High Raw Detox Day 7

Morning:  Green Drink w/cabbage, carrot, kale, lemon.  

Lunch:  Salad, Avocado, Raw Tortilla Chips.  (no picture--I was ravenous and scarfed it down so fast there was no time for a photo!)

Dinner:  Steamed Broccoli w/coconut oil, s&p, Big Salad w/red peppers, avo, carrot, lemon.

Check out this fabulous bounty from my organic delivery service.  Every time I get a delivery (once a week), I feel so Lucky!

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High Raw Detox Day 6

Morning:  Green Juice on the go!
Cabbage, cuke, celery, kale,
lemon, carrot.

Lunch:  Big Salad with red pepper, cucumber, avo, red leaf, lemon, etc.

Dinner:  Repeat of lunch.

Treat:  Four squares Endangered Species Mint Chocolate.  Look at the cute little trees!

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Eco Friendly Valentine Find: Lori Bonn Jewelry

Lori Bonn left the corporate world to follow her creative passions.  Now she owns one of the few eco friendly jewelry companies out there and produces some wonderfully unique designs.  She tries to keep it as green as possible with ethically sourced gemstones, responsible manufacturing practices, and some recycled metals.  There are several different collections to choose from, each with its own theme and feel and some collections feature stones exclusive to Lori Bonn.

I am especially fond of this Cluster ring from the Windsor collection.  It's a lovely mosaic featuring Amethyst, Alexandrite, Peacock Quartz and Sapphire.  It's very comfortable--not always the case with large rings, and heftier than it appears in the photo.  This is just one example of her imaginative designs.

Lori Bonn can be found online or at Nordstrom.  I think her jewelry would make a great Valentine's Day gift or--treat yourself!

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High Raw Detox Day 5

Mid Morning:  Green Juice consisting of celery, lemon, carrots, cabbage, kale.

Lunch:  Big Salad with avocado, lemon, etc., sweet potato with coconut better.   
Dinner:  Repeat of lunch.
* I actually started this post yesterday and needed to add pictures...so today you will see two food diaries.  Yesterday was difficult, I felt like a limp wet rag with no energy at all.  
* Salad portions might look small in photos, but those white bowls are the size of Serving bowls and Huge.  I feel like I am eating enough...maybe the listlessness is symptomatic of detox?  Whatever it is I hope it fades away soon.

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Sweet Gratitude. Sweets for Your Sweet.

Sweet Gratitude by Rogers and Tamborra, is an apt title for February.  Written by chefs from Cafe Gratitude, it's filled with a zillion options for Valentine festivities, or any other occasion.

What I love:  The authors are completely sincere.  It's an uplifting book with a holistic approach to well being and food.  I love what they say about guilt and sweet indulgences and that foods like this are important and are soul food.  One need never feel guilty over anything provided in this book and can allow themselves to be nourished by the otherwise forbidden.  Having said that, I wouldn't sit down and eat a half of raw pie (if you are eating mindfully, you wouldn't want to anyway, it's safe).

There is a great variety and the recipes are laid out very simply.  I am on a cleanse at the moment and have not had a chance to try one of the many recipes I've bookmarked, but Aimee over at A Bitt of Raw makes mouthwatering desserts all the time from this book and frequently posts wonderful photos of her creations. 

What I don't love:  This book has the feel of a much older book, like a book from the 70's.  That doesn't do the content justice in my opinion.  I felt that way about I Am Grateful, the other Cafe Gratitude cookbook as well.  Also,  some recipe ingredients are listed by weight.  I found this cumbersome and don't like having to sort out conversions (which are listed in the front of the book).  It would have been nice if that had been done for the reader.

As for the difficulty, I don't think the recipes are any more difficult than conventional baked goods, they're probably easier, there's just a learning curve to be addressed for the uninitiated which is  fine. 

Overall, I do recommend this book without reservation.  I think anyone interested in healthy eating should have this in their collection and I think it would make a great gift for Valentine's Day or a great purchase prior to Valentines Day so you can prepare some sweets for your sweet.  Find it HERE. 

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High Raw Detox Day 4

Mid Morning:  Green Juice consisting of carrot, kale, celery, ginger, lemon.

Lunch:  Big Salad w/red leaf, tomato, avocado, cilantro.  Raw tortilla chips.  Made extra to eat a little later when I get those low blood sugary feelings.

Treat:  Three pieces dark chocolate.

Today I scheduled an appointment with a hydrotherapist.  Ana recommended three weeks from now to assist with optimum detox.  This will be a first for me, a new experience!  A little hungry but have my eye on the ball---detoxed and full of energy.  

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Valentine's Chocolate Roundup

Chocolate is the ideal gift for Valentine's Day.  It works in a variety of circumstances--and almost everyone loves it and it's affordable and good for you!  Great for your sweetheart, your child, your Mother, friends, anybody.  Chocolate speaks to something deep within, something primal.  There is nothing else like it.  Below are just a few chocolates that I have tried and liked.  Some are raw, all are organic and all but one is vegan (the Equal Exchange gift includes milk chocolate).

Endangered Species makes a wonderful vegan dark chocolate cherry that is smooth, organic, and supports endangered wildlife--yaay!  The cherry is my pick for Valentine's gifts but they have a bi selection to choose from.

For raw chocolate, UliMana has a great selection of organic raw vegan chocolates and treats.  I liked the cacao truffle and the lemon fig bars myself.  UliMana is an uber positive company whose namesake is the serenity goddess Uli which combined with Mana (life force energy) is a prayer to the goddess Uli asking for vibrant health and energy.

Equal Exchange has a gift set they are promoting for Valentine's Day pairing coffee and chocolate.  It contains two dark chocolate bars, two milk chocolate bars, and two different types of coffee.  The bag and tissue paper is recycled and Equal Exchange is a Fair Trade Organic company.  I Love the Equal Exchange vegan dark chocolate bars--this one is Extra Dark and they are not kidding.  Equal Exchange is eco friendly and fair trade, always a nice company to support.

For something sexy, try Lulu's Chocolate Alchemy.  Their chocolates are raw, organic, and unique.  Their Velvet comes in a lovely glass jar and is dark chocolate infused with maca root, vanilla bean, and orchid.  This would make a very attractive presentation for a gift to your sweetie.  Lulu is definitely taking chocolate to new heights.

And speaking of sexy, I think Alter Eco's packaging is sexy and masculine, great for guy gifts.  The chcolate is deep and dark.

For the adventurous who like to make their own treats, how about making your own raw chocolates for your valentine?  East Bluff Trading Co. is a company comprised of two brothers passionate about chocolate bringing the first ever Venezuelan organic cacao to the US.  They offer organic raw cacao butter, cacao, nibs--everything you need to create your own sweet confections and keep them as pure as you like.  

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