tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7869142855059601672024-03-13T12:13:40.034-07:00Ahimsa Life Coaching & ReikiFeed Your Self. Body, Mind, and Spirit.Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-45777262665741902672013-06-20T01:24:00.000-07:002013-06-20T01:24:03.626-07:00The Future of Food - Josh Tetrick Shares How Plant Food Innovation Can Save Us All (TED Talk)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What would living in a world with a more sustainable, more responsible, more affordable, more healthful, more compassionate, more humane, safer food system look like? What would it feel like?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out this <a href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank">TED</a> talk from Josh Tetrick, CEO of <a href="http://hamptoncreekfoods.com/home/index.php" target="_blank">Hampton Creek Foods</a>, a food technology company selected by <a href="http://www.thegatesnotes.com/" target="_blank">Bill Gates</a> as one of three companies revolutionizing the future of food. He talks about the broken system and leads us toward a future where plant foods & plant food technology harness the power to rise us up into a food system that works - for everyone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>What are your thoughts on The Future of Food?</b> </u></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-10557763041810226832013-06-14T12:06:00.002-07:002013-06-14T12:06:51.033-07:00Becoming a Vegan Gladiator & MASSIVE Vegan Proteins/Health & Fitness/Bodybuilding Giveaway!<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a quick journey in pictures (and some words) of my vegan bodybuilding & fitness journey over the past two months. <b>At the end, you get the chance to win part of a $300+ multi-prize package in the coolest giveaway ALC has done.</b> Get started & finish strong. Have fun & good luck!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>This is what I was planning on running (and eventually ran):</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vykrVULTYac/UblvG7mh1mI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/e24f5vusmtA/s1600/gladiator9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vykrVULTYac/UblvG7mh1mI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/e24f5vusmtA/s320/gladiator9.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.gladiatorrocknrun.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Gladiator Rock'N Run</a> <a href="http://www.gladiatorrocknrun.com/event_june_08.html" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">6K at Great Park in Irvine, CA</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>This is what used for training:</u></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw2_N9THpZw/UblwBvRjI1I/AAAAAAAAAuc/DZgSoF2zIBs/s1600/giveaway3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="143" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dw2_N9THpZw/UblwBvRjI1I/AAAAAAAAAuc/DZgSoF2zIBs/s320/giveaway3.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/insanity.do" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Insanity: The 60-Day Total Body Condition Program</a>. Six days a week for nine weeks, working out from the comfort of my own home. Thirty to sixty minutes of pure sweat, extreme core & endurance workouts. Interested in trying it out? Connect with <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/LilPea20" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Team Beachbody Coach Jessica Pease Jessup</a> - she'll get you going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>This is what I used for my Vegan Power:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-sport-performance-protein/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vega Performance Protein</a> (Chocolate's my favorite!), <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-sport-pre-workout-energizer/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Pre-Workout Energizer</a>, <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-sport-recovery-accelerator/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Recovery Accelerator</a>, <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-sport-protein-bars/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Protein Bars</a> (Oh, how my taste buds crave Chocolate Saviseed), <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-one-bars/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">VegaOne Bars</a>(Chocolate Almond? Chocolate Cherry? Can I have two faves?), <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-one-nutritional-shake/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">VegaOne Nutritional Shakes</a>,<a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/warrior-food-by-healthforce/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">WarriorFood</a> (Vanilla was quite tasty.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Ew1pSKdJC8/Ubl12P02FmI/AAAAAAAAAu0/iGQI1HTIRsU/s1600/veganthumb-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #cc6666; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>This is what I wore:</u></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuU3tHx-LiM/Ubl5buBFBVI/AAAAAAAAAvc/uKCDwVItB3c/s1600/532308_10101822141795039_1622426112_n.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHQOvUhrv6o/Ubl5nRRwXWI/AAAAAAAAAvk/-NYizH1UxIw/s1600/68514_10101823566280359_911704558_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHQOvUhrv6o/Ubl5nRRwXWI/AAAAAAAAAvk/-NYizH1UxIw/s320/68514_10101823566280359_911704558_n.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="238" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After two months of training with Insanity (with a lapse for vacation), the gym, and finally my own-invented RUNSANITY (contact me if you wanna hear more about it), I got into the shape I wanted to be in for the run (picture timeline from left to right to bottom), for me to prove mySelf as a... Vegan Gladiator.</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eg89XG0PMME/Ubl-IHb5TNI/AAAAAAAAAv8/RW9uY404O1Y/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="239" /> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwlaPLx1XMc/Ubl-n-Gfe4I/AAAAAAAAAwE/ZCYfbHBFaNc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwlaPLx1XMc/Ubl-n-Gfe4I/AAAAAAAAAwE/ZCYfbHBFaNc/s320/photo.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQBsiTKmCnc/UbmAWtOFvKI/AAAAAAAAAwU/MPf_qD1gMco/s1600/gladiator3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQBsiTKmCnc/UbmAWtOFvKI/AAAAAAAAAwU/MPf_qD1gMco/s320/gladiator3.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so I ran. Here are some highlights:</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cXcvtJ1gydk/UbmEYGhNvAI/AAAAAAAAAww/cbedWwF_REs/s320/gladiator7.JPG" width="320" /> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CNR7oSqArbg/UbmF0zl5R7I/AAAAAAAAAxA/SllVO2R6NFo/s1600/gladiator5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CNR7oSqArbg/UbmF0zl5R7I/AAAAAAAAAxA/SllVO2R6NFo/s320/gladiator5.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSUkq6OHZZ4/UbmHVylJKcI/AAAAAAAAAxQ/WFDrqB6oZfs/s320/gladiator6.JPG" width="320" /> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bs_eVB2JsL8/UbmI2v8vTUI/AAAAAAAAAxg/pQLOQc4_idI/s1600/gladiator8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #cc6666; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bs_eVB2JsL8/UbmI2v8vTUI/AAAAAAAAAxg/pQLOQc4_idI/s320/gladiator8.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was rope climbing, burpees with cinderblocks, laps with 40 lb. bags of rice, an ice-cold pool (which I had to submerge myself in), 8 ft. walls & dumpsters to scale, wooden pegs and log bridges to traverse, and, oh yeah, lots and lots of mud. Mud to crawl through, mud to walk through, mud walls to get over. I'll be posting a video compilation sometime - here's my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ahimsalifecoaching" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">facebook page</a> if you want to follow along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">__________</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that my 2nd Gladiator Run and training journey is over, it's time to start the next. For me - and for you. So Ahimsa Life Coaching, <a href="http://www.kissmyvegan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!</a> & <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegan Proteins</a> is teaming up to put you in prime position to enhance your health, bodybuilding, and fitness goals with a MASSIVE giveaway, featuring prizes that total over $300 in value.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the prize packages:</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Vegan Gladiator Grand Prize</span></i></u> - NEW <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/new-vega-sport-sugar-free-energizer/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vega Sport Energizer</a> (new formula, sugar-free! & ONLY available at Vegan Proteins, now on pre-sale exclusive), <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vega-energizing-smoothie/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vega Energizing Smoothie</a>, <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vegan-bodybuilding-and-fitness-by-robert-cheeke/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness book</a>, Vega t-shirt, blender bottle, Vega tote bag, AND a BRAND NEW Training Meal Program by Dani Taylor (Official <a href="http://plantbuilt.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;">PlantBuilt.com</a> Online Training Coach & <a href="http://veganproteins.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;">VeganProteins.com</a> Online Personal Training Coach)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><i><span style="color: #bf9000;">Vegan Gladiator-In-Training Runner-Up Prize</span></i></u> - 250g tub of <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/warrior-food-by-healthforce/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Warrior Food</a> (vanilla), 1 lb tub of <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/plantfusion-2/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">PlantFusion</a> (cookies 'n creme), <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vitamineral-earth/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">VitaMineral Earth</a>, PlantFusion shaker bottle, and PlantFusion t-shirt</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Vegan Squire Consolation Prize</span></i></u> - <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/product-category/fitness-apparel/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegan Proteins t-shirt</a> and <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/proteins-more-shop/vegan-health-fitness-magazine/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegan Health & Fitness Magazine's Spring 2013 issue</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out the <a href="http://www.veganproteins.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vegan Proteins website here</a>. This giveaway is special because it features a product and a service which are brand spankin' new. Excited to get people boosted with the new energizer and on-track with training meal plans with Dani.<br /><br />Meet Giacomo. He's running the show at Vegan Proteins (with Dani, co-founder and Giacomo's trainer extraordinaire) and has the body to prove it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And here's how you enter! - it's simple and fun.</b> Check out the <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rafflecopter</a> widget below. Earn yourSelf more entries into the raffle giveaway by following directions for each task. NOTE: if you utilize a method to grab an extra entry, please make sure you've actually done it or it will be considered ineligible if chosen as the winning entry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck to all you Gladiators of Compassion (and so much more)!</span></div>
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7250eb5/" id="rc-7250eb5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All the best and yummiest to you.</span></i></b></div>
Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-87520394408987728662013-06-12T01:56:00.003-07:002013-06-12T01:56:52.706-07:00Lumosity: Having Fun While Training Your Brain<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EafPoJJnD68/UbgfXsvVbPI/AAAAAAAAAtI/3QIm6eX3rDM/s1600/lumosity-3a6c91f3532c134c1ccb12fca3038416.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EafPoJJnD68/UbgfXsvVbPI/AAAAAAAAAtI/3QIm6eX3rDM/s1600/lumosity-3a6c91f3532c134c1ccb12fca3038416.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My brother-in law, Jon Wolf, of <a href="http://www.youtimecoach.com/" target="_blank">YouTime Coaching</a>, introduced me to <a href="http://www.lumosity.com/" target="_blank">Lumosity</a> several months ago. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">grew very interested in the platform yet, after dabbling in a few days of free trial, faded away from the website. </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I began taking on more projects & undertakings, for coaching, for Reiki, for acting, for fitness, and more, I remembered Lumosity and thought, "Maybe now is the time to try it out... see if it can help me enhance my brain/mental function."</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And so I jumped back in with a year's trial. Well, it's only been one month of training so far, and I'm already feeling, experiencing, and seeing the differences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lumosity, the #1 brain training program online, is built around the process known as <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity" target="_blank">neuroplasticity</a></b>. Here is more on the subject:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Over the last few decades, neuroscientists have discovered that adults' brains are constantly changing - growing new neurons and connections - in a process of neuroplasticity. Lumosity takes advantage of the brain's innate neuroplasticity to help shape it into a more effective, powerful organ... Lumosity targets core cognitive processes... memory, attention, and other abilities that are critical in the real world.</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Through playing games such as Eagle Eye, Pinball Recall, Familiar Faces, Speed Match, Word Sort, and Disconnection, these different cognitive processes are tested and, with consistency & time, grow stronger. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Practical benefits used in everyday life that you will receive from training are: remembering people's names and faces (and connecting the two), remembering directions, increasing your peripheral vision intake, multitasking more effectively, thinking faster, becoming a better logical decision maker, developing your vocabulary, deepening your focus and attention span, and a whole lot more.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first started, my BPI (read below, right) was 1230; it's now increased to 1474. Here's a look at my progress over the past month and current status:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fhpo7ICrmU/UbgiiVdklxI/AAAAAAAAAt0/_hKlxrulU0w/s1600/Lumosity98thPercentile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fhpo7ICrmU/UbgiiVdklxI/AAAAAAAAAt0/_hKlxrulU0w/s640/Lumosity98thPercentile.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a blast playing the game and experiencing the fun and benefits of Lumosity simultaneously. I look forward to spending a few minutes engaging mySelf in the scheduled training for the day - plus some extra games if I'm in the mood. <b>It has benefited me in numerous ways, especially pertaining to how I structure my time & schedule, my focus throughout the day, and more impressive memory recall. It is also very helpful to have a better grasp at meeting new people - and remember them by the end of the day/night (or even just a few minutes after introduction!).</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out their blog for interesting articles on the science behind neuroplasticity and enjoy some puzzles they provide: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://blog.lumosity.com/">http://blog.lumosity.com/</a>. <b>They offer very reasonable memberships for getting involved</b> - I recommend the year or two year plan, if you can do it. There's also a <a href="http://www.lumosity.com/family-plan" target="_blank">Friends & Family plan</a> that provides the best price for the greatest number of people (we're talking $20-25/person a year). This is the definition of "tremendous value."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It took my focus and dedication for active & fun growth to get up to the 98th percentile in my age group (and better in others!). <b>Will you join me? Can you work your way to a BPI of 1500+ and the 99th percentile? I look forward to developing our brains together.</b> (Please keep me posted on your progress and growth!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>All the best and yummiest to you.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-11841399591129092552013-04-22T00:12:00.001-07:002013-04-22T00:12:28.322-07:00Celebrate Earth Day & VegWeek 2013! Make a Pledge!<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIUOGo8SLNM/UXTh19pFXLI/AAAAAAAAAqM/3d2l4rM8pFo/s1600/hands-globe2_2pb6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dIUOGo8SLNM/UXTh19pFXLI/AAAAAAAAAqM/3d2l4rM8pFo/s320/hands-globe2_2pb6.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's that time again! Celebrate Earth Day and VegWeek 2013 with a revamped <a href="http://www.kissmyvegan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!</a> post from last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Today, Monday, April 22nd is our 43rd anniversary of Earth Day, a day observed to celebrate this amazing planet on which we live by doing "green" acts of good to positively benefit our Earth. Over 1 billion people all over the world actively celebrated this year's Earth Day, as shared by the </span><a href="http://www.earthday.org/" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;" target="_blank">Earth Day Network</a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">, with pledges ranging from planting gardens to "unplugging" for the day, from recycling to limiting water usage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Within the past couple of years, the United Nations has been outspoken on the one greatest contributor to our global climate/environment issue: the consumption of animal products. Some recent articles, <a href="http://www.vegsource.com/sarah-taylor/the-united-nations-advocates-a-vegan-diet.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jun/02/un-report-meat-free-diet" target="_blank">here</a>, detail the latest environmental statistics. With the meat and dairy industries' blatant over-usage of earth's precious resources (water and fossil fuels specifically), with the devastation of rainforests to clear space for animal agriculture, with unnecessary pollution, runoff, waste and excess climate-changing gases produced from factory farms (and other smaller animal-based industries), our planet - and therefore, all life on it - is suffering tremendously. <b>While all of the pledges listed above are valuable in their own ways, there is one specific choice that can make the most difference: adopt a compassionate, healthful, Earth-friendly vegan diet. <a href="http://usvegweek.com/why-veg/" target="_blank">And here's why!</a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gzUsfvZi9Q/T5ZNIYDdPtI/AAAAAAAACB0/avNf2UkEvYY/s1600/-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gzUsfvZi9Q/T5ZNIYDdPtI/AAAAAAAACB0/avNf2UkEvYY/s640/-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A 2011 <a href="http://www.vrg.org/blog/2011/12/05/how-many-adults-are-vegan-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">study</a> conducted by the <a href="http://www.vrg.org/" target="_blank">Vegetarian Resource Group</a> showed that 2.5% of the US population - that's about 8 million people - consume vegan diets, double the amount from 2009. And along with this "market for vegan food," there's been a distinct decrease in the amount of meat, dairy, and eggs consumed, as noted in Nil Zacharius' <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nil-zacharias/vegan-food_b_1324363.html" target="_blank">HuffPo article</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We still have a long way to go though, and that's why we're reaching out to you to help make a difference this year - which will end up making a difference for all years to come. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0W8NpPWgbo/UXTU4l3RUYI/AAAAAAAAAps/WM4Zxix77IA/s1600/VWBanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="49" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N0W8NpPWgbo/UXTU4l3RUYI/AAAAAAAAAps/WM4Zxix77IA/s320/VWBanner.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>This week is <a href="http://usvegweek.com/" target="_blank">VegWeek</a>! </b> Running from today, Monday, April 22nd through Sunday, April 28th, this week is all about making those compassionate, healthful, Earth-friendly choices to benefit all life on our planet along with our Earth herself! What can you do? So many things!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>1) Do you eat omnivorously? Not sure what to do?</b> Start simple and try one day of plant-based meals. <i>Just one day</i>. It's amazing what even one day can do to benefit the TriVegta<span class="st">™</span> (health, animals, environment)... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><i>Yeah, still proud of my invented TriVegta<span class="st">™</span>.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><i>The late Oreo at <a href="http://www.animalacres.org/" target="_blank">Animal Acres</a>. (Photo © Cameron O'Steen)</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>2) Are you bold? Do you want to make a difference? </b>Take a <a href="http://usvegweek.com/pledge/" target="_blank">7-day Veg Pledge</a> (and maybe win some cool prizes from <a href="http://www.cok.net/" target="_blank">Compassion Over Killing</a>)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>3) Vegetarian? </b>Go Vegan one day! Or even better: the whole week!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>4) Vegan?</b> Encourage at least one friend, family member, coworker to try any of options #1-3!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b>5) Human being?</b> Well, if you are (I think that means every one of you), then please share this blog post to help spread the word about the greatest choice to save our world!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Check out COK's <a href="http://usvegweek.com/resources/" target="_blank">resources</a>, upcoming <a href="http://usvegweek.com/events/" target="_blank">events</a>, participating VegWeek <a href="http://usvegweek.com/restaurants/" target="_blank">restaurants</a>, and <a href="http://usvegweek.com/sponsors/" target="_blank">sponsors</a>, and do your best to make every day an Earth day.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Please comment below with your Earth Day/VegWeek 2013 pledge! Help make the biggest difference you can!</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">All the best and yummiest,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Steve and Lindsay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Enjoy some more of these articles on veganism, the environmental toll from eating meat, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-friedrich/a-sin-tax-on-meat-would-i_b_844179.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-friedrich/a-sin-tax-on-meat-would-i_b_844179.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/we-can-lean-into-a-better_b_827716.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-freston/we-can-lean-into-a-better_b_827716.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1452422787"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/18/environment-eat-less-meat-cheese-dairy-health_n_901464.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/18/environment-eat-less-meat-cheese-dairy-health_n_901464.html</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/meat-consumption-the-downward-spiral-continues/">http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/meat-consumption-the-downward-spiral-continues/</a></span><br />
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-28935442418004288532013-02-22T16:55:00.000-08:002013-02-22T16:55:49.214-08:00Thank You! But Your Goal Is In Another Castle!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you owned a Nintendo (an original NES)...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you played Super Mario Brothers (the very first SMB)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you were mostly in the know of popular culture in the 80s and 90s (you know, 20-30 years ago...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then you are probably familiar with this:</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFr8ZIFVcRc/USUq-C_5fnI/AAAAAAAAAlw/hbk3DJjCxS8/s1600/Thank+You+Mario.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vFr8ZIFVcRc/USUq-C_5fnI/AAAAAAAAAlw/hbk3DJjCxS8/s320/Thank+You+Mario.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You remember? I remember. Before I was familiar with the full layout of the game, and was prepared for Toad's repeated message at the end of each level, I responded to the first level's exclamation with a sense of excitement and laughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Aw man! Well, the game just started, so of course I haven't found the princess yet... here we go to Level 2!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Okay... to Level 3!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groundhog Day, anyone?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Gotta figure... Level 4."</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groundhog Day, anyone? </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">..... Level 5 (sigh) ..... Level 6 (double sigh) ..... Level 7 (triple sigh) ..... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a kid, or an adult, playing a video game, this, in no way, would ever be considered a nuisance. Right? "Another level to play? Awesome!" The experience of getting to continue on the journey - having fun, making discoveries, failing some, succeeding eventually, and pushing forward - would be entirely embraced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So... why do we make our goal/outcome journey process more difficult? How often do we huff and haw about delays, give up prematurely when we don't reach our anticipated finish line, allow our frustration to build rather than enjoy the ride?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the journey of many. This is why the word "failure" is used so often and so improperly. This is why New Year's Resolutions get dropped after a couple months and only a few attempts. Maybe we ought to put ourselves in the place of our inner Nintendo gamer - or Mario himSelf! What if Mario gave up after Toad delivered the news the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or Nth time? I mean, come on, he's a plumber, probably losing some decent jobs while attempting to save the Princess, getting zoinked by Goombas, having fire spit at him by flowers and Koopas, and falling in tons of (bottomless?) holes. Super Mario Brothers would be a lot different if the option to retire, to stop, to give up - after another empty castle was discovered - was available.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr. Oz... Dr. Phil... Watch out. Dr. Toad is coming your way.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Instead, what happens when we embrace our journey? The ups, the downs, the failures, and successes? Not only are we able to achieve, our resolve grows stronger, our foresight gets sharper, our valued and valuable connections expand, our skin gets tougher. We earn our way to a stronger, wiser, more prepared Self. And this Self is ready for the next challenge, the next goal, the next Quest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some bulletpoints to take to heart the next time you set a goal or are struggling with your current journey:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Start with your Purpose.</b> This will be give the greatest meaning to any pursuit you'll endeavor. Without it, it'll be too easy to waver or falter as you work toward your goal. <i>What do you ultimately want? Why do you want this?</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tune into the feelings you want to experience when you achieve your goal <u>now</u>.</b> Don't wait to feel sexy, stronger, richer, etc. Start incorporating those feelings into your daily life however you can each and every day as you pursue your greater vision/goal. Like attracts like, and your goal will surely be attracted to those active feelings.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Live every day in the present and allow each present day add up to your optimal future.</b> Nothing destroys momentum more than dwelling on past "failures" and "regrets" or looking too far ahead in the future and letting it get us down ("But it's soooooo far away!").</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to the above, <b>Plan Ahead. </b>Create a plan, an outline; chart a course, design a blueprint. Allow each day that you live in the present to be for a greater something and not just aimless wandering.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Understand that the path is not always straight, it's not always clear, there are twists and turns and bumps along the way. </b> When you get those guiding light paths toward a goal, accept them, embrace them, be eternally grateful for them - don't think that they are the norm though. Be ready and flexible to run into some "obstacles," to go off on tangents and then return, and more of the like. This doesn't mean you're off-course; this is the course - it's a Labyrinth in which you just have to keep moving.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're following the above and you're consistently taking action, <b>you're always getting closer. </b>Some outcomes arrive quickly and others take much longer. Don't give up or relinquish your passion because you're not quite there yet. More often then not, you're close. Possibly even just a couple of millimeters away. (Check out <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/09/switching-i-and-e-millimeter-rule.html" target="_blank">my previous post about the slight adjustment or the extra step you may need</a> - and you're there! You'll see <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtDehXTDT3E/UFAexEyWEEI/AAAAAAAAAOE/RSNhwVvu7-Y/s1600/Success+Line.jpeg" target="_blank">the Success diagram</a> for a better understanding of your journey here too.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The little successes are still successes.</b> How about that?! You get to wrack up a boatful of successes along the way. That should only fuel you further. Completing Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are all worthy accomplishments. And without them, you can't make it to Level 8. (Unless you know those shortcut pipes... search them out in life and use them to your advantage if you can.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Infuse your pursuit/actions with accountability. </b>If you can hold yourSelf accountable, excellent - do so. Setting deadlines, offering rewards, whatever works best for how you operate. Often, finding an accountability partner/buddy helps more. We all have a much easier time letting ourselves down... but letting someone else who we trust and care about down also?!?! Not gonna happen. (There are websites out there to help you with this too. Check out <a href="http://stickk.com/">stickK.com</a> - I haven't tried it, but I'm sure it could be valuable to you if you need it.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Take care of yourSelf during the process - and celebrate once you reach your goal! </b> We work too hard. We do. Which is completely different from putting in hard work. Think big, play big, move forward, but don't exhaust yourSelf completely. Leave time to breathe, make sure you have some YouTime (or contact <a href="http://www.youtimecoach.com/" target="_blank">The YouTime Coach</a> for assistance with that). Eat healthfully, get quality rest/sleep, schedule chunks of time for play and/or with others. The You that functions at your peak ability will be the You that reaches your goal the quickest and with what seems like the least amount of effort (in the sense that everything will flow to you more naturally <i>while</i> you put in your hard work). Once you get there, celebrate! You deserve it.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, when we do reach out goal and achieve our desired (or destined) outcome, we wish we could get this:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously, Princess means Mario has grown on the inside. (He sure doesn't look "grown" physically.)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, of course, this is what we get:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"May I take a <i>quick</i> nap before I jump into the next Quest?"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seriously, after proving yourSelf wildly successful in braving the immense venture of your first Quest, why not accept another one? (Hint: they will keep coming to you regardless.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy your Quests, and good luck finding your Princesses.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-10447532955119477642012-12-05T00:39:00.000-08:002012-12-05T00:39:15.878-08:00A Connective Giving & Receiving Experiment<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had an excellent conversation with a wonderful friend today about asking for help. My friend is also a coach and provides questions for me to ponder along with insight and inspiration that moves me forward in my pursuits and passions. The conversation inspired this blog. Thank you, friend.</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asking someone for help can be a fearful experience. I always remember the joke/stereotype of the guy who'd drive his family around, in circles, all over the place, lost while on their way to vacation instead of pulling over to ask someone for directions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's a certain pride to doing everything yourSelf. To knowing, or thinking you know, everything yourSelf. Asking for help means you're not almighty, you're not all-knowing, you're weak. Asking for help means you're not worthy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now you may read the above paragraph and think "that's ridiculous!" But, for many, it's true - or made to be true. Whether consciously or unconsciously, asking for help is most often related as a sign of weakness, of vulnerability. And, sure, while the process of asking for help may be a vulnerable request - someone could say "yes," but someone could also say "no" and what would that mean? - <b>I've learned it actually relates a lot more to a greater strength, willingness, and acceptance that can only benefit the connection between people and toward one's Self.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>How excited have you been in the past to be able to help someone with a request or a favor? What have you, as the Giver, gotten out of that experience?</b> Whatever feelings you've experienced have placed you in the Receiver role too - allowing the person who received your gift to give back an intention, a compliment, thanks, etc., and you the benefit of receiving in addition to giving. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tXbinLN0Jos/UL7FroW7buI/AAAAAAAAAj4/5DKZxjzCz3s/s1600/law-of-abundance-293x300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tXbinLN0Jos/UL7FroW7buI/AAAAAAAAAj4/5DKZxjzCz3s/s1600/law-of-abundance-293x300.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see the amazing circle/cycle in action? <b>This is the Law of Abundance.</b> The more you strengthen it, the more expansive your opportunities to both give and receive become. There's immense joy and reward in giving and receiving. Reciprocation has always been a treasured value of mine, and it's proven to be rewarding in so many ways for the people I've helped and the people who have helped me. <b>Asking for help is a courageous act and answering that call is the quickest way to Abundance.</b> Do you want Abundance in your life?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You may or may not know about my <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/11/help-me-get-to-bimini.html" target="_blank">Reiki Certification Retreat fundraiser</a>. If not, take a quick gander at the link. You can read about my passion, connection, and desire to make this experience a reality and the many ways you can both <b>help by giving and benefit by receiving a gift of greater value, at the same time</b>. (Gifts to you include coaching, Reiki, promoting/blogging, and other services.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm reaching out to you with a <b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Connective Giving & Receiving Experiment.</span></i></b> You are my many friends, family, Ahimsa Lifers, and other acquaintances - you total in the thousands (maybe tens of thousands, who knows!) - with this amazing world of online connections and social media in which we live. Here's the experiment:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>I know this experience will be tremendously valuable to me</u> - to my spirit, my growth as an individual, my growth as a coach, my growth as someone who provides service and help.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've been connected, most likely, by birth, blood, play, school, business, a common passion or pursuit or philosophy. In at least some way, <u>we both believe in each other, support each other, respect each other, love each other.</u></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>I am asking each and every one of you for your help</u> and would love to initiate the cycle of Giving and Receiving with you. (Check out <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/09/unity-caring-kindness-and-friendship.html" target="_blank">Unity, Caring, Kindness, and Friendship</a>!)</span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If everyone could help me in even the smallest way by contributing at least $1, those dollars would add up to provide me with this opportunity to explore, discover, experience, and reciprocate value to others. 1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1 ... and so on makes a difference.</span></b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In doing so, <u>you'd be a part of such an incredible supportive and helpful whole</u> without going beyond your means or negatively affecting yourSelf.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you cannot give at least $1, or are choosing not to give at least $1 for your own valuable reasons, there are no worries or disappointments. <u>Your energy and support is very much appreciated</u> and helps too.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Connective Giving & Receiving Experiment allows for many opportunities and greater Abundance for both mySelf and for You. <b>Give to Receive. Receive to earn opportunities to Give. And continue. If you are open to it and willing to participate in it, this is one of the greatest gifts life can provide.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading, and I hope you will participate in Giving & Receiving with me. I am grateful for you. Please believe in me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll leave you with a few quotes from Rumi, whose words I love, and you may love also:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>And still, after all this time, the Sun has never said to the Earth, 'You owe me.' Look what happens with love like that. It lights up the sky.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>What you seek is seeking you.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>Give up to grace. </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>The ocean takes care of each </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>wave 'til it gets to shore. </b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>You need more help than you know.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>Give your weakness to one who helps.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<i>You must ask for what you really want./ Don't go back to sleep./ The door is round and open./ Don't go back to sleep.</i>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-82126867855533551502012-11-29T01:07:00.000-08:002012-11-29T01:27:58.294-08:00Unprocessed by Chef AJ: Book Review & Giveaway!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're all looking for help in some way or another. Advice from a family member or a friend. A film to allow us to escape. A book to shed some light on a topic or provide valuable information. <br /><br />We're always looking for a new tool to add to our personal toolbelt, a new skill for our repertoire, a new resource to make sure we have everything we need for our heads, hearts, bodies, and spirits. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsPPjbk20zY/ULcesPkBSoI/AAAAAAAAAi8/dkfVxIZSink/s1600/unprocessed1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UsPPjbk20zY/ULcesPkBSoI/AAAAAAAAAi8/dkfVxIZSink/s320/unprocessed1.jpeg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My most recent resource that I added into my life was <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1456576097/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=eatunpr-20&linkCode=as2&camp=%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%201789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1456576097" target="_blank">Unprocessed: How to achieve vibrant health and your ideal weight</a></i> by Chef AJ. I've only known Chef AJ for a short time but have learned so much from her, in person and through her book. She has really worked her way into becoming one of the premier plant-based/vegan chefs and is incredibly accessible with information and recipes. Currently, in addition to her website, <a href="http://www.chefajshealthykitchen.com/" target="_blank">Chef AJ's Healthy Kitchen</a>, where you can sign up for cooking classes, workshops/events, and more, you can find her teamed up with <a href="http://plantbaseddietitian.com/" target="_blank">The Plant-Based Dietitian, Julieanna Hever</a>, in <a href="http://www.eatunprocessed.com/dietitian.html" target="_blank">the fun and tasty videocasts, "The Chef and the Dietitian,"</a> where you can follow the two making recipes from soups to salads to smoothies to dinners to desserts. It's a big delicious video experience.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AD8rJQBWbUg/ULcgHfZs85I/AAAAAAAAAjM/rWbpyQA7Zuk/s1600/chefaj.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AD8rJQBWbUg/ULcgHfZs85I/AAAAAAAAAjM/rWbpyQA7Zuk/s200/chefaj.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I recently read <i>Unprocessed</i>, and what I love about it is that <b>Chef AJ leads you, the reader, through simple, relatable, easy-to-understand steps to benefit your mindset and journey toward eating an unprocessed, or whole-food, plant-based diet.</b> Starting with her very own life story - which you'll have to read yourself! - Chef AJ takes us through what easily could be your life experience or <i>your</i> life experience or <b><i>your</i></b> life experience. Let me tell you, I was surprised to find out a lot about what's happened in her life. AJ definitely had to overcome some major obstacles in order to discover her passion, optimal health, and happiness. Though many challenges were thrown her way, she succeeded - and the value of plant-based eating was definitely at the core of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>After Chef AJ connects with you, as an author, as a friend, she continues on as a guide, a teacher, and a coach, breaking through the initially-legitimate (but ultimately flimsy) excuses for not wanting to or "being unable" to eat plant-based and unprocessed.</b> Once you realize "She's right!" and begin to think "Well, what do I do now...?" she swoops in like a superhero(ine), providing all of the basic information on why eating an unprocessed, plant-based diet is best for you - and then helpful tips on how to make it work in your life or <i>your</i> life or <b><i>your</i></b> life. Finally, AJ opens up the vault and you get to cash in on over 100 delicious nutrient-rich and gluten-free recipes! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That Chipotle Corn Salsa sure looks Smokey!<br />
(courtesy of <a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a>)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><i>Unprocessed</i> is personal, informational, fun, and so helpful in relaying how unprocessed, plant-based eating is valuable for </u><i><u>everyone</u> - </i>yes, even you and <i>you</i> and <b style="font-style: italic;">you.</b> And when you're done, you can jump right in and enjoy with simple recipes that will wow your taste buds and contribute to (and not against) your health.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some favorites that I've tried or that have caught my eye and will most likely end up in my tummy sometime in the near future:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhtJaBz7Pgw/ULch_Z_EGqI/AAAAAAAAAjc/dr0T2I-JXAU/s1600/chef-aj-soup_150x150.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jhtJaBz7Pgw/ULch_Z_EGqI/AAAAAAAAAjc/dr0T2I-JXAU/s200/chef-aj-soup_150x150.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmm mmm soup.<br />
(courtesy of <a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a>)</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sOj89bd1v2E" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chocolate Glazed Balsamic </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strawberries</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mint Chocolate Mousse Torte</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pumpkin Pie Smoothie</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=axRxw_MyQ_Y" target="_blank">Smokey Chipotle Corn Salsa</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ish2TB6jsm8" target="_blank">Hail to the Kale Salad</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Faux Parmesan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sweet Potato Soup w/Cannelini Beans & Rainbow Chard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t66NXS_aqBc" target="_blank">Chef AJ's Disappearing Lasagna</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's only 8. Which means there are over 92 more for you to enjoy. How to do that? Well, get the book, of course! And I'll give you a head start! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We're giving away one signed copy of Unprocessed to the lucky raffle winner of this last giveaway of the year.</b> It's super simple - you may already be a pro at this - just go to the <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" target="_blank">Rafflecopter</a> widget below, sign up for free if you need to, and follow the easy directions. The more items you complete, the more raffle entries in your name, the better chance you have at winning!</span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7250eb4/" id="rc-7250eb4" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-18478296056106971282012-11-16T12:32:00.000-08:002012-12-10T11:26:09.558-08:00Help Me Get to Bimini!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everyone goes through life-changing, awe-inspiring moments. Maybe it's just a minute or maybe it's a week-long event. Whatever it is, it's a chance to self-reflect, to dig deep within and explore your life path, your passions, and any "light bulbs" waiting to go off with a sign, a clue, a direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I first met <a href="http://www.taniamarie.com/about.htm" target="_blank">Tania Marie</a>, creator of <a href="http://www.taniamarie.com/emeraldbridge.htm" target="_blank">Emerald Bridge</a>, through a coincidental connection on <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>. We immediately started up a dialogue as our energies seemed focused in the same direction. As a <a href="http://www.taniamarie.com/reiki.htm" target="_blank">Reiki Master Teacher</a> and intuitive healer Tania works with others - through various practices - to explore, discover, and channel their passions in a compassionate, conscious, heart-based way. (Learn more about Reiki & energy healing <a href="http://www.taniamarie.com/reiki.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tania is teaming up with an beautiful facility in the Bahamas, called the <a href="http://www.atlantisrejuvenationcenter.com/" target="_blank">Atlantis Rejuvenation Center (ARC)</a>, to host a <a href="http://taniamarieartist.wordpress.com/2012/07/18/cosmic-heart-activation-with-reiki-raw-food-and-wild-dolphin-communion-birthing-the-new-earth-in-bimini-bahamas-december-16th-21st-2012/" target="_blank">life-changing, awe-inspiring retreat</a>, consisting of yoga, meditation, raw vegan cuisine, <a href="http://www.atlantisrejuvenationcenter.com/dolphins.html" target="_blank">swimming with dolphins in their natural habitat</a>, and getting certified in Reiki (plus more). </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHz-8vZG8co/UKaWZqZ-9HI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/PnRS8flPPvo/s1600/Bimini1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZHz-8vZG8co/UKaWZqZ-9HI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/PnRS8flPPvo/s320/Bimini1.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I found out about this retreat, I instantly felt connected to it - as it represented numerous passions of mine, a future endeavor I was learning about (Reiki certification), and a dream since I was a child (swimming with dolphins). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, life leads a certain way, and, as of this moment, I do not have the funds to make it to Bimini. In the midst of everyday responsibilities and finances, plus handling the little (or big) pesky ones that pop up unexpectedly, I've been slowly saving up for this retreat in December. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>It's officially crunch time.</u> <b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I now ask you, my wonderful family, friends, Ahimsa Lifers, for your help in making this life-changing, awe-inspiring experience a reality for me. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've put together a "Bimini Kickstarter," a fundraising opportunity where I can give back for everyone who helps contribute to this amazing happening, this life-changing experience. From this retreat, I will have a brand new skill/practice that I will be utilizing along with my coaching, all of which I can provide for your health & well-being. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>I have a less than ONE WEEK before the retreat (Dec. 16th-21st) and will be <b>accepting contributions leading up until Friday, December 14th to reach my goal.</b> The cost of the retreat comes out to $2005, which includes all accommodations and retreat activities/events, certification in Reiki I & II, FL-Bahamas round-trip charter, and departure tax (flights/transportation separate). <b>I'm a little more than halfway to my goal. Please help!</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Here is the contribution help link: </b></span></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below are the different tiers of contribution for which you will receive a valuable service to thank you for your generosity: </span></div>
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<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$1 or more</u>: A special thanks blog post & the best shout out ever on FB/Twitter*</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$10 or more</u>: A special thanks + promotion (for your business, project, etc.) blog post & best shout out ever on FB/Twitter*</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$20 or more</u>: A one-time coaching email. You send me a question, concern, something with which you're seeking guidance, I'll send you back feedback and action areas you can explore.</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$40 or more</u>: Call to Action session - in person, by phone or Skype. 45 minute session where we can explore a specific area of your life to release blocks, seek new avenues, and take action OR 1 Reiki Session**</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$75 or more</u>: Call to Action month (3 sessions) OR 2 Reiki sessions**</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$125 or more</u>: Call to Action month and 2 Reiki sessions**</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$250 or more</u>: 3 months of <a href="http://www.ahimsalifecoaching.com/" target="_blank">Ahimsa Life Coaching</a> OR Call to Action and 5 Reiki sessions**</span></b></li>
<li class="li1"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>$500 or more</u>: 6 months of <a href="http://www.ahimsalifecoaching.com/" target="_blank">Ahimsa Life Coaching</a> OR Call to Action and 12 Reiki sessions**</span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>*Applies to all tiers of contribution (above)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>**Reiki, like coaching, can be done in person or from a distance. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think of it as preemptively contributing to your own life, investing in valued services that will greatly benefit you. Of course, your investment, your contribution, your help will greatly benefit me - and, for that, I express my deepest gratitude and look forward to reciprocating with the gift in the corresponding tier.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">***I've added new gifts to collection. If you're not specifically looking for coaching or Reiki services, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoy being creative and bringing out my silly side - </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hopefully you can have some fun with these! Thinking of something else? Let me know and we can customize a tier for your contribution.</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$10 or more</u>: I will create a professional high-quality personalized birthday/holiday/greeting card for you to give to a friend, family member, or other someone in your life (maybe even for you!). You provide me with some basic information & pictures (in pdf or jpeg form) you'd like to use, and I'll create a ready-made card for you to send (or I can send it out myself from you).</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$20 or more</u>: I will create a personalized video poem or performance for a friend, family member, or other someone in your life (maybe even for you!). You provide me with information, and I'll create a video to you liking (and laughing).</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$33 or more</u>: I will write a personalized song and create a music video for you. You send over a couple of items that you'd like in the video, any basic ideas for my creative jumping-off point, and I'll work my MTV magic.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$50 or more</u>: FOR LA (or nearby) RESIDENTS - I will cook a homemade meal for you at your place or mine, starting with a meeting to plan out a menu. While you relax over a glass of wine or a beer or non-alcoholic beverage, I will make a delicious dinner for you, walking you through if you'd like to learn how to make it (or you can just sit back and enjoy). You provide the food, I'll bring the drink.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$75 or more</u>: FOR LA (or nearby) RESIDENTS - I will host and/or emcee your poker night or game night, my place or yours. I'll provide snacks, games, cards & poker chips, you bring the rest. I'll play dealer the whole night, Rulemaster, or any other role you see fit for the event.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>$300 or more</u>: I will shave my head, leaving a little bit of hair - spelling out your initials for a week. Or the reverse, I'll have your initials shaved into a fuller/buzzed head of hair.</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These new, fun gifts can be used in combination with the original 8. For instance, for a mere $550 you can get 12 Reiki sessions plus get a walking billboard from my "your-initial" shaved head. Or for $20, a special thanks, promotion of your business, event, project, and a high-quality personalized greeting card for an occasion of your choice. Keep an eye out for new ones!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>Thank you for helping me on my journey.</b></u><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*</i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please make sure you include your contact information so I can contact you about your gift. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because this is not an organization-based fundraiser (i.e. Kickstarter), contributions are direct and immediate. I will send updates to all who contribute about the fundraiser's status. If, by chance, contributions do not bring me to a total that will allow me to get to the Bimini Retreat, I will reimburse all donations within 72 hours of the official deadline (Dec. 9th). Email me at <a href="mailto:ahimsalifecoaching@gmail.com">ahimsalifecoaching@gmail.com</a> for any further information. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you. Thank you.</i></b></span><br />
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-47842890978395142042012-11-08T22:23:00.000-08:002012-11-08T22:23:38.127-08:00Live With Passion!<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VljQ6v8nN6E/UJx1boLVMSI/AAAAAAAAAg4/e4vwJnmEV9c/s1600/biography_tony.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VljQ6v8nN6E/UJx1boLVMSI/AAAAAAAAAg4/e4vwJnmEV9c/s320/biography_tony.jpeg" width="281" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's <a href="http://www.tonyrobbins.com/" target="_blank">Tony Robbins</a>' mantra, his tagline, his salutation in emails, on his website, in his audios and videos. He encourages you to not just live life but <b>live a life full of passion, of drive, of meaning, of purpose, of motivation, of inspiration, of momentum.</b> He recommends you follow your dreams and lead the way there through direction and commitment. I haven't listened to an audio or watched a video in the past few weeks, but I can still hear his raspy, powerful voice say: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<i>Live... with... Passion!</i>"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A little over a year ago, November 3rd-6th, 2011, to be exact, I attended <a href="http://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/" target="_blank">Unleash the Power Within</a>, one of the many premiere Tony Robbins events.</b> UPW consisted of four full 12+ hour days at the Los Angeles Convention Center in a large hall of 4000+ people. Led by Tony and Joseph McClendon III, the four day immersion intends to: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>turn fear into power, allowing you to breakthrough limiting beliefs that have held you back in life, featured by a "Firewalk," where you walk over hot coals around 1000 degrees F (give or take a couple hundred degrees)</b>; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">introduce you to practical psychology and the 6 Human Needs, teaching you what drives an individual to do (or not to do) something; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">rile up a deep sense of hunger, or drive, of willingness and want to success, achieve, and grow, and provide the forward-moving focus needed with a pumped-up community energy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">connect mind, body, and spirit with practical action steps to thrive with vital health and fulfillment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>introduce techniques for you to condition your mindset and produce/live an extraordinary life</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Needless to say, <b>it was a life-changing, empowering experience</b> (that I highly recommend to you, should you have the opportunity to attend a UPW or other Tony Robbins event). <b>I left UPW with a strength, a focus, a direction that I never had (or trusted I had) before.</b> Since then,</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've <b>created <a href="http://www.ahimsalifecoaching.com/" target="_blank">Ahimsa Life Coaching</a></b> and developed it into a coaching business and online platform/community: working with multiple clients toward living healthier, happier, more passionate and compassionate lives; created a contest of meaning with <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/logoquestions-2012-year-of-meaning.html" target="_blank">LogoQuestions 2012</a>, inviting Ahimsa Lifers to explore their lives through a daily meaningful question</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've <b>attracted my way into becoming the Community Manager with <a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a></b>, a powerful, acclaimed film of which I already was a great advocate, setting my work and passion into the same realm</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've <b>connected with other professionals to create opportunities</b> and appearances to share my insight, expertise, and passion and make myself more known</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've <b>established a life where I dictate my time</b>, living my days with the time freedom for which I had once yearned</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I <b>broke through my fear of getting involved in improv</b> and started classes (and even performing!) at <a href="http://www.west.ioimprov.com/" target="_blank">iO West</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've <b>developed a more effective and active fitness routine/program</b>, putting on muscle & weight at a greater pace; participated in a <a href="http://www.gladiatorrocknrun.com/" target="_blank">Gladiator Run</a>, testing my physical and mental strength and ability</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and more...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This event easily could have been a one-time happening, a flash in the pan. However, beyond my love and faith in what Tony Robbins teaches, I knew I needed something to anchor me to moving forward, to sticking to my promise to unleash my power within and set forth in achieving my goals with passion. The first day of the event I purchased a wrist band that reads Tony's mantra, tagline, saying, and salutation: "LIVE WITH PASSION." <b>I have worn this wristband every day for the past year</b> (now a little over a year - 370 days to be exact; if you've seen me, then you can vouch it's true), and every day it's reminded me to... you know... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I have. <b>And I will continue to live with passion in my extraordinary life.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>Do you LIVE WITH PASSION? What do you feel prevents you from living a life of passion and how can you live your passions in a greater manner? What will you do starting TODAY to ensure your life is more passionate in health, work, play, relationships, etc.? Please share in the comments!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. I've added a new wristband to keep my LIVE WITH PASSION wristband company. It's a maxim I've promoted and lived for the past 3+ years. Check it out:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.P.S. Are you interested in Unleashing the Power Within yourSelf? Check out the <a href="http://www.tonyrobbins.com/" target="_blank">Tony Robbins' website</a> for more information on upcoming events (including <a href="http://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/" target="_blank">UPW in Los Angeles, March 2013!</a>) and valuable tools from which you can truly benefit!</span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-88768798172886793372012-11-01T16:18:00.001-07:002012-11-01T16:18:47.936-07:00Happy World Vegan Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">I am vegan</span> because I love life - for mySelf and for others. <b><span style="color: orange;">I am vegan</span> because I am an animal lover - a true animal lover - and believe that we, as humans, have no right to abuse, confine, torture, or kill animals at our own will for our own selfish, personal reasons.</b> <span style="color: yellow;">I am vegan</span> because I would never harm or eat any of the four cats that reside with me in my apartment, and, therefore, should extend the same to other animals. <span style="color: lime;">I am vegan</span> because animal foods are one of the, if not the greatest, leading cause of global warming, environment degradation, climate change due to the horrendous practices of factory farming and the animal food industry. <span style="color: cyan;">I am vegan</span> because animal foods are one of the, if not the greatest, leading cause of today's deadliest diseases and chronic conditions, led by heart disease and cancer. <span style="color: blue;">I am vegan</span> because my eyes were opened to the horrors of the animal food, clothing, entertainment, and testing industries, and I no longer wanted to contribute to them. <b><span style="color: purple;">I am vegan</span> because I care about my health and my body and eating plant-based is the healthiest choice I can make for mySelf.</b> <span style="color: magenta;">I am vegan</span> because I care about other people. <span style="color: #990000;">I am vegan</span> because I do not want to contribute to global hunger; I want to help prevent it. <span style="color: #b45f06;">I am vegan</span> because I want to live a long life on this planet. <span style="color: #bf9000;">I am vegan</span> because I promote and live by the ideals of Ahimsa, compassion, kindness, responsibility, accountability, awareness, consciousness, prevention. <span style="color: #38761d;">I am vegan</span> because there are plenty of foods that are available for me to eat. <b><span style="color: #134f5c;">I am vegan</span> because all of the tastes and textures of the foods I ate when growing up and of my early adulthood are available to me with the variety of delicious food options.</b> <span style="color: #0b5394;">I am vegan</span> because I want to help others become aware of healthier, more compassionate ways to eat and live. <span style="color: #351c75;">I am vegan</span> because no living beings deserve to die for another living beings' pleasure. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">I am vegan</span> because it totally aligns with my values and beliefs of doing the least amount of harm while living the fullest, most fulfilling life through my passions and dreams.</b> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I am vegan, and today I celebrate World Vegan Day. Will you join me?</i></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Why are you vegan? </u></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>What does being vegan mean to you? Why is living vegan important for the world?</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: orange;">All the best and yummiest to you.</span></i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-25483675704024809872012-10-31T02:47:00.000-07:002012-10-31T02:47:06.647-07:00Vegan MoFo #10: Pure Unadulterated Vegan Food Porn (a.k.a.: This is what I eat)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been fun, Ahimsa Lifers and other Vegan MoFos. I didn't quite live up to writing a post a day about food, but I got a solid 10 in and, let me tell you, I ate A LOT of food. Here are the previous 9 posts for you to go back and read/drool over:</span><br />
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<a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-begins-with-cruzers-pizza.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#1</span> </a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-day-2-green-smoothies.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#2</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-3-but-i-love-cheese.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#3 </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-4-my-favorite-bean.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#4 </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-5-suncafe-is-all-its-cooked.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#5</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-6-mini-thanksgiving-in.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#6</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-7-live-for-live-joy-of-raw.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#7</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/interviews-with-ahimsa-lifers-food-w.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#8</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-9-live-for-live-joy-of-raw.html" style="background-color: white; color: #6699cc; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#9</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some of my favorite recently documented meals:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNWLPFo0Oeo/UJDpNMZN8OI/AAAAAAAAAd0/sUuWQLxCLwE/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNWLPFo0Oeo/UJDpNMZN8OI/AAAAAAAAAd0/sUuWQLxCLwE/s320/photo-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veggiegrill.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Grill</a> Dessert Sampler - Choco Chip Cookie, Choco Pudding, Carrot Cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vFa4kWBSWw/UJDpklm7uBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/NtRmJ1ZpDwo/s1600/photo-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vFa4kWBSWw/UJDpklm7uBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/NtRmJ1ZpDwo/s320/photo-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sporkfoods.com/" target="_blank">SporkFoods</a> Heart of Palm & Tofu Crab Cakes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAq3RigEtkk/UJDp6erDAcI/AAAAAAAAAeE/_i6rOW1tvOY/s1600/photo-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAq3RigEtkk/UJDp6erDAcI/AAAAAAAAAeE/_i6rOW1tvOY/s320/photo-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Quinoa Medley of my own, with sweet potatoes, mushrooms, kale, and raisins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Dvea0hIeU/UJDqNa7CL7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/Btpv22gLcD4/s1600/photo-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4Dvea0hIeU/UJDqNa7CL7I/AAAAAAAAAeM/Btpv22gLcD4/s320/photo-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sageveganbistro.com/" target="_blank">Sage Vegan Bistro</a>'s Jackfruit Tacos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WweLt4tovhk/UJDqgRll7RI/AAAAAAAAAeY/5R2lm7AbivI/s1600/photo-13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WweLt4tovhk/UJDqgRll7RI/AAAAAAAAAeY/5R2lm7AbivI/s320/photo-13.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Good Ol' <a href="http://thefrankenstand.com/index.html" target="_blank">Frankenstand</a> Beer Brat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7YNcTRGLBc/UJDq0WKAsTI/AAAAAAAAAeg/orjp60U22HU/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s7YNcTRGLBc/UJDq0WKAsTI/AAAAAAAAAeg/orjp60U22HU/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veggiegrill.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Grill</a>'s Buffalo Wings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7yjsLvUoWg/UJDrMm8cbXI/AAAAAAAAAeo/VrI02MO11NU/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7yjsLvUoWg/UJDrMm8cbXI/AAAAAAAAAeo/VrI02MO11NU/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veggiegrill.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Grill</a>'s Thai Chickin' Salad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWa0b_7VCzk/UJDrhfPq2BI/AAAAAAAAAew/BogGu5XGU7Y/s1600/photo-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aWa0b_7VCzk/UJDrhfPq2BI/AAAAAAAAAew/BogGu5XGU7Y/s320/photo-4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Browned Tofu w/gravy, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli in a Pumpkin Sauce</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmbWdUAfsuE/UJDr47MbuLI/AAAAAAAAAe4/__WfgSVjXBQ/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LmbWdUAfsuE/UJDr47MbuLI/AAAAAAAAAe4/__WfgSVjXBQ/s320/photo-5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin Themed Meal - Brown Rice Pasta w/veggies, tempeh, topped in Pumpkin Cream w/Shock Top's Pumpkin Ale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqT3ubOXWyE/UJDsOV2PMAI/AAAAAAAAAfA/4TaMrHzP6AQ/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KqT3ubOXWyE/UJDsOV2PMAI/AAAAAAAAAfA/4TaMrHzP6AQ/s320/photo-6.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackened Tempeh over Steamed Kale, with sweet potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijVfK3J_10c/UJDsit59G-I/AAAAAAAAAfI/bqLjB8hLYGc/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ijVfK3J_10c/UJDsit59G-I/AAAAAAAAAfI/bqLjB8hLYGc/s320/photo-7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Field Roast Sausage Salad w/cherry tomatoes and avocado</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0zOd4oeqoU/UJDs6KOurcI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/agAm_GmJcWs/s1600/photo-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h0zOd4oeqoU/UJDs6KOurcI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/agAm_GmJcWs/s320/photo-8.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DESSERT. Fried Bananas & Peanut Butter on Gluten-Free Brown Rice Bread w/melted chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae_nM58-oAA/UJDtVlIIrKI/AAAAAAAAAfY/MgrhFHj-Dos/s1600/photo-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae_nM58-oAA/UJDtVlIIrKI/AAAAAAAAAfY/MgrhFHj-Dos/s320/photo-9.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sporkfoods.com/" target="_blank">SporkFoods</a> Caprese Salad - Mozzarella, Tomato, & Basil</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJT82auxE0/UJDtrEDSy5I/AAAAAAAAAfg/jphwckWvaRQ/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KkJT82auxE0/UJDtrEDSy5I/AAAAAAAAAfg/jphwckWvaRQ/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.veggiegrill.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Grill</a>'s All-American Stack & Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can see from the above that I've been living my best and yummiest.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you. </i></b></span><br />
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<br />Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-31733502066056043682012-10-31T00:36:00.000-07:002012-10-31T00:36:27.999-07:00If You Want to Fly, You Gotta Be Willing to Fall...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUNTxFvkjhQ/UJDRQGFnQsI/AAAAAAAAAc4/nB3Y83cqteo/s1600/animals_kicking_bird_out_of_nest_dr-com1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUNTxFvkjhQ/UJDRQGFnQsI/AAAAAAAAAc4/nB3Y83cqteo/s320/animals_kicking_bird_out_of_nest_dr-com1.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A simple concept, yet hard to grasp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The baby bird being nudged out of the nest, flapping his/her wings and very ungracefully plopping on the ground. A child standing up on wobbly legs, taking a couple of monumental steps before plopping down on his/her bottom. A lot of plopping it seems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>If you want to fly, you gotta be willing to fall.</b> Any other way wouldn't be fair, right? To just have your way, anything you want, anytime you want it? Come on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Hard work + trust + repetition = success.</b> And not always on the first try. Very often not on the first - or second, or third through <fill in number here> - try. But eventually. Through that hard work & effort. Through trusting that you deserve what you're working for. Through doing it over and over and over again until it's more difficult <i>not</i> to do it. That's how you learn how to fly. By falling so many times that falling gets old, and flying becomes a more natural feeling/happening.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_JX1tiXFqM/UJDUQC9YjpI/AAAAAAAAAdY/nuwc6teKNaQ/s1600/hiding.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_JX1tiXFqM/UJDUQC9YjpI/AAAAAAAAAdY/nuwc6teKNaQ/s320/hiding.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the other hand, <b>fear + needing to prove something + lack of confidence = staying right where you are.</b> Stuck on that branch - while all the other birds are floating through the air. Being the only toddler who just crawls around all the time. Being terrified that something bad will happen when you haven't even put the slightest effort into an attempt forward.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've turned a new page in life. As a kid, fear of "failure" took over in areas in which I wasn't naturally gifted. For that reason, I never really embraced diving into a pool. For that reason, I didn't learn how to ride a bike. For that reason, I didn't raise my hand in class unless I absolutely positively knew the answer to the question. <b>My fear of falling - of failing, of showing weakness - kept me from flying, from soaring, from excelling, from living how I truly wanted to live.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A simple concept, yet hard to grasp. But once grasped - what can you <i>not</i> accomplish? Sure it takes time, sure it takes effort - but you have both, and adding the trust in yourSelf to achieve leads you to the flight of success.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhzCSZ-k9gI/UJDTl3moyPI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/jpc2rHa11dE/s1600/headstand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhzCSZ-k9gI/UJDTl3moyPI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/jpc2rHa11dE/s320/headstand.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me, I walked over hot coals without burning my feet. For me, I climbed a 15+ rope and battled through a mud run of beastly obstacles. For me, I did a headstand. For me, I jumped excitedly into the world of improv. For me, I got married. For me, I moved across the country. For me, I started my own business. For me, <b>I finally got on that bike - at least a decade later than I probably should/could have - and I wobbled and wiggled and found my balance and rode.</b> </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws_e99fUZi4/UJDS06Ikg8I/AAAAAAAAAdI/QfvbAhzTzWY/s1600/Bike!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ws_e99fUZi4/UJDS06Ikg8I/AAAAAAAAAdI/QfvbAhzTzWY/s400/Bike!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It wasn't until I was willing to fall that I found mySelf succeeding. To put mySelf in a place of Un-comfort, of discomfort, and accept whatever would happen that time, knowing deep down "I got this. If not this time, then next, and if not next, then definitely the time after," I ensured mySelf the exploration, discovery, and growth needed to achieve. And that's exactly what's happened. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L--67TxqctU/UJDRcYoeXkI/AAAAAAAAAdA/-eEMN3qBHP8/s1600/nature-bird-flying-sky-blue1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L--67TxqctU/UJDRcYoeXkI/AAAAAAAAAdA/-eEMN3qBHP8/s320/nature-bird-flying-sky-blue1.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it's something small - like talking to a stranger, running a mile without stopping, trying a new food - or something big - expressing your true feelings & asking out that girl/guy, running a marathon, skydiving - you gotta be willing to take the chance. <b>With proper preparation, trust, time, and effort, your wings will grow and you will soar. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I'll see you in the skies...</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>All the best and yummiest to you.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-27756110964126451232012-10-26T15:25:00.000-07:002012-10-26T15:25:17.457-07:00Vegan MoFo #9 - Live for Live: The Joy of Raw Foods Part 2 (Choose Your Dessert!)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>This one is a dessert test.</b> It's as simple as it comes. Three desserts. You rank 'em from your favorite on down. <b>When it comes to live/raw desserts, the flavor, creaminess, and overwhelming pleasure are all still there. To make the dessert experience even better, raw desserts are lighter.</b> So much lighter. So you can indulge in a raw dessert and not have to worry about the heaviness in your tummy, the bloat, the yucky "too rich" feeling, the "Uhhh, maybe I shouldn't have eaten the whole thing" feeling after.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://cafegratitudela.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Gratitude</a> busts out the goods and, in celebration of family visiting us in LA, we decided to go for the gold with three of their most delicious delicacies. Here they are, in random order. <b>Please comment below with your #1, #2, #3 and why (I'll share mine after a few comments).</b> If you've already tasted CG's treats, you know where it's at. If you're just going based on visual and personal flavor/dessert preferences, get your butt to LA and meet up with us for a meal at CG. You can be sure it'll be a taste bud trip you'll never forget.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Contestant #1: Fig & Cream Topped Chocolate Mousse</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Contestant #2: Mint Chocolate Cream Pie</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Contestant #3: Tiramisu</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What's YOUR favorite dessert?</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-76778689522125437122012-10-20T11:03:00.000-07:002012-10-20T11:03:41.864-07:00Interviews with Ahimsa Lifers: Food w/ Chef Christine Oppenheim (#3) + Vegan MoFo #8<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mushroom = stuffed. <br />Now stuff yourself with this 5 star dish!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your life is not a healthy life, why not? If your life is not a delicious life, why not? If your life is not an easy life, why not? Well, healthy, delicious, and easy is just what today's Ahimsa Lifer brings to the table. Literally, she brings it to the table in the form of Avocado Nipole Timbales, Seitan Piccata, White Bean Bruschetta, Pecan Pie, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Gluten-Free Pizza, Stuffed Mushrooms, Fresh Fruit Tarts and Cupcakes and Savory Crepes and... and... whew, sorry, I think I got a bit carried away. Talk about a typing-induced food coma.<br /><br />These tasty dishes - and more! - are the creation of Chef Christine Oppenheim, of <a href="http://www.veggiefixation.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Fixation</a>. If you love food, Chef Christine is definitely a go-to resource for your next meal or two or ten. She brings out the best in food and will wow you with creative, exciting, mouthwatering plant-based eats - for both the vegan and "omnivorous" eater. Good food is good food, right? Well, then regardless of what you choose to eat, this spectacular chef will be pleased to serve you up some spectacular food.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">To celebrate <a href="http://www.veganmofo.com/" target="_blank">Vegan MoFo</a>, I'm so excited to introduce you to Chef Christine, so all of you Ahimsa Lifers can get to know her, all of you LA-based Ahimsa Lifers can connect with her for catering, classes, or other meal services, and everyone can find greater Ahimsa in what you eat every day.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Home field advantage. In uniform. <br />Chef C is ready to cook.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ten words that paint us a picture of who Christine Oppenheim is: </span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caring, Creative, Dedicated, Determined, Friendly, Fun, Inspiring, Passionate, Snuggly, Teacher </span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When did cooking/baking come into your life? What role does it play now? </span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I've been cooking and baking since I was a child; I was always at my dad's side growing up, watching him while he prepared our meals and eventually started to take the reigns. </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Over time, my creativity in the kitchen developed and I would often use food as an excuse to bring people together.</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> Realizing that my true passion was found in preparing delicious meals for friends and family, I decided to attend culinary school at </span><a href="http://www.baumancollege.org/" target="_blank">Bauman College</a><span style="color: #222222;"> in Berkeley, CA for a more "formal" training. I've also worked in a couple of different vegan restaurants (as a chef, a baker, and in front of house) in Los Angeles.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How long have you been vegan? What does eating plant-based and living compassionately mean to you?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">I went vegetarian at the age of 15, so to reveal my age, that was over 16 years ago! I started gravitating towards a more organic, plant based diet after seeing Woody Harrelson's documentary, </span><i style="color: #222222;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366522/" target="_blank">Go Further</a></i><span style="color: #222222;">, in 2003, which heightened my awareness of the health benefits eating in such a manner. I tend to stay away from the label of "vegan" to describe myself because to me it has a sense of activism attached to it. While I am an advocate for plant based eating and try to encourage others to live compassionately through preparing delicious meals and introducing people to amazing vegan restaurants, I am not what would be defined as an activist. </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">I like to encourage people to come to their own conclusions with a little boost in the right direction. Eating even one plant based meal a week is good for your health, the animals and the environment. </span></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What separates "gourmet" from any other meal?</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think "gourmet" is really all in the terms used to describe the food, perhaps the sauces, the added ingredients and definitely the presentation. A basic dish like macaroni and cheeze can become gourmet with a different presentation. Pasta shells with creamy cheeze sauce garlic crouton topping. Then it's maybe presented with sauteed lobster mushrooms, or tomato and roasted broccoli. At the end of the day though, it's still mac and cheeze. </span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How is food preparation different for: meals for yourself vs. meals for a client vs. meals for a group of 10 vs. meals for a group of 100?</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TwGShOKSiU/UILaLq_o51I/AAAAAAAAAbE/30sQceM0p8I/s1600/kaleswpotavo+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TwGShOKSiU/UILaLq_o51I/AAAAAAAAAbE/30sQceM0p8I/s320/kaleswpotavo+copy.jpg" width="307" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simplicious. You know... simple and delicious.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unless I'm recipe testing, I eat pretty boring at home most of the time. I'm perfectly content with sliced avocado next to a plate of steamed sweet potatoes and kale, with a drizzle of flax oil and sprinkle of nutritional yeast, where as I generally amp it up for my clients. As far as the services I provide, for a group of 10, I may do a multi-course plated dinner with appetizer, salad, soup, entree and dessert, where as for a larger group, it may be more along the lines of tapas style or finger foods. As a private chef, I work out of people's homes, so I really don't find myself doing parties that are larger than 25 or 30. </span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tell us about Veggie Fixation.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.veggiefixation.com/" target="_blank">Veggie Fixation</a><span style="color: #222222;"> provides plant-based, eco-friendly private catering and seasonal cooking classes, as well as personal chef services to prepare delicious and healthy meals to clients on a regular basis. </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Chef Christine</span></b></span><b><span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="background-color: white;"> works to break down common misconceptions that vegan food is bland or boring through the preparation of food that is </span><span style="background-color: white;">flavorful, nourishing and fun to eat, to satisfy all palates.</span></span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqjQq3aZTpQ/UILZa9NdEYI/AAAAAAAAAa0/przB6JjvpuU/s1600/veggiefixation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="60" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IqjQq3aZTpQ/UILZa9NdEYI/AAAAAAAAAa0/przB6JjvpuU/s320/veggiefixation.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are Christine's Top Tips on:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Making Food Healthy & Fun?</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Find ingredients you like and experiment with them! Eating your produce locally and seasonally is great for keeping your meals healthy, and giving you fun, changing variety. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Buying organic/conventional?</b><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Buy organic as much as possible.</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> Since this can get expensive, I always encourage people to, at </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the very least, refer to the "</span><a href="http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/list/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">dirty dozen</a>" - <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">produce with the highest amounts of pesticides - </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">when selecting fruits and veggies.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meals in 15 minutes or less?</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chef C in action. Don't Mess With The Chef.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">If you </span></b><b><span style="color: #38761d;">use one day out of the week as your cook day, you can chop all your veggies, cook your grains and beans and any long cooking items so that you can prepare a quick meal when you're ready to eat.</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> When you're short on time, go for quinoa, pasta or quick cooking grains, simple veggies and focus on a tasty sauce! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Shopping cost-effectively?</b><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Buy from the bulk bins</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> if it's an option for you; saves you money, allowing you to buy only what you need at the time. Farmers' markets often have better prices than the grocery stores, and if you go regularly and get to know the growers, they'll often be eager to give you deals. </span></span></span></div>
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ahimsa Quickfire:</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Favorite whole plant foods?</b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Avocado, kale, broccoli </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FDb-R1oAFU/UILXq3rtBDI/AAAAAAAAAak/JX6_0SnPa5g/s1600/ServingofMacNCheese+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7FDb-R1oAFU/UILXq3rtBDI/AAAAAAAAAak/JX6_0SnPa5g/s320/ServingofMacNCheese+copy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No cow's milk/cheese needed & I still get my tasty, <br />gooey, Mac N Cheeze? That's a winner in my book!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">Favorite meals?</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">"Comfort Foods": soups, Shepherd's pie, mac n cheeze, anything Thai</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Favorite quotes?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm a fan of the Ghandi quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world..." </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">and Virginia Woolf's "</span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.</span></b><span style="color: #222222;">"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Favorite resources?</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Anything written by Isa Chandra Moskovitz and Terry Hope Romero (</span><a href="http://www.theppk.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.theppk.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">); <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Chef-Culinary-Institute-America/dp/0470421355/ref=pd_sim_b_1" target="_blank">CIA Professional Chef books</a>; <a href="http://vegnews.com/" target="_blank">VegNews</a></span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mentors?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">My dad. :) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Local vegan chefs: Dave Anderson of <a href="http://www.madeleinebistro.com/" target="_blank">Madeleine Bistro</a>; Sanae Suzuki and Eric Lechasseur of <a href="http://seedkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Seed</a> (they are so wonderfully talented, supportive and inspirational!)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
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Here's Chef Christine's contact info:<br />
<a href="mailto:ChefChristineO@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="mailto:ChefChristineO@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">ChefChristineO@gmail.com</a><br />
<a href="tel:424.259.3106" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+14242593106">424.259.3106</a><br />
<a href="http://www.veggiefixation.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">www.veggiefixation.com</a><br />
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Be sure to check out her website, blog, and keep an eye out for upcoming classes/events. Your next new favorite meal may be a Veggie Fixation!<br />
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-75694415015802544582012-10-18T10:19:00.000-07:002012-10-18T10:19:28.309-07:00Farm Sanctuary's LA Walk for Farm Animals!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxyJIYRfIUE/UIA4Q0GUgHI/AAAAAAAAAaM/-3XXg1Xk94Y/s1600/walk.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxyJIYRfIUE/UIA4Q0GUgHI/AAAAAAAAAaM/-3XXg1Xk94Y/s1600/walk.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">It's that time of year again! In fact, it's been that time of year for a little over a month now! <b>It's time to <a href="http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Walk for Farm Animals</a>!</b><br /><br />Every year, the leading farmed animal protection organization in the United States, <a href="http://www.farmsanctuary.org/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Farm Sanctuary</a>, leads Walks all over the country to <a href="http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/about/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">help raise awareness</a> about the plight of the millions of farmed animals who are abused, confined, and lose their lives every day for the food and clothing industry. <b>The Walk becomes a rally, a force of good, a massive community gathering to <a href="http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/why-we-walk/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">provide a voice</a> for these voiceless beings and help others connect more closely with their values & beliefs</b> (especially when 97% of Americans oppose cruelty to animals). The Walk allows an opportunity to bring a visual of cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, sheep, goats, horses all in an open, free natural environment - living, breathing, playing, thriving. The Walk opens up <a href="http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/fundraising/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">opportunities to raise funds</a> that go to rescuing farmed animals, providing urgent care and lifelong refuge, and education and advocacy efforts.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b61hCJPOHsI/UH-xYu8Iq-I/AAAAAAAAAZc/fF48MxxtDQw/s1600/FriendofFarmAnimalsAward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #cc6666; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b61hCJPOHsI/UH-xYu8Iq-I/AAAAAAAAAZc/fF48MxxtDQw/s320/FriendofFarmAnimalsAward.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">We've been a part of three Walks so far, in Rehoboth Beach, DE, New York, NY, and Santa Monica, LA, CA, and are excited for the possibility of our fourth! Overall, we're excited to raise money for such a powerful, valuable cause close to our hearts. The Walks started at the beginning of September and will continue through the beginning of November. <b>Our <a href="http://events.walkforfarmanimals.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=565" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Los Angeles Walk</a> is coming up just next week (yeeps!) </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b>on Saturday, October </b></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">27th in Pasadena.</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Team <a href="http://www.kissmyvegan.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Kiss Me, I'm Vegan!</a>/Ahimsa Life Coaching asks you, you passionate Ahimsa Lifers, for your support and to please help us contribute to the animals. A sponsorship donation as little as $1 or $5 is amazing, and anything beyond is absolutely </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">tremendous. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pizt05Q5AYo/UH-yxhi3lqI/AAAAAAAAAZk/pJxjnOGqsEw/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #cc6666; float: right; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pizt05Q5AYo/UH-yxhi3lqI/AAAAAAAAAZk/pJxjnOGqsEw/s320/IMG_8335.JPG" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">You can check out our <a href="http://events.walkforfarmanimals.org/participant/kissmeimveganahimsalifecoaching" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Walk sponsorship page here</a>. Please leave a note if you contribute so we can say thank you (or not, if you like the whole anonymous benefactor thing).</b></span><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you live in or around the LA/Pasadena area, maybe we'll get to see you! As of this post, there are still Walks happening in Louisville, KY, Atlanta, GA, New York City, NY, Sacramento, CA, Phoeniz, AZ, Austin, TX, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, Philadelphia, PA, and Tampa Bay, FL. If you don't have one in a city near you or you just can't make it, there's an even easier way to get involved with the <a href="http://events.walkforfarmanimals.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=594" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sleep In for Farm Animals</a> on November 3rd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Since its inception in 1986, <a href="http://www.farmsanctuary.org/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Farm Sanctuary</a>, headed by founder Gene Baur, has paved the way for opening the hearts and minds of millions of people to true compassion. This year, <a href="http://www.walkforfarmanimals.org/about/2012-walk-for-farm-animals-spokespersonpeter-dinklage/" style="color: #cc6666; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Peter Dinklage</a>, of Boardwalk Empire and other television/films, is the WfFA Spokesperson. Please join Gene, Peter, the thousands of people walking around the country, and, of course, us!, in support and celebration of </i><i>our beloved farmed animals. </i></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-40964470186612221072012-10-18T01:01:00.001-07:002012-10-18T01:02:33.290-07:00Vegan MoFo #7 - Live for Live: The Joy of Raw Foods Part 1<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's Live ("L-ih-ve") for Live ("L-eye-ve").<br /><br />Cooking is a blast. So much fun. Mixing, measuring, creating. Beginning a relationship with your food. Pots and pans and burners. Fire. Warmth. Mmm, there's something about the process of making your food that actually makes it taste better, you know what I mean? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT. That's not to say that cooked food is the only way to go. Not by a long shot, mister and misses. Whole plant foods in their raw food are delicious. How much more simple and flavorful can you get than a piece of fruit or vegetable. Their original essence. Mmm, there's something about consuming a food in its natural form that actually makes it taste better, you know what I mean? (And that's not even to mention the incredibly high nutrient quality of live food.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whoa, I think I just love food. We can all agree that whether cooked or raw, there are tons of incredibly delicious plant-based options for you always and forever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last post was a yummy, cooked pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving meal. Here's a raw one to satisfy that side of things. And it comes from one of my favorite restaurants, <a href="http://cafegratitudela.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Gratitude</a>.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I AM HAPPY: Mediterranean wrap with live falafels, zucchini cilantro hummus, spinach, red onion, tomato, cucumber, red chili pepper sauce and garlic tahini dressing on live sun-dried tomato bread</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A colorful salad of mixed greens and other veggies with a flavorful dressing + a raw wrap chock full of goodies. The meal is very tasty, very light, very fulfilling. Live food, indeed, makes you feel alive. There are so many fun raw/live options to our cooked favorites. Check it out if you haven't. Give yourSelf the gift of life in food.<br /><br />I just wanted to share Part 1 with you for now. Part 2 involves DESSERTS. So be ready - I'm gonna ask you to make a decision. Start thinking with your taste buds.</span></div>
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<span id="goog_1658240139"></span><span id="goog_1658240140"></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-21537112930941700962012-10-14T11:37:00.000-07:002012-10-14T11:37:19.682-07:00Vegan MoFo #6 - A Mini-Thanksgiving in October<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BwnWXlLRas/UHsB_mSBbFI/AAAAAAAAAYk/yI5qQ9FB2no/s1600/gravy3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8BwnWXlLRas/UHsB_mSBbFI/AAAAAAAAAYk/yI5qQ9FB2no/s320/gravy3.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for life, for love, for freedom, for everything. Thanksgiving is about family, about connection, about community, about the bonds we have together as human beings. Thanksgiving is about food, about sustenance and nourishment, about fulfillment and variety, about health and well-being.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Why only celebrate this one day a year? Lindsay's brother, Jon, and his girlfriend, Kate, visited us in LA for a few days, so we decided to have a mini-Thanksgiving. Another chance to celebrate, an opportunity to, ya know, prep for the real deal in November. Come on, let's make some food and eat!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our mini-T-Giving allowed us to be thankful for browned seitan, sauteed broccoli & onions, a mixed mash medley of sweet potatoes, red bliss potatoes, and other small potatoes, all topped with a delicious homemade gravy.<br /><br />The seitan and broccoli & onions are easy. We boiled & mashed up the medley of potatoes, added a bit of almond milk and tahini to add to its creaminess. Here's the gravy recipe:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 cup soy sauce</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3-4 cups of water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hefty dose of poultry seasoning (can't go wrong - to your flavor liking)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup Nooch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1-2 Tbsp of garlic powder</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">arrowroot powder/water rue</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add the non-rue ingredients into a pan/pot on low/medium heat. Separately, dissolve arrowroot powder slowly in water - we did about 1 part arrowroot powder to 2 parts water - to create a rue, and pour it into the pan/pot mixture once it's warm (also slowly). You can use flour or cornstarch instead of arrowroot, if you choose. Keep stirring the mixture as you go, continue adding to your preferred thickness and taste.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We should be thankful for the delicious, plant foods with which we're blessed on this earth! Celebrate the food, celebrate yourSelf, celebrate your loved ones, celebrate your taste buds, celebrate your tummy, celebrate Vegan MoFo!</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-5607037974295093952012-10-11T19:22:00.001-07:002012-10-11T19:26:51.597-07:00Vegan MoFo #5: SunCafe is all it's Cooked up to be. Here's the Raw scoop.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I am in the mood for some delicious food, when I want a tasty treat, when I need some fuel & energy after a strenuous, grueling 10K <a href="http://www.gladiatorrocknrun.com/" target="_blank">Gladiator Run</a>, I know I'm in good hands when I find myself in an eatery voted Best Raw Food Restaurant in Los Angeles and 3rd Best in the World (<a href="http://bestofraw.net/">BestOfRaw.net</a>, 2011). There's only one place that holds that honor & title - that's <a href="http://www.suncafe.com/index.html" target="_blank">SunCafe</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On their <a href="http://www.suncafe.com/about.html" target="_blank">About</a> page:</span><br />
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<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ecs3GrMHOaU/UHd6KeP1TkI/AAAAAAAAAXc/G5daEDXmLoA/s1600/suncafelogo.gif" /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.suncafe.com/index.html" target="_blank">SunCafe</a> is dedicated to serve healthy, organic, exceptional tasting meals full of vibrant flavors. We hope to change the way you think about food in general. Our restaurant doesn't fry it, kill it, overcook it, we just give you exceptional tasting food that's healthy for you!</i><br /><br />Featuring both raw and cooked organic cuisine from pizzas to salads to burgers and sandwiches to juices and shakes, SunCafe has a fresh, scrumptious take on our favorites. Almost every <a href="http://www.suncafe.com/images/menu.pdf" target="_blank">menu</a> item has a raw option, so, depending on your mood, you can get q</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">uinoa pasta or Zucchini "noodles;"</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> you can get nachos with baked blue corn chips or jicama slices. Or, if you're a "best of both worlds" person, you can get them half & half, like I did. Nuts and seeds become the creative foundation for many meals (load on the cashew cheese!), and SunCafe adds extra pizzazz with SunChorizo (spicy!) and Garlic Pecan Crumble (mouthwatering...). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, you should wash everything down with a Sweet Kale Shake or a Lemon Ginger Blast or Cacao Superfood Shake. Which is exactly what I did. Here's my menu (shared amongst friends and family):</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2S3ZoZMqHg/UHd2mAa2XlI/AAAAAAAAAWs/wnxPh7x3UvI/s1600/biscuitsgravy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="18" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E2S3ZoZMqHg/UHd2mAa2XlI/AAAAAAAAAWs/wnxPh7x3UvI/s640/biscuitsgravy.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuKkMI6kFHU/UHd2pHToWkI/AAAAAAAAAW0/sPR9mzdHfXg/s1600/sunnachos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="30" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fuKkMI6kFHU/UHd2pHToWkI/AAAAAAAAAW0/sPR9mzdHfXg/s640/sunnachos.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FqhwIZpAsZk/UHd2w03-1dI/AAAAAAAAAW8/2k5u6fon5pg/s1600/fiestaburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="50" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FqhwIZpAsZk/UHd2w03-1dI/AAAAAAAAAW8/2k5u6fon5pg/s640/fiestaburger.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZGaYAQh1lY/UHd2y0x-ckI/AAAAAAAAAXE/l7qykULYwHk/s1600/kaleshake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="54" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZGaYAQh1lY/UHd2y0x-ckI/AAAAAAAAAXE/l7qykULYwHk/s640/kaleshake.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Biscuits and Gravy was delectable and very comforting.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JKp67hbYYQ/UHd7EZzUjpI/AAAAAAAAAXk/zYp0Axn_D0c/s1600/suncafe2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--JKp67hbYYQ/UHd7EZzUjpI/AAAAAAAAAXk/zYp0Axn_D0c/s320/suncafe2.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sun Nachos provided the jam-packed flavor with a much lighter feeling in my belly (I totally dug the jicama chips.) Holy moly, guacamole.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Urpg7rlvbCc/UHd8KA6u1BI/AAAAAAAAAXs/StxjwYXjlmc/s1600/suncafe1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Urpg7rlvbCc/UHd8KA6u1BI/AAAAAAAAAXs/StxjwYXjlmc/s320/suncafe1.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Fiesta Burger couldn't fit in my mouth until I jimmied it open two more inches. My taste buds said thank you.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWocTNFluYE/UHd88TKfOvI/AAAAAAAAAX0/3cQP4moR72Y/s1600/suncafe4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CWocTNFluYE/UHd88TKfOvI/AAAAAAAAAX0/3cQP4moR72Y/s320/suncafe4.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Sweet Kale Shake soothed my mind, body, and spirit. Only four ingredients needed to do so. Read ingredients above.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1isG6oo0NHA/UHd9mABC1oI/AAAAAAAAAX8/7iuNXf6MpHM/s1600/suncafe3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1isG6oo0NHA/UHd9mABC1oI/AAAAAAAAAX8/7iuNXf6MpHM/s320/suncafe3.JPG" width="239" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love food. Food loves SunCafe. Therefore, do I love SunCafe? Be it science, intuition, mathematical law, or yum-yum-yummy in my tummy feelings, the answer is yes. I love SunCafe. Now you should go love SunCafe too. Throw in <a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=3711+Cahuenga+Blvd.,+Studio+City,+CA+91604&hl=en&sll=34.020479,-118.411732&sspn=0.569114,1.110992&hnear=Cahuenga+Blvd,+Studio+City,+California+91604&t=m&z=15" target="_blank">3711 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604</a> into your GPS and go. Bring your appetite. You're in good hands.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-70606671391475480952012-10-04T23:17:00.000-07:002012-10-04T23:17:37.897-07:00Vegan MoFo #4 - My Favorite Bean!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLdeSY6AQM/UG5xu4Oo7oI/AAAAAAAAAVA/LRvWxlG7FI8/s1600/chickpea1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lTLdeSY6AQM/UG5xu4Oo7oI/AAAAAAAAAVA/LRvWxlG7FI8/s320/chickpea1.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are many types of beans. I did not know in 5th grade, when, for United Nations Day - representing Kuwait - my group made hummus for our food to bring in, that I would fall in love with the beans we used to make this hummus. These delicious, tasty, filling garbanzo beans. <br /><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><b>Chickpeas.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They are my go-to. Chickpeas in salads, chickpeas in soups, chickpeas in pasta, chickpeas on their own. Chickpeas in their alter ego form, hummus. Creamy, protein-packed, and fun to play with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />I love chickpeas so much that on several occasions I have dipped a chickpea in hummus. And then ate it, of course. I'm not the only one who loves chickpeas.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFThCI9eojI/UG50tn0IrJI/AAAAAAAAAVw/lICKmVQIMHc/s1600/ChickpeasCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MFThCI9eojI/UG50tn0IrJI/AAAAAAAAAVw/lICKmVQIMHc/s640/ChickpeasCollage.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chickpeas are so delicious, even my cat, Jumper, loves them. He may love them even more than me. I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">won't roll over for them; he will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>What's your favorite bean?</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-83151971421275583432012-10-03T23:20:00.000-07:002012-10-03T23:20:33.321-07:00Vegan MoFo #3 - But I love cheese...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will probably post more about cheese. A recipe with cheese. A picture of gooey, melty cheese. Something(s) involving cheese.<br /><br />Oh, but it won't be cheese that came from an animal. It won't be coagulated cow's milk cheese. No rennet. No casein. <b>The cheese I speak of is completely, positively, 100% plant-based. And it's gooey, it stretches, and it's incredibly delicious.</b><br /><br />So, since almost everyone loves cheese, we'll start small and work our way up throughout the month. Everyone should know that you can enjoy your favorite cheesy foods - nachos, pizza, mozzarella sticks - without the cholesterol or the cruelty. So if you're not aware of the numerous vegan cheese options, keep an eye out and just know: you're about to be enlightened. Cheese and vegan can go together like rama-lama-lama-kadingiddy-ding-dee-dong. (or whatever. I did <i>Grease</i> back in high school, it's been awhile.)<br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBETajhoefc/UG0nzmfhLmI/AAAAAAAAAUo/lQ01SYblBQw/s1600/daiya.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kBETajhoefc/UG0nzmfhLmI/AAAAAAAAAUo/lQ01SYblBQw/s320/daiya.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>My favorite vegan/plant-based cheese? Why, it's <a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/" target="_blank">Daiya</a>, of course! </b> Daiya comes in three flavors currently (in shreds): <a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/our-products/mozzarella" target="_blank">mozzarella</a>, <a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/our-products/cheddar" target="_blank">cheddar</a>, and <a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/our-products/pepperjack" target="_blank">pepperjack</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to being casein, whey, and lactose-free (because no mammal milk is involved!), Daiya's cheeses are also free of soy, gluten, eggs, rice, peanuts and tree nuts (except coconut oil). That's a tasty way to stay allergen-free.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to eat shredded animal cheese right out of the bag. I do that occasionally with Daiya. Nostalgia, with compassion and health in mind this time around. I mainly melt it on stuff though. Everything. Food, I mean. But I guess you can melt it on other stuff too.<br /><br /><b>I love cheese.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-87133642169535712122012-10-02T23:02:00.000-07:002012-10-11T19:22:48.483-07:00Vegan MoFo #2: Green Smoothies!Perfect in the morning, for a wake-me-up/perk-me-up breakfast (bye-bye coffee)!<br />
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Perfect for an in-between snack (and healthier than all the processed snacks out there)!<br />
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Perfect for you, for me, now, later, anytime. Simple. Delicious. And so good for you. I mean,<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">it's GREEN.</span></u></b></div>
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Here's my green smoothie for the day:<br />
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<li>Kale</li>
<li>Carrots</li>
<li>Blueberries</li>
<li>Banana</li>
<li>Cucumber</li>
<li>Coconut water</li>
<li>Ground flaxseed</li>
<li>Throw 'em in the Vitamix and let the green magic happen.</li>
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What's your favorite green smoothie recipes? </u><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-73787472551324717722012-10-02T18:12:00.000-07:002012-12-05T11:18:15.977-08:00LogoQuestions 2012 - The Year of Meaning<span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Only 3 more months left in this beautiful year of 2012 (now there's only 1!).</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What have you done? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What have you learned? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What have you explored and discovered? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where do you find meaning in life? </span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is your purpose(s)?</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I've discovered so much about mySelf, about others, about the mind, about the world, about veganism, about plant-based nutrition, about my life path(s), about joy, about compassion, about connection, about love, about Why we do what we do, and so much more this year.</b><br /><br />Here's a post I wrote on January 8th about an exercise of meaning I created in LogoQuestions. If you've gotten involved already, you know the fun and value in answering LogoQuestions. If not, now is your chance. Every day I ask a question of meaning, and every day you can answer (whether it's the day of or anytime you get to the question). Besides what you gain in your exploration/answer, you can also win prizes by answering the most in a month. There have already been a few different winnners; in fact, one Ahimsa Lifer has won 4 times because of his dedication to answering the LQs. It only takes a minute and if you're on Facebook already, you can benefit from that minute by checking out the day's LogoQuestion.<br /><br />Now read up on what LogoQuestions are and jump in before the year is over!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(P.S. Check out the prizes being offered for the final month: <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.com/blog/2012/12/last-month-of-logoquestions-2012">http://ahimsalifecoaching.com/blog/2012/12/last-month-of-logoquestions-2012</a>)</span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>2012 LogoQuestions - The Year Of </i></span></strong></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> Meaning</i></span></strong></h1>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Posted on January 8, 2012</span></span></div>
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<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy New Year! Happy 2012!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You did it!</strong> You made it!....Now what are you going to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We face a whole new year, a leap year this year, which means 36<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6</strong></em> days this time around! Still thinking about last year? Glad or sad it's gone? Are you excited for these next 12 months? Everyone has their own take on time when the New Year swings around. So often, you'll hear, "I'm sooo glad we're done with 2011. It sucked." or "Ugh. Now we have to do it allll over again." Or you might hear "I'm gonna do everything I wanted to do last year, and didn't do, <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">this</em> year!" only to fast forward those 365 days and hear the exact same thing repeated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What makes a year different? What makes what you get out of a year different? There are many different answers to that question, but, ultimately, it all comes down to one facet of life: <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">meaning</strong>. What does/will this year <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mean</em> to you? What will be the <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">meaning</em> of your thoughts and decisions? What will your actions, your choices <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mean</em> to you this year?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Without meaning, can you truly have appreciation, experience fulfillment, revel in acheivement, etc?</strong> Sometimes we go through our year with more focus on the "what to do" and the "how to do" than the "Why." And without the Why, it's very easy to get lost. Why do we so often go through the year and, upon reaching the end, feel: we've let ourselves down, left a calendar year unfulfilled, can't wait to escape the "hell" we consider the past 52 weeks? It most likely is because we focused on the wrong questions primarily and didn't allow our fueling "Why?" lead us through the magical journey of our lives. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bszJ5_TO19E/UGuTnPjZvmI/AAAAAAAAATw/1a4YRN_O1IQ/s1600/mans-search-for-meaning.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bszJ5_TO19E/UGuTnPjZvmI/AAAAAAAAATw/1a4YRN_O1IQ/s320/mans-search-for-meaning.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/0807014273" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #73bb72; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Man's Search for Meaning</em></a> by Viktor E. Frankl, a psychiatrist who labored in four different concentration camps during WWII, he quotes Nietzsche: <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"He who has a Why to live for can bear almost any How."</strong> While that statement, of course, can apply to one's state of extreme suffering, as in a prisoner of a concentration camp, it can apply to all levels of life: those who go through the year with "mild suffering;" those who waltz through life unconsciously and unnoticing; those who strive hard in their work and play but still feel unrequited in their efforts, feel lost, even just feel "fine." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So this year, 2012, shall be The Year of Meaning, the year we ask "Why?" This shall be the year upon which we dig deeper into ourselves to gain a better understanding of who we are, what drives us, where do we want to go - and attached to each of those questions, a big, fat "<strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHY?</strong>" Some of the questions we will be able to honestly and, without judgment, answer ourselves. Others shall be left out in the open until that light bulb turns on. If we put out the questions into the universe, though, then an answer <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will </em>return to us...we just have to wait patiently and accept. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To help you along your journey (as myself and ALC begin a 2012 Journey of our own), <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I've decided to ask 366 questions of meaning, one meaningful question a day, to jump start your search for Why and sustain you throughout the year on your exploration</strong> (inspired by<em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Man's Search for Meaning</em>, a book I definitely recommend reading). How do you get involved? Well, first you have to ask yourself, "Why do I want to get involved? Why would I want to get involved?" If you come up with an answer to that, or if an answer comes to you, then this is how you do it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every day on my <a href="http://www.ahimsalifecoaching.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #73bb72; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Ahimsa Life Coaching</a> facebook page -<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ahimsalifecoaching" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #73bb72; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> https://www.facebook.com/ahimsalifecoaching</a>- you will find a LogoQuestion and the day of the year to which it corresponds. Please post your answer under the post. Simple as that. As you go, I will be tracking your answers and, of course, you should track your answers too - be it in a notebook or Word Doc, etc. You can take down just the questions, just the answers, or both, as each may bring about a different meaning to and within you. <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Come the end of 2012, you will have 366 questions and 366 answers that, by that point, will have brought about great discovery, insight, and <em style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">meaning</em> to your life</strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's not all! If inspiring and uncovering and inheriting meaning in your life wasn't enough, I'm going to add some more spice and incentive for you to take the plunge in your own life journey this year: <strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Each month, the person who has answered the most LogoQuestions in the month can win prizes, including books, DVDs, free coaching sessions, food and self-care gift certificates, and other valuable materials for your 2012. </strong><strong style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So jump into your life this year with ALC's LogoQuestions. I hope you have the most meaningful journey this year. Enjoy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-47708028136993126332012-10-01T15:28:00.000-07:002012-10-31T02:54:44.015-07:00Vegan MoFo Begins with Cruzers Pizza!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello Ahimsa Lifers!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.veganmofo.com/" target="_blank">Vegan MoFo</a>? What's that? <b>It's the Vegan Month of Food!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The basics: This month we celebrate Vegan Food - plant-based, animal/cholesterol-free, and compassionate food. I will be writing every weekday (and maybe a little here and there on the weekend) about <b>Vegan Food: How delicious it is, how many options there are, how healthful it can be, the pleasures of whole foods, favorite restaurants, favorite meals, why I love cooking, what's in my fridge, desserts desserts desserts, and more. </b> You will get to read, comment back, and enjoy the pictures (otherwise known as food porn, when done in such a gratuitous manner). Let's celebrate Vegan Food, for this month (specifically) and beyond!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(For more details on Vegan MoFo, check out their <a href="http://www.veganmofo.com/about-3/" target="_blank">About Page</a> and <a href="http://www.veganmofo.com/faq/" target="_blank">FAQ Page</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Here are my other 9 posts for the month! Check 'em all out:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-day-2-green-smoothies.html" target="_blank">#2</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-3-but-i-love-cheese.html" target="_blank">#3 </a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-4-my-favorite-bean.html" target="_blank">#4 </a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-5-suncafe-is-all-its-cooked.html" target="_blank">#5</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-6-mini-thanksgiving-in.html" target="_blank">#6</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-7-live-for-live-joy-of-raw.html" target="_blank">#7</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/interviews-with-ahimsa-lifers-food-w.html" target="_blank">#8</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-9-live-for-live-joy-of-raw.html" target="_blank">#9</a> <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/vegan-mofo-10-pure-unadulterated-vegan.html" target="_blank">#10</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To kick off this Vegan MoFo, we'll start with one of the top answers to the question "What's your favorite food?" (spanning adults to children): PIZZA!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Uj0SnYnj84/UGoVGFOZvcI/AAAAAAAAASs/6ZU9ASrxrAY/s1600/jamaican1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Uj0SnYnj84/UGoVGFOZvcI/AAAAAAAAASs/6ZU9ASrxrAY/s320/jamaican1.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Uj0SnYnj84/UGoVGFOZvcI/AAAAAAAAASs/6ZU9ASrxrAY/s1600/jamaican1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether it was from Villa Rosa or Ray's or NUTS or DeLorenzo's or Due Amici, I loved (animal-based) pizza. Grew up on it and probably would have answered it to the question above. I was content with a plain (animal-based) cheese (from a cow) pizza, but I did like (animal-based) sausage (from a pig or cow) every now and then as a kid. In my teenage/young-adult years, I brought on more of the veggies, becoming more of a peppers and onions guy. I've tried all different types - from Hawaiian Pizzas (liked pineapple, but, sorry, wasn't a big fan of eating ham/pig) to White Pizza Scampi (with shrimp) to Tomato and (animal-based) Ricotta Pizzas. Uninformed, I easily could have thought that I'd miss out on the scrumptiousness, the pure gooeyness, the crispy crust crunch, the convenience and delight of pizza when I adopted a vegan lifestyle. However, PIZZA IS A-PLENTY. And since I've gone vegan, my pizza consumption has continued. The Yums will never stop.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqsk9nI6xx0/UGoVaXTvqvI/AAAAAAAAAS8/jMuJOp0-oDQ/s1600/cruzer.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="126" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zqsk9nI6xx0/UGoVaXTvqvI/AAAAAAAAAS8/jMuJOp0-oDQ/s320/cruzer.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, for Lindsay and I, <b>we have an excellent vegan pizzeria within delivery distance of our Hollywood apartment: <a href="http://cruzerpizza.com/" target="_blank">Cruzer Pizza</a>.</b> You can find other Italian goodies at this 100% vegan eatery, from meatball subs to salads to tiramisu, but we'll just stick to the pizza for today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a few of the MANY different pizzas you can order from Cruzer Pizza, in addition to making your own: </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qX1GkmfFsmo/UGoQSvDhIOI/AAAAAAAAASQ/BDRBnLBlPQA/s1600/Cruzer+Ratatouille.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="42" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qX1GkmfFsmo/UGoQSvDhIOI/AAAAAAAAASQ/BDRBnLBlPQA/s200/Cruzer+Ratatouille.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum. Yum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WE-OxkapwW4/UGoQLoGhY0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/JTpWkaazTZs/s1600/Cruzer+BBQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="40" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WE-OxkapwW4/UGoQLoGhY0I/AAAAAAAAAR4/JTpWkaazTZs/s320/Cruzer+BBQ.jpg" width="320" /></a> Yum. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gR61CMaYaGE/UGoQQkcXJ6I/AAAAAAAAASI/SkKJx27QRE8/s1600/Cruzer+Philly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="35" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gR61CMaYaGE/UGoQQkcXJ6I/AAAAAAAAASI/SkKJx27QRE8/s320/Cruzer+Philly.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYI1Tv6rr1Y/UGoQOSipWfI/AAAAAAAAASA/SigeUWn1bOA/s1600/Cruzer+Jamaican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="35" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYI1Tv6rr1Y/UGoQOSipWfI/AAAAAAAAASA/SigeUWn1bOA/s400/Cruzer+Jamaican.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Yum.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Z2Lx7xV6s/UGoVEciHndI/AAAAAAAAASk/UiC_ll-PGI8/s1600/jamaican.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L9Z2Lx7xV6s/UGoVEciHndI/AAAAAAAAASk/UiC_ll-PGI8/s200/jamaican.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've tried a lot of 'em - still have a couple more to taste! - but my latest favorite is The Jamaican (read above). </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.daiyafoods.com/" target="_blank">Daiya</a> goodness (my favorite vegan cheese - still have a couple more to taste!), a full grasp on flavor and meatiness (even nicer when it doesn't come from an animal!), Cruzer Pizza has got it down. Pizza is Pizza - and this pizza is delicious <i>and</i> cruelty-free.</b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBie-9xaivk/UGoVH6_NIOI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fH8DZiT-ioY/s1600/jamaican2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kBie-9xaivk/UGoVH6_NIOI/AAAAAAAAAS0/fH8DZiT-ioY/s200/jamaican2.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For all of the other pizza lovers out there, you'll always be able to get your fix. Maybe another day this month will discuss vegan pizza again, maybe DYI Make Your Own Pizza Nights (so much fun!). For now, search around for what will be your new favorite vegan pizza place nearby. If you're in LA, swing by Los Feliz for some of Cruzer Pizza's tasty choices.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">What's your favorite vegan pizza and/or favorite vegan pizza place?</b><br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span><br />
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<br />Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-90000088060684108372012-09-28T01:05:00.001-07:002012-09-28T01:05:48.608-07:00Unity, Caring, Kindness, and Friendship: A Beautiful Thing Happened Tonight<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's a <a href="http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/" target="_blank">Saturday Night Life</a> sketch from 1998 with Will Ferrell, Tim Meadows, Horatio Sanz, Ana Gasteyer, and host Cameron Diaz, called "<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpf7mo_snl-jingleheimer-junction_fun" target="_blank">Jingleheimer Junction</a>." It was a spoof on a children's type show, where normally a valuable message/moral would be presented in a fun, entertaining way. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I give a Uckf about Caring, Kindness, Friendship, and Unity.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this episode, Karen Kindness, Carla Caring, Umberto Unity, are joined by a new friend, Fred Friendship. Unfortunately, due to what they wear on their shirts, bearing the letter of their respective first names, they have some "technical difficulties" with the show. Ya know... U, C, K, and F... you can see where the difficulties can come in. It's funny, and you should watch when you have a few minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's just an SNL sketch, so there's no need to search deeper with it... yet I must. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, before I do, let me tell you about the incredible act of kindness I experienced tonight. Lindsay and I went out to dinner at <a href="http://www.parusrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Paru's Indian Vegetarian Restaurant</a>, something we love to do but do a little less frequently now - as we're doing a little more saving and a little less spending. We sat down, figured out what we're going to eat (after discussing a more reasonably priced option than what we initially chose), and ordered. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few minutes after our food came, the host/manager for the night came over and asked us if we knew the woman that had been sitting in the booth next to us (she since had left). We answered "No." He replied "Oh," partly in surprise, letting us know that <b>she had paid for our meal: food, tip, and all.</b> We were even more surprised, to say the least, thanked him for letting us know and looked at each other with deep gratitude for this tremendous, anonymous act of kindness.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can you spread your Kindness?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting back to our F, U, C and, well you know: the "deep, life message" side of these comedic sketch came from the inability for Friendship, Unity, Caring, and Kindness to be able to come together and be expressed/celebrated because of something inappropriate. I feel as though there are many obstacles in this world, in our own personal worlds, that come up and deny our ability to give and/or receive. It's in moments like the one Lindsay and I experienced at the restaurant that I was able to clearly see and experience <b>a true act of kindness, with no obligation, limitation, or standard.</b> The values of friendship, unity, caring, and kindess are ones that should be expressed as often as possible. <b>Once each and every one of us begin the cycle of giving, we're bound to receive - and vice versa, by accepting/receiving, we open up opportunities to give back. This is where true abundance resides.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lindsay and I have been very present with our giving & receiving in the past few months - obviously, we came up on the receiving side tonight (which makes us very excited about our opportunity to give back). I encourage all of you Ahimsa Lifers to create opportunities of friendship, unity, caring, and kindness in your own lives.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Open yourSelf up to receiving "Thank you"s, compliments, and gifts when they come your way. To deny any one of them is to halt the cycle of giving & receiving... </b>you never know what is coming your way or what chances you'll have to brighten someone else's life. In this aspect, be a "Yes" man or woman.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Find an opportunity to anonymously do good. </b>Whether it's giving to charity, buying a bagel for the person behind you in line, paying for someone's dinner, or leaving a card filled with love and compliments for someone to read, a chance to do good brings about more good and more chances.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Make a new Friend. Actively. Whatever that means to you, do it. </b> I think being truly friendly is a quality that's been diluted among many. When an opportunity with someone new comes up, sincerely show/provide Friendship. Ask him/her questions about him/herSelf. Find commonalities, discuss differences, participate in an activity that you both find fun. Whether this person ends up being a Friend for the hour, the day, or longer, you'll both experience a positive effect/connection within.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Organize a group. Bring people together. </b>Poker night. Volleyball game. Pot luck. Go out for drinks. A hike. Yoga class. A movie. The list goes on and on. People are meant to be with other people. No one can do this thing called Life alone. Create Unity and Community.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Be Kind to yourSelf. That's where it all starts. </b>If you can't show immense Caring to yourSelf, it will be awfully hard to show it to and share it with others. Go on, do something good for yourSelf. You deserve it. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">World Kindness Day is coming up on November 13th of this year. You can read more about it at </span><a href="http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Philip Wollen, the speaker, visionary, and philanthropist in the </span><a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/06/quite-possibly-best-speech-about-animal.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">brilliant video post I shared in June</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, is the founder of an organization called </span><a href="http://www.kindnesstrust.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kindness Trust</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. And if you missed out when the book <i>29 Gifts</i> came out years ago, here's a chance to play catch up: </span><a href="http://www.29gifts.org/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">29-Day Giving Challenge</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can see, opportunities for Kindness, Caring, Unity, and Friendship are everywhere. Take advantage of them. Connect with them. The world becomes a better place when we all do.</b></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you.</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-786914285505960167.post-58038804488470406172012-09-20T23:12:00.000-07:002012-12-04T17:10:27.476-08:00Your Day's Alphabet Starts with "U"<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxvIPNt6dfM/UFv_mXfzXrI/AAAAAAAAAO8/7D-_qrGHRiE/s1600/U-Letter-U+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxvIPNt6dfM/UFv_mXfzXrI/AAAAAAAAAO8/7D-_qrGHRiE/s200/U-Letter-U+(1).jpeg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many times have U gone through an entire day, only, at the end, to realize "Well, that got away from me..." ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many times have U reached the end of a workday, only to think "Well, work's done... but I haven't done anything for mySelf..." ?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How many times have U denied yourSelf waking up with your first alarm, hitting the snooze button once, twice, three times?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's face it: there's a lot to do in a day. Or there's a lot we <i>feel</i> like we have to do in a day. One thing that often gets left behind, forgotten about, unfulfilled... is ourselves! And when it comes down to it, the most important thing - in this case, person - to take care of happens to be that very thing we neglect.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUUx-281Izk/UFv_m3OkrRI/AAAAAAAAAPE/rHyR90eB7tc/s1600/U.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CUUx-281Izk/UFv_m3OkrRI/AAAAAAAAAPE/rHyR90eB7tc/s200/U.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What gets U excited to wake up? What gives U pleasure, a thrill? How do U motivate, inspire, energize yourSelf? What actions do U take to put U in the optimal zone for success and achievement? Since there's only one of U - U are your only U - how do U care for your body, your mind, and your spirit?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What if these questions were the ones that started off your day and continued to guide U through, rather than popping in mid-afternoon, if U have time? What if U started off your day taking complete care of yourSelf, doing something active and engaging, fulfilling and pleasurable, something that revved U up for great productivity and excitement and also set your level of health and happiness at a high?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your days are often bogged down with work...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If your days leave you feeling exhausted and unsatisfied...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If U resist waking up from your slumber because U just aren't excited to go about your day...</span><br />
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">U aren't putting U first.</span></u><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrJIqYhWbws/UFv_qvekewI/AAAAAAAAAPU/N2NIoW7O3J0/s1600/letter-u.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrJIqYhWbws/UFv_qvekewI/AAAAAAAAAPU/N2NIoW7O3J0/s200/letter-u.jpeg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I encourage U to create a simple ritual, regimen, exercise that U can do first thing in the morning when you wake. Something that will get your juices flowing - literally, activating your physical body, which will only energize you more; something that will get U excited for any activities, actions, or work U will do toward your outcome/goals - reflecting on what's right in life, what's good, why you love life; something that's quick and easy and makes U - that same U that's most important - most important.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some ideas for U-Time:</span></b><br />
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<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drinking one or two glasses of water</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taking a cold, warm, or hot shower or bath</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going for a walk</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going for a run</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going for a bike ride or rollerblading</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing gratitudes on a piece of paper or in a journal</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making a healthy breakfast and eating it sitting down at a table</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Complimenting yourSelf in the mirror</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saying/doing a favorite mantra/affirmation/incantation</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Getting fresh air/taking active deep breaths </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dancing</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Writing poetry, stream-of-consciousness thoughts; keeping a dream journal</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yoga</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meditation</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple stretching</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Singing your favorite song or listening to your favorite music</span></b></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've found, in mySelf and others, that great productivity, focus, and overall happiness comes out of a nice and easy morning practice that puts U first. In my "U" case, upon waking: </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I splash some water on my face, go to the bathroom,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink two glasses of water,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Go for a breathwalk up my street to the top of the hill (walking while actively breathing in through my nose and out through my nose or mouth) while listening to my Calm Meditation <a href="http://www.pandora.com/" target="_blank">Pandora</a> station,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do some light stretching,</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do some simple yoga (mainly inhaling my arms around and up over my head and exhaling them back down),</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check in - palms together - in praying form - with my thoughts, my words, my feelings, and my actions (head, lips, heart, stomach),</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walk back to my apartment with whatever inspiration incantation comes to me, allowing it to build my momentum and motivation for the day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, I write down five things for which I am grateful and meditate for one minute on one of them.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My morning practice boosts my confidence, my awareness, my energy, and puts me in a place of content and action. I can honestly say that it has increased my productivity and benefitted my life tremendously - just eight simple steps, all focusing on me - my most important Self. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Now it's your turn to take care of your most important Self! Please share whatever morning ritual you do, and let us know what new practices you've added or started!</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. Looking for someone who's an expert at YouTime? Connect with <a href="http://www.youtimecoach.com/" target="_blank">The YouTime Coach</a>, Jonathan Wolf!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.P.S. Can U help me in strengthening my YouTime practice? Please check out my <a href="http://ahimsalifecoaching.blogspot.com/2012/11/help-me-get-to-bimini.html" target="_blank">Reiki Certification Challenge</a>! Giving & Receiving creates an even greater connection with Urself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>All the best and yummiest to you!</i></b></span></div>
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Steven Todd Smith, CHHC, AADPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06276924595957925439noreply@blogger.com0