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Gratitude

11/21/2012

On the sad anniversary of JFK's assassination, I thought it would be nice to have a quote from him this Thanksgiving Day. May you be blessed with much love, peace and gratitude however you decide to spend today. Happy Thanksgiving.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. "~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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Sacrificing Boredom

11/16/2012

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"In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice."
~Richard Bach

This quote reminds me of how easy and comfortable we can become but still be in a "rut!" (In the above picture, little Shane may look like he was in a rut, but I can be pretty sure he wasn't bored.)
But unlike Shane, many of us feel that life is boring. Life may have become uneventful.
We aren't smiling as much as we used to.
We don't go for spontaneous outings.
When was the last time you went down a slide at the playground?
We don't wake up excited to go to our jobs, careers, taking care of our families.
We have jobs we don't enjoy; relationships which are failing and becoming mundane...dull.
We spend more time in front of the computer screen than we do outside or with our families.
We don't try new foods so we can expand our palate and therefore miss out on so many delicious foods from all over the world.
Can you imagine...yourself being happy?
Can you imagine...living a life with few or no complaints?
Can you imagine...not being bored?
(Can you imagine getting stuck in the position Shane is in above? At your age? Ha Ha!)
Do you think you can sacrifice any or all these to be happy?
This doesn't mean that you need to quit your job or leave your spouse or break relationships with friends. You may want or need to but that's a choice you make on your own.
Why not start small? Try a new food each week. A new fruit or vegetable you've been seeing in the produce aisle. How about grabbing your honey or a friend and try the new Asian restaurant (I don't mean Chinese!) in town and order something you've never tasted before and share it? You may just find that you can comfortably come out of your shell of boredom and live freely...happily!

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Chocolate Chai Tea Recipe

11/14/2012

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I love chai tea! I try to have it every morning. I make it with any kind of nut milk I have on hand (usually made with the Vitamixer). I made a ready mix of spices to use which I keep in a jar consisting of dry ginger, cloves, cinnamon sticks and cardamom seeds. Usually I just heat up the nut milk with a teaspoon or 2 of the spice mix and let it just boil and then take it off the heat. I add some white tea leaves and let it steep for a few minutes. I strain it and then add sweetener if I feel like it (either honey, agave or raw sugar).

Today, however, I added some raw cocoa powder (2 teaspoons) and had some cashew cream on hand which I made by blending cashew nuts and water (1 cup of soaked cashews to 1 cup of water give or take). When the tea leaves steeped and I strained the mixture, I added the cream and some honey and it's delicious! The combination of spices and chocolate makes this drink absolutely delightful! With the colder weather on its way, it's a great alternative to regular hot chocolate for me since it contains no dairy and is just as creamy!

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It's not just about how many nutrients there are in your food

11/12/2012

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According to Alternative Medicine's November/December issue, "Every stalk (of celery) has traces of chlorantraniliprole, which kills caterpillars, moths, and beetles by over-stimulating their muscles to contract.

Chilean grapes have 34 different pesticides.

Blueberries are sprayed with 52 pesticides...

Sweet peppers have tested positive for 50 pesticide residues...

Strawberries, which act like sponges to absorb six carcinogens and 13 hormone distruptors, are especially problematic because they are so difficult to clean.

Pears have been found to have residue from over two dozen pesticides...

Apples are some of the most pesticide laden of non-organically grown produce, with samples from around the United States containing over 40 different pesticide residues."

These are the biggest offenders in terms of pesticides according to EWG (Environmental Working Group) and although they say the benefit of eating fresh fruits and vegetables outweighs the known risks of consuming pesticide residue, for people who can't afford organic or have no access to them, apples, pears and peaches may be better off being peeled to remove most of the residue.

Remove the outer layers of spinach if it's not organic before washing with warm water mixed with salt, and either lemon juice or vinegar. Berries, including strawberries, should be rinsed thoroughly and drained in a colander.

So, even though the Annals of Internal Medicine found little difference in the nutritional value of organic and conventional foods back in September 2012, I agree with Alternative Medicine magazine and go on the premise that organic food may not always contain more nutrients than conventional food but it's what they DON'T contain that puts them at a premium!

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Alicia Silverstone Quote for PCRM.ORG

11/9/2012

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One of the wonderful advantages of signing up for the 21-Day Vegan Kickstart India diet is the opportunity to read great tips from vegans. Today, there was a wonderful tip from Alicia Silverstone that I wanted to share from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine site (http://kickstartindia.pcrm.org/messages/). If you click the link and read it on a day other than Friday, November 9, just click View Previous Messages at the top. I have to say, I have been noticing all these changes in my body...and mind.

"On a plant-based diet, you will lose weight easily, your skin will absolutely glow, you will have tons of energy, and you will become more sensitive to all the important things in life—like love, nature, and your deepest, truest self. The journey starts today. Here are some reminders to guide you along your way:

Commit to freeing your body from the grip of unhealthy foods.
Check in with your body; listen to its signals.
Be proud of the choices you’re making.
If you fall off the wagon, just get back on—no drama, no guilt."

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21-Day Vegan Kickstart Diet - INDIA!

11/5/2012

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Good morning! Happy Daylight Savings Time!
Today, I start another 21-day vegan diet - even though I've maintained my vegan diet since I ended the last 21-day vegan one. This one is different though. It is a 21-day vegan diet - INDIA! My favorite food is Indian food. I just love it. As a matter of fact, as I write this post, I am sipping on Indian masala tea. I am looking forward to learning more Indian recipes which are vegan. If you'd like to join me, you can sign up to get tips and recipes but with an Indian flair!
http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=21day_vegan_kickstart_india

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Hurricane Sandy - BREATHE!

11/1/2012

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Phoenix rising from the ashes From Pacem in Terris, Warwick NY

Welcoming in November and sending out good, healthy vibes to those of you in the northeast recovering from Hurricane Sandy. I, myself, was extremely fortunate to have lost power for only 19 hours. But many people I know are still without it. During this difficult time, remember to BREATHE! It can be very helpful.

Take a deep breath in (allow your belly to fill with air). Hold for 7 seconds. Breathe out for a long 8 seconds. Repeat this 4 times. For good results, do this exercise upon waking and upon sleeping and in between when you feel you really need it!

Here's a great article by Andrew Weil about how to deal with stress. It's worth the read just to understand the facts and consequences of stress. Learning how to cope in stressful situations can help you live a more healthy, long life.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00694/Stress.html

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Gratitude

Sacrificing Boredom

Chocolate Chai Tea Recipe

It's not just about how many nutrients there are in your food

Alicia Silverstone Quote for PCRM.ORG

21-Day Vegan Kickstart Diet - INDIA!

Hurricane Sandy - BREATHE!

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