Why Duck Eggs?

Posted: March 3, 2020March 3, 2020

Before Vince and I moved out of the city, we knew we were going to start a flock for fresh eggs. The decision to buy ducks instead of chickens was an easy one for us to make. With the primary drive being eggs not only for our consumption, but as a future product offering from our small farmstead, the Duck egg is simply superior. Let’s just jump right into it….

Why Duck Eggs are better than Chicken Eggs

I popped that infographic in for a quick summation, but I’m going to dive a little further into the details for the curious

More Nutritious

Duck eggs provide not only a higher ratio of healthy proteins and fats than chicken eggs, they are also (generally) much larger. They contain a higher yolk to white ratio. The weight of a single duck egg is typically 11% shell, 34% yolk, and 55% white, vs 10/32/58 in the average chicken egg. Don’t go saying yolks are bad for your cholesterol – it has been proven that dietary cholestoterol has very very little effect on blood cholesterol.

Duck eggs contain more necessary vitamins and minerals too – they boast a higher content of; Thiamin, riboflavin, B-6, Niacin, folate, b-12, vit A, Calcium, Iron, Magensium, Phosphorous, Zinc, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, and Selenium, and has a higher Omega 3 fatty acid content.

Click here for In depth nutrition data on Duck Eggs and In depth nutrition of chicken eggs

Better Tasting

Duck eggs are…eggier. Their higher yolk content leads to a richer, more creamy flavor. This is a pretty marginal difference, in my opinion – it is most noticeable in a side by side comparison of eggs cooked in the same manner.

Longer Lasting

Duck eggs have noticeably thicker shells (and harder to pierce membranes) than chickens. This is probably because they are water fowl, and are more likely to be exposed to wet areas – more protection from bacteria and contaminants penetrating the shell and damaging an embryo.

Because of this, duck eggs stay fresh longer

Those who are allergic to common chicken eggs are likely to be able to consume duck eggs without problem

This is obviously a try at your own risk type of thing – but many find it to be true. Those who are allergic to regular chicken eggs are most often allergic to certain proteins in the eggwhite, not the yolk. Duck eggs have many of the same proteins, but in (sometimes drastically) different ratios. Read more about egg allergens here

The inverse, however, may also be true – those who have no problem with chicken eggs may have an intolerance or allergy to the different protein contents or structure of duck and other types of eggs. I’ll go into my experience in the last section….

Our free range, organic duck eggs are now available for local purchase in limited quantities

Most of our ducks lay white eggs, though the Cayugas lay eggs ranging in color from black to very pale grey. Their sizes range from Large to Jumbo, and will come as a mixed bag unless otherwise available and requested. Contact us at LivengoodIntegratives@gmail.com to inquire about availability. Pickup or delivery may be available in Colorado Springs and Fremont county.

The eggs weren’t the only reason why we chose ducks over chickens

After doing our research, we came to find that ducks are friendlier to our goals in regenerative agriculture and a low interference approach to land and animals

Why Ducks are Better Farmstead Animals….

Hardier and Healthier

Ducks and their young withstand lower temperatures, as well as gloomier weather more readily than chickens do. Our ducks LOVE rain and snow.

Their disease and parasite resistance is stronger, likely due to the fact that they like to bathe frequently – lice and mites don’t like to be waterlogged. Ducks reportedly have a significantly lower average mortality rate, with a longer production life.

Less Maintenance

This may be a toss up, while I do have to fill their pond for them when we don’t have irrigation water coming through, that water that they muck up and poop in is great for zero waste use on plants as a diluted fertilizer.

The ducks oragnized themselves – Cayugas are the four upfront, the Rouens are between them and the Welsh Harlequins, while the Muscovies in the far back self-segregate from their cousin species, Charlie and Roxeanne in the background

Chickens require more stewarding, they need more warmth provided, DE and dust baths to help keep away skin parasites, and injuries from breeding and disagreements between roosters can be pretty brutal.

Better for the Garden

Speaking of fertilizer, their poop can be used immediately in the garden. Chicken’s refuse need to be composted – it is too ‘hot’ to use in quantity directly, and can (chemical) burn plants and their roots systems.

Ducks also don’t scratch up everything like chickens are prone to.

Are there any cons to ducks?

Absolutely! Some people don’t want to deal with providing ducks the amount of water that they need to stay healthy and happy.

Some folks like blander eggs. Some are seeking absolutely the fewest calories they can consume.

Some people are intolerant or allergic to duck eggs, like me.

Throw you for a loop? Yeah, me too. I am intolerant (NOT allergic) to the eggs of Muscovies, and possibly to all ducks. After three trials to confirm that I am indeed riotously intolerant of eating the eggs that came from my two muscovy hens in any real quantity (that is, I can eat them in baked goods, but not in concentrations like an omelette) I have admittedly been too nervous to try eggs from my true ducks since they have started laying. .

I’ll update this when I’ve gotten up the gumption to try them

Muscovies are not true ducks. They are a separate species of waterfowl from central and south america that are very similar to ducks.

Despite this, I still recognize that duck eggs are superior, and will continue the flock. Vince loves their eggs (and the dogs do too)

Will I ever get chickens?

If you had asked me this question before I found out I was intolerant to Muscovy duck eggs, I would have said Hellllll no. But it is an option now. We will see if I can eat the other duck’s eggs first, but there may be a few chicken hens around herein the future.

Integrative Health : The Transition to Livengood

by Danielle

Posted: December 19, 2019December 19, 2019

“The only constant in life is change”
-Heraclitus

Maybe it is a strange time to only just now announce something that has been underway for many months, I’ve (finally) been prompted into compositional action towards a vision that had become blurred, and pathless, and gone somewhat helter-skelter into many directions.

It seems that sometimes in life something vague becomes out of alignment, and everything seems to be going on with relative normality, except maybe that something uneven in your stride has slowed your gate, and suddenly you’re not where you are meant to be. And you work at it, and you twist, and you rest, and you dig, and you stretch, until one day everything seems to align, and this vague notion simply pops back into place as if it was a mental subluxation.

And now it is time to play catch up.

I entered into 2019 with little direction.

My bodywork business had taken a huge hit, and stagnated. I barely kept it going but by the skin of my knuckles. I felt stuck in a house, in a town, in a rut, that I had no desire to continue in. So I clung to what mattered and drudged through, holding my darlin’s hand and telling Charlie that things would change come springtime.

Vince and I spent many months house hunting away from the city, dreaming of a little farmstead – somewhere we could grow food, and raise animals. We settled on a few acres with a lot of problems, packed up Charlie and Leroy, and moved in on the last day of April.

The goal is a holistic lifestyle of integrative health, and a holistic, integrative business. I wanted to offer bodywork, and other products like homegrown organics and creative bits all together. I wanted my lifestyle to be my job.

I transitioned from my original business name, Chirapsia Bodyworks, to Livengood Integratives llc. We started the cleanup, and planted seeds. We picked up fifteen ducks, another puppy, three muscovies, and two goats. I took a class (Sarga, table 1) that was calling to me in July, that left me wanting more. The entire time, so happy, but still mysteriously, vaguely, out of alignment. Though I felt better and better all the time, I still felt stuck.

We got engaged in September, and decided to save up and take a mixed business/birthday trip to Hawaii in early December. The trip, and the class (Sarga RX), was the final stretch. That last pop. Everything finally feels right, and on the correct track. Life is so, so good

My bodywork practice has evolved into an eclectic mix of all that I have learned, the cornerstones have now become Sarga barefoot myofascial work, with an intended focus on the new Rx techniques that are heavily rooted in structural integration.

I’m so excited and humbled to have taken these classes, and even more excited and grateful to be able to say that I am the first therapist to bring Sarga Rx to Colorado!

My bodywork practice is integrative, and the homegrown organic products we are planning to offer are integrative, and it is time to integrate this online space. Combining all of these entities into one has been in the works since the decision to change from Chirapsia Bodyworks, and the I’ve made baby steps along the way. Now, the bigger steps are coming.

This website url will soon be LivengoodIntegratives.com
All social links will transition to the same name
This site itself will be restructured

So don’t be surprised by the aesthetic change! Check back over the next few days, weeks, and months and let me know what you think about the changes.

That’s all! A big preface to the (continued) evolution of what I may have to offer.

P.S. His last name is Livengood 😉

Colorado Trail Journal: Clear Creek to Highway 50

by Danielle

Posted: November 2, 2018November 3, 2018

Part two of our Colorado Trail adventure began the second we arrived home from the catastrophe of our initial attempt. To summarize, we made it to Kenosha pass and went home to heal. And to learn.

Cheyenne and Austin dropped me off at the driveway that day, and I limped around the house to the backdoor so as not to alert the dogs. It was vastly different from the muted light and cool air in the mountains – the sun beat down, though not unpleasantly, and the concrete under my bare blistered feet felt like an echo of a former life. I laid my things down and opened the back door, then settled myself down on the concrete and called for my goobers.

They came barking and crying, and smothered me in anxious kisses, and I, of course, cried.

And I cried when Vince came home. And I cried when I was alone the next day. And the next day. And, I’m sure, the next day.

Post trail depression is real. I was coping with a failure to top it, but the feeling of being lost with nothing to do but rest and heal after trail life is difficult. We had been on the move, or doing camp chores, sun up to sun down – always somewhere to be, something to take care of.

Be sure to keep yourself busy.

With our strict itinerary, there was no option to pick back up where we left off.

I suggest having a great amount of wiggle room when planning a through-hike – that or be willing to give up the concept of a through-hike all together.

Your best laid plans may go swimmingly, and if so, I offer a hearty congratulations, and admittedly a jealous “must be nice” sentiment thrown in for good measure. The reality is that most of us will experience setbacks in every pursuit of life, and must develop a modicum of flexibility and grace for ourselves within less than ideal situations.

<——- Even this intention ended up going awry.

To be sure though, THIS part went just fine, with little to no setbacks, and was easily the most enjoyable time spent on trail.

If you have someone in your life that is hands down YOUR ideal teammate, that works so well with you that the drudgery is a breeze, someone that you would hate to spend a day without – HIGHLY suggest making them your trekking partner. Its fricken magic.

We left the crowded campground at Clear Creek as quickly as possible that morning, bitching as loudly as we could about the asshole that had driven to the vault toilet, 500 feet from his camp, and filled it with acrid smoke – a truly disgusting decision, to keep dragging on your cigarette inside of a public restroom. I’m still pissed about it.

The initial few miles were a throwback to earlier days, when I was still in the 200lb range and had hiked this spot with Cheyenne and Charlie on a birthday camping trip to the area several years before. The climb was significantly easier this time (if you can imagine that). This was encouraging, at first. It wasn’t until the weather man with no visible physical qualifications steamed past with ease that I regained my humble outlook.

After chatting with the very stoned couple at the apex of that first climb, we had a beautiful descent onto the river valley below. We found a long lost pair of prescription glasses on a trail marker there, and it prompted a bit of existential dread. Natural selection would have taken me long ago if it weren’t for corrective lenses – I can’t imagine losing them in the middle of a wilderness area.

We were very exposed when the thunder began rolling in at the top of our second ascent. I was more than worried that I had led Vince into a drastically dangerous situation as we changed gears in an attempt to make it back into the trees before things got bad. Later that night Cheyenne told us that they had scurried off the trail down into a ditch and layed down in the midst of the most threatening cracks.

The longest duration of dry clear weather this day was during our first descent, into the river valley below

We ate here at the bottom, just before the bridge, and watched the clouds gather as we collected water. It wasn’t long before a sheet of white advanced towards us through the valley, and we rushed to don our ponchos and perch atop our packs under a small cluster of trees while we finished filtering

Upvote the poncho concept – we decided on these VS. a (much more costly) set of rain clothes and I think Ponchos are the way to go.

Shortly after leaving camp, we stopped at the first of Harvard Lakes, where I found my phone had died – many thank to Vince for pictures throughout this day

A break on the steep climb. Pictures can’t quiet capture the angle that had my over-stretched achilles tendon screaming at me

By this time we thought we would be in camp, set up and lounging. We were rewarded with this view after a fairly treacherous last thirty minutes of descent, but would spend the next 30 minutes on a painful and technical set of steep switchbacks.

We were all very grateful that there was little to no rain this day, but the descent was absolutely brutal. Cheyenne, who had previously attested that descents were where her power stride was found, recanted. Downhills are great. Descents are different.

They wreak havoc on your joints, and the near constant anxiety involved while you fret over not tripping or slipping or sliding wears your mind down quickly.

I maintain that I would rather power through a sweaty, laborious ascent any time.

It was this day that we finally re-evaluted our plan for our final trip out – that would be spring creek pass to durango. I had previously re-desgined it with a few tweeks, but one of our longest days was a 21 miler with nearly 8 straight miles of serious descent, and we realized that we needed to alter that drastically.

This was when we really understood that we would rather enjoy our time on the trail than crank out miles and complete everything we could at any cost.

That night my phone miraculously was on and fully functional again without having to be turned on. I’m not entirely sure what happened to it, but it was a massive relief that it self corrected.

Looking back as we climbed out of the river valley

We misjudged our pace again this day, though not quite as drastically as we had the day before. We were more than ready to lounge around when we had finally decided on a spot to set the tent up.

Laundry was more or less a breeze – I had brought along a ‘durable dry sack’ by outdoor research to use for multiple reasons, and it very much came in handy to shove all of our clothes into. We filled the bag with water and shook it to soak, dumped the water, filled it again and added some biodegradable soap, and really got to rocking the contents around, before pulling garments out one by one to be rinsed in the river. Vince squeezed, wrung, and hung while I washed the pieces and it worked perfectly.

up and away

The sunrise Friday morning

downhill to pass Mount Princeton Hotsprings, and the numerous other hotsprings hotels and inns along the way. We were pretty finished with the roadwalk by the bottom of this hill.

on the steep climb leaving the trailhead, on the way to raspberry gulch

The wikiup at the camp at brown’s creek is very cool. It has been supplemented with poles over the years but is likely a very old structure.

This camp had a beautifully deep pool within the river below. Had it been hot towards the end of the day, and had the water not been so shockingly cold, it would have been prime for lounging in.

This was the only place I saw a tick. I killed him on my shoe, and watched every movement with great suspicion afterwards. Ticks and earwigs are the only bugs that reaaaally bug me. They don’t make my skin crawl, they make my soul shudder, I hate them.

THERE ARE TONS OF COWS ALONG THIS SEGMENT.

Your warning is this – it is likely that the water in this area is teeming with Giardia and other water born parasites. Use extra care here.

After the climb, the views of the chalk cliffs were nothing short of extraordinary

The sun was glaring this day and the white of the porous mineral absorbed so much light it was difficult to make out the fine details

It got to be VERY hot on the way down into raspberry gulch

These guys were hanging out upstream of our camp. Remember these dirty asses, it is likely them who took me off trail on our third go round.

Saturday was SO beautiful. I felt like I was walking through an exhibit at times. I was surprised to not have run into a number of wildlife here until I realized how trafficked the area must actually be. We were lucky to have only a handful of run ins with other people through this area

This was probably our coolest man-made find along the trail. We pulled off trail to eat and drink and decided that we should go further back where there might be more comfortable places to sit. We ended up wandering past sight of the trail and happened upon a heavily structured camp. It was clearly a labor of love – someone had really taken their time setting up this throne, perhaps around the centerpiece seat-stone that was entirely too ass-friendly for a rock. Around the expertly structured firepit were many smooth logs, perched just so for ample seating at different heights and distances from the fire. There was a well structured rack for holding a large collection of firewood within reach of the throne, and a flat spot nearby for tenting.

Well spaced aspens made for a breathable and welcome break from the dark and tightly packed evergreen landscape that makes up most of the trail

Most of the foot traffic we experienced was here on the way down into the Angel of Shavano campground.

Saturday was the best day of all – without much question. It’s not the most breathtaking area I found along the trip (the San Juan’s take that prize) but It was really sort of magical.

The Shavano/Tabaguache area is really something to explore, and seems to be an area of abundance. Raspberry bushes were prolific throughout the mountainsides, and the rosehips were monstrous and enchantingly red as they approached ripeness.

The last mile hit me like a ton of bricks. My body was suddenly done, and it was all I could do the walk without a compensatory limp into camp.

We had a hell of a time once we layed down after setting up camp just getting up to get water. Slap happy was absolutely right, and Vince very nearly talked me into going to bed right then and there, before 4pm.

Descending into the angel of Shavano CG

I don’t think I’ll ever quite forget the lunch we took here on the other side of the bridge. We set up the stove on the flat surface of an old stump and lazily ate potatoes in the ambient warmth of dappled sunlight. We took plenty of time, Vince laying on this felled tree, I sitting cross legged on the part of it that extended into the river, and just let ourselves be hypnotized by the sound of the water and the stillness of life as it was there. He made a tiny boat of bark and stick, complete with a leaf sail, and we cheered it on through the little eddies as it tried to make its way down stream. This was one of the most simple and whole moments I’ve lived through, and I loved every second of it.

I can’t recall exactly where this picture was taken, but I know it was sometime Saturday

We woke early Sunday morning and broke out of the trees quickly. Dropping down and crossing highway 50 to the pull off was a breeze.

Look for my final post covering what we managed to travel of the Colorado Trail in 2018 🙂

Did you miss the first entry? Here it is! – Colorado Trail Journal : Segments 1-5

Now, for the disclaimer – I am not a vet, adventure guide, personal trainer, doctor, nutritionist, or medical authority, this is meant to be only a source of information and inspiration, implementing these techniques into your daily life is something you do of your own free will and at your own risk.

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Colorado Trail Journal : Segments One Through Five

by Danielle

Posted: September 21, 2018November 3, 2018

I’m that friend, I’ve realized. You know the one – the one that assures you everything will be fine, and then it never is – thankfully the one that always manages to get you out of the same bullshit situation they landed you in. I’m great at pitching ideas. I have little experience with self-doubt, and my heavily curious nature lends itself well to over-processed research. I run numbers, I flesh out plans, and I assert success with a confident dominance, before providing two to three back-up and worst case scenario plans. At least I think things through, I guess

I always underestimate the worst case scenario. If anything I have always been plagued with overconfidence and bad luck. From my educational and employment endeavors, and every plan in-between, the worst case scenario is always two, three, four times worse than what even seems realistic. Over time I have learned to grow my estimates further into these negatives, and plan then for that doubling over itself, but still somehow situations tend to get the best of me. It’s that over-confidence.

I wouldn’t trade it for anything less.

Mid-moment, I lament the hard-knocks, but that’s how my stubborn ass has always had to learn; I couldn’t lead a better life for myself than to hurdle headlong into every situation like I’ve got every trick in the bag to save me when I fall down the rabbit hole. The secret here is to bring a bigger bag each time – inevitably I will pick up another trick, and another, and another.

So was again the case of my thru-hike (attempt) of the Colorado Trail, 2018, may it rest in peace.

I’ve decided to share my story with my actual trail journal, with added typed commentary and, of course pictures. I believe it would take away from the genuine experience if I were allowed to recant my original words and re-type them in a more eloquent form, but I may redact certain lines or pieces if they are simply too personal or include information about other individuals that I am not welcome to share.

Also, I’m sorry – this story began as one purely of adventure – it was supposed to be the story of a maverick, just an independent young woman and her handsome dog, but life changed in many ways between planning this trip and actually hitting the trail.

Full disclaimer, this is kinnnnndof a love story….

Denver Water was hosting some 100th anniversary party that closed the entirety of Waterton Canyon SP for the day. We chose the Indian Creek alternate, it was a good alternative to the road walk that is the majority of Waterton Canyon. I struggled with this for a while – I grew up in Littleton, and Waterton Canyon is where I spent a lot of time learning to ride a bike with my father and sister. I figured that my road walk there would be one of reflection on those memories, but our start date was concrete.

We hit the trail at the tail end of raspberry season, and stopped many times along the way to pick these tiny beauties. I was elated to find them so abundant along the trail side.

Cheyenne couldn’t find her chapstick while we had stopped to take in our first panoramic view of the hike

We stopped here before the descent onto the Platte river in the valley below.

We struggled to set up camp on the east side of the road just before Gudy’s bridge. We soaked our feet in the river before sitting on the large metal rungs that define the parking spaces to eat. A sheriffs’ deputy circled around to chat us up – he was interested in hiking the trail next season. I regretted not trying to send the message out with him when we had no luck finding signal.

We sat in the parking area, fighting each other for the other one to eat their damn food, just struggling to finish our planned calories for the day. It was a serious problem the first round out, consuming as many calories as we needed.

As a part of my original gear list I had brought my hammock, shelter, inflatable pad, and sleeping bag. I had found only one configuration that made it a sleepable system – pad inside of hammock, bag zipped around the entire hammock. This created enough insulation underneath me – and I thought it would surely work. It would have had it not created a sizable pocket of air between my front and the sleeping bag above me. I could not completely secure the bag in such a way that a breeze wouldn’t infiltrate. I was entirely too cold that night and would need to try a different set up the next night.

I remember very clearly the elation of the moment, looking down onto the road to see my darlin there looking around to find me. We’re sitting in his room right now, he’s preparing for the GRE and his master’s program as I write, and I couldn’t be more proud. I told you this was a love story. Well. Its part of one. I know, gross.

It was very well marked in a number of spots, NO camping beyond or under the bridge. This was violated by three separate parties, one contained a very large amount of campers who also ignored the fire ban with an undefined campfire, and plenty of beer cans left right along the riverside. Classy, classy assholes.

Before re-entering burn scar, far off views of places closer to home.

Look closely, centered is the only animal life we saw for many miles. This crow was the only soul other than us to be seen in the miserable exposed heat that is the last stretch of segment 2

There is an immediate climb away from the river at the beginning of segment two that leads to some fairly impressive views. As you exit the cover of trees near the top of this, there is a ledge out left away from the trail that leads to a singular upright boulder. On his way back Vince stepped out to find a CAT or some sort of long abandoned heavy machinery half buried and rusting in the elements.

As he was making his way home, Cheyenne and I were trudging in an almost delirious state through the last stretch of segment two. The firehouse off trail to the right was a saving grace that provided shade. I layed out on the ground and put my legs up onto the side of the building as we had our first conversation with Alex and William, whose names we would not ask for another two days. Names don’t seem to matter as much out there.

Entering into segment three was like an entirely different world. When we finally pulled into the area we meant to camp, I could hardly believe the view. I had never camped in such a beautiful place. I set up my hammock and elected to attempt to sleep with my pad in the hammock, and only me inside the bag. This way had not worked at home – everything was slipping all over and staying in the hammock was near impossible. The wind was absolutely terrible that night, and I tried for hours to sleep. Eventually I got up and unhooked the hammock, laid it out like a tarp and tried to sleep on the ground, but it was so windy I simply couldn’t sleep.

Rock formations were beautiful in the beginning of segment three.

These stacks were EVERYWHERE for about a mile, an absolutely unfathomable amount of them.

Camp day two was beautiful, I somehow managed to delete the several pictures I took here, this is from Cheyenne looking out of her tent. The orange light of dusk was breathtaking.

Day three was a shit show – we both slept like hell after I had to join Cheyenne in the tent in the middle of the night.

When I ditched my pack and left it with Cheyenne to turn back and try to find where my data book had fallen out of my pack’s side pocket, I moved about in a strange and fast way. Shedding 42 lbs after hours of wearing it lent a spring to my step and I jogged a bit of the way before checking myself – my knee didn’t need the extra jostling.

I had far over estimated the life left in the batteries of my Steripen – I thought that they would easily last me until Breckenridge where I would have a new set waiting for me in my supply box. They died in the middle of my first collection. This isn’t the only reason I’ll be switching to an inline filtration system – but that will come later.

Passing dogs was the best (and worst) part of any day – views be damned. I rarely had the chance to stop and pet any of them, but seeing a friend immediately brought joy, and then immediate sadness. I recall this day after passing the mentioned pair of older dogs, seeing Morgan in my mind’s eye running past me, looking up with her little pitty smile, and thinking of Charles, and I cried as I continued walking, telling myself the whole time – you need to stop, you’re going to trip with your blurred vision.

We passed this sign and it seemed almost unnecessary. It was as if there was a civil war reenactment nearby. I suppose if the databook and signs like this hadn’t provided this information though, I may have been in a bit of a panic. It doesn’t seem so far fetched to me, with our current political climate, that a very sudden societal collapse could happen at any time and we would have been none the wiser, so I suppose it does provide a modicum of peace of mind.

We were getting footsore as we entered into the lost creek wilderness. Cheyenne took a dive in morale and I had to go inside myself to just keep climbing. There were several points hiking up the extremely rocky abandoned logging road that I, head down, was hit or caught by branches reaching down from overhead. It got a little brutal, and was a monstrous test of mind.

We reached where we thought camp should be and came to realize we still had at least another mile or so a climb. Here I decided I needed to, as mentioned, finally relieve my bowels after nearly two days. I believe the excessive abdominal compression that is experienced when strapped into the harness of a heavily laden pack contributed greatly to difficulty not just in digestion, but also to appetite.

Eating dinner that night was a punishment. The food was never disgusting. It was never a flavor problem, necessarily, it was a desire problem. We had barely been able to pack down the calories as we had planned them throughout the day, but dinner was another story entirely. We sat dejected after having cried our way through being homesick for our loved ones, and begged each-other to just eat one more bite of bar. An almond. A bit of coconut oil. Anything in your bag.

We had to set up the tent on an awful slope, downhill and sideways, with risky looking dead trees overhead. There was simply no other place. I learned here to pay greater heed to marked known camping areas from the data book. I cleaned my toes and pushed pus and blister fluid from them, treated them careful and bandaged them. My big toe nails still hurt, it turned out my shoes were too loose. They ended up bruising badly, the right far worse than the left. Both nails still bear black and will for a long time until they grow out, but the issue was resolved.

The night was a tedious one. Once I had finally fallen asleep, Cheyenne woke me because she thought she heard our shaker bottles – a clear sign that something was trying to rip our bear bags down. I exited the tent to find nothing. We never could place the sound, but it was clear as day.

I woke up that morning and my insides were quaking, I was weak with the need to vomit, I had no anti-nausea medication at this point so I took an immodium instead and it helped calm my system enough for me to get moving. Though my knee hurt a bit worse than it previously had, once I got moving, both it and my morale improved greatly. I was incredibly optimistic that morning.

As we were entering into the “long an unusually straight” meadow, we had both had a mental breakthrough and clarity. Things were certainly going to be alright. We stopped at a good water source and washed our bandanas, shirts, and faces. We collected water and finally garnered the names of our leapfrogging companions once they had caught up to us.

We set out into the meadow, and the heat, behind them, with a new face behind us. He stopped us a mile or so in and asked to take pictures of the databook, then left us all behind.

lovely lanced blister

Things went downhill quickly for me then. I was angry, so angry, that this dream I had been working towards for years was getting ready to end so quickly.

The decision was made and progress after that was slow going. As we climbed into section 5 I coped out loud with Cheyenne. Thunder was rolling in the distance as we were texting out the change of plans.

The strange camaraderie we all found at that stream was new to me. The man’s name was Stone. We all sat and laughed about Alex and William having no plan at all, and we taught them about mountain lions and moose, and not a single person judged my perceived failure.

When we reached camp that night, this fortune fell from my bag. It was strangely fortuitous, and we were both a little mystified about its origin. I came to find out my father had hidden several of them in different compartments for me to find, but this is the only one that presented itself.

The water was a difficult trickle at that campsite. We had both gained an appetite, finally, and tried to eat as much as we could, but still had difficulty putting back our entire planned meals. The squirrels were belligerent and we thought we may awake to holes chewed through our bear bags that next morning – thankfully did not.

goodbye*, food*

When William stopped us he had mentioned he had been doing repairs and making adjustments to Alex’s bag all along the way. She had a small gregory pack, and he had brought along a full sewing kit which he used to change the seating of her hip pockets and shoulder straps. I wonder if they continued on the trail after they made it to Breckenridge.

I learned that without an underquilt for your hammock, a tent is absolutely the way to go. A Steripen, though effective, is too reliant on many pieces of extra gear. Your shoes should be very snug. And don’t dive into a commitment of 30 days on trail if you have never been able to get out and do so much as a single multiday before. If you have plenty of wiggle room and financial freedom to just take off days whenever you need, then go for it. Otherwise – gain far more experience beforehand.

I also learned on this first venture out that I have no particular desire to be a through hiker. I can’t take Charlie with me on great big long forays with many miles in a day – I don’t have a need to leave him behind for such a length of time. I also have no desire to leave Vince’s side for such a length. I can take him with me, or I can take shorter solo trips, but I have these incredible bonds that I am grateful for, and want. When I planned this trip, my life was vastly different. I was so thoroughly displeased with my entire life, and I needed to trek alone for a length of time at that point.

The loss of this goal was no less disapointing for these developments. It was, however, much easier to accept for them. The week at home brought with it a roller coaster of emotions. We set our plans to head back out to start again at clear creek. I’ll be posting our next few segments soon.

Psst – Check out part 2 – Clear Creek through Highway 50

Join us for the journey!

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Pre Thru-Hike : Colorado Trail Gear List

by Danielle

Posted: August 6, 2018August 6, 2018

This has been madness, running a start up business, planning a 30 day through-hike – setting up the care of said business during my absence, the sickening rush of running a freeze dryer (that came about 2 weeks late) constantly to prepare enough food to survive in a healthy manner for 500 miles of high elevation hiking. I’ve FINALLY come to final pack contents and gear list with weight for Pre-Trip reporting.

list

With the extremely helpful LighterPack.com, I’ve listed out everything I’ll be carrying for the first half of the trip. My (approx.) mid-way resupply point will contain my Jetboil Flash and gas canister, weighing in at about 19oz to swap out my blender bottle that I will previously have been cold-soaking food in. This is in preparation for the higher general elevation and more advanced season – I am anticipating a colder half of the hike for these reasons and will add weight in favor of warm food.

Problematically, my stove will not ignite without the aid of an open flame. I’ve included a lighter in the stove kit for this reason. Time will tell if the effort is worth it.

All of these items will be up for review, and may be ‘dumped’ (sent home or potentially swapped out) along the way. I’ll be including a detailed report and run down on the vast majority of the items I use.

I’ve marked any resource that will shrink with use as consumable. I have not included the measurement of 2 extra liters of potential water carry (4.4lbs) The following describes an assumed full pack weight.

To review, our start date is August 10th, end date planned as September 8th. We had everything set and planned before the announcement of Denver Water closing Waterton Canyon and effectively the official start of the trail. I cut my teeth in Waterton Canon, I grew up in Littleton, CO and was a tad bitter about the loss of my anticipated day of Nostalgia. We have re-routed our start to be the alternate of Indian Creek Trail instead of Roxborough park.

Look forward to pictures and journal entries

Thank you for your support

Join us for the journey!

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Stream of Consciousness: June ’18

by Danielle

Posted: June 7, 2018

Planning our through hike of the Colorado trail takes up all of my free time. As if I had much to begin with. My days are a whirlwind of thoughts, a massive conglomeration of conflicting emotions and actions. I’m constantly stressing over work, which is proving to be a completely different deal than I was led to believe. I’m constantly distracted from stressing over work – a thriving personal relationship leaves me spinning and breathless, recklessly in love. Family life is spinning madly – there has been a death, a horrific incident and the loss of a beloved family pet, my mother will soon be in surgery, and yet more strenuous – recovery.

Constant. Constant. Constant.

I never feel like I am getting anything done.

I can remove myself and look at the facts, I can look at the data right in front of me and say, “Yes this person is making leaps, and bounds, this person is running towards their destiny and seems to have hit a stride with no stumbles. Look at these plans! Look at them, they make sense, a month out, two months out, three months – she has every day of a 30 day through-hike plotted out into a spreadsheet, five months out, look at these financial solutions, six months out, seven, eight, nine, this is foolproof. A year, and still, a plan, a feasible one, and constant progress, clearly this person can make all of these goals, clearly they know this!”

But I don’t. Its incredible, in the middle of it.

I feel like every five steps I take a stumble, hit the pavement and think, “Goddamnit, not again,” as my face grinds into gravel. And there is numbness where the flesh has ground off, little pebbles falling out, and stinging all around it, and I trudge forward again, spitting blood and cussing in disbelief – I spent too much time skidding there on the ground, and how did I not see that obstacle? How did I just keep running headlong towards it? I planned this route, it was smart, it avoided these bumps, yet somehow they found me. Fuck it. Re plan, re route, go around all the others. And bam. Face down again, cussing, and mad.

Yet forward I go and I may feel like I’m drowning the whole way but there isn’t a soul to keep me from gulping down oxygen.

And I have more support than ever. More love surrounding me on all sides. More opportunity. More everything. I’ve put myself here, I have found these people and the opportunities and I’m damn proud of it, but I still struggle feeling like I haven’t done enough. I never do enough. At least it is true in one place – here on this blog I definitely don’t do much anymore.

My peace of mind thanks me for it.

I once had designs to make this space profitable. But I can’t pretend I give that many shits about building an online presence. I want to exist where I exist – in real time, not worried constantly about posting to instagram at exactly 6 pm with 29 curated hashtags, pinning a mininmum of 5 quality pins strategically throughout the day, to facebook once a day, spinning out a quality piece and sharing every intricate detail of my personal life every single week, meeting a reliable deadline – driving that traffic and staging my entire life around my tiny piece of the internet.

My tiny piece of the internet.

This is they key thought. I hope that anybody visiting here can benefit from what I write.

I hope that lots of people see cool things or an inspired by any bit of anything I post.

But I’m not going out of my way to fit into the profitable blog agenda. I thought I’d come back again to full speed here, but it just doesn’t make sense.

My life is better spent outside,

playing fetch with Charlie, who limps everyday now instead of just when he is exhausted. With Morgan, who delights me with her shenanigans. With Leroy, who wants only so many scritches. With my love, who holds my gaze so steadily, and seals his wishes for the future into kisses all over my face. With my friends, overcoming every bit of struggle together.

And at work, where I take my hands and elbows and show people that I can help them fix their dysfunctions, slowly take away their pain, and improve their lives.

Oh yeah, did I mention I landed a room in a new regenerative medicine clinic? Its called Revive of Colorado, and I could not be more jazzed about this place. Revive offers Stem Cell therapies, PRP therapies, Bioidentical hormone therapies,trigger point injections, and more – combining what they have to offer with what I have to offer (medical massage, and therapeutic bodywork) is not just an incredible opportunity for myself, and for our shared clients, but also for preventative, “alternative”, and holistic health in general. Check out my page there!

It was an incredible turn of luck that brought me to Revive, and so far one of the best things to come out of running this blog.

Last year I was seeking folks who had hiked the CT to write about their experience for me, like in this post here. I was put into contact with a woman who showed interest, but was finishing up her masters at the time, and I didn’t pursue the piece. Fast forward, I have graduated school and am launching a new career, and begin to see advertisements for this up and coming clinic in Colorado Springs, offering cutting edge medicine. This business looks exciting to me, and I realized this woman had something to do with it. I reached out seeking to establish a referral relationship, and it snowballed from there. Now I work in an incredible (dog friendly!) space with a great team of people, and the potential here is unbelievable to me. What an incredible opportunity. I could not be more grateful. I’m VERY excited to watch both of our business grow.

In August, my close acquaintance and I will depart on our 30 day through-hike of the Colorado trail.

Soon I will have a completed gear list- this I will re-post after the hike to compare what I think of all of the pieces after they stand the test of a month in use. We are currently still seeking support and donations to go towards a Freeze dryer in order to make our own food – to feed ourselves well instead of insulting our bodies with flour tortillas and snickers bars to keep up calories for 30 days. The freeze dryer is also something I plan to write about here, as well as use to make ‘trail angel’ contributions to other hikers.

This year holds an incredible amount of potential.

As always, I’ll be doing everything I can to maximize every opportunity I can latch on to. Soon I hope to be able to make more happen in life, like visiting friends I always mean to see (that’s to you Diana!) but for now, I’ll try and keep updates more or less frequent here with these ‘stream of consciousness’ submissions.

Thank you all for your support

Join us for the journey!

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Introducing: Chirapsia Bodyworks

by Danielle

Posted: April 3, 2018April 4, 2018

Hey there! It sure has been a while since I posted here. I took some major time off of blogging and writing to give my time and attention to getting my new career rolling with state licensing, quit my retail job (YESSSSS!), gain employment, graduate school with my NeuroMuscular Therapy certificate, end some big relationships, flesh out some big new ones, launch a new business….whew. I’ve been having a whirlwind of a 2018, it has been incredibly stressful, and incredibly beautiful, and incredibly busy. I promise I’ve been productive while I’ve been away! Let me introduce to you my biggest project of the year, Chirapsia Bodyworks….

The first step in building a career in Health

…was launching this blog last year. The second was stumbling upon interest in therapeutic massage. After grabbing my ‘close acquaintance’ and enrolling in school for Advanced Neuromuscular and Trigger Point therapy, I put the blog on the back burner and fast tracked the process with her (F**KIN thaaaank you for your endless support, acquaintance). We tested and applied for state licensing early, and became licensed massage therapists as a launching point to pursue our respective dreams. What a rough year it was.

Immediately following this I landed a spot with the incredibly talented team at J.C. Bodycare, and finished school. I am now Danielle Lowe LMT, CNMT 😀

As an independent contractor, I decided that I needed to build a business and a brand to market more comfortably and efficiently than my name alone – something that I could build on for a lifetime. After much planning and designing came Chirapsia Bodyworks and my restorative hand logo. I’m quite fond of it, please excuse me while I toot my creative horn.

Chirapsia

very simply translates to ‘massage’ from new latin (derived of old greek cheirapsia) and maybe isn’t crazy creative in and of itself, but it holds true to the craft, and sounds nice rolling off the tongue. Bodyworks, to be an umbrella term for the many modalities I currently practice, and those that I will offer in the future as I expand my scope of practice and services.

So what is it that I do, exactly?

With medically based therapeutic massage and bodywork, I work in ‘alternative’ and preventative health and hands on movement therapies, targeted towards treating; muscular and related nervous system dysfunction, pain management, injury prevention and recovery, athletic performance and recovery, stress and mental health management, surgery prevention and recovery, so on and so forth. I offer pregnancy, labor, and delivery massage as well – any of the following modalities may be altered to accommodate these specific needs!

Integrative Eclectic Table work

I like to piece together a flowing style from every modality I’ve learned. A typical session with me has little bits of everything in it. I tend to be a heavier handed therapist and love to work out problem areas instead of cater to the crowd that is looking strictly for relaxation. I like to do real, meaningful work. I like to call my general approach integrative eclectic table work for this reason. All of the following modalities piece together to form this.

NeuroMuscular Therapy

NeuroMuscular Therapy is a world renowned set of methods developed by Judith Delany. To summarize what the NeuroMuscular Therapy Center has to say about it, “Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a precise, thorough examination and treatment of the body’s soft tissues using regionally oriented protocols…that primarily address ischemia, myofascial trigger points, neural entrapment and nerve compression , postural assessment and dysfunctional gait patterns.” It is an incredibly effective therapy for clients with chronic pain. This is the CNMT suffix after my name.

Trigger Point

Trigger point therapy is heavily focused on specific problem spots. I often hear of people referring to their active trigger points as pinched nerves and knots. A trigger point may refer pain elsewhere, and in some cases the client may be unaware of it until it is touched. This is less of a modality as it is an add on type of method to other modalities like NMT and Deep tissue.

Deep Tissue

Deep tissue, though everyone seems to think it is so much different from Swedish (traditional spa type massage) is really just a heavier handed and possibly slightly more targeted version of your average Swedish massage. It is designed for flushing of the muscles and increasing healthy blood flow throughout the body.

Lymphatic Drainage

Your Lymph system is an incredibly important filtering system throughout your body. It works alongside your circulatory and digestive system and is a key component to your immune system. Improving the flow of lymph throughout the body can give your entire body a huge defensive boost, and is often indicated to assist with cancer treatments, recoveries, and even prevention. This modality is extremely specialized and uses very light pressure to effectively target the flow of lymph.

Thai Yoga Massage

Thai yoga, Thai massage, Thai therapy, or any combination therein is an incredibly efficient modality brought over from, your guessed it, Thailand. Sometimes known as “the lazy mans’ yoga”, Thai massage is a modality done on a mat instead of a table. The therapist uses body weight and hand compression, as well as joint mobilization and manipulation of the client’s extremities and body into various assisted yoga positions and passive stretches.

Cupping

Also known as myofascial decompression, cupping has truly ancient roots. Modern, dry cupping is what I offer (as opposed to wet and fire cupping, highly dangerous and unneccessary) Cups are applied strategically to the skin and suctioned on. They are left on for no more than 3 minutes, and may be “glided” across the skin. Cupping pulls fresh blood to help heal or flush an area. It is typically used in conjunction with traditional massage.

The above is what I currently practice and offer. Look forward to modalities like Ashiatsu, Sarga, and other bodywork.

What does this mean for the blog, and for you, my readers?

Not much will change. This platform will remain what it currently is and do what it currently does – provide inspiration and practical insight into living a healthy, adventurous life. This will become the official blog of Chirapsia Bodyworks, and I’ll repeat and flesh out what I said I would do when I announced my schooling –

I’ll be sharing insider tips, techniques, and knowledge to take your massage game to the next level. By adding these tidbits to your arsenal of skills, you’ll be able to boost your own health in a multitude of ways. You can also take these techniques to your loved ones to aid them and bring comfort and recovery from daily stressors.

What role does massage play in promoting health?

Massage can greatly help with physical recovery, particularly in relation to muscle recovery. Skilled palpation of tense, overused muscles brings relief to the site and increases blood flow. Stress, pain, anxiety, and depression can all be eased through massage. Nerve function may be improved as well as range of motion. Relaxation is notable in measurably healthier blood pressure and oxygen uptake

But why do I always feel so beat up after an intense massage?

There are several reasons you may have had discomfort and possibly even nausea after a massage. The concept that toxins are released from your muscles during massage is, while plausible, not what seems to be the actual cause. While you are pushing out and distributing metabloic waste, cellular debri and possibly other built up toxins in one form or another, the palpation of your muscles actually does some (helpful) damage to them. Myoglobins are released by your tissues in response to (especially intense) manipulation. Your body’s way of dealing with this is standard; into the blood, through the kidneys. If you are not well hydrated, have mineral deficiencies, are not accustomed to massage, or had a particularly intense session; you are more likely to experience a mild Rhabdo effect, just like you would after any intense physical exertion.

Before engaging in a massage…

Especially a deep tissue modality, make sure you are very well hydrated (and stay that way!) If you are mineral or vitamin deficient, make sure you re-up on these essential bits of fuel for your body. I like to make a clay masque (bentonite), cover myself in it head to toe and let it dry before taking a tea and mineral salt bath to help draw unwanted ‘toxic’ substances out of my body. I highly recommend this type of ritual method. It is extremely relaxing and rejuvenating! Play with different teas and find what you like best!

Alrighty then, how can I apply massage to benefit myself?

We already know how good massage feels. Releasing muscle tension, easing headaches, aiding muscle recovery, etc. are benefits you can reap from massage. But you can’t go out and have someone rub your muscles out every time you feel like it. Most people can’t afford a full-time personal massage therapist that follows us around everywhere, no matter how much we desire that. Damnit. Learning how to work out your own aches and pains for a daily bit of tension release is the way to go. You’ll not only be helping your body, but your mind as well.

Let’s talk about another huge benefit of self-massage though; greater personal awareness. Getting intimate with your own anatomy is so important! This is in the same vein as doing the usual self-cancer checks. The more familiar you are with your bodies’ norm, the more aware you are of something being out of place. Keeping a mental track of trends and patterns will help you be more conscious and responsive to your own needs. Love your body! It, and your brain, will love you back. Stay tuned, and I’ll keep giving you better and better tips how!

I’m down! How is it going to benefit my loved ones?

Well, again, they’ll get all the usual healing and relaxing benefits of a good rub down. But what more? Bond strengthening to the Nth degree. For your partner, your children, your animals, your healing touch is going to bring with it assloads of serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. Becoming familiar with their aches and pains, preferences, and helping them through stressors deepens a sense of reliability and trust. For your partner it will also bring with it a deeper sense of intimacy, and a new or greater form of communication. A loving touch is sometimes the most efficient shared form of communication between a couple. Building a more advanced complexity within this language is always beneficial.

Going into the future, it is most likely that I’ll be posting about these tips and tricks in the PHYSICAL section of the site, though you may catch the occasional article here, under LIFE ECLECTIC.

Future non-massage plans for Chirapsia Bodyworks

I’m very excited to learn and grow in this new field of life. I’ll be able to build on this in many directions. It is likely that I will go forward and looking into physical therapy, personal training, yoga teaching, nutritional counseling, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Life really opens up when you chase it, friends! I encourage you to seek knowledge and education all throughout your life, be it in a trade degree, a workshop, a doctorate, whatever. Always seek opportunity! Stagnation will kill you. I’m excited to share my insights with you, hang around and we’ll build knowledge together!

Support Small Business! Opt for small and locally owned business when paying for services and goods! Please feel free to share my business with others. Referrals are always heavily appreciated!

Importantly, I want to touch on this before I wrap up. Though I am licensed therapist in the state of Colorado, this does not mean I am your therapist, and I will not be held responsible for any actions taken. Massage therapists do not diagnose or prescribe. Reading my advice does not create a client/professional relationship or contract. If you choose to implement these techniques, you do so as an informed individual making your own decisions at your own risk. Thank you for using your sense and doing what is right for you!

Join us for the journey!

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Releasing a Toxic Tether

by Danielle

Posted: January 22, 2018

Toxic is a buzz word. Toxic and toxins thrown around all willy nilly. When I first started hearing people talk about cutting out ‘toxic people’ I was mystified, it always seemed like a phrase to hide behind if someone disagreed with you (and I really believe it is often used this way) But then I began to see it within my life, or maybe I applied my own definition through my experiences. Either way, the base concept of cutting out what hurts your health on any level became dear to me. Wrapping my head around understanding that some people I love are toxic to my health has been a difficult one. Understanding who and what exactly my responsibilities are has been the key.

Responsibility, in my experience, is one of the single most difficult things to nail down and find in truth. As far as it goes, the vast majority of your responsibilities are self-assigned. Society cannot truly determine your responsibilities, though often socially determined responsibilities are true responsibilities. When self and socially assigned obligations mesh, good and bad may occur. Maybe everything lines up, maybe you are perpetually fortunate enough not to experience a discrepancy here, and you can go on peacefully building your life in this stronghold of good luck and good decisions.

It is not usually so.

Most of us will, time after time, find what we have built to have been infiltrated by the rot of a failed moral decision. Maybe we determined it to be correct decision, looking through the unsteady veil of emotion, or expectation. Maybe it was a sturdy design that has simply been pervaded by the figurative termite and its destructive kin.

Somewhere along the line, the structure grows weak. The floors begin to creek, the walls may sway. One misstep across a rotted beam and it may give way. This rot is the result of the wrong decisions involving the wrong people. The proverbial toxic person, and their lasting influence in your life.

Cutting these people loose is a singularly difficult task. They are often loved ones, family, dear friends. Maybe they aren’t inherently bad, but simply have a component that reacts negatively with one of your own. Maybe their evil is subtle and well hidden, woven about them in a beautiful and intoxicating pattern.

Maybe they started out gold, but fell into a hole within their own structure, and have elected to stew in this separate poison until they are synonymous with it. Maybe they just couldn’t find their way out.

It is not your responsibility to save everyone

In fact, I dare say that it is your direct responsibility not to save everyone. As far as I can tell, there are two broad entities that you are truly responsible to. Yourself and your dependents. That is, yourself, and your animals or young children that could literally not survive without your direct, positively constructive influence.

Your twenty six year old son that perpetually chooses hard drugs, your fourty year old daughter who has always played the victim – I’m not talking about them. They are no longer your responsibility. They are separate humans who must pull themselves out or be lost to the turmoil of their own creation.

Your best friend, who chooses to flounder in hate and weakness. Your cousin, who will not be held accountable for their actions. Your father, who seeks to filter his life through the blur of alcohol. Your mother, who finds comfort in the stagnant role of complacency. Your husband, whose despondency and lack of will to grow with you leaves you sick at your core.

Maybe the demons in your life are yet more obvious to you, greatly poisonous presences like animated tar. Every human who plays a role against your health, your growth, your energy, every single one of them is responsible for what they bring and give, and you have no obligation to maintain attachments that drag you backwards and pull you down.

Only those making the effort need make the cut.

Earlier today, in a discussion covering this concept, I used the analogy of a looped belt and tether system. You wear a belt, with many loops, and many opportunities to attach a tether. You maintain your main rope. It is your responsibility to scramble this steep rocky grade. It is YOUR responsibility to get YOUR ass to the top of this mountain and back down. If you have dependents, they are also your responsibility. Nothing must keep your from achieving this goal. Should you fall into a pit, you must unclip your dependents and entrust them to another’s belt to save them from being pulled in. These are the hard and fast rules. Everything else has gray area, and must be considered guidelines.

We pass others along the way, those we love, and we see them struggling, or down, and we reach out and grab their tether and attach it to us, and attempt continue to climb. Often we accept a tether from someone with more powerful legs than us, and so end up both pulling and being pulled.

It isn’t until dead weight is severed that real progress can be made.

Cutting loose those who will only be drug, those who will make no effort of their own to climb away, is the only way.

This frees a loop on your belt.

Should this person find a way to locomote and contribute once more, perhaps you may allow them the re attach their own tether to your belt. Do not do it for them.

Stop pulling people along that aren’t for you. Stop reaching out for their tethers. Stop allowing your strength to be sapped. Look about you, every person attached to you, and everyone they are attached to, and so on and so forth, will be negatively affected by maintaining this negative influence, through you.

So now it becomes your responsibility, for your benefit, and those that surround you. Imagine now that you do not cut this tie. Imagine that it drags you down, and suddenly you are dead weight to everyone attached to you. Imagine that they are pulled backwards.

Now imagine a dynamic team.

A team secure in attaching, releasing, and transferring tethers as a means of promoting and facilitating the growth of strength among its members.

Imagine the health of a team that removed and re tethered for the sake of each other. Remove your tether when you fall, find your way out, and re-join when you can contribute your productive influence. Expect this of others. Only contribute the force of your pull when the one on the other side of that line is genuinely helping you to help them. If this is not the case, there is not a soul who truly benefits.

This is how you move on from the toxic influences.

This is how you come to terms with letting them fall.

This is how you understand that it is not on you, that you must be your own strength.

This is how you heal.

Join us for the journey!

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The Relentless Pursuit: In Rejection of Failure

by Danielle

Posted: January 6, 2018

“Let us, then, be up and doing, with a heart for any fate; still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labor and to wait.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Many goals I have set this year, and many I have achieved; yet still many have gone unfulfilled. Rejecting failure and re-evaluating your needs and goals, and projecting them onto a new timeline with what you have learned in their pursuit is the only way to prevent yourself from the disappointment of falling short.

I’ve said before, only be flexible in your timeline when chasing your dreams. If I couldn’t wrap my mind around this form of acceptance, I fear that I would fall into the dread of self-doubt and loathing. This past year I’ve accomplished more than I ever have, yet less than I set out to do.

Sound familiar?

You haven’t failed, unless you have submitted yourself to failing.

Here I am to review my accomplishments and missed goals, to acknowledge them, learn from them, and begin the journey again from higher ground. I hope this can help you do the same!

What did 2017 Look Like?

This past year I hit a number of life goals that should realistically leave me pretty pleased, and I am, to a degree. I was on a roll, like a ball of fire, crashing through the brush and igniting everything I touched. I started this blog, enrolled in school for neuromuscular massage therapy, hit my lifelong healthy weight goal, set a number of dedicated fitness goals, and continued on with my physically demanding day job during the most mentally and emotionally trying year I’ve yet to experience.

It shouldn’t surprise me that I burned myself out.

I underestimated what I had commit to in comparison to the time I had available to grasp and manipulate. My main focus became school, and fast tracking the process in order to obtain my license as soon as humanly possible, even before graduating. For this I am absolutely on track (my state testing is in less than a week!)

Most everything else has fallen to the side in favor of this goal. While I have indeed met several other goals I set this year, most everything else has simply been maintained. I strive to look at this as an accomplishment in itself. But one thing has certainly fallen behind – my desire to write.

My commitment to maintaining a weekly content schedule here was the first thing to lose its flame. As an incredibly private person, I knew it would be a difficult task to share so much of myself so frequently – and in the midst of the emotional exhaustion this year brought, I knew I had to let this float further from me to protect my other more pressing goals (and my mind)

The bi-weekly posting schedule will remain the standard here for the foreseeable future as I go forward finishing school, starting up a new business, and launching into a new career.

As far as hitting all those fitness goals I set? Didn’t hit the majority of them. Unwisely, I set mostly upper body goals with heavy involvement in the hands, wrists and shoulders – while I constantly, heavily use these important joints in school, and at work. In my pursuit, and thorough daily use, I saw impressive progression at first – then fatigue, pain, and injury from zero recovery time. My hands, forearms, elbows, and shoulders are very much worse for the wear of this year. I made the (wiser) decision to pause the chase of these particular goals to prevent injury during such an important time.

What Goals I Set, and What Goals I Met

2017 was an ambitious year. I planned to grow an online presence and blog to establish myself as a professional in the health world, this is a constantly evolving concept, and as far as it goes I have done as well as I could have really hoped. What a learning curve.

I wanted to hit my lifelong weight goal, and see no regression. Check and mate.

I wanted to become the fittest I’d ever been. Done and Done.

Complete the Incline. Huzzah!

Change my life and redirect my future. Well on my way!

5 minute weighted plank – not achieved. My shoulders started telling me they were in bad shape and needed more rest time while I was regularly planking through 4.5 minutes. I retracted my daily planking to 1-3 minutes (if you don’t include a month long failure to do so at all, I’ll credit depression here)

Minimum Five consecutive pullups – not achieved. Another case of damage to my hands and forearms that I was unwilling to press through and risk injury.

Minimum ten Dips – Achieved! I hit this goal pretty quickly, but never progressed past it to help save my wrists for school.

Handstand – absolutely not even close. This goal scares me now, knowing that I cannot work at my job now, and I cannot work in my future career without healthy hands and wrists. I’ve been working still on the core strength and stability required, but this may end up being the most heavily modified and compromised goal I go after in the coming year.

What 2018 Will Look Like?

This year, I will be graduating school and obtaining my license (and quitting retail forever and eternity). I’ll be heavily focused on launching a new career and revamping every aspect of my life. Building this foundation will take precedence over many other desires; setting up a better future is what will allow many of these things to be achieved in the first place. Financial stability will likely bring with it an address or regional change.

The Colorado Trail is one of the single biggest goals I have set for this year. I put it off from my intended timing last summer to attend school. I’m looking to find more than just a new career this year, but also a more highly evolved self- a 500 mile trail seems to be the perfect catalyst.

What the New Goals are

Again, I want to become the fittest I’ve ever been, overall and in every way – mentally, physically, emotionally, financially – everything.

Pass my state exam, get licensed, graduate, and launch an ever evolving and successful career in integrative bodywork and preventative wellness and health.

Complete the Colorado Trail in its entirety.

5 minute weighted plank – here we go again. I believe that once I can leave my current job and finish school, I can re-up on these specific upper body goals

Pullups – same goal.

Forearm Stand? This one is difficult for me, I think I will prioritize hitting a stable forearm stand, and then reevaluate a handstand from there.

I’d really like to get back into martial arts – both Krav Maga and Jiu Jitsu.

I’d also really like to get back into biking (assuming a new bike fits into the budget)

2017 was a transformational year, no doubt. But 2018? It’s time to dominate.

Writing and sharing your goals Makes it more likely that you will achieve them

So join me below in the comments– tell me about your goals and let’s start a conversation!

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Celebrating the Solstice: Yule Tea

by Danielle

Posted: December 20, 2017December 20, 2017

“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future;
the place of caught breath, the door of a vanished house left ajar.” – Margaret Atwood

The winter solstice comes tomorrow, how do you celebrate this time of year?

The Winter solstice (for us here in the Northern Hemisphere) falls on December 21^st this year. The solstice is the longest night, and shortest day of the year. It marks the beginning of winter, and the coldest weather – but it also marks the return of the sun, and the truest turning of the year.

The days will grow in length again, steadily through the next six months until they once again begin to bow out to the dominance of night time following the Summer solstice (look forward to it Thursday, June 21^st in 2018)

The Winter solstice is the day of the year that the earth is tilted on its axis the furthest it will face away from the sun. Because of this, on the flip side, the Southern hemisphere experiences its summer solstice on this day, and their winter solstice in June.

Head over to the National Weather Service’s page and learn more!

Holidays and History

Cultures the world over have long centered many of their holiest days and celebrations around the solstices and equinoxes, for good reason. In observation and honor of the turning of the seasons, and the way the behavior of the world flows, older cultures were far more in tune with nature. These celebrations are now thickly coated with the plasticized superficial preferences of our larger and more corrupt societies; but their roots remain thoroughly embedded in the deep places of the earth.

The widespread traditions of decorating with pines and lights stems from the early Pagan and Germanic Celebrations of Yul. The conversion of these societies to christianity was facilitated by the adoption and integration of existing traditions and beliefs.

Santa has his roots in Odin, the concepts of the Holly and Oak Kings. Ornaments, the yule log, lightening candles (hanging lights) – all have their origins in the celebration of The Winter solstice and the return of the sun.

Hanukkah also carries the theme of light, though its tradition is quite a bit more original than the adopted Christian customs. (and stems from rising out of oppression rather than the direct result of oppression, but that’s none of my business…..)

“That’s what Hanukkah is about: trying to survive the darkness on the far-fetched hope there’s still some life and light left in the universe. It’s more than just a religious story. The days have been growing shorter, imperceptibly but inescapably darker…. Heading into the night of the winter solstice, every spiritual tradition has some kind of festival of light. We’re all just whistling in the dark, hoping against hope that someone up there will see these little Hanukkah candles and get the hint.” – Lawrence Kushner

You should read more about Hanukkah!

The list goes on – but no matter what religion your subscribe to, there’s always more room as we enter into the gloomiest time of year for more celebration. It is well known that this time of year is incredibly difficult emotionally for the vast majority of people. Why not spend a little extra time celebrating everything you can? I really recommend tuning in to the natural world and taking some time, even if it is just a brief moment, to observe and celebrate the winter solstice.

Celebrating the Solstice

Get outside! Do something to stimulate your blood flow, do something to stimulate your brain. This time of year represents a rebirth, so look back on your year and plan for the one ahead.

Tomorrow will be a full day for me, and I’ve been struggling to figure out how I’m going to find some time aside for a quiet moment of thought. There are few better activities to facilitate reflection, and appreciation, than a giant ass mug of earthy home brewed tea. And there is always time for tea.

I’m a big fan of Pine needle tea for its comforting aroma and huge amount of vitamin C. I make a variety of Pine needle based teas pretty frequently, the ingredient list changing with the individual need and purpose. I’ve got a friend that calls these brews ‘Witch Tea’, and I guess it must be so, because it is genuinely pretty fricken magical.

This particular combination is a little more heavily ‘themed’ for the solstice. It is strictly herbal, but goes incredibly well with green tea leaves if you’re looking for caffeine and an even wider variety of antioxidants. Put the water on to boil and steep yourself a big mug of this solstice tea, and make a literal toast to your health, and the coming year!

Check out some facts and health benefits you’ll get from these ingredients first! There is a (somewhat vague) recipe card below.

Pine Needles

Pine needles are FULL of vitamin C! For a monstrous boost to your immune system, pick young needles from a host of healthy trees. Right around of cup full of needles is the perfect amount. If your needles are particularly long, chop them up. Crush and roll fresh needles prior to steeping for the greatest release of their oils. I wrote an entire article on the benefits of coniferous trees, it includes more information than I will write in this little snippet. Click that link for more information, as well as a list of species you should avoid when foraging. Pregnant women should use caution!

Spearmint

Spearmint, like most mints, is wonderful and powerful. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. Aside from the fresh lovely flavor, spearmint can be good for soothing headaches, anxiety, nausea, and reducing inflammation. It is a calming but uplifting herb ( and probably one of my favorite scents)

Rosemary

I wrote about Rosemary too! This is one of my favorite plants for so many reasons. In tea, it helps to improve circulation, cognitive function, and digestion. It is anti-inflammatory, and full of antioxidants.

Rosemary is a classic holiday scent, and compliments the fresh earthy sweetness of pine and spearmint very well.

Chamomile

Chamomile is so calming it can even be applied topically to help soothe disturbances on your skin. Drinking it in a tea is centering, calming, and good for your health (catching a theme here?) It can help soothe your entire body, and boost your immune system (so many themes! Its almost like I’m hinting that our immune systems are compromised this time of year or something…)

Follow this link and read a genuinely interesting article about chamomile tea

Honey

Optionally, add a touch of sweetness with raw unfiltered honey that is local to you – just another super pleasant boost for your immune system!

Yule Tea

Winter Solstice themed herbal tea for a strong immune system boost

Author:

Danielle L at www.TheTenaciousCrasis.com

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Ingredients

1 cup young Pine Needles, fresh, crushed
To taste dried Spearmint Leaves
To taste dried Rosemary Leaves
To taste dried Chamomile Flower
3 cups water

Instructions

Pick young pine needles from healthy trees, crush and roll needles, chop into two inch sections if desired
Bring water to rolling boil, remove from heat
Add all ingredients to water, cover
Steep until pine needles have fallen to the bottom.
Strain into mug and enjoy!

Notes

Measure ingredients to fit personal preference. Steep longer for stronger tea.
If desired, add green tea leaves after pine needles have sunk and steep for two-three minutes
Stir in desired amount of raw unfiltered local honey after tea is safe temperature to drink

http://www.livengoodintegratives.com/celebrating-solstice-yule-tea/

Let me know how you like this tea! Join me in conversation in the comments below! Tell me about how you celebrate this time of year, and your goals for the coming year!

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Five Easy and Practical Gifts for Your Outdoor Enthusiast

by Danielle

Posted: December 2, 2017

Here it is, the first week of December, and now it is time to admit; ’tis the season. The tree and ornaments are up in trade of the pumpkin that has rotted and been submit to the hillside for the deer and birds to pick over. At work I hum “Mr. Grinch” to tone over one of the many irritating iterations of “Santa Baby” (in a desperate attempt to maintain the current scraps of sanity I may or may not actually have a hold of…) This time of giving is often heavily innervated with over-consumption and frivolous spending in an overall wasteful manner; and I always get a little sour watching this human behavior ripen. It doesn’t have to be that way! Practical purchases can make for just as exciting gifts, and serve more purpose than making someone’s eyes sparkle at their novelty.

Seriously there is no point in buying someone a gift that they can’t really use. Wasteful spending contributing to clutter just doesn’t make any sense. Get something that is needed, or at the very least will be put to good use! In response to prompting from some friends and family for suggestions, I’ve compiled a quick list of easy gifts for outdoor enthusiasts. These five practical products will always be put to good use helping to keep loved ones safe and well equipped on their adventures in the outdoors. For campers, backpackers, day time hikers and nighttime escapists – this is money well spent.

This post contains affiliate links. Read about my policies here

LifeStraw

This simple gadget is an incredible invention backed by and incredible company. LifeStraw is a portable water filtering system that allows you to drink any water, anywhere, with no wait time. The company meets high marks for ethical practices, commit to providing a child in developing countries clean and safe drinking water for a full school year for every product sold. The filter has to be replaced after heavy use, but according to the specs on their site, it boasts the following features for 20 bucks, with free USPS shipping

Filters up to 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of water
Removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria (>LOG 6 reduction), including E-Coli
Removes 99.9% of waterborne protozoan parasites (>LOG 3 reduction), including Giardia & Cryptosporidium
Reduces turbidity, filtering down to 0.2 microns
Ultralight: weighs only 2oz

I’ll be using the LifeStraw as my secondary water purifying system while thru-hiking the Colorado Trail (the other a UV light system) These would be great in emergency, SOL, SHTF and prep kits or bags as well!

Headlamp

Headlamps come in handy in any low light scenario. Hands-free lighting is the way to go in any active situation, from setting up camp to navigating your engine compartment – everyone could use a headlamp.

This lightweight lamp would be at home on a backpacking trip, or night fishing in the gulf, with its myriad of features. It has proximity and distance settings, strobe, dimming, red light for night vision, a lock mode, and is water resistant. At fourty dollars, there are cheaper lamps out there – but few could begin to stand up to the competition. This one is my pick!

Knife

A good knife is one of the most important pieces of safety and survival equipment you can carry. Everyone should have a reliable knife. When on an adventure, you absolutely need a lightweight and capable knife for so many reasons and uses. Foldable knives with easy opening and blade lock are ideal, partially serrated blades come in handy more than strictly fine edged options.

I’ve carried a meaty Gerber for years, cutting open hay bales just as easily as it serves to protect. I’ll be picking up this lighter weight knife by the same brand that has served me and others very very well.

For the record, I didn’t pick this knife out of brand loyalty – I narrowed down all of my ideal specs and after going through many reviews, this handy little dandy came out on top.

Wallet Multi-tool Comb

This is the most whimsical little gift on my list, but the pocket headgehog is a genuinely useful (and delightful) little tool. At less than an once, and the size of a credit card, you can carry this super low profile comb anywhere. Use it on your ratty sleeping bag hair, or to smooth some tangles during a night out downtown. Use it on your dog! It features four wrenches, a phillips style screwdriver head, bottle oppener, and may be used as a phone stand or rigged as a money clip.

Practical can be fun too!

Survival Kit

A pre-packaged survival kit is not a bad idea for anyone to have. For long ventures you may want to pece together your own emergency, survival, and first aid kit tailored to you and the situations you may encounter, but an easy basic kit is great to have in your day pack or car.

This SOL kit comes in a waterproof bag and contains a handful of useful short term emergency supplies. This includes a compass, survival blanket, a mini Rescue Flash signal mirror, whistl, survival fishing kit packed in a vial, waterproof fire starter and a roll of 50 in. x 2 in. duct tape. At 5.4 ounces, anyone can afford this safety precaution.

Let me know in the comments below if you have any experience with these products, or if you pick them up – review them with me!

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Crew Feature: Morgan

by Danielle

Posted: November 19, 2017

My team is made up of a bunch of four legged monsters; head-strong and inspirational, my little boogers are invaluable to me and my life. They help to keep me accountable, and because I’ve already written about my main man Charlie, and my big guy Leroy, I figured it is high time for little Mo to have her spotlight.

Morgan was six months old when she came to us. In that short amount of time she had passed through many hands, submit to and removed from the humane society three times for one reason or another. They inaccurately listed her as a pit bull/german shepherd mix – the best guess of a shelter worker looking at a shaking adolescent dog.

My sister picked her up there one day, hoping to add a companion to her pack. But this little dog was entirely too difficult a case and required a great deal more time than most could afford. She was a wreck, unable to adjust and get along with an established dog; Morgan was headed back to the shelter for her fourth entry.

It was at this point that my father interceded. Morgan would be staying in the family, no matter the means. She came to us a shaking little thing, shrinking away from every noise and movement. Anywhere she went she did so low to the ground, pancaked in constant fear. She would barely eat unless everything was just so. Her only solace was her new brother Charlie, whom she locked onto at every chance.

She was like this for months, barely making any forward progress. She came to enjoy hikes, and leashed trips to the dog park – if she got out of your hands it would be an hours long effort to trap and get ahold of her again. One day she began acting off – even more so, and we had the startling realization that this reportedly spayed dog was in heat.

Somehow, she had made it through the humane society three separate occasions with ‘spayed’ on her paperwork, and no one ever actually did the procedure. When we took her in for the surgery, she understandably experienced a set-back in her progress.

Through relentless patience she slowly began to come around and bond to the rest of the family, one by one. It was a year before she reached relative normality. A year. She still won’t let on when she is injured; as a heavily self-reliant dog she doesn’t trust you to carefully tend to her injuries.

Her personality came out, eventually, and it continues to grow as a strongly vocal, heavily insistent, bull headed little tyrant who absolutely will get what she wants. She’s a regular pack member now. The little girl who couldn’t be trusted outdoors now is an off-leash dream (though she does wear a radio tone collar to keep her and wildlife safe in response to her extreme prey drive). She comes running when she’s called, she sits and heals and, begrudgingly, lays at command on daily hikes. She ignores other parties in the wilderness, simply living to be outside and venture out on hikes.

The wild little shithead goes everywhere at a dead run, ears folded back and tongue slanging about as she rampages through cactus and thorn bushes in hot pursuit of the next exciting scent or obstacle. She loves to sunbathe, and hates that bastard squirrel. The short-haired little nugget knows when its too cold out and she needs her jacket. I just can’t imagine our pack without her.

Despite the amount of work and time she needed, I would never turn back. Little Mo is our kissy pie dog, she is all the more appreciated for her struggles.

Of course I encourage anyone who has the time and means to provide what is needed for a rescue dog, to adopt.

There are more dogs in the world than we can responsibly handle. Perpetuating this problem by putting in a thousand plus dollar order for a pure bred puppy in an unborn litter directly contributes to a rampant and abusive problem.

Do what you can to help; donate, adopt, and promote rescue animals.

Click here to find an animal shelter near you

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Harvest Breakfast: Pumpkin Apple Quinoa

by Danielle

Posted: November 5, 2017November 5, 2017

We’ve been busy this month. Wrapping up certain school requirements, getting ahead. Hiking, playing, visiting friends, enjoying a new balance between work and life. Halloween has come and gone, and every night we have watched the progression of the harvest moon, and smiled as our copper friend rises. This morning’s breakfast is in honor and reflection of this time of year, when the brisk air is so finely complimented by the spice of cinnamon and good company.

This isn’t the first breakfast recipe I’ve put out, but it is the first ‘sweet’ recipe I’ve written for the blog. I’m excited to share a healthy sweet meal. This filling breakfast is a more nutrient dense alternative to the traditional oatmeal. Replacing oatmeal with quinoa is a great step to take towards health through efficient nutrition. Keeping the heart healthy benefits of “whole grains” while cranking up quality protein content is a no-brainer. This is the powerful type of breakfast I’d love to be able to freeze-dry and take backpacking, it would be great to fuel me along the 500 mile Colorado-trail.

The warm fall flavors of spiced apple and pumpkin are ultra-comforting, while providing ample nutrients and fiber from whole food sources. Packing in vegetables and fruit to your breakfast is a great way to wake up your system and fuel you throughout the day.

Stirring in the subtle creaminess of chopped nuts, coconut milk, and a touch of butter adds a satisfying and sustaining boost of beneficial fats and proteins. A drizzle of local raw honey on top creates a final irresistible homey aroma. I’ll be making this filling and powerful breakfast several times this season – it makes for great fuel before chilly fall hikes and active, busy days.

This recipe yields two hearty, filling servings. Take a look at the summarized nutritional benefits of the ingredients below before getting started on this delicious and simple recipe! I’ve included links to more in-depth articles for those who crave more information!

Quinoa

Quinoa is packed full of vitamins and minerals like zinc, folate, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese and phosphorous. It is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. Quinoa is a seed, heavy in low glycemic, slow digesting carbohydrates with a good amount of fiber.

Quinoa is cooked as one part grain/two parts water. Measure one cup dry quinoa, pour into a fine mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly, until suds no longer form. Drain and place in pan. Cover with two cups water, and bring to rolling boil. Turn your heat down to low and place a tightly fitting lid over pot – allow to simmer for fifteen minutes – do not remove the lid. After fifteen minutes, turn off stove or remove from heat, and allow to sit covered for five minutes. After that, your quinoa should be ready to fluff, very lightly salt, and good to go!

Apple

Apples, skin on, are one of the healthiest fruits you can regularly consume. For such a simple and accessible fruit, they pack a whole lot of nutrition. I’ll summarize below, but check out this article for some in-depth nutrition facts and a bit of history on apples.

An average apple contains 5g of heart and gut healthy fiber(that’s about 20% DV) They contain notable amounts of vitamin C for immune health, Vitamin A for eye health, and even calcium and iron.

I would prefer to use a Honeycrisp apple for his recipe, because they are my favorite. I had Red Delicious available, so used that. Use your favorite variety!

Pumpkin Puree

Other than contributing a whole lot of fiber, pumpkin provides ample amounts of Vitamin A, K, C, E, etc. The popular squash also contains notable amounts of minerals; Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, and Manganese. Read a full nutritional analysis here!

You can make your own pumpkin puree by baking or boiling pie variety pumpkins. If you have the time, I recommend baking halved, cleaned pumpkins and pureeing the resulting carmelized flesh. Boiling results in a runnier puree, but you are able to include the skin with this method – and amp up the fiber and nutrient content. Alternatively, pick up quality cans of pumpkin puree at the store and call it good.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk, though calorie dense, is pretty nutritious. It is full of beneficial fatty acids and vitamins. Coconut milk provides a decent serving of protein, a surprising amount vitamin C, niacin and folate. Coconut milk is heavily laden with Manganese, Potassium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Selenium, Copper and zinc. Read this in-depth analysis!

I have used unsweetened vanilla almond milk as a coconut replacement in this recipe – it works just fine for lower calories, though it does cut the creaminess.

Chopped Nuts

Raw nuts like pecans and almonds (which is what I used in this recipe) don’t just add flavor. They add a myriad of health benefits including healthy fats, protein, and important vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and manganese.

Feel free to create your own mix to suit your taste preference; I would have also included walnuts and hazelnuts if I had any on hand

Unsalted Butter

Butter has long been viewed as a dietary evil. This really isn’t the case – but a blanket statement on it’s health is inappropriate. It contains a large amount of saturated fat, but is countered with a variety of health benefits attributed to fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. You have to decide if it fits into your healthy daily diet. Read this article for a more informed opinion.

Either way you choose, this recipe includes only a very small amount of butter, and it is easily excluded. Choose grass-fed butter.

Spices

Herbs and spices add incredible hidden nutrition, flavor, and depth. Explore with your nose and play around, I guarantee when you do this frequently you will become a better cook!

Herbs I used include; Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Ginger. These warming spices are known to increase the metabolism. I added a touch of vanilla extract to taste

If you have a pumpkin or apple pie spice, feel free to use that!

Honey, local and raw

IF you require some added sweetness, feel free to drizzle a bit of local, raw honey over your bowl after it has cooled to the point that it won’t burn your tongue (to keep the beneficial enzymes within good honey active)

Harvest Breakfast: Pumpkin Apple Quinoa

Hearty, homey, and delicious, this fall breakfast quinoa recipe will satisfy on crisp mornings.

5 minPrep Time

5 minCook Time

10 minTotal Time

Yields 2 large servings

Author:

Danielle L at www.TheTenaciousCrasis.com

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Ingredients

Cooked Quinoa 1 cup
Apple, 1 medium, cubed
Pumpkin puree, ½ cup
Coconut Milk, ¼ cup
Chopped nuts, 2 tablespoons
Butter, unsalted, 1 tablespoon
Spice Mix and Vanilla extract – to taste

Instructions

In a pot, melt butter and add diced apples. Cook apples to medium firmness.
Add coconut milk, pumpkin puree. Stir
Add cooked quinoa, and chopped nuts. Add spice mix and vanilla to taste.
Serve up! Drizzle with honey and enjoy a warm fall breakfast!

Notes

Spice mix includes Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Ginger. Pie spice may be substituted.

http://www.livengoodintegratives.com/harvest-breakfast-pumpkin-apple-quinoa-2/

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Update: A Glance Back, and What Lies Ahead

by Danielle

Posted: October 22, 2017

Time is passing quickly now, I suppose it always has. Days seem to slip away faster than ever; my perception is perhaps accelerated by the season. The relentless pursuit spurs me forward. I trod on, pushed and pulled by past and future. Today, though, we are going to step back and check in. This will be a quick update, with fresh expectations for the future, and a little glance back to monitor progress.

This year has been…interesting. It has been a demanding time and I want to thank those of your whom have joined us in support. If one year ago your had told me I would be where I am now, doing what I am doing, I would have laughed, or maybe given you my trademark resting scowl and raised a brow.

Looking Back

A year ago I had just started a new position at work, I had dropped down to part-time and re-started a second hellish job Kay Jewelers. My mother was diagnosed with stage three cancer. I waited in anticipation, and fear, of the cold dark months ahead. Everything was bleak. I needed an out.

Over the course of several months I wrestled with my stark need for privacy and hate for sharing as I tossed around the idea of starting a blog, and a business. I hated the thought of telling people about myself. I’d rather hide in the shadows. I created it anyways.

In constant and often debilitating pain, I reluctantly accepted gift cards for massage, and used them. Research began into the field, and I realized the potential of the career. I wrestled with my overwhelming distaste for intimate connection with humans. I hated the thought of touching people. I enrolled anyways.

In my unending need to keep climbing, and improving, I have lost so much. My relationship failed, because I did not have time. I haven’t seen those I’m closest with, for months on end, because I’m just too busy. Sometimes I lose track of who I am and what my goals actually are in their pursuit. But I have gained so much.

Most importantly, I have learned so much. My perspective has shifted so drastically, and I am so grateful for everything I’ve done for myself, for every comfort zone I have destroyed.

Those that stay around me, that offer their love and help despite my stiff demeanor and iron (stubborn ass) will, are incredible people. I value you more than you will ever know (because I’m an emotional shut in) Thank you for your presence.

What is New

Openly, I will tell you I am struggling now. I’ve entered a dark phase, I’m worn down. Conversationally, this is likely mostly due to my schedule not allowing for enough outdoor time. A lack of sun has a profoundly negative effect on me the older I get. But I’m never going to give in to the cess pool of stagnation.

I’M HALFWAY DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!! Over halfway done, mind you! I couldn’t be more excited about this fact. It has been a draining experience – end commentary.

What is Ahead

Graduation! I’m extremely excited to say that licensing will happen before graduation. My state’s requirements fall short of my school’s requirements. That means that I’ll be OUT of retail and into the business of bodywork, and physically (and magically) destroying people’s problems.

I’ve decided to officially change the posting schedule here to bi-weekly. Keeping up with this blog and all of its extended social platforms is a full-time venture when approached the way I have in the past. I take this seriously, but adding full-time school and work on top of it has been difficult. I’m seeking quality over quantity, and I want to meet those expectations that I set both for myself and for others. Finishing school will mean quitting a job to start a hands on business, and all of he struggle that comes with that sort of start-up. This biweekly posting schedule will be the norm through that process.

I will maintain my focus on growing this platform with quality information, inspiration, and tools – simply at a slower rate than previously planned.

What is your Input?

Please, interact with me in the comments below, and let me know what you’d like to see more of here in the future! Tell me what you’ve liked seeing as we’ve grown, and what you’d like to see more of! Connect with us on any of the following social media platforms!

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Working Gear List: The Big Three

by Danielle

Posted: October 15, 2017October 15, 2017

In anticipation of through hiking the Colorado trail, I’m throwing together a three-part series of articles – a working gear list for backpacking and through hiking. Split into the categories of; ‘the big three’, worn/wearable gear, and carried gear, these lists are intended to be tentative, and invite discussion. Please help me, and others who are reading and planning, by joining us in the comments below; share your recommendations or experiences with backpacking and thru-hiking gear – whether I’ve mentioned it here or not!

This article includes affiliate links. Read about my policies here.

The Big Three

In backpacking, your three main pieces of gear are going to be your pack, your shelter system, and your sleep system. Collectively, they will likely carry the heaviest price tag, and compose the majority of your pack weight. Narrowing this selection down can be tough – these are big purchases that you will rely heavily on, and hopefully use in a myriad of situations for years to come. They may also have accompanying accessories that some will view as optional, and some will view as required.

Will you go ultralight? Will you pack heavy? Will you be the (slightly more) sane person in between that seeks the perfect balance between weight savings and comfort level? There is really a lot to factor in here.

First you need to consider your trip – how long it will be, the nature of the area you will be exploring, and the conditions of the season you will be facing. If you are trekking for two weeks through Montana in the dead of winter, your needs are going to differ pretty drastically from someone venturing out for three days backpacking a section of the PCT in the heat of July.

For all intents and purposes this gear list is geared towards hiking the 500 mile Colorado Trail over the course of 1-1.5 months during the fair weather time period between late June through mid-September. Very loosely adjusted, it will suit any adventure within similar parameters.

Written from a female perspective, this gear list is easily adjustable to be male specific with very few tweaks.

The Pack

For most backpacking ventures, a pack with anywhere between 55-75 liter capacity is going to do the job. Most backpackers and through hikers carry a pack that sits at about 65 liters. (keep in mind that a pack advertised at 65L will have variance in capacity depending on the size your torso dictates) Ultralight hikers (are usually very experienced hikers) tend to carry a smaller capacity bag, toting less and lighter specialty gear.

I am not an ultralight hiker. Maybe someday I will be, but honestly I doubt it.

My criteria for a pack are pretty limited. I’m looking for a standard 65 L, women’s specific pack that is well balanced and isn’t excessively hefty. Narrowing down the search criteria, I would specify; an internal frame, a mesh back panel for breathability, and a color that is pleasing to me and that may contrast with other selected gear in the event that I needed to be spotted from the air. At this point in time there are three packs that sit at the top of my radar – the incredibly popular (and for good reason) Osprey Aura 65, the comparable REI Traverse 65 (that I am currently hiking with to test), and the Osprey Ariel 65.

Osprey Aura 65

This pack is, at this point in time, the gold standard for thru-hikers. Osprey is a great company with incredible packs. The only reason I may not decide to go with this pack is (and I know this is petty) how much I dislike both color options. Osprey, aside from being a quality company that builds amazing gear, has the advantage here in my eyes for being a local Colorado Company (headquartered in the south eastern side of our lovely state in Cortez) Find the men’s version here

REI Traverse 65

I have been testing this pack for about a month now, I picked this pack up for 40% off during this years’ REI Memorial Day sale. It is very likely that I will hold onto it and hike the trail with it, simply for savings’ sake. All in all it is a good pack and I do like it so far. REI has the advantage of collecting data about what works and what doesn’t from top brands and putting together really great gear, often at a lower price. The men’s version can be found

Osprey Ariel 65

This pack is, much like the Aura, a very popular choice with thru-hikers. It has the advantage over the Aura of being airplane friendly, but costs more – and possibly a little less user friendly. The color options here are slightly more appealing to me, but I believe I would still choose the Aura in a side by side. The men’s version is the Aether

Shelter System

Most backpackers seem to carry a one person tent. Ultralight hikers often choose a minimalist tarp type that sets up with their trekking poles. Some choose, or need, a two person tent, and others go with a hammock system. I’m going to go ahead and shoot down the idea of an ultralight tarp for myself right now – kudos to those of you that feel secure going with that option; the weight savings must really be great.

It is also unlikely that I will go with a one person tent, for several reasons. First and foremost, I don’t have the type of disposable income that will allow me to have a backpacking tent that is separate from a general use camping tent – it must serve both purposes and therefore must boast enough room to comfortably fit myself, Charlie, our gear, and in a pinch another person or animal. Secondly, my paranoid brain won’t accept a tent with only one entrance/exit. This narrows my search down to a lightweight two person tent, or a hammock system

There are considerable pros and cons to either choice, and in the long run I’d really like to own both of these options. But for this trail? I haven’t quite decided. On the one hand, hammocking is really amazing – your shelter and your sleeping system are one in the same, your quality of sleep is likely to be greater, and you don’t have to find flat, comfortable ground to pitch your tent. But. You do need to reliably have trees or sturdy posts, and the entire setup is often heavier and more expensive.

With a tent for a shelter system, you carry your poles, tent body, fly, and (optionally) your footprint (or tarp, to protect the bottom of your tent) and, to pair with your sleep system, a pad and sleeping bag/quilt.

With a hammock you carry; the hammock, straps, ‘tarp’, likely an insect net, your underquilt, and top quilt/bag (in colder weather you may also carry a pad to slip into the hammock for added insulation)

Both options are good choices. It is likely that for this venture I will choose a two person tent and create a Tyvek ‘footprint’ for it to keep the cost of gear a little lower, but we will see. If I were to go with a hammock system, it would be Kammok brand all the way (except for my sleeping bag/top quilt because I have definitely already made that purchase…) Kammok is a newer, Texas based company with innovative gear, and I may or may not be obsessed.

Assuming I go with a two person tent, I am currently looking at two Tent options, neither of which I am particularly jazzed about – I’d love to hear suggestions from others…

The Nemo Hornet

The MSR Freelite

I simply can’t decide between these two, which is likely why I am still so heavily considering the extra weight and expense of the following hammock system

The Hammock Route

The Kammok Roo is a ‘two person’ hammock that sets the standard. Hanging with Kammok’s ultra-tree friendly Python Straps is the way to go.

Parts of the CT are notorious for mosquitos (I’m looking at you, Clear Creek) and I am not about that life. I’ll tell you about the time I came back from Clear Creek with (very literally) 248 individual, distinct mosquito bites. I had mosquito bites in places I couldn’t even see. Never. Again. So what I’m getting at is this, I would also likely buy and carry Dragonfly Bug Net.

What I can’t decide on yet is which of their two shelters I would purchase. I would very much like the Glider

– it is incredibly feature rich, including a water collection system.

On the other hand, the Kuhli costs significantly less and weighs less too (though only by three ounces)

Sleep System

Bag/Quilt

Your sleep system is going to be dependent on what type of shelter system you have chosen. If you are using a tarp or tent, you’re going to need a sleeping pad, and a bag or quilt. Furthermore, if you will go with an inflatable pad, a foam pad (and for that matter what type of foam, closed or open cell, as well as full length, half length, or torso length) Most hikers are going to choose a lightweight down mummy bag for its superior warmth, and a full length pad. Ultralight hikers may opt for a mummy bag, an Ultralight quilt, and a half or torso length pad.

I can’t handle that. I already have my insulating bag, a lightweight water resistant down semi-rectangular bag by Sea to Summit. I chose this because I hate to be restricted in the way that mummy bags swaddle so tightly, and I have the option to unzip it into a trail quilt with a foot box, or sleep in the closed bag.

My bag is no longer made, but the updated version looks impressive. There are so many choices in sleeping bags it can be overwhelming.

Click here for a narrowed down list of options – on the left of the page you can then choose your height range, and if you prefer mummy or semi rectangular. It should be much more simple to choose from there. There are men’s and women’s bags because women tend to sleep colder than men, and require a higher down count to maintain the same temperature

This is the updated version of the bag I purchased. The men’s version is here

If I didn’t already have a bag I would really consider the Nemo Jam15 , or the Big Agnes (pro for being a Colorado company!) Roxy Ann 15

You should really pick up a sleeping bag liner. It will help protect your investment by keeping your bag clean, and will also add a bit of insulation. I picked up the Cocoon Silk Mummy liner after narrowing down the list of options and finding it to be the best choice. Honestly though, it remains to be seen if I will be responsible enough to go through with taking it on this trip.

If you’re going with a hammock, you could opt for a trail quilt, or just use your go to sleeping bag for your top insulation. But you will need insulation underneath you. There are several companies that offer custom made underquilts, such as Enlightened Equipment, who make enviable gear. It is likely, however, that I would stick with Kammok brand and pick up the Koala underquilt

Pad

Now you need to decided what type of pad you want. Foam pads can be trimmed to your desired size for weight savings, but inflatable pads provide more comfort. Again, I’ve already made my purchase as far as my pad goes. I picked up this Big Agnes pad on sale, I really love it. It is an inflatable pad, so I do risk puncturing and having to patch it, but I prefer the comfort and insulation it provides. The bright orange is another plus when considering safety and visibility. Get it now on sale before its gone!

The therma rest pro-lite is another good option as a self-inflating, lightweight, insulated pad

If you’re going to go with a foam pad, you are definitely not alone. I would, like many thru-hikers, choose the therma rest Z Sol pad – it is incredibly economical, and really a great choice.

That wraps up my musings concerning the Big Three

What gear do you have, or what gear are you looking at?

Join the conversation below and help others get out there! Look forward soon to the next two articles covering worn gear and carried

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Why Duck Eggs are better than Chicken Eggs

More Nutritious

Better Tasting

Longer Lasting

Those who are allergic to common chicken eggs are likely to be able to consume duck eggs without problem

Our free range, organic duck eggs are now available for local purchase in limited quantities

The eggs weren’t the only reason why we chose ducks over chickens

Why Ducks are Better Farmstead Animals….

Hardier and Healthier

Less Maintenance

Better for the Garden

Are there any cons to ducks?

Some people are intolerant or allergic to duck eggs, like me.

Will I ever get chickens?

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And now it is time to play catch up.

I entered into 2019 with little direction.

I’m so excited and humbled to have taken these classes, and even more excited and grateful to be able to say that I am the first therapist to bring Sarga Rx to Colorado!

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Constant. Constant. Constant.

But I don’t. Its incredible, in the middle of it.

My peace of mind thanks me for it.

My life is better spent outside,

It was an incredible turn of luck that brought me to Revive, and so far one of the best things to come out of running this blog.

In August, my close acquaintance and I will depart on our 30 day through-hike of the Colorado trail.

This year holds an incredible amount of potential.

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The first step in building a career in Health

Chirapsia

So what is it that I do, exactly?

Integrative Eclectic Table work

NeuroMuscular Therapy

Trigger Point

Deep Tissue

Lymphatic Drainage

Thai Yoga Massage

Cupping

What does this mean for the blog, and for you, my readers?

What role does massage play in promoting health?

But why do I always feel so beat up after an intense massage?

Before engaging in a massage…

Alrighty then, how can I apply massage to benefit myself?

I’m down! How is it going to benefit my loved ones?

Future non-massage plans for Chirapsia Bodyworks

Support Small Business! Opt for small and locally owned business when paying for services and goods! Please feel free to share my business with others. Referrals are always heavily appreciated!

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It is not usually so.

It is not your responsibility to save everyone

Only those making the effort need make the cut.

This frees a loop on your belt.

Now imagine a dynamic team.

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What did 2017 Look Like?

What Goals I Set, and What Goals I Met

What 2018 Will Look Like?

What the New Goals are

2017 was a transformational year, no doubt. But 2018? It’s time to dominate.

Writing and sharing your goals Makes it more likely that you will achieve them

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Holidays and History

Celebrating the Solstice

Pine Needles

Spearmint

Rosemary

Chamomile

Danielle L at www.TheTenaciousCrasis.com

Let me know how you like this tea! Join me in conversation in the comments below! Tell me about how you celebrate this time of year, and your goals for the coming year!

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Let me know in the comments below if you have any experience with these products, or if you pick them up – review them with me!