If you are a friend of mine, you know that any time you have an ailment I’m going to suggest apple cider vinegar as a cure. A best friend and proponent of this health potion got me drinking it years ago. Now, it’s a daily habit.

I know a few of you who have listened to me and bought ACV, but I also know that it’s just sitting there, still sealed, in your cabinet. I’m here to say DON’T FEAR THE VINEGAR. Embrace it. Here’s what you need to know, and to be clear, these are my opinions. I’m not a medical expert. I’m a blogger, so if you’re going to try it, please talk to your doctor first.

1. Buy organic, unfiltered, unpasteurized ACV with little bits of fleshy substance called the Mother. I get Bragg. It has all the good stuff you’re looking for in your apple cider vinegar.

2. Drink 1 or 2 teaspoons of ACV mixed with cold water, up to 3 times a day. Bragg suggests you mix in honey, but I don’t like honey in my drinks – not even tea – so I’m sure as heck not going to mix it with vinegar. *shudder* I actually drink mine like a shot. I take 4 teaspoons, straight, with a water chaser, once a day.

3. No matter how you do it, it’s going to taste bad. It’s vinegar, people. Plug your nose and drink it.

4. I take a shot about 30 minutes before a cross-fit workout for a little energy boost. My trainer swears by it, as long as I don’t breathe on him.

5. It’s great for sore throats. Mix a couple of teaspoons in 1/4 cup of water, gargle and swallow. My daughter says it doesn’t help, but I found out that she was only saying that so I wouldn’t make her do it anymore. See #3. For the record, since I made her start gargling ACV for sore throats, she hasn’t had strep. Not in years.

6. A few months ago, I had heartburn so bad that I thought I was having a heart attack. I took over the counter antacids, then switched to prescription antacids, and it wouldn’t go away. I was in so much pain in the middle of the night and I thought I’d try ACV.  I have no idea what made me think of it, because it seems counter-intuitive, but within minutes of drinking, the heartburn lessened. I drank more about an hour later and the heartburn went away completely. Then I found a bunch of people on the Internet who said the same thing. (Note: If you think you’re having a heart attack, don’t drink vinegar. Go to the ER.)

7. Clear up a pimple by dabbing it with a cotton ball dipped in ACV.

8. Do the same thing to treat a sunburn.

9. Though we have never had lice (*knocks on ALL THE WOOD*), I once thought we had lice so I soaked my head in apple cider vinegar, covered it with a shower cap, then wrapped it in a towel and went to bed. The “lice” turned out to be dandruff, but my hair was super shiny the next day!

10. I can’t prove it has done these things for me, but ACV is purported to help lower cholesterol and glucose levels.

So what do you have to lose? Plug your nose and bottoms up!

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Since the 60-day Fitness Challenge has ended, I’ve decided that I need a new goal. Sure, I have a 5K coming up, but that’s not until September. According to my trainer, I should be able to run a 10K by then. Though, this is the same guy who thinks it’s perfectly normal for people to be in pain so severe they can’t straighten their arms.

We know I can do the vegan thing. It’s been over a year that I removed animal products from my diet in order to lower my cholesterol without meds.

I’ve been told the next step in my journey to good health (and pretty much the sole reason why I haven’t lost much weight) is giving up wheat. This won’t be easy for me. And, to be clear, removing beer from my diet is not on the table. I’m talking about cereal, bread, tortillas, but not beer. M’kay?

In addition, I’m bored with what I’ve been able to do with fruits and vegetables. It’s time to mix things up, so to speak.

Some people are going to think I’m crazy, and by “some people” I am specifically referring to my husband. But, this juice machine is going to be my new best friend.

If my friends and family think I’m a pain in the butt because I’m a vegan, just wait until I tell them that I’m drinking nothing but juice for the next 10 days! Oh, and water. And, coffee. And, beer. But, other than that…just juice! *cue jazz hands*

The idea behind this challenge is to make sure I’m getting the nutrients I need by infusing my dietary intake with new flavors and combinations and do it at the same time that I’m trying to give up wheat. Maybe I won’t miss it as much that way.

After 10 days, I will continue to drink juice and slowly add in beans, rice, nuts, and oats.

This morning’s breakfast was delicious! Red pepper, carrots, lemon, and grapefruit. Those gritty things at the top of the glass are chia seeds which I added for protein. Sprouted green hair coming out of my head will just be a bonus.

So, wish me luck! I’m going to need it once my husband finds out that I bought a juicer!

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I am not a good photographer, I don’t measure everything when I cook, and occasionally I make stuff that tastes. Just. Plain. Bad.

But sometimes I create something in the kitchen that is really tasty and I want to start sharing the recipes with you. Keep in mind they will be mostly, if not all, vegan. Talking to my brother-in-law about his spontaneous bicep rupture because of the statin he’s been taking furthered my resolve to stick to a no-cholesterol diet. Whenever possible, recipes contain whole foods, because that’s my next step in the right direction. Getting rid of processed junk. After that, I conquer the world!

I decided to share this recipe after my 10 year old son licked his bowl clean. Before I conquer the world, I should work on his table manners.

Blurry and taken with my iPhone. I wasn’t lyin’.

Eggplant Chili

Serves 4 to 6

1/2 of a large yellow onion, peeled and diced

2 large eggplants, peeled and diced

1/4 teaspoon minced garlic

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1 can medium chili beans

4 tbsp Bragg Nutritional Yeast

salt and pepper to taste

3 tbsp chopped basil

2 cups fresh kale (torn into small pieces with center stem removed)

Using NO oil, place the onions in a large saucepan and saute over medium heat. You can add a little water if the onions stick, but you shouldn’t need to. After 8 to 10 minutes, add the tomatoes and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the eggplant, chili beans, basil, salt, pepper, and Nutritional Yeast. Cover and simmer for a few minutes until the eggplant softens. Add the kale, cover and simmer again for a few minutes until the kale softens.

Enjoy!

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Although I haven’t done much shopping yet because that’s what happens when you get distracted by Silk Egg Nog, I know what I’ll be buying for almost everyone. If you’re still looking for ideas, here’s a peek at some of my favorite products this year:

For tweens, teens and kids of all ages:

1. Wii U – Nintendo continues to innovate with this new idea in game play. Used as a stand-alone unit or for group-play in person, or online, Wii U adds a whole new level to at-home gaming. You can even video chat! I am mostly looking forward to playing Sing Party with my daughter and her friends, because embarrassing her is a gift to myself.

2. Nintendo 3DS XL – Since its introduction to our house a couple of years ago, we haven’t seen a day go by that the 3DS wasn’t played. My kids love it (and to be honest, so do I). This year, the 3DS XL was released with a screen that’s 90% bigger, which means the adults in our home can play without our reading glasses! What? Old people like Mario too.

3. GrooveBook – GrooveBook is a free app that lets you pick up to 100 photos from your camera roll and turn them into a 4.5″ x 6.5″ photobook. The photobook is mailed to you monthly and you pay $2.99 for shipping. That’s it. You just pay shipping. And, for Momo Fali readers GrooveBook has offered the first month’s shipping COMPLETELY free! Just use promo code MOMOFALI2012.

4. Duracell Instant USB Charger – This small charger lets you add extra hours of use to your iPods, iPhones, Blackberrys and more. It’s a great solution for a problem everyone has. I can toss it in my purse and have instant access to more battery power!

Gifts for her:

1. Vegan Cuts – If the “her” is me, which means she eats vegan, anything from this site makes a great gift. Really. Anything. *cough*

2. Mark and Graham Touch-Screen Cashmere Gloves – I’ve worn fingerless gloves each winter since I got a smartphone, but being able to use your fingers on a touchscreen AND keep them warm? Brilliance. Also, cashmere.

3. Cuisinart Mini Food Processor – Slice, shred, and MAKE HUMMUS in this handy, little food processor. It’s easier to clean and store than it’s bigger counterpart, too. I’m saying this like I own this little beauty. *cough again*

4. SEPHORA by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System – I love to have painted nails, but I hate how the polish starts chipping off the very next day. The last time I got a gel manicure though, the polish stayed on for three weeks. I have no idea if this home system works, but the online reviews say it does. For the woman who gets frequent manis, this seems like a pretty cool concept.

5. Twiztt Cookware by Joan Lunden – Yes, that Joan Lunden. It turns out that her Emmy Award-winning journalism career created a passion for health issues. She has served as “…national spokesperson for campaigns with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the American Lung Association, The American Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and has spearheaded campaigns on colon cancer prevention for the Colon Cancer Alliance and Amgen, and on type II diabetes for Eli Lilly.” Her new cookware line is not only attractive and practical, but also PFOA and PTFE-free, making it eco-friendly and healthier for cooking. Put that in your pan and fry it!

Gifts for him:

1. The Ultimate Heroes Collection from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment – This set contains DVDs of Fantastic Four, X-Men, Elektra, and Daredevil. Need I say more?

2. Cargo-Logic – Have a dog? Check. Have messy kids? Check. Have a husband who likes to use the family SUV to drag rotting bags of wet leaves to the curb? Check. Cargo-Logic is a stain and moisture-resistant barrier that protects your cargo area from the hazards of family life and the smell of moldy yard waste.

3. Stemless Wine Glasses from Mustache Attack – Because wine drinking needs more testosterone. Period.

4. DryCASE – My husband is a fisherman and this vacuum-sealed case offers full touch-screen functionality and is waterproof to 100 feet. It’s perfect for skiing, kayaking, or even rainy-day football games. Also, drunk canoeing.

5. Major League Baseball 2K12 – Any guy who likes baseball has envisioned himself hitting one out of the park during the World Series®. This is about as close as he’ll ever get. No offense, fellas.

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