Tag Archives: healthy

Calming Trips to the Beach

Posted on by
14

cropped-img_0590.jpgThis year I was lucky to go on two beach vacations. I’m a Pacific Ocean Girl by birth and in my heart, but the Sea of Cortez and the Atlantic Ocean were both magical to visit. All the oceans are one, so me, loving the Pacific Ocean, I love all the Oceans. Is the sea between Baja and Mexico proper part of that? Oh yeah, everything is a part of everything (!).

Being near natural bodies of water is so calming and soothing to me. I feel like the tide going in and out, the sound of the waves crashing, the wind, all of it is so healing. Imagine the sound of the waves right now…don’t you feel calmer? We all rush around and feel so stressed in our culture.  The wild water of nature reminds us that that is all illusion. There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do. Maybe look at some shells,  go for a swim, read a book, put your feet in the water, watch the sun set.  OR just do nothing.

These were taken in April 2014, Near San Felipe, Mexico on the Sea of Cortez. The tide goes out miles every morning. The first shot is in the early morning. The second two, later in the day, as the water crept up the beach. It’s the same place in all three photos, the water magically pulled in by the moon.

IMG_1477IMG_1293IMG_1298

 

In September we went to a wedding in Cape May, New Jersey. Before I met FH I had never been to New Jersey and had no idea how beautiful it is. FH has lots of relatives in Cape May, and it’s a wonderful place to visit. This was taken with my iphone on my birthday in September 2014.

IMG_2716

 

After Cape May, we did a little road trip to see friends in Virginia. Along the way we visited Chincoteague Island, Virginia, home of the famous wild ponies. Another really magical place on the Atlantic.

IMG_2742 IMG_2741 IMG_2740

Home: a meditation

Posted on by
9

For my photography 101 Class I’ve been asked about home.

For me, home is remembering to be centered in myself and breathe.  I’m always home if I remember to be here, inside, aware of my breathing, just being.  Experiencing my senses and being aware.

Walking the dog is a little like meditation.  Except you stop and pick up poop in a little bag. Here are a couple of  photo collages from yesterday morning’s dog walk.
Processed with MoldivProcessed with Moldiv
It was a beautiful, crisp fall day, and I wanted to record the feeling of awareness and really looking at my surroundings–my everyday surroundings on my street, and around my block.

Too bad for little Pupper though, since he didn’t get to decide when to walk and when to stop, which he likes.  He thinks he’s in charge.  But really, he’s not in charge; I’m not in charge.  We just are there together, walking.  Me looking, and him sniffing.

Crisp fall air. Breathe.  See. Smell.  This is home.  This is my street, my block, my neighborhood.

 

Ten Easy Steps to Detox Your Body and Life

Posted on by
7

img_2336

I’ve been cleaning up the toxins in my body and life.  It actually hasn’t been that hard. Here are ten ways you can too!

1.  Get rid of all of your toxic make-up and beauty products.  The Environmental Working Group EWG.com has an online database and mobile app rating products.  http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/.  I ditched drugstore lotion, lipstick (eww—lead laden!), and nail polish.  You can find or make non-toxic versions of all of these.  Etsy is a great place to buy natural, non-toxic beauty products while supporting micro-businesses! Go to https://www.etsy.com/ and search “non-toxic beauty.”

2.  Use the Environmental Working Group’s list of the “Dirty Dozen” and “Clean 15”  to make sure you are buying organic fruits and veggies when you need to. I actually printed out a wallet card and carry it with me since my memory is not the greatest. You can print out a wallet card here:  dirty dozen card or here’s an updated one for 2014:  dirty dozen 2014.

3.  Use only homemade cleaning products.  I clean almost everything with some combo of baking soda, lemon, and white vinegar.  You can look online for specific recipes.  Cleaning like this should also help you not need toxic air fresheners since baking soda, vinegar, and lemon naturally deodorize.

4.  Don’t use food canned in BPA laden cans, which is most cans.  Sometimes there are companies that use cans without BPA, such as Natural Value or Muir Glen.  Pomi Tomatoes in the box are a BPA-free alternative to canned tomatoes. A little research goes a long way, so read your labels and look stuff up on the internet!

5.  Eat organic, grass-fed meat whenever possible.

6.  Use organic dairy products whenever possible.

7.  Sweat.  Either through exercise, or using a sauna.  One of the main ways our body gets rid of toxins is through our skin.

8.  Drink plenty of water.  Divide your weight in half.  Drink that number of ounces per day (I weigh 150 lbs, so I drink 75 ounces).  Use a reusable glass water bottle.

9.  Don’t heat your food in plastic—those frozen entrees that you put in the microwave?  Not good.  Storing leftovers in plastic containers and heating in the microwave?  Nope.  Using a plastic splash guard over your food in the microwave?  No.

10.  Relax.  Stress is so toxic.  Breathe; look at the sky; pet the cat; smile.