I have to re-focus my attention elsewhere.
Because what was working, isn't.
It's frightening because I put a lot of pressure on myself and to take any sort of time off or away feels
like I'm going backwards. Only I have to remind myself that slowing down, pausing...resting, is
where strength renews itself and clarity can find it's way.

This is the 2nd time I'd attempted to make a soy latte and perhaps I'd succeed...third time is a charm.
It's scalding liquid however, that somehow erupts like a volcano all over my hands and arms.
I swear I hear the silent snickers of the Starbuck's baristas.
The latte is a journay-fail, destination-success.
So I'm happy to throw the towel in, leaving lattes to the masters.

And for the purpose of food quantity control, I fulfilled the request for muffins vs. bread.
Although I swear a whole Tupperware went missing this morning...
I do eat muffins with a fork. No lie.
And...in a bowl.
Visually, in the bowl, it would probably just come across as the weird, quirky habit that it is.
As much as I'd like, NOT to eat around the computers while I'm working or surfing, I find it close to
impossible. Sometimes I switch it up and read, either way there's no avoiding...muffin fingers.
Is this just getting weirder, because I know you know, how annoying it is to rip apart a muffin and
then go type something on your computer. Unless you reserve ONE clean, food-free finger for type,
then that's just as odd as eating a muffin with a fork...almost.
Same goes for trying to the turn the pages of your book, setting the coffee down, rip off a bit of
muffin annnnnd...greasy food pages.
So go ahead, try it my way.
With these fibre-filled awesome, vegan banana and coconut muffins.

Labels: healthy eating, lifestyle, muffins, personal, recipe

round 2. which was a lot like round one. Pizza dough failure and it was still delicious. Hello lasagna?

round 3. virgin pizza dough makers. and things were a wee bit dry, the crust resembling bear claws...still awesome in taste especially if you're uh...er...this meaty cheese lover

this won't last long...

round 3. little lighter on the cheese (only goat cheese pour moi), no meat and lots O veg.

A lot of pizza goes down in this household.
It's one of life's simple pleasures (maybe not so simple on the waistline or wallet!) Yes. That's how much we eat it.
So...we've decided to get a little frugal with the pizza delivery and a lil adventurous with the in home pizzeria.
I think these pics are rounds 2 and 3...over the course of the past month. Maybe 2...?
No. Lies! Just one.
I originally started buying gluten free pizza dough and we topped it ourselves with pizza sauce, prosciutto, arugula and goat cheese. Total crust failure. Super noodle like...hello lasagna. Still the flavours were amazing! ...2nd attempt at the same pizza a little more oil on the pan annnnd...same results. Eff it!
We'll just make the pizza dough ourselves and the only flour I had was a grain flour.
(Keep in mind we have no rolling pin, totally McGyver'd something up.)
And honestly...things were looking up! ...although the gluten for me in large amounts gets a little hard on my stomach. SO...4th attempt this weekend. Enter rolling pin, tinkered recipes and alas, we'll use the food processor.
AMAZING!
For the cheesy meat lovers pizza: meat and cheese is the real deal bought from a deli, half regular flour with half of the whole grain flour. We put the oil IN the dough...rolled it out and voila!
For my somewhat less gluten pizza: spelt flour with half mix of wheat free flour, same with the oil...right IN the dough. Especially for anything with no gluten, things get really sticky!

This was honestly easier than I thought...
And really fun for something to make at home!
Here's the recipe for the dough we've been experimenting with at Cooks.com

Let me know if you try it, or if YOU have a favourite recipe that's easy that you like?
Would love to hear from you. 
Or maybe you just like drooling at the photos...that's cool too. Carry on...
Here's to pizza obsessed!
xo
jodi renée

Labels: food, pizza, recipe

Hola! it's a hot one!
Thought I'd share last nights gourmet feast! A light salad dinner makes loads of room for dessert of carrot cake! I'm not a dairy gal however after 2 naked pieces I had to indulge.
And came to the conclusion.
The ICING MAKES THE CAKE.
Pretty unconvinced that the recipe will turn out as the batter is SO moist with all the sugar substitutes!
And in carrot cake  - we trust! So happy it turned out...AND delicious! Give it a try!

Ingredients
2 cups spelt or whole wheat flour (can probably substitute in a gluten free mixed flour)
2tsp. baking soda
2tsp. baking powder
2tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. seasalt
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup of soy milk
1 1/2 cups applesauce - I used unsweetened
1 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup crushed walnuts

**icing was made with half a container of light cream cheese, 1/2 tsp. of vanilla and 1/4 cup of organic, unsalted butter.

It's that good I convinced myself I could have it for breakfast...
Thanks Nature Moms Blog for the recipe!

oh...and if the salad looks tasty too, that's because it is! I tend to get boring with salads and decided to jazz things up.
Grab a salad mix with herbs and preferably arugula (nice contrast to the other ingredients thrown in)...add some mushroom, sliced cucumber and fresh basil. Slice up a pear, shave in some goat cheese and toss the walnuts on! For the dressing I just wing it with apple cider vinegar, olive oil and organic honey. BEST dressing with this salad!!!

Labels: carrotcake, food, healthy, healthy eating, recipe, salad

Here to debunk the myth that food and/or healthy eating is complicated.
It's not.
We are.
We like to make things complicated.
Mother nature gives us everything we need. For some reason, that's not enough AND...OR...we're too lazy to pull things together.
Seriously though? that's just a big fat excuse.
Slicing an avocado in half with a sprinkling of sea salt - mere seconds! And you're treating your body to some of the world's healthiest essential fatty acids.
Great on toast...great in salads! (below)
Tomato, cucumber, fresh basil with sea salt, fresh ground pepper and...avocado! You can add any other vegetables if you like and honestly, it doesn't get any fresher than this for a SIMPLE, healthy summer salad.
Maybe all of our taste buds need to reel it back a notch.
Too much extra STUFF, takes away from the already amazing flavours of food. All you need is simple extras to bring out what's already there - fresh herbs, sea salt, spices, lemon...lime...olive oil. That sorta thing.
Not hard at all...is it!
And a tip when eating avocado's:

1. It's still a fat! And contains a fair amount of protein. So this baby is best eaten with other veg and NOT mixed with other proteins (meat proteins especially). We want to be sure you're reaping the fab fat awesomeness and you're actually absorbing what you're eating (NOT stressin on digestin!)

In the spirit of the upcoming Cinco de Mayo I was going to post an easy and awesome Guacamole recipe. While NOT authentic Mexican...preeeety damn close! Stay tuned!
de nada! xo
jodi renée

Labels: avocado, food, health, healthy eating, recipe, salad

I've been on a cleanse for about a month now.
The free dictionary's definition of "cleanse" is: to free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean...hmmmm
Something doesn't feel right.
If you follow my posts on here and facebook you probably look like an animated figure with a big question mark over your head (if it's a lightbulb we need to talk!)
Because I eat ridiculously, fanatically...uber, obsessively healthy. Those all sound hard core and while eating seaweed paper in the car instead of fries is probably hard core (and well my nick name is hard core) it's actually not as hard core as it sounds. Ok, you're right it is.
I go out of my way to put the best, most nutrient dense foods into my body.
Because it's my temple.
It's yours too...well, yours is yours, not mine is yours...well it can be yours cuz we're all connected and part of the whole collective...
So wouldn't we want to be hard core about the temple?
Temple.
Sounds sacred and ancient, full of possibility...with stories to tell.
Ahem.
Sound familiar or feel good...resonate at all?
Your body is your freaking temple! Just like you wouldn't put regular fuel in your Ferrari 12 cylinder FF...why on earth are you putting less than premium into your temple 80% of the time? *note that anything hyper-linked in bold makes a great stocking stuffer!

So I've been off lately (thus the cleanse)...Stress and/or imbalance, at first, like faint, soft music playing in the background...until you're at a bloody rock concert standing right beside the speaker.
Not a subtle tapping anymore to grab intention, it's more like:
SISTA! What the fuck is up!? ...LISTEN!
Seriously. You know what' I'm talking about.
Then we get mad and frustrated at our temple.
Say wha?
The mailman brings you bills and bad news...he's just the messenger.
He's not at fault for your bad debt! Just like your body's not at fault for falling apart.
Bad debt or bad knees...The messages are for you...from you.
Embrace that this is a wonderful gift to explore.
There is room for growth and opportunity when we can SEE the message as a gift and not something that hinders and limits us. For limitations are only of the mind.

Insert every food and diet book known to man. I've honestly probably read them.
Insert every type of holistic and alternative practitioner...for...years.
Insert a merry-go-round of constantly cleansing or eating 'this way or that'...because of 'this or that'...
And how does all this FEEL?
Fucking crazy...yep. Not to mention that the concoction I just made for breakfast was pretty harsh.
So...harsh.
Knowing that when I eat too many fatty foods (even the good fats) my body puffs out like I'm 8 months pregnant -- maybe a blowfish even.
Eat this...
Don't eat that...
Stay away from...
Can't have this.
My God give me fudge pancakes sprinkled with brownies on top, smothered in ice cream (that would be buckwheat batter with coconut milk ice cream...ha! still counts as a gluttonous binge!)

In the 80/20 rule that is how we operate in most of our life...with everything.
Most being in the 80% that is not in our favour...for anything.
I operate like 90/10...FOR my temple.

Soooo...my point?
We must experience everything for ourselves.
All of my reading and absorbing of information is out of a pure love and enthusiasm for what the body is capable of. So having different opinions and theories allows us to come to our own conclusion.
Be mindful however, of...Dogma.
When we believe this or that to be true because a collective says it's true...
...we can often go against what FEELS right for ourselves.
Easier said than done.
I'm so aware of my body, what it reacts or responds too.
Ironically when it does start reacting...I start looking...outside of myself.
Last night I had a chat with someone who questioned WHY I was cleansing. I provided a myriad of answers.
Until this morning...(when I woke up at 3am starving!)
I began to question.
What if...it's not about the food or the cleanse.
What if it's...my relationship...my thinking around both?
Cuz that's really all that it can be.
I am hard core in my love for my body as a temple in this life.
If the cleanse represented a relationship (say in the form of a person)...what would that look like based on what I'm doing? ...depriving, not trusting, controlled and goal oriented, looking to 'get' a certain outcome.
Wow...where's the love!?
There can't be.

(...for some who have extreme conditions chances are your lifestyle is seriously contributing TO your ailments - that's just a whole other jambalaya of self loathe...and we need to talk...)
Me on the other hand...it just doesn't make sense because I live and walk the love that I have for this temple.
Your outer world is a reflection of your inner world...
It's my thinking that's in need of a cleanse.
Dirty dirty mind.
Purge - yes please!

We don't know 100% truth in ANYTHING.
Thus we need to question EVERYTHING.
When it comes to our own bodies and lives...
Our best compass is "feeling".
This is true. This is valid.
Not everything works for everyone because we are all so completely different.
Sure, we can pull out what works for some, test different theories and make our own life an experiment. That's probably the best thing we CAN do.

I believe the most important thing in a healthy life...
Is a healthy mind.
And a heart that is always full, ever expanding.
To love myself and my temple...
I FEEL...
The answers lie in my ability to trust what FEELS good for me.
And perhaps apply a filter to purify this dirty dirty mind O mine.

We are SO toxic in the way we treat ourselves. Often the most toxicity coming from the thousands of thoughts that we have to process that are worse than hormone laden meat and refined sugars.
Often eating that piece of ginger cake drowning in buttercream isn't quite as bad as your stress around eating it...then knowing you have to work out for another 2 hours tomorrow because of it, and how will you ever fit into the holiday mini dress you just bought...and I feel like my ass is growing while I eat this? guilt, stress...toxic!
Enjoy...indulge! nourish yourself with the pleasures of life.
If you take care of your temple almost all of the time...
Life expects you to indulge.
That's part of the enJOYment of it.

To the mat for some stillness and maybe to Dyson the old mind (no hyper link! I don't want a vacuum for Christmas!) ...this is my vacuum alternative though...jus sayin!

And I love all my woo-woo, my alternative practitioners...health super hero guru's...
They are part of the journey and I'm not dismissing them EVER.
Just want you to open up a space that cultivates the knowing you have always had...
and often we do need help along the way. Every bit coming when you need it.
loving you from here...
Jodi xo

you know there's a recipe coming for Ginger cake now...

okay...are you curious about this cleanse?
the idea is not to feed the 'bad bacteria' in the body. We have both GOOD and BAD. We need'm.
We just want the army of GOOD to dominate. Bacteria thrive off the stuff we loooooove...
yeast, sugar and starchy goodness to be exact.

So here's kinda what my food intake looks like:

Can you tell I'm German? hello Sauerkraut!
The stuff that's fermented naturally is actually a really good source of GOOD bacteria!
 Awesomeness is the benefits of kale...and hale to the avocado. Sustaining me through this...
Here's where things go a tad askew.
More for ethical reasons I don't consume a lot of meat. Not to mention it's very acidic for the body. I partook in the carnivorous venture after my...uh...colonics (you can google that one) ...and this is where something didn't FEEL right. Again, I don't eat a lot of meat for various reasons. When I was given the go ahead TO eat quite a bit of it I thought...ugh...and then...yay!
I did sorta do a bacon dance at the market that Saturday. I mean...who doesn't like bacon! ...and it does look delicious. It was delicious...
it just kinda goes against so much of what I believe and what I've read...
(insert overwhelm and confusion...)
Steel cut oats.
Warming soul food on these almost winter days..avec raw, shredded coconut!
And I'm completely baffled IF this is allowed on the cleanse or if I can eat it...
It's really good for you. I do question grains...
Everyone has their own opinion.
Again! So many questions! it's fibre, I'm not consuming sacks of the stuff and it's...healthy...
I like it.
Can that be enough?? Because do you have any clue how much green I'm taking in??

See the conundrum? Toxic thinking from over-thinking, over-stressing! questioning...feeling guilty...
I'm off to bake a cake...
Or make some kale chips :)
...or meditate.
Again.

Labels: food, inspiration, personal, recipe

I adore pumpkin anything...
So I was determined to make something pumpkin-y and healthy happen.
I found a recipe for Healthy Carrot and Pumpkin Spelt Muffins (I think I'll hold off on the recipe until I fine tune it a little more!) I made A LOT of substitutions and perhaps like any change (big or small) one change at a time will get us to where we need to go - without overwhelming us. Trying to figure out the coconut flour math...
I said math.
And anytime there's math involved, I get a little squeamish. Apparently if you're replacing flour with coconut flour, you use only 20% coconut flour (it's jacked with fibre so you also have to do some replacing with liquids). This might not be so tough, however I doubled the recipe AND I swapped out a lot of the liquids. Like...chia seeds instead of eggs...
Can you see me getting over my head?? Total throw back to grade 11 math (which I failed...)
And just for the record I don't think I've ever run into Johnny and his apple conundrums OR have had to figure out the inside of an isosceles triangle. In my life.
EVER.
Poignantly Pumpkin...they WERE amazingly delicious and I definitely ate too much considering they were so dense - one muffin was probably the equivalent to THREE. Where can you go wrong with so much pumpkin and coconut? you can't. Do you want me to re-evaluate this recipe? I was going for vegan and gluten free ...

So we moved on.
To Grayson's fail proof Organic Blueberry Walnut Muffins. These are really healthy and great for kids. Breakfast alongside a smoothie perhaps? Be mindful it's NOT gluten free, so make substitutions where you know you can! And would love to hear from you if you do! ...

Having an assistant in the kitchen who's under 3 is...
Madness.
and messy.
Not to mention a little chaotic and did I say mad?
It's also a way to encourage their little sense of SELF to BE ...
Confident.
Assisting and therefore they feel like they're contributing to something.
They get to build their capabilities to do independent work.
Gives them responsibility.
And creates little beings who grow into the world appreciating the work that goes INTO things, and the things we eat. Not to mention it gives them a chance to work with really nourishing ingredients that fill their bodies with love. Making it easier for them to say YES to these foods.

Soooo...I encourage you to make a mess in the kitchen with the little chefs by your side.
(and eventually when they've fine tuned the recipe and are old enough to handle the hot stuff...you've now got a short order baker instead of the other way around!)

Grayson's Organic Blueberry Walnut Muffins
3/4 C whole wheat flour
3/4 C whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp baking powder - aluminum free
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C sucanat
1/3 C organic butter
1 organic egg
1/3 C almond milk
3/4 C frozen blueberries
1/2 C chopped walnuts

Mix flours, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, sucanat.
Mix egg, milk and butter...then add wet ingredients to flour mixture.
Gently add blueberrys and walnuts - don't overmix!
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake @ 350 for 20 minutes.
Makes about 12 muffins so double the recipe because these are GOOD! (and good for you...)

love from the kitchen! xo
jodi renée xo

thanks Trish and Grayson for all your help!

Labels: baking, healthy, little leaders, muffins, recipe

kinda Quinoa Tabbouleh salad...{keen-WA!}
fresh and simple.
not just simple - EASY! I think we've been over this little SUPA seed before.
We're talking PRE-Incan. That's pretty old.
So this seed has some H-I-S-T-O-R-Y! (not like the processed and packaged foods of today).
Which is a different aging process all together. Strip you down, then load you up with all the nasties so you can SIT ON THE SHELF FOREVER! mmmm...
OR, pre-historic, jacked with nutrients. Not JUST nutrients - essential nutrients. High fibre, high "complete" protein...
And just really nutty and tasty :)

The scrumptious salad above is quinoa bought in a box (if you buy it in bulk I recommend soaking it for up to ...uh...8 hours. Improves digestibility and your family will thank me) ...
so the boxed kind is usually pre-soaked and just give it a good rinse.
Cook up as per directions.
Then add:
*sliced roma tomatoes (if you cut out the juicy centre of the romas then the salad is less runny
*sliced and diced cucumbers
*a few sliced green onions
*handful of chopped fresh coriander (you can definitely use parsley or mint works wonders here!)
*tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
*sea salt
*lime or lemon to taste
Stir it all up, throw it in the fridge and serve with whatever you're having for dinner!

Seriously...there's no reason you need to be serving up plain ol' potatoes or pasta when we've got some SERIOUS grains out there. Explore a bit. You'll be surprised!
go get your grains on! xo
jodi renée

Labels: food, grains, health, nutrition, quinoa, recipe

This became more of a chunky veggie salad (as I didn't have the vegetable peeler to make the zucchini into thin noodles)! Doesn't mean it's NOT pad thai - just my own variation!
Start here:
*2 zucchini's (I used one green and one yellow here) - peel into thin noodles - OR just slice them as thin as you can like I did above
*handful or two of bean sprouts
*thinly sliced yellow pepper
*1/4 of a red cabbage - thinly sliced
*2-4 green onions - chopped
*handful of chopped cilantro (or to taste!)
*1 lime
*1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
*cashews, almonds are any kind of nut really! I substituted and used one heaping tablespoon of almond butter
*sea salt
Chop and slice, throw everything into one bowl...squeeze the whole lime with the olive oil and mix it all up...
The almond butter isn't as challenging as you'd think to mix in, just make sure to toss it around, stir it up a few times to coat it evenly...
Super simple. Great for lunch, dinner or snack...jam packed with water, nutrients, and fibre.
Let me know how it goes!
xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, food, health, raw food, recipe

So grateful for an amazing weekend!
Starts with a sneak-peek of Tanya + Michael's celebration of LOVE! ...
(These sessions aren't for the faint of heart either...a lot of laughter, and often a few tears. I got to see how Michael moves through the eyes of Tanya! And there was even talk of ingrown hairs...?) Yes. It gets downright dirty on set.
And not 'set' as much as SETTING...
I was in heaven with the light! And these wonderful, inspiring people that opened their hearts...
To market to market...ode to my Blackberry camera for these snaps.
I'm happy I have a market buddy now that gets as stoked as I do! Up early ...it's uh...fresh and local annnnnd CHEAP food people!!!! I'm full of gratitude for the farmers and the work that they do to fill our homes and belly's with such GOOD food. How does your family express their gratitude for the food you eat? It's a great tradition that I feel is forgotten...'grace'. And yet so powerful. Children need to know what they're eating and where it comes from...most importantly how hard some families are working for 'us'...
mmmm summer fresh and local peaches.
And I stocked up on tomatoes instead.
Next time I'll have to pick up the fuzzy navel's to brew up something peachy...

I love simplicity in the flavours of food and nothing is better than home-made tomato sauce.
It's as easy as...
*as many plum (aka Romas!) tomatoes as you like, you need and will fit in your pan
*garlic to your taste
*olive oil
*basil -- and I forgot fresh basil so I improvised here for more garnish and aesthetics than taste because...The basil makes the sauce!
Olive oil + garlic will dance in the fiery pan...when the lic's are lovely brown, throw in the chopped up Roma's. You'll get a feel for when they are done by watching them wither (the good and yummy wither!) ...toss in freshly chopped basil
And then throw in your cooked your noodles.
(I used brown rice spaghetti noodles to keep it light and gluten free)
happy Monday! Buon Appetito!
Sea salt...
always a little sea salt...
love xo
jodi renée

Labels: blackberry, food, Kitchener, life, lifestyle, love, Market, recipe

This yummy smoothie is packed with digestive greatness. It's of the utmost importance to keep things moving along and out, while creating a clean and healthy flora-full gut! (that sustains a healthy immune system)
Absorption of nutrients comes from a healthy digestive system which can be achieved by drinking plenty of water, eating foods rich in fibre, dense in nutrients, and including daily probiotics (pro=FOR, biotic=LIFE)
Also recommended? Dial down and manage any stress. Stress can be the cause of many digestive concerns ...I get uber bloated when stressed.
Your 'gut' really is trying to tell you something!

Summer Smoothie | Berry Belly Blast Off!
1 scoop chocolate Vega Protein by Sequel
1 scoop natural Sun Warrior Protein
1/4 tsp of ChlorEssence by Sequel
1/4 tsp of Probiotics
1 cup of water
1 cup of fresh (I freeze'm fresh and use them right away so they're fruit-cubes of smoothie goodness!) blueberries, blackberries...whateva you're belly desires. I prefer to use the darker berries that are rich in antioxidants.
Banana optional...
A handful of spinach is up to you...(and seriously kicks this up a notch!)
love. A must!
...blend.

Let me know if you have any questions about the above products I have recommended or the recipe.
And seriously ...blast off?
You're in good hands.
health is yours!
love xo
jodi renée

Labels: health, recipe, smoothies

Labels: food, health, nutrition, recipe

A breakfast of body love, mind love? = SUCCESS

Follow the recipe below...
*Bob's Red Mill Organic Kamut Cereal (cooked according to directions on the package. And I'm still practicing the fine art of NOT boiling over these cereals while cooking stove-top) You could also use any of the other grain cereals or just grains (rice, quinoa, buckwheat...etc.)
*Scoop your serving size into a bowl and drown in a 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk. No sugar added in this baby and the almonds naturally give off some of their sweet-nass. Let's leave the cow's milk for the baby cows...I think the design was brilliant that way. Ever wonder why so many people are lactose intolerant? I'm sure the cows would be a lot intolerant to our milk too.
Dairy consumption can also be linked to ...allergies, eczema, asthma, arthritis, inflammation, zits and weird rashes!
Anyhoo...back on track here before I get into the really gross stuff and then the segue into jam will be really tough!
*Jam! home-made, organic...sweet JAM! Paying a little homage to my roots with some Partridge Berry jam. Super tart, super yummy. Dollop a little on top of the Pharaoh's sinking Kamut (yes! the grain dates that far back! And once you're recharged on this ancient grain you might be energized enough to build your own pyramid!) Don't say I didn't warn you...
Bon Appetite!

Books. Books. and more Books! It's no secret that I'm a geek still rocking my library card (hello? it's free education people!) Probably more important for me than feeding the body good nutrition is the fuel that I feed my mind.
The start of your day should empower you, inspire you and encourage you. I can't stress the importance of making sure you fuel BOTH your body and your mind as you start your day.

The above book 'cue' is currently what I've read, am reading or about to read. A nice blend of business, self development, spiritual awakening and pure enjoyment.
Crazy, Sexy Diet - FOOD and LIFE BIBLE. Buy a copy and own a copy. Kriss Carr illuminates how to live your crazy, sexy potential by becoming a warrior for your own health, blissful in your own skin with a by-product of awesomeness for the rest of the world.
The Thank you Economy - need I say more? We are uber connected and disconnected at the same time. Businesses have a great opportunity, more so than ever, to speak directly to their people. Life/business is all about 'relationships' and Gary V is a master at using social media to it's fullest to both jump-start or kick-start AND maintain super biz success.
Fierce Conversations - conversation IS the relationship. Enough said. There are always conversations AKA communications that you need to have with others and more importantly yourself to move ahead to the next level, get you out of a rut and remove the barriers from your life. What conversations are you having? OR...what conversations are you not...
The Purpose Driven Life - Wonderful changes begin to happen when you live your life on Purpose. Thanks Rick for the reminder of what's important. Get off auto-pilot folks! Who's life are you living anyways?
The Happiness Project - Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. Yes! Are you feelin my theme here? :)
I'm still reading the other three and will write a review for each when I'm done!

What are you currently fueling your body and mind with? and does it clear an abundant life for health, happiness and success?

Let me know if you have any questions, I'd love to help! and did you find my ramblings beneficial? Let me know on my Facebook Fanpage!

here's to health, happy and success!
xo
jodi renée

Labels: books, food, health, inspiration, nutrition, recipe

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

Quick AND healthy ...in a hurry! NO excuse!
Grab a bag of frozen veggies...(stay with me here)! Europe's Best has a new Tuscon inspired blend...
Heat up a skillet with some Extra Virgin Olive Oil...throw in some FRESH baby broccoli (see cute broc's above!) and once you've heated them a little ways through, then throw in your frozen veggie blend. Maybe 25 minutes for this DELICIOUSNESS ...super healthy, super easy! Take that Rachael Ray!
Don't forget the sea salt. NO table salt. Ever...
And why the babes of Broccoli? ...natural antioxidant that will detoxify germs and bacteria in your body. Helps lower blood pressure and has properties of anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer (because of the Sulforaphane in case you want to throw around your health genius at the dinner table!)
Nature gives us everything we need! .......and when we're in a hurry, Europe's Best is pretty helpful. That's why they're the best?
bon appetite!
xo
jodi renée

and yes I ate all of that :)

Labels: food, health, recipe

I honestly cooked these lovelies JUST to take a photo.
Ok. And because they're delicious.
Yup...blue potato or purple...whatever.
You can't say anything healthy is difficult! The first photos (raw) just slice up the blue babies...throw in a zip-lock bag with coconut oil and shake'em up. With the oven at 450...throw them on a stone or a tray lined with tin-foil. Keep your eye on'em however they might take about 30 minutes? (depends on how many tato's you use)...
Once out of the oven, sprinkle with herbs - thyme above + sea salt = yummy home-made blue potato fries...
HEALTHY. so easy...
*the coloured potatoes have more flavonoids and cartenoids, an abundance of fibre and minerals. They're still a carbohydrate which is a macro-nutrient we NEED. Don't shun the potato for dietary reasons. Especially these blues! The colour comes from an antioxidant and they're jammed packed full of flavour...
Simple ...eat'em!
bon appetite! xo
jodi renée

Labels: blue pototas, food, health, inspiration, recipe