This is me getting ready to leave the Anchorage Airport - yes, it is snowing! This picture looks surprising similar to the previous post from last January!
Well, this is me in my new t-shirt from One Lucky Duck (NY eStablishment) at THE Chaco Canyon Restaurant in Seattle. They have delicious food both for the raw foodist and not! Yummy stuff - ate 3 meals from here and 2 desserts from here!! 
I am asking increasingly more what I eat and/or what products I use. After sending an email that was rather lengthy, I decided to simply post it here for any and all to peruse.
I use Dr. Bronners liquid soap in shower and pure organic coconut oil (food section) for afterwards as lotion. Sometimes I may use organic Sesame Oil.
I use Burt's Bees peppermint face soap.
I use Giovanni organic shampoo, conditioner and hair spray.
I use Crystal deodorant (roll-on, pink lid).
For face makeup, I use a brand called Real Purity for all face products - makeup and face lotion. I really like it and I like getting their little one dollar samples to try out. That is how I bought everything - trying a sample first. Once in a while I will use Logona or Burt's Bee lip stuff.
I use Seventh Generation detergent for laundry. I also use their dish soap and dishwasher liquid.
I use some of Mrs. Meyers cleaning products and a couple of Method products (wood floor stuff).
No candles anymore - other than an occasional tea candle. No bug spray, no air fresheners, no perfumes in house.
Bamboo cutting board and knife that is used exclusively for vegan products.
All organic fruit, veggies, seeds and nuts. All organic products period. All vegan.
Nothing out of a can. Nothing microwaved.
No wheat. No sugar. No sodas. No packaged/processed food with man-made ingredients. No caffeine. No heating/cooking of food at all.
No drugs. At all. No pain relievers, no aspirin. No nothing. THAT is another big reason I eat the way I do. I no longer suffer from sinus headaches (had severe ones on a weekly/daily basis). I no longer suffer from cramps. It is amazing.
Filtered water only. No plastic water bottles at all - filtered water from fridge into SIGG container. At work, I will obtain my water from the large water cooler containers.
Limit plastic as much as possible - I have bought a lot of glass containers. Even for work, I take almost exclusively glass.
Besides water, the first thing I intake every morning is an 8 oz wheatgrass drink (Sheldon Farms freeze dried organic).
Next, I drink a green smoothie every morning which includes:
1 green leafy item (large handful of spinach or 5-6 kale leaves generally)
1 cucumber if I have one
1 banana
1 citrus (usually orange that I just cut skin off of and leave as much pith as possible)
1 frozen dark berry (blueberry, strawberry, cherry, blackberry, raspberry) or a combination - usually 1/2 - 1 cup or so
Tbs flax oil
3 Tbs hemp seeds
1 tsp spirulina
Sometimes I add a Tbsp coconut butter and/or 1-2 Tbsp brown rice protein powder (only rice product I intake)
If it tastes too green, add more water, a bit of lemon juice, or more cucumber
On some workdays, I just started eating organic oatmeal with 2 Tbsp of ground flaxseed, with a few raisins and walnuts. I have experimented with other supplemental items in it, but am paring it down to just flaxseed, raisins and walnuts,
Lunch is generally either a salad, veggie wrap (either in romaine leaf or Ezekiel sprouted wrap), or sunflower seed pate with veggies or wrap.
After workout, I try to have a shake with a banana, water, agave syrup and 1 Tbsp of brown rice protein powder (only rice product I intake)
Snacks are either fruit or veggie - try to have it with a protein source (nuts, seeds, nut butter).
Dinner is generally a salad, blended soup, or zucchini "pasta" with spaghetti sauce.
I try to have at least one cup of organic non-caff green tea each day.
I try not to eat anything after 6pm, but that often slips past just a bit.
Water, water, water.
Strength training 3-4 times a week.
Cardio 3-5 times a week.
I know to some this may all sound difficult or stringent, but I am addicted to wellness so I find all of this a no-brainer!!
I have said it often and will repeat it here - if you were given a "magic pill" to feel, think and look better, wouldn't you take it? If the "magic pill" was simply just eating and drinking what your body needs and craves anyway doesn't that sound pretty easy? It really is.
Just take one day at a time and try it. Add a little more whole foods to your life each day.
You can do it. You will love it.
Eat your veggies baby!
Tina
Well, another milestone! I passed my one year anniversary of the implant surgery - surgery #2. Wow, I cannot believe how fast this year went by - so, so amazing. Big love to you all!
I just finished watching StandUp2Cancer - very inspiring. I have put a link to the right if you would like to learn more and how you can support it.
Riley started kindergarten on Tuesday and is loving it. He isn't loving not having a nap and was pretty much exhausted each night this week. He looks so grown-up and so sweet. Love it!
I have "upped" my exercise and eating habits this past week, but feel much more stressed about work and related events than I should. I can physically feel the stress in my body...gotta focus on releasing the stress better/more than I have been.
Lastly, still no home pc. That is why updates - and photos - have dried up considerably of late. But, be patient!
I had x-rays taken last week to take a look at my left hip joint since it has been causing me pain since I "trained" for the Komen Race for the Cure 5K in May 2008. Due to the chronic nature of this discomfort (which varies at times to mildly annoying to real zingers), they opted for an x-ray to look for arthritis, avascular somethin', somethin', or cancer. Breast cancer.
Good news was that the films were normal! Yippee! However, they want to do a bone scan (tomorrow) and gave me the option if I wanted to have it performed. Duh, of course I will. Well...I am all for it, except for the radioactive material they have to inject me with - how do you detox from that??!
Anyway, I have placed some links at right under Tina's Hot (Pink) Spots about bone scans and other medical tests/treatments - the top two links are new.
Be well,
Tina
It is a hard decision, but you should be proud of yourself for knowing to ask the question at all.
We all have a different path in life, both in wellness and in illness, yet we still can and do walk together. You must collect as much information as you can and make the best decision you can for yourself. Some will choose to do conventional medicine only, some prefer conventional and alternative, some only alternative...only you know what your commitment level is and what course you are comfortable with taking. Embrace your decision and do not second guess it. Ever.
This is another reminder that life is full of decisions and therefore inherent risks. The best part? You will be loved no matter what you decide to do.
Be well,
Tina
Artist - Riley, Age 5, July 2008
(actual photo from Friday night "at home" fireworks, thanks Brian!)
Another shot of same beach with me and Riley...
The Pruitt/Campbell Clan (minus Randy, Deana and Cindy)
Randy and Me
Jack and Riley at New Smyrna Beach
The Campbell family and Piglet!
Jack, Riley and me in dinosaur fossil pit at Animal Kingdom.
Buzz, Riley and Mommy at the Magic Kingdom
One of my favorites...this is Riley on the Haunted Mansion ride - he is literally smashed behind our arms on his own accord. Too cute...
Riley giving a thumbs up with his new astronaut friend!
Tina (me) and my Daddy - circa 1964
June 7th 2008 - This was the day of the National Race for the Cure in DC. What a fabulous (and quite warm!) day! I was part of the Postal Team at HQs and due to the wonderful support of friends and family was able to raise a total of $1375 for the event - thanks everyone!
A small group of friends, along with Jack and Riley, made the foggy trek into the nation's capitol for the 5K walk at 6am. As it turned out, Lisa, Chris and I ran the event and made it to the finish line in about 39 minutes. It was blazing by the time we finished due to the humidity.
Then, the staff in the Survivor's Tent asked me to participate in the "Best Costume" because of my t-shirt and guess what??!! I came in second place! What a hoot! I also had more pictures taken of my chest (and back) than I have ever had in my life...too funny. I handed out some little cards with my blog address, so if any of you lovely ladies are checking this out - hello to you!!!
So I have posted some photos for your viewing pleasure!
Check out Oprah's site for a great smoothie recipe that Dr. Oz makes for breakfast: Oprah With Dr. Oz's Green Smoothie. I have also posted an excerpt below.
This is the Oprah show that Kris Carr is part of also. Kris is the author of Crazy, Sexy Cancer and also of the documentary with the same name that airs on TLC. She is an awesome person who has had a tremendous impact on so many people. Check out my archive for September 2007 when I met her at her first book signing in VA!
An excerpt from 0prah.com:
"What's in Dr. Oz's green drink?
* 2 cups spinach
* 2 cups cucumber
* 1 head of celery
* 1/2 inch or teaspoon ginger root
* 1 bunch parsley
* 2 apples
* Juice of 1 lime
* Juice of 1/2 lemon
After everything is combined in a blender, this recipe makes 28 to 30 ounces—about three to four servings. Oprah takes a sip and is pleasantly surprised. "It's a glass of fresh," she says."
I love that - A Glass Of Fresh.
Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and all the other wonderful moms in the world. It is a big job and I just want to say thanks to my Mom for all the intangible gifts you have given - they really are the best!
Love and hugs,
Tina
Randy, Mommy, and Tina (me) circa 1964 I recently came across a recommendation for a book called I Am Grateful by Terces Engelhart and Orchid. Wow, what a great book and insight into the lifestyle of the abundant couple, Terces and Matthew. This book includes recipes from their San Francisco based cafes, along with lifestyle tidbits. I love the names of the dishes on their menu and in the book, such as "I Am Passionate", I Am Ravishing", and "I Am Grace". Isn't that fabulous? When you order your food in the restaurant you ask for them by this name and when your server brings them to you they proclaim as the are sitting down your desired dish that "You Are Passionate", "You Are Ravishing", and "You Are Grace". I love that.
Prior to the epiphany of the cafe concept, they came up with a board game called The Abounding River that, based on my reading, explores the mind/eye opening experience of how abundant we all really are. They also have a workbook to further encourage that way of thinking, and ultimately of living that lifestyle. The illustrations throughout the game, workbook,and their cafes are by artist Frank Riccio and are awesome. After developing the board game and book, the idea came to Terces and Matthew to open a cafe serving plant based foods that would continue to uplift and inspire, and from what I have seen, I think they have succeeded. It is uplifting to read about it all in their book and on their website: www.cafegratitude.com.
They have several awesome cafes in the San Francisco area, which just makes me want to go out there for a raw cuisine visit even more. My mouth waters as I read through the recipes - "I am Hoping" to be able to enjoy their abundance in the future. Thanks to two more people striving to make a positive impact in the world!
Okay, so Jack and I weren't able to go to NYC for the meetup with Kris Carr and the Crazy Sexy group this past weekend like I wanted - but I felt like we were there in spirit. We were completely bummed, but that is the way it turned out.
It is such a bummer to get laid off. What a contrast...in the same week I get a 25 year federal service pin* and Jack gets a severance package. Have a nice day.
All is good though. We went out to play tennis tonight, or should I say hit some balls around. I actually could hit a tennis ball. This is pretty big news. I have been working hard on my strength and I think it is paying off.
Hugs to all,
Tina
*What?! Can you believe that? And yes, I REALLY did start out as a teenager!
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Plastic straws made with petroleum are so yucky for the environment and potentially you, especially if you drink hot fluids from them. Please, if you do continue to use them STOP using them for hot stuff. Double yucky.
For alternatives, the following links are for "better" straws for you and the environment:
For biodegradable straws made from corn (only for cold drink) - these work great!:
Green Home
Green Earth Office Supply
World Centric
or for (very cool) Glass Straws that you can use for hot or cold:
Living Nutrition
Slurp it up!
Tina
A Present from Memaw
Riley and Patrick
Riley and Mommy putting the candles on the cake!
The following two photos were taken by Jonah's Mommy, Mia - very cool! 
Postal Stampede - 5K Walk on the National Mall
