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Monthly Mission ~ March 2010

Posted on 02 March 2010 by admin

Swop your Space Age habits for Stone Age Style!flintstones-inspired-wedding

Mission- Take a trip back to ‘Bedrock’ where life is simple, social and best of all sustainable.

Objective- Cut Consumption ‘Stone Age Style’ using the following creative, conservative caveman methods:

Jetson Habit: Digital Entertainment
Flinstone Alternative: Big Sky Viewing

Square eyes vs Sunrise, seems like a no brainer but convincing die-hard digital devotees to forgo blue-ray for blue sky can be a challenge. Let the caveman convince these wired watchers that cloud surfing can be just as cool as channel surfing and give the following outdoor options a go…

Midnight BBQ
Steak under the stars unite the sounds of sizzle with the scenes of nature to satisfy and stimulate the senses.

Cloud/Celebrity Spotting
Set-up a stakeout under the sky with snacks and a comfy seat then see how many celebrities you can meet.

Jetsons Habit: Formulated Fitness
Flinstone Alternative: Primal Play

Flintstones-2Get out of the gym and find yourself a tree limb, it’s free and requires no electricity just human powered intensity. Cavemen conditioned their bodies and sharpened their skills using spontaneous sprints and power drills. Go Primal and try out these Stone Age Strategies…

Full Body Fitness
Make use of every muscle when you move by prioritising practical performance or exercises that mimic human function and engage the body as a whole.

Examples: Squats, Lunges, Pull-ups, Push-ups, Rows, Deadlifts, Planks and Presses.

Short and Sweaty
Sprint like a Saber Tooth is on your tail, exploding from a static position into a power sprint quickens reflexes and achieves maximum efficiency in brief bouts allowing the body time to adequately recover.

Jetsons Habit: Grab and Go Groceries
Flinstone Alternative: Grow and Gather Greens
Munching on a menu of ready meals and processed produce is not very primal, planet friendly or physically beneficial. Instead do like Fred Flinstone that is and eat foods from the earth to help the environment.

Good Grub has had no rub
The apple that sparkles and squeaks is suspect indeed for nothing natural comes polished to perfection. Buying fresh foods from big chain supermarkets where uniform shapes are preferred over seasonal sometimes strange looking fruits and veg maybe convenient but the consequences that come from doing so might make you reconsider. For food thats full of flavour, free of pesticides or polishes and provides farmers with funds shun the super and shop with the little local green grocers.

State of Plate
How did your dinner make it to your plate?
Has it traveled for miles and had many food lifts as part of a meal makeover?

The less steps your supper has suffered the more satisfying and sustainable it will be. Choose raw ingredients over pre-made mixes and meddled with meals that have additives or have been altered in any way. Like some models these foods come with excess packaging to make them look pretty, a high travel expense and can at times lack substance.

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Monthly Mission~ February 2010

Posted on 29 January 2010 by admin

This month’s mission is about cultivating homegrown happiness through a weed and sow, nurture and grow, logic on life!

Take for example the Dervaes family who since the early 80’s have been slowly transforming their ordinary city lot into a self sufficient urban homestead.

Watch the following video a tribute to the Victory Gardens of yesteryear, and use the resources below to grow your own garden of groceries transforming your backyard into a bounty.

Resources:

The Backyard Homestead is more than a read it’s a resource filled with easy, convenient, productive pointers on growing a little, a lot, or even ALL the food you and your family eat each day!

The Backyard Homestead is an encyclopedia of planning charts, growing guides, and expert tips on raising flavourful, productive plants creating a garden grocery of fresh veggies, sweet fruits, aromatic herbs, and crunchy nuts.

Screen shot 2010-01-27 at 12.25.14 PMThe book also includes expert secrets and proven techniques for making the most of the space you have, showing you how to grow fresh food from even the tiniest outdoor area.

Grab a copy of this great tasting guide to gardening and before long you will be enjoying homegrown harvests from the bounty in your backyard!

Screen shot 2010-01-27 at 4.50.11 PM
The Space For Nature Wildlife Gardening Forum is website for people interested in the wildlife in their gardens and for gardeners who want to actively encourage wildlife.

The philosophy and perspective promoted through the site is that gardens are an increasingly valuable habitat for wildlife, and that they are uniquely positioned, as accessible natural spaces, to influence our behaviour and attitudes towards the wider environment.

Screen shot 2010-01-27 at 4.50.43 PMA cornucopia of content this forum offers features on everything from garden design to how you can encourage biodiversity in your backyard.

Discover the soul satisfying side of spending time tiling soil and sowing seeds a therapeutic bonus to having your own backyard bounty!

Fitness from the ground-up: connecting to nature as you burn off the calories makes gardening a good choice for outdoor enthusiasts not crazy about going to the gym.

Another benefit of embracing an evergreen eden is the physical effort required to maintain your garden of groceries. Passing the time playing with potting mix is a fitness activity the whole family can enjoy.

Click here learn how gardening keeps more than just your plants in shape!

Gardening is an investment in well-being from the healthy foods you will harvest, the elevated awareness and appreciation for wildlife you’ll experience to the positive physical effects that are worth their weight in produce!

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Monthly Mission ~ January 2010

Posted on 28 December 2009 by admin

CoolClips_cart0458Change your Training Tactics and try some Primal Play!

Your Mission this month is to kick off the New Year by following an undiscovered path to performance. By challenging the body and mind to adapt to less conventional if somewhat primeval practices we aim to revitalize your inner warrior and reclaim your motivation for muscle.

In the same vein as the popular BBC series ‘Last Man Standing’ the concept revolves around tribal games. Instead of weight workouts and treadmill training your fitness focus will be on developing new skills in native sports including: Suri Stick Fighting, Samo Wrestling, Sherpa Mountain Running, Wauja Canoe Racing, Sikaran Kick-fighting.

Sample schedule for tribal training workout rotation

Mon: Stick Fighting (total body conditioning) 30 min session
Tue: Canoe Racing (upper body emphasis) 40-60 min session
Wed: Recovery Day
Thur: Wrestling (total body/core conditioning) 30-40 min session
Fri: Kick-fighting (lower body emphasis) 20 min session
Sat: Mountain Running (total body/endurance conditioning) 60-90 min session
Sun: Recovery Day

Resources

Stick Fighting: The MMA Zone has a great selection of martial arts training gear including Bo Staff for stick fighting.

To learn the skill and select your practice drills pick-up a copy of Stick Fighting ‘Techniques of Self-Defense’ (Bushido–The Way of the Warrior) by Masaaki Hatsumi. Alternatively watch the following video to learn a few basic movement patterns to get you started.

Canoeing: There are many different disciplines of canoeing. From the ultra cool Dragon Boat racing to Marathon racing – if you want to know about them then it’s all on the Talk Canoeing guide. Written by Anna Heywood, the guide will provide everything that you needed to know from history to techniques used and some of the important equipment that you’ll need before paddling your way away from the shore.

If you prefer to train at home consider adding a paddle adapter to your rower or if you have the spare change invest in a Vasa Kayak Ergometer.

Wrestling: For a full year of wrestling workouts and unrestricted access to a wide range of sport specific and general fitness routines checkout Wrestler Workouts.

For a free resource checkout Ross Training where you will find articles on everything from technique to homemade equipment, you can watch workout clips and learn from a world class combat conditioning coach.

Kick-fighting: Chikara Kan offers a range of supplies including The Achieving Kicking Excellence instructional book series by Shawn Kovacich, an immensely valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in improving their kicking skills.

There is also the Seletaria Sikaran Arnis Website which provides informational and conceptual ideas pertaining to Sikaran and Modern Arnis.

Finally for a good DVD on the subject checkout Jeff Espinous Kali & Sikaran which includes offensive and defensive techniques, defence against Jab/Cross, entries to different throwing techniques through 6 different “gaps”, grappling, locks and submission holds. Defence against kicks and the summary, where all the techniques are shown again in excellent slow-motion.

Mountain Running: Get hooked on high altitude runs and head for the hills to train. Choosing a terrain which includes both uphill and downhill sections to ensure target muscles are worked efficiently. Before attempting to run with a weighted backpack ‘Sherpa Style’, try tackling the trails without additional loading.

The World Mountain Running Association is a good resource to learn more about the sport.

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Monthly Mission ~ December 2009

Posted on 30 November 2009 by admin

One of the greatest pleasures of travel is in the tasting of traditional dishes and experiencing new tastes and flavors from around the world. Since, a journey to a foreign land is best enjoyed through ones senses what better way to explore another culture than through their cuisine, discovering new ingredients, methods of cooking and recipes to bring home and share with your loved ones.

For this month’s mission we are issuing a ‘Christmas Challenge’ to make your celebration an international affair. Even if you missed out on travel this year you can still relish the bite of a foreign food and delight in trying something different by becoming a global gourmet and cooking up a multi-cultural christmas cuisine.

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Mission: Make a christmas menu of traditional dishes from around the world, introducing a variety of international flavors to your friends and family.

Objective: To literally add spice to your life through the tastes and traditions of another culture.

Resources: To follow are some Christmas recipes to help make your mixed menu of merry meals and foreign foods.

Drinks-
Sorrel Punch, Jamaica
Ponche Crema, Venezuela
Atole, Mexico
Mulled Wine, U.K and Ireland
Gluhwein, Germany
Ponche de Navideno, Mexico
Ti Punch, French Caribbean Islands and La Réunion

Starters-
Tamal, Peru
Roast Teriyaki Chicken Tights, Japan
Oyster stew, U.S.A
Irish Smoked Salmon platter, Ireland
Paté Créole, La Réunion, La Guadeloupe & La Martinique
Zakouski, Russia
Pirojki, Russia
Potage Congolais, R.D.Congo
Breton style Seafood Platter, Brittany, France
Terrine de Fois Gras, France
Oysters like in Brittany, France
Tahitian Marinated Fish, Tahiti
Halaszle, Hungary
Boudin Antillais, French Caribbean Islands and La Reunion
Piftie, Romania
Gravalax, Scandinavia

Main courses and accompaniments-
Pasteles, Puerto Rico
Latkes, Israel
Irish Potato Stuffing, Ireland
Goan Fish Xacuti, India
Chayote Gratin, French Caribbean Islands
Boudin Blanc with Carmelised Apples, France
Char Siu, China
Kiviak, Greenland
Kebbe Bil Sanieh, Lebanon
Lap Sine Gnoua, Laos
Mielie Pap, Namibia
Lumberjack Pie, U.S.A
Tiep Bou Dienn, Senegal
Grilled Spiny Lobster, La Réunion Island
Roast Goose with braised Red Cabbage, chestnut, … Germany
Finish Roast Wild Duck, Finland
Maori Hangi, New Zealand
Polish Fried Carp, Poland
Jollof Rice, Nigeria
Roast Suckling Pig, Cyprus
Doro Wat, Ethiopia
Dinde aux Marrons, France
Roast Goose with Sour Apples, Russia
Pavo Trufado de Navidad, Spain
Nasi Kuning, Bali
Traditional Turkey and Ham, U.K and Ireland

Desserts and sweets-
Yule Log, Canada
The 13 Christmas dessert of Provence, France
Scandinavian Julegrot, Scandinavia
Bohemian Christmas Cookies, Czech Republic
Japanese Christmas Cake, Japan
Puto Bumbong, Philippines
Assida Zgougou, Tunisia
Bebinca, India
Melomakarona, Greece
Kourambiedes, Greece
Colombian Bunuelos, Colombia
Natilla, Colombia
Makowiek, Poland
Rabanadas, Portugal
Turron, Spain
Mince Pies, U.K
Buche de Noel, France
Christmas Biscuits, South Africa
Sweet Potato Pie, U.S.A
Christmas Pudding, U.K
Anoushabour, Armenia
Boukete, Belgium
Prianiki, Russia
Lebkuchen, Germany
Payasa, India
Banketstaaf, Holland

Breads-
Cougnolle, Belgium
Panettone, Italy
Lussekatter, Sweden
Weihnachtsstollen, Germany
Pan De Pascua, Chile

Additional resources-
Wikipedia’s list of Christmas dishes
Worldwide Gourmet’s traditional Christmas recipes
Hungry Monster’s Christmas traditional celebrations

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Monthly Mission ~ November 2009

Posted on 03 November 2009 by admin

Carnivore Confusion occurs when meat-eating myths make you think performance can’t possibly be improved on a plant-based diet!

If your goal is to gain grunt from your grub then going green is the way to go as reflected in the ripped and raw athletes who only load-up their plate with plants.

The Mission: “Go Green” with professional Ironman triathlete, formulator of Vega, and bestselling author of The Thrive Diet (Penguin, 2007) and Thrive Fitness (Penguin, 2009) Brendan Brazier taking on his THRIVE in 30 Challenge!

Objective: To lighten the load on the planet and your body using plant-based nutrition strategies that conserve NOT consume energy.

Outcome: To experience a new level of enzyme-rich energy that powers performance and benefits the planet.

Resources:

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Monthly Mission ~ October 2009

Posted on 28 September 2009 by admin

For the Action Oriented, finding focus requires organized working environments that inspire the mind and leave no room for confusion.

Elite Athletes stay on track with training by planning their efforts in advance and incorporating breaks which refresh the body and spirit.

Desk Jockeys require similar conditions for optimal performance and with a bit of techno tweaking can apply the same principles to their advantage!

This Month’s Mission is to De-stress your Desktop!

Mission: Cut through the ‘Cyber Chaos’ and create a peaceful working space by clearing clutter from your computer!

Objective: This will help enhance creativity and clarity whilst promoting a state of calm making it easier to manage your workload and web mail rather than allowing them to dominate your day!

Brief: Start by downloading a useful application that will make sourcing sites that much easier. Next add some visual synergy to your screen with a wallpaper application that allows you to rotate relaxing scenes that inspire your dreams. Finally, make fitness functional with Break Pal an automated program of exercises you can do at your desk!

Resources: Everything you need to De-stress your Desktop!

“Find a tasty text that you don’t have time to read?” Instead of adding it to the billions you already bookmarked go to instapaper.com and register for a free ‘basic’ version (or pay $5.99 for the pro). This gives you access to a ‘Read Later’ button for your bookmark bar.

This makes finding the appetizing article a breeze, you simply click on the button and once you have logged in the piece will appear in a panel. There is also an archive to store articles you want to refer back to or read again. If you have an iPhone or iPod touch there is an application for this also.

Download the Webshots Desktop Application and Toolbar

With just one click, you can have calendar wallpapers and animated photo screensavers featuring:

Picture 2Your photos
Your friends’ photos
Webshots Pro Shots photos
Public Webshots Community photos

Making it easy to manage and organize all your photos!

Plus the included toolbar lets you upload and search for photos right from your browser.

Register for a free trial of Break Pal an interactive and innovative way to stay flexible and fit from behind your desk!

Picture 9 How it works:
Every 30 minutes (or whatever time interval you set it to go off at) BreakPal will pop up on your computer screen and remind you to exercise. The program will then direct you to a video with an exercise of your choice.

Exercises vary from simple stretches to whatever. Martial arts, aerobics, yoga, Tai Chi, Chi kung and soon all kinds of crazy stuff like belly dancing and Salsa dance. New exercises are added on a continual basis to keep things interesting. No boring office stretches here (unless that’s what you want).


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Monthly Mission ~ September 2009

Posted on 01 September 2009 by admin

Our latest issue with BONUS ‘Wild Side Travel Guide’ is the inspiration for this Month’s MISSION!

Mission: To go on a Mini Adventure of your Local Metropolis!

Brief: Imagine you are a castaway in the city for the day exploring street culture in search of hidden treasures and vibrant flavors.

Resources: Take a map and maybe a handful of nomad nibbles but nothing more.

Leave the Big Bloke Bites at Home!

Otherwise you won’t have room to enjoy the tastes to be had in town.

The only other items you will require is a bottle of H20 along with a comfy carry bag to stash your cash, camera and nomad nibbles in.

Top Tip: Checkout KEEN for a great selection of eco friendly day packs and side sacks perfect for the neighborhood nomad.

NOW you are ready for a day long expedition chasing culture in the city.

Objectives: Add a Wanderer’s Wisdom to your Roamer’s Repertoire.

Don’t stick to the beat but take your journey to the side street!

Here is where you will find village vendors and unique tenders who sell a variety of weird and wonderful wares to amaze and delight you.

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Monthly Mission ~ August 2009

Posted on 30 July 2009 by admin

Picture 11
Food Network’s Robert Irvine is ready for any challenge!

On the hit TV series Dinner Impossible, Robert is challenged to overcome culinary obstacles and deliver a delicious meal before his time runs out. Armed with chefs skills and a military mind this creative cook devours dish dilemmas with ease. Robert proves there is always a way to make dinner possible and this month we want to challenge you to utilize his creative cooking tactics to your advantage.

Mission: To turn cooking into an adventure and discover a new passion and excitement for food.

The Brief: Choose a different challenge each night that tests both skill and creativity to broaden your knowledge of food and put the excitement back  into eating!

Resources: To follow are a few ideas to get you started and from there you can choose more elaborate and adventurous challenges from Robert’s hit TV series Dinner Impossible (series one now available on DVD) or pickup a copy of his new book Mission Cook.

Top Secrets Revealed: Want to know how to make any Dinner Possible? Then don’t miss our exclusive interview with Chef Robert in the Sept/Oct 2009 Issue of Bare Essentials Magazine.

Cooking Without Challenge- Forego the utensils and conventional cooking appliances as you figure out a way to make dinner possible without modern technology.  Try googling tribal cooking methods or hit the library and scan the cultural section for some ideas.

Dinner Deadline Challenge- Professional Chef’s in a 5 Star restaurant must find a way to plate up on time or hungry patrons will be demanding their money back.  Now is your chance to see if you can maintain skill and speed to serve dinner on time.  For a truly ambitious cook a countdown of 20 minutes ( as on the TV series Ready Steady Cook) will offer the ultimate challenge!

Come Dine with Me Challenge- Hosting a dinner party requires a cook to be skilled in menu design, presentation, taste and timing.  Are you ready to have your food judged?

Taste Tradition Challenge- Whether you choose a recipe from Grandmas Cookbook or lookup a heritage dish from another culture the challenge is to embrace new flavors, learn different techniques and discover a new taste for tradition.

Picture 12Robert Irvine has led a one–of–a–kind life. He joined the merchant marine as a teenager, and would go on to become a cook in the Royal Navy where he happened to befriend a man named Prince Charles.

Since then, Chef Robert has gone on to cook for presidents, prime ministers, royalty and celebrities. It’s been a remarkable life and career, ranging from cooking on the beaches of Yemen for thousands of refugees to making a seven–course meal for First Lady Laura Bush and her friends on an aircraft carrier.

Trained by the best European chefs, Robert shares his cooking philosophy, his best recipes and tips on how to add that special twist to any dish in this cookbook for action addicts- Mission: Cook! (Harper Collins, 2007).

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Monthly Mission ~ July 2009

Posted on 30 June 2009 by admin

8302Exploring nature with a positive curiosity helps create a generation of wildlife warriors who care for and understand how vital it is to protect our planet. In this months mission we introduce Operation Wild Child offering parents an opportunity to encourage their children to appreciate wildlife and feel empowered to take action, knowing their efforts are essential to the future of this earth.

The Mission: Integrate elements of the natural world into everyday family life. Embracing a new action attitude and the wildlife warrior way!

Objective: To help children find their voice and believe in their ability to influence change.

Important Information:
Guide to Teaching Young Children about Wildlife
Educating Kids About Wildlife

Resources: Curious Children make excellent students and information that is interactive offers an engaging platform to study the wonders of nature.  The following list includes quality resources that make learning about wildlife fun!

Websites
ARKhive: A visually rich treasury of natural history for your little ones to explore.
Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures: “Jungle Jack” Hanna takes television viewers around the world, teaching them about animals and having exciting adventures.
CBBC Children’s Animal Zone: Games, wallpapers, lessons in pet care and more.
Wildlife Watch:An environmental action club for kids.

Wildlife Activities for Kids: After site surfing has established a virtual interest in wildlife, its time to take the troops outside for a real life experience in nature.
Wildlife Gardner: explore the backyard and have an adventure at home.
Lets Go Outside: Neighborhood explorers creating memories outside.
Children and Nature: Building a movement to reconnect children and nature.

Become a Fresh Air Family: Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund, a not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities. Each year, thousands of children visit volunteer host families in 13 states and Canada through the Friendly Town Program or attend Fresh Air Fund camps.The Fresh Air Fund Fact Sheet

OWC_logo_2Join Operation Wild Child and help raise funds and awareness for wildlife.

“Children are natures first and best defense but it is only through Action that they can make a difference”

OWC Fact Sheet


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The Virtual Workout

Posted on 18 June 2009 by admin

Using Positive Imagery
(Excerpt from the book, Your Performing Edge)

Close your eyes, open your mind, & imagine!brainpower
One powerful resource for channeling your performance energies more efficiently is through the use of visualization or mental imagery. In the recent Olympics in Sydney we heard from a wide range of elite athletes who successfully used visualization in their training to improve performance. Regardless of your ability level, practicing mental imagery can make all the difference in how you experience your workouts and races.

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