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Archive for August, 2008

How To Attack Paper Clutter — Just Do It!

Friday, August 29th, 2008 by admin

I was like a mad woman with paper clearing last week. I decided that once and for all, the paper in my home – the majority of it — just had to GO! Unlike what I had been doing — attacking a bin at a time – I decided to just DUMP it all out on the floor of my home office, and go for it. Yes, that did mean stepping over scattered piles for a few days and feeling energy being pulled down just by the mere disgusting sight of it, but taking that approach was my fast track to getting through ALL of it more quickly. So with each new day, I awoke to my temporary “job” with renewed energy to tackle the daunting task.

The rainy, windy days of Hurricane Fay made it the perfect opportunity to stay close to home being drowned by paper. On a few days, I opened the sliding door and windows for some fresh, breezy inspiration from nature. I thought of Jinjee Talifero’s article in the August issue of Pear Magazine about the upcoming raw-vegan village in Ojai, California, and how the houses in that village will be built really low to the ground to give the effect of living in nature. With windows open in my one-story home, I got a similar feeling duirng my paper project because of all of the greenery that surrounds my residence. But when I couldn’t trick my body anymore, I just had to step outside when the rain took a break. There, I retreated to the screened-in porch area, spread a sheet over a lounge chair and rested as though I was basking in the sun. The breeze helped still my mind, and watching the trees blow fiercely yet gracefully was perfect entertainment — a far better sight than piles of paper! However, when I stepped back indoors, the paper reality greeted me once again. Oh Geez! Where did all of this paper come from in the first place?

Well, let’s go back about 14 years when I took on my first newspaper and magazine writing internships while getting my master’s degree at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. My writing clips began accumulating faster than I could get them scrapbooked, so that meant bin storage for them. To that initial pile, online articles of mine that I printed out were added — and even though I managed to get a ton of them nicely stored in a large binder, the paper pile in the bins just didn’t seem to be decreasing. Then, add to that the birth of a son who eventually started producing all sorts of masterpieces of his own – from art to writing and more. Whew!

Fortunately, I did eventually reach the point of knowing I just couldn’t keep it all, so I began recycling many of my son’s paper things and made sure to stay on top of the latest junk mail and such coming into the house. But, doggon it, those bins with older stuff just stayed full for some reason.

Now, with this latest round of paper reduction, I decided to get ruthless like never before. Simply ruthless! I now have one binder designated for my son’s keepsakes and have organized it with tabs from age 4 to present. His binder also includes a section for home-schooled keepsakes. On the other hand, while my writing clips are now out of the bins thanks to my plastic-reduction process, they are stacked awaiting a home — a scrapbook of some kind, I guess.

On many a day I have been tempted — very tempted — to simply let ALL of this paper go! Imagine that….a PAPER-FREE HOME! Ahhh, bliss! But there’s that part of me that wants to hold on to some paper memorabilia from my son’s early years – for his children! Who knows, he or his future wife might want to show it to their kids someday, especially those interesting, creative stories he wrote. Then, because I’ve written so much about parenting and the varied things I’ve done with my darling son, well, I want him to have those “journals” around when I’m not. So, rather than letting it all go, I decided to find my balance; one book with his paper keepsakes and, hopefully, one with mine will do the trick.

To add fuel to the fire — or should I say fuel to the paper – in the process of this major paper-shedding project, a strong urge to get as much plastic as I can out of here came upon me! I had been wanting to go that route for a while, and then, viola, there was Ardis’ article to turn up the heat. So, like a mad woman, I began attacking plastic.

One area I have really nailed is the clothes department. Yes, I have scaled those down to a minimum. Who would have thought I’d want to be a minimalist with clothes considering how many of them I’ve had over the years. These days, it’s all about simplicity for me, though. Who wants to spend forever trying to figure out what to wear? Not me! That indecisive process used to be fun, but long gone are those days.

In fact, I’ve minimized my clothes so much that I decided to give up my half of the master bedroom closet. I got tired of being weighed down by my husband’s many clothes when I stepped in there, so it was best for me to make that an area I don’t have to enter at all. Now, between dresser drawers and a smaller closet in another room, I’m joyfully set with clothes storage. This arrangement works perfectly for me.

My books have also been reduced significantly, but it’s quite a challenge trying to get them down to my goal of only 12 books. Again, who would have thought? Think about it, though….. If Jesus managed to choose only 12 disciples, I certainly should be able to select the 12 books that serve me best at this stage of my life, right?

Now, the only thing that remains to be attacked is one more closet with MORE BINS, and I suspect that’s going to take a while because they have a whole bunch of pictures in ‘em that are yet to join existing photo albums. Anyone have any effective solutions for quick and easy photo organization? If so, please, please let me know.

With Thanks,

Penny

Tags: de-cluttering, organization, paper clutter, simple living, simplicity
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When kids don't listen

Thursday, August 28th, 2008 by Lisa

Liam and Sensei Kids get a bad rap! They are constantly accused of ‘not listening’ or ‘not paying attention’ when nothing could be further from the truth! Kids from the age of 0- 5 barely understand the concept never mind know how to do that.

You see, at that stage of development, they just don’t have any filters. EVERYTHING goes in. This means that your kids aren’t trying to shut you out- they couldn’t even if they wanted to- and believe me, they don’t want to. Our kids and men for that matter are very much like dogs- they WANT to please us!

What actually happens is this: because they lack the psychological software necessary to erect barriers, they are absorbing everything in their immediate environment on a very deep level. And they become completely engaged. So if they are playing, or looking at a bug, or seemingly ‘staring off into space’ they are actually so absorbed in their own thought processes which are directly tied into their whole being that they literally can’t hear or see anything else that may be going on around them. See the truth is they have incredible focus! It is 100%.

Understanding this gives us a different perspective and appreciation for those moments when we want their attention…we need to learn how to approach them. What I recommend is to use your discretion. For example, when they are staring, or equally absorbed in what they are doing, please avoid jarring them out of their concentration with a fast movement like grabbing them to pick them up, or with some loud directive.

Research shows that in those moments kids are literally creating brand new nerve synapses in their brains - they are getting smarter! Instead, watch them for a moment, and then when you are ready, carefully approach in a gentle way respecting their space as you would anyone else who was concentrating on something. Get down to their eye level and see if they notice you first so you don’t actually have to interrupt them. Then say softly, ‘Hi there. Its time for…” and do what you need to do once you have brought them back to reality. Like I said, use your discernment- obviously if they were in some sort of danger you wouldn’t worry about interrupting them to do whatever you needed to for their safety.

For kids a little older, around 5-10, what works really well is to let them know what is on the schedule in bite size pieces (not the whole pie! ie: “First we are going to the bank and then to shopping and then the post office and after that to pay a parking ticket and then…” A simple ‘we are leaving to go shopping and run errands” is enough.

TRANSITION TIMES like leaving the park, or stopping play to come and wash hands for dinner, etc, can cause alarm in small children…Why? Because it may be unwanted, but actually more so, it is unexpected. This can create anxiety. Children feel secure when they know what is coming. Give warnings of about 5- 10 minutes just before the transitions. So if you are somewhere and its time to get going- that is NOT the time to tell your kids. Five to ten minutes prior to that is what works best whenever possible. Kids are so focused on what they are doing they FEEL it in their little bodies and it is so unpleasant for them to be ripped away from being in ‘their zone’ without a little notice.

Just give a friendly reminder, “In 10 minutes we are leaving so begin to pack up…” Then in 5 minute let them know they have a few more minutes and now is the time to finish up. Refrain from just ‘telling’ them. Go and do it with them and ensure they are ‘hearing’ you.

For things like school, or other events that happen regularly, what is helpful is to plan ahead. The worst thing is to be rushing around in the morning - it sets the wrong tone and can throw everyone off balance for the entire day. So the night before, just before bedtime, begin the process of teaching your kids what clothes work best together by doing it with them until they get the hang of it. Every kid learns differently, so you have to gage when it is appropriate to initiate this and when to hand it over to them.

But the main thing is you are modeling a success strategy called ‘BEING PREPARED’. It is a skill for life. So set aside a few minutes every night for this important ritual. (In a near future article I will give really powerful tips for how to get your kids to bed and off into dreamland peacefully) Once the kids are settled for the night, you need to do one more thing to prepare for morning.

Make sure your kitchen is clean and tidy and you have decided what breakfast will be. By doing this last step the night before, you are creating in advance a beautiful start to the day. Some moms even put the placemats and bowls and spoons on the table the night before so the table is all set for morning.

You might make their lunches now too, unless you are an early bird who functions best rising early before everyone else. I never did that, but I did make sure night dishes were put away and sinks and counters were clear of clutter - I might even put a little spray of flowers that we had gathered that day from a forest walk, or a little stone or leave in the centre of the table, perhaps beside a little candle- anything to make the table and therefore the whole kitchen look cheery and welcoming for us all in the morning.

So remember, approach focused children with respect and reverence for their learning, use 5 minute warnings for all transitions, prepare whatever can be done in advance to avoid rushing at the last minute, and then smile inside knowing you are ‘creating the space’ for your loving, harmonious home.

For MORE GREAT TIPS go to: www.rawmom.com/raisingchildren/index.html

SHANNON LEONE is a Mom, Artist, Writer and WELLNESS COACH with 20 years experience in Natural Health whose background includes: Assistant Fitness Director of the Parkview Club in Toronto, Licensed Aestitician and Colon Hydro therapist, Raw Gourmet Chef, Director of THE LITTLE FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Creator of THE FRIENDSHIP FLAG GAME for kids age 1-100, and Filmmaker RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US- a DVD on Conscious Parenting.

Shannon has appeared on TV’s Woman to Woman, Daytime, Body Mind Spirit, International Radio and many Magazines. Find Shannon also at rawmom.com.

For personal or group Coaching and Seminars: 1-866-LEONE-11 sjkleone@yahoo.com

Tags: conscious parenting, raw foods, rawmom, Shannon Leone
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Are You Looking After Yourself?

Thursday, August 28th, 2008 by Stacey

tired woman, mom I’ve asked myself that question a few times over the past few weeks.

In my extended family, it’s a line that’s sometimes bandied about, a pop-culture reference to an ad that ran here in Australia a few years ago. A young woman has moved out of home and her concerned father rings to ask ‘Are you looking after yourself’? She rolls her eyes, sticks her fork into the advertised microwaved freezer meal (TV dinner), and says ‘Yes Dad, I am looking after myself’.

No, I’m not at the point of tucking into a freezer meal, but I sure ain’t been looking after myself in the way that I should.

I’ve been burning the midnight oil for a few too many weeks, absorbed in the process of giving birth to my latest baby: a fantastic raw-food recipe book for children. I’ve been testing, re-testing, ditching ideas, dreaming up new ideas and toiling over a hot keyboard. The book just has to be edited, illustrated and designed, and it will make its way out into the world – hopefully to touch the lives of children in a profound way.

But all that giving has taken its toll – like Monique, I tend to be somewhat single-minded when I have a project on the go. I let slip many of those self-nurturing habits that we all know need to be maintained. And now I’m feeling just a wee bit burned out. A 24-hour sleeping stint might just about balance out the sleep debt…

Do you find that, too? Do you give so much to an exhilarating project that you “forget” many of your usual self-care habits in your quest to reach completion?

I heard recently about the concept of extreme self-care. “How indulgent!”, I thought. I dismissed the idea entirely, wondering how people could be selfish enough to justify giving that much to themselves. But, gee, it makes sense. I could actually be enough more productive, even happier, even more “there” for my girls if I actually made my self-care a priority, instead of an “I’ll fit it in when I just finish this…”-type thing.

So, baby steps. Tonight, to bed at a reasonable hour. Tomorrow, maybe a long bath. (“What?” Monkey Mind rebels at this one.) Next week, perhaps 100% raw for, say, five days – although, does “raw” chocolate count?

For a change, I might just be able to answer an emphatic “yes” to the “Are you looking after yourself?” question. Imagine that!

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Why You Should Avoid Plastic Like the Plague and 10 Ways to Do It!

Friday, August 22nd, 2008 by admin

There are many reasons to avoid plastics. One major reason is bisphenol-A, or BPA, an estrogen-like chemical added to most polycarbonate plastics – from water bottles and food containers to the linings of tin cans, and - most alarmingly - to many baby toys, baby bottles and sippy cups. Research has shown BPA is associated with early puberty in girls, feminizing of boys, and reduced fertility in both sexes. In fact, in utero exposure is linked to abnormal development of the sex organs in the fetus. BPA is also associated with an increased risk for obesity and certain cancers, such as breast and prostate.

Certainly anyone with fertility issues or children should be very concerned. Luckily, it is fairly easy to find bisphenol-A free products now, for children and adults, but is that enough?

Before I became a mom, I led a fairly plastic-free life: I carried my own glass water bottle, brought my own bags to the grocery store, rarely ate out and rarely bought packaged foods, and stored everything in glass or ceramic containers. Now that I’ve got a toddler, however, I seem to be swimming in it; and I can only imagine that, with another little one on the way, it’s going to get worse.

Even if you manage to avoid buying any plastic items for your child, you are sure to be given tons! We are lucky in that most of the things our son has have been handed down from two cousins a year or two older than he. We’ve never had to buy any clothes, and many of his toys are hand-me-downs. However, the toys keep multiplying and – never mind those annoying battery-operated noise-makers - they are overwhelmingly made of plastic!

Besides the fact that plastic can never be truly safe (who knows what other compounds are leaching into the environment and our food), plastics leave a terrible footprint on the environment.

By now, you’ve probably all heard of the big, plastic stew brewing in a vortex in the ocean that is twice the size of Texas – a horrifying visualization and seemingly irreversible prospect; and it is frightening to think that every piece of plastic ever created is still with us. This has many repercussions, to name a few:

• While plastic is not biodegradable, it is photodegradable – sunlight breaks the plastic, still molecularly intact, into little bits which get mistaken for plankton and other food and is ingested by all forms of marine life. This is killing, disabling, and making sick so many of these animals.

• These plastics make it back into the human food chain as well: if you eat seafood, you not only have to worry about mercury, but also contamination from plastic.

• Plastics absorb other toxic substances, such as pesticides and PCB’s and then, transported by the water, leach them elsewhere.

Moreover, recycling plastic is not a viable solution since only a couple types of plastics melt at low temperatures; tougher plastics only melt at high temperatures and release such toxic gases, they are basically un-recyclable. Furthermore, of the recyclable plastics, the quality degrades and the plastics are contaminated with residues (foodstuffs, etc.) so they cannot be remade into food containers. Thus there is still the need for as much new plastic production for food containers.

So, now that you’re convinced it’s not enough to just seek out “safer” forms of plastics, what can we do to reduce the amount of plastic polluting our environment and our bodies? Here is a list of 10 tips to help avoid and reduce your use of plastic:

1. If you must buy bottled water, opt for glass options when available (Voss bottles come in glass in a couple sizes) or try to always come prepared – bring your own bottle of filtered water from home. Sometimes, this just isn’t practical, but consider which has the greater impact: occasionally drinking a glass of tap water or that plastic water bottle….

2. Store produce and leftovers in cloth bags or glass containers.

3. Not only can you bring your own cloth shopping bags, you can also re-use those plastic bags your produce comes in on subsequent shopping trips.

4. Wrap prepared lunches and snacks in wax paper.

5. Bamboo and stainless steel are excellent BPA and plastic-free options for sippy cups, eating utensils, and plates!

6. For gift-giving occasions, like birthdays and Christmas, often friends and relatives ask what you, or especially, your child would like or need. Don’t be afraid to ask for used and hand-me-down items. People will still give you/your child beautifully wrapped boxes of toxic delights – say thanks, gracefully, and accept the lovely thought. If it is not something your child is totally into, consider returning it, or if not, be sure to donate or pass down when the child is done with it!

7. Think long-term. Plastic really can be that miracle product that lasts a lifetime. Try to limit the plastic you get to durable things you will hang on to for a long time.

8. Buy in bulk (bring your own paper bags or re-use those plastic produce ones), and only bag produce when absolutely necessary.

9. If you eat take-out regularly, carry your own cutlery, and for the die-hard, consider bringing your own non-plastic to-go containers!

10. Turn scrap plastic into art projects with the kids! Think of creative ways to re-use plastic – perhaps build a colorful collage or sculpture – or try one of the many suggestions listed here.

Can you think of more ways to reduce our plastic use? Please let me know!

Tags: Bisphenol-A, BPA, Environment, Plastics, recycling
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A Little Gift to Get You Grounded! (Feedback needed…)

Friday, August 22nd, 2008 by admin

I’ve recently been struck with the desire to help women feel grounded and put that extra step…that little extra pep in their days via a brief daily tune-in. This tuning-in exercise would include finding a quiet spot at the start of the day to focus on the breath and be lovingly and lightly guided through an audio meditation of sorts with a few powerful affirmations to help set the tone for that day.

I know, I know…….there is nothing new under the sun, and neither is this! However, when we take those not-so-new things and fuel them with new energy loaded with love and passion, well, they turn out to be new on some level, don’t they? For some, they become a breath of fresh air.

After sampling the rough draft of this idea I have in mind, Zoe Desmond from PurelyRaw.com and TheLighthouseWebWorld.com, commented:

“That was AMAZING! The words you said were so simple, but because I could hear your voice and feel your energy and emotion behind it, I just felt so filled up with Love and Energy from this. Even though I do this a few times a day on my own, this was a completely different experience. And when you said at the end that you Pray that I have a lovely day, I felt that so much in my heart that tears came into my eyes. It is so right that you intend this for women to listen to every day. We need this support, we need to hear someone else giving us words of support, because we are always doing that for everyone else. It just doesn’t have to be complex or long, just simple words of Love and support like those really can shift a lot. If I feel stresses at all today, I will play it again. Just knowing that makes me feel so supported. Listening to this has made me decide to put one of my best dresses on today, instead of just jeans and a shirt!! Please, please make 365 of these every year!!”

I would love to eventually create “365 of these every year” as Zoe generously requested, but perhaps I better start out slowly and build up from there.

And, by the way, if you don’t get to do the exercise in the morning, it would still work at night, as was the case with TJ, a home-schooling mom of three. She said: “This would have been THE PERFECT way to start my day, but still felt great doing the exercise this late (10 pm). I will have a nice, peaceful sleep.”

So, Raw Mom readers, I’d love to get some feedback from you, too.

~ Would something similar to this — but one that includes background music and a higher quality voice message — interest you?

~ Do you feel that having something like this available on a fairly regular basis would help jumpstart your day? If so, how much time would you set aside to “tune in” this way…..5 minutes or less, or more?

~ Would you rather listen to it on your computer or MP3?

Thanks for your feedback. I look forward to hearing from you.

Peace & Love,

Penny

Tags: affirmations, Meditation, tune-in, women
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Helpful Tips for Family Road Trips

Sunday, August 17th, 2008 by Joanne

Guest contributor: Barbara Beavans

road I seem to travel a lot in my car with my kids. We have found that the difficulties, which we like to rename “adventures” have led us to some amazing experiences. These adventures include food, where to spend the night, and what to do with boredom. My goal is to have a positive trip which includes fun, family time, and (being a true home school mom) some education thrown in for good measure.

When planning one of our trips I usually start with the final destination. Where are we going? What are we planning on doing there? In our family’s case, this is often some sort of musical event. There is quite a spread in my kids ages (19, 17, and 12). Before my youngest was ready to participate in the older kid’s activities I would try to plan something for him to do whilst the older siblings were otherwise occupied.

This might take the form of games, parks, or children’s museums. The options do depend on what is available in the area that you are visiting. If the kids need to be in the same location, I try to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to do something truly special for him or her so that everyone will have a special event which caters to him or her in particular.

The next step is planning the route. If we have been to the location before and it will take more than a day to drive there, I try to take a different route each time. This allows us to see and experience different things every time. I am a member of AAA. A visit or call to AAA gives us great maps and tour books. Other options are the internet and your local library or bookstore. I try to find the most interesting stops in each area that we will be driving through. These stops may include historical homes, museums, parks, or even caves. It doesn’t really matter what it is. There is always something interesting on the way. These stops allow us to stretch our legs, see scenery that is new, and experience things in person. I often will make note of multiple stops. I try to include directions and hours of operation (if applicable). We don’t always make it to all of them, but it gives us the option. Travel times are not always predictable. Traffic jams and construction happens so what looks like it should work doesn’t always. I usually have major goals in mind. The kids are included in the discussion when they are old enough.

My kids are not raw, but one of my kids has a bunch of allergies (wheat, corn, strawberries, food colouring, among others) and we are predominantly vegetarian so the “quicky” stop at the golden arches rest stop is not much of an option. The internet is an invaluable tool for dealing with food issues. I will look for vegetarian and raw food restaurants and health food stores along our route. Some of the stores are not much more than vitamin stores. I look for stores that sell organic produce as a clue that they are more than your neighborhood vitamin shop. We have found many gems and interesting surprises this way, along with a few misses. Some of the restaurants are such gems that my kids have requested that we make a point of stopping there again on our way home.

Entertainment (with that extra bit of education thrown in for good measure) while travelling in the car is the next step to a successful road trip. Audio entertainment is my first step to take care of this quite necessary part of a fun trip. In the olden days, when the kids were much younger I would get the kids a favourite book on tape as well as a favourite musical tape. When they were little, they each had their favourites that they would like to hear over and over again. When the repetition reached the point where I thought I might go crazy if I heard If You Give a Mouse a Cookie for the 100th time I got each child their own Fisher Price tape player which had a volume control so that they could not accidently damage their precious ears. We eventually moved on to CD’s as the technology evolved. Each child had their own small “things to do” backpack. I would fill it with things like paper, washable markers (I avoid crayons in hot weather as I’ve had too many crayons melt into the car on very hot days), coloured pencils, little Dell activity books, WIKI sticks (bendable sticks that can be molded into different shapes). I didn’t get anything expensive and I didn’t let the kids see the contents of their backpacks until they were actually in the car on the trip.

As the kids got older I started renting books on CD from recordedbooks.com. I choose books that we can all listen to together through the car’s CD player. Books are selected for their educational value (I just can’t help my home-schooling mom instincts). I try to shift topics so we alternate subject matter so each child has a book that speaks to her or him. I actually figure out the number of hours that we will probably be driving and then rent enough books to fill that time (recordedbooks.com tells you how long each book is).

This system has allowed us to listen to a great deal of classical literature that my kids might not have read on their own. If we encounter a part of a novel that I believe that the kids might not fully understand, I can stop the CD for a discussion about the difficult section.

Lastly, I have discovered Knowledge Cards. These are decks of cards that cover many subjects from presidents, biology, animals, states, constellations, books, to historic landmarks. We use these when we stop at restaurants. We bring a deck in with us and take turns holding a card up and trying to guess what it is (or the answer to the question on it). Then we read the information contained on the back of the card. It’s not a competition and I don’t expect them to remember the information. I am often surprised at how other people in the restaurant like to guess the answer along with us. The idea is to keep it fun, not a drill.

People are often surprised that our family enjoys being together in the car for several days. The key is flexibility. If you need to stop and stretch your legs and get out of the confined space then stop. Some of our family’s favourite memories come from these trips. We’re all together sharing memories that will live with us forever. You can’t get much better than that.

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Where has the summer gone?: An Update from Stephani

Saturday, August 16th, 2008 by Fiona

Where has the summer gone?? Where do I begin??

My how time flies when you are having fun!! I didn’t mysteriously disappear. I have just been busier than I ever expected while ‘vacationing’ this summer.

We have been traveling through Texas since June 15. It has been fun, exciting, crazy, tiring, frustrating, memorable, sad, happy, and every other emotion all combined. This is only our 3^rd trip home in the last 8 years since living in Austria. It has been 3 years since we last visited and I have been soaking up every moment I have with each person we have been with.

We have been in 7 or 8 different places (including staying with various family members, in hotels, a cabin on a lake, a house on a river, visits to the beach) since being here and while this hasn’t been our first trip, this has certainly been our longest and most challenging with now 4 children and our emphasis on raw food and adhering to a special diet. It was certainly my first time traveling with our own food supply!

I had hoped to continue blogging here at Raw Mom and on my own blog, but it all came to a screeching halt as we left. It has been non-stop. In my last blog, I wrote a beginning article in a series on supplements for children in the autism spectrum. I had the idea that beginning a series would give me something to focus on while travelling so that I wouldn’t have to worry about what to write about! So much for grand ideas. I now know that I way underestimated my time demands on this trip! As we are in the final few weeks of our trip, I am finally making myself stop and take the time to catch up a little.

I have a million things in my head that I would like to share about raw food and traveling, keeping up with a large family while living out of suitcases for a long period of time, culture differences that are very apparent to me since we have been away so long, the successes and failures we have had while living among others who eat ‘regular’ food, my kids’ reactions to it all, and me trying to keep it all together!

One thing is definitely certain…I could not imagine having taken this trip with my son while on our old food habits! (Remember Erik, who has problems with ADHD, sensory integration, and Aspergers?) Without going into too much detail, some family members got a crash lesson on exactly why we ‘do what we do with food’ after we experienced a reaction to something he ate. We still don’t know exactly what it was, but there was no doubt that for a few days he wasn’t the same kid they first saw.

We have been sharing raw food with others along the way and I have some friends and family who think we are crazy, but some are happily reporting the fun and good results they are having trying out green smoothies and trying more salads and fruits in their daily routine!

I am excited to share more of this with you, but will wait until next time. Tomorrow is another road trip for us and I have to finish packing up….again!

Tags: Family, friends, Raw food, travel
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10 Reasons Pregnant Women Should Eat More Figs!

Saturday, August 16th, 2008 by admin

Figs are one of the oldest cultivated fruits around, dating back to at least 5,000 B.C. Revered since ancient times for their aphrodisiac properties, in many cultures figs are considered a symbol of fertility: split apart, they are said to resemble the female genitalia, left whole, the male genitalia. In fact, the Ancients thought the milky-white substance (actually a natural latex) which drips from the cut stem represented the “universal energy” and it was used to treat infertility and promote healthy lactation. However, there seems to be some truth to the lore. Here are ten fascinating facts about these nutritional powerhouses that make them an incredible addition to anyone’s diet, but particularly to the pregnant woman’s.

1. Figs have a higher overall mineral profile than any other common fruit or vegetable. They are particularly high in calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc, key nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.

2. The high potassium content of figs may help to control blood pressure and therefore, the hypertension associated with preeclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy condition.

3. The mineral content of figs closely resembles that of human breast milk!

4. Figs have the highest fiber content of any common fruit. Rich in both insoluble and soluble fiber, figs really help to mitigate the constipation so common during pregnancy.

5. Figs contain a proteolytic enzyme that also aids in digestion, which is naturally slowed during pregnancy.

6. Figs are highly alkaline, and therefore alkalizing, which has been shown to help curb cravings. This may help control those less-than-healthy urges that can sabotage a healthy pregnancy diet.

7. Figs are high in vitamin B6, which has long been thought to be beneficial in alleviating morning sickness.

8. Even the leaves of figs are therapeutic: ingesting them has been shown to reduce and even eliminate the need for insulin in diabetic patients. Therefore, ingesting them may help to control or avoid a case of gestational diabetes. Furthermore, this ability to balance blood sugar levels should help to relieve a whole host of symptoms – from morning sickness to mood swings.

9. Dried figs contain significant amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to the optimal development of the fetus. Consuming ample Omega-3’s during pregnancy is also associated with a lower incidence of pre-term labor and premature delivery.

10. Psoralens, a chemical found in figs, has been used to treat many skin pigmentation problems and may be beneficial in preventing melasma, the “mask of pregnancy”.

So now that you’re convinced of the amazing nutritional power of figs…what are the best ways to eat them?

Figs are harvested in the U.S. from June to September, but dried figs are available all year long. I think figs are delicious as is, but they are also a wonderful addition to smoothies and salads: blend a handful of figs with a cup of almond milk and a large, ripe banana, for a thick, rich, and creamy “shake”; or throw some chopped figs on a bed of arugula and fennel and lightly drizzle with balsamic vinegar….the possibilities are endless. But, in my opinion, the BEST way to eat a fig is straight from the tree, warmed by the sun. Mmmm.

How do you like your figs?

Tags: aphrodisiacs, Figs, Morning Sickness, Pregnancy Symptoms
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How To Create Discipline With The Things We Love

Thursday, August 14th, 2008 by admin

My son’s football passion is contagious. Not contagious in terms of making me want to play the aggressive, high-contact sport, but there’s simply a certain vibe that comes from people who do what they love! Words even start pouring out of their mouths that make you go, “Hmmh!”

As I recently stood in my kitchen cutting a pineapple before heading out to my son’s football practice, he walked by me and said with a soulful voice:

“Football isn’t just about the sport, it’s about discipline, and discipline equals life!”

I dashed to the computer to document these words. They reminded me that as fun and freeing as it can be to be a free spirit, in some areas of life we really can’t escape discipline if we want optimum results. So, yes, Caleb’s right, I’d say! In many ways, discipline really does equal LIFE.

For instance:

~ Consistent raw food eating requires discipline! (The more raw food I eat, the healthier I am, so doesn’t that equal life?)

~ Consistent exercise requires discipline!

~ Consistent Spiritual growth requires discipline!

~ Consistently loving and forgiving requires discipline!

~ Fasting for any period of time requires discipline!

Isn’t mind-body-spirit development nothing short of discipline? And, doesn’t that equal life?

Here’s some simple food for thought to help create discipline with the things we love:

D — Diligently decide to be disciplined in the areas of life in which you want to grow! Speak your decision. Write it down. Share it with family. Share it with a friend. Pray for the strength to stay disciplined.

I — Integrate affirmations into your discipline practices! For instance, “I am healthy on a cellular level, because I eat raw and living foods every day.” Or, “My muscles are toned and flexible, because I stretch them for at least 20 minutes, three or more times a week.” The more you affirm yourself, the more your discipline will plant itself into your psyche and produce the results you want.

S — Share your discipline practices with others! Who says you have to go it alone? For instance, if it’s that day you just do not feel disciplined enough to take a walk alone, well, that’s the day you call up a friend to walk/exercise with you. Or, if it’s that day you do not feel like drinking one more green smoothie, well, invite a friend over to “smoothie” with you….or pack up the Vita-Mix and “smoothie” at your friend’s house. That shift will naturally alter the energy of the I-don’t-feel-like-doing-this moment.

C — Be Creatively Consistent! Find creative ways, such as above, to stay consistent with YOUR discipline. Come up with creativity that will WORK for YOU!

I — Inspire someone else with your discipline practices! This will tend to naturally happen from the love you give to your own areas of discipline. Remember, it’s contagious watching someone going through the motions of what they LOVE. Even if the person you inspire doesn’t do precisely what you’re doing, your love for your discipline will help others meet their own.

P — Plan and Pray to help avoid unnecessary detours from your course! Planning can create an organized state of mind and environment for sticking to goals, and praying builds strength. For instance, you might want to plan your menus for the week or a few days at a time to prevent you from consuming food that you know does not serve you well. Or, you might plan an exercise schedule to keep you moving along. Checking off “planned” discipline activities can provide a warm sense of accomplishment. Yes, I did it!

L — Lovingly link your discipline in one area to another! Life works well for me when I can see the connections…….when I connect the dots. Everything is linked to something else! That’s life! So find the links within your discipline practices and then watch things naturally evolve. Let one area support another. For instance, that green juice and walking, yoga, etc., will work well together.

I — Invest in your passions — treat them as friends! Consider how you’d treat a friend, and then think of treating the things you want to be disciplined with in a similar way — with love, kindness, and understanding — and forgiveness when need be!

N — Nurture your process! Isn’t it easy to repeat something when you feel nurtured by it? Jinjee Talifero recently wrote an article coming out in Pear Magazine on Friday that mentions how cherished she feels wearing her new “organically grown cotton, hemp and bamboo clay-died clothing.” Now, that’ll be a practice she’ll want to apply over and over again, because of how it makes her feel, right? This goes hand-in-hand with making that “investment” in yourself. Be sure the discipline you are picking is one that nurtures YOU. Would you invest in a stock that you know will not serve you well? For example, running does not feed my soul these days the way a brisk walk and yoga does, so why run if I feel walking and yoga serve me better?

E — Employ people to help you stay disciplined! Discipline practices can sometimes be tough without accountability. Have your spouse, child or friend do a friendly check-in with you fairly often. I know if my child’s asking me every day — “Mommy, did you walk today?” — well, after a few consecutive days of telling him I did not will make me want to do something about it. Be the example!

Yes, life is a discipline. Free-spirited or not, life is a discipline! Do you agree?

Tags: discipline, exercise, goals, Life, passions, Raw food
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Learning to Swim

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008 by Stacey

Recently, I’ve had to dig deep.

After many, many years of avoiding the water – with the exceptions being baths, showers, and Jacuzzis – I’ve finally taken the plunge.

I had some troubles with my back last year, and they’ve re-surfaced, albeit in a less painful form. On a recent visit to my physiotherapist, she blithely said, “Jo, you know that swimming is the best sport for your back. Walking is great, but swimming is even better. I really think it would make a huge difference if you took it up.”

I slowly nodded my head, grimacing. I’ve never been a great swimmer. I nearly drowned a couple of times as a youngster (once in a dam in outback Queensland, nearly taking a friend with me!), so my memories of swimming are not fond. I was always in the “turtles” group in school swimming classes (oh, to be a “dolphin”!), and my friend Kylie and I used to skip our high school’s yearly swimming carnival, such did we loathe that competitive form of torture. Oh, good memories from that – we had a ritual of spending the day at my friend’s house, having prawn cutlets and salad for lunch, and watching the midday movie on Channel Nine. We did this with our mothers’ blessings – they didn’t like swimming either!

But I always wanted to conquer this fear, at some stage. Just not yet.

I don’t think I have a problem with freestyle stroke technique or kicking. It’s the breathing I have trouble with. I can hold my breath and stride out purposely for nearly half a length – but then I need to stop, catch my breath, and start again. Any time I try to turn my head to breathe, I get all out of time and end up with a mouth- or nose-full of water. Choking on half a gallon of water is not my idea of fun.

Swimmer However, the timing of this is perfect. My girls start school next year, and they, too, don’t like swimming. We took them to play-swim classes when they were three and they screamed the place down for a full term. We were so traumatized that we haven’t attempted classes again, until now. They will have to take swim classes at school, and, living in a water-locked country like Australia, they really do need to learn to swim.

So, in my quest to be not just an example to my children, but an inspiration, I decided to take adult learn-to-swim classes. I started three weeks ago. I felt a little silly at that first lesson, replete with aviator-style goggles (I don’t want to lose my contact lenses, but why was it that only the ugliest goggles in the shop fitted me?) and false bravado, but I swallowed my pride – along with half the pool – and gave it all I had. Let me tell you, in the middle of a Melbourne winter, it takes a brave woman to leave a swim centre with wet hair. Note to self: wear my swimming cap, even if it makes me look like a skinhead.

The lessons are going well. I’m feeling stronger, and my thigh muscles are increasing in tone, which is a good thing! My back is feeling great. And I think I’m just about to get a handle on the whole breathing thing. I recently purchased a learn-to-swim e-book and video combo from a swimming company called the Miracle Swimming Institute, and the “Conquer Your Fear” e-book (video yet to arrive in the mail) is just fantastic. It’s helping me realize that my breathing issues really are related to fear, and that I need to gently deal with that fear before expecting to make any headway with technique. And – wow! – I think it’s going to be fantastic when it comes to helping our bambinos overcome their fears! I’ll tell you more about the video when it arrives, but if you’re interested in the e-book and video/DVD, head here. (They also run adult learn-to-swim classes all over the USA.)

The girls have come and watched me in a class, and this weekend they went with Daddy to the other smaller pools while I completed my class. They had to have their goggles on (they really dislike water in their eyes), but they absolutely loved being in the pools, squealing with delight and leaping all over Daddy in the water. They now say they want to take lessons, just like Mummy does! Well, as long as Mummy and Daddy are in the water with them, and as long as they don’t have to put their heads under… hmm, can’t wait for the “Conquer Your Fear” video to arrive!

My goal is to complete a full lap of the pool, without stopping. That, ladies and gentlemen, will be a history-making moment, and will cause waves of excitement as the news makes its way to family across Australia, the US and the UK.

Jo will be a turtle no more…

Tags: fear, swimming
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