Recipe by Chaya-Ryvka Diehl of www.theLivingVision.com (Chaya@theLivingVision.com)

If you have not yet found yourself a full on kale chip addict I am hoping to get you on the wagon. If you are already submerged in the world of kale chips and the cravings that go along with them, I am here to give your pocket book some serious relief as well as introduce you to the wonderful world of cashew free kale chips that will  ROCK YOUR WORLD!!!

Kale chips are so very easy to make, and they do not have to be cashew based to be super delish. These crispy, crunchy, mouthwatering and nutrient dense snacks are a revolutionary addition to anyone's diet! Not to mention that if you find yourself sneaking some deep fried chips every once in a while these are an excellent replacement that WILL hit that scrumptious comfort food snack spot.

We just returned from Mexico, where we took a child of one of our workers who had never met her grandparents (left).  It was a magical trip, so much transformation is crossing the border and now impacting the families of those we employ. There are small businesses being started, further education in the lives of this generation, we are no longer strangers and they are willing to share with us deeply about the stories of their lives. 

We take gifts and bring back gifts.  It is a magical experience to be the link between generations. We are so welcomed and they are so generous with us. While 5 years ago we were the first "white" people in their village now we are a common sight and people know us. Thank you to all the people who immigrate here and serve up unconditional love along side of us. 

Good News, we have finalized the purchase of a Cafe Gratitude location in Santa Cruz on Lincoln Ave in downtown. We are shooting for a mid August opening, and will keep you posted. We are thrilled to finally be offering the community there a Cafe to gather in and our commitment of being of service. Venice Beach is also in the making and scheduled to be opening in Spring 2012.
So thank you to everyone who comes in for the food and community and stays for the love!

Lately, I am so present to how important it is for me to be in integrity and be a good role model for those coming up behind me. On this incredible spiritual path that I get to walk, I see how critical the integrity of the people who walked before me is.

I see them walking in such a good and powerful way.  I so appreciate all of the work they have done to be where they are.  I see how patient and loving they are with me when I take a tumble on my way.  They don't try to change me or fix me no matter what kind of fit I might be throwing.  They just stand strong, looking at me with love.  I receive so much inspiration and encouragement from that.  It gives me the opportunity to pull it in and remember my own strength and light.  And I get that me doing that inspires them in return. 

I didn't always have that.  It can be a challenging world to grow up in these days.  I came through some really painful times.  And I give thanks for the all of it.  I have the courage, we allhave the courage to look at those places where we struggle and where we have or have not received inspiration from others and really love on ourselves and have compassion with ourselves.  We all have the courage to take on really being in integrity with whatever path we're walking, with whatever practices and ways of being we are taking on.  That way we can look around us, with so much love and understanding in our hearts and eyes and inspire hope in the hearts of the young ones today and all of those around us.

Purchase $10 raffle tickets before we draw the winner on August 15th! 

Purchase from any Cafe Gratitude location or Gracias Madre.  The winner will get a $1,000 gift card redeemable at any Northern Californian Cafe Gratitude location and Gracias Madre.

I stopped eating meat 18 years ago, mainly for ethical reasons. I stopped eating dairy and peanuts 8 years ago, for health reasons. The results were miraculous to me. In exchange, I feel better than ever!

I was diagnosed with allergies and asthma around age 9. I took medication for asthma three times a day and had an inhaler to use when I wheezed and needed help breathing. I used it often, sometimes multiple times a day. At times I used it beyond the maximum recommended daily dose.

The only food allergy I was diagnosed with was a mild allergy to peanuts. As a kid, I ate peanut butter almost every day. My whole family did! We ate peanut butter on bananas, celery, bread, pancakes, waffles, and French toast. You name it, we covered it with peanut butter. Even though it was hard, I stopped eating peanuts. My asthma was still bad, though. Since it didn't actually seem to make a difference, I started eating them again.

As an adolescent, I couldn't even run around the block without wheezing. To prevent severe asthma attacks I simply avoided all strenuous physical activity. I was excused from anything in Physical Education class that involved running. When my brother and sister got a group of kids together to play soccer I wanted to join in, so they let me be the goalie. That way I could still play with them but not have to run. At times, though, even playing goalie was too hard, so I had to sit out. I felt left out, weak, lonely, and crippled.

Do it yourself: What a combo of words!  In Spanish: "hazlo tu mismo".  Remember self is the only thing we are, now.

Terces wasn't able to get to write a blog post for this week as she and Matthew are in Mexico visiting the families of employees.  They flew with a daughter of an employee who has never until now met her grandparents.  She has never been to Mexico, never been in a plane and has never met her father's parents.  What a wonderful opportunity community is for making ends meet where it wasn't possible before.

Terces should be able to write something next week.

I'd like to share with you something that I am taking on practicing this month:  speaking up without having it all figured out.  This is a major stretch for myself in that I hate looking stupid and/or vulnerable.  I have considerable anxiety around being caught in criticism without my defenses up, without my side ready to explain itself.  I find myself repeatedly gearing up with evidence to present anyone who asks me about my politics, my decisions, my actions....

I am realizing that my compulsive need to have all evidence organized causes me to be in a separation story,  be in defense of the world, be a victim, and live a safe/reserved life.  Gearing up by having everything figured out 100% before I speak up, I'm creating the world as something that I am separate from... as if there are teams to be on or not on.  Not only that, but I am practicing as if I am a victim of an agitator.  I am creating a story that the world will attack me and that I must have everything organized and ready for battle to survive.  

By not acting or speaking up before I have 100% certainty, I've living a stale and safe life... I'm living small and not growing.  See bottom image of the treehouse- I'm visioning how this way of living is like living on the trunk of the tree, settling down and completely living on the most sturdy, solid and unmoving area of the tree (versus, see top image- getting out on the skinny branches: living without evidence. Growing and moving with fluidity).  I've been living a life based on evidence, a small and passive survival technique that I am not committed to.  

Tomorrow our living room area of our central offices will be filled with open minded powerful workshop participants.  Every month we hold one workshop where Terces and Matthew Engelhart share what they've learned and what they're practicing in their lives.  In these workshops, they open their hearts, speak authentically and transparently, and spend the entire weekend expressing what they've created in the many communities they've founded.  People from all of the world come to these workshops and we know that it's a challenge for many to come, stay for the weekend, and to listen without filters, defenses or resistance.  I'm here to tell you that we know that you've got your own methods, that you've learned how to survive, what works and what doesn't.  We know that you've got it together... and these workshops are an opportunity for to release what isn't working.  How's your relationship with money?  Do you fear it, hate it, depend on it...?  If you struggle with finances, don't trust money or feel confined by it, the Abounding River Workshop (this September) might be another path that works better for you.  Think of these workshops as invitations to another way... not as "the way".  We don't offer you the truth, these are tools that we like and we're referring them to others because they work so well for us.  Our last workshop was The Abounding River and we brought it to Manhattan with great reviews.  I encourage you to try out some of Matthew & Terces's books and see what practices they offer work for you in your life.  Remember that it takes a little discomfort to create a true shift.  Whatever you're stuck on right now has its payoff (otherwise you wouldn't be stuck there, right?)