20 Tips for a Positive 2012

Here we are, 11 days into 2012 and I thought that this list of 20 ways to help you create the best year ever is in order! This list was created originally by Jon Gordon, but I've given it a Penni twist : )

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.

2. Take a morning walk of gratitude. I call it a "Thank You Walk." It will create a fertile mind ready for success.

3. Formulate your personal food plan, keeping your kitchen well stocked with only what's on your program, always staying mindful about the reasons you are making these better choices.

4. Zoom Focus. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask: "What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?" Then tune out all the distractions and focus on these actions.

5. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you are going.

6. Remember that adversity is not a dead-end but a detour to a better outcome.

7. Don't chase success. Instead decide to make a difference and success will find you.

8. Get more sleep. You can't replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

11. Live with the 3 E's. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

12. Remember there's no substitute for hard work.

13. Believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. Remember that complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone arounds you feels sick.

15. Read more books than you did in 2011. I happen to know of a few good ones. :)

16. Don't seek happiness. Instead decide to live with passion and purpose and happiness will find you. Please see Susan Bradebury's book study on The Seed in the Common Area at Raw Food Rehab!

17. Focus on "Get to" vs "Have to." Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:

I am thankful for __________.

Today I accomplished____________.

19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

Raw For The Holidays 3rd Edition

At the beginning of the 2009 holiday season, the first edition of Raw For the Holidays, a collection of festive and delicious recipes & photos, was released. Written by me and members of our original Raw Food Rehab community, the ebook was created with love as a survive guide for raw food enthusiasts who needed help making it through the holidays.

Although the book was quite fabulous after last year's expansion, I decided that this year's collection should be revised yet once again to make it even more comprehensive and appealing!

Thanks to the tireless work of my amazing editor, Raw For The Holidays 3rd Edition, has been totally re-organized with a new table of contents that includes user-friendly categories, new menu suggestions, easier instructions and a glossary of terms and techniques. This year we are offering over 30 new recipes (over 130 recipes in all) and70 full color photographs. Here is a list of just some of the celebratory occasions we cover in Raw For The Holidays:

An Autumn Fireside Dinner

All Hallow's Eve Events (Kid-Friendly & Adult Menus)

Football Chili Party

Date Night Dinner

Thanksgiving

Shabbat Dinner

Hanukkah Brunch

Holiday Open House

Christmas Eve Meal

Christmas Dinner

New Year's Eve Hors d'oeuvres Party

New Year's Brunch

New Year's Raw Resolution Cleanse

Rescue Me from the Holidays - a Restorative Day Menu

Not only will the purchase of this digital book be a tremendous support and help to you in all of your holiday and celebratory meal planning, but it is also a much appreciated way in which to support the operational costs of this website and to assist us in raising funds so that we can continue to expand our offerings back into this amazing community.

It would also be great if you would like to help us promote this raw holiday survival guide online through your blogs, on Facebook and through direct email to friends who you think might enjoy this collection of recipes. This collaborative effort was only possible because of the power of community. I am so proud and very eager to get in the kitchen and start un-cooking for the holidays! Raw For The Holidays is available now for just $20 through PayPal. Once I receive notification of your payment, I send the ebook directly to your Inbox. You will normally receive the book in a very short amount of time, however, please allow up to 10 hours for delivery (if an order comes through after I go to bed, I will send it first thing when I wake up!) I know this incredible collection of recipes and beautiful photos will be a treasure to you as you continue on your path towards optimum health this holiday season!

Thrive Foods by Brendan Brazier - A Book You Should Read

In case you haven’t heard about Brendan Brazier, he is a professional Ironman triathlete and the best-selling author of diet and fitness bibles Thrive and Thrive Fitness. He is also the formulator of Vega, an award-winning line of superfood health and sports nutritional products. I also have features on Brendan in both theFitness Room and the Culinary Center at Raw Food Rehab.

I am so stoked about his newly released book, Thrive Foods! One of the things I found most impressive while reading is the detail regarding his research and high focus on nutrient-dense, plant-based foods. After having worked with some of the best minds in the nutrition world, as well as some of the leading environmental advocates, Brendan has developed an appreciation of the two different perspectives, which have rarely converged to my knowledge. In Thrive Foods, you'll be guided through the “Nutrient-to-Resource Ratio,” a new concept that shows how sustainable food choices can help reduce our environmental impact.

And being the food lover that I am, I was blown away by the 200 earth-friendly and easy to make recipes. They are not all exclusively raw, although many are, and you'll be impressed with the delicious plant-based, nutrient dense offering from some of today's top sustainable celebrity chefs. Recipe contributors include some names you might recognize, like - Julie Morris, Matthew Kenney, Chad Sarno (owner of London's upscale raw restaurant Saf) and vegan chef Tal Ronnen (the cef who prepared meals for Oprah's 21-day vegan cleanse). There are also many recipes from Brendan's favorite restaurants, like Beets Living Foods Cafe in Austin, Blossoming Lotus in Portland,Karyn's in Chicago and Pure Food & Wine in New York.

Thrive Foods makes it feasible and possible for anyone to start eating healthier and reducing their carbon footprint. And I think it is especially helpful in families like mine who eat a blended diet of both raw and cooked foods. I am always looking for delicious ways to prepare enticing foods for my husband, but my main goal is to keep him healthy. I can already tell you that this book will be one of my regular go-to resources!

Also - I am going to be giving away a couple of copies of Thrive next week during ourSeptember Roll Call - so be sure to watch for that next Thursday. And check out all the other cool stuff Brendan's got going for you:

Enter Brendan's Thrive at the Emmy’s Facebook contest for a chance to win a trip for two to Los Angeles and meet Brendan at the Alive! Green Expo Lounge

Click Here for those details!

Visit Brendan’s Facebook fan page and receive a free PDF download of the intro and of 3 recipes, click here.

Read the book and write a review for a chance to get an exclusive 3-piece sample kit for our Vega Sport Nutritional System.

Visit the Vega Facebook Fan Page Here.

If you are on Twitter - follow Brendan & Vega here.

Also visit the Vega webisite by clicking here.

Liquids Only with Dara Dubinet

For the past several weeks, my dear friend Dara Dubinet has been filming her very first DVD. If you don't know Dara, you need to get acquainted: Celebrity raw food chef, feng shui aficionado, specialist in the art of living a beautiful life and poster child for the raw food diet! Subscribe to her informative and lively You Tube channel and follow Dara on Facebook and at Raw Food Rehab.

In Dara's beautifully produced and very soon to be released DVD - LIQUIDS ONLY, she explains the benefits of a liquid-only diet and gives you a hands-on lesson in making four of her favorite, healthy and delicious liquid recipes. Check out the gorgeous trailer:

You can pre-order and DVD & it will ship late next week!

BUY IT HERE!

Ready to Get Juicy?

In the above video, I am sharing with you details and available resources for aw Food Rehab's upcoming Living on Liquids 30 Day Program. We'll be kicking off the juicy fun next Wednesday, August 17th and it will continue through Thursday, September 15th.

Now is a wonderful time to come join us for RFR's current 11 Week Total Health & Wellness Initiative - RAW RESULTS. By joining us in The Vault now, not only will you have access to all of the digital materials, support videos filmed by Dara Dubinet & I, the weekly focus pdf's, an awesome book study w/ Susan Bradbury and incredible community support, but you'll also be able to plug into the Living on Liquids Community Forum. This will be THE place to discuss all things juicy and to get your individual questions answered. This forum will be moderated by Dara, Debi Farley, Susan Bradbury and I. We also have a number of other members who have a wealth of juice feasting experience who will be able to share from their experiences as well.

Join the RAW RESULTS Vault NOW - Click Here

The following list offers additional resources and topics of interest that may also be helpful for you:

My ebook - Real Juice Daily

JuiceFeasting.com

Dave's 3rd Annual International Day of Juice Feasting

Check out Raw food Rehab's Tool Shed & our Liquid Lounge

Hoping you'll join us as we Get the Glow by Getting our Juice On!!

Beat the Heat (on the News!!)

This morning I was invited to appear on my local CBS affiliate KOTV - The News on 6 for their morning show - Six in the Morning. Click here to view the clip. We are currently in the midst of the hottest summer on record, so in an effort to beat the heat, they asked me to share some "no-cook" recipes featuring local ingredients. As you can imagine - that was right up my alley and here is what I made:

Peaches & Crème Smoothie

Simple and delicious, this recipe is at its best when

fresh local peaches are in season. If using fresh

peaches, simply add crushed ice to your blender.

1 small bag frozen organic peaches

1 young Thai coconut, meat & water

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons raw honey

Put all ingredients into a blender and

combine until smooth and creamy.

Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad

3 ears fresh corn, kernels cut from the cob

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1 small red bell pepper, diced

1/4 cup diced red onion

1–2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 lime, juiced

1/2 lemon, juiced

Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Butter lettuce leaves

Combine all ingredients and serve on butter lettuce leaves.

Raw Zucchini Pasta with Fresh Marinara

2 cups chopped tomatoes

1 small Vidalia onion

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, soaked; reserve liquid

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic (or more if desired)

3 dates, soaked and pitted

1 sprig fresh basil

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

2 zucchini or yellow squash

Pitted black olives

Put all ingredients in a food processor or blender, except zucchini

and olives. Blend until marinara mixture reaches the

desired consistency. Add the reserved liquid from the sun dried

tomatoes as needed to blend.

Use a spiral slicer, julienne peeler or vegetable

peeler to create zucchini noodles. Combine noodles

with marinara sauce and top with olives for a tasty

Italian dinner.

Support Your Local Farmer's Market Today

Farmers markets are an important part of our communities and help farms thrive. You can help spread the word!

If you find your local farmers market to be a great source of fresh, organic and locally grown foods, make sure to vote in America’s Favorite Farmers Markets contest and let the world know why you love your local market.

Farmers markets are an asset to our communities and deserve our support. You can help your favorite farmers market gain the recognition it deserves and ensure that it and others like it continue to thrive. Voting Starts today at noon Eastern Time!

America's farmers markets are great places to get fresh and healthy food that's grown close to home by our local farmers and ranchers. They also support local farms and ranches and make our communities better places to live.

It's pretty simple: if we don't have farms, we're not going to have food. All of us count on America's farms and ranches to provide fresh, healthy and local food—but our farms and ranches are rapidly disappearing.

Did you know that we don’t produce enough fresh fruits and vegetables for everyone to eat a balanced and nutritious diet? In fact, it is estimated that we need another 13 million acres of farmland growing fruits and vegetables in this country just for Americans to meet the minimum daily requirement of fruits and vegetables set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Thank you for supporting your local farmers market and for making a difference in the future of our food! Spread the Word!