My Transition to Vegan and Finding the Right Cheese!

My transition to Vegan started after watching one of Ralph Smart's Youtube videos on his Infinite Waters Channel. Ralph has been an amazing inspiration to me. I can't recommend his videos enough. He encourages a vegan diet for optimal health and your spiritual enlightenment - awakening. The whole idea is that as you learn to respect all creatures and life forms equally (i.e. dogs, cats, cows, pigs and all other living beings), your karma brings you enlightenment, self fulfillment and rids you of the fear and guilt from the energy of the animal you are eating. Not only that, but this instills compassion for all living things and in turn compassion will be given to you. This is Karma.

Going Vegan may be something that is easier for someone like me since I have always loved animals. I once became Vegan at 13 for a year after watching a horrific documentary where they kill the animals and where our meat comes from. Its really sad what they do to animals in slaughter houses! People in the US get mad at people in China when they see Grotesque images from Yulin, a Chinese yearly "eat your dog" festival. But they don't get mad for what happens right here in front of their faces (Vegucated, Documentary... Not for the faint or minors because it is graphic). We are being hypocrites if we judge a culture that does not know any different. Did you know that in some regions like India and Nepal Cows are considered holy and sacred? So how disgusting are we to them?

Back to the 10-Day Vegan challenge, I decided to try it. In order to give myself a bit of a push and make it easier for me to follow the diet, I also watched a documentary called Forks Over Knives. In this movie, researchers explore the possibility that people changing their diets from animal-based to plant-based can eliminate or control diseases like cancer and diabetes.  This was enough to do the 10 Day Vegan Challenge faithfully! During my trial phase, I felt like I was just dropping lbs and felt full of energy. I was really hungry a lot for the first few days though. I don't know if every person who is Vegan feels their spirituality strengthened though... or was it just me? Something about a sound mind and clarity though. I can't even explain that but I felt healthier and more clear minded. Like I felt light. Can't explain that better. :) lol  without sounding crazy of course! Like I didn't have a care in the world almost. Like stress just rolled off of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a robot!!! Lol. I do get upset and overwhelmed but it is easier to deal with it.

So yeah. That was my journey to Vegan. At the moment, I try my best to eat a clean Vegan diet but there are times that I fall short. Not really on the meat but mostly its the cheese, eggs and sour cream that I am working on. So I guess I'm a relaxed Vegan lol. Does that count or am I just a vegetarian. But I do see it as I am transitioning. In fact on my quest for better non dairy vegan cheese, I am sooooooooooo excited I found the best I have ever had. I have two that I love but this one is the closest to cheese as I have ever tasted!!!! Chao tofu cheese! Here is a pic below.

New Artist - Carla Morrison - Must see

In line for Julieta Venegas with Esmeralda, excited to see her live. After an hour of standing in heels (so irritating but all Latinas wear heels to any event and we didn't want to feel left out) waiting for the diva to come out, I noticed a girl come out to the stage and I honestly thought she was doing a mic check. She was dressed so simple, in denim jeans and cute trendy top but not very flashy at all. But once she opened her mouth and I heard her angelic voice, I realized this is not a mic check. I was there witnessing the birth of a star.

Carla Morrison is from Tecate and her drummer from Tijuana. Just the two was all it took to entertain this San Diego crowd. I'm not sure how the rest of the crowd felt. They seemed a little confused. Like they weren't sure if they liked her or they just wanted to see the safe to like, I've heard millions of times so I'm not taking any risks in listening, mainstream, pop diva, Julieta. It's not a bad thing but I think most people have been trained by the radio to only like what's on the radio. Nothing against Julieta. I love her music. It's why we were there. But in my opinion, this new starlet stole the show. So I hope that people can open their mind and ears to new incredible talent.

Hot BoXX SD @ El Camino in Little Italy - Jan 21, 2011 feat. Junior the Disco Punk

Last night we had Micheladas and Tequila shots in celebration of the Hot Boxx's relaunch at El Camino. We streamed live from the back patio. Our special guest was DJ Junior The Disco Punk! Junior is booked pretty much everyday of the week in clubs and bars all around San Diego. He's a full time daddy to Juliette and full time bad ass DJ. He's known for his 80's electric beats and of course for making people shake their rumps all night long. With Junior's impeccable taste in music, it is always a guaranteed ass shaking fun night! And that, my love, is talent. I've posted his links down below for easy access.


* http://thediscopunk.blogspot.com/
* http://twitter.com/theDISCOpunk
* http://foursquare.com/thediscopunk
* http://www.ustream.tv/channel/junior-the...
* http://www.livestream.com/thediscopunk


We also had the chance to talk a little more to Mauricio Couturier, the amazing master mind behind El Camino. I can't tell you how impressed I was to find out that he was the designer behind this magnificent spot. Double whammy baby! An intelligent proven business man but designer as well. You must go to El Camino! With 2 locations, Little Italy and South Park (oh the one in South Park is fabulous too by the way). Mauricio said they have the best Chile Relleno so I'm going back asap for those! And if you're crazy about Sunday Brunch and Mimosas, you can't beat $1 mimosas! I give this place two thumbs way way up!
www.ElCaminoSD.com


Check out the interviews with them down below.

Coachella line up 2011

I have been to Coachella 3 years. I loved it! It's an adult playground. Filled with art and music. This year the line up is no less to be expected. It's PHENOMENAL!!! Here is the list of the bands I have to see:

Here is who I want to see at Coachella!
On FRIDAY:
Caifanes - Damn just like old times!
Cold War Kids
Crystal Castles - Oh Oh Oh all electronica.. I loves
Cut Copy - Hell yeah
Erick Morillo - he's the PDitty of House music
Interpol
Moving Units
Lauryn Hill
Ozomatli
Sander Kleinenberg
Sasha
The Black Keys
The Chemical Brothers
Warpaint

Saturday
Arcade Fire
Big Audio Dynamite
Broken Social Scene
Cage the Elephant
Empire of the Sun - Need to see them
Erykah Badu
Fedde Le Grand
Paul Van Dyk
Steve Angello
The Kills

Sunday funday
Chromeo
Duran Duran
Green Velvet - Shake n pop baby!!!
FUCK Kanye West - I may have to go to boo him
Neon Trees - What? did someone say ANIMAL!!
PJ Harvey
Rye Rye - Valerie VonKiss let me hear some of her music, good stuff!
She Wants Revenge
The Presets
The Strokes
Yelle

Happy New Year everybody. May 2011 bring all those positive changes you seek for in your life!

Hey, tune in tonight at 8pm live on www.hotboxxsd.com to catch up with The Office Twins! Giving away a fine bottle of Caballero Aguila Tequila!!

Pablo Neruda - Si Tu Me Olvidas English and Spanish

Pablo Neruda is by far my favorite poet. He masters the art of finding words for the emotions of love and of the heart. Special thanks to Richard Rositas for introducing me to my favorite book of all time and Jason Lazo for this little find below.

"Si Tu Me Olvidas"
By Pablo Neruda

En Español:
(In Spanish)

Quiero que sepas
una cosa.

Tú sabes cómo es esto:
si miro
la luna de cristal, la rama roja
del lento otoño en mi ventana,
si toco
junto al fuego
la impalpable ceniza
o el arrugado cuerpo de la leña,
todo me lleva a ti,
como si todo lo que existe:
aromas, luz, metales,
fueran pequeños barcos que navegan
hacia las islas tuyas que me aguardan.

Ahora bien,
si poco a poco dejas de quererme
dejaré de quererte poco a poco.

Si de pronto
me olvidas
no me busques,
que ya te habré olvidado.

Si consideras largo y loco
el viento de banderas
que pasa por mi vida
y te decides
a dejarme a la orilla
del corazón en que tengo raíces,
piensa
que en esa día,
a esa hora
levantaré los brazos
y saldrán mis raíces
a buscar otra tierra.

Pero
si cada día,
cada hora,
sientes que a mí estás destinada
con dulzura implacable,
si cada día sube
una flor a tus labios a buscarme,
ay amor mío, ay mía,
en mí todo ese fuego se repite,
en mí nada se apaga ni se olvida,
mi amor se nutre de tu amor, amada,
y mientras vivas estará en tus brazos
sin salir de los míos.

"If You Forget Me"
By Pablo Neruda

In English:
(En Inglés)

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists:
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loveing me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.




-
Ausencia

Apenas te he dejado,
vas en mi, cristalina
o temblorosa,
...o inquieta, herida por mi mismo
o colmada de amor, como cuando tus ojos
se cierran sobre el don de la vida
que sin cesar te entrego.

Amor mio,
nos hemos encontrado
sedientos y nos hemos
bebido toda el agua y la sangre,
nos encontramos
con hambre
y nos mordimos
como el fuego muerde,
dejandonos heridos.

Pero esperame
guardame tu dulzura.
Yo te dare tambien
una rosa.

- Pablo Neruda