Find out more about The Gentle Barn and Mercy for Animals.

Our entire civilization is dependent on creativity, art and design. It is how we know cultures; it is what survives and informs; it is our legacy from the past, the foundation of our future, and the form and function upon which our present moment rests.

~ Richard Bonk, artist

Acceptance Holds All
by Richard Bonk

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This is a mandala that the staff at the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute (Minneapolis, MN) commissioned. A mandala is a metaphysical or symbolic representation of the cosmos, a representation of the universe from the human perspective. It comes from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and is often used in meditation. The Virginia Piper Cancer Institute is part of Unity Hospital, and offers integrative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, meditation, nutrition, etc., as well as traditional therapies in the treatment of cancer.

To make the piece: staff members were all interviewed by the artist, he had them do an art project, he took pictures of the space that they work in, he recorded sound from their space. Then, he put it all into a program on his computer and the result is a beautiful mandala that represents this wellness center. The piece is actually about 5 feet by 5 feet and hangs in the lobby. It is bright and beautiful to see when you walk in, and helps create an atmosphere of welcoming and healing.

There is more information on the artist here.

Dr. Fuhrman’s 2011 Health Getaway
June 26 – July 2, 2011
The Grand Summit Hotel, Park City, Utah

Dr. Fuhrman invites you to join his 2011 annual Health Getaway. From the moment you arrive at Canyons Resort an inspiring, learning and fun-filled stay awaits. Daily events include lectures and workshops led by Dr. Fuhrman, delicious high-nutrient nutritarian cuisine, health screenings and planned social events. Dr. Fuhrman’s program is a health-promoting life-changing experience for you and your loved ones.

Dr. Fuhrman is pleased to announce this year’s special celebrity guest emcee, Marilu Henner!

Find more information here.

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Marilu’s Role of Your Life Class at Kripalu
July 1-4, 2011
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, Massachusetts

Treat yourself to an amazing health retreat and take the intensive Role of Your Life class with Marilu. There are also evening activities (a chanting concert and a salsa dance party are currently on the schedule for that weekend, as well as regular evening programs) and yoga classes for all experience levels. Oh, and the food is good, too. This is a great opportunity to experience one of the best health retreat centers in the world – with Marilu.

Call (toll-free) to register 1-866-200-5203

More information is available here.

In keeping with our BOOTY CAMP theme of getting a beach bod, how about going to the beach to get that bod?

Looking Hot + Feeling Cool = Swimming!

• Swimming is good aerobic exercise – it brings oxygen to your muscles.
• It uses a lot of muscle groups, so it’s a whole-body workout, especially if you switch up the strokes you use.
• Swimming is good for people who need to reduce load-bearing impact sports (like running or even walking). This makes it a good for physical therapy after some injuries.
• It increases your endurance.
• It’s also a lifetime sport – you can enjoy it at any stage of life, so get the family involved.
• When the weather is hot – get cool in the water. The weather won’t keep you from exercising!
• If you like competitive sports, swimming has teams and meets for every age level.
• If you like to mix it up, try a triathlon, and swim-bike-run your way to a really fit body.
• Swim as a warm-up to or cool-down from your dry land workout.
• Cross-train with swimming. Whatever your main sport or fitness activity is, you’ll benefit from the muscle-building and endurance that swimming gives you.

So slather on your sunscreen and head to the beach or pool for some swimming!

Do you like the thought of staying in bed on Friday the 13th?
Or is this just another day for you?

Statistics (at least those reported via the first couple of pages of a Google search) go both ways on this being a day of bad luck. Perhaps it’s what YOU make of it.

What can you do to sway your luck today?

Eat a healthy breakfast.
Drink plenty of water.
Smile.
Pay someone a compliment.
Eat your vegetables – all different colors.
Do a random act of kindness.
Pay attention when someone talks to you.
Give a hug.
Skip the unnecessary snack.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Wear your seatbelt.

Enjoy the day!

This salad is more complex than the title sounds. Give it a try when you want a filling main-dish salad (serve it over salad greens, and add a big handful of leftover (cold) steamed green beans). Or take it along to a potluck or picnic.

Be sure to prepare the salad at least an hour before you want to serve it, so the flavors can blend.

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Tomato Onion Salad
Green * Serves 4

1 (15-ounce) can white beans
5 plum tomatoes, cut into bite-size chunks
1 small Maui onion (or other sweet onion such as Vidalia or Walla Walla), cut in half and sliced thin
1 (2-ounce) tin anchovies packed in olive oil (optional)
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt to taste

Drain and rinse beans, and put them in a large bowl with the tomatoes and onions. Cut the anchovies in half and separate them into strips (or mash them with the oil they’re packed in, if you don’t want distinct pieces). Add them, including the oil from the tin, to the beans. Add olive oil and vinegar. Stir together. Add salt to taste (be sure to taste; the anchovies are salty). Let marinate at least an hour at room temperature, stirring occasionally to let flavors come together.

You might think getting ready for bed means washing your face, brushing your teeth, and putting on your pj’s. That’s just part of it, though.

You can get a jump on tomorrow by thinking about it the night before. Before you go to bed tonight, spend 30 minutes preparing for tomorrow:

• check your calendar for tomorrow’s events (business meetings, kids’ sports, etc)
• know what you’ll eat for breakfast
• pack as much of your lunch (and your kids’ lunches) as possible
• check backpacks, briefcases, totebags, and purses (lunch money, permission slips, flash drives, power cords, library books, homework, reports, USB cables, textbooks, uniforms, instruments, sports equipment … this list can go on forever, can’t it?)
• lay out your workout clothes if you work out at home; pack your gym bag if you work out somewhere else – don’t forget your shoes
• lay out your clothes (and your kids’ clothes) for the day
• put your skin brush on the bathroom counter or scale, where you’ll see it first thing
• fill your water bottle
• plug in your phone or PDA so it’s fully charged in the morning
• set your alarm to match tomorrow morning’s schedule

You’ll sleep better tonight, you’ll have a jump start on your morning, and it will make the whole day go easier.

One of the easiest ways to get enough sleep each night is to figure out when you need to wake up and set that morning alarm – then back up the time eight hours and set another alarm. That’s your reminder that it’s bed time.

If you need to back that up a little more to make sure you’re ready for bed, set a “head to bed” alarm, too – give yourself 30-60 minutes to lock the doors, wash your face, set out your clothes for the next day, etc.

Then get into bed – and turn out the lights – when your bed time alarm sounds.

If you think your alarm clock can’t handle all these times, then use the alarm on your phone or PDA for the “head to bed” alarm, and maybe even for the bedtime alarm.

Sweet dreams.

If you surround yourself with negative people
You’ll never feel settled in or become equal – no.
They’ll suppress you of your spirit and rinse you dry of smiles.
So reach deep and release your inner child. Yeah Yeah!

Cuz’ you’re as old as you feel you are
And if you don’t reach for the moon you can’t fall on the stars
So I live my life like every day is the last, last, last

Stand up.
Stand up for yourself and for your life.
Stand up and get moving.

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Simple and delicious.

When you cook with wine, be sure to use a wine you would drink. Skip those “cooking wines” – they’re poor quality. If you’re unsure of what kind of wine to buy to use in a recipe, just ask where you buy your wine. They’ll have good suggestions in your price range.

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Angel Hair Pasta with Lemon and Garlic
Blue * Serves 2

2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic; chopped
2 cups white wine
2 Tablespoons chopped, fresh basil
1 fresh, firm tomato, diced
Juice from half a lemon
1/2 pound angel hair pasta

Sauté garlic in olive oil until it just starts to brown. Add white wine and reduce to almost half. In the meantime, cook the angel hair pasta. When wine is reduced, remove from heat. Add lemon juice, tomato and basil and stir. Toss with drained angel hair pasta and add fresh ground pepper to taste.