Friday, May 27, 2011

I love strong women

I love strong women.  I love women who have made interesting choices, walked their own path, taken risk, women who have lived from and through their hearts.  I have cried with these women, laughed with these women, danced, sang, and watched mascara run down their faces through their tear soaked stories, or their endless laughter.

We are all strong women, at our essence.  We are born with the ability to create life inside of our precious wombs.  We are born to handle pain in ways that men are not.  We, as women cycle with the moon, with the tides, and with our hearts.  We are all strong in essence.

One amazing woman in my life I met in a small town, each of us with little beautiful girls.  Babies at the time.  What initially struck me about her was her beauty,  and then her obvious authenticity, and that she was my age.  In my opinion the perfect age to start my family.  Young, optimistic, and full of energy.  23. 

And so it started, a friendship that will follow us through our lives, through every experience, partner, and parts of the world travelled.  We went through a lot together back then, raising children, parenting, finding our way as mothers, finding ourselves, lack of sleep, making a home, divorce, separation, balance, conception, miscarriage, birth, relocation, mortgages, businesses, new careers,  education, young family, growth, love, sex, heartache, dating, laughter.  Our families, grew, they parted, family shifted, location changed. 

What blows me away is her spirit.  Her sense of adventure, her depth of love, and her ability to laugh in any circumstance. 

I love strong women...  who are nurturing little lives, showing their children that life is what we make it.  Modelling love and strength.

I love strong women... who embody and care for their temples, their physical body with love, respect, their practice.

I love strong women... who will dive into and swim in their feelings.  Who will expose their raw essence and go after what they deserve.

I love strong women... who are misunderstood, who are full on, who are powerful in their way.

and I love strong women ... who can be soft, who can take off their costume, take off their makeup, let their hair grow wild and natural, let themselves be vulnerable for love, open to experience, and take the path less traveled.

I love myself.

I love strong women.

Love love love Ash

Just fall in love with as many things as possible....

I have decided to use this blog not only to share my raw food information, but to share on of my true passions - writing.... Writing about this, writing about that, sharing what is in my heart.  Here we go...

"Don’t be afraid to fall in love. It’s the only thing that matters in life. Just fall in love with as many things as possible"


I met a man once who told me that he loved falling in love. I though that this was the silliest statement that I had every heard! Not because I do not myself revel in and weave myself into falling in love with men and women, but because there is SO much to fall in love with. He, I realized had such a narrow view of falling in love that the thought of limiting yourself to falling in love with another human being seemed, well silly. Yes, we as human beings seem to be fixated on falling in love with each other. We are by nature meant to have a partner and be part of a social group. But as we detach ourselves from this, as we take a step back, we see that there is SO much to fall in love with.

I do not limit myself to falling in love, I rather enjoy loving. Not 'falling' in love but Loving. Loving the sparkle in a strangers eyes when you smile just to smile. Loving the way my daughter runs into my bed every morning and is full of the possibilities of her day Loving the way my soul feels when I finish my Yoga practice. But I told myself I wouldn't make a list...

Falling in love with as many things as possible. When I read this, it brings tears to my eyes. I have so much to love each day that my eyes have no choice but to well up.

Yet we run, we fear, we close of this precious area of the body that lets us fall in love. Our heart. Our heart is the reason that we are alive. Some silly scientists believe that it is our brain that keeps us alive. It is the pulsation of our heart, the rhythm bathes us in prana and the connection to our source. Our mind tells us this and that, lets us think that it can keep us whole, that it can give us the satisfaction, that it can make the decisions.... And indeed our mind has a lot to do with our existence, but it is our HEART that gives this existence rich substance.

How many decisions have you made with only your mind. When the heart begins to surface, when the heart offers it's wise intuitive input how often have your pushed the input back down. How many times have you let your mind intellectualize matters of the heart?

To organically grow any situation you must listen to the heart. Sit. Meditate. Do your Yoga. Do your Practice, whatever it may be. Let your heart well up, embrace it, love it, dance with it... FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HEART'S DESIRES. Listen closely. Listen with curiosity to your heart and then follow it. Follow it with the curiosity of a small child chasing the fluttering butterfly through the sunlit field. We have all been there, following with absolute wonder the butterfly. When did we stop following the butterflies? When did we think that this was a 'waste of our time'? Follow your heart, sit with it, let the butterfly come to you.

I can't resist a bit of a list... falling in love with:
my endless creativity
the way I pick myself up
my daughter
my beautiful, strong girlfriends (you know who you are, you always inspire me)
my practice
Yoga
surprises
smiles
conversations with strangers
water
music

Ok, this could go on and on... what will you fall in love with today?

~ Ash ~

"Don’t be afraid to fall in love. It’s the only thing that matters in life. Just fall in love with as many things as possible"





Monday, January 17, 2011

Divine Fruitarian Pasta Marinara

I have been super inspired by a more fruit based diet these days. I have been experimenting with a variety of recipes that are Fruitarian and 8-1-1 friendly and I would love to share this one with you!

~Fruitarian Pasta Marinara~

Pasta
1 large zuchinni

Marinara Sauce
4 large tomatoes
1/2 red pepper
1/2 c. fresh basil
4 Medjool dates
2 celery stalks
1/8 c. sun dried tomatoes Bold
8 grape tomatoes

Spiralize your zucchini to make thin noodles. Place in a pretty medium sized bowl and set aside. Combine remaining ingredient (minus the olives and grape tomatoes) in your Vita Mix or blender and blend until somewhat smooth. Pour over your noodles and mix together. Place olives, grape tomatoes, and a sprig of basil in a beautiful design over your mixed pasta and let sit for 5 minutes or more. The longer you let your pasta sit, the more the sauce will thicken. Light some candles, sit down with your love and love this meal together!

This recipe always goes over well at dinners and pot lucks, so I recommend trying this when sharing Raw or Fruitarian meals for the first time with guests!

Love and Light always ~ Ashli Swann
Questions of comments? Leave a comment below or email me ~ rawinspiration@live.ca

~Fruitarian Fruit Porridge~

I have a new favorite breakfast for myself and my daughter! In place of oatmeal we have created this Fruitarian Fruit Porridge. It is simple, super quick, and tastes absolutely divine!

This recipe is Fruitarian and 8-1-1 friendly as well as Raw Vegan! I encourage you to experiment, add and subtract depending on what you have on hand.

Fruitarian Fruit Porridge ~
1 large serving, or 2 small servings

1 banana
1 large pear
1 large Pink Lady apple
1tsp cinnamon to taste
2 tbsp. raisins
Blend together on medium speed in your Vita Mix or blender. It should be somewhat chunky still, the consistency of porridge! Pour in your breakfast bowl, sprinkle with a tad more cinnamon, and raisins and enjoy!

I love this breakfast because it leaves you feeling light but perfectly full. It is easy to digest and is in harmony with eating fruit for breakfast! For a sweeter taste, blend in 2 Medjool dates as well!

I hope this recipe inspires you to experiment with some alternatives to cooked breakfast cereals, I know you, your partners, and your little ones will LOVE IT!
Love and Light always ~ Ashli Swann

Thursday, January 13, 2011

~Rawsome Mango Crumble Cobbler~

This is my all time favourite blow your mind out of this world Raw dessert ever!!! This will take about 20 minutes to prepare, and even less time to eat! Prep it, share it, love it!

~Rawsome Mango Crumble Cobbler~

CRUST
2 c. pecans
1c. almonds

1/4 c. walnuts
1 vanilla bean
1/4 tsp. sea salt
3/4 c. pitted medjool dates

SAUCE
3/4 c. pitted medjool dates
3 Tbsp. raw coconut oil
1/2 vanilla bean
1/4 cup spring water, as needed

FILLING
3 to 4 ripe mangoes, peeled, seeded, sliced, about 6 cups or 3 cups fresh berries of your choice!

UnCook me!
To make crust, process pecans, vanilla bean, and salt into powder in your food processor, Vita Mix or blender. Add ¾ cup pitted dates and process until mixed well. Sprinkle half of the crust onto bottom of pie dish, and set aside.

To make the sauce, combine ¾ cup dates, coconut oil, vanilla bean, and water as needed to make a thick syrup in your Vita Mix or blender. Set aside this aside while you make the delicious filling.

To make filling, place sliced mango into a bowl. Mix it all up with the syrup. Pour onto the cobbler crust in the pie plate.

To serve, top with other half of the crust. This will keep in the fridge for a few days although, I doubt that it will last an hour!

SO lets see, you just make an amazing Raw creation, you didn't have to bake it, everyone in the house loved it, and there is no scraping baked on bits off of the pie plate. I think next week, your family should make this for you for all of the hard Raw work you have done all week! Notice how you feel after dessert as well. Most likely, full of love and very alive! Who would have guessed?

My favorite Raw memory of this dessert dish was last summer when the kids picked us fresh blackberries from the black berry bush outside. I made it into a crumble and we enjoyed it as the berries were still warm from the summer sunshine. Truly nurturing and divine and SO full of LOVE!!!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Raw Vegan Chocolate 'Smudge Cookies'

Hi all of my Inspiring Friends! I have a delicious new recipe to share!

My daughter was delighted to make Santa our very own recipe of 'Raw Vegan Smudge Cookies' for Mr. Clause on his trip through beautiful Vancouver. My daughter Stella was however unsure if Santa had ever tried Raw cookies before?! So she came up with the brilliant plan to make half of the recipe Raw and the other half lightly baked.

The Smudge cookies gave me an amazing idea to make some recipes that require one prep, and some can be kept Raw for the Raw family members, and some can be baked for the others! Thank you Stella for the inspiration!

2 c. oat flour (raw oat hulls ground to a flour in the blender)
1/2 c. almond flour
1/8 c. flax flour
pinch french sea salt
1 vanilla bean
Hand stir the dry ingredients in a bowl

In the blender combine:
4 mandarin oranges juiced (about 1/2 c.)
3/4 c. fresh raw almond milk
4 Medjool dates
3tbsp. raw chocolate (raw cacao)
3 tbsp raw almond butter
Blend until perfectly smooth and creamy!

Combine the wet and dry ingredients together in your bowl. The consistency should be similar to cookie batter. You may meed to add a tad more almond milk if too dry, or a tad more oat flour if too wet! Place spoonful sized amounts on a baking tray, and the other half of the batter on the dehydrating tray. Bake the cooked half at 325 F for 8 minutes or until just hard on the outside and gooey on the inside. Dehydrate the Raw portion at 95 F for about 4 hours or until hard on the outside and fudgey (smudgy) on the outside!

We served these Smudge Cookies on a cute little plate, with a glass of Raw Vanilla Almond Milk and not only did our family love them, so did Mr. Clause himself much to my daughters delight ;)

Remember to start of 2011 right with a consultation of your choice and join my RAW 7 DAY or 30 DAY CHALLENGE!!! . Send me your e-mail address to join my monthly mailing list.

Love and Light xoxoxo ॐ Ashli Swann
p.s. I promise promise in the New Year to post tons more pictures! Yes I am listening to everyone, and yes pictures of me and my Raw creating will be coming in 2011. Also more 1/2 Raw, 1/2 lightly cooked creations to reduce meal time prep for you 1/2 Raw families! xoxo






Wednesday, December 15, 2010

~Inspiring Raw Events Solstice 2010 and New Year 2011~

Hey Everyone,

It is the time of the year when we stop and collect ourselves in the darkest part of the year. We gather into our families and into ourselves. The Winter Solstice on December 21st is a time to celebrate the light coming back within ourselves, and on our beautiful planet Earth. The time is here regardless of what or how you choose to celebrate to focus inward on yourself. Many of us do this with a New Year’s resolution. I offer to you the opportunity to be inspired by amazing health. Erase any doubts that just surfaces, breath and realize that you are the most powerful influence on yourself. You hold the light with in you, and I want to inspire you to shine!

Your health changes every moment of every day. Make it fun, make it light, and make it Raw. Do a bit of Raw or a lot of Raw! Let me help you, teach you, inspire you! Check out my upcoming events, and offerings. E-mail me or post to my blog with comments, questions, or thoughts. I would love to hear from you all!

~ December 19th 2010, Holiday Open House, Healthy Skin and Raw Food 7-9 pm Vancouver East~ Join myself and friend Lynn Wiebe RN as we team up for an evening of information, beauty and fun! Raw food treats, MK Skin Care, enter to win a free MK robe, and a free Raw consultation for 2011. Come early and get a free Yoga pass as well! RSVP by Friday December 17th 2010.
rawinspiration@live.com

~ Raw Solstice 2010 ~ Join me in spirit for a day of celebrating the resurfacing of light to our bodies, and the planet! Gather your friends and family close, light candles, have a Raw, Vegan, or Vegetarian meal tonight. Take out paper and colors, and write your positive thoughts, goals, and inspirations for this coming time. Do this with your loved ones! Kids can color and enjoy the time with their parents, loved ones can enjoy the pause together, and friends can come together with love and support.

As a powerful time for planting the seeds of intent within our hearts to allow them to sprout and grow to fruiting through 2011, I encourage you all to join me in spirit! Send me your Solstice plans and thoughts; I would love to post what others have planned!
rawinspiration@live.com

~January 9 2011 ~ Choose either a 7 day Raw Challenge or a 30 Day Raw challenge! Join me and be inspired to start off this New Year, this new season by filling your body with Raw Live divine food every time you eat! Challenge yourself to be Raw for 7 days, 30 days, and beyond. Simply click on the link to pay, then e-mail me at
rawinspiration@live.com , tell me a bit about yourself, your lifestyle, and we will go from there!

I have watched so many people’s lives, attitudes, emotions, relationships, and bodies transform and absolutely shine as a result of incorporating between 80% and 100% into their lives. Do it for yourself, do it for everyone your love, do it for the planet!

~ Raw in my home 2011 ~ But where shall I start? We start in your kitchen! Book a consult with me and I will come for a visit in your home. We will go through your cupboards, pull out that old blender, sharpen up your knifes and take stock of what you have available to use right away to be Raw even more importantly Successfully Raw!!! Want to be Raw in your home but don't know how to start? Email me and we will connect with your needs, and let the Raw fun begin!
rawinspiration@live.com.

~ Take me Raw shopping 2011~ But what will I buy? Let's go shopping! Book a consult with me and we will take stock of what you already have, what is Raw and what is not, create a practical menu for your week and go to the store! On a budget, no problem let me take you shopping and see what we can find! Email me and we will connect with your individual needs, and I will show you the Raw way around the store!

~Take me home 2011~ Lets combine an individual menu for you, a look around your soon to be Raw kitchen, go shopping to stock up, and make a meal together. Being told is good, being taught and shown in priceless. So let's do it! Let's do the Raw lifestyle together. Planning a day to get together, talk, shop, un-cook and learn.

~I will teach you about ~
transitioning into a Raw liefestyle gently
amazing Raw recipes, breakfast, lunch, dinners, snacks, and of course desserts
sprouting
storing your fruits and veggies to last
properly stock your kitchen
how and where to shop
best Raw restaurants around
manage your life and be radiantly, successfully Raw
letting go of food addictions
emotional eating
managing allergies
cleansing and much much more!

To book any of the above events with me simply click on the appropriate Pay Pal button to pay, then e-mail me. I will be in touch with you and we will start the consult and get you on your way to Raw Inspiring Health! I welcome questions and comments!

Love, light and blessings coming into this Solstice time and festive holiday season!
Xoxo Ashli Swann