Today was a rainy and blustery day in London-town, but the weather was a bit warmer than expected so I got outside as much as possible despite the spitting rain and merry little breezes. I took a walk downtown to the Covent Garden Market to check things out and grab some necessities before the weekend. I found this really wicked little salad bar that had fresh pressed juices and cut fruit available! It was calling my name so I grabbed some mango juice and chopped watermelon for lunch.

My food haul consisted of blood oranges, a few mangoes, kiwis, some celery, peaches, kale, bananas and a cucumber. Not too much, because I had a long walk back home (~5k) and I tell ya, what I thought was a small haul got very heavy by the time I neared home! I also grabbed some dog food, homemade incense and candles to add to my load! 

When I got home I was pleasantly surprised to find a package waiting for me in my mailbox (don’t you just LOVE that feeling??). It was the tshirt I ordered from Megan Elizabeth! It fits well and is nice and cozy. I like to support the raw peeps who have inspired me towards this lifestyle and Megan is definitely someone who inspires! If you haven’t, you should check out her YouTube channel for great recipes and FAQs about eating a raw foods diet. :) 

All in all it was a pretty good little outing. I got some fresh air, fresh food, and even a bit of a workout in from hauling all that juicy goodness home! ;) Now I’m off to relax a bit before dinner and then some at-home candlelit yoga & meditation. The rainy days always make me crave candlelight. Until next time… Peace out!

I wasn’t sure what to have for lunch today and I felt like making a funky salad. I got a little adventurous with some of the flavors in my fridge and in the end, even I was surprised at how well it turned out! 

Ingredients: 

• 1 large beet
• 1 large purple carrot
• 1 large yellow carrot
• 1 small red onion
• 1 cup baby spinach

I wish I had a spiralizer for things like this, it would make the beets look like noodley pasta - yum! But thinly slicing with a knife or peeler works just fine too. :) Make sure the slices aren’t too thick or too wide. Also be warned - your hands will turn a bit pinkish/purpleish after handling beets. ;) 

Dressing: 

• juice of 1 lemon
• 1 spoonful of chia seeds
• handful of fresh sprouts (broccoli, alfalfa etc.)

Lightly process and drizzle the dressing on top with fresh herbs of your choosing. Here I chose some of my favorites: basil, parsley and thyme. Makes for a simple, savory and zesty light dish. 

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” - Buddha

The world has been tricked into thinking that the only way to get a sparkling clean kitchen is to wipe and spray every inch of our eating and living surfaces with toxic chemicals. But a few natural ingredients can do the trick for a fraction of the cost to your health and budget! 

Toxic Ingredients

To start with, begin looking for and avoiding harsh chemicals in your cleaners. Familiarize yourself with some of the following culprits: 

• Chlorine bleach: Even short-term exposure can cause mild asthmatic symptoms or serious respiratory problems.
• Ammonia: Used in many window and glass cleaners, it is a serious eye irritant that may cause headaches and lung irritation. 
• Nitrobenzene: In furniture and floor polishes, it has been associated with skin discoloration, vomiting, cancer and birth defects. 
• Petroleum: Many conventional detergents, solvents and polishes contain paraffin, mineral oil, diethylene glycol, perchloreothylene or butyl cellosolve - all of which are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource whose refining process causes major pollution. 
• Phthalates: While they make those perfume smells last longer, they are also linked to cancer and disease of the reproductive system in laboratory animals. 
• Phosphates: Encourages algae growth in water systems, which damages other marine life. 

 Choose Some Eco-Friendly Alternatives

• Clean your sink with a sprinkle of baking soda and rub with a damp cloth. 
• Nylon sponges are derived from petroleum, which means they are not recyclable or biodegradable. That Muppet-green sponge will live forever in a landfill somewhere. You can reduce the waste by using natural scrubbing options such as Cellulose sponges or natural sea sponges. Just pop them in boiling water for three to five minutes to disinfect.
• Use a simple homemade natural antiseptic and antifungal spray by filling a bottle with water and ten drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil. 
• For a variety of around the home cleaning uses check out: 51 Fantastic Uses For Baking Soda, 23 Ingenious Uses For White Vinegar, 22 Uses For Lemon Peels and How To Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit.

Earth-Conscious Companies

Here is a short list of a few companies I have tried or heard good things about. The top two are my personal favs featured in the pic above. :) 

• http://www.drbronner.com
• http://www.mrsmeyers.com
• http://www.seventhgeneration.com
• http://www.murchison-hume.us
  
• http://www.commongoodandco.com
• http://www.bee.net.nz
• http://www.iqclean.com
• http://www.nelliesallnatural.com
• http://www.indigowild.com
  
• http://www.thelaundress.com
• http://www.sapadilla.com
• http://www.goodhomestore.com

What are some of your personal environmentally-friendly cleaning tips or tricks? Which green companies are your favs?

A lot of people ask me how I started eating a high-raw, plant-based diet and the truth is - I am not an over-night convert. I took the very slow and very unsteady approach. I didn’t make any drastic changes because my health was never that drastically poor. I think a lot of people are on the same page when it comes to to their health and fitness; it’s difficult to become fully inspired and self-motivated to make the changes to your diet and lifestyle when you can’t really recognize that anything’s wrong. 

The one thing that I began to do that really changed my attitude towards food and health was keeping note of the various physical and emotional connections I was experiencing when I ate poorly - junk food, animal products, heavy fats etc… The phrase, “when you eat shit, you feel like shit” rings astoundingly true.The simple act observing my own behavior caused me to become aware of my ability to control my mood and clarity of thought, peace of mind, physical strength and appearance. It was that sort of freedom that then inspired me to make more positive food and fitness choices, not because I was forcing or guilting myself to do them, but because I knew they caused me to feel good, to feel happiness - and every person wants to be happy, it’s natural - I just needed to re-learn what foods make me feel truly blissed out! 

Begin to notice how your food choices affect:

• The quality of your sleep - Note times awakened  depth of sleep, dreams, thoughts and ease of falling to sleep.
• How you feel when you wake up - Note how rested you feel, your bodys aches or stiff joints, stuffed or runny nose, energy level, emotions, attitude, how your face looks (puffy, eyes, skin clarity etc.)
• How you feel the rest of the day - Physically: energy levels, areas of discomfort, cold hands/feet, allergies, etc. Mentally: alertness, clairty of thought, etc. Emotionally: out of control feelings, connection to others, self-views etc. 
• Bowel Movements - Let’s be honest, your shit is important and directly related to your health. If your having painful or lengthy BMs, then your diet is probably in need of a tune up. Note the time, frequency, quality and ease of elimination. 
• How you feel relative to each meal - Note your level of hunger, enjoyment of the meal, any emotions before, during or after, energy level before and after (it shouldn’t drop), satisfaction, fatigue etc. 

For me, it was (and still is) a slow, day by day journey. In my experience, awareness is something you grow and nurture. It started with me eating more fruits and veggies, and less cheese and oil and now I’ve lost 45 lbs, rid myself of asthma, gained confidence, clarity and peace of mind with a cruelty-free diet and I’m loving where I’m at. 

I recommend keeping a log like the one above, or even just mental notes throughout the day and I promise you’ll start seeing connections and feeling the urge to make better choices. I really believe that every meal is an opportunity for change! :) 

Well here I am at day four of my juice fast! I’m feeling good, besides being a bit tired, but that’s just because I didn’t get enough sleep. My boyfriend is done his juice fast, but I can’t decide if I want to continue on for another day or two… If so, I’m definitely going to need to get more greens & oranges! hehe. :)