Green Smoothies Revisited

Posted on by
Reply

You know what I need more of in my life?

…Green smoothies.

uncle sam green smoothie man

I have been a green smoothie devotee since coming across the lovely Victoria Boutenko in 2011.  Blending large amounts of greens, from sweet butter lettuce to bitter kale and collards, with bananas and other fruits became a staple of my diet.  When I prioritized drinking at least one green smoothie per day, I felt and slept great.  It was the most painless way for a wimp like me to get in all those greens that, let’s face it, I wouldn’t have eaten otherwise.  Living in coastal Southern California, I had the luxury of an organic backyard garden, and, squired by my Vitamix, I couldn’t be stopped.  I was like a green smoothie mad woman scientist!  They helped me create a personal definition of what it could look and feel like to eat raw, or, more realistically for me in the longterm, high-raw.  You see, I had been introduced to Dr. Gabriel Cousens’ Live Green Rainbow Cuisine in the mid-2000′s, and while his message (alkalinize your body and regulate your blood sugar by eating raw, mostly low-glycemic veggies and fats, prevent illness, feel and look healthier) resonated with me, his meal suggestions and recipes were beyond what I had access to at the time.  Some of the equipment required (dehydrators, blenders, juicers) was too expensive, and some of the produce, products, and supplements, weren’t locally available.  I shelved the idea of raw until 2011, when I began this blog and learned to love simple blended meals.

Last year, I moved to the damp rainforest of coastal Northern California.  High-raw felt refreshing down south, but in my new climate, it felt heavy and downright cold.  As fall moved into winter and the grey skies wept for days on end, I ate a lot of bean soups.  I wanted warming, drying foods.  Now that we are transitioning back into summer, I am finding myself again craving the nutritious, creamy deliciousness that is the green smoothie.

Here’s how I make my green smoothies now.  I’m flexible, with a method to my madness:

  1. Choose your base.  I usually use a cup or so of water, but if I’m feeling it, I’ll first juice some apples, ginger, carrots, and/or cucumber for some extra concentrated nutrients.  Non-dairy milks, like almond, rice, coconut, or hemp, provide a yummy foundation for your breakfast smoothies.  I like mine thick, but play with your ratios until you find the texture that suits you best :]
  2. Choose your greens.  If you’re afraid of strong flavor, start with baby spinach.  Then go change your diaper.  Just kidding, but really.  Don’t be a baby.  You can use any edible greens, and bonus points for the weedier and herbier varieties ;].  Try and alternate types regularly, though; there is a theory that the oxalates might build up and hurt you if you continually eat, say, spinach.  Rotate every time you purchase or harvest and you’ll be fine.
  3. More veggies?  Might I suggest a few stalks of celery?  I don’t like beets, but you might.  When in doubt, add more greens.
  4. Choose your fruit(s).  I start with one or two bananas.  They mask the intense flavor of the greens, while lending a creamy consistency.  I don’t like it when my smoothies are grainy or thin.  Gross.  So always use a banana, or an avocado!  As for what comes next, add what you will, but be careful of certain combos: Sweet fruits (bananas, dates), acidic fruits (pineapples, strawberries, grapes), and melons- try and choose one category per smoothie.  Yeah right, but seriously, watch out for mixing melons.  That’s about as far as I follow those rules :p
  5. BOOST IT: Maca, cinnamon, hemp protein, (soaked) flaxseed, coconut oil, oats, almonds or any other nuts… these are a few of my favorite things.  Get creative :]

Although I am no longer 100% raw, I still use the principles of nutrition and holistic living I learned while I was, and I continue to build on them.  I will be revisiting and revising them in future entries.

Mutually Beneficial Relationships with Animals: Can They Exist?

Posted on by
Reply

I had moved to a new town just in time to begin third grade, and I could barely contain my excitement the spring we incubated a clutch of chicken eggs.  When they finally hatched, I instantly fell in love with a tiny black chick.  He was so fluffy and tiny!

I begged my parents to let me have him.  I think they had residual guilt from denying me the first grade black bunny, “Magic,” so they eventually agreed, with the caveat that I had to first earn an ‘A’ on my upcoming president report.  Obviously I chose Abe Lincoln, and I made a point of doing a great job.  I got my ‘A,’ and I couldn’t even sleep from excitement, daydreaming about my new buddy and the awesome adventures we were going to have together.

The day arrived to bring my chick home.  I watched in horror as the dairy farm representative gathered and removed all the chicks, loading them into a white commercial van, their chirps barely audible.  I was, of course, heartbroken.  My mom came to the rescue and drove me to the old Santa Paula Mill that weekend, where she paid 50 cents to bring home what would become our family pet for the next decade.

pet chicken

mmmhmm.

“Checkers” spent the first several months of her life living in the house with us.  My mom and grandpa soon built her a large backyard hutch, and she loved to take dirt baths in the sun, retiring to her house as it dropped from the sky.  One morning, we woke up to find our Malamute-Lab mix stuffed in the hutch with her.  Not eating her.  Sleeping with her.  She would groom him, and they would often share food.  She came when called, followed my mom and me everywhere, and attended many, many days of grade school with me, perched on the old wooden bookshelf in the back of the classroom.  I had wonderfully supportive elementary school teachers.

When she was around a year old, Checkers began laying eggs, and they were turquoise, and two and a half dozen a month!  I had never seen green eggs before, and being a kid, I was beyond thrilled.  Their yolks were a rich golden yellow, and made great pancakes.  She had a great diet, which included tablescraps and supplements in addition to her chicken feed, and it showed.  I have to imagine that, as far as eggs go, Checkers’ were as wholesome as could be.  They were happy eggs coming from a truly happy, healthy, and loved hen.

I think chickens make great pets for children, and I hope to have a few more in the future.  They are intelligent, have distinct (hilarious) personalities, and are simply good company.  They will also lovingly offer your family a source of nutrition.  See, and here is were I differ from some of the hardcore vegan/animal ethics activists, I believe that there are friendships with animals that can be mutually beneficial (do I have to add ‘without killing them?’).  We provided a loving and caring home for our hen, and she gave us eggs.  Likewise, I volunteer at a stable filled with horses that are cared for by a team of knowledgeable and loving individuals.  The facilities are beautifully maintained, and the horses have only one job: Saturdays, they whisk the disabled up and away from their chairs and through the forest, on a short trail running parallel to the ocean.  The retired horses receive the same loving care and attention, but spend ride time lapping up extra grooming and pets.  It’s a really healthy, positive place, inside and out, and everyone leaves with a boost, including the animals.  The social and physical activity benefits all of us.

4h

These do not at all seem like exploitative situations to me.  On the contrary, from the way I see it, we all win.  I think that we could greatly profit from exploring and developing more respectful, mutually-beneficial relationships with the animals, both on the individual level and at large.  I’m not saying to go out and get yourself a flock, but hey, maybe.  You could start smaller by encouraging your children to join an association like 4H, giving them hands-on projects to build their self-confidence and sense of community, while cultivating compassion and empathy for the other members of the animal kingdom.  We will only improve ourselves as we pursue a more balanced relationship with our natural world, an inevitable side effect as we seek and define truth.  I know that we will sleep better, too.

16 Personalities

Posted on by
13

I recently took the Meyers-Briggs personality test, which uses Jungian principles to yield you an idea of how in the hell your noggin operates (i.e. WAY differently than others’!).  My result was INFJ, and I was surprised at how accurate the descriptions were.  I emailed the test to my parents, who replied with their types, ISFP (mom) and ENTJ (dad).  Researching them, I realized I had been trying to understand my own family members, in addition to everyone else, through my own perceptual lens.  I also learned why they are such vastly different characters, and objectively for once!  I realized that this could be a valuable key if you really desire to better understand yourself and those around you.  I hoped that my parents would read about my result also, as perhaps it could explain to my father why I care little for competitive environments and external achievements, and shed light for my mother on why the heck I’m SO freakin sensitive (both long-standing pet peeves of theirs).

Image

Don’t let my writing style fool you; I am a true introvert.  I expend energy in social situations, and tend to experience my environment through intuition, swimming in an unlimited pool of feeling and emotion- not just mine, yours too, you freaks!  It wears me out, and I often have trouble telling just where I end and the world begins.  I almost always feel out of my body (see my entries on derealization and depersonalization), and have to really focus to physically ground myself.  When I do, I feel like I’ve just woken up.  It’s so much more familiar to float away on the endless stream of ideas and pursuits of development and growth as I personally understand and define them.

Understanding how your mind works and relates to the world can be empowering.  I know it has been for me.  It helps you to better (and genuinely) appreciate yourself and those around you.  It hints at areas at which you could improve, aka: our opposite natures.  It’s tough for me to be extroverted and social, but I feel much more balanced when I attempt to be.  I also learned what (-) traits tend to surface under stress, and yup, they were right on.  So annoying.  I guess that means they were me and my problem the whole time, haha.

I encourage you to investigate your personality type!  It might give you a clearer perspective and provide some direction for you on your journey through this crazy thing we call Life, whether in pursuits of love, livelihood, happiness, or personal success.

I don’t know if anyone actually reads this blog, but if you do and happen to take the personality test, I’d love to have you anonymously add your answer below!

Wheat Germ (might be) Awesome.

Posted on by
5

I was inspired to add some wheat germ to my coconut almond yogurt last weekend.  I removed the unmarked mason jar from the pantry, pleased with myself that I had remembered to try it, and as I measured two, no, three teaspoons of the brown granules into the yogurt, I thought about all the great nutrients wheat germ packs, including folate, thiamin, vitamin B6, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin E, and how much I was looking forward to writing about them.  I added a handful of almonds I had honeyed the night before, and ground a good amount of cinnamon on top of the creamy mixture.  Classic.

I took a bite, and it was good!  Really good!  I read while I ate, which I know isn’t a terrific habit, but reading just seems to make everything easier.  I texted my friend Jessica to tell her that she should try wheat germ too!  Everyone should try wheat germ!!

Approximately five minutes after finishing my little snack, I (sorry) burped, and it was of the straight-up beer variety.  What the?  While I hadn’t been indulging the am with a six-pack of Negra Modelo, I had read that certain people can suffer a bit of gas due to the high fiber content of wheat germ, and I thought with regret that perhaps I was one of those people and I should have started with a smaller dose… Go big or go home, that’s what I say, but as my belches became even more impressive and even more reminiscent of a tapped keg, my stomach slowly began popping out and I started to wonder if I had, in fact, actually ingested wheat germ.  I crept back to the pantry, flinging the cupboard open and confronting the questionable, antagonizing mason jar: NEGATIVE.  I had tossed three (ugh, heaping) teaspoons of active dry yeast down the hatch.  Obviously, I started laughing, and that didn’t help my belly any, so it was time for reflection.

I had several thoughts occur in succession: (denial) No, no, no, come one, really….?  NO NO.  (anger) WHY YOU LITTLE!  ^%#@^*!!  #%#$%.  (bargaining) Maybe if I drink some water and pretend it didn’t happen it will go away?  A nap could help with the self-deception.  (depression) EVERYTHING IS RUINED- and I’ll probably have a candida problem now!!  (acceptance) Guess I’ll not be eating freshly-baked bread for the next several days, seeing as I just ate a couple of loaves’ worth of yeast.

By the time I went to bed, I was feeling a little better, and when I woke up the next morning, I felt normal again.  I let Jessica know that wheat germ might be awesome, but I still wasn’t sure how awesome, because I had yet to try it.  I will… but I’m marking my jars first.

sky bread

Temples of Man.

Posted on by
1

I was listening to an interview with Alex Grey, the visionary artist whose work resonates a multi-dimensional psychedelic experience, and I find his current Entheon project fascinating:

alex grey entheon

There’s something about sacred images and spaces, specifically uniquely conceived and masterfully executed ones, that I find utterly compelling, and some are thoroughly timeless.  Take, for instance, the Temples of Damanhur, the modern Northern Italian wonder conceived by visionary Oberto Airaudi in childhood dreams of past life experiences:

damanhur4

damanhur 1damanhur2damanhur3damanhur5What a wonder it is to be divinely inspired to great works, and what a triggering phrase that must be for some of you, for whom any mention of god, or a higher power, or whatever you call that larger-than-life IT, ignites instantaneous rage, or, on the flip side, a sense of ecstasy, or perhaps you feel nothing.  What a strange and powerful concept, invoking such a wide range of emotions, some contradicting, along the path of the individual’s alchemical journey, and what a beautiful thing it is to feel and then reflect, always learning, always creating.

giza plateau

(Mostly DIY) Beauty Products List.

Posted on by
5

I was thinking that I hadn’t made any comprehensive posts about the products I use for my beauty needs :] so here we go yo:

wwf fish face

  1. Toothpaste: Baking soda + Diatomaceous Earth.  No bells or whistles here.  If I buy commercial, I like something with neem in it.  I went fluoride-free in 2011, and after observing that my skin and hair were much more balanced when I avoided sodium lauryl sulfates and other surfactants, I stopped using products containing them for other parts of my body too.  I was surprised to find even some well-liked alternative product companies include both fluoride and SLS in their toothpastes, so check your labels.  
  2. Deodorant: I really like that Crystal stick, which I have totally made fun of before.  I have tried a little calamine lotion, applied with a cotton ball to clean and dry pits, and it worked just fine too.  I’ll bet cornstarch would be an easy alternative also.  I avoid aluminum now; it just doesn’t seem right to be rubbing it right into a bunch of lymph nodes, which is what you’re doing when you use a regular commercial anti-perspirant/deodorant.  I don’t need a heavily-fragranced stick now that I’m eating and living cleanly.
  3. Facewash & Bodywash: I’ve been loving Nubian Heritage’s African Black Soap.  It’s coffee-colored and smells like vanilla, and never leaves me feeling tight nor stripped.  My skin is calm, even, and balanced after using it on my face and body.
  4. Moisturizer: I use this Heritage Valley rosewater & glycerine mist in the morning after splashing my face with cool water, and on damp skin after my evening shower.  It feels great on hot or dry days, and also sets your powder beautifully.  I have gone through probably 10 bottles of this in the past year, and it’s way cheaper than what I had been forking out for tubs of moisturizer that would leave my skin feeling greasy on top and dry underneath.  Rosewater and glycerine leaves my sensitive skin feeling balanced.  On my body, I like to smooth a bit of (jojoba, almond, argan) oil on damp skin after my shower.  Shea and cocoa butters are awesome for extra dry days.
  5. Sunblock: Most sunscreens break me out, but this simple Burnout eco-sensitive version with SPF 30 gives me a matte finish with no adverse reactions.  A hat is my favorite sunscreen.
  6. Shampoo: My hair is the only thing I’m a little high-maintenence about.  I’ve stopped using all commercial shampoo!  After discontinuing SLS, I discovered and loved Chagrin Valley’s shampoo bars and all the body they gave my hair, but I’ve discovered that my scalp is happier with something even simpler… I’ve been using aritha (soapnut) powder and I’ve been able to eliminate the dry greasies!  I have a simple approach of mixing a couple of tablespoons of aritha, adding 1 teaspoon – 2 tablespoons of other conditioning Indian herbs like cassia obovata, amla (gooseberry), and shikikai in an empty Bronner’s bottle.  Sometimes I like to add a teaspoon of raw honey or aloe vera, and/or a few drops of oil (castor, argan, almond).  I just add water, shake, and pour over my head in the shower.  I let it sit a few minutes before manipulating my scalp and then finally rinsing VERY well.
  7. Hair Treatments/Style Products: You can read two of my favorite deep treatment recipes here.  I realize the less I mess with my hair (or anything) the better, so I usually simply stick with a leave-in immediately after washing.  I rinse my hair upside down with cold water, then press out the excess moisture, still upside down.  I mix a pea-sized amount of aloe vera gel in equal amounts with Nightblooming’s Panacea between my palms, then press the product up into my waves.  I plop with an old t-shirt and get mega volume and soft ends.
  8. Cosmetics: I’ve been using simple rice flour on my face, and I LOVE it.  I don’t like a lot of coverage, but I do like to cut the shine for a softer finish, and my sensitive skin stays happy.  Win.  Even though I avoid most varieties of drug and department store makeup, I still love to enhance my eyes.  Castor oil has made my lashes long and soft, but I still bust out the old mascara on special occasions, and eyeliner every day.  Who am I kidding, that will be the last thing I give up.  I do stick with cruelty-free.

The best beauty routine begins with a good foundation, and by that, I’m not referring to an expensive skin base.  I’m talking about the good stuff your grandma told you about, that only comes with a healthy diet, quality hydration, regular exercise, good sleep, and a positive perspective.  Oh yeah, and moderation.  Your skin and hair probably don’t want to be messed with too much.  Avoid the ugly cycle of over-cleansing and over-moisturizing.  It’s tough to break this pattern when you’re stuck in the rut of using harsh products with long ingredient lists.  However; once you start experimenting, you can find what truly works for you.  You may be pleasantly surprised to find how much you are able to simplify your beauty routine without sacrificing results!

vintage vanity

Ode to a Volvo 850.

Posted on by
2

I like to think of my first car, a 1965 Dodge Dart coupe.  It was in primer, with mean hood scoops and fat back tires.  I thought its lines were super modern, and I loved the simplistic beauty of engineering under the hood in the form of a shocking blue slant six.  I loved my Mopar A-body.

Image

I’ve been driving a 20 year old Volvo the past decade, having sold the Dart long ago.  My brick has transported my friends and me, and with the highest safety standards, to endless concerts, countless road trips, and at least one successful HSO.  It has shuttled us to the airport to fly travels that would elate our spirits, break our hearts, and launch us into our futures.  It’s moved me up and down the California coast.  You can find a slight stain on the passenger floor mat, compliments of a Coldstone concoction dropped by my childhood friend Alicia circa 2005, and a single cigarette burn blemishes the headliner from our friend Joseph in the same year.  The metallic clear coat is chipping, and there’s an unfortunate dent in the rear end from the time I backed into my dad’s trailer hitch.

snow brick

With little aspirations to the newer, sleeker, or shinier, I haven’t felt the inclination to drive anything else in 10 years, until last week, when, like an itch in the nose, I was casually tickled with the abrupt impulse to look for a new set of wheels.  Maybe the time had arrived to part ways with my Volvo, and all the experiences, memories, people, and animals she had transported.  Perhaps it might be inspiring to choose a new vehicle to take me up future roads.

Life is funny, and a few days later, Joanne (aka: Volvo 850) started acting strangely. Driving home from my orthopedic appointment (leg is healing well!), the stereo began sputtering during Portishead’s The Rip.  A few miles later, my SRS airbag and ABS lights flew up on my dash, and I watched as the odometer twitched and slowly dropped.  On the highway and alone, I sadly flipped on my emergency lights and maneuvered toward the shoulder.  I crawled up the grassy knoll lining the asphalt, and dialed for a tow.

broken brickI’m trying to avoid superstitious thinking, but it’s tough not to draw a parallel between my broken brick and another fractured aspect of my life.  Should I stay or should I sell now?  Even if repaired, she might leave me stranded again, but a new old car comes with its own set of problems, and ones with which I’m not at all acquainted, at that!  …And of course, there’s the rub- there is no right decision.  There are simply choices.  So it’s the time for assessment, and soon it will be the time for action.  Perhaps it will be a manageable repair; diagnostics must be performed.  If not, well, that certainly complicates matters.  I’m just not ready to give up on Joanne yet.  I have a habit of becoming attached, but I’m learning when and how to let go.

The Greatest Speech Ever Made.

Video

Reply

Moves me to tears. Let us learn to listen to our hearts! We are not machines! We are not cattle! We are men!

I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..

Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!

In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.

Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!

Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness. Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all UNITE!

 

The Siren Song of Humboldt County.

Posted on by
5

Having always fancied myself a forest creature, I immediately delighted in my move to Northern Humboldt County: all yawning black sand beaches carved into cliffs with impossible faces, an enigmatic landscape heavy with dew and a forest so dense that upon entering, one discovers an impossibly charming and glowing room, carpeted from wall to redwood wall in soft layers of fluffy soil and feathered moss.

trinidad forest

Filling my head with the luminosity of the myriad green, growing things has been inspiring and therapeutic.  I have enjoyed every single moment of every day I spent amongst the chloroplast, and I’m not ready to leave yet.  You see, there’s a real siren song to Humboldt, to which outsiders are wholly deaf and oblivious.  It’s a sleepy, thick, magical melody that plays in hushed, lilting tones, riding the salty breeze in whispers, inviting you to lose yourself, for just another week, month, year, in this essence that’s all nuanced and subtle.  It’s a place of limbo, where wanderers set down their packs to rest, lured by the gorgeous seascape, only to wake up a decade or two later, bearded and lined and kind of insane.  It’s a very attractive place to the isolators, the artists, the thinkers, the writers, the walkers, and the retired.

oilver seacliff

I’ve begun making my preparations to move back down to Southern California, and I’m having a tougher time with it than anticipated.  A part of me is hesitant to loosen myself from the sirens, but the bigger part recognizes the exquisite, ultimate fulfillment on the horizon.  Who knows, I might have found myself wandering the forest forever.  And maybe, one day, I’ll be back.

trinidad beach pano