Day 64 - Rebuilding - Planning

I ran across an article by Matt Monarch today about gaining weight after a long term juice feast. After I got past thinking "great - this isn't what I needed to hear" I refocused on all the positive things that have been happening because I made the choice to do this. He does have many positive things to say about Juice Feasting but, the overall tone of the article may give some people pause so I decided not to repost it here. Ultimately reading the article was a good thing as it served to remind me just how important it is to have a solid food plan for the future and that I need to go back to the gym on a more regular basis so I can get my metabolism back up. For me this feast has been and continues to be an amazing experience. So I guess at this stage I need to start doing some research about how I'm going to successfully transition back to solid foods post feast.
If you are interested you can read the article here
www.rawspirit.org/juicefeasting.html

Juice Feasting the Basics

I've had a few people ask me what the "basic rules" of juice feasting are - as I understand them they are as follows...

• Drink a minimum of 4 quarts of fresh, raw (organic if possible) vegetable and fruit juice daily - that is12-20 pounds of fresh fruit and veg a day.
  
• 2lbs of green leafy vegetables and one head of celery daily (this is part of the 4 quarts not in addition to). Celery is important because it is very hydrating and alkalyzing. It is full of organic sodium and minerals.
  
• The idea is to re-mineralize, and alkalyze the leafy greens will help you do this (that is why it is important to consume more greens than fruit). Leafy greens will also supply you with protein.
  
• Some of the supplements suggested are Vitamineral Green, spirulina/chlorella, bee pollen granules, and 1-2 Tablespoons of high-Omega-3 content oils, I've talked with quite a few feasters who feel these are a great compliment to juice feasting but, not absolutely necessary. - I take them.
  
• As I've mentioned before daily enemas are suggested to help your body eliminate wastes more efficiently.
  
• Why not green smoothies? What about fiber? This is what David Rain has to say on the subject "Normaly, fiber is great for moving things through the intestinal tract and colon and an appropriate pace, but when the body must separate out juice from fiber, there is an energy expenditure there that is significant. One of our main aims in the Juice Feast is to reduce this burden as much as possible – give the body a vacation from solid food – so that the saved energy can be transferred to cleansing processes.
  
  The reason that fasting works is that you are giving your body physiological rest from digesting food. This rest allows the body to go about the process of "housecleaning" with the energy saved from the usual act of digestion. Juice Feasting works with the same principle. When you remove the fiber from your produce and drink plant juices, you give the body physiological rest. This principle is also known as "Physiological Compensation." My colleague John Rose writes about Herbert Shelton's explanation of this principle:
  
  Physiological Compensation - "Energy saved in one department may be expended in another." When we give our bodies a "solid food vacation" by only drinking freshly made fruit and vegetable juices, the energy that would have been used to convert the solid food into liquid is then redirected or re-channeled to the elimination cycle. Even though no solid food is going in, there will be massive amounts of uneliminated waste matter coming out of our intestines. Once our colon, which is our major channel of elimination, begins to free itself from its toxic load, then every cell in our bodies will start dumping out its accumulated waste matter into our system to be eliminated."

By drinking only juice, the body gets a break from digesting food. This energy can then be used instead to cleanse the body of old matter and ultimately rebuilt itself. David Rain, believes that most people need 92 days to fully cleanse, and overcome any health challenges. He believes the body goes back in time about 120 days for each day you are on the feast.

For more follow my link to the Juice Feasting website.

Day 60

Day 60 and I'm feeling really great.

Where things stand at this point.

• No allergy attacks - at all for the past month - amazing!
• Much more clear headed/centred
• Happier
• More energy
• Released 23lbs (I've gone from a size 8 to a 6)
• My eyes have changed colour! People have been commenting on how clear and bright they are.
• Children and animals seem to be drawn to me (strange but true) - maybe it is because I'm feeling so focused and at peace.
• I'm feeling more passionate about my dreams and goals
• I feel like I've woken up to a degree. Like I've stepped outside the mainstream and that I'm okay with it (more than okay). I'm no longer interested in eating/behaving a certain way because that is what is expected.
• I have a much deeper respect for food.
• I find that I'm acting more in situations I find stressful (trying to find a solution) and reacting less.
• I've started taking bee pollen because I felt like I needed a change from the Blue Green Algae
• My skin has been really irritated dry and spotty at the same time. I've been taking hemp oil every night and it seems to be helping.
• I started taking paracleanse today (arrived in the mail yesterday - perfect timing!)
• I'm craving strawberry juice but, can't find organic strawberries. Watermelon will have to do

Places & Ideas I love...

#1...
Dogpatch Biofuels is a sustainable biodiesel filling station and eco-friendly convenience store located in San Francisco. They are a public, retail biodiesel-only filling station, carrying biodiesel from local and recycled sources.



#2 BIXI a public bicycle transportation system in Montreal (The cost is $5 for the first 30 minutes then another $1.50 for every extra 30minutes).

New Moon in Taurus

A good time to focus wishes and desires. The new moon is the starting point of the cycle of the moon's various phases making it a perfect time for seeding intentions and making new plans. I believe writing things down and/or making a treasure map (a visual collage of wishes/desires - clipped from magazines or can be a drawing or a painting) helps the things you are looking for to manifest in your life. It is thought that projects begun when the moon is in Taurus are more permanent or long lasting, especially when the moon is new. Taurus rules -money, possessions, sensuality, earth, permanence, things that increase in value.

54...

I'm not promoting the site that is flashed at the end of this video - I don't know anything about it - but the video itself has a really nice message so I thought it was worth posting - enjoy.

Day 53 - Dreams & Goals

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours".
Henry David Thoreau

Confindently in the direction of my dreams - life I've imagined... that needs some brainstorming and clarification. I think somewhere along the way I've lost sight of what my dreams are... What direction do I want my life to take after this amazing experience is over? During this next phase of the feast I plan to turn inward and start asking myself those questions. Now that I'm feeling much more centred and at peace with myself I'm hoping the answers will come. A friend once asked me when I was feeling really low "what do you enjoy - what do you love?" - I really didn't know at the time I couldn't even come up with one thing so she gave me an example "I enjoy sewing buttons on shirts" ahh my lightbulb went on... the first thing I thought of was "I love to listen to the sound of the ocean as it washes in and out over pebbles on the beach" - and I went on to write down a long list of things I enjoy that are simple everyday things. I found writing down the list helped me to enjoy those things even more... I think I will start there again by making a new list of the things in life I enjoy - maybe that will lead me to the bigger picture of what my dreams/goals are - fingers xed...

The Poop on Enemas

Part of the juice feasting regime is a daily enema. Now I have to admit when I first read this bit I thought - no way that isn't for me. The whole idea just struck me as something I'd rather not think about or talk about thank you very much. I decided that colonics would be a better way to go - pay a professional - go every few weeks and that would be enough. As time has passed and I've become more committed to getting the most out of this experience I've started to give the enemas a go. I find if I'm feeling grumpy, have a headache or I feel like I'm going through a detoxing phase - often if I try the enema thing I feel much better by the next day. In addition to water there are several types of enemas people use for different conditions. I've listed a few below - for more information and types of enemas go to...
http://www.health-information-fitness.com/ - the information below comes from this site as well.

Coffee
Coffee enemas detoxify the liver, as well as clean the colon. Coffee stimulates the liver to make more bile. Bile, from the gallbladder draws out environmental and metabolic toxins, as well as the toxins from Candida albicans and other parasite-like organisms. The colon is the organ responsible for carrying away these toxins. In addition, coffee enemas stimulate the liver to produce enzymes that clean the blood. Coffee enemas also assist the colon to develop better function. In these ways, coffee enemas are an essential resource in a colon cleansing program The coffee enema should consist of 1 quart of coffee (cold of course!) & warm water solution, held for 15 to 30 minutes. Some people, can take and retain only a pint (2 cups) of coffee enema solution at a time. If this is the case, one should take 2 coffee enemas, one right after releasing the first enema, and hold each for 15 to 30 minutes.

Apple Cider Vinegar has been used as a successful remedy for a number of ailments, including a method of dissolving internal stones in horses. Apple cider vinegar contains over forty vitamins and minerals. It releases toxins from the liver and has helped arthritis patients, people with high blood pressure, and skin conditions. Other ailments helped by consuming apple cider vinegar are high cholesterol, insomnia and fatigue, liver and kidney problems, asthma, and more. In enemas, try to hold about 5 minutes before releasing it as you finish the enema. This will allow for greater penetration in the colon. Aloe or any other substance that makes water wetter will have also enhance the penetrating effects and the antiviral effect.
3 tablespoons per 1.5 qt enema bag is sufficient but you might want to try higher doses to see if better results can be obtained if you can tolerate it.

Baking Soda Generally tap water comes to us with a pH of about 7.2, from the public water utility. Body pH is normally at a level of about 7.35 to 7.45. Baking soda has a pH, of about 8.0 in the box. So the theory is that by adding baking soda to enema water will increase pH factor of the water.
Infusing higher pH solutions such as this into the colon causes the body to 'adjust' by increasing pH, and to "restore" or "re-normalize" body pH to the correct amount. It is important to normalize the body's acidity and re-normalize the pH of the blood, allowing for significantly greater oxygen saturation capacity in the blood, which helps the brain, and all tissues, to work better. Most colonic patients report an "elevated" mood or feeling of contentment after a colonic irrigation or enema. Re-normalizing the blood / body pH also allows the brain receptors which take up and process the body's naturally-occurring endorphins, serotonin, and serotonin-like chemicals to be absorbed by the brain receptors looking for those chemicals in the blood. Enema Recipe:1 to 4 Tbl. Baking Soda 2 quarts warm filtered water ( Mix well ){ Warning } Do Not use on a low sodium diet ! Temperature 103° to 107°Fahrenheit

Celtic Sea Salt
This enema is better done at a cool temperature instead of warm.The temperature of the solution will cause peristalsis in the colon. Good for reducing fever. Enema Recipe:1 tbsp. of Celtic Sea Salt per quart of water2 qts. cool filtered waterTemperature 75° to 80° Fahrenheit
By adding Celtic Sea Salt to the water solution you increase the transfer of water into the colon. This helps prevent filling your kidneys and bladder with water. It will help eliminate the frequent trips needed to urinate after receiving enemas. Enema Recipe: 1 tbsp. of Celtic Sea Salt per quart of water 2 qts. cool filtered water Temperature 75° to 80° Fahrenheit

Garlic Juice
Garlic is used for everything to raising and lowering blood pressure, all types of infections, indigestion, headaches, also used for colds, fevers, and blood purification purposes, as well as for respiratory illnesses also for worms & bowel infections.Garlic juice, has been shown to kill harmful bacteria without harming useful ones. If you suffer from colitis, use the garlic juice enema several times a week, Or anytime pain from colitis is experienced, this enema shouldl quickly relieve the discomfort. Troubled with constipation, You can use a garlic juice enema several times a week, and then a coffee retention enema once a week. Enema Recipe:3 cloves of finely chopped garlic in 1 quart of filtered water Simmer on stove for 10 minutes Cool to 103º Fahrenheit, strain and pour into enema bag Add extra warm filtered water to finish filling bag and correct temperature. Precaution - very stimulating.

Directions for Administering an Enema

Day 50 - Celebrate

Day 50 and I find I'm saying to myself - okay - so what? -what should I do to celebrate this journey I've set myself on so that it is meaningful to me? I start thinking of the Buddhist belief that I need to be present in each moment not living in the future or the past - just honouring each moment by being fully present. So with that in mind I went searching for "how to celebrate" and found the following...

Celebrate Your Life:
Celebrating the many transitions in your life, from difficult to ecstatic, weaves a thread of spirit into everything you do. It also encourages you to be in the present moment with your full, conscious attention....

Creativity and intent are the two aspects of a transformational celebration. Combining your creativity with your intent is a catalyst for alchemy. Creativity invites you to dream big, to use celebration as an artful expression of your heart. Intent gives you focus on what you want to accomplish. These two guiding forces need to be balanced in your celebrations and your life.

To apply creative intent to a celebration, start by dreaming all the places you could celebrate change in your life. Look back at major life shifts and imagine how it would be if you had consciously marked them with a ceremony. Dream big, with no limitations. The question to ask is "How?" How would you celebrate cleaning your house? How would you ceremonialize ending a relationship? Creativity comes when we look at change and explore its gifts and possibilities. Intent then brings focus and direction to our dreaming. The questions of intent are "Why?" and "What?" Why would you celebrate cleaning your house? What is your purpose? Why honor the end of a relationship? What do you want to get out of the ceremony? Why would you mark the start of menopause? What would you like from doing it consciously? The intent gives the celebration purpose, guiding its direction and outcome.

Steps to Create a Celebration or Ritual:
After you explore your creativity through sacred brainstorming and get clear on your intent, there are five steps to create a spectacular celebration: contain, release, invite, deepen, and open. These work whether the ritual is for you alone or for any size group.

Contain The first step to ritual is to move out of your daily world into a world of magic and possibility. Create a sense of the sacred by lighting incense or candles, picking smells or colors that support your intent, and/or building an altar. Use pictures, statues, natural objects, or crafts to create a place for meditation, reflection, or inspiration. Your altar can be for used as a general anchor or for a specific intent. For a general altar you may use your favorite deity or guide, an object for each element in the four corners, candles, crystals, found and natural objects, or a bowl of water with flowers. If you want to build an altar for a specific purpose, ask yourself, "What will reflect the specific thing I am working on back to me?" For an abundance altar, you may use money from around the world, overflowing fruit baskets, and pictures of what you want to manifest. For an altar to release a relationship you could use pictures, writings, and a candle with the intent to release the person. For an altar to dedicate yourself to your spiritual path, try a picture of an open road, a beautiful inspirational nature scene, or your favorite superhero (to remind you of your power to move past obstacles).Once you have set up sacred space, you can call in any guides, deities, power animals, ancestors, or teachers. Many traditions call in the four elements (air, fire, water, earth), which are the foundation of life. The elements also represent a part of our being, and hold a direction (east, south, west, north). By calling in guides and helpers and/or the four elements, you amplify the energy of your actions.

Release To create space for new things in your life, you must first release the old. It is vital that you let go of what no longer serves you, and doing so with gratitude and love encourages the release to happen gracefully. Doing release work makes the obstacle conscious, which then gives you the ability to move it out. Questions to ask:- What can you release to bring more space into your life?- What emotion, pattern, agreement, or fear is keeping you stuck?- What are you willing to let go of? Creative ideas:- Write down the fear or emotion you want to release and burn the paper (fire), bury it (earth), tie it in a tree (air), or wash the ink off (water). - Dance, tone, chant, or speak out the pattern, emotion, or fear. 3. InviteNow that there is space, what do you want to invite into your being? Inviting in the new allows the universe to align with your desires and support you fully.Questions to ask:- What do you want more of in your life?- How can you open to bring this in?- What emotion, new agreement, or perspective do you want to experience?Creative ideas: - Write down the feeling state you want to bring in and burn the paper to bring more energy (fire), bury it to ask for grounding (earth), or tie it in a tree to fly (air). - Dance, tone, chant, or speak the pattern, emotion, or state you want to create. - Hold the emotion or pattern consciously and anchor it in your body.- Visualize or meditate to ask for guidance and open to the new.

Deepen Leave space for stillness and integration to absorb the effect of your release and calling in. Meditate, write, create artwork, eye gaze with a partner, or sit silently.

Open Just as you consciously created a container for your celebration, you also want to consciously open your container and bring what you learned back into the world. Make sure you open your circle by thanking and letting go of anything you called in at the beginning of your ceremony. State your intent again, and then feast or do something nourishing for yourself. Many ceremonies and celebrations end with good food and communing.

Example:

Now that you have the guidelines, let's see how it works with a specific example.
For a celebration to clean your house, your creative brainstorm may bring you the following ideas: play music and dance through the house, call your friends and pick a day to clean your home at the same time and then go out to lunch to celebrate, spend fifteen minutes every day loving your home and belongings by putting things in their proper place. When you look at your intent, it may be anything from: "Make sure I can find my keys and important items each day," to "Use my housecleaning as a symbol of clearing away my fears and mental clutter."Suppose you decide to pick a time each month to clean, and you invite your best friend to join you, with the intent to use the cleaning to clear your own mental clutter. Here is how you could use the five steps of ritual:

1. Contain Light a candle in each room to remind you of your intent for clarity. Call in the energies of your grandmother, who was a fabulous housekeeper, and your spiritual teacher. (You may have pictures of them both in a specific place in your house during the cleaning.)
2. Release Go through your house dusting and cleaning all the rooms, stating an affirmation to yourself, i.e., "As I clear this dust and clutter I clear my mind."
3. Invite Go through your house again with a scented spray, bells, or flowers. Say out loud in each room, "I invite harmony and joy into this space."
4. Deepen Sit in your favorite room and send blessings to your space. Let the silence quiet you.
5. Open Blow out all the candles, and thank your grandmother and teacher for their support. Call your friend and make your date for lunch.

Celebrations bring joy and play into all the nooks and crannies of your life journey.
Instead of waiting for the "big moment" in the future, celebrate each day, from the simple tasks to the challenges, from the mundane to the sacred.

( http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/celebrate-your-life-infuse-it-with-joy-and-spirit-344006.html )

Day 48 - A Few Juice Feasting Tips

1. Carry a toothbrush. (juicing teeth get fuzzy more often)
2. Mix lime/cilantro or mint/apple with salad green juice (much more palatable).
3. Put lemon or lime into juice that is going to sit in the fridge for a few hours - will keep juice fresh longer.
4. Add 1/4 of a fresh jalapeno to your veggie juice - the heat will make you sip instead of gulp - less chance of swallowing air that can lead to bloating - also helps you to remember to "chew" your juice which will aid in digestion.
5. Use ginger or cayenne in juice if you are feeling cold it will warm you up.
6. Blend salad greens and strain off the juice using a nut milk bag. Makes a nicer less frothy juice than putting them through a juicer. (faster too).
7. Dark green vegetable juice is pretty strong use 1/4 to root vegetable juice until you get used to it (more at the beginning may make you feel nausated).
8. Use plastic lids for mason jars - the metal ones get gungy after awhile - the plastic ones are easier to clean and last longer.
9. Line the inside of the pulp catcher with a plastic bag it makes clean up easier.
10. To get rid of froth strain juice through a nut milk bag or metal strainer.
11. When storing juices in the fridge, minimize nutritional loss by filling juice to the top of the mason jar (as little air as possible don't forget to add a little lemon or lime as well).
12. PMS? Drink Celery and cucumber juice (natural diuretics) - really helps with water retention.
13. Feeling sick to your stomach because of detoxing juice a little ginger with apple.
14. Dry skin take a tsp of flax or coconut oil daily.

Day 46 - Little Reminders

Day 46 - juice feast half way point. Amazing I'm here. Still planning to go for as long as I feel it is right for me - we'll see what my body tells me to do as I move from the detoxing stage into the rebuilding phase.
My body is starting to find its voice - or maybe I'm just becoming a better listener.... I think I've been feeling down because I keep trying to hang on to the moments of incredible energy and contentment that I've been starting to have - they come, they go - I think the problem has been a lack of faith that the good feelings aren't going to return -that just the bad stuff will be what hangs on. So I'll try to have faith because it seems as though everytime I go through a healing crisis I come out the other side feeling better than I have in years.
I found something about this on the internet earlier - I'll post it below because it really helped me to refocus on my goals.

Blissful State of Health Comes Eventually
Don't expect to go on an ascending scale of quality improvement in the diet and think you will feel better and better each day until you reach perfection. The body is cyclical in nature and health returns in a series of gradually diminishing cycles. For example—you start a better diet and for a while you feel much better. After some time, a symptom occurs, you may feel nauseous for a day and have a diarrhea with a foul-smelling stool. After a day you feel even better than before and all goes fine for a while. Then you suddenly develop a cold, feel chills and lose your appetite. After about two or three days (assuming you don't take drugs or do anything else about it) you suddenly recover and feel better than you did for years. Let us say this well-being continues for two months, when you suddenly develop an itch or rash. You still don't take anything special for it. This rash flares up, gets worse and continues for ten days and suddenly subsides. Immediately after this you find your hepatitis is gone and your energy has increased more than ever before. The rash became an outlet for the poisons in the liver which produced hepatitis. This is how recovery occurs, like the Dow-Jones Average at the beginning of a bull-market recovery. You feel better, a reaction occurs and you don't feel as well for a short while. You recover and go even higher. And so it goes, each reaction milder than the last as the body becomes purer, each becoming shorter in duration, feeling better than ever before and lasting longer, until you reach a level plateau of vibrant health. Here you become relatively disease-free and are filled with ever-increasing joy, life and the happiness which comes from sheer well-being. The mind opens up and expands to ever-higher horizons and your soul will shout for joy. You begin to love the world, the universe and everything in it. This is the natural state of the mind—blissful, joyful and at peace with the universe—and it can only be attained by alignment with biological laws. The first laws we must learn to obey are the laws of Nature. We must learn to eat simple, pure and natural foods properly prepared and combined, and our bodies in return will cast off the evil we have taken in during our lives.

More here http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/symptoms-during-dietary-transition/the-three-phases-of-metabolism.html

Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation

by Paul Connett, PhDProfessor of ChemistrySt. Lawrence UniversityCanton, NY 13617

Top 5 of 50 Reasons (all 50 can be found at http://www.fluoridealert.org/ )

1. Fluoride is not an essential nutrient (NRC 1993 and IOM 1997). No disease has ever been linked to a fluoride deficiency. Humans can have perfectly good teeth without fluoride.
2. Fluoridation is not necessary. Most Western European countries are not fluoridated and have experienced the same decline in dental decay as the US.
3. Fluoridation's role in the decline of tooth decay is in serious doubt. The largest survey ever conducted in the US (over 39,000 children from 84 communities) by the National Institute of Dental Research showed little difference in tooth decay among children in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities (Hileman 1989).
4. Where fluoridation has been discontinued in communities from Canada, the former East Germany, Cuba and Finland, dental decay has not increased but has actually decreased (Maupome 2001; Kunzel and Fischer,1997,2000; Kunzel 2000 and Seppa 2000).
5. There have been numerous recent reports of dental crises in US cities (e.g. Boston, Cincinnati, New York City) which have been fluoridated for over 20 years. There appears to be a far greater (inverse) relationship between tooth decay and income level than with water fluoride levels.

Day 45 - Blue

The last 2 days have been difficult. I'm having some pretty serious food cravings (all manner of cooked potato dishes dancing around in my head). My skin is splotchy and dry, I'm not sleeping well, my right eye is swollen/bothering me (a problem I was having before the feast that I thought was gone) & my energy is all over the place - I go from feeling like I have almost too much energy to being exhausted. I'm trying to convince myself that I'm feeling this way because I'm still detoxing.

I've been listening to Ray Lamontange a lot this week - his voice suits my mood perfectly (and he's fun to look at - so I've been checking him out a fair amount on You Tube)

Day 42 - Spring Cleaning

Full of energy on Thursday I cleaned house and got my taxes done (on time - which is a big deal for someone like me who always seems to file late). Since then I've been sorting through my things - trying to keep in mind what William Morris had to say on the subject "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." easier said than done - emotional attachments to some non useful and frankly ugly items keep me hanging on - I've got them in a when I'm ready box. I find that if I have a friend or a worthy charity to give my old things to it makes it easier to get rid of the old stuff that is cluttering up my life.

Yesterday's Juice:
Morning 1 quart water with lemon and msm
#1: 3 Grapefruit, 2 Oranges, 2 Cloves garlic, 1 scoop of bluegreen algae, chlorella
#2: 4 Handfulls Salad mix, 1 handful mint, 3 sprigs parsley, 1/2 water blended, added to 1 apple, handful baby carrots, 5 stalks of celery
#3: Same as above
#4: 2 Apples, 1 cup radish, 1 cucumber, 3 tomatoes, .5 jalapeno
2 Cups herbal tea
1 Strawberry juice popsicle

Day 39 - Time to Clean House

Day 39 and I'm feeling really great. I went for a colonic last night and it seemed to clear away the brain fog I've been experiencing for the last few days. I came straight home had a hot bath and used my neti pot. I just felt so relaxed and more comfortable than I've felt in ages. No body aches, no mental fog, no cold. I spent a wonderful night reading - RAWvolution by fellow Canadian Matt Amsden. Before bed I listened to Holosync and drifted off into a deep sleep. This morning I woke up feeling full of energy. I'm ready to clean house and get started on my taxes.

Day 37

I watched the video for day 36 on the Juice Feasting pay site and was relieved to hear Katrina saying that she was experiencing some negativity as well around this time in the feast. I’m so glad I decided to spend the money for a subscription - the day by day videos have helped me through more than one rough day. I believe she was right when she guessed her negativity was being caused by the liver detoxifying. I was so tired by the end of the day yesterday that I went to bed at 7:00 - I'm sure something was releasing/healing by late in the in the day - I’m feeling so much better today .


I received my copy of Centerpoint's Holysync trial CD in the mail on Friday (recommended on the juice feast site). The claim is that you can “Meditate like a Zen Monk at the touch of a button”. The program is supposed to stimulate the creation of new neural pathways between the right and left hemispheres of your brain, balancing your brain and leading you to a high-performance state that scientists call "whole brain functioning". It does this by placing tones that stimulate the brain inaudibly beneath peaceful music and environmental sounds. They explain that it is like marathon training for the mind. Some of the benefits are supposed to include -increased learning ability, enhanced creativity, greater intuition, improved focus and concentration and the list goes on...

What a strange experience... The first time I used it my eyes started to water like mad and I felt off balance - then - I lost time - I sort of zoned out after about 2 minutes - more than a little alarming. I felt like Zoolander after the spa... Not good but, I decided to try it again and am now on my third day - by the third time I found the experience to be pleasurable and it put me into a deeply relaxed state. I’m thinking I may invest in the pay cd - I'm not sure they make a lot of claims - if it works it would be amazing but if it doesn't I'll feel like I've wasted my money.

Garlic, Neti Pot & Elderberry

My cold rages on...
It seems as thought the cold I've been fighting off for the last few days has taken hold but, I'm fighting back with loads of juiced garlic, my trusty neti pot & elderberry extract!

Freshly-crushed garlic. Garlic has powerful anti-viral, antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Also a great immune system booster & kills parasites in the intestines.

Elderberry extract. Elderberry, a relative of the blueberry, has been found to have powerful anti-viral properties. Elderberry extract can be used to treat cold/flu. Sambucol is a popular brand (but mostly sugar). I take the tablet form - seems to work.

Nothing gets rid of that horrible nose tickle and stuffy stuff like a neti pot.... I started using one last year after a friend recommended that it would offer relief during allergy season. The idea is to pour warm water and salt through the nasal cavity to flush out excess mucus and debris... Neti pots have been used for centuries in India to help clear the nasal passages before practicing yoga. Flushing with salt water on a daily basis keeps your sinuses nice and moist and gets rid of irritants (and the yuck).

(another You Tube Video below on how to use).

Day 30

Day 30, my Bday AND fighting off a bloody cold. I was feeling so fantastic then it hit - the chest tickle, the cough and head congestion. I've been battling it with eldeberry and lots of lemon juice, agave, cayanne drinks. Sigh this too shall pass. I've taken 2 days off from work - lots of loafing. Not looking forward to going back tomorrow. Feeling more and more like I may need to make a change...

Day 27

I woke up this morning feeling really good. My mood seems to have shifted into positive. Could this be because I finally found those elusive pink grapefruits last night ? Oh happy day! I bought 2 bags and am already through one of them. I love (captial L) pink grapefruit juice and seemingly can not get enough of it.

I "came out" to a few more friends about my Juice Feast this week. My birthday is fast approaching and I've had to explain why I do not want to go out for dinners and or drinks this year. I'm feeling strong enough in my conviction now that I'm not easily swayed by a lack of understanding or negativity. I realize I don't need to justify what I'm doing to anyone and if they don't want to be supportive so be it. On the other hand I've had some incredible support from both my parents who phone long distance and ask daily how things are going :) from some dear close friends and people on the juice feasting site - total strangers who take the time to offer support and encouragement through posts and emails (so valuable to someone like me who is doing this solo in a smaller community with little local support).

So far...
I've released 10lbs - (woohoo - not why I'm doing this but wow how great)
My sinuses are clear both sides (amazing)
My skin is soft and clear
I'm sleeping much more deeply
My creative fire is coming back (what do I mean? - I'm fascinated by colours and shapes, I feel awake and am noticing the beauty in my surroundings)
I feel grateful (not sure how to explain this exactly but, I find I'm saying thank you a lot more and really listening to the messages/insights that are being given to me)
I'm addicted to reading raw food cookbooks/blogs
I've developed super senses (don't laugh it's true!) - smell and hearing
A lot of emotional detox going on but, I think I'm dealing with it well

Grapefruit Super Juice!
4 Pink Grapefruits
2 Cloves Garlic
1tbls of Spirulina

Something that makes me go hmmm

Day 25

Feeling a bit better today - at work and wanting my icepack. I went looking for pink grapefruit last night - I was CRAVING pink grapefruit juice with garlic... 3 stores no grapefruit - almost in tears I went home and thought "why, why, why do I live in this remote place where I can't even find grapefruit when I need it?" then I thought wait a minute "need it? Stop clinging - don't be attached" and I started laughing at myself - how ridiculous to get in such a twist over grapefruit. Sooo Trying to smile at the difficulties that are coming up and realize all the physical and emotional stuff is okay - just observe it for what it is and let it go without analyzing too much.

Things I've noticed...

I'm really sensitive to noise and am craving silence and solitude.

The greens are difficult to get down - wanting sweet more but, noticing after I drink green juice my body feels better than with the fruit juice.

Posting this because it makes me laugh...

Day 24

No yoga for me tonight. :( And no show at the Arts Centre after - poor me. I'm going to be home with an icepack and my grapefruit juice feeling sorry for myself tonight...

Day 23

My stupid, shoulder and back. I barely made it though yoga tonight. Feeling like my body is really letting me down. I am exhausted because I have to lie flat on my back to sleep and work isn't going well :( I've been having strange cooked food cravings - my father told me that the hardest time when he quit smoking was the third week so I'm hoping the food thing is something like that. Hoping the rest of the week goes better.

Todays Juices :
Morning Lemon/msn in quart of warm water
Juice - 3 apples 1tablespoon of Earth Rise Greens blend (1 pint mason jar)
Lunch - salad blend 4 cups salad greens blended with 1/4 cup water strained, 1 handful carrots, 2 cloves garlic, 3 tomatoes, 5 celery spears, 9 radish all juiced and restrained ( 1pint)
Snack - more salad blend but with 3 more apples and 2 handfuls of carrot, 1 inch ginger knuckle
Dinner - 3 grapefruit, 2 oranges, 6 spears of celery 2 tablespoons of Earth Rise Green Blend (1 pint)
Snack Cup of herbal tea 1 tsp of coconut oil

Day 22

Back to work. Mousing with my opposite hand - my neck/shoulder are still aching but it is tolerable. Hoping I'll feel up to doing the wheel at yoga tonight.

I'm back into detox mode. I woke up this am with jungle mouth and had a queezy stomach. I can tell I'm detoxing again/still because I've puffed up a bit and my skin has gone back to splotchy. I keep thinking of what Angela Stokes had to say about feeling like a dirty sponge that is being wrung out filled with water and wrung out again - that is exactly how I'm feeling.

Inspiration...

More inspiration/information from Philip McCluskey who I mentioned in an earlier post. His website is www.lovingraw.com

Day 20 - the winds are changing and I'm adjusting my sails...

A rough day yesterday. I went to the chiropractor because my neck/shoulder have been bothering me for the past 3 days. It turned out the bones at the base of my neck were way out of wack. I talked about it with my chiropractor and she told me this may have been causing the swelling in my neck that I thought was a thyroid problem a few days ago. She suggested I go back to work - tell them I was going home and skip yoga so I could put ice on it and give my body a chance to rest -nooooo! Ordinarily I would have ignored her advice and thought to myself "Suck it up - it's Friday. Just one more day to get through" BUT... something is happening, a shift is taking place mentally as well as physically - I'm changing. I was feeling let down by my body then I realized it was time to adjust my expectations - so I WENT HOME (this is huge for me). I stopped feeling guilty about letting myself or anyone else down and just went with it. I sat on my couch, watched movies and iced my neck. It felt so good just to let myself off the hook.

So day 20 and I'm feeling a little awe stuck at all the subtle changes taking place.



(so strange I just noticed this video is posted on day 24 of the Juice Feast site. I must be in sync - I posted this Saturday...)

The Story Of Stuff

"From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever."

The Story of Stuff

Ahhh

My all time favourite song. I love this remake by Colin James. I went to see him a few months ago - an amazing live show.

Day 17

Day 17 and I'm back to normal. Still not sure what I did to set things off. I'm feeling fairly grounded and starting to notice some physical changes. I've dropped a little weight - I think around 5-7lbs. I seem to be retaining much less water than usual and I'm able to sleep again yay! My skin is still pretty blotchy and dry so I'm taking that as a good sign that I'm still detoxing. I'm starting not to crave fruit juice quite so much and am upping my dark greens daily.

All Praise the Tomatillo!

One of my favourite juice recipes includes tomatilloes (mexican tomatoes).

Liquid Salsa
1 Tomatillo
3 Red Tomatoes
3 Stalks of Celery
2 Cloves of Garlic
Pinch of cayenne
.5 Lime

Day 15

I am worried that my thyroid gland is swollen. I'm trying to track down what I may have done to bring it on - it started Sunday afternoon. I guess it is time for another trip to my doctor to have my levels checked and make sure everything is still in balance.
Juicing is still going well. I picked up some mexican tomatoes and limes yesterday (fantastic) - they give my green juices that little zip I've been looking for.

Goitrogens

There is a class of vegetables that if eaten raw in large quantities (cooking kills the harmful substance) can inhibit thyroid gland functions. A Goitrogen is a substance that prevents the thyroid gland from working correctly by blocking the uptake of idodine. What is a lot? More than 4 cups a week of the following foods in RAW form will interfere with thyroid function. (for juicers that isn't hard to do).

• Brussel Sprouts
• Cabbage (all kinds)
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Peaches
• Pears
• Rapnini
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Radishes (I'm going to read up on this more because I've found several sources that say these are good for regulating the thyroid - and they don't seem to be bothering me)
• Rutabegas
• Turnips

Other foods that can interfere with thyroid function are soybeans, pine nuts, peanuts, millet, rapeseed, and canola oil.

Source:

Natural Health Techniques

Old Wives Home Test to see if you are Iodine Deficient

There is a test you can do at home to see if you are iodine-deficient: Paint a small circle of iodine solution the kind you can get at the drugstore on your skin... inner upper arm, the inside of the elbow, the inner thigh, or the lateral abdomen between the lowest rib and the top of the hip. If you are getting enough iodine, the red mark will stay longer sometimes all day. If it disappears quickly (less than 2-4 hours), your body may be deficient and is absorbing the iodine. The more deficient you are, the more quickly it will disappear.

"Iodized salt hasn't eliminated iodine deficiency disorders in the U.S. Recent studies by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicate low levels in more than 50% of the population (accounting for all demographic categories including ethnicity, region, economic status, race, and population density)."
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/023107.html

Day 13

Day 13 and I'm so grateful for the support of others. Yesterday a fellow feaster suggested that I check out the videos on the juice feasting pay site. I spent a few hours going through day 14 to 16 and was re-inspired. I found the video interview with David Rain and Philip from Lovingraw.com so helpful (day 14 page I think). It turns out the emotions, the insomnia et all are part of the process at this point. As long as I know the emotional rollercoaster & insomnia will pass I can ride it out.

Positive stuff...

• The lightheaded feeling has passed.
• I'm retaining less water

Song today: Many Rivers To Cross Jimmy Cliff

Coconut Oil & Young Coconut Water

There is a buzz on the net about taking coconut oil to cure hypothyroidism. People say that 3 tablespoons a day will alleviate symptoms in as little as 2 to 3 months.

Coconut oil is a saturated fat made up of medium chain fatty acids. Medium chain fatty acids are proven to increase metabolism. Coconut oil can also raise basal body temperatures while increasing metabolism.

BTW I've been drinking young coconut water during my juice feast (delicious!). Rich in Potassium and Electrolytes

Orange Pina Colada (one of my favourite treats)

• 3 large oranges
• Coconut water from one young coconut shaken and poured over ice

But how do you get those suckers open?
I found some great videos on YouTube - I always thought it was a hard thing to do - not so!

Day 12

Day 12 and I'm trying to get past a lot of negative feelings. I've not been sleeping well (I mentioned this already didn't I?) which is leaving me pretty grumpy in the a.m. and so tired by 7:30 p.m. that I'm just going straight to bed after yoga exhausted - which always scares me that I'm having a Hash attack - I know I'm not but, being tired like this always sets off warning bells. My skin is pretty rashy/dry so I'm going to try putting more flax oil into my daily diet and looking for coconut oil so I can alternate between the two. And take some vitamin D drops - must snap out of this funk!

Plow Position - Thyroid Stimulator

My yoga instructor told us the other day that the plow position is one of the best yoga moves a woman can do. It massages the thyroid gland which is situated in the lower part of the neck. This move also alleviates backaches, stress, sinus pain, and headaches

Day 10

I've been feeling a little down/negative the past 2 days despite the fact that some good things have been happening (ie I finally was able to pop up into Wheel last night at yoga!). In addition I've not been sleeping well - I find I keep waking up during the night and am feeling 6:00 a.m. is too early to get out of bed after a restless night.

On the positive side I'm glad I'm into double digits with my feast and feeling much better this afternoon. I went for a colonic today and whew what a HUGE difference it made to my mental state. I walked out of there feeling lighter and more clear headed.

It was suggested to me today that maybe part of my strange state is that it is a full moon today? hmmm...
Wondering how many people will be off balance at yoga tonight?

Radish for Thyroid Regulation

Did you know that Radish are said to be one of the most beneficial vegetables for regulation of the thyroid? Radish contain "Raphanin" (a sulfur) which is responsible for balancing the body's production of thyroxine and calcitonin. With enough radish juice the thyroid won't under or over produce these hormones (good news for people with Hashimotos.)

I'm on day 9 of my juice feast and have been juicing a good number of radish daily. I'm not sure if it is the radish juice or just the fact that I'm giving my body a rest but, I'm feeling pretty stable energy wise.

Global Juice Feast 2009

So I've been on a Juice Feast for 8 days today. Yay me. Many other people around the world are doing this as well and planning to go for 92 days as part of David Rainoshek's "92 Day Global Juice Feast" . The Rainosheks have 2 websites that offer support during this extended feast - one is free and has a large community of members who offer support to one another through advice and shared experiences. The other site is a pay site (a little over $30 a month $36 for us Canadians) and is well worth the money for the wealth of information provided. The pay site gives guidelines, day by day support and inspiration as you go along. I'm finding this to be an invaluable tool in my quest to feast long term.
I'd like to document my progress as I go along so to this end I've resurrected my old neglected blog.

So what happened with the Hash?
The herbs and my enzymes along with a restricted diet (I had allergy testing done and cut out all dairy and wheat) worked. My Western Doctor, Chinese doctor & allergy specialist were amazed at the speed that I went into remission. They all asked me a lot of questions about what I did. Basically in addition to the things listed above I discovered RAW FOOD and juicing. I'm so grateful I met the right people on my path and started asking the right questions. One thing I've discovered through all of this is that you have to take responsibility for your own health. Ask questions, lots of questions and if something doesn't feel right for you keep asking and researching. Demand when you have to and be an annoying pest if no one is taking you seriously.

Rainy Day

I've decided not to go the Western Route as far as treatment for the Hash... I'm going to be taking a herbal preparation that my father's Chinese Doctor will be sending from Saskatoon and have been going to an Allergist/Naturopath she has given me supplements to help kill Candida which she feels is contributing to my health issues and has put me on enzymes that will help me to digest the herbs and my food better...

Song: No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley

Friends

Just gave my blog url out to another friend. Wondering how many people are actually coming here and peeping into my life. Reminds me that this thing is “out there” - how strange.

I found this at the mayo clinic site on Hashimotos which is what they’ve FINALLY diagnosed me with - so grateful to my TCM who believed me and pushed to have more thyroid testing done by my Western Doctor.

I’m almost relieved that they have finally given what is going on with me a name. It has taken so long just to get anyone to believe that something isn’t right...

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hashimotos-disease/DS00567/DSECTION=symptoms
Symptoms

Hashimoto’s disease does not have unique signs and symptoms. The disease typically progresses slowly over a number of years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending on the severity of hormone deficiency. At first, you may barely notice any symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as the disease progresses, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

* Fatigue and sluggishness
* Increased sensitivity to cold
* Constipation
* Pale, dry skin
* A puffy face
* Hoarse voice
* An elevated blood cholesterol level
* Unexplained weight gain - occurring infrequently and rarely more than 10 to 20 pounds, most of which is fluid
* Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness, especially in your shoulders and hips
* Pain and stiffness in your joints and swelling in your knees or the small joints in your hands and feet
* Muscle weakness, especially in your lower extremities
* Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
* Depression

Without treatment, signs and symptoms gradually become more severe and your thyroid gland may become enlarged (goiter). In addition, you may become more forgetful, your thought processes may slow, or you may feel depressed.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you’re feeling tired for no apparent reason or have any other signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as dry skin, a pale, puffy face, constipation or a hoarse voice.

You’ll also need to see your doctor for periodic testing of your thyroid function if you’ve had previous thyroid surgery, treatment with radioactive iodine or anti-thyroid medications, or radiation therapy to your head, neck or upper chest.

If you have high blood cholesterol, talk to your doctor about whether hypothyroidism may be a cause. And if you’re receiving hormone therapy for hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s disease, schedule follow-up visits as often as your doctor recommends. Initially, it’s important to make sure you’re receiving the correct dose of medicine. And over time, the dose you need to adequately replace your thyroid function may change.


Song: Blinded By Rainbows - Rolling Stones

Weekend

Song Today is... Sunday Mornings - Maroon 5

So grateful the work week is over. I didn't think I could drag myself through even one more hour. It is so freaking slow . I booked a facial and a hair cut on Friday to reward myself for making it through the week. So now I will sleep watch movies and sleep. If I can sleep... we shall see. Also may read many magazines and thumb through my chakra book - I really do need to win the lotto so I can be a laze about 7 days a week. BTW turns out that jumpy feeling might just be an over active thyroid hmm....

Winds of Change

There is a change in the wind. I can feel it. I have that jumpy excited feeling that is rarely wrong.

Another sluggish day

So it hits me today. Wait a minute - perhaps I don't feel well and that is why I'm being a laze-about. I really must learn to back off myself.

Song of the day - I feel pretty

Here we go again

Song of the day: Mama Mia - Abba

So it is a long weekend and here I sit seemingly unable to motivate myself to do anything. Warm and sunny outside and I spent the whole day yesterday surfing the internet and doing laundry. I keep reminding myself there will be plenty of couching time when winter hits but to no avail. I had cranial secral therapy last week and have been feeling wonky ever since - leading me to believe that my energy levels/chakras whatever must be blocked or out of balance.
Sooo did a chakra test and am yogaing like a fiend again to try and fix things.
www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/chakratest.php

Am I bothered?

Discovered Catherine Tate today thanks to Lainey. Laugh out loud at work funny. I believe I may have even snorted... Worth checking out on You Tube.

I'm back

Song O' the day: New Shoes by Paolo Nutini
Amazed that my blog is still in existance...
For anyone who doesn't know what I've been up to over the past year and a half here is the low down (and may I ask if you don't know what I've been up to where the heck have you been?)

• Quit my job
• Learned to sail and met some wonderful people.
• Learned to cook on a gimbled stove
• Discovered that Jimmy Buffet is a great writer, on to something with his philosophies on life & found out what a parrot head is.
• Fell in love with Mexican art
• Faced the fact that I had to walk away from Neverland in search of something more.
• Rediscovered Yoga in the prairies
• Lived in a motorhome for 6 months (was it that long?) & found I liked the freedom of not having to worry about "things"
• Spent quality time with Levi.
• Went back to design work in a place where they like and respect me (imagine that?)

And that about brings us up to the present.

Facebook

I can't stop looking at my facebook page. Who has sent me a drink. Who has responded to my oh so clever questions

I can't believe this thing is still here

Thanks Guys

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."

Thanks - all of you!

Yikes!

I resigned today. Effective September 30th. Freaking out a wee bit. Not sure what I'm going to do next - hoping everything will work out okay. Still trying to decide what the next best move is - do I leave the territory or not? Do I go sailing or no?

Teeth

I had to go to the dentist this morning so am now enjoying that newly cleaned tooth feeling for the low low price of $210. I've been told I have 3 "surface" soft spots and one that probably has a cavity underneath a pinhole- what does that mean? I made the appointment to have the first 2 filled but am reconsidering as to fill all for would be in the $580 range. I'm going to decide on Wednesday - if my 649 ticket is a winner I'll fill them if no I'll wait.

Molly J

My friend and old roomie Molly J is in town couch surfing this Thursday. Quirky, funny, smart - Molly J. Amusing myself by shopping sailing sites on the internet and checking out photos of boats... sigh.... Is it 5 yet?

Sail Away...

I've been invited on a sailing trip... Do I chuck it all and go?

Escape.....

It has been months and months. All hell broke loose at work in early March. I've been trying to recover ever since. Too much work - not enough money. Wondering if I want to be a graphic designer after all. I keep fantasizing about running away and starting over. Dublin? Back to the Island?

Bad Blogger....

You would think I have a life. I haven't posted anything in over two weeks. I blame CSI Miami. I bought the box set and am totally hooked - I've been doing nothing else in my spare time. But now, thank God, I've seen the whole second season and can go on with my life (well until I get the First Season...).

Joni sent me an interesting email yesterday with all sorts of home remedies attached I'm posting them here because I'm lazy and have nothing much to say. Unless you want to hear all about the CSI - which I'm sure you don't....

>DID YOU KNOW THAT
Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost>>immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by >>traditional>>"pain relievers."
Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for>>burns?
Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled >>with>>mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong >>Altoid>>Peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose
Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of >>Horseradish in>>a cup of Olive Oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply >>it as>>a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles
Sore Throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey >>and take>>1 tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria
Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve >>two>>tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the >>symptoms.>>Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost>>instantly -- even though the product has never been advertised for >>this>>use
Eliminate puffiness under your eyes..... All you need is a dab of>>Preparation H, CAREFULLY rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. >>The>>hemorrhoid ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the >>swelling>>instantly.>> >>> >
Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab >>of>>honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps >>the>>skin sterile and speeds healing. Works overnight
Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly >>toenail>>fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful>>antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.>>
Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses >>from>>loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail >>Polish to>>the threads of the screws before tightening them.
Coca-Cola Cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers.>>Saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust >>stain. The>>phosphoric acid in the Coke is what gets the job done
Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer.... If menacing bees, >>wasps,>>hornets or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the>>insecticide (or even if you CAN), try a spritz of Formula 409. >>Insects>>drop to the ground instantly.
Smart splinter remover... pour a drop of Elmer's Glue over the>>splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The >>splinter>>sticks to the dried glue.
Hunt's Tomato Paste Boil Cure... cover the boil with Hunt's >>tomato>>paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothes the pain >>and>>brings the boil to a head.>> >>> >
Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on >>a few>>drops of Listerine... a powerful antiseptic
Heinz Vinegar To heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white >>vinegar>>and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the >>blueness>>and speeds up the healing process
Kill fleas instantly. Dawn Dish Washing Liquid does the trick. >>Add a>>few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. >>Rinse>>well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas!
Rainy day cure for dog odor.. Next time your dog comes in from >>the>>rain, wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, >>instantly>>making your dog smell springtime fresh
Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn >>Oil>>in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. >>Repeat>>once daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the>>mites, and accelerates healing
Vaseline cure for hair balls...... To prevent troublesome hair >>balls,>>apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. >>Kitty>>will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it >>can>>pass easily through the digestive system
Quaker Oats for fast pain relief.... It's not for breakfast >>anymore!>> >Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm >>in the>>microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly and apply the mixture to your>>hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain

Melting

The snow is melting! The snow is melting! Yahoo!!
Have gotten into the bad habit of not taking a lunch at work - a wee bit swamped lately. I keep working through till the end of the day. My left eye has developed a very attractive twitch.. Must hit the gym - I feel like a blob of bone and flabby flesh (another attractive image for you) - where are all the muscles I worked so hard to build? It took me years to get them and only a month for them to go away? They must be hiding under my winter coat...
So decided to "scrapbook" my travel photos - OH MY GOD! I HATE scrapbooking. In an attempt to amuse myself I ended up doing at home what I do at work all day no no no. Being me I had to finish it - I won't be winning any prizes - I'm totally unwilling to spend money on supplies. They have things called "stackers" - little pieces of paper to put behind your photos $11.00 for a little pad of multi coloured paper - what is with that? Seems that all my married Mommy friends are well aware of all the ins and outs of scrapbooking as well as where to hook me up with someone who can sell me the "best" scrapbooking supplies. Is scrapbooking the new tupperware?

Song O'the day - "Why?" - Annie Lennox

What to do?

Feeling much more peppy lately. I went to Sue Mae (my TCM doctor) complaining of the winter blahs - no energy, feeling blue. I'm convinced what she's given me are the key to peppiness (with none of the caffine jitters) - I've been an organizing machine - my taxes are even ready to go once I have my t4s from Leaf and Integraphics. Okay truthfully wondering if I'm a little manic (I've been labeling spice jars - is that wierd?).

Song o'the day
Many Rivers To Cross - Cliff Richards