Pumpkin and White Bean Hummus

I came across a recipe for pumpkin hummus in a magazine and lost the recipe. Determined to try it out, I improvised and made my own.

Ingredients:

1 15 oz can of organic pumpkin
1 15 oz can of white beans, drained
2 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp olive oil + a little extra to drizzle on top
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1-2 garlic cloves
1 tbsp dried parsley + about 1 tsp for garnish
1 tbsp pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except pepitas, dried parsley and olive oil drizzle in a vitamix or food processor. Process or blend until smooth. Add in 1 tbsp dried parsley until mixed in. Put mixture in a serving bowl and drizzle with olive oil and garnish with remaining parsley and pepitas (optional: toast pepitas in a dry skillet first). Serve with veggies or flat bread.

Warm Quinoa Salad with Wilted Spinach

I whipped this up for lunch today and it was so yummy that I had to share. Measurements of the spices are approximate because I didn't know when I was cooking that I would be sharing the recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked quinoa

2 zucchini squash sliced and cut in half

1/2 cup frozen corn

2 roma tomatoes, julienne sliced

6 greens onion sliced

2 handfuls of spinach

splash of balsamic vinegar (to taste)

garlic salt, to taste

basil, 1-2 tsp

coriander, 1/8 tsp

olive oil in a spritzer if available. If not, enough to lightly coat the pan.

Directions:

Spritz skillet with olive oil. Add zucchini and onions and cook over medium heat until slightly tender, not soft. Add corn and cook until corn is warm. Add tomatoes and quinoa. Add spices and balsamic vinegar. Add spinach and cook until it just begins to wilt. Transfer to a plate and serve. Serves 2. This dish is excellent as is, but it might be yummy topped with tempeh strips. Happy Monday! Enjoy!

Vegan Mac and Cheese

I am a sucker for mac and cheese and its existence is perhaps one of the reasons I previously had trouble becoming vegan. So cheese lovers, here you go. Enjoy it to the fullest.


Ingredients:

8 oz whole grain elbow macaroni or any other pasta you desire....gluten free, shells, your choice

3 tbsp earth balance

1 tbsp nutritional yeast

2 cups rice or soy milk

3 cups daiya cheddar cheese

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp non-gmo cornstarch

sea salt to taste

Directions:

Cook the macaroni as directed. Place earth balance in a sauce pan and melt. Once melted, add nutritional yeast and pepper. Add rice or soy milk, daiya and cornstarch. Cook on low to med/low till cheese is melted. Mix cheese sauce with macaroni and there you go. SO good.....even for non-vegans. Teenager, child and carnivore approved.

Options:

If you want to spruce it up, there are several options.

• Add meatless crumbles and/or...



• a veggie like peas, chopped asparagus or broccoli



• make it tex-mex style with meatless crumbles, corn and salsa



• Make the sauce only and pour over a baked potato, nachos...use your imagination



• Leave the recipe as is but top with bread crumbs and vegan Parmesan (I use galaxy brand) Then throw it in the oven at 350 till the top is crispy.

Garden Vegetable Soup

We've had some cold mornings the past few days. Yesterday, when I woke up it was 26 degrees and today not much warmer at 33 degrees. It seems to take me forever to warm up once I get that cold. I went to yoga where I was actually able to be a student and not a teacher and warmed up nicely but once I walked back into the elements, I felt frozen to the bone. I picked up my Kindergartner and wanted something really grounding and highly nutritious for lunch and I couldn't think of a better meal to fit my needs today but a large pot of homemade soup. So I decided to invent a really hearty, palate pleasing soup. I was so pleased when not only my husband really liked it but the teenager did too. She dished herself up a bowl before leaving for track practice and said she wasn't that hungry but it tasted really good so she kept eating it. Makes my heart smile. :)

Ingredients:
6 cups filtered water
3 Organic Gourmet vegetable bouillon cubes
1 can undrained diced tomatoes with basil (try to find the Eden Organics brand
3 small zucchini
3 carrot
2 red potatoes
3 stalks celery
1/2 of a large onion
1 cup to 1 1/2 cups crimini mushrooms
6 oz broccoli (I used half of the bag that is pictured)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
1 strip of kombu seaweed
1 cup coconut milk
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
garlic salt and crushed black pepper to taste

Directions:

Chop all the vegetables as desired except seaweed. Place water in soup pot and bring to a boil. Turn off heat. Add bouillon cubes and stir with a wire whisk until dissolved. Add the can of tomatoes. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring soup to a boil and then lower to a simmer and cook uncovered 30-45 minutes until veggies reach desired texture.

Now warm up and enjoy!

Blackened Chipotle Tempeh Fillets

My husband is amazing with tempeh! This is so good!

Ingredients:

• 1 package tempeh




• 3 tbsp vegenaise




• 2 tbsp agave plus 1 tsp




• 2 tbsp olive oil plus 1 tbsp




• 2 pinches of crumbled nori




• 1/2 tsp garlic salt




• 1/4 crispy dried onions, crushed or crumbled




• 1/4 tsp chipotle pepper

Directions:

Grate tempeh into a bowl. Add 2 tbsp oil, vegenaise, 2 tbsp agave, nori, garlic salt. Mix. With a heavy object or "meat" tenderizer smash mixture 1/2 cup at a time on a cutting board till it meets the consistency of shredded tuna. Form into two fillets. On a plate pour remaining olive oil, remaining agave and chipotle pepper. On a separate plate, spread out crushed crispy dried onion. Dip one side of fillet in oil mixture and dip the top side in the dried onion. Place fillets in a skillet sprayed with oil and cook on low for 10 minutes on each side. Tempeh will begin to blacken from the cayenne; this is not burnt. After you cook slow, cook for 4 minutes per side on high heat.

Serve on a bed of warmed apple sauce with a side of grilled or steamed asparagus. Enjoy!

Change is the only constant in this journey of life.....

The latter half of this year has been an amazing ride. The first part of 2011 was somewhat lukewarm and uneventful. I felt myself settling into a routine that did not challenge me in any manner. However, as the end of summer approached, changes happened and my zest for life was once again awakened. Philip McCluskey on facebook posted this quote a few weeks ago, "Detours, challenges, and crisis, are simply covers for miracles that had no other way of reaching you." That is simply beautiful. My detours and challenges occurred on many levels and one or tow I will share and some were very personal that I will keep to myself.

One of these challenges not only involved me but my husband as well. And I would love to share. My husband paid a visit to the dermatologist to have a spot on his back checked out and found out it was basal cell carcinoma. Of course, it was removed. The results of this information have been life changing as my husband decided to adhere to a first vegetarian diet and later to a vegan diet. He wanted to try out the veg thing for a month or so which is quite a decision for him since he loved his meat. He LOVED ribs, prime rib and large steaks. He had cut way back on consumption of meat for the past few years but I NEVER thought I would see the day that he would give it up completely. During those first thirty days, I bought the book Skinny Bastard for him. We also watched the documentaries Forks Over Knives as well as The Gerson Miracle. Both of these films are usually available on Netflix live streaming video. After watching these videos not only was he committed to being vegetarian, it was on to veganism. Amazing changes have occurred not only for him but for me and my entire family as well. I have been vegetarian since 2009. I tried as best as I could being vegan but I would cave at times. This was mostly in part because I was the only one in my family trying to follow this diet. So, if they were eating an organic cheese pizza, I would sneak a few bites after I finished my pizza with Daiya Cheese. If something had a little milk or egg in the ingredients, I would say, oh no big deal. and eat it anyway. I suffered from allergies that I contributed to dairy but I didn't think that a tiny bit of organic dairy would make a difference. Little that I knew it did. My husband had the same problem. He contributed this to seasonal allergies but the strange thing was is that he would really flare up in November/December. Not a lot of pollen in the air during that time of year. He would take an Advil Sinus or something of that sort almost daily just to cope with sinusitis. He went vegan and my world was turned upside down in such an amazing way. No allergy flare ups for either one of us. I became more committed to what I knew was the right thing for my body. Not only was it Jason and I following this diet but we passed it on to our girls as well. My oldest still eats meat and dairy usually at school or when she is out and about but a large percentage of her diet is vegan. She is in pre-season track and is showing an amazing amount of strength in her workouts. Jason has lost 15 lbs since the change and is stronger than ever. He looks amazing....hair, skin....the whole package He has the six pack he's been searching for since he was 16. :)

Jason discovered cheddar Daiya Cheese and then something wonderful happened. He became the most amazing vegan cook. He imitated unhealthy horrifically bad food and made it healthy and vegan. For the remainder of this month, I will be giving to you (what a better season to give the gift of health) the recipes of some of our amazing vegan food. We work together at times in the kitchen coming up with the most bomb food you've ever tasted. I cannot commit to a daily recipe but I will commit to a few each week.

There you have it. One of the changes in my life, that makes my heart beat stronger and has allowed me to see life in a whole new dimension.

Stay tuned for some awesomeness that will make your taste buds soar to new heights. 'Tis the season.

Power Up Your Morning!

It's been quite a while since I've posted any pictures of food or recipes so I think that this post is long overdue. I've been eating this yummy and powerful breakfast a few times a week for a month or so now.


I'm not sure what I should call it....raw cereal, maybe. I don't know. Perhaps- give me some feedback.


Here it is.

1 banana, sliced
1 peach, cut into chunks
1/2 cup of raw granola- I use Kaia Foods Buckwheat Granola, Cherry Pie
1/2 cup non-dairy milk or raw nut milk- today I used Silk Pure Coconut Milk, vanilla

So it's basically pretty simple. Cut up your fruit and place in a bowl. Top with granola and your favorite milk and enjoy slowly....savor each bite because it is delicious.

This is a power packed meal weighing in at about 373 calories....depending on the type of milk used. You can raise the protein content by adding various superfoods (like hemp or chia seeds) and using homemade hemp milk instead.

Protein- 8 grams
Fat- 9.5 grams (mostly MCFA, you know the healthy stuff)*
Carbohydrates- 70 grams (yes we need them- do not fear)
Cholesterol- 0 grams
Sodium- 31 mg

This meal is nutrient dense and provides:

• Vitamin A, C and D




• Calcium




• Iron




• B12 (completely vegan source- in fact 50% of your RDA)
  
  


• Potassium
  
  


• Magnesium
  



• Many others

*MCFA's are Medium Chain Fatty Acids. Coconuts are one of natures' best sources of them. These type of fats are healthy special fats that are more easily burned as energy than other fats. Here is some additional information on the topic. http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/mcts.php

Reflections: Restore, Love and Understand

It is Monday morning in early August. This week there will be a shift that occurs in my schedule as my husband and two of my three daughters return to school for the next 10 months. It's funny how we get into a routine and sometimes change can make us feel uneasy. That is truly what I felt as this past June came around. I was in a routine and then overnight, it changed. With everyone in my family home, I had to adjust my schedule. For the first few weeks, I was beyond uncomfortable, however as the weeks progressed we all were in alignment. It was as if our little family paid a visit to a chiropractor and all was right.

Personally, I grew in so many ways over the summer. I definitely felt like my heart became more open. I gave specific focus in my personal yoga practice to opening my heart and throat chakras. I feel now as if I can love more deeply and communicate more effectively. The most wonderful aspect of this is that I can continue to grow. As a family, we chose to downgrade, de-clutter and begin the path to a simpler existence. I will forever be thankful for these past few months and this time will have a powerful impression on my heart for the rest of my life. There wasn't anything too dramatic that occurred but it was the little things that assisted me in opening my heart, loving more, expressing myself and understanding others on a different level. Friendships were strengthened, relationships were mended and minds were opened.

This summer was restorative for me. It was not something that I planned, it was something that just happened. Almost as if everything in the universe aligned for me whether I felt I was ready for it or not. Interestingly enough, I remember the moment when the restoration began. Not a moment I will publicly share, but it was simple, yet grand. I feel like now I can continue to evolve into the person I was meant to be. There was so much in the way that this evolution could not proceed. Now that this "de-cluttering" has occurred, I can proceed. I will not change but simply evolve and bring forth the most positive energies within me and most importantly LOVE deeply.

My Heart in the Sun

Life carries on. So it does. I laugh as I read my last post titled "Absence" as I have been absent from posting again. Sometimes forcing yourself to be in a space is not conducive to your existence and is counterproductive. If our hearts are not open to being in that space then we should refrain. This morning I woke up quite early and found myself just before the sun rose on my yoga mat in the back yard with David Newmann's kirtan making way into my heart via my ipod. I set an intention for my day to go forth with mindfulness, love, devotion and tolerance in every action and every thought. The music had spoken to me in a way that magnetically connected my mind, body and spirit. My body was led by the rhythm of the music and the flow of my breath. Even though the air was crisp, my body began to warm through several rounds of sun salutations. Even though the sun had not quite peeked its head over the horizon, I could feel its solar warmth within the core of my body. I began to sweat. I felt such a sweet sensation of alignment and release. I felt the need to downsize my life in such a way that I could focus not only this day but each and every day on these very important intentions that I had set. After completing several breaths in a headstand, I could hear the sweet voices of my two youngest daughters. That was my call to savasana. I turned Shanti (peace out) by MC Yogi on my ipod as I melted into this pose....into this space that my heart was so open to. My breath began to slow but I could feel the strong beat of my heart. With each beat I could feel goodness and light radiate from me. I rolled my shoulders underneath my body to have that upward lifting heart. Open and willing. At the close of the song, MC Yogi whispered such wonderful words into my ear, "Peace in, Peace out." By aligning my heart with my space and with my intentions, I could feel peace within me with each inhale. It is then that peace will flow out of me and touch those around me...with each exhale. As I rose from savasana, the sun had made its way over the horizon and shone upon my face with such beauty and grace that I could only simply smile. I felt as if I could embark upon my day with this energy from the sun. Just as it warmed my heart from deep within I felt that I could truly be in a space where I could be mindful in all that I do, love from depths of my heart, show true devotion to all those around me, and tolerate all individuals and understand that each and every path is unique. Love and Light.

Absence

My absence from posting has not been due to inactivity in my life but is quite the opposite. As we are deep in the midst of my daughter's track season, I have found myself quite the busy body. Between track, training clients, teaching yoga, placing high priority on family, and organizing a playgroup for health minded moms, I have put someone on the low end of the priority scale: ME. It sometimes so difficult to find balance between all the things you want to do, all the things you are obligated to do, taking care of others, and taking care of yourself. I am not saying that I have stopped my fitness regimine or stopped healthy eating, but I just feel as if my system has been bogged down- perhaps emotinally- and it's time for some rejuvination and pampering. What more would a girl want to do but begin my favorite.....RAW FOOD CLEANSE.

Today I am beginning a cleanse that will last 7 days. It was very impromptu but just felt so blah upon waking this morning, that I just had to. I pondered a bowl of cereal and banana this morning before I made this decision and just said NO. I've been doing my smoothies pretty much daily and just felt like they were boring. I think I was just becoming so regimented in what I did, the cereal sounded fantastic because I was breaking away from my norm. However, I changed my outlook on the morning smoothie today. I felt like I needed a fresh start from the inside out.

In days prior, I felt a bit out of control in the evenings and would snack a little too much. I think I just felt out of balance. It's time to regain that balance and control and create that fresh start that I think many living things in nature crave as the weather begins to warm.

My weight is not terrrible, but I think it's time to slim down just a bit in preparation for the summer months. It's time to shed the skin, so to speak, that has built up over the last few months. My weight this morning was 138.8. I am looking to shed about 10 lbs. My weight today is the high end of the spectrum that I like to stay in. (128-138 lbs) I weighed myself after I made my cleansing decison, but my weight just solidified my decision. I knew the time was approaching and that "spring cleaning" was inevitable. So here I am. I am hoping that by keeping up to date with my blogging that I will feel more accountable. I will be journaling my experience over the next few days as I embark upon this 7 day journey of clearing the mind and cleaning the body.

Current mood: HUNGRY. :)

Until next time.....

Grateful for Inspiration

As you can see it has been quite some time since I have posted to my blog. Usually an absence on my part is due to extreme busy-ness in my life. And yes this has caused some absence. I logged into my account and as I scrolled down my "reading list" of blogs I was so inspired by the various yoga and food blogs that I follow. Spring brings about change and inspiration and this is quite evident as I begin to read all of the amazing posts. I have no intention as I sit down on this cold spring afternoon on what I should write…what should my focus be? Now the words begin to pour out of my soul like water from a spring. I am inspired; I am inspired by the season and by those that I surround myself with. I have a beautiful family, wonderful friends, and committed clients. For all of these people in my life, I am grateful.

Yes, random.

This post is not about the latest recipe that I have come up or about the most popular superfood but instead is about what I have learned from those that I am close to. Being healthy is integrative. Being healthy is holistic. We must integrate the whole of our person into health. This is physical, mental and spiritual. Our thoughts guide our actions….our actions or lack of actions move us towards what we become. I hope that what I have found as I ponder these angels in my life is that you will be inspired to be optimistic, diligent, passionate, dedicated and driven in all that you do.

Family:

Optimism: My two youngest daughters inspire in a way like no one else can in my life. Their actions and their curiosity inspire me to be inquisitive about the world around me; they inspire me to always find the beauty in the ordinary things in life. It's those ordinary moments, the simple things in life that can often be monumental. My five year old says almost daily, "It's a great day!" Life is what you make it….make the most of each day.

Diligence: My oldest daughter inspires me to be active and to remain strong in all that I do. She is a naturally talented sprinter. This is her first year of high school and she has found great success in her fifth year as a track athlete. The harder she works, the stronger she becomes both mentally and physically. The changes may be subtle and may not always be obvious; however, we must remain diligent in all that we do.

Passion: I have never met a more passionate person than my husband. He is passionate in everything he does- from coaching to teaching to being the best dad and husband possible. I am truly inspired by his passion.

Friends:

Dedication: When I consider the close friends that I have in my life, I think of dedication. Every friend I have is dedicated to something and they are steadfast in their dedication. Whether it is weight loss, being healthy, keeping their children safe, or making a commitment to the community in some form or another, they are dedicated. Friends, you inspire me.

Clients:

Driven: I have several clients that I work with on weekly basis. This may be in the form of yoga, fitness or personal training. I am inspired by the drive of these individuals. With great energy, positive attitudes and of course dedication, the possibilities are endless. Through their hard work and dedication, I am truly inspired. I am so privileged to work with each and every one of you. Thank you for choosing me to help you in her quest towards a healthier and active life.

Be optimistic, diligent, passionate, dedicated and driven in all that you do. Keep this at the forefront of your intentions on a daily basis and you will succeed in everything that you attempt.

Dream. Believe. Commit. Do.

My youngest woke me up at 4 am this morning. As she returned to her room, I lay in my own bed with a wandering mind. Four words made their way to the forefront of my consciousness: Dream. Believe. Commit. Do. These four words ran together in my mind like the colors of a tie died shirt. Most achievements in our lives begin with a simple dream, a thought, a whisper of possibility, an intention. After considering our dreams, we must reach a point where we begin to believe in our dreams. Often we have a dream of achieving something wonderful and grand, but we do not actually believe that we can accomplish the dream. We do not believe that we can create the circumstance in which we can chase these dreams. All too often, what we want to happen gets lost in a endless sea of lost possibilities. However, once we believe, the means for our dreams may begin to manifest themselves. Doors shut and doors begin to open; this all because we believed. Once we truly believe and see the path, we must commit. This can often be a scary word. We are afraid that once we commit, we will become vulnerable which often makes commitment feel like a risk. Dreams can not become reality without taking some sort of a risk. But, once we fully commit, the path becomes even clearer. After we commit, there must be action. We must do. We must begin to walk through those doors of the unknown. The word do is defined as "to carry out or perform an action." It is important to remember that our actions speak louder than words and our actions definitely speak louder than our thoughts. Today, do something that will make you one step closer to achieving your dreams. Maybe you haven't dreamt yet. Take the time to explore your thoughts and decipher what it is that your heart truly desires. Wherever you are on this path: Dream, believe, commit, do....I challenge take the time to find your place; which word describes you right now? The dream can be small or can be as grand and magnificent as you allow it to be.

Dream. Believe. Commit. Do.

Morning Supercharge Smoothie

I have been experimenting with combining superfoods in my morning smoothies. I came up with this variations and decided to share.

Morning Supercharge Smoothie

1 young thai coconut- meat and milk
1 banana
1/4 goji berries soaked for at least 20 minutes
1 tbsp cacao powder
3 dates, pitted
1 tbsp maca powder (optional)
ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Enjoy!

Feel Inspired....

....to do something healthy today. Eat something GREEN. Maybe you are someone who cannot stand the taste of those beneficial leafy greens. Don't worry, there are many that do not find greens palatable. However, I find that it is essential to eat greens on a daily basis. Pay not attention to the "man behind the curtain" who says to eat greens only 2 x's weekly. Here is a simply way of adding greens to the diet: Green smoothies. Some people feel as if they are getting their greens through juicing, however, juicing takes the fiber out of the green. Don't get me wrong juicing greens is a good thing, BUT do not rely on this process as your primary method of putting greens into the diet. So back to the smoothie conversation, try a simple recipe such as this to start.

1 banana
1/2 pineapple
2 cups of spinach, kale or other leafy greens
ice

Blend it up and there you go!

Why must we eat greens? Here are a few of the benefits:

• Greens are alkalinizing. Many foods that the general population consumes are very acidic. A highly acidic environment in the body can lead to health issues. Greens can help balance and neutralize the body's pH.
• The chlorophyll found in greens acts as a blood detoxifier.
• Raw greens are powerhouses of nutrients, enzymes and antioxidants.
• Greens are perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrients. (calorie for calorie)
• Greens boost the immune system.

These are among many of the benefits. For more information, I recommend the book, Green for Life by raw foodist, Victoria Boutenko. Victoria Boutenko dramatically changed her health and the health of her entire family through raw foods and green smoothies. I encourage you to explore the Boutenko family's youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BoutenkoFilms#g/u as well as their website: http://www.rawfamily.com/

What is the Inland Empire CSA?

CSA

Well, I finally joined the Inland Empire CSA and received my first box last week. (If you are not exactly sure what a CSA is, see the video posted above.) I set my pick-up location for Pizza Fusion in Temecula on Thursdays. However, when I arrived to pick up my box, it was not there. I contacted Gary who handles new members/paper work, etc and I received a phone call on Friday morning. To make up for the upset, the box was delivered to my home that afternoon. You have the choice of ordering either a full share or a half share. I ordered the full share and was greatly impressed with the amount of produce in the box. It was so extremely fresh with so many lovely winter greens. I was familiar with everything in the box but with the large amount of food, it was a good opportunity for my family to try some new veggies and greens. I try to be an example to my husband and children and although they don't eat everything that I eat, they are in the process of becoming more open to foods such as greens. That night I made a yummy asian cuisine for them which included lightly sautéed baby bok choi. I am so glad that I finally joined as I am forced to eat my least favorite but extremely healthy veggie: beets. I am well aware of the benefits of these beautifully colored roots but the taste for me is not one of the benefits. I have been juicing these little beauties and what do you know….I am becoming somewhat accustomed to their taste. All in all, this is going to be beneficial for all of us. Not only will it benefit our family, but there are other benefits to our membership. By becoming a member, you are dramatically reducing your carbon footprint. Food often travels a great distance to make it to your local grocer. The two farms that provide for this CSA are local to this area. The food is also organic and sustainably farmed. The soil is not being polluting with chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and therefore the food is much healthier as it provides more nutrients than commercially produced food. In addition, the food is extremely fresh, often picked the day of delivery. You are also supporting small family farms. As more and more small farms are losing out to 'agribusiness', joining a CSA is great way to support a family farm. You will have the opportunity to try new foods that you are not familiar with. I also find that this is also a good choice economically. I don't think I would be able to get the same amount of organic food that I am receiving in my box for the same amount of money. So check out the photos of my first box. If you are interested in joining, you can follow the link the Inland Empire CSA which will provide you with additional information. http://www.inlandempirecsa.com/index.html

Morning Glory

I just wanted to share with you an amazing smoothie that has energized me today beyond belief. I was just playing in the kitchen and here is what I came up with:

1/4 honeydew melon
1/2 fresh pineapple
1 kiwi
1 banana
4 large leaves of swiss chard
6-8 oz water
ice

This makes a large amount and can be split between two people if desired.

Blend together and enjoy. These flavors meshed really well together and the light green color was beyond beautiful!

Do Something Beautiful Today...

Do something for you today. Begin to take those baby steps towards a more beautified and healthier you. When you take care of yourself, you can better care for those you love.

Here is a list of baby steps that you can take TODAY so that you may walk or even run towards the healthiest and most beautiful version of you.

1. Go to a fitness class.

2. Go for a walk.

3. Paint your toenails.

4. Make a green smoothie.

5. Journal.

6. Begin a good book.

7. Take a warm bath.

8. Enjoy a few minutes, even just 5 minutes, of the yoga resting posture, savasana. Lay on your back, close your eyes and just let go!

9. Talk to yourself. Say positive things about you.

10. Make a juice with fresh veggies or fruits.

Once you have completed a task or two, be inspired to set a few long term goals. I think one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family is moving towards healthier and cleaner eating habits. Make a decision to eat locally and more organic foods. Even if you only switch to eating organic apples, make that commitment today. Being more mindful of honoring yourself by taking the best possible care of you (for your family)is the best decision that you can make.

With love. :)

LIVE, THRIVE and INSPIRE

Just as I talked about in my previous post, I am embarking on a cleanse. However, I am taking a slightly different route than I had first anticipated. I was planning on doing the raw food cleanse. After purchasing Rainbeau Mars' DVD, Ra'Yoka, I decided to follow her recommended cleanse in the booklet that came with the DVD. The booklet does not lay out a super detailed plan. Rainbeau actually offers support and a more detailed plan but this comes with a fee. I felt inclined to embark on this one on my own. The first week, which for me was last week, is basically eating very clean and not much different than my typical diet- vegan, unprocessed whole foods. This worked well for me as I had those few splurge days over the holidays. It is amazing how quickly your body can respond to the addictive nature of sugar and bad fat. I just kept thinking about eating and that just wasn't healthy. Week 1 helped me to refocus and essentially by eating just as I should, the cravings subsided. I am now in the midst of week 2: all raw. I feel amazing but of course everything that is cooked looks so good to me. I know that this too shall pass as I dig deeper. I was fortunate enough to purchase a vitamix last week so this has been helpful in making the smoothest and tastiest smoothies and raw soups. Next week is week 3 and I will go on a one week smoothie and juice fast....one day will be fasting on watermelon only. This is the week that counts as you would begin to rest your digestive system and put more energy into ridding the body of harmful toxins as well as healing both physically and emotionally.

Someone asked me the other day, "why do you feel you need to detox if you already eat so healthy, did you do something bad?" It is not so much the food but there are other things that we need to detox from. There are toxins in the environment that we are exposed to. Aside from that, this time can be used to emotionally detox and release feelings of regret, grudges, self-loathing among other feelings that are harmful to a person. We learn to forgive ourselves and others of harmful but unchangeable events of the past. Depending on each individual, we all detox on our own level. For me, the harmful (for me) indulgences that I embarked upon over the holidays taught me a lesson. I am learning again to indulge on a healthy level. We must indulge daily in all things that are healthy and beautiful. This is thriving. We must learn to thrive instead of merely existing. By doing so, we will let our inner beauty shine through to our physical existence. By cleaning out the insides both emotionally and physically, we let our beauty and creativity radiate. It is my hope that by cleansing and detoxing, I can experience both the emotional freedom and happiness and the physical effects like healthy glowing skin and more energy. When we get rid of what is hindering us both physically and emotionally, we can begin to LIVE, THRIVE and INSPIRE. Imagine what the world would be like if we all existed to experience life to the fullest and inspire others to be their greatest...