I'm a BzzAgent...

...And you can be too! Recently, I signed up at bzzagent.com to get an opportunity to try out new products (for free!) All I had to do was fill out a few easy surveys, and now I am getting sent some great products to sample. My job is to tell people about what products I have been sent to "spread some bzz." This works great for me, because if I love something, I want people to know about it. They are currently looking for people in the Portland area to try out some pre-made food for families on the run. I am looking forward to seeing what this is all about. So, if you get a chance, or you like trying out new prodcts for free-check it out!

Afrin Pure Sea

The other day when I received a box in the mail...it felt almost like my birthday!! I finally got my first "campaign" from Bzzagent.com and I am very pleased with the product. It is a nasal rinse made with 100% purified sea water and that is all. Being very familiar with nasal rinsing (using neti-pots in the past) I am more than happy to spread the word on the benefits of using this product. Many people who have suffered from chronic sinus infections have seen dramatic reductions and improvements in their health by regularly rinsing their nasal passages.

Here is Afrin's suggestion of people who may be interested in trying their product.

• anyone exposed regularly to air pollution


• people working in dusty environments


• those with allergies or congestion in nasal passages


• people continually exposed to germs (teachers, flight attendants, hospital workers)


• parents with young children or infants


• people interested in all-natural health and well-being products

Gerald and I both tried it out and I noticed instantly my sinuses were cleared and my senses heightened. Great product.

And for those in the Portland area, I have a handful of $3.00 off coupons if you are interested in giving it a try.

The Academy Theater

This may just be my all-time favorite theater. The Academy has been recently renovated after many years of suffering disrepair. It was first built in 1948, and was apparently a very popular place for movie-goers in the Montavilla neighborhood. Today, with the careful restoration and the attention to keeping it's vintage charge, it remains a great place for families to come for a bit of theater entertainment. As if the building itself were not enough to peak your interest, the prices are the real hook. On Tuesdays they offer buy one get one free movies! This is great for families on a tight budget, but still wanting to support local businesses.

Here are the details:

• Adults $4.00/kids $3.00 (I told you it was great!)
• 7818 SE Stark, 97215 503-252-0500
• academytheaterpdx.com
• and just to make it even sweeter, The Academy offers Flying Pie Pizza, beer, and wine!

Experimenting with Raw Foods

I've been on a raw food kick for a while now and have enjoyed experimenting with different recipes. The good news is that it is quite simple to prepare raw foods (no cooking involved!) and my family seems to really enjoy the new things they are eating.

There are many benefits to eating raw:

• you have more energy
• you naturally eat more fruits and vegetables
• when food is cooked the live, valuable enzymes are destroyed
• people who eat all raw claim to never get sick
• many more others you should research!

Currently, our goal is to eat one raw meal a day, and one day a week completely raw. I've been eating up everything I can find by raw foodie Ani Phyo. She has a great "uncook" book out called: Ani's Raw Food Kitchen

She also has a website: Aniphyo.com

Below I have two recipes of some delicious, easy treats from Ani's book and website. Check it out!

Chocolate Almond Milk

Chocolate "Mylk"

1 cup almonds (soaked overnight)
1/2 cup pitted dates
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbs. cocoa powder
3 cups H2O
* optional 2 Tbs. coconut oil

Blend in a powerful blender or food processor.
*from Aniphyo.com
You can't even possibly imagine how good this is!!!

"Donut" Holes

Dreaming About Donut Holes

1 3/4 cup almonds (soaked overnight)
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups dried pineapple, chopped
2 cups pitted dates
1/3 cups plus 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Put first 3 ingredients in food processor and process into a fine powder. Slowly add pineapple and dates, mix well. Place in a large bowl and mix in 1/3 cup coconut. Roll into balls and roll in coconut.
*from "Ani's Raw Food Kitchen"

Melanibrown.com

We recently had the priviledge of getting our pictures taken by Melanie Brown. She is a local Portland photographer. After perusing through her website, I felt vicariously creative! She has an eye for her subject and is able to capture color in a brilliant fashion.

The First Entry

I have been thinking long and hard about beginning this new blog. Lately, I have felt an incredible amount of excitement and passion for life. I want to capture those things here.

• Among the things that I have been enjoying are experimenting with new recipes, particularly with raw foods. I will post the recipes that I've tried and loved here, as well as the links to the people who are creating them.
  
• I also love discovering more and more about natural health and healing. God has given us many things in His world to bring about healing and good health. I love to see people getting stronger and healthier through natural remedies, eating healthy, and without the use of often toxic medications. I'd like to put some of my findings and personal regimens here.
  
• There are some fantastic people in my life. People who are so creative, so passionate, and so inspiring that I can't not share them here. They are doing beautiful things that bring a lot of joy to others.
• 
  I have also been reveling in "deal finding." I am not a super fanatic-but I find some good buys now and then that I would love others to get in on.
• 
  My real purpose is that I simply want to share a plethora of things that make me happy.
  
  Thanks for reading!