I started buying coconut water and organic soy milk from my neighborhood 99 cent store ( I am sooo happy they exist and sell these, regular markets charge sometimes 3 times as much for same brand) And by the way I buy WestSoy soy milk bec...ause it does not contain carageen...if you don't know whats bad about carageen, Google it. Anyway, to save more money I freeze the coconut water and soymilk (in seperate) freezer trays and use the cubes in smoothies. I usually add 3 cubes coconut water and 4 cubes soy milk. I throw them in after I add everything else and let them melt -- then I blend them together. Yum!


I make a smoothie everyday...here's the recipe for the one I'm drinking right now.

3 cubes frozen coconut water

4 cubes frozen soy milk (organic)

1/2 cup parsley

1/2 banana

2 large carrots (juiced)

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup spring water

teaspoon ground flax seed ( I use Bob's Red Mill) I don't have a grinder right now.

 

 

Throw these into a blender

Allow the frozen cubes to melt; it takes about 15 minutes and then blend mixture

Enjoy!

 

 

xo   Inge

The Many Uses of Salt Water

I threw out all commercial cleaning products when I was diagnosed and only use homemade products now. I want to know exactly what's in products I am using in my environment. You can find a list of household and personal health uses for salt water here.


xo  Inge

Homemade Hand Sanitzer

I use alcohol based hand sanitizers alot. I keep a bottle in my car and always use the wipes available outside the grocery stores to wipe down my cart. Lately though my hands are constantly dry...maybe its the cold weather. I don't know but I do know I don't like dry hands, so I scoured the net to find out if there is something better than store bought to sanitize my hands. Its not only cheaper but I know whats in the product. I do not want to be exposed to anything toxic anymore.


Washing with soap and water is always my first choice but its not convenient if I am out running errands. I found one that is easy to make and works:



Here's the recipe:


4 oz. Aloe Vera Gel
1/2 tblsp. Witch Hazel
1 Vitamin E Capsule (poke hole in it)
essential oil -- (optional) you pick your favorite fragrance


Mix together aloe vera and witch hazel. Squeeze vitamin E capsule into mixture. Stir up more and pour ingredients into a bottle. I just use the empty sanitizer bottle from the store bought one. That's it!


I found this recipe on this site...they have other helpful tips you might find interesting... http://thegreenbacksgal.com/how-to-make-hand-sanitizer-with-all-natural-products/

Its Cold and that Means Chili!

Its cold outside and that means its time for chili. Here's my recipe for my famous vegan chili.



First of all I soak 1/2 cup of raw black beans. Its ususally takes a few hours and then they are ready to be cooked. I sometimes soak them overnight...whatever is easiest for you. The beans are ready to use in chili when you can easily smash it with a fork. 1/2  cup dry beans will turn into a little over a cup of cooked beans.


Now take out a large soup pot and pour olive oil on the bottom...enough to sautee a chopped onion. When the onions are carmelized, add a 16 oz can of tomatoes. I use organic diced from Trader Joes. Then I add 1/3 bag organic corn from (you guessed it...Trader Joes). Sometimes I throw in an organic chopped potato or green pepper.


Sooooo, where's the chili seasoning? I used to buy ready made but after reading what is in processed foods these days, I want to know whats in my food and that includes seasonings. McCormicks, which is the chili seasoning I used to use only lists a couple of ingredients and the rest are "natural". The word "natural" is not regulated and since they spent a great deal of money fighting Prop 37...I no longer give them my money.


I found a terrific recipe from this blogger and you can find her over here...http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/homemade-chili-and-taco-seasoning/


For this recipe I use 2 tablespoons of chili seasoning. You can always use more or less.


Here's how to make your own:


4 tablespoons of chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons paprika
2 tablespoons ground cumin
3 teaspoons sea salt
4 teaspoons black pepper


I keep it stored in a ziplock baggie.



xo      Inge

I was in Mother' Market the other day and I was hungry so I bought myself a smoothie. I decided on their breakfast smoothie, even though it was late afternoon because I never had one with granola in it. It was really good but expensive....$8 for 16 ounces. I figured in the future I can make my own at home.



Here's my recipe: 1/2 cup mixed berry organic juice, 1/2 cup organic soymilk, 1 banana, 1/2 cup Nature's Path Hemp Granola Cereal. Blend in blender and you got breakfast or snack you can take with you.


xo Inge

I have been looking through several "eating healthy" facebook pages and ran into a few that claim food alone will cure cancer. I have trouble with that statement because I think it depends on the type of cancer and what stage it is. For me, I chose western medicine because I was diagnosed at stage four and time was of the essence to decide which way to go. I believe everyone should be able to choose which treatment is best for them. If someone chooses to use alternative or only eat foods rich in anti-oxidents to fight cancer, thats fine, but they should have access to stats that tell them the survival rate first. I don't like hearing from those people who give a knee jerk response to anything western medicine before looking into the facts. I got some advice from well meaning individuals about some plant based treatments when i was sick, but when I researched them, the information was too iffy. It didn't resonate with me. Maybe I would have thought differently if my cancer was not as advanced. I decided to go the western medicine route and understood it would be brutal. If anyone tells you it isn't that bad, they are lying and I am willing to bet, even those who went the plant based route will agree... having cancer sucks... there is no sugar coating it, but sometimes things suck in life and we do the best we can to get through it. Cancer treatments have come a long way and the survival rates are higher. I am all for incorporating treatments to include body, mind and spirit...it says so on the "about me" page. I do understand there are cancer survivors who... for whatever reason chose to do the plant based treatment, but I can only think of two for sure. I don't know if they are the norm. I guess what I am getting at -- is this. If you are diagnosed with cancer, look at all the alternatives and make the best choice for you. Don't listen to those who tell you that all western medicine treatment is bad. They might change their minds if they were in your shoes. The internet is a great place to do research on really anything. If you find an article that sounds too good to be true -- it probably is. Also research the author. Are they selling their cure? Are there actual testimonials from real people who had cancer? After a while, you will get to know those you can trust. What I do completely agree with these facebook pages is this.... eating healthy food is good for you and will fend off disease....that is a fact and science is catching up with that idea. Eat a healthy diet before you are diagnosed with a serous illness. xo Inge

I found this inspiring woman's story on another blog...don't ask me which one...my chemo brain took over and I forgot, but I did remember to bookmark it. Her story kicked started me into practising yoga again and my body is thanking me for it.

http://elayoga.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Do you live near a Dollar Store or 99 cent store that sells food? Check the shelves and even the frresh produce section because they are selling more and more organic and healthy choices. I found organic plain soymilk from WestSoy and Parro...t coconut water. The other day they had orangic lettuce and arugala in a package. I made myself a green smoothie with 1/3 rd of the can of coconut water and I poured the rest in an ice tray to use later.

In case you are wondering what else I added to smoothie:

1 banana, 1/2 cup kale, 1/2 cup parsley, 1/2 cup spring water and 1/3 can coconut water. Yum!

 

 

xo     Inge

OH YEAH!

 

 

 

 

Parsley isn't just a pretty garnish. Do you know it has anti-oxident properties like luteolin, a flavonoid that searches out and kills free radicals in the body? It contains an organic compound called myristicin that can stop the formation o...f tumors (like in the lungs) and helps fight against colon and prostrate cancer. Two tablespoons of parsley contains 153% of the RDA of vitamin K, which is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, a protein that strengthens the composition of our bones. It also prevents calcium build-up in our tissue that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Parsley contains vitamin C an effective anti-inflammatory agent within the body... inflammation is bad news for our bodies. Oh, I almost forgot....it alkaline! Anyone who knows me -- knows alkaline is my favorite food group.

 

 

Parsley doesn't taste so great to me so I add it to my daily green smoothie. I am drinking one right now.... I threw in 1/4 cup parsley, 1/2 cup kale, one banana, 1/5 cup spring water, 1/4 organic soymilk, and splash orange juice.

Save Mike Atta!

I had something different planned to write about today but I just got wind of this and decided it moves to the front of the line.



Here is the story.....

http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2013/01/fullerton-tonight-save-punk-legend-mike-atta-video-from-baxter-1/










You can donate online here....

https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6Otz6


Please help...no amount is too small!

Happy New Year! There are millions if not zillions of terrific bloggers out there and everyday I run into someone who I completely resonate with. They inspire me and give me ideas how to live a healthy life that I probably would never have thought of on my own. Have you heard the phrase, "No man is an island?" Well, I think that's so true. We are all interconnected... sharing ideas and insights is important to me... so I put together my favorite blogsites to share with you.

1. Kris Carr -- http://kriscarr.com/ comes in at number one. I don't remember how I found her website in 2011 because I was pretty drugged up on pain meds during that time... I was in the middle of my cancer treatment and I wanted to find out how I got this disease. Back then her site was called Crazy Sexy Cancer... she posted her story about living with cancer, that included an online support group for anyone facing health challenges. Kris is one of my online heroes. She got me started on my journey to wellness.

2. Flaming Vegan -- http://www.theflamingvegan.com/ Its all about living and eating veganstyle. Did I mention I'm vegan?

3. Purpose Fairy -- http://www.purposefairy.com/about/ I am convinced that we have to keep our minds healthy along with our body to stay in balance. This can be tricky at times because we can come in contact with lots of negative junk when we venture outside our home or even when we turn on the television. I am also a believer that we create our own reality and I want to work on being happy... no matter what. This gal's site is packed with tools to help me stay on that path.

4. Louise Hay -- http://www.healyourlife.com/ I was introduced to Louise Hay when a friend sent me her book, "You Can Heal Your Life". It helped me get through my cancer treatments and I still use it as a reference book.

5. Cherie Roe Dirksen -- http://cherieroedirksen.com/ Cherie always seems to write about topics that are relevent to my life. She is all about self-empowerment and offers tips and solutions how to stay balanced.

6. Positively Positive -- http://www.positivelypositive.com/ This site is packed with inspiring stories by different authors. Need I say more?

7. Food Babe -- http://foodbabe.com/ This gal knows her stuff when it comes to finding healthy eats. I found her blog when I was working to get Prop 37 passed...the right to know what we are eating initiative. She is anti GMO...just like me...but thats a whole other post.

 Well, thats my list so far. I'm always finding something wonderful on the web and as soon as I do you know I will share with you.

I hope the New Year is everything you hope for. As for me ... I am focusing on my emotions. I am learning that I control my experience. I cannot always control outside forces, but I can control how I respond. My goal is to feel happy no matter what.


xo   Inge