Sheryl yours sounds great!

If it where just my husband and I we would go to the retreat you just went to and i would have a daily massage and one other treatment like a pedicure, facial etc.....one day we will, i also plan to do the bike thing to.

But for now it will be a family one...............which to my shock and amazement, we planned last night....and i wasn't even the instagator!!!

We plan to take our newly aquired caravan (for our business... it's making us feel like we should be retiring so i had to say that to make me feel better!!!) away to a nice quite little coastal town with awsome surf, beaches, hiking trails, organic fruit and veg shops and the boys want to join my daughter and i and be 100% raw for the whole 7-10days!!! Yeh....how awsome!

My brain is ticking over..........give them the best of raw and they will never go back.

Can't wait, let the good times roll,
Cheers
Karen

Have you tried taking the seed out and replacing it with a raw cacao bean, it's real raw chocolate, also blending the dates with freshly grated coconut and rolling into balls then roll in the fresh coconut, these are amazing!! (coconut and cacao beans from RP-so totally raw and organic!)

Add some goji berries and you will be amazed at the energy you will have, the combination of cacao beans and goji berries had me on an energetic high for about 24hrs.

Maybe i will start making a date and coconut paste and we can put it into the celery sticks.........that would be awsome i think, and so balanced.

My only problem and does anyone have an answer..........how do you only have a few dates...........once i start i just can't stop...maybe the celery will help!

chow, Karen.

(puffed....) I'm home Sheryl,

Here is my favourite at the moment, it is very simple, but i love it!

Rockmelon
Kale
Spinach
Celery
Panda's sunflower sprouts
cos lettuce
or combinations of the above!

this is my first thing in the morning post work out smoothie - i use honeydew melon when out of rockmelon. I think it's devine!

Do i get my prize now!!!!! Please!!!!!

Fantastic

I'm going to keep enjoying my gym workouts and walk/jog/runs pushing each a little harder and add a 30 minute stairs/hills/soft sand run at least once a week! Only because i love the way i feel after an intense run!

Had to stop last year when i cracked my tibia snow skiing, got back to everything else quickly, just slack with the last one - usually do it Sunday arvo!

Let me tell you Piers and Sheryl both look a picture of health.....relaxed, tanned, trim, happy and full of energy! Very inspiring, i am already saving for my big trip, just have to get a bike and book Ubud Sari, can't wait! A Raw Active holiday, has to be heaven!

Now that they are back i just have to beat them to the phone, i loved chatting to you all when you rang RP!

where else would the beloved Silverbeet be......in My green smoothie!
I got some kale in my organics order this week, so this morning was kale, silverbeet and celery with rockmelon, i am loving rockmelon at the moment. Family has instructed me to omit the celery.... that's cool with me, at least they still want them, even my extra fussy 9yr old is drinking them... a major achievement let me tell you.
Hey Neet, life is a buzz when your raw, i know you'd agree!!!

Hi all,

Just thought id let you all know that Green Smoothies are a staple addition to our family breakfast...... and so has a completly raw breakfast...this mornings was banana, apple, lots of cos, celery and spinach and i added coconut water instead of water....the verdict from all was  "very nice"....thank you Sheryl for the coconuts!!!! (we have some yummy coconuts at RP, a new bag arrived last week)

Can't wait for you to get over here Neet, there's nothing like the buzz off chatting with someone with the same passion for the great things that come with being raw.

It's a wonder there is not another thread, "how many blenders have you burnt out?". I've nearly lost count.......i'm now busy saving for a Vita Mix.

cheers
Karen

Good on you Joc, most people would just give in and get something off the menu that they thought would be "OK", I, like yourself would not do that. I think you got what you wanted because you were nice and polite and obvioiusly did not get aggresive with the staff, i think that approach always wins out in the end. Lucky you to end up getting a nice salad.

My last try at that got me old lettuce, unripe tomatoe and big chunks of cabbage.....and i had to pay $12.00 for it! Luckily my husband has really taken to home prepared (lots more raw now..im getting there slowly) meals so does not like eating out anyway.

cheers
Karen

Hi Katie and Simon

It looks like you had a winner.... at the picnic im guessing.... good on you. My daughter and i were just talking about having pizza for dinner tomorrow night so i will throw a base in the dehydrator tomorrow morning so it will be ready for tomorrow night.

I agree with you Jen, they can be way to heavy with all of the heavy sauces, think i will try one with the cashew cheese (for those that like it heavy)and one with just avo, tomato sauce and the extra yummies (for me.... i will practice sharing!!!).

Can't wait to see what else you come up with in the next couple of weeks, i will be keeping an eye out.

Take care,
Cheers
Karen

Congratulations! Fantastic to hear you have had such a great month, My daughter has just done 30 days as well and has no plans to change, when asked at 15days how it was going all she could say was 'Mum...I live for raw!', i bet you feel the same.
I agree with you about the sprouts, they are alive and eating them definately puts life into us i am sure. My afternoon sprout salad revs me up and gets me charged for the rest of the day...i understand your addiction to them, i have a 'sprout central' in my kitchen.... fresh sprouts always on the go....would hate to run out.
Are the red lentils split...if they are they will not sprout, the smell would be them fermenting id say.
By the way, feeling sooooo good is what being raw is all about, i'm convinced!!!
Let us know your plans for the next 30 days...
cheers, Karen

Yes i agree, it would be great for us all to meet up, i'm sure we will organise something while you are here. If anyone is coming this way make sure you let us know it's great putting names to faces whilst chatting over an awsome raw feast!!!! Something that we do really well with Sheryl and Piers let me tell you. You must all come over for one of the Saturday classes, we spend the whole afternoon going "OMG that's amazing!!!!" while we prepare it, then sit down to a fantastic raw dinner in the evening like you have never had before. We are still buzzing for about 2-3 days after - you have to experience it.
I have also updated Sascha's TOL journal for those interested,
Great talking to you all
Chow, Karen

Another update from Sascha:

"Well hello all you beautiful people:)

Another week has sped by at lightening speed, much like the huge winds we are experiencing here this morning, whirlie winds everywhere, it's quite magical with mother earth clearing old stagnent energy from the planet.

It feels asthough i've been here for months already, you know when you truely feel asthough you belong somewhere and are so happy and settled in your life and your contribution to the community and further more the planet.  My life prior to this journey seems like such a far off memory, so many people have asked me what it is I want to do after leaving the Tree, my first response is, I don't want to go and the second is i'm open to the possibilities of the universe and for now I have no set path or plans.  Then yesterday clarity bubbled up from within and my desires of what I would like to create came to the fore.  When I got here I set the intention, that I would receive clarity on what it was I wanted to do, other than travel for the rest of my life, to every country in the world.  The flame has been ignited, I shall fuel it with love & see where the light shines.

I was so keen to get back into the kitchen and express my creativity & joy about being in that space after my ankle healed.  Here at the Tree of Life, health & wellbeing is the most important thing, healing and rest is required after any trauma, physical or emotional.  Here the whole person is honored, so emotional trauma is as important as physical.  We are also encouraged to take time out from the kitchen if we are tired or lacking energy, sit outside in the sun and rejuvenate on all levels, prior to returning to the kitchen.  With the dharma of the kitchen and centre being so focused on the community and our wellbeing, our productivity is very high.  We prepare the food with consciousness, presence and love, these are the vibrations we hold, well anchoured within our hearts, so there is an abundance of love & nutrition for all those who consume what we have lovingly prepared.  Due to there being no cooking involved the enzymatic value is so great as the food is still alive.  If this seems a bit bizare or ott, just acknowledge it and let it go, save it for a rainy day or whatever you feel like doing.  If interest has arisen, let me know and I can forward some reference material.

Weekly we are spending time in the garden to connect with the earth and truely apprciate where our food comes from.  It's a magical time, where we get to plant, water or harvest the fruits of the earth.  The time we get to spend in the garden is so enriching, something about the dirt beneath your toes as you scratch the surface away & dig deeper below that external layer, it's during this time we can truely honor where we came from.

Well I could go on and on for ever, belly dancing class starts in 25 mins and I would like to prepare for that.  So this week I will keep it brief as this email was started on sunday and save in drafts until now.  So I hope you enjoy and until next time, with love & gratitude

Sascha:)"

Hi all, this is a brave move for me, I feel safe just reading all of your posts and feel like I know you all.
I enjoyed my chat with you to Joc, I have no doubt that we will get to know each other a lot more as I enjoy having a chat with like minded people and that happens a lot working at RP.
Hey Durianrider how is that lovely tropical weather treating you? You are my inspiration to get my oldest son eating clean to clear his skin, he knows and understands but finds it hard when out with friends, just finished my little storey to him about you and your brothers!
Raw'green'Neet, I here you are coming over in June or July, we must meet if you have the time it would be great to catch up and have a chat.
Thank you all for the lovely things you have said, I look forward to helping you all through my work at RP and getting to know you all better through the forum. cheers, Karen