We wish you a Very Merry Christmas! 

From our family to yours,

Michael, Tamera, Nicholas, Annie and Jayden

Please Vote!

Once again, E3Live is a contender! Please log on to www.bestofrawfoods.com and vote for your favorite E3Live product!

A big thank you, as always, for your support! We truly appreciate and value all of the wonderful people around the world who make E3Live a part of their healthy lifestyle!

- With love, 
  Tamera

Turmeric Quinoa Pilaf

I'm not normally a New Year's resolution maker, but this year, I decided to go ahead and make one. And, since there's no time like the present, I'm jumping right in, even if the calendar still says it's December.

My resolution is to use turmeric in my cooking every day of the week. Sound extreme? I think not. Here's why.

There is a lot of research being done on the components of turmeric, and the results are pretty darned impressive. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric is being looked at as a potential treatment for an array of diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, allergies, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other chronic diseases. Pretty impressive, right?

Cold Weather Veggie Roast

I've always loved spending time in my kitchen, putting together different combinations of tastes and textures. I'm just as happy following someone else's recipe as I am creating my own dishes. I've been cooking for quite a few years, and the thing I've noticed is, sometimes the best recipes are the most simple ones. 

Cold Weather Veggie Roast is one of my very favorites. It's foolproof, you can use any combination of vegetables you have on hand and it is absolutely delicious. Here's a version I made recently with some organic veggies I picked up at the market. Cold Weather Veggie Roast can be eaten warm or chilled, as a main dish, a side, added to soups and salads, stuffed into tortillas - really, its uses are limited only by your imagination! Use organic vegetables when available.

Cold Weather Veggie Roast

Preheat oven to 400 F.

1/4 lb  broccoli

2 sweet potatoes

2 carrots

1 stalk leeks

1/4 lb okra

1 Italian eggplant

3 cloves garlic

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

Fresh rosemary

Ground black pepper to taste

Sea salt to taste

1/4 cup olive oil (optional)

Wash all the vegetables, chop them into large chunks and put into a large bowl.  Mash the garlic. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, rosemary, grapeseed oil, sea salt and pepper.  Pour this mixture on top of the chopped vegetables, and mix well to coat the vegetables evenly.

Spread in a single layer on to a large cookie sheet and put into the oven for 30-45 minutes. After removing the roasted veggies from the oven, you can toss them with olive oil for a mediterranean flavor. Use combinations of different herbs and vegetables for variety!

The Chicken Pox Blues

We have a new visitor at our house! 

Chicken pox. 

One at a time, each of my children has been singing the ol' Chicken Pox Blues.

On the bright side,  I'm turning into quite the chicken pox expert. Maybe I'll even achieve master level by the time the last spot has faded from the last kid.

The night before Nicholas broke out in the pox, we had just finished reading a short novel called "The Trouble with Chickens!" What are the odds, right? So, when he came to me the next morning, complaining bitterly about the itchy red bumps, I looked at him, smiled and said, "That's the trouble with chickens!" My poor baby. But, at least my little joke made him laugh and roll his eyes at me. And that, in turn, made me laugh! So, we managed to make the best out of a bad situation.  Plus, I now have a new affectionate nickname for my biggest boy. I call him "polka dot".

Right before I sat down to write this, I had just made and placed in front of him his third green drink of the day. Luckily, I had my phone in hand and was able to catch his reply in this picture. In case you can't tell, he's saying "Noooooooooooooooooo, not another green drink! How many of these do I have to have?"

Teach Your Children Well

We almost never watch TV at our house. We just have too much living to do, and, really, most of what's on TV isn't worth watching, anyway. But, every once in a while, I do turn on certain shows that I find interesting. One of these shows is The Biggest Loser. I love seeing the contestants confront their demons, push through their perceived limits and transform their lives.

This season, there's a woman on the show named Tanya who really got my attention. Her lifestyle had deteriorated so much that she gained over a hundred pounds with her last pregnancy, and her baby was born grossly overweight at 11 pounds 6 ounces. Now 2 years old, Tanya's daughter is at risk for many diseases and will be climbing an uphill battle all her life. I cried right along with Tanya when she broke down and said, "I did this to her."

And it made me think of the millions of American children who are eating fake, processed foods, and leading unhealthy, sedentary lives. When I was a child, I played outside with my friends, walked or rode my bike around town and rarely sat around the house. Contrast that with today's electronic culture of video games, TV, computers, smart phones, streets empty like ghost towns. These days, when I see kids playing outside, I'm actually surprised by it. I can't tell you how sad this makes me.

Add to this the explosion of "convenience foods", and we've got the perfect mix for a whole generation of people at risk for all kinds of diseases, from diabetes to heart disease to stroke to cancer.  It is estimated that one third of all American children and adolescents are overweight or obese. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around this number. These children will, in all likelihood, grow up to be overweight adults, and I think of all the missed opportunities, the heartbreak, the economic toll on society that will follow.

And, when I think of these children, Tanya's words echo in my mind. Children do not get fat in a vacuum. There is a whole society that sets up the conditions for this to happen. But, the situation is not hopeless. To paraphrase Gandhi, we must all strive to make the changes in ourselves that we wish to see in the world.

Do we model appropriate behavior to our children? Do we make time to teach them how to make healthful meals from real, fresh ingredients or do we microwave frankenfoods to give to them during the car ride to the shopping center, where we will circle the parking lot to find the spot nearest to the entrance of the store? Do we collapse in front of the TV after dinner or do we take a walk around the neighborhood and take the time to talk to one another about the events of the day? When our children have something to say, do we give them our undivided attention, or are we staring at our smartphones?

Small changes add up to big consequences. Be mindful. Make good choices. And, remember, children are always watching and learning. What are we teaching them?

You Never Know Until You Try

People sometimes call me crazy, but I don't mind. I guess I just really love dancing to the beat of my own drum. If I get an idea to do something and it seems impossible, I go for it anyway. After all, if you don't even try, then you've already lost. 

So, when my family and I enjoyed a particularly sweet and delicious pineapple a couple of years ago, I thought how wonderful it would be if I could grow more like it. Now, I should tell you that we were at corporate headquarters in Oregon at the time, in a region that experiences snow and freezing temperatures for several months of the year.  But, I didn't let that stop me. 

I twisted the top of the pineapple off, pulled off the leaves, leaving a 3/4 inch of the stem bare, then planted it in a big pot using organic bagged soil. I wanted to give it the best chance of success that I could, so I put my little plant in a northwest corner window, knowing that it would get regular sun in the afternoon all year long. I watered it once a week, just like all of my other houseplants, and gave it no fertilizer at all.

Well, wouldn't you know it? My patience finally paid off. Two and a half years later, my efforts were rewarded with a little 5 inch pineapple springing right up from that original pineapple top. Now, I don't know if it will grow to be big and delicious like a Hawaiian pineapple, but just the excitement of my very own pineapple growing in a pot in Oregon is reward enough!

You can try it for yourself. If nothing else, you'll have an exotic plant to enjoy, and who knows, you might get gifted with a baby pineapple just like I did.

Like I always say, you never know until you try.

A Nut Above

'Tis the season again! Time to wrap ourselves in cozy sweaters, run through noisy leaves lining the sidewalks and enjoy cold weather foods. And, whether  or not you roast them, chestnuts should be one of those foods. I love to eat them raw because they're crunchy and just a little "juicy".  Every fall, when they show up at my local stores and farmers markets, I make sure to buy them every time I'm out. My family and I love these little gems. If I didn't know just how exceptionally healthful they are, I'd feel a bit guilty about indulging in their deliciousness. 

But, because Google is my friend, I know a thing or two, about a thing or two. For example:

• Compared to other nuts and seeds, chestnuts are relatively low in calories and fat, so you don't have to be quite as careful about limiting portion size. 
• Chestnuts are a good source of dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and phyto-nutrients.
• Surprisingly, chestnuts are exceptionally rich in Vitamin C, folates (which are usually found in leafy green vegetables), iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium.
• If you're needing mono-unsaturated fats like oleic and palmitoleic acids in your life (and, really, who isn't) then you should be eating chestnuts!
• Want a good source of the B-complex vitamins? Chestnuts.
• Manganese! Chestnuts have got it. In fact, a 3 ounce serving of chestnuts will give you 50 percent of your recommended daily intake. Why is manganese important? Well, it's an antioxidant that reduces the risk of cancer and heart disease, while also helping with connective tissue health and blood clotting. Studies are beginning to indicate that manganese plays a key role in slowing down the aging process.
• Chestnuts are naturally gluten-free.
• The trace mineral copper is necessary for bone strength, red blood cell formation, nerve function and a strong immune system, and a 3 ounce serving of chestnuts gives you 22 percent of the recommended daily value.

So, how's that for an unassuming-looking little brown nut? Pretty impressive, if you ask me. Go get some chestnuts, crack them open and enjoy crunching on them, knowing that you are definitely doing your body good!

Where Have You Bean All My Life?

If you're like me, when you think of greens, beans aren't the first things that pop into your mind. But I'm about to change that!

While all other beans are allowed to mature before being dried, green beans, also called string beans, are picked while still young and tender, when the inner beans have just begun to form. That's what makes them edible raw or slightly cooked, pods and all.  Green beans have recently been shown to have very strong anti-oxidant capacity. We can see the presence of highly concentrated chlorophyll in the beautiful, bright green color of string beans, but what we can't see is the other good stuff  - lutein, beta-carotene, vilaxanthin and neoxanthin. These are nutrients we normally associate with red and orange produce like carrots and tomatoes. Like I always say, don't judge a book by its cover.

Sadly, we are used to seeing this gorgeously green plant overcooked to a dull khaki color, with a limp and unappetizing mouth feel. If used at all, green beans are a way to fill space on a plate, and rarely take the spotlight as the stars that they really are! Here's a recipe that I make at least once a week, by popular request. It can be eaten warm, but I think it's best served chilled. I make a big batch and put it in the refrigerator for a quick snack or a scrumptious side dish. It sure beats the heck out of potato chips, both for flavor and nutrition. 

Out of This World Green Beans
(with raw option)

1/2 lb fresh green beans, washed
3 cloves fresh garlic
3 Tablespoons raw sesame seeds
chili paste to taste
3 Tablespoons sesame oil
Sea salt to taste

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add the green beans and blanche until bright green. This should take no more than 3-5 minutes. We want to bring out the color and the crunch in the beans, so be careful not to overcook. Drain and set aside.

If you choose to make a raw recipe, skip the above step and, instead, carefully wash the green beans. Set aside.

Grind the sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle. You can find these anywhere, ranging in price from under $10 to over $100. No need to get fancy, just get one that you like and that fits your budget. You don't need to crush all the seeds, just a lot of them. So it will resemble a coarse powder with some seeds still intact. Empty this into a big bowl. Add garlic to the mortar and top with some sea salt. The salt helps break down the consistency of the garlic, as well as adding flavor to the dish. Grind the garlic with the pestle until it becomes a paste. Add the garlic to the sesame in the bowl. Top it off with your choice of chili paste and the sesame oil and mix well. Transfer the drained green beans to the bowl and carefully work it around with a large wooden spoon to coat the beans with the sesame mixture.

And you're done! The next time you're craving a savory snack, this delicious and nutritious snack will be as close as your refrigerator.

For more variety, try this recipe with asparagus or broccoli!

Product Review - Against All Grain

People often say to me, "Tamera, you must have the healthiest diet of anyone I know. How do you get your kids to eat so clean?"

Well, a few answers come to mind. I'm not perfect and I certainly don't have it all figured out. While I do have a lot of knowledge about health and nutrition, the simple fact is that each individual body has its own needs, and there is no cure-all diet for everyone. The truth is that I am always learning and modifying based on new research that comes out, plus my own personal observations about how the foods we eat affect my family and me. More about that in a minute. 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Starfruit

I have a friend who is a master gardener. Her lush organic garden is not only a feast for the eyes, but also provides the most delicious fruits and vegetables I have ever tasted. We love to walk through her garden and enjoy fresh snacks that we pick ourselves straight from the earth. 

Recently, she gifted us with a bag of the tastiest little star fruits. My kids were so excited to experience this "funny looking" food and they each chose the one they would eat. Though you can certainly bite right into star fruits as you would apples or pears, I knew that cutting them into slices would be a lot more fun.

Guest Post - Dr. Walter J. Urban

When we wake up in the morning, we start our routine for the day. Each of us has our own special way of starting the day. Mine starts with an exercise I do in bed to slowly wake up my body.

Part of the exercise focuses on my heart as I repeat the words "heart, love and compassion." This brings my awareness to my heart. As the day progresses, we get busy with our program of things to do. Little attention is paid to our heart, as it does its job automatically. 

Take a minute and listen to your heart. Is it saying anything? Is there a message for you?

Are you on automatic, or can you stop and listen to your heart?

How would your actions and thoughts change if you could hear your heart? If you make time for your heart's message, your day may become more fulfilling. Where is the love, the loved ones - who are they? Where is the compassion - do you have any? What does your heart say each day?

Listen to your heart.

SOS

We had a lovely summer, and before we knew it, it was almost time for the kids to go back to school again. I wanted to spend some special time with my children before hopping onto the crazy happy merry-go-round of school-dance-piano-homework-sports-friends-etc. So, we decided to take a road trip, hang out together and just really enjoy being a family. In the twelve days that we spent driving around the country, we got that and so much more than we could have ever anticipated.

Upon entering Kansas, we spotted a note hanging from the "Welcome to Kansas" sign.  Well, curiosity being our calling card, we just had to investigate. This is what we found:

World's Best Sugar-Free Dessert Recipe!

Want to satisfy your sweet tooth and get a giant helping of calcium, folate, potassium, beta carotene and Vitamin C? Have I got the dessert for you! And so easy to make, anyone can do it. Even your kids!

I use the sweet potatoes with the orange flesh in many different recipes. I just love their mildly spicy/sweet flavor and smooth texture. And they are so versatile! They can be used beautifully in both sweet and savory dishes.

For those who are watching their blood sugar levels (and really, we all should be), sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index. And their high content of potassium makes them the perfect food for avoiding muscle cramps, especially in very active people.

Before I get to the recipe, here's a short video about the difference between sweet potatoes and yams. (Hint: what the stores label as yams are more than likely sweet potatoes.)




World's Best Sugar-Free Dessert
             
2 medium sized sweet potatoes (with the red skin)
1 lemon

Makes two servings.

Preheat oven to 375. Thoroughly wash and dry sweet potatoes, then place in a baking dish. Be sure that the dish is big enough that the potatoes aren't touching one another or the sides of the dish. Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until soft to the touch. Remove from oven, cut open the skin and scoop out the flesh into a bowl. Alternately, you can cut open the skin and leave the flesh in. Either way, take a fork and mash the sweet potato until smooth and creamy, then squeeze some lemon juice on top. I really love the taste of lemon, so I go pretty heavy handed with it, but you can add as much or as little as you like. And that's it! You can serve this dish hot, warm, or cold, it is delicious in any form. I like it cold during the warmer months and warm in the colder months.

My kids have a great time making the Best Sugar-Free Dessert. They mash the potato and form it into fun shapes on their plates and garnish with raisins, nuts, cinnamon, or their very favorite, dried currants.

Honor the Elderly

All too often, we see a wrinkled face, a bent back, a slow shuffling step, and we are quick to jump to conclusions about the person living in that body. We may not even be aware that we are falling into the easy trap of discounting a person's worth simply because their bodies, and sometimes their minds, have grown feeble with age. Let's remember that we all start as soft, tiny human beings, taking in the wonder of the world with new eyes. Years may change our outsides, but, within, we all carry the spirit that is ever ourselves throughout our entire lives.

If I ever find myself judging an elderly person for what they are no longer able to do, I try to picture them at their strongest, most vibrant age, and that helps me relate to them as a fellow human being, not just an "old person". Take time to engage an elderly person in conversation, and I promise, you will be the better for it. We have much to teach each other and much to learn. Will you find time in your life to honor the elderly?

The Best Gift Ever

Being a mom is a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions. Anyone who's ever been a parent will tell you that it's the hardest job in the world. And most of them will also say that they wouldn't trade it for anything. I am one of those people. I can't even begin to imagine my life without my children. Sometimes the word "love" just doesn't seem big enough to describe what I feel for them.

But there are those times when I just need a moment to clear my head. Like the other day, Nicholas and Jayden were bickering, the same way brothers all throughout time have done. Usually I let them resolve their differences on their own. They need to learn how to get along with people without having mommy step in to make everything all right. But on this particular day, they just couldn't come to an understanding and it got a little bit much. So I made sure that there was nothing seriously wrong and then I went outside and took a long walk. The fresh air and the sight of serene Klamath Lake helped refresh my mind, and, by the time I returned home, I was ready to deal with anything the kids had in store for me. 

What I got, was this:

I beamed at my daughter, wrapped her up in a bear hug and covered her with kisses. 

"Open it, mama!"

I did. 

And everything was perfect.

Guest Post - Heirloom Gazpacho with Grapefruit and Basil

If you've never visited Elana Horwich's Meal and a Spiel, you are definitely missing out! She's funny and smart and boy, does she have the best recipes around!

I asked Elana if she had any yummy no-cook recipes for hot summer days and she came through with flying colors! This nutritious and insanely good soup takes a little bit of time, but the results are definitely worth it. 

Here is the recipe, and if you want to know the story behind it, click here. Thank you, Elana!

Heirloom Gazpacho with Grapefruit and Basil

makes 4 cups gazpacho

4 servings or 15-18 large shot-glass appetizer portions

• 1 pound red or reddish-brown ripe heirloom tomatoes or 4 or 5 large vine ripened tomatoes
• 1 large yellow ripe heirloom tomato, chopped finely
• 1 English cucumber, cut into 1 inch rounds
• 1 red onion, peeled and quartered
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• one grapefruit
• a handful of fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips

1. Cut red tomatoes in half and use a spoon to scoop out seeds. (With heirlooms, you might need to be a little creative to get seeds out. Just do it and don’t stress it. It’s all good. You are on the way to making a delicious gazpacho.)
2. Put red tomatoes, half of the cucumbers, one quarter of the onion, the sherry vinegar and one teaspoon of salt in your food processor until fully puréed.
3. Pour into a large bowl.
4. Add the rest of the cucumbers and 2 quarters of the onion (you will have one quarter remaining) and pulse into finely chopped. Do NOT over process or you will lose the crunch in your soup. Push the PULSE button in this rhythm: pulse-pulse-pulse-pulse. Until finely chopped.
5. Add chopped onion and cucumbers to bowl of purée.
6. Add most of the chopped yellow tomatoes to purée and the last ½ teaspoon of salt. Leave a small handful of the yellow tomato pieces for garnish.
7. Cover and chill in fridge for an hour to allow flavors to meld.
8. Cut off all the peel of the grapefruit including all of the pith, the bitter white inner skin. Chop the grapefruit into ¼- ½ inch pieces, avoiding the seeds.
9. To serve, place in small bowls or shot glasses and top with a few pieces of grapefruit, a few pieces of yellow tomato and a pinch of basil strips.

Free Webinar with Dr. Brian Clement of the Hippocrates Health Institute!

Do you have questions about health and nutrition? Are you confused about conflicting information coming at you from news reports, forwarded e-mails, Facebook posts and a million other sources? Then you're in luck!

Tomorrow, July 30, at 7:30 pm Eastern Time, Dr. Brian Clement of the Hippocrates Health Institute is holding a free webinar open to anyone interested in learning more about health. If you're unfamiliar with Dr. Brian Clement and HHI, click here to read his impressive biography.

On this live call, you can ask questions about health or listen in as Dr. Brian personally answers questions and concerns, sharing personal wisdom gained over the last 45+ years about The Real Truth About Health.

Learn the latest health news and trends.
Learn the truth about which foods, supplements and lifestyle choices really are in your highest short and long term good and which aren't.

Ask Dr. Brian - Is there a question you have NOT been able to get a good solid answer to?
Where do you go to get the information you need? Are you choosing the best course of action? This is your chance to ask Dr. Brian Clement any question you have regarding health, nutrition and supplementation.

Listen live as people worldwide get answer to health concerns.

To join the hundreds of other people already registered for this free webinar, click here.

I hope that you will join me in taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to benefit from Dr. Brian's extensive knowledge and experience!

-Tamera

It's Harvest Season!

This is my favorite time of year! The sun is shining, our veggie garden is overflowing with greens, and we are back in Oregon, busy harvesting the wonderfully nutritious blue-green algae that grows in Klamath Lake.

Many people have questions about our E3Live, and I'd like to take a moment to answer them for you.

First off, no, this is not the same type of algae that grows in your pool if you stop paying your pool guy to show up and work his wonder. There are literally thousands of types of algae, and, while some are disgusting and even deadly, that is not the case with Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, or AFA for short. 

AFA is the single-cell super food that grows abundantly in the warm, shallow, mineral-rich waters of Klamath Lake in Southern Oregon. While many other nutritious algae are grown in vats and cement troughs, our AFA, sold under our brand name E3Live, is wild harvested. 

What does that mean? It means that we let Mother Nature combine the raw ingredients of sunlight, minerals and water and all we do is simply go out on the lake and harvest the results. No troughs, no vats. Just the pristine lake and the "magic" of nature. We give careful attention to selecting and harvesting the freshest AFA blooms, put them through our quality-controlled purification process, then bottle and freeze them before sending out for our clients to enjoy! 

Each and every bottle of our E3Live naturally contains more than 65 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids. But all this good stuff doesn't mean anything unless your body can use it! Because the fresh liquid form of AFA is readily absorbed by your body, you can be sure that you are receiving the maximum benefits of all these nutrients. 

I'm also often asked what is the best way to use E3Live. My answer? Whatever your imagination can dream of! Add it to smoothies and juices, combine it with water, take it as a "shot" of pure energy, make it into ice cubes, add it to cold soups - anything goes, provided that you do not cook it.

Here's Jayden enjoying a peanut butter and algae sandwich, fresh from the harvester. 

AFA is more dense when first harvested, and therefore, easier to spread on bread. While E3Live in the bottle is in a more liquid form than AFA straight out of the lake, you can still enjoy this sandwich if you're not on the harvester with us! Just mix some E3Live into some raw nut butter, spread it on organic bread (preferably home made!), and you have a nutritious, delicious and very filling snack for the whole family to enjoy!

I hope that I've given you plenty of information to answer your questions, but if there's anything else you'd like to know, just ask in the comments section and I'll be sure to answer you!

Til next time -

Tamera

What is Joy?

With three children and a business to tend to, I find myself slipping into “functioning mom” mode pretty often. I’m usually so busy doing what needs to get done - supervising all the kids’ activities, cooking, cleaning, solving problems, big and small – that, at the end of the day, I’m often left wondering, “Where did the time go?” And, sometimes, during the late hours after everyone else has gone to bed, I feel totally depleted, like I have nothing left to give. 

That is very hard for me to admit to.

Do I love my children more than life itself? Absolutely. No question about it. I truly adore the day-to-day life of being a mom. Even the mundane parts, like reminding the kids to pick up after themselves or brush their teeth. And I cherish every moment of this fleeting time with my precious ones, because I know that, in what will seem like the blink of an eye, they will be grown and have lives independent of me.

That’s why I cringe with surprised disappointment when that little voice whispers to me every once in a while, “What about me?”

Guest Post - Jessica Wick

Chasing Butterflies

These days our lives are busy, rushed, and filled with technology. While technology makes our lives easier it can cause a disconnect with those around you, especially your children. It is important to take the time from your schedule several times a week to enjoy simple activities that will help you bond with your children. My personal favorite – chasing butterflies!

Chasing butterflies is as fun and as simple as it sounds. Do you remember chasing them as a child? We use a camera instead of a butterfly net in our family to prevent any unwanted injuries to our beautiful flying friends. It doesn’t have to be butterflies. It could be flowers, rocks, rivers or anything else you find pretty and exciting. Pick something that you both enjoy finding and make each trip an adventure. It can be a new activity each time.

Keep your camera available during your outings. The pictures are fun to use in a scrapbook or for starting a collection. Keeping a record of your fun is a great bonding experience (do arts and crafts together) and the results are something you will cherish for years to come. You also catch some of the best photos of your children when they are playing instead of posing for the camera.

Keep things simple when you go out to chase your butterflies. Turn off your cell phone and give yourself and your child the time you need to relax and enjoy life. Talk to them about their day and discuss their hopes and dreams. Take the time to connect and know them as well as yourself. It provides the opportunity to be comfortable in each other’s company without expectations.

The goal is not to catch your butterflies – it is to bond with your kids. It is taking the time to be a part of their life in simple ways. Start when they are young and continue it throughout their years for a better relationship. If you make the time to talk about small things they will feel more comfortable coming to you for the big things.

What kind of butterflies do you chase?

Jessica Wick is one of our very own E3Live employees, she enjoys teaching her three children about organic gardening, has a horse, a goat, 2 dogs and a flock of chickens that also love E3Live!

A Moment to Reflect

It seems like everyone is busy these days. We're busy working, taking the kids to their various activities, doing the million and one chores that keep a household going, etc, etc. Very rarely do we take the time to just be. I came across this video and it had a profound effect on me. It's become my favorite way to remind myself of what's really important in life.

Take a few moments to watch and reflect on the message here. You'll be glad you did.

Meal and a Spiel Cure for a Hangover

I often receive messages from people who have incorporated E3Live into maintaining and improving their health. And I love it! It is so rewarding to know that the work we do makes a positive impact in the world.

Recently, a wonderful lady by the name of Elana Horwich wrote to tell me about how much she loves E3Live. What's unusual about Elana is that she writes a blog and makes videos around the subject of living a life that is in balance between being both indulgent AND healthy. Now, that's a lady after my own heart! Go check her out at Meal and a Spiel, you'll be glad you did! 

Here's Elana giving some really great tips about curing a hangover. I don't drink alcohol, but if you do, I'm sure you'll love Elana's advice.




Elana and I are planning some exciting collaborations and can't wait to share them with you! Stay tuned to see what we've got in store!

Til next time,

Tamera

Guest Post - Montino Bourbon

I fell in love, I was betrayed, and now...

I still remember my first taste of catchup; I must have been about 6 years old, in Austria, visiting my brother-in-law's relatives. There was a mysterious red sauce in a bottle, and I was allowed to taste it. It was doled out like liquid gold, and as far as I'm concerned, it was.

When I arrived in the United States at age 8, in 1950, I soon became acquainted with Heinz tomato ketchup, and it quickly became my favorite condiment. Adults used to say that I put catchup on everything. “I'll bet that he even puts ketchup on ice cream” they used to say of my fondness for what I consider to be the ultimate sauce. 

Years later, I actually tried out catchup on ice cream.  

It was an experience I need not repeat. 

But at least I gave the lie to those who said that I “even put catch up on ice cream”. I sometimes wear a T shirt that says “I put catchup on my catchup”. I have been known to compose poems to catchup, such as:

       One sauce to rule them all, one sauce to find them

       One sauce to put on the scrambled eggs and thereby bind them

Recently, I found out that Heinz had sold out to Monsanto, the ultimate betrayal. I resolved that I was going to make acceptable catchup at home, and so I researched recipes. It turns out that in the old days, catchup was fermented. I found a recipe and made up this batch, fermented it for 5 days as directed, and now have decanted it. The next time I have scrambled eggs, I will put it to the ultimate test.

I have taken a solemn vow; no more Heinz. It breaks my heart, but it'll be better for both of us. I cannot countenance this betrayal and remain in this sick relationship. I'll remember you fondly, from back when you were just a simple American company, but I do not intend to let any of your products pass my lips ever again. 

I am resolved to make the best catchup ever.

Cry bitter tears, Heinz; you have lost your most faithful customer.

Here is a very simple recipe for non-fermented catchup.

one 6-ounce can tomato paste
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
Very finely chopped onion and garlic, to taste

Mix all ingredients together, simmer for about half an hour, then refrigerate. 

The next time I write, I will tell you all about fermented ketchup, which is the way that ketchup used to be made in the “old days”. And yes, there are a variety of spellings; from the original “ketjap", we now have ketchup, catchup, catsup, and a few others.

Montino Bourbon

Just One Thing

Recently, I was reading through the Harvard Business Review and came upon a blog post called To Change Effectively, Change Just One Thing . I know, the Harvard Business Review sounds like it might, at most, inspire a giant yawn, but it’s actually full of fascinating and surprisingly easy to read tidbits. Take a look sometime, you’ll probably get hooked just like I did.

This particular article began by focusing on how changing just one thing about one’s diet can lead to significant and sustained weight loss. Now, I don’t really need to lose weight, but I am interested in learning and improving as much as I can, so I kept reading. And I was glad that I did, because the author then went on to discuss how the “change one thing” principle can also be applied to business and to life in general.

That got me thinking about the one thing I could change right now that would impact my life. 

I’ve been dealing with a challenging situation for a while. It involves someone that I’ve done business with for many years, who seems to always have their hand out, asking for more and more. I finally came to the difficult conclusion that it was not an equitable situation, and that I was being taken advantage of.

I’m a giver by nature – it feels good and it attracts people of a like mind. However, I’ve found that it also, unfortunately, attracts the takers. So, I’ve had to take a really hard look at a life lesson that’s been staring me in the face – how to discern between those who share my love of giving and those who merely take advantage of it. This is not an easy thing to do! I would much rather give without reservations and have life be nothing but rainbows and unicorns. 

Product Review: Aubrey Organics GPB

We all use personal care and beauty products – in fact, it’s a multi-billion dollar a year industry worldwide. In recent years, companies have been responding to the needs of consumers for more natural, earth-friendly and cruelty-free offerings, and that’s great. But, compared to Aubrey Organics, they’re all Johnny-come-lately’s.  Here’s Aubrey’s story (and yes, there really WAS an Aubrey) from the Aubrey Organics website:

A pioneer in natural hair and skin care, Aubrey Hampton paved the way for a fledging natural products industry in the 1960s by making plant-based, synthetic-free personal care products on his own terms. Today his hair, skin and body care line is sold all over the world, but his connection to natural ingredients goes back to his father's organic farm in southern Indiana, where his mother made her own herbal beauty products at home.

A phytochemist and herbalist, he founded Aubrey Nature Labs in 1967 with just two products — Relax-R-Bath and GPB Hair Conditioner — simple beginning he quickly grew into the multi-national, multi-million dollar company that bears his name. Through the years Aubrey created over 200 hair, skin and body care products, which are internationally recognized as the most natural herbal products available. Nearly every health food store in the United States and Canada carries his products, which are also sold throughout Europe, Asia and South America.

"You don't have to find out you're dying to start living."

I first heard about Zach Sobiech when a friend shared a post about him on Upworthy. Zach passed away on May 20, 2013 from a rare form of cancer. Every year, cancer is responsible for cutting short the lives of millions of people and forever altering the lives of millions more.  Each of their stories is unique and tragic in its own way. Here's Zach's. It may be difficult to watch, but I promise that it's worth your time.




If you like Zach's music, you can buy his album on iTunes here. It's $5.99 and the proceeds go to a research fund set up on his behalf. Or you can donate money to the research fund directly here.

I am not affiliated in any way with Zach Sobiech, his family, iTunes or the Children's Cancer Research Fund. I just really want to share this extraordinary story of a young man who rose above circumstances to be a shining example to all of us.

With love and gratitude, 
Tamera

Update from Upworthy:

Hey, everyone —

Zach Sobiech died last week. He left behind one of the most moving stories we've ever heard. We posted it on our site. And what's happened since then has blown all of our minds.

• Millions of people around the world have Liked Zach's story and shared it with their friends.

• Browsers have translated it into 21 languages (though apparently, "Wondtacular" doesn't have a translation).

• One of Zach's original recordings rose to the #1 slot on iTunes (the first time a song by an independent artist did so) and debuted on the Billboard Top 100 as the #1 digital track in the "Rock" category.

• And folks have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the research fund set up on his behalf to help change the fates of other kids suffering from cancer.

Sharing something on the Internet can help change the world. And that, in our opinion, is pretty wondtacular.

Guest Post - Chris Armstrong

MOTIVATION: FOLLOW YOUR BLISS...but keep score. 

Over the years, I've been through several cycles of the typical gym routine: alternating days of working different muscle groups on various weight machines and 30+ minutes on a treadmill or some other cardio machine - all in the hope of achieving the vaguely defined goal of getting "in shape." 

I had been overweight for years, but it hadn’t affected my vanity enough to motivate me to lose it. I always felt perfectly healthy and didn't feel any desire to work out regularly in order to "feel better." It was only some pesky numbers on blood test results that my doctor insisted were "outside normal parameters", and her suggestion of putting me on additional medications, that got my attention like nothing had in the past.

    I began looking for a form of exercise that could hold my interest more 

    than my somewhat unfocused gym experiences had several times before. 

Eventually, I discovered CrossFit. I was immediately drawn to the variety it provided: different workouts everyday, consisting of a range of activities like, running, jumping, gymnastic/body-weight movements, Olympic weightlifting and Powerlifting - anything BUT a predictable routine. A quick online search led me to the nearest CrossFit gym and I was off to the races. 

Another thing that was attractive about CrossFit was that all workouts could be modified to match anyone's level of fitness. In the same class, there can be teenagers and 60 year olds; firefighters, police, former and current military people; soccer moms of all sizes and fitness levels; and seriously overweight and out of shape guys of all ages. We're all doing the same general workout, but some are lifting more weight or jumping on a higher box and some finish before others. 

I've heard people say that they need to get in better shape before starting something as challenging as CrossFit. The best comeback I've heard for that is: 

        "Saying you're too out of shape to start exercising is like saying 

                     you're too dirty to take a bath."

In a typical CrossFit workout, we all start together with a running clock. Some workouts are meant to be finished in a predetermined time, while others take as long as it takes to finish all the prescribed exercises. We work out together and encourage each other all along the way. CrossFitters like to say that CrossFit is the only sport (and it IS also a professional sport) that has more cheering for the last person to finish than for the first. The last ones are always cheered on and encouraged by the ones who have already finished.

All of this working-together makes it feel like a bit of a family and I have found that even people of VERY different cultural/economic/political backgrounds find common ground through CrossFit and get along swimmingly.

"CrossFitters: Creating bonds through shared agony."

As this blog post is about motivation, you may be thinking all this motivational stuff I've mentioned so far is my main point, but I haven't even gotten to the MOST motivating part yet, at least for me.