"There is no evidence whatsoever of the ability of vaccines to prevent any diseases.

To the contrary, there is a great wealth of evidence that they cause serious side effects."

~Dr. Viera Scheibner

A lot of people ask me about vaccines. This is a very in depth topic. I encourage them to gather information. Here is an online video that came across my desk recently. There are many publications out there. For books on this topic visit the Price Pottenger foundations book section. They are very well screened prior to being offered through this organization.

VIDEO: Vaccination: The Hidden Truth (1998)
http://video.

My questions are, if vaccines are so safe...why do we have a vaccine court? Why did the goverment give Ely Lily a 'get out of jail free card" regarding law suits and vaccines? I am not educated in the depth of the politics of it all, but you have to decide what is best for your children. Ultimately if you decide to vaccinate, staying away from the multi-cocktails are the best option. You have the right to ask your doctor for them individually.

http://www.mercola.com/2004/aug/28/thimerosal_vaccine.htm

Again, do your homework, weigh the pros and cons and make the decision that is best for you and your children. ~j

Prescription Drug Deaths Skyrocket 68 Percent Over Five Years

(as Americans swallow more pills)
By M.T. Whitney NewsTarget/Truth Publishing, Feb 22, 2007

Straight to the Source

This is a very cool new therapy. ~j

Vocal Profiling

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. ~Hippocrates

No time for commentary on this thought today...but WOW! This is quite powerful when you think of how we seldom take time to allow ourselves rest and healing. You don't even have to have a serious illness or even the annual flu bug. Finding and maintaining optimal health physically, mentally and spiritually asks for both time and opportunity. File this one away after a few moments of pondering, I am certain you will pull it up again at just the right time.

Allowing for healing and opportunity today :-) ~j

...choose to take a deep breath and surrender to life's plan. ~

Do you ever hava a day, week or month when you think..."yikes! Things are not going the way that I planned!"

Well, I remember a joke from my old days in sunday school...God is laughing while we are making our own plans. It seems I am in the mood for contemplation this weekend. I am also reminded from Dan Millman's book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior...life is exactly as it is suppose to be. All of it. That is actually a comforting thought when I stand in the midst of the chaos of today's world and feel overwhelmed.

I am not suppose to fix it. I am suppose to acknowledge all that is. Live with intention, passionately for what I know is true in my heart and not with blinders as a distraction (there are sooo many of these). I certainly don't have to take the freeway when the scenic route is far more enjoyable and rewarding. I love to smell the 'roses' and in many ways am reminded to find my favorites.

One drop in the water creates a ripple. I don't have the grand divine plan all worked out in my head today and I don't have to. Whew! We are all here for a reason and we are intricately woven together as our paths cross, if only for a moment in time. Do you remember those people, those events in time that stands still as if it were only yesterday. Do you remember the impact of those moments on your life? If for nothing else than a reflection...a seed planted for the future, a message to get you through, a deja vu, a bridge from the past to the future, a puzzle to ponder...a lesson for living in the present.

Hmmmm...when it all washes in front of you in what seems to be the same moment...here is that deep breath...and the significant word, surrender.

Breathing today ~j

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." ~ Ancient Chinese Proverb

"When someone does something well, applaud!

You will make two people happy."

~ Samuel Goldwyn

Consuming To Heal
Filling Imaginary Voids

In our culture today, we are constantly encouraged to consume. This includes food as well as purchasing ever newer items that we may not need, often using money that we may not actually have.

It could be that we are trying to fill a void we feel within ourselves, but if we take the time to examine it, we know deep inside that this is not the solution. We may notice how quickly the joy fades after our purchase or once the food we've enjoyed is gone, and how soon we feel the urge to do so again. This is a symptom of disconnection from our true selves, so the first step toward balance is connection to our center.


When we connect to our center, we access the fullness of who we are as an individual spirit. We also connect to the energy source of the universe, from which nothing can be lacking. It could be that we have been energetically starving ourselves but trying to feed the need physically, outwardly. Once we make the decision to reconnect, we have the ability to examine the behavior. We can look, without judgment, at the thoughts and feelings that occur before and after our indulgences to find a pattern. We may want to keep track of these observations in a journal so that we can go back if we lose our way.

Often boredom is the main cause for the desire to eat or shop. We just might find that we are stuck in mediocrity...But when we connect to our center, our intuition can more clearly guide us to the places where our energy can best be used. We can replace the boredom with a prayer, meditation practice, a class, a project, seeking a new job, or getting involved in a charity.


Whatever inspires us tells us the direction we should go. When we find the place we are meant to be, we become so consumed by its constant creation that the frivolous filling of an imaginary void becomes a thing of the past.

Finding inspiration today ~j

Three Inspiring Minutes - Enjoy! ~j

http://www.212movie.com/

"Calmness is the cradle of power."

~Josiah Gilbert Holland

How often are we running through our days...literally. From one task or activity to the next.

• Today consider finding your stride.
• Find your groove.
• Stop and find out why you are putting yourself through the crazy.

What are really the important priorities to you. Schedule them into your day first. Then, the nice to haves. When you find this balance, you will feel as if you are the one driving, instead of your life driving you. When you are planning for the important things...remember that the foods you eat should be a priority up there with...well, let's be honest...breathing.

Give yourself time to plan meals weekly, shop weekly, prepare a few meals with the intention of nourishing and rejuviating yourself.

Find your calm, your power to make choices that reflect health. ~j

Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future.

~Paul Boese

What are some of the things that you are holding onto because you just can't forgive it? Letting go of these things is like cleaning out the overstuffed closet. Not really needed, hanging around and taking up space, hindering the opportunity to new things.

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Many people find this true with old eating habits and beliefs. If you are consciously trying to make a change. Don't make it hard on yourself. Don't be hard on yourself. Know that changes, while necessary, can take a couple of trys. The road to success is paved with failure and when you put failure in the right light...it is not such a negative thing. It can be considered a stepping stone. If you know that you fell off the wagon or gave into temptation, well...you at least recognize that it happened. Now the task is to be aware of the choice for the next time. Forgive yourself so that you can look ahead with a true intention.

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One day you will look back and wonder when all of those changes happened. Smile and enjoy the journey! ~j

If you aren't completely appalled

then you haven't been paying attention!

~Bumpersticker

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I laughed so very hard when I saw this bumper sticker today :-)

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On one hand, it is completely true and on the other hand, if you live life appalled, then you aren't really living. I think that when you reach an awakening sometimes it is startling. Reminds me of The Matrix. You look around and your world can be completely different. Ususally there is a jarring event that changes your perspective. Sometimes it can be a small tidbit of information, an article, a book, an interview, a conversation. When we realize that the world we live in offers so many possibilites and that we are not boxed into our expectations of life, well...it is a wake up call. Many people never hear it. It is the being open to the information that is the key.

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There are going to be things that you come across that are going to shock your socks off. And then there will be things that should be shocking but no longer are because we have been conditioned to them.

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Most things are tied to big business, health, food, entertainment, media etc. I guess what I am trying to convey today is how important it is that we are aware. That when something strikes you, check it out without being concerned with the outcome. Search for the truth in your own heart and make conscious decisions based on that.

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Paying attention...~j

Keep true to the dreams of thy youth.
Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)

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Okay, if there is a kid in you and you love rollercoasters...well you have to go to the updated version of Space Mountain at Disneyland. YEAH~ It totally rocks! It looks like they will only be rockin' to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers until April, so if you are in town...rock on with a big smile :-)
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Now, my recommendation is that you do not eat prior to the ride. Definately save it for after. As for theme park foods...

• carry a backpack, not too big...or something that you can comfortably tote around for the day.
• we always bring our food to the parks, but they are changing their menus and healthier selections are being offered. explore your options
• bringing some fruit, health bars or healthier snacks will make a difference in your day
• budget for plenty of water and drink it throughout the day rather than gulp it down in all one slug
• down time to take a load off your feet and take in the whole experience.

This, my friends, is all about the fun.
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Rockin' and rollin' today ~j

The Impossible Dream~Right In Front Of You
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When it comes to the things we want, there always seems to be an endless list. No matter how many times we get something off that list, we add new things to replace it. In life, this drama of wanting and getting and wanting is all part of the dance. The things we want motivate us to get up and get them. And yet, at the same time, we can torment ourselves with our wanting, especially when we want something we can't have or can't find. It is in cases like these that it might be fruitful to entertain the idea that maybe what you really want is right in front of you.
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Maybe you are using this desire you can't fulfill to distract you from truly engaging the blessings you already have. It may seem like that doesn't make sense, yet we do it all the time. It may be easier to see in other people than to see it in ourselves. We have all heard our friends wishing they were more this or less that, and looking at them we see clearly that they are everything they are wishing they were. We know people who have wonderful partners and yet envy you yours. We wish we could give these people a look at their situations from our perspective so that they could see that what they want really is right in front of them.
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Take a moment today to consider the many things you are holding in the palm of your hand and how you might best play with them.
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Peace be the journey ~j

If it frustrates you that they don't allow laptops on a Ferris wheel, you may be a workaholic. ~Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

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Yes, this his how I am feeling these days! Now I actually have a point here on this today. If you are slammed with work and life is also happening around you (family, pets, training etc.) Don't deprive yourself of nourishment throughout the day.

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Be prepared, whether you work from home or an office...enjoy some on the go foods. Stay as far away from the vending machine or gas station excito-toxin fest mart as possible.

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Breakfast

Egg wraps with veggies for breakfast, smoothies. Have some water 8oz.

AM Snack

Make sure you are prepared with some snacks. You may be hammering away on the computer, but you can surely sit back for a minute or two to think and chew, chew, chew a small apple, some yogurt with a little granola. Have some water 8 oz.

Lunch

Don't skip lunch...this is sooooo easy to do, time has a magic speed up button during the lunch hours. Frer-range turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, a small side of soup or salad. Take those precious few minutes to step back from your work to eat. You will replenish your thinking power with a few delicious morsels. Have some water 8 oz.

PM Snack

Harboiled egg or cheese with some pear or berries. Easy to pack, keep in a fridge or cooler. Have some water 8 oz.

Dinner

Still at work. It is really time to take a much needed break. Step out of the office and breath. Balance a portion of meat, poultry or fish with a beautiful and satisfying salad, maybe a side of cous cous. If you are fortunate to be home. Relax and replenish. Have some water 8 oz. If you are cooking, make it simple. Having ingredients on hand makes all the difference to prepare a stress free meal at home. If someone else is cooking, hug them, a lot and smile.

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Okay! We made it through with a few ideas. Again, being prepared is the ticket. We want to keep that blood sugar balanced throughout the day so you are making level headed decisions and thinking clearly. Less stress surrounding meals makes the process of digestion much much easiery for your body. If you are in training...well, the performance zone is a whole different block of time to be prepared for. More on this gig later :-)

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Taking a deep breath...and go! ~j

"Chaos"...

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"as a new plant breaks the ground with great difficulty...so must we sometimes push against difficulty in bringing forth out dreams. "

Good Om today! Enjoy ~j

Know Your Food: Eating Close To The Earth

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us.

But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth. If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth-and enjoying the many benefits of doing so-by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

"We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." -- Anais Nin

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As we walk along the path of life...it is often about our perception. When our perspective changes, so do things in our lives.

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Take a moment today to consider your perspective on the type of foods you eat. Are they nourishing to your body and soul? Do they provide enjoyment and enhance quality of life? Do you see them as life giving? Are they just fuel or only satisfy immediate hunger?

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All important things to ponder for a moment today. Food is acutally very simple, not easy, but simple. Eat foods that are in their closest to natural state. Fresh, local grown, organic when possible. It is also important that you are eating enough quality calories to sustain healthy metabolic function and wellness. The right balance of macronutrients for your lifestyle will make all the difference!

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Be well! ~j

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

and

if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

~Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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Hi gang! Things have been very busy here. First of the year always brings an onslaught of resolutions and those willing to take the next step in creating healthier lifestyles. Have you decided if that applies to you as well?? Remember...one step at a time, no matter what your choices. Make them yours, make them stick!

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I came across this quote from the book The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. She wrote a series of them a number of years ago and they spoke to me in a way that very few authors have. Since I only have a minute today, I will share the link with you and encourage you to reach deeply inside as you go through your day Peace :-) ~j

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http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

Your brain has an in-built mechanism for finding patterns you've programmed because of where you've put your attention. Solutions, innovations, and success come not from greater intelligence or creativity but from what we notice because of where we point those attributes. ~David Allen

What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN your body. If you are taking care to eat very consciously to improve health and wellbeing, then you will want to be looking at the personal hygiene products that you are using as well. Some people don't realize that the shampoos, lotions and toothpaste that they use are full of chemical detergents and carcinogens. Making a small change to your choice of product line will go a long way in assisting your body in having to try to eliminate them.

Please consider taking this survey to help shape the standard that is labeled ORGANIC for the future. Organic is becoming modernized and the meaning is become less clear for mainstream America. Big business always seems to blur the line and expand the grey area on definition.

As a consumer, it is your right to be informed so that you can make the best possible choice for you and your family. There are no wrong choices, only uninformed ones :-) ~j

ALERT: Take this Survey to Help Sculpt Organic Standards for Personal Care Products

This was quite refreshing! Enjoy ~j

I BELIEVE by Brian Tracy

I believe every person has within themselves inexhaustible reserves of potential they have never even come close to realizing. Definately my favorite! :-)

I believe each person has far more intelligence than they have ever used.

I believe each person is more creative than he or she has ever imagined.

I believe the greatest achievements of your life lie ahead of you.

I believe the happiest moments of your life are yet to come.

I believe the greatest successes you will ever attain are still waiting for you on the road ahead.

And, I believe through learning and application of what you learn, you can solve any problem, overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal that you can set for yourself.

"Digestion, of all the bodily functions, is the one which exercises the greatest influence on the mental state of an individual."Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

di·ges·tion (dī-jĕs'chən, dĭ-) n.
Physiology.

1. The process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. It is accomplished in the alimentary canal by the mechanical and enzymatic breakdown of foods into simpler chemical compounds.

Digestion occurs at the multicellular, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. This process takes place in the digestive system, gastrointestinal tract, or alimentary canal. It is the process of metabolism whereby a biological entity processes a substance, in order to chemically and mechanically convert the substance into nutrients. When you eat, you are eating to nourish or fuel your body. Healthly choices will feed you at the cellular level. Otherwise, choices that are not healthy or contain chemicals, additives and other forms or non-foods, the body will not recognize and now needs to figure out how to process them until they can be eliminated or stored in the cellular structure (usually in fat cells).

Digestion is usually divided into mechanical manipulation (CHEWING) and chemical action. It is a multi-stage process. It is separated into five separate processes:

1) Ingestion: Placing food into the mouth. Here is where our choice makes the difference.

2) Mechanical digestion: Mastication, the use of teeth to tear and crush food, and churning of the stomach. OMG! This is one of the most important things that we should be doing to improve or maintain health...how well do you chew your foods?

3) Chemical digestion: Addition of chemicals (acid, bile, enzymes, and water) to break down complex molecules into simple structures. This is a completely natural process, however, many people have reduced levels of these natural chemicals and will suffer with indigestion or begin supplementing to assist the body in its effort.

4) Absorption: Movement of nutrients from the digestive system to the circulatory and lymphatic capillaries through osmosis, active transport, and diffusion. Here is where intestinal health is so important. If the small intestine is compromised, nutrients will not be able to get through the mucosal lining and malnutrition may occur.

5) Elimination: Removal of undigested materials from the digestive tract. How many ads have you seen for relief of constipation or loose stools? When elimination is off, you can either be autointoxicating or nutrients are moving too fast through the system to be absorbed. You should be concerned.

Underlying the process is muscle movement throughout the system, swallowing and peristalsis (the movement of the bollus or now broken down food through the system). It is a beautiful dance of conscious and unconscious functions.

Just a brief overview here. Please take away at least this one thing. The importance of chewing your foods. Some people start with chewing 10 times before swallowing. If you can...stretch it to 20+ times. Foods should almost be chewed until they are liquid.

Since we are starting with new beginnings, why not start with improved chewing?! It is a conscious effort that makes the difference. ~j

The beginning is the most important part of any work. ~Plato

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I am quite short on time these days, but want to check in real quick!

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The beginning of anything that you do...starts with you. Whether you are fully committed or just testing the waters. You make the choices, you accept the excuses, you are the one who thinks the thoughts and performs the actions.

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It is pretty cool that it is all about you. Bless yourself so that you can bless others in your life. ~j

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." ~ Henry Ford

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Some of us go right for the new year resolutions and make plans for the life that we would like to see. Others find that making and breaking those resolutions a tradition. Others yet, feel that resolutions can be equally as important when made throughout the year rather than as part of a collective hype. So, you may fall into one of those areas. If so, keep in mind why you want to make a change. What is the desired outcome? And just as important, how you will plan to do it. A plan is really your guide to getting to the outcome. It can be your support when you are ready to throw in the towel. A plan is also adjustable, because as you trek down the path of you hearts desire, life happens and not always the way that you planned it!

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When it comes to chaning your diet, it can always be a little uncomfortable. So take it a step at at time. Often times I recommend taking a look at what you are eating today. Then determine if you can make healthier choices or improve the quality of the foods that you are eating.

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For example: A hamburger...is it commercial beef or grass-fed? Is the bun white bread or whole grain? etc. Then we can take another step and look at how you are combining your foods. Do you really need that bun? Maybe sauteed mushrooms over the burger with a beautiful salad of fresh greens. Delicious, satisfying, easier for the body to process.

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Improving your eating habits is certainly in the top ten and for many reasons. People want to lose weight, feel better, more energy and on and on. It is possible and once you make choices to put the best available nutrients into this incredible carbon based machine we have been given, the quality of your life will certainly increase. Removing the clogging and draining types of foods alone is a tremendous effort.

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Choose health! Choose your life! ~j

What a way to start out the year! ~j

Despite a September survey found that 64% of Americans are repulsed by the idea of eating food from cloned animals, the FDA announced this week that milk, eggs and meat from cloned animals will soon be allowed on the market.

Ignoring a number of disturbing studies suggesting potential human health hazards, Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine said "that meat and milk from cattle, swine and goat clones is as safe to eat as the food we eat every day." Consumer, food safety, and animal welfare groups have condemned the announcement, pointing out that animal cloning is inherently unpredictable and hazardous, and that the practice of cloning has led to a high number of cruel and painful deformities in the experimental animals' offspring.

Full story...Approval of Cloned Food Leaves Consumers Unprotected , Despite Lack of Science and Strong Public Concern, FDA Expected to OK Food From Cloned Animals

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Live simply; love extravagantly! ~j

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