If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have missed my recent delivery of packages and upcoming reviews, Sunday fun and news or ShimmerOrganics. You might also enjoy A Package and a Story – this one is dear to my heart…  Be sure to check ‘em out!

Note: E3Live sent me samples, but I have not been paid to write this review. The thoughts I share in this post are my honest opinions.

Why E3Live?

As most of you know, I talked quite a bit about E3Live during my 30-day juice fast (and some afterward).

It wasn’t my intentions to “up and stop mentioning this fantabulous product” – I’ve just had a lot going on and got swamped with all the incoming packages and other freelance projects I’m obligated to.

There’s actually a story about me and E3Live….

A few years ago, I met a raw foodist. I was fascinated by this man. His skin was pure perfection. His hair was dark and shiny and luscious. His eyes were clear and bright. Totally amazing.

And, no, not that kind of fascination – he was married! I’m talking about just being mesmerized by the overall picture of perfect health. I still can’t get over it!

We talked about how he’d lost a significant amount of weight and improved his health dramatically, and how I’d done the same. While I was a LOT healthier than I used to be, I still didn’t have that pristine appearance he did, and I still wasn’t as healthy as I wanted to be. The difference? You’re thinking it was the raw food, right? Nope. I had been a 100% raw foodist off and on and was high-raw, even then. So, while raw food plays a HUGE role in my health improving, there was something more.

So… what was the difference in our health journeys? E3Live. Yep. That’s it. He was a dedicated E3Live customer; I wasn’t. Actually, I’d never heard of it until he introduced me to it that day.

There was another difference in us, though: He was able to spend money that I didn’t have. He was a successful business man and I was climbing my way out of financial ruins (due to barely surviving domestic violence and enduring so many health issues I wasn’t able to work).

And THAT’S why I was sooooooooooooo very honored to have the opportunity to receive samples of E3Live and BrainOn – what a blessing!

Now, on to the review of E3Live (BrainOn review will be next)….

About the Company

E3Live was founded in 1991, by President Michael Saiber. Dr. Ann Wigmore introduced him to the raw lifestyle over 30 years ago — he’s 67, but certainly doesn’t look it! (See, I’m telling you… it’s that LOOK of pristine health!)

President

Michael enjoys a variety of exercises. He’s huge on health and fitness, is a lecturer, and has a genuine heart for helping people – particularly those suffering from chronic illness and birth defects. He thrives on consuming the blue-green algae he’s so passionate about, and is known for truly “walking the talk.”

In a world filled with deceit and people who don’t practice what they preach, I’d say that’s quite the honorable man who lives what he says he does!

CEO, Owner

Tamera has over 20 years of business management experience and has had the amazing opportunity to work closely with Dr. Brian Clement (of Hippocrates Health Institute), Dr. Gabriel Cousens, and Dr. Fred Bisci, and others.

She also lectures and is the creator of some of the best-selling green health products out there. Well-known doctors and clinics use Tamera’s formulas. (How awesome is that?!)

Oh, and Tamera is 46 – and radiantly beautiful!

E3Live’s blue-green algae is harvested from Klamath Lake in Oregon:

“Upper Klamath Lake is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The lake receives an average 300 days of sunlight per year which provides a perfect growing environment for the world’s richest strain of wild AFA blue-green algae, scientifically known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The alkaline lake water provides more than 60 times the nutrients needed for the algae to grow to its full potential each year. Under the right conditions, AFA algae can reproduce every 20 minutes, which provides a plentiful abundance of this organic, high life-force, miracle super food.”– www.E3Live.com

From my research and my experience with E3Live’s customer service, I have found them to be passionate and kind people who strive to not only represent themselves in a professional manner and create quality products, but they genuinely care about us wholeheartedly!

Read it out for yourself:

“Thanks to you, over $250,000 worth of products have been donated to clients and patients of our clients. The recipients of these donations have serious illnesses rendering their financial condition unable to purchase anything not covered by medical insurance. By supporting our products, you can help us continue this effort.” – www.E3Live.com

E3Live was mentioned in People Magazine!

E3Live

This blue-green algae is overflowing with goodies for our bodies to gobble up!

I love that the company is so dedicated to quality:

“We are very critical and selective when it comes to harvesting, filtering, testing and formulating all our products. Our harvesting and purity testing is of utmost importance to us. We not only meet, but exceed quality and safety standards for harvesting processes.”– www.E3Live.com

Pros

The pros of E3Live are endless, really. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and all sorts of healthy goodies our bodies are crying out for.

From E3Live’s website:

1. Increase endurance and stamina
2. Lift and balance mood to reduce stress
3. Increase mental focus and concentration
4. Balance blood-sugar levels
5. Speed up recovery time
6. Restore overall biochemical balance ⁽¹⁾
7. Enjoy long-lasting energy boost ⁽²⁾
8. Grow healthier skin, nails and hair
9. Truly enhance overall well-being

That’s a LOT of pros!!

(1) Dr. Gabriel Cousens, Director, Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center
(2) Dr. Fred Bisci, nationally renowned health lecturer

Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids!

For Pets!

The caring people at www.E3Live.com didn’t forget – you can share the benefits with your furry friends!

E3Live is fantabulous for your PETS!! Pet lovers, I know you’re happy right now!!

Cons

The only cons I can find that you might not see as “Pros” are three things:

1. The price. Now, while I absolutely believe in this product and have seen for myself how taking it daily enhanced my health, energized me, and just made me “feel better,” I do absolutely understand that $150 isn’t pocket change. And, honestly, I couldn’t have enjoyed its benefits if I hadn’t received samples to review. However, you DO get 5 bottles for that price. Because of having to make special shipping arrangements, the company has found that shipping 5 bottles in each box results in the best freshness and transport success.
2. The taste. I’m personally used to the wonderful “green” taste health products often have. I’ve chugged potent herbal tonics, teas, and all sorts of concoctions. So, some of you may not like the taste. But the good news is… you can disguise it by tossing a serving into a smoothie or other recipe and enjoy its health benefits while your taste buds enjoy something yummy!
3. The preparation. I freelance, so I’m at home, but I can understand someone who works outside the home a gazillion hours a week being afraid they might not have time to thaw and prepare the upcoming week’s servings. To ease your conscience, I’m sharing directions below to show you this isn’t really a con – you just might think it is…

How to Thaw E3Live Products

You don’t have to be nervous about how to thaw and consume E3Live. It only takes a few minutes to prepare your servings for the week.

1. Simply take your bottle out of the freezer.
2. Pop it in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes.
3. Then pour 7 tablespoons of the melted liquid into a small jar or container with a lid.
4. Put your bottle back in the freezer, and your small jar in the fridge for easy access during the week.
5. That’s it!

See, I told you it’s easy!

How to Take E3Live

I personally just take a tablespoon straight up, but I’ve also added it to my green juice (as shown above) – especially during my 30-day juice fast.

You can also add it to smoothies or other recipes (think: raw fudge, etc.)

The possibilities are only as limited as your imagination and ingredients!

Verdict/Grade?

I’m sure after reading all this, you know I’m going to give E3Live an A+ grade. I have to, ya know? With such dedicated, caring people striving to help make the world a healthier place, only the highest grade applies. I give them extra points for donating their products to the less fortunate, who’d never be able to afford them. That speaks loudly of their character and what their business is all about. That, to me, shows they care more about us than they do about sales.

Thank you, E3Live, for being generous with samples – and with your heart!!

Have you ever taken E3Live supplements? What did you think of the taste? What kind of results did you have? Would you like to try it, but don’t have the extra money to? Stay tuned…

The Surprise?

After my review of BrainOn, E3Live is sponsoring a contest so one lucky winner can be rich with FIVE bottles of their awesome, blue-green algae (3 bottles of the original formula; 2 of BrainOn + a shaker cup—over a $200.oo value!!!). Get ready!!!

If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have missed my recent delivery of packages and upcoming reviews or the Sunday fun and news. You might also enjoy my last post: A Package and a Story – this one is dear to my heart…  Be sure to check ‘em out!

Would you believe I get to share another package with you?! Pretty crazy FUN, huh?

This one came from Lisa Ann Turkel. Lisa owns ShimmerOrganics. She makes homemade, raw, organic beauty products and has sent me her Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask to review.

I’m really excited about this! Lisa has been a gem to communicate with. Her passion for pure, raw beauty products permeates through each and every word.

I love her personality and I love the way she ships her masks, too!

Check this out…

Pink Packaging!

A Cheerful Message!

Isn’t that awesomeness? It’s like a fortune cookie message. And this pink packaging and cheerful message brightened up my (rainy) day!!

Pure, Raw Beauty!

Lisa filled this container to the brim with quality ingredients. She’s put a lot of time, effort, and thought into her business. I can tell that already!

Organic Mask Information

Thank you, Lisa, for allowing me to enjoy your beauty mask. I’m honored to have the opportunity for sure.

I’ll be trying the mask more than once before I post the review (and a surprise for y’all!) and I might even grace the camera lens with my mask-covered face. Ya never know!

If you’re an impatient kind of person, and you don’t want to wait for my review, you can go ahead and order directly from Lisa here.

Thank you to Lisa, from ShimmerOrganics!

If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have missed my recent delivery of packages and upcoming reviews or the Sunday fun and news. Be sure to check ‘em out!

About the Package

My most recent package came from Alissa Cohen. I had contacted her way back when I first started doing reviews/contests here at HWJ.

I never heard back and just assumed my email had been lost in her junk folder or that she wasn’t interested in my offer.

Then it happened: I received an email from someone who works with her, saying that Alissa had been swamped and that they’d just worked their way down to my email. I was told a package was on its way to my house and that they were excited for me to look over and share Alissa’s book and DVD. And, as you can see, there are two of each. You know what that means?! When I post the review, a contest will launch! The winner will receive their very own copy of Alissa’s book and her DVD, Living on Live Food.

Eeeek!

Alive With Alissa

And the Story?

Words can’t express the emotions that overwhelmed me when I opened this package. It all came flooding back…

A few years ago, I sat on the opposite side of this computer screen. I was overweight, had a non-working bladder, was very, very ill, and was hopeless that I’d ever get better.

As I searched online for answers, I was compelled to study the healing benefits of raw foods and juices. One of the places I ended up, was Alissa Cohen. Her passion for raw foods inspired me. Her testimonies of what raw foods and juices can do gave me hope.

Tears filled my eyes as I stared into that box, looking at these books and DVDs.

Amazing.

I never knew I’d now be on this side of the computer screen with a healed bladder (I had to wear Depends in my twenties) and over 100 pounds thinner.

And now I have this fantabulous opportunity to review Alissa’s book and DVD! AND host a contest so you can own a copy of each yourself!

I’m so grateful to be where I am today. I’m not perfect by any means. I still have some pudge I’d like to get rid of. I still suffer with a bad back (from domestic violence). But I’m so much better than I ever thought I’d be.

And as I type this, barely able to see the screen through my tear-filled eyes, I want you to know that there is hope for a brighter tomorrow. It may not be easy. It doesn’t happen overnight. But the sun will shine on your life and health – if you’ll dedicate yourself.

And like Alissa, I’m here to share my journey and provide inspiration and hope. Please don’t give up. Hold on. Hold on tighter than ever before.

“Brighter days are up ahead – you just can’t see ‘em yet.” – Winnie Neff (my grandmother)

Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Alissa, and for this awesome opportunity!

To be inspired by Alissa, visit www.alissacohen.com.

 

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

The fun part is a video we recorded while at a recent festival. It’s so fun. Thought it’d make y’all smile today!

And the news? Raw Juice Girl now has a YouTube channel. Subscribe while you’re there, so you won’t miss out on my first ever video. Yep, you’ll get to giggle at my funny Southern accent!

And… um… yeah, that’s ME cackling in the background. *blushes*

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, you might want to check out some of my Favorite Fall Recipes or read about Pink Ladies Day Out (to benefit breast cancer awareness). And congrats to Melissa, who just won TWO containers of Amazing Grass in my recent contest! Hurry, while you can still get your 15% discount using the code hwj (J as in JUICE).

Hi, y’all! I do hope you’ve been having a fantabulous Fall so far! It’s been pretty cold and rainy here in Amish country, but we’ve had some beautiful days, too. And the leaves have such vibrant hues—so pretty!

Raw Juice Girl has been SWAMPED, let me tell you! Packages are arriving fast and furious, like crazy! Don’t get me wrong, I’m tickled pink. But it will take me a little time to wade my way through the upcoming reviews. The ones in this post I’m sharing today, are just the most recent arrivals!

I’m honored to have the opportunity to review products from the following companies…

LARABAR

The kind folks at LARABAR enjoyed my first review of their bars so much, they sent a bigger variety of their original LARABAR line – and the JOCALAT line! Eeeek! 

They also sent this cool T-shirt. Thank you, LARABAR!!!

URBAN MOONSHINE

I also received a sample of Urban Moonshine Bitters (which help our digestive system). I’m excited to give this a try! I know bitter herbs like dandelion, blessed thistle, etc., are excellent for our health and a wonderful, natural way to soothe an upset tummy. Thank you, Urban Moonshine!

NuHemp for Pets

I was excited to learn about this company. They’re focusing on hemp for pets. I’m a hemp-lovin’ gal so I’m thrilled to share my hemp passion with the many pets rompin’ around this Amish farm! Thank you, NuHemp! My pets are already loving these treats and bath products!

Manitoba Harvest

Chocolate? Chocolate hemp? Are you kidding me??!! I’m in – seriously! You can’t imagine how excited I was to get some chocolate hemp in the mail. That’s a BIG tub! And there’s also some single serving packets of other hemp powders and seeds. Thanks to the folks at www.manitobaharvest.com – you RAWK my hemp world!!!

SHAMAN CHOCOLATES

More chocolate??!! Just what Raw Juice Girl needs! Seriously, if I keep gobbling up chocolate and snack bars, I’ll have to start running to burn some extra fat off! Thank you, SHAMAN CHOCOLATES, for being so generous with your products!

Grandy Oats

Grandy Oats sent me a 13 ounce tub of their Goji Agave organic granola. I can’t wait to share this review. It’s a good thing they didn’t send more than this one tub! Thank you, Grandy Oats organic granola for a fantabulous sample!

GT’s Synergy Kombucha

There’s lots of talk about Kombucha all over the Web. A while back, I did try a Passionberry Bliss Kombucha. I took a giant sip and almost spewed it out all over the place – I was expecting it to taste like TEA. It was quite strong and more like soda. It grew on me, though, and I ended up liking it. I’m excited to try other flavors. Thanks to Synergy Drinks for the opportunity!

Catch All That?

Phew! I’m going to catch my breath and dig into all these amazing products. Thorough reviews coming soon!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

The contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass  is now closed and a winner has been chosen! (Thursday, October 22 was the last day to enter—deadline: 9 p.m. CT.) 

You can use the code hwj (small J as in JUICE) for a 15% discount on your order–and a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!

And the time has come…

We have a winner! There were 63 comments when 9 p.m. rolled around, so I headed over to Mr. Random (random.org, that is) and here’s the verdict:

Winning Comment

8 Melissa { 10.08.09 at 8:14 pm }

I twittered (@mgonyeo)
Melissa´s last blog ..Cool stuff I found on Etsy

Her First Comment

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)  You can also use the code hwj (small J as in JUICE) for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait. And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!

I spent this afternoon (from 1-5 p.m.) at a special breast cancer awareness event. I knew I’d be taking a lot of photos, so I immediately told the folks in charge that I’m a blogger and would be taking photos for my blog. I still got some funny looks but for the most part, everyone ignored my snaps.

Blessings

I’m very blessed that breast cancer hasn’t effected the women in my immediate family for generations. My mom is 50 and is healthy. I’ve had my share of health trials, but never this. So I realize I’m very, very blessed, and I do appreciate it. I’m grateful, thankful, and just so very blessed. And my heart aches for the women who battle this awful cancer, and for their families and friends who hurt and suffer with them.

And, while I do allow myself to splurge on non-raw foods more often now, causes like this one for breast cancer, make me realize why I try to eat (and drink) a ton of fresh raw foods–health is precious, life is short.

Ladies Day Out!

I’ve decided to describe the afternoon mostly by the titled photos, following.

When I first walked in, I noticed a long, buffet area with lots of goodies…

Chocolate Covered Strawberries!

Pink Ribbon Cupcakes, Cookies!

Pumpkin Roll, Pink Ribbon Cake!

Pink Ribbon Cake

More Cake!

Signing In, Getting Name Tags

Pink Carnations

Decorated Tables

My Saucer

The Strawberry is Raw??!!!

T-shirt Fundraiser

On the left is my sweet postmaster (she gave her permission for me to take photos and put them here, on my blog). She’s a fantabulous lady and she worked VERY hard to make this special day happen. Kudos to you, Mary–you’re the bestest!!

Tickets for the Auction

Bingo – I didn’t win once!

Items Donated for Fundraising

Doll Valued @ Over $1,000!!!

Basket We Donated

Our basket was filled with this… a $50.00 value

What We Won!

It doesn’t look like we won all that much – but that one basket behind the monkey was valued at $90.00 and is filled with AVON products!!!!!!!!!!

Our Pretty Neighbor, Carol!

See the pink quilt??!!

A Pink Christmas Tree!!!

Mom + a Monkey Doll

(Mom, aka The Herb Lady)

Overall, it was a great day. There was lots of fun, laughs, and smiles, and even those pretty pink flowers, but everyone attending knew this was a serious cause, that we were there for a purpose – to help support breast cancer research, and honor those who have survived breast cancer, or are going through it now.

In Memory

And I have to share: As the day was coming to a close, our postmaster asked for everyone’s attention. “This will be sad…” she began.

What she shared was a story about a very special lady, a lady who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and was going to be crowned with a tiara and presented with a beautiful bouquet of roses today – she passed away just a few days ago. Her family received them in her place. I can’t remember that lady’s name (I haven’t lived in this area very long), but I’m sure she was someone special. As our postmaster continued talking, recalling that lady’s life, a hush fell over the entire building. “She touched the lives of everyone who crossed her path,” Mary said. It’s evident this was true.

This post is dedicated to that special lady: A lady who splashed sunshine onto a dark world, even when she was enduring great pain and suffering. May she rest in peace, and may her family find warmth, comfort, and even smile through their tears, as they hold on to the memories and wisdom she enriched their lives–and everyone else’s–with.

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more? Subscribe to Healing With Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here ). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)  You can also use the code hwj (small J as in JUICE) for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait. And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!

Fun Treats for Fall

Nathalie, at Raw Foods Witch, recently shared a new raw recipe video: How to Make a Festive Raw Pumpkin Pie Recipe. I love Nathalie. She’s fun, creative, informative, and I just adore her enthusiasm for raw living!

Cindy, from A Sparkle A Day, made us readers drool with her version of a healthy pancake. If you aren’t 100% raw/vegan, I’d definitely recommend you give this a try. I haven’t yet, but I will!

Love Veggies & Yoga? Averie sure does! This gal is RAWkin the blogosphere with her creative raw recipes. She has a passion for raw, vegan living and shares all sorts of recipes and tips–with pizzazz! One of her creations I’m lookin’ forward to making myself: Raw, Vegan Apple Crumble! Of course, Averie’s recipe archive is exploding over there, so dig through and find yourself some stuff to eat!

Mysti, of Life’s Approbations, shared her original recipe: Fall Perfection Pumpkin Muffins. This one isn’t raw or vegan, but is made with healthy ingredients! If you’re looking for a raw recipe from this gal, she offers that too at her new site, Dining Family: Sweet, Smooth and Cold! (And you’ll find a real little pumpkin at the end of that recipe!) UPDATED TO ADD: “Egg can be substituted out with 1/4 c applesauce and 1/8 tsp baking soda,” says Mysti. She wanted to share that for vegan readers. Thank you, Mysti!!!

I love pumpkin seeds, so Katy Joy’s recipe (from Raw People), sounds like a delicious treat. I’d like to make it sometime. Have you ever had Pumpkin Spice Milk?

And, here’s one of my recipes–that I haven’t enjoyed in quite a while!

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

Ingredients:

• a container of organic, Greek yogurt (I love Oikos, but you could use raw, nut based yogurt)
• about 1/4 to 1/2 can of organic pumpkin (or raw)
• pumpkin pie spice

Stir pumpkin into your yogurt and sprinkle on as much pumpkin pie spice as you’d like.

Optional Toppings:

• trail mix
• granola
• raisins
• cranberries
• cookies
• raw pumpkin seeds (or nuts)

Do you have any favorite Fall recipes? Do you stay 100% raw in the Fall and Winter seasons, regardless, or do you stray and enjoy some warm (or other non-raw) comfort foods? Have you ever had the recipes I mentioned today? Do you plan on trying any of them? Hope you enjoy your weekend! Can you believe we’re half-way through October??!!

Want to REALLY enhance your recipes?? Enter the contest for NuttZo over at An Apple A Day blog! Hurry, contest ends soon!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)  You can also use the code hwj (small J as in JUICE) for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait. And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!

Blog Action Day 2009

Today, Thursday, October 15th, 2009, is Blog Action Day. This year, the theme is Climate Change. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has so many amazing resources you can research, read, and learn until your eyes cross and you won’t make it through all of the information. Do check it out!

EPA: Climate Change

Grow Your Own Veggies!

I thought it would be fun to blog about ways to specifically be more eco-friendly regarding the topic of this blog: raw food and juicing, and my life on an Amish farm.

Here are a few ideas for leaving less of a footprint on our beautiful planet:

• Recycle your juice pulp by using it in veggie burgers, muffins, crackers, or even by adding it to compost or feeding it to your chickens.
• Support local farmers and farmer’s markets to cut down on the transport of things you can buy locally and help reduce greenhouse gases.
• Or, better yet: grow your own (organic) garden!
• Use handcrafted soap made by local people.
• Also use that handcrafted soap as your shampoo–you’ll eliminate those plastic bottles shampoo comes in!
• Invest in a quality, reusable water canteen. The amount of plastic bottles you’ll be contributing to landfills will drop dramatically!
• Eat less meat.
• Walk or ride your bike as often as possible.
• Hang your clothes out to dry instead of using your dryer–especially on beautiful days!
• Buy good, used clothes instead of new.
• Purchase reusable bags and keep them in your car. It will cut down–or eliminate–your need for plastic grocery sacks.
• Reuse the plastic grocery sacks you do end up with as trash bags for small waste baskets.
• Apply raw ingredients from your own kitchen to your face and body–instead of beauty products containing harsh chemicals.

All of these ideas are things I actually apply to my own life, as I try to walk softly and cherish what beauty of Mother Earth we have left…

“Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities.” — EPA

Are you worried about climate change? Do you try to live an eco-friendly lifestyle in order to help preserve our beautiful planet? Or do you go through each day without a thought to how your actions are effecting our environment? What juicy tips do you have to share? Do tell!

Oh, and check out my mom’s Blog Action Day post: Eco-Friendly Cooking + Blog Action Day!

Also, check out Mysti’s Climate Change post (from Dining Family)!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

References:

www.epa.gov

Earth Mother, over at In The Raw, has an awesome giveaway: THREE lucky winners will receive a CASE of ZICO coconut water!!! Get yourself over there and enter!!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)  You can also use the code hwj for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait. And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring! And don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes — they’re super easy to make, and so fun!

Yum!

Dangerous?

When you think of dangerous foods, don’t you think of rotten or diseased meat, non-organic produce that’s grown swimming in chemicals, or something of that nature? Do you think about greens, berries, or sprouts? Seriously?

This topic came up when I noticed the following tweet recently:

@rawliving Puh-leeze! —> The Most Dangerous Foods – http://twurl.nl/vu5pok – Here’s a tip: WASH #raw fruits/veggies & eat LOTS of ‘em!

The article she’s referring to is the one The  Huffington Post: The Most Dangerous Foods.

Of course, I was nosy and had to go read it. I was totally surprised to find the following 10 foods as “the most dangerous” foods we have to worry about. Huh?

1. Leafy Greens
2. Eggs
3. Tuna
4. Oysters
5. Potatoes
6. Cheese
7. Ice Cream
8. Tomatoes
9. Sprouts
10. Berries

I find it odd that the foods that are rich in living nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, etc., are the ones listed as dangerous. The ONE food on this list I’d personally avoid with all my might is oysters (ew!) but even the ice cream isn’t listed as unhealthy or dangerous because of its ingredients or fat or sugar content.

“The largest ice-cream outbreak in history occurred in 1994, when a popular ice cream manufacturer used the same truck to haul raw, unpasteurized eggs and pasteurized ice cream premix. The result: thousands of people sickened in 41 states.” — The Huffington Post

The reasons given for these foods being the most dangerous is because of how they were handled and/or stored or transported. If they’d been prepared correctly, there wouldn’t be a problem.

I’m sorry, but I am not giving up foods 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, or 10 for sure – and if I feel like it, I’d splurge on foods 3, 6, and 7. If they’re grown and cared for properly and organically, I’m eating ‘em! And, besides, you can make ice cream at home…

Remember John Stossel? I echo him: Give me a break!

Oh, and @rawliving has a raw food blog herself. Drop by and visit In The Raw!

And did you see my new business cards??!!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)   And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring!  You can also use the code hwj for a 15% discount on your order, if you can’t wait.And don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes — they’re super easy to make, and so fun!

Hi, y’all! Sorry I’ve been MIA again lately–Raw Juice Girl has been burning up the writerly highway! My goodness, I’ve written some STUFF! I also have lots of stuff to review and share my thoughts on, but today I have LOTS of questions for you, so get ready!

Curiosity is my middle name!

Do you have a blog? Do you intend for it to provide income? Do you handcraft items? Do you want to write, blog, design for money? Okay, last question: Do you have business cards? No? Why not?

New Business Cards for HWJ

Address Labels to Match!

VistaPrint

I decided to go with VistaPrint. I ended up with 1,000 cards and 140 matching address labels (for only seventy-nine cents!!!) and ended up with a grand total of $26.10. Can’t beat that!  Can you?

And check out the awesome sale they’re having: Get 250 Free Business Cards + FREE Stamp with your order!

Opinions?

What are your thoughts? Do you like the design I ended up with? Have you ever used VistaPrint? Would you, knowing you can get quality service for quality products–at a price you can afford? I want to hear all about it!

Contest Alert!

Get yourself over to Jocelyn Eats Fresh and enter her (eco-friendly!!!)  Book, Bar, and Natural Shampoo/Conditioner Giveaway!!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for TWO containers  of Amazing Grass – one is CHOCOLATE! (Thursday, October 22 is the last day to enter.)   And a BIG thank you to Amazing Grass for sponsoring! And don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes — they’re super easy to make, and so fun!

A HUGE thank you to LARABAR for sending me samples!!!

You might remember I recently reviewed the Cashew Cookie LARABAR. As I mentioned in that review, LARABAR also sent me a few other flavors – Apple Pie was one of them.

It’s American. It’s a staple from most of our childhoods. The taste and aroma brings back memories of mom’s or grandma’s apple pie pulled fresh from the warm oven and cooling, as crisp leaves danced around the yard in the cool Autumn breeze – yay for memories of apple pie!

And here’s that Apple Pie bar…

Apple Pie Larabar

Looks Good!

Tastes Fantabulous!

Look at those Nuts!

Sooooooooooo Moist!

Six Ingredients??!!

Dates

Walnuts

Unsweetened Apples

Almonds

Raisins

Cinnamon

It’s Healthy!

Nutritional Info (from the site):

It’s RAW!

From the site:

LÄRABAR is a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices – energy in its purest form. Made from 100% whole food, each flavor contains no more than eight ingredients. Pure and simple, just as nature intended.

GLUTEN FREE * DAIRY FREE * SOY FREE * NON-GMO * VEGAN * KOSHER

LÄRABAR REAL.
Sweet with no added sweeteners. Sustaining with no added fillers, supplements or flavorings. LÄRABAR is what your body needs – real, whole food loaded with nature’s own minerals and vitamins.

LÄRABAR RIGHT.
All of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, good carbohydrates and healthy fats are derived exclusively from the whole, raw food used to make LÄRABAR.

LÄRABAR RAW.
Uncooked and Unprocessed. The essential enzymes, which are necessary for the digestion and utilization of nutrients, remain completely intact in their most natural, powerful state. A diet abundant in raw, unprocessed foods is important for health and longevity.

For LÄRABAR, we source the best possible ingredients. Every time. Every bar. Enjoy

Want apple pie for breakfast? Go ahead and have it – LARABAR style!

Verdict/Grade?

I totally wanted to run around like a school child when my taste buds met this bar. Seriously. It’s moist, delicious, sweet, and there are bursts of cinnamon and yummy pieces of apple and do you see those NUTS in the photos? The ingredients are healthy, there’s only a few of ‘em, and this bar is just totally AMAZING! It is like apple pie – fantabulous!

I have to give this bar two thumbs up and an A+ because it’s healthy, and it tastes out-of-this-world delicious!

Again, thank you to LARABAR for sending delicious samples! Be sure to visit www.larabar.com to learn more about this yummy company!

Bring Eli Home for the Holidays!

In my previous post, I shared information about a boy, Eli, who is on his third heart. He wants to be able to spend the holidays at home – instead of in the hospital. Let’s help him do that!

More Contests

Check out my friend, Averie’s, latest contest for RAW, Vegan Blondie Macaroons!!

Mysti, at Dining Family,  is on a mission to help Eli be at home, with his family, for the holidays – and be healthier, too! She’s hosting an awesome contest, and there are SIX ways to enter! Get over there, quick!

Lots more reviews and contests are coming right up, so you’ll definitely want to stick around for upcoming, juicy details!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

Comments are now closed as this contest is over. Thanks!

First, I’d love to thank the folks at Amazing Grass for sending me lovely samples. Not only did they generously share a variety of their Amazing Grass products with me, they are also sponsoring this contest so that one lucky winner will have the opportunity to try a “Green SuperFood Best of Both Combo” which provides you with a two month supply of  the Amazing Grass Green SuperFood and Chocolate Green SuperFood drink powders.

AND Amazing Grass has given Healing With (Raw) Juice readers a fantabulous discount: Just use the coupon code ‘hwj’ at check out — you’ll save 15% off your order!!!

Chocolate Green SuperFood

I’ve mentioned before that you can just call me Chocolate Girl. I’m a HUGE fan of chocolate, always have been! So, what is there NOT to like about a chocolate powder that’s also healthy for you, that you can add to smoothies, oats, or other recipes? Chocolate Green SuperFood is a fantabulous way to get your daily dose of chocolate – and consume a powerhouse of nutrition!

Now, this Chocolate Green SuperFood wasn’t included in the samples Amazing Grass sent me, but I have had the opportunity to sample their Chocolate Amazing Meal – it’s DELISH! I absolutely loved it and can totally see myself using it daily. (See my review HERE.)  So, I have absolutely no worries about recommending this Chocolate Green SuperFood powder. But, this Chocolate Green SuperFood powder has more to offer than a girl’s best friend – let’s talk nutrition!

Nutritional information (from the site):

Mix a tablespoon of Chocolate Green SuperFood with dairy, rice or soy milk or add it to a smoothie. One serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota.

Chocolate Green SuperFood: All natural and organic ingredients include organic wheat grass, organic barley grass, organic alfalfa, organic spirulina, organic spinach, organic chlorella (cracked cell-wall), organic broccoli, organic dutch cocoa, organic redwood cocoa, organic cacao, natural chocolate flavoring, organic acai from Sambazon, organic maca, organic carrot, organic beet, raspberry, organic rose hips, pineapple, green tea, acerola cherry, organic flax seed powder, organic oat fiber, apple pectin fiber, F.O.S. (from chicory root), L. acidophilus, alpha and beta amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, cellulase, siberian eleuthero root, peppermint and organic sea salt. 100% Vegan

Green SuperFood

I have enjoyed this All Natural Green SuperFood powder. I’ve used it in smoothies and juices and love, love, love the taste of health it provides! I also love my Amazing Grass shaker cup. I use it all the time!

Want to increase your daily intake of veggies and fruits, but aren’t loving the idea of gobbling ‘em up raw until your jaws are exhausted from chewing? Why not whip up a smoothie or juice and toss some Amazing Grass SuperFood powder in? You’ll be pretty amazed at how much nutrition you can squeeze into a glass with this stuff. Seriously!!

Nutritional information (from the site):

Mix a tablespoon of Green SuperFood with juice, milk, a smoothie or your favorite beverage. One serving gives you the antioxidant equivalent of 7 servings of fruits and vegetables and helps you hit your daily quota.

Green SuperFood: All natural and organic ingredients include organic wheat grass, organic barley grass, organic alfalfa, organic spirulina, organic spinach, organic chlorella (cracked cell-wall), organic broccoli, organic pure acai from Sambazon, organic maca, organic carrot, organic beet, raspberry, rose hips, pineapple, green tea, acerola cherry, organic flax seed powder, apple pectin fiber, F.O.S. (from chicory root), L. acidophilus, alpha and beta amylase, protease, lipase, lactase, cellulase, siberian eleuthero root and peppermint. 100% Vegan.

How AMAZING Is This Stuff???

It’s easy to see why this company is called AMAZING GRASS – it truly IS amazing!!

Verdict/Grade?

Raw Juice Girl gives Amazing Grass TWO thumbs up and an A+ for sure! Any time you can pack this much nutrition into a scoop that can be added to our favorite juices or smoothies, you’re a winner in my book! I had a scoop of the All Natural Amazing Grass SuperFood powder in my green smoothie this morning – I just LOVE how it makes me feel!!!

Remember my 30-day juice fast? The WheatGrass samples Amazing Grass had sent me were a LIFE SAVER one some of my weaker days – it felt like it shot right through my bloodstream and pepped me right up!!!

And… Amazing Grass gets EXTRA points for offering you this:

Don’t forget: Amazing Grass has given Healing With (Raw) Juice readers a fantabulous discount: Just use the coupon code ‘hwj’ at check out — you’ll save 15% off your order!!!

Let the Contest Begin!

Here’s what you’ll win:

You’ll receive one 8.5oz bottle of Green SuperFood drink powder and one 8.5oz bottle of Chocolate Green SuperFood drink powder.

This combo pack gives you a two month supply of our Amazing Grass Green SuperFood and Chocolate Green SuperFood drink powders. If you’re like many of our customers you will be hooked on both. Try one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, or mix them together for a delicious supercharged dose of greens!

You’re allowed FOUR FIVE SIX entries for this contest:

Note: Please leave a comment for each thing you do (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends. (DO NOT just say “thanks for the contest” or something like that–I do not publish those type of comments because they seem like spam and aren’t fair to the other contestants who leave a thoughtful, genuine answer.) Thanks!

1. Visit the Amazing Grass website (by clicking on the above photo) and take a look around. Leave a comment sharing  any of their other products you’d like to try–and why, if you’d like to add a reason.
   
2. Do you Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can swipe this tweet: RT @RawJuiceGirl is hosting a contest for @AmazingGrass Chocolate & Green SuperFood powders! http://tinyurl.com/ykcpwh5 Hurry & enter!
3. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
4. Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as an extra entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just email me at healingwithjuices@gmail.com and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.
5. Add Healing with Juices to your favorites on Technoratori. Comment again to let me know, with a link to your technoratori profile to show you added us.
6. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.

NOTE: REMEMBER TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY SO I’LL KNOW YOU DID THEM.

ANYONE can enter this contest. You DO NOT have to be in the United States. Oh, and I’ll be using Random.org to choose the winner….

Contest ends Thursday, October 22nd, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) so you have TWO WHOLE WEEKS to get all your entries in. Have fun trying to win!!

And a HUGE Thank You to Amazing Grass for sponsoring this contest!!!

What are you waiting for – get your entries in and start spreading the news about this AMAZING contest!! Eeeeek!!

Bring Eli Home for the Holidays!

In my previous post, I shared information about a boy, Eli, who is on his third heart. He wants to be able to spend the holidays at home – instead of in the hospital. Let’s help him do that!

More Contests

Mysti, at Dining Family,  is on a mission to help Eli be at home, with his family, for the holidays – and be healthier, too! She’s hosting an awesome contest, and there are SIX ways to enter! Get over there, quick!

Lots more contests are coming right up, so you’ll definitely want to stick around for upcoming, juicy details!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

It’s always fun to host a contest here at Healing With (Raw) Juices – it’s even MORE fun when it’s time to share the winner!

Chia Seed Winner

The contest for an 8 ounce bag of Certified Organic (Raw) Chia Seeds from Navitas Naturals ended tonight at 9 p.m. (Central Time). I headed over to random.org to choose a winner.

Winning Number

And… who left comment #36?

Emily from My Chubby Confessions Blog.

Emily’s Winning Comment

Emily @ My Chubby Confessions { 10.04.09 at 11:18 am }

I would love to try the Chia seeds. I’ve always wanted to try them bc of what they have to offer. Unfortunately, they won’t fit into my budget so they have to stay on the shelf in all their glory.
Emily @ My Chubby Confessions´s last blog ..Late Night

Congratulations, Emily! Now you don’t have to worry about a budget to try chia seeds – you’ve won yourself a bag! Zip me an e-mail (healingwithjuices at gmail dot com) with your mailing address and I’ll get your chia seeds in the mail to you right away!

These Are All Yours, Emily!

Bring Eli Home for the Holidays!

In my previous post, I shared information about a boy, Eli, who is on his third heart. He wants to be able to spend the holidays at home – instead of in the hospital. Let’s help him do that!

More Contests

Mysti, at Dining Family,  is on a mission to help Eli be at home, with his family, for the holidays – and be healthier, too! She’s hosting an awesome contest, and there are SIX ways to enter! Get over there, quick!

Lots more contests are coming right up, so you’ll definitely want to stick around for upcoming, juicy details!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

A lot of us take our healthy heart for granted. We get up each morning, go about our day-to-day lives, and don’t even give a thought to how our hearts – or any other part of our bodies – are working properly, allowing us to live carefree and healthy lives.

Eli isn’t as blessed. He’s living with his third heart – and he is still struggling to stay here on this beautiful planet!

My friend actually knows Eli personally.

Following is a snippet of what she knows about Eli’s condition:

“Eli’s second heart came eight months after his birth.  That heart lasted him quite some time, but his body went through late rejection and he was put back on the transplant list and his third heart arrived not-so-long ago.  Along with this heart transplant, Eli has undergone radiation to wipe out his lymph system and help prevent rejection later down the road.  This process has really left Eli not feeling up to par.”

Donation Drive

She has taken it upon herself to host a drive focused on raising enough money to purchase a new, eco-friendly juicing machine for Eli.

She’s on a mission! She wants to help Eli have the opportunity every child should have, without even giving it a thought – to be home for the holidays.

This fantabulous boy has endured more than one heart transplant and has spent entirely too much time in the hospital, at doctors’ offices, and in various treatments. If his health doesn’t improve; if his immune system is still too weak, he may have to stay in the hospital a lot longer than originally anticipated. And this means he may not get to be home for the holidays. As an adult, I can’t imagine being in the hospital during the holidays. From a child’s point of view…. I can’t even fathom. It’s heartbreaking!

This new juicer will allow Eli to enjoy unlimited raw juices that will not only overflow his cup with nutrition and health, but his heart and life with joy and time spent at home, like a boy should be. It’s Mysti’s desire (and my own) that we search our hearts and start thinking about holiday gifts a little early, so that a sweet boy can sit at his family’s table for Thanksgiving fellowship and wake up on Christmas morning in the warmth and comfort of his own bed, in his own room, with his own belongings.

Hope for Health

If you’ve followed me for any amount of time, you know I’ve battled for my own health. Raw juices have been instrumental in my healing process, and that’s why I started this site – to share hope and healing through raw foods and juices. What do you say? Let’s help Eli get a new juicer so he can enjoy fresh, raw juices and a stronger immune system.

Let me know if you’d like to be a part of Eli’s journey to new and improved health!

Hopefully, he’ll be fishing again and enjoying the outdoors like he was here….

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds. (Wednesday, October 7 is the last day to enter.)  Thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring! And don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes — they’re super easy to make, and so fun!

Wellsphere Wisdom

A while back, I shared with you that Wellsphere.com is one of my all-time favorite health-related websites. I love its purpose, the community, and the endless categories and articles. Wellsphere is a site that’s truly and passionately dedicated to helping us learn, grow, and live the best, healthiest, most positive lives we possibly can. In fact, I’m a member of the Wellsphere community – visit my profile and add me as a friend!

Top Health Blogger

As you can see in the left sidebar, I’m a Top Health Blogger in Wellsphere’s Raw Food Community. When I was given the Top Health Blogger award, I felt so honored and blessed! Health is something I’m so very passionate about. I can’t believe I’ve come this far: I’m a survivor of domestic violence. I’ve lost over 100 pounds. And I have found so much healing – emotionally, physically, spiritually – through raw foods, juices, smoothies, juice fasting, and now yoga.

It’s  an amazing feeling to have the opportunity to inspire you, my loyal readers, to be healthier, better, happier people. Thank you so much for allowing me to share my journey – and my passion – with you!

Health 2.0 San Francisco

I’ve recently received a series of exciting e-mails from the awesome team at Wellsphere sharing information about the Health 2.0 HealthBlogger Conference in San Francisco. Of course, I couldn’t attend but it sure is fun to follow along! Go to www.health2con.com or tune in for real-time information at www.justin.tv./health2con. You can also stay current with all things “Health 2.0 conference” via the Twitter stream: #health2con.

Have you ever attended a health conference? Did you enjoy it? Would you go back? Have you ever visited Wellsphere.com? And most importantly, how do you feel about our country’s current health issues?

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ve also been working on a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to enter Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring–and don’t forget to check out my chocolate ice cubes!

Blended Blessings

I’ve mentioned a few times that my blender keeled over on me. It was sad. I was sad. But a new blender wasn’t in the budget so I’ve been a pouting, smoothie-less Raw Juice Girl for a while now. Pathetic, I know. LOL

I was on a real roll having awesome smoothies for breakfast, but I made due with substitutes:

• Green (Hemp) Overnight Breakfast Cookie
• Green Steel-Cut Oats
• Chocolate Hemp Shake
• Cashew Cookie LARABAR

Delicious, yes. A green smoothie? No!

So, imagine my out-of-this-world delight when my aunt donated her blender she never uses! Oh, believe me, I tried (and tried) to promote the health benefits of smoothies and convince her that she needed to keep her blender–she insisted on giving it to me anyway, reassuring me she never uses it and didn’t plan on it anytime soon….

Enter: the Osterizer 10-speed Blender

I took pictures of my blending adventures this morning, so you could enjoy the experience with me!

And, my goodness, this thing is a LOT more powerful than I thought it would be. It gobbled up the ice cubes like there was no tomorrow! Seriously! Eeeek! Bring on the smoothies, people!

Osterizer Blender

10 Speeds!

Sassafras Root Tea

Manitoba Harvest Hemp Pro 70

Chocolate Ice Cubes!

Green Hemp Smoothie

Wanna Taste?

YUM-O!!!!

Happy Hemp Smoothie

• 4 tablespoons of Hemp Pro 70 (from www.manitobaharvest.com)
• 1 cup Sassafras root tea (you could totally use Hemp Bliss milk instead)
• 1 banana
• 2 chocolate ice cubes
• 2 water ice cubes
• Freshly ground flax seeds (a little less than a tablespoon)
• A drizzle of agave syrup

And that’s what I had for breakfast this morning. Ah, a green smoothie. I can’t tell you how happy my mouth–and my tummy–were as I chugged that gorgeous, bubbly, hemp-ish, thick smoothie down. YUM!!!

I did forget one thing, though: spinach! Yikes!!! Sheesh, guess I’ll have to make another one.

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ll also be making a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks toNavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Navitas Natural Delivery!

I was super excited when I received this package from NavitasNaturals.com . Today I’m focusing on the Organic Superfood Chocolate Kit–but take a look at that eco-friendly canteen!!! Eeeeek!!!

Craving Chocolate

Ever had a craving for chocolate but didn’t want to spend a lot of time–and make a big mess–in order to enjoy some? Okay, it’s true, you can just make a quick visit to the store and pick up whatever chocolate you want. And, with the Web’s convenience, you can shop ’till your heart’s content and order anything that appeals to your eyes–and tummy!

But if you’re wanting the fun (and healthy!) experience of whipping up some organic, raw, delicious chocolate candy in just a few minutes, without wrecking your whole kitchen, then Navitas Naturals Organic Superfood Kit is for you!

Organic Superfood Chocolate Kit

This is a super fun kit. It comes with 3 ingredients! Who can’t whip up 3 ingredients, eh?  And, besides, the directions are easy and precise–you get to take a class right off the box: Chocolate School 101. Does that mean I have a degree in Chocolate now? Oh, how very RAWsome!

Chocolate School 101

First, they told me to sit a smaller bowl into a larger bowl that had hot water (for melting the cacao butter via the raw method). You can also nuke it or use a double boiler but you’ll be zapping the nutrient value.

Melting Cacao Butter

Cacao Butter All Melted

It doesn’t take long and it’s all melted!

Add Organic Chocolate Powder

Then you add the organic chocolate powder and stir, stir, stir!

Stir

Stir

Stir Some More

All Stirred Up

Just take a look at that raw chocolate. Eeeek!

At this point, you can drizzle in a tablespoon of agave syrup or some other sweetener. I didn’t. So the chocolate had more of a dark chocolate taste in the end. I’m more of a milk chocolate gal so I think I’d add sweetener next  time but I still really enjoyed the taste of this chocolate–which surprised me, considering I’m not a huge fan of dark chocolate.

In to the Ice Tray

Close-Up

Pour your melted chocolate into an ice tray (Raw Juice Chocolate Girl got a little messy–I never said I wouldn’t!)

No More Chocolate!

Raw Juice Girl also CHEATED and licked some chocolate right off that spoon! YUM-O! It’d be good drizzled over Gena’s banana soft serve.

Frozen, Raw Chocolate

After I popped that ice tray in the freezer, I almost forgot about it (ahem, I was busy uploading photos and working on reviews and contests like a good blogger)! 

Chocolate Ice Cube!

See the Goji Berries?!

Nutritional Info

From the site:

Healthy Homemade Chocolates

Navitas Naturals Chocolate Kits contain everything you need for an authentic chocolate alchemy experience – including 100% Navitas Naturals superfood ingredients. Enjoy this chocolatey blend with goji berries: a synergistic combination of exciting power ingredients that’s packed with antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, essential minerals, and is sugar and dairy free. Each synergistic combination of exciting power ingredients is packed with antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, essential minerals, and is sugar and dairy free.

Source and Processing

We carefully source each ingredient from indigenous regions around the world, honoring the traditions of the ancient cultures, and using minimal processing techniques to ensure maximum nutritional benefits. Our products are of the highest quality, sourced directly from farmers, cultivated sustainably and in accordance with fair trade standards. Navitas Naturals Chocolate Kits are 100% organic, kosher, vegan, gluten-free, and raw.

Verdict/Grade?

This kit is simple, precise, and so fun to make. I felt like a kid again! The ingredients are organic, and you’re loading up on antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients–all the good stuff! Another bonus is that the only dishes you dirty up are 2 bowls, 1 spoon, and an ice tray and you end up with 12 pieces of quality chocolate. And I had leftover goji berries  that I can add to steel-cut oatmeal or a smoothie! So, this baby gets TWO thumbs up from Raw Juice Girl. That’s an A+ in my (RAW) book!

Oh, and it retails for $9.99 (USD) per kit. So you’re essentially paying $10 for 12 pieces of quality, organic, raw, superfood candy!

So, what do you think? Is this something you’d like to try? Have you already used this neat little chocolate kit? What did you think? What’s your favorite chocolate, and your favorite way to eat it? Do tell, I’m craving your answer!

Latest Navitas Natural Arrival–Reviews Coming Up!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ll also be making a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

Awesome Awards

It’s always nice to know readers value the time and effort you put into your blog. And that’s why I’m honored to share the following awards that have been given to me: 

1. The Proximade Award, from George, at Tumblemoose
2. The Kreativ Blogger Award, from Lori, at Green Gigs
3. The One Lovely Blog Award, from Jocelyn, of Jocelyn Eats Fresh
   

Award #1

Let’s start with The Proximade Award from George. I’m honored that George considered me for this award. Here’s a little of what he had to say regarding those of us he chose: “I am grateful for an opportunity to award this to a few bloggers who are very special people.”

Thanks, George–you’re pretty special yourself!

If you’ve never visited him, do check out the Tumblemoose blog. Let me tell you, folks, I have yet to be bored (even a smidgen!) when visiting this pal of mine. His posts are fresh, inspiring, motivating, SO funny, and written with warmth, heart, soul, and passion. If you want to improve your writing/blogging–or even just be entertained while learning some awesome stuff–check George out!!! (In fact, I would have passed on the following 2 awards on to George, but I didn’t think he’d be crazy about the pinkness or frilliness of them.)

Award #2

The Kreativ Blogger Award was given to me by Lori, from Green Gigs. I was truly touched by her heartfelt–and very sweet–words about me:

“Michele Tune of Healing with (Raw) Juices is one of the most sincere, interesting, inspiring bloggers I have come across. Raw Juices inspires me to eat healthier and live better – thanks Michele!’

Award #3

“Michele has always been so supportive of me and my blog. I LOVE reading her blog because it is always so informative on the raw food/juicing lifestyle. Even though I’m no where near high raw… I know I can count on this blog to give me the advice I need! Love all the different juicing concoctions! Michele has also lost A LOT of weight…she really is dedicated!”

Note: These are actually the rules that came with The Kreativ Blogger Award, but I’m going to just apply the one set of rules to all 3 of these awards and whoever wants to participate, can. You can also break the rules if you want. I’m not the Awards police.

1. A Sparkle A Day – Cindy is a wife, mother, and beautiful, inspiring person. She fills her blog up with love, healthy meals and snacks, reality, compassion, fun–and let’s not forget those sparkles!
2. Mama’s Weeds – Alison is also a wife and mother, and this one is FULL of kooky humor–I love that about her! She’s also great with the creative recipes and shares lotsa cool parts of her interesting life!
3. Love Veggies, Yoga, Running + Chocolate – Averie is a one-of-a-kind gal. I love her rawkin’ posts. She’s another creative recipe-maker and a wife and momma as well. Lots of healthy vibes flowin’ here!
4. Jocelyn Eats Fresh – Jocelyn is on a journey toward her ultimate health and is just a bright splash of sunshine in the blog world: fun foods, fun times, difficult topics, positive attitude!
5. Have Faith – Jess is a freshman in high school and forever amazes me with her passion for healthy eats, exercise, and being the best she can be. So inspiring from a teen!
6. An Apple a Day – June is passionate about yoga and eating healthy–and she writes lots of awesome reviews and hosts fantabulous contests!
7. Life’s Approbations – Mysti shared a guest post recently (Dehydrator Recipes: Healthy Kids’ Snacks). Her blog is an open book of her life as a wife, mother, writer–and so much more. She shares frugal, healthier versions of recipes and her posts are reminiscent of Chicken Soup for the Soul stories!

Note: Don’t feel obligated to participate in passing the award on–or even sharing that you received it on your blog. I know this kind of thing isn’t everyone’s “cup of tea” so all is well in the blogosphere.

Don’t forget about Healing With (Raw) Juices’ latest contest for an 8 ounce bag of Raw Chia Seeds–thanks to NavitasNaturals.com for sponsoring!

And Amanda, at the Run to The Finish blog is hosting a giveaway for vegan and gluten-free Nutrition/Energy Bars Giveaway! There’s some awesome flavors happening over there, so get going and enter!!

Want to keep up with Raw Juice Girl’s adventures + more?  Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. I’ll also be making a recipe page where you’ll be able to easily locate recipes for raw juices, smoothies, and now dehydrator creations!