tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26782089148965574922024-02-20T11:42:11.894+10:00Experiments in Bliss"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent, experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."
-Anthony BurgessMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643265561205804455noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-32645850951599593002015-01-05T06:38:00.001+10:002015-01-05T06:38:20.496+10:00EXPERIMENTS IN BLISS: GETTING THE MOST OUT OF A NEW YEARHappy New Year, everyone! You can read my first official post of 2015 <a href="https://experimentsinbliss.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/experiments-in-bliss-getting-the-most-out-of-a-new-year/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I'm thinking of officially switching over to my wordpress blog. Let me know what you think. <div>
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Sending love!</div>
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xoxo,</div>
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melanie</div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-33790090883201587112015-01-01T12:13:00.000+10:002015-01-01T12:13:35.942+10:00Experiments in ... Holding My Self Accountable vs. Allowing My Self To Falter (aka: A Resolution Roundup)<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 0.825em;">
(Note: This post was also featured on <a href="http://www.resolutionrevamp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Resolution Revamp</a>.)</div>
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It's December! Already! How did we come to the closing of the year so quickly? It feels like I was writing out my resolutions just last week. But, I guess, time flies when you're having experiments in bliss.</div>
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What a wild and wonderful year it's been! While I must confess that I have lagged on my resolutions in this last quarter of the year, I am exuberantly proud of the personal progress I've managed to make in 2014. I have completely restructured my lifestyle and my health continues to improve daily. As a direct result, of course, my quality of life is improving. This process, like so many others in my life, and in Nature, is happening at the Tortoise's pace. The Aries in me can get impatient at times, but I just keep reminding her that most true and lasting positive change takes time. My true nature seems to be more that of the Tortoise than the Hare, anyway, so this pace, in the big picture, suits me just fine.</div>
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So, I think I'm going to just dive right into my resolution round-up. Let's see how I did, shall we?</div>
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January was all about organization. <em style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #1: Organize home and life</em>. Considering the fact that I was getting settled into my new loft and starting to fall into a good flow of client retention at work, I feel like this resolution was met. I will pretty much always believe that there can be more organizational improvements made. That's the Virgo in me.) But I feel very good about my organizational work this year. Yay! One resolution met!</div>
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February saw the advent of the elimination diet. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #2: Treat myself to an elimination diet during the month of February. Then adjust everyday diet accordingly to eat for optimal health and not for emotional reasons</i>. This was perhaps the best and most important gift I gave myself this year. In fact, it's one of the best things I've EVER done for my Self. This elimination diet, which ended up lasting through March, was the beginning of my discovery of the low fat high carb vegan lifestyle. And this lifestyle has been and is still creating so much positive change in my health, and in my life, in general. Hooray! Two resolutions met!</div>
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Exercise was the theme for March. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #3: Get moving! Exercise regularly and joyously</i>. Physical exertion has been an ongoing topic of scrutiny for me this entire year. I get plenty of exercise. I walk or bike almost everywhere. My job is physical. I stretch and wiggle all the time. And I occasionally even fit in some formal workouts. So, I have no qualms about claiming the prize on this resolution. Would I like to make some changes and improvements in this arena? Yes. But I'm satisfied with where I am until those changes can be made. (More on this in an upcoming post.) Awesome! Three resolutions met!</div>
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April was about cultivating creativity.<i style="line-height: 1.7;"> Resolution #4: Do something creative every week. Make actual artist dates a la The Artist's Way. Have some kind of finished project to show for your efforts at least once a month</i>. Okay, so this is where my footing starts to get a little slippery on the resolution road. While I have managed to participate in many creative endeavors this year - probably more than I have in the past several years - I have not been as consistent as this resolution dictates. So, we'll call this one a Room For Improvement.</div>
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Meditation was the plan for May. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #5: Cultivate a meditation practice</i>. I was doing some really good work on this resolution for a while. Unfortunately, I eventually let Life seep into my practice and suddenly so many excuses seemed to take precedence. However, spiritually speaking, this is what a meditation practice is. It's not about perfection, but about practice. It takes time to make it a habit. It involves failures as well as successes. And it's as much a lesson in how the failures are handled, as it is about how many successes are had. So, I'm considering this one a Room For Improvement, as well.</div>
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June was an attempt to separate my personal life from my working life.<i style="line-height: 1.7;"> Resolution #6: Give myself days off of work and don't work on those days!</i> Seems like such a simple aim. Alas, it continues to prove otherwise for me ... often to my detriment. I continue to struggle with my own boundaries about how much I can reasonably work. I'm also a sucker for helping out when I am needed. And while this stems from a good place of wanting to be a helpful and contributing member of the work team, my inability to refuse these requests for help most often leave me overwhelmed, overworked, and with a strained immune system. So, while I was doing okay with this resolution during a few months mid-year, overall I am calling this resolution a fail. Or rather, this is an opportunity for more reflection on my personal needs and how to provide for and protect those needs in my own words and deeds. Let's do it!</div>
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Financial health was the name of the game in July. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #7: Save some money</i>. Well, I did manage to save some money this year. However, I also managed to spend most of it in these last few months. I don't regret putting the money where I did, but I'm eager to start saving again. This time, I hope I can manage to create a more substantial nest egg. Another growth opportunity. It's on!</div>
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August asked me to indulge my social side. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #8: Be more social</i>. I think my failing with this resolution was that I didn't designate any specific parameters to be met, so I have no real concrete way of gaging how successful I was at achieving it. That said, I feel like I gave a decent showing out in the world. I even hosted a couple of parties. I'm still fairly hermity, but I managed to get myself outside much more often than I have in years past, so I'm calling this a win. Alright! Another resolution met!</div>
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September was about taking care of my Self. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #9: Make room for some kind of Self care every week</i>. Well, while I didn't get too caught up in documenting how often I was doing things for my Self, I can say that I practice Self care regularly. Whether it be meditation, hydrotherapy, yoga, time in sunshine, cuddles with my best bunny friend, or sundry other delightful treats, I treat my Self often. So, this resolution is one that can be happily checked as accomplished. Heck yeah! Five resolutions met!</div>
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October wasn't about me. It was about others. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #10: Volunteer at least once a month</i>. I am very sad to admit that this resolution got lost in the shuffle of end-of-the-year busyness. It's a downright fail. I mean, er, another opportunity to work harder in 2015! I'm looking forward to it!</div>
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November urged novelty. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #11: Try something new at least once a month</i>. While this is a notion I support, I admit that I wasn't specific enough in it's phrasing. I'm sure there were many new things I tried at many times throughout this year, but I did not always take note of them. So, I think I'm going to consider this a faulty resolution. Maybe I will try to tweak it into something more measurable and specific, perhaps, for next year?</div>
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December was all about spirit. <i style="line-height: 1.7;">Resolution #12: Cultivate a spiritual practice and attune to Nature by observing the Wheel of the Year, Esbats and Astors</i>. I'm afraid I didn't do very well on this one, either. While I was almost always aware of when these events were taking place, I was not good about formally (or informally, if I'm being honest) acknowledging and honoring them. We'll be seeing this resolution again, dear readers. Be ready.</div>
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So that's it. Five resolutions met. Two resolutions partially met with Room For Improvement. One faulty resolution. And four resolutions unmet leaving opportunities for new growth. It's not perfect, but it's decent. And I'm happy with this progress. I'm looking forward to setting some new resolutions for 2015. I suppose I will have to get busy with that really soon. Still, it's gonna have to wait until another entry.</div>
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Happy New Year, lovelies! 2014 has been a wild and wonderful ride. Thanks for sharing it with me! If you'd like to share how you did on your resolutions this year, I'd love to hear from you. Just leave a comment below (or message me directly if you tend toward a more private nature). May 2015 bring you health, wealth, bliss and love!</div>
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xoxo,<br style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.7;" />melanie</div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-31462360390875025512014-11-01T01:22:00.001+10:002014-11-01T01:22:05.591+10:00Experiments in ... Fitness, Environmental Stewardship, and Self-Betterment<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Mel on Wheels: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Or ... Putting the "Spin" in Spinster!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">So, in my quest to create a better life for myself, there are several arenas to which I look when deciding on new things to try. Of course, health is a top priority, be it nutrition, wellness/self-care practices, or fitness. Environmental stewardship is another big one. I strive to do my part to make the lightest footprint on Mama Earth that I possibly and realistically can, from <b><a href="https://compostnow.org/compostables/" target="_blank">composting</a></b> food scraps to <b><a href="http://durhamnc.gov/ich/op/swmd/Pages/recycling_guidelines.aspx" target="_blank">recycling</a></b> any- and everything I can, to choosing not to own a car. I am also motivated by any opportunity to be outside, to be an active participant in the beauty and wonder that Nature has to offer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">There are really a great many things that motivate and inspire me, but these are all pretty high on the list. There's also a common thread tying these particular inspirations together for the purpose of this blog post: They are the primary motivations behind my latest pursuit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am sure you are all on the edges of your seats, antsy with anticipation, to know what my latest pursuit actually is, right? Of course, you are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Oh, okay, enough with the dramatics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My latest pursuit, or experiment in bliss, if you will, is ... dum da da dum!!! ... bicycling! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">No, bicycling is not new. Yes, I have ridden a bicycle before. In fact, I've owned several bicycles in my lifetime. I have enjoyed many a leisurely ride in my youth and adulthood. I have never, however, really pursued bicycling as a primary form of transportation or as a serious form of fitness. And that is what makes this experiment new and exciting (and a little daunting) for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I've been sans automobile for over three years now. Some of you might be wondering why I haven't pursued cycling sooner. To be honest, I just have always really liked walking. One of the main reasons I made the decision to not have a car was spurred by my love of getting to know foreign cities by foot when traveling. There's a connection to place afforded to pedestrians that just isn't available for folks who only ever motor around in a vehicle. On foot, one gets to see the people who populate the place where one lives. On foot, the minute shifts and changes of a place that happen on a daily basis are much more noticeable, and unfold slowly and languidly like a flower blossoming, or a lover revealing his or her secrets in a thousand tiny moments of vulnerability. I just really enjoy this sense of intimacy and belonging with my town of residence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">If I love being a pedestrian so much, then why am I trying to become a cyclist, you ask? This decision is being driven by a couple of reasons. The first and most important is for my body's sake. At present, I work (for the most part on my feet) on concrete floors. I live with concrete floors in most of my home. I walk everywhere on concrete sidewalks. It's a rare moment when I'm NOT on concrete flooring. And concrete flooring, while looking pretty cool, is not friendly to bodies who are always on it. There is no give, no shock absorption with concrete flooring. The joints have to take up the slack there. Bearing that extra [sizable] load, the musculature has to compensate. All this results, over time, in a wonky body. And mine is feeling the wonk. And the wonk does NOT feel good. I've been nursing some pretty uncomfortable situations in my body for several months now that I can only attribute to my constant existence upon concrete floors. Since I like where I live and where I work enough to not want to change those things if I can help it, my best option is to change how I'm transporting myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I considered a car for little while, but just couldn't quite get 100% behind the idea. I would waffle back and forth repeatedly on whether or not I actually wanted one - whether or not having a car aligned with my values enough to feel like a truly viable choice for me. I just couldn't fully and wholeheartedly commit to the idea of owning a car again. And, if I'm not fully committed to an idea, then I have learned [the hard way] that I should, in fact, not go through with that idea. So, the car is out .. again. The buses here are unreliable at best, so that's not a viable option. Taxis are too cost prohibitive to use on a daily basis. Plus, they pose the same carbon demerits as a car. So, they're out. I have an unconventional schedule, which makes ride sharing a logistical impossibility. What does that leave me? Yup. A bicycle! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A lesser motivation leading me to this path, was the sense of freedom that can be gained when riding a bike. Especially the notion that if I take the time to really learn to ride properly and hone my skills faithfully I can become proficient enough to ride further away from my residential locus than I could ever imagine walking in any reasonable span of time. So, with my bike I might be able to take weekend camping trips to the lake, say, without having the hassle and expense of renting a car for the trip. Freedom. I like it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All these thoughts of heightened fitness, diminished body pain, riding to new and semi-exotic locations on a whim are very exciting to me. However, the reality is that I am only just stepping onto this path. When it comes to the kind of serious riding that I am hoping to eventually do, I am a complete novice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I have a bicycle. Some of you will remember that I got myself a sweet little <b><a href="http://www.target.com/p/schwinn-womens-gateway-28-700c-hybrid-bike-cream/-/A-15305154" target="_blank">Schwinn</a></b> commuter following my trip to Nashville earlier this summer. She's a beautiful little thing, really. Her name is Babette Bicyclette. However, despite her good looks, she is just an inexpensive box-store-bought run-of-the-mill bicycle. She is not capable of the kind of riding to which I aspire. She only has seven gears, and she's fairly heavy. But what she is, is a great tool for getting started. When I got her I was really just wanting something that would give me the opportunity to find out if cycling was something I'd even enjoy doing more than once in a blue moon. I rode every day in <b><a href="https://nashville.bcycle.com/" target="_blank">Nashville</a></b>, and loved it, so thought I'd try riding around Durham a bit to see if the same held true for my mundane life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Until recently I only rode occasionally ... mostly to work if I was running late. I still don't have lights for Babette, so she's currently unridable after dark, which is earlier and earlier these days, and will be even more so once Daylight Savings Time reverts tomorrow. I also don't have any storage options for her yet, so I can't really take her shopping or anywhere I will need to transport more than what I can fit in my 19-liter <b><a href="http://www.tombihn.com/PROD/TB0110.html" target="_blank">backpack</a></b>. That really limits what I can do with her currently. That doesn't even take into account the fact that I have no emergency kit (or know-how) for repairing flats or addressing other potential problems that could occur on a ride. But I'm working on gearing her out a little at a time, with the hopes that she'll be up for some longer rides soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When I rode her last week, I noticed my rear tire was flat by the time I arrived to work. When I was walking her home [by way of the <b><a href="http://bullseyebicycle.com/" target="_blank">bike shop</a></b> to address the flat], I discovered her chain had popped off somehow. (I still have no idea how it happened.) Luckily, the guy at the bike shop was really helpful and nice. I had been a little worried about even going into a bike shop as my one and only experience doing so years ago was not so pleasant. But this experience was nothing like that previous one. Here was a bike mechanic who took the time to listen to me about my bike and about my inexperience and my hopes for slowly progressing into a more capable and serious rider. He offered advice without intimidation, and he even commended me on my plan to start with a cheap bike to decide if I like riding and what kind of rider I am before investing in a more specific, technical bicycle. He did suggest that I get a tune-up for Babette, telling me that bikes bought from box stores are often assembled by people who have no experience with bicycle mechanics. So, while they may be sturdy enough to be ridden with a basic level of safety, they will likely be more comfortable and even safer with a proper tune-up. A few days later, I was checking Babette in for her tune-up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">When I picked her up just the other day, I couldn't believe how much smoother and more comfortable and FUN my ride was. The mechanics had even adjusted the seat height and handlebar height for me. Wow! What a difference! I couldn't believe it. It's like I already have a new upgraded bicycle as I'm beginning to get serious about this journey. Now, I'm so excited to take her out on a longer joy ride this afternoon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I'm also trying to prepare myself for the saddle in other ways. I've started reading books about bicycling to become accustomed to the lingo, to learn about the various bikes and tools and such available, as well as to get tips for how to improve my riding in a safe and smart way. I've signed up for a general bicycle maintenance course at <b><a href="http://www.rei.com/" target="_blank">REI</a></b> next month. I'm hoping to take some more specific classes at <b><a href="http://bullseyebicycle.com/" target="_blank">my new favorite bike shop in town</a></b> later this year. And, I am considering maybe searching out a <b><a href="http://www.meetup.com/" target="_blank">meetup group</a></b> that does local group rides for varying levels of proficiency. I'll admit the latter will take me considerably outside my comfort zone. This, of course, if why it is likely a very good thing for me to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am looking for friends to join me on some rides around town. If you are here in <b><a href="http://www.durham-nc.com/" target="_blank">Durham</a></b>, and interested in setting up a cycling date, let me know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Also, I'd love to hear about your experiences with cycling. Are any of you avid cycling enthusiasts? Or even avid cycling novices? What's been your experience getting in the saddle? I'm eager to hear your stories!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I hope you all have a most beautiful <b><a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween" target="_blank">Halloween</a>/<a href="http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain" target="_blank">Samhain</a></b> weekend. Get out there and enjoy this gorgeous weather!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">xoxo,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">melanie</span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-52306253602173774262014-10-27T05:30:00.000+10:002014-10-27T05:30:42.306+10:00Experiments in ... Health: The Journey Continues <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">how listening to my body has lead me down a rabbit hole of new insights and information and revelations that are changing my Life for the better</span><br />
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So much has been happening in my Life since I last wrote about my transition <b><a href="http://experimentsinbliss.blogspot.com/2014/04/experiments-in-health-from-foodie-to.html" target="_blank">From Foodie to Fruity</a></b>. I am extremely overdue on a follow up post, but here it is, better late than never. At my last writing on this topic I had intended to forge an experiment of one month of eating fully raw 80/10/10 style. Well, I didn't do that. I actually made a conscious decision not to do that. What I decided, and still hold to, is that the Raw Til 4 lifestyle seems to work best for me right now. Raw Til 4 is a subset, if you will, of the 80/10/10 low fat high carb vegan food movement. Following this lifestyle's principles, the earlier part of the day is the time to consume raw foods - primarily sweet fruits. After 4p, cooked foods are allowed as long as they are low fat, high carb vegan foods. <br />
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It has been interesting to continue to learn more about this lifestyle, and, specifically, to discover where I mistake the identities of certain foods along the way. </div>
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For example, when I was first transitioning to this diet, I was focusing on the ideas of vegan and high carbohydrate, and making sure I was getting enough calories. (This is a diet of abundance, rather than restriction, where calories are concerned.) I was trying to figure out how to get enough fruit into my body at regular intervals in ways that were conducive to my lifestyle. I was not, it turns out very aware of how much fat I was consuming. I was making the rookie mistake of assuming that eating vegan was going to mean I was eating low fat by default. Silly melanie! I could very often be found gorging on whole bags of taro chips or plantain chips, not realizing that these were foods full of salt and fat! And, when I actually think about it, of course chips are full of fat and salt! Obviously! But I just didn't consider what I was eating as closely as I should have been. And that brings us to Lesson #1: Pay attention to the food that goes into the body!! Actually consider what is being put into the body, and how it is likely to affect the body in the short and long terms. This has been - and continues to be - an important lesson for me. And, the really amazing thing is, that the more I consider my food intake, and tailor it to fuel my body rather than weigh it down, the more carbohydrates I feed my body. And the more carbohydrates I feed my body, the more glucose I feed my cells. And the more glucose I feed my cells, the more clarity of thought I have to actually consider my food. It's a beautiful biofeedback loop! Likewise, the opposite can happen on days when I over-consume fats: I will have a harder time making smart conscious decisions on those days because the excess fats make my brain fuzzier. It's still a bit of a challenge at times. I'm discovering that while I thought sugar had been my big downfall in the past, it was really, more accurately, the fats that were the problem. The large amounts of fat in my diet inhibited my body's ability to utilize any sugars I was eating, and, therefore, I would crave more sugary foods. Now that I am working to keep fats under 10% of my total daily calorie intake (and on good days trying to keep it closer to the 5% mark), I don't have cravings for anything, really. I am generally always satisfied and fueled for where the day will take me. Oh happy day!</div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>Here's how you, too, can be fruity if you want to.</b></span></div>
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Here are some really easy ways of incorporating more low fat high carb vegan foods into your diet.<br />
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1. Have a smoothie for breakfast. Make it with RIPE bananas and whatever other fruit you like. Add some water and blend and voila! Instant fruity deliciousness in a glass! Not to mention, a cornucopia of nutrients and glucose to fuel your body for the day's tasks.<br />
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2. Have a smoothie for lunch, too! This is what I do, because it's convenient for me. Plus, again, it's nutritious delicious fuel for my body.</div>
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3. Instead of a smoothie for lunch, have a mono-meal of sweet fruit. Choose something like bananas, dates, mangoes, etc. The sweeter, the better. And make sure your fruit is ripe! Unripened fruit is difficult for the body to digest and can cause some uncomfortable digestive responses. By making a mono-meal of one particular type of fruit, you give your body the opportunity to get lots of good nutrition and energy (glucose!) with the minimum of effort expended on digestive processes.</div>
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4. For dinner, make yourself a gigantic salad of mixed greens and whatever other vegetables sound good to you. If you're just trying to get a taste of this lifestyle (pun intended), you can use whatever salad dressing you have on hand, but in a very small quantity. Even better is to make your own dressing with no oil, such as dijon mustard blended with coconut aminos or tahini. And best is to make a dressing of blended fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes and citrus fruits.</div>
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5. Also for dinner, after your gigantic salad, make a quick and easy stew or soup by cooking the vegetables of your choice in vegetable or mushroom broth (preferably low sodium). Pile those veggies on top of some rice or polenta or starch of your choice. Then top with some tomato sauce. (I like to blend organic tomatoes with bell peppers and dates for a delicious sauce.) Delish!</div>
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6. HYDRATE! Drink at least 4 liters of water a day - intermittently throughout the day. You should have to pee all the time. And your urine should be clear most or all of the time to indicate proper hydration.</div>
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7. SLEEP! Very few of us get enough sleep. Very few of us know what enough sleep is. If we take our cues from Nature, we would be getting roughly as many hours of sleep as there are hours of darkness. That means more sleep during the winter months and less in the summer. But it's usually more sleep than most of us are used to getting, regardless of the season. If you are unable to allow yourself to get that much sleep, then I would encourage you to at least start lowering the lighting in your home as the sun starts setting and at trying to let your body start relaxing by doing easy activities like reading or bathing. Also limiting your time in front of your screens (TV, computers, phones) as it gets darker can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep, even if you're skimping on quantity.</div>
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8. Get adequate sunlight exposure. I know it's more difficult to do this as the thermometer plunges, but you can still strive to get sun on your face and in your eyes and even on your body through your windows in your warm home whenever you can. Ideally, you'll get a minimum of 30 minutes of sun exposure daily. And I mean sun exposure without sunscreen. What's the point of basking in the sun if you're slathering on a chemical barrier to keep it out of your skin? Whether you choose to use sunscreen is up to you, but if you do, still strive to get some unscreened sun daily.</div>
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-79184965236753129972014-10-26T09:13:00.001+10:002014-10-26T09:13:37.455+10:00August/September/October: Playing Catchup!!Well, here it is: the LONG overdue Resolution Revamp update. Read it <a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/augustseptemberoctober-playing-catchup/" target="_blank">here</a>.<div>
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xoxo,</div>
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melanie</div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-83827093771567351542014-07-21T01:41:00.005+10:002014-07-21T01:41:51.049+10:00JULY: Save Some Money<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out my latest Resolution Revamp post </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/july-same-some-money/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, where I recap my progress and introduce July's resolution (belatedly). Enjoy!</span><br />
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Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-11985316284028305312014-06-02T07:53:00.003+10:002014-06-02T07:53:38.779+10:00JUNE: Take Time Off!
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Welcome to June, dear readers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this glorious Spring is treating you well:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>filling your hearts, lifting your
spirits and warming your cockles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here in the American South we’ve been having a beautifully drawn-out
sweet and temperate Springtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What good fortune we are having!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The month of May found me cultivating my meditation
practice, as you may recall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
resolution – while perennially difficult for me – has proven to be much more
attainable than expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
managed to sit for my practice most days this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve not really felt guilty about the days I didn’t sit,
but I did, strangely, miss the experience on those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have discovered that evening
meditations work best for me right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the past, I always tried to practice meditation in the mornings after
waking, and with mixed results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, meditating just before bed is proving a welcomed addition to my
nighttime routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows me to
soften my mind and body in preparation for sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In an effort to keep myself from getting too “thinky” about
the practice, I have only been asking myself to sit down and count out 50
breaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a pretty slow
breathing pace, so this allows me a decent amount of time ‘on the cushion’ for
my practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do hope to
eventually add more breaths/time, but for now, this seems to be sufficient for
me to feel benefits and to still feel like I can sustain the practice without <i>too</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> much effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I have noticed that I am drifting into sleep much more
easily and comfortably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(However,
my sleep, once I’m in it, is still fraught with physical discomfort and crazy
dreaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will have to figure out
how to address that at some point, but that will have to be left for another
blog entry.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have also been
experiencing some pretty auspicious emotional shifts happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t attribute these solely to the
meditation practice, but I think the practice is definitely playing an
important role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will talk more
on that later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also feeling
like I have a much calmer internal sea; much more equanimity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be some emotional debris
bubbling to my surface, but deep underneath all that is a new stillness and
serenity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds a little hokey
when I type it out here, but I don’t know any other way to describe it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe those moments I’m spending in
mediation are directly contributing to the well of contentment, and that is
motivation enough to keep up the practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">June’s resolution is one that I feel would be well applied
to the lives of most modern Americans:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Give myself days off of work and don’t work on those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds simple enough, sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, in practice, this can be a nearly
impossible feat for many of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, the timing couldn’t be better on this resolution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just last month I made the decision to
add an extra day of work to my schedule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was already scheduled to what I believed to be my maximum number of
client hours in a week, but I was feeling concerned about money (thank you,
IRS), so thought I’d try working a little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely I’d be able to do that – work one more day a week …
just for a few hours … no problem!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, as it turns out, it <b><i>is</i></b><span style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
a few days ago, I changed my schedule back to the old one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moment I did that I felt a weight
lift from my heart and from my shoulder girdle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
adding that one day a week to work had increased my stress levels, dramatically
decreased the quality of my sleep, affected my ability to make the best food
choices for myself, roused an old muscular injury (which is still not ironed
out), and made me feel so exhausted and overwhelmed that I found myself just
wanting to crawl into a hole to get away from it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No good!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And …
No more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m back on a schedule
that my body, mind and spirit can handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And, in the spirit of June’s resolution, I am not going to plan too much
drudgery on the days when I’m not at my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I’m going to do things that make me feel good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brilliant plan!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage you to try it, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to hear how it goes for you.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Well, that’s it for now, superstars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s a day off for me, so I’m going
to wrap this up and go enjoy the rest of this beautiful Sunday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you do, too!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxo,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">melanie</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-3116189608739247262014-05-07T11:30:00.002+10:002014-05-07T11:30:28.414+10:00Resolution Revamp: May 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGdcL_EzgPEyksYgZDyQbhKbJACh7kp1PHU1Bg686EvvPwmhats-1_48W5YHgkIaoogszIUhXLJi0csbEJ8SsySOegEMsYB8PxOsdCrIQGnoy6U5abUiON_tQZk95f2dFojWC2xfelAf9/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGdcL_EzgPEyksYgZDyQbhKbJACh7kp1PHU1Bg686EvvPwmhats-1_48W5YHgkIaoogszIUhXLJi0csbEJ8SsySOegEMsYB8PxOsdCrIQGnoy6U5abUiON_tQZk95f2dFojWC2xfelAf9/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i heart you.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Check out my latest Resolution Revamp post </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/05/06/may-meditate/" style="color: #cc6611; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">, where I recap my progress and introduce April's resolution. Enjoy!</span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-10458097897624318512014-04-09T06:26:00.002+10:002014-04-09T06:26:45.829+10:00Experiments in … Health: From Foodie to Fruity?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHcU_YXXsIq8ABkDCSREIuUoRQ903naoTv1t0w0XHieQsYbjR-uozYjaUOcVinBgw1leaTpvJc70tJOZhjiZzxV65j3QbZmG2hC-CANAQ6WW198z2qTQF1MuQ96SogjqNH8pFsDSBHfqY/s1600/apple_logo_rainbow_fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHcU_YXXsIq8ABkDCSREIuUoRQ903naoTv1t0w0XHieQsYbjR-uozYjaUOcVinBgw1leaTpvJc70tJOZhjiZzxV65j3QbZmG2hC-CANAQ6WW198z2qTQF1MuQ96SogjqNH8pFsDSBHfqY/s1600/apple_logo_rainbow_fruit.jpg" height="200" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>via fruitsbenefits.com</i></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Greetings,
dear readers!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I hope you’re
enjoying this fine Springtime.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
certainly am.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">All of Nature is
stirring and waking and making noise in such glorious, organic ways.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The warmth of the reemerging sun is
lighting a fire in my heart and under my arse.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I’m feeling inspired and wild and giddy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I hope you are, too!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">If
you’ve been following this blog, you will know that I have spent the last two
months working a fairly restrictive elimination diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(You can find more information on the specifics of that
journey <b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/february-elimination-diet/" target="_blank">here</a></b>,
<b><a href="http://www.experimentsinbliss.blogspot.com/2014/02/experiments-in-health-why-i-am-choosing.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>,
<b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/march-get-moving/" target="_blank">here</a></b>
and <b><a href="http://www.experimentsinbliss.blogspot.com/2014/03/experiments-in-health-wellness-getting.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal in doing so was to actively
foster an improved state of health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has been such an informative, inspiring and surprising journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body has gone through numerous
cycles of detoxifying healings, and is continuing to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can read (or re-read) about some of
that <b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/march-get-moving/" target="_blank">here</a></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been experiencing a renewed and
stronger connection to my body since instating these changes in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I am much more able to receive
– and to honour - the messages that my body is sending me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The surprising piece of this process is
learning <i>what</i>
<i>my body is asking of me</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
first began to take notice of a real shift in my mind-body conversation when I
realized that the longer I abstained physically from certain foods, the less
powerful my emotional bonds to those foods became.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prime examples:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Coffee, booze, ice cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These things have long held a strong Romantic association for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlQZCnf8BsEs7OTXSpLBWbvnkRLgQLEvnm7QnNF1ZQ6RxECxDPyaIlvc9TfGAkS4yRr-ys1HRsVBMpsKr-IuPdctusfEMF7Q0ppiRjQBcqaqpv4ao7WFr3RaRYxQu_PON3OPkyY0Q1caq/s1600/aaa2948b71a333509d421cc1b24635fa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlQZCnf8BsEs7OTXSpLBWbvnkRLgQLEvnm7QnNF1ZQ6RxECxDPyaIlvc9TfGAkS4yRr-ys1HRsVBMpsKr-IuPdctusfEMF7Q0ppiRjQBcqaqpv4ao7WFr3RaRYxQu_PON3OPkyY0Q1caq/s1600/aaa2948b71a333509d421cc1b24635fa.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">via browndresswithwhitedots.tumblr.com</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The sweetness of a quiet morning curled
up with a rich, bitter cup of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Coffee became symbolic of the luxury of simple, uninterrupted downtime
with my Self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXZ5-AF_QUJJhNTUb9jIIqT7hmr4hlPxol13kTs31krNVijy2rh73p_U3GYnsOg2sRJWE6JwOp17uVqjHYsY6wW6EPFU9TsrRnjQp7flgrIBmL6eNefQ_5c4maMpTV5FKJDOYGiBMxgcj/s1600/article-2254054-16ABB0DA000005DC-87_634x503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXZ5-AF_QUJJhNTUb9jIIqT7hmr4hlPxol13kTs31krNVijy2rh73p_U3GYnsOg2sRJWE6JwOp17uVqjHYsY6wW6EPFU9TsrRnjQp7flgrIBmL6eNefQ_5c4maMpTV5FKJDOYGiBMxgcj/s1600/article-2254054-16ABB0DA000005DC-87_634x503.jpg" height="158" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>via dailymail.co.uk</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Communal imbibing of
wine or cocktails with friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This experience validated my sense of community and belonging, the deep
need for connection with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Yd4pL0B6VZRPl5rib7qc9lqTq1nvRNOcWHpbvpP8Y6h0ZtkJzJgNVDzh9a0xKseJXRZCSDL53bvCY1HjOIUS9nKsI0REP8w6cYlSAbvdaqQpPhHw3WWNghofyMKhs5v4_jUfxSt4WlPe/s1600/3a4f83e23abb954eaca3a8afddeae411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Yd4pL0B6VZRPl5rib7qc9lqTq1nvRNOcWHpbvpP8Y6h0ZtkJzJgNVDzh9a0xKseJXRZCSDL53bvCY1HjOIUS9nKsI0REP8w6cYlSAbvdaqQpPhHw3WWNghofyMKhs5v4_jUfxSt4WlPe/s1600/3a4f83e23abb954eaca3a8afddeae411.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>via flickr.com</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The rich, delicious comfort of a thick spoonful of gelato on a balmy,
wistful evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ice cream has
often provided feelings of comfort during moments of melancholy, or reward for
some kind of accomplishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
are just some of the food associations that have long driven my dietary
choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This
is how my relationship with food has been as long as I can remember it:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>emotionally driven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly removing these emotionally
linked foods from my diet has helped to break the enchantments of the
psychological connections as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Suddenly, my body is less swayed by my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of feeding my emotional hunger, I am finding it much
more enjoyable to feed my physical hunger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And feeding my physical hunger makes me feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It gives me more energy in the morning,
so that I am much more likely to enjoy my quiet morning in meditation or
exercising or even enjoying a hot cup of herbal tea which gives my body natural
healing medicine making my time with my Self much more fulfilling and
luxurious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows me to be less
brain fuzzy and more present in my interactions with friends so that I am able
to spend more quality time having real exchanges with people rather than
forging superficial relationships around food and drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows me to find comfort in the
elemental sensations of the balmy evening – the breeze on my skin, the scent on
the breeze, the way the moonlight caresses the blossoms on the branch – without
the awful after-effects of digestive discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as a result, I am finding new, healthier ways of
rewarding myself for accomplishments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(I plan to post more about that in future.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus … it’s a heckuva lot easier on the old pocketbook!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maintaining coffee, booze, and ice
cream habits can be expensive!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The
second time I became aware that big changes were afoot in my body was one
unassuming day at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ate a
handful of dry roasted mixed nuts only to find my taste for them had completely
diminished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone in my family
can tell you that I have long been a fan of dry roasted mixed nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad and I used to gobble them by the
handful and would sometimes polish off a couple large canisters in one
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you might imagine my
surprise when I discovered my taste buds were breaking up with roasted
nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, eating these
cooked and salted nuts ceased tasting like warm delicious treats, and now
tasted like edible death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange,
but true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like each nut was
a little decaying carcass with no life, no energy, and I was using it to try to
nourish my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What used to seem
so natural and delicious and even healthy, suddenly seemed completely
absurd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could I expect to have
this deadened, cooked and salt-laden food provide living energy for my
body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had never really considered
the implications of using dead organic matter to fuel my living body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, strangely, I am still only
wrapping my head around the notion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am someone who spends many, many hours pondering food and health and
natural living, and I have never once before now even <i>considered</i> that eating <i>dead</i> things might
not be the best way to keep my <i>living</i> body functioning optimally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food for thought, most definitely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Even
after that singular realization, I stayed true to the diet I’d laid out for
myself for the month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that
time, as is often the case, I was doing a fair bit of general internet
searching on health/wellness and natural living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found myself drawn to more and more sites powered by
proponents of a low fat, high carbohydrate, raw vegan lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not searching specifically for
this kind of information, nor was diet the primary focus of these sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I kept reading and researching,
some of the dietary information was making good sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was even more interesting, was
that I could feel my body responding to the information at the cellular
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yep, I know that’s a
really New Age-y thing to say, but it’s the only way I know how to describe
what I felt.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As
my body seemed to be responding to these ideas, I began to actively seek out
more information on this way of eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My brain was continuing to resist the notion of limiting fats and
restricting meats, but my body seemed to be almost yearning for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I decided to bridge the gap and
commit to a compromise:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be
transitioning to a one month experiment on a low fat, high carb, raw vegan
diet, and I’ll see how my body responds to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOds24XqHzIv8-dvjAMAKhmx6W6d_GqiqD91MD67IbPppt1YXUseUjdXu5etmBkF936nvvowj70gLoxyJNc-jnEKdl9Ni5wtnYMsMrbh55OCSx1sO0Haa08lRoFS1MjNuHsWX6VzQkrhg/s1600/photo-13-1024x917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOds24XqHzIv8-dvjAMAKhmx6W6d_GqiqD91MD67IbPppt1YXUseUjdXu5etmBkF936nvvowj70gLoxyJNc-jnEKdl9Ni5wtnYMsMrbh55OCSx1sO0Haa08lRoFS1MjNuHsWX6VzQkrhg/s1600/photo-13-1024x917.jpg" height="286" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">via fullyraw.com</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
am currently practicing a “raw until 4” regimen, where I eat mostly or only
fruits until 4pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After 4pm, I
allow myself to have cooked foods, but opt for lighter cooking methods like
steaming or light sautéing or gentle baking, along with big leafy
vegetable-rich salads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal is
to ease myself to a completely raw situation by April 15, and to maintain it
for one month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, I’ll reassess
at the end of the month and see how I feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">While
I’ve only been doing this for about a week, so far I’m feeling great. My body
is continuing to detoxify itself, and I’m feeling lighter and clearer
already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <i>finally</i> purchased a <b><a href="https://secure.vitamix.com/TurboBlend-VS.aspx" target="_blank">Vitamix</a></b> blender,
which should help exponentially in making juices, smoothies, soups and
sauces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be arriving in a
couple days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Special thanks to my
mom and dad for their birthday generosity, which allowed me to make that
purchase!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There
are many different ways of eating raw and vegan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am choosing to follow the <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-80-10-Diet/dp/1893831248" target="_blank">80/10/10</a></b> version
pioneered by <b><a href="http://foodnsport.com/about/" target="_blank">Dr. Douglas Graham</a></b>. I find <a href="http://www.fullyraw.com/#!a-b-o-u-t/c5y0" target="_blank"><b>Kristina Carrillo-Bucaram</b></a>’s
website, <b><a href="http://fullyraw.com/">fullyraw.com</a></b>, lays everything out in a way that really makes
sense to me and makes the information accessible and non-threatening for
newbies like myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <b><a href="http://www.fullyraw.com/#!be-raw/c1a8v" target="_blank">FAQ page</a></b>,
especially, has been really useful for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like more information on what this way of
eating actually is, I would suggest spending some time perusing her site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
would love to know if any of you have experimented with this style of raw vegan
eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please feel encouraged to
share your experiences in the comments section below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, if any of you are interested in joining me for this
experiment, comment or message me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Experiments are more fun with more people!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z5fVATxOeX9BT8eLjHAvdpICwGp-3UXI4adJbHQwtTs5AbSlgSWpFKY6mFEfQdvH1XSiIt7x5Qo0KA4eRhh3ghn52eCkBC5OF8F0Y9A30i7Ur2NcSMoImf1vi4A18Z1uqEWcM0Cok2w8/s1600/fb-shot-1024x680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Z5fVATxOeX9BT8eLjHAvdpICwGp-3UXI4adJbHQwtTs5AbSlgSWpFKY6mFEfQdvH1XSiIt7x5Qo0KA4eRhh3ghn52eCkBC5OF8F0Y9A30i7Ur2NcSMoImf1vi4A18Z1uqEWcM0Cok2w8/s1600/fb-shot-1024x680.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>via fullyraw.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
hope you are all enjoying your own journeys to health and vitality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May this gorgeous Spring season
rejuvenate and invigorate you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Namaste,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">melanie</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter Light'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-9972124593080367882014-04-09T01:47:00.003+10:002014-04-09T01:47:55.223+10:00Resolution Revamp: April 2014<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcNYo5zSVPn0lAXN8GrZTTdN5Sb83M7au2z0L-wRzsAgj95y6-2vyHm2nPhQb0fUGQnjBMkWVPZUWBS5-VAVvnTEyO_bh1bpWzIUPSamK8Ei2XOUpMo_qN0m5jAAg48jd6qepCcJtanGl/s1600/AlMooreAprilBaja.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFcNYo5zSVPn0lAXN8GrZTTdN5Sb83M7au2z0L-wRzsAgj95y6-2vyHm2nPhQb0fUGQnjBMkWVPZUWBS5-VAVvnTEyO_bh1bpWzIUPSamK8Ei2XOUpMo_qN0m5jAAg48jd6qepCcJtanGl/s1600/AlMooreAprilBaja.JPG" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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Check out my latest Resolution Revamp post <a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/04/08/april-cultivate-creativity/" target="_blank">here</a>, where I recap my progress and introduce April's resolution. Enjoy!Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-34840130597840379012014-03-26T02:18:00.004+10:002014-03-26T02:18:58.763+10:00Experiments in … health + wellness: getting clean!
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Today I’d like
to share how my elimination diet experience is going, as
well as what I am doing to support the overall healing of my Self during this
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should first probably
mention that this experiment, which just began as a simple elimination diet to
reset my digestive system, is becoming something so much bigger and more
profound as I continue to experience new sensations and awakenings, and to
learn more about the many different ways to heal and support healing in my
body, mind and spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What began
as unpleasant drudgery is more and more becoming exciting revitalization and
restoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no one could be
more surprised about this shift in the experiment than I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Despite being a
longtime student and proponent of holistic healing, it seems I am only now
“showing up” and really walking my talk rather than sputtering so much
rhetoric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My past is filled with
examples of this unintentional hypocrisy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I smoked cigarettes for years – even while I was practicing yoga and massage
therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i>Gasp!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I admit it begrudgingly to make a
point.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started fitness plans
that I never completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Can
anyone identify?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I offered loads
of simplified, healing wisdom to my clients, but often fell short of incorporating
that wisdom into my own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Naughty, naughty!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
sure, I had my toes in the waters, but I never had the courage or the self
respect to just dive in and swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, now, it seems, I’ve finally taken the plunge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it's delicious!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K4p9lkvUxwSNKsNv2AE9zAe_x0XZrx39JPvP-Alu0rByyB2mY96J6IYpoo9tzSatGCRubSLdcOQqnwAZCH96lei-sssC94DR1yQlIEIbo9OGMpilE67Hun7zWuzlfklevYb84n9jrHSH/s1600/__8_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4K4p9lkvUxwSNKsNv2AE9zAe_x0XZrx39JPvP-Alu0rByyB2mY96J6IYpoo9tzSatGCRubSLdcOQqnwAZCH96lei-sssC94DR1yQlIEIbo9OGMpilE67Hun7zWuzlfklevYb84n9jrHSH/s1600/__8_0010.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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In my <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.experimentsinbliss.blogspot.com/2014/03/marchs-resolution-and-february-recap.html" target="_blank">last post</a> </b></span>I mentioned that I was going to
continue the elimination diet through the month of March as I felt I
still had healing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon after that posting I
underwent a second wave of detox symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This round was slightly less intense than the first, but no
less real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As this round of
symptoms started to die down, I made the decision [finally!] to kick the
elimination diet up a notch by <b>eliminating all fruits</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Yikes!</i></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew all along that I really should
eliminate fruits from my diet as I am consistently plagued by <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8376/10-signs-you-have-candida-overgrowth-what-to-do-about-it.html" target="_blank">candida overgrowth</a>*</b></span>, but I really, <i>really</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> didn’t want to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But ... I did it anyway. I’ve
been fruit free since Monday, 17 March, and, so far, </span><i>it’s not so bad</i><span style="font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
get me wrong: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I miss it <b>a lot</b></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m managing okay without it ... for
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s how I’m supporting
myself when I feel like tackling the fruit vendor in the market for <i>just one
little berry</i><span style="font-style: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reminding myself that this is a temporary gig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have fruit again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when I do, I will be healthier, and
the fruit will be even sweeter … and it will be better for my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s win-win!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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When
the fruit left my diet it was replaced with another round of detox
symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Further proof that I
made the right decision.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
are slowly starting to lessen in intensity and number, and I’m feeling even
better than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m only asking
myself to be fruit free through the rest of the month of March, so only one more week to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can certainly do
that!<o:p></o:p></div>
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In support of my
transition during this experiment, I’ve also been experimenting with various healing home
practices and supplements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
starting small, implementing a few things at a time, and hoping to build these
practices into an actual holistic vitality-inducing lifestyle that will support
me indefinitely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below I’ve
written about some of the things I’ve already started adding in to my daily
routine, but others I’ll post about as I incorporate them, so stay tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d also love to hear about the things
you do to support your Self in everyday life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just leave a comment with your favorite practices and/or
supplements below.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1CeHT7N2GAFixJpghwNAH3TrRW4VVSPll31aCaFVsapFxnKPi0ePXOSJwtUABUTAwCL_ikkVpHRCOM2m0gRuXnOoHO5pVQGXk5SDTUfNfeNXt3PY9A88egTQtsR_Uv6BjjTVgZdGd0eA/s1600/sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF1CeHT7N2GAFixJpghwNAH3TrRW4VVSPll31aCaFVsapFxnKPi0ePXOSJwtUABUTAwCL_ikkVpHRCOM2m0gRuXnOoHO5pVQGXk5SDTUfNfeNXt3PY9A88egTQtsR_Uv6BjjTVgZdGd0eA/s1600/sleeping.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via wkdg.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>SLEEP</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
of all, I’m trying to get more of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Generally, I have always been a person who does best with around 9 hours
of sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, that may be
relative to the state of candida in my body, so we’ll see if that changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal right now is to try to reset my
schedule in such a way that I am pretty regularly going to sleep and waking at
the same time everyday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My work
schedule doesn’t change until April, and even then it’s going to be a bit of a
challenge on certain days, but I’m going for overall consistency, not militant
regimentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also trying to
prepare my body-mind-spirit for sleep by creating some evening rituals like
stretching/yoga asanas, anointing my Self with </span><span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.php?p=p&cn=Purify&ct=anpceoeb&i=y" target="_blank">essential oils</a></b></span>, and giving my Self a <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html" target="_blank">Reiki</a></b></span>
treatment while listening to soothing music and burning incense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So far, it’s working pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I don’t get to do all these
rituals every night, I try to do at least something – even if it’s one small
thing, like breathing in some essential oil before hitting the pillow -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to cue my Self that it’s time for
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These evening rituals just
feel so luxurious, and remind me that I am divinity in human form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have an obligation to care for my
Self in a way that reflects that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwEyKOl0HjF920Cy1cssM8xPwaHzhhWB3FLGna0nU6hYC3E-RkKYpQ5cDY8EcmdyImddcGyRlnWHCMetiGdSAOYCuxANdsJ8h-E_DUYFsoG_Hr2dxb3u_va0_AxV5A5PPAtzOPX_D4y9l/s1600/natural-oral-care-300x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwEyKOl0HjF920Cy1cssM8xPwaHzhhWB3FLGna0nU6hYC3E-RkKYpQ5cDY8EcmdyImddcGyRlnWHCMetiGdSAOYCuxANdsJ8h-E_DUYFsoG_Hr2dxb3u_va0_AxV5A5PPAtzOPX_D4y9l/s1600/natural-oral-care-300x200.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via essentialsurvival.org</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>ORAL CARE</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay,
I am going to have to make a confession here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I always brush my teeth, I have, my whole life, been
horrible at flossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I
rarely give much thought to oral care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m lucky that I am predisposed to healthy teeth and gums, but I am
learning more and more about the importance of oral care, and how it relates to
the whole body’s health, so I’m trying to make holistic oral care a
priority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been making my own
dentifrice for a long while now, so that’s taken care of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am now implementing an ACV (apple
cider vinegar) rinse following brushing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s kind of fun as the collision of acid from the vinegar and
alkalinity from the baking soda [of the tooth powder] create a fizzing action
in the mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It helps to remove
plaque and freshens the mouth beautifully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a great video from </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.livinglibations.com/" target="_blank">Living Libations</a></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> that explains the process</span>. (You can ignore the pitch for their products if you like, but, as an aside, they have some really great quality products available.)</div>
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xCb1Usvu4zk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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Then, in the morning, I <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.savorylotus.com/5-reason-to-scrape-your-tongue-every-day/" target="_blank">scrape my tongue</a> </b></span>to remove toxins
released during sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the evening, I am, you guessed it, flossing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*sigh*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
enjoy doing it, but it’s necessary, and my teeth and gums feel better when I do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s going to have to be
motivation enough for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To give
the flossing an extra boost of healing oomph, I am coating the floss in [safe
for consumption] essential oils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m also rubbing this essential oil blend over my gums morning and
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m lucky that a <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.thaumaturgy777.com/" target="_blank">local shop here in Durham</a></b></span> carries <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.thaumaturgy777.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3715320" target="_blank">locally made Thieves style </a></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.thaumaturgy777.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3715320" target="_blank">essential oil</a> </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.thaumaturgy777.com/apps/webstore/products/show/3715320" target="_blank">blends</a> </span></b>that are safe for
consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> T<span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.livinglibations.com/default/products/tooth-care/gum-drops" target="_blank">his product</a></b></span> is a great comparable option, too, though, if you’d rather.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxrW4hw-nUtB3GiK8rdW2Cct47IEgiCT5JHvFNT009pF5TrXMrxgYEVO2dqmyLryvoVhVrGNFM1BS2pkDs6o9bF5L4ptOFORTi3OgLJCYGmOXDkuwAV9OYhOWUXvhD-yeNhsvoqFxqyDd/s1600/SKin-Brushing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxrW4hw-nUtB3GiK8rdW2Cct47IEgiCT5JHvFNT009pF5TrXMrxgYEVO2dqmyLryvoVhVrGNFM1BS2pkDs6o9bF5L4ptOFORTi3OgLJCYGmOXDkuwAV9OYhOWUXvhD-yeNhsvoqFxqyDd/s1600/SKin-Brushing.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via youngandraw.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>BODY SKIN</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three
words:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brushing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
been a fan of this practice for years and years, but I often get busy and
forget to actually do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more
excuses!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m brushing my body
regularly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I’ll do a wet
brushing in place of the dry, but I’m focusing more on the dry brushing to
stimulate my lymph system as well as exfoliate my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also taking regular hydrotherapy in
the form of aromatherapy baths, milk baths and salt baths, and am trying to be
better about moisturizing my body skin with natural oils.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczQeO1Zvu5oD7otSLrJ4rMXxkHq7vPkcPUvsSxbQXtV90WwBdlm_zsP7-zWImGivrtLSpbou0FCCYhoizwDH_X9BJiFp2hoz4tOdsiw7nLVAnB3tbxIJC7KnKFkhB4cTTAM55iUK1wK1z/s1600/164-bhastrika-pranayama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczQeO1Zvu5oD7otSLrJ4rMXxkHq7vPkcPUvsSxbQXtV90WwBdlm_zsP7-zWImGivrtLSpbou0FCCYhoizwDH_X9BJiFp2hoz4tOdsiw7nLVAnB3tbxIJC7KnKFkhB4cTTAM55iUK1wK1z/s1600/164-bhastrika-pranayama.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via myyogaonline.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>MISCELLANEOUS
HEALING PRACTICES</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m working a couple of the following
practices into each day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I listen
to my body and let it tell me which practices it needs on any given day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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My sinuses have
been a little cranky what with all this crazy fluctuating weather, the first
signs of spring pollen and grasses, not to mention the clearing reactions from
the healing work, so I’ve been trying to use my <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.himalayaninstitute.org/products-publications/neti-pot-products/" target="_blank">neti pot</a></b></span> more regularly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
currently just doing a classical sea salt nasal douching, but I may move on to
some more specific rinses if the impetus arises, using either milk or herbal
teas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
I’m trying to
spend a little time every day or at least most every day practicing some
pranayama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pranayama is essentially a practice of breathing exercises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m keeping it simple here at the start, as pranayama is one of those
things that I believe in, but find very difficult to commit to practicing
regularly, so I don’t want to make it a big deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just keep it easy and relaxed and maybe it won’t seem
like drudgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m working with <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://thehealthylivinglounge.com/2009/06/16/12-great-reasons-to-start-alternate-nostril-breathing-today/" target="_blank">alternate nostril breathing</a></b></span>, <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2452" target="_blank">kapalabhati breath</a></b></span>, and <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGkGydKMiGM" target="_blank">1-4-2 breathing</a></b></span>, though not all at the same
sitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try to write more
about these breathing techniques in an upcoming blog post.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
This past
weekend, my friend and colleague, Caroline, and I went to <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.exploreasheville.com/" target="_blank">Asheville</a></b></span> for Level 1 and Level 2 <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://ncreiki.com/what-is-reiki-healing/" target="_blank">Reiki</a></b></span> attunements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a wonderful experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been interested in Reiki since
even before my massage therapy training, but it never seemed the right time to
do the training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, the
stars finally aligned, and now I’m an official Reiki practitioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a way to both practice my new craft
and to support my healing journey, I’m performing Reiki on my Self every day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
And then there’s
<span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.nauli.org/" target="_blank">nauli kriya</a></b></span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nauli is a yoga
kriya, which is basically a practice used to strengthen and cleanse
the body to make it ready for spiritual work. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nauli kriya is also known as abdominal churning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a long history of abdominal
dysfunction and inefficiency, I have also had a fascination with, and resistance
toward, nauli practice lasting me a decade and a half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s finally time I jump on that horse’s back and take to
riding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I’m starting a nauli
practice with teeny tiny baby steps and am looking forward to a tortoise’s
journey of victories with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll
try to post more about nauli again in future, but here’s
a great video about it if you’re interested.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZUnYCRP2-0k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd9WJRQAWxukmgxd6P6wM5ZBM9TDJcyQhnfyHQwOeQcxMlcGvKW0mvT6WetYCag2DQ-e7VKG2-JlkAvh6m4B5bBXXP3z0D39MOH1OmIkeE98Zh6v3e6JY2nkFzID-MZhW7wG1Pst2Umbe/s1600/dietary-supplement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgd9WJRQAWxukmgxd6P6wM5ZBM9TDJcyQhnfyHQwOeQcxMlcGvKW0mvT6WetYCag2DQ-e7VKG2-JlkAvh6m4B5bBXXP3z0D39MOH1OmIkeE98Zh6v3e6JY2nkFzID-MZhW7wG1Pst2Umbe/s1600/dietary-supplement.jpg" height="296" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via biosanctuary.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>SUPPLEMENTS</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
taking </span><span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://healthforce.com/longevity-immunity/truly-natural-vitamin-c" target="_blank">Vitamin C</a></b></span> in relatively
high doses – a heaping teaspoon before every meal and at bedtime, cut with a ½
t. of baking soda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also
continuing to take my <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Digestive-Health/Primal-Defense-ULTRA.aspx" target="_blank">probiotics</a></b></span> and <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/products/pharmaceuticals/triphala.htm" target="_blank">triphala</a></b></span> for digestive health, and the
Chinese herbs my acupuncturist gave me for my nasal issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Once these herbs are finished, I’ll be
switching over to some Chinese herbs more specifically for candida
control.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I drink <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.desouzas.com/" target="_blank">Chlorophyll</a></b></span> every morning and every
evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also just introduced
<span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.gaiaherbs.com/products/detail/748/Maca-Root" target="_blank">maca root</a> </b></span>and<span style="color: #666699;"><b> <a href="http://navitasnaturals.com/product/441/Cacao-Powder.html" target="_blank">raw cacao powder</a></b></span> into the mix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maca is a superfood that helps support
energy levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raw cacao has a
host of benefits, chief among them are its high antioxidant and mineral levels,
mood-enhancing effects, and energy boosting qualities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please note that I am talking about
raw unprocessed cacao here, not processed cocoa.<span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm sneaking <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.aztec-secret.com/clay.html" target="_blank">bentonite clay</a></span></b> into my diet in small amounts to act as a chelator for heavy metals and other toxins. </span>Lastly, I’m drinking
daily shots of <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b4a7d6;"><a href="http://www.lakewoodjuices.com/product_detail/id-74/" target="_blank">aloe vera juice</a></span></b> to support healthy digestion and to help
heal and repair the inflammation of my gut linings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
There are several
other supplements that I will be introducing as soon as I can afford to add
them in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, these
healing foods and supplements aren’t cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, my health is worth it, so I’ll add them in as I
can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll write more about these as
I start using them, but you can expect to see things like <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.medicalmushrooms.net/" target="_blank">medicinal mushrooms</a></b></span>, <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.surthrival.com/index.php/supplements/elk-antler-velvet-gold-formula-30ml.html" target="_blank">velvet antler</a></b></span>, <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.surthrival.com/index.php/supplements/pine-pollen-oz.html" target="_blank">pine pollen</a></b></span>, high antioxidant berries like camu and goji (when I’m doing fruit again), <a href="http://www.longevitywarehouse.com/david-wolfe-foods-chlorella-tablets-250-g" style="color: #666699; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">chlorella</a>, and other such healing
superfoods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ1yXiC2WOo1e4eArtjx1wz2XOrYhEUOguLcGCEw869bfh1UduvxwcJSanGJJkSSDbIEzcap56aIy20FSl6tNmkwklywCLoJf1x1AuXN6XYO_eV0jGj93Nnd8wOa4GaHJDV20cwBtSTCP/s1600/Figure+7_chronophoto2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZ1yXiC2WOo1e4eArtjx1wz2XOrYhEUOguLcGCEw869bfh1UduvxwcJSanGJJkSSDbIEzcap56aIy20FSl6tNmkwklywCLoJf1x1AuXN6XYO_eV0jGj93Nnd8wOa4GaHJDV20cwBtSTCP/s1600/Figure+7_chronophoto2.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via news.brown.edu</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>MOVEMENT</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
still doing the </span><span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://tracyandersonmethod.com/" target="_blank">Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis</a></b></span> matwork 5 days a week with my friend, Katy, and have
added 30 minutes of <span style="color: #666699;"><b><a href="http://www.rd.com/health/fitness/5-reasons-why-you-should-be-working-out-on-a-trampoline/" target="_blank">rebounder</a></b></span> cardio
work on those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, I have
the added benefit of walking everywhere I go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Reason #21 to get rid of your car:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s great for your body-mind-spirit –
built in exercise, sunshine and fresh air!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, that’s <b>three</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
reasons.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s the evening
stretching, too, which I intend to turn into a more formal yoga practice as my
schedule becomes a little more integrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
So, there you
have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next phase of this
journey is taking shape and I’m feeling really good about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to hear from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever tried any of these
practices or supplements?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
have any favorites that weren’t mentioned here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave a comment, let’s discuss!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really does take a village to live a full and productive
life, and you are part of my village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I welcome your wisdom.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
Hoping you are
all having a beautiful transition to Spring!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoteLevel1" style="margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_qyWK1PRPNm1y0SvVmCu8R6B9nLpjYyKjX2b2tnPJKPlvzuye3fXx1t6dtrtR2hExNhoiOjWhF-AMyoX3lR-V7Mz-KqLwnetpqsWXoRqmkPiSm0Z9iwEPXnuhFsdxtXyEvSeu9GaBm7I/s1600/rp_04448-400x265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_qyWK1PRPNm1y0SvVmCu8R6B9nLpjYyKjX2b2tnPJKPlvzuye3fXx1t6dtrtR2hExNhoiOjWhF-AMyoX3lR-V7Mz-KqLwnetpqsWXoRqmkPiSm0Z9iwEPXnuhFsdxtXyEvSeu9GaBm7I/s1600/rp_04448-400x265.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>image via richardpeters.co.uk</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Namaste!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if supportFields]><span
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Note: The article linked here was chosen for its universality in language, meaning it uses terms and practices that most Americans understand, and that fit in with our current health care paradigm here in the United States. I actually believe that the treatments suggested here are much too lenient to actually heal a candida overgrowth that has been present in any body for any significant length of time, so I do not necessarily condone this treatment. However, if it feels appropriate for you at this time, then please feel free to explore it, and let me know how it works for you.</i></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-26467417255643957992014-03-08T08:38:00.000+10:002014-03-08T08:38:03.678+10:00March's Resolution and February Recap Hello lovely readers,<br />
<br />
Please drop by the Resolution Revamp blog (<a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/march-get-moving/" target="_blank">here</a>) to see how I've been doing on my elimination diet, and to check out what's in store for March. I hope you're having a beautiful tail-end to Winter!<br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
MelanieMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-20067338952819389602014-02-14T05:04:00.003+10:002014-02-14T05:05:33.831+10:00Experiments In … Health: Why I Am Choosing To Do An Elimination Diet. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As
you probably already know, I am experimenting with an elimination diet during
the month of February. (If you
didn’t know, and would like a little more info, click <b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/february-elimination-diet/" target="_blank">here</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> to read more
about it.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Anyway,
I thought it might be helpful to share a little bit about why I am doing this,
and why certain foods made the cut list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">There
are a couple of reasons I am choosing to do an elimination diet right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
first is that I have a history with gut dysfunction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have made small steps in addressing the various
dysfunctions, including a half-assed attempt at an elimination diet about 10
years ago, but have not really put my full attention to <i>healing</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> <i>my gut</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like the time to finally do
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gut dysfunction can cause/be
caused by food allergies, food sensitivities, poor lifestyle choices, unhealthy
environments, and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know
that I have several food allergies/sensitivities, and a propensity toward
candida (yeast) overgrowth in my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An elimination diet is one of the most effective and least invasive ways
of pinpointing these allergies/sensitivities and balancing the candida
populations in my body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Game
on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Reason
two is more mental/emotional in nature – on the surface, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a looooong history of emotional
eating, craving foods (and I mean <i>hard-core</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> craving), and
using food as rewards and/or punishments rather than fuel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This diet, in addition to being an
opportunity to reset my physical relationship with food is also an opportunity
to reset my mental/emotional relationship with food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One really interesting thing is that food cravings are often
a direct sign of food allergies:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We often crave the very foods to which we are allergic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bummer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, our mental/emotional relationships get skewed when the
physical relationship goes sour (sometimes literally).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Now
that you have a better idea about the whys of this decision, let’s move on to
how some of these foods made it to the elimination list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the list of foods I’m
eliminating:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sugars
(exception:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>fruit)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Grains<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Corn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Dairy
(exception:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>butter)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Soy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Legumes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yeast<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Caffeine/Coffee<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Alcohol<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Nightshades<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Here’s
a bit about why these foods are getting the ax this month:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">SUGARS:<b>
</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Many
of us have heard arguments about the dangers of refined sugars in the
diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refined sugar is addictive
(chemically, it’s very similar to cocaine).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is devoid of any nutritional benefit, and, in fact,
“leaches the body of precious vitamins and minerals through the demand its digestion,
detoxification, and elimination makes upon one’s entire system.” (<b><a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all" target="_blank">Source</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regular consumption of refined sugar
leads to a hyperacidic condition in the body, further depleting our bodies of
the mineral-rich foods we do manage to eat by putting those minerals to use in
balancing the alkalinity of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If taken regularly in the diet, sugar can
eventually, and negatively, affect every single organ of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<b><a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all" target="_blank">Source</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that wasn’t enough, there’s the
association with dental decay and weight gain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All good enough reasons to eliminate sugar from my diet, but
if even <i>that </i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">wasn’t
enough, check this out …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Sugar is used in the body to replenish
glycogen stores in the liver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Glycogen is used to provide fuel for things like exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a particularly grueling session
on the treadmill or an especially rigorous cardio dance routine, your glycogen
stores are depleted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eating some
type of sugar after these kinds of workouts will help to restore those glycogen
levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, most of us aren’t
eating sugars post-strenuous-workout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us are eating sugars while sitting on the couch, or at our
desks, or in the car, or at the bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us eat sugar when our liver is already full of glycogen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these instances, the liver turns the
sugars into fat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<span style="color: #0e0e0e;">Some of the fat gets shipped out, but part of it remains
in the liver. The fat can build up over time and ultimately lead to
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(<b><a href="http://authoritynutrition.com/9-reasons-to-avoid-sugar/" target="_blank">Source</a></b></span><span style="color: #0e0e0e;">.)</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Yuck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who wants a fatty liver?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not I!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides,
if I’m going to refuel after exercise, I’d much rather have a delicious piece
of fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll replenish those
glycogen stores just as well as refined sugars, and will taste just as good
without the negative side effects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">So, there you have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any questions?<b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/sugar-problem/refined-sugar-the-sweetest-poison-of-all" target="_blank">This</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> is a particularly informative
article for those who’d like to read more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">GRAINS:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I could piece together a treaty on the
reasons why grains are inhospitable guests in the human body, citing a number
of different resources from all the research I’ve done over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … <b><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/575/how-grains-are-killing-you-slowly/" target="_blank">this article</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> states it all
so beautifully and so accessibly, that I am going to simply suggest you read
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like more
information or more sources to do conduct your own research, message me and
I’ll send them to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">CORN: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Corn is … wait for it … A GRAIN!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a vegetable like many of us
have been lead to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
once again, I refer you to <b><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/575/how-grains-are-killing-you-slowly/" target="_blank">this article</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> on why grains are unhealthy
food sources for humans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">DAIRY:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I could go on and on about the reasons
I try to avoid dairy from large commercial dairy farms:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the inhumane treatment of the animals,
the debilitating effect on the environment from such husbandry/farming
practices, the high amounts of antibiotics and hormones in the end products,
the way pasteurization kills off any remaining healthy aspects of dairy
products.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the reason I am
eliminating dairy from my diet during this experiment is primarily because it
is a common potential allergen (usually resulting from the aforementioned
tampering with dairy products by large commercial products) and is
mucilaginous, meaning that it causes mucus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excess mucus is already a problem for most folks with gut
dysbiosis, and I certainly don’t want to exacerbate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping to give my body a chance to
heal before reintroducing local, unpasteurized dairy from happy animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/making-it-practical/milk-it-does-a-body-good?qh=YTo0OntpOjA7czo1OiJkYWlyeSI7aToxO3M6NzoiZGFpcmllcyI7aToyO3M6NzoiZGFpcnkncyI7aTozO3M6ODoiZGFpcnlpbmciO30%3D" target="_blank">This</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> is an
excellent article on the important factors to consider when determining whether
or not you should consume dairy in your own diet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">SOY:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Soy is a food I don’t really consume
in my regular diet anymore, and I’ll list some of those reasons below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the main reasons it made my
elimination list this month are because it is a common allergen and it is
almost always genetically modified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, it is incredibly difficult to find any soy products that have
not been genetically modified, and even if you think you have found some clean
soy, it is probably still genetically modified as there are still no labeling
regulations for GMO foods here in the good old USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">These are the other reasons I
generally avoid soy (<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Syndrome-D-D-D-H-D-Schizophrenia/dp/0954852028/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392318187&sr=1-1&keywords=gaps+diet+book" target="_blank">Source</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">):<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most soy in the west in used in the form of soy protein
isolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soy protein isolate is
made by putting soybeans into large aluminum tanks with an acid wash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The acid causes the soybeans to absorb
aluminum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are then treated
with nitrated and other chemicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Aluminum has been linked to many mental disorders including dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nitrates have
been implicated in cancer development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soy, a natural goitrogen, has the ability to impair iodine
absorption and reduce thyroid function.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like grains, soybeans have high phytate concentrations,
which leads to an inability of the body to absorb vital minerals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soybeans are legumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(See below.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">LEGUMES:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">According to the <b><a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/putting-the-polish-on-those-humble-beans" target="_blank">Weston A. Price Foundation</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">,
legumes are well-armed with anti-nutrients such as phytates and trypsin
inhibitors, and some have specialized complex sugars that can wreak painful
revenge upon the mammalian gut that consumes them without proper disarming. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It has also been noted that while
legumes are relatively high in protein, they are comparatively even higher in
carbohydrates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that
eating legumes in large quantities can lead to large insulin spikes that can
tax the body unnecessarily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And, well, let’s not forget the old
adage about being good for the heart … the more you eat them … well, you know
what happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><a href="http://whole9life.com/2012/09/the-legume-manifesto/" target="_blank">Whole 9 Life’s Legume Manifesto</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
tells us that <span style="color: #2e2e2e;">because some of the short-chain
carbohydrates (sugars) found in legumes aren’t properly digested and absorbed
in the digestive tract, they can act as food for bacteria living in the
intestines. These bacteria then “ferment” these carbohydrates, which can create
unpleasant symptoms like gas and bloating, and potentially contribute to gut
dysbiosis – an inherently inflammatory condition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">YEAST:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I am eliminating yeast
because it is a common allergen, but also because, as previously mentioned, I
have a history of yeast imbalance in the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to give my body a chance to restore balance, and
adding yeast foods can only exacerbate any imbalance that is already present.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">CAFFEINE/COFFEE:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">As you likely already
know, caffeine can cause a host of side effects in the body such as insomnia,
irritability, increased heart rate, anxiety, restlessness, and other such
unpleasantness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, to release
caffeine from the system causes some pretty gnarly withdrawal symptoms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Ever have a caffeine withdrawal
headache?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horrible!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I figure anything that
can be realistically referred to as a drug and causes such a mess when removed
from the diet, should generally not be ingested during an elimination
diet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know what I mean?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">ALCOHOL:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Let me just refer you to
the explanation for CAFFIENE/COFFEE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">An additional reason to
eliminate booze this month?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
a bit of rosacea which causes facial redness and inflammation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alcohol exacerbates rosacea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who says booze makes one prettier?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say not having booze makes me prettier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">NIGHTSHADES:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Nightshades are common
food allergens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So, there you have
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My main reasons for
eliminating the things I’m eliminating this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try to post in soon about my progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s proving to be a pretty interesting
experiment so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope you’re all
having a beautiful February, and that your hearts are overflowing with love,
love, love!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Melanie</span></span><span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-80287539865762516442014-02-05T01:03:00.006+10:002014-02-05T01:04:13.728+10:00February at Resolution Revamp<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hello beautiful readers!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Just wanted to let you know that I've posted February's intro post at the Resolution Revamp blog. Click <b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/february-elimination-diet/" target="_blank">here</a></b> if you'd like to check it out. I hope you're having a beautiful beginning to this month of love.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxo,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Melanie</span>Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-85411095204837725342014-01-30T00:26:00.000+10:002014-01-30T00:26:30.527+10:00It's on, 2014!
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Here
I am. I’m ready. I’m showing up for 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">It’s
January, dearies … JANUARY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>2013
snuck out the back door real quiet and quick-like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
threw a handful of seeds into the air late last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I suppose, it’s time to start cultivating and
propagating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am feeling a great
sense of possibility on the chilly January winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you sense it, too?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Okay,
so I know I owe you some reporting on my Spanish adventure, and I do still plan
to get to that before too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But, right now, I’m feeling like I need to take a few moments to clear
my head and get a little organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And it being January and all, I’m going to participate, once again, in
the age-old tradition of resolution setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as last year, I plan to use these resolutions as
motivations for living a more fulfilling life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not see resolutions as immutable commands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not my intention to set up a
minefield of self-shaming opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather, I am using my resolutions as inspirational guideposts – cheerleaders,
if you will – to remind me that I am awesome and I deserve to be living an
awesome life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">First,
let’s take a moment to revisit last year’s resolutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while I was a little unconventional
last year and tried a few different avenues for expressing some resolution-type
growth, these were the most concrete resolutions that emerged:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditate daily (minimum of 5 minutes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yoga practice daily (minimum of 15
minutes)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eat clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(No emotional feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Real planned meals.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do something creative every week<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drink 4 liters water daily<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So,
how’d I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, not too badly,
I’m pleased to report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I
didn’t follow these perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, there is still a great deal of room for improvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But am I happy with my progress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Absolutely!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">In
fact, my current resolutions will reflect a very similar (and in some
instances, identical) ideology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What are my resolutions for 2014, you ask?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, here’s what they look like at present:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Organize home and life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Treat myself to an elimination diet
during the month of February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
adjust everyday diet accordingly to eat for optimal health and not for
emotional reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">3.
Get moving!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exercise regularly and
joyously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.
Do something creative every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make actual artist dates a la <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Artists-Way-Julia-Cameron/dp/1585421464" target="_blank">The Artist’s Way</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have some kind of finished project to
show for your efforts at least once a month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">5.
Cultivate a meditation practice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give myself days off of work and don’t
work on those days!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save some money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yes, I have more specific parameters
set out for this one, but I’m keeping them private.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A girl’s gotta have <i>some</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> mystery.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be more social.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make room for some kind of Self care <u>every</u>
week.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">10.
Volunteer at least once a month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try something new at least once a
month.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cultivate spiritual practice and attune
to Nature by observing <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_Year" target="_blank">Wheel of the Year</a></b>, Esbats (full moons) and Astors
(dark/new moons).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Savvy
readers may have noticed that there are twelve resolutions to represent the
twelve months of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suspect I will be working on many of these simultaneously throughout the
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In fact, I’m already
working with several of them!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I’m setting it up this way so that if things become a little
overwhelming during any part of the year, I can choose to simply focus on the
one resolution that corresponds to that month until I feel it is mastered and
then can move on to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
really looking forward to making these resolutions actualities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will try to start each month by
writing a little about my intentions surrounding that month’s resolution – a
little introduction of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
as the month progresses, I hope to check in with progress reports and
notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should life get hectic, I
will at least try to sum up my experiences of the previous month’s work as I
introduce the new month’s intentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(It’s good to be realistic sometimes, right?)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And
since January is (<i>gasp!) </i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">nearly spent, let me introduce and
update Resolution no. 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">RESOLUTION
no. 1:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ORGANIZE HOME AND LIFE.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">This
resolution was as much a side effect of my recent move as it was a conscious
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, as unpleasant as
the act of moving was – especially during the holiday season, I feel like the
change in location and perspective has allowed me somehow to regain control
over my life in a way that has been eluding me for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yay and hooray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I moved from a vintage little duplex
apartment (that’s the polite phrasing) into a shiny spacious loft apartment on
the edge of downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to
say, most of my sweet vintage shabby chic furnishings and decor were completely
unsuited to my new living space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s a girl to do when that happens except, well, get new furnishings
and décor, and get creative so it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank goodness for <a href="http://www.ikea.com/" target="_blank"><b>IKEA</b></a>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redecorating my home as I unpack it has
almost forced me to consider new avenues of organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Virgo in me, of course, LOVES doing
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house is coming along
nicely, if a little slowly, but I have always been a big believer in the “slow
and steady wins the race” philosophy, so I feel like it’s all good in the new
‘hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So,
that’s home covered, but what about life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, I should confess that I am very sensitive to my environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when my home environment is chaos,
my life is chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When home is organized,
life is much more organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
I’m already halfway there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking
the time to actually construct my resolutions list gets me even more organized
by giving me some concrete ways to start working on lifestyle changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ve been updating my calendars to
reflect these resolutions so I don’t accidentally (or subconsciously) manage to
overbook myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As many of you
know, over-scheduling is a constant struggle for me.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Et voila!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My life’s getting more organized already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By implementing a structure for positive change, I feel like
it will be easier to enact that change and hold myself accountable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">How
do you get organized?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have any good
organizational tips, suggestions, or things to say about organization,
resolutions, or life, in general, please leave a comment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to know I’m not in this alone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Happy
2014 everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxo,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter Light';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Melanie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">NEWS: I was just asked to rejoin the <b><a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Resolution Revamp</a></b> blog, so that is where I will be writing about my resolution progress. I will link from here for those who are interested, but it's a great read headed by my friend, Erin, who is one of the most interesting and inspirational people I know, so I highly recommend spending some time over there. </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-47824788984101591522013-12-03T01:44:00.002+10:002013-12-03T01:44:36.825+10:00ProdigalI know I am long overdue for a proper post. And, as always, I offer my apologies in its place. However, I thought I would send a quick update on what's been going on since my return from Spain. <br />
<br />
First of all, Spain was amazing. I still plan to write about it as soon as I get a moment to breathe. I managed to do that thing I often do, which is not leave myself enough time to sit with one experience before diving into twelve others. To be fair, though, I just didn't feel I had the luxury (or the nerve) to ask for more time away from work after so kindly being granted an entire month. So, the busyness of life was waiting for me practically the moment the plane touched down in RDU. <br />
<br />
I did learn some good lessons on my journey, and am working on putting them into play. Part of forging this new path found me boldly making the decision to sublet my apartment and rent a swankier (read: more expensive) one. It's definitely a good move, and I'll explain more about it later, but it means that I am now in the process of packing up my house and working tons to pay all the new deposits and such. This holiday season will be a different kind of busy for me this year. It is hard, definitely, but a necessary beginning, and I am glad to be doing it. So, that is why, dear reader, it is taking me sooooo long to write about my trip. But write about it I will. I hope you'll stay tuned ...Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-236620965484541802013-09-18T12:14:00.003+10:002013-09-18T12:14:41.880+10:00On the Verge
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjtIkqn_jhl2kJ23spwvbNJc1kswNCkxKXmNjh6wSrANfJYvI-IpIJ47mmnozrlUQZ-Z68FxWyi7jghYswMoKjvywFjBjiwdoaDsu_qHMYnUPfl_Gz6-3iFk7sFsLfkED9lIEJXeZcvB9/s1600/the-way-el-camino-poster-banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjtIkqn_jhl2kJ23spwvbNJc1kswNCkxKXmNjh6wSrANfJYvI-IpIJ47mmnozrlUQZ-Z68FxWyi7jghYswMoKjvywFjBjiwdoaDsu_qHMYnUPfl_Gz6-3iFk7sFsLfkED9lIEJXeZcvB9/s320/the-way-el-camino-poster-banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>photo via: Historias Troyanas</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
owe that I am seriously overdue in my writing. I also confess that I have shamelessly allowed my resolve to
dissolve over the past couple months.
There is so much that can happen in this busy-ness called Life that
distracts and distorts all that is importantly true and truly important. And I have been swallowing gallons of
mundane minutiae and mania since last I took digits to keyboard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">However,
it’s all for good tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been working so hard (and so often) for the sake of that which is on the verge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the last day of this very month I
leave for Spain with my Dad and one of his childhood pals to walk on the Camino
de Santiago de Compostela.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll
be gone a month walking and waking, talking and making new roads of our own as
we reintroduce ourselves to ourselves and to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart is so full for this
adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am tying up my loose
ends and preparing to disconnect from the world of ones and zeroes and
reconnect to the world of blood and bones and breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ready to engage in the world community again in the way
only the traveler can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ready
to spend some quality time with my Dad, affectionately known as The Dude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And, no, this is actually NOT a
reference to The Big Lebowski.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And when I return, I will tell you all about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">No
computer goes with me on this trip, only my phone – for tunes and photos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will carry paper and pen and record
my impressions the old fashioned way. I’ll look forward to sharing it all with
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I get access to any
internet cafés, I may shoot out a few updates here and there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be on the lookout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will miss you all while I’m gone, but
you will be with me in spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Have
a sweet slip into the melancholic nostalgia of Autumn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And enjoy the cool crisp mornings and
evenings as Summer’s grip begins to loosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ciao for now!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Melanie </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue UltraLight'; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-18363347231177362202013-07-02T11:38:00.003+10:002013-07-02T11:38:18.135+10:00Resolution Revamp: June's Progress ... Or Lack Thereof?<a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/07/01/rebalancing-again/" target="_blank">Here</a>'s the Resolution Revamp post for June. I hope you enjoy reading it! <br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
MelanieMelaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-46459202647829595062013-06-10T01:48:00.004+10:002013-06-10T01:49:25.799+10:00Resolution Revamp: May (a little late)Hello! My monthly guest blog post is (finally!) up at Resolution Revamp. It's titled Springing Into Action! Go <a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/springing-into-action/" target="_blank">here</a> to check it out. I hope you enjoy it!<br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
Melanie<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3iTcDfYxtHiDTRrRfa-6JpnLrMO6sXtJXSFSOrYrldjkJIiSvaZecn7ycsqPCthNeOeBfAsUz8ll93QaiYdP9cUuB-gJJKCdPUGCnQTEOd9mlL_F2zUYkxhGPhQBBIoo2q_8KunJjOW0/s1600/bunny-hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3iTcDfYxtHiDTRrRfa-6JpnLrMO6sXtJXSFSOrYrldjkJIiSvaZecn7ycsqPCthNeOeBfAsUz8ll93QaiYdP9cUuB-gJJKCdPUGCnQTEOd9mlL_F2zUYkxhGPhQBBIoo2q_8KunJjOW0/s400/bunny-hop.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(photo via 365nashville.com)</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-74196235464759930442013-05-03T02:35:00.004+10:002013-05-03T02:35:52.024+10:00Inspiration and Germination
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDp4Z2U9y89mn4WS7tl7sgwZ1PKw51iVAsS1yhQTBfOud4b-WESxiEBwfTPNnZnt79H0B7ltaWB9S78LJXNHHsvKqOCvcZD_vlKab7W4ZIH-r2RpnAlIeaWoxXZxvxY7TzomDEdZ9-mnm/s1600/solo-traveller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDp4Z2U9y89mn4WS7tl7sgwZ1PKw51iVAsS1yhQTBfOud4b-WESxiEBwfTPNnZnt79H0B7ltaWB9S78LJXNHHsvKqOCvcZD_vlKab7W4ZIH-r2RpnAlIeaWoxXZxvxY7TzomDEdZ9-mnm/s320/solo-traveller.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>photo courtesy of www.singletripadvisor.com</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">For
those of you who don’t know, I teach a yoga class on Friday mornings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This class is very dear to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was built up from literally nothing
– no attendees – to the thriving, and sometimes overflowing, experience it is
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have become not just a
class, but a community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must
admit that I may learn more from the folks who attend than they do from
me … though I do think there’s a fair exchange of information, inspiration and
growth taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">The
most recent gift I received from this class came to me just last
week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A gentleman who had attended the class a handful of times waited afterwards to ask me to show him a few poses for some physical issues he'd been having.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I was going through some asanas with him, we began to chat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next thing we knew we were sitting
on our mats sharing the unfolding of a beautiful conversation about life,
travel and passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it was
one of <i>those</i></span><span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">
conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kind of
conversation that reaches deep down inside and starts gently sweeping against
the flint of dulled senses until a spark is ignited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel that spark beginning to warm me from the inside
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">We
talked for an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked
primarily about our shared passions for getting out into the world and
discovering meaning in life by sharing our gifts with others and delighting in
gifts received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talking with this
man reminded how much joy and inspiration I feel when I am on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also reminded me how easily I can allow
my senses to grow dull and dusty as I settle into the mundane tasks of letting
roots grow in any one place for too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sleeping nomad was awakened, and now she is getting restless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">The
irony of this sweet and soulful exchange, was that this gentleman will no
longer be attending my yoga class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, he left the country just this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s off living his adventure, and I am here blooming in the
wake of his inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sad
that I won’t get to talk with him face to face again soon, but am so very
grateful for those few small moments that we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">Seeds
were planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ideas are
germinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plans are being
researched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing is decided as yet, but I will keep you posted as this inspiration grows and takes shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll see what it will grow into and
how it will manifest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a
feeling it will be spectacular when it reaches full bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">Happy
Season of Creation and Growth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-IU8JmUAYelbkR_jAGpsUTgp9PshsiOFxSQwPJ_cDUS6p8zApIj7Tfd3Hl7gJFFSbYcetmrPlX4O1DXl0vKsngk8JbYmp30DUJ-hZqyb3z1cxdNvy5l9dZC7_lmQns7Ww_Seo65P_cNy/s1600/sprouting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-IU8JmUAYelbkR_jAGpsUTgp9PshsiOFxSQwPJ_cDUS6p8zApIj7Tfd3Hl7gJFFSbYcetmrPlX4O1DXl0vKsngk8JbYmp30DUJ-hZqyb3z1cxdNvy5l9dZC7_lmQns7Ww_Seo65P_cNy/s200/sprouting.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>photo via http://doctorrenee.wordpress.com/</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">xoxo,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "American Typewriter Light";">Melanie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-64296239203228506502013-04-26T01:14:00.000+10:002013-04-26T01:14:03.956+10:00April: Birth and Rebirth<a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/april-birth-and-rebirth/" target="_blank">Here</a> is April's Resolution Revamp post. Hopefully as things settle I'll be posting more here on Experiments In Bliss. Stay tuned. <br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
Melanie<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPAOQPnCZM58k7jj6wmlt64tyXYttPKFLBhqHnNsSVjFSyUQjXtiE4PCaxP1tDgZ2LdJ7NJAGB2jQeh-Kk9tDZtzJ473JuZD4b8WeXQC1vTvfUjYv1S_OdxtFGAs3cmSg1b2ltVHXESHs/s1600/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPAOQPnCZM58k7jj6wmlt64tyXYttPKFLBhqHnNsSVjFSyUQjXtiE4PCaxP1tDgZ2LdJ7NJAGB2jQeh-Kk9tDZtzJ473JuZD4b8WeXQC1vTvfUjYv1S_OdxtFGAs3cmSg1b2ltVHXESHs/s320/botticelli-birth-venus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-72174926679619668432013-03-27T12:22:00.003+10:002013-03-27T12:22:44.655+10:00March 2013Click <a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/resolution-revamp-march-were-all-mad-here/" target="_blank">here</a> for the Resolution Revamp entry for March. Hope you enjoy it. Happy Spring!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6EMGdc1QdD0IVHOBB6ZxS0YZlZdRITIrLn_eNCCXrhkGbKec4uBQAq2oaS0UVwGqJKQBDGPQzjn8uZ3mEKDZnwah8V3rZ2Q1rKkYRDZZFn2hEQA5EqDXnsJaO32912jEWL0Z2Cp_Gjcb/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6EMGdc1QdD0IVHOBB6ZxS0YZlZdRITIrLn_eNCCXrhkGbKec4uBQAq2oaS0UVwGqJKQBDGPQzjn8uZ3mEKDZnwah8V3rZ2Q1rKkYRDZZFn2hEQA5EqDXnsJaO32912jEWL0Z2Cp_Gjcb/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anisette as March Hare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-12687029348339994642013-02-20T13:29:00.003+10:002013-02-20T13:29:48.880+10:00February 2013<a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/a-resolution-for-february/" target="_blank">Here</a>'s February's Resolution Revamp post! Check it out!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
xoxo,</div>
<div>
Melanie</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicon5YXkJa4VPv0y-lJpoy-PijBjh0XsOQsSITtsdtc8_OLl6_ZQPABqMkV9AH0mLBGiycO8sdG-xYYzCNlqBc-tZoewAVvLkmM3UfqA5yffrHW_tpgYEhPH_aLTe5sEGWpP4diaw6iVCD/s1600/Photo+on+2012-11-18+at+17.57+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicon5YXkJa4VPv0y-lJpoy-PijBjh0XsOQsSITtsdtc8_OLl6_ZQPABqMkV9AH0mLBGiycO8sdG-xYYzCNlqBc-tZoewAVvLkmM3UfqA5yffrHW_tpgYEhPH_aLTe5sEGWpP4diaw6iVCD/s320/Photo+on+2012-11-18+at+17.57+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's all about Love.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-27921591341112564902013-01-26T00:17:00.002+10:002013-01-26T00:18:12.333+10:00January 2013Happy 2013! Yep, I've been a little slack in my posting of late, but I am aiming to remedy that as well as I can while still schooling and working and living. As a means to help with that motivation, my good friend/genius of a human being, Erin, invited me to participate in a blog project called Resolution Revamp. It's an attempt to keep us (and you, by proxy) actively pursuing ways to better our lives ... not just in January. I posted my first blog entry over there, and I think it makes for a dandy experiment in bliss, as well. Click <a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/a-resolution-for-january/" target="_blank">here</a> or on the link below if you'd like to read it. And you can go ahead and follow Resolution Revamp while you're at it. I'm sure you'll find something helpful/entertaining/brilliant over there! Thanks for reading! And, as always, feel free to let me know if there are any experiments, in particular, that you'd like to see performed and documented here. Inspiration is less easy to find when my schedule's so busy!<br />
<br />
Thank you so much for continuing to follow me on this journey ... even, and especially, when the adventures lag. Have a most wonderful, healthy, prosperous, joyful and spectacular 2013!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/a-resolution-for-january/">http://resolutionrevamp.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/a-resolution-for-january/</a><br />
<br />
xoxo,<br />
<br />
Melanie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2678208914896557492.post-7983143633405583692012-12-05T07:50:00.000+10:002012-12-05T07:50:03.063+10:00Experiments in … Henna!
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Last
night I [finally!] got around to dying my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that’s right, I did it myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I didn’t use any of those
stinky-chemicals-in-a-box deals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
went old school with <a href="http://www.rainbowresearch.com/index.php?cPath=24" target="_blank">henna</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
those who may not know, henna,also called <a href="http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/62228/#b" target="_blank">Egyptian privet or Mignonette Tree</a>, is a tropical shrub whose
leaves, when powdered, create a safe and natural dye for human hair and
skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has been used by humans
for ages and ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Herbal-Living-Energy-Vitality/dp/1580174256" target="_blank">Rosemary Gladstar’s Family Herbal</a>, “records dating back more than 5,000 years
specify its use as a medicine, talisman, ceremonial substance, and cosmetic
used to color hair and paint the body.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is often associated with the ancient Egyptians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is even purported that Cleopatra
regularly used henna in her beauty rituals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, well, if it’s good enough for <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=cleopatra&hl=en&tbo=d&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS363&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=lmy-UKK1GJCM9AT5_oCYDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAQQ_AUoAA&biw=1218&bih=653" target="_blank">Cleopatra</a>, then it’s good
enough for me!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.sagemountain.com/rosemary-gladstar.html" target="_blank">Rosemary Gladstar</a> goes on to write the following in her amazing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Herbal-Living-Energy-Vitality/dp/1580174256" target="_blank">Family Herbal</a> (which is
an excellent book, and should absolutely be on your bookshelf):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">“The
basic shade of henna is red, and all henna has a whisper of red in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But by carefully blending different
parts of the plant that are harvested at different times, a whole range of
colors is created.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colors range
from neutral to blond to the reddest of reds to black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I further like to blend the shades
together to get more specific colors. … Not an instant dye nor a neat and easy
process, hena requires time and patience.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0kHOCS_pXFZkQF2IzQ8TgeNE10e98dG41bTuS2RCiC3qHHTKwjQ_CVN7CC0-qekqy3mXrATE6_wo_MOBFWV9mH47i5yXUDTYinks0QFu4nMJmUWHOktzxNNU4G_1grVrPQsU4kdymKS1/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0kHOCS_pXFZkQF2IzQ8TgeNE10e98dG41bTuS2RCiC3qHHTKwjQ_CVN7CC0-qekqy3mXrATE6_wo_MOBFWV9mH47i5yXUDTYinks0QFu4nMJmUWHOktzxNNU4G_1grVrPQsU4kdymKS1/s200/DSC_0108.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>rainbow henna</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I’d
bought a jar of <a href="http://www.rainbowresearch.com/index.php?cPath=24" target="_blank">Rainbow henna</a> about six months ago with the express intent of
dying my hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally got around
to doing it last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I am
highly skilled in the art of procrastination.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went for a simple dark brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to add a little richness to my own color,
cover up my annoying, persistent grays, and give my hair a good
conditioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Let me
just warn you, if you’ve not tried it before, that henna is a messy
business!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it’s much more
fun if you henna with a friend (or several).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check out <a href="http://www.meghancurrie.ca/" target="_blank">Meghan Currie</a> and her best friend using henna <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGPaFJqbzlU" target="_blank">here</a>
to see what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately,
I was solo on my henna hair project, so you won’t get to see all the behind the
scenes shenanigans and green-goo-splattered bathroom snapshots from my
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can, however, tell
you that there was lots to clean up afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVAq9IKSJJZ8cf1OUlGKVgKLnQH2HkyusttvNeNH_OuqxH0BQKvmVRAaqzc4FFGaZmemmc6l_KErG41tE-aBJEmFhJ4mZmFehLiKN0qjOURqj4jlutbQzSBdbWkXb6S3rptvlet_j6_yC/s1600/DSC_0142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVAq9IKSJJZ8cf1OUlGKVgKLnQH2HkyusttvNeNH_OuqxH0BQKvmVRAaqzc4FFGaZmemmc6l_KErG41tE-aBJEmFhJ4mZmFehLiKN0qjOURqj4jlutbQzSBdbWkXb6S3rptvlet_j6_yC/s200/DSC_0142.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>before mixing ...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYHq8fMK2dcNkjSK7caQj6_ovnkux1mmyAbcRWY_NxhbItPcdcfWKgkyK1VNk4NOjeADXfVqmsARHpKV4E-qrVvXsA0XwfeDgP7iPeBdf8_zMDTqA1vuNE-O5mbjfC9A14l3VauHUude1/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYHq8fMK2dcNkjSK7caQj6_ovnkux1mmyAbcRWY_NxhbItPcdcfWKgkyK1VNk4NOjeADXfVqmsARHpKV4E-qrVvXsA0XwfeDgP7iPeBdf8_zMDTqA1vuNE-O5mbjfC9A14l3VauHUude1/s200/DSC_0145.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>... after mixing</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I
whipped up my henna cocktail with black coffee (to help with covering the
grays), apple cider vinegar (again, to help with covering the grays), and an
egg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The egg was for extra protein
and conditioning since my hair’s a little dry and neglected right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I oiled the skin around my
hairline with a little kukui nut oil, wrapped a towel around my neck, donned my
vinyl gloves, and started slapping henna all over my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In case you’ve not experienced my hair
before, it is super thick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean,
I have thick individual hair strands, and I have A LOT of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, this took a long time to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was crazy messy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, let’s be real, my arms were
getting stupid tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I may
have gotten a little lazy distributing henna to every single hair strand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, I think I did a pretty darn good
job considering I was all by my lonesome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When most all of the henna goop was on my hair, I smooshed it up into a
weird mud-covered-looking kind of beehive and wrapped it in a plastic shopping bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are so envious of my mad
style right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfKkedzBhMgHBqo4GcXJPkbKoaDKZ-bFznrelYH7jv8kRnZxhd7brJhlJLB_NHEyW4rVDFVxmaCdOVIoK6ZY4Ik8LdEZNaBqeglJEKVZP8GOFqTg7pP6eM0g5quxhVOZ1bHWVIe6zC0NO/s1600/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+20.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihfKkedzBhMgHBqo4GcXJPkbKoaDKZ-bFznrelYH7jv8kRnZxhd7brJhlJLB_NHEyW4rVDFVxmaCdOVIoK6ZY4Ik8LdEZNaBqeglJEKVZP8GOFqTg7pP6eM0g5quxhVOZ1bHWVIe6zC0NO/s200/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+20.14.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>oooh</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fTvQnsdspGJG8VQWZVAKZKkf0hq44ZHluIGv6FQnfFU3HbK6klte37c-qXTVfJ-L_zvSYd27M0NO5bHTLDVfhu4SilXBF6ZdaKwEDHT9tXIjVfIERT_ujWtm3TVWKNjBTdITWg1iUCDP/s1600/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+20.13+%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fTvQnsdspGJG8VQWZVAKZKkf0hq44ZHluIGv6FQnfFU3HbK6klte37c-qXTVfJ-L_zvSYd27M0NO5bHTLDVfhu4SilXBF6ZdaKwEDHT9tXIjVfIERT_ujWtm3TVWKNjBTdITWg1iUCDP/s200/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+20.13+%234.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>aaah</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Before I cleaned
up, I used the leftover henna mixture to make a little viney design on my arm
and hand and a little heart on my neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, the heart got rubbed off almost immediately by the
towel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ninety minutes of watching Once Upon A
Time and Glee, and I was ready to rinse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now I have soft, shiny, bouncy luxurious chestnut colored hair (with a
few dull spots where my arms got tired).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yay!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfl7y785-W5RPOOjTwWlzZlyQpgyR4J-SnhWX1E2f3bBo_cobN8VQ_ts45y17LuKlqlxzgugwRV5YD2buTVgi9nqeVn24B8rDM6hcMlmwon-lzObAPWfQtfHEHvrBz85QPW71bAeFP3bo/s1600/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+22.39+%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfl7y785-W5RPOOjTwWlzZlyQpgyR4J-SnhWX1E2f3bBo_cobN8VQ_ts45y17LuKlqlxzgugwRV5YD2buTVgi9nqeVn24B8rDM6hcMlmwon-lzObAPWfQtfHEHvrBz85QPW71bAeFP3bo/s200/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+22.39+%234.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>post-henna luxuriousness</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6GrBHjqGLrSY0UQKff2mt9LA3npdODVGXretZMKgE6Ct0edYYf8nDxGng4cXfY5nNjpZ6ifBOTqbJzFX3gvAo1iLxEBJhGBlyWP6rE0HskT3kjAMv4qAuiPtTVZxiAeVroZme4rtx2et/s1600/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+22.39+%235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6GrBHjqGLrSY0UQKff2mt9LA3npdODVGXretZMKgE6Ct0edYYf8nDxGng4cXfY5nNjpZ6ifBOTqbJzFX3gvAo1iLxEBJhGBlyWP6rE0HskT3kjAMv4qAuiPtTVZxiAeVroZme4rtx2et/s200/Photo+on+2012-12-03+at+22.39+%235.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>admit it ... you want to run your fingers through it!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Have
any of you every used henna on your hair?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How was it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave me a comment
and let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Hope
you’re having a swell Tuesday today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">xoxo,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'American Typewriter Light';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">Melanie<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Melaniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11745861275752336326noreply@blogger.com0