How many of us have vowed to never adopt habits and characteristics of our Mothers...only to find we did exactly that....
​My Mother decided apple cider vinegar was the cure of all ailments, much like "My Fat Greek Wedding where Windex was the cure all...
​But now, 4 children later, struggling health, a restrictive medical budget, I find myself adopting more of the "I will never do as my mother...." daily choices.
So, you ask, how do I use it? I think the question may be...how do I not apple cider vinegar use it??...

​Apple Cider Vinegar assists in maintaining the proper acid/ alkaline balance in our bodies. It gives the morning smoothie an extra snap, brings flavor into salad dressing, marinated meats, in hot tea for sore throat, breaks up chest and sinus congestion, reduces bloating, and so much more. ...Thanks MOM....

Extremely popular in the natural health community is Apple Cider Vinegar. Claims lead to so many different types of benefits, some supported by science. The list includes weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and improved diabetes symptoms.

​Recent medical research suggests apple cider vinegar use can assist to cure acid reflux, lower blood pressure, improve diabetes, and assist weight loss.
The powerful healing compounds and benefits of apple cider vinegar include acetic acid, enzymes, potassium, magnesium, probiotics.

​In basic daily terms, adding 1 tablespoon into a smoothie in the morning, another afternoon tea or included in simmering bone broth from scratch to benefit from accessing more nutrients and minerals.

Looking to increase your collagen intake, and nutritious minerals found in bone marrow?
​A fun experiment encouraged by how many websites are selling "bone broth" powder.
​Since I always prefer the real thing, and don't mind trading the long way around for superior taste, I set out to figure out how to go about this process.
​Stopping into the local meat market, asking if they have bones for sale, and yes found minimum pound bags with 3-5 bones.
​As I tested just one bone to start, to determine if this process was a daily routine type activity, or batches.
Love all my supplies calling attention to themselves... Fresh Ginger, Garlic, Italian Herbs, joined by Himalayan Sea Salt added to softly simmering bone broth slowing bringing fragrant smells into the kitchen for over an hour. The smell is intoxicating of comfort and reminiscent of Grandma...
​Benefits include healing your gut,  collegene . touted as better then botox.
​The slow simmer includes apple cider vinegar that assists in breaking down minerals and vitamins in the bone marrow. Your personal recipe may include all the farmer market favorites and whatever you may have in your refridge like celery, carrots, onions, and more.
​There are helpful charts that describe the specific organs assisted when eating each of these fresh produce items and the shape is definitely familiar as well. 
eyes- carrots
​celery- bones, skeleton
parsley
beets - heart
asparagus -
walnut - brain
olives - ovary
​
​

Biking is a true love only really discovered the last few years. You could say it was the balm for empty nest as I first sobbed myself through mile after mile. But now.. the smile stretches wide and far as the miles melt by.
​My absolute favorite are all the many beach stops in South Florida where the salt water fills my lungs and beach sand give natural pedicures.
​The boardwalks, bike lanes, & portals for beach exploration lend themselves to exercise to whatever amount of benefit or intensity you set for yourself.  My daily goals have ranged from
​3 - 26 miles.
​Should I admit to multiple biking favorites? North Central Washington, Montana, wherever I find myself.
​Biking has beaconed me while offering simple exercise and the motivation to visit nature. I am told pedaling assists the heart with a secondary motion, so those looking to remove build up in the arteries, now you have the perfect excuse to put the paperwork down and leave the cell phone behind... Just keep moving...cruising is fine.

As I follow up on the most recent doctor visit, my research leads me to Chlorella. A superfood, that now needs to be on my list to incorporate into the daily rituals. Take the journey with me as I discover more about Chlorella.
​Issues I am looking to address... high blood pressure, extreme low levels of Iodine, high levels of mercury.
​Research shows chlorella detoxifies the body from heavy metals and toxins and appears to be recognized as nutrient-dense superfoods worldwide. Chlorella’s green rich color comes from the high concentration of chlorophyll.   And because that was not enough to convince me, chlorella contains a good amount of vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and phosphorus, assists in homone balance, weight loss and revive aged skin, hair and nails.....   OK, sign me up to try this super food!
​From a cost perspective, there is no real substitute for eating real food that will deliver the vitamins and minerals, so the detoxifiying from heavy metals may be the main objective for using Chlorella....Verdict has not been declared yet.. to be continued.

 For Decades we have been educated to avoid fats in our food, for reasons of collestrol and other health studies. I remember in the 1980"s my father who had spent every morning with a plate of eggs was told about the newest study of eggs and the recommendations to change up daily menus.  In retrospect 30+ years later the tables have turned...eggs are a complete food recognized in many ways.
​So it goes with Coconut Oil, many may remember when warnings came out against, and instead the marketing trend to bring forward corn or canola oil.
​Sometimes you just have to ignore the newest fad and come back to real food as its created without the intervention of humans to change the natural source.
​Personally I use coconut oil often instead of butter, adding my own sea salt on toast, or pancakes; stir into oatmeal, stir fry veggies, meats, or added to a simmering sauce or soup. I try to slip it in daily 2-3 times a day which many include to nourish my skin.
​When purchasing I look for virgin, organic coconut oil found in grocery & health food stores. It will have a solid appearance unless it becomes warmed up.

Consider the first time you ever tasted beets, the musty, earthy qualities of this vegetable fast becoming the champion of significant health benefits, rising from obscurity to popular demand in a single decade.
​My first exposure to fresh beets was a small juicing bar, where the visual experience of frothy red beverage outweighed the initial taste. That has been over 7 years ago and the flood of benefits shared keep rising.  Qualities ranking high on the priority list, beets value is increased by their nitric oxide content that assists in a natural form to stabilize blood pressure, and other vital functions.

Every life journey has ups and downs..the merry go round, the ferris wheel...the spin cycle on the washing machine...and the questions of purpose, value, discouragement, with challenges through the funnel of faith and hope. 
​
​Scars are so much more then the initial injury, or marking of the surgery. The ongoing pain associated with the loss physically, emotionally, mentally can be a mountain you find yourself forced to climb, not by choice but sheer requirement as the only option in front of you.
​Your best intentions will be tested in choosing Hope versus the alternative of Hopeless...Faith instead of Fear...Peace instead of Chaos...Joy not dependent on the circumstances but the inner strength found inside you were not sure existed until tried and tested.
​So in my personal melt down and weak moment ..I call to the kindred sprits ..you know exactly who you are, grab the steering wheel of your heart and emotions.. together let us get back on the trail with knowledge that all  has a reason...unseen yet wrapped in this moment.
​Reach for the resources that surround, family, friends, helpers,  grateful and thankful ...reach out..shift the thoughts ..pray...meditate. Together we will heal from scars and so much more.
​As for me, music reaches into my soul and songs will feel like they have been written just for me, so Thank you; Tenth Avenue North.... " I have this Hope" ..I am definitely walking the unknown, constant questions ..purpose to the pain? I sure hope so...not wanting to live in fear but rather hope, in something/someone far greater then I.

Just for the record my family has been the testing grounds for many years on all the different concoctions I try out on them. ... So this recipe was given to me my a friend with the comment..."try this for the inflammation you are feeling, you may be surprised how much better you feel." Oh...the rest of the conversation included how they used during a cancer diagnosis and gained a greater boost to immunities and overall health.

​I decided to try it out and so far have used all ingredient options, from expensive to cheap $1.00 store just to play with it include into my daily routine before getting too crazy in cost.
​Ideas for daily use: sprinkle on your morning breakfast, from eggs, to oatmeal or on toast with preserves; use while cooking up that curry chicken dish, or building a soup or salad, stir into tea or hot chocolate, whip it alongside berries in a smoothie. 

​We share the recipe freely and encourage you to make your own. In case that is more ambitious then you wish to deal with.. we are happy to ship our version to you.     (Link)
​Recipe: Includes equal amount of each of the following, except where noted.
​  Curry (sweet)      Ginger      Turmeric       Lemongrass       Coriander     Cinnamon       Pepper (1/2 part)

​Use grinder on lemongrass & coriander (coffee grinder works great), others are generally found in powder form. Your grocery bulk food section carries ingredients or www.bulkapothacary.com has been a wonderful resource. 

 Navigating all the choices available for eggs seems to require a masters degree these days.  I wonder if there is anyone else out there  that finds all the choices a bit confusing. Between, free range, organic, conventional, cage free, etc.
So....How to choose....I have finally settled on organic eggs as the first choice for purchase which narrows it down.
Next, I love supporting family business vs larger corporate business and have specific appreciation for the family entreneur who is smaller, and more challenged as they love and cherish farming as their lifestyle choice. While there will always be may worthy to choose, Pete & Gerry's has been my recent selection at least in South Florida.
​The attributes of organic eggs won me over..and yes I now spend the extra money. Pete and Jerry's greet the scene with USDA Certified organic, and their website is full of amazing information that includes even the basics on egg recipes for Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch & Dinner.  http://peteandgerrys.com/  A couple that make my mouth water and definitely on my list to try...Savory Cheddar Waffle BLT with Egg or Breakfast Bowl both Paleo & Gluten Free. Be watching for future posts to update the taste tests.

ow many days do you wake up feeling anxious, nervous, an underlying fear of  unknown variables that may come your way.  There are many different factors that interact with your mind, body, and emotions, from nutritious food, water, proper rest, how time is spent, and the way we think.
Long ago I discovered how to elevate my mind through research and personal development.
In specifically choosing to review the characteristics of courage vs fear during my winter respite, this book literally jumped out as I walked by the bookstore.
​Joyce Meyer  "Living Courageously"  discuss concepts of your true identity, the pursuit of  individual gifts and purpose,  & how to move forward and away from fear.

 As I begin my morning with fresh water, fresh squeezed lemon, ginger tea, mix in a little apple cider vinegar...blend up a berry smoothie, lime slice included...sipped throughout.  A few days each week  essential oils are included along the way...Lemon, Lime & or Grapefruit. 
Breakfast time sprinkles herbs into the mix, known to work against inflammation... recipe includes turmeric, ginger, lemon grass, cinnamon and more.
Daily Detox in these routine ways will send you energized ....you will feel the process working. Toxins are accumulating in our bodies, and simple daily recipes aid in keeping balance.
​If you choose to use only lemon...its a game changer.
​The health benefits of lemon include treatment of throat infections, indigestion, constipation, dental problems, and fever, internal bleeding, rheumatism, burns, obesity, respiratory disorders, cholera and high blood pressure, while it also benefits hair and skin care.