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 :)

The spice of life

I can not believe how fast this past month has gone by. I have not even visited my own blog! Life has been nothing short of chaos, and I am beginning to feel that the storm is passing. With the death of my computer, returning to work, and the emergent renovations at our apartment that left us to co-habitate with friends and family, I certainly feel that, at times I lost my direction. Along with other things, like my keys, and sanity.
Throughout this ordeal I have wondered what the purpose of all of this would be. What would I learn when I came out of it? I over-pondered this question until I gave myself numerous headaches. And just like so many things in life, I could not come up with an answer, just had to wait for time to tell.
I feel that I have certainly gained a new appreciation of family time, routine, ritual, and wholesome family dinners! And working at the health food store has rekindled my love for healthy eating. With only 1 day left before we move back into our place (YAY!) I am full of excitement and ambition. As soon as I have ridden out this wave, I plan on doing a 60 day juice/raw food fast to give back to my body. As a way of showing thanks, and renewal!

 A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables is what I always recommend for families. By juicing, you are further increasing your bodies ability to digest these nutrients and super fast! For instance, garlic a common  ingredient has been dubbed "the wonder drug among all herbs". Raw garlic juice is great source of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and vitamin B1. It is also very high in sulfur, a vital nutrient for healthy, radiant skin. During World War I, garlic was used as a natural antibiotic. Because of its anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, drinking garlic juice or eating it raw can be effective in dealing with intestinal parasites.
And that is only garlic, imagine what properties a juice of carrot, apple, garlic, ginger and lemon would provide! Interested? Find juice recipes here. Also, for expecting moms, find out more about raw juice and pregnancy here.
I would love to hear how your ventures go!
Cheers!

Life, in a nutshell

With our recent move in walking distance to the beach, I was really in need of some self reflection. As with many of life’s changes, I was faced with a roller-coaster of emotions. I sought to find comfort in Mother Natures’ many resources.
I wandered around my new neighborhood for a bit, and found myself tucked away in the sand, in the exact place I frequented daily during my pregnancy with Veda. Over four years later here I am. Although in the exact same location, I am in a completely different place. Before the birth of my “little guru” I traveled to some of the most beautiful places. All on my own. I journeyed through countless cities and countries, full of curiosity and wonder. Although I felt a sense of euphoria a number of times, no matter how immense the beauty--- I felt alone an overwhelming amount of times. I was often inwardly ashamed of these feelings, thinking myself ungrateful.
It wasn’t until my “free” time was stripped from me (in the most loving manner), that I began to see quality time with oneself as a treasure to be uncovered often. ....
To be continued.....

The Birth House

I was surprised to find The Birth House by Ami McKay at my local library. I wasn't exactly looking for it, but upon finding a novel based on birth, I figured it would allocate a break from the usual brainy list of books that I forever have my nose in. Impossible to escape into a land of fantasy, due to the need to constantly take notes and highlight facts, these books leave little to the imagination. The Birth House offered an opportunity for me to delve into something deeper. A past, a connection to being a woman, and the journey that so many women before me took, so that we could freely chose today.

Surprisingly, events that this book are based off of took place nearly 90 years ago. I couldn't help but wonder how these customs affected my great-grandmothers, or their mothers, and so on, and in turn, subconsciously but directly affect women today. It is hard to reflect on a time when women had no choice about whom or when they would marry, how many children they would have and where they would birth those children.

We live in a time where lack of choice is not even fathomable, more so it is the over-pouring of options that I believe gets us into trouble. How can we even make a slight connection to what holds true in our heart, when we hardly take a moment to become fully aware of it with all of the distractions in our day to day existence? Our capabilities, true desires, where we have travelled from and where we long to go.These seeds of wisdom are buried beneath the snow, and the ever changing seasons of our busy lives.

I am sending my deepest gratitude to all of the women who have walked before me, will walk after me, and who are walking side by side. I look forward to honoring them all by learning and sharing their rituals, stories and wisdom!

I would highly recommend this book, even for someone who is not interested in birth. It is eloquent, and well written. I love that it offered a brief history of a time period that really changed birth in our culture. From home to hospital. Although I was upset when I finished it,(because I had nothing else to read while on vacation) I was pleasantly surprised by a list of further reading recommendations.

A seed can't stay a seed forever.....



Pam England, ME:), Virginia Bobro



My encouraging advisor, Susan and I



I dreamt I was a seed

Buried deep below

In the dark, dark earth.

My quest, unknown to me, was to grow.

Day by day, i nourished my core.

On the 21st day,

I thought I was dying

I found out later,

I was sprouting.

It ached inside while i tore.

If I had had any idea

How much pain it would bring

To reach the sunshine,

I may have forever remained a seed.

For even a seed hurts

On its journey to becoming a flower.



The journey is the reward! 

I spent a week surrounded by mountains, wise women and food that my taste buds delighted in. I met Pam England, who has a kind and uplifting spirit, and a refreshing sense of humor. I enthusiastically re-united with Virginia, who taught the Introductory training so well that I was forever hooked. And finally met my advisor Susan, who optimistically encouraged me to take this journey. A journey I had not felt I was ready for.

Appropriately titled

I started out on Wednesday ready to go, in some ways. I knew from my Introductory workshop that anything I had been avoiding, would not so soon be swept under the rug here. That is what Birthing From Within is about- the "From Within" part is the core. I learned storytelling, metaphor and much much more. But I mainly learned things that I could not discover on my own or in a book. I learned to step out on a limb, and was caught several times in a soft nest. Pure and safe from judgement. Thank you all, you have played an integral part of my growth. I enjoyed our time together more than words can ever explain.

Trying to make sense of the "underworld"

This creatures metamorphosis also took place at Bend of Ivy :)

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I have been able to write. In one week my daughter broke her elbow, my computer crashed and I locked my keys in my car (for the first time ever, actually). I'm not sure what has been going on here in cyberspace, but V and I have been enjoying the beach, listening to sweet music and taking in all the sounds and scents and colors of spring. Here are a few cd's that V is really enjoys at the moment.

Also one of my favorite thing to do has been to make (and then eat!) a kale salad! YUMMY and full of wholesome goodness!

Here is the recipe:

1 Bunch of kale washed and dried, gently break the leaves apart

Equal parts: white vinegar, toasted sesame oil, tamari ( I used 1/4 cup each)

6 cloves garlic

about 1 inch of ginger, peeled and pressed in the garlic press

6 Tablespoons toasted sesame and sunflower seeds 

Mix the white vinegar, toasted  sesame oil, tamari, garlic and ginger. Set aside.

Toast your seeds :)

Add to your kale, and eat the whole bunch in one sitting like me :)

I was also pleasantly surprised to find a Local Chapter of the Holistic Mom's Network has been started in our area.Find info on upcoming meetings here. Yes, Myrtle Beach is evolving!

My journey through a landscape of labor

In three weeks I will be making my way to Asheville NC for an Advanced Retreat to continue the steps to Birthing From Within certification. I can't believe that only 11 months ago I was driving to The Farm for my first BFW workshop. I wasn't sure exactly what I would encounter on the journey, but I knew it would be full of wonder entwined in it a priceless learning experience. As I reminice, I remember how fortunate I was to share that trip of a lifetime with my best friend Arianne and several other intriguing and inspirational women. Before crossing the initial threshold, I thought that BFW was simply childbirth education with some artwork, I had no idea about how those 3 days would change my life and perception forever. Since that workshop, I have learned how to love and receive love unconditionally, one of many transformational lessons, and am forever thankful.

Pamela Hunt was courteous enough to show us around The Farm clinic.