Love is in the Air - Day 76

I haven't been to the Asian market since much earlier in my juice feast, so today I meandered across town to the stinkiest store in Tulsa, Nam Hai. I was pleasantly surprised when I entered because this time my eyes didn't start watering right away. Normally the fish stench is enough to cause an instant gag reflex, but all I noticed was Babel incense, which is a marvelous change. Anyway....I scored big today! I got lemongrass, limes, mint, thai basil, oranges, thai bird peppers, jalapenos, young thai coconuts, cilantro, onions and a variety of unidentifiable leafy greens for $ 24.76. That's a freakin' miracle! I would have spent $84.49 at Whole Foods for this same load. Oh, but I'm probably going to get slowly Napalm poisoned by this stuff....does anybody know if it's safe? I doubt it's organic. Duh.

I've got a little secret. I won't divulge all the dirt, but there is a possibility that I might have a little match maker magic flowing through my veins. I'll just say this.....I know two unbelievably awesome people that are preparing for a spiritually serendipitous meeting on Monday in NYC. One lives in Manhattan and the other in the south of Florida. If you believe in the power of love, could you mutter a little prayer or send a little of your own "bibbidi-bobbidi-boo" that direction this coming Monday? I'm pretty sure that their babies are throwing a tantrum to be born!

Thursday's Daily Juice:
Drank a couple of quarts of Master Cleanse until 3 pm, but I felt great and even got a number of errands done.
1.5 qt. "Indian Green Curry Surprise"....2 stalks of lemongrass, 4 stalks of celery, 3 carrots, 2 jalapeños, 1 small read bell pepper, 3 green onions, 1 small knob of ginger, 1/2 cup fresh basil, 1 large handful of cilantro, juice of 2 limes. Push everything through your juicer then put the juice into your Vita Mix and add the water of one young coconut, 1 tbsp. olive oil (or avocado oil, if you have it!) 1/2 tsp. Indian curry, and raw honey to taste. Blend this for about 20 seconds and enjoy!

Home Stretch - Day 75

I feel like I'm speeding into the home stretch now! 75 days of living on juice....whew! Earlier today I was looking over my list of symptoms that I had compiled at the beginning of this feast and I can't believe I was feeling that compromised just over 2 months ago. No longer do I have signs of eczema, bronchitis, brain fog, allergies, hives, PMS, irritability and regular intestinal issues that included gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea. I've also dropped just under 30 pounds along the way so far. I no longer give any regard to what the skeptics may have to say about juice feasting....I am a total believer in it's amazing healing and rejuvenating power.

Tonight my step daughter, Jessica, and her super cute boyfriend, Morgan, came to dinner. Jessica is my husband's youngest child (she's 26). Jess has the greatest personality and I love her so much. This newish boyfriend seems like a real keeper as they are so wonderfully compatible and comfortable around one another. Gordon grilled chicken and I roasted potatoes and made a huge salad for everyone. I guess I am over being bothered when I'm asked to cook on occasion. Even though I enjoyed the smells, it felt really freeing to be around all of that savory food yet still be fully content while sipping one of my favorite juices for dinner. My comfort with not eating even when surrounded by seducing cooked foods is real progress for this former gourmet foodie.

Terry Moses, our friend who I've spoken about, is on day 3 of his juice feast today. He also came by this evening to borrow some juicing recipes books and to discussed his progress. His biggest challenge is that he is juicing for both he and his wife (she's a school teacher and too busy to help in the juicing process). The amount of time he's spending on juicing for the two of them is more than he had anticipated, yet they are both starting to feel really great after just 3 days! Here is a link to my friend Melissa's juice feasting blog where she shares her time saving techniques for juicing. Terry also shared that he is saving money by buying some conventional produce in bulk. Of course, organic produce is always optimal, but it is not necessary for a successful juicing experience. Although it's not the most flattering photo, here is shot of Terry & I in my back yard....you can see a tiny bit of my potted garden in this picture.
Wednesday's Daily Juice:
1.5 qt. pineapple. cilantro, spinach, jalapeño w/ VitaMineral Green
2 oz. wheat grass shot
1 qt. mystery green juice (something they whipped up at the Whole Foods Juice Bar)
1.5 qt. Salsa Verde Redux - 7 tomatillos, 1 cucumber, 1 small bunch cilantro, 1 orange bell pepper, handfull spinach, serrano chile, lime juice, coconut water, 1 tbsp. raw honey, 1 tbsp. macadamia nut oil.
Today I also had my MSM supplement, B12/folic acid supplement

Southern Hospitality - Day 74

Alright. So I'm a week or two late in posting the perfect mint julep recipe. Many Southerners get really geared up to start drinking this classic around the time of the Kentucky Derby. However, many of my friends feel that the Mint Julep is the universal signature drink of Southern hospitality. Being the modern, health conscious, juice feaster that I am.....I'm taking it upon myself to create a juice feast friendly version of this timeless favorite, minus the bourbon, dang it.
MINT JULEP

1 cup fresh mint leaves, plus whole leaves for garnish
2 cups fresh pineapple juice
juice of 2 lemons
1 tsp. lemon zest
a good splash of original kombucha, club soda or sparkling water
1 Tbsp.+ raw honey or agave (if you are feeling edgy)
Ice cubes, to serve

Juice mint, pineapple and lemons in your juicer. Add honey or agave and lemon zest and let sit in your refrigerator for 30 minutes or more. Before serving add kombucha, sparkling water, or club soda and serve over ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Tuesday's Daily Juice:
2 qt. orange juice w/ VitaMineral Green & ice in the blender
4 oz. wheat grass
water fasted in the afternoon & evening.

Something funky is going on with me. Not sure what, but I haven't really been into juice lately. (Word....that's a bummer when you're on a 100 day juice feast.) I'll keep you homies posted.

Granola Girls - Day 73

Today was a fun afternoon at the Cherry Street Coffee House with "the granola girls." I am not sure who came up with this affectionate title, but since we are all health conscious girly girls, it's a pretty cute label for us. When I think of granola girls I think hiking and hairy arm pits, not glamorous, hip and progressive. But believe me, this bunch has got it going on! Jolanthe is the model-esque beauty from Holland that is a personal shopping consultant for J. Crew (bottom left), Angela is a sophisticated, fashionable raw mommy from Bartlesville (brunette in the black shirt), Michelle is the slender blond knockout that produces a local television show for the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and Sarah is the exotic beauty in purple that is in media and publishing, and then there is me, the local queen of juice.

I love getting together with these girls because no subject is taboo. We run the gamut in our discussions from religion to food to relationships and then on to more personal matters, like what constitutes a healthy BM. I can only imagine what the poor folks sitting at tables around us must think when we cheered about one of the girl's floating poop report. (You know your poo should float....did you know that?) It's true and I taught them the song....."Does it float, does it float in the toilet like a boat? If it sinks and it stinks, then you're sicker than you think." I bet I just lost subscribers with that one. Anyway....you can see that we have a great time chatting it up with our meaningful nonsense!
I love it that a community is slowly but surely coming together here in Tulsa. My dream is that one day soon we'll be having meet ups for like minded people where we can come and connect and share beautiful healthy food, stories, recipes, education and friendship. I don't think that time is too far off as I once did. I felt so isolated when I first started making lifestyle changes that related to my diet. All of that is changing, and for that, I am so grateful.

I also have to report that my husband's good friend, Terry Moses, who I have spoken of before on this blog, just started his own personal juice feast this morning! Terry and his wife, Anita, are hoping to do a 30 to 60 day juice feast. These two have been doing some cleansing work and building up to this for weeks as they have been replacing their evening meal with green smoothies. Between juicing some and the smoothies, Terry has commented on how amazed he is that he has no real hunger anymore. It is true that when the body is getting adequate nutrition, specifically in the way of leafy greens, the cravings just disappear. So, best of luck on your juice feasting adventure, Terry and Anita!! Can't wait to hear more about how you did on Day 1!

Monday's Daily Juice:
1.5 qt. grapefruit, orange, spirulina & coconut oil,
1 qt. celery, mizuna, spinach, cucumber, radish, jalapeño, onion, orange bell pepper, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, celtic sea salt.
2 oz. wheat grass shot (I do this nearly everyday, but always forget to put it in)
1.5 qt. "Spicy Green V8"......1 pint grape tomatoes, 4 carrots, 6 stalks celery, handful of spinach, 1/3 bunch cilantro, handful of arugula, 2 cloves garlic, 1 jalapeño, juice of two lemons, 1 tbsp. olive oil, cracked pepper, Celtic sea salt, 1 tbsp raw honey.
I juiced everything then put it all in a blender and added the oil, honey and seasoning and blended well until a bit emulsified....20 seconds. It was really good!

Momma Mia - Day 72

Happy Mother's Day!! Even if you're not a mother, you had to have a mother, right? Today is the day to celebrate the girl that gave you life. So, even though my mother has been gone for nearly twenty years, I send her all my love anyway.....Thanks to you, dear Mom, for giving me the gift of life!

My sweet family surprised me this morning with one of my favorite fragrant flowering plants.....the gardenia. The buds are just coming up and there are about ten that I can see. The fragrance will be intoxicating when it is in full bloom and I will savor the scent each time I pass by. My mom used to make me wear a mother's day corsage every year to church, and no offense to anyone, but I am so happy that those are out of fashion today. I love my potted gardenia bush......love to you, Gordon, Gabby and Taylor!!

Today was a beautiful, calm and relaxing day. I had the opportunity to play in the garden a bit, which I love and I also got to visit a bit with two of my sister-in-laws. Debbye and Jim came through town to visit and then my brother's first wife, Sylvia, and I got a chance to catch up by phone. Sylvia and my niece, Chelsea, live in Omaha and I always get a little misty eyed when I hang up. I love those two so much.....miss them a ton.

I have so many other things I can't wait to share....but they will just have to wait until tomorrow!!

Sunday's Daily Juice:
1.5 qt Grapefruit, spirulina, coconut oil
1.5 qt celery, spinach, tomatillos, cilantro, green onion, spring garlic, carrot, young coconut water, jalapeno, lime juice, raw honey, macadamia nut oil.
1 qt. Bruschetta Juice

Baby's Birthday - Day 71

Fifteen years ago today a precious new life was brought into this world. My darling daughter is celebrating her 15th birthday today along with her best friend Audrey. These two girls have a great heritage to share. Audrey's mother, Peggy, and I were just acquaintances back then, as she worked for another salon in town, but we happened to be pregnant at the same time. On the morning of May 10th, 2003, Peggy and I were taken to our respective hospitals, both in labor....she, two weeks before her due date and I, two weeks late. Although we were at different hospitals in Tulsa, we shared the same group of OB/GYN's. As one doctor was attending to Peggy & incoming baby Audrey at St. John's, another partner was right there along side me at Hilcrest with her catcher's mitt on delivering my little Gabrielle. Gabby is exactly 30 minutes older than Audrey (although Audrey is a head taller now) and they have literally been best friends ever since. Over time, Peggy ended up coming to work for me at my salon and we have been watching these girls grow into gorgeous young ladies ever since. So, today, I wish a very happy birthday to these two little soul sisters! I love you!

We woke up this morning and went to birthday breakfast at Brookside By Day, a campy little dive diner just blocks from our house. This place is Gabby's favorite breakfast joint. She ordered French Toast with a side of toast. (This really cracks me up.) Everyone else had omelets, cinnamon rolls, or eggs and bacon. I had 2 large orange juices. I have gotten over feeling like a stranger in a strange land when everyone around me is eating and I just drink. I was actually more than a little grossed out by the greasy looking fare in front of my family and my daughter's friends. But we had fun and the girls were happy. From there we went to Chez Target and then to Hollywood Nails. The girls got flashy new french tips and I had a heavenly pedicure. It was a great 15th birthday. Now we are on the count down to Sweet 16 (prayers for mom are welcome!)

Saturday's Daily Juice:
1 qt. fresh orange Juice
1 qt. grapefruit & Vita Mineral Green
1 qt. "Lemon Dreamsicle" - young coconut water w/ the juice of 3 lemons and 1 tsp.+ lemon zest, 1 tbsp. raw honey, 1 tsp. vanilla and 1 tbsp. Spirulina all blended in the Vita Mix w/ ice.
1qt. celery, mizuna, arugula, red onion, yellow bell pepper, jalapeño, lime, olive oil, raw honey & fresh cracked pepper.

Yesterday I started taking Internal Parasite Formula. It is recommended to start this on day 60 of a juice feast but I'm just now getting to it. I also still take MSM daily, as well as my B12 & folic supplement.

New Stats! - Day 70

I don't know who these people are, but this picture works for me. Today has been a wild and crazy day. Lots of emotion and intensity coming at me from every angle. Circumstances have gone full tilt, yet I am still standing solid and strong. Earlier this week I felt anxious, tense and frazzled for no real obvious reason, and now today I have every reason to have a major emotional freak out but I am as steady as still waters, calm as a cucumber, easy like Sunday morning. All I can say is Hallelujah.

There is no need to share any drama of the day, especially since it's late and I feel my feather bed gently calling my name. BUT I am going to share some exciting factoids with you on my 70th day of juicing:

Measurements...Beginning..On Day 70....TOTALS
upper arms - was 14" now 12" lost -2"
bust - was 431/4" now 38" lost -5 1/4"
waist - was 38" now 32" lost -6"
hips - was 451/4" now 38" lost -7 1/4"
thighs - was 26" now 22 1/2" lost -3 1/2"
calves - was 15" now 14" lost -1"
ankles - was 8" now 8" lost nada
TOTAL INCHES LOST -25 inches!

BEGINNING WEIGHT - was 171 lbs. now 144 lbs.
TOTAL POUNDS LOST 27 pounds!

Today's Daily Juice:
Water fasted until late afternoon again.....
1.5 qt. Spring Green Goodness - 1 cucumber, cilantro, butter lettuce, green onions, red bell pepper, fresh spring garlic, lime juice, 1 tbsp raw honey