Winter was Spring & Spring is Winter

This is what I woke up to Saturday Morning.  But this isn't the first snow we have seen in the last few weeks!  Today it's raining but we might see some more snow over the next few days.  Not that much, really, but let's face it...it's SPRING!  Why isn't Spring acting like Spring?  Probably because Winter didn't act like Winter, either.  Oh well.  I've been thinking of doing a cleanse or detox of sorts and have been thinking of how to go about it.  I think FIRST what I might do is omit breads and pastas as I have been using it as a crutch lately and feel those are the two items that have added a few unwanted pounds.  I'm not going to go overboard, here, I really just want to shred 5 pounds...10 at the very most.  I seem to feel better at that weight.

I think I will try and NOT consume pasta or bread (unless it's sprouted bread like Ezekiel because I have a half loaf left).  I've also been thinking about doing soups, salads, for dinners and nearly Raw Til 4 up until then.  That may be a real challenge for me some days, however. More on that in the coming days.

In the meantime - here's something I made last night - it's a twist on Da(h)l.  Actually it started off as a Da(h)l and then I added Chickpeas and a handful of Cashews, too!  Mostly because I under estimated the amount of red lentils I had on hand prior to cooking.  So I guess this would qualify as an EATING FROM YOUR PANTRY Meal.  I sampled some last night when it was finished and it turned out good!  It will be my dinner this evening, too!

Recipe for Cashew Chickpea Da(h)l:

1 C uncooked Red Lentils
1 C Chickpeas
1 Handful Cashews
2 T Garlic Grapeseed Oil (Wildtree Brand)
1 Small Sweet Onion
1 t Ginger Powder
3 Cloves Garlic, Minced
2 t Curry Powder
1 t Turmeric
1 Can Coconut Milk
Dried Cilantro (or Basil) to Taste
Black Himalayan Sea Salt to Taste
Nutmeg to Taste

Focusing on My Lymphatic System

For the next 3 days - minimum - I will be doing a detox of sorts - while focusing on my Lymphatic System.  

There are a few things that I want to heal with my body and I feel the Lymphatic System is the perfect place to start.  I have 2 confessions to make up front.  ONE - I've never done this before so it's a learning process - so it's rather fitting that I am posting it here on my blog - My Blissful Journey.  And TWO - as much as I try and do things to improve my life and situation - it doesn't mean I don't have bad habits.  To get a little personal here - the older I get the less comfortable I feel about going undergarment-free (if you know what I mean) and I know that is BAD...I really have to change that.  It's suggested that women go at least 12 hours every day without that kind of support.  Because I have felt physically uncomfortable doing so I haven't for quite some time...so one of the things I will be forcing myself to do during this time is wear a camisole when I get home at the end of the day.  This might sound like a 'small thing' but it's going to be a challenge for me.  

Having said that...some of the other things I will be focusing on over the next 3 days (which will probably turn into all of this week) will be hot and cold compresses on problem areas, hot and cold showers, deep breathing, yoga, walking, and natural deodorants.  Some of these things I do on a daily basis such as wear a natural (non-aluminum) deodorant.  I rarely (close to if ever) wear make-up and I don't even use lotion, etc.  If need be I will be using Grapeseed Oil and/or Coconut Oil.  Another thing I will be doing more of this week is Oil Pulling and I tend to do that with Coconut Oil.

Now...on to what I HOPE to consume...of course this is all based on whether or not I can find these items in my area which has been a complete challenge as of late.

Plantains - altho - not RAW - I do have some in my freezer that I intend to bake.

Leafy Greens - you will see me doing a LOT of salads this week - so that means - I will most likely be posting those with my home-made dressings!

Cranberries - I really doubt I can find fresh ones right now but I do have a stash of dried that I have from my shipments from The Raw Food World.

Raw/Soaked Nuts & Seeds

Coconut, Avocado - Again, our fresh coconut situation here is grim so I'm unsure how this will come into play but I have been rather Avocado-Happy, lately!

Echinacea - as well as other herbal tonics and tisanes

Garlic/Ginger/Turmeric - I eat these in some form almost every day but during this time I hope to incorporate them into other ways, too!

Seaweeds, Spirulina, Chorella

Citrus - whole, juice, in dressings - you name it!

Consume more fruit on empty stomach - such as more fruit based mono meals

Cantaloupe - if possible I would like to make some Cantaloupe Juice and/or Milk

Apple Cider Vinegar (mixed with water and possibly garlic, Agave)

LOTS of Water and Water with Lemon!

I will probably be doing some juicing and smoothies this week, too!  At least that is my goal.  One I would like to try was from an old Dan McDonald Video - 2 Apples, handful of Grapes, 1 Lemon, and a chunk of Ginger.

These are just some of this things I would like to work toward this week.  I'm challenging myself with many of them to try and stay consistent but also try and do some healing.  Please drop by with encouragement this week!  I would appreciate it!

Raw Gifts, Eye Detox, Dogs, Sleeping, and Other Updates

It's that time of year again!  The time of year when some of my favorite websites have giveaways!  The Raw Food Coach has been doing this for years.  I think the last 3 or 4 years I have signed up...and I just signed up again!  It's her 12 Days of Raw Christmas Gift Giveaway!  In years past most of those days you would get a nice sized eBook from various Raw Food Community Members and Healthy Living People among other nifty gifts!  If you want to check it out HERE is the link!  You even get 3 FREE eBooks from Karen right away just for signing up!

I mentioned a few days ago I was doing my best to fight off a potential head cold and I believe I did this with success!  I've feeling pretty good.  When I felt the mini sniffles coming on I pumped up on a few healing foods such as garlic, berries, Emergen-C, etc...

In addition to this I took out my contacts.  I fully admit I wear my contacts TOO much!  My eye doctor knows this and in the past as prescribed me with the most hydrating contacts available.  I've done well with them.  I haven't had any eye damage and he check that each time I go in.  The last 3 appointments I have had my sight has stayed the same...totally unchanged...up until 3 years ago...this has never happened...this makes me very happy!  So the other day I decided to take my contacts out for a few days and do an eye detox of sorts.  I do this every once and a while to give my eyes a rest.  I have to force myself to do this, tho, as I hate wearing my glasses.  I guess I just use my peripheral vision more than most people and I don't see as well with my glasses VS my contacts.  Another reason I did this was to prevent myself from touching or rubbing my eyes.  Many germs get to your system quicker while we rub our eyes and we do it without even thinking about it.  It's 2nd Nature. 

So all-in-all I'm feeling good and my efforts seemed to have paid off!  YAY!

Paco's been super cute with his poses lately...he's now enjoying the pillow I use while sleeping on the sofa.  Because Suzie was recuperating from surgery for about 3 weeks as well as my husband having his health issues I have been camping out on the sofa.  Suzie and Riley thought this was pretty cool and apparently no longer likes to sleep in our bedroom.  I'm still trying to figure this all out so I can return to our bed and SLEEP.  They will NOT stay downstairs if I'm upstairs so there lies the problem.  Maybe I will get them large dog beds for the floor and see if that helps.  In other news...a few weekends ago we bought a new bed topper and it's been helping Dale's back so that is good but I don't really know what it feels like because I've been on the sofa...sigh...