These bold beauties pack a powerful punch where health is concerned and we often drive the cart.
Right. On. By.
Might wanna throw the breaks on and reconsider.
Raw beets contain high levels of fibre, the natural sugars, beta-carotene, folic acid, chlorophyll, potassium, vitamin C, and iron...
if that's not enough?
Brain booster
Cancer fighter
Inflammation reducer
Endurance rev'n
Sex drive Super Charger
Supa! antioxidant
They get their beautiful vibrant colour from betacyanin which can increase the oxygen carrying ability of the blood by up to 400%! Ironic that these red bad-asses are so blood nourishing...I think not!
If you're not incorporating these into your diet at least a few times a week, you're truly missing out. Those who can include RAW beets daily...your cells will thank you... :)

RAW beet salad (above)
1 med or (2 small) beets grated
1 large carrot grated
handful of raisins
fresh crumbled walnut
I don't always need any kind of dressing however if you need something perhaps try:
1/2 squeezed lime with 1 tablespoon virgin olive oil
You can add any kind of fresh herb, like parsley or cilantro...
Mix it up and create something that YOUR taste buds like!

xo
jodi renée

(oh and if you start to see red after your visit to the loo, don't be alarmed! Beeturia is common after ingestion!)

Labels: food, health, nutrition, recipe, superfood

My niece and nephew are a constant reminder of how easy it is to be happy, free and full of love!
(a lot easier obviously if you're wearing your yellow 'quack' pajamas!) ...and don't let that stop you!
I honestly think they are the happiest babes on the planet...
You can quietly hear Jack repeating everything. He laughs way too hard at anything and if you stare at him long enough, he'll smile.
Natalie is constantly moving her mouth, chewing and sucking on her lips. My favourite - the kiss face (I think she gets that from her aunt) :)
She's magnetic. Her spirit overflowing up and out through her eyes...and her unbelievable smile.

When they get what they need, they give what they have.
And they don't need much.
Love. It's that simple.
Love. Make it fierce.
Love. Give them all you've got.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend!
Here's to the beautiful simplicity that every day gives us...
xo
jodi renée

Labels: family, life, lifestyle

The Mountain from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

Time lapse is beautiful for the patience that it gives nature and then the speed at which it allows us to SEE - so much beauty.
We unfortunately may never have the chance to experience...like this.

Life.
Doesn't have to do a whole hell of a lot just to BE beautiful.
It just 'is'.

Taking more time with...everything.
can give us a better appreciation for...life.

and the groovy thing. It's unfolding like this around you...
Every
Day.

xo
jodi renée

Labels: inspiration, nature

Labels: inspiration, quotes

Our lives are threaded with the people that we meet and the conversations that we have. This creates the feelings that tie us all together.
I feel it's important to share more than the discovery of the love I see behind a lens. My clients are deeper, richer...soulful people - their stories want to be heard. Because we all have one.
They inspire me...they make me laugh, FEEL...
Love.
I am the luckiest person in the world, that I get to connect not only once with some of these people, but again and again. Natalie has been in my life for years...and her family. I adore and cherish them all.
So I'm thrilled that she's met Dan.
Two perfect people with chaotic worlds, distance merely an obstacle (that wasn't one) ...
Worlds collided.
Hello Kismet...
...thank-you fate.

Dan's right Natalie, you have a spirit that fills the soul of the people you come in contact with. Your heart exudes joy that is infectious.
And Natalie, I'll have to take your word on his 'mean' egg-mcmuffin. I do agree that you've found a man that's not only inspiring but courageous. Believing is music to my dreaming soul, and watching someone take leaps and bounds to make their dreams come true...is the stuff that life is made of.

Dan is the uber visionary and inspiration behind Proverb Shoes...
Which also has a story :)

I love you guys!
xo
jodi renée

Labels: couples, life, lifestyle, love, Toronto

~Pablo Picasso

Labels: inspiration, quotes

Make it happen...
Living the life of your dreams...

I remember sitting next to a couple on the plane to Calgary once
Such is my world: meet a stranger in 5 minutes, best friends in 10
How cool is life when you're open?
Anyways...Jodi's boyfriend was a Dr. (ironically this gal had the same name...I have yet to meet and date, marry? a Dr! Scuse me while I add this to my vision board...)
I obviously in 10 minutes had spilled the crazy story of my life that was 2 years ago.....now....ongoing....never-ending...
...and that's the point.
Dr. said: An EKG goes dramatically up....and dramatically down. Life! you're alive.
One straight line?
Uh...you're kinda not living.
Flat line. Dead.
Adios!
So why then, do most of us LIVE the straight and flat line?
Why do we avert in every possible way the up and down, the crazy...never-ending chaos
That is LIVING.

We often get stuck in life...
Feel unfulfilled...
...wanting 'more'
Because.
We are stuck
We're not full...
and there IS SO MUCH more.

It's easy to get caught up in life, and living it out 'just like everyone else'...
The discomfort comes from - YOU'RE NOT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE
I fully believe we have a purpose here.
A heart path...

what are you willing to sacrifice?
to make it happen...
live the life of your dreams...
love the life you're living...
be abundant in love...in life...
full of joy?

Insert dreamer, mad passionate seeker {here} and it becomes a relentless search.
Questioning everything,
digging...everywhere.
Complicated. Heartbreaking. Messy...
Life.

I have sacrificed ALOT ...
hurting people along the way. Never intentionally - but it happens.
YOU know your heart's desire. Even if you don't know.
Feelings, impulses...desires.
Direct you.
Something. Someone. Doesn't feel right.
listen....then tap into the best compass that exists in the centre of your chest


I fully believe that flat-lining is easy...
And to live a radiant and abundant life full of purpose, magic and possibility (and so much laughter you get in trouble by the flight attendant because you and your new best friends are having too much fun on the plane)
is VERY very...challenging. Difficult...
And often times, lonely.
(well, except for my new plane buddies...oh and the trainer that I spoke with for 45 minutes about LIFE with at the gym. And the plethora of amazing conversations last week over dinners...)
Big fat lie! ...challenging life OPENS you to the right people and conversations.
For me anyways - I live for both!
Takes time.
You will get everything you always wanted...

I am nowhere where I thought I'd be
Doing things that I could only dream of.
In a complicated mess AND...
The influx of inspiring people in my life...
The conversations. The laughter. LOVE.
The absolute JOY I feel...
...has made the search for 'more' ...so worth it.
Squeezing the absolute ALL out of life
...why should it be easy?

Who you ARE, your PURPOSE...requires an outlet. Your expression. YOU. If you're too worried about hurting someone despite the discord in your own heart than you're actually trying to control an outcome of BOTH of your true paths...
If you're also trying to keep up in yoga class stretching your tendons beyond their god given capacity JUST because the guy next to you, has the DNA of gumby...
Good luck. Living the Jones's life is probably more fulfilling FOR the Jones's.

When we are expressing, experiencing and evolving ...we are living.
Change happens every second. And we try our damnedest to avoid this and wonder WHY things, life...don't feel so good.
That place of perfection where everything goes smoothly will NEVER offer you the gift that comes with change, craziness and chaos.

Embrace.
surrender...
and open yourself to the so-called imperfection that IS your life right now.
Wherever you are...IS perfect.


much love ...xo
jodi renée

(ps for those of you who DO NOT like my writing. Here's a hint. Don't read it!)
...I am not solely one thing (photographer) ...all of THIS! is my expression. It's me.
you know who I'm talking about - and I still love you :)

Labels: inspiration, personal, potential