HAPPY BIRTHDAY

It's my birthday today.......54. I told someone 45 and they didn't bat an eye.....but I am 54. I am feeling good....but not as good as I want to feel. I have lost some weight this year, but not as much as I'd like to...I still have at least 12 pounds which will not be around by August. I am high raw....not 100%, and that's okay. However, I still want to do 100% for at least 6 months. I want to see what that does for me. I have been out of town traveling for the last 6 days and I just ate the best of what was available, much of which was not raw, but overall I ate well. Maybe went up a pound in weight...but that is easy to take back off. Still trying to get lower than my most recent low....that will happen soon.

I have decided to start blogging again regularly as I want to keep moving forward, making changes...and this will help me record my efforts.

Today I have eaten 2 large carrots, 12 ounces of org raspberries (yay they are on sale) some mixed greens, about 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds mixed with pine nuts, some dark chocolate and 2 multi-flora capsules which seem to have benefited me as my mood is definitely good.

Dinner is going to be at the Mediterranean restaurant, so won't be raw, and I may have one glass of champagne, but that will be it for alcohol til Aug 12th (wedding anniversary) and I will have only one glass then. I was going to say that would be it for cooked food til then....and it may be...but I may take a few days to work up to it.

I have decided upon a plan that is going to make my summer more enjoyable, and that is, having each of my sons (ages 13 and 15) and my husband, make dinner for us, one night a week each. With a little help, flexibility and planning, they can do this.

DAY 9/103 THE YELLOW FLAGS ARE UP

I am doing well on this juice feast, but I had a cheat today, 2 frozen fruit bars, 1 coconut and 1 mango.....and they were not raw or juicy. But it was a beautiful warm sunny day, and I have a sneaky side that talks me into these things....oh so easily do I pursuade myself it's ok even when I know it's not. I have to have a talk with myself.....ask myself what it is I truly want? And then , just do it. I know what I want.....I want to be a beautiful juicy raw goddess......and I am....but I have to have a talk with that self that is not with the program....that doesn't like change, even when it's change for the better.......that deep inside of me self.......that needs to relax and let go.

Other than that, I am doing well. Making my juices, drinking them, feeling good....had a nice poo this evening....my colon is smiling......so.....the impact of my cheat was minor in some ways, and I intend to be 100% raw juicy juice from now on.........as I want the full benefits of this juice feast.

Ciao bellas.......and must say.......it's so nice to have a forward thinking, intelligent, great president for a change.

One I can look at and listen to. And smile even.

JUICE FEASTING 6/106

I am having a 16 week long juice feastival.....care to join me? Today is my 6th full day of juicing and it is going very well. I stopped at the store on the way home tonight and bought more greens...I love buying fresh fruits and vegetables...it just feels so good to know I am feeding myself such healthy foods. I got spinach, lacinato kale, dandelion greens, romaine and broccoli. I have zucchini, parsley, carrots, granny smith apples, celery and cucumbers already. I also have ginger..I need to get a bit more creative with my juices, though I like them just fine. After a week of drinking thawed frozen juices....I would like to figure a way to do all or mostly all fresh juices...but time is a serious factor and rising early is a possibility, but I like my sleep and my husband likes a quiet morning....so....not sure what I will do. I am feeling fine, but wondering about the long term effects of drinking frozen juices...are they nutritious enough? Would love to get some feedback on this...I started a discussion about it on the global juice feasting website, but haven't received any comments yet.

Feeling a bit cold....normal while juice feasting....feeling moments of bliss interspersed with crabbiness....lol....hoping to lose the crabbiness and keep the bliss....so love it. Keeping myself smiling by envisioning the new me.........so looking forward to the transformation....heaven knows I have attempted it so many times before. This is to be the time. Quitting would be so boring.
Not in the least tempted to quit......here's to amazing transformations....to becoming a juicy vibrant sexy lithe raw goddess.....here's to living an amazing life.

Day 3/109

hmmm...have had some nice little bm's......and feeling and looking good....on day 3. I made a quart of orange/grapefruit juice this morning, had a quart of carrot/apple juice I made last night, and a quart of thawed green juice during the day, then came home and ate some coconut oil...with a bit of stevia powder...while it's not juice, I don't consider it really eating, but I don't think I am going to make a habit of it either. Did a bit too much food tasting while making dinner, even with spitting it out and rinsing my mouth out with water....it just was not a good thing. I did not actually 'eat', but I feel a bit like I did...my stomach doesn't seem to have noticed, but my body did. It's amazing how such a tiny amount of cooked food which did get absorbed has such an effect. I feel down...I lost my vibrant look. It will be back tomorrow, as this was indeed a very minor, tiny, transgression, but I am going to be much stricter with myself......it's hard to cook for your family and not at least taste what you are cooking...I need to know if it has enough salt, enough flavor...etc. But I think I will just have to go on faith and memory from now on.

I have got a spot on the global juice feasting site....it's great to interact with others who are juice feasting the same time you are....2 people even started the same day I did. We are all determined to do a full juice feast.

My frozen juices are o.k......not great, but okay at least for palatability....the freezing process does tend to make them a bit wierd....they separate out....but my body feels fine with them, and I do have fresh juice each day...of varying amounts. I think this is a good plan....as it really makes my week much easier...makes it much easier to stay on juice as generally juice is readily available.

So......on I go......and I have lost weight.....I forget my starting weight but I appear to have lost at least 3.5 pounds if not 5.5 pounds. My goal is 10 pounds per month. One I think I will easily attain. So looking forward to having my body back this summer....I hate having a fat middle....it really ages one...and it is so bothersome to me, as otherwise I really don't look my age.
Looking forward to turning back the clock.

Time to go make some juice!

Ciao bellas!
Alessandra

DAY 2/110

Today was a good day...very busy at work...so nice to just get my jars of juice out of the refrigerator and go....no need to juice in the mornings......felt a little hunger but not much, slept well, have peed alot, had a good bm......doing fine...busy and it's late and I'm tired...and need to make a little juice....so very short post today.....so loving this juice feast! I can already see a difference in my face.

JUICE FEASTING 1/111

Today is day 1 of my 112 day long, or 16 week, juice feast. Through it I hope to be transformed by the time my next birthday arrives. Working all my life for this. I have done one 17 day long juice feast in the past, it was all going just fine, not sure why I stopped. Not sure at all. I do know that I did find the daily juicing a bit tiresome, but I am trying something new this time, I am making most of my juice for the week ahead of time. This takes a bit of work, but doing it all at once and freezing the juice, means my week is that much easier. I still do juice some each day, but it isn't as much....today I had 1 quart of orange/grapefruit juice which I'd made yesterday and 2 quarts of green juices made yesterday, then when I got home from work I made a quart of fresh carrot juice...and just had about 12 ounces of fresh orange juice. Should be enough for today. I also made a new quart of orange/grapefruit juice for tomorrow, and took 2 jars of green juice out of the freezer to thaw for tomorrow. I am feeling good....a bit of stomach feeling like it's hungry, but I know better...I know it's just cleansing.....and I am feeling a bit chilly but I have gotten very good at dressing warmly.....so juice feasting here I come! Here I am! I am a raw and juicy goddess! I am also getting more clairvoyant....thinking thoughts that very soon show themselves to be true..mundane things...like the light is going to be green.....which is a bit clairvoyance and a bit just being familiar with the lights, but tonight as I was coming home everything was slowing me down...and I thought to myself, that's because there is going to be a police car up ahead, and I didn't really pay any attention to this thought, but when I turned into our subdivision and went around a bend....there it was...the police car! Put on the brakes, smiled and them, and luckily no lights came on. I was going a bit fast, but not all that fast......I am going to pay more attention to these thoughts. I have been having more vivid dreams recently also, and remembering them....though I only sort of remember last nights....last night's dream was wierd, distressing, hiding from aliens or someone/thing which was trying to get us, inslave us...the dream ended with hiding......think that came from a kid's sci-fi book I am reading...not sure. Just interesting to be having more vivid dreams. And until today, I have only been high raw...not 100%......imagine how things will be one week from now! I am happy to be juice feasting...I love that place it takes me to.....and I look forward to all of the cleansing and changes my body is going to be going through......love love love it! Will definitely have to take some before and after pictures. Most definitely.

Ciao bellas......
have a joyfully juicy day!
xxoxxox
Alessandra

THE STORY OF STUFF

I sent out an email to a bunch of people who happened to have gotten captured by my email site...and got one back as an autoresponse with a link to a great website and video. The video took forever to load (on my computer) but was a great video...I have to show it to my kids. It shows why we shop, and the complete picture of what our rampant consumerism does to people and the planet. Here is the link. http://www.storyofstuff.com/index.html It is called.."The Story of Stuff". Very nicely done...good for kids and adults. Makes you really think about what you/we are doing to the planet....buying 'stuff'.....throwing it away...where does it all go....yeah.....it has no where to go......and we keep throwing away more and more stuff....til soon it will literally be in our own backyards. I have felt bad about this for awhile now....hate having to throw away stuff. We throw away lots of paper and plastic....and compostable food scraps....I try to recyle the paper and plastic and glass and cans.....and plan on building a compost heap this spring....and we don't buy alot of 'stuff' we don't need....which makes it all more alarming, as we still have plenty of 'stuff' we throw out...that I can't imagine where it goes. Lots to think about, take action on.

Today was a good day. I had 1 quart of green smoothie comprised of 24 oz of orange and grapefruit juices, 2 bananas and a bunch of mixed salad greens. I have been making them in my new chainsaw blender......chainsaw as it is so loud....and then 1 quart of the MC lemonade leftover from yesterday. This lemonade is what I call dragonfire lemonade as it had a lot of cayenne in it. 1 Tablespoon of cayenne in 2 quarts of lemonade. Yowza. I find that once I am used to there being cayenne in it, I can increase the amount quite a bit. It is very cleansing to use lots of cayenne. I have been taking fiber daily....but am out of my Ultra Colon Cleanse herbal laxative capsules...I have some other ones....the ripped me off royally ones....but I don't think they are very effective.

Today was a good day because I have stayed 100% raw and because it just was. I have felt a bit off at work...as it is a bit boring, not really what I want to do, and I have been feeling that I don't want to be there....but I am not 'ready' to leave, so I can't be putting that vibe out there, so I had a good meditation on it last night when I couldn't sleep because my feet were f'ing freezing, and I came to a good place about it, about how I was feeling....as it is a good job, 'secure' if there is such a thing, nice people, and it has interesting aspects about it. Partly I have been off because I personally have just been off and partly because I really do want to do something different with my life. So, today I went in with a good attitude, lots of positive affirmations, and had a really good day. Learned how to do something that I've needed to learn but the right moment hadn't come up....got things done that I needed to get done...felt good about my interactions...the one woman who seems down on me was nice to me today.....traffic was good coming and going and just now when I went on my email to get that link, my computer said the time was 7:17 (very special numbers to me...17...7...and I had 17 new emails in my inbox....at 7:17...a wonderful synchronicity. I am calling that number to me...17,771.....yes yes yes.....

So...dinner was a yummy little pudding of a handful of cashews with a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil, a bit of apple cider (raw) and some cacao nibs...that my blender only sort of blended...I was hoping for more of an incorporated chocolate pudding but it was more like chocolate chip pudding. Then I made a bit of guacamole with 1 small avo, 2 med tomatoes, a bit of cilantro, poblano pepper, lime juice, cayenne and Mrs Dash's extra spicy seasoning. Ate that with some of my flax crackers...the green ones that taste like they were made with grass and apples....lol....they give me gas and move my bowels...that works for me, though I doubt I make these again.

You are a beautiful spirit....thank you for reading my blog.

Ciao bellas!
love and blessings
Alessandra

COO COO FOR YOUNG COCONUTS

Okay, so after the waffles I was 50-75% raw for 6 days and now I am back (today is day 4) to 100% raw. Over the weekend I had a couple of young coconuts and ooooh they were good! So full of that wonderful coconut water....nearly 2 cups in each coconut...which means there wasn't all that much meat, but that's okay. With the first one I ate a bunch of the meat, then took the rest and made a coconut pudding with the meat, some coconut oil and a bit of raw honey. Oh my. With the second coconut I used the meat like noodles and had them with some pesto. Yum yum. I have been having mostly the MC lemonade with a little bit of food. Today I had 32 oz of the lemonade with lots of cayenne, then came home and made a tomato soup with 3-4 med tomatoes (forget how many) about a cup of raw macadamias...didn't measure....almost a cup of my spicy MC lemonade and an avocado. Yum. I also added a bit of Mrs Dash's extra spicy seasoning. Ate all that with some flax crackers made by yours truly.....and I am still hungry. However it is just my stomach talking I aint' listening. May have a bit more lemonade....but no more food. um...maybe. I hate feeling hungry even if it's just my stomach talking.....detoxing....hmmm...will either have to find some distractions or feed my fool stomach. I am trying not to as I want to lose 10 pounds asap. It will greatly help my morale.

I have lost a couple of pounds....I want to lose more. Didn't go to the gym tonight as we are all fighting off a cold, and as I am semi fasting my energy is a bit low. Didn't drink that much lemonade during the day....work keeps me busy and distracted. The big challenge coming up is the weekend. I am going on a retreat with my women's chorus...will need to be prepared foodwise. Dinner time for the 'boys'.....gotta go

Ciao bellas!

LOVING ABUNDANCE

I am grateful for the lessons I am learning on my journey to becoming a Raw Goddess.........while eating those waffles did not make me feel bad in any way (physically or emotionally) they did cause me to lose my natural raw high. And I want it back. So today, so far I have had 1 quart of grapefruit/orange juice, and some of a coconut smoothie. Made with the firm meat of 1/2 a coconut, a bit of the coco water, 2 bananas, some cilantro, a mango, a kiwi and the juice of 1 lime. I've eaten maybe half of it....not really hungry. Another thing that stole my natural raw high, was finishing off the chocolate bar in my desk at work. Yes it was organic, Black & Green's or whatever, but it was cooked food. So........it's back to 100% raw 100% of the time for me. I am glad for my little sidetrip back to the cooked foods that I thought I loved so much (those waffles were truly tasty) but I am learning to re-educate not only my taste buds but my attachments as I would much rather be attached to having that natural raw high than attached to how a particular food tastes, especially when the outcome is a lowering of energy. I am a Raw Goddess and a Conscious Spiritual Being experiencing LOVING, JOYOUS, NATURAL AND SPONTANEOUS ABUNDANCE IN GIVING AND RECEIVING LOVE, WEALTH, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS.....AND IN LOVING MYSELF I OPEN MY HEART, MY MIND AND MY SOUL TO THE RICHES THAT ARE WAITING FOR ME TO RECEIVE THEM SO THAT I CAN BE RICH IN ALL WAYS, GIVNG AND RECEIVING LOVE IN ALL FORMS BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENDLESS FLOW OF LOVE THAT IS OUR UNIVERSE.

FEELING BETTER ALL THE TIME

Today is day 18 of being nearly always 100% raw....I say nearly always as I have been, except for a few white corn chips and then this morning I made waffles, and if I must say, I make the best waffles, and I ate some with maple syrup. That was at around 10 am and it is now 7:26 pm and I am just eating again....okay, I did have a banana a couple of hours ago, but other than that..nada.
Eating the waffles with maple syrup did not have any negative effect....and I am back to raw...as I am loving it and loving the way it makes me feel. Feeling that raw bliss more and more....days where I am happy with everything and everybody, even when things don't go according to plan.

That is where I want to be....to stay. My salad has some goat feta in it...not raw....but I wanted a greek salad....and it has olives, the goat feta and sweet baby bell peppers and tomatoes and avocado and thinly sliced red onion with mixed greens and Seeds of Change Greek Feta dressing. It is delicious.

I worked out again today.....it felt good. I brought a new book I got from the library...I am loving this book.....about a woman's travels in Morroco in the late 60's along with a bunch of great recipes.....it's a great read.....I am literally devouring it ( oooh a double entendre) and there are some recipes in it that are not cooked.....I love books about food and people's lives....I find them most enjoyable. Ruth Reichel's books, Laurie Colwin.......I remember once when I had bronchitis and stayed home from school for a week, I loved watching the cooking shows on tv. The Galloping Gourmet, Julia Child....I think at the time I found her to be a bit much but now if I saw her old cooking shows I know I would find her very funny. I love food and flavors and all of it's colors and textures.........a good croissant....ohh esp a good chocolate croissant....but those are things of the past......I may indulge in one if I ever come across a really outstanding one....but I am a Raw Goddess. Those days are behind me.

I made some flax crackers today....didn't use a recipe...don't really need a recipe. Some of the flax I ground....most of it I ground and I had some ground almonds, so used those, about 1 cup of the flax seed, whole (before I ground up most of it) and then I ran some carrots, parsley, kale and 2 granny smith apples through my juicer and used the pulp and the juice, and I ground up some dulse, just some, not too much, and added that in, with a bit more water and some apple cider vinegar for contrast. I would use citrus juice but I am sharing them with a friend who can't have citrus. They are very green, the batter tasted good....I can't wait til they are ready. It made 3 trays worth....I tried to spread them thinly....I like thinner crackers. I will be a cracker factory....they are so easy to make.....never buy them again.

I FELT IT....THAT RAW BLISS

Since starting with 100% raw again, I have been waiting to feel that raw blissfulness.....and today I had a bit of it. It was lovely. I think because I have yo yo'd alot with what I eat, that my body was much more stressed than I realized. I think that right now, instead of losing alot of weight, my body is focusing on healing.....which is alot of work. It just feels like that is what it is doing. The weight loss is happening also, but it's slow. I am not worried about that part, it will come. I am just so happy to be-coming a Raw Goddess....can't wait to look back 5 months from now and see how far I have come. I do miss carb foods a bit, but not as much as before. It is heartening to realize that it takes most people a good while and quite a few tries to be successfully 100% raw for the long term. Especially for those of us who don't have the motivation of health and or weight crisis.

What brought on the bliss today I think was my yummy fruit smoothie.....and then also my awesome lunch salad.....though I do think I could do just fruit for a while and be happy. Fruit and maybe a few nuts, and flax crackers and avocadoes...and salad greens....that is mainly what I have been eating....what feels best to me. Also some veggies in my salad like carrots, sweet baby bell peppers, tomatoes, avos, even zucchini would be good...raw veggies and raw fruits. I ate some of my almond hummus tonight after working out....eh.....something about it, maybe the cumin, and also the garlic....eh.

I made some flax crackers the other day....I am liking them okay, but next batch I make will not have sundried tomatoes in them. Nope. So worked out tonight, first time in a week....it's been a bit sketchy between vacation/holidays, starting 100% raw, etc. but I think I am back on track with it...going again on Thursday evening before my chorus rehearsal. We are rehearsing this really cool, really long song....I like most of it, but I don't like anything to do with war, or even soldiers...as I don't think anyone should be a soldier...that being a soldier is not a glorious thing, but then, I have never needed a soldier to come to my rescue...and if I did I would love them I know...it's just the whole thing about agression and killing and violence, etc...which is what soldiers have to do....I have pretty much stopped looking at the MSM news.....definitely have my filters, when I am at the gym I bring books to read so I have something to do as nothing on the many tv's in there interests me. I hate it that they have tv's in the locker rooms...totally unnecessary if you ask me....totally unnecessary in most public places that they have them in... I quit watching tv over 20 yrs ago....and lately don't even like movies much. Sometimes I do, but often I don't....

Wish I had a magic mango ripener....I have all of these not quite ripe mangos and I am worried they are not going to get ripe......oh words are power...my lovely luscious mangoes are so sweet and delicious......

nuff said....

ciao bellas!

RAW GODDESS

I am very happy to say that I am still 100% raw, give or take a percentage point for a few digressions. There have been some great sales on mangoes, pineapples, kiwis and avos which has helped alot and it's the time of year for some really good citrus. Ruby red grape fruit, Valencia Oranges, Meyer Lemons, Tangerines, etc. I have been having some awesome smoothies and delicious salads. I haven't ventured too far into the fancy raw food scene as I don't like alot of complicated foods...my body just doesn't care for them. So I eat pretty simply, the most complex things I've made have been my smoothies, some guacamole....salads with mixed greens, baby bell peppers, clover sprouts, carrots and avocados. Plain avocado on Matter of Flax Italian or Mexican flax crackers. Yum. I have made some flax crackers but the recipe used sun dried tomatoes so I only like them ok....knew I didn't really want the tomatoes in there but I was following the recipe. Next recipe I follow is going to be my own. I also made a 'carrot cake'....eh...too sweet, too mushy, my food processor didn't blend it enough to make it smooth. Thank heavens my husband helps eat this stuff......

So....still aiming for that big goal....RAW GODDESS....149 DAYS TO GO......

RAW CONSCIOUSNESS

I am really starting to get the hang of this raw business....really becoming quite addicted to it. Every day is interesting...I wake up thinking I am feeling crabby, not going to have a good day, but then I go on to have an awesome day. That happened to me again today...I was hungry probably truly hungry before I went to sleep last night, but it was late (after midnight) and I didn't want to get up, I had just thoroughly cleaned my teeth, so I didn't want to eat for that reason either, so I just lay on my stomach and eventually fell asleep. When I woke up I was feeling crabby and blue, but I think my blood sugar was just low, because after I got some yummy smoothie into me, I was fine. I even went and worked out today.....first time this year....as I have been doing mainly juices and smoothies and trying to make raw foods....just doing other things....but today I know I needed to do it. And it was good. I did 2 hours ....20 minutes of the stairmaster, 30 minutes on the treadmill and 25 minutes on the stationary bike. I usually do all that plus arm weights of different types and swim 10 laps...but I didn't have the 3.5 hours that that usually takes (along with a bit of time in the whirlpool, sauna, and steamroom plus a shower....) I brought along juice and water...and even made my own version of a lara bar incase I needed serious sustenance...which I didn't.....

I am surprised at how relatively little I am eating right now..and how lightly...I don't really like very many nuts or complex dishes.... I got a food dehydrator...but not all that into using it....though I do want to make some flax crackers. So far I have made pizza crusts, which are sitting in a container in my fridge, and onion rings...which are okay..my 14 yr old really likes them... and hope to make flax crackers tonight, if I can tear myself away from the computer. I am also making a raw lasagne tonight...hope the tomato sauce is good I put some cooked peppers and onions in it....that probably was a mistake.... I also have some mushrooms I want to marinate and made a large batch of raw almond hummus....half of which is in my freezer. I have been buying raw fruits and veggies like crazy....just went out and bought more bananas (these are actually ripe...yum) some collard greens to make wraps. some meyer lemons (not organic but the organic lemons were knobby and seemed to be mostly peel) some celery, carrots, and more garlic. I feel like I am just burning up our budget buying all of this food....but maybe I can stop for a while...coast on what I've got in the house....

I wrote the following tonight...which I hope you enjoy....it felt good to me to write it. This is what eating raw brings....more clarity......loving the consciousness that comes with being 100% raw.

It's All So Easy, It's All So Hard

Years ago I wrote a poem about how it is all so easy and it is all so hard...and that is just the plain truth of it all. It is easy to eat 100% raw foods and even easy to instigate change in our lives, but when we get out there to that point beyond which we have never gone before, all of a sudden it feels like it is all so hard......which is an illusion if you think about it.....it is really all just an illusion as to how hard it is to do new and different things, because it isn't hard to do them, it's just hard to get our minds/emotions around them, as they are like latex molds....they want to keep their old shape/patterns and resist being stretched beyond a certain point, and that resistance digs in it's heels once it realizes real change is in the wind. Why is that? I really am not sure, but like those sensations in my stomach that I used to think were hunger until I recognized them for what they are (detox/cleansing) what is going on isn't necessarily what you think it is.....I am at that point now...having been all raw for 6 days....and loving it....but I can feel those little gremlins stirring....unrest is in the air....but I am prepared this time...I know those gremlins are creatures that usually are asleep...functioning on autopilot, only waking up when they realize the autopilot has been turned off and the soul/heart/mind is awakening.....they fear that....why do we fear being awake? Once we stay awake long enough to see what it's really like.......it's awesome...you don't have to fly on the edge for this to happen...just wake up and actually direct your life, be in charge of your destiny...it only gets better....or so I'm told....so I see when others awaken......this time it's going to be me and I invite you to come along..

CARROT SOUP

OMG just having an awesome day today.....went out and bought more luscious fruits and veggies..mainly fruits...mangos and avos are selling for a dollar a piece...so I just can't buy enough of them, I think I bought 14 mangoes today and now have at least 20 avos....and I bought more kiwi's and a ton of banana's as I keep running out! Almost bought more oranges and grapefruit...but I have enough of those for now....must keep some idea of a budget....so for dinner tonight I am making a yummy carrot soup....and the boys are having falalfels with a raw tahini sauce, clover and sunflower sprouts, fresh tomatoes and grated carrots...they love falafel...it's just from a dry mix bought in the Whole Foods bulk aisle...and very good. Just dont' cook them in too much oil, the more you use the more they absorb...and then get crumbly..I like to keep the oil in the pan to the minimum. So....first thing today was another yummy banana,mango, kiwi, orange, grapefruit smoothie.....then out and about....had a lime Lara bar.....now set to finish off last night's guac with some flax crackers....and oh oh oh I got more fresh basil 2 large containers of it...they'd been out of it for nearly a week...so happy to see it back....now I can make my raw lasagne and some raw pizzas. Oh I love this raw lifestyle. Tomorrow is my last free day before I have to go back to work...so I am going to make lots of raw food...including....raw onion rings. Think I will get those going right now!

Ciao bellas!!
Alessandra

ps my feeling ever so spoiled shopping spoils

14 mangoes
10 kiwi
2 large containers of basil
4 shallot bulbs
2 large spanish onions
large bunch of dandelion greens
bunch of cilantro
2 bunches of italian flat leaf parsley
2 bunches of lacinato kale
apple cranberry flax crackers
3 bunches of bananas...no make that 5
13 granny smith apples

oooh I love living la vida rawa

DAY 4 100% RAW IN 2009 LUCID DREAMING

Doing well on raw.....mostly doing juice. I started out yesterday with some grapefruit/orange juice, then made a green smoothie for my 12 yr old...and a super duper green smoothie (mango, kiwi, banana, orange juice, parsley, kale, mixed greens, olive oil, scoop of hemp protein powder), but I only ate a bit before putting it in the fridge, as it was too heavy. So then I made some green juice with lots of granny smith apple in it...2 quarts and had that for the rest of the day. I tend to feel hungry (or it's detox and I choose to call it hunger) and have something more solid at the end of the day.....so I got the green smoothie back out and started eating it. Halfway through I mixed in a pie of raw pie I'd make, so had a thick sweet pudding.....ate that, ate one slice of sprouted bread and some flax crackers.....and got the worst indigestion. Heavy sweet nut cream mixed with other things is terrible food combining. So...slept hardly at all last night as I was having awesome thoughts....even got up and wrote them down....then tried to fall asleep with my eyes open ( a precursor to lucid dreaming) but my body was too out of whack to allow it....I could tell that I almost succeeded but it was just a rough night for me body wise what with the indigestion and all, lots of aches, pains, itches....just couldn't do it. Was still awake when the newspapers were delivered very early this morning.....will have to nap later today.

This morning I've had some grapefruit/orange juice, then made some more with my greenstar, got more of the juice and bioflavinoids in it that way...and I'd made a fruit salad for my 12 yr old (the 14 yr old is at a friend's house...) of mango, kiwi and banana...I took half of that and made a smoothie out of it with my juicerized grapefruit/orange juice. Citrus juice made this way seems almost creamy, it's thicker as you get some of the bioflavinoid, skin juice also. So now I am enjoying a yummy thick smoothie with little black kiwi seeds floating around in it. I wrote a piece on lucid dreaming which I will copy here as it is a most interesting subject. Far more interesting than what I've written so far today....

I spent a large portion of my day yesterday on Steve and Erin Pavlina's websites...they each have one. Reading about all kinds of stuff...very exciting stuff....one of which is lucid dreaming. Erin did a podcast on which she talks about how to make it happen (it sounds very do-able) and what happens when you are lucid (awake) in your dreams..how you can control and manipulate and make them into anything you want...do all kinds of cool things in your dream that would be impossible in real life. The first step to lucid dreaming is to remember all of your dreams. She says that we have usually 4-6 dreams per night and that it is good to keep a dream journal and record your dreams as briefly or with as much detail as you like....until you can consistently remember your dreams. Step 2 is to stay awake/conscious right up to the moment of falling asleep. You do this by keeping your eyes open as long as you can, blinking normally, and whenever your eyes close, you gently open them again...until poof...you just fall asleep without realizing it. This helps bring your waking consciousness into your dreams....and you keep doing this and each time you do it you bring a bit more of your waking consciousness into your dreams until you find yourself lucid/awake/conscious in your dreams. The first time is apt to be brief, but it gets better the more you do it. Also, you have to stay calm, as getting excited about what is happening 'wakes you up'...brings you out of the dream...

This is also a first step to astral projection, but that is a whole 'nother thing...won't even go into it here...as I know little about it. But lucid dreaming sounds awesome to me. I am also interested in psychic abilities as I know I have a bit... I have had some amazing dreams...and one truly psychic dream....and when my dad died last February, I knew. The morning before he died I called the hospital where he was at and asked anxiously if he'd made it through the night....which he had, but then he died the next night. I knew he was going to die very soon, even though he hadn't really been sick....I just knew. And just alot of little intuitive things...I use my intuition all of the time, my sense of things....and on one level I know and truly believe, that I can manifest anything at all, anything I want....but just getting clear to doing that...that is what I am working on. We manifest things all of the time...but to consciously manifest what we want and need.....that is the goal.

LOVING MY DEHYDRATOR

Today is day 2 of 100% raw in 2009....and I found a place to set up my dehydrator where the fan noise won't bother anyone (in the basement) and have some yummy pizza crusts nearly done. Looking forward to making some raw pizzas tomorrow......and some onion rings and some flax crackers and and and......

Today was mostly a juicy day.....all juice til after 9 pm....then I just was so hungry and not wanting more juice, so I had a thick slice of sprouted bread and some flax crackers and a drink/pudding? I made yesterday from almond milk, and ...oh I don't know...it's just thick and slightly chocolatey, and good...and I am still hungry...silly me....so will maybe have a slice of the raw pie I made yesterday. On second thought I won't as I am about to go to bed.

I did alot today.....vacuumed the entire house, which included taking the bottom off of the vacuum cleaner and getting it all sorted out as it was not working properly, think I just didn't put the new bag in quite right, but that's okay...a little maintenance is always good. Now it is working great again. Feel like I hardly sat down all day. Didn't make it to the gym...feeling a bit punk, yet energetic....will go to bed early??? guess it's too late for that..no wonder I am tired..
just wish there were more hours in the day as I still have so much I want to do. I saved the pulp from my juice (parsley, kale, carrots, zucchini, granny smith apples, celery and clementines) to use for some flax crackers......forgot to get more golden flax seeds when I was at the store today....there is always tomorrow..and I have enough to make a small batch...which is all I should make as I have never made them before and I'd hate to make a large batch of something that didn't turn out......will have to see if I can make something similar to the Matter of Flax crackers which are soooooooo goood!

Time to go check on my pizza crusts and get myself to bed.

Ciao bellas!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to all.......I have been raw off and on during this last month, started working out at the gym.....kickboxing with Josh is no more sad to say....Josh has disappeared on us....personal issues. So I joined 24HrFitness....and go 3-4 times a week for major workouts....and I have been blogging on rawfu.com....hanging out over there. Today is January 1st, 2009 and I am determined to make this a 100% raw year. I was going to do just juice today, but that didn't happen. I got the brilliant idea to feed my 12 & 14 yr olds only raw food for a week....but it only lasted to mid-afternoon. They don't want to eat only raw...however, they will eat more raw...so that is good. I am using the pesto on raw zucchini noodles that they refused to eat to make pizza crust with. It all works out in the end.

Inspite of working out at the gym regularly for a month, my weight remains unchanged. Sigh. It isn't awful, but it's more than I want it to be....so....raw it is for weight loss, for energy, for spiritual and mental clarity.....I want to be a raw goddess by my next birthday. Which is 160 days from now. I want to have lost all of my weight, have stayed 100% raw, have gotten sleek buff and strong....and I expect to be a raw goddess with a whole new life by then. Lots to go for...and it happens to everyone who stays 100 percent raw....it is what I want.

So........last birthday I got lots of raw recipe books, and just last week, I bought a dehydrator, an Excalibur 5 tray......hoping to use it soon...but may have to put it in the basement. It's noisy. No one ever mentions the noise...just the noise of the fan....but I don't like noise. Not to mention my husband won't like the noise.....so will see where it ends up. Working on some pizza crust to make raw pizzas.....but didn't start soaking the almonds til 5 minutes ago.

Today I have had 12 oz of grapefruit juice with 4 oz of orange juice added....a green smoothie....and various noshes of some raw granola that I ground up into a paste with some added dates and liquid...for a pie crust, which I filled with a cream made out of macadamias, pine nuts and kombucha, and topped with kiwi and banana slices. The boys each ate a slice of that, but I only nibbled at it a little, just enough to know it was good. I then took the leftover crust and added some almond milk to it to make a thick drink....quite filling. Having that at the moment...will make a yummy green salad in a bit......so not juice feasting......but definitely raw. Feeling tired and hoping I have more energy tomorrow so I have a good workout.

So.....I'm back.....and plan on posting regularly. Watched a good movie the other night about Heinrich Harrer,an Austrian mountain climber who got stuck in Tibet and met the Dalai Lama, so it was also about the Dalai Lama......very much enjoyed the movie. I find I am less and less interested in watching movies anymore......has to be very good, very entertaining...no violence...
I got a video on tigers from the library I may watch later.

Wishing you all a wonderful new year.......it is going to be my best year ever!!!