Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield

“Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain. Painless preaching is as good a term as any for what we do. If you’re going to come away from a party singing the lyrics of a song, it is better that you sing of self-pride like ‘We’re a Winner’ instead of ‘Do the Boo-ga-loo!’”

— Curtis Mayfield

    This is one of my most favorite songs of all time.  Not only are the instrumentals genius, but the lyrics are so motivational, as were many of his songs released before Move On Up, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement.  Curtis Mayfield is an icon.  Growing up in the projects of Chicago with only his mother, he managed to become one of the greatest musicians of all time.  He influenced artists across the board, from Bob Marley, to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Bill Withers.  I think Mayfield had a really good grasp of magic.  He knew the power of language and of intent, and put that knowledge to use.  He wanted to uplift anyone that heard his music.

“Maybe the words I say is just another way to pray.”

— Curtis Mayfield

“Hush now child, and don’t you cry
Your folks might understand you, by and by
Move on up, toward your destination
You may find from time to time
Complication

Bight your lip, and take a trip
Though there may be wet road ahead
And you cannot slip
So move on up for peace will find
Into the steeple of beautiful people
Where there’s only one kind

So hush now child, and don’t you cry
Your folks might understand you, by and by
Move on up, and keep on wishing
Remember your dream is your only scheme
So keep on pushing

Take nothing less, than the second best
Do not obey, you must keep your say
You can past the test
Just move on up, to a greater day
With just a little faith
If you put your mind to it you can surely do it

Just move on up
Move on up
But move on up
Oh child, but just move on up
But move on up
Move on up”

— Curtis Mayfield

Luxury as Time

“Most of us have no sympathy with the rich idler who spends his life in pleasure without ever doing any work. But even he fulfills a function in the life of the social organism. He sets an example of luxury that awakens in the multitude a consciousness of new needs and gives industry the incentive to fulfill them.”

— Ludwig von Miss

Rolex Air King, looks good for having logged over 2500 days of wear!

   Time is the only real luxury. When I buy an item or an experience, I'm essentially paying for time. Whether it be time spent learning or perfecting a craft, or the time it took to manufacture the item or the time to grow or make the components. Green bell peppers are cheaper than red, because they aren't ripe and there's a faster turnover. I don't eat green bell peppers, they aren't ripe!  I could make an amazing hand crafted watch. But I would have to learn how to mine, mold metal, and take several lessons in horology. I don't want to do that, but I still want a quality watch. So I outsource.  I trade my time to someone else for, in most cases, money.  Then I trade the money I received to someone else for their time. That can be applied to nearly every purchase I make. As I grow and learn, I invest time in my life and perfect better the things I put my attention to, making my time more valuable. And as I grow I have less time, also increasing its value. Baby cashmere has a greater value because it can only be collected once in a goat's lifetime, and is only a limited supply. With no time, there is no luxury.  I think there's an unlimited amount of money (according to the Federal Reserve there is), so it's in my favor to look to others who have put in the time to understand the things I have yet to understand.  

    Unless you're Eckhart Tolle, which would mean, according to the transitive property, that luxury is an illusion.  I have to agree with him, luxury is just as illusory as time.  Being present in the moment is the ultimate luxury, supersedes time, and can't be bought.  Luxury is not about having stuff, it's about having time.  When you're totally in the moment, there is no time.  When I'm doing something I love, and am totally in the flow, I can accomplish so much in so little time, or totally get lost in the day and feel like it passed in the blink of an eye.  But if you're having fun it doesn't matter, there's no better way to spend time than doing things you enjoy.

   Back to materialism for a second, because I want to connect my watch to luxury and to time.  It was a gift for my 18th birthday.  And you know what they say about gifts, turning down a gift is denying yourself love.  I've worn it every day since I got it, except that one time the pin fell out of the band.  That means it's spent 2,529 days on my wrist.  I swim with it, I shower with it, I change my oil with it, rock climb.  And it's still going strong!  I have only spent one day without it.  To me, that's a form of luxury.  It's able to withstand the test of time, and 20w50.  It also serves as a representation of my parents, the gift givers.  I look at it, and am reminded about all that they've done for me.

    Every once in a while I'm questioned why I would want metal strapped around my wrist.  Believe it or not, it's not because I want to know what time it is.  If I wanted to know the time, I would not look at a Rolex (that picture was actually taken at 6:12).  I think generally those that ask, think that it harnesses energy on my wrist that I might not want.  One woman said how she can't wear her watch because it makes her feel terrible.  I'm thinking, why do you have such a negative association with your watch?  I have more say than my watch, and I say it only harnesses the things I want!  While it may look like a piece of 904L stainless steel strapped to my wrist, it's much more than that.  It's filled with gold nuts (maybe even sprouted?), and gemstones like rubies, sapphires and diamonds.  They are not there to make the watch expensive, they're there because they serve a purpose.  They are more durable than metal, and significantly reduce friction, increasing the lifespan.  So sitting on my wrist is hundreds of years of watch development, using traditional and modern technologies, made with the best ingredients.   I know people that carry crystals in their pocket.  I carry them on my wrist.

Thank you for reading!

My Longtime Friend, He Shou Wu

“If we could sniff or swallow something that would, for five or six hours each day, abolish our solitude as individuals, atone us with our fellows in a glowing exaltation of affection and make life in all its aspects seem not only worth living, but divinely beautiful and significant, and if this heavenly, world-transfiguring drug were of such a kind that we could wake up next morning with a clear head and an undamaged constitution — then, it seems to me, all our problems (and not merely the one small problem of discovering a novel pleasure) would be wholly solved and earth would become paradise.”

— Aldous Huxley

It’s obvious to me that Huxley is referring to He Shou Wu.

    Everyone’s on drugs.  The definition of drug is so loose, I think everything is a drug.  According to “Dictionary” on my mac, a drug is a “substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.”  I went to school for psychology, among other things, because one day it hit me, everything we ingest is psychotropic, we may just not notice it.  In the health community, I always hear “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” but I think what people don’t understand is, today’s version of store-bought spinach is not medicine, and not really food.  Don’t get me wrong, spinach is great, but it ain’t what it used to be.  We have to go back to the ur-food.  Food grown in the same environment with which we live, that can thrive with little interference from us.  The problem with that is that we aren’t even suited to our environment.  Maybe it’s because we ate weak food!

    One of my top foods/medicines is He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum, Chinese Knotweed).  In case you don’t know the story, it’s about this older guy, Mr. He.  He was upset that his hair was gray, he had no kids, was feeling less than optimal and was approaching 60.  There are several versions of the story, this is my take.  So he was feeling weak, and was bitching around town.  Someone said “here, eat this plant,” so he did.  His hair returned to black, his vitality increased, went on to father several children and lived to be like 150 years old!  The name “He Shou Wu” loosely translates to “Mr. He’s Black Hair.”  

    I don’t know exactly why he shou wu is one of my favorites, but I can speculate.  It’s a restorative, yin jing herb.  I’m all about that bass-ic yin.  I like relaxing, I like breathing, I dislike excessive exertion, I dislike confrontation.  He shou wu is nourishing to the liver and kidneys.  It helps to cultivate strength, centeredness and dark hair (I’m still waiting on this one).  I find it keeps me calm and centered.

    He shou wu fits the conventional definition of a drug.  It’s one of the most potent publicly available MAOI-Bs.  MAOI stands for mono-amine oxidase inhibitor.  That means they slow the breakdown of monoamine neurotransmitters.  The “B” signifies that it’s not MAOI-A.  MAOI-A and MAOI-B work on different types of monoamines.  "A" primarily takes care of serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline, "B" works mostly on dopamine and phenethylamine (PEA).  Keep this in mind next time you’re planning a tonic herb latte!  Interesting side-note, Theobroma cacao contains MAOI-Bs and PEA!

    When you’re looking to buy He shou wu, there are a few things to look for.  He shou wu is native to South Central China.  When you see herbs labeled as “di tao,” it means the plant material is sourced from its native region.  He shou wu should also be prepared.  Generally, it’s cooked down with black beans.  Black is the color representing Jing energy.  This process takes away a lot of the laxative effect of the raw root.  My understanding (let me know if I’m wrong) is that prepared he shou wu is a tonic, and unprepared is more medicinal, meaning it has it has value, but under more stringent circumstances.  I think the cooking process breaks down elements that we don’t want, while forming some that we do.  Those are the most important things I can think of.  Less important is deciding whether you want the actual root or an extract.  I enjoy both.  He shou wu tea has a really interesting resiny flavor.  I notice that good extracts usually have the sticky-resiny quality when mixed with a liquid, which I like.  

Prepared He Shou Wu Root

    I love Sun Potion’s products.  I’ve gotten to know Scott and Nitsa, but even before that, I was hooked on their stuff.  I knew it was great before I even tried it!  I was at Erewhon and saw my favorite herbs in Miron glass.  Miron glass is not cheap, so I knew someone would only use it to hold something very valuable.  I was right!  Shortly after I placed my first online order, I emailed to ask how their products are made.  Scott wrote me back saying that most are cold water extracts.  The material is mixed with water, and pressurized.  The pressure is then quickly released.  This is repeated several times, creating a cold water concentrate.  Some of the extracts are sprayed through hot air, which makes the extracts dissolve easily in water.  Some are sprayed back into the original whole plant powder.  They don’t use maltodextrin in any of their products.

  Here is what I’m currently drinking:

• 200mL raw coconut water
• 200mL of warm coffee brewed with distilled water
• 1/2t Pine Pollen
• 1/2t Eucommia Bark
• 1/2t He Shou Wu

    I mixed the herbs with the coconut water, and poured the coffee over.  Coffee is a stimulant, which to me means it’s a delivery system.  It opens your body up and gets things moving.  It’s a perfect time to introduce a bunch of tonic herbs.  I think of the herbs as carrying little packets of information.  When I drink coffee and open myself up, those little packets have many more sites to “plug in” to my body.

    I’ll do a post all about coffee in the future.  I absolutely love coffee, and have as long as I can remember.  But I have to be careful, it can easily be too much for me.  It’s nice having it as a weekend ritual.

I hope you enjoyed!

How I Prepare to Travel

“I have found out there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”

— Mark Twain

    I have a love/hate relationship with traveling.  I thoroughly enjoying going to different places, experiencing new cities, recognizing how others have changed since my last visit.  Flying is what gets me.  Flying, just like anything, has its advantages and disadvantages.  It is generally the fastest mode of transportation, not including layovers, delays, the TSA and gate agents.

    Unfortunately, body scanners are not the only source of radiation when flying.  The altitude at which commercial planes generally fly contains twice the levels of UV radiation as found at sea level.  Flying over clouds or snow can reflect the light (visible and invisible), doubling the amount of exposure in-flight.  This is especially dangerous for pilots, who have significantly more exposure than the average traveler.  Pilots’ exposure is also increased because of the large window in the cockpit.  Cockpit windows are generally made of plexiglass and allow enough UV-A to pass to make a difference.  One hour of flying at altitude can expose a pilot to as much radiation as would a 20 minute session in a tanning bed.

    The body scanners are not only worthless, but harmful.  You can opt out, but you have to stand next to the carry-on x-ray scanner while you wait to be patted down.  I like to think of the pat down as a complimentary lymphatic drainage.  The current TSA scanners use millimeter-wave frequencies to detect metal objects on your body.  Great!  I prefer ceramic knives anyway, no contact-oxidation.  The TSA says the scanners are harmless, but interestingly enough, Raytheon uses the same technology in their "active denial system" for crowd control, which burns the targets skin.  Their motto is "Pain without Injury."  I think pain is usually an indicator of injury.  If I burn my hand on a hot pot, that's an injury.  Getting burned by a microwave is not different, and may even be more harmful.  They argue that it's non lethal, but again this is dosage dependent.  If you microwave someone for long enough, they'll die, or at least wish they were dead.  Studies show that the active scanners can depress cell lifespan and alter genetic expression.  So from here on, I’m going to spell out how I prepare to fly, to make my travel as efficient and harmless as possible.  

    There are several things you can do to prepare for flying that will help reduce the mental and physical stress.  First of all, be healthy and fit.  You don’t want to die traveling because you got a blood clot.  Flying exposes you to a huge number of people.  You’re going to be trapped in a sealed tube with a hundred other people.  You don’t know what they’re carrying!  Having an optimized immune system will create less stress in the body.

    I like to load up on antioxidants before I fly.  UV (as is x ray) radiation is ionizing radiation.  That means that as the waves pass through you, they knock off electrons.  Oxidation.  When I know I’m traveling, I take MegaHydrate on a more regular basis.  Not only is H-- the most potent antioxidant, but when combined with silica, helps detoxify radiation (I think).  I also like to up the zeolites, powder and liquid.  They each work differently.  When I have the little bottle of NCD2, I take it with me through “security.”  Vitamin C is another good one to consider, as is colloidal silver for immunity.  I also tend to sweat, between carrying stuff, having many layers for many climates, stressing (just kidding, I don’t do that!) so I like to take 2-3 quintessentials before I leave for the airport.  Edit:  I just heard that liquids can be brought through security, if frozen.  I am curious to know the justification, not that I'm complaining!

    Mushrooms are great because not only are they adaptogens, but can stave off radiation as well.  Chaga contains melanin, which can attach itself to radiation, and help the body eliminate it.  Chaga also contains a usable form of superoxide dismutase, a very potent antioxidant.  Being adaptogenic, it also helps to reduce mental stress and anxiety.  TL;DR:  Drink chaga even if you’re not traveling.  

    I brought this post up with my friends Scott and Nitsa over at Sun Potion, who also thought it was worth mentioning Reishi, for its supreme calming effects.  Reishi is known as the herb of good fortune, which is also something you'll want when relying on so many other people and things to get where you want to go.  Scott and Nitsa also mentioned taking a salt inhaler on the plane.  I don't have any experience with one, but I can see how it makes sense.  Drip some essential oils in there, and breath away!  It works to clean and flush out your respiratory system.  I definitely want to keep my lungs clean when trapped breathing recirculated airplane air.  It's like having your own portable, personal rock salt lamp.

Look how tan that thing is!

    In a previous post I mentioned grounding.  When you’re in an airplane, you’re not grounded to the earth.  But you can ground yourself to the plane by touching the frame of the seat in front of you, I hear.  My understanding is that you can get some electrons, but the plane’s ground has only a limited supply, and does not contain any Schumann resonances.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a Schumann resonance with you!  I bring a zapper with me.  Either this one or this one.  Grounding when you reach your destination will also help reset your circadian rhythms, as will unprotected sunlight to the eyes.

    The most important part of the flight is the snacks.  I don’t care if we crash and burn, as long as I’m eating chocolate.  Snacks are really important though.  You don’t want an energy drop while your delayed for 16 hours in Minneapolis while on hold with the airline that forgot to put your bag on the plane.  Two words: Goji berries.  Sweet, complete protein and polysaccharid rich they are.  And the number one food source of lithium. You’ll want that, it’s a mood stabilizer.  All jokes aside, it is important to have chocolate with you as well.  You’ll get some MAOIs, PEA, anandamide and theobromine, assuming you have good chocolate.  Seasnax are another favorite of mine.  Salty and iodine rich, perfect for helping me keep my calm and protecting my thyroid.  My preferred energy source is fat, so I like to bring olives and/or some kind of nut, preferably macadamia.  You might be thinking, “but if I bring food with me, it will be x-rayed!”  Yes, that’s true.  But all food on the other side of security will be, so it’s much cheaper to bring your own.  I’ve successfully asked TSA agents to hand-check my food and supplements.  Before I fly I take a screen shot off the TSA website saying you can have supplements hand inspected instead of sent through the scanner.  Although, I just looked for the page on their site and can’t find it, but in any case, your supplements will experience ionizing radiation from outer space.  Currently, the only way around that is strictly ground transportation.

The contents of my carry-on

    Not all travel prep is directly related to the body.  It’s important to pack smartly to maximize efficiency and organization.  I think my backpack is perfect for travel.  It has a secure space for my computer, 22L of space to hold my carry-on necessities (like food), an easy access top pocket and is durably made in Montana.  The buckles are made with nickel plated stainless steel from Waterbury, CT.  The fabric is DuPont engineered 1000D Cordura Nylon that’s nearly waterproof.  Kletter opted for the old standby YKK zippers, in a larger than usual size.  There are also nylon tabs on the backpack to pull in the opposite direction while zipping.  It’s everything I want from a backpack, minus the sherpa.

    Good headphones are another necessity for easy traveling.  You want to hear the clearest sound, while not hearing babies cry.  I don't like noise canceling headphones.  They work by introducing frequencies that cancel out the ambient noise.  That doesn't sound very efficient to me.  And I don't want to have electronics strapped to my head if I'm only getting sub-par sound quality.  I use ear buds for convenience when driving and out and about, but I prefer having space between the speaker and my ear.  These are my favorite headphones, as you probably know.  I previously said I was loyal to B&O.  They're very comfortable over the ear headphones that sound amazing, with the option to daisy chain.  What more could I ask for?

    I also recently acquired a dope-ass suitcase.  I’m 24 and I remember using three different suitcases in my lifetime so far.  My new one will last me for the rest of my life.  It’s aluminum with a lifetime warranty.  It’s got 33L for my packing convenience, with 2 built in locks.  Rimowa’s been around since 1898, so I’m thinking they’re doing something right  I also appreciate that it's North American made.  Rimowa's suitcases are made around the world, but mine happens to be from Canada.

The Most Opulent Face Wash

The Most Opulent Recycled Face Wash

“If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?”

— Abraham Lincoln

    I don’t like to waste.  I’m assuming you read the post on how to make the richest almond milk.  Well, with the leftover almond pulp, I’m going to make the most opulent face wash.  I don’t usually put anything on my skin that I wouldn’t eat.  I grew up using Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Cream.  My mom’s been using it longer than I can remember, so when I started washing my face, that’s what I used.  I used it regularly until about a year ago, when I started washing my face less often.  Towards the end of my Dr. Hauschka career, I got their book.  It gives directions on how to make most of their basic products.  Cleansing cream? Almond Butter.  Toner?  Apple cider vinegar.  Looking back, it’s so obvious!

My nut-milk bag was in the wash, so I used this cloth.

    I like things to be simple, so this face wash recipe is really easy with few ingredients that are all edible:  Almond flour, coconut oil, and essential oils.  I usually use frankincense and lavender.  Both are known for their beautifying qualities.

    The first step is making almond flour from the pulp.  The longer you blended the milk, the finer your flour will be.  However, don’t fret if you have a chunky pulp.  Spread it out on a sheet to dehydrate.  Try to break up any big clumps, they can start to ferment on the inside if they get warm and don’t dry.  Drying the pulp exponentially extends the shelf life.  In these images here, I did not dry the pulp as I only made a small amount that I’ll use in a few days.

    Once they’re dry, I mean really dry, toss them in a blender and grind again, so you get a consistent texture.  Store any flour you’re not using in the freezer.  Now that you’ve got the flour, I’m just going to walk you through the steps I take to get a face wash.

You'll need:

1/2 Cup Almond Flour

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil

2-3 Drops each Frankincense and Lavender Essential Oils

    I like to be gentle with this, mixing it by hand in a non-metal bowl using a wooden spoon.  I store it in a little short mason jar.  I only make a little at a time, so I can’t speak to how long it will keep.  When I take a shower or bath, I put it on my face and let it sit.  I like to open my pores and let my skin soak up the oils (I’m assuming you either have clean running water, or filter your shower water).  I rub it in not long before I rinse it off.  The almond meal makes a great exfoliant.

A few notes on essential oils:

    I’m not brand loyal, I’ve used Elizabeth Van Buren, YoungLiving and I have a doTerra Frankincense, which so far has been my favorite Frankincense.  But I think it’s important to get good oils.  Look for 3rd party tested (with great results) and food/therapeutic grade.  Depending how good you want your oils to be, you can also look where they’re sourced.  

    I also think it’s important to go by latin names.  There are roughly 30 different species of Lavendula (Lavender).  My preference is Lavendula angustifolia, or True Lavender.  The doTerra Frankincense I have is Boswellia frereana.  Something else to consider is the source.  Lavendula angustifolia is native to the western Mediterranean, while Boswellia frereanna is native to eastern Africa.  I want my essential oils to be made from Di Tao herbs.

    While I enjoy making my own skin-care products, I’m currently trying out a few different Living Libation’s oils and creams, which I am in love with, but not ready to report yet.

Thank you for reading! (If you did)

My Summer Essentials

“Of all the wonders of nature, a tree in summer is perhaps the most remarkable; with the possible exception of a moose singing ‘Embraceable You’ in spats.”

— Woody Allen

    I love summer, because I love going to the beach.  When I think of summer, I think of rawer foods, juice, berries, eating outside, going to the beach.  I am a sun worshipper.  The beach is my territory.  There’s nothing better than getting some rays grounded in the ocean, breathing salty air.  A good spring cleaning is necessary for a good summer.  Spring is the perfect time to let go of winter, and prepare for a great, expansive summer.

Here is a list of some of my summer essentials:

• Juices and Berries
• The Perfect pair of Sandals, Shorts and a  Long Sleeve Shirt
• The Perfect Playlist
• The Best Speakers to play your Perfect Playlist
• A Land Rover
• The Perfect Lemonade

    I like to prepare for summer with juice.  I find juice to be very cooling, and really cut it back in winter.  Now that summer’s quickly approaching, I’ve been adding more green juices.  It’s been slightly chilly recently, but I know it’s going to be beach weather soon so I’m incorporating more colored juices like carrot and beet.  Eating more colors, I believe, helps protect you from burning.*        *not approved by the FDA, or whatever.

    I’m a huge advocate of the sun.  Nothing makes me feel better than spending a few hours basking in the sun.  I think we can definitely affect how sensitive we are to the sun through our lifestyle.  Taking care of our skin and eating to nourish it are key.  It’s our largest organ, and largest organ of elimination!  And if you’re a Bruce Lipton fan, you’ll know that the intelligence of the cell lies in the membrane.  I’m just as careful of what I put on my body as in my body.  If I need some protection, I put on a shirt.

    Once summer arrives, I love to indulge in berries.  Berries are my favorite fruit.  One thing to note about berries, it’s good to eat them with a fat, and really important they are well chewed.  Try to break up the seeds.  If you put them in a smoothie, blend to grind up the seeds, and chew it before you swallow it.  This prepares your body to receive food.  I generally use frozen fruit for convenience, but don’t like cold food, so blending for longer also helps warm it up a little.  Berries are also a good source of nutrition!  Full of colors, fibers.  Did you know strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside?  It’s a very unique fiber that glues them on, that’s great for your intestinal tract!

    My summer wardrobe is dictated by what I find comfortable.  Earth runners are my primary footwear.  I’m hesitant to call them shoes, but I wear them beyond the point that sandals are appropriate.  I’m on my second pair.  Earth runners are barefoot running sandals (as the name insinuates), that electrically ground you to the earth.  There are several different options when choosing them.  I feel like I’m getting custom sandals when I order them.  If you want to look further into it, here is their website.

    The first pair I got just prior to spending a month at The Tree of Life with Dr. Gabriel Cousens, in Patagonia, AZ.  They were perfect!  They were the only shoes I brought with me and wore them hiking, walking, “cooking” for 30 consecutive days.  I decided to upgrade to ones with conductive slip-on laces.  Mine also have copper inserts that ground my feet at specific acupoints.  I don’t even feel like I have shoes on, and they’re so flexible, walking on a tactile warning strip is like a free foot massage.

    Grounding can also help you avoid burning in the sun.  When you’re grounded, your body acquires the electrical potential of the earth, which provides many benefits.  It’s a source of negatively charged electrons (anti-oxidants), has an anti-inflammatory effect and entrains your body with the Schumann Resonances.  The Schumann resonances are a result of the difference in charge and distance between the earth and the ionosphere (another reason to discontinue H.A.A.R.P.).  Think of the earth and the ionosphere creating a battery, with us in the middle.  Since neither the earth nor the ionosphere are perfect spheres, there is variation, but it's generally around 7.83Hz.

    A long sleeve white linen shirt is my go-to sunblock.  I’m not an advocate of sunscreens.  I’m not an advocate of burning either.  Getting some sun is important.  I feed off the sun, nothing makes me feel better.  Getting just 15 minutes of unprotected sun will supply you with sufficient vitamin D for the day.  One thing I think is important to note:  Vitamin D is produced and left on the surface of the skin to be absorbed.  Don’t take a shower after you go to the beach!  Not right away.  Wait as long as you can.  I know, you’re going to say, "but that’s gross."  Well whats worse, washing off all the vitamin D, or throwing on some strong essential oils.  Back to the shirt, white reflects the most light so you won’t get warm.  Linen is a breathable, comfortable, natural fiber.

     As I’m typing this, I think I should mention sunglasses.  I wear glasses sometimes, sunglasses too.  Most lenses, clear or not, block UV light.  Sunglasses have the potential to be more harmful, blocking UV and visible light.  It’s important to get some sun in your eyes.  People talk about sun gazing for a reason.  Tanning actually begins with the eyes.  When UV light enters through your eye, it stimulates the pituitary gland to produce melanocyte stimulating hormone, which does what it sounds like.  Your skin also reacts, but significantly slower.  So, when you’re in the sun wearing sunglasses, your body takes much longer to pigment the skin with melanin, increasing chances of burning.  I recently came across some information arguing that the bacteria on your skin affects your sensitivity.  I don’t know enough to comment, but that makes sense to me.

    There are always certain songs I associate with summer.  I have a few pretty regular summer activities with friends I only see on occasion, so I usually remember the songs they introduced me to, or that we played repeatedly, and those usually go on the playlist.  There are others that just have a summery feel, a je ne sais quoi.  I’m still working on my summer playlist, but this is it so far:

• Move On Up (Extended Version) - Curtis Mayfield
• Sugar - Maroon 5
• Soulful Strut - Young Holt Unlimited
• Eminence Front - The Who
• Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
• Peg - Steely Dan
• Ghost Town - Adam Lambert    
• Hollywood - RAC

    I wouldn’t call myself an audiophile, but I like good sound.  I’m usually pretty brand loyal to Bang and Olufsen.  While it’s usually a bitch to deal with the store, and maintenance is required, it’s worth it for the supreme audio/visual experience.  The A3?  Genius, I don’t know why the discontinued it.  I’m currently on the Beoplay A2 wireless bluetooth speaker.  “Rays,” I know, but it’s a trade off.  Ground yourself.  The sound is spectacular.  It’s got a pretty good range, 55Hz to 20,000Hz.  On the other hand, Bose dose not disclose the range of it’s most popular bluetooth speaker, the SoundLink Mini.  I couldn’t find the wattage, but I’m guessing it’s up there.  Battery life is a supposed 24 hours play time.  I haven’t counted, but it seems great.  You can also plug audio or USB right in.  You can charge off the USB port, which is nice.  And I got this sweet shoulder strap for it.  Charles Eames once (or maybe twice) said, “The details are not the details.  They are the design.”

    I say a Land Rover is an essential summer and beach component because, how else are you going to drive on the beach?  It’s so much fun.  I love driving out as far away as we can get and setting up camp for the day.  Feels just like a safari, but by the ocean.

1985 Land Rover 110, Cape Poge, Chappaquiddick

    One thing a beach campsite requires is lemonade.  I love lemonade.  My usual is a squeezed lemon, a little grade b maple syrup and water, spring or distilled.  In summer I like to get a little fancier.  The best lemonade requires pressed lemon juice, with the rind.  There is nothing like it.  Living in California, I don’t have my Norwalk so I’ve been using option two.  Squeeze a lemon into distilled water, and then drop the rind in and let it sit for a few hours, even overnight.  The distilled water will draw the oils form the peel.  Then I like to add a little MSM.  It pairs well with citrus.  Surthrival Schizandra Berry Concentrate is the best schizandra I’ve had, and adds a little zing to the lemonade.  And turns it into pink lemonade.

    For every 12 ounces of water:

• 1/2 - 1 Organic Lemon, depending on the size/tartness factor you’re looking for
• 1/2 tablespoon Grade B Maple Syrup*
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon non-petroleum derived MSM powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Schizandra Concentrate

This 2000mL Erlenmeyer Flask is great for vortexing and serving!

*You can cut down on the number of ingredients by swapping out water and maple syrup for maple sap.

    Schizandra is one of the top tonic herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  There are countless reasons why someone might be interested in taking schizandra, it's great for the liver, is known as a beautifying tonic and in Chinese translates to "five flavors."  Here’s a video of Brandon Gilbert describing the benefits of schizandra, he's more qualified than I am.  Lucidera, the company that supplies Surthrival, was founded by Brandon.

    If you made it this far, I hope you enjoyed it!

The Richest Almond Milk

“Whereas Feuerback had argued that you are what you eat, Marx and Engels insisted that you are what you produce - and how you produce it.”

— Francis Wheen

Well, just to be safe, I’m going to cover all my bases.  Almond milk is a staple in my refrigerator.   It can make a great base for soups, give a little fat for green smoothies, or turn into the perfect tonic latte (more on this later).

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to label yourself as “vegan” to enjoy almond milk!  I personally use it as a milk of choice.  I only like cow’s milk for eggnog, which is a once a year thing.  I don’t generally eat unfermented dairy.  You don’t know what’s coming straight out of that cow’s teet!  I like my dairy with culture, so I know what to expect. 

I’m not into store-bought almond milk.  It’s hard to find an almond milk with few ingredients, let alone quality ingredients.  There are the obvious things to look for, like if or how it is sweetened, if the almonds were sprouted, if the end product been pasteurized.  These will most likely be labeled.  However, all almonds produced in the United States are legally required to be pasteurized.  Even if they’re “raw!”  I don’t see much point in sprouting a pasteurized almond.  The only way to get around this is to buy foreign.  Chances are, the sprouted almond milk you’re drinking probably isn’t sprouted!  Because it’s dead.  I mean, with this drought we’re in, let’s boycott California grown almonds anyway!  The US supplies 85% of the world’s almonds.  And they’re all pasteurized.  There’s more to this, like whether it was steam or PPO processed.

So, you went to the store, bought your truly raw Italian almonds.  Now it’s time to soak those bad boys.  You’re reading this because you want to drink the best almond milk, right?  Then you’re going to use distilled, spring or at least reverse osmosis water.  My preference is distilled.  Soak them for 8 or so hours, a little less if using distilled.  Make sure the bowl is big enough,  they swell.

If you soaked just enough for one batch, then just rinse them off and toss them in a blender.  I’m not brand loyal, but Vitamix, if you’re reading this, call me, I think we could work something out.  If you soaked to save, still rinse them off.  But put them in the dehydrator instead of your blender.  At least the extras anyway.  I’m not going to make any specific recommendations, I find dehydrating differs across the country.  Let’s say 112-118 depending how “raw” you want to go.  It goes without saying, the lower the temperature, the longer the time.  Did I just say that?   

So this is the richest almond milk because it has all the necessary components for a satisfying, 

health inducing nut milk, and nothing more.

Vanilla - The varieties of vanilla I don’t think vary too much health wise.  Someone correct me if I’m wrong.  I like to look for the most fragrant and still moist.  It’s impossible cutting into a rock hard vanilla bean, even with a ceramic knife.  And dangerous.  In these pictures I was using a Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract.

Sea Salt - Table salt.  If you’re here, you know why not.  Himalayan salt:  It’s alright in my book.  It’s clean, for the most part.  But at the end of the day, it’s a rock.  I don’t want to eat rocks.  The sea salt is a necessary component of this recipe, as it brings out the already present flavors, as well as conditions the distilled water.

Non-GMO Soy Lecithin - Lecithin is a necessary component of cellular function, and is sometimes supplemented for brain health, but I use it because it’s a great emulsifier.  It keeps binds the fats and water so it remains homogenous.

Ceylon Cinnamon - Ceylon cinnamon is real cinnamon.  Canella and Cassia do not contain nearly as many health promoting factors.  True cinnamon opens all of the 12 meridians.

Raw Stoneground Coconut Butter - This is the best, even right out of the jar.  It adds a certain flavor and a real creaminess you can feel.  Also, fat.  Raw, because there’s no reason for a nut butter to be cooked.  Stoneground, because I think there’s something magical about grinding in a circular motion between polycrystals.

Raw Local Honey - Honey is amazing, so satisfying and sweet.  One of the top health foods in my book.

Sprouted Raw Almonds - We went over this.

Distilled Water - When you make your own, you know what kind of water is being used.

We went over sprouting already, so here's the breakdown

Blend:

1 cup of sprouted almonds

3 cups water

Make sure everything is well blended

Strain through a nut milk bag

Rinse the blender container out.  Now add the dry ingredients.  Do this first, so that if you put too much of something in, the almond milk isn’t lost.

2 Tablespoons Coconut Butter

1 Tablespoon Honey

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon Lecithin

3/4 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Pour the plain almond milk into the container, and blend on high for longer than you think.  You want it to really emulsify.  The lecithin will create a great foam.  This is great if you want to blend it until it’s warm, and use it for a latte, which some have referred to as “deliciousness incarnate.”