Juice Me:

I am probably the biggest documentary fanatic out there, especially when it comes to blogging about them.  Trust me, I have other hobbies!  I walk my pup, Turbo daily, I read for over an hour every night & I also like to partake in the elliptical at lunch.  These are just every day hobbies, not mentioning the camping, diving, hiking, climbing, swimming, jumping, skipping & singing I love to do on weekends.  But, with that said, there is a new documentary in my heart.  Continuing with my love of this earth, my body & what is real, here's a documentary about feeding your body real food.  It's called Fat Sick and Nearly Dead & it's mainly about juicing!



Now, with the universe & it's crazy cool way of working, I have a bit more news & linkage for you.  This morning as I was browsing my Pinterest homepage for inspiration, recipes & such, I came across a delightful link to the most beautiful Strawberry Mint Spritzer.  It wasn't just the recipe that intrigued me though, it was the blog itself.  The language used & the links I saw.  So, I began clicking away.  & just what did I find?  Well, I saw a post titled, Health Benefits of Juice Feasting.  You heard right, feasting, not fasting.  A key word which makes everything so clear & yummy sounding.  While juicing, you are getting the same amount of calories you normally would, but on top of that, you're getting a feast-full of nutrients directly to your blood stream with no fiber to process.  You are filling your body with more good than you could ever imagine & it will thank you for that.  & that's just what Linda's site is.  It's a blog filled with recipes to fuel your body, each being a feast of nutrient rich, delicious food!

I'm sold.  I've been sold on this idea for quite some time, but this was the straw that broke my back.  On top of this documentary, I've found this amazing blog & that's really all I needed to try this.  Before moving to Seattle in June I plan on doing a 10 day juice cleanse.  Once we move, I'd like to try an extended juice cleanse to reset my system & prepare it for a life without a fridge filled with condiments.  {more on that later}  Until then I'll be trying some of her other recipes out, such as Cauliflower Pizza Crust & Baked Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs.  Don't those look amazing?  I love me some spaghetti squash!  & this is the perfect answer to my pizza dilemma!  I can't wait to try them both out.

Time-Out:

Why, hello there empty computer screen which I am to type on as if speaking to an audience.  How has your week been?  Oh, blank you say?  Sorry about that, I'll try to pay more attention to you, it's just that life get's in the way.  & here is a bit of that for you.

Turbo, the first child of myself & Mike, is now four months old.  With that came his rabies shot, access to dog parks & time for training!  Lucky him.  Last night while out getting his food, as he searched for long lost goodies under the racks in the stores I found myself a little piece of doggy training.  A manual, if you will, on how to Train Your Dog Like a Pro.  Instead of stories & technicalities, this book is at it's best a step by step guide on the technique used to train your pup.  I cannot wait to work on this with Turbo!  It has a DVD with step by step visuals on what you are going to be working on which I'll watch tonight & hopefully after his walk I can even get a training session in!  

Since Turbo already has "sit" pretty much down, I'm going to continue working with that & begin incorporating the other first level commands.  Sounds so official!  

Oh well, that's what's been happening here.  Fun times in the land of puppy-hood!  

Kinda Wordless:

INGREDIENTS:

Every so often I like to browse the documentaries section on Netflix Instant Watch.  As I was doing so earlier this week I stumbled upon a film called "INGREDIENTS."  Along with it's bold type & great description, this film was my weakness.  I know that I'm passionate about something when as I'm watching or reading I feel a welling sensation & a weight on my chest.  I don't necessarily tear up, but it's close.  & when it comes to this, to local food, to the environment, I'm a sucker.

"American food is in a state of crisis, but a movement to put good food back on the table is emerging. What began 30 years ago with chefs demanding better flavor, has inspired consumers to seek relationships with nearby farmers. This is local food."




Like Alice Waters, a chef & the founder of the Chez Panisse Foundation & the Edible Schoolyard program, I too went on a journey to France at the age of 19 with art school.  We had many "free days" in Paris where we could roam around & explore the city.  While there, I discovered the joy that I get from local food.  Standing in line at the bakery for a fresh baguette, smelling all the fresh fruits & vegetables at the market, talking with the farmers & people who ran the shops & markets.  We even had the chance to explore the vineyards of some of South France's most tasty wines.  & from then on, I was smitten.

When I got home I discovered our own cities farmers market.  I became more & more aware of the idea of fresh local food as compared to the grocery store & it's produce which usually has labels like "Argentina" or "Columbia," & processed foods.

As I took some time off of school to figure out just what it is that I'm supposed to be doing with myself, I began to write.  Most of the characters in my stories had a close relationship to their home town, their land, their earth & community.  With our move to Seattle approaching I began pushing more & more on what it is that I'm going to major in.  After so many months of thinking & arguing with myself, I settled on a plan more fitting than anything I could have dreamed of.  Environmental Studies was my answer.  & while it sounds like such a broad degree there are schools & cities such as Santa Cruz who specialize in Environmental Agriculture.  This is my dream.  & while it seems so far away for me, I have a goal finally & that's all I really need.

I dream of working for a non profit organization, growing my own garden, having bees & chickens.  I dream of lovely meals every night from local food, where I can sit around with my family & know that they're eating quality ingredients.  Know that I'm not only feeding them & their spirits but also this earth.  By supporting the local growth movement & it's respect for the natural process.  I dream of change & change will not happen unless you're willing to do something different.  This is me doing something different.  This is me, feeding my spirit, my passions, my earth, our earth.  & even if it sounds ridiculously corny to you, I completely feel that this is important.  & why wouldn't it be.  Why wouldn't it matter what we put into our bodies?  What we're essentially made of & what that's made of?  I think it matters a great deal.  & that is why I am completely passionate about this.

Time-Out:

Here are some things that are truly inspiring me in 2012:

1.  Pinterest, especially the food & health pins.  They're really making me think more about how I feel about food more & more ... if that makes any sense.  

2.  Adventures with Mike & Turbo.  Camping at the beach, hikes up Mt. Rubidoux.  

3.  Having Vivs help me name my bike.  She really deserves love & I think if she has a name, I might be more apt to show her the love she deserves.  So far we have "Bonnie" as a front-runner.  Stay tuned for more bike love at the end of this post.

4.  The holidays hurt me in a bad way but I've finally gotten over my sugar cravings.  It's weird because I never have had a true sweet-tooth but the holidays tried to give me one.  I'm also starting to lessen my portions.  I only had one bar from my Nature Valley granola bar this morning, instead of both.  

5.  Fixing up my sit-up bench with Mike.  I absolutely L-O-V-E that sit up bench.  It's at a decline, so your head is lower than your knees.  It's relatively small, so it can be stored in a closet or something like that & it really gives you the best ab work-out.  

6.  I've been kinda sorta doing my makeup a bit more than usual.  & not like, over-doing it, more like, taking care of my face.  I'm not a big foundation girl but today I used my tinted moisturizer, Benefit's You Rebel Light, & remembered why I love it so much!  I don't feel like my skin is going to get hurt by the sun when I wear this stuff & it really does even out my skin tone.  

7.  This might sound kinda silly but I started doing my squats again.  Every time I use the restroom while I'm at work, before I come out I do 10 squats.  It's something my coworkers friend told her to do & she passed it on to me.  

Whelp, that's all for today.  2012 looks like it's going to be a fantastic year!  I've already done so much & feel like a lot more is going to get done.  I've been in the Spring cleaning mood, so I may do that soon.  I've also started reading the Hunger Games & cant put it down!  But before I go, I have to leave you with a lovely little story of a bike & a girl.  Vivs had this on her blog & I had to re-share it.  Kisses!  

Fantastic:

This weekend will be fantabulously fantastic.  Yup, that's a word!  Anywho, tomorrow night me, Mike & our pup, Turbo will be camping on the beach at my favorite spot!  It's not technically on the beach, but on the cliffs.  There's also a shake shack across the street where we'll be having a fast food sunset dinner.  So, expect photos, a lot of 'em!  & I'll see you all back on Monday!

Time-Out:

Boy, do I need a time out.  Attention beagle lovers, high energy dogs are just that, high energy.  While Turbo does live up to his name, he is one of the smartest dogs I've seen.  His ability to learn is just amazing.  His willingness, not as much.  It's like, when I catch him off guard & teach him something, he gets it.  But if he's focused on something like coming inside or eating, there is no way anything gets through to him.  But that's okay because eventually we'll get "sit" down while he's walking & doing his thing & once it's in his brain he'll be able to "sit" before eating or before being let in the house {as opposed to jumping up & scratching my moms french doors}.  So there, that's what I've been up to lately.  Other than that, Mike is coming down to town again tonight.  I hope he gets here early enough for me to take him out to a fabulous steak dinner because the guy sure does deserve one.  He's really great.  But yes, plenty adventure planned for the next week while he's down.  Camping, dinner dates, possibly a couple trips to the Salty Pig or Hangar 24 for some brews, we'll see.  All I know is that when he's around, I laugh.  With Mike, I'm able to be my dorky self, smile non-stop, giggle-snort my heart out & he loves me more for it.  But enough of that lovey-dovey mushy stuff.  IT's about time for me to go home & face the Turbo.  Goodnight folks!