In Carbonation Heaven!

Today I received my main birthday present from the hubby and son (I have to mention Gavin since he makes sure I know that he is included in who got the gift for me). I'm just now receiving my gift because the company was closed for the holidays and New Year inventory. Oh the things I have to deal with in having an early January birthday.

But all is well now because I now have in my hands a soda maker - a lovely beverage carbonator. I got the simple looking one but there are others available like the very sleek penguin styled one. We couldn't justify spending that extra money though, but it really does look nice. What I did do though is make sure I had those beautiful glass carafes that are made for the penguin one. I have 3 in all. You cannot use the glass carafes with the other models during the carbonation process but you can use them to pour your soda or seltzer water in for a more beautiful look. It feels and looks very sophisticated to store and pour from them. But it is good to know that the plastic ones that come with the basic model are BPA-free!



I must admit, I asked for the soda maker in high hopes of being able to make "raw sodas" and carbonated lemon green tea drinks like the expensive ones they sell in stores. You are only suppose to carbonate pure water and then add the flavorings afterwards but I attempted to carbonated a mixed berry juice and it turned out so good! You do have to watch and wait carefully though when carbonating to make sure the juice/foam doesn't expand and spill out. But omg, I made sparkling juice that was so bubbly and nice! I know I need to make sure the juice I'm using is pulp-free since carbonation goes smoothly with pure clear water.

I'm completely loving my new soda maker! I just love devices that help make eating healthier so not a big deal AT ALL whatsoever!

New Year's Resolutions

So it's about that time again to achieve and stick to some new things to do.

Here's mine:

1. Condition myself to run up to six miles. (This was my resolution last year!)

2. Get highly into reconstructing old clothes into new clothes.

I got these books just for this:

Along with all my old clothes, I think I'm going to find it fun and exciting to find stuff at thrift stores to turn into something new and creative.

3. Eat or drink one chlorophyll rich meal at least once a day. (I've already started and it's way easier and yummier than I thought. Can we say 'kale chips'?)

4. Work more on filling up my Book of Shadows.


5. Spend money more wisely to save more.

I may add to the list if I think of anything else.

Cucumber Noodles!

I am in love with cucumber noodles!

Yesterday, after trying to decide what to do with the rest of the cucumbers in the fridge before they went bad, I FINALLY made noodles out of them. I used a julienne peeler that I bought from a lady who sold Pampered Chef. Love it! The little handheld one is very convenient and quick for servings for less than a few people. Cucumbers peel nicely into noodles. And of course making noodles out of fresh whole foods is just FUN and fun to eat!

So yeah, this was my dinner tonight (and last night) - cucumber noodles with spinach cream sauce. YUMMY!


Tomorrow I am off to the grocery store for more cucumbers!

Green Soul Challenge - Day 7

I haven't updated in a bit but I am doing well on my challenge, having my daily green including getting in some spirulina that I'm mixing with fresh orange juice. Last night I cut open the most beautiful grapefruits for juicing. I just love grapefruit juice! The grapefruits didn't look like much on the outside but boy were they beautiful when I cut them in half. You know that feeling you get when you cut open a beautiful watermelon? I get that same feeling when I cut open a beautiful grapefruit. So very luscious. I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to juice them or just pour a little agave on them and eat it with a spoon.

Speaking of cutting, I don't think I ever blogged about my favorite knife. I love this knife. It's a 7" santoku, but most importantly it's rainbow! Having a favorite knife I feel is nice a nice touch when making and caring about the food you make.


So, all this green has been very cleansing for me. A couple of days ago I started detoxing something fierce in the right gland near my throat/jaw. It is a lot better today though. I'll be sure to get my circulation going more to help it finish clearing out. I wish I had a rebounder though!

It was 17 degrees out this morning! I really need a new winter coat.

Green Soul Challenge - Day 3

I'm starting to type this at 11:11, awesome spiritual numbers. It's amazing when you really focus on eating cleaner to rid the body of unwanted things, outer things follow that show itself in needing to be rid of. There is a true connection with treating your inner life well and your outer life wanting to reflect that and I feel so blessed in experiencing that, it's very freeing.

Why yes, I did have my daily green today. Lots of salad still. We went to the grocery store to pick up some more stuff, so I was able to get the usual mixed greens. I didn't do the green smoothie today but hopefully soon. I just seem to be on this salad kick and I am really enjoying it.

I may just make a spirulina drink before I go to bed though.

Green Thoughts and Raw Packages

It feels good to be back in the green mode. This is day 2 for me in my Green Soul Challenge. All these leaves are filling me up! I only have lots of baby spinach left though. Depending on the weather tomorrow, I may go pick up some more variety of greens, if not I'll just make a banana mixed berry green smoothie with the baby spinach. I've actually been eyeing all those damn dandelion leaves in my backyard, I think I'll check tomorrow for some immature leaves if it isn't too wet outside, which it probably will be.

More raw agave nectar came today, I almost ran out. I am so thankful for Amazon on selling cool raw food staples like that at a more affordable price. I remember a few years back when agave nectar was ridiculously expensive. I mean, it really was robbery. Also recently from Amazon came my order of goji berries. For over 6,000 years, the Goji berry has been used to help protect the liver, help eyesight, boost the immune system, prevent cancer, and promote longevity amongst other benefits. Goji Up! I really need to make some sort of chocolate goji recipe soon. Mmmm.

Read more on goji berries.

Green Soul Challenge - Day 1

So I actually started yesterday, making sure I ate lots of leafy greens but I'm counting today as the starting point hoping my friend Sherry also started today. I had a nice salad of mixed greens - baby romaine, baby spinach, tango and a few leaves of radicchio. I don't really care too much for the purple leaves, they are awfully bitter to me, but when it's just a few leaves of it in the salad, it isn't bad at all and actually gives a nice contrast in taste.

The creamy salad dressing I make is really good (saving the recipe for my book). I love that my son loves it as well, he specifically asks for it whenever he has salad. Instead of water as the base, I use coconut water (along with nuts), it doesn't have a coconut taste whatsoever for those that are wary in using it. Coconut water is highly refreshing with loads of electrolytes. I swear I get a zing from it! I can feel its energy. Coconut water is awesome!

So yep, I had my green for the day! Yay!

I currently have some cucumber and lemon water marinating for tomorrow. I'll be sipping on that throughout the day. I meant to make it earlier today but totally forgot!

My 30 Day Green Soul Challenge

I am inviting anyone who wants to join to a 30 Day Green Soul Challenge.

What does this challenge entail?

The daily consumption of raw chlorophyll-rich foods - at least one meal having lots of good chlorophyll. The easiest and best way in my opinion are raw Green Smoothies - fruit smoothies with added leafy greens in them. This blended form allows for better absorption thus more nutrition.

I will eat salads as well some days and count that towards the "daily green". The salads must consist of dark leafy greens and no, iceberg does not count. You can eat iceberg salads of course, but it does not count towards this challenge. What we are aiming for here are the lovely dark greens, such as spinach, kale, swiss chard and collards. These have a higher content of chlorophyll and nutrition all around.

Also counting towards this challenge are supplements like adding spirulina to raw juices and wheatgrass of course is included. Let me know if I should add anything else to the list.

The benefits of "green sunshine" are enormous and foolish to ignore. Chlorophyll is chemically similar in composition to that of human blood, except that the central atom in chlorophyll is magnesium, while iron is central in human blood. This, and the fact that chlorophyll is central in plant metabolism, had prompted scientists to find out if chlorophyll can offer similar benefits to humans.

Overall, chlorophyll has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties but here are some details of the benefits:

• It has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues.

• Chlorophyll helps in neutralizing the pollution that we breathe in and intake everyday - a good supplement for smokers.

• It efficiently delivers magnesium and helps the blood in carrying the much needed oxygen to all cells and tissues.

• It is also found to be useful in assimilating and chelating calcium and other heavy minerals.

• It had been seen to have a good potential in stimulating red blood cells to improve oxygen supply.

• Along with other vitamins such as A, C and E, chlorophyll has been seen to help neutralize free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.

• Chlorophyll is also an effective deodorizer to reduce bad breath, urine, fecal waste, and body odor.

• It may reduce the ability of carcinogens to bind with the DNA in different major organs in the body.

• Chlorophyll may be useful in treating calcium oxalate stone ailments.

• It possesses some anti-atherogenic activity as well.

• It can be used to treat infected wounds naturally.

• It has antimutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties so that it may be helpful in protecting your body against toxins and in reducing drug side effects.

• These are only a few of the multitude benefits that chlorophyll can do to the body.

http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/chlorophyll-benefits.html

Hopefully, this can be a great jump start for a continual love of raw green foods after experiencing and feeling the benefits for some. If you are joining, join whenever you can, we don't all have to be on the same days. Wishing you lots of yummy health!

Smoothies and Berries: Blended Goodness

One of my favorite smoothie flavors to make is banana-berry (shown above). It consists of bananas, mixed berries (blueberry, blackberry, strawberry and raspberry), lemon juice (for a zing), and agave nectar to sweeten. Smoothies are a great way to absorb more nutrients from your food since we tend not to chew our food properly and no chewing is needed with smoothies - the blender has done all the work!

Maybe I am lucky in that I just simply love eating berries but they are amazing superfoods with many health benefits such as preventing cancer and heart disease, keeping your eyes healthy, controlling your blood sugar and of course keeping you looking young - you can't go wrong.

I love being blessed with berries!

Delicious Raisins!

Raisins that are delicious? Before yesterday I would say that was completely an oxymoron. I rarely buy raisins, the main reason being is that they aren't anything special, but another reason being is that if they aren't organic you are taking in a concentrated from of pesticides being that they are a concentrated form of grapes. Concerning mass, you are eating more of the grapes in dried form compared to eating them in their fresh juicy form.

Well, last night I finally opened up a box of organic raisins I bought from Harris Teeter, the raisins are their store brand. I bought them mainly for when I make a Waldorf Salad type of meal. I am very rarely in the mood for just straight raisins, only when it seems I want something sweet but there really isn't anything around at the moment. I didn't have high expectations in the raisins, I mean they ARE just raisins.



But when I ate few I noticed their texture was different from what I was use to, seemed to have a little sugary slight crunch to them while still being moist. And then WOW, it was a total pleasant surprise - it tasted like candy! I quickly looked at the ingredients on the box to make sure what I was eating didn't have any "added sugar" or anything, but nope the ingredients just listed "organic raisins".

So there I was just eating away at this newly found delicious taste making me so content at the world at hand and in comes my son. Of course he wonders what I am eating and has to have some. The same reaction comes from him as well, he finds them so good! Then he gets even more excited when he learns they are organic! He is so cute.

So it looks like after 28 almost 29 years, I finally like raisins. Maybe all this time they just had to be organic. Organic food does seem to taste better.

Probiotics - The Good Bacteria

Soon after I ventured into raw vegan foods for nutrition, I learned more about "good bacteria" to help with digestion and overall health. I still have yet to get fully into making my own sauerkraut and other fermented foods like nut cheeses, but I did have a go at making my own kombucha tea with a scooby awhile back. I don't really care for the taste, but I may try again and add in some different flavors like the kombucha tea sold in health food stores.

But until then I find the Pearls probiotics by Enzymatic Therapy extremely convenient. I got a hold of the Intensive Care kind from Lucky Vitamin. What's cool about the Pearls is that the "shell" shields the friendly bacteria from being destroyed by stomach acid so it can arrive safely in your intestines!

What's on the box: The power of yogurt - intensified. The Smarter Probiotic. Gets where you need it, when you need it, fast. Just one daily - take anytime. No refrigeration. More strains for deep intestinal care. Long term colon health. Maximum control of gas, bloating, and occasional constipation. Dairy free.

Continued on back: You know when you need serious support! When your digestive system is calling out for intensive relief, go beyond basic and turn to Pearls IC. Intensive care probiotics provide more strains to promote deep intestinal care and long-term colon health. Pearls IC features True Delivery Technology which guarantees active cultures SURVIVE stomach acids, ARRIVE in your intestines and THRIVE to provide exceptional support. The essence of better health - delivered. 1 Billion CFU Proprietary Probiotic Blend: Lactobacillus (acidophilus, rhamnosus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidum, lactis, longum, breve).

This one I bought for my son - Buddy Bear Probiotic by Renew Life. It's chewable with natural orange flavor. 1 Billion CFU Probiotic Blend: Lactobacillus (acidophilus) and Bifidobacterium (bifidus and infantis). I haven't seen if my son can swallow the Pearls yet but will let him try soon. For someone who hates swallowing pills and tends to always gag and choke, I personally find the Pearls extremely easy to swallow and totally not a big deal at all.

So why take probiotics anyway?

Digestive health

Active live cultures supply relief from occasional gas, bloating, constipation, sensitive stomach and lactose intolerance.

Immune health

Ensures your body is not weighed down by toxins which may limit your immune defenses.

Skin health

Fights free radicals and environmental toxins which can have negative effects on your skin.

Here is also some useful information about the benefits of probiotics.

Green Tea Mega Boost

I really enjoy using matcha, whole green tea in a fine powdered form. I usually use it as a superfood boost to my recipes. Recently I've been making Green Tea Vanilla Milkshakes. So delicious and creamy!

Yum! It has fresh vanilla beans in it too!

Green tea has amazing benefits, but matcha is the whole form of it, so you are getting so much more of the benefits compared to straining and discarding the leaves. Studies show that matcha contains nearly 10 times the polyphenols and antioxidants of regular teas, twice the amount of antioxidants of red wine, 9 times the beta-carotene of spinach, and 4 times the amount of beta-carotene in carrots! Amazing! It makes you wonder why more people don't choose to consume green tea in the whole powdered form. Pass this information along!

I buy my matcha from TeazOnline.com - I think the prices are fair and the shipping is fast. I still have some oolong (or wulong) tea that I bought from them as well that I still need to try. Oolong is suppose to be great for the metabolism. I'll post more about that once I've tried it.

What a gorgeous green hue! It radiates health! Click image for website.

Since I've gotten highly into matcha, I recently ordered some green tea seeds to grow my very own green tea plants. I have this vision in my head of me simply taking off fresh green tea leaves from my own personal plants to drop into my blender concoctions and life being oh so green tea great.

Bought from Whatcom Seed Company.

I was surprised at the size of the seeds. I guess I was expecting something smaller and dainty. That paper is a regular sized computer sheet. But reading up more on green tea, I discovered they actually grow into trees, but farmers keep them trimmed small. In the wild they can grow up to 20 to 65 feet. I think it would be awfully neat to have a green tea tree. Let's see if I can make it happen with at least one of the seeds!

Fig!

I tasted a fresh fig for the very first time. The flavor is extremely delicate but what I love about the fig is the texture! It looks kind of gross (but neat) up close (I kind of man-handled it in this photo above) but it's very interesting to bite into and feel on the tongue. And I love the tiny crunchy seeds! So fun to eat!

Why did it take me so long to finally taste a fresh fig?

Love it!

Strawberry + Chocolate = Yum!

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This one is going in my recipe books.

Missing My Wheatgrass

I haven't had any wheatgrass juice in almost a week now and I am really missing it! I discovered that I can't do the outside wheatgrass thing, that I need to stick to growing it inside for now. Growing it inside, it grows faster, you don't have to worry about bugs and birds being attracted to it and you don't have to deal with mold. Right now I have some more wheatgrass growing that looks quite at home in front of the dining room window and it's already almost ready to harvest! Why isn't it in the kitchen window you ask? Well, this house has an add on. So when you're at the kitchen sink and look up, you're looking through the bar area (which was probably a window in its past life) to the den which is the add on. So no sunny kitchen garden for me! I'm not complaining though, this house still rocks.

So below is a shot of how I drink my wheatgrass juice:

Nope, it's not pure wheatgrass juice (do you think I'm crazy?) but more like a watered down ginger flavored version to make it easy to drink. I've been blending (and straining) my wheatgrass concoction in the blender lately and let me tell you, seeing and feeling the left over fiber all ground up really lets you see why that stuff is indigestible to us humans!

I notice a huge difference in the way I look and feel when I'm consuming wheatgrass juice. Soon my precious!

Cocoa "Buckwheat" Crispies

This is delicious! So easy to make and it stays crunchy in nut milk. I also like to snack on it plain, it's THAT good! The recipe is from Raw Food Real World--an awesome raw food recipe book. A quick and simple replacement of the chocolate with cinnamon makes Cinnamon Buckwheat Crispies.

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All done and stored for convenience, cute huh?

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw

The Complete Idiot's Guide series has now published a book on raw food! It's called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Raw by Mark Reinfeld and Bo Rinaldi.

click image for Amazon Page

How neat is this?! I am happy that a famous book series such as this has done a book about how to start and enjoy the benefits of RAW FOOD!

A Good Package Day

It was a nice surprise to see that my new ice cream maker had arrived before I even woke up to start my day off great! We made strawberry sherbert since I won't have any cashews until tomorrow to make a more creamy type of ice cream. It was delicious and so full of flavor, though Gavin is waiting on something "creamy". He'll have his creamy ice cream tomorrow (I'm looking forward to creamy too)!

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So I had ordered this Wolfgang Puck Ice Cream maker from HSN but had to cancel the order after I found it refurbished for way cheaper on Overstock.com and then Sherry gave me a discount code for even more savings. I'm glad I was able to cancel my HSN order! Speaking of HSN though, the lady I spoke to when taking my order was really nice and fun! She had to tell me that she loved my email address with the "Lunar Earth Mama" and come to find out she was Pagan. We talked about the misconceptions of Paganism with how Hollywood has warped the truth about a lovely earthy religion. It was very nice to hear someone talk about how much they love the Goddess.

So with the ice cream maker, I am so glad I don't have to wait for a freezer bowl to freeze overnight anymore. I can feed my sporadic ice cream cravings by having it soon afterwards without having to plan it out.

The other package that came today was my Dolls of the World: Princess of South Africa Barbie!

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I had tried to win her before on eBay but I gave up from getting outbid all the time and forgot all about her. It was only until the Carolina Mommas group talked about an article on a Barbie did I remember how I wanted this dark skinned one! Isn't she beautiful!? Her dark skin is gorgeous! I'm not even all that into Barbies but I had to get this one. I would really like that Secret Spells Barbie as well!

My Type of Abundance

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This came from my grocery trip today. The corn was on sale--5 for $2! My son Gavin was excited about getting them! I love it when he is excited about fresh raw food and I love the results of my food trips, though I can't wait until the day I step outside and harvest some of what I need straight from my yard. I need to go ahead and restart some herbs in one of my AeroGardens. Along with the more common ones (like basil, mint, chives), I still have the Japanese Herb Kit that needs germinating. Hopefully I can get to that tonight.

Also today, my new tarot deck came. The Circle of Life Tarot. Absolutely beautiful and so unique. My friend Sherry thinks it's a creepy deck, which I have to admit a few of the cards are, but that's the reason why I like it! It's a circular deck which is a first for me in using so we'll see how I take to it but I don't foresee any dislikes. I'm actually looking forward to dealing with the all mighty circle. The backs are beautiful as well.

Click here to view the cards (scroll down) and read a review of the deck.

Simple Salad

My dinner tonight was a simple salad, actually just bagged salad with my special creamy dressing called Dawn Light and pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top with tomato wedges to add some flare (and flavor! yum!). When you really don't feel like doing nothing much at all, a simple salad sure comes to the rescue!

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