Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living! ~Amanda Bradley

It's time to Celebrate!

'It’s interesting to think of what it would mean to us if we let ourselves wear our nicest clothes and eat off the good china on a daily basis. We might be sending ourselves the message that every day we are alive is a special day and a cause for celebration, and that we are worth it. There is something uplifting about treating ourselves to the finest of what we have. It is as if we rise to the occasion when we wear our best clothes and set the table beautifully, as if for a very special guest. We are more mindful of where we place things, what we are eating, and who is with us. Using the good china, and eating in the dining room might be an invitation to be more conscious of the beauty and grace inherent in our everyday lives.'

With joyful anticipation of your great celebration! ~j

The belly has no ears. ~ Plutarch
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Hi gang! I have definately been preoccupied with this time away! Now, I am hearing A LOT about over eating, over drinking and just plain desire for the holidays to be over so people can go back to healthier choices.
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This is good news, people want to be making healthier choices! Intention YEAH!
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Now, just a moment for a little note today. If you are feeling a little over extended in the belly. Consider some cleansing foods. Very simple, easy to digest and help get you back on track for at least feeling good.
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Smoothies and Green Smoothies...you just can't go wrong here. fresh fruits, greens and the chewing has already been done for you. You can enjoy two of these a day (w/green preferably)for a few days and eat a light meal (sensible portion size).

Water...stay hydrated. Especially if you are enjoying a little extra 'cheer' with your meals. Can't stress this enough. On average, one should consume half their body weight in water per day. Herbal teas are a nice compliment here as well. Mineral rich, tasty...

Soups...these can be so nourishing! Again, easy to digest. Broths, fresh vegetable soups, raw soups if you have a vitamix type blender. They just give you a chance to use energy for cleansing out the yuck by being easy to digest and assimilate.

Just a little tip that I once received regarding holiday cheer...Source Naturals has a little herbal gem called Hangover Formula. Now, I am not a big drinker, so this came in handy for me a few years back when I found myself with an extra glass of wine, or two? It contains herbs that assist the body in the detox process and absorb toxins throughout the evening, or whatever time you may indulge.

Okay! Have to run. Hope you are finding time to breath and enjoy this time before the year becomes new again!

In hope ~j

A Zen proverb states that no snowflake ever falls in the wrong spot.

Whether you celebrate the snow by tossing snowballs, or losing yourself in the meditative serenity of the silently drifting flakes, take a moment to contemplate how much like the snow each of us is.

We are born pure, but later take on the footprints of those we encounter. Akin to each snowflake, we are unique, and yet we function as part of a larger whole—forever in the right spot at the right time. And like the snow itself, our lives and the roles we play are impermanent, yet imminently valuable.

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."~Hamilton Wright Mabie

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Sending wishes of a holiday filled with family, friends, love and joy! May you share laughter and memories to treasure together. Merry Christmas! Blessings! ~j

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ps. Oh yeah! And delicious morsels prepared to compliment those moments that will live on in your mind for many years to come. However you define your family, the love that Jesus shares brings you just a little closer during Christmas time, whether just for a glimmer of a moment or for a lifetime.

Just a little note: While we certainly find ourselves heated in the moment as often happens during the holiday season, it is okay to laugh! Anyone ever still enjoy Mary Poppins?? Well, Uncle Albert sure had it down...I love to laugh...ha ha ha ha...long and loud and clear! To offset some of the craziness, rushing and striving for perfection...give a little giggle, if that is all you can muster. Emotions are real and while we don't need to knock someone down, we sure do need to move on. Long lines, traffic, family 'concerns' are always a part of the package. But, it is the package that contains the jems in our lives as well.

Food contributes to this...too much sugar, alcohol and other forbidden foods are widely celebrated. If you feel the tempation, enjoy, just be sure to remember moderation as well as keeping that blood sugar balanced. It will go a long way in the enjoyment of you indulgence. Merry merry~j

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Do you ever feel like doing this to someone?
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However, in the spirit of the upcoming holiday, peace, love and goodwill to all men...I don't recommend it. It sure is funny though! hee hee hee ~j

Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of his thoughts uses an iron which has cooled to burn a hole with. He cannot inflame the minds of his audience. ~Henry David Thoreau

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Thanks for bearing with me during this burst of global warming. I think that Henry is right...it just comes out a little more heated in the intesity of the moment!

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My intention is to encourage you to think. Ask yourself some hard questions, or some easy ones. Sometimes we can be so distracted. Ever feel like your eyes are wide shut? Don't forget the world that revolves around your world. Good, bad or indifferent, it's all ours!

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I mean the world is full of fascinating things. I often feel like a kid who just realized that the world is the coolest place...in the world! Some people care, some don't, that's just life. I am not here to convince you. Just share those things that touch my world from time to time. We have advanced technologically so much in the last 100 years. I often wonder what we will find ahead. I enjoy many of the simple things, with some of those luxuries of our time as well. As long as you are living with passion or finding the joy of living, then keep embracing it, no one else can live your perfect life.

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Anyway, we are moving back to foods, whew! Start with food hangovers tomorrow??

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Deep fresh breath and sigh~ Good hike today in the forest! ~j

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans,
I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
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Okay my lurking girlfriends, I am thinking of you today! Miss you so much and thanks for always being there for me, near or far. I am off food police duty and enjoying the moment toasting you with a glass of wine, a little Corinne and wishing you all the best that life has to offer. Life is good. Cheers! ~j

Tired of Incessant Political Intimidation, U.S. Scientists Speak Out

Can't help it today gang...it just keeps showing up. If you don't know of 5 things that you can do to reduce your ecological or carbon footprint...time to find out :-) http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?tmyLv8fMv.MgLqeP1E0joA

Hug that tree my friends! ~j

Some 10,000 US researchers have signed a statement protesting about political interference in the scientific process. The statement, which includes the backing of 52 Nobel Laureates, demands a restoration of scientific integrity in government policy.

• straight to the source: BBC News, Jonathan Amos, 14 Dec 2006

"There's been no effort yet other than to intimidate everybody, but to me it's censorship. . . . I think they're afraid of science. Our findings on ecology could be embarrassing to the administration."

• straight to the source: The Washington Post, Juliet Eilperin, 14 Dec 2006

The government closed several Environmental Protection Agency libraries to the public and stripped some of the information they contain from the Internet.

• straight to the source: The Mercury News, Julie Sevrens Lyons, 15 Dec 2006

What does all this mean? Well...I am not the spokesperson for global warming, but you do make a difference. I make it, your best friend, teammate, kids, all of us do.

1. Buy local grown - less fuel used to transport foods
2. Buy organic - no pesticides, herbicides and fungicides or hormone disruptors and other yukcy stuff to pollute your bodies as well as the air
3. Eat more raw foods - less energy (gas, electric) used to cook with as well as clean (water) dishes with
4. A clean body inside and out just doesn't smell as bad! Breath, sweat, grungy teeth etc. - Hey, I didn't say don't shower or anything, but when you don't need toxic fragrance to cover up or 'wash away' the smell...well then, you will have many close friends :-)

Okay, that's enough for today...the thought garbage in, garbage out really does apply to the food you enjoy. ~j

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike. ~John Muir

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I am definately on the, let's consider nature, these last few days. If you have had any introduction to global warming, it is probably time to take a closer look.

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The recently released movie...An Inconvenient Truth, has provided us with a wealth of information that we should really take the time to explore.

Please don't be put off by political presentation here. The message is what is important and aside from the political mumbo jumbo, there are things that we can be doing in our own homes that do not need to belay our voting status.

Be looking at the bigger picture here. If recycling and conservation are important, and they are, how can making a few simple changes that benefit a better community be wrong? Hmmm...think, think, think...

What is greatly affected are the glacier melts, the permafrost, the heatwaves, hurricanes and draughts all over the world.

If you have no idea what I am talking about...it's time to get informed.

Hurricane Katrina is the most recent example of warming effect.

Make you own choices. There are groups out there that are willing to do harm, just to make a point that they don't care or believe.

Don't just watch one movie. But take what you find and think for yourself. What makes sense? We have been talking about the earth's resources for years and years. And as a nation, we are gluttonous. No big secret.

I am not encouraging you to live like an extremist, but I am asking that you consider to live with intention. You choose the intention as an informed human being. Look around...expand your circle of influence...open your eyes a little wider, if necessary.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/kyoto/ - KYOTO Protocol

http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/petition.html - PEOPLE'S RATIFICATION OF THE KYOTO GLOBAL WARMING TREATY

Carmakers fight global warming lawsuit - ARTICLE

Are we willing to take the chance? Look at all of the information and come to your own conclusion. If this is all hokey pokey, doesn't some form of conservation still ensure a better life for your grandchildren, your legacy, or those remain when you are gone?



On fire today! ~j

No matter how much we learn, there is always more knowledge to be gained. In this connection I am reminded of a short poem that has been in my mind over the years. It reads as follows:

I used to think I knew I knew. But now I must confess. The more I know I know I know I know I know the less. ~A. Ray Olpin

Amercian fuzzy on Biotech!

Straight to the Source -ARTICLE

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So much information out there. Take it one piece at a time. I know that I recently posted on GMO's, but here it is...People vastly underestimate how much gene-altered food they are already consuming. 60% of people believe that they have never eaten genetically modified foods, when in reality over 90% of people have, without even knowing it.

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Okay, no real high horse today, I just wanted to point out that it is out there and we need to know it. Then we can make the choice. Eat it, don't eat it, serve it to our families, avoid it...on a personal note...avoid it. Again, the point is to be informed :-)

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A little gossip here, lean in a little, because I cannot find any documentation to back it up. The article talks about consuming cloned animals as well. Most people are uncomfortable with this. The University of Texas is cloning animals. It is my understanding that these animals are not fed a conventional diet because they get sick and may die due to the inadequacy of these foods. What?! Good enough for you and me, but...I guess we are the test group of humans in this study. Thanks Monsanto Monsanto - SourceWatch

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With lingering thoughts ~j

This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and glowing, on sea and continues and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.

~John Muir

Today, you might simply feel inspired by the beauty of the world around you.

If you want to enhance this focus, you might consider devoting a block of time to spend in a natural setting that fills you with awe and wonder. Oceans, rivers, canyons, and forests would be good places to visit because you can marvel at the power of nature and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds around you.

Wherever you choose to wander today, simply let go of worrisome thoughts and engage fully with beauty and wonder as they heighten your feelings of euphoria.Immersing ourselves completely in beautiful surroundings can lift our thoughts above boredom, petty concerns, and stressful circumstances. Seeking experiences of wonder and awe on a regular basis automatically helps us feel lighter and more carefree. As we spend time in beautiful surroundings, we feel removed from our limited focus and our problems seem to shrink when compared to the raw power and blissful serenity that nature offers. As a result, our mood and mind-set seem to lift and expand, creating a stronger sense of spiritual awareness, inner peace, and abundant joy in all of our experiences.

Embracing the wonder of nature can intensify your feelings of euphoria and make every moment deeper and more meaningful today.

A little Om ~j

It is the divine vitality that everywhere produces and restores life. To each and every one of us, it gives the power of working miracles if we will. ~LM Child

Okay, here is another biggie. HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP

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First of all, if you have any packaged foods in your pantry...look at the label...does it contain HFCS? Most do. For so many reasons...mainly, it extends shelf life. This product is detrimental to the health of the human body. It is one that should be taken out of your diet as often as possible. The articles below will give you a much better picture of what HFCS is and does than I will today. Bottom line. It causes your body composition to change negatively by making you fat, and yes, you can be a skinny fat person. Sarcopenia obesity is often undiagnosed and not recognized.

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Our children are practically living on this gunk and most people don't even know it. Then we wonder why our problems with ADD/HD, obesity, diabetes etc. are running rampant. This is true for those eating and not reading labels. Chemically altered. I must sound like a broken record, but it is not food, it is chemically altered. Don't eat it, please.

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We will revisit this later. Only have a minute to blog...GET THE FACTS! READ YOUR LABELS. Yikes!

• http://www.mercola.com/2004/apr/10/corn_fat.htm
• http://www.menstuff.org/issues/byissue/highfructose.html

Interesting article on energy bars from the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) - http://www.cspinet.org/nah/12_00/barexam.html

Very merry today! 'Tis the season :-) ~j

Do what makes you come alive.

"Whatsoever that be within us that feels, thinks, desires, and animates, is something celestial, divine, and, consequently, imperishable." ~Aristotle

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Genetically Modified Foods - This is a HUGE topic. One that is quickly closing in on us and has been around for more than a decade. Here is a brief intro of facts. Genetically altered foods, or frankenfoods as they have been fondly nicknamed. There is too much to go into in one blogging. It is a topic that we will re-visit. A large majority of foods that we eat are modified at the cellular level.

Let's start with a taste! Just consider in your mind for a moment, the words...genetically modified...

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Quick Facts About Genetically Modified Crops

• The biotech industry has officially celebrated the planting of the billionth acre of genetically engineered crops.


• 75% of the world's genetically engineered crops are grown in the U.S. and Argentina.


• More than 90% of world's genetically engineered seeds were developed and sold by the Monsanto Corporation (planted predominantly with Monsanto's genetically modified corn, cotton, soybean and canola seeds).


• Monsanto's GE seed sales alone brought the company over $4 billion last year. Outside of GE seeds, Monsanto's past and present product-line has included Agent Orange, DDT, PCBs, rBGH and aspartame.


• Notable historic quote: "Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food.


• Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job." - Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Playing God in the Garden" New York Times Magazine, October 25, 1998.

Learn more: http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

WARNING! Trans Fats!

Okay, the dirty words are out of my mouth.

If you are still not aware of the dangers of trans fats, it is time to get the facts. Trans fats are internationally recognized as dangerous to the human body. Dis-ease causing fats that are really more like eating plastic. Yes, plastic. One molecule away from the same chemical make-up. Yikes!

READ YOUR LABELS. Do not provide your children with foods that contain trans fats. They are health inhibiting! Recently in the news NYC is the first state to ban trans fats from eateries. This is a major accomplishment. How is it that we know how incredibly damaging this processing is to the 'foods' we eat and yet it is running rampant out there.

Please look at your labels, ask your food server, bakery and other establishments where you buy your foods. Most packaged foods have hydrogenated oils, partially hydrogenated oils (another name for nasty trans fats). Don't accept the deer in the headlights look either, they know and if they don't, their manager does. Based on a nurses' study out of Harvard, just one gram of trans fat is likely to increase the risk of heart disease by 20 per cent if consumed on a regular daily basis," says Prof. Bruce Holub of the University of Guelph.

Healthy fats are a very necessary part of wellness. Don't be fooled by fats in general. Omega 3,6,9's are valuable and health enhancing. They are anti-aging and anti-inflammatory and amazingly replenishing. Healthy fats maintain the integrity of your cell walls, which should be free flowing and wonderfully squishy ( I know, big scientific words here).

Anyone see the juicy juice commercial that has the children dressed as fruit and the one dripping gooey mess that is chemically altered? We can procure change by the informed choices that we make. Choose life, choose health.

Just google trans fats, but here is a group who has made it their mission to ban trans fats. http://www.bantransfats.com/index.html

With happy free flowing cells! ~j

The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness,

only the pursuit of it.

You have to catch up with it yourself.

~Benjamin Franklin

4 Levels of Eating
Which area do your eating habits fall?

Ed Bauman

1. Eating for Pleasure - This level is the most primal, instinctual approach to eating, to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. Eating is for immediate gratification. Refined sugars, flours, dairy products and damaged fats comprise eating choices. This is the most immature level of food selection.



2. Eating for Energy - Blood sugar regulation is the basis of this level. People choose foods that are more substantial, complex and that allay hunger. This level is a highly acid forming, allergenic and clogging diet pattern. This level of eater is generally unconcerned with the ecological impact of food choices.



3. Eating for Recovery - As we sow, so we reap. The cumulative effect of Levels One and Two is the inevitability of poor body composition, diminished energy, health and brightness of mood. Many people will go on a 'diet' at this point and find themselves slipping back into old habits. This is an adult level approach that can be tiresome, judgmental and sometimes driven by supplementation to achieve results rather than using them to replenish reserves.



4. Eating for Health - The goal of this approach is lifelong learning about nutrition, healing and culinary arts. It follows Level Three but brings more personal choice, variety, seasonality and strategy to one's personal needs, tastes, ethnic origin and commitment. Eating at Level Four is not a formula, but rather by discerning what the body needs and what is the best choice available becomes a lifestyle. By eating well consistently, a person learns what foods best nourish and sustain during stressful changes that threaten health and impede recovery. In E4H the maxims, "food is your best medicine" and "know thyself" find a synergy that opens the way to wellness and service.

"Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for insects as well as for the stars. Human beings, vegetables or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper." ~Albert Einstein

Star swallowed - this is a very cool article. Not food related in any way shape or form, but really fascinating!

If I won't be myself, who will? ~Alfred Hitchcock
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Okay...today is a little rant...
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What are we doing??? The city of San Diego is calling for a ban on duck liver, a delicacy. But for the reason of harmful treatement of the animal.

Okay, what they do is force feed the ducks with a corn based meal, same as cows BTW which fattens up the liver, same as cows BTW, to almost 4 times the normal size. Then they are slaughtered and the toxic livers are used by high end restaurants as a highly sought after menu item. There is no mention here of the effects on human health. This is a big deal. Not that everyone is running out to eat duck liver these days, but it is a prime example of why it is important to be aware of where your food comes from.
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TOXIC ENLARGED LIVERS PEOPLE! This is exactly what is happening to conventional cows as well. If you are not concerned with eating grass fed, pasture raised animal protiens, you should be. Sometimes the livers of these cows become so toxic that they have to feed them antibiotics, which are passed along to you through the meat tissue and they are even so diseased that they explode.
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Michael Pollan's, The Omnivors Dilemna, is a very informative, shocking and accurate journalists view of food in our country today. If you want to know what is really going on, read this book. There are many other sources that uncover the truths about this issue. I encourage you to get informed and be aware.
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Everything you put into your body has to go somewhere. It has to be broken down, digested, absorbed, assimilated and eliminated. Those things that the body does not recognize can end up recirculating or getting burried deep in the body's tissues for long periods of time causing imbalances and imparing our health.
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Whew! Thanks, eat consciously! ~j

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." ~Emily Dickinson

The open house was phenomenal. We must have had 200 people buzzing about. Speakers on quantum healing and of course, green smoothies! Well, someone has to keep things simple. We were also blessed to have Terry Saleh, a 5th generation aboriginal shaman with us. He emphasized keeping tradition with new technology. It was amazing! Stories, art and dances from the bush. What a different world.

Cilantro and Seaside catered with a delicious raw food spread. We could have been there all night with all of the activity.

In case anyone is interested, the new technologies that we are working with in our office are Vocal Profiling and Harmonic Resolution. All I can say is WOW. Check out our new website for more details. I feel like just a girl with a blender. It is cutting edge and way fun stuff.

Keep it real. ~j

"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams." ~the Alchemist

Today is our Open House! Yeah! So am full of excitment and thoughts of whirling gallons of green smoothies for our guests. It is going to be a tremendous day and I hope that your holds wonderful things in store for you as well.

A little giddy today :-) ~j

Use your imagination not to scare yourself to death

but to inspire yourself to life.

~Adele Brookman

Sunlight and Vitamin D are little known healers that are often overlooked. We have been so afraid to get any natural sunlight on our bodies over the last 20 years that we are really missing out. Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, says, "Seeking out sunlight in safe, reasonable doses, does wonders for your health and may, in fact, render all sorts of conventional medical therapies irrelevant." Now, Mike is an interesting guy and he is doing a very "good work" in this world. Basically he investingates and publishes, truths from a natural perspective.

Oh, and I agree. The amounts of mis-information that we have been fed...it's just astonishing! In our family, we no longer use sunscreen on a regular basis and we are in the sun a lot down here in Southern California. When we do feel that we will be overexposed, we use a natural based sunscreen that does not include many chemicals and carcinogens.

For many many more details, I highly encourage you to dowload and view the FREE truthpublishing ebook "The Healing Power of Sunshine and Vitamin D." http://www.truthpublishing.com/healingsunlight_p/pdf-cat21258.htm

This special report contains information you probably won't hear fromyour doctor or dermatologist, because it goes against everything they believe about sunlight. But recent research is proving that notgetting enough sunlight is extremely dangerous to your health becauseit causes vitamin D deficiencies that promote chronic disease.

Now...how long has it been since you've watched the sunrise or set? Those moments will not necessarily provide you with extra Vitamin D, but will provide great enjoyment :-)

In light! ~j

"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform." ~Mark Twain

This one just kinda makes you think...

Autobiography in Five Chapters
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Oftentimes I can relate to this writing below...it is a wonderful way to express the journey of changing your lifestyle.
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I was talking with one of the long time employees, Bob, of Great Earth (vitamin store) in Encinitas yesterday and his comment was that everyone comes in looking for the "magic pill." Well...there isn't one. There are some great ones out there, but the bottom line is you will lose vitality and health when you are nutrient deficient and retain toxicity! That's it gang. If you are just getting started on this path, you likely already are experiencing both. Simple but not easy. Many people reach this path only after advanced illness and find it possible to recover without drugs or traditional 'healing' options. Because you have to balance out your intake of healthy nutrients not only to replenish deficiency, but detoxify multiple levels of gunk, it takes a little time and guidance. There are so many modalities of healing for mind, body and spirit. The one that is constant is the food that you eat, every day. Make it good, nourishing and replenishing. Living foods for a living spirit!
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Namaste ~j

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"Autobiography in Five Chapters"
From the "Tibetan Book of Living and Dying" by Sogyal Rinpoche.
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1) I walk down the street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I fall in.....I am lost...I am hopeless.....It isn't my fault.....It takes forever to find a way out.
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2) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.....I pretend I don't see it.....I fall in again.....I can't believe I'm in the same place.....But it isn't my fault.....It still takes a long time to get out
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3) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I see it is there.....I still fall in... it's a habit....My eyes are open....I know where I am....It is MY fault.....I get out immediately.
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4) I walk down the same street.....There is a deep hole in the sidewalk....I walk around it.
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5) I walk down another street.

"The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green."

~Thomas Carlyle

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The new dirty dozen it out!!

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When we talk about the importance of avoiding pesticides in our food it is because it is a major health inhibitor. Many people pooh-pooh this information or say organic is too expensive, but that is simply wrong. It is worth it on many fronts, the top two being:

1. keeping harmful chemcials and poisions out of your body and
2. increased vitamin and mineral content.

Those are huge! And I know when I compare an organic head of lettuce with conventional, they cost about the same these days. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has completed a study and provided a handly little pocket sized guide to help us out.

• http://www.foodnews.org/walletguide.php
• http://www.foodnews.org/reduce.php

If organic is not readily available in your area, then choose a local grower, many of them will not use as much pesticide and definately don't have to spray for transport. Also, wilted dead organic produce doesn't do you any good. If the organic produce looks bad, choose lively local grown. Wash well and enjoy!

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies - See link for full list or downloadable guide :-)
RANK, FRUIT OR VEGGIE, SCORE

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1 (worst) Peaches100 (highest pesticide load)
2 Apples 89
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 86
4 Celery 85
5 Nectarines 84
6 Strawberries 82
7 Cherries 75
8 Pears 65
9 Grapes - Imported 65
10 Spinach 60
11 Lettuce 59
12 Potatoes 58
13 Carrots 57
14 Green Beans 53
15 Hot Peppers 53
16 Cucumbers 52
17 Raspberries 47
18 Plums 45
19 Grapes - Domestic 43
20 Oranges 42

"Sustainability is a process of balancing the needs of a population with the capacity of an environment to support it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061126/sc_afp/eucroatiaenvironmentfishingtuna_061126162117

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.

~Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. ~Aesop
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May our hearts be filled with gratitude for this abundant life!

Enjoy! ~j

"If the divine creator has taken pains to give us delicious and exquisite things to eat, the least we can do is prepare them well and serve them with ceremony."
~Fernand Point (1897-1955)


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These make a quart of smoothie. Sometimes I add extra sunflower or pea sprouts, a stalk of celery for added alkalinity. You can really mix them up to your taste. They are super simple, but really make an impact! If you are cautious...half the recipe and just give it a little try.
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Enjoy! ~j
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Great article on green smoothies! http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/articles/green_smoothies.html

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Mango-parsley
2 large mangos
1 bunch parsley
2 cups Water
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Strawberry-banana-romaine
1-cup strawberries
2 bananas
1/2 bunch romaine
2 cups Water
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Pear-kale-mint
4 ripe pears
4-5 leaves of kale
1/2 bunch of mint
2 cups Water
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Finger banana-spinach
10 finger-bananas
2 handfuls of spinach leaves
2 cups Water
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Bosc pear-raspberry-kale
3 bosc pears
1 handful of raspberries
4-5 leaves of kale
2 cups Water

Gratitude is the mother of all the virtues.

~G.K. Chesterton

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Consider all of the things that you have to be thankful for today. They may be small or large in scale, but each one has its place.
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Life is precious and fragile and available! Waiting for you to reach out and grab each moment, tasting its Magnificence.
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From a mountain top, overlooking the ocean, or brushing the hair back from a sleeping child. Everyone has their own dreams and reality. Are you awake?! Or are your eyes wide shut?

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http://www.oddpeak.com/item_63760.aspx

The world is not yet exhausted;

let me see something tomorrow which I never saw before.

~Samuel Johnson

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Just a little weekend note on the spinach concern. If you haven't noticed. It is back on the shelves. Eat it. Buying spinach from a local source is best. Wash it and enjoy! We here in California are enjoying every tender leaf.
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Here is a little article that talks about the possible source of tainting. Really it is a little lesson in the cleanliness of our water. If you are not using a water filter, you should consider it. If they are allowing tainted water to spill over to crops, think about what is coming into your home. Your kitchen sink, your shower and bath, your washing machine...you take care to bring healthy foods into your kitchen, now washing them with chlorine, bacteria and other chemicals just seems wrong. More on water filters later. For today, just be aware.
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http://www.mercola.com/2006/nov/18/the-simple-answer-to-the-insane-recall-of-organic-spinach.htm

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence,

a belief in God so assured

that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.

~Martin Luther

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Have to talk about a non-food item. Dishwashing detergent. The stuff that goes into your dishwasher is very poisionous. Since the Thanksgiving holiday is coming up and dishes will be a plenty in the house that you share your meal...instead of brining desert, bring the soap!

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I challenge you to pick an ingredient listed on your soap and look it up on the internet. Yikes! Any cleaning product that has a skull and crossbones on it is one that should not be in your home. Whether you have children or not. The last thing you want to do is invest in eating healthy, but put that food in a glass that contains chemical residues!

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Investigate the healthier options for cleaning. There are a lot of 'green' products out there that do a wonderful job. Trader Joes carries a line that is very affordable and companies are coming online all the time with alternatives. You just have to know where to look.

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Again, it is all about being aware. Environmentally friendly products are a step that is really quite simple to make. If you have a cleaning service. Ask them...they will not change until the consumer demands a change.

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A great new area to explore. Look around, start with what you can and 'kick it up a notch' every time you replace a cleaning item. When you look back you will wonder why you thought deadly chemicals smelled clean. Uncondition your brain! This is really a much bigger topic, but we are blogging here. Definately google for yourself!

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Healthy for life! ~j

• http://www.natural-healthy-home-cleaning-tips.com/ - great tips
• 90 Tips for 90 Days - http://www.checblog.org/2006/11/
• http://www.gaiam.com/retail/gai_content/learn/gai_learnArticle.asp?article_id=515 safe alternatives for you and the environment
• http://www.vanessasgift.com/ - love th ebaby kits :-) what a wonderful gift
• http://mlmgorilla.com/naturalcleaningrecipe/ make your own
• http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/BUSINESS/60514043 find a professional

Be who you are and say what you feel

because those who mind don't matter and

those who matter don't mind.

~Dr. Seuss

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Taking a new step can be challenging. Changing your eating habits while your friends and family aren't can seem impossible. BUT...be gracious. Respect their choices as you ask them to respect yours. You never, know, they just might want to come along for the ride! One quart of green smoothie a day for 30 days. Hydrochloric acid...many of us are very deficient. This will help restore the balance and improve digestion and assimilation of all foods you are eating. Think of it as an experiment.

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Being prepared by eating before an event will help reduce cravings for foods that you be tempted by. Holidays are coming up gang. Don't be intimidated. JUST SAY NO! It's true, food is often like a drug. It is up to you whether you want to be addicted or not. Sugar, caffeine, carbs, they can all produce this chemical effect. Test out the theory. Don't take my word for it. There is no better time to test things out like the holidays :-)

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Each step you take toward changing your lifestyle is a step toward quality LIFE!

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HOW MANY LIVING FOODS HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?

Salad

Smoothie

Fresh juice

Whole fruit

Raw nuts

Veggie nibbles

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In health! ~j

Good Morning Ellen! This one is for you girlfriend.

Hugs & blessings ~j

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"A Prayer."

Teach me, Father,

how to go Softly as the grasses grow;

Hush my soul to meet the shock

Of the wild world as a rock;

But my spirit, propt with power,

Make as simple as a flower.

Let the dry heart fill its cup,

Like a poppy looking up;

Let life lightly wear her crown,

Like a poppy looking down,

When its heart is filled with dew,

And its life begins anew.

~Edwin Markham

Choices are the hinges of destiny.-Edwin Markham

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Blenders, blenders, blenders...if you are not eating at least 2 servings of fresh fruit a day, you should consider blending them. A smoothie is a very simple way to get much needed nutrients. But smoothies are not limited to fruits! You can green them up and change your life. It's true!
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You can enjoy a smoothie for breakfast, as a snack, after a workout or as an on-the-go meal. You can make them simple and fruity or complex and green. There is so much versatility and not really any excuses. Most blenders will do fine. The big daddy of them all is the Vita-Mix.
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Now, you may have seem a demo at your local home and garden show...they are not inexpensive, but you can get one for anywhere between $325 and $499 depending on color, model etc. THEY ARE WORTH IT. If you have the disposable income. They will last you for years and they are made to be a workhorse. I make soups, smoothies, salad dressing, sauces, fresh grind grains, you name it.
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THE CHALLENGE is to add one blended drink to your daily routine. Start with something as simple as 8 oz water, a banana and some berries. If you are a protien powder fan, add a serving of that, flax seeds for fiber and omega 3's. The point here is to eat living foods. Those that are not cooked. If you are brave and ready to go. Add a couple of romaine lettuce leaves into your smoothie. The evidence on greens in the diet is overwhelming! A great book to discover this nugget is called Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko. http://www.rawfamily.com/articles.htm. They have a fascinating story, good research and tasty recipes. Next time you are browsing through the bookstore, just give it a glance! Simple, easy and realistic.
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Start exploring, dust off that blender, enjoy extra energy and a true fast food that the whole family can enjoy.
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In the raw today. ~j

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking

if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.

~Voltaire

Hi gang! Sorry about my extended absence...I felt a little homesick so made the long trip to northern california for the long weekend :-) The leaves were beautiful, the crisp air and fresh scent of fall was just what I was longing for.

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Amazingly enough, this picture represents those wonderful times when you cook together, enjoy great stories, memories and incredible food together. A time of nourishment in many ways. Thank you for those who I was able to spend time with!! Yum!

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Eating should not be a chore, it shouldn't be something that you rush through and dread. So, if this is true for you...give yourself a break and think of your next meal as something that sustains your life, enjoy taking a bite and take at least 30 seconds to chew it! You would be suprised how long 30 seconds is in this context!!

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With thankfulness being the nationwide theme for the month....don't pay attention to all of that Christmas stuff YET!!! Really reflect on those things that you are thankful for. Maybe it is family, maybe it is some time alone, maybe it is the opportunity to contemplate change or the choice to stay on your current course.

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All of this is surrounded by food! Making the choice eat healthy can happen all at once or just one step at a time. Set yourself up for a life change, for success, for abundance and vitality. As you look back over those choices, you'll be amazed at your progress. Especially over the holidays, I mean really, do you think that next year there won't be ten tons of fudge, cookies, pies and confections??

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On that note...Get your blenders out! I am going to propose a challenge here. I hope that you are going to be thankful that this week we are going to be talking extensively about the benefits and simplicity of including raw foods into your daily routine!

Until tomorrow...~j

Run your fingers through my soul.

For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel,

believe what I believe,

perceive as I perceive, look, experience, examine, and for once;

just once, understand.

~Unknown

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It is nearly impossible to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Our lives are all very different. So, when I ask you to try new things or open your mind and heart to new ideas, it is with the understanding that for some of you, these concepts may be either familiar or very very new.

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I ask for your consideration on topics with the understanding that everyone is in a different place, exploring at their own pace and making changes that are best for their lives and circumstances. Enjoy the journey!

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Blessings :-) ~j

It is easy to sit up and take notice.

What is difficult is getting up and taking action.

~Al Batt

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The letter below is a call to action. It is very simple...be aware of where the seafood you eat comes from.

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To do this you can view the guide for your area regarding the Seafood Watch program. It will tell you which seafood to buy and why. Since you should be enjoying fish at least 2 times per week, this can be an easy change to make. It is your consumer dollar and you have the power to make change by making wise purchases. http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp

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Thanks for choosing consciously! It is better for your health and the environment. You may not always be in the position to make the conscious choice and that is okay. The point is that you are aware and make them when you can!

In health! ~j

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Dear friends,

A disturbing new study released today in the journal Science forecasts dire consequences for ocean wildlife if current fishing patterns continue. An international team of ecologists and economists concluded that ALL of the world’s ocean fisheries will collapse by 2048 unless we take a new direction.

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Now more than ever, consumers like you who promote choices for healthy oceans are being called to “take action” on the part of ocean conservation.

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“It’s imperative that consumers and businesses alike use their buying power to expand the market for seafood from sustainable sources,” says Mike Sutton, director for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Center for the Future of the Oceans.

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What you can doIf you haven’t done so already or would like to sign up again, become a Seafood Watch Advocate. We’ll send you all the materials you need to help educate others and inform businesses about this critical ocean conservation issue.

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Tell a Friend,Forward this email to your family and friends so that they can learn how to become advocates for the oceans and ocean wildlife.

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The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seafood Watch are trademarks of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.

The one thing that matters is the effort.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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I really want to take a moment and thank all of you for your updates, comments and responses!

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I love hearing from you.

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Keep sending your stories and experiences! How you are and how you are continuing on your health walk.

I am so excited for you!

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Thank you again! Keep learning and growing. Namaste ~j

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Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning. ~Benjamin Franklin

True religion is real living; living with all one's soul,

with all one's goodness and righteousness.

~Albert Einstein

So...Here we are, smack dab in the middle of Autumn. Now, it is time to be considering foods like roots and tubers, soups and stews. Foods that warm you from the inside.

It is important to look at the foods that are available in your local area during the change of the seasons. We really don't want to be eating foods that have flown half way around the country before landing in our market for a couple of reasons. First, the vitality of the food or life force is greatly diminished, so those are nutrients that you WON'T be recieving. Second, is the cost of fuel and labor for flying that food halfway around the country. Not necessary.

Below are a couple of links. One is to the San Francisco area Locavore group. They have done a fabulous job of sharing local everything. At the bottom left side of the site is a seasonal produce chart. Really nice. It is a great guide to help you if you live in the area, but also if you aren't, will help define what you should be looking for.

100 mile challenge: Okay, there are no excuses for action here. This site will assist you in finding foods in YOUR local area. Just go to the Get Started section and if you are curious, step 3 will give you your radius. It is a great challenge and if you are only able to begin with a small percentage of your foods coming from your local area, you are making a difference. With time and knowledge, you may be enjoying the majority of your foods right from your own backyard!

Enjoy! ~j

http://www.locavores.com/

http://100milediet.org/category/about/

After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as
though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers. ~Emily Luchetti

Samhain (Scots Gaelic: Samhuinn) literally means “summer's end.” In Scotland and Ireland, Halloween is known as Oíche Shamhna, while in Wales it is Nos Calan Gaeaf, the eve of the winter's calend, or first.

With the rise of Christianity, Samhain was changed to Hallowmas, or All Saints' Day, to commemorate the souls of the blessed dead who had been canonized that year, so the night before became popularly known as Halloween, All Hallows Eve, or Hollantide. November 2nd became All Souls Day, when prayers were to be offered to the souls of all who the departed and those who were waiting in Purgatory for entry into Heaven. Throughout the centuries, pagan and Christian beliefs intertwine in a gallimaufry of celebrations from Oct 31st through November 5th, all of which appear both to challenge the ascendancy of the dark and to revel in its mystery.

In the country year, Samhain marked the first day of winter, when the herders led the cattle and sheep down from their summer hillside pastures to the shelter of stable and byre. All the harvest must be gathered in -- barley, oats, wheat, turnips, and apples -- for come November, the faeries would blast every growing plant with their breath, blighting any nuts and berries remaining on the hedgerows. It was a joyous time of family reunion, when all members of the household worked together baking, salting meat, and making preserves for the winter feasts to come. http://www.celticspirit.org/samhain.htm

Family, Traditions & Treats! Traditions are rich in family ties. Many times we create them without even realizing it. Other times we choose traditions to begin on our own and let them evolve as our families and friendships grow. In our family, we always cook up a batch of hearty chili and cornbread on Halloween night! Amongst the flurry of dressing up, arranging the goodie bags and sometimes homework, we share the treats from our day, read our favorite book and call those we love that are far away.

So, eat good wholesome foods and enjoy your family and friends! If you don't sugar up, you will feel so much better the next day. Just enjoy a bite of temptation, it is not about deprivation. You can also substitute the wicked white sugar beast with more natural treats. Whether homemade or from your local market, check out your options. Enjoy! ~j

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. ~Mark Twain

Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward. And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.

~Abraham Lincoln

There is always a lot of information that comes at you fast. In the news, from a friend, a class, a blog, the tv. Sometimes it is too much, sometimes it is very confusing, sometimes we actually want more. The point here is...don't stress about it. Do the best you can. Make the best choices you can with the information you have today. But don't stop listening, learning or growing.

I go through periods of time when I just can't process one more thing. And the information doesn't stop, it waits until it is relevant for you. I know this is true because when it is time, I just can't get enough of it.

We can only handle so much at once. We have to mentally digest, sometimes rationalize, consider a plan when we think about change. Most of the time we don't even think about change unless we are forced to or get a rude awakening. A friend is sick, we are diagnosed with something that couldn't possibly be, an incident, an accident... then, we will use what we have learned as a building block for the next steps that we are ready to take.

So, sit back, have a farm fresh salad or homemake your soup today. Enjoy your kitchen instead of thinking of it as a chore and chew your food. Laugh with your kids. Kiss your loved ones. Food is a necessity, but it is also an enjoyment to be shared with others. Learn about the Slow Food movement.

http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/mission.lasso - By reawakening and training their senses, Slow Food helps people rediscover the joys of eating and understand the importance of caring where their food comes from, who makes it and how it’s made.

KYOTO AND BEYOND
When faced with a grave threat to a livable future for ourselves, our children and future generations, it is our duty as Americans to respond. - How Hot Does It Have To Get?

If you aren't aware of the devastating effects of global warming, it might be time to take a peek. Katrina put a face on it for us, hopefully some of us recognize it. The news continues to report overwhelming statistics on events and damage that is ocurring world wide. It does effect us, but it will impact or children and grandchildren even more. It is time to become aware, at the very least. If you want to take it a step further, consider signing the petition. Your steps are your own, they can go as far as you want to.

Many Americans are concerned and want to take action, but the government is lagging behind in their interest on this matter. 163 other nations have ratified the Kyoto Protocol (see links below for details, it is short and to the point). According the Energy Action, http://energyaction.org/do/Home, many cities in the USA are already adopting action to support renewable energy, but we are not yet united as a nation regarding this issue. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the simple things that you can do as a famiy and in your community?

One of those things is, yep, you are going be so tired of hearing me say it...local, sustainable foods. Believe it or not, you likely spend as much $$ on the fuel that transports food across the country or from other countries as you do to fuel your automobile each year. It's true. It is hidden in the cost of your food.

• http://www.kyotoandbeyond.org/petition.html
• http://www.grist.org/comments/soapbox/2006/06/22/candidates/index.html
• http://an-inconvenient-truth.com/index2.html