Take time out to connect with nature. Wear your favorite clothes, listen to your favorite music, seek out a favorite place to visit, talk to your favorite person; whatever it is that makes you happy and gives you joy….do that! Happiness raises your vibration and it is contagious. The happier you are, the brighter your light shines; the brighter your light shines, the more people are attracted to who you are and what you are doing; this attraction raises the vibrations of others.
We are all connected and energy affects everything. When you control your thoughts and focus on your favorite things, you are in control of your energy. This gives you a level of power over the energy of your environment and of those around you.
Negative energy works the same way, only to the detriment of all involved. So take charge and set your intentions to find joy in all things. Try not to trigger when something is upsetting. Allow your emotions to flow and pass instead of holding onto anything negative. Allowing your emotions to flow will naturally gravitate your energy back into a positive high vibration.
Love yourself enough to be honest with yourself about what makes you truly happy…..then do that. 💖👑💕
Rose bushes rooted from cut roses from my parents’ funerals. The red is from Mom’s in October and the other is from my Dad’s in June… This one is finally taking off and I don’t know what color it is yet.
Have you ever wondered how on earth you can eat a fruit so packed with seeds? Most of us have had pomegranate juice, but few go as far to adventure into eating the fresh fruit. If you haven’t ever eaten a pomegranate, don’t let the seeds scare you, they are the entire reason to eat the fruit in the first place. I wasn’t sure either until I tried it.
How to Eat a Pomegranate
Cut the fruit open and begin removing seeds (arils) by hand. They are like little juice filled kernels encased in a tough pulp…and it’s totally gratifying popping them out! Slicing the fruit in quarters makes them a bit more accessible.
KEEP THE SEEDS…that’s the part you eat! Discard the outer skin and inner pulp in compost. Your arils are ready to eat immediately and will store in the refrigerator for about one week. Pomegranate arils (seeds) and juice also freezes well.
Pomegranate Nutritional Benefits
They are unbelievably high in antioxidants and have phenomenal anti-inflammatory properties which allows them to protect and fight against cancers, arthritis and heart disease, while promoting cognitive function.
Pomegranate is also good source of fiber; vitamins A, C, and B; and minerals like calcium, potassium and iron.
What makes them so amazingly beneficial? These two compounds: punicalagins and punicic acid.
When we bought our house 3 years ago, not a single plant was in the yard except a few giant Slash Pine trees. We are constantly planting new trees and plants, most to provide future food and medicinal benefits. We are also creating some native grow spaces in our yard. We are so fortunate to live where we live.
We truly believe everything happens for a reason. We never wanted to live in Florida, but moved for family and a promising career that failed and brought us to the middle of nowhere….literally in Central, South Florida….who in their right mind moves to Florida and chooses to live as far from there ocean as possible?! Oh, yeah….that’s us. We never thought we would stay right here. We bought this foreclosure and figured we would fix it up, sell and move coastal. But after 3 years, leaving 2 careers, and now starting our own businesses; THIS is the home that serves us best. We are happiest here! We can grow anything right here and have the space to do it. We can have bonfires in our backyard. We have room for workshops, space to park our trailers, and trees between us and the neighbors.
Something told me this was HOME. Our Realtor and now good friend didn’t even want to show us this property because it was in such bad condition. But 3 years later we now know why this is meant to be our home.
My food focus is not just plant-based, I also follow a high alkaline diet. Disease thrives in acidic environments. In order to lead the healthiest lifestyle possible, you need to detox your system through consuming foods that work with you and not against you. I often say I follow a ‘Free Eating Lifestyle’; meat free, dairy free, sugar free, grain free, alcohol free, and processed, preservative and chemical free. So, what DO I eat?!!
My basic food list consists of the following, in no particular order:
Cooked veggies often include; zucchini, yellow squash, butternut squash, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, etc.
I eat a TON of home-made hummus. (I no longer eat store bought due to preservatives.) Typically I use it as a dip with broccoli, cauliflower or celery; but it’s not uncommon for me to put hummus on my salads, or eat it in a bowl with avocado & kalamata olives.
Nuts & seeds! Pistachios, almonds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are my mainstays. Nut & seed butters, all natural, no sugar/preservatives added.
Oils: sesame oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil are the ones I use most often,
Daily fruits are limited to primarily berries to keep ingested sugar content lower (sugar processes as acidic). I do eat dragonfruit, citrus, pineapple, coconut, wild grapes, lychees, natural bananas and other a few other fruits, just less frequently.
I infuse water with berries and hibiscus daily and most nights I make teas in the french press with a variety of leaves/ingredients; hibiscus, spearamint, rosehips, lemongrass, citrus peels, boiled cinnamon sticks, green teas, chamomile, tumeric, ginger, etc.
I drink black coffee – but I try to find the lowest acidic beans. Typically darker roast coffees are lower in acid. To balance the acid, I will drink berry infused water and/or eat berries before my coffee. Also for iced coffee, I add almond milk (the only ingredients are almonds & water) and I often add 100% cacao (unroasted cocoa beans).
I have never been a ‘sweets’ person, but if I want something sweet, these are my two go-to’s:
100% cacao, mixed with nut butter of choice and coconut oil. Scoop into small containers with nuts on the bottom and freeze into bars.
Cooked sweet potato mashed with nut butter of choice, mixed with 100% cacao powder and baked into brownies.
I am happy to share recipes for those interested. If you would like more information on a high alkaline diet, please research Dr. Sebi’s work.
Dinner! Salad with mixed veggies & greens and topped with home-made hummus, kalamata olives, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and toasted sesame oil.
Find your favorite barefoot destination, take your shoes off, and take time out to get grounded! Allowing yourself time to connect with the elements will balance your energy, relax your body and align your soul. Follow me into the wonderful world of nature. We will explore everything surrounding a plant-based lifestyle from growing your own food; herbalism and medicinal supplements; gardening; landscaping; and many different forms of plant propagation. We will have fun with sustainability by giving new life to items through re-purposing; creating functional works of art; and recycling trash into treasure.
