Hello fabulous Rescuegirls! As I stare at this blank screen and watch the flashing cursor, I realize that I have not written in so long and I just don't know where to begin!!

I've been working on Yoga to the Rescue II and helping my brother revamp his website; he founded a nonprofit children's adoption organization, so it is hard to say "no" to him even though I'm so busy and often tired.

But I have a new plan and this is where I will start! Saying "no" to amazing things like helping my brother and trying to find homes for rescue dogs would break my heart, but I'm totally nackered (British for being f-----g tired as hell), soooooo I need to supersize my energy throughout the day in order to accomplish more--brilliant! After researching and reading for weeks, I stumbled upon the "guru" that is going to truly turn me into superwoman. Her name is Natalia Rose, a clinical nutritionist with a great spirit and a pretty awesome approach to food and living: www.detoxtheworld.com. I just bought her book, Raw Food Life Force Energy, and I'm going to start her 21 day plan on Friday.

What I love about her approach is she's laid back. Unlike other raw foodies who think cooked food is toxic garbage, Natalia incorporates sprouted breads, baked yams, lovely dark chocolate and even goat cheese! But this isn't the only reason I will be worshipping at the alter of Natalia for the next 21 days, Natalia also has this food combining thing that makes so much sense. She combines food to make it easily digestible, as well as PH balanced. I didn't realize that most of our diets are highly acidic (sugars, processed foods, animal products) and acid is a breeding ground for disease! So Natalia keeps you nice and alkalized, keeping your PH happy! She also makes sense with food combining. I always wondered why I would feel tired or bloated eating certain foods together and now I know why! Yesterday, I did as much of her suggestions as I could and for the first time I was not tired by 5pm. She does have a fondness for the scary "colonics", but hey, she makes a lot of good points, so many in fact that one day I may just go get one....maybe.

One last awesome thing, is you eat your biggest meal at night. I have always tried and failed to make my evening meal light like many experts say, but to me, dinner is a celebration, a time to unwind and share with loved ones....I cannot see doing this over breakfast. So that bit makes me really happy too.

On another note, my hubby won a shredding contest (I'm so proud!) and thank goodness he's abandoned the acoustic for the electric because it's much cooler:

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, magical Fall and I'll check in after a few days on Natalia's program!

I'm starting to think my brain is as hollow as a dried up coconut and I have nothing interesting to say or worthy of sharing. My dear Isabelle, is of course, taking up much free time and getting me off the computer which I think is very healthy. I think of my fellow RescueGirls, however, and I want to keep in touch and keep sharing! So here is the latest (in no particular order). I'm slowly finishing up Yoga to the Rescue #4 iPhone/iTouch app. I'm thankful to have this low-overhead option in this bare bones economy. My last printing of yoga decks cost $36,000 (gag!) and rolling a yoga app out costs nothing, but cleverness and time and I certainly have some of that! I may not even print my second yoga book which I'm working on, too. I may just do this digital stuff for awhile. I do love paper though and collect all sorts of nifty paper when I travel, from envelopes to ticket stubs, so I think I'll always be printing some RescueGirl bling onto paper!

I've been enjoying my summer a little too much. My husband, Bryan, has discovered how to make these amazing tiki drinks with rum. I'm calling him a mixologist instead of a musician now. Basically, alcohol is a poison, so whenever I drink it I feel guilty and apologize to my liver; I also load up on Milk Thistle which is a miracle helper for our precious livers.

I also must confess, I'm obsessed with my mini trampoline and yoga (for the time being) has taken a back seat. Why a mini trampoline? I created a set of healthy flash cards a while back and I made one of them all about bouncing. Bouncing is a wonderful way for your one-way valve lymphatic system to get rid of toxins that build up in the body. I read so much amazing stuff about bouncing (my favorite, it tightens skin!) that I went out and bought my trampoline. I also have to be very frank, just 5 minutes of bouncing on a trampoline is the equivalent of 15 minutes of jogging and to me this is music to my ears. I learned this tidbit from one of my favorite health gurus, Gillian McKeith, from the show, You are What You Eat. A show that makes you throw the donut in the trash and drink kale juice. Here is a copy of the Bouncing flash card I created.

And here's just a quick blurb on the benefits of trampolining: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Trampoline---Incredible-Health-Benefits&id=133206

Oh, and I forgot to mention one of the best things about bouncing up and down...it reminds you to not take life so seriously and to let your inner child out!

Have a happy, bouncy weekend!

Hey fabulous Rescuegirls! I just wanted to share that Bully Paws, the amazing organization that I adopted Isabelle from is going to build a kennel which they are in desperate need of for our fellow furry friends. They need to raise $35,000 and if everyone can give just a tiny bit then their dream will be realized. I don't know if you know this, but pit bulls get the very short end of the stick at many shelters, often they are not even allowed to be adopted out, so Bully Paws is providing an incredible service for these special dogs. It only takes a second (I just did it and I feel the good karma flowin'), so please stop by and throw in a few dollars if you can. The link is http://www.firstgiving.com/bullypaws and their website is bullypaws.org. With much gratitude, Amy

Wow! Here it is already July 20th. I have been completely preoccupied and my fab blog slid to the bottom of my Dead Sea scroll length "to do list." Why the preoccupation? I have been up to my eyeballs in gorgeous adoptable dogs. I searched the website I co-founded (so cool!) AdoptaPet.com like a stalker on crack. And then I walked through packed shelters and after rivers of tears, my husband and I are now the proud parents of a lovely girl named Isabelle. Thanks to the amazingly compassionate founders of Bully Paws (check out their amazing dogs: http://bullypaws.org/) my Isabelle was rescued from a dog fighting ring; she was rescued by Bully Paws just before the shelter was going to have to put her down, aka, kill her!

So now I'm running around picking up leashes, collars and cozy beds. Since she is a pit bull (a largely misunderstood breed with the most gentle and loving hearts you will ever find) I am purchasing many items in the tranquil color of love, pink!

I feel like I'm waiting for the stork to come with my delivery...hee! Isabelle arrives on Thursday and she will be spoiled for the rest of her life and showered in kisses and hugs and tummy rubs! Photo: Isabelle Luwis-Aspey.

Photos:
My friend Skye's fabulous shop in Battle, The Green Grocery Store! Glorious geese outside Arundel Castle (oops! that's right, I visited a castle, too!). Me in lots of black at Borde Hill Garden.

My trip to England is starting to feel like a distant hazy memory as I get knee deep in life in good ol' Virginie, so I need to blab about it a bit before I forget stuff. Here is the Mini Cooper version of my 16 day trip to Britain: Visited five fabulous gardens, a bird sanctuary (didn't see any birds), walked along the seafront and among the birds every night (it was light out until 10pm!), stayed in a very old manor home that I believe is haunted by some unpleasant spirits, drank cider and buckets of tea, ate too many crisps, cut the ribbon for the grand opening of my dear friend's fabulous new shop in Battle, visited old friends in Eastbourne and in London--got the grand tour of Hampstead Heath and zipped by Geri Halliwell's abode (should I care?), had a gastly meal at Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Cafe in Knightsbridge, stared at Mayan statues at the British Museum, bought glitter eyeshadow at Boots, watched Wimbledon on the telly--feel bad Roddick lost and feel even worse that Michael and Farrah are gone—people shouldn't die, they should transfer to a different galaxy where you can post an occasional salutation. Photo: Wellies at South Lodge Hotel, Horsham, West Sussex

I wrote two chippy blog posts whilst tootling around Britain; I typed them with my chubby thumbs and shared earnest and interesting details of my trip only to receive "reject" notices from my dear blog host saying they did not post. I was doing a mobile blog and apparently was doing it very, very wrong. I then tried to sneak a picture in, but my memory card was full on my phone. I need to go back to a quill and ink pot! Anyway, I'll prattle on about my trip soon...

I leave for jolly ol' England in 3 hours and I just spent the last 30 minutes cutting up organic kale, steaming green beans, and slicing up carrots for my rescue hamster, Mr. Nibbles. Sometimes I think I'm crazy! But I cannot help myself, the little guy just loves the fresh stuff and he's just so cute...and don't we all deserve some healthy food prepared with lots of love? I took one look at that yucky bag of kibble for rodents at the pet store when Mr. Nibbles came into my life and I couldn't bare to feed him stuff that looks like it came out of the bottom of my shoe after a long hike.

If I can figure it out, I will upload a photo or two from across the pond. Cheerio for now! btw, love, LOVE, LOVE hanging out with all you cool chicks on this blog thingy!!!