Hi Everyone!

I hope that you were able to take some time for yourself this weekend! We had quite a busy and exciting week last week…but not as exciting as this week will be! The number of local items in our boxes is growing, and new surprises are popping up all over the place! This week, I am hoping to add a few more special items into the shares! Ha! Also, please remember this is our last week for dates and potentially pecans! Please don’t forget to reserve them if you want them! We will not see them until next season! (Don’t tell anyone, but I have purchased 3 cases all for myself!)

This past week, I was truly inspired by all of the amazing co-operators who have stepped up to the plate simply to give back to our community. I am truly humbled by those who simply want to share abundance and joy of good food with others. What we eat truly creates who we are on a cellular, physical, emotional, and spiritual level. When we enjoy our food, we enjoy our lives, and vice versa. This year is all about FEELING GOOD and about taking proper care of our bodies. So why not feel good ALL of the time?! It’s an empowering choice!

It’s simple: I feel good when I am doing the things that I love. When we do the things that we love to do, we bring joy into our lives. Too many times we hear people complain about the things that they do not want to be doing; however, with proper planning, direction, and positivity, we can be doing the things that we love to do ALL of the time! What are the things that you like to do? What brings joy into your life??

When we enjoy doing things, we feel gratitude for being able to participate in those activities. For instance, when we love our jobs, we love life THAT much more. When we feel obligated, those feelings of burden bring us down—we are not doing those things out of the joy of our hearts. Our energy lowers, our attitudes changes, and our efforts disappear. Our motivation to participate in anything may vanish because we lost zest for life when we vibrate at low energy levels. However, when we are doing things that we love, we vibrate with high energy levels, and we feel the need to be involved in more things that contribute to the greater needs of the earth and the nourishment of our souls.

If you don’t know what brings you joy, then start simple. My favorite things in life are so simple, and yet, they bring me the most joy. For me, I don’t get to be at home eating dinners often, so one of the things that brings me the most bliss is simply being able to prepare a salad and sit down to eat it in peace and quiet. I also love to read, create art, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE to run. Being at co-op volunteering my time makes me feel as if I could fly, and being with my family makes me feel warm inside. I love to hug my friends, and I love to share the message of raw foods with others. All of these actions bring me joy, and I have incorporated them into my daily life so that I am joyous ALL of the time! These things are simple, and they are a life well-lived. We have so many beautiful, simple things in life to celebrate!

If you are looking to bring more enjoyment, peace, love, and happiness into your life, the formula is simple: DO THINGS THAT YOU ENJOY! THE HAPPINESS WILL FOLLOW! If you are not sure what you enjoy, here is a list that may get you started. Simply complete your own list and try to incorporate them into your life daily. You will be amazed at how AWESOME you feel ALL of the time!

I feel good when I run.

I feel good when I hug.

I feel good when I eat all 811 raw.

I feel good when I wear my vibrams.

I feel good when I talk to my friends.

I feel good when I inspire others.

I feel good when I co-operate.

I feel good when I am with my family.

I feel good when I create my ceramics.

I feel good when I sing.

I feel good when I tutor kids.

I feel good when…..

….I simply get to share my passion for food, life, and love with you all! I hope that you are able to take this goodness and spread it with the world. We create the world that we want to live in, and I want to create that world of giving with all of you. I hope that you have an amazing week filled with all of the things that YOU want to do. Make this week about YOU, and you will make it soar for ALL who surround you. Be the shining light

I hope to see you all this week as we will have amazing weather!

All my love and hugs,

Kristina

Hi Everyone!

I hope that you have all had the most amazing weekend! This weekend has been incredible in every way! Not only do we have so much local abundance, but it was this weekend that I felt community more than ever before; I truly felt like we have become a co-op family.

I know that I have said it before over and over, but perhaps this weekend I was able to see HOW CONNECTED everyone truly has become. Even if this is your first time reading this newsletter, you are connected too! We are all connected.

From Tuesday to Saturday, I get to spend a good amount of time with the volunteers who come to help sort, and then I get to spend special time with those who come to pick up their shares. I see every face, and I try to greet every person that I can. This week has been special in the sense that I saw SO many more people reach out to become a part of our local community. We are not just any community, but we are a unique group that appreciates all that our green earth has to offer. We appreciate organic food, local produce, raw foods, warm hugs, and abundance. For what more can you ask???

You may hear from others that it is difficult to find GOOD PEOPLE. After having run this co-op for 3.5 years, I must argue that this is absolutely NOT true. I am surrounded with the most beautiful and good-hearted people. It is YOU ALL! It is because of you that we have such a beautiful co-op. Five and a half years ago when I first went raw, it was difficult to find individuals with the same common interest of even being vegetarian. Now, it has become more socially acceptable, and those who were in hiding have come out to celebrate this blessing! We have built a community based upon giving, sharing, and receiving. How cool!

I know that I am not the only one who has felt this sense of family. All week volunteers and co-operators alike have commented that they truly feel like they are a part of something special. Even through the freezing Saturday morning weather, helping hands and smiles surrounded me! There is an overwhelming sense of good energy that you get simply being around like-minded people who love fresh raw food, vibrant colors, fresh tastes, and life. When we are all joined together, we create synergy. After all three co-op days this past week, I have left co-op with an overwhelming sense of humility, peace, joy, and excitement. I simply cannot wait to begin this next week with you all!

When we do things that we enjoy, we find joy in life. We find contentment, and we find purpose. Co-op is simply FUN, and I get more out of co-operating than anything. If I were to die today, I would die blissful knowing that I am perfectly content with my life and that God has blessed me with the best family ever. Life is too short to waste attempting to please other people and to win the rat race.

Can you take time to realize what you want, and do you have the courage to live it?

We can only open our hearts and feel more and more blessed as each day passes. The energy that our hearts put out will only bring us more of that goodness in abundance. WE are good people, and good people are in the world. We connect with people in good places such as our co-op, and I am so blessed that we have created a safe haven, a home, that we can all share. We all take part, we all take ownership, we all love it, we all eat amazing food, and we all R-O-C.

Love you all. BIG HUGS.

Kristina

We have all heard it before: “Stop eating unhealthy! Take care of yourself! Exercise! Just do it!” … Then, why don’t we?

Sometimes, we take words for granted. When one person offers their advice to us or voices their concern, we take it with a grain of salt rather than to heart. Ironically, most of us tell ourselves that we need to be healthier or take better strides; yet, we participate in our own unhealthy doings. Why do we do this you ask? Well, I can share several reasons for you, and I will give you a few great tips to help you overcome these negative habits! It’s time to get healthy!

I am frequently surrounded by people who ask me, “How are you 100% raw all of the time?! How do you run everyday?!” The truth is that I have made it a part of my lifestyle. It has become an integral part of my life.  I prioritize food and exercise into my daily life no matter what. I plan the night before to make sure my next day goes smoothly. This affects how I feel, and these actions change my dynamic with the world! I want to be in a place of freedom, love, prayer, peace, and rejoice. Therefore, I must keep my body fueling my mind, body, spirit, and voice.

Many are afraid to cross over to greener pastures, and they hold themselves back repeating self-sabotaging ways. Ironically, although individuals want to break free and practice pristine habits, he/she fears the first steps of letting go. Why is it that we fear what we know is good for us? Why do we hold on to that which brings us misery? If we know that a certain change will make us happier, why don’t we just dive in and enjoy the ride?!

Change is different, and sometimes, this uncharted territory can be scary for us. The past way is all that we have ever known and experienced. Uncharted paths are “new,” and “new” takes time to adjust. We may feel alone in our endeavors, and we may not have as much support as we feel we could have. However, the ONE person that matters in this equation is ourselves. The secret lies within our own hearts. Bravery is key.

The coolest part about creating change in our lives is creating a channel to influence other people. When we persevere, we can all persevere! When we take better steps for ourselves, no matter what it may be, we have just made the world a better place. We lift up the energy of all around us, including ourselves! Just sharing this gift creates a domino effect for other people. When we gain the courage to truly take care of ourselves and share about this with others, they want to do this too! Can you imagine how awesome the world would be if each person tried to improve his/her self for the betterment of their being?

As the last week of January approaches, people begin to forget their New Year’s goals. I am here to remind you to make them real before the year passes you! Write down your goals again and again and look at this list daily. The more you see it, the more you say it aloud, and the more you share it with others, the more real that it will become in your life. With proper communication and planning techniques, easy execution takes place. There are a million excuses that you can tell yourself, but there is only one way to see results: just do it.

Even I need inspiration sometimes, and when I do, I tell others exactly what I would want to hear.

1. You are safe, supported, and loved. Take a deep breath!

2. You are kind, funny, warm-hearted, and appreciated. You can do this!

3. You have nothing to lose! Walk forward in faith!

4. You’re new life is awaiting you! Take the steps!

5. JUST DO IT!

We create our lives, and we choose how to live them.  What do you want in your life? Now is the time, and yes, it’s a better time than ever! If you wait, it will wait. We are all in this together. We all have our own personal goals to achieve, and when we do them together, we create safety nets of true love. I am so blessed to have you all as my co-op family, and I cannot wait to create more awesome change this year! Do it!

Hugs!

Kristina

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you have had a wonderful weekend! The first week of January has officially completed itself, and we have officially begun 2011! Bundle up because we are in for some colder weather this coming week! While it may be a bit chillier, the colder weather is bringing in tons of new local greens that we have not been able to enjoy for about a year! In the boxes this past week we saw local arugula, tat soi (Chinese spinach), pak choi, tomatoes, grapefruits, and even the first of the red kale on Saturday! Cross your fingers that we will be able to get more and more local abundance this week!

Now that we have settled a little bit more into 2011 and now that we have mentally set our goals for this year, now it is time to truly peg them to our to-do lists. Too many of us have set goals that we have not yet achieved. Well, what if now is the time? It is as fresh of a start as ever, and if you write down the goal, set a completion date, and reserve work time, you will meet your goal! The next question remains as follows: how badly do you want it?

Keeping ourselves motivated is challenging. Let’s admit; life is not always according to plan. Surprises happen, and we get thrown off our tracks sometimes. However, let us not forget that we create our own paths. I recently had a wonderful heart to heart with a friend about “the journey” of life. So many of us get lost in the moment that we forget that life is all about the journey—the road, the experience, the people, the travel, the tears, and the joy that come from simply living our lives and learning with the best of our abilities. What do you take away from each experience that you face on a daily basis?

If your answer is that you do not always encounter special occurrences daily, then you are not opening your eyes wide enough. BOING! Open those babies! Look around you. The people, the objects, the pictures, etc., all share a piece of who you are. We attract all that comes into our lives; therefore, the more we are able to recognize special instances, learn from them, and express gratitude, the more abundant and humbling life becomes.

Everything that you want to achieve in your life is possible. Now, put it into action by taking one step at a time. If you are worried that you cannot do it, then simply your goals list and make it as streamlined as possible. Prioritize. Make a checklist that you post up in your house to remind yourself of your dedication to these tasks. Love what you do, and the rest will follow. When you work from the heart, you will simply shine. Life becomes easy after that!

I was so overwhelmed with humility and love at co-op this week when I was able to see everyone back from the holidays. I have missed you all terribly, and you made my week simply by showing up and hugging me! The co-op is growing, and we are adding new members to our family each week! “Lettuce” be grateful to welcome so many new enthusiasts to our Rawfully Organic home, and please do not be afraid to invite others. There is always enough room and food—the more co-operators that we have, the more food we will have, the merrier we will be, the more local we will support, and the more hugs we will get!

It may be cold outside this week, but I will be staying warm with lots of loving hugs! Thank you all for holding my heart in 2010. I promise to try to make 2011 one of the best years ever for all of us!

All my love,

Kristina

Happy New Year!

I hope that you have had one of the best holidays yet! For me, this year was truly different from all of the others. I was able to actually get rest and to enjoy real time with my family. Christmas became more than just giving gifts, but it became about quality time. No phones, no internet, just smiles, songs, and hugs. I was then able to celebrate our first day back to co-op on the 1^st day of the year! That day became one of the best New Year’s days that I have had yet! I got to celebrate with amazing co-operators, sunny weather, and fresh food!

I truly believe that 2011 is a special year. 2010 was a year of growth for so many. Times were definitely changing when it came to politics, movies, jobs, etc. For many, this past year has been a year of growth opportunity; however, this change has been beautiful and much needed in order to enrich our lives. Even the co-op went through a period where our trailer was stolen, but then it was found! Also, we even found two new homes for Tuesday and Thursday! As far as I know, I think all of us have come out of the pit-hole looking into the light with smiles on their faces! I feel more and more grateful each day simply to be alive, to have my friends and family, and to have amazing food.

I have better direction than I did last year. Perhaps I have grown as a person, or maybe I have simply opened myself up to flow with life—accepting all possibilities that may come my way. This past year, I have definitely seen a shift in the way that I process information, the way that I deal with situations, and the way that I approach challenges. Before I knew that I only needed to live each day one step at a time, but now I practice it. I find that I have more patience and understanding for all who surround me, including myself. I have also come to truly comprehend the depth that we are all one; we all mirror each other, and we all can learn so much about ourselves simply by trying to understand and love those around us. There are always new heights to be reached, and we are each so blessed to have new opportunities presented to us daily.

I have an incredible feeling about the year 2011. I know that it will be the year of prosperity for so many. It is not just another year that we “have” to overcome, but things are looking up everywhere. This is a year to take a step forward. It is the beginning—a fresh start—and I am motivated to help make our world a better place. Just as a new seed is planted, it grows with sunlight and brings a sense of freshness and life to the air. We all have this capability. Imagine what would happen if everyone felt/acted this way! I want to have fun this year; I want to enjoy the company of all, and I want to enjoy each moment that I am living. Why not relish in each moment? All moments, whether or not you believe that they are good or bad, have a lesson to teach us. Whether or not we choose to allow ourselves to enjoy them is the key. Choose yes!

Each year, I make a list of goals that I want to achieve for the New Year. I believe this is one of the most important things in starting the New Year because it gives us direction, and it helps us to keep moving forward in life. When we move forward, we feel good about ourselves, and we gain satisfaction and confidence. This year, one of my main goals is simply to REACH PEOPLE. There are too many in the world who are “healthlessly hopeless,” and they truly believe that there is no way to overcome sickness, disease, illness, laziness, injury, habituation, depression, or mere dissatisfaction. Myself along with hundreds of others in our co-op are living, breathing, and running examples that this is simply not true. Our co-op has the potential to feed thousands each week—to bring health to thousands of families. In addition, we have the abundance to make living Rawfully healthy possible. The co-op makes an abundance of food affordable, and it even surrounds you with like-minded individuals who want to encourage you and help you reach your ultimate goals. We support each other, and we even support our local farmers. All benefit. All share. All love. ALL THE TIME!

Share the gift of life, health, and happiness with yourself and with everyone this year. FEED yourself with vibrant, living foods, and you will find life! SHARE the gift of living Rawfully Happy, and you will find joy! LOVE the life you were given and give thanks—you will find peace and happiness!

I am excited to begin the journey of living 2011 with all of you. You hold my heart Rawfully Organic!

Hugs,

Kristina