LIQUID SUNSHINE

2011-05-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Justin!

You did it!

Love you always,

Mom

Let's Play Catch Up........

2010-10-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I've certainly been a lame blogger for a good while now. I've been keeping pretty busy though. Got lots of logs on the fire, so to speak. Here's a little catch up:

I've dusted off the Viking and started sewing again. Feels good to get creative again!

We brought Hooping to our hood. It's fun to see the kids having a great time!

Meet Lucy Rose! The newest edition to our zoo, I mean, family.

I was suprised to discover that my carrots DID grow! YEA!

Enjoyed a beautiful Fall day with my family at Sawyer Point, Cincinnati on the River. We love to rent these bikes and wreak havoc on the river walk. The kids love to drive but it can get pretty hairy. I'm not looking forward to putting them on the road in a real car. YIKES!

Went to the Kentucky Guild Artisan Craft Show in Berea, Ky. The highlight of the day for me was when a sweet lady named Sylvia, taught me how to spin wool roving into yarn on her old fashion spinning wheel. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time. I love it so much that I am taking a begininng spinning class at The Woolery in Frankfort next weekend. Can't wait!

Spent the day at Kinman Farms just down the road from us. Here's a few more pics from there:

I added some things to my ETSY store. Hope to add a lot more after Halloween. I'll be back with a spinning update. Wish me Luck!

Happy Halloween!

Christy

Desperately Seeking Simplicity

2010-09-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

"Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves." ~ Edwin Way Teale

I admit it. I have too much stuff. WAY. TOO. MUCH. I have been wanting to "clean out" stuff for awhile now but I just get over-whelmed and nothing gets done. The goal in my mind is to get rid of at least 1/2 of all our stuff. We are 7 people under one roof, so that's a lot. I feel like I'm at a critical point with this right now (it's all I think about). This isn't just about getting rid of stuff, it's about getting my creativity back, getting more time in my life for the important things, not being a super-consumer, and I could go on and on.

I have been stewing over this all summer and now I am finally ready to take action. Baby steps. One drawer at a time. A little something everyday.

I have been inspired by Sara and Tara. I love how they don't seem to be attached to things and live a life of freedom.I want that too.

I have had to take a step back recently and do some re-evaluating of my life. I have had a bit of restlessness inside of me that I just couldn't ignore. I just turned 39 and I guess, maybe, I realize that this is the beginning of the second half of my life. How do I want to live this second half? The first half has been good and I like to think I have learned a lot. What am I going to do with the things I've learned? I know what's important to me and I want to focus on those things. I need to simplify, find balance, 100% completely live my values, take care of myself so that I can be the best person I can be, and continue to be a student of life and never give up trying new things.

So, the first thing I'm doing is getting rid of stuff. If you saw my home, you wouldn't think I had too terribly much stuff, but I'm good at putting it all away. It is pretty organized but I just don't use sooo much of it. I also find it hard to get rid of stuff. You know? I may need it one day.:) But, I'm putting it out there. I need accountability. I can do this and I've already started.

I'm really going to be focusing on this journey that I'm on to simplify, find balance, and get my creativity back. The good news for me is that my husband is on board. We agree on just about everything and this is definitely OUR journey. I'll keep you updated on our progress. Words of encouragement are appreciated!

Wish Me Luck!
Christy

Summer Fun- 2

2010-08-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here are a few family shots from this summer. We had fun going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We also did an insane amount of hooping, going to parks, skate boarding, EATING, and swimming. We also watched the first series of Fringe (loveit!) and watched the first 3 series of Supernatural (love it even more!). I've also been doing a LOT of thinking about things, my life in general and I'll be blogging about that soon. I hope you had a great summer as well!

Bring on the fall!

Christy

Hooping Banned in Vegas.........SAY WHAT?

2010-08-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

I just read an article about hula hooping and juggling being banned in Las Vegas. Really? Prostitution is legal yet they want to make hooping on the street illegal. Go figure! Here is the link to the article.

Summer Fun

2010-06-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer! It's hard for me to blog during the summer because we get busy with activities and trips but I do love the rhythm of summertime. Here is what we've done so far:

Meet Mr. Bean. He is the newest member of our household. He's very sweet and is only good for sitting in your lap. And No, it's not a rat.

We went to Louisiana to see family. What a scorcher! The kids enjoyed going to my brothers and seeing his animals.

Gunnar loved getting to ride on the motorcycle with my brother.

This is Joey and Kelly's chickens. I want some!!

Molly and Me. This horse is a sweetie!

The girls having some silly swim time.

Molly, Gunnar, and my niece, Chloe, hooping it up! We finally learned how to make our own hula hoops. I've probably made twenty by now. We are obsessed!

Me and my Amazing grandmama. She is awesome! 85 and still works as an RN every weekend.

My honey and me.

Here is a little shot of my garden taken about a month ago. It's overflowing now. :) We are making our own delicious, organic salads almost everyday. I love it!

We are getting ready to head to the Justin Bieber concert tonight. My daughter is making a fabulous, glittery poster as we speak. We have our Bieber t-shirts ready. It should be fun. :)

In a couple of weeks we will be headed to the beach. Can't wait for that! I always bring my blender and we make fresh green smoothies and veggie juice. (just a little tip to keep you healthy when you travel!)

Take advantage of your local farmer's market, get your daily exercise, and stay safe!

Talk to ya soon!

Christy

Let's Get The Party Started-Step 3

2010-05-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

Okay. Now that you have gotten rid of the things we talked about back in step 1 and filled up your fridge and pantry with things from step 2, we are ready for the fun part! Let's get to eatin'.......

This step is really quite simple. The first thing you should do is learn how to make a mean salad. Not a wimpy salad. A MEAN salad. Start with fresh organic greens. Then add whatever you want to it. Fresh veggies, raw nuts and seeds, sundried tomatoes, spices (if you like), herbs (the more the better), and whatever other fresh raw food that tickles your fancy. :) You then finish it off with a fresh homemade dressing. Dressing can easily be made by mixing olive oil and lemon juice, and a bit of raw honey. You can get creative here too. Only a small amount is needed. Let it enhance the flavors of the food not cover it up.
Play with your food. Have fun! Make you own recipes. Eat a big salad everyday. Pretty soon your day won't be complete without one.;)

The next part of this step is making a green juice or green smoothie everyday. This is a great way to get a powerful shot of vitamins and minerals. I call it nutritional medicine. Once you try it, you'll see why. After the first drink you can literally feel your cells soaking up this green medicine. You will feel so nourshished and alive! This step is a MUST. Please don't leave it out. I consider it one of the best things you can do for your body, mind, and spirit.

To make a green juice, you will need a juicer.( If you don't have one, I will tell you how to make a juice with a blender next.) Just gather a bunch of veggies and thoroughly wash them. I use celery, cucumber, parsley, cilantro, lemon, and ginger. I love this combo because it is so hydrating and the parsley and cilantro are natural blood cleansers. If this is too sour you can add carrots, apples or beets. I encourage you to play with this too. You'll find a combination you love. Also, try to mix it up so you are getting different nutrients in your body. Drink this on an empty stomach and allow fifteen minutes to digest before eating anything.

To make green smoothies, you will need a blender ( preferably a high-powered blender such as vitamix or blend-tec. if not, just work with what you have). First I add 1 -2 cups of filtered water to my blender. Then I add a larger handful of greens (spinach, kale, parsley, or cilantro) for these I prefer spinach or kale. Blend. Blend. Blend. Next add fruit. I prefer pineapple and banana. But you can add what YOU like. Once again, play with it. My kids like these because they are fruity. You really can't taste the green so it's a great way to get greens into the little ones.:)

If you only have a blender, you can still make juice. Purchase a nut milk bag online or go to a hardware store and get a paint bag (same thing). Blend your veggies in the blender (see juicing paragraph above). Then pour into the nut milk bag and collect the juice. You can throw away the pulp or use it in other raw recipes (I'll show you how soon!). Easy peasy!

So you are now well on your way down the raw path. Incorporate daily a large, loaded salad, a green juice or green smoothie (or both :) ). Snack on whole fruits and veggies, raw nuts and seeds. Dinnertime could be another raw meal or a cooked meal of whole foods ( this is what I do because I prefer to eat with my family and they are not totally raw).

From here on out, I will be posting recipes for raw gourmet foods, raw desserts, green juices and green smoothies ( along with little tidbits about my other interests!). I would love to hear how you are doing!

Light and Love,
Christy

Healing Touch

2010-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend was amazing! I was fortunate to get to attend a Healing Touch level 1 workshop. I have been waiting to do this for quite a while now and everything about this weekend exceeded my expectations. I learned so much information in just two days that I had to rest my brain today. :) I want to soak it all in.

If you don't know what Healing Touch is then let me tell you about it. The definition in my handbook is : Healing Touch is an energy-based therapy in which practioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to enhance, support and facilitate the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health, and self-healing. Healing Touch utilizes light or near-body touch to clear, balance and energize the human energy system to promote healing for mind, body, and spirit.

The goal of Healing Touch therapy is to restore harmony and balance in the energy system, placing the client in a position to self-heal.

I learned about the Chakras (energy centers in the body). I learned how to center myself so that I bring peace and harmony to whomever I help. I learned what another persons energy feels like. And YES you can absolutely feel it. So.Freaking. Awesome.

We worked on each other and believe me I have a lot more work to do on myself but I now have the tools to do this. I am now able to help my family by helping to balance their energy. I have to say they all really enjoy it. The kids laugh and giggle at first but by the end they are in LaLa land. :)

I have always been a big proponent of self-care, natural health, herbalism, good nutrition, etc..... Now I feel even more empowered to take care of myself and others in a more wholistic way. I don't shun conventional medicine. I do see the value in it but we don't need a pill or a doctor for EVERYTHING. Do we? Given the right conditions and environment, the body is an amazing instrument that can do miracles if given the chance.

I'd like to give a big thank-you to the instructor, Daniel Snyder. He has been a Healing Touch practioner for about 10 years and he really know his stuff. He made the class fun and interesting and he presented the information in a way that it was easily understood. I also met a great bunch of ladies. We had a great time together laughing and sharing.

I can't for the Level 2 workshop in October. My goal is to become a Certified Healing Touch Practioner. I have to complete 5 levels of certification first. But I am already considered an Energy Healer. That means a lot to me. :)

If this sounds like something you would be interested in then check here for a workshop near you. You will love it!

Peace and Harmony,
Christy

First Fruits

2010-05-14T19:54:00.000-07:00

What do you do with your first beautiful, red , ripe strawberries?

Well, ..................

Of course, you pick it. Then .........

You admire it. And finally, ...........

You eat it!

YUMMY!

(this was just a little strawberry plant that we recently transplanted. we have MANY more! strawberries galore! i am anxious to show you pictures of my garden. so much goodness!)

Hope your weekend is SWEET!

Christy

Let's Go Shopping! - Step 2

2010-05-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

So now you have your refrigerator and pantry cleaned out. We need to get all the foods necessary to ensure success. Having these items on hand will make it easy for you to whip up a healthy meal quickly. Being prepared is key! So shall we get to shopping? Come on!

(**If you are just now following you may want to go to step 1 here.)

*It goes without saying that FRUITS and VEGGIES should be at the top of your list. And lots of them! Purchase as much as you can eat without it going bad ( we don't want them to go to waste!).

*Next on the list is raw nuts and seeds. You may need to go to your local health food store for these. Keep stored in the fridge to keep them from going rancid. Try these: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, hemp seed, flax seed, pumpkin seed, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds.

*Seaweeds-Dulse, Nori (black), Wakame

*Condiments-Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Nama Shoyu, Cold-pressed Olive Oil, Sea Salt, stone-ground mustard

*Nut & Seed Butters-Almond butter, cashew butter, cacao butter, coconut oil (unrefined), tahini

*Spices- have a large variety. Indian spices are great!

*Dried Fruits- pineapple, mango, raisins, cherries,coconut, goji berries, carob powder

*Raw Honey makes a great sweetener.Stevia works good too.

* Misc. Items-great to have but not 100% necessary: raw cacao, vanilla bean (expensive), superfood powders such as spirulina, hemp powder, lucuma, maca, mesquite, green powder

*raw olives and sundried tomatoes are great too!

For me, the best foods to have lots of daily are my greens. Spinach, kale, cilantro, parsley, etc.... These will alkalize and balance your body. You can juice these, make green smoothies, and eat big salads. There are many ways to take these in. It's like getting a big dose of sunshine!

All the items above are the main items needed to go 100% raw. If your goal is to go high raw (at least 60-80%) then these item are needed but also the cooked foods you eat should be healthy and whole. Have lots of ancient grains on hand such as amaranth, millet, and quinoa. Whole grain brown rice. Raw milk, raw cheese, and raw butter are great if you can get them (see realmilk.com for farms close to you). Organic, free-range eggs. Just make sure you eliminate the foods we had listed in step 1. If you eat meat, then make sure it is organic, or hormone and antibiotic free, and limit your intake.

Step three, we will discuss equipment needed or that is helpful but not necessary. Plus, we will start on our green juices and green smoothies. Yummy!

Get stocked up and begin to incorporate as much fruits and veggies into your diet that you can. The more the better!

Cheers!

Christy

Dandelions-Good For You??

2010-05-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Head over to the Green Smoothie Queen blog and read my article on Dandelions!

Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!

Hugs,

Christy

Going Raw and Getting Healthy- Step 1

2010-05-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

Want to start on the raw food diet but don't know where to start? I know how confusing it can be to embark on the "raw" journey. You hear of people going 100% raw overnight, never to look back. This is not how it is for most of us though. For me it was more like one step forward, two steps back. I already ate pretty healthy but I just wanted to step up my game, do some detoxing, and have more energy. It's actually easier than you think, you just need to take it a step at a time. I am going to do a little series on my blog to break down the process step by step. Through trial and error, I have found this to be the easiest way to incorporate healthier foods into my life. ( full disclosure: I am not 100% raw although I hover around 75%. I feel it is better to have healthy whole foods (cooked or not) when feeding a family of 7. This is what works for me and I encourage you to find what works for you. It is not all or nothing!Make it fun!)

Step 1 is food (so-called) you should completely eliminate from your diet. You will increase your health immensely just by eliminating these substances!

1. sugar, (this one is tough! ) replace your white stuff with stevia or raw honey if you have to have a sweetner.
2. flour products
3. fast foods
4. processed foods (any packaged food)
5. artificial sweetners/chemicals
6. alcohol
7. caffeine
8. gluten (if you feel you have an allergy)
9. dairy and eggs if you feel you have an allergy ( we drink raw milk in our home)
10.meat (especially if you can't get organic, hormone, antibiotic free. if you don't want to give it up completely then at least keep it to a minimum)
11. refined oils and hydrogenated fats (cold-pressed olive oil is best)

*If you are unsure about the allergies to dairy, eggs and gluten, then eliminate them for two weeks then slowly add them back in individually and see how your body reacts.

Use the rest of this week to get your fridge and pantry cleaned out of all these items because the next step is to go shopping for the right foods.

My hope is that this will help you get healthy or at least thinking about it. Eventually action is necessary and I want to show you how easy this lifestyle can be. 100% raw is not necessary to be healthy but the more raw fruits and veggies you can eat, the better. You will love the way you look and feel! Commit to your health, you deserve it!

Blessings,
Christy

What Makes You Happy?

2010-05-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm back to send some positive energy your way, especially after my last post. Every once in a while I just have to vent. Then it's all good again. Luckily, there are many more things that make me happy than annoy me. So, here are a few:

1. Being married to my best friend.

2. Being the mom of five amazing children.

3. Homeschooling/unschooling 3 of those children.

4. Warm, sunny weather.

5. Planting a garden and watching it grow (pictures to come soon!).

6. Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables.

7. Green Juice and green smoothies.

8. Soothing, healing herbal teas.

9. Running and pumping iron.

10. Getting the house clean.

11. Finishing laundry!

12. Traveling to new places.

13. Reading

14. The internet.

15. Creating new natural perfume scents for my store.

16. Getting rid of clutter!

17. Bookstores and libraries.

18. Creating healthy, raw dishes.

19. Being in nature.

20. Learning about plants and there medicinal uses.

21. Seeing my children learn new things.

22. Seeing my husband learn new things.

23. Amazon.com (please quit tempting me so much!).

24. Reading the blogs of some inspiring women!

25. Sewing.

26. Thrifting.

27. Making waldorf dolls.

28. Sculpting clay art dolls.

29. Making jewelry.

30. Listening to great music.

31. Jumping on the trampoline with my kiddos.

32. Learning things from my kids.

33. Rollar skating with the kids.

34. Learning photography ( could use some help in this department).

Okay, Please, somebody stop me! See, I have so many things that make me happy and I 'm grateful for every last one of them. I could go on but I'm sure we all have things to do. Maybe this post has got you thinking about the things that make you happy. I hope your list is as long or even longer than mine!

Blessings,
Christy

What Annoys you?

2010-04-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

I don't like to be a negative Nelly but........ Maybe if I vent a little about the things that annoy me then I can get over it. Maybe not.

1. Pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides on our food and yards.

2. The public school system with its indoctrinations and its slow but certain killing of the desire and love to learn.

3. The government.

4. People who think their way is the ONLY way.

5. Laundry.

6. Nosy, gossipy neighbors.

7. Door to door solicitors.

8. Bratty kids. (see #6).clarification: I should say mean kids.

9. Clutter.

10. Organized religion and its million+ dollars churches. (I do love Jesus, though!)

11. Negative people (I'm definitely annoying myself today!:)).

12. 5 days in a row of rain and clouds. Where are you Mr. Sun?

13. The high price of healthy food.

14. The cheap price of food that kills.

15. close-mindedness.

16. Telephone solicitors- Especially you, True Green! No, I don't want you to poison my yard! and Yes, I really do eat my weeds! (see #1).

17. Stepping in dog poo.

18. The fact that it is illegal to sale Raw Milk in most states. ( see #3)

19. The drugging of America. ( see#3 and #4 and #15)

20. Did I mention nosy neighbors?

Okay, so enough with this sour post. I will return in a few day to list the things that make me happy. There are many more things for that list! Have a great day!

Christy

To Dread or Not To Dread.........

2010-04-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

That is the question. I have been admiring the dreads on the heads of several amazing ladies in the blogosphere. I love the look of dreadlocks. I love the idea of not having to worry so much about my hair. And Amazingly, my husband thinks I would look kinda sexy with them (good answer, baby!).

So what's stopping me you ask? Fear, of course. What if I don't like them? What if they don't look good on me? Will people judge me? What will my mom say? Why do I care?

I'm at about 75% of yes. So I'm very close to committing. My 15 year old daughter, Sierra, will do them for me. I prefer the look of crotcheted dreads. I think they look a little more polished, less bed-headish, ya know? She is going to watch a youtube video on how to do the crotchet method. I just need to work on raising my confidence level a wee bit. Because sister, you gotta have confidence to carry this look!

What do you think? Are you a fan of dreads like me? Share your thoughts.:) Check out this Dreaded Mama Pool on Flickr.
.

Blessings,
Christy

Coming Home Again

2010-04-10T06:20:00.000-07:00

My oldest son, Justin, came back home Wednesday. He went to live with my mom and dad last August. He's a good boy but is trying to figure himself out. Figure life out. He did pretty good there and was given everything he needed. My parents really outdid themselves by spending time with him and trying everything they knew to help him out and just show him love. It was fun for him for a while but ultimately, he missed home. Home with his family. Mom and Dad. Brother and sisters. Friends.

He's back in school. He had a great first day. He said he had missed his school alot and his old friends. Everyone was happy to see him too. His brother and sisters were happy to have there big brother back. They look up to him so I hope he will be a good role model to them.

Life can be confusing but it IS what you make it. This is what he needs to figure out for himself. Family and relationships are the things that matter most.

I'm happy to have my son back home. Having him at the young age of 20 really changed my life.Changed it for the better. It seems like just yesterday that he was my little baby. Time truly flies by. I don't want to spend anymore time apart from him. He will be off on his own soon enough. Even so, this will always be his home.

I always pray for all my children's safety and happiness. My heart is over-flowing with love and peace to have our family whole again.

Have a beautiful weekend and enjoy your family!

Christy

Have a Happy Easter Weekend!

2010-04-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a great song with you. Hope you enjoyed it!

Have a Happy Weekend!
Christy

Do YOU Have PMS?

2010-04-01T08:10:00.000-07:00

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) (also called PMT or premenstrual tension) is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle. While most women of child-bearing age (up to 85%) report having experienced physical symptoms related to normal ovulatory function, such as bloating or breast tenderness, medical definitions of PMS are limited to a consistent pattern of emotional and physical symptoms occurring only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle that are of "sufficient severity to interfere with some aspects of life".[1] These symptoms are usually predictable and occur regularly during the ten days prior to menses. Generally, symptoms may vanish either shortly before or after the start of menstrual flow. ~Wikipedia

I took my daughter to see The Last Song yesterday. There was a part in the movie where Miley's character is being moody and little nasty to her father who is sitting with her little brother. The brother (about10 years old) says, "She must have PMS." The father smiles and looks at his son and says, "Do you know what that means?" The boy says,"Dad, of course, I'm not a little kid anymore. It means, pissed at men syndrome." Well, I don't have to tell you that there was a movie theatre full of laughs.:)

It got me thinking this morning about my own issues with PMS. I can be a bear when it comes to that time of the month. I especially get the bloating and moodiness. I also want to eat ALL day long. I'm going to do a little experiment this month and try some herbal remedies. Plus, maybe three days before I start, I will do a green smoothie fast. To me, greens are the ultimate superfood (that's a post for another day!).

Here are some of the herbal remedies I found:

1. Chasteberry ( vitex agnus-castus)- These small fruits have been used for menstrual disorders since the Greco-Roman times. Researchers have found that chasteberry helps relieve PMS because of its effect on female sex hormones. During a woman's monthly cycle, it increases the production of lutenizing hormon and inhibits the release of follicle-stimulating hormone. This leads to a shift in the estrogen-progesterone ratio, resulting in less estrogen to cause or aggravate PMS. The only caveat is women who have PMS with depression should steer clear of chasteberry.Some studies show that pms with depression is caused by excess progesterone, and chasteberry is said to raise progesterone levels.

2. Chinese Angelica (dang-quai)- used primarily in chinese medicine as a womens tonic for PMS and menstrual cramps.(do not use if you are pregnant)

3. Evening primrose oil- This has been used for centuries by the American Indian women for premenstrual and menstrual complaints. They take it in by chewing the seeds.

This is also apporved in Great Britain as a treatment for PMS.

3. Sting Nettles (urtica dioica)- This is a known liver tonic. It is recommended for flushing out the liver of all its toxins. When the liver is sluggish it processes estrogen slowly, contributing to high levels of estrogen in the body. This causes or aggravates PMS symptoms. Nettle Tea is also known to reduce bloating and breast tenderness.

4. Burdock (Arctium lappa)- burbock is also a liver tonic and mild diuretic. It helps to alleviate the symptoms of PMS.

5. Raspberry-this herb is best known as a pregnancy tonic that quiets an irritable uterus. But it has been used to treat PMS wih success.

6. Skullcap and Valerian- Both of these herbs are sedative/tranquilizers that help relieve nervous tension and irritability of PMS.

So these are a few herbs to work with for relieving PMS. I was happy to find that I have five of these in my herbals stash already. All of these herbs are available at your local Health Store. It's so easy to take these herbs and make a tea or a tincture. I'm actually looking forward to putting these herbs to good use ths month. Let me know if try any of these remedies. I love the feeling of taking my health in my own hands. Knowledge is power!

Have a beautiful day!

Christy

2010-03-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I went to see Taylor Swift this past Sunday. If you've not had fun in while or have maybe forgotten how to have fun then you should go to a concert with a 13 year old. My daughter Molly was having a blast singing and dancing. Not a drop of self-consciousness in her body. We had floor seats, so we got within 3 feet of her when she hopped on a stage right next to us. Molly said she was looking right at her as she sang.

This will be a moment in time with my daughter that I will never forget.

Beautiful memories.

Blessing,

Christy

Strong Women

2010-03-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

I hope that many women have been enjoying the WISH Summit these past ten days. I know that I have. The hard part has been trying to decide who to listen to. This morning I decided to go back through the speakers and Mimi Kirk was just calling to me. So, I just finished listening to her interview and feel inspired to write about her here..........

Mimi is just an amazing woman! So beautiful and positive. I could listen to her speak for hours. I heard about her last year when she won PETA's contest for sexiest vegetarian over 50. Folks, she is 71. Can you believe it? She has been a vegetarian for 40 years and a raw foodist for 2 years. Her story just inspires me to no end. Not only is Mimi beautiful on the outside, she radiates happiness and positivity from the inside. To me, she exemplifies the power of womanhood.

When I listened to the Raw Mom Summit last year, the woman that spoke to me and inspired me was Susun Weed. This year, Mimi Kirk. I really look up to these older women who have lived life and learned important lessons. I'm so grateful that they share their knowledge with all of us women.

My grandmother is another inspiration to me. She took care of me when I was a moody teenager that was somewhat lost in the world. She showed me kindness and unconditional love that I'll never be able to thank her enough for. She is probably the strongest woman I know. Her life hasn't been easy but she always made the best of everything and always has shown so much love to her family. I love her so much.

It's a shame we live in a society that doesn't value age. As a nurse, I've worked closely with older people in the nursing home. Honestly, these are places to put our elders until they die. So many are forgotten. Saying that it is sad is an extreme understatement. In a perfect world ( to me), we would grow older but remain highly functional and mentally stable. Our elders would help the family and be independent and we would help them and respect them, and value their opinion and advice. If we ate properly, exercised regularly and stayed off of pharmacueticals as much as possible, I feel this could happen as we age.

I came away from the summit so ready for whatever comes my way. It gave me the inspiration and the boost that I needed to get on with the rest of the year. I took the time to reflect on the information and thought about how I wanted to apply it to my life.

There were so many wonderful women that were interviewed for the WISH Summit. I hope that if you weren't able to hear them all, you will get access the calls now. I see that Tera is offering different payment options so that everyone has an opportunity to have access.

Thanks to Tera and Shakaya for putting this together. I hope they realize what a blessing they have been to many women in the raw community and beyond. I look forward to next year's summit and until then, I encourage all women to seek out strong women mentors to help guide them through this life. Don't forget to be a mentor to someone else when the opportunity presents itself.

Blessings,
Christy

Wish Summit

2010-03-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

The fabulous ladies over at RawDiva.com, Tera Warner and Shannon Leone, have done it again! They have put together a group of amazing speakers that will be available for you to hear for FREE for ten days starting March 8. Make sure you go here and get signed up ASAP. This is something you won't want to miss. I know that it will be a transformative experience. Now scoot!

My New Baby

2010-02-26T07:53:00.000-08:00

Well, it's not what you think. My new baby that I speak of is a camera, a Canon T1i/500D to be exact. I love it! It's beautiful. It's amazing. Oh! the possiblities! There is only one small problemo. I have not the faintest idea how to use it. I mean, I can certainly get great pics with auto-focus but that's not why I got it. I want to really learn how to use all the ins and out of an DSLR (what does that stand for?). It has been a long time dream of mine to be able to take beautiful pictures. My husband, Mr. Hottie, likes to make my dreams come true so he purchased this lovely camera for muah. So, I owe it to him, myself, my children, and my Etsy store to get busy learning.

To get started, I ordered a DVD and book to learn the basics. I pray that I won't get too frustrated in this process. Patience is not my strong point. Prayers and positive energy sent my way would be much appreciated! I hope to upload some pics soon to show my progress. Wish me Luck!

Blessings,
Christy

The Best Year Ever

2010-01-18T20:36:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have been well! I've been a busy bee since the new year began. I have many new things in the works for 2010. So much, in fact, that it's hard to know which to blog about.

I've been feeling so creative lately. I want to amp up my shop a little and add in some of my doll sculptures, and bring back my Market Slouch Bags, while also creating some new skincare and perfume. Not at one time, of course, but throughout the year. I know it is a mish mosh of things but that's who I am. I can't do just one thing. I love to do art and create new things. I'm excited to see what I create this year.

Speaking of creating, my husband and I may be creating baby #6 this year. I know we are getting older but we feel that there is one more little soul that was meant for our family. I am getting all the necessary bloodwork and health checks done this month. We haven't had any luck the last 18 months so we may opt for a little help. I will keep you posted so please keep us in your prayers.

In the mean time, I'm still doing my fitness challenge. I'm hitting the gym a lot harder and doing some running. I love the energy I get from exercise. I think it is truly what keeps you young. Of course, I'm still doing raw foods. Although, I am adding in more cooked foods right now. I just listen to my body and adjust accordingly. I'm not dogmatic but I still would encourage anyone to eat as much fruits and veggies as you can and try to juice a few times a week. I will posting some herbal recipes next month. I want to teach everyone I can about the power of herbs.

In March, I will be taking a level one Healing Touch class. I hope to get certified as a healing touch practioner. I have been into energy healing since I started raw foods a couple of years ago. I'm also going to do some posts on raising your frequency. It is a fascinating topic. One that is very beneficial to our well being.

In the Spring, my family will be turning our back yard into an edible oasis. At least that's the plan. I want to take you on our gardening journey with us.

These are a few of the things I will be working on for 2010. Oh! and getting totally organized. I simply want to live simply. Get rid of the clutter and distractions. Anything that keeps me from reaching my goals, or being my best, is buh bye!

So I hope you'll join me! I want to know what you will be doing this year. Let's make this the best year ever!

Happy Hugs!
Christy

Happy New Year! 2010 Fitness Challenge!

2010-01-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Today is the first day of my 12 week fitness challenge. The challenge is to get in the best shape of my life. I want to lose about 8 pounds and lose a few inches in certain lower body areas. I'm going to do this by sticking to a high protein, 70% raw diet. I'm going to add in some cooked foods sinced it is cold around these parts and I feel that it will help my body to function at its best.

I will post my diet and fitness routines periodically and also my weight and measurements. Join me if you wish! We can make 2010 the best year ever!

Happy New Year!

Blessings,

Christy

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2009-12-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!

I will return to blogging after the new year. For now I will be focusing soley on spending time with my family and enjoying the holiday season! I hope you are doing the same, as family is the most important thing we have.

See you around soon!

Christmas Blessings,

Christy

We Can Help

2009-12-14T19:36:00.000-08:00

I was touched by this video of Elaina Love that I watched today. It wasn't so much the interview, althought that was great, it was the little message at the end that told of her son who has Leukemia. During the interview she was smiling and seemed like a happy lady. You would have never suspected the difficult time she is experiencing. I couldn't quit thinking about her and her son all day. I know that he is receiving excellent treatment at the Hippocrates Institute and I pray for his speedy healing.

I don't know her personally but want to help. She is accepting donations through paypal on her website in $5 increments. THis money will help her offset the costs of treatment, which is around $20,000. If you feel you want to help too, then please go to her website http://www.purejoyplanet.com/ to donate. I am offering over in my store Bluegrass Botanicals, to donate $5 for every perfume sold between now and the New Year. So if you need to do some last minute shopping for Christmas, this is a way for you get a gift and help out a family.

You can read her blog http://elainalove.wordpress.com/ to get updates on her and her son. Her sweet optimism is wonderful. If you can't donate any money then please keep them in your prayers. We can all help in some way.

I hope everyone's holiday season is peaceful. Take time to enjoy your family and reflect on the meaning of this time of year.

Blessings,
Christy

A Raw Recipe For You!

2009-12-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

(I hope this picture doesn't offend. I thought it was funny!)

Hey Everyone! Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? Have you put up your tree? I hope so! Now it's time to light the fire and curl up with a good Christmas show and a nice cup o'nog! Here is a simple recipe to get ya motivated.......... Raw Nog:

Ingredients:

3 cups raw almond milk

5 large soft pitted dates

2 ripe bananas

1 vanilla bean

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts

Pre-make your almond milk. Place all the ingredients in the blender and enjoy! So simple!

May I suggest the movie Elf? I love that movie! Also, if you still need to do some shopping then by all means head over to my shop, Bluegrass Market, and take advantage of the FREE shipping that is offered until Dec. 25. If you don't see what you are looking for there then browse the thousands of stores offered by Etsy. Handmade is the way to go!

Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays! Be back soon with another recipe for you to enjoy!

Blessings,
CHristy

PS. Justin, this recipe is for you! I will make it for you when you get home for Christmas!:)

Ho! Ho! Ho!

2009-11-30T05:52:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is over and now the Christmas season begins! Are you ready?

I just want to let everyone know that I am offering FREE shipping over at my etsy store Bluegrass Market. This offer will last until December 25. I will be adding a few new items this week. I also do custom orders. So, if you have any request, just hop over to my store and convo me with the details and I'll get to it, just for you! All my products are 100% natural. No preservatives or toxic chemicals. I use only the purest essential oils out there. Don't forget to check out my signature solid perfumes. They smell amazing and come in the most beautiful stone containers. All my products make wonderful gifts!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season! I will be back this week with some new recipes, so stay tuned!

Holiday Blessing,

Christy

What I'm Grateful for:

2009-11-24T09:55:00.000-08:00

What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't do a post on what I'm thankful for on this Thanksgiving week? So, here it is. I'm grateful for.......

1. my husband
2. my children
3. my health
4. being an American
5. having access to organic fruits and vegetables
6. having knowledge of the raw food lifestyle
7. libraries
8. homeschool
9. breastfeeding
10. amazon.com
11. youtube
12. exercise
13. yoga
14. music
15. inspiring people
16. positive, happy people
17. NATURE
18. friends
19. vacations
20. my kitty (even though he's slightly stinky)

Last but not least...............................LOVE!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!. Enjoy time with your family and try to avoid stress and guilt if you fall off the raw wagon! After all, it's only one day!

Blessings,
Christy

An Apple a Day, Keeps The Dr. Away!

2009-11-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

Here are ten reasons to eat apples:

1. The apple's pulp contains pectin, a soluble form of fiber. Pectin soothes and coats the lining of the intestinal tract when one has diarrhea, in addition to adding bulk to the stool.

2. Apple pectin is effective against several types of bacteria known to cause diarrhea such as salmonella, staphylococcus, and e. coli.

3. Due to its high fiber content, it is effective at relieving constipation.

4. The high fiber/pectin helps to reduce blood cholesterol.

5. Apples contain flavonoids which are antioxidants that help prevent cell damage that leads to the narrowing of the arteries, which in turn leads to heart disease.

6. Pectin binds to certain cancer causing compounds in the colon, speeding their elimination from the body.

7. The flavonoids in the apples help prevent cell damage that cause many cancers.

8. Studies have shown apple pectin to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.

9. European studies show apple pectin to eliminate lead, mercury, and other toxic heavy metals from the body.

10. Apple's leaves contain an antibiotic called phloretin that is effective in wound healing.

Now, go eat an apple!

* one little note of caution: apple seeds contain a powerful poison called cyanide. So please, don't eat the seeds!

Hope you're having a beautiful Fall!

Christy

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

This Is Olivia, my little ballerina princess.

This is My daughter Molly (left) and her best friend Lauren. They are Joe and Nick Jonas from the Jonas Brothers.

This is my son Gunnar. He's a zombie skateboarder.

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

Don't forget to check your candy!

Mwaahhahahahaha!

Christy

New Items for Bluegrass Botanicals

2009-10-29T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am happy to report that I have new perfume and skincare products in my store! I love researching and creating new products. Partly because I hate putting that other toxic junk on my skin and because I love working with essential oils. I can only do a little bit at a time due to the sensory overload that happens working with all the amazing scents. I'm really happy with the results of my hard work.

Happy Hippie and Hookah Lounge are my new scents that I added to the store. They are 100% vegan solid perfumes that come in a beautiful stone container. Both are earthy and sexy but the base note for Happy Hippie is patchouli and the base note for Hookah Lounge is tobacco. Both smell AMAZING!

I also added a Geranium Moisture Spritz to my skincare line. It's lightweight and great for all skin types. The geranium scent is uplifting and aids in calming stress and anxiety. It's also great for teens.

The Lemon Toning Spritz is an astringent with ph balancing properties. The lemon give a refreshing scent.

If you are concerned about toxic chemicals in your skincare, and you should be, try my 100% natural skincare products. I use no preservatives or toxic chemicals. I use organic essential oils when available and only buy from companies that are known to use ethical business practices such as Mountain Rose Herbs.

The perfumes I make are so beautiful and make great gifts. I want natural skincare to be available to all, so I keep my prices extremely affordable. Just compare what's out there.

I'm working on some perfume oils and a diaper cream for baby, so stayed tuned............

Blessing,
Christy

Jesus The Healer

2009-10-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Here is the trailer for a new movie being produced by the Talifero family (http://www.thegardendiet.com/). It's called Jesus The Healer.

This movie is going to be about the lost teachings of Jesus based on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Many of his teachings included vegetarianism. Makes sense since one of the commandments is Thou shall not kill. I have a feeling this is going to be controversial and fantastic!

After starting on a raw food diet almost two years ago, I had a spiritual awakening of sorts. I just feel like I awoke from a deep sleep. I started to question many things, especially my religion. (If anyone wants to know the whole story then I will share.) To make a long story short, I left my church because I just could no longer sit there and listen to all the spiritually lacking dogma that was being taught. My body was clean and my mind was opening to greater things. This is hard to explain to someone unless they've experienced it.

I would love to hear from someone else that has experienced this. It is truly amazing what raw food can do for you. For me, the biggest change was spiritually. I love the book The Essene Gospel of Peace book1. It has Jesus' teachings on vegetarianism. It just feels right and true. That Jesus just makes more sense to me. That's why I'm so excited for this movie.

The Talifero's are an inspirational family. They have 5 children and everyone is 100% raw. They are a great example and they are passionate about raw foods. I look up to them in many ways. If you are just getting started on raw foods they have many affordable ebooks to help you along. http://www.thegardendiet.com/.

Enjoy the trailer!

P.S. since my last post, almost all the leaves have fallen and I'm FREEZING!Ugh!

P.S.S. My diet is well, really not a diet. I have put my self onto a better path. I've been doing a lot of green juices and green salads. I've kicked it up a notch at the gym, so, All is well..........I feel really good.:)

Blessing,

Christy

2009-10-22T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of the Indian Summer we have been having. I will be spending it outside with my children. I love the Fall with the changing leaves and crisp cool air. It is always such a welcome relief from the heat of the summer. The next three months are filled with the best holidays. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

There will be no worrying about diets and body issues today. Just having a great day with my family is all that's important.

I hope you have a great day with your family too!

Blessings,

Christy

Day 1-Success

2009-10-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

Well, Day 1 went better than expected. I weighed in at 133.5 (I'm 5'5"). I started the day with two big glasses of water. I had about 24 oz green juice at 11:00 then worked out at the gym. I did have a salad this evening, so no juice fast for me this time. :( I do feel lighter and will have some herbal tea soon. I will probably make the tea with nettles and dandelion and maybe some chamomile. Yum!

As far as organizing goes, well, not so much today. I did stay up late last night getting my kitchen organized and super clean so I will work on something else tonight.

This isn't easy, especially when you have other responsibilities. Being a mom can be demanding but we need to love ourselves and take care of ourselves so that we have something to give to our family. Our children want parents that are happy and healthy. That's always my goal.

Blessings,
Christy

Getting With The Program........

2009-10-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

Okay. I"m not happy. Don't get me wrong. I 'm grateful for all that I have. A great husband, amazing children, a nice home with a fantastic view............What I'm talking about is my ass. I don't like it. It's Too big or better yet it's not in the shape I would like it to be. Why? I ask myself.

I'm realistic about this butt thing. I mean, I'm 38, have FIVE kids, and have limited time to myself. I eat 80% raw, sometimes more. It's what I eat the other percentage of time that's getting me. Lots of sugar, too many calories, and not enough cardio lately.

I would like to lose about 7 pounds and get the backside a little tighter (okay, a lot tighter). I also want to feel lighter and more energetic. I need some accountability though. So that's where you Mr. blog comes in. I am officially (starting tomorrow) gettin with the program! I need to detoxify, clean up my food choices and move my bee-hind a whole lot more. Maybe even start running again (definitely some kick-your-ass spin classes). I have to do this. I will do this. I'M DOING IT!!!

I am going to weigh in at the gym tomorrow and post it here along with my food intake. I may start with a 3 day juice fast to get me going strong. I'm considering a picture too, although the idea kind of freaks me out. That probably means I should really do it. Face your fears, right?

Another thing that I wanted to mention was the ElixirCraft Mastery Course by Daniel Vitalis that I recently completed. I learned so much from the course. It was fantastic and highly recommended! But the thing that has really stuck in my mind is what he said about having a clean organized area for food prep, only having things that you like ( that mean somthing to you) and how making food and elixirs is his art. I want it to be my art. I need so bad to get rid of stuff. My home is making me a nervous wreck right now. We just downsized homes and I see that we have too much. Too much of everything. I know this is holding me back in my healthiness also. I used to be a neat freak, close to obssessive but lately with our move and homeschool and the stuff, well, I'm almost paralyzed. It's totally over-whelming. Does anyone know what I'm saying?

This all ties together with my wanting to get back on track. I'm waayyyy off track. I'm an emotional eater, so all this stress lately has led me to make poor food choices and it just snowballs, ya know? Well, the snowball has hit a wall. I'm truly ready to make some much needed changes. While I'm detoxing my body, I'm detoxing my home too. I really believe your environment is crucial to your success for being on a path to health. This isn't going to be easy, but I'm going to do it.

I'll be back tomorrow for my first day report.

Blessings,
Christy

Have a Hug and a Smile!

2009-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth. -Virginia Satir

I was submitting a couple of articles today for rawmom.com and therawdivas.com. I send them to an awesome lady named Aran. I've never met her in person but we correspond through cyberspace. Aran is in charge of getting all the articles sorted out for Tera. She is the kind of person that always seems kind, caring and positive. All of her emails include her signature *hug*.

Today, after she received my articles she asked how I was doing. Well, you know how sometimes you say "I'm fine" even when your not? We don't like to burden people with our problems do we? I felt compelled to email her back and tell her about my week of sick kids and no sleep. She emailed me right back with some warm words and many *hugs*. I know it's only in an email, but I really felt it. I needed it. Thank you Aran!

I thought about how important it is to give and receive hugs. We are definitely a hug deficient world, aren't we? There is a video on youtube that came out a few years ago about a guy named Juan Mann who made a sign that said FREE HUGS. He stood out on a busy street and was ready to give FREE HUGS to all that consented. It is painful to watch at first because so many people just pass him by. Finally, a little old lady stops and he gets down on his knees and they hug. It makes you smile. It's what the world needs, Less fighting and more hugging.

Now go hug someone!

*HUGS*
Christy

Enjoy the FREE HUG video!

2009-10-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

There are hundreds of paths up a mountain,

all leading in the same direction,

so it doesn't matter which path you take.

The only one wasting time is the one

who runs around and around the mountain,

telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

-Hindu Teaching

Need Some Inspiration? Look To The Nie Nie Dialogues.

2009-10-06T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have been following this incredible story in blogland since August of '08. If you haven't heard about it, let me give you a short version: Stephanie Neilson and her husband Christian (parents of 4 young children), took a plane ride from Arizona to Christian's family ranch in New Mexico. Christian had just gotten his pilots license and his flight instructor came along with them. On their return home, they fueled the plane and took off, but the plane, for reasons I don't yet know, crashed into a wood pile and exploded into flames. Christian was able to get out and help Stephanie out. They sustained severe burns. Christian over 30% of his body and Stephanie over 80% of her body. The flight instructor, sadly, didn't make it.

Stephanie and Christian were both in comas for quiet awhile. They weren't sure if they would make it, especially Stephanie. If she survived it would mean many surgeries in her future. Their life would never be the same.

Immediately after the crash Stephanie's sister, Courtney, from the blog CJane Enjoy It, took over Stephanie's blog and told everyone what had happened and said she would keep everyone up to date as best she could. Stephanie had a blog that was popular among young moms, mormons, and women in general. Her blog was fun, light hearted, and inspirational. She had a pretty large following. The news swept through blogland like wild fire. Auctions were set up online and thousand of dollars were raised for their family. Her sisters took her children to care for and everyone prayed like crazy for them. You really felt like you knew them personally. Courtney did an amazing job of letting everyone know about Stephanie while also respecting her sisters privacy.

Stephanie came out of her coma around November and awoke to a new life. She has had to learn to live with all the painful healing of her burns, learn to walk again, learn to care for her children again, and the hardest , learning to accept her new look.

She is truly an inspiration to me. When I get down or feel sorry for myself, I always think of Stephanie. She is a strong, amazing women. She continues to blog again and is so honest with her feelings. I check her blog every morning and her sisters as well. I'm so grateful she made it and grateful that she has her life back. If you want to be inspired by Stephanie, then check out her blog, The Nie Nie Dialogues. Also, you can get the story straight from Steph tomorrow (Oct. 7) on OPRAH!

Have An Amazing Day!!
Christy

2009-10-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

I added a widget for the BlogFrog community/forum. I thought it would be fun to have a place to discuss raw foods, parenting, healthy living, etc... I like to get feed back from others and just learn about how everyone manages their day to day life. I love to talk about hot topics in the raw food community. What are your parenting issues? If you have anything you want to discuss then you can start a discussion in the forum. I'm open to whatever you want to talk about.

I want it to be fun, supportive, real, and informative. I'd love to get to know others in the virtual raw food community! So please sign up so we can get the discussion started! (click on the widget to the right to sign up for the Liquid Sunshine community)

Christy

MONKEY MIKE's Raw Food Kitchen

2009-09-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

The Raw Moms have done it again! They have come out with a fantastic Un-Cookbook for kids. The amazing Tera Warner graciously sent me a copy and my children and I have been pouring over it all weekend.

If you have kids (I have 5!), you need this book! I'm telling you, your kids will absolutely love it. It's full of colorful pictures and step by step directions that are easy for just about any kid to follow. If you've been having a hard time getting your children to eat a lot of raw foods, this is perfect. Or if you need something to make raw food more exciting, this is the answer. I mean, I'm not even a kid and it got me excited!

The recipes are simple and they don't require 20 ingredients each(my pet peeve). They're nutritious (of course!) and fun!

You can get it here. What are you waiting for? Get to Un-Cooking with those Kids!

Smiles and Hugs!

Christy

Contaminated Drinking Water in Schools- My Rant...

2009-09-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a shocking article about the state of the water in our public schools. You can read it here. There are many schools here in our country that are violating EPA standards. The most being in California, followed by Ohio, Indiana, Connecticut, and others. Apparently, there are high levels of lead, copper, pesticides, and other ugly toxins. Our children are drinking this stuff. And it's okay? Really? That's the message the government sends when it says that to fix the problem, it would be too expensive.

Tell me, how does the government have cash for clunkers and billions for bank bailouts but it's too expensive to ensure that our children have safe drinking water?

I'm lucky to live in area where the water is safe and I homeschool but it infuriates me that others don't have the same. If your children are in public school then please check with the state and find out about the safety of the water. High levels of lead and other toxins can lead to learning disabilities, illness, fatigue, and who knows what else.

This is even more shocking to me since I've been listening to Daniel Vitalis and his information on water. Look for him on YOUTUBE.He has some great information about the benefits of spring water and the downfalls of tap and bottled water. After learning this information, I went on http://www.findaspring.com/ and found that there is a spring only 1 hour from my home. You can go on there too and see if you can find a spring close to you. It is continually updated. My family and I are going to venture out to the spring this weekend to bottle our own spring water. I'm pretty excited about that. I'm going to video our adventure, so stay tuned.

I'm doing Daniel's ElixirCraft Mastery Course which I will tell you all about as soon as I complete it. I've done the first part which is about.....you guessed it, WATER!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Christy

2009-09-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

I just received an email regarding a new film coming t0 DVD soon. It's called Numen, The Nature of Plants. I have been interested in herbal healing for almost ten years now. But, my interest completely intensified after to listening to the Raw Mom Summit. I listened to Susun Weed and was just taken in by her. There was something in her voice when she spoke of herbs that really got to me and I have been obssessed ever since. I'm reading and studying everything I can get my hands on about herbal healing and aromatherapy. I'm even making my own natural healing products now. Seriously, did I mention that I am obssessed?

Well, receiving this email yesterday with a link to see a 15 minute preview was exciting. I hope you'll watch it. I will be getting this as soon as it comes out! I really want that insight into the nature of plants. It's fascinating. I always have used herbal remedies with my family when they get sick and I have to say it has worked 99.9% of the time. Plants really do heal. They are part of the Grand Design. They care for us and we should care for them too.

As you know, the name of my blog is Liquid Sunshine. I named it that because, well, what is liquid sunshine? It chlorophyl, right? And chlorophyl is made during photosynthesis when the plants draw in the sun's energy. I drink green smoothies everyday and I know that I am drinking that green energy from the sun. Liquid Sunshine.

I hope you will check out the preview for Numen.

Have a Sunshiney Day!

Christy

On Board With The Raw Divas!

2009-09-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

It's official! I am excited to announce that I will be on the one and only Raw Diva team. I will be contributing to their blog on a weekly basis. My focus will be on living green and herbal education.

I really appreciate Tera Warner and the amazing work she does for women. She has built a fantastic community through rawmom.com, therawdivas.com, and greensmoothiequeen.com. If you are just getting started on the raw food diet, or need support, you'll find everything you need to keep you on the right track. Tera is taking it to the next level by adding even more information on a daily basis to keep you inspired. Being a Raw Diva or a Raw Mom is more than just your diet, it's how you live every aspect of your life. It's about living holistically and with balance.

I hope you will check in daily for a little pick-me-up. If there is any herb you want to learn about, any green ideas that interest you, or any natural recipe you're wanting to get your hands on, just drop me a comment and I'll try my best to get that on the Raw Diva blog. I will continue to blog regularly at Liquid Sunshine, too.Unless it changes, my day will be Wednesday over at the Divas. So, I hope to see you there!

2009-09-08T20:00:00.000-07:00

I have started to add more products to my etsy store. I just love coming up with scents for my solid perfumes. It's a long, tedious process but so worth it. I listed a new perfume today called Bayou Moon. It reminds me of those hot summer nights in Louisiana (my home state). All my scents are unique. You won't find them anywhere else.

I love that my products are 100% natural with no preservatives. I have researched each oil that I use in my formulas.

Really, you should research some of the products allowed to be in shampoo, lotion, skincare and toothcare products. Oh, and check out what's in baby products. It's CRAZY! How are such things allowed in these products? Chemicals, toxins, carcinogens, you name it. I am really working hard to come up with products that are natural and effective AND affordable. That's key. How can you help people if you create products that not many can afford?

The essential oils that I use are AMAZING! I use organic when available. I really put a lot of thought into each thing I create. I test the products myself and have my family try things too before actually putting it "out there" for everyone else.

I really hope this goes well because I truly love doing this and I want to share my creations with the world. :)

Peace,

Christy

HAPPY TEETH and GUMS

2009-08-28T11:36:00.000-07:00

It's here! This is so exciting. I have finally finished my formula for a tooth and gum serum. I have had some trouble with my teeth as some raw foodist do. There are many products on the market for tooth and gum problems. Some better than others. Some are super expensive or unpallatable. Out of frustration and desperation, I decided to come up with my own formula. I have been studying herbal healing and essential oils for a while now and knew that I could come up with something that was soothing, refreshing, affordable and yummy. After much research and trial and error, I have finally developed a formula that I love. You're going to love HAPPY TEETH and GUMS!

It's a wonderful synergistic blend of essential oils known for their antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It contains grapefruit seed extract, clove oil, and myrrh.Peppermint, fennel, and chamomile give it a refreshing, cool, clean taste. This is 100% natural. NO presevatives.

Just add 1 or 2 drops to your toothbrush et voila! or....add 1 drop to your floss and get between your teeth and close to the gums. This formula is kid tested and approved!

Come on over to my shop Bluegrass Market and try it today. I am offering free shipping for a limited time.

Ode to Clove(eugenia caryophyllata)

2009-08-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

Oh Clove, I owe many thanks to you.
You've been around since the Han Dynasty.
You've been used to treat numerous ailments.
Respiratory, digestion and skin problems you've healed.
But for me, my sweet, warm Clove, you have given me respite from tooth and gum pain.
One q-tip and 1 drop of 100% your oil (pure clove essential oil)
Applied ever so gently to the gum area.
Ahhhh, what relief.
Anesthetic and antiseptic properties come from the eugenol which you contain.
It's no surprise you come from the same family as tea tree, myrtle, and eucalyptus.
Even dentist recognize your effectiveness.
I would never give you to anyone under two or over 65
And I would never ingest you.
But I will keep you close little Clove. So close.
My gums and teeth love you.
I love you.

Stepping out.....

2009-08-23T20:56:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderful day! I attended an amazing health and wellness meetup in my area for the first time. I was asked to bring some raw food and tell a little bit about it. I have to admit I was a little nervous but after I arrived and met the group I was so grateful that I was there. What a great bunch of people. Everyone was so nice and really wanted to better their health. I loved their openess to raw foods. The food was a hit (thank-goodness)! I was just really happy how it all turned out and all of my hard work was truly worth it.

I am already planning another little talk and demo with a really cool guy named Elsy. He is an acupuncturist and yoga teacher at a local Dr. office. I met him today at the meetup. I have to say that the lady who plans these meetups, Terry Breadon, is just a fantastic person. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about yoga and living a healthy lifestyle. I know that I will learn so much from her. Oh, and she brought me the biggest zucchinis I have ever seen in my life. I'll be eating those tomorrow!

I can't wait to see where my journey takes me. Life is good. :)

Kittens To The Rescue!

2009-08-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

We have not seen one sign of a mousey in my house since we adopted our two kittens. Thank goodness! I will have to post pictures of my kittens soon. They are so adorable!. We rescued them from a local animal shelter. Jasper is a gorgeous seal point siamese with beautiful blue eyes and Jack is a grey and white himalayan mix. I have already started them on a raw food diet for cats. They absolutely love it. I know it will keep them much healthier as it is their natural diet.
They have really taken to the family quite well and are so loving.

I really want to encourage people that want to get a pet, to check out your local animal shelter. There are so many unwanted and abandoned animals that need a good home. You can check out www.petfinder.com to see pets available in your area online.

Hope you have a purrfect day!

Christy

A Mouse In My House!

2009-07-23T08:19:00.001-07:00

Damn! I'm writing this post with my feet propped up on my coffee table. Last night at about midnight as my family and I were looking in the pantry for a snack, a black, furry little critter ran across the floor. EEEEEEEKKKK! It was pure pandomonium. That little mouse was as scared as we were. My kids were yelling, "Don't kill it!, Don't kill it!" So of course we didn't but that little booger is still here and I'm completely freaked out! Just knowing that it has ran around on my food has put me into an involuntary fast.

We are going to the animal shelter today to adopt a kitten. I don't think a kitten will kill it but hopefully it will scare it away. I've also read that mice hate peppermint. So, I'm going to soak some cottonballs with peppermint oil any put them all over the place.

Does anyone else have any ideas? HELP!

CHristy

Recharged by Mother Nature

2009-07-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

I just returned from vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with the family. It was so nice to be at the beach and relax. Just putting your feet in the sand and hearing and smelling the ocean was amazing. It's important to take a break, forget our worries and get back to nature. Spending time with our loved ones with no expectations really helps deepen our realtionships. I'm grateful that we had the opportunity to go away together this summer. I feel renewed and eager to move forward and try new things. I hope everyone, if possible, takes some time this year to just be with family and enjoy and love each other. Connect with nature and family, it's a powerful stress reliever.

Namaste,

Christy

Pondering What Truly Matters.......

2009-07-10T06:16:00.000-07:00

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Recipe: Shiny Smile Polish Powder

2009-07-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is a dry powder tooth polish made with herbs to freshen your breath.

Ingredients:

* 1 0z green clay
* 3/8 oz fine sea salt
* 3/8 oz orris-root powder
* 3/4 oz dried mint
* 1/4 tsp clove powder

How to make:

Grind the mint into a powder. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir throroughly to blend. Add more mint or clove if desired. Spoon the scented powder into a shaker.

How to Use:

Moisten toothbrush and shake enough powder to cover the bristles. Brush teeth in the usual way and rinse well. Will keep for 6 months but keep water out of the mixture.

Hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know if you tried it!

Have a great day!

Christy

Raw Mom Summit

2009-07-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

This past week has been inspiring to say the least! I had the opportunity to listen to several amazing speakers online at the Raw Mom Summit. The ladies over at RawMom.com did a phenomenal job with the guest line up and interviews. (Standing ovation for Tera Warner and Shannon Leone!)

I LOVED the interview with Gabriel Cousens. I mean, when he talks you listen! I will have the chance to meet him and attend all of the classes he's teaching at the World Peace Yoga conference in October. I can't wait. More information to come about that soon!

Susun Weed was so interesting too. She is an herbalist, author, and much more. You can find information about her at SUSUNWEED.com. Since listening to her, my husband and I have been enjoying herbal infusions everyday. I never knew how easy they are to prepare and so good for you!

Byron Katie- WOW! I'm now reading her book Loving What Is. She discovered a process called The Work. It is an amazing way to solve problems and to see things as they truly are. Check out TheWork.com for free information and worksheets.

There were many raw mom speakers, each adding something fantastic to the summit. Different views and opinions but so much useful information.

This is just a teeny-tiny bit of the Summit there was sooo much more! You can purchase these over at rawmomsummit.com and listen to them at your leisure. I was so pleased with the Summit and it has really motivated me as a mom and raw foodist to keep going in this positive direction and it also opened me up to new things.

So if YOU need some good, healthy motivation (who doesn't?) then check it out!

Namaste,

Christy

Prescription for the Soul

2009-06-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

I just picked up the book 365 Prescriptions for the Soul by Bernie S. Siegel. I love the little tidbits of inspirations it provides. It is definitely medicine for the soul. Every once in a while I will post one of his prescriptions that touches me. So stay tuned..................

HEALTHMASTER

2009-06-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

If you thought a high powered blender was too expensive and out of your reach, have I got a treat for you! If you don't know if you already know this but Montel Williams, who has Multiple Sclerosis, is an advocate of eating a lot of raw foods and make fresh fruit and veggie juices. He is able to keep his symptoms under control through his diet. Pretty amazing, right?

I saw this on an infomercial one day and was really intriqued. I think after I saw the chunk of steel made into powder and the $200 price tag, I was sold! It is basically a less expensive version of the vitamix or blendtech. The only thing it doesn't do is grind grain.

I received it about a month ago and I LOVE IT!!!! It's 2hp motor is so powerful and yet not too loud. It's so simple to work. It is digital but only a few buttons. It has a 70 ounce carafe.

I would say the only negative is that with the lid on, it won't fit under my cabinets. So I store it with lid off. No big deal!

Seriously, if you can't afford a vitamix or blendtech then by all means try the HealthMaster. If you have any questions about it fell free to ask.

Have a great day!

Rawvolution Review

2009-05-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting to the review of "The Box" from Rawvolution. I'm having trouble getting my pictures to load to blogger. But here goes anyway.......

The Box arrived on time just as stated. This picture shows how the food looks right out of the box. I actually had to go to the menu to figure out what some of it was.

The first thing I tried was the Seaweed Salad. In all fairness, I have to say that I am not a fan of sea vegetables. So obviously I didn't care for this one. The veggie cakes have dulse in them and they tasted OK but I would have really like them without the dulse. The cauliflower mashed "potatoes" are not for me. I've made them myself and didn't like them then either. You can't like everything!

The soups were delicious, especially the Cucumber Dill. The desserts were yummy too. I loved the pineapple heart dessert. I have made it my self since then and it turned out great.

The tostada and the greek pizza were my favorites. The onion bread and seed cheese are amazing! The lasagna taste good but looked nothing like the picture in the cookbook Rawvolution.

Overall I thought the food was pretty good. The price a little high especially when you add on shipping ($40!). I will order again in the future but I will make sure the menu doesn't include sea veggies!

Good job to the folks at Rawvolution!

Have a nice day!

Christy

Return from Hiatus........

2009-05-02T04:53:00.000-07:00

Time flies even when your not having much fun. I've been in the process of moving and getting my other home ready to sell. I pray for a quick sell but I'm also realistic. This economy has hit us hard. I just haven't had time to post or even work on my website.

On a more positive note, I'm back and ready to rock and roll with everything. I ordered "The Box" from Rawvolution owned by Matt Amsden. It should arrive on Wednesday and I will do a full review of everything. Can't wait! I love his cookbook Rawvolution. Definitely one of my favorites. I have his famous onion bread in the dehydrator as we speak and I am making the strawberry pie tonight. If you don't have this book, you need to get it. NOW. What are you waiting for?

The Raw Frontier

2009-02-07T07:10:00.001-08:00

I have been carefully but feverishly working on my raw food website. It's called The Raw Frontier. This is a labor of love to say the least. I just want to get the word out. Good health is at our fingertips. I just want to provide the information that people need to go down the raw food path SUCCESSFULLY. I have so much great content to add but it takes time. I want my readers to come to my website and feel comfortable and be able to take away knowledge that they can put to use right away.

I'll keep you up-to-date on The Raw Frontier progress. What kind of things would you like to see ? I have a lot of ideas including a YouTube cooking show. My kids want to participate in that one. They are hilarious!

I'm going to go out and enjoy the 56 degree weather today. It's been a longgggg time! Goodbye snow-Hello sunshine!

Hope you have warm and wonderful day!

Christy

Spreading The Word

2009-02-06T07:51:00.000-08:00

A group of ladies from my church met at my home last night to learn about healthy eating. Another lady prepared some information to share and went before me. We had a lot of the same information in regards to what we should leave out of our diet but we differed on what and how our food should be prepared. Cooked vs. Raw. I love that I could share what I have learned on my raw food journey and have them taste some of the foods that I eat. Some, as you can imagine were not as open to the whole idea but some genuinely were interested and are asking how do they make the change. Very exciting for me. A few left saying that they were definitely going to add green smoothies to their diet and some were going to be more aware of the foods they eat in general. All positive.
Everyone brought something healthy to share. I ended up sharing my food that I prepared for myself for the week also. They tried raw coconut fudge, raw lemon-coconut bars, "refried bean" collard wraps, raw onion bread, and green smoothies. I think they were pleasantly surprised.
I'll have to do this again sometime. It was a nice night.

Great Book.....

2009-01-31T21:19:00.001-08:00

OK! This is one of the best books I've read about adding greens to your diet. The author, Victoria Boutenko, has done some excellent research on this subject. She shows you how easy it really can be to add greens by making green smoothies. This is something I do everyday and I love it! My children love the taste. Even my 22 month old baby loves it. The benefits are amazing! You add so may more essential nutrients, vitamins and amino acids to your body. They are extremely healing and energizing. If you haven't tried one yet, what are you waiting for?

Here is my favorite green smoothie recipe:

4 kale leaves

1 handful of spinach

half of a pineapple

1 banana

1 squirt of raw agave nectar

2 cups filtered water

Add the ingredients to your blender. Blend well. Enjoy!

Nice To Meet You!

2009-01-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody in blogland! I want to introduce myself and get this blog rolling. My name is Christy and I love my sweet hubby and our 5 children (ages 22 months-17 years!). I can't live without yoga and RAW FOOD is my passion! It is my mission in life to get the word out that good health is available to all. You've just got to have the right information and a community of like-minded supportive people.

This blog will mostly pertain to raw food, healthy parenting, and living YOUR best life! So I hope you will join me on this journey. I would love to hear from you so leave a comment or drop me an email!

Your friend in health and happiness,
Christy