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Feeling Connected...

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

wonderful talk, please check it out...

B-12 Deficiency

I have B-12 Deficiency and now really feeling it...I am tired all the time and it is just hard to keep up with 12 hour work schedule...I knew about my B-12 deficiency almost 2 years but did not do much about it, other than ordering pills that i never took consistently, or bought nutritional yeast that ended up on the kitchen shelf only to be used for customers...

Now I am doing a more serious reseach and oooops, it is damn serious!


My friend Sassy writes in her website:

"It's very important for you to grasp that in our modern food supply B12 is found MOSTLY in animal products. Why? Because Vitamin B12 comes from our soil. When a cow, for instance, chomps on grass she eats this vitamin B12-enriched soil. There are also microorganisms located in the animal's intestine that produce Vitamin B12.

And those ancestors of ours who were able to thrive on a plant-based diet without adding any Vegan Vitamin B12 supplements? Well, they were getting their food directly out of the ground still covered in soil -- soil which they were never quite able to completely remove. Our food today is usually very clean by the time it makes it to our stores, and then we further clean it in our own kitchen (since most of us don't like the taste of dirt). Goodbye Vitamin B12.

If you eat a vegan diet, you MUST be sure you're getting the amount of Vegan Vitamin B12 you need."

Ok, now I am taking b-12 pills and will get some more nutritional yeast for home.

Weekend Workshop

We are planning a weekend workshop at Organico...Two days of preparing
meals, tips and tricks, how to make meals for yourself and your
family. Exciting times! First dates are Feb 4th-6th. $220, including
hotel, all meals and classes and materials. We will also go to the
beach and do salsa dancing of course:) Email me at
bakingfairy@gmail.com for more details and upcoming workshops!

2011 wishes

Happy 2011! Everyday I practice meditation, I sit down and contemplate on the beauty of life, service to others and sharing love and compassion. I get up from the cushion and bury myself with selfishness...Oh poor me, oh my this, my that...It is so hard to keep the practice real. So hard. These days, I have been challenged to see my jealousy rise so much...No, it is not about a boy this time:) It is business! Living in a small town, I am friends with all the other business owners and close friends with some. We see each other daily, we hug each other daily....Recently day after day, I am seeing our menu items in other menus...and I swear it is not things like pineapple juice! It is the stuff that I made up, "claims my ego". And my "friends"  dont even mention that they put something that they love at Organico, in their menu...It is flattering to the ego for sure, but at the same time, I feel betrayal. I expect so much from human beings and just like every spiritual teaching says, you are bound to get disapointed if you have expectations...I suspect the teaching for me is to just be, open my arms and show love to these friends who live by different values. That is ok.

Why do I close my heart and become bitter and fearful and become just like them, maybe not in business but for sure in love. Instead of to celebrating differences and to love and accept each other as is, with no desire to mold, change, expect. I can't do it...I want what it is not there. I would only love unconditionally if.............Here goes my messed logic...Unconditional love with a conditional if...How silly...

I am not giving up, this is just the start...Everyday is a new practice, everytime the candle lights on the alter, it is a new beginning to be truthful, to be open, to be loving, unconditionally...the drunk on the street, the difficult customer, the lovebug, lazy employee...

Bring it on 2011. I am ready to go to the places I have never been, I am ready to cross boundaries, I am ready to lose myself and open to love...To all, no matter when, where, how...

blissed out..

we had an amazing christmas dinner with live music! It was magical and loads of fun!

Dreaming in Color

As the year is almost over, I am so grateful to life and all that has happened in this year that helped me grow, in tears of joy and sadness. Such a blessing to be alive and have all of you in my life. I am inspired, joyful, in love with life more than ever.

Happy Holidays....

Here are some of my favorites of the year, hope you find something inspiring...

Book:
The Garden, Geshe Michael Roach

Song:
Fly High, Deva Premal and Mitten

Movie:
Inception

Yoga Pose:
Headstand

Ingredient:
Irish Moss, forever grateful to my friend Maria

Fun:
Salsa Dancing and especially the spins....I just love it!

Recipe:
Fudgy Brownies

Emma's Carrot Salad:
Shredded Carrots
Parsley
Rice Wine vinegar
Sesame Oil
Mirin
Soy Sauce
Sugar
and sesame seed sparkles!

new season goodness

Wow, we are doing it! I could not be happier with the free classes we are offering now!

Spread knowledge, spread your love

I have been contemplating for long time about changes at Organico.
Location, recipes, employees, business plan, financials, groups,
workshops...I did not come up with something that made my heart skip a
beat. Until after our meditation retreat in Cabuya. During this
wonderful Lam Rim retreat, I realized I feel so aligned with the
universe when I am serving others. I dream to bring people together
where we share our gifts with each other free...

I came up with this new idea. To create a community center, or a
creativity center for body and mind, where there will be scheduled
free classes and anyone will be able to sign-up as a
teacher...Traveling teachers, hidden artists, closet chefs,
photography experts... I am excited to meet you all...We are going to
offer all the classes for free and ask for donations. These donations
will be shared with the teachers and we will also offer a smoothie of
the day to our teachers. What do you think?

So, we are looking for anyone ready to share their knowledge, art,
dance, zumba, yoga, meditation, nutrition, cooking, poetry reading,
spanish, english, astrology, herbal medicine...or your unique
gift...Please let me know if you are interested...

Spread knowledge, spread your love,

So blessed to be at the service, may all beings be happy!

P.S. of course, we will still have our wonderful juice bar, vegan
ice-cream and some special meals on the menu...:)

All you need is love

Here is a wonderful meditation for everyone, a gift from my teacher Kenny Graham.

Sit down comfortably, preferably on a cushion.
Hit play.



Close your eyes and start breathing the love in.
You can sing along.
And be grateful to be alive that we have this wonderful gift right now. Gift of being on this world, living in peace, living with family, friends, with ears to hear, eyes to see and even a computer to connect. What a blessing.

inner conversations over tea

After this weekend's yoga workshop, it is clear that my personal work has just started. Sure, I am a nice person. I am kind and loving towards others, especially to people who are also nice to me. That is easy, the real challenge is to have my inner balance throughout any moment, happy or sad, joyful or not... Not only when someone is waiting with a flower in his hand, but when someone cuts my way in a long bank line... What if there is hair in my salad...I'd go crazy-in my mind!!! "how could these people provide such terrible service??" or "i have told the taxi driver to be here at 1:00 and now it is 1:20 and he is not here, how could he do that to me!" My days are filled with these inner conversations, from moment to moment...Me against the world. And sometimes me against me. I just can't get out from bed today...that is just not acceptable, get up and move!!! Who is that saying those things?

I discovered this part of me, through yoga. Yoga practice helps to quiet everything else around, so I can really hear the conversations in my mind. There is a safe place and enough space to tune into what exactly is happening inside. Sometimes it goes like, oh the teacher is adjusting everybody else but not me! Funny little ego waiting for acknowledgement. Underlying this behaviour, I sense an expectation-unmet, not accepting a situation different than what it really is and hence hurt. Even a personal entitlement (I deserve better from the universe!)) I wonder how the relationship of my "kindness" towards others relate to this entitlement. I am questioning what is my authentic kindness, what comes out of fear, what comes out of culture...Can I be loving towards all, unconditionally?

So far, I know that I have a long way to unconditional love. Now, I am questioning myself for integrity and honesty. How do I set boundaries towards people that I don't like, but still be kind and loving towards them...I don't have an answer yet! The only thing I know, I want to speak my truth and I want to keep my integrity of my thoughts, actions and words, towards all. Tough challenge. Oh well, I am a tough girl, as you know!

Superfood Recipe

I enjoy making these little treats of energy bombs called Superfood.
They are perfect as a snack or as a fast breakfast on the go! They
were also a hit at a yoga workshop I went this weekend and got so many
requests for the recipe. So I have it here for you all! Enjoy!

Superfood

2 cups macadamias
2 cups dried coconut
1/2 cup agave (or honey)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maca powder
1 cup goji berries
1 cup cacao

I did an Anusara Yoga workshop, with Yoga Lamat in San Jose. I can't
recommend Anusara Yoga enough to all of you! I was so much in pain
after doing yoga religiously (and obsessively) everyday in the last
three months, with the right alignment and therapeutic work, I feel so
much lighter and free.

It was with Kenny Graham, he is not only the most sweet yoga teacher,
but so humble, so real and so full of life. 6 hours of practice was
gone so fast! Check his website to see if he is coming to your city!

http://www.kgyoga.com/

Facing my fears

It is about time......

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear,
but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel
afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Nelson Mandela

Isn't that beautiful? I am so much going through fear these days, it
made me happy to find this quote. Like everyone else, me too, I am on
a path, looking for answers, avoid pain (as if it is
possible)...Through acceptance, love and courage, clarity comes like
the sun on a brand new day. What a blessing.

And then there is this inpiring beautiful song. Fly high...
I love it. It has a sweet memory with my friends in Pachamama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=narlEJOsS40

fly high with the koi
touch your arms under the earth
becoming one
connect my heart into yours
and be forever love.

Dream your eyes open
Kiss the skies
Taste the rain
Smell the green
It is all here now
Be here now with me
Angels are.
Are you?

Yoga Festival!

I am so happy to be part of the yoga festival in Montezuma last weekend. The event was super fun and we met beautiful yogis and ate wonderful food! Our banana bread and brownies were a big hit!

Your pharmacy in the kitchen

Herbs and spices add so much love to the food and our bodies. Check out this article for the details.

http://hlifemedia.com/2010/08/culinary-herbs-natures-pharmacy/

Green Juice for a Sparkling Glow

Green juice is a great way to get some vibrant life energy! I used to drink almost two liters everyday in Montezuma, since I am in San Jose and I don't have juicer, I've been slacking and simply relying on big green salads. The truth is it is never enough, the amount of greens and alkalizing power we get from the greens we eat in a salad. Juicing really supports our intake of vital vitamins and energy. It also shows directly with my mood. Green Juice picks me up! It makes me feel light, energetic and super vibrant. So, today I did a research for a green juice recipe without a juicer and found out that I can just blend all the greens and add a glass of water and enjoy it as is. You can also strain it, but I do want to get the fiber from this delicious drink and it just looks too good to throw away. If I were juice fasting, that is another story.

So, super easy, just blend 2 cucumbers, peel the skin if not organic, handful of spinach, handful of your favorite herbs, i put cilantro, two celery stalks with the greens and a cup of water. Blend it all. Add one lemon juice. Cumin would also work great, ginger of course is so warming and helps to get a warming feeling especially when it is not super hot. It is raining non-stop in San Jose right now.

Here are the five benefits of greens:

1. Chlorophyl
2. Trace minerals (magnesium, iron, calcium)
   
3. Vegetable Protein
4. Enzymes
5. Alkalizing Power
   

Try to add this drink to your daily diet. You can still eat your favorite chocolate, pasta or smoothie. It is just a support to your body to show how much you love yourself and care about yourself. Watch the magic, see your skin glow, your eyes sparkle and your heart melt! Just with a glass of juice a day!

Banana-Maple Oatmeal Cookies

Happy Mother's Day!

It is Mother's Day in Costa Rica. Just a joy to celebrate mother's day
twice in a year. My mom loves raisins and cookies, so I am baking for
her these cookies with double raisins, and veganizing it for me, and
making it gluten-free for my sister. So everyone is happy! (My dad
would eat anything, he is so sweet when it comes to food.) I wish one
day I can make everyone happy, just like these warm cookies right out
from the oven, chewy, healthy and full of love.

Banana-Maple Oatmeal Cookies

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
3 tablespoons water
Mix well and wait for a few minutes until the mixture thickens.

1 1/2 cups oats
1 cup gluten free wheat flour (I used brown rice flour)
1 tsp xtan gum
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 banana, mashed
2 tablespoons of coconut oil (or canola oil)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 375.

Mix the oats, flour, xtan gum, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and
cinnamon in a medium mixing bowl. Add the raisins.

Add the maple syrup, vanilla, oil, mashed banana, and lemon juice to
the flaxseed mixture and combine well. Pour into the dry mixture and
stir well but don't overmix.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a baking sheet lined with a silicon
mat or parchment paper. Flatten each cookie slightly with a fork. Bake
for 15-20 minutes or until bottoms and sides are lightly brown.

These cookies are cakey, if you like your cookies crunchy, I'd
recommend to bake them more. Uff, just realized mom doesn't like soft
cookies and dad doesn't like them hard. So, I guess, mom you will bake
these for 20 minutes for dad, and keep baking five more minutes for
you. Whewww...that was an easy, last minute adjustment:)

Inspired from Fat Free Kitchen, but I could not help and make some
major changes:)

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2010/02/banana-maple-oatmeal-cookies.html

I got about 20 cookies, they are going to my yoga class tomorrow.

I need some help...

My beautiful friends,

I have recently taken some time away from the business and trying to
have a relook at what is working and what is not. Most of you have
already made some great comments about pricing, hours and employees
who do not speak any english. Right now I have the time and the energy
to work more and offer more to the community in Montezuma.

It is very important for me to have your support. If it was not your
smiling faces coming to the cafe every time and showing me how much
you appreciate the cafe even if I was not in my best mood, made me
come this far. I am humbled and grateful for your friendship and love.
Please don't be shy about sharing your comments and I'd love to make
Organico even more inviting so we can all get together more, bring
friends and share many more great memories with love and compassion to
each other. It is my practice now not to take things personal and
accept that it is a good time to listen to my friends and hear what
you have to say. I really appreaciate it.

1. What would you like to see changed in Organico, that might make it
more exciting for you to come more often?

New Dishes

More portions

Prices

Employees (english speaking, more friendly)

Music, entertainment

Furniture
Chairs, pillows

Hours
(Now we are open only for lunch, 11 to 5 pm.)

Breakfast ?

Dinner ?

New Beginnings

I moved for to a beautiful house up in the mountains, with a secret
garden that is so magical, you have to come for a visit to experience
it, because I don't have the right words. The green, the air, the
space, the touch, the dew in the mornings, the coy in front of my
house, the flowers in my backyard and of course the city lights at
night, the view...Magical. I am blessed, grateful to my friends who
made this possible for me, to my beautiful cafe, to my employees who
are helping me so much to live the life of my dreams.... I have no
plans, no direction, only yoga and chanting and the desire to find
inspiration to help others, to be with others, to connect with more
people. And it is happening already. I signed up for San Jose Yoga
Festival, that is coming up in September 11th. We will bake cookies,
make green bars, meet yogis and celebrate life.

I am so grateful, it is growing and growing everyday. Life has never
been so fulfilling and delicious.

I am sorry it took so long to update the blog, but now I have so much
to share, I will be back soon!