Vol. 2, Issue 36: December 12, 2008

From the Diva Desk

My mother was reminding me about what a rascal I was at Christmas. I was so impatient. (I've never been good at waiting for things.;-)) I would carefully open the tape on the presents and crack open the wrapper juuuust enough to know what was inside...

I would shake, squeeze, and press the packages. Mystery clearly held no merit with me.

I feel a bit sorry for my kids who have a slightly embittered environmentalist mother who tells them, "NO! We're not killing a tree!

"Wrapping paper is a waste! People spend so much money buying junk and the world doesn't need all that waste! Don't even get me started on the toxicity of candy canes and gingerbread and CHOCOLATES!"

Well, I'm not sure what the world needs, but I know it certainly doesn't need a crabby old boot for a mother, either! There's a boundary between eco-living and eco-terrorism. I didn't realize that my rantings were coming off with negativity, until my daughter wrote me this on a piece of colored stationery:

Dear Mom

i Like Crismas

I know

youdo not Like

Crismas but

I do.

I want

for crismas:

a momtobe

Happy

Love: yor Gril

And so it is with mistletoe in my heart, holly in my thoughts and some spicy dehydrated ginger snaps in my dehydrator that I'm doing my best to get in the "spirit" of things. Perhaps I'll put up lights this week and play some Christmas carols. The magic of Christmas doesn't have to get caught up in the stress of excessive consumption and financial stress. It can just be magical for the sake of magic. I hope this issue of Health In High Heels is a reminder of that.

May your week be filled with thoughts of special people and good times. Where hearts have broken or where words may have burned bridges, may the magic and warmth of the season bring new understanding and the possibility of change.

With love,

Tera

Do you ever get that glowing feeling when you're walking down the street...

...the feeling that you're an attention magnet?

Old ladies smile at you for no apparent reason.

The grocery clerk comments on that top you're wearing.

You get an unexpected check in the mail.

And a handsome man turns his head while you walk past.

I know you know what I'm talking about! ;-) Don't think for a second it's that new jacket you're wearing. It's not the shoes or the shiny lip gloss, either, you know!

Nope. What makes you an attention magnet, Sunshine, is the fact that more than any other person I've met in a looong time, you have the courage to truly care about the world and all the people in it.

In spite of all the bad news, all the drama, media and medications out there, you just go right on like a soldier of light trying to make life better. You really, truly CARE about the world and they can feel it!

So, thanks! Because it makes a difference and it looks good on you, too!

Love,

Sweet Treats and Healthy Eats: Spinach Salad, Carob Mousse and Lemon Zing Balls

Spinach Grapefruit Salad (2 very generous servings)

by Sherry Andrade

Ingredients:

1 (6 oz) bag Baby Spinach
1/2 Red Pepper, sliced
1 small Carrot, grated
1 sliced Red Onion, chopped
1 whole Red Grapefruit, sectioned
1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds

Directions:
Layer salad in the order listed... toss with simple dressing recipe

Simple Dressing

Ingredients:
2 tsp apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp raw honey
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
sea salt to taste

Directions:
Whisk together in small bowl.

Carob Mousse with Coconut Creme
By Angela Elliott

Carob Mousse

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
8 dates, soaked
1/4 cup raw carob powder

Directions:

Process avocado, dates and carob in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy.

Coconut Creme

Ingredients:
1 Thai young coconut water and meat
1 teaspoon vanilla flavor by Frontier
1 teaspoon coconut butter
5 dates, soaked

Directions:

Process Thai young coconut water and meat, vanilla, coconut butter, and dates in a food processor or blender until smooth and creamy. Chill the Mousse and Coconut Creme until ready to serve. Place mousse in cute glass dessert bowls (if you have them) and top with coconut creme. Enjoy!

Lemon Zing Balls

by Lynita Clark

Ingredients:

Peel from 1 lemon (I use roughly peeled chunks & my food processor does the rest)
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup raisins or dried cherries or cranberries (get the idea?)
1 dessert spoon of date paste
a few drops of water if required
dash of cinnamon

Directions:

Blend lemon, almonds & dried fruit together in strong food processor. Add date paste, water and cinnamon until mixed into dough. Roll into balls & roll in organic desiccated coconut or ground almonds. Chill by setting in fridge or freezer.

Feature Article: A Christmas Gift Exchange That Costs Nothing

By Tera Warner

This comes from an email article that I wrote this week to the Green Smoothie Challenge participants. I was asked by several people to share it with the entire Raw Diva Community, so here it is... Thank you!

So, this morning while I was plugging away at my ever expanding to do list, I had a crazy idea. When I first started this company, things were tickling and trickling along and I would shout for joy at every new subscriber to our free detox or other programs.

You wanna know a little secret?

I still do it. Seriously...

I watch my inbox like a kid at Christmas and *every single time* a new person comes on board I feel a wave of enthusiasm and excitement. (So easy to please, I am!)

Even though I tend to be rather girlie about things some times, I'm not much of a shopper and definitely not big on presents. The things that excite me most are experiences and advenutures. Not "stuff".

So not too long ago, I put a wish out to the stars that by the new year I would like to have reached 10,000 people who've signed up to take one of our programs or services. That's not bad since we're only 18 months old.

You know what? I checked this morning and we're already reached 9,602!

We're so close I can taste it.

Now... here's the crazy idea. You see, no one really knows this yet, but we've been asked to publish a book about Green Smoothiess, and we're working behind the scenes to make this happen. A BIG part of the content is going to come from Dr. Tel-Oren who has some AMAZING experience with foraging and wild foods, and who also has a lot to say about some of the big mistakes people are making when it comes to Green Smoothies.

He's coined the term "Green Savories" and he says a lot of people overdo the fruit and forget the importance of other nutritional elements that can easily be included in green smoothies for much improved health.

Dr. Tel-Oren is in Israel right now, and given his schedule simply cannot take the time to write lengthy books these days. So, he and I were planning to record a call where I ask him a whole whackload of questions and he dishes out the answers like a wiz. Then, we were going to transcribe this call and use it to complete our Green Smoothie Book.

What do you think of this?

I'll give you the secret pass code to this call with Dr. Tel-Oren, so you can get a super sneak peek of our upcoming book about greens...

...and you, my little spinach smoocher, can help ME make my dream happen by inviting more people to be a part of what we do around here.

You can give them access to the Green Smoothie Program, you can tell them about the 7 Day Detox that we offer for free and get them to lose a few pounds before the gingerbread strikes, and you can also tell them about The Truth About Your Food lectures which are totally free, as well...

(Perfect for the more "scientifically minded" folks and men who may not be easily charmed by queens and divas. ;-))

It won't cost you anything, and it won't cost them anything and it will give me the excito-shivers of knowing that in 18 months we touched the lives of 10,000 people. Wouldn't that be neat?

If you're up for it, just let me know you've spread the word to as many people as you can, (c'mon... don't forget your Auntie Margaret!!) and then I'll give you access to my private telephone call with Dr. Tel-Oren this week on Friday. (If you can't make it at the time of the call, you can still have the recording to listen to when you want.)

How's that for a Christmas gift exchange, Diva?

Love and hugs from a snowy Montreal,

Green Smoothie Queen

Marketplace:

This week, stock up on forgiveness, understanding and hope! Hope that your aches will disappear, that your worries will resolve themselves and that life will get easier, brighter and more enjoyable!

Buy three cards and send them to people who don't expect it, but who could definitely use a kind word or two to brighten their day!

Order a big dose of courage NOW to take the next step in your health process. You can do it! Handle your cravings and emotional eating with discipline and resolve, not another e-book!

Take advantage today of your opportunity to validate, support, listen and attend to the lives of those around you! Put your attention on the things you want to create more of in the world--like understanding, compassion and honest communication!

Christmas is just around the corner. Put your wallet away for a day and remind yourself that the greatest gift you'll ever give is the one that cannot be stocked (because it has no shape), can't be sold (because it's priceless), does not expire (because it lasts an eternity) and comes in one size fits all:

Love!

From ours to yours, may your season be filled with the things that count the most and cost the least!!