March 2013 – Page 3 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

AWay with Words – desert quotes

Let me tell you something that we Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil! -Golda Meir

I think the American West really attracts me because it’s romantic. The desert, the empty space, the drama. Ang Lee (director, Life of Pi)

Night comes to the desert all at once, as if someone turned off the light. – Joyce Carol Oates

“Night poured over the desert. It came suddenly, in purple. In the clear air, the stars drilled down out of the sky, reminding any thoughtful watcher that it is in the deserts and high places that religions are generated. When men see nothing but bottomless infinity over their heads they have always had a driving and desperate urge to find someone to put in the way.” ― Terry Pratchett, Jingo

“Water, water, water….There is no shortage of water in the desert but exactly the right amount , a perfect ratio of water to rock, water to sand, insuring that wide free open, generous spacing among plants and animals, homes and towns and cities, which makes the arid West so different from any other part of the nation. There is no lack of water here unless you try to establish a city where no city should be.”
― Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness

“The desert, when the sun comes up…I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and the Earth began.” ― Tom Hanks

“The cactus thrives in the desert while the fern thrives in the wetland. The fool will try to plant them in the same flowerbox. The florist will sigh and add a wall divider and proper soil to both sides. The grandparent will move the flowerbox halfway out of the sun. The child will turn it around properly so that the fern is in the shade, and not the cactus. The moral of the story? Kids are smart.”
― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

FUN

B Well – Eat Your Way Thin!

Hollywood’s unofficial new diet hinges on reducing acid and balancing your pH.

An intriguing diet craze of Acid meets Alkaline? For those of you who dozed off during that week of high school chemistry you better listen up – this is basic science!

A 28 year old private chef in Los Angeles (who will go unnamed) was struggling with the same 10 pounds she’d put on in college despite what she thought was a healthy, well-balanced diet. She decided to see a nutritionist, who suggested that her diet was too acidic and needed a major alkaline boost. While the changes she made may seem drastic (easing off all dairy, caffeine, and animal-based products), she says the effects of consuming a heavily plant-based, higher pH diet were quick and dramatic – and well worth it. She also felt tons more energy without needing the caffeine boost, hasn’t been sick and has experienced no breakouts. And she’s also 10 pounds lighter.

Here’s a cram session for the un chem-savvy: the human body, primarily the urinary and lymphatic systems, works hard 24-7 to maintain a slightly alkaline pH level in the blood and to clear out an excess of either acid or alkali. Everything that you consume has its own pH, and the lower it is, the more acidic it is, and the higher it is, the more alkaline it is. Acidic foods tend to be the least healthful: white bread, soda, processed foods, and to a lesser extent, meat and eggs.

An alkaline diet focuses on fresh fruit and vegetables along with soy products (like tofu) and certain nuts and whole grains (such as almonds and quinoa) while minimizing dairy, gluten, processed foods, and sugar. If you’re diet is too acidic (say you’re a diet coke addict) your body may siphon off vital minerals like calcium from your bones to neutralize the acid. It will also tend to have more toxins. The result? Congestion and constriction in your body, which can hamper blood flow, deplete oxygen, and speed up the aging process.

Eventually, too many acidic foods can also stymie the immune system, inhibit digestion and contribute to things like osteoarthritis, says Lindsey Duncan, a nutritionist and naturopath – Marc Jacobs as a client.

You can crowd out poor choices by including a morning green smoothie, for example, and a green salad before dinner – and keep acidic foods to a minimum. Some are going even further, ditching acidic tap or bottled water for alkalanized Kangen Water, produced by water-ionization machines from Enagic, a Japanese company that claims its water flushes out toxins better than regular H2O. The water is a hit among Hollywood A-listers, who attribute their renewed vigor to it.

The bottom line: Should we all go alkaline all the time? While few experts would dispute the virtues of a diet high in dark leafy greens, juicy fruit, and plenty of water, it’s hard to give all the credit to pH. Will the pH thing sort itself out? While we’re deciding, in the meantime, a high quality diet that’s heavy on produce and scarce on processed foods is always a good idea.

Taken from an article By Liz Krieger for InStyle magazine.

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

FUN

Personal Post it – desert delights

Some things about the desert that I really like:

The saguaro — The majestic **saguaro** – you’ll find this type cactus only in southern Arizona and western Sonora, Mexico.

Cactus Cards by artist — Cactus Cards by local artist

The prickly pear which is really the fruit of the nopales cactus (cacti with beaver tail-like paddles) known to few, are actually quite edible. The juice is delicious – a cross between bubblegum and watermelon.

Prickly pear juice is often used to make jam or candy, but works wonders in cocktails and used in vinaigrettes for salads. Be warned though with the ones fresh off the cactus. Unlike those found in markets where the tiny hair-like thorns have been cleaned, these are quite sharp to handle. The chipmunk knows how.

Many Mexican markets, farmers markets, and some natural food supermarkets carry prickly pears, but you can find these plants growing in California, the Southwest, Mexico, and the Mediterranean.

This cookbook has many great recipes - if only I could find the fruit at home. — This cookbook has many great recipes – if only I could find this fruit at home.

The coyote - but only in cards. — The coyote – but only in cards.

I loved her book "The Poisonwood Bible" — From the author of “The Poisonwood Bible” – one of my all time favorite books.

Art & Culture

INtriguing ART – Simply Southwest

Here in Tucson, AZ you’ll come across many an art gallery but you’d be hard pressed to find better examples of varied Southwestern art than at Jane Hamilton Fine Art.

The gallery is located at 2890 E. Skyline Drive, Tucson AZ.

Janehamiltonfineart.com\

A New Masterpiece by Landscape Painter Tom Murray – Grand Canyon

FUN

Simply Satisfying – Kale Salad

This is what I had yesterday for lunch:

A delicious and healthy salad with kale & romaine lettuce mixed with currants, cashews and grilled salmon. Dressing can be pretty much anything you like but a honey mustard or a simple vinaigrette would be best.

In any case I plan to eat more and more of these types of salads.

DESTINATIONS

Scene in the City – of Scottsdale, Arizona

Where cowboys chow down.

We’re here in Scottsdale where it’s professional baseball spring camp training – busy time. We’ve decided to head off to Picacho Peak State Park for a few nights of desert camping – gorgeous area. In the meantime we love visiting the old town of Scottsdale for a fix of old fashioned cowboy history. More…

Downtown Scottsdale offers some of the finest galleries, specialty retail, cultural attractions and dining in the Valley of the Sun. Downtown Scottsdale is at the heart of the

bronze cowboys - pony express. — bronze cowboys – pony express.

city’s art scene, with Contemporary and Western Art, Theatre and a wide variety of outdoor sculptures set amid the lush green lawns and sparkling fountains of Civic Center Mall.

Scottsdale’s Arts District is home to a high concentration of galleries showcasing some of the best Western and Southwestern art in the country. Throughout “Old Town”, shopkeepers sell quality Native American crafts, offering everything from hand-woven Navajo rugs to Zuni silver jewelry.

Something for us Cowgirls - "Garage" a place to fill up on clothes. — **Something for us Cowgirls – “Garage” a place to fill up on clothes.**

something else for cowgirls - still in style here. — **something else for cowgirls – still in style here.**

Photos: d. king

baths should always be relazing. — **baths should always be relaxing.**

FUN

AWay with Words – quotes about veggies

Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat. Fran Lebowitz

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.
Jim Davis

“Please understand the reason why Chinese vegetables taste so good. It is simple. The Chinese do not cook them, they just threaten them!” – Jeff Smith

Do vegetarians eat animal crackers? – author unknown

“An onion can make people cry but there’s never been a vegetable that can make people laugh.” – Will Rogers

Go vegetable heavy. Reverse the psychology of your plate by making meat the side dish and vegetables the main course. – Bobby Flay

FUN

B Well – turning over a new leaf

Step aside Kale….there are some new produce powerhouses that deserve attention.

Known for their A-to-Zinc spectrum of vitamins and minerals, leafy vegetables like spinach and collards have long been rated among the healthiest foods on the planet. But those old standbys – and their suddenly stylish cousin kale – are hardly the only greens that should be in your diet. Shake things up with these four super nutritious choices:

1) Bok Choy – belongs to the cruciferous (cabbage) family, a group known for its anticancer properties (which may be due, in part, to a high concentration of the antioxidant kaempferol).

2) Mustard Greens – may be more effective at lowering cholesterol and decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer than cabbage, broccoli and green peppers. But the way you cook them matters: according to a recent study in Food and Nutrition Sciences, mustard greens had greater cholesterol-lowering potential when sautéed than when boiled, steamed, or served raw.

3) Beet Greens – a good source of potassium, a mineral that can help control blood pressure. One cup delivers nearly 60 percent more potassium than the same amount of spinach. The leaves also contain vitamin A, which promotes good vision, and vitamin K, which may strengthen bones.

4) Chard – just one cup of cooked chard delivers almost 50 percent of your recommended daily value of magnesium, a mineral that may have the ability to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes. A scientific review of several studies found that increasing magnesium intake by 100 milligrams a day (that’s just 2/3 cup of cooked chard) can lower the risk of stroke by 8 percent.

Taken from Feeling Good – “O” magazine. Article by Johannah Sakimura.

Also;

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad King for the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.

FUN

Personal Post-it: Breakfast

A good Breakfast. I have a few specific criteria for getting a great breakfast in a restaurant and usually I’m disappointed by at least one of them. 1) The home fries must not come out of a package 2) coffee must be above average 3) bread must be fresh 4) your bill should be met with something a bit more imaginative than a stale mint candy. Something like cookies would be perfect.

Fable on 4th in Vancouver surpassed my expectations.

In Palm Springs Cafe Europa did not disappoint especially with being able to sit outside in an attractive courtyard setting. The weather may have had something to do with it.

cafe europa with french press coffee. — Cafe Europa in Palm Springs with french press coffee.