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If you are in London (or even in UK or Europe) on 5th and 6th of September, there is one event you can drop everything for. It’s called ‘I can do it!’ and it is the best spiritual retreat of all time. It’s developed by the cutest ever love light Louise Hay, where top Hay House authors will be showing you how to:
See obstacles as opportunities
Expand your perception and burst through the constraints of your current thinking
Enrich your relationships
Heal and transform past pain into energy that guides you forward
Eliminate self-sabotaging behaviours
Ease stress, worry and frustration
Make positive choices that you will stick to – choosing foods, thoughts and spiritual practices that nourish your body, mind and soul!
I will be there myself on Saturday 5th September, signing books and selling Tanya’s Cafe refreshments, so come by and cuddle!
My word, do I have an announcement and a half for you today!
As you may already know, my beautiful first published book- The Uncook Book: The essential guide to a raw food lifestyle – is being released everywhere in the UK on 7th September.
I honestly can’t believe it myself (I’m still coming down to earth after THIS once in a lifetime experience).
[A side note to my US friends- The Uncook Book is coming your way on 27th October and if you like the sound of this UK prize, then you won’t be disappointed when it’s your turn! Just make sure you are subscribed here>> to get the announcement.]
To celebrate this release of my mega proud achievement, I’ve teamed up with some of my favourite brands in the wellness world and, together we are bringing you..
THE BIGGEST GIVEAWAY IN RAW FOOD HISTORY!!
What you see listed below comprises The Complete Raw Food Kitchen Kit and owning this dream prize means that you can flip open The Uncook Book to any page, point to a recipe and be totally set to create it with all the superfoods and equipment now in your kitchen!
Hungry for a Falafel Feast? You’ve got the best food processor. Thirsty for a Skin Cleanser Juice? You’ve got the best cold-press juicer. Need soft Onion Bread NOW? The top end dehydrator is all yours. Craving Coconut Vanilla Ice-Cream? Oh yes and a high powdered blender is yours too.
And that’s not all. Scroll below to marvel over £3,000 worth of the most insane hamper gifts this industry has ever seen.
And all this for one lucky person.
And all for just buying a book you’d want anyway.
TO ENTER, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS COMPLETE THESE 2 VERY SIMPLE STEPS:
1. Purchase a copy of The Uncook Book via Amazon.co.uk here>> Every purchase equals 1 entry, so stock up and buy for everyone you know to gain more chances of winning!
2. Email your receipt to TheUncookBook@HayHouse.co.uk Please include a). Your full name, b). Your UK address and c). Your contact phone number.
Tribest Green Star Elite Juicer
Tribest health appliances have gained a strong reputation amongst professional chefs, wellness coaches, and nutritionists all around the world. Bringing you the ultimate in twin gear technology & maximising the benefits of your juice, there is no juicer like The Green Star Elite. Not only does it work to carefully crush produce without damaging nutrients, it cold presses the most juice from all greens and allows cell membranes to be easily opened to allow even more minerals to be extracted & preserved for longer.
JTC are one of the largest manufacturers of commercial blenders in the world and have built a global reputation synonymous for quality and reliability. JTC’s reputation comes from a history spanning more than 35 years; manufacturing motherboards and PCB controllers to leading brands around the world such as De’Longhi, Sanyo and Holmes & Honeywell. They have used all their resources in innovating an incredibly energy efficient and robust 3HP blender which is ever growing in popularity in over 100 countries around the world. This bundle includes the blender, a recipe book and a 7 year warranty.
A powerful food processor that will mix, grate, slice, chop, whisk, knead and - thanks to its BlenderMix attachment - liquidise your ingredients. What makes this model stand out from the previous one, is it's extra large feed tube, designed to allow large amounts of disc work to be achieved quickly and efficiently. All bowls included are BPA free, giving you peace of mind over the health and safety of you and your family. The commercial grade induction motor is guaranteed for 30 years, with an overall parts guarantee of 3 years.
Tribest health appliances have gained a strong reputation amongst professional chefs, wellness coaches, and nutritionists all around the world, each appliances has been designed to maximise health and wellbeing. Sedona is the only Dehydrator we use at Tanya's Cafe. It can be divided into 2 drying chambers if you aren’t taking up full capacity, has an all-digital control panel, extra quiet fans for night time operation & a gorgeous glass window.
Loved by the food, fitness and fashion industries alike, sisters Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley are authors of The Art of Eating Well, and the upcoming Good + Simple books, as well as creators of this Hemsley Spiralizer. It sold out in the first two weeks of its release in Selfridges and is bestselling on Amazon. A must-have kitchen utensil for turning your favourite vegetables into spirals instantly, swap heavy glutenous carbohydrates for courgetti (courgette spaghetti). It is made from strong, food-grade ABS plastic which is BPA Free and fully recyclable.
Living Milk has four years experience providing the highest quality nut milk bags, supplying the raw food, nutrition, fitness and sports markets globally. Of the tens of thousands of satisfied customers many are professional raw food chefs working in demanding commercial conditions. The above picture is right from the book, where I demonstrate step-by-step making of almond milk, using the Living Milk bag.
Superfoodies is the exciting brand from Rawcreation/Detox Your Word - the UK's leading importer and EU-wide distributor of the finest organic superfoods and raw foods since 2000. Superfoodies is a brand that builds a bridge between dedicated consumers of superfoods and people who really want to incorporate these ingredients into their diets, but aren't sure where to begin. This hamper includes Matcha, Carob, Chia Seeds, Shelled Hemp Seeds, Green Coffee Bean Extract and 2 x Superfoodies Granolas.
OrganicBurst is a leading global health food brand, which is a favourite of top wellness, beauty & fitness experts, bloggers, models and everyone else around the world who loves the life-enhancing benefits of pure, powerful and ethically sourced superfoods! This bundle includes the full range: Baobab, Spirulina, Chlorella, Maca, Acai and Wheatgrass.
OptiBac Probiotics specialise entirely in probiotic supplements and their range of 11 different products offers you some of the most researched probiotic strains in the world. Their company ethos of only selecting high quality, research-based probiotics has seen them develop one of the UK’s favourite probiotic ranges. This bundle includes For every day, For every day EXTRA Strength, Bifidobacteria & fibre, For travelling abroad, For daily immunity, One week flat (anti bloating) and For women.
Great Taste Award winning Raw Chocolate Bars, Snacks and Super Foods. Professional Dragon tamers. Yes, The Raw Chocolate Company had Dragon's Den fighting over who will invest and so they should've - these are truly some of my favourite chocolate products in the whole world. This hamper includes everything you need for your choc making (and snacking) needs: Coconut sugar, Cacao powder, Cacao butter, Goji berry powder and Raw Chocolate Snacks - Raw Chocolate Mulberries, Raw Chocolate Goji Berries, Raw Chocolate Raisins, Raw Chocolate Golden Berries, Raw Chocolate Sweet Apricot Kernels, Vanoffe Mulberries.
It was over 33 years ago that Neal's Yard Remedies opened their doors to their first shop in Neal's Yard, a once forgotten corner of Covent Garden, London. They became the UK's first organic health and beauty company and the WORLD's first health and beauty brand to score 100/100 for ethics in an independent audit by Ethical Company Organisation. I really believe in everything NYR stand for, absolutely love their products and adore the team behind them.
When Planet Organic opened its doors in 1995, it was Renée Elliott's dream to offer the best and widest range of organic foods available, and her mission to promote health in the community and to bring a sense of discovery and adventure into food shopping. Planet Organic is the first store to be certified by the Soil Association, it sells no processed foods, no hydrogenated fats and no GM, and it is totally sustainable.
12 x 500ml Ultimate Oil Blend | Feeding the body with an adequate supply of undamaged fats is essential for optimum health. This is a premium and organic seed oil blend, which can be used daily to boost your Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids intake. Simply drizzle over salads, add to juices or blend into a fruit smoothie. 12 x 60capsule Digestive Enzymes | A premium blend of seven active plant-based enzymes chosen to assist the breakdown of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, soluble fibre, starch, milk sugar and complex sugars aiding healthy digestion and nutrient absorption.
Magical things, made in Brooklyn with Love. There's really no better way to describe this super adorable jewellery brand, which is all handmade by my sister in New York. The winner gets 2 of my favourite necklaces from her collection: True Love (you spoon, that's true love) and Three Golden Wishes. U+C ship worldwide so you lucky UK peeps can be blessed with it too.
Tanya's is my very own cafe chain, serving innovative plant-based living cuisine, which is all raw, organic, gluten-free, dairy-free and damn tasty. We have a flagship restaurant inside a gorgeous boutique hotel- myhotel Chelsea, where we are open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and superfood cocktails- in a light filled conservatory or outdoor terrace. Our second cafe is a juice bar and coffee shop in collaboration with Ride Republic indoor spinning studio in Parson's Green. And the third location is a seriously exciting Pop-Up inside the prestigious Food Hall of Selfridges, Oxford Street (open for six weeks only from 28 August 2015). This hamper includes 2 x £20 Tanya's Cafe gift vouchers, Tanya's signature mug and an alkaline superfood blend pH Booster to add to your water, juices and salads.
Ah there she is! The perfect book for anyone who wants to celebrate life through food. Raw food really gives you that opportunity because of all the energy and clarity you receive in return. Inside you will find over 140 easy-to-follow, accessible recipes with a modern edge, everything you need to know to set up a successfully raw kitchen and a whole lot of super handy tips that are both nutritionally viable and creatively fun. I will personally write a note to the winner and sign this copy!
1. Purchase a copy of The Uncook Book via Amazon.co.uk here>> Every purchase equals 1 entry, so stock up and buy for everyone you know to gain more chances of winning!
2. Email your receipt to TheUncookBook@HayHouse.co.uk Please include a). Your full name, b). Your UK address and c). Your contact phone number.
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
By entering this competition, you warrant that all information provided by you is true. Hay House reserves the right to verify any information given.
You must be a UK resident and we will not accept applications from any residents outside of the UK at this time (sorry!).
Only purchases of The Uncook Book by Tanya Maher via Amazon.co.uk here>> will be eligible.
You can enter as many times as you like and each book purchase will be counted as one entry. (ie. If you make one transaction for 3 books and it states so on your receipt, you will gain 3 entries into the draw. If you make 3 separate transactions for 3 books, please email us all 3 receipts to gain 3 entries).
There will be one winner.
The competition will begin on Tuesday 11th August 2015 and end at 11:59PM GMT Sunday 6th September 2015.
Any book purchase made before 11th August is eligible for entry, simply send us the receipt.
The winner will be announced by Friday 11th September via Better Raw’s newsletter. Subscribe here>>
The winner will be announced publicly on Hay House UK and Better Raw social network pages one day after the newsletter is published.
Any person that is an employee of Hay House, Better Raw or Tanya’s Cafe is not eligible to enter (Sorry guys, love you though!).
Winner selection will be conducted by Hay House UK, whose decision is final.
If the winner does not respond to our email notification within 14 days, an alternative winner will be randomly selected from the remaining entries.
The prizes are sponsored by the companies mentioned and the winner’s details will be shared with the respective contributors of the prize.
The prize winner unconditionally agrees (as a condition of accepting this prize) to: a). The use of their name, one or more photographs of themselves and disclosure of their county of residence within the UK; and b). Co-operate with or participate in any other reasonable post-competition publicity.
Please allow up to 2 weeks for prize delivery to your UK address only.
It may not appear this way, as I’m always on social media posting instant updates, but I’m a pretty private person.
I work away quietly in the background, I’m what they categorise as a hermit, prefer to do many things alone, I keep a ‘sometimes’ diary and often don’t share half of what’s inside even with people closest to me.
I have never showed my vision board to anyone.
So yeah- sharing it publicly is a pretty big deal. Before I do the big reveal though, I wanted to tell you how I knew that IT REALLY WORKS …
The first time I’ve ever heard of this manifestation technique was when I was fresh out of uni, working in my dream job as a commercial leasing agent, already with two mortgages on investment properties, $25K in student loan debt (some of which went towards the investments), rent to pay in central Auckland and just $200 in my bank account. Being commission based, I never knew when I’d be paid next. Having to drive clients around (without knowing when I’d be paid next) was fun, but on a gas tank that cost half of what was in my account, not so much.
A certain visualisation exercise really inspired me. You had to focus on a word or image, which you desired and by doing so daily, you’d send out vibrational frequencies, that should eventuate into reality. That same night, I printed off my bank statement, twinked out the date and the summary balance (remember twink?) and changed them to $45,000 for a year from then.
It felt totally absurd writing down five figures, especially since I was so used to seeing only three or even two, and had absolutely no crafty plan or clue about how that would even happen.
Very soon, I was to learn this:
1. YOU DON’T ALWAYS NEED A PLAN. THE WHAT AND THE WHYARE YOUR JOB, THE HOW AND THE WHEN ARE UP TO THE UNIVERSE.
2. TRUST THE UNIVERSE. IT ALWAYS HAS YOUR BACK.
Almost a year later, it seemed that things got even worse and I was going backwards…
The big recession started to creep in. The property market dropped and so did the leasing demands, I was advised to sell my properties fast, but no one wanted to buy. Meanwhile, the ‘twinked-out’ aka ‘dream’ bank statement remained up on my dressing mirror. I still took note of it every day.
Then my business partner decided he didn’t want to sell our investments for any lower than our purchase price, instead we got a valuation and he bought me out.
Can you guess what I got for the deal? That’s right- $45,000.
Could it really be that easy? Does this really work every time? Is our potential really only limited by our own imagination? Does law of attraction truly exist?
There was only one way to find out… I need to experiment some more!
I put together my ‘proper’ vision board, which is basically a collage of pictures and words that you desire. I’ve done this now for every new year and today will mark my seventh. I won’t say that every year, it all got ticked off, but the universe has a fascinating way of translating our little pictures into our big picture. Sometimes the result was even better than what I set out to manifest. Sometimes, it wasn’t in my spiritual DNA and I was guided to change my next year’s image that was nearer to my true calling.
Below is my 2014 vision board.
If you’re inspired to create your own, see the steps beneath it. If you’d like to know more about mine and what got ticked off, continue scrolling…
..
SIMPLE STEPS TO MAKE YOUR VISION BOARD
1. Play some good tunes, light a scented candle, clean your sacred space for creativity, load up on magazines or have the printer handy if you are searching online.
2. Cut out images and words, which inspire you. They may be feelings, desires, goals, specific targets or numbers, and as long as they aren’t so completely unreasonable that you don’t believe them achievable for a second yourself, then they belong on our vision board!
3. Place the cut-outs on a large cardboard or a stretched canvas. Continue to arrange them, until it feels just right, then glue them in place.
4. Now that your vision board is ready, place or hang it where it can’t be ignored. Take it all in, see it as a whole, see it as individual parts and then breathe as though they have already happened. Give it a little attention daily and celebrate with deep gratitude each desire that is coming true for you. Remember that you’ve done your job, so become an observer, let go of any attachments to it and let the universe do its job.
MY 2014 BOARD IN DETAIL
1. The office table represents a clean workspace where I can be more organised and creative. We moved house in 2014, got an extra bedroom for an office and a desk and chair for our wedding present. TICK.
2. The ‘my’ stickers over a kitchen represent a collaboration with myhotels group for a new cafe. When I put this board together at the end of 2013, we were just ‘chatting’, but i knew what I wanted. The result- Tanya’s Cafe inside myhotel Chelsea! TICK.
3. The living wall is actually part of the kitchen in the photo. For anyone that’s seen Tanya’s, you’d know that I got my living wall TICK.
4. My book deal with Hay House! There are so many authors whose work I respect and words I treasure, but the majority happen to be Hay House authors. I’ve decided long ago that this is a publisher for me but only added them to my vision board in 2014. [BTW note how being specific and putting a picture of yourself on the cover tells the universe that YOU are the author]. In July I received the most exciting email of the year, from none other than… HayHouse! In December, I signed a contract for The Uncook Book, out September 2015. TICK.
5. Interestingly- this was an empty area and I needed to find a picture to fill it up. I randomly chose the pic of these tigers as they seemed to fit in perfectly. Ha! We all know nothing happens randomly and the more I looked at it, the more I resonated with the spiritual meaning of a tiger totem: “By affinity with this spirit animal, you may enjoy dealing with life matters spontaneously, trusting your intuition and acting fast when needed.”- Spiritanimal.info TICK.
6. Visa! In 2014, we were due for a visa renewal, which was the most challenging thus far. We’ve celebrated five years in London, which meant that getting this visa would give us Indefinite Leave to Remain. But first, there was studying for a Life in the UK exam, hundreds of documents to fill out and thousands of pounds in accountant’s and immigration lawyer’s fees. All totally worth it, because now we are only a year away from a British passport. TICK.
7. This picture to me represented open plan living, a bigger kitchen and a creative space to work. Interestingly, not only did we move to a new much-bigger flat, which TICKS these elements, but it also has an exposed brick wall!
8. I love this picture so much. Not only do I have the love of my life by my side, but we are facing in the same direction, doing the same thing, in the best city in the world, while being totally random and taking risks on such an iconic public bridge. It’s just a feel good image and a vision board is meant for feeling good. I wanted to create more memories with Elliot by my side and of course 2014 was the year we said ‘I do’. BIG TICK.
9. I love green and to me, this image means relaxing holidays in nature. We tied the knot in the most beautiful place best known for its outdoors- the Coromandel, NZ, our friends took us glamping in Wales as a wedding present, my 30th was on a beach in Barcelona and my retreat was in the most pure organic part of the word- Vilcabamba, Ecuador. TICK.
10. Here’s an obvious one. Babies, babies! 2014 was the year when Elliot and I settled on a plan, we are both happy with. TICK.
11. IIN x 55 was about getting that many people signed up to the health coach course in a year. I’m a proud ambassador for IIN and a big believer in everything they do, so this year I wanted to aim higher than the 13 people I referred in 2013. I’m a couple of people away, so would like to call it a TICK!
12. Family. I love my family to bits, but while my sis lives in New York with her husband, my parents live in Ecuador, I’m in London with my husband and his parents are in New Zealand- our wedding in March made it- THE family year. TICK.
13. My sis and I make hearts using our hands and yoga poses too, so this is the image which represented us together. She surprised me for my 30th with a trip to Barcelona! And it was on a beach too! TICK.
14. This was something I felt silly doing, but just goes to show how powerful a vision board can be. At the time I photoshoped the number of fans Better Raw has on FB, there were only 12,000 odd. The difference may not seem like massive ask, but it did take me 3 whole years to gather 12,000 fans and a whole lot of competitions, bribery, posting, sharing, liking, linking and commenting to get there. How I was to get to 45,555 in a single year, I had no idea, but remember the ‘how’ is not up to you, just know ‘why’ you want it. I knew I had too many inspiring healthy tips to share that would improve the lives of many. A year later and we are up to 47,480. Wow! TICK.
NOW YOUR TURN.
WHAT DID YOU TICK OFF IN 2014? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS BELOW…
I’ve come to a conclusion that if you live in New York, you are automatically cool. Marie Forleo lives in NYC. Gabrielle Bernstein lives there. Sex and the City ladies. My own sister! And the NYC girl I was lucky enough to meet recently definitely confirms my assumption.
Tara Stiles is the founder and owner of Strala, the movement system that ignites freedom. Strala is the first branded yoga program to be available at major gym chains and thousands are teaching it. She partners with W Hotels and guests staying there get to learn yoga and and healthy recipes from this gorgeous, inspiration and cool expert.
Tara is the author of top-selling books, including Slim Calm Sexy Yoga, Yoga Cures and the most recent, Make Your Own Rules Diet. She is a Reebok ambassador and supports The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, President Clinton’s initiative to combat childhood obesity, bringing Strala classes to 20,000+ participating schools.
Meet our December’s Master of the Month…
TARA, HER STRALA GIRLS, RUTH FROM HAY HOUSE AND I AT TANYA’S CAFE
DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY OF EATING AND DRINKING.
It super depends on where in the world I am and what the day ahead is looking like. Today I’m in Maldives leading an event at W. Schedule was filled with yoga, scuba and swimming. I needed some good fuel so I had a pretty hearty breakfast of juice, fruit, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a scrambled egg. Had some snacks of nuts and fruit during the day, and lets be honest, and ice cream sandwich! Lunch was a light salad and dinner was a big plate of veggies and some spicy south east asian tapas with coconut sorbet. If I’m in NYC and regular schedule with Strala and office hours, I eat a bit lighter in the morning, a smoothie and have a big salad or veggie sandwich for lunch and a nourishing dinner like quinoa and veggies or a hearty soup and bread. Dessert always, something fresh and delicious like almond butter fudge or sorbet.
WHAT (OR WHO INSPIRES YOU TO EAT WELL AND STAY HEALTHY?
For me, energy is everything. I eat well so I can feel fantastic and do all the things I want to do every day. It’s all about feeling for me.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
Pizza and ice cream. I enjoy both a ton but avoid getting into a habit of having it often. That way it becomes a treat and doesn’t make me feel sick the morning after.
MY TOP TIP FOR:
Improving your diet is… getting your body moving and paying attention to how you feel.
Staying healthy while travelling is… making healthy choices but still enjoying yourself.
Detoxing is… unplugging from self induced stress.
Immunising is… self care.
WHAT’S THE NICEST THING ANYONE HAS EVER SAID TO YOU?
I love the way you make me feel.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?
Generous and kind.
IF YOU GOT TO KEEP ONLY 3 OF YOUR BELONGINGS: 1 THING FROM YOUR KITCHEN, 1 THING FROM YOUR GARDEN AND 1 THING FROM YOUR BOOKSHELF- WHAT WOULD THEY BE?
Vitamix. Lime tree. Siddhartha.
IF YOU COULD HOST A DINNER PARTY FOR 3 GUESTS (DEAD OR ALIVE)- WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU SERVE?
Mom and both grandmas. All their recipes. Grandma’s veggie soup, potato salad, and a billion country sides.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LIFE IS BETTER RAW?
Sensitization to how we feel and being in touch with our intuition happens when we are clear physically and mentally. Eating mostly plants aligns us with the natural state that we are. Eating away from nature is unnatural and is a cause of a lot of stress and tension in the body and mind.
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Our Master of The Month shares her favourite raw food recipe…
GREEN DREAM Serves 1
1 handful of spinach 1 banana 1 cup of almond milk blend enjoy!
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For Tara's most recent book 'Make your own rules diet', buy it on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk . For more on Tara Stiles, her coolness, class schedule and recipes, go to http://tarastiles.com/
