changing views

I think awhile back I blogged on watching Food Inc with my husband and two younger sons, Mark and Kevin. My youngest son Kevin watched it took it in, asked some questions and went about life. So it seemed did Mark. When Food Inc was over he said it wouldn't really be realistic to think you can only eat grass fed, organic beef because that would rule out 5 Guys. I was surprised that was the first thing he had to say after such an intense film. He added that I was on a guilt trip with them. The knowledge had been given to them take it as they may. The next day I was alone with Mark and once again I asked after sleeping on it did he have any more thoughts on the movie. He said yes he had gleaned some awareness and did not really say more than that. Shortly after that we were in Fresh Market when the meat counter attendant told us they use Factory Farmed beef only and it was loaded with antibiotics. Perhaps that added more fuel for thought. (last week by the way while I was there I went back to the counter and asked the big question...why aren't you carrying grass fed???? The answer no surprise is that they tried to carry grass fed and no one wanted to spend the extra money for it guess people don't get it yet you pay for it and more later in health care)

Interesting thing is that last week I served the boys and my husband a simple meal of turkey burgers. Mark said he didn't want it, he wanted to begin playing around with vegetarianism. At first I thought it was just a ploy not to eat the turkey burger, not his favorite thing. After disregarding him for a few days I realized he is truly serious. He makes it very clear it is not about the animals, but about his health. I respect his opinion and thoughts immensely and am so grateful no matter what his reasons to see once again knowledge is power.

Today is the first day of spring, renewal and new paths open for us. I am so glad of the path Mark is trying on. xo ginny

knowledge is key

Interesting, I am once again contemplating going vegetarian and giving up the fish I eat. I guess for me that struggle is the same one people struggle with when they give up meat and poultry. For me these were never part of my everyday world. They have always been a foreign thing to eat. I have impatience with those that eat meat without taking the responsibility of knowing the animals' situation and basing their decision without that knowledge. Am I any better though since I still love and consume fish? I don't feel any connection to these creatures but does that mean it is ok to eat them?

Oprah had a great show on last week about eating organic whole foods. Michael Pollen was interviewed and he does still eat animal flesh, but with extreme care. He knows well the source. I believe that is the first step...knowledge but I do believe within the next generation there will be a huge reversal from the 200 pds of beef the average American eats compared with the pound and a half of asparagus the typical American eats. Lets start that process. Eat more greens, if you eat beef make sure it is USDA organic which means it has no added hormones and pesticides. Eat only grass fed. Open your eyes and take control. Yes, it is more expensive in the short term but long term healthcare will be much cheaper. xo ginny

ginnybakes

Wow, a few months back I decided I wanted to create an organic line of bake mixes. I had tried some and knew I could do better. I wanted people to seek out great tasting bake mixes that are an alternative to the ones lining the grocery shelves.

My husband said no way, my marketer Annhy said cool...different responses but all have been supportive once they saw I meant it. Being an aries is one of those things you learn to grow into. We don't necessarily know limitations, but rather dream away. In this case the beginning of a dream is coming true. I don't know exactly the next step from the kitchen table to hopefully big production, but I believe in what I am doing. I love this life of passions and dreams even those moments when fear enters and doubts lodge in the middle of the night. I wake up and just push a little harder. Thank you for encouraging me with your comments and support without the feedback the road would be lonely. xo ginny

Brian's dinner

My husband has a trainer who truly is what a trainer should be all about. He takes such an interest in his clients and takes on their goals as his own. Through the past 6 months, my husband has been so impressed with Brian as well as his side interest; he is a true foodie and gourmet chef. We have been talking about getting together for awhile, Brian wanted to cook.

Friday night we got together at our house, with my friend and trainer Fabiana, as well as dear friends Marcelo and Juan Carlos. (Marcelo also works out with Fabiana) We were gathering between 7:30 and 8 this being a spanish crowd, with the exception of Steve and I, nobody showed before 8:30. Dinner didn't even start the cooking process before 9. Appetizers were long finished and the tapas plates from Brian just started appearing. We ate in the kitchen, sitting around the island. The wines were being drunk, laughter was very present and the intimacy of the kitchen was so perfect. We ate the main course at 11:30. Juan Carlos and Marcelo were laughing at Steve and I... the Americans eating on Argentinian time. We loved it. The night was perfect, shared with wonderful friends Marcelo and Juan Carlos and new friends too. My village is expanding and I love that. I love being open to befriending anyone that walks an intersecting path, who wishes well and laughs hard. Good cooking goes a long way too. Thanks Brian! xo ginny

Friendship

ginnybakes is a new product line from Mindful Organics. I am so excited about it. There are 4 varieties, Chocolate Chip Cherry Love, Blueberry Walnut Oatmeal Bliss, and 2 more that are created but are nameless at the moment...so exciting! I hope they truly take off as I really believe in them. The ingredients are organic and were well thought thru with taste and health always in the forefront of any item included. I have used multiple test audiences trying all the different prototypes along the way. This included school kids, business professionals, gym rats, and every friend I know. Strangers and friends alike all loved them. They are ready to hit the market! Like any start up though it takes a village, and my village entered my kitchen on Friday. It started when one friend was complaining she never sees me. I said if you want come over anytime Friday for a cup of tea, I will be home packaging ginnybakes. Well from there it grew. My friends, my mom, my niece all came to the rescue. Caroline (ginnybakes head baker, and my dear friend) and I took pictures. The pictures show womanhood and friendship at its best.

Thank you to my intimate village for answering the call when I needed you. xo ginny

Valentines Day

Here it is again the holiday of love.

I was engaged on Valentines Day as so many people are. 24 years ago today my husband asked me to marry him. He brought a picnic to the waters edge on Key Biscayne. The shrimp was frozen, the champagne perfect. He promised to adore and love me, told me he would gladly endure a lifetime of listening to me singing in my off tune way. That is love. Today I love him more than I did that day. Then he was a kid offering promises we both hoped would come through. We were still at a kind of crazy stage, racing home on Friday nights after working downtown all week, alcohol in our systems from happy hour. Not very mindful at all; just glad the week was done, weekend ahead.

I believed in him, crazy in love but no proven track record of how we would care for one another when difficult times came our way. We have now gone through the many turns both good and terrible that is life. We know we are each other's protector.

My husband has always made me feel safe he was grounded while I was the passionate one. I have grown in different directions and he always let me fly waiting with open arms. Now the years are marching forward and he has learned to open up so much. He wants to dance me around the kitchen floor, sit together dreaming of the future and reflecting on the past. I love new love, but better I love the feel of someone's hand in mine that has weathered a joint journey together. That knows my sounds, my smells, my fears and joys. Who knows what scares me, and what instantly makes me giggle. I love this man who tells me I am is world, and who I know is my home, my world. I love the fact that we worked so hard at what we have. Nothing intense and beautiful comes without its pains, just makes the sweet times sweeter.

Happy Valentines to all, and most especially to my gorgeous man. xo ginny

Having fun and appreciating the moments

Some days are just good ones and you know it. Mine started a little hectic but in control. Kissed my husband goodbye at 4 am, (boys ski trip), got the lovely Miss Bear her breakfast and walk, got the kids off to school and loaded the car with goodies for The Workout Spot in Coconut Grove, where Mindful Nutrients are being displayed. Shakes, cookies (all organic delicious-more on that soon...) and fresh fruit salad. Got some exercise, gym was a lot of fun, buzz of friendly voices, kind of the feeling like the old show, Cheers, just in a gym instead of a bar. Next went to Emena Spa where Mindful also is. Beautiful organic spa and I love Christina the owner. Low key, adorable and just plain nice. I love being around other women who are also creating dreams. I wake up so excited every day thinking of how lucky I am to be living my life. I am having just so much fun!

Best part of the day though was when I took Kevin , my baby, to get his restricted drivers license. We decided 8 out of ten people who entered were sent away. The documentation needed at this point is incredible. We were one of the lucky ones and Kevin walked out with that prized possession... The Learners permit! He of course wanted to drive immediately and a few grey hairs later on a rush hour friday afternoon we are safely home. Safe til the next drive...

and yet I think I was as excited as he was, still remember the feeling of independence heading my way. To women, to passions, to learners permits, to hopefully not too many grey hairs. Have a beautiful, passionate weekend. xo ginny

alternative care

This morning I went to see Karen Levy, a homepathic doctor, who was giving a talk to Mom's, explaining her role as a homeopathic.

What she had to say made so much sense, preventative care is the way to go and she offers alternatives to antibiotics except in extreme cases such as strep. She listens to a patients' words down to asking them the sensations, locations and pain levels of a headache. She is not interested in hearing only that someone has one. A homeopathic, is trained to be an excellent listener, with the time and patience to care for each of their patients as individuals, not as an insurance number. See a homeopath, check out alternative care. It is cutting edge and the way of the future when we all understand we are our own keepers, we are the only one who can truly tune into our own systen.

For me I use a wonderful accupuncturist once a week every week for about 4 months a year. After the 2nd year, she mentioned I seem to have a disturbance in my sleep at the same time each year. She noticed from taking the time to review my chart and spending time really attentive to my words and body. At first I laughed it off. Not anymore. I learned from listening and accepting my body as a beautiful piece of machinery, that it needs tune ups and maintenance and most of all honor bestowed upon it to function optimally. My body does not make the daylight savings time change. My rhythms get off, and terrible insomnia used to set in. Before I discovered accupunture I was a miserable night owl for long periods. I started With Dr. Chen, after a visit to my internist. I explained my sleep issue and I thought made very clear I was not into sleep medications. His only offer was take them just for a few months, and out the door he walked. Guess what... I walked through that door a few minutes later and never looked back. I need someone to take the time to truly want to prevent and heal. No bandaid treatments for me. xo ginny

yoga

I am not sure why but my yoga has been off a bit lately. I have not been putting in the time it deserves. Yoga is a gift to the body but with anything else when you don't use it you lose it. I have been in the gym, spinning, running etc but a recent IT band problem is keeping me side lined on the running. I am one of those people that truly needs to exercise. Kind of lost without it. At one point for nearly 7 years I did yoga religiously from 8:30- 10 everyday. The first year and a 1/2 was magical, a deep departure from the rest of the day as a wife and mom. I was just a yogi doing her thing. It wasn't where my usual group of friends would ever be. I loved that aspect of it...it was my oasis, hideaway. It was a place where we had a pretty crazy, but brilliant guru who back then was called Hanuman. He is back to being Wayne now. He taught me two of the most valuable lessons I carry with me. Respond do not react and It's not about you. They sound so simple but when you really delve into them and start to use them and teach them to those closest to you they are a gift of wisdom you constantly reach for. I ran into Wayne on the last day of the year in the morning after not seeing him for many years, I felt it was a gift, a reminder of where I need to be. For me yoga keeps me balanced, happy, calm and strong in mind and spirit. Sunday morning found me in a most beautiful class. It was not as tough as I usually want and I embraced that instead of fighting it. I felt myself growing longer as my muscles were feeling the stretch, I felt my mind working through thoughts and being calmer as each moment passed. I felt such gratitude to be there. Thank you to my old guru for walking into my path at the correct moment. xo ginny

life is good if we live it with possibility

2010-always so exciting the start of a new year. So many possibilities...do we enter it with a plan or do we just drift through it hoping it turns out well. Or perhaps you don't give any thought to it at all? For me just like my birthday it becomes a spiritual day. I am not really concerned with the numbers thank goodness for me, I generally seriously cannot remember how old I am. I have decided to remain 34. I feel it, like the number and so there I will stay til I really have to move on. On the day of new years eve I like to go for a walk alone along the beach to end out my thoughts of one year and welcome in the goals, dreams and plans of the next. Sometimes I can fix something that I wish were different, sometimes the best path for me which is not my natural way of being is just to let things flow for a bit more. I do the same thing on my birthday. On both occasions I take out my journal for this is the time of serious life thoughts and there is nothing like putting thoughts to paper. They become so much clearer somehow. I have done all of the above.

My chicago boy is back at school, where I worry that he might freeze to death. I worry about other things too this is just the top of the list today. My oldest Scott is back from Spain and I now feel like Orlando is in my backyard. Everything is relative of course. He is moving into a new apartment, I must have polled everyone in my life... should I go to Orlando with him and his apartment mate or let them do it on his/their own. I don't know what got into me it was as if the test of motherhood was on the line. Interesting though is that the poll survey came down by gender line. All my male friends, including family, thought I was micro managing and told me to get a grip. My female friends all thought it was probably a good idea to make up the beds and set up the kitchen. I truly couldn't read what my son wanted me to do. For a couple of days there I wasn't sure where I was going when. Common wisdom came with Scott's roomate Michael. I of course polled him as soon as he drove in . His response? Mrs. Simon I am sure Scott and I can figure things out and if we can't we will find a way to. I think the last thing he wanted was a mom hanging out. Did I feel obsolete? No I was relieved my son and his roomate seemed so together. They are off on their own adventure...life is sweet and they can live on pizza for a couple of days...

Mark and Kevin are great, kev's broken thumb must just have been sprained (ski accident) Mark is waiting for his license next month I can't imagine- watch out Miami...(just kidding Mark... I think) The lovely Miss Bear has stitches from a cross country ski accident but is mending beautifully. Word seems to be out that one of my boys stabbed the other over the stealing of french fries. The stabber's identity shall remain private; til I write my book on raising 4 sons. He does seem quite embarassed. No stitches were needed on that injury. (maybe I should make them french fries once in a while so they don't kill each other over them. My husband? dreading turning older on a round birthday next month. I keep telling him he is better than ever. My kids think he has grown so much more immature the last 2 years-at times more like a kid than they are. He too is learning to let go enjoy the journey, reflect along the way. My in the guy box is growing loose and I love it. I should of course add in this newsletter, my adorable parents are still the same adorable people and have become my biggest fans. My mother says she takes her mindful nutrients at her bridge game so her friends see her and ask what she is taking. She is a great business promoter. My father is definitely Mindful's most strong advocate isn't it incredible when you get blessed with a father that thinks you are the most perfect creation walking the earth? I only hope I have given my kids half the confidence he has given me. Goodbye for tonight my friends. Thanks for letting me ramble. xo ginny

Mindful Organics my new baby still taking baby steps. Goals and dreams are in place bring on 2010. May it be filled with grace, dreams and goals. xoginny