Green Tip #1:  Buy Locally, and when you can’t, support a company with earth friendly standards…like Intimate Herbs!

We think our mother, Mother Earth that is, deserves only the best all the time.  Don’t you agree?

I started with the 3 pack collection, featuring 1 classic ribbed, 1 pleasure dots, and 1 ultra thin.  I opened the purple and gray plaid box (very sheik packaging, by the way) and chose the pleasure dots for my first try.  I mean, pleasure dots, sounds good right?  Well, it was ….

Pleasure dots and donating condoms to developing countries….  Buying condoms never felt so good.

I work normal office hours and take my breakfast with me to work. I’m going to get some plain yogurt and berries, apples and almond butter, corn tortillas for a breakfast tostada and some almond milk to put in the coffee that I will attempt to wean myself off of for at least a week. Maybe this is part of a subconscious plan to get fired from my job and collect unemployment while I attempt to launch my own business. “Woman fired after going into tirade and having a meltdown over mundane filing and office duties – all due to lack of caffeine.”

Which brings me to the reality of a cleanse. You can’t look at the process as if someone is telling you no, you can’t eat this or that. We are all familiar with that approach and it usually does not work. Instead, surround yourself with healthy choices and the first 3 days will be tough, especially when your coworker is heating up mac and cheese while you are crunching on celery sticks. Anticipate these things in advance and change your lunch plans. A walk, run errands, call your mom, you get the idea. As far as lunch goes you should be prepared with snacks for both before and after. The great thing about cleansing is you actually eat more food. You should never feel hungry. Smoothies, nuts, dried fruit, hummus and veggies – all make fast and easy snacks. You can even prepare several of these in advance to bring with you so you feel like you have some variety. For lunch a loaded salad is great. Add sunflower seeds, pine nuts or walnuts. Experiment with different veggies, we love green beans, corn and broccoli in our salads. Chop your veggies fine and toss together with some olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper and you are ready to go. This is your chance to get creative. Think in themes – craving Mexican food? Add corn, black beans, avocado and black olives. Try mixing some plain yogurt with salsa and you now have a delicious dressing.

Dinner is the hardest part for me because I just want to relax when I get home, not cook up an entire meal from scratch. Slow cookers are your best friend. Make some yummy soup with vegetable broth and you will have enough to last several meals. Baked potato stuffed with grilled onions, mushrooms, zucchini and spinach with some marinara sauce can curb that Italian food craving. Try and do as much prep as possible ahead of time and if that means buying frozen or canned veggies to fill in then do it! No one is taking off points. Staple items like polenta can be the base of many a meal because there are so many ways to prepare it.

Dessert can be fruit, popcorn, some tea with honey or agave – the important thing is no refined sugar or processed food. If you can’t bear to watch your evening TV show without something sweet then bake an apple stuffed with some pecans and a little honey. Or alter your routine. Go for a walk, get a new book or magazine to read, start a project or work on a puzzle. This will stimulate your mind and make less room for craving late night snacks.

Remember – you are doing this for YOU! A cleanse will help you rethink what you are putting in your body. You will be surprised by the new found energy you have. Your food will start to taste better. DRINK WATER. After the initial urge to pee every 5 minutes wears off your skin will look brighter and you will likely loose a few pounds.

I’ll keep you posted! Cleanse starts Monday, Jan. 31st.

Most people want to improve their sex lives.  Good Sex is up on the top of the list of a Good Life.  It is important to feel this human connection, improve our self esteem, not to mention all those calories you burn. Whether it is stress, emotional, or a physical condition that is keeping your libido at bay, it can be very frustrating to both you and your partner.  What can I say?  We all need a little help sometimes.

Two of my very favorite supplements to support a tired libido for both men and women are Maca and Rhodiola.  You can find these helpful herbs in a formula by Enzymatic Therapy called Hot Plants.

Maca was first introduced to me by a friend, who loves trying new things to see how they affect her orgasms.  “Heather, you have got to try taking some Maca before sex.  It totally intensifies an orgasm!  I had 3 really good ones last night!”  Who could deny that testimonial?  What are friends for?  So, of course I purchased some Maca that day and tried it out that night.  I didn’t even think I needed help in the orgasmo arena.  Let me just say that I trust that friend’s advice.  Historically Maca has been used by tribal people for stamina.  It is known as “Peruvian Viagra” because it supports erection and ejaculation in men, and it increases lust and results in more frequent and powerful orgasms in women.

I first tried Rhodiola one day at work. (If you have ever worked retail, you know how stressful and tiring it can be.)  I love the way it makes me feel!  The best way to describe it is:  a relaxed energy.  It took my anxiety away, but I wasn’t tired.  I had energy to get my work done, but the daily mess ups of the people around me weren’t getting to me.  This was like a miracle sent from the “I hate my job” goddesses.  Rhodiola, like Maca, is an adaptogen.  This means that these plants help us to adapt to stress and change in our life.  It also means that they are safe to be taken on a daily basis by almost anyone.  They keep us from going into a “fight or flight” mode under everyday stress and unnecessarily wasting our energy.  Save that energy for the bedroom and never be too tired again!

Maca and Rhodiola are perfect for men and women who are too stressed and tired to make love.  I am sure we have all felt like this before, I know I have.  Sex is such a great stress reliever, that this is when we should be doing it!  Luckily there are products like Hot Plants by Enzymatic Therapy out there to help us in these difficult times.  Both Hot Plants for Him and Hot Plants for Her contain my friends Maca and Rhodiola.  Hot Plants for Him also contains Horny Goat Weed, Yohimbe, and Panax Ginseng.  Hot Plants for Her also contains Ashwagandha, Eleuthro, and Catuaba and is also safe for men with high blood pressure that should not take yohimbe.  You can learn more about these and other herbs in our ingredient listing.

How can you improve your sex life?  Do It! Make it a priority!  Put these products to the test.  You can have “sexual healing” with these effective libido boosters.

Since that series of unfortunate events I have stayed away from lube.  I have grimaced through some uncomfortable sex when a latex condom took all the moisture my body produced and left with me nothing.  Of course I tried to mask my discomfort by distracting my partner while I attempted to use spit, last nights water from the bedside table, anything to add a little slip back into the slide.  I have tried convincing my partner that sometimes my mind is hot and heavy for him but my body has decided not to cooperate, usually right around my period and more noticeable when I was taking birth control pills.  When I was single and toys replaced boys I noticed a huge difference in sensation once my body responded by adding its own moisture.  The problem was when I was getting started.  Dry toy meets dry Jane and all I got out of it was a numb, unsatisfied feeling.  Saliva tends to evaporate rather quickly and I knew I wasn’t the only girl with this “problem”.

I turned to my girlfriends who all had stories that echoed mine.  In a 1992 national study, 30 percent of women ages 18-60 reported low sexual desire. Some 20 percent had trouble with vaginal lubrication, and 25 percent reported an inability to achieve orgasm. (And, just for the record, in another U.S. study 35 percent of men reported problems with sexual function, as well).  I started searching for alternatives to the products I had tried.  Luckily the environment has shifted to become more female-focused and friendly.  It’s no longer about wanting your vagina to taste like a Jelly-Belly, but about comfort, control and hopefully climax!  I am happy to introduce some fabulous products to all the women and men out there that desire the best possible sensation and enjoyment from products that are gentle, safe and natural.

The first of which, is aptly named SYLK.  It is a water-based lubricant so it’s safe to use with condoms.  No more uncomfortable friction caused by dryness from latex.  SYLK is the only lubricant from New Zealand Kiwi Fruit Vine Extract.  The PH is nearly identical to a woman’s own and is free of hormones, parabens, colors, fragrances, harsh additives or preservatives.  SYLK contains Purified Water, Extracts of Kiwi Fruit Plant Vine, Citrus Seed and Xanthan Plant, Vegetable Glycerin, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, and Sodium Citrate.  I’m not the only woman singing SYLK’s praises.  Several women’s health authors and experts such as Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Joe Graedon and Ann Fonfa recommend SYLK.  Whether you have experienced the side effects from chemotherapy, a hysterectomy, hormone fluctuations or lack of natural lubrication from the use of oral contraceptives and other medications it is wonderful to have discovered an alternative that is second only to nature.  Look for more great products coming soon like SYLK Sensation.  An all natural intimate warming gel that is not sticky, messy or stingy.  Ladies, I promise this will not be confused with what goes on your pancakes.

Coffee does have many beneficial qualities.  It is a powerful antioxidant & supports healthy circulation.  It is a mood elevator & a stimulant, both of which sound like aphrodisiac qualities to me.  Coffee also plays an important role in social interaction.  It brings people together.  Isn’t that sexy? InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook, by Martha Hopkins & Randall Lockridge, has some innovative & delicious recipes using our new favorite aphrodisiac, Coffee!  (Like I needed another excuse to have my coffee.)

So if coffee has all these amazing benefits, why do I want to stop drinking it during my cleanse?  Coffee is very acidic and can irritate the stomach lining, causing heartburn and other digestive upset.  It puts stress on the adrenal glands by producing more adrenalin and cortisol.  Overworked adrenals is a common problem in our society because of all the stress in our lives and can lead to many health concerns.  Coffee can also cause sleeplessness and anxiety.  When you are cleansing sleep and relaxation is very important.  Your body is working hard to remove toxins, and during sleep is when your body goes through detoxification naturally.  One good way to spoil yourself on a cleanse is to let yourself rest.

So drinking coffee on my cleanse is better than eating cookies everyday, but I would be better off if I could lay off of it for a while.  Everything in moderation as they say, and I am moderating.  Well there is always next time.  I found a good article called “Coffee: To Drink or Not to Drink” written by Robert Shane, in 2004.  Check it out at www.pnf.org.

Another confession I have for you, is a good one.  I am loving oatmeal!  I have been getting creative with my oatmeal; which makes it oh so fun and delicious.  I seem to stay full longer in the morning.  Plus it’s warm, and baby it’s cold outside!  I buy Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats and cook to the package directions, then I add chopped up fruit, dried coconut, nuts, and cinnamon.  I pretty much always add cinnamon.  It supports healthy blood sugar levels and I love the flavor!  I find that most of the time the fruit adds enough sweetness.  If you need a little more, add some agave or honey, or for completely sugar free, add some vanilla flavored stevia.  Here are some of my favorite concoctions.  Enjoy!

• Mango Coconut Oatmeal
• Blueberry Banana Oatmeal
• Oatmeal w/ Dried Cranberries & Almonds

Click Here To Buy The Book InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook

Breakfast – coffee with coconut milk creamer, plain yogurt with pecans and some granola. This was really more like lunch.

Snack – cashews and dried apricots.

Lunch – none

Dinner – steamed green beans with salt, pepper and garlic powder, chilled and marinated cauliflower, roasted potatoes with dill and steak. Yes – a juicy and delicious steak. In my defense we really didn’t eat much today. The steak was on sale at Whole Foods – - where you know you are getting quality meat. It was ‘The Husband’, he made me do it. Did I mention I DID NOT eat the pizza last night?! We did stock up on more fruits and veggies and I plan on making a mexican chicken and vegetable soup in the crock pot. I was also considering steak and potato tacos in sprouted corn tortillas with avocado and salsa. Geez – you would think I’m still hungry!

Snack – Breakfast Crusts (I think they should change the name to crisps, sounds more appealing).

Lunch – I went to this sushi place I visit at least once a week because they have 1/2 price rolls during lunch. I was craving some protein but didn’t want the rice. Luckily they had a whole section devoted to this. I had the Rainforest Roll which is tuna, yellow tail, albacore, salmon and avocado wrapped in cucumber and served with an asian mustard dipping sauce. It was like a little slice of heaven in my mouth. Oh sushi – how I love thee. Also had iced green tea.

Snack – gluten and sugar free protein bar.

Dinner – wild greens with green goddess dressing, an apple, banana and some cashews. Interesting combo I know but I was babysitting and it was either that or pizza. Surprisingly the greasy, cheesy pizza with pepperoni was not as hard to resist as I thought it would be. Plus I was a little worried about the aftermath.  :)

I realized today that this is a really good time to cleanse because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.  I will be feeling my most confident and sexy after this cleanse because of my new physique.  I think my husband and I deserve some new lingerie.  Sounds fun!  I can’t wait to shop!

Tonight I am invited to a small cocktail party.  It never fails that there is some sort of party or event with alcoholic beverages while I am cleansing.  I could just not go, but I really would like to see these friends.   So this is my plan…  I will eat right before I go so the party food won’t be so tempting.  I am going to allow myself one glass of red wine, and I am bringing hummus with carrot & zucchini sticks as my appetizer.  I think this is a good plan, and I am confessing to you ahead of time about the glass of wine.  I mean, I deserve it right?

Breakfast – coffee with the “good” creamer this time and a protein shake with soy milk and bananas.

Snack – trail mix with nuts and dried fruit

Lunch – leftover polenta from last night with plain yogurt, salsa and avocado for that southwest flavor!

Dinner – Salad with veggies, oil and vinegar.

Dessert – popcorn in the air popper and some earl gray tea with cinnamon for this nightly headache! All part of the detox process I suppose………

I have run out of meal plans at this point so need to go back to the cook books for some inspiration. Keep you guys posted. Not sure if I have lost any weight but haven’t been paying attention to that just yet. I am doing better each day with my water consumption so hopefully this is a habit I will keep.