Nature’s Beauty – Livingleen

Happy Earth Day! Even though its supposed to be a little stormy today, its still a fabulous day to celebrate the beauty of Mother Earth! Especially if you live in a place where the weather is warm & sunny, take advantage of the outdoors & appreciate the simplistic perfection in all little details.

We may not be flowers, grass or trees

but we’ re as much a part of nature as any of these

With pollution & trash her beauty we mask

to keep her pristine can’t be too much to ask.

We admire her gifts from wake ’til retire

Our gentle kindness her only desire.

Daily Eats

Breakfast: Tropical Green Smoothie
Snack #1: Apple & Peanut Butter
Lunch: Mixed Greens w/Strawberries, Almonds & Goat Cheese
Snack #2: Greek Yogurt w/Blueberries & Pumpkin Seeds
Dinner: Hummus Plate w/Veggies & Pita
Dessert: Almond Cacao Fudge Bar

Phil & I are on our last official ‘detox day’ before the four ‘post detox days’ of The Vabulous Life Spring Detox. Starting tomorrow we will slowly add things like soy, dairy, gluten, etc… back into our diet & see how our digestive systems react. One major benefit of detoxing is identifying foods the body might have trouble processing. Symptoms like bloating, gas, cramping, headaches, low energy & fatigue after eating are all signs your body might be sensitive to the food you just ate…being someone who occasionally suffers from all of the above, I am eager to see if there is one thing in particular my tummy isn’t so happy with me eating (fingers crossed its not dairy!).

The other day I was picking up a few detox items and was presented with two routes: take main roads and get there in 10 minutes, or take back roads and get there in about 15. I was in no rush and it was a beautiful afternoon, so I opted to take the long way. As I drove along the tree lined road with my windows down, I started to feel a sense of peace and calm I didn’t realize I was lacking. It felt so nice to soak in the beauty of mother nature and have a quiet moment to myself…a decidedly necessary activity to incorporate into my routine! Taking this moment really allowed me to look inward and examine how I’ve been feeling. Even though I’m doing a really great job with my fitness and food, I haven’t been paying as close attention to my feelings. I’m happy, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve been holding onto stress surrounding things I have no control over. If it wasn’t for taking the long way, I wouldn’t have realized there was stuff I needed to release – sometimes we have to just let go and remain patient.

I am a firm believer in taking the long way – you always discover more along the way, not to mention its usually a more enriching experience…I often wonder how much people miss out on in their haste to get where they’re going. I encourage you to take the long way! Slow down & take everything in…see what you might be missing!

Detox Day 11