Veterans Day

By: My Papa Ed

Veterans Day always brings back memories of my Grandfather, Daniel Goffredo. He was an immigrant from Naples, Italy who came to America.

He once told me that as the ship he was on passed the Statue of Liberty, his heart filled with love for the country he was about to enter.

Several months after he arrived, he met my Grandmother, Maria Polumbo who came to America from Bari, Italy and they married a year later. Growing up in New York, we lived with our Grandparents in a tenement building in the Bronx.

My Grandfather was so proud of being in America that starting when I was old enough to walk on my own, he would wake me up on Veterans Day morning. He would dress me and take me by his hand to the Grand Concourse were the annual Veterans Day Parade would take place. He would hike me up on to his shoulders as the bands and every military service marched by.

My Grandfather pretty much kept to himself and spent most of his time sitting at the dining room table playing solitaire. The one day of the year were he became animated was Veterans Day, which I now realize how important it was to him.

The ravage of war throughout Europe that he experienced as a young man and the bravery of the allied forces gave him such gratitude for the freedom he was experiencing in America.

HYDRATION STATION: Ways To Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is foundational to optimal health. As a rule of thumb, Dr. Mary Pardee recommends drinking 1/2 of your body weight in ounces per day. It's also important to try to consume most of your liquids between meals + not with your meals because this can dilute your stomach acid + enzymes, making it harder to digest your food.

Tired of drinking straight water? Dr. Pardee recommends also hydrating with hot water, homemade green juices (without fruit), herbal + green tea + bone broth.

Did you know, at night your body repairs itself + casts out toxins? When you drink water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, it helps the body flush out these toxins + alkalizes the body.

Why Is Water So Important?

Skin = 80% water

Brain = 85% water

Blood = 85% water

Bones = 24% water

Lungs = 90% water

Muscles = 75% water

Try your own 30 DAY WATER CHALLENGE + see how you feel.

Here is when you should drink WATER:

After Waking Up

30 Minutes Before Breakfast

1 Hour After Breakfast

30 Minutes Before Lunch

1 Hour After Lunch

During Tea Break

30 Minutes Before Dinner

Just Before Going To Bed

Inspo by: @health_care.247

Try Infused Water Combinations

• Citrus (orange, lemon, lime)

• Cucumbers

• Mint

• Pineapple

• Coconut

• Ginger

• Lime

• Raspberries

• Mint

Source: @PlatefulHealth

Pomegranate, Cucumber + Lemon Infused Detox Water

This flavorful detox water (thanks to sweet pomegranate, refreshing cucumber + a bright lemon) is a great way to boost your immune system, lower your blood pressure + BONUS: Give you fabulous skin!

In your container mix the following ingredients:

• 1/2 Cucumber, sliced

• 1/2 Lemon, sliced

• 2 Fresh Pomegranates

• 4 Cups of Filtered Water

Directions:

1) Place lemon, cucumber + pomegranate seeds in a carafe

2) Gently mash using a mortar, concentrating on the pomegranate seeds.

3) Add 4 cups of filtered water + stir.

4) Let steep for a few hours, overnight if possible.

Strawberry, Cucumber + Mint Infused Water

In your container, mix the following ingredients:

• 1 cup sliced Strawberries

• 1 cup sliced Cucumbers

• 1/4 cup fresh Mint leaves

• 8 cups Filtered Water

Directions:

1) Leave to infuse for 10 minutes, then serve + enjoy!

2) Once the water has all been drunk, you can continue to fill + refill the fruit filled bottle all day long.

Grapefruit, Lemon + Lime Infused Water

In your quart container, mix the following ingredients:

• 1/4 Grapefruit, sliced

• 1/2 Lemon, sliced

• 1/2 Lime, sliced

• 1 quart Filtered Water

Directions:

1) Let mixture infuse for at least 2 hours or overnight for full flavor.

2) Feel free to peel the citrus fruit if you're worried about the water tasting bitter.

Homemade Ginger Ale

Cheers to drinking a glass of refreshing Ginger Ale made with real ginger!

• 2" piece of Ginger, juiced

• 12 ounces Organic Sparkling Water

• 1 Lemon (or) Lime, squeezed

• 2 tablespoons of Raw Local Honey (or)

• 2 tablespoons of Coconut Nectar (or)

• 2 tablespoons of Maple Syrup

Directions:

1) Mix + Enjoy!

Caffeinated + Decaffeinated Teas

Decaffeinated Teas

• Rooibos - Helps boost Glutathione, Antioxidant rich.

• Hibiscus - Vitamin C, Skin + Healthy Blood Pressure

• Ginger - Digestion + Immune Support

Caffeinated Teas

• White Tea - May have less caffeine. High in Catechins + Aids in Skin Health

• Oolong - Contains both Catechins + Theaflavins + Antioxidant Rich

• Pu'er - Fermented, more than Theaflavins. Aids Digestions + Heart Health

As for tea brands, I'm a big fan of PIQUE for their process. Pique tea supports radiant health by supporting gut health, fasting + calmness. The tea is extracted via the “freshest and rarest” plants through Cold Brew Crystallization. This process preserves active compounds at their highest potential.

Stay tuned as I'm working on getting a coupon code for you that I will add to my Shop tab here on my website.

TEAM COFFEE or TEAM MATCHA?

• Antioxidants Antioxidants

• Mental Focus Mental Focus

• Stimulating Calming

• Caffeine = 95 mg/cup Caffeine = 60 mg/cup

Values vary depending on preparation methods. Green tea has less caffeine.

Source: @PlatefulHealth

What I will say is that I go back and forth between Matcha, Golden Mylk + the ONLY coffee we drink in our house is Organic Purity Coffee, which you can learn more about here.

If you are a first time customer, be sure to enter my Purity Coffee coupon code at checkout for:

20% OFF + FREE SHIPPING:

DEROSA20

PLANT BASED, CEREMONIAL MATCHA by

ORA ORGANIC

If I'm in the mood for a Matcha, my go-to is Ora Organic "Renewable Energy" in Ceremonial Matcha which you can get here. Plant-based + USDA certified organic, "Renewable Energy" contains 90 mg of caffeine from a balanced blend of organic green coffee bean, matcha green tea + yerba mate - one of the cleanest energy boosting plants in the world.

I love Ora Organic because they don't include beta-alanine or a large amount of caffeine, but they do include organic adaptogenic herbs! "Renewable Energy" contains ashwagandha, rhodiola root, maca + ginseng, to help support focus, endurance + stress relief.

Sometimes raw energy isn't enough, so Ora Organic included nitric oxide boosting fruits + veggies which can help support blood flow to key muscle groups + vital organs, supporting strength + endurance.

Perfect with chilled water on a hot day, or mixed in with steamed milk to create the perfect at-home matcha latte.

KETO MATCHA LATTE with BOVINE COLLAGEN by

PRIMAL KITCHEN

There is also Primal Kitchen's Matcha Collagen Keto Latte Mix which you can get here. (Enter my 10% OFF coupon code at checkout: DEROSA10 ) This one is good if you are looking for collagen from bovine ( animal ). With 10 grams of Type 1 and 3 collagen bovine peptides in each serving, this Primal Kitchen Collagen Keto Latte supports hair, skin + nails.

Primal Kitchen made this mix without dairy, whey, or soy ingredients + with no sugar (you can always add honey for a bit of sweetness). Primal Kitchen's matcha mix is Keto Certified + Paleo Friendly, made with creamy coconut milk powder, monk fruit extract + matcha powder. Enjoy hot, over ice water, or mixed with your favorite milk or nut milk, like Malibu Mylk which you can get here.

Other ways to stay hydrated:

I have a Berkey Filter and I add Trace Minerals by Zuma. You can also add a pinch of salt. Filtered and spring water are the best.

Another way you can stay hydrated is to add chlorophyll drops to your water. I like the brand: Mary Ruth Organics.

I'm obsessed with RECESS! No, not school recess, silly!

This CBD calming drink is exactly what it says it is - Recess for adults! Recess is not a CBD brand, rather, a company with a mission to provide a way to help their consumers feel “calm, cool and collected.” Each of their all-natural sparkling waters are formulated with filtered water, 10 mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract (CBD), + three other adaptogenic ingredients: American ginseng to improve memory, lemon balm to boost vitality and L-theanine to reduce stress.*

*(Be sure to check with your doctor to make sure these ingredients are safe for you in case you are taking other medications etc.)

The flavors are absolutely mouthwateringly divine! They come in:

• Blood Orange

• Black Cherry

• Coconut Lime

• Pomegranate Hibiscus

• Peach Ginger

• Blackberry Chai

Recess now comes in powder form that can be added to almost any beverage or to have just on its own with water on the go! I love being able to bring the individual packets with me on a road trip or flight. It's so convenient + saves me time + money in the long run! If you'd like to purchase any of these bad boys with FREE SHIPPING shop them all HERE!

Ora Organic is creating the ultimate experience in health + wellness: from high-quality sourcing + rigorous testing to delicious flavors & premium packaging. Ora is a conscious brand that reflects the principles I value — trustworthy, well-researched, innovative + ultimately better for people + the planet. And of course, since day one: completely plant-based!

If I don't want my water (or Harmless Harvest coconut water) by itself, I love to add it to my plant based Ora Organic supplements:

• "Easy Being Green" (Superfood Greens Powder in Orange)

• "Good As Gold" (Organic Golden Milk Powder in Turmeric)

• "So Lean & So Clean" (Plant Based Superfood Protein Powder in either Chocolate, Vanilla or Vanilla Chai)

• "Aloe Gorgeous" (Plant Based Collagen Boosting Powder in either Vanilla, Peanut Butter or Chocolate)

• "Renewable Energy" (Organic Pre-Workout Powder in either Raspberry Lemonade, Beet Pomegranate or Ceremonial Matcha)

• "Trust Your Gut" (Organic Probiotics with Prebiotics Powder in either Apple Raspberry or Lavender Lemonade)

• "Break It Down" (Plant Based Digestive Enzymes Powder in Pineapple)

One more thing I want you to do after reading this post:

1) I want you to check your tap water safety on the EWG (Environmental Working Group) Tap Water Database here.

2) If you would like to share your results on below and/or on Instagram, I'd like everyone to understand how important it is that we the people are aware + on top of things that truly matter. I also want you all to know that you CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. You have the power of the dollar. You vote every single time you put money down to pay for something.

My friend, the amazing Ilie aka Healthillie has these recommendations besides demanding better + writing your city, town + state to give you cleaner water.

These are just a few water filter options that Healthillie suggests. We have The Berkey + love it. I will add a coupon code + a link for you guys shortly. Stay tuned!

On the left, are all the Water Filter brands to choose from that are Healthillie approved. I also would add the brand: WATERDROP to the list. They sell many different water purification products like: Refrigerator Water Filters * Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration Systems * Water Filter Pitchers * Faucet Water Filters * Under Sink Water Purification Systems. Check out Waterdrop HERE.

Photos courtesy of: Wix, Healthillie, Instagram, FoodBabe, Brunswick Labs + Plateful Health

Remembering My Beloved Friend, “Jolly” Jerry Boulding, also known as “The Doctor of Radio”

“Jolly” Jerry Boulding, also known as “The Doctor of Radio”, was a radio industry pioneer who developed the country’s first urban format for satellite delivery called “Heart & Soul.” As a program director, Boulding has programmed 16 radio stations in over 6 major markets throughout the country.

After growing up in Beaver Falls, Penn., Boulding got his start at WILY in Pittsburgh. By the time he joined WOL in Washington, D.C., he began using the air name “Jolly Jerry B.” His success there led to a series of programming jobs across the country and to another nickname:

"Over the course of his career, Jerry picked up the nickname "The Doctor of Radio" -- because he always made the ratings better, and healed sick stations."

Boulding made black radio thrive during a time when white stations were the only ones to play blues and soul. He brought life and flavor to Chicago’s WVON radio station in 1977 when he hired a young 20-something-year-old disc jockey named Tom Joyner. By giving Joyner a chance, Boulding set the stage for his multi-million dollar empire, reaching millions on the radio today.

Boulding remembered being told that he didn’t sound black. His response, “What is black supposed to sound like?”

Interested in the other side of music, Boulding accepted an offer to head the Black Music Division at MCA records. In the book “Turn It Up, American Radio Tales 1946-1966″ by Bob Shannon, Boulding said, “I believe in what radio is, and what I know it can be.”

“The white guys taught us formatics, but we taught them hipness,” Boulding told Bob Shannon, author of Turn It Up! American Radio Tales 1946-1996. “Beyond the music, it was the hipness that a lot of white folks came to black radio to hear.”

Chicago programming guru Jim Smith said Boulding was a pioneer at taking Top 40 concepts and applying them successfully to black radio. Jerry was a man who was one the greatest pioneers in both Urban & American Radio Broadcast.

Ike and Tina Turner with Jerry Boulding

The Ike & Tina Turner Revue

WWRL station in New York City

January, 1970

Boulding, who initially made great strides in radio programming in the late 1960’s and 70’s, saw radio transform with the changing civil times of America. The music and commentary on the air reflected the changing climate of the black community and the struggle for equality and civil rights.

Jerry Boulding co-founded, Black Radio Exclusive and later founded Urban Network Magazine, a Los Angeles-based urban media company with two online radio shows, and served as Senior Vice President of Entertainment Programming for American Urban Radio Networks.

As I reflect back and as I write this in 2021, we saw the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 remind us that we still have a lot to learn. The terms "urban" and "Black Music Division" that Jerry headed at MCA Records are no longer terms that are used today. Industry executives railed against those words which are born out of racial stereotyping of black communities.

Living Legends Foundation, a charity Boulding co-founded to recognize and honor music and radio industry professionals.

I had the immeasurable pleasure of working with Jerry at All Access in Malibu, California. At that time, Jerry also continued his consultancy specializing in network syndication and ratings analysis for major market stations including KJLH/Los Angeles.

At 75 years young, following a short term illness, my beloved friend, Jerry Boulding passed away in Westwood, California on Thanksgiving evening, November 28, 2013.

Jerry's beloved wife, Maggie remarked, "Jerry was a very special man. We've always known that, but we really found out when Jerry became ill. So many folks spoke of him as their mentor. The outpouring of support was amazing."

I remember that Thanksgiving Day so vividly. I was with my parents and brother in Massachusetts at my brother's in laws house, when I got the text from my boss telling me about Jerry. I could not stop crying. Jerry was just one of those amazing people that if you are lucky enough to meet in this lifetime, you should without a doubt consider yourself blessed.

I felt blessed to be with my parents, brother and nephew on Thanksgiving and yet at the same time, Jerry's passing truly tore me apart. I cannot for the life of me hold in my emotions and all I wanted to do that day was be upstairs and just think about Jerry and remember all the amazing times we shared together. I took some time to myself in the guest room upstairs for a bit, but that day, all I could think about was Jerry.....his smile, his voice and his sunshine ray of light personality.

Jerry was always inquisitive about what I was working on as he saw my passion for interviewing music artists and we would swap all kinds of stories and he would give me invaluable pointers and feedback. Jerry always took the time everyday to ask me about myself, my family......life. And I in turn, would ask him about....life. He was always sharing so many wonderful stories about himself, his son, Aaron his granddaughter, Sage and his lovely wife, Maggie. When he talked about them, his face and smile would shine even brighter than it already did.

When I returned back to Los Angeles from the Thanksgiving holiday the reality of not seeing Jerry's face began to really set in. A few months later on January 10, 2014, my co-workers and I went to West Angeles Church of God In Christ on Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles. I sat at Jerry's Celebration of Life service next to my co-worker, Matt who was nice enough to let me have all his tissues. All of a sudden, he nudged me on the shoulder.

He gently whispered something....."What?," I whispered..."It's Stevie," he said. I looked up, puffy eyes and all, squinting my eyes to see a man being walked down the aisle. It was Stevie Wonder paying his respects to Jerry.

Once he reached the podium, Stevie would go on to tell us all about how Jerry played Stevie's music on the radio when Stevie was being turned down left and right from radio stations. (How insane is that?!?) Stevie told us one of Jerry's favorite hobbies was taking apart old radios and putting them back together again. As Stevie told more stories about himself and Jerry, my tears began to dry and were soon replaced with laughter and a smile. That is what now comes to mind whenever I think of Jerry. His joyful laughter and his ray of sunshine smile.