Sometimes I get really tired of the current American attitude toward bodies.
I just got thrown off FaceBook.  Again.  For this image.

Go ahead.  Tell me there are perverts out there.  I know.  Trust me, I know.  But this isn't where they are getting their jollies.  On my personal FB site that is so locked down on privacy that only my friends can see my pics.

And let's talk about the fact this image was reported by friend.  Because... why?

Tell me this isn't an image of just joy and innocence.  

Happy Birthday to sweet twins!

Moroccan Preserved Lemons--YUM!

Okay, a friend posted this from the great blog,  Nourished Kitchen , about making Preserved Lemons... I had to make them.  And after a super fun trip toSaraga Grocery.. . in which my kids saw all sorts of foods they had never seen... (those are NOT potatoes)

and I took a ton of iphone pics...

and got new holy candles... 

well.. Let's just say my kitchen smells GREAT... and my hands are really soft.  :)... now I have to wait 3-4 weeks to eat them.

Easy to make, sea salt and lemons( and/or limes).

How freakin' pretty is that!

In which I rant again and also post a naked pic of myself.

So I recently posted on FB this :


Ok my friends. It is time to just stop this business and freaking LOVE our beautiful bodies already. It is breaking my heart the way we (I include myself) beat up and insult ourselves. Repeat after me... my body is strong and beautiful and sexy. Now everytime you say in your head, "I'm fat" replace it with that.
Start-- NOW


So people respond like crazy... I know some of my friends think it was aimed directly at them, and certainly I was thinking of some recent conversations I had with woman... But this is an old refrain.  We hate our bodies.  Too skinny, too fat, too flat , too big.... now I like working out, I like feeling strong and healthy.  and I'm all about goals for strength and good health and good endorphins.
But this self hate.  It is terrible.  It is tragic.  I know woman of every shape and size... and they use terrible, cruel heartless words on themselves.  Words they would never use on anyone else.


Now I'm going to tell you a secret.  I love my body.  I love my rounded tummy.  My I'vehad5kids breasts.  My unruly hair.  My yogabutt. My pretty feet.  My small wrists. My ugly, capable hands.  My strong dimpled thighs.  I love how I smell, both clean and dirty.  I love the c section scar that means my fifth baby didn't die.
I photograph myself nude all the time.  I am unafraid to show those images because as an artist, I can see that they are beautiful and interesting.
I love this body... but I am also afraid to.  Afraid that if I become comfortable and happy in my skin I will become complacent.  That I will get fat and lazy and ugly and not know because I'm happy.
Ok.  How sad and sick is that?
I have DAUGHTERS.  I have a responsibility to treat my self image with joy.  Not disgust.
It's time to change.  It's time to walk confidently in my skin.  I'm ready, even if every day I have to remind myself to push out the cruel thoughts and replace with kind.
It is time.

 The Today Show:(is on tv at the Y)
This morning had a show on how to be green.  Well, that's great... I mean who doesn't need suggestions for that?  I'm working out on the eliptical and I turn off my headphones and watch.
1. Adorable bangle bracelets made of Mango trees from Thailand!
2. Organic Toms!
3. bikinis made of recycled bottles!
4. more bracelets, this time made of hemp!
ooo ooo ooo!  So green!

Well, for Fuck's sake.  You have got to be kidding me.

Now I'm no perfect green mama, but I'm pretty sure the online ordering, packaging and shipping that would be entailed for those MangoTree bracelets negates the "greeness " of the mango trees.

Today Show, how about you actually give us some GOOD and USEFUL hints.
For instance, cook meals from scratch, don't tell me you don't have time, you do.
Buy non petroleum based laundry soap.  It's easy and yes, a little more expensive... but less $ than those hemp bracelets.
Don't buy all your clothes new.  There is no point.  Hit goodwill, consignment shops, etc... cheaper and reusing.
Cloth diapers.  Reusable water bottles.  Public transportation.  One car family.  Bicycle.  Smaller house.  Not poisons on your lawn.  Local grocery shopping.  Local shopping in general.  No big box stores. Garden. I mean... these are couple of things.  Turn off your lights, turn down the heat and up the AC (like do you enjoy your house at 68 degrees, really?  EW).
Ok  I know I sound pissy and snobby.  Lets make something clear... I could do so much more than I do... BUT...
going green is NOT about buying.  It's about changing the way we think... baby steps in what we have and do already.

Ok  Rant over.