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Enlightenment, or World Cup Football?

Football (English/Euro) is 1 of my passions. Last WorldCup, I got cable just for that spectacular month. GeneralHospital is the only TV that I ever watch, but for that July, I was glued to the box like any other normal, crazed person!

There was an enlightenment course that I wanted to do around that time. I arranged things just right for uninterrupted World Cup! No way was I going anywherewhen there were games to be watched! Hell no!

7 months pregnant with my 2nd child, I lived and died for football that month. It really fed my soul. It actually was a great lead-in to my awakening that August on TheAvatar Course.

I was in heaven. My team, Brazil, won everything! I was ecstatic! I cheered, I danced, I jumped up and down likea crazy person. I sang, I screamed and had a great party through all hours of the night.

I was relieved that my country of origin - Jamaica - was not in the World Cup. How could I bear to watch JA playBrazil? Who would I pick to win? Damn. My national anthem and the Reggae Boyz, or my Brazilian men withthe exotic, and hypnotizing moves? Thank God I didnt have to choose! Relief...

This year, the World Cup finals are the exact same week that I had decided to be in service as an Avatar Master for 1 of our International courses in Florida.

Oh my God. I considered not going to the course. So, naturally, 1 of my sisters who has never, ever been interested in self-help, now decides to show an interest in her spiritual awakening!

Enlightenment? Not now honey, I have men to watch on TV! Whats the karma for that?

Okay, so I will show up.

I put my Avatar tools to good use to creatively explore assisting others with their awakening, doing my reading and writing assignments, taping my 2 or 3 games a night, watching every one and still walking up fresh and present for you the next morning!

Of course I can have it all! Now Im living! Being fully present in the moment, so alive that my heart is burstingopen with excitement, joy and passion. Thats living. Bring it on baby!

When you find something you love, go for it, revel in it, soak it up! Enjoy being with it in that moment, for that is all that there is.

The moment.

posted by aasdas38493 @ 11:39 PM 0 comments

Go Nuts

Back when we hunted and gathered for our food, nuts and seeds were part of our daily diet. They gave us energy, soft healthy skin, fertility, immunity, healthy joints, strong hearts, and sharp balanced minds. Many of us have avoided nuts and seeds to keep our diet low in fat, so its no coincidence that we may lack these qualities in our health.

Nuts and seeds are chock full of heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats. They contain little artery clogging saturated fat. They also contain essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are easily destroyed by heat, light and oxygen. So to get their health benefits, nuts and seeds must be eaten raw. Beyond fat, nuts are a good source of all the nutrients we need: protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals. This is how they can do so much for us.

A serving size is the eaters handful. Those on weight loss diets may find that a handful of nuts give a feeling of fullness without weight gain.

Try a homemade trail mix made with raw nuts. Most commercial trail mixes use roasted nuts. Mix cup each of raw almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, or any of your favorite raw nuts or seeds, raisins, dried cherries or any of your favorite dried fruits and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a bag. Close the bag and shake to mix. Pour into plastic sandwich bags for easy snacks to-go.

Walnuts and flax seeds are special because they contain omega-3 fatty acids. Our diets tend to be low in them, yet they are essential for healthy brain and nervous system functioning. Its easy to toss a handful of raw walnuts or flax seeds on a salad or vegetables for added crunch and nutrition. Refrigerate walnuts and flax seeds to keep the omega-3 fatty acids fresh.

Peanuts and peanut butter should be a treat, not a regular part of our diets. They contain a protein known to cause hardening of the arteries. Most commercial peanut butters are full of sugar and disease causing trans-fat. Use raw almond butter instead.

Sesame seeds are particularly high in calcium and flavor. They are used by many cultures. Sesame paste, called tahini in Arabic countries, is the essential ingredient in hummus. In China, its used to make a sesame sauce served over noodles. This sesame sauce recipe is adapted from Annemarie Colbins cookbook The Natural Gourmet and is a staple in my home:

2 4 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon brown rice or apple cider vinegar

cup raw sesame tahini

cup green tea

2 teaspoons maple syrup

Pinch of cayenne pepper

3 tablespoons shoyu or tamari (natural soy sauce available at health food stores)

Place the tahini, shoyu, maple syrup, garlic and vinegar into a 2 quart mixing bowl. Blend carefully with a spoon. The mixture will thicken.

Add tea several spoonfuls at a time until you get a smooth consistency. Add cayenne to taste. Serve over vegetables, whole grain noodles or your favorite protein. Great hot or cold. Serves 6.

posted by aasdas38493 @ 7:12 PM 0 comments

Go Nuts

Back when we hunted and gathered for our food, nuts and seeds were part of our daily diet. They gave us energy, soft healthy skin, fertility, immunity, healthy joints, strong hearts, and sharp balanced minds. Many of us have avoided nuts and seeds to keep our diet low in fat, so its no coincidence that we may lack these qualities in our health.

Nuts and seeds are chock full of heart healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats. They contain little artery clogging saturated fat. They also contain essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFAs are easily destroyed by heat, light and oxygen. So to get their health benefits, nuts and seeds must be eaten raw. Beyond fat, nuts are a good source of all the nutrients we need: protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals. This is how they can do so much for us.

A serving size is the eaters handful. Those on weight loss diets may find that a handful of nuts give a feeling of fullness without weight gain.

Try a homemade trail mix made with raw nuts. Most commercial trail mixes use roasted nuts. Mix cup each of raw almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, or any of your favorite raw nuts or seeds, raisins, dried cherries or any of your favorite dried fruits and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a bag. Close the bag and shake to mix. Pour into plastic sandwich bags for easy snacks to-go.

Walnuts and flax seeds are special because they contain omega-3 fatty acids. Our diets tend to be low in them, yet they are essential for healthy brain and nervous system functioning. Its easy to toss a handful of raw walnuts or flax seeds on a salad or vegetables for added crunch and nutrition. Refrigerate walnuts and flax seeds to keep the omega-3 fatty acids fresh.

Peanuts and peanut butter should be a treat, not a regular part of our diets. They contain a protein known to cause hardening of the arteries. Most commercial peanut butters are full of sugar and disease causing trans-fat. Use raw almond butter instead.

Sesame seeds are particularly high in calcium and flavor. They are used by many cultures. Sesame paste, called tahini in Arabic countries, is the essential ingredient in hummus. In China, its used to make a sesame sauce served over noodles. This sesame sauce recipe is adapted from Annemarie Colbins cookbook The Natural Gourmet and is a staple in my home:

2 4 cloves garlic

1 tablespoon brown rice or apple cider vinegar

cup raw sesame tahini

cup green tea

2 teaspoons maple syrup

Pinch of cayenne pepper

3 tablespoons shoyu or tamari (natural soy sauce available at health food stores)

Place the tahini, shoyu, maple syrup, garlic and vinegar into a 2 quart mixing bowl. Blend carefully with a spoon. The mixture will thicken.

Add tea several spoonfuls at a time until you get a smooth consistency. Add cayenne to taste. Serve over vegetables, whole grain noodles or your favorite protein. Great hot or cold. Serves 6.

posted by aasdas38493 @ 3:37 PM 0 comments

How to Care for Your Silver

Silver is beautiful but it can tarnish quickly. This sometimes puts people off collecting it. Dont let it deter you. Here are some tips to help you enjoy your silver.

Use it. Regular use is best. Silver was made to be used.

Wash in hot mild soapy water. To avoid spotting, wash quickly in hot mild soapy water, rinse in hot clean water and dry quickly.

Avoid contact with scotch tape, cardboard and newspaper. Acids in the tape, cardboard and newspaper can be harmful to silver.

Use acid-free paper. Wrap silver in acid free paper when storing.

Avoid contact with eggs, onions and peas. The sulfur in these foods combines with silver to form silver sulphide, which discolors the surface.

Avoid contact with wool and felt. These fabrics contain harmful sulfur.

Avoid contact with rubber. Dont fasten cutlery with rubber bands or store rubber bands in silver cups etc because rubber contains ingredients that can tarnish silver. This includes latex gloves. Dont wear them when cleaning your silver.

Avoid dishwashers. The combination of harsh detergents and very high temperatures is far too much for sterling to bear.

Avoid salt. Remove salt from silver saltshakers and salt sellers after each use. Salt is a corrosive element. Storing these items with salt in them will damage them along with the rest of the silver in the cupboard because salt will permeate the air.

Clean silver candlesticks carefully. Avoid using a knife or other sharp object to remove the nub of a candle. Instead, pour in a little hot water. Let it sit and then the remainder of the candle will slip out.

Dont store silver in freshly painted drawers. Some paints can accelerate tarnishing. You should wait 4 months.

Cleaning your silver

Here are a couple of methods to clean your silver.

Commercial cleaners. A wide assortment of commercial cleaners is available at grocery and hardware stores. The less abrasive the cleaner, the better.

Aluminum foil method This fast working homemade remedy works like a charm. Add to pot of boiling water a piece of aluminum foil, salt or a water softener such as Calgon. The chemical reaction among these elements quickly lifts tarnish. Works well for cutlery, trays etc.

Toothpaste An old standby that works in a pinch. Apply with a soft toothbrush. Remove with soft clean cloth.

Storing your silver

A humid environment encourages tarnishing. Caustic elements such as sulfur and salt cause tarnishing and pitting. Using one and/or more of these techniques will help to create a barrier between your precious silver and that pesky tarnish.

Anti-tarnish strips Can be added to drawers where silver is stored. These strips, containing activated charcoal absorb tarnish producing gases.

Kenzied cloth Line your drawers with this 100 per cent cotton per cent cotton flannel cloth. When used in combination with anti-tarnish strips, they provide a good barrier.

Polyethylene bags Store silver pieces in polyethylene bags that create a barrier from tarnish producing gases.

Desiccated silica gel & activated charcoal Add to storage area a small container of desiccated silica gel that absorbs water to keep humidity levels low and a small container of activated charcoal. This one-two combination packs a punch and absorbs harmful gases. Works well when added to polyethylene bag.

posted by aasdas38493 @ 2:38 PM 0 comments