Social Media Engagement Tips

I always have a blast when I'm being interviewed! Check out these Social Media Engagement Tips from professional spa and salon brands! You don't want to miss this great video from SpaBooker https://booker.wistia.com/medias/z1dnwu81fc

 

The Blankets for Casa Hogar Sion Have Arrived!

The last time I visited my favorite orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, the woman who cares for the children informed us that they desperately need new bedspreads for the kids. I posted and blogged asking friends to help purchase 50 new blankets for the girls', boys and toddler dorms. In only 3 weeks, with the help of some amazing and generous people, I was able to pull together 53 brand new, BEAUTIFUL blankets! 

 In total, we have exceeded the number of blankets by 3 Twin girls blankets! Friends, you all are beyond amazing, and should be very very very proud of yourselves! I am overjoyed and grateful to know that many people sympathized with this great cause, and now the kids at Casa Hogar Sion can have NEW fresh, amazing, beautiful and colorful bedspreads! I love you all for helping achieve this goal in merely 3 weeks! Thank you again! I will post photos once the blankets are picked up and get to their destination!

Vegan Chia Seed and Buckwheat Pancakes

I grew up in Russia, and buckwheat is a grain we eat daily. Russians make buckwheat "kasha" for breakfast, and enjoy it with milk and a sprinkling of sugar (just like cereal), they make it as a side for meat and eat it for lunch and dinner. It is a relatively inexpensive grain, and our National staple, even more so than potatoes.  You will be surprised to know that buckwheat used to be in deficit during the communist times! My mother used to have to wait in line and purchase her ration with a coupon, and the only people who were given access to it were diabetics, since this was the approved low-sugar food they were allowed to consume to stay stable, and not spike. 

Not only is buckwheat a delicious, fluffy, and warm comfort food, but it is also good for you! Did you know that buckwheat is one of only few alkaline grains? This means that it won't feed candida, and won't cause inflammation and acidity imbalance in the body. This recipe will not only satisfy your taste buds, but will keep you full without spiking your blood sugar - so it's low on the GI (glycemic index) and absolutely satiating. 

Ingredients (I only use organic):

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 3/4 cup plant milk of your choice (I usually use unsweetened soy milk)
2 tsp. vanilla

1 teaspoon chia seeds
1 ½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 cups buckwheat flour

½ cup unbleached all purpose flour

1 tbs. olive oil, or melted coconut oil + some to grease the pan.

Combine all ingredients in a big bowl, and mix well. I preheat and grease my cast iron skillet with a bit of coconut oil, and pour the pancakes. Once I see that they become porous all the way through, I flip them, and remove from the skillet just seconds after that. You will easily get the hang of it - nothing too complicated!

A great way to eat these is with a drizzle of raw honey and some organic berries, but you can also have them with anything your heart desires - peanut butter, soy yogurt, anything! You will love these, and make them often. Enjoy! 

Warm Vegan Wheat-Berry and Pecan Salad

I love creating beautiful and healthy dishes, and I'm always trying to use new ingredients! Have you tasted wheat berries? When cooked correctly, these little gems will burst with flavor, and nourish you. Wheat berries are delicious, nutty, wholesome, filling, and a wonderful alternative to rice! I love grain salads - they make a wonderful side dish, are amazing on their own, and taste just as good cold as they do warm!

Ingredients (all-organic)
1 cup wheat berries
3 cups water
pinch of salt
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 large sweet onion
1 medium red bell pepper
1 carrot
1/4 cup raw pecans
1/4 cup raisins
curly parsley

The first thing I do, is put my wheat berries in with the water to boil with the salt, since they will take about an hour to get soft and ready. At the same time as the wheat berries are cooking, I sauté the
onions, carrots, and bell peppers in the coconut oil in a separate pan, and once they are soft, I add them to a large ceramic bowl, and add the raisins and pecans to the mix.

You will know the wheat berries are done when you see that they have become transparent and plump. About an hour is what they need, with the lid closed. Once you feel they're ready, transfer them into the bowl with the sautéed vegetables and mix well. You will need to make sure the wheat is completely coated in the oil while it's hot, so it can absorb that moisture and stay plump!

Last step is to add the curly parsley, mix well, and voila! All done :) This will rock your world, I promise!

Home Face-Lifting Machines You Will Love!

My lovely beauty gadgets for everyday face-lifting: 1)SAIAN Gem Pro microcurrent/galvanic/EMS comes with 3 attachments, 2) SAIAN Beauty Tone galvanic/microcurrent comes with serum and creme 3) SAIAN Skin Pro 2 galvanic/microcurrent 4) SAIAN Beauty Lift galvanic/microcurrent comes with serum and creme 5) LightStim Anti-aging light. Love all these machines! They work well with all SAIAN serums and Cremes!

Love, Love, Love!

Happy love-day! If you still haven't met your perfect match, just trust the universe to take care of your love life, it will all come together when you're heart-open and ready! Love yourself. You are worth the best in life! This affirmation strengthens your confidence in yourself as a whole, and fully complete human being, who doesn't need anyone else to feel loved but YOU.

Omambo Dance Project

If you wish to learn how to dance, I can only recommend the best - come train with my teachers Omar Muñoz and Amelia Beniquez Muñoz at Omambo Dance Project! This past year has been an amazing experience for me - I got to perform at the world-famous LA Salsa Congress, finally started to get strong in my turns and preps, met many new friends, and discovered the pure joy of pushing myself to new heights physically and mentally.

Friends always ask me how I manage to run a corporation, write for magazines, teach workshops, perform on a dance team, find time to read, constantly travel the world, and even get involved in personal work, such as charity. The answer is simple - I find time and inspiration to do what I love!

We have dancers coming from all over the state to train with Omar - San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara, etc. smile emoticon https://www.facebook.com/OmamboDanceProject