Last week I was blessed with a stimulating encounter with a fellow detox blogger! Rande from The Vegetable Centric Kitchen and I have been following eachother’s blogs for some time, and “knew” eachother via the DTW community site, but had never truly met. So, when she was in town for her training with Natalia Rose which I had previously taken, we got together to swap stories and share some detox love. It was so lovely talking shop and bonding over the quirks of this sometimes lonely lifestyle.

Since leaving San Francisco, I have been quite the lonely lil juicer. My girls back home, Audrey and Katie, were such a big part of the life I loved! We keep in touch quite a bit, but it was such a treat to be able to share a little bit of that high-vibration interaction with someone else, face-to-face! I was fortunate enough to meet fellow blogger, Lola, as well as Renae and Deborah who are all amazing individuals, very comfortable in this life-style. Needless to say, sparks were flying the whole time we were together :) I was once again overwhelmed with gratitude for this lifestyle and the many amazing gifts it has brought with it. 

In honor of the connectivity we all experienced, I threw a little dinner party, veggie love style! In order to please both avocado and goat cheese cravers, I created two sauces: Japanesse Guacamole and (Goat)-Creamy Beet, to go in the Collard Veggie Wraps! The night was a hit, and plans were made for future visits and collaborations! Which brings me to my next point.. Rande and I recorded a little something when we first met, about our introduction to this lifestyle! We are planing on sharing it with everyone in hopes that it will benefit those of you who are considering making a change but feel overwhelmed. We are working out the kinks of the file size, but it should be up soon so stay tunned. 

Another endeavor we are embarking on is a 14 Day Sugar-Free Challenge! This is something I chose to undertake due to an unfortunate yeast flare-up. While it hasn’t manifested too violently, my head gets fuzzy when I eat fruit and my skin gets a little itchy; But most of all: I feel it taking up space in my body.. and I don’t want to share! Yeast has been a problem for me since I was very little due to week genes, antibiotics and traditional Russian/Romanian food. While I had it under control under the best circumstances, with my recent life changes, stress and emotional eating has allowed it to bloom once more.

I woke up yesterday morning with a plan to crank up the heat on this issue, and the motivation to follow through. If you look back at previous posts, I discuss the issue of yeast in more detail. Basically, yeast thrives in an acidic environment, and feeds on sugar. I want to starve mine, so I will be eliminating as many sugars as possible from my diet for 14 days, in conjunction with upping my alkalizing routine. Here are the logistics: 

• Avoid: most grain and grain products, all fruit, sugar sweetened treats such as dark chocolate and Laloos Ice-cream, caffeine and alcohol 
• Bask in the glory of: veggie juices, greens, raw and cooked neutral veggies, sweet root veggies (yes, they are “sugary”, but low glycemic),”fruit-veggies” such as cucumbers and tomatoes, avocados, young coconut meat, lemons and limes, daily mediations, morning pages, yoga, rebounding, dry brushing, saunas, baths, regular bowel cleansing, Candigone, probiotics, 3% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, tea and stevia!
• Include moderately: cooked starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes and winter squashes,  mushrooms, organic young coconut water, small amounts of raw organic nuts and seeds, cocoa powder and raw cacao  

This is a fun challenge for Rande and I because it means it’s time to get creative with the recipes ;) We are both very excited, and will be posting about our reflections and concoctions regularly. If you’ve been dealing with skin issues, stubborn weight, brain fog, lethargy, sleeplessness, reproductive problems, moodiness (especially when you are hungry) and cravings, then this is a great jolt in the right direction. I would be honored if anyone wants to join us, and take advantage of the extra support and Community Love! 

Here are two sugar-free recipes to get us going:

Japanesse Guacamole

Pulse in blender or food processor:

• 2 avocados
• juice of 1 lemon 
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 nori sheets, torn
• 1/4 bellpepper, chopped 
• sea salt

(Goat)-Creamy Beet Dip/Sauce (term derived from Rande’s “Goat-Cheesy”ness)

• 1 container goat-milk yogurt
• 2 tbsp goat ricotta or chèvre
• 1 handful dill
• 3 medium baked beets, roughly cubed
• juice of 1 lemon
• zest of 1/2 orange 
• 1 tsp organic dijon
• sea salt

Let the creativity flow, and the body thrive! xoxo