SONG OF THE WEEK

My song of the week comes from an artist who had one of the biggest hits of 1990 – Although she was already well received on college/alternative radio formats in North America, Sinead O’Connor did not become a household name until she released a remake of Prince’s song – “Nothing Compares 2 U” from the critically acclaimed album I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got.  Sinead has released several brilliant albums since her 1987 debut The Lion and The Cobra like;  Am I Not Your Girl? – which reinterprets some pop/jazz standards, Universal Mother – which includes some soft lullaby’s, emotional ballads and non-apologetic alternative tracks, Faith and Courage – reggae influenced and somewhat of a spiritual journey (my personal favourite) to the current and very much, under-rated – How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? (One of my personal favorite albums of 2012).  

The song “Lay Your Head Down”, written by Brian Byrne and Glenn Close Glenn for the soundtrack of the film Albert Nobbs and performed by O’Connor, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

Despite the controversy that surrounded Sinead’s career – we can’t deny her vocal talents and her ability to allow us to feel the emotion that she emphasizes in her songs.  My pick for ‘song of the week’ this week is song was originally released from the Original Soundtrack to the movie Water Horse released in 2007.  A slightly modified version is included in How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? The song is called “Back Where You Belong” – The audio video from the Original Movie Soundtrack Water Horse along with a list of Sinead’s full-length studio albums (not including compilations) – follows the lyrics.

BACK WHERE YOU BELONG

 

Oh it’s hard to
be a boy
when
all the men have
lost their joy
and they can’t find the ones they left behind .Harder still to think
of being a man
in this world of
no lessons or love ,
it’s only war that men be thinking of .

Should you stay
or should you come down with me ?
Is that the question
you are asking of me ?
And do you think that you can
take the answer ?
As it turns ,
you have to wear life well .

Come down with me ,
come down
when you need me
but for now I want you
to be happy .

Sometimes life does
things to you
that will hurt you
and confuse you ,
but when you’re left behind
you’re sure to find .

I am with you though I can’t
come with you .
I am in you and I’m
always part of you ,
and all you ever have to do
to bring me to you
is …

Come down with me ,
come down
when you need me ,
but for now I want you
to be happy .

So you must go back home ,
that’s where you belong.
You must go back home .

You must go back home ,
that’s where you belong .

You must go back home ,
and I can’t come along …

• 1987: The Lion and the Cobra
• 1990: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
• 1992: Am I Not Your Girl?
• 1994: Universal Mother
• 2000: Faith and Courage
• 2002: Sean-Nós Nua
• 2005: Throw Down Your Arms
• 2007: Theology
• 2012: How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?

For more information about Sinead O’Connor – complete discography, tour dates, biography, etc – please visit her official website:  http://www.sineadoconnor.com/  You can purchase the current version of “Back Where You Belong” and the 2007 version on iTunes.  All Sinead’s singles, albums and remixes are also available on iTunes.

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

SOME GREAT FEEL GOOD VIDEOS – IT IS GETTING BETTER.

We continue to hear so many horror stories about bullying and attacks on the LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) community. Stories like the recent suicide of Jadin Bell, who hung himself at Central Elementary School in La Grande, Oregon and The attack by a security guard on 2 gay males as they snuck a kiss in a grocery store aisle in Dublin, Ireland and finally, Cissy Houston’s comment that should would not support her daughter (Whitney Houston), had she been gay on Oprah Winfrey’s – The Next Chapter.  Intolerance and hate – allows people to hide behind their religious beliefs in order to justify that intolerance.  So many young people are struggling to be their authentic selves and do not need to be shamed because of how they were born.  We need to nurture their uniqueness and allow them to become the great politicians, poets, artists, entertainers, scientists, philosophers, activists and leaders of tomorrow.

Instead of focusing on the current tragedies that the LGBT community faces…..let’s take a look at some heart-felt videos and some inspiring moments that will inspire all of us.

THE PLACE YOUTH GROUP – LGBT/Straight Alliance 

A Tumblr user (ellende-generes) took a photo and wrote “left this for my parents”:

The user later than posted about his parents reaction:

“My mom saw it and cried of happiness. We hugged and cried together. Then, we all ate the cake and talked. I am very luck to have such supporting parents and to have so much support from you guys. Thanks everyone! Have a gay day!”

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S IMMIGRATIONS SPEECH and SAME-SEX COUPLES

 

 

JACOB RUDOLPH comes out to his entire class at an awards ceremony in New Jersey and then meets his idol GEORGE TAKEI

 

 

 

I am grateful for these inspirational videos.  On a personal note – My ‘coming out’ story was not a tragic one but one filled with support, love and understanding from so many friends and family.  I hope there is a day that no LGBT person has to ‘come out’ because they really shouldn’t be hiding behind any labels due to someone else’s bigotry and hate.

 

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

 

THE CHRISTIAN BIGOTRY AND HATE CONTINUES……

Brian Fischer – Leader of the American Family Association is spewing his hate and made-up statistics about homosexuals.

Mr. Fischer is up-in-arms about the Boy Scouts of America’s potential move to drop its policy against gay scouts and scout leaders.  He denounces the Boy Scouts calling them ‘suicidal’ should they drop its policy.  He continues to say “from this day forward there is not one loving father in America that ever, ever, ever oughta entrust his son to the Boy Scouts of America”.  Mr. Fischer is claims “male homosexuals offend against children at roughly 10 times the rate at which heterosexuals offend” indicating that dropping the policy against gay scouts and leaders is an open invitation to pedophiles.

Many people ask me why I continue to post videos and information on ‘hate groups’ and why do I even bother to give them an outlet to release such bigotry.  My answer is simple.  In order to create positivity and love in the world, we must continue to fight those who continuely demonize others and use religion, God and the Bible as reference to justify this bigotry.  Using the ‘religious card’ is completely hypocritical – and if you believe ‘the word of God’, God created all of us in His own image.  Being a gay male, I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to change my sexuality and be gay.  I was born this way as He made me.  God is love – therefore if anyone shouldn’t be entrusting their sons or daughters to any organization – it should be organizations like the American Family Association who continue to perpetuate hate all in the name of archaic religious ideologies.

Here is a video of Brian Fischer spewing his hate:

We are all better than people like this…..and I have so much more faith that the majority of those who believe in God are inclusive, loving, compassionate and supportive human beings.  I am grateful for those who are like that and  hope they continue to spread their love in the world!

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

ESSENTIAL VITAMINS & MINERALS

Today, we are so bombarded with so much information that it is sometimes difficult to decipher fact from fiction.  In terms of our health, vitality and well-being – someone may say that a particular food/vitamin is good for your while someone else tells you that it is not.  Who do we believe, who do we trust?  We trust ourselves and we should trust what our bodies tell us.  Your body generally tells you which foods agree with you and which others don’t – you may feel sick to your stomach, have bloating, have cramps, get diarrhea or vomit from certain foods.  When/if this happens you must take notice of what you have eaten…..you may want to start a food journal by writing the date, time and what you have eaten – you may even want to write down how you felt after eating those specific foods.  This will allow you to get more information about what is good for YOUR body as we all process foods differently – what you may enjoy eating may have a complete different effect on someone else and what someone else may like, may not agree with you.  Trust yourself and trust your body.

Another topic that has contradicting statements from various resources is the topic of vitamins.  What should vitamins should we be taking?  Do women need more of certain vitamins that men?  Do vegetarians/vegans get enough vitamins and minerals from their diet?  Are children receiving the proper vitamins and minerals than children born of other generations?  Is pesticide usage affecting the vitamins and minerals that are food have?

Here is some information about vitamins written by Dr. Tamer Shaban.  Dr. Tamer Shaban is Vice Chairman of International Cupping Society (UK), M.B.B.CH, D.H.P., D.C.M.T, S.N.N.S Dip. (Nutrition), S.N.H.S Dip. (Herbalism), Member of the Royal Institute of Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, Member of the Complete Mind Therapists Association.    

The word “Vitamin” is composed of two parts:  “vital” which means essential and “amine” because it was previously thought that this compound was amine in its nature.  Multivitamins are a mixture of vitamins and minerals which are essential for the body to work and stay healthy.

We sometimes try multivitamin supplements without knowing what kind of vitamins and minerals we need to take, and the functions of every element and how it affects our body.  This will be covered in this article.

THE ESSENTIAL VITAMINS

There are two types of vitamins, fat soluble vitamins (vitamins which dissolve in fat) which are vitamins A, D, E and K, and water soluble vitamins which are B-complex, C, And folate (folic acid).

The Functions of Fat Soluble Vitamins:

1.  Vitamin A – Growth, development, enhancement of our immune system, this vitamin is essential for our eyesight, especially night vision.

*Deficiency Signs – Night blindness, skin problems with an increase in the rate of acquiring infections.

**Natural Sources – Liver, kidney, eggs and fish liver oil  For Vegetarians/Vegans – Fish-free Omega 3s Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for heart, brain, skin and joint health.  Fortunately, you can get them without all the cholesterol and toxins found in fish.  Flaxseed, walnuts, and canola oil are good vegan sources of the omega-3 ALA.  It’s also a good idea to take vegan DHA capsules, which contain omega-3s derived from algae (where the fish get it from!).

2.  Vitamin D – This is important for bone formation, it works by controlling calcium absorption and excretion.  Recent studies show that vitamin D inhibits some forms of cancer growth.

*Deficiency Signs – Rickets (disease characterized by deformities in the skeleton — especially hands, legs and chest bones, and pain in the bones and muscle weakness).

**Natural Sources – Cod liver oil, milk, eggs, liver and oily fish For Vegetarians/Vegans Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin, Sunshine is one of the best sources of Vitamin D.  During warmer months, your skin should manufacture enough of the vitamin if your face and forearms are exposed without sunscreen to midday sunlight for 15 to 20 minutes per day.  But many students and people who work indoors don’t get enough exposure.  And in many areas, sunlight during colder and cloudier months isn’t strong enough to give you a sufficient dose of vitamin D.   Many brands of non-dairy milks contain some calcium and vitamin D, as do some brands of fortified orange juice.  But doctors increasingly say that no matter what you eat, it’s a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement of at least 1,000 IU on the days that you aren’t getting sufficient sunlight exposure.

3.  Vitamin E – It works as an antioxidant (protects our tissues from free-radical damage) and has other functions such as improving blood circulation and removing wound scars.

*Deficiency Signs – None reported.

**Natural Sources – Wheat germ oil, almonds, sun flower oil and peanuts. 

4.  Vitamin K – Its major function is its role in the blood coagulation process which prevents our body from bleeding to death.

*Deficiency Signs – Excessive bleeding or poor blood coagulation action.

**Natural Sources – Spinach, broccoli, eggs and meat.  For Vegetarians/Vegans Spinach is rich in iron, so eat it heartily to build strong muscles.  Other iron-rich foods include beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, chickpeas, oatmeal, dried fruits, nuts, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, molasses, and grains such as quinoa and millet. 

The Functions of Fat Soluble Vitamins:

1.  Vitamin C – It plays a vital role in the formation of several enzymes, absorption of iron, antioxidant function, formation of collagen (which leads to healthy skin and joints) and wound healing.

*Deficiency Signs – Scurvy (a disease characterized by bleeding from the gums, bleeding from the skin, fatigue and delayed wound healing)

**Natural Sources – Kiwi and citrus fruits, guava, mango and broccoli.

2.  Vitamin B complex – A complex of vitamins that total more than ten individual nutrients; the most essential being B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic acid), B6 (Pyridoxine) and B12 (Cyanocobalamin).  These vitamins play an important role in the body’s energy production, nervous system, immune system, and iron absorption.

*Deficiency Signs – Vitamin B12 anemia (a disease characterized by fatigue, pallor, an increased heart beat rate and lack of energy).  Some other signs include emotional disturbance, skin disease, tongue inflammation and hair loss.

**Natural Sources – Meat, liver, milk, yeast and its products, nuts and whole grain cereals  For Vegetarians/Vegans Leading health experts encourage everyone to tak a multivitamin or supplement to get ample amounts of vitamin B12.  It’s also found in fortified nutritional yeast, some supermarket cereals, and fortified soy and rice milk as well as in some meat analogues.

3.  Folic acid – Essential in the formation of RNA and DNA.

*Deficiency Signs – Megaloblastic anemia (a disease characterized by fatigue, pallor, increased heart beat rate and lack of energy) and possible infertility.

**Natural Sources – Spinach, brussel sprouts, green beans and cauliflower.

THE ESSENTIAL MINERALS

The minerals are classified into three parts: macro, trace, and ultra trace minerals.  The essential minerals which we need to be healthy are calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, and fluorine.  The essential trace elements are copper, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and iodine.

The Functions of the Most Important Essential Minerals:

1. Calcium – Plays an important role in bone and teeth formation and nervous system health.

*Deficiency Signs – Leads to stunted growth, increased rate of bone fractures and nervous system problems.

**Natural Sources – Milk For Vegetarians/Vegans Cows don’t have to suffer in order for people to get calcium.  It’s abundant in collard greens, kale, broccoli, beans, sesame tahini, and almonds.  It can also be found in calcium-fortified soy or rice milk, orange juice, and some brands of tofu.

2.  Iron – Plays an important role in red blood cell formation.

*Deficiency Signs – Leads to iron deficiency anemia which is characterized by fatigue, pallor, concave nails with white lines and an increased heart beat rate.

**Natural Sources – Eggs, meat, liver and fish For Vegetarians/Vegans dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron, even better on a per calorie basis than meat. Iron absorption is increased markedly by eating foods containing vitamin C along with foods containing iron. Vegetarians do not have a higher incidence of iron deficiency than do meat eaters.

3.  Zinc – Essential for growth and development, enhances immune function and wound healing, increases fertility.

*Deficiency Signs – Leads to skin inflammation, hair loss, sore throat, delayed growth and diarrhea.

**Natural Sources – Meat, vegetables with leaves, whole grains, milk and eggs For Vegetarians/Vegans The best, common plant sources of zinc are legumes, nuts, seeds, and oatmeal.

The Functions of the Most Important Essential Trace Minerals:

1.  Iodine – This is essential for growth and development because it is the compound of thyroid hormones.

*Deficiency Signs – goiter (a disease characterized by an enlarged thyroid gland and decreased heart beat rate).

**Natural Sources – Milk, sea fish, and iodized salt For Vegetarians/Vegans North American vegans should take a modest iodine supplement; 75-150 µg every day or every other day should be enough.  Vegan iodine supplements can be found in most grocery or natural food stores, and most multivitamins contain iodine.  In the United States, you can get the extra 75 µg of iodine from 1/4 teaspoon of iodized salt. If you are already eating 1/4 teaspoon of salt per day on your foods, make sure it is iodized.

2. Chromium – Assists in glucose utilization by enhancement of insulin action.

*Deficiency – Weight loss and an inability to tolerate glucose.

**Natural Sources – Meat, Whole grains and nuts For Vegetarians/Vegans DITCH THE MEAT!

We all know that vegan foods are far healthier than animal products. They’re cholesterol-free, and they’re more likely to be low in saturated fat and calories and high in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and cancer-fighting antioxidants.  (Minus the vegan cookies, candy and potato chips).  If you want to reap the health benefits of a vegan diet – a slim waistline, normal blood pressure, lots of energy, and a reduced risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer – you should eat an array of fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, and other wholesome plant-based foods. Your health and the planets animals will thank you!

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

Resources:

http://www.vrg.org/ 

www.peta.org

www.naturalnews.com

http://www.veganhealth.org/

 

SLOWING DOWN IN SUCH A FAST-PACED WORLD

As a teenager, I never really took notice of traffic – I knew there were many cars on the road but I never REALLY thought about it.  I have always had access to public transportation or I was able to walk to wherever I needed to go.  When I left home at 21 – I moved into the city and never really needed access to a car.  I walked to work and loved riding my bicycle for everything else.  For those times I needed to go out of the city – I would take public transportation and occasionally rented a car.  I don’t think driving today is the same as driving 20 years ago.  Are we demanding faster and bigger cars or is today’s technology creating an environment that is striving for bigger, better and faster?

Living in the city for over 15 years – I have witnessed the ‘fast-paced’ environment of city life and enjoyed it.  I didn’t really know anything else or any other way of life until I moved out of the city.  In 2007 – my partner and I decided to move to a smaller town outside of Toronto.  What a change!  We really needed to adjust to the slower pace, even sleeping was an adjustment –  we didn’t have the sounds of the city any-more, the late night recycling trucks, patrons leaving bars/clubs, police or fire-truck sirens, etc.,  they were gone and replaced with silence.  It was wonderful.

Today, I can’t help notice how fast-paced and frantic our society has become.  We are busy at work, we are bust at home – even our ‘downtime’ has to be scheduled and put into our daytimers or agendas.  We are so busy filling our days with ‘things to do’ that we completely forget that it is okay to just relax and sometimes do nothing.  I believe that many of us become physically sick due to the added pressures we put on ourselves.  Think about it – we wake up in the morning, get ourselves ready for work (some of you get your children ready too), have breakfast (usually on the go), fight traffic, deal with added tasks and responsibilities at work, face traffic going home to pick up your children and get them to their after-school activities, make dinner, go to they gym, come home and prepare lunches for the next day, brush your teeth, prep for bed and finally go to bed.  The day is gone. 

We need to assess all the things we are doing and ask ourselves – is everything we are doing necessary, and are they  supporting our well-being?  Remove the activities that are causing us stress and negative energy and replace them with activities that can include your partner and even your children.  Meditation and yoga are not only for adults – you can include your children.  Plan your meals in advance so that you are not wasting time shopping for grocery items and preparing them at the last-minute.  Maybe your children are involved in too many after-school activities and need some time just to be children.  Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, your spouse or your children – live in the moment and be in the moment.

During my commute in the morning – I am constantly reminded at how hectic our lives have become.  I have witnessed people eating breakfast in their cars, doing their make-up, reading, working, talking on their phones and texting.  I have also witnessed the rage from people when commuting.  Are people’s rage caused by the daily commute or is it the frustrations of having such a busy life coming to fruition during their commute?  People become crazy when they are driving to whatever they have to do or wherever they have to go, and if you get in their way – watch out.  They tailgate you, wave their fists in fury, scream and shout, hurl insults, flash their lights and flip you the finger as they pass you by.  The irony in all of that is,  when the traffic builds and slows down a few miles down the road, the same person screaming and shaking their fists at you have not gotten any further.  Sometimes, slowing down and putting your foot on the brake will allow you to catch up to everyone else without any stress – if catching up to everyone else is what you want to do.

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

SONG OF THE WEEK

Love her or hate her – Canadian chanteuse, Céline Dion, is one of the world most-successful female vocalist.  Born on March 30, 1969 in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada – Céline Marie Claudette Dion, has mass appeal and has a career that spans all music genres and in various languages.  Céline’s most well-known song (in my opinion) is probably the hit from the movie – Titanic called, “My Heart Will Go On”.  Céline has sung some of the most memorable ballads in history and has worked with some of the greatest producers and writers in the world, people like:  Aldo Nova, David Foster, Diane Warren, Bryan Adams, Corey Hart, Christopher Neil, Walter Afanasieff, Ric Wake, Guy Roche and Prince.  Céline has dueted with Barbara Streisand, Luciano Pavarotti, The Bee Gees, Peabo Bryson, Clive Griffin and R. Kelly.

My choice for ‘Song of the Week’ this week – is a song taken from her best-selling album to date – Falling Into You.  The song is entitled “If That’s What It Takes” written by Phil Galdstone and Jean-Jacques Goldman and produced by Gatica and Jean-Jacques Goldman.  The original version, entitled “Pour que tu m’aimes encore”, which was the best-selling single in France in 1995, translates to the following in English – “So that you love me again”.  “Pour que te m’aimes encore” was originally written by Jean-Jacques Goldman.  The French version is about a women who is dependent on a partner that has left her for someone else.   The English version can have the same interpretation but I don’t really interpret it that way.  In the song, Céline sings about doing whatever it takes to show her support, love and dedication for her partner.  The song begins as a soft ballad then soars into its crescendo as Céline professes her gratitude and un-faltering love for her partner.

Each time I listen to this song, I am reminded that we can apply these words of motivation to any incident in our lives.  We can be the one to echo Céline’s words (Phil and Jean-Jacques actually) and lift the spirits and hopes of any person in our lives.  This song continues to be a favourite on all my media players.  I hope that you appreciate it as much as I have.  The lyrics are followed by the audio and the original French version of the song.  ENJOY!

IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES

You’re the bravest of hearts, you’re the strongest of souls
You’re my light in the dark, you’re the place I call home
You can say it’s all right, but I know that you’re breaking up inside
I see it in your eyes
Even you face the night afraid and alone
That’s why I’ll be there

When the storm rises up, when the shadows descend
Ev’ry beat of my heart, ev’ry day without end
Ev’ry second I live, that’s the promise I make
Baby, that’s what I’ll give, if that’s what it takes
If that’s what it takes

You can sleep in my arms, you don’t have to explain
When your heart’s crying out, baby, whisper my name
‘Cause I’ve reached out for you when the thunder is crashing up above
You’ve given me your love
When you smile like the sun that shines through the day,
That’s why I’ll be there

When the storm rises up, when the shadows descend
Ev’ry beat of my heart, ev’ry day without end
I will stand like your rock, I will bend till I break
Till there’s no more to give, if that’s what it takes
I will risk everything, I will fight, I will bleed
I will lay down my life, if that’s what you need
Ev’ry second I live, that’s the promise I make
Baby, that’s what I’ll give, if that’s what it takes

Through the wind and the rain, through the smoke and the fire
When the fear rises up, when the wave’s ever higher
I will lay down my heart, my body, my soul
I will hold on all night and never let go
Ev’ry second I live, that’s the promise I make
Baby, that’s what I’ll give, if that’s what it takes

If that’s what it takes
whatever it takes, whatever it takes
If that’s what it takes
whatever, whatever, whatever it takes

 

 

 

For more information about Céline Dion, discography, shop, tours etc….please visit her official website:  http://www.celinedion.com/ca/home

 

Together we can make the world a more positive one

WHAT VEGANS/VEGETARIANS EAT – PART II

My partner and I have been vegetarians for years and are now slowly moving towards a more vegan lifestyle.  I really didn’t eat too much red meat – mostly chicken/turkey/fish and the occasional beef burger, so the transition to becoming vegetarian wasn’t really that difficult.  I recently made a commitment to become vegan and thought that this transition would be much more difficult than the transition from carnivore to vegetarian because I loved cheese.  To my surprise, it really wasn’t that difficult because there are so many companies that specialize in great tasting and nutritious non-dairy and meatless products. 

My blog today is to hi-lite some of those companies that make it much easier for me to eat nutritious and delicious meatless products, or what I call “faux meat”.  I will also include personal photos of some of the recipes I have made using some of these great products.

GARDEIN 

Gardein offers a great range of products such as; sloppy joes veggie ground, beefless sliders, holiday roasts, meatless meatballs, crispy chick’n patty, breakfast patties, BBQ riblets, turkey cutlet, crispy chick’n filets, chick’n strips, sweet & tangy barbecue wings, mandarin orange crispy chick’n, chipotle lime crispy fingers, classic style buffalo wings, home style beefless tips, lightly seasoned chick’n scallopini and the ultimate beefless burger.

The Gardein products I have had the pleasure to cook with are their:  the Tuscan breasts, sante fe good stuff, chick’n fillets, herb dijon breasts, mandarin orange crispy chick’n, the holiday roast and classic style buffalo wings.  Thus far, everything I have tried was very tasty and enjoyable.  Here is a dinner I made with their mandarin orange crispy chick’n strips:

GARDEIN MANDARIN ORANGE CHICK’N STRIPS SANDWICH with MIXED BEAN SALAD 

GARDEIN VEGGIE GROUND TACOS with TOFUTTI NON-DAIRY SOUR CREAM 

GARDEIN TUSCAN BREAST with ROASTED POTATOES and SEASONED BROCCOLI

For more information about GARDEIN, their products, nutritional information, offers, recipes and where to buy – please visit their website:  http://www.gardein.com/index.php

TOFURKY

Of all the meatless products I have been eating since becoming a vegetarian – The Tofurky brand is what I have cooked with and used the most.  They have a great vegan italian style pizza (they collaborated with Daiya Cheese) and great deli slices that include; oven roasted, peppered, hickory smoked, bologna, italian and roast beef flavoured that would taste great with vegenaise (non-dairy mayo) and on any submarine sandwiches. 

Tofurky also has a great holiday roast.  You can buy the roast individually or as a feast.  The feast includes:  1 Tofurky breast, savoury giblet gravy, wild rice/whole wheat bread crumb stuffing, tofurky jurky wishstix and an organic chocolate cake (from Amy’s Kitchen) – all cruelty-free, absolutely delicious and 100% vegan. 

Tofurky also makes great Gourmet Sausages, they currently have 3 choices:  Beer Brats, Italian and Kielbasa.  I love cooking with these and adding them to pasta dishes.

TOFURKY ROAST with vegan MASHED POTATOES and SEASONED VEGETABLES

MIXED BEAN SALAD with TOFURKY ITALIAN SAUSAGE

For more information on where to buy TOFURKY, their story, recipes and why you should eat vegetarian – check out their website:  http://www.tofurky.com/

TOFUTTI

The Tofutti brand is new to me and I am so delighted to have discovered their amazing non-dairy desserts, sour cream, cheese slices and cream flavoured cream cheeses.  I tried their non-dairy ‘Marry Me’ dessert and was hooked right off the bat.  They have a bite-sized cream style sandwich that has no dairy or cholesterol called – CUTIES, also very delicious.  I have not tried their version of ice-cream but, if it tastes as delicious as their Marry Me bars…..I can’t wait!!!!

TOFUTTI ‘MARRY ME’ BARS

For more information about TOFUTTI, products, store finder, coupons, recipes and FAQ’s, please visit their website:  http://www.tofutti.ca/Home.aspx

SILK SOY BEVERAGES

For those of you that are having a hard time finding a great tasting alternative to milk – try Silk soy beverages.  This is a non-GMO (genetically modified organism) product and they include:  organic, light, true coconut (original), true almond (original), true almond (vanilla), true almond (unsweetened) and chocolate non-dairy beverages.  They also have a great coffee cream alternative. 

For more information about silk and soy myth-busters – please visit their website:  http://www.drinksilk.ca/

Here are other pictures of some of the great-tasting meatless meals I have created:

PC SCALLOPINE with FLAVOURED RICE and SEASONED BEAN/VEGETABLE SALAD

SEASONED TOFU BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE

TOFU “EGG SALAD” ON MULTIGRAIN

There are so many non-dairy and meatless foods that I use everyday to make delicious and cruelty-free dinners that are much tastier and nutritious than the foods I used to eat.  Many people are so inclined to believe that we must eat meat and dairy in order to be healthy and to receive the proper nutrients that our bodies require.  This is not true.  All you need to do is some research and you will find that most of the things that make us sick come from diets high in meat and dairy products.  You don’t have to take my word for it…..all I ask is for you to do the research – seek the truth about milk.  Most people do not even understand the huge impacts raising livestock has on our environment and water supply.  Make the choice to go vegetarian or vegan for a month and experience the benefits first-hand.  There are many great resources out there to help you on your way to a more healthier, delicious, nutritious and cruelty-free diet.  I have included some links below.

http://www.peta.org/living/default.aspx – Recipes and tips on becoming vegan/vegetarian

http://www.veg.ca/ – Toronto Vegetarian Association

http://followyourheart.com/products/category/vegenaise/ – Information about the mayonnaise substitute I use by Follow Your Heart

http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/ – My choice for non-dairy spreads and substitutes for butter, margarine, etc

http://www.daiyafoods.com/ – My favourite choice for non-dairy cheese substitute

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD A MORE POSITIVE ONE.

WHAT MASK(S) ARE YOU HIDING BEHIND?

How many of us have hidden behind a mask and how many of us continue to hide behind masks?  Many of us are hiding behind a mask for a number of different reasons.  Fear, hurt, anxiety, acceptance, anger or for many other reasons.  Hiding behind these masks allows us to feel like everything is okay without dealing with the real reasons as to why we put on these masks in the first place.  The masks give us a false sense of security.

There was a point in my life when I couldn’t live without a mask.  I was able to be two different people without disrupting my ‘perfect world’.  I wore that false façade for years bringing much turmoil, confusion, fear, anger, hate and anxiety into my life which reached a crescendo in my 21st year.  Due to the emotional turmoil that wearing my mask caused, I decided it was time to remove it and to begin to live a more authentic life.  By removing this mask, I was able to release the fears and stereotypes that I held about my sexuality.  This was the first time in my life that I actually faced my fears and anxiety and slowly began to remove many of the other masks I was hiding behind.  It was liberating and I finally felt free. 

If you continue to hide behind a mask, you will never be free to truly live an authentic life.  Be present in how you live and how you treat others – make an effort to identify the incidents in your life where you decide to put a mask on and when to take that mask off.  What would happen if you didn’t hide behind a mask anymore, what is the worse thing that can happen?  Will you lose the approval of others? 

Please Hear What I’m Not Saying

Don’t be fooled by me.
Don’t be fooled by the face I wear
For I wear a mask, a thousand masks,
Masks that I’m afraid to take off
And none of them is me.

Pretending is an art that’s second nature with me,
but don’t be fooled,
for God’s sake don’t be fooled.
I give you the impression that I’m secure,
that all is sunny and unruffled with me,
within as well as without,
that confidence is my name and coolness my game,
that the water’s calm and I’m in command
and that I need no one,
but don’t believe me.

My surface may be smooth but
my surface is my mask,
ever-varying and ever-concealing.
Beneath lies no complacence.
Beneath lies confusion, and fear, and aloneness.
But I hide this. I don’t want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weakness exposed.
That’s why I frantically create a mask to hide behind,
a nonchalant sophisticated facade,
to help me pretend,
to shield me from the glance that knows.

But such a glance is precisely my salvation,
my only hope, and I know it.
That is, if it is followed by acceptance,
If it is followed by love.
It’s the only thing that can liberate me from myself
from my own self-built prison walls
from the barriers that I so painstakingly erect.
It’s the only thing that will assure me
of what I can’t assure myself,
that I’m really worth something.
But I don’t tell you this. I don’t dare to. I’m afraid to.

I’m afraid you’ll think less of me,
that you’ll laugh, and your laugh would kill me.
I’m afraid that deep-down I’m nothing
and that you will see this and reject me.

So I play my game, my desperate, pretending game
With a façade of assurance without
And a trembling child within.
So begins the glittering but empty parade of Masks,
And my life becomes a front.
I tell you everything that’s really nothing,
and nothing of what’s everything,
of what’s crying within me.
So when I’m going through my routine
do not be fooled by what I’m saying.
Please listen carefully and try to hear what I’m not saying,
what I’d like to be able to say,
what for survival I need to say,
but what I can’t say.

I don’t like hiding.
I don’t like playing superficial phony games.
I want to stop playing them.
I want to be genuine and spontaneous and me
but you’ve got to help me.
You’ve got to hold out your hand
even when that’s the last thing I seem to want.
Only you can wipe away from my eyes
the blank stare of the breathing dead.
Only you can call me into aliveness.
Each time you’re kind, and gentle, and encouraging,
each time you try to understand because you really care,
my heart begins to grow wings —
very small wings,
but wings!

With your power to touch me into feeling
you can breathe life into me.
I want you to know that.
I want you to know how important you are to me,
how you can be a creator–an honest-to-God creator —
of the person that is me
if you choose to.
You alone can break down the wall behind which I tremble,
you alone can remove my mask,
you alone can release me from the shadow-world of panic,
from my lonely prison,
if you choose to.
Please choose to.

Do not pass me by.
It will not be easy for you.
A long conviction of worthlessness builds strong walls.
The nearer you approach me
the blinder I may strike back.
It’s irrational, but despite what the books may say about man
often I am irrational.
I fight against the very thing I cry out for.
But I am told that love is stronger than strong walls
and in this lies my hope.
Please try to beat down those walls
with firm hands but with gentle hands
for a child is very sensitive.

Who am I, you may wonder?
I am someone you know very well.
For I am every man you meet
and I am every woman you meet.

       By Charles C. Finn

****Please note – Photo image from the internet, not my own image****

Together we can make the world a more positive one.

MEDITATION/AFFIRMATION BEFORE BED

Are you finding it hard to ‘unwind’ from your busy work day?  Do you want to stop the inner dialogue with yourself and quiet your mind?  Meditation and affirmations are fantastic tools in order to ‘quiet your mind’.  Here are some steps I take in preparation for my evening meditation:

• Select a soothing disc that offers ‘sounds of nature’ or very relaxing and gentle chanting/singing
• Light incense – preferrably something that is not very perfumed based.  I like patchouli or sage
• If the meditation is a seated meditation, I ensure that I am in a comfortable seated position – If the meditation is prior to bed, I lay comfortably in my bed
• I open my chakras and invite the healing energies of white light to flow through me and my body
• I envision the white light destroying any un-healthy cells in my body
• I breathe – inhaling love and light and exhaling any negative emotions from my day

Here is a simple affirmation you can repeat as you connect with source…..

“It is now time to give my mind a rest and let it rejuvenate with sleep and relaxation so that I can be present and spread love, compassion and positive energy tomorrow”.

Together, we can make the world a more positive one.

 

 

SONG OF THE WEEK

There is not too much to say about the artist who has this weeks ‘song of the week’ – She has sold over 300 million records worldwide, she is a dancer, actress, director, philanthropist, fashionista, icon, and probably the worlds most controversial entertainer of all time.  She is the most successful solo-touring artist of all-time and has a career spanning over 30 years.  She is the one and the only – MADONNA.

Madonna has penned some of the most recognizable pop hits of my generation – songs like; “Like a Virgin”, “Material Girl”, “Papa Don’t Preach”, “Like A Prayer”, “Frozen”, “Ray of Light”, “American Life”, “Music” and so on.  Madonna’s critics have mainly focused on the controversy that surrounds many of her project releases but fail to mention that the controversies generally are to create dialogue and break stereotypes of whatever topic she is writing or making a video about.  I remember when ‘Like A Virgin’ came out (1984) and remember so many people being offended saying that the song was too sexual and that she was a role-model for so many young girls.  Let’s face it….she didn’t ask to be a role-model – her goal was to become the greatest entertainer and she was not going to compromise anything in order to achieve that goal.  People are okay to talk about rape, violence, wars etc….but whenever Madonna created a video that depicted any sexual ambiguity, people became outraged.  In the same breath – rap videos or male entertainers who would have women parading around with next-to-nothing – was okay.

Critics didn’t want to focus on Madonna – the powerful and strong woman who wasn’t going to compromise any of her artistic integrity in order to sell records.  When Madonna believed in something she would stand by her words and her art.  Although Madonna had many controversies surrounding the records, “Like A Virgin”, “Like A Prayer”, “Justify My Love”, “Erotica” and “American Life”, people tend to forget that she has also created some absolutely amazing and thought-provoking music and videos.  “Papa Don’t Preach” – about a teenager who did not want to abort her baby, “Promise To Try” – a stirring ballad that reflects the loss of Madonna’s mother at such a young age, “American Life” – a commentary about our need for all things material, “Frozen” – a haunting insight about self-reflection, “Nothing Really Matters” – a moving tribute to motherhood, “The Power of Goodbye” – a touching story of love/life loss.  Madonna has a collection of work that spans all music genres that speak to all generations and ages.

Today – Madonna’s challenge is ageism.  The critics are now siting that she is too old to be creating the music that she is creating.  They say things like; “she is too old to be parading around with no clothes on”, “she shouldn’t be making dance records and should mellow out”, “she should retire” etc….I hope that Madonna continues to make music she likes and videos that she believes – Music and video are not for people of a certain age – music is for everyone.  If you are uncomfortable with the type of music or video that Madonna is creating – don’t watch it!  Maybe that discomfort is telling you more about yourself than anything or anybody else.

Here is this week’s Song Of The Week.  Lyrics are followed by the audio and video.  Enjoy.

GET TOGETHER

(There’s too much confusion)
(It’s all an illusion)
(there’s too much confusion)

Down, down, down in your heart
Find, find, find the secret
Turn, turn, turn your head around
Baby we can do it
We can do it all right

Do you believe in love at first sight
It’s an illusion, I don’t care
Do you believe I can make you feel better
Too much confusion, come on over here

[Chorus]
Can we get together?
I really, I really wanna be with you
Come on, check it out with me
I hope you, I hope you feel the same way too

I searched, I searched, I searched my whole life
To find, find, find the secret
But all I did was open up my eyes
Baby we can do it
we can do it all right

Do you believe that we can change the future
Do you believe I can make you feel better

[Chorus X2]

It’s all an illusion
There’s too much confusion
I’ll make you feel better
If it’s bitter at the start
Then it’s sweeter in the end

Together, we can make the world a more positive one!