The best weekend (yes it's Tuesday, but it's still goin')

The Raw Spirit Fest was perhaps one of the single most enjoyable periods of time I've had the pleasure of experiencing so far in this particular life. I encountered fantastic, loving, beautiful souls (especially one in particular ;)), incredible food, and beautiful music. I was fortunate enough to be a photographer for the event and was able to capture some incredible pictures of the whole shindig. I learned exactly what I needed to this weekend, and I'm still buzzing with the feeling of total connection and appreciation. I'm half-surprised that I'm able to somewhat articulate how this feels. Another grand shift has taken place and I feel the most comfortable with who and where I am in this goofy little "reality." It was a tremendous icing on the cake to talk soul-to-soul with others who are experiencing the same feeling of keeping one foot in this place and the whole rest of your body, mind, spirit in other, much more entertaining and enlightening fields.

Also, an update. I'm currently in the process of creating an incredible venture. Stay tuned, because there's no disappointment allowed in my arena.

Love and RAWK ONNNN,
Steph

E-E-Evolution

I love sudden realizations, because getting hit on the head with a shit ton of figurative bricks is always a blast. I don't give my body enough credit sometimes. She completely knows what she's doing. For instance, in terms of our extraordinary evolutionary process, our ancestors worked pretty damn hard to survive. I wouldn't say this is the evolution of our bodily structure and so forth, just the evolution of society, since we still have groups of human beings that live the way all humans lived a few thousand years ago. You know, spears and loin cloths and big cats that could potentially pose a threat to your head remaining attached to your body. But I digress.

The point here is that I've noticed a pattern. I will go from having an almost insatiable appetite, quite literally eating or drinking a fresh juice every hour, to not wanting much more than a salad, smoothie, and green juice per day. Well, der. Our digestive systems were built to hum along at a consistent pace, ripping apart what we give it in order to make our bodies function. However, it's important not to overload it, and what I think is that the majority of people today have lost touch with their bodies so much that they simply ignore what their bodies are screaming at them and keep eating their McDonalds and Cokes because they're addicted and misinformed. This last month or so, I've gotten even more in touch than before, and have started to accept this pattern instead of being quizzicle about it and insisting on a certain intake.

My perspective has shifted a bit again. Everything we think we know is just guesswork. Everything that doctors, nutritionists, experts on this or that, government issued "recommended daily allowances," and food pyramids/rombuses/octagons have to say will fall under my consideration for a brief moment and be either be thrown out on the doorstep or implimented in my programming. Each of us is different. And completely fallible.

What I'm continuing to learn is I am my own guru, just as you are your own guru. Sure, we learn a lot about life and growth from our experiences and other people, but we have to know what's right for us. We cannot entirely get back to our roots while things are the way they are. The changes humanity has gone through in terms of technology and acceptable behavior and everything we use and do on a daily basis is different from the experiences people had 50, 500, or 5000 years ago. These changes happened for a reason. When a disease runs rampant, people are going to start using their brain to think up a way to prevent it or cure it quicker or differently than nature intended. Medicines become available, new industries crop up, things are invented to make life "better." However, things have gone awry. In our attempt to deliver food cheaply, quickly, and inexpensively, we've murdered it. We've murdered what it means to eat, to dine on what keeps our bodies ticking. We've strayed away from our original design.

Time to get back to nature.

Love and rawk on,
Steph

The picture I promised...

I promised to take a picture of the corn soup I made a few days ago (or was it last week...time just blends together doesn't it?), so here it is. :)

Focus, grasshopper.

My biggest and most consistent challenge in this life is focus. Or lack thereof. ;) With my interests running every which way like the roots of a tree, how is it possible to stay on a straight path, or slightly straight with some curves and wobbles? I know I'm definitely NOT the only unfocused soul out there. I guess famine can drive you just as crazy as a feast. When there are opportunities everywhere (there always are, really, it's just opening your eyes to see them) and all require treading farther down all those paths...it's enough to drive someone nuts because the feeling is akin to being pulled in every direction. In light of that, I had a "come to the Universe" moment yesterday. ;D I just sat down with myself and figured out exactly what I want to be doing right now. "Helping people" is too general, so I narrowed it down to delving deeper with Rawk Solid, and continuing to help two of my friends/family with their established companies. I just need to remind myself to sit back and take a look around me more than once a day - to appreciate everything in life, even when it appears to be a huge, tangled ball of yarn.

Right-o! Dost thou wish to see the record of edibles? ;D Here it be:

28 September, in year of the 2, 0, 0, and 7:

• 1 cup water
• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water
• 16 oz. smoothie - aloe vera juice, maca, green powder, bee pollen, almond butter, hemp oil, goji berries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, water
• Lots of water
• 1 whole papaya
• Mixed green leaves and some of my homemade "scrambled eggz" - almonds, cilantro, green bell pepper, black pepper, tomato, sea salt, and water all mushed together
• Mixed green salad with shaved fennel, sliced orange, and dried apricots (no dressing, like usual...unless it's olive oil)
• 14 oz. smoothie - milk thistle powder, maca, green powder, hemp oil, blueberries, cranberries, water
• Lots of water
• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water

Yesterday's (27 September) food ventures included:

• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water
• 1 liter water w/ fresh lemon
• Salad with butter lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots
• Homemade yellow heirloom tomato gazpacho with cucumber and fennel garnish
• 2 oz. wheatgrass juice
• 16 oz. green juice - collards, spinach, parsley, celery, garlic
• 16 oz. smoothie - maca, greens, hemp oil, cranberries, rasberries, goji berries, water
• 16 oz. green juice - kale, collards, spinach, parsley, celery, lemon
• Salad with mixed greens, avocado, sesame seeds, raisins, and olive oil
• Another smoothie, 12 oz., same as the one I made above, minus the goji this time ;)
• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water
  

Thanks for reading and enjoy the evening...

Love and rawk on,

Steph

Mmmm potlucks. And smoothies.

I'm excited to be participating in a raw/vegan potluck at the end of this month. It'll be my first one and I'm looking forward to making something delicious for a bunch of new people. Now it's just down to my little internal struggle over what to make.

This is also the 17th day of my cleanse and it's going really well. And, hopefully this isn't too much info for some of you, but I had a colonic yesterday as well right after Ashtanga, which is always a great combination. Between "wringing out" my organs and sweating during Ashtanga and getting out all the old stuff in my colon via a tube in the ass, I felt really drained but really good. I just prepared my usual raw fare for dinner afterward and loaded up on the probiotics. Yum.

So I've decided that I will continue with the FlorEssence cleanse up until the Raw Spirit Fest. Then I'll either do a more complete two-week cleanse from Renew Life, or skip it and go into juice feasting in November, since that will be a great time to start (I'll also have a legendary Norwalk by then, which I will also be using for my clients...I think they'll be pretty happy).

Onward to the Holy Record of Raw!

26 September, year of 2, 0, 0, and 7:

• Lots of watah
• 2 oz. FlorEssence w/ 2 oz. water
• Smoothie (I swear it's becoming my famous hallmark smoothie even with its variations - I've got a whole village of people addicted now) - green powder mix, maca, blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, almond butter, hemp oil, water
• More water
• Mixed baby greens with avocado, sesame seeds, raisins, and olive oil
• 16 oz. green juice - garlic, spinach, kale, collards, parsley, lemon juice, lots of celery
• Seaweed salad and a nori wrap with mango and raw tuna inside
• Smoothie - green powder mix, maca, blueberries, cranberries, hemp oil, water
• 8 oz. water
• 2 oz. FlorEssence w/ 2 oz. water

Oh, just a note. I've had a few people email me about spacing food out and so forth. I list everything in order, but I definitely space out everything quite a bit. I do not drink water with my meals but always rinse my mouth with water after I eat. I usually wait about 30 minutes after a meal to drink anything, which is good practice for anyone, as it aids in good digestion.

Off to sleep!

Love and rawk on,

Steph

New Recipe and something to remember...

I went for a green juice and a quick shop to pick up some produce at Wild Oats, and was inspired by the corn hanging out by the kale I just picked up. I've always had a love affair with corn for some reason, and for these past two weeks I have had a hankerin' for it. I always like to test new recipes out on my harshest critics before I incorporate it into menus for my awesome customers, so, I rolled up my already-rolled-up sleeves and decided to make a corn soup.

It totally hit the spot. I ended up bringing some to my mom and she loved it, and she admitted that she was surprised that it was so mahhvelous - why is it always a surprise that raw food tastes so good? Mary summed it up for me in response to me asking her that same question, "People don't trust healthy food. They trust corporate food." Looks like we've got our little battle plan right in front of us, eh?

Corn Cream Soup (serves 2-4 depending on how hungry everyone is)

Base Soup:

• 2 cups water
• 3 cups (about 4 ears) of sweet corn (it's hard to find fresh organic corn here, so I used frozen organic for this)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 medium-sized clove of garlic
• 3/4 cup extra virgin, cold pressed olive oil
• 3/4 cup of pecans

Garnish (optional):

• 1 cup of sweet corn
• 1 avocado
• 2 tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, preferably)
• 1 medium-sized heirloom tomato

Putting it Together:

Put the main corn soup ingredients in your blender (best if it's a high-powered one, like a Vita-Mix) in the order listed.** Blend the ingredients on High for about 2 minutes, until it appears smooth. At this point, make sure it's garlic-y, salty, or whatever-y enough for you. Run it for another 30 seconds or so to make sure it's mixed well. (Run it longer if you want it warmer - just don't run it too long or you'll raise the temperature too much, making your soup cooked, not raw.)

While the blender is running, thinly slice an avocado and dice the tomato.

Pour the soup into 3 or 4 bowls. Garnish each bowl with some slices of avocado, a little heap of diced tomato, about 1/4 cup of corn, and about 1/2 tsp of black pepper.

Picture to come!


**If you've chosen to use frozen corn, no need to defrost it fully. Just pour the corn in first and then the water and let it sit there for a few minutes while you're preparing the other ingredients - your blender will warm it sufficiently.

24 September, in the year of 2, 0, 0, and 7:

• 1 big cup water
• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water
• 2 big cups smoothie - green powder, bee pollen, maca, blueberries, goji berries, raspberries, hemp oil, water
• Mixed baby green salad with avocado, tahini, olive oil, and raisins
• Handful of goji/mulberry/golden berry mix
• 16 oz. green juice - 1 full bunch of kale, celery, spinach, parsley
• My new corn cream soup (above recipe)
• Lots of water
• 2 oz. FlorEssence/2 oz. water
  

And a little wisdom to leave you with this evening...

“Who looks outside, dreams.

Who looks inside, awakes.”

-Carl Gustav Jung

Love and rawk on,

Steph

The POINT

Today's thoughts were mostly on peace and beauty. Yeah yeah, I sound like a big hippy. ;) But how could I not think of it when I was seeing peace signs everywhere? I was getting knocked over the head with 'em. I had several realizations today on just how beautiful this whole place is. I wonder how the general consensus in society became "life is hard and unfair and people suck and blah blah blah." With all this beauty and love and light around us? Come on. ;D I can't help but laugh at that.

The only trouble humanity has boils down to the inability to see that beauty, love, and light. If every single person saw it, this place would be so ego-less and everyone would recognize one another in themselves. Thankfully, so many people are waking up to this every day, and it's an amazing feeling. At the same time, I know everyone is on their own path and their own time frame, so patience is key and being pushy isn't gonna cut it. This was a lesson I had to learn, especially since my natural tendency before was to relentlessly try to "save" everyone.

Love and rawk on,
Steph

Filled with excitement and celery

Deep breath.

Deeeeeeeep breath.

Major surge of energy these past few hours. I'm normally at a steady full throttle anyway, but this is just ridiculous. I think it's mostly my excitement over consistently meeting more and more people who are so...incredibly bright and open and engaging. There's that trade-off of energy - you feed off theirs and they feed off yours and it's one of those happy little exchanges. Today was perfect for that. Truthfully, I was getting a little confused with my body and her recent weirdness, and I bumped into 3 separate people today who helped me so much more than they realized. I have that extra bump of certainty and confidence that she's just doing what she's supposed to be doing, and everything will clear out and balance out. I'm sooooo looking forward to a more substantial clean sweep. I love the eventuality of starting fresh and taking my whole being to another level.

On another note...today I was thinking a lot about this lifestyle in general. Being vegan was a diet and an animal rights thing for me. Being raw is my lifestyle. It fits with my yoga obsession, animal rights, the spiritual growth I've experienced (and am still experiencing), and all the incredible information that I have absorbed (and am still absorbing). Raw food was that final piece to the puzzle. I had everything else except this very important piece. So I just spent all day being insanely grateful for everything.

Earlier today I had thought a bit about how our bodies and interpretations of raw food are different. I pinpointed my standpoint on it, and that is to eat what is balanced and what is the right fit at the moment for this particular body. Being the intense researcher that I am (it's almost like a joke among everyone who knows me well enough..."Yeah, just ask Steph. She'll research it to death and then let you know the verdict..."), I've taken a mish mash of facts and figures and experimentation and have, so far, ended up with my current habits. I think we're all in a state of transition almost constantly - we change our eating habits, our routines, our sleep patterns, etc., depending on what we have to do or what we've learned. Being raw is something that will definitely remain unchanged, but I will wiggle around within it, which I have done several times already and still do.

I shall leave you with that. Enjoy the night.

Love and rawk on,

Steph

Update on Autumn Cleansing...ehhh

Right. So, I'm on my 9th day with the FlorEssence cleanse. The stuffy head and random head pressure weirdness have gone awayyy. But now my skin - oh, how expressive is she, glorious skin - has decided upon some itchy pink cheeks. I could possibly be described as a slightly older looking version of my baby self (see left hehe) with those typical baby rash cheeks. I think it's funny, and it looked even more spectacular after Ashtanga tonight. (More on Ashtanga later, I owe it a whole sonnet of joy and joyness).

Anyway, I'm soooo glad I'm doing this gentle little cleanse right now. I've always lived in a more city-oriented environment and who knows what sort of crap we're exposed to every day, so I'm getting rid of some of that. Maybe I'll go live on a farm in Oregon or Ireland (it's one or the other). Minus the cows. Chickens are amusing, though - I would have one just for looks. Preferrably one with the furry legs, or as Ali G says..."why's that chicken got them fuzzy boots on?"

I've had some new emails asking what I eat, so instead of giving a whole dissertation, I'll just keep a little record on a quasi-regular basis. Plus, I've written a whole section of "Raw 101" for the RSLiving website, which will be up by the end of the month for your viewing pleasure.

So, for the record...today was a mostly liquid, small eating day. Probably because I've been eating nearly non-stop for a few days prior to that, ended up losing a pound in the process, and my stomach is now calling for break.

19 September, year of the 2, 0, 0, and 7:

• 2 big cups of filtered UV water and lots of "I love you" energy first thing in the morning


• 2 oz. of FlorEssence with 2 oz. of water


• 2 big cups of smoothie - green powder, bee pollen, maca root, cranberries, goji berries, blackberries, ice, water, olive oil, and a scoop of Tomberlies raw vegan mint ice cream


• 16 oz. organic green juice - collards, kale, celery, and parsley
  
• 16 oz. organic green juice - collards, kale, spinach, parsley, celery, fresh-squeezed lemon


• Several pieces sushi (raw, wild-caught fish) at my favorite sushi bar - spicy tuna wrapped in nori and avocado and spicy tuna wrapped in nori and mango


• 2 big cups of water


• 2 oz. of FlorEssence with 2 oz. of water

Woooooo. All for now. Have a good night!

Love and rawk on,
Steph

Ode to the Little Yellow Bag

In yesterday's post I had mentioned my midnight jaunt into the kitchen for a goji treat. I didn't really go into detail on what exactly I was babbling about, and they definitely deserve more of an introduction. These little chocolate goji balls of goodness are made by Superfood Snacks in Hawaii, owned by Adam Collins, one of the nicest guys I've ever had the pleasure to talk to. He created these 100% raw and organic snacks as a tasty and fulfilling way to get your energy flowing and balance your body. Personally, I think they're the tastiest frickin' thing on the planet...next to my green juices and perhaps blueberries.

As a tree-hugging, eco-conscious person, I was also impressed by the fact that Adam and his team created a totally biodegradable and compostable wood pulp bag. It's the first package of its kind. Let's hope that their example leads to more companies adopting a more environmentally friendly approach to consumerism.

If you're itching to try a bag, check out their website. Or, if you live in Las Vegas, you can buy them at GoRaw or through me, Rawk Solid Living.

Autumn Cleaning

Today was a busy, awesome day. I had the wonderful opportunity of connecting with three beautiful women while getting a green juice at Wild Oats. They were all so curious to know about raw foods, how to get started, how to stay motivated...I was just happy to see that more people are so interested in this diet (though I consider it more of a lifestyle). I think they were most curious about dark green drink I was downing haha. (For reference, this one was rainbow chard, celery, parsley, spinach, and fresh squeezed lemon - all organic.)

The weather here in Vegas is becoming cooler and it absolutely feels like Autumn. Even though the summer heat is awful, Autumn and Spring here are completely worth the 114 degree summers. Plus, the sunsets are even more beautiful than usual this time of year (deep crimson and orange), especially these past few days due to the fires on the other side of the mountains.

Anyway, I had forgotten to mention that I've been doing my very first cleanse. Today was my 6th day cleansing with FlorEssence. I'm lovin' the taste. I take 2 oz. of it mixed with 2 oz. of room temp, filtered water, at morning and at night. I plan on doing it for 21 days, maybe 30, depending on what my body wants...though it's safe to take daily for a lifetime. The past 3 days using FE, I've had some mucus build-up in my nose and I wake up with a stuffy feeling in my head, which goes away mid-morning. My skin has been a little itchy, though no rashes or blemishes. I also have been getting some headache-type feelings randomly throughout the day, which go away in a few minutes. I've never had a real headache before, so I suppose that's the best way to describe it. Other than that, it's all very tolerable and I've been doing the same crap I normally do. ;D

My inclination is to do the 92-day juice feast next, starting after the Raw Spirit Fest and my trip to Oregon later in October. I was especially inspired by Miz Angela Stokes and some cool guy named Mark, who stuck with it for the 92 days and emerged ready to rock n' roll. I have my eye on a GreenStar GS-2000, since I don't want to use my VitaMix and strain it - I want to do this 100%. I think it would be really friggin entertaining to see how it goes, considering I might be one of the youngest people to try it for the full 92 days and, coming from a relatively healthy background, what sort of experience I would have. I get all excited just thinking about it haha.

I've been so hungry lately, it's insane. I don't think I've stopped eating for two or three days. I know it's midnight, but I'm ready to run into the kitchen and grab a goji treat. Oy!

Hope you all had a mahhhvelous weekend.

Love and rawk on,

Steph

Coconuuuuts

I've fallen in love with young coconuts for the past month or so. When I was just a wee one, I really couldn't stand coconuts, though I'm sure that was because the coconuts that people kept trying to feed me were those processed shredded bits.

Coconut water is Nature's Gatorade, minus the artificial ingredients. Drink it when you're dehydrated, after a workout, or just when you feel like it. It's especially hydrating because of the electrolyte content and the meticulous filtration process the tree uses to filter the water.

Just a few tips on coconut water...

1. Don't buy it canned or in a carton. I frequently see it on the shelves at health food stores and I'm still grossed out by the ingredients that the manufacturers add. Buy young thai coconuts and crack one open with a cleaver (just be careful!). Or go to a local juice bar and ask for coconut water. If you live in Las Vegas, GoRaw Cafe sells fresh coconut water.

2. Buy them from a reputable shop. Coconuts can be subjected to very unsanitary conditions once they're removed from the tree, making you susceptible to some dangerous molds and microorganisms. Whole Foods or Wild Oats are generally safe bets.

3. You can drink coconut water straight, or use the water and the meat in shakes, desserts (I use mine for my chocolate pudding), or any other meal.

Oh, and while my mind is on it - Google "organic young Hawaiian coconuts." They're certified organic (unlike Thai coconuts) and I use them in recipes more often than the Thai ones. ;)

Love and rawk on,

Steph

In the beginning...with a sidenote

So even though I've had this blog for a few months, it wasn't until today that I actually thought I should start writing in it. There's been some interesting shifts in my life lately, and I'd love to keep a record of it all. Between finishing up with university, daily business 'stuff,' and loads of projects sparking my interest, I can easily say that I've been swaying between certainty and uncertainty. I've noticed that many people are going through similiar feelings right now, so I'm making an effort to focus my attention on them, instead of me. I find it really helpful to remember this (an excerpt from Eden Ahbez) when I'm feeling a little testy or in an out-of-character mood:

'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.'

It's just a very simple reminder with a meaning that goes much deeper than what the words are showing us. Love, when I think about it, doesn't have that romantic notion. To me it's means a genuine camaraderie - caring about everyone else just as you care for yourself. The fact that there is a 'me' and 'other people' is just an illusion of egos. We're all really just the same soul. Remembering that is something that will become as natural as breathing, so remembering will become knowing. Many of us are really starting to embody this, and you can really feel it. It's probably what's making me more exciteable than usual. ;D

Thanks for reading. More to come!

Love and rawk on,
Steph