Mulit-Colored

Ever notice that the colors in nature are also in humankind?  No, there aren't orange or green people running around.  But there are people who are the color of sunny summer peaches and purple-black plums.  People with undertones of ripe banana or fresh ginger in their skin.  All with red, red blood running underneath.  All beautifully human.

I love the colors in nature.  My garden in exploding in color right now.  Reds, greens, yellows, stripes, pale yellows.  It really is so beautiful.  Fun how you can plant a seed and with hardly any faith at all and the plant grows, blooms and produces such beautiful fruit.  Gardening barefoot is one of my all time favorite summer time activities. Right now, Zucchini is coming out my ears.  Here is one of my favorite recipes for using up all that green, fleshy veggie.  Oh!  And it is only 1 point on Weight Watchers! So dig in, guilt free!

 

Creamy Zucchini Soup

 

1 Medium Onion

1 Tbsp Butter

1/2 tsp Salt

3 c Chicken Broth

4 Medium Zucchini

1/2 c Heavy Cream

Freshly Ground Pepper

Fresh Ginger

 

 

Saute onion in butter and salt.  Add Zucchini and broth and let simmer until veggies are tender.  Put warm veggies and broth in a blender and process until smooth.  Be careful while blending hot foods!  Your blender could explode.  :)  Return warm blended foods to a pot and add cream and seasonings.  Simmer for 10 minutes longer.  So creamy and yummy!

 

 



Delivered

Maybe the true miracle of life isn't conception or birth but that deep connectedness that we sometimes feel; the invisible cord that binds us together.  Maybe the real miracle is how we are delivered into that world that needs us, needs the gifts that only we can give, right here, right now.

Summertime Connections

Yeah!  Summer is full swing.  Time to gather with all the people that you care about and have a backyard BBQ.  I love my backyard, and the slower-pace atmosphere that it provides.  I love it even more when I can share it with friends and family.  My favorite pot-luck dish of Quinoa Salad is one that always gets recipe requests.  So, I will share it here with you.  I got this recipe from a dear friend and fellow Footzonologist , Bree Murray.  She gets the credit.

 

 

Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:  4 cups cooked Quinoa

Cut up Green Onions, Bell Peppers (any color), Carrots, Celery, Cucumber

 

Dressing:  1 cup Veganaise or Mayo (or a mixture of the two)

2-3 Tbsp Dill Kosher Relish

1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

Garlic Powder

Sea Salt

Pepper (to taste)

 

Directions:  Mix together until you are happy with the consistency and taste.

 

This dish turns out a little differently each time depending on what vegetables I use. 

I like it every time!  :)

 

 

The other summer time request that I often get, is "How do I get rid of my cellulite ?"  I smile at this question every time.  Life is a balance of growing old, and hanging on to youth.  The good news is, growing older does not mean learning to live with cellulite.  The answer?  Go off of dairy.  Dairy products clog up the lymphatic system, which causes the little lumps and bumps that we all dismay.  It takes some time for the cellulite to disappear, so give the dairy-free lifestyle a few weeks to show the great  payoffs.  Massage the essential oils of Grapefruit and Myrtle into the effected area to help flush the fat cells.



Redo

Starting over is the bravest kind of starting there is.  Life always offers you a second chance.  It's called tomorrow.

I am so grateful for second chances.  There have been many occasions in my life when I have realized that the choice that I made was a wrong one.  But only once did I feel the overwhelming sorrow that this poor choice could never be righted.  Ever. It used to take up a lot of space in my mind.  I spent a lot of my energy feeling sorry that I did not follow my heart, and made a life-altering mistake by doing so.  But, sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places.   It took me years to understand that I cannot go back and start a new beginning, but I can start today and make a new ending.  So, I am doing just that.  Now, it is my job to learn the lesson, then pay attention to the good in my life.  New and wonderful experiences are coming every single day.

 

 

Hey, my Kale is up and ready in the garden.  I like to pick it before it gets too large.  Baby kale.  Prepare it like this for a fun and healthy snack!

 

 

Kale Chips

 

1 cup of Kale - Remove the spines

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

 

Tear Kale into chip size pieces and lay out on a cookie sheet.  Drizzle olive oil on them, and sprinkle with sea salt.  Place in a 375 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until dry and crispy.  Yum!  Kinda, sorta like potato chips without the guilt.  Betcha can't eat just one!

Sacred

Sacred is discovering what you believe and then believing what you discover.

The number one foundation for health is prayer.  I have always been amazed that God hears and cares about the smallest detail of my life.  I suppose it shouldn't be surprising.  He is my Father, and I should have access to open communication with Him.  I think it comes down to simply trusting and believing.  Some people must be brought to the end of their rope to understand it.   Some stay in touch with God all day long, seven days a week. 

I know that God can be counted on in every situation and with every need.  It's just as real as asking the best daddy in the world for something you already know he is going to do for you.  Prayer is that simple.  Not only is prayer good for the soul, it's good for the physical body as well.  Even science backs up the power of prayer.

Study#1    For 6 months, patients in San Fransisco's General Hospital Coronary Care Unit participated in a double blind study to assess the therapeutic affects of prayer.  Patients were randomly selected by a computer to either receive, or not to receive prayer.  All patients and caregivers remained blind through the study.  The results of the study are not surprising to those who believe in the power of prayer.  The patients who received prayer as part of the study were healthier than those who did not.  It was recorded that the patients receiving prayer had less need of having CPR, and less need for the use of ventilators.  They had diminished need for diuretics and antibiotics, less occurrence of pulmonary edema, and fewer deaths.

Study #2   A study at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina had over 4,000 participants over the age of 65.  The study found that those who participate in prayer and attend religious services on a weekly basis, had lower blood pressure than their counterparts.  According to the study, these people were 40% less likely to have high diastolic pressure or diastolic hypertension that those who did not pray or go to church.

Study #3   A study done at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College in Richmond, Virginia studied 1.902 twins.  It was found that those who were committed to their spiritual lives tended to have lower risk of addictions and less severe depression.  Their marriages were more stable, and their spiritual communities form a network that can support people when they are ill. 

These studies have shown conclusive evidence of the power of prayer and demonstrate the reality of the force of God and our ability to communicate with Him.  Prayer is real, and it works.

Nurtured

Everybody needs something to take care of.  Even if they look like they don't.  Even if they look all tough and strong like they don't need anybody or anything.  Take care of a child, a dog, a garden, a home.  Everybody needs something. So take care.

As soon as the soil became dry enough to work, the peas and lettuce seeds went in the ground!  I love to garden.  There is something about working with the dirt of the earth that soothes my soul.  I enjoy gardening barefoot.  With all the rain we have had, the new little sprouts have peeked their heads above the soil.  I can already taste the garden fresh salads.  Here is a recipe for one of my favorite salads and an oh-so-yummy dressing to go with it.

Roasted Squash Salad

 

3 c. Winter Squash or Sweet Potatoes - peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fine Grain Sea Salt

12 tiny Shallots or red onions peeled and quartered

2 c. Cooked Brown Rice or Wild Rice

 

Preheat oven to 375.  Toss the squash in a generous splash of olive oil along with a couple pinches of salt and turn out onto a baking sheet.  At the same time, toss the onions with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle with salk and turn onto a seperate baking sheet.  Roast both for about 45 minutes.  Squash and onions should be brown and carmelized.  You will need to flip the squash and onions once or twice during baking.  In the meantime, make the dressing:

 

Dressing

 

1/3 c. Sunflower Seeds

1/3 c. Olive Oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp warm water

1/2 c. cilantro

 

Puree the sunflower seeds, oil and lemon juice, salt and honey in a food processor or blender.  You may need to add a couple tbsp of warm water to thin the dressing a bit.  Stir in the cilantro, saving just a bit to garnish your plate later.  Taste and adjust seasonings or flavors to your liking.  I usually like to add a touch more salt to my dressing.

 

 

To cook Wild Rice: rinse  1 1/2 cups wild rice.  In a medium sauce pan bring the rice and 4 1/2 cups slightly salted water to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer.  Cook for 40 minutes or until rice is tender and splitting open.  Stir Occasionally.  You will have enough for this recipe and then some left over.

 

Now it's time to put everything together.  Layer your salad bowl with a generous helping of greens.  Then top with rice first, then squash and onions, and pour dressing over right before serving.

Uncensored

Speak up.  Say what you really want to say for once.  Not just what you think people want to hear.  See how good it feels to open that gate in your head?  Get mouthy and let the world hear it.  They might just pay attention.

Long held emotion causes physical problems.  Emotions are a reaction to the thoughts that we think, over and over.  See how all our bodies are connected?  The emotion that can unleash the biggest change in your health is forgiveness.  If you have a particularly stubborn health issue, there is some more forgiveness work to be done.  Maybe it's yourself, maybe you need to forgive someone else.  Remember that all healing comes from God, so don't leave him out of this healing process. 

"A happy heart is good medicine," said King Solomon, "and a cheerful mind works healing" (proverbs 17:22).  Laughter stimulates circulation, produces a sense of well being, exercises the face and stomach muscles, stimulates the production of endorphins and provides more oxygen to the brain.  Besides, it's fun!  One study revealed that the healing power of humor can reduce pain and stimulate the immune function in children who have cancer, AIDS, or diabetes and in children receiving organ transplants and bone marrow treatment.

Laughter is to the soal what soap is to the body.  Researchers suggest that we need a minimum of twelve laughs a day just to stay healthy.  It can affect our brain chemistry and immune system in very postivive ways.  Our ability to laugh is helpful when coping with major illness and the stress of life's problems.  But researchers are now saying laughter can help do a lot more - it can basically bring balance to all the components of the immune system, which helps us to fight off diseases.
(The Gospel of Health by Valerie Saxion)

Sometimes, when we have had a really emotional day, we reach for comfort food.  Here is a recipe to one of my all time favorite comfort foods.

 

Creamy Root Vegetable Bake

 

4 Potatoes

 

3 Carrots

 

1 Onion

 

1 Bunch Kale (or several leafs)

 

1/2 Cup Macademia Nuts

 

Salt and Pepper to Taste

 

Thinly slice the potato, carrot and onion.  Rip bite site pieces of kale and layer all the vegetables in a casserole dish.  Alternate layers.  Put nuts in the blender and blend until they make a fine powder.  Add one cup water and blend for a few more seconds.  This makes a nice "creamy" sauce.  Pour over the layered vegetables.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for one hour.  Yum!

Cheered

So you don't have a mascot.  Or team colors.  Or a fight song that plays every time you enter a room.  But wow!  Do you have a following !   A support system.  People who are going to stand by you no matter what.  Victory or defeat.  Never, ever, ever forget your fans.


Be your own biggest fan!  Admire yourself more often.  If we actually had a tape recorder of our thoughts, we would realize that most of the thoughts we think about ourselves are quite negative.  Negative thoughts do not create a good experiences for us.  We have to retrain our thinking and speaking into positive patterns if we want to change our lives.

As promised, today I will post about the "mental body" and how it affects our health.  If we want to feel better, there are a few things we must never do.  We must never get angry with your body for any reason.  Anger is telling your body that you hate it, or parts of it.  The cells in your body are very aware of the thoughts you have.  Think of your body as a servant that is working very hard to keep you in perfect health no matter how you treat it.  If you feed it healthy foods, drinks, give it some exercise and proper amounts of sleep, you make it's work easy.  If you sit on the couch, drink soda, overwork it without enough sleep and are grumpy and irritable all the time, then it is working at a disadvantage. 

Good health does not happen by thinking about or worrying about your illness all the time.  Good health comes from love and appreciation.  You need to put as much love into your body as you possibly can.  Thank it.  Many of our illnesses are created by our own patterns of thinking.  Our inner thoughts, beliefs, speaking patterns all either help form health or illness.  You can choose to have thoughts that contribute to health, or you can choose to thoughts that contribute to illness. 

To better understand how our mind and body connect to create vibrant health, read "You Can Heal Your Body" by Loise L. Haye or "Feelings Buried Alive Never Die" by Karol Truman.  Both are excellent resources for helping you turn your way of thinking around.  At first, when I read these books, I was disappointed that my own thinking had created some of my imperfections in health.  I didn't like that theory at all.  It meant I had to quit blaming other people or bad luck for my condition.  But the more I understood the concept, the more empowering it became.  I learned that if I created it, then I could certainly undo it.  This is actually good news.

Some of my favorite affirmations for improving health are:
"My body is always doing it's best to create perfect health."
"I am getting better every day, in every way"
"Perfect health is my divine right, and I claim it now"
"I lovingly do everything I can to assist my body in maintaining perfect health"
"I am grateful to be alive today.  It is my joy and pleasure to live antother wonderful day"
"I devote a portion of my time to helping others.  It is good for my own health"
"I look forward to a healthy old age because I can take loving care of my body now"

Our thoughts are as manifest on our face.  Ever meet an elderly person with a permanent scowl on their face?  This did not happen from a lifetime of happy thoughts.  How will you look when you are old?

Cured

They will tell you to be realistic.  They will tell you to manage your expectations.  They will tell you to set reasonable goals.  Refuse treatment.  Remain irreconcilably, incorrigibly infected with hope, and you will see things beyond your most impractical dreams.

I see it everyday.  Clients come to me with their various diagnoses and labels that have been put on their symptoms.  It is so important to remember that it's only a label.  It's not you, you don't have to own it, and you don't have to claim it to be part of your life.  You see, we are more than a physical body. Each of us is made up of a mental body, an emotional body, a spiritual body and a physical body.  When dis-ease shows up, the majority of the time, it is our emotional body that is out of whack.  Long-held emotion causes disease.  So, when some dis-ease shows up for you, thank it.  It has come to bring awareness to your conscious mind that something you are doing is not good for your body.  Let's start with the physical body today.  This seems to be the easiest for people to wrap their head around.  It was for me, anyway.  It takes an acidic body for disease to set in.  It is a scientific proven fact that cancer cannot thrive in an alkaline body.  Neither can arthritis.  An alkaline body is a body that can repair itself.  So, lets take a look at the top 4 things that contribute to an acid environment in the body. 

#1.  Smoking
#2.  High Fructose Corn Syrup
#3.  Caffeine
#4.  Refined Sugars  (fake sugars "diet" are even worse)

Now, here are some facts that will scare you into giving up these acid forming substances:
High Fructose Corn Syrup put a slimy film around the cells in your body.  This film makes it so that the cells cannot uptake nutrients.
Caffeine consumption drops your adrenal function by 50% for 3 days!  If you are going to attempt to give up this habit and are worried about headaches, try switching to the Green Tea form of caffeine in the meantime.  The body can handle plant based caffeine a little better.
For every teaspoon of sugar consumed, your immune function drops by 85% for the next 24 hours.  If you or you little one keep getting ill, evaluate how much sugar is being consumed.
If you drank just one can of diet soda everyday for 3 years, your chance of breast cancer increases by 78% and it makes you feel hungier.  The artificial sweeteners in diet soda messes up the receptors in the brain that tell you when you feel hungry and full.  So obviously, this messes up your appetite.

When a sweet craving hits, try this alkaline treat.  It really hits the spot!  Tastes so naturally sweet, you will never believe that is doesn't have any sugar in it.

Almost Fudge

 

1 cup raisins

1 cup walnuts

Juice from 1/2 fresh lemon

6-7 Mejool Dates

 

 

First, get your dates soaking.  Place dates in shallow dish and cover with water.  While dates are soaking, place raisins and walnuts in a food processor.  Turn on low and let the two ingredients mix together, until a fudgey ball forms.  Remove and place on a smaller size plate.  Pat down and form into 1 inch thick, circular shaped "fudge".  Now, without even rinsing out the food processor, drain off excess water from the dates and put dates in the food processor, along with the lemon juice.  Blend until pretty smooth.  This makes your "frosting".  Use a rubber spatula to smooth the date mixture over the fudge.  I like to cut the dessert into little pie-shaped pieces for a yummy treat!

 

 

The most alkalinizing food there is?  Lemon.  Pushing a tough second is watermelon.  For a complete list of all the alkaline foods, search the web for "Alkaline Diet" and an entire list will come up for you.  It's a big change that creates big results in optimal health!

Perservered

It takes a glacier about a year to move as far as you can walk in a few minutes.  Eventually, it carves out canyons and slaps up mountains.  It permantently changes the world.  Just by keeping at it.  So can you. 

Completed 19 weeks of college.  Have about 96 more weeks to go before I have finished what I started.  Each school day I can mark off the calendar is another day that I showed up, did my best and survived.  It is likely necessary to experience some difficult days.  These are the days of opportunity to figure out who we are and what it is we want badly enough.  I have had some of those days.  Here are some of my favorite smoothie recipes for a clear mind and energy.  Both are required for successfully finishing whatever goals we have set for ourselves.

 

Calm the Spirit and the Mind
Who couldn't use some of this to help with a busy schedule?

10 Large Strawberries
1 small ripe mango
10 oz Orange Juice
Handful of ice cubes

Wash and hull the strawberries.  Peel and roughly cop the mango.  Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.

Energizer

1 frozen banana
9 oz coconut milk
1 tablespoon ground almonds (put in blender first to make a powder)
Pinch of Cardamon
Honey to sweeten


Get Going Smoothie

5 strawberries
Handful of blueberries
Handful of raspberries
1 banana
1 tbsp plain yogurt
Handful of pumpkin or sunflower seeds
10 oz apple juice


Low Cal Pick Me Up

2 celery sticks
Handful of watercress
2 cups green grapes
crushed ice

Juice celery sticks through a juicer, followed by the watercress and the green grapes.  Pour over crushed ice.  A real pick me up after sitting at the computer too long.


Remembered

That's the question.  What do you want to be remembered for?  It's not really about what you made with your life, it's about how you made your life.  How you made the world.  Maybe just a little bit better?  Then you're doing fine.

I am the room mother for my 3rd grader.  This meant that I got to be in charge of the class Valentine's Day party.  Other mother's helped out by organizing and carrying out a couple games for the students to play, and I was in charge of the Valentine's craft.  The class was divided into 3 groups and I started with the first group of kids that came to my craft table.  I was feeling pretty proud of myself.  The kids seemed to be enjoying my activity and it was going smoothly.  Several of the children asked who's mother I was.  "Jordan's", I told them proudly.

A little girl looked up from her project and announced, "You probably don't know about me, because Jordan always tries to keep me a secret, but my name is Majestic.  Me and Jordan like eachother."  The other little girls snickered and I smiled at the cute grade-school love that was in the air this Valentine's Day.  I sat back for a moment and observed the kids using their creativity. .    Ughh.  Look at all the dirt under the fingernails of these kids.  This one looks like he tried to comb his hair with an eggbeater this morning.  This kid over here, just totally picked his nose and then reached for the community glue stick that all the other kids were using.  Remind me to wash my hands when I am done here. 

It came time to tie a knot at the end of our yarn to complete the project and make it "hangable" in the classroom.  I was amazed that the majority of the children did not know how to tie a knot.  My Jordan is in scouts. He knows how to tie a knot.  Why don't these other kids?  So, I asked the question out loud, "Aren't you in scouts?"  One boy spoke up and said, "I don't do scouts.  My mom has to work so she can never take me."  Another boy stated, "I do sports, I do not do scouts." So, I reached over and began tying a knot in the end of each string. One boy called out to Jordan across the room, "Hey Jordan, your mom knows how to tie knots!"  Then, that same little boy looked up at me and said, "My mom doesn't know how to do anything. All she cares about is her cell phone and Facebook." 

When all was said and done, I gathered up my supplies and was headed for the parking lot when one of those thoughts crossed my mind.  Good job Cara.  You are a wonderful actress.  Look at you putting on the "Mother of the Year" act today.  But what about yesterday when you screamed your head off at him?  Or the day before that when you totally forgot him and left him at church?  Or when you throw your hands up and walk away when he just won't listen to your way of solving his story problems for math?  You are a crap mom.  By now, I had reached my parked car.  I was climbing in and putting on my seatbelt when another thought came.  Cara.  What is wrong with you?  You are being a good mother in this moment today.  Your child is happy.  He has his hair combed, he had a bath, and you are caring for him and assisting his entire class in creating a happy Valentine's day memory.  He knows how to tie his own knot for hecks sake!  He was the only child who used his manners and said the word 'please'. He is going to turn out just fine.  Do not rob yourself of this moment's joy because of what you failed to do yesterday or what you might not do  tomorrow. It started me thinking of all the good things I do, all while beating myself up for the times that I haven't been perfect. 

Sometimes we scold and criticize ourselves because we believe it might help to improve our lives.  Yet, criticism hasn't improved any of us over the years.  In fact, criticism seems to make it harder to change and progress.  So listen to your inner dialogue and when you find that your are being critical or think that you are not good enough, stop immediately.  Choose to nourish yourself with praise and approval.  Know that you are on your way to becoming consistently loving.  Praise yourself for all the little things you do each day to make the world better.  Support yourself during this learning process.  You are a wonderful being.

Honored

Smile at you when I feel like it. Smile when I don't.  Find the time for you when I have none.  Respect.  Complete acceptance.  Guard your reputation.  Celebrate the everyday hero in you.  Honor is a simple gift that has moved mountains and is inside us all.

Today is Valentine's Day.  My FAVORITE holiday of the year.  I am so blessed to have an amazing Valentine in Andrew.  During the almost 8 years that we have been married, he has never even raised his voice at me. Ever. Seriously.  He does every stitch of laundry in this house, and sent me love notes every day for 6 six years.  He did it until I believed him when he said that he adored me.  I'm not even going to tell you everything that he does, because I fear that it will make you want to go home and throw rocks at your own Valentine. Ha. :)

Each year on January 1st, I record in my journal my top five goals for the new year.  Today was the perfect day to reflect on what I had listed for my number one goal for 2013.  This year, I wrote my goal down as if it were a letter to my husband, Andrew.  I dug out my journal so that I could quote it for you word for word:

"Above all else, my  number one goal is to honor you.  Regardless of whether or not I agree with your position, my highest priority is to honor you.  In my conversations with you, in my conversations about you, to your face, behind your back, and in front of our children, my goal is always honor you.  I want to listen to your wishes, accept you 100% unconditionally.  Today, I make the conscious decision to give you the merit that you deserve.  You chose me to be in your life.  I want to make waking up to me, the best part of your day."

I love being married to Andrew.  Loving him comes easy to me. Thank God for second chances.     Happy Valentines Day Sugar!  XOXOXO



Savored

Savor the morning.  This is your chance at another day.  Let your appreciation linger.  Experience the emotion, sensation, and passion touch you as you hold your arms out wide, as far as you can reach, and say "thank you".  All the abdundance the universe has to offer is yours this morning.  Reach out and take it.

Breakfast is likely the most controversial food topic that I encounter.  Some say it is the most important meal of the day, others don't eat it all.  Remember the days when you were a child and your mother would let you have a chocolate if you finished all of your cereal?  Now, chocolate is one of those cereals.  There really is a lot of junk being served for his most important meal of the day.  So, as my clients and students embark on their new "let's get healthy" adventure, they always get stuck on what to eat for breakfast.  I did too.  Here are a few ideas for you to try.  While preparing, try turning on classical music.  Blare it!  It's fun!  It helps me to get in touch with myself and with life for my start to a new day. 

Fruit and Nut Quinoa

 

1/3 c. Quinoa

1 c. Water

10-12 Almonds

2 Tbsp. Coconut

1 1/2 Tbsp. Dried Cranberries

1 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 c. Coconut Milk

Drizzle of pure maple syrup

 

When you are working with Quinoa, it is always prepared 3 to 1.  Three parts water, to one part water.  Usually, you need to pre-rinse quinoa.  If you buy the organic pre-washed kind from Sam's club, you can eliminate this step.  Otherwise,  I put my quinoa in a fine strainer, and run it under water while I give it a little "knuckle brush" washing.  Bring your water to a boil, add quinoa and then reduce heat to a simmer for about 20 minutes.  When quinoa is done cooking, the little "tails" will come down from the grain.  Watch for tails, but it is usually about 20 minutes. 

Put your cooked quinoa in your cereal bowl, top with nuts, fruit, cinnamon, syrup and cononut milk. Yum.

 

 

Here is another Quinoa recipe.  I like to use quinoa because it is the highest source of protein for a grain.  It is also high in Manganese, a mineral that is trickier to come by.  I praise it for it's good source of fiber, B vitamins and iron.  A great gluten free option!

 

 

Quinoa with Toasted Almonds and Blueberries

 

1 c. quinoa

1/2 c. sliced blanched almonds

1 c. broth stock

1 1/2 c. boiling water

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1 cinnamon stick

1 bay leaf

1/2 c. blueberries

 

Over medium heat, stir and toast the slivered almonds until golden brown.  Add the quinoa and toast a few more minutes.  Transfer the toasted quinoa and almonds to a 2 quart saucepan and add the remaining ingredients (except berries).  Bring to a boil, covered, then reduce the heat to a simmer for 20 minutes.  Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork, top with blueberries, and serve.

 

 

 

Yes, I eat eggs.  I have my own hens, so I eat organic eggs.  We will do omlets too.  I keep chopped onion, peppers, tomatoes, etc. in the refridgerator ready to go for a quick omlet.

 

The other thing our family often has for breakfast is a smoothie.  We will throw in frozen berris, bananas, flaxseeds, almond milk for a quick breakfast. Add avacado to it for a creamier texture.  Spinach can also easily be added and surprisingly, does not change the taste. Kids brains need the fruit sugar to be able to function correctly at school.  Make sure your kids get a little fruit in the mornings.

 

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

 

"What's for breakfast", said Pooh.  "What do you say, Piglet?"

 

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

 

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.  "It's the same thing" he said.

 





 

 

 

 





Aspired

Sunflowers get their name because they turn their faces to the sun.  After a long time of doing that, they start looking like the sun itself.  So keep looking up.  You are already becoming the person you wish you could be.

Missing the sunshine so badly after what has been some of the "worst snowstorms since 1993".  I want to feel the sun on my skin, I want to squint, I want to smell it, I want to wake up to its earlier rising and retire later because of it's late setting. I want to sweat.  I crave the sunshine!  I am painting my back entryway yellow this week.  That's how desperate I am for some rays.  When is Spring Break?

In my 9 years of footzoning experience, I have come to believe that sunshine is as important to our health as nutrition itself.  It fascinates me that people naturally feel better in the summer and health always declines in the winter.  For some, it declines just a little.  For others, it declines dramatically.

In ancient times, people made use of the sun when they noticed any kind of discomfort in the body.  The ailing person lay in the sun and exposed the bare skin of those parts of the body where he experienced weakness, discomfort or pain, and in a very short time, he felt better.  No one drank water that wasn't exposed to the sun.  It was believed that the sun had the closest relationship with the human soul, and the health of the body is solely dependent upon a soul that has ample strength. 

It has been proven that sunlight is necessary for our mental health, our bones, our blood and our immune system.  So what is a person to do when they live so far away from the equator?  Either book a few nice vacations, or.....you can get by with some "Sunshine Water".

You see,  water will hold the sunshine's charge for about 24 hours.  Drink Sunshine Water daily to literally "drink" sunshine into the cells of your body.  Here's how:

 

SUNSHINE WATER

Large Glass Container (plastic will not work)

Spring or Filtered Water (No tap water)

Set out in the Sunshine, (even if there is only a little) for 2-3 hours

After a few hours, feel free to bring the water in and drink it. 

Water will hold the sunshine's "charge" for 24 hours

Any water not consumed in 24 hours needs to back into the sun.



 

Committed

You wouldn't believe how many amazing things happened right before the person trying them was about to give up entirely.  Really. Some of the most amazing things ever!

Commit to 128 days.  Whatever the change is that you are making, commit to 128 days.  It might be your decision to go off of sugar, to exercise daily, to take a new supplement, get enoough sleep, think more positively or drink more clean water.  You see, our body goes through a cell recycling process that takes a full 128 days to complete.  After the first 10 days of cleaning up your diet, or implementing your new change, your blood has made all new cells.  Now your new, cleaner, stronger blood can begin traveling to the various organs and tissues and begin regenerating and repairing those organs. 

So don't give up at the 2 week mark and think what you are doing is not making any difference.  Give your body a little time.  Dig a little deeper, keep going, and watch your efforts begin to pay off.  I was able to learn this first hand as I began taking a new supplement called Laminine.  It is a full chain of amino acids in their perfect form.  Amino acids have the ability to rebuild or repair anything in the body.  I wanted immediate results.  Changes did start to happen within the first two weeks, but the biggest payoff came after I had been taking it for the minimum of 128 days.  The same thing happens with exercise.  I notice the biggest changes in the way by body looks and feels after I have been faithfully exercising for a few months.

What were your New Year's resolutions?  Have you stuck with them, or did you give up by January 11th?  Our body is the greatest miracle ever given to us.  Be patient.  Keep working to take good care of it.  It takes a conscious effort to do so.  The payoff is worth it!

To Order, please visit my website at www.mylifepharm.com/caracash

Incredible

Potential is nice.  Talent is wonderful.  But so few of us ever use what we have.  You can make a big impact that's better than nice and bigger than wonderful. You can be incredible.

 

 

As they headed for school this morning, I sent each of my children out the door with an

"I love you!  Be incredible today! "

 

Every person on this earth, myself included was born into this world extremely confident.  We came here knowing how wonderful we are.  We weren't afraid to ask for what we wanted, or express our emotions, and loved every part of our body.  We knew we were unique and wonderful.  Somewhere along the way, the well-meaning adults in our lives passed on their own insecure feelings of inadequacey and fear.  At that point, we began to deny our own magnificence. 

 

Today, every time you walk past a mirror, look yourself straight in the eye and make a positive declaration about yourself.  Say, "I love you, and I accept you exactly as you are" or "Thank you for being so wonderful!".  Won't that be fun?  It's a little tough at first because we are not used to saying anything nice about ourself when we look in the mirror.  But, let your own ears hear how loved you are. 

 

So many of the health problems that my clients face stem from long-held emotional feelings of not being lovable, or feeling the need to punish themselves.  They have believed some of the negative things that they heard as children.  It's pretty tough to act, talk, heal and be incredible when we are experiencing negative thougths about ourselves.  So, remember.....they are just thoughts, and thoughts can be changed.  

So here's the deal.  I am not asking my children to become incredible.  I am just reminding them to be who they already are.  Simply incredible!                                             



Redeem

There is nothing - absolutely nothing - that can't be stitched up, cleaned up, bound up, or brought back together.  With enough faith, strength, and love, there is nothing - and no one - beyond saving.  That is the real secret.  Everything can be redeemed.

Wednesdays are my "clean up" day.  Yep, every Wednesday, the bathrooms at my house get scrubbed down.  The good news is, I have one less bathroom to do today.  I had a dear friend and client of mine want to trade out a few Footzoning sessions, so she came and helped me clean yesterday.  She helped me with a couple bedrooms and a bathroom.  It felt great to have someone help me keep up around here.  Ever scrubbed down the shower and the toxic fumes from your cleaning products give you a headache?  Try out this simple recipe for All Purpose Cleaning Spray.  It's citrus aroma cheers me up while I am doing chores.  I use it for counterops, toilets, and for spot cleaning the floors.

All Purpose Cleaning Spray

1 part White Vinegar &

1 part Water in a Spray Bottle

Juice from 1/2 of a fresh lemon

5 drops Lemon Essential Oil

 

 

This cleaner is antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal.  Despite what the cleaning aisle of the grocery stores make you believe, you really don't need a lot of bottles of many different household cleaners.  Make your own to save money, and never worry about polluting your body or the environment. 

 

Cleaning tile or grout?  Just use a paste made of baking soda and water.  Waahla!  Sparkling clean tile floors.  While you do your own cleaning, whistle while you work and remember what a blessing it is that you have an indoor, flushing toilet that needs cleaning!  Your life is so rich.  Happy scrubbing!







Heartwarming

You know that awful moment when you don't see your school's name scrolling across the bottom of the news screen after a giant snow storm?  Today was one of those days.

Over a foot of snow fell from the sky overnight.  It looks so beautiful, and really, I do love the snow.  But, it's starting to wear out its welcome.  After wrecking my husbands truck in the last snow storm, I decided that I didn't want to meet another insurance deductible, so I stayed home and made one of my favorite soups to help warm my soul. It has beautiful color, extraordinary flavor and is oh so good for you.  Rich in Vitamin A, and meets my alkaline diet standards.  Enjoy!

 

Coconut Carrot Soup

Prep and Cook Time:  30 minutes

Ingredients: 

1 large onion

1 Tbsp + 3 cups chicken broth (No MSG)

2 Tbsp. fresh ginger sliced

4 medium cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp curry powder

2 cups sliced carrots (about 1/4 inch thick)

1 cup sweet potatoe, cut into cubes

5-6 oz. canned coconut milk

salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:  1.  Chop onion and let it sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out its hidden health benefits.  2.  Heat 1 tbsp broth in medium pot.  Saute' onion in broth over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often. 3.  Add garlic and ginger and continue to saute' for another 5 minutes.  4.  Add curry powder and mix well with onions.  5.  Add broth, carrots and sweet potatoes and simmer on med-high heat utnil vegetables are tender (about 15 minutes).  6.  Add coconut milk  7.  Blend in batches making sure blender is not more than half full, it can erupt and burn you.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  8.  Return to soup pot and reheat.

 

Serves 4.



Kindred

 

January 27, 2013

 

 

My tribe.  My people.  My family.  Related by blood or by the past or by whatever I am going through now.  The ones who make funny things funnier.  Hard stuff softer.  Life kinder.  Where would I be without them? 

 

This adventure of returning to school after 17 years has been an exciting one.  I have been forced to use my brain in ways that have lain dormant for a long time.  But, it eats up every bit of what used to be my extra time, and devours every bit of what used to be my extra money.  There are many nights when I sit at the computer doing homework while my sweet husband takes over the chores of the bedtime routine and I wonder to myself if it is all going to be worth it in the end.  Each member of my family has made sacrifices so that I could finally finish school, and cross it off my list of regrets.

 

I would like to pay tribute to the members of my family, and my circle of friends who have supported me in this endeavor.  I really couldn't do it without them.  I love them with all my heart and soul and mind.  I have an extraordinary family!  Thank you!