Today Gifts!

Today I hear the birds sing

Today the sun stretches down and kisses my face

Today my belly knows fullness

My home is the cradle of peace

and my heart holds love

Today abundance shares its unending store!

My mother's day gift; I picked it out yesterday- a peach moonstone pendant! Said to be a stone of protection, gentle love, femininity and psychic abilities; it is known to help dissipate fear and worry and balance the hormones.
A very beautiful stone with the warmth of a breezy summer afternoon!

Lunch- a very healthful miso -asian soup! Yum!

Juice Fast, Day 6

When your running out of time, Jamba Juice is a God send! Enjoyed one of their refreshing, fresh squeezed juices for breakfast this morning!

Here is my day 6 update:

Juice Fast, Day 5

Day 5 is almost over and I am feeling a bit like pigging out on this Friday night! But woooooooooooaaaaaaaa....... NOPE! Join me at Gibson Ranch for today's update and a little discussion on the topic of whether or not fasting is safe!

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Juice Fast, Day 4

Day 4 - and I can hardly believe I made it this far. I felt a little hungry today, but nothing my all-natural, home made Gatorade didn't take care of. Do I miss solid food- you better believe it!!!

Today I filmed my update video on a nature trail at the college I attend.

Checking in at lunch time:

Juice Fast, Day 3

My dogged joined me in my video this morning.

Day 3, and I am going strong! Love for you to join me or give a little encouragement with a comment or a thumbs up!!!

Savory Veggie Green Juice

Add the following to your juicer- strain, stir and drink!
(Note: I use powder spirulina. I mixed it a with a little water to make a paste and then slowly add more water. Its very concentrated and green and needs to be premixed before stirring into juice at the end.)

4 large, very ripe, deep red Roma tomatoes
4 large stalks of celery
4 medium carrots
2 large kale leaves
1 2-3 inch slice of fresh fennel root with leaves and stem
1 large clove of garlic
1/2 white onion
Handful of cilantro
Stir in:
Spirulina mixture
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

You can find the Jolt Juice Recipe I made this morning here. I added a very ripe pear and a tsp of spirulina. I also added about 50% water to dilute the juice a bit. Made enough for this morning and this afternoon.

Juice Fast, Day 1
Juice Fast, Day 2

Peanut Butter Cup Green Smoothie

Although this doesn't qualify for "fully" raw- this green smoothie is still super healthy, providing as much as 18 grams of protein, and high in omegas, vitamins A, C, and K, a big calcium boost and more. And I think it is so YUMMY! Keeping up with my Holiday Shape-Up plan, here is my lunch for today:

Peanut Butter Cup Green Smoothie

To your Vita-mix or other high-powered blender add the following in given order:

• 2 cups of chopped green Kale, thoroughly washed
• 1 frozen banana split in half
• 1/4 cup all-natural Peanut Butter
• 2 Tbs golden roasted flax seed
• 1 1/2 tsp unsweetened organic cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup ice
• 1 plus 1/2 cups purified water
• 10-15 drops of vanilla flavored stevia drops (to taste)

Blend on high until smooth
Then add:

• 2 TBS good quality chocolate chips

Blend for about 5-10 seconds to chop up some
Pour in a glass. Enjoy

Super C Fruit Infused Water

One of the important strategies added to my 'Holiday Shape-Up Plan'  is drinking a pitcher a day of fruit infused water. Today I mixed up a Super C infusion to help boost the immune system and drive back the winter flues.

Ingredients:

• 2 cutie tangerines, peeled and segmented
• 1 lemon peeled and sliced
• I small aloe vera leaf, washed and split in half length-ways
• 10 drops vanilla liquid stevia

Mix in a 2-quart pitcher of water and ice and let sit for 30 minutes before drinking. You can refill 2-3 times.

Holiday Shape-Up

The holidays are here again and with it comes all the wonderful sweet and savory aromas, gifts of candies and breads, dinner parties and festivities. I believe I would like to begin my New Year's Resolution of losing weight, EARLY! Every other holiday butts ahead in line. Why not New Years? Ha! We all dread the after holiday weight gain. Why not reverse the trend to the after holiday weight loss!

What I need right now is a plan of action. Time to take advantage of my ever-growing Pinterest Board: Shape Up!

Plan of Action

Lately I have become more and more inactive and it shows. So exercise is definitely at the top of my list. Taking a few tips from Skinny Mom article on 23 top trainers tips, I decided to first;

Exercise first thing in the morning. I found some great inspiration for "Waking Up Early to Exercise" on You+Me=Fit.

I decided since I am not in really good shape and am in my late forties, I will begin my exercise with my favorite Youtube yoga coach, "Yoga With Adrien." I will shoot for a minimum of 15 minutes of yoga. Then I will do at least 15 extra minutes of exercise. I made a list to choose from: 

• Walk/run; jump rope; jumping jacks;  
• Lower belly exercises 
• Tush and thighs exercises 
• Chin exercises 
• Tiny arms exercises 
• Beginners Zumba

Next I think the other wise tips given, were to focus on feeling good, rather than on how I look, and to make sure I take time to meditate at least 10 minutes every day.

Then of course a nutrition plan will be vital. I decided to;

• Substitute at least one meal a day with a fully raw greensmoothie.
• Eat at least one large green salad a day
• Eat at least one piece of fruit a day
• Eat less
• Take vitamins
• Drink a pitcher of Day Apple cinnamon water , or other fruit infused water, each day
• Take 1 Tbs Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar each day

Lastly, 

I will endeavor wherever I can to make fun, exciting, healthy holiday eating choices. When ever and wherever possible I will cut sugar and fat, substitute healthier ingredients and keep it fresh!

And that's the grand-plan. Now the trick is carrying it through . . . wish me luck!!!