Bottling Health

Bottling Strawberry/Aloe Juice

2011-03-13T15:16:00.000-07:00

Today, I picked some Aloe while outside mowing the lawn and then made a lovely Strawberry/Aloe Juice!!! It wasn't sweet but still refreshing! Of course I could have added honey but preferred the red juice in its most natural state!

The plump, juicy strawberries I used were local and farm fresh from The Veggie Bin.

In "The Juiceman's Power of Juicing," Jay Kordich says: "Strawberries are high in potassium and iron, which is good for strengthening the blood. The sodium content makes them a valuable tonic for nerves and for keeping glands healthy, which explains why they are considered 'youth' food."

Strawberries are also know for their wonderful vitamin C content and "natural sugars that cleanse the system," Kordich explains.

What a perfect food for spring cleansing!

Why not sip on some Strawberry Juice?

Strawberry/Aloe Hugs,

Penny

Bottling Colorful Creations

2011-02-12T06:16:00.001-08:00

I'm basking in the color of the contents of this week's The Veggie Bin items! Ahhh, color bliss! Like the last box, the strawberries are divine! I'm off to add them to some Swiss Chard, Mixed Greens, Cilantro, Water, Coconut Oil, and Honey in the blender...for the result of a healthy smoothie breakfast in about 24 seconds (the time my blender takes to whip it all up).

Colorful Hugs,

Penny

Bottling Tomato Soup-Smoothie

2011-02-11T04:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I experimented with making this Tomato Soup-Smoothie for a friend. It turned out well, so I'm planning to make it for my husband and I today. Plus, it's a quick way to use up some tomatoes I have here.

In blender, I put:

~ 3 Tomatoes from The Veggie Bin
~ a handful of Thyme from The Veggie Bin
~ Seasonings: To taste, Himalayan Sea Salt , Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Cayenne Pepper (tiny shake), an assorted Spicy Seasoning Blend I had on hand (just a little shake)
~ Juice from 1/2 a Lemon
~ 4 Dates (or, to taste)

I blended on the smoothie setting until the mixture was nice-n-smooth. The consistency, while fairly thick, was still easy enough to just drink.

About the soup-smoothie, my friend replied:

"Oh that Savory Smoothie was the BOMB!! I slurped it all down and sprinkled in a few kale chips."

What a nice way to get more tomatoes into our systems!

Tomato Hugs, :-)

Penny

"Slice of Blueberry Heaven"

2011-02-09T15:46:00.000-08:00

I made this delicious raw-vegan blueberry pie today. My friend, Chloe, named it. "Shall we call it a 'slice of blueberry heaven'?" she asked me when she saw a picture of it on my Facebook page. So, Chloe, a "slice of blueberry heaven" it is! :-)

Chloe wanted to know what ingredients, in addition to the obvious blueberries, were used to create this 'cake-ish' pie. Let's see if I can get it all straight in my mind, because I was just winging it. :-)
For the crust, in the food processor, I fully processed (until it basically couldn't spin any longer):
~ Soaked raw almonds, approx. 2 cups
~ Medjool Dates, pitted, 6
~ Honey, approx. 1 tablespoon or to taste
~ Cinnamon, a good shake...a few times :-)
~ Nutmeg, a good shake...a few times :-)
~ Sea Salt, a pinch or two
~ Garden of Life's Coconut Oil, approx. 1 - 2 tablespoons

This basically made enough to create a crust for both the bottom and top of the pie. I made two "balls" with the crust (it was like Play-doh), and then I pressed the first one down on the plate to spread the crust.

For the sauce, in blender, I put:

~ blueberries, approx. 1 cup

~ more of the above mixture made in the food processor. But, the second time using the food processor, I used 5 Medjool dates (pitted) and a little less of the other ingredients, as well.

~ water, approx. 1 cup or so to get it to all mix in the blender.

After blending, I ended up with a thick-texture for the sauce, however, it was easy to pour over the whole blueberries I had spread on top of the bottom crust.

Next, I spread the other Play-doh-like crust on another plate (for size). Thankfully, I was able to lift it up off the plate with a spatula and then place it on top of the blueberries and sauce.

I poured more of the sauce on the top crust, smeared it around like icing, spread more blueberries on top, and then put in the the refrigerator to set. Actually, I first put it in the freezer for about 30 mins and then moved it to the fridge.

So, what did I do with the leftover sauce?

Made a smoothie but added ice to make it more smoothie-like!

So, as you can see, I've been to blueberry heaven today! :-)

Blueberry Hugs,

Penny

Bottling this Mountain Smoothie

2011-02-06T10:58:00.001-08:00

Mountain Smoothie! :-) My teen asks for a smoothie, well, he gets a smoothie. LOL. No, he didn't drink ALL of this. We split it between the family...

Ingredients include: Spinach (a few handfuls), Strawberry (approx. 7), Blueberry (a few handfuls), Banana (2 -3), Water (approx. 2 cups), Honey (to taste).

Smiles,

Penny

A Cruciferous Veggie/Ginger Juice

2011-02-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

Who would think all of these ingredients are in this juice: Carrot, Cauliflower, Bok Choy, Kohlrabi, Brussels Sprouts (1/2 of a whole stalk with sprouts), Parsley, and Ginger? You could end up with a little spicy after-taste, but popping a Barhi Date in the mouth so nicely counteracts that!

Cheers,

Penny

My Answers to the Cons of Juicing

2011-02-03T18:52:00.000-08:00

Donna McGee, studio manager at Life's Journey Yoga & Wellness, shared this article with me: The Pros and Cons of Juicing by Jo Cavallo.

Below, I've quoted some of the cons that the writer lists followed by "my answers" to them!

Here goes...

Article: "However, there are some drawbacks to juicing. For one, the process of juicing eliminates fiber."

My answer: Because we would typically balance juicing with eating whole foods or making smoothies (in blender) that retain fiber, it wouldn't be as if we are completely eliminating fiber from our overall diet. The chance to nourish the body while eliminating the process of heavy digesting...giving the digestive system a well-needed break...is invaluable, I think.

Article: "One of the health benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables is to increase your source of heart- and digestive-healthy fiber."

My answer: It's all about balance: eat some, blend some (the smoothie made in blender keeps the fiber). Then, juice, too, for that instant-dose-of-nutrition opportunity! I think the optimum word here is "balance." Juicing doesn't have to take over the whole diet, unless one is juice fasting or such for a certain period of time.

Article: "Also keep in mind that unless you drink your home-squeezed juice right away, you run the risk of contamination by exposing it to air and pathogens."

My answer: I think this juice-and-immediately-consume-it process is a beautiful thing! Fresh juicing, fresh drinking! Why wouldn't we want to get the nutrients from the juice into the body as soon as we can? Isn't that far better than drinking juice that has sat on a store shelf for weeks? Plus, we don't need a huge glass of fresh juice to receive the nutritional benefits, so it shouldn't be tough at all to get the fresh juice consumed soon after juicing the produce.

Article: "And then there is the expense of buying a juicer and the time investment needed to prepare the fruits and vegetables you're using and the cleanup afterward."

My answer: There are juicers to fit varying budgets. For anyone who is a regular consumer of store-brought juice, well, before long or over time, they'll eventually end up paying the cost of a juicer for juices they've been purchasing. Plus, with juicing, there are no bottles or containers to dispose of after juicing, so it's easy to see why juicing would be an eco-friendly choice when it comes to consuming juices.

Regarding the time investment element, is it really that bad to take a little bit of time out to push some produce through a juicer and clean the equipment when we're done? Many people spend far more time cooking a full-course meal in front of the stove/oven...which often requires far more prep and cleaning time than the overall juicing process? And, by the way, quite often, that one fresh juice is far healthier than the full-course cooked meal. I think the "time investment" is something that can be viewed differently with a little shift in perspective.

Happy Juicing! :-)

Penny

The Very Berry Spinach Smoothie

2011-02-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

What happens when fresh, local strawberries and spinach from The Veggie Bin meet frozen blueberries picked from Jacksonville's Cardui Organic Farms? Well, here's one possible result:

"It tastes like ice cream," my husband said upon taking his first sip. Moments later, I heard all the slurping going on. Good to the last drop! My teen drank his out of a 12oz mason jar that was filled to the top, so this was one of those treats enjoyed by the whole family!

In blender, put:

~ strawberries, approx. 7 (I leave the green stems on for the iron. Once everything blends up, you can never tell they were even there. If you're using this week's strawberries from The Veggie Bin, do save some to eat whole. Mmm, they are fresh and yummy! I really considered not blending them because of how delicious they taste as is!)

~ frozen blueberries, approx. 1 cup

~ spinach, a couple handfuls (I used the The Veggie Bin's spinach and gathered a nice size handful from the bigger bunch.)

~ water, 1 1/2 - 2 cups depending on the consistency you want

~ honey, to taste (I used The Veggie Bin's local honey.)

~ optional: ice

Blend well. Perhaps pop a straw in your glass, and enjoy your very berry spinach smoothie with honey!

Yummy!

Smiles,

Penny

What's in this Green Smoothie?

2011-01-31T09:32:00.000-08:00

This morning, on Facebook, a friend asked: "Penny, what are in the amazing Green Smoothies you made me? My mornings are all smiles and energy the last 2 days. Plus they are DELISHIOUS. :)"

Here's the recipe. (I also posted it on Saturday along with some other raw food creations I made that day.)

For the smoothie, in the blender, put:

~Kale, about 4 - 5 (or more) of your kale leaves from your this week's veggie bin. Simply break in half or thirds to get the leaves to fit in your blender container.

~ Parsley, small handful. A little parsley will go a long way.

~ Banana, 3 - 4...depends on the sweetness and smoothie consistency you want. (If you use bananas you've frozen, this can serve as your "ice" if you want a cold smoothie.

~ Lemon Juice..from 1/2 of a lemon

~ Coconut Oil, approx. 1 tablespoon. Again, I use this brand. Delicious!

~ Water, approx. 2 cups

~ Optional ~ Honey, approx. 1 tablespoon. The honey serves to provide a tad more sweetness if you desire it. (I used local honey supplied by The Veggie Bin.)

In blender, add all ingredients above and blend well. You should end up with a very smooth, somewhat thick consistency. Use fewer bananas or more water if you want a thinner consistency.

Enjoy...

Penny

HoneyBell Oranges Galore

2011-01-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

Heaven rained Honeybell Oranges down on my family!!! Thank you! Thank you! xoxo

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat." Genesis 1:29 KJV

Five of the oranges in the above bin filled up this glass...with a little left over.

Learn about these tasty oranges at http://www.honeybelloranges.net/.

"...You can’t hear or go through something about FL citrus without noticing the phrase Honeybell oranges. They are the sweetest, juiciest, and merely the very best..." ~Honeybell Oranges

Raw Food Creations from The Veggie Bin Stash

2011-01-29T10:47:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's post, I talked about the amazingly tasty orange juice I juiced from The Veggie Bin. Today, I've been creating raw food for a friend who sent her bin home with me on Thursday. It has felt like art fun at my dining room table, and the bin from the Veggie Bin housed my "art supplies". :-)

So far, for this friend, I've created:

"Kohlrabi/Cauliflower Pâtés"...that can be turned into:

"Kohlrabi/Cauliflower Pâtés Boats" or "Stuffed Kale Leaves"
What's needed?

~ Kohlrabi. (I used approx. 3/4 of a whole kohlrabi in my veggie bin. Cut up and then drop chunks into food processor.)

~ Cauliflower, approx. half of a full head. Put chunks in food processor.

~ Parsley, a full handful

~ Green Onion, 1 leaf

~ Medjool Dates, approx. 6 or to taste (Be sure to remove the seed from each.)

~ Coconut Oil, approx. 1 1/2 tablespoons. I use this brand from Garden of Life.

~ Kale, as many leaves as "boats" you care to make

~ Optional ~ Sea Salt, to taste

~ Optional ~ Black Pepper, to taste

In food processor, chop-up kohlrabi and cauliflower. Add, parsley, green onion leaf, coconut oil, Medjool dates, sea salt and black pepper, if desired, and process again in food processor. The mixture will now take on more of a wet consistency that can be a dip, a spread, etc.

Fill your big kale leaves with your pâtés, and enjoy!

Green Smoothie

In blender, put:

~Kale, about 4 - 5 of your kale leaves from your this week's veggie bin. Simply break in half or thirds to get the leaves to fit in your blender container.

~ Parsley, small handful. A little parsley will go a long way.

~ Banana, 3 - 4...depends on the sweetness and smoothie consistency you want. (If you use bananas you've frozen, this can serve as your "ice" if you want a cold smoothie.

~ Lemon Juice..from 1/2 of a lemon

~ Coconut Oil, approx. 1 tablespoon. Again, I use this brand. Delicious!

~ Water, approx. 2 cups

Juicing Fresh, Local Oranges from The Veggie Bin

2011-01-27T19:33:00.000-08:00

Jan. 27, 2011

Cheers to week two of receiving my bin of local, seasonal, farm-fresh produce from The Veggie Bin in Jacksonville, FL. Now that I've picked up my bin that was delivered to Life's Journey Yoga & Wellness, well, all that's left to do is nourish myself and my family with the varied produce. One simple way to do that is to JUICE some of it, starting with the oranges tucked away in the bin of the day.

For this juicing adventure, all I have to do is peel the oranges...leaving as much as the white pith on them as possible...and then feed them through my juicer. In seconds, voilà, I'll have a glass of tasty orange juice up to my mouth!

"...By law, orange juice sold in cartons and bottles in the supermarket is pasteurized, a process that kills life-giving enzymes. .....because most of the vitamin C dissipates shortly after juice is made, many manufacturers add synthetic vitamin C to bolster the content. Still others add sugar for sweetening. None of this is necessary if you juice your own oranges.....What emerges is a thick, foamy drink with a heavenly creamy color." ~Jay Kordich in "The Juiceman's Power of Juicing"

By the way, if the orange juice doesn't turn out to be as sweet as you would like it to be, perhaps add the fresh juice of an apple or two to it (one of my son's favorites). Or, just stir in a little local honey or cinnamon in place of the apple. Smile at the life-giving enzymes you'll be feeding your body!

Happy Orange Juicin'...

Penny

Update: Jan. 28, 2011

To a friend of mine who also gets a bin from The Veggie Bin delivered to Life's Journey each week, I texted this note: "Just juiced oranges from bin. Only oranges....peel and juice...delicious! Wow! Took everything in me to share." LOL

Yes, the flavor of these juiced oranges was incredible. Seriously! Of course, the flavor can vary from orange to orange, but the orange juice from the oranges in my bin were certainly tasty.

In The Juiceman's Power of Juicing, Jay Kordich talks about how his mother used to squeeze fresh oranges, but he says it wasn't really juicing, because "she simply rotated the halved oranges on a reamer and pressed them in a squeezer." He explains that was simply "rubbing tissues against membranes and creating" what he calls "orange water. It may taste healthy," he says, "but has few of the health benefits of orange juice made in the juicer."

So just what is in orange juice other than the obvious vitamin C? Kordich's list also includes: "B complex, bioflavonoids, potassium, zinc and phosphorous. Orange juice "contains almost all of the oranges' food value," he writes. "Consumed pure, it is a perfect balance of nutrients."

Note: The orange juice I made (pictured above) was actually a little brighter in color than the picture shows.

Bottling Private Yoga Classes and A Twist on Holiday Shopping

2010-11-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

After teaching yoga class this morning at Life's Journey Yoga & Wellness, I was "hugged," as usual, by the serenity of the studio. I got to thinking about my interest in wanting to schedule more private yoga classes (in addition to the group classes I enjoy teaching); I just love those special yoga-connections between teacher and student.

As I moved about the retail and office sections of the studio with my warming thoughts about one-on-one classes, this book -- The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice
-- caught my eye from a basket it was resting in. I flipped it open and landed on page xxvii of the Introduction. Then, this quote immediately captured my attention and served as a sign for me to grow more private yoga classes:

"...In yoga, the purpose is to bring some change, and the teacher is the reference point. You always remember what the teacher told you -- not what you read in the book or what he spoke in the class, but what he told YOU. You need the teacher, you need the intimacy. Yoga is intimate. There is no yoga between one and a million; yoga is between two -- the teacher and the student.......'In education the first requirement is the teacher, the second is the student. What should happen between them is learning. How it should happen is through the constant teaching of that which will be relevant to the student. That is education...'"

Later, back at home, while writing about this experience, I came across an old picture of Michelle, a Life's Journey yoga student and friend whom I've taught several private classes to! Michelle is pictured relaxing in Split pose (left) and Wide-Legged Forward Bend (below) during one of our one-on-one classes at the previous Life's Journey location. Hmmh, I'm thinking that stumbling upon Michelle's private-class pics on today of all days was yet another sign for me to get some more private classes going!

A Private or Semi-Private Yoga Class can make a great BIRTHDAY and/or HOLIDAY GIFT. Gift certificates are available at Life's Journey! Or, I can even come to you!!!

P.S. Prior to leaving the studio today, I picked up a copy of the November 2010 issue of natural awakenings magazine. It's "SIMPLE LIVING" theme and related article title -- "LESS STUFF More Happiness: How to Regain Your Authentic Self" -- caught my eye, as well as "TWISTS ON TRADITION: Three Festive Meatless Entrées." By the way, do check out The Vegan Muse for more "meatless" ideas.

Why not put a "twist on tradition" this year with a combination of some meatless dishes and reducing "stuff" shopping with "authentic-self/happiness" shopping, an amazing shopping experience that could very well be awaiting you on your yoga mat, privately or in a group class!

Happy Shopping! :-)

Penny
penny@bottlinghealth.com

Bottling Day 3 of Garden of Life's RAW Cleanse

2010-08-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

If you read my yesterday's blog entry, you'll recall the high energy I felt yesterday. Adding on to what I previously shared, I also mowed the lawn in the afternoon in this HOT Florida weather and then went to a high-energy Zumba class that evening. Today is a new day, however, and my body is telling me to REST for the most part. I will be teaching a yoga class this evening, which can complement my take-it-easy feeling today. When we detox our organs, as is the case with this RAW cleanse, it's normal to have these feelings of needing to slow down. So, I will not fight this feeling but rather honor it...and feel blessed that I can.

Regarding Garden of Life's RAW Cleanse, I've previously given some details about the first two daily steps of the program:

1. RAW Cleanse Toxin Defense - Optimal Oral Health and Immune System Support

2. RAW Cleanse Organ Detox - Natural Detoxification of Organs and GI Tract

More info about step 3 is:

RAW Cleanse Digestion & Elimination -- Toxin Capture and Removal is the third and final step in the RAW Cleanse experience, helping to catch and hold undesirable compounds in the digestive tract and facilitate final transport from the body. Digestion & Elimination contains 800mg of RAW Food-Chelated magnesium to draw water into the colon for effective movement of intestinal bulk. RAW organic flax and chia seed act as bulking fibers to absorb toxins and pollutants while RAW organic coconut fiber facilitates intestinal flow and creates a positive microbial balance in the body." ~Garden of Life®

Bottling Day 2 of Garden of Life's RAW Cleanse

2010-08-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

Perhaps you read about the probiotic mouth-swishing part of Garden of Life's RAW Cleanse in my yesterday's blog entry. After the 45-second swishing and just prior to yesterday's breakfast -- a freshly made green apple and lemon juice, I took three of the Organ Detox capsules that are designed to naturally detoxify the organs and GI Tract. Then, I took the remaining three capsules for the day with lunch, which was a blueberry, banana, Maca smoothie.

"Organ Detox is the second step in the RAW Cleanse experience, supporting normal removal of environmental toxins and pollutants from the body, as well as internally generated waste by-products.....This antioxidant, enzyme and amino acid rich formula supports healthy liver biotransformation and excretion of environmental toxins (and their metabolites) normally introduced into the body in small amounts." ~Garden of Life®

After taking the final three capsules at lunch, the next RAW Cleanse step wasn't until about an hour before bed. While that stage is my least favorite part of the cleanse, it's oh so good for the body, because it's the Digestion & Elimination stage. The only reason I say it's my least favorite part is because of the taste of the green powder that needs to be mixed with water or a low-sweet juice. HOWEVER, thanks to Charlie's tip to hold my nose and chug, well, there's no taste at all until I let go of my nose. Then, I just quickly grab some water to wash away that final taste. (Hmmh, maybe Garden of Life can turn this powder into capsules. I think I will suggest this to them. :-)) In any event, the result of this daily stage of the cleanse is well worth the not-so-good taste, because it's nothing like starting the day with a great release of toxins. :-) It really helps set the tone for the day, because the fresher and lighter the body feels, well, the fresher and lighter the day.

For instance, it's still early this morning...my husband and son are still asleep...and already I've done my probiotic swishing, had some wonderfully cleansing quiet prayer time with prayers from PrayerGoddess.com, done a bit of yoga (including my favorite headstand to refresh the brain), written a thank-you note inside of a card and delivered it to an associate, worked on an idea for The Vegetarian Muse, did some produce shopping and have unpacked the mangoes, avocados, papaya, cucumber, coconut, kiwi, strawberries and bananas I purchased. I know my son will awake asking for his favorite strawberry, banana smoothie, so now I'm prepared. Plus, yesterday, we had the sweetest mango we've ever tasted, and I'm thinking he's going to want that today, too, since he says he's upping his raw eating today. At 14, he's well aware of when his body needs a bit of cleansing, so he takes some all-raw or mostly raw days here and there. I wish he'd take more of 'em, but I'm happy and proud of his conscious efforts.

Okay, folks, I still need to take the first three Organ Detox capsules for the day with breakfast. So, off I go to do that. What's for breakfast? Cucumber, green apple, lemon juice.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Happy Cleansing,

Penny

Photo: Me pictured for Life's Journey Yoga & Wellness

Bottling the 45-second Probiotic Swish

2010-08-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

RAW Cleanse™
The Ultimate Standard in Cleansing & Detoxification
For those looking for the ultimate cleanse experience, RAW has always represented the standard. RAW Cleanse from Garden of Life features uncooked, untreated and unadulterated ingredients that are designed to support your body’s natural digestive and detoxification systems.† ~ Garden of Life®

When I first did Garden of Life's 7-Day Raw Cleanse, I had planned to document the journey, but other tasks and such apparently took the place of that intended journaling. Today, however, I'm kicking off a new month repeating this cleanse, so here's my second chance to share some notes along the way.

The cleanse kicked off this Sunday, August 1 morning with swishing Toxin Defense in my mouth for about 45 minutes. This powder-like substance part of the cleanse is "a unique combination of oral and intestinal probiotics that work in the mouth to help inhibit harmful toxins from traveling further into the body." In the cleansing kit pictured above, there are seven packages of Toxin Defense to be taken each morning....for seven days. I shake the package a few times to be sure all of the mixture is collected at the bottom, and then I cut the package's top, pour into my mouth, add a good sip of water, and get to swishing. You may feel a few chunky parts at first, but the swishing quickly helps break it all down. Once you swallow, you'll notice a fresher-feeling mouth blended with that healthy feeling of knowing that deeper health started brewing beyond the mouth once the Toxin Defense was swallowed.

"This 'point-of-entry' defense contributes to overall immune function and promotes microbial balance in the gastrointestinal tract for proper digestion and elimination. The clinically studied intestinal probiotic contained in Toxin Defense helps to support healthy bowel function, elimination and a health gut-associated immune system." ~Garden of Life®

The Garden of Life's "suggestions while cleansing" are:

•Drink at least the recommended 64 ounces of filtered water each day.
•Eat fresh fruit, vegetables particularly crucifers and bitter greens (such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, endive and radicchio), seeds, nuts and lean protein- organic whenever possible, with wild caught fish. Note: I'll be doing all or mostly raw-vegan food.
•Increase your healthy fat intake by adding 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon each of organic coconut oil, flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and olive oil per day to your diet.
•Keep high allergen foods, such as dairy and wheat products to a bare minimum.
•Eliminate caffeine, tea, coffee and alcoholic beverages.
•Eliminate added sugar, refined flour, processed foods and fatty food with trans fats.
•Eliminate skin care products with ingredients you can’t pronounce.
•Use natural cleaning products.

Bottling Cleansing & Detoxing

2010-07-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

I've found the perfect topic to reawake my Bottling Health blog with! And since I haven't blogged here in a long while -- be warned, folks...I've got lots to say! :-)

As I wait for Grassroots Natural Market in Fleming Island to open today so that I can go there and purchase a "health gem" that I learned about last night, I'm feeling like the excited child at Christmas. I even awoke at about 5:00 this morning, propped my head up and glanced over at the clock with the hope that it was almost time for Grassroots to open...only to later learn that the one closest to me is actually closed today! :-(

In any event, the "gift" that has my cells jumping for joy is the news I discovered last night in Extraordinary health™ magazine about "the world's first RAW cleansing and detoxification program" created by Garden of Life®. I mean -- I know, I know -- if we eat a 100 percent and largely varied raw-vegan food diet the way my dear friends, Jinjee and Storm do at TheGardenDiet.com, the food, alone, could be our overall cleansing and detox program. This couple and their children maintain optimum health with no supplements or supplemental cleansing programs; however, I'm still on my journey to Jinjee and Storm's level of raw eating. But, since I try to eat a high amount of raw food, I would say that for the most part, I stay aligned with cleansing and detoxing on certain levels.

I get many compliments about my skin, so I'd say that my body is doing a pretty good job with its cleansing process. However, I would also say that the last time I DEEPLY detoxed -- I mean, taking-wheat-grass-shots-daily-for-10-days-and-colonics type of deep -- was when I did the 10-Day Healthy Lifestyle program at The Living Foods Institute in Atlanta three years ago. I just haven't detoxed to that degree since then and am sure that I am not covering ALL of the detoxing bases with my food. So, just as I was feeling it's time for a major cleansing and detox experience again, I came upon the information about the Garden of Life's RAW program. Doesn't God ALWAYS deliver right on time?!

And to think I wasn't even going to bring home the literature that had been placed in shopping baskets for customers at Grassroots. After unloading my basket the day I recently shopped there, I had planned on leaving the reading material at the bottom of the basket as to not bring additional paper into my home. (I'm striving to be a minimalist with paper and things.) In any event, at the checkout counter, I suddenly remembered I needed one more food item (God's timing again!), and when I darted to the isle to collect it, Lance, the manager at Grassroots who was tallying up my goods and packing them, put the literature in my shopping bag.

So, last night, of the three magazines that Lance sent home with me, I decided to first peruse Extraordinary health™. Once I began seeing the words "raw" this and "raw" that, well, those who know me well will know that I began delving more deeply into the text. I soon fell "in love" with this resource for various reasons, including finding the Garden of Life's 3-in-1 cleansing and detoxification program well-explained on two full pages. Intuitively, I knew this was to be the 7-day cleansing and detoxing journey I was to do. Now!!! As the saying goes, "Don't put a question mark where God puts a period," so I'm not questioning it but rather....just doing it.

***So, stop by this blog over the course of the next 7 days to find out how the 7-days cleanse is going for me.

Which companies will you support?

I realize that more and more companies are popping up these days with convenient raw food and products. Sounds like a good thing, right? But, so I'm told, even the integrity of some of these companies is questionable (so beware!). However, there was an intuitive feeling I got about the energy and effort that the Garden of Life® is putting into their RAW offerings...AND...I like that they even take the time to produce a magazine loaded with varied insights about their business...AND...I see that a friend of mine, Paul Nison, raw food educator, is part of the Garden of Life® team, so that also helps make me trust this company even more. The editor of Garden Life's Extraordinary health™ magazine, Jordan Rubin, also founder and CEO of Garden Life®, comes across like the friendly neighbor next door. I read his words and trust what he's telling me/us about his company that wants to transition us from average health to EXTRAORDINARY health™.

Now that's the type of health I want. Don't you? And, even through my flaws, I believe I can attain it. And, you can, too!

On that note, a few more hours before the Grassroots in Five Points opens today (about 30 mins from me), and then I'm there, to get this "1-2-3" cleansing program that I'll be kicking off tomorrow with! I love that this program first focuses on oral health via the oral probiotic, S. salivarius, and then organ detox via ingredients such as raw chlorella (a green algae), and then digestion and elimination via ingredients such as "RAW food-chelated magnesium" that allows for naturally moving bulk from the intestines as opposed to forcing it out as some other products do. The "RAW Digestion & Elimination" powder product in this RAW program also provides omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, and some of you will know I've been promoting that via Mila, another all-raw product I love.

"Since many people chose to incorporate cleansing in their lives, you would think there would be a raw cleansing supplement for those embarking on a raw food-cleansing program, "says Rubin in Extraordinary health™. "The fact of the matter, however," he continues, "is that for many nutritional companies, cost and availability of effective raw ingredients is an issue. Sourcing all of the raw ingredients necessary to create a raw cleanse product is undeniably costly and time-consuming. Raw should be the ultimate standard for cleanse ingredients, but it hasn't been that way. That's about to change, thanks to a new breakthrough formula, Garden of Life RAW Cleanse."

Here's to Bottling Cleansing & Detoxing...Here's to Bottling YOUR Health!

Penny

Bottling la barefoot studio

2009-11-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Just hanging out in the office of la barefoot studio. I just love the energy of this place. If you haven't seen them yet, check out the tip clips I did here a few months ago.

Bottling Fall Restoration Retreat

2009-10-08T13:52:00.001-07:00

Here's a fun Fall Restoration Retreat that Bottling Health is doing with Life's Journey Yoga & Wellness. A weekend full of living food, yoga, relaxation in nature, walking, and journaling.

Bottling the Power of Juicing

2009-09-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

"Drinking freshly made juices and eating enough whole foods to provide adequate fiber is a sensible approach to a healthful diet. But incorporating juice into your life does so much more. The abundance of live, uncooked foods flushes your body of toxins, leaving you feeling refreshed, energized, and relaxed all at the same time." ~Jay Kordich, The Juiceman's Power of Juicing

I ran into a dear friend today who had seen my juicing Tip Clip on LaBarefootStudio.com. She inquired about a good juicer that she could purchase and mentioned that since the juice is extracted from the fiber when juicing, perhaps it would be a good idea to add Mila to the juice.

While the body definitely needs fiber and I'm a huge fan of Mila, juicing allows the body to immediately get to the business of assimilating nutrients by bypassing the process of digestion. "Ahh," the body must say. "You're fueling me without me having to digest all that food first. Yay!" :-)

Foods with fiber must undergo digestion. Juicing pushes digestion out of the equation. So, with fresh juices, nutrients immediately go where they need to go within the body. This is the reason why juicing is often the emphasis at healing retreats and such, as this process allows the body to, like I said, get right to the business of healing!

To help you better understand the science of why fiber is extracted from the juice during juicing, I'll quote Juicing Expert Jay Kordich, author of "The Juicemans' Power of Juicing" -- which has been my juicing reference book for many years.

Kordich explains:

"When we eat fresh fruits and vegetables, our bodies extract as liquid what they need from the fiber, which passes on to the lower digestive tract. For all intents and purposes, the extracted liquid is juice, containing the same elements as the juice you make in your kitchen with the juicer. By drinking juice, you are eliminating a digestive process -- extracting the liquid from the fiber -- and efficiently supplying the body with nutrients. The juicer separates the juice from the fiber so that what you drink is pulp-free and your body receives the maximum amount of nutrients in minutes."

Since "nutrients lose a lot of value soon after juicing," you get fresher juice by juicing yourself rather than getting juice from the store. Also, what you juice will not be pasteurized, therefore, you'll be consuming liquid bursting with life.

Plus, you won't add any additives or preservatives, right? :-) Of course we need fiber, so one must balance juicing with fiber-rich foods (and the whole food Mila certainly helps with that). That's why juicing and blending (fiber retained) go hand in hand for me!

Kordich says:

"I get my fiber by eating around the juicer. The juice always comes first when I am planning what I will eat."

Bottling Coconuts

2009-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

See/listen to my coconut adventure at La Barefoot Studio & Market

Ahhh, indulge in the gift of coconut water while drinking it straight from its own natural cup! No glass needed, so there's nothing to wash apart from your cells with all of the vitamins and minerals found in coconut water. It's the perfect beverage for the sports enthusiast and anyone's health because of how loaded coconut water is with vitamins, minerals, calcium, and more!

Follow me along on my coconut adventure as I pierce one of the coconut's three eyes, insert a straw, drink up, and fall into coconut bliss! Want to "put de lime in the coconut?" I demonstrate that, too. After watching me do that, Rubi Jorgensen, a viewer of this tip clip on La Barefoot Studio & Market wrote: I'm "looking forward to having a coconut with some lime!!! Thanks for the great tips.....Keep them coming. Luv ya!"

Once you've pierced the coconut's eye and added lime or not, it's best to drink the beverage immediately, because when air mixes in with the coconut water, the quality of the water soon begins declining. So, for optimum taste and nutrition, don't let your coconut water sit for too long after you've pierced it. If desiring chilled coconut water, chill first and then pierce, drink up, and enjoy!

Cocotap.com has an extensive list of the benefits of coconut water.

Cheers to Coconuts!

Stay tuned to more adventures that Bottling Health and La Barefoot Studio & Market will be sharing!

Bottling a Poem from Ann Kiyonaga-Razon

2009-08-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

Lovingly written and presented to me by Ann Kiyonaga-Razon at Two Suns Rising 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Graduation

Penny

enthusiastic

energetic

brimming with creative synapse

and expression

flowing with the inner inspiration

and filled with the nectar of love for child, husband, family, humanity...

your openness and sweetness

along with your lit-up-from-within

communicativeness

delighted and enthused all present

may your yoga be filled

with your innate ability to uplift

and offer comfort and encouragement

to others

may your yoga be filled

with your ability to

render this ancient and oh-so-contemporary

modality

available to all!..

Ann Kiyonaga-Razon

August 29, 2009

Bottling Beauty, Health and Pleasure

2009-08-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, Wonderful People:

Want to eat for Beauty, Health AND Pleasure? If so, this resource is a must because of its simple step-by-step approach to improving diet at such a comfortable pace. It's......

Eating For Beauty, Health & Pleasure:
A Raw Food Quick-Start Program by Shannon Leone

available for $20 at:

http://www.bottlinghealth.com/books.htm
(Review and pictures available there)

No matter what your diet or belief about food, Shannon Leone's book is sure to enhance your journey and lead you to better health! The book will be sent directly to your inbox! How convenient is that!!! :-)

Special offer: For those of you in the Orange Park area, once you purchase the e-book, e-mail me at penny@bottlinghealth.com to let me know and then receive one of my Ladies-only yoga classes for FREE!

In Health & Happy Friday!

Penny

Bottling Community Yoga and Living Food Classes at The Goddard School

2009-07-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

2280 Village Square Parkway
Fleming Island, FL 32003

Community Classes with Penny Powell begin August 10, 2009

Classes available (but not limited to):

Parent/Child, Home-Schoolers, Young Athletes, Moms-Only,
Pre-K/Kindergarten

Let's B-R-E-A-T-H-E and S-T-R-E-T-C-H and

S-M-I-L-E...

The Goddard School in Fleming Island, Florida, a school where yoga is incorporated into classroom education by the on-staff teachers, has invited me to bring my own community yoga classes to that wonderful learning space.

My line-up of classes to the community, beginning August 10 (the week of The Goddard School's Open House) will include but will not be limited to:

MoM-day/Child-day Yoga -- A Monday Parent/Child Yoga class: Bond and Breathe with your child via a fun yoga class. Help your child create healthy memories that are sure to last a lifetime. Dads are welcome, and parents attend at no additional cost. (This class is inspired by my passion for my role as a mom and the deep purpose parents serve in the lives of children.)

Wednesday Winners -- Yoga for Young Athletes: The deeper-level stretching in yoga highly supports any sport children do and can give them the edge on the court or field. Use yoga to enhance your child's sports journey! Their confidence will carry over to the classroom, too. (This class is inspired by my son's passion for sports and my passion to support him and others in their sporting endeavors.)

Moms-only Thursday -- Yoga for Moms: Perhaps it has been a long, busy week, and now here comes a busy weekend with the family. Why not refresh yourself for 75 minutes to help balance your mind, body, and spirit for the weekend? When Mom is happy, everybody's happy! (This class is inspired by my understanding, finally, that moms really do need to carve out restorative time for themselves to help balance all that they do!)

A, B, C...Come Look For Me! Friday --Yoga for Young Children: In this yoga class inspired by my children's book, A, B, C -- Come Look For Me!, your child will have fun learning or reinforcing their early literacy skills through yoga postures! Story time will always be a part of this class. Yoga & Literacy: a dynamic duo! "A, B, C -- Come Look For Me!" will be available for purchase at these classes. A downloadable version is available here for only $3. (This class is not only inspired by this book, but also by my passion for writing and education...including teaching literacy skills in a fun way.)

Times of classes will be announced soon.

All classes require pre-registration, so please contact penny@bottlinghealth.com to register (with your time preference) or call (904) 962-8398. Class times will be selected based on the needs of the majority!

Current Introductory Rates:
~ $10 per class
~ $35 total for a 4-week series of classes ($5 savings)
~ $50 total for a 6-week series of classes ($10 savings)
Sibling discounts available! Parents attend for free in the Parent/Child class.

Earn Free Classes:
~ Get three people to sign up for a month and receive a FREE month of classes.
~ Get four people to sign up for a month and receive a FREE 6-week package.
~ Get two friends to come onboard for a month of classes and get a half-price deal.

Looking forward to yoga-ing with you, your child and/or you and your child.

Living Food classes (including smoothies, juices, snacks, etc.) will also be available upon request and can be arranged as individual classes and/or combined with yoga classes.

Bottling a Terrific Tuesday

2009-07-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

Step out of the darkness and into the light by loving the life you live and living the life you love...

I'm claiming a Terrific Tuesday!!! While my son will be in summer bliss of his own at a birthday party for one of his close friends, I'll be basking in Tuesday bliss, too:

(1) Participating in a Skype raw-food coaching call with Ka Sundance from TheRawFoodFamily.com

(2) Getting a holistic health session with Yelena Chizhik

Stay tuned for Pear Magazine Online articles and blog entries here about both! Also in the August issue of Pear Magazine will be details about my Nutri-Energetics System subtle-body energy scan with Orlando-based Fran Edwards.

As Bob Marley says: "Love the life you live, live the life you love." And, I loovvee holistic health with my friends above and others! :-)

As amazing as the human body is, it's no surprise that our bodies were created to be self-healing -- if "fed" the right tools, such as raw food and holistic therapies...

In Health,

Penny

Bottling Community Sponsors

2009-07-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks to giving hearts at these generous yoga studios below, I received enough yoga equipment to work with up to 20 youth (at a time) from the Orange Park Gators via recent yoga-related Stretch Clinics. These sponsors below are also listed on the "Our Sponsors" page at http://www.orangeparkgators.com/.

Heartfelt thanks to:

http://www.peacefulyogastudio.com/

Peaceful Yoga Studio
2301 Park Avenue
Suite 302 (At the Office Pavilion)
Orange Park, FL 32073
Phone: (904) 278-8082

http://www.yogaanandastudio.com/

Yoga Ananda: Yoga & Wellness Center
4150 & 4154 Herschel Street
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Phone: (904) 680-7344

http://www.lululemon.com/jacksonville/stjohnscenter

lululemon athletica
St. Johns Town Center (Phase #2)
4812 River City Drive
Suite #113
Jacksonville, FL 32246
Phone: (904) 645-7904

http://www.mbodyyoga.com/

M Body Yoga
3807-A Southside Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone: (904) 565-1005

Love & Appreciation to each of you!

Bottling Yoga at The Allegro

2009-07-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Note: I had captured some lovely pictures of the yoga students mentioned below. Then, in the process of transferring the pictures from my camera to my computer, something mysterious happened...and I, unfortunately (to the point of tears), lost those pictures. I still am not sure what the bigger life lesson about that "lost" was, but I ended up turning my upset energy into "clearing out" energy (as in releasing more paper, books and such). Then, in the process, I came across this poster (pictured here) hiding behind a treadmill in my home office. This inspirational reading is now hanging on the side of my refrigerator for my son and his friends (and other guests) to see and be inspired by. One line reads: "Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come." That line is helping me to not focus so much on what happened yesterday with the lost pictures.

On to yesterday's blog entry I wrote:

It's on my heart to journal about a yoga class I taught on Wednesday to two staff members at The Allegro, a loving and aesthetically-pleasing assisted living facility near my home that offers yoga to its residents and staff.

I typically like to begin the yoga classes I teach with the posture we end in -- Shavasana (relaxation pose). On Wednesday, however, for the staff, we began with a variation of Shavasana --with the heels of the feet resting up on a chair. The minute the students got into that position, their "ooos" and "ahhhs" signaled that the pose felt good to their bodies and any stress accumulated prior to or duing their workday was already beginning to disappear.

After centering ourselves (mentally and physically), I instructed the guys to keep their spines connected to their mats while raising their legs up off the chair (in a tabletop position) to rotate their ankles, and point and flex their feet. I often remind them that the Chinese say that "aging begins in the ankles."......."But, not for us," I tell them, as we twirl our feet, sometimes hearing the pops and cracks work their way out. :-)

At one point, I looked over and saw one of the students, Tom, bicycling his legs, which prompted me to offer that as an option, too. "Remember when we were children and used to bicycle our legs in the air?" I asked. "Ahh, huh!" Tom replied with a clear connection to that memory. That then prompted me to invite the students to really tap into their inner child throughout the practice, making these sorts of child-like adjustments when their bodies prompted them to. "I am here to guide you into the postures," I explained, "but listen to your body when in the poses and adjust according to the needs of YOUR body. Let your inner child come out and play today," I stated.

Now, I don't know if that inner-child notion helped set the tone for a really wonderful, super-special feeling class on Wednesday, but it was indeed an energy in the air that words can't really describe, which seems to have been felt by each of us in the class. Perhaps that's what took the class from one hour to about an hour and a half, and perhaps that's what kept us there for about an extra hour after class, sharing great conversation, relaxed faces, and smiles.

Tom's Breakthrough in Flexibility
After Shavasana toward the end of class, I typically invite the students to turn to their favorite side in fetal position before rising to a seated position. However, yesterday, after fetal position, I felt inspired to instruct them to return to their backs for a little bit of spinal rocking to gently massage the back and spine before sitting up. We rocked from side to side a few times, and then back to front. We were to eventually rock right up to a seated position with legs crossed.

When Tom, a runner, rocked up to his seat on the floor, a startled "Oh my goodness!" type of comment was heard. He was shocked that his legs crossed to the degree that they did. "I haven't been able to cross my legs like this in over 30 years," he exclaimed. He was thrilled, and I was so excited for him. He had made a breakthrough in flexibility in that moment that merited a "high five" -- in that moment.

Avid-runner Tom has admitted to not stretching enough and is now enjoying yoga (compliments of his employer) to help build more flexibility in his body, which he says is not only helping him to sleep better, but is aiding his running and overall mental relaxation, too.

Yoga Straps
After we officially ended class and talked more about Tom's "breakthrough," and he repeated that his legs hadn't folded that way in so long, Ted chimed in: "It's the straps..."

I've begun making leg stretches -- via straps -- a regular part of the classes I teach. Not only is the strap a wonderful tool for helping with leg extension and opening, but it just helps make leg stretches feel really, really good -- to the point of "I can nap here in this position" type of good.

(The leg without the strap should be extended long and on the floor. Once the "strapped" leg is opened out to the side (or crossed over the body), I invite the students to turn their gaze to the hand not holding the strap -- which would be stretched out to the side.) Pictured above: Youth class I taught to the Orange Park Gators at the Fleming Island Library

Gratitude & Relaxation

Each of the adult students I teach at the Allegro have had highly favorable comments about the strap use, and I know I am certainly strapping the memories of Wednesday's class with them in my mind and heart. "It's a good space here," Ted has said on a couple of occasions referring to the room we practice yoga in at The Allegro, a TV room (with no TV on, of course) that we eventually relocated to.

"I was there," are words both Ted and Tom use to describe how deeply relaxed they get in that space. It's just a vibe in there that really helps create a nice yoga setting.

At the end of yesterday's class:

Not only do we bask in Tom's new-found leg flexibility, but Tom sees the difference in Ted's face, stress-wise, from when the class began. After our long after-class chat on many subjects, they both walk away knowing they have a done a great thing for their mind, body, and spirit health. My heart smiles, and I thank God for aligning me with this type of work.

I am honored and blessed to teach in that space to some really good people whom, I'm sure, have a lot to do with making the space there as special as it feels!

I am grateful for the blessing to meet with them each week.

Penny

Bottling Yoga Clothes

2009-07-16T01:42:00.000-07:00

I just read my friend Jennifer's post about a Kmart Design stylist outfitting her for a big Blogher event she'll be attending. That got me to thinking about the kind of clothes I like to wear most: Yoga clothes, hands down!!! There is a level of comfort I feel, a feeling of nurturing I get from such clothing -- as if those clothes have a brain that knows and connects with the "inner me" -- especially when wearing my favorite black, comfy yoga pants! :-)

Well, that's my tidbit on clothes! :-)

In Feeling Good in what we Wear,

Penny

Totally Bottling Blendtec's Total Blender

2009-07-14T05:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 13, 2009Oh my goodness, I'm so excited about Blendtec's Total Blender. During a time when most folks would still be asleep, I was awake and giving my husband a brief demo of this phenomenal machine. This blender has me once again marveling at the power of the human brain.......that has brought the Total Blender into being.

Although my husband has been quite curious about this fine piece of equipment -- but needing to get out the door precisely at the time I was preparing to do an early-morning demo for him, he said, "Penny, I really don't have time for show-n-tell right now." However, unable to contain myself, I excitedly proceeded: "This will ONLY take 24 seconds. Watch how it blends the smoothie in 24 seconds! And, look! It shows you the 24-second countdown right here on its screen" (the section of the blender that was easily seen because of its blue light).

To support the all-Green-Smoothie day my husband wants to have today, I got a head start making the beverages for him last night, via the Total Blender, but then early, early this morning, I ended up combining two of the smoothies in a large cup he could carry out the door with him. To do that, I decided to re-blend. Or, was I just looking for another excuse to blend again with Blendtec's Total Blender?

Blendtec® is not only in the business of making outstanding blenders, but the company really cares about community, too, thus, partnered with BottlingHealth.com to help support our grassroots efforts to share health, such as the Green Smoothie (and more).

Although I've had this high-powered machine for a few weeks, I have been waiting to get closer to a BottlingHealth community event before really delving into it. So, in preparation for a Stretch & Smoothie Clinic Bottling Health will do tomorrow with the Orange Park Gators, it was time to put this machine to the test. The smoothies for my husband became the tool to test it, and I tell you, the Total Blender has already passed with FLYING COLORS.......and I haven't even finished exploring it.

I've only tried the smoothie button so far. I simply turned on the power button, pressed the "Smoothie" button, and viola.......in a mere 24 seconds the Spinach/Banana (with a little strawberry and pineapple) smoothie was so creamy, and then the machine turned off on its own. Sweet! :-)

I'm now off to try the "Whole Juice" feature, which automatically runs for 50 seconds. Eventually, I'll get to each other button (including the "Pulse" button) that awaits me:

~ Ice Cream, Frozen Yogurt

~ Ice Crush, Milk Shake

~ Soups, Syrups, Fondues

~ Sauces, Dips, Dressings, Batters

Another fun feature of the Total Blender is that it shows (on the blue screen) how many times you've blended ingredients. Wow...technology! :-)

Stay tuned for much more about Blendtec's Total Blender. I'm not done with writing about this amazing machine just yet, because Bottling Health is TOTALLY "bottling" this blender and absolutely loving it.

Bottling Father's Day: A Message to my Husband

2009-06-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

As always, I was thinking of my WONDERFUL daddy today who moved on 13 years ago to an all-spirit being. It was the day before Father's Day that year when he made that transition. I feel "rich" because of having him as a father. Others say they feel "rich" because they had him as a friend! He truly was an incredible human being! I am GRATEFUL to be his daughter! I love him DEEPLY! xoxoxoxox

After thinking about my dad......and coming upon this old article on CelebratingChildren.com, these words poured out to my husband today.

Collin:

We LOVE you and pray that your role as a father will forever be blessed. May Caleb be inspired by all things positive that you have to offer him, and may he someday stand on your "shoulders" in the most Godly of ways.....when it is his turn to serve as a father!

May you see your fatherhood role as a ministry -- appointed by God -- and blessed with an abundance of love, peace and joy...always!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love for us, time with us, energy to us, smiles at us, and laughs with us.

May our love for you be felt ever so deeply today and always!

With All Our Love,

Penny & Caleb
xoxoxoxoxoxox

Bottling Stretching & Smoothies with B-Ball Youth

2009-06-20T05:29:00.000-07:00

In June, I did a "Stretch Clinic" with youth in my community who are members of the Orange Park Gators basketball league. The time with the boys went so well, and I'm looking forward to our next session this month. Peaceful Yoga Studio, Yoga Ananda Studio, M Body Yoga and lululemon athletica donated equipment (mats, blocks and straps) for the event. To them, I send love and gratitude!!! Thank you, Bonnie (and Mary) at Peaceful Yoga, Melissa at Yoga Ananda, Mark and Siddie at M Body, and Lisa at lululemon.

After the first session, to the parents of the youth I worked with, I wrote:

Thank you for the opportunity to work with your child on Wednesday evening at the Orange Park Gators' Stretching Clinic. I thoroughly enjoyed working with your sons and appreciated how receptive they were to learning about the benefits of stretching complemented by breathing more deeply. As I mentioned to another parent, it was a nice vibe amongst us, so it made for a lovely evening. They made me laugh with their giggles and other sounds they made when they realized just how tight their shoulders, hips or other bodies parts were! Given that, I think they now better understand the importance and benefits of guided stretching while breathing more deeply into the posture -- but only to their "comfortable edge."

Because we were pressed for time near the end, I didn't get to share more information about the fresh strawberry/banana smoothies I had made for them. I wanted to tell them about the nutrition in this drink that is ideal for the muscles of athletes. It's a nutritious and refreshing beverage to drink in between the games they play at tournaments, etc. Good fuel for them! Just as I talked to the boys about breathing more deeply for healthier bodies, I wanted to explain how we'd get more mileage out of what was in that smoothie versus some other food choices out there. In any event, I heard some good comments about the taste of the smoothie, so I'd say that went over well with them. :-)

Back to the stretching! As you know, the clinic was offered at no cost (and future ones will also be free), but if any of you would like to have your boys stretching on a regular basis in a similar fashion to what we did, I will offer classes to them.

You would be able to sign your child up for:

~ a group class at $10 per child per class (sibling discount available)

~ a 4-week series for a total series cost of $35 per child (a $5 savings; sibling discount available)

~ a 6-week series for a total series cost of $50 per child (a $10 savings; sibling discount available)

~ one-on-one classes (Contact me for rates.)

~ family classes (Contact me for rates.)

The more consistent our young athletes are with a stretching program blended with relaxation, the more flexible they will become. I'd love to assist them along their stretching journey, so please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance.

Here they are relaxing at the end of class; we also began with this relaxation posture. The flow of the evening was a blend between "effort" and "ease."

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, thoughts or concerns.

Sincerely,

Penny Powell
penny@bottlinghealth.com

Bottling the Generosity of a Friend

2009-05-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, I went to a friend's house to assist her with a computer project she was working on. I entered her home planning to get straight to work, but she said, "No, you have to eat first," as she generously placed a tray on her table, beautifully arranged with a bowl of strawberries, apples and oranges next to a square plate holding a scoop of hummus, a few thin slices of Manna Bread, later followed by a few Go Raw Spirulina cookies. A pot of tea was also on the tray. The camera on my cell phone didn't do the presentation of this lunch justice, but it was the thought and love behind this act of kindness that really mattered -- thus this post!

This meal was compliments of the friend, whom, about year after I had shared many things with her about raw food, really began adopting a raw-vegan lifestyle and then just watched the weight fall off of her. One day, she recently called asking for a raw or close-to-raw bread she could easily to get her hands on to spread a little avocado or hummus on. That's how Manna bread entered her home. Although Manna Bread, baked at a low temperature, is the bread suggested as a transition bread for those new to eating mostly raw food, I still enjoy a few slices every now and then. I smear a little avocado over a slice or two, top it with sprouts and tomato, and enjoy! ;-)

According to Encyclopedia.com, Manna Bread is "said to be a recipe of the Essenes who lived by the Dead Sea around the beginning of the Christian era."

Thank you for your warm hospitality, Cynthia! Continued Blessings to you! ;-) As I mentioned, you definitely have a Bed & Breakfast business in the making! ;-) The food, outside view, fresh breeze blowing through the window, sincere hospitality, etc., were all just delightful. Thank you so very much!

Hugs,

Penny

Bottling the Ocean

2009-05-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been several weeks since I last blogged. I know it's best when blogs are consistently updated, but during those times I attempt to reduce my computer time, my blog suffers. But, my mission to advocate good health still continues, as I've received wonderful related opportunities in my community (away from the computer). ;-)

Recently, after teaching a class for a firm in Jacksonville, I strolled Jax Beach when the class was over, and this picture is what I captured with the camera on my cell phone at about 8:15 or so at night. My walk was so wonderfully therapeutic. I also managed to capture a little video footage which I will continue to try to add to this entry.

Beach Hugs,

Penny

Bottling Changes and New Plans

2009-05-01T02:32:00.000-07:00

Happy May 1.

In my last post, I mentioned doing a freshly-squeezed orange juice and water journey for two weeks. As mentioned, my initial plan was to begin today, but on the day I wrote that post, there were still three days left before May 1 arrived, so I thought...why wait?

Turns out, on April 28, I wasn't as prepared as I needed to be to successfully begin the journey. I did well on water for most of the day...waiting too long to shop for the oranges I needed. Plus, I really wanted to try this journey with a citrus juicer, and still needed to get that, too. So, April 28 didn't go quite as planned. The lesson of the day -- "Be well-prepared before starting out with a journey of this kind."

April 29 -- Still didn't have what I needed, but like the day before, I just consumed water up until a certain point. Then, much earlier in the day, I set off to get my organic oranges and citrus juicer. I found great deals on both. I returned home and got right to work prepping for my juicing session. I juiced and then went outside in the sun to drink my glass of freshly made orange juice. Delicious. A few hours later, I sliced and ate (not juiced) two more of these JUICY oranges. (My son has been enjoying them as much as I have.) I did really well with my water and orange juice plan until later in the evening...when I just wanted to chew something. I then decided these days leading up to May 1 were simply "getting me in the mindset" days, so to speak.

April 30 -- By this day, I had figured out that while I wanted to add more oranges into my days, I didn't want to exclusively drink orange juice for the next 14 days -- especially after seeing some wonderful avocados and mangoes when I was out shopping for oranges. I realized I wanted to embrace all of the raw goodness -- although these oranges I have are mighty good.

"God said, 'See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.' " ~ Genesis 1:29

Yesterday, I contacted a friend of mine and invited her to buddy up for the May 1 journey of all-raw with no flexibility at least for two weeks. She was very open to the idea on such short notice. In fact, she had just come from the grocery store, stocking up on some wonderful fruits and veggies, so she was already prepared without knowing the plan during her time of shopping.

She has a networking event coming up in a couple of weeks...at which time I have some exciting projects coming up, too. I want us to be our best selves for those events, so I think that eating soley what I refer to as "God's foods" over these next few weeks will help us be just that...

...And what a great day to kick-off this "fast" of sorts. May 1.

Bottling Oranges

2009-04-28T03:38:00.000-07:00

I was planning to wait until May 1 to start a freshly-squeezed Orange Juice and Water-Only journey, but there are still three days left before the start of the month, so that's three days sooner that my system can get more alkaline prior to the start of a new month. Although we tend to think of oranges making the body more acidic, they actually help make the body more alkaline

Follow along for the next two weeks for insight into my OJ and water diet and to learn about my inspiration behind it. And, if you don't already know, you'll be AMAZED by the VARIED nutrients in an orange.

On another note, as I type this I hear my son slurping the last drop of his banana/strawberry smoothie....a sound he makes with his straw and mason jar that is music to my ears. ;-)

Here's to Bottling Health!

Do you plan on bottling any new health before or during May?

Bottling Balance

2009-04-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

I just watched this video over at TheBalancedMomCoach.com and wanted to share. If you're trying to find your balance, be sure to watch this for balanced insight. "Making quiet time," tops the list. (Precisely the way we start yoga classes to center the mind, body, and spirit!) ;-)

Bottling Beauty

2009-04-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

"This world is nothing more than
Beauty's chance to show Herself.
And what are we? --
Nothing more than Beauty's chance to see Herself.
For if Beauty were not seeking Herself
we would not exist..."

~ Ghalib (From Two Suns Rising)

Bottling the April issue of Pear Magazine

2009-04-17T16:01:00.001-07:00

In today's The Daily Raw Inspiration newsletter, Jinjee Talifero had this to say about the latest issue of Pear Magazine, the online magazine I edit.....

It's here!

In the April 2009 Pear Magazine Online, we intend to uplift you through music, poetry, and video, as well as articles like "Recession Buster: Ask For Money and It is Given - The Secret to Getting Money" and "Recession Proof Your Health through Planting a Garden". These should inspire you to put your own positive spin on recession matters. In "Nature's Candy - A Gift to The Children of the World!" you'll learn of the generous gift a university class gave to improve children's health everywhere. This is also a wonderful story about the way our lives and our businesses can organically grow through the joys of spiritual social networking! Jinjee also shares a personal account of how music has helped break some not-so-good eating habits. Sonja Watt writes about Detoxifying The Body and Getting Fit With Sleep! Sonja also shares a comprehensive list of useful tips for Dealing With Non-Raw Friends and Family who 'attack' your raw-food position. In this issue you'll learn how to harvest nettles and grow sprouts to support your journey to optimum health. Penny will guide you through Mountain Pose or Tadasana for becoming strong, grounded, and centered. Meet some amazingly flexible boys, learn 40 Reasons Yoga Heals, and get 40 tips for making your life work better!

A Spring Gift! - In this month's Pear Magazine you'll also get a free link to our 7 Days Raw Program that starts this coming Monday! Join us for 7 delicious and energizing days including support from the 7 Days Raw Forum!

Sign up for Pear Magazine now at: http://www.pearmagazine.com/ and watch what grows!

In Joy!
Jinjee
http://www.thegardendiet.com/

Bottling Yoga as Medicine and/or Prevention

2009-04-15T06:06:00.000-07:00

Yoga As Medicine -- The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Timothy McCall, M.D., lists 40 ways that yoga heals:

"1. Increases Flexibility
2. Strengthens Muscles
3. Improves Balance
4. Improves Immune Function
5. Improves Posture
6. Improves Lung Function
7. Leads to Slower and Deeper Breathing
8. Discourages Mouth Breathing
9. Increases Oxygenation of Tissues
10. Improves Joint Health
11. Nourishes Intervertebral Disks
12. Improves Return of Venous Blood
13. Increases Circulation of Lymph
14. Improves Function of the Feet
15. Improves Proprioception
16. Increases Control of Bodily Functions
17. Strengthens Bones
18. Conditions the Cardiovascular System
19. Promotes Weight Loss
20. Relaxes the Nervous System
21. Improves the Function of the Nervous System
22. Improves Brain Function
23. Activates
the Left Prefrontal Cortex
24. Changes Neurotransmitter Levels
25. Lowers Levels of the Stress Hormone Cortisol
26. Lowers Blood Sugar
27. Lowers Blood Pressure
28. Improves Levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides
29. Thins the Blood
30. Improves Bowel Function
31. Releases Unconscious Muscular Gripping
32. Uses Imagery to Effect Change in the Body
33. Relieves Pain
34. Lowers Need for Medication
35. Fosters Healing Relationships
36. Improves Psychological Health
37. Leads to Healthier Habits
38. Fosters Spiritual Growth
39. Elicits the Placebo Effect
40. Encourages Involvement in Your Own Healing"

Contact Penny at penny@bottlinghealth.com if interested in yoga classes for children, adults, or parent-and-child classes.

Bottling My Mom and My New Yoga Book

2009-04-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

Whew, I've just had a moment -- a moment of joyful tears and a feeling of overwhelming love for my mom while leaving a message on her voicemail. I was thanking her for the surprise I found awaiting me today in my mailbox. How exciting! The inscription read -- "To my Darling Daughter -- Penny. Hope you find this useful. Much Love, Mom"

If I could bottle my mom and share her ongoing love, thoughtfulness, and kindness with every person without a loving mom, I would do just that. Her name really should be in the dictionary next to these above-mentioned words.

What was even more touching about getting my new yoga book today was that JUST this morning I sent this e-mail to my mom in Bermuda......and then the book from her showed up just a little later! Forever the supporter she is!

I wrote....

Hi Mom,

Some things never change, huh! LOL Back then I called it gymnastics -- today it has evolved to yoga! ;-) Remember you used to say you would see me upside down more than anything else!!! LOL Well, thanks soooooo much for nurturing my childhood passion for gymnastics, because I'm convinced this is why I can still (at 43 years young) do and love things like this (below) today -- a huge mind, body, spirit adult health tool for me. ;-) I will never ever forget the gymnastics mat you handmade for me and the vault box and springboard that Daddy made that adorned our backyard. LOVE YOU, BOTH!!!!

Attached are a few more pics (coming on BottlingHealth.com) that my neighbor Michele took and sent to me! She has been wanting to take some yoga pics of me for a while now, so here are a few of them!

Happy Easter..............I'll title the above "Bending over backwards for/with Christ!";-)

Love,

Penny

Bottling God's Light and Love

2009-04-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

"Honor the highest thing in the Universe; it is the power on which all things depend; it is the light by which all of life is guided...

"Honor the highest within yourself; for it too is the power on which all things depend, and the light by which all life is guided." ~ Marcus Aurelius

Bottling Spring Break

2009-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

My son is on his Spring Break from school this week, and I really treasure this time that offers a break from traditional school routine. My heart is happy to allow him to, as I put it, "get his full rest in" (not having to wake him until his body is fully ready to do so) -- combined with plain ole' downtime incorporating a blend of some chores to letting him do his own thing around here to enjoying creative "athletic" silliness between us, and more. The change of pace feels wonderful, and I am just embracing this week with open arms.

Yesterday morning, to a friend I wrote: "It's Spring Break for my son this week, so I think I'm just going to spend the morning with him before he gets together with some friends later on today. So, I just wanted to say hello and tell you that I'll most likely see you in Wednesday's Pilates class if you are there."

She replied: "Enjoy your time with your son---most mothers I hear from dread the break--it's so nice to hear you are relishing it with him. :) Have a wonderful day full of all good things."

One of the good things Caleb and I shared yesterday was what I called our "10 at 10"! At about 10:00 a.m., for about 10 minutes, we did a powerful reading and discussion of a page from the journal of Marcus Aurelius, the last of the great Roman emperors. We got our hands on some of Aurelius' writings via Two Suns Rising by Jonathan Star, the text used for the yoga teacher training class I'm doing. About The Meditations, the journal Aurelius kept during the last phase of his life on earth, Two Suns Risings explains, "His writing is filled with such intimacy and sincerity that we no longer feel in the company of a Roman emperor but of an old and reliable friend."

One example of Aurelius' writing is below....what was shared with Caleb during our yesterday's 10 at 10!

"There is one type of person who, whenever he does a kind deed, will not hesitate to ask for some reward. Another type of person, though not so bold, will keep track of everything he has done for you, feeling deep down that you are in his debt. Then there are those who give without any remembrance of what they have done. They are like the vine that has brought forth a cluster of grapes, and having once borne its delicious fruit, seeks nothing more. As the horse that runs its race, the hound that tracks its game, and the bee that hives its honey, so should a man be when he has done an act of kindness -- not seeking reward, not proclaiming his virtues, but passing on to the next act, as the vine passes on to bear another cluster of summer grapes.

Life is the way you see it."

Ahhh, more Aurelius for us today! ;-) Come back later for the picture to complement the above and then tomorrow to find out what we read today!

"Handbook 2009"

2009-04-01T06:03:00.000-07:00

Happy April -- This "Handbook" just turned up in my inbox from a dear friend of mine. I have no idea who the source of this content is, but it's too good not to share!

Enjoy and Apply...

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about

Bottling "One Love" in the Hymnal

2009-03-15T14:19:00.000-07:00

"The Anglican church in Jamaica will include the lyrics of songs rendered by two of the country's most famed reggae artists - Bob Marley and Peter Tosh - in the next publication of its church hymnal due by the end of the year." Read more here.
"We move our bodies to the songs because we are beings of spirit." ~ Rev. Canon Ernle Gordon, Rector of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Jamaica

Bottling Reggae

2009-03-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

I grew up on reggae music in Bermuda, so I'm a huge fan of some good reggae rhythms and conscious lyrics. As I type I'm listening to some dub that has me dancing in a seated position as I visualize an all-reggae yoga class I'll one day teach. ;-)

The above collage is one that Jinjee Talifero created for the October 2008 issue of Pear Magazine. What an honor it was for me to be "photographed" with Bob Marley that way. ;-) And the picture below shows my husband and I being married in 1992 by Abuna Yeshaq, the Ethiopian Orthodox archbishop who baptized Bob Marley and performed his burial service -- then, in 1996, Abuna Yeshaq performed my father's burial service after baptizing my son that same day.

Bottling this Archived Post

2009-03-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

Photo by Spangles44, flickr.com

Last night, I was going through my "archived blog" -- Flowing With Nature -- and came upon a post from Saturday, August 12, 2006 which was fun to read again, so I've decided to share it here. I called it Dream Interpretation. I wrote:

Tonight, when I picked my son up from his friend Christian's house, my friend and Christian's mother, Charo, mentioned that she and the children (her three, my one and her daughters' friend) had just wrapped up a dance contest to old-school music. They had traveled around the inside of her house dancing in a line, and the winner would be the one who outlasted everyone. Turns out, my always-full-of-energy Caleb won. Charo joked, "Well, I said, 'he's like his Momma. This would go on all night.'" My friends think I have mega energy. I guess they're right -- sometimes.

The children were telling me about different dances they had come up with during their "Soul Train" time. Then, Caleb requested I bust out a move. Feeling put on the spot, I responded: "Well, you all had an opportunity to warm up. I just got here." (Any excuse to take the spotlight off of me, I guess.)

Charo interjected that I'd probably turn some Yoga move into a dance step. We laughed, but she was right. Her comment suddenly reminded me about a dream I had last night.

In that dream, I did a full handstand and then with my arms still holding the rest of my body up, I lowered my legs to a 90-degree angle. In that position in my dream, my 10-year-old son grabbed on to my feet or ankles, and I lifted my legs and his entire body back up to my original handstand position. Using the bottom of my feet as support, he was doing his own handstand in this dream. Then, some way, some how, he did a flip (I think) and connected back to my feet that were held high in the air.

Next, both of us positioned our bodies to our version of a Half Moon yoga pose. In this case, I guess it would have been a Handstand Half Moon pose. That would mean that I removed one of my supporting hands from the floor while doing the handstand and fully extended it out to my side. Plus, I would have put space between my legs. In the dream, my son adjusted his body to imitate our Half Moom position while still using my feet as support for one arm this time.

Prior to ending the dream, we then returned to our original handstand position (Caleb's hands on top of my feet). Quite controllably, I proceeded to lower him and my legs back down to the floor and then resumed my individual handstand position.

Instantly, Charo said: "That signified your motherhood strength." She was just talking off the top of her head, but since she's such a deep-thinking, intuitive person, I couldn't help but wonder if she might have been accurately interpreting that handstand-with-my-son dream. She was convincing. Hmmh!

Until that point, I had simply viewed my dream as a result of my love of yoga and gymnastics. I figured my son was involved in that activity because of his athletic/kinesthetic nature, and because of the way he loves to challenge himself.

Who knows.....maybe Charo has a future in dream interpretation.

Anyone else out there interpret dreams -- for free? :-)

Bottling Saturday's Sun/Son

2009-03-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

It's 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and I've just stepped indoors from my backyard, spending some time lounging out in in the sun after returning home from a 7:30 a.m. yoga class. I took my bowl of Strawberry Crunch outdoors to enjoy, and then I settled in for some extra Vitamin D by way of the sun. I could feel my body being nourished as the sun's rays gently beamed down on me. There's a warmth that I get from the sun that just makes me feel so good inside.

When I returned indoors and my son hugged me in an arm lock type of way (boys!), he exclaimed, "You're warm!" "I've been lying out in the sun for almost an hour," I reminded him and started talking about how comforting the sun can be.......

.......Then it was as if something clicked for me.......

"Hmmh, why do you think that Jesus is referred to as God's son?" I sort of just instinctively said to my boy. "Just as the sun comforts, nurtures and restores the outer body, that's what the inside One is doing for us," I stated.

I recently heard someone refer to Jesus as a "verb" not a "noun." In fact, here's the quote by Rudy Jones from his article, Is Christ A Person?

"When most Christians mentally relate to the word Christ, they associate the word Christ as being the first or last name of Jesus, and are relating to Christ as a noun, or a proper name. So it is difficult to introduce a new paradigm, a new understanding of what the word Christ actually means. The word “CHRIST” IS A VERB. Christ is what you express “of God.”

Christ is not separated from you. Christ is the Light or Life energy in the cells of a Christian, electrifying every nerve and every muscle, bringing every thought into captivity. Christ is the Truth of what makes you who you are..........The Fact is: Every Day -- Everything I AM is what Jesus was. And Everything He was is Today what I AM. That is Biblical Truth. His Anointing permeates every fiber and tissue of your body, but is Life to you only by faith based on scriptural fact. Your faith is accepting your Truth."

The word Christ, #5547 in Strong’s Concordant Dictionary, is the Greek word "Christos," which means "Anointed," and is from #5548: "Chrio"; “through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil [the act of] from #5530: “Chraomai” (note the possible connection to chromosome.) “Chraomai”; “a primary root, a VERB; to furnish what is needed.”

When I am in the outdoor's sun, it's as if it becomes the "oil" (from "Chrio" above) that is being smeared or rubbed on my body "to furnish what is needed."

Basking in the Sun and Son,

Penny

***Photo Credit -- honey77, flickr.com***

Bottling Intuition and a New Agave Report

2009-03-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

To think I was using Agave Nectar to sweeten my raw chocolate pudding!

Okay, my health intuition must be set on a nice, clear

"channel" right now, because....... Well, let me explain:

(1) I've had flax seed in my house for a while, and apart from putting a handful in a smoothie I made for my son a few weeks ago, the seeds have just been here, sitting. I would think to use them every now and then, but wouldn't. What was up with that if they're so healthy? Intuitively, something must have been going on.

So, Mila (a fabulous source of Omega-3's) ends up coming into my life in such a divine way, at which time some hard and unknown-to-me facts about flax came with it -- information about folks experiencing some thyroid issues from the consumption of too much flax. And how a part of the flax seed doesn't fully digest. Now, by no means am I an expert on this information (so please don't consider me so), but I know someone who has my attention about this matter (next to Mila Expert Dr. Coates, that is), so I've asked this person to write a related article for BottlingHealth.com and Pear Magazine. Stay tuned for that!

When Mila came to me along with the flax facts I had not been aware of, I connected with the reason why I probably had been, for the most part, staying away from the flax in my home. It had to have been my intuition at work. Now, I realize that some/many may disagree with this no-to-flax theory, and that's fine. But, as with everything else in my life, I simply move as I feel led. For me right now, that's moving with Mila and not Flax.

(2) Just as I had been avoiding my home supply of flax, well, when I recently ran out of Agave (which I typically prefer to Honey), I gravitated to a raw Honey when it was time to replace the "raw" Agave I typically get. I just figured I had a taste for something different at the time. So, these past few days, I've been using Honey to sweeten some Yogi Tea I recently purchased, as well as adding a squirt of it to my son's smoothies. Then, yesterday and this morning, Honey has complemented my Strawberry Crunch so well. As I ate that tasty food, I tried to visualize the Agave in place of the Honey, but somehow could taste that, Honey, not Agave, was what was supposed to help the sunflower seeds stick to the strawberries and give this dish an added kick.

Then, just moments ago, around the time of posting my Strawberry Crunch (with Honey) recipe, an e-mail from my friend Angela Elliott arrived, announcing her new web site. Her "Agave Nectar" link spoke to me, so I clicked on it....surprised to see the words, Just say no to Agave! Now I can't help but wonder if this is why I, intuitively, have NOT wanted Agave lately. Hmmh?

Yikes! But I've Recommended Agave to Family and Friends

I then had to take a deep breath, because my friend Shannon recently purchased Agave upon my recommendation, and other family and friends have done the same. I quickly pulled out my copy of Angela's "Alive in 5" book and was reminded that "Agave" is one of the ingredients listed in the book's "Raw Food Pantry" section. "Hmmh, until now, Angela (and many others) must have been misled like me," I figured. I'm sure that if and when Angela does a reprint of her book, readers won't see "Agave" recommended for their pantry the next time around.

Fortunately, I've done a blend of yoga and pilates for 11 consecutive days, so I know that's helping to keep my emotions balanced at the moment about this issue. There's a part of me that could easily freak out in my head, knowing that I've turned folks on to Agave.....and, now, this new information doesn't hold this sweetener in a good light. But, I inhale and exhale and am reminded that we live and learn.....and just as Mila has replaced Flax for my family, Raw Honey will continue to replace Agave at this time!

You know, now that I think about it, I don't think Jinjee and Storm (my mentors and friends) have ever been major Agave supporters. I should have listened to them in the first place. They know their stuff, they do! My intuition is confirming that, too! ;-)

Be Well.

Penny

P.S. Picture above of the Raw Chocolate Pudding made during my time at the Living Foods Institute last summer.

Bottling Strawberry Crunch

2009-03-07T08:08:00.001-08:00

I made this yesterday for lunch, and because it tasted so good, I made it again for this morning's breakfast.

Includes: Cut-up strawberries with honey drizzled over them and raw sunflower seeds sprinkled on top. (The honey helps the seeds to stick to the strawberries, which provides a wonderful texture when chewing.)

Bottling a Fresh Juice Breakfast

2009-03-06T14:37:00.001-08:00

From this:

To that:

For Today's Breakfast!

Ingredients: kale, parsley (a little), beet, lemon, apple, Mila (that little scoop on the side in the top picture)

I juiced the ingredients in the order above (I stirred the Mila in with the juice). I always juice apples last because the force of the juice extracted from them helps push through more of the juice from the greens, etc.

Bottling Rudy Jones' "5-Minute Health Seminar"

2009-03-06T03:23:00.000-08:00

Raw-vegan foods, including Mila, help clean up our cells as Rudy Jones beautifully explains below. Today, I am beginning a 40-day 'frequency' clean-up through increasing my intake of pure water, fresh juices, leafy greens, etc. -- through nature's finest of ingredients. If you need help getting your cells cleaned up, Shannon Leone has a great resource here to help you.

Rudy Jones writes:

"The 70% water/plasma makeup of our physical body plays the same role within our bodies as the air plays in the atmosphere around our body. The trillions of cells, which make up the human body, are designed to live in balanced health according to the frequencies in the colors of the rainbow. The brain of each cell is outside the cell, in the watery membrane which surrounds each cell. Interestingly the membrane around the cell (the brain of the cell), has saucer shaped ‘antennas’ (very similar to the ‘saucers’ on the roof tops of many houses) searching for signals (Frequencies) in the flowing waters of the ‘blood’ (light) and in the lymph fluids until they pick up the correct frequency needed. Then “the watchers on the wall” open the door into the cell. If the frequency is organic and natural, the nutrients and the oxygen create life
energy within the cell. If the cell ‘food’ is man made, it is toxic to the cell because men use enticing fragrance and colorings, and ‘patented’ harmful preservatives. All manufactured products are harmful to the cell (which is God made) and have side effects.

Harmful man made ingredients ‘ground’ the electron in the cell; creating a ‘free radical’ cell. A free radical is parasitic, caused by the loss of the charged ion. Every atom seeks balance. An out of balance cell seeks to borrow ‘oil’ from one of the ‘virgins’. Your body is a biological river of vibrating frequencies, continually moving and feeding and changing the cellular atmosphere in your body. (What we think does effect matter.) When we are bitter, unforgiving, covetous, vengeful, etc., those thought frequencies are contrary to the designed program of the cell and The Creator’s nature." Continued here!

Bottling Caleb's Favorite Smoothie once again!

2009-03-05T05:40:00.000-08:00

I often make a smoothie for my son to hand to him as soon as he gets in the car when I pick him up from school. At that time of day, he's typically ready for something to eat, so the smoothie is a tasty, healthy alternative and a nice distraction from something not as healthy at that time.

One day this week, after making Caleb's smoothie and heading out to pick him up, it occurred to me that I should have also made one for Tyler, a friend of Caleb's who has been interested in trying a BottlingHealth.com smoothie. However, I wasn't sure if I would see Tyler when I picked Caleb up, so I kind of let the thought go. But, of course, as soon as I pulled up for Caleb to hop in the car, who should be standing right next to him? So, I quickly pulled the mason jar out of the cooler bag and said, "Caleb, I made this for you, but if you want to give this one to Tyler, I can make another one for you as soon as we get home." Caleb was happy to share with his buddy, and so we did.

"Shake it before you drink it," I called out to Tyler as I was driving away.

By the time we arrived home, Caleb noticed Tyler had called. When Caleb returned the call, Tyler told him that he enjoyed the smoothie. "That's the one I drink the most," I heard Caleb say.

"I drank the whole thing," Tyler said to me when I spoke to him. He had let his parents sample it, too; they said they really enjoyed it as well. I told Tyler that not only did the smoothie have bananas and strawberries in it, but Mila, too. "You got a whole lot of nutrition in that drink," I said.

The recipe:

~ 2 bananas

"Of the soft fruits, bananas are second only to strawberries when it comes to overall mineral content," says Jay Kordich in "The Juiceman's Power of Juicing," The high potassium in bananas benefits the heart and muscular system, he says.

~ 5 strawberries (with stems)

Wonderful source of "vitamin C and natural sugars that cleanse the system," Kordich explains. They are also "high in potassium and iron, which is good for strengthening the blood. The sodium content makes them a valuable tonic for nerves and for keeping glands healthy...What I value most in strawberries," Kordich continues, "is the presence of elagic acid, which reduces and often neutralizes the damaging effects of the carcinogen PAH found in cigarette smoke." So Kordich says that if you should happen to find yourself exposed to secondhand smoke, to pop a few strawberries in your mouth to help dissolve the PAH.

~ 1 scoop of Mila

3,000 Omega-3's and 5 grams of fiber per serving as well as an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 844 per serving.

~ A little water

~ Ice

~ Honey, to taste

And The Winner Is...

2009-03-02T14:41:00.001-08:00

BottlingHealth.com is excited to announce the winner of our first Mila contest. Although we didn't have many people participate in our debut contest, we applaud Tracy, Nelly, Shelly and Tee for taking a chance at winning a bag of nutritious Mila. We'll keep you posted about other Mila contests we may offer in the future. In the meantime, if anyone would like to order a bag to sample, you can do so here -- where you can also get the scoop about Mila.

Now on to the drum roll.......And the Winner is...

TW Pouncy

Congratulations, Tracy!!! Please contact us at penny@bottlinghealth.com to claim your prize. We look forward to hearing from you.

Bottling Grapefruit/Apple Juice

2009-03-02T13:34:00.000-08:00

My friend, Charo, gave me some yummy grapefruits yesterday from which I just finished sipping on a grapefruit/apple juice I made in my juicer. The recipe:

~ 1 large grapefruit, cut and peeled

Grapefruits are a great source of vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium.

~ 4 apples

Apples are also a source of potassium and phosphorus (which helps flush the kidneys), as well as a wonderful source of pectin (which helps remove toxins from the intestines).

Juice grapefruit and then apples! Stir and Enjoy!

Well, now having provided this refreshing information above, I feel I must share this info below.......the words of Jay Kordich, author of The Juiceman's Power of Juicing.

"I try to eat only organic apples. Often as many as eleven chemicals are used by apple growers who then wax the fruit to preserve it further. If I have to eat a waxed apple, I always peel it. Some growers use a chemical spray called Daminozide which penetrates the fruit and cannot be gotten rid of by any amount of washing. Another dangerous chemical is Alar, which may be carcinogenic but is being used in lesser amounts or eliminated altogether since the well-publicized outcry a few years ago.

"When you buy organic apples, check them for worms. The won't harm you but you probably don't want one going through the juicer. The government allows commercial canners to use a certain percentage of wormy apples in every batch of juice they make. This is only one reason I do not recommend bottled or canned apple juice. The canneries also use old, disfigured, rotten fruit. Why should they care? They filter the juice and then boil it so that the consumer never actually knows what goes into the juice. It is also difficult to know how much juice is in a can of apple juice. Regulations controlling what is printed on labels are becoming stricter but are still not enforced, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That watchdog organization did a survey a few years ago on more than a dozen commercial juices and discovered that in many, the amount of juice was only about 10 percent. The rest was sugar and water.

"If you must buy apple juice, never buy it if you can see through it. This means it is pasteurized, or cooked, and then filtered so that all the helpful enzymes are removed. Buy, instead, cloudy-looking juice with sediment on the bottom, which indicates the juice is unfiltered and so probably contains more nutrients."

Bottling Exercise

2009-02-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

When my family and I set sail on a Christmas cruise this past December, Yoga and Pilates were the two classes I signed up for at sea. Back on land, I'm excited to have a found a place near my home where I can do both: Pilates one day, yoga the next -- and then throw some Zumba in there, too, and I've got quite a exercise program going on, I'd say.

Today, I am simply "bottling" the great feeling of exercise. I took a Pilates class yesterday morning and a Zumba class last night. At the end of the hour-long Pilates workout, the instructor said to me, "You make it look easy." That was sweet of her, but I still want/need to get my core strengthened far more. But, if I did "make it look easy," I'm sure the yoga teacher training program I'm doing is certainly helping with that. Talking about yoga, that's Kate Potter (yellow shirt), creator of the Namaste Yoga TV show, pictured with me (green pants) about three or so years ago.

I ended up at Zumba last night because I felt an urge to go cardio-crazy, so to speak. The class had two instructors -- lovely and lively French gals -- and we partied away, Zumba-style! (By the way, Didier, my Yoga Teacher Training teacher is also French.) The Zumba fitness room had lots of space for moving around -- and the atmosphere just made me feel like I was dancing in my own living room. After class, I joined my husband and son at their basketball practice. Initially, I was going to go with them but decided that rather than just watch my husband coach and watch my son get all of his exercise in, I might as well get some of my own in! So, it was my "date" with Zumba until I met up with my family, and so I got the best of both exercise "worlds".

Today, after Chapel at my son's school, it was off to Victoria's yoga class at the gym -- where I got to do headstands and backbends (wheel). Thanks, Victoria! Victoria received her yoga teacher's certification from the same school where I'm getting mine, so her classes feel as if they're an extension of my training program. Perhaps that's why throughout her class today, I heard Didier's voice in my head reminding me that: "Yoga is about energy," and then I could feel myself giving more energy to the postures while feeling stronger and more alive in the process. For instance, here's a little exercise where you, too, might be able to experience this difference I speak of:

~ With your arms about shoulder width apart, extend them straight up above your head and look up.

~ Bring them back down by your sides.

~ Now, with your arms hanging down by your sides, stretch your fingers open wide and begin the motion of raising your arms (shoulder width apart) above your head. Raise them with purpose and intention. Raise them as if you have the head of a tiny infant resting on your wide-opened finger tips of one hand and the infant's feet resting on the finger tips of the opposite hand. Feel the strength it takes to lift the precious "infant" up towards the sky as you look up with shoulders relaxed and away from the ears. With that stretch, remember to spread your fingers apart like five-pointed stars....because you are a star! ;-)

Did you feel the difference between the two variations of the stretch? Did you feel more electrified by the second one? I did. :-)

Exercising with Energy,

Penny

Bottling the "3 Facts About Me" E-mail

2009-02-23T17:31:00.000-08:00

Hmmh, I thought this could make a good blog entry for today. A friend of mine from Bermuda forwarded me a "3 Facts About Me" e-mail that she had completed, and those on her list were to do the same. I decided to go ahead and follow the instructions and found the exercise to be relaxing and fun. (Thanks, Angeline!) So, here's a way to learn a little more about who's behind BottlingHealth.com.

3 FACTS ABOUT ME!

THREE NAMES I GO BY:
1. Penny
2. Pen
3. Mommy

THREE JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE:
1. Freelance Writer/Editor (still have this one)
2. Educator-in-Training (Health Food Store)
3. Retail Banking Training Trainer/Supervisor

THREE PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. Bermuda
2. Virginia
3. Florida

THREE THINGS I LIKE TO WATCH:
1. My son playing any sport he loves.
2. Gymnastics
3. The beauty of nature

THREE PLACES I HAVE BEEN:
1. Haiti
2. Panama
3. Venezuela

PEOPLE THAT EMAIL ME REGULARLY:
1. Shannon L. (Her book "Eating For Beauty, Health & Pleasure" is available on my site.) http://www.bottlinghealth.com/books.htm
2. Melissa (She has a buy-one-get-one free SMOOTHIE e-book special going on on HER site.) http://loverawlife.synthasite.com/e-books.php
3. Jinjee (Re our PearMagazine.com work)

THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. Mila, a WONDERFUL 'whole food' that can be added to any food. Find out about it on my website -- http://www.bottlinghealth.com/. I have a Mila contest going on here: http://bottlinghealth.blogspot.com/2009/02/mila-give-away-bottle-this-contest.html
2. Avocado sprinkled with Mila, Sea Salt, Black Pepper and Cayenne
3. Smoothies/Juices. Got children? See a related article I wrote at http://www.eujacksonville.com/story2.php?storyid=269

THREE FRIENDS I THINK WILL RESPOND:
1. Tee
2. Tonya (cousin)
3. Michele

THINGS I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO:
1. More people understanding that they can increase their health by leaps and bounds by adding a scoop of Mila and other raw-vegan food to their diet.
2. More people living according to the gifts placed in their hearts. (It adds to a happier world, because EVERYONE would be smiling.)
3. My son growing according to his true gifts and talents (and not what the world dictates he should be), but rather listening to God's voice in his heart for everything he does in life.

Now, here's what you're supposed to do...and please do not spoil the fun. Copy the above text, hit forward, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a few good friends or family INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known things about each person on your list.

Bottling Shannon Leone's Raw Food Starter Manual

2009-02-20T06:53:00.001-08:00

It's an honor to announce that Eating For Beauty, Health & Pleasure: A Raw Food Quick-Start Program by Shannon Leone has been added to BottlingHealth.com.

Knowledgeable and Sassy Shannon will take the confusion and headache out of understanding why raw and living foods are such optimum choices for the mind, body and spirit. Not quite ready to go all raw even though you do 'get it'? That's okay! In her simple e-book, Shannon meets you exactly where you're at and provides easy-to-follow tips for improving your health --one step at a time. Slow and steady!

"The question I get asked the most," writes Shannon........

Read more here!

*Shannon Leone is pictured above with her Rawberry Cheesecake! Mmmmmm........

Bottle this Strawberry/Banana/Mila Smoothie

2009-02-19T13:11:00.000-08:00

If you have seen the Smoothies/Juices page of BottlingHealth.com, you would have read that my son's favorite smoothie is strawberry/banana. Or, if you read this article, you'll have read the same. I wish I could say my boy is in love with the Green Smoothie like his dad (and his friends, Christian and Dalton), but that's just not Caleb's reality at this time. If I make the Green Smoothie sweet enough, however, yes, Caleb will drink it, but it's simply not at the top of his smoothie choices the way it is for his dad. So, I just try to work with him where he's at...

In any event, when I really "nail" a smoothie (any kind) for Caleb, it certainly warms my Mommy heart. And even though I can't always successfully disguise the greens in smoothies I make for him, I can disguise Mila very well, folks. And, when you learn the amazing nutritional content of Mila, an all-raw whole food, well, that's enough to send any Mommy into Mommy-bliss land after your child consumes it. It has:

"700% MORE OMEGA-3’s than Salmon
500% MORE CALCIUM Than Whole Milk
200% MORE IRON Than Spinach
100% MORE POTASSIUM Than Bananas
1400% MORE MAGNESIUM Than Broccoli
100% MORE FIBER Than Bran Flakes
500% MORE PROTEIN Than Kidney Beans
300% MORE SELENIUM Than Flax Seed
800% MORE PHOSPHORUS Than Whole Milk
MORE ANTIOXIDANTS Than Blueberries
MORE FOLATE Than Asparagus
MORE LIGNANS Than Flax Seed
MORE DIETARY FIBER than Flax Seed"

After adding a full 13-gram scoop of tasteless-Mila to Caleb's strawberry/banana smoothie today, he said, "This is the best one I think you've made in a while. My mom's really becoming a raw-vegan chef," he exclaimed as he walked by with the mason jar in hand. Now, it's not that he tasted the Mila, because that has no taste, however, that was his way of saying the strawberry/banana/Mila smoothie was just that good. To really test the quality of the smoothie, I asked, "Should I make one like this for Tyler (his friend from school)?" "YES," he answered with great emphasis. Oh yeah, that was confirmation this was an "on fire" type of good. ;-)

Tyler? Caleb had mentioned that Tyler had visited BottlingHealth.com and, at school, asked him if the smoothies really do taste good because his mom was going to make one for him. Caleb told him that most of them do, but I should have had my husband telling Tyler about the Green Smoothie -- not Caleb. ;-) At work, my husband has turned several folks on to the Green Smoothie. Caleb's more so my strawberry/banana advocate. In any event, since I also want Caleb to have the opportunity to share his favorite smoothies with his friends (instead of always my favorites), we'll start Tyler off with the strawberry/banana one. (It's coming soon, Tyler, and your mom may just win a bag of Mila to add to smoothies she makes for you at home. I see she entered the contest.) ;-)

The recipe I used today for Caleb's Strawberry/Banana/Mila Smoothie:

~ about 5 or 6 strawberries (with stems on; I've got to get the greens in when I can)
~ 2 bananas
~ a little water (not too much --just enough to get the ingredients to mix around)
~ 1 13-gram scoop of Mila
~ a couple handfuls of ice, which then made it need....
~ a good squirt of honey (to taste)

Delicious! I even poured myself some in a fancy glass for myself!

Enjoy!

P.S. My friend, Melissa, over at LoveRawLife.com has a Sun-Sational Smoothies recipe e-book special going on until March 15. Check it out!

Mila vs. Flax? Bottle this info!

2009-02-18T09:54:00.001-08:00

Here's the Mila Expert, Dr. Wayne Coates! They tell me, in his 70's, he's still running marathons. ;-) Makes sense! He uses chia, the seed that builds endurance and is, therefore, known as "The Runner's Seed."

Get more Mila info at www.BottlingHealth.LifeMax.net

Bottling this Whole Food Clinical Study

2009-02-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Mila, a high quality chia seed, recently went head to head with a popular cholesterol-reducing drug -- and "the study concluded that the raw whole food, Mila, matched the leading statin drug in its ability to lower both LDL and systolic blood pressure." Read the full article here about this clinical study done at The University of Texas Health Science Center. Way to go, Mila! :-)

Want to hear from the expert who has researched Chia for years and years? Click here!

Mama Mia -- I'm Bottling Some Mila!

2009-02-13T06:59:00.000-08:00

Heartfelt readings to every raw foodist I know personally (or not) and ANY one else who is reading this at this moment. Thanks so much for stopping by! I am totally honored that you took a few moments to be here! I am so grateful for your time!

Well, I have got some news that I am absolutely thrilled to share...(Can you feel my heart beating with excitement? I just took a deep breath to slow it down!) ;-)

Have you heard of Mila? If not, I am sooooooo excited to introduce you to this highest quality all-raw chia seed that has:

"700% MORE OMEGA-3’s than Salmon
500% MORE CALCIUM Than Whole Milk
200% MORE IRON Than Spinach
100% MORE POTASSIUM Than Bananas
1400% MORE MAGNESIUM Than Broccoli
100% MORE FIBER Than Bran Flakes
500% MORE PROTEIN Than Kidney Beans
300% MORE SELENIUM Than Flax Seed
800% MORE PHOSPHORUS Than Whole Milk
MORE ANTIOXIDANTS Than Blueberries
MORE FOLATE Than Asparagus
MORE LIGNANS Than Flax Seed
MORE DIETARY FIBER than Flax Seed"

I know that chia is quite popular in the raw-food community and is often added to smoothies and such, but how many are aware that not all chia is created equal?

So, when using a less-than-optimum quality of chia, it's not surprising that we're not getting the level of Omega-3s that we think we're nourishing our bodies with! However, Mila -- also referred to as "The Miracle Seed" and "chia rediscovered" -- is the best of the best, hands down, when it comes to chia.

Thanks to Dr. Wayne Coates and his tireless chia research efforts for about the past 18 years, we have come to learn all of this amazing information about the benefits of Mila. To provide the body with OPTIMUM benefits, Mila is grown "within a band approximately 23 degrees north and south of the equator, that is, from The Tropic of Cancer to The Tropic of Capricorn," Dr. Coates explains in the November 2008 issue of "Your Business At Home" magazine.

Another question that Dr. Coates answers in that interview is: "Besides the amount of Omega-3, how does generic chia seed differ from Mila?" He explains: "Generic chia is generally a lower-quality seed. Where it is produced, how it's produced and how it is cleaned are all aspects that must be considered when judging the chia quality. There are generic chia seeds out there that are quite dirty, which means they contain weed seeds or plant parts, both of which degrade the quality of the overall product."

I tell you, having this optimum quality chia (Mila) in my home seems to be making my kitchen (and me) vibrate at another level. I LOVE Mila!!! And I love that it's great for anyone! It has universal appeal, so to speak, and inspired me to come up with my own slogan for it: -- "Changing Health In America" (and beyond) is what Chia has become to mean to me!

If you are wondering if Mila is truly raw, well, let me let the Mila guru, Dr. Coates, answer that for you. He explains: "Traditional grinding methods heat the seed through friction, which produces oxidation. Oxidation causes oil seed rancidity, decreasing the shelf life of the ground seed. Mila is not exposed to heat and can be kept unopened for years without becoming rancid, since naturally occurring antioxidants in chia make it last longer. The ancient Aztecs knew this and traded in both whole seeds and ground chia," says Dr. Coates.

Mila can be mixed in with just about any food and it doesn't alter the taste because of how virtually tasteless it is! For instance, my husband, who ordinarily quickly detects any addition I've blended into his favorite kale/banana smoothie has not at all picked up on the addition of Mila to his green drinks. He simply sees the pretty bag of Mila sitting on the kitchen counter, but he has no idea that a scoop of the finely sliced chia in the bag is ending up in his daily smoothies. Shhh! Don't tell him. (He'll find out soon enough, though, when he reads this.) ;-)

I quickly decided that I didn't just want to purchase Mila to nourish my family, but I also wanted to very much be hands-on with LifeMax, the company with "vision" that has blessed us with Mila by way of Dr. Coates' research. LifeMax is convinced that the Omega-3s, protein, fiber and the many forms of goodness in Mila will change health, globally.

LifeMax is also interested in helping folks reach financial health and has, therefore, created a very easy-to-operate direct-sales system for Mila distribution. You can create a wonderful home business on the 'shoulders' of LifeMax, and the company will ship the product for you, so you certainly don't have to be worried about that. You'll get your own website with a non-complicated tracking system and so much more! Basically, you'll spread the word about the benefits of Mila and the backend of the "office" will do the rest.)

With all of my heart, I believe in Mila -- and I believe in LifeMax -- and I believe Mila is an optimum whole raw-food product that health educators and such should strongly consider educating themselves and others about while adding it to home kitchens, web sites, retreats, restaurants, stores, etc. Mila needs to be everywhere! Every home needs a bag of Mila. Mama Mia, let's bottle some Mila, folks! ;-)

For more information about sampling a bag of Mila, click here. Then, click on "Order Product Now" at the top right of the page. Or, if like me, you clearly know you want to be a Mila distributor, visit the "Become A Distributor" section which is also located on the top right.

Let's take this next and wonderful step to making this world even healthier -- one bag of Mila at a time! By the way, a bag of Mila is designed to last about a month -- you only need a scoop a day (the scooper is provided in the bag)!

To clarify, you can simply order Mila for your home AND/OR sign up to get it distributed into the home of your readers, customers, family, friends, etc. What a great way to spread health and wealth.

A Big Mila Hug to you!

Feel free to post a comment or question here or e-mail me at penny@BottlingHealth.com

Much Love,

Penny
http://www.bottlinghealth.lifemax.net/

"Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others." Habakkuk 2:2

Bottling Mandura -- Part 2

2009-02-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

*While not juiced directly from my juicer (which I know is optimum), this is our best option (in our home) for regularly getting durian, mangosteen, and acai into our bodies. So, for Mandura -- and Mandura only --I've bent my must-be-from-the-juicer rule as to meet my son halfway on his health journey. In the meantime, I'm enjoying this "Royal Family of Fruits," too....

A little add-on from my earlier post.

I just felt inspired to have a 4 pm shot of Mandura (my son's drink of choice) and truly felt a certain vibe while simply holding the bottle.

Maybe it's just me, but I really do feel something quite special about this bottle that seems to exude "royalty!" It's just something about this nutritional supplement (right down to the packaging) that I resonate with! Before returning the opened bottle to the refrigerator, I held it close to my heart and thanked God! I know, I know...mushy me! ;-)

And, the healthy "family" that's in the bottle (durian, mangosteen, acai, and blueberries) is quite refreshing, too! Nothing like a dose of health this time of day. After my son had his 2 ounces before going to school this morning, he put his glass down on the table and exclaimed, "Now that's some good stuff."

We won't always just take the Mandura straight (even though it goes down well that way), but we'll mix it up a bit, too, by mixing it in into our fresh juices and smoothies! But outside of the other fruits and veggies we eat, a mere 1 to 2 ounces, 1 to 2 times a day is all that's needed from the Mandura bottle.

Afternoon Smiles,

Penny

Bottling Mandura & Dancing!

2009-02-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

I'm doing the Mandura dance! "Mandura?" you ask! Oh yes, it's a health dance comprised of durian, mangosteen, acai, and blueberry moves -- I mean...juice. Today, we received our next bottle of this fruit-juice supplement that is created from some of the world's most nutrient-rich fruits...so, yes indeed, I'm doing the Mandura dance! Work it, Penny! :-)

I'm so excited that it was my 13-year-old son, Caleb, who turned me on to this fruit drink after he first tried it at his buddy Beau's house. Caleb was 12 at the time and came home that evening telling me all about this mystery juice that sounded so powerful. Then, when I saw the regal-looking bottle that this preservative-free beverage was stored in, I had a strong feeling Mandura was just as powerful as it sounded.

K.C., Beau's mom, one of the partners of the company that formulates and distributes Mandura, cleverly came up with the Mandura name -- "Man..." for mangosteen - "The Queen of Fruits" and "...dura" for durian - "The King of Fruits." Although "Man..." kicks off the name, durian is actually the first fruit on the ingredient list, but I'm sure you'll agree that Mandura sounds far more jazzy than Duraman. ;-) The folks at Mandura are calling this exotic four-fruit blend, "The Royal Family of Fruits." Because of the company's aseptic bottling process, Mandura is free of preservatives and the company's "state-of-the-art cold-filled technology" allows nutrient retention of the ingredients used to make Mandura.

There are varying opinions in the raw food community about adding supplements to an all-raw diet. However, if my family's diet was as rich as our friends Storm and Jinjee from TheGardenDiet.com, well, things might be different. But, as of this season in our lives, my husband and son don't exclusively eat a raw diet, and my all-raw percentage tends to vary, so I believe Mandura is a perfect fit for the Powells right now. While it is my philosophy that organic fruits (and veggies) freshly juiced and consumed within 15 minutes of juicing them are optimum, I am convinced that Mandura can nicely complement my family's health. And folks who are consuming this drink -- simply 1 to 2 ounces, 1 to 2 times per day -- are reaping some great health improvements. (Stay tuned for some testimonies!)

As I grow more deeply in health, love and my relationship with God, I've come to believe that when well-intentioned prayer and love go into a health product, prayer and love actually become the key ingredients, even though they are often not listed on the product. However, since Mandura's headquarters just happens (although I don't believe in coincidences) to be so close to my home, I have been able to spend time there, and I love the heart, energy, intention, and Godliness I see and feel behind this drink. My heart is saying, "Yes to Mandura," and I'm certainly not one to ignore that part of my body. Plus, since the skin, our largest organ, is a sign of the quality of one's internal health, I'd have to say that the shakers and movers that I personally know behind Mandura are definitely "walking" their "talk." They glow!

In fact, on the day of my extensive visit at Solstice International (the Mandura headquarters), I heard the voice of K.C.'s 6-year-old son echoing down the hallway: "I need three cups of Mandura." I assumed he was asking for one cup for himself and the others for his two brothers who were playing basketball. "Three cups?" his mom questioned. "Yes, I just took so many shots (referring to basketball), and I haven't made one yet." he explained. So, he turned to another shot of Mandura to turn his basketball statistics around. Too cute! Priceless!

Mandura is coming soon to BottlingHealth.com, so information about it will definitely be growing and glowing here. If you want to let your children find out, firsthand, why children are raving about this nutritional supplement, I'll put you in contact with just the right folks if you contact me at penny@BottlingHealth.com. There's really nothing to lose since you can get a 30-day risk-free trial period; a money-back guarantee.

I don't know about you, but I just can't regularly get my hands on fruits as potent as durian, mangosteen, and acai, so, thankfully, Mandura brings them into my home. And what makes Mandura even sweeter is that my son LOVES it and turned me on to it. Now, folks, that is health music to my mommy ears...

...So, off I go again to do the Mandura dance! Come join me! ;-)

Mandura Smiles,

Penny

***Stay tuned for Mandura on the Smoothies/Juices page of this site under a section called "Caleb's Choice!"***

Return to http://www.bottlinghealth.com/

Bottling Family, Fresh Air & Smoothies

2009-02-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

Opening the windows in our homes can certainly give our spirits a lift, which, to me, is a great indicator that we were designed to be outdoors more than in. But, when we can't be out in the fresh air, open those windows whenever possible. What a nice way to clean any stale air lingering in both our house-homes and body-homes!

On Saturday, after my husband and son headed outdoors to do some yard work, I opened the windows in the house and immediately felt a fresh-air kind of joy. With a happy heart, I decided to get a few Green Smoothies ready for my husband for when he returned indoors ,
and I made a banana/flaxseed smoothie for my son who was ready to drink one sooner than later.
"Always buy flaxseeds whole rather than ground, because the delicate oil in powdered flaxseeds can go rancid fairly quickly. Flaxseeds are rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids," writes my dear friend, Angela Elliott, in her handy dandy little book, Alive in 5: Raw Gourmet Meals in Five Minutes.

In Family, Fresh Air & Smoothies,

Penny

Bottling Raw Food at Shakti Life Kitchen

2009-02-06T15:31:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, I had a meeting at Shakti Life Kitchen and blissfully enjoyed a most delicious raw and living foods lunch while there! With Love and Gratitude for all of the community energy that goes into the food and service there! I LOVED my day with you, Shakti Life staff...

Yes, that's a RAW-VEGAN burger topped with nothing but goodness! YUM...YUM...

Here's an article -- "Raw Deal" -- that Jacksonville's Folio magazine published with great quotes from my dear friend, Yvette Schindler from the Present Moment Cafe in St. Augustine, and my new friend, Valerie Herrmann from Shakti Life Kitchen in Atlantic Beach. At this link, scroll down to the article Raw Deal. I'm sure you'll enjoy every word of it...such a fun spin the writer, Danny Kelly, put on it!

Bottling My Journey to the Heart

2009-01-28T07:11:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to have kicked off 2009 with a journey I've wanted to have been on for quite some time now; it's the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training program with Didier Razon from Two Suns Rising Yoga School. A journal about my first 10-hour training day can be found on the blog of my new site, BottlingHealth.com.

Two weeks later, on the second 10-hour training day, Didier's wife, Ann, joined the class to do a 'Journey to the Heart' session. While sitting on our yoga mats, Ann began the guided visualization by instructing students to imagine we were shrinking in size. We were to end up being these itsy bitsy beings who could fit inside ourselves and travel along a path that would lead us to the threshold of our hearts -- where we were to step in, take a seat, and stay a while. After hanging out inside our hearts, Ann's voice eventually guided us back out...returning to our mats.

Some eyes that had started out dry were not so dry at the end of the journey. This exercise was powerful with helping us to "see" inside our hearts -- and get a 'visual' of where we might be stuck, wide open, etc. My tears were a result of the joy I felt inside my heart -- although the start of the journey wasn't as clear...but, whew, once inside my heart, there was no question about what was inside of it!

After opening our eyes, the next stage of the process was to journal, via writing or art, about our experience. Of course, I decided to write. Here's my story......

At the start of this "Journey to the Heart" exercise, my 'little' self began walking through nature along a path where I felt a little unsure about where I was going or who I was -- passing a person whom I thought was me but was not. (And that unknown person was indeed someone I would never want to be.)

Eventually, once making my way through that temporary phase, I entered my heart -- a HUGE space -- too big to merely walk into at the threshold; the only way in was to jump into this space that was bottomless -- just space!

I flew through the air as I had done when I went rock climbing in the mountains during the summer of '07. I swung on the rope like a care-free child -- then and today!

Next, my son turned up and joined me after I eventually found a place to sit in my heart -- on a natural rock formation (like the rock in the mountains as well as similar to the rock from which I used to jump into the ocean during my childhood in Bermuda). My son and I both played in my heart -- flying like Peter Pan in all of that space. Life was completely free!! Bliss!

We exited, turned and said, "Namaste," as prompted by the guided visualization. As I returned to my bigger self (not the 'isty bitsy' anymore), the threshold to my heart closed -- although my heart did not. There was only light remaining. Bright, white light!

(End of journey...)

At some point during this journey, Ann told us to think about why we were there -- in that 200-hour training. So, isn't it something that my heart journey ended with my mind's eye seeing bright, white light -- because the reason that showed up for me as to why I was there in was to learn to open my heart further "to spread more light to the world."
In Spreading Light...

LOVE from my HEART,

Penny

Bottling what Yoga is to Me!

2009-01-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in yesterday's blog entry, so many puzzle pieces in my life have been clicking together lately -- I mean really clicking together and completely lining up with the desires of my heart, my deepest passions. Yesterday, I also shared some of what Joel Osteen writes about this subject in his book: Daily Readings from Become a Better You: 90 Devotions for Improving Your Life Every Day.

Perhaps you read on my BottlingHealth.com bio that I am enrolled in a yoga teacher training course. What quickly felt like prayer in motion to me the first time I attended a yoga class over two years ago ignited a brewing passion in my heart to exercise my temple that way as another outlet to connect with and honor God!

Prior to attending that first yoga class, I really hadn't had any yoga discussions with anyone, thus no recommendations to try a class. However, every time I drove by Peaceful Yoga's roadside sign, I felt a pull on my heart to check out a class there. Eventually, I did, and the class, like I said, felt like prayer in motion and a very peaceful and personal way to connect with God. So that's what yoga became for me without having much information at the time about all of the 'controversy' behind it. All I knew was that more than any other form of exercise I had experienced, I felt God more strongly when I did yoga (and still do).

In spite of the differences of opinions about yoga, such as whether Christians should do yoga or not, I have always felt strongly rooted in my Christian walk since taking yoga. That never wavered. In fact, my heart opened even wider for God. Whenever we extend our arms upward in class while opening our hearts (or do any heart-opening posture), I feel as if I'm soaking up God's love to even deeper levels. So, I guess it would make sense that the yoga teacher training course that seemed to have found me has an emphasis on heart-opening, and the flow of grace combined with self-effort. My interpretation of the latter -- "Meet God half way!"

As CLEAR as I have been about my journey.......still, here I am -- last night and this morning -- pondering everyone else's views about yoga. Yesterday, during a hormonal shift that can happen for us women, I seemed to step into everyone else's minds about the subject, via online articles with conflicting opinions about the subject. What was so crystal clear to me days and weeks before, suddenly became slightly blurry. Was I allowing myself to be influenced by someone else's interpretation of what I should or should not be doing? Was I falling into a realm of using man's perceptions to let me know if I'm honoring God or not? Would not my heart be the best 'one' to tell me that?!

If we push aside all of the 'this and that' about yoga and focus on the postures for a moment, how can a posture such as this (me on the left) make me not feel like I'm honoring God? I understand that not everyone may feel this way when doing yoga, but when I do a posture like this -- it's God and me. It is simply me and God (you know, Jesus' Father...my Father!). That's it! During the posture, I thank Him, I honor Him, I glorify Him. And I am overcome with peace and love because of my opening up to Him.

Money Shows Up!

Although every penny of the yoga teacher training price didn't just magically fall into my lap prior to the training, it was as if God made an opening for me to at least step in 'the door' and then step out on faith and begin the training process. Then, as it goes, the morning of my first training class, I received an unexpected refund and an unexpected financial belated Christmas gift -- the amount of the two turned out to be precisely the amount of my monthly training payment...plus $3 extra. It truly felt like a sign to me from God to not worry about the monthly payment, because He will make it available for me every month...and give me extra. Was the $3 extra dollars symbolic of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit? :-) (I love symbolism!)

So, here comes the next training two weeks later. Well, lo and behold, what just happens to show up in my life two days before? A check for precisely the amount of a monthly training payment AND an extra check worth $150. The check that matched the price of my training payment was for some freelance work that had been done almost a year ago. Was it a mistake that my payment had gotten delayed or was God holding on to it until this time in my life?

Daddy Shows Up, Too!

My daddy, a strong Christian man who nurtured so much of my faith in me, passed away almost 13 years ago; yet, he feels very alive to me when I'm at my training. There has been a segment of each class where I completely felt as if he was there with me. This brought me to the point of joyful tears both times. In fact, during my second training class, his angelic spirit met mine and we danced together. It was too powerful an experience for it to be a mistake and not orchestrated by God.

Conclusion

So, I hear what folks are saying about yoga and non-Christian influences, etc., but I can't quite wrap my brain around it because it doesn't alter my personal walk with God. I remain rooted in my love and alignment with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And isn't that precisely what we are to be doing as Christians -- finding our personal relationship with God and growing that relationship as much as we can? Yoga is a wonderful puzzle piece that helps me do precisely that...

With LOVE and PASSION for HONORING GOD,

Penny

Bottling Dreams of the Heart

2009-01-26T03:49:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday, Everyone! Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by to find out what's being bottled here at BottlingHealth.com. Hopefully, you'll pick up some useful tips along the way that you can bottle, too.

Daily Readings from Become a Better You: 90 Devotions for Improving Your Life Every Day by Joel Osteen has become my "read" for 2009. And, my life is truly getting better every day because of it. Now, it's not that I didn't already have a fulfilling life, but so many of my heart's passions are just rising to newer levels and connecting in a more solid way since I started this journey with Joel Osteen at the start of the year.

In today's reading (one I had previously read), Osteen discusses following the dreams of our hearts, a process I live my life by and a topic that has been popping up a lot around me lately. I recently wrote about the topic for a local newspaper, an article that encourages parents to follow their children's heart when selecting summer camps this year. In my related article, I suggest parents be mindful of picking camps that really do line up with their children's deepest passions, because those passions are often connected to children's deeper purposes in life.

For instance, I've loved writing for as long as I can remember. My parents noticed this passion of mine during my childhood, and nurtured it. One of my favorite writing "assignments" given to me that will forever live in my heart is when my daddy suggested I write about our family when I was about 10 years old. I took took on that project as though I had just received an offer from a well-known publishing company.

I still remember the jagged edges of the paper I used to write my masterpiece on; I had pulled the pages from a spiral notebook. I still remember standing at the desk in my bedroom and stapling that lined paper together with pride when I was done. And, as if it was yesterday, I remember that I used a pencil and not pen to write my "book". While I don't like to hang on to things, I surely do wish that is something I still had in my possession. But, I do have the memory of it, and that is good. Years and years later, my love for writing has not changed. In fact, that love grew, and I am clear that one of my gifts to make a difference in this world is via writing.

"Before you were born, God saw you, and He endowed you with gifts and talents uniquely designed for you. He's given you ideas and creativity, as well as specific areas in which you can excel," Osteen explains in Daily Readings from Become a Better You: 90 Devotions for Improving Your Life Every Day.

"Why, then, do so many people today feel unfulfilled in their lives, merely going to work at some mundane job, trying to earn a living, stuck in a career they don't even like?" Osteen continues. "The answer is simple: They are not pursuing the dreams and desires God has placed within their hearts."

Jinjee Talifero, publisher of Pear Magazine.com, says that heart-following is something that should be nurtured in children from young. If we don't nurture our little ones to follow their hearts, we will, of course, end up with more generations like what Osteen has described above -- grown children stuck in unfulfilled roles. Do you want that for your children. I KNOW that's not what I want for mine. I want him to take on this life with the gifts and fire for life and passion that God has blessed him with and go forward and use those to carve out his niche in contributing to this world. The heart is so beautifully sacred, so why would our desires that live there not be?

Osteen goes on to say that the wealthiest places on earth are not some of those places that probably come to mind for you, but rather -- "cemeteries" -- because there lies "dreams and desires that will never be fulfilled. Buried beneath the ground are books that will never be written, businesses that will never be started, and relationships that will never be formed."

Will you begin listening to your heart's dreams and desires now while encouraging your children to do the same, or will you be one of those who, like many others, just take them along with you when you "go"?

Begin bottling your dreams, and start today!

I'm cheering for you!!!

With LOVE,

Penny

Bottling Simple, Smooth Summer Lunches

2009-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

*Here is a version of an article written for Jax4Kids.com's Summer Camp Expo Guide that was published in EU newspaper!

Nutritious, fun, easy-to-make ideas for your summer camper’s lunch box

by Penny Powell

While summer typically inspires simpler meals, knowing just what nutritious lunch to send off to summer camp with their children is not so simple for many parents.

"I have been meeting more and more women who are curious how to feed their children healthy and tasty food," says Carrie Zarka Dooley, owner of Shakti Life Kitchen located at 51 Pine Street in Atlantic Beach. Dooley opened this organic, live food cafe with “a vision of creating a different food culture” for the children of Jacksonville, so she is on a mission to help area parents rethink the food choices they serve their kids and learn about some other kid-friendly options. Shakti Life Kitchen has begun offering weekly classes for students enrolled in the after-school program at Atlantic Beach Elementary.

If your child is headed off to summer camp this year or simply "camping" at home, here are some easy and 'smooth' ideas to consider -- for lunching or snacking -- that are sure to nourish your children while pleasing their palettes. Plus, these foods are just fun for families to prepare together.

Smoothies

Who doesn't like a cold, refreshing smoothie during the summer? Not only are smoothies filling, but they’re so simple to prepare and a quick way to get nutrition into your children. You can simply put a few combinations of your children's favorite fruits in the blender, mix with some water and perhaps a little Honey or Agave Nectar (derived from the Agave Cactus plant) for an extra sweetener, and viola, there goes some good nutrition hydrating those growing bodies.

How will I keep the smoothie cold and fresh when I send it off to camp with my child? you might be wondering. It's simple. Invest in some Mason Jars that will preserve the ingredients; they’re inexpensive and can be purchased at places such as Wal-Mart and Publix. Get some ice packs, too. Place enough frozen ice packs in your child's lunch bag to keep the jar cold. You can also freeze the fruits before you blend them. This often takes away the need to add ice, therefore, doesn’t water down the smoothie. For instance, after purchasing the bananas for my son’s favorite Banana/Strawberry smoothie, I peel the bananas, cut them in half, place in a large zip-lock bag, and freeze them. When it comes to smoothie-making time, the beverage turns out quite icy.

Remind your child to shake the smoothie jar before opening it at summer camp in order to remix the ingredients that will have been ‘sitting’ for a while. My son, Caleb, enjoys drinking his smoothies with a straw, so don't forget to also send those along, if desired.

After-Camp Smoothies

I often make a smoothie for Caleb before I pick him up from school; at that time of day he’s really ready to slurp up the goodness. Your drive home from camp can also be an ideal time for smoothie time.

Banana/Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

~ 3 frozen Bananas (more or less depending on the texture and sweetness you want)
~ approx. 5 Strawberries
~ approx. 1 cup of Water (varies depending on the texture you are after)
~ approx. 1 tablespoon of Honey or Agave Nectar for added sweetness, optional.

The Smoothie Wheel

Smoothie options are endless as demonstrated by 14-year-old Raven Talifero from Ojai, CA. Her creativity prompted her to create a Smoothie Wheel as a Christmas present for her 4-year-old brother to increase his smoothie choices. Little did Talifero know that she would also be helping parents out as far as Jacksonville, FL.

On the Smoothies/Juices section of BotlingHealth.com, a site I’ve created with Jacksonville parents in mind, you can spin Raven's Smoothie Wheel for smoothie choices or print it to store in your kitchen. Your child will be spinning up new smoothie choices daily. Imagine just how much healthier your children will be by the end of summer? I'm already visualizing every child in Jacksonville just glowing with health. And remember, healthier children make healthier choices and healthier children are happier children; it all works together. Good health inspires all good things.

The Green Smoothie

Have you heard about the Green Smoothie? News about this highly-nutritious, easy-to-digest, easy-to-make drink is spreading fast and furious, and parents are using this beverage as a tool to get more greens into their children. I can't tell you how many people I've served a green smoothie to who have been totally surprised that they only tasted the fruit in the smoothie and not the greens. My husband asks for one every day.

With any fruit smoothie you make, you would simply add a handful or two of greens, such as spinach or kale, to arrive at the Green Smoothie. I typically blend the greens first with water and then add the fruit. Remember to add Honey or Agave Nectar for additional sweetness, if necessary. I've seen a tablespoon or two of Agave immediately transform a green smoothie for the better. Agave can be found at local health food stores.

Even though the fruit in this smoothie overpowers the taste of the greens, if your child is like mine and is hesitant about the color of the drink (which is beautiful, in my opinion), then you might have to disguise a little further. Throw in some blueberries, and not only will you have added more nutrition but a color changer, too. Now the smoothie should take on a dark purple color!

Smooth Pudding

Talking about purple and blueberries, Shannon Leone, nutritionist and author of the soon-to-be published e-book "The Healthy Lunchbox" (to be published at RawMom.com), shares her very-filling Blueberry Pudding recipe with Jacksonville parents. Chia seeds are included in this recipe, which Leone says are “a great source of fiber, protein and EFA’s (essential fatty acids).”

Blueberry Pudding Recipe

~ 4 cups fresh Blueberries
~ 1 cup Chia Seeds -- ground or flax
~ 1 tablespoon Honey, optional

“In a dry container (such as that of a food processor), blend the chia seeds so they are powdered. Add the blueberries -- and sweetener if using -- and lightly blend so the berries break down but do not liquefy totally. Pour into your child’s airtight containers and sprinkle a few berries on top, perhaps with some shredded coconut for added appeal. The chia or flax ground will firm it up so they can eat it with a spoon and not a straw!”

Smooth Foods That Crunch Or Not!

Your child may, understandably, want something crunchy or chewy to eat with the smoothie. How about adding carrots or other crunchy veggies and fruits, or watermelon, pineapple, and/or trail mix or granola to your camper's lunch box? How about a salad with a tasty, healthy dressing?

Last summer, my 8-year-old nephew, Zuhri, got hooked on salads when he spent six weeks with my family. Salad had not been a regular staple in his diet, but when Zuhri returned home to Bermuda and school started, his mom informed that he had begun taking salads for lunch. "I love it," she said, "because they're so simple to make." Zuhri and Caleb both enjoy a simple salad made with Romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, and grapes. Colorful and tasty!

Some healthy foods that Juliann Gaus-Graeser from Atlantic Beach sends off to school with her 8-year-old son, Maxwell, are "Ants on a Log" -- cut-up celery sticks spread with a healthy nut butter and lined with raisins. If your child enjoys cucumbers, Ants on a Circle is another variation of this idea. Apples and nut butter also find their way into Maxwell's lunch box. "I cut the apple with an apple slicer," Gaus-Graeser explained, "and then I put the pieces back together, wrap the apple tightly, and then send the nut butter in a container." At lunchtime, Maxwell enjoys spreading the nut butter over apple slices. To prevent apples from turning brown once they have been cut and must 'sit', pour a little lemon juice over the slices. However, Juliann said that simply putting the apple back together and sealing it helps limit the color change, too. "Sometimes it turns a little," she said, "but my son doesn't care."

Smooth Sandwiches

If your child wants traditional sandwiches, wraps or pita pockets, try healthier bread choices, such as Ezekiel Bread found in your neighborhood grocery store or Health Food store. After introducing Orange Park mom, Cynthia Leadbetter, to this line of bread, it became a hit in her home. For breakfast one morning, she spread mashed avocado on toasted Cinnamon/Raisin Ezekiel Bread, and her son “loved it” she said with delight.

About learning to add healthier options to your child’s lunch box, Leone says: “Enjoy the process. Include your kids whenever possible. Learning to eat healthy and make healthy choices is a skill for life they can really use. They may not always thank you now, but they will later. In the meantime, you can walk a little taller just knowing you are doing all you can for your healthy family, and it’s a good feeling, Mom!”

Penny Powell lives in Orange Park, FL. The "Summer Camp" she attended last summer was the 10-Day Healthy Lifestyle Course at The Living Foods Institute in Atlanta, GA -- where she ate healthy lunches every day! This summer, Penny is committed to growing her site, BottlingHealth.com, as a means of connecting with Jacksonville parents who may also be interested in "bottling" health for themselves and their children. Penny can be contacted at penny@BottlingHealth.com.

Welcome!

2009-01-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

Thank you for stopping by my very first blog entry here at BottlingHealth.com, the place where I'll be blogging about healthy things I'm bottling in this wondrous journey of life.

So, what am I bottling today (Jan. 12)? Well, my yoga journey/training continues. Yesterday, I kicked off training with Didier Razon from Two Suns Rising Yoga, so today I am continuing to bottle the many lessons and experiences from that remarkable 10-hour day.

However, I had some yin and yang energy going on not long before the course started. It was as if there was this force trying to keep me from attending even though attending this teacher training was all I had been longing to do. To me, so many things had divinely lined up for me to start this journey that's been waiting for me and I for it, yet there was this crazy invisible force trying to stop me from going yesterday morning it seemed. First, there were a few delays at home that got me off to a later-than-planned departure time. Of course, with not a minute to spare to get to class on time...what happened? Close to halfway to the studio, I looked in my rear view mirror only to see flashing blue lights behind me -- for me. SIGH! "No, this can't be happening," I thought. But since I'm choosing to focus on the positive, let me not dwell on that speeding ticket incident and get to what I'm bottling on today's blog (although I am bottling how kind the police officer was).

~ I'm bottling the energy I felt in Didier Razon's presence (my knowledgeable yoga teacher) and the hug he gave me when I arrived at the yoga studio that made me feel so welcomed even though I was frazzled when I entered the door. What an alive spirit Didier is! So full of humor and joy! "Ah, Penny, we'll find a way to pay your speeding ticket," he said with his fun French accent. "Now when I see the police car behind me when I'm speeding," he continued to the group, "I say...'Ahh, look at the pretty Christmas lights behind me.'" LOL (Didier will have us seeing the positive in EVERYTHING by the time this training is over in June.)

~ I'm bottling his wife Ann's telephone encouragement she gave me when I called her from my car to update her about my "blue-light" delay. I sat in my car feeling blue, seriously considering waiting for Didier's next training session (months from now) as not to miss the introduction, but Ann made me see how ridiculous I was being. She was loving with her lesson to me, of course. ;-)
~ I'm bottling the adjustment Didier gave me when we were practicing inversions and I was in Shoulder Stand; he lifted my feet higher and the stretch felt in-cred-i-ble. I know I surely bottled that because I feel as if I'm still in that posture and it has been almost 24 hours since I've been out of it.

~ I'm bottling the Head Stand balance that Didier and my training partners helped me achieve. When I struck that perfect balance, I felt as if I could have hung out on my head for quite a while.

~ I'm bottling doing a series of Sun Salutations to classical music; it made me feel like a graceful ballet dancer. Music choices really do help make a difference in yoga classes.

~ I'm bottling being able to practice yoga with Didier at home, thanks to his DVD (available at http://www.didieryoga.com/).

~ I'm bottling getting this heart-touching (to the point of tears) vision of my dad during a soulful chant CD we were listening to and interacting with during class. I've always felt very spiritually connected with my dad since he passed on and, apparently, I'm in a season once again in which I'm feeling his presence really strongly. He and my mom are two blessings I'm forever grateful for! Love them!

~ I'm bottling all of the love from God I felt in class -- so many "hugs" to me, if you know what I mean. You know, just those moments when you know that, "Yes, I am so aligned with God right now." Those moments when you are clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are one with God. Totally supported!

~ I am bottling the wonderful spiritual discussions we had in class, including discussions of my beloved Jesus. One of the students even brought a treat to class called a "King Cake" (or something like that)...that has some symbolism to the Three Wise Men. No, it wasn't raw food, but was a very good pastry and almond/chocolate combination that I did try. I could tell that treat was prepared and served in the name of love, and I felt it was a form of respect to try a piece. It carried some symbolism with it that I wanted to be a part of. For lunch, however, I returned to raw foods with a green salad and sunflower seeds.

~ I'm bottling learning how to be active with two suns. The sun that rises everyday outside my window and the sun that rises everyday inside my heart.

Don't forget to let your inner sun shine, too!

I can feel you shining all the way over here! ;-)

Shine on...

Penny