Cleanse: Day 1

Blueberry Oatmeal!!

I have cooked my share of oatmeal in my day... About 98% was the quaker packaged quick oats, usually accompanied with these "fruit" chunks... and lots of sugar... Thinking about it now, I am curious to know what those "fruit" chunks really are!! haha!! My co-worker brought in some oatmeal one day, and I had to have the recipe... And guess what... ITS EASY!!!

Gluten Free Oats.

Almond Milk.

Cinnamon.

Vanilla.

Fresh Fruit.

I used blueberries as my fruit.. So i just combined it all in a pot and cooked it! Best oatmeal I have ever had!! Soooo good!! If you like it sweeter you can always add agave nectar!

Lady V!

About 8 months ago I began talking to this nice gentleman, a couple months later it developed into a relationship. This Saturday we celebrated our "6 month"-versary! He tells me to close my eyes... and sets a wrapped present in front of me. He then turns on his camera and begins to record me open the most amazing gift I have ever received! Beneath the beautifully wrapped paper, was a VITAMIX BLENDER!!!! Yes.........a VITAMIX BLENDER!!!!! I was literally in shock! I have never felt the "speech-less" feeling before... My heart felt like it was literally going to pound out of my chest! I was just sooo surprised...shocked...excited...happy... UGH! Its just the best... As is my boyfriend!! :)

I decided this little gal.. the vitamix.. needs a name! So I did some brief research and realized that Vita is latin for Life... Fitting, i know! Sooo I decided Lady V would be her name! Standing for Lady of Life!

So, yesterday I went to Trader Joes and Hy-Vee to stalk up on blendables! My first smoothie: Water, Kale, Raspberries, Banana, Pear, Carrot! It was deeeelish! :) Pictures and more posts to come!!!

I am so thankful to have received Vitamix... But I am even more thankful for the guy behind the gift! He is simply amazing!! :)

Can a demotion send you in an up motion?

I ASKED for a demotion... Never thought that would be in my career path. Never thought I would voluntarily go backwards! I woke up the next morning thinking, "Was I high yesterday?" May have been one of the single hardest decisions I have made in my 26 little years!

I know... You want the dirt.. the juice... the reason behind this crazy decision! Well I hope you have time because this could be awhile! haha!!

Last year I took the job as Facility Supervisor with a gung ho attitude! I was ready to change some lives!!! I was scared.. I didn't know if I could do it.. I didn't know if I was ready... But I shot for the moon! I was quickly thrown into a position, and came to realize I didn't really know what I was doing! Over the last year I have spent a lot of time trying very hard to learn the position, the paper work, everything that came with the job. I compare the last year of my life to a 3 ring circus... An out of control circus in which I would spend time in one ring getting things under control and the other two would spiral out of control.. So I would leave and go tend to another ring... and this went on... and on.. and on.... All while trying to have a social life, focus on my health, train for a half marathon, continue on a path of self-discovery, AND living 90 miles from my family for the first time in my life! Everyday was up and down... I would wake up happy and ready to take on the world, and by the end of the day I felt like I accomplished nothing and had no desire to clean my room.. my car... run... eat healthy....

I decided something needed to change in January. I gave it all I had... I changed my eating habits... Running became a part of my life.. Heck, I even won a Wellness Challenge through my chiropractor! But still.... I continued to feel like the ring leader of this out of control circus!

I sat down with myself and said, this can't happen anymore.. for you.. for your company.. for those around you... this must STOP! So the decision of what to do.... demote or find another job... Another job is always appealing... A new chance, new co-workers, new opportunities... But what was it that I wanted? What would I do... After going to the job websites I realized I had NO IDEA what I would do! Secretary? Did I reallly want that or was I just telling myself it sounded like a good idea.

A position came open working directly with the individuals at work... Great hours.. I know all the individuals and co-workers... So I was left with the question.. apply or not to apply... What do I want to accomplish in this life? Do I want to go back to school? What would be my dream job? Can I get there with my current position.... After tears and many many many discussions with my parents, sister, boyfriend, friends and current co-workers I just felt like for me, for my dream, this needed to happen! Someone posted on my facebook, "Some of the best dances start by taking a step backwards first" :)

So, here we are..... I have officially demoted.... I don't know where this will all lead me, but I am excited!

breathe. dream. love.

Teeney bit of Heen!

Lazy Perfectionist

I have always joked around that I am a lazy perfectionist. By this, I mean that when I actually do something... like clean my room I want it done perfect. Growing up I hated cleaning my room.. I mean they didn't call me "Messy Jessi" for no reason... BUT when I did clean my room I did it perfect! Lining up all the little trinkets on my dressers... labeled my drawers.. organized the closet by color. This is how I have done a lot of things in my life. I either do it perfect, or don't really do it at all.

I have always known I was a lazy perfectionist, but I always just associated it with house work. Until now!! I realize I do it in all aspects of my life!! My room, my work, my diet..... And this is why my weightloss journey looks like a heart monitor! Up.. Down.. Up.. Down..........

Its like I become obsessed with new things... engulf my life with it.. and then when I can't be "perfect" and I just stop it all together! Aside from being a vegetarian... I have done this with every other thing I have tried to do! I mean I have given up pop like 53 times in the last year! haha! I feel like realizing this has been the biggest EUREKA in my life so far!! Because now I can recognize it and not fall into a "lazy perfectionist" trap!

Since January 18, 2011... I have been going on a great path! Not a path of perfection.. but a path of success!!

I have a lot of recipes and great new discoveries to share! So I promise not to leave you waiting for weeks like I have been!

Much Love,
Greeeeeeen Perfectly Imperfect Heen

Funky to Fresh

Why hello there... sweet blog of mine!

It has been awhile! I did not abandon you! I was looking over past posts and we have been on a bit of a roller coaster since I started you!!

Soo, I suppose I should update you....... Well, it's not been good! Not good at all! My diet has consisted of Pop, Scooters, Fries, Ranch, Cheese... McDonald's, Runza.... It's just been bad!!! So, what have I been feeling because of this.. TIRED, ANGRY, NEGATIVE! I have been irritable.. crabby... negative... I just have felt inside that I have been going through the motions.

I of course tried a couple times to "diet" "eat healthy" whatever you want to call it... give up pop for the 40th time this year.. NOTHING was getting me out of this FUNK I was in!! I was talking to Liz and Lindz and I would have great ideas and concepts, but I was just not following through!! I got the book A Course in Weightloss 21 spiritual lessons to losing the weight forever by Marianne Williamson (One amazing lady!) This is where things began to click!!!!

This book is helping me to look into why I have issues with eating, weight, and being healthy. I have recently discovered that I like to run away from things! My apartment is messy... I just keep running away from the problem instead of cleaning it! I am doing this with EVERYTHING I don't want to deal with.. Work, Money, etc..... I realized with some of these things I have been running for a couple years... and the problem is not getting better! I am not magically getting money in my account, by not addressing the problem!

Soooo... I set a date and said I am starting with my health because I need to feel good to tackle the other things! So, Monday November 29th I made the change! I decided I needed to go strict for awhile or I would just fall back into the cycle... So, NO pop, NO caffeine, NO chips.. and then I am trying hard to say NO to bread, noodles, tortillas, milk, cheese, eggs...

Day 1-4 were the hardest because of the caffeine headaches! I also had to tackle 4 out to eat experiences. I had a thin crust veggie pizza with NO cheese at pizza hut... soup and salad at olive garden.. eggs and hash browns at ihop.. and a pretzel at the mall! Soo, I tried to make the best decisions at each place. and I feel good about my decisions!!

I am now on day 9 with NO CHIP, POP, or CAFFEINE which hasn't happened in... well EVER!! haha!! Even when I was cleansing last year I had corn chips!! Soo this is huge!!

How am I feeling now.. OMGOSH! MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!! My tiredness has decreased GREATLY!! I am feeling like I have soo much more energy!! My plan is to stick with it until December 23rd, and then pick back up again December 27th. Then December 31st- January1st off and then January 2nd to the marathon.. back at it!

I am glad to be back!!!
I missed you!!!

Peace and Love,
Heen

Operation NiCE!

One of my favorite blogs to stalk is Operation NiCE. Melissa is the blog master who posts about all things NiCE!!! Her consistent positive NiCE-ness is such an inner spark ignitor! She posted a couple days ago about a woman named Michelle who was turning 34, and for her birthday did 34 Random Acts of Kindness!! Which sends shivers of excitement down my spine when I think about my 26th birthday... because I am totally copying Michelle!!


Operation NiCE is turning TWO!! To celebrate Melissa challenged her blog readers to place NiCE Notes around for others to find! She also said to take pictures and email them to her to be posted!! So here is one of my NiCE notes, combined with a little Random Act of Kindness! :)

Random Act of NiCE!

Peace and Love,
Heen

My new found love.... Coconut Oil!

I just discovered the dirty talking, coconut oil!!! I have been using it as a moisturizer for a couple weeks now. Applying it liberally when I get out of the shower, and dabbing it off with a towel. I can already feel a difference in my skin!!

I have been hearing coconut oil is also a great oil to cook with. I have not had much of a chance to try it until tonight... and WOW!! So I made green bean - mushroom stir-fry you could call it, and roasted beets!

Green Bean and Mushroom "stir-fry"

So I heated up the wok with a little EVCO as Rachel Ray would say... aka extra virgin coconut oil.
Then cut up my green beans (fresh and organic from my fave CSA Fox Run Farms!)
Then my mushrooms (not local unfortunately)
And then did the stir fry thing for awhile.
Then pressed two cloves of fresh garlic into the deliciousness.
Then stir and fryed until everything was cooked!

I feel like the coconut oil made it cook differently, and enhanced the flavor differently. I felt when I cooked with olive oil it made the food taste heavy, if that even makes sense. I am now in love with cooking with Coconut Oil!!!

Yo, dj... Give me a beet!

So, this is where the dirty talk really happens!

slice the raw beets.

dollop of coconut oil.

roll the slices in the dollop.

splash of salt.

cook at 425 for about 20ish minutes.

enjoy.

Just beet it.

beet it.

beat it.

beat it.

No one wants to be debeeted!

Peace and Love,

Heen

Guess who's back with a brand new rap!

HEY!!!

So... I always have my blog in the back of my mind, and recently I have been thinking about it more and more!!! I love blogging, but I keep struggling with where I want to go with my blog.... and today it hit me... I want my blog to just go with me! I want my blog to represent me, and all of me! The ups and the downs!!!

I have tried to post a couple times, and it was always feeling like I was repeating myself... or I have already blogged about this struggle! So, I wouldn't write it, or wouldn't post it! But one of the dreams I have for my blog is that it will be relatedable, and people will find comfort in my struggles being similar to theirs and will then find motivation that they to can do anything they dream of!!

Soo, my blog is going to come with me for the ride! Up and down! And I am very excited because we have some great things coming up in the future!!! 8 to Great training in 5 days!! Salt Lake City in a week!! Raw veggie cleanse in a week and 4 days when i get back from UT!!! 10k training for September!! Taking classes online through Clayton College of Natural Health!!!!

SUPER PUMPED!!!

Soo, I will be in touch!!!!
Peace and Love,
Heen

i. feel. like. an. addict.

Ok.. I am going to ramble.. I am tired, but I want to get this out of my head!!!

I am scared! I want to be healthy.. I want to be thinner, a healthy thin! I want it... I want it really bad (so I think), but why do I keep self sabatoshing??? What is the reason I keep making poor food choices?!? When I eat healthy, I don't feel deprived of food! I actually feel full of energy! So why then am I able to talk myself into McDonalds or pop? I literally HATE both those things morally for soo many reasons! But yet I support them... I feel like a drug addict in a way! I know better, but I can't stop!!! I need a plan, but I have made them before? What do I need to change??? I don't have a very "supportive" environment.. and it is no ones fault... I am just constantly surrounded by people making food choices, that are opposite of the ones I would like to make... But maybe this battle is this way so it helps me to find the strength to do it on my own!

I walked/ran the half marathon today and I was soo happy running it, but crossing the finish line didn't do it for me.. I felt like a faker.. I wasn't proud of myself at all.. I am ashamed because I know I can do it and I have been making TERRIBLE food choices, and have been SUPER lazy! I didn't deserve to be proud!!! I really didn't!!!

This has been a 7 year battle... when will it end! Maybe thats just it... When will I make it end!?! I just needed to get all that out... I love motivating and supporting others... why can't I do it for myself?? I want that amazing euphoric feeling I had last July/August!!

peace and love,

frazzled heen

simple. thoughts.

blog.

blog.

blog.

I have not abandoned you.

Honestly, I have had soo many different thoughts going on! Good thoughts. Just a lot of them. A lot of soul searching thoughts... What do I want to be.. What do I want to stand for... All things I want to blog about, but it seems they just flood my mind and when I start to blog I can't focus... And it just becomes a rambling.... Which is what they are doing to my head which is making it hard to focus on anything!! I catch myself just like starring off a lot.. Like I am not really with it... Soo, I have decided to try and just focus on some small simple things....

healthy food choices. vegan.

not spending money. thrifting.

getting active. not focusing on "working out" but being active.

positivity. surrounding myself with positive people.

gratitude.

peace and love.

heen.

Mother Teresa

Hola!! I apologize I have not been blogging lately!!! I have been super busy trying to be outside as much as possible because I am in love with this weather!!!!!!!!!!!

So I was checking Operation NICE today, and she had a post about the yes yes blog and karama cards (which I recommend checking out! GREAT idea!!) So, I was checking out the newly found website and was looking at some past blogs and she had one about my fave Mother Teresa, she had posted a poem that is inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta. I had to share it, because it is simply amazing!

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.

I just LOVE it!!!
Peace and Love,
Heen

Green Lemonade!!!!

Last summer I bought one of my favorite inventions... The Juicer!!! Lindsay had went to a local raw foods "cooking" class and had learned about Green Lemonade. While visiting her she whipped me up a cup and at first I was not in love... She had put fresh ginger in, which I haven't been able to get my tastebuds to enjoy. I got a juicer of my own and made a green lemonade with no ging... and that is when I fell in love!!!

GREEN LEMONADE

Today I juiced: Kale, Celery, Romaine, Lemon, and Apple

Look at the love flow out of the juicer!!

Here she is folks......... Green Lemonade!!!

:)

Peace and Love,

Heen

Today I am grateful for the wonderful day God has given me... The beautiful sun shining through the windows and the sound of birds chirping outside!!!

I am grateful for Pandora radio!!

I am grateful for Green Lemonade and the energy it gives me!!

I am grateful for the outlook of a great day of volunteering, and then running with Nikki!!!

I am grateful I am the oldest sibling, and I get to watch Kendra, Alexa, and Andrew grow.. learn.. and become wonderful people!! I have the best seat in the house!!

From Anti to PRO!

I heard the most profound thing today!! I was watching the movie The Secret, which is a post in itself so I won't go into too much... But they said we put a lot of focus on the negative, when we should be looking at things in a positive way... They said people would try to get Mother Teresa to attend Anti-War rallies... and Mother Teresa said if you have a peace rally, then invite me!!

I can't stop thinking about this!! This is soo true!! In the last year especially I have spent a lot of time saying I am anti-this and that!! For example, I have said I am anti-meat.. I am quick to tell everyone all the bad things about meat.. and it has been a battle that has gone no where!!! I have not gotten anyone to eat meat any less. Not that my goal is to get people to quick eating meat, but I thought if people really knew the bad things about meat why would they even eat them!! But now I am choosing to be Pro-Veggies!!! Looking back, the real reason I was attracted to my current lifestyle was all of the great things fruits and veggies have to offer!!

Another thing I have been very Anti is smoking.. So I am no longer going to be Anti-Smoking but Pro-Breathing!! There is nothing better than taking a deep breath and feeling your blood pump through your body and fill it energy! Just like smokers take smoke breaks.. I am going to take breathing breaks!! Five minutes every couple hours to just STOP everything and BREATH!!!

I challenge you to look at your anti's.. and how you can make them PRO's!!!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!! :)

Peace and Love,
Heen


Today I am grateful for this insight into a whole new perspective on things!!!
I am grateful for the sun shining in my office and filling the room with light!!!
I am grateful for my sense of humor, and surrounding my self with people who love to laugh as much as I do!!!
I am grateful to work in an environment where we get to help individuals with disabilities to reach their goals in life and empower them to strive for more!!
I am grateful for technology and the ability to keep in touch with my friends near and far!!!

Joie de Vivre!!!!

So my cousin is an amazing writer! He has written one book, and it working on two others.. I had sent him an email a couple weeks ago asking about life.. How things were going... I told him about my move and what I was up to.. had to name drop my blog so he could check it out! Since he was a writer I was a little nervous for him to read it!! He writes letters to all the family every couple weeks putting a quirky twist on his life in Cincinatti! They are always enjoyable to read.. Sometimes he does go on tangents where I get super lost in his intellectual ramblings (I say ramblings in a good way!!) sooo sometimes for me they are very educational!! Soo I got an email back from him today which was great, but what was even greater was in the email he gave me one of the best compliments! He said he read my blog and it was full of joie de vivre.. which I of course googled means enjoyment of life!!

I love it!! Thanks Dan!!

Peace and Love,

Green Heen

Gratefuls:

I am grateful for the wonderful email and kind words from my cousin Daniel I recieved today!!

I am grateful for a wonderful time at Fox Run Farms yesterday!! I love the Baileys!! I also love f. tv!

I am grateful for a great night of volleyball!! We were pretty rough around the edges when the season started, but we came sooo far!! It was a lot of fun!!!

I am grateful for a healthy lunch!!

I am grateful for my friend Jerome who will send random texts that always make the day even brighter!!

I am grateful Lindsay and I started emailing each other each morning a list of our gratefuls!

Today I am grateful for....

My friend Lindsay got to listen to a speaker one day named MK Mueller. She has a book and program called 8 to Great. One of the things she talks about it being grateful. MK Mueller suggests starting your day off with at least 3 things you are grateful for. I love it!!! We often find ourselves sharing all the bad things going on when we talk to those around us, and we tend to leave out all the great things!! I get emails from TUT everyday, and in every email is Thoughts become things, choose good ones!!

So I would LOVE to share what I am grateful for today:

I am grateful for the sun!!

I am grateful for a wonderful day!!

I am grateful for a great conversation with Lindsay today!!

I am grateful for great employees!

I am grateful I cleaned my juicer so I can make juice in the morning!!

I am grateful for a wonderful and safe weekend!!!

Peace and Love,

Green Heen

Kiss me.. I'm Irish!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Today is one of my favorite holidays!! I have been talking about it for the last couple days, and I have encountered a couple St. Patty's Day scrooges you could say... They are sort of bahh hummbugish about it! It's just another day... Just a reason to drink... I don't see the point... I have heard this about Valentine's Day.. Birthdays... and other holidays as well... What's the point?

Well, if we didn't have holidays and birthdays would we make time to celebrate and get together? In a world like today when some families are too busy to sit down and eat as a family together at night, would they make time to stop everything and spend time with each other and have a good time if there were no holidays??? Think about certain relatives that you have that you only see at Christmas.. thanksgiving... graduations... If we didn't celebrate those occasions would you see them?!?!

I love holidays! I love birthday!! I love it all!! I love them because they are always full of positiveness!! I work with individuals with disabilities. Everyday I walk into the workshop and see everyone doing their normal everyday tasks, I always get some hellos, but usually people stay on task and keep to themselves... I walk into today, keep in mind I have my sweet blinking shamrock earrings on, and I see smiles EVERYWHERE!! People showing me their green attire, saying Happy St. Patty's Day, everyone is talking about the special corn beef and cabbage lunch we are having, everyone is smiling... They get it!! They get the point of the day!! They get that day isn't really about St. Patrick who drove the snakes out of Ireland... The point is to stop our normal face paced, have to do a million things at a time to get things done attititude and talk to each other.. laugh with each other!!! The day is about celebrating life and having a good time!! Not once today did I see someone frown... THAT'S THE POINT!!!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!
Peace and Love,
GREEN Heen!

We are the world!!!

So I stumbled across this AMAZING video on youtube... It is an fabulous version of We Are The World sung by undiscovered youtube talent compiled together by Lisa Lavie! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hhX0KkQBW4&feature=player_embedded

I tried to post the video right here, but it would only display half of the screen... So just hit up the link!

Peace and Love,

Green Heen

Operation NICE

I recently stumbled across the blog http://www.operationnice.com/ and it has quickly become my new stalking grounds!! A whole blog dedicated to all things NICE!!! What a concept!! LOVE-LOVE-LOVE!!!!

Check it out!

Here is the first post which explains how Operation NICE got started!! I encourage you to check it out!!! http://www.operationnice.com/2008/07/welcome-to-operation-nice.html

Peace and Love,
Green Teen