Setting the mind chatter aside, my first endeavor, I begin meditating early this morning. Pin pointing the breath; bringing it in from the top of the skull down thru the head, shoulders, arms, body, legs and out the feet. Feeling the sensations, tingling, rushing, aching, itching vibrating . . Then following the breath from the feet, up the legs into the body thru the hands, arms & shoulders moving to the head and out. Several patterns of this with occasional rushes down & up the body, felt like warm-up exercises because today, I have a mission in meditating. Today, I'm going into that closed area in my gut. I've known this area as a little rectangular box, hidden away, wrapped and tied shut, protected with vengeance, blocked off & left abandoned. This box, I thought, held my cross to bear, to grieve, laden with heavy chains of sadness and guilt.

Today, somehow, from somewhere, I'm ready to surrender and receive whatever is within that box. To receive with all my senses anything I can feel, taste, smell, see and/or hear. Just be there; just be willing to pay attention.

As I sit, there is an ache in the pit of my stomach. The pain intensifies and reveals no box, just a pin pointed ache in my gut. I begin to see rays of light from that aching spot, brilliant light, light that blazes like fire without heat, light so strong it dissolves the pain and shines completely within. I couldn't believe it. As I watched, the clarity and strength of the light suddenly begins to fade and die down to embers. Oh, No, I want the brilliance to return! I sat still; in the moment; ready to receive. The brilliance, the force, the fullness and beauty of that light returned. It took no work, no struggle; just attention and willingness to receive.

I feel so blessed and thankful.

Much love,
Kendra

Heather's birthday present!

Scorch in flight!

Staring Scorch (my beanie baby from college) and Heather's very own
watercolor!

companies that test on animals

hi guys, just got this list- all these companies test their products on animals, stuff like spraying hairspray in bunnies' eyes til they go blind, etc.
it's SO MANY companies, i was surprised! so please try to avoid!!
the site gave all the information so if you are inspired to email or call these companies to tell them to stop that's cool!

Arm & Hammer (Church & Dwight), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625;
609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.armhammer.com
Bic Corporation, 500 Bic Dr., Milford, CT 06460; 203-783-2000; www.bicworld.com
Boyle-Midway (Reckitt Benckiser), 2 Wickman Rd., Toronto, ON M8Z 5M5
Canada; 416-255-2300
Chesebrough-Ponds (Fabergé, Ponds, Vaseline), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-743-8640; www.pondssquad.com
Church & Dwight (Aim, Arm & Hammer, Arrid, Brillo, Close-up, Lady’s
Choice, Mentadent, Nair, Orange Glo International, Pearl Drops), P.O. Box 1625, Horsham, PA 19044-6625; 609-683-5900; 800-524-1328; www.churchdwight.com
Clairol (Aussie, Daily Defense, Herbal Essences, Infusium 23, Procter & Gamble), 1 Blachley Rd., Stamford, CT 06922; 800-252-4765; www.clairol.com
Clorox (ArmorAll, Formula 409, Fresh Step, Glad, Liquid Plumber, Pine-Sol, Soft Scrub, S.O.S., Tilex), 1221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612; 510-271-7000;
800-227-1860; www.clorox.com
Colgate-Palmolive Co. (Hills Pet Nutrition, Mennen, Palmolive, SoftSoap, Speed Stick), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 212-310-2000; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com
Coty (Adidas, Calvin Klein, Davidoff, Glow, The Healing Garden, JOOP!, Jovan, Kenneth Cole, Lancaster, Marc Jacob, Rimmel, Stetson), 1325 Ave. of the Americas, 324th Fl., New York, NY 10019; 212-389-7000; www.coty.com
Cover Girl (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.covergirl.com
Del Laboratories (CornSilk, LaCross, Naturistics, New York Color, Sally Hansen), 178 EAB Plz., Uniondale, NY 11556; 516-844-2020; 800-952-5080; www.dellabs.com
Dial Corporation (Dry Idea, Purex, Renuzit, Right Guard, Soft & Dri), 15101 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 5028, Scottsdale, AZ 85254-2199; 800-528-0849; www.dialcorp.com
Helene Curtis Industries (Salon Selectives, Thermasilk, Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 800-621-2013; www.helenecurtis.com
Johnson & Johnson (Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Listerine, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, Rembrandt, ROC), 1 Johnson & Johnson Plz., New Brunswick, NJ 08933; 732-524-0400; 800-526-3967; www.jnj.com
Lever Bros. (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com
L’Oréal U.S.A. (Biotherm, Cacharel, Garnier, Giorgio Armani, Helena
Rubinstein, Lancôme, Matrix Essentials, Maybelline, Ralph Lauren
Fragrances, Redken, Soft Sheen, Vichy), 575 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017;
212-818-1500; www.lorealcosmetics.com
Max Factor (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.maxfactor.com
Mead, 10 W. Second St., #1, Dayton, OH 45402; 937-495-6323; www.meadweb.com
Melaleuca, 3910 S. Yellowstone Hwy., Idaho Falls, ID 83402-6003; 208-522-0700; www.melaleuca.com
Mennen Co. (Colgate-Palmolive), 191 E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-3151; 973-631-9000; www.colgate.com
Neoteric Cosmetics, 4880 Havana St., Denver, CO 80239-0019; 303-373-4860
New Dana Perfumes, 470 Oakhill Rd., Crestwood Industrial Park, Mountaintop,
PA 18707; 800-822-8547
Noxell (Procter & Gamble), 11050 York Rd., Hunt Valley, MD 21030-2098;
410-785-7300; 800-572-3232; www.pg.com
Olay Co./Oil of Olay (Procter & Gamble), P.O. Box 599, Cincinnati, OH 45201;
800-543-1745; www.oilofolay.com
Oral-B (Gillette Company), 600 Clipper Dr., Belmont, CA 94002-4119;
415-598-5000; www.oralb.com
Pantene (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202;
800-945-7768; www.pantene.com
Pfizer (BenGay, Desitin, Listerine, Lubriderm, Plax, Visine), 235 E. 42nd St., New York, NY 10017-5755; 212-573-2323; www.pfizer.com
Physique (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 800-214-8957; www.physique.com
Playtex Products (Banana Boat), 300 Nyala Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880; 203-341-4000; www.playtex.com
Procter & Gamble Co. (Clairol, Cover Girl, Crest, Gillette, Giorgio, Iams, Max Factor, Physique, Tide), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com
Reckitt Benckiser (Easy Off, Lysol, Mop & Glo, Old English, Resolve, Spray ’N Wash, Veet, Woolite), 1655 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07474-0943; 973-633-3600; 800-232-9665; www.reckittbenckiser.com
Richardson-Vicks (Procter & Gamble), One Procter & Gamble Plz., Cincinnati, OH 45202; 513-983-1100; 800-543-1745; www.pg.com
Sally Hansen (Del Laboratories), 178 EAB Plz., Uniondale, NY 11556; 800-645-9888; www.sallyhansen.com
Schering-Plough (Bain de Soleil, Coppertone, Dr. Scholl’s), 1 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940-1000; 201-822-7000; 800-842-4090; www.sch-plough.com
S.C. Johnson (Drano, Edge, Fantastik, Glade, OFF!, Oust, Pledge, Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout, Skintimate, Windex, Ziploc), 1525 Howe St., Racine, WI 53403;
800-494-4855; www.scjohnson.com
SoftSoap Enterprises (Colgate-Palmolive), 300 Park Ave., New York, NY 10022; 800-221-4607; www.colgate.com
Suave (Unilever), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260;
800-782-8301; www.suave.com
Unilever (Axe, Dove, Helene Curtis, Lever Bros., Suave), 800 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632; 212-888-1260; 800-598-1223; www.unilever.com

I heart red cabbage

Being polish and all...i love cabbage! especially after Kayla made the best recipe at the retreat with omega essential oils & turmeric...here is some info...basically it super fucking nutritious & cleansing for us



It belongs to the Cruciferae family of vegetables along with kale, broccoli, collards and Brussels sprouts.

For about 20 years, we've known that many phytonutrients work as antioxidants to disarm free radicals before they can damage DNA, cell membranes and fat-containing molecules such as cholesterol. Now, new research is revealing that phytonutrients in crucifers, such as cabbage, work at a much deeper level. These compounds actually signal our genes to increase production of enzymes involved in detoxification, the cleansing process through which our bodies eliminate harmful compounds.

I3C has been shown to improve estrogen detoxification and to reduce the incidence of breast cancer.

Cabbage provides anti-carcinogenic glucosinolates, which are formed by the activity of myrosinase enzymes released when cabbage is sliced or chopped. Cooking denatures the myrosinase enzyme, thus stopping the production of glucosinolates. (so eat it RAW)

Red Cabbage Protective against Alzheimer's Disease

It has cardiovascular benefits

Combine shredded red and white cabbage with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings such as turmeric, cumin, coriander and black pepper to make coleslaw with an Indian twist.

click here to read more

missing knife

hey - i'm missing a large kitchen aid knife - not sure how, but i remember bringing it somewhere - maybe a potluck - just wondering if i left it at someone's place?

funny how this is what i loose now - i used to loose my wallet, keys & phone when i was a blackout drinker...doh