Can you even stand it?!

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Blog your favorite quote

Lately I find myself scouring the net for inspirational quotes. Quotes that propell you through everyday life and give you a moment of reflection. A purpose for centering, of you will

babybe's facebook page has been a landing place for a few...

“A weed is no more than a flower in disguise, Which is seen through at once, if love give a man eyes”
James Russell Lowell

‎"You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight."
— Elizabeth Gilbert

a true soul mate is a mirror, a person who shows you everything that is holding you back...probably the most important person you'll ever meet, tear down your walls and smack you awake. Live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of ...control that you transform your life, reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
-Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

Always fall in with what you're asked to accept. Take what is given, and make it over your way. My aim in life has always been to hold my own with whatever's going. Not against: with.
-Robert Frost

Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up.
-Robert Frost

God long ago drew a circle in the sand exactly around the spot where you are standing right now. I was never not coming here. This was never not going to happen.

But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost

These quotes probably tell a story... a story that many of us know so well.
In the wake of loss, find the light within.

Elizabeth Gilbert's book, Eat,Pray,Love depicts loss and recovery in a way that speaks so intimately to many. I am blogging to yogini's, who have probably read, highlighted, and re-read this book. If you haven't, read it. and read it again.

Mojito Fruit Salad... YUM

Courtesy of vegetariantimes.com

Inspired by the Cuban cocktail, this breakfast brain booster is full of tropical flavor. Yogurt contains tyrosine, an amino acid that supports neuro-transmitters, resulting in improved communication between neurons. Ground flaxseeds are a rich, vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help improve memory. And papaya is a great source of vitamin C.

Ingredients
Serves 4

Mint Simple Syrup
1 cup packed fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 cup sugar

Fruit Salad
1 1/2 cups cubed fresh pineapple
1 1/2 cups cubed fresh papaya
2 kiwifruits, peeled, halved, and sliced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries or frozen, thawed
1 Tbs. lime juice
2 tsp. lime zest
2 cups vanilla low-fat yogurt or soy yogurt
2 Tbs. chopped fresh mint leaves
4 tsp. ground flaxseeds

Directions

1.To make Mint Simple Syrup: Bring mint, sugar, and 1 cup water to a boil in saucepan. Simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 15 minutes. Strain syrup, and discard mint leaves. Cool.
2.To make Fruit Salad: Toss pineapple, papaya, kiwifruits, blueberries, lime juice, lime zest, and 1/4 cup Mint Simple Syrup in large bowl (reserve remaining syrup to sweeten iced tea or coffee). Divide among 4 bowls. Top each serving with 1/2 cup yogurt, 11/2 tsp. mint, and 1 tsp. flaxseeds

I will be pouring this over some angel food cake tonight *wink wink*

Beach Wedding....

mmmmmm.... even as a big girl, I dream of my wedding someday

my love. my babies. beach. and of course, all the stuff that goes along with my dream.

The box that holds our rings


dress


toes


place cards


and a thank you

::Heaven in Upstate New York::

This is a piece of heaven that I want to share. There are State Parks that have capitalized on these beautiful beaches... but tucked behind Lakeview Wildlife Sanctuary is the most private, secluded (must walk or row a ways...) , and freeeee white sand beaches reminiscent of Florida beaches. No worries about hundreds of families converging into one area. Simply pack a lunch, hike or row in... and you are in paradise. Only 45 minutes from Syracuse, New York.




courtesy of the NYS DEC website:

Sandy Pond Beach Unique Area

Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area is a serene and relaxing area located in the town of Sandy Creek in the northwestern tip of Oswego County.

History
Sandy Pond Beach lies at the heart of a 17 mile long barrier system which stretches from the Salmon River north to Eldorado Beach along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario. In 1995, the New York State DEC, The Nature Conservancy, and The Friends of Sandy Pond Beach joined together to establish and manage the area for nature and people. Prior to that time, the beach was being compromised by improper usage and disturbance to the natural habitats.

Today, the area is being managed in order to preserve and restore the dunes, protect feeding, resting, and nesting habitats for migrating and breeding birds, and provide public access that is compatible with this fragile area.

Field Notes
Possessing outstanding environmental qualities, as well as spectacular scenery, Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area is an incredible asset to the community. There is over a mile of beach front and a walkover and walk through which allow access from t he North Sandy Pond Shore with the Lake Ontario shore line.

A bird sanctuary, located on the south side of the channel, provides critical nesting habitat for numerous rare and common birds. While this area is restricted to the public, many birds can still be observed from just a short distance away.

Sandy Pond Beach Natural Area, part of the barrier system, encompasses a diverse matrix of landscape including sand beach, coastal sand dunes, sand flats, marshes and wetlands that are highly unique in New York State. This dynamic system supports a mosaic of plant and animal communities, many of which are evident at Sandy Pond Beach.

Extremely secluded, this beach is best accessed by boat. The alternative is to park at neighboring Sandy Island Beach and walk. As this is seldom what visitors do, those who venture into this area experience a unique ecosystem.

***Stay Safe- Bring A Friend***

Directions:
Take NY I-81 to Exit 37 (the Sandy Creek/ Lacona exit). West off the ramp, on Oswego County Route 15 (Lake Road) to NY 3. Follow signs to Sandy Pond Beach.
Boat Access- Trailer your boat to one of the marinas located on NY 3 north of the Route 15 intersection, or west on County Route 15.

::babybe OM:: for your toddler

toddler offerings for the summer! be the change.

::INK + WIT's newest eco stamps::

for your child's....

room decor
birthday gift mama and child project wrapping paper
fun. fun. fun.

THESE are unique and amazing. Inspirational art.

INK + WIT also offers Artic Friends and Paris Friends stamp sets.

me oh my...hot mama

Myyyyyyy kinda bathingsuit! and so perfect for the beautiful mama figure.
Bravo La Drama Queen!

::Friends:: a kind reminder of what should be

“A friend is someone who helps you up when you're down, and if they can't, they lay down beside you and listen.”

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.”

“Best friends are the ones who can be the farthest away but there the fastest when you call.”

“Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends.”

Mama's Mopine

With the passing of my mama recently, I am always delighted when I come across something that was so dear to her and our family.


My mother never kept paper towels or napkins, only mopines. A mopine is an italian term for napkin, hand towel, or wash cloth.

The listing reads...
mopine (moh peen, with the long e). A mopine was a dish towel that my mama and her family always kept by the stove. You would never, and I mean never move that mopine on Sundays. If you moved that mopine off the counter, and accidentally used it for another purpose, or placed it in the hamper, she would say, "where isa my mopine???bringa back the mopine". Never mess with the woman's mopine. No, Sundays are not Sundays without her favorite mopine.

LOVE.IT. * I bought two *

::babybe Facebook Fan Contest!!!

babybe organics & yoga
babybe Fan Contest!!!! Become a fan, suggest to your friends, and post a comment to this post. Prize.... onesie and beanie of your choice along with the babybe blankie! The new onesie collection will be available Monday. SPREAD THE NEWS. Contest results will be posted Friday, May 21st! Be well. Oh and...if you ...are resposnsible for someone else becoming a fan = DOUBLE ENTRY.

Modern Day Romantic Love... or Hurt

For every one of you that ever feels frustration with your romantic love... this is the article for you.

Shambhala Sun | March 2010
You'll find this article on page 42 of the magazine.

MINDFUL LIVING: RELATIONSHIPS

Romantic Vision vs. Everyday Disappointment

Ode to Mamas

Ahhh... me and my mini me (p.s. my son, Shamus, refuses to take a picture with me! he's 10). She looks and acts like me (uh oh!). Tomorrow I will awake with my two babies and I am so thankful. Thankful for their health and for their happiness. In all that is life, there is so much to be thankful for.

We will go to where my mother rests peacefully tomorrow and say Happy Mother's Day for the first time with out her spirit on Earth. I bought her a hydrangea plant today, it looks just like the one she gave me last year for Mother's Day. She always honored me as a mother, that was the type of mother and woman she was.

Tomorrow is a day for honoring. Gifts are lovely... but tomorrow I am thankful. Thankful for gift of motherhood and having been blessed with having her in my life.

May the light shine upon you and within you. Jai Beghwan.

Spring on the babies!

I've noticed with the break in the weather the blossoming of flowers and the bellies of our expecting divine mamas! With so many expecting mama's, many of you maybe pondering what to get the modern mother...

Yummies


Try Vegan Green Tea Cupcakes from "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World"








The Earth Element...












Inspiration



Born Yogi's Gift book









Comfort



mama and baby massage oil by Aromatic Health









Practical



Yum bib by babybe

::Food Revolution::

This day I sit in the waiting room of St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, NY waiting to receive my step father after his emergency quadruple bypass surgery. The doctor described to us the journey of heart disease and how it begins early in life. In my step dad's case it began some 40 years ago.

I hear often about friends of friends and family finding out they have developed diabetes, or blood pressure is high, and how hard it is to lose weight.

WE MUST begin a new way of thinking. We must care for and maintain our temples, the most sacred possession we have. The one thing we cannot replace.

As parents, we must take responsibility for our children and help facilitate a healthy start for them.

... and, hey- I know I'm preaching to the choir....

Jamie Oliver deserves props for his passionate focus and incredibly difficult journey to change the very stubborn minds of the American public school lunch program.

Have you watched his show Food Revolution? A common discussion in society is our ever horizontally growing population with a specific concentration on our children.

This is an amazing opportunity for us to rally around each other and pressure our school systems to change. For the sake of our babies that we care so deeply for.

Sure I can pack my son's lunch, I make sure he has his whole wheat bread and Honest juice boxes. I am fortunate enough to be able to give him that nutrition. What about those children whose parents cannot afford $5 a pack organic juice?

It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a village to raise a child.

In the Organic Spirit

In the organic spirit of spring... I would love to share some organic tips and favorites!

greenrainbowshop.com offers the best organic and earth friendly spirited offerings for spring and Easter. Add some Eco-Dough to your baby bunny's Easter basket! Eco-dough is a molding dough handmade with flour, salt, cream of tartar, organic rosemary oil, vitamin E oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, potassium sorbate, citric acid, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes.
Whowww!!!
Conforms to ASTM D-4236. CPSIA compliant.
By eco-kids.


While food shopping today, I was excited to find some fruit that I'd forgotten with the winter snow. We all want so much to be able to provide 100% organic diet for our little ones. Organic fruits and veggies can be very expensive and lets face it, many of us find it difficult to buy EVERY fruit and veggie organic. Well, let me help lift some guilt off your perfect mama shoulders!

Here.... are the "Clean 15", lowest in pesticides
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato

You don't have to sweat buying these fruits and veggies not organic. Happy Spring!

Ayurveda and the Doshas

Courtesy of holisticonline.com

In Ayurvedic philosophy, the five elements combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces or interactions called doshas. Dosha means "that which changes." It is a word derived from the root dus, which is equivalent to the English prefix 'dys', such as in dysfunction, dystrophy, etc. In this sense, dosha can be regarded as a fault, mistake, error, or a transgression against the cosmic rhythm. The doshas are constantly moving in dynamic balance, one with the others. Doshas are required for the life to happen. In Ayurveda, dosha is also known as the governing principles as every living thing in nature is characterized by the dosha.

The three active doshas are called
Vata,
Pitta and Kapha.

We all carry characteristics of each of the doshas. You will find that you are predominately one over the other two.

Once you understand your dosha, you can understand how to keep in balance.

For example, I am predominately Pitta. When Pitta is out of balance these are some of the characteristics I might exhibit (don't be scared...)

Signs of Pitta Aggravation Angry, Irritable
Hostile, Enraged, Destructive
Impatient
Critical of self and others
Argumentative, Aggressive
Bossy, controlling
Frustrated, Willful, Reckless
Acidity, heartburn, Stomach ulcer
Fitful sleep, Disturbing dreams
Diarrhea, Food allergies
Bad breath, Sour body odor
Very sensitive to heat, Hot flashes
Skin rashes
Boils
Bloodshot eyes
Acne
Weakness due to low blood sugar
Fevers, Night sweats

Sound familiar to anyone? More importantly, how can I bring this back into balance?
I can follow the food plan that favors the Pitta Dosha.

And follow these simple guidelines; Do things that cool the mind, emotions, and body. Avoid conflicts. Cultivate the virtues of honesty, morality, kindness, generosity, and self-control.

Ode to Surrender

This quote popped up during one of my many facebook surfing sessions:

"Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable.”

Did you know this? Really know this? I guess it seems pretty obvious once read, but I wonder how many really live by this... I know it is a certain struggle for me. As the one of the many daughters of a generation of divorce, I imagine this is easier said than done. I suppose I am referring specifically to the vulnerable part.

Manipulation probably depends very much on your personality. However, over my short adult life (I am 30) I have observed a good portion of the population reacting to others.

Much of what I've observed is in effort to change (or manipulate, as the case may be) the environment to fit the need of the individual.

"Surrendering completely to love, be it human or divine, means giving up everything, including our own well-being or our ability to make decisions. It means loving in the deepest sense of the word. The truth is that we don't want to be saved in the way God has chosen; we want to keep absolute control over our every step, to be fully conscious of our decisions, to be capable of choosing the object of our devotion." - The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho

"If the opposition disarms, well and good. If it refuses to disarm, we shall disarm it ourselves." -Joseph Stalin (1879 - 1953)

And, ummmm how well does that work out? Not so much.

Om shanti.

Build A Nest buildanest.com

Find babybe products on buildanest.com
25% of proceeds go to the cause

Why Nest is Unique

“A man came to our community and offered to provide us with loans. It had high-interest and we could not afford it. He came and locked up our house while we were outside and would not let us in. We had to beg for help to pay off our loan before we could have our house again. With Nest loan, I have no fear.” - Lolita, Trichy, India -

Mission

Nest is a nonprofit organization that empowers female artists and artisans around the world. Using a unique combination of interest-free microfinance loans, mentoring from established designers, as well as a market in which to sell their crafts, Nest helps its loan recipients create successful small businesses. Nest instills pride of ownership, preserves ancient artistic traditions and successfully moves women from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Wholesome sweets for the most wholesome sweets in your life...

Vegan Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
courtesy of...cookiemadness.net)

1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour – spoon and sweep, don’t pack
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup natural type peanut butter (Jif would be fine too)
1/4 cup peanuts (salted is fine)
1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips or 1/3 cup chopped up good quality chocolate

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grind oats in processor. Add flour, baking soda and salt and pulse to mix.

Stir oil and both sugars together in a medium bowl. It’s okay to do this with a spoon – no need to pull out the electric mixer. Beat in applesauce, peanut butter and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips.

Using about 2 tablespoons of dough, form dough into balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake until edges are golden brown, about 12-14 minutes, Cool on sheets 5 minutes. Transfer to racks; cool completely. Cookies will firm up as they cool.

Makes about 6 cookies


NO BUTTER! Non-hydrogentated.... sweeten these cookies more with organic products. YUMMY!

Green Rainbow Shop

Simply Divine.... Green Rainbow Shop offers eco friendly products for your family and your home. Coming soon.... babybe will also be available through Green Rainbow!

In the words of Biggie Smalls... and if you don't know, now you know

As a vegetarian and yogini, I am often asked why I chose this path. The long and short answer for me is (well maybe not so short); I believe that you manifest through your actions. So, if I choose to nourish my body with that which has suffered, then that negativity will manifest in my body and my life.

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu May all beings be happy and free from suffering. With so many options as fortunate free citizens, why cause unnecessary suffering?

Among the spiritual and moral "Reasons" also dances around the basic nutrition information. Do you know that broccoli and asparagus, a couple of the many vegetable protein, have more protein than animal protein? Vegetables also are easier for the body to digest, allowing your body to benefit from the nourishment.

and.... to boot... your poop smells better!

Check out this GREAT article by Yoga Journal. It is fabulously educational.
The Roots of Vegetarianism

The Return

.... Well, I'm back. It has been 6 or so months since my last blog post. babybe's life was put on hold for a while to tend to my mother, for whom I have dedicated some of my previous posts. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer some 4 years ago. The cancer began to take her physical body fiercly in August of 2009.

I am sad to say that she was not able to win her fight... although it has brought me so many life lessons. As with all challenges that universe and mother earth commands, so comes the beauty of life. The beauty of the exposure of the purest form of love and emotion. The kind that I didn't know really existed until now. For that, I am thankful. I can only hope that each of you are able to experience that at some point in your journey.

Let this be the beginning of a new babybe journey.