You will be dearly missed my surfing sister.

My dear friend Laura Vogel, an incredible surf sister and goddess, has been missing since Feb. 21st.  I miss all her early morning texts  about where t0 go for our morning surf session, I miss her Aloha Spirit in and out of the water and I miss her kind and loving heart. I feel deeply saddened by this but at the same time absolutely grateful that I have had the honor of being her friend. She has taught me gratitude on a whole new level.  Her goal was to be barreled in 2010 and I truly believe that she is catching the wave of her life, deeply positioned in the most perfect barrel. Laura, I love you and miss you buddy! I know I will feel your presence in the ocean.

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This is a delicous dish for lunch time.

Flame Roasted Gazpacho
4 C Tomato juice, fresh
4 large Roma tomatoes, grilled (1 ½ C chopped)
2 / 3 C Filtered water or vegetable stock
2 / 3 C Cucumber, peeled, seeded & diced
2 / 3 C Corn, fresh or frozen
½ C Green bell pepper, diced
1 / 3 C Red onion, diced
3 Tbl Lime juice, fresh squeezed
3 Tbl Cilantro, minced
1 Tbl shoyu, or to taste
1 Tbl Basil, minced
1 ¼ tsp Cumin powder, toasted
1 tsp Garlic, minced
1 tsp Jalapeño pepper, seeded & minced, ½ tsp Chili powder, ½ tsp Hot
sauce (optional)
Pinch Cayenne pepper
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, ground to taste

Preparation:
1. Place tomatoes and juice in blender and blend until smooth. Place in a
large mixing bowl with remaining ingredients and mix well. Serve chilled, the
colder the better.

Variations:
Commercially-available Spicy Tomato Vegetable Juice may replace tomato
juice, and canned fire roasted tomatoes may replace grilled tomatoes. For a
Live Gazpacho, do not grill the tomatoes, roast the jalapeño pepper or toast
the cumin powder and use freshly-juiced tomatoes.

A stand out at our SwellWomen retreats is our very own private chef, Chef Phill DeMott. Chef Phill DeMott comes to us with over 35 years of culinary experience ranging from New Orleans to Thailand and everywhere in between.  If you are looking for private chef services, please contact Chef Phill DeMott at 808.283.1425.

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We love this company!

I’m so excited to hear that our surf gear sponsor, Carve Designs, has updated and released their brand new blog. I just checked it out and love it! It inspires me to get in the water and life the lifestyle of a surf girl. Thanks ladies for spreading the stoke.

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Quinoa Tabouleh

Quinoa is a super grain with tons of protein.

Ingredients:

4 cups water
2 cup red quinoa
1 pinch salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tomatoes, diced
1 cucumber, diced
2 bunches green onions, diced
2 carrots, grated
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. In a saucepan bring water to a boil. Add quinoa and a pinch of salt.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Allow to cool to
room temperature; fluff with a fork.
2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine olive oil, sea salt, lemon juice,
tomatoes, cucumber, green onions, carrots and parsley. Stir in cooled
quinoa.

A stand out at our SwellWomen retreats is our very own private chef, Chef Phill DeMott. Chef Phill DeMott comes to us with over 35 years of culinary experience ranging from New Orleans to Thailand and everywhere in between.  If you are looking for private chef services, please contact Chef Phill DeMott at 808.283.1425.

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I love the guys and gals from Surfsdesk.com. I subscribe to their RSS blog feed as it features some great info about SURFING! Being a traveling surfer, I could relate to the info below and thought you would enjoy it to! Make sure to check out Surfersdesk.com. Enjoy!

The standard rules that EVERY surfer should know..local or traveler.

1. Closest surfer standing to the curl  has priority. If you are standing on the wave, you look behind you and some person is there… get off the wave

2. Paddle around the wave, not through it.

3. Don’t throw your board over the falls, there could be other surfers below you.

4. Help other surfers in trouble.

So those are the standard rules of surfing. If you don’t understand them, ask someone.

Here are some extra traveler rules that are good to go by. It’s what I go by when I’m traveling and it’s worked out for me.

1. Watch  where a local enters the water and paddles out. This will most likely be the best spot and the easiest entry.

2. Once you’re out in the line up, don’t just paddle around everyone so that you’re the closest to the curl. Wait your turn.

3. Observe the pecking order. there will be a few guys out that will get a majority of the waves. Locals know their spot and they don’t want to lose any waves to you.

4. Paddle for waves after the few guys that rip are paddling back into the lineup (after their waves).

5. Don’t get in a paddle battle with a local. You’re a traveler that is surfing on your week vacation. This person probably surfs everyday.You will lose.

6. If everyone is paddling out into the ocean, you should probably do that too… unless you want to take a wave on the head.

7. Talk to people in the line up. Everywhere I’ve been, surfers are nice and they have NO problem chatting while waiting.

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Sundried Tomato Pate

Delicious on rice crackers or bread.

Ingredients:
8 oz cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 cup medium tofu
1/4 cup olive oil
4 large cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of sundried tomatoes packed in oil
1/4 cup of fresh basil leaves
DIRECTIONS:
Put everything into a food processor and process on medium speed until well
combined. Pack into serving dishes and refrigerate until needed. Serve with
crackers, flatbread or a crusty bread. This will keep refrigerated for about a
week.

A stand out at our SwellWomen retreats is our very own private chef, Chef Phill DeMott. Chef Phill DeMott comes to us with over 35 years of culinary experience ranging from New Orleans to Thailand and everywhere in between.  If you are looking for private chef services, please contact Chef Phill DeMott at 808.283.1425.

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It is a well known fact that staying active helps keep you looking and feeling young. Not many activities come close to the effect surfing has on the mind, body and spirit. According to experienced surfers, the special bond the surfer has with their surf board and the open ocean is almost impossible to explain.
1) Fresh Air Fresh air does a body good! No matter if you’re surfing a remote location or something closer to the city, the ocean air smells fresh and clean. When you are on the waves, it’s just you, the water and the fresh air.

2) Stress Free Out in the swells, you can let your stress and every-day worries float away with the tide.  No one yelling for help or that report you should have handed in already. Just a few hours of surfing a week can help release the tension that builds up at home or in the workplace.

3) Muscle Tone People who surf are generally slender and well muscled toned into their 60’s and even 70’s. Surfing is a non-impact sport, meaning it’s very easy on your knees and other joints. After all, you don’t jog or jump on your surf board!

4) Cardiovascular Health Surfing provides an amazing aerobic workout that not only helps burn fat but also keeps your heart, lungs and entire cardiovascular system in tip-top shape. A healthy cardiovascular system keeps your immune system healthy as well as maintaining a high level of stamina, to keep you feeling young.

5) Fun in the Sun Besides giving surfers great tans to keep that youthful glow, the sun provides vitamins that maintain healthy skin and nails. Healthy bones, skin, hair and nails assist in a more youthful appearance. But don’t forget to wear your sunscreen! SPF 30 is essential.

Other Advantages:
Aside from the previously mentioned advantages of surfing, avid surfers understand they have to eat well and exercise. Many surfers enjoy going to the gym and practicing some type of Yoga. Yoga helps keep the surfer’s muscles toned and flexible and their mind alert. Many people who practice yoga taut it as a vehicle to peace and serenity in their mental well being.

Some say surfing keeps you young at heart. Seasoned surfers know surfing also helps keep them physically fit, looking and feeling much younger than their birth date declares.

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Happy V-Day

Beyond the commercialism of Valentine’s Day, let this day be a reminder that LOVE for yourself and others should be top priority in your life. I know I may sound like I’m preaching and maybe I am, but I find that when I put LOVE in all my relationships and dealings with people that it adds a bit of lightness. This isn’t easy, mind you and is a practice. I have the words LOVE spelled out right across from my desk, whenever I look up, there it is. Sending LOVE your way from SwellWomen.

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For all you girls huddled somewhere cold and landlocked, here are some fabulous reasons why you should never, ever think of going on a women’s surf camp.
Who wants to get on a plane and go somewhere nice and warm and tropical? Who wants to participate in a women’s surf camp week with yoga? If I haven’t managed to convince you yet that your next vacation should be spent in your living room, preferably still cooking meals and cleaning for the rest of the household, then here are some other excellent reasons to NOT attend a women’s surf camp.

1. You Will Get In Shape. Who wants to lose a few pounds and shape up? Going to a women’s surf camp and doing surf and yoga for a week could really banish some of that cellulite. Doesn’t ironing help with flabby arms?

2. You Will Make New Friends. Who has time for new friends? Who needs new friends? Especially ones with similar interests. What a drag having more people to e-mail Christmas and birthday cards to.

3. You May Quit Your Job. Aren’t you happy complaining about your boring job and your awful boss? Why would you want to go to a women’s surf camp and risk being inspired to change your life?

4. All your Vacations Will Be Surf vacations. Once you get the surfing bug you will want to travel to places with beaches and sun and surf. Too much nice warm sparkling blue water for me. Give me smog, clouds and crowds any day.

5. You Will Get A Leash Tan. How inconvenient. That strip of white skin around your ankle that proves you have been off at a women’s surf camp and having fun.

6. You Might Develop A New Interest. Isn’t your day already full enough with cooking and cleaning for others? Don’t you have some shirts you can mend or some ironing to do? You might start getting inspired to do other things outside the home.

7. You could easily enjoy yourself. Who needs to chill out? Who needs to be self indulgent while they get their massage? Who needs someone else to cook them three nutritious meals daily? Why would you want to have a break at a women’s surf camp? Especially a vacation involving wellness, surf and yoga.

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Enjoy Ellen Barone’s e-mail interview about SwellWomen! Just press PLAY above.

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