Healthy Goodness

My hope for my life is that it inspires others

to seek

more happiness & wellness in their own life

Daily Goodness Menu: January 6th~11th 2012

Jan 6: Mushroom Soup (see previous post)

Dulse (Snack)

Cauliflower & Nacho Sauce

Cauliflower Bite Size Pieces

Sauce: 1 cu Soaked Cashews

1/2 cu Nutritional Yeast

1 lg Bell Pepper (Red or Orange)

3Tbs Hemp Seeds

Pinch Sea Salt

1tsp Turmeric

2Tbs Paprika

1clove Garlic

Water to consistency

Jan 7: Apple

Guacamole Salad (ate out with family)

Lettuce

Guacamole

Tomato

Lemon Juice

Garlic Kale Salad

Kale

Cherry Tomatoes

Mung Bean Sprouts

Dressing: Creamy Garlic Miso Dressing (see previous post)

Jan 8: Nori Wraps

Nori Sheet

Guacamole

Zucchini Slices

Nutritional Yeast

Lemon Juice

Sea Salt

&

Roll it Up

Kale Salad

Kale

Kalamata Olives

Tomato

Cilantro

Zucchini

Grapeseed Oil

Garlic Granules

Sea Salt

Jan 9: Guacamole Kale Salad

Kale

Guacamole

Tomato

Zucchini

Mung Bean Sprouts

Carrot

Grapeseed Oil

Garlic Granules

Sea Salt

Pumpkin Smoothie

Pumpkin

Banana

Almond Mylk

Coconut Crystals

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Jan 10: Avocado (halved & eat with a spoon)
Open-Face Mushroom Sandwich

Portobello Mushroom, Sliced Thin

Almond Butter w/ Garlic Granules, Cayenne Pepper, Date Paste, Sea Salt, Tamari (to taste)

Butter Lettuce

Tomato

Avocado

Yellow Onion

Clover Sprouts

Jan 11: Pomegranate

Veggie Sushi Wraps

Nori Sheet

Avocado & Miso Mashed Together

Carrot Strips

Cucumber Strips

Clover Sprouts

Love & Light,

May it Shine Into Your Hearts,

From Your Hearts,

Guide You on Your Journey,

Be Ever Present,

Even in the Darkness...

~Mariah Moon~

She Said WRITE...

Loving Me More Than Ever Before...

My friend Stephanie, my soul sista', wrote the following poem in ode to me:

i feel alone even when I'm around you
when we talk you never listen
i pour my heart into this relationship
yet i never receive
I know I'm better then this and i deserve more yet my self esteem is low so i deal with it
Today i spread my wings and say Fuck you
I'm living my life with out you and your bullshit ass ways
no longer will i let you hold me back
or will i cry about you
or will i want to help you when you don't even want to help yourself
The mirage is over now i can begin to heal
Time to be a butterfly no longer a caterpillar

Stephanie D.

She suggested I write some more, so here it is:
Last night my yoga instructor who is also a dear friend commented on how nice it is to have me back in the Tuesday night class, my regular class for the past 5 years, I replied without hesitation, 'it feels good to have MY life back,' and as I spoke those words I heard them, deeply. I haven't been living MY life, I have been living my life in accordance to how my boyfriend wanted me to on too many levels. (I hope it is obvious that I am not blaming anyone, I make my own choices) I had given up my favorite yoga class so I could attend something with my (now ex) boyfriend to be supportive, even though it put me behind on my required hours (for my yoga teacher certification) and it was my favorite part of the week. I am okay with making compromise, but there comes a time when we have to be honest with ourselves and realize that the compromises are supposed to be balanced. I repressed my sexuality to try to meet him where he is. I tried to need nothing; so the relationship wouldn't end. I gave up parts of me, made efforts that weren't returned, I loved blindly ignoring what was right in front of me in hopes of creating a partnership. And when I put it like that it sounds like I was trying to make peanuts out of apples! I tested my own patience and tried to want nothing from him, to let go of desire and expectation is to let go of suffering; however, the lesson I learned is that there should be a balance, not emptiness.

The love I give I want reflected back to me in a Partnership. If what I am giving and receiving are two very different things it isn't a partnership. I enjoy giving my love to others, freely and unconditionally, when I embarked on round 2 of this relationship cultivating unconditional love was my goal, a goal I have achieved. I love Shane, completely and unconditionally. I also realize with my real eyes that we weren't engaged in a partnership. I can let go of the title and release my hopes and desires I had for him and I. I can do this because I am willing to see the truth, I invite clarity into my life. I have an abundant supply of love. I do not fear loneliness. I love me. I love me enough to not engage in relationships that leave me feeling so much emptiness. I want to give and receive and enjoy it. I also don't need a relationship, I want the healthiest, honest, loving relationship to be with myself first.

~I SEEK BALANCE~

I am SEXUAL, SENSUAL & BEAUTIFUL

I don't need someone to tell me those things for me to believe them, I know them. {I am also a little freaky and I am done denying pieces of me} What I need is to be seen for who I really am. If someone cannot see me, then they aren't going to bring harmony into my life.

This holds true for partners, parents and friends alike.

You know the feeling like you're talking to a wall, even if someone is listening they aren't hearing you! Sometimes it isn't that they have a busy mind or want to ignore you, it is the simple truth that they cannot understand your point of view, they cannot understand YOU. And sometimes they just don't want to make the effort. These scenarios do not bring balance or harmony into our lives and we have to love ourselves and the other person enough to see the truth and move on, let go, release the grasping. I overextending my energy, repressed my sexuality, deprived myself of deserving what I desire.

I am choosing to embrace my sexual expression; no more repression! I see me for the beauty I illuminate, I choose to spend my time with people who SEE me.

In the past week I have had a ridiculous amount of compliments on how healthy & happy I look. It feels good to have what I am feeling inside reflected from the outside. It is affirming.

A friend who knows me VERY well commented on how this is the strongest she has ever seen me be. Again the truth spilled from my lips like water flowing through the stream,

'This is The Strongest I Have Ever Felt, Ever.'

I do not pretend to be made of perfection, but I am proud of my progress in my life, who I have become and I stand in the light of continuing growth. I have made so much progress in my life from the girl I once was to the beautiful woman I now am. I am ready to be seen, the more I embrace who I have become the more I am seen.

I embrace the strength I feel cradling my heart.

The clarity I have been gifted has lifted my heavy heart and gave me wings.

Gratitude seeps from my entire being.

I embrace my Yoga journey. Yoga is so much more than asana (the physical poses). It is a way of life. I embrace the teachings and challenges on this journey. I am empowered.

I am on a path illuminating all truth and I WANT to SEE!

I am ready to be the Butterfly, no longer the Caterpillar............

Love & Light

Kandis ~ Mariah ~ Moon

~*~*~SATYA~*~*~

~*~*~SATYA~*~*~

Satya is an aspect of yoga meaning truth, rightness. For the month of January I am focusing my awareness to see, believe, speak, hear, think, express, live satya. A part of satya is to not harm others through our actions or words. For example, how often does 'I hate you' actually mean 'I am hurting,' wouldn't it be nice if instead of trying to hurt people we spoke the truth; communicated instead of degraded? In this time of my life I find myself transitioning out of a 'partnership' type relationship back into a life of being single which also means being a single parent again. We are mutually ending our relationship, yet neither of us want it to end. The {simplistic} reason we have come to this decision is because neither of us feel we are who we want to be in a relationship which also means neither of us feels the other is being a true partner. I am aware that this may not make sense to a lot of people, but it is my truth & I choose to honor it. Remembering not to act out of pain & hurt was a challenge at first, but the more awareness I bring to Satya, the more Satya develops in my daily life. The truth is freeing.

So with love in my heart I find myself speaking my truth and allowing my feelings to be known. I am processing this change with Shane and finding what new form our friendship will take; together. It is such a beautiful unfolding, I look forward to continuing living in a place of truth. And although it isn't necessarily easy for me to do this, it feels like what truly serves me.

I Believe that he and I are meant to be in one another's life and although I recognize it as a constantly changing set of circumstances and particulars, I am willing to set aside my expectations of a partner and the role I want him to fill versus the one he is able to fill and take time to heal and grow. I have areas of my self that need work, contemplation and resolve. I truly look forward to time alone to focus inward.

The other night I suddenly had a moment of clarity and could see a part of me that feels so imbalanced at times, but was able to recognize it for what it actually is. For the past 5 years I have been working on not over-reacting to things and I am a million times improved from the girl I used to be; over-reactive, extreme, impulsive, negative, hateful & mean. But what I discovered was that I have created enough awareness that when I over-react, a short while after the incident, I now have the ability to 'let it go.' It feels good for me to be able to let things go especially since my old habit was too let it fester until I was miserable. I now see however; that in doing this I am still over-reacting, be it less frequent, but usually towards someone then a few hours later I am happy with no explanation of what happened. For me I am happy because I let it go and it isn't affecting me anymore. I can feel the imbalance this cycle creates within me and could finally see how this must totally make me look crazy to the parties involved! I am not crazy, but I am missing a step, it is time for me to let go of over-reacting and be conscious enough to always come from a place of truth. Let go of the trigger instead of over-reacting then having to let go of the over-reacting AND the trigger.

The Most Powerful Affirmation (when) I Use (it):

~I Release That Which Does Not Serve Me~

Blame

Resentment

Lies

Fear

Judgement

Ego Boosting

Dis-Ease

Self-Pity

Vanity

Anger

Denial

Disconnect

Promiscuity

Escape through Drugs & Alcohol

All of these are things I have used to deal with lifes downs before, but today I find myself choosing that which serves me and not feeling a desire to take the route of self defeating behavior. I am grateful to be in this place where I can choose wellness, in all aspects of my life.

I know what I want in a partnership: balance and equality. But in order to receive what I want, I also need to be giving what I want. Until I work through the imbalance I have created through habit, I don't feel that I make a good partner, especially not to someone I love deeply. So I am taking a skillful leap into open honesty instead of dwelling in anger & sadness. I choose Wellness. Yoga, Truth, Cleansing, Communicating, Healthy Eating & Thinking, Loving, Creating; All Beautiful things I am using to create balance & joy in my life, despite the changing scenery. Being able to practice these things in my life is a blessing.

Wellness Nutrition Tools:

*Cleansing RECIPES for JANUARY 2012*

Jan. 1: Lemon Juice w/Cayenne Pepper & Stevia

Jan 2: Lemon Juice w/ Stevia

Jan 3: Lemon Juice w/Ginger, Apple & Stevia (YUM!)

Jan 4: BBQ Broccoli w/Onion Sour Cream & Mushroom Soup w/Green Beans

BBQ Seasoning

(adapted from http://www.addictedtoveggies.com/2011/12/smokey-sweet-barbecue-cauliflower-bites.html)

6 Tbsp Ground Coconut Crystals
3 Tbsp Hungarian Paprika
2 Tbsp Onion powder
2 tsp Garlic Granules
1/2 tsp Cayenne
1/2 tsp Cacao powder
1 tsp dried/crushed Thyme
1/4 tsp Cumin powder
1 tsp Salt
*Coat broccoli in lemon juice and grapeseed oil then coat with BBQ seasoning, dehydrate 2 hours at 115*

Sour Cream Recipe for Dipping

from: http://www.addictedtoveggies.com/2010/12/atv-staple-recipe-raw-vegan-sour-cream.html

*My only modification is 1Tbs ACV instead of 3 and adding onion powder until it has a nice oniony flavor

Mushroom Soup w/ Optional Green Beans

3 cu Almond Mylk

1cu Cashews

3cu Mushrooms (marinated in olive oil & salt)

1/2 lemon juice

2 stalks Celery

2Tbs Garlic Granules

3Tbs Onion Powder

3tsp Salt

*Delicious as a Soup, pour over green beans if you want to, just marinate them in olive oil and salt overnight or dehydrate for about 45 minutes to soften them up

Jan 5: Pasta Kale Salad w/Creamy Garlic Miso Dressing

Salad

Sliced Zucchini, strips

Kale

Tomato

Creamy Garlic Miso Dressing

adapted from http://www.addictedtoveggies.com/2011/09/cheezy-garlic-pasta-salad.html

5 Tbsp Parm Cheeze (raw style)
1/2 cu sour cream (raw recipe link above)
4 Tbsp Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp Mellow White Miso
1 Tbsp Date Paste
2 Tbs Nutritional yeast
2 tsp Garlic Granules
1/4 cu Water
Sprinkle of Black Pepper

I LOVE her Recipes!

Food Therapy, A Good Thing When You're Making Healthy Choices!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

&

ABUNDANT LIGHT

YOGA on the HIGHWAY

Yoga on the Highway

~A Driving Practice~

I Just got home from a 15 hour weekend of yoga teacher training including asana (poses), anatomy of the shoulders and discussion on the Yoga Sutras, I am being so fully embraced and absorbed into yoga as a way of life, opportunities to practice yoga just keep presenting themselves; everywhere.

I am BLISS. I am STUDENT. I am TEACHER.

The studio is about 60miles from my house so let me tell you first about the weather: Ice, Rain, Snow and Dark. Oh, and my car has summer tires that aren't very prone to stopping in the winter... Perfect weather for a Sunday drive right?

Well............................Turns out, it was!

On the drive I felt the initial anxiousness and fear of driving on the roads when it is difficult to see, difficult to not get sucked into the ruts and puddles, difficult not to slide around on the ice, difficult........You get the picture. So deciding to choose skillful action and thought I released those fears, I realized that those fears are like taking a ride on thoughts and emotions about things that don't exist in the present, because what I was worried about was 'what if...'s,' all 'what ifs' are based on the future, not the now so I made the choice to remain in the present, remain in a balanced place and just trust; just be yoga.

I have always loved the metaphor for life that 'when driving on a dark highway, even though you can only see 200 feet in front of you, you trust that the road will be there and keep driving even though you can't see it' and such is life, we don't know the future and we really don't need to. The roads tonight were perfect, I could literally only see maybe 3 feet in front of my car and I released the fear of it and chose to trust that the path will always be there. And be there it was, I arrived home safe, sound and in such a joyous mood contemplating my experience of

Yoga on the Highway

Opportunity for Yoga is everywhere once we are awakened to it.

I am so grateful for my path.

I feel like so many aspects of yoga were present during my drive it can't be considered anything but Practicing Yoga !

~NAMASTE~

Edible Goodness

Edibles to Energize & Feed the Sweet Tooth

~Breakfast Energy Booster~

1Tbs Spirulina Powder

1Tbs Lucuma Powder

1tsp Reishi Mushroom Powder

1 1/2 Frozen Bananas

1/2tsp Vanilla Bean Powder

*Blend Until Creamy & Enjoy!

Benefits:

Spirulina- High in Chlorophyll, 18 amino acids including all 8 essential amino acids, lots of vitamins and minerals, GLA & “Spirulina contains the highest concentration of protein (by weight) of any food known, between 65 and 71 percent protein, depending upon the variety.”

—David Wolfe

Lucuma- (Peruvian Fruit) B3, iron, 14 trace minerals, mild maple flavor, Sweetener

Reishi- Strong Adaptogen, Boosts Energy, Boosts Immune System

Banana- Tryptophan Improves Mood, High in Iron, High Fiber, Nourishes Probiotics already present in the body, Natural Whole-Food Sweetener, Energy Boosting

~Coo-Coo for Cacao Bars~
1 1/2cu Soaked & Peeled Almonds

1/2tsp Vanilla Bean Powder

1Tbs Mesquite Powder

1Tbs Lucuma Powder

5Tbs Melted Cacao Paste

{Cacao Powder or Carob Powder would also work}

Pinch of Sea Salt

4 Soaked Medjool Dates

1/4cu Coconut Flakes

1Tbs Cacao Nibs

*Process Together until dough like, spread into a dish & freeze until ready to serve!

Optional Topping: Goji Berries

*Soaked Almonds; approx 12 hours, hand peel


EAT & ENJOY

This is the link that inspired the Cacao Bar Recipe, they are similar, but I didn't have all the ingredients so they differ a little:
http://www.rawfoodrecipes.com/recipes/cacao-chip-coconut-bars.html

~ LIVIN' LIKE A RAW-k-STAR ~

Yoga~Flowin~Heart~Openin~Self~Lovin

Whenever I stop and think about what I love to do most what really gets me giddy,

I always comes back to 2 things:

YOGA

&

RAW DELIGHTS

This morning I did a slammin' session of yoga geared towards opening the hips which releases fears, anxiety and stress. Intention during practice and day:

To Honor my Voice, My Worth & Truth!

{Sequence to come! It gets the prana and tapa a'flowin'!}

On to FOOD! Been busy in the kitchen yesterday and today, so far we have:

A Yummi Nummi way to start a day

JUICY BEETY JUICE

2Beets

2Apples

2in pcGinger

1handfulParsley

ALMOND MYLK

Blend Water with Almonds, Strain through Nut Mylk Bag

Voila!

I (s)CREAM

I adore the taste of maca, it is malty thick and grounding, my sister just got back from Peru and brought me maca, how could I resist making this treat for myself, I LOVE ME!

Almond Mylk

Frozen Banana

Maca Powder

*That's it, blend it or process it to desired consistency....

A Creamy Flavor~Full Frozen Treat
Feelin Fruity?

Process the following:

maca~nana base

Frozen Blueberries (wild Alaskan if you're lucky enough)

Frozen Mango

FRUITY SORBET

OH YES!

Next Up...... Savory Pizza~ish~ness

I am a huge fan of sprouting, but i have always used cheese cloth and rubber band toppers and I bought these cheap toppers the other day and I must say:
I FREAKIN LOVE THEM!

-----Take a Break and Snack on Some Nutritious and Delicious DULSE!-----

My Favorite Savooooooory Snack

ITALIAN FLAX CRACKERS

1cuSoakedFlax Seeds

1/2cuSprouted Spelt(ground or dried and ground into flour)

1/2cuSprouted WheatBerries(ground or dried and ground into flour)

Spice it Up:

Kelp Flakes

Sea Salt

Fresh Basil

Italian Seasoning

Herbs de Provence

Chopped Tomato

Stir it Together and Dehydrate at 115*F for an hour then flip and continue until dry but still pliable

SAVORY PIZZA~ISH~NESS

BAM it looks like this: okay okay maybe there are a few added ingredients:

Top Italian Crackers with Tomato Avocado Kalamata Olives & a pinch of Sea Salt too

Most of All

~ENJOY~

What you choose to spend your time doing and savor the nutrition you provide your body, mind and spirit

ENJOY & LOVE

Molestation; the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another

Sometimes it is hard to find your voice....especially when you are young, scared or confused.

{the following is a true recollection regarding my experience of sexual violation}

Summer 1996

I am a fresh teenager, couple months after I turned 13, and I am staying at my cousins house. There is this boy/man I think is cute (he was 17, 18 or 19, not really sure). I never made out with a guy, never had any sexual experiences with a guy, so the 'fantasy' in my head is french kissing, what a rush to be young and seductive! So I flirted with the guy and we go for a walk with my cousin over to a river and then she leaves. We are alone, quite a ways away from the house, out of view of anyone and he kisses me, fantasy fulfilled, so much excitement coursing through my veins then he starts to ask about sex and I tell him I am a virgin and I have never 'done anything.'

Then He put his hand up my shirt, underneath my cotton under wire Mickey & Minnie Mouse bra and grabbed my right breast, I closed my eyes tighter and started to grasp at thoughts, how the hell do I get out of this? The excitement left me, I felt no pleasure, only fear. I was a scared child in that moment. I kept saying we should go back, I 'm a virgin, trying to talk him out of it and he just kept telling me I was lying and he knew that I was lying. Then he moved his hand from my breast and pushed his way down inside my pants and underwear and shoved his fingers inside of me, I didn't like it, I didn't want it, I didn't know how to get away, no one could even hear me if I screamed, I didn't want to be hurt so I just kept trying to talk him into stopping. He grabbed my hand and pushed it into his pants onto his erection and moved my hand up and down. What the hell is a 13 year old naive girl to do? I couldn't overpower him and I couldn't help but think that I did this, I put myself in this situation, I had no idea it would turn into this, I didn't even know what this was! Then he started to pull me towards a large fallen tree, he said we could do 'it' over there. I kept saying no, I kept telling him I was a virgin, that I don't want to, he told me to sit down on the tree, I just kept pulling away, finally I pulled away and got enough distance between us and started to head back to the house, lost in a frenzy of thoughts, fear still lingering but safety slowly seeping in.

So much innocence was lost that day. It set the tone for my sexual experiences and so many unhealthy choices and situations to be violated followed.

I don't know if it was fear or a desire to be 'cool,' but I never told anyone what happened and that I objected to it, I just casually acted like everything was fine. I even interacted with him in the future and never brought it up. I never shared details with anyone. In the past 15 years since it happened I only told a couple people about the fact that I was violated . To this day he probably thought what happened was okay, but today I spoke up, so never again will he be able to say it was okay.

How did I do this? Well, my recent self-work (mainly in chakra balancing and clearing) in recognizing violations in my past lead to a physical manifestation of this man yesterday. While out with my family I saw him. He approached me, hugged me, keeps it casual and mentions the 'good times' and makes an odd comment about my age and how young I was back then. It was awkward, and I felt my discomfort, but I spoke in a kind manner, felt no anger and kept my truth tucked away inside me. I have no anger or blame towards him, but today I realized I am able to speak. I wrote him and let him know exactly what happened from my perspective and that I was molested, by him. And then, on to sharing this truth with others, BLOGGIN'

There is a lot of tension in my stomach as I write this and revisit this experience, but I expect an abundance of healing from allowing this truth, this secret, I have carried for so long to be known. It holds no power over me anymore, I am no longer a weak child, I am a Body~Bright Woman Standing in My Truth and Healing.

LOVE

TRUTH

VOICE

WILL

LOVE