Old Skool Sensual

Let’s go back to a time, not too long ago, when we first moved to California.  I don’t do this too often, just once in a blue moon, or maybe just a new moon (did you know it’s less than a week away)?  I used to write poetry, and I think that creative spark just tried to poke it’s head out. ha!

When Joey, Joe and I first moved to California, I fell madly in love with food.  Can you believe it? I was honestly a sensual foodist before arriving to the West Coast, however, my love has grown deeper and yet more simple.  At one point, I tried on extreme veganism, then moved more toward vegetarian, and now I’m feeling the need to live without label that everyone has seemed to have tried on themselves once upon a time.…

The Hurb…can you guess what it is?

Have you ever used a vending machine? What shiny little package shot out of the bottom? When you ate it, how did you feel?

A life-long friendship was birthed out of a moment when I really could have used a vending machine-but not just any vending machine, of course. In 2012, I was dancing for a band, called Durian Sex Cult, while they performed in Santa Cruz, California. An airbrush artist named Kelsea Ernst came to paint the dancers with adornments before the show, and I totally fell in love with her. While she was airbrushing black lace cuffs on my wrists, I was expressing my deep desire for something delicious to eat to my husband Joe, sitting next to me.…

Spicy Secret Series #3: Cumin

julySpicy Secret Series #3: Cumin |  by: July Westhale
 

Are you familiar with cumin? Maybe you’ve tried Indian food? Cumin is commonly used in daals, beans, curries, and soups-this spice is a powerhouse of complex flavor. With both sweet undertones and just the slightest hint of smoke, cumin’s warm aroma can lure anyone to the table.

As it turns out, cumin’s undeniably irresistible nature goes even deeper than sensory engagement. A spice with a 5,000 year old history, it has been used for everything from medicine to skin care to part of the mummification process. Often associated with dishes from Vietnam, Mexico, and India, it was also kept in small bowls on many tables in Ancient Greece, should the need arise for additional flavor.…

How to make chia pudding

While Joe and I were in Mexico working as Recovery Coaches at Crossroads Treatment Center, we had this glorious kitchen to play in.  We had the day before New Year’s Eve off, so we spend some time creating some videos to share with you!  We were very motivated, ambitious and directed.  We just couldn’t find it within ourselves to be serious.  Here’s our attempt(s) at creating a short video to show you how to make chia seed pudding: (feel free to watch this ridiculousness, or just skip right on down to the super simple recipe)

My husband Joe LOVES chia seed pudding. I pretty much make it just for him.  When we traveled down to Mexico…we prayed that we would make it across the border with our huge box of produce from Ocean Beach People’s organic food market.…

Exploring the magical garden

What makes you feel lucky?  How about having “good karma”?  It doesn’t matter how it’s put, I felt it on my birthday this week! It was my third birthday at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Our friends from Argentina accompanied us for this trip, and I love what Mercedes said as she walked into the garden,

“Is this a dream?”

 

If only I could have captured the look on her face.  It was her and her husband Hernan’s first time to Big Sur, and their first time to Esalen.  We love introducing this magical place to people, because it’s the closest to utopia that we’ve seen.  We’ve been many times, for week-long retreats assisting our Tantra teachers.  …

Interview with Darya Rose, Ph.D

Here’s a special treat in lieu of this auspicious time…

it’s a NEW YEAR!

I’ve been waiting patiently (and screaming inside) to share this interview with Darya Rose.

Darya and Lana

Here’s the scoop:

Change is the only thing that’s constant in life, and if you’re in the flow, congratulations to you.  I love evolving and changing. Stepping up my skills and learning new things.  Food and relationships are so exciting because there is so much to learn. There are many elements to improve and shift-tweaks to be made, to unfold everything amazing that is yet to come.  If you’re reading this, I’ll take a shot in the dark and guess that you’ve read some of my suggestions from 2014 and tried them out? …

3 tips for a NEW, “New Year’s Resolution”

How many years in a row have you made the same new year’s resolution? If you’re making the same resolution because you haven’t gotten what you were shooting for, I have a challenge for you.  It can’t hurt to have an additional new year’s intention.

Do you and your lover speak the same food language?  Can you whip up a delicious meal in the kitchen together?  Do you generally choose the same item on a menu at a restaurant?  Do you come home from the grocery store with all of the divine, colorful produce that your lover wanted (without them even having to ask for it)?  Speaking the same food language means that you can choose and chew together harmoniously.…

Santa likes it sensual

Nothing naughty, really.

There’s no doubt that Santa likes it sensual.

SENSUAL FOOD that is!

Because it’s a holiday, and I want to make sure Santa stays jolly, I am posting this article a day early.  He’ll appreciate it, and I’m sure you will too.  Read on for a quick story.  Merry Christmas!

                                                                                                  photo credit: Benjamin Hager

I have a little story I’d like to share from just this past weekend.  My husband Joe and I were filming a tantric kissing video for a good friend of ours.  We demo the many tantric kisses, and just have a fun day being silly and sensual.  One of the kisses is done with a piece of gorgeous fruit. We get close and “sensitize” the lips with the fruit, by lightly pressing and tracing both top and bottom lips.  …

Eating well on $100 a month budget

How much do you spend per month on groceries?
My family certainly spends more than $100 each month.
Earlier this week, I spoke with a gentleman who has a $100 budget
organic 4for food every month.  During our strategy session, I gave him many suggestions for improving his health, and unfortunately, many products that I suggested would take him out of his budget.

organic3Another friend of mine mentioned that during the holidays, her food budget decreases, because she’s spending a lot of her income on gifts.  Yet another friend mentioned that eating well is too expensive, and requires too much time.

I had to get creative. 

Organic really is more expensive.  If you go to your local grocery store and compare conventional produce to organic, you’ll see the difference, if you haven’t already noticed.  …

3 Foods to balance your hormones

Yesterday, I went to the Chiropractor.  Actually, she was a holistic chiropractor that practices CranioSacral Therapy, acupressure and chinese medicine.  I’m quite sure the list is even longer, but needless to say, she knows her stuff.  I visited her because I took a little fall during aerial a few weeks ago. I’m still a little crooked, but I’m certain that this amazing woman straightened me out today.

The first test she did led her to question the functioning of my pituitary gland.  The conclusion that we came to, was that my body was still adjusting to the major shift that occurred after I did the Ibogaine.  If you check out the link-no big news there, I did not do the treatment for addiction.  …