Two Choices

This was sent in an email to me once and I wanted to share it.....


Be a natural motivator.

If someone you care about was having a bad day, you should be there telling them how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Each morning you wake up and say to yourself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or....you can choose to be in a bad mood. You should choose to be in a good mood.

Each time something bad happens, you can choose to be a victim or...You can choose to learn from it. You should choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to you complaining, you can choose to accept their complaining or...You can point out the positive side of life. You should choose the positive side of life.

Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.

You should learn that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Vegan Asian Peanut Noodle Dish

This dish was made at a potluck event by a friend of mine Katie Cooperstein. I have made it many times and always make it slightly different each time. These are some of my favorite flavors! Enjoy:~)

You will need:
1 package Soba Noodles (cooked as directed on package)
1 pound tofu, firm, dried and stir fried

Marinate stir fried tofu in the following:
Gingerk to taste
1 clove minced Garlic
1/4 cup Tamari

Peanut Sauce:
1 cup organic peanut butter
2 cloves garlic minced
6 tablespoons Tamari
6 tablespoons Balsamic
2 tablespoons Organic Sugar
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup hot water

Add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together. Adjust ingredients as necessary for taste. Pour over noodles.

Optional is have some broccoli to go with or your choice of vegetables.

Dissecting Deodorant!

So if you are any bit holistic or know that traditional deodorant has been linked to cause cancer (especially in the breast) and other major illnesses. Then maybe you are ready for something new that actually works! I have tried several store bought versions Tom's, Jason, Kiss my Face just to name a few....none of which actually did the job properly or had an overpowering fragrance or an essential oil that burned the tender skin.

Let us start by breaking down the ingredients found in traditional deodorants.

Aluminum is one of the most common elements in the environment and the world's most common metal. It is used in cans and aluminum foil, as lightweight sheet metal in airplanes and other machinery, in electrical wiring - and in personal care products such as underarm deodorant and antiperspirant. Aluminum oxide, also present in deodorants, is often used as a coating and is the major compound in rubies and sapphires.

Aluminum Compounds in Deodorant & Antiperspirant locks poisons in. The problem with deodorants and antiperspirants is not only the aluminum, but how it works to reduce sweat and smelly odors. Aluminum compounds or aluminum salts, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), are key ingredients in almost every antiperspirant. They are powerful astringents that close pores, stopping sweat and odor from escaping the body. Just Google it and you will find all kinds of info. Pay attention to the source because the companies selling the product will tell you it is all harmless and causes no damage to the body or the environment!

Antiperspirants may leave the outside of the body smelling fresh and clean – but inside, the toxins that would have escaped the body in the sweat have nowhere to go. For this reason, antiperspirants have been linked to problems with the sweat glands and lymph glands in and around the underarms.

The first thing you must do whenever you buy deodorant or any product that goes on your skin or in your body is to read the ingredients. They’re usually in very tiny print on the back of the label. If you have trouble reading small print, carry a magnifying glass around with you so you can read before you buy. This is critical because what you put on your skin can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream. And harmful ingredients in your blood can have potentially deadly effects on your body.

Here are 7 ingredients to avoid when choosing your deodorant:

Aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly or any aluminum compounds. Aluminum is absorbed through the skin and accumulates in the body. It has been suggested that there is an association between aluminum and Alzheimer’s disease.

Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl), are all derived from toluene, a toxic petrochemical derivative. Toluene is toxic if swallowed or inhaled. It is also harmful in contact with the skin. There is some evidence that repeated exposure to toluene may cause reproductive harm. Since 2000, 13 research studies have shown that various types of parabens act like estrogen in animals and in tissue culture. Estrogen is known to drive the growth of cancerous cells.

Triclosan is a skin irritant and may cause contact dermatitis. It may kill healthy bacteria as well as harmful bacteria. It may contain carcinogenic contaminants. It is stored in body fat and is classified as a pesticide by the FDA.

Talc is classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer if it contains asbestiform fibers. The quantity of asbestiform fibers in cosmetic grade talc is unregulated. If talc is listed on the label, there is no way of knowing whether or not it contains asbestiform fibers.

Propylene glycol absorbs quickly through the skin and is a penetration enhancers. It may cause delayed allergic reactions. NIOSH says propylene glycol is a neurotoxin and may cause kidney or liver damage. The EPA says it’s not fully investigated for carcinogenic potential.

Silica is a skin irritant. It may be contaminated with crystalline quartz, which is a carcinogen.

Steareth-n (n may be any number like say 100), may be vegetable derived but is reacted with ethylene oxide (ethoxylated), a known human carcinogen.

Instead choose deodorants with ingredients like vegetable glycerin, natural preservatives like bioflavanoids and lichen, herbs or herbal extracts, de-ionized water or distilled water, green tea, aloe vera, baking soda and essential oils.

A word of caution: Plant extracts listed on labels can already contain parabens and propylene glycol. These do not have to be listed on the label. Very few herbs supplied to manufacturers are free of parabens or other synthetic preservatives unless they are extracted in vegetable glycerine. To make sure that the products you buy are healthy and free of these harmful chemicals, call the deodorant manufacturer and ask them for detailed information.

Dr. Christine H. Farlow, D.C. is "The Ingredients Investigator." She has been researching ingredient safety since 1991. To learn more about the safety of ingredients in your deodorant, visit www.DyingToLookGood.com

Now that you have armed yourselves with information on something as small as deodorant that can affect a lot more then how your armpit smells. Here is a recipe discovered online by my friend Heidi Crawford. She tried it and then shared the recipe with me to try. I can tell you I am seriously hooked!

1/4 Cup Arrowroot Powder
1/4 Cup Baking Soda
2-4 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

Mix it all until it forms a paste. Add less oil for a solid texture add more oil for a runnier texture. I removed a failing natural deodorant from a screw rub on and filled it up with this recipe instead and I love it! I will admit I am not a big sweater and this will not stop the release of sweat (the natural way our bodies remove toxins) what it does is eliminates any odor! No B.O. all day long!

Another alternative is Salt spray. Sold at healthfood stores. Spray on some liquid salt water and that helps eliminate odor....but not as well as the recipe I wrote above.

Live and learn and stay clean because no one wants to smell your B.O. and no one wants to smear aluminum all over their bodies either!

__________________

Losing the animals

A little history....once upon a time I ate animals not a lot and I was selective on the kind. I could once be found eating chickens, turkey, your assorted sea life, and yes, even steak although it was never my favorite and that ended sometime in 1994. As time went on and I became more in tune with my body and the new choices I wanted to make. Thankfully change is welcomed by me. I adapt easily and love to do unique and often considered *oddball* things. I was never a milk drinker and was not able to digest large quantities of dairy so I remained limited on those items. I didn't envision myself giving up seafood, but when I suddenly suffered severe anaphylactic shock and landed in the ER in 1999 that came to a screeching halt as well. Poor me!

I have always preferred eating healthy over not because it created better benefits within me. More energy, more clarity, more longevity, more quality of life, more motivation....I was not your typical child growing up either. I did not want candy, soda and traditional junkfood items. You would never catch me throwing a tantrum at the checkout line of a grocery store insisting my parent buy the candy for me! Those items never appealed to me because they weren't normal for us in our house. I agree that if a child does not have access to those junkfoods in their home or see them being used as "treats or rewards" (I often hear parents saying) they are less likely to want them or eat them elsewhere. I truly feel these items are highly addictive and are the cause of so much illness. I do believe things in moderation will not damage beyond repair. It's all a choice one makes. Today we have so many alternatives to choose from to make the switch from unhealthy to healthy.

I made a lot of extreme changes with my food choices once I became pregnant with my first child. I did not want anything "bad" entering my body for her sake. From that point on I continued on the educating myself by doing a lot of research something I always enjoy on nutrition.

Diet alters every part of our life inside and out. It’s that simple. Having a good healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you are untouchable to disease or sickness it just means the life you do lead is higher quality and potentially easier at fighting such obstacles.

Weight gain is not hereditary it is a learned behavior and a lazy quality people possess along with allowing emotional baggage to run your life. You can have two obese parents who feed their child well ultimately they grow up making good food choices for themselves and are slender. You can have extremely fit parents who feed their kids crap all day at home and at school add in no exercise or physical activity and they will become obese. I know people who are super fit and exercise regularly and yet they have fat kids who are now getting diabetes! One of my pet peeves! You care enough about your own health, but won't take control of your child's? That's crazy to me!

In recent years say the last 10 I have altered my husband's diet gradually (he resists change not as much now as he did in the past). Today my husband is vegan all the way! Which means he no longer eats animals, dairy, or any animal by-products. Instead he consumes a plant based diet. He began a 3 week challenge a friend of ours started and he felt so good he continued. It has now been 4 months and he has lost 40+ pounds! His weight was getting out of control. I could feed him well at home with healthy choices and the second he left the house he was hitting the fast food places. He ate late into the night and consumed large portions of sweets. He grew up entirely different then I did. End of story. Now he looks great, feels great, and shares his story with everyone! Our friends are amazed at the transition. I am so proud of him for making this choice and sticking to it and I know all the animals in the world are too! We are lucky enough to have many restaurants to choose from that cater to vegans. Some of our favorites are Ethos , Cafe 118 even restaurants who don't have vegans as their main patron still offer incredible dishes Season's 52 , PF Changs , Loving Hut has many locations all over the US these are just a select few we visit in our area.

People look down on the Vegan lifestyle and that is so silly to me. They say "it costs more to go that route" and I always ask how so? If you eliminate meat, processed foods, soda, and excess junk snacks from your grocery bill do you realize how much money you save? Buying more produce instead is still not spiking up the grocery bill. Purchasing alternative items are readily available and taste good! Your food is fresh and makes you feel great. No more depression, anxiety, sleepless nights, confusion, short tempers....all of these behaviors are a direct reflection of the foods you consume. Go see Food, Inc Surrounding yourself with like minded people is what will set you apart from the rest. Reach out for a support system believe me they are out there!

Eggs and dairy products are not essential for optimum health. They contain saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, and eating them can inhibit the absorption of iron. On a balanced vegan diet there is no risk of calcium, iron or protein deficiency. In fact, consuming dairy products can actually lead to osteoporosis and weak bones. This is because eggs and dairy products are rich in animal protein, which makes the blood more acidic. The body tries to neutralize this by drawing calcium from the bones. Scientific studies show that a plant-based diet is ideal for optimum health and lowers your risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and some cancers, as well as increasing your life expectancy.

Challenge yourself for 3 weeks and see how it goes. Be serious and stay on track and you will be amazed at the difference! Watch this funny interview from The Daily Show Jon Stewart talking to Robert Kenner see below:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Robert Kenner
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

This could not be MORE TRUE!!!

Gemini: Gemini’s best quality is versatility. The worst quality is changeableness. A key phrase is “I think.” Being a mutable sign, Gemini is changeable, and this can be the best or worst of qualities. Your versatility allows you to learn a little about just about everything and to develop skills in many areas. This makes for a good executive or manager, as you are able to oversee multiple activities and keep track of many projects at once. Other people can almost see the wheels turning. Gemini appears to be open-minded. Yet a time comes when no more oddball ideas can be wedged into the system. Then Gemini draws upon skillful thought processes to decide what to keep and what to discard.

Gemini is a mental sign, often intellectually driven. The capacity for communication includes both listening and telling, and thus you make wonderful companions and writers. Where Taurus wants physical expression, Gemini seeks out mentally challenging activities. You like the learning process. Gemini is intuitive, able to see into the future and gauge the results of your actions – another worthy executive trait.

The Gemini temperament is volatile in the true meaning of this term. You can vaporize at a relatively low temperature and you seem to be able to fly. Some people see this as the fickleness of a butterfly flitting from one flower to the next. The strength is in the ability to rise above the pettiness of situations to see the larger picture. Your mantra might be, “It just doesn’t matter.” Gemini is dexterous of hand, eye and wit, able to turn a situation or conversation in a new direction at will.

In spite of apparent adaptability, Gemini is sensitive at heart. You are aware of what others are thinking and feeling, and often take a diplomatic path to avoid hurting others. This could be at your own expense, although you don’t let us know it. Tolerance should not be mistaken for a lack of emotional depth. Gemini’s part of the body is the arms and lungs. Monochromatic or bright colors are best.

Growing my own food

Only two months ago I became brave enough to attempt to grow tomatoes. We were given the Topsy Turvy to grow a new plant. It was taking longer than I could stand waiting so I thought maybe I was doing something wrong. Although I did my research and followed the rules....one day my daughter's and I were walking through Home Depot yes don't we all love it there! Anyhow, we spotted a hanging basket with tomatoes, bell peppers and assorted herbs. The girls insisted I get it because this one already had veggies growing so I would be quickly rewarded with ripe produce right? My girls know their mommy well! I bought it and hung it on the back of our house and have been caring for it since. It has given me 7 ripe tomatoes in only a few weeks and we have enjoyed eating them. The Parsley has been used regularly and is growing beautifully.

Here are the red bell peppers


In addition to that planter I bought a small Basil plant and have nurtured it too. Lucky for me they require less attention. I have eaten quite a bit of that plant too.

It is extremely beneficial to grow your own food! You know what is happening to it, how it is growing, what you are adding to it, the environment it is in etc. You pick it when it is fully developed and ripened for delicious taste. My daughters love flowers which we have too, but I prefer edible plants because they provide us with nourishment. I have more recently expanded my inventory with a banana pepper plant and Japanese eggplant. More to come....

Banana Peppers


Japanese Eggplant


I am currently working on designing a garden box. Something to keep close to the house that I can maintain even better and protect when needed. I will update as we build and complete the project. Very excited!

Stuffed Red Bell Peppers

This recipe will make at least 4 maybe 5...

You will need a food processor, an oven (lol), a square baking dish 9x9 or two loaf pans. I used a glass loaf pan.

4 Bell Peppers color of your choice (I use all but the green)
2 cups Cashew Ricotta (recipe below)
1 10oz package of frozen spinach, thawed
1/2 package soy crumbles
Olive Oil for drizzle

Preheat Oven to 425*

Cashew Ricotta recipe:
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 Tbl Olive oil
1 clove fresh garlic
1lb Firm Tofu, drained and crumbled
1 1/2 tsp Dried Basil
1 1/2 tsp Salt

Blend together cashews, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic in food processor until thick creamy paste forms. Add crumbled tofu (either already crumbled or do it now with your hands as you add it). You may need to add small amounts at a time to ensure blended properly. Finally blend in salt and basil.