Learn from the Best by kristin

Living Light Triple Win at Sedona Raw Living Expo!

It’s official! Dan and Cherie looked glamorous and were absolutely beaming as Living Light was acknowledged in three categories at the Sedona Raw Living Expo February 22-24, coming away with the  Best Raw Chef Training Program, Best Eco Raw Company, and a special “Peer to Peer” award for Achievement in Culinary Arts Training.

As someone who has worked in the company for nearly eight years, I was so happy to see them rewarded for years and years of hard work getting the word out about a gourmet raw food diet.  Cherie has been teaching vegetarian cuisine for 40 years! And finally, they’ve published a book together, too.

Raw Food For Dummies is their first collaborative writing project. Dan has been behind the scenes, behind the camera, and supporting the businesses with his tech savvy, so it’s heartening to see him in the spotlight these days, too.

Raw Rocks! Tour Rocks California Next

So now they’re in LA at the big NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPO WEST event, and will be touring the state in their mobile home – covering lots of territory in California through the month of March. It’s a nice time of year to see the state and connect with raw restaurants and healthy venues, and most of all the people. Cherie says that meeting with people in the various communities is so rewarding – everyone is excited to meet them and learn about raw food, our school, and all of the amazing things Living Light graduates are doing in the world.

Scene Change by mary elizabeth

My kids and I are taking a little road trip this weekend.  We do that a lot – just to change the scenery even if it’s just for a few days.  This weekend is Record Store Day so we’re going to the big city to support independent record stores.  But – we’re going on a really long one in the summertime.  Living Light has graciously allowed me to take five weeks off in July and August and I’m going to drive across the country.  The kids will be along, of course, but I will be doing all of the actual driving.  We are going to see lots of relatives we normally wouldn’t – some in New Mexico, some in Wisconsin, some in Oregon.  My daughter will spend another session at IMA’s rock and roll camp for girls in Massachusetts.  It’s going to be quite an adventure – hopefully the good kind.

Living Light directors Cherie Soria and Dan Ladermann and Culinary Programs Manager Martine Lussier are on a road trip right now.  They just did a FUNdamentals class in Vancouver and are now in Toronto to do another plus participate in that city’s Total Health Show.  Then they’re back to our side of the country to do a FUNdamentals class in Seattle and another in Oregon.  It’s not too late to be a part of this particular road trip.  You can still sign up for the FUNdamentals classes and check out our website for lots of other cool events that are happening in those areas.

Changing the scenery, even if only for a day or two, always gets me back on track.  Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed by my own life.  Silly, really, because it’s pretty dialed in right now as far as work, home and balance are concerned.  But still, sometimes I get a little anxious about whether or not I’m on the right track, headed in the right direction.  Getting away for a couple of days tends to clear the internal air for me and I can settle back in with contentment.  I’m looking forward to this weekend and a fresh perspective when I return.

Student Services Needs YOU! by kristin

Do you possess these qualities? 

Living Light International is looking for a creative, highly motivated, organized person to direct student services for Living Light Culinary Institute, a private post-secondary raw vegan culinary school. We are looking for someone with high standards and integrity who is an excellent collaborator, with strong sales and leadership abilities, who would thrive working for a company whose goals are to make the world healthier and more sustainable. Our ideal candidate would possess qualities of caring and compassion balanced with assertiveness and experience in problem solving.

Did we mention multitasking?

This key management position requires knowledge of sales and marketing, admissions procedures, operations policies and procedures, budgeting, student orientation and support, and alumni outreach to an international clientele. Candidate will research, implement and maintain state licensing requirements, and will work closely with school directors, accounting and marketing departments to successfully promote the school internationally. Knowledge of Outlook, Excel, Word, Filemaker, Infusionsoft or other CRM software is essential. Visit our website for complete details about the position.

If you are looking for a position that will challenge you to perform to your highest abilities in an atmosphere of mutual support, we’d like to talk to you.

Hot Raw Chefs by kristin

For anyone who missed our February newsletter, replete with Valentine’s recipes and resources, and the announcement for the winners of our latest Sweet Valentine Video Recipe Contest, it’s not too late to visit HotRawChef.com. Whether you voted or not, you can still sign up to receive the complete e-book with all of the recipes from 32 contestants, and you can still watch some or all of the demos, and learn some tricks and tips, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Winner Callie England created some yummy and beautiful One-Bite Strawberry Cheesecake Pops, that are as charming to look at as they must be to taste! Runner up Jennifer McClelland, a Living Light graduate,  is a pioneer in the raw foods movement in China! And the People’s Choice winner, Jeevi, the laughing chef – well, you’ll see why he won in that category when you check out his online video. All of the contestants inspired us with their culinary creations. We have so much fun with the contest – and we know the chefs do, too. Here’s a link to the national press release we did to announce the winners!

Día de los Muertos by mary elizabeth

Every morning, I have a little centering ritual which includes looking up the patron saint, or saints, of the day.  For example, today’s patron is Demetrius the Wonderworker. Don’t you feel better already?  I know I do.  It gives me the opportunity to read a little story someone thought was relevant and important and cool enough to actually submit for validation by the church.  Are the stories true?  Who cares!  It’s a connection with the past and helps me get the day off to less self centered start.

Today we are setting up our annual Day of the Dead altar in the café.  I love this yearly tradition.  Employees here at Living Light are encouraged to bring in items to place on the altar in honor of someone who’s special to them but no longer with us here on the planet.  The altar always turns out so beautifully.  We’ll have to take some pictures to share in an upcoming post.  It’s a community event, too, so there are altars to see all over town.  Besides the altar, we’ll be participating in the celebration by offering a trio of raw Mexican chocolates in the café.  This will also be the public debut of our new pastry chef,  Donna Marie Heagen – a saint in her own right!  Come check out her confectionery mastery!  The cost is $5.00, but you get a five dollar certificate good in the Marketplace so it’s all good.  Locals – definitely come check it out!

The Sounds of Silence by mary elizabeth

My daughter’s been away at camp this week and my son’s been with his dad. Needless to say, it’s been very quiet at my house. I don’t really like it. Sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed with all the needs and personalities that go along with a full house, but it’s definitely more interesting than the alternative. And less lonely. Often, I hear myself complaining about never having any time to myself, but evidently I don’t really like it that much. I know I’m supposed to be a whole, complete woman all own my own, but I do really feel like my kids are a part of me, and when they aren’t around I feel kind of empty. And, on a more practical note, I like having someone to comment to during our favorite shows or someone with whom to share a late night snack. I guess I’m just ready for them to come home.

Speaking of coming home, our Chef Showcase is coming right up and lots of our old friends will be here. Living Light graduates who are presenting include Solla Eiriksdottir, Alicia Ojeda, Tina Jo Stephens, Judita Wignall and Christina Archila. We’ll also get to have our own Colleen Cackowski back with us for a few days. Don’t forget Living Light Instructors Vinnette Thompson, Martine Lussier and Amy Bacheller. And new to this year’s line-up: Chef BeLive. Of course, Cherie won’t just be demonstrating some fabulous new recipes, but will also be hosting the event with her usual poise and style. It’s definitely an event to look forward to, and tickets are still available. So – if you’d like to see all these chefs do their thing live and in person, give me a call and I’ll sign you up. It’ll be exciting here at Living Light during the three days of the Chef Showcase – not quiet or lonely at all!

Oh My Stars by mary elizabeth

The night sky has been so pretty lately. Well – maybe no prettier than normal, but the sky’s actually been clear here for a while so I’ve been able to see it and I’ve been enjoying its beauty these evenings. The summer constellations remind me of my childhood – being outside after dark and looking for the big dipper and Orion’s belt. I’ve been seeing tons of shooting stars, too. I don’t know if they actually grant wishes, but I’ve been making them anyway. And at this stage in my life, I’ve learned enough about wishes to keep them simple and pure (I’ve read my Nesbit!). And I have to say, little by little, they’ve been coming true!

Speaking of stars – it’s voting time again. That’s right – time to pick a new rawk star. The 5 in 5 Hot Raw Chef Video Recipe Contest is in full swing and voting ends on July 15^th. That’s a week from tomorrow and we have forty-nine contestants so I suggest you start watching so you can pick a favorite and vote in time. I always have trouble voting on time, but this year I’m bound and determined to have my vote count. So much so that I think I’ll vote tonight! Way inside the timeline! Good for me! Now you do it, too. If you don’t work for Living Light like I do, your vote will enter you into a contest to win two spots in FUNdamentals of Raw Living Foods for you and a friend plus two nights at The Stanford Inn in Mendocino. It’s beautiful there and they have a fabulous vegan restaurant with yummy raw options. So – vote for the next Hot Raw Chef!

Short and Sweet by mary elizabeth

My fellow blogger Kristin, my daughter and I all went to see a series of short films last Sunday as part of the Mendocino Film Festival. I love short films – not just because I have a short attention span or anything like that, although that is certainly true on a whole bunch of levels – but because they crystallize their purpose so swiftly and somehow more strongly as a result. The longest of the ten films we watched was eighteen minutes. My favorite was less than five. These films ranged from silly to poignant and all together provided a fabulous afternoon’s entertainment.

Speaking of short films – it’s time for another video recipe contest, hot raw chefs! These have been so fun and so popular, I’m really glad Living Light’s doing it again.  And this time, the videos can’t be longer than five minutes! Pretty constricting, I guess. I’m not much of a chef, hot, raw or otherwise, but I imagine it’s a bit tough to really show off your stuff in such a short time. But I saw some phenomenal stuff crammed into ridiculously short presentations yesterday, and am confident you guys can do it! I’m looking forward to seeing the entries and hope that maybe – just maybe – I can vote on my favorite and have it count this time.

Midwinter Markers by mary elizabeth

Not only is today the first day of the rest of your life and quite possibly the best day ever, it’s also my daughter’s saints day – the feast of Saint Bridgid of Ireland. No coincidence it’s also Imbolc – St. Bridgid was a goddess before she converted to catholicsm. And if that’s not enough, it’s also Groundhog Day. Yes – it’s midwinter and there’s all kinds of eclectic markers. We’re half way between winter and spring and here at Living Light, it’s been feeling pretty springy lately.  Like Daisy Buchanan, I often miss midsummer but I think that’s because there aren’t so many markers. Or maybe it’s just because I’m the type of person who easily misses stuff regardless of the saints, pagans and furry little animals pointing the way. 

Remember last year when there was no shortage of hoopla and countdowns and what have you about the voting deadline for the Hot Raw Chef Video Recipe Contest, much of which flowed directly from my very own keyboard? And remember how I missed it anyway? Typical….anyhow – this year I’m going to try and subvert my grasshopper ways and vote early! All the submissions for the Hot Raw Chef Sweet Valentine Video Recipe Contest are in and the voting has begun. Just go to hotrawchef.com and sign up. Super fun!

I Heart Living Light by mary elizabeth

Hey – we’re having another video contest! This time it’s themed around Valentines Day. I don’t think the recipe has to be particularly sweet or romantic – it can be anything you’d like – but keep in mind it’s called the Hot Raw Chef Sweet Valentine Video Recipe Contest. There are three fabulous prizes up for grabs. So – let the games begin!

I’m actually a little traumatized by talking about Valentines Day so soon on the heels of the winter holidays. Couldn’t we have some time off from holidays? I had one of the nicest Christmases I’ve had in a while, really, and got tons of fabulous gifts and had a lovely day with friends and family. But – I sure was glad for things to just get back to normal this week. I

don’t care how nice your holidays turn out; it’s still kind of a whirlwind and definitely a schedule changer. But – let’s not get too comfortable! Valentines Day is right around the corner and dang it – we at Living Light are going to be ready!

This recipe contest couldn’t be coming at a better time, really. I may have mentioned my daughter and I and a bunch of us here at Living Light are going raw for thirty days. I may also have mentioned before that I’m not all that comfortable in the kitchen. I’d love to see some fun new recipes to make our raw challenge more exciting. So – all you aspiring stars of the raw food world – make those videos, submit them and maybe you could be the next hot raw chef – sweet valentines style!