First and formost I should admit to not being completely surprised by this since Kashi sold themselves out to Kellogs.

However, I am so proud of the Green Grocer for stepping up to the plate by yanking Kashi products from their shelves:

Photo Credit

The yellow signs read: “You might be wondering where your favorite Kashi cereals have gone. It has recently come to our attention that 100% of the soy used in Kashi is Genetically Modified and that when the USDA tested the grains used there were found to be pesticides that are known carcinogens and hormone disruptors.”

That's one of the few times I may ever muster a "thank you" to the USDA. As consumers it is our right to know these details. We are unaware of political B.S. and are bullied and blinded by the false pretense that the FDA and USDA are out to protect us. They're not.

In my opinion, there is nothing worse than thinking you're eating healthy when in reality you may not be.

It is news like this:

Click to view Larger | Click for Details

...that make us more informed and can therefore make better choices when we're shopping.

Make the effort to know the corporate family trees, and the small companies that sell themselves out to the big companies--IE: Kashi, LARABAR, Back to Nature, Muir Glen--just to name a few.

Is one of your favorite "Natural" companies tangled up in that web? They are [potentially] corrupt!

HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT, RIGHT?!

I've posted the image above on my facebook page several weeks back, so hopefully this isn't a complete shock to you, but if it is, I'm so glad you're seeing it now.

At the very least, I hope people who would otherwise not know, know.

If you have a minute, please continue to read the following posts:

Kashi & The Truth About GMOs
Natural vs. Organic Cereal

And if you want to know even more, watch this:



Today is the LAST DAY to enter my latest giveaway. Click Here to get the details.

Also, if you missed yesterday's post about labeling, please click here to read it & sign the petition--we only have until this Friday!

Happy Wednesday!



Until the FDA mandates GMO ingredients to be labeled, we will forever be in the dark and have to depend on Organic products as well as the the Non GMO Project. To sign the petition; click here.

You all know I am very passionate about GMO's being labeled. If you haven't read Are You Food Illiterate or I Cannot Unlearn this Information, I strongly suggest reading them--even the comments! Then the following information may make a little more sense if you weren't one of the 1.1 million voices demanding the FDA label GMO's. They're response? "We haven't made a decision yet."

The USDA is on the brink of approving a type of corn genetically engineered to withstand 2,4-D herbicide, which some studies have shown may be linked to reproductive abnormalities, birth defects, and several forms of cancer.

Approval of Dow Chemical's genetically engineered corn would trigger an increase in 2,4-D use and our exposure to this herbicide.

Although we might not all agree on the science concerning the long-term effects of eating GMO's, we should be able to decide for ourselves whether to feed them to our families. But if the USDA approves this new corn, we won't be able to make that choice since genetically engineered foods aren't labeled. 

Urge the USDA to reject the genetically engineered 2,4-D resistant corn until these concerns are addressed.

Before the USDA makes a decision, they've asked to hear from people like you and me, but they're only accepting comments from the public until Friday! We must make sure they understand our concerns about this new kind of genetically engineered corn.

The herbicide 2,4-D is a persistent chemical with a habit of spreading into the water we drink, the grass our children and pets play on, and the soil beneath our backyard gardens. Plus a growing number of farmers are concerned about the potential impact on their crops from the herbicide drifting onto their fields.

We care about the food we eat, that's why we blog, workout, and try to eat healthy. We asked the FDA to label genetically engineered ingredients, now let's speak up before the USDA approves 2,4-D resistant corn with absolutely no labeling, which could unleash a new wave of chemicals in our environment.

Help flood the USDA comment box before it's too late.

Contact the USDA today and bring attention to these critical food issues -- sign the petition -- spread the word!



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Help Mobilize the Earth

Earth Hour 2012: Lights off this Saturday, March 31 @ 8:30pm Worldwide.

On Saturday, March 31st at 8:30 pm local time, the world will unite to support the largest environmental event in history—Earth Hour, by turning off lights for one hour.

In 2011, more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries switched off their lights in honor of the event. Support can be seen on a monumental scale with global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Rome’s Coliseum, Sydney Harbour Bridge and Seattle's Space Needle turning out their lights, and participation is expected to grow this year. The celebration continues year-round as Earth Hour inspires people to think Beyond the Hour by taking action in their daily lives...

Beyond the Hour: What can you do to make a lasting impact?

I choose to consume local plant-based foods. Our food should provide energy, not make us tired. Clean, local, plant-based foods lessen the energy our body must spend on digestion and assimilation, thus more energy it will retain. The same principle can be applied to how we look at the impact our food choices have on the Earth’s health.

If you have been hanging around my blog this week, you'll know I'm a huge advocate for Brendan Brazier's company Vega. Brendan addresses the critical connection between food choices and environmental sustainability in his book, Thrive Foods, with the Nutrient-to-Resource Ratio. The Ratio examines the amount of each natural resource that goes into food production, in exchange for the amount of nutrients that food offers.

For example, if one person substituted their "standard American breakfast" of bacon, eggs, coffee and toast, with a whole food smoothie for one year, the CO2 emissions saved would be equivalent to driving from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico!

That's incredible to me.

Learn more about how you can make small changes to your lifestyle by incorporating plant-based or Thrive Foods into your diet.

View the Video Below to Learn More About Thrive Foods:




Will you be participating in Earth Hour 2012?

------------

I have inundated myself with information I cannot unlearn.

While I attempt to sort through everything and create topics to share appropriately here on the blog, I am beyond overwhelmed with where to start... which might explain this passionate post.

I want to share and keep sharing, especially to those who are unaware, or simply do not have the time to research these unfortunate realities about what we are eating.

Do you know what you are eating? When we visit the grocery store we assume because it is on their shelves it is safe to consume, and this couldn't be further from the truth.

In fact, trolling the produce aisle isn't safe anymore. People stocking up on fruits and veggies may be defeating the purpose merely because what they are buying could be genetically modified unless it is labeled organic. As I explained in this post, the PLU or Item number must start with a 9 to be organic. If it starts with an 8, it is in fact a GMO; however because GMOs are not required to be labeled, it's fair game on all other numbers EXCEPT 9. Make sense?

I am a huge advocate for Just Label It. Organic farmers have to go through hoops and loops to verify or prove they are organic, yet the farmers injecting his or her crops with poison hormones and other toxic proteins do not? That doesn't make sense AT ALL if you ask me!

We all deserve the right to make informed choices. Start by watching this video:



Robyn said that it is about making changes by trying to eat less processed food, and that it is about progress not perfection. While I agree with this, I must say that if you did the research yourself, I can almost promise you, you would become physically ill and consciously avoid such toxins found in most foods.

It starts by paying attention to what's in food. It progresses by research, and grows by passion. I hope this video and the posts I publish here on this blog inspire you to be deliberate about your food choices.

------------

Guess what? IT'S FRIDAY!!


I noticed yesterday, a lot of people wore GREEN in celebration of March. So let's talk about a few things GREEN today:)


We kicked off this week with my Super Green Drink Recipe, and I was very happy to learn some of you appreciate your greens! Did you know there's a little controversy between eating and drinking your veggies, though? You can read more about that here.

One thing I really want to make sure everyone knows about this recipe or why it is super is because of the Nature Source Green Enzymes & Super Greens.  

I encourage everyone to look into Macro Greens OR Garden of Life's Perfect Food Original to boost your phytochemical/alkalinity levels, which will not only give you a strong(er) immune system but will boost your alkalinity and fight off any toxins amongst other health benefits! Now that's a green drink with a purpose!

Speaking of green...



Click here to learn more and get your green on! Even if you don't publish WIAW posts, Jenn has such a large following of participates, you are sure to get inspired! Check it out:)

If that's not enough green inspiration, Amanda has launched yet another amazing challenge -- this time, a 30-day vegan challenge. Click here to read her kick off post and get yourself signed up. I feel like I'm cheating because I'm already raw, vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free, but for those of you who aren't, this could be a great opportunity to incorporate more green on your plate!

If you haven't figured it out yet, Green is Mean! In the spirit of going GREEN this month go big! Get some wheatgrass, spirulina kombucha, chlorella, elderberry, echinacea...

Stop by again tomorrow for my yummy creamy chia kale chip recipe!

And I almost forgot!

In honor of Day Two for the March Photo of the Day...



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When I lived in California I had an amazing workout routine. I started everyday with Pilates at 6AM, Yoga at 7AM, and a lift sesh with my Brother at 8AM. We usually wouldn't lift for more than 45 minutes, so I'd end our routine with a burnout of some sort, whether it be curls, abs, or running for the remaining 15 minutes.

After work, usually around 6PM I had a date with the treadmill for about 30-45 minutes and closed out my day with a beautifully anticipated steam room session before heading home for dinner. Life was good.

Because of this workout routine, I adopted this Super Green Drink. It's perfect post workout, or you can do what I did, and sip a quarter at a time--which you should be doing anyway if you're work out is over an hour.


Super Green Drink or Green Monster (raw, vegan, gluten and soy free)

20oz Water or Green Tea
1 Handful of broccoli (stems & all)
1-2 Scoops of protein
1 Scoop Glucose-amine
1 Scoop Flaxseed (golden, grounded)
1 Scoop "Nature Source" Green Enzymes
1 Scoop Super Greens
1/4 Cup GF Oatmeal*

*Post workout I would drink this and eat 1/4 cup of oatmeal for the much needed carbs; however, when I was running late or knew I would be short on time I would put the gluten-free oats in the drink. It thickens it up, and tastes phenomenal with the green tea!

Depending on what is in your fridge, consider adding the following:

Kale
Chard
Spinach
Red or Green Cabbage
Cilantro
1/2 Beet

Obviously Green Drink combinations are endless, and while my favorite recipe is timeless, even now I find myself adding things like Aloe Vera Gel, Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric, and Milk Thistle to make them even better.


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It has been Spring Cleaning on my website the last few days -- have you noticed the changes? While a lot of bloggers have been revamping his or her blog as of late, I thought I would start small with just a quick clean up.

If you look at the top (middle) right, you will notice a few new pages: Giveaways, Awards & Affiliations, and Disclaimer. 

Instead of having ALL of these things paraded on my homepage, I have designated areas for better viewing. Hopefully now my website it less chaotic for those who didn't know where to look first! :)

Giveaways:
This should be everyone's go-to-page to see what amazing giveaways I am hosting, know about, or have entered myself. This is also a page where you can add/link up a giveaway of your own, or one you entered and want to share the love with others. Check it out:)

Awards & Affiliations:
This page is where all my fun awards I have won are posted. Each award is linked to my original post where you can either learn more about me, find other bloggers you should be following as well as play along -- consider yourself officially tagged if you have never received any of the awards posted!

The Affiliations listed are all the fun social networks I am part of. Each image is linked to learn more about what they offer and why you may want to be part of the network as well!

Disclaimer:  
Do you need a blog disclaimer? Probably not, since you are most likely hosted via Blogspot or WordPress and have a blanket protection; however, it doesn't hurt to have it if you consistently discuss touch-y topics.

Most of my posts have been about my Adventures, thus not exactly applicable; however the legal side of me found it necessary to add this page particularly for the future posts I plan on publishing. While it is packed with relevant information, I included some fun, too, so check it out and by all means use as a reference if you feel you need a disclaimer as well.

You may have noticed that I am officially part of the Healthy Living Community Wellsphere. I am actually really excited about this because one of my goals this year is to share more and more of my passion for nutrition and overall healthy living. Are you part of this community, too? If you are--let's be friends!

Buttons:
Do you have a button for your blog? I do! Some people do not understand or care about these buttons, but I have a background in PR and marketing so I strongly suggest "branding" your blog for exposure and recognition! If you need help, it's super easy--read this, or simply email me!

That being said...

Blog Buddies:
If you have a blog button, we should swap buttons! You grab mine and I'll grab yours.. ;)



<br/><a border="0" href="http://jennsadventures.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n193/hinano_/Button1-revised.jpg"/></a><br/>


FitBlogger:
I am excited to share that I am now part of the Fit Blogger Community and will be a Featured Blogger on March 2, 2012!! I look forward to hopefully growing my readership and reaching more people as I share more pertinent information about health and nutrition. Part of my passion for nutrition is to expose or blow the whistle on otherwise unknown facts we may never have known the truth about (I.E. this post).


Spencer's Market:
I am also a HUGE fan of Spencer's Market. In fact, I wrote about it in detail here, and you can--and should--sign up for it here! I have scored some amazing finds for sweet deals I otherwise would not have known about. You can specify your food preferences and look forward to exclusive offers anytime you log in. It has truly made my transition from carnivore to herbivore that much easier.




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I have a confession.

I have consciously put off composing articles about the extensive research I have been conducting alldayeveryday since 11/01/2011. Why?

For several reasons. Two main reasons being: people don't really care. and people don't really change. 

Cynical? ..YES. In my fit-of-fury right now, I'll admit to that. But I hope you indulge in my rant..

Have you ever noticed the things in life that are too simple are almost always disregarded?


People disregard crucial information relevant to their everyday health, and come up with ridiculous justifications.

How many lives do we get? One.

How many bodies do we get? One.

Let's take care of the one body we have so we can live a long, healthy life in the one life we get. We do this by caring what we put into our bodies. By knowing what we are buying and eating.

Let's educate ourselves. Don't just wonder about something -- research it, cross-reference it. We should even research opposing views so we can have prospectives from both sides and make (better) educated decisions, and be prepared for counter arguments when educating others. <-- I'm still working on that!

Why am I so fired up?

Here's why:

It's estimated that a jaw-dropping 2/3 of processed foods contain genetically engineered ingredients. Plus over 80% of corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically engineered. Not to mention that the majority of the livestock we consume have been raised on genetically engineered grains. But you'd never know by looking at food labels.

Do you look at labels? Is the Ingredients the first thing you look at? Because it should be.

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. The most frequent use of the term GMO is in relation to the food that we eat, in that many crops and factory-made foods are created from genetically modified ingredients.

Genes from other plants, viruses, bacteria, animals, etc. are inserted into the genes of certain products such as corn and soy, (click for top ten GMO crops) to make them more stable and resistant to drought, disease and pesticides.



DID YOU KNOW, GMO crops have patented genes? If you are an organic farmer downwind of another farmer choosing to modify his or her crops and their seeds spread (go up in the air and pollinate) your organic non-GMO crops (unknowingly or accidentally) the patent holder (a.k.a. MONSANTO) now has the right to control the use of those crops. Read that again--until it sinks in. You would no longer own your crops! Perhaps now Occupy Monsanto makes a little more sense?

If this pisses you off (it should!) please take action:


Here's the thing, every bit of information I just shared above is just the tip of the ice burg.

I was at Costco the other day, and walking down the aisles I became so disgusted, my stomach felt like it was turning into knots. As I looked around all I could see were large companies selling poison and other large companies making money off the diseases these products create.

Enter:




Oh, but I digress. And please don't say or even think, "but it's organic.." because it DOESN'T MATTER: sugar is sugar!

According to Dr. Jerry Lee Hover, “Eating white sugar will paralyze and hinder your white blood cells from fighting off an infection. Eating 25 teaspoons of sugar will paralyze 92% of your white blood cells for approximately five hours. The average American eats over 42 teaspoons of sugar per day." I.E. One 12 oz coke has approx. 8-10 teaspoons (Source).

I will go into detail about how sugar is killing consumers, but for now I will save that for a future post. Now I want to introduce the purpose of this post and why I am furious: PLU Labels.

Q: What is a PLU code?
A: PLU stands for price look-up code. PLUs are used on items that are sold loose or bunched, by weight or by each (i.e. an individual apple or bunch of greens). A PLU code contains 4-5 digits total. The PLU is key-entered at point of sale in order to obtain the price

I always knew those codes stood for something, I just didn't know what exactly. I also knew that a certain sequence represented U.S.A. but never knew the numbers. Since Genetically Modified (GMOs) products currently do not need to be labeled, these barcodes are crucial for reference. I urge each of you to write the following information down and take it with you the next time you are at the grocery store:

Q: How is organically grown produce coded on a PLU label?
A: The number 9 is added to the front of the regular four digit PLU code. (e.g. an organically grown banana would be 94011.)

Q: How is genetically engineered produce coded on a PLU label?
A: The number 8 is added in front of the regular four digit PLU code. (e.g. a genetically engineered vine ripe tomato would be 84805.)

"Those that run PLU-universe figured that someday some retailer might want to distinguish between a GMO and a non-GMO for price or inventory purposes. So they created a convention of 5 digits starting with an 8, just in case it catches on. But it hasn’t. No one uses that number 8 as far as we can tell. And why would they? Most Americans say they would avoid GMOs if they were labeled. 

Some seed companies don’t even want gardeners to know which seed is genetically modified. One company that sells zucchini seeds outfitted with virus genes announced that they would refuse to sell seed packets in Vermont, since the state legislature requires GM seeds to be labeled."

I did a little research of my own in my refrigerator and found this:

I am unsure about these mushrooms now, and don't event want to take the chance. Wouldn't it be great if GMO products had to be labeled? 


We deserve to know, right?





There are millions of reasons to avoid GMO's, but here's 10 reasons according to the Institute for Responsible Technology. And here's 65 health risks of GM foods if you were wondering.  

More than 80% of processed foods at U.S. grocery stores are likely to contain genetically engineered ingredients. And you wouldn't know it, because the FDA doesn't require labels for foods with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients ‒ also called genetically modified organisms (GMOs) (Source).



Tell The FDA!

A legal petition (Docket # FDA-2011-P-0723-0001/CP) has been filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling on the FDA to label genetically engineered (GE) foods.


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In a previous post I think this information may have been missed or overlooked due to the excitement and unintended novel-like length -- so I thought I would republish this in the event it missed your eye!

Since my family and I have completely changed our nutritional intake I have been in non-stop research-mode. That being said, I've also been discovering A LOT of awesome specialty-diet companies out there I never knew existed.

[Enter: Spencer's Market]

Click Here to Sign Up!

Spencer's Market is a ground breaking San Francisco company specializing in personalized vegan food discovery -- direct from the source to your doorstep. Spencer's Market introduces new products with unbeatable prices and perks. They offer the ability to find the most delicious and interesting foods from the most talented food crafters, which is especially important to me with this new and strict way of eating.

I'm inviting you exclusive access to the ultimate food discovery club -- join Spencer's Market, the destination for discovering, learning about, and buying great food from unique (and health conscious) producers.

Signing up is free and super easy. Just click this link and enter your email address. Then specify your food preferences; for example I am Raw/Vegan, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Soy-free, and Gluten-free, and of course I am interested in discovering all of their listed foods! Once you've completed all the steps you will receive emails from them with quality vegan food products, which fit your personalized food preferences. Genius. I know!

Spencer's Market is launching soon, and becoming a VIP Member earns you early access AND rewards -- so go sign up, and start spreading the word regarding this awesomeness!


-------

My Let's Talk About Food post the other day sparked a phenomenal question from Nada, author of One Arab Vegan. In my Fist Pumps post I shared about my recent purchase of the 9-Tray Large-Excalibur with 26 hour Timer #3926T and Nada was curious why I decided on the 9-tray opposed to the 5-tray.

Simple question. Simple answer! I like the best! Several years ago I bought a juicer, which was the best commercial-grade juicer on the market at that time...and it's the only juicer I've ever owned. When contemplating the dehydrator purchase, I knew I wanted the best on the market, and everyone raved about the Excalibur. So after a condensed but thorough research it was determined the 9-large tray is the factory exclusive top of the line deluxe model ideal size for large families, large gardens, and so on. It's simply the biggest and best there is, so I bought it!


Actually, it was more than that. I couldn't pass up the packaged-deal opportunity Excalibur was offering--which they extended until December 31st if you are interested. If you place your order before Dec. 31, 2011 you will receive:

FREE 10 Year Extended Warranty (On All 5 and 9 Tray Models)
FREE Polyscreen Pack
FREE 28 Page Dehydration Guide
1 FREE ParaFlexx™ Premium Non-Stick Solid Drying Sheet
FREE Shipping Via FedEx Ground (within the continental US)

All I had to do was pick the Model I wanted and the free gifts were added to my order. The price difference from the 5-tray and the 9-tray were in my opinion minimal for what you got, and I simply couldn't resist. Plus, shipping was FREE -- yes, please and thanks!

I'm a single gal so the 9-tray may be excessive, however I plan on making A LOT of yum. Think when you go into a raw/vegan health bar and you look around and you see an epic operational kitchen with everything you would ever need, shelves lined up with glass jars filled with seeds, nuts, powders, spices, and herbs... that's my goal. And I'm starting with the Excalibur. When I get to Seattle my next purchase is a VitaMix (I've been using my brother's here on Maui).


While I don't plan on opening my own raw/vegan health bar (heck, who knows, maybe I will!), I do plan on creating A LOT of awesome recipes to feed my family. I am 99.9% certain I will ALWAYS have something in the dehydrator, if not multiple trays in use at the same time.

My family (including myself!) used to be straight up carnivores and now we're 100% herbivores. Not only do I need the tools to successfully transition and maintain this new and strict lifestyle (raw/vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, gluten-free), I need recipes, inspiration, and mind-blowing meals for my family to embrace this lifestyle even more, and fall in love with this way of life because it's the way we need to be eating and living. 

Right now we've been what I consider getting by. For over six weeks now we've been living off mainly salads and other raw means to obtain a balanced nutritional intake but with out what my Dad likes to call: substance. He is a big guy, and we want to keep him a big guy. One of my biggest fears in this transition is my parents losing weight, because they really do not need to lose any more. Once we relieve ourselves from this current state of limbo, I'm hoping to get back into the kitchen where I've always been, and start (un)cooking with my lovely new impulse purchase. 

I have a strong inclination this will be a long and possibly tiring process of trial and error; however I also think that will be part of the fun and a learning curve I'm prepared for (for the most part!). Plus, don't you think that is a great new adventure to share with all of you -- my wonderful readers?!

Speaking of which, I have to give a loud and proud shout out to all my GFC followers/subscribers -- I am so stoked to see all the new faces around here. I apologize in advance for not posting regularly -- life has been very crazy since November 1st, so I encourage you to snoop around the blog and check out previous posts while I get back on my feet and begin catching everyone up on all the recent changes around here!

If you haven't already, check out my latest giveaway and get yourself entered! Only six more days and a winner will be determined!! I can't wait to find out who it is:)

-------

I don't think I have ever been so excited for a link-up before! Last week commenced my very first "What I Ate Wednesday" link-up post: "What's On Your Plate?" and then a personal fave: "Fist Pumps" and I can confidently report I am hooked. Perhaps I'm biased because Jenn spells her name with two n's like I do, or it could be because we're both passionate about healthy food..and want to share our finds and creations with everyone!

I have been receiving A LOT of awesome things in the mail as of late, and here is something I am especially excited about:

9-Tray Large-Excalibur with 26-hour Timer!!

This lil beauty is waiting for me in Seattle, and I can't wait to get introduced! I am already making a list of things I want to make... then I can share the good, the bad, and the ugly with all of you!

Since I've discovered dairy-free/soy-free "yogurts" I've been ecstatic about breakfast -- here's this week's selection:

1/2 Bowl of Plain So Delicious topped with Chia Seeds & Goji Berries!

The other 1/2 of Plain So Delicious topped with Chia Seeds, Goji Berries & Chopped Almonds!

The chocolate So Delicious by the way? SO DELICIOUS! I enjoyed it as is, no need for frills. Just a few spoonfuls hit the spot as an after dinner "treat." I haven't indulged in awhile and was pretty satisfied over the weekend making it last:)

Mom and I road tripped it to the other side of the island mainly for this...

WholeFoods

And of course we had to have lunch, too..


We were SO hungry, our salads tasted phenomenal! I covered mine in turmeric and freshly ground pepper then drizzled some Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar and just a touch of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Delish.













Since my family and I have completely changed our nutritional intake I have been in non-stop research-mode. That being said, I've also been discovering A LOT of awesome specialty-diet companies out there I never knew existed. [Enter: Spencer's Market]

Click Here to Sign Up!

Spencer's Market is a ground breaking San Francisco company specializing in personalized vegan food discovery -- direct from the source to your doorstep. Spencer's Market introduces new products with unbeatable prices and perks. They offer the ability to find the most delicious and interesting foods from the most talented food crafters, which is especially important to me with this new and strict way of eating.

I'm inviting you exclusive access to the ultimate food discovery club -- join Spencer's Market, the destination for discovering, learning about, and buying great food from unique (and health conscious) producers.

Signing up is free and super easy. Just click this link and enter your email address. Then specify your food preferences; for example I am Raw/Vegan, Dairy-free, Egg-free, Soy-free, and Gluten-free, and of course I am interested in discovering all of their listed foods! Once you've completed all the steps you will receive emails from them with quality vegan food products, which fit your personalized food preferences. Genius. I know!

Spencer's Market is launching soon, and becoming a VIP Member earns you early access AND rewards -- so go sign up, and start spreading the word regarding this awesomeness!

***

OH! And one last thing...

If your name is Christina and you're a super awesome chic from Toronto...

Random.org picked comment #4 - Christina @ The Athletarian!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Because you won my Arbonne Protein Shake Giveaway!!!! Wooohooo, you are on a winning spree, girl -- meet you in Vegas?! =)

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway. Don't fret if your name is not Christina and you're not from Toronto -- You're awesome, too, and I plan on posting yet another giveaway tomorrow -- so stay tuned!

-------

First things first...

Our New Winner of the flaunt it Running Divas Giveaway is:

Elle is the author behind Eat, Run, Sail and it just so happens I love to eat, run, and sail, too! Needless to say, we get along just great! Elle also maintains a second blog, We Can Begin to Feed where she consistently posts tasty recipes for all to enjoy. If you haven't already subscribed to Elle's blogs I encourage you to do so -- she is so sweet, and I love keeping up with her adventures. She is also on facebook, so be sure to "like" her new page! Elle, go ahead and visit the Running Divas website and let me know which product you would like, along with your mailing address so I can forward it to Aeron & Marc! Congrats on winning this awesome giveaway, I'm sure you will soon love Running Divas as much as I do if you don't already!

Okay -- on to the giveaway!!

Did you know that Arbonne is more than just make-up?!


I had no idea until my friend pampered me with a goodie bag filled with Arbonne's Essential line during paddling season. Arbonne Essentials includes Daily Essentials, Fit Essentials or a combination of the two. The step toward a healthier life is made easy with Arbonne, and they have nothing to hide in the ingredients. Everything is formulated without gluten, without artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, no colesterol, saturated fats, or trans fats, and no animal products. Arbonne's ingredients increase nutrient uptake for optimum absorption and effectiveness.

One Chocolate | One Vanilla

How would you like to shake up your routine and sample Arbonne's delicious chocolate and vanilla shake?! They each deliver 20-grams of vegan protein, in addition to 20 essential vitamins and minerals per serving.


Key ingredients are: Vegan Protein Blend (Pea Protein, Cranberry Protein, Rice Protein), Co Q10, alfalfa, ginseng, flax seed, but here's a picture of the backs for both flavors:

Right Click to View Larger

Because I am now a label nazi, I want to let you know this product contains soy from soy lecithin. You can check out more of Arbonne's Health & Wellness products by clicking here. If all that is good with you, get yourself entered into this giveaway right away by utilizing the Rafflecopter widget below.

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Rafflecopter does not validate entries (Bummer!). I love the ease it provides running giveaways though, so I'm still a fan. With that being said I need some help from all of you concerning your entries:

Please remember you must be a public follower of this blog (via the Google Friend Connect) for any of your entries to count. Also, please include your Name/Alias, email address, blog URL, and any usernames including those profile URL's if and where applicable. I cross reference every entry to ensure fairness to everyone. Providing as much information as possible within the Rafflecopter widget makes life a little easier for me:) Thanks!






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I wanted to share some random rants thoughts I've had while running lately. As you all know, I live on a beautiful small Island in the middle of the Pacific, and I even go out of my way to run a somewhat secluded route; however, it seems my little Island has the some big city issues!

Exhibit A:

No, really--you are!

People really need to slow down! I'll be the first to admit I used to be a speed-demon; however, I have slowed down so much with age, it really irks me now when people speed--especially on an island--where yah gonna go?! Even people sporting these stickers need to wise up! We have ONE ROAD here on Maui--ONE! Mostly two-lanes, four in some spots, and our speed limit is never over 50mph, and that's in maybe one spot. Also, if you happen to pass someone, you WILL see them at the next stop. They probably won't like you, either.

So far, during every.single.run (I've  only been running outside since I've been back), at least one speeding car whizzes past me so fast I feel the draft! I swear I'm not one of those annoying athletes who take up half the road, either! Did I mention I go out of my way to run in a somewhat secluded area? People should especially be going slow where I run. Ridiculous. One of my childhood friend's Dad recently passed away because he was hit by a car while riding his bike, and I literally fear for my life when I go running now!

Speaking of cars whizzing by...

Exhibit B:

Change your oil dude!

There is absolutely nothing worse than running in a tropical paradise only to be slapped with nasty fumes from a car passing by that is over-due for an oil change or is a big-rig diesel truck. Yuck! I'm out-and-about, getting my cardio on--minding my own business, enjoying the priceless backdrop I get to call home, and some car passes by (almost kills me) and leaves me with a mouthful of exhaust. Awesome. Thanks chief.

Speaking of nasty smells...

Exhibit C:

Your habit -- not mine!

If you read this post you might know why I loathe cigarettes. Not only was I born when your lungs develop, but I grew up with chronic bronchitis, and I am very allergic to cigarette smoke. Imagine running and getting your workout on only to take a deep breath and inhale someone else's disgusting exhale and cancer induced second-hand smoke. Yum, that's exactly what I wanted when gasping for air trying to PR.

Speaking of PR's...

Exhibit D:

Running in the Rain

I am a huge fan of rain--I love rain--it's raining right now! But unless I'm running a RACE, I am not interested nor am I that dedicated to running in the rain. Trust me, I'm a nature-girl, get-down-n-dirty, and enjoy the unpredictable tropical weather my paradise offers, but here's the deal: I prefer to run on a treadmill. Yup--this genius invention most people refer to as the dreadmill... I luuuuurve it! Who wouldn't enjoy a forced (dry) run in a clean environment, with A/C?!?! Not to mention watching a movie or TV show makes those long runs FLY BY!

I'm really starting to think of myself as a running diva. In fact, I completely labeled myself that on my last run, which led me to research my new term, only to discover the real Running Diva's website! How awesome is their company name AND their merch? I want! 

All I want to do is continue living a fun, active, outdoor lifestyle, and embrace running--my labor of love--to maintain optimum health! Is that too much to ask? I've been making an effort to run outside, and I swear everything is going against my best efforts! Perhaps I really am a gym rat.


PS: Suz over at Cows & Lasers is hosting a LARABAR giveaway until 10/26 -- Check it out & let her know @JennsAdventures sent you:)

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