Eating Styles on a Road Trip

He goes into the store and buys dark chocolate covered pretzels, because 'it's for research'...I find the only organic apples in the store- a bruised looking bunch in a plastic bag.

He picks up Kettle Corn explaining this is 'road trip food'.  I combat this move by choosing organic carrots and hummus.

He picks up a deli sandwich. Pre-made. Looks so gross. I entertained the woman behind the counter by gathering from the 'produce department'- fixings for my self-crafted veggie wrap.

Road trips...
xo ginny

The Road to Zion

I am out west driving along with my husband, surrounded by the natural beauty of Nevada and Arizona. Every site more gorgeous than the next. I am loving this road trip so much! because this is a 'true' road trip. Not the Florida Turnpike kind of road trip where after twenty minutes I am as restless as a two year old.

Here the road is ever changing...plateaus, ridges, and austerity that the west offers so beautifully. Actually as my words are being written we are watching a cow drifting across the road, splendid in his surroundings.

My husband and I drifting alongside. 

Conversation meandering just as the road does. 

From the spiritual, to dreams- all between two people that have been living a life together. Sometimes you just assume you know everything about each other, but really nobody ever truly knows the other completely, and that is the way it should be. Always discovering new things. If all mystery were gone, for me- our life together would be unacceptable. 

For instance- I have just found out in two years, my husband plans to take a year off of work to travel the world. Glad I asked! For now I can add my dreams to his. Are we really out of here in two? Probably not, but these dreams do lead to beautiful conversation on our road trip, side by side. xo ginny

The End of the Story

I have never had as many people comment to me as I did on my last blog. See, the one prior  I was so caught off guard. I thought there was a lot of others that were more soulful, but that was the one I heard most about in a long time. It was about letting go and letting yourself be loved, held and taken care of. So I wanted to bring you up to date...

The very adored husband of mine never left me. He just rebooked his trip, this time including me. He figured it was in his best interest. He sprung it on me by saying, "Guess what Honey? We are going to Vegas!" He was so excited- like a kid in a candy store. So happy to have solved his problem by making sure he put me on that plane to Vegas with him. It would have been perfect, but in his excitement he forgot that our second oldest boy was home from college in Chicago and would not be leaving until Sunday. And he booked us to fly out the Saturday before...Oh well.  I love my husband with all of my heart- but just try and take me away from a full house of our boys these days is well...impossible. Long story short- though he rebooked me to fly out on Sunday (him still leaving on Saturday) but he came to his senses. So he tried to change his flight to leave Sunday with me- but the flights were sold out. So actually this was perfect this way anyway- because I get to spend the last few hours with all four of my boys under one roof and he gets to gamble on March madness. We both win.

I felt like the true winner though- as I was climbing the stairs to bed and I heard him give his last words of goodbye to his four sons. "Take care of your mom, make sure she is ok til I see her tomorrow night in Vegas." These are the same words he has given our boys since they were probably waist high.  He tells them and they honor him. He has taught these boys, who are now men in fact- about the importance of love and honor of family, and the old fashioned 'chauvinistic' responsibility of caring for their mother and important women in their lives. I know whoever they marry will be so cherished and will feel the same joy that I feel knowing that I am loved hard and deeply, completely surrounded by my men. Thank you to my husband for being the light of my life and the gift of strength to my sons.

I smiled to myself and tears came to my eyes as I brushed passed him. And came to my computer to express this warm feeling of deep love on this blog. I am so blessed. Do I deserve it?  I don't know. But all I can say is that I live each day understanding that in this lifetime I am so utterly blessed and grateful and realize it with every breath I take.

So, goodnight sweet husband of mine. I will say the same words I have said to you the last twenty-six years of my life when you fly without me, "Come home safe to me."

Home, being wherever we happen to find ourselves.   xo ginny

To be or not to be...Strong.

I pride myself on living a life that is filled with optimism. I grow impatient with whining, as I believe in the strength in oneself. My father, taught me from a young age- right or wrong. He taught me that people don't want to hear your woes.

He once asked me how I slept. Since I didn't have a great night's sleep, I told him so and he responded, "I didn't really want to know, I was being polite, just answer me great and move on."  I have always remembered his words. It became a life lesson that I carried with me.

So I smile a lot, love to be happy and yet when something is really bothering me, only those closest to me know. I guess I feel it is my privacy, and I am one of the lucky ones, I see beauty and joy, almost every where I walk. Sadness does not have a strong hold on me, but I do feel for those it grips. Yet there are moments in my life that things really rattle me, but as I get older I am getting more comfortable letting down my defenses and saying, "no, I am not ok".  It happened this past week.

Spring break was fast approaching and it seemed as though my family was taking off in all different directions and I would be alone over the spring break. One boy back to college, one not in yet, one off to lacrosse camp and my husband decided to take off with another son to Vegas and Utah. ginnybakes is taking off in a million different directions and it just wasn't the time to let go of the reins. I was feeling scared and proud of the growth of my baby company, yet feeling so very overwhelmed.  I love making dreams happen. I have an ambitious, entrepreneurial side that has been hiding just underneath the surface all of these years and yet dealing with the paper work side of the business makes me feel like a three year old. I cannot seem to grasp or focus on it. I think it could actually give me hives! So I hinted to my husband I thought it might be better if he stayed in town. He didn't seem to hear me. Vegas and Utah skiing are his heaven. To get the man's attention especially during March Madness would require screaming. But I don't scream. It makes me cringe. Instead, I retreat and retreat.

I told him that if he left, I would not appease him with pleasant goodbyes and words of comfort but that he had to make his own decision. I have to tell you that there are moments in your life where you need your partner with you to just be there, hold your hand and offer perhaps nothing more than their presence.

He was due to leave at 6:30 am Tuesday morning. At 4:30 he got out of bed and told our son the trip was off. Do I own him as my male friends tease? No, does he own my heart strings? Yes. I needed him and he came through. Does the sun shine a little brighter this week, for me? Absolutely. Why did he stay home? Because I needed him, and though sometimes we need to listen, hear, and be strong- we also sometimes need to babied and looked after. And that's ok too, I am learning.

Thank you to the beautiful man that looked after me this week.  I owe you, and the payback will be such fun, I am sure.  xo ginny

Spring Greens

It's March. Spring is here! Time for some spring cleaning in your home, your mind but especially, your body. It's a great time to lose weight and increase energy. On that note- I have one word for you. Salad.
I know it's no surprise, or some new magic solution or exciting new culinary venture- but you really cannot deny the power of salads. They are nutritious, filling and even more satisfying that you can imagine.

If you have been raised on the notion that "salads" are made with lettuce- whether it be romaine, iceberg or butter and that they are eaten before or after a meal as a side dish...I urge you to squash that notion at the end of reading this blog. Salads need to take on a new meaning in your life. You just need to get a little creative and adventurous in the produce aisle and give in some of your elbow grease in the kitchen. The salad should be seen as a "main dish"- as they are true food and fuel for the clean and lean body.

Start to see your "other" food as side dishes. And repeat after me: a salad is so much more than just lettuce. A salad is so much more than just lettuce. Repeat and start here:

Dark Leafy Greens. Collard greens, kale, swiss chard, spinach, turnip greens, arugula, watercress, beet tops, dandelion greens. These leafy friends are the most nutrient dense, raw foods that are available to the human diet. Learn to enjoy them and start to substitute regular lettuce with any of these. Wash, chop and spin just as you would prepare regular lettuce and keep in paper towel lined zip locs ready for use anytime. I suggest you start with kale and spinach. Say goodbye to romaine and iceberg. Use these greens as your salad base- and start to add in some of the more peppery tasting greens such as arugula and watercress. Experiment with them all. It won't hurt to eat more nutrients!

Roast Away! Here is a quick roasting 101 lesson that will thank me for. Trust me- it's easier than you think. Take a bunch of vegetables. Your pick. Cut them lengthwise. I like golden beets, regular beets, red peppers, onions, sweet potatoes and cherry tomatoes (no need to cut these). Take a baking pan, toss in all the vegetables. Drizzle a bunch of extra virgin olive oil (always use a high quality oil, preferably from Italy where pesticides and chemicals are verboten), coating all vegetables well, and sprinkle a generous amount of coarse sea salt and some brown sugar on top. Put the pan into a 400' oven and set the timer for about 50 minutes. The vegetables will caramelize and cook together so well and will add such flavor and excitement to your greens. Believe me.

Go Nuts. Stock up on pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds, walnuts, raw almonds, peanuts and toss them into your salad. They will add protein, cholesterol fighting fatty acids, vitamin E, omega 3's, riboflavins, fiber, antioxidants which in turn means they help with mood, improve cognitive function and can prevent heart disease.

Stop Dressing. Bottled dressing that is. Invest in some fresh organic lemons, sea salt, agave nectar, a good quality Balsamic vinegar and olive oil and start to use that as your dressing. Experiment each time. Toss in some fresh chopped basil, oregano, rosemary or parsley for extra flavor. Add mashed avocado to your oil and vinegar to create a creamy texture. Add crushed garlic for some extra zing.

I guarantee salad success with these suggestions. Every salad I create is a different epicurean experience each time- which keeps things interesting and the waistline trim. Side dish- no more!  xo ginny

PS. If you choose to add some animal protein make sure it's clean, grass-fed, or wild farmed. Every now and then I like to add in some lemon-poached, or grilled wild caught Alaskan salmon for an extra punch of omega 3's, fatty acids and flavor.

Get Glowing!

Poker face or not- what you eat is written all over your face. After all, your skin is the largest organ in your body- though its the last one to receive all the nutrients and water we take in. So- it's so important to make sure we are taking in enough nutrients and water so there’s enough to go around!

Winter skin in harsher climates tends to be dry, or sometimes in the case with those with combination or over-active skin- it can actually become oiler as the body tries to overcompensate for the cold dry air. With spring just around the corner, we wanted to share with you a quick run down on how to help renew your skin so it’s happy, nourished and glowing and ready for spring.

Water. Drink lots of it. Aside from helping to flush our impurities inside our bodies, drinking water helps the skin to maintain an even moisture balance. We prefer to drink spring, filtered or reverse osmosis filtered water that is free to chemicals that municipal water treatment plants add in to kill off bacteria and organisms...yuck!

Wash Simpler. We spend so much time and money on magic skin products that promise to tone, cleanse, heal, de-age and deep clean our skin. It’s no wonder the cosmetic industry is a multi-billion dollar one! In turn, these chemical laden washes and treatments often tend to strip our skin of it’s natural oils which in turn leads to over drying, flaking, or overactive skin. We recommend you try to use something that is as natural as possible. Try using Goat’s Milk Soap to wash both your face and body. It is almost the same pH level as our skin and contains the natural glycerin. It also contains a natural lactic acid/alpha hydroxy acid which helps the skin rejuvenate itself by gently exfoliating dead cells and allowing for new cells to appear. This is what helps increase that wonderful glow we all seek- especially in the dead of winter. Start using natural ingredients on your skin and let nature take over. You will notice a difference. Trust us.

Eat Clean. Eating clean healthy organic foods- especially those rich in nutrients and anti-oxidants such as blueberries, leafy greens and whole grains all help the body to slow down the aging process. Anti-oxidants help prevent the oxidation of cells which creates harmful free radicals that damage healthy cells. Anti-oxidants can help slow the aging process and keep our organs healthy- including our skin. Blueberries, dark leafy greens, beans, cranberries, apples and plums are some tasty, fresh sources of antioxidants. Eat out less and start to learn how to cook using fresh ingredients.

Exfoliate. Everything. Exfoliation is not only beneficial for the face, but also your arms, legs, tummy, back and butt! Running a bar of soap on a daily basis may clean the surface of your skin, but you can do so much more with some light elbow grease! We highly recommend that you invest in a great dry brush and start giving your body a good rub down before you step into the shower or bath. The ancient art of Dry Brushing sloughs off dead skin cells, helps stimulate the growth of new skin cells, invigorates your circulation, tones the skin, reduces cellulite and helps detoxify your system since it gives your entire body a gentle surface massage that stimulates your lymphatic system which carries impurities. We love our bamboo body brush because it’s soft and sustainable and natural- you definitely want to use something natural rather than synthetic. It’s your body after all.

Steep Yourself. Run a warm bath, filling it to the top of the bath and soak your body in an herbal tea soak (recipe below). Taking 15 minutes to treat your skin to the essential oils of a tea soak can do wonders for the skin, and the spirit. Breathe deeply and dim the lights. Follow up with an extra delicious treat- by massaging coconut oil all over your body to seal in natural moisture. Or get your partner to. THAT will really help you glow! xo ginny


Body Tea Soak
Lavender and Chamomile have natural soothing and calming properties. You can find them at most health-food stores. You can also use the contents of regular tea bags as long as they are certified organic.

1/4 cup dried chamomile flowers
1/4 cup dried lavender flowers
2 large sheets of cheesecloth or a cotton muslin bag
String or twine, to close the bag

Mix the dried flowers together in a small bowl.
Double up the cheesecloth.
Place the flower mixture in the center of the cheesecloth or into the muslin bag.
Tie tightly and let steep in a hot bath for at least 5-10 minutes before you get into the bath.
Leave the tea bag in the bath the entire duration of your bath.
Dim the lights and relax.

What is Failure?

I met my husband when I was barely twenty-one.  And it was on our second date, that he told me his future wife would never work.

That she would be adored, loved, cared for but never work. I kind of felt at the time, that this future wife of his, the future Mrs S. would be incredibly loved, but with some terms! I wondered how in that time period could he be so chauvinistic? He was raised this way. But why did I so easily accept his way? I too was raised by a dad who wanted me to be loved, cherished and taken care of. In the back of my mind (or maybe in the front) I wanted the white picket fence, the kids- lots of them playing with a couple of dogs. It was a dream of mine.

I know I am so blessed by a husband who truly gets me, quirks and all. He just loves me from the bottom of his heart. He is equally loved, but twenty-four years later, I broke the terms he laid out on that second date- that has remained unspoken between us all these years. I was his wife and decided to build my dream of making this world just a little healthier by opening the door to my creative side.

Now the world of Mindful Organics is all unfolding happening and either I will fall flat on my face or I will show my sons, how their mom can go out and take risks. I so truly believe that failure comes from indecision. Failure is not when something doesn't go your way, it's when one does nothing at all.

I had two different conversations with my sons tonight, about their personal lives so I won't go to deeply into the issues, but they were similiar in different ways. One boy is having a girl issue. He wants to ask her out but is so worried she will turn him down. He is frozen. So not my way to be so tentative or hesitant- I feel like shaking the confidence into him...but I can't, so I keep teaching life lessons, building his confidence, and loving him so hard.

The other wants something in his sports world very badly, but is also afraid of rejection, though he claims otherwise.  He is thinking that he is content so I don't want to push. However with the wisdom of age does come the acknowledgment that regrets do come easily... But I do want him to live to the fullest, without showing too clearly, what I feel he should do. But I bite my tongue as I want him to come to make his own judgement call.

I just want to make sure that they don't become bystanders in life. I want them to live it with gusto. For to me, that is living!

As for myself I continue to do the best I can. I told them the story of a cafe in my neighborhood of sunny South Beach. I wanted so badly for ginnybakes to be sold there. I felt that my health-minded target market were there and that if ginnybakes were sold there it would be huge for my growth. So I worked really hard, worked with them, on their terms, and finally got their okay to put the product in there. I only had delivered for one week, then they decided we were "too small of a company" and didn't want to take a risk with me. I was a local. And great customer- so I was shocked, and hurt.  But you know what? I am glad it happened. It was the first example that I pointed to, and talked to my boys about tonight when I was talking about failure. Sure the rejection hurt- but only for a day or so. Then I got up, brushed off my knees and decided that obviously it wasn't the right place for ginnybakes. Their loss not mine.

I have always believed in the power of helping others- and that when some doors close, bigger ones open. Since that cafe closed their doors on us, Epicure Market- an infamous Miami Beach epicurean institution- has embraced us. Ha!

So if some doors haven't closed in your face, you have not lived. To live is to understand that failure is truly being too afraid to leap forward.  You will fail with inaction.

Let's all take a leap of faith and go for our dreams as life is so rich in possibility that way.  xo ginny

My Super Lunch

Thankfully. And finally. A long overdue- quiet day to read, catch up on emails and plan.

I am relaxed, running no where, holed up doing research and listening to music.  Though after a few hours of intense mental stimulation and absorption, the stomach growls.  Hmmm, a quick jaunt to the kitchen. A quick glance into the refrigerator and the ideas begin to spin. Every food I eat serves a purpose other than to satiate my hunger. Food is fuel. For nourishment. Sustenance. I set out to create an ultimate nutrition-packed melange of sorts.

I take some kale (dark leafy greens have the most concentration of nutrients, calorie by calorie and are rich in nutrients and vitamin C, B, E and K which is beneficial to the heart, arteries, bones) chop it up and saute with some coconut oil. Then I add spinach (beta carotene, vitamin K, folate), throw in some dried cherries and pinenuts (anti-oxidants, fiber and more vitamin K), then realize I want it more complex, so I pop out the broccoli (fiber and calcium).  I cut it up quickly into small florets, slice up some beets (for iron) and add in with everything else. The coconut oil, because of its high burning temperature) allows me to cook it all hot and fast. Then I place my sauteed concoction onto a beautiful dinner size plate and drizzle a mix of freshly squeezed orange and lemon with a splash of apple cider vinegar on top. But wait- I'm not done.

I find some leftover home-made hummus that is still raring to go.  I put a dollop of this in the middle of the sautee and voila! A fast, beautiful and nutrient overloaded lunch for me. All in a matter of minutes.

I am truly grateful for the quiet  time for me to gather thoughts...relax into myself and reap the rewards of  my culinary improv session in my very own kitchen.  Solitude at its finest.  xo ginny

Smoothie Operator

My youngest two high-school sons walk into the kitchen every morning at 6:53am and leave by 7 (why and how they have both coordinated a tandem 6:53am walk in- I have no idea!). Then at the end of each day, one of two arrives back home at 6:30pm and the other, not until 8:45 pm- after practice. I can't really push for them to be in any earlier since they are up late with homework anyway.

My joy and responsibility is to get something into them that is highly nutritious, and quick for them to take down. Most days- it's a great smoothie. I wish I could serve it green, so the kale or spinach could announce its emerald green beauty in the glass, but my boys will revolt!

So, I am sneaky and smooth. I cover the green with a bright colored fruit such as raspberries or strawberries, and only after they happily drink it do I tell them what was in it. I do this so they understand and become more open to foods they perceive to be awful tasting. Many a masked-green smoothie later- are they slowly learning that certain foods are actually becoming part of their world. When they finish their last sips- I tell them all the wonderful vitamins, minerals and nutrients that just entered their systems. Do they always pay attention? No. But 6:53am is pretty early, and the seven beautiful moments/minutes I have them in the morning are oh so fleeting. But oh so blissful for me.  Have a beautiful, healthy day M and K. Love you!  xo Mom

My Secretly Green Smoothie
1/2  organic Haas avocado
2 leaves organic kale
1 cup of organic orange juice
1 cup organic strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 organic banana
1 tbsp ground flaxseed (for some omegas and protein!)

1. Throw all ingredients into a Vitamix or high-speed blender- and blend until everything is liquified.
Enjoy!!!

Cocoa for C

Yesterday, a wonderful client of mine was over at my home office. Let's call her "C".

C is about to finish her sessions with me and since we started back in December 2010- she has lost 14 pounds! Much more importantly though is her whole new shift in her relationship with food. When we began, she was fighting post-baby weight,  exhaustion and the battle with food- that so many feel.

All I could hope for her- has been laid in place. She has turned the corner and now looks to food to nourish, fuel and enjoy. Her new food lifestyle is in place- with her young son who is now crazy for brown rice pasta, broccoli and wholesome food. He now will eat real food in its beautiful natural form- no longer having his scrambled eggs dyed green with food coloring to make them "more appealing" as C once made for him (yes...that is the truth!).

C was never comfortable in the kitchen- but now realizes the true joy she feels from creating nutritious and delicious food, with fresh herbs and whole ingredients. Her family has also made a real turn around by jumping onboard by adopting her better food habits. Now C has a beautiful radiance to her, that was so lacking a few months back. Her body is getting strong through yoga and strength training. I am so thrilled- like a proud mama.

Dessert is still such a want not only for C, for many that are on a path to better eating. When I first started C's transformation, we did away with dessert taking realistic baby steps. She went from eating rich desserts laden with refined sugars to Vitalicious Muffin Tops. I felt however that she was ready to make even better sweet choices and have fun making her own treats. So yesterday we made raw, vegan Cocoa Crunch Balls. This recipe is so simple and so yummy!! They are great to eat when looking to satiate that craving for something sweet after lunch or dinner.  I love them with a cup of tea or with almond milk warmed with a few drops of vanilla cream stevia and cinnamon. Divine! I urge you to try making these yourself. You will not be disappointed.  xo ginny

Cocoa Crunch Balls
2 cups raw unsalted almonds (sprouted- soak in water for 6 hours to overnight)
1 1/2 tsp sea salt or to taste
2 vanilla bean innards, scraped
1 1/2 cups pitted dates
3/4 organic cocoa powder
1 tbsp agave syrup or to taste
1/4 cup brown rice crispies (optional)

1. Chop/blend in a food processor until all ingredients are finely chopped and makes a thick 'paste'
2. Roll into small balls and put into small paper dessert cups (optional- roll balls in organic shredded coconut or cinnamon!)
3. Enjoy!

Keeps in the refrigerator for about 6 days or 3 months in freezer.