Articles archived for March 2010
Updated to add the WINNER!!
Which is… comment #148
Mr. Random’s Pick
![iherb shopping spree giveaway winner_thumb[1]](file:///C:/Users/Jamaica/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles1CA209/iherb shopping spree giveaway winner[3].jpg "iherb shopping spree giveaway winner_thumb[1]")
And who did that comment belong to? Donna (aka SimplyDab)!
Donna B. said:
tweet http://twitter.com/simplydab/status/11322654474
- 30 March 2010 at 1:53 pm
All that tweeting paid off!!! 
Congratulations, Donna!!!!
$5 Savings!!!
And don’t forget that if you have online shopping planned, you can save $5 off your first order at www.iHerb.com. You can use the following coupon code to save $5:
TUN499
Disclaimer: iHerb sponsored a $50 shopping spree, allowing me to get a feel for how their online business works. However, I was not paid to write this review. I wasn’t required to mention them at all – especially in a positive light.
I know y’all have been waiting on this one! I just posted my iHerb Shopping Spree Review – now it’s your turn to win a shopping spree!
Please read the contest rules before entering. Comments are moderated so you won’t see your entries right away. Thanks!
Contest Rules
Note: The reason I ask you to leave a comment for EACH, SEPARATE entry is because I enter the total number of comments at random.org once the contest has ended – and each comment represents your entry number.
There is only ONE required entry for this contest – but if you REALLY want to win, there are several (fun) extra ways you can enter following…
But first, I thought you might want to see what I got on my shopping spree. Just in case this is your first time visiting Healing With (Raw) Juices, or you missed my review, you can check it out here:
$50 iHerb Shopping Spree Review
Required Entry
Visit www.iHerb.com and come back and leave a comment letting me know what products you think you would buy if you win this shopping spree. That’s it – easy peasy!
AND… If you want to put in a little extra effort….
(and receive a LOT of extra entries – aka chances to win) keep reading…
Numerous ways to get extra entries!
There are 20 ways to enter this contest!!
2. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. Leave FIVE SEPARATE COMMENTS to let me know you did. (Yep, you’ll really leave FIVE different comments for this so you’ll be able to get five extra entries. 
)
3. Become a fan of iHerb on Facebook. Then, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did that – or that you already are.
4. Become a fan of Raw Juice Girl on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post saying you did -or that you already are.
5. Follow Healing with (Raw) Juices on Facebook’s Networked Blogs. Leave a comment on this post saying that you did – or do.
6. Do you use Twitter? Follow @RawJuiceGirl on Twitter. Comment on this post, saying you did – or do.
7. Follow @iHerb on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post that you did that.
8. Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can use this tweet (or your own, just be sure to @ me) – Then, leave a comment that you did – with your Twitter name or status link.
www.HealingwithJuices.com is giving away a $50 @iHerb shopping spree!!!! Enter NOW: http://tinyurl.com/ybl7f9r (via @RawJuiceGirl)
FOR EVEN MORE ENTRIES: For tweets, Facebook shares, or Plurk you may share the contest up to 5 times a day, but each tweet/share must be 1-2 hours or so after the previous one. (Thanks so much for understanding my position of keeping things fair and square, y’all!)
9. Comment on my “Day Out” post and let me know your shopping habits (frugal or splurge, etc.) or anything you like in that post. Come back here and leave a comment so I know you did. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
10. Comment on my review of my iHerb shopping experience and leave a comment letting me know what you like about my review, the company, the products I chose, etc. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
11.Comment on my Chocolate-Covered Cherry Smoothie post and let me know if you’ve used lucuma before, your favorite smoothie combo, or anything pertaining to that post. Then come back here and let me know you did that. If you’ve already commented on that post, just comment here letting me know you already have a comment there.
12. Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via e-mail (sign up here) – be sure to verify your subscription or this entry won’t count. Then comment and let me know you did – or that you already are.
13 Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via RSS (sign up here). Then leave a comment telling me you did – or that you are.
14. Subscribe to my brand-new newsletter (sign up here). Then comment here and let me know you did - or that you area.
15. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
16. Add me as a friend on Wellsphere . Leave a comment saying that you did- or do. 15. Add me as a friend on RawFu. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you area.
17. Add me as a friend on Give it to Me Raw. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
18. Subscribe to Raw Juice Girl’s YouTube channel. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
19. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.
20. Do you have a Digg account? Digg this post. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.
NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry (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.
Deadline
Contest ends Sunday, April 11. I’ll accept comments until midnight. (Central Time). Winner will be posted Monday, April 12.
That gives you TWO WEEKS to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning a $50 iHerb shopping spree!! Go tell all your friends and have FUN!!!!
Let the contest begin!!!
$5 Savings
And don’t forget that if you have online shopping planned, you can save $5 off your first order at www.iHerb.com. You can use the following coupon code to save $5:
TUN499
Disclaimer: iHerb sponsored a $50 shopping spree, allowing me to get a feel for how their online business works. However, I was not paid to write this review. I wasn’t required to mention them at all – especially in a positive light.
I was super excited when I was contacted by iHerb asking if I’d like to go on a $50 shopping spree with them and then host a giveaway so one of my readers could do the same. Um, seriously?! Absolutely, I wanted to go shopping and host a giveaway for iHerb! I love reviewing products and companies for you all – and I really love hosting giveaways so one of you can win an awesome prize.
It didn’t take long for me to get busy shopping at www.iHerb.com. After sending my response, I chose the products I wanted and went through the checkout process. I did have to create an account with iHerb so I could check out, but it’s super fast and easy and I haven’t had any problems with junk mail at all.
My shopping spree took a tad bit longer than expected, though, because iHerb has like a gazillion products, it seems. This is a good thing! At first, I thought this company only offered herbal products and natural remedies, etc., but that is SO not true – there’s a ginormous variety of health food, snacks, and all sorts of yummy stuff!
More about those details below. First, I’d like to share my goodies with you.
I previously mentioned I’d had the opportunity to go on a $50 shopping spree sponsored by iHerb. And I nabbed some…
Fantabulous Finds!
Let me lead you through why I chose these products….
My mom has been intrigued by Bach for years and years. It’s fascinating that for pretty much every illness, anxiety, stress, or health issue, there is a flower essence (or combination of them) that can remedy it.
I’m a firm believer in natural remedies. After all, they helped me lose over 100 pounds, get off of all diabetic medication, and completely transform my life.
Life has been especially stressful lately. And I’m a natural-born worry wort. I’m working on handling stress better – including my recent love affair with yoga – but I’m needing something more. It’s not good when our worrying nature keeps us awake, because sleep is one of the top necessities for regaining or maintaining health, right?
Enter: Bach Rescue Sleep
I am loving this product!! It only takes a few drops on my tongue (you can put it in water if you’d like) and I feel myself relaxing and not long after, drift off to a peaceful night’s rest. Yay for success!
And during stressful times, it’s nice to have a calming remedy during the day, too – that won’t make me sleepy!
Enter: Bach Rescue Remedy
Again, I’m super pleased. I don’t take this every day, but on days that are really chaotic and I’m feeling majorly stressed out, I take a few drops. It doesn’t take long for the calming, soothing, relaxing benefits – and it doesn’t make me sleepy! Again, success!
And I got Navitas Naturals lucuma powder…
I’ve seen the lucuma powder across the blogosphere. Some of you add it to yogurt or ice cream or make really fancy desserts with it. I used it to make a decadent…
Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie
(See more photos and get the free recipe here.)
I also plan on using it in some fun recipes. More about lucuma in future posts!
I’m had to grab some hempseeds!
And some flax seed oil!
I love BOTH on my salads all the time!
Hope you enjoyed going on my iHerb shopping adventures with me!
Now, let’s learn about the company itself!
About iHerb
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the iHerb company has been around for 12 years. I’ve read on various blogs that many of you didn’t know about them – but I’m happy to report that they have a solid business and aren’t some random, brand-new shopping site.
And I love their mission statement as well:
Providing the best overall value for natural products through "e-simplicity". – iHerb
You’ll be happy to learn that iHerb carries far more than herbs or natural remedies (like the company’s name may lead you to believe).
iHerb explains the history of their name on their About page:
“Initially, our company promoted the benefits of St. John’s Wort. Hence the name: iHerb.It is now a world-class online store, supplying a vast selection of brand name natural products. We believe iHerb offers the best overall value, period! Our success and very existence are dependent on the repeat orders and word-of-mouth recommendations of loyal, satisfied customers.
You’ll find supplements and natural remedies, yes, but you’ll also find snack bars, chia seeds, and more! iHerb has “over 600 well-known, respected brands. Over 16,000 products.”
Wow.
And here’s a few more words from iHerb:
With the advanced e-commerce platform, plus our 48,000 sq. ft. Irwindale warehouse (almost 3X as big as before), you’ll find:
Features to make your online ordering safer, faster and more pleasant.
We are confident you’ll find iHerb to be your first choice for quality, price, reliability and convenience–on every effortless order. Try us! Read more.
View the Quality Assurances by some of the brands we carry QC Issues
If you are in the vicinity of Irwindale, California, feel free to stop by the iHerb retail store at 15710 Arrow Highway, Irwindale, Ca, 91706.
Pros
There’s a lot to love about this company. They:
-
are dedicated to pleasing their customers
-
offer a huge variety of products
-
have nice prices
-
carry numerous well-known brands you’re familiar with
-
and more!
Over 99% of orders placed by 1:00 pm PST are shipped out the same day!
UPS Ground — Now a flat $4.00, FREE SHIPPING for orders over $40.00, regardless of weight anywhere in the contiguous United States, where available. Super value for California, or nearby states.
What’s not to love?!
Cons
Cons are my least favorite part of reviews. It’s always so hard to think of anything bad to tell you, when I’ve had such a wonderful experience. I don’t have anything unfair or negative to say about my iHerb shopping experience. So far, I haven’t come across anyone in the blogosphere who has mentioned anything bad either.
Verdict/Grade
I give my experience with iHerb an A+ because the process went smoothly, the customer service was pleasant and efficient, there was TONS of awesome products to choose from, and I received my order promptly. Everything arrived intact, just as I had ordered. I couldn’t be happier, really!
Kudos to www.iHerb.com for doing such a fantabulous job. I wish them many more years and lots of success!
$5 Savings
If you love online shopping, I think you’ll love www.iHerb.com. You can use the following coupon code to save $5 on your order:
TUN499
How awesome is that?!
Have you ever shopped with iHerb? What was your experience? Would you like to go on your own $50 iHerb shopping spree? Well, you know what? Next post is the giveaway! Get ready for lots of fun ways to enter. Go tell your friends!
Enter to win a $50 iHerb Shopping Spree NOW
—-> Click HERE <—- Contest is LIVE!!!
I admitted in my last post that I’ve never really been a huge fan of hummus. I mean, it’s okay, I can eat it, it’s good, but it’s never been something I couldn’t live without – but now I’m on a hummus kick! I’ve crossed over to the other side. LOL
If you’re new to Healing With (Raw) Juices, or are behind on your blog reading, be sure to catch up on my latest posts:
Caught up yet? Good!
You all loved my Jalapeño Hummus Recipe so much, I just had to share my sun-dried tomato hummus recipe with you. It was nice to know I’m not the only one who hasn’t always been madly in love with hummus. But I’m so glad I made this yesterday! Each bite has such a burst of flavor: I taste the sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, and garlic in every. single. bite. It tastes so fresh and delicious. I don’t mean to brag, but I’m just proud of myself for making such yummy hummus!!
And I promise review and contest posts are coming next….
Into the food processor
Results after processing
Into containers
Up close
With veggies: red bell pepper, carrots, avocado
Wanna bite?
Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus Recipe
Yields 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 1 can garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas) rinsed and drained
- 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- juice from 1 lemon
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 (and a half) tablespoons olive oil (from the sun-dried tomato jar)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (I added an extra teaspoon after a taste test.)
Directions:
- Toss all ingredients into the food processor and let ‘er rip ‘till it’s the consistency you like.
- Do a taste test to make sure you don’t want to add anything else.
- Serve immediately or store in the fridge.
- Enjoy!
Note:
You can absolutely leave the garlic out of this recipe. I heart garlic, but many of you do not.
Let’s Talk Revolution
How do you feel about Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution? Are you following his show? Do you know who he even is? I’ve known about him for a few years, and always enjoyed his food shows that I’ve seen. Since I first saw him on TV, I loved that he promotes fresh produce and real food. (You can read his food philosophy here.) He isn’t promoting anything outrageous – just sensible meals and snacks created from real food.
Here’s a quote from him (from his site) to better help you understand his Food Revolution Mission – in case you haven’t heard about it yet:
“I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. Too many people are being affected by what they eat. It’s time for a national revolution. America needs to stand up for better food!
You live in an amazing country full of inspirational people and you have the power to change things. With your help, we can get better food into homes, schools and communities all over America and give your kids a better future.”—Jamie Oliver
Changing my habits to eating real food is how I lost over 100 pounds. So I absolutely believe in Jamie’s mission. I personally admire his courage, passion, and believe he has a genuine, soft heart. And I can’t believe how much resistance he’s been up against for this whole thing. Isn’t it amazing how so many people fight healthy eating/living?
And as I write this, there are almost 80,000 signatures on the petition Jamie plans on presenting to the White House. Would you consider signing? I’m going to I did!
Let me know your thoughts on Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution – and the sun-dried tomato hummus….
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alert
My Tropical Traditions giveaway is still open. Win a jar of creamy, delicious, healthy organic, raw, wild honey!!
Hi, y’all! I have another recipe for ya.
But first I’d like to thank you for chiming in on my Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie Recipe. It’s nice to know your thoughts. And if any of y’all make it, just let me know and I’ll link to your post!
If you’re new to Healing With (Raw) Juices, or are behind on your blog reading, be sure to catch up on my latest posts:
Caught up yet? Good!
Why Jalapeño Hummus? Because as I was reading Tyler’s blog (Healthy and Fun) yesterday, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read he put Jalapeño Hummus on his sandwich. I thought that sounded SO good!
Now, I’ve never been a “hummus person” like a lot of health foodies. I mean, I’ve had it before – even made homemade versions, but it has never been something I’ve just had to have, ya know?
But Jalapeño Hummus? Oh, my! This girl LOVES her some spice! So I got busy today and whipped up my own….
Jalapeño Hummus
Eating hummus is a fantabulous way to get in some protein if you don’t eat much meat, or if you’re a vegan/vegetarian.
Want to know the health benefits of garbanzo beans? You do? Good, that post is in the works!
In to the food processor…
(recipe follows)
‘till it’s combined and creamy!
Up close
In to 1 cup containers = 2 cups Jalapeño Hummus!
Close-up again
with chopped celery + red bell pepper
So DELISH!!!!
Jalapeño Hummus Recipe
(Yields 2 cups)
Ingredients:
- 1 can garbanzo beans
- juice from 1 small lemon
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- curry powder to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon.)
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- freshly ground sea salt to taste
- 2 (big) cloves garlic
- 3 jalapeño slices
- splash of jalapeno juice (from the jar)
Directions:
- Put garbanzo beans in the food processor (drained and rinsed).
- Add lemon juice, tahini, curry powder, salt, pepper, jalapenos, and garlic.
- Process until blended well.
- Store in a container with a lid – or serve right away!
Note:
If you like a lot of spice, add even more jalapenos and/or jalapeno juice, cayenne pepper powder, etc. This was really delicious, but next time I’m going to add even more spice – I like things really hot!
For raw purists:
You could totally raw-i-fy this recipe.
Are you a huge hummus fan? What’s your favorite way to eat it? With veggies? On a wrap? A sandwich? Straight off the spoon? Do you make your own hummus, or buy it? Do you like your hummus spicy – or any food spicy? Let’s talk hummus!!!
Oh, and be sure to check out Tyler’s blog – he’s lost over 100 pounds, too!!!! Congrats, Tyler!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alert
My Tropical Traditions giveaway is still open. Win a jar of creamy, delicious, healthy organic, raw, wild honey!!
Thanks so much for all your kind words on my recent posts! Your thoughts and opinions are SO appreciated!!
And I’m tickled pink that y’all loved my Amish farm/critter post: Amish Country, Sunny Skies + Critters!
If you’re new to Healing With (Raw) Juices, or are behind on your blog reading, be sure to catch up on my latest posts:
Caught up yet? Good!
I snatched this Lucuma powder right up when I went on my $50 iHerb shopping spree. I have other plans for it, too, but I thought I’d throw it in the latest craving: Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie. It really did enhance the flavor and texture – I love it!
Evan (from Food Makes Fun Fuel) dumps Lucuma on his yogurt! Haven’t tried that yet, have you?
And if you’re a first-time www.iHerb.com shopper, you can save $5 on your first order by using this code: TUN499 <— Take advantage of that RAWsome deal!
Navitas Naturals Lucuma
Frozen Nanner, Almond Milk, Tart Cherry Concentrate
Added the Lucuma
Added the Cocoa Powder
Ice for good measure.
Beautiful transformation!
Yum!
Chocolate-Covered BUBBLES!
Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Note: I’m used to the tart cherry concentrate but it might be a bit strong for you if you aren’t. This smoothie is really, really chocolatey and the tart cherry shines through nicely. It’s not bitter, it’s delish! But if you aren’t a fan of even a slight bit of tartness, you may want to balance out the smoothie with either more sweetener, less tart cherry concentrate – or just use sweet cherries.
Have you ever made a chocolate-covered smoothie? (I’m sure Katie has!) What is your all-time favorite smoothie? I love green smoothies most – especially when hemp protein and spinach are involved! But some days, Raw Juice Girl just needs a little chocolate in her life.
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alerts
June, from An Apple a Day, is hosting an awesome contest for Bragg!!
Averie, from Love Veggies & Yoga, is giving away an eco-friendly, BPA-free lunchbox and cooler set from EasyLunchBoxes.com!!!
Bitt, from A Bitt of Raw, is giving away a Vivapura raw foods package!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey!!
Hey, y’all!
Glad you enjoyed my Spiralized Veggie S’ghetti recipe – it was fun to make, and eat!
If you’re new to Healing With (Raw) Juices, or are behind on your blog reading, be sure to catch up on my latest posts:
Caught up yet? Good!
A bunch of you have often let me know you’d love it if I shared more personal stuff – so here it is.
Since the sun was shining today, I took advantage of the opportunity to get some fun photos of a bunch of the critters here on the farm. All of ‘em aren’t posted below, but I s’pose I’ll just have to do another post like this in the near future (if y’all like it, that is!).
I’ll start out sharing the twin kids who were born March 12th (see ‘em here). We named ‘em “Cookies and Cream” just for fun.
Cream was born first.
Raw Juice Girl holding “Cream”
Raw Juice Girl holding “Cookie”
Cream
Cookie
Cookie(s) and Cream
Daffodils!
Fancy Chicken!
Daffodils!
Fancy Chicken!
More Daffodils!
Chickens and a Duck!
Daffodils again!
Baby (White!) Turkeys + Chicks
Do you have critters? Are you on a farm, or in the city? If you’re on a farm, do you ever dream of being in the city? Or, if you’re in the city, do you ever fantasize about quiet days spent on a porch sipping tea as the breeze blows? What’s your favorite animal? Do you own it? What animal would you get if you don’t have one and could get one? Did you enjoy your sneak peek of the Amish farm? Would you like to see more? And for those of you who have been waiting and waiting for the Amish farm homesteading blog, so sorry about the wait. Life kind of got in the way and there’s too much on our plate right now to crank that blog up and get it going – but we’ve taken LOTS of photos and video and we WILL get that blog rollin’ in the future.
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alerts
Averie, from Love Veggies & Yoga, is giving away an eco-friendly, BPA-free lunchbox and cooler set from EasyLunchBoxes.com!!!
Bitt, from A Bitt of Raw, is giving away a Vivapura raw foods package!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey!!
Hi, y’all!
Do you have bright, sunny skies? I do. Finally! Gosh, there’s been so many dark, gloomy, blech days in a row. Sunshine warms my heart and soul, so I am tickled pink to get a good dose. Phew!
If you’re new to Healing With (Raw) Juices, or are behind on your blog reading, be sure to catch up on my latest posts:
Caught up yet? Good!
As I recently mentioned, deliveries have been arriving and exciting things are in the works for you fantabulous people!
One of the awesome deliveries included a Spiral Vegetable Slicer from the generous folks at CSN Stores. Eeeek! It was like Christmas morning!!!
I. Am. In. Love. Seriously!
This thing is so much fun. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and cranks out fancy and beautiful food – love it!! I’ll shut up about it now because I have enough to say in my in-depth review (coming soon!) but right now, I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what spiralizing madness I’ve been up to with this super cool spiralizer.
Um, yes, what you see is spaghetti – made from peeled zucchini and it was an oh-so-delicious meal. I can’t wait to have it again!
Zucchini Spaghetti!
Delivery!!!!
My new love!
Okay, okay. On to the recipe business.
Peeled Zucchini
Put one end of the zucchini here.
And the other end of the zucchini here.
Out comes noodles!!!!
Long and noodley!!!
And this, the core.
What to do? Eat it, of course! I don’t waste around here!! So, I chopped the core and added it to the noodles. A little chunky is good, eh?!
Then I diced an onion.
Read the AMAZING health benefits (Onions: A Pungent Surprise of Natural Healing)
And (gasp!) sautéed it. Yep, cooked; not raw.
While the onions were sautéing, I was heating up water in my tea kettle. Why? I thought it’d be awesome to pour hot water over the zucchini noodles to soften ‘em up a bit. Now, zucchini isn’t that hard of a veggie, in my opinion, but I wanted to really impress a few family members and win them over on the idea of raw veggie pasta. So, I thought I’d meet ‘em half way.
In hot water!!
Up close
While the veggie noodles were enjoying their hot soak, I added spaghetti sauce to the sautéed onion. I don’t have fresh maters from the garden yet (but I will!!) so I just used canned sauce this time. Since the dish wasn’t going to be raw, it really didn’t matter at this point.
S’ghetti Sauce = Yum!
Look at those noodles!!!
When I felt my zucchini noodles had “steeped” long enough (lol!) I strained ‘em and put ‘em back in my bowl. Then I drizzled some olive oil and added a few cranks of freshly ground sea salt and black pepper.
Taste test = DELISH!
Finished product = close to the real thing + DIVINE!!!
Spiralized Veggie S’ghetti Recipe
Ingredients:
- zucchini (half a zucchini will do for one person – unless you’re super hungry)
- spaghetti sauce (I used canned, but I’m going to make raw when my garden is flourishing.)
- onion (I sautéed a small onion to add to the canned sauce because I love onion.)
Directions:
- Spiralize the zucchini.
- Sautée the onion.
- Prepare your sauce – or open a can.
- Add sauce to the onion and heat through.
- Plate up and enjoy!
Note: To warm up the zucchini noodles and soften ‘em up a bit, I put ‘em in a glass bowl and filled the bowl with hot water. I’d say you could boil ‘em for a short time, too. Of course, this defeats the purpose of raw noodles – BUT it’s way better than highly processed noodles made from white flour!
Verdict?
I’ve been asked to make this dish again ASAP!!!
And guess what?! I also spiralized an apple and made a yummy sauce off the top of my head – including a healthy dose of cinnamon, which La loves. I’ll be posting that soon, so stay tuned!
Have you ever had spiralized veggie spaghetti? Did you eat it raw? Cook it? Have you had it both ways? Which do you prefer? And low-carbers are going to love these veggie noodles – no more sitting out pasta night!! What’s your favorite way to eat spiralized veggies? Do you use tomato sauce? Whip up your own fancy sauce? Are you a pesto person? I’ve never really been “in to” pesto. I think I’m going to give it another try, though. Chime in with all your spiralizing veggie – or fruit! – adventures! Can’t wait to hear about ‘em!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alerts
Averie, from Love Veggies & Yoga, is giving away an eco-friendly, BPA-free lunchbox and cooler set from EasyLunchBoxes.com!!!
Bitt, from A Bitt of Raw, is giving away a Vivapura raw foods package!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey!!
Disclaimer: The generous folks at the Aurorae Yoga company were kind enough to send me a beautiful, luxurious yoga mat from their collection to review. They also sent their Sport Sweat Towel and their Yoga Slip Free Rosin Bag. However, I was not paid to write this review – or even asked to write one.
Thank you, Aurorae!
Y’all know I’m always excited when packages arrive and I get new products to review, but I was especially impressed with this package – the quality is fantabulous!
I immediately knew when I unwrapped my mat that I was going to enjoy practicing yoga on it – and I do!
When my fingertips met this mat, I felt nothing but plush thickness. The word that keeps coming to mind: luxury.
There’s nothing better than time on the mat. To me, it’s a chance to clear my mind, strengthen my body, mind, and soul, and also rejuvenate. It’s a great way to start the day, or even end it. And I know it will be even better with Aurorae’s Hope Yoga Mat.
And now on to the photos and in-depth review…
First, let’s start with opening the box. It was like Christmas morning! I think this would be the perfect gift for anyone who loves yoga, or is considering getting in to it.
Aurorae Delivery!
I requested the Hope Aurorae Yoga Mat, not only because it’s pink – and pink is my favorite color – but because its message emanates such peace and beauty.
Intuitive
Faithful
Visionary
Power of Positive Thought
Energetic
Healing
Wow. Pretty powerful stuff. And very inspiring!
All Three Items
Aurorae Yoga Mats
About the Company
It’s always nice to get a feel for the people behind the products. And that’s why I always try to share some background on the company, its history, and/or its owner. I love learning why the company was created and how it was born. And so far I haven’t been disappointed. This time is no different. I’m truly inspired by the founder of Aurorae Yoga – and I believe you will be, too.
Dennis Ingui is a fighter. He is passionate about life and health and he’s not just interested in a thriving business, he has a desire to share with the world quality products that will enhance our yoga practice and help us live healthier, happier, more enriched lives.
See for yourself.
From the site:
I started this company from the passion I developed for yoga over the past nine years. Being a cancer survivor since 2001, I needed an outlet in my life to help build my body as well as develop inner peace for my mind. Yoga has helped accomplish both these goals for me while also making many new friends and energizing me with a positive and balanced attitude toward life.
I’m not an instructor or a yogi, just a dedicated student that has enriched his life through yoga and understands what a regular everyday student needs in their yoga practice.
Your business is always appreciated and we at Aurorae look forward to servicing your yoga needs and hopefully making a few new friends along the way.
Thank you.
Dennis Ingui /President & CEO
Aurorae
Remember, "it’s your yoga" so don’t be intimidated or uncomfortable. Relax, Enjoy and Namaste
Need I say more about this man, or company? Congratulations to Dennis on being a cancer survivor and thank you for sharing your passion – and awesome yoga products – with the world!
Pros
This mat is soft, thick, luxurious, beautiful and inspiring. I love that each mat has a name and inspirational meanings. It’s wonderful to practice yoga on a mat that makes you feel so wonderful – and how fantabulous that my pink mat has such a beautiful message:
Intuitive
Faithful
Visionary
Power of Positive Thought
Energetic
Healing
Ah, healing… it’s a sign! This site, after all, is a tribute to my own healing journey.
I just had to list those inspiring words again. I love ‘em! And they seriously represent how I feel about my life and yoga.
And did I mention how soft and plush this mat is?
Cons
You may want to sleep on it! I’m not kidding. This is a fantabulous yoga mat!! How can I say something negative? I can’t find anything bad!
Verdict/Grade
I absolutely must give this mat an A+ because (as I mentioned above) it’s soft, thick, luxurious, inspiring, beautiful – and it’s only $30! I don’t think the price is bad at all – especially considering it’s such high quality, and a VERY worthy investment. After all, isn’t health and exercise important? Living a longer, fuller life is absolutely important.
I’m sure $30 isn’t even half the cost of what a lot of you would spend on shoes or clothes. Let’s make health a priority!
I can’t imagine that anyone wouldn’t be pleased with their purchase. Seriously! It’s that awesome.
Also, I saw some yoga mats at the store the other day (other brands around $20 – they were SO thin!).
And you can get your own fantabulous Aurorae mat here, in my Raw Shop!!
Are you a yoga lover? Do you have any Aurorae products? Do you have one of these mats? If so, which one do you have, and why did you choose it? The color? The message? Both? And if you don’t have one of these mats, which one would you choose? You can share why you’d choose that mat, too. Get a feel for Aurorae – I have a surprise for you!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alerts
The Delightful Learning blog is giving away a GALLON of Tropical Traditions shredded coconut!!!
Bitt, from A Bitt of Raw, is giving away a Vivapura raw foods package!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey.
Disclaimer #2: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything once you click on them, I will earn a small commission. Thank you in advance for supporting Raw Juice Girl’s hard work!
Hi, y’all! The sun is shining today. Woo hoo!
I thought I’d share my breakfast (from yesterday) with you – especially since you loved my other Nuttzo-inspired breakfast: NuttzOats. (Those were some awesome overnight oats, I’m telling ya!)
And thanks for your kind words about my mishap in the kitchen, which resulted in Raw, Vegan, Chicken(less) Salad! And it was green – in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, of course!
So, if you think you’re messing up a recipe, think outside the box and consider adding a couple of extra ingredients and turning it into something totally different. It just may work. Mine did!
I’m a couple days behind on posting stuff I had planned on sharing with you (yay for mail deliveries!! – and super fantabulous surprises for y’all!!)
But anyway, on to the breakfast….
Apples with Cinnamon Multigrain Oats. Have you ever tried these? I normally only eat steel-cut oats and add my own extras, but I thought it’d be fun to try instant for once. Living life on the edge… LOL
Multigrain Hot Cereal
Bottom of the Jar!
Yumiliciousness!
Aaaaaaaaahhhh, I do love the apple-Nuttzo combo!
Nuttzo Jar!
Hated it!
Have you ever tried oats in a jar? They are AWESOME! Have you tried oats in a Nuttzo jar? Yum! What’s your favorite OIAJ combo? And if you’re in to online shopping, Nuttzo is available in my OpenSky shop! It’s a little expensive, but you’re getting TWO jars!
Coming Next
- Awesome deliveries and surprises for y’all!
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
The Delightful Learning blog is giving away a GALLON of Tropical Traditions shredded coconut!!!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey.
Hi, y’all! Glad you enjoyed the looks of my overnight oats made with Nuttzo, which I lovingly named “NuttzOats” – they were even yummier than they look!
And if you caught it, you’ll remember I mentioned that I’d be sharing a fun (green!) recipe later today. Well, I didn’t forget… just got myself into a pickle and actually thought I might have to waste food. I’m NOT one to waste food so it took me a while to regroup and try to figure out how to save these ingredients, but I did it!
Originally, I planned on making a Saint Patrick’s Day version of the raw cheese I’ve seen around the web for a while now. I’ve noticed raw foodies using soaked cashews or macadamia nuts and mixing the nuts with either an orange or a red bell pepper and seasonings (and sometimes even more ingredients) to make a raw cheese sauce.
Well, I thought I’d had a “brainstorm” and would replace the red/orange bell pepper with a green one – for green cheese, in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day!
Yeah, that didn’t work out so well.
I know it isn’t because of the green bell pepper. I tried to make this recipe in the food processor because I didn’t think the blender would do such a great job with the nuts. Maybe I should’ve tried because all I ended up with was a mixture of chunky bell pepper and cashews. I had added sea salt and a pinch of cayenne like a lot of recipes recommended. But it just wasn’t getting creamy like I’d seen across the blogosphere.
What to do?
I let the mixture sit in the food processor while I sorted it out in my head.
Hmmm… To waste, or not to waste. I almost tossed this in to that new “Raw Flops” category I created a while back. But at this point, I figured I’d just try to add a few things and see what happened.
Rewind.
Before I discovered my mixture wasn’t getting smooth (or maybe I didn’t wait long enough?) I started documenting my recipe.
Green Bell Pepper + Soaked Cashews
Chopped
In the Food Processor
After this, I started processing the ingredients and when I realized I wasn’t coming out with the smooth, green cheese I’d envisioned, I forgot to take a photo of the chunky mixture!
Okay, back to where I was with adding ingredients to try to save my concoction…
The full recipe is at the end of this post but basically, I threw in a splash of almond milk, added a little more salt, some freshly ground black pepper, and some minced garlic.
And with a little determination – and perhaps a little luck
this was born:
Raw, Green (Vegan) Chicken(less) Salad!
I gave it this name because when I dared take a tiny taste (I was getting scared, y’all!) it tasted similar to chicken salad! Eeek! My raw flop isn’t a flop after all – it’s a happy accident; a blessing in disguise!
And the photo doesn’t show just how green it was. I love its color.
I had planned on serving the raw (green) cheese with broccoli, celery and cucumber sticks, but after all the hassle – and cleaning up my mess! – I just ate a small bowl of this and called it a night.
Raw, Green (Vegan) Chicken(less) Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 medium bell pepper
- 1 cup (soaked) cashews
- pinch cayenne pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- minced garlic to taste
- splash almond milk (just for smooth sailing in the food processor)
Directions:
- Chop bell pepper (or celery).
- Add (drained) soaked cashews.
- Toss in cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, garlic, and almond milk.
- Blend until you get the consistency you enjoy.
Uses:
- Serve with veggies, as a dip.
- Spread on crackers.
- Smear on bread like a real chicken salad sandwich.
- Smear on a tortilla and make a yummy wrap.
- You might even sneak a spoonful straight from the bowl!
Note: Next time I make this, I’ll use celery instead of bell pepper and add onion.
Of course, if I would have intentionally set out to make raw chicken(less) salad, I’d have used celery – not bell pepper – and I’d have added onion (similar to my Raw Tuna Fish-Less Salad). Yum! You know what I’ll be making for quick meals from now on.
AND…
Just so I knew I wasn’t just tired and crazy (LOL!) I had a couple of family members taste my creation. I didn’t tell ‘em what it was. Wanna know their reaction? Of course you do!
I saw big eyes and shocked faces, and heard: “It tastes like chicken salad!”
Bingo! I had saved my ingredients. Phew!
Updated on 3/18/10 to add: I’m getting requests for more!
Have you ever started out making one recipe and ended up with something totally different? Was it edible? Have you had happy accidents in the kitchen? If so, don’t you love ‘em? And what about the raw cheese? Did I just not wait long enough? Does it only work in a Vita-Mix? Chime in, wise ones, chime in!
And I hope you had a fantabulous Saint Patrick’s Day!
Coming Next
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
- Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
- I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everyone!
I have a fun (green!) recipe that you’ll see later today, but first I just had to share my overnight oats with you.
If you’re a regular reader, you may remember a while back when I made Coconut Peanut Butter Honey Overnight Oats. And if you aren’t a regular reader, go check that recipe out!
Overnight oats make a fantabulous breakfast, lunch, or snack. Why?
Because they are:
-
easy to prepare ahead of time
-
great for busy people who work outside the home
-
fun for freelancers, too!
-
or even students
-
loaded with nutrition – and flavor
-
filling
-
perfect for rushed mornings
-
and more!
I can’t wait to try these cold, creamy, chewy, decadent overnight oats on a hot summer’s morning. I have a feeling this dish will be the perfect breakfast – or snack! – during the scorching summer months.
Check out how beautiful my overnight oats turned out!
So, whether you’re a student and/or are someone who is busy with your job – in or out of the home – overnight oats provide an amazingly yummy meal that not only tastes absolutely fantabulous, but is good for you, too!
And overnight oats can be whipped up any way you like. The ingredient possibilities are endless.
-
fruit
-
nuts
-
seeds
-
nut butters
-
coconut oil
-
avocado
-
cocoa powder
-
stevia
-
and more!
Whatever your favorite flavor combos are, try ‘em in overnight oats. And be sure to experiment and try new things, too – it’s so fun!
Preparing Overnight Oats
Mashed Nanner
Raw Honey
7 Grain Flakes
Nuttzo!
Melted Honey
Almond Milk
The Night Before
and like magic….
The Next Morning
Overnight NuttzOATS Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Have you ever tried overnight oats? If not, why not?! They’re fantabulous! And if you are a fan of overnight oats, what’s your favorite combo? Have you ever tried 7 grain flakes? They did really well in overnight oats. And have you tried Nuttzo? It’s sooooooooooo amazing – delicious and nutritious! And if you’re in to online shopping, you can find organic, old-fashioned oats AND Nuttzo in my OpenSky Shop!
Coming Next
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
- Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
- I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Disclaimer: The opinions in this post are my own, and are not meant to sway your decision of consuming agave. I am speaking from my “gut feeling” and the information I’ve personally come across – that is all.
So glad you’ve enjoyed my story about Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis + Fibromyalgia – your comments and emails have truly blessed my heart!!
And yay for Strawberry Serenity Kombucha. Thanks for your rave reviews of my review.
Oh, and I hope you enjoyed the post I published right before this one: Nuttzo + Apple Slices + Berry Blackstrap Smoothie = Delicious Lunch!
It truly was a fantabulous lunch. Yum!
Anyway, on to the topic at hand: agave and why it’s banned from my kitchen….
Finally!
Agave & Me
For years, I’ve listened to people “ooooohhh and aaaahhhhh” over Agave. Health food store employees have tried to sell me on it, too.
“You can sweeten tea or coffee with it!”
“It’s a delicious addition to recipes!”
“For vegans, it’s a wonderful replacement for honey!”
These are some of the sell points I’ve heard over the years. And while I absolutely agree with each statement (remember, I finally gave in and used it myself – and loved it!), I’ve come to the conclusion that I should have followed my initial gut instinct – and listened to my mother – and avoided agave all together.
Agave found its way in to my chocolate pudding and raw chocolate.
I realize that a TON of you use and enjoy agave and have made up your minds to continue using it, regardless – and we are all entitled to our opinions and food choices. But I’ve really searched my heart and soul on this one, and it felt right to not only quit using agave, but to share with you why.
Inflammation
As I recently mentioned in my post about living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia, I’ve battled inflammation for several years now. Most days, I win. Some days, I don’t. But I have to be very careful about what I eat – or drink – because if I’m not, the old symptoms come back full force.
And I don’t like going backward. I don’t enjoy feeling stiff and not being able to freely move my fingers across the keyboard or have increased back pain.
I don’t enjoy hurting so badly, I can’t practice yoga. And I really hate hurting so badly that I can’t sleep – Raw Juice Girl is a grouch without enough sleep!
What to do?
Adios, Agave
I decided to say adios to agave because I literally feel horrific when I consume it.
How do I know this? I started noticing I was hurting worse than I had in a LONG time. Aches and sharp, piercing pains were back. I didn’t like that. I couldn’t figure out what I’d done differently. I wasn’t eating more fruit than normal. I wasn’t eating white sugar or bread or pasta. I wasn’t eating 100% raw at this point, but my diet consisted of really, really clean food.
What could it be? I thought and thought and couldn’t figure it out. Then it dawned on me… Aha, the agave – it was the ONLY thing I’d done differently.
So I cut it out of my diet. Just as an experiment. What happened? Within days, the extra aches and pains and aggravated Arthritis and Fibromyalgia symptoms were gone. Gone.
Amazing, huh? I think so.
Confirmation
The following article just sealed the deal for me and I knew I’d had one too many “signs” and “gut feelings” to do anything other than cut agave from my diet. Period.
Agave Nectar: Worse Than We Thought
Here’s an Excerpt
The Big Dirty Secret About Agave
In spite of manufacturers’ claims, agave “nectar” is not made from the sap of the yucca or agave plant but from the starch of the giant pineapple-like, root bulb. The principal constituent of the agave root is starch, similar to the starch in corn or rice, and a complex carbohydrate called inulin, which is made up of chains of fructose molecules.Technically a highly indigestible fiber, inulin, which does not taste sweet, comprises about half of the carbohydrate content of agave.34
The process by which agave glucose and inulin are converted into “nectar” is similar to the process by which corn starch is converted into HFCS.35 The agave starch is subject to an enzymatic and chemical process that converts the starch into a fructose-rich syrup—anywhere from 70 percent fructose and higher according to the agave nectar chemical profiles posted on agave nectar websites. 36 (One agave manufacturer claims that his product is made with “natural” enzymes.) That’s right, the refined fructose in agave nectar is much more concentrated than the fructose in HFCS. For comparison, the high fructose corn syrup used in sodas is 55 percent refined fructose. (A natural agave product does exist in Mexico, a molasses type of syrup from concentrated plant nectar, but availability is limited and it is expensive to produce.)
According to Bianchi, agave “nectar” and HFCS “are indeed made the same way, using a highly chemical process with genetically modified enzymes. They are also using caustic acids, clarifiers, filtration chemicals and so forth in the conversion of agave starches.” The result is a high level of highly refined fructose in the remaining syrup, along with some remaining inulin.
In a confidential FDA letter, Dr. Martin Stutsman of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Labeling Enforcement, explains the FDA’s food labeling laws related to agave nectar: “Corn syrup treated with enzymes to enhance the fructose levels is to be labeled ‘High Fructose Corn Syrup.’” According to Mr. Stutsman, agave requires the label “hydrolyzed inulin syrup.”37 Even though, like corn, agave is a starch and fiber food processed with enzymes, it does not require the label “High Fructose Agave Syrup.” Agave “nectar” is a misnomer; at the very least, it should be labeled “agave syrup.”
Agave syrup comes in two colors: clear or light, and amber. What is this difference? Mr. Bianchi explains: “Due to poor quality control in the agave processing plants in Mexico, sometimes the fructose gets burned after being heated above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, thus creating a darker, or amber color.” However, the labels create the impression of an artisan product—like light or amber beer. As consumers are learning about problems with agave syrup, the label “chicory syrup” is beginning to appear as a non-conforming word for the product. Consumer beware!
Like I said, this article sealed the deal for me. I knew in my heart agave wasn’t for me – it just resonated with me.
Closing Thoughts
I did enjoy agave’s taste; I don’t enjoy the side effects it has on my body.
Learning things like this, and following my gut instinct, is why I feel I will probably never be 100% vegan.
Here’s why…
I do eat mostly vegan foods – most of the time, for days or weeks – but there are times I use a little (raw) honey or want to eat an omelet (made with organic eggs from right here on my farm) or I give in to a craving for organic Oikos Greek yogurt. And I personally feel it’s better to eat a little honey (something my body doesn’t have trouble processing) than to eat agave and ignore that tugging feeling, and suffer the painful side effects it has on my body.
I know there’s a lot of controversy about agave and a LOT of people who are never going to give it up. This is just my opinion and decision. And I thought I’d share it with you.
And I also personally feel it’s in the best interest (for MY body and happiness and overall health) to stick to “real” foods and not consume a lot of processed vegan/vegetarian stuff. This is where the whole vegan/vegetarian thing can get “sticky” because while a lot of people may judge me for eating an egg or Greek yogurt once in a while, I am not chugging soy milk, highly processed “vegan” and “vegetarian” foods and eating what is really “fake” food, in my opinion. Ya know?
I am not judging you if you do eat those things – I actually feel it’s better to eat them than lots of meat and fast food. So, I feel there’s really not a black and white understanding – or rules even – when it comes to living a raw/vegan/vegetarian lifestyle.
In the end, we all have to make the best possible choice we can at the time and just go from there.
Updated 3/20/2010 to add another article about agave I just discovered. It’s by Dr. Mercola: Beware of the Agave Nectar Health Food Fraud
So now you know why agave is no longer in my life. Is it what you suspected? Do you agree? Disagree? Even care at all? Is agave something you use every single day, or just on occasion? Do you agree that it’s better to use the real thing in place of a fake alternative? Such as a real egg instead of fake egg substitutes? Or honey instead of agave? Or real butter instead of fake? Do you eat foods or drink beverages because they taste good – or because they’re good for you?
Coming Next
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
- Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
- I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Hi, y’all!
So glad you’ve enjoyed my story about Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis + Fibromyalgia – your comments and emails have truly blessed my heart!!
And yay for Strawberry Serenity Kombucha. Thanks for your rave reviews of my review.
Don’t worry, the agave post is coming. I just HAD to share my fantabulous lunch with you – it was THAT good!
I had oatmeal for (a late) breakfast and so I wasn’t the least bit hungry ‘till around 2 p.m. or so. What to do? Make a smoothie and have an apple slathered with Nuttzo!
There were some leftover berries in the fridge and I was craving hemp protein, too. (Recipe follows!!)
I threw in some other goodies and created this beauty:
Berry Blackstrap Smoothie
Inspired by my Blueberry-Blackstrap Bomb
In my new tumbler!
In the blender
Plus an apple slathered in Nuttzo = YUM!!!
Enjoyed ever so much…
While I write that AGAVE post!!!
Berry Blackstrap Smoothie Recipe
Inspired by my Blueberry-Blackstrap Bomb
- 1/2 cup herbal tea (whatever you like; I used a nettle/mullein/peace blend)
- 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses water (2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses + 1 cup of water = blackstrap water)
- about a cup of leftover berries
- 1 whole avocado (see avocado’s health benefits here)
- 3 tablespoons hemp powder
- 1 tablespoon tart cherry concentrate
- 2 tablespoons freshly ground flax seeds
- teeny amount of stevia to taste
- 4 ice cubes
Directions: Toss everything into your blender and blend away. Pour in a glass and enjoy! This made enough to fill the tumbler twice – but I only drank one tumbler full. I shared the rest with a family member who was eye-balling it. LOL
Do you have days when all you want is a yummy smoothie and fruit slathered in nut butter? Is your appetite always ravenous or non-existent – or does it vary from day-to-day? What’s your favorite smoothie recipe or ingredient? What’s your favorite fruit to slather nut butter on? And have you tried Nuttzo? A full review is coming soon but the ingredients in this stuff is amazing: Valencia Peanuts, Cashews, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Brazil Nuts, Sunflower Seeds, and Flax Seeds – and it’s crunchy and SUPER DELISH! It’s also now available in my OpenSky Shop!!!! Eeeeekkk!
Contest Alerts
- Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
- I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Coming Next
- Agave: Why I Was Hesitant to Use It, And Won’t Be Using It Anymore
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Before getting in to this Kombucha Tea review, I just wanted to thank everyone for your kind and encouraging words regarding my Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis + Fibromyalgia post. Besides your comments on that post, I’ve received messages on various social media sites, as well as emails. I appreciate every message – your words mean a lot to me!
Now, let’s talk about Kombucha!
“We use the very same generation of Kombucha culture that GT Dave used when he first started bottling it from his mother’s kitchen. Now we have thousands of cultures that give birth to new "babies" everyday.” — www.synergydrinks.com
Kombucha Tea. Interesting, isn’t it? I’ve discovered quite a few folks have no idea what it even is, or why you’d drink it. I know I didn’t. I mean, fermented tea? Really? I wasn’t so sure about this stuff! This, coming from a gal who has sipped organic apple cider vinegar (with Mother!) water for years.
But I’m known to be naturally curious, so I had to see what all the excitement (aka hype in the blogospohere) was about.
Fun Fact!
“In his autobiography, Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote that drinking Kombucha helped him survive the Siberian slave camps of the former Soviet Union.” — www.synergydrinks.com
You may remember my review of Passionberry Bliss. It was really good, but it was my first-ever Kombucha experience – so I almost spewed it out my mouth as soon as I tasted it.
I had bought Passionberry Bliss with my own money, but today’s review is sponsored by www.synergydrinks.com – the kind folks at Synergy sent me some coupons so I could sample a variety of their flavors!
So, what’s the big deal? What is Kombucha and why should you drink it?
From their FAQ page:
What’s in Kombucha and how do these ingredients support health?
Kombucha culture has a wide range of organic acids, probiotics, acids and enzymes that give it its extraordinary value. Here’s a brief look at the benefits of each:
Beneficial Probiotics - Due to the prolific presence of pesticides, antibiotics, and preservatives, the beneficial micro-organisms present in our bodies are being destroyed and killed off on a regular basis. These friendly microbes play a huge role in our digestive and immune systems. Therefore, it is crucial that they are replenished from natural sources like kefir, yogurt, and Kombucha. Our beverages contain Lactobacillus Bacterium and S. Boulardii, which can help support a healthy digestive and immune system.
Live Active Enzymes - Active Enzymes are generally only found in foods that have not been cooked, processed, or refined. They are like the “spark plugs” for the body’s cells because they put “life” back in our bodies. If you think about it, the body is a living thing; why would you feed it something that is dead?
Polyphenols - These are antioxidants that fight off the free-radicals that stress the body and compromise its youth and health.
Organic Acids
These nutrients can help promote tissue and blood alkalinity and help normalize the natural process of homeostasis throughout the body.Lactic acid helps maintain healthy digestive action (through the probiotic lactobacilli) and for energy production by the liver. Acetic acid is an antiseptic and inhibitor of pathogenic bacteria. Glucuronic acid, normally produced by a healthy liver, is a powerful detoxifier and can readily be converted into glucosamines, the foundation of our skeletal system. Usnic acid has selective antibiotic qualities which can partly deactivate viruses. Oxalic acid encourages the intercellular production of energy, and is a preservative. Malic acid also helps the liver to detoxify. Butyric acid protects human cellular membranes, and combined with Gluconic acid strengthens the walls of the gut in order to combat yeast infections such as Candida. Nucleic acids, like RNA and DNA, transmit information to the cells on how to perform correctly and regenerate.
The fermented tea comes in a variety of flavors and there’s pretty much something for everyone.
The flavors in the above photo are (starting at the top-left):
- Superfruits
- Trilogy
- Mystic Mango
- Raspberry Rush
- Passionberry Bliss
- Strawberry Serenity
- Cosmic Cranberry
- Guava Goddess
- Divine Grape
- Gingerberry
I, of course, am reviewing the Strawberry Serenity flavor today.
Strawberry Serenity
Pros
There are a LOT of pros with this tea. This stuff is pungent, in my opinion. I compare it to apple cider vinegar
- better digestion
- healthier hair, nails, and skin
- enhanced eyesight
- increased energy
- relief from arthritis pain
- help eliminating toxins
- speedier healing from cold and flu
- better circulation
- improved blood pressure levels
- relief from gout
- and much, much more!
Pretty amazing, huh?
And it fizzes and sort of tastes like soda to me!
Cons
Price. Not everyone can afford to pay $3 – $4 for a bottle of fermented tea. But there are two servings in each bottle, so you could drink half and save the other half for either the next day or another time – that would result in you paying only $1.50 – $2 per serving.
But sometimes you can catch a crazy good sale and stock up like Brittany, over at Eating Bird Food.
And if you only like to drink things that taste sweet or super great, you may have to convince your mind to drink Kombucha Tea. I’ll be honest, it isn’t for everyone’s taste buds. I have found, though, now that I’ve had a few different flavors (those reviews are coming soon) it is actually “growing on me” and I like it a lot! Kombucha Tea is addictive!
Verdict/Grade
I give Synergy’s Strawberry Serenity GT Kombucha Tea a B+ because the strawberry flavor shines through nicely and it’s yummy. And although it’s a little expensive for a super frugal gal like me, I’d actually buy this with my own money. It isn’t something I can buy often, I would definitely splurge for this once in a while.
And I love the company’s mission statement:
“To combine the wisdom of ancient medicinal foods with the resources of the modern day to create products that uplift and enlighten the health of all those who enjoy them.”
Are you a Kombucha drinker? Do you drink it occasionally or have to have it all the time? Do you make your own or stock up from the store, or online? Share your Kombucha experiences – and if you have a recipe, share!
Coming Next
- Agave: Why I Was Hesitant to Use It, And Won’t Be Using It Anymore
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Disclaimer: The kind folks at www.synergydrinks.com sent me coupons so I could sample a variety of their teas; however, I was not paid to write this review. I was not asked to feature their site, company information, or even mention them. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you, Synergy!
Also, the organic apple cider vinegar link to Amazon is an affiliate link. So, if you order anything once you’ve clicked that link, I’d make a small commission. Thanks in advance for supporting Raw Juice Girl’s blogging efforts!
Update: At the time I wrote this, I was high-raw vegan. I’m no longer vegan. While I do eat raw foods daily, I have added back to my diet the following: fish, venison, black angus beef, chicken, eggs, honey. I don’t eat a ton of meat but I do allow myself to have meat, eggs, and honey as I crave them. I eat eggs more often than I eat meat or honey but I’ve always been honest with you and that won’t change. I’ve mentioned this several times already but wanted to be sure noone got the impression I’m still a high-raw vegan after reading this post. I also eat 12 grain bread. I am working on a new website that will launch sometime this year that suits my lifestyle more these days. Thanks for reading!
On to original post…
Note: There is SO much to my health history and story in general, it was especially difficult to focus this post on only RA and Fibromyalgia. I hope I’ve managed to successfully share this with you, though – and not just ramble.
I recently mentioned that I was going to share more information on living with Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis, so here it is…
I was diagnosed with both Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia in my mid-twenties. (I was also diagnosed with debilitating migraines, depression, PCOS/Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and endured other grueling health issues (like Candida and colon problems) but in order to keep to a bit of sense to this post, I’m sticking to the RA and Fibromyalgia today.)
This came after barely escaping domestic violence and enduring countless tests, doctors visits, and excruciating pain.
I’ve never shared to the full extent of just how horrific that time in my life was. I do plan on sharing everything in a book someday.
When I was diagnosed, I couldn’t believe it. Arthritis AND Fibromyalgia? But I was so young?! How could it be???
(Source)
Of course, it all made sense: the chronic (and never-ending) muscle spasms, sharp pain, awkwardness with trying to use my hands to do simple tasks (like hold a drinking glass!) and much more.
My hand-eye coordination was the pits – basically non-existent. When I was able to walk, I had to drag my right leg – my hip just wouldn’t cooperate. Things got so bad, I began to lose the ability to move easily. I could no longer hold a drinking glass, write with a pen, or fold laundry – and I woke up one morning and simply couldn’t get out of bed; couldn’t move; couldn’t roll over. Nothing. I became bedridden.
If my mom hadn’t nursed me during that time (brought me meals, drinks, helped bathe me, helped me to the bathroom – everything) I’d have ended up living in a nursing home. I’m not even kidding, people. Not even.
I had so many health issues in my mid-twenties that some doctors I went to literally thought I might not make it to see the age of 30. One doctor told me to my face: If you don’t do something – and quickly – you’re going to die.
At that point, I was right at 300 pounds with horrific levels: blood pressure, blood sugar, hormones, cholesterol – the works.
Now, I know some of you may think I ate myself into a Bolivian because of depression/stress brought on by barely escaping domestic violence – but that isn’t true. While I wasn’t eating tons of fresh raw veggies during that time (it was very hard times and there were lots of meals that consisted of packaged noodles, if ya know what I mean ) most of the weight gain was due to my lack of mobility, side effects from prescription medications and shots, and also stress.
Die? Going to die? In my 20s? AFTER escaping domestic violence? How could it be?
I was scared, folks. Really, really scared. I cried. I was angry. I couldn’t believe that God would spare my life from the nightmare of my abuser – only to let me die from the after-effects of stress, obesity, and all that came with it.
I couldn’t accept it. I didn’t want to die. I had come too far. Way too far.
I wouldn’t give up!
Things are MUCH better now, but I still have bad days and painful times.
For example, there are days I have tried to spend a lot of time in the garden or have done too much sweeping/mopping/walking, etc., and have ended up rotating an ice pack on different parts of my back and am literally in tears because the pain is so bad.
Hope
I finally realized that if I didn’t get my mind above the condition my body was in, I wasn’t going to make it – I was caving. I was giving in to the symptoms, the pain, the depression. No, my future didn’t look positive. No, I didn’t feel good. I hurt. I ached. I didn’t sleep. I cried. Some days I wanted to die. It was that bad. Other days I was afraid I would die. And I didn’t want to.
Mind over matter tips that inspired me to keep going:
- I wrote positive thoughts in notebooks, journals, or on loose scraps of paper.
- I eliminated toxic people from my life.
- I hung on to every word of positive quotes and encouraging Bible verses.
- And most importantly, I prayed – and believed – with all my heart.
The verse that especially pulled me through and still has a most special place in my heart, is Proverbs 17:22 (KJV)
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
I had to find joy in my situation. Yes, I was in agonizing pain – but I was ALIVE! I had survived domestic violence and I didn’t live through it only to whither away from illness and negativity.
When I did focus my mind on the positive, my life began to change. Yes, it was an uphill battle all the way. It still is. I can’t eat like other people, or I literally feel the pain of increased inflammation. And when I do fall off the wagon and “cheat” on foods I know my body can’t process, I pay for it with pain and feeling blech.
What I physically changed in order for the symptoms to fade dramatically:
- quit drinking soda
- cut out all white sugar, flour, and processed foods
- ate fruit sparingly, stuck mostly to berries
- added a TON of fresh, raw veggies
- started drinking raw juices and juice fasting
- started taking herbal supplements
- started drinking herbal tea
- began cleansing my entire body – especially my colon
- started drinking apple cider vinegar
- started drinking tart cherry concentrate every single day, up to 3 x a day
- started taking probiotics daily
- and more
(Source)
What I physically do to maintain the decreased symptoms now:
- eat a high-raw (mostly vegan) diet
- drink raw juices and smoothies
- eat minimal fruit
- yoga
- drink herbal teas
- take herbal remedies
- continue to cleanse my body/colon as I feel the need
- take apple cider vinegar
- take tart cherry concentrate daily
- drink lots of water
- avoid soy
- avoid agave (post coming next to explain this)
- use stevia as a sweetener
- walk
- try to get enough sleep
- blog (because it brings great joy to my life, it seems to help my health overall)
- consume healthy fats and oils
- try to start every day by drinking warm lemon water on an empty stomach
- still take probiotics often
Natural vs Western
I mostly manage my pain with my high-raw (mostly vegan) diet, herbal tonics, apple cider vinegar with Mother, tart cherry concentrate, and yoga but there have been times I simply cannot tolerate the pain and I will (reluctantly) take an Ibuprofen or similar over-the-counter pill. I try not to, though. I personally gave up on Western medicine because I tried so many different pills and shots, I got tired of the side effects. It just wasn’t worth it to me.
I don’t judge people who go the Western medicine route, though, because I know what it’s like to suffer with horrible health issues and we all have to listen to our bodies, make the best choice we can at any given time, and be kind not only to ourselves, but to others. I’m a firm believer in the fact that we don’t know what someone else is going through unless we’ve walked a mile in their shoes – and even then, we all react differently.
Root Cause/Cure
Some of you wanted me to share my opinions on the root cause of RA/Fibromyalgia and a cure. And that’s exactly what this is: my OPINION. That’s it.
So, here goes…
I personally believe that the root cause is inflammation. I believe processed foods, sugar, antibiotics, yeast, etc., contributes to out-of-control inflammation. I know immediately how much – or little – inflammation is raging in my body at any given time. I’ve learned to listen to my body and because of that, and my high-raw (mostly vegan) diet, I can manage my symptoms so well that it’s ALMOST like it is cured.
And when I’m juice fasting, I feel SO light – and I don’t mean weight; I mean inflammation. Make sense?
The Happy “Ending”
It seems silly to think of my current status as a “happy ending” because I feel my life is only beginning! I’ll be 35 this summer and just thinking of that is a breath of fresh air. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and gone are the days of not being able to hold a drinking glass – I can now type, write with a pen, and even thread a needle!!!
From this
(And this wasn’t even my heaviest!)
To this
And never in a million years did I EVER think I’d be sharing such inspiration and encouragement from this side of the screen because I remember countless times searching online (with tear-filled eyes) for any ounce of hope that my health might improve – that’s how I was led to juice fasting, and what prompted me to start this blog.
Do you suffer with RA or Fibromyalgia? How do you manage your symptoms? Do you just go the Western medical route? If so, do you supplement prescription meds with alternative remedies, a balanced diet, herbal teas, cleansing? Do you only seek natural methods for healing? Do you find relief in exercise – like walking, running, yoga, swimming, etc.? Can you relate to my experiences of battling illness at such a young age? And if you’re suffering tremendously right now and feel there is no hope of getting better, has my story encouraged you to keep trying different things, and to keep fighting no matter what? Did I leave anything out? Share your stories, tips, thoughts, opinions, pain, triumphs, and let’s glean from one another!
The sky is the limit!
Hi, y’all!
So glad you enjoyed reading about my day out and frugal shopping practices – plus my cute new shoes!
And I’m absolutely thrilled that you’re loving the new design so much. Rebecca Laffar-Smith is such a joy to communicate with and does a fantabulous job of making her clients HAPPY.
I teased you in my last post about the upcoming review I was bursting at the seams over. That review is for a Spiral Vegetable Slicer from CSN Stores! Eeeeekk!!!
As you can tell, I’m super excited about this. I’ve been seeing spiralized veggies all across the blogosphere for a while now. So I’m tickled pink that I’ll finally get to go crazy spiralizing myself!
I think I’m most intrigued by the long, thin noodles this piece of RAWsome equipment creates. Of course, I can think of all sorts of fun ways to use the ribbon pasta (as garnishes or just fun salads with different veggies and/or fruit).
Sweet potatoes (as shown in the photo below) would be fun for sure!
I just had to share my excitement with you. My spiralizer should be here within a week or so – can’t wait to get crazy with spirals!
I think I’m most anxious to spiralize zucchini and enjoy raw spaghetti. Of course, I cannot wait ‘till my garden is flourishing and I can spiralize my own heirloom, organic beets, zucchini, yellow squash, and more! What are your favorite spiralized recipes? If you have one, please share it in the comments (or a link to it) and if I make it, I’ll feature it in an upcoming post – and link to you if you have a blog!
Oh, and are YOU the winner of the $40 Sunlight Blvd Gift Certificate? CLICK HERE to find out!
Contest Alert
Tropical Traditions Certified Organic, Raw, Wild, Unprocessed Honey
Warning: This is going to be a whopper of a post!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a hermit, a homebody, a gal who’d rather stay home than most anything else in the world. Raw Juice Girl LOVES being home, ADORES it. But even as much as I cherish the comfort of my home, even I get cabin fever sometimes. Even I need a day out once in a while – and today was that day!
I’m going to tell you all about it, but first I want to tell you about a very exciting…
Upcoming Review
I have a fantabulous surprise in the works for you all and can’t wait to share! I am bursting at the seams – and soon you’ll know why. Want a hint? In the near future, I’ll be reviewing a super AMAZING and RAWSOME product (one that you’ve seen across the blogosphere because it’s very popular right now!) from the very generous folks at CSN Stores – the same folks who offer these beautiful home bars! Do you have your own private bar? I’m not a drinker, but if I had a special bar in my house, it would most definitely be a juice/smoothie bar – and I’d want the Harvard Bar Set (shown below).
Y’all could come and sit while I whipped you up nutritious, delicious, out-of-this-world, raw juices or smoothies – your pick!
Which barstools do you like the most? Are you a barstool type person or do you prefer chairs? Or, do you prefer plopping on the cozy couch while sipping your favorite beverage?
Do tell!
But first I have to share my day out with you…
I went to a few different thrift shops, but I did get some
New Shoes
Every gal loves a new pair of shoes, right? Okay, I’m not a shoe lover like some gals. I don’t have to have countless shoes in my possession to be happy – but my tennis shoes were really sad so I finally gave in and went on a search for a pair. I ended up with these cutesy, frugal ones: $11!!!!
Love the pink!
I could’ve played it safe and gone with boring white, but sometimes a gal just needs some color in her life.
And the best part about these shoes? They are eco-friendly! The lining is made from 100% recycled material (plastic bottles + post-industrial material). Eeeekkk!!!
New Tumbler
I also picked up a cute cup/tumbler – for just $2!!!! It’s the perfect size for a smoothie or juice and I love it!
What’s that in the background? It’s a lettuce knife! It was also about $2 and I thought it was a pretty color.
LOVE it!
iHerb Shopping Spree
The generous folks over at www.iHerb.com allowed me to go on a $50 shopping spree to get a feel for the way their business works, and I jumped at the chance. Not only did this shopping spree give me the opportunity to stock back up on flax seed oil and hemp seeds, but I can now try the Lucuma powder I’ve heard so much about, plus the Bach Remedies.
I chose the Rescue Sleep and the Rescue Remedy Stress Relief. I’m really anxious to try these out – life is especially stressful right now so this is the perfect time for reviewing these remedies.
Nuttzo
I’ve been wondering what all the buzz is about because so many bloggers are bonkers over Nuttzo – well, now I KNOW why. It’s SO unique and delicious and nutritious and addictive. Expect an in-depth review of this fantabulous stuff soon. And be sure to look for it in my OpenSky shop – it will be on my cyber shelves TOMORROW.
I have a WAY cool recipe in mind for Nuttzo – fingers crossed that it turns out well!
Expect lots of mentions plus in-depth reviews of all the products I’ve mentioned in this post.
Contest Alerts
Averie, at Love Veggies & Yoga, is giving away a Celestial Seasonings Natural Wellness Kit
Jenny, from Peanut Butter & Jenny, is giving away a 2 pound bag of chia seeds
And don’t forget about the two contests I’m currently hosting:
- $40 gift certificate for Sunset Blvd (they have all sorts of health and wellness items: yoga mats, natural first aid, organic hemp cloth diapers, healing stones – and more!)
- Tropical Traditions Certified Organic, Raw, Wild, Unprocessed Honey
What’s your favorite idea of a day out? Do you go shopping? Fishing? Enjoy a picnic? A massage? Visit with friends? What? And do you go all out and splurge on expensive stuff at the mall or high-end stores or do you hit the thrift shops, frugally? How much is too much to pay for something in your opinion? Are you happy with clothes or other items that are in really good condition but have been used by someone else – or do you only accept the best, name-brand, costly stuff? Chime in, folks! I want to hear all about it!!! But don’t forget to enter those contests I mentioned – they’re awesome!
Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
Updated to add the winner
I’m excited to announce that we have a winner!! I used Random.org like always, to select a winner. Mr. Random chose comment #158…
Who is the lucky author of comment #158, you ask??? Why, that’d be Amanda!
Amanda said:
I stumbled the site. http://bit.ly/bgnP8n
I just need you to email me with your mailing address so Tropical Traditions can get your package out to you right away.
Congrats, Amanda!!!!
Remember the review I recently wrote about Tropical Traditions Certified Organic, Raw, Wild Honey? Well, the very generous folks at Tropical Traditions have decided to allow one of you, my fantabulous readers, to win your very own 17.6 ounce jar! Eeeek!
In case you’re just tuning in, or missed that post, here’s a recap of the recipes I created with this superb honey:
Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)
Happy Hemp Honey Holes
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)
Coconut PB Honey Overnight Oats
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)
Inside-Out Coconut Peanut Butter Cups
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)
And my recipe was also published on the Tropical Traditions website!!! <— I’m really excited about that, and very proud.
Search for tons of awesome recipes by clicking the banner:
Please read the contest rules before entering. Comments are moderated so you won’t see your entries right away. Thanks!
Contest Rules
This contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents only – sorry International readers!
There are only TWO required entries for this contest – but if you REALLY want to win, there are several (fun) extra ways you can enter following these required options:
Required entry #1
Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions email Sales Newsletter here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/subscribe_for_special_sales.cfm and come back to this post and leave a comment, letting me know that you did.
Required entry #2
Visit www.tropicaltraditions.com and come back here and leave a comment, letting me know which product (or recipe) is something you’d love to try.
There are 20 ways to enter this contest!!
** You must complete the above two entries before the following ones count.**
AND… If you want to put in a little extra effort….
(and receive a LOT of extra entries – aka chances to win) keep reading…
Numerous ways to get extra entries!
Note: The reason I ask you to leave a comment for EACH, SEPARATE entry is because I enter the total number of comments at random.org once the contest has ended – and each comment represents your entry number.
3. For FIVE EXTRA ENTRIES, share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. Leave FIVE SEPARATE COMMENTS to let me know you did.(Yep, you’ll really leave FIVE different comments for this so you’ll be able to get five extra entries. )
4. Become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook. Then, come back here and leave a comment to let me know you did that – or that you already are.
5. Become a fan of Raw Juice Girl on Facebook. Leave a comment on this post saying you did -or that you already are.
6. Follow Healing with (Raw) Juices on Facebook’s Networked Blogs. Leave a comment on this post saying that you did – or do.
7. Do you use Twitter? Follow @RawJuiceGirl on Twitter. Comment on this post, saying you did – or do.
8. Follow @TropTraditions on Twitter. Leave a comment on this post that you did that.
9. Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. Use this tweet:
@RawJuiceGirl is giving away #raw #wild #honey from @TropTraditions Enter now: http://goo.gl/fb/XpMG
Then, leave a comment that you did – with your Twitter name or status link.
FOR EVEN MORE ENTRIES: For tweets, Facebook shares, or Plurk you may share the contest up to 5 times a day, but each tweet/share must be 1-2 hours or so after the previous one. (Thanks so much for understanding my position of keeping things fair and square, y’all!)
10. Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via e-mail (sign up here) – be sure to verify your subscription or this entry won’t count. Then comment and let me know you did – or that you already are.
11. Subscribe to Healing with (Raw) Juices via RSS (sign up here). Then leave a comment telling me you did – or that you are.
12. Subscribe to my brand-new newsletter (sign up here). Then comment here and let me know you did – or that you area.
13. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
14. Add me as a friend on Wellsphere . Leave a comment saying that you did- or do. 15. Add me as a friend on RawFu. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you area.
16. Add me as a friend on Give it to Me Raw. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
17. Subscribe to Raw Juice Girl’s YouTube channel. Leave a comment saying that you did- or that you are.
18. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.
19. Do you have a Digg account? Digg this post. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.
20. Visit Tropical Traditions blog. Come back here and leave a comment sharing which of their newest products you’d most like to try.
NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry (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.
Deadline
Contest ends Wednesday, March 31. I’ll accept comments until midnight. (Central Time). Winner will be posted Thursday, April 1.
That gives you THREE WEEKS to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning a delicious jar of Tropical Traditions Certified Organic, Raw, Wild, Unprocessed Honey!!!
Let the contest begin!!!
Can’t wait?
Check out the Referral Option:
If you’d like to join the Tropical Traditions Healthy Buyer’s Club, visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm
And enter Raw Juice Girl’s User ID number: 4845073
By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy.
Your sponsor (that’d be me! ) will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.
You may view the current complimentary gift being offered here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com//referral_program.htm
Further instructions can be found here.
Thanks again to www.tropicaltraditions.com!
Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
Hi, everybody!
Hope your weekend was fantabulous, and that your week is going smoothly and I really hope you’re enjoying some sunshine somewhere in this world.
The sun is coming and going here. At least there’s no snow. We’re supposed to get rain for a few days, though. Spring, I need you to get here already!
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll remember me mentioning that there was a redesign in the midst, and that things might get a little wonky around here for a couple of days.
As you can see, this blog has received a complete makeover. The transition went pretty smoothly. Thanks to the awesome Web Tech, Rebecca Laffar-Smith, you can now focus more on the content of the blog posts and enjoy less clutter. We’re still going to switch the sidebars around a little but hopefully you’re already enjoying that there’s less clutter and it’s more organized.
We’re also working on the page buttons at the top of the page. I’m trying to organize the pages with drop-down tabs so that when you click on Recipes, you’ll see a drop-down menu for Salads, Juices, Smoothies, Desserts, etc. And the same for Reviews… you’ll see Books, DVDs, Food, and so on.
And here’s the before and after comparison….
Before
After
I believe the new theme is much better for y’all. Not only is it beautifully designed, it’s more organized and user-friendly. You’ll see I kept my feed dolly. She’s dear to my heart and she just makes me happy. Silly? Maybe, but it’s how I feel. 
Some of My Favorite Features
I thought I’d share some of my favorites of this theme.
One of my top favorite features is that on the home page, you get to see a large excerpt of the most recent post and if you scroll down a little, you can see a variety of extra posts you might want to get caught up on, and you can see a photo and some text from those posts, too!
I also love that:
- it’s more organized
- the header is scooted way up
- the pages will now have a drop-down menu
- the search bar should benefit you much more now
- there are share buttons at the bottom of each post
- there is a plugin that rotates ads in the sidebar so you aren’t bombarded with tons of big ads flashing
- and so much more!
And… I love the fact that you can see so many recent posts in the “Latest Juicy Articles” section:
I’m just really excited about this whole theme – in case you couldn’t tell.
Fantabulous News
This theme is the RLS–Rebecca Theme – it will be available to y’all soon! That’s right, Rebecca created this theme and will be making it available to the public in the near future. I’m SO very honored that we got to test the tech waters out first. Rebecca is very talented and is just a joy to work with. I never feel dumb, or like I’m a bother. Rebecca’s customer service is the best – and so is she. Seriously!
Your Turn
Now that you know I love the fresh, new theme – and Rebecca’s work – how do YOU feel about it? I know many of you had requested the header be moved up. Done. A lot of you wanted better organization. It will take me a little while to get the pages reorganized and separated, but I’ll keep at it ‘till it’s finished. And I know you must be appreciating the cleaner sidebars, and that they’re to the right. Are YOU happy with the new design? Is it what you were hoping for? Better? Is there anything else you’d like to see? Chime in with your thoughts!
Contest Reminder
I hope you haven’t forgotten about the $40 gift certificate I’m giving away. This is a great opportunity, y’all!
