‘The Sacred Thread’ book review

‘The Sacred Thread’ is a true story of San Francisco marketing professional Adrienne Arieff and her husband Alex’s journey through foreign surrogacy in India. After three miscarriages, including one exceedingly heartbreaking one late in the second trimester, their physician suggests a number of other options to have children.

Foreign surrogacy was something I had not even heard of until I read this book.  The benefits of foreign surrogacy include much lower fees ($30K vs. up to $120K in the USA) and much less red tape.  In this case, the contract between surrogate and parents that guarantees the parents will receive their child vs. the surrogate having the option to keep the child after birth made was the factor that ultimately made the decision for this couple.

The book is lovely and honest.  I appreciate the ability this author has for writing a very personal story and being able to articulate her experiences with vulnerability and without getting lost in emotion.  Given the challenges of sharing such an intimate journey as well as a decision that can be both morally and spiritually controversial – this is quite a tribute to her talents.

As a person, I know I came into this world all heart. I have always had a priority value of family and was gifted to spend so much time with my older relatives and close cousins growing up. That said, there has always been a part of me that has been aware of the yogic foundation that ‘we are all one’ and connected in some higher way.  Because of this, I do my best to see the world with more openness and less judgement.

My  first encounter of less than traditional ways to create family was when my neighbor growing up asked her mother to be the surrogate for her first child.  She was a young bride and due to extensive medical issues was not able to hold her pregnancy on her own.  It was magical to even know this was possible – that a couple who wanted children so much would have this choice. It was also an incredible treasure to see her mother give this gift to her daughter (let’s face it – no pregnancy is ever ‘easy’) and to imagine the bond grandmother would have with her grandchild.

I have been repeatedly been given the opportunity to continue to explore the questions asked in this book as my own family tree has grown exceedingly complex and through the honor of sharing the experiences of my clients and friends as they build their families.  It has been a wonder filled road to see the extensive lengths women/couples have gone through to become mother’s and parents. The gift of family and children – whatever route it takes to create it – is one of the most important ones life has to offer.  It seems fairly perfect to me that this story takes place in India – the country that gave us the gift of yoga.  It is a sacred place that clearly supports the magic of dreams coming true and reminds us to create space in our bodies, minds and especially our hearts to see and experience the world in new ways.

‘The Sacred Thread’ was a present to our community by the publisher.  Please contact me if you would like to borrow it and I will send it to you.  I also enjoyed visiting ‘The Sacred Thread’ web site (www.TheSacredThread.com) to see photos of Adrienne, her surrogate Vaina, and her two twins – Emma & India.  I welcome thoughts and opinions to be shared below.  ~ Debra

 

Creating Playlists

We are a creative and music oriented community, and as many of you know I suggest creating Playlists of music you like to stay motivated during workouts.  I just added a Playlists page to the web site which includes research around the benefits of listening to music during & after exercise as well as a couple of my favorite mixes for yoga & pilates.  Check it out at: www.coreharmony.com/Playlists.html.

The following are a few Tips for Creating Playlists:

1. Set-aside time quarterly to put together a new mix.  This means each season or approximately every 3-months.

2. Watch for new album releases from an artists you already  like.

3. Plan in time to stretch before & after your workout (or time to warm-up slowly and cool down for cardio sessions) at the beginning and end of your playlist.  Choose a slower paced tempo or music without words for these times. I like piano music, so I often begin & complete mixes with these added in. If it’s hard for you to make time for stretching will be an ‘audio cue’ to help you keep the commitment to yourself to do it whenever you hear these songs.

4. Keep it fresh. The feedback I hear from people most often around playlists is that they get bored of hearing the same songs and can’t think of new music to use.  A few ideas for keeping things new & motivating:

~ Keep an ongoing List songs or artists that you hear. As you start paying attention to the music you hear, get into the habit of writing it down. Even if you only hear a few of the lyrics, Google them and more than likely a few results will show up.  Music & lyrics are everywhere on the web and it can take seconds to track down the right song.

~ Places to Notice songs: the Radio, TV shows, Movies. Watching the Grammy Awards, Country Music Awards, etc… can often introduce you to new artists or releases.  I don’t listen to a whole lot of country, but heard a few people on the CMA’s that were terrific and after browsing their songs on iTunes put together almost an entire playlist this past spring that I love!

~ Places to get Ideas for songs:  Browse other songs on iTunes for artists you already like. Also, if you’ve purchased a number of songs from iTunes in the past, they will put together suggestions for you of other artists you might like.  Take the time to browse.  I was stuck with only 1-2 songs for my New Year’s Playlist this year and found all of the others by browsing and trying new stuff.  All of them may not make my top 10 list of best songs ever, but it was new and different and kept me moving on cold, dark nights.

~ Ask Friends, Family & Colleagues for suggestions.  While you may not like all of someone else’s taste, you’ll be surprised how a few things here & there can take you out of your normal box and be motivating.

What are your favorite songs or albums for workouts?  Please post your favorites below & what kind of workouts you listen to them for.  We all need new ideas, all the time!

 

 

Spring Yoga Practice (A quick one!)

Spring Stretches 

How is your home practice going? Are you starting to feel more energized and committed as you become more active this spring?  I know maintaining a consistent movement habit or yoga practice can be challenging, and therefore suggest having as many options as you can to choose from. A few things to consider including are a weekly class, workout/practice buddy and home video library. I also like Yoga Journal Magazine (print) as they have a great two-page pullout workout each month with short descriptions & photos. The magazine  now also offers live videos of some of the monthly articles online.  So, whether you travel, are on a budget or just like variety there is something new to follow along with if you prefer following an instructor’s voice and seeing the visual vs. reading.

I really like this this short group of ‘Detox Stretches’ from Whole Living as a quick spring practice for a few reasons.  First, it’s short!  Whether you are having a tough time getting moving this season, or need a quick option for busy days – this only has 5 poses making it easy to fit in somewhere even on hectic days.  Second, there are photos to look at making it easy to it easy to get started.  Third, twists help stimulate the intestines and promote cleansing. These are suggested for spring as many of us are less active in wintertime.  Twists stimulate the digestive system and are a like spring cleaning from the inside out.

Finally, this practice has a lot of variety for something so short.  Here are a few extra tips if you decide to give it a try…

This sequence begins with’Standing Twist’.  If you are at the intermediate level you can straighten the back leg and lift it off the floor into the full pose (toes tuck under).

‘Seated Tree’ is one of my very favorite poses and provides not only mild wringing to the abdominals, but a fantastic hamstring stretch.  The torso position in this should be a lengthened spine as it progresses – so aim the navel toward the knee and straighten the spine forward before hinging at the hips to flex toward the leg (vs. rounding the back). See my photo above.  It also is a nice forward bend that stretches out the kidney area of the back.  If you are stressed a lot of the time the kidneys work overtime, so stretching this area helps restore them to a calmer state.

Finally, even 5 poses can feel like a lot on some days, so it’s nice that this short practice ends with ‘Legs Up the Wall’ pose. Spend a full 5-minutes in this mild inversion if you have the time. Belting the legs together at the center of the thighs if you have a yoga strap can make it easier to relax more fully.

What do you think?  If you give it a try, post your thoughts and feedback.  I always like to hear about your practices!

Namaste,   Debra  :)

 

Yawkey Center for Cancer Care Tour

I was invited to tour the new Yawkey Center for Cancer Care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute this month.  The following is a quick slideshow I put together with some photos from the tour. What a beautiful place for those with cancer to receive care & heal.

 

This year’s Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk is Sunday September 9th!

To learn more about our 2012 Walk Team, please visit: www.coreharmony.com/Giving.html.

To join us on Walk Day as a Walker or Virtual Walker, register for our Team at:

www.JimmyFundWalk.org/2012/coreharmony.

To Learn More about the Pan Mass Challenge visit: www.PMC.org.

 

‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking’ (Book Review)

‘Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking‘  by Susan Cain.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Quiet’.  As a well socialized introvert and someone who naturally has a genuine interest in listening & helping others and in having positive relationships, I have worked exceptionally hard over the years to cultivate my ‘extrovert’ skills.

Leadership has always come somewhat naturally to me, as my values correlate highly with the servant leadership style. In this approach, the foundation is based on working to serve others and a higher purpose. Therefore, it is easier to place my personal fears and anxieties aside as the focus is on giving and the greater good – not me.  That said, interpersonal relationships have required more attention and education.

Practice taking risks, learning more about different types of communication styles and adopting a ‘Just Do It’ attitude around the more challenging areas of life have helped. Learning more about who I am, how I perceive the world, gather information and what I need to do to support my best self has, too.

One tool I have found beneficial to both me personally and in working with coaching clients is the MBTI.  For those of you who are not familiar with it, one area of evaluation is Introversion/Extroversion spectrum. ‘Quiet’ deepens and expands the conversation around this topic, and extends an extensive amount of scientific research to support  it’s biological and genetic basis. This is a significant step in validating the somewhat intangible subject of personality and moving it from a social or behavioral arena to a discussion that is more credible, measurable and scientifically validated.

In ‘Quiet’ Susan Cain discusses Dr. Jerome Kagan’s research at Harvard University in his lab for Child Development. It is absolutely fascinating! His studies strive to support his claim that after just a 45 minute evaluation, he can predict at age 4 months which children would turn out to be introverts or extroverts as adults. His findings center around the premise that ‘high reactivity’ in the activity of the amygdala (a portion of the brain related to the limbic system) is associated with introversion.  His more recent research furthers the understanding around how this area can be managed and impacted: ‘Recent fMRI studies show that when people use self talk to reassess upsetting situations, activity in the prefrontal cortex increases in an amount correlated with a decrease of activity in their amagdala.’

As a life coach who often works with clients around monitoring and shifting both self talk and underlying beliefs, this research supports the benefit of setting goals in these areas.  As a yogi, it strengthens my belief in the power of using mantras. As a personal trainer, I am even more grateful to NIKE® for their simple, purposeful & motivating brand tag line.

It was interesting to hear Susan Cain’s evaluation of Elaine Aaron’s work around Highly Sensitive People (HSP’s) and how sensitivity relates to introversion and extroversion.  Ms. Aaron’s books (‘The Highly Sensitive Person’, ‘The Highly Sensitive Person in Love’, ‘The Highly Sensitive Child’) are valuable resources in understanding more about what sensitivity is, the challenges of sensitivity in daily life and how it can impact relationships – most especially romantic partnerships & parenting – and includes practical tools for honoring and working with this gift.

Ms. Cain explores the field of leadership from multiple perspectives. I appreciated the education about Dale Carnergie (I am a fan) and his life. She notes that at the turn of the twentieth century his new approach to public speaking was the tipping point that seeded the roots of the Extrovert Ideal – which has become the prominent leadership style in the United States today.  She details how his style changed the ideal of what we look for in those we admire, who we are romantically involved with, what we look for in job interview candidates and how we raise our children.  She illustrates well that while many good things have come from his contribution it was also the start of the ‘Culture of Personality’ and downfall of our ethics.

She contrasts this westernized leadership view later in the book with the eastern approach in Asian cultures. Defined as a ‘soft power’, where ‘there is a subtle way to get what you want.  It’s not always aggressive, but it can be very determined and skillful.  In the end, much is achieved by it.  Aggressive power beats you up; soft power wins you over.”  I liked that.  It is followed with more… “In the long run, if the idea is good people shift.  If the cause is just and you put your heart into it, it’s almost a universal law: you will attract people who will want to share your cause. Soft power is quiet persistence.”  Mother Theresa, the Buddha and Gandhi were given as examples of leaders with soft power.

One third to one half of the population are introverts – whether they look like it or not.  ‘Quiet’ offers specific ways to identify and manage the challenges of introversion and extroversion in the workplace and in romantic relationships. ‘Quiet’ also provides a full chapter about children with specific ways both parents and educators can begin to understand and support the unique needs of the introverted child.

Crown Publishers, a division of Random House, has generously gifted our community with a copy of ‘Quiet’ to share with each other.  If you would like to read it, please email me and I will mail it out to you.  The first 8 people who receive it will also get a bag of special ‘Quiet’ tea, to enjoy while you are reading.  It’s delicious!  I know we are a community with a large population of introverts (so no expectation of public sharing…), and I invite you to post any of your thoughts & feedback about the book here at any time.  ~ Debra

Resources:

• Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): Online Assessment
• Are you an Introvert or Extrovert?  Take the ‘Quiet Quiz’
• Are you Highly Sensitive?  Elaine Aron’s Online Assessment

 

Getting to know Pinterest!

 I recently enjoyed learning more about Pinterest – one of the newer online communities dedicated to creating online visual photo collections.  If you are new to Pinterest, it is a free service – much like Facebook and Twitter, that allows you to collect images you find online and save them onto pin ‘boards’ organized by category.  It’s similar to making an online scrapbook, just simpler!

Registration is Easy: Create an account by submitting your name and email address and wait for an invitation to join.  It’s always nice to be invited to do anything, isn’t it? I heard back within just a few hours.

Pinterest suggests categories to use for your boards from a wide range of subjects – from Art and Automotive to Sports, Science & Technology.  I think the service lends itself well to themes which are visually uplifting such as Nature, Gardening and Design, and the beauty of Pinterest is it is customizable to any area you are interested in.  If you don’t see a category that is quite right for your needs or you are more creative and want to theme your board with a more detailed or playful name – create your own categories.

Once you log in to your new account, you will be directed to easily install a ‘Pin It’ link to your browser menu bar.  It takes seconds, even for the technology challenged.  After that, anytime you are browsing online and find an image you’d like to save, click the ‘Pin It’ button on your menu and the image will pop on the screen.  You have to make some sort of personal comment about the image, and then choose from the drop-down menu which of your boards you want to add it to.  When you find an image that is great and doesn’t fit into any of the themes you already have – it’s easy in the moment to create a new board category.  Once you have a few images started the fun begins…

Boards can be created with two options – only you can add to your boards or they can be public, and anyone who browses your boards and has a great suggestion they think might fit in can add it.  The choice is yours.  Once your boards are posted, anyone can follow your postings and you can choose to follow the people you like. If you see an image on someone else’s board, ‘Re-Pin’ it and add it to one of your own boards, or just add a comment.  The only thing you can’t do (at least to date) is upload your own photos to a board – they must already be active on the web.

Pinterest is benefical for everyone.  Individuals can collect ideas for their next home renovation or of things which inspire them as they plan an upcoming wedding;  Businesses can post product lines or images relating to their brand or values; Artists can gather things that inspire them…

At core harmony™ I’ll be pinning to offer you both practical solutions & ideas and to (hopefully) bring a smile to your day.  The following are examples of my first boards. You can follow core harmony at: http://Pinterest.com/coreharmony/.

~ Spring Yoga: Home Practice Suggestions for springtime!

~ Favorite Workout DVD’s: DVD’s for home practice & a little about why I like them.

My colleague, April May graphic designer and owner of Everything Little Miss is an excellent pinner.  These are a couple of my favorite boards: flowers, animals,  party party. Beautiful!

Another colleague, Michelle Lynn of Nowspeed uses Pinterest in more of a business tool to share their company’s White Papers around marketing, SEO, etc… If you are a small business owner, take a look both for the idea as well as to read the papers which may be beneficial.

Are you ready to Pin?  Do you have any ideas for boards you’d like to at core harmony, or to make yourself?  Please send me any questions, and post links to your boards so I can take a look!!

Enjoy!  Debra

 

Spring Yoga

In Chinese Medicine, there is one flow of ‘energy’ that runs through the entire body.  That one flow of energy can also be divided into 14 energetic pathways that follow one another to create the full cycle.  Each portion or pathway has an association with one of the organs of the body and impacts the health, wellness & vitality of that organ.

The pathways flow in the following order: 1. Gallbladder; 2. Liver; 3. Lungs; 4. Large Intestine; 5. Stomach; 6. Spleen/Pancreas; 7. Heart; 8. Small Intestine; 9. Bladder; 10. Kidney; 11. Pericardium; 12. Triple Warmer (Skin); 13. Conception Vessel (Sexual Organs); 14. Governing Vessel (Brain).

Acupuncture is a well know way to stimulate or release blocks in the meridians above.  Yoga poses also each have an association with one of the meridians and organs. Therefore, another way to impact the health of each organ is to practice the yoga pose associated with it.

Each meridian (and subsequent pose) also has a color associated with it, and a season or time of year.  The seasons associated with the meridians follow in alignment with the natural calendar:  Spring-to-Summer-to- Autumn-to-Winter.

The energy cycle begins with the Gallbladder Meridian.  If you look at a map of where the meridians of the body are located  you will see this pathway runs through the outer foot, leg, and through the glute, etc…  Yoga poses associated with this meridian include ones that will stretch the Abductors, IT Band, Glutes, Piriformis, etc…

It is easy to see how this meridian is the first one and how it corresponds so perfectly  to spring and the natural calendar. The color associated with the gallbladder meridian is new spring green. This color can be seen in abundance around us in the early spring days as new buds, leaves on trees and growth in nature all begin to emerge.

The Liver Meridian comes next.  Yoga poses that stimulate the mid-rear adductors and side bends are associated with this meridian.  The liver meridian is also associated with springtime and it’s color is pink!  Notice what comes right after the leaves start to bud outside – cherry blossoms.  It makes it easy to start to remember the order in which meridians flow by thinking of how things grow.

It is beneficial to include more of the poses related to each season in your practice during that time of year.  Therefore parivritta supta padangustasana, pigeon, standing side bends, gate pose and parivritta janu sirsasana are good to consider adding into your practice this month.   I’ve put together a ‘Spring Yoga‘ board on Pinterest to give you some ideas of what to try.  Click on each one, and most will give pointers for proper form…

If you are looking for something simple to follow or are short on time – this  ’Spring Detox‘ workout from Whole Living is an excellent one, too!

Please post questions or other poses you are enjoying this spring!

Namaste,  Debra  :)

 

Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk Pacesetter Brunch

I was honored to attend the Jimmy Fund Walk Pacesetter Brunch this past Sunday at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. The brunch is to recognize walkers from the 2011 Walk who have made strong financial contributions toward ending cancer by reaching one of four fundraising levels.

Deb Anderson, our team’s first ever Virtual Walker & Star Pacesetter was unable to join us from Vancouver, BC so she extended an offer for team mates Rosina Hagopian and Denise Dunne to attend in her place.  We all had a GREAT time and I was touched by the team spirit, sharing of good will and collaboration between our walkers.  I hope generosity  & kindness toward each other is somehow contributing to ending cancer alongside our walking and fundraising efforts.

The day included recognition of the teams and walkers who have made the greatest fundraising contributions to the walk in the prior year as well as cumulatively since the walk began in 1989. There were walkers honored who have participated every year since the walk began.  Wow!  We were also  inspired by speeches from the head of the Jimmy Fund Walk and Dana-Farber with updates on recent accomplishments in both areas. And, brunch was absolutely delicious!

We are just launching our 2012 Walk Team here at core harmony, and hope it will be an equally fun year and we can contribute generously to ending cancer.  To be a Pacesetter in 2012, one of the the following fundraising benchmarks must be met by December 31, 2012: Star Pacesetter: $1250; Two Star pacesetter: $2500; Three Star Pacesetter: $5000; Four Start Pacesetter: $10,000. Child Pacesetter: $500.

Our team welcome’s Walker’s and Virtual Walker’s worldwide.  JOIN US on September 9th for this year’s Walk! Register TODAY and start fundraising early:   www.JimmyFundWalk.org/2012/coreharmony.

Learn More about our Team: www.coreharmony.com/Giving/html.

Learn More about the Benefits of becoming a Pacesetter.

 

Sustainable Beverage Project: JOIN the Boston Focus & Creative Groups!

Yogi’s, Runners & all interested in improved Well-being: Industrial Design Students from the Netherlands are interested in your Input!  

Hi All!

I was contacted by two ID students from Delft University in Holland who will be in Boston over the next week working on research for a healthy sustainable beverage solution.  I lived with two industrial design students in college and have a number of friends in this profession. Through interacting with them I have developed a great respect for the comprehensive nature of this business and the exceptional dedication, hard work and professionalism  that goes into their work & projects – even at the student level. This project sound terrific, and it is a fun opportunity to see how your voice and opinions can make a real difference in shaping a new product’s development. The following is a bit more about Grant & Robert and their work.  I know it’s late notice and if you have the time to join one of the groups or contact them to share your opinions your voice will be heard & make a big difference.  I expect you’ll learn and gain far more from being a part of the project than what you give, so have fun & enjoy.  It is a huge honor for our community to be asked to be a part of this.  Many thanks in advance for helping out in any way you can!

Kindly,  Debra

________________________________________________________________________________________

WHO ARE WE?

We are two industrial design students from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands doing research on ‘health and well-being’ in order to design a sustainable beverage concept to help people manage and improve their health. Grant is a product design student from Scotland with a passion for designing engaging and inviting products that improve the health and enjoyment of peoples’ lives and Robert is a strategic product designer from Boston with a passion for replacing wasteful and energy intensive business models with more ethical, human centred and sustainable business practices. We will be in Boston from the 16^th to 20^th of March and would love to speak to you!

WHAT IS OUR CHALLENGE?

Our challenge is to bring positive change to the beverage industry, which is highly carbon and waste intensive today. We seek to develop a new model and product solution that can solve these problems while promoting a healthier lifestyle and overall wellbeing.

WHAT ARE WE ASKING FOR?

We would like to invite you to take part in one of our group sessions hosted in Boston. We are holding two group sessions, a focus group and a creative session, where we would love to hear your opinions and feelings on the topics of ‘health and wellbeing’ and how we could improve it. To do this, we seek your expertise and knowledge of what health and well-being means within the context of a practitioner of yoga and other fitness activities. We will provide food and drinks at both events.We will be hosting a focus group on Sunday the 18th of March at 100 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 02142. For more information please check the blog:
http://redefiningbeverages.blogspot.com/2012/03/focus-group-invitation-boston.html

We will also be hosting a creative session on Tuesday the 20th of March at the Cambridge Innovation Centre: One Broadway, Cambridge MA 02142. For more information please check the blog:
http://myhealthywellbeing.blogspot.com/2012/03/focus-group-invitaion-boston.html

If you can’t manage either of these sessions but would be interested in talking to us, please leave us a message on our Facebook groups. We would love to talk to you!

WHY YOGA AND WHY YOU?

We are focusing our research on people who take part in yoga in order to improve their health and well-being, both physically and mentally, as we would like to design products to support these people. We would really love to talk to you to learn more about what is important to you! Your story matters to us! The events will also be a great opportunity to meet like-minded people in a fun and relaxed environment!Please feel free to join our Facebook groups and invite your friends! We look forward to hearing from you,

Best Regards,
Grant and Robert

 

Fresh Ricotta, Beets & ‘Leftovers’

Beet Pasta with Ricotta 

I love to cook, and am always interested in trying new recipes.  After testing out one for Classic Meatballs, I found myself wondering what to make with the unused fresh ricotta?  While leafing through this month’s Whole Living Magazine I came across a recipe for ‘Beet Pasta with Ricotta’. It seemed serendipitous to find it so soon after having the thought. I like beets, the recipe looked easy enough and I’ve always had great results cooking anything from Whole Living or Martha Stewart’s magazines. Perhaps this would be something to try?

The next day, while catching up on some professional newsletters I came across an article detailing that new scientific research on beets includes them as one of the overlooked new ‘super foods’, and a must have in our diets. As a longtime fan of the little beet anyway, I didn’t need prompting to choose it, and I was curious.

The article went on to describe the numerous health benefits of this beautiful root veggie and how advantageous it’s properties are to our longevity, physical and mental health.  Studies show that beets are high in phytonutrients with anti-inflammatory & detoxification properties, it can help control hypertension & heart attack risks, and includes two forms of beta carotene beneficial for eye health. Other studies support that beets can curb tumor growth in humans making it a powerful anti-cancer agent.  Wow!  And that was just the beginning…  As brain health is an area I am fascinated by, my interest continued to be peaked as additional information on the beet’s ability to boost serotonin levels, improve cognition and prevent & control dementia were added to the list of ‘good things’ about the beet.  Neat.  Anything I can do to keep my frontal lobe healthy & serotonin levels high sounds terrific. Finally, beet leaves have more iron than spinach. Ok, I was sold. Move over Popeye & honestly, move over creamy delicious fresh ricotta.  Let’s get some beets!

The recipe was super simple to make, and truly yummy.  I never would have thought this one up on my own.  I ended up with enough extra beet mixture to share it as a side salad to brunch with eggs, New Mexico green chili’s and Ezekiel toast.  Equally delicious!

I consider it a tremendous gift to live in a place where I have access to such a wide variety of healthy foods and do my best not to waste.  This often challenges me to be creative, and to stay committed to eating the foods I buy vs. heading for takeout when days are busy.  What are your thoughts on the beet?  Do you have any favorite ‘leftover’ tips?