Just another reason to eat local

Check out this article about how eating locally can actually alter your genes.

7 foods to never eat....

check it out! I love that eating healthy and being careful about what you are eating is becoming so popular!

Green, safe living.

Mary Cordaro for protection against EMF's in your home. She specializes in consulting on healthy, green home building and remodeling, diagnosing and solving “sick building syndrome” as well as EMF protection.

what do you want...

Write It Down.

The Secret opened people up to the idea that if you make visualization boards and write down what you want it will be attracted to you. It is the law of attraction. This is something that I began doing and I really spell out exactly what I want.

I was looking back at something that I wrote, a list of qualities that I felt I deserved in a guy. Not only traits, but even my own shallow desires of looks. It is so bizarre to look back at that and realize that somehow my list was fulfilled. Tall, tan, muscular...hahah....but more importantly ambitious, intelligent, treats me like a princess, and there is so much trust and comfort.

So, WRITE IT DOWN.

Spell out to yourself exactly what it is you want and hopefully you will find that it enters your life.

Thanks Wilmington, Calculus, Shiva Kumar Saksena, and the math lab.

sprezzatura

“It’s the best when the ordinary is extraordinary, I think. There’s this Italian renaissance way of being romantic: they call it ‘sprezzatura’. It is where you try to be as romantic as possible - but through your ordinary life. There’s so much more magic in the ordinary. Life isn’t all fireworks. Romantic things come from inside you.”

be brave.

We all have people in our lives who are very important to us. They make us happy, they make us sad, they make our lives worth living. They are part of our souls and part of what makes life so beautiful. I cherish these people and the people who have given me a part of their heart and life as well. These are the people who you trust and admire so much, that you have truly let them become apart of you. You might not feel whole without them, or you might ache when they ache. This is what makes life living.

Then there are those people who for some reason have this 'power' without being in your life for very long. They aren't supposed to make you feel so happy, or have the ability to make you so sad. Do they even know that they can make you cry? Do you have the same affect with them? It is almost unnerving that they are allowed to be a puppet over your emotions when they haven't earned this privilege. Is this a sign of our weakness, or of bravery and strength?

I always say that we are in control of our own emotions and that we shouldn't let others affect how we feel, but is that really the best mantra? Isn't that playing it safe? The scary part of life is letting people so far in that they can hurt you, but they can also make you inexplicably happy. We are in charge of our emotions and happiness. Yet, it is risking our steady emotions and letting someone else be apart of them that is truly brave and worth commending. It is a risk. It can hurt. We know the strength it takes to let someone in, so when someone does the same, be gentle and kind, know that it is beautiful and courageous of them, and act with your heart.

the sun is shining, but it still feels like a rainy day.

make it so that even on a rainy day, it feels like the sun is shining brighter than ever.

Cancer Cure.

I think this documentary is so important not only for how it gives hope for cancer victims, but also to see how our government tried to arrest the man who came out with this miraculous cure. WATCH

"I'm no beauty queen, I'm just beautiful me..."

I know it is a little disney, but the words to this song are beautiful and something that everyone needs to hear.

el medio ambiente.

DIG YOUR TOES IN THE DIRT OR SAND TODAY.

"...the whole environment is designed to make us feel good, to feel connected to all of everything, to soothe us and make us feel peaceful and happy."

via The Garden Diet;The Three Keys to Lasting Weight Loss.

thank you, thank you

My 21st Birthday was Sunday, May 22nd and it was definitely one of the best Birthday's I have ever had. I want to thank my friends so much for making me feel special and making it so amazing. So many people came to visit me at the beach to give me a weekend that was all about me. I got to have two amazing nights of dancing, karaoke, and obnoxious "Birthday-ness." I wore a crown and was allowed to do whatever I wanted because if it's your Birthday, you can be crazy and it's cool. Thank you guys so much. I love you all!!

Megan's AMAZING Birthday cake that she made especially for me with all organic ingredients

lovely love.

"The best part of you is the sum of

how other people have loved you.

So when you love another you are

sharing what other people have

created in you."

no death should be considered a victory.

The death of Osama Bin Laden is all over the news and while I could talk about the courage of those serving our country, or how it saddens me that these hero's are also subject to killing people, or what this means for our country, but honestly it is death and I think this Martin Luther King, Jr. quote my brother in law Scott brought to my attention sums up the event.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Birthday presents?

I usually don't have anything to ask for on my birthday,(I LOVE SURPRISES) but it is my 21st, which is kind of a big deal, sooo I am going to list some material things that I would be down with.

If you know me....anything handmade, vintage/antique, or something with a story is always a winner for me

-my mom and I recently found this bomb ass 3d turtle stencil used to screen print fabric. It was framed and really awesome, but unfortunately, also pricey.

As for specifics....

-Tibetan Singing Bowl...I just think that it is really cool looking and I like the intention behind it.

-Any mineral or stone with a cool meaning or intention, such as a Poppy Jasper Stone. I really like the pyramid, flat oval drop, and a slab would be really cool to do something with.

-Raw almond butter...mainly because you get a deal when you buy 3 and I think the Living Tree Community is an awesome website with really pure products and dedication...check out their other nut butters, chocolates, (one is made with lavender blossoms!) and alive pestos.

- ANY of the chocolates that are a few posts below.

-Handmade pottery, but I am kind of picky so...I just really want this one awesome speckled bowl I saw at the state fair, it was so cool and an awesome shape.

-Aquasana Shower Filter

- Indo Board...ebay.

Mainly I just want to be with my friends and have an absurd time just doing weird things because you are allowed to on your birthday, but my main request for the evening of my birthday, dancing. I also wouldn't mind a little karaoke. Then the next day I want to play on the beach all day and have a picnic with some lovely HEALTHY food.

Vegetarian? Vegan? Eco-Conscious? READ.

I found this article while working on an essay about eco-conscious eating and the facts are laid out in an easy to read manner with no fluff. Check out the shocking data....

chocoLOT!

Who doesn't love some chocolate....these are some healthy chocolates that are made beautifully and with a lot of consciousness, so indulge. Help yourself to a late easter chocolate?

Gnosis Chocolate

One of my all time favorites...they have a chocolate for everything and with beautiful herbs and intentions put into each. The ingredients in all of the gnosis treats are truly amazing and supreme quality.

Lulu's Chocolate

I have only had the Chocolate Maca Chunk bar, and it is DELICIOUS. I also like that they use coconut sugar, which is extremely low glycemic, instead of agave nectar.

Fine and Raw Chocolate

I specifically linked this to the chipotle bon bons, because I have a thing for chipotle seasoning, and so want to try this!!

"we strive to be green and sustainable where ever possible. We'll be the first to admit we're not perfect. From the big issues, like fairtrade and carbon foot prints, down to using energy efficient light bulbs, we're learning to be greener all the time."

Greens + Chocolate Energy Bars

These are not raw and not just a chocolate bar, it is a greens food. I love these bars even though they are not raw. They are a great snack or meal replacement because they give you greens as well as give you your chocolate fix. They also use ayurvedic herbs and a lot of the ingredients are cold pressed. It is also alkaline forming.

I have also had Righteously Raw, which is good, but more mass produced I feel. There doesn't seem to be as much of a my friend made this feel. The Raw Chocolate Company also has some yummy sounding ones, but I have never had any of it. It also seems more commercial.

runner?

I think this website is awesome and something I need to spend a little time with. If you have injuries, or just enjoy running a lot, maybe you should too!

http://www.chirunning.com/

Active at any age.

Check out this 91 year old track star. This is so inspirational and awesome. You can start a new hobby or activity at any time in life. Now, I need to stop saying that I am too old to start ballet or gymnastics and just do it!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/world_news_america/9439116.stm

shopping guide

This is an article that gives you an idea of the food that you should definitely buy organic and those that you may let it slide. It also talks about the rip offs in our groceries stores and the types of meat/fish to buy! check it out.

slightly different view point.

This article is from a fitness expert, but he is also super into nutrition. Mike Geary lists 55 foods in this article that are healthy, whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore. I wanted people to read this because no matter what you eat or don't eat, this is loaded with useful information and educates those who want to eat meat and cheese on the best kind to eat as well as those who just want to eat the veggies. READ UP!

Get FREE water from a natural spring!

I know the water at my house is not so delicious and that is the case for most people. Here is a great way to find a spring near you where you can get natural spring water without the cost. go to http://www.FindaSpring.com/ and find a spring near you!

This is pretty sweet...

We spend a very good amount of our time asleep on our beds, so naturally we would want our mattresses to be natural...so mattresses in general are very expensive, but especially organic ones. Therefore I wanted to share this video from the Renegade Health Show on how to make your own completely natural, organic, antimicrobial, and totally safe to sleep on mattresses!!

Fermented Foods + Body Ecology Diet

As I talked about in my last post, the Body Ecology Diet puts a major focus on fermented foods. These are foods that are produced/preserved by microorganisms. These microorganisms serve as the life force to your gut and health when consumed. Not only do they contain these probiotics for a healthy gut, they are also predigested so it takes a lot of strain off of your body to digest them. Most of these foods are low in calories and are great if you are trying to lose weight. They will improve your digestion by the large amount of fiber as well as the probiotics and enzymes present.

A healthy digestive system allows our bodies to absorb the vitamins and minerals in our food, unlike a toxic colon which sends toxins back into our blood streams causing illness. So eating fermented foods and lead in an increase in B Vitamins, (B12 included because it is created in small amounts in a healthy gut environment) omega 3 fatty acids, digestive enzymes, lactase and lactic acid , as well as other immune chemicals that fight off harmful bacteria, even cancer cells.

I highly recommend the book Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon which delves into the importance of fermented foods in different cultures and the benefits to your health as well as lots of recipes and instructions to ferment your own salsas, krauts, cheeses, pickles....

Some great fermented foods that you can buy are Miso which is great in salad dressing and Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. Tempeh is also a fermented food which is a great protein alternative forvegetarians. It is soy, but it is fermented which makes the nutrients available to your body and destroys the toxins.

When you eat sugar it is good to accompany it with a fermented food because it will eat the sugar and turn it into the good bacteria instead of being digested in the gut with the bad bacteria, also promoting it. There was even a recent study in a magazine about the benefits of drinking raw apple cider vinegar in water before a sugary or carbohydrate rich meal because it will help digest the sugar and slow the way it enters into the blood stream which is great for regulating blood sugar. SO enjoy some fermented foods and boost your immunity and health!

Body Ecology Diet.

I am really into the philosophy of the Body Ecology Diet that Donna Gates shares. I have been listening to a lot of interviews that she has done and reading about her products. Everything she says resonates with me on a high level . The benefits of fermented foods is documented in the health of people in other countries who have this as a large part of their cultures. This philosophy focuses on high amounts of fermented foods to boost the good flora in our guts which prevents the growth of bad. There is a lot of research showing that all diseases begin from an overgrowth of bad bacteria which may begin in our guts. It is also documented that controlling this bad bacteria and restoring our bodies to an alkaline environment with only good bacteria like those found in fermented foods and probiotics reverses diseases. If we do not provide an environment for diseases or illnesses to live, then they will cease to live.

This is the focus of The Body Ecology Diet and I think it is one that everyone should think about. It focuses on a whole food diet rich in vegetables and lacking in processed foods, but it does not restrict the diet in any way. There is a place for those who eat meat, those who eat dairy, vegetarians, vegans...The focus of the diet is to eat 80% vegetables at every meal and then the other 20% is your choice, the 80% rule also means to only eat until you are 80% full. I like this "diet," but what I just like to call lifestyle because it is not so restricting. I think it is very important to implement raw foods into your diet, but 100% or even 80% isn't for everyone. This lifestyle emphasizes raw foods and greens, but not in an overbearing or restricting way.

There are a few things on the website that I am very interested in, such as their LIVING, TRULY organic coconut water as well as the Coco Biotic which is a fermented beverage. They also sell a Veggie Culture Starter, which I think is great because you know the bacteria that is going into your ferment and are only breeding good bacteria.

Hello March!!

It's no mistake

"No matter what you do, right now, you can never make a mistake. All roads lead to everywhere and your real destiny. Give up worrying about choosing. It is done."

ice cream for breakfast.

First of all this picture is adorable, but in reference to ice cream....it can be healthy enough to eat for breakfast!

My favorite ice cream substitute is extremely extremely simple... a frozen banana.

I am not joking... the texture and flavor are like eating vanilla ice cream to me

Now, you can also have a little more fun and make sorbet's with berries or a flavored "ice cream" by blending simply frozen berries with a touch of water. Or take frozen bananas and raw cacao, mesquite, or carob ( or all three! ) and blend it up with some almond milk or butter. You really can enjoy the taste and texture of ice cream while still being healthy, so EAT ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST! and share it with someone, because that's just sweet.

but don't forget that if you truly love ice cream and this just doesn't do it for you then GO FOR IT, just don't do it too often and make sure it has simple ingredients, or go with frozen yogurt.

image via christinaklug.blogspot.com

Fluoride video + AWESOME art.

Just some extremely intense cartoons on fluoride...but seriously it is no bueno.

Watch this video on fluoride! What we think about fluoride is not true and it is actually now even being recognized as dangerous by the USDA as being dangerous for pregnant women and young children, so it's obviously not safe!

Emily Hearn is a junior at UGA, woooo GO DAWGS!, but I absolutely love her music and think she is so talented! check her music out at emilyhearn.com and also check out her new music video!

WATCH!!!

You have to watch this fantastic video (at least the first six minutes) posted on Dr. Mercola's website if you are concerned with your health, the environment, and really, moral justice and the truth. People need to learn about what is going on in our food systems and how it affects us and our environment, so share this!

A huge company that creates these GM foods is Monsanto. I won't even get started on this company right now because I get quite worked up, but it is important to know that Obama has just hired multiple people from this company that is responsible for disrupting our food system as well as the exploitation of small farmers. Isn't it great to know that they will now basically be in charge of our food system? Quite the conflict of interest. Yay lobbying and politics...in 2009 alone they spent $71 billion. And here is the line up for where they will be working;

Michael Taylor, former Monsanto Vice President, is now the FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods. Roger Beachy, former director of the Monsanto-funded Danforth Plant Science Center, is now the director of the USDA National Institute of Food andAgriculture. Islam Siddiqui, Vice President of the Monsanto and Dupont-funded pesticide-promoting lobbying group, CropLife, is now the Agriculture Negotiator for the US Trade Representative. Rajiv Shah former agricultural-development director for the pro-biotech Gates Foundation (a frequent Monsanto partner), served as Obama's USDA Under-Secretary for Research Education and Economics and Chief Scientist and is now head of USAID. Elena Kagan, who, as President Obama's Solicitor General, took Monsanto's side against organic farmers in the Roundup Ready alfalfa case, is now on the Supreme Court. Ramona Romero, corporate counsel to DuPont, has been nominated by President Obama to serve as General Counsel for the USDA.

If you want more information on way that you can fight this, then go to my previous blog post, GM alfalfa...IMPORTANT.

Happy Valentines Day!

"You give me premature ventricular contractions," aka you make my heart skip a beat.

Thank you 'No Strings Attached' for this...I love it

I hope everyone enjoys this beautiful Valentines Day and spends time with loved ones. I think it is great that we have a holiday devoted to love because I think we all take it for granted on occasion. I also love that it is an excuse to eat chocolate! I ordered some raw chocolate from Gnosis Chocolate, which is delicious. These chocolates are full of love and amazing herbs and I consider it the best chocolate, with amazing intentions. Remember that chocolate has so many great nutrients in it, but in my opinion should mainly be for special occasions because it can be extremely taxing to your adrenals via caffeine(see article in previous post), but today... enjoy and indulge!

Caffeine...Coffee

Excerpt from a blog post by Kevin Gianni:

"As you can see, the antioxidant thing has been blown out of proportion.

We need to look at coffee as a whole food, not as a source of antioxidants to determine if it’s good or not.

We need to know what it does collectively – regardless of its antioxidant content – when you drink it.

The most potent ingredient in coffee (thanks to reductionist science, LOL!) is caffeine.

This compound is a known stimulant.

Ingesting stimulants, like caffeine, cause an adrenal response in the body. This response increases cortisol which raises blood pressure and heart rate, as well as interferes with other hormone production in the body.

People with elevated cortisol levels produce less DHEA, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and other hormones that give the body balance at both physical and mental levels.

Excess cortisol can suppress the immune system as well.

So when you drink a cup of coffee, or two, or three…

Your heart rate and your blood pressure increase which puts stress and pressure on your cardiovascular system – in particular your capillaries.

Your adrenals become overtaxed and slow the production of sex and feel good hormones.

You start to store excess fat in the belly area (a symptom of excess cortisol) and your immune system starts to break down.

There are not the properties of a health promoting food.

Clearly, the whole package is much more potent and potentially dangerous than some minimal antioxidant protection."

via www.renegadehealth.com

HFCS...can't say it enough.

IT IS NO GOOD! Please just make simple switches in your pantries and kitchens to help your health.

buy organic

eat fresh veggies...cooked, steamed, raw, JUST EAT THEM

lower your consumption of meat, but mostly make sure it is good meat, from a good source

watch our for GMO's

It isn't hard to just change a few things that will not make you spend more time in the kitchen or change the way you must shop. By just being conscious about the ingredients in your food and what you are buying your health will improve so much and other people around you will start changing and then the food market will change. It really is incredible what we can do ourselves in our own homes to improve our lives, others lives, and the environment.

'High Fructose Corn syrupis known by different names such as Maize syrup, high fructose corn syrup, fructose, corn sugar etc. It is a high calorie sweetener used in processed foods such as ketchup, jams, bread, salad dressings, ice creams and even soft drinks. Corn syrup is made by an enzymatic process from the glucose syrup derived from corn.

Over consumption of Fructose can alter the intracellular metabolism and accelerate the aging process. Because it is metabolized by the liver, fructose causes imbalance in the insulin levels in the blood. Also fructose converts to fat more than any other sugar, leading to abnormal weight gain and obesity. It is also known to raise the serum triglycerides levels in the blood, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Keep the above mentioned “dangerous” ingredients in mind next time when you go grocery shopping. Avoiding these and other such unsafe preservatives and coloring agents can make a world of difference to your and your family’s health.'

via bewellbuzz.com

GM alfalfa...IMPORTANT

If you have no already joined the email list for Food Democracy Now! you may not know that there has been a lot of work going into stopping the government from allowing GM alfalfa to be unregulated as it would undermine organic farming and also cause so many other risks, which you may read about here, in an ARTICLE from Mike Adams at Natural News.

I highly recommend that you become educated on things such as this by joining the Food Democracy Now! team and reading yet another article shared on Natural News from Jeffrey Smith about the dangers of GM foods. Jeffrey Smith is a big advocate against GM foods at IRT, ( Institute for Responsible Technology) which is also an important resource to learn more.

SO...learn about this and how dangerous it is for you and the environment and try to help stop this contamination...call the president! There is a number and set up on the Food Democracy Now team website that tells you the number and what to say...you can make a difference!!

Vaccines

This is an article about vaccines, the neurological damage that can be attributed to the mercury in them, as well as the true efficacy of the HPV vaccine and more...VERY IMPORTANT.

This article by Dr. Mercola gives studies linking different vaccines to different issues....

Let's hold hands.

"I want to hold hands with you. Just that. Holding hands. That's it. It's so simple, so kind, and so safe. Why are we so scared to reach out and hold onto someone?"

"Let's hold hands."

via: http://lunchboxletter.blogspot.com/

yummy breakfast.

For breakfast this morning I alkalized my body by drinking a greens powder, I prefer HealthForce Nutritionals Vitamineral Green...it is the best stuff out there in my opinion.

Then I had a delicious combination of Garlic Kraut (from Gold Mine Naturals) with some hemp seeds on top. Sounds weird I know, but so delicious. And, The kraut is definitely worth the money. We bought a 6 pack to get a discount and I am loving this kraut.

Hemp Seeds are an amazing food. They are a complete protein source and contain a large amount of omega, 3, 6, and 9 (several more times omega 3's than any fish) and have a whole host of other nutrients. People eat a serving of these and say that they are booming with energy all day and have no hunger cravings.

Kraut is wonderful to eat because of its amazing probiotics from fermentation. It is a great food for the good bacteria in your digestive tract and will help balance out your inner eco system.

"Gribbit"

"You know what a boiling frog is, don't you? If you tried to put a frog into boiling water it'd jump right out. If you sat it in cold water and heated it, it'd stay there, not realising it was getting too hot. Well, my love.

Ask yourselves if you are a boiling frog in any area of your life? If there's part of your life you were just handed would you have jumped away from it? But as it's slowly crept up on you, you don't notice it's destructive force? There's always time to make that leap."

via Shazzie Speaks

mysterious bird deaths...not so mysterious.

So, all of those birds that were dropping from the sky in the U.S. that caused such fears as a coming apocalypse to widespread disease, was actually just the government. This article gives details of the recent bird deaths and this article gives details of other animals that have been poisoned by the government.

Important articles

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/664

"...demonstrated a correlation between flu vaccines and autism..."

http://www.naturalnews.com/031043_flu_vaccines_quackery.html

save the bees!

Everyone should be part of this site to receive there emails, but if not, here is another good cause to be apart of and have your voice heard.

Snow Day.

To me there is something about snow that is so peaceful. I feel like this white fluff that covers everything causes the whole world to just freeze in time. It makes us all pause and take a break from our routine, which is exceptionally true in North Carolina, where a drop of snow shuts down schools, businesses, and causes a frenzy in the grocery store.

It is the way the snow covers everything that we are used to seeing and opens our eyes to a new world that is completely white and glowing, it is truly Pure.

So...

Take a break from your day, your routine. Pause, and enjoy the serenity and the stillness that a snow day can bring.

Then, go play!

precious piglet.

May you find the perfect diet for your soul.
(If this face doesn't make you want to stop eating sausage, nothing will.)