast photo and the 3 gallery photos below. Thank you. Start Your Own Stowe, Vermont Sensory Experience at the Stone Hill Inn If you are looking for the quintessential New England vacation, the Stone Hill Inn is the way to go in this Stowe, Vermont getaway. It will elevate your sensory experience and provide memories that will last a lifetime. Book today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Did you ever eat the core of a pineapple? OK, more on that later. Growing up, I wasn't the best eater , especially with my vegetables. Plus, I ate with my eyes, as so many kids (and some adults do). Things that I absolutely love now like sweet potatoes, asparagus, and beans I would stick my nose up before even seeing, smelling, or tasting those foods (maybe if they were mixed with a Kauai White Pineapple, I might have ate more of my vegetables)! Wailua Falls, Kauai. On our first day, we drove around and these falls were visible from just off the road with ample parking and a very short walk and see the majestic nature of the falls. I was also pretty picky about entire classes of foods like Indian, which I didn't start eating until about 10 years ago or sushi, which I will try here and there, although I am not an expert on either cuisine by any means. One thing I was pretty good at eating was fruit. I loved oranges, bananas, grapes, watermelon, apples and pineapples. As I think back, I probably ate fruit 3-5 times a week as a kid. Now, its every day, and usually a few times a day. Our First Family Trip to Hawaii Mary Beth and I went on our honeymoon to 3 islands (Maui, Kauai, and Lanai) in Hawaii 27 years ago and then once again to Maui for a company trip about 10 years ago. We wanted to have the kids see Hawaii but wanted to try a few different islands. We opted for Oahu and The Big Island of Hawaii. Michael was an avid historian of WWII so we made a trip to Pearl Harbor but outside of that, we weren't too impressed with Oahu and probably wouldn't go back. It was a bit too commercialized for what we desire for a family vacation. During our trip to The Big Island, we got to do some amazing things like stargazing but couldn't see the volcanos as it was active just before we arrived and they cancelled the tours that that part of the island. Wailua River State Park, Kauai. This was our trip to the "hidden waterfall" which isn't so hidden anymore. I took this picture during our hike in. One of the special things we tried while we were there was a White Pineapple. I had never heard of white pineapples before but here is a summary. They are delicious and so much tastier and juicer than their traditional gold counterparts. They are also about 4x more expensive but worth every penny. We had bought a second one while we were there but that was it and I missed it ever since. Our Second Family Trip to Hawaii I have shared on a few posts including Kauai Chocolate Farm Tour Review: Lydgate Farms Sensory Guide as well as my About section, where I discuss our second family trip to Hawaii, this time where we spent 8 days in Kauai this past summer. This was such an inspiring trip for me. It was two weeks past being laid off from my company (which it was time as I had been there for 17 years), and coming out of the Cacao Farm tour, it initiated the start of this website. I intentionally let my mind wander, not having to worry about work, and knowing that at some point, I will secure a new job; I dove into being present in the moment. We adventured to tour the Napali coast, ate at a Waffle Food Truck multiple times called, Aloha Liege Waffles & Espresso , and did a rum tour with KAUAI SAFARIS , which was independent from Koloa Rum, which they leveraged their property. All were amazing. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Local farmers, near and far, grow amazing produce, made with love and care that will elevate your sensory experience." Kauai White Pineapple During this trip, we visited 4 different farmers markets in the 8 days. One of them, on the Saturday we were there, was the big one where there were about 100 local vendors. We made our first pass of the market just looking around and Emma started walking to the car. We said come back; we are just getting started. Farmers Markets are like Christmas to us. We went around and bought some local salt, local fruits and vegetables, some local honey, and lastly, I saved room for some White Pineapple from Kauai Sugarloaf . Sadly, this is my only picture of what was left of the Pineapple. We didn't take any pictures of the pineapples, or the farm stands themselves. The line for the White Pineapples were 20 people deep. They were not only selling whole pineapples, but they were also offering to cut the pineapples for you and give you a Ziploc bag full of goodness. They were offering tastings, which of course I took advantage of, and then we made our purchase of two pineapples. We ate the pineapples throughout the week and picked up another one at another farmers market later in the week from Kauai Sugarloaf. Don't get me wrong, I love regular pineapples and eat them all the time, including one in my refrigerator right now. The problem with the pineapples I get from the store, is that they are hit or miss on flavor. I have tried all different strategies to pick the right version, such as picking the leaves off and the ones that come off easy are ripe, or smelling the bottoms, which I am sure I look ridiculous if you see me in the grocery store. Here is what makes the white pineapples so special. white pineapples are so much more flavorful than their store-bought gold counterparts. If I had to put a number on it, I would say that white pineapples are 100x more flavorful. They are also so much juicier. And as I posed the question in the beginning, you can eat the core, which you can't do for a store-bought pineapple. Eating a white pineapple, elevates the sensory experience, bringing happiness to everyone who tries them! With all of this goodness, there is a downside unfortunately, and that is the cost. They are about four times more expensive than a regular pineapple but so worth it. Here is my recommendation. If you are in Hawaii, especially Kauai where their farm is, take advantage of being local. They also offer tours, which we didn't get a chance to do but will offer a link at the bottom if you are interested. Learn about the Kauai Sugarloaf and why Jude and Paul Huber share their love and care to make a delicious white pineapple. If you are home and want to taste this goodness, they do ship FedEx. Obviously shipping food 2-day FedEx air is expensive but can be worth it for a special occasion. I will drop the link below as well. For the history buffs, we got a small bit of history while we were there which was that White and Gold Pineapples were grown at the same time but Dole, the major manufacturer at the time in Hawaii, couldn't process the white pineapples as effectively. As a result, they pretty much just abandoned the white pineapples to focus on gold. This left the local Kauai farming community to produce and sell it locally themselves...which I am so glad they did. Frequently Asked Questions Can you eat the core of a white pineapple? Yes, the core is edible unlike that of its relative, the yellow or gold pineapple. Do other Hawaiian Islands other than Kauai sell white pineapples? Yes, they are typically grown in Kauai and The Big Island but you may find them available for sale at local farmers markets across the Hawaiian Islands. Are white pineapples juicier and more flavorful than their yellow and gold counterparts? Yes! I would say white pineapples are 100 times better than their yellow and gold counterparts. Start Your Own White Pineapple Sensory Experience If you’re curious to start your own white pineapple sensory experience as well as thinking about visiting Kauai, I’ve listed my favorite options below. Give one a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

"Instead of thinking of sleep as the ending of your day, start thinking about it as the beginning of your tomorrow". - Dr. Angela Holliday-Bell   I am writing this story in an airplane coming home from a trip to see my dad dreaming of coming home to my Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Bed. This is the only picture Mary Beth and I took from our two visits to Laguna Beach in our most recent trip. We walked from Heisler Park down the steps to the beach nestled between the rocks watching the waves and surfers (not captured in the photo). Mary Beth and I took a few day trip cross country to California and had a great time. We spent the time at our favorite restaurant, Las Brisas, in Laguna Beach. Not only is the food amazing, the restaurant sits on top of the hill overlooking the ocean in front of you, the beach to the left down the hill, and the start of a short, beautiful winding walking path to the right. Mary Beth and I spend the next afternoon back at Laguna Beach walking the path and then heading down to a small beach just below nestled within the rocky cliffs. We watched some of the surfers on a wintery 86 degree day in January. The last day of our trip was spent driving 90 minutes to Temecula, where we went for wine tasting at Ponte, with lunch following at their restaurant. The tasting started with six, one oz pours of their wines, where we choose a selection of whites and reds, each one better than the last. The bartender (I guess that is what you call the person who is pouring the wine), also shared a small sample of a $110 reserve bottle they had. Let me tell you that there is a difference between a $110 bottle of wine and the $65 bottle we also sampled (which was excellent) and a $30 bottle, which was also very good. The $110 bottle was impressive. We had a few bottles shipped to us including the $110 bottle (thanks dad). I can’t wait to try it with our Josephinenhutte wine glasses . I feel like I am digressing but there is a point to this start of this story. The visit to see my dad reminded me of a time Mary Beth and I went to visit about 20 years ago. Mary Beth had back surgery a few years prior and had been having problems sleeping. When we were there, her back didn’t hurt and the two of us woke up much more rested. We had a better night’s sleep on my dad’s guest mattress than what we had at home. This prompted us to go home and search for mattresses the following weekend. We went to our local Mattress Firm and tried all the mattresses as one does when they go to a mattress store. Following a bit of pondering, we really liked the Tempur-Pedic mattresses but were hesitant about the cost (at least I was). We did wind up buying the adjustable frame but opted for another mattress brand at the time. This is the side profile of our bed in its fully extended position. We never use it to this extreme, but I wanted to share what the adjustable bed is capable of rising to. After getting it delivered and trying it for a week or so, we realized this was just not the right mattress for us. Taking advantage of the Mattress Firm 120 Night Sleep Trial, we took another trip to the store and made an exchange, this time spending a few extra dollars (ok, a bit more than a few), and exchanged it for a Tempur-Pedic adjustable mattress. Mary Beth saw an immediate improvement in how her back felt and while I personally never had many issues sleeping, my sleep improved as I started waking up more rested than before. It used to be that when Mary Beth and I went to a nice hotel, that is where you got to sleep in a nice bed. For us, it’s the opposite. It’s been about 15-20 years since we made the exchange. Every time we come back from a hotel or a visit to someone else’s home (including from my dad’s guest bedroom), there is nothing that compares to our Tempur-Pedic bed at home. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Sleep is so important to everything we do, I felt this quote should be restated... Instead of thinking of sleep as the ending of your day, start thinking about it as the beginning of your tomorrow" My perspective on buying a great mattress is the following. The experts tell us that you should get 8 hours of sleep a night but with only 24 hours in a day, that means on average, we are sleeping 1/3 of the day or in reality, 1/3 of our entire lives. So many of us take the time to research and invest in other things like the stock market, but what about investing in a quality mattress, a good pillow, and comfortable sheets. Should we invest 1/3 of our salary on a mattress, pillow, and sheets? Probably not, but making an investment in a great mattress is game changing for your sleep and how you will feel the following day. Do yourself a favor, this weekend, go to your local mattress store and try out a few mattresses. You may soon realize what you are missing.   I am not naive to the fact that buying a Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Bed is a big financial investment and not everyone had that kind of disposable income. The mattress is only 1 piece of the puzzle and if you don’t have thousands of dollars stuffed under your mattress (get the irony😊), think about purchasing a really comfortable pillow. It's hard to tell but there is a slight indent in the middle to cradle your head. Pillows are just as important as the mattress but buying a pillow is cheap in comparison, with good pillows ranging from $50-$250. When researching your pillow, the first thing you need to determine is if you are a side, back, or stomach sleeper. There are pillows that are specifically designed for all three and some that offer combinations of the scenarios. For example, I sleep on a combination on my side and on my back. Flip side of the Tempur-Pedic pillow. This side is a bit more oval shaped. Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Bed After doing a ton of research, we purchased the Tempur-Pedic pillow which supports the combination of my sleep patterns. After realizing how our sleep continued to improve with the new pillow, we purchased one for each of the kids too. I know some people will think that kids are kids and they will sleep on anything we give them, which is true, but Mary Beth and I had the belief that if we felt better in the morning after a good night’s sleep with our pillows, our kids would as well. Stay with me here and I have a few more things to cover. This is the DreamFit sheets we use. We have two sets and alternate when we do laundry. We also purchased a nice set of sheets (two of them to be exact) to go with our adjustable mattress. The sheets we have had are very comfortable and have straps to have the sheet stay in place when we move the bed up and down. You can do some research on your own but the ones we currently use are from DreamFit. I would also consider Boll and Branch the next time I am in the market based our positive experience with their towels . I did have one challenge recently. The mattress pad we were using for many years needed to be replaced. I researched and researched but couldn’t find a mattress pad that fit the 11 inches, which was what our mattress measured in depth. All of the ones I was finding online stated they fit 10-18 inch depth but none specific to 11 inches. I had to purchase the all-in-one pad as there were no other options, including me reaching out to Tempur-Pedic. ZumberLock solved my problem of the mattress pad bunching up. Not seen but there is a strip that locks the pad or sheet into place. This was now causing a new problem with the mattress pad bunching up underneath the sheets. But problem solved; somewhere in my travels online, I came across the ZlumberLock sheet holder, which we now have on all 4 corners of the bed. It took all the lumpiness out of the mattress pad, and we are now back to a good night’s sleep. Newly purchased travel pillow for Mary Beth, which she really liked in our last two trips. The last topic I want to cover is a travel pillow. Mary Beth and I travel periodically and as I mentioned earlier, I don’t have any problems going to sleep but Mary Beth does, especially the first few nights we are away. The pillows are never comfortable, and it never feels like the peaceful sanctuary we created at home. This year for Christmas, I got her a Tempur-Pedic Travel Pillow which she used this week on our trip to California. It’s just a smaller version of what we have at home, and it offers her the ability to get a good night’s sleep while we are away. Frequently Asked Questions Would you buy a Tempur-Pedic bed again? Absolutely. Our current bed is still working great for us so we are not in the market, but when we are, we won't look at another brand. Our biggest decision will be which Tempur-Pedic mattress to buy! Have you ever flipped your Tempur-Pedic Mattress? We only did it once, about 10 years after we purchased it. We were amazed as to how well it held it's shape from the original purchase. Does the ZlumberLock really work? Yes, we saw an improvement in the smoothness of our mattress pad immediately. It went from being very bunched up to smooth as silk in seconds. While we use it for our mattress pad, it can also be used for sheets. Start Your Own Tempur-Pedic Good Night Sleeping Sensory Experience If you are longing for a good night's sleep, the Tempur-Pedic Bed is the way to go. It will elevate your sensory experience allowing you to become more alert when you wake up and throughout the rest of the day. Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

As a child of the 80’s, I am way too familiar with the Ginsu knife commercial (video is linked below). Do you remember it? The Ginsu commercials were all over the TV and it was fascinating to watch as a kid. These knives were so sharp, they cut through tin cans as well as tomatoes with ease. What they were playing up is your frustration that your knives weren’t sharp and could barely cut through an over easy egg. My HORL Rolling Knife Sharpener sitting on my Boos Block Cutting Board When I was a kid, and I was a bit embarrassed to share that up until recently, there were only three options for dealing with dull knives. You lived with it, you went to a professional to sharpen it, or you bought a new one. I think most people either just lived with it or wound up buying a new one. Regardless of your knife, don't forget to leverage a great wood cutting board to protect your blade from prematurely dulling.     Summertime Mistakes When I was in high school, probably around the age of 17, I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a part-time summer job. I remember it vividly. I drove up to a small office building in Edison, NJ and attended an informational session about Cutco Knives. These knives promised something very similar to Ginsu in that they were sharp and you needed the entire set that cost at least a few hundred dollars (maybe more but my memory is a bit fuzzy on this one). I was so excited about it and all I had to do was pay $25 to get started and they handed me a set to go sell. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "With a sharp knife, it just glides through the food. Sharpen your knives regularly to experience the feeling of cutting through your food like it's a hot knife on soft butter." I went home and shared the “new job” with my mom and stepdad, Bill, and they shared that while it was probably legitimate, this was not something that I should be pursuing. The selling premise was that you would have to sell directly to family and friends of family… of which they weren’t keen on me pushing these expensive knives onto our family and friends. The concept is very similar to selling life insurance. Later that day, I took a trip back to the Cutco office and returned the knives and got my money back. Again, my memory is a bit fuzzy, but it is possible my mom or Bill called the Cutco sales manager or wrote a letter explaining I was 17 and this was not something I should be participating in (I wonder if my mom remembers this story). Coincidently, my college roommate of three years, Bill, sold Cutco knives during one of the summer breaks and was wildly successful. My New Knife Set When Mary Beth and I got married (now 27 years ago), we had a knife set on our registry. For about 20 of those years, we had the same set. I never really thought much about sharpening it as I just learned to live with dull knives. We each had our own chef’s knife, and the set came with a few other smaller knives, along with some steak knives. Over the years, on Mary Beth’s trips up to Maine with her mom, they purchased a few other serrated knives that we would use for cutting tomatoes and other soft items that our original set couldn’t cut. It wasn’t until about 7 or 8 years ago that we saw a vendor at a farmers market stand offering to sharpen knives. We started talking about it with one of our neighbors and he offered to do it the next time we saw him as he used his belt sander in his basement. Our newly sharpened knives gave us a new lease on our existing set for a few years. The test that I was fascinated by was our newly sharpened knives could now cut through tomatoes with relative ease. All was good until two things happened. Mary Beth’s knife handle broke and I decided it was time for me to get a new chef’s knife. As I have shared in previous posts, I am not happy with my current chef’s knife, so I won’t be posting a recommendation about it (It cuts but I just don’t like the feel of it). Over the course of a few months, we both had new knives and they were sharp and all was good. Over time, I realized that I should expect more from my knives and they should cut tomatoes with no effort at all. When they started to get dull, I brought up the conversation to our son Michael and he shared that from the initial research he did, HORL was the best option. HORL Rolling Knife Sharpener HORL2 Ceramic Honing Disc (opposite side is the Diamond Grinding Disc) I did a bunch of research on the topic of knife sharpening as there are a few different kinds including whetstone, which seemed a bit more complicated than the effort I wanted to expend. I then looked at HORL Rolling Knife Sharpener and did some research going to a few of the standard product review sites. The feedback was all the same, regardless of the site. Whetstone is a good option if you are more of a professional chef or if you want precise control, but if you want chef quality without the effort, HORL is the way to go. As I dug into my research, there were a lot of lookalike options to HORL but the reviews, both written and via YouTube, were that the cheaper versions don’t glide as nice and didn’t sharpen as quickly and efficiently. The great thing about HORL is it’s small, packed away under my cabinet, and only needs to come up every 6-12 months (I am sure there are specific recommendations as to when to sharpen your knife, but I use my tomato test. If my knife starts to struggle to cut the tomato or my tomato gets smushed in anyway by my knife, it’s time to sharpen it. By the way, I use my chef’s knife to cut everything now including very small grape tomatoes. If you are in the market for a knife sharpener, I highly recommend HORL. It is simple to use, offers two “settings” of 15 degrees (Japanese knives) and 20 degrees (American knives) based on your knife origin, which attaches via magnet to the knife. It offers a diamond cut circular end that just rolls along the knife to sharpen. The other side is used to just smooth out any rougher edges. The paper test. Your knife is sharpened when you take a clean sheet of copy/printer paper and hold it with one hand and then cut through it. If it cuts with a sharp, clean cut of the paper, you are good to go. Two other key points to know, if you aren’t familiar already. First, a dull knife is more dangerous to cut food than a sharp knife due to the additional effort you need to place in cutting, leading to more injuries. Second, most (if not all) professional chefs will recommend that if you are going to spend any money on a kitchen utensil, it should be a good chef’s knife. Many will say you don’t need any other knives. To that end, I don’t use the serrated knives anymore to cut tomatoes, only my HORL sharpened chef’s knife.   Last part of the story. My mom never really liked to cook although I thought she was a good cook. She often complained and after I moved out, she didn’t cook or entertain like she used to. Mary Beth and I thought it would be a great idea about 25 years ago to get my mom and Bill a new set of knives as we liked our new set from our wedding. Instead of buying them a good chef’s set, we got a bunch of serrated chef’s knives which were a flop of a gift. Serrated chef’s knives just don’t cut it😊 Frequently Asked Questions How long does it take to sharpen a knife using the HORL sharpener? It just takes a minute or two per side. It is really quick and with just a few passes back and forth, you will feel like you have a brand-new knife! Is it more dangerous to have a sharp knife than a dull one? Actually, it is more dangerous to have a dull knife. Dull knives will often require more pressure which can cause the knife to slip and cause more accidents. What is your favorite food to cut with your knives after they are sharpened? I love the smell of freshly cut cilantro, scallions, limes, and tomatoes when I am making guacamole. Do you have a favorite cutting board to use with your knives? Yes, we use and Edge Grain Boos Block from John Boos. Start Your Own Knife Sharpening Sensory Experience If you have a passion for cooking food at home, having a sharp knife is a requirement and it will elevate your sensory experience in the cooking process. Try it today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Let me start from the beginning. Every year since Mary Beth and I have been married; we took a vacation. The year before we decided to have kids, we decided to take a trip to Aruba, in part because I wanted to have the Caribbean experience, which we didn't get in Hawaii on our honeymoon. Me standing next to a cacao pod during our Kauai Chocolate Farm Tour at Lydgate Farms That trip, we bought a Marriott timeshare in Aruba, and as it turns out, as I was prepping Mary Beth not to get too excited when we went on the timeshare tour, I was the first one jumping out of my seat to buy in. Maybe I will post about Aruba and our Marriott timeshares on another post, but this story will ultimately land on a Cacao tour in Kauai, Hawaii. I also wrote a story from our trip about eating white pineapples . For 20 (and soon to be 21 years) we have been going to Aruba on our Marriott timeshare and built so many memories from it. Outside of Aruba, we stayed local during the pandemic heading to Rhode Island and twice we made it to Hawaii, trading our Aruba weeks. The first trip was to Oahu and the Big Island, which officially is called Hawaii but is often referred to as the Big Island to differentiate it from the state itself and the collection of other islands. We loved the Big Island and got to try white pineapples for the first time (which will be another post at some point). The second time around, we wanted to give the kids a different Hawaiian experience which was in Kauai. This was one of the islands Mary Beth and I went to on our honeymoon, now 27 years ago. Kauai is an amazing island full of waterfalls, lush tropical rainforests, and the world-famous Nā Pali Coast. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Immerse yourself in the sensory experience by touring local farms to understand the history and terroir behind the harvest. There is a greater appreciation gained when you witness the love and care taken of a local farmer firsthand." Kauai Chocolate Farm Tour As we started to do our research, which as it turns out we didn't act quick enough to book the tube ride down the mountain, we did book some amazing tours, including Nā Pali Coast Sea Caves Raft Expedition from Nā Pali Riders, which was amazing, and a very close second to my favorite tour of all time, Lydgate Farms Chocolate Farm Tour. This was by far the best tour I have ever been on. From my first story I shared 6 months ago, Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate Review: The Intersection of Art and Flavor , you know I love craft dark chocolate. When I saw that Kauai had a cacao farm and they offered tours, I figured this might be my only time when I get to visit an actual farm and see how they grow the cacao pods due to the location that cacao pods grow (which is known as the Cacao Belt or Cocoa Belt, which is 20 degrees north and south of the equator). We asked all of our kids who wanted to join us on this Kauai chocolate farm tour, especially now as they are older and can decide which activities they want to join us for or not. Not surprising, Michael, who is our foodie kid, jumped at the chance to join us. We booked the tour and now we had to wait for the summer to come (roughly 6 months from the time we booked). From start to finish, this tour was incredible. Not only was I genuinely excited about the opportunity to experience what I loved most, craft dark chocolate, this tour went above and beyond. Initial flowers budding that will develop into a cacao pod. As soon as we got there, they offered us to sit in a small area where they did their first introductions. While we were waiting, they had us crack Macadamia nuts and drink some Cacao chocolate. When we sat down, they offered us Apple bananas (sometimes referred to as a candy apple banana), which are native to the area and smaller than a traditional banana by about half the size and sweeter. Mind you, we tasted three amazing foods, and we didn't even start the tour! Cacao pod in mid development After the introduction about the tour and overview of the farm, they brought us down to the Cacao trees. They talked about how they are grown, offering us the ability to look at the pods when they are in their infancy all the way to full grown. The interesting thing was that Cacao trees have been hit recently with some disease around the world but their farm was relatively insulated as they also grow many other fruits (for fun as they don't sell them) and this splits the attention of a potential disease not to affect their Cacao trees (that is my non-technical description of what happened). Peppercorns from a pepper plant. Then we ventured off to another part of the farm where they walked us down past dragon fruit plants and peppercorns on the pepper plant. They offered that we could taste the peppercorns right from the plant. I took advantage of that opportunity as well as I wasn't sure I would ever get to taste peppercorns right from the plant. Yup, it was as good as you can imagine. After tasting the peppercorns, they led us into the chocolate tasting area. We didn't start with the chocolate but tasting some of the other fruit they grow on the farm but don't sell. This included dragon fruit, apple bananas, and soursop (yup, I never heard of it either as it doesn't travel well) and my personal favorite, white pineapples, which are sweeter and juicier than regular pineapples (and about 4x more expensive). We started with the guide taking a mature cacao pod and splitting it in two. After pulling it apart and seeing the beans strung together in their original form, the guide had us try one. We first sucked on the fruit which was the white fleshy part but had to then wait. From there, we broke apart our beans with our teeth to see the inside of the bean. We ate the outer edge of the bean and were left with the nibs, which I started adding to my smoothies, acai bowls, and ice cream. The guide shared the entire process of how they go from pod to bean to craft dark chocolate. Mary Beth, Michael, and me (left) on our Chocolate tour at Lydgate Farms. Wait, you thought we were done. Nope. We then tasted 10 different chocolates to get a feel for what each would taste like. Five where from Lydgate Farms and 5 were from other manufactures including one popular store brand. I was fascinated to learn that the popular store brand dark chocolate has less cacao (45% or so) then the milk chocolate version of a craft chocolate maker (usually 55% or so). So even milk chocolate from a craft chocolate maker gives you a better sensory based experience in taste than the popular store brands. Time to wrap it up. Nope. We then moved to the honey tasting area. They also offer a honey tour which we didn't do where you get to interact with the bees wearing the protective suits and all. Maybe on my next trip, we can experience that tour. Lydgate Farms offers three different types of honey we which were able to taste as well. We loved the Lehua Blossom Honey and bought some for the trip home. I also plan on writing a story on their honey as well at some point. Our last stop was to a small popup stand on their farm where they were offering their farm grown products for sale. Of course, we had to buy some. Frequently Asked Questions Would you tour Lydgate Farms again? Yes, in a heartbeat. I would absolutely go back to the Chocolate Farm Tour and also add the Inside The Hive: Honey and Bee tour as well. What was your favorite part of the Lydgate Farms Cacao tour? All of it honestly. It is really hard to pick one thing that I liked more than others. There were a few standouts though including getting to taste the entire cacao bean and also tasting the peppercorns right off of the plant. Outside of the chocolate, what was your favorite fruit that you tasted on the tour? White Pineapple was by far my favorite. It tastes 100X better than a regular pineapple (which I also love and eat on a regular basis). Start Your Own Chocolate Sensory Experience If you have a passion for chocolate, honey, maybe consider yourself a foodie, or just want an amazing tour, this is the place to elevate your sensory experience. Book today and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite photos. Michael took it in Aruba about 5 years ago. It is a 3-inch space within the volcanic rock of the Arikok National Park. The white in this photo is sun dried sea salt that was left after the water that splashed up on the surface evaporated. My current SaltWorks collection which includes Sea salt , Himalayan salt , Sel Gris , Flake , and Fleur de Sel Talking about salt (and specialty salts) feels a bit like a Goldilocks situation where sometimes you read about consuming too much salt, and other times you don't have enough. This story will not cover the health benefits (and negative effects) of salt but more about how picking the right salts can help enhance the flavor profile whatever you are cooking or the meals you are eating and help you get started. Like most of you, growing up, there was one main store-bought table salt in the house. You know, the one that says, "this salt supplies iodine, a necessary nutrient". As a side note, while probably not required as much now, there was a part of the country in the US that had illnesses related to a lack of iodine back in the 1920's which is the reason why it was added. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Start with a clean palate. Place a few salt crystals on your tongue, close your eyes, and let the flavors melt. Notice the texture profile and complex taste. Season throughout the cooking process, then finish with a flaky salt to add depth and texture, elevating your sensory experience." In addition to the table salt, some households like mine also had Kosher salt. That was it, just 2 salt varieties to add to your food. Himalayan salt  from SaltWorks For years, especially when we were first married, this was the only 2 salts we had in our kitchen. At some point in time, we either bought or received as a gift, salt and pepper grinders. Using these grinders made the food taste better so we started to incorporate it more and more into our daily cooking and meals. I think we started out with sea salt and over time also started using Himalayan pink salt as well. Nothing changed in our use of the grinders and the sea/Himalayan salts we were using for about 10-15 years. These salts became our standard way of cooking and eating but we never had a favorite or was brand loyal. The assumption was as long as we were not using the table salt, we were good. Review Of Specialty Salts and Cooking Blocks A few years ago, I started a quest to upgrade our salts. I started reading about finishing salts (salts that you sprinkle on your meal just before eating) which gives the food flavors an extra pop. SaltWorks  finishing salts- Sel Gris , Flake ,  and Fleur de Sel After doing lots of research, I landed on the company, SaltWorks , which when I went on their website was surprised to see that I had actually used their products once before buying a salt grinder from a local retail store year's prior. I started with buying their Sea salt and Himalayan salt and then extended my purchases to also include specialty salts, which are often called finishing salts, including Sel Gris (French grey sea salt) used for meats, Flake salt (which I use for eggs and guacamole; typically used as well for anything that calls for Kosher salt), and Fleur de Sel (which I use on caprese and cookies). Saltverk Lava salt (great on eggs) We have also been venturing into some other salts (it's like a whole new world of options and can be a full-time job in and of itself tasting all of the varieties and brands). However, two that have made an impact to us are Saltverk Lava salt which is hand harvested from Iceland and Maine sea salt from Slack Tide Maine (picture below). While I haven't tried it yet, I think my next purchase will be their Maine Blueberry Sea Salt as I also love Maine Blueberries (which are smaller and more flavorful than regular blueberries). This is Michael's salt block that he uses for his smoker. The other salt item I want to share is a salt block . This was a Christmas gift from last year that has been such a fan favorite in my household, I had to get a second one to fit all of the food we were cooking on it. If you haven't tried a salt block yet, you don't know what you are missing. It gives a great even profile and subtle flavor of salt across the entire meat or veggie you are cooking on. There is some care that needs to be taken when heating it up (slowly) and cleaning afterwards, but the food tastes incredible. We use it on our grill and cook it at the same length of time we would for anything on the grill itself. Slack Tide Maine Flake salt Just a point to note, when we use the salt block or the finishing salts, I use little to no sea or Himalayan salts when cooking. I don't know if there are any specific rules about using or not using it, I just find that if I use both, the salt taste is overpowering. I hope you try some of these salt options to elevate your sensory experience with your meals. Of course, don't forget to pair your salts with pepper. My favorites are from Burlap & Barrel. What are some of your favorites? Frequently Asked Questions What do you cook on your salt block? We cook steak, chicken, and pork on the salt block as well asparagus and onions. What is your favorite dish to use with Slack Tide Maine Flake salt? I love the Slack Tide Maine Flake salt on eggs. It really brings out the flavor of the eggs. What is your everyday salt that you use? We use Himalayan salt from SaltWorks as our everyday salt. Do you salt your pasta water? Yes, we use Sea salt from SaltWorks to season our water after it boils and just before we put our pasta in the pot. Start Your Own Salt Sensory Experience If you’re curious to start your own salt sensory experience, I’ve listed my favorite flakes below. Give one a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Cover photo by Luke Tokaryk I don't think there was a kid growing up that didn't have pancakes with the breakfast syrups that they sold in the grocery store (unless you lived in Northern New England where maple trees are abundant. While those store-bought brands defined my childhood, I have recently discovered the wood-fired difference of Smugglers' Notch Maple Works and their artisanal approach to crafting maple syrup. Having pancakes, waffles, or French toast with syrup was just a way of being a kid. We all had our tradition of where we would put the syrup. Some it would be on a separate plate, others poured right on top. For me, it was on the same dish but off to the side and I would dip into the syrup to get the perfect amount. Picture from the Stowe, VT bike path celebrating our 25th Anniversary . When we moved up to Massachusetts, we started going to the local wholesale club that sold real maple syrup. This became the standard in our household for years. It did get to the point where shortly after transitioning to real maple syrup, I couldn't go back to the breakfast syrup I grew up as a kid (by the way, it's called breakfast syrup because store brands contain little to no maple syrup). I even became a bit of a food snob where when we would go out to breakfast and they didn't have real maple syrup, I would eat my French toast plain vs having to go back to using the breakfast syrups. For years using the wholesale club maple syrup, we never really tried anything else. Sure, we would go to restaurants that offered maple syrup, but we never ventured to try maple syrups from local producers, which is a shame I didn't start this earlier given we live in New England, home to some of the best maple syrups in the world. Box Opening and initial tasting of Smugglers' Notch Maple Works Single Forest Wood Fired Maple Syrup  and Rum Barrel Aged Maple Syrup . Please note, I reference Rye in the video. It was actually Rum. Over the years, we did start to sample the small variety packs of maple syrup and came to really like the Amber flavor, in which the sap is collected in the middle of the harvest season vs. that dark and very dark, which are harvested towards the end. The darker varieties are used more for baking, but some people like it just the same for their pancakes. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "Start with pouring a small amount of maple syrup on a spoon. Notice the rich color and viscosity of the pour. Next, lean in and inhale the aroma of being transported to a maple forest. Slowly taste the syrup, allowing it to rest on your tongue highlighting the notes the Sugarmaker intended." As we started to learn about the variety differences, we realized our wholesale club syrup was on the dark side and when taste tested against some of the other maple syrups we started to buy, we realized Amber was our preference. This then started us looking for maple syrups in our travels across New England, especially Vermont and New Hampshire. At any given time, we would have 2-3 bottles of maple syrup from different producers, but they all tasted the same to me. I never actually took the time to do a taste test. Forest Mill Farm Maple Syrup This past weekend when Michael was home for Thanksgiving (yes, I am posting this long after writing it), I decided to do a taste test. We had a few bottles from various Vermont and New Hampshire based travels, plus one from Forest Mill Farm in Coventry, CT. This is owned by Kelly Barber and Brian Murray. Me and Brian Murray (right), co-founder of Forest Mill Farm in Coventry, CT Brian used to be a customer of mine when I used to sell to Travelers Insurance. I stopped by his house, and he showed me around as they owned the farm for a few years now and have been doing upgrades ever since. He was nice enough to give me a small bottle which was one of the bottles we used for tasting. It was the Forest Mill maple syrup that prompted me to do the taste test as to me, it had a bit of a woodsy taste to it which I really liked. Unfortunately, they currently don't ship so you have to go to the Coventry farmers market to try it for yourself. We also tried a few others and one that had a similar woodsy profile that Michael and I both liked was from Ben's Sugar Shack in New Hampshire. Ben's was an interesting story as he started his tapping maple trees as a kid (under 10 from what I recall from him being previewed on a local TV program). He then grew it to a point where he know runs a retail store selling a variety of products and made to order food in Tempeh, NH. I then started to find it ironic that I didn't choose any of my maple syrup options that were from Vermont. It was then that I actually did some research to find what others said is the best around. One that struck me was Smugglers' Notch Maple Works , which is based in the Stowe, VT area. Stowe is one of our favorite places to visit and while my family is not into skiing, we just love the area. It has a great bike path with amazing views along a river and of Mount Mansfield. It also has some amazing restaurants including a cafe in a bike shop, Ranch Camp Stowe . Smugglers' Notch itself is breathtaking. It is a windy road up to the top where many cars get stuck because of the massive boulders next to the road. During the summer, it is near impossible to park in the area due to the extremely limited parking. We went last fall just after peak leaf peeping for our anniversary and had no problems parking, walking around, and hiking. It's also called Smugglers' Notch because people used to illegally transport goods like liquor and livestock in its caves and forests during the Embargo Act in the early 1800's and the Prohibition era of the 1920's. Smugglers' Notch is also home to some amazing waterfalls. Quick side story. We went up with friends many years ago and we did a small hike to a Moss Glen Falls (a waterfall). Michael and I went up the path to a section where you could take pictures. We sat on a log and as I was taking our selfie, the phone slipped out of my hand and slid down the hill (it was very dry out for the last few weeks prior) and over the side to a 100-foot drop. After going around, I could see that it landed on a jagged area not far from the top but nowhere near safe to get it myself. I assumed it was gone for good. Then the friend I was with was a PhD in Engineering and said we can get it. I assumed he was crazy but he thought, we are in Stowe and people like to rappel down mountains for fun. So, we went on a quest to 3 different shops (bike, fishing, and other bike shop) to find Tag, a person that was willing to do it. The next day, it took Tag about 10 minutes to rappel down over the cliff and secured my phone. I did pay him for his time, which was much cheaper than having to buy a new one. Smugglers' Notch Maple Works Rum Barrel Aged Maple Syrup Smugglers' Notch Maple Works Ok, back to the maple syrup. I just had two varieties of the Smugglers' Notch Maple Works shipped to my house to try (video unboxing and taste test at the end of the story). The first was Single Forest Wood Fired Maple Syrup and the second was the Rum Barrel Aged Maple Syrup . The things that I loved was the complex, woody taste of the syrup as it made me feel like I was back in Stowe. The Smugglers' Notch syrups are a bit more expensive than traditional maple syrup so I plan to use it when I have something where I can really take advantage of the taste. The first thing that comes to mind is some candied walnuts (which I am getting better at making) as well as some homemade French Toast. Smugglers' Notch Maple Works Single Forest Wood Fired Maple Syrup   I think the Single Forest Wood Fired Maple Syrup  is going to be one of my new favorite products and I am excited to go back to Stowe for a visit to their tasting room. The father and son owners, Ron and Jeremy Elliott, primarily own a distillery and then partnered with longtime maple producer Craig Walker of Underhill, VT. Ron and Jeremy took their maple syrup a step further to barrel age it in their own distillery barrels. I am now a huge fan of Smugglers' Notch Maple Works. It is definitely worth the upgraded sensory experience. Don't forget to pair your maple syrup with Cinnamon from Burlap & Barrel your pancakes and French Toast on your new All-Clad Copper Core Pans ! Frequently Asked Questions Which is your favorite Smugglers' Notch Maple Works Syrup? We have now tried all three maple syrups, the Wood Fired original, the Rum Barrel and the Bourbon Barrel versions. My favorite is the Wood Fired original. My family, particularly Mary Beth and Michael, love the Bourbon and Rum versions. No matter which you choose, you will love it. Have you been to their distillery and sampled the products in their tasting room? Not yet, but on our next trip to Stowe, it will be the first activity on our list. What recipes do you use maple syrup on? Like so many people, we are big fans of using maple syrup on breakfast foods like French Toast, pancakes, and waffles! I also love it with candied walnuts and every once in a while, as a treat, I will just take a spoonful and enjoy the elevated sensory experience transporting me back to Stowe. Start Your Own Vermont Maple Syrup Sensory Experience If you’re curious to start your Vermont maple syrup sensory experience, I’ve listed a few of my favorite products and one that I haven't tried yet, but I am sure will be a fan favorite. Give one a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.

Cover photo by Declan Sun My mom is still in the same house she bought over 55 years ago. One piece of furniture that is original (or mostly original as I was born a few years after they moved into the house) is my bedroom set and the matching desk and chair that came with it. It also couldn't be more opposite than the Tempur-Pedic Office Chair review I will share below. Most of the furniture has been updated including the 1970's style couches that had the plastic covering on them (I know that was the style and it was used to protect the couch, but I never understood the concept as a kid, or as an adult). This was my childhood desk and chair that I spent hours at growing up. I remember as a kid, I spent hours at my desk doing homework, creating games I would play, and organizing my baseball cards. All of this was done sitting in my wooden desk chair. As a kid, I didn't think of comfort. It was just a chair and had its purpose for me to sit in. Back then (in the 70's and 80's), chairs were built for function, not comfort. Even if you worked in an office, if you wanted a comfortable chair, it was this big, clunky leather chair. It probably wasn't until the 1990's and 2000's where chair design switched from function to comfort. New technologies created new innovations in chair comfort. The Rooted & Refined Living Expert Tip:   "At the start of work each day, take a moment to sit in your chair, plant your feet flat on the ground, rest your hands loosely in your lap or on your thighs, and close your eyes. Drop your shoulders away from your ears, take a few deep breaths, and sit quietly for a minute." I can remember 20 years ago, the company I was working for moved locations and the new office got all new furniture. Everyone had a desk chair with the mesh back and bottom, which were very comfortable. I think I recall the facilities person telling me they were about $700 or so per chair and it was worth it. We also had conference room chairs and when I sat in it for the first time, it was hard, but then all of a sudden, I started to sink into the chair. It was like I just melted into it. These turned out to be really comfortable as well and I found out they were about $1,000 a piece. Following that job, I started to work in my home office and had a chair that I used from the original office closing. It was marginally comfortable but with a growing family, the free chair worked just fine. Over time, I started to work in my home office more and more. And thus, the search for a new office chair was upon me. Tempur-Pedic Office Chair Review Turns out, I actually found an office chair at one of the office supply stores that was one of the more expensive ones at the time, probably around $350 but I remember it being on sale for $250. It was a Temper-Pedic. I always heard great things about Temper-Pedic beds, but I didn't know they make chairs. This was one of the best purchases I have ever made, and the chair has been with me for about 10 years. I love my home office chair. This is the worn seat cover after ~10 years of use. The elevated sensory experience of this chair started for me during the set up. I remember vividly that when I had to put it together (and I am the least handy person you will meet), I found the directions to be so simple and clear. The company even had the tool I needed as a part of the set up in the box. I didn't have to go hunt for the right tool, it was already there for me with picture perfect directions. For 10 years now, I just melt when I sit in my Tempur-Pedic chair. The chair molds to my body and provides the ultimate comfort. I often brag about it when I have been on calls as people complain about their office chairs and I share that I absolutely love mine. My Tempur-Pedic  chair with the new seat cover. It feels good as new. Recently however, as with any material, the chair started to have some peeling issues on the outer covering (I don't think it's leather, but it gives the leather feel). I reached out to Tempur-Pedic and they put me in touch with the company, Raynor Group that licenses the manufacturing of their chairs (Tempur-Pedic focuses on beds which will be another post at a future date). Working with the Raynor Group was just phenomenal. It's took us awhile for them to help me as I had pulled the tags off and didn't have any documentation. They asked for pictures and then a few days later, I got a message that even though the product was out of warranty, they were going to replace the bottom portion of the chair for me at no charge. Sometimes it's the product that makes the sensory experience. In this case, it was both the product and the company behind it that elevated the sensory experience. They earned a customer for life...and an advocate that wrote about their Tempur-Pedic Office Chair too! Frequently Asked Questions Is the Raynor Group owned by Tempur-Pedic? Yes, Tempur-Pedic does license their technology to the Raynor Group so they can manufacture and sell Tempur-Pedic chairs? Are the Raynor Group Tempur-Pedic chairs the same technology as the beds? Yes, Raynor Group uses the same Tempur-Pedic technology as in the beds and other products made specifically by Tempur-Pedic. Would you buy another Tempur-Pedic chair? Absolutely. We have lots of Tempur-Pedic products including our bed, pillows, and my office chair. Start Your Own Home Office Chair Sensory Experience If you’re curious to start your home office chair sensory experience, I’ve listed my the most similar product from mine (as mine is about 10 years old). Give one a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments! For Transparency: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and use myself.