What They Don’t Tell You About Breastfeeding While Pregnant

Before I became pregnant, most of the stuff I read about breastfeeding during pregnancy was all positive. For example, it is indeed possible to become pregnant while breastfeeding and, in a normal pregnancy, it is in no way detrimental to the developing fetus; in fact, breastfeeding through pregnancy is common in many parts of the world. This was good news in that I had no intention of forcing my son to wean and really didn’t want to wait between 2.5 to 7 years (the average range of child-led weaning) to try for another baby! However, there are a few surprisingly less-than-pleasant aspects one might experience, that I don’t recall reading about….

First, when I became pregnant, my milk production took an almost instant nose-dive. I expected it to go down some, but not so abruptly. It was a really frustrating experience for both my son and me – he started wanting to nurse all the time as the meager returns he was getting from his nursing sessions were anything but satisfying (and, when pregnant, supply no longer responds to demand). It was frustrating for me too in that, thanks to those good ‘ole pregnancy hormones, my nipples had become extremely sensitive. I was prepared for and expected some soreness (they do tell you about this); however, this prospect seemed a lot less daunting when my son nursed only 2-3 times a day – not the 10 times a day plus all night long sessions that ensued!

Moreover, if you are suffering from any nausea, breastfeeding not only amplifies it, but will even trigger it.

Another thing they don’t tell you is that it is common to experience something called “Nursing Agitation”. (Okay, okay, since it’s got a name and all, it’s not that they don’t tell you…but you really have to dig for the information!). This goes above and beyond any sort of pain or soreness one might experience. One woman described it as a creepy crawly sensation, like having bugs under your skin; another, like a physical sensation akin to nails on a chalkboard. I’d have to say it feels like having every nerve in your body exposed, the slightest touch a complete shock to the system. I found myself wanting to scream at the top of my lungs, pleading and negotiating with my son for some sort of respite during his night-long feeding frenzies. And, anyone who’s tried to negotiate with a 19 month old knows how futile that was!

By 10 weeks I was only producing colostrum, no milk. Whatever nursing my son does now is completely for comfort and not nutrition. Well, unless there’s a whole lot of nutrition packed into the maybe thimble-full of colostrum he gets a day….

Like many other pregnancy challenges, this one seemed to be a first trimester phenomenon; I no longer have the nausea or agitation and the soreness has for the most part abated. My son seems to have adjusted as well, back to requesting the breast just before bed and for comfort, as needed. While my supply never went back up, his appetite for solids has increased accordingly. Nursing is, once again, a mutually pleasing experience.

Do I regret choosing to continue the breastfeeding relationship through my pregnancy? Absolutely not – I still firmly believe that child-led weaning is best. I look forward to tandem nursing as I hope it will continue to provide my son with superior nutrition as well as comfort, and help to promote a healthy bond between him and the new baby. Would I have done anything differently if I had better known what to expect? Probably not. Would I have liked to know better what to expect? Absolutely. I may not have been able to control much of the physical side of things, but it would have helped immensely with the psychological and emotional side.

I guess for now I will continue to dig for information on tandem nursing, as I have a feeling that, too, will come with a few surprises….

“At 84, Dr. Ann Wigmore Was Thinking Of Getting A Face Lift”

That was the subject in the last email that Dr. Flora Van Orden III wrote me this week.

Imagine! Who else would tell us little details like that?! It’s fun to see that even the Original Raw Diva herself fell victim to some of the pressures we all do. I am really looking forward to this interview tomorrow. If you have specific questions for Dr. Flora, please send them in.

YES! The call will be recorded and available within 5 minutes of us actually finishing the interview. I just know this is the kind of interview I am never going to want to end.

Had a great one last night with Jinjee. I LOVE this woman. We giggle like old sisters and obviously have so much in common. Last night’s interview with her was part of the Body Enlightenment System we have going on right now. We’ve been focusing on mother’s issues as they first encounter and then work to follow a Raw Food Diet.

Anyway, coming back to Dr. Flora and stuff…

I guess I’m nervous about this whole Green Adventure.

Last night I went shopping and I feel like I become fussier and fussier all the time. I walked into a conventional grocery store and looked at all the pretty colors and shapes and was paralyzed.

I couldn’t buy a thing. It was like the “energy” of the food left me cold.

More and more I am drawn to wild and organic foods. And I’ve become less forgiving about it internally I’m not “attracted” to a lot of stuff anymore. Frankly, it worries me and excites me all at the same time.

I’ve been getting a lot of people writing and curious about what’s going on for me and so I thought I’d give an update. I’ve not gone all green yet. Not even close. I’ve been enjoying whatever I want because I decided I’d let Dr. Flora’s call inspire me to take the plunge.

I’m thinking that this day I’ll just eat what I can find in nature and water. Clover and dandelions, I guess. Hmmm… Anyway, I need to reset the buttons a bit and build up a real, natural hunger again. The kind of hunger when I feel like I’ll eat ANYTHING.

But I admit… I’m nervous about letting go of the fruit, and I wonder if that isn’t a sign that I have more to learn than I may have bargained for. I’m looking forward to taking my diet and relationship to a whoooole new level.

I remember being in a restaurant one day and having decided I didn’t want to order anything, so I just sat there with the people around me eating. But I was keenly aware of the decorative plants in the room thinking, “THAT looks good!!”.

I want to give myself the experience of feeling what this greeny path can really do. And I know I can overeat on fruit, but I can’t overeat on greens. I don’t think I’ll be juicing anything. Maybe I’ll try it, but I’m committed to pursing an accessible form of nutrition. Not everyone can buy a juicer. And nature doesn’t have juicers.

On my call with Dr. Jim Carey, I was comforted to know that he gave away his juicer and blender. I don’t want to do anything that requires machinery. That’s how I feel about it now, but maybe that will change.

I mentioned a few posts ago that my candida condition had flared up while we were going nuts for gourmet food. But it only lasted a day or so. My fat content has still been VERY high and I don’t have any candida showing up.

The other thing I do have is NO cravings whatsoever. I’m not even remotely drawn to cooked food since I’ve been upping the fat. The last few days have been pretty simple. Monomeals of fruit (one fruit at time until I’m no longer hungry). Biiiig salads and dressings. I’ve been dipping into the raw tahini and almond butter for my dressings. I think the thing that aggravates yeast is having the dried fruit and nut combinations!

The kids and I have been going on a bit of a tangent with the “Lara balls” we’ve been making. Since Larabar is a big sponsor for Tim, we’ve been privileged with samples of all kinds and gotten to know and love Larabars. Lara and I have also been back and forthing setting up an interview for mid June. So, I’ve had Larabars on the brain and we’ve been experimenting in the kitchen making super yummy snacks with raisins, cashews, almonds, dates, coconut and something else! Actually, they’ve been AMAZING! I’ll tell anyone who asks for the recipe! I’ve got a new secret ingredient in my snacks and it’s AMAZING! I’ll have to write about it.

Anyway, the bottom line here, after much digression, is that I’m nervous about saying no to fruit. But I’m committed to seeing what this can do. I will reiterate that I have NO health considerations. I’m regular as ever, my skin is soft, my energy is VERY high, I feel grounded, happy, balanced and generally the best I’ve ever felt. I do have a couple extra pounds, but frankly, I’ve been learning to take up a bit more space and like it.

After 32 years of battling to get rid of “the last 10 pounds” I’ve decided, I think I’ll keep them. As long as I’m going enough exercise, I actually don’t mind them at all!

Oh! I forgot something.One of the conditions that I have has become noticeably worse. Shortly after becoming a raw foodist, I started to develop what some people have referred to as “Raynuad’s Syndrome.” I lose the circulation in my fingers almost entirely when I become cold. I notice it most in winter, I had decided it was definitely aggravated by my banana consumption, but I’ve not had bananas for over a week and yesterday it flared up yesterday.

I haven’t quite isolated what causes this or aggravates it, but I’m curious to see how a green-focused diet changes things.

So, I guess tomorrow is the kick off. I noticed the other day when I was checking up on sweet Sarah Best, that she’s been working on 2lbs of greens a day!!

This experiment for me, is really about giving myself a fair chance to see what life is like for those who feel they must avoid fruit. I’d like to see what it’s like for them, especially trying to limit my fat consumption at the same time.

I’m not saying I won’t eat ANY fruit or fat. I will just be REALLY focusing on greens. And doing some extensive fruit-free experiments! A lot of people have asked that I keep them posted on my progress, and this is why I have subjected you to such extensive rambling.

It’s 6:00. I’m going to stop eating for the day and drink water as I re-establish my body chemistry a bit. I’ve been fearing the departure of fruit and so this is going to be a really interesting experience. Tomorrow evening when I start eating again (I’d like to do a 24 hour fast) I just want to pick some greens and salad ingredients and see how that goes.

I will post regular updates on my green adventures, and also I play to test my pH every morning before eating. Wish me luck!!

I will certainly have a lot of questions for Dr. Flora tomorrow!

Don’t forget to join us for the call with Dr. Flora! Do a green fast with me!

I love youuuuuuuuu!!!

xox

Tera

Health In High Heels!

Those of you who watch your inboxes should have received the latest issue of Health In High Heels hot off the e-press.

If not, here it is! Loaded with lovin’ for divas everywhere! We don’t put any of the same content in our newsletters as we do on the blogs, so definitely worth checking out. And in case you missed the ones before that…

…or the one before that…

…or the one before that…

Well, in case you didn’t have anything better to do this weekend, this should keep you busy!

Happy Rainy Saturday…

xox

Tera & Amy

If it is good enough for IRON MAN…

Glorious greetings, Girls! This has been a most AWAKENING week while undertaking my ‘speaking fast’…which I plan on writing in detail about soon…

In the meantime, there is something I am bursting to share. Because my routine changed somewhat from the shifting into silence – I took in a movie, which is unusual for me – my beloved took me out on a date night and his Mom took our boys for part of the weekend. (Since I wasn’t talking, a movie seemed like a good idea!)

I had heard from Victoria Boutenko’s newsletter, that IRON MAN drinks a GREEN SMOOTHIE, and so I was curious. I just had to see for myself how Hollywood would translate this! Well, it was as quick as a blink practically, but nevertheless…it was true! I was really tickled. That means that DRINKING GREEN DRINKS IS NOW COOL!

What a great thing! Especially for kids, but for US too!

In fact, instead of being ever so discreet carrying my green smoothie out in public in the hopes of avoiding the inevitable stares and comments like, “What is that green sludge you are drinking?” I welcome them!

The last time this happened, thanks to Hollywood, I was prepared! I wrote on a piece of paper “Have you seen IRON MAN yet? It’s what he drinks!”

That started a whole conversation and I was able to hand out my card and invite people to an upcoming recipe class that I teach. Fantastic!

wuhoo!

Another wonderful side effect of not being able to speak, was not answering phones, not helping with homework, not chatting on the phone with my girls…and so I actually found time to get some PAINTING IN!

Living in silence brings a heightened sense of EVERYTHING, especially my inner world. It reminds me of scuba diving in the Philippines. How GLORIOUS it was ‘down there,’ under the water. Soooo quiet, yet expansive, and breath-takingly BEAUTIFUL. A profound experience!

Submerged as I was this week in my own aura, I created these TWO paintings. Neither one was planned in any way, other than the palette (colors) that I chose.

After I determined the palette, I just did a wash. My boys and I were painting all together, all in silence. It was very moving actually.

Anyway, I quietly stared at my wash, and just sat looking to see if any shapes or forms were hiding there…and the entire painting, each time, was ALREADY THERE, just waiting for me to develop for it to be revealed!

The 2^nd one where Gaia (Mother Earth) is watering the world from her body, was a huge surprise to me! When I first ‘saw’ it, I even wondered if I should paint it, but then I decided to just ‘flow with it’.

When I finished, my boys said “I like it, but I don’t get it” and “why is her stomach leaking, Mama?” LOL! When Luke saw it, his reaction really surprised me! He LOVED IT. He said “the World needs the giving of your art!”

Dorit from the raw Film Festival in Hollywood said these paintings are ‘SPECTACULAR’ and that she would love to commission me to design a logo for her ‘GLADLY.’ Other comments have been; POWERFUL”,“PRIMORDIAL” and “ETHERALLY BEAUTIFUL”.

It was the first time in my life I actually FELT like ‘I AM an Artist’.

What a gift the Silence gave.

Bless!

Shannon ‘Shakaya Breeze’ Leone

Feeding the Brain Part 5

The brain is an amazing organ-consisting of more then twenty-five billion cells that are the most highly developed of anything known. Linus Pauling. Two-time Nobel Prize winner and world-renowned scientist, noted that nutrient concentrations may not always be high enough to supply all the organs and tissues, especially the brain. This is due to absorption, and of course diet.

I’m going to recap a few things, as this will be the last post on ‘Feeding the Brain’. Remember: nutritional deficiencies alter our mental states and so much more. In fact, changes in our mood are the first signs that there’s a problem and you can bet it’s due to a deficiency. Depression, memory loss, anxiety, irritability, ADHD, ADD, OCD, etc. So feeding the brain and of course the rest of our body is so important. I can’t stress this enough.

Did you know that the brain has to compete with the heart, liver, fat cells, muscles and lungs for blood sugar (glucose). This is not just any glucose. Simple sugars from candy, sugar, etc. will not do. In fact, simple sugars will actually cause too much insulin to be released into the blood stream, lowering your blood sugar. This condition is also know as hypoglycemia, which in the end, damages the brain.

It is absolutely imperative that you get the right kind of glucose into the bloodstream. In order for the brain to function properly it requires four ounces of (the right) glucose a day. The right kind, if you haven’t guessed it already, is fresh fruit! No wonder children as well as adults naturally gravitate towards fruit. Our brains are instinctively telling us what we need. So next time you get an urge to have something sweet, grab some fruit, because that is what your brain really wants.

The brain also requires natural sodium (which is found in spinach and celery – not table salt), potassium, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and as stated in the previous posts on ‘Feeding the Brain’, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc daily for the proper functioning of the brain. Here are some other nutrients to consider as well and they are just as important.

Trace Minerals such as:

• Chromium
• Selenium

Other minerals and vitamins, etc:

• Phosphorous
• Manganese
• Inosital
• Boron
• Vitamin B1, B6, B3, B9 (folic acid), B12,
• Bioflavonoids
• and phytochemicals

Antioxidants are also important as they protect against oxidation in the brain and the rest of our body. Research has shown that toxins and excess fat contribute to impaired brain function. What happens is, your brain cells will accumulate cellular garbage known as ‘lipofuscin’, which is a by product of fats and toxins. This kills and damages the neurons in your brain. So make sure you eat your greens, fruit, seeds, nuts, etc., in order to get your antioxidants. Vitamin A, C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, and bioflavonoids – which are potent antioxidants.

Here are some tips to help improve your brain function:

• Exercise. Go for a walk, bike, just get moving.
• Take time each day to breathe deeply.
• Use your brain. In other words don’t allow boredom or depression to sneak in. Do things that interest you and stimulate your mind.

To conclude; eat a healthy raw/vegan diet, consisting of a wide variety of fruit, greens, veggies, (sprouted nuts, seeds, grains) and wheatgrass.

Doing so will provide you with all the nutrients you need for health, energy, strength and brain power.

Brain Power Smoothie

You will get plenty of iron, calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, vitamin C, manganese, glucose and so much more from this power smoothie.

For this recipe it would help if you had a powerful blender like a Vita-Mix. I never measure when I make this. So I will do my best with the amounts. Don’t forget to play with it yourself. Who knows you might come up with something even tastier.

1 organic beet, cut in four (don’t peel)
3 organic carrots, cut in four
2 organic gala apples cut in four ( do not peel or core)
1/2-1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
a handful of goji berries
a handful of greens (spinach, kale etc.)
1 Tbsp. flax seeds and flax oil
1 medium organic banana
small handful of raw cocoa nibs (optional)
purified water (about 3 cups or more)

Place all ingredients in your Vita-Mix. Add enough water to cover half of the contents, you can add more if needed. Blend on high speed for 90 seconds until it is completely smooth. Use the tamper if needed. Your smoothie should be thick and smooth. Pour into large glasses and enjoy.

Makes enough for 2 people.

To your Health!

Monique

Natural Beauty Recipe: Pineapple Honey Enzymatic Facial Treatment

By Tracy Neely

Today I was thinking about what led me to the path of raw living foods and what immediately came to mind is the role that enzymes play in our bodies. It took me some time to fully understand the benefits that enzymes played in my diet and because of this lack of understanding; I continued to eat a diet void of foods complete in nutritional enzymes. I believe in the back of my mind, I knew the rumblings I would hear very often in my stomach were clear evidence that I had to make a powerful change in how I thought about foods.

Having adopted a majority of raw living foods into my diet in the last few years, I believe enzymes are the “work horse” in our bodies and are very important elements to aid digestion and maintain good health. If we think about the role of enzymes in very simple terms, enzymes are the “life force” that activates vitamins, minerals, proteins and other physical components within our body.

“There are two major enzyme systems in the human body. One is digestive and the other is metabolic. The digestive enzymes help break down all of the food that we eat so that it can be absorbed by the body. The metabolic enzymes help to run all of the systems of the body from respiratory system to the nervous system.

The seven categories of food (digestive) enzymes and their activities are:

• Amylase: breaks down starches
• Cellulase: breaks down fibers
• Lactase: breaks down dairy products
• Lipase: breaks down fats
• Maltase: breaks down grains
• Protease: breaks down proteins
• Sucrase: breaks down sugars*

*reference from soul-body.com

I want to talk about an enzyme that is very beneficial in skin care treatments. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of pineapples (Ananas comosus), a tropical fruit-bearing plant indigenous to South American countries as well as the Hawaiian Islands. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme, which is an enzyme that helps you digest the proteins in foods. Papaya and Pineapple are two of the richest plant sources of proteolytic enzymes.

Bromelain used in skin care treatments is an alpha hydroxy acid and is very effective in gently removing the dead skin cells by chemical exfoliation, on the surface of the skin. Enzymatic activity destroys the keratin of dead cells and the debris, allowing the skin to breathe and feel more alive and vibrant. Once the skin has been exfoliated, you will notice a visual difference in the tone and smoothness of the skin. The follicles are clearer and the skin is softened and hydrated, allowing for a deeper penetration of serums and moisturizers.

Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory agent that will benefit people who suffer with acne. People, who do suffer with acne conditions, will notice a visible difference in the way this treatment will unclog the pores and reduce inflammation of accumulated buildup of skin cells on the surface of the skin.
Honey is a natural humectant that attracts and binds water to the upper layers of the skin. Exfoliation of pineapple on sensitive skin can cause skin irritation, so honey’s natural moisturizing ability makes it a perfect fit for this treatment.

Remember the next time you’re thinking about purchasing high priced products to exfoliate your skin, look no further than the produce section of your local supermarket, farmers market or co-op and buy an organic pineapple.

Beauty Note: rub a chunk of the pineapple behind the ear a few hours before the treatment to detect any skin sensitivity.

Recipe
1/2 cup pineapple chunks
3 tablespoons honey

Puree pineapple in blender and apply in a circular motion to a cleansed face. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse well with cool water and pat excess water from the skin. Apply the honey to the skin and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse with cool water, pat the skin dry and apply your favorite moisturizer.

Enjoy!!

Raw Mom Financial Serenity Budgeting Toolkit update

Ladies, if you downloaded the Raw Mom budgeting toolkit a while ago, we thought you’d like to know that it’s had a little update.

It now features gridlines in the Monthly Expenses Template – these gridlines should have been in the original toolkit, but slipped through the net. It’s kinda handy to have the lines print out, because you need them to be able to write on the document!

There’s also a new ‘Budgeted’ section (highlighted in blue) in the Yearly Category Expenses worksheet – if you have a feeling that you’ve already spent a huge whack of your yearly clothing budget and it’s only May, this worksheet will tell you where you’re at. It allows you to track your current levels of spending in all budget categories, in relation to their overall yearly budgeted amounts (providing percentages spent of the yearly total). Doing this allows you to ‘course correct’ if necessary, and slow down your spending in certain categories. Or you may need to adjust your budget to be more realistic! Instructions for use are included the Excel document.

To download the updated toolkit, click here!

Jumping Like A Kid!

When attending the 10-day Healthy Lifestyle program at the Living Foods Institute, bouncing on the rebounder is one of the daily recommendations of that program. This information peaked my rebounding interest, and now I’ve become so in love with the concept of rebounding that, recently, I’ve been jumping — like a kid — many times throughout the day.

In fact, last week Friday after returning home from my son’s 6th-grade graduation (or “Empowerment” ceremony as someone referred to it), I entered the door, kicked off my shoes and jumped — in brown dress and all (pictured here). I was jumping for joy about the heart-warming, unique graduation we had just witnessed. Another part of me was simply jumping as a form of celebrating life. Additionally, of course, I was jumping for health……jumping to cleanse my lymphatic system.

“Your heart circulates your blood continuously, delivering nutrients, oxygen, and hydration to your cells. But what about your cell’s waste products?” asks Don Bennett, DAS, in his book Avoiding Degenerative Disease — under the section Jump for Joy! Bounce your Way to Better Health.

“Unlike your blood,” Bennett continues, “your waste system’s fluid (lymph fluid) does not need to be moving every second, so it doesn’t need a ‘continuous duty’ pump. But it does need to circulate. And that’s your job! As you move around, the lymph fluid is moved from the cells, to the lymph nodes, and on to the ‘dump’. But if you don’t move enough — if you are less active than children — your metabolic garbage container isn’t being emptied on a regular basis. And that can spell trouble (lingering waste products are a major contributor to degenerative disease),” says Bennett.

“Although running is good for the lymphatic system,” Bennett explains, “over time it can take a toll on your joints (and on your heart believe it or not). So, on balance, running is not the best way to move your lymph fluid around. Skipping, ‘spirited walking’, and rebounding are your best choices. Time to take a cue from kids — jump!” he says.

And to think that only a few minutes a day gently bouncing on a rebounder are needed to really put this lymphatic-flushing system into motion!

Bennett states that rebounding is “so gentle when compared to running’s forceful pounding that it’s the exercise of choice for astronauts returning from the weightless environment of outer space.”

How does it work?

According to Bennett, “At the top of each bounce, you are momentarily weightless, and at the bottom of each bounce, you are actually resisting the Earth’s pull more than you usually do. This alternating weightlessness and multiplied gravity produces a pumping action which pulls out waste products from the cells, and forces into them oxygen and nutrients from the bloodstream.”

Although I’ve been bouncing on my rebounder a few minutes at a time off and on throughout the day, I realize I probably haven’t been jumping on the ideal rebounder since “all rebounders are not created equal,” Bennett informs his readers. Perhaps I should have waited until I could get the one of choice, but one day I got such an urge to jump — rebounder-style — that I darted out and got the first one I could get my hands on. I keep it centrally located and find myself making pit-stops at it regularly.

Since it is so easily transportable, I’ll be off to carry my rebounder outdoors and delight in jumping under the great blue sky and bright, warm sun as soon as I’m done with this post. Oh how fun! How fun!

And, by the way, not that my active pre-teen son doesn’t move his body enough already, but the rebounder is yet another body-moving tool for him, too. Although he was initially disappointed that the rebounder doesn’t bounce the way a standard trampoline does, that certainly doesn’t stop him from using it.

Well, it’s my turn to use it now. So off I go…….

In Rebounding,

Penny

Energy Soup for the Soul: Dr. Flora VanOrden III is Coming To Visit

We are sooooo excited to announce that we have a VERY special guest who will be joining us on Sunday at 3:00pm for an exclusive and rare telephone interview. Dr. Flora VanOrden III is going to be sharing with us the tips, tricks and heart-warming stories of her extensive experience with Dr. Ann Wigmore, as well as what she does now to inspire and encourage others to follow a raw food path.

She’s reduced her food bill to virtually pennies and has devoted her entire life to serving and educating others about high energy living. We want to make sure that all Raw Divas and their loved ones and anyone with two ears and an open mind are invited to this inspirational call.

Here’s what you’ll need to make it to the call.

Print this page off, stick it on your fridge, and be sure to join us.

EVENT: Dr. Flora’s amazing life and sustainability
DATE & TIME: Sunday, June 1st at 3:00pm Eastern
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast)

TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW!

It’s not a coincidence that this call falls on the 1st of June! As you know Tera’s been warming herself up for a green adventure and Amy’s getting on board. The two of them will be committing themselves to a month of HIGH GREEN, Sprouty goodness and looooow fruit consumption.

And here ye, here ye, fearers of fat! We will also be keeping the fat content very, very low! Let’s see what happens! We’re excited about the adventure and will be journaling abot our food, our favorite recipes and the emotional detox that will no doubt take place as we wean ourselves off a few treats and indulgences we’ve come to delight in.

Give it up for June the Month of Green Living at it’s finest! Join us as we kick off this green adventure on June 1st with this SUPER inspirational call with Dr. Flora VanOrden III.

We’ll be keeping you posted!

Love and green, grassy hugs,

Tera and Amy

Homage to Autumn

I’m one of those strange people who loves winter. Australia is on the cusp of a season change this Sunday, June 1, going from autumn (fall) to winter. Most of you reading this – those of you in the northern hemisphere – will be embracing the change from spring to sunny summer, and I daresay would not like to even think about there being cold weather somewhere else in the world!

But, my lovelies, do not pity those of us who reside south of the equator. Well, at least not this little snow bunny.

I adore this time of year. And I’m trying to make sure that my girls appreciate – nay, love – autumn and its serene sister, winter.

For me, one of the best things about autumn is the changing color of leaves. It’s something I’ve really made a big deal of this year, pointing out breathtakingly glorious trees as we drive or walk by, noting the vibrant yellows, the deep russets, and the golden browns.

When we’re out for a walk, we spend a little while just appreciating the beauty of the trees. The girls have embraced this, making a competition of spotting the most beautiful trees, and dragging me around streets or parks to show me their finds. I just love hearing their gasps of joy and wonder as they spot yet another gorgeous, colorful tree. We also spend time appreciating the bark on the trees, running our hands over it and noticing whether it’s smooth or rough, and whether there are any little creatures living in it. And then there are those tree hugs…

In our own garden, the girls sit peacefully watching leaves tumble from enormous old trees that we’re so lucky to have (thank you so much to the people who planted them all those years ago!), and love helping Daddy rake up mounds of leaves – perfect for crunching underfoot, and for leaping into.

I really hope that this attention to detail, to noticing the beauty in each season – no matter how short-lived that beauty may be – is a habit the girls will carry with them throughout their lives.

But now, it’s time to hibernate. The leaves have dropped. (And quickly! One tree in our garden was full of gorgeous leaves only two weeks ago – see the first tree picture – and is now a mass of spindly branches – see the second tree picture.) Autumn is turning over a new leaf and floating gracefully into an icy slumber. Bring it on.