Lately I've been more structured with my running...altho' I'm very much a novice, I feel like I'm getting a little better, even looking forward to it a bit more.

I guess in all honesty, I don't really like running...but I do love the feeling afterwards...it's so amazing...like a clean energy burning through you and I usually have a lot more energy for the rest of the day. I like to run in the morning, when I first get up and my stomach is empty. Afterwards, I've been experimenting with green smoothies and protein shakes for recovery and re-hydrating my body. It's amazing how detoxing vigorous exercise really is...afterwards, I sweat like crazy and get that pink glow all over, and I usually have a little bit of phlegm to get rid of. It's odd too, sometimes after a run all my dead skin on my lips just comes off by itself.

This morning I ran 3 miles on the treadmill and then I fueled my body for the rest of the day with this:

I call it...

Runner's Smoothie (ain't I original??? I try, lol)

1 tsp. maca (help get your adrenals back on track)

1 aloe vera leaf (gel)

1 tsp. raw honey

2 leaves of kale (stemmed)

3 oz. spinach

1/2 navel orange

1 banana (froz.)

1 tsp. raw coconut oil

Blend this all up with a little water and some ice cubes. When it's whirled up, top with bee pollen and raw cacao nibs for maxium energy!

If any of you guys are into running, I want your biggest tips...post them in the comment box below. I especially love info with running raw, which I'm really excited about right now. Tell me your secrets.

Absence makes the heart grow...fonder?

Well, maybe not in the case of blogging...but this time, I actually have a really good reason for not having done a post in a while.

Our family is currently recording a new CD and now that my sister Lizzy is married, I am helping with the producing and recording. It's been very stretching for me, but fun at the same time, since I really love music. We have one more set of recording to do in a few weeks, but for the moment we're done.

As soon as our first set of recording was finished, we headed down to the states for a funeral of a very dear friend of ours, who we've known all our lives pretty much. It was so special to be there, he was an amazing man who passionately loved the Lord. His family was amazing, even rejoicing with smiles at his funeral, simply because they know that their Dad is with Jesus. I've never seen a family like that! He has nine children and all of them are such incredible people with such limitless hope.

Anyway recording and going to that special funeral occupied about 3 weeks of my time, where I simply didn't even have a minute to post...but now I'm back and excited to try and post more regularly.

While we were recording, a few of us here had colds (all year I don't think I had a cold and then...OF COURSE...had to have one when I needed to record my voice!) and so I tried everything I could possibly do to get healthier. I ate up to ten cloves of garlic a day, I drank 2 oz. of organic Noni juice a day, took vitamins, ate a lot of oranges and grapefruit...and even went on a one day Master Cleanse. And you know what? I got slowly better, but not fast enough...but God was so good. I prayed to Him and asked that if He would just heal my voice long enough to record that would be fine. And that's exactly what He did. I'd go to record with a stuffed nose and when I started to sing, it didn't even sound like I had a cold.


Lately, I've been starting to fall in love with raw foods all over again...and I'm stoked about getting more of it in my life.

Little Goals...Big Changes

I, among millions of others I'm sure, have written out my New Year's Resolutions tonight. But this year, I was a lot more specific than I'm usually. Really, I think that's so valuable. Instead of writing down the usual resolve like "I'm going to be more fit this year", I would write something more like this "I'm going to master my Intermediate Pilate's DVD by the end of this year". When you write down EXACTLY what you want to do, it's so much easier to carry out.

I broke down pretty much ALL my goals into very doable aspirations and I'm really hyped about carrying them out as much as I can.

Sometimes, I think, people that have such big aspirations often forget how to bring them to pass, which would be with small choices. I think of my Dad...he's such a lover of hot chocolate and iced tea, but now he's pretty much given them up entirely. Now he drinks 2-4 mugs of green tea a day. Truly, little changes make a big difference.

Here's some of my new year's goals for 2009...

Healthwise:

• I'm challenging myself to an entire year without refined sugar...this is big for me, because whether or not I'm a health nut or not, there are a few bad foods I often find room for, like frozen yogurt (usually very sugary) or the standard chocolate bars...but NO! This year, I'm getting full of gumption and I'm going to forsake it, except for organic or very dark chocolate bars (because my quality of life would decrease dramatically without it, lol)

• I'm going to replace my body products (like lotions, makeup, and nail polish) with more natural versions. Pretty near all my stuff already is very natural, but I want to step it up a bit more, especially with my makeup. I also want to learn more how to make my own products and creams (I'm aching to own the new "Green Beauty Guide" book ...Shannonmarie wrote a great review on it, even getting an interview with the author, check it out).

• I want to work toward a more super-healthy, energy-charged diet...eating WAY more leafy greens and fruits than I do already.

Spiritually:

• I’m going to be more “in the moment” with Jesus, always with Him in everything, depending and trusting in Him. He alone is wise and good…so when I can't see His hand, I’m going trust His heart.

• I’m going to spend more time with the Lord…with my Bible, prayer notebook, fun pencils, and my tea. I want to know His heart better, deep down. I want Him to share everything with Him.

• I’m going to love challenges and not let them beat me. I can do anything with God’s help. That doesn't leave much room for doubt or failure.

So what are you New Year's dreams and goals? Little and big? Comment below and tell me. Just writing something down can help make those goals much more attainable. Start small and see what happens.

Pineapple Dreams

Despite the fact that the weather is acting like it's the dead of winter here, I'm finding that I'm craving a lot of "summery", light, and fruity drinks. I've been pretty consistent with my exercise lately, which I like to do as soon as wake up. After an hour or so of exercise, I'm very much ready for something refreshing. Maybe it's because I'm all sweaty and hot that I crave the cold, fruity drinks.

Here's one of my favorites...the famous Pina Colada, redone, raw style! Keep in mind my measurements are just a guideline for you, add whatever you wish, and dabble to your heart's content.

Aloha Pineapple Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1 not-frozen banana

1/4 quarter of a ripe pineapple

2 mandarin oranges

3 T. shredded, unsweetened coconut (or skip this in the blending and add for a topping after)

1 tsp. raw coconut oil

1/2 c. ice

And have fresh coconut water (from a young coconut) for the liquid base. This tastes amazing. If you like it thicker, add some more banana, a frozen peach or nectarine, or half of an apple or pear. Add some coconut extract for a bit more of a coconut flare if you like. And as usual, I love topping my smoothies with bee pollen.

Right now I'm impatiently waiting another pineapple to ripen. Oh, I simply adore the flavour of the exotic pineapple!

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is coming up...only a few days really...I'm so stoked about the holidays...my sister and her new husband are coming down for it and I know we'll have a splendid time.

I just wanted to thank you all so much for the comments you left on my last post. They meant A LOT to me, and were SO encouraging, each and every one!!! I'm very grateful for loving people, whom I haven't even met, who truly care about one another. Thank you!

Life means more...

A couple days ago my family and I were in a car accident...we were on our way to do a concert, so we had our trailer hooked up to our van.

We hit black ice, and our van and trailer went out of control, going 103 kms and we slid across 3 lanes and a median and landed backwards on the other side of the ditch. It was the wildest, most frightening ride of my life, especially since I didn't have my seatbelt on (I always will now). Our van stayed upright, which was an absolute miracle, but our trailer came off the hitch and flipped. The angels were sure working overtime, but I don't think any of us have ever been so scared. Everything happened so quickly and suddenly thoughts like "Is this when I die?" come racing through your head. The police, ambulance, and fire fighters were all there, and all of them could not believe we hadn't rolled going at such a speed. It could have been our last day on this earth, as well as others, as the highway was so busy, but there was only about a 5 second break when we crossed the meridian over to the other 2 (oncoming traffic) lanes when no one was there. God kept the traffic away for those few seconds...just enough for us to cross.

I feel like I can look at life a bit differently now...as soon as our van came to a halt and we looked around to see if everyone was alright, tears filled my eyes...I looked over at my family and thought to myself, "Why do I sweat the small stuff, why don't I just love instead?"

Life is short, so short. I feel like I know that better now and I want to make my life count even more than I did before...a brush with death gives you a new perspective...but oh, how much better it would be, if I could realize that without an accident! God kept me and my family safe, so He has purposes for us to live here a while longer...and I want to love Him back and love my family more because of it.

Just love...some things really just don't matter.

And Charge It Please...

Maybe I'm the only blogger that dotes on Eloise...but I can't help it. Kay Thompson's character is one of the most darling and endearing personalities you could ever read about. True, she is a bit of a mischief maker, but she "absolutely adores" her life, and so makes everything she does fun.

One of my sisters even collects Eloise books, which she then reads to her nieces. They love Eloise. In fact, one of my nieces, who is three, slept with the book, telling herself her own stories of Eloise as she fell asleep. I think collecting special children's books is a great thing to do...our nieces and nephews love my sister's book collection. I've started mine own since then...the children in my life love "book time" with me and if ever I have my own family, I can give them to my own children.

One of the big things that Eloise does, is charge everything she buys with a firm statement..."and charge it please".

I don't charge anything if I can help it, lol...but one thing I am wondering about is "charging water". Apparently, when you "charge" your water, the hydrogen molecules in the water are closer together, which makes the water more polar (electrical), giving your water better quality. I've always know that water was even better for you when you squeezed fresh lemon in your water, or added some mint, but I didn't realize that that is considered as "charging the water"...and frankly, I'm not sure if I believe it. A pinch of salt or MSM crystals are said to do it too. But...it's also said that putting your water under the moonlight or thinking loving thoughts to your water does it too...which I THINK IS TOTAL BALONEY AND STUPIDNESS, but anyway...what are your thoughts about it?

Anyway, whether or not, the "charging" theory with fruit juices and salts is true, squeezing lemon or lime or a pinch of pink salt in your drinking glass are always good, fun, little ways to keep cleansing your body and help you digest better...so drink up!

Today A-M and I are doing another all-raw day (except there was some good quality yogurt in our green smoothie this morning) so we plan on our favorite chocolate, young coconut pudding tonight. My Daddy is such an angel...in one week he brought me home 4 young coconuts and where I live, they ain't cheap. I have such a sweet family.

Toast to Life

Sometimes I get so hyper about just how wonderful life truly is...my life is full of such beauty, adventure, and fulfillment. Perhaps I'm not a nurse or figure skater with a promising future, or an inventor who'll change the world, but I'm who God made me and when I "bloom where I'm planted" I'm perfectly happy. I see every day is an amazing gift from my Heavenly Father, every minute full of potential and promise.

I certainly look forward to what life will bring, but there is a special joy in just living in the here and now, trying to make each moment count for something.

My former "guest blogger", my sister Anne-Marie just had a birthday yesterday...she is such a sweet heart! A classic example of loving life with passion and gusto! Just being with her makes you want to embrace every good thing that God has given us, live life with an inner joy that manifests itself with a smile and an easy laugh...she's such a dear.

My last post was about the virtues of juicing and blending...here's a juice recipe I adapted from "The Juicing Bible", perfect for this cold, fall weather. We have heaps and heaps of apples that are starting to "go" so this is the best way to use them up (as well, as dehydrating them into leather or apple coins, mmmm).

Apple Spice Cocktail

5 apples (mine were small)

1 carrot

2 stalks celery

1-inch piece ginger root

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

Juice all but the nutmeg. Stir the nutmeg in your glass and add some ice, if you like it cold. Drink up!

We have lots of apples leftover that need something done to them...so comment below and tell me some of your creative, fresh apple juice recipes. I absolute ADORE trying new recipes. :)