March 20th, Macaron Day NYC

Macaron Day is well known in Paris but confectionery loving New Yorkers have had their macaron day today a third year in the row courtesy of François Payard. The delicate and crunchy sweets have been my favorite for some time now and today I am indulging.

Go out and experience what the talk is all about. Mention Macaron Day at participating bakeries and get a free macaron. Don’t feel so bad about spending on these little treats, a portion of today’s macaron sales will be donated to City-Harvest.

Find your organic macaron on the participating map.

Crazy Over Brussels Sprouts – Healthy Weekend Snacks

Organic Brussels Sprouts & Turkey Bacon

Tell Me What You Eat, And I Will Tell You What You Are

Could truer words ever have been spoken than these by Ann Wigmore? Who BTW, has been one of Karyn Calabrese’s mentors in the realm of holistic health and raw foods.

Two weeks into my detox as of today! Follow along as I’m blogging about the experience, beginning with… http://www.organicspamagazine.com/blog/renewal-rejuvenation-and-rebirth-with-karyns-28-day-cleanse/

So, about the cleanse. Yay and boo…but mostly yay! There are highs and lows, physically, mentally, and emotionally. You must be quite organized to get through the protocol for each and every day. I’m doing my daily ablutions as per week two of Karyn’s program… (http://www.karynraw.com/Detox).

A typical day is as follows: waking up to my probiotics, then there’s the fenugreek capsules, then digestive enzymes, then my green food smoothie, then my chlorella, (and don’t forget my meditation, walk with pooches, yoga, bit of journaling, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t add the very impressive bowel movement, given everything I’m doing!) Then I’m out the door for the day with my bag of aforementioned supplements, my kamut and other green juices, my oxycare drink, and I pack some bits of raw food snacks to nosh on as desired (karyn’s raw bread, “tuna fish,” “egg salad’” “four-nut burger,” the various “cheeses,” loving the pimento cheese–and the raw granola bar, the carrot muffin, the kale chips, the dulce–all delicioso!). I also enjoy my flaxseed powder and organic coconut oil wherever I can (in smoothie, on crackers, etc.) I come home to more of the same. With a lovely hot cup of tea after din-din. And then there are the enemas or colonics. This my friends, is a subject for next post. I’m having my first colonic ever tonight, so believe that I’ll share what it’s like, especially for you newbies.

This cleanse truly is like peeling away the layers of an onion.
Think caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly.
I really have to say that right now in this moment, my energy levels are through the roof!

I’ve also met those in the cleanse sessions who have dramatically healed chronic and acute disease (auto-immune, gastro-intestinal, and diabetes, to name but a few!) through this cleanse–their stories are amazing and quite inspirational…

But really, is it any wonder? Especially when we’re eliminating the sources of our afflictions–in mind and body. We become the food we eat. What we ingest becomes our tissues and organs. This is all about slowing down and paying attention to our thoughts, our decisions, and our body, so that we can eliminate for good, that which ails us. This is about learning how to eat vital, energized, real food, and getting away from the highly processed, chemicalzed foods that have become a staple of diets.

Did you know that there are over 100,000 chemicals registered for commercial use in the United States, and 2000 new chemicals are introduced into our food, personal care products, prescription drugs, household cleaners, and lawn care products every year. About 10,000 chemicals are used in food processing, 3000 chemicals are added to our food supply and we’re exposed to more than 300 volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) in our homes from fire retardants, paint, treatments in wood, carpeting and plastics. Is there any wonder why we’re all carrying a heavy load? And why a once a year detox ala the cleanse I’m doing with Karyn would not serve us all well for crazy-good and optimal wellbeing? Yes, my friends, that’s why I’m here!

Til soon,
Organically Yours,
Mary Beth

My “Vegucation” with Karyn Calabrese! Beginner’s Mind Anyone?…

Karyn Calabrese, the "Goddess of Raw"

Marcel Proust said “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

I grew up on an organic farm. My husband, James is a classically trained French chef. I thought we knew everything there was to know about eating a whole foods, organic diet and also believe we’ve been doing a great job of eating as healthfully as we possibly can. But boy, was I in for an education!

The “raw,” and “vegan” world of things, not to mention Karyn’s well-grounded methods for cleansing one’s mindbody physiology have me back in full-out learning mode. I. Love. It. And at its heart, it’s all about self-knowledge. Knowing who I am, and what is best for me to become the vibrant, healthy being that I’m meant to be. It’s all a part of self care. And for those that know me well, you know I’m fond of saying “self-care is the ultimate health care.”

I’m two weeks into my 28-day cleanse with Karyn (http://www.karynraw.com/Detox), and all is good. Very good.

I’ve been sharing my experiences every day with those in my wellness sessions that I teach, or one-on-ones with patients I see, and I’m meeting a variety of responses…from intense wonder, interest and questions–to disbelief and leeriness (read: close-mindedness). This way of eating is SO foreign for so many. So naturally I dive into the specifics with them, extolling the virtues of what it is I’m doing, and 9 times out of 10, they want more info. They’re fascinated by what I’m doing.

So in this post, I thought I’d riff, albeit briefly, about something near and dear to my heart…being an open vessel to the wonders of the universe, AKA: being open-minded. Karyn is such the soul sister in this regard. In this past week’s session, amongst the discussion of what’s happening in our body and mind, amongst the discussion of the week two protocol (with its varying supplements and steps) just ahead of us, Karyn shares how journaling and meditation can help us through the catharsis of the cleanse–in body and mind, and open us up to the infinite possibilities. She shares how “I don’t miss a day without my meditation and prayer–listening and talking to God.”

I truly came to this cleanse with a “beginner’s mind,” open to learning as much as possible under the “Goddess of Raw,” Karyn’s tutelage. Beginner’s mind is that beautiful Buddhist practice or mind-set that allows us to appreciate old information with new eyes, setting aside the know-it-all, seen-it-all, done-it-all mindset that diminishes enthusiasm and undervalues the tried-and-true. Beginners mind offers innocence, wonderment, and openness to possibility, encouraging us to take everything we know–opinions, pre-conceived notions, and even cherished beliefs–and put them away for awhile. (Don’t worry, they’ll be there when you get back!) It also encourages you to say “I don’t know” (even if you think you know). “I know” prevents us from understanding the present moment’s mysteries, and keeps us living in the past; we close ourselves off to the surprises or discoveries that give life zest.

If you’d like to truly practice beginner’s mind, just throw up your hands and say “I don’t know!” Not knowing is a wonderful state to be in, so innocent and liberating. Beginner’s mind knows that in familiar circumstances are riches to be unearthed. Beginner’s mind allows you to see your world anew everyday so that, in every moment, old information can bring new insights.

Take one day at a time in developing beginner’s mind. Watch when the inner know-it-all rears its ugly head, and bring your attention back to spirit. Meditation fosters a beginner’s mind, inspires us, and jump starts positive change (“I’ll have Karyn’s delicious ‘Green Food Smoothie’ for breakfast and LOVE it.”) while helping to de-emphasize the programming that replays over and over in our minds, driving our unconscious behavior (“I want fried eggs and bacon with a side of pancakes and hash browns!”)

Speaking of positivity, in the morning, look in the mirror and tell yourself, “Every day in every way, I’m getting better and better.” or “Today’s a new day, and I can choose a different path.” And no matter what happens, set your intention to receive value from your experiences. Energy follows intention.
It’s having a beginner’s mind that’s in essence guiding me through this rigorous 28-day cleanse and “vegucation” with Karyn. And the value from this is mind-blowing! ;-)

Til Soon,
Organically Yours,
Mary Beth

“One Day at a Time…” A Lovely Mantra for Your 28-Day Cleanse

“One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking from you. Just give me the strength to do ev’ryday, what I have to do…”

Mary Beth, your Organic Beauty Expert here! Truly, these words from Kris Kristofferson’s gorgeous hymn One Day at a Time come to mind as I head into my second week of cleansing/detox.  Some of you may be following me through my detox experience with Karyn Calabrese’s ‘s cleansing program. For those of you new to my “self-care” undertaking with Karyn, get grounded here on the goings-on. http://www.organicspamagazine.com/blog/renewal-rejuvenation-and-rebirth-with-karyns-28-day-cleanse/

I’m keeping Karyn’s Three R’s in mind with each new day:

• Remove the foods and chemicals that depress our metabolism, undermine our body’s ability to function, and compromise our health.
• Replace those harmful foods and chemicals with the healthful foods that completely nourish our biological systems, from the cellular level up.
• Rebalance our eating, our thinking and our habits to build the youthful, vital body we’re meant to enjoy, regardless of age.

I now have one week under my belt and am in major cleanse mode. Karyn has emphasized how there can often be cleansing reactions like: bodily pain, headaches, fatigue, chills, nausea, runny nose/mucus drainage, diarrhea, fever, body odor, and much more. She says that these healing crises are perfectly normal and should be welcomed. I must say, other then a constant feeling of fullness (imagine that, given my drastic reduction in food intake!) that I attribute to the Week One Protocol of supplements, drinks, shakes and vegan foods, that I sailed through the first week. Oh sure, a few quirky things came up for me. Pain that I would get through by self-massage, deep belly breaths and/or a bit of yoga. There’s also been an ebb and flow of my biological life force energy, day by day and minute by minute–but that’s the point isn’t it? Becoming the “witness” to our thoughts, actions, lifestyle choices, and certainly the feelings  and sensations circulating through and radiating from our mindbody physiology. Mindfulness over mindlessness, I say! The more connected we are to the spiritual layer of our being, the more apt we are to make the most life-affirming choices in all areas of our life. Being a long-time meditator–this cleanse has in essence become a meditation for me.  It’s all about tuning in.

I’ve become keenly focused on the process of taking (and enjoying!) my chlorella tablets, digestive enzymes, fenugreek seed capsules, Green Meal Shake, kamut water, psyllium/clay cocktail, rejuvelac, and eating vegan foods (no dairy, eggs, or meat). My daily walks with my pooches, my yoga practice and my journaling have also been an integral part of this “meditation” on self-care.

One thought here–why is raw/vegan food, the most vital, live food on the planet for our vibrant well-being so difficult to find? I realize this is relative. However, one would think it should be more the norm in shopping and food outlets, or shall we say, “mainstream” America, however that is simply not the case. Oh sure, if you’re in a metropolitan area, there are shops and restaurants where one can imbibe in the most delectable of raw/vegan offerings (My hometown, Chicago, has many offerings including Karyn’s three restaurants–Karyn’s Fresh Corner, Karyn’s Cooked, Karyn’s on Green), and more and more raw/vegan companies are sprouting up on-line. It’s encouraging! With the exponential growth of the organic sector, and more specifically, the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability market (also called LOHAS…see www.lohas.com), I’m cautiously optimistic that easily accessible raw/vegan offerings will contine to grow. More on this in a coming post…

About Karyn’s tips for staying focused while detoxing–I think these suggestions rock and they’ve helped me tremendously. Karyn encouraged everyone in our class to partner off with someone for support during this one month endeavor. My “buddie” that’s joined me for this 28 day period is a dear friend and we’re enjoying not only spending this time together–but we’re there for each other if need be every day via email, phone, etc., if for nothing other than to check-in and say how we’re feeling, but certainly if any issues arise where we want to compare notes and bounce things off of each other. I love my “buddie” and am so glad she’s joined me on this journey. And this is a journey, that I’m certain will continue on for us after the 28 days are over.

All the other points are also quite pertinent–I’m doing my prep for the day ahead, and am making certain to have raw/vegan snacks available to nosh on as desired. Karyn has the most wonderful foods, including snacks and desserts (the mint chocolate brownie is absolutely decadent!).

And of course, remember to love, accept, and nurture yourself unconditionally. Every day. In every moment.

Karyn is fond of saying, “If you don’t take good care of your body, where will you live?” So true.

Til Soon!

Organically yours,

Mary Beth