We are pretty excited over here about Rent the Runway. RTR allows you to rent designer dresses for a fraction of the cost without having to leave your living room! I have heard about this company from a few different sources now,  and think this is something we will use for our upcoming events. Dressing up all the time can get expensive! I also love this concept for Bridesmaids, because it’s not fair to have your best friends spend $300+ on a dress that they’ll never wear again.

Many of us out there also can’t really afford a $3,350 Missoni dress, so why not rent it for $250 since you’ll likely only wear it once anyways? Or, a Nicole Miller frock that retails at $600 but you can rent for $75. They have an amazing selection of dresses available and have a great review section to help with your decision. You can also request two sizes without paying an additional fee. The price includes dry cleaning and shipping, and insurance is added on top of it for a minimal fee. The website is super organized and they have filters which will allow you to search dresses based on size, event, or availability. I don’t know why, but it still feels like throwing money away. It’s probably more sensible to buy a $300-$500 dollar dress that is timeless and that you can wear over and over. But then again, we ladies always want something new and exciting!

RTR also has a great line of handbags and jewelry to accompany your hot new dress. After reading many Yelp reviews, people seem very happy overall with their choices. However, there seem to be quite a few customer service complaints. It looks like they’re making a valid effort to improve this as they continue to grow. It will be interesting to see if they team up with PrimeSense 3D, which will be revealed this week at CES 2012. It uses Microsoft’s Kinect technology to scan a user’s height and waist size. Users will soon be able to virtually try on clothes from partner retailers to get a true sense of how their potential purchases will fit. Cool!

Congrats RTR- looks like a huge hit and we’re excited to try the service the next time we need to get super dolled up!

We’re super excited to finally attend the Event Solutions Idea Factory Expo this coming February 26th-29th, 2012 at Cesears Palace in Las Vegas, NV. This has always been on ABCey’s “Must Attend” lists, but our hectic schedule hasn’t permitted us to do so until now. This is regarded as “the” Event Industry event of the year, where creativity, success and connections are founded. Planners, producers, and marketers from across the country and around the world will come together to explore ideas and strategies that can help take you and your company to the next level. It’s a perfect mix of fun and informative events, educational sessions, a massive resource Expo, networking opportunities and more.

Here’s a recap from last year!

We are always up for learning and staying on top of current industry trends, so this is a great opportunity for those interested in the same. And, it’s in Vegas…how can you go wrong? Okay, just make sure not to stay out all night so that you don’t miss the morning sessions!

EDUCATION: Take part in more than 100 sessions, presentations and demos and keep your
business ahead of the curve and ahead of the competition.
EVENTS: Many included and optional events will bring the latest event and catering trends and concepts to life. Bring your camera
and take home ideas you can use.
TRADESHOW: The Tradeshow floor will bring you hundreds of essential resources for successful events and meetings.
NETWORKING: Connect with other event planning professionals to share ideas, discuss the issues and create solutions.

To register, click here! Make sure you get your pass by January 31st to save. The complete ES Idea Factory Brochure can also be downloaded on the website. We hope to see you all there!

Do you ever find yourself coming across beautiful things on the web and not knowing what to do with them? Trying to remember everything you see can be difficult, and remembering to share them with your loved ones can be even more difficult.  That is why we fell in love with Pinterest!  Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that lets you organize and share all of the beautiful things you find around the web.  According to Lauren Drell, this invite-only social platform, launched in March 2010, has the mission to “connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting”. People can pin and organize items to help them plan their weddings, decorate their home, organize recipes, and sort their favorite images. Images are shown in a bulletin board format with links to the original URL of the item and the user who posted it first, so you know where it came from if you are in need of more details.  To add to the excitement, you can browse other people’s pinboards to discover new things and get inspiration from other people who share similar interests. This wonderful invention comes from designer, Evan Sharp. Below is a recap of an interview Mashable conducted with Sharp. We hope you find it interesting and take the initiative to join Pinterest!

Backstory of Pinterest- How the idea came about…

Sharp grew up printing images off the web and collecting them in a folder.  He and two friends wanted to create a place where you can go to upload or collect things on the web and simply organize it the way you want to.

Why the Bulletin Board-Style Aesthetic?

They wanted a style that felt personal but also the feel of a collection of a variety of different images.

Where Does the Inspiration for the Design Come From?

Sharpe’s inspiration arises a lot from physical spaces of discovery like: museums, libraries, or retail spaces.  ”If you think about how things are presented and laid out, you start to realize that the entire space is organized to allow you to discover all the things the store is selling”, said Sharpe.

What Was Sharpe’s Original Vision of the Target Audience for Pinterest?

Although Pinterest is huge with the ladies in planning for weddings and decorating their homes, Sharpe originally envisioned it being popular with architects and designers.  He is happy with the way it has turned out though!

Pintrests Growth Has Trickled Up — why is that?

They didn’t spend a lot of time trying to get tech coverage.  ”We didn’t build this company to build a really hot tech startup; what we wanted to do was build a product — and also a company — that we wanted to work on for the next five or ten years.”

How Does Having a Background in Architecture Help When it Comes to Web Design? 

Architecture is difficult and takes a long time to master the “third dimension”.  Sharpe explains that he worked hard to master this tough process and,  ”a lot of [the process] is about technique and spending the time designing, but there’s such a rich history of architecture and a great body of theory and knowledge, and an enjoyable part of [moving to web design] was learning to take abstract ideas and concepts and then solve them tangibly.”  This explains why Pinterest runs so smoothly.

Lessons Brought from Facebook to Pinterest:

Having worked at Facebook prior to his invention of Pinterest, he explains that learning how Facebook operated was very valuable for Pinterest’s success as a design product.

What Does Sharpe Pin?

He pins stuff he finds interesting and inspirational about architecture.  Star Wars fans follow him, because he pins stuff about Star Wars as well!

Judging From the Userbase and the Pageviews and Anecdotal Evidence- why is there an obsession with Pinterest?

Sharpe think it’s twofold — at a basic level, it’s just a great place to go to see things that are interesting to you. Every time you go, you should see 50 to 100 things that hopefully are relevant or interesting to you. But the flipside of that — and something [he] didn’t expect when [they] built the product — is that there are are tons of people using the pictures to find things that impact their everyday life. People doing crafts projects, planning birthday parties, designing a home on the cheap. There are all sorts of life tips that come out of Pinterest. So now, not only are you finding stuff that’s interesting, but you’re also getting off Pinterest to do the things you’re finding on the site. What that means is that, at the end of the day, Pinterest can really complement your life instead of being a timesuck.

In “Pin Etiquette,” it says that Pinterest is not a Place for Self-Promotion. How, then, can Pinterest best be used by brands as a marketing tool?

A lot of brands are using Pinterest to promote and share more about their brand.  The idea behind the brand makes sense on Pinterest.

What is the Company Culture Like at Pinterest?

Filled with exciting people who want to work, love the product, and everyone has real interests and passions outside of Pinterest.  People who are generally interested in the world is what makes it a very fun environment to work for.

ABCey Events just can’t get enough of Pinterest! Make sure to check out the website, get an invitation, and start your pinning! We look forward to following your pins soon!

Together with the convenience of digital cameras and advances in offset publishing, and fun new apps, this holiday season we will surely be seeing lots of digitally printed holiday cards. While we know this is more convenient for many reasons, there is still something to be said about handwritten cards. Digital images are great, but they don’t capture the feeling you get when you hold a real photo in your hands.

If you are interested in going digital, and saving time with address labels, stamps, etc…be sure to try Sincerely Ink or Postcard On The Run. Both of these apps will let you design your card and then they will send it out for you.”Just snap, tap, and send.” If you have some spare time, and want to go traditional, we’ve got a few recommendations for you this season. California Home + Design shares some of their favorite finds from local San Francisco stationery makers.

Greetings from San Fran: Wish your friends and family happy holidays from The City by the Bay! The cards can also be printed as customized photo cards. Greetings from San Francisco Cards ($16 for 6 at Hello! Lucky)

Say it in Black and White: Keep it simple with these bold holiday cards from San Francisco’s In Haus Press.The Merriest Holiday Cards: ($18 for 6 at In Haus Press, Etsy)

Merry Mistletoe: San Francisco’s famed Yellow Owl Press offers an unexpected take on the traditional holiday card this year. Botanical prints of seasonal plants are surprisingly festive and sophisticated.Botantical Card ($4 each at Yellow Owl Press)

Merry and Modern: If cutesy holiday cards aren’t your thing, consider these from the SFMOMA Museum Store. The red hue on the featured Mark Rothko’s 1967 says “Holiday” but is still sophisticated. Mark Rothko Holiday Card ($16 for 12 at SFMOMA Museum Store)

Doe a Deer: This unique card is merry, without being over-the-top. It comes from one of our favorite purveyors of fine stationery, Austin Press–who, despite their name are based here in SF. So hop to it and send it to everyone on your list. Holiday Doe Visiting Card (price upon request at Austin Press).

Shutterfly and Moo will also let you design your holiday card, but they won’t mail them for you. This year you will have no excuses! Will you be going Traditional or Digital?

We recently saw the launch of a new lifestyle brand, HelloBrit.com which aims to find helpful, yet creative new ways for busy people to live more simply, beautifully and imaginatively. Brit Morin (wife to Dave Morin, the founder of Path) has been working in the tech world for several years now and was a former Apple and Google employee. She is already being touted as the Martha Stewart of Silicon Valley and has recently been featured in The LA Times, Huffington Post, and TechCrunch. Brit gives new ideas and tips to live a more simple and creative life whether it be through technology, food, style, health that she either created or curated from scouring the web, something that is becoming very popular! Brit says “The ideas should come to you, and they should come through a channel whose expertise and taste you trust.”

Her site is looking like a cross between Real Simple and Wired Magazines with videos showing you how to make Christmas tree cheese appetizers, how to use electrical tape to make candy cane cups, DIY Holiday welcome mats, wearable dinner party napkins, and more. She recently featured a great gift guide for the holidays and showcases 20 of her favorite products and apps. Thanks Brit!

The brand’s first offering is a wedding app called Weduary, which was inspired by the process that Morin and her husband used in planning their own ”Pixel Cowboy”- themed wedding this summer. This will be a new service for brides and grooms, and will hopefully make for a more interesting experience for guests online and off. Make sure to sign up on the website to be notified when the new site arrives! There will be some other apps launched in the future which will likely be centered around ways to be creative around the home and novel ways to perform everyday activities like cooking, decorating and shopping.

We hope you enjoy and use Hello Brit for a little inspiration into your own creativity! We know that at ABCey, we will be keeping up Brit’s innovative ideas and using them for inspiration of our own, especially this holiday season.

Do you ever spend hours in a store or shopping online, trying to find the perfect gift for someone, but just can’t quite figure out what to get them? Well, now your days have become much easier, and just in time for the holidays!  Givvy is an “open community that let’s you participate in shaping the next gift-giving trend”. Whether it’s for a birthday, holiday present, housewarming party or a little something for yourself, our community of curators makes it easy to discover trendy new gifts that will inspire you and delight your friends and family.  You can also keep track of your most important occasions and social events with a personalized calendar and gift reminder service.

Givvy is uniquely designed for use inside Facebook—so you can discover gifts and share occasions while staying connected to the friends you love most. Givvy is an open community that let’s you participate in shaping the next gift-giving trend. Simply share your favorite gift ideas with friends and earn points as your influence gains in popularity. The members with the most influence earn exclusive rewards and join our community of Curators.

Your Holiday season of gift giving has now become much easier.  Make sure to check out Givvy’s Facebook page for great ideas for the perfect gift.

ABCey Events would like to thank Larry Rubin, one of Givvy’s founder’s for making our gift-giving days much easier!

We stumbled across this fabulous invention, created by Lumacoustics, that allows you to create a graffitied masterpiece without making a terrible mess! The YR Wall is an interactive drawing art tool where users create virtual digital graffiti on a large wall using a modified spray paint can. It is basically graffiti with a can that contains no paint, only a button and IR light source which is tracked using a computer vision system. The digital paint appears when the can is sprayed and looks exactly like graffiti.  Now it is possible to graffiti a wall, the way you have envisioned it since a little kid, and not get in trouble! No paint, therefore no drips and no damage! And no arrests;)

The paint includes a wide array of colors, symbols, stencils, animated stars, swirls and drip effects.  You can even custom make a user’s name, picture, or logo.  After decorating the wall, YrWall can then turn your art into a t-shirt, sticker, or photo for a keepsake.

This way the user can work with digital paint to create their own digital graffiti art. No more swapping paint cans to change color or having to wear a face mask and gloves. This is entirely environmentally friendly and accessible by anyone without any prior computer or graffiti skills. Oh, the excitement of working in a virtual envirornment.

YrWall, which can be hired short- or long-term or installed bespoke, has already been quite a hit at events like the UK’s Secret Garden Party. They have also recently worked with Daydream Network and Royal Albert Hall on an exciting new exhibition. Adding to the concept’s appeal and branding opportunities, people can receive a free digital copy of their art to share with friends, or can have their design printed on t-shirts and stickers right after they’ve finished their piece. Virtual postcards can be sent as well.

This is great idea for events as a way to keep people entertained and having fun! We love this creation and hope that we will be able to use it at ABCey Events very soon!

Check out the demo and tell us what you think!

YrWall Digital Surface Demo (preview video) from Lumacoustics on Vimeo.

We haven’t been to an SF New Tech Event in a little while now, and this one just caught our eye. Some of Japan’s top emerging startups will be demo’ing their latest and greatest apps. SF New Tech is the Bay Area’s largest, longest-running, and most-loved monthly technology event and networking mixer for people who can’t get enough of technology. It’s made possible thanks to Myles Weissleder (Founder, Producer & Host) , Matthew M. Gonzales (Deputy of Propaganda), and Amy Higgins (Social Maven).

SF New Tech’s stage is a platform for young startups and established companies alike, to show off what they’ve been working on in front of a room full of people who actually care. Most demos are done by the founders, CEOs, or lead developers of some of the most innovative companies around.Each company (or developer) gets 5 minutes (sharp!) to strut their stuff under the spotlight and on the big screen and then another 5 minutes (sharp!) to answer tough questions from the audience. Live demos and hot-seat discussions are what it’s all about. When tough questions from SF’s digerati cause the presenters to squirm, they know they are doing something right. Hundreds of companies have taken to the SF New Tech stage and thousands of companies have been in attendance. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite. If you’re lucky, there still may be some discount codes available on the SF New Tech website.

Here’s tomorrow’s schedule:

Facematch

By Director : Jun Ikouga

The best service in Breakthrough Camp 2011 Summer. This is the App where we can meet opposite sex friends on Facebook. The app helps you try to connect with people of similar interests by using the Facebook Friend API. Additionally, Facematch is expected to present a selection of discount coupons from restaurants and various merchandise.

Facebook Page @FaceMatch_Tweet

midokura, Inc

By President & CEO, Co-founder : Tatsuya Kato

Midokura is a cloud-enabling company developing a technology to replace the conventional physical devices, such as routers, with a virtual entity that can be managed on the web. This is software that can make, manage, control the effective network infrastructure of high cloud age without using the expensive network tools.

http://www.midokura.com @midokura

PIRIKA

By CEO, Dreamer, Cleaner : Fujio Kojima
This is App which help us pick up the trash and clean the environment. User can provide their location and information when they picked up the trash through smart phone. It is used in over 600 places in 24 countries.
http://www.pirika.org/ @TeamPIRIKA

Grow! Inc.

By International Business Development : Ryu Sakuma

Grow is a social Tipping platform that allows blog readers to submit tips to blog publishers. It works like Twitter’s retweet button or Facebook’s Like button embedded in a blog post, but by clicking on the Grow! button, you can tip the blog author.

http://growbutton.com @GrowBt

Joho Planet, Inc.

By Founder & CEO :Tao Yamamoto
If you use multiple computers (such as a laptop, a desktop PC at home, and a desktop PC at office)
Synclogue helps you synchronize the configuration of plug-ins for apps you’ve specified in each computer.
http://www.synclogue.com @Synclogue

 

Virtual events and Hybrid Events have been a hot topic for a while now. If you’re unclear on what a Hybrid event is, it is simply the extension of traditional in-person events with tools such as broadcasting and social media. For some special event professionals, hybrid events are not cutting-edge but commonplace. Every event now-a-days should really be considered a hybrid from the start, unless there is a specific reason for there not to be. The more people to get involved into a brand, a product or a communication message, the better their response will be in the form of buying decisions or recommendations. Hybrid events involve people even more than classic events did in the past, and at this point you can see that virtual and social media elements offer a lot of advantages for companies planning to use them. It’s not just regular “ROI” anymore, it’s Return on Involvement as well!

International event powerhouse Vok Dams Group, headquartered in Germany, was among the first agencies to integrate the Internet into special events back in 1998. And the company’s commitment to hybrid events is clear: “The future belongs to hybrid events, which pair live with MoSoLo—the use of mobile/social/location-based technologies,” says company leader Coja Dams. For Microsoft’s partner conference in Germany last week, the Vok Dams team turned to a mix of elements, including a custom event guide app, communication via Facebook and Xing (the German version of LinkedIn), Xbox Kinect modules at the event, and scannable tag codes at networking events that helped the 1,400 guests learn more about one another.

ABCey Events loves learning about the immersion of new and innovative technology and events. Several event pros who routinely stage hybrid events stress that complex technology is not a must though. Multi-source events can also be incredibly cheap, from Skype and Twitter, to most costly, satellite and interactive texting. We do think that putting a digital spin on a live event can make the event better. Technology is changing at light speed. It is time for the us, the event marketers of the world to assess their portfolio and align new business models to their event marketing strategies!

This post was adapted from “Hybrid Special Events–So ‘Now’ or Not Yet?” by Lisa Hurley of Special Events Magazine.

I’m sure some of you are wondering what this might have to do with events. I’ll explain!  The fact that I own an Event Planning Company probably lends to a party image, but the truth is that I do have a pretty serious side as well, especially when it pertains to my health. There were many years of dancing the night away and staying up way past my bedtime (okay, maybe those days are still not over). But, I can say now that I have never felt so good or been in better health, and I weigh what I did in highschool. This is because I take the time to re-fuel my body and flood it with the nutrients it needs to bounce back quickly.

I’m not a nutritionist, but I’ve been studying Naturopathic medicine, herbs, and raw foods from greats like Ron Teegarden & David Wolfe or Dr. Andrew Weil for a long time now (some of the world’s leading herbablists & authorities on nutrition & natural medicine). I can’t say I’m perfect, but if I have a weekend of indulgence I make sure that I spend the week feeding my body with the absolute best & highest quality foods and superfoods all that have come naturally from our earth. For those who think Bacon is the best hangover cure, think again. Try a green juice filled with enzymes & B vitamins to replenish the ones lost by drinking. Alcohol eats up all those B’s stored in the liver, so be sure to put them back into your body. Cantaloupes are great too!

With the recent death of Steve Jobs, who suffered for many years with Pancreatic Cancer I have been inspired to write this blog. Your health is ALL you have. You will have nothing when that is gone. It is baffling to hear about people who are suffering from illnesses that aren’t doing everything they possibly can to get better. You need to treat the problem from within, not just the symptoms. Just a few weekends ago, we had to pull of a 17hr & 10hr day for a Tesla Event. A few days prior, I felt myself feeling weak and really run down, like a cold was coming on. I effectively zapped it out of my system within just 1 day by giving my body the nutrients it needed and taking the necessary supplements to boost my immune system back up (Please see below for more detail about some of the things you can take on a daily basis & also those that you can amp up on when sick or feel low on energy). Remember, you can’t do your best unless you feel your best!

Everyone hates to be sick, so think about how bad it would suck to be really sick? This is for the smokers, the heavy drinkers & for the people who drink 6 cokes a day and still eat McDonalds on a regular basis. You may get lucky and live until your 90 but chances are you could get cancer, develop high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Once you get something like Cancer too, we all know it’s REALLY difficult to remove. Please, start now on focusing on prevention before it is too late. I’m not saying that you can’t indulge (in moderation)…just take the steps to re-build your health so that you can feel good & be the best you can be for the majority of your week!

Here are some of my favorite things…

ADAPTOGENS:

Gynostemma: Many people don’t know about this MIRACLE herb which is revered in China for Longevity and is a five leafed adaptogenic herb. It has the unique ability of restoring homeostatis (balance and equilibrium) to all five body systems. The body systems are the cardiovascular, digestive, immune, nervous and reproductive system. It is said to be an antioxidant & anti-cancer, and also to be anti-ulcer, a respiratory tonic, platelet regulating, anti-hyperlipidemic, cholesterol regulating, anti-obesity, liver protecting, triglyceride lowering, cardiovascular protecting, and anti-thrombic. It also tonifies the immune system. Anything else? Does a soda do this??! Gynostemma contains many amino acids, vitamins and minerals that are healthy to the human body, including calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc and more. I drink the tea, but you can also take as a supplement. Ron Teegarden’s Super Pill is great too.

Eleuthero is an “adaptogen,” an agent that helps the body address to stress. Scientists believe it helps prevent “adrenal burnout” caused by ongoing physical or mental challenges. Eleuthero boosts concentration and focus without the letdown than comes from drinking coffee or other sources of caffeine. Eleuthero also boosts immunity. Healthy people taking 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of tincture three times daily have been shown to have increased numbers of the immune cells (CD4+ cells) that have decrease during HIV-infection and AIDS. Eleuthero may also enhance athletic performance. Eleuthero was a favorite of trainers and coaches of Olympic athletes in the old Soviet Union

GREEN’S, JUICE CLEANSES, & SUPERFOODS:

Spirulina Manna is an exceptional food and an incredible source of concentrated, non-toxic, absorbable nutrients. It is a highly beneficial substitute for protein powders. The protein in Spirulina contains all 8 essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Spirulina (a blue-green algae), also contains vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, E, and K. In addition, Spirulina also provides minerals, trace minerals, cell salts, phytonutrients and enzymes, as well as an abundance of chlorophyll & other beneficial pigments. Raw meat is 27% protein, and even soybeans are 34% protein. Spirulina is 65% complete protein, making it the world’s highest known source! Plus, our Spirulina is dried at low temperatures (enzyme active), so protein utilization is maximized versus a heated protein.Proteins from animals forms relatively large amounts of uric acid, which can contribute to osteoporosis, gout, arthritis, lack of energy, acid body chemistry, aging and more! Animal sources of protein include the flesh from any animal, all dairy products and eggs.

Vitamineral Green: This is an everyday staple. I actually add this to my green juice. Green foods are perhaps the most healing foods on the planet, and the single most important addition to a diet that you can make.

Juice Cleanses are the most natural and organic method of detoxifying and healing the body. I start my day with about 30oz of green juice. This is a huge immune system builder and filled with enzymes. My favorite recipe is Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Apple, Lemon. (Add parsley, spinach, or romaine if you like). Here are a few San Francisco based juice cleanses that I would recommend if you don’t have the time to make your own. Can Can, Living Greens, and Juice to You are all great!

SUPER NUTRITION FROM THE SEA:

Marine phytoplankton: The most powerful high potency protein and long-chain fat responsible for forming our atmosphere (and why it’s vital to all life on Earth). People that experience Marine phytoplanton are known to enjoy enhanced brain function, improved immune function, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial effects, improved cellular repair, radiation protection and detoxification, anti-inflammatory support, antioxidant support, improved circulation, improved heart function, allergy/asthma relief, suppression of symptoms stemming from degenerative disease. Plus the intense chlorophyll content in Ocean’s Alive helps to increase oxygen uptake. Higher oxygen uptake means more fuel to muscles, which translates to improved performance and endurance.

IMMUNE SYSTEM & MUSHROOMS:

Maitakes, Cordyceps, Reishi, Chaga, Shitakes,Agaricus Blazei Murrill, Lion’s Mane: Select mushrooms have amazing antioxidant and immune-boosting properties and can mobilizes natural killer cell protection. Mushrooms also have a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their legendary effects on promoting good health and vitality and increasing your body’s adaptive abilities have been supported by recent studies. Shiitake mushrooms lower cholesterol and improve immune system function, good for preventing high blood pressure and heart disease, for controlling cholesterol level, building resistance against viruses, and fighting diseases such as AIDS/HIV and cancers. Beneficial for obesity and diabetic patients, the Maitake mushroom may be best known for its cancer fighting ability. Cordyceps, like many other medicinal mushrooms, contains complex sugars (especially beta 1,3 glucan) and other nutrients (nucleosides, triterpenoids) which seem to strongly nourish and activate various components of the immune system, useful in treating cancer, chronic fatigue and other immune disorders. The Reishi mushroom can increase the production of interleukin 1 and 2, resulting in inhibition of tumor growth. Studies show that Reishi can have a number of other positive effects on the body such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-viral (through its interferon production), lowers blood pressure.

You might think that good old fashioned chicken soup is the go-to for this season’s cold, but try an immunity soup like this instead. Vegetable broth, shitake mushrooms, kale, ginger, tumeric, garlic, & butternut squash.

ENERGY:

Bee products (Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, Raw Honey): Some of the most nutritionally dense and longevity-enhancing superfoods on the planet come directly from bees: honey and bee pollen.  Raw Honey is one of nature’s richest sources of live enzymes, and contains over 80 components important for optimal health, including B vitamins, sulfur, phosphorous, iron, copper, silicon, and zinc.  Bee Pollen is one of the most complete foods in nature, offering a rich source of high quality protein, plus benefits for immunity, hormone-balancing and libido. Both honey and bee pollen are rich in antioxidants, minerals and phytonutrients.

My favorite is Royal Jelly!  The health-enhancing nutrients of this super supplement include: pantothenic acid, a B vitamin that is a proven stress reducer; plentiful amounts of the other B vitamins, especially B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid and inositol; an ample supple of the vitamins A, C, D and E; the minerals calcium, copper, iron, phosphorus, potassium, silicon and sulphur; acetycholine, a compound that nerve cells need to function properly (Scientists believe deficiencies of this substance make people prone to illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease); protein in the form of the eight amino acids required by humans, as well and 10 others; and antibiotic and antibacterial properties.

PROBIOTICS:

Kevita- probiotic non-dairy superdrink! Did you know that the largest immune system organ in our bodies is our intestines. Probiotics work directly in our intestines to help digest food and purge waste. Improved liver function is another benefit linked to probiotic intake, since the liver has fewer toxins to deal with if the probiotics are working. Another gain is the reduction of serum cholesterol, because probiotics convert cholesterol into a less absorbable and more eliminatable form. Other benefits include lowered blood pressure and normalized hormone levels.

Kombucha- Health benefits attributed to kombucha tea include stimulating the immune system, preventing cancer, and improving digestion and liver function. It has been used since the Tsin Chinese Dynasty of 221 BC and it’s popularity has been documented throughout history in all corners of the world, from Russia to India, Germany to Japan.

Try some of these natural wonders & see how you feel!!