ACV is at it again!

My trainer at work who has since become a hero of mine has taught me a lot about the body, accupressure, nutrition, etc.  She is definitely someone I can look up to because we have very similar philosophies.  Every day I trian with her we seem to have a new talk about something new and this time it was none other than my favorite product, Apple Cider Vinegar.  The end all cure all for just about anything! OK, not anything but pretty dern close!

She was telling me she had talked to a lady on a cruise ship with drop dead gorgeous skin and wanted to know her secret.  She used ACV as a toner all over her body.  This wasn't the first time I have heard of such a thing, but I have always been a tad hesitant to try it.  Vinegar is very acidic, and the idea of putting it directly on skin just didn't seem right.  However, I decided to give it a go. 

I diluted my concoction with 3 parts water, 1 part vinegar and applied it at night to a clean face.  I must say I think it is working! I went online to check reviews and others said that it minimized dark spots, caused acne to disappear, and gives the skin a healthy glow which is everything I have experienced thus far (its only been a couple days).  The only downfall seems to be that the skin may get used to the acidity and it fails to work over time or even worse, make the bacteria come back stronger.  :/ So the verdict is still out!

Things To Be Thankful For!

Ok, while I'm still prepping my Italy posts/pictures, I'd like to make just a short blog post about what I'm thankful for this holiday season.  I recently read a letter from my aunt, Luana who has been struggling with cancer for a while now.  It was an update on what her and my uncle have been up to and special moments that make her feel happy to be alive.  This moved me like no other, and truly made me realize how precious life is.  She talked about the joy she gets when the seasons change, the beauty of her garden, her recent trip to Catalina seeing smiles on everyone's faces for the Fall festival.  It was a look through the eyes of someone that is enjoying everything life has to offer with not one ounce of hopelessness or negativity.  It was incredible.

Sometimes I forget those little moments to stop and enjoy what surrounds me. Feeling the aliveness to my breath, the satisfaction of a good meal, laughing so hard I'm crying are moments I need to stop and be thankful for.  We all have our bad times, and sometimes life can kick us in the ass, but that's more reason to embrace the good in life. Even my aunt, who is struggling to live, is more positive than many people I know. 

I am thankful this year for my free-spirited family, my loyal friends, the amazing people I have recently met this past year who have all made me an extremely happy girl.  :) 

"My religion is to live and die without regret" - Milarepa, Buddhist Quote

Sulfate-Free Shampoo

So I have been doing a lot of research lately on hair products, generally because I have fine, thin hair and I'm always looking for an instant boost of health.  I've really tried everything, the volume shampoos, the expensive hair condition treatments, shampooing every other day, and even clip in extensions.  Of course, we all want long luscious Jessica Rabbit  (granted she's a cartoon) hair but sometimes it's just not in the cards for some of us-thanks mom! 

I am always wary of hair products, skin products, even vitamins and food these days.  It seems like everything is a carcinogen and seeping deep into our cells wreaking havoc.  Through some research I found that Sulfate, which is ofund in 95% of shampoos is causing hair to be dry, brittle and even fall out! Sulfates in hair products are cheap to use and it gives the hair the lather effect while washing and the super clean feeling afterwards.  Who knew that the "clean" feeling is actually causing harm to our hair and scalp!  This chemical is stripping the hair of natural oils, causing them to overproduce much faster than normal which explains why my hair gets greasy after 1 day of not washing. 

My next venture was where do I find this gold in a bottle that DOESN'T contain sulfates.  After a quick Google search, I found my new daily shampoo - L'Oreal Everstrong shampoo and conditioner which is Sulfate-Free and says it right on the label!  After the first time I used it, I noticed my hait was clean but not dry and wasn't falling out as much in the shower.  Could this be the secret to long, thick hair?? Only time will tell!

AAANNNDDDDD I'm Back!

Ok so after a long drought of not writing and almost completely abandoning my blog I felt compelled to bring it back to life!  A lot has happened since I have been away, but all of that isn't as important as the NOW.  Right now, I am in a good place, although I need to get back to a healthier lifestyle and be more focused on what direction I want my life to go.

Currently I am moving back in with my mom, planning a trip to Italy and just got a new job.  I'm having too many "transitions" but in the end, change is good.  I am ready to be inspired again, and share everything that's going on in this crazy head of mine.

More posts to come!!

<3 Rosie

Things I'm Excited About ~ Volume 6!

1. Italy!

Yes, I'm going, I HAVE to go!

2. Will & Kate Coming to Hollywood

Totally a dork, I know!

3. New Opportunities

I'm welcoming change and maximizing my potential. Holla!

4.  Happy People

They make the world a better place. 

5. Rembrandt Toothpaste

Move over Crest and Colgate this is by far the best toothpaste ever!

FREEdom

With our anniversary of Independence right around the corner, I wanted to make a post about freedom and what it means to us.  I can honestly say that freedom is probably the greatest gift a human can have. Without it, we are enslaved in many aspects of life. Our country has allowed us to choose our career path through a capitalistic society.  However, in many aspects we are still bounded to the fundamental success-driven attitude of the masses.  Better some freedom than none, right?

Is it possible to be completely free? Can we be mentally free? Sometimes I'm a slave to my own mind.  Even in our sleep we are taken over by our subconcious.  I guess the closest we can get is through Enlightenment and surrendering to the present moment.  If we are no longer prisoners of the past and worried of the future we can approach freedom in every moment.  So heavy.

Ronald Reagan stated that "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."  With this, I feel lucky that I do live in a country that stands on freedom because it can definitely be a lot worse.  I have the freedom to choose my path in life, thanks to my country and my family.  Deep down, I know that my soul cannot be contained by anything.  Being rebellious, speaking what's on my mind no matter how dumb, makes me feel free.  I appreciate that feeling. 

No Sleep, No Eat, Makes Rosie a Cranky Girl

So along with my sleep deprivation I am having a very strange loss of appetite lately.  I thought it was coming back but everyday I look back to what I ate and it would just be one meal. :/ I guess we can consider this "fasting" and I am fitting in my skinny jeans nicely but it is a little out of control.  I find myself forcing food into my mouth when I have no desire for it.  This can't be healthy.

Grief, depression, and stress are the major factors that can attribute to loss of appetite. The thing is, I don't feel too stressed anymore.  Maybe this is just the aftermath of a traumatic couple weeks.  I just hope I can enjoy food again! To make matters worse, my insomnia hasn't subsided so I feel like a waify, cracked out LA chick at the moment. 

Ethos, Logos, Pathos

The 3 key aspects in writing to capture an audience.  Ethos, which is establishing credibiliy, tries to convice the reader of the validity of the author.  Logos, is using logic and facts to persuade the reader.  The most important of them all (in my opinion), Pathos, utilizes the readers emotions to provoke a response. 

Anyone can be a writer, we can all observe our surroundings and put it into words.  It is the writer that can put those words so beautifully, that it leaves us wanting more.  It is very difficult to capture the essence of a feeling, or object and really good writers can do that.  Sometimes language choice isn't enough to describe a feeling, and words can't do it justice.  Sometimes (shock!) I'm left speachless.

Even a person's name doesn't encompass who they are.  No amount of words can do it.  It kinda leaves me feeling hopeless and empty knowing that language can't fully express who I am.  It is only when I close my eyes and just feel.  Not using any senses at all.  That is truly where a person lies.  In silence.

:)

My Insomnia Pity Party

The past two weeks my body is fueled with adrenaline and no matter how sleepy I am, I can't get a good nights rest.  I am usually the type to sleep through the night, no tossing and turning, no night sweats, I usually sleep like a baby.  Because of my built up frustration with this, I decided to do some research.

The most common factors of insomia are:
1. Coffee
2. Alcohol
3. Stress
4. Anxiety

Well that about sums it up! I drink coffee in the morning, alcohol at night.  I'm under a lot of stress with my living arrangements and anxious about what my future holds.  No wonder I can't sleep.  Sleep is one of my favorite hobbies so the fact that its being interrupted is unacceptable. 

I believe there are two types of people in this world.  Nappers and non nappers.  Nappers relish in sleep, its like a treat to them.  Non nappers only sleep out of necessity.  I my friends, am a napper and always will be.  I can sleep at any time of the day.  We need sleep like we need water and air. Here are the many other benefits:

- Sleep helps you repair your body
- Sleep helps keep your heart healthy
- Sleep improves memory
- Sleep reduced chance of diabetes

Sleep improves the quality of life, when you get a goods nights rest you can conquer the world!!! zzzzzzzzzzz

Chicha, The Ancient Beer

Chicha is the term that South Americans and Spanish give to a fermented drink, usually their version of beer.  It can be made from maize, root or various fruits, and sometimes spit!  Spaniards even use the word "chical" which means spit or saliva.  Our own saliva can be an effective means for converting grains to fermentable sugars.  Beers made from salivated roots and grains had been brewed in Central and South America long before the time of the Incas. The people of the Amazon basin brewed a beer called masato from dried, roasted and chewed manioc root a thousand years before the conquest. Other indigenous beers were brewed from salivated quinoa, algaroba (seeds of the carob tree), and various fruits and vegetables.

One of my anthropology professors in college stayed with an indigenous tribe in Honduras where they still practiced making chicha and it was a daily staple to their diet.  He said that they were some of the healthiest and fit individuals he's ever seen and he said that drinking chicha was a contributing factor.  They used healthy, fresh ingredients and maybe something in human saliva creates a cleansing fact.  Who knows.

Dogfish Head beer is re-creating the Chicha brew, to make their most unique and exotic beer yet.  They are even using human saliva.  Definitely worth a try!  Cheers!

Walk vs. Run

To get back into the wellness aspect of my blog I'd like to venture back into my exercise routine.  Still holding true to caveman form, I am a huge advocate of walking.  Our ancestors walked for long distances to brink uncharted territories for centuries.  Usually running was done in small sprints when hunting or escaping danger.

I have been walking a 4-5 miles for about 3 days out of the week and I'm feeling as toned as if I did the treadmill for the same amount of time.  I am not saying long distance running isn't as good, by no means but there is a definitely a higher injury rate, a media bias, and in my opinion a cause of a overcharged metabolism (have you ever noticed past runners become fat or obese?) not to mention a strain on the joints and muscles.  You can tell I'm a runner huh? :)

The key to getting the most out of walking is finding a trail or road that has various inclines to allow your heart rate to get into the aerobic training zone.  Be prepared to walk for a long time, since that is when you get the best results.  I spend 8 hours a day on my butt so I need to counteract that with at least 2 hours of walking as soon as I'm off work. Its good to supplement this with other workouts such as CrossFit or P90x yoga to get a full body workout.


Walking is fun, and when you slow down you really get to notice your surroundings.  It is even better with a walking partner! You'd be surprised at how therapeutic it is! :)

Hunter's Gems

"Let us toast to animal pleasures, to escapism, to rain on the roof and instant coffee, to unemployment insurance and library cards, to absinthe and good-hearted landlords, to music and warm bodies and contraceptives... and to the "good life", whatever it is and wherever it happens to be."

                                                                                  - Hunter S. Thompson


Through my inevitable breakdown last week I have truly seen the light.  Sometimes you think you have nothing, when in reality you had everything all along.  I have been truly blessed for the friends/family in my life that do not judge me, take me as I am, even when I have nothing to offer and see me through some of the hardest times in my life.  It really opens your eyes to what is important. Friends, music, laughter..that's really all you need.

Life's Workout, Exercising Rebellion

There comes a time in everyone's life where they feel the need to break routine and do something out of character, something bad.  I feel like 90% of what we do is a direct outcome of how society wants us to act.  Let's break it down.  We wake up to an alarm so that we can get to work on time, we must act in a professional manner, dress appropriately, etc.  Rebellion is a refusal of obedience or order. 
We can't take off all our clothes and run screaming through the halls, that's just not acceptable.  I wish I could witness that one day though.

One of my favorite documentaries of all time is Man on Wire, a story about a french man, Philippe Petit who has a crazy obsession with walking a tight rope across sky rise buildings.  Him and his crew swindled their way into the World Trade Center for the rush of a lifetime and managed to wow the crowd below for walking across the two towers with no protection at all.

"To me, it's really so simple, that life should be lived on the edge. You have to exercise rebellion. To refuse to tape yourself to the rules, to refuse your own success, to refuse to repeat yourself, to see every day, every year, every idea as a true challenge. Then you will live your life on the tightrope."

I feel like if there is any time in my life to be rebellious it is now.  I love the feeling of doing something out of the ordinary, nothing holding me back, all inhibition out the window.  It is truly liberating.  Heck, why be rebellious only when you're young? Anyone can exercise it anytime.  If we don't, we can't forge ahead creatively through life.  As long as we don't hurt others in the process, I feel like rebellion is a good thing. 

Here I go again on my own..

Thanks Whitesnake for my post title. It is exactly how I feel right now.  Taking on a new chapter in my life, leaping forward, hitting challenges dead on, accepting change....and moving back home with mom.  No big deal, that's why she's there right?

Me In A Flip Book!

Role Playing

We have been designed as a product of a couple million years of evolution.  Physically and socially we are structured to be a certain way and play a certain role. For instance, african tribesman are tall and lean, a body type adapted to extreme heat.  The eskimos, however are short and bulky to protect them from harsh cold.  Now that we seem to live and adapt in every environment, our body shape doesn't seem to be linked to survival anymore.  We are now a mixture of all shapes and sizes.  Evolution has also helped structure our social roles.

Social roles are more complex, and vary depending on religion, class, and gender, amongst many other things.  Lately I have been contemplating the different roles of a man and a woman.  Similar to our physical roles being blurred, our social roles are more skewed than ever.

Growing up I never had that pressure that most girls had. We are usually told to get married, have kids and your life is set.  My parents always pushed me to follow my dreams, and my heart no matter what direction it led me into.  It is the social pressures that make me feel like I'm "missing out" if I don't get hitched or I'm not fulfilling some biological destiny if I don't end up having kids.  I also don't want to end up having a nervous breakdown during a weekday in Target because my kids won't stop screaming (I witnessed this before and it was awesome by the way).

With so many divorces and failed relationships nowadays I think we need to look at role playing in a different light.  Women don't need to be the submissive housewives and baby makers anymore.  It is a fact that men and women are different.  Also it is known that relationships are hard work. I'm sorry, but I already work 8 hours a day I don't want to come home and work some more.  Men and women can coexist and thrive  without roles and keep things fun.  Why move in together when sleeping over is so much sexier?  Why sign a forever commitment when spontaneity and freedom is so much more desirable?

My point is, society doesn't push these gender roles like they did in the past but there is definitely still a gleam of it there.  You'd think that we have progressed so much as a society that we can maintain peaceful relationships.  It is quite the opposite.  I have come to a point in my 25 years of existence to screw any societal pressures and begin to do what makes me happy.  That's not to say I will never get married or be a mom, but at this moment in life I can honestly say it feels good to know and understand that I am still finding out who I am.

I also realized that when I come up with my own explanations on life,  I used to always look for someone to agree, or gain some kind of acceptance on my opinions.  Now, I really don't care if I'm the only one on the planet that thinks this way.  It feels good to be able to speak my pure thoughts without a filter.  That is the ultimate freedom.

Things I'm Excited About - Volume 5

1. 3 Day Weekend!

We work 5 days and usually get only 2 off, where did we sign up for this!

Finally a 3 Day weekend in honor of Memorial Day!

2. Mexican Grocery Stores

Just bought 5 Cucumbers for $.99, no joke and 9 bunches of radishes for $.55!

3. Happy Books

Just got a couple books on happiness from a friend of mine, can't wait

to read them!

4. Change

Sometimes change gets rejected, but lately I am open to it.  Feels good to adapt and face

challenges that are foreign to me.

5.  Cvsphoto.com

You can upload straight to the website, create scrapbooks, order prints and

pick up at your closest store.  Its SO convenient!



Intermittent Fasting and CFit Soreness

Ok so after being on vacation and totally slacking exercise-wise I went to Crossfit 2x in a row this week which is unheard of for me.  Both days required a lot of arm work and this morning I could not even blow dry my hair without grimacing in pain.  I feel like a gorilla dragging my arms because lifting them is just out of the question.  On that note, it felt good to be back into the swing of things and I can honestly say I miss being that sore. 

I am also trying to re-vamp my diet by keeping Paleo/Caveman and also practicing intermittent fasting.  It can be said that it can help performance,boost immune system, anti-aging and in general can help cleanse your internal organs.  I am practicing daily fasting, which comes natural to me.  I almost never eat breakfast, and according to Robb Wolf, writer of The Paleo Solution, it is ok and even more beneficial to skip it.  I try to restrict my calorie intake time from the hours 12noon-7pm. 

Typically I skip breakfast, have a small salad for lunch around noon then a protein packed dinner.  Last night I made snow crab, coconut shrimp and asparagus and washed it all down with Coconut water. I swear, seafood is now my new favorite thing.  I'm new to the whole seafood game because growing up I dispised fish and shellfish.  Now I absolutely love it! 

Taken out of the website: thesameffect.com:

Why Intermittent Fasting Makes Sense To Me

"When evaluating how our bodies evolved, it’s seems reasonable to think that the human body was in a fasted state a lot of the time. Maybe not by choice, but by demand. Food is scarce in the wild. There is no tupperware, no microwaves, no packaged convenience foods. Hunting and gathering takes effort (aka exercise), and often coming up empty handed and remaining hungry would be unavoidable. This is why the human body is extremely effective at storing fat (I know from experience ). In other words, in nature food was probably scarce for most of human evolution. Human beings definitely weren’t pigging out continuously, and most likely the feeding times were irregular and erratic.

Fed vs. Fasted

If you look at modern society, we rarely let ourselves go fasted. I was under the impression that it was a muscle building sin to not have something in the stomach at all times. I don’t know what it’s like to be on steroids, I have never done them, but it seems like most of the ‘never let yourself go hungry’ preaching is coming from the bodybuilding community (the gurus being steroided up). At one point I listened to this preaching without question or critical thought. However, it just didn’t work for me. I found it nearly impossible to actually lose fat, I felt like crap alot of the times (especially in the afternoons), I was drowsy and un-alert, and looking back on it now I just didn’t feel vibrant and healthy.

On that note...Ok, I'm ready for another vacation. Anyone want to go to Bali???

Quotes I Like

"All know the Way, but few actually walk it."

                                         -Bodhidharma

"Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts."

                                        - Buddhist Quote

Pleasure and Happiness

I have come to a spiritual crossroads.  I am asking those big questions now like "What does it mean to be happy?".  Buddha says that pleasure is not happiness because it is fleeting, and to seek a more meaningful peace within to allow yourself ultimate long lasting happiness. Epicurus said that the heart of happiness is through avoiding pain and gaining pleasure.  He did, however, state that pleasure isn't wealth or material things but things that were easily attainable, even something like a good dinner after being hungry.  He said to fill your life with moments of pleasure since that is ultimately what makes you happy.

Is the world so black and white or is it complicated? Sometimes the answers are easy, and it's me that makes them difficult.  What if the turmoil in my head is right and the way society makes me live is wrong?  Do we all want the same things?

So what is happiness? Well, it is a word to describe a feeling.  How do you get this feeling? Is it freedom? Reason? Painless existence? Peace within? Pleasure?


Questions, questions. :)

Kentucky Derby Pics

Hi Y'all!! Ok I officially have a southern accent that I acquired from my trip to Louisville.  Everyone was so nice and the town was beautiful! Of course The Kentucky Derby was the highlight of the trip and a big congrats goes out to Animal Kingdom who came from way behind to win the 137th Derby and who helped me pay my rent this month! So glad I was lucky enough to go, scratch that off the bucket list!

Off to The Kentucky Derby!

 

See y'all on Monday!!

We Are All Sisyphus

The philosophical story that always intrigued me was Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus.  It is a mythological book about a man who seizes Death so no humans die.  Once Death broke free the gods punished Sisyphus by condeming him to carrying a giant rock up a hill for all eternity.  Once he managed to get to the top the rock rolled down to the bottom for him to carry it up all over again.

In Albert Camus' eyes, Sisyphus is seen as the hero who continues to defy any human recollection of doing something so dull for eternity.  We are all Sisyphus in that we live life to the fullest, fear death, and are slaves to a meaningless ongoing task or job.  This reflection of modern society is eye-opening.  Camus presents Sisyphus's ceaseless and pointless toil as a metaphor for modern lives spent working at futile jobs in factories and offices. "The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is tragic only at the rare moments when it becomes conscious."

With the absurdity of the task, Sisyphus gains some peace and acceptance in hoping that the impossibility of it will set him free.

No Bread, No Dairy, No Sugar

It is officially one week until I leave for Louisville, Kentucky and I am on a strict diet, its called the Paleo Diet! Have you heard of it? Well, yea! I started this blog initially to document my Paleo journey and along the way have opened up many other topics that have interested me.  To be honest, I have found the diet difficult to stick to, only because my cravings turn me into an eating machine.  Mind over matter, I must tell myself.

To rejuvenate the diet and make it new and exciting I have been eating a lot of fish, crab and lobster.  I have always liked that stuff, but never knew how to prepare it.  I finally bought some snow crab and steamed it and used butter and lemon juice to enhance the flavor.  So yummy and suprisingly filling!

Of course I have been cooking bison regularly, I swear I think I am the only person that buys it from Ralph's.  It is so lean and good, I make it into meatballs and pour tomato sauce all over it.  Top it off with a giant salad and you've got yourself one hell of a protein, paleo meal. 

Generally my weekdays go like this: No breakfast, salad for lunch, and high protein dinner.  I don't think that skipping breakfast is bad.  You really think cavemen prepared breakfast first thing in the morning? They had to go out and hunt to get it.  I have trained myself to only be hungry enough for a salad around 11:30-12pm and then eat again at 5:30pm when I get off of work.  For a snack, I like to eat organic popcorn with just a dash of salt. 

It is amazing how good it feels to eat right, and when you exercise on top of that its almost like a daily transformation!

Escapism

Escapism has become a daily occurrence in our lives.  We have mulitple ways to create this escape;  anything from watching a movie to getting drunk on a Saturday night.  What are we escaping from? Is the world we live in not enough?

Eckart Tolle describes watching TV as living through the unconcious.  It is almost a mindless state. Unless we are watching something informative, we are really like a vegetable. Not engaging the mind is relaxing and a form of escapism.  Like TV, alcohol and drugs have a similar effect.  They allow you to think and act on an unconcious level.  Why do we need to mask and submit our mind? We all do it in one way or another, but why?

During the daily grind we are placed in a repetitive routine, and society hinders our inner desires and personality traits.  We suppress a lot of what we actually want to do versus what we need to do.  By bottling all this up thorugh a 5 day span, the weekend comes and we need to release our inhibitions and be free.  We want to watch movies that we know can never happen in real life and we want to get a buzz on so we can sing at karaoke in front of a crowd.  We also carry our past on our shoulders and, when supressed, can create an unhealthy outburst and the need for a strong and fast escape.

I thought of ways that I escape in my own life and I narrowed it down to three.  Sleep, alcohol, and exercise.  When I sleep, I can sleep away the pain of what I am going through.  This happens through dreams or just the general time that passes so that when I awake I feel different about a certian situation.  Alcohol definitely allows me to surrender to my unconcious and release inhibitions that usually hold me back.  Exercise, which I don't do as often as some people allows me to "black out" during that moment and let my body do the work.  I focus on the task, whether its a personal goal or completing a crossfit workout and nothing else. 

In short, being able to escape is liberating.  We are running from social norms that confine us.  Constant escape is not facing reality and not escaping is becoming a slave to your responsibilites. 


ESCAPE-

–verb (used without object)

1.

to slip or get away, as from confinement or restraint; gain or regain liberty: to escape from jail.

2.

to slip away from pursuit or peril; avoid capture, punishment, or any threatened evil.

Kava Kava and Belladonna

During my childhood I had a rough time with anxiety and had ulcers as a result.  When I was taken to the doctors I was given antibiotics for my ulcer and belladonna for my anxiety.  I generally am not a fan of any kind of medicine, being that natural or pharmaceutical but I tried them anyways.  Belladonna comes from a toxic plant and has been used for anything from motion sickness to menstrual cramps.  I only took it a couple of times and it did, indeed relax me, almost made me sleepy. I'm definitely not condoning it, but rather, being open-minded.

Another similar natural drug is Kava kava and has been used in the polynesian islands for centuries.  It is an alternative for being drunk, without the hangover.  It can be chewed, in pill form or even Kava Cola.  It is another drug that is good for anxiety and is meant to relax you.  Just like with all drugs, kava kava can have adverse effects and if overused it can lead to a puffy face and a scaly skin rash-yuck!  Everything in moderation folks!

Taboo as it can be, natural drugs come in many forms with multple effects.  They started with the purpose of healing or curing, and all the way up to mind-altering.  I always wonder, who was the first person to light up a plant or shove it up the nose? Regardless, in my opinion drugs are used as a way to escape.  Whether your life sucks, or you just want to see the world in a new way it is escapism at its finest.

Things I'm Excited About - Volume 4

1.  YOLO
You Only Live Once. My reminder to jump at new opportunities and have fun!

2. Honey

The only food that never expires! Perfect for a fruit topping when you get a sweet tooth!

3. Outlaw Country and Westerns

There's something about the deep voices, and no shit taking attitude.

4. Technology Backfiring

iPhones are tracking people, internet hacking getting easier then ever, not to mention carpal tunnel, texting while driving, etc.

5. Fish Restaurants

Come get your Omega-3's!

California Fish Grill-Anaheim Hills

OC Fish n Chips- Orange

A War Within Ourselves

I find it interesting that as you get older, what seemed to be little problems turn in to much larger problems.  Becoming at peace with ourselves is now a chore that we much invest energy into.  Anything from meditation, yoga, self-help books and seminars are all geared to make YOU a better YOU.  Why do we struggle with this so much? And pay money for others to solve our own problems?

Do a lot of our social conflict and wars stem from our inner wars? If we are all individually at peace with ourselves would we be a more peaceful society? 

I believe the way we interact with others is a direct reflection of within.  We all know those individuals that constantly have a chip on their shoulder, looking for a fight everywhere they go.  It's obvious they are suffering from inner turmoil.  They feel bad and want everyone else to suffer too.  The only reaction we can give them is to not do a thing.  We are directly responsible for the way others make us feel.  It is a very hard concept to grasp, and even harder to act in this manner.  If someone really gets under our skin, the first reaction is to defend yourself and stand your ground and get upset.  They don't even deserve that reaction. The best thing is to take control of the way you're feeling and turn it into a peaceful acceptance. 

It is a fact that we cannot cure everyones inner demons, nor can we avoid international wars.  The only true way you can grasp chaos is to bring peace to your inner self. 

We have conquered basic survival, now we need to conquer the war that takes place within. 

The Neander Diet?

What about our silly low-browed cousins the Neanderthals, can we possibly learn from them too? I think so!  They were giant, strong, and smart. Their downfall, however, is that they didn't last.  Could have been their harsh living environments, or they didn't catch on quick enough with advanced tools.  Either way, they were more muscular than modern humans and had a significantly bigger brain.

Their diet consisted mostly of meat, but a recent article states that they ate their veggies too. It got me thinking, what fruits and vegetables were even around during this time?  Did they even have the luxury to taste the sweetness of an apple or did they get their fiber from digging up stale roots? In the article, it says that on plaque found on a tooth they detected plant materials so it can be confirmed that big game wasn't the only thing on the menu.

The Paleo Diet is hard as is but The Neader Diet (patent pending, ha!) was truly grueling.  Meat meat meat, all day long with the occasional plant.  Not only that, they had to hunt in extreme cold and find plants that weren't exactly pre-packaged and in abundance.  Could this be why they didn't last? Not enough options? What about another extreme. Meat only.  Ok, now I'm just pushing the boundaries.

My New Kicks!

So the past month I have purchased two pairs of training shoes, the Nike Free's and the Inov-8's.  Both are designed to be flatter than your average running shoe and very lightweight. 

                                     INOV-8 

NIKE FREE'S

Will see how they compare! I was told the Nike Free's are good for running and Inov-8s were good for CrossFit and short, intense workouts.