Green Juice - YUM!

Ok, I know it sounds weird, but I love green juice.  Its fresh and sweet, and gives me lots of nutrients.  I just feel GOOD when I have green juice handy.  When I make it, I make a pitcher of it.  Sometimes I just drink a glass a day, sometimes a quart.  A nice big lidded jar works well because sometimes you want to shake before drinking.  It lasts for about 5 days in the refrigerator.  Its also really good in smoothies with a banana, some honey, and ice.  Maybe a few frozen strawberries for added flavor.

Here's what you do:

Get a good juicer.  Don't buy a cheap one.  It will break.
Wash fruit and veggies, and cut into pieces that will fit into machine.
Push it through!  It's amazing how fast it works.
Depending on how much you are doing, you may need to clean out the internal mesh filter half way through.

Use more watery veg (cucumber, celery) than other veggies.

The more fruit you have, the sweeter it will be.

RECIPE:

Yeah ... anything green. Direct quote from Miss Katy.  Try the asian vegetable aisle - there is some cool stuff.

Some suggestions (put GREEN in front of everything on this list):

Apples
Pears
Grapes
Pineapple (ok, its not green, but close enough)

Cucumber
Celery
Romaine lettuce
Parsley (really good for you)
Kale
Escarole
Spinach
Sprouts - any kind (also really good for you)
Zucchini
Collard or Mustard greens

Herbs like basil, cilantro, or mint - but they can be overpowering


The difference between juicing and blending:  Juicing takes out the fiber.  Feel free to throw all of this in a really good blender (like a VitaMix), but it was a little bit too thick for me to drink.

DISCLAIMER: Katy Lurtz of Royal Oak, MI taught me everything I know about juicing

The first days ...

A week and a half ago I was in my hometown of Marquette, MI. I have been there for every 4th of July since I left. Usually we (my brother and I) go to the bar and the lower harbor festival, and see all of the other people that are home for the weekend. I leave exhausted but I feel like I have made some connections. But THIS YEAR I realized that I rarely keep in contact with those people, and I have missed out on all of the beauty of the city.

So this year was different ...

THIS YEAR I enjoyed nature. I went kayaking with an elementary school friend (thank you Jessica!), and I found a spot. My spot. Do you know what Im talking about? That spot where you sit down and you just don't want to leave. It was on the end of the black rocks on Presque Isle. I closed my eyes and listened to the waves that were crashing 3 feet from me. I breathed in the fresh air, and listened to the seagulls. I smelled the water, and the hot rock, and the seaweed. I was far enough away that I rarely realized anyone else was there. It felt so good that I did that every day. I sat there until I felt it was time to leave.

So THIS YEAR I realized that the life I am living doesn't fit me anymore. I spend too much time at the bar and with people that aren't a priority. People that I don't have real conversations with. That I need to reconnect with earth. I need to garden, and kayak, and swim, and hike, and all of the things that gives me that deep-down energy you just can't get anywhere else. That although it takes a little bit more time and energy, I need to hang out with the people that MATTER.  The people that challenge me and teach me and make me laugh.  I came home full of energy and ideas. Changing my life isn't going to be easy, but Im the only one that can do it. And I believe my life is going to see some amazing things as I go through my transformation.

This blog will cover my transformation. Activities and learning such as: gardening, hiking, kayaking, making good friends a priority, composting, recycling, farmers market, cooking, wellness, my internship in cardiac rehab, yoga, exercise, nutrition, appreciation, reiki, integrative medicine, decorating, energy, family, and rain.