40 Pieces of Advice Challenge - Day 2

Recently I ran into a friend I hadn't seen for a few years. While it was great to catch up on the events in each other's lives, I did notice that we spent a lot of time talking about how busy we are.

Being busy has become a badge of honor in our society, especially for moms who work both inside and outside the home.  Somehow, we have come to feel that if our lives are not filled with around the clock activity, then we are falling behind everyone else, like we are less-than. The truth is that busy-ness does not define who we are.
Who we are defines who we are.

That may sound like some kind of zen riddle, but it's not meant to.

Think about it. When you were a child, did you feel the need to make to-do lists? Did you live by your calendar? Or, did you maybe spend hours at a time exploring in the back yard, or riding your bike around town, or climbing up trees to see the world from a different place? More than likely, you had nothing to prove, no agenda to see through. You were just being you.

Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't grow up and mature, that we shouldn't take on responsibilities and commitments. What I am saying is that while our roles in life change, we should still honor who we are aside from all that.

One way of keeping the integrity of who we truly are, is to detach from the world for a few minutes every day. Many people call this sort of thing meditation. And, if you want to meditate in a more formal, directed manner, you should definitely explore that option. But, what I'm talking about is simply sitting alone for at least 10 minutes a day, maybe with an invigorating fresh green smoothie, and just letting your thoughts drift. Maybe you can reawaken long-forgotten dreams, or discover a new interest that will finally be heard in the silence, or see a new way of tackling a problematic situation, or just revel in the freedom of not thinking about anything, not having to do anything. The possibilities are limitless.

One thing is for sure, though. You will come to cherish and appreciate your alone time. And, you'll go back into your life roles with renewed enthusiasm and energy. So, start today, or tomorrow morning, start whenever you're ready. The most important thing, though, is to start. Because you never know where those 10 minutes a day will lead you.

40 Pieces of Advice Challenge - Day 1

Happy New Year to all of my dear readers! While the date on the calendar is an arbitrary way of organizing the days of our lives, it's still a great opportunity for us to take stock of where we are, how far we've come and where we are headed.

Recently, I received one of those forwarded emails that people send to friends, full of pictures of animals that make everyone say "Aww, isn't that cute!"  It was called Forty Pieces of Advice, and across each picture, there were words of wisdom that really spoke to me. So, I decided to challenge myself to take the good advice and apply it to my own life. 

Then, I thought, "Hey! I bet some of my readers might like to do this, too!"  

So, here it is, friends, my invitation to you. Join the challenge today, or at any point that you like. Take on the pieces of advice that resonate the strongest for you, or, do them all! I'll be posting two each week, so check back often.

Walk 10 to 30 minutes every day. And, smile while you walk.

This one is a no-brainer! Everyone knows that walking is one of the best and most accessible forms of exercise. Walking helps to strengthen muscles, improve balance and work out the cardiovascular system. It also releases endorphins, which makes your whole day brighter. And, if you smile as you walk, you'll not only help yourself feel even happier (it has been well-established that smiling has a direct impact on our mood), but people you encounter on your walk will also benefit. Smiles are contagious, let's start an epidemic!

So, are you on board? Let me know if you're joining my challenge, and feel free to add your own bits of advice!

Love, 
Tamera

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?"