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Vol. 2, Issue 13: June 10, 2008 From the Desk of the Divas
Thank goodness for her Raw Food Real World It’s a pretty big departure from her usual raw food fare, but it seems to be working and while we don’t think of raw gourmet dishes as the ideal raw food diet, we would consider them to be a better choice than cream soda and chocolate bars! It’s all relative! In greener news, Amy is about to set out on her very first sunflower sprouting adventure. She’s waiting on some supplies to arrive by mail, and then the leafy, crunchy, succulent little greens are going to take center stage as she works hard to up the greens again! Stay tuned, as Amy has committed to documenting her upcoming green adventures! Tera's stove is officially ON STRIKE! After 3 years of arm-wrestling matches with her children, Mika and Sebastian have been given notice, if they want cooked food, they'll have to cook it themselves AND clean up afterwards. After several disappointing attempts at scrambled eggs and brown rice, they've realized that Mom's been on to something. Of course, spicing up the menu helps, and Tera's dreamy chocolate and peppermint balls have been MUCH appreciated. (Recipe below!) In the evenings Mika grates carrots, Sebastian chops cucumbers, and Tera sprinkles sprouts on a giant salad for the whole family! The secret to success has really been making lots of fruits, veggies, nuts and snacks available in abundance! So far, they're not complaining, and Tera's having a whole lot more fun in the kitchen!
Juicy Diva Treats: Lara Balls
In a food processor, grind about 2 cups of almonds and 1 cup of "raw" cashew pieces into a pretty fine powder. Then add about 2 cups of organic raisins and I added an additional cup of dates. (Raisins are cheaper, and you can just use those, if you like). Just add enough so that when processed with the nuts it makes a thick, sticky dough. It should be kneadable, like a good batch of play dough! You might want to add a bit of liquid, but juuuust a wee little bit. Check out the two flavors I made that were a BIG hit! Coconut Lime Balls: I threw in a few handfuls of shredded, unsweetened coconut into the nut and fruit mix. And put in the juice of at least one lime, but you can play with it. I put in a bit of organic lemon rind, too, but not much. You could skip that. **Secret Ingredient** Chocolate Peppermint Balls:
WOW!! I also rolled them into little balls in my hand and then rolled the balls in shredded coconut to make them look nicer and also so they wouldn't stick together in the container! Everyone who ate these loooooved them. That's it! All my secrets have been revealed. Enjoy!
You Said it! A Few Clever Words from Diva Lips Around the World Here are some of the amazing experiences of fellow divas from our community. We hope you will find some inspiration here!
Thanks for sharing that most people take 5-10 yrs to implement the raw food diet. At times, I feel like a failure that staying with raw has been so difficult. I so needed to hear these words today, you gave me what I needed to realize that I am a work in progress. Also, good to know that once this BES is over, I can do another and another! I absolutely love the support and the amazing sisterhood is such a motivator to stay on the raw food wagon! The Divas:
Join us for the Summer BES!
Now Here’s What Personal Empowerment Looks Like...
Then I headed to the store, bought 5 days worth of raw for my husband, myself and 2 children, and we are on! I have done so much reading and exploring the internet finding reasons and firming my own beliefs behind raw food. Learning about enzymes, the body’s amazing ability to heal itself, and the incredible transformations that have come about when people have switched to raw. I am super excited, and I owe so much to this raw diva detox. It has helped me make the switch. This morning I had carrot and apple juice for breakfast, then 2 oranges for lunch, and you know? I just wasn't that hungry! Wow! A lot really has changed in 7 days! Finally at 4 I had an avocado and tomato sandwich with sprouts, and then some seeds at 6:30 and strawberries at 9 (Today, in the afternoon I transitioned over to raw with fats). I feel much calmer and more present in the moment and things are started to change and heal that I didn't even know were problems! I don’t want to go into all the nitty gritty, but I am so curious and thrilled to see where this might take me in a few days, weeks, months! I love that I don't have to label myself a 100% raw foodist and fit into some box, and yet, knowing that has helped me stick much closer to an all raw diet than restrictions ever could!
So, that is all for me, I have loved having a place to post, thanks for reading, take care, off I go. ~ Sara W From the Divas Sara, this is so amazing! You are creating a ripple in your world, leading by example! Congratulations to you and your family for taking steps to make positive changes in your life! Congratulations for focusing on what feels right, instead of labels and definitions. You’re so right! This diet al definitely not about restrictions! It is about abundance and embracing everything that is MORE! Forget Slimfast!
~ Trina From the Divas
p.s. Debbie Conkling Battles Cravings AND WINS!
I was eating your pretty standard high fat raw fare and just not feeling good. I was avoiding most fruit due to sugar issues but once I started eating it, I felt like a new person. I find that cravings are not nearly so bad (nonexistent on many days) and I had 1 or 2 days in there where I stumbled a bit and definitely noticed a difference. I have been really trying to maintain this and feeling very well. I have had some fat cravings due to PMS and overate some almonds so I feel sluggish today. It is back to fruit tomorrow though. In previous months I probably would have hit the chips and sweets so I figure a half cup of almonds ain't so bad! You girls are a blessing and I thank God to have found you! Blessings, From the Divas
Tera & Amy p.s.
*This is a Public Service Announcement* What's calorie-free,
GUILT!! So don't sweat the small stuff, Sister! Grab an apple and get on with your day!
Relaxing Herbal Bath Soak End a long day relaxing with this calming bath soak.
Baking Soda Sea Salts Rose Petals (Pink) Lavender Flowers Chamomile Flowers* *Precautions: Chamomile is in the Ragweed family and may react with those who have extreme sensitivities to the Ragweed family. Lavender Essential Oil (Lavendula officinalis) Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata) Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulate) Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium graveolens)
Enjoy!
Taking the Time to relax and Soak is Just ONE of things a Diva’s gotta do. The other is strut, sit, smile and oooooze charm out onto the world.
RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US
In our role as parents, amidst endless dilemmas and demands, we discover an extraordinary journey of self-discovery. For disguised in the cloak of family drama is a magic mirror revealing a clear and poignant portrait of our most hidden inner-self. Parenting is a sacred task- a rigorous spiritual discipline. From this perspective I wonder in awe: Are we not, by virtue of our privilege as parents, poised to learn more than we could ever teach our children? Having children is our biggest blessing and consciously raising them is a course in miracles. But this just sounds like a lofty platitude when we are overwhelmed by nightly feedings, potty-training mishaps, sibling rivalry or embarrassing public tantrums (theirs and OURS!). IT CAN GET TRICKY… But perhaps there are clues, and I believe they can be found inside of the children themselves. MY CHILDREN ARE MY COMPASS. (Which means whenever I make mistakes I can blame it on them-just kidding!) Reading my children provides insight needed to navigate any terrain, keeping us all on track. Attuning my heart with theirs by seeking to understand how they are ‘experiencing their experience’, is how it is done. To orient ourselves in empathy does take time and energy, but the outcome is a happier home-life with secure and loving children. A couple simple guidelines have evolved which have nourished my practice of this principle, and so I share them with you: RULE OF THUMB #1: EVERY CHILD IS A STAR! I recall a fascinating story of a boy I saw on ‘OPRAH’ years ago who was a powerful example of this, yet appeared at first glance to be the one exception. But of course not; God is never wrong… Due to this child’s incapacity to sit-up, crawl, walk, or talk he was labelled by specialists as a ‘vegetable’. His impassioned mother never accepted this bleak prognosis of her son and resolved to treat him with the same regard as she showed her other kids. She would read him bedtime stories at night, carry his frail and motionless body to the beach on sunny days, and explain all matters concerning him despite his eternal silence. One day an idea came to her which might finally give expression to the imprisoned song she knew was in his soul. Creating a homemade alphabet board, she placed it on the table directly in front of her son. Propping him up so he could see, she then placed his lifeless hand onto the letters. Lightly cupping his elbow from behind, immediately she could sense nearly imperceptible signals registering his intent to move. Careful not to actually guide him in any particular direction, she patiently and with great sensitivity facilitated the expression of his will. It was a slow and painstaking process. But eventually she deciphered the formation of a word, and then another. She scrambled for a pen. Sure enough a message had been liberated: ‘TO JUDGE ANOTHER IS TO JUDGE GOD’. I am still deeply moved remembering this precious boy, his wise mother and his profound awareness. He was later tested by several Universities and his gifts proved authentic. Children are love letters from God. All of them are endowed with inestimable potential. To overlook or underestimate even one is like letting a library burn down. RULE OF THUMB #2
There are many great spiritual paths to elevate us; yoga, martial arts and meditation among them, and I like to think I have grown from each one. But for me the ‘mother of them all’ is just being my children’s Mom!
If Motherhood Had a Manual, This Would Be IT!!
Contact us to put your great ideas here!
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The baby’s due date is quickly drawing near, and as a result, Amy’s been battling her sudden soda cravings (ack!) with a bit of gourmet raw food treats... can you say, “warm ‘Maple Cream’ over diced apples and walnuts”, “chocolate banana smoothies, and “raw lasagna”? Mmmm! 
cookbook! 
The kids and I called these Lara Balls, because they were born out of an affinity for Lara's Larabars. So, here's what I did. There are no precise measurements or restrictions. Just throw the ingredients in there and play! These are great for kids and athletes as post race snacks, but not something I recommend on a daily menu as nut and fruit combinations aren't the best for every day consumption.
I added a bar of organic, fair-trade chocolate 55% cacao, and then I added some drops of organic, peppermint essential oil!
Yeah, Maria! Thank you soooo much for sharing this with us. Messages like these are the reason we do what we do! We’re glad to hear you’ll be coming back again and again! That’s why we include a LIFETIME membership to the 
My Mom started this detox tonight (go Mom! I love you, you'll do amazing!). It'll be fun to see her after being raw a few weeks, since I won't see her for a bit. And my aunt Tara who is my workout buddy, is getting started on this too! Yay Auntie! I'll get to see her go through this which will be pretty neat. 
You are so right about exercise! As much as many of us put off exercise until tomorrow, for many people, exercise is the true key to balancing our diets. We find the more positive changes you put in place, the easier it is to keep motivated and see the results you’re looking for. Doing this gradually is more than okay! Slowly adding in positive changes over time and incorporating them into your life as long-term changes is a great way to ensure you are able to maintain them. You’ve started the process towards making real long-lasting changes in your life and we’re so excited for you!
Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Debbie! You've proven it again - that personal observation is the best teacher. We're really glad the materials are helping you! As you become more in tune and aware of how your food choices impact your body, you'll gain more control over your relationship with food in general. It takes courage to walk your own path and experiment a bit to find what works best for you, but it's a commitment you make, really, to a process of self-discovery! So congratulations and thank you for sharing your progress with us.
Epsom Salt
Recipe
What parent hasn’t thrown their hands up in a moment of exasperation, wishing children came with instructions? Ah, but that would be too easy!
There really is no such thing as “a gifted child” in my books because ALL children are gifted in someway or another, no exceptions. Remembering this can give us patience and insight into our children’s particular needs and tendencies.
Aside from #1, THERE ARE NO RULES! None, zip, zero. Because like snowflakes, no two children are ever exactly the same, every stage of development is different and each destiny is original. In every child shines a guiding light. If we can embrace each temperament with all the combinations of color, flavour and texture that every child so uniquely possesses, somehow, mysteriously, the way is shown.
SHANNON LEONE is a Mom, Artist, Writer and PROFESSIONAL WELLNESS COACH with 20 years experience in Self-Health whose background includes: Assistant Fitness Director of the Parkview Club in Toronto, Licensed Aestitician and Colon Hydro therapist, Raw Gourmet Foodie, Director of THE LITTLE FRIENDS FOUNDATION, Creator of THE FRIENDSHIP FLAG GAME for kids age 1-100, and Filmmaker RAISING CHILDREN RAISES US- a DVD on Conscious Parenting. Shannon has appeared on TV’s Woman to Woman, Daytime, Body Mind Spirit, International Radio and many Magazines. For personal or group Coaching and Seminars: 1-866-LEONE-11. You can also find her at 
To Multitasking Mothers Everywhere Seeking Inspiration, Sisterly Support and Loving Guidance: