A SUPERFOOD UNLIKE ANY OTHER

It's not very often I take time to promote products and webinars on my blog, but I just can't help myself on this one!  

I recently came across a FREE online webinar discussing the many health benefits of micro-algea, and I honestly have to say the information is PRICELESS.  

I've always understood their role in health, but I had NO idea just how powerful micro-algae are!  Lets just say they were routinely used to treat children of radioactive poisoning in the aftermath of Chernobyl.  That's beyond incredible!  I can't recommend this information enough.  

♥ MicroAlgaeWebinar ♥

In a world where superfood trends come and go, there's only a few ancient superfoods that have withstood the test of time.  If you were to include just ONE superfood staple into your diet, miro-algae would be it.  They are truly in a league of their own.  


Please take a moment and watch this FREE online presentation, and pass it on!  Best part, they've got some amazing recipes in there... yum! 

♥ MicroAlgaeWebinar ♥

Here's one of my favorite recipes using micro-algae spirulina.  I drink it like a shot first thing in the morning, right after my green juice.

Spirulina Spritzer 

1/4 cup (2 oz) coconut water kefir

1/2 tsp spirulina powder
Squirt lemon or lime juice

Stir in and dissolve the spirulina powder in a small glass of coconut water kefir with citrus, and enjoy!


The carbonation from the fermented, probiotic-rich coconut kefir is just divine!  It's a nice complement to the mineral-rich spirulina, which is masked by the fizzy kefir and citrus.

TIPS FOR AN ECO-CHIC WEDDING

Ladies be prepared, unless you're planning a backyard wedding, going eco-chic will likely cost you a pretty penny!  Not that there's anything wrong with a casual low-key wedding.  In fact, I almost wish I would have gone with a small outdoor theme after the stress of planning mine!  Lol.

It's frustrating enough couples have to face outrageous wedding mark-ups;  add a "green" label on it and you may expect a significantly higher price tag.
  
This is not to say that going eco isn't worth the money or the effort.  On the contrary, with a little extra time and careful planning you can wow your guests with a stunning eco-friendly event.  Just keep some practical tips in mind. Here are a few things I made sure to include to make my BIG day eco-fabulous!

1) Electronic invitations and thank you's! I used Pingg.com for a clean, professional look.  It comes with an option to digitally open your invitation from an envelope - super cute!  Plus, you can upload your own designs.
  
2) A wedding website for all the details and info your guests will need.  Here's my personal wedding website that included much of the necessary info without having to mail out instructions.  MilaHugh.weebly.com

3) Electronic gift requests. Wedding registries are overrated!  Who needs all that stuff?  We opted for a honeymoon gift fund that our guests could contribute to online!

4) Handcrafted candle holders! I made the most adorable little candle holders using recycled honey glass jars (see photo above).  Unfortunately they never made it to my wedding (lets just say mom didn't like the vintage theme I was going for).  Needless to say, they're currently up for sale on Etsy.com

5) Handmade favors.  It's always more personal when you can make something for your guests.  But if time and money is an issue, do what I did... use reusable spice jars filled with your favorite dried fruit.  I used unsweetened, organic dried cherries!  Yum.

6) Locally owned and operated businesses with environmentally-friendly practices.  Even if you can't afford a specific "green" product they offer, it's nice to support their efforts anyway.  For instance, booking with a flower boutique that offers both conventional and sustainably grown flowers - you may not be able to afford the sustainable option but you appreciate they offer it.

7) Venue and caterer with a zero-waste policy (this typically includes a recycle and compost service).  Many venders I spoke with who offer this service don't even charge extra for it - BONUS $$$ points!

8) Reusable rentals (linens, plates, silverware, etc).  Yes, this adds serious dollars to your event, but I can't imagine all the waste without it.  Of course, you can always use compostable plates and silverware.  I've seen some elegant options out there!

9) Botanical hair and beauty salon with natural and organic products.  This one can be tricky and costly, but worth it if you can afford it.

EARTH DAY!

One Meal a Month for Mother Earth

By Susan Belknap, Press-Tribune Editor
For many of us, saving energy and going green means recycling our cans and bottles and using florescent light bulbs. For Roseville resident Gopal Kapur, it’s much more.

Kapur, a Sun City resident originally from India, has recently developed Family Green Survival, a program of personal practices he designed to help people develop knowledge and empathy for the world’s low-income and poor population by eating like they do one day each month.

“My wife and I came up with the idea,” Kapur said. “We’ve been practicing it for about five months now. It came about through caring about waste of food, abuse of food and disrespect of food.”

Kapur said he’s noticed after living in the United States for more than 40 years that many people have an abundance of food, much of which is wasted.

“I’m not promoting Family Green Survival because I want people to be guilty of their abundance,” he said. “Instead this program is designed out of a respect for that abundance. Many people in the United States work very hard for all that they have. I just think we need to be thankful for that abundance.”

Kapur said there are two components to Family Green Survival, which include Eating Green and Survival Eating.

According to Kapur, Eating Green is based on the adage, “think globally, act locally” and involves a pledge to eat one day a month only raw foods that have been minimally processed after harvesting. Food such as vegetables, nuts, fruits, seeds, honey and water from the tap are allowed on an Eating Green day. Items such as wood or charcoal fires, gas burners, barbecues, electrical appliances including blenders, food processors, coffee makers, stoves or ovens are not permitted. In addition, no disposable plates, cups, paper towels or plastic utensils should be used on an Eating Green day. Read more...

TRIED.TASTED.SERVED

As raw food continues to make its way into the mainstream, it is amazing to see how far reached the vision of healthy living has come.

Connecting back to a natural way of living is something that is being practiced and appreciated by so many from around the world. A natural sustainable way of life is being embraced as something fresh, modern, even sophisticated. Surely no one understands this vision better than the team behind Tried.Tasted.Served, originated in Japan by chef Omid Jaffari.

Their mission is simple, to bring Raw and Living Foods and Sustainable Living to the world with simplicity and accessibility for a more beautiful, peaceful, healthy and happy planet. Accomplished Gourmet Raw Food Chef Omid Jaffari masterfully presents a gourmet yet simple side of raw cuisine. Exquisitely elegant, sophisticated, and highly informative are only a few words to describe what TTS exemplifies in today’s raw food movement.

I only recently came across their website TriedTastedServed.com and I can honestly say that I have yet to see anything like it in the raw food movement. The site can be read in three different languages - English, French, and Japanese!


I am in complete awe of the professional elegance and extensive content on their site and blog (Raw, The Art of Living). One can easily get mesmerized for hours reading through all of the wonder articles and information. The resources are extremely helpful and very comprehensive. They also provide a number of raw ebooks, one of which is completely FREE (Raw Japanese Herbal Teas & Drinks). Additionally, they offer numerous raw and natural eco-products, and they even carry their own brand of 100% organic raw Nama Shoyu soy sauce!

I stand in absolute admiration for their contribution to the world of raw foods and healthy living!

A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

I recently graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in International Affairs. In my final course, Intro to International Political Economy, I desperately wanted to write my senior paper on something related to global sustainability.

I was doing some research on sustainable agriculture and I came across an article that I feel is a MUST READ, especially for those of us who promote healthy, natural living and support a sustainable organic future. This is a brilliantly written article that is well thought out and proposes realistic alternatives to a broken irresponsible system of agricultural production.

The article was recently featured in The New York Times called Farmer in Chief written by Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food. It's a great read so pass it on!

ARTICLE LINK

The article addresses local and global effects of conventional industrial agriculture. What Michael Pollan calls the “sun-food” agenda, proposes large-scale systems of local, organic and humane agriculture to replace industrial agriculture. His suggestions are brilliantly innovative yet practical and realistic!

So enjoy the article and pass it along to your friends and family! Our future depends on spreading the word and awareness on alternative solutions that can heal our planet.

ARTICLE LINK

By the way, President-elect Barack Obama read Michael Pollan's Farmer in Chief article! See Obama's brief response featured on the Tree Hugger.

If anyone is interested in reading the research paper I submitted for class on Sustainable Agriculture (which I am happy to say I got a 100% on), I would be more than happy to post a copy. In the report I discuss how both the liberal and the realist political perspectives fail to address the fundamental issues regarding the sustainably of agriculture, and the proven agricultural techniques for long-term sustainability.

Thank you kindly, wishing everyone a radiant year ahead!