FIRST DETOX VIDEO

Hey Darlings!
I'm just stopping by to share with you all my first Detox Video. Now, I must be honest with you wonderful followers. I have  actually already completed the 10 day detox. 

The detox is ending, and I have started my internship. With the combination of work and my body still releasing toxins, it has been a killer! I am just starting to regain (raw food) energy. 


Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy the video! 

PEACE and BLESSINGS

~Mela

Mela's Raw Food Journey

Hello Loves! How are you all? I've missed you dearly!
I know I've been MIA! So sorry, but I'm back and better then ever! My boo, Sade', has been doing an awesome job of holding down the fort! She's amazing, or should I say rawmazing (this is the part where you laugh, lol!)

Anyway, there have been quite a few changes in my life and an update is long over do. So here we go!

Background: How I Got into Raw Food:
A few months ago I was at a very low point. I loss my Auntie Trish (best friend/ mentor/second mother), I was severely depressed, I was uncomfortable in my body, and frustrated with my weight. I had no energy. I wasn't living, I was merely existing.


I knew this was not the life I wanted and definitely not the one my Heavenly Father purposed for me. As hard as I tried I couldn't seem to get out of this rut. To tell you the truth as hard as I tried I couldn't seem to get off the couch lol. My emotional dependence on food continued to grow at a rapid rate (right along with my waistline). I honestly felt like a thousand chains were holding me. I would lie on the couch and daydream about the life I wanted to live. (Now this is going to sound a little weird, but just go with it. LOL) 
I felt as if I was looking into a bubble, and in this bubble was the life I wanted. This bubble wasn't filled with cars, nor clothes. In this bubble was was a healthy me. In this bubble I was comfortable in my body, I had the energy to hike and take dancing classes, in this bubble I was free (or Limitless).

When I think of being Free this is the Image that comes to Mind

I knew at that point, and change needed to be made. I had to ask myself a few questions. "Self...when was the last time you can remember feeling good?" and "Was there ever a time, I can honestly recall not experiencing any of these low down feelings?" 
There had to be...but when?

Auntie Trish & I (Yosemite National Park)

I remembered one time in particular, In 2009, I relocated to Texas to be a caregiver for my Auntie Trish (whom I mentioned above) who was fighting cancer. 

As a result of the cancer, my Aunt ate a regular, all-organic diet. And because I was her caretaker, I did too! And let me tell you! It was at this time I felt my best. When I remembered this it shocked me. Why hadn't I continued with those eating habits?

The experience of caring for my Aunt (had up until that point) been the most hectic time of my life. I was working a twelve-hour swing shift in a warehouse, arriving home at 3:30am, and then I would see to Auntie Trish until 4am. Not to mention rising at 9am again, I'd prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner all before it was time for me to go back to work. I ran all the errands, and did all the cleaning. I WAS BUSY!

But looking back I couldn’t remember depression ever rearing its ugly head. I had tons of energy and I was shedding pounds without really even trying. It had to be the food giving me these great effects! I had made no other change in my life besides food!

*HERE IS WHERE RAW FOOD COMES INTO THE STORY! YAY!*

To make a very long story short, I recently started to eat an all-organic diet. But, unfortunately there weren't many changes happening for me. I had switched to organic foods but I also was still eating majority processed food. I realize it wasn't the organic food alone that assisted me while caring for Auntie Trish. It also was largely what we were consuming. 

Auntie Trish and I ate a large portion of fresh fruits and veggies, and we definitely weren't eating processed foods. AND we cut our sugar intake down to one desert a week. Once I realized this I started implementing more fruits and veggies into my daily diet. So...the more I ate raw fruits and veggies the better I would feel. My depression began to lift, and my energy grew. I began to research organic food vs conventionally grown food, raw foods vs cooked food. The more I researched the more I found out that we truly are what we eat! It was time to make the complete change!

So what is Raw Food?    

Generally the raw food diet consists of fresh organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, sprouts, legumes, and organic foods that are in their original state and have not been processed. (No, this does not include raw meat!) You basically want to stay in the produce area of the grocery store. 

Why Raw Food?

 I couldn't stop asking the question: "Why does the food have to be raw? Why can't I just eat a lot of cooked fruits and veggies?" And being a lover of fried chicken, I really couldn't see myself giving that up (and I say that with all seriousness).  

The conclusion I came to was this: when we cook food above 115 degrees Fahrenheit we destroy something in the food called enzymes. 

"Mela, Why should I care about enzymes? What are they?" 

An enzyme is a bio catalyst - (something that makes something else work or work faster.) You should care a great deal about enzymes. In simple terms enzymes are carriers. Enzymes carry vitamins and nutrients where they are most needed inside of our bodies. Enzymes also eat scar tissue and fibrosis, so if you are struggling with fibrosis, I would suggest that you start transitioning into a raw diet right away!   

In short, when we cook food, we destroy many of the enzymes that help us naturally digest it. In addition, cooking foods also kills 70-75% of the vitamins and nutrients in our food. So when we eat cooked food only 25-30% of the nutrients and vitamins are going into our bodies, and because we have destroyed all of the enzymes, our bodies have to try and guess where these nutrients belong. 

The Conclusion!

The science of raw food is great, but in the end what kept me going with raw food was the way I felt. I began to spend less and less time on the couch. Yep, I no longer felt like I was looking into the bubble. I was now in the bubble! (Writing this sentence, I almost started to cry. Thinking back to where God has brought me from, and how awful I use to feel brings tears to my eyes). 

I kept thinking to myself this ' this is the way I'm supposed to feel, this is the way God meant for me to be!' 

My energy has been through the roof, and the pounds are falling off. I fell so deeply in love with raw food I launched into to studying it day and night. When I wasn't studying raw food, I was talking about raw food. Poor Sade', she really had no chose about going raw. These were her options:

1. Go Raw so you can join the conversation

2. Continue to hear me talk about Raw Food day and night.

The more I studied, the more I realized that raw foods was my passion, and is what I wanted to do with my life. I want to help people heal themselves! I started looking into schools and certification programs that would give me the education I needed to embark on my mission. I found the very best one, Creative Health Institute, in Union City, MI.

Creative Health Institute has a 3 month internship program that allows you live and work on site. You are working under amazing raw chef's and World Renowned Naturopathic doctors, learning first hand how to heal the human body using raw and living food. 

After the program I will receive a nationally recognized Raw Living Food Chef Certification, and will be awarded a Certification as a Counselor in Health and Healing through Raw Living Foods. CHI's (Creative Health Institute) is all about learning first hand. As an intern you are required to take part in a 10 day detox program before your internship, so that you are somewhat aware of what the patients go through. I am happy to say that I have been accepted, and am currently in Michigan at CHI beginning my 3 month program. I am overjoyed. I have been given permission to bring you all along for the ride. 

 SO ALL, I will be video blogging and documenting my detox, my raw food journey (I will be 100% raw for the entire 3 months), as well as my weight loss. 

An Apple A Day, Lol

There is so much to come, please follow along! 

Kisses!

~Mela 

Today Was... by Sade

Today was....

A little down. I woke up late. Missed the opportunity to go for my morning walk. Had to make one of the biggest decisions I ever.  I was so overwhelmed, and in the midst of that, I started getting down on myself. 

My emotional response to stress is definitely flight! So I tried to escape first.

Because I am really trying to focus on my Raw diet, I couldn't escape with dessert as I usually would. TV really doesn't do the trick for me anymore. 

After reading my bible, and praying (which I must train my brain to be my first go-to), I felt much better...

I decided I'd also indulge a little retail therapy (via internet window shopping of course)

And this is what I came across.....

Pierre Hardy Shoes

giuseppe zanotti shoes

New Designer: Selam D. Yohans

azzedine alaia shoes

Unknown Designer

If these shoes could talk!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR, come and get me, you are Sha Sha Fierce!

This just adds to my shopping addiction. I just wanted to share them with you all! I think they are hot! 

With the combo of this scripture (Psalms 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that truseth in him)  and those shoes, I was feeling much better.


My entire thought pattern changed :) I started thinking "I am fierce! I am strong! I am a child of God! I am greater than what Satan tries to throw at me! I know who I am. I love Christ, I love sunny days, I love fashion, I love people, I love music, writing, and taking care of myself....think about your positive attributes"

If you are having a bad day too...SMILE, you have a sword! Don't get down on yourself like I did. Instead, immediately get into you're word, and follow up with prayer...you'll find what you are looking for. Why? 

Because:  

I hope this does the trick for you all too! If not, comment below. Lets pray with each other.

Because now, for me today was...uplifting. 

I was overwhelmed by the goodness of God....

~Sade'

My Raw Food Tacos....Yummish!

So honestly ladies, I thought going RAW would be a huge challenge for me, and I just knew I would give up within the first few days.  And to be real, I almost did after day 4. That's when I got sick. My body immediately began to detox from the shock of all the LIVE and HEALTHY foods replacing that processed junk! With all those toxins releasing, I was aching, coughing, snotting, sneezing, shaking and breaking (and bunch of other nasty things) for about 2 days.


It was a bunch of cold then hot...hot then cold. Shaking, shaking some more, Angry, angry, angry, GIVE ME A DONUT NOW, snappy oh so snappy, irritated, please stop w/the questions snappy, cough, cough, sneeze, ouch, and lots of yelling to Jamon "Babe I'm about to CRACK!!"

By day 7 of my RAW Food Journey, I thought I was going to die.... 

OK back on track..(whew glad thats over!)...

Anyway, because I have always always always failed at my other attempts at dieting, I just knew this was not going to last long. Like my girl Mela says, "I am truly a fat kid at heart and if the food isn't good, RAW or not, I am not eating it"  PERIOD.  So going into this, I had my reservations. I had all these preconceived notions and stereotypes about what vegans, vegetarians and raw foodies ate, unhealthy it had to be to not eat ANY meat (I mean come on, that's how the American diet obtains most of its protein). I just knew my eating taste was much too colorful for that type of thing. But I proved myself (and a bunch of others) wrong. Let me say it loudly:

I. WAS. WRONG. 

Now that I have committed to this, I can honestly say eating organic, whole, unprocessed, uncooked veggies, fruits, nuts, sprouts and grains is the best thing I have done! My love for food has reached a whole new level of Agape. LOL.

But seriously, I have never tasted food so vibrant, so succulent and just so delicious! My taste buds are doing back flips!

I am not completely RAW yet, but I now actually PREFER some of the RAW versions of dishes over the cooked. For example, I can never see myself living without my RAW food cereal, or my carrot/apple/beet juice, or my raw spaghetti, or most importantly, my Raw Food Tacos! (I even learned how to make a RAW Snicker! Can't wait to try that) 

The biggest thing that got me is they way I feel after eating this delicious food. I don't have to compromise my energy (no itis, lol). The food helps me have a clear mind, helps keep me in the best mood, and keeps me very productive. Its simply fuel. When I eat now, I finally fill that God is pleased with my relationship with food. 

Overall, I learned that living RAW is a complete lifestyle change. I had to change my entire relationship with food.  I had to change the way I look at food, change the ways and reasons I eat, change the way I grocery shop, and change the way I prepare it!

I learned that food should be nourishing (an aid to the functions of the body), energizing, vibrant, whole, pure, fulfilling, dazzling...and so much more.  My journey thus far has been an eye opening, life altering experience. And for Mela and I, this is truly what living LIMITLESS is all about...expanding the borders of our minds, our thoughts, our upbringing, and our ways...breaking out of those boxes!

**I must take a moment THANK my girl/best friend/life partner Mela for introducing me to this. Her spirit is amazing, so giving. She is always in the mood to pour out knowledge, wisdom and love...always learning new things, being open minded and not opposed to change, and in the process, sharing what she learns with others...I mean, this is the same girl that inspired me to go natural!**

SHOUT OUT to Mela! How 'bout a round of applause! Keep up the good work girl!

So, with that being said, I wanted to stop by and share a few Recipes with you all. The first being the famous Ta Ta Tacos!

Today would mark the third day in a row that I have made Raw Food Tacos for lunch. If you're my friend on Facebook I'm sure you see the pictures and ingredients all over my page.

Here are the ingredients and preparation instructions:

INGREDIENTS:

The meat

- 1 cup of Walnuts, or your favorite nut

- 1 teaspoon of cumin seasoning

- 1 teaspoon of coriander seasoning

- 1 teaspoon of chili powder (if you have it, not as necessary, just compliments the other flavors)

- 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (if you like spicy like me)

- 2 teaspoons Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce) or regular Soy sauce

- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder (or 3 freshly chopped garlic cloves)

The Tacos

-1 to 2 heads of Romaine lettuce

-1 to 2 chopped tomatoes

-1 avocado, mashed to make a guacamole

- 1/2 lemon or lime

- Diced onions (and i like to add shallots)

- A few pieces of cilantro

INSTRUCTIONS

1. I start with the meat portion. Chop walnuts as small and fine as you can get them. Once chopped, at your seasonings, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 tsp of coriander, 1 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp of chili powder. Mix. Then add 2 tsp of soy sauce/Nama Shoyu. Mix.   *If you have a food processor or mixer (I use my Ninja) this is even easier. Mix all meat ingredients together and pulse for no more than 10 seconds

Now make your guacamole and salsa.

2. Mash avocado in a bowl and add a few squeezes of lemon or lime juice, diced shallots, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder and a dash of sea salt. Mix well.

3. In a different bowl, place diced tomatoes, diced onions and chopped pieces of cilantro. Add a few squeezes of lemon juice, and a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix.

4. Place fresh pieces of romaine lettuce on a plate and generously spread guacamole. 

*B/C I'm not much of a measurer when preparing foods, I like to season to taste, so here, I add a bit more of cumin and coriander seasoning. 

5. Next add your meat (the walnuts you mixed earlier). Spread generous amount.

6. Top off with your salsa, and a few more dashes of cayenne pepper (if you like it spicy like myself)

Prep time: 10 minutes 

And there you have deliciously RAW tacos. Try them, and I guarantee you will love them!

My Ta Ta Tacos or should I call them Rawco's? Hmmmm....lol

Check you later lovelies!

~ Sade

Our MINI Vacation!

*We are soooooooo late with this post*   Hmmm, you must forgive us ladies....

But anyway, Did you figure it out? DO you know where we ended up?

After driving leaving Tiburon we passed through Eureka. Knowing that there would be nothing at all exciting there, we came to a crossroad....this way or that way....? HMMM.

Mendocino or  Napa?

NAPA it is of course! 

We had a ball in the beautiful Napa valley...a town so serene and gorgeous, and right in our own backyard. We took in the sights and indulged in lots of the charm of the city. Delicious food, unbelievable wine and most of all cheap and sometimes even complimentary wine tasting!!!

We checked into the Wine Vally lodge (which was $39 a night, steal!!!), after using our phones to find an affordable place to stay.

Wine Valley Lodge

We started our fun the next morning with breakfast at the lodge and then off to Target to buy fresh clothing. (Remember this trip was totally spontaneous. We got on the road, and hadn't even packed). 

Target in Napa....so cute!

After looking over our complimentary tasting places on the map the Lodge provided, we ended up a wonderful Estate and Winery, the Caymus Vineyards in Calistoga.

Lovely it was, but we were a bit underdressed for the event they were having day, so it was a bit too ritzy for our relaxed moods. However, we did take advantage of the beautiful sites for pictures!

We're silly...check out our shadows! 

This guy who worked there was really excited to take a picture of us! He said he was a photographer, and we believe him. The pic turned out beautiful. Agree?

The Winery had a nice little clothing boutique, furniture store and knick knack store inside! It reminded us of a fancy Anthropologie. Right up our little allies! We were quietly ooooooh-ing and aghhhh-ing at every piece of furniture, clothing and art we saw! "This is what our store will look like," we kept saying!

Yes, she's a candle girl. *Sniff Sniff*

After a little window shopping, we decided to take a few pics of the place beautiful Caymus before leaving!

Later that afternoon, we headed to V. Sattui winery, which is now our favorite NAPA winery. The atmosphere is so relaxing, so "I'm vacationing but I'm home". We knew this place was more our scene. Plus V. Sattui is the only winery that has a lunch spot on site! 

 We had some really great food, and this day specifically, they hosted a family Bar-b-Que on the lawn with music and games! We had a ball.

Lunch time! We had pulled pork Bar-b-Que sandwich's (on homemade sweet bread), artichoke dip and chips.  For dessert we had a delicious tiramisu! Yummmmmmmmish!

                          

                Later we did a little shopping in downtown Napa...my favorite thing to do !

Then we headed to my new favorite shoe store, Footcandy! They had some really cute LOUBOUTINS here, and might I say I almost died with all the FASHION around me. They are a shoe store, but they also have very cute clothing in the back of the store.

They sold Herve Ledger, Alexander McQUEEN, Chloe, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Valentino, Roberto Cavalli, YSL, and Carolina Herrara to name a few! I was in FASHION HEAVEN

All designer, all inexpensive! Going back is a MUST! 

 Don't mind the train track pics, at this point, we were feeling ourselves a bit...lol. They turned out really cute though. And later at dinner, a passer-by remembered our little 'photo shoot'...He said, "Hey omg you're the ladies that were doing a wonderful photo shoot on the train tracks! You ladies are wild"

So, we were celebrities in Napa!

As we ended our fun in Napa, we headed to a highly recommended Bar-b-Que and wine spot, called Bounty Hunters. They were so cool. They had live jazz, and amazing food and wine. We sat in the middle of the restaurant and had a good ole time, tourist style!

 And here is the delicious, scrumptious, slap yo mama good BBQ! We were in HEAVEN!! They served it family style, so Mela was able to share my Pulled Pork, and I indulged in her ribs. We had sweet cornbread and baked beans for sides. Not any old corn bread and baked beans either....Bounty Hunter style. Spicy and out of this world good!

We can never have enough dessert...or dessert wine for that matter!

We were enjoying the decadence!

 

   Of course we ended with just a little bit more Port...

We had a blast in Napa, and can't wait to go back to Bounty Hunter's. They had some really awesome food and entertainment.  Next time we go back to Bounty Hunters, we must get their famous Beer Chicken   

(we saw this at a table across from us)

And of course we must go back to V. Sattui Winery for a visit, and a few new places too!

I'd love to host a 'Natural Hair Meet Up' in Napa at Bounty Hunters!

Get it...? Napa/ Nappy?

Happy to be Nappy in Napa Meet up! 


It has a good ring to it!

LOL....IM SILLY......But seriously, it could be in the makings. I think that would so much fun for us Natural sista's to get together and have some fun in Napa...Let me know what you think girls. We could do it any time soon, the weather and wine in Napa is always good!

Check you later lovelies!

~Sade'
(Sha Sha Fierce...yes ma'am I am! LOL)