Hello Beautiful People,

I write bearing wonderful news! I have it direct from the Legion of Groundhogs that this illustrious Winter weather is ON ITS WAY OUT! Did you hear that Spring? That's right. We've got your number and we're calling. 

Hello, Spring? Hi, yes, we're ready for your close up. 

OK_ now that my daily willing of Spring weather to finally come to NYC has been accomplished, I have other great news! We've beeb posting weekly blog posts on the Starrett Lehigh building's website.

Each week we focus on a topic that provides juicy detailed information about healthy living, cooking and baking tips, vegan new items, natural health remedies, fitness tibits, the Juice Truck's top favorite everything and much more!!

Shortly we'll have those posts up and accessible here as well but for now, please follow the weekly posts at StarrettLehigh.com!

THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU!

Deborah

Weeeeeee're BACK!

Hey Fans of Holistic Juicy Living!

I am very excited to announce that after a long (and very busy) hiatus from posting on this blog forum, I have decided to give it another go and get the juices flowing with content to
support our holistic and fabulous lives!

In the effort to keep it consistent, I will be posting blog posts by colleagues and peers in the holistic community as well as sharing and reposting information that fuels and inspires me.

Keep posted for a wonderful FALL full of Holistic Juicy Living!!!

xoxoxoxo

Deborah
CEO & Funky Juicer of Green Pirate!

Juice Up Your Life w/Daily Dance!!!

THis is not a joke. This is seriously JUICY LIVING!

MANDATORY DAILY DANCE PARTY has officially begun!

We're taking 15 minutes of every single day in 2012 and making a mandatory dance party in our lives.

How does this work?

Easy. Pick a time during the day that works best for you and set your intentions to dance for 15 minutes. (note: you do NOT have to know how to dance or feel comfortable dancing to do this)

At your designated time, put on music that you love (can be a record, tape, radio, tv, internet station, Pandora, whatever, I guess you could even just sing the whole time!)

DANCE! for 15 minutes just let it go. Dance like nobody is watching. Feel the music in your body. Move your body in ways that feel good! Let your smile grow giant as you start to feel a surge of energy like you have never felt.

It doesn't matter where you do this. It can be in your cubicle at work, the bathroom, your living room, on the street, listening to your iPod, driving, wherever!

You deserve this. Its for you.

JOIN US on Facebook where we post every day when we're dancing so you can do it at the same time as us! Or pick your own time and just dance!

we love you.

This is juicy living.

2 Day Juice Cleanse GROUPON!!

Green Pirate Juice Truck is offering a limited time discount on our 2 Day Juice Cleanse Pack. This temporary offer can be purchased through Groupon and will allow customers who purchase the voucher to fulfill it any Monday - Friday morning at the Juice Truck's location on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, from 8 am - 11 am. (subject to availability - meaning we schedule 10 per day, first come, first served)

The basic offer is the same as our normal 2-Day Juice Cleanse Pack ($200), but will be offered for $99 for one day only (Wednesday, July 27th!).

When you purchase this Juice Cleanse package, you not only receive the yummy fresh juices to supplement your normal meals for 2 days, but you receive holistic supportive
educational materials about the cleansing process, what to expect, how to prepare, and safe and effective ways to behave during the cleanse. You will also receive support in following up after the days of cleansing.

Green Pirate is the hardest working mobile food truck in NYC and possibly the country! We put a lot in to bringing the freshness to the streets of NYC and Brooklyn every day and we are thrilled to make this offer available to such a wide range of customers.

DRINK UP EVERYBODY! It's to Your health!

love
Deborah

Creativity and the Power of intentions..

As typical as this may sound, I'm going to say it anyways.

I believe in the power of intentions and positive thinking. I have been working to manifest a level of stability in my personal life and career that would support me in moving to the next step with my creative projects. To get some of the music and story ideas out of my head and onto the page.

After months of visualizing and meditating on what that might look like, my dream of having the time and space to write has manifested in a month long artist-in-residency workshop on Martha's Vineyard to co-create a new musical called Pyramidica: Songs of Freedom, with my writing partner, Lucas Papaelias. The process thus far has been both humbling and thrilling as we moved into a house on the Vineyard and took up residency in a beautiful (gigantic) artist work/live space specifically for the purpose of writing this music and crafting our story.

You can read more about Pyramidica on our IndieGoGo page and learn about ways to get involved.


My intention for sharing this post with readers is to encourage you all to believe in your dreams (again I don't care if this sounds cheesy!) and follow your instincts!

The impossible is possible. The dream can become reality and you can achieve this by taking time each day to see yourself in that place you want to be. Create a visual and then breathe into it. Really see yourself doing what it is you wish to accomplish.

It works.

JUICE CLEANSE & YOGA INTENSIVE

Every Spring I try to offer some kind of guided group opportunity for cleansing. I started this annual practice because I myself wanted to do a cleanse but did not want to feel isolated from the rest of the world for the week or like I had nobody to reach out to if I had questions or feelings to express. I did my first group cleanse in April of 2005 and I have led 7 groups since then, each one taking me deeper into my own practice and understanding of my body, as well as enhancing my knowledge and understanding of how to effectively lead the groups.

On May 1st, I will be teaming up with the amazing teachers at GOOD YOGA in Greenpoint to offer an incredible opportunity for a Spring juice cleanse and yoga intensive.

We'll hold a group workshop and then host cleanse focused yoga classes daily, with an opportunity to purchase fresh juice daily from Green Pirate.

The goal of the workshop is to educate people about the process of cleansing, how

to safely and effectively let go of unwanted toxins yet stay nourished, and to provide structure and support for a successful Spring cleansing experience.

GUIDED JUICE CLEANSE & YOGA WORKSHOP
MAY 1st, 2011 - May 8th, 2011
w/ Deborah C. Smith and partner studio, GoodYoga

$50.00 per person

Register for the workshop through GoodYoga.

Guided Cleanse Experience includes:
- 3 hour Cleanse plenary workshop on Sunday, May 1st, 2011 (mandatory)

- Nutrition and Cleanse Educational Materials
- Weekly menu plan (personalized during the workshop)

- Juicing tips and samples

- post-cleanse 30 minute individual follow-up sessions with Deborah (May 11^th- 18th)

**Yoga classes provided through Good Yoga not included in the cost of the workshop***

** Fresh Squeezed Juice is available for participants of the cleanse at a separate fee***

Please Email deborah@green-pirate.com with questions or visit http://www.goodyoganyc.com to find out about the yoga teachers and classes available.

*Pregnant women and anyone taking prescribed medications should consult their doctor before

embarking on a week-long detoxifying cleanse plan.

XOS (Hosh) Community Yoga

Join the Movement


There is a wonderful new yoga studio called XOS (pronounced Hosh) in my neighborhood, right on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint. It's a donation based studio, which means that while there is a suggested donation of $10 per class, you are welcome to pay what you can at the time of class. This opens up the opportunity to take a yoga class to so many more members of the community because they don't feel the pressure to have a "perfect experience in yoga class" or decide not to take class because they can't afford a $15 or $20 class.

It also makes newcomers to yoga feel more welcome. They can try out a class and find out if they like it without breaking the bank.

I have been going to XOS regularly now since January and I LOVE IT THERE~!!!!!! I feel safe exploring my practice under the guidance of caring teachers and I feel more connected to both my body and my community.

All of the teachers are volunteers and bring the highest intentions to their classes. I believe that because they are donating their services, they feel inspired to give their very best. It's not just a job for them, you can tell that they genuinely care about their students and the process of opening your heart and mind to being a happier, healthier human through yoga.

They offer all kinds of community based gatherings, chances to meet the teachers and other yogis that frequent the studio, online reading resources through their blog, feature a pose of the month, and in the Summer and Fall they offer classes in McCarren Park as well.

This past weekend XOS hosted a donation drive to support families and communities suffering from the recent tragedy in Japan. You can still donate money through their website here.

XOS is a great example of a pay it forward mentality in business. They offer their students the opportunity to feel the choice they are making when attending a class. It's not a fixed price. You pay what you wish, putting the responsibility on the "consumer" to fully understand the value of what they are experiencing, which in this case is a connection to your body, a chance to relieve stress, a community building effort, and increased energy and flexibility in your body. Pretty awesome.

Check out XOS for a class or email me and join me. I go at least 2ce a week either at 10 am or 6:30 pm depending on my schedule.

See you on the mat!

XOS YOGA
55 Nassau Avenue
(entrance on Guernsey St.)
closest subways
G (Nassau) and L (Bedford)
closest busses B62, B43 and B48
E-mail: info@hoshyoga.org
Phone: 718-599-YOGA(9642)

Juicing and Cancer

I have begun the journey to learn more about health and nutrition and how they relate to Cancer. My desire to know more about the relationship between food choices and healing is directly inspired by a need to feel I am doing my very best to support myself and my clients in the effort to prevent terminal illness in our lives. Particularly in cases where genetics already provide a link to Cancer, it is important to practice preventative health care, by eating a diet rich in nutrients and minerals as well as minimizing toxins in the system and maintaining a regular exercise regimen.

In 2008 I lost my father, William Smith, to Cancer. It was a very difficult time in my life, as well as the rest of my family. I recall the most frustrating part being the feeling of hopelessness, that there was nothing any of us could do to help him. Recently I performed with my band Medicine Woman at a benefit for children who are currently battling Cancer in various forms. It was so inspiring to feel the community coming together to raise funds and awareness and provide hope to these children. The difference in the two experiences was remarkable. I realized that I wanted to be able to do more for Cancer patients in the way of health counseling but I have to learn more. I need to know more about my own food choices and how they are creating my cell walls and forming my organs and ultimately dictating my overall functionality.

I make tons of fresh squeezed juice with Green Pirate. I make it all the time and drink it alot too, so I figured this was logical place to start in exploring the many preventative health tools that we have access to for preventing illness. I understand that there is a direct link to blood type, genetic coding of the cells and other environmental factors that are out of our control, but I also know that diet and nutrition play a major role in the health cell and therefore overall energy and integrity of the cell.

So to kick it off, here's a list of foods that are perfect for juicing when working with Cancer.

Enjoy and please feel free to comment or support me in any way on my journey to know more.

xo
Deborah
******************************

Below are lists of foods that are known to fight and prevent cancer. These items must be consumed raw in order to get the full benefits, which is why juicing is such a powerful healing treatment.

Cruciferous Vegetables contain very powerful anti-cancer properties. Some cruciferous vegetables are:

- Collard Greens
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Turnip

Beta Carotene is another powerful cancer fighting ingredient found in foods. These foods include:

- Carrots
- Peppers (chili, green, red, yellow)
- Leafy Greens (mustard, romaine, collards, kale, turnip greens, spinach, dandelion)

Proanthocyanidins (or PAC's) are powerful cancer fighters as well. Foods that contain PAC's include:

- Beets (including beet tops)
- Blueberry
- Plums
- Purple Grapes (with seeds and skin)

Other fruits that contain powerful cancer fighting ingredients include:

- Pineapple
- Tomato
- Dark Berries (strawberry, blueberry, red raspberry, black raspberry)

There are also bottled juices that are power packed with cancer fighting nutrients. Please research the brands and only go with the best. Recommended bottled juices include:

- Noni Juice
- Mangosteen Juice
- Goji Berry Juice.

Although the bottled juices listed above are great due to the powerful nutrients that they contain, fresh juice made from organic produce is definitely the best. During the juicing process, the fiber is removed with the pulp. Because of this, the nutrients needed to heal the body and restore the immune system go directly into the blood stream in the form of juice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2289633

12 Toxins in health care products...

Sharing is Caring, right?

I am re-posting this article about beauty and health care products that I found on the Green Wala website because it was chock full of info that I didn't know. I was surprised to realize that each of these 12 chemicals or ingredients can be found somewhere in my own home, in one of my health care products, including my shampoo, toothpaste and makeup.

I had read that antibacterial soaps are not actually great for us because they kill off good bacteria too, but only recently have I started to look beyond food sources of toxins, to the other household products that I use to get a full picture of health.

This article offers some insight to the possible toxins in your health care and beauty products. I encourage us all to read the labels, understand what we are putting on our skin, and in our hair, and to choose natural products that don't contain carcinogens and other toxins. A few ideas to look into are using natural powdered minerals or metals such as mica for eye shadows, and essential oils or distilled flower essences instead of fragrance.

Enjoy!

Twelve Of The Most Toxic Ingredients In Personal Care Products

108 Days of Yoga

Tazima Davis (Compassionate Renegade), my holistic health coach from IIN challenged all of her clients to integrate yoga into their day, every single day for 108 days starting on 1/11/11. I read all of her e-mails and thought, "I could never pull that off, I'm way too busy". Then I read further and listened to her basic guidelines for what it meant to bring yoga, mindfulness and balance into a daily practice, and determined that I could definitely find time every day to spend 30 minutes in quiet or meditation, ideally on the mat, stretching and toning my physical body as well, but at very least, in a place of rest and inner calm, breathing deeply and steadily, and quieting the chatter in my mind. In fact, this is exactly what I need heading into this new year, a year of building strength.

Since January 11, I am proud to say I have met this challenge to very best of my ability and have done yoga for 14 days. I try to get over to HOSH yoga in my neighborhood where they have built a beautiful community studio, which is also pay-what-you-wish and run by volunteers, but I have also done some video tapes and downloads from the internet. On the one day that I could not actually get to a class, I made time to meditate on my train rides (believe it or not on the subway!) and at the end of my day when I was getting ready for bed, I still got on the mat for a bit and stretched while breathing deeply.

I never thought I would even make it this far, but so far the joy of taking that time for myself to turn inward and find the balance in my body has been such a gift that I am looking forward to it again every day.

The most significant thing that I have noticed is how busy my mind is and how long it takes me each class to find my breath and focus on being in the moment rather than leaping ahead to what I have to do next, or hanging onto an experience from my past.

I hope I can stick with it and that this begins to lessen as I go....

With compassion I invite you all to challenge yourselves to an exercise or activity that would help to balance your day and make you feel great, but may seem just a bit out of reach. Give
yourself the treat of realizing that there is so much that you CAN do... become inspired.

with love,
Deborah

Rock Your Own Asana!

Yoga means union. It is a balancing and integrating of your physical, mental and spiritual selves. The benefits of doing yoga are endless, but amongst them, stress relief is key.

Recently, I hosted a week long cleanse in my home, which included a group of 10 people, doing variations on a detox cleanse and practicing yoga as a group.

One of the most powerful things that I took away from this week-long journey was that I can practice yoga every single day, in my very own home.

We moved some furniture and pulled back the rug, put on some inspiring music and threw down our mats and there was our yoga studio!

Now, granted not every apartment will have large open spaces for this, but you don't really need much. Just a mat or a rug, instructions on how to properly do some of the poses, and some quiet time to do them!

There are some helpful resources on the internet that describe poses and the meaning of certain terms.
You can order videos or DVD's of your favorite instructors or find free classes online.

Here are some references that I have used in the past:

Yoga Journal

Yoga To Health (informational site)

Rodney Yee! (one of my favorites cuz he kicks my asana)

Lisa Kazmer! (my partner in crime for the cleanses in NYC)

While the ideal situation is to find a teacher you LOVE and who inspires and guides you to be at your best, you can also rock your own asana, right at home!!

Good luck, keep it balanced.

xo
Deborah

Green Pirate Caters & Delivers This Fall!

Green Pirate Juice Truck is juicing right into the Fall, making the most delicious, nutritious and environmentally friendly beverages we can think of to rock your world!

Join the fun and have the Juice Truck deliver to your business or cater the site of your next event. Visit our website to learn more about the truck and how you can have us visit YOU!

We are currently offering catering and delivery in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, through December 15th, 2010.

Check out our profile page on Thumbtack!
Fresh Squeezed Juice Truck catering in Brooklyn!

Delicious & Healthy Fall Recipes

Greetings Dear Readers!

I am so happy today because its the perfect Fall weather. Its cool and crisp outside but the sun is shining and if you stand in just the right place it will still warm you outside and in.

This is by far my favorite season for cooking. I love to bake apple pie, roast seasonal squashes and root veggies, and of course, I love juicing apples!

Today I'm going to share with you some of my favorite simple recipes for Fall. Try them at home and let me know how it goes. I hope its delicious and FUN!

Roasted Butternut Squash
Ingredients
1 butternut squash
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup Organic Cold Pressed Olive Oil (you can use coconut oil as well)
Cinnamon to taste
Sea Salt

When I found out how simple it was to roast a squash I was blown away. You can certainly get more fancy with this recipe by cutting the squash into different size pieces or shaping them, but if your just chillin' at home and want something sweet and warm and delicious, try this:

Wash one small butternut squash and cut it in half or four.
Remove the seeds from the belly of the squash.
Place both halves (inside face up) on a baking tray.
Preheat the oven to 375 (or 400 depending on climate and your oven)
Chop 2 cloves of garlic fine and mix them into a 1/4 cup of oil. Mix well.
Drizzle or glaze the oil over the squash covering the entire exposed surface
Sprinkle cinnamon and sea salt over the squash to your desired amount
Bake in the oven for 25 minutes then check with a fork.

I like it really soft so I would probably leave my squash in another 15 minutes (40 total). If you like it kind of hard or raw still, you can take it out after 30 minutes. Cut it into pieces and serve! Delicious.

AGAVE APPLE PIE

Here's a healthy take on an apple pie recipe that I have been trying to perfect for a few years now. It includes the use of Agave nectar.

Agave nectar's glycemic index and glycemic load are comparable to fructose, which in turn has a much lower glycemic index and glycemic load than table sugar (sucrose).

INGREDIENTS

• 5 or 6 large apples
• 2 whole wheat grain pie crusts ( you can make your own or buy in a health food store)
• 1/4 cup Agave Nectar (I recommend using amber or light)
• 1/2 cup Organic Rolled Oats
• 1/4 cup wheat flour
• Cinnamon
• dash of Sea Salt

Place one of the whole grain pie crust in a round baking dish. Wash, peel, core and chop the apples into small chunks. In a large mixing bowl combine the apples, agave nectar, sea salt and cinnamon and stir until blended. Add the rolled oats and wheat flour to the mixture and stir until moist and blended. (you could add more apples or a dash more agave here to keep mixture moist).

Fill in pie dish and cover with the second pie crust. Poke holes in the top crust with a fork to allow it to breathe.

Bake at 350, for 25 minutes. Crust should turn golden brown. Keep your eye on it!

Enjoy! (don't be afraid to add a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt to this dish!)

APPLE, WALNUT & ENDIVE SALAD
(got this recipe from Martha)

Serves 4

• 1/3 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 2 teaspoons grainy mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 shallot, minced
• 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 red apples, quartered, cored, and each quarter cut into 8 wedges
• 3 ounces baby arugula, washed and dried (6 cups)
• 1 Belgian endive, leaves separated, washed and dried
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, coarsely chopped
• 2 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
  

1. In a small skillet over medium heat, toast walnuts, stirring frequently until crisp and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, honey, shallot, and vinegar until well combined. Whisk in the oil until thick; season with salt and pepper.
3. Add apple and arugula; toss to coat. Arrange endive leaves on four serving plates, top with apple mixture and scatter mint, cheese, and walnuts over the top.

Read more at Wholeliving.com: Apple, Walnut, and Endive Salad

What are you cleansing?

It's late Summer and it's a natural instinct to want to hang on to the last juicy days of fun and sun as long as possible. In keeping with a healthy balance of reality though, it's important to realize what is about to happen in nature and find where it is reflected in your own life. We are preparing for a natural cleanse. The Earth is pushing up and out its bounty of Fall vegetables and greens, the markets are bustling with robust, ripe produce that is vibrant in color,

and the leaves on all the trees are still sparkling green, but in a few short weeks we will begin to see the first signs of the turn of season: preparing for Fall.

At this time of year we can observe what kind of rewards we reaped from the seeds we sewed last Spring. We can give thanks for the many gifts of nature that we are able to enjoy, and we can also forgive ourselves for having lost a seed or two along the way. All the more ready to replant again next year.

Soon, we will become part of a natural letting go. It may not be time yet, but when it is.... What are you saying goodbye to in your life? What are you letting go of?

What are you cleansing?

Traditional cleansing of the body can be an incredibly powerful way to create ritual around the practice of letting go. We learn to say goodbye to those things which no longer serve us and we recognize and give thanks for the many things we learned that did strengthen and support us along our path to a happier, healthier existence. While cleansing, your body is afforded the opportunity to take a break from the tedious task of digesting and processing solid food day in and day out. Your liver, gallbladder, kidneys and stomach may all thank you for a few days off, and your colon gets a good clean out.

Whether its pesticides or trans fats in your food, car exhaust fumes in the air or chemicals in the soda you drink, your body is being assailed by pollutants 24 hours a day. You can use a cleansing diet and detox plan to redress the balance and restore your body to health! It's an important opportunity to check in with what foods work well in your diet and which do not serve you.

It's a gentle stepping back from routine to observe which habits and patterns work for you and which ones don't.

I am thrilled to be co-leading a Fall group cleanse and gentle detoxifying yoga week with my good friend and colleague, Lisa Kazmer. We will be running a planning day, to prepare for the week of cleansing and meeting several times throughout the process to practice yoga as a group and check in with eachother about our individual process.

Please visit the cleanse page on this blog for more information about embarking on a cleanse or to schedule a private consultation. You contact me directly at deborah@green-pirate.com.

Guided Detox Cleanse and Yoga Week!

Join Us for an amazing Fall Detox Cleanse!

Rid your body of unwanted waste and stressful toxins. Check in with your body's state of natural balance through meditation and yoga. Learn how to cleanse physical, mental and emotional toxins.

GUIDED DETOXIFYING CLEANSE & YOGA WEEK
w/ Juice Truck Owner and Holistic Health Coach, Deborah C. Smith and Yoga with Ashtanga Goddess Lisa Kazmer

September 10th - 17th, 2010
Greenpoint, Brooklyn

"This cleanse experience is amazingly supportive and a true catharsis."

"I feel so much more energy then I did just a week ago"

"The cleanse helped me to understand what foods I need more of and less of in my everyday life. Deborah was a tremendous guide in getting through the week."

Guided Detox Cleanse and Yoga Intensive includes:

- Juicey Kick-off! Cleansing Plenary Session (group)
- Weekly menu plan
- Nutrition and Cleanse Educational Materials
- 2 Basics Detox-focused Yoga classes- 75 minutes (group)
- 30 minute private health coaching session (individual)
- Detox Tea Blends for the week

TOTAL CLEANSE PACKAGE - $100 per person.

** Fresh Squeezed Juice Delivery for the cleanse is a separate option which each individual may inquire about.

** Individual Private yoga sessions are available with Lisa

DISCOUNTS

Sign up before Labor Day and receive a $15 discount!

Register and pay securely with Paypal!

Registration Fees

Full Registration Fee $100.00 Earlybird Discount $85.00 Internship (1 per cleanse) $50.00

REFER A FRIEND
Most of my client base and group workshop attendees arrive in my world via word of mouth. In order to reward those of you who pass along this valuable info, I offer the following referral plan.

Refer 1 client: Receive a FREE 30 minute Health Coaching session
Refer 2 clients: Receive a FREE 45 minute massage OR FREE private yoga lesson
Refer 3 clients: Receive BOTH a 45 minute massage AND private yoga lesson
************************************************************************************
ABOUT DEBORAH

For the past 5 years I have been cleansing regularly throughout the seasons and guiding groups and individuals in successful cleansing experiences. As a graduate of the renown Institute for Integrative Nutrition, I am trained to work with individuals from all walks of life in addressing their body's nutritional needs, but I received most of my real knowledge about the process by working with my own body and listening intently to the questions and concerns of my clients. I am highly experienced to offer a Guided Juice Cleanse plan that is unique to each individual that I work with.

As a certified Holistic Health Coach, I have been the nutritional guide for hundreds of busy New Yorkers seeking a healthier lifestyle. Many of my clients have reported that even several years later they are still applying the knowledge and education they received from my program to help them make the healthiest choices and live a more fulfilling and happier life.

In Harmony with Nature.

I am always amazed at how quickly I can get caught up in the hectic energy of the city. Even as the owner of my own business, I find that I am subject to the pace and madness of other people's agendas and often find myself caught in the very same stressful patterns that I offer counseling for. I struggle with keeping a finger on the pulse of what's happening in the moment, right now, and can become consumed with fear of what's to come, worries about money, opportunities, the economy, etc. I find myself daydreaming about the simple life, and living in a place where there are tons of trees and fresh water.

I was raised in upstate NY, near the foothills of the Adirondack mountains. As often as I can, I like to visit, recharge my batteries and reconnect with nature. This past week I spent a few days camping at a beautiful place called Fawn Lake with the intention of clearing away my stress, reclaiming my love and respect for nature and humbly receiving the lessons which the Earth has to offer me.

Fawn Lake is a gift to me. I started camping there when I was a teenager, with my close friends from the Adirondacks. While I was there I lived silently and simply. My best friend Sheila and I built fires made of fallen wood that we gathered from nearby treefalls, and cooked fresh veggies that we were given by local farmers over an open fire, roasting them right in the hot coals. We swam and bathed in the lake and we sat quietly for hours, just listening to the wind caress the trees, the call of the many loons that grace that area and the lapping of the endless waves off the lake upon the shore.

It was the sound of true harmony.

Breathing in fresh air and relaxing my mind from the stress of city living was blissful. I know that this close relationship with nature granted me the feeling of balance and fulfillment that I was reveling in. I vowed to keep this feeling alive inside me and to find a way every day to witness nature, to connect with the Earth and all her many lessons.

When I thought of ways to do this, many questions came up.


Am I living in balance with nature? Do I do my part to contribute to preserving this beauty and natural wonder for the next generation? Or do I make excuses and take the easy way out when I can? Do I recycle and compost everything I can? Do I volunteer for a local community cleaning day? Do I avoid making garbage and waste when I can? Or do I just think "Well, let somebody else deal with it..."?

I will be planning a full week-long cleanse in September 2010 where we will focus on this topic. Connecting with nature. Reviewing our vows to our own balance and that of the Earth. Removing the stressful burdens of waste in our lives, and striking a true connected relationship with the one thing that continues to feed us all: NATURE.

Please take time for yourself in these last few days of Summer to indulge in the beauty of our natural surroundings. Get to Central Park. Take the train out to one of our beaches and swim in the majestic Ocean. Visit the Cloisters. Get yourself close to nature and just observe. There is so much harmony to be shared.

Peace,
Deborah

What's Sexy About Health?

Let's face it, feeling happy and healthy is sexy!

Being in touch with that part of yourself that is sensual (which by very nature of being human we all have) is crucial to feeling balanced. Many people live in denial of what role their sensuality plays in their lives and it can lead to choices that don't always serve us. Getting to you know your sensual side and to nourish it can be truly revolutionary and healing!

I've been doing Zumba. I know... funny.... Here's the funniest part, my mother gave me the DVD and basically challenged me. She said "I know that you love to dance and you can do all these moves with your hips, and that's the exact area you need to work on!" Now I know that she meant well when she said that last part, hahaha. But the truth is, I LOVE to dance. I especially love Latin style dances; salsa, samba, merengue and even zouk!

I love it because it makes me feel energized and sexy. The fact that it also helps keep me in shape is a major bonus. I get a good cardiovascular workout and I get to connect to that rhythmic part of me that loves to step in time to the music. It stimulates a flow of energy that makes me feel amazing.


So what's your healthy sexy?

Do sensuality and sexuality have an impact on your overall balanced health? Absolutely! In fact, its just as important as good nutrition, exercise, a career that you love and a connection to your spirituality or creativity.

It's important to know the following things:

- how to care for and nurture your sensual side
- how to support reproductive systems and organs
- how to tap into and fuel your creative passions
- how to learn to love yourself as a sensual being
- what it means to YOU to be a sensual/sexual person (which is different for us all)
- how to communicate to the world about these things

As Cindy and I prepare for our upcoming class on health and sensuality (see details below), we continually ask ourselves and others what is so important about having a healthy relationship to our sexuality and sensuality. The answer is that it is at the core of everything that we do. It is our center of self-identity in so many ways. It fuels our passions and ignites our daily experiences with a spark.

Join us on a journey to better know ourselves, so we may be happier, healthier, and yes, sexier!!

Health & Sensuality, A Whole-body health workshop
the Meta Center

214 West 29th Street New York, NY

New York, NY

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-NY/Majestic-Living/126325763734?v=app_4949752878

Intention for the week

“The physical world, including our bodies, is a response of the observer. We create our bodies as we create the experience of our world.” - Deepak Chopra, author and spiritual philospher


Setting intentions is an opportunity for aligning ourselves with the universe.

When we create mental images of what our goals look like and create calm space to breathe and fuel this image, we are much more likely to reach this goal.

What's your personal intention for this week?

Have you been meaning to call that old friend that you love but its just been sooo long....?

What about picking up that instrument that you wish you played and just spending a half hour with it, or finally signing up for that dance class that's calling your feet to come hit the floor?

Are you in need of some exercise and would really love to make time for the long bike ride that you have been thinking about?

Whatever your personal goals are, take a moment this morning to set an intention. Try this:

1. Find a quiet place where you can sit for 10 minutes.

2. Clear your mind of other thoughts and distractions.
To do this try focusing only on your inhale and exhale for a few breaths.

3. Set your intention. Say to yourself " This week I am going to apply for a new job." Or, "This week I am going to try to exercise for 30 minutes every day." Or how about, "This week I am going to be kinder and gentler with myself."

4. Picture what it looks like.
Imagine yourself actually doing that thing that you intend. If you are intending to apply for a new job, maybe in your vision you are updating your resume and handing it to a potential employer who is smiling at you. If you are intending to be kinder and gentler, perhaps in your vision you would be taking a bubble bath or a gentle yoga class. Perhaps you are just taking a night to yourself to read.

5. Get clear! Whatever your intention or you vision, be really specific. See all the little details that go along with this vision. See the colors, the textures, even imagine the smells. Create the clarity of this intention within your own mind so that it can manifest in your life.

6. Breathe. Once you have a clear vision or symbol of your intention, just breathe into it. Take slow and deep breaths, and imagine that every breath is fueling that intention with power.

7. Smile. You've done it. Now its out there and you can go about having a beautiful week, knowing that the universe has been sent a powerful message about what you want.

I practice this method of creating intention for myself on a pretty regular basis and I have to say that it has changed my life. I refer you to Deepak Chopra's newest book "The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire" as a reference to the science behind meditation and intention. He does a wonderful job of explaining how the quantum physics of this type of communication works.

I wish you all the most abundant week and I hope you find time to manifest all of your intentions!

with blessings,
Deborah

Dear America.... the beet.

... so this is what a beet looks like.

They are a root vegetable, typically red or purplish in color, with long green stems and a tail like a rat. Not to be confused with a radish, which is much smaller in size.

The beet became highly commercially important in 19th century Europe following the development of the sugar beet in Germany and the discovery that sucrose could be extracted from them, providing an alternative to tropical sugar cane. It remains a widely cultivated commercial crop for producing table sugar.

The leaves and stems of young plants are steamed briefly and eaten as a vegetable. A large proportion of the commercial production is processed into boiled and sterilised beets or into pickles. In Eastern Europe beet soup, such as cold borsch, is a popular dish. Yellow-coloured garden beets are grown on a very small scale for home consumption.

Beetroot can be peeled, steamed, and then eaten warm with butter as a delicacy; cooked, pickled, and then eaten cold as a condiment; or peeled, shredded raw, and then eaten as a salad. Pickled beets are a traditional food of the American South.

One increasingly popular preparation involves tossing peeled and diced beets with a small amount of oil and seasoning, then roasting in the oven until tender.

A traditional Pennsylvania Dutch dish is Red Beet Eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are refrigerated in the liquid left over from pickling beets and allowed to marinate until the eggs turn a deep pink-red color.

Betanins, obtained from the roots, are used industrially as red food colourants, e.g. to intensify the colour of tomato paste, sauces, desserts, jams and jellies, ice cream, sweets and breakfast cereals.

Beetroot can also be used to make wine.^[4]

The consumption of beets causes pink urine in some people.

Why, you ask, am I blogging about a beet?

Well, I'll tell you. I am blogging about beets and the history and use of such a food, because last weekend while I was working on the Juice Truck at the Nike Cup Soccer Tournament at the Met Oval, I had one parent after the next approach me looking for smoothies. When they found out I didn't have smoothies, I had juice, the next questions were along the lines of...

"Well, what kind of juice ya got?".... "What's Kale?" (which I can understand)....

"What's a beet?".... which just makes me sad. "Really?", I thought. "You don't know what beets are? You don't recognize this red bulbous root? Really?"... but it was true. Many of these folks were totally unfamiliar with beets and they certainly weren't about to order our famous Hot Pink Limeade (which features The Beet). Granted I was in old-school Queens, but still...

So here it is. The beet. In all its Glory. I highly reccomend reading Tom Robbins' book Jitterbug Perfume for a more intellectual take on the historical role of the beet in time travel, chaos, and tantalizing smells...

Oh, and while I'm at it, here America.... is KALE!!!

and this is what a smoothie looks like.....

and here is a picture of just plain old, extracted JUICE. also smooth, but not made by blending with milk or ice cream or yogurt, just extracted from the fresh fruits and veggies, using a juice extractor. simple. delicious.

I have nothing more to say about it except that I am concerned for us all and I am grateful for Jamie Oliver.