The Humble Bee

Blog of The Juice Standard

Beecause Closure: Hello, Instagram; Goodbye E-Newsie and Jen Chase.

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Jen Chase here…TJS’s content director. And it’s with a pinch of sadness, a cup of half-hearted cheer and a 16-ounce TJS Singleton of cold-pressed positivity that I write you for the last time as the voice of this very special company.

After 5 years of working with Jamie Stephenson Goguen and Marcella Williams —penning and editing original words for everything from TJS’s tagline and standards to website content, Facebook posts, op-eds, invites, bios, signs, menu descriptions, e-newsie articles, and print ads that have helped create a company persona as compelling as the Queen Bees’ drive to WHealth™-up Vegas one juice at a time—TJS is tweaking how it communicates with you, its dear bees. And moving forward, the bulk of its energies will be poured (heh) into growing the TJS Instagram account, where TJS can showcase the beauty of its daily cold-pressing labor and all the glorious bees within its hive.

As companies grow (four stores in as many years!), so grows clarity about which efforts offer the best ROI (for our purposes here, our bees’ “return of interest”). And since this company intersects Vegas’s wellness and dining industries—industries that at times shine brightest when more lenses and fewer words tell a product’s story—TJS is dimming the lights in one deli case so it can turn ‘em up in another in hopes that you’ll get even more from the brand.

Moving forward, TJS invites you to bee a part of its thousands-strong hive of Insta followers—and if Facebook is your social flavor of choice (even though it’s hella harder these days for businesses to find their way into your feed)—you can absolutely still find TJS there, too…but the blog The Humble Bee and its sister e-newsie, “From The Humble Bee,” will no longer, well: bee. It’s Jamie’s and Marcella’s hope to pour their efforts into other juicy avenues as they improve upon the brand you’ve come to crave (and sorry not sorry I just can’t help myself from penning those pour poor puns).

As for me, I’ve deeply loved writing you through this company’s wholehearted platform. From funny to food-for-thought features, TJS gave me the freedom to tackle topics that made me proud to associate them with this brand….

• In Polyjuicery: Bee In Love With More Than One , I used the punny veil (okay I’m done now) of how harrrrrd it is to pick a fave TJS juice as a way to discuss polyamory and society’s shifting perspectives on love and marriage.

Polyjuicery: Bee In Love With More Than One (juice…or, person).

• The following year, I got to work with TJS COO and Co-Founder Marcella Williams on an inspirational editorial where she shared her personal account of what it was like to mindfully bring together different corners of the same family—hers— in, On Blended Families: They Take A Hive.

Marcella and her family, Christmas 2016. (l-r) Marcella; Sophia (9); Damian—on top (8); Maximus—on the bottom (8); and Drew (17).

• And last summer, Marcella’s words were the basis for my own navigation into the waters of a new family of my own with this man, which I wrote about in Coupling with Kids the Second Time Around.

Marcella’s words continue to guide me as I create a life with someone who chose me to partner into his second-time-around fam.

From helping parents get kiddos to drink green juice by giving it a funny name, to rounding up spend-worthy favorites in articles like this guide to fly honey products, to shining TJS’s star in my first feature for Mastercard™, to interviews with TJS honey supplier—local company Annsley Northwest Naturals and its owner, Dee Drenta—I’ve used my two decades in journalism and my Master’s degree-smarts for TJS good, not evil. (My last feature about TJS’s involvement with Sofar Sounds was pretty fun to write, too.)

Since I met Jamie and Marcella in 2013, my personal passions have often mirrored TJS’s standards: eat for health more than not; bee good to and for the environment we live in; and value time, energy and people…not things or circumstances. I’ll miss contributing to this brand, but I’ll treasure the joy of using my words and ethics to wholly support something I believed in: a company founded by two women who are leaving their hometown WHealthier than they found it.

It’s been dreamy writing for you, dear bees. Thanks for the acceptance you’ve shown this brand’s beeautiful little voice, and for the respect and virtual high-fives you’ve given my creativity and effort. It will be remembered.

With gratitude and love,  jen.

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TJS News: And Baby Makes (Store) Four

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Opening our fourth location at TruFusion in Summerlin at the start of the year was a natch move in The Juice Standard’s evolution (#gymandjuice, anyone?), and in these short two months, the collaboration has already helped us spread the edges of our mission: to blanket the Valley with as much organic product as possible.

To our franchise-begging bees…we know it probs hurts your ears to know that Nevada’s where we remain…but for you locals? It means there’s yet one more place to enjoy your juice while getting your bod and mind as WHealthy™ as can bee. Especially since we provide the same, consistent product that’s available at our neighborhood stores and at our outpost at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

“It really has been beautiful to blend right into the community that Trufusion had already established,” says Amber Cariker, TJS’s district manager. “It’s evolved right into a homey, family-feeling sort of place with a bunch of happy, motivated people—all under one roof—being passionate together about their health.

We couldn’t agree more. And if you haven’t been there yet, Amber’s got the pics to prove how beeautiful the space really is. Come check us out.

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TJS Events: Sofar Sounded Sogood.

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In late 2017 when The Juice Standard made our location in Henderson available to biz and community groups for meetings, workshops and the like, we didn’t think “the like” would mean “concert venue.” But last month it did, and it was rad; and on Feb. 9—spread out on the floor of the The Rose, with TJS sips and snacks floating by during set breaks, coordinated by TJS District Manager Amber Cariker and her team— it was thanks to two locals, some open-minded bees, a international music movement, and us (whee!) that TJS hosted an excitingly enigmatic event that was part of the Sofar Sounds movement.

Jacob Beck of the band Harpers, from Provo. (Photo Courtesy Sofar Sounds.)

Now, we could call a lot of things a “movement” and be way off the mark, but not when it comes to this group. Sofar Sounds (or just “Sofar”…which, thankfully, is how the group self-refers since it’s weirdly easier to say and type) is an immensely collaborative, nurturing and yet intense string of shows that unfold all over the globe—super-secret like—with a goal of introducing listeners to music they might not never hear otherwise…and, to introduce listeners to one another.

The process goes down like this:

  • Dates for shows are pre-announced on the Sofar website to pique interest.
  • Folks apply for free tix to a show they know nothing about but their feels tell them it’s a good idea.
  • The day before showtime, the concert’s location is announced and folks are emailed whether they’ve won the musical lottery, of sorts, to have the privilege of buying tix to hear three unknowns play a four-song set, in a space that could be someone’s palatial back yard or their palatial back hall.

Sofar concerts go up from London to Barcelona and countless places in between: more than 400 shows happen a day, and rumor has it New York hosts a concert a night. While Las Vegas is a relative newbie to the Sofar team, since November 2016, the Valley has been hosting more and more Sofar shows and has a promising future thanks to the women who help it run.

Elmer Abapo of Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy Sofar Sounds.)

“I think what Sofar does, in general, is promote a safe environment to be a participant of this global movement,” says Anna Karabachev, a Las Vegas attorney by day and fervent (volunteer!) supporter of music, of meeting people and of wholehearted, experiential living. “With the tiny connections and the pockets of people you meet, each time [you attend a Sofar] you’re trusting the process of getting to listen to this music.”

Karabachev and her co-Las Vegas coordinator Molly Higgins are responsible for the back-end machinations that help a Sofar fly. With only a handful of volunteers—fewer than 10 folks help set up the show at The Juice Standard—sound, lighting and staging comes together in venues that literally have ranged from someone’s field to someone’s living room…from the floors of antique stores to—yep: a cold-pressed juicery.

Karabachev is thoughtful as she shares what has to float her boat enough about a space to allow it to make the Sofar cut. “The reason I choose a venue…there’s just an understanding of a Sofar, and I think that’s very important.” Having met Amber Cariker at a decidedly un-Sofar event—they were building bee boxes with popsicle sticks at a sort of bee-MeetUp—Karabachev says Cariker deeply got the Sofar vibe and was equally able to transmit her positive energy for TJS and all our brand stands for: quality, WHealth™; education; connection; high standards; and service to all.

Then, all of a sudden, someone’s need for a space (Sofar’s) was satisfied by someone who had a space to lend (yours truly).

TJS District Manager Amber Cariker, in all her hands-on glory.

“The way [Amber] spoke about the business and the juice…it wasn’t just a business to her, it’s a lifestyle and a cause,” says Karabachev. “I didn’t even have to see the space. I just liked her, and I trusted her.”

Before that Friday night show, Sofar Soldout of tix and filled TJS to capacity to hear Elmer Abapo from Las Vegas; Dan Shaw and Eden Michelle from Johannesburg, South Africa (and who play in London); and the band Harpers from Provo, Utah. “It was a perfect location,” says Karabachev, noting that in addition to the stellar tunes wafting through the air, something else wowed guests that night.

“One difference that we hadn’t expected was the staff,” she says. “We don’t ask [hosts] to put themselves out. We don’t have food. But we took three breaks, and in between, there were TJS snacks and trays of juice. We’re talking every time I looked around, everyone had a different snack….

Dan Shaw and Eden Michelle. (Photo Courtesy Sofar Sounds.)

“It was a very special thing for TJS to do,” she continued, “and everyone cared very much about the production. Amber made a speech about the process of making juice, the bees….I think it felt exactly like a Sofar.”

In a turvy world that can feel more half empty than full if we’re not careful, the Sofar model breeds trust, connection and a belief that the unknown can be—and very likely will be—wonderful. With the credo, “Bee still and listen” (Fine: It’s “be.”), Sofar events curate an atmosphere that invokes pure music, pure respect for others and trust. Trust to invite strangers into your home; trust that, as a musician, your art will be received kindly; and trust in the kindness of others to work together for a group’s overall enjoyment.

(See? #ItReallyDoesTakeAHive.)

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Ingredient Spotlight: Almonds

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So…almonds. Let’s think about what we know about almonds (or what we think we think we know about them):

Almonds are brown. They’re oval. They’re actually a little sweet (unless you hit a nasty-bad bitter one). They’re high in calcium and low in sat-fat. And when you soak and blitz ’em up with water, spices and your favorite sweetener, you make a delicious nutmil….

Check it: Did you know that technically speaking—botanically speaking—almonds aren’t nuts? Neither did we, and it stopped us in our cold-pressed juicing, nutmilk-loving tracks. And while we here at The Juice Standard probably won’t stop calling our fave silky-sweet plant-based drink a nutmilk, in the name of vegucation, we wanted in on the skinny so we looked some stuff up.

According to Amy Stewart’s The Drunken Botanist, The Plants That Create The World’s Drinks (2013, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill), “From a botanical perspective, a nut is a fruit with a dry, hard shell. An almond is a drupe, or a stone fruit whose pit surrounds a fleshy seed,” kinda like peaches. But, Stewart continues, “Unlike peaches, apricots, and other drupes, the almond’s ‘fruit’ is nothing more than an unappetizing leathery outer membrane.”

Huh.

So the reality is that all nuts are actually dried fruits that don’t open at maturity to release their seeds. And almonds, in particular, are closely related to peaches and apricots, and likely share an Asian heritage with them (trees were grown in China some 12,000 years ago before heading to Greece by about the 5th century BC).

Thankfully, whether almonds are a fruit, a nut or a seed, all this backstory does nothing to change our knowledge about how healthy these babies are for us…especially when we eat ones that are organic.

So if you see almonds on The Juice Standard’s ingredients list (or any ingredients list), know that they’re incredibly good for you, for a kajillion reasons. And if you happen to be at a trivia night where you’re faced with the Is-An-Almond-A-Nut-Or-Not question…you’re welcome.

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Friends Who Juice: Jessica Buchanan Gives ‘Whole 30’ A Whole New Meaning.

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So, for reals, Bees: What’s the longest you’ve cleansed? Beecause chances are it’s not as long as Jessica Buchanan, a Las Vegas native who in December 2017 decided to turn a very do-able five-dayer drinking nothing but TJS into a confidence-boosting month. And with WHealthy™ results that left her with better-than-her-already-beeautiful skin and a mindset that she can do almost anything, we think we’ll see Jessica back next year for a cleanse that’s even longer…as long as she can eat pho when she’s done.  

Meet Jessica Buchanan

Ms. Jessica Buchanan, Cleanse Master

All About Jessica

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since… foreeeeevver. Seriously, I was born and raised here. Aside from the occasional period of living elsewhere here and there, this is where I’m from and where my family resides. It’s home.

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start my adult life here. It was the year…2005. I had just graduated high school. I was informed that I was supposedly an adult.

…and what appealed to me about living in Vegas was…nothing at that time. Not surprisingly, like many who have lived in the same place their whole life, I wanted to move away and see other cities and countries. I did at some point live in several places, but this was always home. When I was younger I didn’t see the appeal of living here, but as I grew older, having family and close friends here became a great benefit of coming home… and the great food and endless hours of entertainment didn’t hurt, either.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Vegas is…that living here is so different from living in other places. When I travel, people like to ask me what its like to live here… probably the same as anywhere else. I don’t do my grocery shopping in a casino or live in a hotel; though does that make for funny conversation.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…massages on Spring Mountain at 12 a.m…or the food. That’s a tough one.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be…“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…just about any pho restaurant with friends.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…Manama by the Muppets.

A person who inspires me every day is…actually three people: all three of my sisters.

…and the way they inspire me is…by finding a balance in life. They always have time for family even while pursuing their own goals.

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…that I hate peas.

About Jessica and Health in Las Vegas

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been…a lot of raw, vegetarian and vegan restaurants have become both prevalent and popular.

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: Have greens in the refrigerator and make sure not to eat out too often.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are…bananas, blueberries, mangos (when in season), spinach, tomato, and avocados.

My don’t-even-THINK-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is…pho!

The health habit that gets me teased the most is…sleeping. I do my best to make sure I get enough sleep. Especially these days as my sleep schedule is so scattered. I’m like a kola bear some days and get by on two hours of sleep others.

(#JustSayin)

Jessica On Juice and her Massive, Massive Cleanse

The first time I had cold-pressed juice was…December 30, 2017 (or maybe the 31st).

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…My best friend Jill Pham. She had done juicing before and raved about The Juice Standard.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…pretty tasty.

The reason I started drinking cold-pressed juice was because…I knew without a doubt that doing an all-green juice cleanse was going to contain all sorts of healthy benefits. I had never done one before and I just wanted to try it.

And the reason I kept drinking cold-pressed juice was because…I wanted to reset my palate to be more inclined toward green vegetables. I already enjoyed them, but I felt that cleaning out my gut would help with cravings as well as help create better eating habits.

In February, I finished a 30-day juice cleanse. The reason I wanted to do the cleanse was because…of all the aforementioned reasons. I started with a five-day juice cleanse at the end of December and into the New Year. During those five days I found my skin was clearer, my mood was better and I enjoyed the regularity it gave me in making sure I ate throughout the day. After feeling the benefits of five days and speaking to two friends that have also done 30 or more, I felt ready to tackle 30 days myself.

Before I did my cleanse the longest I’d ever done a juice cleanse was… five days.

This is what I drank on my cleanse:

First 15 days:

  • Bee WHealthy™
  • Bee Energized
  • Bee WHealthy™
  • Bee On Point
  • Bee Vibrant
  • 1/2 Bee Happy and 1/2 Bee Excellent

Second 15 days:

  • Bee Alkaline
  • Bee Resilient
  • Bee WHealthy™
  • Bee Resilient
  • Bee Vibrant
  • Bee Happy

True or false: “Cleansing made me hangry.” (Wink) False. I just missed savory foods.

True or false: “When you watch television on a cleanse, you realize just how many commercials there are for food and restaurants.” False. Driving around does make you realize how many places there are to eat between your points A and B, though.

True or false: “I thought about chewing food no fewer than 30 times a day.” False. I know others that thought about it a lot during their own experiences, however, that was not my own personal struggle.

The number of days it took for me to start seeing and feeling a difference in my body was …. three.

My daytime consumption schedule—when I chose to drink my juice—looked like this: It varied day to day, but I tried to drink a juice every two hours.

When I stopped my cleanse, I decided that this is how I’m going to incorporate cold-pressed juice into my daily lifestyle moving forward: I really enjoyed doing the cleanse and maybe next year I’ll do another 30 days maybe even bump it to 45 days. On a more regular basis however, I might do a 3-6 day cleanse every month or every other month, if I can.

The most profound and happy difference in my life that’s resulted from doing my cleanse is this: Knowing I can do it. Aside from the many health benefits I felt from juicing, just having the psychological wherewithal to know I can do it was a confidence booster.

Please answer Yes or No: “I love juice so much I make it at home on the reg.” No; however, I do blend fruits and vegetables. Cold pressing looks like a lot of work.

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because… 1. Bee Happy is my favorite! 2) They offered so much support and advice when I decided to do 30 days with them. They were front and center on this journey with me, answering any questions and rooting me on every time I saw them to pick up my juice.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…not to be daunted by how long you might be juicing. It gets so much easier when you’ve done it for a few days since it becomes part of your regular day.

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Juice Hacks: Got Kiddos? Hack These Drinks For The Holidays.

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Congratulations! Got kiddos in your life? Then the rest of your holiday season will probs be filled with nights of shopping and cookie-baking, and not as much grown-up play as you’re used to.

Congratulations! Got kiddos in your life? Then the rest of your holiday season will probs be filled with nights of shopping and cookie-baking, and not as much grown-up play as you’re used to.

We know you wouldn’t trade in the werk for all the littleton delight this time of year spreads. Neither would we. But that doesn’t mean we can’t inject a little extra cheer into our own late-night reindeer games.

(And you go right ahead and take that any way you want.)

If your date nights out have morphed into wrap-fests in, huzzah! Here’s our slapdash list of tasty add-ins, swaps and ooh-la-las you can apply to some of our favorite nut milks and juices. Promise they’ll make you taste like you’re out on the town when all you’re really doing is libating through another Elf On A Shelf tableau.

We bee here for you. We admire you. So go fix these drinks. Most serve two or four adults but sharing’s optional. Beecuase while holidaying for a month is hard AF there’s no reason why it can’t taste great. #IfYoureGonnaBeeBadBeRealGoodAtIt

Non-Nog: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Magnificent; 4 ounces of either rum, brandy or bourbon or for a more traditional interpretation, a combo of all three; 1 strong shake of cinnamon and nutmeg. Combine in a high-speed blender (for froth…and if the kids are still up) or a shaker (for speed) and serve over ice. Repeat if necessary…beecuase spoiler alert: Santa really doesn’t know when you’re naughty. Note we said “when” not “if.”

Goldish Milk: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Legendary; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon rose water (optional); 2 ounces rum (not optional); freshly ground black pepper to taste. Gently heat on a stove until warm but not boiling OR combine in a high-speed blender (for froth…and if the kids are still up) or a shaker (for speed). Drink before bed and not a moment before you’re done with that elfin effer.

UnCosmopolitan: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Cosmopolitan; 2 ounces no-sugar-added cranberry juice (we like Apple & Eve); 4 ounces organic vodka (we like Prairie Organic Spirits); 2 ounces triple sec or cointreau; two shakes Angostura bitters. Combine in a shaker over ice and serve as many people as you’re willing even if it’s only yourself.

Rock Toddy: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Royal; 4 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey; ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, allspice or nutmeg; ½ teaspoon organic vanilla extract. Warm over a low flame to preserve the alcohol as well as your sanity.

For sleep, for stress, for sanity. The holidays can’t get enough maca and neither should you.

Hot ChaCha: 1 Singleton (16 ounces) Bee Happy; 3 teaspoons matcha (we think GotMatcha’s black-label is bomb); 2 teaspoons maca (we like Moon Juice’s but you can use any brand); 2 teaspoons coconut butter or coconut oil; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Combine in a saucepan over low heat and don’t allow to boil. Best enjoyed at the end of your night when you can smile on your accomplishments and gear up for another day of do-gooding.

 

 

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TJS News: Book Our Space in 2018

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Since the day she opened, The Juice Standard’s St. Rose location has been a prime spot for lingering at our farmer’s table and hunkering down deeper into the dining room at our couch and chairs. But since all girls can stand a little makeup, District Manager Amber Cariker worked her intrinsic design-on-a-dime skillz to increase Rose’s coze-factor, and with a few smooth moves of tables and chairs she made the space perfect for one thing:

You!

#NewishSpaceForANewishYou: Host Your Next Meeting With Us

From our quiet study corner to a sprawling space for groups, our little revamp has made the store’s floor more inviting for small businesses or community groups to gather for things like meetings and workshops, and has already accommodated classes on essential oils, and a professional development night for licensed aestheticians that was hosted by Integrative Aesthetics founder Jenna Kent.

Have a meeting you’d like to host at TJS? Want to enhance it with a juice tasting or a snickie-snack sample of some of our most popular chewables? Book at The Rose and fight #meetingboredom with healthy treats from TJS.

Making Your Work Delicious, Every Sip Of The Way

Bonus to hosting with us? Any group that books at St. Rose gets the chance to introduce attendees to TJS juices and nut milks with a complimentary juice tasting . It’s our way of giving back to the hive that serves us so well while letting our bees beehind the counter vegucate folks about our products.

How To Book

Easy-peasy: St. Rose is avail on a first-come, first-served basis by calling District Manager Amber Cariker at Amber Cariker 702.325.0965.

(While we’re at it, know what else you can book for January 2018…or February or March? Call our Henderson location at: 702.979.9803 or our Summerlin location at: 702.476.9800.)

 

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Menu Update: New You? Noö Nectar.

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“Nature meets neuroscience” is the party line from the noöest menu item The Juice Standard is offering for the way it’s designed to increase cognitive function, nudge neurological synapses and boost energy so we can bee the creative machines we were meant to be! (Or at the very least, to live-work-play-parent like the badasses we are with energy left to spare.)

Noö Nectar contains a combination of carefully curated brain enhancers—”nootropics“—to help the body operate optimally. Specifically, these four key neurotransmitters (plus a lot of other stuff):

  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine
  • Acetylcholine

It’s important to note that a big component to the nectar’s mix includes a mass amount of vitamin Bs. If you’re noö to liquid Bs, be aware that high doses of ’em can lead to some pretty immediate skin flushing, tingling, itching, or nausea if they’re taken on an empty stomach. And while the Noö Nectar recommendation is to ingest on an empty tum-tum, you might need to fill your belly with food, first.

The potion is delivered via a 1.7-ounce bottle that’s meant to be split into two swigs a day (though some folks who are noö to noötropics may do better spreading a bottle across two days).

At TJS we’re selling this $5/shot (Remember: One shot can be a two-day dose if that better suits your system.)

Bees, if you glean nothing else from this little update, simply do this: Run from fakemeout vitamin and biohacking boosters and toward this noö treat at our stores.

(And for the record, this “noö” spelling stuff doesn’t get old. In fact it’s noö. Soooo very noö.) Wink.

 

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Friends Who Juice: LeAndria Holliday

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Before you bees even ask, no, we did NOT feature LeAndria Holliday in December beecause her name is crazy coincidental with the reason for the season. But it’s a nice bonus.

Instead, we featured her beecuase TJS District Manager Amber Cariker knows this beeautiful beauty for her daily visits to The Rose; her stellar smile and attitude; annnnd all those daily visits to The Rose…as in, Holliday buys juice and nut milk from TJS on the reg.

Committed to a healthy diet that gives her the proverbial juice to fuel her brainy work as a credit consultant with Financial Education Services, Holliday is as passionate about steering people down a healthy financial path as she is getting folks on board with cold-pressed you-know-what.

Wholehearted, positive, and decidedly hooked on buying not making juice (#nojudgmentgirl), bees like Holliday give TJS all the feels about pressing the best stuff we can at this festive—daresay holliday—time of year and all year ’round.

Meet LeAndria.

All About LeAndria

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since…I was born. 😉

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start my adult life here. It was the year…1990: When I was born. (Haha!)

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is… that the only entertainment is on the Las Vegas Strip. There is fun in a lot of local areas, as well.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is… that there are actually so many things to do locally in Las Vegas besides going to the Strip. (Shhh: Don’t tell the tourists!)

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be…“All progress takes place outside of your comfort zone.” I feel this is important simply because without taking the first step you have no idea how things will turn out.

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old to me is… The Juice Standard. (Did you have to ask?)

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be… Eminem’s Phenomenal. Whether I’m going to the gym or no matter what mood I’m, in this song makes me feel INVINCIBLE.

As a grown up, I work with numbers; but when I was a little girl, when I grew up I wanted to be…a talk show host.

People who inspire me every day are…Les Brown and Tony Robbins.

…and the way they inspire me is this: Their drive and motivation are out of this world! [So is the] way they can confidently speak and move an entire room with their words.

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…I’m all about progression and working. I sometimes forget to have fun.

My favorite way to volunteer or to give back to my community is…feeding the homeless at shelters here in Las Vegas.

About LeAndria’s Work

When people ask me about the kind of work I do, this is what I tell them: I help and consult others with fixing their credit reports.

LeAndria Holliday credits juice for giving her the energy and health to do the work she loves. (Credit. Heh. See what we did there? We drink juice, too.)

What prompted me to go into finance was… I felt credit is something everybody needs, and so many are still misinformed on how it works, how to make it better and how to maintain it. Through this job I am able to help and inspire others.

My first business mentor was…James Hsu.

…and this is what I learned from him: He taught me how to learn who I am; [choose] what I wanted to do; and become a successful entrepreneur!

The most surprising thing I’ve learned about myself through my work is… I absolutely love meeting new people! And I talk a lot so the fact that I could be a chatterbox and still help other makes me thrive!

…and, the thing I’m most proud of is… I have a job where I can travel and see new people and places all the time.

True or false: If you’re bad at math, you won’t be good with a budget. FALSE. Anyone can stick to a budget if they really want to. Just need a little discipline and something that motivates to stick with it.

The best financial advice I received as a young woman was…invest in something…but don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…to RELAX. Be anxious for nothing.

My advice to someone who feels like they’re inherently bad with money is this: “Fail to plan. Plan to fail.” Look and see where your money is going. Draw up a realistic budget you’re comfortable with and you’ll see that you’ll be ahead of your money in no time.

The new years’ words of encouragement I’d give someone who is looking to get their financial house in order in 2018 are these: It’s never too late to start! No matter how bad you think your situation is, it’s never too late to start over and turn your life around.

About LeAndria and Health in Las Vegas

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been…Juice! I feel more people now are looking for healthy alternative outside of the Dr’s office. Juice taste great and its also an prevention method to get your daily nutrition in.

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: I’m always conscious about what I’m eating. I usually Plan ahead or meal prep.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are…avocado, PINEAPPLE and lemon.

My don’t-even-think-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is…a Honey Natado, exxxxtra honey please. There was a time where I was drinking this every day! Whew. Luckily, The Juice Standard is a judge-free zone.

The health habit that gets me teased the most is…drinking juice! But I love it. And I am always advocating the goodness it brings to your health. Some people just see it as salad in a bottle but it’s so much more than that.

LeAndria on Juice

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…The Juice Standard. In the beginning, when the store first opened, I got a BEE MAGNIFICENT every day and didn’t even look at the juices. I only cared about what was sweet…until one day I tried a BEE ON POINT. And I said, “Hey I can do this! This is YUM!” And from then on I would still get the nut milk but also a juice to start my day.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…great! It shocked me because, naturally, you’re like: “If it’s healthy it doesn’t taste so good.” But I was definitely in for a surprise.

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice today is because…it’s adding more value to my life and it taste great.

This is how I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle: Except for when I’m traveling, I literally go to The Juice Standard every day. (Yes: Every day.) I feel the company does the hard part for you and it’s already bottled up and ready to drink.

Yes or No: “I love juice so much I make it at home.” NOOOOOO! (LOL) I tried making it a couple times at home but it was a disaster. I found carrot purée everywhere in my kitchen.

True or false: “Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.” False. But it definitely requires time and patience sent from the Juice Gods. 😉

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…they are very dense in nutrients. The company knows the perfect combo of fruits and veggies to make it taste AMAZING.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…don’t give up. Your palate is most likely used to high carbs and processed food. Once your palate is re-set, cold-pressed juice tastes like a dream!

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Juice Hack: Mock That Toddy

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Admit it: Sometimes during the holidays you wish five-o-clock-somewhere was around 10 a.m.

S’okay. We do, too.

For when all of us just hafta, hafta adult hard—when daydrinking wouldn’t bring us anywhere but down, or for when we happied our hours too hard and need a kinder, gentler hair of the dog—The Juice Standard’s Co-Founder and COO Marcella Williams gives you a fantastic spirits-free spin on a classic.

The hot toddy is a known cocktail cure-all for cold and flu symptoms thanks to its ingredients that mimic (and in some cases mirror) the stuff in over-the-counter meds…but with hella more taste and way less dye. But the toddy’s also a delicious cold-night sipper. Or on any night. And despite not having the whisky, bourbon or rye that makes a hot toddy all that and more, this recipe’ll do the trick.

All you need is…

  • The Juice Standard’s Bee Royal (roughly 8 ounces)
  • Splash of raw apple cider vinegar (roughly 1 ounce)
  • Pinch of cinnamon (roughly 1/8 teaspoon or half that, pending your taste for it)
  • A stove-safe pot or microwave-safe mug

We like stirring our potions on the stove so we can better control the heat, but a microwave will do. Just stir it every now and then so the cinnamon doesn’t clump.

As we’ve said before, our bees beehind the counter are so damn crafty, it’s a rare day that our juices or nutmilks are only used in one way. We’re always thinking of new thises and thats…which is why we wholly support hacking any and all our menu offerings so you can get the most from your purchases…no matter when you buy (or sip). Or, what time of day. #BeecuaseNoJudgment.

Got some hacks of your own? Email ’em to info@juicestandard.com and TJS’ Content Director, Jen Chase, will be happy to share ’em on our social channels (once we test them…natch). As for our hacks, we’ll be adding them in dribs and drabs to our own social media and right there on these pages. Keep an eye out so your belly will be satisfied.

#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Ingredient Spotlight: Pumpkin Is Not The New Black

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We’re a few days past Halloween’s sweetness and that means only one thing: With Thanksgiving on approach and December holidays close behind, the food world’s officially drenched in pumpkin and the orangey, spicy forecast ain’t changing soon.

Does that bring glee to your pumpkin-lovin’ heart or is your palate on squash overload? If you thought cold-pressed juices were safe from flavors of da-spice, you’re wrong: At The Juice Standard, we get psyched each fall for the return of a few pumpkin-spicy menu treats (which you can read about here). But unlike lots of other p-based products on the market, when we say our sumpin’ sumpins have pumpkin, we really use pumpkin. As in, real 100 percent organic pumpkin puree.

The ingredients in our Harvest Spice Bee Invincible make for one kickin’ pumpkin latte thanks to our not-so-secret ingredient: Real, honestagoodness pumpkin. (Photo courtesy of TJS Kitchen Supervisor Giselle Caceres and Bee Grace Rincon)

Here’s why: Aside from being a dependable holiday flave in everything from coffee to ice cream, pumpkin’s one of the world’s oldest members of the produce family, dating to when Colonists were introduced to it after arriving in America (thank you, Native Americans). All it took was that first Thanksgiving to fall in love in love with its fleshy orange insides, and by the end of the century—when Colonists chatted up alllll the pumpkiny fun they’d have making pies and lattes standing strong with their new BFFs for their every joint-Thanksgiving to come (sorry, Native Americans)—pumpkin became the First Fruit of the New World. Right along with the corn we stole were gifted by our new friends.

Food history lesson aside, we use pumpkin because it tastes good. And, beecause…

  • vitamins A and C (for peepers and immunity)

  • beta carotene (also good for peepers)

  • fiber (for digestion and weight loss)

  • low-cal (49 per cup)

  • phytosterols (in the seeds, which reduces bad cholesterol)

  • carenotoids (for pretty skin)

  • troptophan (an amino acid that helps your gut produce smile-inducing seratonin)

  • potassium (more than a ‘nana; way less sugar)

Moral? Like we said in this month’s inbox e-newsie, maybe we oughtta cut pumpkin some slack and not whine so loud when the industry goes a little cray by adding it to anything that’s edible. It’s the foundation of Thanksgiving, after all, and dang if it cures a lot of what might ail you. We should show respect, and not just in November.

(And we know just where you can start….)

#KnowPumpkinKnowThanksgivingNoPumpkinNoThanksgiving

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Menu Madness: Seasonal Specials (Plus Some Swoony Weeklies)

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Thanks to viewers like you who keep our seasonal standbys returning, faves like our pumpkiny Harvest Spice Bee Invincible is a welcomed repeat, year after year. But the brainpower of our Executive Chef David Suppe has brought us something else new that’s helping us anticipate the weekend even more than usual.

The Juice Standard’s new Weekend Specials are one-off recipes available at our neighborhood stores (The Hive on Ft. Apache near Summerlin, and The Rose on St. Rose Parkway in Henderson). Designed to delight, these treats are Chef’s way of keeping our menu even fresher than it already is, by injecting some serendipity into our tried-and-true menu.

On weekends of recent past we’ve welcomed the Bee Thankful (velvety pumpkin and cashew nut milk served over ice and with the seasonal spices Chef knows you love); the Bee Churro Invincible (dates, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, espresso, MCT oil, coconut oil/ghee, love); and the Bee Fearless (as our clever Chef put it, “a frightfully delicious spicy-savory cilantro and lime juice”).

If they sound good and you want in, here’s the trick: Buy early and buy often, beecause once product runs out each weekend, that’s all, folks. So starting at 7 a.m., head over to see what the new weekend fuss is all about. And if you want to learn what’s on tap (er, in the press?), check out TJS’s Facebook page on Fridays where there’s bound to bee a mention of what’s to come that weekend.

#ItTakesAHiveToBeThisJive

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TJS News: Getting To Know Us

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In the last few months we’ve had a lot of new faces join The Juice Standard’s managerial and leadership team. And with some 4,000 bees getting our monthly e-newsie and thousands more following TJS content on social, over the next few issues we’ll bee introducing you to the folks you see beehind our counters…in some cases, ones you may never lay eyes on but you’ll sure taste what they have to offer.

So for a little something old and something new, we’re shining on the people who make us proud to bee a company that loves its employbees as much as we love the products they diligently prepare, serve and sell.

David Suppe, Executive Chef

August 2017

David Suppe, The Juice Standard’s executive chef, started concocting juicy goodness for us back in August…but it cheffery his first love? Inquiring minds.

What’s your role at TJS? I oversee all back-of-house operations and

procedures.

What was it about TJS that made you want to work with us? I was drawn to TJS due to it being a smaller company, and creating a great product. for great reasons.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Knowing I am making a difference, and aiding in the advancement of this company.

What was your favorite fruit/veggie when you were the age you were in the photo you sent us? I was about 3 years old in that photo, and I loved corn and green grapes.

Today, what fruit/veggie is your kitchen never without? Potatoes and pineapple.

What’s your favorite TJS juice or nut milk? Hard to say as all of them have such unique characteristics and qualities. If I had to choose, I would have to say Bee Energized (this week at least).

(Truth be told…it is one of the new items being created but I can’t speak about that at this time!)  #tease

What advice would you give to a juice-fasting newbie, based on the info you know about TJS, juicing, and the health benefits that come from flooding your bod with goodness? My advice would be to give it a 100-percent buy-in. It’s amazing to experience what benefits this product has to offer.

Stephanie Saccucci, Assistant Manager, Buzz (at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas)

August 2017

Stephanie, age 2, and her brother, who Stephanie says is still her bestie. (Awww!)

What’s your role at TJS? My role has been to inspire and motivate the team to uphold the high standards of the company, as well as to be alongside the staff and help them grow and develop the skills required to help them be their best at The Juice Standard.

What drew you to TJS? I was very excited to find TJS! I have always loved eating healthy but the piece I was missing was the vegu-cation. I am very excited to learn about the functions of the juices and the benefits to the body and to help pass that on to others.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? It feels amazing to be a part of people’s “lightbulb” moments daily…where people can learn something they did not know before. Customers can learn something that can really change their health and life, and that’s amazing!

What was your favorite fruit/veggie when you were the age you were in the photo you sent us? Sweet potatoes!

Today, what fruit/veggie is your kitchen never without? Avocados!

What’s your favorite TJS juice or nut milk? Bee On point. SO good! I love how balanced it is for your nutrition and it tastes amazing. I also love the radish in the finish.

What advice would you give to a juice-fasting newbie, based on the info you know about TJS, juicing, and the health benefits that come from flooding your bod with goodness? I would suggest to start slow. I have detoxes before from things like caffeine or sugar, and the headaches are crazy! So I would say get your body ready by slowly cutting back on those things leading up to a juice fast.

Also, make sure to start the morning (especially in cooler months) with warm water with lemon! And then drink warm water or tea throughout the day to help curb appetite (lemon is great for that). Hydrating is important during a fast but I’d say warm water is also important.

Also, make sure to include green juices! If you can do a green fast, do it. There are such tremendous things found in green juices that are not in the others…like protein (there are 13 grams in Bee Resilient!). So go green if you can.

Ben Ream, Store Manager (St. Rose location)

October 2015

Ben Ream, the green bean. At age 6 he was already forecasting his love of all-things leafy (even if he was a picky kid!).

What’s your role at TJS? I have worn a few hats during my time with The Juice Standard. I started as a front-of-house bee and was then promoted to a supervisor (“Superbee”); and then, on to my current role of store manager. I am a working manager, meaning I spend the majority of my time behind the counter, side by side with my team…and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What drew you to TJS? Health, nutrition and fitness have been my passions for over 10 years and I love to help people improve their lives in these areas. I worked in surgery for years before this and never got the satisfaction of helping people quite like I do here, mostly because I get to see the continual progress that our customers make toward reaching their health goals.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Hearing customers’ stories of life-changing benefits they’ve received from incorporating our products into their lives.

What was your favorite fruit/veggie when you were the age you were in the photo you sent us? As a child I was incredibly picky and didn’t like most veggies and only some fruits so I would have to say cherries.

Today, what fruit/veggie is your kitchen never without? Any kind of leafy greens.

What’s your favorite TJS juice or nut milk? It’s very hard to pick a favorite from our bounty of amazing juices, so I’ll pick two: Bee Resilient and Bee On Point, because of their ingredient profile and nutrient density.

What advice would you give to a juice-fasting newbie, based on the info you know about TJS, juicing, and the health benefits that come from flooding your bod with goodness? Go all in and commit to a three-day fast! Know the first day will be a struggle, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel and your body will love you for it.

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TJS Juice Hacks: Hacks Are Where It’s At

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#ThinkOutsideTheBottle

Honestly? That’s what we want you to do. To think outside the box, er bottle. #RethinkWhatYouDrink. Take what you know about TJS products and deconstruct them juuuuust a little…Singleton by Singleton. Sip by sip.

Beecause a hack-is-a-hack-is-a-hack. And a hack (as we ‘splained in our cray-informative feature last month) is something you do in an effort to improve something…even if that “something” is you. You usually drink something cold? Warm it up! Steam it! Or do the reverse and order that Bee Invincible or Raw Cacao Mocha, throw it in the fridge and enjoy an icy treat whenever you’re ready.

Honestly, the possibilities are endless. But for this month’s purposes, we’re starting easy with a hack that anyone with a microwave (or a saucepan) can do…

Bee Royal Gets The Royal Treatment

Bee Royal. So much more than a cold, cold-pressed juice.

For as long as we can remember we’ve been lovin’ on the versatility of our Bee Royal.

Made from three delicious little ingredients—apple, lemon and extra ginger (and, yes: the Southern Nevada Health Department made us say “extra” since Royal’s got so much of-a da-spice…)—while this baby’s scrumptious cold, from the get-go, our bees have been…

• Heating this one up during cold-and-flu season

• Steaming it for a delicious non-caffeine warmer-upper drink, any time of year; and…

• Using it as a mixer in upleveled cocktails.

It’s a rare day that any of our juices or nutmilks are only used in one way. That’s why we wholly support hacking any and all of our offerings so you can get the most out of your purchases…not matter what time of year you buy (or sip).

Got some hacks of your own? We’ll be adding these in dribs and drabs to our social media and right there on these pages, so keep an eye out so your belly will be satisfied.

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TJS Events: Where We At

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If you follow us on Facebook here and Insta here, you see that there are in fact days when “minding the store” means hitting the pavement outside our three locations so we can better bring our product to you.

We get things added to our calendars all the time since TJS’s District Manager is a blonde-little hound when it comes to sniffing out excellent opportunities to share our juices with you. But for what’s on tap this month so far (and, for the very beginning of November) we bring you a snippet of old and a sneak peek at new things to keep on your juicy radar.

On Saturday 30 September, TJS was honored to join the Las Vegas VegFest in its quest to present healthy lifestyle options to folks interested in biohacking their systems toward supreme wellness thanks to a plant-based diet. (And if biohacking is a new term for you, learn a little more about it by clicking here on our feature from last month.)

Our bee, Angela, did a beeautiful job representing us at last week’s Las Vegas VegFest.

One of our beeautiful bees, Angela, represented the company with this bountiful table filled with vegu-cation about our products, juice fasts, and  by our very own district manager Amber Cariker.

We’ll have tons of info; the event is free; and we’ll even bee handing out coupons for product! So if you were gonna head over, find us! As always we’d love nothing more than to meet the very bees who support us (…and that means you!).

 

You, too, can look this glowy if you do some learnin’ with Integrative Aesthetics’ Jenna Kent.

Calling all licensed aestheticians (and you aestheticians-in-training, too)! On Oct. 25 at our St. Rose location, local aesthetician and owner of Integrative Aesthetics, Jenna Kent, is coordinating a meet up of like-minded industry professionals, interested in…

  • Learning on-point topics about their field (i.e., handling late clients and no-shows);
  • Hearing about new treatments;
  • Understanding how juice helps skin; and more.

Please note that this event is specifically for aestheticians. Does that mean you? Go ahead and learn more about it (and sign up/RSVP, too) by clicking on the Eventbrite link right here. Also note that for the lucky ducks attending, The Juice Standard will be serving up sips and snacks. You know. To keep you alert as you do all that learnin’.

Finally, a heads-up about November: This year the time change is Sunday, Nov. 5, which means you get an extra hour of shut eye; an extra hour to party; or an extra hour to drink juice. It also means our hours will be a-falling back as we tuck in for the start of Las Vegas’s true fall and winter. Closer to the time we’ll remind on our socials that the neighborhood stores will closer a little earlier on Sundays.

Note: We just love to collaborate! Got an event that might jive with our mission of promoting WHealth™ and wellness? Hit us up at info@juicestandard.com and someone from our end will reach out to someone on your end to see if we can make some magic happen.

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Vegucation 101: Biohacking Defined

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Biohacking is a techie term referring to the ways we can all tweak the best parts of ourselves (or, improve areas that need improving!). The beauty of it? Different tweaks to our diet, sleep and exercise can be tested based on our individual needs with the endgame goal that’s usually the same for all of us: total WHealth™.

Clear mind. Lithe body. Springy step.

Sound like feelings you’d like to reclaim from your youth? Or maybe you’re already one fly young buck who has time on their side but not a healthy constitution. 

Honestly, it matters not why you want to get WHealthy™ since we’re here to say there’s a proverbial “app” for that…or rather, a “hack.” And it’s called biohacking.

Heard much about biohacking lately? Probably, since it feels like everyone and their doctor’s bruh has something they’re testing on themselves to improve their health. If biohacking is bio-new to you, in simplest terms, it’s kinda like conducting your very own DIY biology experiment, where you, your bod and your diet are the control for testing health-improvement tactics in the name of feeling better, shining brighter and living longer (read: healthier!). 

In recent history, one of the foremost health-crazed biohackers has been Dave Asprey…basically, the Godfather of Bulletpoof Coffee™. (Shameless plug: If you like your coffee all buttered up…must try ours.)

In The Juice Standard’s world, biohacking is incredibly significant since it’s at the core of what we do when we help our Fanbees to fast using scrumptious, cold-pressed juice made from the freshest 100 percent organic produce we can get our hands on. But in the true spirit of biohacking, even the concept of fasting goes beyond simply lowering your calorie intake.

“You are what you eat” is an old adage that rings true today…but more than being the sum total of every bite you put in your mouth, eating smartly in today’s world isn’t always about what you eat… it’s also about when you eat. And if poor eating habits or a maddening sluggish digestive system have ever reared their ugly heads in your world, science says that the simple act of fasting is having far more of an impact on our health than simply making it easier to drop a few quick pounds of water weight.

The Juice Standard’s Green Fast can be great tool for folks dabbling in daily intermittent fasting (or, intermittent fasting two days a week). Its carefully combined juices deliver everything you need to give your digestion a hard-earned break. And kinda like feeding cars the high-test stuff, bennies include increased energy, glowy skin and a re-calibrated system.

Fasting is helping people live longer, better and healthier lives. Fasting can also be a lifelong tool in nearly everyone’s healthy toolbox—a “biohack,” as we mentioned earlier—for making sure our bodies are always working in the most primo way possible…from our joints and muscles right down (or up!) to our brain health and cognitive function

How does restricting when we eat make a difference on health? It’s something called “Intermittent energy restriction” or “intermittent fasting.”

According to many health professionals here in the United States and in the United Kingdom (which is where much of this research was first conducted and written about), intermittent fasting—often called “IF”— can help contribute to our improved brain health when we restrict calorie intake to set times of the day. And by set times, health professionals recommend fasting for 16 hours—basically, from your nighttime meal through to your first meal the next day around lunchtime—or, by limiting calorie intake to 500 or 600 calories for two days each week while eating 100 percent normally for the other five days.


Why does this method of fasting help with our longevity?

Similar to how weightlifting exhausts our muscles and causes them to shred and stretch before growing back harder-faster-stronger, when we push our bodies and cells to the edge of what they can handle—in a controlled way, mind you—our biological systems strengthen and learn to handle daily stressors so much better. By fasting, we are actually able to grow and improve our brain function. And frankly, that’s something that many doctors wouldn’t have believed even 10 or 15 years ago. And when cold-pressed juice (preferably vegetable juice, since it is much lower in sugar than fruit-centric recipes) is a part of someone’s IF regimen, whether you drink only juice for two days each week or you incorporate the greenest juice you can stomach for even just one meal during your day’s proverbial “eight hours of eating,” there’s no better way to flood your bod with the nutrients you need to think clearly, move swiftly, and live your healthiest life.

So if your life goals include things like…

1) Increased energy
2) Mental clarity
3) Eliminating food cravings
4) Achieving your body’s natural weight
5) Mood enhancement
6) Longevity

…our fave way to push our body’s cells toward wellness is with the greenest, most low-sugar juice we can get our lips on.

Fasting has been a game changer for a lot of people, but don’t take our word for it. Do your own research. Biohack away! See how good you can feel by replacing a few meals each week with green juice, or even by drinking only juice a few days each week. We think you’ll see, that fasting for any duration is a biohack you can live with…for a long, long time.

Friends Who Juice: Carrie Stamps

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Meet Carrie Stamps.

It’s hard to cry that summer’s gone since the season brought The Juice Standard a gift that’ll keep on giving for a long, long time.

Carrie Stamps joined TJS as a seamless addition to the leadership team by sharing her education, insight, intuition, and creativity as the company’s new creative director. Tasked with maintaining the handiwork of her predecessor while injecting the brand’s visual presence with her own sense of fun, if there’s something we’re learning about Stamps is that her can-do attitude is rooted in balance.

She comes by it naturally: Schooled in architecture and raised amid some good ol’ sing-songy Southern gentility, this bold little lady is as deft at identifying the facets of what makes something beautiful as she is talking about them. (See? #Balance.) Like her work with TJS, her graphic design consultancy, Scaled Design Studio, (named for something that sounds #balanced), Stamps gives visual voice to her clients’ presence of choice. And amid the happy madness of her work, she willingly dedicates 4 percent of her every day to the betterment of her bestness (…and, maybe because she’s #HookedOnStroopwafels).

((#BalanceRulesHerDay)

So now, whenever you see something about the brand that makes your wings go aflutter, you can know whose handiwork it is. We’re so proud to have this kind spirit bee a part of our team.

Meet Carrie Stamps.

ALL ABOUT CARRIE

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since… 11.11.11. Almost 6 years! And eleven just happens to be my favorite number.

Before I was a Vegas gal, I grew up in… Music City USA: Nashville, Tennessee!

Stamps and her beloved furbuddy, Meatball.

The biggest lifestyle difference between my growing up in Nashville and living in Las Vegas is… the pace of life. There’s an ease about the South. I have grown to appreciate the high energy and faster pace (hustle) of Vegas, but it was definitely an adjustment!

In my experience, the biggest misconception people have about my living in Las Vegas is… I don’t live in a hotel, I don’t go to nightclubs nightly and I don’t gamble (often)!

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is… the sunsets! The colors and patterns are truly spectacular.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be… The Golden Rule: “Treat others how you want to be treated.” If everyone embraced kindness and respect a little more, we could make this world a more beautiful place.

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is… Ohh, geez. Just one?! Red Rock Canyon, Chandelier Bar (for guests) or my backyard.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be… Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys. It’s about finding your own inner freedom and strength and channeling it in a way you’ve never tried before. It’s about claiming your power, living your passion and shining your light.

From Stamps’ trip to Tel Aviv.

This is how I like to spend my free time: Exploring! Local or foreign, I love experiencing new cultures and getting (semi) lost in unknown places. This spring I visited Israel for the first time…WOW! Next week, I’m headed to Europe for my first SOLO adventure…EEK! When I’m home, I volunteer quite a bit of my time with the Junior League of Las Vegas. Whether we are packing school lunches or Thanksgiving meals for needy families, tending vegetable gardens at local schools, supporting LV’s homeless youth population or training our members with new skill sets, all of it feeds the soul.

Any advice on how others can help give back to the community? Volunteer your time! There are so many wonderful non-profit organizations here in the community that need your help. Most of them rely on volunteers. Three Square always offers food packing events. HELP of Southern Nevada just opened the new Shannon West Homeless Youth Center and are always looking for enriching training opportunities or activities for the youth.

Something important I’d want folks to know about my friends and family is… they mean the world to me. Vegas didn’t feel like home until I had my tribe. I’m so thankful each of them are in my life and I’m ever so grateful for their laughs, advice, inspiration, support and encouragement. I only hope I do the same for them.

CARRIE ON WORK

Fun is something Stamps reminds herself to enjoy erryday. We should, too.

I work for The Juice Standard. My title is Creative Director and when people ask me what I do, this is what I say: the FuN stuff!

What appealed to me about working with TJS was… the ability to creatively spread the WHealth™ of knowledge and health benefits of juicing.

It’s only been a few months but (so far) the most exciting part about my TJS job is… getting to work with unBEElievable women. Each of them are extraordinary in their respective fields, and there is a massive amount of love, respect and kindness between the leadership team. I believe company culture starts at the top and filters throughout. I think that’s why TJS makes such great products.

Believe it or not, TJS isn’t my only gig. I also do this: I’ve owned Scaled Design Studio since 2013.

What inspired me to go into this field was… the ability to empower people to live their truth, make their dreams reality and start their own businesses. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved to design and create. My background is architecture, and believe me, there is something pretty special about designing a building and seeing how individuals live in/interact with the spaces you created. However, I found graphic design to be much more fulfilling. Now, I have the opportunity to create identities, branding and websites for people and their passions/businesses. In the digital world, I help shape the public faces for these ventures, and it’s extremely rewarding to see them thrive.

Best thing I’ve heard a customer say about TJS juice is… that it’s “life-changing.” Some of our customers’ health journeys are truly inspiring. You can read about many of them here on thehumblebee.com.

The advice I’d give my younger work self is… don’t hesitate. I thought I had to do the school and get the experience BEFORE I followed my dreams of starting my own company. There isn’t a rule book or a specific path you have to follow. If you feel passionately about something, DO IT. Don’t think twice.

As my own #girlboss, one worky thing I try to remind myself daily is… have fun. Take risks. Set goals. Make time for play. And work your ass off.

CARRIE ON HEALTH IN LAS VEGAS

Stamps, gettin’ her peace on in Hawaii.

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been… finally, more healthy options!

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: Exercise! It keeps my cravings in check. I exercise at least one hour a day (only 4% of your day), so I like switching up the workouts to keep it interesting.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are… AVOCADOS, apples, berries, carrots, kale, spinach, lemons, tomatoes, garlic, fresh ginger, and fresh turmeric.

My don’t-even-think-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is… manchego cheese or stroopwafels direct from Amsterdam. Just not together! Gross.

(Thanks bee to you, Wikipedia, for reminding us what these bad boys look like. Yumma.)

CARRIE ON JUICE

What introduced me to cold-pressed juice was… the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead (2010).

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it tasted like… grass.

The reason I started drinking cold-pressed juice was because… I noticed a significant difference in my energy levels, immune system and complexion.

The reason I kept drinking cold-pressed juice was because… I knew the health benefits and FINALLY found some great recipes that don’t taste like a lawnmower. Besides: I think your tastebuds adjust and now I LOVE the taste of green juice. The greener the taste, the better!

True or False: “Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.” If I said False, I’d be lying. That’s why I grab 6-packs from TJS!

True or False: “A ginormous perk of my job is free juice.”  Wait, we get free juice?!?!

[Ed. note: Somebody get this girl some juice.]

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is… because, the flavors! Honey, our bees know what they’re doing. My personal favorites: Bee WHealthy™, Bee Chill, Bee Vibrant, and Bee Excellent.

My advice to a newbee juicer is… try at least six to start. Everyone has different taste, so you’ll find one (or more) that you love. I promise.

TJS Editorial: Coupling (With Kids) The Second Time Around

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What happens when you and your Exceptional Other aren’t the only considerations in your blossoming relationship? When your one-plus-one equals an immediate four (or five, if you count the on-the-periphery parent that helped make yours or your love’s children possible)?  

When it comes to coupling the second time around even simple math can be tricky math…but it doesn’t have to be. Especially if we’re willing to lean on the openhearted bees in our hives who are equally willing to share their been-there-done-that-and-here’s-how-to-nail-it perspectives.

So in the spirit of this, our back-to-school issue (#FallIsTheNewNewYearAfterAll) comes a narrative from TJS Content Director Jen Chase that might not have been possible without TJS Co-Founder Marcella Williams’ gorgeous advice in her June editorial on blended families.

Jen Chase, Jen Chase’s right hand, and the left side of Parker Corwin’s cheek. Kind of.

Two weeks ago, I posted that pic of my love Parker and me on Facebook with the following caption:

Who could’ve known that glances across a college acappella stage would lead to the love of my life. Anyone who questions life’s inexplicable tribulations: This.

(And since hashtags make me laugh…)

#WhatLoveLooksLike
#FinallyLivingOutLoud
#HeMakesTheBestEggs
#IAmTheLuckiest
#NotEngagedSoStopItGirls

As a stand-alone post it was a far cry from earth-shattering. Or so I thought. In my short 3 years on Facebook I’ve seen lots of folks post endearing pics of their significant others. At face value, I didn’t think mine would seem so special.

But it was.

…Far too busy figuring out how to say we were public, neither of us changed our status. Irony, oversight or totally unnecessary? Inquiring minds wanna know….

It was, because just as I’d carefully tappa-tap-tapped out my post seated so paper-close to Parker you couldn’t have slipped a sheet of Dunder Mifflin between us, he thumbed his side of our story on his iPhone. And in the aftermath of digi-inking the carefully chosen words we read aloud to each other before becoming Facebook Official, we received a ton of likes and some of the kindest comments imaginable from friends and fam who supported this very public yet very technical announcement that we are in fact a couple.

(And.good.effing thing we went public when we did. Because being overshadowed? By these two overachievers? #CantCompeteWithJamKat.)

On the surface our pic looked like two goofs in love. But the reality behind the smiles and social media was that they represented nearly 20 months of balancing a relationship we’d kept on the down-low with some and out loud with others. The “others?” Folks we’d methodically chosen to unfurl our relationship with: mums, sisters, BFFs you can’t hide jack from, and a few who could tell at first blush that after our starts and stops with pivotal people in our former lives, we’d quite obviously found our personal holy grails.

Meeting the girls? Priceless.

But the “some” who’d had zero idea that Daddy was dating? Parker’s daughters, ages 8 and 5. And they’re the “some” who made our e-reveals so sweet, since we wrote them the night of the day Parker painstakingly curated as the day to say that while Jen’s fun in a pool, a sucker for a “spa day” and the maker of uplevelled almond milk…”she’s not my friend; she’s my girlfriend.”

While our future talks had been appropriately tempered with both #daydreaming and #HopeForTheBestPlanForTheWorsting (as only the formerly spoused, difficultly uncoupled can relate to), I’d been readying for my hopeful new role for a long time. From child development blogs and evil-doer step-parenting articles to my mind’s constant screening of Stepmom, being 42 and still (yet?) not having my own child has made me highly attuned to absorbing all I can about co-parenting kiddos who aren’t mine.

I’ve known I have the tools: former nanny; younger sis with several significant special needs. I dated a wonderful man with equally wonderful twins. I love children and  know my proverbial mommy gene runs hot. But it’s never run hotter than during this relationship with the man I show daily, somehow, some way, that I was put on this earth to love him, admire him, respect him, and care for him. And, for his kids.

The girls didn’t seem to care that I traveled with Daddy to visit their grandmother up in Vermont without their knowing…but if they knew we were with horses, in the woods in winter? Might be a different story. #WhatHappensInVTStaysInVT

Don’t gag. Like most grown-ass women little girls I’d fantasized about my future love. Wherever we went, harps were gonna play, haters were gonna hate and we were finally gonna hear what it sounds like when doves cry. It took about a decade of significant loss—a parent; a marriage; intimate friendships and relationships—but I was gifted. And he’s dreamy.

It didn’t take long to become hard AF to temper waiting to game out what I could already picture as our family-of-four’s future. That is, until the perspective of Marcella Williams.

(And for those who knew I’d get here eventually, thanks for sticking with.)

When I met Marcella in 2013 I admired her graceful juggle of life, independence, #mompreneurship, and deep commitment to motherhood. And like the attuned confidante she is, she listened and advised on the topics she could tell were important to me…suggesting I get tested to ensure me girly pipes are whistle-clean in case having a baby is in my future, and not to forget adoption and fostering. Yaknow. Just in case.

Marcella’s advice always insinuated that “knowledge is power,” and that partner or not, a woman’s future is in her own hands. When she learned Parker was my future and that he has two little girls, our convos deepened. A step-mum and a birth mum, she’s also helped her own step- and bio-kiddos navigate their relationship with their new step-mum, too. And when she spoke, I soaked in her best practices for navigating what one day would become my blended little family:

Be forgiving. Be thoughtful. Be grateful. Be respectful. Be kind. Be patient. 

Followed by be patient. And more be patient. 

You can actually read her editorial about blended families right here. I’ve read it, like, 20 times, because it typifies the kind of co-parent I want to be for and with Parker; for his girls; and alongside the girls’ mum whom I’ve yet to meet. And knowing I can only control my behavior, I feel deep peace in knowing that already in the young history of this growing foursome, Parker and I are committed to showering the girls with as much positivity as possible as we show them that the addition of someone in their life doesn’t subtract someone else. In fact, joy multiplies when we groan-ups remember those tenets above and kick our egos’ collective ass.

I’m beeyond grateful I have a true north for my step-parenting compass and that I received it from a beeautiful woman who was willing to open herself to help open me. Marcella is why I wanted to share this with you. You know. Just in case you need it. Because as we like to say around here at The TJS (wait for it), #ItTakesAHive.

When littletons take the camera you never know what you’ll find….

When littletons take the camera you never know what you’ll find…take two.

 

In the last 20 months, building a relationship with the love of my life and preparing to co-parent beside him has at times broken my heart as much as it filled it. Lots of stealth tears. Intimate eyelid kisses. Pep talks. Kajillions of texts and memes to pave the way for it all to start coming together. And like Game of Thrones and killer pour-overs—#thingsworththewait—the girls’ well being had to come before our ache to spend more time together. It took faith. Lotsa fucking faith. Faith that wasn’t about staying positive until there was an outcome, but staying positive no matter the outcome.

And for us, the outcome’s still a-coming! We still live an hour and twenty apart but are committed to “more time together than not.” We’re super conscious of everyone’s need for Daddy Time (and the occasionally requested time with me…*blush*). And, we’re striving to see all sitches from all angles since we won’t be the only two parents in the game. But in this world that, in my opinion, views openheartedness as weakness—where success often means being tough, tired, busy, and worst of all, just a little bit hangry to get.shit.done—we vow to project love, and meeting each one of us exactly where we’re at. I want the girls to see Parker and me navigate our relationship and our corporation of four with genuine lightness, positivity, patience, faith, and respect. I want them to see us touch. Laugh. Kiss. Be silly. Be willing to drop everything for each another as fast as we’d drop it for them. I want them to see that I unabashedly love them. And when they’re old enough, I want them to understand it’s hella easy for people to profess love from proverbial rooftops (and for lotsa folks that works, so no judgment, Hunnies); but that in Daddy’s case, his forever keeping their best interest in mind and my implicit trust in him was the best and only path for us…20 months of waiting or not.

So many core relationship values go unlearned until the ink’s long dried on a divorce decree. But if we can model love for our kids from the get-go so they may learn to apply, appreciate, give, and demand love and respect from their first coupling or marriage, not their second or third, we groan-ups have a shot at changing what love looks like. In our case, now that the girls know Parker and I are a team, they’re finally getting to see what I’ve known since my reconnecting with their father 18 years after we first met singing at Wheaton College (the one in Massachusetts): I was made for him, and he was made for me.

So were they.

#WhatLoveLooksLike

 

 

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A Story Worth Telling: News…From You.

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While we here at The Juice Standard sure love our buzzy mascot, we’re all about helping our human bees achieve their optimum sense of good: good WHealth™, good self…good stuff. Earlier in the year we launched a format called “A Story Worth Telling,” where we share our most favoritist, goodest interactions with you—our glorious bees—about you…our glorious bees.

Whether we hear ’em through TJS District Manager Amber Cariker and the TJS managers and beehind-the-counter bees she supports, or they come in here through our site, these snippets reveal stories from you and yours, and how you’re all so very willing to lean into cold-pressed juiceness as a potential holy grail of WHealth™.

(And we purposely say “potential” because people can get so damn itchy get about medical claims and all….)

Got some feedback of our own? Wanna #PayItForwardBees? Go to our website and share yer thoughts here at our comments page. Write TJS’s Content Director, Jen Chase, even. We’d all love to hear how we can better serve you…or simply hear some of your juicy love.

Love, TJS

INSPIRING STORY OF THE SUMMER

Hello.

I woke one morning passing blood to find out I had large kidney stones. I went to my doctor, where I also out also that my blood sugar was in the mid 300s.

I had also been told before by my doctor that I had Type-2 diabetes but I never did anything about it. I found myself falling asleep after eating and waking up not remember falling asleep, all due to high blood sugar. I was referred to The Juice Standard by a person I met at the dog park one evening, so the following morning I went to the location in Green Valley. I met a young man employed there name Ben, and he recommended that I drink greens. And I decided to do more of a master cleanse-type of cleanse with the greens.

I started out with five a day for the first five days, and then I dropped down to two a day. And I brought my blood sugar down from the mid 300s to 107 in around 2 weeks. I went to my doctor, and she said to continue doing what I was doing. I never took the Metformin she prescribed, and she said not to take it and instead, continue doing the cold-pressed juicing.

I want to thank the two owners of The Juice Standard, and Ben from the Green Valley store, for saving my life. I lost 36 pounds during my first 30 days and I’m continuing to feel better than I ever felt. My diabetes is gone, and my stage-3 kidney disease is gone. I have sent several friends there recently and they all can’t believe how good they feel when they drink cold-press juice.

Thank you again.
Kurt B.

COMPLIMENTS THAT MAKE US BEAM

Hi!

We recently visited your location at The Cosmopolitan and we can’t stop thinking about the delicious juice and the great experience we had. We live in San Diego and we would really like to be a part of your business. Are there any opportunities to assist you with opening The Juice Standard here?

Dawn L.

…Funny how a year ago I looked forward to going to Vegas to get drunk and party with my friends, now I look forward to the juice. Absolutely delicious!

Anonymous

AWESOME JUICES! DELICIOUS!!

YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE ONE OF THESE PLACES IN THE BAY AREA!!

ASAP!

Anonymous

Is your juice available anywhere else in the country? I’m from TN and visited Las Vegas back in June. I can’t believe I paid $12 for a bottle of Bee Royal, but it was worth every penny. I crave it now and wish I could order a case of it.

Anonymous

TJS Events: Oh, The Places We’ll Go….

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Worker bees can’t stay in the hives all the time, right? Gotta get out there and spread #NewsYouCanUse about what we’re doing behind the scenes. So since all cold-press and no cold-play makes our bees super dull, we’ve got some outside events that’ll bring us closer to our greatest commodity: You.

Aug. 17, 2017

On this day, TJS will provide juice tastings and vegucation to some 300-400 attendees of the Healthy Body, Mind and Soul event at Mountaintop Faith Ministries’ three-day Women’s Conference, “Activate Your Power.” (You can learn more about it by clicking here.)

 

July 12, 2017

And as we rearview mirror to last month real quick…there was some happy TJS news to share when The Juice Standard was honored to accept TMG Entertainment’s 2017 Silver State Award for “Best Juice Bar.”

How’d we do it? Thousands of juicers had cast their votes among some pretty heavy-hittin’ juiceries, and we were grateful to have been grouped along with Juice NV, Pressed Juicery, Fruits and Roots, and Elevated Juice. And while there could only be one winner, we were super proud it was us.

But there was more to the story than just #TJSForTheWin.

If you’re familiar with our Facebook page (and seriously, Bees, you are, right?), we shared this story last month but it bears repeating.

Sophia working her business face with style with mum, Marcella Williams.

The night of the awards, TJS Co-Founder and COO Marcella Williams took a super special guest to accept the award on the company’s beehalf: her daughter, Sophia. And while the schmooze and schpiel factor was in overdrive—participants from across Nevada’s wellness community excitedly sharing their products and success stories with all who’d listen—a night that could’ve overwhelmed Miss Sophia and her first award event (!) turned her into a prideful, seasoned pro by night’s end as Momma Marcella watched her little girl blossom with each new person she met. And like a bee to blossoms, Sophia navigated each booth, table and rep with the grace of TJS’s very best worker bee…making her momma proud to watch Sophia’s confidence unfurl.

So, Bee Parents: Don’t underestimate the hidden beeauty in gently nudging your littleton outside their comfort zone. Confidence can be cultivated in the darndest of places…even at a red-carpet awards events, dressed in pretty purple frocks on their birthday. (Wink.)

Congrats, Sophia, for helping TJS add even more meaning to an award we’re proud of!

(And if you didn’t click on that Coldplay link way up above, this is why you should always click on TJS links:)

 

Friends Who Juice: Malik Hansbrough

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The numero uno compliment we hear from fanbees (after folks shine on our recipes, natch) is about our customer service…and if there’s a worker bee beehind the counter who takes his making-people-happy skillz cray serious, it’s this guy.

A Las Vegas native who chose to make the city his forever home (and yes, there’s a goodly lot), Malik Hansbrough has brought more than his youth and vibrancy to his post at The Juice Standard. Working both sides of the counter both making product and serving it, Hansbrough is a head-down hard worker… but this youngest of six sibs and longtime church volunteer really shines when his mission is working with customers…leading them (as he poetically puts it), “on a journey of delicious and organic fuel for the body.”

And the former green-juice face-maker now proselytizes more than just the morals he was raised with: Seeing juice as a path toward total wellness has helped Hansbrough change his old wicked dining ways. A  jokester who doesn’t hide the things that make him happy (Walmart’s really your fave place, Dude?), we here at TJS are grateful to have such a mindful, wholehearted bee in our corner to preach the good word of good health…which we all know is available to anyone and erryone, one Singleton at a time.

Praise bee to Malik. Meet him.

All About Malik

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since… July 7, 1993, because I was born here.

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start my adult life here. It was…the year 2011, directly after I finished high school

…and what appealed to me about living in Vegas was…the fact that this place is my home, and home is where the heart is. I could never see myself living anywhere else but good old Vegas.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that we only have the Strip to offer. Somehow, tourists have the idea that all the citizens of Las Vegas live in one of the many hotels on the Strip.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is...the size of this place: It is very small, which is great on gas: Nothing is out of reach since you don’t have to drive more than 30 minutes to get anywhere in the city.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be...“Fear God and keep his commands.”

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…Walmart. It has everything I could ever want in life and more.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song, without a moment’s hesitation.

Malik and his wife, heading toward some quality time with family. Sabbath is sacred to the Hansbroughs, and in today’s busy lifecycle, it’s an admirable time-out tradition they protect so they can focus on themselves, their family and their spirits. (Naturally they *must* drink juice on Sabbath, too, right? Say we’re right, Malik!)

A person who inspires me every day is…my wife. She is my best friend and she inspires me to be a better a version of myself each and every day.

The way she inspires me is…by not letting me make excuses. She holds me to my word on everything which has molded me into the person I am today.

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…I keep the Sabbath day every single week.

This is how I like to spend my free time: Preaching God’s word to any and all who give me the opportunity. I also like to play basketball with my brothers, and spend quality time with my immediate family and my wife.

The worst hack-job pronunciation of my name I’ve ever heard is…“Moo-Lake.” (I know, it’s terrible right?)

Malik On Work

I work for The Juice Standard. When people ask me what I do, this is how I explain my job: My job is to introduce people to the unknown side of eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. I take them on a journey of delicious organic and beautiful fuel for the body.

What appealed to me about working for TJS was...that I could be a vessel through which the extremely important knowledge of how to treat your body could be conveyed, and that I’d be able to create bonds with others through nutrition.

Since working for TJS, the most surprising thing I’ve learned about myself doing the job that I do is…how terrible my eating habits were. It was truly embarrassing.

The most exciting part about my job is…seeing people walk away happily educated and newly motivated to start a new journey in life…after experiencing just a few tastes of our product.

Best thing I’ve heard a customer say about TJS juice is…“You guys are lifesavers.”

Most awesome thing I’ve witnessed on the back-of-house staff side of working at TJS is…seeing 10 to 15 smoothies be made with love (and the same time) and presented to our guests quickly and efficiently.

When I’m not working at TJS there are other creative endeavors I love dabbling in, like…singing, writing and drawing.

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…to be the hardest worker in your establishment at all times, no matter what the circumstance.

Malik On Health In LV

Ever the volunteer, Malik (far right) is pictured with his church brothers James and Ronnie at a cleanup for Las Vegas’ City Hall Community Cleanup in 2015.

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been…the presence of organic juicing. Everyone, all of a sudden, now has taken a big interest in the juice life.

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: Prep my meals at home, and only eat what comes from my own living space. This is a great way for me to avoid eating fast food and sugary snacks to suppress my hunger.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are...bananas, asparagus and broccoli.

My don’t-even-think-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is…macaroni and cheese, straight from Mom’s kitchen.

The health habit that gets me teased the most is…exercising.

Malik On Juice

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…my best friend James Dixon.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…mortifying. It was like nothing I had ever tasted before.

The reason I started drinking cold-pressed juice was because…I wanted my body to perform to the best of its ability.

The reason I kept drinking cold-pressed juice was because…I saw the results in a shockingly short amount of time and I started to find cold-pressed juice delicious.

True or False: “Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.” True

True or False: “A ginormous perk of my job is free juice.” True

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is…because I know exactly what’s in it, as well as all of the health benefits. There is no fine print. We are up front about it all and promote it proudly.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…make sure to properly cleanse your body first. It’s important to get as much of the bad stuff out of there as possible and then begin the process of putting healthy juice into your body.

Bee Wanderlusty: Coastin’

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We’re continuing our annual recs for desert-leaving trips between now and Labor Day (beecause though it bee August, there’s still.so.much.time. to get your vacay drive on!)

This feature? Shares the gorge coasts of Oregon and Cali from a bee in our hive who knows ’em well: TJS District Manager Amber Cariker. 

What kind of traveler would be down with these choices? “These places connect me to the Earth, and to a community of people who are present and open-minded,” says Cariker, who’s managed the beejesus out of TJS’s three locations for the better part of a year. “I am very interested in cultivating growth in my life, and I feel an overwhelming sense of connectedness to spiritual environments. Now, I think these places run slower than the average vacation, but for the right vacationer or family, I feel these places will also help people slow down, oberve more, appreciate the stillness, and explore the unknown without fear.”

(What she said.)

Wanna slow down? In her words, here’s Cariker’s turn-by-turn account. And since, around here, if Cariker says it we beelieve it, we’re going out on a limb to say we think you should, too.

California

Avila Beach=Slice of Amber Cariker’s Heaven.

Avila Beach 

Take Avila Beach Drive to San Luis Bay Drive and then take the street for See Canyon. You should have an off-road vehicle, but let’s just say it’s been done in a Honda civic.

“You’ll drive through windy roads of rich color—trees and lush tall golden grasses—until you come out into Los Osos Road where you’ll find a treat….

Montana De Oro

The Spanish translates to “Mountain of Gold.” And from Los Osos Road, you’ll drive all the way to the end and exit at Montana De Oro. Quite a long drive, but there is an area that becomes very wooded. You’ll park and use the man-made wooden stairs to begin a trek through the trees into the forest. Staying on the trail, you will come across a rich, dark brown sand that will then lead you to a slivered opening of ocean rocks and a beautiful quiet state beach. Bring a blanket and a picnic. You won’t want to leave.

Shell Beach.

Shell Beach

A beach…with cliffs? This is THE place to watch a sunset. But you should also visit in the morning when the tide is down, and collect some pebble-like beach sand to build your at-home terrarium. The post-vacay high you feel from seeing that sand will take you back to Shell Beach with every glance. #NaturesGiftShop

Joshua Tree

Pappy and Harriets in Pioneer Town (Insider intel? Take Pipes Canyon road to get here).

So, nostalgia. I grew up dancing next to my parents on the planked hardwood floors, and the walls are cement with colored bottles in them like an old biker cantina! Harriet used to make all the food and desserts from scratch and when Pappy passed on, she sold the business to a Power Woman couple. They have gone on to turn it into an amazing music venue where Paul McCartney played last year, and they are about to have some amazing upcoming concerts: Bonobo, Iron & Wine, City & Colour.

Pioneer Town was a product of the early Western movie genre. Gene Autry helped the making of it, but it never really made amazing movies. Pappy and Harriet’s is the landmark of the Pioneer Town, but go and you’ll also be able to “walk the town” and soak in the western buildings. To think they’re now having contemporary concerts under the stars….

The Art Queen

Green enough forya? Photo courtesy of Tumblr.

Want some kitch in Cali? Head to “The Art Queen” and walk to the back of the Museum of Crochet, a sprite little building shaped like a lime-green viewfinder. When you see a key in the door, turn it. Go inside. You’ll find it filled with vintage crochet animals and sundries that’ll surely make you smile.

Sam’s Spa in Desert Hot Springs

In the heavenly place, mineral pools and soaking tubs are surrounded by grass and a man-made lake with fish and birds. Plus, there are peacocks that roam around the pools while you’re hanging out.

Peacocks, people. Peacocks. Need I say more?

Portland Oregon

Sauvies Island. Beeauty just beeyond Portland.

Sauvie Island 

This slice of heaven is great for two reasons. First: berry picking! (Entire pick-your-own flats for only $12-$15…in a place like this.) Second? Walk the aisles of lush fruit trees before heading to your next (and last) stop: The river. A river, you ask? Yes: Sauvie Island is the largest island that runs along the Columbia River…which, you can get to from the main road. If you choose to drive to the river (and I absolutely think you should), take a blanket and lay beside it. And don’t forget your parking pass for the day. I doubt you’ll want to leave.

The Overlook Park

Second on your Portland Nature Itinerary? Overlook Park.  (“Skidmore Bluffs” is also what I’ve heard it called). Many years ago, a family allowed its back yard to be turned into a park. It is now open to the public, and at first glance you feel like you’re entering a grassy field where an umbrella of a tree drapes over a bench overlooking the city, a forest park, bridges, and train tracks. But really, it’s so much more. #SeeingIsBelieving.

Where to eat, you ask? Dove Vivi features cornmeal-crusted pizza with toppings like sautéed red onions

#CouldItBeMagic? At Dovi, we say yes.

and corn and roasted poblano peppers. And Por Que No?—which, mind you, you’ll never find without at least a 30 minute wait—is beyond colorful and layered with art and lanterns and serves luscious agua frescas (cantaloupe, papaya+coconut, mango+lime, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera)…among other delicious bits. Definitely get the chips and salsa and sample the eclectic menu…especially veggie options like the seasonal taco. (Last one I had was beet, turnip, pumpkin seed, and rutabaga. A-m-a-z-i-n-g!)

Want some shoppin’? Hit Paxton’s Gate. There’s one in San Francisco, too (the original location), and no joke: #FavoriteStoreInTheWorld. It’s like the Natural History Museum…but a shop: taxidermy; bones; gardening supplies; dehyrdrated seeds and pods; books on making your own products; science; and odd collections of amazing things.

Ingredient Spotlight: MCT Oil=Superfood for a Super Summer

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Hiya, Bees!

So, since we’ve still got another month left of Summer 2017, who doesn’t want a lil’ more energy for work and play? Right: No one…and precisely why we’re highlighting a superfood upgrade that is continuing The Juice Standard’s juicy journey toward #MissionNutrition (and #HellaFunDaysAndNights), by being a naturally occurring energy source that can be seamlessly—tastily!—added to any of our juices, smoothies, nut milks, and hot cacao and specialty espresso drinks.

(And even if the mere thought of a hot bevvie makes you sweat, for the days when your office AC is JACKed…you’ll thank us for this. You really will.)

For years, NOW has been a popular entry-level brand for folks dipping their toe in wellness waters.

MCT oil is clear and flavorless, and can be added to everything from beverages to salad dressings (seriously: sub out your olive or flax oil at home with one of the brands we mention at the end). MCT stands for “medium-chain triglycerides”—also referred to as “medium chain fatty acids”—and to fully appreciate TJS making MCT oil an available upgrade, we’re gonna vegucate you a little about different fatty acids and how they can benefit our health.

All Fats Are Not Equal

Fats are classified as one of three types depending on their chemical structure:

  1. Short-chain (meaning the fat has a structure with five or fewer carbon atoms);
  2. Medium-chain (the fat has six to 12 carbons); and
  3. Long chain (it contains more than 12 carbons).

Now. When we’re talking MCTs, there are four types:

  1. Caproic acid (abbreviated as “C6” which means it has six carbons);
  2. Caprylic acid (C8);
  3. Capric acid (C10); and
  4. Lauric acid (C12).

Truth? All you need to know is that the fewer carbons in an MCT, the faster the carbons are absorbed by the body. We’ll explain why that’s important next.

So…Why Fatty Acids? And Will They Gimme Me A Fatty A(ss)cid?

(Cute.)

Well: It’s all about energy, Bees! When digested, fatty acids are used as energy…and what dictates how our bods break down fat is the fatty acid’s structure.

Most dietary fats that comprise standard American diet are long-chain triglycerides, and because of the many carbons in a long-chain triglyceride, our body has to do some hard w-e-r-k to digest it. But that’s where the awesomeness of MCT oil comes into play:

MCTs’ fewer carbons mean our body can break down the fatty acids fast…allowing them to passively diffuse from our GI tract to our bloodstream where our liver converts them to energy really quickly.

The Amazing Metabolization of MCTs (And Other Cool Bennies)

Bonus? Instead of metabolizing through digestion (like other fats), MCTs are taken straight to the liver where they act similarly to carbohydrates by providing instant and sustainable energy. But it’s not just the energy you get that’s interesting. MCTs improve blood sugar regulation (yay!), improve metabolism (especially fat metabolism), they may improve thyroid function, and they improve appetite regulation.

The most common whole-food source of MCTs is coconut oil: About 65 percent of its fatty acids are considered medium-chain. Palm kernel oil and full-fat dairy are two other food sources of medium-chain triglycerides. But nothing says energy-lovin’’ like a pure MCT oil, and that’s what TJS is bringing you.

Enjoying MCT Oil at TJS

Wanna feel the effects for yourself? Ever hear of the Bulletproof® coffee phenomenon? It’s a riff off an ages-old Tibetan drink called “yak butter tea” that uses yak butter the way Westerners use typical dairy in our coffee. (Tibetans have more yaks than cows so they turn yak milk into butter…butter that can be kept shelf stable for up to a year if wrapped properly.)

“Buttered coffee” became all the rage when a bee named Dave Asprey researched the tea he tried on a Tibetan trek. After understanding the energy it gives Tibetans living and working the land in high altitudes, he learned that yak butter tea is super high in—say it with us—MCTs. Once back in the United States, to mimic the Tibetan drink’s health bennies he combined a serving of freshly brewed coffee with a tablespoon of coconut oil (which you now know is high in MCTs and lauric acid and rootin’-tootin’ tasty). He also added a tablespoon of grass-fed butter or ghee (close cousin to that yak butter…and, very tasty) to create “buttered coffee.” When you blitz it all up in a high-speed blender, the coffee froths like a latte. And it’s just as creamy, without the dairy.

It’s true: From chocolatey cacao drinks to espressos (even all our icy sips), MCT oil can go into any of ’em.

There’s a lot of info on the Internets about how the oils combine with coffee’s caffeine to slowly release energy rather than in a typical surge or crash. TJS’s Bee Invincible is Marcella’s own riff off Bulletproof® Coffee, but for a super-simple recipe without sweeter or cashew cream, add a tablespoon of our MCT oil to your coffee and we’ll blitz it up for you. It’s also terrific in smoothies.

Seriously: Especially in coffee, you’ll be rewarded with an effect you WILL feel—and the feel will be like there’s rocket fuel in your system. And really, who doesn’t want that?

Curious? Try our MCT oil. We think you’ll be glad you did.

Insider Intel

Curious about MCT oil but aren’t sure where to begin? There’s a lot on the market. Here are a few to check out:

• This brand has been ’round for ages and the price point is usually friendly.

• This is Asprey’s “octane oil” that he sells for your cuppa. We’ve sampled it, and it’s as colorless and odorless as the rest.

• Whole Foods’ trusted 365 brand jumped into the market last year. It’s pretty much avail across the country, now.

Shout Out to TJS Manager Bean Ream for handily helping us compile this MCT goodness!

 

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Friends Who Juice: Amber Cariker

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Meet Amber Cariker.

When retail is in your soul and you’ve worked for some of the spendiest names in spendom, where do you take your career? For Amber Cariker, The Juice Standard’s district manager, the answer wasn’t up, but in.

After years of mighty success helming stores of high-end brands, Cariker claims that life felt on the half-full side. After committing to some soulful switcheroos, fate led her straight to the hiring table across TJS co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams…and so far it’s been a match made in juicy heaven as Cariker has used her boundless energy and business acumen to help TJS deepen its public outreach into the hearts (and bellies) of Las Vegas’ health enthusiasts.

A pint-size pixie with a bionic heart, Cariker casts sunshine on everyone from the folks who walk into our stores to our blessed bees that buzz beehind the counters. Bonus? She’s never met a green juice she didn’t like. Do we have Cariker’s sweet momma to thank for her palate? Survey says she’d slurp something she didn’t like if it meant selling on beehalf the company she loves…and boy, if that doesn’t spell #ItTakesAVillage, we don’t know what does.

So…meet Amber Cariker. And while you’re at it, next time you see her at a store, thank her. Most likely she made getting your order a little easier, in ways you’ll never know. (We may not, either….)

ALL ABOUT AMBER

I’ve lived in Las Vegas…off and on since I was little. I formerly moved here when I was 8. Since then I have lived in California, Texas and Oregon. I most recently moved back from Portland in March 2012. (Vegas has a way of pulling you back in. Plus my Momma is here.)

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start my adult life here. It was the year… 2014, I was sick of living a toxic lifestyle, and I wanted a job that matched how I wanted to live my life, not how I was living it. I always seem to associate a lot of my happiness with what I am doing for work since I am a work-a-holic. (Literally.) During my early 20’s, I was sort of lost—partying and living free-spiritedly—and I decided I wanted to learn more about nutrition, plants, flowers, the desert, wood, conversations, the present, and mindfulness.

What appealed to me about living in Vegas was…my Momma lived here, and my Pops lives near Joshua Tree, Calif. It felt right to be close to home, and when I started to appreciate the outer beauty of Vegas away from the nightlife and partying, I found a new way of partying. What intrigued me was the forest, Cold Creek, Nev., where the wild horses roam, off the path trails in Red Rock.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that everyone who lives here maintains 24/7 availability. Even though the city runs 24 hours, it is important to find your core values and un-plug every once in a while. The other misconception? That everyone in Vegas is superficial. Some of my closest friends, who I would call my “tribe” or “village,” are from Vegas. We can pick up wherever we left off, even if months go by.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…the heat. The desert.

People who know me well know that I’m super close to my sister. Her name is…Stephanie. I love her with all my heart. But the thing that drives me nuts about her is… she lives so far away, in Rosario, Argentina.

(…and the thing she’d say about me that drives her bonkers is… I never make time to visit!)

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be… “Bringing sunshine to people’s lives”

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is… Cold Creek, Nev. If you go up early enough in the morning, or as the sun is setting, you usually can catch the wild horses walking along the desert.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be… Tycho by Spectre.

A person who inspires me every day is… my sister, Stephanie.

…and the way she inspires me is: She runs her own business in South America. She is committed to inspiring people to take part in their culture, and she hosts things like: book clubs, “bar-lingual” (a hopping around of bars), and walking or bike tours in her city of Rosario. She has two young babies—both are bi-lingual and play soccer—and she teaches English, does yoga, and plays guitar. She’s just amazing.

Something people would be surprised to know about me is… I collect dead things. (Hahahahaha! The whole company laughed when we introduced a new employee and they were waiting for me to say that and I didn’t!) I am a geek for natural history…like, when you were a little kid in a museum. I love taxidermy, bones, insects, wood grains, plants, and cacti.

I don’t have a ton of free time but when I do, this is how I like to spend it: Hiking, gardening and cooking.

AMBER ON WORK

I work for The Juice Standard as the company’s district manager. When people ask me what I do, this is how I explain my job: Usually, I get asked if I am the owner  (I think this is because I am a Chatty Cathy and love to talk all things TJS), so I usually say: “NO I am not the owner…but I wish I was because this is a pretty amazing company!”  Right now, I assist in being whatever role the company needs me to be in: hiring, development, networking, eventing, and being an awesome support system for everyone on our team.

What appealed to me about working for TJS was…the company’s transparency, ethical practices, and its fresh, organic product – product that’s really organic, not just partially.

The other factor? Jamie and Marcella. I fell in love with them during our first meeting. How they speak, listening to their ideas and needs, hearing their passion, seeing their investment in people that are already on their teams….They painted this beautiful picture that expanded the Las Vegas community and its culture.

When it comes to managing or working in retail, this isn’t my first rodeo: I got my first job at a store when I was 15 years old, when I supported my sister where she lived in Avila Beach. She managed a cute little coffee shop called The Steaming Bean and Tea Leaf, and it was a place where they served yerba mate (my favorite thing in life); made fresh sandwiches (think fresh-baked croissants with feta, sunflower sprouts, cashews, cucumber, and cream cheese). Seriously? I want one right now.

After that I worked for Aveda for close to 8 years in Texas, Oregon and Nevada. Then I went on to work for companies like Lush Handmade Cosmetics and Ted Baker.

One of the things about working for big brands that I loved was… that 4 weeks of vacation…unpaid or paid. (Ha: No s#@t!)  I learned a lot about structure and problem solving without becoming frantic. I learned a lot about tools, and how to use them with your teams to be more successful.

Something about working for big brands that I loathed was…how larger companies lose sight of their bottom line: the people. Most of us can all agree we have had leaders who didn’t care about us as people. What’s worse is when large corporations have district leaders and executives who are snotty, entitled or pretentious. They never know who you are or what you look like, and your usual contact with them comprises their telling you that you didn’t perform well enough, or that you could have done better…and there is no checking for clarity or development beyond that.

Best perk or discount I ever had thanks to one of my jobs was…Aveda: 74 percent off plant- and flower-based beauty product…are you kidding me? (Die-hard Aveda girl over here…)

Since working for TJS, the most surprising thing I’ve learned about myself doing the job that I do is…not necessarily surprising, but more like an aha moment: I was told long ago that I wasn’t a very present person. I am one of those people who seems like they’re in dreamland or daydreaming (or, talking up a storm), and since I have worked for TJS, being around Jamie, Marcella, and our team, has really taught me the importance of conversation, communication and present listening.

The most exciting part about my job is…meeting new people and sharing our story! Jamie and Marcella’s story.

Best thing I’ve heard a customer say about TJS juice is…that it saved their life. Andrea Millsap, whom I believe you interviewed in last month’s newsletter… she was told she couldn’t get pregnant because of her Lupus and she did!

Most awesome thing I’ve witnessed on the back-of-house staff side of working at TJS is…everyone singing and dancing to Tupac. Everyone is always joking and talking while they work. Very hard and consistent workers in our kitchens and on our teams….

True or False: “The most challenging part about my job is deciding whether to valet or self-park at The Cosmopolitan when I go visit The Buzz…because like butter and bacon, valet makes everything better.” True…hahaha! But I have never valet’d

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…Take that harsh constructive criticism and look at it as a challenge. Don’t become defeated. Don’t give up. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you talk too much or have too much energy, because it’s usually what lands you a job in the future.

AMBER ON HEALTH IN LAS VEGAS

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been…not only are we now seeing new healthy options bounce onto the scene, but we are seeing local, smaller run businesses trying to bring culture into the city.

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week:  I think about meals and what the leftover options look like. I literally steam artichokes four times a week and eat them with a little bit of soy sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, and salt. It’s so delicious.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are… Valencia oranges, limes and lemons (citrus fruits are my favorite). Love berries, too. Always making agua frescas in my Vitamix.

My don’t-even-think-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is… nachos with freshly sliced jalepeños but with real cheese!

The health habit that gets me teased the most is… I swear your hair grows like a miracle when you drench it in olive oil straight from the kitchen cabinet. I apply, then shampoo and condition about three times per week.

True or False: “Thanks to Facebook we hear you recently made cashew cream for the first time and that it.kicked.ass.” Hahahaha! TRUE. I have taught myself to make so many things with cashews since working with TJS.

AMBER ON JUICE

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was… my Momma. Her very first job was in Yucca Valley, Calif., where she worked at Sue’s Health foods, and she got that job in order to buy herself a Champion Juicer which still sits on our counter to this day.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was… amazing. I never struggled drinking juice. I knew how good it was for you without the research.

The reason I started drinking cold-pressed juice was because… to get my nutrients. (Hello, 3.5 pounds per bottle of greens?)

The reason I kept drinking cold-pressed juice was because… it made me feel more alive. More centered, more focused, less stressed. It made me feel motivated. And it helped me sleep through my nights, eliminated my acne and helped my hair grow!

True or False: “Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.”  True: I never make it at home. But, I also would never buy it from anywhere that uses high-pressure processing (HPP) now that I know the difference between fresh and processed juice. I want my juice made fresh today, please…not 15 days ago and then packaged and delivered under the notion it is fresh.

True or False: “A ginormous perk of my job is free juice.” Huge bonus. I literally make sure I get my greens every day!

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because… it’s fresh; truly 100 percent organic; and it has a mission that is committed to integrity and transparency.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…take a deep breath and take small bite-size chunks out of all the knowledge you’re about to absorb. I usually tell them give it 6 months until they feel like a pro!

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Ingredient Spotlight: The Thrilla of Vanilla and its Sad Organic State

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Organic vanilla is having a moment, and unlike the actual Thrilla in Manila between prize scrappers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, not much cheering will emerge from this story.

As of this writing, the world is massively short on organic vanilla beans, making them massively expensive. The cause? To understand…a short ag-lesson.

Similar to harvesting things like saffron threads and poppy seeds (not to be confused with milk of the poppy, for all Game Of Throners), vanilla beans are one of the most labor-intensive foods on the planet, according to this June 17 NPR feature. Orchids produce vanilla bean seeds, and if flowers are not naturally pollinated (and in some parts of the world they are not), pollination must be done by hand much like how U.S. crops have needed help from pollination farmers in light of the bee plight.

From pollinating, to harvesting, to soaking, to all kinds of other ing-verbs that have to happen to result in a vanilla bean being born, the months-long manual labor exceeds most expectations and leads to why vanilla is so damn ‘spensive. As a result, a whole lotta fake vanilla started being made under the not-so-crafty name “vanillin,” which smelled good yet tasted like bunk…but was so much cheaper than the real stuff, it was a way for butchers, bakers and vanilla-stuff makers to flavor their goods without going broke. But when more and more companies started opting for all-natural flavors, vanillin was out and vanilla was in…except that there haven’t been enough orchid plants to support the world’s craving for chocolate’s cousin.

Add to all the above an organic designation to the mix, and prices really skyrocket: In the last few years, it’s all but quadrupled.

#DilemmaOfVanillicPorportion

So, what’s The Juice Standard been doing about v-beaning products with the quality of vanilla you’ve come to depend on? In days of recent past, organic vanilla beans have been so hard to source, the only sub deemed suitable by Jamie and Marcella has been conventional vanilla beans (…beecause even liquid organic vanilla extract can’t compare to the warm depth lent by a bean, the whole bean and nothing but the bean).

“It was a difficult decision to switch to conventional, especially beecuase we have built a business whose cornerstone is using organic produce 100 percent of the time,” shares TJS Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson.

Nothing shows off our vanillovin’ like our nut milks, and Bee Magnificent is da vanillabomb.

“We felt, however, that we would be doing our clientele a bigger disservice by not providing the quality our products are known for—especially our creamy nut milks—beecause even we love seeing those floating vanilla-bean specs as we sip! That’s why after interviewing many of our customers, we learned they would rather we inform them of our choice to use conventional vanilla beans rather than simply discontinue product, or move to extract.

“We value 100 percent transparency…and clearly, our customers do, too.”

That said, last week, TJS caught a beany break when Jamie and Marcella found organic vanilla beans priced at 40 percent higher than typical organic pricing, but far less than recent costs for conventional vanilla beans. Course, the world’s still in a shortage, so TJS can only tap this source for six weeks until the farm we’ve partnered with runs out, too…but at least that’s six more weeks of vanilla bean specs as we’ve all grown accustomed.

Our point in all this sharing? Like Jamie says, TJS hearts transparency, and having these worldwide convos close to home is important in our adult understanding of where our food comes from, and it’s important if we wanna help the littletons in our lives to better understand why global warming; supply and demand; and taking care of Mama Nature is so important to the food we eat, too.

As for vanilla, we’re gonna keep bringing you the good stuff as long as we can. And when the big-O runs out, we’ll move to conventional for as long as it takes before we can get back on track. And as long as you can see those bitty brown flecks of goodness in every nut milk you open, know that we’re looking out for the best interest of your tastebuds, too…one nutritious sip at a time.

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Menu Update: Newz About Booze

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Love The Juice Standard’s cold-pressed cocktails at our location at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (which we affectionately refer to as “The Buzz?”) So do we, and we’re not the only ones: we’ve been thrilled that they’ve gotten press like this love note from Vegas Seven, this one from Las Vegas Weekly, and this one from VegansBaby.com, and we’re more thrilled that our fanbees have kept these drinks on their tongues since we launched ‘em last year.

Last year. Has it been a year already? While #TimeFlies means that’s kinda cray, we’ve got news about a handful of new cold-pressed cocktails on the menu, as well as a few changes to a few tried-and-trues you might want to know about as this summer gets her rightful start.

NEW

Chill The Eff Out.

Chill The Eff Out

Fuhgetabout chocolate and peanut butter, beecause these are the two next great tastes that taste great together. Combining Bee Chill (watermelon-cucumber-lemon) with Effen’s™ Cucumber  vodka and ginger beer makes for a refreshing bevvie that’ll keep your cool no matter how hottt Vegas is outside.

 

The Pineapple Express. Don’t leave The Cosmopolitan without one.

Pineapple Express

For you savvy-sav bees in the know, this has been on our secret menu for a while but we’re making it available for all the world to sip: Bee Grateful (carrot, pineapple, apple, ginger, lemon), vodka, ginger beer. Period, end of recipe.

 

 

 

SLIGHT-OF-HAND CHANGES

Shake Your Money Maker

Know our WHealth Maker? The drink with Bee WHealthy™, vodka and ginger beer (see a theme here? Our bees love it, and we love to keep our bees happy…) well this is the same drink, new name. #Catchy.

NON-BOOZY CHANGES

  • Our smoothie the Libido Lover is now the Sexy M.F.
  • You can now get collagen and MCT oil superfood upgrades at The Buzz.
  • Love our Kale Granola Salad? You’ll still love it with its new name, “Baby Kale Salad,” with granola. (See? Same, yet different.)
  • Chloro-Water will be available at our neighborhood stores only
  • Chai-Chia Pudding and Choco-Mint Chia are no longer available

Yep: Lotsa updates. Know what we still serve, though? Juice. All day, erryday. So come enjoy.

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TJS Travel Edit: Bee Wanderlusty—LA

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Nope: Bee Wanderlusty’s not a new Singleton (though it should be, right?).

No, Dear Bees. This is better.

See, summer solstice was but a blink ago yet Vegas is bees-knees deep in obscene heat. That means it’s time for The Juice Standard’s annual summertime get-the-hell-outta-dodge suggestions for non-desert trips you can sked between now and Labor Day with peeps you’ve deemed travel-worthy.

(You do have folks you’d bee willing to travel with, right?)

To kick off a few non-desert travel articles, we’re starting with by far the easy-peasiest local(ish)drive: LV—>LA.

To the rest of the world, Los Angeles may be a backdrop for all-things glitz and glammy, but when desert heat hits friggin’ 118, La La Land’s cool is the one we crave…both in vibe and thermometer.

Carrie Stamps: Our in-house graphic design and LAexpert extraordinaire.

So this month, sharing a litany of her fave LA haunts is TJS’s Carrie Stamps—owner/founder of Vegas-based Scaled Design Studio—whose graphic-designy nose for style, beauty, function, and fun helps guide her to the goods in LA and beyond.

“Los Angeles is an easy destination for a weekend getaway,” says Stamps, who along with TJS Creative Director Mallory Dawn is charged with designing our dedicated inbox e-newsie, From The Humble Bee, and with making TJS print and digi-collateral look luscious.

“After a 45-minute flight from Las Vegas (or a short 3-4 hour drive), LA’s temperature drops 20 to 30 degrees and offers vibrant city life mixed with beach life.” 

Stamps is always looking out for local favorites and hidden gems (“I love the outdoor hikes, beach activity, restaurants, museums, culture and walkability in West Hollywood—WeHo—and I’m such a foodie, I have one million restaurant recommendations!”). Her best insider intel for experiencing any city? “Get out and see and do! Walk the streets. Get lost. Try something new and different.”

Don’t mind if we do, PrettyGirl. Below are places Stamps has deemed worth visiting over and over…no matter how you like to spend your time.

Get to the Griffith at night.

For Love Of The Great Outdoors

Hikes? In a city? You bet, says Stamps. “City hikes like Runyon Canyon and the Hollywood sign get crowded and touristy, but they are a worthy view. However…hiking to Griffith Observatory overlooks all of LA. A sunset hike is a real treat when it’s dark, you’ll see all the city lights for as far as the eye can see. For a real dose of Mother Nature, Topanga State Park just above Malibu is a short drive.

Broad+Museum_la_jeff+koons_la+museums_what+to+do+in+la_flowers_fun+things+to+do+in+LA_yayoi+kusama_art_art+exhibition+in+la_fashion+meets+art_fashion+blogger_Savvy+javvy_lichtenstein+art_infinity+mirrors_broad+infinity+room

Boldly hit the Broad.

For The Love of History

Hardly mere collections of old dusty stuff, LA museums are as varied as wallet-busting retail on Rodeo. “The Broad, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and The Getty offer worldly art and culture,” suggests Stamps. “The Museum of Ice Cream is a sweet treat, and The Getty is even free!”

Say yessabel to Ysabel.

Get Into My Your Belly

Beehold this summary of Stamps’ faves and you’re welcome in advance.

Get Outta My Your Belly

What goes in must come out, right? LA is notorious for its beautiful people…and how do they get their beauty? Exercise. While a fave activity is simply renting a bike on the beach in Santa Monica or jogging the beachy boardwalk from Marina del Rey, to Venice, to Santa Monica, these brick-and-mortar haunts are 100 percent Stamps-approved:

For The Love Of Nightlife

Living in Las Vegas has taught Stamps a thing or two about what appeals in a club. Rest assured these are top-notch pics for hottt (er, cool?) LA nights. #StilettosNotRequired

Piñata District doesn’t disappoint.

For The Love of a Weekend Market

“Melrose Place Farmer’s Market and Melrose Trading Post are great things to see and do on Sundays!” says Stamps, adding that not-to-miss sights also include Grand Central Market and Piñata District in Downtown LA.

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TJS Editorial—On Blended Families: They Take A Hive

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Memorial Day may bee the unofficial start to summer but we all know what really kicks off this season: the last day of school.

With today’s family as hexagonal as a honeycomb as opposed to old-school triangle or square, there can be many more personalities to traverse beyond mom, dad and kids during these seemingly endless wonderful weeks of vacation. From potential step-sibling rivalry to navigating niceties with your former spouse’s new one (#CoParentWithoutStepMurder), building a blended family with grace is certainly the #ParentingGoal but it’s not always easy…or is it?

Can building a blended family really be as easy as keeping an open mind, respecting all the parents involved and always keeping the needs of the children front and center? It can…but it takes work; patience; and maybe even some presents (though not for the fam member you might think).

To honor the onset of this, the Season of Together Time, this beautiful first-person account written by TJS COO and Co-Founder Marcella Williams shines a light on her personal experiences with her own children, and what it takes to bridge the byways of today’s blended family.

In May 2004, I found myself married and soon realized it was a package deal since, overnight, I became not only a wife, but a mother…and a stepmother at that. I had entered my stepson Drew’s life when he was just 5 years old and was even there for his first day of kindergarten, yet I had no idea how to be a stepmom since I was just learning how to become a wife. Luckily for me I had the best teacher: Drew’s mom, Kelly.

Marcella and her family celebrating Christmas—together!—in 2016. Pictured (l-r): Marcella, Maximus (8), Damian (8), Sophia (9), and Drew (17).

You always hear the drama-filled stories of blended families and thestruggles that ensue. But this story is different. This one is filled with love and gratitude, and I’m hoping it will act as a reminder that it doesn’t ever have to be ugly between birth parents and stepparents unless a family chooses it to be. And I can tell you from experience that ugly serves no one…least of all, the child.

Shortly after the wedding, we were settling into our new house…adding all of the finishing touches that turn a space into a home. While I was adjusting to new surroundings and new roles, I began to wonder if I would be a good stepmom. I wondered if I had the empathy, patience and kindness I knew it would take to be the kind of caretaker that Drew deserved. So when I was in doubt, I chose to look no further than toward the one who brought him into this world.

Honestly, I felt so lucky that I even had the inclination to do it! Kelly was one cool mama and we instantly became friends. And it was through that friendship that we were able to be the best moms for our son. (Because that’s exactly what he became the day that he and his father and I married: “Our” son.)

Together we discussed schools, homework, bedtime, and even had great communication about disciplinary actions. In other words, if Drew was grounded because he did XYZ at my house, the same rules applied in Kelly’s home, and vice versa. When we began to notice some missteps in his personality—a little more argumentative, a little less attentive at school—together, we quickly ascertained that what Drew needed was structure. Going back and forth mid-week between her home and ours wasn’t what he needed, and without second-guessing it for a moment, Kelly volunteered to let Drew stay with his dad and me Monday through Friday (which instantly made life easier on our boy since school was around the corner from our house).

Faces of well-adjusted happiness: Marcella’s family. Pictured (l-r): Damian (8), Drew (18), Maximus (8), and Sophia (9).

This move impressed me beyond measure, because in one swift decision Kelly proved herself secure enough to put aside her ego for the sake of what was best for Drew. Her grace and mental agility proved to be one of many lessons I learned from her and called upon as different situations unfolded during our evolution as a blended family.

Fast forward to the following May. Mother’s Day was around the corner and when Kelly came to pick up Drew, she had a special present for me. It was my first Mother’s Day present, a Dooney and Burke purse which, until that point in my life, was the nicest purse I had ever owned. I was honored and shocked, to say the least. It was such a heartfelt gift that I still have because of the memory attached to it. She didn’t have to gift it. She didn’t even have to show me kindness, or go above and beyond to bridge gaps or pave roads for better communication. Yet she did. Why? Because it wasn’t about her or me, but about him, our son Drew, who is now 19.

Today, I strive to be similar and supportive for my own birth-childrens’ stepmom. I want her to know that I am rooting for her to succeed every step of the way. I know she has no intention of replacing me, or turning the kids against me. And I know this because I left my ego back in 2004.

But I also know this because I am confident in my role as their mommy. When my three children asked me if I was happy or sad that Baba (Greek for “Dad”) was re-marrying, I smiled with sincerity and assured them that they were so lucky, and that his new bride was just one more person to love them. This assurance helped them be more accepting of her. It helped the transition to be more smooth, and it minimized any extra stress they may have had during what society deems as an intrinsic time of challenging change.

People do not always remember what you said or did, but they do remember how you made them feel. I always work to ensure my kids know that they can express their concerns, their dreams and their struggles without fear of judgement or condemnation with me. With me, they have a kind ear and unconditional love.

So. If I could lend advice to my children’s new stepmom (or any new step- or co-parent), it would be this:

  1. Bee Patient. Great relationships aren’t built overnight. They take time, and an endless amount of compassion and nurturing (and that goes for both the co-parent/stepparent relationship, as well as the relationship between the children and new stepßparent). Count the mini victories rather than wait for the big reward. It could be a genuine smile from across the room from a child who is grateful to see you at their school performance, or their rush to you when they fall off your bike.(Also…bee patient in the warming up of your partner’s ex. Patience is very important at this time.)
  2. Bee Forgiving. When children go back and forth between homes it can take a toll on their spirit. There is generally a transition day or two where they need to adjust to your house rules. In a perfect world, both houses would have the same ones, but that is not always the case. Learn to work with your situation, not fight against it.
  3. Bee Thoughtful. When you make plans, whether together or apart from the stepchildren, think about how it effects the entirety of the group. Make sure your actions cannot be deemed as alienation. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself how you would feel. This goes for the children as well as any step-parents.
  4. Bee Grateful. The universe has blessed your child(ren) with more people to love them. While old wounds may not be healed, and words may have gone unsaid, your children have new beginnings and need your support to see the brighter side of the situation. They will look to you for guidance in these ever-evolving relationships. They will mimic you. So lead by example with a grateful heart.
  5. Bee Respectful. Do not bad mouth anyone in front of the children. Just don’t. It is very hurtful for the child to ever have to hear ill words about someone they love so much. No child deserves to feel that pain. Honestly, I can’t stress this enough other than to say just.don’t.do.it. Remember: The child will remember what they hear, and when they grow up, they will resent the badmouther, not the badmouthee.
  6. Bee Kind. And bee kind especially to yourself. Don’t buy into the whole “love them like your own.” That does not happen overnight. (Truth? Sometimes it never does.) You did not fall in love in a day, and you did not give birth or help conceive them. Allow time to play its role. Bee friends first. And do not beat yourself up if your “motherly” or “fatherly” instincts don’t kick in right away. Remind yourself that you are doing the best that you can, and trust that through consistency in your words and actions, you will in fact build bridges and mend gaps.

Together—collectively—we are raising the future leaders of this world, and that’s something that has never taken just one person. It truly takes a hive.

 

5 From The Hi5e: Summertime ‘Bee Inspired’ Gift Guide

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We bees know what we like when it comes to the hive-and-honey stuff. And with end-of-year teacher-present time just weeks away (and plenty of reasons to pre-stock hostess or birthday gifts for the summer), we’re having a little summertime funnertime with a roundup of beeautiful honey-inspired stuff we love.

Whether it’s for your face, your belly, your bod, or your walls, there’s honey- and bee-inspo all around. And we luv that, since, yaknow, we think bees are the proverbial bees’ knees.

(And hey: Since we can’t possibly try everything out there, if you’ve some things you want us to shine a light on, reach out and touch us by contacting TJS’s Content Director Jen Chase at jen@juicestandard.com and we’ll consider your suggestions. After all…#ItTakesAHive!)

May Lindstrom’s Honey Mud 

As creamy and dreamy as a TJS nut milk, this mud might be your new favorite way to get clean by getting dirty.

What? Daily wash and occasional enzymatic face mask for bees with temperamental skin.

Why? If your complexion requires orchid-like care, this magical mud is a gentle yet potent combo of raw honey with bee pollen and propolis; white halloycite clay; colloidal silver; and witch hazel, mixed with a variety of the most exotically concocted oils that smell like a cross between sweetly chocolated molé sauce and a rain forest. Made in small batches in Los Angeles by May Lindstrom (who created her treats to salve her own problem-child skin and now has a cultish following), when asked about the mud, the company’s wholeheartedly helpful Director of Care, Elena Alarie, wrote to specifically say that, “hormonally reactive skin will especially love the Honey Mud.” It’s divine.

Mike’s Hot Honey

This. This on everything. Use it. A lot.

What? Spicy honey made in Brooklyn, New York, by infusing the sweet stuff with chilies.

Why? “Sweet heat” at its finest, this crack-in-a-bottle truly is hella versatile. We like it for topping off avo-toast; dribbling it over nut-studded Greek yogurt; stirred into tea; and for drawing our initials on every blessed slice of our favorite well-done take-out veggie pizza.

 

Medicine Mama’s Sweet Bee Magic™

For when you want that one thing that does errything? Grab this.

What? An all-in-one balm designed to relieve skin irritations and is safe for the whole family.

Why? This one-‘n-done jar of goodness quiets the chatter of your noisy, over-stuffed medicine cabinet by replacing different lotions, potions and salves with one thing that’s safe for pretty much every skin issue. From being a regular old moisturizer to an ointment for burns, cuts, scrapes, buggy-bites, cold sores, and even sunburns, similar to May Lindstrom’s Honey Mud, Sweet Bee Magic™ also contains honey, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly…all of which, when combined, are incredibly healing.

Hexagonal Shelves by Grace Sarris

Grace Sarris’ hexagonal shelf, hung solo.

What? A set of five hexagonal-shaped shelves that are as useful as they are beautiful…especially for the bee-lover in your life.

Hexagonal shelves, grouped.

Why? Whether hung singly, in groups or all together, these shelves made from reclaimed wood by artisan Grace Sarris can be used to create an eye-catching focal point or as a thematic link connecting different rooms in a

house. Plus, they’re all the better for being sold in Sarris’ Etsy store, since we here at TJS love to #supportlocal. (The Internets is considered local, right?)

 

Bee Pollen by Moon Juice

Chewy, citrusy and kinda floral, this is the tastiest straight-from-the-jar pollen we’ve tried.

What? A month’s supply of jarred bee pollen, sold by veritable adaptogen alchemist Amanda Chantal Bacon’s California-based company, Moon Juice.

Why? This stuff? So not your mother’s bee pollen (and if you were fed this stuff as a kid it’s not your bee pollen, either!). With a consistency unlike most of what’s out there, Moon Juice’s bee pollen is chewy and almost citrusy with a floral nose (and yeah, sounds like we’re talking wine). We’d normally stick to local bee pollen for its allergy-fighting properties, but this stuff is so bomb—and, so rich with protein and vitamin B-everythings—we don’t care that it’s not from our neighborhood…we crave it straight from the jar.

Friends Who Juice: Andrea Millsap

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Stress can do horrendous things to the body. We know this is true thanks to seemingly constant pop-culture articles touting the import of good sleep and nutrition to help keep stress at bay, but beyond the casual headache or stomach upset, the effects of anxiety during high-stress times can actually be fatal. 

In The Link Between Religion and Health by Harold G. Koenig and Harvey J. Cohen, there’s an entire chapter devoted to the diseases we can bring upon ourselves resulting from environmental and situational stress we put on our immune systems and what we can do about them. And what we learn is that diagnoses like Lupus and other auto-immune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, Grave’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome) can be attacked from a variety of angles: medication, meditation, kundalini yoga, building an alkaline environment in the body with anti-inflam foods, drinking cold-pressed juice.

For the purpose of this feature, it’s that last method we’re most interested in (natch), as we’re honored to share the tale of Andrea Millsap, a woman who in fact used cold-pressed juice—The Juice Standard’s cold-pressed juice, to be exact— to battle the Lupus she developed after some achingly, life-altering family events. Battle…and win.

If you’ve ever wondered whether TJS’ juices and nutmilks really are all that, read this dynamic account of Andrea Millsap and see just how far she’s come. We guarantee it’s been a long way, Baby. 

All About Andrea

I was born and raised… here in Las Vegas, Nevada. I am a one of the rare natives: I attended private school at St.Francis De Sales and then went on to Bishop Gorman. (Go GAELS!) I attended University here, as well. I received my undergraduate degree from UNLV.

This is when I knew that Las Vegas would be my forever home: I have travelled both in and out of the county but always knew Vegas was home…and not because I was born here. I love Vegas because it is a 24-hour town (…not that I utilize that anymore!). I like having the option to go to the grocery store or anywhere else in the middle of the night if I want. I decided after college to reside in Vegas.

My daily mantra is…I’ve had this up on my wall since my teenage years:

Quote by Fannie Brice, American comedian

Favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…Peppermill.

People who inspire me daily are…my parents. They are my world. My dad was my best friend and taught me life lessons that have made me who I am. My mom is literally my mirror to life. Love them! My father passed away 3 years ago this July 10. he is were my “juice journey” began.

Something people would be surprised to learn about me: I have eight children AND I still find the time to work a full-time job and do the things I love to do.

About Andrea’s Work

When people ask me what I do as my job, this is how I explain it:  I am a pharmaceutical representative, and I help to educate and provide medication to local providers for their patients.

Worst spelling of Pfizer: Fizar.

In my personal opinion about the pharmaceutical industry on the whole, I believe it gets a bad rap because…of the cost of medication. People truly don’t understand how much money it costs to bring a medication to market…and that there is a cost associated with the medication once it’s approved to market the medication.

Also, people are misguided about who makes the rules on meds and why the cost and lack of availability are truly so high. If people researched this information and how it works, they would be truly upset. Individuals also don’t realize how much money and medication is provided through patient-assistance programs to make sure patients have access to their medications.

What I’ve learned about myself in this career is this: This position has made me stronger, and I’ve learned that your health is your responsibility.

The most surprising thing I’ve learned or the thing that has been re-affirmed for me is…that being told NO is so motivating to me. I thrive in challenging environments.

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…Don’t ever quit or let other people decide your path for you.

Andrea On Health

The biggest change I’ve witnessed in the Las Vegas world of healthy living is…the rise of juice companies, restaurants that provide clean food and the education about genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The way I eat clean during my busy workweek is this: I work from my car, so I make sure I juice…with juice from the Standard, of course!

The fruits and veggies you will always find in my kitchen are…apples, spinach and kale.

My fave guilty-pleasure food? Ughhhhhh: Pizza from Metro.

The health habit that gets me teased the most is…the bounty of herbs and vitamin supplements that I use daily from Dr. Sebi. The Juice Standard along with Dr. Sebi not only changed my life but saved it!

Andrea On Juice

We understand that there were some radical things that happened in your life that brought you to The Juice Standard. We’d love you to share your story….About 2 years ago I discovered cold-pressed juice. After my dad passed away, my immune system failed. The sheer shock and loss destroyed not only my soul but my body. For months, I wasn’t sure what was wrong; but I began to feel my body shutting down. I went to the doctor and was later diagnosed with Lupus.

Andrea and her father.

In my quest to get better and take back my life, I began researching Lupus and things that enhance the quality of life in patients. The most important thing I kept coming across was diet. I then began researching clean eating and all the elders talked most about juicing and herbal supplements. And I began drinking cold-pressed juice after trying every medicine under the sun. I was not getting better.

Some symptoms of lupus are…excruciating joint and muscle pain. It’s a pain so intense, I can’t get out of bed at times, or up and down the stairs. There is extreme fatigue from doing nothing. And, skin rashes from the sun, and just in general.

The hardest way Lupus has affected my life is…it’s lowered my energy level, which steals time and events from me. At times, the decreased energy level doesn’t allow me to do all the things in one day that I would like to. And at one point, Lupus affected my job. I wasn’t able to work for months.

The one thing I wish people knew about Lupus is…that the pain is real. Although the death incident rate has improved, patients die young—40 years of age, and sometimes younger. The primary cause of death with Lupus is organ failure…kidneys, typically. Lupus is not always understood by individulas that don’t have it because it’s not something they can see like a broken bone.

The first time I drank green juice I thought…“Ohhhhh nooo: Not me, too! I don’t want people to think I’m drinking it because it’s a new trend and all the cool kids are doing it!”

I kept drinking cold-pressed because…it changed my life. My blood work was better, I had more energy, my symptoms were going away. I felt alive again because I was putting living food in my body.

Most shocking difference in my Lupus treatment before juice and after juice was…I was able to stop taking all medication.

True or False: “It was hard looking my Pfizer colleagues and clients in the eye and telling them that juice was helping me more than their stinkin’ meds.”  True. True.

Andrea and her husband, Lannie.

As of this writing, I’m currently on maternity leave. Here’s how I incorporated juice into my life: Prior to being pregnant I tried to have two juices a day with my supplements and appropriate foods. While pregnant, helped with my energy and the small Lupus flares I’ve had during pregnancy.

True or False: “As a new mother, I think cold-pressed juice is helping me keep up my energy.” Yes: True.

My thoughts about The Juice Standard? It’s is the gold standard for cold-pressed juice! You can taste and see the difference. I know it has helped and has continued to change my life.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…work with the team at The Juice Standard to find what flavors work for you. Tell them your situation and allow them to customize a plan that works for you. Don’t quit!

Friends Who Juice: JJ Sherrill

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With stadiums of fans gearing up for Major League Baseball’s opening day that’s now only hours away, this April’s Friends Who Juice profilee is getting us into the swing of the season by sharing how he—a former MLB player himself—transitioned from the big leagues to helping teens tap into their potential on and off the field using their mind before they ever grab their glove.

James “JJ” Sherrill is the founder of F.O.M Training Academy (short for Frame of Mind), the holistic arm of a cutting-edge baseball training facility in Sacramento, Calif., called Rip It Davis, which features ProBatter Virtual Pitching Simulators that help young players hone mad bat skills. The first baseball charter school in the country that does awesome things like churn out the current holder of the nation’s best high school batting average, what makes the facility so elite is Sherrill’s molding today’s newbee players into tomorrow’s mindful sluggers using visualization and breathing techniques that any yogi would cherish. And coupled with his deep belief in WHealthy™ eating and juicing being an important part of every smart athlete’s arsenal, Sherrill is the kind of whole-student coach that parents dream of.

During his 15 years in baseball, Sherrill was a Tony Gwynn mentee and played last for the Cleveland Indians. Ask him about his true accomplishments, though, and he’ll tell you it’s helping his students achieve mind-over-matter mastery and beelieve in themselves through positive affirmations.

Now, we’re not into mind-games but that’s a strategy we could, er, throw ourselves into.

How’d that scene go in Ferris Bueller?  Time to play ball with JJ Sherrill. 

https://youtu.be/9EdkdaPW2Kg

All About JJ

When people ask me where I’m from, I tell them…“Seaside California” (Monterey Peninsula) but home for me, now, is…Sacramento.

When I was a little boy, I dreamed of being…a professional baseball player for Major League Baseball. I also wanted to play football in the NFL.

What surprised me most about growing up was realizing that for my life’s work, I’d end up…being a powerful influence and mentor/leader to the students and adults I work with on a daily basis.

It has also been a great plus to turn my method of helping students, players, athletes, and adults learn to prepare mentally for everything from baseball games to life using my FOM Method (which stands for “Frame Of Mind”). By using breathing techniques, positive visualization, postive “I Am” affirmations, and repetitive binearal beats, my method helps people to master their minds and feelings in various situations. I’m proud to now be turning FOM into a successful brand by the same name.

Las time I was in Las Vegas it was to…attend the Magic Fashion Show with the purpose of and focus on building business relationships with manufactuers for the FOM brand.

JJ Sherrill with his little inspiration, Jaron Julius.

When I go to Vegas, favorite spots are …The Juice Standard and Holstein’s.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…One Man Can Change The World by
Big Sean.

A person who inspires me every day is…my 3-and-a-half-year-old-son Jaron Julius James Sherrill. And, I draw insipration from within myself.
…and in case you were wondering, the JJ stands for…James Julius.

About JJ’s Work

When people ask me what I do for a living, this is what I say I do on a day-to-day basis: I am a father first, a mentor, a life skills coach, a baseball and basketball coach, and an educational facilitator for a charter school. I’m also a business man; a believer; and a self-investor in the care and health of the mind, body, and soul. I’m a person who takes the time to give back with the knowledge I have gained through my personal and professional experiences. I utilize this wisdom to allow people to see by leading from example.

The age range of the kids I coach is…3 and up.

In decidedly atypical warm-up sessions, Sherrill’s FOM students practice pre-game visualization where they see themselves swinging for the rafters and fielding like champs.

I work for a very unique sports-related school. This is how it’s unique: We are a charter school out in Elverta, Calif., that has partnered with three different programs to bring our students a variety of options. The first partnership we developed was with the Jerry Manuel Foundation, through which we our able to bring a wealth of knowledge about the game of baseball to kids who might not have the opportunity otherwise. All of our coaches have at one point or another played on a professional level.

Our second sports-related program is our softball program, which has partnered with the California Comments. The heart of these programs has its basis in “Jackie Robinson’s 9 Values.

Our third magnet is called Alpha Garden Arts, which is a farm-to-fork program that introduces students to aspects of agricultural science.

Our high school curriculum is a blended model of online course and direct instruction. We are a small school with a ratio of one adult to every four students. We see ourselves as family, and it’s truly a pleasure for me working with our students. Our situation and setting allow me to build personal relationships with all our students. They are a source of motivation for me. When I see positive changes in them, it challenges me to continue to be and stay positive and productive in what I do so that I may lead by example by my actions, words and selfless deeds.

In 5 years, my “daffy desire” is to…take my FOM brand and my mental focus training method and develop it into a successful business that can touch the lives of others.

Sherrill aspires to his FOM method and logo becoming as eponymous as that Nike swoosh. (Don’t know ’bout you but we here at TJS hope he just does it.)

A Story Worth Telling #3: Testimonials That Warm Our Wings

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At The Juice Standard, we beelieve in doing good by beeing good, and spreading around as much of that goodness as possible. 

In this feature that invokes the aura of our favorite feel-good radio show, Kind World, our A Story Worth Telling format pulls from conversations we have with TJS District Manager Amber Cariker and the TJS managers and beehind-the-counter bees she supports.

Normally these snippets reflect stories from our employ-bees who meet the most amazing people. But this month, we’ve picked through our trove of feel-good testimonials from fanbees across the globe who have felt called to spread their love for us, to us. We start with a particularly wholehearted note from someone we couldn’t feel more proud of our bees beehind the counter for serving in a most comprehensive and wholehearted way. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Next time you come in and have a special interaction with someone, you just might see it come back to this space where it can inspire others. But don’t wait for your next in-person visit! Go to our website and share your thoughts here on our comments page. We’d love to hear how we can better serve you…or simply hear some of your juicy love.

Just a shout out to anyone wanting a really great place to get an organic smoothie: The Juice Standard (2530 St. Rose Pkwy., Henderson, NV89074). The group of girls and guys behind that counter were so helpful, and took the time to figure out what I could and could not [eat].

I need to be able to get calories [into my body], but the whole inside of my mouth and throat has mouth thrush due to my white blood cell count being so low from this darn chemo I am doing, so even the smallest thing can set it on fire. They worked together as a great team to find a solution. [When] I started off with an orange flavored base [I] thought someone had taken a lighter and was holding it inside my mouth. (My fault: [orange] is one of my favorite flavors.) They worked until they could come up with a smoothie that tasted great and had nothing at all that would make my mouth hurt. They even wrote it down for us, so I can go grab one any time. And the price was reasonable too… a great plus, since I don’t have a whole lot of leftover funds since I cannot work right now, so we have to live off my sweet husband’s income only.

I cannot find a place to post this on your Facebook page, but wanted to let someone know how much I appreciated your employees yesterday.

Thank you. Theresa Sabio

My husband and I just flew home today from Las Vegas. We had the privilege of spending time with your staff at The Cosmopolitan and learning about your fabulous products.

Warm Regards, Jade Williams

Hi. We recently visited your location at The Cosmopolitan and we can’t stop thinking about the delicious juice and the great experience we had. We live in San Diego.

Dawn Lee-Schlieder

I just got to Vegas on Thursday for the first time, and the first thing on my agenda was to visit The Juice Standard. I was totally impressed with the information on your web site and had to go and see for myself. As it turns out, it’s a 100x better than I expected!

You have given a lot of thought to everything involving juicing. I particularly like the fact that you decided to use glass bottles. There is nothing remotely as close to your delicious juices in my town. I have already visited two of your shops so far—your staff have been friendly and kind, allowing me to sample and decide which ones I want (very difficult: I haven’t disliked any that I have sampled!).

Thank you for making such superior product, keep up the good work. I wish you a long and prosperous future. My only regret is not having you anywhere near my home town. ☹️️

Nayri

Just wanted to say I absolutely love your juices, coffee and customer service! From Nate to Daniel and Kody, they all rock; they always make me feel special, remembering my name; and [they] always make me the greatest Bee Invincible ever!

Debrah Anderson

Love your juices and standards! It’s one of the best [juiceries]. Even better than the ones I’ve had in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. Wish you woukd come to my home town in Seattle! Washington has lots of organic farms and easy access to fresh ingredients. I would love to have a daily subscription to my favourite juices 🙂

Kingkong808@gmail.com

Loved all the juices I tried while in Vegas. Love that you are completely raw (even no HPP). However, I guess that does prevent you from shipping cleanses to other states? Hopefully you will open a location in or near Washington, D.C.

Jennyfreeney@gmail.com

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your establishment! I just left with three bottles of juice after my very first time in! (I also filled out a job application and sent an email, curious if you franchaise?!)

One way or another I’d love to BEE involved! If not, however, I am thrilled to be one of your soon-to-bee very loyal and regular customers now that I’ve found you! I completely support everything you’re about and I will be back soon!  🙂

Thank You again! Tiffany Wagner

5 From The Hi5e: Earth Day’s Dead Sexxxy

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From time to time The Humble Bee runs a feature with five items about one topic we think is relevant to your health or well being (…or, something funny; or a swath of info you shouldn’t live without). Called 5 From The Hi5e, our hope is to give you the skinny on stuff you’ll find rad. This month?

For all you likeminded bees who do your best to recycle, to put your money where your intention is and just be a good worker-bee renter on this planet for your time here, in honor of Earth Day on 22 April we discuss the ways that TJS gives back to the universe through mindful practices we employ at our three stores. Hopefully, learning a little more about what we do will make you even happier that you choose to juice with us. Beecause remember: #ItTakesAHive. 

To The Juice Standard, every day is earth day.

That’s not to sound trite; but our simple juicy truth is that the environmental practices that TJS employs to stay kind to Mamas Nature and Earth are so important to this company, some of ‘em are written right into our standards. (Need a refresher? Click here.)

To us, that there is a day dedicated to global awareness of the actual globe is as good a reason as any to wax poetic about some of the high-fiveable things our company does to help our corner of Nevada—the world, really!—tread as lightly on this earth as possible.

1) We Know How To Pulp, Pulp It Up.

We’re extremely proud that from the get-go, the produce TJS has pressed into pulp has been donated to our local farmers’ and home gardeners’ composting collections to the tune of about 40 gallons a week. (Hooray, desert farming!)

We have families come in on the reg from places like Pahrump to get buckets of compost for their chickens—carrots are a big winner, so we hear—and as the spring unfolds, we’re even more proud that we’ll be actualizing a long-held hope of co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams when TJS partners with Glen Taylor Elementary School (go, Titans!) and its garden club by donating pulp and peels to help feed the club’s “red wrigglers” (worms!) through worm tubes that Glen Taylor’s girl scout troop built and implemented throughout the school’s five-bed garden. (The school also sports an herb spiral and hummingbird habitat.)

TJS is eager to infiltrate neighboring local school systems to support kids’ gardening programs just like Glen Taylor’s…one compost donation at a time. And since each of our 16-ounce glass Singletons hold the juice of roughly 2-3 pounds of produce, you bet yer sweet bippy we have a lot to share!

All of this pulpy stuff brings up a tender point: People sometimes harp about the waste with juicing (like this old article from Modern Farmer did a year ago). But the truth is, there’s waste in pretty much all corners of the culinary world, from the citrus we peel to the fat we trim to the chaff we separate from wheat. As our bees know, TJS holds environmentalism near and dear. Hopefully other areas of restaurantdom will, too, as media shine a light on mindful topics like composting and how much more can be done to reduce waste in this world.

2) Our Glasses Are Always Full AF.

Last fall, Jamie and Marcella made the choice to end TJS’s 3-and-a-half year program of accepting back our bees’ empties, sanitizing them, and re-bottling TJS’s juices and nut milks into responsibly recycled 16-ounce glass “Singletons.” (Get the full down-low here.)

So why’d we stop? Keyword in that above sentence was “responsible,” as in it was no longer responsible to use so much water to complete our Singletons’ #CircleOfLife. We are in a desert, after all. So, yeah: Not responsible.

Two good things came out of shifting TJS’s environmental perspective from recycling to water preservation: Singletons dropped in price by a buck, and since our neck of Nevada started curbside recycling pickup, there were still options for our bees to do the right thing. Cuz remember: #ItTakesAHive. #AndSimba.

3) Like Sands From The Juice Glass….

Speaking of Singletons, did you know that when our glass bottles break down, they turn to silica? Dasright: Glass is basically silica. So even if bottles weren’t recycled (which we know you bees would never dream of not doing), our Singletons will someday become, yaknow: a beach.

This point really goes back to Jamie’s and Marcella’s choice to not bottle in plastic…opting for the vessel that keeps on giving for, like, ever. You can do your part, too: bee like us and choose glass whenever you can.

4) Feed The Bees, Feed Thyself.

File under advocacy: You can help increase the bee population by planting shrubs and trees that attract our little fuzzy-bodied friends. With the bee beeing TJS’s mascot (and the underlying reason for being for Jamie and Marcella), we care hella lot about the plight of the bee (click here for more on this topic in this month’s newsletter). Thanks to organizations like The Honeybee Conservancy, we can learn how to help attract them so they can bee all they can bee, too.

5) Feed Thyself, Heal Thyself.

Think that food can bee a first line of defense in how we care for our WHeatlh™? Earth Day is the perf day for thinking about the choices you can make about where you shop, and what you get once you’re there. And ultimately, how you stock your kitchen, pantry and medicine cabinet is how you’ll stack your gut against disease, malaise, and all kinds of other words that end in “se.”

Tomatoes at the Charles Square Farmer’s Market in Cambridge, Mass. (aka, near Hahvid Yahd).

So what can you do? Hit a farmers market; grow container herbs; plant a garden; buy organic when possible (or consider sacrifices in other areas of life to feed your organics habit). And what about once you get all that goodness at home? How can you feed thyself to heal thyself…from the inside out? Drink water! Or, donate to a water conservancy; volunteer at a food pantry; serve food to the homeless; replace something in your med-cab with an essential oil that came from a source that takes good care of its farmers; buy fair-trade coffee; hell, buy local coffee (like what we get).

From what you eat to the doctors you seek, a thousand little choices about where you shop, what you buy, who treats you, and what you do with with your knowledge adds up to a WHealthy™ handful of things that not only support the people you love…but they support the people who provide the things you love. There’s positive power in that on Earth Day, and it’s positively powerful to pepper these elements (and more!) throughout your everyday life.

(Can you feel the love tonight or what?)

TJS Edit: Bees Finally Land Endangered Act Protection

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General Mills is doing its darndest to put eyes on GM cereal boxes by hollering out a key ingredient that’s not in Honey Nut Cheerios any more:

Buzz. Buzz The Bee.

Where’d Buzz go?

In a campaign that’s almost as deft with its hashes as we are (#ArentWeSoBloodyHumbleAbout #ItTakesAHiveAndTheOtherFunnyHashtagsWeDrop), GM’s #BringBackTheBee hash accompanies a white cut-out of where Buzz’s cartoony bod used to flit on Cherrios boxes. It’s the conglomerate’s not-so-small attempt—and maybe a little silly?—to bring attention to the United States’ dwindling population of a healthy handful of bee species that pollinate a kajillion handfuls of food.

But the attempt might’ve worked.

In January 2017, it was widely reported that the 40-year-old Endangered Species Act (EDA)—signed to protect innocents from extinction in the animal, insect and plant world—might go bye-bye if our new administration had anything to do with it. (Full Fairness Disclosure: For at least the last 8 years, Republicans have tried to loosen the EDA’s grip on rules and regs that could make way for more logging, drilling and other digging activities that twitterpate the hearts of non-Democrats far and wide.)

If the EDA was going down the proverbial toilet, so would the fight to add the rusty patched bumble bee—a bee that in the last 20 years has seen a 95 percent existence drop despite once being prolific across 13 mid-Western states. But that didn’t happen. And on March 21, ol’ Rusty beecame the first bee protected by the EDA when it was added to the U.S. endangered species list. Finally, after being fought for by the Xerces Society and the Natural Resources Defense Council—two U.S. orgs that, much like the EDA, exist to protect bugs and stuff—Rusty’s chance of survival just got a solid.

If all of this is still a little Wha? to you—if Colony Collapse Disorder isn’t the CCD you’re used to, and you still wonder what the bee fuss is all about, here’s why this is a BFD:

Every third bite or sip you take today is thanks to a bee.

Let that sink in.

Aside from the water you drink to, yaknow, survive…bees are the next most important thing in the ecosystem—in your ecosystem—beecause you’d starve without them. Yet the plight of one of the most important cogs in the universe’s machine of life continues.

Pesticides vs. Parasites…who’s right?

Both sides of The Great Bee Argument include what we refer to as “The P. vs. P. Debate”: Is it pesticides or parasites that do the bee killing? Each contests it’s the other. And though everyone has an opinion they have a right to, it’s pure fact that more than three dozen bumble bees (and another few hives’ worth of honey bee species) are pollinators, which means many of them need help. Many.

Thankfully, people are paying attention. This front-section feature from a February Sunday New York Times by Stephanie Strom is nice storytelling that tells a newsy tale about farmer Bret Adee and his family in Bakersfield, Calif., doing their part with human-directed crop pollination to help these little fuzzy buggers live amid the changing landscape of farming.

(We think you should read it. Click here.)

Plus, as we wrote about in our Earth Day piece, places like the Honeybee Conservancy are also out there doing what it takes to inform all of us everyday folk what we can do to try to help our honey-loving friends.

So with this new endangered designation, we can go into April knowing that the administration and the entities that filed the attention-bringing suit in D.C. district court all helped give the bee a badly needed wing-up. It’s something we here at The Juice Standard think about with near cyclical, sacred-ical consistency…saving the bees. Beecause honestly, it’s this profound and really this simple: #SaveTheBeeSaveYourself.

(#TakeThatGM)

 

A Story Worth Telling #2

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The Juice Standard is all about helping our human bees achieve their optimum sense of good…good WHealth™, good self: good stuff. Last month we launched a new format called “A Story Worth Telling,” where we share our most favoritist, goodest interactions with you—our glorious bees—about you, our glorious bees.

Culled from conversations with TJS District Manager Amber Cariker and the TJS managers and beehind-the-counter bees she supports, these snippets reflect stories from our  employ-bees who days in and out meet the raddest people (you and yours) who are willing to rely on cold-pressed juiceness as a potential holy grail of WHealth™. (We said “potential.” You know how itchy people get about medical claims and all….)

Next time you come in and have a special interaction with someone, you just might see it come back to inspire others. But don’t wait for then! Got some feedback? Wanna #PayItForwardBees? Go to our website and share yer thoughts here at our comments page. We’d love to hear how we can better serve you…or simply hear some of your juicy love.

Love, TJS

Compliment Of The Month

In February, our heart runneth over thanks to the thanks Debrah Anderson left for us at info@juicestandard.com.

“Just wanted to say I absolutely love your juices, coffee, and customer service! From Nate to Daniel and Kody, they all rock they always make me feel special…remembering my name and always making me the greatest Bee Invincible Ever!”

When we wrote to thank Debrah for her kindness she wrote us back ah-gain, adding…”I so look forward to seeing everyone and especially knowing I’m getting my amazing juices and delightful treats! And all my nutrients I need daily💜

If that doesn’t sum up the very essence of why we do what we do….

Heard Behind The Counter

During her tenure at TJS, our manager Elle has come to know a regular client named Deepak. The two have seen each other so much over the years that he even has a super-secret Deepak Smoothie named and made just for him. (Secret’s safe with us, D).

Deepak happens to be a part of the Suja juice family. Previously in Las Vegas but now living in Huntington Beach, Cali., when he has to be here in the Valley, Elle says that Deepak makes TJS his first stop, and his last.

Are Deepak’s stops for TJS juice, or for the pleasure of Elle’s company? We may never know. But we do know that our time is presh, and loyalty like that is what fills up our juicy hearts with pride. We’re grateful for Deepak’s patronage and for Elle being the kind of manager—employbee—human beeing that people gravitate toward and want to be around. Beecuase (say it with us), #ItTakesAHive.

Buzz-Worthy

District Manager Amber was at The Buzz last week (and that’s what we affectionately call our location at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas), she met a client named Scott who was visiting from Bozeman, Mont. The two started talking, and Scott shared how disappointed he was that the The Cosmopolitan’s concierge hadn’t told him there was a cold-pressed juice company on the property…but that now that he knew, he’d be back early and often.

Amber and Scott parted ways but not before exchanging numbers, just in case Amber could help Scott during his stay with juice-related questions. (That’s the kinda gal she is). Four hours later, Amber saw Scott reappear with a gaggle of friends, and his perfect timing allowed him to meet and chat up Marcella and Jamie about the company and his insta-love for TJS’s product.

Juicy vibes abounded.

A week after returning to normalcy in Bozeman, Scott texted Amber relaying his total gratitude for meeting her, Jamie, and Marcella…and  admitted hittin’ up TJS six times before flying from McCarran.

Best part? Amber says Scott’s come-to-juicing experience alit him so much, he researched home presses to make his own concoctions. Second-best part? Hearing that, Amber researched home juicers and pressers, too, so she can create a one-sheeter on products we can describe to clients about who might be interested in making a total wreck in their own kitchen juice at home. Expect that share in the coming month here on the blog and social media.

“I realized my vegucation wasn’t where it needed to be,” says Amber of her home cold-press knowledge. While we don’t think Amber should be too hard on herself, we applaud her initiative, and we’re beeyond grateful that Scott would share how his TJS encounter made an impact on his stay at The Cosmopolitan. Hopefully, cold-pressed juice will impact him, his digestion, his mental health, and his heart for years to come.

Like what you’re reading? Have a story worth sharing about how TJS has impacted your life? We wanna hear! Email us at info@juicestandard.com or reach out directly to TJS’s Content Director Jen Chase. We’d love to hear about your path to WHealth™ and glowing self!

 

Friends Who Juice: Charlotte Evans

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For folks who grew up in Las Vegas (or who at least moved to the Valley around 1992), Charlotte Evans was a trusted name, face and voice that played a part in many of our everyday lives. As an anchor on the Las Vegas CBS affiliate KLAS, for nearly 20 years we invited her into our homes to deliver the news of the day, trusting her well-honed storytelling skills to report truth and fact with a healthy dose of heart. Even amid the blur of a growing 24-hour news cycle and always-on networks like CNN and MSNBC, Las Vegans turned to Evans for a dose of daily local love. And as you’ll read below, the reciprocity of fanboy and fangirl love (looking at you, TJS co-founder Jamie Stephenson!) was something that always warmed her.

Today, Evans is still telling stories…now, from the other side of the anchor desk. Writing for publications like the trade pub Vegas Legal Magazine, she’s sought for the proverbial tough interview that requires the deft voice of someone who can wax poetic…but do it with some spunk. Recent profilees include local icons like land developer and former DragonRidge Country Club owner Rich MacDonald, and Las Vegas City Attorney Brad Jerbic, 

And, lo, she juices.

(What is it that we like to say? “Lucky us?” Yes. Lucky us.)

Meet Charlotte Evans.

All About Charlotte

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since… March of 1992. I was hired by KLAS to help launch Nevada’s first ever, hour-long morning newscast called Eyewitness News This Morning. The other local networks quickly followed suit, and the morning ratings battle was on! The live morning newscast quickly expanded to a three-hour-long marathon, packed with live crews reporting from across the valley. In the 1990s, the local news stations had more staff and resources at their disposal (like helicopters) to provide an owerwhelming live presence. In my opinion, it was the heyday of the local news.

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start (and keep) my adult life here. It was the year… 1994. I got married in Las Vegas and there didn’t seem any pressing reason to leave.

…and what appealed to me about living in Vegas was…the fantastic weather and the  beautiful year round recreational opportunities!

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that Las Vegas is all about the Strip. Many locals never go near the Strip, or gamble, or go to strip clubs.  Per capita, Las Vegas has one of the most faith-based populations in the country.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…the excitement and the culture, especially now that The Smith Center is open.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be...don’t feed negative energy. Abandon it, and focus your sights on the people and activities around you that bring you the greatest joy.

A favorite Vegas spot of mine that never gets old is…the Peppermill lounge. Peggy who runs it is an “old school” Las Vegan and a class act.

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…too early to call, I hope! I do like the Diana Ross song, I’m Coming Out and played it often when I hosted a radio show.

Charlotte’s mum.

A person who inspires me every day is…my mother. She is one of the most guileless, forgiving and giving people I have ever known. I wish I’d appreciated that more when I was younger. Lately she’s been comforting folks on their deathbed without giving much thought to whether she’s had any sleep, food or rest herself.

…and the way she inspires me is…see above 🙂

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…I was a contestant on Win Ben Stein’s Money. I didn’t win, unfortunately, but it was fun meeting former Las Vegan Jimmy Kimmel.

About Charlotte’s Work

I first started working in Las Vegas in the year…1992.

True or False: I get a lot of those, “Hey…don’t I know you from somewhere?” looks. Yes. Much moreso recently, for some reason.

I know I get those looks because in my former work life, before I was doing what I do today, this was my job: Television News Anchor for almost 18 years at KLAS-TV, the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas.

Want to hear a little about the work that I did and how it influenced my life? Here’s some background: I’ve been gifted through my career with meeting world leaders, local politicians, international celebrities and businesspeople that ordinarily I would never have had the chance to meet. When these high-profile people show up at a TV studio at 5:30 in the morning to be interviewed, it’s quickly apparent that they are human, too, and they are frequently overwhelmed, stressed, tired, and wracked with worry like the rest of us.

The story I worked on that has stuck with me the longest is… I had the privilege of helping a local terminally ill boy who was a fan of mine meet his biggest hero, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. We never did a story on the meeting, because that wasn’t the point. I made some private phone calls, and Steven Tyler being the sort of person he is rolled out the red carpet for this boy and his family and even hosted them backstage at his concert. This beautiful boy has since passed on, but I hope some day I am reconnected with him (or his family) in some fashion.

The best perk about my former job was…being welcomed anywhere with smiles from total strangers.

The thing from my former work that taught me the most about myself was…losing my job. No matter how awesome any position is, jobs change over time. I need to be less resistant to change and more willing to take risks that may lead to something elsewhere that’s even better. Stagnation is not good.

Today, when people ask me where I work and what I do, I tell them…I’m a writer for Vegas Legal Magazine.

In 5 years, my “daffy desire” is to be doing…some sort of motivational work with people who are suffering or struggling in life. I’d like to spread as much positive energy as I can and help people who’ve found themselves stuck. I’ve been there.

The most surprising thing I’ve learned about myself in my post-television life is...that my carreer is not who I am. It is a tiny fraction of me.

Charlotte, with daughter Maddie.

…and, the thing I’m most proud of is…yet to come, I hope! My daughter is the most  obvious answer, but really she’s a gift in my life. I can’t take credit for how kind or awesome she is. She’s just naturally “good people.”

Today, my favorite way to give back to my community is…highlighting the good work that others are doing and lending a hand to their causes.  I’ve been asked to assist with the Police Unity Tour coming up soon and I’m really looking forward to it!

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…don’t spend too long working at any one place. The security you think it gives you is false. The same can be said of some relationships. Don’t confuse how things “could be one day” with “how they really are.”

The advice I wish someone had given my younger self is… slow down and the answers you need will come. So will the right people.

Charlotte On Health In Vegas

In my opinion, the biggest difference in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene between when I first moved here and now is…well, it’s night and day! The publication Las Vegas Perspective most likely has numbers to support that. There are so many people coming here to live and work in the health and wellness industries and their enthusiasm is palpable. The valley is growing in a way that is inspiring.

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: I try to keep emergency healthy snacks and bottled alkaline water in my car because I never know where the day will take me. I make lists of what I need and try not to grocery shop when I’m hungry.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are…strawberries, bananas, mangos, apples, pineapples and/or watermelon. We power through them. In my crisper you’ll find vegetables that I bought with good intentions, but allowed to rot.

My total guilty pleasure food I’ll never-forever give up is…bacon.  

The total guilty-pleasure habit that gets me made fun of the most is…it’s hard to say today, but I’m sure my daughter could tell you.  I’ve managed to break a lot of my unhealthy habits.  I just need to put healthy ones in their place.

Charlotte On Juice

True or False: I’m a total juicing newbee and hadn’t done a full juice fast until February. True

True or False: Juicing at home is a pain in the tail…which is why I tried TJS’s. Very true

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…my daughter’s father. He is very good about keeping physically fit.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…much better than I expected!

On a scale of 1-10, this is how likely I am to incorporate cold-pressed juice in my life: 10.

The reason I believe I should drink cold-pressed juice is because…I started to crave it in a way that makes me think my body was missing nutrients that I was able to get from juice.

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…it tastes awesome!  It’s a guilt-free beverage that can rival ice cream for it’s taste and sensory perks. I trust how they make it.

The funniest thing that happened to me while I was on my juice fast was…my trips to the restroom doubled.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…find a friend to do the cleanse with you so you can share your experience.

 

Your Juicy Life: Tales From A Newbee Faster

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We love hearing about people’s first-time fasting experiences, and for this month’s newsletter we lucked out when Charlotte Evans wanted to dish on her first ever three-day fast by offering a first-person account of her feels before, during and after.

People gravitate toward fasting for different reasons, and for Evans, boosting her health on the cusp of one pivotal year of healthful awareness was all the impetus she needed for three days of successful sipping. (That she fell hard for her new fave nutmilks didn’t hurt.)

Been thinking about a juice fast? Need a little push in the right direction? Fasting is easier than you think when you do it with us since TJS prides itself on the satisfaction each 16-ounce glass Singleton delivers…sip by beeautiful sip.

But don’t take our word for it….

In about 12 months I will turn 50. I’ve been anticipating this deadline birthday with special angst for some time now; but, a few weeks ago it occurred to me that I do have 12 months to prepare for the BIG 5-0—both mentally and physically—and perhaps I can use this milestone to my advantage and embrace it for health reasons. In fact, why not use my 50th birthday to signal the start of what an esteemed theatre friend called “the third and BEST act of the play that is my life?”

Come to think of it, don’t mind if I do.

The Juice Fast

Recent years of poor eating habits and a lack of physical activity helped to pad my waistline and drain my energy/ I knew I was going to need to start a comprehensive fitness routine to get back in shape, but the prospect felt overwhelming. That’s when I decided to throw my body a “fitness launch party” of sorts in the form of a three-day juice fast.The idea would be to strengthen my exercise and health resolve, jumpstart my nutrient intake and really (really) clean out my system.

It worked!

I set up my juice fast with The Juice Standard in Henderson on St. Rose Parkway and picked up my entire assortment of fresh, 100 percent organic prepared juices a few days later. The Juice Standard made sure my bottles were already sealed, chilled, and ready to go in a carrier bag they provided. (I’m a huge fan of convenience!) The juice was easy to transport despite the number of bottles. It included six different juice beverages to be enjoyed daily from sequentially numbered bottles to avoid confusion about which drink to have when. The Juice Standard employee who handed me my bottles told me they contained the nutritional equivalent of more 2-3 pounds of fresh produce per bottle.

Day 1

On the first day of the juice fast my body seemed appreciative. My taste buds were happy, my appetite was manageable and my energy level seemed fairly consistent.

The day went by quickly, and I went to bed not feeling deprived. In fact, I drank an evening drink on my cleanse program that was so unique and savory, I would describe it as liquid satin perfection with

a vanilla bean and cinnamon finish. The juice, called “Bee Magnificent,” is flavored and textured with ground cashews, dates and agave. I will definitely be picking up this “Magnificent” drink again based on my personal cravings.

 

Day 2

On the second day on the fast my taste buds seemed to have exploded! I woke up craving my morning juice fix and walked briskly to the refrigerator to get it. Who knew juice could taste so juicy, right?! I did, however, get very thirsty during the second day and made sure to drink extra water. I also chewed on crushed ice. I found myself at times feeling irritable when I was around foods that smelled good to me. Unfortunately, this was pretty much everything I smelled that day, including hot dogs at the gas station. I felt a little mentally foggy that night, but thank goodness I was able to enjoy another ”Bee Magnificent” evening beverage! I even started fantasizing about making ice cream or popsicles out of it.

Day 3

On day three I woke up energized, and thirsty. I decided to mix up my morning routine and put half of my “Bee Vibrant” juice, made with fresh lemon and cayenne, in a mug in the microwave. The “Bee Vibrant” juice is crisp and palate cleansing, and if you throw some extra heat on it, the cayenne comes alive. I did not notice until the third day that my sinuses were acting up. This may have been due to an allergy season, but I suspect my body was flushing out toxins as a result of the juice fast. By bedtime on the third day I was already making breakfast plans for the next morning because I could not wait to eat solid food again. My energy was high and I felt invigorated.

Overall, I consider the juice cleanse to have been a highly successful experience! I lost almost six pounds in three days, and cleaned out my intestines like I never imagined was possible. The juice itself tasted so flavorful that I would have chugged it without ever knowing or caring how healthy it was. Still, somehow knowing that the juice is so beneficial may have triggered a Pavlov’s dog response in me that continues today. Weeks after my cleanse was finished I caught myself looking up juice recipes and The Juice Standard’s hours of operation. I’m a devotee now as I see that juice has seeped into my subconscious. I’ll be back for more of my favorites (like Bee Energized!) soon

A Story Worth Telling #1

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Since 2013, one of NPR’s national affiliates (Boston’s WBUR) has really shined thanks to its “Kind World” project’s sole purpose: Making you feel good. Arguably, “forcing you to cry” might be a secondary, but mostly it’s to feel good.

In each artfully produced feature (and now a podcast you can subscribe to in iTunes here), everyday stories of good, and sharing, and warmth, are designed to evoke profound emotion in the listener by illuminating that each of us has the power to touch someone. There was #33 “Secret Sisters” about a gaggle of women who for a whole year, secretly helped a mutual friend mourn the sudden loss of her son by supporting her family to keep their head in the right place as they kept parenting their remaining daughter with love, light and fun. Then in #22 “So Chocolate Bar,” listeners were treated to a lot of audio from an ebullient elementary-age boy who raised money for his BFF—by writing and publishing a book!—to help pay for medical trials that might help cure his friend’s rare liver disease

(Book did well. Boy lived. BFFs had their first sleepover. Tears all around.)

Producer Erika Lantz knows how to craft a “driveway moment”—radiospeak for what keeps you in your car an extra 10 once you’ve hit where you’re going just to hear the end of a story. And with all the news that might be rubbing people the wrong way these days, any 10 extra minutes listening to a happy story is a welcome reminder that the world is inherently good. Life is good.

The Juice Standard is all about helping people achieve their optimum sense of good, too…good WHealth™, good self. Good stuff. So we’re launching a new format called “A Story Worth Telling,” where we’ll share our most favoritist, goodest interactions with you, our glorious bees.

Culled from conversations with our managers and our bees beehind the counter, these snippets reflect stories from our employees, who days in and out meet the raddest people (that bee you) who are willing to take a chance on cold-pressed juiceness as a potential holy grail of WHealth™. So the next time you come in and have a special interaction with someone, you just might see it come back to inspire others.

#PayItForwardBees

So, yes: “A Story Worth Telling.” It’s our new way to shine a light on TJS customers and their experiences, and a new way to let hear from TJS’s phenomenal colleagues who #WillWorkForJuice and the general satisfaction of making customers happy.

Time to park yourself with a Bee Happy and do just that.

_________________________________________________________________________

Story Worth Telling #1

“The Big-C Free” and “Love From Abroad”

As told by Ben Ream, manager at The Rose:

“A client visited our St. Rose Location recently and explained that she was sitting at the traffic light at Paseo Verde and St. Rose when she saw that we had a storefront which was advertising fresh, cold-pressed juice.

“She pulled straight into the business complex and decided to devote a few moments of her time checking out who we were and what our story was. As we built our customer interaction, she shared with us that not too long ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and that is how she found herself immersed in the juice community. She began to juice daily, as well as educate herself on plant-based nutrition. And after a short amount of time, was able to share with her family and friends that she was cancer free!

“Now, she continues to remain a loyal guest not only at The Juice Standard, but also in the Las Vegas wellness community. She now incorporates juice into her diet daily just because she knows and believes in the powerful nutrients of produce.”

As shared by Amber Cariker, TJS District Manager, who received this letter of appreciation along with Renaldo Brown:

Dear Amber and Renaldo,

I have just returned home to Canada from a lovely visit to Vegas and had the pleasure of “finding” TJS at The Cosmopolitan on our first day in town. I was actually participating at a women’s hockey tournament and appreciated the healthy, tasty juices which indeed provided improved cognition and increased energy! Hence, a visit to the juice bar everyday!

I am impressed with the story of TJS and the exponentially high standards offered in all areas of the business, including the desire to protect the integrity of the honeybee, the bee’s ability to synergize and contribute to the TJS philosophy of honouring community and communication.

Congratulations to you Renaldo and Amber as wholehearted Human Bees providing a plethora of knowledge regarding each product available. As I dealt primarily with you, Amber, upon our first visit, I would like to say your energy and enthusiasm is contagious—offered with transparency and integrity—which lead me to a thought I could not shake:

Las Vegas is blessed to have a company that is completely sourced locally and we, the traveler, have the opportunity to enjoy the TJS exemplary products while visiting your fair city!

Kind Regards,

Cindi McNabb

On The Menu: Love Your Potions

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It’s February. And that means it’s the unofficial month of love.

(It’s also the shortest month of the year and typically the month where people with SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder, and yes it’s really sad—have had it up to here with short days and chilly nights…all of which is why we choose to focus on the positive stuff-we-luv stuff.)

Last year we took what we thought was a pretty balanced look at the different kinds of love we Human Bees are capable of, through the clever lens of how easily we can love more than one TJS juice. (And we’re proud to say that a year later, a Google search will still render “polyjuicery” at the tippity-top of your search page…so cheers to us for making up a whole new word.)

This February? Keeping it a little lighter. Beecause there’s a lot going on in the world and sometimes your hard-working mind needs a hard-working break.

We’re still all about juice-u-cation…but this year? We’re gifting you a cheat sheet.

As you plan some sweet treats for everyone you Insta tag with #PeopleILove this month, remember they *can* taste ahmazing without being all processed sugar-laden (though there’s no replication for Brach’s conversation hearts…we know). Whether you’re still lovin’ on the winter-warmer sips you can still order off seasonal menus, or you need an edible warrior to push you through your workout, or something to spark yer sheets, or simply something sweet…here’s how to maximize the best of The Juice Standard’s menu of chocolatey, berry-ish and energy-inducing items to their highest, most love-potiony, aphrodesiacally inclined levels.

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Warm Up

Specialty Espresso Drink: Raw Cacao Mocha

  • Why? No lie: Our drinks are better than Sbucks because there’s no white sugar. Once you try it, you won’t deny it.

Specialty Espresso Drink: Bee Invincible

  • Why? Even creamier than Bulletproof® Coffee thanks to the homemade cashew cream, this could be a meal replacement and your a.m. wake-me-up. Pick it up and you won’t put it down.

Hot Cacao: L’Orange Cream Cacao

  • Why? Marcella concocted it. Jamie named it. Mallory photo’d it. Jen wrote about it. Plus, it’s chocolate and citrus. If you like those chocolate oranges at holiday times you’ll like this about a kajillion percent more.

Superfood Upgrade: Cayenne pepper

  • Why? It’s a spicy little number that’ll add eat but not flavor to anything you want, which means you could conceivably up the calorie-burning ante of even a glass of water…though we’d recommend smoothies, juices and even a Bee Happy nutmilk for a Mexican partido en su boca.

Work Out

Nut Milk: Bee Magnificent

  • Why? Why not? You’re magnificent, right? Well so is this vanilla, multi-nut-based milk. It’s got the goods to fill you up with healthy stuff after you burn-baby-burn. Not much not to love.

Nut Milk: Bee Legendary

  • Why? Who doesn’t want to feel like Barnabus Stinson. And for health accolades, read above and remember that Legendary tastes like a cold and creamy chai.

Nut Milk: Bee Happy

  • Why? Adult chocolate milk, Baby! One that’s healthy, thanks to the antioxidants in the raw cacao we use to make this post-workout wonder. (And remember: Buy this and you may also mix it with a lot of grownup things like we showed you in this post. A real multi-milktasker.)

Chewable: Chia seed puddings (any of them)

  • Why? If you love your time, you’ll love that after a workout (or just being out and about as a busy bee) any of our chia seed puddings are a plant-based, protein-packed meal on the go. Tasty enough for littles and satisfying for adults, you can’t go wrong except if you don’t eat them.

Superfood Upgrade: Raw cacao powder or nibs

  • Why? Filled with antioxidants, this natural mood elevator and anti-depressant is also the highest plant-based source of iron (more than kale!). And guess what? It tastes hella better than kale! So add it anything you can for some extra self-love in the health department.

Treat Your Sweet

Smoothie: Libido Lover

  • Why? This could easily bee filed under “Work Out,” too, since it’s so filling… but with a name like this, what’s not to love about its ability to rev up somebody’s engine? Chockfulla cacao, maca (read about it here), mint, and creamy avocado, this mint-chocolate-chippy smoothie increases the endurance and the libido at the same time. And we all know that’s good for increasing the sex. So. There you have it.

Smoothie: Bee Mine

  • Why? Even Forrest would agree this burst o’ berry flavor (strawberries, raspberries and goji berries) mixes with cacao maca, cacao nibs, cashews, Greek yogurt, agave, and banana, for a healthier alternative to a box o’ chocolates. Jenny would approve since it’s an aphrodisiac…though those two didn’t seem to have a hard time conceiving the little boy who could see dead people.)

Cold-Pressed Cocktail: Sex Panther

  • Why? Only at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas can you get this gorge pink drink of Bee Cosmopolitan, vodka and triple sec. Which is good, because when you wanna be one, you can literally go grab one when some hollers gettaroom. 

Hot Cacao: Some Like It Hot

  • Why? A spicy hot cacao needs no explanation. 

Hot Cacao + Superfood Upgrade: CBD(C) and CBD oil

  • Why? First: CBD oil is a near-odorless and tasteless superfood upgrade you’ll wanna consider giving your love if they need to relax, or increase their alertness, or for any of the other reasons we lay out in this article. And a hot cacao with CBD oil in it? That goes a step further to further your loving greatness.

5 From The Hi5e: Recipes We Love

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From time to time we run a feature with five items about one topic we think is tip-top relevant to your health, or your well being, or something solid funny, or info you just shouldn’t live without. Called “Five From The Hi5e,” the hope is to deliver the skinny on stuff you’ll find more than moderately rad. Like this featurette on how some of us TJS bees do our best to insert comfort into our lives during what’ll probably be the last legit month of winter.

Ed. note: This month? More than five. Couldn’t help ourselves. Sorry. Bonus for you.

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Jamie Stephenson (Co-founder/COO)

For Jamie, “soothe” is the word when it comes to winter care for her bod and belly that keeps her comfortable no matter then temps. “For my health, I drink juice daily (even at home); I love TJS’s Lipospheric vitamin C packs; and I love adding collagen to my coffee.”

As for her self care? Indulging in soft-spun natural fabrics like cashmere keeps her skin happy while sticking to beeswax candles (right?) scented with gardenia or jasmine sets the tone for any room she’s in. And her final tip? “I put coconut oil on the ends of my hair at night and wrap my hair in a bun. Then, I shampoo/condition as usual the next morning.”

If you’ve seen her hair you’ll start doing this, too.

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Mallory Dawn (Creative Director)

Mallory’s artistry isn’t limited to how she beautifies the TJS brand as her other pursuits include creating art for her #girlboss company Ice Cream and Cupcakes…and, making up recipes at home. This busy bee had these concoctions to share. One’s for when you’ve got a sore throat or sickness you just can’t kick. The other is a kickass hair tonic. (What’s up TJS girls and hair?!)

MD’s Garlicky Grateful

1) Mince 2 large cloves of raw garlic and let it aerate on your cutting board for 5-10 minutes (this activates the microbial properties of raw garlic). Then combine it with 4 ounces of TJS’s Bee Grateful.

How so simple? Garlic is powerful natural antibiotic and reported to be roughly one-fiftieth as powerful as penicillin. It’s also a known anti-fungal and anti-viral, so downing it as a preventative will keep the doc away better than a peck of apples…but you have to eat it raw. Garlic has a compound called allicin, AKA the “odiferous” oily liquid that seeps from garlic when you crush it. Cooking garlic kills allicin’s potent healing properties, but eat it raw and you could potentially stave off pretty much anything that could ail you.

Just be aware that breath and bod can emit garlic’s unique daresay “bouquet” long after you’ve swallowed. To be kind to those around you (and trust us…they’ll notice), here are some good n’ funny tips on how to beat g-breath. (Hint? Mustard. Who knew.)

MD’s Fantastique Tonique

“I have a homemade hair tonic I’m totally obsessed with: I mix 3-4 drops each of organic peppermint, rosemary and geranium oil with 6 ounces of spring water, and I put it into a small spritz bottle that I leave in the fridge.

“After showering, I lightly spray it directly into my scalp, massage it in for a few minutes, and using a wet brush, I brush my hair upside down.It’s done wonders for my hair’s volume and stimulating my scalp! Especially after years of extensions and working in the sun and heat!

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Marcella Williams (Co-founder/CEO)

For our multitasking mum of three who beeautifully balances her TJS duties with arguably her most important job, Marcella’s comfort comes from keeping her brood (and herself) healthy. On her list? One old-timey remedy, and one for the modern age: Good ol’ fashioned chicken noodle soup, and TJS’s shot flight.

If you haven’t indulged in a TJS shot flight yet they’re potent, 2- to 3-ounce designed to be a simple and fast addition to your health protocol…whether as a preventative, or as a something you take once you’re already a little under the weather. TJS serves three recipes, which can be enjoyed individually or in succession: the Wellness Shot, Flu Shot and E3LIve® Shot. (You can read more about how good they are for WHealth™ here in this Vegas Seven feature from last year.)

Bennie of the shots? You can indulge in them at any time of day…though some bees like to one-and-dun-’em first thing in the morning.

As for Marcella’s shout-out to chicken noodle soup, if you haven’t tried your hand at making homemade broth for said soup, read below because our last installment has a recipe for that, too. (Nice segue, huh?)

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Jen Chase (Content Director)

Jen’s diet of choice comprises nearly no meat and nominal grains, but like Marcella, her go-to food for when she’s a sickie or wants to throw comfort on someone else in a hurry is homemade chicken broth with bites of teensy-cut pasta…think orzo, stars, alphabet letters, or pastina.

Note: Her all-time fave plant-based broth recipe is this tried-and-true from the New York Times, and it’ll make you forget you ever ate chicken. But when only chicken broth will do, here’s Jen’s no-measure Kitchen-Sink Broth:

1) Remove the meat from 1 store-bought rotisserie chicken (preferably organic and without hormones…you know the drill), and save for other uses. Then, into a stock pot add the chicken carcass (with skin) along with two celery ribs, two carrots, one large onion, and one small handful each of whole peppercorns and whole cloves.

(Optional Awesome Add-Ins? A handful of whatever fresh herbs you have on hand—even fennel fronds; if you happened to have made a pre-cooking cocktail with freshly squeezed lemon, throw in half a retired lemon rind (seeds and all…they’ll strain out); and if you freeze your Parmigiano rinds when your cheese is gone—and here’s why you must!—add a healthy hunk into your broth too. Adds killer taste.)

Then, add to the lot enough cold water to cover (4-6 cupsish) and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for about an hour (longer if you want stock, less time for broth).

When done, strain the liquids from the solids and add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. At this point you can cool the broth to congeal it and scrape away the fat. When you want a bowl o’, comfort, cook pasta on the side and add it to your soup serving, finishing it off with coarsely grated parm, hot red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Friends Who Juice: Shannon McBeath

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Want two words to sum up Shannon McBeath, owner of Las Vegas’s new The Ride Premium Indoor Cycling studio (and not-so-closet fan of TJS nut milks?) “Smart” and with “heart” come to mind (…with a side of great arms, a strong Mommy Gene, admiration for her husband, and a near-insatiable bent toward giving of all kinds). Yeah, we know that’s more than a couple accolades, but while McBeath’s driven by her pretty head and kind ticker, the other wholehearted things about her fall into place…making her the picture of well-roundedness.

Schooled  in the fine art of hospitality (and it is an art, dontchaknow), for nearly three decades as a Las Vegan, McBeath has balanced family and health while maintaining a rewarding career she’s now stepping back into. And she’s doing it in a way that honors her crazy commitment to her WHealth™ and wellness, and her dedication to helping others achieve their own goals. That she loves The Juice Standard juice is just a bonus.

Shannon On Shannon

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since…1989.

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start my adult life here. It was…1986. Growing up in Dallas, Texas,  I decided I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps and pursue a career in the hotel industry. I attended SMU for my first 2 years of college, always with the intention of transferring to University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to complete my bachelor’s degree in hotel administration.

 …and what appealed to me about living in Vegas was…one of the best hotel schools in the country!

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…People that aren’t familiar think there is no life outside of the strip. I am insulted while traveling with people’s negative reaction when I mention I live in Las Vegas. I often find myself defending our wonderful community of over 2 million residents!

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…the weather (minus summer) ☺

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be…Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…The Cosmopolitan!

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…Happy by Pharrell Williams.

A person who inspires me every day is…my husband (The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath).

…and the way they inspire me is…he’s the most balanced and intelligent person I know.

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…I used to teach Catechism.

Shannon On Work

In my work world this past year...my partners and I founded The Ride Premium Indoor Cycling Studio, but before that I spent 21 years as a stay at home mom and philanthropist.

Let me tell you a little about my background: After earning a degree in hotel administration from UNLV in 1991, I was hired into the Management Associate’s Program at The Mirage. After an extensive 18 months of training in every department, I was offered a position as Leisure Sales Manager.  After spending 5 years in the hotel industry, I decided to take on the most rewarding job there is…stay-home mom to two amazing daughters.

What prompted me to open The Ride was…a desire to bring quality upscale boutique fitness to Las Vegas (and to keep busy as a soon-to-be empty nester!).

Multiple choice: 

  • A) “I am a kickass bike rider”
  • B) “Training wheels are my friend.”

…A!

My first business mentor was…my father.

…and this is what I learned from him: Do what you love and it will never be work.

The most surprising thing I’ve learned about being my own boss is…being my own boss!

…and, the thing I’m most proud of is…never giving up on my dreams!

The advice I’d give my younger work self is…you can do anything you set your mind to!

Philanthropy and volunteering are a huge part of my life. Here’s why: For the last 21 years, I have volunteered in various capacities for numerous charitable causes in the community. I have served on the Foundation Board for Opportunity Village for the past 7 years including the executive and nominating committees.  Also, I opened the Las Vegas chapter of Shoes That Fit and operated it for 5 years, providing new shoes for needy school children.

The most life changing and rewarding volunteer work I have ever done was…going to Guatemala last year on a mission trip to build a house for a homeless family.

My favorite way to give back to my community is…supporting as many causes as possible with my time and/or financial support. I’m excited to launch The Ride Cares this year: we will be supporting various causes in the community by hosting charity rides throughout the year.

My favorite Las Vegas charities are…Opportunity Village, Stillpoint, Make A Wish,  Three Square, Communities in Schools, and Keep Memory Alive.

My advice to someone who feels they don’t have time to donate but they want to do something is…the smallest contribution of time or money can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Shannon On Health

In my opinion, the biggest change in Las Vegas’ healthy-living scene in the last few years has been…healthier choices for groceries and dining. (But still not enough!)

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: Make a healthy shake every morning and cook healthy Paleo dinners as much as possible. Also, I highly recommend Sun Basket organic food delivery.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are…apples, bananas, mangoes, kale, spinach, and peppers.

My don’t-even-think-about-judging-me-guilty-pleasure food is…red wine (it’s a grape right?).

The health habit that gets me teased the most is…my religious 6-day-a-week workout regimen.

The new years’ words of encouragement I’d give someone who is looking to get into cycling (or any other health regimen) are these: Never let intimidation prevent you from trying something new. Get into a routine and stick with it…you WILL see results! Just remember: DIET is 80 percent!

Shannon On Juice

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…my 21-year-old daughter!

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…interesting!

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice today is…for its energy and vitality.

Yes or No: “I love juice so much I make it at home.” YES

True or false: “Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.” FALSE

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…it is so delicious! LOVE the cold-pressed cocktails at The Cosmopolitan….

The funniest thing that ever happened to me while drinking juice OR when one of us was doing a juice fast, was… I have done TJS’s 3- day cleanse twice. I’m not sure there is anything funny about going three days without eating, but all I can say is the nut milks got me through it! (BTW…I highly recommend the cleanses and felt great after!)
My advice to a newbee juicer is…try nutmilks first and you will be hooked!

5 From The Hive: Nate Roybal

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Five questions. Five answers. One topic.

From time to time we run a feature we think is tip-top relevant to your health or your well being (or, something we think is solid humor you just shouldn’t live without). Called “5 From The Hive,” the hope is to deliver the skinny on stuff you’ll find more than moderately rad. 

Since it’s the start of a new year and we’ve got all the warm feels about the internal team that helps us do what we do, this featurette shines a light on Nate Roybal, a front-of-house supervisor who’s worked with us for just shy of 2 years. In what feels like no time at all, he earned himself a hallowed rung on the TJS ladder for his golden palate: he helped develop our Honey Nātado bevvie that launched last year to the delight of mouths across Las Vegas as well as other recipes across the brand. (Plus, like many of his TJS colleagues, Roybal’s positive Yelp reviews shows his passion for TJS products come with a healthy dose of personality, warmth and that guiding hand our bees have become known for).  

We love highlighting our colleagues beehind our counters, beecause our bees make their work more than a j-o-b. Below, Roybal shares his knowledge and personal journey toward WHealth™ and glowing self with the kind of friendliness we all want to see out there in retaildom. And we’re glad he’s on our team.

Here are Nate’s “5 From The Hive.” 

TJS: Tell us a little about your background. What brought you to TJS; what in your past history—personal or professional—made you think you’d be a good fit for our juicy lifestyle; and what do you do day-to-day at TJS?

Nate: Well, I was at a point in my life where I was smoking a pack a day, had terrible sleep cycles and horrendous eating habits. I felt I looked like shit, and felt worse then I looked.
Now: I had heard about The Juice Standard before and thought it was a cool idea for a business…especially in this city where health is not something that is taken into consideration very often. So when I happened upon an ad on Craigslist one day saying the company was looking for employees, I just had to go for it. It wasn’t just because I loved the idea of working for new, budding, local company, it was a way out of my then-current health nightmare. (It didn’t hurt that I had 10-plus years in customer service.)

TJS: You’ve been such an integral person here at TJS that a drink was named after you (the Honey Nātado…and it’s delicious). What was the impetus for the drink and the others you’ve helped concoct? What in your personal background led you down your own path toward recipe development and, as you probs know we like to say, “WHealth™ and glowing self?”

Nate: “Hi, I’m Nate, and I’m a coffee addict.”
I’ve always worked around coffee, and I’ve always drunk coffee, so when it mixed with my constant need to be making something or creating something, I just went nuts. Luckily the drinks I’ve developed have been met with some pretty positive reviews. I wouldn’t say that I had set inspirations for the drinks that I have made, but I guess it’s moreso that I can’t shut my brain off, so my head is constantly going through different ideas and combinations that can prove to be awesome…or really bad. Thankfully none of the horrible ones snuck through.

TJS: In your opinion, what’s something you wish people thought of more/did more to help their own health? And what’s the thing in your own life that you rely on most to keep yourself balanced?

Nate: I wish people would be more open minded—more willing to reach outside their foodie comfort zones (and the nonsense that many pill-pushing pseudo doctors tell them) and realize that the best doctor/pharmacist is good ol’ Mother Earth.
I am not balanced in the least—it’s a Looney Tunes cartoon on speed, 24/7 in this head—but what keeps the voices at bay is doing anything creative… drawing, sculpting, writing, making new recipes, etc. I love making and creating things. Am I good at it? That’s not the point. The point is to do it for myself. That makes it much more rewarding.

TJS: What do you think it takes to proverbially “bring it to the counter” at TJS, so to speak? What seems to make customers so comfortable in our stores? You mentioned your customer service experience: Think it helped shape you into the salesperson/educator you are today? Basically…what’s your secret to connecting with our Bees?

Nate: I just like being real with people and for people to be real with me. I like joking with people, and usually it opens them up to have a better time…which makes me have a better time. Life is too short to be serious. Plus, I love passing on the knowledge of nature’s awesome benefits and what it gives our bodies and our souls.

TJS: When you’re talking about TJS, what do you like to tout the most? What does the company do that makes you most proud to be a part of it? What do you think sets TJS from the rest?

Nate: I’m proud that we have an unwavering commitment to our customers’ health, and I’m proud of the quality of our products. We put those first, always and forever.

(And we know this is number six, but inquiring minds wanna know: What’s your fave juice?)

WHealthy™, all the way.

TJS News: Our Year In Review

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Haters gonna hate, Bees, but if you know The Juice Standard, you know that’s not our jam.

Peaks and valleys prevailed in 2016, for sure…but in these early new-year’s days of self reflection, we’re unabashedly proud of what we accomplished last year, and most of it had to do with your support.

How? Think about it: Like plants, puppies and our BFF’s endless obsesh with Wentworth, things grow when they’re fed. And as with those three awesome things, thanks to your passion and pride for TJS products made from 100 percent organic produce (and our team’s dedication to ensuring everything you sip and chew is as delish and delish can be), when you’ve wanted more, we’ve given more.

Simba. Mufasa. It’s the circle of life, Bees.

In the opening of one of the articles in December’s newsletter we hinted at our inception story. And because we can be suckers for those TV retrospectives that kick off a new year, here’s a glimpse of what went down the TJS way last year in hopes it’ll tantalize you to stick with us as we bloom and blossom in 2017.

 

January

In the first clip of the year, the Las Vegas Review Journal included TJS in its roundup of juiceries to celebrate Fresh Squeezed Juice Week (which this year falls on Jan. 23, so get ready). Also in January, we lifted the cone of silence on what had been worked on for months: the makings of a new TJS at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. February was shaping up to be a stellar month….

February

Yep: February brought the opening of The Buzz—what we affectionately call our location at The Cosmopolitan. Seemed like a fantasy—bringing cold-pressed juice to the Strip that was pressed that very morning at 5 a.m.—and in short order we were totally welcomed by the morning crowd, pool crowd and Marquee crowd looking to imbibe a little differently.

In February we also got a little shout out from Al Mancini at Vegas Seven for something we hold near and dear: TJS’s shots and how amazeballs they are at fighting the cold and the flu. (I mean we know this stuff, but having it promoted by others is bomb.) And for something totally fun and different, our co-founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson was a guest on this rockin episode of the Downtown Podcast (which you can enjoy on YouTube).

Proud? The way she commanded that stage? You bet. Look at her.

March

March marked a few shifts for TJS, especially in the kind of info we decided we wanted to bring to you, our bees.

For starters, we used our newsletter space “From The Humble Bee” to explain our shift toward calling our juice cleanses juice fasts, instead.  (Don’t remember? Read about it here.) And March marked our first time delving into what at the time seemed like a relatively quiet convo that was mostly taking place behind closed doors.

Bathroom doors.

In Poo and You, through great graphics and straight talk we edged toward making our gut-health—and the ever-present notion that what goes in must come out and it shouldn’t be embarrassing when it does—seem not so taboo.

TJS also got its first national press hit (thank you MasterCard™) when we were recognized as a notable juicery in the increasingly WHealthy™ city of Las Vegas (#ItTakesAHive) along with friend Shane Stuart, now the owner and founder of Panacea.

It was a good month.

April

April was big for one delicious reason: TJS started hyping the cold-pressed cocktails launched and served at The Buzz at The Cosmopolitan (and only at The Cosmopolitan). In the piece Less Is More, we announced that from April on, bees looking to marry taste and WHealth™ could do it with cocktails made from the most luscious mixers on the Strip: our made-fresh-daily juices and nut milks pressed from 100 percent organic produce.

  

May

May brought us a chance for members of the TJS Team—founders Marcella Williams and Jamie Stephenson; TJS’s Creative Director Mallory Dawn; and Content Director Jen Chase—to shine a light of mother-lovin’ love on the women who helped shape us in this, the first, first-person narrative feature in our newsletter. We used the feature We Are Motherlovers to also salute the Las Vegas mums who choose to make TJS a part of their parenting prowess.

June-July-August

Despite its rich pool life, summer in Las Vegas is the slowest of the seasons beecause it’s so damn hottt, so our focus was on maintaining calm, coolness and getting the hell outta dodge. The calm was introducing you all to maca, one of our fave adaptogens; Juicing Across The Map showed off where we like to go for juice when the going gets steamy in the city; and our Summertime Slimdown gave you the skinny on how to stay just that by chewing and sipping your way through our menu.

And beecause Vegas is nothing if not built on the ol’ “and-not-or” concept, to create a little party-esque buzz of our own, August brought us our first ever Customer Appreciation Night, where we served sips and bites and had Daniel Park play for all to enjoy.

September

Two words were the highlight of September: Robin Leach. (Okay, five: Robin Leach and Marcella Williams.)

Every summer, Mr. Leach travels to faraway lands leaving his column space in the Las Vegas Review-Journal open for hand-picked space fillers. Last year it was Jamie. This summer, Marcella revealed her touching come-to-juicing story by way of motherhood in this first-person narrative all about her.

We also got our first Thrillist hit thanks to prolific Vegas writer Rob Kachelriess, and we were thrilled that the beeautiful-in-and-out Ms. Andrea Bennett at Vegas magazine sought TJS fit to add to her list of ways to #DetoxBeforeRetox in Las Vegas. #Proud.

Even more pride-worthy was the massive overhaul to the TJS chewable menu which now features avo-breads, updated chia seed puddings and more plant-based sweet treats that help balance your desires for food that tastes good while it’s doing good.

It was a super-good summer.

October-November-December

Fall is one of the most amazing food-and-drink times in Las Vegas, beecause creative culinarians and mixologists like Marcella and her Bee Team have to balance our near-intrinsic humanoid bent toward fall’s root veggies, warm spices and pumpkin-all-the-time ‘tude no matter how temperate the weather stays.

This fall marked the return of last year’s Harvest Spice Bee Invincible; a host of delicious hot cacao drinks that blow the tops off conventional hot chocolate; and with the legalization of marijuana, we juice-u-cated you bees about the benefits of CBD oil…our most recent superfood upgrade that can now be added to juices, nut milks, cacaos, and espresso drinks, at both of our neighborhood stores.

The end of December brought other clips, too. Jamie and Marcella were invited to be interviewed for the venerable business e-newsie published by Crain’s where they shared an experience in small-business ownership (a BFD for women in a predominantly male-oriented pub). And Women’s Health magazine highlighted TJS as a great tool to have in your toolbox for staying fit in Las Vegas.

So, yes: It was an amazing year of firsts…new stores, new menu items, new courage to lean into the hard discussions, new partnerships, and new friends.

Honestly, sitting down with a calendar and reflecting like this, month by month, is something we all can do when we need a gut check about our accomplishments…and it doesn’t always have to be in January. Large companies do it all the time to evaluate, but a personal check-in—or one for a growing business like TJS—is sometimes exactly what you need for a little self-soothing gratitude, as well as for planning your company (or life’s) next steps.

One thing’s for certain: It would be zero fun to do all this without the support, feedback and juicy love all the bees that visit us at The Rose (St. Rose Parkway), The Hive (on Ft. Apache) and The Buzz (at The Cosmopolitan). We only exist beecause of you, and we’re thrilled to see what 2017 will bring.

Friends Who Juice: Wicked Creative’s Lauren Cahlan

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Look at her. Seriously: Just look at.those.photos. Now go back and look at ’em again and realize that Mrs. Lauren Cahlan is every bit golden on the inside as her flaxen hair reveals, with plenty of smarts to support her sexy, and humor to balance it all beeautifully.

As she describes in this first-person narrative that ran in the Las Vegas Review-Journal this summer, growing up in Oklahoma at the heels of her pageant-winning mother, Little Lauren aspired to follow in mum’s heels. It was a dream realized, earned and appreciated in 2016, when she was crowned Mrs. Nevada-America…but this bee’s so much more than what you see. A wholehearted marriage, passion for her job and a strong sense of giving back fill up Cahlan as she works as a senior account executive for one of Vegas’ busiest public relations firms.

Beauty, brawn and brains…and, a juicer? Checkeroo. Meet Lauren Cahlan.

Lauren Cahlan, Mrs. Nevada-America 2016

A LITTLE ABOUT LAUREN

I’ve lived in Las Vegas since… June of 1997

I can remember when I decided I wanted to start and keep my adult life here. It was the year…2012—I had just graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.

          …and what appealed to me about living in Vegas was…the abundance of job opportunities and low cost of living.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that everything revolves around the Strip. There’s much more to living here than just hotels and gambling; however, we’re blessed to have some of the world’s best dining, entertainment and shopping—so I would consider it a perk!

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is… so many restaurants! I’m a self-proclaimed foodie who LOVES to dine out!

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be…

You can never be overdressed or overeducated.—Oscar Wilde

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…Marche Bacchus: Love the brunch and ambiance!

If I had to pick a theme song(s) for my life it would be…Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.

A person who inspires me every day is…my husband, Shaun.

…and the way he inspires me is…I have a bad habit of procrastinating at times. He is one to set his mind to something and will get going right away until a task is finished. His self-discipline and motivation are inspiring to me. Plus, he’s easy on the eyes. Lucky me!

Something people would be surprised to know about me is…I’m a direct descendent of the second signer of the Declaration of Independence, Josiah Bartlett.

ABOUT LAUREN’S WORK

Let me tell you a little about my background: I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in journalism with an emphasis on public relations and advertising, and a minor in political science. Upon graduation, I started at Wicked Creative public relations as an account coordinator and worked my way through the ranks. I’m now a Senior Account Executive overseeing 20 or so clients and a team of six people. I work with an array of dining, entertainment, fitness, and nightlife clients. No two days are ever the same here at the office!

Because of the nature of public relations, my days can vary a ton. When people ask me what a typical day might look like, this is what I say: HA! That is an understatement! A day could range between two extremes…one being sedentary at my desk answering emails and leading conference calls, and the other could be getting a call that I’m needed on camera to film an episode of Wahlburgers with Mark Wahlberg himself. (Yup…that really happened.)

My first mentor was… Jennie Miller

           …and this is what I learned from her: Jennie was my first supervisor at Wicked. The lessons I learned from her are countless—and I still think about ways to channel her guidance when handling a situation.

In my opinion, the most unusual thing about working in PR here in Las Vegas as opposed to other U.S. cities is…it’s definitely a 24-hour town. I could be staffing a 5 a.m. news segment with a client, or we could be handling a 1 a.m. celebrity red carpet. Hopefully not on the same day, of course.

          …and the most awesome thing about doing this work, here, is… Because Las Vegas is a global epicenter of world-class dining, entertainment, shopping, and gaming, as PR people we are exposed to some of the coolest clients around. Doing PR in a place like my hometown of Oklahoma City, for example, would have been great…but it wouldn’t have been the same experience that I’ve had here.

The thing I love most about my job—what really gets me up in the morning—is…the thrill of a great placement. There’s nothing like the feeling of seeing hard work come to fruition!

Ever wonder why we’re called “Wicked Creative?” Here’s the scoop: When Wicked’s president and founder, Stephanie Wilson, set out to start her own business, her former business partner was from Boston—hence the “wicked” reference. And, we pride ourselves on creativity…so Wicked Creative is the perfect fit!

Best perk about my job and/or the coolest thing that’s happened to me because of it is…That’s “perks,” with an “s”: Stephanie is a true believer in a positive work/life balance, so we are gifted with ample time off to decompress and unwind. Plus, I’ve been given quite a few opportunities to travel for (super cool) work events to places like New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was working with Terry Bradshaw to promote his show My Life in Four Quarters, which premiered at The Mirage in 2013. To plug the show, I helped arrange an L.A. media tour, which included a stop at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, among other outlets. Hanging out with Terry and Jay (who donned his signature all-denim look) was unforgettable!

True or false: People in PR consider themselves part of “the industry” in Las Vegas: True…and false. We work closely with the industry crowd, but we aren’t there to experience the day-to-day.

In my opinion, the biggest misconception of non-industry people about people who work in the industry is…that industry people just party all the time. It’s tough work out there!

Today, my favorite way to give back to my community is…I’m actually the reigning Mrs. Nevada-America, so I’ve had the opportunity to work with a ton of amazing causes like Special Olympics, Best Buddies, The Shade Tree, and more. One of my favorite experiences was organizing a book drive for Spread the Word Nevada earlier this year to help promote childrens’ literacy. At Wicked, we often donate PR services pro-bono for local charities, so it is wonderful to give back in that way.

Watching her mum Jill Barnhart win the Mrs. Oklahoma-America title in 1993 was one of many moments where Cahlan knew she wanted to compete. In her interview with the Review-Journal, Cahlan remembers: “[My mother] toted me around to appearances, and I watched her give back to our community. She was, and is, my greatest role model.”

The advice I’d give my younger work-self is…Don’t sweat the small stuff, and ask for help! I started at Wicked at a very young age, just fresh out of college. Because of that, I often felt like I had something to prove, and asking for help was a sign of weakness. Through the years, and with the support of my supervisors, I’ve learned that asking for help is imperative, and encouraged!

A 5- or 10-year aspiration of mine is… In 5 years, I’d love to start a family with my husband, Shaun. He’s incredibly supportive of my career and would be an amazing support system when it comes to balancing a career with a family.

The thing I’m most proud of that I’ve accomplished at Wicked Creative is… We worked on a celebrity event/grand opening that was the most challenging—and in the end, most rewarding—experience of my career. There were a ton of moving parts and extra hours spent, but it was all worth it. We ultimately won a PRSA “Award of Excellence” for our work on the project.

LAUREN ON HEALTH + JUICE

No matter how busy I get at work, this is what I do to make sure I eat well during the week: Meal prep! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t always have a ton of time to spend all day cooking for the week ahead. When that is the situation, I make sure I’m armed with Trader Joe’s salads that I can easily grab and go when in a hurry. I also like to individually package my snacks and fruits/veggies so that I can avoid hanger at all costs.

The fruit(s) or vegetable(s) you’ll always find in my kitchen are…broccoli, berries, bananas, sweet potatoes, and apples!

The health habit that gets me made fun of the most is… my incessant FitBit obsession. I do walks around our office building at least three times per day so I can stay competitive in weekly challenges with friends. Every step counts. Even if it’s to the office candy bowl for leftover Halloween goodies (…whoops).

Yes or No: I love juice so much I make it at home. NOPE: that’s why I need The Juice Standard in my life.

True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail. So true!

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was… Stephanie Wilson— she was a fan of The Juice Standard from the start. She got our whole office hooked!

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…interesting. It definitely grew on me, but not going to lie—it took a bit of time!

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice is because…the health benefits are undeniable, and for busy bees on the go, there’s no easier way to get the nutrition our bodies need.

The reason I like TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…it’s so tasty, and ALL organic, all of the time! I go for a Bee WHealthy™ when I need a quick hit of nutrition. If I’m feeling indulgent, I order a Bee Magnificent. Still healthy, but…Oh. My. Gosh. Soooo. Good.

True or False: My liver is for cleansing so I don’t believe in no stinkin’ fasting: False—I’m personally a fan of doing a one- or two-day cleanse every so often. I like to hit the “reset” button—especially during the holiday season.

The longest juice fast or cleanse I’ve ever done is…3 days. I know, that’s beginner status. : )

This is how I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle: I like to replace a meal very so often with an ice-cold, organic juice. It’s so easy to do and definitely more tasty than trying to quickly eat a stale granola bar in the morning. Plus, I like to think a green juice will help off-set a glass of chardonnay after work. Juice now—wine later.

The funniest thing that ever happened to me while drinking juice OR when I in fact was embarking on a juice fast, was… As you may know, the color of beets aise quite…vibrant. While enjoying a Bee On Point at home, my inquisitive kitten Remington started chewing on my straw when I wasn’t paying attention. He was so smitten with the flavor (rightfully so) that he decided to pull the straw right out of the juice, leaving a trail of beet-colored drops in his path on our very light-colored tile. Lesson? Don’t leave your juice unattended around curious furry friends.

My advice to a newbee juicer would be… start slow. I didn’t love green juice when I was a newbee, so I started with the fruity flavors and nut milks. After a while, I gave Bee WHealthy™ a try and I’ve never looked back!

TJS Feature: The ‘Bee Inspired’ Gift Guide

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Well hi there, Bees, and welcome to The Juice Standard’s first-ever holiday guide! With a nod toward our favorite honey-making mascot, bee goods ain’t all we got…but from bee-inspired wares to #shoplocal hotspots we think you’ll heart, we’re sharing a few of our fave ways to mindfully (and playfully!) show you care this holiday season.

FOR A NESTING BEE: 

What: Hand-painted octagonal side table with bee motif in chalk and milk paint

Where: The Painted Cupboard

Contact: Artist Lucia Corwin (Facebook message her at @thepaintedcupboardVT; email at luciacorwin@gmail.com; or call 802.843.5158)

The Painted Cupboard owner/artist Lucia Corwin.

Why Buy? Continuing a lifetime of creating beauty with her hands (after a long romance with latex), artisan Lucia Corwin broke up with the toxins in her former favorite medium and fell in art-love with a whole new technique: chalk and milk paints. Exploring the intricacies of layering paints and colors, she opened The Painted Cupboard and now fills custom orders and sells her wares in local shops to folks who have equally fallen hard for the technique as much as she has.

“Annie Sloan chalk paint: The colors…and the aging you can achieve are just wonderful,” sighs Corwin, who has lived across New England and is now based in Grafton, Vermont. “I also use Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint because I like the crackled goodness you get from layering it. [Both] are very low in volatile organic compounds (VOC), they’re all natural, and when it comes to painting furniture, the paints provide endless opportunities for creating washes, glazes and distressing…the interesting detail that can enliven antiques,” she says.

Corwin’s work through The Painted Cupboard has crackled open more than just specked, distressed layers on the large- and small-scale pieces she’s building a business around. It’s opened a whole new chapter in her life. At a time when some busy bees start thinking about winding down, this former librarian—who later raised Alpacas after gracefully raising two now-grown children on her own—is now plugging into the heart of why she craves getting lost in painting that little bee as well as her other treasures.

“I love gift giving,” she gently admits in a phone interview with TJS. “I love buying gifts, and I love figuring out what someone would love. With my furniture, hopefully someone is so pleased they will hand it down [in their family] or gift it as a gift themselves.”

Adding she’s “had a blast trying to get into somebody’s mind to figure out what would give them pleasure,” it’s the pleasure Corwin gets from repurposing something from junky to pretty that fills her up, and gives her the leeway to explore her creativity…even if she needs the occasional do-over. “With chalk paint, there’s a sense of freedom,” she says. “You can just keep painting it over and over….”

(And who doesn’t love a do-over…especially when the result’s so damn nice?)

This octagonal side table is one example of furniture on which Corwin’s sweet little bee can be stenciled. Custom orders fit for a queen bee’s hive (or anyone else’s) can be shipped anywhere in the country.

Corwin On That Bee: “The Royal Bee is a French motif, but I like the simple bee, because I love bees! I like putting it on small tables because they’re just so useful and they can go anywhere.”

Insider Shopping Intel: Corwin accepts commissioned work, so if you like that bee and want it on a tray, a set of chairs, a side table, or any other piece, she’s an expert antique explorer who can hunt down exactly what you’re looking for, and then buy-paint-ship it where you wish.

 

FOR A HONEY-LOVIN’ BEE

What: Annsley Naturals Southwest raw local (to Las Vegas)honey

Find It: At local Whole Foods and Sprouts

Why: For years, Annsley Naturals Southwest has been TJS’s honey of choice, as well as the local purveyor we’ve proudly bought from (you can read about our relationship here).

Knowing our passion for turning to honey and bee pollen for fighting local allergies, it’s especially important to know where your honey’s from, Honey. And if you live in the Las Vegas Valley, buying from Annsley takes the guesswork out of wondering where all that gooey gold is made.

When it comes to honey, “local” means it comes from the same region where you live so that your body can reap the bennies of bees’ pollinating the local plants in your area. For locals in Las Vegas, Annsley’s honey comes from hives in and around the Mojave Desert and offers a flavorful bouquet, texture and color thanks to the Mojave’s wildflowers. That variety is also what makes it so good for Las Vegans with airborne allergies.

 

What: Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm

Find It: Where drugstore items are sold (i.e., Target, grocery stores, Walgreens, etc.)

Why: Unlike other lip lubes and balms, this iconic balm by the iconic honey-driven Burt’s Bees company, will give your lips a healing, sealing, waxed-in coating that’ll keep moisture in and dryness out. The stickiness is an acquired feel if you’re not used to it, but those who love swear by its long-lasting hydrating superpowers.

 

What: Handmade Ceramic Honey Pot

Made By: Beehive Handmade

Why: This husband-and-wife design duo located in Bristol, Rhode Island, creates ceramics (among other things) that are hardy enough to withstand the daily wear and tear of its wares. Especially darling to us is Beehive’s honey pot, of which we think even Pooh would greatly approve.

Beehive Handmade is on display and for sale in Westport, Mass., at Deedee Shattuck Gallery. Wares can be found in fine galleries across New England and can be purchased on the Internets.

 

Where: Planet Homestead

Buy What?  Adorably playful bee jewelry, mugs and sundry wares for every fan in your hive.

Why? As the name suggests, Planet Homestead prides itself on purveying fine, homesteady wares from its home base in the great state of Utah. Items are curated by owner Caroline, who leans toward items that reflect many of the animals and things she holds dear on her family farm.

Insider Shopping Intel: For the farm- or bee-lover in your tribe, you can practically shop local even across the Internets at this comfy site with the homespun pics that make you feel like pouring a cuppa with Caroline.

FOR A #SHOPLOCAL BEE

What: Self-love your skin (or giving the gift of smooth) with gift certificates or product from this local-to-Las-Vegas waxing salon.

Where: The Birthday Suit

How To Shop: On the Internets, or in person at these locations here.

Why You Should Indulge: Beautifying for the holidays is hard work. Painful work, too, if you don’t know what you’re doing. While you’re give-a-give-giving to everyone around you, consider a little pampering for yourself (or get a gift card for someone hairy you love) at this salon that specializes in a luxe, azure-blue custom-blended wax designed to excel at lower temps that are easier on the skin…even in your most tender places.

Insider Shopping Intel: Few salons use all-natural products to fight little nasties like ingrown hairs, but The Birthday Suit’s self-professed “hero” product is a serum that fights hairs while being gentle to the most sensitive skin. Check out the line here.

FOR AN ARTSY BEE

Shop Here: My Modern Met

What Makes This Site Special? Founded in 2008, this site shines a bigg-ass light on amazing artwork and the artists creating it. Priding itself on not just telling other people’s stories but giving artists a platform to sell and share their work—and, to tell their own story—MyModernMet.com has become a reliable source for people seeking beauty in typical and non-typical places, and at the holidays and every day, TJS thinks that’s just rad.

Annnd What Exactly Should I Buy? These amazing lights look like everyday shapes when they’re off, but turn ’em on and they morph into whimsical wall animals. We think they’re delightful for a child’s room and playful enough for the living room of every adult kid in your life (including yourself).

Designer Chen Bikovski designed these “Popup Lighting” to mimic the pop-up books from our childhood. This design features a peacock’s body by day, and its plumes the moment the switch is flipped.

FOR A PHILANTHRO-BEE

Presents don’t have to be one-and-dones. Donating to an organization is a gift that keeps on giving and is especially perfect for when your Secret Santa draw is Uncle Silas who just bought another island last week, blows his nose with Benjamins and not-so-secretly wants for nada.

  • Kiva (Remember college, when Grandma would send you a $20 and expect it buy food for a week? Well these really are loans that save lives.)
  • Heifer International (Like the site—and Sade—says, this is no ordinary love gift.)
  • Standing Rock Sioux Tribe (Will the pipeline go through? Won’t it? Here’s how to donate directly to the tribe juuuuust in case things turn around from recent reportage.)
  • KNPR (With all the fake-news reportage lately, people are talking more than ever about the need for unbiased, well-reported content. Do you listen? This is Las Vegas’ local station but consider donating wherever you live.)
  • Shade Tree (This longtime TJS fave org gives women and children a place of safe respite during crises of all kinds. Its vision? “Self-reliance for every woman and child.” And-how.)

TJS Menu: Bee (Plant-Based) Good This Holiday Season

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The end of a calendar year gets us all reflective about where we are and where we’ve been, and for many of you Bees out there who have been enjoying our fare but might not know our whole story…sure, we started as only a cold-pressed juicery, but now we offer so much more.

Throughout our menu incarnations, one thing has remained the same: Taste is tantamount, and has to support our recipes and health goals. In a season of indulgence that sometimes sees a tossing of our will (or a lack of support for those of us with chosen and mandated eating styles and diets), we’re here to shine a light on all The Juice Standard offers that will esPECially support our beloved plant-based Bees who choose a vegan lifestyle.

Whether you’re eating for yourself or looking to take treats to the vegan-leaning diners in your world, here’s what we’ve got to offer you below.

TJS Mini-History

Once upon a time in the not-so-distant 2013—in a city built on the back of gambling, Liberace and the promise of a solid $2.99 chicken dinner—  TJS co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams (CEO and COO, respectively) opened The Juice Standard as Las Vegas’s first cold-pressed juice bar serving juice, nut milk and superfood smoothies made from only organic produce.

In 3 teeny years, TJS grew in a great big way, expanding to locations in Henderson, Summerlin and at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (smack on the Strip, Yo), each serving the juicery’s signature raw and unpasteurized sippables to thirsty health seekers. Juices and nut milks were now being pressed fresh daily, as in every morn. Smoothies were whirring up on the spot with only organic produce, right down to the locally roasted espresso beans in TJS’s hot bevvies.

TJS turned into a sipping oasis for people who were already healthy, as well as those seeking it…for vegetarians, vegans and Anyone Formerly Known As An “Arian” Who Now Prefers Just Being Called An “Eater.”

From Sips To Solids

But after a few years of drinking euphoria, something lucky happened for the health-minded folks of the Las Vegas Valley who still valued chewing (“chewarians?”) as much as sipping. And they were rewarded when TJS started growing its menu of “chewables”—sweet and savory foods that are decidedly not liquids.

Bonus? For those who live in the true space of eating vegetarian or vegan, they soon learned that many of TJS’s menu options are in fact as plant-based as they come. Some are even raw.

Growing Plant-Based Fans, An Item At A Time….

Today, whilst a few dairy items pepper the menu—there’s Greek yogurt in Marcella’s addictive tzatziki spread, and grass-fed butter in some of the hot specialty espresso drinks (“buttered coffee,” anyone?)—they can be swapped for coconut yogurt or ghee. Plus, for TJS’s dedicated vegan diners, the raw and local honey in our made-to-order chewables, hot beverages and smoothies may also be replaced with agave.

What does that mean for the Las Vegas Valley’s plant-based-eating fiends…especially at this time of year, when sweet treats can cause cravings that can’t always be met while dining out (or looking for tasty fare to bring to holiday gatherings)? If they find an item that’s free of dairy and honey, they can bet their vegan heart they’re eating compassionately for their body and the environment.

So as this season of giving and receiving hustles along, we’re proud to shine a light on our menu, and to remind that in addition to any TJS’ cold-pressed juice and nut milk that doesn’t contain honey (and many don’t), for some sweet and savory treats so delicious you’d hardly miss the dairy, TJS recommends trying on these plant-based items on for taste….

ACAI CRUNCH
Like acai bowls? Ours comes vertical—served straight up in a smoothie cup—and is layered like a luscious parfait. A refreshing, fruit-forward acai base is made from blitzing only raw coconut water and frozen acai purée, which is then topped with sliced banana; raw, unsweetened coconut flakes and raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds). This is a meal, Bees, and so filling, it might count for two!

GREEN & GOOD SUPERFOOD SMOOTHIE
Filled with coconut water, kale, banana, agave, avocado, and spirulina, this is a plant-based potion that at 250 calories will also leave you plenty of room to enjoy holiday treats while staying true to your healthy mindset.

THE BFF
You’ll totally be chillin’ with this recipe 4-eva, with its tropical flavors and measly 320 calories. Containing cashews, pineapple, coconut flakes, banana, kale, avocado, agave, and alkaline water, start (or end) your day with this smoothie and you’ll have the energy to holiday party into your night with a clear, plant-based conscious.

 

PROTEIN POWER
As you’d imagine, this truly is a powerhouse filled with enough energy to replace a meal for even the heartiest eater. Contains cashews, hemp, flax, Powershake™ protein powder, Greek yogurt (sub out for coconut yogurt), dates, agave, pumpkin seeds, banana, and alkaline water. Calorie count: about 500 clean and healthy ones.

BERRY ANTIOXIDIZING
This fruit-forward smoothie is one more way to drink your produce and get plenty of the insoluble fiber into your system that will keep you filled and flushed in all the right ways. At roughly 300 calories, it contains cashews, acai berry, blueberries, banana, flax, goji berries, agave, and alkaline water.

VEGAN CHEESECAKE
TJS pinky swears you won’t miss the cheese in this oh-so-traditional-tasting cheesecake. A decadent cashew-cream base comes in two flavors—blueberry and pineapple—and delivers authentic taste atop a sweet, walnut-cashew crumb crust.

BEE INVINCIBLE
If you got on the buttered coffee bandwagon years ago you know that this creamy treat affords amazing taste and mouthfeel without the dairy (that is, if you order it with ghee and not grass-fed butter…which, lucky for you, TJS does). This treat is served as an Americano brewed from our Mothership Coffee Roasters beans and blitzed with coconut oil, ghee and agave for a totally plant-based bevvie. (Want it all spiced up? Here are the yummy deets.)

TJS HOT CACAOS
These newly launched healthy hot chocolate are 100 percent sublime with 0 percent guilt. Each is organic and deliciously vegan.

Some Like It Hot
Like your chocolate with some sweet sassy heat? This one’s perfect for chilly Vegas days or nights and destined to be drunk by vegans and non-vegans alike.

Ingredients (all organic):

  • Raw cacao powder
  • Raw agave
  • House-made cashew cream
  • Cayenne pepper

L’Orange Cream Cacao
As with wine and certain liquors, chocolate can elicit tasting notes of citrus…making orange a perfect addition to our base hot chocolate recipe. All TJS hot cacao bevvies are made with the highest quality raw cacao.

Ingredients (all organic):

  • Raw cacao powder
  • Raw agave
  • House-made cashew cream
  • Orange extract* (not a raw item)

CBD(C)
With CBD oil now on the TJS menu at our neighborhood stores as a superfood upgrade, this flavorless oil can up the health ante of any TJS specialty espresso or cacao drink. It blends deliciously well in TJS’s straight-up house hot cacao recipe by adding just the right amount of creaminess while delivering other healthy goods. (Read here for more about CBD oil, TJS’s other new menu addition.)

Ingredients (all organic):

  • Raw cacao powder
  • Raw agave
  • House-made cashew cream
  • 2Rise Naturals CBD oil

Juice For Health: Keep The Flu At Bay the TJS Way

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It’s the time of year again when we here at The Juice Standard start thinking about how to fight the flu with as many preventative ways as possible.

The ever-forever goal is prevention-prevention-prevention…but even the healthiest of us still get sick, damnit. But when sickie strikes, we don’t have to hit up the over-the-counter meds that mass-marketing media deems the holy grail of health.

Around here, we beelieve in treating proactively by eating proactively! So the next time you’re sick, try fighting the flu our fave three ways first!

1) Totally Turmeric Singletons

If you’re not taking it year-round as a preventative, November is definitely when we advise boosting the ol’ intake of turmeric. We tout turmeric as one of the most healing roots in rootdom thanks to its natural curcumin…known for how it can bolster brain activity (it’s a recommended diet addition for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and brain tumor patients). It’s also a known as a solid inflam tamer: Doctors who prescribe it as a natural alternative to ibuprofen (as in this reference from the New York Times) recommend doses of 1000-2000 mg/day.

For the sake of cold-pressed juicy convenience, these are the TJS juices and nut milks that deliver turmeric’s famous yellow punch. They’re an easy way to easily, sneakily get it into your system.

  • BEE ON POINT: (a blend of cucumber, celery, carrot, apple, kale, beet, dandelion, radish, lemon, ginger, turmeric and black pepper)
  • BEE TRUE TO YOU: (a sweet-yet-spicy juice with cucumber, lemon, ginger, turmeric, honey, and cayenne)
  • BEE WHEALTHY™: (our signature recipe featuring cucumber, celery, romaine, kale, apple, dandelion, parsley, lemon, ginger, and turmeric)
  • BEE LEGENDARY: (our eggnog-inspired nut milk made with raw cashew, raw Brazil nut, raw walnut, turmeric, ginger, vanilla bean, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, pink Himalayan salt, cracked black pepper, and raw local honey).

Turmeric-blog

2) TJS Juice Shots

Ever had one of shots? How about a shot flight? These super-strong doses of juices, herbs and spices are combined in just the right way to promote fast and full absorption of the good stuff in them. (And since much in nature works synergistically, you can bet Marcella and Jamie put hella effort into mixing and matching TJS’s organic ingredients just so.)

Want to read more about ‘em? Earlier this year Vegas Seven writer Al Mancini wrote a roundup of the good stuff Las Vegas serves to help fight the flu. For a quick glance of what we serve, see below. (Remember: They don’t call us a juice bar for nothing.)

  • WELLNESS SHOT: (a blend of ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper that boosts immunity with vitamin C; increases circulation with the pepper’s heat; and eases stomach discomfort thanks to the ginger’s digestive enzymes)
  • FLU SHOT: (raw apple cider vinegar, oregano oil, turmeric, and black pepper come together in a sip that’s pleasantly acidic and herbal…and thanks to that turmeric and pepper—and assuming you like Indian food—it’s faintly reminiscent of your fave yellow curry)
  • E3Live! SHOT: (with only E3Live® blue-green algae and coconut water, the algae contains some of the most concentrated amounts of protein known to the plant world and is known for increasing energy and balancing mood. The taste? Vegetal and grassy with a hint of the tropics. Think walking through a freshly cut yard while nursing a piña colada. Minus the pineapple. And the sugar. And, pushing a mower.

Shot-Flight

3) Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C Packs

To avoid illness, boost your immune system and even protect against germies during long flights or travel, our LiveOn Labs’ Lypo-Spheric vitamin C packs are a fantastic instant preventative. Each pack’s 1,000mg of vitamin C is quickly absorbed when dissolved in water, making it super simple to add to that crap water you get on the airplane instead of the bottle you had to dump during security.

lypospheric-vitamin-c-pdf1 vitamin-c

Menu Update: Hot Cacaos To Fuel Your Fall

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So last month, Marcella’s Harvest Spice Bee Invincible got all kinds of crazy media props (it’s bomb) for containing natural pumpkin (take that, Schmarbucks). This month? She’s got a handful of new hot cacao bevvies that are brewin’ like you’ve never tasted before.

Didn’t think hot chocolate could be good and good for you? Organic, raw and delish? C’mon, now. Remember who you’re talking to here.

raw-cacao

SOME LIKE IT HOT

Like your chocolate with some sweet sassy heat? This one’s perfect for chilly Vegas days or nights and destined to be drunk by vegans and non-vegans alike.

Ingredients (all of which are organic):

  • Raw cacao powder
  • Raw agave
  • House-made cashew cream
  • Cayenne pepper

L’ORANGE CREAM CACAO

Wine, chocolate and certain liquors are often described as having notes of this and that…including citrus. In this holiday-inspired cacaoction, Marcella developed a healthful liquid throwback to the old Terry’s Chocolate Orange Balls found on many a holiday table this time of year.

All TJS hot cacao bevvies are made with the highest quality raw cacao.

Ingredients (again…as we say in our standards, we can’t source organic, we simply won’t serve it):

  • Raw cacao powder
  • Raw agave
  • House-made cashew cream
  • Orange extract* (this item isn’t raw, FYI)

CBD(C)

With the rollout of both these new cacao drinks and our CBD oil addition to menu, you had to see this coming….Now, these two great tastes will go great together since the flavorless oil can be added to up the ante of any espresso or cacao drink that TJS serves. (Though we think it blends particularly nice in this straight-up recipe.) Note: The CBD(C) is only available at our neighborhood stores and is not sold at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Ingredients (organic, organic, blah-blah-blah…)

So here’s to the onset of the holiday season. Speaking of delicious balls (we were, weren’t we?), here’s a throwback to when John Francis Donaghy was blazing his acting path, pre-President Elect Donald Trump.

Take it away, Pete.

 

Friends Who Juice: Jen Chase

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TJS’s Content Director Jen Chase had a come-to-juicing moment long before working for TJS was a twinkle in her eye. From childhood, she’d been a keen observer of food’s preparation, history and its way of connecting people during happy and sad times. But after being a food and lifestyle writer/editor for brands like MasterCard™ and Vegas Rated and working as a behind-the-scenes culinary director on America’s longest-running cooking show—occasionally developing recipes and appearing on camera with Ciao Italia™ ‘s Mary Ann Esposito—her first 12-day juice cleanse revealed an even deeper reverence for food via the raw foods movement, and beelieving that food truly heals from the inside out. Physically. And sometimes emotionally. 

Jump to 2012, when a serendipitous Las Vegas meeting of the minds brought together Chase and TJS co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams, who were looking for someone to put words to the ideas of their burgeoning company. Today, from company ads and signage to its sacred Philosophee and brand standards, she’s a voice behind TJS Facebook posts, the e-newsie, the blog, and website.

jecALL ABOUT JEN

My first visit to Vegas was…a vacation in 2002, just before I entered grad school in Boston.

Then, I lived in Vegas…from 2012-2015.

Now, my connection to the city is…that while catering to writing clients in Boston and Nevada, I live in Massachusetts but I return to Vegas quarterly to meet with clients I love. Like my wholehearted Team Bees at TJS.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that there’s a lack of nature. From Red Rock to the stunning floral displays at Wynn and Encore, there’s beauty at every turn. Sometimes you just have to search it out.

Thing I liked most about living here was…I used to live at The Martin about 600 steps from Vdara and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas…which effectively made The Chandelier Bar my “local” bar (#Lucky). My greatest juicy sadness is that I moved not long before the TJS location opened at TCOLV. (#LuckyNotLucky)

My ideal Vegas night out is…either some of the city’s great pizza (there’s a ton of vareity); a walk to enjoy live entertainment and crafty cocktails; walking inside properties or Downtown to partake in the lights, sights, sounds, and cocktails; or staying in with my pup, Eli, …watching TV, reading or writing with him and a Manhattan. (When I’m here, I still love the Strip’s electricity. And cocktails, clearly.)

The daily mantra or quote I try to live by each day is… “Never regret your choices, because at one point they were exactly what you wanted.” Helps me not to second-guess my heart and head. So hard.

My favorite inspirational quote is… “There’s a difference between giving up and knowing when you’ve had enough.” A new and profound one for me. So comforting.

If I had to pick a song lyric as a theme in my life it would be… “And in the end/the love you take/is equal to the love you make.” (The Beatles)

Fruits and vegetables you’ll always find in my kitchen are…lemons, frozen blueberries and garlic. And then more lemons.

Advice I’d go back and give to my younger self is…It’s something I heard (TJS co-founder) Marcella Williams say years ago that I’ve gotten great comfort from: “It all works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out yet, that means it hasn’t ended.” (Sorry if I hacked that, Marce.) Knowing that so many circumstances are beyond our control would’ve been an awesome thing to master a little sooner. I’m still trying to let go. Have even more faith.

jec-and-cooking

Chase, age 4, rolling dough to “help.”

JEN ON WORK

When someone asks what I do every day, I tell them…it’s usually all words, all the time, for one client or another. In addition to my work at TJS I have a small consultancy (Button Soup Consulting) where I craft and edit content for food and lifestyle clients. I’ve edited a cookbook; I’m writing descriptions for the launch of new online eyeglasses reseller; I’m the managing editor for two Vegas-based quarterlies; and I’m helping a dear friend and Italian chef in Boston, Marisa Iocco, to promote the food memoir I edited for her as well as start a new chapter of her culinary career.

Favorite thing about writing/editing for others? Feeling deep pride when someone trusts me to give them the proverbial “perfect words” for a situation they need to navigate…and having them thank me for helping them give voice to their heart or head. This happens both personally and professionally, and I feel honored to be invited into people’s heart processes…from crafting a tagline to editing a resume or helping someone write a hard-to-word email.

Worse thing about writing/editing for others? I rarely write for myself any more. My blog is metaphorically unkempt. My photography is back-burnered. (…What’s lower than a simmer? Off?) I often feel like a producer, not a creative…a human doing, not a human beeing. That’s hard. But I also know I’m in control of that. So.

My first little-girl memory of loving food and seeing its capacity to make people happy was…watching my father close his eyes when he bit into bites he loved. Food completely overtook him, and he’d describe the flavors he tasted in such detail. Now, my greatest joy is giving joy through something I’ve cooked, baked, mixed in a shaker, or written. Food, drink and words are my artistic expressions and how I show love and respect.

What I love MOST about being a #GirlBoss is…working with writers who are eager to hone their craft. I thrive off enthusiasm, engagement and positivity. If I feel like I can help someone do something they love, it fills me up. That honestly goes for anything.

jec-and-eli

Chase and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Eli. Typing. Apparently with some wine.

Best business advice I’ve received? My wise former husband used to tease me and say: “You know, no one’s gonna wake up one morning and say, ‘Hey: I haven’t heard from Jen Chase in a while. What’s she doing? I should hire her….’” Point: You have to self promote. No one’s going to advocate for you like you.

 

JEN ON JUICE

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…my best soul-sister friend, Nic, in 2008. She decided to do a juice cleanse and since we were living together, we juiced together. Like so many other things she’s gifted me, her suggestion changed my life and health in so many ways.

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice is because…it makes me feel like I’m being so very good to my digestive system (which sometimes needs a little TLC). Juicing is gentle and mindful. Two of my favorite words.

Yes or No: I love juice so much I make my own. Yes. It’s a pain in the ass but I live too far from my fave Boston-based cold-pressed juicery to buy regularly. (But when I’m in Vegas, my first Day 1 stop is always TJS for a Singleton Six-Pack.)

I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle by…trying to green-juice juice two full days (or at least through dinner) twice a week.

My favorite TJS flavor is…Bee Alkaline. And, Bee True To You. Greener=better.

What resonates with me most about TJS is…the integrity with which Jamie and Marcella run the company, and the integrity of my partner-in-crime, Mallory (TJS’s creative director)…how seriously and artistically she executes her mission of making the brand look beautiful for Jamie and Marcella. And I feel like no matter who you talk to in the company, there’s a passion for educating customers about using juice and food to heal and soothe. We all take our roles so seriously. For me, I want to do my best because I believe in what Jamie and Marcella have built.

silly-team-bees

Here’s Team Bees being “serious.” Front row (l-r): Jamie Stephenson and Marcella William. Back row (l-r): Jen Chase and Mallory Dawn.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…embrace the green. My dad used to live by, “Variety is the spice of life,” and so do I. Try any juice once (especially all veggie, no-sugar added juice), and then figure out what you like (or tolerate!). When it comes to juice, your digestion will benefit from every sip. And I really beelieve your WHealth™ and well being will, too.

Ingredient Spotlight: CBD Oil

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What exactly is CBD oil and why should you add it to your diet? Below, the oil of cannabis excellentis is explained.

nevadamarijuana1-1-copyWhen this newsletter hits the e-presses, Nevada’s fingers-crossed legalization of the recreational use marijuana on Nov. 8 could mean widespread regulation of a substance already enjoyed by throngs of Las Vegans. (It would also come with a healthy 15 percent tax to go toward enforcing the letters of the law, and be earmarked for school improvement.) But the legalization would mean more than just having the right to toke up without needing a prescription.

What Question 2 Means To You

As evidenced by the media coverage in the last few years about cannabis as a treatment for cancer  and uncontrolled seizure activity, cannabinoids—aka, the name for some 85 components in cannabis that make weed, weed—have significant and proven health benefits…even for those of us without diagnoses as threatening as the ones just mentioned.

That last point is what’s most interesting to us here at The Juice Standard. Because it means Nevada’s answer to Question No. 2 could help change how many of us enhance our health with plants rather than meds made from them. And it could all start with the simple addition of a tasteless, odorless, colorless oil that when combined with foods you already love could add some pretty WHealthy™ bennies.

(Three guesses who’s gonna sell you this superfood upgrade, and the first two don’t count….)

WHealth™ Beyond Plain Weed

First…how do we know weed could even elicit such liquid gold? Research into our body’s endocannabinoid system started in earnest in the 1990s, when Raphael Mechoulam—a prof in the Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products department at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem—lasered in on chem relative to the bio-activity of natural products and medicinal agents. (Read more about him at the university’s website here.)

What did Mechoulam find? Not only do our miraculous bodies come pre-loaded with receptor sites designed specially to make good use of cannaboids, but we’re actually able to produce natural endocannabinoids similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)…otherwise known as the The Most Well-Known Cannabinoid in Cannabinoidom, or the stuff in weed that can make us feel clear, calm, collected, soothed, and deeper into all of our perceptions.

That’s right, kids: Your bod just might’ve been made for marijuana.

plant

So About Our New Oil

Now that you Bees are up-to-speed on weed, now’s the time to get gushy about our newest menu addition.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of more than a dozen chemical compounds that affect cannabinoid receptors in the body, brain and nervous system. As mentioned, those receptors are tied into our endocannabinoid system…which is involved in a bunch of body processes like appetite; mood; memory; perception; how we feel and regulate pain; and maybe most important for long-term health…how our bodies regulate inflammation and immunity.

Enter CBD oil (also known as hemp oil). The Juice Standard’s new whole-plant CBD oil from the company 2Rise Naturals contains a whole-plant, all-spectrum hemp extract rich in phyto cannabinoids, omega 3s, terpenes, and chlorophyll. The oil is then combined with medium chain triglyceride oil (MCT) derived from coconuts, wild-crafted turmeric oil, and some other wicked good stuff. When mixed into our smoothies, juices, nut milks, and hot espresso or cacao drinks, CBD oil may very well help unlock the benefits of our endocannabinoid system. (At least that’s why we’re bringing it to you. Hopefully, next week…and only at our neighborhood stores, not at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.)

human-endocannabinoid-system

Annnnnd…How Will You Feel?

What CBD oil won’t do? Get you high. High in CBD and low in THC, CBD oil is often dosed out to reverse people’s ick feelings from having THC hit them the wrong way.

What CBD oil could do? Help relieve pain. Or, help you sleep. Or, possibly alleviate side effects from fibromyalgia; pain from migraines. Anxiety. Arthritis. Insomnia. And other things a doc could tell you.

IN Closing….

At TJS, we’re hopeful you’ll put your curiosity and desire for total WHealth™ and glowing self to the test and give our CBD oil a try. We’re equally hopeful that folks won’t let arrogance and ignorance cast aspersions on the benefits of cannabis at large. Because honestly, Bees? Red-wine bennies excluded, when was the last time you heard a doc prescribe a Manhattan to cure cancer?

#MissionNutrition

#FactsBeforeFallacy

#WeedForWHealth™

#StokedUpToTokeUp

5 From The Hive: On The Inside

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From time to time we’ll be running a feature with five questions and five answers about one topic we think is tip-top relevant to your health or your well being (or, something we think is solid funny info you just shouldn’t live without). Called “5 From The Hi5e,” the hope is to deliver the skinny on stuff you’ll find more than moderately rad. Like this featurette on one rad bee we’re happy has flown into our hive.

Weeks ago, Stacie Taylor started working at The Rose as a TJS assistant manager, and in short order she’s earned herself a handful of Yelp reviews of the positive variety for the wholehearted way she shows her passion for our products with a healthy dose of personal nutrition knowledge on the side. She’s a shining example of the kind of Bee we’re so proud to have beehind our counters…someone who takes her role seriously by making it more than a j-o-b; someone who cares about our products like we do; and, someone who’s willing to share her knowledge and personal journey toward WHealth™ and glowing self with the kind of friendliness we all want to see out there in retaildom.

Here are Stacie Taylor’s “5 From The Hi5e.” And next time you’re at The Rose, give her a high one. For the way she serves, we salute her beecause she juices…and for so much more.

1) What brought you to TJS, and what in your past—personal or professional—made you beelieve you’d be a good fit for our juicy lifestyle?

I’ve had a love affair with food all my life. When I was 11, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be a chef or a hairdresser and my family encouraged me to go for the hair, keeping the food for fun, friends and family. But 4 and half years ago, I started teaching professional cooking classes and writing recipes for restaurants, specializing in “healthy gourmet.” I love to show people how to fall in love with fresh, healthy whole foods, or how to maintain their longstanding love affair with gourmet food without the guilt or bad side effects some rich recipes give you. I’m also a “foodie’s guide” for how to become gluten free, dairy free and/or sugar free.

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Along with my work with food, I am still a small business owner of a beauty academy. For the last 30 years I’ve been a teacher and corporate trainer for master classes. I love transforming people and helping them enhance their beauty…but after 30 years in the hair industry, my gut knew it was time to start thinking about a lateral move toward my retirement. I wanted something easy on my body, and something I would do for free but that would still provide an income. Since food has been as equal a passion as beauty, I knew it could be a way to continue helping people transform…only the tools would be organic, plant-based foods. I decided to join The Juice Standard because as a trend forecaster in the hair industry (which means you’re always 2-4 years ahead of the next new thing), I knew right away that the company was on to something! As a result, through my job I provide solutions for customers as individuals…guiding their body toward healing and detoxing, and finally to optimum health.

2) You have a passion for nutrition and a natural inclination to share what you know. What  led you down your own path toward, as we like to say, “WHealth™ and glowing self?”

I have had extreme health issues that kept me sick for approximately 8 years. All the years in the beauty industry and the chemicals I was exposed to led to heavy-metal toxicity in my body. I also currently have mercury poisoning from amalgam fillings. As a result, my body just broke down with food allergies, and I was stricken with rashes, hair loss, ear infections, blurred vision, gas, bloating, weight gain….

During the long journey of trying to put my finger on the problem, I learned that I taxed my adrenals to the limit. I polluted my liver with toxic chemicals (beauty products) and bad, bad food.

At the end of the journey, when I was fully awake and aware that if I didn’t do something drastic like effect extreme change in my diet, I knew my body would break. Because I was malnourished at almost 200 pounds, and my body was starving for oxygen and nutrients, nothing I took was being absorbed because of the heavy metal poisons in my body. I just woke up one day and decided to try to go gluten free, sugar free and dairy free. I got myself on excellent probiotics and incredible enzymes to help me digest and process food since mine weren’t working any longer…and I ate healthy food to create oxygen.

I am still struggling today, but it’s much better than it was. Now, I’m on the journey toward optimal health. And I enjoy helping others get there, too.

3) In your opinion, what’s the one thing you wish people thought of more/did more to help their own health? And what’s the thing in your own life that you rely on most to keep yourself balanced?

After I started dealing with my health issues, I realized that you really are what you eat. Food can heal you or it can kill you. So I’d say that viewing food as medicine is an important place to start.

For me to stay balanced? I need food to be gourmet, to look good and to taste delicious enough that I want to eat it. That’s why I started creating recipes for myself where I switched this ingredient for that one, making mealtime healthy and delicious!

After sharing a few recipes with friends, people started asking me to prepare dishes for them…which a year later led to someone asking me about writing a cookbook. That journey led me to local restaurants providing tastings of my food. Soon, I started getting paid me for my recipes…which led to doing a webisode series launching in early 2017. It will be a nonprofit venture where I will continue to share recipes, and inspire and teach kids and families how to “switch this for that,” making healthy recipes that are “to live for,” not the other way around.

Thanks to local sponsors that are helping me pay for the food, I’ll teach cooking skills by preparing my recipes and will then donate the food to families in need. That strategy makes me proud. I’m happy knowing that as I move forward, I can leave a legacy beyond my years.

4) About all these kickass Yelp reviews. What do you “bring to the counter,” so to speak, that seems to make customers so comfy?  What’s your secret to connecting with our Bees?

Working with me you can learn to reset the body, first; then, slowly eat your way back to optimal health. And because I work with each customer’s specific health and wellness needs, I think what makes me stand out is that I don’t treat health maintenance like a retail store.

Same goes for The Juice Standard on the whole. To me, it’s not a place where people just come to purchase product, but they come in for guidance and coaching. They want to feel good on the inside and look good on the outside. People are waking up and realizing that nutrition is the fountain of youth.

Now, I am sincere, and what I share with people comes directly from my heart! Because of that, there’s an instant connection. And that turns into loyalty and trust because customers know I’m not just selling a bottle, I’m guiding them to optimum health and wellness. Because wherever they’ve been, I’ve been there and done that, too.

You are what you eat! My take is let’s learn to love the food we give your body as we give our body what it truly needs. Healthy, whole foods are anti-aging, preventative, and will make people notice a difference in you.

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5) When you’re talking about TJS, what do you tout the most? What does the company do that makes you most proud to be a part of it? 

The Juice Standard offers top-notch organic ingredients…both through the cold-pressed juice and the chewing menu. I think people don’t really consider that our juice is food, but it is…it’s just liquid, so it’s easier to digest. Plus, if you are mindful to swish before you swallow—if you activate your enzymes by mixing your saliva with your sips and bites—the juice and chewables rush into the digestive tract and shoot immediately into the bloodstream for a rush of energy as oxygen generates in your cells.

And for the record…I don’t just work at TJS: I’m a customer, as well! I love the products and fill my body with its delicious, organic, nutritious food every day! I use many of the superfood upgrades, and my favorite treat to myself is hitting the wellness bar, where I do my shot flights several times a week.

Swing by sometime and sit with me at the bar, and I’ll share some of my recipes that I use for our “secret menu!”

(And we know this is technically question No. 6, but inquiring minds wanna know: What are your faves?)

Lots of people ask about my favorites. Because I believe in body balance, one juice alone won’t give me everything my body needs. So I have three.

Favorite green? WHealthy™. I need that extra turmeric for inflammation from the mercury poisoning…plus, it has approximately two pounds of produce in the bottle. I couldn’t eat that much at one time.

Favorite red? Bee Energized. Beets are just amazing for oxygen and I desperately need that. And, it makes me happy knowing that antioxidants are fighting the free radicals in my bloodstream. (Bee Energized is also anti-aging…which is perfect for a woman with 30 years’ experience in the beauty industry who knows the real tricks of the trade!)

Favorite nut milk? Bee Happy. It’s loaded with copper and magnesium and my body needs the extra minerals…and, I know how balanced the amino acids; the omega-3s, 6s and 9s; and the natural fat will keep my body. (And, I love chocolate! I use it to make my refrigerator overnight oatmeal as a treat for breakfast!)

BEE HAPPY is rich with raw-cacao goodness and at least once a week is called “adult chocolate milk” by someone who thinks they invented the compliment. (Nut milk made with filtered water, coconut water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, raw local honey, raw cacao, vanilla bean, and pink Himalayan salt.)

BEE HAPPY is rich with raw-cacao goodness and at least once a week is called “adult chocolate milk” by someone who thinks they invented the compliment. (Nut milk made with filtered water, coconut water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, raw local honey, raw cacao, vanilla bean, and pink Himalayan salt.)

TJS News: Bottle Returns…RIP

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So if you haven’t heard yet or seen the video we posted on social media at the end of last month, we rolled out some important news: We discontinued our bottle return policy.

Wha?stanpac-bottle

It’s true. After 3 and a half years, the task of accepting back your bottles to sanitize and re-use them for the sake of the environment and MomsNature was in fact noble…but it also became indescribably water intensive. And since we do live in the desert where water preservation will probs always be an issue (just look what’s still happening to poor farmers in very non-deserty New England), we wanna do our part and help, not hinder the effort.

What does this switcheroo mean for you? For starters, Clark County’s local public services are making it easier than ever to recycle right from your curb each week. And since you’re a part of our hive and you know how TJS hearts environmentalism, we hope you’ll do the right thing: go on a big ol’ scavenger hunt in your house, find all the nooks and crannies where those Singletons are hiding, wash ‘em up and get ‘em back here for the refund you deserve! BUT…don’t wait too long. Bring back every blessed empty you can get your hands on before Oct. 31 and we’ll give you a dollar for every bottle you return. We’ll even wash them and re-use them. But come Nov. 1, the return policy is no longer.

Don’t feel bad.  Since we won’t be spending so much time scrubbin’ and a-sanitizin’, we’ll have crazy time to dream up new deliciousness. Our new chewing menu is keeping our Bees full from morning to night, and  everything on it is such a complement to everything we sell to sip.

Now we should note that if you still want to bring your bottles back, by all means bring ’em back. We can’t give you the $1 for them any more. But we will sanitize them and re-use them.

So, yeah. Our bottle recycling program has a-changed. But before it’s gone for good, we’re giving you until the end of the month to get back a buck for every bottle you bring back. (RINSEDthankyouverymuch. No science experiments….) Hope to see you soon.

Ingredient Spotlight: Collagen

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Collagen. A lot of space on the Internets has been given to collagen and why (and if) we should be using it to sip our way pretty. Our say? Yes.

In one of our features last month about all the cool new menu items we’ve been introducing to your bellies, something worth an extra holla this month is this new superfood upgrade to any smoothie or juice.

So what exactly is it? Usually derived from cattle (though according to this Well+Good article, sometimes it’s sourced from chickens and fish, and some companies are even trying to tout a vegetarian version that’s collagen “like”), in its truest form, collagen is a short-chain amino acid that’s high in protein, and is found in mammals’ connective tissue. For its healing properties, we humans now use it to help with the healing of our own tissue. And since it’s good for both brain activity and beauty…and who doesn’t want to be smart and good lookin?

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The brand we use is called  Vital Proteins, and it’s from grass-fed bovine. Plus, it’s non-GMO…so as always, you can feel good about what you’re getting once you walk through our doors. And that’s something we hope you’ll do again and again. Come in to try this odorless, tasteless addition to the already good stuff you’ll put in your bod. And be on the lookout for creative ways Marcella will inject our menu with this truly super food.

 

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Friends Who Juice: Inga Popkova

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Inga Popkova is a woman’s woman: smart, sweet, sexy, and with enough childlike whimsy mixed with big-girl charm to make pretty much anyone want to be her friend. Like TJS. That’s why we’re happy to shine a light on what this FOTJS (that’s “Friend Of TJS”) does to make the world a little prettier, one dress at a time. More on that below….

Popkova’s juice-loving self made her way to California in 2004 from her hometown and birthplace in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. After earning a degree in international business from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, her passion for travel and new cultures led her to call London, Alicante (in Spain) and New York City, home. And it was in each of those cities that her life experience (combined with time spent growing up in her mother’s clothing factory) nudged her to choose a career in fashion.

In April 2016, Popkova collaborated with her idol—her mother Larisa—to bring the clothing line that had existed in their family for 25 years here to the United States. Aptly named, Larisa, it allows the younger Popkova to honor the elder one while bringing feminine fashion to the masses.

For all Popkova does, this month we honor the wholehearted way she shares her fashion vision, and we’re grateful for the patronage and juicy love she’s shown TJS every sip of the way.

ALL ABOUT INGA

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I’ve lived in Vegas since…2007.

What brought me to Las Vegas was…UNLV. What kept me here has been…school and friends.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…thinking that the Strip is all we have. There is so much more here. (…Yet the thing I love most about living here is…) that Vegas has been changing! Life is Beautiful, new cool local spots, Downtown Project, etc….Vegas has a cool-culture feel now. It’s not all about gambling and nightclubs anymore.

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is… TJS (wink).

My ideal night out is…a lounge with good music and “fermented grape juice.”

With so many crazy nights, my favorite night-in plan is…homemade dinner and a movie.

The mantra or quote I try to live by each day is…“Everything happens for a reason, so just do it.”

My favorite inspirational quote is…“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” (Oscar Wilde)

If I had to pick a song lyric as the theme for my life it would be… “Live your life/be free/you know you can have it all.” (Erick Morillo)

Advice I’d go back and give to my younger self is…Spend as much time as possible with your loved ones. Travel, take risks, and push yourself to learn something new every day!

 

INGA ON WORK

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A little background about Larisa, my brand…In my mind, “Larisa” is in fact inside every female…from the littlest to eldest. As most women know, we’re called to wear so many hats throughout a day—mother, friend, worker, lover—that from moment to moment we can can be girls-next-door, socialites and then powerhouses. But let’s face it: With our daily hard work, contributions and commitments…we don’t always wake feeling goddessy! Sometimes, beauty and grace need a little push.

Enter Larisa…a luxury girls’ and women’s brand dedicated to inspiring every female to feel powerful (and beautiful!) from childhood to womanhood, and every day in between.

My fashion icon is…my Mom.

My very first little-girl memory of being intrigued by fashion, makeup, modeling, and looking pretty, was…making “clothes” by picking up pieces of waste fabric off the floor at my mom’s factory and “selling” them all to my dad. (Hey: I was born a business woman! )

So far, the most surprising thing about running my own company is…there are too many surprises every single day to count!

The thing I love most about being a #GirlBoss is…that I am my own boss, which comes with discipline, self motivation, and hard work.

The best piece of business advice I’ve ever received is… “You can’t do it all by yourself.”

The thing I’d tell other designers considering starting their own line is…It won’t be easy, but to share with the world what you are passionate about is priceless!12724701_1167011043330070_844120622_n

 

INGA ON HEALTH+JUICE 


 

The fruits and vegetables you’ll always find in my kitchen are…cucumbers and bananas.

In my opinion, the biggest change in Vegas’ healthy-living scene since the time I moved here is…that there is finally a “healthy scene” now. I used to love going to LA and NYC and have so many healthy options. Vegas is finally getting there.

The person who introduced me to cold-pressed juice was…Jamie Stephenson [TJS co-founder and CEO].

Yes or No: I love juice so much I make my own. No. I like the convenience of someone else (TJS) making it for me.

True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail. TRUE! Juicing=5 minutes. Cleaning=2 hours.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was…Missing sugar.

The reason I drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…it makes me feel good, and I am all about the balance. Juice now, Champagne later.

This is how I incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle: Have to have my TJS shot flight at least once a week. That’s my obsession.

My favorite TJS flavor is…Bee WHealthy™.

The thing I like best about TJS juice is…EVERYTHING! Organic. Delicious. Local. Friendly. The company knows its stuff! The ambience in there is so amazing, I go to work there sometimes. A Bee Invincible, a shot flight and a juice (Bee WHealthy™, usually) and all of a sudden the work day becomes tastier and healthier.

In my opinion, the thing that resonates with me most about how TJS runs its company is…People there truly care. The company is there to help, to educate and to make the change!

My advice to a newbee juicer is…Go to TJS, try a few samples, pick your favorite (my first one had a lot of fruits) and then build yourself up to a green one. Remember…it’s all about the balance. And I am not going lie: I would rather drink my daily dose of greens than eat it.

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Five From The Hive: Your Questions Answered

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From time to time we’ll be running a recurring feature pulled straight from the wholehearted comments and questions you Bees submit to info@juicestandard.com (and if you didn’t know you can reach out and touch us there, now you know).

Called “Five From The Hive,” we’ll take your thoughts and pose them to Those In The Juice Standard Know—founders, managers, directors and the like—so we can give you the skinny on the issues that are important to you.

To kick us off, we’re starting with the No. 1 thing you juice-drinking Bees ask about besides #BeggarsGonnaBeg for recipes:

Shipping.

Whether you live in nearby Cali or a faraway Carolina, the most consistent Q we field is how to get our goods to your ‘hood. Beelieve us: We’re thankful for the juicy love! But most of the time we end up having to bee big fat disappointers as we get truthy about our policies. And to set the record straight, The Juice Standard’s Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson answered some hard and fast ones about TJS’ plans for quiet world juice domination…even if only in Las Vegas.

1) What’s the hardest thing about shipping cold-pressed juice?
There is nothing “hard” about shipping juice. It’s just that juice as fresh and unadulterated as The Juice Standard presses means our juice is incredibly bioavailable and is a powerful source of phytonutrients…but it’s not very shelf stable. Why? Its raw; we make it fresh every single day; there’s no pasteurization; no exposure to ultraviolet lights (UV); no use of high-pressure pasteurization (HPP).
Since we cannot monitor the temperature of the juice during the shipping process, we feel very concerned about what a customer on the receiving end would get: In the shipping process, juice could be subjected to dramatic temperature swings which could lead to someone getting sick. And that flies in the face of our mission, which is to serve juice that enables one to get or stay well.
2) Why does it seem like some companies ship and some don’t?
Some companies pasteurize, UV, or HPP their juice. We don’t. [Ed. note: Want to really get you geek on? Read this white paper that summarizes 92 studies about the effects of UV and HPP on cold-pressed juice.)
3) Is it possible to ship non-HPP juice across the country? What does it take and would it be totes cost-prohibitive for folks in, say, North Carolina, to buy TJS from Las Vegas?
Last we checked it cost over $90 just to ship the juice overnight. We recommend Bees in other states that don’t have access to organic, fresh-pressed juice to learn to make their own. We suggest Norman Walker’s juice press, the Norwalk. It’s the best.
4) If the No. 1 question to the TJS website, blog or Facebook page is whether we ship, the second most-asked question is whether Bees can bring a TJS franchise to their part of the country. What say you, Boss?
There are currently no franchising opportunities at this time.
5) We know you can’t totally spill the beans, but inquiring minds wanna know: Does TJS have any plans for shipping?
No.

Friends Who Juice: Mike Gasca

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If TJS had a king bee, it would be Mike Gasca. Know why? Because having a manager care about your company’s success like he founded the place is bomb…and when he cares about the success of his colleagues like they’re family (probably more than his own but not less than his Pomeranian…more on a boy and his dog later), well it’s beeyond words.

Meet Mike Gasca, the oil in TJS’s wheels, the fist behind our might, the green in our juice…the guy who helps everyone around him do their job to their highest ability so we can continue to bring you Bees the best product in the Las Vegas valley.

ALL ABOUT MIKE

Hi! I’m…Mike Gasca.

I grew up in…Riverside, Cali., but spent the last few years in West Hollywood.

What brought me here to Las Vegas was…I moved here in April 2016 to join the Hive at The Juice Standard.

If I had to pick a daily mantra or a quote we try to live by, it would be…”Make an IMPACT…not just an IMPRESSION!”

What motivates me out of bed in the morning is…knowing that each day I have the opportunity to impact the life of someone else.

If I had to pick a theme song, it would be…Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never because I will always reach for the stars.

Don’t get me started talking about…politics! I ran for local school board at the humble age of 18!

Every day I strive to… do things that make me better, my team better, and TJS better!

The best advice I’ve ever received (about work or life) was…“Flush the toilet!” It’s important to eliminate the waste in our lives, and constantly move forward!

The number one thing I’d tell my younger self is…stop wearing rhinestones! You will regret having a wardrobe that rivals Liberace’s!

Something that scares me is…working too much! I love my job and what I do, but I do not want to look back and think about all the memories I have missed.

If I could go anywhere TOMORROW, I’d be on a plane to…Walt Disney World in Florida! I absolutely love Disney, and have always wanted to go to Florida.

When I’m not working, these are some of the things you may find me doing: Always enjoying the company of my Pomeranian, Aurora! Scenic hikes are something I have gotten into since moving to Vegas…and, driving to Cali to go to Disneyland!

This is Mike's adorable pup, Aurora, partying at our August Customer Appreciation Night!

This is Mike’s adorable pup, Aurora, partying at our August Customer Appreciation Night!

The one food that’s not good for me that I wish I liked less is…French Fries! I need to learn to bake my potatoes, not saturate them in fat.

Chocolate or vanilla? Swirl! (Why compromise when you can have everything you want?)

MIKE THE MANAGER

My title at TJS is…“Coach!” I have the privilege of leading, developing and motivating a team of awesome managers.

When people ask about what I do at TJS, I tell them…I empower lives! I empower our guests by offering them wholesome, nutritious goodness in a bottle; our Bees, by enabling them to have a fulling job that they love; and our community, by being part of a company that values giving back.

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In my past I’ve done this kind of work at other juice/wellness companies like…Beaming Wellness in California. And if I had to describe what makes working at TJS different, I’d have to say the uncompromising standards, amazing product and gifted people!

I was drawn to work in the wellness industry because…I had reached a point in my life where I was unhappy with my overall health. I didn’t value nutrition, and I had no awareness about the impact of what I put in my body. I realized the power of healthy eating, and wanted to enable others to do the same.

Something I’m proud to have implemented at TJS is…a focus on the development of our people. I want to teach every Bee to be so great at their job they can leave (yet treat them so well that they never want to!).

The thing I love most about managing companies and people is… that it lets me impart strong leadership and a sense of entrepreneurship with everyone I work with. For me, the thing I like most about working with people is watching them grow and prosper. Even if they leave the company, I value what I have been able to teach them.

To me, working in the juice industry is special/important/rewarding beecause…you are able to form real relationships that can produce tangible results. To meet someone at the start of their health and wellness journey and watch them grow is a rewarding experience.

My favorite advice to onpass to folks who want to get into the wellness industry is…“If you wouldn’t continue to do this even if you won the lottery…do something else!”

The number one thing I’d tell my younger professional self is…“Be humble!” Leadership is not defined by positions you hold, but rather, the actions you take to make the company a better place/

My top-three future goals are…to develop each Bee that wants to grow with TJS into the role they desire; to learn to better influence others through strong leadership; and to make TJS the “Starbucks of Juice.”

MIKE ON JUICE

True or false: I loved green juice even before I started working at TJS. True

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…when I was extremely thirsty, and on a whim I happened to try some from Pressed juicery.

Today, I drink it beecause…I value the benefits of juice, and I have learned how to make kale taste like candy!

This is how I incorporate juice into my life: At least a bottle a day!

What I think sets TJS apart from the rest is…our STANDARDS! We are organic, we don’t use HPP, and we’re innovative about our approach to making nutritious delicious one sip at a time!

When people ask, I tell them my fave TJS flave is…Bee Effective (if Im feeling green), Bee Grateful if I want some sweets!

When people see me drink green juice and give me a face, I want to tell them to…name their favorite beverage because I’d bet them I could make a juice to rival that taste!

When I drink juice, it makes me feel…in control of my life.

My advice to a newbee juicer is…“GREEN is our friend!”

Newable Chewables For You(able)

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See Marcella? That’s her. She’s a bomb recipe-creating queen that can’t bee stopped.

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Lucky You, when she goes on a tear it benefits your belly like nobody’s business. Case in point: In the last month The Juice Standard has added two new iced lattes (and come Vegas’s not-as-hot time you may want them hot, too), and coming up faster than you can say Norwalk juicer, our chewables menu is gonna blow up.

(BLOW up…with deliciousness, that is.)

So for a sneak peek of the almost-here chewables, and an intro to the here-and-now lattes, here’s how TJS is keeping Summer 2016 so freaking tasty.

SENSATIONAL NEW SIPPERS

The Honey Nātado: Named for one of our fantabulous Bees beehind our counters (our staff helps make TJS operate SO smoothly!), this iced brew is the perfect blend of our organic espresso, cashew cream and raw local honey. (Hint: Double the espresso for some added zing-a-zing-zing.)

The Matcha Latte: Green tea lovers, this is so for you. Matcha is a drink served hot or cold that’s made from grinding green tea leaves to a powder-fine consistency and mixing it with water. If green tea has lots of health benefits, matcha has about a kajillion more since you’re ingesting the entire leaf. Combine all that WHealth™ with cashew cream, vanilla, agave, and a little acai, and you have something that’s as nutritious as it is delicious.

ORGANIC SALADS + WRAPS

Kale Granola Salad: Our newest salad features kale leaves that have been gently massaged with a honey-lemon vinaigrette and topped with our raw, house-made granola, and dried cranberries. As with our Field Greens Salad, both can be made portable by throwing them in a wrap. Gently, of course.

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TOASTS!

Avocado Chipotle Toast: Simplicity at its best: Avocado (with a lil’ chipotle kick!) is topped with microgreens and sliced radish.

Avocado Granola Toast: Avocado and our house-made granola come together in the same bite to satisfy the savory-sweet crunch you didn’t even know you could crave so much but you do and this is one awesome toast.

Mediterranean Toast: Marcella’s kickass tzatziki—a spread made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs—is slathered on bread and topped with microgreens and tomatoes.

Seeds Of Inspiration: A protein-rich toast slathered with our organic house-made cashew-walnut butter, and topped with hemp, pumpkin and flax seeds…all on organic seeded bread.

Bee Bread: This sublime, dessert-like toast features our organic, house-made cashew-walnut butter, spread on toothsome oat bread, and topped with banana, granola, and honey. Served warm and Good Lord it’s good.

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WHEALTHY™ TREATS + SNACKS

Chia Seed Puddings: So, our chia seed puddin’ isn’t new—we still combine the same protein-rich ancient grain with our signature, house-made nut milks for a healthy grab-and-go snack or meal. But the names are way easier to remember. Now, simply say the name of your fave TJS nut milk (except Bee Excellent), add “chia” at the end and anyone beehind the counter will know what you’re talking about and serve you up right.

  • Happy Chia (Chocolate)
  • Legendary Chia (Chai-spiced)
  • Magnificent Chia (Vanilla)
  • Choco-Mint Chia (You got this.)

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Vanilla Parfait: Admittedly, this isn’t different, either—still comes with your choice of Greek or dairy-free coconut yogurt, and it’s still a whole lotta creamy, dreamy protein at its best. But now you can get it topped with TJS’s house-made tropical granola or our homemade raw cacao granola.

parfaitVegan Cheesecake: Our decadent noncheesecake comes in two flavors—blueberry and pineapple—and delivers authentic taste with a sweet, walnut-cashew crumb crust.

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Lemon Coconut Cake Pop: This vegan cake pop made with creamy raw cashews, lemon zest and coconut flakes, comes on the tastiest stick ever: An edible pretzel!

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Banana Chews: Known previously as our “banana leathers,” this is still the same delish recipe: We dehydrate raw, organic banana strips to the perfect chewy consistency, and serve it with our house-made creamy cashew walnut butter.

 Seasonal Fruit Chews: Same as our banana chews only featuring our favorite seasonal organic fruit. It’s portable sweetness for health (and taste) on the go.

The Functions of Superfood Mix-Ins

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Remember Dairy Queen, Bees? And those mix-ins? Good Lord, you could blitz up soft-serve ice cream with pretty much anything, turning it into an icy up of your very own whirly, swirly candy-filled fave.

Mmm, the good ol’ days.

Don’t go getting too nostalgic. Because what you were throwing into that little microbiome of yours sure as shootin’ wasn’t doing anything to raise your serotonin levels, or calm our nerves, or improve your digestion. Plenty of studies suggest that sugar’s basically the devil, no matter how good it tastes. But at The Juice Standard, you can relive a little of that mix-in nostalgia without shading yourself with guilt if you hit up any of the three TJS locations, order a smoothie, and then add some whole-food mix-ins to your meal…ones designed to up-level your health, one powder or potion at a time.

Here’s our cheat sheet of how to up the ante of your health (having a little fun in the process), sip after smoothie sip.

Avocado: A heart-healthy fat that adds a delicious creaminess to anything it’s mixed with. It’s also excellent for workout recovery by helping balance electrolytes; aid in muscle activity, nerve function and maintaining a healthy metabolism; and it’s excellent for taming inflammation.

Bee Pollen: A plant-based protein filled with vitamin Bs and essential amino acids that when taken regularly can help boost immunity to local allergens. Plus, all those Bs (vitamins, that is), help keep stress at bay.

Bee Pollen

Chia Seeds: This phytonutrient-filled, high-quality plant protein is rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, iron, calcium, and zinc. It’s a great way to add extra protein to pretty much anything that hits it.

chia seeds

Coconut Oil: The answer to what seems to be everything (Wanna take off makeup? Coconut oil! Wanna whiten teeth? Coconut oil!), this darling of the health world really is all that. This anti-bacterial, thyroid-boosting, metabolism-enhancing healthy fat is high in lauric and medium-chain fatty acids, which means it’s easily digested and converted to energy.

Coconut Yogurt: A tasty, protein-rich alternative to diary yogurt so good you won’t miss the cow, goat or other version.

Flax Seeds: Rich in vitamin B1, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and manganese, flax seeds can also help lower cholesterol and regulate glucose levels. Add them ground up to your smoothie (…you won’t even taste it).

flax seeds

Ghee: Clarified butter with a slightly nutty flavor and a robust nose unlike butter, yet rich and delicious like butter. Along with grassfed butter or coconut oil, we offer ghee as an addition to our Bee Invincible (our version of buttered or “Bulletproof®” coffee).

Hemp Seeds: Yet another highly digestible plant protein. This one helps improve muscle performance, stamina and recovery, and it’s rich in omega-3s and 6s as well as GLA and vitamin E. Could this be your exercise routine’s BFF? Maybe.

L.O.V.E. Whole-food supplement*: This portion powder is a wholefood super meal made by a company called Purium. We recommend adding it to any smoothie since it’ll truly turn one into a meal.

Maca: Earlier in the year we ran a great piece about the beeauty of this beeautiful little adaptogen. Read about it here. (For a shortcut? It’s a libido- and energy-inducing powder that kinda tastes like malt, so it tastes great in pretty much anything that’s creamy. Nut milk, anyone?)Maca-pulber-mahe

Matcha: The ground green tea leaf, the whole ground green tea leaf and nothing but the whole ground green tea leaf! Powerful, potent and highly antioxidant, matcha has a grassy, earthy flavor and is supreme at keeping up your energy without coffee’s typical jitters.matcha

Nutritional Yeast: A delicious vegetarian source of vitamin B12 that’s high in protein, folic acid and fiber. Often added to salads and savory foods for the way it mimics parmesan cheese.

Powershake: A superfoods blend by Purium, the same company that provides us with the L.O.V.E. whole-food supplement.

Raw, Local Honey: Like its bee pollen cousin, raw local honey is anti-microbial, and can help boost immunity to local allergens.

Spirulina: A high-quality, plant-based protein loaded with energizing chlorophyll which helps oxygenate our blood.

Stack of spirulina algae powder isolated on white background

Collagen: An amino acid that’s protein-rich and good for brain activity and beauty.

Note: All of our add-ins are $1.50 (with the exception of the collagen which is $3.50). The brand we use is from grass-fed bovine and it’s non-GMO…so as always, you can feel good about what you’re getting once you walk through our doors.

 

Juicing Across The Map

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Vegas is often called the Entertainment Capital of the World, and though it’s got a vibe and vocab all its own (day clubbing, anyone?) something it has in common with other international city destinations is this: Smart locals know when to stick around, and they know when to go. And each summer, go-time is August.

It’s a common custom across large swaths of Europe. Italians leave their homes, jobs and shops to head for the water, and you’ll even find streets amid the City of Lights a little more dim thanks to locals seeking beyond-the-borders respite before school and university bring on the fall.

In Vegas, we leave for another reason.

It’s so damn hot.

hot dog meme

It’s not like that’s news—summertime’s hot, right?—but like childbirth and getting dumped, the human spirit knows how to block pain. But for when we do remember the sear of Nevada’s sun on our skin, cooler climes are in order. So, we go. Maybe you go, too? If you do, and if you love juice like we do, working your healthy lifestyle into even your vacation time is primo. So here’s short list of places we love to hit when we get the hella outta Dodge. And if you have suggestions, start a convo at our Facebook page. We’d love to hear where your juice cravings take you. 

Jamie Stephenson (TJS Co-Founder and CEO)

image1A Jamie fave: Glacier Ginger (Whitefish, Mont.)

Why?

“Glacier uses organic ingredients that are sourced locally, since there is quite a bit of agriculture in the area. Its ginger is nice and spicy, and super delicious in the “Mule Kick Shot”…a combo of fresh ginger and lemon juices, with a sprinkle of cayenne over the top (aka, a TJS Wellness Shot). Also, juice is made on the spot using the centrifugal juicing method, and Glacier also make many flavors of craft ginger brew including lime and cherry. This place is a definite go-to, after a Glacier Park hike or local Whitefish craft beer-night!”

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Marcella Williams (TJS Co-Founder and COO)

A Marcella fave: Butcher’s Daughter (Los Angeles, Calif.)

Why? 

butchers daughter“Butcher’s Daughter is where the farmhouse meets Venice Beach, and everything that’s right in the food world is caught in between. Like so many people probably will this month I recently had the privilege of escaping the Vegas desert heat for just a couple days. The struggle about traveling, for me, is that not only am I a health-conscious eater, but I am usually am traveling with my three niños who are far pickier than I am…and in a different way.

“We stumbled upon The Butcher’s Daughter after a relaxing afternoon on the beach. With sand still in my toes and salt water in my hair (which made it look fab, by the way!) we walked into this restaurant eyeing a table on the patio that looked out onto Abbot Kinney Boulevard…which just happens to be the street-of-all-streets to wander around on in Venice. The menu was vegan with some vegetarian options…and I loved the fact that this pro-life animal house had no fear of cracking an egg over any dish including my spaghetti squash carbonara.

 

“Classic carbonara calls for cream (heavier the better) egg, cheese, and of course, pancetta or some other form of Babe. If you asked me a month ago if this dish could be pulled off without bacon grease I would’ve laughed…but Butcher’s Daughter nailed it. I could taste the love in these dishes.Butchers Daugheter Spaghetti Squash

“We also had the stone oven pizza with arugula, pears, gorgonzola, and a touch of spice with red peppers. The flavors blended together very well, as most would imagine. We also ordered the smashed avocado crostini because of our love for functional fats. (I actually have a Pinterest board dedicated to avocados…but who doesn’t?)

Butchers Daughter FlatbreadButchers Daughter Pea Dip

“Aside from the fabulous food, Butcher’s Daughter’s juice menu is what really impressed me. It serves very unique concoctions, and with an Asian theme throughout, it uses ingredients like lemongrass, kefir lime leaves and even yuzu in a few juices. Jamie has wanted me to play around with yuzu before but sourcing some of these ‘off the beaten path’ ingredients gets tricky when we only source organic and, live in the desert. I left feeling nourished and inspired. I look forward to my next beach getaway and the wonderful flavors that follow in southern California.

Mallory Dawn (TJS Creative Director)

A Mallory fave? Mother’s (Barcelona, Spain)

Why?

“I was in Barcelona earlier this year. And on a rainy day, when I kept getting lost trying to find a famous magazine shop, I smelled cinnamon and honey…and wandered into Mother’s. Turns out they had just pulled their homemade granola out of the oven (which I purchased along with a veggie bowl and some juices). I sat in the shop, talking to the owner about the importance of educating consumers and the responsibility we each shared, being the first juice shops in our respective cities. Everything about Mothers’ brand and intention reminded me of TJS, and I was so happy to be led astray in my search.
  Depura1
“Later in my trip, during my travels back through Spain, I found Teresa’s Juicery. The outpost is located inside the popular shop, Flax & Kale. It has a wonderful selection of organic juices thanks to founder Teresa Carle’s more than 35 years of recipe-making experience. And it shows: You could literally satisfy any taste craving with her assorted menu. (The juice called “Party Recovery” with its purified water, beet, honey, strawberry, coconut water, and hemp seeds) is basically just an extension of any party!)”
  teresa juicery

Jen Chase (TJS Content Director)

A Jen fave? Cocobeet (Boston, Mass.)

 

Why? 

“I grew up outside of Boston, along Massachusetts’ south shore. After a few years of enjoying a West coaster’s life, though I’m back in New England, a lot of my work remains Vegas based, with my most inspiring being writing and editing for and with The Juice Standard. I’m thankful for my dual-coast work, but with my natural (obsessive?) allegiance to Marcella’s and Jamie’s recipes, the culinary thing I miss most about Las Vegas is not having access to what I totally unbiasedly objectively and humbly beelieve is the best collective juice menu, ever. Thankfully, I discovered Cocobeet in downtown Boston, and its product, mission, dedication to organics, and overall mindset is the closest I can get to TJS’s when life is more Beantown than Sin City. 08 Cocobeet Product 2 Cocobeet-Survival-Kit07 Cocobeet Productcocobeet-about-boston-juice-bar

“The juice world is a lot smaller than you’d think, and the first time I hit Cocobeet, I met co-owner, Onur, and explained what I do for TJS. He knew a little about Vegas’ cold-pressed juice scene and the more we talked, the more names we both recognized. Then came my money moment: When I got home and dove into the stash I’d bought, I finally felt a little less winsome for my TJS faves—Bee Resilient, Bee Happy, Bee Chill—because I had new ones to love: Green Monkey, Chocolate Power Mylk and Watermelon Quench. Cocobeet does it right by pressing every day (like TJS); by committing to organics (like TJS); and by being completely transparent about why sometimes certain flavors can’t be pressed if an ingredient can’t be bought organic (that’s how we roll, too). Cocobeet is even morphing into more and more chewables (um, like who?), which makes every trip feel hella like home to me…even when my heart’s juicy home is 2,735 miles away. But who’s counting.”

Twins Who Juice: Kylie+Jessica McBeath

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For the last 40 years in a town called Twinsburg, Ohio, a special festival has taken place to celebrate a group of very special people.

(You Bees are pretty freaking smart so you probably already know where we’re going with this. Play along.)

National-Twins-Day-Funny-Image-2-278x300Every August celebrates Twins Days, which according to people who know a lot more than we do is the largest gathering of biological multiples in the world (and by that we mean twins, quadruplets, Kate Gosselin’s eight kids). People travel from all over to participate…and by participate, we mean meet others who share what’s been described over and over as a bond like no other, between two beings not only from the same womb but from the same moment of inception.

(Ain’t science special?!)

In addition to our very own Marcella’s very own twin sons (who can be seen pictured with their mum here),  The Humble Bee didn’t have to trek to Ohio to find our very own set of twins whose story is beeyond worth telling. Kylie and Jessica McBeath are the founders of Zura Health, a wellness company dedicated to helping people live their best and most healthiest lives. If that sounds like aNOTHER company you know, you’ll understand why these wholehearted women are TJS’s first “Twins Who Juice.” We couldn’t be more happy to showcase their passion, their humor, their love for another (natch), and of course, their love of juice. Our juice.

Here’s their story.

Hi! We’re…Kylie and Jessica McBeath.

Our family has…six family members, and out of all of us, there is…one set of twins.

We entered the world in…Tucson, Arizona; however, at the ripe age of 3 we transplanted to Viva, making us the 4th generation to call this city home.

What brought us to Las Vegas was….sex, drugs, and rock & roll. (Ha ha, just kidding!) Our roots run deep in Las Vegas.

What has kept us here is….We are still asking ourselves this question. (The 100+ degree summers?Nahh!)  To be honest, with the co-creation of Zura Health, our digital health company, it is our mission to empower, heal, and elevate the community in which were raised. Giving back is why we are here.

In our experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is….that people live on the Strip, only work in hotels, and party like rock stars every weekend.

The thing we secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…this city never sleeps and there is always something to do: shows to see, concerts to go to, and wonderful eats. Added B-O-N-U-S…McCarran allows us to jump on a plane at a moment’s notice to almost anywhere in the world. (Did someone say the beach?)

If we had to pick a daily mantra or a quote we try to live by, it would be…“Let all who need me find me. Let me help relieve suffering.”

A favorite Vegas spot that never gets old is…Red Rock Mountains.

TWIN LIFE…IN AND OUT OF LAS VEGAS

FullSizeRender-3If we had to pick a theme song for us as twins, it would be…Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. Classic.

Some of our favorite things to do as sibs are…make plant-based bliss. Work out. Travel. CREATE our holistic healthcare company, Zura Health.

When people ask me where we work and what we do, I tell them…Jess: I write, speak, and consult on whole-person healing. From the co-creation of Zura Health, to my book, Unconditional, I am here to heal and build a bridge to a deeper awareness that honors the whole—mind, body, and soul.

While I am not busy masterminding and creating Zura Health with Ky, I work at Optum, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Health Group within its Patient Experience division. We are responsible for bridging the gap between healthcare and hospitality, driving better consumer experiences, inspiring healthy behaviors and ultimately making the health care system work better for everyone.

We’ve been in Las Vegas since 1993. In our opinion, the biggest difference in the healthy-living scene between then and now is… It didn’t exist before. Just within the last 5 years are we beginning to see wellness bars, state-of-the-art studios and an established wellness tribe. We are thrilled and grateful to see the evolution.

When anyone ever mistakes us for the other twin…we almost always just run with it.

No matter how busy we get at work, this is what we do to make sure we eat well during the week: We only buy healthy food, so this keeps our options simple. Healthy or starve…ha ha!

We also bulk prep. If it’s a bulk gluten free grain, roasted sweet potatoes or chopped kale, it is vital to the success of our weekly wellness regimen. Whatever we have on hand that week we toss in a bowl and add some cashew cream heaven and call it a day. If you know you are going to be going full steam, always pack a nutritious snack; I will grab an apple or a banana and some walnut butter or a handful of nuts and seeds to ensure I always have that added boost for mid-day snacking/treat.

The fruit or vegetable you’ll always find in our kitchens are…

Ky: Lemons an avocado.

Jess: Ahhh, can I have three? If I had to pick in order it would be avocado, kale and sprouts.

IMG_0198

The health habit I totally love making fun of my sib for is…

Ky: Well to be honest, we have the same health habits so if I make fun of her, I am making fun of me…#twinning]

Jess: What Ky said…but I am sure our families can give you a whole slew of examples.

When we go out, our typical fave fare to eat is…Indian. (Did someone say Aloo Gobi? It doesn’t get better.)

True or false: “I hope I have twins.”

Ky. Having a twin sister is like having a built in unconditionally loving best friend. We always joke and say, “Thank God that egg split in two—because we have a big mission here.” Every day, I wake up in gratitude for my twin sister, she has been the brightest light on my path to wholeness, unconditional love and acceptance. Who wouldn’t want this for their children?

Jess: TRUE. I always tell people that having a built-in-best-friend is quite possibly the greatest gift. I am grateful to share the journey with someone who is always in alignment with my crazy ideas and who will be the first to keep me honest if I get a little off beat.

TWINS ON JUICE

 

The person who introduced cold-pressed juice to us was…Our Aunt Shannon.

The reason we drink cold-pressed juice is because…it’s the best way to nourish and energize our bodies. For us, green juice is our go-to lift and daily dose of goodness.

The reason we drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…Well, for starters it tastes ahhh-mazing. Second, we support TJS because of the love and passion not only in the product but in the people. The TJS team and community inspire us in BIG ways to show up and execute.

This is how each of us incorporates cold-pressed juice into our lifestyle:

Kylie: Once you know how good healthy feels it just becomes a non-negotiable. Cold-pressed juice is a part of our jam. We just make it happen.

Jess: Cold-pressed juice is a part of our lifestyle. Whether we are traveling or at home we always find a way to incorporate our liquid greens. First pit stop in a new city is a juice bar or a local market.

The first time we drank green juice, we thought it was…liquid gold into our veins. I (Ky speaking) remember my first experience with spirulina in a green juice and it was a nutrition rush unlike anything I have ever experienced. I thought to myself, ‘Whoa, this is a game-changer.’ All I have to say is this: electron-rich foods=powerful.

Out of the two of us, the one who likes to drink TJS juice the most in our family is…When we stop by TJS, we grab a bunch to share with each other…we are all about the gift of health in our family.

The pickier sibling of the two of us is..

Ky: Ha ha! Jess for sure…only because I’m answering these interview questions first.

(Jess: This is not true.)

My favorite TJS flavor is…

Ky: Whew, this is a tough one. But my favorites, plural, are Bee Happy and Bee WHealthy™.

Jess: Honestly, I would probably replace my blood with any of the lovely creations at TJS, but I would have to go with Bee On Point and Bee The Change…and let’s not mention my addiction to the raw cacao mocha.

Yes or No: “I love juice so much I make my own.”

Ky: No. Ha ha! I leave it to the masters—aka TJS.

Jess: I’ve got an internal battle brewing over this but for right now it’s a smoothie or TJS.

True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the tail.

Ky: TRUE

Jess: TRUE, but I’m always optimistic on how this shall evolve.

The thing I like about TJS juice is….

Ky: The love and the passion that arises in every detail, in every bottle, in every sip.

Jess: The people=love=the juice=liquid gold=the mission=a more beautiful and healthy community.

The funniest thing that ever happened to one of us while drinking juice OR when one of us was doing a juice fast, was… Jess here. Ky and I remember the first time we gave our lovely mom a taste of E3Live. Ky and I laughed for a solid three hours because of her reaction. She now is a little weary about what she agrees to when she’s in a juice bar with us.

Our twinsy advice to a newbee juicer is… Be kind to you. You deserve to feel good, and sometimes to get to this space we have to exfoliate the self-doubts, and wash away the layers of limitation to reach wholeness. It’s all a part of the process, just keep moving toward that space that feels good. Imprint with love.

Learn more about the beauty of a company these dynamos have created— Zura Health—by visiting its Facebook page here, or by following on the Insta at @ZuraHealth.

Now Sip This: Our Cocktails…Your Kitchen

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Back in May, you devoted Bees might remember that our co-founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson was asked to participate in wellness expert Sheree Clark’s “What The Fork?” online summit, featuring other folks in the wellness community, like Jamie, sharing their personal paths toward their WHealth™ and glowing self.

More than 100 listeners were so inspired by Jamie’s come-to-juicing moments, they signed up to beecome a part of The Juice Standard’s growing Hive so they could receive our monthly newsletter (From The Humble Bee) right in their inbox.

But nowwwwww, we want to bring those very same recipes to each and every one of our beeautiful juicers. Beecause, hell, it’s July, and what sweatier better month to stir up a few delicious, nutritious bevvies of the adult variety to enjoy with those you love? (And, natch…those who love juice!)

What follows are actual recipes—actual recipes, Bees!—served at our juicery “The Buzz” at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Of our three Las Vegas Valley stores, The Cosmopolitan’s the only place in Las Vegas pouring a full menu of cold-pressed cocktails…a handful of luscious elixirs combining choice liquors with our cold-pressed juices and nut milks.

mixology

(Talk about up-leveling your cocktailing to something almost healthy. Wows.)

With these recipes, you can now plan your day’s next “happiest hour” with some WHealthy™ sippage on us. And for you teetotalers who really like the sound of these but want a liquor-free experience, ditch the hooch. And we should also note that these recipes feature TJS’s signature blends as mixers, so your at-home concoctions might not taste exactly like ours unless you get your hands on our bottles.

(Uptick? If you make or buy your own juice or nut milk to replace the TJS versions, you might come up with something even better.)

((We said might.))

QUEEN FOR A DAY

Serves 1

 The Juice Standard’s combination of Bee Royal (apple, lemon, ginger…like a slightly spiced lemonade); brandy or bourbon (it’s the sipper’s choice); and enough ginger beer to make everything go down nice and tingly, reminds you of a Dark & Stormy with a side of citrus attitude. Lightly alcoholic and fully flavored, the Queen For A Day is perfect for languid hours in the surf or sun, or a night where you crave a slow and steady buzz to get your groove on.

 

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces The Juice Standard’s Bee Royal (Don’t live in Nevada? Juice your own apples, lemons and ginger to your personal taste, or procure something similar from your favorite local organic juicery.)
  • 1.5 ounces brandy or bourbon
  • 3 ounces ginger beer

 

 

Method

In a shaker filled with ice, combine the Bee Royal and liquor of choice and stir until combined. Strain into a 12-ounce glass filled with ice, and top with the ginger beer. Want it fancy? Garnish with candied ginger, step back and swoon.

TJS-Screen-KingQueen-For-Day

 

The Happy Russian

Serves 1

 The Juice Standard’s Bee Happy nut milk is the base of this drink that mimics the most epic chocolate milk you’ve ever had, minus the milk, and then spiked. The Bee Happy itself contains raw cashews, Brazil nuts and walnuts, as well as raw local honey, cacao, vanilla bean, pink Himalayan salt, alkaline water, and coconut water. Then, it combines with grownup liquid glee for some dreamy, creamy goodness in a glass.

 

Ingredients

  • 5 ounces The Juice Standard’s Bee Happy nut milk (Note: Don’t live in Nevada? Sub in your favorite homemade or store-bought nut milk and add raw cacao powder and agave to achieve your desired choco-creaminess.)
  • 1 ounce vodka
  • ½ ounce Kahlua
  • ¼ ounce Crème de Menthe (optional)

Method

  • In a shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients and shake vigorously for approximately 30 seconds (this creates ice flecks in your drink that will help keep it extra cold). Then, strain and pour over ice in a glass of your choice (we like one that holds about 12 ounces).
  • If you made it minty, garnish with fresh mint leaves. Don’t like-a da mint? Grab a microplane and shave dark chocolate over the top for a pretty presentation.

TJS-Screen-Happy-Russian

Enhancing My Reverence for Nature at The SnowMansion

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Sunset at The SnowMansion.

For two weeks, I spent my vacation time at The SnowMansion, north of Taos, New Mexico, for a permaculture design course. Permaculture—derived from the two words “permanent” and “agriculture”—is a philosophy based on the concept of producing an abundance of food in a manner that won’t run out while at the same time, creating little or no waste. It’s derived from the template of nature: she produces in abundance, and rarely produces waste…for the benefit of us all.

Throughout the course I asked myself, “How can The Juice Standard provide abundance in the Las Vegas community while minimizing waste?” It’s so simple: We can maintain THE highest standards in the industry (i.e., “Only ORGANIC food is served here”). We can (and do) operate with the utmost integrity—the people who work with us want to be here, and they want to learn and grow to be stewards of quality in service and in personal growth. And we can, do and will continue to steward the health of our citizens by serving THE highest-quality medicinal food.
The right thing and the hard thing are often the SAME thing. We take our bottles back, sanitize, and re-use them, just like restaurants do. YOU help us to do this, and we thank you for your help.
Below is a snippet of my two-week journey to a land of extremes…Taos, New Mexico.

full-moon

The full moon on the summer solstice… June 21, 2016.

 

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This is an example of a “bee garden.” Bees tend to gravitate to blue and purple flowers. Their eyes have a type of color spectrum that draws them to the color. Through their eyes, they see patterns on those flowers that point to where the nectar is. Then, they stick out their long bee tongues and drink the flowers’ nectar.

 

purple-bees

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Honey bees return with tummies full of nectar that will be dried by the beating of thousands of bee wings. This turns raw flower nectar into raw honey.

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Bees are statically charged thanks to the rapid beating of their wings. When she mounts her flowers, her positively charged body attracts pollen instantly. She collects it into pouches seen here, and hands it off to her sisters as protein-rich “bee bread.”

cheese-makingRaw goats milk, along with a bit of culture and rennet, covered and left for 18-24 hours, then strained through cloth and a colander, yields the most gorgeous raw cheese! Serve cheese with homemade berry or chili sauce. Fresh tomatoes from the garden are served with Brigid’s fresh raw honey, backyard lavender, and her famously simple raw goat cheese. Backyard to patio table: hyper local, uber fresh and nourishing for the body and soul!
Backlit honey bee.

Backlit honey bee.

lavendar-chamomile

Harvested lavender can be consumed fresh or dried. Lavender for tea, cheese and aesthetic beauty. Chamomile picked and dried for afternoon tea.

 

Check out Paul Stamens TED Talk, “Nine Ways Mushrooms will Save the World.” Did you know that mushrooms have taken over Chernobyl? The Albert Einstein School of Medicine finds that mushrooms, “have the capacity to use radioactivity as an energy source for making food and spurring their growth.” (Nuclear waste-metabolizing FUNGUS. Is that not insane!? Nature….)

mushrooms-growing
Scot and Rachel drill 20-25 holes into these freshly cut Aspen logs. Fresh lumber that hasn’t been treated is key as the wood itself is the food source for the mushrooms.
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We opted for the edible Blue Oyster variety.

mushroom-

This is an example of what these Aspen logs will look like: japantwo.com

sodCob is an extraordinary building material made of four simple ingredients: clay soil, sand, straw, and water. It is foot-mixed and feels a lot like cold dog poo between the toes. Since it’s NOT cold dog poo, however, it feels WONDERFUL! This elicits a reversal in aging while simultaneously softening the feet. (BONUS!) Cob structures act as thermal mass, heating you in the winter and cooling you in the summer.
I made new friends! Pictured left to right: Nile, Miles, Emery, Paloma, Rachel, Kelly, Judy, Kim, Alex, Chris, Cecil, Scot, Teresa, Rebecca, Stephanie and Jamie.

I made new friends! Pictured left to right: Nile, Miles, Emery, Paloma, Rachel, Kelly, Judy, Kim, Alex, Chris, Cecil, Scot, Teresa, Rebecca, Stephanie and Jamie.

Adaptogen Abounds: Much Ado About Maca

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By virtue of our name, The Juice Standard is a juicery…but if you haven’t explored our whole menu–maybe even dabbled in our “chewables,” too—you’re missing out. Especially on our smoothies. Co-founder, COO and mum of three, Marcella Williams, is kinda the unofficial Smoothie Maven in these parts because she’s deft at creating some kickass combos that are so much more than bananas blitzed in a Vitamix. And one of the things the TJS smoothie menu loves to rely on is its “superfood upgrades”…a list of more than a dozen powders, seeds and greens that up the nutritional ante of any smoothie you choose to sip.

adaptogen

Now, amid TJS’s list of superfood upgrades is an add-in that’s growing in popularity thanks to companies like Moon Juice and Healthworks making it more available for home consumption: Maca. Maca is a special little somthin’ known in the health world as an “adaptogen”—a plant, root or herb that when introduced to the body it “adapts” to what the body needs. And when we talk about how maca adapts to what the body needs, it soothes the things that put stress on us. Anxiety. Inflammation. Lagging energy. Stuff that happens to us, but not stuff we want.

A Little About Adaptogens

Because they come from nature, adaptogens work with our insides to soothe and normalize us without meds or chems. They’re recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a real thing in the herbal medicine world, and some folks who are sensitive to medications (or just choose to steer clear) integrate adaptogens into their diet to either right a wrong that’s going on, or stay their already healthy self.

There’s a goodly list of ‘gens that do everything from energize (American Ginseng and reishi) to immunize (cordyceps) to calm us the eff down (ashwagandha). Filled with amino acids and key vitamins like B and E, maca’s benefits brilliantly tow the line as a combatant of more than a few stressors, making it an excellent addition to your diet if you want to better deal with life’s typical ups and downs. (Though key point here: As you know, we here at TJS  aren’t medical professionals, nor did we stay at a Holiday Inn last night or any nights of recent past. So any time you introduce something into your diet, do what we do and do it with great care or under a healthcare advocate’s watchful eye).

More About Maca

So back to magnificent maca. How doth it tow? It can be good for…

  • Coping with stress
  • Normalizing anxiety
  • Decreasing menstrual symptoms
  • Energy and stamina performance (and apply that to annnnny activity you wish)

Screen Shot 2016-06-09 at 11.25.03 AM

It’s that last benefit that TJS particularly loves…especially our Smoothie Maven. “I clearly like maca because it enhances the libido…and I’m a Libido Lover!”

Right on, Marcella! Course she’s talking about The Juice Standard’s newest menu addition, the Libido Lover smoothie (which you can learn more about by clicking here). It’s just one in our menu’s lineup that contains this mystical, malty powder. Along with the Libido Lover’s other ingredients (alkaline water, cashews, cacao powder and nibs, banana, dates, avocado and mint), the smoothie’s secret weapon is the maca that can help give you energy and, er, “flow” in all the right places. Plus, it plays super nice with chocolate, coffee and vanilla flavors thanks to maca’s slightly sweet caramel notes. At home, experiment adding a teaspoon to steaming cups of creamy hot raw cacao or “Bulletproof”coffee; milkshakes or frappes; or even top your chia seed puddings, oatmeals and cereals. Better yet, upgrade your fave summertime dessert the old-old-old Newport Creamery way and make it a Dusty Sundae. (Holla to our ice cream-eating, East Coast readers.)

Adaptogen? AdaptoTHIS…and enhance your diet with maca, one of nature’s many culinary, restorative gifts that giveth as much as you taketh.

The Juice Standard’s Summertime Slimdown

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Summering. It’s hard work.

The research. The day planning. The outfit planning. (Gawd.) The deciding who in your tribe you trust enough to spend a sun-filled, judgment-free day in your yard or cabana while you’re suited in something that could land you in a Saudi slammer.

See? Stressfest.

Until a decade ago, “summering” was a verb reserved for Hamptons- or Malibu-bound elites. But in Las Vegas and in other Fun Capitals of the United States and beyond—where folks go to savor summer both despite the heat and sometimes for the fun of disrobing in it—adult summering is serious business and something that requires a little planning.

We talk an awful lot about health here at The Juice Standard. We beelive in eating for health, drinking for health, and healing what ails us by looking first at what we feed our guts. You could say it comprises the core of our beliefs. But let’s be real: From the pull of the pool to rocking the weddingwear we’ll don seven ways to Sunday during this, the season of “I Do,” we can’t deny our desire to look good. Damn good. It’s natural, right? So to that end, we’re offering some snippets of the stuff on our menu—and in our hearts and head—that can help you, too, balance your approach to WHealth™ and glowing self inside and out.

Tip #1: Low-Sugar Singletons

All juice has sugar but not all juice is created equal. When you want energy, a little more natural sugar is the way to go (think good stuff from beets and carrots). But sometimes you want energy and to feel lithe. For those moments (or for Bees with diabetes or systems that are sensitive to the sweet stuff) there’s a juice for that.

Our pick? TJS’s lowest-sugar Singletons:

  • Bee Resilient
  • Bee Vibrant
  • Bee Pure
  • Bee On Point

Summer-Slimdown-Juices

 

Tip #2: Choice Chewables

It can be hard to motivate to cook when it’s hot, but skipping meals can lead to bingey bouts and bad bloat in between. (Say that 10-times fast.) But you can avoid the blech with something simple like a cooling smoothie, which goes down easy on a hot day and, unlike juice, can be filled with adaptogens and protein powders and other tasty bits to fill you up while cooling you down.

Our picks? TJS/’s kickass smoothies:

  • Green & Good
  • Libido Lover
  • Lipofunction
  • Protein Power

Superfood Smoothie

 

Tip #3: That Packable Snackable

Littletons aren’t the only ones who need snacks on busy summer days: We groan-ups are on the move, too. This season, look for portable bites that don’t take up too much room in a pool or beach bag–preferably something you can eat in hand—and that are filling enough to hold you through your day’s activities.

Our pick? TJS Banana Leather with Cashew-Walnut Butter

_J4A9053-2121

 

Tip #4: Beauty and the Bees

Need solutions for keeping cool, collected and oh-so pretty the TJS way? Here’s how our top Team TJS Bees maintain a balance of activity, beauty and health during the summer’s hottt demands.

Jamie Stephenson, co-founder and CEO

I, for one, realize that when it gets super hot in Vegas—recently, there was a heat warning and a temp of 109—I tend to drink waaaay more juice.

Why?

1) It keeps me light on my feet, and the reduction of food to digest gives me more energy for work and play.

2) I feel hella trim. To me, there’s nothing worse than feeling hot and full from a big meal.

3) All this cuke-drinking really does keep my core temp more comfy in this heat. Frankly, I can feel chilly when I drink a juice. And when it’s hot outside, that’s downright refreshing!

4) My skin stays hydrated amidst the desert wind and heat, and that always makes me feel pretty.

So, yes: I LOVE juice…but especially in the summertime

 

Marcella Williams, co-founder and COO

I use a gradual self tanner to give my skin that sun-kissed glow without increasing my chances of skin cancer.

I also change up my exercise routine by getting outdoors much more…but sometimes that takes a little creative planning. The kids and I take trips to the local parks in the evening since the daytime may be too hot (at 110 degrees!). That way, they can burn off their energy.

Workouts involve more laps in the pool and even a few dips in the ocean during these summer months.

I also remember to drink more water (and juice!) to keep my skin looking healthy since the summer heat can have the opposite effect.

(And…I really focus on keeping my toes pretty because it is sandal season!) 😉

dog ice

Love Your Libid-OH With Our New Smoothie

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Man, we love announcing new products, especially when they taste as good as they are good for us; and by all accounts, this new TJS baby is all kinds of crazy good. Why are we so confident? Beecause we’re about to talk about orgasms. And energy. And body heat. The kind of stuff we love talking about beecause we figure you Bees are interested and we have lots to say about pretty much everything.

So…orgasms. How do they relate to smoothies? We’re gonna tellya.

euphoria

Research shows that orgasms are good for everything from blocking pain (thanks, endorphins); increasing sleep (hello, oxytocin); and reducing cardio-vascular disease in men (getting blood flowing to alllll the right places). So with our company’s dedication to total-body care—and we do mean TOtal body care—how better to set ourselves up for sexual success than with a smoothie made from stuff that enhances the lovin’ our partners have to give? Or…the love we give ourselves?

Meet “The Libido Lover,” a chocolatey, creamy, minty concoction that seems like it couldn’t possibly be good for you but is. If you didn’t know it already, both avocado—which lends creaminess to so many raw and vegan desserts—and raw cacao (which is just awesome because it’s raw cacao) have libido-increasing properties. But the Libido Lover’s key ingredient is maca, a powdered root with a malt-like flavor that’s rich in vitamins B, C and E, as well as calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, and phosphorous…all of which are necessary nutrients for increasing endurance and the sex drive. You can read more about maca in our article over here. Other ingredients include alkaline water, cashews, and nibs, banana, dates, and mint.

Fake Libido Lover image?

You should know, though, that for all the hype about aphrodisiac-like foods, if a big O isn’t your game, the very same ingredients are excellent for increasing your energy and overall creativity, which makes this smoothie an especially good breakfast, pre-work and pre-workout meal replacement either enjoyed on its own or with one of The Juice Standard’s superfood upgrades of protein-packed chia seeds or protein powder.

The Libido Lover is being Vitamixed and served at both neighborhood locations (at The Hive near Summerlin and The Rose near Henderson), and at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. And at The Cosmopolitan, as with all Juice Standard smoothies on the menu, you can spike it with a liquor shot of your choice. Notably, brown liquors like whiskey, bourbon and rum pair nicely with the creamy, chocolaty base…though you’re at liberty to add whatever will give you the best, er, “happy ending.” So you just do you.

(Get it?)

Friends Who Juice: Sheree Clark

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Who’s made it her job to alight the health and wellness industry’s brightest bulbs through her evocative speaker series (after nailing her very own 92-day juice fast)? All thumbs should point to nutrition expert Sheree Clark, owner and founder of Fork In The Road, her wellness consultancy that helps people eat, drink and move in ways that helps them achieve what we hope to lead our Bees toward: a life of WHealth™ that’s filled with a sense of one’s glowing self.

From helping people rebound from a health crisis to simply shedding pounds to get back to their natural state of bliss, Clark uses several techniques to help shape the healthy habits of her clients. And since education’s her jam, she does what she can to promote things like speaker series (our very own Jamie just participated in a biggie!), and taking her skills to the small screen where she airs a regular television segment on wellness.

So meet Sheree Clark…health expert, juice fan and leader down the proverbial path to WHealth™.

Sheree Clark in lotus with Lotus the catAll About Sheree

Currently, I live in…Des Moines, Iowa.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living where I live is…that it’s a cow town with very little to offer. But it isn’t. It’s a small city, but also small-town enough. My neighbor has a key to my house.

The thing I (not-so-) secretly love most about living here is…that you can do whatever you want. It’s a supportive community, in that if I wanted to access someone, it’s like two-degrees-of-separation here. The governor goes to my farmer’s market….

My daily mantra or “quote to live by” is…”If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got.”

Don’t get me started talking about…food. Healthy food. And nutrition.

Every day I strive to…remember to smell the roses.

Something people would be shocked to know about me is…I have a lot of kind of bizarre things. I get up at 4 a.m. every day except Sunday. I love to get up early.

True or false: Some days, I want to trade in my curly locks. False. False! No. Never.

The health habit I get teased about the most is…I’m a believer in colonics and hydrotherapy.

 About Sheree’s Work

When people ask about my job and what I do every day, I tell them…I hold open a space for people to become the best they can be.

What prompted me to found my company Fork In The Road was… two things. One, I felt like what I was doing wasn’t the authentic “me” anymore; and I felt that my authentic me could really help people to be the best they could be.

Fork In The Road Logo

These are my absolute favorite things about my company, and my work: No two days are the same. And, when people break through a barrier. And that I get to work from home. And, being able to look at my printer and see my cat, Lotus, sleeping on it.

My days are pretty varied, but the bulk are spent like this: I go to yoga at 5 a.m. and by 6:15 a.m. I’m home. Sometimes I walk, or I meditate and I journal. I spend the morning in reflection, because for me, if I plan for it to be later in the day it can be robbed.

I try to have clients or meetings throughout the day. I spend time writing. I do a weekly television show segment [Des Moines’ KCWI, Ch. 23), so I’m sometimes filming that. It’s all about holistic living, which could include [healthy] food, herbal remedies. I also take classes. I might take an online class, or sometimes I teach. I’m usually in bed by 10 a.m. Then the next day, I do it all over again.

True or false: “Juice helps me stay healthy when I don’t have time to chew.” Oh my God, yes.

The perk I enjoy most about my job is…flexibility.

My favorite advice to give to other entrepreneurs is…know what you’re good at and hire people to do the things you’re not.

The best advice I ever received was… “Don’t make it hard. Let it be easy.”

The number one thing I’d tell my younger self is… “You’re not fat.”

My top-three goals for my company are…to grow my reach; I’m probably going to write a book; and to expand my team.

The number one thing I feel deeply proud of where my company is concerned is…I’ve made a difference in people’s lives.

Sheree Clark on camera and in monitor

Sheree on Juice and The Juice Standard

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…in 2006. I went to a juicing/fasting retreat in Arizona and I fell in love there.

What made me know I wanted juice as a part of my healthy lifestyle was…the fact that I had mental clarity and energy…and it started from drinking juice.

On my company’s blog, I write about my 92-day juice fast. Here’s some background about why I did it for that long. I did the fast because it was part of a program a bunch of raw fooders were participating in. We all signed up for it on the same day…but I felt ready to start it before it was supposed to start, so I started mine early. It was Dec. 29, 2007. I felt called….It was kind of a weird day to start a fast but I ended it March 29, 2008.

It felt right [about the length of time]. Like when you meet someone and are like, “Oh my God, I know we’re going to be friends.”

I drank only juice, and I did have a tablespoon of flax oil or hemp oil every day for some healthy fat. Toward the end I ate some bee pollen.

The aspect of my juice fast that I loved most was…the clarity and the feeling of connectedness. I felt plugged into the world and aware of myself. Less anxious. Less concerned.

The hardest thing about fasting for that long was…that there were days when you felt like your body was detoxing some, which resulted in lower energy. Some days I’d get a pimple…and I’m not a pimple girl. But then the next day it would be gone.

While I was fasting, the food item I can remember NOT being able to get out of my head was…chewing. Toward the end, I really missed chewing. I really wanted to sink my teeth into something.

The first semi-indulgent thing I can remember eating after my fast was…fruit salad. Really: I wanted a big fruit salad, with shredded coconut and nuts, and raisins.

The funniest juice-related thing that happened during my fast was…well, it wasn’t funny, but I dumped a half gallon of beet juice all over the counter. I’d juice two quarts, and I was sealing them. And I had white cabinets, so I had to work quickly. Plus, it was a lot of work! I wanted to get it a straw….

I first learned about The Juice Standard from…a friend who lives in Las Vegas who’d sent me a clip from a magazine about the cold-pressed cocktails.

I interviewed Jamie Stephenson for my online wellness summit, “What The Fork?” Something I learned from that interview that’s really stayed with me is…Well: I loved it when she geeked out about the microbiome, and the concept of soil. I’m a composter, so…. It’s the whole ‘circle of life.’ It was so cool to meet someone who knew so much.

When I’m not drinking juice, my favorite cocktail is…wine. I’d also say mojitos, which I sometimes toss cucumber juice into.

When people see me drink green juice and give me face, I want to tell them to…not knock it ‘til they try it

My advice to a newbee juicer is…Do it every day for 21 days. Drink it first thing in the morning and you may find you don’t even need your morning java

And, if you’re really serious about how you can live the best life possible, for your time here [on Earth], try adding things. It’s so easy to add juice [to someone’s diet] and it’s the first step I advise. It’s the first thing I add. If you can add one thing to your life, make it juice.

Veg-in-a-heart

Jamie Stephenson Joins the ‘What The Fork’ Convo

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We know from the feedback you Bees have given us over the years that you care about your WHealth™ as much as Jamie and Marcella (and everyone else here at The Juice Standard). So we’re always looking for new ways to brighten and enlighten your knowledge.

If you want to take some steps toward a healthier, more vibrant life—move from drab to fab, good to great, from faking it to truly making it—we have an online event we think is perfect for you.

Sheree Clark (founder of the wellness website Fork In The Road) is interviewing all sorts of nationally recognized healthy living experts, and our very own Co-Founder and CEO, Jamie Stephenson, was handpicked by Clark to share her story. (Jamie’s interview will be live on May 25—mark your calendar!) 

This month-long online event starts May 2, and is a unique chance to listen to dozens of the best health, nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle authors, teachers and researchers as they share insight into what they have found to be true from their experiences. Many of the experts you’ll meet arrived at their “fork in the road” because of an event in their lives…and they’re willing to share what they’ve learned with you.

The experts in this series all want to help you discover the incredible opportunities you have to up-level your life…beelieving that a healthier lifestyle is about more than just what you put in your mouth or how many steps you walk in a day. It’s about viewing yourself—and the things you allow into your life—in a holistic and integrated way.

This one-of-a-kind online event is called What the Fork? A Practical and Nourishing Plan to Feed Yourself For Health and Happiness. And The Juice Standard is inviting you to participate as our guest in the entire What the Fork? event for FREE!Screen Shot 2016-05-03 at 8.43.38 AM

Throughout the month you’ll find out how to:

  • Leverage insider tips to maintain a fit and healthy body, even as you age;
  • Incorporate simple practices into your daily life so you eat more healthfully, without feeling deprived;
  • Incorporate mindfulness and peace into your daily routine;
  • Identify and overcome personal blocks and fears, reduce stagnation and gain clarity to take the next steps toward your ideal life; and more.

Jamie-headshot-for-blog If this sounds exciting, you must listen! Join Jamie and the other experts for FREE by clicking the link below and registering today.

Click here to access What the Fork?

By the end of this event you’ll have the knowledge and the tools that will bring you the vibrant life you’re looking for!

It takes a hive, Bees. Together, let’s raise our vibration, together.

Yours in health,

The Juice Standard

(P.S. Each interview in this series will be available for a limited time. Register now and don’t miss a single tip, strategy or important tidbit!)

Click here to register for What the Fork?

Encourage Mom’s Play With ‘Queen For A Day’

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Queen for a day nl

Question: Did you ever drive your mother to drink? (At least that you know of?) On the off chance you still do did, this month—in honor of Mother’s Day—here’s The Juice Standard’s best recipe for salving the world of hurt our teenage selves laid on Moms. It doesn’t even involve therapy.

It’s a breeze, really: Take her to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and hand her a bevvie worth all the love and care she spent turning you into the human being you be.

Queen For A Day

So what exactly is this Moms-worthy concoction?

Queen For A Day (also on the TCOLV menu as King For A Day…because we don’t discriminate, Yo) is Marcella’s mixology masterpiece of BEE ROYAL (think spicy lemonade), plus a brown liquor of your choice (like bourbon or whisky) topped with the sassy spice of some ginger beer.

If we had to tell you what to tell Moms it tastes like, we’d compare it to a Dark & Stormy but with a side of citrus attitude. Imbibed by you and your BFFs it would perfectly fuel your night on a casino or dance floor. Enjoyed with you’re with Moms on a Kid-Momma Night out, it would be a perfectly light little pre-supper sipper to get you feeling cozy enough to rehash those stories you know she and your dad are just waiting to roll out the night before your wedding.

Drink up, Sistahs and Bruthas. Grab your mutha. Enjoy a cold one on us. And maybe plan to elope.

youdamom

Hydrate WHealthfully with TJS Cold-Pressed Juice

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hydrate with cucumbersWe totes hate to sound like your mom, here but hydration is beeyond imperative for good health. It’s good for the skin, it’s good for maintaining body weight, it’s good for facilitating digestion, and it’s especially important as the temps rise on us during our beloved spring and summertime outdoor activity. (And that last one is especially important in the desert of Nevada.)

But for as much as mag articles and health professionals talk about hydration, there are still some misnomers about it. Truth be told, it’s not only about slogging enough H2O. There are good ways to hydrate…and even better ways to hydrate. The best way to do it is to implement plant-based water. And the best way to learn about it is straight from our resident lover of all-things Touting the Juicy Holy Grail, our co-founder Jamie Stephenson.

In a recent request for info for an L.A. Times article, Jamie had this to share about how to hydrate WHealthfully:

In the bloodstream, there are minerals called electrolytes that keep our brains, muscles and organs functioning well. Too much water but not enough electrolytes can be as dangerous as not enough water. TJS’s organic, daily-made, cold-pressed juices are essentially reverse-osmosis plant water…aka, ‘sunshine water in a bottle.’ The rain falls from the sky onto mineral-rich earth; the plants’ root systems suck up moisture and minerals to their leaves; and we press out that liquid for you to drink. The vitamins and minerals (and everything else that’s good for us in plants and produce) are far more effective in their bioavailability than any supplement because they’re not been denatured in any way. With our juice…nutrition and hydration go straight from the plant into a convenient glass bottle to your thirst-quenched lips! 

hydrated appleSomething else of high import to remember (and this goes for no matter where you live) is that gauging your hydration levels can be hard when you’re active…and it can be especially hard to judge hydration in littletons as they get their outdoor play on. We’re not medical professionals, nor did we stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but we do want to share the common-sense knowledge that summer is a prime time to watch for heat stroke signs.

Headaches, weakness, dizziness, and even cramps, nausea or vomiting can all be precursors to heat stroke. And even more important to remember is this: By the time heat stroke actually hits, the skin presents with less sweat, and more red, hot and dry skin. Over-active breathing and heart rate are also signs that can be mistaken for the normal reactions to activity…but all of it is heat-stroke related and requires immediate attention.

Our point in all of this? Drink more plant water! And while we tout the bennies of cooling veggies like cucumber and watermelon, the truth is, all plant water is beeyond good for you. So to maintain your safety and your body’s optimum levels, during warm weather (and any weather), keep the liquids coming. Beecause we are what we think and we are what we drink!

We Are Motherlovers (plus…a #TJSMomsForJLo Promo)

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Whether it was your mother, your grandmother, a teacher, or a trusted mother figure, this time of year makes us reflect on the women who raised us to bee the Bees we are today. We say it all the time but it bears repeating: #ItTakesAHive. That’s why we’re thankful to the moms out there who gave us wings (…and why some of us can’t wait to onpass them to our litteltons, when it’s time for them to flee the hive).

Below, TJS’s Co-Founders, Creative Director and Content Director (Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams; and Mallory Dawn and Jen Chase, respectively) share thoughts and memories about their mothers…the stuff they gleaned from them; the stuff they hope they give back to them; and the ways in which being a mom has moved some of us like nothing else in life could. 

Jamie and Mia, and Being Led Down the Garden Path (…Literally)

Jamie and Mia For as long as I could remember, my mom was a single mom working at least two jobs. It wasn’t until I was 17 that she met Walter, and it was then that I saw her soften into what it felt like to be a woman who could enjoy a life lived with a little more time for her pursuits. He allowed her the time to explore her cooking and gardening skills. Both were parts of her life that would give back to him (and all of us) for many years to come.

I’ll never forget the day I went to their home for dinner. I was 22. Mom handed me a set of kitchen shears and a paper-lined colander, and asked me to go into the yard to harvest our dinner salad. I was freaked out.

“We can’t eat that! We grew it!” I said.

Her reply?  “Exactly. We grew it, and it’s the very best. Now hurry up.”

Later at dinner, my mind was blown. Those leaves were delicious and tender, and they’d been growing in her garden just minutes before. That was the day the proverbial seed was planted in my mind—that the power of fruits and veggies—fresh, raw and powerful—was truly food for the body and soul.

Thanks Mom.

Thanks Walter.

Shit Jamie’s Moms Says:
“Eat your veggies, they’re good for you.”
“Maybe. In the future.”
 Marcella: On The Inexplicable Joys of Motherhood

2016.0410-Marcella-and-kids-3I will never forget the day my ex-husband and I decided we were ready for a baby. A month later we were expecting, and I knew it was a little girl. I could feel it in my gut. I could actually see her face in my mind… her warm smile, her kind eyes. I knew her name, envisioned her laughter and could not wait to finally meet her.

She changed my life in so many ways. It was not until I knew I was pregnant did I start to really be conscious about what I put into my body. It began with increasing my fruits and vegetables and minimizing anything processed or refined. I wasn’t just feeding myself, I was literally creating another human…a human who would grow to be a thriving toddler, an energetic child and eventually a young adult. She needed the best quality foods and nutrients I could give her in this most crucial time of development.

They say love is a verb, and though I couldn’t voice it to her yet, I could show her love in the best way I knew how.

I remember sitting in History 102 class and was about 15 weeks along when I felt the first kick. People say it feels like butterflies, but this was just little bit stronger. I pushed on my stomach right where I felt it and she kicked back! We went back and forth a few times and I started to tear up. My professor looked at me kinda crazy. He must have thought I had a soft spot for the roaring 20’s and The Great Gatsby—and I did!—but the welling of my eyes came from my first interaction with my beautiful baby girl.

2016.0410 Marcella and kids 2I remember reading all of those baby books and about how she was developing, and the minute I knew she could hear my voice, I began to sing to her. I sang anything from lullabies to random love songs. One song in particular was You Were Meant for Me, by Jewel. I will never forget the first time I sang it to her at five weeks old, she looked up at me and smiled her very first smile!

Sophia Maria was born on July 12, 2006, 8 pounds, 3 ounces and 21 inches long. I knew I loved her before I met her but never could imagine how much you could truly love someone unconditionally…until 6:30 p.m., when she laid on my chest for the very first time. Watching her grow over the years has been a blessing that so many people do not get to experience. I live each day with gratitude, trying so hard to make each day count and live in the present.

Shit Marcella’s Moms Says: 
(To my little brother:) “If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie.”
“It’s too quiet.”
“Can I pee in peace?”
“Take pictures because it’s gone in a flash.”
“Because I said so…that’s why!”

Mallory and Mimi: Childhood Lessons Enrich Long Into Life

Mallory and MimiMy mother was a teacher while I was growing up. A lot of my friends knew her (and, her large collection of colorful high-top Reeboks). She taught my brother and me a lot of lessons, but one in particular has completely affected my course of life.
You see, growing up I knew my parents were “hippies” because they listened to The Beatles, wore tie-dyed clothes, told us stories of protests they attended at Edinboro University and other rebellious behavior from their younger years. At the same time, they also encouraged my brother and me to create a life we loved, and to love all living things. My mother, unbeknownst to my lack of musical skill, even encouraged us to start a band together.
For the longest time, I thought that these impressions my mother left on me were things all children got from their parents. In fact, it wasn’t until I started sharing this one lesson in particular that I realized that not everyone grew up with parents like mine.
This lesson started in my earliest childhood. I remember coming home from school worked up and complaining about something that had happened (and, about the person who was to blame). My mother said to me: “Mallory, I want you to think of 10 reasons why that person did what they did to you, and none of your reasons can be about you.”
Of course I attempted to use the “They don’t like me,”  “They’re mad at me” arguments,  but she’d catch me every time, reminding me those were reasons that in fact included me. Sure enough, by the fourth or fifth reason (“They got a bad grade”; “They were feeling sad”; “They got yelled at by their parents,” etc.) I had settled down and actually felt empathy for the person I was upset with.
My mother had me practice this skill throughout elementary school, junior high and high school. So it became natural for me to “step back” from situations that rattled my copacetic bubble, and to mentally address at least 10 reasons why someone could behave in a way that was void of me. Today, I still make those mental lists as I consider what someone who upsets me may be dealing with. Maybe they had a rough drive to work; maybe they couldn’t get their child/pet to eat or potty that morning; maybe money is stressing them out; maybe they’ve lost someone they love; maybe they just woke up on the wrong side of the bed….And maybe—just MAYBE—their behavior has nothing to do with me.
It’s much easier to feel peaceful and calm when you feel a connection to others. My mother’s lesson taught me how to feel connected to anyone, no matter the situation. Today, I love sharing my experience with others because I know the power it will create in their lives and attitude if they choose to hone the ability to understand and empathize with the feelings of others.
Shit Mallory’s Moms Says: 
“But are you bleeding?”
“You are my sunshine.”
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Jen and Heidi: Sacrifice Leads To Mother-Daughter Soulmates

Before she was my sister’s mother or mine, she was Heidi Ange Morris. Ange wasn’t for Angela but Ange, with an a sound like in hand. Heidi was because her mother loved the book. The Morris was from a man whose liquid demons pissed away the love he could’ve long enjoyed from his wife and kids but couldn’t. And Chase was from the man who blessed her with her children.

Motherhood hasn’t been my mother’s easiest-won gift, but she’d probably say it’s her life’s greatest. And fortunately, because she shares herself freely beyond the boundaries of blood, her mothering has been a gift to others. As a longtime elementary school teaching assistant, I’ve watched her foster deep relationships with younger colleagues. My lifelong girlfriends have turned to her during times of painful coming-outs, or when they needed care for their children when their own families were miserably unsupportive. My high school sweetheart and his wife are wholeheartedly friendly with her. She’s that mom. And growing up, despite a few naturally occurring blue periods in the lore of estrogen-heavy households, I deeply knew I was lucky.Heidi Chase Hair Model

I wrote most of that recalling our relationship from my youth through college years. But if you’re lucky to have been raised by certain parents, under certain circumstances, a paradigm shift can happen in your 30s if the proverbial shit hits your fan and you start grasping for their experience-based guidance. Maybe we hope their Smart Genes will save us from stupidity, but around 30-something is when you realize your parents are real adults with real-life chapters…and that maybe they really do understand, because they’ve experienced similar challenges long before you did. In my case, one lived out West before admitting like Dorothy that there’s no place like home (…in Massachusetts). One was married when the two of them fell in love. One had a mid-life crisis and lived in a hotel for a week. One lost a business, mojo and life way too young. Both of them had to navigate raising a special needs infant beside a typical toddler. And ironically, neither ventured far from their own mother. Least never for long. They made all these disparate parts of their lives work, coming together to be the kind of parent I often wish I was.

Mum has devoted her life to making my sister’s life comfortable. And as my parent, she’s been selfless; honest; and at times, her advice has been so right as effing rain I’d swear she was a seer. But most important, as she’s balanced motherhood and personhood (and isn’t it amazing that as kids we don’t really see our parents are “real” people?) she raised me with love. Boundless. She is my friend, my comfort, my confidante, my heart. She doesn’t like what I eat but loves what I cook. She rarely finds what I find funny but finds me funny, which is 10 kinds of awesome since hers is a laugh I seek. I choose her company and she chooses mine. And if I’ve learned anything from her, it’s strength. Strength by example. I don’t display her gumption on the reg, but I’m glad it’s in my marrow. Somewhere.

The picture above was from before Heidi Chase was anyone’s mother. It’s a candid from a shoot where she was asked to model hairdos. Frankly, it embarrasses her because she’s incredibly shy—she was 20s-ish, maybe?—but man, I love her look. Quiet and sophisticated. Soft. Eye makeup just so, always and still. She wasn’t thinking about doling out Erin’s seizure meds or worrying if I’d smile again after my marriage ended. It was just her, back when it could be. And the pic drives me to be a daughter that gives her moments of her past life in this one, where she need only think of herself. Like kajillions of adult kids like you or others who have been raised by amazing people (blood variety or not), I’m grateful to be my mother’s daughter, to have her as my friend, and to be allowed to be hers. Because that stuff is never a given, but a blessing to be earned on both sides.

Shit Jen’s Moms Says: 
“I wish I liked to eat what you eat.”
“You’re so much like your father.”
“The grass is always greener….”

Now ABOUT that promo….

Mother’s Day 2016: #TJSMomsForJLo

It’s true. TJS wants you to celebrate Mom’s Day with JLo.jennifer-lopez-all-i-have

And no, we’re not sending her to your house. (Fo sho we’re rad but not *that* rad.) Read to the end, though. This deal’s still the goods….

For everything the mother figure in your life does to keep yo’ shit in line, we’ve got quite possibly the best booty-shakin’ promo of all time. (At least for the first quarter of 2016.)

Since TJS is all about maintaining WHealth™ on the inside and out, we like encouraging you Bees to push your personal healthy-choice envelopes. And since occasional incentives are swell, here’s a doozy.

Ready?

We wanna see you and your three-day fast bottles! Why? Beecuase we frikkin’ heart you, and we want you Bees to have a little extra pusha-push-push to enjoy one of our crazy-delicious three-day juice fasts. We honestly think you’ll love it enough, you might make it a tool in your healthy-living toolbox every quarter or so to improve your WHealth™ and glowing self. So we seriously hope you’ll do this:


1) From now through 31 May, show us your prettiest Instagram pics(s) of you and your three-day fast. And in the comments of your pics, use your very best words to express one of the following thoughts:

  • Your best “Shit Moms Says” advice (and it doesn’t have to be from your own Moms—it can be from a mother figure in your life). What’s something Moms says that makes your eyes roll? Belly laugh? Heart sing? Do tell.
  • Best thing you’ve learned from Moms or your moms-ish figure.
  • Your fave thing about being a moms yourself…either to your own littletons or littletons in your life whom you cherish.
  • What’s something you’ve vowed to do when you become a parent someday?
2) Hashtag all that with #TJSMomsForJLo.

3) Wake up June 1 and hope like hell you were picked to win two tix to JLo’s June 8 performance at PH (“Planet Hollywood,” if you’re not local).

And that’s pretty much it.

Deets:

* Gift value is at about $517. (Thought you’d like to know.)

* Must you take Moms? No. But if she’s likes JLo you’ll be Kid of the Year. ’Til 2019.

* The show is June 8. That’s the only date. It may not be changed. It may not be exchanged. Do us a solid and don’t ask, beg or plead for another option. We cry when friends cry in front of us.

Play fair. Good luck. And go Moms. (You, too, JLo.)
hip-mom-with-kids

Families Who Juice: The Morse Family

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onyx-blog

About an hour outside Las Vegas on a wee rural microfarm live Helena, Sean and Emmet…a family of three that years ago moved from Las Vegas to live life a little quieter and closer to the land. 

While Sean still works amid the city’s bright lights (quite literally: he’s an entertainment technician who works on many of the shows that come through Las Vegas), both he and Helena home school Emmet. And as a family, they all lend their efforts and expertise to building Dualing Cocks Hatchery, their cheeky-named biz where they raise exotic chicken breeds and a variety of other plants and creatures.

But where it gets good is that in the truest sense of their commitment to learning to live in harmony with the earth, their love of The Juice Standard’s juices have led them to repurpose something of ours that maintains the circle of life on their farm. (Hint: You’ll know the glow of their yolks a mile away!)

As Helena answers for herself and on beehalf of the men in her life…meet the Morse family!

ABOUT OUR FAMILY

In our experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…not recognizing that even living in a city, you can make a big impact [on the environment]. It can be as simple as riding your bicycle, starting a compost bin or picking up food waste from a restaurant.

The thing we love most about living outside the city is…having the ability to live a more sustainable, organic, back-to-the-land kind of life. Even though we only have a small desert garden that feeds us—even if we do live in a desert—the challenges this brings are merely new opportunities for us to grow.

If we had to pick a daily mantra or a quote our family tries to live by, it would be…“Waste not, want not,” and “Work hard, play hard!”

A favorite Vegas spot for our family that never gets old is…the parks, such as Floyd Lamb, Red Rock, Wetlands, and all of the great city parks. As simple as it sounds, the parks are really important to our family. We home school our son, and we often meet other families there. And often, in a desert, the only green space you’ll see is at a park.

The greatest thing about raising a family in the desert is this: Personally, I am all about permaculture. I’m obsessed with it. I also belong to a school of consciousness about 300 miles from Las Vegas, and I asked if I could contribute my time…talking about recycling, and the zero-waste movement. I believe in being a part of the solution and not part of the problem, to the extent that it is important to teach that to my son because he is part of the future. In some ways, being resourceful in the desert is a part of that.

…ON HEALTH IN LAS VEGAS AND TJS

When people ask me (Helena) what I do…I’m not quite sure what to tell them. First and foremost, I’m a stay-at-home, home-schooling mom. But I’m also in charge of the daily operations of the growing agribusiness, as well as taking care of all the unexpected events when “life happens.”

Since we have lived in Las Vegas, the biggest evolution in the healthy-living scene has been…people wanting to know where their food comes from. Wow…this is so important, with so many chemicals and additives in our food, as well as the rapid proliferation of genetically modified produce. And as far as how the healthy-living community has changed in this region, and with permaculture becoming more important to me (I am a member of the School of the Natural Order where I incorporate spirituality and permaculture) it’s prompted me to seek out other groups of people who are like minded. The MeetUp community has some really good groups. Had I not started educating myself on this journey I might not have been inspired to seek out new people.

No matter how busy we get as a family, this is what we do to make sure we eat healthy meals and snacks during the week: It’s definitely a challenge…even for a stay-at-home mom! You’re a teacher-cook-chauffeur-laundry lady….So I *do* love being able to walk into a Juice Standard store and get a Bee Royal for Emmet and know he’s going to get the freshest ingredients.

The fruit or vegetable you’ll always find in our kitchen is…bananas. Its the universal fast food!

…ON JUICE AND THE JUICE STANDARD

The reason we drink cold-pressed juice is because…it’s so nutritious, so convenient and so delicious.

The person in our family who introduced us to The Juice Standard’s juice to us was…Sean. He often works near the St. Rose store. He’d been driving by it, and one day he went in and did a juice tasting and suggested that Emmet and I go. We went in one day, tasted the juices and nut milks, and that’s how we got hooked.

The reason we drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is for…its freshness. I feel The Juice Standard’s product is the closest I can get to juicing myself. Emmet’s favorite is Bee Royal. I love the nut milks.

Beyond juice, our connection to TJS runs even deeper than buying your products. I was at the store and one day started talking with the people behind the counter, asking about the kitchen and how it worked. And I don’t even know how it came about, but I explained what we do with our farm…and now, when we come in, we give them eight buckets to fill and we take pulp home to feed our chickens.

If it’s news to you that chickens eat juice pulp, here’s why we’re doing it:  As my husband and I looked for alternatives to feeding grain—and I know this is going to sound weird, but—we turned to raising earthworms, and South American roaches (Dubia Blaptica, which are also often sold for reptile feeders) for their high protein content. Paired with your juice pulp, which is so amazing and looks so good and smells so good, it really helps us to participate in the zero-waste movement.

Now, when my girls [chickens] see me open up the buckets, they come running. And when we run out, and we have a day or two where we have to fee them grain, they are just not happy about it! The smell from the pulp is so fresh and delicious.

The biggest difference we’ve seen in the quality of our eggs is…the fiery orange-red color of the yolks. I know it’s packed with nutrients because of The Juice Standard’s pulp.

If people want to buy our eggs…right now, we sell through our friends. But I’m hoping to soon have enough to start selling at farmers markets. Right now, most of our eggs go to our hatchery. We raise rare and heritage breeds of chickens: at the moment, we have Basque and Chinese Silkies. They are two exotic birds.
Our family’s advice to a newbee juicer is…to go in and start with a tasting. Familiarize yourself with the different flavors. when I saw some of the green ones, I thought ohhhhh, that doesn’t look so good! But really, it’s delicious and so good for you.

To learn more about little Emmet and his chickens, check him out on Insta (@EmmetsHouse) and here on Facebook. Quite the little man.

 

 

Friends Who Juice: Michael Tomes

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When we think “daily grind,” most of us measure it in daylight increments; but for a Las Vegas industry entrepreneur like Michael Tomes—owner of Umbrella VIP—the grind is a 24 hour one filled with making (and fielding) phone calls in different time zones, tending the clients that trust him to build their ultimate Las Vegas getaway. And a grind, it can be. “People don’t always appreciate the time that I and my reps put into creating their experiences,” he says. But the butt-busting bustle is worth it when everyone from A-listers to no-listers are so sassafied, they re-hire his party-planning prowess again and again.

Working all hours takes stamina, and for Tomes—who has worked in the nightlife industry both in Las Vegas and in Texas for more than a decade—a fastidious diet and exercise regime gives him the goods to keep going (though the VIP host admits to being a little OCD about something else, too!).  A lover of juice and a fan of our brand, we’re thrilled that of all the juiceries in the land, Tomes hearts The Juice Standard not only for the love of Bee Happy, but for getting the energy he needs to do everything the makes him happy.

ALL ABOUT MICHAEL

The year I moved to Las Vegas was…2001 (from Texas).

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that people can party every night, and that no one has jobs.

The thing I not-so-secretly love most about living here is…the flexibility to do whatever you want, whenever.

Don’t get me started talking about…traveling.

Every day I strive to…be a better person.

Something people would be shocked to know about me is…I’m OCD about cleanliness. My house is seriously spotless.

Fave Vegas spots that never get old are…Firefly and The Foundation Room.

The health habit I get teased about the most is…that I work out constantly. I’m always at Lifetime. But my hard work has paid off.

MICHAEL ROCKS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD

My events-planning company is called Umbrella VIP (and we also run VegasPoolSeason.com). When people ask about my job and what my reps do every day, I tell them…that events don’t plan themselves! When I walk them by a two-hour line [at a club] and get them in, they don’t realize it took 10 phone calls and emails to make it happen….The clients don’t always realize [the nightlife industry] is about relationships.

The reason I’ve been able to do this for 13 years is because I do care about the clients’ experience. You can only be in this business if you’re taking good care of your clients, and I’m proud of [how I do] it.

True or false: “It’s hard for me to get the nutrition I need because my day is so busy.” I say false. I have a home office, and I make sure I go to the grocery store or I stop by The Juice Standard to shop. And, I never eat fast food. Ever. My roommate, Josh Green, is a chef and has a weekly healthy meals service called Meal Thyme. So he brings home healthy, fresh meals for me.

I try to be conscious. It takes months to build it, and only a few short weeks to wreck it.

The charity I try to contribute to most often is…Goodwill.

The perk I enjoy most about my job is…getting to meet lots of different people from all over the world, and showing them a good time in Las Vegas.

My favorite advice to give to other entrepreneurs is…“Stick with it. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

The number one thing I’d tell my younger self is…“Don’t go out so much” and “save your money.”

My top-three goals for my company are…to be the largest VIP company in Las Vegas in 2 years; to build a great staff; and to provide clients with an unforgettable VIP experience.

MICHAEL ON JUICE

Michael Tomes

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…when I did a three-day juice cleanse in Dallas, about 3 years ago.

What made me know I wanted juice as a part of my healthy lifestyle was…I could see the results and felt better and more energized in those first three days.

At the beginning of the year, after the holidays, I did a six-day cleanse with The Juice Standard. This is how it went. What I noticed was that I worked out five out of seven days, and I wasn’t tired…I went about my normal routine. I think it was the difference in the quality of my juices being The Juice Standard’s juices. And, I took a nut milk and at the end of the night. I really felt like I could’ve gone a whole week.

In my opinion, this is what I think sets The Juice Standard (TJS) from the rest. The difference was noticeable [between my last cleanse and this one], and I think it was the quality of the juices. I lost 10 pounds with The Juice Standard, and I felt great. Even my skin. I had so much energy, I couldn’t believe it. And after the sixth day, I continued to lose weight for a whole other day. It jumpstarted me. I was really happy. I felt such a noticeable difference between [drinking] TJS juice and other cold-pressed juice you pick up.

When people ask, I tell them my fave TJS flave is…well I know Bee WHealthy™ is healthy. My go-to favorite nut milk is Bee Happy.

The funniest juice-related thing that happened during my cleanse was…that I didn’t pass out or go crazy! I had as much energy as any normal day.

When I’m not drinking TJS juice, my favorite cocktail is…Ketel, cranberry, Red Bull, and lime.

When people see me drink green juice and give me face, I want to tell them to…come over and talk with me. I’ll tell them why they should drink it, too.
My advice to a newbee juicer is…to continue to make juice a part of your daily routine and you’ll see a difference in the quality of your life.

April=Allergy Relief the TJS Way

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Spring is officially only a few weeks old, but we feel like we’re already upping our A-Is-For-Allergy game, as we sharpen the trusted tools in our tool belts for holding back our yearly wheezes and sneezes.

(Thanks, Trees, for popping your pollen early. Not.)

You may have heard about intermittent fasting (IF)—eating during a window of set hours each day to promote the body’s burning the fuel it has before adding more in. It’s widely reported that IF may be excellent for building immunity, and addressing allergies. And we’ve already talked a little about fasting and our own vernacular shift here at The Juice Standard, we believe there’s a way to combine these tactics of IF and enjoying juice fasts by simply adding a few allergy-fighting Singletons or shots from our menu to your daily sked of eating.

Here’s what we recommend:

TJS SHOTS Shot-Flight

The Juice Standard’s wellness shots are potent 2- to 3-ounce sips that can up the ante of everyone’s path toward WHealth™™ and glowing self.

With a concentrated dose of raw, unpasteurized, cold-pressed juice and select herbs, spices and superfoods from nature’s drugstore, our shots are designed to be downed individually but may be combined with juices in the TJS repertoire for a truly optimized, tricked-out taste. (Ask our Bees beehind the counter for perfect pairings since some shots are meant to be enjoyed solo.)

From increasing energy and immunity, to being the tastiest liquid vitamin you’ll ever enjoy, our shots are like the espresso of the juice world: bold and strong, but filled with things like blue-green algae (for optimized health) and raw apple cider vinegar (for fighting colds and increasing metabolism).

“Shoot it and be done with it” is what we like to say! Each shot is a true one-and-done step in your wellness routine.

Name: WELLNESS SHOT

Boastful Benefits: Need some spring in your step? Having some tummy trubs? Not feeling your best? This powerful combo helps boost immunity with vitamin C; increase circulation with the pepper’s heat; and ease stomach discomfort thanks to the ginger’s stellar digestive enzymes. An excellent shot, any time of day.

Ingredients: Ginger, lemon, cayenne pepperGinger-Turmeric-Black-Pepper

Tastes…hot and spicy with a citrus kick. It’s grownup lemonade on steroids. (And did we say it’s hot? Beecuase it is.)

Name: FLU SHOT

Boastful Benefits: Turmeric is, like, the Superman of Spices, long researched and well documented by The Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health for its ability to improve cognitive function in patients with neurological disorders (Alzheimer’s disease; ALS); as well as slowing the growth of some types of cancer cells. But turmeric is also like nature’s ibuprofen, and if taken regularly can help reduce inflammation in everyone from gym warriors to arthritis sufferers. Bonus? The black pepper in our FluShot helps the bod absorb that turmeric even faster. (And the apple cider vinegar is great for aiding digestion and metabolism.)

Ingredients: Raw apple cider vinegar, oregano oil, turmeric, black pepper

Tastes…pleasantly acidic and herbal (and thanks to that turmeric and pepper—and assuming you like Indian food—faintly reminiscent of your fave yellow curry).

Name: E3LIVE® SHOT

Boastful Benefits: Blue-green algae contains some of the most concentrated amounts of protein known to the plant world, so for vegetarian and vegan eaters concerned about their intake, this special shot helps with all-around health. Blue-green algae is also known for increasing energy, balancing mood, and boosting our overall vitamin and amino acid intake.

Ingredients: E3Live® blue-green algae and coconut water

Tastes…vegetal and grassy, with a hint of the tropics. Think walking through a freshly cut yard while nursing a piña colada. Minus the pineapple. And the sugar. And, pushing a mower.

TJS ALLERGY-FIGHTING  SINGLETONS

Want something a little less strong? Any of our juices and nut milks with turmeric will do you no wrong. From Bee Legendary to Bee WHealthy™, there are sips to satisfy all kinds of palates. Ask one of our Bees beehind the country to steer you in the right direction. Which in our hope, is as far away from a tissue as possible.

Facts About Fructose

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If you’ve read this blog; met Jamie and Marcella and heard them wax poetic about health; or if you’ve visited any TJS location in person and have talked ingredients with our Bees beehind the counters, you know that no matter the health concern, we beelieve there’s a healing juice for everything that needs some healing. That’s why whenever we hear folks bestowing green juice with bountiful accolades (which it deserves) and poo-pooing juice with some fruit in it (which they shouldn’t), we worry. We worry, because fruit being considered “unhealthy” couldn’t and shouldn’t be further from the truth.

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TJS juices do contain naturally derived fructose—also known as “fruit sugar”—and when consumed in mass quantities, like everything else in life, too much can certainly cause harm. But all TJS juices are in fact healthy (assuming you maintain a healthy lifestyle in the first place).

How?

1) According to this journal article by the National Institutes of Health (and others), we  humans were born to detect sweetness…so to some extent, we probably shouldn’t defy nature, right? Our tongues have receptors all over the place that get great pleasure from a drippy bite of watermelon, the sweet-tart pop of ripe berries or the crunch of a crisp apple. And all of that makes indulging in fruit—like, for instance, a chewy date—just as satisfying and so much more healthful than opting for a processed candy bar.

2) Fructose or not, fresh, unprocessed fruit is filled with vitamins, minerals and nutrients. In moderation, fresh fruit is as healthful as it is satisfying.

3) For folks with metabolic issues or conditions that require living in a high-calorie world, TJS’s fruit-forward juices provide a perfect balance of healthy calories and nutrition by serving up two-to-three pounds of produce in every bottle…along with the absorbable vitamin and mineral bennies that come from lovin’ on your fruit.

4) All it takes is 15 minutes (or fewer) for the blood to start absorbing nutrients without having to break down and digest fibrous food to get to the goods. And that makes cold-pressed juice a huge help to people with diabetes, or anyone else with a condition that requires quickly raising sugar levels because the body absorbs juice so fast.

Cold-pressed Juice with Fruit In It: 1

Haters: 0

chill watermelonWith all this fruit love, let’s dial it back to the green stuff for a sec so we can remember something important:

TJS’s lowest-sugar juices—ones that are mostly vegetable?—can equally be a part of someone’s healthy diet for the way they won’t send someone down an unhealthy path thanks to their low fructose content.

So, see? TJS juice proffers a win-win for everyone. Every TJS juice is beneficial. And if you’re an otherwise healthy person, the calories and healthy fat in a full bottle of nut milk is never going to be like the calories in a burger, either.

Calories are calories. But for sure, some choices are better than others.

With Our Cold-Pressed Cocktails, Less Is More

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A few choice ingredients added to some tried-and-true Singletons is all it takes to create our newest menu additions (cocktails) at our newest location (The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas). What makes them truly swoony? That Marcella’s recipes allow their juicy and nut-milky bases to shine-shine-shine.

Haven’t had ‘em? Time to meet The Juice Standard’s cold-pressed cocktails.


TJS-Screen-Happy-RussianWhat: Happy Russian

What’s in it? Bee Happy (think chocolate milk), vodka, kahlua, and choice of optional Crème De Menthe or peppermint oil and/or an espresso shot to make it (and you) “wired.”

Reminds you of…a riff off the best White Russian you’ve hadn’t even dreamt yet.

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-KingQueen-For-Day

What: Queen/King for a Day

What’s in it? Bee Royal (think spicy lemonade), bourbon and ginger beer

Reminds you of…a Dark & Stormy with a side of citrus attitude. Perfect fuel for your night on casino or dance floor.

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-The-Heart-The-Fist

What? The Heart and the Fist

What’s in it? Bee Resilient, gin, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, pink Himalayan salt, hot sauce

Reminds you of? A (spicy garden) party in your mouth.

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-WHealth-Maker

What? WHealth™ Maker

What’s in it? Bee WHealthy™, vodka, ginger beer

Reminds you of…a Vegetal Bee WHealthy™ and spicy-sweet ginger beer make this drink so unique you’ll create an entirely new food memory.

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-sex-pantherWhat? Sex Panther

What’s in it? Bee Cosmopolitan, vodka, triple sec, lemon juice

Reminds you of…sex. And, large cats. Meow. (Er, Grrrr.)

 

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-Living-legend

What? Living Legend

What’s in it? Bee Legendary, rum

Reminds you of…guilt-free nog you can enjoy any time of year. And, Ron Burgundy.

 

 

 

 

 

TJS-Screen-Dirty-MartianWhat? Dirty Martian

What’s in it? Bee Resilient, vodka, dry vermouth, olive juice

Reminds you of…the best dirty you’ve ever had. (Martini, that is.)

 

Bentonite Clay: Bee Cosmopolitan’s Secret For Fighting Last Night’s Ails

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What’s pink, sweet and healthy all over? Bee Cosmopolitan! Our newest juice in the TJS lineup has made its exciting debut on the menu at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and it features a very special substance: bentonite clay…a game-changing ingredient that could become your diet’s new antidote to life’s occasional ails and over-indulgence. 

 

What’s bentonite clay?

Ever hear the phrase that something’s “old as dirt?” When it comes to bentonite clays—and there are a few different types but here we’ll talk about the kind you ingest—this ingredient of the earth and from the earth pretty much is earth. According to Camden Whole Health in Maine, some call it “living earth” because clay is basically weathered volcanic ash that formed an electromagnetic charge when the ash was born from thermal-dynamic heat and volcanic action.Natural-Nigerian-bentonite-clay

So, yeah. Super-special earth. Magic earth, even. Because if taken the right way it really can help alleviate what ails you.

How does bentonite clay work?

When ingested, it is clay’s electromagnetic charge that is responsible for its ability to attract toxic materials in our system, hold them, and then flush ‘em through the body through our digestive tract. And by “toxic materials” we mean everything from germs, heavy metals and pesticides, to parasites and, yes: alcohol.

Why we’re touting Bee Cosmopolitan at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas?

It’s that whole attracting-alcohol-from-your-system-and-flushing-it-through-your-digestive-tract bit we think could help The Cosmopolitan’s Beeautiful Party People have a more pleasant tomorrow after any previous night’s indulgence. Whether you’ve over-done it at STK on a rich meal or knocked back a few too many at Marquee, bentonite clay can act as a magnet for the nasties in your system. And in the recipe that Marcella and Jamie developed, Bee Cosmopolitan’s lemonade-like flavor will make it a welcome nightcap for not only how it makes you feel but how smooth it goes down.

Bee-Cosmopolitan-copy

When should you drink it?

Bentonite clay is best taken at bed, so if you know you’re going out, plan a few days ahead and have a few Bee Cosmopolitans in your fridge. We also recommend drinking plenty of water, since clay can absorb many times its weight in liquid and the more you drink, the more you’ll flush. But bee warned: The clay is so good at attracting and flushing, it may effect the efficacy of certain drugs and medicines you take. (“Effect the efficacy?” We’re going with it.) What we mean is if you depend on exact doses of heart, blood pressure, mental health, or anti-convulsant meds, avoid bentonite clay or at the very least, chat up your trusted medical professional for some pre-sipping advice.

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In The Juice ‘Cleanse’ Debate, The Word ‘Fast’ Rules

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You say potato; we say potahto. We used to say “juice cleanse.” Now we say “juice fast.”

(Wha?)

Yes: The Juice Standard is experiencing a paradigm shift. In the last few months we’ve paused to re-eval our core beliefs about cleanses, fasts and how we describe the tools we use to tweak our health. Now that we’ve successfully mulled it over for ourselves, we’re ready for the big reveal to you.

And Here’s The Big Reveal

We’ve made a very important decision: We’re moving away from talk of “cleanses” and toward talk of “fasting,” a change that may seem small but one that’s of high import.

Here’s why.

A “fast” is typically when anyone gives their body a complete break from chewing food or drastically reduces their caloric intake. Why would anyone want to do this? All the energy that goes into digesting food  diverts to other parts of our body’s daily existence.

The benefits of fasting are the same as cleansing:

  • You still feel slim in the belly.
  • Your energy increases and cognition feels a little sharper.
  • You sleep better.
  • It’s easier to get up in the morn.
  • Your body can better heal wounds (or other issues) since more energy is going to where it needs it.
  • Toxins are removed from your system.

fasting-benefitsBut in addition to all those goodies, in the last few years, well researched books like the UK phenomenon The Fast Diet have touted the medical benefits of allowing the body to rest for 12 to 16 hours between our nighttime meal and what we eat the following day. And those bennies include reversed signs of aging, alleviating arthritis and asthma, and helping the brain turn over new cells quicker, which increases our thinking capacity and makes room for new cells.

What we formerly referred to as the TJS’s “Standard Cleanse” clocks in at just about 1200 calories. Any deep reduction in calories—especially when the only source of calories or nutrients is liquid and not solid—will feel like a fast. And anything that feels like a fast is going to feel healing.

So, Why Not Keep Calling a Cleanse a Cleanse?

For starters, there’s one poo-poo’er in every group of juicers that loves pointing out that we have kidneys and livers to cleanse our bods. And truthfully, they’re right. Our liver and kidneys filter blood that carries nutrients throughout our body, and then those organs help filter, flush and cleanse them fully from our bods via our urine and poo. But we also know that juicing helps facilitate this process more effectively and efficiently…so juicing certainly helps those organs do their organy thing.

Is It More Accurate To Call Flushing the System with Juice a “Fast?”

In a word, yes.

At roughly 1200 cold-pressed calories per day, our newly referred to “juice fasts” provide the same balanced nutrition, hydration and satisfaction that rests digestion, and prime the gut to energize the body—and your busy life!—just like our previously referred to “juice cleanses.”

This is our story and we’re sticking to it:

The STANDARD FAST is a beeautiful entry-level fast. Your juice consumption is spread across six, 16-ounce bottles of original-recipe flavors developed to deliver maximum satisfaction (read: satiety) and crave-ability (read: taste).

standard-fast

The GREEN STANDARD is for the seasoned juicer who prefers navigating an all green-juice fast. Feelings of soaring energy and super-hero stardom can neither be confirmed nor denied.

green-standard

The “B.Y.O.F.” (Build Your Own Fast) is an exercise in craftsmanship and deliciousness. TJS staff will personally pair our menu with your palate and health goals.

Can you still call a TJS cleanse a cleanse? Course you can. But with all of fasting’s benefits and the research available that touts them, file this paradigm shift Sesame Street style…under the letter “K” for Knowledge Is Power.

Microbes, Gut Health, Juice, Poo and You

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Feeling imbalanced? Know something’s wrong in your bod, gut or head but can’t figure out what? When our internal selves seem externally off, first thing we at The Juice Standard look at is our diet. And since what goes in must go out, we spend an awful lot of time evaluating our proverbial “output”…literally talking shit every day. 

Have any friends obsessed with their daily deposits? Are you? Don’t be shy, Bees. Everybody does it. Here’s why knowing your poo is like a secret little key to knowing your health. 

microbiome-picWhy do you think “you are what you eat” gets repeated so often? Beecause it’s true. And it’s never more visible—prove-able!—than after we poo. Why? At its most basic level, our poo is what’s left from the food we eat once our bodies pull all the vitamins and nutrients from it that we need. But if you’ve lived life thinking all poo is equal, you’re wrong. Capable of varying from day to day, meal to meal, the color, shape and odor of our poo is like our own little Magic 8 Ball about our diet…all that’s good about it, and especially what we might be lacking.

We love this cheat-sheet infographic from HealthWorks.my that shares how much you can glean from a glance at what your behind leaves behind.

But knowing how to read your poo is only the second half of the battle since you can’t read output without understanding input. And that’s where juicing, gut health and something called your microbiome comes in.

What Inrmicro2537-f3s A Microbiome?

Microbes are microscopic organisms that live everywhere on earth, and when they organize to live in a singular environment, they form something called a microbiome. Closest to home for we humans, our guts are filled with up to 100 trillion little organisms that create our own personal microbiome…and it’s our microbiome that makes us, us.

 

Why Does Your Microbiome Matter?

When you feed yourself, you’re actually feeding your gut’s microbiome. And since our miraculous gut is a veritable manufacturing mecca for everything the body needs, what goes into your gut gets turned into miraculous, health-promoting things: immunity-fighting blood cells; glowy skin; and maybe most important for our work-life balance, serotonin. Our gut regulates 90 percent of the body’s serotonin production—our happy feeling, peace-keeping neurotransmitter—and is indeed responsible for the strength of our overall immunity.

That’s why if you control what you eat, you not only control how you fight infection but you can control how you feel, enjoying things like…

• Improved cognition
• Increased energy
• Awakened tastebuds
• Enhanced health
• Heightened immunity

What Should Your Microbiome Eat?
Give your gut too much sugar, meat and processed carbs and you’ll create bad bacteria…you know: bad feels, bad immunity. But nourish your gut with fresh produce, good fats and high-quality carbs, and the gut’s glorious flora and fauna delivers the health riches your body deserves.

Now we may be biased, but nothing feeds the gut its necessary flora and fauna like organic produce…especially the kind The Juice Standard cold presses into our juices and nut milks. And there’s no faster way to feed your gut the beeautiful nutrients it needs to serve your body, mind and spirit than by drinking cold-pressed juice beecause within 15 minutes, the gut can absorb the nutrients in every Singleton.

When it comes to caring for your gut, Bees, it comes down to this: No poo? No health. Know poo? Know health.

And now you know.

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TCOLV…Here, Oh Here Come We!

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Cosmo-Rendering-Blog

 

Pretty soon, Off the second-floor elevators at the Chandelier Bar; Across from STITCHED; and, In direct sight of the line-up line for Marquee, will be three ways to answer what we hope will be The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’s hottest question of 2016:

Where’s The Juice Standard?

Best part? The answer will always add up to awesomeness.

Following suit with “The Rose” and “The Hive,” TJS’s third outpost will be affectionately called “The Buzz,” and is fixing to open at The Cosmopolitan in February. So when you or your Strip-bound guests are looking to whet your whistle with the most deliciously raw, fresh, cold-pressed sips made from organic produce, nuts, seeds, and grains , remember: Unlike those big-box brands from out-of-state, we’re the real-deal local choice that’s never pasteurized, and always served with advice, a smile and some love. (And, a menu that features faves and a few surprises can neither be confirmed nor denied.)

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the news.

 

Friends Who Juice: Meet Chelsea Dora

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Chelsea Dora 2Mary, Mary, quite contrary: How does your garden grow?

So goes the famous nursery rhyme…but watch out: In the Vegas version, throw Mary in a desert and rename her Chelsea, and it’s no more silver bells and cockle shells, but hardy crops from a self-taught farmer who not only drinks our juice, but grows some of the produce we press.

Indeed, despite the kind of blistering, water-sucking heat that rips life from plants instead of inspiring growth, Chelsea Dora is a Las Vegas-based farmer/owner (Urban Hydro Greens is her biz) who makes microgreens-growing magic in the most unlikely spot: a 1000-square foot vertical farm space, in an industrial park off Sunset near McCarran International Airport. There, Dora tirelessly grows the kind of greens that are as gentle on the environment as they are on our stomachs.

I moved to Las Vegas in…2003 from…South Carolina, and at UNLV I studied…International Business Marketing with a minor in Chinese. I graduated in…2013.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that everybody eats-sleeps-works on the Strip, and that there’s no life outside the Strip. If you think about other cities [the Strip] is one street—one street! There’s so much to Las Vegas within four hours: hiking, swimming, snowboarding, lakes, beach….

The thing I not-so-secretly love most about living here is…the landscape and the weather. The skies are always so beautiful and blue, and the mountains look different every single day.

My daily mantra or “quote to live by” is…“Be the change.” Very simple. It inspires action, always, which I think is lost on a lot of us. We have mantras or things we want to do every day, but “Be the change” is so powerful.be the change

Don’t get me started talking about…misconceptions in the health information world. I get so fired up. I feel like I have a deep understanding of how the body works, and there’s so much marketing out there about what our body “needs.” People see an article they read on Facebook they’ve scanned for a few seconds and think they’ve become an expert.

Every day I strive to…stay present. There’s no shame in striving to do something, even if you don’t reach it. When you go to the store and someone’s in the checkout line, it’s so easy to be inside our day and not say, “Hi. How are you? Who are you?” I try to set the intention [to be present].

Something people would be shocked to know about me is…I kill houseplants. Microgreens are really easy. [But] I have no green thumb.

A fave Vegas spot that never gets old is…the trail system, and the mountains. There’s a trail behind Rhodes Ranch with gypsum caves. It takes 10 minutes to drive there and five minutes to walk, and there’s a view of all of Las Vegas.

About Urban Hydro Greens

Being a farmer in Las Vegas makes me sound like an urban farming unicorn. When I tell people what I do, I get funny looks, followed by this:

Them: You’re from Las Vay-gas? Oh, how cool. What do you do?

Me: I’m a farmer.

Them: What do you meeean?

And this is the thing: With urban agriculture, we are really creating an industry. In this new-age, urban setting, I use some soil but I’m not knee deep in cow dung. I live in a high rise and I drive my Mustang. There are a few out there, but there are maybe two or three new-age urban farms growing micro greens as a health-oriented company.

We get questions worldwide on our Facebook page [about what we do]. People want to be healthy. You may need a doctor once a year, but you need a farmer three times a day.

This is how I acquired the company. A lot of people don’t know the inception story. When I was in college and I was going to farmers markets (and you should encourage students to go to farmers markets!), I met husband-and-wife team—Dennis and Nickie Vitali—and they had a farm. And I started buying microgreens from them. Mind you, the microgreens were just in a box, so I started learning about what they were and why they were good for me.

I went home and would put them in my smoothie. Then, any time I was at the market as a customer, I started selling to the other customers, explaining what microgreens are. The Vitalis were like, “Hey: You can come to the farm!” Finally, I started volunteering and I learned how to farm them. I wanted to start a juice bar, so they invited me to open one next to them. And I did. And, I ended up buying into the company.

Today, Dennis and I are partners and Nickie has her own business. But they sparked the interest in me by giving me the inspiration that hey: I can grow. I attribute a lot of this success to them. They’re older and wiser, and for them, I brought a youthful energy

I supply the micro greens to TJS. The thing that makes me most proud about my collaboration with the company is…I think it’s one thing to serve juice, but to go the extra step to inspire them and educate them about something that’s better than anything they could make at home? Something they would feed it to their mom, or give it to their child?

Other restaurants and stores I supply my micro greens to are…Winder Organic Farms (which delivers farm-fresh products); View Wine Bar and Kitchen at Tivoli Village; Chef Jeff at Todd English P.U.B. (at Aria); The Sparklings; and, The Juice Standard. We’ve worked with more than 30 restaurants.

What’s your 5-year goal for the company?  We have a school curriculum, a classroom initiative. I’d like our “Garden In A Bag”  kit to be retail-able. I’d like…for young people to have some sustaining income, and to open farms in food deserts, or in the middle of New York City. There are projects I’d like to see grow and be managed by young people. Farms create community, and I’d like [the Urban Hydro Greens] model to spread like wildfire.

Urban-Hydro-Greens-Landscape

Chelsea On Juice 

The fruit or vegetable you’ll always find in my pantry is…goji berries. I always like them in tea.

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…probably when I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.

The first time I drank green juice…it was wheatgrass, and I was one of those people who just threw it up. I detoxed so quick! But it showed me how much I really needed to detox.

Today, I drink cold-pressed juice because…I believe it’s an integral part in understanding produce and food as a whole. The idea is that we don’t eat enough things that start from the ground, and [juice] is an easy way to get the nutrients we need. Who’s going to sit and eat as much produce as what’s in a bottle? I’m a vegan, and I can’t sit and eat so much kale. I don’t want to be in an uncomfortable place. But cold-pressed juice hips me get those natural, healthy things into my diet. Plus, I feel healthy. When I drink a green juice, it feels like medicine, and it reminds you that you’re giving yourself a gift. You’re treating yourself nicely

My advice to a newbee juicer is…to avoid juice with too much fruit. They should try something like a Bee Resilient, because for a green juice that is one of the smoothest juices I’ve ever had, it is the most healthy juice TJS has. It’s going to be the most detoxifying. And I think it’s imperative that new juicers know that.

Who Are The Bees In Our Hive? Urban Hydro Greens.

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In the last 5 years there’s been a huge uptick in people caring about where their food comes from, since the fewer the miles ingredients travel between harvesting and cooking, the more nutritious they are.

Couple that feel-goodyness with a return to how food was harvested in the olden days (i.e., without pesticides) and you’ve got folks craving the purity of organic produce just as much as The Juice Standard does. So in this occasional feature, “Who Are The Bees In Our Hive?” we’re introducing you Bees to the farmers and purveyors who help TJS do the deliciously good work that we do.

Urban Hydro Greens: Go Small or Go Home.

Know those delicate, frilly little greens that started topping salads and sammies a few years ago? Hardly for show, they’re called microgreens and they’re harvested for more than cuteness.

The threadlike shoots that veggies like broccoli, kale and peas produce just after they sprout are massively nutrient dense: A handful of broccoli microgreens actually has the same vitamin and mineral content as a pound and a half of its full-size cousin. (Imagine the chewing you can save!) Plus, their size makes them easier to digest than the full-fledged veg…so people who have trouble tolerating typical, gas-inducing culprits like broccoli or kale do much better with littletons greens.

TJS uses micro greens in our Field Greens Salad and our newest juice, Bee Resilient. And we buy them from right here in Las Vegas from Urban Hydro Greens, founded by farmer Chelsea Dora and her partner, Dennis Vitali, where thanks to their hard work, within 24 hours Urban Hydro Greens’ greens go from soil to TJS salad plate, wrap or bottle. Can’t get much more local than that. Here, Dora shares some ins and outs of this farm just five minutes off the Las Vegas Strip.text-box-UHG

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US (The Humble Bee): You’ve created a vertical farm, indoors, in the desert…and a very successful one, at that. You must still get weirdo looks.

THEM (Urban Hydro Greens): We have birthday parties. We teach classes. We sell “Garden In A Bag.” Most microgreen farmers you speak to are [growing] for specific restaurants, and we do that too; but we have a different take. I’m in business to teach people. I’d like to “Mary Kay” this, where mothers can start their own farms as a source of income and feed their own communities.

US: You sell microgreens at farmers markets. Is the home cook savvy enough to buy them?

THEM: When I first started going to farmers markets, maybe one in 50 people knew what they were. Now? About one in 15 do.

US: What’s making them more popular?

THEM:  Microgreens are more gentle on the digestion…and their live, active enzymes break down easily, so the body is more capable of absorbing them. One handful of microgreens is up to 40 times more potent than the vegetable itself. They’re like live multi vitamins. We like to say, “Don’t just garnish your food; garnish your life!”

US: What’s in the TJS blend you grow for our salads and juice?

THEM: We call it our “Local Superfood Microgreens Blend.” It contains micro broccoli, kale, pea shoots, red cabbage, bok choy, and amaranth, and it does everything from fights cancer and increases immunity; delivers plant protein and amino acids; makes hair, skin and nails shine; and even detoxes the liver and gallbladder. The mircogreens in the blend were carefully chosen to crate the ultimate meal booster…[and] the easiest way to get your daily vitamins and minerals in one serving!

Micro Greens 1Micro Greens Shelves 2Micro Greens Kale 1Micro Greens 3

 

PolyJuicery: BEE In Love With More Than One.

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Bee Pure, Bee Resilient and Bee Grateful are three different and swoon-worthy juices that will  provide a day’s worth of delicious nutrition. While society pushes us to vary what we eat—and it’s pretty much a necessity for maintaining a balanced diet—who’s to say that same need for, er, “variety” isn’t applicable to other areas of life?

This month, we honor variety of another kind: our ability to bee in love with more than one juice—and, daresay, one person—and beeing brave enough to explore it.

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If you’re a person of a certain age, chances are you’ve run the gamut of relationships.

Maybe you’ve been in love, out of love, sworn off love, or don’t know if you’ve actually seen it.

Whether with men, women and/or both, maybe you feel like you broke love or love broke you.

Maybe, try as you did, you couldn’t connect with the face across the pillow that you chose for as long as you both shall live.

Maybe love’s not your gig, and maybe it’s all you ever wanted.

Maybe you partnered flawlessly and your other half died. Or maybe, when he or she walked out, the corpse left  in their wake was you.

For centuries we’ve been conditioned to frame love and loss through a somewhat Colonial and Puritanical lens. But today’s truth is this: More and more people are exploring how to wrap their minds around giving love, seeking love and receiving it from more than one person at a time. And they’re pretty timid to admit it.

Cuddle Puddle

Cuddle Puddle

Beecause of this, for the 30- to 50-year-old demographic, bookstore shelves are thin from sales of titles that today’s women seem starved to digest: alternative relationships, polyamory, and the fact that some people’s capacity to love can be so abundant, the ages-old construct of monogamy—the choice to partner with one person at a time—doesn’t work for them.

Let that creep in a little:

Monogamy…feels off.

That may seem harsh, but we couldn’t mean less harm. Books like Esther Perel’s perennial Mating In Captivity,  Sex From Scratch: Making Your Own Relationship Rules and The Ethical Slut (and don’t go judging a book by its cover because that last one is profound) are thoughtful and deeply researched missives about open relationships relative to polyamory, which the Polyamory Society calls “the non-possessive, honest, responsible, and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously.”

(Now let’s think about that concept for a minute as it applies to how we partner:)

The non-possessive, honest, responsible, and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously. 

((And call us crazy, but shouldn’t all relationships be like that?))

Actually, the notion of not placing all of our love eggs in the basket of one person to carry is a lot like building a custom TJS Singleton Six-Pack. Sure, it’s safe to buy six bottles of the same juice, especially if it keeps you sipping within the lines of predictability. But what if your soul’s true palate points to not one, but three flavors that independently, symbiotically and chemically fill not just your TJS cardboard carrier but your heart, too? What if we weren’t afraid to admit that the ages-old definition of partnering with one end-all-bee-all person doesn’t work for everyone? Isn’t it possible it would be more fair to our partners if we sought some things from some and others from others, rather than expecting everything from one knight or princess? And what keeps us from being honest about expressing new thoughts about our needs…even if they shatter the status quo?

If we crave multiple people to fill our proverbial love tanks—if we believe that advice like this exists to remind that the human capacity to love is SO abundant that it explains how a mother can equally love each of her children—it may be time to better support one another as we reach for the courage to admit there’s no shame in feigning convention. It may help us force the question that if we have the capacity to love more than one person, and we seek a partner with the flexibility to explore this beautiful way of sharing a life with someone who’s likeminded, maybe together we’ll build bravery to talk about it. Seems like the above books and candid conversations is a pretty good place to start.

im with them

At TJS, juice is our one true love. And in this emotive month—and during these emotive decades in people’s lives as we swan dive into our own authenticity after a separation, an uncoupling or a death—there’s zero shame in saying, “Traditional relationships haven’t worked for me. I want more.”

This month—this Valentine’s Day—if  you don’t have a “one love,” it hardly means you don’t have love. You can love more than one thing. Know why?  Our one true love is that which we do in our lives for ourselves: our career and our parenting; our art; our juice…whatever. And while a handful of Team Bees waxed poetic last week about this very subject, Creative Director Mallory Dawn said it beautifully best:

Our one true love is simply that which moves us; and when we allow ourselves to love more than one person or thing, we invite more love to return to us.

love-does-not-claim-possession

(How does it get any better or less scary than that?)

So for all our talk about being kind to one another, this February (this life?) let’s baby step toward being kind to ourselves while exploring how freeing it could feel to own a face of love that works for us, not one that works for society. Let’s loosen conversations in our friendships and communities that explore just how much our hearts might grow if we drop the fear and inch toward what we think might be true for us…even if it’s not popular. Beecause while monogamy can be our life’s most precious gift if we’re blessed to find our “one,” if how you’ve partnered hasn’t felt quite right, it might be time to change the dance.

From The Founders: Reflection, and the New Year’s News at TJS

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Is that you, 2016? Well helloooo, Beeautiful! While a new year can mean out with the old, in with the new, co-founders Jamie Stephenson and Marcella Williams take a few minutes from 2-0-1-6 to reflect on how any TJS year-that-was will always shape its year ahead, as long as TJS sticks to its standards. (Spoiler: It’s going to be juicy.)

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When we first opened The Juice Standard (and in March, it will be a full 2 years since we did), we had lofty goals and dreams that were rooted in fostering our inner selves as much as promoting our business model. From the beginning, we were fortunate to hire gifted people who believe in the brand. And along the way, they have helped shape how our boutique company strives to thrive in a capitalistic climate while staying wholehearted…how we navigate the highs of Las Vegas’s making TJS its go-to juice bar for cold-pressed juice that’s committed to organics, as well as retail’s natural lows. (As you know, “this too shall pass”  goes both ways as it helps us ride life’s waves when things are going smoothly, and even when they’re not).

The inner growth our team has experienced as we’ve worked toward our shared goal—spreading wellness through juice—is as profound as our business growth. And as for business growth, in 2015 there was a lot:

We opened our second store—The Rose, on St. Rose Parkway in Henderson—where it soon became a gathering place for like-minded juicers (and folks who like communal farmers tables).

We introduced flavors like Bee I’m Possible and Bee Kind.

We launched a chewing menu of which we are proud and excited to evolve.

 

_J4A9166-2234We were awarded the Henderson Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Innovation Award for sticking to the standards on which we built this company (more on those below).

The Las Vegas Review-Journal named us Best Of Las Vegas in our category.

We earned exciting press for sharing our story, and just being ourselves.

Though it feels like we’ve been growing by leaps and bounds, we’re trying to go slowly. Mindfully. We always want to do things right, as our main focus will always be juice. And that’s a good thing, since in early 2016 we’ll be making our Las Vegas Strip debut by beecoming the exclusive juice bar at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where we have so many unspeakably exciting things to launch, we can hardly stand the wait. And for the better part of 2015, beside our team of trusted trusteds, we have been working on our new Hive, an outpost that will allow us to press more, and make more nosh.

Excitement all around.

We deeply recognize that this growth was only possible beecause of the customers we appreciate so much. Our customers are people who visit us from near and far, and who have so much integrity, they demand high-quality juice for their bodies and trust us to give it to them. It’s for our customers—you, our Bees—that TJS will continue to improve and grow according to our standards:

• WE SOURCE Organic Produce (If it can’t be sourced organic, we simply won’t serve it.)

• WE PRACTICE 0% High-Pressure Processing (HPP) (Our juice is raw and pressed daily. No sterilized, pasteurized, shelf-stabilized juice leaves our facilities. Ever.)

• WE ARE Environmentally Sound (We reduce, re-use, recycle, refund, and in turn, respect our world through our bottling and composting efforts.)

• WE ARE Customer Centric (Our handholding staff guides new juicers and old down their path toward WHealth™ and glowing self.)

• WE ARE Purpose Driven (We believe in protecting bees; honoring farmers; supporting local business; revering staff members; embracing transparency; creating awareness; nurturing health; serving quality; and spreading love.)

So, yes: 2015 was a very good year. But we won’t rest on our laurels. And as we look toward 2016, we’re excited to continue to serve you, our Beeautiful Juicers, our finest product as we stick to the standards that educate, innovate and celebrate all of our journees toward WHealth™ and glowing self.

Friends Who Juice: Nathaniel Zinni

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It started innocently enough at The Hive, where TJS’s co-founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson saw Nathaniel Zinni buying all kinds of TJS juice…only to learn just how important it is in his juicy approach to a healthy, feel-good lifestyle.  After chattin’ him up—he was in the middle of a 28-day cleanse, af
ter all!—Jamie’s entrepreneurial bones sensed Nathaniel would be January’s perfect poster boy for WHealth™ and glowing self. Boy, was she right.

Meet Nathaniel, a personal trainer and true Las Vegas newbee who in this month’s Friends Who Juice feature offers something of gentle soul’s master class in exercise, health maintenance, andthe ideology behind the two. (Just please think twice before sipping some of what he presses. There may be a reason why he likes TJS so much!)

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All About Nathaniel

I was born and raised in…Massachusetts (the hometown of the Patriots), but I’ve spent the past 3 years in Arizona.

What brought me to Las Vegas was this: I moved to Arizona after I graduated college. I had made up my mind that to grow as an individual, I needed to embark on an unknown journey; one where I didn’t know the outcome, where I wasn’t quite sure if I’d make it. I needed to force myself out of my comfort zone, so I moved to a place I had never visited: Arizona.

It was rough in the beginning—couch surfing; spent some nights in my car—but I learned a lot about human will and our innate ability to thrive when all odds are against us. Those 3 years were so challenging, yet so rewarding, that I knew once I got comfortable again I had to make a similar change in environment and surroundings. When the opportunity arose to transfer with my employer, I jumped at it. And here I am in Vegas.

I literally have just been here for 3 months. I’ve done less couch surfing, but it’s definitely started off with its own unique challenges. But it’s the adversity that we grow from, so I plan on seeing this journey through.

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…[that] the Strip [is] the main way of life, or the only way of life, that exists. Most people’s minds probably flash to scenes from the Hangover, or some other flamboyant movie about the Vegas lifestyle. They don’t consider people’s lives exist outside of that scene.

The thing I secretly (or not-so-secretly) love most about living here is…. the variety of people I have met. What’s cool about places like this—I think warm weather places in general, although from what I’ve experienced thus far, it hasn’t been so warm!—is that they are very transient states. So, I get to learn and interact with many different cultures and people from very different walks of life. When I compare that to my time spent on the East Coast, I felt like people and families just get stuck there for generations.

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If I had to pick my daily mantra or a quote I try to live by, it would be….I always try to [live by] is incorporating is the “3 Ps” – Patience, Persistence and Positivity. Often, hope gets bleak and things go dark; but I’ve learned throughout my years not to be afraid of these moments, not to be afraid of the dark, because it’s in the dark where light shines brightest, and it’s in the dark, behind the lids of your eyes, where your imagination can run free. I think successful people believe in the dark, and they choose to embrace it and believe in what’s there, even if no one else can see. I think it’s those places that you find your dreams.

Music’s importance in my life is right up there, next to air. I truly enjoy such a wide variety. Don’t hold me to this, because this could change for me, but if I had to pick a theme song for my life…I’d go with They Move on Tracks of Never Ending Light by This Will Destroy You. It’s beautiful…the type of music you put your headphones on with and block out the rest of the world; and, it speaks to you without words. I’ve always felt one of life’s great misfortunes is a vast majority of people can name a Nicki Minaj song, but have never even heard this type of music. No offense Nicki….

A favorite Vegas spot for someone who really enjoys taking care of his or her health is…Lifetime Athletic in Summerlin (shameless plug). Seriously, I had never even heard of a Lifetime until I moved to Arizona, and becoming a part of its organization has truly changed my life. It’s a beautiful state-of-the-art facility, but that’s not even the best part about it. It’s the people inside that make it great. I’ve come across some of the smartest and most caring individuals the health and fitness field has to offer during my time with Lifetime. It really strives to provide the best people, places and programs to its members and team members. I believe it has truly separated itself in a congested field of fitness gyms and corporations. You won’t find a nicer gym in Vegas, and it’s something I am truly grateful to be a part of.

Something my family instilled in me about health is….what not to do. I grew up in a big Italian family, where not finishing your plate was a crime against humanity. Looking back, food was a big part of the culture when there were get-togethers. However, no one ever seemed to take the time to consider what he or she was putting in their mouth. As a result, I saw many of my cousins, aunts and uncles struggle with weight. I knew I never wanted to go down that route, and wanted to set an example for them and the people I came across. I always hope to be the spark to light change in their lives, and others, through my actions.

Something my parents did with me as a kid I’d NEVER do with mine is…Honestly? I would never let my kids watch television… That probably sounds crazy to a lot of people. But, if I think about all the time I spent growing up watching other people live out their dreams from behind a screen, it’s kind of depressing. I developed the mentality that I need to get busy working on my dreams and not worry about what everyone else is doing or thinking. I haven’t owned a T.V. in 5 years. and when I have children, I don’t plan to change that.

 

On Staying Healthy in Las Vegas

I’m the assistant head of the personal training department at Lifetime Fitness. When people ask me where I work and what I do, I tell them…that I change lives. My goal is always to educate and leave the individual in front of me better physically, mentally, and emotionally than before they met me.

life time fitness

Best perk about my job is…taking away someone’s pain. As a personal trainer, I think we often get typecast into roles of being people who facilitate weight loss and body composition changes. But the personal training and fitness field is much more dynamic that that.

One of the many hurdles to achieving a person’s aesthetic goal— the first step, really—has to be a person’s injuries and assessing their overall movement dysfunction. I never come across a person who couldn’t be moving better. I have always bought into the phrase, “If you can’t move your own body, what gives you the right to move other objects?” I see this time and again, and as personal trainers, especially at Lifetime. We pride ourselves on not only reaching that person’s fitness goal, but also improving their overall quality of life.

I think successful people believe in the dark, and they choose to embrace it and believe in what’s there, even if no one else can see. I think it’s those places that you find your dreams.

I can’t tell you how many countless people I’ve encountered who are just suffering, from the complex neurological disorders like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD); to the everyday aches and pains of shoulder impingements and low back/knee issues, and everything in between. When these types of things become debilitating and keep people away from completing simple daily tasks, or the activities they love to do, the most rewarding thing about my job is seeing someone’s face after taking away years of pain and watching them lead a normal, unrestricted life again.

A typical workout schedule for me is…I am very routine, so every morning I wake up and do some manual soft tissue work and pair that with various movement drills. Our joints love to move and the best thing you can do for the health and longevity of your joints and tissue is to move constantly, and with a purpose,

Then, I typically break up the middle of my day with some strength and conditioning workouts. This might include exercises like Single Leg Deadlifts, glute bridges, or upside down kettlebell walks. It will all depend on the goal of that particular phase of programming I’m working on.

I think a lot of common gym goers don’t understand the necessity behind programming. If you have a goal, you ideally, systematically, build toward it through well-thought and designed phases and programs. You can’t just throw darts in the dark and hope you hit the target. Like anything worth having in life, you need a plan. I always make sure in my plans to include exercises that will challenge me through different elements of fitness. I make sure, at minimum, to do movement every morning and do some set gym exercises four days a week. .

I haven’t been in Vegas very long, but I can tell you the difference between the healthy-living scene here and many of the other places I’ve been across the United States is…that, stigma aside, Vegas definitely has more pressure and opportunity to take part in a very unhealthy lifestyle. That being said, a lot of places and companies like TJS have risen to combat this lifestyle, and there are more alternative choices here than any other place I have been.

No matter how busy I get…preparation and planning are the keys to how I make sure I eat healthy meals during the week:

It’s like studying for a test you really want to pass. You develop a game plan and you execMake-Time-to-Planute. That could be meal prepping, or making sure, come hell or high water, you get your butt in the gym. A lot of people prepare for school, work, a family, a vacation, but they miss the boat on preparing for the most important thing of all, and that’s long-term health. Unlike many of the aforementioned things, your body is the only thing you will keep with your from birth to death. It’s always boggled my mind that our society as a whole puts it to the back burner.

Veggies make up a vast majority of my kitchen. Choosing one is hard, but for ones you’ll always find in my kitchen…it would be tough for me to part with broccoli, spinach, asparagus or sweet potatoes. I’m not a huge fruit eater, but blueberries and alligator pears seem to always find their way into my kitchen.

My advice to someone who is having a hard time sticking to an exercise plan is…for them to remember why they started. It’s cliché, but true. Develop a tangible and emotional attachment to that reason. What I mean by that is when you really want to adhere to a goal—not just a fitness goal, but goals in general—it has to be more meaningful. It can’t just be, “I want to lose weight to look good for summer.” There’s no substance behind that. Goals have to have feeling to them, otherwise they’re rarely achieved. An example of that might be taking that same weight loss goal, but making the “looking good” a byproduct of the true purpose. Your true connection for losing weight might be that growing up you watched your aunt suffer through Type 2 diabetes. Now, everyday when you wake up, you might have a picture of your aunt on your wall or by your night stand. Under it, you might write, “I can and I will, for you, Aunt Karen.” Now that goal just became larger than you, and now, every time you want to quit or give in, you aren’t just quitting on yourself, you have more to keep fighting for. You’re carrying your aunt’s memory and spirit with you every time you step in the gym.

Fitness is way harder mentally than it is physically: if you get in it for the right reasons, you should have no problem sticking with it. (I’d be remiss not to mention Rashon, Ali, Steven and my Mom, who serve as part of that bigger reason why I always find ways to get through the setbacks and heartaches.)
Nathaniel On Juice

The reason I drink cold-pressed juice is because…I ran into a health situation as soon as I left Arizona where I cannot eat without feeling like I’m going to pass out. I am dizzy, fatigued, confused and have been suffering from unexplained pain for months. To this day, I am still undiagnosed. I have had multiple diagnostic tests, and plenty of medication thrown at me…but I just completed a 28-day juice fast, and it’s been the only thing that has brought me any sign of relief. I’m a firm believer in finding ways to heal your body through nutrition and exercise.

The reason I drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because it’s convenient and it’s better than anything I could make on my own.

This is how I try to incorporate cold-pressed juice into my lifestyle:

Instead of reaching for some caffeine, I flood my system with green juice. Not only that, but I’ve replaced a lot of the fake and artificial workout drinks that have grown in popularity over the years. I can just sip on some fresh cold-pressed juice during my workout and stay hydrated.

I can also use the juice mixed with some protein to help with recovery. Juice is very versatile, and that’s why I have adopted it. Not only that, but I have convinced many of my clients to incorporate it into their lifestyle as well. Many of them have trouble getting a wide variety of nutrients into their busy days. Some of my clients, like Mylene, work jobs where it’s impossible to sit down and have a meal. She’s a doctor, and with long and hectic shifts, instead of starving for 12 hours, she can quickly grab a juice and help keep her energy stable, while adding some valuable nutrition to her long days.

The first time I drank green juice, I thought it was….amazing. I’m kind of strange, but the mere thought of loading my vessels and cells with 16 ounces of green vegetables makes me happy.green-juice-recipe-1

Yes or No: I press juice at home. Yes.

True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the ass. True. Pressing at home is very time consuming, especially if you do not have a quality juicer. I use home pressing mainly in a pinch, or as a way to experiment.

The benefit of cold-pressed juice that I think is most underrated is…its convenience of health. I hear so often, “I don’t have time to (insert excuse here).” Well, when you have pre-made juice and an assortment of choices, it makes it really easy to add some healthier components to your daily routine.

The funniest thing that ever happened to me while drinking juice OR when I was on a juice cleanse, was…I was playing around with different concoctions, and one of the recipes I was looking into called for 3 cloves garlic, 1 inch ginger and 4 carrots. Well, I misunderstood the recipe, and instead of putting in 3 cloves of garlic, I put in 3 heads, and really without even thinking, I pressed this and just immediately started chugging. Needless to say, it was the most disgusting/devastating drink I may have experienced during my time here on Earth. It felt like my insides were being burned alive. I nearly passed out. I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone, unless you are into things like the cinnamon challenge.
My advice to a newbie juicer is…don’t just do it for a fast, or because it’s “trendy.” Figure out ways to make it a sustainable part of your lifestyle, by adding it for a morning, an in-between meal snack, or a morning treat. Make juicing a habit in your everyday life; that way it’s not just a 10-day stint of nutrient-packed juices, and then back to the Standard American Diet. What’s the point of that? There’s no reason not to stick with something like juicing for the rest of your days.

TJS + The Cosmopolitan=A Deliciously Juicy Duo.

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Last month, we were beeyond thrilled when the cone of silence was lifted on something we’d kept close to our proverbial hives for a long, long time: In early 2016, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is enveloping TJS’s first Strip location within the gorgeous walls of this provocative, evocative property.

As the newest venue to join the resort’s eclectic and expansive dining and beverage program, our shiny new outpost will feature the same signature cold-pressed sips made with organic produce, nuts, seeds and grains that have made us a local fan favorite. We’ll also be selling our signature juice cleanses (detox before you retox, anyone?); items from the chewables menu we’ve launched at The Rose and The Hive; and a few things so hotly unmentionable we’re under penalty of tickling torture to keep our lips shut until there’s permission to start spreading the news.

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About The Collaboration

Speaking on behalf of herself and TJS’s Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Marcella Williams, in the statement that announced the collab, TJS’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Stephenson shared some self-contained excitement over the sparkly new endeavor. “We are ecstatic about our new home at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (TCOLV) and can’t wait to introduce The Juice Standard to juice lovers from all over the world. We couldn’t have found a better place to introduce our juices, which are made from the finest fresh organic produce using a method we’ve brought to the Las Vegas Strip.”

As our devoted Bees know, our original recipes (divined by Jamie and Marcella and made possible by our outrageous kitchen staff that presses juice every morning) are made from a cold-pressing process that applies 1,500 pounds of pressure to raw, all- organic produce. One of the reasons we beelieve TCOLV chose to partner with us (and beelieve us, the competition was hot and heavy) is for the simple, healthful goodness we deliver in every bottle. Shunning more typical juicing machines and bottling methods like high pressure processing (HPP) (a process that denatures or pasteurizes juice and deactivates too much of its natural enzymes), wee beelieve in our cold-pressing technique for how it preserves as many of those health-activating enzymes as possible, making for a more nutrient-dense juice.

That folks will be able to pop over to The Cosmopolitan’s second floor and grab a juice before heading to the casino floor, Marquee dayclub or nightclub, or out to the Strip for some urban hiking, is a total testament to the resort’s dedication to providing patrons with a true array of dining options. People will be able to maintain as much of their typical healthy lifestyle as they want. Vacationing doesn’t get more balanced than that….

Cosmopolitan-EntranceAbout The Cosmopolitan

If you don’t yet know The Cosmopolitan, you must. Must! This luxe property, with an aesthetic that appeals to pretty much anyone’s affinity for stunningly appointed, texture- and color-combining design, offers a refreshingly different Strip experience. Big enough to get a little lost geographically confused, small enough to feel like you own it, the resort is at the The Strip’s center, where its multi-tower design offers stunner views of the city, and its 3000- plus hotel rooms feature residential-esque living spaces with private terraces. From its swank gaming floor; the Sahra Spa & Hammam; three distinct pools; a dayclub/nightclub; performance space, The Chelsea; uber-modern supper club Rose. Rabbit. Lie., and window (and real) shopping to beat the band, to say there’s something for everyone is a pathetically gross understatement. Yet, honestly, there’s nothing better to sum up its offerings.

So, yeah: You can see why we’re thrilled to beecome the exclusive juice bar at the sexiest property in all the land. Yep. Just like the George and Weezie Jefferson, we’re movin’ on up, too (in our case, daresay, “down?”) in the world. Gosh, we’d make for fab metaphorical neighbors….

(Now we dare you not to hum this bugger all day.)

This Winter, Cold Press to Warm Up. (Recipes!)

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Recipes. We gots recipes, Bees. With sprits. Oh, it’s gonna be fun.

Betcha didn’t even CONSIDER how awesome a nut milk would be all warmed up, did you. Course not. It’s Vegas. And with weather that’s more Truman Show than Polar Express, sometimes it’s hard to remember winter exists. (Don’t be hatin’, Colorado. We’re sorry about your early storms, and for so much more.)

But (hand to forehead, in gorgeously dramatic fashion)…as Las Vegans, do we not get cold?

Does our skin not sting with December air’s brisk chill like the rest of the country’s?

Do we not pine for a fire’s gentle glow…even if it’s an electric one on someone’s plasma?

steamy-squareLook, we can crave warmth and cuddles as much as a cat in an ice bucket. We’re human. And when we do, here’s what we do, and what we want you to do, too: Take your fave nut milk (or pick from a few choice juices) and warm ‘em the eff up. For real! Do it in 20- second increments in a microwave, or gently on the stove as you whisk your elixir to its optimum temp. You’ll fall in love with a flavor all over again in its same-yet-ante-upped state.

Pointers:

Not every cold-pressed juice flavor plays nice with heat. But if you like mulled cider and wine, or even broth, a few work better than others:

• Bee Royal rocks out when hot. Think all-natural Theraflu, and then forget about Theraflu and just concentrate on the awesomeness of drinking Bee Royal warm. Lemon can really withstand heat, so if you’re sick or just want something soothing at night, go ahead and spike your Royal or keep it G-rated by warming it up in a mug and calling it a night. (Insider Intel: To turn it into a party-worthy pseudo-hot toddy, see our recipe below the post.) 

• Bee Grateful is sublime when the chill’s taken off, and if you heat it gently, you’ll maintain the nuance of the effort that Marcella and Jamie put into making the recipe. (Insider Intel: For a warm and wintry nightcap for grownups, see our recipe below for some sweetly spiced love-in-a-mug.)

cat hat

…This could be you.

• And, of course, heat any of our nutmilks and you’ll achieve Confection Perfection…but don’t stop there. Bee creative! A few drops of peppermint oil (which we happen to like buying from here) in Bee Happy becomes minty hot chocolate; warmed-up Bee Legendary becomes the fastest golden milk recipe in all the land (and we alllll know how kickass turmeric is for us from what we learned last month, right?); and Bee Magnificent…well, she plays nice with others and is damn perfect on her own two feet. As every woman should be.

So, Bees. If you wanna feel like you’re insulated with kitten fur, raise your internal comfort quotient and gentlyheat these cold-pressed beauties. Don’t bee wasting time waiting for the sun to shine. Beecause even though in this neck of the woods it’ll be high in the sky come March, seize our wintry days.

Now read below and grab some ingredients to play with. And don’t forget  your parka. We know you hate the cold.

 

The Royal Treatment

For generations, a solid hot toddy has been a go-to cap after a long, cold night…but it’s also superb if you’re under the weather. This mixture will relax a cough as much as your body, and Angostura Bitters can be excellent for soothing and upset belly. Makes one drink.

royal

…Winter warmer or nature’s NyQuil? You bee the judge.

In a mug or heat-safe glass, add the ¼ cup of Bee Royal to 2 ounces of  high-quality bourbon (High West, W.L. Weller, Blantons work well). Then, add raw local honey, one teaspoon at a time, until it hits your sweet spot. If using, top with a healthy dash of bitters. And if the drink’s cooled off too much since you started making it, microwave in 20-second increments before serving.

The Gussied-Up Grateful

There’s something special about getting dressed for the holidays, and our Bee Grateful feels the same! Accessorized in scents of allspice, cinnamon and clove, our humble little juice turns party ready on a moment’s notice with some pantry staples and super good rum. Makes one drink. (Hint: For your next soiree, buy a Singleton Six-Pack of Bee Grateful, up the proportions and keep this recipe warm in a crock pot all night long.)

In a small saucepan, combine 2 ounces of your favorite spiced rum with ¾ cup of Bee Grateful, 1/2 teaspoon of St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram, one cinnamon stick, one whole clove, and a healthy dash of Angostura Bitters. Heat until just under a boil, strain out the clove and serve with the cinnamon stick.grateful

Families Who Juice: The Webbs

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Is it true that a family that juices together stays together? We suppose juice may help, but if there’s one thing the Webb family doesn’t need is an extra way connect. Henderson-based Ruth and Ryan Webb’s decision to parent by example provides a strong backbone for their three young sons, and their united dedication to good health (and to incorporating juice into their sons’  Littleton lives) is why they’re our first family in the “Friends Who Juice” format.

And “family time”… in Las Vegas? It can be done and done well. You just need the right song in your heart. And these folks do.

Meet the Webbs.

Webb-Family-2

The Webbs! Pictured left to right: Ruth, Ayden, Spencer, Ryan, and Emmett.

Hi! 

Our family has…5 family members: Ryan (dad), Ruth (mum), Spencer (son), Ayden (son), and Emmett (son). And the names of all the people in our house who drink cold-pressed juice are…Ryan, Ruth, Spencer (age 6), and Ayden (turns 3 this December).

We used to live in…St. George, Utah, and we moved here to stay in… February 2013.

What brought our family to “Las Vegas” with our residence in Henderson was…Ryan’s job opportunity in public accounting. What has kept us here…are the career opportunities for both of us; the great restaurants and endless things to do; the warm weather; and that we love the proximity to our family in Utah along with being closer to California’s beaches and theme parks without the California taxes.

In our family’s experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that the Las Vegas Strip, with its gambling and night life, seems to define Las Vegas as not being family friendly.

…Yet the thing we love most about living here is…the abundance of family-friendly activities and events. For example, our community of Inspirada has ongoing community events, three community pools and four parks. We have a pass to the Discovery Museum for hot summer days but really enjoy exploring all the wonderful outdoor parks scattered across the Las Vegas and Henderson areas.

If we had to pick a daily mantra or a quote our family tries to live by, it would be…“Forever and For Always, No Matter What.” To us this means we are in the good times and the rough times together. Spencer and Ayden especially like to round up in a family football-style huddle, put our hands together in the middle of the huddle and scream, “Team Webb!”

team_webb_tee_shirt-rff38d7efe9044eb8aaf6e12efea28fd2_jfhfv_324

If we had to pick a theme song for our family, it would be…Singing in the Rain,by Gene Kelly. YouTube it and you’ll feel the fun and energy of getting through life’s challenges with a smile, some singing and [some] dancing. Everyone needs that.

Something we strive to instill in our children is…the value of each person as a child of God.

Something our parents did with us as kids that we swore we’d NEVER do (and we don’t!) is…drink a lot of soda pop.

The greatest thing about raising a family in the desert is…not having to live in the snow but still being able to travel and play in it. It is a real blessing during busy times of year at work to have weather that allows us to be able to still play outside in the evenings.

Vinyl-Attraction-Family-Forever-For-Always-No-Matter-What-Vinyl-Wall-Art-f29fb3c3-a441-4feb-b4a4-1f19b5066cf0_600

 

On staying a healthy family in Las Vegas...

When people ask me (Ryan) where I work and what I do, I tell them…I work for Stewart, Archibald & Barney, a local public accounting firm as a certified public accountant (CPA) performing mostly audits.

When people ask me (Ruth) where I work and what I do, I tell them…I work for Dr. Kenneth Hill, DDS, as a dental hygienist and help individuals have a confident smile.

foodNo matter how busy we get as a family, this is what we do to make sure we eat healthy meals during the week: We plan ahead on the weekends, make a run to Trader Joe’s and Costco, and gab a few juices from TJS. We make it a point to eat packed lunches, which we fill with the right choices during the school/work week rather than eating out.

The fruit and vegetable you’ll always find in our kitchen are…apples and broccoli.

The lead-by-example things we do to teach our kids the import of good health are…letting them help us make smoothies and juice on weekends. They love picking out the fruits and vegetables and watching the whole process. We have also recently joined an athletic club that has a day care for the kids. They know that while they are playing in the kids room, we are working out. We hope this will create a workout culture in our family over the years.

 

Webb-Family-1

(l-r): Spencer, Ryan, Ayden, Emmett, and Ruth.

The Webb family on juice…

The reason we drink cold-pressed juice is because…we know we need it for our health; plus, the more we drink it the more we have acquired a taste for it. (Some of our friends don’t believe us when we say it’s yummy!)

The reason we drink TJS’s cold-pressed juice is because…the company uses ingredients we can trust. TJS makes juicing more convenient in our busy and crazy lives. Oh yeah: We really enjoy thenut milks like Bee Happy and Bee Excellent along with the smoothies, so those really keep us coming back for more.

This is how our family incorporates cold-pressed juice into our lifestyle: The boys like watching us make juices at home, so that’s how we started. We really only have time for that on weekends. Since finding TJS, we have made it part of our family outings to do taste testing at TJS and let the boys pick a juice to bring home. Once we are home we open one at a time and all share them over the next couple days until they are gone and then we start over. We (Ryan and Ruth) will take TJS’s drinks with us to work. So that’s how we do it.

The first time our kids drank green juice…Spencer thought it was interesting and he was very curious. He started liking it very quickly. Ayden thought it was gross and we had to ease him into it, especially the ones with ginger.

The only person in our house who won’t drink green juice is… well: Emmett, of course, because he is only 6 months old.

True or false: Making juice at home is a royal pain in the butt. TRUE!

The funniest thing that ever happened to one of us while drinking juice OR when one of us was doing a juice cleanse, was…well, we won’t go there: we had one child in diapers and one potty training when we started juicing. (Need we say more?)
Our family’s advice to a newbee juicer is…to drink small amounts, often, until you acquire a taste. That combined with the way you feel as you juice and live healthy will fuel your passion for more.

(Did someone say “passion?”)

https://youtu.be/D1ZYhVpdXbQ

Is TJS Kitchen Manager Shad MacDonald Our ‘King Bee?’

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ShadBeeauty. It’s logically the first thing we seeing beeings notice about a person, but it’s decidedly not skin deep and hardly a way to judge someone. Yet a lesser soul giving TJS’s Shadrach MacDonald a sideways glance might dismiss his intricate facial tattoos (the kind worn by New Zealand’s wholehearted Māori people) as some weirdo thing that makes MacDonald something he’s not. Uneducated? Scary, maybe? A punk? Fill in the blank.

If they did judge, that lesser soul would be the loser…and not in the snarky sense, but in the truest. They’d lose out on getting to know the passion, ingenuity and heart behind MacDonald’s ink; ink he tenderly chose to face the world with to honor the people he’d met as a boy and marveled at. And it’s MacDonald’s heart that The Juice Standard (TJS) co-founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson was drawn to when they met.

“His clear eyes,” says Stephenson. “When I hired him, that’s what I saw. He’s our artist. And when I think of him, and how he works with us, I think of the word ‘synergistic.’ I’ve been working with some of the team for year, and to have the ability to have a group of people working in a 660-square-foot-kitchen—smiling and laughing—he’s just a synergistic, creative force. He’s wonderful.”

alarm

Since MacDonald manages TJS’s daily 5 a.m. juice and nut milk pressing, does that synergy go straight into your Singletons? If you beelieve that energy transmutes from one place to another—if his vibes are in our juice—we’re a lucky hive to have MacDonald among our King Bees.

Since We Opened With The Tattoos…

“I got them when I was barely 18,” says MacDonald of his tā moko tattoos. Calling the Māori some of the nicest people you’ll meet (“if you’re walking, and their door is open, they will invite you to sit at their table to eat with them”) MacDonald was a rare youth propelled toward body art to emulate, not retaliate.

With swirls, dots and lines even more pronounced than his eyes, MacDonald “practiced” being in public with facial stencils to gauge how people would react. “They’re what everyone calls a ‘job killer’,” he says lightly.

Undeterred, at Chicago’s Harold Washington College, if professorial inclination was to prejudge, it was squelched by MacDonald’s academic creds: dean’s list; Phi Theta Kappa; a major in addiction studies, and a minor in psychology.

phi theta kappa

“I’ll be the first to tell you that people judge you every day,” he says of his tattoos. But they’re not a regret. Not even close.

Talents That Surprise Behind Those Eyes

Renaissance man

Hello…from one Renaissance man to another.

“Lots of people are surprised I’ve golfed since I was 4 and that [members] of my family are junior-pro or pro-[amateur],” shares MacDonald, who the day of this interview was enjoying quiet time at the home he shares with longtime friend and love, Rowan.

“I was a contractor for a while…a plumber, a carpenter. I’m a certified forklift operator. We owned our own bike-rebuilding company, and we turned it into [rebuilding] motorcycles and cars. It’s just one of those things where I feel guys should be able to do this stuff.”

All that Renaissance man stuff has in fact come in handy at TJS, where co-founders Stephenson and COO Marcella Williams marvel at his tackling everything from screwy plumbing to resealing floors. “Working on stuff—breaking stuff and rebuilding stuff—is pretty much what I’d rather be doing than watching TV or playing video games.”

Ask Not What TJS Can Do For You…

Along with Williams and Stephenson, MacDonald’s the guy you want in the TJS kitchen. He’s a master recipe developer who loves learning from the ladies the health bennies of different fruits and vegetables, and then tinkering with ingredients to create the new bites and sips you Bees have come to love. And from homemade kimchi and coming-soon hummus and tahini sauces to alchemizing the company’s juice pulp—ALL that pulp!—into WHealthy™ pastries and muffins, MacDonald’s previous kitchen manager/sous chef experience garnered in Chicago and California restaurants is put to delicious use, daily.

Kimchi

As you read this newsletter, Shad’s kimchi ferments away in a secret, undisclosed location, preparing itself to be eaten for your dining pleasure.

What Free Time?

MacDonald and Rowan prefer nights at home tinkering in the kitchen (he cooks her breakfast and lunch every day, and by night they cook together…natch) and hikes suggested by fellow avid hikers Williams and Stephenson. Whether he’s working on menus and juice recipes or playing Mr. Fixit around the store, for MacDonald, “It’s nice to have an entire group of people working [together]. It’s nice to have all of their knowledge….I am truly blessed to be a part of the TJS family.”

‘Tis The Season…to Win the Gift of Giving Juice

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Holiday-Image-Whealthy3If there’s one thing our co-founder Jamie loves, it’s gifting; and if you’re like her, you can probably relate. To Jamie, there’s a natural high that can come from finding the most perfect just-so item that speaks something from the heart that words sometimes can’t. Maybe it’s finding that one thing you know someone already wants. Maybe it’s sheer intuition. But the fine art of mindful gifting has nothing to do with dollars and everything to do with the thought behind the act. At least that’s how Jamie rolls.

ExcitementWomanIs that how you roll? If so, The Juice Standard is giving away a double…no, a TRIPLE whammy of a gift this month by letting you win the chance to gift TJS juice to two peeps who deem improving their WHealth™ and glowing self as highly as you do. In this month’s Wake The Buzz Up! promo, we hope you’ll enter to win a Singleton Six-Pack of juice for yourself…plus two more to give away to friends. So that’s a six-pack for you, and a six-pack for two family members, two kids, two BFFS, two strangers, a friend and a stranger, two spouses (no judgment)…or whomever else in your life likes TJS juice as much as well all do.

Here are the deets, Bees. (And actually, it’s just one deet):

Visit www.WakeTheBuzzUp.com and enter the code T11Z15.

That’s pretty much it. Do that, and you’ll be automatically entered and on your way toward winning three six-packs of juice. Or, 18 bottles. Or three, one-day cleanses. Or one three-day cleanse. (‘Cause maybe you have no friends worthy of your generosity. Could happen.) Winner will be announced Dec. 21, just in time for the big ho-ho-ho.

We seriously love doing shite like this, Bees, and we know you love it, too. And if you’re a self-professed gift-giving lover, please enter and enjoy the excitement of knowing that this time, your giving will allow you to receive even more than you usually do. And that’s totally what this time of year is all about.

That, and this. Always always  this.

(Got Littletons around? Grab ’em some earmuffs and enjoy this throwback, tear-up, grown-up moment.)

 

Mission I’m Possible+TJS=Juice and Jogging Success

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MIP-FOHFor the second time since our young company’s inception, The Juice Standard paired with the Las Vegas chapter of Mission I’m Possible Worldwide (MIP) to show folks just how easy it is to achieve maximum WHealth™ and glowing self when what you do with your bod, head and heart matches what you put into it.


On Saturday, Oct. 10, a gaggle of like-minded juicer-joggers gathered at The Rose for a 10k race organized by MIP, a foundation that brings together spirit-filled, community-minded people who work to cross social barriers (think race and economics) to advocate change and meet the social needs of disparate communities through fitness, career development and community outreach programs.

As if those notions weren’t lofty enough, all that connectedness happens through long-distance running. As in, while people are running. Multitasking at its finest.

Founded for all the goodly folks who can walk and chew gum at the same time, MIP was launched by Samantha Jo Alonso (founder of retail boutique Fruition Las Vegas). Last month’s running route and its periodic exercise drills were led by MIP race leader Christian Walker, who kept runners on their toes and encouraged participants to remember that human empowerment, through togetherness, is really the only way to connect.

And what did runners get as they finished? Besides the satisfaction of clocking another six or so miles, they were handed a Singleton of TJS’s Bee I’m Possible, one of our signature nut milks blended from organic raw cashew, vanilla, lemon, lavender, local honey and alkaline water.

(And did we mention all that connecting and empowering stuff happens while running? Yep.)

Here are the pics to prove the awesomeness that comes from great minds thinking alike. Thinking, while jogging at the same time. Which even a few weeks later still amazes us….

MIP

Turmeric: First Word in Alzheimer’s, Inflam and Good Health

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Turmeric for blogTurmeric. She’s a knobby little root. All versatile and orange (except when she hits your fingers and becomes the most brilliant shade of stuck-on yellow), come fall this lassie enjoys her moment as seasonal produce since she’s most abundant right now.

(But, Shh: We hardly love her beecause she won’t play hard to get.)

This popular and comforting flavoring for curries is one of the most healing roots in rootdom thanks to turmeric’s curcumin, a powerful compound that has been long heralded for its ability to boost brain health. It’s well cited—documented in articles like these by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer’s Society—that turmeric positively effects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease patients; and from Parkinson’s to glioblastomas, it’s a diet addition on the lips of neurologists and oncologists alike.

turmeric-benefits-for-dog-arthritisFor better or worse,  more than a few TJS Team Bees have been told to feed it to ailing family members, and while it’s a hard metaphorical pill to swallow, knowing there’s something natural to combat disease that causes more sadness than smiles can be a life preserver amid a sea of bad diagnoses…the needle in the haystack when you need to sew your favorite button back on.

But as if it weren’t enough that it helps salve issues in the brain, turmeric is revered even more for being an everyday inflammation tamer. Research by the Cleveland Clinic (and aren’t we lucky to have our very own campus right here in Las Vegas?) and University of Maryland’s Medical Center shows that when taken for things like aches, pains and arthritis—inflammation that’s not caused by serious secondary condition or disease but the kind we can feel when the barometer drops or as we grow old gracefully (right?)—turmeric can be as effective as ibuprofen.

If you ever have the pleasure of talking with TJS co-founder and CEO Jamie Stephenson about the far-reaching benefits of one of TJS’s darling ingredients, you’ll hear her wax poetic about turmeric juice’s beeautiful ability to easily deliver its prized curcumin beecause drinking it makes it so easy to absorb into our system. It gets into our bloodstream even faster when paired with a pinch of cracked black pepper: The curcumin in turmeric acts as a bodyguard against molecules that aim to cause chronic inflammation, and black pepper increases our ability to absorb it by 1000 percent.

Throwback! Our signature green never goes out of style.

Throwback! Our signature green never goes out of style.

At home, it’s easy to inject your diet with turmeric (though take care when handling it: root and powder will turn everything it touches a stubborn gold). Doctors who prescribe it (as in this reference from the New York Times) often recommend a 1000 mg/day dose, available in capsules, though intense ones can hit 2000 mg. But for the sake of cold-pressed juicy convenience, try the delish products into which Marcella and Jamie have already integrated turmeric for you. (WELLcome!)

  • BEE ON POINT (a blend of cucumber, celery, carrot, apple, kale, beet, dandelion, radish, lemon, ginger, turmeric and black pepper);
  • BEE TRUE TO YOU (a sweet-yet-spicy juice with cucumber, lemon, ginger, turmeric, honey, and cayenne);
  • BEE WHEALTHY™ (our signature recipe featuring cucumber, celery, romaine, kale, apple, dandelion, parsley, lemon, ginger, and turmeric); and
  • BEE LEGENDARY (our eggnog-inspired nut milk made with raw cashew, raw Brazil nut, raw walnut, turmeric, ginger, vanilla bean, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, pink Himalayan salt, cracked black pepper, and raw local honey).

turmeric-milkAlso on the menu are turmeric shots—strong doses of the big “T” combined with oregano oil, ginger and apple cider vinegar—that combine just the right ingredients to promote full absorption of curcumin.

And though this has nada to do with turmeric, we’re shouting out just one little thing, oh, in the name of something else that’s seasonal and kind of orange and sorta yellow. For a limited time (i.e., until organic pumpkin leaves for another year), coffee lovers can spice up their typical Bee Invincible with our favorite fall flavors. Our newly released Harvest Spice Bee Invincible includes organic espresso, house-made pumpkin pureé, cinnamon, clove, vanilla, ginger, raw agave, cardamom, coconut oil, and your choice of grass-fed butter or ghee.

To know TJS is to know we’re all about the flavor base (no: not that kind, but she’s got a rockin’ message). If healthy stuff doesn’t taste good it’s hella harder to slog it down. But rarely, if never, do Marcella and Jamie make a decision that’s not based in the betterment of improving your WHealth™ and glowing self. And having turmeric in your ingredient arsenal is just one more way to keep yourself healthy so you can enjoy living the the fullest as long as we all shall live.

Sing it, Girl.

 

The True Price of Organics: Pay today, play later.

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The jig is up.

Give up the ghost.

Stop the madness.

(Your turn to share your fave phrase for calling bullshit.)

Bees, it’s official. Hate to say it, but we know what you think. What you really think. And not all of you, but many. Actually, a lot of you….and you of the Collective You know who you are, always lamenting on Insta and FB about why organic juice is so frigging expensive.

It’s a fact that seems to confound you. Leaves you totally perplexed. Some of you even feign shock that the cost of our cold-pressed juice, nut milks, smoothies, espresso drinks and chewables like salads and fruit leathers and nut butters—all made from the best ingredients that money can buy—is unrealistically high despite taking the very best of something (organic produce) and turning it into the very best of something else (our menu of deliciousness).

Really, Bees. We ask you: Would you not expect two gorgeous copulating people to create a beautiful baby? Don’t other amazing things—chocolate and peanut butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano and a crisp pear, stripes and florals, wine and everything—come together to make the best of the best? That’s what happens when juiceries like The Juice Standard (TJS) decide to commit to using organic produce in their products. The math seems simple: When we use the best, we get the best. And though it’s sometimes a little sad for your wallet, it’s baller for your health.

See, we know our juice is spendy compared to others in the Great Juicy Las Vegas Landscape. TJS’s cold-pressed stuff made from sumptuous, 100-percent organic ingredients is in fact more than the $6, $7 or $8 bottles sold outside our walls. Honestly? As a full-fledged member of Ye Mighty Planet-wide Coalition Of Companies That Sell Organic Ingestibles*, for the life of us we cannot figure out how to politely defend our pricing to all y’all without seeming defensive. And since in our defenselessness our safety lies, instead of flat-out coming off as whiny bitches who just wanna be understood, hows about we use a real-life example of the unabashed price differential between organic food and its conventional cousin?

Real World Example
So last week, TJS’ fearless COO Marcella priced conventional romaine lettuce at $11 a case. Know the price of the very same variety, grown and harvested organically? Between $30 and $40 per case. For the same product!

Same.product.

So for a pile of delicate greens that most assuredly soaked up every blessed pesticide a conventional farmer doused ‘em with to make ‘em grow, TJS paid nearly double for the naked stuff, just to ensure that your bod (and the bods of those you love) stayed healthy and undeniably pesticide free. And beelieve it: With no tough skin to scrub or peel, if the lettuce was fed something like, oh, Roundup, everyone who ate it would eat it, too.

Marcella paid double for your naked lettuce. And it’s a choice she and Jamie make with every order.

If you superstar mathletes out there multiply that kind of price point difference by all the produce we use in our juices, nutmilks and chewables, by now it must be easier to see why every organic product a juicery sells  is going to be more expensive than conventional. But we figure it’s worth it, since our products run no risk of getting Roundup into your system.

(Roundup. You know Roundup, right? The stuff that yet again was outed by Reuters to have another lawsuit against it for allegedly causing cancer in the farmers who have long sprayed it on their plants, among others.)

Conventional products, conventionally speaking, aren’t unheard of on conventional farms…but you’ll never have to worry about that with TJS’s organic partner farms. Want proof? Here’s a handful of the as-local-as-we-can-find-‘em farmers we partner with to buy organic produce for your juice:

Thanks to our info graphic-making friends at The Organic Center, we can get a pretty clear visual of how far reaching the choice to buy organic really is.

Thanks to our info graphic-making friends at The Organic Center, we can get a pretty clear visual of how far reaching the choice to buy organic really is.

 

 

Nevada Fresh Pak 

Cal-Organic Farms

Viva Tierra Organic

Something Good Organics

Grimmway Farms

Del Rey Avocado Company

 

 

 

 

 

Jamie and Marcella say this all the time and it bears repeating: You can pay for your health now, or you can pay for your sickness later. Our organics-believing customers respect our choices. We hope you do, too.

So when you see that our juice costs more than the average bear’s, know that we’re not pressing for the Benjamins. We’re pressing for values…and that value is twofold for us: We press for the value of filling our bodies with the most nutrient-dense liquid we can, and we press for the value that today’s care is tomorrow’s prevention.

What are your values?

*not a real coalition. We just have a flare for the dramatic.

Can there BEE such a thing as ‘unhealthy salad?’ Not at TJS!

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HOW on Earth is it that a well-known staple food in our healthy food lexicon has gotten a bad rap? Why, by piling it with a bunch of unhealthies that render its produce a nutritional no-no…unless, of course, the salad you eat is ours. Introducing…the TJS “Chewing Menu.”

 

So, a recent health headline that kinda made us take a step back was about how overrated salad is (or at least according to the venerable Washington Post). It was in this opinion piece by Tamar Haspel, a thoughtful journey who is well versed in writing about food, food supply issues, farming, and the like, and it made some freaking good points about how there are better ways to get our fruits and vegetables than the salad that society has taught is good for us.

Now. As with all opinion articles it’s important to absorb info with a colossal grain of pink Himalayan sea salt. But Haspel’s point was beeyond interesting: What we throw on a salad can weigh it down so much that our well-intentioned base of veggies we use for this so-called “healthy meal” get lost ‘neath a mountain of animal-based protein, processed add-ons and the crunchy, empty-calorie goodies that often come from factories, not nature. 

supersupper_saladHaspel even goes on to say that even without all the tasty bits and dressings that can cause more harm than good, the basis of our salads is often a pile of leafy greens with little to no nutritional value. It’d be one thing if we consistently veered toward spinach, kale and chard; but most folks build bowls with a pile of non-organic iceberg, which on the healthy-veg scale is low-low-low.

Harumph.

Does Haspel say we should all stop gettin’ our inner Peter Rabbit on as we graze on raw, gardeny goodness? No. But might the occasional salad of garden-grown greens with richly homemade buttermilk blue cheese dressing and thick-slab, non-hormoned bacon crumbled on top become something of a treat? It might. Beecause if we’re talking pure nutrition here—if we’re really trying to eat for fuel and energy, say, 80 percent of the time and maybe just for “fun” the other 20—there are better ways to get produce into your pretty little system.

Naturally, we’re about to offer up two winning ways to beat the conventional salad backlash. (And in case you were wondering, this absoLUTEly is the point in this post where TJS’s advice swoops in and saves the nutritional day. Ready? ‘Cause it’s happening now….)

1) DRINK your veggies via TJS cold-pressed juice.Guy With Green Juice In Beard 2

2) Eat a salad…as long as it’s ours.

Fo’ sho’ you saw #1 coming. We’re pretty overt about reminding that you can drench your system with 2-3 pounds of organic produce any time you crack open a bottle of our cold-pressed juice. But our salad, you say? Wha?

Yes, Bees. We now have a new “Chewing Menu” that features among other items a field greens salad you may enjoy with a fork or make portable in the most delicious sun dried tomato wrap we’ve ever laid our lips on. Marcella’s and Jamie’s move toward a well-curated chewing menu is to help satisfy Bees’ needs for a nosh to go with a TJS juice. And an organic, thoughtfully crafted salad or wrap turns into near-Nutrition Perfection when washed down with even more produce.

Did ymicrogreensou see we mentioned “field greens?”  Our salad and wrap do in fact have lettuce, which Haspel
says is, in fact, a banner way to get water into your diet. And when topped with things like raw and organic hemp or chia seeds; raw nuts; and salad dressings with an ingredients list that doesn’t read like the dictionary, a TJS Field-Greens Salad gets clean, organic roughage into your body very easily…and chewing roughage is as important as knowing when to give your digestion a rest by drinking your produce.

When it comes down to it, Bees, nutrition’s about balance. Just like knowing when to hold ‘em. When to fold ‘em. When to walk away and when to run like a mofo. So as you start seeing more and more salads on the farmers table at The Rose, or see folks leaving The Hive with takeaway containers that will give them a healthy lunch, if you find yourself hungry and you’re close by, grab a salad or wrap–maybe some banana leathers or dates filled with Marcella’s kickass cashew-walnut butter—and see how a clean, organic salad can make you feel as light and delicious as it tastes.

Sing it, Kenny.

https://youtu.be/Jj4nJ1YEAp4

TJS Fall Menu Debut

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Anyone who knows anything about juiceries that press only organic produce has likely come down with a case of the OSF.

We call it the Oh Shit Feeling.

Ring a bell? It’s the overwhelming sensation of your world crashing to a screeching halt disappointment when you realize your favorite juice or nut milk is out of stock, or otherwise predisposed and can’t be served for whatever lame-o reason a juicery’s doling out that day.

Happens to the best of us. It sucks. But.

Sometimes it happens beecause a new flavor is so hot, a company hasn’t had the chance to nail the right production sked. Sometimes, it’s beecause a produce shipment hasn’t arrived. As some of you may know, for us here at The Juice Standard, California’s summer weather was tough on watermelons which really effed our ability to press pinky-hued juices until crops did better. Then, pineapple was lousy. 

And ‘round and ‘round the cold-pressed carousel goes….

Yet, you stayed with us. Even during your dark and ashen OSF days (oh, we hope they were infrequent). So now, as summer languidly turns to fall, there are exciting things to tout on our steady, yet-ever-changing menu.

 

BEE CHILL and BEE KIND are BEE GONE

It’s time to wave bye to BEE KIND ’til next season (carrot, watermelon, lemon, ginger) and grab BEE CHILL while you can (watermelon, cucumber, lemon) until we officially break up with one of our favorite seasonal sweethearts (watermelon) to make room for other bottles of awesomeness. Since we have no plans to torch the recipes, don’t fret. Like Ahnold (The Donald’s replacement on The Apprentice, we hear?), they’ll bee back. Next season.

grateful-back

BEE GRATEFUL is BEEYOND BEE-AUTIFUL

Yep: BEE GRATEFUL is once again gracing lips thanks to the happy return of organic pineapple that doesn’t make us pucker. We’d yanked it from the lineup; now, we’re re-pressing this sun-in-a-bottle combo of carrot, pineapple, apple, lemon, and ginger. And with cold and flu season on approach, this is a mighty tasty way to get extra vitamin C.

 

JUICE DEBUT: BEE THE [SOUL]UTION

Mark your calendars, Bees: In the next two weeks we’ll be debuting a brand new flavor that we’ve been itching to share. Cool name, right? Recipe’s even cooler. Check Facebook and Insta for news in weeks to come.

 

HARVEST SPICE BEE INVINCIBLE ANSWERS FALL’S COFFEE-SWIGGING PRAYERS

Starbucks may have set the standard for our clockwork, seasonal coffee cravings, but it sure doesn’t have the corner on the healthiest way to fill them. If you ever wondered how to get all the fall fancy your mouth desires—sweetness and spice and all ingredients nice—Marcella’s HARVEST SPICE BEE INVINCIBLE fits the bill with zero artificiality. Come sip for yourself: organic espresso, cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, raw agave, house-made pumpkin puree and coconut oil with your choice of grassfed butter or ghee. Launching Oct. 3.

 

HOW ‘BOUT THAT CHEWING MENU?

Marcella and Jamie thought it high time to add chewables to accent TJS’s selection of sippers. If you haven’t been to the shops yet, here they are:

 

NutMilks-for-Chia

CHIA SEED PUDDINGS

TJS’s best-selling nut milks are combined with organic chia seeds—ancient grains filled with amino acids and clean protein—for your chewing pleasure. Grab a juice and a pudding, and enjoy a healthy snack or meal replacement with your BFF (that’s Bees’ Friend Forever). 

Flavors include ChocoChia (made with Bee Happy); ChaiChia (made with Bee Legendary); and HorCHIAata (made with Bee Magnificent)

 

SALADS, WRAPS + SNACKS

How does it get any better than pairing a TJS drink with a healthy, organic nosh? Whether your chewable produce is plated (salad), portable (wrap), or something to satisfy your sweet teeth…fill up with us any time.

  • Fresh Field Greens Salad (or the salad packed in a sun-dried tomato wrap) includes your choice of three dressings and add-ons of power-packed hemp or chia seeds.
  • Greek Yogurt Parfait combines vanilla yogurt, granola and seasonal fruit.
  • Banana Leathers with Cashew-Walnut Butter make chewy strips of organic banana the main event; then they’re spread with our in-house, made-with-love nut butter for a sweet, satisfying protein-packed brain food snack. Finally: “Real” leather that’s fit for vegans.
  • Dates with Cashew-Walnut Butter showcase the same house-made nut butter as the leathers for an ooey, gooey, nutty, and chewy treat that’s actually good for you. Mother Nature’s candy.

 

WATERS

ALKALINE WATER

Purified alkaline water. Enough said.

CHLORO-WATER

chlorowaterWe gently marry 9.5pH alkaline water with immunity-building chlorophyll for a fresh, purifying, body-balancing beverage. Emerald in color with a soft grassy taste, our Chloro-Water is pure liquid energy and fit for all-day, any-time drinking. Life…in a bottle!

So there you have it. Come see us in the flesh or check back at our outlets for more info to come on the tastes you love and new ones we know you will.

 

TJS Welcomes Mix 94.1 FM For First Radio Remote

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If all press is good press we gots great press since it ain’t just any press.
On Friday, Oct. 2, from 3-5 p.m., Mercedes from KMXB Mix 94.1 FM’s “Mercedes in the Morning” show will keep her gorge eyes open late into the day as she visits us at The Rose (2530 St. Rose Parkway in Henderson).
 11942160_1034327443253463_7585973147523036319_o
We’re thrilled for her visit: Mercedes recently completed a three-day TJS cleanse and lived to tell the tale, documenting her favorite juices and just how easily she maintained her normal daily activities. We loved watching her glow! During her broadcast Friday we’ll be giving away three, one-day cleanses. Come visit
 TJS In The News
We’re proud of our media love. Here’s a smattering of clips featuring TJS from around the Internets:
April
(VegasNews.com)
May
(Las Vegas Sun Times)
(VegasNews.com)
June
(VegasInc.com)
August
(Top10Vegas.com)
(KTNV.com)
(LasVegasWeekly.com)
(GirlNextScore.com)
(GirlNextScore.com)
(702 Rox Show)
September
(JuicingRadio.com)

Friends Who Juice: Tim Hancock

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Folks who juice are sexy, no? So are our Friends Who Juice. Which means so is Tim Hancock, a Vegas-based photog/creative director who makes magic behind the lens while ensuring what passes his lips is pure. (We’re talking juice, People. Or are we…?)  

Talkin’ About Tim Tim-Hancock-Humble-Bee-2015

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that all the young professionals here are party animals or conditioned to habits that revolve around, sex, drugs, alcohol, and gambling. That morals and discipline just don’t exist. I am proof of the contrary: I’m focused on an active and healthy lifestyle while staying creative in my line of work.

(…but, the thing I secretly love most about living here is…) that we live in a city that is curated for hospitality. The benefits of that include that retail shops are open late, and there are top-notch spa and dining experiences and unlimited choices in entertainment. So there is never a dull moment on a day off.

My daily mantra or “quote to live by” is…”Put good in and you’ll get good out.” Eating healthy, staying spiritually active, and finding ways to enhance the lives of people around me are ways that I daily contribute to “putting in the good.”

Don’t get me started talking about…The Juice Standard! It is so, so very good (especially since I hate the idea of chomping down on lettuce and veggies). I’d much rather drink a Bee WHealthy™ every day!

Every day I strive to…plant seeds ahead of present day. So many people are out there looking for instant gratification. Not me. I have found the favorable life looking toward future gratification. By nurturing relationships, habits, and projects that pay off in the months or years to come.

Something people would be shocked to know about me is…I am actually adopted into a family that is a totally different ethnicity than me! No matter how different we are, I couldn’t have asked for a better home and parents.

A fave Vegas spot that never gets old is…the movies! I’m so into production, scripts and escaping the world through film.

The health habit I get teased about the most is…no fish. I just cannot stand the smell of fish, let alone bring myself to eat one. But give me a lobster and butter sauce and I’ll inhale it! It’s odd, I know.


ABOUT TIMOTHY HANCOCK + DLXVRSN (Deluxe version) MediaTim-hancock-Krista-WhiteBW

I’m both a creative director and a photographer. When people ask about my job and what I do every day, this is what I say: Brands are a visual experience, and I build the elements that make a brand recognizable to consumers through art design and photography.

Some of the most exciting projects I’ve ever worked on are…the television show Global Beauty Masters on the Discovery Fit and Health network; and Billionaire Couture USA’s  Las Vegas and Miami clothing stores.

The thing about my personality, or the capability I possess that I’m most thankful for as it relates to my ability to do my job is…listening to someone’s idea and then creating a visual body of work based on my translation of their words.

Being on a red carpet to photograph people makes me feel…as if I have great responsibility to connect the audience of the famed individual with his or her fans. Ultimately, people are people no matter how huge their following is. I am rarely starstruck.

The perk I enjoy most about my work is…the fact that photos build relationships, and when it’s a job well done, the relationships keep growing!

Last year I launched my first magazine called DLXVRSN. Its purpose is to…take the readers into the ultimate version of finer living with over-the top-editorial and celebrity features. At the same time, the publication unravels the talented people and brands that make luxury even possible, with stories about high-caliber professionals and fashionable leaders who are on the rise.

The number one thing I’d tell my younger working self is…“It’s all so worth the person you’re becoming!”

The thing about my work that makes me most proud is…seeing my clients overwhelmed with complete satisfaction! I am good to my clients, and they are constantly looking for the next big project where they can use me.

TIM ON JUICE + TOTAL HEALTHTim-Hancock-Humble-Bee-2015-1

The fruit or vegetable you’ll always find in my pantry is…TJS’s Bee Grateful. It’s my favorite one that I always try to get!

The first time I drank green juice I thought it was…horrible! But I was lying [to myself], and shocked that it was actually delicious!

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was…when I had the opportunity to film a series of videos with the founders of TJS!

Today, I drink cold-pressed juice because…I feel amazing when my nutrition is amazing, clean and wholesome!

This is how often I drink juice OR do cleanses and when I like to do them:I drink cold-pressed juices weekly to supplement veggies in my diet.

The thing I love about TJS juice is…that it’s mixed just right every time, so it genuinely is the best tasting option!
My advice to a newbee juicer is…You have options. With all the flavors out there, try them all and work them consistently into your daily life!

Who Are The Bees In Our Hive? Meet Annsley Naturals Southwest

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In the last 5 years there’s been a huge uptick in people caring about where their food comes from. The more we learn, the more we realize that the fewer miles ingredients travel between where they were harvested and where they’re cooked, the more nutritious they are.

Coupled with a renewed effort to return to how food was harvested in the olden-golden days (read: wAnnsleyHoneyNEWithout pesticides), people are also seeking out ingredients grown as organically as possible. So we’re rolling out a new feature format called “Who Are The Bees In Our Hive?” with tidbits and tales about the farmers and purveyors who help us do the good work that we do, like maintaining our No. 1 standard: Stay committed to sourcing organic. Period.

This month, we bring you an interview with our honey supplier, local honey distributor Annsley Naturals Southwest, and some insights shared by its affable, passionate and Renaissance woman-of-an-owner Dee Drenta.

Us (The Humble Bee): Many a honey convo turns to whether honey is organic or not…yet the U.S.D.A. doesn’t really have a protocol for designating honey as such (since those little bees can’t exactly be strapped with GPS’ to track there whereabouts). So putting aside the raw/organic issue, let’s turn to why it’s important to buy honey locally. 

Them (Dee Drenta): In the case of honey, the term “local” means it comes from the same region in which one resides so as to reap the health benefits of the pollination process of the indigenous plants in that region.

In our case, we live in the Mojave Desert and Annsley Naturals Southwest honey, from our desert, offers a flavorful bouquet, texture and color as a result of the pollination of numerous wildflowers…[which] is also why many use it for airborne allergies.

I proudly support our local beekeepers by purchasing regular amounts of bulk honey and constantly boast about their ecological and sustainable practices. In regard to other consumer items, “local” may mean it comes from one’s own town or city, state, region of the country, or country itself. As a small business, I quickly learned the importance of others supporting my local products. I realized it was my responsibility first to provide consistency in my service and product line to prove to them they could rely on me. As a result, sales increased consistently since I became the company owner in 2008 for which I am most grateful, and I have been able to employ both of my grown sons, teaching them while also learning about entrepreneurship, customer service, and the importance of understanding one’s own products as well as packaging and marketing. This education is priceless!

So…buying local creates and maintains jobs!. My family’s individual and collective incomes allow us to circulate our money within our own community, further supporting other jobs, and so on. And, buying local as in the case of Annsley Naturals Southwest local Desert Honey, supports positive ecological philosophies, health and wellness, and financially benefits many local ancillary businesses, further circulating the prosperity and abundance.

Menu-Slider US: Besides allergies, what else can local honey help alleviate?

THEM:  There are a myriad of health benefits from using [local] honey….These benefits also include the facts that honey contains vitamins (all of the B-complex, A, C, D, E and K); minerals and trace elements (magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine, sodium, copper and manganese); and proteins, amino acids, carbs, and organic acids. The live enzyme content of honey is one of the highest of all foods.

US: Since we are The Juice Standard, what’s been a guiding gold “standard” for Annsley?

THEM:  I always make it a point to promote family-owned health food stores. Being a small, family-owned business, [and] with Annsley Naturals Southwest specializing in local honey, I understand and appreciate what the independently owned stores regularly provide their customers. They recognize the importance of outstanding customer service and repeat business by building a rapport with their customers based on trust, education and consistency. They take the time to learn about each and every product they carry so that their customers reap the benefits of that knowledge. (Let’s face it, they wouldn’t bring in products that won’t hold their own by selling well!)

I am also very pleased to share how supportive of local vendors some of the more corporate stores are: Whole Foods, Sprouts, Glazier’s and Smith’s. Most often, our products are not only in the honey section, but are also cross-marketed in actual LOCAL sections in these stores. I believe this is a most positive and supportive gesture on their part to strengthen our community in many ways.

sugar-scrubUS: Last one. What’s one way honey has personally improved your life?

Here’s a little secret: I keep a jar of my honey in the refrigerator to purposely crystallize it so I can use it as the most divine sugar scrub on my face and body!

Friends Who Juice: Victoria Hogan

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Flora Pop founder Victoria Hogan—who just happens to be TJS’s resident Flower Goddess, supplying our stores with weekly vases of beauty—depends on bees more than most: Those black-and-yellow buzzers are responsible for pollinating the very beeauty with which she works. Learn about Victoria, her affinity for juice, her reverence for farming, and what she loves about helping folks tie the knot.

All About Victoriaimage12

I’ve lived…all over the Southern United States, but spent the majority of my time in Alabama, and I moved to Las Vegas to stay in…2008 (with a short stint in NYC that ultimately brought me back for good).

What brought me to Las Vegas was…graduate school. I attended UNLV beginning in 2008 to obtain my Master of Fine Arts degree. It was an extremely influential experience that aided in the development of Flora Pop, because it taught me to be a dynamic problem solver and think outside of what’s typically expected from an artist or “florist” or “gardener.”

In my experience, the biggest misconception about living in Las Vegas is…that the Strip is the only place that exists and that people don’t really live here! “No, we don’t live in casinos!” and “No, everyone isn’t a blackjack dealer!” But the thing I secretly love most about living here is…It’s no secret: I absolutely love the surrounding natural landscapes. I appreciate the ability to get lost in Valley of Fire, or hike in Mt. Charleston during the warmer summer months. And, not to mention, the ever-amazing community that continues to grow here. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and bright, it’s nice to be around such creativity.

My daily mantra or “quote to live by” is…I can’t emphasis this enough: “Fake it ‘til you make it!” and “Positivity will take you far.”

If I had to pick a theme song for my life it would be…Coal Miner’s Daughter by Loretta Lynn. Humble beginnings have kept me grounded and thankful of everything I have accomplished.

Don’t get me started talking about…my hobbies…probably. Having grown up in rural Alabama I found numerous ways to entertain myself. I helped my grandfather build houses, herd cattle and plant huge watermelon patches. You know, these “hobbies” of mine eventually found their way into my adult and work lives.

I would say that when I began playing with flowers and gardening, it was for sheer enjoyment and creative expression. One day, I decided to make it my career and the pop-up wedding aspect of my business just sort of fell into place. All in all, anything that involves traveling or meeting new folks will probably have me talking a mile a minute!image5

Every day I strive to…be better than I was the day before. To challenge myself in a new way, or try something I’ve never done before.

A place I love is…Asheville, North Carolina. My favorite aunt has lived there for over 15 years. It’s this beautiful, quaint, artistic liberal bubble in the otherwise saturated Bible Belt. There is huge emphasis on environmental rights and using locally grown and sourced foods. Although I’m not a vegetarian or vegan, if you are, this place is a haven for you. Annie, my aunt, owns and operates a small dahlia and goat farm. I guess these sorts of traits run in the family! If I were ever to move back South, this is where I’d want to be. Blue Ridge Mountains, comfort food, and a wonderful small-town spirit.

Looking back on it now as an adult, I can say that the influence my granddad’s Alabama farm had on my adult life is…it has made me so appreciative! Especially when it comes to organic farming. Take, for example, his pig farm. Pigs are such intellectual creatures that have distinct personalities and apparent emotions. After becoming attached to almost all of them (especially as a child), when it came time for their slaughter it was quite emotional for me. How best to honor their lives than to do it humanely. And then, how to prepare the meat? Think: After raising a piglet from birth to its final days, you wouldn’t even think about leaving that chop on the grill unattended. What if it got burned! Then, after months of coddling, it would have been for nothing. I believe experiences like these have made me very mindful about my impact on the environment and have allowed me to cherish every action or emotion that I can.

About Flora Pop

When people ask about my job and what I do every day, I tell them…that I do pop-up weddings. I typically get a very perplexed look and a, “Well, what is that exactly?” Well, I have a teardrop trailer that serves as my mobile chapel. I bring elaborate flowers, wedding cake doughnuts and Champagne; and to top it off, I image1can legally make your marriage official. There is a tiny bit of planning involved. But the nature of my business takes the headache, cost and worry out of the process. I like to think that the couples I work with put more effort into their honeymoon plans. (Which, let’s face it, that’s the best part!) My ceremonies are about the couple and the love that they share. “Getting hitched” has taken on a whole new meaning!

Victoria-NL-Header

The work I do for The Juice Standard is…so close to my heart! Jamie and Marcella are two of my very best friends. When I do flowers for them, I always feel extremely lucky to be adding flora to this beautiful business that they’ve created together. I find inspiration from seasonal produce and sometimes incorporate that into their arrangements. I never make the same thing twice!

I decided to launch FloraPop because…after a floral shop opened in the area that I had worked so hard to call my own, I was challenged to look at my life and career from a different perspective. Instead of giving up, I brainstormed really hard for almost two weeks after I learned the news about the new shop (a floral shop was my dream and it got taken out from under me). I had already started building the Teardrop to be my roadside flower stand, but something still wasn’t sitting right with me. It’s too hot in Vegas to try to sell flowers in the summer and there just isn’t enough foot traffic, like when I lived in New York.

One day, the light bulb went off: I live in the wedding capital of the world! I can be an all-inclusive mobile wedding company. Nobody was doing it, [so] I had a blank canvas to experiment as I saw fit. Now, I can’t thank that flower shop enough. It pushed me to stand outside of myself and become what I feel I was destined to do.

image4Marrying people makes me feel…so happy! And, grateful for true love. The fact that these people chose me to honor one of the milestones in their lives is truly a gift to me and a humble reminder that life is short. I honestly believe that the folks I marry are like-minded. All the ceremonies I’ve ever done are civil and I feel lucky that we can speak solely about the couple’s love and future intentions. If I were ever asked to do a religious ceremony, I would be open-minded, but my sights are generally set on praising the couple and their unique experiences. It might sound crazy, but every couple I’ve had the pleasure of officiating for will be friends of mine for life. I have an open invitation to travel the world to visit them whenever I like. That Is my favorite feeling of all!

 

What makes me happiest about working with flowers is…there is no pressure when creating with flowers. I let the materials speak for themselves and I often joke that the flowers made all the decisions for me, I just place them where they can shine the brightest.

The number one thing I’d tell my younger working self is…to be patient and trust the process. It always turns out for the best and putting your thoughts and aspirations out into the Universe will allow them to come back as you need them. I’ve worked really hard in my life. Ever since childhood, that, I would never change.

The mimage1ost rewarding thing about my work with Flora Pop is…that it’s completely my own. I created this “thing” from nothing. I didn’t have a manual telling me how to do things. I failed a lot, but got back up and strived to be better. I don’t have to answer to anyone, I am my own boss. I attract very chill clients, and I can travel at my leisure. Most of all, work, does not FEEL like work. It’s my passion turned paycheck!


Flora Pop On Juice + Healthy Lifestyle

The fruits or vegetables you’ll always find in my pantry are…mangoes and tomatoes!

The first time I realized I loved cold-pressed juice was… back in my undergraduate days at this place called Golden Temple in Birmingham, Ala. I’ve always sort of been a health nut! After having open-heart surgery, twice. It’s something you consider daily. I have congenital heart disease, so keeping my heart strong is a No.1 priority.

Today, I drink cold-pressed juice because…it’s healthy for my heart, helps support organic farming and that it tastes yummy is just a bonus!

This is how often I drink juice: I drink juice every single day! The greener the better! And the Bee Chill reminds me so much of my Grandpa Roo (short for Rooster). Every summer we would pull up to the watermelon patch in his farm trunk and pick the first one. He’d slice into it with his pocketknife and then we’d section it with pieces of grass. All while sitting in the bed of his truck. Those were the best summers of my young life.

The thing I love about TJS juice is…the company’s mission, recipes, personality and most important, the heart and soul that goes into every single bottle. It is SO incredibly apparent when you sip. No other juice spot in town has this special ingredient: Love.

The funniest thing that ever happened to me while drinking juice OR when I was on a cleanse, was…Well: TJS gives you straws for a reason! Drinking juice from a glass bottle in a moving car could end in disaster…for your front teeth! Let’s just say, I lost green juice and not my pearly whites.
My advice to a newbee juicer is…don’t be afraid. It’s possibly one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself!

Honey’s In Da House

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Beeing National Honey Month and all, here’s to what’s right and true about an ingredient that should be your fave, too.

The Juice Standard’s honeybee love goes so much deeper than our branding and comb-shaped logos that we’ve included it in our philosophee. Bees are a pivotal part of the company’s reason for beeing. That’s why over on The Facebook we’ve been celebrating honey since September’s start as part of our 30 Days of Sweetness for National Honey Month. And beecuase we love it, we want you to, too.

Honey of the raw and local variety is a major super food. Anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, it’s excellent for external uses like face scrubs and skin irritation salves, and internally, it’s a tasty, trusty addition to tea. But health-wise—as something that’s real and deep-in-your-bones good for your body—this nectar is especially helpful in one distinct area:

Allergy relief.

The idea is that honey-producing bees consume the same pollen that flies through the air during allergy season (which for some desert dwellers is May and, Oh, now). And when bees produce their honey, they do so by processing the very pollen we can be allergic to. A major contributor to the icky eyes and sneezes of Las Vegans are the dreaded Fruitless Mulberry and European Olive trees…but the theory is that the more we’re exposed to their allergy-causing pollen, the more we can build a tolerance to those nasty-bad irritants.

Got raw honey at home? Down it. Have access to local bee pollen? Many of us take a teaspoon a day for good measure. Whatever you do, see if you can incorporate this blessed stuff into your beeing. Course we think that drinking it is the cat’s meow, but your bod’ll be happy no matter how you enjoy it.

Since we think honey’s better than Benadryl, we’re here to help you up your daily dose. These TJS recipes contain the kind of sticky stuff we hope you’ll be stuck on.

BEE HAPPY is rich with raw-cacao goodness and at least once a week is called “adult chocolate milk” by someone who thinks they invented the compliment. (Nut milk made with filtered water, coconut water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, raw local honey, raw cacao, vanilla bean, and pink Himalayan salt.)

BEE HAPPY is rich with raw-cacao goodness and at least once a week is called “adult chocolate milk” by someone who thinks they invented the compliment. (Nut milk made with filtered water, coconut water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, raw local honey, raw cacao, vanilla bean, and pink Himalayan salt.)

 

 

BEE TRUE TO YOU is, simply put, an allergen alleviator of the highest order. (Cold-pressed juice with cucumber, lemon, ginger, turmeric, honey, cayenne.)

BEE TRUE TO YOU is, simply put, an allergen alleviator of the highest order. (Cold-pressed juice with cucumber, lemon, ginger, turmeric, honey, cayenne.)

 

 

 

 

 

BEE LEGENDARY brims with exotically warm spices, and is on its way to being known as TJS’ perfect fall flavor you’re lucky enough to by year ‘round. (Nut milk made with filtered water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, turmeric, ginger, vanilla bean, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, raw local honey, pink Himalayan salt, and cracked black pepper.)

BEE LEGENDARY brims with exotically warm spices, and is on its way to being known as TJS’ perfect fall flavor you’re lucky enough to by year ‘round. (Nut milk made with filtered water, raw cashew, raw brazil nut, raw walnut, turmeric, ginger, vanilla bean, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, raw local honey, pink Himalayan salt, and cracked black pepper.)

 

 

BEE I’M POSSIBLE is creamily, dreamily kissed with love, light, lemon, and lavender, of all things…and BOY does it work! (Nut milk made with raw cashew, vanilla bean, lemon, lavender, raw local honey, and alkaline water.)

BEE I’M POSSIBLE is creamily, dreamily kissed with love, light, lemon, and lavender, of all things…and BOY does it work! (Nut milk made with raw cashew, vanilla bean, lemon, lavender, raw local honey, and alkaline water.)

 

 

Hi There, #WhyICleanse Promo Winners!

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OH, Bees! You so sassy. Many of you answered our August call for your beeautifulist photos of TJS bottles, tagged with @TheJuiceStandard and paired with thoughtful comments about why you cleanse. Thanks to your artistry and ability to turn some nice phrases, a choice few earned one- and three-day cleanses on us. We couldn’t have been more proud.

These #WhyICleanse winners were announced Sept. 1, on Instagram:

Instagram Winner 702Rox

702rox and her multiple posts throughout the month were the picture of prettiness and peace. “I love juicing for the vitality, energy and nourishment it gives me.”

 

It’s all in a day’s healthy eating for this bee, who has changed her body thanks to her crazy Crossfit strength; taking a hard and honest look at her diet; and lineups of food and drink like these. “…I’m feeling healthier than ever and these juices are just a little bit of the magic that makes it happen for me. I still eat almost whatever I want, but I’m smarter about it now and think about it more so.”

Instagram Winner Ambularlc

Ambularlc got points for striking yet simple creativity. This beeauty cleanses “to hit the ‘reset’ button, for both my tastebuds and my mindset!” (Can you believe she’s a working mother of three?!)

 

We appreciated how many balls in the air this active mum keeps afloat...while using TJS juice as a tool for her health.

We appreciated how many balls in the air this active mum keeps afloat…all while embarking on her first multi-day cleanse, which she did with TJS. “My life is pretty intense with work, #EvanGodyTaylor, the doggies and finding time for myself to work out…I’ve always enjoyed [TJS’s] green juices for breakfast but I’m taking it to the next level. I’m not doing it to lose weight. I’m doing it to feel better.”

 

This Grammer's rededication to her vegetarian lifestyle started, in part, with a lineup like this. Proudda her.

This Grammar told us that her re-dedication to her vegetarian lifestyle started with a Standard Cleanse day like this. “TJS has such an awesome team. You can tell they’re genuine and want to provide their customers with the best organic products.”

 

This artful arrangement and equally artful sentiment won us over.

This artful arrangement and equally artful sentiment won us over. “I turn to The Juice Standard when I need a pick-me-up. When my mind and my body are tired, I can refuel myself with their juices….Better yet, all the workers really help me learn about the many benefits that these juices have. Cleansing give me the energy and confidence to accomplish more throughout the day.”

 

This lovely styling got our juices flowing.

This lovely styling got our juices flowing, but her sentiment was bomb.com. “Everything in moderation is a saying I like to go by. But when those cheese enchiladas that you’ve had a huge hankering for turn into a weekend full of margaritas, you need to bring yourself back down to the earth from that heaven. So, you find a different heaven that is The Juice Standard. Juicing makes me feel alive, whole and bright like the sun. Simply put, these juices make me feel oh-so-happy and taste really yummy.”

 

And here’s what some of you other clever kids had to say:

erikalove92: “#WhyICleanse: I cleanse because it is both mentally and physically challenging…but that is the best part. I am strengthened physically and mentally. I cleanse because I say #FxckCancer and all diseases! I once read, “Treat your body like it belongs to someone you love,” and that is why I cleanse: because I decided to love…me.”

trustlife: “#WhyICleanse: Four years ago I decided to start loving my body and treating it with respect. Replacing alcohol with cold-pressed juices has completely transformed my life! I’m healthier, happier and more fit than I’ve ever been! Thank you to The Juice Standard for keeping my nutrient levels at their optimum!”

corny_rae: “#WhyICleanse: I was born without a thyroid, so it’s very important for me to do everything I can to stay energized and well. The Juice Standard has the best juices for this. When I cleanse with The Juice Standard, I feel mentally and physically energized. I make huge strides on my journey to a fitter, healthier me!”

hellokaylaranaenails: “#WhyICleanse: I have yet to have the opportunity to do a [cleanse] but I am dying to…I’ve seen many other juice companies but I am always drawn right back to you!…You are the only company I’ve come across that is involved. You all truly believe in what you are doing and truly love your products. Your company’s customer service is beyond words and nothing is better than great customer service.”

simply_kaygee: “Juices from The Juice Standard are always something that I love to treat myself to. (Yup: I consider something healthy like this a treat.) I cleanse for ME, since it makes me feel great, less bloated, and much lighter and refreshed! It [brings me] one step closer to my fitness goals and has always been one of the best ways to bring out the healthier and happier me.”

determined_jenny: “#WhyICleanse: Practice peace, get rid of all those toxins, purify your surroundings and enhance love to the Universe.”

We’re beeyond thankful for all the participants’ love. Didn’t win? We hope you’re encouraged to visit us and give our rainbow of juices and flavors a try. Complimentary tastings guided by our amazing staff are available every day.

Last thing? Instagrammer erikalove92 included a quote in one of her posts that we just love:

“Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food.” ~Hippocrates

Couldn’t agree more. 🐝