Making Love in the Kitchen

Last week- this whole book thing became very, very, VERY real to me. We shot my book! Yes we did. I had a whole crew in the kitchen with me. My amazing kitchen fairies, my editor and the designer from my publisher McClelland and Stewart, my photographer Catherine Farquharson and her assistant Nicki, Amy Lam, my make-up artist, and Ashley Denton, the food stylist. Wowza did we zip through loads of goodness. It was so much fun. Day 1 of the shoot was all about me in action- playing in the kitchen. Day 2 and 3 we shot all the amazing food shots. On Sunday, I invited some ladies over for a fantastic brunch and we rounded out the four day shoot with a visit to my home to catch my man and I just hangin’. The book is all written. Handed in my last chapters before I left for Hawaii. Now I just have to edit. I can’t believe I have to wait a whole 11 months before I get to show off the prize of all these efforts. Wanna to me a favour and start getting excited right along with me? Maybe these pictures from the first couple days of the shoot might help.
(And before you ask- all clothes from my fave store ever- Anthropologie)

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It almost seems to me that these creed topics come up at some kind of exactly perfectly timed moment. I am going line, by line, in the order to which they appear. But somehow- it’s always just the right one. Yesterday, I had an appointment with a personal shopper at Anthropologie to pick out my ensembles for my book shoot that’s happening next week. Colour was the theme of the day, let me tell you! My parents had me in montessori school for pre-school. Part of the philosophy of the school, if you’re not familiar, is letting kids find their own way and their own path. Part of this means that parents are encouraged to let their kids pick out their own outfits. And did I ever!
I remember so incredibly clearly, walking into my parents room, my face barely coming up to the edge of their bed and modelling my latest ensemble for them, asking “Does this go?”. It never did, but looking at old photo albums, it is clear that my parents just lied to me and said “you bet!”. I can remember being asked by a boy in my class in grade three or four, why I had so many barrettes in my hair. I used to try and wear as many hair accessories as my little head of hair could withstand. I wore tap dancing costumes to school as my outfit of choice, and believed it a personal flaw if I ever had the same article of clothing as someone else. Wearing clashing, ridiculous, colour combos seems to have been born and bread in me. It’s just more fun that way. (And you’ve met my dad, right? Genetic maybe?)

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I have weird collections. It used to be shoes. Now it’s foraged mushrooms, and sea weed. Everywhere I go, I check out the local sea vegetables. People now send me gifts of seaweed from their own fair shores too (feel free!). Nothing, however, has stolen my heart quite like Irish or Sea Moss (twin brothers from different mothers). This unsuspecting superfood has been my top of the charts seller since I started carrying it. Not an easy thing to find but an absolute smoothie essential, if you ask me. Also a top, top, top food to eat to help with all your daily detox efforts. Cleans up the thyroid, sheds radiation, strips the gut of excess mucous buildup and other fine jazz. Makes the drinks so silky smooth, keeps all the goods you throw in there in solution, and heals the gut and thyroid like nothing else. You have been asking for it and at long, long last- I have put together my how-to video for Irish Moss. Now, save your Q’s ’cause I now have your A’s answered. All in this video…

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We’re busy bees in the kitchen today- or more accurately, on our computers as we manage your Q’s with our A’s and all the deets and registrations for our Fab Detox. Yep. It goes on sale today at 10:00am EST and we have just 45 spots available. We sold out on our pre-registration in just 24 hours and we expect the same to happen today. Remember- $79 when you buy today, up to $89 if you hum and haw and wait until tomorrow (and there may not even be any left). Back in November we sold out in a crazy five hours! Now, on with the show. I cooked up a storm for our New Year’s eve dinner with three amazing brand new recipes that I will be sharing soon. For now, though, I will share a little post-holiday detox juicing loving. This drink is a treat and a half whether you are in post-holiday recovery mode, ready to get started on your Fab Detox adventure or just want some new smoothie or juicing inspiration.

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It’s been quite the ride the past three months. The time has come to say goodbye to the kitchen and I wanted to take this last opportunity to share some insight and talk about my experience. After three months of cooking classes, workshops, detoxing, packaging 100 pounds of smelly Irish moss, messes made and cleaned up – there have been lots of laughs and days of full bellies here at the kitchen. Today, I can proudly say that I can bake a really good batch of gluten free muffins…among other things, and I have truly appreciated and loved every moment of being part of the Making Love in The Kitchen Team. Meghan has been our leader, fearlessly running the show while Alexa and I (currently known as thing 1 and thing 2 – an unstoppable team) have been behind the scenes cooking, organizing, prepping and observing. Words cannot express how much I have grown the past three months. After graduating from nutrition school in October, I never could have imagined feeling as prepared and excited about going out into the world to spread the word of health after my time here.

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We’ve had loads of interns and extra special helpers pass through this here fair kitchen of ours over the last three years. What I have come to discover is that each and everyone is special in her own unique way (yes, they have all been women). They each have their own area of expertise and interest and all seem to develop a fixation on a certain thing. I feel sad to say that I passed along my secret crush on rice cakes to Jill. I hear her crunching all the time even though we all know they should be just a once in a while thing.

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Guest: Brendan Brazier is a professional Ironman triathlete, bestselling author on performance nutrition, and the creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called VEGA. He is also a two-time Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion. I had the opportunity to chat with Brendan about his book, transitioning to a plant based diet, the balance of our diet and the environment and did my best to find out some personal nuggets.

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Everyone who spreads a little of my All Purpose Edible Body Butter on their hands, lips, cuticles, or face is always so excited by it- declaring it good enough to eat. I, of course, remind them that they can. That it actually is good enough to eat, meaning everything contained within it is 100% edible. Then I suggest they get an extra jar to keep in the boudoir. Everyone has a bit of a nervous giggle and then they get a second jar.

At my recent Edible Beauty Care workshop (next one, sad for you, isn’t until April), I decided to impress my guests by whipping up, on the spot, without first testing it, a warm smoothie latte that would, in fact, taste just the same as my Edible Body Butter, and using nearly identical ingredients.

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Just when LA schools put a ban on flavoured milk, a Canadian chain of fitness centres, Goodlife Fitness has declared it their official recovery beverage.

Hey there Healthwashing, didn’t expect to see you here.

Their healthwashing claim is that that consumption of chocolate milk after physical exertion is excellent replenishment for muscles. What is needed for recovery is carbs and protein to boost muscle repair. Being high in water, they also state that chocolate milk provides hydration. Well so do a lot of things, um… like water? What one seems to be considering is the amount of sugar in chocolate milk. As soon as there is an insulin response in the body (caused by refined sugar intake) the body will switch into a fat storing mode.

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In his own words, Ron Telpner, my dad, shares his story and experience with prostate cancer. His series, The Four Unwanted Words chronicles his experience from diagnosis to the best health of his life.
Read Part 1: Four Unwanted Words

You are what you eat.

When I was told “You have prostate cancer,” I thought my business career might be over. It was only after doing my homework that I realized that prostate cancer, when caught in its early stages, is not a death sentence. It is more of a condition. Just the same, I was scared.

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We all get them from time to time. They creep up on us and it’s all we can think about for the rest of the day. We get a bit cranky and feel like taking a snooze. We may even resort to digging deep in our pantries to see what we can come up with. I’m talking sugar cravings. We all know that when we get them they’re super beastly and relentless. We often find ourselves giving in just to stop that “need” we feel.

It’s okay to admit you give in. It’s not the end of the world, it just means we need to take a look at why they’re happening and what emotions we’re experiencing and nutrients we’re missing out on that are the driving factors. When we get down to it, stress is often the real culprit here. As Meghan has outlined this week, stress is a huge problem we face in our day-to-day lives. It seems to be especially prominent this time of year when our routines are changing, kids are off to school, and we have a million things on our to-do lists.

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Happy Monday!

What a delicious weekend it was. I had a Saturday off! This rarely happens and so what did I do with it? I made our fave Super French Toast breakfast, did laundry, went for a massage and created the most delectable Deluxe Stress Busting latte recipe there ever was with all of my favourite stress busting herbs, foods and magic potions. The recipe and video are coming tomorrow!

For now, the info and best stress busting regiment there ever was.

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What a week it has been. I have been doing my very, very best to abide the rules I wrote myself with my 21 Days To Health, program. My most favourite challenge of course is on day 3 when we must get ourselves to bed early. There are three things I love to bits that help me sleep like a baby.

Sleep mask to block out the light.
Lavender essential oil sprinkled on my pillow
3 capsules of Peaceful Spirit- my most fave bed time supplement in the whole wide world (more on that next week)
I have been loving these things even more as I spent just three nights last weekend on the other side of the country, 3 time zones away in Vancouver and then came back right in the swing of things. And you know what? No jet lag! Not even for one night. It was amazing.
I digress, as today I sit in the audience at TedX Toronto, invited to participate as a delegate, I wanted my brain powered up and ready to rock. And you know what does it? A green juice breakfast and a smoothie brunch.

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What a week it has been. I have been doing my very, very best to abide the rules I wrote myself with my 21 Days To Health, program. My most favourite challenge of course is on day 3 when we must get ourselves to bed early. There are three things I love to bits that help me sleep like a baby.

Sleep mask to block out the light.
Lavender essential oil sprinkled on my pillow
3 capsules of Peaceful Spirit- my most fave bed time supplement in the whole wide world (more on that next week)
I have been loving these things even more as I spent just three nights last weekend on the other side of the country, 3 time zones away in Vancouver and then came back right in the swing of things. And you know what? No jet lag! Not even for one night. It was amazing.
I digress, as today I sit in the audience at TedX Toronto, invited to participate as a delegate, I wanted my brain powered up and ready to rock. And you know what does it? A green juice breakfast and a smoothie brunch.

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Guest: Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a world renowned speaker and author on the subject of health, nutrition, disease prevention and super immunity. His latest book comprises the best super immunity food tips with some fantastic recipes making it an ideal book for a transition to a disease fighting, health promoting way of life. What sets Dr. Fuhrman apart from most doctors is his firm belief and practice with his patients that dietary and lifestyle changes are the key to sustained weightloss and longevity. In my interview with Dr. Fuhrman, we discuss the top super immunity foods, the role of the immune system in cancer, the connection between diet and auto-immune diseases as well as his perspective on flu shots. It was a fascinating interview that is sure to ruffle a few conventional medicine feathers.

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