We've Spent a Quarter! Oh My!

Tthere is that old saying, "Time is Money."  I love it because it is true.  Everyday when I drive 3 hours round-trip for work, I think to myself about how I wish I got paid for it.  Sure, I make a decent salary, but my gas money eats into it pretty bad, especially with gas prices reaching toward $4.00 a gallon now.  I've got a pretty fuel efficient car, but that only matters when I drive 70mph constantly.  Of course I don't do that, as my 2 most recent speeding tickets will attest for. While I get 41 mpg when driving  like a calm person from Utah is expected to, I only get 30 mpg when I drive like a person from any other normal state.  Mind you, I have lived in Michigan, California, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, and Utah.  I have also been through Wisconsin, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, south Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, and maybe even a few more, so I kind of have a really good idea of how people drive all over the country.  Utah is the worst so far!

I digress!

With the idea that time is money looming over my head, let's break a year down into monetary terms.   If we consider that we are spending time throughout the year, then we are also spending money...therefor we have spent one quarter of our dollar so far for the year.  When I was a kid, a quarter was a lot of money!  The tooth fairy didn't even leave a quarter under my pillow for a molar tooth!  Now I''m pretty sure kids get at least a whole dollar for just a regular front tooth, don't they? 

So now that I've spent a whole quarter, I have to decide if it was worth it for what I got in return.  So far, what have I done this year that accounts for spending a whole quarter on it?  Well, let's take a look:

Spent a week in the hospital 

completed my first term of school

achieved the President's list for my academic progress

worked for over a month on a special team at work where I have learned a ton of new stuff

 hosted a gender reveal party at our house

sent birthday cards almost on time

 went to the first annual games tournament party for work

 started the RAW DIET

lost 20 pounds

 started going to the gym

 started many projects around the house

have been away from Mr. Fantastic for 3 weeks now

got accepted to a vocational rehabilitation program for veterans which will in turn help me to finish school

got an MRI on my back after injuring it 3 1/2 years ago - thank you ARMY and Uncle Sam!  Jerks!

got my first mani/pedi in almost 2 years

got a dehydrator

got a food processor

stopped saying yes all the time, and realized I have to say no sometimes to protect my own sanity

did my taxes and won!

So, was all that worth a quarter?  I'd say so!  I think I have been pretty accomplished so far this year.  I am remaining curious by trying new things - new foods, new activities, new projects, new schedules, new classes, new jobs, new people, new tasks - and I am trying very hard to survive while the Mr. is away.

How did you spend your quarter?  Was it worth it to you?
Have a great weekend!
Loves!!!

RAW: Carrot Cake Goodness!

Just some lovely food inspiration.  I love what I am doing with RAW food and hope that I can inspire people to give it a try even if they don't go 100% Raw, every little bit will help them feel amazing.

The Cake

Closeup of all the yummy carrots, raisins, dates, and spices

 

 

 

With the yummy cashew frosting!

I hope you are all having a lovely start to your week!  Can you believe that Spring is really almost here?  Hooray!
Loves!!!

52 Lists. 52 Weeks. Recipes I Need to Make

As most of you are aware, I have been doing the RAW thing and totally loving it!  Pinterest is my best friend.  I have also read several books with recipes and even just ordered two new recipe only books from RAWMAZING!!! So now I have been learning all kinds of new ways to make my food interesting and keep my tummy full while also keeping my taste-buds happy.  Here are some recipes that I can't wait to try:

Apple Pie
Chocolate Eclair Cake
Spinach and Wild Mushroom Quiche
Cranberry Walnut Cheese
Rocket Walnut Pesto
Onion Bread
Cinnamon Raisin Toast
Satay-style Butternut Noodles
Basil Zucchini Wraps
Raw Apple Sauce

Don't these all look amazing?  I am having so much fun learning about my body, learning about my health, experimenting with delicious food, and making great recipes. 
Have a great Humpday!!
Loves!!!

RAW: A Yummy Taco Lunch!

So, I'm really loving this whole raw food thing.  It's going pretty great.  I have lost a total of 13 pounds now and held it off!  That's awesome.  My skin is still feeling amazing, as is my hair.  It doesn't get tangled nearly as bad either.  I am already beginning to feel a lot more comfortable in my clothes.  It's always great to feel like you actually look good.  There are a few things that I am struggling with yet though.  The big thing is my digestion.  After a large salad or plenty of veggies I get stomach pains.  From what I have learned, this is from a weak intestinal system learning to digest fiber.  It can also be caused from improper food combining.  I'm still learning and don't want to give up.  It's going to take a great effort, but what I have decided to try doing is to eat my fruits, and drink my veggies for now.  Then I am going to slowly bring in the whole veggies. 
I wanted to share a yummy taco lunch I made. 

"Nacho Cheese"

"Sour Cream"

"Taco Meat"

Salsa

First layer the taco meat into the cabbage leaf or lettuce leaf

Add some salsa

And some nacho cheese

And then some sour cream

Cilantro and avocado taste great, too!

Top it off with raw almond milk "cheese"

Now fold it or roll it up

And ENJOY!!!!   Yum Yum!

Enjoy the last bit of this week.  I am going to be trying to enjoy it as much as possible.  It is the last week before Mr. Fantastic leaves for two months.  Sad-face :(
Loves!!!

Fasting: Two Days Down

So, over the weekend, I started my juice fast.  Well, technically it isn't a fast when I am drinking tons of juice, but you get the idea!  For two days, I did nothing but juice my fruits and vegetables for consumption.  I consumed five 16oz drinks each day of my "fast" and wanted to share with you what I observed in the process.  The biggest thing that gets me the most excited is the weight loss.  In two days I lost 9 pounds.  Mind you, a lot of that is water weight, but 9 pounds is 9 pounds! 
On Saturday I had several bowel movements.  They started out normal but got dark and running toward the end of the day.  I felt hunger pains in my tummy, but it was not unbearable.  If I felt too hungry, I just drank another juice.  I felt pretty energized as well.  The one thing that I was not fond of was the headache.  This is quite common though because your body begins ridding itself of toxins.  that night I slept so great!
Sunday brought about some really great things.  I had to urinate a lot.  Although, I had a couple moments when I felt hungry, it was not nearly as bad as it was on Saturday.  The bowel movements stopped.  However, something interesting did take their place.  I had a ton of gas.  This gas was not embarrassing at all though.  It had absolutely no smell whatsoever!  That was amazing.  Oh, and the energy?  Wow!  It was through the roof.  At midnight I still wasn't tired.  Of course, I knew that I had to sleep or I would be a wreck for work today, so I went to bed.  Despite not feeling tired in the least bit, I fell asleep the second I laid my head down!  Amazing!
Today is day three of the fruit juicing.  So far, the energy continues to climb.  I am not hungry at all, but have had some lovely juices so far today.  For breakfast I had watermelon, celery, and granny smith apple juice.  I've known that watermelon is 90% water, but it still surprised me at how much juice came from it.  I'm now enjoying a spinach, blueberry, and wheat-grass juice.  This one doesn't have much flavor, but it quenches my dry mouth that I have today. 
Tomorrow I have a drive into the city, a two hour appointment, a drive back and then a one hour appointment, so I want to keep up this energy.  I also have another drive and appointment on Wednesday.  I originally planned to start my water fast tomorrow, but decided that it might not be the greatest idea.  I would hate for my energy levels to sink while I am in my appointments or worse, driving.  I decided that I will start my water fast on Wednesday after my appointment.  I will break the fast on Sunday, giving myself a day of rest before returning to working from my workplace.  (This week is a work from home week.) 
My plan for breaking my fast on Sunday consists of drinking a mixture of 50% water and 50% watermelon celery juice.  I will continue straight water for 4 hours after this combination, then drink another water/juice mixture.  Again, I will stick to pure water for another four hours.  Once that time is up, I get to drink a glass of 100% juice!  Hooray!  Then back to another 4 hours of fasting before bedtime.
On Monday (or day 2 of my break fast) I will limit myself again to just juice and water.  On this day I won't need to water the juice down though.  Now, because I will be working at work, I will probably need a little pick me up.  For this little pick me up, I will stick to watermelon which has a lot of water within them.  They are also pretty bland and won't irritate my stomach too badly.  On day three I will continue this same routine.
Days four and five will be the same thing, but I will allow myself to eat three apples or pears.  Day six will be a wonderful day as I will be able to enjoy a small vegitable only salad in addition to my apples, pears, juice and water.  Providing my stomach is doing fine, day seven will be a "normal" day.  Of course, normal for me from this point forward will consist of eating a RAW diet.  Fruit's vegetables, nuts, seesds, and sprouts will consume my menus.  for this I am very excited.  I have plenty of gourmet meals planned in order to transitionn between the Standard American Diet (SAD) and a RAW diet.  These things consist of such wonderful treats as "crackers," "cookies," "cheesecakes," "spaghetti," and "chips."  I'll be sure to share these menu items with you as I make them.  However, if you would like, check out the books I posted over the weekend that have great recipes in them to enjoy.
Have a lovely week!
Loves!!!

RAW: The Benefits of My Ingredients

Before beginning my raw diet lifestyle, I have decided to fast.  To begin my fast, I have started with a 2 day Juice Cleanse.  After that, I will do a 5 day fast with water.  I am making all of my juices myself.  Some of the important ingredients that I am including in my juice are:  wheat-grass, celery, maca, and coconut oil.  

Here are the reasons that I am including wheat-grass:
 - cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris
- stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood
- stimulates the thyroid gland
- correcting obesity, indigestion
- it is a powerful detoxifier
- liver and blood protector
- contains beneficial enzymes
- sweetens the breath 
- firms up and tightens gums
- neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride
- turns gray hair to its natural color again
- greatly increases energy levels when consumed daily

Here are the reasons that I am including celery:
- highly nutritious and one of the most hydrating foods we can put in our bodies
- celery leaves are high in vitamin A, whilst the stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C and dense in potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and essential amino acids.
- is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds
- butyl phthalide reduces the bad cholesterol
- aids in increasing bile acid secretion for digestion
- special nutrients in the fiber are released during juicing that aid bowel movements
- the potassium and sodium are body fluid regulators that stimulate urine production to help rid the body of excess fluid
- anti-inflamitory that helps with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis
- can significantly help lower blood pressure
- reduce stress hormones
- have a calming effect on the nervous system, making it beneficial for insomniacs
- helps curb cravings for sweet
- eliminator of toxins from the body, which aids in the breaking and elimination of urinary and gall bladder stones

Here are the reasons that I am including maca:
- increases energy, endurance and stamina
- increases  muscular strength
- acts like an anabolic muscle enhancer
- helps the body to regulate hormonal processes
- works as an excellent memory enhancer
- increases  blood circulation in your body
-reduces any condition of anemia
- any wounds in your body heal faster after consuming
- your skin gets a glowing healthy look.
- helps to regulate and stabilize the various systems in your body such as the lymph system, the circulatory system, the hormonal system, the musculature system
-can also support emotional healing such as anger, depression and powerlessness

Here are the reasons I am including coconut oil:
- helps in taking off excessive weight
- easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems
- it increases the body metabolism by removing stress on pancreas
- helps in improving the digestive system
- prevents various stomach and digestion related problems including irritable bowel syndrome
- helps in absorption of other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
- strengthens the immune system
- helps in fighting harmful bacteria
- it also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, & pneumonia
- helps in preventing liver diseases
- helps in preventing kidney and gall bladder diseases and dissolving kidney stones
- very soothing and hence it helps in removing stress
- stops tooth decay
- contains lesser calories than other oils, its fat content is easily converted into energy and it does not lead to accumulation of fat in the heart and arteries
-helps in boosting energy and endurance

In addition to these ingredients, I am also including mango, grape, lemon, carrot, apple, pomegranate, and berries.  So far so good.  I haven't really felt too hungry.  However, the smell of real food makes my mouth water!

Enjoy your week

Loves!!!

I'm Going Raw

Last Summer I went raw with my diet for about three or four weeks.  I really felt great, but had a couple of complaints.  First of all, I had not really done much research for this, so I did not realize all the delicious possibilities out there for this diet.  Second, I wasn't supported by my family when I went on vacation and therefor, I started eating regular again.  And lastly, food for this lifestyle can be expensive.  In the past month I have done a fair share of research about this lifestyle.  The more I read about it, the more I want to do it again...for real....for ever!  Here are some of the books I have read about being RAW.

My short term goals for this is to get more energy, clean out my colon, and loose a little weight.  In the midterm though, I hope to loose about 60-70 pounds.  I need to get into my healthy weight group again instead of being obese.  I also need to try to get off of my medications for anxiety, depression, and and OCD.  From what I can tell, this is a great way to do that.  Long term I just want to be much much healthier than I am.  I want to live an active lifestyle and stay around for a long time!  I'm really looking forward to this one.  I will keep you posted for sure!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Loves!!!