As a peaceful warrior, I would choose when, where and how I would behave.
With that commitment, I began to live the life of a warrior.
~Dan Millman

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Add a bit of sweet to your Healthiest Way of Eating with this mosaic of kiwifruit and strawberries. It takes just minutes to prepare and is full of health-promoting vitamin C. Most people don't realize that a kiwifruit has more vitamin C than an orange!

10-Minute Kiwi Mandala

Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
8-oz plain or vanilla yogurt
3 TBS fresh orange juice
1 TBS cream honey**
1/2 tsp grated orange rind*
1/4 tsp grated lemon rind*
1 kiwifruit
4 strawberries
Optional: 2 TBS chopped walnuts or pecans, orange zest for topping

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, orange juice, honey and grated orange and lemon rind, making sure the honey is completed blended into the yogurt.
Place in 2 shallow soup dishes.
Peel the kiwifruit and slice into 1/8" rounds.
Take the stems off of the strawberries and cut them lengthwise into 4 pieces.
Arrange the fruit in a beautiful pattern on top of the yogurt mixture and sprinkle with some grated orange rind and nuts if desired.
Refrigerate for 1/2 hour so that the yogurt is well chilled.
Enjoy immediately!

*Cream honey is whipped honey found in most health food stores.
**Use an organic orange and lemon, if possible, to avoid wax coating. Serves 2

Sunday, March 28, 2010


Every gift, though it be small, is in reality great if given with affection.~Pindar

Sunday, March 21, 2010

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best,
night and day,
to make you everybody else
means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight;
and never stop fighting.
- e. e. cummings

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"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

Tuesday, March 16, 2010


Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open. - Iyengar

Monday, March 15, 2010

Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Quiet Please!
Taming Monkey Mind In Meditation

It’s been called the monkey mind – the endless chattering in your head as you jump in your mind from thought to thought while you daydream, analyze your relationships, or worry over the future. Eventually, you start to feel like your thoughts are spinning in circles and you’re left totally confused.

One way to tame this wild creature in your head is through meditation – although the paradox is that when you clear your mind for meditation you actually invite the monkey in your mind to play. This is when you are given the opportunity to tame this mental beast by moving beyond thought – to become aware of a thought rather than thinking a thought. The difference is subtle, but significant. When you are aware of your thoughts, you can let your thoughts rise and float away without letting them pull you in different directions. Being able to concentrate is one of the tools that allows you to slow down your thought process and focus on observing your thoughts.

To develop your concentration, you may want to start by focusing on the breath while you meditate. Whenever your monkey mind starts acting up, observe your thoughts and then return your focus to your breath. Some breathing meditations call on you to focus on the rise and fall of the breath through the abdomen, while others have you concentrate on the sound of the breath. Fire can also be mesmerizing, and focusing on a candle flame is another useful tool for harnessing the mind. Keep the gaze soft and unfocused while observing the color, shape, and movement of the flame, and try not to blink. Close your eyes when you feel the need and continue watching the flame in your head. Chanting, devotional singing, and mantras also still the mind. However you choose to tame the monkey mind, do so with firm kindness. The next time the chattering arises, notice it and then allow it to go away. With practice, your monkey mind will become quiet and so will you.

Great OM today. With breath and observance ~j

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Placer County Real Food Cookbook

Thanks Joanne and Laura for all of your dedication and inspiration. We are looking forward to the upcoming publication of your REAL FOOD Cookbook!

Cheers! ~j

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Quantum Physics - What A Ride!

Really, it's okay to stop for a moment and think! Enjoy ~j