Meerkats

The cutest dudes at the Los Angeles Zoo.

This Year

(Birthday Blog)

Let me share something real quick...

At the last quarter of 2010, I  began having meetings with my internal being.
I started to feel again. My mind and body was suddenly on a quest to find meaning and purpose.

I felt my soul for the very first time in my life.
I am ALIVE and filled with so much excitement and wonder.

Now, it's officially been a week and three days since I turned 25.

"I am ALIVE. I am here NOW."

I have had a lot of birthday celebrations in my time and I'm left with a vague recollection of it all. I remember them to be always filled with love and laughter from the people I care about. My parental units and brother came out to feast with me this year all the way from the Philippines. To me, friends and family are the key ingredients to a great birthday. This year is the one I consider the best yet so far (and just in case my folks are reading - mom and dad: my debut 7 years ago comes in second to this!)...because this year is my spiritual birthday. I don't mean it in a religious way. To simplify it, it just means that I have finally acknowledged the fact that I am here NOW. And at this point, it's all that really matters to me.

I decided that this year will be a good time for me to reevaluate and reflect on how I can do better.  I want to do better so that I can do my best, and so I can be at my best. I want to do better with myself, with others, and especially in this place we live in. I honestly believe that if every person in this planet act and speak the truth from their heart, then we will be able to recreate this world with understanding, respect, love, honesty, and compassion to ourselves and with one another. Let there be a rebirth to a loving society. 

Let there be YOU in this society.

Happy Sunday!

Scott, you light up my whole world.

Overlooking the Santa Monica Pier

After Sunset

Can it be more beautiful than this?

Must Haves of a Raw Vegan

Must-haves of a Raw Vegan

Here are some "good to have in the cupboard" items,

Spices:

1. cayenne pepper
2. black pepper
3. cinnamon
4. turmeric
5. mustard seeds
6. sage
7. rosemary
8. nori seaweed

Food:

1. hummus
2. tahini
3. raw nut butters
4. sun-dried tomatos
5. stone ground mustard
6. pesto
7. olives
8. garlic
9. ginger
10. flaxseed oil
11. sea salt
12. raw apple cider vinegar
13. nama shoyu
14. braggs liquid aminos
15. stevia
16. honey

Kale Chips

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes
Cook Time: 35 Minutes


Ingredients:

1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1 pinch sea salt, to taste


Directions:

1. Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. Cut away inner ribs from each kale leaf and discard; tear the leaves into pieces of uniform size. (I made my pieces about the size of a small potato chip.) Wash torn kale pieces and spin dry in a salad spinner or dry with paper towels until they're very dry.
3. Put the kale pieces into a large resealable bag (or use a bowl if you don't mind getting your hands oily). Add about half the olive oil; seal and squeeze the bag so the oil gets distributed evenly on the kale pieces. Add the remaining oil and squeeze the bag more, until all kale pieces are evenly coated with oil and slightly 'massaged.' Sprinkle the vinegar over the kale leaves, reseal the bag, and shake to spread the vinegar evenly over the leaves. Spread the leaves evenly onto a baking sheet.
4. Roast in the preheated oven until mostly crisp, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and serve immediately.