Go here to continue on the journey of Feel Good Now....
http://feelgoodnow.wordpress.com/
Based on feedback I have gotten from folks in the Blogging UNIVERSE, I have decided to go with Word Press as the server for my blog. Follow the above link to check out the new and
improved version of Feel Good Now, Ask Me How.
Thanks for your continued support of this adventure on the health and wellness path called living the fun life and feeling really good doing it!
Susan Draves
http://feelgoodnow.wordpress.com/
Monday, November 26, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
A Quicky
Techniques to Promote Glowing Youthfully For Lots of Years
1) Eat lots of veggies, fruits, grains and locally raised eggs, milk, cheeses and meats.
(Know where your food comes from and preferably who raised it)
2) Get lots of exercise. Walking is an excellent activity. There are so
many more.
3) Drink water hourly to keep your cells hydrated.
Drink half your weight in ounces per day...for me that's about 2 quarts.
4) Eliminate stresses in life. Practice stress-reduction activities. Let go. I toss
up my arms and say...ahhhhhh....I let go of everything....Divine Universe,
you are in charge...I will act on inspiration from you...
Breathe deeply. Feel gratitude as your attitude.
5) Don't smoke.
6) Do fish oil, flaxseed oil, organic virgin coconut oil and supergreen foods like
spirulina and chlorella.
7) Find the love in all things. Say ' I love you' alot.
8) Eliminate complaining.
9) Laugh laugh laugh.
10) Have a ton of fun.
P.S. I did end up eating too much pie...but it was fun and I enjoyed myself while I was doin' it and I am not going to beat myself up for it.
1) Eat lots of veggies, fruits, grains and locally raised eggs, milk, cheeses and meats.
(Know where your food comes from and preferably who raised it)
2) Get lots of exercise. Walking is an excellent activity. There are so
many more.
3) Drink water hourly to keep your cells hydrated.
Drink half your weight in ounces per day...for me that's about 2 quarts.
4) Eliminate stresses in life. Practice stress-reduction activities. Let go. I toss
up my arms and say...ahhhhhh....I let go of everything....Divine Universe,
you are in charge...I will act on inspiration from you...
Breathe deeply. Feel gratitude as your attitude.
5) Don't smoke.
6) Do fish oil, flaxseed oil, organic virgin coconut oil and supergreen foods like
spirulina and chlorella.
7) Find the love in all things. Say ' I love you' alot.
8) Eliminate complaining.
9) Laugh laugh laugh.
10) Have a ton of fun.
P.S. I did end up eating too much pie...but it was fun and I enjoyed myself while I was doin' it and I am not going to beat myself up for it.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Watch the Stuffing...Bring On the Gratitude
Brainstorm with me, if you will,
all the ways we can prevent
over-stuffing ourselves this Thanksgiving
...your digestive system will be glad you did.
Send me your brainstorms, pretty please.
all the ways we can prevent
over-stuffing ourselves this Thanksgiving
...your digestive system will be glad you did.
Send me your brainstorms, pretty please.
Reality is that our organs don't like it
when we chow down and
inhale large quantities of food in one sitting...
it stresses them out and everything
sits there in a big lump not moving.
when we chow down and
inhale large quantities of food in one sitting...
it stresses them out and everything
sits there in a big lump not moving.
Gratitude....
Start your Thanksgiving morning with
a wake up call of gratitude.
[Phone rings]
"Wake uuuuupppppp.....what are YOU grateful for???"
a wake up call of gratitude.
[Phone rings]
"Wake uuuuupppppp.....what are YOU grateful for???"
List on paper EVERYTHING you are grateful for in your life
....from the air you breathe, to the great cup of coffee
you are sipping on, to the socks on your feet,....from the air you breathe, to the great cup of coffee
to your family, friends, shelter, food, clothing,
transportation...everything you can think of.
This act alone will put you in a mindful
and grounded place where you are much more
conscious and aware of your surroundings. and grounded place where you are much more
Chances are you will also feel good and have more
Eat a well rounded breakfast with protein
and fiber and minimal carbs.
and fiber and minimal carbs.
Next, take a walk.
Get some really fresh, crisp fall air.
Breathe it in deeply.
Say 'I love you' or 'thank you' over and over
again to clear negative thoughts
and bring positive energy to the forefront.
This will get your blood pumping nicely
and further put you in a serene place.
Get some really fresh, crisp fall air.
Breathe it in deeply.
Say 'I love you' or 'thank you' over and over
again to clear negative thoughts
and bring positive energy to the forefront.
This will get your blood pumping nicely
and further put you in a serene place.
Drink some tea, preferably with a teaspoon
of organic virgin coconut oil in it.
This will curb your appetite and reduce cravings for sweets.
of organic virgin coconut oil in it.
This will curb your appetite and reduce cravings for sweets.
Nibble on some raw veggies and/or fruits to maintain a nice glucose level.
Prior to the big meal, say a half hour before,
drink another cup of tea with 1 tsp of organic
virgin coconut oil (www.tropicaltraditions.com)drink another cup of tea with 1 tsp of organic
in it.
This will definitely warm you up and
fill you up enough to reduce the temptation to overeat.
fill you up enough to reduce the temptation to overeat.
Bring a plate of raw veggies and dip to the event
so that everyone has access to alkalizing their
digestive tract. Fact is, raw veggies make
your insides HAPPY!
Stay in gratitude mode.
Count wine as carbs because
a glass of wine is considered
a serving of carbs!
Fill your plate with two thirds
vegetable side dishes and
one third turkey.
Minimize carbs and stuffing servings
if at all
possible.
The wine is your carb, remember?
Chew slowly.
Return to a place of gratitude continually.
Make grateful thoughts
your mind chatter.
Laugh a lot!
Have fun.
Enjoy your family and friends.
Love, love, love.
Rest.
Walk.
Drink more tea.
Eat some pie!
HAPPY Thanksgiving, everybody!
so that everyone has access to alkalizing their
digestive tract. Fact is, raw veggies make
your insides HAPPY!
Stay in gratitude mode.
Count wine as carbs because
a glass of wine is considered
a serving of carbs!
Fill your plate with two thirds
vegetable side dishes and
one third turkey.
Minimize carbs and stuffing servings
if at all
possible.
The wine is your carb, remember?
Chew slowly.
Return to a place of gratitude continually.
Make grateful thoughts
your mind chatter.
Laugh a lot!
Have fun.
Enjoy your family and friends.
Love, love, love.
Rest.
Walk.
Drink more tea.
Eat some pie!
HAPPY Thanksgiving, everybody!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Believe In Winter Squash!
It is a wonderfully potent vegetable.
Winter squash has been around along time, people.
In addition to finding evidence of the beginnings of intricate agricultural systems in the Americas, anthropologistTom Dillehay at Vanderbilt University, discovered squash seeds in Peru that date back 10,000! Wow!
Without a doubt, squash is easy to grow, stores well, tastes sweet and wonderful and is loaded with nutrients. It is clear that centuries of peoples have grown and enjoyed squash.
This time of year, a multitude of varieties of squash are busting out all over. With the fall chill coming on strong, who can deny the craving for a warm buttery, hardy portion of squash?
One cup of winter squash has about 80 calories, is high in VitaminA--214% recommended daily value, and Vitamin C (33%) as well as B6, K, potassium and folate.
In a cool dry, place (50-60 degrees) squash stores nicely all winter long.
Let's gather our squash and start cookin'. Comfort food feelings are sure to set in once you smell the sweet aroma of the first squash you cook.
What kind to pick?
Acorn: most common and around year round, flesh can be watery so cook longer to bring out flavor.
Buttercup: old fashioned with a cup at the stem, full of flavor and fiber...a keeper and fantastic flavor every time!
Butternut: Queen of versatility, butternut is sweet and has the most meat and fewest seeds of the lot...more bang for your buck, no doubt!
Hubbard: Huge and ugly...sweet and great stuffed...you have to throw down it on the sidewalk to crack it open--great for letting your aggressions out.
Kabocha--Japanese squash with deep orange flesh, loaded with nutrients, potently flavorful.
Red Kuri--another Japanese squash deeply orange and tasty, the most bountifully nutritious of the bunch
Spaghetti--Oblong, mild in flavor, super stringy resembling spaghetti, thus the name....
Cut squash with caution and brute strength. These gems are hard! You can always heat your squash in the oven for a few minutes for skin loosening which allows the knife to get through easier. Once you've opened your squash, remove seeds and stringy fibers.
You can peel skin with a paring knife or veggie peeler. If you are baking your squash, you don't have to remove the skin if you are going to scoop out flesh when serving.
The easiest way to bake winter squash is to place them face down on a well-oiled pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Here are a couple of creative squash recipes...of course, there are zillions of ways to prepare squash. The beautiful thing about that is whether you do squash as an entree, side dish or sweet desert, they are fantastic to the tastebuds.
Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash
3 acorn squash
5 oz of bulk turkey sausage
1 small onion
1/2 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T chili powder
1 t ground cumin
2 c chopped cherry tomatoes
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed
1/2 t salt
Several dashes of hot red pepper sauce, to taste
1 c shredded Swiss cheese
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Oil baking sheet
2. Cut squash in half horizontally. Scoop out seeds.
Place face down on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake until tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in an large oiled skillet, heat on medium
heat. Add turkey sausage and cook, stirring and
breaking up with a wooden spoon, until lightly
browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion and bell
pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3-5 minutes.
4. When squash is tender, reduce oven to 325 degrees.
Fill squash halves with the turkey mixture. Top
with cheese. Place o the baking sheet and bake
until the filling is heated through and the cheese
is melted, 8-10 minutes.
6 servings
Spaghetti Squash and Pork Stir-Fry
1 3 lb. spaghetti squash
1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed
2 t toasted sesame oil
5 medium scallions, thinly sliced
2 cloves, garlic, minced
1 T minced fresh ginger
1/2 t. salt
2 T soysauce or tamari
2 T rice vinegar
1 t. Asian red chile sauce
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut squash in half. Discard seeds.
Place face down on oiled baking sheet.
Bake 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes then
shred the flesh with a fork into a bowl.
Discard shell.
3. Slice pork into matchstick rounds.
4. Heat a large wok over medium-high
heat. Swirl in oil, then add scallions, ginger,
and salt; cook, stirring until fragrant,
30 seconds. Add the pork, stirring
constantly, until just cooked through 2-3
minutes. Add the shredded squash and
cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add soy
sauce, rice vinegar and chili sauce;
cook, stirring constantly, until
aromatic, about 30 seconds.
4 servings
Thanks to Eating Well Magazine for the
ultimate squash recipes.
Yes, folks, you can't go wrong with squash.....take the time and do the slow cook dance...your belly will be very happy!
Winter squash has been around along time, people.
In addition to finding evidence of the beginnings of intricate agricultural systems in the Americas, anthropologistTom Dillehay at Vanderbilt University, discovered squash seeds in Peru that date back 10,000! Wow!
Without a doubt, squash is easy to grow, stores well, tastes sweet and wonderful and is loaded with nutrients. It is clear that centuries of peoples have grown and enjoyed squash.
This time of year, a multitude of varieties of squash are busting out all over. With the fall chill coming on strong, who can deny the craving for a warm buttery, hardy portion of squash?
One cup of winter squash has about 80 calories, is high in VitaminA--214% recommended daily value, and Vitamin C (33%) as well as B6, K, potassium and folate.
In a cool dry, place (50-60 degrees) squash stores nicely all winter long.
Let's gather our squash and start cookin'. Comfort food feelings are sure to set in once you smell the sweet aroma of the first squash you cook.
What kind to pick?
Acorn: most common and around year round, flesh can be watery so cook longer to bring out flavor.
Buttercup: old fashioned with a cup at the stem, full of flavor and fiber...a keeper and fantastic flavor every time!
Butternut: Queen of versatility, butternut is sweet and has the most meat and fewest seeds of the lot...more bang for your buck, no doubt!
Hubbard: Huge and ugly...sweet and great stuffed...you have to throw down it on the sidewalk to crack it open--great for letting your aggressions out.
Kabocha--Japanese squash with deep orange flesh, loaded with nutrients, potently flavorful.
Red Kuri--another Japanese squash deeply orange and tasty, the most bountifully nutritious of the bunch
Spaghetti--Oblong, mild in flavor, super stringy resembling spaghetti, thus the name....
Cut squash with caution and brute strength. These gems are hard! You can always heat your squash in the oven for a few minutes for skin loosening which allows the knife to get through easier. Once you've opened your squash, remove seeds and stringy fibers.
You can peel skin with a paring knife or veggie peeler. If you are baking your squash, you don't have to remove the skin if you are going to scoop out flesh when serving.
The easiest way to bake winter squash is to place them face down on a well-oiled pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Here are a couple of creative squash recipes...of course, there are zillions of ways to prepare squash. The beautiful thing about that is whether you do squash as an entree, side dish or sweet desert, they are fantastic to the tastebuds.
Southwestern Stuffed Acorn Squash
3 acorn squash
5 oz of bulk turkey sausage
1 small onion
1/2 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T chili powder
1 t ground cumin
2 c chopped cherry tomatoes
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed
1/2 t salt
Several dashes of hot red pepper sauce, to taste
1 c shredded Swiss cheese
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Oil baking sheet
2. Cut squash in half horizontally. Scoop out seeds.
Place face down on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake until tender, about 45 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in an large oiled skillet, heat on medium
heat. Add turkey sausage and cook, stirring and
breaking up with a wooden spoon, until lightly
browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add onion and bell
pepper; cook, stirring often, until softened, 3-5 minutes.
4. When squash is tender, reduce oven to 325 degrees.
Fill squash halves with the turkey mixture. Top
with cheese. Place o the baking sheet and bake
until the filling is heated through and the cheese
is melted, 8-10 minutes.
6 servings
Spaghetti Squash and Pork Stir-Fry
1 3 lb. spaghetti squash
1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed
2 t toasted sesame oil
5 medium scallions, thinly sliced
2 cloves, garlic, minced
1 T minced fresh ginger
1/2 t. salt
2 T soysauce or tamari
2 T rice vinegar
1 t. Asian red chile sauce
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut squash in half. Discard seeds.
Place face down on oiled baking sheet.
Bake 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes then
shred the flesh with a fork into a bowl.
Discard shell.
3. Slice pork into matchstick rounds.
4. Heat a large wok over medium-high
heat. Swirl in oil, then add scallions, ginger,
and salt; cook, stirring until fragrant,
30 seconds. Add the pork, stirring
constantly, until just cooked through 2-3
minutes. Add the shredded squash and
cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add soy
sauce, rice vinegar and chili sauce;
cook, stirring constantly, until
aromatic, about 30 seconds.
4 servings
Thanks to Eating Well Magazine for the
ultimate squash recipes.
Yes, folks, you can't go wrong with squash.....take the time and do the slow cook dance...your belly will be very happy!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Recipes for One, Part 1
KEEPING IT SIMPLE--COOKING FOR ONE (In Honor of Rich--A Solo Man Who is Not Afraid of Women's Power)
by Siouxz, Maven of Cellular Radiance and Stellar Vibrancy on All Levels-- At Least Some of the Time hahaha
Even though I have four kids and cook boatloads of grub, my single friends asked me to write a quick and easy cookbook for the solo person. Here is a sneek-preview of it! Feedback appreciated.
Easy Elegant Asparagus
1/2 lb Asparagus
1 T Pine Nuts or Walnuts
1 T Melted Butter
1 t Balsamic Vinegar
Wash asparagus, break off tough ends. Steam or cook in small amount of boiling water 3-6 minutes, until bright green and just tender. Meanwhile, toast nuts in dry skillet tossing often. Mix melted butter and vinegar in small bowl. When asparagus is ready, drain, drizzle butter sauce on top and sprinkle with nuts. Eat over rice or as a side dish.
Basic Brown Rice--A Must Do if You Are Into Low Carb Intake
1 cup short or long grain brown rice
2 cups water
1 t salt
1/2 t oil
Bring water and salt to a boil, add rice. Cover. Boil for 5 min. Simmer at low heat for 20 min. Turn off heat. Keep lid on and let steam finish cooking rice for another 10-15 minutes. Cut cooking time in half if using basmati or jasmine rice.
Szechwan Green Beans
1 T sesame oil--roasted ok
1/2 lb green beans
2 cloves garlic
1/4 t salt
crushed red pepper to taste
Heat heavy, deep skillet over medium-high heat. After a minute add oil After another minute add green beans. Raise heat to high and stir-fry 5 minutes, until beans are well-seared and bright green. Add garlic, salt and optional red pepper. Stir-fry 5 more minutes, then remove from heat. Serve warm.
Carrot/Beet Slaw
2 medium beets
3 large carrots
1 medium onion
olive oil
lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Grate vegetables on a medium-fine grater all together in a bowl. Add olive oil and lemon juice as a salad dressing to suit your taste. (You don't want to be swimming in dressing, but you want the tartness of the lemon to be prominent.)
Siouxz's Basic Stir Fry
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 T olive oil
1 T org coconut oil
1 carrot
1 C broccoli florets
1 C cauliflower florets
1 green pepper
1/2 c peas--frozen ok.
any other veggies that are hanging around
Chop up veggies to your desired size. Heat skillet or wok to medium high heat, add 1 T olive oil ad 1 T coconut oil( check out my blog entry on the benefits of organic virgin coconut oil- http://susandraves.blogspotcom/Ahhhh Yes Virgin Coconut Oil) , stir in onions. When transluscent, add veggies. Cover. Add garlic next, stirring everything evenly. Add tamari or soy sauce and a little water for steaming affect. Stir up egg. Throw in and stir in. Add peas. Sprinkle cayenne pepper for some heat and its great for your heart). When all veggies are brightly colored and tender, turn off heat. Enjoy with rice or rice noodles.
Spinach Omlette (Inspired by Pat O'Bryan's flip phone video clip of making a spinach omlette as seen on his blog--http://www.patobryan.com/blog/)
3 Eggs
1 T milk
1/2 C Spinach
1/4 C Grated Cheese--Cheddar or Colby or whatever is handy
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 clove garlic
tamari
Stir up 3 eggs in a bowl till light in fluffy. Heat skillet at medium high, add 1 t Olive oil and 1 t org coconut oil. Pour in eggs with finely chopped garlic and salt and pepper. When hot but still slightly liquidy, add spinach. Cover for 1 minute. Add Cheese. Flip omlette over in half. Turn off heat. Cover. Let cheese melt another minute. Eat and savor.
Pasta with Broccoli Florets
Florets cut from 1/2 head of Broccoli
1 C Pasta, your choice
1 T Olive Oil
1 T Butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 lb mushrooms, sliced
1/8 C Parmesan Cheese
Cook Broccoli florets in boiling water 2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon. cook past in same water. Meanwhile. heat olive oil and butter in skillet. Saute garlic and mushrooms 2 minutes. Stir in broccoli. Drain pasta when ready. Toss with broccoli mixture and cheese. Yummy!
Easy Low-Calorie Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant cut into 1/2 inch thick round slices
salt
Italian seasoning (generous amounts of basil and oregano)
Spaghetti Sauce
Monterrey Jack Cheese or Colby, sliced
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place eggplant slices in baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and seasonings or herbs. Top with the sauce. Place sliced cheese on each eggplant slice and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cover and bake 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until eggplant is tender and the cheese is bubbly, about 15 or 20 minutes. Save what you don't eat.
Spicy Kale
1 bunch Kale
1 T Olive Oil
1-3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
Crushed Red Pepper flakes
1/3 c. Chicken Broth
Bring 1 quart salt water to boil. Add kale or other greens, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes. Drain and immediately rinse in cold water to stop the cooking. Squeeze eater out of greens..pat with paper towel. In same pot heat olive oil. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Saute 1 minute, then stir in kale and chicken broth. Simmer 4-5 minutes.
Potato Leek Soup
1/4 t Salt
2 Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 Leek, cleaned, trimmed and thinnly sliced
1/8 c. fresh parsley, optional
1 T butter
Bring 4 C water to a boil in a stock pot. Add salt, potatoes and leeks, cover and reduce heat. Cook until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. Transfer to a a food processor or blender and puree. Do not over-bled or potatoes will become sticky. Return to pot, stir in parsley and butter and reheat.
Stuffed Green Pepper or Two
a little olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 c. raw brown rice
3 c. water, chicken broth, vegetable stock or tomoato juice
1/4 t allspice
1 small tomato chopped
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/4. c. almonds, chopped
salt and pepper
2 large peppers, tops cut off, seeds removed.
Heat oil in large skillet; add and saute garlic and onion. Add rice and brown about 5 minutes. Add desired liquid and allspice. Cvoer and cook until rice is done, about 40 minutes. Toast almods in dry skillet or hot oven several minutes, tossing often. Stir in tomatoes, cheese, almonds, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook peppers in boiling water 2 minutes. Drain ad stuff peppers with rice mixture. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes.
Winter Vegetable Soup--This makes a big pot that you can freeze and turn into 6 or 8 servings!
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 medium onions, coarsley chopped
4 c. sliced cabbage
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 t ground black pepper
1/2 t freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 t fresh thyme or 1/4 t. dried thyme
salt to taste
Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce to taste
Place veggies in large soup pot with stock and 3 cups water. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Cool to warm temperature, puree in food processor or blender in batches, return to soup pot. Add seasonings, herbs and spices..simmer slowly on low and go do something fun...comeback in an hour and two and enjoy!
by Siouxz, Maven of Cellular Radiance and Stellar Vibrancy on All Levels-- At Least Some of the Time hahaha
Even though I have four kids and cook boatloads of grub, my single friends asked me to write a quick and easy cookbook for the solo person. Here is a sneek-preview of it! Feedback appreciated.
Easy Elegant Asparagus
1/2 lb Asparagus
1 T Pine Nuts or Walnuts
1 T Melted Butter
1 t Balsamic Vinegar
Wash asparagus, break off tough ends. Steam or cook in small amount of boiling water 3-6 minutes, until bright green and just tender. Meanwhile, toast nuts in dry skillet tossing often. Mix melted butter and vinegar in small bowl. When asparagus is ready, drain, drizzle butter sauce on top and sprinkle with nuts. Eat over rice or as a side dish.
Basic Brown Rice--A Must Do if You Are Into Low Carb Intake
1 cup short or long grain brown rice
2 cups water
1 t salt
1/2 t oil
Bring water and salt to a boil, add rice. Cover. Boil for 5 min. Simmer at low heat for 20 min. Turn off heat. Keep lid on and let steam finish cooking rice for another 10-15 minutes. Cut cooking time in half if using basmati or jasmine rice.
Szechwan Green Beans
1 T sesame oil--roasted ok
1/2 lb green beans
2 cloves garlic
1/4 t salt
crushed red pepper to taste
Heat heavy, deep skillet over medium-high heat. After a minute add oil After another minute add green beans. Raise heat to high and stir-fry 5 minutes, until beans are well-seared and bright green. Add garlic, salt and optional red pepper. Stir-fry 5 more minutes, then remove from heat. Serve warm.
Carrot/Beet Slaw
2 medium beets
3 large carrots
1 medium onion
olive oil
lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Grate vegetables on a medium-fine grater all together in a bowl. Add olive oil and lemon juice as a salad dressing to suit your taste. (You don't want to be swimming in dressing, but you want the tartness of the lemon to be prominent.)
Siouxz's Basic Stir Fry
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 T olive oil
1 T org coconut oil
1 carrot
1 C broccoli florets
1 C cauliflower florets
1 green pepper
1/2 c peas--frozen ok.
any other veggies that are hanging around
Chop up veggies to your desired size. Heat skillet or wok to medium high heat, add 1 T olive oil ad 1 T coconut oil( check out my blog entry on the benefits of organic virgin coconut oil- http://susandraves.blogspotcom/Ahhhh Yes Virgin Coconut Oil) , stir in onions. When transluscent, add veggies. Cover. Add garlic next, stirring everything evenly. Add tamari or soy sauce and a little water for steaming affect. Stir up egg. Throw in and stir in. Add peas. Sprinkle cayenne pepper for some heat and its great for your heart). When all veggies are brightly colored and tender, turn off heat. Enjoy with rice or rice noodles.
Spinach Omlette (Inspired by Pat O'Bryan's flip phone video clip of making a spinach omlette as seen on his blog--http://www.patobryan.com/blog/)
3 Eggs
1 T milk
1/2 C Spinach
1/4 C Grated Cheese--Cheddar or Colby or whatever is handy
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 clove garlic
tamari
Stir up 3 eggs in a bowl till light in fluffy. Heat skillet at medium high, add 1 t Olive oil and 1 t org coconut oil. Pour in eggs with finely chopped garlic and salt and pepper. When hot but still slightly liquidy, add spinach. Cover for 1 minute. Add Cheese. Flip omlette over in half. Turn off heat. Cover. Let cheese melt another minute. Eat and savor.
Pasta with Broccoli Florets
Florets cut from 1/2 head of Broccoli
1 C Pasta, your choice
1 T Olive Oil
1 T Butter
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 lb mushrooms, sliced
1/8 C Parmesan Cheese
Cook Broccoli florets in boiling water 2 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon. cook past in same water. Meanwhile. heat olive oil and butter in skillet. Saute garlic and mushrooms 2 minutes. Stir in broccoli. Drain pasta when ready. Toss with broccoli mixture and cheese. Yummy!
Easy Low-Calorie Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant cut into 1/2 inch thick round slices
salt
Italian seasoning (generous amounts of basil and oregano)
Spaghetti Sauce
Monterrey Jack Cheese or Colby, sliced
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place eggplant slices in baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and seasonings or herbs. Top with the sauce. Place sliced cheese on each eggplant slice and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cover and bake 10 minutes. Uncover and cook until eggplant is tender and the cheese is bubbly, about 15 or 20 minutes. Save what you don't eat.
Spicy Kale
1 bunch Kale
1 T Olive Oil
1-3 Garlic Cloves, Minced
Crushed Red Pepper flakes
1/3 c. Chicken Broth
Bring 1 quart salt water to boil. Add kale or other greens, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook 5 minutes. Drain and immediately rinse in cold water to stop the cooking. Squeeze eater out of greens..pat with paper towel. In same pot heat olive oil. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes to taste. Saute 1 minute, then stir in kale and chicken broth. Simmer 4-5 minutes.
Potato Leek Soup
1/4 t Salt
2 Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 Leek, cleaned, trimmed and thinnly sliced
1/8 c. fresh parsley, optional
1 T butter
Bring 4 C water to a boil in a stock pot. Add salt, potatoes and leeks, cover and reduce heat. Cook until potatoes are soft, about 30 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. Transfer to a a food processor or blender and puree. Do not over-bled or potatoes will become sticky. Return to pot, stir in parsley and butter and reheat.
Stuffed Green Pepper or Two
a little olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 c. raw brown rice
3 c. water, chicken broth, vegetable stock or tomoato juice
1/4 t allspice
1 small tomato chopped
1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1/4. c. almonds, chopped
salt and pepper
2 large peppers, tops cut off, seeds removed.
Heat oil in large skillet; add and saute garlic and onion. Add rice and brown about 5 minutes. Add desired liquid and allspice. Cvoer and cook until rice is done, about 40 minutes. Toast almods in dry skillet or hot oven several minutes, tossing often. Stir in tomatoes, cheese, almonds, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook peppers in boiling water 2 minutes. Drain ad stuff peppers with rice mixture. Bake at 350 degrees 30 minutes.
Winter Vegetable Soup--This makes a big pot that you can freeze and turn into 6 or 8 servings!
4 garlic cloves, sliced
2 medium onions, coarsley chopped
4 c. sliced cabbage
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 t ground black pepper
1/2 t freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 t fresh thyme or 1/4 t. dried thyme
salt to taste
Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce to taste
Place veggies in large soup pot with stock and 3 cups water. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes or until vegetables are very tender. Cool to warm temperature, puree in food processor or blender in batches, return to soup pot. Add seasonings, herbs and spices..simmer slowly on low and go do something fun...comeback in an hour and two and enjoy!
Poison = High-Fructose Corn Syrup
Radical notion, I know. High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) could actually be poisonous?
"I think it IS poison," declares Chef Greg Jaworski of The NOSH, Lake City's 5- star phenomenal, fresh ingredient, French bistro restaurant.
Isn't sugar just sugar no matter what form it takes? They all contain empty calories, this is true.
And fructose in and of itself isn't bad...heck, it is the main sugar in fruit!
It is the boat loads of soda pop being drunk every day...which I believe is in the millions of cans per day...is what I'm talkin' about. Many many many Americans are burning OIL for fuel to power our cars and other such toys at the same rate they are consuming soda POP...WOWWWWWWWWWW. Could there be a parallel? We are such a culture of overconsumers....ugh.
Ranting aside,
Research is actually showing that our bodies process HFCS differently than other sugars...that the liver actually metabolizes fructose into fat more easily than other sugars. While HFCS may not be harmful enough to do serious damage, it has been linked to obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. It is also cheap and readily available (corn is the highest subsidized crop) and used a lot to sweeten soft drinks and other beverages as well as baked goods, yogurt, ice cream, jam, jellies, dairy products, etc.
Sooooo, if you aren't a fanatical label reader, HFCS is pretty hard to avoid. In other words, if you aren't eating fresh veggies, fruits and whole foods, you can bet your booty your eating HFCS. It is the main ingredient in a plethora of products out there in mainstream groceries and convenience stores.
Too many of the wrong carbs? I think so.
"People are eating the same amounts of carbohydrates, but today instead of getting most of their carbs from whole grains and vegetables, people are getting them from processed grains and sugars, with the majority coming from HFCS. " Rebecca Shauer, RD, LD
Our culture consumes massive amounts of soda pop and junk food. Look at the advertising. Follow the money. Pepsi, Coke and other big food conglomerates are dominating the market.
"...the introduction of HFCS, and the increased intakes of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, have led to increases in total caloric and fructose consumption that are important contributors to the current obesity epidemic."
Of course, genetics, decreased physical activity, increased fast food consumption and portion sizes are factors, too.
Still, HFCS is keeping us down, folks...it is preventing us from taking our health into our own hands and living a fabulous life right now, feeling good and full of energy day in day out.
Eliminate HFCS from your diet and watch the pounds fall away, watch your energy shift, watch your cravings for sugar decrease.
Do more veggies, fruits, protein and minimal carbs. Reduce sugar intake. Walk more, laugh lots, breathe deeply, and dare to ....dream BIG.
Coming up:
Recipes for the solo chef at home...
"I think it IS poison," declares Chef Greg Jaworski of The NOSH, Lake City's 5- star phenomenal, fresh ingredient, French bistro restaurant.
Isn't sugar just sugar no matter what form it takes? They all contain empty calories, this is true.
And fructose in and of itself isn't bad...heck, it is the main sugar in fruit!
It is the boat loads of soda pop being drunk every day...which I believe is in the millions of cans per day...is what I'm talkin' about. Many many many Americans are burning OIL for fuel to power our cars and other such toys at the same rate they are consuming soda POP...WOWWWWWWWWWW. Could there be a parallel? We are such a culture of overconsumers....ugh.
Ranting aside,
Research is actually showing that our bodies process HFCS differently than other sugars...that the liver actually metabolizes fructose into fat more easily than other sugars. While HFCS may not be harmful enough to do serious damage, it has been linked to obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease. It is also cheap and readily available (corn is the highest subsidized crop) and used a lot to sweeten soft drinks and other beverages as well as baked goods, yogurt, ice cream, jam, jellies, dairy products, etc.
Sooooo, if you aren't a fanatical label reader, HFCS is pretty hard to avoid. In other words, if you aren't eating fresh veggies, fruits and whole foods, you can bet your booty your eating HFCS. It is the main ingredient in a plethora of products out there in mainstream groceries and convenience stores.
Too many of the wrong carbs? I think so.
"People are eating the same amounts of carbohydrates, but today instead of getting most of their carbs from whole grains and vegetables, people are getting them from processed grains and sugars, with the majority coming from HFCS. " Rebecca Shauer, RD, LD
Our culture consumes massive amounts of soda pop and junk food. Look at the advertising. Follow the money. Pepsi, Coke and other big food conglomerates are dominating the market.
"...the introduction of HFCS, and the increased intakes of soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, have led to increases in total caloric and fructose consumption that are important contributors to the current obesity epidemic."
Of course, genetics, decreased physical activity, increased fast food consumption and portion sizes are factors, too.
Still, HFCS is keeping us down, folks...it is preventing us from taking our health into our own hands and living a fabulous life right now, feeling good and full of energy day in day out.
Eliminate HFCS from your diet and watch the pounds fall away, watch your energy shift, watch your cravings for sugar decrease.
Do more veggies, fruits, protein and minimal carbs. Reduce sugar intake. Walk more, laugh lots, breathe deeply, and dare to ....dream BIG.
Coming up:
Recipes for the solo chef at home...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Ahhhh Yes Virgin Coconut Oil
Yippee, it is a full moon today...the sky will be clear, it will be a gorgeous night for a harvest moon.
So did I mention organic virgin coconut oil? It is made from the meat of fresh coconuts and there is a distinct aroma and taste of coconut.
Virgin coconut oil is a fantastic medium chain fatty acid rich oil that you can cook with, spread on toast, enjoy in smoothies, tea or coffee, and use externally on your skin.
Medicinal properties abound and because it is a stable oil, coconut oil can be heated. 1-3 tablespoons per day is the recommended amount to receive benefits from the oil. The active ingredient, lauric acid which is also present in human breast milk, is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, and increases metabolism. Weight loss, digestive issues, thyroid balancing, skin health, candida yeast conditions and lowering cholesterol levels are all issues that are somewhat addressed with regular coconut consumption.
Melting point is 76 degrees, so coconut oil makes an excellent skin moisturizer, melting as it touches your skin. Some would even attest to its amazing sun screen capabilities.
I put a teaspoon of coconut oil in each cup of coffee or tea that I drink and can't go with out it now. I make my eggs, popcorn and stir fries with a combination of organic virgin coconut oil and virgin olive oil. I put 1 T of coconut oil in my smoothies also.
For three years now, I've been on the coconut oil regimen. Olive oil and sesame oil are the only other oils I have in my kitchen. What I have noticed most about consistently consuming coconut oil is soft, nice skin and an consistently increased energy level--rarely do I feel sluggish and if I do, it doesn't last too long. One more thing I notice is that coconut oil fills me up so I don't crave a ton of carbs and sugary food.
In the winter months, it is good to stayed well-oiled and lubed from the inside out...the extra fats keep us Minnesotans way warmer than if we were doing the low-fat thing. All the muscles and joints work better, too, I believe.
www.tropicaltraditions.com is the quickest way to find out more about virgin coconut oil and it is available through them or at my store. www.wise traditions.com and www.mercola.com also discuss the benefits of coconut oil. Check it out. Enjoy. Stay oiled. You'll work better! Afterall, WE are bodies/machines/temples, yes?
So did I mention organic virgin coconut oil? It is made from the meat of fresh coconuts and there is a distinct aroma and taste of coconut.
Virgin coconut oil is a fantastic medium chain fatty acid rich oil that you can cook with, spread on toast, enjoy in smoothies, tea or coffee, and use externally on your skin.
Medicinal properties abound and because it is a stable oil, coconut oil can be heated. 1-3 tablespoons per day is the recommended amount to receive benefits from the oil. The active ingredient, lauric acid which is also present in human breast milk, is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, and increases metabolism. Weight loss, digestive issues, thyroid balancing, skin health, candida yeast conditions and lowering cholesterol levels are all issues that are somewhat addressed with regular coconut consumption.
Melting point is 76 degrees, so coconut oil makes an excellent skin moisturizer, melting as it touches your skin. Some would even attest to its amazing sun screen capabilities.
I put a teaspoon of coconut oil in each cup of coffee or tea that I drink and can't go with out it now. I make my eggs, popcorn and stir fries with a combination of organic virgin coconut oil and virgin olive oil. I put 1 T of coconut oil in my smoothies also.
For three years now, I've been on the coconut oil regimen. Olive oil and sesame oil are the only other oils I have in my kitchen. What I have noticed most about consistently consuming coconut oil is soft, nice skin and an consistently increased energy level--rarely do I feel sluggish and if I do, it doesn't last too long. One more thing I notice is that coconut oil fills me up so I don't crave a ton of carbs and sugary food.
In the winter months, it is good to stayed well-oiled and lubed from the inside out...the extra fats keep us Minnesotans way warmer than if we were doing the low-fat thing. All the muscles and joints work better, too, I believe.
www.tropicaltraditions.com is the quickest way to find out more about virgin coconut oil and it is available through them or at my store. www.wise traditions.com and www.mercola.com also discuss the benefits of coconut oil. Check it out. Enjoy. Stay oiled. You'll work better! Afterall, WE are bodies/machines/temples, yes?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Guess What???
Honey and cinnamon work synergistically together and actually prevent a multitude of health disasters so says some internet literature...I choose to believe and take this concept to heart....believe and it is so...this is how I live my life...it is fun and makes sense to me.
I believe we'll be living in my dream home, I believe I'll be driving a sporty 6 seater for me and the tribe and I believe my store will expand to include a deli and juice bar. I believe the kids and me will do more fun stuff together because I believe in the concept of playing more and working less. I believe I can support my kids on my own. I believe in living my life passionately and being passionate about everything I do. This is fun to me. I believe in the synergistic power of honey and cinnamon. It is simple.
Arthritis, heart disease, gastro-intestinal issues, bad breath, colds, cholesterol levels, skin ailments among countless other dis-eases of the body all are impacted by a steady dose of honey and cinnamon. Why? They keep inflammation down.
And they are so yummy. How simple. Do a tablespoon of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon in a cup of hot water twice a day and see what happens. I've noticed a stronger immune system (actually I never get sick so I know my system is super strong) and I feel lots of energy from increasing my intake of honey and cinnamon. Folks who are allergic to yeast or have candida might not want to partake because of the sugars....diabetics should be ok with all the data coming out around cinnamon and its ability to regulate blood glucose.
Maybe it all so simple.
Take blame, for example. It is simple to blame others, outside scenarios, outcomes, but yet, what are the results of blaming?
Blaming doesn't feel good on the inside if you really stop and check in with how you feel after you have just blamed someone or something. Yucky, right? That's how I feel.
Not feeling good suggests being out of whack.
Being out of whack is the same as being out of alignment. Being out of alignment prevents good things from happening to us.
Do you want to be out of whack?
I doubt it.
Do you want to feel good?
I bet so.
Guess what?
Guess what Joe Vitale--the superman of the Law of Attraction and one of cool wise guys on the movie, The Secret has just reminded us in an ass-kicking kind of way?
Not 50%, not 75%, not 99.9%. He says, I am 100% responsible for my life. It's true! Wow. That certainly takes all the power out of blaming others, situations, circumstances, and outcomes for the way things have gone in my life.
We are all 100% responsible for our lives. I'm with Joe. There's really no getting around that fact.
We are who we are.
I can't be you. You are you. I am me.
I have choices. So do you.
We can be happy.
We can be healthy.
We can be wealthy.
We are all 100% responsible for our lives. I'm with Joe. There's really no getting around that fact.
We are who we are.
I can't be you. You are you. I am me.
I have choices. So do you.
We can be happy.
We can be healthy.
We can be wealthy.
Simple is as simple does.
Messages come to you daily--are you listening?
Two friends just lost their home in to the wild fires in CA...they are letting go and moving on quickly. Another one is preparing by watering his house and cutting down trees because the fire is sited 10 miles away right now. Taking action. 100% responsible. Oh yes.
It is simply a matter of alignment. If I am in alignment to what I want, that which I desire comes forth. Maybe not right away, but eventually by virtue of the fact, that the Universe arranges and rearranges itself to accommodate my desires. How cool is that? And how simple....
It is simply a matter of alignment. If I am in alignment to what I want, that which I desire comes forth. Maybe not right away, but eventually by virtue of the fact, that the Universe arranges and rearranges itself to accommodate my desires. How cool is that? And how simple....
There is good baggage. There is bad baggage. This is pretty simple, too.
Good baggage is my Frida Kahlo plastic carrying bag from Mexico filled with books--Pat O'Bryan's Your Portable Empire, Esther Hick's The Astonishing Power of Emotions, my notebook, my laptop, my wallet and checkbook, the local paper, three cookbooks and some bills. Soon, I'll have Joe Vitale's new book The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want. I have to have Pat's laid-back and authentic wisdom and Esther's kind and gentle wisdom and Joe's in your face wisdom and anybody else that comes forth and says something I need to hear...this allows me to access the truth, to wake up and I sure as shit (that is how some Minnesotans talk) know exists inside me...I know it is there. This wisdom that they all proclaim to be so. It is so. I believe this. And I buy their books because their process, their words, their experiences inspire me to keep accessing what all ready exists inside me. I wake up when I listen. And the results for me is that I feel good, I feel inspired, and I feel in alignment.
Good baggage keeps me in alignment with what I want.
I carry my good baggage around with me everyday. I look like a bag lady with a leather coat and moviestar sunglasses.
The good baggage makes me a better person. I use my good baggage daily. It is how I stay in alignment.
The bad baggage are the inner barriers that fence me in. I don't want to be fenced in. The bad baggage doesn't believe, doesn't allow and eventually throws me out of alignment so far that even the chiropractor, Dr. Nate, can't realign me. Bad baggage does not feel good. It isn't fun. It prevents me from being passionate about my life.
I want to believe. I want to be in alignment. I want good stuff to happen.
I want to be passionate in everything I do.
This is my fuel. Good baggage, all encompassing passion and cinnamon and honey....(well, I'll throw in supergreen foods, too, as I mentioned in previous posts...supergreens definitely fuel me and keep me healthy!)
100% responsible. Me. I am that. And that is what it takes for me to dissolve the bad baggage.
It is simple. Like honey and cinnamon.
Out with the bad baggage.
In with the good.
Thank you, Frederick.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Cellular MOJO
Oh my gosh, did I really say that? Three to five servings a day of dark leafy greens are recommended? Yes, I did in the last blog because it is recommended by the king of super green foods...but c'mon, let's get real... who in the heck can possibly eat 3-5 servings a day of dark leafy greens????? It is a noble task and I applaud anyone who can actually pull it off because your body will love you for it. Honestly, I'm lucky if I get one serving a day of dark leafy greens and it only happens because I remember to do it and I remember to bring home dark leafy greens in the first place.
Ok, let's remember this is a life long journey to achieve body balance....the process of eating clean day in day out is just that a process...some days, it is easier to achieve and attain body alkalinity than others.
My kids are home from school the last couple of days due to teacher workshops and such so I've found myself doing a lot of cookie baking and banana bread making for them. It's all good, but trust me, do I lick the bowl...HECK yeah!!! Do I feel sugar OD'd? YES~! I am massively bloated and I have a stomachache from too much sugar, flour and beef stew as well as pizza and other fun kid food...YIKES....I feel like I have to do a Master Cleanse detox...but I'm not ready to do that so I'll stick to drinking lots of spirulina water, chlorella for detoxing, raw veggies, and portion control. Granted all the ingredients were organic, but I still feel like a beached whale.
And the point is, I AIN'T perfect!!!
Have fun and enjoy the journey to becoming positively cellular, feeding your cells, loving your body temple, experiencing translucent health...cells are us, after all, and we deserve limitless, supreme health so that we can enjoy stellar vibrations and be completely who we truly are--radiant, joyfilled, 'deliberate creators' of every day, feeling good every day.
Your Diva of Cellular Radiance,
Susan
Ok, let's remember this is a life long journey to achieve body balance....the process of eating clean day in day out is just that a process...some days, it is easier to achieve and attain body alkalinity than others.
My kids are home from school the last couple of days due to teacher workshops and such so I've found myself doing a lot of cookie baking and banana bread making for them. It's all good, but trust me, do I lick the bowl...HECK yeah!!! Do I feel sugar OD'd? YES~! I am massively bloated and I have a stomachache from too much sugar, flour and beef stew as well as pizza and other fun kid food...YIKES....I feel like I have to do a Master Cleanse detox...but I'm not ready to do that so I'll stick to drinking lots of spirulina water, chlorella for detoxing, raw veggies, and portion control. Granted all the ingredients were organic, but I still feel like a beached whale.
And the point is, I AIN'T perfect!!!
Have fun and enjoy the journey to becoming positively cellular, feeding your cells, loving your body temple, experiencing translucent health...cells are us, after all, and we deserve limitless, supreme health so that we can enjoy stellar vibrations and be completely who we truly are--radiant, joyfilled, 'deliberate creators' of every day, feeling good every day.
Your Diva of Cellular Radiance,
Susan
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Turn on Your Immune System
Hello,
I just found out that it is ideal to eat 3-5 servings a day of dark green leafy veggies like kale, the queen of all dark greens load with calcium, A, B , C , magnesium, phosphorous--phytonutrients and chlorophyll, trace minerals, proteins, fiber, all of which boost the immune system and make our cells happy and healthy and alkalize our bodies...whew hoo!
Now that is a lot of dark leafy greens...dang! Just try to sneak them in everything from eggs, to tomato sauces for pasta, to soups to on the side sauteed with garlic and olive oil. Raw is best such as the kale shake I describe in the last blog or finely chopped in a salad with red onion and cubed avocado along with your favorite dressing...now that sounds pretty good, yes?
What I really want to focus in on is MSG, monosodium glutamate--the real crack cocaine of the US....this flavoring literally causes you body to become addicted to it and want more, more, more....and it is in everything! What does this mean for the food industry? Money being spent on more food to keep us feeling hungry (that is the MSG doing its job!) which in turn makes the public buy more and more food. Money is made...it all boils down to money...keep folks addicted to processed foods and somebody out there is making boatloads of money while everyone gets poisoned...yuck...and then the medical community makes money on all the sick people who have ingested tons of MSG through the years and end up with dis-eases...yuck again!
In terms of product labelling, MSG can be listed as MSG or a host of other pseudonyms like 'hydrolyzed vegetable protein,' 'accent' , 'agino moto', 'natural meat tenderizer, or simply added flavorings. You can bet sure as the sky is blue and a third of Lake City is overweight that Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, TGIF, Applebee's Denny's , KFC and countless more franchised food establishments use massive amounts of MSG. In fact, at KFC, MSG is in every gravy and chicken dish and salad dressing.....maybe their secret ingredient is actually MSG...wow!
Need we ponder any further why the US is overweight? MSG has been scientifically proven to cause obesity and actually really is addictive....anything prepackaged at the grocery store has it listed in their ingredients. Other dis-eases have been connect to MSG as well such as diabetes, migraines, headaches, autism, ADHD, and Alzheimer's...if you want to read more studies, go to www.pubmed.com and type "MSG obese" to read the scientific studies.
Somehow, we have to obliterate MSG from our food system....legislation is being written to do just that. The movie, "Supersize Me" made great points, too.
Educate yourself and others around poisonous MSG, quit eating it in food establishments and buy whole foods and organic foods as much as possible. Feed kids lots of raw fruit and veggies!
That is one of the few rants I am going to do on this blog...my goal is to be uplifting and positively positive as much as possible.
Let's all take a deep breathe right about now, eat some kale and go for a walk!
I just found out that it is ideal to eat 3-5 servings a day of dark green leafy veggies like kale, the queen of all dark greens load with calcium, A, B , C , magnesium, phosphorous--phytonutrients and chlorophyll, trace minerals, proteins, fiber, all of which boost the immune system and make our cells happy and healthy and alkalize our bodies...whew hoo!
Now that is a lot of dark leafy greens...dang! Just try to sneak them in everything from eggs, to tomato sauces for pasta, to soups to on the side sauteed with garlic and olive oil. Raw is best such as the kale shake I describe in the last blog or finely chopped in a salad with red onion and cubed avocado along with your favorite dressing...now that sounds pretty good, yes?
What I really want to focus in on is MSG, monosodium glutamate--the real crack cocaine of the US....this flavoring literally causes you body to become addicted to it and want more, more, more....and it is in everything! What does this mean for the food industry? Money being spent on more food to keep us feeling hungry (that is the MSG doing its job!) which in turn makes the public buy more and more food. Money is made...it all boils down to money...keep folks addicted to processed foods and somebody out there is making boatloads of money while everyone gets poisoned...yuck...and then the medical community makes money on all the sick people who have ingested tons of MSG through the years and end up with dis-eases...yuck again!
In terms of product labelling, MSG can be listed as MSG or a host of other pseudonyms like 'hydrolyzed vegetable protein,' 'accent' , 'agino moto', 'natural meat tenderizer, or simply added flavorings. You can bet sure as the sky is blue and a third of Lake City is overweight that Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy's, Taco Bell, TGIF, Applebee's Denny's , KFC and countless more franchised food establishments use massive amounts of MSG. In fact, at KFC, MSG is in every gravy and chicken dish and salad dressing.....maybe their secret ingredient is actually MSG...wow!
Need we ponder any further why the US is overweight? MSG has been scientifically proven to cause obesity and actually really is addictive....anything prepackaged at the grocery store has it listed in their ingredients. Other dis-eases have been connect to MSG as well such as diabetes, migraines, headaches, autism, ADHD, and Alzheimer's...if you want to read more studies, go to www.pubmed.com and type "MSG obese" to read the scientific studies.
Somehow, we have to obliterate MSG from our food system....legislation is being written to do just that. The movie, "Supersize Me" made great points, too.
Educate yourself and others around poisonous MSG, quit eating it in food establishments and buy whole foods and organic foods as much as possible. Feed kids lots of raw fruit and veggies!
That is one of the few rants I am going to do on this blog...my goal is to be uplifting and positively positive as much as possible.
Let's all take a deep breathe right about now, eat some kale and go for a walk!
Monday, October 8, 2007
You Know Your Body Better Than Anybody Else
"Never a dull moment. If you're doing it right, baby, never a dull moment." Karan Smith
Listen to your body. It will tell you alot. No need to delegate what your body needs to others. Instead, bring on a team of players: put yourself at the top of the team list, your health food store, your chiropractor (optional), your medical doctor , and/or any health practitioner or nutritionist you may want to work with who can answer your questions and assist in coming up with the perfect combination of actions and remedies to bring your body into balance.
If you end up in a doctor's office for any reason, be prepared. A doctor will diagnose, prescribe and often recommend surgery if you just show up in her office WITHOUT a pad of paper, list of questions, or an Internet printout on your symptoms or possible disease...be informed before you walk in. Learn their perspective, then take that information to help form a plan of action. Keep listening to your body. The answers are there waiting for you....
Sometimes it is simple. With a little tweaking....it can be a matter of eliminating foods that contain additives and preservatives, making fruit and veggies 40-65% of your diet(so dang low-cal, too!), increasing the good fats especially your intake of Omega 3s found in fish, walnuts, flax seed (freshly ground or in oil form), fish oils, olive oil and organic coconut oil, breathing deeply, taking walks, portion control, reducing carbs, drinking moderately if at all, staying lean, and drinking lots of water-- at minimum, half your body weight in ounces.
What about probiotics?
Keifer ( pronounces by some kef fur, by others like me, keeeef fur) is one: a sparkly, thick, yogurt-like liquid loaded with protein, calcium, and fiber as well as ten or more live and active cultures including acidophilus to enhance the health of your intestinal track, boost your immune system, and help control high cholesterol levels. Keifer is the cousin to yogurt--adding appropriate bacterias where yogurt feeds those bacterias. Keifer's roots trace back more than 2000 years in Europe.
I like to make a Keifer shake in the morning to start my day. Here is what I do:
In my commercial, high performance blender I throw in the following:
1/2 bunch org. green kale (did I mention KALE is the queen of all dark greens and a great life enhancer loaded with calcium, folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E...you can't go wrong with KALE--make her a true buddy soon if you haven't already)
2 cups org. plain keifer ( keifer can be bought at the health food store or you can make your own by combining keifer grains and milk and leaving them on your kitchen counter for a day or two--ask me about keifer grains--I can get you some!)
1 stalk of org. celery
1/2 org. cucumber
1/2 org. green bell pepper
1 tsp. org. fresh ginger
1 T. org. flax seed oil--flax seed oil, loaded with Omega 3's is more readily absorbed through the cells when taken with a cultured product like keifer--it becomes water soluable and can penetrate through the cell membrane more efficiently. You get more bang for your buck, in other words, when you combine flax seed oil with keifer.
1 T. org. virgin coconut oil--this mid-chain tryglyceride boosts the immune system, increases metabolism and endurance, helps control inflammation making it beneficial for the cardiovascular system and over all health.
Blend well....enjoy the ultimate green goddess breakfast drink for all those potent and powerful!
PS There are so many reasons to eat organic food over conventional. For your health and the environment, eat organic food whenever possible. Remember, pesticides can permeate throughout veggie and fruit membranes and love to hang out in the crevices of berries, broccoli and lettuces. We can debate organic vs. conventional til we are blue in the face, but as the apple god told me recently, it is like the discussion about religion...in the end, everyone will believe what they want to believe and that is ok.
Listen to your body. It will tell you alot. No need to delegate what your body needs to others. Instead, bring on a team of players: put yourself at the top of the team list, your health food store, your chiropractor (optional), your medical doctor , and/or any health practitioner or nutritionist you may want to work with who can answer your questions and assist in coming up with the perfect combination of actions and remedies to bring your body into balance.
If you end up in a doctor's office for any reason, be prepared. A doctor will diagnose, prescribe and often recommend surgery if you just show up in her office WITHOUT a pad of paper, list of questions, or an Internet printout on your symptoms or possible disease...be informed before you walk in. Learn their perspective, then take that information to help form a plan of action. Keep listening to your body. The answers are there waiting for you....
Sometimes it is simple. With a little tweaking....it can be a matter of eliminating foods that contain additives and preservatives, making fruit and veggies 40-65% of your diet(so dang low-cal, too!), increasing the good fats especially your intake of Omega 3s found in fish, walnuts, flax seed (freshly ground or in oil form), fish oils, olive oil and organic coconut oil, breathing deeply, taking walks, portion control, reducing carbs, drinking moderately if at all, staying lean, and drinking lots of water-- at minimum, half your body weight in ounces.
What about probiotics?
Keifer ( pronounces by some kef fur, by others like me, keeeef fur) is one: a sparkly, thick, yogurt-like liquid loaded with protein, calcium, and fiber as well as ten or more live and active cultures including acidophilus to enhance the health of your intestinal track, boost your immune system, and help control high cholesterol levels. Keifer is the cousin to yogurt--adding appropriate bacterias where yogurt feeds those bacterias. Keifer's roots trace back more than 2000 years in Europe.
I like to make a Keifer shake in the morning to start my day. Here is what I do:
In my commercial, high performance blender I throw in the following:
1/2 bunch org. green kale (did I mention KALE is the queen of all dark greens and a great life enhancer loaded with calcium, folic acid, vitamins A, C, D, E...you can't go wrong with KALE--make her a true buddy soon if you haven't already)
2 cups org. plain keifer ( keifer can be bought at the health food store or you can make your own by combining keifer grains and milk and leaving them on your kitchen counter for a day or two--ask me about keifer grains--I can get you some!)
1 stalk of org. celery
1/2 org. cucumber
1/2 org. green bell pepper
1 tsp. org. fresh ginger
1 T. org. flax seed oil--flax seed oil, loaded with Omega 3's is more readily absorbed through the cells when taken with a cultured product like keifer--it becomes water soluable and can penetrate through the cell membrane more efficiently. You get more bang for your buck, in other words, when you combine flax seed oil with keifer.
1 T. org. virgin coconut oil--this mid-chain tryglyceride boosts the immune system, increases metabolism and endurance, helps control inflammation making it beneficial for the cardiovascular system and over all health.
Blend well....enjoy the ultimate green goddess breakfast drink for all those potent and powerful!
PS There are so many reasons to eat organic food over conventional. For your health and the environment, eat organic food whenever possible. Remember, pesticides can permeate throughout veggie and fruit membranes and love to hang out in the crevices of berries, broccoli and lettuces. We can debate organic vs. conventional til we are blue in the face, but as the apple god told me recently, it is like the discussion about religion...in the end, everyone will believe what they want to believe and that is ok.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Chili Chili Appleseeds
Yes, it was 86 degrees and humid yesterday. Not real ideal weather for chili-making. October in MN? Strange weather indeed. Still, I and a friend slaved over a hot stove in the local catholic church making chili for a couple of hours. Why? It is Johnny Appleseed Days here in Lake City this weekend. Lots of apples, apple pies and big time events spread throughout the community. I participated in a chili cook-off. Several teams entered and we did taste testing last nite at the Sportsman's Club.
My chili consisted of not only all organic ingredients, but also local, pasture-raised buffalo. Of course, I put a few jalapeno peppers in there to give it some fire. 200 people sampled it, I definitely got some votes and several came back for more. The guys next to me had perfected a seafood chili with crab, shrimp and other shell fish, not to mention chocolate as their secret ingredient. They aggressively pulled the votes in by 'selling' their chili with excessive verbage...nothin' wrong with that tactic, and it actually amped all of us up a notch or two as we marketed our chilis and yelled, cheered and clapped whenever anyone dropped a vote in our bucket.
It was a fun nite. No I didn't win first prize. The Kiwanis Club did and the rest of us came in second! However, I did educate some folks on organic food and local buffalo which made it all worthwhile. Let's face it, I love people...and The Chili Cook-Off for Johnny Appleseed Days was one more way I could interact and have fun. And large fun I had!
If you want my recipe, let me know...I'd be happy to post it. Also, if you have a recipe, let me know...especially one with chocolate in it.
My chili consisted of not only all organic ingredients, but also local, pasture-raised buffalo. Of course, I put a few jalapeno peppers in there to give it some fire. 200 people sampled it, I definitely got some votes and several came back for more. The guys next to me had perfected a seafood chili with crab, shrimp and other shell fish, not to mention chocolate as their secret ingredient. They aggressively pulled the votes in by 'selling' their chili with excessive verbage...nothin' wrong with that tactic, and it actually amped all of us up a notch or two as we marketed our chilis and yelled, cheered and clapped whenever anyone dropped a vote in our bucket.
It was a fun nite. No I didn't win first prize. The Kiwanis Club did and the rest of us came in second! However, I did educate some folks on organic food and local buffalo which made it all worthwhile. Let's face it, I love people...and The Chili Cook-Off for Johnny Appleseed Days was one more way I could interact and have fun. And large fun I had!
If you want my recipe, let me know...I'd be happy to post it. Also, if you have a recipe, let me know...especially one with chocolate in it.
Local Testimonial
Just sharin' a little glory...
"Being clever and resourceful , doing more with less is your strength, not overeaching your bounds. I wish I could package your aura, I could sell the shit out of it, so to speak (sorry) about the shit thing there"
One attitude, positive....one direction, forward....one speed constant.
My name is Don Hanson aka "Hootch" and I moved to Lake City several years ago from a town 5 times larger, one of the best surprises I experienced here was to discover a natural food store called "Hope's Harvest" the sensational lady who owned it Susan Draves was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful along with professional in dealing with my desire to eat healthy. Her small store was chock full of unique items such as flax seed oil, local cheese, fruits and vegetables locally grown and raised. These and hundreds of other healthy food items were not available to me here without Hope's Harvest. Lake City is a great place to live in and Hope's Harvest is just another example of what I'm talking about. As a strength coach I can attest to the fact, you ARE what you eat."
Sincerely: Don "Hootch" Hanson
"Being clever and resourceful , doing more with less is your strength, not overeaching your bounds. I wish I could package your aura, I could sell the shit out of it, so to speak (sorry) about the shit thing there"
One attitude, positive....one direction, forward....one speed constant.
My name is Don Hanson aka "Hootch" and I moved to Lake City several years ago from a town 5 times larger, one of the best surprises I experienced here was to discover a natural food store called "Hope's Harvest" the sensational lady who owned it Susan Draves was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful along with professional in dealing with my desire to eat healthy. Her small store was chock full of unique items such as flax seed oil, local cheese, fruits and vegetables locally grown and raised. These and hundreds of other healthy food items were not available to me here without Hope's Harvest. Lake City is a great place to live in and Hope's Harvest is just another example of what I'm talking about. As a strength coach I can attest to the fact, you ARE what you eat."
Sincerely: Don "Hootch" Hanson
Friday, October 5, 2007
Wellness is a Journey, Not a Quick Fix
"The standard of success in life isn't the things. It isn't the money or the stuff. It is absolutely the amount of joy that you feel. "
"If it is to be, it is up to me"
Enjoy the journey of bringing your body back into balance. Take your time. If lifestyle changes are going to stick, they are going to take time to become a congruent part of your being. Wellness on all levels, be it body, mind and spirit, truly is a lifelong process to cultivate.
You are worth it. You deserve an immaculate life. Let the journey begin inside you. Start with finding the joy, start with self-love, start with your inner space...be ok with who you are, what you stand for, and what you feel inside moment by moment. The rest will come.
A friend has not had a drink in 2 weeks. She is naturally detoxing with water, super green foods and being present to her son. She felt lots of burning throughout her skin the first week. Her lymph nodes swelled up around her neck...toxins are releasing. Now, she is feeling much more calm. Her journey is beginning. She is opening to the possibilities of feeling good. She said to me the other day, ' it really does start with loving yourself.' Her honesty has gotten her this far...now it is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment process.
May we all find the inner strength to discover the value of experiencing joy and its magical bioproducts: wellness on all levels.
"If it is to be, it is up to me"
Enjoy the journey of bringing your body back into balance. Take your time. If lifestyle changes are going to stick, they are going to take time to become a congruent part of your being. Wellness on all levels, be it body, mind and spirit, truly is a lifelong process to cultivate.
You are worth it. You deserve an immaculate life. Let the journey begin inside you. Start with finding the joy, start with self-love, start with your inner space...be ok with who you are, what you stand for, and what you feel inside moment by moment. The rest will come.
A friend has not had a drink in 2 weeks. She is naturally detoxing with water, super green foods and being present to her son. She felt lots of burning throughout her skin the first week. Her lymph nodes swelled up around her neck...toxins are releasing. Now, she is feeling much more calm. Her journey is beginning. She is opening to the possibilities of feeling good. She said to me the other day, ' it really does start with loving yourself.' Her honesty has gotten her this far...now it is a day-by-day, moment-by-moment process.
May we all find the inner strength to discover the value of experiencing joy and its magical bioproducts: wellness on all levels.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Alkalinize or Croak! Part 1
Forty-four years ago yesterday, I was born. So, imagine a beautiful 70 degree day, light breeze, not a cloud in the sky kind of a day to have a birthday...that was what yesterday was all about.
I woke up, went down to the fishing pier and watched the sunrise, got adjusted at the chiropractor, met with my webmaster to make changes on the site, chatted with my mom via telephone, went into work, and by this time, I had consumed 1 quart of water, 1 kale/keifer shake (will reveal contents of this green ditty later) , 3 cups of expresso and half a sugary cashew carmel bar. A dozen roses arrived from Kiwanis club that I ordered for myself to support their local educational programs, and another dozen roses arrived from a friend I've known since I was 16. Ok, ok, I was feeling very appreciated. I then started a semi-interveinus barage of spirulina water to shift my now highly acidic body after the caffiene and sugar imbibing to return my body as temple to a more relaxed, alkalined state. I sat out in the sun for a half hour to get some Vitamin D as well.
Cancer can't grow in an alkaline body. Thus, we need to maintain a healthy pH balance. It is possible to be too alkaline and many, many folks are too acidic. Migrating nerve and joint pain, insomnia, early morning stiffness that improves as you move around are all symptoms. Acidic bodies happen with chronic cellular dehydration (i.e., not enough water), massive amounts of stress, and by consuming highly processed foods, fried foods, caffiene, alchohol, sugar and soda pop. Dis-ease loves these kind of environments.
If we are working towards staying alkalinized rather than acidic, which I think we can all agree we are as we gather more information on this topic, there are a few tricks of the trade when it comes to alkalinizing your body. Each time you partake in something that is going to create an acid environment within you, think about what you can do to counter balance it...munching on raw fruits and veggies are one of the quickest and easiest ways to turn an acidic body to an alkaline state. Super green foods take you back to an adequate pH rapidly as well...I add 1/4 tsp. of spirulina powder to my water and drink about 3 or 4 12 oz glasses of it after drinking a few cups of organic dark roast strong coffee or eating sugar.
When I'm conscious about my food intake, my whole day is spent finding that equilibrium. I have more energy when I eat good foods and I get real sluggish after the sugar or greasey foods. You can really tell where your body is at just by the way you feel after you eat something. More energy equals a balanced alkaline body, less energy equals a more acidic body. I don't think we need to continuously test our pH levels largely because our pH levels are continually changing throughout the day. I do sell pH tape for those who want to test, however.
Birthdays are highly prone to indulgence....so guess what happened? Acidity won out yesterday. Uggghhhh.
Lucky me...after a benign debate about organic vs. nonorganic apples with the local apple orchard guru, I landed a fantastic tour of this amazing apple orchard mecca where we tasted dozens of varieties of apples right on the farm...fiber was being enhaled with each new apple. Was I getting more alkalinized by the apples grown with pesticides or less? I continue to ponder this question. With the all the pesticides in the apples I was ingesting, what was the chemical make-up of each apple? Was my body more impacted by the nutrition of the apple itself or the pesticidal residue? The apple guru would say just as many organic pesticides if not more are sprayed and sprayed at more frequent intervals on organic apples to make them presentable to the organic consumer than the spraying program used on conventional apples sprayed with chemicals. YIKES....another tipping point issue to grapple with?!?! Which apple is better for us? Organic or conventional? Later on this after more research.
Back to alkalinity at the orchard...I don't want to tangentalize just yet. We'd bite and toss, bite and toss....imagine walking around the most successful apple kingdom in the state of MN with the padron/owner himself, trying all the new varieties of apples he is passionate about and holds the rights to...an unbelieveable plethora of complex flavors flying on my palate for 2 hours straight....take a bite of this one, toss the rest....zillions of apples on every tree...tossing an apple was no big deal...awwwww. I was feeling good eating all those apples, believe me, they were bursting with flavor and zinging all sorts of good fiber and sugar at me in a rampage.
Beautiful grounds, gorgeous trees, smells wofting from every direction..apple, apple, apple...brown hands picking them, lots and lots of brown hands which brought me to the realization after a hearing a hardened statement of blank truth out of the apple god: brown hands pick all the food Americans eat....if brown hands were stopped from doing this harvesting and packing, there truly would be no food in the grocery stores in a matter of days and weeks. That cold hard FACT was difficult for this compassionate progressive to stomach.
Back home, after touring the juice plant and apple packaging facilities, I rounded up my tribe to go out for a birthday meal. Heck, I was surely not going to cook on my day. Well, truth be told, we headed for the family-friendly restaurant in town. What was ordered? ACID producing food all the way around from frenchfries, to cheese and bacon burgers to corn dogs, to lots of chocolate birthday cake complete with whipped cream and those fake red dyed cherries....nothing alkalinizing to speak of.....wow, a toxic symphany of junkfood.
Got home...took a long moonlit walk down to the fishing pier again in a feeble attempt to walk off what I just ate. Back at the ranch so to speak, I quickly ate 15 chlorella tablets and 2 fish oil pills and headed upstairs to read and pass out quickly from the massive grease and sugar experience.
I woke up, felt aged, looked yucky and dehydrated, and was not a real happy camper. This is what happens to me when I take in toxic food....I feel like crap the next day, I look wenchy and my mood is affected...low energy, a bit down--not the greatest space to be in when dealing with the public...similar to a hangover...it's like a toxic food hangover.
The key is to not repeat this eating pattern the day after. Our cells get used to what we put in them, messages to brain will say I crave more grease and sugar....but when we find the discipline to not go there again the next day...to let yesterday be done and to allow today to be a new day, a clean food day. It works....try it sometime--indulge one day and then eat clean next....your body will love you for it especially in the days to come and the clean food habit will take hold and cravings will subside.
So, here I sit, drinking massive quantities of spirulina water. Later, I'll drink a raw enzyme drink made from a kombucha culture called Synergy by GTS to add to creating more alkalinity. This discussion on pH levels and alkalinity isn't over yet. Part 2 coming soon after I dive into the positive aspects of kale and keifer.
Another gorgeous October day in the neighborhood today....lots to be grateful for. Here's to choosing health!
I woke up, went down to the fishing pier and watched the sunrise, got adjusted at the chiropractor, met with my webmaster to make changes on the site, chatted with my mom via telephone, went into work, and by this time, I had consumed 1 quart of water, 1 kale/keifer shake (will reveal contents of this green ditty later) , 3 cups of expresso and half a sugary cashew carmel bar. A dozen roses arrived from Kiwanis club that I ordered for myself to support their local educational programs, and another dozen roses arrived from a friend I've known since I was 16. Ok, ok, I was feeling very appreciated. I then started a semi-interveinus barage of spirulina water to shift my now highly acidic body after the caffiene and sugar imbibing to return my body as temple to a more relaxed, alkalined state. I sat out in the sun for a half hour to get some Vitamin D as well.
Cancer can't grow in an alkaline body. Thus, we need to maintain a healthy pH balance. It is possible to be too alkaline and many, many folks are too acidic. Migrating nerve and joint pain, insomnia, early morning stiffness that improves as you move around are all symptoms. Acidic bodies happen with chronic cellular dehydration (i.e., not enough water), massive amounts of stress, and by consuming highly processed foods, fried foods, caffiene, alchohol, sugar and soda pop. Dis-ease loves these kind of environments.
If we are working towards staying alkalinized rather than acidic, which I think we can all agree we are as we gather more information on this topic, there are a few tricks of the trade when it comes to alkalinizing your body. Each time you partake in something that is going to create an acid environment within you, think about what you can do to counter balance it...munching on raw fruits and veggies are one of the quickest and easiest ways to turn an acidic body to an alkaline state. Super green foods take you back to an adequate pH rapidly as well...I add 1/4 tsp. of spirulina powder to my water and drink about 3 or 4 12 oz glasses of it after drinking a few cups of organic dark roast strong coffee or eating sugar.
When I'm conscious about my food intake, my whole day is spent finding that equilibrium. I have more energy when I eat good foods and I get real sluggish after the sugar or greasey foods. You can really tell where your body is at just by the way you feel after you eat something. More energy equals a balanced alkaline body, less energy equals a more acidic body. I don't think we need to continuously test our pH levels largely because our pH levels are continually changing throughout the day. I do sell pH tape for those who want to test, however.
Birthdays are highly prone to indulgence....so guess what happened? Acidity won out yesterday. Uggghhhh.
Lucky me...after a benign debate about organic vs. nonorganic apples with the local apple orchard guru, I landed a fantastic tour of this amazing apple orchard mecca where we tasted dozens of varieties of apples right on the farm...fiber was being enhaled with each new apple. Was I getting more alkalinized by the apples grown with pesticides or less? I continue to ponder this question. With the all the pesticides in the apples I was ingesting, what was the chemical make-up of each apple? Was my body more impacted by the nutrition of the apple itself or the pesticidal residue? The apple guru would say just as many organic pesticides if not more are sprayed and sprayed at more frequent intervals on organic apples to make them presentable to the organic consumer than the spraying program used on conventional apples sprayed with chemicals. YIKES....another tipping point issue to grapple with?!?! Which apple is better for us? Organic or conventional? Later on this after more research.
Back to alkalinity at the orchard...I don't want to tangentalize just yet. We'd bite and toss, bite and toss....imagine walking around the most successful apple kingdom in the state of MN with the padron/owner himself, trying all the new varieties of apples he is passionate about and holds the rights to...an unbelieveable plethora of complex flavors flying on my palate for 2 hours straight....take a bite of this one, toss the rest....zillions of apples on every tree...tossing an apple was no big deal...awwwww. I was feeling good eating all those apples, believe me, they were bursting with flavor and zinging all sorts of good fiber and sugar at me in a rampage.
Beautiful grounds, gorgeous trees, smells wofting from every direction..apple, apple, apple...brown hands picking them, lots and lots of brown hands which brought me to the realization after a hearing a hardened statement of blank truth out of the apple god: brown hands pick all the food Americans eat....if brown hands were stopped from doing this harvesting and packing, there truly would be no food in the grocery stores in a matter of days and weeks. That cold hard FACT was difficult for this compassionate progressive to stomach.
Back home, after touring the juice plant and apple packaging facilities, I rounded up my tribe to go out for a birthday meal. Heck, I was surely not going to cook on my day. Well, truth be told, we headed for the family-friendly restaurant in town. What was ordered? ACID producing food all the way around from frenchfries, to cheese and bacon burgers to corn dogs, to lots of chocolate birthday cake complete with whipped cream and those fake red dyed cherries....nothing alkalinizing to speak of.....wow, a toxic symphany of junkfood.
Got home...took a long moonlit walk down to the fishing pier again in a feeble attempt to walk off what I just ate. Back at the ranch so to speak, I quickly ate 15 chlorella tablets and 2 fish oil pills and headed upstairs to read and pass out quickly from the massive grease and sugar experience.
I woke up, felt aged, looked yucky and dehydrated, and was not a real happy camper. This is what happens to me when I take in toxic food....I feel like crap the next day, I look wenchy and my mood is affected...low energy, a bit down--not the greatest space to be in when dealing with the public...similar to a hangover...it's like a toxic food hangover.
The key is to not repeat this eating pattern the day after. Our cells get used to what we put in them, messages to brain will say I crave more grease and sugar....but when we find the discipline to not go there again the next day...to let yesterday be done and to allow today to be a new day, a clean food day. It works....try it sometime--indulge one day and then eat clean next....your body will love you for it especially in the days to come and the clean food habit will take hold and cravings will subside.
So, here I sit, drinking massive quantities of spirulina water. Later, I'll drink a raw enzyme drink made from a kombucha culture called Synergy by GTS to add to creating more alkalinity. This discussion on pH levels and alkalinity isn't over yet. Part 2 coming soon after I dive into the positive aspects of kale and keifer.
Another gorgeous October day in the neighborhood today....lots to be grateful for. Here's to choosing health!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Feel Good Now Revolution is Happening
Fact: We live in a toxic waste dump
Fact: We put poison in our bodies and on our skin daily
Fact: We feel like crap
Fact: We can change all of this
Am I slightly exaggerating? Maybe. I suspect there is at the very least, a grain of truth to these statements.
I got your attention, didn't I?
You are here.
This is a good thing.
I sense you want to make changes that make you feel good from the inside out.
I have the perfect formula for you.
No more compulsive eating. No more snacking. No more over-indulging.
Learn how to set limits on what you put in your mouth.
Receive the wisdom on how to implement a portion control plan.
Embrace the motivation to exercise and/or walk alot every day.
Look younger.
Feel fabulous day in day out.
It is simple.
Enjoy life, your life.
Stay in the present moment with ease as your essence is nurtured.
Kiss compulsive and depressive behavior goodbye.
Be perpetually upbeat, positive and happy.
Reap the benefits of feeling good from the inside out.
Have great days...scads of them in a row.
Watch clarity happen.
Feel weightloss happen as a biproduct of taking your health back.
Your mind opens up...creativity flows out.
Wisdom oozes out of you.
You have shifted your energy and lifestyle to one of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
YOUR inner picture matches your outer picture.
All your organs are brightly colored, fully oxyogenated and working smoothly now.
Health is your priority and the results are amazing.
Audacious and ginormous amounts of energy, stamina, and creativity all come to you easily now
You are becoming a health junkie, a health warrior, a hero of FEELING GOOD
Everything YOU WANT flows into your LIFE with MASSIVE Abundance NOW because YOU FEEL GOOD NOW from the inside out
And you know what?
It is really simple.
No need to smoke cigarettes anymore.
No need to drink massive amounts of alchohol
Lose the cravings for fast food and sweets.
Compulsive behaviors, needless distractions fly out the window and are a thing of the past.
Be amazing in every area of your life.
EXPERIENCE all sorts of fabulous events continually happening to you as your focus shifts to one of success on all levels...it all starts here.
By feeling GOOD NOW, by feeling GOOD from the INSIDE OUT, you can have whatever you want...FUN, LOVE, MONEY, WISDOM, an endless CONNECTION to the greater good, and a genuinely fantastic quality of life.
YOU see, the FEEL GOOD NOW revolution is happening now.
Your addiction to MSG melts away forever.
YOU are righteously healthy.
Let's eat the food and take the supplements that LOVE us back now and forever.
Let's be alive.
Let's buck the food industry that has so far succeeded in creating a culture of obese zombies many who have heart attacks and diabetes and die.
It is the silent US genocide attempt and it is coming to an end.
60 is the new 40, 50 is the new 30, 40 is the new 20
Kiss the pharmeceuticals goodbye.
Say hello to continual happiness, well-being, and a quality of life that will knock your socks off. Don't hesitate.
TAKE ACTION NOW.
Let's take our power back around our health NOW!!!
Sign up for for my newsletter so you can be the first to read and find out how to Bring Your Body Back into Balance: TEN TOP NOTCH TENACIOUS Ways to FEEL GOOD NOW!
Fact: We put poison in our bodies and on our skin daily
Fact: We feel like crap
Fact: We can change all of this
Am I slightly exaggerating? Maybe. I suspect there is at the very least, a grain of truth to these statements.
I got your attention, didn't I?
You are here.
This is a good thing.
I sense you want to make changes that make you feel good from the inside out.
I have the perfect formula for you.
No more compulsive eating. No more snacking. No more over-indulging.
Learn how to set limits on what you put in your mouth.
Receive the wisdom on how to implement a portion control plan.
Embrace the motivation to exercise and/or walk alot every day.
Look younger.
Feel fabulous day in day out.
It is simple.
Enjoy life, your life.
Stay in the present moment with ease as your essence is nurtured.
Kiss compulsive and depressive behavior goodbye.
Be perpetually upbeat, positive and happy.
Reap the benefits of feeling good from the inside out.
Have great days...scads of them in a row.
Watch clarity happen.
Feel weightloss happen as a biproduct of taking your health back.
Your mind opens up...creativity flows out.
Wisdom oozes out of you.
You have shifted your energy and lifestyle to one of healthy eating and lifestyle choices.
YOUR inner picture matches your outer picture.
All your organs are brightly colored, fully oxyogenated and working smoothly now.
Health is your priority and the results are amazing.
Audacious and ginormous amounts of energy, stamina, and creativity all come to you easily now
You are becoming a health junkie, a health warrior, a hero of FEELING GOOD
Everything YOU WANT flows into your LIFE with MASSIVE Abundance NOW because YOU FEEL GOOD NOW from the inside out
And you know what?
It is really simple.
No need to smoke cigarettes anymore.
No need to drink massive amounts of alchohol
Lose the cravings for fast food and sweets.
Compulsive behaviors, needless distractions fly out the window and are a thing of the past.
Be amazing in every area of your life.
EXPERIENCE all sorts of fabulous events continually happening to you as your focus shifts to one of success on all levels...it all starts here.
By feeling GOOD NOW, by feeling GOOD from the INSIDE OUT, you can have whatever you want...FUN, LOVE, MONEY, WISDOM, an endless CONNECTION to the greater good, and a genuinely fantastic quality of life.
YOU see, the FEEL GOOD NOW revolution is happening now.
Your addiction to MSG melts away forever.
YOU are righteously healthy.
Let's eat the food and take the supplements that LOVE us back now and forever.
Let's be alive.
Let's buck the food industry that has so far succeeded in creating a culture of obese zombies many who have heart attacks and diabetes and die.
It is the silent US genocide attempt and it is coming to an end.
60 is the new 40, 50 is the new 30, 40 is the new 20
Kiss the pharmeceuticals goodbye.
Say hello to continual happiness, well-being, and a quality of life that will knock your socks off. Don't hesitate.
TAKE ACTION NOW.
Let's take our power back around our health NOW!!!
Sign up for for my newsletter so you can be the first to read and find out how to Bring Your Body Back into Balance: TEN TOP NOTCH TENACIOUS Ways to FEEL GOOD NOW!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Preventative Health and Wellness Care is the WAY
So I was talking to my mom a few days ago. She is a vibrant 74, still working full-time, feeling great day in day out, doing everything she can to stay super healthy so she can live a long time with an awesome quality of life. Is she an inspiration to me? That would be a mega understatement.
She brought up the concept of preventative health care which is her modus aprendi these days...if we simply take care of our health, she claims, everything else falls into place and our lives become more joyful and invigorating. Mom is right again!
Yet, how do we get ourselves to prioritize our health....to put it at the top of the list so to speak? Many say there comes a time when we have no choice, when too many things are not working right and we are forced into making different choices around health and wellness. Yet can we make changes before things get out of hand?
My gut feeling on this is to get clear on what we want around our health. If we can get to that place inside of ourselves that says, I wanna feel good everyday, I wanna have tons of energy, I wanna think clearly, I wanna be free of all ailments. Is it possible to live this way? YES....it simply means making our health and well being a priority. To feel good or not to feel good? YES, that is the question. I know the answer. You do, too.
Take YOUR power back around your health. Tweak slowly, making changes a little bit at a time if that makes it easier. Increase your fruit and veggie intake. 40 to 65% of our diet, it has been stated, rocks when it is fruit and vegetables. Get rid of processed foods, soda pop and fried foods first. They all lack the necessary nutrients to run our bodies because they are filed with excitotoxins like MSG, aspartame and yeast extract which cause us to crave more and eat more. Yikes! Portion control and eliminating processed foods is critical to preventative health care. Once you've been off them for a few days, it gets easier and easier to stay off of them. This step alone will increase your energy, and you will most likely experience the pounds falling of of you. Drink tons of water. Walk ALOT. Sleep 8 hours whenever possible. All of these are an excellent start to feeling good on a daily basis. Decrease caffeine, alcohol and of course, drugs. They all impair healthy nervous system function.
The aforementioned preventative actions and portion control will cause weight loss, lower BP and cholesterol and increase your energy. I will be going into more depth around alternatives to processed foods and sodas in the upcoming blog entries and spend some time on probiotics, flax seed oil, organic virgin coconut oil, and a great recipe for a kale shake. Stay tuned!
She brought up the concept of preventative health care which is her modus aprendi these days...if we simply take care of our health, she claims, everything else falls into place and our lives become more joyful and invigorating. Mom is right again!
Yet, how do we get ourselves to prioritize our health....to put it at the top of the list so to speak? Many say there comes a time when we have no choice, when too many things are not working right and we are forced into making different choices around health and wellness. Yet can we make changes before things get out of hand?
My gut feeling on this is to get clear on what we want around our health. If we can get to that place inside of ourselves that says, I wanna feel good everyday, I wanna have tons of energy, I wanna think clearly, I wanna be free of all ailments. Is it possible to live this way? YES....it simply means making our health and well being a priority. To feel good or not to feel good? YES, that is the question. I know the answer. You do, too.
Take YOUR power back around your health. Tweak slowly, making changes a little bit at a time if that makes it easier. Increase your fruit and veggie intake. 40 to 65% of our diet, it has been stated, rocks when it is fruit and vegetables. Get rid of processed foods, soda pop and fried foods first. They all lack the necessary nutrients to run our bodies because they are filed with excitotoxins like MSG, aspartame and yeast extract which cause us to crave more and eat more. Yikes! Portion control and eliminating processed foods is critical to preventative health care. Once you've been off them for a few days, it gets easier and easier to stay off of them. This step alone will increase your energy, and you will most likely experience the pounds falling of of you. Drink tons of water. Walk ALOT. Sleep 8 hours whenever possible. All of these are an excellent start to feeling good on a daily basis. Decrease caffeine, alcohol and of course, drugs. They all impair healthy nervous system function.
The aforementioned preventative actions and portion control will cause weight loss, lower BP and cholesterol and increase your energy. I will be going into more depth around alternatives to processed foods and sodas in the upcoming blog entries and spend some time on probiotics, flax seed oil, organic virgin coconut oil, and a great recipe for a kale shake. Stay tuned!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Fish OIL is Fabulous for Your Brains
Do you have times when your thinking is foggy? Do you feel like you are having a series of pre-senior moments? We all get this way. Lack of sleep, too much stress, the night after serious imbibing, lots of things going on in
your life all at the same time, all of these instances and more can contribute to a real lack of mental clarity. Fish oil is the answer.
One thing we can do that is so easy is take a high quality fish oil gel capusule. I take Barleen's Fresh Catch Fish Oil (http://www.barleens.com/) out of Washington State which I sell at Hope's Harvest for $10.99 a bottle. It has an orange flavor added so there isn't a hint of fishy smell or aftertaste. I also carry Spectrum Fish oil, same price, same quality.
We can surely agree that we want to live a life of robust health and maintain phenomenal stamina and an overall sense of well being. I am a believer in supplemental fish oil because it is truly loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids....mental acuity is one heck of a benefit from taking fish oil. There are many other benefits as well. Joint mobility, bone density, skin, hair and nail health, heart health, healthy chloresterol levels, healthy blood glucose, eye health, increased endurance and energy, lean muscle mass, mental health balancing to name several....I mean c'mon, wow...this is like obvious...FISH OIL RULES! But it has to be quality fish oil. Small fish are better because when wild caught in their natural waters in the deep sea, they are more clean..make sure your bottle of fish oil says it is sourcing its oil from small fish like little anchovies, mackeral, sardines and such...they are more apt to have a higher concentration of Omega 3's. You also want to see on the label something about being free of PCBs, dioxins, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and other such contaminants. You know your fish oil is even more potent if the bottle indicates that the oil is pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
What an easy thing to do! Just add a little fish oil to your health routine. Reap the benefits of preventative health and wellness care. Mental clarity and all the rest of it....Let's be proactive with our health so we can feel great and enjoy our lives to the maximum.
your life all at the same time, all of these instances and more can contribute to a real lack of mental clarity. Fish oil is the answer.
One thing we can do that is so easy is take a high quality fish oil gel capusule. I take Barleen's Fresh Catch Fish Oil (http://www.barleens.com/) out of Washington State which I sell at Hope's Harvest for $10.99 a bottle. It has an orange flavor added so there isn't a hint of fishy smell or aftertaste. I also carry Spectrum Fish oil, same price, same quality.
We can surely agree that we want to live a life of robust health and maintain phenomenal stamina and an overall sense of well being. I am a believer in supplemental fish oil because it is truly loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids....mental acuity is one heck of a benefit from taking fish oil. There are many other benefits as well. Joint mobility, bone density, skin, hair and nail health, heart health, healthy chloresterol levels, healthy blood glucose, eye health, increased endurance and energy, lean muscle mass, mental health balancing to name several....I mean c'mon, wow...this is like obvious...FISH OIL RULES! But it has to be quality fish oil. Small fish are better because when wild caught in their natural waters in the deep sea, they are more clean..make sure your bottle of fish oil says it is sourcing its oil from small fish like little anchovies, mackeral, sardines and such...they are more apt to have a higher concentration of Omega 3's. You also want to see on the label something about being free of PCBs, dioxins, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and other such contaminants. You know your fish oil is even more potent if the bottle indicates that the oil is pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
What an easy thing to do! Just add a little fish oil to your health routine. Reap the benefits of preventative health and wellness care. Mental clarity and all the rest of it....Let's be proactive with our health so we can feel great and enjoy our lives to the maximum.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Spirulina is the Bomb!
OK, it is true! You drink a couple two or three cups of strong coffee to wake up...maybe eat something sweet....or anytime you indulge and want to get less acidic and more alkalanized...think and do SPIRULINA! Pill or powder form, it is another SUPERGREEN FOOD--from blue green algae-- that is extremely alkalanizing, loaded with B12 and E vitamins, the riches whole food source of Iron, a complete protein, highly rich in enzymes and amino acids. Another way to put it is Spirulina is 95 percent pure food...you can live off it...I put it in my water all day long...probably taking a teaspoon or two per day with all the water I drink so that the strong cup or two of java I have in the morning (still haven't quite let go of that habit--but it is organic and fair trade coffee), will be neutralized.
Yes, folks, the water I drink is bright GREEN and doesn't taste like algae....it is very mild! I get a lot of inquisitive customers wondering what the heck is in my water. When I explain what it is and why I do it, they usually pick up some for themselves to try. You can put spirulina powder in juice as well...just know it will turn it GREEN, too.
You can't go wrong with spirulina. It contains over 100 synergistic nutrients and is nature's richest and most complete source of total organic nutrition. It has been said to help lower blood pressure and chloesteral and cure lots of skin conditions like excema, psoriosis, etc.
Spirulina, like chlorella which I talked about in my last post, is a natural detoxifier as well, and balances the pH, all resulting in good all over body balance and enhanced endurance. They compliment eachother and work synergistically to do overall healing in your body....results happen quick. You will notice that you rarely get the common colds or flu going around your neighborhood.
I'm thinking we could all live off the supergreens--spirulina and chlorella and do fine....
Sounds kind of boring though, huh? Yet, isn't it fantastic to know that these supergreen foods exist to assist in keeping our bodies balanced and strong? Isn't it marvelous to know we can indulge in rich sugary or greasy, fatty stuff sometimes and have a quick back -up plan--the supergreen foods--to neutralize what we just ingested?
FYI: a month's supply of Spirulina powder from my store is $5.00 and a month's supply of Chlorella is $17.95.
Supergreen foods are here for a reason...think about bringing them into your world soon...you will like the results, I guarantee.
Yes, folks, the water I drink is bright GREEN and doesn't taste like algae....it is very mild! I get a lot of inquisitive customers wondering what the heck is in my water. When I explain what it is and why I do it, they usually pick up some for themselves to try. You can put spirulina powder in juice as well...just know it will turn it GREEN, too.
You can't go wrong with spirulina. It contains over 100 synergistic nutrients and is nature's richest and most complete source of total organic nutrition. It has been said to help lower blood pressure and chloesteral and cure lots of skin conditions like excema, psoriosis, etc.
Spirulina, like chlorella which I talked about in my last post, is a natural detoxifier as well, and balances the pH, all resulting in good all over body balance and enhanced endurance. They compliment eachother and work synergistically to do overall healing in your body....results happen quick. You will notice that you rarely get the common colds or flu going around your neighborhood.
I'm thinking we could all live off the supergreens--spirulina and chlorella and do fine....
Sounds kind of boring though, huh? Yet, isn't it fantastic to know that these supergreen foods exist to assist in keeping our bodies balanced and strong? Isn't it marvelous to know we can indulge in rich sugary or greasy, fatty stuff sometimes and have a quick back -up plan--the supergreen foods--to neutralize what we just ingested?
FYI: a month's supply of Spirulina powder from my store is $5.00 and a month's supply of Chlorella is $17.95.
Supergreen foods are here for a reason...think about bringing them into your world soon...you will like the results, I guarantee.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Chlorella Is My Best Friend
What the heck is chlorella????? We could all live on chlorella alone and our bodies would stay balanced....
Chlorella falls under the category of a supergreen food.
Chlorella is extremely alkalinizing which is the key to body balance (cancer and other dis-eases love an acidic body...one that is full of msg, highly processed foods, alcohol, soda, sugar, caffiene, etc.)
Chlorella comes in the form of a little green pill. Fractured cell chlorella is best.
Chlorella is loaded with chloraphyll--7% which is 35 times more than alfalfa.
Chlorella is a powerful immune system builder.
Chlorella is a perfect protein.
Chlorella has a ton of fiber.
Chlorella detoxifies the liver and blood rapidly...results happen quick!
Chlorella removes heavy metals from pesticides, air pollutants and general all around toxins from our bodies.
Chlorella contains all the minerals, vitamins--tons of B's, enzymes, amino acids to supply the human system needs for overall fabulous health.
The nutrients in chlorella enable the body to heal itself.
Chlorella can bring the digestive track back in balance in 3 days approximately.
Chlorella can assist in subsiding fibromalgia, Type 2 diabetes, alzheimers, the list goes on and on...
25 little green pills a day is what I do....detox mania! And I have tons of energy and feel fantastic....
I sell it at http://www.hopesharvest.com/ from Pure Planet...300tab or 600tab bottles....
My rave on Chlorella isn't over yet....I love Chlorella...you are my best friend!
Chlorella falls under the category of a supergreen food.
Chlorella is extremely alkalinizing which is the key to body balance (cancer and other dis-eases love an acidic body...one that is full of msg, highly processed foods, alcohol, soda, sugar, caffiene, etc.)
Chlorella comes in the form of a little green pill. Fractured cell chlorella is best.
Chlorella is loaded with chloraphyll--7% which is 35 times more than alfalfa.
Chlorella is a powerful immune system builder.
Chlorella is a perfect protein.
Chlorella has a ton of fiber.
Chlorella detoxifies the liver and blood rapidly...results happen quick!
Chlorella removes heavy metals from pesticides, air pollutants and general all around toxins from our bodies.
Chlorella contains all the minerals, vitamins--tons of B's, enzymes, amino acids to supply the human system needs for overall fabulous health.
The nutrients in chlorella enable the body to heal itself.
Chlorella can bring the digestive track back in balance in 3 days approximately.
Chlorella can assist in subsiding fibromalgia, Type 2 diabetes, alzheimers, the list goes on and on...
25 little green pills a day is what I do....detox mania! And I have tons of energy and feel fantastic....
I sell it at http://www.hopesharvest.com/ from Pure Planet...300tab or 600tab bottles....
My rave on Chlorella isn't over yet....I love Chlorella...you are my best friend!
Bringing Your Body Back Into Balance
We all deserve robust health. We all deserve to feel good and be happy. Let's get our bodies back into balance. Many of us spend tons of time oiling up our toys...cars, motorcycles, boats, etc...you name it, but what about the most important machine of all? What about the one that when well-oiled will allow us to further enjoy our lives? Our bodies are, after all, the machines that keep us going. And when everything is working pretty dang ok...guess what happens?
We have mega tons of energy to enjoy our lives and our loved ones more than ever. Our minds become super clear, ideas and creativity flow out of us like a waterfall, intelligence ranks supreme, we are quick and agile, we sleep like babies, stress falls to the wayside...the benefits are endless!
Fact: We live in a toxic waste dump....chemicals in the air and water and soil abound
Fact: We poison our bodies and skin daily when we adhere to highly processed foods, fried foods, alcohol, tobacco, caffience, and skin products loaded with harmful chemicals.
Fact: We often feel lethargic and groggy because of all this.
Fact: We can change all of this. We can reverse the aging process.
Tweak slowly....otherwise, it can be overwhelming.......
"The truth is that beauty and comfort in our own skin and bodies is a natural, effortless state that is too often thrown off-balance by modern assaults, conveniences, and toxins to which our bodies are unable to adapt....Kat James
I want to empower all of us to feel good from the inside out and have more energy and stamina than ever. My future blogs will address this as will the ebook I'm working on...Feel Good Now, Ten Fun and Easy Steps to Bring Your Body Back into Balance.
More to come!
We have mega tons of energy to enjoy our lives and our loved ones more than ever. Our minds become super clear, ideas and creativity flow out of us like a waterfall, intelligence ranks supreme, we are quick and agile, we sleep like babies, stress falls to the wayside...the benefits are endless!
Fact: We live in a toxic waste dump....chemicals in the air and water and soil abound
Fact: We poison our bodies and skin daily when we adhere to highly processed foods, fried foods, alcohol, tobacco, caffience, and skin products loaded with harmful chemicals.
Fact: We often feel lethargic and groggy because of all this.
Fact: We can change all of this. We can reverse the aging process.
Tweak slowly....otherwise, it can be overwhelming.......
"The truth is that beauty and comfort in our own skin and bodies is a natural, effortless state that is too often thrown off-balance by modern assaults, conveniences, and toxins to which our bodies are unable to adapt....Kat James
I want to empower all of us to feel good from the inside out and have more energy and stamina than ever. My future blogs will address this as will the ebook I'm working on...Feel Good Now, Ten Fun and Easy Steps to Bring Your Body Back into Balance.
More to come!
Monday, September 17, 2007
It All Starts Inside
Self love is the ticket...I know it can feel weird to look in the mirror and smile at yourself...but try it...I think you may be surprised at what you see and how you feel.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Water
Drink lots of it...your cells will be very happy. "Consistent failure to drink enough water will lead to Chronic Cellular Dehydration. This is a condition where the body's cells are never quite hydrated to their capacity so they are constantly in a weakened state, vulnerable to attack from disease. It weakens the body's overall immune system and leads to chemical, hormonal, nutritional and pH imbalances that can lead to a host of diseases." Bob McCauley..Confessions of a Body Builder
Our bodies are 69% water. The human brain is 85% water, human bones are 25% water and human blood is 83% water...fascinating, huh? Drink half your body weight in ounces to provide your body with the minimum requirment...it won't hurt to drink more.
And the affirmation for the day, 'You love what is you, and you are loved for who you are.' JM
'The Universe is very clever in how it returns you to your natural state of being. Feel as the energy intensifies relentlessly. You are free to enjoy what you create. You let go and watch how everything you want flows into your life smoothly and effortlessly.' JM
Our bodies are 69% water. The human brain is 85% water, human bones are 25% water and human blood is 83% water...fascinating, huh? Drink half your body weight in ounces to provide your body with the minimum requirment...it won't hurt to drink more.
And the affirmation for the day, 'You love what is you, and you are loved for who you are.' JM
'The Universe is very clever in how it returns you to your natural state of being. Feel as the energy intensifies relentlessly. You are free to enjoy what you create. You let go and watch how everything you want flows into your life smoothly and effortlessly.' JM
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Choosing Happiness--Part II
Feel Good Now...Ask Me How....this is a working title of a concept/book I am working on...like it? Feedback?
I'm still focused on this concept of choosing happiness. Thanks Shpshftr, my buddy, for all your guideance on this concept...it has worked miracles in my overall attitude about life and I know it spills over onto family and friends...boy, do my kids mirror my moods...if I am happy, our household is amazingly peaceful with rare if any outbursts.
So much of my life has been about letting WHATEVER just happen and ignoring my inner power that knew the truth in countless situations. And how many times did I not listen to that voice?
As Abraham of the Hicks fame once stated, "There is a Life Stream that flows to you, and this is a Stream of clarity, a Stream of wellness, a Stream of abundance....and in any moment, you are allowing it or not. What someone else does with the Stream or not does not have anything to do with how much of it will be left for you. This Stream is as abundant as your ideas allow it to be." Abraham 4/4/98
.
..I choose to listen every time to that voice inside me...maybe not right away, but it naws at me enough and then I choose to listen eventually.
Ok, I gotta crack a joke now...I'm getting too serious...let's see...I'll think of something...it'll come...something that gets me laughing. I lit some incense and dropped the box of stick matches all over the floor. What's funny is I am choosing to leave them all over the floor until I finish writing this blog. Normally, I would be on my hands and needs picking them up and at first muttering minor profaneities, but now finding my 'happy place' and accomplish the task at hand...I'm kind of sick of that overused 'happy place' concept BTW, but it really does do the trick when I find it in the midst of potential torment....catch 22, eh?
So, now I know I self-create and am full of self-love and I commit to this. Yeah, I look in the mirror and smile, yeah I say affirmations like 'I am loved' or 'I am loveable' or the basic, 'I love me'. I even smather lotion or oil all over my body everytime I get out of the shower as a ritualistic way of loving and honoring my body temple....do you do that? Try it for a month...you'll be amazed at what it does for your body image. I am an EFT groupie, too...more about that in another blog. It really works and fast!
Outside circumstances that could otherwise get my goat I now choose to let pass by like clouds in the sky (thank you, my dear friend, Frederick Zappone, for that concept!) Another way to put it is to think of yourself as a tree and the breeze or heavy duty gusts of wind just blow right thru you and your strong roots, your foundation of self power hold strong...stuff doesn't hook me anymore or at least not very often and if I do get hooked, I think of these images...the clouds, the tree...and I quickly get back to that feeling good place.
At the core level of myself, I am happy. I grant myself the right to be happy and full of gratitude. I have no reason to feel intimidated or fearful because I am happy not matter what the outcome. Attachments to what others think about me have vanished. I am free to be completely myself. No more self-sabatoge. I am a winner.
Who needs antidepressents? What a scam by the pharmeceutical industry....we can choose happiness and stay off those drugs for good, in my humble opinion...no excuses accepted...between attitude which to me is about 90% of it and habituating eating and excercise, happiness can be your modus oprendi. Maturity helps alot on this one, too, and hormone balancing (another blog).
I grant myself the right to be happy. And the Universe backs me up. The proof is in the pudding...all sorts of fantastic and cool things happen when I maintain a feel good happy positive vibe. Example....steady flow of customers in my store, new opportunities, unexpected checks in the mail, cool gifts from people...a woman brought me tons of basil and other fresh herbs just yesterday gratis for me to sell in the store and I did. Customers were very happy about this.
I am just happy. I choose happiness over fear. Situations or issues don't interfere with my ever sustaining happiness. I just get happier. It flows out of me like a waterfall. I choose happiness over worry. I choose happiness over stress. I choose happiness over ridiculous little negativity demons that rear their ugly heads and attempt to sway me into yuckidom. I am filled with utter joy on a daily basis. Do you believe me? I'm committed to feeling happy...it keeps me feeling good...which brings on more fabulous things in my life....what a great incentive...the cycle of happiness and feeling good and the continued results...how could I not choose happiness???
With the reclamation of my inner power comes an extraordinary level of peace. I am happy. I am peaceful. I am calm. My life is full of happiness to overflowing. It is truly a beautiful thing.
Blessings...
Siouxz from Lake City
I'm still focused on this concept of choosing happiness. Thanks Shpshftr, my buddy, for all your guideance on this concept...it has worked miracles in my overall attitude about life and I know it spills over onto family and friends...boy, do my kids mirror my moods...if I am happy, our household is amazingly peaceful with rare if any outbursts.
So much of my life has been about letting WHATEVER just happen and ignoring my inner power that knew the truth in countless situations. And how many times did I not listen to that voice?
As Abraham of the Hicks fame once stated, "There is a Life Stream that flows to you, and this is a Stream of clarity, a Stream of wellness, a Stream of abundance....and in any moment, you are allowing it or not. What someone else does with the Stream or not does not have anything to do with how much of it will be left for you. This Stream is as abundant as your ideas allow it to be." Abraham 4/4/98
.
..I choose to listen every time to that voice inside me...maybe not right away, but it naws at me enough and then I choose to listen eventually.
Ok, I gotta crack a joke now...I'm getting too serious...let's see...I'll think of something...it'll come...something that gets me laughing. I lit some incense and dropped the box of stick matches all over the floor. What's funny is I am choosing to leave them all over the floor until I finish writing this blog. Normally, I would be on my hands and needs picking them up and at first muttering minor profaneities, but now finding my 'happy place' and accomplish the task at hand...I'm kind of sick of that overused 'happy place' concept BTW, but it really does do the trick when I find it in the midst of potential torment....catch 22, eh?
So, now I know I self-create and am full of self-love and I commit to this. Yeah, I look in the mirror and smile, yeah I say affirmations like 'I am loved' or 'I am loveable' or the basic, 'I love me'. I even smather lotion or oil all over my body everytime I get out of the shower as a ritualistic way of loving and honoring my body temple....do you do that? Try it for a month...you'll be amazed at what it does for your body image. I am an EFT groupie, too...more about that in another blog. It really works and fast!
Outside circumstances that could otherwise get my goat I now choose to let pass by like clouds in the sky (thank you, my dear friend, Frederick Zappone, for that concept!) Another way to put it is to think of yourself as a tree and the breeze or heavy duty gusts of wind just blow right thru you and your strong roots, your foundation of self power hold strong...stuff doesn't hook me anymore or at least not very often and if I do get hooked, I think of these images...the clouds, the tree...and I quickly get back to that feeling good place.
At the core level of myself, I am happy. I grant myself the right to be happy and full of gratitude. I have no reason to feel intimidated or fearful because I am happy not matter what the outcome. Attachments to what others think about me have vanished. I am free to be completely myself. No more self-sabatoge. I am a winner.
Who needs antidepressents? What a scam by the pharmeceutical industry....we can choose happiness and stay off those drugs for good, in my humble opinion...no excuses accepted...between attitude which to me is about 90% of it and habituating eating and excercise, happiness can be your modus oprendi. Maturity helps alot on this one, too, and hormone balancing (another blog).
I grant myself the right to be happy. And the Universe backs me up. The proof is in the pudding...all sorts of fantastic and cool things happen when I maintain a feel good happy positive vibe. Example....steady flow of customers in my store, new opportunities, unexpected checks in the mail, cool gifts from people...a woman brought me tons of basil and other fresh herbs just yesterday gratis for me to sell in the store and I did. Customers were very happy about this.
I am just happy. I choose happiness over fear. Situations or issues don't interfere with my ever sustaining happiness. I just get happier. It flows out of me like a waterfall. I choose happiness over worry. I choose happiness over stress. I choose happiness over ridiculous little negativity demons that rear their ugly heads and attempt to sway me into yuckidom. I am filled with utter joy on a daily basis. Do you believe me? I'm committed to feeling happy...it keeps me feeling good...which brings on more fabulous things in my life....what a great incentive...the cycle of happiness and feeling good and the continued results...how could I not choose happiness???
With the reclamation of my inner power comes an extraordinary level of peace. I am happy. I am peaceful. I am calm. My life is full of happiness to overflowing. It is truly a beautiful thing.
Blessings...
Siouxz from Lake City
Friday, September 14, 2007
Ahhhhh sailing....
One of the perks of having a health food store in a tourist town on Lake Pepin, the widest point of the Mississippi is that I get invited to go sailing quite often...super fun!
Choosing Happiness
I woke up at 3:45 AM with a strong feeling to write about our responsibility for our own happiness. I have allowed victimhood in my life to reign for a long time. No more. After months and years of figuring out that my powersource stems from within, I finally get it. And from that inner source, comes a gift. It is an awareness that I self create, that I am self-governed, that I am responsible for being happy and feeling good moment by moment. What a freakin' freeing realization when I finally got it. And wow....how long it took. I was letting outside circumstances and my surrounding environment, and folks who left me feeling completely depleated and emotionally drained (I call them energy vampires) saturate my life. YUCK!
I am most happy when I'm doing creative work that inspires others. It happens at my store every day with the customers I encounter.....super fun and quite the gift all the characters I run into...more about that later.
About 3 weeks ago, I was enticed to join up with a networking company that was selling a health food drink that I thought I could maybe sell. I was hesitant and went along with the rap of the two players that were working me into a spell. They worked me from the 'we're so cool, our group is so progressive and community oriented and COOL...come join us and be COOL, too...' I got sucked in enough to buy a case of their product even tho I had lots of questions about it. The one main guy seemed defensive with my digging about product content and information...RED FLAG....I kept setting up to be a part of 'the COOL group' and was prepared for my 3rd orientation conference call. I waited for the phone to ring and it didn't. Checked email later and there was one there that said they lost my number. I emailed it back a few emails actually. Well, I never heard from them again. The day before that call I ordered, YOUR PORTABLE EMPIRE, by Pat OBryan....thinking his concept sounded inticing and intriguing.
After a few more emails to the 'Cool group' and no responses back, I started to get the feeling they felt I wasn't quite cool enough for their group. This is so funny to me. At the same time, Pat's book arrives Thursday. I read it cover to cover Friday...get very pumped over the weekend over it. I start a blog Monday. Monday nite I get on "Second Life" and chat with a few of the members of Pat's Portable Empire University and I even talk to Pat....how fabulous to chat with the author of a book I just inhaled two days earlier...he was laid back, approachable and actually authentically cool! As opposed to the hip network marketers who had a false or fake cool energy about them.
Now, everything is flowing...ideas, projects, all in the vein of Pat OBryan's Portable Empire. I realize, when I let go of the 'cool group'/ network marketing idea for bringing in more income, and turned my focus to the Portable Empire University and actually joined it, the Universe was showing me contrast. The contrast was that network marketing did not feel good to me in my inner core source of power and the Portable Empire University did.
So now on to the creative projects and the support from PEU which is a way more cool and informative and inspiring community...Pat attracts the best...I'm supposed to be right where I am now...I can feel it and it feels real good right now in the moment...as it should every moment of the day....all right!
Siouxz from Lake City
FEEL GOOD NOW
I am most happy when I'm doing creative work that inspires others. It happens at my store every day with the customers I encounter.....super fun and quite the gift all the characters I run into...more about that later.
About 3 weeks ago, I was enticed to join up with a networking company that was selling a health food drink that I thought I could maybe sell. I was hesitant and went along with the rap of the two players that were working me into a spell. They worked me from the 'we're so cool, our group is so progressive and community oriented and COOL...come join us and be COOL, too...' I got sucked in enough to buy a case of their product even tho I had lots of questions about it. The one main guy seemed defensive with my digging about product content and information...RED FLAG....I kept setting up to be a part of 'the COOL group' and was prepared for my 3rd orientation conference call. I waited for the phone to ring and it didn't. Checked email later and there was one there that said they lost my number. I emailed it back a few emails actually. Well, I never heard from them again. The day before that call I ordered, YOUR PORTABLE EMPIRE, by Pat OBryan....thinking his concept sounded inticing and intriguing.
After a few more emails to the 'Cool group' and no responses back, I started to get the feeling they felt I wasn't quite cool enough for their group. This is so funny to me. At the same time, Pat's book arrives Thursday. I read it cover to cover Friday...get very pumped over the weekend over it. I start a blog Monday. Monday nite I get on "Second Life" and chat with a few of the members of Pat's Portable Empire University and I even talk to Pat....how fabulous to chat with the author of a book I just inhaled two days earlier...he was laid back, approachable and actually authentically cool! As opposed to the hip network marketers who had a false or fake cool energy about them.
Now, everything is flowing...ideas, projects, all in the vein of Pat OBryan's Portable Empire. I realize, when I let go of the 'cool group'/ network marketing idea for bringing in more income, and turned my focus to the Portable Empire University and actually joined it, the Universe was showing me contrast. The contrast was that network marketing did not feel good to me in my inner core source of power and the Portable Empire University did.
So now on to the creative projects and the support from PEU which is a way more cool and informative and inspiring community...Pat attracts the best...I'm supposed to be right where I am now...I can feel it and it feels real good right now in the moment...as it should every moment of the day....all right!
Siouxz from Lake City
FEEL GOOD NOW
Thursday, September 13, 2007
My Tribe
Josh--upper left...16 mellow, prefers hanging out with adults, loves tennis and wants straight A's and to be an orchestral bassoon player for life...self proclaimed NERD and proud of it, Leo
Gus...lower right...10...intellectual, reader, Runescape addict, french horn player, soccer enthusiast, intense personality, Pisces
Roy...upper right...9...math wiz, kinetic, lover of soccer, basketball, and flag football, introvert, video game king, Heroscape guru, gorgeous eyes, Aquarius
Hope...lower left..7...artist, dancer, singer of High School Musical II songlist, magical manifestor of many things including a bike she won at school last spring, soccer queen, fast and quick, small and mighty, name sake of my organic health food store, Capricorn
oh yeah...
You are absorbing information from everyone around you. It's as if you have an idea antenna and the thoughts keep coming your way. Practicing your listening skills can pay off at this time, but it may be easier to receive the data than it is for you to do anything concrete with it. Try to integrate theoretical thinking with the practical realm. Doing so will allow you to apply what you know.
Time to Hit It
Ok, I've joined Pat OBryan's Portable University, now its time to hit the books! He's got an extensive and super cool library of videoed and audio seminars broken down into topics that I'm going to go thru one by one...I've already started in fact...juicy stuff, for sure.
Simultaneously, I've started writing a chapter outline for one of my products I'm creating, 10 Fun and Easy Ways to Bring Your Body Back into Balance--a Guide to Look the Way You Feel Inside
as well as the inevitible, Magical Manifesting: A Single Mom's Guide to Having Everything You Want Without Living on Welfare.
Of course, there are a slew of other project ideas, they are just bursting out of me these days....lots to do with health and wellness and creating the life you want, manifesting, etc.
Catch and Release is a single mom's guide to dating ...that is a fun one for sure.
How to start a music venue...is also one of my faves....
One at a time, they will happen!
Breathe, laugh, create your day..oh yeah...it is a beautiful thing to choose happiness. And to be right here, right now....life happens and it is a gas!
Simultaneously, I've started writing a chapter outline for one of my products I'm creating, 10 Fun and Easy Ways to Bring Your Body Back into Balance--a Guide to Look the Way You Feel Inside
as well as the inevitible, Magical Manifesting: A Single Mom's Guide to Having Everything You Want Without Living on Welfare.
Of course, there are a slew of other project ideas, they are just bursting out of me these days....lots to do with health and wellness and creating the life you want, manifesting, etc.
Catch and Release is a single mom's guide to dating ...that is a fun one for sure.
How to start a music venue...is also one of my faves....
One at a time, they will happen!
Breathe, laugh, create your day..oh yeah...it is a beautiful thing to choose happiness. And to be right here, right now....life happens and it is a gas!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Signed up
Yes, indeed, today I joined up with Pat OBryan's Portable Empire University....I respond well to a community of folks supporting eachother. Last nite on Second Life which was my first time on, I skipped the tutorial and headed straight for Pat's Portable Empire Island...I fumbled my way around...new friend, Sean followed me in and assisted me alot....I flew, I bumped into walls and I actually got to chat with Pat...now that was a gas! How often do you read a book, love it, and then chat with the author in a whole other Universe?
Whew whoo...I'm well on my way of step by step creating my portable empire...still wondering if I should create a whole new website for my products or sell them on my store website.
Loving this day, loving this moment...65 degrees, not a cloud in the sky...simply magnificent!
later,
siouxz from lake city
Whew whoo...I'm well on my way of step by step creating my portable empire...still wondering if I should create a whole new website for my products or sell them on my store website.
Loving this day, loving this moment...65 degrees, not a cloud in the sky...simply magnificent!
later,
siouxz from lake city
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Sh#T, 9/11
I can feel that collective pain and rage seeping in me today....I just ragged on a friend, I feel all teary and sad for odd reasons...collective grief...sometimes it enters in....I just gotta let it pass like clouds in the sky as a friend would say...and make way for the blue sky....
Why was I listening to Willie Nelson, 'Stardust' just now? It totally put me in that melancholy place...yucky....
My former stepdaughter's four year old is fighting for his life on a respirator and all sorts of wires and tubes in the hospital after contracting ecoli and then a hospital borne staph infection. He was playing in the mud with his brother after the floods that hit 3 weeks ago in SE MN and SW WI....I am so sad for this young family and their boy and his little 2 year old brother...sending good love healing vibes out to them....
May we all get thru this day a-ok....remember the good stuff, feel the feelings, and let them pass and get less in our faces....
susan
siouxz from lake city
Why was I listening to Willie Nelson, 'Stardust' just now? It totally put me in that melancholy place...yucky....
My former stepdaughter's four year old is fighting for his life on a respirator and all sorts of wires and tubes in the hospital after contracting ecoli and then a hospital borne staph infection. He was playing in the mud with his brother after the floods that hit 3 weeks ago in SE MN and SW WI....I am so sad for this young family and their boy and his little 2 year old brother...sending good love healing vibes out to them....
May we all get thru this day a-ok....remember the good stuff, feel the feelings, and let them pass and get less in our faces....
susan
siouxz from lake city
kidspeak
food....eggs...cereal...toast...
race upstairs
race downstairs
comb to heads of hair
race upstairs
race downstairs
go thru backbacks
sign daily assignment books
race upstairs for hoodies
race downstairs
is there a method to this madness
hop in car
leash Carl
ride to school
tell everybody which bus to take...dad's bus for the boys, mom's bus for Hope because of dance class
race to school
forgot to give out vitamins
shucks
were there any moments of bonding
come home relax,
compile dishwasher for a load...pack it in
play good music
talk to ex
go to work
start the day
BREATHE
race upstairs
race downstairs
comb to heads of hair
race upstairs
race downstairs
go thru backbacks
sign daily assignment books
race upstairs for hoodies
race downstairs
is there a method to this madness
hop in car
leash Carl
ride to school
tell everybody which bus to take...dad's bus for the boys, mom's bus for Hope because of dance class
race to school
forgot to give out vitamins
shucks
were there any moments of bonding
come home relax,
compile dishwasher for a load...pack it in
play good music
talk to ex
go to work
start the day
BREATHE
Today's Word is Breath
remember to breathe.....all day long....take in cleansing breaths...enjoy your breath
off to drink my organic dark roast mexican coffee and take Carl for a walk down by the river where I will sit on my rock and clear my head and get ready for the day....
later,
siouxz from lake city
off to drink my organic dark roast mexican coffee and take Carl for a walk down by the river where I will sit on my rock and clear my head and get ready for the day....
later,
siouxz from lake city
Monday, September 10, 2007
Women Who Cook
That's me...after work...organic hamburgers from Jerry's organic farm and Rising Moon Organics Mac and Cheese...right now....the in the moment feel good thought....when there is resistence to the activity you are about to partake in....put on some good music...in this case, Kilowatts and Vanek, the perfect vibe created now I can cook for the tribe....
Last blog was soooooooo long...that won't be a habit, I guarantee...
Last blog was soooooooo long...that won't be a habit, I guarantee...
Feelin' Good...My Story Begins....
OK. I knew the when the intolerable had become tolerable, I was in trouble. I had to leave my emotionally abusive marriage if I was going to surivive and thrive. After 9 years of living on an organic farm, doing what I call organic slavery, working morning til nite....store, poppin' out babies with my husband--a loving, hippie, organic, controlling, spoiled-brat, farmer,genius, doing a CSA, farmers market, music forum, etc. fun people, just way too much...I was whithering. Our relationship was not in any way nurturing to our individual selves or eachother as a couple...we were way to busy....there was no time to do homeschooling which is what we were choosing for our kids who were running around wild (maybe that isn't such a bad thing!) I felt there was no time to emotionally connect with the kids or just hang out with them or play with them. I was distant from my oldest son from another relationship This tortured my heart. It was overwhelming and I was close to going down and becoming physically sick. I was tired and unhappy and worn out and everyone could see it....later after being away from the marriage for a few months, many many people would come and divulge how concerned they were about me, how constantly exhausted I looked. We took a vow to live in lack and volunteer poverty. We took an unspoken vow that is. I amalgomated to what was required to live in that setting. Work till you drop. Steven's favorite saying was 'man finishes house, man dies...' he was not going to quit beating his body into the ground anytime soon and at 55, he was crumbling...curved back and a slew of health problems. Self nurturing was viewed as selfish and therefore, unacceptable. This was truly an unsustainable lifestyle and I had to get out of there....and I had to show my kids that there was a healthier way to live that didn't include rage attacks and stressful workaholic endless days, shame and blame....organic slavery with a twist...
All I know is that my ideas weren't respected, I wasn't respected...I was there to work my ass off, cook, clean, be a depository for his semen (pardon the graphic imagery...but that is what I felt like), and jump to whatever he wanted at any given time. I allowed all this to happen...I own my part...I allowed him to get away with all of this for many reasons--I didn't set appropriate boundaries in the beginning about what I needed in the relationship because of my own insecurities and victim and abandonment issues. I got trampled, walked all over and felt incredibly not in control of creating my life. I WAS ALLOWING my life to pass me by...yuck!
My guts and heart were screaming out that this wasn't right, that there was indeed something more, that my kids were missing out on being calm and happy kids, that they deserved safety and love and peace and calm minus yelling and stress and abusive words and shame and blame.
IN mid June of 2005, I signed a lease on a house in town not clear of where my income was coming from...all I knew is that I loved myself a little bit more that day and it was time to leave that organic slavery scenario for good...for the sake my emotional, physical, spiritual and financial well-being and that of my kids. Three days later an offer from Dawn at the coffee shop came to me to open a health food store next to her business. I have been in the organic health food world business off and on for 25 years...I know the business, I know the products, I could do this. I love organic food and I love feeding my kids organic food...this was the perfect opportunity. I had actually been visualizing it for a whole 2 years prior as a way to support myself and my kids. The concept was becoming a reality and falling right into my lap I was attracting what I desired .... I was in the midst of repeating a mantra that seemed to stave off fear from moving forward...' trust the Universe'...and things indeed started to flow..I moved into the house July 1st, 2005. And then the .money came in...$40,000 over 3 months for store start up came in all sorts of ways...personal loans from all sorts of people, friends, family and complete strangers. A new customer wrote me a check for $21,000 on a handshake that I would pay monthly payments overyears! I knew I was in the flow, manifesting was happening and fast. Aug 31 was the first day of school and the day I opened the store, HOpe's Harvest whoooo hooooo ...Somehow I mustered up the courage to do all of that...I had a lot of support along the way.
Trust the Universe...I said this over and over again...
I trusted the Universe. And without hesitation, the Universe came forward and provided me what I desired. As the Universe expands, we all do...it is time to do something new and take this to the next level...the internet...share my story, share my knowledge, share how to leave victimhood behind and find your inner power as a woman...how exciting is that? I realize I am in charge of creating my life and it is possible to raise my four kids--ages 16, 10, 9, and 7 on my own. I am sitting in my lawn chair out on the deck, September 9, 2007, drinking a Summit India Pale Ale....relaxing knowing that I am creating my portable empire right now and will continue to do so on a daily basis. The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, it is truly a beautiful day. Ebook ideas abound, life is glorious. I am going to be very good at selling my books with my copywriting...I will go to Internet Marketing seminars...I will be raw and original and creative and me...lots of videos, interviews, health tips, newsletters, blog, photos...it is time to get creative and be an intelligent, single mom, writer, food store owner, internet marketer and have lots of fun with it! I love the idea of promoting feeling good by feeling good and looking good from the inside out...I love the idea of promoting the latest cutting edge ways to eat, the superfoods, super greens, super fruits and supplements to take to stay in LOA alignment on a physical level so that your emotional, spiritual, financial, physical, relationship and work pieces all align.
I used to think because of familial programming, that deep down in an insecure place within me, that a man would provide all of the above....that a man would take care of me and save me...I found comfort in that. Yuck! My grandma went through four husbands to have her needs continual met financially...my mom broke that cycle when she divorced my dad and proceded to support herself....and now I too am looking at my life at 43, a divorced mother of four and realizing I truly am the creator of my world...everything I choose to do is because I made a decision....I have four children. I rent a house that is for sale right now. At any point, we may have to move. I own a health food store in a small tourist town in MN that sustains it self...but I'm also working 7 days a week...with two women working for me, it still doesn't leave much time for me to have fun with my kids or do my own thing. Something has got to shift. This I know to be true. When Pat OBryan and Joe Vitale did a whirlwind marketing extravaganza, I without hestitation bought the book on Amazon...it did feel hypnotic the way I ordered it....their expert marketing skills worked on me...it was like I was in a trance, just like Pat talks about...there was no question, of course I was going to buy that book. I admit it, I desire financial security, freedom and basically wealth. I can't rely on it coming to me via the lottery or some other easy money way. I must gather up all my creativity, intellect and skills and create my portable empire. How am I going to do that?
I am going to reveal my process of creating wealth....by revealing moment by moment what I do on a daily basis to live a life that is truly one of my own creation. My ebooks, newsletters and blogs are going to share daily, weekly, bimonthly and when ever I feel so moved, what the heck I am doing to apply the principles so clearly laid out by Pat O'Bryan. I will also share my knowledge and wisdom on how to everyday wake up happy, and feel robustly healthy, intensely wealthy and divinely wise. Women are afterall very powerful creatures. I am going to show all of you my power, my approach to single parenting, my focus on staying happy moment by moment, my take on living in the 'goldzone,' ....creative, fun, intuitive, nurturing and continually happy. I will reveal all of my health tricks...what I do to stay robustly healthy, trim, high energy, upbeat, grounded...I will share with you the most current health and wellness trends, what people are doing to keep their bodies in balance, alkalanized, cancer free and fit as a 20 year old. I will share secrets on how to look on the outside how you feel on the inside and how to feel really fantastically good from the inside out. I have tips on how to increase your energy level, stamina, how to eliminate PMS from your life as well as menopausal symptoms like hotflashes, ideas on how to increase your libido, how to sleep like a baby every nite, how to have vibrant and glowing skin , how to have a beautiful body from the inside out. I will teach my techniques for owning a brick and motor health food store in a small tourist town and how I sell what I sell successfully every day and keep my customers coming back. I am here to feel good and to send you good vibes so that you can feel good everyday all day....we are, afterall, responsible for our own happiness.
I'm going to go clean out the produce cooler in my store...more to come!
Love,
Susan
aka...siouxz from Lake City!
All I know is that my ideas weren't respected, I wasn't respected...I was there to work my ass off, cook, clean, be a depository for his semen (pardon the graphic imagery...but that is what I felt like), and jump to whatever he wanted at any given time. I allowed all this to happen...I own my part...I allowed him to get away with all of this for many reasons--I didn't set appropriate boundaries in the beginning about what I needed in the relationship because of my own insecurities and victim and abandonment issues. I got trampled, walked all over and felt incredibly not in control of creating my life. I WAS ALLOWING my life to pass me by...yuck!
My guts and heart were screaming out that this wasn't right, that there was indeed something more, that my kids were missing out on being calm and happy kids, that they deserved safety and love and peace and calm minus yelling and stress and abusive words and shame and blame.
IN mid June of 2005, I signed a lease on a house in town not clear of where my income was coming from...all I knew is that I loved myself a little bit more that day and it was time to leave that organic slavery scenario for good...for the sake my emotional, physical, spiritual and financial well-being and that of my kids. Three days later an offer from Dawn at the coffee shop came to me to open a health food store next to her business. I have been in the organic health food world business off and on for 25 years...I know the business, I know the products, I could do this. I love organic food and I love feeding my kids organic food...this was the perfect opportunity. I had actually been visualizing it for a whole 2 years prior as a way to support myself and my kids. The concept was becoming a reality and falling right into my lap I was attracting what I desired .... I was in the midst of repeating a mantra that seemed to stave off fear from moving forward...' trust the Universe'...and things indeed started to flow..I moved into the house July 1st, 2005. And then the .money came in...$40,000 over 3 months for store start up came in all sorts of ways...personal loans from all sorts of people, friends, family and complete strangers. A new customer wrote me a check for $21,000 on a handshake that I would pay monthly payments overyears! I knew I was in the flow, manifesting was happening and fast. Aug 31 was the first day of school and the day I opened the store, HOpe's Harvest whoooo hooooo ...Somehow I mustered up the courage to do all of that...I had a lot of support along the way.
Trust the Universe...I said this over and over again...
I trusted the Universe. And without hesitation, the Universe came forward and provided me what I desired. As the Universe expands, we all do...it is time to do something new and take this to the next level...the internet...share my story, share my knowledge, share how to leave victimhood behind and find your inner power as a woman...how exciting is that? I realize I am in charge of creating my life and it is possible to raise my four kids--ages 16, 10, 9, and 7 on my own. I am sitting in my lawn chair out on the deck, September 9, 2007, drinking a Summit India Pale Ale....relaxing knowing that I am creating my portable empire right now and will continue to do so on a daily basis. The sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, it is truly a beautiful day. Ebook ideas abound, life is glorious. I am going to be very good at selling my books with my copywriting...I will go to Internet Marketing seminars...I will be raw and original and creative and me...lots of videos, interviews, health tips, newsletters, blog, photos...it is time to get creative and be an intelligent, single mom, writer, food store owner, internet marketer and have lots of fun with it! I love the idea of promoting feeling good by feeling good and looking good from the inside out...I love the idea of promoting the latest cutting edge ways to eat, the superfoods, super greens, super fruits and supplements to take to stay in LOA alignment on a physical level so that your emotional, spiritual, financial, physical, relationship and work pieces all align.
I used to think because of familial programming, that deep down in an insecure place within me, that a man would provide all of the above....that a man would take care of me and save me...I found comfort in that. Yuck! My grandma went through four husbands to have her needs continual met financially...my mom broke that cycle when she divorced my dad and proceded to support herself....and now I too am looking at my life at 43, a divorced mother of four and realizing I truly am the creator of my world...everything I choose to do is because I made a decision....I have four children. I rent a house that is for sale right now. At any point, we may have to move. I own a health food store in a small tourist town in MN that sustains it self...but I'm also working 7 days a week...with two women working for me, it still doesn't leave much time for me to have fun with my kids or do my own thing. Something has got to shift. This I know to be true. When Pat OBryan and Joe Vitale did a whirlwind marketing extravaganza, I without hestitation bought the book on Amazon...it did feel hypnotic the way I ordered it....their expert marketing skills worked on me...it was like I was in a trance, just like Pat talks about...there was no question, of course I was going to buy that book. I admit it, I desire financial security, freedom and basically wealth. I can't rely on it coming to me via the lottery or some other easy money way. I must gather up all my creativity, intellect and skills and create my portable empire. How am I going to do that?
I am going to reveal my process of creating wealth....by revealing moment by moment what I do on a daily basis to live a life that is truly one of my own creation. My ebooks, newsletters and blogs are going to share daily, weekly, bimonthly and when ever I feel so moved, what the heck I am doing to apply the principles so clearly laid out by Pat O'Bryan. I will also share my knowledge and wisdom on how to everyday wake up happy, and feel robustly healthy, intensely wealthy and divinely wise. Women are afterall very powerful creatures. I am going to show all of you my power, my approach to single parenting, my focus on staying happy moment by moment, my take on living in the 'goldzone,' ....creative, fun, intuitive, nurturing and continually happy. I will reveal all of my health tricks...what I do to stay robustly healthy, trim, high energy, upbeat, grounded...I will share with you the most current health and wellness trends, what people are doing to keep their bodies in balance, alkalanized, cancer free and fit as a 20 year old. I will share secrets on how to look on the outside how you feel on the inside and how to feel really fantastically good from the inside out. I have tips on how to increase your energy level, stamina, how to eliminate PMS from your life as well as menopausal symptoms like hotflashes, ideas on how to increase your libido, how to sleep like a baby every nite, how to have vibrant and glowing skin , how to have a beautiful body from the inside out. I will teach my techniques for owning a brick and motor health food store in a small tourist town and how I sell what I sell successfully every day and keep my customers coming back. I am here to feel good and to send you good vibes so that you can feel good everyday all day....we are, afterall, responsible for our own happiness.
I'm going to go clean out the produce cooler in my store...more to come!
Love,
Susan
aka...siouxz from Lake City!
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