"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it."

~William Arthur Ward

Dole recalls salad mix

Okay gang. You must be getting tired of these news clips. I am. Here's the deal.

EAT LOCAL GROWN.

Have a nice day! ~j

ps. yes, this is a beautiful picture of ecoli.

" Fear not for the future,

weep not for the past."

~ Percy Bysshe Shelley

Stronger Than You Know
Getting Ourselves Worked Up
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Great little OM today gang! I completely identify with the moment of truth. All of this 'stress' though non-physical has significant impact on the Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenal axis (HPA) and yes you have one! I have seen it many times hinder the health of my clients. So take to heart the value of coping or stress reducing options. Your adrenal glands, immune and digestive systems will all be thankful. As noted...we are almost always stronger and more capable than we believe ourselves to be. Find your warrior within.
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Here's to the moment of truth~ ~j

Our capacity to cope successfully with life's challenges far outstrips our capacity to feel nervousness. Yet in the weeks, days, and hours leading up to an event that we believe will test our limits, we can become nervous. While we may have previously regarded ourselves as equal to the trials that lie ahead, we reach a point at which they near and our anxiety begins to mount. We then become increasingly worked up, until the moment of truth arrives and we discover that our worry was all for nothing. We are almost always stronger and more capable than we believe ourselves to be. But anxiety is not rational in nature, which means that in most cases we cannot work through it using logic as our only tool. Reason can help us recognize the relative futility of unwarranted worry but, more often than not, we will find more comfort in patterns of thought and activity that redirect our attention to practical or engaging matters.

Most of us find it remarkably difficult to focus on two distinct thoughts or emotions at once, and we can use this natural human limitation to our advantage when trying to stay centered in the period leading up to a potentially tricky experience. When we concentrate on something unrelated to our worry—such as deep breathing, visualizations of success, pleasurable pursuits, or exercise—anxiety dissipates naturally. Meditation is also a useful coping mechanism as it provides us with a means to ground ourselves in the moment. Our guides can aid us by providing us with a focal point wholly outside of our own sphere.


The intense emotional flare-up you experience just before you are set to challenge yourself is often a mixture of both excitement and fear. When you take steps to eliminate the fear, you can more fully enjoy the excitement. Though you may find it difficult to avoid getting worked up, your awareness of the forces acting on your feelings will help you return to your center and accept that few hurdles you will face will be as high as they at first appear.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

~Matthew 5:4

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I know that every year when this date comes around I feel at a loss. How to adequately honor and acknowledge the people and this event that has impacted so many lives. What a great opportunity. In remembrance. ~j

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http://www.mygooddeed.org/

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NEW YORK - On Sept. 11, Jacob Sundberg of San Antonio has pledged to make eye contact and smile at everyone he meets. Kaitlin Ulrich will bring goody baskets to the police and fire departments in and around Philadelphia. And 100 volunteers from New York – 9/11 firefighters and family members among them – are going to Groesbeck, Texas, to rebuild a house destroyed by a tornado last December.

This is a minute sampling of the hundreds of thousands of people who have pledged to memorialize those killed on 9/11 by doing something good for others.
The heroic acts of all those killed trying to save others that September morning has spawned a growing grass-roots movement. The goal is to ensure that future generations remember not just the horror of the attacks, but also the extraordinary outpouring of humanity during the days, weeks, and months that followed.

» 250,000 pledges

"I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent,

and this is what I have devoted my life to."

~Luciano Pavarotti

With thoughts of happiness for the joy that he shared and honoring his passion for the music in life. ~j

What this power is I cannot say;

all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only

when a man is in that state of mind in which he know exactly what he wants

and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it."

~Alexander Graham Bell

Get focused! What is it that has been lingering along with all of the other things in your life? That one thing that has just been hanging there.

Well, as we move in to Autumn and try to stretch the lingering days of summer just a little longer, think about your 'thing'.

Alexander here is really talking about a passionate focus. But maybe yours isn't so passionate right now. Maybe you need a little boost in that direction. Because sometimes it only takes a little tweak to change your whole life. When you are excited, the people around you get excited, your family, your coworkers, friends or someone on the street who receives a smile because you just can't hold one back.

For me, spreading the word about a healthy lifestyle really makes a difference. Showing people how to make little changes that might save them the inconvenience of medication or discomfort down the road. Add to that some exercise with fun attached and most people find a vigor for life that they forgot was possible.

So...maybe you choose art or yoga or walking, a 10k run or triathlon, Egyptian hieroglyphic studies or other ancient cultures, dust off that 'thing' and get focused. It just might make you smile!

In that state of mind! ~j

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. ~Theodore Roosevelt

"Today I live in the quiet, joyous expectation of good."

~ Ernest Holmen

Funny...these last few days I have found rather challenging. But a good challenge is helpful to put things in perspective. Still, it can be a pain in the rear too. So, today with good intentions of getting it all straight and leaving nothing with a sour taste, I started my very busy day.

Trying to fit all of life in can be difficult. So when I realized that I had forgotten an important pair of shoes for a much needed workout I had scheduled in so carefully to my day, I was pretty down. I had things so tight that I knew I didn't even have time to stop somewhere and fork over the extra $$ it would likely cost to pick up a new pair. Bummer.

Now this may not seem like much of a big deal, but with all of the other areas of my life not quite buttoned up as I like them, the control freak part of me started to peak out from under the darkness and rear its ugly head. I was 3 days behind and have made a commitment to myself that I was falling short of. Balance in my life is vital goal that I strive to create. My family, my work and time for myself are all so important to me that when one veers, they all seem to scream for attention. So...

The universe seems to work wonders. I am finding new meaning in the concept of surrender. Not an easy topic for me personally. My last appt finished early and I was able to hop out and take care of the shoe situation. Now, in reflection, was this a critical issue? I could have pushed things out another day, sure. But my lesson was that I cannot always do it all. I cannot always plan it all and I most certainly cannot always execute on cue. Life happens. So instead of blowing it out of proportion I surrendered internally and was provided with a small gift, the gift of time, to live in the joyous expectation of what in my life for the moment was good. If I did this more often with really important issues, I can now see that these gifts will continue to become reality.

In expectation good! ~j

"Perfection is devastated by failure,

while excellence learns from failure."

~ Denis Waitley

There is always controversy following the topic of milk. I prefer no to drink any form of cows milk. However if it is your choice to do so, raw is a much better way to go.

Here is a great summary from an article Mike Adams, The Health Ranger shared with OCA recently. For the full article, please see link! My only addition is Seasame milk. Made just as simply as Almond milk...it has an amazing natural mineral content that truly nourishes strong bones and a healthy body. Enjoy! ~j

What's Best? Soy Milk, Cow's Milk, Raw Milk and Fermented Milk (Kefir)

Mike's Milk Matrix
Okay, here's the low down on milk products and milk alternatives as I see it:

Soy milk: Not recommended. Too many GMO soybeans, bad environmental impact and some possible undesirable estrogen effects. The isoflavones are good for preventing cancer, however.

Processed cow's milk: It's just gross. Homogenized, pasteurized, milked from unhealthy cows and containing alarmingly high levels of pus, this liquid is nothing less than frightening. Flee it.

Raw cow's milk (organic): This is an acceptable dairy beverage. If it's from healthy cows treated with kindness and good nutrition, this raw beverage is far better than processed cow's milk.

Raw goat's milk (organic): Even better than raw cow's milk, since the goat's milk is easier to digest and more compatible with human nutritional needs.

Fermented milk from cows or goats (organic Kefir): A great choice! It's alive, nutritious and great for digestive health. Make it yourself for best results. If you buy it, avoid the sugared-up kefir products in the store.

Raw almond milk: A top choice for vegans, one of my favorite beverages. Make it yourself with raw almonds, water a nut milk bag and a blender.

Enjoy!

"It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him."

~John Steinbeck

Hi gang! Took a little time off to visit the beautiful state of Oregon. WOW! What another world. We enjoyed a fabulous girls weekend connecting the generations of women in our family...in girls getting dirty style. We 'camped' at a treesort. It was amazing. Out-N-About treesort, check them out online if you are ever in the area. Very fun for all ages. Lots of trees, lots of dirt, lots of fun!

Horseback riding, rafting and zip line trips were all on the agenda. Yikes! Climbing 50 ft to ride the ropes on the way down. Now that was fun!

We packed in some delicious meals and found some wonderful local resources as well, farmers markets, local farmers etc. So....the moral of the story, you can still play hard, have fun and eat healthy no matter where you are. Sometimes you just have to keep your eyes open! And while you are at it...you just might plant the seed for others to enjoy health and vitality along the way.

With such a devestating rise in obesity, cancer and heart disease, you really can't afford not to. Our healthcare system is failing the general population and I don't know about you, but I don't see our politicians getting it done these days. Become empowered and take your health seriously by taking healthy choices into your own hands.

Zipity do it! ~j

“He who pours water hastily into a bottle spills more than goes in”

~ Spanish Proverb quotes
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Okay gang. Water is crucial to health. Now with that said, get rid of the plastic bottles. Invest in Naglene (#7 bio plastic, no plastic leakage) or Stainless Steal container. You can even get them sized for your kids lunchboxes. They aren't just for hikers, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts. You sports fanatics...fill a few, keep them cool in your vehicle for post workout or event hydration. If you can't always do that, don't feel guilty, drink from the plastic bottle, but make it the exception and not the rule. Being prepared helps you and the environment.

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Keep it simple. ~j

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Below is an excerpt from NYTimes on this topic. Not terribly informative, but more contemplative.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/fashion/12water.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

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In the last few months, bottled water — generally considered a benign, even beneficial, product — has been increasingly portrayed as an environmental villain by city leaders, activist groups and the media. The argument centers not on water, but oil. It takes 1.5 million barrels a year just to make the plastic water bottles Americans use, according to the Earth Policy Institute in Washington, plus countless barrels to transport it from as far as Fiji and refrigerate it.

Bottled water has now overtaken coffee and milk in sales nationally, and is catching up with beer. To some, it’s an affordable luxury. To others, a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.

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AND so people who had come to consider bottled water a great convenience, or even a mark of good taste, are now casting guilty glances at their frosty drinks.

Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea,

never regains its original dimensions.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Law of Surrender - a little nugget from Dan Millman

Life unfolds as it will, not always according to our wishes or desires. The wisest among us retain our balance while surfing the waves of change. We float without resistance down even the most powerful rivers. Accepting the inevitability of change, applying flexibility and acceptance, we remain centered in the eye of the cyclone.

Raise a fresh juice glass to keeping the balance! ~j

You're only given a little spark of madness.

You mustn't lose it.

~Robin Williams

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Our lives are punctuated by celebrations and ceremonies that help us define and separate our walk through life. When we mark and share the important moments of our lives with others, we give our memories greater significance and weight so that they can echo through time to create our own history made up of stories to share with the generations to come. They help us solidify our identities and our connections. We gain witnesses to our accomplishments and validation for what we’ve achieved, whether it is status or age. By celebrating together, we walk through life together, supporting and encouraging each other as we go. Today, with or without a good reason, you can feel free to celebrate life in its small and large moments and to enjoy those people in your life who make it worth celebrating.

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Celebrate, whatever your occassion. ~j

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.

Where there is love and inspiration,

I don't think you can go wrong."

~Ella Fitzgerald

Have an amazing day! ~j

A politician thinks of the next election,

a statesman, of the next generation.

~James Freeman Clarke (1810 - 1888)

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If you think that your vote doesn't count...please, think again. The time to be informed is now. It's time to pay attention.

This is a small list of articles that I came across while checking in. I am amazed at how this small selection represents so many and the significance of each of them. Take your own browse through they are all linked to the articles.

Forget the Farm Bill: For Now, Local Politics is the Way to Effect Ag-Policy Change
Straight to the Source

Are There Antibiotics in Your Lettuce?

Unsafe Levels of Chemical BPA from Plastic Bottles Leaching into Drinks, U.S. Panel Says

More Bad PR for China with Massive Recall of Kids' Toys Contaminated with Lead Paint

Monsanto Goes GMO-Free - in its Cafeteria

Well, here is a smart option! It just doesn't have to be this hard. There is no reason for all of this craziness. Eat local, as local as you can. Eat fresh seasonal foods, they taste better and are better for you. Kick back and avoid the instanity that is whirling around. Knowlegde is power. Peace of mind regarding your food choices....it's all about the information. To make a change will voice your opinion louder than screaming. Where you put your $$ is heard loud and clear. Good for us!

Fair Trade Certified Food, Beverage Sales Soaring

Going local! ~j

A Reason To Smile

Five Minutes To Happiness

Enjoy a littl om, it is a fabulous day today! ~j

It can be so easy to get caught up in the rigors of modern life that we tend to forget that happiness need not come with stipulations. Happiness becomes something we must schedule and strive for—a hard-won emotion—and then only when we have no worries to occupy our thoughts. In reality, overwhelming joy is not the exclusive province of those with unlimited time and no troubles to speak of. Many of the happiest people on earth are also those coping with the most serious challenges. They have learned to make time for those simple yet superb pleasures that can be enjoyed quickly and easily. Cultivating a happy heart takes no more than five minutes. The resultant delight will be neither complex nor complicated, but it will be profound and will serve as a reminder that there is always a reason to smile.

So much that is ecstasy-inducing can be accomplished in five minutes. Alone, we can enjoy an aromatic cup of our favorite tea, take a stroll through the garden we have created, write about the day's events in a journal, doodle while daydreaming, or breathe deeply while we listen to the silence around us. In the company of a good friend or treasured relative, we can share a few silly jokes, enjoy a waltz around the room, play a fast-paced hand of cards, or reconnect through lighthearted conversation. The key is to first identify what makes us dizzyingly happy. If we do only what we believe should bring us contentment, our five minutes will not be particularly satisfying. When we allow ourselves the freedom to do whatever brings us pleasure, five minutes out of 14 wakeful hours can brighten our lives immeasurably.

It is often when we have the least free time or energy to devote to joy that we need to unwind and enjoy ourselves the most. Making happiness a priority will help you find five minutes every day to indulge in the things that inspire elation within you. Eventually, your happiness breaks will become an established part of your routine. If you start by pursuing activities you already enjoy and then gradually think up new and different ways to fill your daily five minutes of happiness, you will never be without something to smile about.

"Watermelon ~

it's a good fruit. You eat, you drink, you wash your face."

~Enrico Caruso

The Wonderful Amazing Watermelon

Dr. Ann Wigmore states in her book Be Your Own Doctor, “The watermelon rind has the richest proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Vitamins A, B, and C are found in the rind, along with their respective enzymes and other elements. Melons aid in the elimination of uric acid, and are beneficial to the urinary tract, bladder and kidney.“The ‘water of life’ is found in abundance in watermelons, and they will prove to be the safest means of cleaning the body’s waste, while at the same time providing nourishment. Watermelon is a wonderful aid for the person with an acid condition, as it helps balance the body to becoming more alkaline.”

So, why not enjoy this natural cleanser for your body. You can have a detox elixir via the delicious watermelon juice. The juice is so refreshing, sweet and soooo tasty, it is the REAL THING, for pennies to a glass.

Drinking only watermelon juice for a couple days can be an incredible cleanser. It does wonders to the skin and overall well-being.

However, if this does not inspire you to go out and get a watermelon, you might want to see what else you can do with a watermelon: click at the link to check out watermelon art, amazing - www.rawbc.org/articles/watermelon_art.html.

Slurp! If you are nt a juicer, just enjoy a slice or two as a refreshing treat. ~j

My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither,

but just to enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate.

~Thornton Wilder

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Oh! I love ice cream. Now I enjoy the dairy free version and relish every nibble.

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If you would love nothing more that a simple taste of fresh and flavorful, just freeze your fruit of choice and run it through the homogenizer on your juicer or give it a spin in the blender (Vita-Mix is my choice, but any high power blender will do). A delicious treat with a creamy texture is your reward. No cream needed.

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Keeping it cool. ~j

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Here's how to do it:

Take fresh, raw, ripe mangos. Peel and slice, store slices in plastic bag or other suitable container, and freeze. Then when you want to eat, remove from freezer and allow mangos to partially thaw. The mangos should not fully thaw: they should still have ice crystals in them. Put partially thawed mangos in blender, and puree. The result is an ice cream substitute that is 100% raw fruit, delicious, and better than any ice cream. This process can be used with other sweet fruit, such as papayas, pineapple, nectarines, mulberries, blue berries, bananas, etc.

Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food

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The Center for Food Safety is proud to announce our new book, Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food! Are you shopping in the dark? Your Right to Know: Genetic Engineering and the Secret Changes in Your Food provides a comprehensive and up-to-the-minute guide on the very real dangers genetically engineered foods present to our health, the environment, and farm communities. Written by Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety, with a foreword by Nell Newman, this book provides you with all the necessary tools to understand this critical food issue, to choose to avoid GE foods and to become an active participant in the fight for an organic, environmentally sustainable and socially just food future.

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This is good stuff gang! If you haven't seen The Future of Food (produced by Jerry Garcia's wife). You will get a good idea of what is happening in the farming communities of our country. She did a fantastic job. The bonus features are not to be missed either.

Don't think it affects you? Think again, all of that produce in the grocery store, the wheat and corn in your packaged foods, all of it touches lives.

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These things are really coming to the forefront, stay informed. ~j