@filmcanheal / filmcanheal.tumblr.com
Journey to the motherland - Day 2 Lilliehammer Highlights of the day: Getting lost in the woods and finding a graffiti wonderland. Finding underwear on the streets and in the trees. The hotel we stayed in was the Norwegian equivalent of the Overlook. I flirted with the bartender and got a free glass of wine ;)
Journey to the motherland - day 1 It's 2:40am and I can't sleep... It feels like 8:40pm to me. Today was a travel day. We took off out of Newark, I was hopeful to get some sleep on the flight due to my large margarita in the terminals caliente cab mixed with a Dramamine, but no luck. The seats on United were so uncomfortable and small, I was up the whole 7.5 hours. Ok, sooo everything is super expensive in Norway! My venti iced passion tea was $8 AND the venti here is the size of a grande at home. #firstworldproblems Everyone else was exhausted so when we got to the hotel we all napped. I got in about 3 solid hours. Then I was wide awake, ready for our welcome meeting with our group and tour guide and dinner. Well it seems that my sister, my cousin and I are the youngest by about 20 years and our tour guide speaks as though she's on a permanent tranquilizer. We walked in late and sat I'm the back row. My parents were already there in the last row waiting for us. We're like the rebels of the group. At least when compared to all the Snow White grandmas we're surrounded by. Looks like our days will be starting at 7:30am everyday. #afternoonnap Dinner was actually really good for a hotel buffet. I had a salad with smoked salmon, cucumbers, red onion and tomato with a balsamic reduction. And for the main dish I had stewed cabbage and carrots with cod fish glazed with some creamy magic sauce. Dessert was a apple cobbler covered in a sugary cream and a double latte. Ooh I also tried a local beer that's brewed in Oslo. I want to say it's called Ragnor, but I might just have Vikings on mind ;) After dinner we went for a quick stroll around town. Everyone was sore and wanting to lay down but I was still wired! I went down to check out the gym and pool. I found the gym, it was small but had an elliptical and a tv playing some Robin Williams so I was game. After I struggled for 30 minutes in the machine, I found the sauna. What the what?! It was so freakin hot in there my chain was melting into my skin! My nose hairs felt like they were on fire. I hopped in the circle shaped pool and cooled off. It was so peaceful, no one else but me. I got back to my room to find everyone asleep. After a shower I also tried to sleep... And... Here I am. It's now 3:00am and I could run a marathon. Well, metaphorically... Things I've learned so far: Takk means thank you Heated towel warmers are amazing Retractable shower heads are my friend (takk takk) The food and water is incredible I'm going broke on this trip Tomorrow we're off to Lillehammer. I hope I get some sleep soon, or I won't look fresh as a daisy when I meet the Norwegian man of my dreams :) Reply to this post if you have any questions about my trip, family or special requests! filmcanheal
For the next 9 days I will be touring Norway with my parents, sister and cousin. This could either be the best or worst trip of my life, we all have a lot of personality... I've never really felt too connected to my Norwegian heritage because my grandmother believed in being as American as possible. She occasionally would talk about growing up in Norway, but only when asked. When my father and uncles were growing up she refused to speak or teach them Norwegian , fearing they would be discriminated against in school. I'm looking forward to experiencing Norwegian culture and connecting to a lost part of myself. Follow my journey as I try new food, see the sights, try to meet a tall blonde husband and attempt to keep the peace between my family. It's going to be a long, expensive 9 days! @filmcanheal
I'm sitting in Newark airport waiting patiently to board my plane to Colorado Springs. I'm headed to the Indie Spirit Film Festival to support my short film Awake. It's a 20 minute psychological thriller about a young woman stricken with a rare form of insomnia. Her dreams and reality blend into an hallucinatory journey to confront her past. Whoa. Deep. :) Follow me while I explore the festival for the next 4 days and review all the incredible films that will be screening!
New video from my web series, The Weekend - Check it out!
I woke up today feeling super pumped. Inspiration hit as soon as I opened my eyes. I grabbed my 'idea journal' and furiously began writing out an outline for a film. The clarity I felt was incredible! I could see actual scenes being played out in my mind!
I skipped into the kitchen and brewed a small pot of my Seed Power coffee. For an added treat, I scalded a cup of Almond Milk and whisked in some Cinnamon for a 'cappuccino creation'!
Breakfast - I'm warming mah tummy up to whole foods, so I decided to start my day with a Mango Madness smoothie from the book The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles.
In a blender of sorts (I use the magic bullet) add 1 mango, cut into pieces, 1 banana, a pinch of cinnamon, blend and set aside. Next, juice 1 orange, 1 cup Red Grapes, 1/4 inch ginger. Then whisk in the fruit juice with the puree mixture and ta-da! This yields about 14 oz of smoothie heaven!
After lunch I packed up a bag full of fruit, veggies and baking supplies and headed to my parents house. We're having a bbq for my dad's 60th tomorrow so I thought I'd spend the night and help them set up in the morning.... and... since they have cable... watch BREAKING BAD!!
As soon as I arrived at my parents house I was struck with utter temptation... I was being seduced by that sweet sweet slut, cheese doodle and her bffl, tortilla chip! NOOO, walk out of the room Lucille, they just want to harm your body and your soul!
Lunch - For a quick and easy lunch I had a cup of my left over Heirloom Gazpacho from yesterdays dinner. It tastes even better than it did yesterday! Gazpacho is always hella more flavorful when you let it marinate over night.
Since tomorrow's bbq will be filled with salty snack food and dangerous deserts, I decided to make a cake that will be both delicious and 'safe' for me to eat. Here's my recipe for a successful bbq cake that no one will know is vegan and gluten free...
Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Cake - 15-20 prep time, 25-30 min bake time.
1 1/2 cups Gluten Free Oat Flour, 1/2 cup Carob Powder, 1 tsp Baking Soda, 1/2 tsp Sea Salt, 1 cup Organic Cane Sugar, 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 cup brewed Coffee, 1/2 cup Apple Sauce, 2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar.
Preheat oven to 375. Sift together the Flour, Carob, Baking Soda, Salt and Sugar into an ungreased spring pan.
Whisk all dry ingredients together with a fork until mixed well.
In a 2 cup measuring cup, measure & mix together the Oil, Coffee, Apple Sauce and Vanilla.
Whisk together until the liquid has combined. (As well as it can)
Pour the liquid into the baking pan and mix the batter with a fork or small whisk.
When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly. There will be cool swirls in the batter where the baking soda and the vinegar are reacting! Science!
Stir until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter.
Put that beauty in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes!
Make sure to set a timer! When it's done, set the cake on top of the oven to cool. Since it's such a gooey cake, the residual heat from the oven will be good for it!
If you're saving it for the next day (like I am) cover the cake with wax paper and put it in the fridge. Just before it's served, dust the top with Confectioners Sugar. And enjoy the hell out of it!
Dinner - All that baking got me hungry! I decided on a juice and a salad for my din din. I was ready for whole foods!
3 Carrots & 1 Orange - Yields about 6 oz of tasty time!
1 Handful of Spinach, 1 Radish, 5 baby Heirloom Tomatoes, 1 tbsp Lemon Juice, 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Pepper to taste.
This salad was the first whole food I had in a week - It was sooo damn good! But... my tummy was all rumbly! I felt very odd for about an hour after eating it. Cramps! Uh oh, you know what that means.... If I were a care bear, I'd be - Flatulence Bear!
After dinner treat - Vegan Chocolate Banana Almond Ice Cream!!
2 Frozen Bananas, 1 tbsp Powdered Carob, 2tbsp Whole Raw Almonds, 1/4 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract, 1/4 tsp Cinnamon.
Place all ingredients in a food processor.
Mix until the banana is smooth, but leave some of the Almonds chunky!
Makes 2 servings. Spoon into serving bowls and garnish with Almond Slices (I put chocolate chips on top of my Dads)
Ok campers, the time has come for me to watch an all new episode of Breaking Bad!! Wish me luck and self control for tomorrow's birthday bbq!
I opened my weary eyes this morning feeling rested and calm. I was pleased to have slept through the night without waking up once! Since I didn't set my alarm last night, I rolled over to check the time, thinking it must be at least 10:00 or 11:00...Ahh how nice it is to let your body wake up naturally. 7:45am...What?! No, no, go back to sleep, it's Saturday, you can sleep as late as you like! ...But alas, I was wide awake!
My goal, post cleanse, is to slowly start to go back to my usual routine, but incorporate new habits I formed from this week. For example - Don't eat unless I'm hungry! I tend to be an emotional eater or a boredom binger... Pretty much any excuse to stuff my face. But no more!!!
Before the cleanse I made a pot of coffee every morning. So instead, I brewed a blend of both my coffee substitutions. Power Seed & Root Coffee. From taste testing yesterday, I know this brew is gonna be a bitter one. To make this a delicious delight, I scalded a cup of Almond Milk and whisked in a tbsp Agave Nectar and a 1/4 tsp of Cinnamon. It was the right move!
Due to the untimely death of my dear Magic Bullet yesterday, I ran to Costco before breakfast to buy a new one. $45 later I am the proud owner of a brand spanking new Magic Bullet... and its the deluxe kit!
Breakfast - By the time I got home I was feeling so weak that I needed an easy juice for a quick pick me up!
1 cup Strawberries, 1/2 cup Raspberries & 1 Orange. This yields about 6oz of liquid sour patch kids! Oh man, it was tasty time!
I've been fantasizing about Heirloom Tomatoes (because they are in season now) and decided for dinner I was going to make Gazpacho! Luckily, the farmer's market was today, so my roomie and I took a stroll down the block... $4/lb?! Fine... it's pricey, but worth it! Organic farm to table is always worth it!
Lunch - Yesterday I really wanted to make a smoothie with Dulse because it is a powerful antioxidant and great source of plant protein. Butttttt, then my magic bullet died, so I couldn't. With the power of my new bullet, I was ready for-- The Smoothie of the Sea!
I started with 1 Grapefruit, 1 cup of Red Grapes & 1 tsp of Dulse. I juiced the grapefruit & grapes then added it to a magic bullet container along with the dates and dulse. I looked at my departed bullet and an odd thought creep into my mind... try it... maybe it will work again... I placed the container in ol bullety and... ITS ALIVE!!! It worked, it worked, thank the magic bullet gods, it worked! Then I tasted the blend... UGH! Nope, not gonna do...
Next I added 3 more Dates and a 1/2 cup of Raspberries. The result was still kinda meh... I was super surprised how pungent the Dulse was, it was like drinking a glass of salt water. But I knew it was 'good for me' so I chugged the 8 oz as quickly as I could without choking.
Here's some more details on the benefits of Dulse http://www.naturalnews.com/034667_dulse_iodine_potassium.html
Dinner - Gazpacho time baby! I consulted a couple of recipes and decided to make my own...
5 different kinds of Heirloom tomatoes (6 tomatoes in total), 1/2 a cucumber peeled and seeded, 1/2 Red Bell Pepper, 1/4 Red Onion, 1 small chili pepper seeded, a couple of basil leaves, 2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt & fresh ground Pepper to taste.
Place tomatoes in the bottom of the blender, since they are the juiciest, then add the other veggies on top. Blend until your chosen consistency. I went with smooth, but go chunky if you feel like it! Place in a container and whisk in the vinegar, oil, salt & pepper. Place in the fridge until its chilled. This recipe will make about 32 oz which will be 4 servings. Oh, and btw, it's freakin AMAZING!!!
Unfortunately I made no visit to the Loo today, so now I'll be makin mah self a big pot of smooth move tea... By morning I'll be right as rain!
Tomorrow, my goal is to try to actually eat some whole fruits & veggies, since today the closest I came was the Gazpacho. But I just didn't feel ready for them today. I'm being a good girl and listening to my body. It will tell me when its ready :)
Dun Dun Dun!!!!! It's day 5!!!! What the what?! Today has been the most challenging of them all. Not only did I wake up riding the crimson wave, but I felt like I was hit by a truck in my sleep... I also had scary dreams... WHICH means two things... one - I didn't drink nearly enough water yesterday and I was dehydrated and two - I shouldn't watch American Horror Story right before bed... heh...
When I was physically able to get out of bed, I baby stepped into the kitchen and made myself a mug of Smooth Move tea... That's right! Because I needed help! I cried out to the porcelain gods and they heard my desperate plea... and I was blessed by their visit ;)
Breakfast - I wanted to continue my purge of all things smelly and slimy so I decided to make a juice with Watercress, since its a diuretic.
1 handful Watercress, 1 handful Spinach, 1 Granny Smith Apple & 1 small beet... Oh snap son! That Watercress is one spicy meat-a-ball! Holy hell did that burn going down...not gonna be pretty when it comes out. (Sorry for all the potty jokes tonight) This yields about 6oz of intensity.
Luckily for me I had very little work to do today, so I decided to make my herbal coffee sustitution recipes!
Root Coffee - 1/2 cup powdered Chicory Root, 1/4 cup powdered Dandelion Root, 1/4 cup Burdock Root, 1/4 cup powdered Carob, 1 tbsp ground dried Ginseng Root. This is a good blend to use in a french press or as an 'instant coffee'. If using as an instant coffee, wait till it settles on the bottom or strain before drinking.
I only have chopped Chicory root so I had to use a strainer to aquire as much of the powder as possible. Other than that this recipe was super easy... Just mix all the ingrediants together and you're done! Use 1 tbsp per cup of boiling water. Funnel the mixture into a mason jar and store for later use.
Seed Power Coffee - 1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds, 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds, 1/4 cup chopped Chicory Root, 1/4 cup Ginkgo Leaves, 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds, 1 tbsp powdered Carob. This blend will be 10x more yummy if you roast the seeds & chicory first...
So... preheat the oven (or toaster oven) to 300. Spread the Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds and Chicory on an ungreased baking sheet. Roast for about 10 minutes, stir, then roast for 10 more minutes. Set aside to cool.
After the Seeds & Chicory have cooled, combine with the Ginkgo & Carob. Place in a blender of sorts for a corse ground. Use 1 tbsp per cup of boiling water.
Something very tragic happened while I was grinding my seed coffee... My Magic Bullet died... Noooooo!!! Why?! Now how can I make my smoothies?!?! I had to pull myself together and remember the happy times, he lived a good long life and brought me so much delicious joy... Gone but not forgotten. RIP.
I decied to try both coffee blends instead of my mid day tea. Ahhh time to snuggle up on the couch with The Simpsons and enjoy the fruits of my labor... Or so I thought... The Root Coffee is... how shall I put this.... displeasingly bitter. I needed to add 2 tsps of honey to the mug. AND it was still meh... I was diaspointed and sweaty. But I still wanted to truck on and try the seed coffee. Well, I'm glad I did, because its freakin awesome!! Super yum yum time! It tastes very similar to coffee and I didn't need to add any sweetener to it! Score!
Lunch - Since my breakfast juice was unsatisfying, the urge to be bad was stronger than ever. Even the food on The Simpsons was appealing to me. Cravings for alcohol and pizza were taking over. OK, get up Lucille, go make a delicious lunch juice NOW!
1 cup Strawberries, 3 Carrots & 1 Orange. Quick and easy juice that yields about 6oz of heavenly nectar!
After lunch I was feeling kinda groggy and weak. The sweats were in full swing and my attention spand was teny tiny. I know I watched something on Netflix, what was it? I have no idea... I drank a glass of water and that seemed to ease the sweat a baby bit.
Dinner - My enthusiasm was so low for dinner that I just wanted to 'get it over with'. I had some cut Pineapple left over in the fridge from the other day so I based my recipe around that.
1 handful of Kale, 1 handful of Spinach, 4 Celery Stalks, 3 Pineapple rings. This super green blend yields about 8oz. I was again disapointed in my recipe. It was too 'green', it taste like I grabbed a handful of grass from the yard and chomped on it for dinner. Instead of the Celery I should have used a Granny Smith Apple. Oh well, it wasn't horrible, just not my best move...
Since my beloved late magic bullet can't whip up an after dinner treat for me, I've decided to do a spin on an all time favorite of mine, hot chocolate.
After Dinner Treat - Hot Carob - 1 cup Almond Milk, 1 heaping tbsp Carob, 1/4 tsp Cinnamon. Scald milk in a saucepan on medium-low heat then whisk in the Carob & Cinnamon until blended. Drink this mug of pure joy immediately!
WHAT!?! 5 days down?? Oh yeah baby!!! The main part of the juice cleanse may be over, but my post cleanse has only just begun... I have to slowly ween my body back to solid food. Tomorrow I'll still to juice but, toward the end of the day try to work in some whole fruits & veggies. Be that as it may, it will still be a couple days before I can have everything again... including that salty slut of a cracker - cheez-its....
Today was extremely busy, lots of running around to do, so I had to plan ahead! I had to go into the city for some work errands and meet with 2 other actors for a writing session for a new web series we're developing.
Game plan - Juice before I leave and bring it with me along with a bottle of water - I normally don't like to let fresh juice sit around more than a couple of minutes, but I figured I didn't know how the day would go and I'm better off bringing it with me than search the streets for the nearest juice bar... and I'll save some cash money!
Breakfast - I was able to get breakfast in mah tummy before I left. I wanted something fresh and fruity so I choose the recipe "Sunrise" from the book The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles.
1 cup Strawberries, 1 cup Red Grapes & 1 Orange. This yields about 6oz of sweetness.
Lunch - I didn't have much time to juice before heading out, so I made a quick and easy juice for on the go, "Brocco-Carrot".
1 head Broccoli, 2 Carrots & 1 Granny Smith Apple. This yields about 8oz and I packed it up in one of my magic bullet to go containers.
I finished my first two errands way faster than I thought I would and wound up having an hour and a half to kill... I realized walking around the city how tired I felt and that walking up the stairs from the train took massive effort. So much so that I was hard core craving a coffee... it seemed like every store I passed was a coffee shop! Then it hit me- I'm in Manhattan - everything I could possible want or need is at my fingertips! THE HERBS!!! I can finally get the herbs I was searching for the other day and make the coffee substitute! Genius I am!
I slowly but surely walked over to Flower Power in the east village. The walk took me double the amount of time it would normally take, so I rewarded myself with my lunch juice. It was sooo replenishing! $45 later I scored all the herbs I need to make 2 of the coffee recipes!
For the writing session, we always meet at Hu Kitchen on 5th so I knew I'd be able to get a drink safe drink there - its one of those super hip "we're heathy" kinda places. I coped an Alkaline water with fresh Pineapple juice.
During the session I was feeling oddly zen and at peace with the world, my body hurt and felt weak, but my mind felt strong, clear and calm. It was like I was meditating and writing at the same time. I was at peace, pure and simple.
On my trip home I could smell every halal cart with such intensity I felt like I was sitting in the fry basket, that I was wrapped in a warm blanket of shawarma. To be honest, I really enjoy the smell of spiced meat. I just have absolutely no interest in eating it!
Dinner - As soon as I got home I downed a glass of water and hopped in the shower. Weakly washing the city grim off my body I had a vision of a green open field, which inspired me to choose the recipe "Green Energy" from the Juicing Bible. I don't have wheat or barley grass like the recipe calls for, so I used my Super Green Powder mix from Trader Joe's.
1/2 cup Almond Milk, 1/4 cup Apricot Milk (Homemade baby!), 2 cups Spinach, 1 scoop Super Green Powder, 1 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds & 1 tsp ground Ginkgo leaves. Place all ingredients in a blender of sorts and process until smooth. It will yield about 6 oz. This isn't my favorite smoothie, but it is definitely tasty and satisfying!
After Dinner Tea - Since I am surprisingly full, I'm going to make a pot of tea oppose to my usual frappe. I want to settle my belly before bed. A digestive tea?! Why yes, I think I will!
1 tbsp Peppermint Leaves or 1 tsp dried, 1 tbsp Rose Petals or 1 tsp dried. Pour 2 cups boling water over the herbs, cover & steep for 10 minutes. Cut up a couple slices of Kiwi and place in your mug, then strain the tea over the fruit and drink up the delight!
4 days down, 1 to go! I already feel so accomplished and proud of myself. So far so good, I'm so close to victory I can almost taste it....
I slept like a log last night. I got in a solid 8 hours, yeah baby! I woke up optimistic and ready for the day...
I started my day with a mug of warm water & lemon to stimulate my digestive system, and hopefully be rewarded with a smooth move ;) Here's some awesome info on why drinking this first thing in the am is dah bomb...
http://tasty-yummies.com/2013/03/18/10-benefits-to-drinking-warm-lemon-water-every-morning/
Breakfast - Since I felt bright and shiney this fine morning, I decided to go with something tropical and choose the recipe, Black Pineapple, from the book The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles.
1 cup Blackberries, 2 Pineapple rings, 1/2 cup Blueberries, 1/2 cup Raspberries & 3 sprigs of Parsley. This Yields about 6oz of heavenly juice. Both sweet and sour. Mama like!
I worked for a couple hours and surprisingly wasn't hungry. But damnnnn was I thirsty! I still hadn't visited the porcelain gods, so I knew it was time to put the power of herbal tea to work!
Mid Day Tea - I think its important to try to push sludge out of your intestines while on a cleanse so I made a pot of what I like to call "Digestion Diva" tea.
1 teaspoon Anise Seed, 1 teaspoon Fennel Seed and 3 sprigs of fresh Dill. This tastes very earthy and might be too weird for some. If you don't like the taste, add a teaspoon of raw agave nectar.
Lunch - 4 hours had past since breakfast and even though I wasn't hungry I knew it was time to juice. I enjoyed the pineapple so much for breakfast I wanted to incorporate it into lunch as well. But my body was craving some serious fiber.. game plan... make a smoothie with pineapple juice & also blending the fruit so I can get fiber from the pulp. Still... I wanted more fiber, more, more fiber! Flax seeds? Don't mind if I do!
Since I use the magic bullet and the containers are small, I need to make this smoothie in two parts and then whisk them together.
First things first, juice about 1/2 cup Pineapple and set aside. Then chop up a cup of Pineapple and add it to the juice, blend until all the chunks are gone.
In a separate container add 1/4 cup Almond Milk, 1 Banana and 2 teaspoons of Flax Seeds. Blend until smooth, then whisk in the pineapple mixture. This makes about 2 servings and yields about 18-20 ounces.
I drank 16 ounces of it and put the rest in the fridge for a lil late afternoon snacky snack.
I have to dog sit at my parents house tonight, so I packed up the veggies for my dinner juice and went on my way. I'm not used to cable tv, so as soon as I fed the dogs, I plopped down on the couch and fired up the ol tube. Of course The Food Network was on... Well... what's the harm in watching a little bit of Man vs Food?
All of a sudden- cravings, hunger and the urge to be bad flooded my mind. Watching Adam Richman shove chili hot dogs down his throat made me feel all tingly and excited - AND I'm a vegetarian! Ahhhh, I had to change the channel... WTF every commercial is for food! FYI Red Lobster is having an endless shrimp fest... WANT! No, no Lucille! Change the channel, pancakes, No, change - pizza, pasta, beer, coffee - Ahhhh! Ok the tv goes off now and stays off!
Dinner - I needed to make my juice asap, after watching all the tasty temptations on tv. Since breakfast & lunch were fruit heavy, I choose "The Chiller" from The Juicing Bible because it is mega veggie time!
2 Celery Stalks, 1 Carrot, 1 Granny Smith Apple, half Cucumber, half Zucchini, half Red Bell Pepper. This yields about 18 ounces of yummy yum yum!
I have plans to make the Banana Frappe again tonight for my after dinner treat, but with some slight changes...
1 cup Almond Milk, 1/2 cup silken tofu, 1 frozen Banana, 1/4 tsp Almond Extract and a pinch of Nutmeg. Ummmmmm, it's gonna be dah bomb diggity!
My dog Kiwi has been staring at me the whole time I've been typing and I can't deny his cute face anymore! Time to go for a walk...
3 days down... 2 to go! Go team, whoooo!!!
This entry is going to be all over the place... I'm feeling loopy!
I've felt high all day... In some sort of cloud, hazy, weak and unable to focus. I have really had to push myself today to get any work done. I figured out the secret! It's sneaking away to a quite place to lay down for 10 minutes every 3 hours or so! Not a nap... but just a lil resty.
I got up pretty early, feeling rested, but fatigued. I shuffled into the kitchen and longed for my daily pot of Cafe Bustelo. No, no look away Lucille! I was a good girl and to kickstart my digestion system for the day I had a big mug of warm water and fresh lemon.
Breakfast - For some reason I was craving red grapes so I choose the "Eye Opener" from The Juicing Bible by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles.
1 cups Strawberries, 1 cup Red Grapes & 1 Orange. This yields about 6oz.
Soooo freakin yummy, I licked the glass clean... I'm an animal!! The book reccomends this recipe for fatigue, so it was just what my body needed! I noticed after juicing this that my sense of smell was already very heightened. Since my body is working less on digestion it frees up energy for other important functions, like cleansing the body of toxins and increasing the senses... Nice!
Mid Day Tea - My anxiety was in full swing this afternoon. I work on my computer all day, and staring at a screen really gets to me sometimes. I was using photoshop and lightroom to create some promotional materials for my film and things just weren't turning out how I wanted them to. I felt so stressed out... I stopped. Took a lil break and made some "Chill Out" Tea.
2 parts Lemon Balm Leaves, 1 part Lavender, 1 part Chamomile. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain and let cool. Pour over ice & enjoy! I don't add any sweetener, but if you're feeling crazy add a teaspoon of honey.
Lunch - Starving!!! I opened my pantry and gazed at all the deliciousness that I couldn't have. I ran my fingers over the cheese its - the beautiful salty cheese its! No, no, shut the door Lucille, you can do this! Ok, ok yes, I can, but I'm a so hungry... A juice will not satisfy, my best bet is to make a kick ass smoothie! Mango Madness is the winner!
1 orange, 1 cup Red Grapes, 1/4 inch ginger - juice and set aside. In a blender of sorts (I use the magic bullet) add 1 mango, cut into pieces, 1 banana, a pinch of cinnamon and blend. Then whisk in the fruit juice and wall-ah--- The best smoothie ever! This yields about 14oz.
I was able to do a couple more hours of work, but my mind kept wondering about a coffee substitute recipe I read about... I couldn't stop thinking about it, I knew I had half the ingredients already, all I needed was dried chicory & powdered carob. How hard could that be to find? Right?
...I was so wrong. I drove around for almost 3 hours stopping at every specialty store I could find and nothing! I was so frustrated and disappointed, I felt like my trip couldn't be for not, so I bought something in every store. I thought, hey, I might need this one day? I wound up buying star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginkgo & ginseng tea, sponges, razors and cleaning supplies. Yes, they were impulse buys, but I didn't spend crazy money... the last couple of items were from dollar tree, and they had some other really fun items I just had to say no to...
Can you believe they even sell MSG in a container? I thought it was just a tasty demon that likes to magically pop up in your favorite Asian snack food... heh.
Dinner - After my unsuccessful trip to the store(s) I needed a super pick me up! I had a mild headache so I consulted with The Juicing Bible and choose the Leafy Greens recipe. Except I added extra amounts of kale and spinach.
2 handfuls of Kale, 1 handful of spinach, 2 celery stalks, 1 beet & 1 Granny Smith Apple. This yields about 6.5 oz.
Now as I sit here I am dreaming of my after dinner treat... hmmm... I think I'll go with the Berry Frappe! My plans are to make this sassy smoothie and watch Breaking Bad with my roomie.
1 cup Almond Milk, 1/2 cup silken tofu, 1/2 cup mixed berries (Blueberry, Raspberry & Strawberry) and half a lemon, juiced. Blend together and savor the sweet sweet nectar!
Before bed I'll be sure to drink a mug of Smooth Move Tea... Since I don't have much roughage in my diet this week and small amounts of fiber, I will need the extra help to stay regular ;)
....And on that note, I'm off to make my Frappe! 2 days down, 3 to go!
Breakfast - I decided to go light and easy so I can slowly work up to more complicated combinations. I want to ease my stomach into the cleanse as smoothly as possible.
2 Gala Apples & 2 Large Carrots - This yields about 6.5 oz and I poured it over ice to cool it down a bit. I like gala apples because they are sweet and tangy. This will run me about 95 calories, since that's not very much to fill my ravenous apetite, I'll drink 8oz of water right before the juice.
Mid Day Tea - I love me some tea made with fresh herbs! I made a huge batch of what I like to call "Happy Tea". It aids in digestion and combats anxiety.
2 parts St Johns Wort, 1 part Lavender, 1 part Lemon Rind & a sprig of Rosemary. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let it steep for about 15 minutes, then strain and enjoy or pour into a mason jar and keep it in the fridge for later!
Lunch - I was feeling hungry, hungry, hungry! I could smell bagels in the air and they we're singing a dirty love song. It's amazing... only a couple hours in and the delicious gluten cravings had begun! I'm a sucker for carbs... I mean who isn't! But I was a good girl and made an extra large juice.
2 cups Strawberries, 1 Orange & 1 Red Grapefruit - This yields about 12 oz and taste like freakin heaven! Only 134 calories!
Here's some fun info on Strawberry Juice http://www.thejuicenut.com/strawberry_juice_the_juice_nut.aspx
Dinner - Since breakfast and lunch were both fruit heavy, I wanted to try and balance it out with a lil green goodness...
2 Celery Stalks, 1 Carrot, 1 Granny Smith Apple, half a Cucumber & 1 sprig of Dill - This yeilds about 8 oz and I poured it over ice. Great source of vitamin A & C. Only 101 calories... hmmm, not enough for dinner... Looks like I need to make myself a special treat!
After Dinner Treat - Banana Frappe! Ummmm, Yes Please!!
1 cup Almond Milk, 1/2 cup silken tofu, 1 frozen banana, 1/4 tsp Almond Extract & a pinch of cinnamin. OMG, OMG, this is one of the most tasty, satisfying delights ever! I'm in heaven. I drank it almost too fast, but it was so good I couldn't stop... I want 10 more! 217 Calories & 6 grams of Protien! Hell to the yeah!
Ahhh, what a first day! 1 down, 4 to go. I can do this. I deserve it. And so do you! Now I think I'll heat up a cup of my "Happy Tea" and watch Breaking Bad! :)
I narrowed down my shopping list as much as I could but its still mega long...
For the Juices:
Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Red Grapes, Oranges, Carrots, Celery, Apples, Kale, Spinach, Beets, Watercress, Broccoli, Zucchini, Red Bell Pepper, Parsley & Dill
For the Smoothies:
Almond Milk, Pineapple, Banana, Grapefruit, Mango, Ginger, Apricots, Dates, Flax Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Dried Dulse, Black Strap Molasses
For the Teas:
Lemon Balm, Lavender, Chamomile, Peppermint, Rose Petals, St John's Wort, Anise Seed, Dill Seed, Fennel Seed, Lemon, Kiwi
First I stopped by my parents house to see what I could score from their pantry... The only thing I could walk away with was some molasses, fennel seeds and apricots. Not the best haul from dear ol mom, but I'll take it! I'll have to hit up a couple of places to find the best deals, gotta save some bread where I can!
4 Stores down and $120 later, I'm ready to start!!
As much as I enjoy sitting on my couch shoving handfuls of spicy corn nuts in my mouth while watching Breaking Bad, I think it's time I show my body some love...
I've decided to create my own 5 day juice cleanse incorporating both juices and smoothies. I choose recipes from the book "The Juicing Bible" by Pat Crocker & Susan Eagles and then added my own spin to them.
When I woke up this morning my body felt bloated from this past weekends gettaway to the Poconos. It was really fun, we drank local wine & beer, ate local chocolate, candy, cookies, pretzels, fudge... omg... writing it down makes me realize my entire vacation was a non stop eat-a-thon! Right... SO... first things first.. A colon cleanse! Yippe!
I'm a fan of the sea salt method, it's a quick & easy way to remove toxins from the body and I can leave the house in about a half hour to an hour ;) Check out this website for the instructions...
http://www.colon-cleanse-information.com/sea-salt-colon-cleanse.html
I'll be keeping track of all my recipes, mood swings and cravings, follow me to watch my progress!
In the eye of the beholder. #Lumen #statenisland #nyc #summer #art #beauty #nofilter #yolo #swag
I tried to set up my roomie... Epic Fail...
Yogi Betty helps Gretchen get loose in their private yoga session. Gretchen gets her moneys worth… Lucille, not so much… Watch Part 2 of THE WEEKEND and find out why…
