Usually we finish with a success story, but today is different. Today it’s confessional time. First of all, it’s fine and dandy to have things all upbeat and bubbly, because sometimes that’s how life is. Sometimes things really do just work out perfectly and life is good. But other times, things seem to fall apart. We lose hope, get discouraged, frustrated or just lost. I think it’s important we address some of the tools that can help us get through these things, too, in honor of the fact that maybe not everyone is feeling like a Sparkle Puff this week.

Today I thought I’d kick off the blog post with a plea for help that is not at all unusual in terms of the kinds of messages that I receive in a week. It’s completely unedited. Why don’t you read this and see if you can relate:

Hi, Tera.

I know your time is probably very limited to reading and responding to emails from people you don’t know. From reading your blog, you are super busy. So I am very grateful to you for reading this email and I hope you can help me. I have been reading your blog and I just signed up to be a part of the 90 day detox. Let me start off by telling you that I have read and researched TONS of info on eating healthy and I know the importance of a raw food diet. I was eating at least 50% raw food last summer and I felt and looked amazing. As of today, it’s a whole different story. I can’t seem to get back on track with the healthy eating and I am continually gaining weight. I’m only 5 ft. tall and I weight 134. That’s just too darn much. I am extremely disappointed with myself, burnt out and discouraged. I even took up running 3 weeks and have been doing awesome with that. But I’m not losing weight because I can’t stop eating. On my first day of doing your detox, I felt lost and unprepared. I knew I couldn’t have dairy or gluten, but I wasn’t ready to do just fruits, veggies, beans and rice. I had my green smoothie, which I do at least 3 times a week, but then around lunch time I got hungry. I looked in my cupboards and could not find anything that sounded good.

I didn’t want a piece of fruit or a carrot. Here is my problem. It’s my thinking, which I am having a hard time changing. I have to be FULLY prepared and everything perfect and in order before starting something. I am really struggling coming aboard the 90 day detox program because I started late. It just feels wrong…or like I won’t succeed because I didn’t start from day one.

I considered going to my local Whole Foods (which I do a couple of times a week already) and buying a bunch of things that are gluten free and sitting down and writing out meal plans and getting myself prepared. But, you know what, I’m too tired and too broke. I have already spent over budget this month on my groceries, and physically I feel horrible. I just want to sleep; not take on a huge project like preparing my mind, body and home to not eat gluten or dairy anymore. To give you an example of how out of control my diet is, yesterday I ate nothing but carbs. I was trying eat healthy. I even passed up my husband’s Papa John’s pizza. I didn’t even eat dinner and I gave my 4 year old daughter some lentil soup instead of nasty pizza. But, for breakfast I had a half of a blueberry muffin from Whole Foods. For lunch, whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce. For late night snack with the movie, popcorn (no butter) with peanut M&M’s. Ughhh! I feel fat, tired and horrible today. It just feels hopeless. For every accomplishment or victory I have, it seems like I have to do something to sabotage it. Yesterday I ran longer than I have ever run, but then look how I ate. I thought about buying your detox program that would give me more support and tell me what to eat, but I just can’t afford it! (sigh!)

I am so sorry to be rambling on. I’m just so down. I came to your blog today to try and pick myself up by reading the different entries and some of the testimonies. I don’t feel better. I feel worse. I’m reminded of how much I have been messing up and that I’m too far out from the time everybody else has started this detox. It’s also discouraging to see how so many people are doing so well and I’m not.

The reason why I am writing to you and asking you for help is because I believe so strongly in what you are doing. Again, I have read TONS of books and blogs on raw eating, healthy eating, green living, etc. Probably the same ones you have read. The tone of your blog is different. It’s very catchy and uplifting. Not preachy or wordy. Your personality shines through your writing and it’s very invigorating. I want so badly to be a success story on your blog and even help others along the way. It’s funny, so many of my friends come to me for advice on what they should eat or what they should give their kids to eat. It’s a whole lot easier to tell someone how to live their life than to tell yourself. I am hoping and praying you can give me the advice or direction I am needing.

Again, thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to read this email. Bless you!

M/G

First of all, I REALLY appreciate letters like this. Testimonials and glowing reports are great to boost my confidence, but letters like these where someone has the courage to come out of their cooked food closet and ASK FOR HELP are even more valuable to me. They remind me why I’m doing this in the first place and what we’ve done to try and set ourselves apart a bit.

Most people put up a customer service wall of fire to prevent intimacy and involvement. Profit is the priority at the expense of any emotional connection with the clients. Obviously, we can’t build a business here where one person takes responsibility for the emotional well-being of the community, but we can build a community where the INDIVIDUALS within the community are inspired to take responsibility for each other.

That’s what we’re trying to do here. Another e-book is NOT the answer to your prayers, but having someone else who believes in you and supports you may very well be the solution we’re looking for.

Life deals a hard blow and some of us struggle more than others to get our ducks in a row. But, but, but, but, buuuuuuuuut… (and you can quote me on this one!)

More than another ebook, more than another miracle supplement or visit with the stethescope, more than another  you need someone else who believes in you!

And now you’ve got one.

Actually, thousands if you just log into the Powder Room and start making friends. There are other women just like you all around the world and they need you as much as you need them.  If you are on the Full Support Version of this 90-Day Detox, you have access to the special section set aside just for this program!

I’ve seen people overcome all kinds of difficult situations. I know that solutions exist and that there is a way out of the hole you’re in, no matter how deep it feels. But read this and remember it:

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH!

You have to START. You have to pick yourself up where you are RIGHT NOW. It doesn’t matter if it’s day 13 or day 49. It’s TODAY! Start! Make this happen. Make it your day.

I had a lousy morning, ate too early, ate too much… but blah blah blah… I decided to get my @$*( together and grabbed a tall glass of H2O at noon.

Here’s are my best suggestions for how to get out of a Funk once you’re in it.

5 Simple Steps For Coming Out of the Cooked Food Closet

1. Start Your Day With Water

No matter how poorly you ate the day before, tomorrow is a new day. Make it the day to start fresh. Start your day with a tall glass of water and DO NOT EAT ANYTHING until you are TRULY HUNGRY! The sad thing is that most people do not know how to identify real hunger.

2. Learn How To Identify Real Hunger and Eat When Really Hungry

One of the things I think people misunderstand the most is the most basic concept of all:

Hunger.

They mistake all manner of grumbling stomachs and general irritation for the real thing.

Hunger pulls.

Hunger persists.

Hunger salivates.

Hunger isn’t fussy or choosy.

If you think that something “doesn’t sound good” then consider the possibility that you’re not really hungry. You should care less how your food sounds and more that there’s food at all. These other things you’re feeling can be detox symptoms. Irritability

3. Find Yourself An Accountability Partner

Make a public statement on the blog, if you must. I offer you THIS SPACE to declare to the world your intention to make things go right. You can leave a comment, but you can also find a buddy on the Powder Room, too. What about a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker. It doesn’t matter WHO it matters THAT you find someone to support you and encourage you in your process.

4. Make Change on a Gradient

Depending on where you’re at and how you’re coping with things, you need to understand that TAKING THINGS ON A GRADIENT IS VERY IMPORTANT. If you keep setting yourself ultimatums and then crashing on them, something’s not working. If things feel out of control, find some part of your situation that you can control and control it.

Maybe you’ll just eat ONE piece of pizza instead of THREE.

Maybe you’ll stop eating after 9:00pm instead of midnight.

Find the gradient, whatever it is, and START THERE! Start somewhere, but START for Heaven’s sake, because as I said it before, THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH!

5. Persist and Thrive In Spite of All The Obstacles Against You

You can do this, but persist. Get your boots back on, Babe, and DECIDE that you really want this. The barriers you perceive are only there because you CHOOSE for them to be barriers. Get over it! Get up! We need you on the team. Have you noticed how many sick, struggling people there are out there that haven’t even figured out yet that there IS a relationship between their food and their health.

WE NEED YOU!

Listen, I don’t like being a loud-mouthed “coach” but when your kid is running in front of a truck, you don’t whisper to them to come back to the side walk. Sometimes love does need a hard hard. A wake-up call. If you are engaging in self-destructive behavior then THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!

Get on board. Read the blog posts until today and get started.

It’s not just what you think, it’s also what you DO! Stand up, Woman, and get your life back!

Don’t worry, Chica! Even when I am a bit harsh, I still loooove you like glue, my little Sparkle Puff!!

Tera

Day 12.

I did a good thing going to sleep last night. I need to make a new commitment to myself. It’s funny, you know. There’s a certain sort of calm and balance moving into my life right now. Like my life IS a dream come true. The bus just come right when I arrive at the stop and the moments of synchronicity in all I do have me feeling confident and curious all that the same time.

I’ve detoxed chaos and confusion to a certain degree.

The whole point of this program was to get over the food obsession. Well, not the “whole” point, but a major one. The other night on our support teleseminar, we discussed the importance of taking change on a gradient. For those of you who may be struggling to end your love affair with gluten, I wanted to make a few suggestions. First of all, the grains that do not contain gluten:

buckwheat
quinoa
amaranth
rice
millet

There might be more, but they are evading me right now. I know these are the key players, so let’s start here. Depending on where you’re coming from, sticking to gluten-free foods like quinoa noodles and rice bread, or cooked brown rice, might not be such a bad thing. For others, the cooked food boundary being crossed can make it too easy to go “over the edge”.;-)

Find the gradient that is comfortable for you. We have 90 days to get there. I know you’ll do just GREAT, my dear.

I wanted to give some feedback on my own process lately. It’s always rather interesting to watch myself weave through the articles and gurus and find which path works best for me. I’m not sure what to make of all the different things I read about sometimes. What I can say is that when it seems everyone has a scientifically supported study to support their claims, and everyone’s claims still seem to be contradicting each other, then I have (above all else) my observations of what is happening in my body to go back on.

The softness of my skin.
My moods and emotions.
My digestion and elimination.
My energy levels.
My sleep patterns.
My general enjoyment of life.

These are some of the things I can observe and measure their change over time. I know that all the green juices are DEFINITELY doing something to my skin! It’s SOOOOO SOFT! I can hardly believe it. I touch myself and don’t fully recognize myself right now. My energy and digestion are good.

I used to eat A LOT of fruit.

Now I eat A LOT less fruit.

I never used to eat salt of any kind. No garlic, no onions, no spices, no olive oil, no nothin’.

Now I drizzle olive oil, sprinkle sea salt, stick garlic in my tomato sauce and eat whatever the heck I want. I even drink green juice now and I’m CONVINCED that it’s a good thing.

Not because someone else said I should, but because I see and feel the difference. The last couple days I didn’t take the time to make myself a green juice and I felt a bit more irritable than usual. I ate more, too. I’m not sure how to make sense of all this “alkaline and enzyme” talk, but in the weeks to come, you can be sure that I’ll be doing some interviews to get a few answers on this.

I know some of you have been wanting to know how my interview went with CTV.

Weeell, it was just a little one. It’s a 3 minute segment that they’re doing on Raw Food, and I’m excited that it’s going to be happening. It will broadcast on Sunday this weekend. The only thing that bugged me is that I probably should have had a layer or two of make-up on. One other thing that kinda annoys me…

…I blushed.

I can’t help it.

I just turn red like a fire fairy under the spotlight. Oh well. I guess we’ll see how it turns out. Hopefully they’ll take the good parts.;-) They said it will be available online, so once I’ve previewed it to make sure it’s showable to my loved ones, then I’ll share it! In the meantime, if you’re not on the 100% raw food path, here’s something you might enjoy:

My favorite popcorn replacement recipe:

Did I tell you my fake popcorn recipe? Well, especially next month when we step up the intensity and start leading to more allergy free meals (no corn, soy, peanuts, etc.) this recipe will come in handy. Since we avoid corn in our house, I like to take organic rice cakes, drizzle them with olive oil, a bit of sea salt and nutritional yeast. This makes them taste JUuuuust like popcorn. My daughter loves this snack and brings it to school often. All the kids ask for some, so we make her a big bag to share!

While I don’t indulge in this myself very much, the kids like it. Shannon Leone put out a little video suggesting that raw cauliflower dipped in Braggs makes a great popcorn replacement, too! you might want to try that.

I’m off to go get the kids at school. Mika has a pajama party. It’s raining like crazy and I’ve already had a few hours of exercise, but I think I’m going to strap on my sneakers and a good pair of running pants then hit the road. I’m feeling SUPER inspired after listening to that teleseminar with Yuri!

Intense workout, here I come!!

Looooove you!

Tea RAW

Here’s Today’s Success Story:

Hi Tera!

I started to write the whole long story that began 10 years ago for me…but I am a mom of a two year old boy and a 7 week old girl – so time is limited!  Haha.  Basically I was vegan for several years before falling off the bandwagon and adding all sorts of junk back into my diet like dairy, refined sugars/flours and fish.  When I got pregnant with my son I followed a pretty healthy diet and exercised regularly.  Last year I decided to go raw and managed to do 35 days at 100% before going back to cooked foods like no body’s business.  Shortly thereafter I got pregnant with my daughter and it all went downhill from there in terms of my diet/exercise.  I went back to being a SADer, big time, without a lick of exercise.

My friend sent me to your site and I signed up for the 7-day raw food detox. I actually received all 13 days of the emails before deciding to start (not purposely, just didn’t realize once I signed up that I’d be starting immediately and I wasn’t “ready”).  I read the 5 days of prep in one day, fasted that night and started the 7-day detox the next day (Monday of this week, actually).  It has been eye opening.  When I went raw for 35 days, I was making a ton of raw gourmet recipes but I did not eat a lot of veggies as is (like I’m doing now). Even though everything I was eating was raw, it was all spiced up, dehydrated, smothered and/or reconstituted to taste like something else. Did I lose weight? Yup! Did I get my poor eating habits under control? Nope . If anything, they were made worse because the recipes I was making took so long to prepare, my life pretty much revolved around food. With this 7-day fast, I’m eating very simply and rediscovering how good things taste in their natural state.

So this is Day 3 for me on the 7-day raw food detox and I’m on board for the 90 days.  I’m looking forward to growing in my journey to better health.  I want to be a good example to my children – and my husband, who will basically follow my lead in this area.  Thanks for doing this!

Ahava,
Yadira

Whew.

Today was a bit rough for the ol’ redhead. I have to admit, I feel like I overate and emotionally ate, and I think it’s because I’m just needing more sleep. It’s tough to juggle all the things we have to juggle in life.

I know, I know, I should be busting a move and popping out “WOW”s and sparkling my sparkle puff everywhere, but I’m tired. So rather than go on about it, I’m going to get my jammies on and GO TO BED.

Remember! Tomorrow is the interview with Yuri in the afternoon!

Also, today we got a hot new issue of Health In High Heels off the presses! Check it OUT here!

Love you,

Tera

Whooooa, Nellie!

We’re one ninth of the way there. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Today’s my big day! I’ve got a date with destiny on CTV, a super support teleseminar with all you detoxing divas who chose the high support path and me and Mr. Wheatgrass are hanging out for more Raw Food frolicking today as well. Just when you thought life couldn’t get better, it explodes into tiny little bliss bubbles.

Ahhhh…

So here’s a really important thing that should have been discussed earlier. If you’re following along with the 90 Day Detox, then you’re going to want to subscribe to these blog posts. Thanks to Tami the Social Media Queen around here, we have an answer for you to the question:

“How to you sign up to receive blog posts? What is RSS feed all about?”

So says Tami:

This website explains what an RSS feed is quite well: http://www.whatisrss.com/

On the Raw Diva blog — scroll down and in the Right-hand column there is a heading called “Meta” and under there is “Entries RSS” — click that and it takes you to a page (http://therawdivas.com/blog/?feed=rss2) where you can subscribe to the feed. There will be a few options in a drop down box that you can select from for what you want to subscribe with — that is how you will receive the feed. For example, I choose Google which means I read my feeds in Google Reader. The one you choose is where you will go to see the new blog updates –

Now let me explain the reason this is helpful is assuming you have many, many blogs you like to keep up with and you wouldn’t ever remember to check each of them daily or possibly even weekly — BUT you can always go to your READER — in my case Google Reader (but there are others, see the article) and all of the blogs or other sites you follow show updates there.

You can still go directly to the blog you follow to read, and if you want to comment you will go to that blog site (you can simply click on the link in your reader to go from reading it in your reader to reading it directly on the blog site), but this way you have one place to remember to check to see what is new on all the sites you love, instead of having to remember to go back to each site. There are also some services that send you a new email when the sites you follow are updates, but if you follow too many sites in this way you will have a lot of email!!!

Hope that helps

Tami
xoxo (Raw Diva Blog and Social Media Queen)
Diva Desk

So thank YOU, Tami, for that thorough explanation. You are the wiz around here for a reason, my dear.

You can imagine I’m feeling cheekier than ever knowing my fiery red hair and enthusiasm will be blazing a across Canadian TV screens this weekend. Just when Canadians are expecting their favorite corn chip commercial to come on, the Raw Food Fire Fairy streaks across the screen bringing good news and a rainbow of color!

Well, in the name of silliness and things that make me laugh, I have to show you this:

Hi Tera, Meet Tera!

Hey Tera,

I DID IT!! and I feel great! I’ve had the odd bagel and handful of nacho
chips since I finished the 7 Day Detox but I have stayed completely away
from cooked meats of all kinds. I never was a big red meat eater …….. it
was mostly chicken, but I’m even staying away from that now. So I’m doing OK
and feel really good. I love my smoothies, although my husband and I have
been having a fruit smoothies for breakfast for a couple years now.

I’m so glad I did it and am looking forward to basically staying on track
with the fresh fruits and salads and veggies. Thanks for all your support
Tera and emails …… it’s the “BEST” Detox program I’ve ever been on.

Luv and hugs to you always,
Tera

Now, let’s face it. A name like Susan might not have the same effect on me, but this one is a rare bird. What’s more, it’s pronounced EXACTLY the same way as my name: “tee-ra”. When I read this email the first time, I so TOTALLY did NOT understand how I had written an email to myself. It had been forwarded to me from Doll in customer service. Well, well, well…

…when I finally clued in and noticed it was Tera (my mom’s best friend in high school and the woman whose name she stole for me!) I was elated and full of giggles. Some of the funniest conversations I’ve ever had are when she’s phoned me up out of the blue:

“Hi, Tera. This is Tera.”

At which point, I simply short-circuited and heard absolutely nothing.

The possibility of what was being said to me just caused a complete BLANK to take place until about 3 minutes into the conversation when I clued into what was happening and asked if we could go back to the beginning and start again! I know if your name is Jim or Jennifer, this happens to you all the time. But I’ve only ever met 3 Tera’s in 33 years, so this was fun and I thought I’d share it. Besides, it makes for another success story for our 7-Day Detox program.

What’s coming down the pipes:

Once a week I’ve got to at least stop my head from spinning and let you know what’s shaking. Things around here are busting a move and we’re having a great time. The Raw Mom site has spread her wings and will soon be flying on her own thanks in no small way to the work of Shannon Leone! Watch out for that wild one! She’s got a new book coming out about Healthy Lunches for kids and a lot more, too, so stay tuned by signing up for Raw Mom’s Tid Bits available directly on the main page for Raw Mom.

Angela Elliott, our in-house chef is rawkin’ the kitchen and we’re proud to announce and show off her new website www.she-zencuisine.com! Zen cuisine, with a feminine touch! You like? We love the look going on over here! Check it ouuuuuut.

Don’t tell Nicole I said this, because she’ll probably blush, but I noticed she signed up for Vanessa’s Super Steamy Feng Shui in the bedroom class. Vanessa’s going to be teaching all of us how to have a bit more “Fun Betwixt the Sheets” and simply how to attract romance and enhance your current relationship. I mean, what if the fact that your dresser is STILL in that same position, is the reason you just aren’t getting any looovin’ in the bedroom?! What if the dust bunnies under your bed are blocking the flow, Babe?! Let me tell you, I’ve been asking myself questions like this, which is exactly why I’m signed up for Vanessa’s Feng Shui class happening this weekend and I do hope you’ll join me!

Speaking of steamy, guess whose super sultry photo is on this page? That’s right. MINE! And don’t say it’s a sad picture, because it isn’t a sad picture. It’s SULTRY! With the help of my girls I put together a little ebook called Seduced by Strawberries: Learn the Art of Gourmet Seduction! It’s available as a free bonus for people who buy Patty’s DVD set. I have to be honest, I’ve had some pretty pleasurable experiences with figs and persimmons and have written about it on the blog. These were, no doubt, the inspiration for this steamy little number. Patty is the QUEEN of all things sensual. I have to tell you, if you lack confidence about the way you move your body, or you simply want to watch the miracle of a woman’s curves in action, then you should get Patty’s new DVD set. I watched them and I’ve tried them, but I’ll say no more than that. See the results for yourself.

Trust Monique Bastien, our in-house nutritionist to remind me that I forgot to put up the recipe for the chocolate cake I promised. Monique is the author of Have Your Cake and Eat It Too, and if there was one woman I thought didn’t need another dessert recipe, it was that one! Apparently I am wrong. VERY wrong. Here you are, Monique! Enjoy!

Remember the chocolate icing recipe I gave the other day? Well, smother it all over this baby:

“Cori’s Chocolate Cake” (this came from Cori in Israel)

Directions:
Soak buckwheat for up to 1 hour, sprout at least 1 day, no rinsing. Mix occasionally to dry it.

Grind in food processor (about 2-3 cups sprouted buckwheat) with 1 cup carob powder.
Add I cup dates, 1 at a time (till doughy).
Put some coconut on the bottom of the Pyrex, spread mixture on it.

The icing:

In blender mix 1 cup dates, about 1-2 T coconut oil, 1/2 cup carob powder and some hot water. blend till smooth. Spread on mixture in Pyrex. Decorate with coconut.

Good luck!
Okay, and now it’s Time for Happy Tales of Other Raw Food Rawkstars!!

Hi Tera
Since we have a three hour time difference I do hope you are in bed and sleeping.

I feel I have spent most of my adult life looking for the perfect recipe for being “skinny”. I think at one time I owned almost every diet book ever published. I do not remember how I stumbled on the idea of eating raw but when I did I remember thinking, that’s for me. I have always loved fruit and vegetables and did not feel I was addicted to cooked foods. I purchased all of Victoria’s books and tapes plus many uncook books.

Well I soon learned I was/am addicted to cooked foods. I would be raw for a few days, then I would be back on cooked foods.

Finally I said enough is enough and made a commitment to myself to be 100% raw. Down went the weight, down came my cholesterol, down came TSH level. I was flying high.

Along came the holidays (Christmas 2007). I fooled myself into thinking I could do cooked foods during the holidays and then just be raw afterwards. Well that was when I realized how addicted I was to cooked foods. Try as I could I simply could not go on raw 100%. The weight returned, my cholesterol went back up and so did my TSH levels.

Next I signed up for your BES program. Down went my figures again. When the 90 day detox did not take off as planned I fell flat on my face and once again I was swinging on the pendulum.

I had my blood work done before I fell on my face and today I sat down and studied my last three blood work ups. I was and still am shocked. I could see in black and white what happened when I was totally raw and what was happening when I ate cooked food. The results were amazing.

I know this is a long story but I wanted you to understand how I got to the point I am at today. It took a shock to make me realize that if I want to be healthy and well I need to stay committed to being raw, 100% raw. So that is my commitment as of now I will be 100% raw.

I am off to a three day retreat this weekend and I will have in my suitcase enough fruit and raw veggies to keep me on track.

Thanks for being here for all of us. I love you sooooo much.

Big hug

Verna Kershaw

And I love YOU, Verna! Holy Mutual Appreciation Society or WHAT?! Mmmmmhhmmm. Bring it on, Sisters! Bring it ON!

Glowing Appreciation: (I SERIOUSLY don’t even know how to respond to this one. All I can do is *gush* a flow of appreciation right back at you, Renata! I admit, I think it’s hilarious that you think of my when you look at your boyfriend’s fridge! Tell him I’ll think of him when I look at mine! )

Dear Tera!

You have such a huge loving heart! Thank you so much for all you are doing!
You come to my mind at the most important moments in regard of my decisions on the food i eat..
while shopping, or looking inside my boyfriend’s fridge : )) And it is always helps me to make better decisions.

Gluten- and dairy-free hugs,
Renata

That’s all she wrote folks. I’ve got a date with destiny and the cameras are waiting!

Love,

Tera

p.s.

By the way, just to keep my commitment to myself, I had a bath, got into my pajamas and WENT TO BED. It still counts, you know! Even if it was only for half an hour before I had to get up with the kids.

SHOWTIME!

I have the biggest news ever, but you’ll have to wait because FIRST, it’s time for an update:

This week has been a SUPER green week. My new friend has been dishing out a heavy, HEAVY dose of GREEN whenever we`ve been spending time together. I don`t know all about detox, but I can`t wait to have our call with Dr. Ritamarie where we ask her all the questions about detox reactions. I`m sure there`s a lot of myth out there. Coming from a natural hygiene background, then listening to all the Doctor T lectures, now spending time with the Wheatgrass and Enzyme Boy of the Year, my head is kinda spinning. I mean, for the first time I really get how totally confusing it is to make sense of all the different paths there are in the Raw Food movement.

My friend served me up some wheatgrass juice the other day. It was just a title shooter glass full, but within a minute I was SO ready to barf. “Ahhh…” says he, “Detox!”

“Detox!? What the hell do you mean, detox?!”

I haven`t really asked for explanations or proof. I`ve just been going through the flow and observing my body`s responses. He has a whole artillery of strange detox elixirs loaded up with garlic, olive oil, and lemon. If I dare sneeze, sniffle or wipe my nose in his presence, I`m passed the latest chug-this-down-fast concoction. I`ve been getting doses of bentonite clay to “soak up” the toxins and “Vitaspec” to help the barfy feelings go away.

The more I learn the more I realize how much I don`t know.

Who knew Little Miss Raw Food would be getting a major detox lesson from her Valentine`s date? (I`m typing at my son`s school on the teacher`s French keyboard, so we`re going to have some avant garde exclamation and punctuation marks today).

Anyway, the second time I had the wheatgrass juice it didn`t make me want to puke at all. That was apparently the proof that I was now slightly less toxic. So, he dished me up with a green juice.

But this was no friendly green juice. This was a green juice boot camp juice. HARD CORE, I tell you. I don`t know what to think of all these elixirs and experimental beverages that have been going into my body lately. I don`t know what to think about “pH” and other ideas like this.

I know apples and pears are easy and make sense.

I know lettuce tastes good and is crunchy.

I`ve certainly been awfully simple in my food choices compared to some. I`m curious and willing to try things. But dear friends, whatever you do, make this your golden rule:

“I make decisions based upon my own experience and not what other people tell me. My path is the right path for me.”

Today’s Success Story

Welcome to my adventures!

My name is Veronica and I live Down Under on the south coast of NSW (New South Wales) in Australia. If you don’t understand something I’ve written here, then ask away! Aussie English is a bit different to US English. lol

I’ve been on an interesting journey heading towards raw foods for about ten years now. Healthier eating first piqued my interest when Mum asked me to go with her to a course in vegetarian cooking held at one of the local churches. We had a great time, and learnt a lot as well.

Hubby wasn’t so keen, however, and after I went ovo-lacto vegetarian for two weeks he put his foot down and wanted meat again. At this stage, I wasn’t aware of the effects that eating no meat at all for two weeks and then eating steak would have on my system. Sad My body was NOT happy at all.

Our diet wasn’t the usual SAD fare, as we used a lot of fresh fruit & veg, and cooked most things from scratch. We started incorporating vegetarian meals on a weekly basis, and increased this to having two or even three nights a week without meat.

Then in 2004 I ordered a Breville Juice Fountain using Fly Buys (frequent shopper’s card thingy). I LOVED IT!!! My sister came to live with us for a while, and introduced me to beetroot, celery, carrot, apple, and ginger juices. I had a wonderful time!

At the beginning of last year my daughter and I were in a nasty car accident. She fractured her skull in two places, needed her skull drilled near one of the fractures to remove a blood clot the size of a 50cent piece (approx 1 to 1.5″ diameter), fractured three ear bones in her left ear, and was bruised like you wouldn’t believe! I got off easier, with a concussion (from which my poor old brain is still recovering) and a compression fracture to my L3 vertebra. Oh – and some pretty bruises, too, although nothing as spectacular as my daughter’s bruises.

This on top of fibromyalgia (I’ve had this for approx 9yrs now) really didn’t do my weight or overall health much good at all. So I started researching online (wearing a back brace for four months kind of limited my activities) and did I find a lot! :-O I started juicing again, and started incorporating raw foods into my diet.

Here is my favourite intermediate food recipe for popcorn avocado:

2-4 corn thins (like thin rice cakes, but made from corn) – crumbled
1 avocado – mushed up or diced
1 tomato – finely diced
finely chopped eschallots (like spring onions, but flat rather than a bulb)
alfalfa sprouts
fresh lemon juice
celtic sea salt
Mix it all up in a good-sized bowl and enjoy!

The avocado helped to give me the “full” feeling I was used to, whilst the corn thins were a good bread substitute.

I went two months as 100% raw over June/July last year, however with all that was happening (we moved and lived with friends for four months before settling where we are now in Nov) I went back to wheat, dairy, and coffee. Sad

On Feb 14 – yep! Valentine’s Day – I made the decision that it was time for a new start. When I saw the 90 Day Detox, I just HAD to join up! What perfect timing.. Smile

Phew! That was kind of an epic, wasn’t it? Well, now you know where I’m coming from, and I’m looking forward to the journey with you over the next months.

Blessings,
Veronica

MY BIG NEWS!

Okay, soooo I totally flunked on getting this out before midnight, (even though most of it was ready in time, I just couldn’t pump out the ending and keep my eyes open.  I even flunked for going to BED, because this evening I DID crash on the couch for a couple hours BUuuuuuuuUUUUuuuuT,

…it’s all going to be excused because today was a CRAZY day. I got a phone call from CTV (that’s one of Canada’s main television networks) who contacted me about a feature they are doing on Raw Food this Sunday!

Soooo, they’re going to be filming me TOMORROW! (But it’s really today, now–Wednesday). I’m soooo excited! Watch out world, here comes the Green Smoothie guzzlin’ Raw Food Lovin’ Redhead to rock your blenders!

Okay, Cupcake! Thanks for all the messages and stories you’ve been sending in. I adore you and am so grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Okay, so, don’t worry, Snuggle Puff. I’ll still remember you when I’m a famous RAWK STAR on TV.

Loooove you like glue!

xo

Tera

Oh my goodness. I kept trying soooo hard to get this little post done for my Day 8, and my eyelids wouldn’t cooperate. Clearly, I am underslept.

Which brings me to an important thing I wanted to say. In my cozy coaching group this week, we decided to try something new. We’re all committing to a challenge for the week–something we’re going to hold ourselves and each other accountable for. We declare it to each other on Sunday evening and then the next meeting we have, we follow up and say how it went.

I thought I’d incorporate that into these daily emails as well.

How about at the beginning of the week (on Monday) we state an objective–a challenge we’d like to give ourselves for the week. As I said in my message yesterday, it’s important to respect a healthy gradient. Take things at your pace. This week I’m trying to transition toward my last meal around 4:00. I’ve been doing better, and will get there. I’ve been spending time with other people at my meals, and it really does make a big difference when you’re trying to consider the schedules and needs/desires of the people around you.

Stating your intentions, your challenge, whatever it is you’re planning to implement for yourself in the comment section below, then following up the next week will be a powerful thing. First of all, simply by stating our objectives, we strengthen our resolve to do something.

This week, don’t laugh!, my commitment was to go to bed every night. I know, I know. I’m a bit ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I just work so much and am so busy that I just pass out on the couch. I don’t take the time to put on pjs or even get under the covers on my bed. I just CONK OUT then wake up and get started all over again.

I’m working hard during this detox to bring balance to my life. To NOT obsess about food, but observe my patters around food and improve them.

So, there are 2 things I need from you, Love.

1. Post your challenge below in the comment section. Just do it for yourself. State it to the universe and all these other amazing detox participants.

2. Send me your story. How did you get here and what changes have you made in your life already because of “Raw Food” or better nutrition. Success stories are inspirational and while I certainly can go and dig up any of the thousands of testimonials that I have collected over time, I would prefer we get the stories of participants on this program. YOURS, in fact.

So if you could just send me a little email at tera@therawdivas.com with YOUR email, Id really appreciate it. Also, just to be sure we both understand, it’s a story I’d like to be able to post on these daily messages.

It’s 2 minutes to midnight! I DID IT! I kept my commitment and managed to get this little love note out to you. I’m sorry I didn’t get it sooner, but I’ll do better tomorrow.

Love and hugs, dear detoxer.

I think you’re courageous for being here and can’t wait to connect again tomorrow.

Love and hugs,

Tera

Today’s Good News:

OKAY GIRLS!! This is it, the absolutely right time to finally write and thank you all, for your consistent support and inspiration over the past few months. There have been times when I have felt so alone, and not just in eating mostly raw, that your uplifting messages have brought me back to where I am supposed to be…which is right here and now and vibrant! I am starting to become more and nore sensitive and accordingly more and more conscious of who I am and what I am putting into my body. Nine colonics and a liver cleanse and a ton of raw food later….here at last is my MASSIVE THANKYOU. And remember, for every person that takes the time to write in and thank you all, there are hundreds or even thousands out there thinking the same thing, G-d bless you all for the work that you do and the people who you reach out to whose lives are right now being changed,

LOVE and Smoothies
PETAMA

Well, well, well, I’m delighted to be able to announce that Yuri Elkaim (my favorite fitness guru) of TotalWellnessConsulting.ca has freed up his schedule to join us for an inspirational teleseminar on Friday afternoon at 1:00pm. We had such a great time last week with Paul, so we’re sticking to the 1:00pm teleseminar time and looking forward to this opportunity to connect with Yuri.

I want to let you know that I have interviewed Yuri in the past and he is truly one of the most enthusiastic and inspiring guys I’ve ever interviewed. He has a lot of very valuable information and he himself is a nice middle path kinda guy, who knows how to find balance in all things. That’s part of the reason we’ve brought him on board with us for this 90-Day Detox.

Here are just some of the things Yuri will be addressing in this call:

• The Cardio Myth: Why cardio is overrated and what should be done instead.
• What most people (especially women) fail to incorporate into their fitness programs.
• The most important training element to achieving any fitness-related goal.
• Understanding your own psychology and limiting beliefs.
• Why it’s important to have a trainer or a training partner.
• The extra 1%: How can you leave your comfort zone for a fitness breakthrough

CLICK HERE to access this teleseminar information and join us on for this invigorating auditory workout!

Today is Day 7 of our 90 Day Detox. 90 days is a long time. I thought I’d include a picture of the dreamy wonder boy I had a date with this week. He he… Just kidding. But this picture is important and I’ll explain in a moment. First…

Yesterday I dipped my spoon a few times in the “Cream” of Broccoli Soup I made for the kids, so that’s my official cheat for yesterday. If you want the recipe, it’s a knockout and you can find it here! If you’re not on the 100% raw path for this adventure, this is a great vegan soup that is loaded with greens or whatever good veggies you have in the house.

I sure noticed how it threw me off to eat late the other night. Today I started off with some nibbles of grawnola, but I’d like to stick to water for the rest of the day and evening. I’d like to get back on track to eating first things in the morning and stopping in the afternoon.

3:00pm would be my last meal target.

Do you wanna try that with me tomorrow, Sunshine?

Here’s a very, very, very valuable piece of information that will really help you in life and help you if you’re going to take the 3:00 pm challenge with me this week:

Where you struggle to control some area of your life as you would like, simply approach the situation on a gentle gradient and soon you will have it handled.

It doesn’t matter what the subject is, the approach is the same. It can be a nasty relationship with your ex-husband (I love you, Jason!) It can be a office desk with clutter out of control. Food addictions, personal obsessions and phobias all fall under the same rule. Take change on a gradient. If you can control a small area of something and increate your control by a gradient over time, you’ll eventually master that area of your life and you’ll get it! (Whatever it is you’re trying to get, that is!)

Let’s take the example of eating late. Well, if this happens to be your main area of difficulty, something that you REALLY struggle to control, then gradually move toward your target on a gradient. Don’t jump from porking out on midnight corn chip sessions to expecting yourself to finish your last meal at 3:00 pm. Start creeping toward your target. You’ll get there.

If you’re not sure that you can make it at 3:00pm for tomorrow’s last meal, then how about if you eeeease and creep your way there with me this week? We can just stop eating an hour earlier every day. Then on Friday, you can stop at 3:00. If you think you can do 3:00pm right away, then go ahead! I’m going to try.

I hope you’re still wondering what’s up with that hot stallion above…

On March 7th, my brother, who I TOTALLY LOVE AND ADORE, has invited me to celebrate his birthday with him at a WRESTLING MATCH!! CRAZY! You should see the Facebook invitation he sent. I can’t believe he’s inviting me to get drunk and go wrestling. First of all, a few thimbles of any alcholic drink and I’m on the floor. We’re going to be shopping at second hand stores and dressing the part. Making posters and wearing greasy, neon t-shirts.  It’s going to be the strangest thing I’ve ever done and while a big part of me is completely repulsed by the idea, I loooove the strangeness of it all.

While the chances of me burping back beer are slimmer than he might like to think, I’m thrilled to be included in such a Trashy Adventure in spite of all my eco-obsessions! I’ll keep you posted when it gets a bit closer!

Speaking of wrestling and raw divas… this is so funny! When I first started this adventure, I had no idea that there were some hot wrestling babes known as the “Raw Divas”. Seriously. Anyway, it would perturb me that when people googled “Raw Divas” it came up wrestling babes everywhere. Well, Google says that we win the search engine war. At least, in text we do. While the first 2 listings in Google are our sites now, Google images pops in some hottie photos right on top. Anyway, for March 7th, maybe I’ll wear my “Raw Diva” hoodie and people will think I’m cool!

There’s something really important that I’d like to address tomorrow. A kind of detox that doesn’t get discussed very often, but amidst all that we’ve been doing, it’s the thing I’m most committed right now to “releasing” in the name of detoxification.

I love what we’re doing here, because it’s not just about the food.

I hope you’re doing well, Sunshine. I loooove it when you leave me comments. It boosts me, too. It really does. Like the little “Go, Tera, Go!” that I need to continue and make this my priority.

Thanks.

Tee RAH! Tee RAH!

Today’s Inspirational Story:

(I know I owe you another one from yesterday!) This comes from Alissa Geurink who has been an incredible support to our community and programs behind the Diva curtain. Here’s a story that is at the heart of the things that matter most to me in life–getting people off psychiatric drugs. There are few things that spark my inner fire than knowing people are being put on psychiatric drugs. The fact that the innocent are the primary target through school systems is the kind of thing that would make me a popular writer on Mike Adam’s website. The guy kicks Psych-butt and I love him for it. Around here I try to keep things more positive, rather than rage against the evil of the world. It’s not that I can’t see it, or am not aware of the things that are going on out there–it’s just that I believe that what we put our attention on grows… validate what you want to create more of in the world. There are enough merchants of fear and choas in the world. ‘Round here we like to keep it poppin’ with good vibrations. So give it up for an incredible sister with a powerful story of tranformation: (loooove you like glue, Alissa! Thank you for all you do to support us ’round here!)

When you are on anti-depressants you are treating the symptoms and not the cause. There are several things that can trigger depression from a life changing event to a change in your diet. All of my life I feel like I have suffered from depression. I just did not feel right. Life in general did not click. I managed it pretty well for a long time, often times that would include putting up a fake façade and hiding in the crowd. I started to lose it when I had a year of changes. It was 2002: the year after the terrorists crashed into the twin towers, the year that I got married, the year I moved to a different city, the year my mother died, the year my brother died, the year I started to lose it. I think I pushed that back in my head and didn’t give myself enough room to cope with all of the changes. I went on with life.

A couple of years later, hormones entered my body as I started gearing up for the biggest change in my life – A child. That was it; after Alexander (whom I refer to as my little angel – different story) was born I went into a huge depressive state. It was not a matter of coping – it was hitting me hard. I felt all of the changes that occurred flood back into me. At that time my job was shaky, and I was butting heads left and right with my mother-in-law. I also felt the past depressive state come forward too: all of the feelings that I had all my life – the feeling that life was not clicking, not being worthy to be on the same plane of existence, feeling ugly, fat, the list goes on. I went to the doctor and explained what was going on (at that point I did not want to live). She put me on a high dosage of Lexapro. This helped me to cope with some of the issues that were going on in my life. I tried to go off of it about 6 months after I went on it, but found myself going right back on it. According to the doctors Lexapro is not addictive, but I found myself needing to take it otherwise I would get dizzy and fuzzy minded. I wouldn’t have control over what I was saying. That was about 2 ½ years ago. About 4 months ago, I wanted to get off the stuff. I felt that I was walking around like a zombie; I was in a constant state of “whatever”. I started losing my creativity. I wanted my passion and fire back, only without the ups and downs of my depressive state. I wanted to look in the mirror and love the person staring back at me! I wanted to be the me that I have always wanted and dreamed to be!

They tell us depression can come from a chemical imbalancement. I have explored gluten and dairy free options before and I knew that I had felt so good when I wasn’t eating wheat or dairy. I thought why not give it a try. During my research I came across the raw lifestyle. It clicked. I knew it was going to be an uphill battle with lots of protesting and questions from my meat eating husband (I think we had one of our biggest arguments over raw food), but I wanted to give it a try. And I did… I got tons of cook books (okay, un-cookbooks) and went out grocery shopping for raw food type substances. But it never happened. I was too addicted to cooked food and by that time to wheat and to dairy. Some time in the fall, I received a flyer for the Body Enlightenment System through one of my raw food websites that I joined. It looked pricey, but I knew that this would be the push that I needed! It was a support group for people who wanted to get a better lifestyle through raw foods. I would even get a buddy! Someone who I could get a hold of when I felt like eating a donut! This seemed like an amazing program so I spent the money and joined up.

It is now about 2 months after the program ended. There is a new program starting up in March. I have never thought twice about the money I spent. Going on this program has been the best decision I have made. It connected me with so many wonderful people. Some helped me, and I know that I have helped others. Eating the way that the BES showed us allowed me to lose about 10 pounds and slowly go off of Lexapro! To this day I do not regularly take Lexapro, I am off it and I feel great!!!! But most importantly I feel like I have a grasp of what life is. I feel connected to it and know what path I should take. Every day I wake up smiling and ready to give a big hug to who ever wants it. I can’t help to giggle in the morning when I blend my green smoothie. People have noticed and have asked what my secret is: I tell them the BES system!

making a killing

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you, or someone you know, are currently taking psychiatric medication, I think really think you should see this. It’s a DVD called, Making A Killing and my only professed Raw Food hero, Mike Adams is a shining star feature in this DVD. (He’s even on the back cover, which is what made me pick up the DVD in the first place.) This DVD is a reality-shattering film. It totally uncovers the psychiatric drug story for what it is.

Watch it and get a whole new perspective on life. Buy it, watch it, then leave your copy on a coffee table in the waiting room at the doctor’s office when you’re done.

There is a way out and people deserve to know this.

One more good reason to go dairy and gluten free!

I loved this film so much I ordered a case so that I could help get the message out there. You can order your copy HERE! (only 96 copies available!)

It’s Day 6.

So much for the “Daylight Diet” last night. I didn’t eat dinner until 11pm.  I’d planned this late night picnic before and so I decided to just go with it. I can confirm that this morning I certainly felt a bit groggy because of it.

What follows is addressed to the ladies in the house. While I don’t mean to exclude men, and perhaps there are lessons to be learned here for them, too, I want to address something of importance to me.

Ladies,

You know that feeling when someone looks you “up and down” in the wrong way? Or the feeling that someone is “checking you out”? It’s a threatening feeling–a violation of one’s space. It causes us to turn inward, to feel self conscious and introverted.

Imagine the opposite of that. Imagine a situation where you’re with a person who GIVES you space. Someone who doesn’t appear to have judgment in their eyes at all. It’s not that he is unconscious or just doesn’t notice you, but that he doesn’t appear to have an agenda. He doesn’t care if you have mascara on or not. He doesn’t care if you wear pumps or flats, and wouldn’t even notice whether or not you have cellulite on the back of your thighs. He’s just there, with you, because he wants to know WHO YOU ARE.

Well, that’s how I felt last night.

No offense to the men in the house, but I’ve never been with a person and felt that comfortable. I don’t think it would have mattered if I’d had on a designer tomato red bikini or a parka. It was ME he wanted to get to know, and so because of that, it was one of the most satisfying date experiences I’ve ever had.

I’ll let you know how things progress, if they progress. I’ve been through enough life experience to know that I’m keeping my eyes on my goals:

1. Creating a thriving community of women ON FIRE about health and about life!

2. Living my passion and expressing it passionately in the work I do.

3. Commit to the things and people that make life work–that make me stronger, more able and that AFFIRM who I am.

4. To be, as Sebastian calls me, “The Best Mom in the Whole Wide University.”

5. To be unapologetically ME, and to have that be a good thing with the people around me.

And so, while I was all giddy and playful last night, this morning I feel a general sense of calm, appreciation and…

…serenity.

I know I have a lot of enthusiasm, I have playfulness and all these glorious action-filled emotions. But I think serenity sits just slightly higher than these on the ladder of life’s expressions and it comes with a certain sort of ease–like you just know all is well in your world and it always will be. And you don’t fight against your mess and you don’t race against a clock. You just ARE and in that space the world and all its elements just sorta fall in place like pieces of a puzzle. You hit all the green lights when you drive, you make it to the bus on time and Sally calls you just 2 minutes after you’d had her “on your mind”.

That’s a fun place to be.

I think I’m going to sit there for a while, and I’ll get back to you later.

Still love you like glue, Snickerdoodle.

Thanks for being here. Thanks for being you, too.

TeeeeRAW!

It’s Day 5 and I feel ALIVE, Girlfriend! (Or boyfriend if you’ve managed to brave the pink storm and join us for some detox fun!)

I think I need to take a nap before my spa adventure. Did I mention we’re also going skating under the stars, too?! How fun is THAT!?

There is A LOT going on around here and I just want to take a moment and take inventory on all that we’ve got on the go:
Health In High Heels has officially rolled off the diva presses! You can CHECK IT OUT HERE! Thanks to Shayla, we’re able to get these out a lot more regularly now. I have to admit, we’re so fortunate to have an incredible team of people supporting us. Maureen Lauder has been doing some great writing behind the scenes and I can’t wait to show it off. Angela Elliott and Shannon Leone are hard at work in preparation for the release of our new natural Beauty Book. This is SUCH an incredible book–sassy, natural and loaded with great recipes. We haven’t picked the release date, yet, but watch for it.

There is a cozy team of women also preparing a very special release for the 2 year anniversary of The Raw Divas. You’ll LOVE IT! And and and and aaaaaand, we just got word from Blendtec yesterday that they will be sponsoring us with a gorgeous, shiny RED LOVE MACHINE as part of their sponsorship for our Spring Twitter Festival. (I’ll tell you all about that VERY soon) You should also know that we have a St. Patrick’s Day version of the Green Smoothie Challenge coming up, too. Usually the Green Smoothie Queen dons her crown for 3 days at a time only, but in the name of the luck of the Irish, we’re doing lucky number 7 days of a Green Smoothie Challenge for St. Patty’s Day!

The Body Enlightenment System will start up again when the tulips pop their heads!

Vanessa Stewart, our Clutter Free Diva is going to be hosting a steamy call about romance and how to use the tools of Feng Shui to enhance and improve your current relationship or attract your ideal mate! This call is going to be on Sunday, March 1st at 4:00 p.m. EST, and you can read about it here. Once spring comes, watch our Clutter Free Community prepare for a MAJOR office clean-up, too!

Behind the scenes in Raw Mom land we have some AMAZING projects preparing for release. A gorgeous (and I mean GORGEOUS) new recipe book for kids written by Joanne Newell and illustrated by my kids’ Dad (yup! my ex-husband) who is doing a fantatic job making this book come to LIFE!

You know what’s crazy about all that I just wrote? That’s not the half of it!!

May 24th marks the impending release date of an incredible program for women that I am creating with Catherine Garceau, an olympic medalist and recovered bulimic. Together she and I and a panel of experts in health and medicine will be putting together a support program for women with “eating disorders”. This is going to be such a passion-filled and life-changing program, I am on the edge of my seat with excitement about what’s coming and the people that will be involved.

And there’s more, my dear. So much more, but I can hardly think it all in a day. That’s why, if you did sign up for the high-support version, and you ARE going to do some volunteer work, we can always use help! There’s a lot to do and the more we connect as a community, the more exciting things get around here.

WHOoooooooaaaa, Nellie!

I just finished up the most energetic, enlightening teleseminar I’ve had in a loooong time. Paul Nison, YOU ROCK! If you missed the teleseminar, please listen to it HERE! He’s on to something and I hope that call will inspire you to make some changes in your lifestyle. This call was practically MADE for me. These are all my biggest stumbling blocks–eating and working too late at night. I’m thrilled about this call and really looking forward to implementing some of the changes.

ACK!

Only 3 hours until my date. I haven’t even done my hair, yet! I made pizzas and my grawnola and a sweet potato pudding. It’s delicious. now I’m just going to whip together a creamy cashew drizzle for decoration and then I’m throwing my skates over my shoulders, my bikini in my backpack and I’m outta here.

I LOVE YOU, you crazy raw food eater, you! I don’t know how you got here, but I’m sooo grateful you made it. I’m having a blast getting to know you, hearing your stories and receiving your positive feedback and encouragement.

Do have a spectacular day and you better darn-well believe I’ll be updating YOU on this evening’s adventure’s tomorrow. Mmmmmmuah!

It’s a red bikini, by the way. Deep tomato red. Gorgeous! Love IT! Hand made in Montreal at my FAVORITE shop.

Love you like glue, my little snickerdoodle,

TeeeeeRAW!