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Hope y’all are doing well! Just testing the tech waters – they’ve been pretty rocky from my end.

CLICK HERE to see who won!

I’m planning to bring a whole new, fresh theme, design, and concept to this blog. And I value your opinions.

There are several things I realize are “wrong” with this site:

• it’s cluttered
• posts are in the middle column with annoying clutter on each side
• there’s a lot of ads
• the header needs to be moved up
• it’s horrible to search this site – I’ve tried and failed myself
• and more

I want this site to be as user-friendly and inviting as possible, so here’s what I have planned:

• header will be moved up (and probably changed – unless y’all are just dying for me to keep it)
• posts will be moved to the left
• two sidebars will be cleaned up and aligned to the right
• there’ll be drop-down menus at the top for easy navigation
• recipes, reviews, etc., will all be posted on their own page
• and more

Also, how many posts would you like to see? Daily? Few times a week?

Would you like to see more recipes? More nutrition and health benefits posts (like the one I recently wrote on flax seeds)? More yoga? More – or less – reviews and contests? More about living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia? More about weight loss?

Please chime in. It’s you, my fantabulous readers, that have made this blog what it is today. We’ve grown in the past and it’s time to stretch our wings and grow some more.

I can’t wait to read your thoughts and work to make this blog better for you.

And I can’t promise that I’ll be able to accomplish everything you suggest, but I’ll certainly try to.

Just stopping by? Have you tried my chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls or raw tuna fish-less salad? Or maybe you’d like to try my latest, simple creation: Coconut Peanut Butter Cream. YUM! And don’t forget to take a peek at my Thanksgiving holiday eats + treats or my interview with eco-friendly creator of the raw, vegan beauty mask: ShimmerOrganics owner, Lisa Ann Turkel!

Hi, y’all! Hope your weekend has been fantabulous! I’m just popping in to let you know about a couple of contests I found out about….

Averie, over at the Love Veggies and Yoga blog, is having TWO fantabulous contests!

She’s giving away the Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfood Combo (such a great deal)!

Averie is ALSO having a Kay’s Naturals giveaway – and there’ll be TWO winners!

There’s ELEVEN ways to get your entries in (for BOTH contests!), so hurry up and get yourselves entered!!!

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!

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!

This is Part 3 of my 3-Part Series on the 9th Annual Spring Planting Festival events + the amazing opportunity I had to meet TWO Editors…

Picture it: A little girl dreams of becoming a writer. She grows up, lives in the country, and prefers quiet days, bare feet, herbal tea and raw juices and smoothies to high-end shoes and lattes in the city. You see, she is an old-fashioned kind of gal. A gal who never in her wildest dreams imagined she’d meet an editor. And not just any editor–the editor of GRIT magazine! What makes this story even sweeter is that her dad sold the magazine when he was a young boy. Let’s hear it: aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww.

Now, I’ll stop talking about myself in third person and spill the beans!

I love going to festivals, so when I read that Hank Will, Editor of GRIT Magazine, was going to be speaking about his heirloom seed heritage (aka Oscar H. Will & Company), I knew without a doubt I’d be there–even if the creek did rise!

I donned my bonnet and boots and high-tailed it across Amish country to the Baker Creek Seed Festival. When I walked in to the building Mr. Will was speaking in, I nabbed this photo of him answering questions.

Once he was finished speaking and answering questions, I mustered up a bunch of courage and made a beeline for him before he got away! He was kind enough to make a country gal’s heart skip a beat (or five hundred! ) and put on a big ole smile so I could forever treasure this:

I gave him my business cards and he gave me his John Hancock.

Yeah. Awesome, huh? Writer meets editor. Writer gets photo taken with editor. Writer gets editor’s autograph. A dream come true! Thanks, Mr. Will, for taking the time to make my day.

Oscar H. Will & Company

I found it fascinating that Hank Will comes from a line of men who were so passionate about heirloom seeds. He talked about his great-grandfather, his grandfather, and the Oscar H. Will & Company seed business. There’s actually a museum at Bakersville where you can find old seed catalogs and envelopes from that very company–and read facts all about it, too!

Holding one of those seed catalogs.

Interesting Facts….

Seed Catalogs

Envelopes

Where’s My Horse & Reins?

After meeting Hank Will and posing with memorabilia from his great-grandfathers seed legacy, I just “happened upon” a covered wagon. Wow, it feels weird writing that! I think this photo was the icing on the cake! A weekend filled with fun, learning, and the unbelievable opportunity to meet Hank Will and K.C. Compton just wouldn’t have been complete without this gal in a bonnet standing next to a covered wagon. Don’t you agree?

See that camera bag swinging around my neck? Yeah, not the best fashion statement in the world, but it sure is handy for stuffing business cards, a small notebook, and a pen–perfect for networking and capturing memories like the weekend I met two editors; a weekend I’m sure to never forget!

Check it out!

Hank is a blogger: The Daily Commute

Just tuning in? Catch up:

Part 1: Adventures in Sewing a Pioneer Dress <— Getting ready for the festival!

Part 2: K.C. Compton, The Checkered Past Band, + Me <— Meeting an Editor-In-Chief!

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.

First, I’d like to remind you about TWO contests I currently have running:

• Food Matters DVD Review + Contest. (Contest ends Thursday, August 27th. There are SIX ways to win!!)
• Detox 4 Women (by Natalia Rose) Review + Contest (Contest ends Friday, August 28th. There are SIX ways to win!)

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

My sparkling blog pal, Cindy (from A Sparkle a Day) has been insisting I try this overnight breakfast oatmeal cookie thing. She first got the idea from Alison (of the Mama’s Weeds blog). I have taken long enough to give it a try and she’d probably already given up on me, but I finally got in the mood to try it out. I decided to whip it up “Hemp-Loving Girl” style and got a little crazy with the phrase….

Going Green

I decided to go green with my first oatmeal breakfast cookie because 1) I have a ginormous container of Hemp Pro 70 to use up and 2) because I don’t have a blender at the moment and need to be creative with using my hemp powder. I’ve already had it in steel-cut oats and a chocolate hemp shake–it was just time to green up the breakfast cookie, I think!

So, what went into my green (hemp) oatmeal cookie?

Raw Chia Seeds

Organic Green Stevia Powder

Hemp Pro 70 Powder

Original Hemp Bliss (Unsweetened)

Goin’ In a Bowl

1/2 cup organic rolled oats

1 tablespoon certified organic (RAW) chia seeds (NavitasNaturals)

1 tablespoon certified organic almond butter

4 tablespoons Hemp Pro 70 powder (www.manitobaharvest.com)

1/2 teaspoon organic green stevia powder (from Navitas Naturals)

6 tablespoons Original, Unsweetened Hemp Bliss (www.manitobaharvest.com)

Note: I didn’t have any nanners

Mashed Into a Cookie

Into the Fridge

This Morning

Adios!

Verdict?

I think this is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever eaten. Last night when I put this in the fridge, I was a little worried. I mean a big, green glob of oats smeared flat on a plate just kind of blew my mind a little. I wasn’t sure Raw Juice Girl knew what she was doing–seriously!

Does that mean it was horrid? Nope! After the first few bites, I actually really liked it! It was still weird, though. I mean, it’s weird eating a cold, smashed oatmeal thing on a plate. Don’t ya think? LOL

What I liked is that I tasted the yummy nutty hempness (thanks www.manitobaharvest.com!) and I could taste the sweetness of the organic green stevia powder (thanks Navitas Naturals!) and the oats were soft and chewy. I’m still wondering how it would have turned out if I’d had bananas. I’m definitely going to make this again when I have bananas to see how it tastes then. And, of course, I have all sorts of other combos running wild in my mind!

Have you ever made an overnight oatmeal breakfast cookie? Did you like it? Not like it? Why/why not? Leave a comment and share your cold oatmeal cookie experience–and a link if you have one!

Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies

• Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
• E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
• 2 books (Coconut Water for Health and Healing and Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Dr. Bruce Fife
• and MORE!

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

First, I’d like to remind you about the current contest I have running: The Bolder Mat Company Yoga Mat + Stacy McCarthy’s Yoga DVD. (Contest ends Wednesday, August 19th. There are SEVEN ways to win!!)

My day started out with an hour of yoga, which was fantabulous! I almost fell asleep during Shavasana, I was SO relaxed! (Have I mentioned lately that I’m in LOVE with yoga??!!) After that, I gobbled up an organic Greek yogurt with frozen blueberries on top (this is by far my FAVORITE, non-raw meal)!

Then, I did some writing + blog work and some other stuff. Once it was time for lunch, I was STARVING.

Spinach Salad

a bunch of baby spinach leaves (this is a bigger bowl than it seems)

organic tomatoes (from my garden)

frozen peas +organic  bell pepper from my garden (lightly steamed with coconut oil + Italian herbs)

hemp seeds (from www.manitobaharvest.com)

macadamia nuts

THIS SALAD WAS DELICIOUS!!! YUM!!!

Once lunch was finished and cleaned up, it was time for me to stop procrastinating and make some chocolate pudding from avocados! Enter: Chocolate (Avocado) Pudding Heaven!

Cleanin’ Out the Fridge + Garden Overflow

There was a little of this, that, and the other in the fridge where veggies are concerned. I’ve been eating a LOT of salad but needed to clean out those odds and ends. Also, I needed to use up some freshly-picked garden veggies…

Organic, Heirloom Tomatoes

Organic Heirloom Bell + Banana Peppers

All from My Garden

First Up: Tomato Juice

(After I washed all that garden dirt off!)

Beautiful Tomato Juice Bubbles!

Made 3 Cups + a Little Leftover

Just for me!

Next Up: Juice Concoction

rest of the tomatoes

3 bell peppers

5 big banana peppers

whole bag of organic carrots (16 ounce) + a few other stray (organic) carrots

2 big cucumbers (from my garden)

teeny bit of spinach

Juice Concoction Bubbles

Juice Concoction Pulp

(The pulp went to the ducks, chickens, and turkeys.)

Organic, Heirloom Cucumbers

9 big cucumbers went into this juice!

Gorgeous Cucumber Juice Bubbles

Those 9 cucumbers made 3 cups of juice (shown above) + half of my oversized, favorite cup for drinking right away!

Cucumber Juice for Me!

It’s a Raw Juice Party!

In all, I ended up with:

1 – 3 cup container of tomato juice

1 – 3 cup container of cucumber juice

1 – 3 cup container which contained 3/4 cucumber juice + 1/4 juice concoction

2 – 3 cup containers of juice concoction

1 – 12 ounce Amazing Grass shaker cup of cucumber juice

1 – 12 ounce Amazing Grass shaker cup of cantaloupe juice

leftover 8 ounces or so of cucumber juice, which I drank in my polka-dotted cup (shown above)

Cantaloupe Juice

I forgot to take a photo of the cantaloupe but it was organic, heirloom (from my garden) as well.

It made 12 ounces–which fit perfectly into an Amazing Grass shaker cup! This one went into the freezer for later. Yum!

Juices in a Nice, Clean Fridge!

What’s in your fridge?

Be sure to 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 PLUS get to enter all sorts of awesome contests!

First, I’d like to remind you about the current contest I have running: The Bolder Mat Company Yoga Mat + Stacy McCarthy’s Yoga DVD.

I get so many emails thanking me for sharing snippets of my personal life, I thought I’d share with you that in between writing reviews and hosting a contest, a birthday snuck up on me. The big 34 slapped me on Wednesday (the 12th). It seems pretty weird how time whizzes by until one day you’re in your 30s and you wonder where “Sweet 16″ went.

No, it isn’t raw…

Don’t get me wrong, I’m actually thrilled to be 34. Back in my 20s, some of my doctors weren’t even sure I’d live to see 30–my health was really, really bad. It’s surreal, actually, that I’ve come so far.

If this post seems a little heavy–and long–I apologize. I just thought I’d share my heart with you….

In February of this year, I lost a cousin. He would have been 33 this month. He was a handsome young man, a great husband and dad. I grew up with him, went to school with him, and thought we’d make fun of each other’s wrinkles when we were old. He was one of those cousins who was more than “just another cousin”.

Not long after that, I lost another cousin. I didn’t know him well. He lived in another state. He was only 36.

In early May, I lost yet another cousin. She would have been 29. She died just about 3 weeks shy of her birthday. She was always more like a little sister to me, than a cousin.

All 3 of ‘em left children and spouses.

And, as I celebrated turning 34 over 100 pounds lighter than I was at one time, I had an epiphany: I could die tomorrow. Although I’ve worked hard to be slimmer and healthier for the past few years, it isn’t always health-related issues that bring on death. Sometimes it’s a car accident. Sometimes it’s a freak act of nature.

I can’t tell you how many times I had walked by those glass doors and peered in at that turtle ice cream cake (pictured above). Oh, I have the willpower to resist. There’s no way I could count the times over the past few years that I sat on the sidelines and watched everyone else enjoy cake and ice cream or cupcakes at birthday parties and other celebrations–because I was on a mission to lose weight and attain my ultimate health. I didn’t lose over 100 pounds by gobbling up cake and ice cream. I lost it because I have a strong will, I’m dedicated, and I can persevere through almost anything.

So, I decided this: None of those 3 cousins I mentioned above got the chance to have another birthday. So, I celebrated. I splurged. I enjoyed my special day. And, yes, I ate cake and ice cream. I ate it for my cousins (yes, I’m an emotional eater!), and I ate it for myself.

I realize Raw Food Purists would frown on my decision. But I just couldn’t stand the thought of dying without knowing what that turtle ice cream cake tasted like! Some things are better left NOT a mystery. I don’t have to ever eat it again–although I enjoyed every single bite of the one piece I had (the rest went to family). I also enjoyed that little bit of Rocky Road and Peanut Butter Panic ice cream you’ll see pictured below.

I had a wonderful birthday. I’m so blessed!

My piece

Gooey Caramel Center

I actually had the piece of cake and ice cream with my family the night before my birthday. My mom thought it was funny to get me the two ice creams below (they’re those teeny tiny little containers) because she knows how much I used to love coffee ice cream and caramel… well, there’s not enough room here to write about my love affair with caramel over the years. Anyway, I saved those little containers for the next day, my birthday. And they were delicious!!!

Coffee Ice Cream + Dulce De Leche

On the morning of my birthday, my mom made me my all-time favorite (non-raw) breakfast EVER: a spinach omelet made with farm fresh, organic eggs (from our farm), spinach, bell peppers, sea salt and herbs, and a tiny amount of cheese. Also, a cup of herbal tea (in my favorite, big pink and white polka-dotted OVERSIZED cup).

Birthday Breakfast

Couldn’t finish it!

I decided to eat whatever I wanted on my birthday. Maybe next year I’ll have a raw cake and some raw ice cream. This year, I wasn’t equipped with a dehydrator, and a professionally made raw cake just wasn’t in the budget (or even available in my area).

I don’t think I splurged too bad,do you?

Birthday Lunch

bunch of spinach leaves

frozen blueberries

yummy macadamia nuts

DELISH!

I remembered my leftover omelet, so I threw it on top of my salad–YUM!

Zero Candy Bar

Turtle

I nibbled on that Zero and Turtle all. day. long. I was too full to eat dinner.

Birthday Cards

Here’s a few of my favorite cards I got this year…

(From my brother)

(From my parents)

(From my aunt)

I also did over an HOUR of yoga–it was FABULOUS!

What is your favorite part of your birthday? Do you splurge on cake and ice cream (raw, or not)? Or, do you chow down on raw veggies and treat it as just any other day?

And, if you’ve read this long post all the way through, you’re a fantabulous reader!

So… be sure to 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.

UPDATE: This contest has ended and a winner has been chosen. Do feel free to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed. You can also sign up here to have fresh articles delivered via e-mail and be notified of future contests.

*****************

It’s contest time here at Healing With (Raw) Juices again! I’m SO very honored to have the amazing opportunity to host a contest sponsored by The Bolder Mat Company and Stacy McCarthy of YogaNamaStacy.com. A special thank you goes out to them for so graciously and generously sending a GORGEOUS yoga mat (with the vibrant 7th Chakra design) + an outstanding Yoga DVD for me to review–I’m truly enjoying them both!–as well as for teaming up to sponsor this contest!

You can read my reviews of The Bolder Mat Company and Stacy McCarthy here:

• Review: The Bolder Mat Company
• DVD Review: Yoga Body Lean & Defined Total Body Workout (by Stacy McCarthy)

Below is the DVD and Yoga mat I was sent for review. I LOVE them!

Yoga DVD by Stacy McCarthy

7th Chakra Heaven Mat

Georgeous Yoga Mat Designs

The Bolder Mat Company has been kind enough to offer the winner the opportunity to choose the Yoga mat design they like the most! How exciting is that?!

Here’s a sneak peek of the Yoga mat designs offered by The Bolder Mat Company:

Cosmic Breath Mat

Peace Prayer Mat

Fish Wish Mat

Go with the Flow Turtle Mat

Flower Power Mat

7^th Chakra Heaven

Let the Contest Begin!

You’re allowed FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN 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 www.theboldermatcompany.com and take a look around. Leave a comment sharing which yoga mat design is your favorite and how you plan to use it (Yoga, Pilates, etc., or tell us if you’re new to either of those and will just be starting out on your mat journey.)
2. Visit www.yoganamastacy.com and tell us anything you like about what you read about Stacy McCarthy on her About page, or which Yoga DVD sounds most appealing to you.
   
3. Do you Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can swipe this tweet: RT: @RawJuiceGirl Win a GORGEOUS yoga mat (from The Bolder Mat Company) + a yoga DVD (by @YogaNamaStacy) (a $70 value combo!) http://tinyurl.com/ldoqx9
4. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 Wednesday, August 19th, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) so you have a WHOLE WEEK to get all your entries in. Have fun trying to win!!

Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies

• 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
• Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
• Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
• E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
• 2 books (Coconut Water for Health and Healing and Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Dr. Bruce Fife
• and MORE!

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

First of all, I’d love to thank Stacy McCarthy and The Bolder Mat Company for providing this awesome Yoga DVD for my review and enjoyment, and so I could share it with all of you!

“Having a balanced approach to your health is like having a set of maps all leading to the correct destination yet with possibly different routes to choose to fit you and your life.”—Stacy McCarthy

About the DVD

I’ll be honest: It sort of scared me a little that this Yoga DVD lasts an entire hour! I’m fairly new to yoga and have only been doing 10 – 20 minute routines about 5 mornings a week. In the past,  when I’ve tried any type of exercise workout video that lasted an hour or so, I always felt overwhelmed and just turned it off and gave up. I was worried that would happen with this DVD—especially since I’m so new to yoga and have only been practicing a few minutes of the morning. I thought I may get 20 minutes in and have to pause it and come back later. Guess what? That didn’t happen at all! Eeeek!

Let me tell you, I LOVE this DVD and will cherish it and use it until it wears out and won’t turn another single time in my DVD player! Not only did I make it the entire hour, it seemed like only moments had passed and I didn’t want it to end at all!

About the Instructor

Stacy McCarthy, the Yoga Instructor, is a Raw Food enthusiast. She has even hosted several Raw Food/Yoga events!  Her voice is calming and soothing and she has such a beautiful outlook on practicing yoga. She started her own yoga journey almost 20 years ago, but has been in the health and fitness industry for over 20 years.

Stacy emphasizes numerous times for you to NOT focus on actually achieving certain poses, but to focus on staying aligned while stretching only as far as your body will go at that time. In her words: “Be slow to judge and quick to acknowledge your efforts toward a healthy life.”

We’re all at different fitness levels. Some of you are recovering from injuries; others haven’t exercised in years—or ever—so there’s no way you’ll be as flexible as a Yogi who has been practicing for years and has become flexible enough to do those amazing Yoga poses.

I love how reassuring Stacy is as she encourages you to not judge yourself based on performance. Instead, she wants you to feel good about yourself for actually trying to do something healthy for yourself!

You can visit Stacy’s website: Yoga Nama Stacy (I LOVE that clever title!) and she has a blog in the works, too!

About the Yoga Style

Stacy teaches a Yoga form she developed that is based upon the Ashtanga. At the beginning of the video, she mentions the three unseen fundamentals of yoga:. The first of the three unseen fundamentals are called Bandhas: 1) Mula Bandha, the Root Lock 2) Uddiyana Bandha, which is the Abdominal Lock and 3) Jhalandara Bandha, the Throat Lock. This one is used less frequently than the first two.

Then we learn that the second unseen fundamental is breath. The breath type Stacy uses in this video is called Ujjayi breathing (through the nose), which means victorious. As you’re breathing through your nose, your breath deepens toward the back of your throat, Stacy says.

She mentions Pranayama, which is breath control.

The example Stacy gives is to imagine yourself breathing like Darth Vader (of Star Wars) and you’ll be doing it right.

The third unseen fundamental we learn is the Gaze, the Drishti . This is your focus as you keep your eyes steady.

Overall Grade

I honestly give this Yoga DVD an A+! If I (of all people!) am able to make it through an entire hour of exercise—without it even seeming like an hour has passed!—then I know you all can. I’m still so amazed at how each  pose flows harmoniously into another pose until an hour has gone by and you’re wondering where it went!

Namaste,

Michele L. Tune

aka Raw Juice Girl

Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies

• 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
• Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
• Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
• E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
• 2 books (Coconut Water for Health and Healing and Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Dr. Bruce Fife
• and MORE!

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

Love to entertain but aren’t quite sure how to go about it now that you’ve decided to go high-raw or 100% raw? Boy, do I have the book for you! Raw Food Celebrations (Co-written by Nomi Shannon and Sheryl Duruz) is chock-full of ideas, including different menus (more about this later), delectable desserts, and if you’re in to cocktails, there’s a menu for that, too!

There’s also a list of equipment and what uses you can get from them, and in the back there’s a glossary of ingredients so you can familiarize yourself with raw terms and a new way of (un)cooking!

Pretty Cover!

Table of Contents

It’s nice to learn as much as possible about a book before you purchase it–or WIN it (as one lucky reader will in the upcoming contest)–so here’s a photo of the Table of Contents page and below is a description (in my own words) of what you’ll find in each chapter.

Italian

Here, you’ll learn how to put a raw twist on traditional Italian dishes like pasta with marinara sauce. Instead of boiling pasta and using canned or cooked tomato sauce, you’ll create zucchini pasta with pesto and (raw) marinara sauce. Of course, that isn’t the only recipe in this chapter! Love Italian desserts? How about (raw) lemon gelato???

Thai Menu

Want to go raw but don’t think you can give up your Pad Thai? You don’t have to! That’s right: Learn how to make RAW Pad Thai. How cool is that? Want another teaser? How about Thai coconut soup? Yum! And Thai dessert? Hmmmm…. mango-banana custard, maybe? Absolutely!

Brunch Menu

Are you someone who enjoys getting together with your best friends for a refreshing brunch? Do you fear living a raw lifestyle will put a damper on that? Don’t worry; in this chapter you’ll get ideas for brunches, such as banana-papaya pudding and oatmeal with dates and almonds, and beautiful fruit kabobs. Sounds yummy, huh?!

Cocktail Hour Menu

Do you live for cocktail hour? Think: raw cocktail! Yes, that’s right! Strawberry Daiquiris, Pina Coladas… Got the munchies? Nibble on zucchini roll-ups, canapes, or fruit with one of these sauces: goji-orange, chocolate-orange, or cashew cream. Mmmmm….

Traditional Menu

Maybe you grew up in the South (like me!) and crave warm stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, meatloaf, and/or sweet potatoes. If this is you, you’ll be so happy to know that there are mock (raw) versions of each of these! Get ready to dig in and enjoy some old-fashioned, lip-smacking soul food!

Light Luncheon Menu

Enjoy fresh, light lunches during the hot summer months? Maybe you like to eat a lighter lunch so you don’t feel heavy and weighed down as you try to make it through the rest of the day after your lunch break. This chapter gives some refreshing options: summer salad with Japanese Shoyu dressing or dilled spinach mousse with creamy dill sauce. Love light desserts as well? Envision luscious lemon cookies or orange-coconut biscotti! Delish!

Sneak Peek

If you’re nosy like me, you’ll want to see photos of this yummy stuff I’m telling you about. Peek away!

Raw Lasagna

Berry Dressing

Zucchini Roll-Ups

Yam Pie

Chocolate-Caramel Divine Cheesecake

(I’m IN LOVE with this one–I’m gonna make it SOON!!!)

+ A Handwritten Note!

I was truly honored (and blessed!) to receive a handwritten note (by Rick Diamond, of www.bookpubco.com). Thank you so much Rick, for sponsoring this contest–and to Nomi Shannon and Sheryl Duruz for creating such a RAWKIN’ resource for celebrating life!

Contest

In the next post, you’ll have the opportunity for several entries to win both Raw Food Celebrations and The Raw Gourmet.

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

Wow, today was day 4 of my yoga journey. It’s crazy that I love it this much! I can’t get enough! But I’m taking my time so I don’t strain or hurt myself. I have to be careful with my back.

Speaking of back, I did a new video today: Yoga for low back by Polly at Yoga is Yummy. It was totally awesome. My back really did feel better afterward!

YogaDownload.com

Both Cindy and Jocelyn have mentioned yogadownload.com, so I checked it out and downloaded a beginner’s class: Gentle Hatha Yoga #1. I haven’t tried that class yet, but I will!

After my morning yoga, I remembered to make my favorite morning drink.

Warm Lemon Water

After I drank that, I got busy with laundry, dishes, etc., and forgot to eat!

Snack

Around noon, I wasn’t really hungry so I thought I’d just have a banana and sample some of the raw products Premier Organics sent me to review. (More about this fantabulous company and their organic, raw products in an upcoming post–and contest!!!)

Premier Organics Samples

1 banana, sliced and served with

raw pecan nut butter

raw macadamia nut butter

raw cacao bliss

Yum!

Macadamia nuts are my favorite nut ever, so of course I had a conniption over the macadamia nut butter. Pecans are my next favorite nut, so I chose it to sample on my banana as well. And, how can you go wrong with cacao bliss (aka raw chocolate)??!! Oh my gosh, y’all, these nut butters and the cacao bliss RAWKS! Soooooooooooooo tasty–and good for you!!!

Mid-Afternoon Snack

A little while later, I still wasn’t really hungry so I thought I’d drink my other juice from yesterday in my E3 Live shaker cup, with a scoop of Amazing Grass (I prefer my E3 Live liquid straight up ).

Dinner

I was craving a yummy salad for dinner, so I threw this together…

A little of each of the following:

Napa cabbage

heirloom lettuce

sliced celery

sliced carrots

diced bell pepper

baby tomatoes

fresh blueberries

Check It Out!

And I leave you with this: When I went to read Choosing Raw today, I discovered Gena had written a guest post for Fitness NYC. I knew it’d be great, but I didn’t realize it’d really be so relevant to this last few days of my own journey with yoga. I knew the post was about yoga. She mentioned it in her short post. I didn’t know it would be so touching, so beautiful, so true! You have to read this post. It’s fantabulous!

Gena on Becoming a Yogi

Coming next: various foods I’ve eaten when breaking other juice fasts I’ve been on, and also why I don’t incorporate vegetable broth into my juice fasting regimen like some juice fasters do. <—– I am working on this post!!

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

Hmmm…. I forgot to drink my warm lemon water on an empty stomach this morning! Ah well, can’t always get it right, can we?

I really didn’t have an appetite at all this morning, so I went with my feelings and skipped breakfast. I wasn’t craving a juice either. I did have a glass of cold herbal tea with lemon.

I do want to share with you what worked for my swollen arm (from all those nasty red wasp stings)….

Here’s what I tried:

• wrapping it in vinegar
• baking soda wrap
• leaving chewing tobacco on for hours

Know what finally worked? Raw onion! Yep, I knew about the onion’s healing properties. Sheesh, I’ve even written about it (Onion for an Oops!).

I sliced raw onion and placed it on the parts of my arm where the wasps stung me (my arm got the worst of the stings) and then wrapped plastic wrap around my arm so the onions would stay in place overnight. The next morning? Almost ALL of the swelling was GONE and the pain and most of the itching was, too! Yippee! So, while the tobacco (wet) does help when held on a fresh sting, you can also give the old raw onion a try if you should get stung by a nasty flying creature.

Lunch, Anyone?

I decided to have a small salad. It was sooooooooooooooooooo delicious, and very easy on my system.

Spinach-Blueberry-Hemp (Seed) Salad

handful baby spinach leaves

handful blueberries

sprinkles of Manitoba Harvest hemp seed

Dinner

I was going to have a juice for dinner (and really I should have) but I’m still getting my strength back up so I copped out and threw another small salad together–it saved me all the labor of dragging out the juicer, preparing the produce, juicing them, and cleaning it all up. I was just too tired after losing so much sleep to do all that. So, another salad it was…

Heirloom Salad

(Note: ALL of the vegetables in the photo above (except the spinach leaves and hempseed) are heirloom + organic from MY garden!!)

baby spinach leaves

snap peas

sliced cucumber

raw okra (yeah, it’s delish!)

hemp seeds

Manitoba Harvest

Hemp Seeds

I’m really LOVING these Manitoba Harvest hemp seeds. They’re nutty, delicious, and so good for you! (More about these babies in an upcoming post! )  I had received these before starting my 30-day juice fast so I tried ‘em a few different ways: On my salad, in smoothies, etc. And I love ‘em!

Reflections

So, what should have actually been day 30 of my juice fast, was day 2 of my back-to-eating program. It didn’t end the way I had hoped, but I did give it my best shot. Not everyone would have sailed through a broken juicer, an out-of-commission back, and being attacked by a swarm of the biggest, nastiest, red wasps like I did–and for that, I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished this time around. Sure, I could have finished the 30 days. I only liked about a day and a half, but this is where I’m different than other folks: I listen to my body. I know what it can and can’t do and it hasn’t failed me yet. Listening to my body has brought me a long way. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and have juice fasted extensively–for up to 52 days at a time. Sure, I’ve fasted for 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, etc. Shorter fasts are awesome, refreshing, and are absolutely a great thing to do. But just like with runners, who challenge themselves to run greater distances in less time, etc., someone like me who has been on a long journey of juice fasting, likes to challenge themselves –and their bodies– to a deeper level of cleansing, healing, and accomplishment.

Don’t forget about the contests! And catch up on the juicy details of my 30-day juice fast.

You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!

So… be sure to 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.

Time is now up on the contest for Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen and I know you’re anxious to find out who won so I thought I’d go ahead and post the winner!!

There were 31 comments. I used Random.org to choose the winner and it randomly selected #16. So…. the winner is June. Congratulations, June!

Here’s the comment she left:

june { 03.26.09 at 1:43 am }

I love Ani. Her recipes are truly wonderful.

June, please email me at healingwithjuices@gmail.com with your mailing address and your new copy of Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen will be on its way.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I appreciate each and every visit and every comment. Several of you are new here and I didn’t know about your blogs so I’m loving all the new blogs I’ve discovered via your comments! I do hope you’ll come back often. You’re welcome any time!

Don’t forget to come back: there’ll be LOTS more contests in the NEAR FUTURE!! These contests include: more books, DVDs, healthy FOOD (!!!) and possibly other items–so don’t miss out on upcoming posts! Be sure to 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.

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