This delicious salad was a welcome respite from a richer lunch that included chicken breast!

Yesterday I tweeted my joy at being stopped and being asked out by a “random cute guy” at least half my age.  Though I didn’t take the request seriously (after all, he was just a baby –CougarTown be damned!) Still I was flattered, and floated on air to a Christmas party that evening, where the elation continued.  Two more gentlemen — the first, though older than the one that afternoon, still was in his twenties; and another in his thirties — inflated my head by passing on their phone numbers.  I thought to myself “I don’t know what I did today, but I better figure it out quickly–and bottle it for future use!” Then it struck me: Could my raw food diet have made a difference?  I won’t ever know, but just in case…I’m gonna keep it goin’!

Notice we’ve discussed only three of the four gentlemen mentioned in the title…You’ll find out about the other at the end!

YOU’LL BE SURPRISED to hear about the non-raw foods I’ve been eating. But going wholeheartedly into something like this is nothing to be taken lightly.  I probably ate around 70 percent raw going into this challenge, but to actually make a COMMITTMENT to do something like this is more of a psychological challenge.  The instant you choose to NOT have certain foods, all of a sudden of course–now you want them.  But I’ve found that giving myself that 5-10 percent leeway by going MOSTLY RAW has taken the pressure off.  For this first week, I’ve been about 97 percent raw, with the other three percent being comprised of — wait for it — a McDonald’s hamburger and small fries, a SLEEVE of Oreos (over the course of the week, but a sleeve none-the-less), and today a small baked organic chicken thigh.  I did bake a spaghetti squash that was DELISH.  But being able to have the forbidden foods was the best strategy in the world.  I realized that the day I didn’t drink enough water was also the day I ate McDonalds.  A low grade headache, overall malaise and general grogginess were my prizes for that one.

DECADENT THINGS I CAN–and did–have include dark chocolate to my heart’s desire, unlimited fruits, raw goat cheese (there’s a local farm in Colorado that I want to see if I can visit and take my niece to–that would be awesome to share with you).  Being a hot chocolate fanatic, I was happy to find there are a number of ways to include hot chocolate on my plan.  Ironically though, I’ve found that as the days go on, I’ll think “Hot chocolate sounds wonderful right now,” and opt for tea with low glycemic agave nectar.  Crave dessert, passing the kitchen with full intention to have something gooey (just because I can), and end up with a tangerine or mango with sea salt (yummmmm-o!).  Yes, I know I sound like a dork, but it’s completely transformative.  If it wasn’t happening to me, I don’t know that I’d believe it. I’ve eaten healthfully since I can remember, but I’ve always loved my pastries as well.  Hmmm…it seems, that’s no longer.

QUICK AND EASY RECIPE

Last night, I made an amazing guacamole by squeezing the juice a fresh hothouse tomato into an avacado and added sea salt (my new favorite ingredient), garlic, black pepper and … and…  That’s it.  Smash it together and in just minutes–creamy, healthy, tummy filling joy.

I was shocked at how great it was. But even more shocking was that as I looked for something crunchy to pair with it….  no chips…. hmmm, Triscuits have gluten (which I rarely eat) but a few of my fave cracked paper and olive oil Triscuits.  Outstanding. But can I tell you what was even better?  I ended up downing mini sweet carrots with my avacado mash and practically licked the bowl with fantasy-like frevor.  I still can’t believe how good it was–the crunch of the carrot was exactly what I needed–no deprivation here!

Today was the day I ate the baked chicken with my asparagus and squash.  I ended up feeling a bit nauseous into the afternoon and all I could think about was a green salad.  Yes, a boring green salad! That’s the photo at the top.  Usually I make the BEST SALADS EVER, but some of the research I’ve been doing discusses food combining which makes the raw thing a bit tougher…definitely not for newbies or people like me that hate to think about food all that much.  In the next post we’ll talk about why food combining is controvesial, and why experts think it’s why people who diet don’t loose weight.

By the way, my green salad pictured above had cucumbers, green onion, celery, romaine lettuce, and of course my avacado/tomato mash (guacamole) recipe as mentioned above.  I ate it with a side of sweet baby carrots.  Delish!

I HAVE MORE PROOF–IT IS THE RAW FOODS

While writing this post, I received an email from a new business colleague I met at the party yesterday.  And I quote “Great meeting you last night Doni! You have a vivaciousness about you that was truly inspiring! What is your secret?” Wow. What a compliment! Maybe this thing is working after all…

So today is the day!  D-day… or should I call it, R-day?

I started a mostly raw food experiment today–so I’ll be eating 90-95% raw foods only for the next 40 days.  Woo hoo!  So exctited.

Snacks for today: sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy wasabi peas, sweet mini carrots and fresh celery!

I received comments about it on Facebook today, one person thought I’d be really hungry and really skinny, another wondered about the holidays and if I’d eat raw on Christmas.  Great observations and questions!  I didn’t really think too much about it and I’m not too worried, for I’ve been thinking about this for years and spent the whole last week planning.  I even found about 8 books in my personal library devoted to raw foods (very pristine looking books, so obviously I didn’t use them all that much in the past!) but they certainly will be used now!

Breakfast--grapefruit and apple, post-workout aple and Vuka all natural energy drink (my fave), and Ghirardelli 72% dark chocholate for desserts

How I got here

Well, most of you know the last few years have been rough for me.  Last year Thanksgiving I almost died and ended up in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism, the Christmas before that, I had major surgery and took almost a year to heal (I got better right before the embolism, dangit!). This year, just again as I felt better, I was back in the emergency room on Thanksgiving.  What the???….  And I lost my mind!  Tears flowing, incredulously and like a crazy person asking myself out  loud “Am I never going to get better? — I can’t POSSIBLY be sick!!!”  And that’s all it took.  I guess waht I didn’t realize is the fear and apprehension of not knowing when I’d be better, when I’d be able to work regularly, when I’d have energy again, IF I’d ever be “myself” again was taking a bigger toll than I realized.  A couple of times I’d broken down for a hot second (once to my doctor from my hospital bed during the embolism scare and the other just a month prior with my yoga cleanse/revolution group), but both times I quickly “got ahold” of myself (had to control and suppress those feelings y’know!).  And both times, instead of just feeling what I felt, I stuffed the feelings while the well meaning people around me tried to relax my fears.

Lunch/Dinner, Green salad: asparagus, green beans, celery, shallots & romaine lettuce with sweet garlic soy dressing!

I guess acting like a crazy person for a few minutes is REALLY what I needed, because it was like a shot in the arm.  After a battery of tests including a CT scan and EKG, the doctors (who were nervous themselves), released me with a couple of prescriptions and a diagnosis of inflamed lungs.  More drugs?  Ah, man!!   I just got those out of my system!  And I had to realize I just might have asthma going forward.  Cripes.  Though I was extremely grateful and things could’ve been MUCH worse, I was on a mission to get ME back.  Hence, committing to a lifestyle that would help my body keep itself in optimal health.  I already was releasing old pent up emotions with yoga (we’ll talk about that another day), and now, I was ready to optimize with food as it was meant to be eaten.

All my food for the day. Wow, it's a lot. Let's see if I can get through it. Took me about 40 minutes of prep--I'll try for better timing tomorrow!

What does this mean for you?

I’ll keep you abreast of the journey with daily blogposts, videos, expert interviews and more.  Who knows? Maybe you’ll be inspired to go on your own raw journey!  For now, I’ll leave you with photos of my scrump-dilly-icious food I’ll be eating all day today.  I really can’t believe how I’m getting into all of this!  With a Caribbean cooking gourmet mom and a down home cookin’ too much is never enough meat and potatoes food monger ex-husband, who knew, this is what it would take to get me to think about food?  Again, more on that another day.

For now, if there’s anything in particular you’d like to see, know, hear, let me know–I’ll be happy to oblige!

Don’t just live; become Simply Alive,

As American politics becomes more and more loaded with muck and mire, its reach seems to now extend to our entertainment.  Say it isn’t so!

By now you’ve heard of the national travesty that occurred this week on ABC’s hit television show Dancing With the Stars.  R & B singer Brandy Norwood, best known as “Brandy,” who has been at the top or tied at the top with her judges’ scores for most of the season was ousted in a tragic upset while teen activist Bristol Palin, daughter of former Vice Presidential running mate Sarah Palin, heads to the show finals despite having the lowest judges scores week after week.

R & B Singer Brandy dances with Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Dancing With the Stars. Photo Credit: Adam Larkey, ABC

What makes the difference is audience voting.  Final scores are tabulated using a combination of audience votes and judges’ votes. For many weeks now, Palin has defied the odds, staying in the competition while those with higher scores, and arguably better dancing, are sent packing.  It’s an American story through and through – the underdog becoming triumphant, a system of voting intended to let the people decide outcomes, and the right to speak our minds on behalf of what some see as a flawed system.

Controversy has swirled Palin ever since the ouster of beloved American TV mom Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch fame.  Viewers have shouted “unfair” as show contestants with better performances than Palin go home week after week.  But this week’s semi-finals show brought a new fervor to the picture.  Many were shocked when top-scoring Brandy missed the finals by the hair of a chinny, chin, chin; while Palin survived to dance another day.

“It’s the Tea Party fixing votes,” scream some, “It’s her mom’s supporters campaigning for her” hrumph others, and still more accuse an unreliable voting system.   All reasons that have merit, but by no means is this the total picture.  Just as nay-sayers scream foul at the younger Palin, as if she rigged the system herself, others say “America loves an underdog,” “She’s improved so much,” and “She’s just like I would be if I went out there.”   Many on either side of the highly-polarized feelings are unwilling to accept that both sides could be accurate and the combination of the two are creating a perfect storm that’s keeping Palin in the competition.

What’s disturbing to me is the amount of hatred spewing out of some people’s mouths:  Expletives flying, accusations being hurled, unkind words for Brandy and for Palin (depending on which side of the coin you land) are not in short supply.  But some show die-hards are claiming to be “done,” that they’re sick of the system and no longer willing to watch. Quite a few  “boycott Dancing With the Stars” pages have shown up on Facebook and one Wisconsin man was arrested when his wife called 911 after he shot their television during the show.  He obviously won’t be watching for a while.

Bristol Palin & professional dancer Mark Ballas. Photo Credit: Bob D'Amico/ABC.jpg

Sadly, it’s like the show is a mirror for the current state of American Politics – you don’t like what’s going on, then pick up your ball and go home.  What happened to voting for what, or in this case, whom you believe in?  Many have complained that some “on the right” are registering and voting hundreds of times.  And I’ve seen websites with comments directing people how to get massive numbers of votes in for their DWTS “candidate” (specifically, Palin). When you’re up against that, it does seem unfair, but at the end of the day, those zealots are willing to do what most are not.  After all, it takes a special something to spend hours on end registering and getting in hundreds of votes for your favored contestant.  Though it’s wrapped in the pretty package of support for Bristol Palin, the true actions of such voting tactics is done to send a message:  “We have the power to do this, and we will.”

And that puts the ball in our court.  Just as in mid-term elections, we had a choice – participate.  If you don’t like the system, work to change it. Get out there and make your opinions heard – vote.

Dancing with the Stars happens to be my guilty pleasure, and I’ve found this season just as upsetting as many others, but I don’t think a boycott right now is the answer.  Maybe the travesty that has occurred will mobilize show fans to exercise their votes for whom they’d like to see win. I’d been voting for Jennifer Grey, star of the iconic film, Dirty Dancing; and Brandy because I was amazed at the entertainment quality of their performances every week.  I’d discounted Disney child star Kyle Massey for most of the season, though he was a joy to watch.  But in the Semi-finals, he BROUGHT it!  His performance brought down the house, and was elevated to the level of Brandy and Grey.

Massey won me over with his amazing performance and the tremendous improvements he’s made since day one.  The night of semi-finals, Massey for me surpassed the enjoyment of watching Brandy or Grey, and won me over wholeheartedly.  As long as he brings the same energy and execution to the finals (and if history is any indication, I think he will), he’ll get all of my votes.

Why?  Because if it’s true that many are “stuffing the bag” for any of the contestants, this is not the time to dilute my votes – I’m going to pick whom I want to win, and go for it.  If everyone complaining does the same, then maybe, just maybe it will outlast the few who are taking their time to rig the system.  If everyone does this (focuses votes on whom they’d like to see win) then it’s a real possibility the people’s favorite — whomever that is — will come out on top.

If we pick up our balls and go home, at this point anyway, how will it change the system?  There’s still an opportunity to affect change and possibly save the integrity of the show  — effectively reversing the powerlessness felt when some of our favorites went home despite good performances.  Bottom line is the show is for entertainment, and there are plenty who will tune in to see what the outcome will be this season.  So let’s do our best to make a difference.  If there’s no change, if many people object the outcome, if it still seems unfair, then boycott next season.  If DWTS has jumped the proverbial shark, and lost viewer confidence, then it will show in ratings, and maybe, just maybe then they’ll heed the message.

Doni gives the latest and greatest in gifts for Dad.  Forget the boring ties–give him something that fits his life!

If you’d like details or purchasing information, click here

Check out Simply Alive!’s  company logo drawn in the sand on a beach in Southern California during sunset.  Hand drawn (some of it upside down!) in the sand using a 3″ long stick.  The artist,  “Supie,” is a former lawyer who–after surviving tremendous illness–left her previous life to follow her dreams and provide affordable art to the world.   For more informaiton on Supie’s work, or to get a sand drawing for yourself, visit www.SandScribbles.net

This was a wonderful, highly informative interview! Donnyale shared her story about how she grew her homebased based business and attracted the attention of celebrities and QVC. She gave listeners insider knowledge about the challenges and compromises associated with launching and selling a product on QVC. She went on to tell us how she landed product placements at the EMMY Gift Lounge, VH1 Music Awards, and other celebrity events and discussed the importance and benefits of being a vendor at industry trade shows to get a jump start in the market.

CLICK HERE to read the full interview.

Seven out of 10 American households use candles to create a relaxed atmosphere, set a romantic mood or to decorate. Even though candles are nearly ubiquitous in the home, many people are in the dark about how to choose and care for their pillars, tapers and tea-lights.

“It’s difficult to tell the difference between candles by just looking,” said Barbara Miller, spokeswoman for the National Candle Association, a candle manufacturers trade association.

Some of the mystery can be removed by choosing a familiar manufacturer, although most people will just take the leap by purchasing a candle and then trying it at home to see if it fits their needs.

Two-thirds of candles purchased are unscented, an excellent choice for the dining table because there is no fragrance to compete with food aromas. Scented candles often smell lovely in the store, but once home, the fragrance may disappoint. Testing the brands at home is a good way to determine if your candle will have lasting fragrance, or if it is aromatic in the wrapper, but less inspiring once lit.

Keep in mind the purpose for your purchase. This will help determine which shape – candles come in 10 different forms, from votive to taper, container to tealight – and color works for you.

Some homemade candles may use unsafe candlemaking methods or have more fragrance than allowable for a proper burn. Look for fire-safety instructions – typically affixed to the candle – to ensure the manufacturer follows industry established safety standards.

To find a reputable candlemaker, and find out more ways to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience with candles, visit candles.org.

Sometimes our expectations get in the way of enjoying life’s experiences. Whether we set them too high or too low, expectations often lead to the very disappointment we try to avoid.

We become disappointed because we did not achieve a certain positive outcome – like getting low-balled on the asking price for the beloved family home or losing the state football championship your community has coveted all season. Or experiencing the subtle pang of mediocrity when your college student offers, “I’m just glad I passed,” as reason for uninspiring grades at the very expensive school you’re paying for.

What to do? Well, it is good to remember that expectation can’t be avoided. It surrounds our every step, every breath, every action.

To enhance your experiences, I suggest this: Enjoy the journey.

Instead of investing in outcomes like envisioning the celebration parade after winning the championship, or the straight-A report card of your “brilliant children,” soak in the process.

The journey may not seem as fun as successfully reaching a stated goal. But releasing the pressure and focusing on the process just may help you achieve that goal. And, it sweetens the process.

Lifestyle expert Doni Luckutt features products, services and information to “live connected.”