Let's talk about JUICE, baby!

.Good Morning Green Crusaders!!

Today's post is all about the JUICE! Leafy green, nature medicine.This "juice"post is dedicated to my daily inspirational hero, Kris Carr. Today she celebrates her decade anniversary of living and thriving with cancer! Go Girl!!! Here's to the next 50!!! So grab some Kale and settle in, we are going on a journey to wellness.

First things first, STOP judging the green stuff. It may look like something only Swamp Thing would drink, but it taste amazing. All that green power, packed into a 16oz Mason Jar, can kick start your day or keep a pesky virus at bay. So put down that soda and say YES! to kale. Your body, mind, and spirit will thank you.

Okay, let's break down the greens that go into making your juice a super amazing powerhouse of antioxidants.

KALE is one of the most potent veggies on the planet. It's packed with fiber and can help lower the risk of certain cancers. Kale has also been recognised as providing optimal support in the detoxification process. It also is a great, and in my opinion, best base for green juices. I recommend getting organic kale, but if your local grocer doesn't have the organic goodness on hand, buy conventional kale and give it a good wash.  A few bunches can reap 32oz of green energy.

CELERY not only provides great health benefits, but it also juices well and adds a good amount of H2O to your drink. They also pack a punch of Vitamin C and pthalides, which have been shown to lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Not only is it a great juicing veggie, but it's also a great snack! Pack it with peanut butter and you've got energy on a stick.

CUCUMBERS, in a word, equal radiance. They hydrate the skin and can be used in your body or on your body. These green powerhouses are packed with vitamin B, which will give you a great energy boost. The silicon and sulfur in cucumbers can also help with strong hair growth. So eat them raw or pop them into your juicer.


BROCCOLI has been deemed, "the miracle food", and for good reason. It's like a veggie multi-vitamin, which contains Vitamin C, A, folic acid, calcium, and fiber. Broccoli has been linked to lower cancer rates. The Jolly Green Giant was right, eat your veggies and especially broccoli. When I juice broccoli, I usually juice the stalk and steam the flower.

GREEN APPLES! Yummy, sour, sweet, green apples. These tasty greens are a great way to jazz up your juice and add a little sweetness to your new magic elixir. Not to mention, "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away".  Green apples are a great source of energy. They contain numerous vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, copper, and zinc, which can help to purify the blood. They also help in preventing liver problems and they lower your risk of certain cancers and skin diseases. This small round ball of green goodness, is natures way of saying,"I love you".

GINGER, GINGER, GINGER. Not just a great way to spruce up your sushi. Ginger is a great way to aid digestion and kick start your immune system. Throw this in to your juicer and you have officially created the cherry on a very healthy cake.

Every once in awhile you can get daring and try. . .

{Lacinato Kale}

Now that you have the ingredients, you need something to put them in. Juicers can be expensive, but they don't have to break the bank. You can find a good juicer at Target, that will keep all the goodness in your juice, but also keep some cash in your wallet. Lenny and I chose the Breville Juice Fountain Elite {299.99}. Investment? Yes. Worth it? Abso-freaking-lutely. You have to think of it as an investment in your health. The Breville is a top of the line juicer and we have definitely got our money's worth. But, not everyone has big money to drop on a juicer and that's okay. There are plenty of juicers that are cheaper and work great. If you are looking for a great selection check out Bed, Bath, and Beyond. I found that they have a wide range of juicers from $130.00-400.00.

 

Once you've got your leafy greens and your magic machine, a.k.a, Juicer, all you need is creativity and imagination. Technically you don't need a recipe, but I thought I'd help you out today by giving you one of my favorites. "Make Juice, Not War"green juice. Created by the amazing Kris Carr {a huge inspiration to my life. Check out kriscarr.com for her amazing story and life inspiring tips}.

 

Now get out there and get your creative juices flowing!!! Peace, Love, and JUICE!!! 

 

 

"Make Juice, Not War" Green Juice by Kris Carr from her book CRAZY, SEXY, DIET

 

2 Large cucumbers {peeled if not organic}

4-5 Stalks of Kale

4-5 Romaine Leaves

4 Stalks of Celery

1-2 Big Broccoli Stems

1-2 Pears

1"piece{or less} gingerroot

 

*Juice all ingredients. Other optional greens: parsley, spinach, and dandelion. Add sweet pea or sunflower sprouts when available.

 

And with that. . .

 

 

 

{CHEERS}

 

 

Happy Saving. . .and juicing!!

 

Laura

 

 

Resources:

 

CRAZY, SEXY, DIET by Kris Carr

 

CRAZY, SEXY, KITCHEN by Kris Carr and Chef Chad Sarno

 



 

 

 



 

 





"Oh the West Virginia Hills, how Magestic and how Grand. . ."

Hello blogosphere,

Coming at you from one of my favorite coffee shops in Milwaukee, SVENS!! Some of the best Fair Trade Coffee around. Today's blog is all about introducing you to my new adventure, my new call to action,  and my new journey. Brace yourself, it's not a pretty picture.

As you all know, because many of you that read my blog are family, I have a strong connection to my place of birth, to nature, and to my incredible friends and family who make my home state great. I'm a West Virginia girl through and through. Proud of my Appalachian heritage. Proud that my Grandpa Taylor worked hard on his farm, growing the tallest sunflowers I've ever seen and that my Grandmother Taylor went against the norm and drove a motorcycle at a time when ladies didn't do such things. I'm proud that my Maw Maw Frye stayed true to her hometown and Catholic roots. That my sisters and cousins work hard to instill virtues in their children, giving them a sense of strength and independence. I'm proud to be the daughter, of a once Union worker and Beauty School grad, who made sure their daughters knew the value of handwork, but also knew how to cope with disappointment and to rise above hardships. That's just how Mountaineers are raised. In West Virginia we rise to the challenge and gather our strength from the men and women who created a life in what some would consider the harshest territory in the U.S. A. Our roots go back to  Scottish Mountaineers, that looked at the Appalachian Mountains as a place of safety and refuge. Surviving in terrain that others said was uninhabitable.  These beautiful mountains define our state, define who we are, and keep us going when we find ourselves in the midst of ridicule and economic devastation. The soil that created these Mountains, runs through our veins as thick as blood. So why is it, that we as West Virginians, choose to destroy that which defines the very makeup of our being?

COAL. Its driven this state since the start of the industrial revolution and it continues to drive mankind and the United States.  There is no denying that Coal put West Virginia on the map. It was our Great Grandpa's and Grandpa's, fathers, sons, and brothers, that forged into the Mountains looking for black gold. It was the strong, that gave their lives in these mountains, fighting and dying by the hands of major Coal Barons for their right to Unionize and working full days, with little pay, to put food on the table for their babies. Their legacy should be uplifted and recognized, not destroyed by corporations like Massey Energy or ArchCoal. Men and women who sit in their large homes, with hot meals, and clean water, while the modern day miners,  men and women in the Hollows, go hungry so their children can eat.

We would fight if these monstrosities were happening to someone in our family. So how is it, that we sit back and allow for these injustices to occur in our own state?

Mining practices never set out to be something for the faint at heart. Conditions for miners have been barbaric since the first man travel deep into the mountain. But as we've grown as a culture and a country, so to have these horrific mining practices. Now we look to the grim reality that is modern day mining or Mountaintop Removal.

Mountaintop Removal. What is it? Where is it happening? When does it happen?  and Why?

Let's start with the what. Mountaintop Removal (MTR) or Mountaintop Mining is defined in the encyclopedia as "a form of surface mining of the summit or summit ridge of the mountain". Unlike our coal mining ancestors, MTR, uses dynamite to blast off the top of the mountain to get at coal from the top down, as opposed to going into the mountain from the base. MTR is a technique that uses less man-power and more machine power. Which ultimately means less jobs for an already crumbling economic area. An area, where people live in fear that their jobs will be taken away by the constant cries of Environmentalists. It is not us who threaten their lively hood, it's the company that signs their checks. Companies that killed the Unions, so that they could outsource mining jobs to non-union cheaper paid employees.

Where is it happening? In West Virginia, the leading state for MTR, you can see the effects happening from the Turnpike on any given day.  But the real damage is happening in and around the Hollows and mountain ranges of Boone, Logan, and Mingo County. But, it isn't just WV being effected by MTR, Kentucky, Illinois, Wyoming, are also being brought down by major Coal Companies, like Massey Energy in WV.

When? Weekly the mountains are carved away by ANFO (a mixture of ingredients that were also found in the explosives used for the Oklahoma City bombing). ANFO radiates millions of explosives in order to blast away the surface of the mountain. Before blasting can occur, the clearing of all vegetation and wildlife from the blast area must take place. Devastating the eco-systems that have called these mountains home for millions of years. Once this occurs, the mountain never rebuilds and the devastation is left for a lifetime and more.   Blast like these happen once a week and the ramifications of the blasts are seen in the children that live in the communities surrounding these mountains. Disease from run-off and tainted well water are causing not only birth defects, but chronic illnesses, cancer, asthma, brain tumors and more, in children.

Why? In a word, GREED. All us, near and far, are responsible for this greed. We look at energy and electricity as a right. Like most things, we live in disconnect to our actions. Like the old saying goes, "We love our hamburgers, but we don't want to see the inside of a slaughterhouse". We need the lights on, this is true, but at what cost? The cost of life, the cost of nature, the cost of children? There are more environmentally sound ways of getting that energy. Wind Powered Energy, for one.  Wind Farms located on the top of WV mountains (mountains that catch winds that are classified as category 5), could produce enough energy to cover most of the state and the profits generated, not to mention the jobs, could keep a community like Boone thriving for all of it's live long days. But, until we stand up and fight, MTR will continue. Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, Massey Energy will blast away at our heritage until the only thing left is the memory of the mountain and the ramifications in a sick child's eye when he/she looks at our devastation and says "Shame on them, they could have stopped all this and they said no".

After doing some research, I began to ask myself, "What needs to be done?". Not just on a state level, because Lord knows we can write letters to our Congressman until we are blue in the face, but on an individual level. What we need to do is educate. Educate each other and educate those who live in this reality everyday. It's not enough to sit back and hope someone bigger, with more money, and political game, swoops in and saves us from ourselves, it's up to us. There is strength in numbers. One voice may be quiet in the grand scheme, but a 1, 000 raised voices repeating the chant of the one, can be heard far and wide. My goal in the next couple of months is to work with Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, to  spread the word and pound the pavement getting that word out in West Virginia and beyond. Let us be the voice for the voiceless that have been oppressed by Big Coal for decades. I'm not afraid to be met with opposition and I look forward to some healthy debate with those I'm close to.

Please realize that the information that I have stated above, is only a small sliver of information that can found on Mountaintop Removal. There are so many ways in which you can find it, but my number one recommendation is to watch the 2011 documentary, THE LAST MOUNTAIN. It will introduce you to the devastation caused by MTR.  For more information about how MTR is effecting your own life, visit ilovemountains.org or the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition and join us in the fight to save these beautiful Mountains that define our State and define us. Let conservation and respect for the natural world be the legacy we leave our children.


Happy Saving
Laura

My love for a good Mason Jar!

I'm a West Virginia girl and besides my usual likes, beans and cornbread, sweet tea, Hillbilly Hotdog, and cowgirl boots, I also love Mason Jars! Growing up, I assumed the only thing you used a Mason Jar for was to drink sweet tea or Moonshine out of, or pickle something in. . .yum to all three!! Now that I'm a little older and a little wiser, I've followed in my mother's footsteps and have ventured into the world of  DIY'ers. I've been inspired over the last year to look for ways in which to reuse items we have around the apartment. Lenny and I  have become the King and Queen of finding curbside gems in NYC, (if you want to find cool art, take a stroll in the East Village before trash pickup and you're bound to find a painting that an art student has deemed unworthy). This new found love of all things reused and re-invented got me thinking about Mason Jars. A good WV girl has a plethora of MJ's, in various sizes, just sitting in cabinets waiting to be used. What to do with all that goodness? Well, take a gander at some of the cool ideas I have found. . .

First up. . . Mason Jar wine glasses!!! Merging two of my favorite things, wine and MJ's. I actually got some of these for my friends T. Stacey and Jim, (two amazing men raised below the Mason/Dixon Line), and they loved them!!! If you decided to make these yourself, all you need is 1). Mason Jar 2). Crazy glue 3). Candle Stick base for the bottom.

Next up. . .Festive Flower Vases! Why buy another flower vase when all you need is your trusty MJ and some earth friendly paint. This is an easy project that is great to do with kids. You can get their inner Picasso to take flight by having them paint their own masterpieces on each jar. They'll be creating and  learning about recycling all at the same time. These are definitely happening in our apartment! Make sure to check with your local art store for glass and environment friendly paints. 

One of my favorite ideas for the city. . .Mason Jar Herb Garden!! How perfect are these!?!? One thing I miss about West Virginia is my closeness to nature. Don't get me wrong, NYC is amazing, but sometimes I need to smell something Earthy, instead of concrete. These are a great idea for a small kitchen window and require nothing but love, dirt, water, and seeds. These are mounted in a very rustic chic way, but you could simply place the MJ's in a window. 

Yes to these. . .Mason Jar Salads!! The Earth friendly answer to a McShaker Salad. This is a great idea for anyone looking to make a big salad at the beginning of the week, while still wanting to take that salad to work everyday. Also, this is a way cheaper idea than going out and buying containers. Not to mention, it's a better investment for you and the environment than those pesky carcinogen leaking plastic containers. 

These are just a few of my favorite ideas, but the Internet is alive with MJ ideas for all occasions and settings. I bet my MawMaw Taylor never realized what her beloved Mason Jars would one day evolve into, than again I find that our ancestors were a little more Eco-wise than we are today. So, next time your sitting on your porch, fire escape, or balcony, take time to enjoy nature, breath in the air, and sip some tea out of one of the best inventions ever made, my beloved Mason Jar. 

Happy Saving!

Laura

Promises, Promises

Hello to 2013 and Ugh! to resolutions! They're the worst! That feeling of obligation you get when Dec. 31st rolls around and you give into the push that you need to set something in stone before New Year's.  Then the ultimate feeling of defeat when you screw up mid-January. Basically, I hate resolutions in the same way I hate diets. So this year I've decided instead of resolutions, I'm making a promise to myself. A promise to love and take better care of myself, enjoy each day and moment as it comes, a promise to live in the now, and ultimately a promise to be better to the people, animals, and surroundings around me. These promises aren't anything new, people make them all the time, but this year my number one promise is to love myself more and, by extension, be kinder to myself when I don't reach all my goals immediately. Which, to me, is not what I've done in resolutions of years past.

So far we are five days into the new year and just by promising to love myself more, I've already been able to wake up without coffee, do a daily shot of wheat grass, and take walks. Small things, but things that are already having a huge effect on my mental state. I'm not pressuring myself to get these things done each day, I just simply do them when the moment hits. So far I feel like a goddess in miniature.

So this year instead of making resolutions, try making a promise to yourself. A promise to LOVE instead of restrict, to PRACTICE what you preach instead of only preaching, and to GIVE time to enjoy nature instead of watching it on Animal Planet. Very simple promises that don't cost a thing and leave your body, mind, and spirit feeling like a goddess.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
- Buddha

Happy Saving!!
Laura

Autumn. . . a free form of Therapy!

As I sit here today, in the hospital, I can't help but feel inspired. Clearly inspiration has hit, since I am writing my first blog post in over 9 months. However, the inspiration I feel has come from what I see outside the room window. . .Fall. Plain and simple. Fall.

It's officially Fall here in the Midwest, so the trees have changed to magnificent colors of red, burgundy, gold, and yellows. There's crispness in  the air and apples all around. Football season is in full swing, school is in session, and PSL's are being made at every coffee house across the country.

Fall is my favorite time of year, by far. I'm a creature who looks forward to Halloween more than Christmas, I like to curl up with a hot coffee and a good book. . .outside, and I love the feeling of new beginnings that Fall brings. This last statement is a bit confusing, since we tend to view the changing of the season as the beginning transition to winter. A time of isolation, death, and deep sleep, before the renewal of birth in the Spring. However, I have always looked at Fall as a time when new promises begin. I feel my most creative in the fall, as though every artistic juice has waited until this moment to begin to flow out of me. I want to start new projects, new adventures, I want to see every bit of Nature before Winter sets in and the chill freezes everything.

Ask anyone and chances are Fall is their favorite season or at least their second favorite. And with Nature creating a bounty of goodness for us to share in, it's no wonder why we venture outside in crisp apple picking weather.

As I keep working toward my goal of being a runner. . .again (thank you Annie Foster, for  constantly reminding and inspiring me that I can do it), I also am pushing myself to get outside and hike, bike, and just enjoy glorious smells that surround each tree during this season. It's the cheapest form of therapy. Before prescription drugs, there was Nature as a healer. Let's face it, in this economy, finding cheaper forms of effective healthcare are a must.

I know that it seems strange that I should write about the healing properties of Fall, when my husband is in a hospital bed receiving man made treatment, but the truth is. . .his outlook on the whole situation is better thanks to the glorious view of Nature we have beside his bed.

So, if your having a bad day today, try lacing up a good pair of shoes and step outside. There's always room for prescription drugs, but I truly believe that if you pair it with the healing properties of nature, you will be well on your way to a happier, healthier life.

Happy Saving!

Laura

Kids Yoga: Inspiring Environmental Superheroes!!!

Hello earth savers!!


Today's blog is dedicated to the kids, more specifically to the mini yogis. That's right, the little toes that love to bark in downdog, hiss in cobra, and moo in cow. So sit back as we go on a yoga adventure!!!!

You know your mat, it's your home base in every yoga practice, the place you rest your body, the ground beneath your tree pose, or the object that turns any atmosphere into your own personal yoga studio. But, what if that yoga mat could transport you to a far away jungle, the moon, or far below the sea? Well if you join any one of the classes at Karma Kids Yoga, you will do just that. . .all you need is your imagination and a true feel for fun!


Karma Kids Yoga's Magical studio in NYC can be described in one word FUN! A simple word, yes, but a word that is sometimes lacking in most adult classes. Shari Vilchez-Blatt, creator and founder of Karma Kids Yoga, has created a space designed to inspire kids to move their bodies through yoga poses and engage their imagination with yoga games, puppets, and songs. It truly is a wonderful and magical space and I am thrilled everyday that I get to be a part of this group of teachers.

But how does a kids yoga studio, create the next generation of environmental superheroes? By inspiring kids to go beyond the mat, of course. By beyond the mat, I'm talking YOGA ADVENTURES! That's right, they use their mats as transportation vehicles to take them out of NYC and on to any place in the world and sometimes the universe. It's through these yoga adventures that kids meet new animals, learn their poses, and learn cool facts about each one. The smaller yogis show their compassion for animals by embracing alligator and shark puppets with love and hugs. A simple act of kindness, but one that could plant the seed for future understanding that all creatures great, small, fierce, or gentle need our help and our love. One class in particular I taught all about sharks and what we can do to save them!

It's not all about the poses at Karma Kids Yoga, games are also played in every class. Showing kids that stretching your brain, is just as important as stretching your body. Yoga games are also designed to help kids work together, problem solve, and challenge each other as well as themselves. One game in particular, a Karma Kids original called Toe-ga, requires you to use your yoga balance to pick up small fuzzy balls and place them in a bucket located on your mat. The great thing about Toe-ga, is it challenges the kids to see how many balls they can keep in their toes as they make their way back to their bucket. Start with one ball and work at getting more.

Yoga for kids doesn't stop at age 10. Older kids, well into their teens, feel the benefits of yoga. Yoga creates a safe place where kids can escape the pressures of school, peer pressure and technology, (phones are left in the dressing room :). Yoga class is also a great place where teens can touch on subjects not always touched on at school. Topics such as compassion, peace, environmental issues, and stress. I love asking the kids to list animals they know to be endangered. Once we list them, we try the poses inspired by the animal, and talk about ways we can help save them. We also talk about the environment and the issues that our planet is facing. Using yoga as a vehicle for change, we talk about how our own practice can help the world and people in need.

Lisa Fuere, a teacher at Karma Kids Yoga, and mother to son Sasha, shared a letter that her son had written to the principal at P.S 38, asking the teacher to create more programs for recycling in the school. Below I have included some quotes from his four page letter:

". . .I am determined to influence P.S. 38 to recycle more."
". . .If you recycle you can earn money. For instance we could go on a field trip to the beach to collect bottles. Then turn them into store. Finally, we could use the money for charity. This would be good for countries in need."

Sasha has been doing yoga since he was in his mothers belly and has continued to be taught the importance of compassion for all living things. When he isn't playing hockey, he can be found at Karma Kids rockin' out in my 10-12's class or spending quality time with his mom, in my Family Yoga class. His letter has truly inspired me to do more for this planet. That's Sasha below, rockin' out in Eagle pose.

No matter your age yoga can be beneficial, but for kids yoga can be a place where their imagination takes flight and their bodies become strong. It is the place where wellness warriors are inspired to become environmental superheroes!!!!

Happy Saving!!!

Laura


For a complete schedule of the amazing classes taught at Karma Kids Yoga and Peace In Studio, check out their website at

                                                               www.karmakidsyoga.com

"You say you want a revolution..."

OM Shanti Readers!!!

This week I had the great pleasure of doing my first Eco Teen discussion at Intergral Yoga in NYC. Thanks to my wonderful friend Erin Wilson (fellow Karma Kids Yogi), I got to spend some time with the inspiring students of James Baldwin High School, talking about everything from GMO's to Shark Fining. These kids definitely gave me a great gleam of hope for our future. Their questions and energy inspired me to take greater leaps in my own environmental journey, and for that I am so very thankful. This post is dedicated to them and I hope the links, books, and DVDs will help to further their fire!!!


We began our discussion with a word association game. I said a word and they responded by telling me the first words that came to their minds when hearing my word. Here are a few examples:

Me: Organic
Class: expensive, healthy, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Me: McDonalds
Class: bangin', greasy, clogged arteries, good, French fries

Me: global warming
Class: republicans, ice melting, pollutioMn, bad


We continued this game for a few more minutes, while I threw out new words like factory farming, finning, GMOs, Wall St., ect. Already I could see their enthusiasm at wanting to discuss these matters. It was from this jumping off point that we began to talk about Organics and their costs. Let's face it, Organics are expensive and sometimes it feels like only the rich can afford them. My point of view being that " healthy foods should be a right shared by all people, not a privilege for the rich", (this too can be said for healthcare). We began talking about changes to the system and how WIC programs are being accepted at Farmers Markets and health food stores.

Eventually we got to to a point where we started to see the bridge that connects factory farming to many of their favorite fast food chains, like MacDonalds. It was at this point that the question was asked, "if we're aware of the horrible conditions at factory farms, then why is no one doing anything about it?". That's when I began talking about "voting" with your fork. As long as the demand is there, they will continue to supply. Demand better, and they will have to change. MacDonalds can not survive without us, if we stop going, they will be forced to listen to the people.

By the end of our discussion, I could tell a fire had been lit. They were eager to learn how they could make a change and that made the future look very bright indeed!!!


Thank you James Baldwin High school for inspiring this green girl to become even More green.

Here are a list of books, DVDs, and links that have inspired me and my hope is that they continue to inspire others:

Jane Goddall's HARVEST FOR HOPE
Susan Casey's THE DEVILS TEETH
Michael Pollan's THE OMNIVORES DILEMMA
Alexandra Zissu's THE CONSCIENCE KITCHEN

www.seasheperd.org
www.sharksavers.org
www.tree hugger.com
www.wwf.org


DVDs

FOOD, INC
NO IMPACT MAN
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
THE 11th HOUR
FORKS OVER KNIVES


Happy Saving!!
Laura