My Favorite Ways to Eat Nutbutters

By Isabel De Los Rios

Here are some of my favorite ways to use different nut butters…

1. Almond Butter with apple sauce with cinnamon sprinkled on top – a great after dinner snack if you’re looking for something sweet.

2. Almond or Walnut Butter on pretty much any fruit. My new favorite is almond butter on fresh figs…yummy!

3. Nut Butter and Apple Butter Sandwich – one of my favorite on-the-go breakfast options. I use 1-2 tbsp of nut butter and 1 tbsp of apple butter on 2 slices of sprouted grain bread and out the door I go.

4. Cashew Butter on celery sticks – add a few raisins for a little sweet taste.

5. Walnut Butter in oatmeal – I mix the walnut butter right into my warm oatmeal. Sometimes I add 1 tsp of honey as well.

All of these options are a great way to get a ton of healthy fats, especially Omega 3’s, into your daily meal plans.

This article written by Isabel De Los Rios, author of the great program The Diet Solution! It is the nutrition program that have been following myself now for 8 months. I lost 18 kilogramm (about 36 pounds) in this time - and it was so easy and pleasant! Each day, I look forward to my meals. (Pic shows Isabel - not me unfortunately.)

PS. Wonderful raw organic nutbutters here:

Sunfood.com

Yummmmm!

To juice or NOT to juice…that is the question.

I’m pretty used to people coming to my home and saying “Wow, this place is so super healthy. I can’t believe it.” As you may or may not know, it does take quite a few people to keep the Diet Solution Program running. I had a bit of a “retreat” at my house where I invited 3 of our employees to come and work from my house and spend some time together. Whenever entertaining guests, I always try and be the “hostess with the mostess” and in my best Martha Stewart impression I asked “Can I get anyone anything? Some food or a drink?”

One of my employees replied, “Yes, I would love some juice please.”

As I did everything in my power to hold back the look of death, I said “We don’t have any juice. How about water or a tea?”

Without going through the entire conversation, this particular employee couldn’t believe there was no juice in the house. Moreover, she absolutely could not believe that my son does not drink juice and only drinks water (and yes, I did let her keep her job).

She has, of course, read and knows the DSP inside and out, but she admitted that she really didn’t believe that I completely lived my life that way until she saw it with her very own eyes.

But back to the juice…

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it’s labeled natural or organic and it says it is made from all natural ingredients. Let me clear this up right now…Juice is NOT part of a healthy eating plan unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your kitchen with your own hands or through a juicer.

“But Isabel. My juice says its organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Is that ok?”

Well, I spent a significant amount of time reading the label of almost every single juice container, juice box, and juice product and they all came up the same…with tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every gram of carbohydrate contained in the juice directly comes from sugar.

“But Isabel. All the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?”

Yes, fruits are almost entirely sugar (coming from fructose), but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for any amount of time.

“But Isabel. My juice is fortified with calcium, Vit D and iron (or whatever they are fortifying juice with these days).”

When you “fortify” any food or drink with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is smart enough to know that this is not the real version of this particular nutrient. So much so, that it will choose not to use it. Yes, all of these fortified products are not giving you the vitamins and minerals you need. You must obtain these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables (i.e. real food).

So if you’re a juice lover like many people are or have fallen for the “juice is healthy” trap, here are a few strategies to help you get your juice fix while simultaneously following a healthy eating plan.

1. Buy a quality juicer and make your own juice. There are so many different delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my favorite is carrot, apple and ginger. Be careful though! If you’re anything like me and sensitive to too much sugar at once, I would suggest having a serving of 4 oz or less or mixing your 4 oz with some water. I would also suggest juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a great way to get in some serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (a great option for children). I would also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.

It is best to drink freshly made juice right away, as the longer it is stored, the more it will decline in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimal amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will “oxidize” and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.

2. Make my favorite “tea juice“. If you haven’t seen this recipe in the Diet Solution Recipe Guide, here it is again:

5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)

3 quarts boiling water

Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste

Pour water over tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount
according to the desired sweetness.)
Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.

3. Make your own DSP approved lemonade. My business partner loves this and drinks it almost daily (be careful if you’re sensitive to citrus or too much lemon.) Mix the juice from half a lemon, 5 drops of liquid stevia and 12oz of water in a large cup. Add more stevia or lemon based on your taste. This drink is a great alternative to people who need a bit more flavor than plain water all day.

So what did I end up serving my thirsty employee? Water! (And she bought juice when we went out to lunch). Oh well, I tried.

So now that I’ve shown you why juice is not good for you and how you can make your own healthy drink alternatives, why not learn more about which foods will cause you to lose fat? Check out our informative video right now!

Valentine Retreats
Luxury lodges with hot tubs!! Want to spoil your loved one this Valentine’s? Then get away to your own romantic, luxury lodge hideaway Set in stunning scenic countryside locations across the UK they all boast sumptuous private outdoor hot tubs!

Search here

June Month of the Roses



It's June again, month of the roses, and my birthday month. To celebrate here are three beautiful rose lenses that are all part of my SUMMER Group on Squidoo. Wonderful photos, great tips and advice! Visit them and enjoy.

Planting & Caring For Rose Bushes in Containers...
"Rose bushes can be planted in large containers with good success, and will do very well year after year. There are however a few basic rules to consider. Rule number one-It is up most important that the container be large enough to provide ample growing space for the rose bushes roots, also the rose bush must be provided good drainage. Rule number two-you need to plant the rose bush in good soil, and provide a location with good sun light, and ample air circulation." Sharon Stajda
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/plantroses

The Beauty of a Rose
"No other flower can deliver such a variety of sentiments! I recently found an interest in taking beautiful photos of roses and would like to share these with others who find roses as beautiful and interesting as I do! I will include wonderful photos, tips, and interesting information on several types of roses!" Shelley Kuhn
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/Rose-Photography

Hip Old Roses for Sustainable Landscaping
"Old and Antique Roses are making a big come back as homeowners search for attractive, low maintenance, sustainable plants to add to their landscape. Many of the old varieties of roses have survived, unattended for years in cemeteries and on old homesteads all through the United States. These plants are being rediscovered and propagated by rose societies and also by Texas A&M University Agriculture System who has launched the "EarthKind" list of hardy, low maintenance, disease and insect resistant roses." Yvonne B.
Read more: http://www.squidoo.com/roses-hips-recipes-growing

Visit all the great Summer Lenses in my beloved SUMMER Group and leave a comment in the guestbook!

And the winner is ...

Naddez over at Naddez's Goody Corner won the 50$ Gift card in the May/June Giveaway. She is a blogger who has helped us spread the word about the Giveaway.CONGRATULATIONS Naddez!

Lens she nominated was Short Storiers: Squirrels by lensmaster Ladymermaid. Congratulations again, Ladymermaid! Your lens is now a nominee for the title of "SUMMER Lens 2009".

May + June Giveaway

I will give away a 50$ Gift Card or Gift Certificate in the online store of your choice (Choose here!)

How to Enter

1. Visit my SUMMER Group at Squidoo and pick your favorite lens (Details in Group).
2. Post in the comments (here or there) to let me know what your favorite is. Don't forget to include your email or other contact info.
3. Only one entry per person. An extra entry can be gained by blogging about this giveaway. If you do blog please leave an additional comment saying so and a link to your blog.
4. The giveaway will end on June 15 at midnight. I will assign each entry a number and randomly pick the winner. The winner will be notified and a post announcing the winner will be made shortly after.

Good Luck Everyone!

If you are the winner you will receive a 50$ Gift Card or Gift Certificate for the store of your choice in My Rosewoman Mall. There are six pages full of great stores to choose from, check them out here!

Great Spring Flower Photography

by ©James Jordan

Sad Iris



A raindrop from an overnight shower appears as a tear on the petal of an iris blossom.
Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.

James Jordan has long been one of my favorite photo bloggers - I admire his work and his thoughtful comments.
He is a freelance writer, video producer, photographer from Elgin, Illinois
You can visit his blog here:
Points of Light: A vision is like a lighthouse which illuminates rather than limits
and his photo gallery on Flickr here:
James Jordan's photostream
All his work is published under a Creative Commons License - which means you are free to share - to copy, distribute and transmit the work - under certain conditions (see License)


The fence and the flower

Sometimes you can't break free of the things that restrain you. It's then that you shine where you are.



Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.

Japanese tree lilac

Photograph © 2008 James Jordan.

12 Essential Rules to Live More Like a Zen Monk

by Leo Babauta

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” - Thich Nhat Hanh

I’m not a Zen monk, nor will I ever become one. However, I find great inspiration in the way they try to live their lives: the simplicity of their lives, the concentration and mindfulness of every activity, the calm and peace they find in their days.
You probably don’t want to become a Zen monk either, but you can live your life in a more Zen-like manner by following a few simple rules.
Why live more like a Zen monk? Because who among us can’t use a little more concentration, tranquility, and mindfulness in our lives? Because Zen monks for hundreds of years have devoted their lives to being present in everything they do, to being dedicated and to serving others. Because it serves as an example for our lives, and whether we ever really reach that ideal is not the point.
One of my favorite Zen monks, Thich Nhat Hanh, simplified the rules in just a few words: “Smile, breathe and go slowly.” It doesn’t get any better than that.
However, for those who would like a little more detail, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve discovered to work very well in my experiments with Zen-like living. I am no Zen master … I am not even a Zen Buddhist. However, I’ve found that there are certain principles that can be applied to any life, no matter what your religious beliefs or what your standard of living.

“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki

1. Do one thing at a time. This rule (and some of the others that follow) will be familiar to long-time Zen Habits readers. It’s part of my philosophy, and it’s also a part of the life of a Zen monk: single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”

2. Do it slowly and deliberately. You can do one task at a time, but also rush that task. Instead, take your time, and move slowly. Make your actions deliberate, not rushed and random. It takes practice, but it helps you focus on the task.

3. Do it completely. Put your mind completely on the task. Don’t move on to the next task until you’re finished. If, for some reason, you have no choice but to move on to something else, try to at least put away the unfinished task and clean up after yourself. If you prepare a sandwich, don’t start eating it until you’ve put away the stuff you used to prepare it, wiped down the counter, and washed the dishes used for preparation. Then you’re done with that task, and can focus more completely on the next task.

4. Do less. A Zen monk doesn’t lead a lazy life: he wakes early and has a day filled with work. However, he doesn’t have an unending task list either — there are certain things he’s going to do today, an no more. If you do less, you can do those things more slowly, more completely and with more concentration. If you fill your day with tasks, you will be rushing from one thing to the next without stopping to think about what you do.

5. Put space between things. Related to the “Do less” rule, but it’s a way of managing your schedule so that you always have time to complete each task. Don’t schedule things close together — instead, leave room between things on your schedule. That gives you a more relaxed schedule, and leaves space in case one task takes longer than you planned.

6. Develop rituals. Zen monks have rituals for many things they do, from eating to cleaning to meditation. Ritual gives something a sense of importance — if it’s important enough to have a ritual, it’s important enough to be given your entire attention, and to be done slowly and correctly. You don’t have to learn the Zen monk rituals — you can create your own, for the preparation of food, for eating, for cleaning, for what you do before you start your work, for what you do when you wake up and before you go to bed, for what you do just before exercise. Anything you want, really.

7. Designate time for certain things. There are certain times in the day of a Zen monk designated for certain activities. A time for for bathing, a time for work, a time for cleaning, a time for eating. This ensures that those things get done regularly. You can designate time for your own activities, whether that be work or cleaning or exercise or quiet contemplation. If it’s important enough to do regularly, consider designating a time for it.

8. Devote time to sitting. In the life of a Zen monk, sitting meditation (zazen) is one of the most important parts of his day. Each day, there is time designated just for sitting. This meditation is really practice for learning to be present. You can devote time for sitting meditation, or do what I do: I use running as a way to practice being in the moment. You could use any activity in the same way, as long as you do it regularly and practice being present.

9. Smile and serve others. Zen monks spend part of their day in service to others, whether that be other monks in the monastery or people on the outside world. It teaches them humility, and ensures that their lives are not just selfish, but devoted to others. If you’re a parent, it’s likely you already spend at least some time in service to others in your household, and non-parents may already do this too. Similarly, smiling and being kind to others can be a great way to improve the lives of those around you. Also consider volunteering for charity work.

10. Make cleaning and cooking become meditation. Aside from the zazen mentioned above, cooking and cleaning are to of the most exalted parts of a Zen monk’s day. They are both great ways to practice mindfulness, and can be great rituals performed each day. If cooking and cleaning seem like boring chores to you, try doing them as a form of meditation. Put your entire mind into those tasks, concentrate, and do them slowly and completely. It could change your entire day (as well as leave you with a cleaner house).

11. Think about what is necessary. There is little in a Zen monk’s life that isn’t necessary. He doesn’t have a closet full of shoes, or the latest in trendy clothes. He doesn’t have a refrigerator and cabinets full of junk food. He doesn’t have the latest gadgets, cars, televisions, or iPod. He has basic clothing, basic shelter, basic utensils, basic tools, and the most basic food (they eat simple, vegetarian meals consisting usually of rice, miso soup, vegetables, and pickled vegetables). Now, I’m not saying you should live exactly like a Zen monk — I certainly don’t. But it does serve as a reminder that there is much in our lives that aren’t necessary, and it can be useful to give some thought about what we really need, and whether it is important to have all the stuff we have that’s not necessary.

12. Live simply. The corollary of Rule 11 is that if something isn’t necessary, you can probably live without it. And so to live simply is to rid your life of as many of the unnecessary and unessential things as you can, to make room for the essential. Now, what is essential will be different to each person. For me, my family, my writing, my running and my reading are essential. To others, yoga and spending time with close friends might be essential. For others it will be nursing and volunteering and going to church and collecting comic books. There is no law saying what should be essential for you — but you should consider what is most important to your life, and make room for that by eliminating the other less essential things in your life.

“Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” - Wu Li

Source of Article: Zen Habits

About the author: Leo Babauta lives on Guam. He is a writer and a runner and a vegetarian, and the owner of Zen Habits. He is also the author of a new best-selling book, “The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essentials … in Work and in Life“. If you want Zen Habits’ philosophy in a handy little volume, please buy the book.
Zen Habits is one of the Top 100 blogs on the Internet, and covers: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits.
Read more: My Story Why Zen Habits
Start here: The Beginner’s Guide to Zen Habits - A Guided Tour