A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate that God has provided us. Our Divine Creator makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate! ♥
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Happy Holidays & Hot Chocolate
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Blessed Thanksgiving and Native American prayer
I wish all of you a joyful, peaceful and safeThanksgiving Holiday. Remember how much all of us have to be grateful for. If you are ever feel your faith wavering, your spirit broken, write a gratitude list- of everything, everyone you feel grateful for in your life. Doing this will lift your spirit and open your heart. Gratitude is also the key to manifesting your heart’s desires. The more you feel grateful, the more you allow in all the miracles of the Universe. The Universe fully opens its arms and you deserve all that is good! ♥
A friend of mine shared this lovely Native American Thanksgiving Prayer and I want to share it with all of you as well. Thank you Linda Living Joy.
~Cosmic Blessings, Love & Light to you and yours~
Thanksgiving
We return thanks to our mother, the Earth,
which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams,
which supply us with water.
We return thanks to all herbs,
which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.
We return thanks to the moon and stars,
which have given to us their light when the sun was gone.
We return thanks to the sun,
that has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.
Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,
in Whom is embodied all goodness,
and Who directs all things for the good of Her children.
~ Iroquois ~
Friday, November 20, 2009
Please help and adopt Kenosha Greyhounds!
Angelic Blessings everyone,
I received this news today and want to get it out there to as many people as possible. Please pray for our canine friends and pass this on! ~Thank you ~
The Dairyland Greyhound Race Track in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing December 31, 2009.
Up to 600 greyhounds need to be adopted! Please help me get the word out. There are only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Dairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256 (262) 612-8256. Please see the web link below... Greyhounds are known to be sweet and wonderful dogs, very family oriented! Thank you
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Raw Apple Pie Recipe from the Raw For Life video
Blessings everyone~ For months I have been transitioning to a raw foods diet. (With more info about that on the way...) Came across this recipe about a month ago and found it delightful! So here you go! There is also a YouTube video link at the end if you want to check it out. Have fun!
For the apple pie filling, personally I did not like the texture of the soaked walnuts. I think there are several options: you could omit them-OR- one could use chopped raw walnuts instead –OR- soak them but then later, puree them in addition. The chef Dorit stressed the importance of soaking the walnuts for 48 hours, but I do not feel it’s necessary. 12 hours is good enough!
Allow yourself plenty of time to make this, since there is some definite prep work and soaking time, plus cleaning up in between..;)
For the crust, if you do not want to use almonds, you could use raw pecans or walnuts. And if you don’t have enough dates, for just the crust, you could use raisins instead. (unsoaked)
The almond cream top is not necessary but does make a nice addition. Have fun!
Special equipment: Food processor or high powered blender
Plenty of glass or ceramic bowls
Grater for lemon & orange zest
Deep pie dish
Dehydrator if you have one but it is not necessary!
The recipe, what you will need
Crust:
1 ¼ cups raw almonds, soaked overnight for about 8- 12 hours; then rinsed (once soaked, they become about 2 Cups)
1 cup pitted dates
1 tsp. Orange zest
¼ cup dried unsweetened coconut (optional- I added this for more texture)
Flaxseed oil –or- Coconut, Olive or Canola oil for brushing the bottom of the pie pan
Filling:
3-4 Peeled & Chopped Apples
3-4 Peeled & Shredded Apples (we sliced them thin in the food processor instead)
Organic Apple Juice for soaking the apples
Lemon juice (fresh is best but not necessary)
1 cup soaked dates (in water) for about an hour or two
1 cup chopped walnuts, soaked for 12-48 hrs, then rinsed *see note above*
1 cup unsulfured raisins (no sulfur dioxide or other preservatives in them)
1 tsp. lemon zest
Approx 1 tsp. cinnamon -and-
1/4 tsp. nutmeg to taste
Almond Cream Top:
1 cup of almonds, soaked & then skins peeled- To do this faster, you can blanch the almonds by boiling some water, then dipping the almonds in for a few seconds in a steamer or strainer until the skins start to come off. Some may still need some help with removing the skins
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups dates soaked in organic apple juice for an hour or two before you assemble the pie, juice reserved (I actually ran out of dates & ended up using 1 cup instead & it worked out fine)
What to soak: (all in purified water unless otherwise noted)
Overnight- for 12 hours:
1 ¼ cup of almonds (for the crust) plus 1 cup almonds for the cream top
1 cup of walnuts (if desired)
An hour or two prior to assembling the pie:
1 cup of dates
1-2 cups of dates in Organic Apple Juice
1 cup of raisins
½ your apples in Organic Apple Juice, the other half tossed in enough lemon juice to coat them
Directions
For the crust: Brush your pie dish lightly with the oil of your choice. Add all the ingredients in the food processor and process until well combined. (It will look similar to a mealy flour) Add all to the pie dish and press it down evenly to make a crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours to set. (Instead, what I did was put the whole dish in the dehydrator for about 2 hours but you don’t need to..)
For the apple filling: After chopping/slicing the apples, divide them into two groups and put them into two bowls. Soak one group of apples in Organic Apple Juice about an hour or two before you make the pie- just enough to cover them. The other group of apples- toss in lemon juice; use enough to coat them well. I think I used maybe ~3Tbsp
Later, after about 2 hrs and all is soaked, combine all your ingredients in a large bowl except the dates (and walnuts if you choose to use them, you can puree them with the dates) Mix all the ingredients together with your hands. Then process the soaked dates (and walnuts if desired) until it’s a puree; add that to the apple mixture and mix with hands again or stir.
Add the filling on top of the pie crust and pack it in with your hands. Send love into your food J
For the almond cream top: After peeling the skins from the cup of almonds, add the soaked dates & vanilla to your food processor or blender and process until very smooth. You can add the reserved apple juice gradually as you need it to thin the mixture out.
Spread this mixture evenly on the top of the pie like you would frosting. Garnish with sliced apples or edible flowers, if desired. Slice slowly and carefully to serve & enjoy!
For storage, you can put it in the refrigerator or freezer. For freezing, add some toothpicks into the pie, then cover with aluminum foil so it won’t be entirely touching the cream top. It tastes just as yummy frozen!Monday, October 12, 2009
Animal Messenger~Vulture~
The turkey vulture also aids in the seeing of energy and auras, since they can see thermal energy rising from the earth from up in the sky. If a turkey vulture has come into your life, you will probably soon start to see colors, light and energy around people and things.
Interestingly, the vulture has no "real" voice. To some this may reflect the lesson of acting versus talking, performing rather than talking about performing.
Vulture also reminds us to pay attention to how one feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually after eating foods. So take note of your digestive system and patterns. Vulture can help us discover which foods to avoid and which to increase.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Full Moon Release
Another idea is to visualize a flower of light in the flames (or any symbol you feel is best) after everything is burned away.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Easy Green Smoothie
Easy Green Smoothie
This is a super easy way to get your fresh greens in and for kids to eat them, too! Great energizer for the day. *Note: turnip and beet greens can be bitter, so try mixing them with others; they are also high in oxalic acid, so eat them in moderation.
* 1 banana
* 1 apple, peeled & cut up
*Agave nectar or honey to taste
* Water- about 3/4 cup- and ice if desired
Wash/rinse greens and cut into smaller pieces if necessary. Add everything in a blender in order above with water (can keep adding more water as needed) and blend until smooth. Add Agave nectar to taste and blend again. Enjoy! J
instead of water: Almond, oat or sesame milk
Fruit options: berries, mango, peaches, pineapple, cherries, kiwi, watermelon
Additional options (about 1 tsp): ground flaxseed powder, liquid vitamins, ground psyllium seed, cinnamon, fresh ginger root chopped