"S & M"
Living It Up Alternatively
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it." Chinese proverb
Grow. Eat. Live.

Grow. Eat. Live.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2025
A CUP OF GOLD TEA
"S & M"
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
All About Your Eyes
Monday, May 27, 2024
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
"Mental Health"
This video vignette is a must watch because we all must sound the alarm on talking about Mental Health. The world is in a crisis on the rising increase of mental illness. May is Mental Health Awareness month. Please take sometime and sit down to watch this very important video on Mental Health with your family and friends. Please share this video to your family and friends.
Check out the full episode recently released on Rea Living It Up Alternatively YouTube channel click here Mental Health Awareness Month
"If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation."
Monday, October 30, 2023
Welcome to Rea Living It Up Alternatively
"The Grow Life"
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tomatoes & holy basil |
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white horehound |
Enjoy viewing the official launch of the Rea Living It Up Alternatively urban garden series 2023 #1.
Thursday, August 24, 2023
A Nature Connection
"Talking to plants is one way of talking directly to Spirit"
Persimmon Tree |
Communicating with nature is beneficial for living in regards to our mental and physical health. When you are connected with nature there is usually a sense of happy feelings and positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, focus, and creativity.
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A perfect opportunity to connect with nature |
According to the article from Colorado State University by CSU MarComm Staff "The top 5 health benefits of interacting with nature" there are scientific evidence behind it, such as, the article from Science Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective and journal research from National Center for Biotechnology Information A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye, showing that people who have nearby nature environment settings have been found to be overall healthier than other individuals.
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Home in the wilderness |
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Connecting with nature around a wood-burning fire pit |
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Roasting marshmallows over a open fire pit |
Connecting with nature with utilizing your senses of taste and smell.
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Embracing the nature environment with groups of people |
Mood (spirit) lifts up to happy and joy.
The next time when you take a walk outside, look closely around your surroundings, try to connect with nature (flower, a tree, bird, sky) and let the brain (mind) get in tune to what vibes (emotions) that may come upon you.
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Evening blue sky |
Take a moment to check in with yourself on "How Am I Feeling Today?"
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
WHAT FAMILY MEMBER OF THE ZINGIBERACEAE IS LOVING THE SUMMER HEAT?
"Zingiber Officinale"
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Ginger root (rhizome) |
Ginger is super beneficial to the human body. It's one of the most sought out spice in the world. The rhizome is either used as a spice in foods or as a healing aid in alternative medicine. There are many forms of ginger being utilized, such as, fresh, dried, crystalized, tablets, capsules, liquid extracts, and essential oil.
- Prevents motion sickness
- Help to quell nausea
- Prevent vomiting
- Relieve menstrual cramps
- Relieve the chills and congestion of a cold
- Relieve flatulence (gas)
- Anticancer properties *Recent studies reported the beta ionone, a terpenoid found in ginger gives anticancer properties
- Pain reliever - ginger blocks the pro-inflammatory prostaglandins
- Help hemorrhoids
- Treat diarrhea
- Protect brain cells from the plaques that cause Alzheimer's disease
- Stimulate appetite
- Relieve indigestion
- Treat arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Respiratory ailments
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Grown outdoors 7-14-21 |
Ginger is the member of the Zingiberaceae family. It's relatives are turmeric, cardamom, and galangal. The leafy plant can grow up to three feet tall and produces clusters of greenish purple flowers.
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Grown Indoors 6-17-21 |
- Purchase pieces of the rhizomes from either local supermarkets or farmer's market. *Preferably organic if possible
- Use a nice size container
- Use good potting soil. Mix the potting soil with peat moss and perlite
- *Optional add organic herb fertilizer
- Place the rhizomes flat in the soil and cover the top of the rhizomes with soil
- Water it once the rhizomes are nicely fitted in the container
- Then place your pot container in a nice sunny window sill
- Watch it sprout up leaves in a few days or so
How to grow ginger outdoors in your garden raised bed?
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
DO YOU KNOW YOUR EGGS?
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Eggs. Eggs. Eggs. |
- The bird is feed organic, vegetarian, antibiotic free diet
- The bird is uncaged and allowed outdoors
- Farms are inspected by the USDA yearly
- Generally states the obvious "egg"
- No artificial flavors or colors or synthetic ingredients in the eggs themselves
- Uncaged bird may live indoors full time but usually have room to walk, perch, and nest
- Free range are more likely to have outdoor access than cage free
- Uncaged bird may live indoors full time but not enough space to nest, flap their wings, and perch
- Hormone and antibiotic free diet
- Farms are inspected annually by an independent certifier
- Birds are given flaxseed and other sources of omega-3s in order to fortify the eggs
- The amount of omega-3s can range from 250 mg per egg to 40 mg
- The yolk is rich in omega-3 fats, the polyunsaturated fats associated with lower risk of heart disease and stroke
- These eggs are low in saturated fat and are a better source of vitamin E than regular eggs
- The birds that laid the eggs may have been confined to cages
- Both are equally nutritious
- They just comes from different breeds of chicken
Egg Facts
- Egg yolks are one of the few foods that contain natural vitamin D
- Eggs age more in one day at room temperature than in one week in the refrigerator
- Besides vitamin D, an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, vitamin A, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, amino acids, and iron
- Rich in choline
- A risk of salmonella if not fully cooked
- Yolks are high in cholesterol
- A common cause of food allergy
- Keep eggs toward the back of your main part of the refrigerator which is cooler than the inside of the door
- Leave the eggs in the original dated carton
- Stores up to 5 weeks in refrigerator
The basic guide provided above will help you not be overwhelmed or confused in picking up a carton of eggs.
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
DOES YOUR BODY NEED AN ENERGY BOOST?
- Vitamin B12
- CoQ10 (coenzyme) Ubiquinol - your body naturally produces this but as you get older it declines. It is useful for blood circulation. When I'm traveling long distance (more than 2 hours), such as, air flight, car or bus I like to take a supplement of CoQ10.
- Holy Basil (tulsi) - increases resistance to energy draining stress by stabilizing cortisol and blood sugar levels. I love to make holy basil tea with fresh leaves with flowers or dried.
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dried Tulsi Holy Basil |
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fresh Tulsi Holy Basil (the gift that keeps on giving) |
- Ashwagandha root - relieves stress, improves concentration, and increase energy levels. I like to add the powder in my oatmeal or smoothies.
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Ashwagandha root powder |
- Stinging Nettle - is high in vitamin B1 and zinc that fuel your metabolism. It helps with allergies as well. I love drinking nettle tea.
- Matcha green tea - highly packed with rich antioxidants catechins, a plant compound, maintains healthy weight, energy, boosts brain function, protect the liver, promote heart health, and prevent cancer. This is my best tea I love to drink.
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organic Matcha tea ceremonial grade (highest quality) |
Thursday, August 20, 2020
GET ACTIVE
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Don't be still. Be active. |
Thursday, July 30, 2020
THROWBACK THURSDAY
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Arrived July 30, 2015 Bangkok, Thailand on Emirates Airlines |
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Arrived July 30, 2015 12:00 a.m. Bangkok International Airport, Thailand |
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Arriving off the escalators at Bangkok International Airport, Thailand July 30, 2015 |
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Mom and I at one of the most popular Markets in Bangkok Jatujak Market August 1, 2015 |
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The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand August 1, 2015 |
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At the Grand Palace complex one of the statues and buildings in Bangkok, Thailand August 1, 2015 |
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Niagara Falls (United States border side)first arrival August 25, 2012 in the evening 8:36 pm Eastern |
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friend Vanessa taking a rest stop moment to enjoy Phoenix nature scenery Our last day in Arizona driving back to Phoenix airport from Flagstaff April 24, 2013 9:23 a.m. PST |
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I just had to get in between these two tall cactus plants Our last day in Arizona driving back to Phoenix airport from Flagstaff April 24, 2013 9:24 a.m. PST |
Street name ceremony in memory of Bishop Clarence V. Keaton, Jr. June 20, 2011 12:46 p.m. Eastern time |
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Driving pass Saint Joseph Plantation on a bus tour provided by "Plantation Adventure" One of the last Creole farmhouse July 28, 2018 1:11 p.m. Central time |
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A Slave bed inside a slave cabin on the Whitney Plantation July 28, 2018 2:59 p.m. Central time Louisiana |
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R.I.P. John Robert Lewis Laid to rest today, July 30, 2020 Thank you for your dedication and leadership in the Civil Rights Movement |