Ever heard of someone claiming that they have “Bad Luck”, or that if anything could go wrong, it will go wrong…with them? The soup with the dead fly is always given to them; Their order is always wrong; Their line is always the longest…

And then you look at their life, and think, “Yeah, I guess they’re right. They DO always have bad things happen.”

Transversely, you have also met those people who seem to be gifted with great luck, or “The Midas Touch”. They always find money. They always make the grade. They win all the contests.

Similarly, you assume that they are, indeed, lucky.

And then you wonder why the dice gets thrown one way or another for each person…It’s GOT to be fate. The evidence is there.

But as I observe these situations, and combine them with philosophies of people smarter than I…Me…I (see what I mean?), I have stumbled upon a personal epiphany: It’s true what they say:

 Like attracts Like. 

And we are LIKE what we BELIEVE.

Henry Ford said two really cool things:

1. When being interrogated and mocked by a court of lawyers as to his credibility as an expert in his field, he pulled a Bryan Mills (the “Taken” guy), Bad-A-You-Know-What, and took control of the questioning by saying something more awesome than this, but along these lines:

“I may not know who the General was during a particular battle, or who invented the whatever, but I have a row of red buttons on my desk, and when I push any of them, at any time, the right person comes to me and gives me what I want.”

And then he jumped over the witness stand and punched them each in the throat…I think that’s how it went…Or it should have…

But that story wasn’t the point here. This is:

2. He also said, “If you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.”

When he knew something was possible, he wouldn’t let up on those guys who responded to the red-button calls. They would say, “It is impossible”, and he would say, “I’ll have it.” And guess what would happen? Yup. You’ve seen the V-8 engine? They said it was impossible.

Last year, around March, I decided that my life wouldn’t be complete until I renovated my 110-year old farmhouse…ALL of it. At once. With a very small budget and a husband and father who love to give me good gifts, the construction began. (I LOOOOOOVE THEM BOTH.)

I went on Craigslist and immediately found a kitchen HAUL- Custom ash cabinets, Silestone countertops, very cool sink and faucet, Kitchenaid convection oven/ microwave combo, gas cooktop, and custom island, all for $800. Here’s what it looked like when I brought it all into the house:

As we (they) started putting the cabinets together to suit our kitchen arrangement, my dad came to me with discouraging news: either the curved base cabinet OR the trash compactor had to go-after many attempts, he found that both would not fit the space. But I wanted both. So I told him that Henry Ford said it could be done…

Guess what happened?

 (Guess what also happened?)

And This:

Also this:

Ok- Now I’m bragging…

But as my momma-in-law says, “if you take credit for the good, you gotta take credit for the bad”…

So what you are NOT seeing in these pics is 9 months of this:

Utter, complete CHAOS of living in a house with 3 kids, a hub, a dog, and a stray cat that snuck in to have kittens (?!?!?!), for 9 months (and still counting) while walls are torn down, stairs are constructed, kitchen non-existent, and the dust…the dust and dirt…words can’t express…

(Ok, the kittens and destruction are gone now, but, you get the idea…)

Some would look at my situation and say that I was so lucky that I got such a great deal on the kitchen upgrades, and that I was fortunate that my Dad and my hubs were willing to pay the sweat equity on the project. I am. It’s true. So blessed.

Others would say that I was out of my mind for embarking on a task this daunting without a hired crew and a plan to speed up the process exponentially. That’s true, too. I lost my mind back in May.

But I believe that we saw an opportunity, accepted our challenges, and pushed through the really, exceedingly trying obstacles, with not as much grace as I would have like to displayed, and a lot more humiliation and frustration than I care to experience, in order to receive the end prize.

Here we are, almost a year later, almost finished…almost. And it’s stunning. Welcoming. HOME.

We were ignorant as to the TRUE cost of the entire project: time, money, living comforts, and most of all, sanity. But my dad…Thank GOD for him- he knew the real cost, yet he chose to help anyway. And he motivated us to see it through to the end. He knew that there’s always pain before a child is born.

There will ALWAYS be obstacles. Excuses. Reasons why not.

But there are also ALWAYS possibilities. Solutions. Reasons why to.

So, when you  are faced with the thought that you can’t because you aren’t lucky or blessed or able, remember:

Like attracts like. Look past the obstacles to the prize. Choose to see the possibilities and limitations will yield to you.

Choose success and success will choose you.

It’s all between your ears.

 *Note*  when the project is fully complete, I can’t WAIT to post the final pics of the finished project: Fully remodeled kitchen, dining, living, coffee/wine/juice bar/internet cafe , weird non-commital room connecting living and kitchen, hall, laundry, bathrooms (restored 100-year old clawfoot tub coming up!), parisian staircase, and kids’ bedrooms! I KNEW we could do it! (oh, man! WHAT have we DONE?!?!

It’s also “The Starting Point of All Achievement”.

In our last chat, I asked several questions that were meant to direct you toward the place where your heart beats.

Did you discover anything new about yourself? Did you find that match that ignites the flame of desire? I hope so…It’s a GREAT thing, the stuff Kingdoms and Leaders are made from.

Let’s look at desire:

In the book, “Think and Grow Rich”, the author tells a story (my paraphrase):

Way back when, there was a warrior who had to lead his men into a battle where all odds were against them. He knew that he needed something that would give his men advantage. So he sent his men across the sea, onto the enemy’s land, and told his men to burn the ships when they got off of them.

As the ships burned into smoke, he directed his troops to look at the flames, and notice the smoke rising. He told them that the only way to see their land again was to WIN the battle and use the conquered enemy ships to return.

They had two choices: They could WIN or they could DIE.

They chose to win.

In a sense, I think that not living out that thing that causes your heart to pound is like death.

I’ve always believed that we, every one of us, were uniquely created for a purpose, and that our journey is to discover our gifts and cultivate them for a greater good. And quite possibly, by not cultivating our gifts (and especially for the greater good), we are left with a dulled pulse and constant nagging by that kindled flame, and the world remains a bit darker without our unique and brilliant light.

So my questions today are:

• What bridge do you use to escape, to turn back from doing that thing you desire to do?
• When are you going to burn the ships and set afire the bridges of retreat?
• WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Napoleon Hill, our “Think and Grow Rich” author says:

There is ONE quality that one must possess to WIN, and that is Definiteness of Purpose- the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”

Today, let’s Do That Thing We Think We Cannot Do. Let’s get ready to WIN.

SET IT ON FIRE.

Next up: Faith:The Head Chemist of the Mind…See ya then!

During the time of Paul’s ministry, there were a bunch of well-intended sons of a Jewish priest who had seen what Paul was doing (healing the sick and casting out demons in Jesus’ name), and they wanted in on the action. They decided to duplicate Paul’s effort by saying something a little (ok, a LOT) less convincing to cast out the demons. It sounded something like this:

“Alright, you DEMON-HEADS! We want you to Get Out of That Body…in the NAME OF THAT SAME JESUS THAT THE PAUL GUY PREACHES ABOUT!! Hear me?!?!”

I’m pretty sure there was one guy doing all the talking, and he told his brothers to pretend to be holding him back, like he could snap like a circus tiger at any second…

And I’m pretty sure that the brothers were all, “Yeah! What he said! Or ELSE!”

But instead of the triumphant exit that I am CERTAIN that the guys had imagined in their minds would play out, they were confronted with this word from the demon:

“Uh…Dude…I KNOW Jesus…and I’ve heard about Paul….but who are you (idiots)?”-I added the idiot part…it was implied in the text…

And then the demon-possessed man jumped at the brothers (there were SEVEN of them, and they were gettin’ on his nerves), beat them down, and they ran out of the house…naked…

They were naked!?!….How’d that happen?!?!

That story got me thinking about a few things about this whole “How to Get What You Want” journey, and I wanted to flesh out the thoughts here, in this very PUBLIC and potentially humiliating venue. (Keepin’ it REAL, right?)

When one is setting out to achieve a particular purpose, it is imperative that one knows a few things:

1. Your strength: What is it, where it comes from, and how to employ it.
2. YOUR PRODUCT:  KNOW IT. Inside and out. Back and forth.  And believe in it.
3. Your Size: Don’t try to make yourself appear bigger than you really are. Grow in wisdom, and your stature will grow with you, apparent to all who inspect you.

About 4 seconds after I launched Savvy Bohème, I contacted the Sprouts headquarters (our natural food store chain in Texas) with a wholesale query. I was pretty sure that their worlds would be rocked by carrying my products in their stores across  southwest America.  I only had 2 products at the time, and we hadn’t even learned how to use them yet. I mean, it was even before Canton, which I consider my TRAINING GROUND!

The wholesale buyer for the chain spoke with me in a very non-threatening way, and let me know the parameters for wholesale contracts. She used retail jargon that I still can’t recall, and she and I BOTH knew that I didn’t understand a word she was saying. When she kindly asked me if I was ready to send regional sales reps to three different states in America to service the stores, I faked a bad phone signal, hung up, and ran off my front porch, naked, into the sunset of bravado. It wasn’t pretty.

Having confidence in yourself isn’t enough to succeed in achieving your goals. (WHAT?!?!…Are you SURE?!?!)

I’ll say it again: Having confidence in yourself isn’t enough to succeed in achieving your goals. It’s VERY important, but not all that you need.

I’m sure of it…ask me how I know. We’ll talk about the Martha Stewart debacle in a later post, once I get my clothes back on from that one…it’s a good and embarrassing one- you’ll wanna stick around for it, for sure.

You have to be very clear in those 3 points that I made earlier before you can even begin to get what you want.

In fact, clarifying those three points, I believe, will help to determine what your heart will pound for- it will determine that THING YOU LOVE. It will be the match that strikes a flame for the desires that will burn in your soul- the kind of fire that Katie Herzig describes in her song, “Daisies and Pews”:

“Fire in my chest. Fire in my soul. When nights are cold.”

So, today, ask yourself those three questions:

1. What is my strength? Where does it come from? How can I best use it?
2. What do I want to present to others that they cannot go another day without?  What problem does it solve? How does it work? Why do I love it? Why does it work?-Look aaaaaaaaaall around this point. If you don’t have faith in the thing that you want to present to others, you will never be able to genuinely present it to others. Most people can sniff out fakes pretty quickly.  Demons can, too.
3. Humbly assess where you are in your journey. Seek wisdom. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t pretend to know it all. As my friend, Max Fincher says, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you need to get new friends.”

After you know the answer to these questions, the authentic, burning fire of desire will ignite.

Get ready to start burning bridges…next Wednesday….

And I wanna hear your answers. What do YOU want?

It was a desire that I couldn’t shake.

After a year of reading every business/personal success book that I could get my hands on, the idea of marketing the products that I had already been making for years came to mind. It was the first of a thousand epiphanies that have occurred since the launch of the company.

Among many of the burning desires that smolder in this heart of mine, there is one “HAVE TO” that I’ve sought to accomplish: I’ve wanted Savvy Bohème to have an audience with That Band That I Love — MuteMath (as oddly placed as it may seem- I know it’s odd because people look at me weirdly when I say it…).

I’ve organized a couple of plans in my mind, but neither have had the substance to manifest into actual event (I have tested them, for sure!)

In seeking wisdom for our current business situation with the company, I picked up the classic book by Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich.” I knew it’s principles had stood the test of time, so I could trust it’s advice.

Within the first few pages, the following words stood out to me:

“…an intangible impulse of thought can be transmuted into material rewards by the application of known principles.”

The author goes on to tell the story of how an ordinary man “literally THOUGHT himself into a partnership” with a particular person (ok, ok, it was THOMAS EDISON), using known principles of success.

He also says this:

“The most common cause of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat.”

One Monday afternoon in August, during the very start of a business meeting that I was having with our team, I got a Tweet from a dear friend:

“@MuteMath fans, FREE show today @Good Records”.

I, of course, stopped our meeting, which had gotten this far:

I took a quick shower, put on non-work clothes, and headed to Dallas.

The show was in a small record store, with only 30 people-very intimate by any standard. I knew that my opportunity had arrived. I quickly noted three questions that I wanted to ask them, got Christian to grab the bar of our love, African Black Soap, that was in my purse, and enjoyed the show.

That day’s experience ended with, indeed, an audience with That Band That I Love.

I got to interview them (watch for the video on the website – it’s being edited now) AND introduce them to our African Black Soap. (They may or may not have wished that I would “Shut The Heck Up and Move On, Lady” ...but as MM says, “I don’t have that thing inside that tells me when I’ve said enough.”

… so I wouldn’t have noticed anyway

In processing all that occurred that day, I considered how easily presented that encounter was, and how it came from such a surprising direction! I would have never imagined that my desires would have been met so readily, and without any contriving on my part.

But, then I also recognized that I had, indeed, contrived the encounter – I stopped a meeting, showed up at the record store, thought of interview questions and the gift of soap. And then I stood in line and waited for them to speak with me.

I had, literally, THOUGHT myself into a partnership with MuteMath, so to speak.

(Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think for a SECOND that any of that would have happened without the moving of my God, who LOVES to give good gifts. But that’s for a later conversation…)

It was the opportunity itself that I had no control over.

(That’s where God came in… )

Which got me to thinking:

• HOW MANY opportunities do we face regularly that we miss?
• HOW OFTEN do we pass on significant encounters or opportunities because of one excuse or another?
• HOW LONG will we work against our passions and gifts out of fear of defeat…or poverty…or rejection?
• HOW MUCH will our negative thoughts cost us, in terms of success?

I want to invite YOU to journey with me through the timeless wisdom expressed in the book, “Think and Grow Rich”, and let’s see if we can sort out, in our minds, how we can get that thing that is burning inside us to be manifested to come out.

In the words of MuteMath:

“Nothings gonna stop what we started. Nothings gonna break what we bonded. We can make the world spin however we want. It’s all on us.”

So let’s do this: Meet me here, every Wednesday morning, and we’ll get our worlds spinning the way we want them to go.

She loves food (especially the stolen kind), snuggling, and having her tummy scratched.

She also likes to juice-the Mean Green kind. Cat does, too. Smart creatures.

This is what she looked like when Santa brought her from the SPCA last year:

(She came with meds and strict quarantine orders.)She has proven herself to be a very sweet and loyal companion. She is an EXCELLENT actress and always plays the heroine. 

The only thing is, if you look her directly in the eyes, she will jump up and lick your eyeball.

She’s just waiting for the look. Just one stare.

It’s not a pleasant sensation. But that is of no concern to her.

She’s gonna do it anyway.

You need it, apparently.

What I really like about Mags is that she has no self-consciousness.

She knows she can’t catch a squirrel, but she always tries.

She knows we hate the eyeball lick, but she always gives it.

She rolls over and exposes all her vulnerability in complete expectation of a scratch, with full abandon, to anything that breathes, even the cat.

And she never, EVER, ever misses an opportunity to make you smile.

When everyone else is serious, she has a very special way of lightening the mood.

 I wanna be like Maggie. (Except for the eyeball-licking thing.)

She knows how to live.

]]> http://savvyboheme.com/live-like-a-dog/feed/ 0 http://savvyboheme.com/live-like-a-dog/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SavvyBoheme/~3/e345p-_cXa4/ http://savvyboheme.com/back-to-school/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:24:40 +0000 kerilehmann http://savvyboheme.com/?p=2501 Continue reading →]]> * NOTE: This was actually written TWO weeks ago, on our kids’ First Day…too verklempt to publish it that day ;)

I think I may be having an emotional tsunami of the heart…it feels like love is about to spew out of my ears and mouth and nostrils…my cup is overflowing.

Sunday night was spent with Back-to School preparations: haircuts for the boys, gathering of uniforms, bedtime rituals, and the traditional “kindergarten talk” for the new kindergartener. Aaron leads this chat- I’ve never been invited into the conversation, but I have evesdropped enough to know its gist: Obey the teacher, do your best, be a good friend…all the important life issues of a 5-year-old…

I, on the other hand, spent several hours attempting to remove the cherry Kool-Aid that successfully stained my girl’s hair all summer (4 packets of Kool-Aid, 10 minutes on hair=vibrant cherry red that never even faded). After separate applications of Tide, baking soda, bleach, and hair color failed to even slightly alter the Kool-Aid’s intensity on my girl’s hair tips, we opted for a tightly- wound bun to make it through the first day of school. I needed more time and options for this plan of attack.

During the night, *I was woken by a dream that was certainly a Word From the Lord, albeit weird as it was…I dreamt that I was laying in the grass, in the company of my mom, my sis, my mom-in-law, and Paul Meany, the lead singer from MuteMath (hehehehehehe), and we were looking at the sky. As quickly as we looked up, a sign appeared in the clouds: a spiralling cloud began blinking like a billboard with a plus sign flickering in the center. Then, instantly, the flash of the scripture verse: Jeremiah 38:16.

And it was gone.

We all jumped up, scrambling for our Bibles, which appeared from nowhere, but the words were blurred.

And then I woke up.

As I lay awake in bed, I tried to recall the content of the scripture (as if I have the Bible memorized and catagorized in my brain…I can’t even remember to return a text…)

I knew that I needed to get out of bed and look it up.

And here’s the word:

“But King Zedekiah swore this oath secretly to Jeremiah: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has given us breath, I will neither kill you nor hand you over to those who are seeking your life.”

Uhhhh…Oooo Kay… kinda creepy…kinda a relief…

There are some dreams that are from the subconscious mind, some from spicy pizza, but there are, especially the way God deals with me, dreams that come straight from God. This one was a Word. I know it.

I just don’t know what it’s supposed to mean. Whatever may be, I’m praying, and grateful…

When morning came, we got the kids dressed and ready for the day. They all looked so sweet and ready for success. But my baby…my Solomon, was GOING TO KINDERGARTEN!!! He had his backpack on and his lunch in it, and his best friend and faithful companion throughout the years, Roo, draped over his arm for courage.

See how excited he is?

The other two were equally as prepared, Wilson with his awesome shoes and gentle spirit and Amelia with her mischievous smile and Kool-Aid secret wrapped tightly in a concealing bun. The sight of it all was overwhelming- It was all I could do to not squeeze them to death.

Smarter today than yesterday, but NOT as smart as TOMORROW

The time that I have been given with them is fleeting-we only have a small measure of moments to pour into our childrens’ hearts, to show them their value, and to point them to the ONE who Made them and will Keep them. My heart’s desire is that they will KNOW God and Make Him Known. 

And so this morn, with heart bursting, I pray this word over my children, and for their generation of children:

 ”My child, you must follow
and treasure
my teachings
and my instructions.
Keep in tune with wisdom
and think what it means
to have common sense.
 Beg as loud as you can
for good common sense.
Search for wisdom
as you would search for silver
or hidden treasure.
 Then you will understand
what it means to respect
and to know the Lord God.”

-Proverbs 2:1-5

Oh, that our children would walk with You, God. A generation that seeks YOUR face. May it be so.

(And please, God, don’t let Solomon lose Roo at school… They don’t carry that stuffed animal anymore at Target.)

Solomon’s LOVING School!

 *All you Grammer Nazis out there: I used the phrase “I was woken” in the paragraph above. Google peeps said to not to, Miriam Webster said we cool , and I just like the sound of it in my mind. Which would YOU have chosen for the usage above?

I heard from a friend, who heard from a friend,who heard from a cousin who read it online that you could use a special oil that would mask, hide, remove all evidence of the fact that you just…er…uh…let’s just say you wouldn’t have to do the bathroom “Walk of Shame” anymore. Not at work, not at school, not at The Walmarts or even the long line waiting to go after you at the movie theater…

And since I live among the gassiest three children and adult male that I have ever known (a fact that they are very proud to own, I must say), I am exceptionally interested in this special relief that nature has been so kind to gift us with.

AND since I regularly have to use the public bathrooms, I am even more interested in sharing the secret with you. (Not that YOU need it, I’m just saying that you could tell your friends about it, ’cause you and I both know they do, bless their hearts ;)

So here’s the secret: Eucalyptus essential oil (or peppermint essential oil)- two to three drops, into the pot,  before you sit down…

Do your thing.

And then move on, with your dignity still intact.

Easy. Discreet. Cheap.

Grab your bottle of essential oil at your local natural foods store (make that 2- one for your home and the other for your purse!), and walk straight to the loo with confidence!

(although I did see a comment online on this topic, and a woman said that her husband claimed that he kicked that oil’s you-know-what….   That’s what we like to call HARD CORE ’round these parts…

So…off you go…

NOTE* keep the oils away from your kids. They will want to either 1) drink it, or 2) waste it, both of which would be harmful to their health…

In formulating our natural deodorant, I had 4 main objectives in mind:

To create a natural (For Real-no greenwashing) deodorant that:

1. works actively at obstructing bacterial growth
2.  has a measure of anti-perspiration for those who want control of dampness
3. smells pleasant as the wind blows through the body (we’re considerate of those downwind!)
4. has a delivery method that people would accept

Each of these objectives were obstacles within themselves because, again, we at Savvy Bohème are committed to not only staying away from unnatural ingredients like propylene glycol (which would give the deodorant a nice solid form that people are used to) and aluminum (which prevents perspiration) but also want our active NATURAL ingredients to be as effective as possible, with as few “mental adjustments” as necessary. We wanted to make the switch from synthetic to REAL deodorant a very smooth transition for our customers.

Soooooo…..after months (MONTHS) of research, development, testing, comparing, and trashing formulations, we finally landed on a blend of completely REAL, exceptionally active ingredients that met our objectives pretty closely. However…..

I was still insecure about the overall formulation because I was stuck on two drawbacks:

1. In spite of the fact that it is GOOD for us to sweat, I really wanted to reduce perspiration for our extra-sweaty people, and without aluminum, that is almost impossible. Almost.
2. Even though I have been able to solidify the formula so that it is in a stick form, it’s still temperature-sensitive. (Ya can’t leave it in your car.)

I walked around with this really good, very effective, completely natural deodorant that I was using myself and giving to friends and family, but withholding from YOU because I was stuck on its drawbacks. Until……

I was invited to present our products at a swimsuit party. I was reminded that there would be a lot of naked armpits at the show that day, and it would be a perfect time to launch the deodorant. Of course, as usual, I fretted over the release because of those things I said earlier, plus, I hadn’t labeled the product yet- we didn’t even have a name. My very influential (bossy) mom, when listening to my reasons for withholding, retorted with the following: “They. Are. Ready. Sell. Them.”

So, 1 hour before the show, I did what I always do to stir up my creative juices: Got in the car, turned up the tunes (Katie Herzig for this one), grabbed a Tall Americano from my Mermaid, and prayed. And then, it came to me:

When Doctor Who (the 10th Doctor) was in desperate situations and needed ”wisdom and consolation of the soul”, he uttered these words: “Allons-Y!”, and then got busy saving whatever planet he was on.

And then I remembered that phrase from my French textbook in high school, and that it translates, “Let’s Go!” and also, “Come with me”…

And I realized that there is a time for preparation, and then there’s a time to get on with it.

So, this is us getting on with it:

We are pleased to present to you,

 ”Allons-Y!” Natural (for Real) Deodorant. (Phase 1)

• extremely effective at preventing odor
• rice powder, arrowroot powder, baking soda, and sage extract work together at combating wetness
• essential oils added for antibacterial defense as well as contributing to pleasant scent downwind
• solid stick form for easy application
• organic calendula, sweet almond, and coconut oils, as well as organic cocoa butter aid in soothing and moisturizing delicate underarm skin

We will continue to develop its character, and regenerate, if necessary to consistantly offer you the very best odor and wetness protection.

Allons-Y! (or, as we say in my household, “Lehmanns Locomote!”)

Click Here to purchase your very own Allons-Y! Natural (for Real) Deodorant

One evening last month, I happened to watch the (inspiring and incredible) documentary, “Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead”, by Joe Cross, mostly because I had already gone through all of The Office episodes on Netflix. At the end of the documentary, I started feeling that clicking sound in my brain that always happens when a paradigm shift in my thinking begins. I knew that two things were about to happen: 1) I was going to nose dive into a juice cleanse, and 2) woe to everyone around me who was going to be pressured to join me.

Just as expected, I told everyone in my sphere of influence about the documentary, scheduled a screening of it, and encouraged (coerced…whatever…) them to watch it with me. In a matter of days, 10 people had juicers, no details of how a juice cleanse should go, and a very weak plan of our meals for the next 10 days. It was all good.

And here’s how it played out:

Day 1: Excited over something new and healthy- we were all very optimistic. I made my first (never used a juicer before, until that very moment) breakfast juice: 6 carrots, 1 whole grapefruit, and a sprig of mint. I even had it recorded digitally. Man, I was healthy. Look how good I was being. I didn’t even miss my coffee.

Day 1 (lunchtime): Mean green juice: 6 stalks of Kale, 1 whole green apple, 1 whole cucumber, 4 stalks celery, ½ lemon.  (Phone rings) “I don’t think I can do this, Keri. The green juice makes me gag…like, LITERALLY gag; plus, I feel light headed.” (It was my sister. She was complaining already-something about fainting at work) I was feeling fine-inspired, actually. The green juice tasted like lawn clippings, but that quality endeared itself to me-it reminded me of summers spent in the back yard as a kid…

Day 1 (3:00 coffee break): Being my usual Starbucks time, I knew I was going to have to create a diversion. I looked in my pantry, trying to assess what would satisfy that Siren’s Call that I love so much. Nothing caffeinated, nothing acidic- we were trying to balance our internal pH, after all. I chose an herbal tea made with lemon. It didn’t satisfy at all, but I wasn’t going to be a baby about it.

Day 1 (Dinner): Mean Green Juice again, and the phone calls and texts kept coming in. Everyone wanted to succeed in the juice cleanse for various reasons, but as the day waned on, the payoff was growing less appealing. I was feeling fine physically (no side-effects of a cleanse), but a burden was beginning to set in: I made it through day 1, but tomorrow morning was coming, and 9 days without coffee seemed like a death sentence. My husband, however, was trekking through like a pro. Punk.

Day 2 (Breakfast: ugg…do I really have to get up?!?) As quickly as the excitement came, it left in the same manner. I was over the coolness of eating raw, the potential of inspiring others on the benefits of living micronutrients in our bodies- heck, I didn’t even care about ol’ Joe Cross and my perceived “inspiration” of his film. I only cared that I had posted the fast on Facebook, and others had commented on it. I knew that I had to finish; It was a pride thing…Me and my BIG mouth…

Days 2-3 continued on, growing in intensity, conflict, and inner turmoil, with a whole lot of groaning and complaining. It really was the coffee that I was missing the most- that, and the act of chewing. I was craving things I never really even ate-peanut butter, hot dogs (gross!), glasses of milk, the table and chairs…I didn’t think I was going to make it past day 3.  I told everyone who crossed my path about my sufferings- even the poor lady in Sprouts who was considering a juice cleanse…she was examining the coconut water when I scared her away.

Day 3 (dinner): I went to the 10 day Reboot plan on the “Fat, Sick….” website in desperation for salvation- surely there was a better way. And, as research and planning usually does, it paid off. I realized that we could have been EATING our produce as well as juicing. I have never made a salad so quickly in my life, nor have I enjoyed lettuce as much before! It was back ON.

Day 4: After more wrestling with the coffee issue, I conceded to walk on, knowing that I only had 6 (?!?!?!) more days to go. It was at this time that I would best describe my condition as complete, belly-up surrender. I had accepted my fate, but I wasn’t happy about it. Meanwhile (not that I was trying to lose weight), the number on the scale was rapidly declining…5 pounds, 4 days.

Day 5 (Crossroads): In spite of the fact that I had made peace with the deprivation of the cleanse, I began to question my motivations. I couldn’t remember why I had set out on this particular journey in the first place. I wasn’t interested in losing weight, and already felt pretty “clean” inside…The only reason that I could maintain at that moment was the whole pride thing (there IS something to be said for peer pressure, no matter how self-inflicted…) But something deep inside of me kept reminding me to finish the race well…I decided it was worth it to finish what I had started. I also determined that the duration of the cleanse would simply be experiential-I wanted to see what would happen in the end. So I pressed on still…

Day 6-9: Easy. The Mean Green juice started to taste good…life-giving, actually.  Kale massaged with sea salt, and tossed with dates, avocado, and lime reminded me of my ancestors in Israel who were eating from the Land of the Promise. My internal vision was becoming clearer. I began to understand how we were meant to relate to food- how plants, when masticated and digested into our systems, become direct sources of the sun’s energy, and have the ability to provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and quite literally, healing nutrients for our bodies. I read a quotation that said, “What you put on the end of a fork is more powerful than anything in a bottle”. My understanding of HOW food works in our bodies began to fall into perfect harmony with my knowledge of how our bodies process what we put on the OUTSIDE of it… pH balance, cellular oxygenation, free radicals and oxidation, nutrient absorption…It was all related. It was all the same. It all made sense. The key was turning…

Day 10 (The Renewal): As the last day of the cleanse dawned, I felt new, yet as if I had always taken in nutrients in this manner. I felt very friendly with juicing, completely familiar with the concepts and benefits of consuming living nutrients. I knew that I would continue to juice daily for the rest of my days- the value of living, active nutrients outweighed the momentary pleasures (?!?!) of the SAD way of eating (Standard American Diet). I had been set free from the bondage of junk foods. It was VERY liberating.

Day 11: Morning juice: 6 carrots, 1 whole grapefruit, 1 thumb of ginger. Pinkies up!

Notes:

• My husband, who did want to lose a bit of weight, lost a total of 9 pounds during the cleanse, and has kept it off to today. He and I juice our breakfast, have a green juice for either lunch or a snack daily, and have a vegan meal for dinner. We still eat more omnivorously on the weekends, out of convenience and hospitality toward others we may be dining with.
• A weird phenomenon kept happening throughout the cleanse- my husband felt it, too. There were moments when I felt like I had just had a margarita- you know that buzz-type feeling…not sure why that was happening…
• While we have not professed to become vegans, our natural desire has shifted toward the vegan diet. Probably the biggest surprise for me at the end of the cleanse was that now, the thought of eating meat and dairy causes an internal conflict within my mind because I know that the dairy products are mucus forming, and meat is very acidic and takes more time to digest. They also give me a tummy ache now. My hubs says the same of greasy foods. I read a book that talked about (get ready to be ooged out) the stool of omnivores versus the stool of plant eaters: It described the omnivores’ stool as dense, low in bulk, and not heavy enough to pass through the intestines in a timely manner. It said that their stools remained in the intestines too long, leading to (eck!) PUTRIFICATION. Stool rotting in my bowels?!?! Nasty!
• I purchased a Jack LaLane Juicer, and though it works well, it is not designed for regular juicing. It is struggling to keep up with our frequency. The Breville juicers are designed for the more habitual juicers, however, I have my eye on the even more hard-core, masticating juicer…something a little like this guy.

• I still have my Tall Americano daily, but without milk or sugar…and am trying to find a less acidic coffee brew (it’s the brewing process that renders the coffee acidic- that and the roast. A darker roast is less acidic, and has less caffeine). Apparently, cold-pressed is the way to go…I’m looking into it now.
• The kids are eating what I am preparing, but with tons of gagging sounds, drama, and bribery. Hopefully it will grow on them…we’ll see…

Seriously, in spite of being extremely happily married to my childhood love, I am throwing myself into the “ain’t nothing happening on V-Day for me” category for one huge reason: I never remember that it’s coming until the night before…and if I don’t remember it, there’s NO WAY my hub’s gonna remember. I WANT to remember. I love LOVE, am an avid fan of romantic gestures and Public Displays of Affection, and think that pink are red are the most passionate color combinations on the wheel…I just can’t remember to go to Target and buy that stuff-those things-the pink and red and heart-y items that say “I LOVE YOU” in that classic St. Valentine’s Day way…

So, for all you lovely ladies out there who are, for whatever the reason, spending the week like me in regard to St. Valentine’s Day, I’ve decided to give a few tips for not just surviving the week, but Thriving this week of Outward Expressions of Love. I always say, if you can’t join ‘em, beat ‘em…

5 ways to THRIVE during St.Valentine’s Week.

• Keep in mind: Romance is a state of mind. Romance isn’t found only in the heart or actions of another, nor are its intentions strictly sexual. Romance is a gesture that directs our attention to where our passions lie- it has the power to inspire, to nourish, to create…We are surrounded daily by romantic gestures. Make it your goal to seek out things that get your heart pounding…You may be surprised to find a quickened pulse in an ordinary place, and inspiration in the most usual things. For me, that “tall” white cup with the mermaid on it, and the dark roast in it does it every time. It takes me there…

• Choose a theme song and keep in your heart. This is a very effective practice that I have unknowingly kept for many years- I start my workday everyday with my theme song. It takes my mind to the place that I want to be, and keeps me inspired and motivated to be creative throughout the day. My current theme song is “Best Day of Your Life”, by Katie Herzig. You can borrow it if ya like, but remember-keep your theme song upbeat and motivating. I’ve wasted many a day on sad songs. The Titanic theme song bogged me down for weeks…weeks, I tell ya! But, alas- my heart MUST go on…

• Dress it up. I know this sounds superficial, but when you are dressed in the manner that makes you feel pretty, you walk taller, hold your head higher, and step lighter. Break out your beautiful scarves, your push-up bra, your glossy lipstick…whatever it is that makes you, you. Wear it well, my dear. It’s ALL you.

• Do romantic things: take a walk on the wintry streets, with your camera ready to capture the moments; relax in a tub of warm bubbles and a great book; write, paint, or compose a work of art. Heck- when I need a shot of romance, I just get in my car, set my cd selection, turn up the volume, and drive. That’s how this article was created.

• Buy yourself that box of chocolates and get on with it. With all due respect and sympathy to the brokenhearted (I’ve been there myself, and get teary-eyed just thinking about it),  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the words of THAT BAND THAT I LOVE, MUTEMATH, in the song, All or Nothing: “always know if you’re holding yourself back- don’t slow yourself down anymore.” It also goes on to say that everyone has an hourglass to turn back upside down.  I say, if you are struggling to walk on, determine quickly what is restraining you, cut the anchor, and flip that glass again. If you’re breathing air, you ain’t done yet.

There is nothing more romantic, nothing more inspiring than seeing a woman at rest within. Make peace with that ol’ Saint Val, and embrace the opportunities of romantic inspiration that this week offers…It just might produce the Best Day of Your Life.

Ps…If you absolutely MUST indulge in a little self pity, check out my blog post on how to manufacture a good cry,  http://savvyboheme.com/you-and-me-babe-how-about-it/ , do it, and then, seriously, flip that hourglass again. You got this.