Xero Shoes Options

Great company, Great Zero Drop Option

Since going zero drop for my lifestyle these are some of my favorite options.

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Shop the new Ipari Hana from Xero Shoes - Available now!
Shop the new Ipari Hana from Xero Shoes - Available now!

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Find the perfect pair of barefoot sandals to fit your lifestyle.

'Z' Better Butter Substitute

Need a better butter substitute with great healthy fats? (Recipe below.)

Coconut Oil - had plant based fatty acids (lauric acid, also found in breast milk) which are good for the body it many ways such as: weight loss, energy, cholesterol levels, immune function, kidney relief issues, metabolism, digestion, skin, hair, nails, etc.. and it also contains anti fungal (use it on your toes for athlete foot), antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties. Even saturated plant based fats do not raise cholesterol levels like the saturated animal fats.

Flax Seed Oil - Can any one say, Omega 3's ? Well it actually has omega 3, 6, and 9. Brain food and reducing inflammation are at the top of the list. We can also add that it helps to lower cholesterol, stimulate brown fat cells, eyesight, liver function, skin issues, arthritis, etc..

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVO)- is a heart super-food and there are lower rates of diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, asthma, atherosclerosis, etc.. with those consuming EVO. Polyphenols are also responsible for the heart benefits, anti-flammatory, antibiotic, and anticoagulant properties. (Add EVO to some butter and let it set for a while. Come back and see how the butter is broken down - kinda what it does in your body to help break down cholesterol.)

I took all of these great fats and made this....

'Z' Better Butter Substitute

• 1/2 c coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of flax seed oil
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/8 c water (add more if needed for desired creaminess)
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1/2 t lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 t honey

Blend together in a small blender. Store in a glass jar, refrigerate or freeze. Spread and use like you would butter.

Options: leave out the honey if you want it less sweet. If you are used to salted add a pinch more sea salt.

Aerial Fitness Coming Feb '13

I am so excited to start teaching Aerial Yoga!

Engage the world around you. Try something different!   Break old patterns and create a new confidence.

Benefits of Aerial Fitness:

• Move more fluidly Attain proper alignment naturally
• Decompress the neck & spine
• Less pressure on hands, neck, shoulders & joints
• Achieve more advanced postures while being supported
• Allows gravity to deepen stretches
• Experience the benefits of inversions without risk of injury to neck or spine
• Enhance, deepen, & advance your floor practice
• Have fun while you Strengthen & Lengthen

See http://www.aerialfun.com for more details.

I will be also adding 2 additional styles of aerial classes to fit all personality types.

NEW Aerial Fusion Fitness Class

Aerial Fitness is a NEW class geared toward a faster pace for those who want extra strength and cardio training along with all the other benefits of aerial yoga.

Restorative Class

A grounded class designed to use the fabric for slow and deliberate movement geared toward deep stretching and restoration. 

Kids classes are now open, space is limited.

Now Teacher trainings are offered.

Our New Book - The Green Smoothie Girls

I am so excited to bring you a NEW book from  (drum roll please)......

Our First Book Signing, Nov 26th Monday Night 4pm to 6:30pm Harvest Market in Hockessin.

7417 Lancaster Pike • Hockessin DE 19707 • 302.234.6779

Here is our new website:
 http://www.thegreensmoothiegirls.com

A Guide to Getting 7-10 Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Every Day

Three Versions of the Book for your viewing pleasure.

Paperback  |  Spiral Binding  |  PDF

Feel the Green Smoothie Difference!
A guide to getting your 7 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Green smoothie benefits include; boosting your immune system, increasing sports performance, improve your mood, more energy, better sleep, weight loss, just to name a few. Over 85 recipes of all plant based flavors from sweet to savory. Also, over 40 pages of health and nutritional benefits, food prep tips, and food descriptions.

Check back on Monday for our book trailer. E-Book coming soon.

Intro to Lacto - Fermentation Carrots and Ginger

Intro to Lacto - Fermentation Carrots and Ginger

Well after our last dinner I have had a few requests on how to make this dish.

Quick introduction - There are two types of fermentation: fermentation with yeast and fermentation without yeast - will will be talking about the later. This fermentation method is the absence of oxygen (with oxygen allows the yeast to grow).

Carrots and Ginger is a great combination to start with!

This was my first batch. Here is one variation:

• 4 cups carrots, peeled, grated, loose packed
• 1 tablespoons ginger, grated
• 3 teaspoons sea salt

Add to a big bowl that you can mix and mash it all together. Don't be shy, this is a great upper arm workout, ha ha. Get that wooden mallet, or smasher, and go to town till the juices are released. (a good 2 to 5 minutes). Then add to a CLEAN mason jar (or something that will seal) and pack it in tightly. Tip: add small amounts at a time and smooch together. Then if there is not enough juice, fill the extra space with filtered water to top it off. Screw the lid on tightly and set on the counter for 3 days. (insert the Jeopardy theme song here).

Ding, After 3 days you want to taste it - I know - waiting is the hardest part. My personal preference is just scrape off the top 1/2 inch or so - if any oxygen got to this it will taste funky -- and you can tell the difference -- the fermented ones will be a bit sour but not leave a nasty aftertaste in your mouth. To avoid that, I just scrape off the 1/2 inch on the top- 'cause sometimes it is hard to get all the air perfectly out. This fermentation process is without air.

You can do this with any vegetable, and most any spice you want to add. You can also buy fermented vegetables at some health food stores, if you are in a hurry.

Here is the other options we did that night for dinner. After your carrots are done, try this.

Raw Green Bean Salad with probiotic carrots

Serves 4 to 5

• 1 cup raw green beans (rough chopped)
• ½ cup almonds, slivered or chopped
• ½ to 1 clove garlic minced or pressed (adjust to taste)
• 1 bag of lacto raw fermented carrots (8 oz)
• 1/8 cup flax seed oil (I use Barleans because of the better quality and fresher taste.)

Add all ingredients to a bowl, mix and serve.

Eat these probiotic vegetables every day. Just take a small serving with your meal. Great substitute for yogurt and milk products.

Remember to have the probiotic effect, you DON'T what to cook these.

Recently read a statistic, that the probiotic count of fermented or cultured foods was very high in the trillions with multiple strains as compare to probiotic capsules which might be in the billions. I can sure tell the difference between my live foods vs. the store bought capsules. So make sure you start out with a tablespoon or two as a condiment before your meal. Then you can work your way up to more.

References:

Wild Fermentation

Nourishing Traditions

Makers Diet

Dr. Mercola - trillions of CFU

Men's Health Part 1

Men's Health Part 1

Let’s talk about testosterone and sexual performance for the man. This article will be an overview. I will provide in-depth details in subsequent articles but I know if I include too much in one article, you won’t read it.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a Dr., but a Health and Fitness Coach sharing knowledge and research that has helped others. Always consult your Dr. before making any changes. My approach is to get the basics in order (eat right, exercise, good lifestyle choices). You might find out with some simple changes you are back on track. If not, your Dr. won't have to tell you to do the basics because you are doing them already. He can move on to the problem faster.

Ok, down to business -

Since I am in the health and fitness business, I do get asked about testosterone. Since I am not a man, I will share what has helped others. Here are the common performance issue complaints:

• loss of feeling
• loss of circulation
• loss of desire / libido
• loss of physical ability / ED (erectile dysfunction)
• loss of testosterone

Guess what? Barring more serious issues, a lot of these symptoms can be helped with lifestyle changes. But hey, you knew that anyway! SADly , the Standard American Diet does not help and greatly contributes to the problem, despite our over-sexed society. You are supposed to be "supermen", you read how easy it is.... but in reality a lot of men have problems in this area. (Wives you can thank me later, wink.)

Let's set some expectations. I am not talking about a QUICK FIX here. Men can take a pill, (drugs or herbals) Viagra, etc... and get an immediate response. This might help in the mean time for those date nights... but if your body is plugged up with gunk and needs an oil change, it will take a while (maybe a couple months) to start getting lean and clean so you can take advantage of the benefits. This is NOT A QUICK FIX. These are health lifestyle changes that will rebuild and reset your body as God intended it to work. We all know that aging (30 being the peak years), we naturally produce less testosterone as we age, but we can maximize what we have left.

The top 10 places to start (in the following weeks I will add details about why.)

#1 - drugs / disease / medications - that cause it

All of these contribute to “performance issues” in men. For example: blood pressure medication is notorious causing these unwanted side effects. So, let's get off of the medication if at all possible. Let's fix the “preventable” disease. How? **With sensible eating, weight loss and exercise that can lead to improved heart function. You just might be able to get your Dr. to reduce or even take you off of it. Make sure to NEVER stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor.

Other drugs that can hinder a man’s sexual drive and performance: Antidepressants, Chemotherapy, Anti-HIV drugs, Narcotic pain medicines, tranquilizers even some over the counter medications. Sometimes changing to a different medication or different dosage may solve the problem.

Diseases: arteriosclerosis, depression, diabetes, psychological issues, high cholesterol, liver function, obesity. All of these affect it also.

#2 - exercise - that help it

Working compound muscles groups causes your body to create more testosterone and increase GH (growth hormone). Think large muscles and using a couple of them at one time. Examples: power cleans, squats, leg presses, deadlifts, chin-ups, dips, and military presses, lunges. Start slow to prevent injuries but work up to using heavier loads for fewer reps. Consult a trainer for a safe program.

Exercise also enhances your self-esteem, increases your energy, keeps your weight at a healthy range and may also “up” your sex drive. Studies indicate that men who exercise regularly have a lower risk of ED.

** Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for improving blood pressure, heart function, circulation, energy and mood enhancement. Depending on your fitness level, build up to 30 to 60 minutes of walking per day. The greatest minds in history walked about an hour a day - think, Edison, Franklin, Di Vinci, etc... Again if you have questions, check with your Dr.

#3 - dietary add in's - to help

Add foods high in zinc, boron, minerals, and healthy fats. Great foods are: cucumbers and melons, such as watermelon and cantaloupe; avocados, nuts, and seeds. Think vegetables for minerals.

Zinc

pistachio nuts, sesame seeds; pumpkin, squash, watermelon seeds; beets; garlic; broccoli; cabbage; cauliflower; brussels sprouts, bok choy, radishes, turnips, collard greens, kale; chickpeas; spinach, swiss chard, asparagus

Boron

raisins, dates, almonds, apricots, hazelnuts, walnuts, avocados, broccoli, pears, prunes, honey, oranges, onions, chick peas, carrots, beans, bananas, red grapes, red apple, celery, cashews,

REMOVE SOY, for now, NO SOYBEANS or “food stuffs” made from soybeans.  There are other foods that still gives you plenty of antioxidants, without the noted side effects of how it affects the male brain.  (Some non-GMO soy products like natto, tempe, miso  that are fermented over a long period are healthier but this is another article to explain why.)

#4 - optimizing GH - to help

Losing excess body fat, particularly belly fat; avoiding high-glycemic load carbohydrates (processed white flours, white sugars); optimizing sleep habits; and exercising regularly. The biggest burst of GH is released during the early hours of sleep, so eating habits are crucial to maximizing this nighttime secretion. Avoid food during the last four hours before bedtime.

#5 - manage stress - to help

Identify stress, then manage it. How? Another tremendous benefit of exercise is stress reduction, getting rid of the extra stress hormones in your body. Other ways include: deep breathing, prayer, meditation, good nutrients, and proper rest. If it is psychological in nature you might need to see a therapist or trained psychologist.

#6 - Sleep - to help

As we just read, GH is optimized during early hours of sleep, especially if before midnight. Sleep also helps in the production of testosterone. If you are exercising you have to rebuild the body to produce all of the great hormones. The recommended amount of sleep is a minimum 6 hours, but 7 to 8 is BEST. This will also help you deal with stress if you are well rested. Decisions will be easier. Remember sleep creates energy and being in a constant state of fatigue (lack of sleep) saps energy leading to performance issues.

#7 – kegels, are not just for women -

Kegel exercises or pelvic floor exercises can also help men have more intense orgasms, and improve erections. A kegel is done by contracting the muscles that stop the flow of urine. It takes about 5 minutes a day. Do 3 sets of 10 reps of strong contractions. If you don’t notice any improvement in a month, check with your Dr. to make sure you are using the correct muscles.

#8 - Clean out excess estrogen -

Conventionally raised animals (meat and dairy) are fed, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and steroids. These toxins make their way into your system and junk up the plumbing. Change to free range/grass fed meats or wild caught fish. Buy apples, celery, strawberries and greens organic. These are some of the top sprayed pesticide foods.

Also air fresheners, colognes, scents with parabens, and plastic containers (3, 6, 7 are most toxic kind) especially heating food in them.

#9 - hydration is "king" if you know what i mean ...

Being well hydrated is like having an oil change. It boosts blood volume and improves sexual function. How much water should you drink? When you urinate, it should be clear to almost clear (except if you are taking a lot of B vitamins). Drink till you get there. If you eat mostly cooked food you will have to drink more water than those eating mostly fresh food. Try watermelon - it is great for men. Eating watermelon can improve your vascular blood flow and improve your sexual performance.

#10 - robbers of fun -

Addictions to junk food, smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse are serious issues

that rob blood flow, impairs circulation, damages blood vessels, uses vital resources in processing the toxic materials, prevents the break down of estrogen in the liver, and robs your body of vital minerals needed for "down there", especially zinc. Seek professional or medical help if you cannot stop or give up these addictions.

We have come to the end of part 1.
 

If you are doing a lot of these healthy lifestyle changes listed above and still having symptoms, then there might be a more serious issue. Getting these basics under control will help your Dr. diagnose you faster. Chiropractic care is another way to make sure the nerve endings and pathways are open and flowing the way they should be.

There are a ton of resources out there. These were complied from a holistic point of view.

We will cover supplements in the next issue.

Main References:

• insideoutvibranthealth.com
• webmd.com
• livestrong.com
• whfoods.org
• peaktestosterone.com
• ewg.org
• tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/recycle-plastics-by-number.htm

Pray it Forward

Pray it forward .... everytime you hear an emergency vechicle, especailly fire and ambulance - pray for them. I wonder what change would happen if we all started to do this. Come to find out there are a lot of my friends that do this. That is pretty cool.

I started doing this after reading the book on Intercessory prayer given to me by a great friend. It was time to get out of my little impatient world. Have you also noticed your impatience level is a lot lower?

On one trip home to see my mother a few years ago, I pulled off to get gas, and this burden to pray was in my heart. Wasn't quite sure what to make of it since my mother was not well and I prayed for her a lot. But then I saw a child been hit on a bike laying on the ground. Prayed for them ALL with tears in my eyes and outstretched hands on that one. Listen to the holy spirit when He tells you to pray. What a privileged to be able to do that.

Holiday Dessert or a Breakfast Meal

The Secret Apple Pie – Zina DiTonno

Shhhh- the secret is no one will know it is not even cooked.  It is a hit - I have taught variations of this to other and at my dinners.  Your secret weapon, a big ziplock bag.  This modified from another great recipe.  Gotten good reviews on this combination.

-- Pie Crust --

·        1 cup walnuts   *

·        1 cups hazelnuts  * 

·        2 cups dates (soak for 10 minutes, save water)

·        Date soak water, start with a teaspoon at a time

Add nuts to food processor, grind up first.  Then add dates and process until it is like a dough consistency, if it does not make a ball, add teaspoons of the date water until it make a ball. Then press into the pie pan.

* if you only have walnut or hazelnuts it will taste great with either.

-- Filling --

·        5 gala apples (or jonagold, or honeycrisp) sliced as thin as possible (I use the food processor with the Julian blade, so much faster.)

·        1/2 c raisins

·        2 tablespoons raw honey

·        1 tablespoon cinnamon

·        1 teaspoon ginger

·        1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or all spice

Now, add all to a zip lock bag, seal it, and massage (to break down the apples and infused the spices) for a few minutes until all mixed up and softened. Pour into pie crust.  Serve and watch it disappear.

If you have left overs- you can have it for breakfast the next day, and not feel guilty.

Changing your mood - to caffiene fix or not

Coffee nerves” or “coffee jitters” can occur after 150 mg (1 cup) are ingested, while physiological and psychological dependence can occur at 300 mg/day (just 2 cups of coffee).  Taken from an article hacres.com.     (The other scientific stuff is here if you want to read it.  I wanted to focus on the deeper cause.)

We grab "substances" to change our state... we have had and bad day, stressed out, eaten too much junk, etc.... and our body are crying out for a change.  Do you grab food or stimulants or depressive agents to get thru?  If so, let me challenge you a bit...

We should not be DEPENDENT on anything other than God.  Something to think about... this convicted me to stop caffeinated soda, tea,  and coffee back in the day - because I was dependant on this to function or to feel good in the morning or to get thru something.  Nothing should have a daily hold on my life to make me better, that what God is for.  If I have to have a substance (that can go for alcohol, drugs, stimulants and even sugar and foods) to feel better, then my heart needs a check.  I try now to pray first then deal with it. (For me I would run first, well some would say that was good, and compared to a lot of other behavior that is, but that is my 2nd action. My first should always be prayer.

Did I feel like I was giving up something? No, because I learned it was not good for me.  So how could I feel deprived when it is a toxin?  Would I want to put a poison in my body?

All things are permissible, but NOT all things are beneficial (I Corinthians 10:23).  I know now this is NOT beneficial to my health - spiritually or physically.

Dr Caroline Leaf is a Christian Neuro-scientist and talks about your brain and how your thoughts can create an atmosphere of growth or decay in your body.  So the positiveness  and empowerment of prayer over your thoughts and action, can create the first changes in the chemistry of the body and mind.

For some it is a struggle to give up things that change our brain chemistry. I did it and my husband did it, so I know you can by God's grace. Phil. 4:13 say YOU can do all things thru HIM who gives you strenght. How can you fail with that on your side.

Go forth and conquer!

Do you have any energy left to Workout?

Do you have any energy left to Workout?  This is a common problem ... we are so tired by the time we get to our workouts, it is all we can do to drag ourselves up and get it done or we consign to not doing it at all.  Granted you need downtime about once a week, but the rest of the time it is healthy to get that movement in.

Wouldn't it be great to have the energy to work out ... like the feeling  of "wow i am going to have to work out I have all thie every". part of this is our SAD diet we are on.  We you start to detox your body and eat whole, fresh foods ... your energy gets to the point you have to work out.  That is a much more fun place to be, than having to muster up your willpower.

One more great reason to keep your food like how God wanted us to eat it.  You don't need to spend money on bars that are mostly processed junk anyway.  Whole food energy snacks - are green smoothies (which are especially great for recovery with no fat at this point), coconut water, celery and dates. If you want some higher fat options: almond butter, honey with cinnamon or coconut flakes, or soak some chia seeds in water for a few minutes (at least 10 minutes) add a 1/2 lemon squezzed and raw honey or stevia.

So now you can get up and move!!!!!!!!!

Honey Mustard Dressing Variation

OK my husband told me I had to type this one out....

This went over a salad bed of greens, topped with lightly sauted (coconut oil) asparagus with shredded carrots,mixed with tarragon, mustard. (I will type this out later, I orginally made these carrots as a raw dish, but wasn't crazy about the flavor, so I decdied to saute just a bit, turned it from ok to Yummy.) Grind the fresh black pepper on top.  This dressing would go well on any salad.

Dressing - about a cup, it is not thick like the store kind since it doesnt have fillers. 
1 part raw apple cider vinegar
1 part grapeseed oil (want the neutral flavor)
1 part raw honey
2 parts water
1/8 c. or 2 TBLS of mustard powder (start with this then add to your preference)
1/4 tsp of garlic powder
pinch of sea salt

Mix all together in a small blender (i used the Tribest).  Adjust to preferences.

Zina’s Healthier Ranch – Yummy

OK, I had a request for recipes thru the holidays ... so we will start with a dressing, since that is a great topping for a great salad.  Green Salads are a key foundation to your eating plan.  This is a dressing I made for our DEC 2010 Holiday Appetizer EDU-tainment Dinner.

Zina’s Healthier Ranch – Yummy

·        ½ c Veganaise   (grape seed oil mayo, no dairy, gluten, soy, animal products)

·        1 cup water

·        1 tablespoon Onion powder (better than the granules -gives it that smoky flavor)

·        1 teaspoon garlic powder

·        1 teaspoon parsley

·        ½ teaspoon dill

·        ½ teaspoon paprika

Add all to blender. Blend until smooth. The flavor is good, but for some this might be thin for a dressing, but if to thin for a dip add a tablespoon of psyillum husk or chia seeds. And let set for a few minutes to thicken.

Re-think your lip care

Love that cracked feeling on your lips?  uhhh, not so much... so we reach for some lip balm, and feel that temporary relief.

Lip mostiure or should I say lack of, mostly comes from a state of dehydration - too many cokes and coffee's and no high water content foods or just good ole fashion water.

The best way to help your lips is chug some water.  Then if you need some extra support after a long day in the sun or cold winter day - choose something with OUT pertroleum or mineral oil.  Find a base of coco butter, olive oil, etc...

Want the quick version?  use olive oil or coconut oil right out of your pantry.

No shoes No service!

No shoes No service!   Remember that store sign?  was that for status or hygiene?  are flip flops more hygienic than bare feet?  I don't really know, just asking.

Know when kids are sent shoes overseas? their feet are stronger without the shoes, but somehow squeezing your foot into a pointy object that squishing all your toes together is a status symbol. I wonder how that happened.  I am sure protecting the foot, had something to do with the start of shoes... but also MONEY.  running shoes in the 70's and spiky heels have contributed to all sort of misalignment issues... maybe not right away, but it does catch up to you.

My mom told me not to wear spikes in high school, but i had to look cool - so now i have bunions, very attractive i might add, yeah, not so much.   I used to have to add an extraordinary amount of padding to even wear shoes.

Now since going more minimalist (after your feet and calf muscles build up) my hips are aligned better, my legs and feet feel great, posture is much improved.  it is amazing how we get used to being tilted forward in our shoes.  There are studies about flats and how they hurt your feet.  Here is my theory.  When your foot in stuffed in a shoe it can not spread out and distribute the weight correctly, so yes there is foot pain. if your shoes are too tight, even with flats.  Rigid soles also contribute to the foot not being able to move.

With all that said, we live in a society with shoes - so we have to wear them.   And shoes are the things we should wear, if we need them for more risky activities.

A lot of the foot conditions can be improved by going barefoot google your condition and add barefoot to it.  That is how I found out about how to help alleviate hip/hamstring pain when running.

TIPS to start:

• As soon as you get home, ditch the shoes, your house should be safe to get in some barefoot time. (You might have to rinse them off before bed if your floors are dusty, smile)
• Find some minimalist shoes (especially for winter) to build up your foot muscle. (See link below)
• If you wear heels, stretch out your calf muscles and the edge of a step, at least 30 seconds per leg.
• Use a tennis ball and when standing up, rub your foot along the tennis ball on the floor. This myofacial release feels great afterward and will temporarily relieve tight muscles.

I love the vibrams for working out!  Good and grippy. 

I also made huaraches which I wear around now, where shoes are required. smile. My toes are not cramped up, love the free-ness in the summer.

Search Amazon.com for barefoot shoes

Created Barefoot

Yes I had to say it, CREATED BAREFOOT! I came into the world with bare feet, and won't take my shoes with me when I go!  Smile.   I love what I have learned about being barefoot and wearing minimalist shoes.  I am new to this about a year and a half into it,  I can run with no hip pain now. (Though you have to be super patient with yourself when you first start, or you will have some serious sore muscles in your calves and feet.)

My two cents....
We are all obviously coming from a different place of learning, and mine is a designer, a masterful craftsman, pure genius are the "human" words I can assign to it.  Created!   Though a lot of the science is accurate, like how we are aligned, the way the joints are supposed to absorb shock without padded tennis shoes, way we can be grounded to the earth, etc... I believe we are created this way and in my mind coming from some nothingness, just doesn't compute in my head.  Just like I am sure to someone who believes in evolution thinks I am blind.   I want to be one of those few people who steps outside the box and goes against society by eating whole foods, running and walking naturally, and believing I was designed by someone a lot smarter than I.

 I know I am created special and unique in God's image, so I want to eat God's food.  I did not evolve from a crawling thing, I am designed to stand up and pick an apple off a tree and enjoy it.   I love this fact, that someone designed me!  The more I learn, the more I want to get back to a more natural style of life and enjoy the natural laws that God has put in place for us to have balance, health, and life to share with others.

My  ability to learn was designed by God, the Bible says I have the mind of Christ. It is hard for me to learn about this good stuff and have it all be about evolution. My heart always sinks a bit, so this writing are for those of us who can embrace this lifestyle and know we were created for this.

Proof text: Isaiah 44:24 (a few different versions)
God, your Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother's womb, says: "I am God. I made all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the earth."

Israel, I am your LORD. I am your source of life, and I have rescued you. I created everything from the sky above to the earth below.

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone,

"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;"

If you have questions about creation www.creationmoments.com  is an awesome scientific resource.

Economic Wellness

I just watched this ... this is the best talk on the economy I have heard.  Part of rebuilding your health, is healing your pocketbook and getting / staying out of debt.  Debt causes stress and can contribute to a decline in your mental, emotional, and physical health.  Also,  we cannot give if we cannot stay above water, giving is a part of health that is vital to our happiness and way of life we should be living.

http://www.thegreatrecovery.com/live


"Broke people can't help others! When you give money you are doing justice." - Dave Ramsey

Freedom

Freedom is here because a group of people loved God and wanted to create a nation under God. For all those who keep it free, honor, love, and respect are yours. Let's get back to why this nation is great - because it was blessed by God.

As you pray for our nation,  pray for the leaders to be removed or redeemed who do not love and honor God.

VFF to V4F Vibram Four Fingers for us with webbed toes

Well there are a few of us with webbed toes that would love to wear the vibram five finger shoes - but we just can't do it.  Huaraches are one way around this, which I have a pair of these too, but for some good gripping action and sports training - nothing beats the VFF.  Below is a quick video on how to modify your VFF to V4F so you can enjoy the experience.  I found a pair at city sports on clearance so I could try this out first.  It worked great, been using them everyday since march when i modified them.  I hope this helps you out. 

Get out and move.

Going "Poo-Less"

OK, if you are wondering what poo-less is that is the art of not using toxic expensive shampoos and conditioners.  Guess what? You don't need them!  It took me a while to get it down, but I have found a good combination.  Hard to write about a few years of testing, but here are the basics.

Basics - Acid and Alkaline balance -  the trick for me was both combinations. Alkaline is great to clean, but you need to follow with an acid rinse to close the hair shaft to make it soft and to tangle less.  I first started with the baking soda and wow did I have a frizz ball for a couple of weeks, it felt like straw, tons of knots...I couldn't take it, so I thought, well that doesn't work for me.  Then I switched to JR Liggetts hair soap (coconut and olive oil based) which was really good... Then I found some other articles about the acid alkaline balance with the hair and tried the baking soda with a vinegar rinse.  That worked great, and my hair does NOT smell like salad, unless I use too much vinegar. ha.  It just smells clean.  Our hair has so many chemicals on it, that was causes that funky smell when your hair is not at its freshest.

When you are first starting out, your hair will feel almost sticky (not really sticky but not sure what word to describe) because of the chemical residues left in your hair - every time you wash you can feel the band of old reside move down your hair couple inches at a time. ( I have long hair so it took about 2 weeks for my hair to feel really clean all the way down, this wont take as long with short hair).  It did not affect the way it looked, just felt odd when the water would hit it. 

Some people might want to start off with a non-toxic brand of shampoo like Aubrey Organics, it is a bit more expensive, but could help with your transition, especially if you feel you have to have all the bubbles to be clean.  JR Liggetts  hair soap is a great way also... because there is not a lot of toxic foamers added, so don't expect a lot of foam, that you really don't need anyway.  Just get the finger by the scale for a good rub.  Bubbles don't necessarily mean clean.

REMEMBER:  you might have to play with ratios and how often,  that work for your hair.
Comnination 1 for oilier hair and summer:
For cleansing:  1 part baking soda, and 4 parts water.  (TIP you can add the baking soda to a small container and fill with shower water, less shocking that way on the scalp.  I mix ahead of time the coolness on my scalp doesn't bother me.) 

For the rinse:  1 part vinegar,  4 parts water.  You might need to adjust for your hair type.  I start at the ends, where I need it most.  You can leave in or rinse.   I hold up my ends and rinse my scalp but leave it in the ends a bit longer.   You can finish your shower, then rinse.  The longer you leave it the softer it will be.  Sometimes I just don't have time to leave it in for 2 minutes, so i just rinse and go. Still works really good. 

Combination 2 for drier hair and winter time: 
Get a jar and add 8 to 10 oz of water, 6 teaspoons of vinegar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon of coconut oil (melt if needed, place amount in plastic bag run under hot water, or use warm water -over 80 degrees when mixing this up.).  Shake up in a bottle. Set aside.  Wet your hair first and  scrub your scalp with fingers, then spray to the ends of your hair.  Keep away from scalp if you have oily hair.  Rinse quickly if near the scalp, leave the rest you hair.  That tiny bit (not to much, it will look like you need  a shower) of coconut oil made all the difference on the softness in my hair.  (When you shake this up it will bubble because of the acid and alkaline mixing together.)  Use all the mixture. I don't have to do this every day maybe everyother or every two in the winter.

For me these are really simple and inexpensive.  There are lots of foods (olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, eggs, etc...) and  recipes for your hair that work great as deep conditioners, treatments, etc....  but I am wash and go kinda gal so this is great for me.  For guys, it is super easy since there hair is so short. 

My friend Kim told me about adding a few drops of  lavender oil to water in a spray bottle to freshen up you hair with.  Or sometimes when I used my perfume essential oils I rub a tiny bit on my hand then run your fingers thru you hair. 


If you have questions post them below or shoot me an email, be glad to answer them.

Just say it and be done

This weekend at the farmers market we heard a girl with wisdom beyond her years (or was it?)  A girl about 10 giving wisdom to her Dad (assumption of father since the interaction was so candid)" Just tell her your sorry and apologize."  It was one of those moments, out of the mouths of babes. 

Negative emotions and feelings we hold on to does not allow good growth in our mind, bodies or spirits.  We can cause a host of physical aliments from cancer and disease, to bad attitudes, to damaged spirits.  There are links to disease and organs in the body.  Even the brain (your CPU) creates good or bad cells based on the input - guess what controls your body?

If you cannot apologize yet or you feel you are right (which we all do at times), start praying about it and for the other person.  Bible says to pray for those that hurt you.  OHHH, it is NOT easy, but you will be given the grace to get thru it. When we are all bent out of shape, that is when we need to get on our knees.  No one said it was easy to do the right thing, like eating healthy when you don't want to.  This dimension of a child to see the simplicity of the situation - this we should do.  Being like a child and wanting me, my way, is where we need to be free.  When you start to get free, you can see both sides of the story without having to defend your own self.  You can never know someone elses heart. Only God knows.  Just turn it over to him.  Even if they never respond, just do your part so you can be free.

We make it too complicated, with pride, fear, selfishness, ego, etc...  so we end up letting someone else control how you are going to be, that is bondage.  Be free, apologize or forgive or both, and move on.  So simple, but we get in our own way. Just keep it simple, like a child and just do it for better spiritual, mental, and bodily health but because it is the right thing to do.