Today’s Observation
I’m going green for the Holidays – Green Smoothies that is.  I’ve been 100% raw for 3 months and now it just feels like a given.  OK, I did have a couple spoonfuls of mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, but hopefully you will forgive me that transgression.  I still continue to feel great, but I have noticed that since going 100% raw and introducing a bunch of new recipes, I’m eating a lot more nuts in nut creams and cheeses – which are delicious – but in the process I have cut down on greens.  So I’m not getting that green clean that I love so much (you know what I like to say – “If it comes out green, you know you’re clean.”).  Sooooo… I’ve decided to give myself a new challenge – a green smoothie everyday for the next 30 days.  I’ll try a new smoothie recipe each day and post it here.  Send me your favorite green smoothie recipe, I’d love to try it out.

I thought this would also be a great way to count down to 2010 and prep for the Outrageous Joy 30-Day Raw Food Adventure I’ll be offering in February.  More on that later :)  On to today’s smoothie.

Green Smoothie of the Day – Orange, Cilantro, Lime, Avocado
I love this one and hope you will too…. unless you happen to be one of those people who can’t do cilantro :(

2 cups OJ
1 english cucumber, unpeeled
1 bunch of cilantro
juice of one lime
1 avocado (optional)

Put everything in the blender except except the avo.  Blend until really green, then add the avocado and blend until smooth.  Enjoy!

Today’s Intention
Stay grounded in Spirit.
Stay connected to myself.
Stay open to the Universe and let the ‘How’ surprise me :)

Today’s Observations
My yoga teacher (Kori Flechtner) is celebrating her 34th birthday and invited her students to join her tonight for a special yoga practice.  The core of the practice was 34 sun salutations in honor of each year of her life. It had been a looong time since I had been in a yoga class and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous going into this one.  As we sat in meditation at the beginning of the class, and I thought about my intention for the two hours that lie ahead, I realized that this was also my 34th day of being 100% raw.  Wow! The Universe blows me away with this stuff.  And how appropriate it was that I was celebrating it doing yoga with Kori because it was in January 2008, when I participated in a small intention group with Kori and a few of her students, that I first went raw and set an intention for my journey…

I honor the Divine within me
By making extraordinary decisions every single day
That support the exquisite care of my body, mind, and soul
In such a way that it’s contagious.

By way of reflection, I thought it would be interesting to take a closer look at this intention and see how it has manifested in the past 34 days.

ex-traor-din-ar-y – beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular or established, as in extraordinary decisions.
People talk about how long it takes to form a new habit or make a shift in behavior – 3 weeks? 30 days? 3 months?  I suppose that’s why I set out for 30 days raw… to give myself enough time to build a new way of being.  But what I realize is that the shift that happened in me didn’t take 30 days… it took a moment.   The moment I made the decision to eat 100% raw for 30 days, a shift happened in my mind and my heart and my being… and everything changed.  Of course it is true that with time, eating raw has become easier and more of a habit, but that is secondary to the shift that happened when I made a decision to do things differently.  The moment of that decision opened up a whole new universe of possibilities.  If there was just one lesson I could take away from this experience, this would be it – be bold, be fearless, don’t be so ‘mayo’, make extraordinary decisions… every single day.

ex-quis-ite – of rare excellence of production or execution, as works of art or workmanship, as in exquisite care.
I love this idea of treating my body, mind and soul as a precious work of art.  I think the thing that has surprised me the most in this 34 day journey, has been the impact on my mind and soul.  Not to minimize the changes to my body – I’ve lost weight, my joints flow more freely, my hot flashes have been significantly reduced, my skin is softer and brighter, and my energy continues to skyrocket.  But it is the changes to my mind and soul that took me by surprise.  I feel incredible clarity of mind.  It’s difficult to describe this, as one almost has to experience it juxtapose to not having clarity of mind.  In any case,  with that, I am able to think more clearly and have been able to make decisions about my life and my business that have expanded both in new and exciting directions.  Also unexpected have been the changes in my spiritual life.  Implementing a 5:30 morning routine of yoga, meditation, gratitude, and intention has deepened my spiritual connection and I feel  it has opened a channel for Spirit to flow more freely.   I’ve come to understand and experience that everything starts with energy, and when I infuse my body with living energy, my mind and my soul are also more alive.  Bottom line,  BIG energy = BIG life.

con-ta-gious – tending to spread from person to person, as in in such a way that it’s contagious.
I love educating people about raw foods, and I love preparing it for my friends, but it has never been my style to try to convert people to raw.  And yet, in the past 34 days, my mom and brother asked for seconds of my watermelon gazpacho, my nephew’s wife started her own 30 day raw challenge, my friends from Texas hosted their own raw dinner party, and my colleagues with whom I serve on a non-profit board, decided that our next meeting will be a raw potluck.  I’m blown away by how contagious this stuff is and it’s fun to see how the deliciousness of the food, and the energy you get from it, and the joy it brings all speak for themselves.

So lets run the numbers…
days raw – 34
pounds lost – 8
recipes tried – 23
energy found – immeasurable :)

My intention is to continue 100% raw as long as it feels right.  I’ve had so much fun discovering new recipes and writing this blog, that I plan to continue trying new recipes, revisiting my old favorites, and writing at least twice a week.  I’ve also been thinking about my next 30 day challenge – perhaps 30 days of yoga classes, or 30 days of waste reduction…  I’m still thinking on this one, but whatever it turns out to be, i hope you will join me for the journey.  By the way, I made it through the 34 sun salutations, and like going 100% raw, the more I did, the easier it got. :)

Today’s Recipe – Orange Cilantro Green Smoothie
This recipe is a favorite of mine. I like it because it is simple and delicious, and I usually have the ingredients in my fridge.  I typically have it as a morning or lunch smoothie.  If you want, you can leave the avocado out to make it less thick or you can add another avocado to it to make it into more of a soup.  I just made this smoothie for The Green Chick.  You can check out the video blog here.

Orange Cilantro Green Smoothie (4+ Yums)
2 cups orange juice – fresh squeezed is best if possible
1 english cucumber, unpeeled
1 healthy handful Cilantro
1 avocado

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Today’s Affirmation
I breath in all the Universe has to offer me today, I breath out gratitude.

Today’s Observations
I’m preparing to fly to my parent’s house tomorrow in Castle Rock, Washington for my Dad’s 80th birthday party.  I will be gone for four days, and I expect that this will be the most…. shall we say, interesting challenge of my 30 day raw experiment.  Castle Rock is a small rural town who’s claim to fame is that it is the last real town on the road up to Mt Saint Helens – the site of the most recent volcanic explosion in the continental US.  Other than that, the most happening thing in Castle Rock is cinnamon roll Mondays at the Senior Center.  No Young Thai Coconuts there.  Not sure I can find a mango either.  I do plan to take a couple organic apples with me and my julienne peeler – oops, not sure that will make it through security.  I better rethink that.   In any case, this is a big event in Castle Rock, as my parents are part of the brick and mortar of that small town. You can be sure the party will get a write up in the local paper.  I expect it will go something like this…  “Mary and Myron Nelson hosted an open house for Myron’s 80th….  Guests enjoyed their choice of ham and swiss or turkey and Velveta finger sandwiches accented with a dab of Miracle Whip.  A lovely vegetable platter of celery, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes and green peppers was served with a delicious ranch dressing.   To drink, guests sipped Hawaiian punch or Folgers coffee.  The crown jewel of the event was a beautifully decorated white birthday cake with butter cream frosting and a replica of Mt. Saint Helens in the middle.  The cake was served with mints and nuts.”  Perhaps now you have a better feel for the challenge that lies ahead.  My next entry will be from on the scene.  Wish me luck.

Today’s Menu
Strawberries and Bananas for breakfast
Salad with Kale, red peppers, celery and cashews with creamy Thai dressing for lunch
Snack – Coconut, mango, raspberry smoothie
Trader Joe’d Garden Salad with pecans for dinner
Cinnamon, banana, maple smoothie for desert

Today’s New Recipe
Some of you know about my Almond Milk Debacle of Day 6.  Well, I thought it was time to get back on the horse and try something with nut milk again.  I have my friend Laura Taylor, who is a macrobiotic chef, to thank for her encouragement to try making cashew milk.  I guess this is the ‘beginner’ nut milk.  Anyway, it was super easy and actually tasted good.  And if you forget to soak the cashews, you can actually get away with just throwing them in the blender as is.  I modified Laura’s recipe a bit to make it a bit thicker.

Laura’s Cashew Milk
1 cup cashews, soaked for 4 hours
4 cups water
1 tablespoon agave (optional)

Blend on high speed until milky (30-60 seconds).  No need to strain.

Pam’s Cinnamon, Banana, Maple Smoothie (4 Yums)
1 cup cashew milk
1 frozen banana
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Blend until smooth and enjoy.

Today’s Affirmation
I am grateful for and grounded in the love of my family.

Today’s Observations
I had a serious date with the commode this afternoon.  I’m not sure if it was something I ate, or if i had a bug, or if I’m experiencing another round of detox, but in any case, it took me by surprise.  Don’t get me wrong… I’m actually kind of grateful for it.  It was like getting a colonic without paying the 75 bucks.  And I feel lighter in my loafers to boot.

So as long as we’re going there, is it possible for us to have an honest conversation about this without giggling or being grossed out?  One of the advantages of eating raw is, what is sometimes referred to as, “quick transit time”.  That’s a fancy way of saying, you put something in your mouth and it comes out the other end pretty quickly.  The reason for this is the high water and fiber content of the food.  The advantage is that the waste stuff that is toxic to our bodies, has less time to hang out and do bad things (can you tell from my scientific explanation that I was a Bio major?)  The ideal, according to Ayur Vedic medicine, is that we visit the commode after every meal.  It gives you somethin’ to shoot for doesn’t it?  In any case, let me just say by way of personal observation, that all of the above is true. And in fact, it gives one a sense of… well, accomplishment in a funny way, to know that your body is working as it was designed.  I have a personal motto that has inspired me along this raw journey, and on this lucky day 13,  I offer it to you with great affection.

If it comes out green, you know you’re clean.

Today’s Menu
Avocolada and mango for breakfast
Salad with Creamy Thai Dressing for lunch
Snacks – apple, guacamole with cucumbers for dipping, pecans
Sarma Melngailis’ “Favorite Green Shake” for dinner

Today’s New Recipe
A green smoothie seemed like the right thing to have tonight after my afternoon experience.  This comes from Sarma Melngailis’ new book, Living Raw Food.  I am sharing with you my modified version.  Rather than adding the agave or Stevia as she suggests, I’d rather add a pear or apple balance all the citris in this shake.

Favorite Green Shake (3 Yums)
1 grapefruit, peel cut away
2 lemons, peel cut away
2 limes, peel cut away
2 cucumbers, chopped (I left the skin on)
1 big bunch parsley or ciliantro (I used half of both)
Handful of other greens – Kale, spinach, collard, chard
1-2 pears or apples
Optional – Vanilla extract, stevia and/or agave to taste.

Blend all citrus and cucumber, and fruit into a liquid.  Then add greens and blend on high until bright green. Add vanilla and sweeteners if you’d like. Enjoy!

Today’s Affirmation

I honor my body’s remarkable ability to cleanse, heal, and restore itself to a state of perfect health.

Today’s Observations
I am in the middle of that vortex called Menopause.  One of the well known symptoms of being in this vortex, is hot flashes.  OK, can we just establish right here and now that hot flashes are the weirdest thing I have ever experienced?  When all my friends were having hot flashes and I wasn’t, I thought, “Bring ‘em on.” (given that I always tend to be on the cold side).  But when they finally arrived, they weren’t what I imagined at all.  It reminds of the year I spent in Chicago, making my way through the fridged snows of Winter and the chilly, unpredictable Spring thinking – I can’t wait for summer to get here.  Then it arrived and it was nothing like this California girl had ever experienced -  it was a sticky, horridly humid, can’t-get-away-from-it kind of heat that makes you want to take all your clothes off and lay on the floor in front of a fan…. Come to think of it, that is exactly what a hot flash feels like.

What’s my point.  My point is that my hot flashes have diminished significantly.   To be honest, they had started to diminish a little before I started my 30 Day Raw experiment, and then they actually got worse the first few of my 30 days (detox perhaps?).  But last night… last night I slept through the night like a baby.  Let me put this in context.  Just a month ago, I couldn’t get through the night without being awakened 3 – 5 times with hot flashes, throwing the covers off, sweating like a non-Swede, and fanning myself with the nearest issue of Dwell magazine until the internal firestorm passed.  That didn’t happen last night, and I don’t know if it has anything to do with the fact that I have been raw for 12 days now, but I’m just sayin’…. I noticed, and I liked it.

Today’s Menu
Avocolada
Salad with Creamy Thai Dressing
Snacks – apples
Mango for dinner

Today’s New Recipe
I’ve been wanting to try this recipe for a while, just ‘cuz i like how it sounds :)  It comes from one of my favorite raw books, Raw Food Real World.  I’m not sure this is my favorite smoothie ever, but it was definitely good and a fun experiment.

Avocolada (3 Yums)
1 avocado, peeled and pitted
3 cups diced
2 cups coconut water
3 Tablespoons Agave
3 Tablespoons lime juice
Pinch of salt
The recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of coconut butter and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.  I did not add these, but I did add about half a handful of Cilantro.

Blend in the blender until smooth and enjoy.

Today’s Affirmation

I joyously embrace all of life’s experiences.