Alicia Silverstone's Blog, page 37

Tennessee Riverkeeper Fights for Clean Water With Downstream Music Festival

On February 27th, David Whiteside and I will be co-hosting “Downstream” – a virtual concert benefiting Tennessee Riverkeeper.Downstream is a dream line-up of musicians, united by one thing – their love of clean water. 100% of donations collected through this incredible event will go directly to this wonderful organization. Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, the Cash Family, and so many other artists are donating unique performances to this exciting concert. Our friend, the beautiful, powerful and ever so talented Michael Franti will also be performing. These musicians and hosts are Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians who understand that clean water is a nonpartisan issue. We can all help unite our country by building a bridge over troubled waters. You can check out the full line-up below!

Tennessee Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to protect the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and their tributaries by enforcing environmental laws and educating the public.

The Tennessee River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States according to Erin Brockovich. Since the 1930s, the river has received more than its fair share of pollution from the Tennessee Valley Authority, an electric utility, as well as chemical factories, plastics, and a grim litany of other toxins. All life depends on clean water, especially humans as our bodies are comprised of more than 60% water. More than 6,300,000 citizens depend on this watershed for their drinking water.At a time of growing environmental degradation, it is of the utmost importance that all of humankind has access to clean water. Think about all the countless ways you interact with water every day – its presence in our lives is so ubiquitous that we can even take it for granted at times. But when we can’t access it, or it becomes unsafe, we feel the weight of its absence. Unfortunately, those who are enabling these toxins in our lives are powerful corporations and their lobbyists who exert their influence over our government and public officials, persuading them to make bad decisions that negatively impact our water, food, soil, and air. Riverkeeper stands up for your right to clean water, which takes resources, wisdom, and strategy. The organization’s staff members work hard around the clock. Defending your environment also requires the power of the people and the collective voice of all those who depend on our water planet for life. We need your support!This grassroots, citizen-supported organization works alongside the communities it serves to hold polluters accountable. The nonprofit organization was founded by David Whiteside in 2009. Whiteside has devoted more than 20 years of his life to fighting pollution and safeguarding communities. Despite being a small organization with a budget that pales in comparison to other environmental groups.

Tennessee Riverkeeper David Whiteside amongst the 1,700 pounds of trash removed from Browns Creek in Nashville. [Photo by Anthony Scarlati]

Whiteside founded some of the most successful Waterkeeper nonprofit organizations in the world, which prosecuted over 100,000 pollution violations while defending the drinking water for more than 8 million Americans.David’s passion and resilience over the years has inspired thousands of people to advocate for clean water in their own communities – including many leaders in the music and entertainment industry.– The organization has removed over 30,000 pounds of aquatic litter, mostly plastic, since 2018.– Riverkeeper defended the endangered spring pygmy sunfish and its habitat, and is working to conserve over 1,000 acres to try to establish more habitat for this beautiful, rare fish.– Tennessee Riverkeeper has addressed more than 45,563 pollution violations since 2009, often through legal actions against government and/or corporations.– Annually, Riverkeeper investigates more than 600 pollution permits and their pollution in our relentless pursuit to monitor and combat pollution.So check out the concert!!! Have fun … and maybe donate a dollar or two hundred depending on what you can do…every penny counts!– Alicia

Downstream Virtual Music Festival – Benefitting the Work of Tennessee Riverkeeper and Their Fight for Clean Water

On February 27th, David Whiteside and I will be co-hosting “Downstream” – a virtual concert benefiting Tennessee Riverkeeper.Downstream is a dream line-up of musicians, united by one thing – their love of clean water. 100% of donations collected through this incredible event will go directly to this wonderful organization. Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne, Brett Eldredge, Chris Janson, the Cash Family, and so many other artists are donating unique performances to this exciting concert. Our friend, the beautiful, powerful and ever so talented Michael Franti will also be performing. These musicians and hosts are Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians who understand that clean water is a nonpartisan issue. We can all help unite our country by building a bridge over troubled waters. You can check out the full line-up below!

Tennessee Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to protect the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers and their tributaries by enforcing environmental laws and educating the public.

The Tennessee River is one of the most polluted rivers in the United States according to Erin Brockovich. Since the 1930s, the river has received more than its fair share of pollution from the Tennessee Valley Authority, an electric utility, as well as chemical factories, plastics, and a grim litany of other toxins. All life depends on clean water, especially humans as our bodies are comprised of more than 60% water. More than 6,300,000 citizens depend on this watershed for their drinking water.At a time of growing environmental degradation, it is of the utmost importance that all of humankind has access to clean water. Think about all the countless ways you interact with water every day – its presence in our lives is so ubiquitous that we can even take it for granted at times. But when we can’t access it, or it becomes unsafe, we feel the weight of its absence. Unfortunately, those who are enabling these toxins in our lives are powerful corporations and their lobbyists who exert their influence over our government and public officials, persuading them to make bad decisions that negatively impact our water, food, soil, and air. Riverkeeper stands up for your right to clean water, which takes resources, wisdom, and strategy. The organization’s staff members work hard around the clock. Defending your environment also requires the power of the people and the collective voice of all those who depend on our water planet for life. We need your support!This grassroots, citizen-supported organization works alongside the communities it serves to hold polluters accountable. The nonprofit organization was founded by David Whiteside in 2009. Whiteside has devoted more than 20 years of his life to fighting pollution and safeguarding communities. Despite being a small organization with a budget that pales in comparison to other environmental groups.

Tennessee Riverkeeper David Whiteside amongst the 1,700 pounds of trash removed from Browns Creek in Nashville.

Whiteside founded some of the most successful Waterkeeper nonprofit organizations in the world, which prosecuted over 100,000 pollution violations while defending the drinking water for more than 8 million Americans.

David’s passion and resilience over the years has inspired thousands of people to advocate for clean water in their own communities – including many leaders in the music and entertainment industry.– The organization has removed over 30,000 pounds of aquatic litter, mostly plastic, since 2018.– Riverkeeper defended the endangered spring pygmy sunfish and its habitat, and is working to conserve over 1,000 acres to try to establish more habitat for this beautiful, rare fish.– Tennessee Riverkeeper has addressed more than 45,563 pollution violations since 2009, often through legal actions against government and/or corporations.– Annually, Riverkeeper investigates more than 600 pollution permits and their pollution in our relentless pursuit to monitor and combat pollution.So check out the concert!!! Have fun … and maybe donate a dollar or two hundred depending on what you can do…every penny counts!– Alicia

Child Care Help Wanted in March: Vancouver Kind Life Community

Child Care Help Wanted in March: Vancouver Kind Life Community!

 

Hello Kind Lifers,

 

Having built this wholesome community, I am now hoping to rely on the kindness of strangers within our network. In March I will be traveling to Vancouver for work and am looking for someone to assist with watching Bear. My hope is that one of our lovely readers may be someone who loves working with children and would be interested in the opportunity, or will know someone who would be.

 

If you have child care experience and are available in March, please email your resume and availability to thekindlife@gmail.com with the subject Vancouver Child Care for March.

 

Thank you, kind life family.

 

– Alicia

The 2021 Kind Life Valentine’s Day Guide

Love doesn’t cost a thing!

Quality time with loved ones is the most precious gift. A love letter is the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift and always has been! Really, what could be better than a deep meaningful letter by the one you love?

If you find yourself in the mood for some Valentine’s love – because we still are active participants in loving life and other people – perhaps this guide will inspire you to enjoy your festive holiday but with conscious, thoughtful, earth friendly, healthier gifts.

We still believe in loving and goodness and romance, right? Let’s celebrate love!

Want to go the totally no-waste route? Kids can make cards using recycled materials, and you can make a book of coupons (a massage, cleaning house – clothing optional – ha!) for your amour, make cookies from the kind diet, or put together a candlelight dinner – even a silent dinner with only laughter allowed could be fun and sexy.

Thinking flowers? Only organic will do, my love (more on that below!)  Please choose kind chocolate as well – so much of it is made from child labor and using ingredients that hurt people and animals. (Read: Is Your Chocolate Fair?) Review my favorite chocolate blog for the best chocolate ever.

If you don’t find anything you’re in love with on this guide, consider choosing vintage from The RealReal for lifelong keepsakes like jewelry & handbags that will last way past next year’s trend.  Take a peek at my holiday guide because it’s full of fun stuff you may have missed that would work so well for Valentine’s Day gifts too!

Also: see the bottom of this guide for wonderful charities to donate to in your sweeties name.

To love 🥂,

Alicia

Traditional flowers are flown from the nether regions of the earth, racking up quite a carbon footprint before they make their way to your sweetie.
Local, organic flowers are the healthiest choice for you and the environment. Find out where to get them here.

You can also look at these sites:

Organicbouquet.comCaliforniaorganicflowers.com

Thinking lingerie? You can find sustainably sexy pieces here:

Anekdot uses upcycled fabrics to craft their elegant lingerie looks. Brook There has cozy-looking sets made from organic cotton. Aikyou  has cute pieces made from Fair Trade Certified and organic cotton fabrics.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.. but only if they are sustainably lab grown or vintage. This is the perfect subtle bling, made responsibly!

Idyl Lab Grown Responsible Diamond Studs, $348 @idyl.com

Fewer dresses flow more beautifully than this vegan silk dress. It’s gorgeous on – I love this dress! Made from vegan silk, and the most perfect fit!

Ruth Dress, $199 @ohsevendays.com

This aikyou bra is fair trade certified, organic, and gorgeous.

MIA – triangle bra, €79 @aikyou.de

Love notes used to be chiseled into cave walls, now you can gift them a sweet recycled journal, perfect for waxing rhapsodically about your lover.  This gorgeous journal is made from 100% post consumer recycled paper.

Jellyfish Decomposition Book, $9 @decomposition.com

These glittering huggies are responsibly made, and the cornerstone of every great ear story. Ethical diamonds, responsible craftsmanship, and traceable 14k gold!

Ethical Diamond Huggie Earring, $368 @idyl.com

Gorgeously set the mood with this diffuser which will emit calming scents all over your home. Perfect for that essential oil zen!

Stone Diffuser, $119 @vitruvi.com

Made from AppleSkin: an innovative leather alternative with a high content of natural waste, from the skin and core apple waste of the food industry, this vegan red saddle bag will add such a POP to anything they put on. Plus – you’ll have a great story to tell anytime you wear it!

Iris Prima Linea – Apple Rosso Amore, €220 @miomojo.com

A treat beyond the usual box of chocolate – this chocolate superfood yumminess is made in LA, and women owned!    Vegan, raw, organic, goes well in coffee and smoothies!

Cacao Magic Superfoods, $28, @thephilosophie.com

Beautiful bath and body oils are always appreciated… even more so when they are kindly procured.

Ultimate Wellbeing Bath & Shower Oil Collection by Aromatherapy Associates, $99 @spacenk.com

If you want to buy something sweet and useful for V day, we love this reusable drinking cup!

Tronco 20oz Glass Tumbler Glass Water Bottle Straw Silicone Protective Sleeve Bamboo Lid – BPA Free, $15.99 @amazon.com

Rescue pets deserve a Valentine’s day treat!  For your four legged love, a recycled rubber ball.

ChuckIt! Recycled Remmy Ball Dog Toy, Medium $5 @amazon.com

This rose gold bottle stays cold forever, and really elevates their water drinking game.

Rose Gold Drinking Bottle, 38.90€/ $47.96 @24bottles.com

For the sweet chef in your life, a pan that looks as good as it works. Why clutter up their kitchen space with ugly gadgets when museum quality pretty pans exist?!

Always Pan, $145 @fromourplace.com

Okay, it’s not lingerie – but it’s so pretty and practical! These organic pj’s are perfect for letting her sleep in on Valentine’s Day morning.  I love this cozy, organic PJ set, Mate The Label, (top/bottom sold separately.)

Purchase top here, bottom here. You can use code Alicia20 on anything from Mate The Label!

Drizzle a dollop of this delicious olive oil on ANYTHING to make it taste special. This gift basket would make most foodies squeal with delight! This is the yummiest California olive oil.

Nuvo, $64.99 @nuvooliveoil.com

A monthly wine membership will make them think of you, fondly and boozily, for 12 months a year! These offerings from Winc are are proudly sustainable from bottling process to eco-friendly production and shipping methods. They are also vegan and made with sustainably farmed organic grapes – grown without pesticides.

Winc Wine Of The Month Club (Choose Vegan), $60 and up @winc.com

Each Bottle sold of this delish rose donates a portion of proceeds to benefit Love Leo Rescue to help save Animals in need in Los Angeles, California. Love Leo is a non profit 501c3 that saves thousands of dogs and helps them find forever homes.

Rescue Rose, $25 @rescuerose.com

A chic swiss army knife for the modern lass or fellow is useful for everything from opening bottles of wine to tinkering in the garden.

Brushed Copper Swiss Army, $109 @etsy.com

These lovely wooden cards are made in the USA from sustainably-harvested birch wood, and 100% biodegradable!

Wooden Love Card, $6 @nightowlpapergoods.com

These handmade kids Valentines day cards are biodegradable and embedded with plantable seed hearts, which make them so much more meaningful and conscious than the usual mass kiddie school cards.

Plantable Valentine’s Card, 25 cards for $31 @etsy.com

Consider a donation in their name printed out and tucked into to your Valentine’s Day Card!

Nonprofits I suggest:

Contribute to ending animal cruelty and a kinder planet  – Animal EqualitySponsor a rescued farm animal – Farm SanctuaryFund solar energy in your community – RE-volv Help refugee children receive the resources they deserve – MercyCorpsEducate high school and middle school students on ethical food choices – Ethical Choices Program80% of the orangutan population has been lost in the past 75 years mainly as a result of mass deforestation. Help orangutans and their habitat – Orangutan Foundation InternationalHelp conserve and protect our oceans wildlife – Sea ShepherdGive the gift of clean and safe drinking water – Charity: Water

All products featured on TKL are independently selected by Alicia. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Header Photo by Secret Garden on Pexel.

mykind’s Newest Immunity Building Brilliance

Immune health and wellness are now more important than ever! When you choose plants, you equip your body with what it needs to protect yourself from disease. Plants not only help to actively quell inflammation (meat and dairy fuel it), but they also help regulate your immune system, too!

With cold and flu season upon us, I am proud to introduce our new Immune Syrups – Elderberry & Sleep and Cough & Mucus. Both syrups contain Black Elderberry, Vitamin C and Zinc, which promote immune support. Why do I love Black Elderberry so much? Because it works! Black Elderberry is known to reduce colds, sinus infections and helps to prevent the flu. Historically, its use dates all the way back to ancient Egypt, and it’s one of the only herbal remedies that has been used in Asian, European and Native American medicine. These civilizations used it for centuries for immune health! But like other herbs I love – there is modern science backing Black Elderberry too. The syrups are available in both Adult and Kid formulas (recommended for children ages 4 and older) to help the entire family feel their best.

Our new Elderberry & Sleep Syrup combines organic bedtime herbs to promote sleep with our Elderberry Syrup which provides immune support. This syrup is really cool, because we all know how frustrating it is when we (or especially our kids) can’t sleep, and we need it the most during immune challenges. Great sleep is so important to let the body, brain and spirit heal. We combined Black Elderberry with Organic Lemon Balm, Valerian and Chamomile, which helps calm the nerves, promote relaxation and reduce anxiety, therefore promoting good sleep. Sufficient sleep is something we all need in order to recharge our batteries and most certainly when we are fighting immune challenges.

Also check out our mykind Organics Herbal Sleep Spray and Tablets too, which are amazing to help you get the deep rest you need naturally.

Our new Cough & Mucus Syrup soothes everyday throat irritations while helping to clear mucus when coughing. It is not full of honey or other sugary syrups that coat your throat, but don’t really bring lasting relief. I don’t want sugar in my body when I am trying to heal, it is not helpful. Our recipe combines organic peppermint oil with organic rosemary leaf extract to soothe, and organic tapioca fiber syrup which coats. Along with Organic Elderberry, Echinacea, Rosemary, Acerola Cherry and Guava for added immune system support, as well as Organic Ivy Leaf to help loosen and clear mucus. Organic Ivy Leaf, a traditional herb used in Asia and Europe for centuries has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that act as an expectorant for coughs and helps reduce inflammation.

Let me tell you more…

See and shop the complete mykind range here

10 Ways For Kids To Be Of Service

Most children are too young to volunteer at brick-and-mortar nonprofit offices, which is a shame since they are often more passionate than adults. Still, there are ways to get kids started on their path towards activism, and many start at home with just their imagination and a few supplies!

My young son, Bear, has done so much activism on his own. He started a stand at our community farmers’ market selling local oranges when he was quite small. He made an adorable messed up sign, used orange crates, and then donated the money he earned — his idea — to Farm Sanctuary. When I was shooting “Sister Of The Groom” in the Hamptons, he was upset by people fishing on the beach, so he made a lemonade stand and sold snacks, and raised $60 (well, it was the Hamptons after all!) and donated it all to Sea Shepherd! Bear asks to volunteer at Gentle Barn all the time. The amazing thing is his young, compassionate heart enacted these ideas entirely on his own. Bear is also happy to sort through his possessions and donate items to kids in need. He routinely cleans beaches wherever we go, on his own accord. I’m always so inspired when I see him on a mission. Here are some easy tips to help get you and your kiddos making a difference together.

1. Cause Clothing! Kids can be share their message (of kindness, eco-consciousness, animal rights, etc) easily on their sleeves. Wearing clothing with messages are a real conversation starter and allows kids to preach to their cohorts naturally. Every nonprofit sells message clothing, but kids could also make their own using fabric pens, tie-dye, or collage.

2. Love Rocks! Paint a rock with a message of inspiration and leave it on a neighbor’s doorstep or in your local town or woods for someone to stumble across. This works as both craft and service.

3. Toy Story! Have your child go through their toys and clothes and see what they are willing to donate to a local women and children’s shelter. Hand them a box and deliver the box together. You can also use givebackbox to mail them in.

4. Discount Time! Scour your local farmer’s market or supermarket together for foodstuffs on special/ sale, and stock them up to deliver to your local food pantry.

5. Garbage Girl! Take a nature walk with a biodegradable garbage bag and pick up trash on the way.

6. Foster Friends! Foster an animal for your local rescue group (they can all be easily found on petfinder or adoptapet) and let your child participate in the exciting part of rehoming and looking forward to who is coming next as your foster mission continues.

7. Senior Sweetness! If your child doesn’t have a Grandparent, consider having them “adopt a senior” at a local nursing home. Although covid restrictions won’t allow them to visit, they can surely send beautiful drawings and crafts over.

8. Peace, Man! In the same vein, create a poster, sign, or piece of art that sends a message of equality, and hang it where it can be seen near your home.

9. Postcard Play! Make a stack of postcards and mail them to your local legislator encouraging them to pass bills that better protect animals or the environment.

10. Muffin Madness! Bake a tray of muffins or pick up a vat of coffee together, and deliver them to your local police station, school, or hospital to thank them for their service and dedication.

No good deed is too small to improve our communities. Any long journey starts with a single step!

Photo by Nicole Adams on Unsplash

Braised Daikon in Mirin and Shoyu

This dish smells ridiculously good and should be eaten relatively soon after it is prepared. It was inspired by John Medeski—of the amazing musical trio Medeski, Martin, and Wood—a wine connoisseur and foodie.

SERVES 5 OR 3

large daikon (roughly 1 pound but size doesn’t really matter)tablespoons shoyu1⁄4 cup mirin2″–3″ strip kombu

Slice the daikon into 3⁄4″ rounds, and place them in a skillet in a single layer. Add water almost to cover the daikon. Add the shoyu, mirin, and kombu. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to very low, cover the pan, and simmer the daikon for 30 minutes, or until all liquid has been absorbed.

Excerpt from THE KIND DIET; A SIMPLE GUIDE TO FEELING GREAT, LOSING WEIGHT, AND SAVING THE PLANET.  Copyright © 2009 by Alicia Silverstone. Published by Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

 

10 Simple Ways To Improve Your Parenting

Tired of resolutions? Here are 10 easy ways to improve your parenting, no resolutions necessary. Put these on your fridge and read them daily. I guarantee you less drama and more love!

1. Empathize more.

Children don’t always need to get their way, but they do need to feel understood. Isn’t that what we all need?

Whatever your child says or does, she has a reason. Even while setting limits, try acknowledging that reason. Instead of “Turn that screen off right now!” try “You really wish you could keep watching, I know. And still, it’s time for dinner. Say ‘Goodbye Screen.’ Okay, let’s go.”

2. Tell them what they CAN do, instead of what they can’t.

Instead of “Stop playing with the ball in the house!” try “Balls are for outside. Inside, you can throw the stuffed animals into the bathtub.”

3. Get them laughing every day.

Laughter changes the body chemistry, decreasing stress hormones so kids are more cooperative and sleep better. It also increases bonding hormones, so when you laugh with your child, you strengthen your relationship.

4. Say Yes more often.

We’re parents, so we have to set limits and say No, over and over all day long. So when you can say yes, say it. Even when you have to say no, can you say it with “Yes” energy? “YES, it’s time to clean up, and YES I will help you and YES we can leave your tower up and YES you can growl about it and YES if we hurry we can read an extra story and YES we can make this fun and YES I adore you and YES how did I get so lucky to be your parent? YES!”

5. Spend “special time” every day with each child.

If you want to strengthen and sweeten your relationship with your child, here’s your prescription. Just show up and pour your love into your child without controlling him. Parents often tell me that their children react to getting this one-on-one time “like they were missing an essential vitamin.” They were. Every child needs this tangible expression of your love.

6. Use your pause button to yell less.

How will they learn to regulate their emotions if we don’t regulate ours? You’re the role model. Your pause button:

Stop.Drop (your agenda, just for now.)Breathe.

Now, try a Do-Over: “Sorry, I was getting frustrated. Let’s try that again. I need you to work with me here. It’s time to go, and you aren’t ready. What do you need to do to be ready? Right! Let’s do it!”

7. Turn your screen off when you’re with your child.

Many children say their parents’ phone is the most important thing in the parent’s life. They’ll remember for the rest of your life that you prioritized them by turning your phone off when you were with them.

8. Go outside and move with your kids.

Research confirms what your grandmother said. Children really do need daily fresh air, greenery and movement to de-stress and be their best selves. In fact, we all do.

9. Allow emotions, limit behavior.

Of course you need to set limits. But when we allow emotions, children learn to manage them faster. Just say “You must be so upset to use that tone of voice. Tell me about it, Sweetie. We can figure this out together.”  Your child will start calming down before your eyes.

10. Put yourself back on the list.

You can only be emotionally generous if you take care of you. I know, that’s tough, but it isn’t sustainable to leave yourself off the list. Start by getting enough sleep and talking to yourself like someone you love. Monitor your well-being as you go through your day. Every day, do something that increases your level of joy. You’ll see your good mood rub off on your child.

Dr. Laura Markham is founder of AhaParenting.com and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings and her latest book, the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook.

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

Nabeyaki Udon

This is a traditional Japanese dish that is generally cooked in an earthenware or iron pot. This dish is so full of noodles and vegetables that it’s pretty much a complete meal as is, but if you want more protein, add some tofu cubes to the simmering broth or serve a protein on the side. Either way, this dish is light, fresh, and satisfying. The shiitake mushroom soaking water gives the broth a deep flavor.

Nabeyaki Udon

SERVES 5

Sauce

2–4 teaspoons shoyu3–4 tablespoons water or soaking water from shiitake mushroom5–8 drops ginger juice (grate a 1″ piece of ginger and squeeze out the juice with your fingers)1⁄2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or rice vinegar

Udon

1 carrot, cut into bite-size pieces1 stalk broccoli, cut into bite-size piecesleek, white and green parts, cleaned and cut into large bite-size piecesbok choy leaves, cut into bite-size pieces, or 1 baby bok choy1 handful bean sprouts2–3 napa cabbage leaves or collards, roughly chopped4–6 dandelion greens, roughly chopped1 (8-ounce) package udon noodles1″ piece kombu1 dried shiitake mushroom1 tablespoon maitake mushrooms

Place the shiitake and maitake mushrooms in a small bowl with water to cover. Soak for 30 minutes or until softened. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the noodles. Stir together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Arrange all the vegetables on a plate near your stove. Remove the mushrooms from their soaking liquid, reserving the liquid. Slice and add to the plate with the vegetables.

Cook the noodles in the boiling water until just al dente; drain and set aside.

In a nabe or ceramic pot that is safe for use on the stovetop (if you don’t have one, you can use a regular pot), bring 2 to 3 cups water and the mushroom soaking liquid to a boil. Add the kombu and mushrooms and lower the heat so the water is simmering. Begin adding the vegetables one at a time, starting with the carrots and other vegetables that take longer to cook. Most of the vegetables shouldn’t take longer than 2 minutes to cook. You want them fresh and light, not mushy or overcooked.

Bring the nabe pot to the table. Give each person 3 bowls: 1 for their noodles, 1 for their nabe vegetables, and 1 small bowl for their dipping sauce. Everyone takes from the big nabe pot, dipping their vegetables and noodles in the dipping sauce as desired. The whole meal is pretty and fun and healing.

Make sure to drink the vegetable broth at the end. It has a very subtle flavor and all the goodness of the vegetables that cooked in it.

Variations:

You can lay fried mochi on top of the vegetables and garnish with toasted nori pieces and scallions! If you feel particularly ambitious, serve topped with a few pieces of Vegetable Tempura (page 274 of THE KIND DIET; A SIMPLE GUIDE TO FEELING GREAT, LOSING WEIGHT, AND SAVING THE PLANET).

Excerpt from THE KIND DIET; A SIMPLE GUIDE TO FEELING GREAT, LOSING WEIGHT, AND SAVING THE PLANET.  Copyright © 2009 by Alicia Silverstone. Published by Rodale Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

How to Set Life-Changing Resolutions and Goals (that you’ll actually keep)

It’s FINALLY 2021, the new year we’ve all been pining away for amidst the uncertainty and difficulties of 2020. Which is why now is the perfect time to begin shaping the lives we truly want through the power of intentional goal setting or “resolutions.”

However, our success in making these dreams a reality relies heavily on how we go about setting and sticking to our resolutions (emphasis on the latter). We have had some experience in this regard, both when it comes to setting and keeping business goals and achieving our own health goals. While we have a thriving business today, Branch Basics almost failed a few years ago, and picking ourselves back up after that took some real work. Likewise, we have had to overcome serious health problems that modern medicine couldn’t solve.

I (Marilee) was told I would need to have a kidney transplant, which I avoided by removing food with harmful chemicals from my diet and using food as medicine. My son suffered a life-altering pesticide injury, and only recovered after we used nutrition and removed harmful chemicals from our home. And Allison, who in her sophomore year in college, was suddenly riddled with mysterious pain and neurological symptoms. She sought help from doctors all over the country for two years to no avail. After two months of living in our home without harmful chemicals and eating food as medicine she had resolution of symptoms and went on to heal her PCOS and fertility issues. Today she has two healthy babies!

The point is: incredible things can come out of seemingly disastrous  circumstances if we’re specific and intentional about how we set goals and resolutions. Here’s what we’ve learned works for setting, maintaining, and achieving your most important goals, intentions, and resolutions.

Become truly inspired before committing to any big change

As a certified nutritionist and building materials specialist, I have counseled thousands of people on how to improve their health, overcome chronic disease, and create healthier homes. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned about transforming your health it’s this: if you aren’t inspired, truly inspired about why you’re making changes to your diet, lifestyle, home, etc. you will not continue with these changes long-term…and…no one else can be inspired for YOU.

How do you become truly inspired? Through on-going education, specific action, and the experience of real results which creates empowerment. For example, when we take people through the process of #TossTheToxins to create a healthier home, the first thing we do is provide education on why you’d want to throw out all your standard cleaning products. Then we provide the steps and tools to help you take action (empowerment), and the results happen quickly thereafter. It’s really amazing! Same goes if you plan on changing your diet. First you need to know why you’d do this, then what steps you’d take (eliminating processed sugar, removing foods with harmful chemicals and inflammatory fats,  drinking more water, etc.) to start seeing short-term and long-term results.

Bottom line: don’t set a goal or intention unless you’re thoroughly inspired by it. Everything else will follow.

Write down your goals daily

The world’s best goal-setting experts will tell you a goal, dream, intention, etc. doesn’t truly become real until you write it down. We’d recommend going a step further by writing it down every day using positive language and including your “why.” For example, if you want to adopt a more positive outlook on life and stress less you may write that down as: “I want to start focusing on the positive side of life so I can feel stronger and more present in my mind, more confident in my body, and have more emotional freedom and energy.” In other words, be specific and be kind to yourself…no put-downs!

This could mean writing the same thing over and over, or taking a few intentional minutes at the end of the day to journal about your progress, set-backs, realizations, etc. This way, you keep yourself accountable and actively immersed in creating the life, business, family, etc. you want.

Have a long-term goal? Break it up into manageable pieces

Big goals, like losing 50 pounds, starting a business, or transforming your health are very worthy and impressive pursuits…and they can get overwhelming very fast! That’s when you want to break a goal into manageable pieces, or categories.

Again, we’ll use #TossTheToxins as an example. Instead of having you round up every possible chemical-containing item in your home (a daunting task for anyone!), we recommend taking it category by category starting with pesticides, laundry and cleaning products. This approach takes the overwhelm out of the process and gives you the satisfaction of accomplishing a goal-within-your-goal which builds confidence and motivation.

When making health goals, focus on what you can have. This is super important when it comes to things like getting off of refined sugar or processed foods. If you only focus on what you can’t have things can feel very negative and limited quickly. Instead, take the time to educate yourself on what you can have. Getting off sugar? Then be sure to have unrefined natural sweeteners, like coconut sugar or stevia, handy. Going gluten-free? Then be ready with a healthy gluten-free flour mix, bread alternatives, and other GF items to replace your typical favorites. Getting the kids off processed foods? Then check out our Ultimate Healthy Snacks Guide or 37 Real Food Snacks for At-Home Learning for a much smoother transition…you get the idea.

Have a plan for slip ups and setbacks

Thomas Edison may have said it best: “I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” In other words: we can’t expect to achieve anything meaningful in life if we aren’t willing to try, to fail, and to try again. I mean, have you ever watched a baby teach itself to walk or to crawl? If we all gave up the first time we did a face plant the entire human race would be immobile! This example also serves as a great reminder that we are born to persevere. So, if and when you do have a slip up or setback it’s a good idea to have a plan in place to get yourself back on track.

Let’s say you make a resolution to reduce your family’s screen time by turning off devices 5PM and taking a “digital sabbath” on Sundays. Everything is going relatively well when suddenly everyone comes down with the flu (including you!) and screens are back with a vengeance. A damage-control plan in this case could be giving yourself some grace and waiting until everyone is feeling better before re-implementing the new rules. Remember, keep your eye on the long-term goal and not the short-term set-backs.

Buddy up

It’s tough to make big changes by yourself, especially if others aren’t aligned with your goals and ideals. That’s why it’s so helpful to recruit a friend or relative as an accountability buddy. Research from Brown University has shown that people are far more successful losing weight, for example, when they partnered up with another like-minded individual.1 Social media is wonderful for this as there are endless support groups for nearly any type of goal, ambition, or intention you have in mind. Plus, with pandemic restrictions being what they are, online connections can be a God-send for keeping you accountable, connected, and inspired.

Our Instagram page (@BranchBasics) has grown into an excellent source of inspiration and education for thousands, and we ourselves are constantly learning new things about healthy living, cooking, cleaning, etc. from our creative and supportive community. Whatever groups you join or follow, just make sure the facilitators keep things as positive and uplifting as possible and enjoy the support.

Feed your inspiration…and inspire others!

Big goals take big effort, and even the most inspired person can become discouraged at times. The best remedy we’ve found for this is to feed your inspiration regularly. Here are three ways to accomplish this:

Continue your education—whatever you do, don’t stop learning about the goal you’re trying to achieve. Books, blogs, podcasts, success stories, documentaries, etc. are all excellent resources for this. Try to learn a little something new at least 3-5 times a week.Engage in community—by staying in touch with your accountability partner, support group, etc.And inspire others—by sharing your newfound knowledge, successes, and experience. As we inspire others we ourselves find renewed inspiration, endurance, and purpose.Need some new year’s resolution inspiration?

We’re spearheading a couple initiatives this year to help people create healthier homes and families.

The first is our #TossTheToxins Online Course. In this free course, Marilee will personally walk you through her step-by-step process for creating a healthier home by eliminating the most common and most toxic chemicals found in nearly every American home. We even provide you with a box and instructions for how to get rid of them safely and legally, and tips on what to replace them with. The modules are super quick, the process is easy, and the results are no less than life-changing for your health.

We’ll also be launching a #DigitalDetox community challenge with loads of helpful and inspiring education, tips and tools, and social support to help you reduce screen time even when working from home/learning virtually. So check out our Instagram page for updates on that.

You can do this!! Here’s to a happier and healthier new year for all!

Get 15% off all Branch Basics Starter Kits with code: Kindlife 

Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.  She is also the co-founder of Branch Basics.

Photo by Julia Caesar on Unsplash