Raw, Raw, Raw by mary elizabeth

Have you ever won anything?  I’m trying to think if I have, and I’m not coming up with anything.  I’d like to say I won the Living Light employee valentine haiku contest last year but I didn’t.  Kate did.  Anyhow, guess what?  Living Light won “Best Culinary Arts Training” in the Best of Raw Awards at the Raw Living Expo last month.  This is really cool because these awards are decided by popular vote (that’s people like you and me), rather than bestowed by some mysterious board somewhere, proving that we really and truly are the best raw culinary school there is.  And we have been for fifteen years now.  That’s something to be proud of.  Cherie gave the keynote address for the weekend which is a great honor and something to be proud of, too.  What an impressive place Living Light is – and how fortunate I feel to be a part of it!

Last Friday was my four-year anniversary of working here, speaking of being a part of it.  That’s a while, for the likes of me.  What’s the difference?  Well – obviously – I’m much more grown up and settled than in the past.  But beyond that, this company has really taken the time to work with me and find a place where I fit and can continue to be an asset and all that good stuff.  And as they even continue to pay me for it; it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.  Congratulations, Living Light, for being voted the best.  And thanks for making me a part of the Living Light family for such a long time!

50 by mary elizabeth

So – in about a month I’ll be turning fifty.  FIFTY.  I mean, it’s no big deal, and just a number, and you’re only as old as you feel, blah, blah, blah.  I get all that.  But – if fifty is indeed the possible midpoint, then I could conceivably have as much to do as I’ve already done.  Yikes!  That, dear reader, is a bit daunting.  I mean, I’ve already done a lot of the time fillers like school, college, having little kids, etc., and I’ve already got a lot of the mistakes out of the way as well, knock on wood.  So what – I have a whole lifetime’s worth of beauty and wide open possibility ahead of me?  Far out.  I guess.  What are my goals?  Do I even have any?  And are goals called a bucket list now?   I don’t know – maybe write another book, only this time make it one someone might actually want to read.  Is it too vague to say, “be the sort of woman I’ve always wished I were”?  Actually, vague or not, I’m sticking with that one, in hopes that all good things will naturally follow.

If you have somewhat more concrete goals, and Living Light figures into them, why wait?  We have a lot of wonderful classes coming up.  Or maybe you just want to add some living benefits to your diet.  Why not come into our Café for a wheat grass shot a couple times a week?  Or maybe you just want to read up on raw food.  We have all of Cherie’s books available in our Marketplace at a discount if you buy them all together.  Making a commitment to a more planet friendly way of eating on any level is a beautiful and noble thing.  Living Light would be honored to be a part of it.

I Love You by mary elizabeth

Are you one of the people who love Valentines Day or could you take it or leave it?  I’m one of the ones who loves it, but I have plenty of friends who don’t – so I guess I get both responses.  Well – no I don’t.  Seriously?  What’s not to love?  First of all, don’t you have any sweet childhood memories, oh cupid haters?  Like – making valentines out of pink and red paper and doilies and stickers and glitter?  How about the little paper ones you got at school?  I have to say some of my sweetest, most favorite memories are of my dad coming home from work with big heart shaped boxes of chocolates for my mother and me.   Now I  make sure my kids get something from me.   Maybe it’s always been more of a family holiday for me so I don’t associate it with a bunch of heart hurts and disappointments – just love and pink and flowers and chocolate.  All good things!

If you are feeling up against the wall to make sure this isn’t one of the disappointing sort of Valentines Days, how about a romantic coastal get away?  The Living Light Inn is offering a Sweetheart Special this Thursday through Saturday: buy two nights, get one free.  Pretty sweet, huh?  And what better way to say “I love you” than a few nights on the coast in our all organic, planet-friendly inn?  You could get some super delicious raw chocolates from our café, too.  Sounds perfect, doesn’t it?  And sometimes last minute plans are the most romantic of all.  So there you go – give me a call and reserve your room today!  Happy Valentines Day!

Remember the Three by mary elizabeth

Well – here we all are in 2013.  The world didn’t end and we’re all good to go.  The new year is a great time to reassess.  We make resolutions and set intentions.  We look forward to new possibilities.  Of course, the fact of rolling over to another year doesn’t actually change anything – we all know that.  We also know that change only comes from within, though, and if it takes remembering to write a three instead of a two on everything to kick off that change, then far out!  Let’s set our hearts and minds on what it is we really want and let that three be a reminder to focus on it.  Let’s stay open to all the positive possibilities we see ourselves realizing this year.  By the time the three becomes automatic,  I bet we’ll be closer to our dreams.  Just think where we’ll be when it’s time for the four!

The new year means nine new sessions at Living Light – nine new groups of students, nine new sets of possibilities.  Our first session starts on January 12th – super exciting!  What better way to start 2013 than putting your focus into planet-friendly, life prolonging food?  If part of your vision for the new year is to become a raw food chef, set your intention and check us out.  Give us a call and set up a tour or just request an information packet on-line.  It’s easy – just like remembering the three.  Happy, happy new year everyone – really and truly.  Let’s have a beautiful, abundant 2013 full of love and dreams come true.

Renaissance by kristin

We’re off to a new start. The Mayan long count calendar Baktun cycle ended and as of Winter Solstice we’re ready to embark on a brand new era of  mutual cooperation and co-creation. The weather may be a bit gloomy and dark just now, but that gives us a little extra time to reflect on the possibilities of new beginnings in the coming year. I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be quite remarkable if we stay in integrity with our dreams and goals. The last full moon of 2012 kept me awake last night – tuned in to its magic brightness in the dark winter sky. To sleep, perchance to dream, or shall we now wake up to the certainty that we can be instrumental in helping to create a new society of nurture and care?

Every new year, I am filled with hope – this year even more so. In spite of painful events in the world, I’m hopeful that enough people will pull together in the coming year to start making a true difference.

At Living Light, we’re happy, excited and enthusiastic. Dan and Cherie have just published a wonderful new book, Raw Food For Dummies, (raw food for smart, busy people), and are planning a world tour in the new year.  We know that bringing the message of health and vitality to a whole new audience is one of our important missions and we’re glad to take it out to a broader public.

Health, vitality and energy are three important qualities to aspire to in the coming year. We’re blessed and happy to be able to help people with education and delicious food. First stop, Hippocrates Health Institute on January 4 in Florida – the 2013 Raw Rocks Tour!

Lucky Me by mary elizabeth

I have so very much to be thankful for right now.  Oh my goodness – it’s ridiculous!  This week’s holiday really helped me to put it all in perspective.  First of all – I have some wonderful, beautiful, amazing friends.  I had the honor of seeing some of them on my holiday journey this week and it was such a fun reminder of why they’re my friends in the first place.  I’m so grateful to an often benevolent universe for these special gifts!  Second of all – I’m grateful for the opportunity to actually connect with my father.  I don’t do it very often, but have made the Thanksgiving journey so many times now it’s a real tradition.  It was just my daughter and me this year – no brother, son or boyfriend.  But – that’s okay.  If we felt a little lonely, so be it – we also felt connected to the past and were present for this year’s small celebration.  And thirdly – I am so very, very grateful for my coastal home and the people who fill it.  I love all of you!

Tonight is our Living Light holiday party.  This is always a good time. It’s a chance to get dressed up and hang out with work friends.  I’m looking forward to it.  We always play games and have a white elephant exchange and yummy food.  It’s another connection for which I’m grateful today – a chance to connect in such a festive way with the people I see almost every day.  And it’s another chance to be present for my life today and be honored by the opportunity to work for and with such wonderful people.  The holidays have begun in earnest and I’m happy to say I’m right there with them!

Giving Thanks? by mary elizabeth

Can Thanksgiving really be just a week from today?  Come on.  That’s crazy talk.  Fortunately, each year I do the very same thing so I needn’t come up with any plans and fortunately again, my annual plans include Thanksgiving dinner at a pretty posh country club so I really don’t have to plan, let alone cook, anything.  But – I do need to locomote myself and my children to this annual event which is a six hour drive with the last bit often through chain-requiring snow.  This is really no problem, either.  All sorts of people put chains on their cars everyday.  Plus my daughter and I are world class ride-around-in-the-car types now, and my son has an iPod so we’re all good.  And this year, we’re adding a stop at some of my very most beloved friends’ on our way to and from our final destination.  It all couldn’t be nicer, really.  It just feels so soon!  I mean, once Thanksgiving has come and gone my kids birthdays are right around the corner and about a minute later it’s Christmas.  Oh well – nothing to be done about it, of course.  I mean – I have had a year to prepare – it’s not a surprise.  But – I’m no where even close to having saved up the money for that Bettie Page dress I’ve had my eye on for months and now it’s almost time for holiday parties and how’s that going to work?

Okay – hopefully that was my holiday complaining for the year.  Let’s get on to my holiday happiness which is, as you know, eating.  Did you know we have whole cakes and pies you can order from our café?  We do.  You can get one of our raw vegan pumpkin pies for your celebration next week.  Yum!  And we have vanilla or chocolate cheesecake.  We have a super fancy lemon poppy seed cake that looks stunning and tastes divine.  You need to give us a day or so to create your masterpiece, so come in and order one today!  Happy holidays!

A Good Start by mary elizabeth

I’ve been getting up pretty early these days, which is a whole new thing for me and I must confess to doing my share of sleeping in at least one weekend morning but – back to the point.  I’m finding that if I get up early enough, I don’t feel rushed in those first waking moments and I can actually get outside and take a look at the world and try and make a spiritual connection with the universe.  I find if I can actually beat my life out the door, I can really make myself open to what each day has to offer.  And then, for like eight to ten minutes, I’m calm and connected.  It really feels good.  I’d like to say that this state of serenity lasts throughout my day, making me an absolute treasure to be around, but that would be a stretch.  However, it does get the day off to a beautiful start and that’s better than my usual rushy ways.  Between that and working out a few mornings a week, I’m really front loading my days in the balance department.  I hope I can stick with it.

The holidays are often a time to loose track of one’s daily routines.  The health of mind, body and spirit can get lost between all the events and family members and food.  I’m going to try to keep it together this year and hang on to what’s most important to me.  It’s beginning this weekend with a trip to my mother’s.  We’ll see how I do.  Anyhow, I hope we can all remember what’s most important this holiday season.  Maybe when you get a little overwhelmed, you could come into Living Light for a refreshing juice or smoothie.  A wheat grass shot is often just the right thing on a busy day.  Don’t forget that refreshing your body often helps to refresh your mind, too.  As far as your spirit, just keep the connection.  Love with your heart and not your wallet.  And be compassionate with yourself when those cookie trays start showing up!

Pumpkin Flavored Temptation by mary elizabeth

So – I always say that “the holidays” start at Halloween and go to Valentines Day.  At least as far as tempting foods are concerned.  But that was a bit off. The tempting foods are already here and I am not doing all that well at resisting.  First of all, everything – EVERYTHING – is pumpkin pie flavored right now and I absolutely love pumpkin pie.  And I don’t just mean out in the cold cruel world of cooked things.  We have a version of pumpkin pie right here at Living Light which is beautiful and the crust is one of my top ten favorite things to eat of all time.  So – there’s really no escape.  I’m not one to deny myself a whole lot.  I’m good at cleanses and things like that where I have to be accountable.  But normally – if I want a piece of pumpkin pie, I’m going to eat one.  I just have to be careful to pace myself and readjust to this new holiday frenzy of tempting treats.  Seriously – there’s temptation around every corner and there will be for months!

Our Living Light students are learning to make lots of healthy, happy choices right now.  They are half way through their Associate Chef and Instructor training.  Some really beautiful pictures are coming out of the culinary studio.  Many of these students will be leaving us after next week, but some of them will be with us until Thanksgiving and beyond, learning all about how to create and serve their own fabulous dishes.  I think this is a great time of year to come and study here because it gives you all kinds of support and fresh ideas and tools to get through the tempting months ahead.  How do you get through these holiday months happy but healthy?

Spice of Life by kristin

What is the spice of life? Take a little sunshine, add a sprinkle of rain, a big dollop of friendship, a generous amount of love and season with agreeable work. Leaven with time to play, a dash of travel and a modicum of excitement and you’re on your way! Sounds kind of corny, but there it is. The simple things in life are often most enjoyable. What’s on your horizon these days? If you’re feeling like you need something new and exciting now is the time to plan your next move.  Sometimes it’s hard to imagine what you’d really like to do. Or you have a longing to do something specific, but don’t think it’s possible. How do you get there from here? No one can see the future, but often dreaming big is what’s needed. Imagine what you really want to do, and allow the possibility that it can happen! When people first call our office at Living Light, some might think that coming here is an impossible dream. Maybe they are concerned about finances, or family matters, or personal health. As we work with them and support them, they often discover that anything is possible. It’s inspiring to hear the stories. When our prospective students put their minds to it, it’s quite amazing what they are able to manifest.

What they thought was a wall becomes a door to a future they were afraid to imagine. What joy when that breakthrough takes place! If you want to attend Living Light and become a raw food chef, we’d love to help you keep moving in the right direction! Our 2013 Calendar is ready – Call our enrollment department at 707-964-2420. Mary Elizabeth, Amanda and Cheryl are ready to advise you on YOUR next steps.