Glue, Paper, Scissors

"Carmen Knowledge" by Neda K. Doany

Have you seen the blog Papiers Colles?

By now, you probably have, it was chosen as Blogs of Note. But if you haven't, you should.

It is truly a thing of inspiration. Artist Neda K. Doany has created beautiful, magical, whimsical collages while making it look easy and effortless along the way.

If you gaze into one of her images you will discover so much more than what's on the surface and I think that's what art is all about.

She also offers tips, instructions, advice and hope that you too can create such works of art in a short period of time (most of her work took 15 minutes!). That's what inspires me about her blog.

This is a perfect activity I can do with my children and express a bit of my creativity along the way.

Thank you Neda!

Taking the Plunge...again

photo by MSM

The countdown has begun. Six days until I begin another juice feast. I'm a bit nervous, somewhat apprehensive and very excited.

I've purchased a couple of the supplements and superfoods for the feast.

Last time around I chose MSM and bee pollen capsules to consume on the feast.

This time I got MSM powder and bee pollen granuales at my local Vitamin Cottage.

photo by Evolution Health

MSM or methyl sulfonyl methane, is a sulphur compound that occurs naturally in our bodies and in our most. Sulfur is the fourth largest mineral found in the human body. It is found in every cell of our body. Enough of the science lesson, this stuff is great for your nails, hair and skin.

For the juice feast I will take 1 tablespoon with a glass of lemon water working my way up to 3 tablespoons per day.

photo by Local Harvest

Bee Pollen...
contains essential amino acids and is a complete protein.
contains vitamins A, B Complex series C, D, E, K and Rutin.
has 28 Minerals needed for good health.
has enzymes and Co-Enzymes necessary for good digestion.
has no cholesterol

information provided by Pollen Power

Juicefeasting.com recommends no more than 1 tablespoon of the granules per day. Works for me.

The best advice I can give when it comes to bee pollen is to buy local. Also, taste a granule or two to test for allergies.

Later, I'll provide a complete list of the supplements and superfoods that I will use on my feast.

Gifts from Angels

photo by andipantz

Okay, I was sore about not completing my feast in May, old news, let's move forward.

Along the way, I have built a pretty cool blog by the name of The Daily Raw Cafe, gained a cool teen-aged stepson, done mini fasts (7-10 days) and have been 100% for about 20 days or so.

So, okay I've been busy.

For the last two months I have been itching to start another feast. How would that work with the Daily Raw Cafe?

I couldn't taste my own creations which totally bums me out.

I couldn't take a break from blogging recipes, I have subscribers to think of.

But I have this itch, you know?

I talked to my husband and he promised to be my official taster (he is my mentor, after all).

Cool, a few problems solved.

When to start? I don't know. November before Thanksgiving? December? January? IDK.

Last Monday, I meditated on it. Maybe more like prayed for a sign to guide me.

By Wednesday, two angels by the names of David and Katrina Rainoshek of Juicefeasting.com gifted me with 30 days membership to their site.

By Friday they invited me to join them in the Global Juice Feast starting in March 2008.

Although I appreciate the invitation, I wanted to start my feast sooner rather than later.

By David and Katrina entering my life in an extraordinary way, I feel I should move forward with my plans to start a feast before the year ends.

December 1 feels right for me. It gives me time to get my ducks in a row and it's during a time where I feel the most happy. I love holidays.

I studied their website and I am very amazed. It is a detailed, informative, supportive resource that I have taken advantage of since my membership started.

I want to thank David and Katrina for their precious gift and I will continue my membership when it expires.

I encourage anyone wanting to start a juice feast to visit Juicefeasting.com. You will not be disappointed.

And if you're ready to take the plunge do it will the world during Global Juice Feast.

Cheers!

Terilynn

Falling Stars, to-do list and the start of a Feast

photo by spellcheck

“I am like a falling star who has finally found her place next to another in a lovely constellation, where we will sparkle in the heavens forever.” - Amy Tan, writer

Today on my morning walk in the park I say a falling star. It's been awhile since I had seen one and I thought it was important enough to write about. It didn't hold a special spiritual meaning to me. It was just one of those things that happens once in a blue moon.

I have always wanted to create a list of things to do before you die. But it seems so morbid to me. I know I'm going to die but who really wants to think about such things, especially having children.

You hope to be there for them for a very, very long time. And besides, I don't have the patience to wait a hundred years to get things done.

I decided on a compromise. I will make the "to-do" list that I have dreamed about but I will try to complete the list before my feast ends.

This (for me) accomplishes two things.

1. I'm doing something that I have always wanted in a shorter period of time.

AND

2. If I'm concentrating on the list and not necessarily the feast, I could be less obsessive over the fact that I'm not eating solids for 92 days.

So here is my "to-do" list of things I wish to accomplish during my feast. The guidelines are pretty flexible. I can add or delete as I see fit, it is my list, after all.

photo by marchonelectricchildren

1. Start my 92-day Juice Feast on Dec. 1, 2007

2. Don't shave my body hair for 92 days. - As a kid I remember reading once that Madonna didn't save her armpits for a period of time and I was fascinated by that. Weird, but it stuck with me so I'm going to try it.

3. Send a message in a bottle.

4. Learn to play the harmonica.

5. Write my will. - This is one of those things you don't want to think about but it's a step that's very important for the future of my children. For me, this feast is about concurring fears and doing things that don't feel comfortable but are necessary to be an adult in my eyes. Now is the time to take that responsibility.

photo by smilingsushi

6. Learn to juggle with 3 balls.

7. Spend three months getting my body into optimum health.

8. Grow and maintain a kitchen garden.

9. Be a tourist in my own town. - Something I've always wanted to do but never took the time.

10. Learn my directions. - Everyone in Colorado talks North, South, East, West when it comes to giving out directions. I've lived here for decades and I'll still ask left or right. I know the mountains are in the West and the opposite direction is East but that is as far as my knowledge goes.

11. Take a self-defense class.

12. Study my runes. Something I have neglected.

13. Do 100 push ups in a row.

14. Take a tasteful, sexy picture for my husband.

15. Attend a film festival party.

photo by kirkshoe

16. Participate in an inipi ceremony. - I've wanted to do this for about three years, I think this will be a good time to explore that.

17. Have a colonic done. - Fun times to be had with this one, right?

18. Read all the raw cookbooks I own cover-t0-cover. -Approximately 30 books.

19. Visit a real haunted house.

20. Visit a castle.

21. Get pampered at a day spa.

22. Get a Vitamix. -It's about time that I owned one of these bad boys.

23. Video tape my juice feasting experience.

photo by moonpix7

24. Weigh myself only twice; the beginning and the end.

25. Meditate daily.

26. Write to a celebrity and tell them about the phenomenal powers of raw food and juice feasting.

27. Send a secret to Post Secret. I love that blog!

28. Watch the Secret.

29. Read 10 books that others find inspirational.

photo by marcoxavier01
30. Join a book club. I love to read!

31. Volunteer more.


That should keep me busy for awhile. If more ideas pop in my mind, I'll add them.

Inspiration Board

Inspiration - a thing or person that inspires

Life - the universal condition of human existence

Do you have an inspirational board? I do. It's just a basic cork board with pictures (mostly of my children), funny picture postcards, sometimes notes, recipes and anything else that inspires me.

Inspiration:Life will have the same sort of function. It will be a place to chat about my inspirations and to write about my Juice Feast.

For those who don't know, in May of 2007 I started a 92-day Juice Feast, 28 days later it ended.

If it weren't for the feasting blog I wouldn't have the Daily Raw Cafe. It inspired me to continue the blogging and to start a compilation of raw food recipes. I am so thankful for those 28 days and I will cherish them. It was a major inspiration in my life.

But, not completing my feast has weighed on me. I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment. It's silly, I know this. It's human, I know this, also.

I'm not sure if or when I will share this blog with anyone. Maybe someone will find it, maybe not.

Maybe, I'll tell readers from The Daily Raw Cafe. To be quite honest, I'm not sure yet.

How will this time be different? I don't know.

I do know that I'm going to go with the flow and let my body be my guide and inspire me.

In a day or so I'll share about the start date of the feast and discuss the amazing coincidence that sealed the deal for me to start the feast sooner rather than later.