Some Successes Leave Slight Depresses

 

The fairies break their dances
And leave the printed lawn.
~A.E. Housman

Today is the fourteenth day of my arrival, and the day I will return home. It has been a trip not in vain, but stocked full of exactly what I came loaded with to share. The goal set was reached and my sister has found a new understanding of health and nutrition. She has a new love of life and seems to have taken on a concerted effort to do all that she can do to make her life reach far into grandmotherdom. She has taken note of her eating habits and has discovered the importance of label reading. Oh yeah, she quit smoking too!!!

So, you’d think I’d be on cloud number nine, happy and elated, right? Floating around, with my hands folded behind my head, my leg, bent at the knee and resting on the other; smiling, satisfied from my conquered quest, would you not think this? Quite contraire. This little, itty-bitty life-long friend of mine, clinically named depression, doesn’t quite work out that way. The stormy and dark cloud moved over my being a few days ago and seems to want to linger. It’ll pass. It always does. Yes, it knocks my dick in the dirt, but it always moves on, just the same as it appears. No problem, it has been deemed a normality in the strange reality of my life.

Today I smile for my sister. That’s enough of a reason for now. There’s plenty of time for plenty of me smiles, once things tidy themselves out. For now, my fairy wings have rolled themselves up, tucked neatly under the space where they go during times like these. They wait patiently to be replenished with the determination they need to roll out and spread. I guess the Juice Fairy is resting under a mushroom, shielded from the elements until the sun comes out once again, to release the magic that is there.

Until next time and signing out with love,

The Juice Fairy.

I think that people who can’t believe in fairies aren’t worth knowing. ~Tori Amos

Juice Fairy

The visit with my sister has turned out to be, thus far, a great success. The first four days, we weaned her off of solid foods. During this time I was able to introduce her to a healthier diet, containing many vegetables and whole grains. We both tried veggie burgers for the first time and are in love with them. Along with my own testimonials about nutritional benefits of drinking pure vegetable juice and eating well, we have watched several kick a** documentaries regarding the importance of proper nutrition, label reading, and the dangers of excess animal fats and protein. Today marks day two of her juice fast and, (I’m so proud of her!), marks one week of sitting in the non-smoking section!!!!

If you are considering changing your own eating habits and finding a healthier path in life, I recommend watching Food, Inc.; Frankensteer; Forks over Knives; Food Fight; and The Gerson Miracle. There’s a plethora of other like-minded films that will definitely get your brain singing a different tune about the stuff you put into your mouth. If you have one available, make an appointment to visit a Nutritionist.

My nephews have given me slack for all of this healthy stuff, but still, I persist. They are so young right now, and the greed of the huge food corporations have them right where they want them; addicted. Addicted to sugar, fat and processed non-foods. My youngest Nephew; after dangling Twinkies and other sugary trickeries, in my face for the first couple of days I arrived, (he’s just started middle school), finally agreed to sit down with me and read the ingredients of his gymormous barrel of cheese balls. We even Googled some of the unpronounceable and deceitful ingredients listed in several of his favorite snacks, all of which are packed with unpronounceable chemicals and high fructose corn syrup. He learned new word, carcinogenic, but it didn’t seem to outwardly phase him. I think it hit him where it counted though.

My oldest nephew has jumped on the bumper of a healthy wagon. He gave up drinking Mountain Dew, which he drank like a camel on a long distance journey through the desert and coffee. He has even shown some interest in juicing himself, which would be such perfect team-ship with his mom. It is always easier to take on a challenge when you have someone you love who’s right there to support you when you are teetering on failure, and also someone who you too can push to succeed.

I have truly lived up to my new name “Juice Fairy”, which is pretty dang rad, if you ask me.  Juice on people, you’ll love you for it!!!

 

Side note:

I had to have a biopsy of my anal cavity because of a preemptive diagnosis through a pap smear (yes, boys have pap smears too). The Final Diagnosis:  Epitheral Cell Abnormality: Squamous Cell: Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.  My sample was sent out for further analysis. I wasn’t scared, even though I thought about it and smiled with every sip of juice I consumed.

A call from my oncologist, just the other day, sent my fairy wings aflutter. No worries, everything is A-OK!!!

“Let Food Be Thy Medicine.”

“Positive thoughts produce positive outcomes.”

“Eat a rainbow a day.”

“Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly!”

 

Until next time,

The Juice Fairy, with Love.

 

Flax seed Oil and Glowing Skin

DAILY FLAX SEED OIL SHOT

Through the ravages of HIV, I have suffered, among other things, gross skin ailments. This went on way too long. I was prescribed several ointments, shampoos and other pharmaceutical fixes for these problems, none worked well at all. I used them as directed.

There have been countless days where, when I arise from bed and go to the restroom for the morning routine, I am horrified when the mirror shows my reflection. Scaly patches of skin surround my T-zone, legs and arms, and a blizzard of dandruff would fall from my beard and beloved hair. My face most always looked as though I had a sunburn.  The lovely day I had planned to have out of doors, would quickly turn into an ugly day hidden behind the walls of my house.

I have now been taking a shot of cold-pressed flax seed oil in the morning for well over a week. My skin glows in the mirror and my esteem shines bright. It is a crying shame that our society is so caught up with money that a prescription that costs lots of it, is the given remedy, when an all-natural and affordable remedy actually does the job, and does it way better than the chemical prescribed.

Check out other facts about this super food by clicking the link below:

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/the-health-benefits-of-flaxseed-oil/

Santa Monica Farmer’s Market w/ Recipe’s

Frenchman’s lettuces’. What are the names of these?

 

Carrots

 

Heirloom Tomato Display at the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market

 

Healthy Heirloom Art

 

 

Oh the decisions I had to make yesterday! They were tough, because everything looked so delicious and fresh. It was my first time to the Santa Monica Sunday Farmer’s Market. Each booth is certified organic.
Their mission is: The Santa Monica Farmers Markets are committed to promoting healthful eating and sustainable agriculture in California by providing fresh agricultural products from small farms to urban customers, thereby building community and preserving California farmland.
I met some of the farmers who were aptly knowledgeable, whereas, I was not quite so at all.
“What are these used for?” I asked one of the farmers.
My question set off a whirlwind response and a congenial conversation from a sweet-n-sexy (French?) accented man. I am not sure if it was the explanation of the produce, his icy-blue eyes, or the short love affair we had in my mind that nudged me to buy a few things I had never tried. I was so captivated by his whatever-you-want-to-call-it, that I even forgot the names of the lettuces’ I bought. Frisaise, maybe? I don’t remember, but I took pictures and posted them above.
I even got to help some people myself! There was a couple debating on whether, or not to break off the beet leaves and just carry the beets. I overheard their conversation and broke in:
“You do not want to discard the leaves,” I warned. “The leaves are very nutritious and carry much of the vitamins and minerals essential for the vegetable as a whole. As long as you have a masticating juicer, you can just wash them well, and run them right through your juicer,” I spoke with my head held high. It felt good.
“Well, we have a Breville Juicer, I’m not sure if it will work,” the girl responded.
“I don’t use that brand and am not sure if it can handle the leaves, or not. Just to be on the safe side, you should read the owner’s manual to make double sure, the last thing you want to do is ruin your juicer! Now, if your juicer can not handle the leaves, they are still quite wonderful as salad greens and could be used for lettuce wraps too,” I said these thing feeling confident and hoping that they took heed and tried the beet greens, possibly discussing the nice guy they met at the market, while enjoying their beet green salad, later that night.
Passing on helpful, healthful knowledge is rad.
So, by the end of the day, I walked out spending way more than I wanted to, but luckily the money wasn’t spent on what I would have spent it on, just months ago. These are way better for me than the non-nutritious, and bad-for-me crap I’d gotten so used to wasting money on, before I chimed into this healthy lifestyle.
I walked away with, several Heirloom tomatoes, a big bag of oranges, purple carrots (according to the vendor, carrots were naturally purple, until a Royal Queen, at some point in time, decided she wanted an orange variety; unknown validity), some phenomenal orange carrots, exotic lettuces (including a purple romaine & the Frenchman’s bunch), gorgeous celery, healthy beets, crispy kale (I’m gonna make some kale chips in the dehydrator!), and some apples. I spent around $40.
It totally sucks that the produce that is the best for you, also cost the most. It is cheap to eat poor, but why must a poor person eat cheaply? I am grateful for the fact that I quit a nearly three-decade long addiction to nicotine, an almost the same amount of time on illicit drugs and alcohol, and broke free from my slavery to fashion. That, in a nutshell, provides me with the funds to fix what I’d broken. But the high prices are still not fair! Healthful nutrition should be available for all people, everywhere. And could be if it weren’t for M O N E Y, which is a whole other story, which I shouldn’t touch much more upon at this time.

Dinner last night was one of the best ones I’ve made in some time. The menu consisted of Heirloom/Cucumber Salad, drizzled with Balsamic Vinaigrette, to start. I made Spicy Thai Vegetarian Wraps for the main course, with a kick ass spicy peanut, crushed pepper dipping sauce. Dessert was organic Kiwi (skin intact). Smell me, Sandra Dee!
Hope your day has been a healthy one! I’ve included the recipes for an outstanding and easy-to-make vegetarian meal below.

Spicy Thai Rolls

Heirloom Tomato/Cucumber Salad w/Balsamic Vinigarette

 

The recipe for the wraps is simple.
The first step is preparation. I used cayenne-spiced cooked barley, for added carbs. Rice noodles are the traditional filler. Barley cooks very similar to rice, and needs to steam for around a half hour. I added 1.5 tsp. cayenne powder to the grain. Submerge in an ice bath to cool quickly.
While the barley steams, go ahead and julienne carrot, celery, cucumber, sprouts, ginger & green onion (opt.). You can also use Jicama. Anything crunchy really….well, except, like potato chips, I mean. Set aside.
Wash mint leaves and basil leaves (you can also use cilantro, but I didn’t have any) and set aside.
Use the short little cute lettuce, they made perfect little cups, and the frilly lettuce pictured above (yes, both lettuces I bought from the Frenchman), but you can use other types, as well, just make sure they are the right size for your rice paper sheets, you want to be able to roll a nice, consistently-sized roll..
Pre-stuff your lettuce cups with all ingredients, making sure not to over-stuff them. Over-stuffing will cause problems when rolling.
Use rice paper and wrap everything up like a little burrito. It is important that you submerge the rice paper sheets into warm water for only 2 seconds, or it will become too delicate and unworkable. Once the water soaks into the rice paper a little bit, it becomes sticky and easy to roll.
TIP: To prevent rolls from sticking together, either rub sides with olive oil, or do not let sides touch.

The recipe for the dipping sauce was even easier, as I bought a well-rounded jar of Thai spicy peanut sauce (Trader Joe’s), and fresh ground chili paste. I used 3 parts peanut sauce to one part chili paste. It was the perfect heat for my liking. Of course, you can add more, if you desire.
It is very important to read the ingredients label on each item you buy at your local grocer. If it has ingredients that are unpronounceable to the layman, there is a good chance that it has MSG, or preservatives, or some other crap you’d be better off not putting in your body.

A Healthy Start to a Healthier Human

 

I’ve really been astonished at the results of the reboot. I should give thanks and kudos to Joe Cross’ Documentary “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”, for leading the way to better health for me. My juicer is my most prized kitchen appliance, and I could not, at this point, live without it. I have also gained some inspiration from Charlotte Gerson, The Gerson Institute http://gerson.org/gerpress/, and her father’s amazing work.  Combining these two paths of health, seem to me to work together like bees and honey.

I fasted for twelve total days and then, on Monday, I began to incorporate a healthy, organic, vegetarian meal at the end of the day(see links below, for the many vegetables in which buying organic is not necessary). Okay, I guess I should touch on the whole vegetarian thing: Even though I am not ready to commit myself to the life of a vegan, although I do agree with their beliefs, I am fully prepared to give up meat, dairy, sugar, most salt, coffee (not including coffee enema’s), and as many unpronounceable who-know-what’s as I can, at this time.  The cruel treatment of animals, the disgusting way of their lives, the appalling factory setting, in which they endure their ill-fated lives, is absolutely sickening, and plays the main role in my new-life vegetarian decision.

Days before my reboot, I went through my fridge and pantry like a Banshee. I tossed most things, donated a lot of non-perishables, and gave my neighbors all of the other stuff I no longer would be eating.  I went on a shopping spree recently, filling my fridge and pantry with all sorts of healthy stuff.  Mostly of products I not only ever even tried, but never even heard of. I had already tried, and found a palate for tofu, so that doesn’t count, but there are some other staples I loaded my new and improved food-keepers with. I bought flax oil http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-flaxseed-oil.html…a small shot of that will fix anyone’s wagon! I also bought the flax seed to add to salads and various other dishes. Couscous, bulger wheat, and plenty of beans, nuts and legumes for protein. I skipped the tofu meat section, so far, but may try them at some point. I splurged though and bought a wedge of tofu cheddar…OMG! It was better, in my opinion, than the real deal. Try it, seriously! I bought Daiya Brand “Cheddar Style Wedge”.

Well enough of a ramble today, I’m on my way out to my, nearly tilled, small front yard garden. By the way, if you are looking for an organic wormicide, try using the seeds from a papaya, after, of course, enjoying the sweetness of the fruit (one unnecessary to buy organic!).

Oh yeah, I am avoiding GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms),like the plague, probably because they cause a plague, i.e. cancer. They should be banned from our world, and, in many places around it, already have been. You gotta know what you’re eating people! Check out this informative and important site below for more information about GMO’s.

http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/

The first link below, was shared by a fab friend, Lucidlotuslife; I’m passing it to you too. There are more affordable ways around the whole organic thing. I’ve added a second one too!

http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214

http://www.alternativecancer.me/prevention/low-pesticides-foods-dont-have-to-buy-organic/

A hoin’ i’m a goin’…Live long and prosper mugala bugala’s!

Reboot Day Seventeen

What an accomplishment! I am posting day 16’s video on day 17, because some stuff came up yesterday, and I didn’t get the chance to post.

I am still in somewhat of a shocked mode that I am not stark-craving-mad-starving, but I am not. The hunger seems to have completely disappeared and has been replaced with sheer determination. As I rat-a-tat-tat on my laptop, I’m enjoying a nice serving of Carrot, Apple & Ginger…Yum! It seems like I have finally found the love I hadn’t had before for ginger.

So, if you are not familiar with Joe Cross’ Reboot, there is a free 15-Day Reboot Plan offered on his website (The one in which I partook.), but after that, there is a fee to further your plan. I mean, I do agree, we all gotta make a livin’, but being the cheapskate (and Po-boy) that I am, I’ve decided to roll with it, and go my own way.  Another program that I am very interested in is the Gerson Therapy. Their main mantra is “Eat a Rainbow a Day.” What more words of wisdom do I need? Juice as much color into my concoctions, and I can’t see how I can go wrong. There are still many veggies out there that I have yet to try, like cauliflower and broccoli, plus, there are a plethora of free recipes all over the net.

As I mentioned in my video, I will be flying out to visit my seester in Florida next month. She wants in on all of this goodness, and I want to be her Juice Fairy Bruddah, bringin’ juice fairy knowledge for her to consume. She nearly had a conniption fit when I told her of the weight loss I’ve already seen. I clocked in at 198 lbs., before I started this life-altering and life-loving journey, I juiced away 19 pounds of it so far. We’ve both been through an emotional roller-coaster and will surely both benefit from Mother Nature’s Milk. It’s time for change. Julie, this song is for you:, click it!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHkrpKYehcI&feature=player_detailpage

Reboot Day Eleven – A Healthy Set Back

Hey, oranges are mostly juice, right? I almost decided to hide the orange story from my video tonight, but I wouldn’t have been being true to myself. Being true to myself is part of my goal.

Knock knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange I glad I didn’t tell a lie!  😉

Reboot End of Day Nine

Today has been the first day where my mood seems to have plummeted into the depths of hunger. This marks the fourth day in a row where I have not c0nsumed a single sunflower seed. This is probably the time when many decide to give up, but don’t! You/Me/We can do this! Mind over body, and the body loves us for it.

“It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels, or by demons, heaven, or hell.” –Buddha

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet it’s petals.” –Buddah

“I’d rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I’d rather be a has-been than a might-have-been, by far; for a might have-been has never been, but a has was once an are”–Anonymous

Reboot Day Nine

Yesterday, I went to the Santa Monica Farmers Market. Buying completely organic is going to be unrealistic for me, as the produce is very expensive. I will continue to use organic carrots, beets, apples, and oranges, because they are the main ingredients of many the juice recipes. Last night, I made the juices that will get me through the next few days. I felt so good and strong about my plan that I was even able to make my roommate dinner last night, watch him eat it, and drink my dinner juice, while listening to him chew and enjoy his delectable dinner.

Finding a quiet place to meditate around my house is nearly impossible, but I did. It is a crucial aspect of fasting. Sometime, during the next few days, I will incorporate a light workout into my fast, this will get my blood pumping and assist with weight loss.

Part of my plan is to till the garden in my front yard and grow my very own organic veggies. I will sow Heirloom tomatoes, beets, and carrots to start. I’ve been tossing my spent pulp into the garden for natural fertilizer and I bought a papaya, before my fast, enjoyed eating it, and reserved the seeds to use in the garden as an organic wormicide.

C’mon and join me, it’s fun! The website, rebootwithjoe.com, will give you every bit of information you desire!

Reboot Day Seven

Piece of cake, people, piece of cake! I’m still going strong and stickin’ to it like tree sap does to the hood of a car. I meditated positivity last night, and it has resulted in another day, delightfully conquered. I’m beginning to actually enjoy the taste of the juices. Yay for that! I’ve been drinking water, like a regular alchy at Cheers, to combat any adverse side effects.

Tonight’s desert juice was my version of the Purple Passion.  It’s been my favorite so far. The recipe is below:

For one serving:

30 red, purple, or black grapes (Red ones are what I used.)

1 Pint blueberries, which is what the Joe Cross original recipe calls for, but I substituted blackberries, because they were more available to me than blueberries. I had to use cheese cloth to squeeze most of the juice from the pulp. It turned out to be well worth the squeeze.

A handful of fresh mint. I have my very own organic plant, given to me as a gift.

I love both of the berries, but I really feel like the blackberries totally made this juice, well…deee-licious-er.

Finally loving myself, after 42 years, your friend,

Shawnny

P.S. If you’d like more information about the health benefits of juice fasting, visit rebootwithjoe.com.