Recipes for a good morning :)

Most mornings I awake and my house could use a lot of cleaning up. Its small, and full of big pre-bachelor furniture, making it cramped and appearing even smaller. For mornings that I dont want to make any more messes, I usually opt for a smoothie. They are quick, healthy, and only need one dish making it fast and easy to clean up.   



For my smoothie I use 1 banana, frozen berries, 1/2 cup of yogurt and orange juice.
 I add a tablespoon of each Hempseed oil (full of omega 3's) and Green vibrance powder (loaded up with raw greens).



Veda loves cholate milk, what 4 year old doesn't! So for her smoothie, I use 2 bananas,
1/2 cup chocolate almond milk and 1/2 cup plain almond milk and 2 tablespoons of almond butter.

Here is Veda enjoying her "chocolate milk smoothie" as she calls it.
And playing with the play dough that we also made this morning :)

Playdhough recipe:

1 cup water (today we juiced 1 beet for color, and added that to the water)

1/2 cup salt

2 teaspoons cream of tartar (found in the spice section)

food coloring, if you have it... or beet juice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 cup flour

Instructions:

Combine first 4 ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat. 

Stir with a wooden spoon until salt disolves.

Once warmed up stir in the oil and flour slowly.

Keep stirring til the mixture starts looking dry and pulls

away from the sides of the pan. Remove from the heat at this

point and pinch a piece of dough between 2 fingers. If it is not

sticky, its done! Otherwise continue stiring over heat!

Recipe adapted from this book!

Open House!

We would like to thank everyone who showed their support by participating in the Secret Lotus Yoga and Healing Arts Open House! We are so pleased to provide a space in Myrtle Beach where people can share, expand and nurture themselves and the hearts of others through yoga, reiki, massage, childbirth education and doula services. Stay tuned for all upcoming events by "liking" the FaceBook page here.



I could seriously live in this room





A mix of warm and cool colors bring energy and relaxation :)





Jewelry by Bodhi Tree Birth and Om Sweet Om



Although I have not practiced Ashtanga in quite some time, I was very influenced by the three series as they were simultaneously demonstrated by four people. The look of gratitude on all of the Yogis faces mixed with an energy of great determination, ignited a spark that has been deep within me. For too long now, I have given up my practice. For no good reason really. Maybe lack of inspiration, or perhaps I am just too comfortable living what I already know. Regardless of what I have been doing (or not doing) in the past, I feel that I am participating in this venture for a much greater reason. I have been nurturing my mind and the spirits of others for so long now, that it is time to find some balance in this equation. And re-commence on a path of my own healing as well. It is not very often that one can feel so close to God, but while sharing energy in that divine space, and listening to the sacred chants.... I am sure there was a presence there greater than us all.

Todd Geiser, Karley Lott, Danny Huddle, Lyndsay Bahn-Trimble and Maribeth MacKenzie

Lyndsay and Todd

Todd Geiser, Karley Lott, Danny Huddle and Maribeth MacKenzie

Recipe for eggplant meatless balls:

(completely winging it here!)

• Roast chopped eggplant, red onion and garlic with oil, salt and italian seasoning til tender.
• Remove and pulse in food processor in small batches.
• Transfer to a large bowl.
• When all eggplant is finished, add chopped fresh basil, matzo meal, 1 egg* and shredded parmesean cheese* (*optional) consistency should easily stick together
• Season with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper
• Oil a baking dish, roll into balls and bake on 375 for about 25 minutes
• ENJOY!

 

A walk down memory lane

While flipping through Barbara Harpers, Gentle Birth Choices, I came upon a great passage that disclosed many answers to common misconceptions about the safety of  babies being born in water. There are certainly too many topics to mention here, but we can skim the question most commonly asked:  "How does the baby breath during a waterbirth?" To really answer this question, one must understand that a newborn in utero only has contact with the mothers amniotic fluid, and ocean-like atmosphere and has no need to breath. The human body amazes me everyday. And learning that a baby actually "breaths" by taking the oxygenated air through the umbilical cord harmoniously shared by this perfect partnership.... WHOA! Try explaining that to my 4 year old who wants to know what bellybuttons are for! The temperature of the water is so close to that of the maternal temperature that it prevents any detection of change within the newborn. It is not until the newborn infants skin, especially around the nose and mouth, makes contact with the air, that the baby will take its first breath.

I took this picture with Barbara Harper in January of 2009, at a Waterbirth International workshop. It was the first birth related workshop that I had ever attended. Coming across this picture, taken what feels like forever ago, made me really realize that this journey is a life long one that I am blessed to embark upon. And again, I am sending gratitude to all of those who I have met and helped to guide me along the way!

(For more info check out the Waterbirth International website)

Cleanse Day 1

Day One of my fast and this was breakfast! Juice of apple, kale, spinach, cucumber, beet, ginger, garlic, celery and carrot! I decided that to only juice would be too stressful for me. I run around with a toddler and go to the pool for most of the day. I need to pack a lunch for these outings or I would lose it, and binge on junk food! So I am doing a combination of raw food and juice.

 

So this is what I packed for lunch today:

A kale salad with shredded beets, scallions, summer squash,cherry tomatoes, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. A homemade dressing of fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and pressed garlic! Yum!

 

I would love for you all to share some raw recipe ideas or links here!

I will keep you updated as I go :)