Holiday Artisan Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class Beautiful Testimonials!

Delicious and fun time with awesome students in my Holiday Artisan Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class on Saturday December 7th at the beautiful FlipJack Ranch, in the Santa Cruz mountains and would love to share their beautiful testimonials:

Ernie, Walnut Creek – 'Love the energy Chef Ellie brings to her class! This is my third and most favorite. Thank you Chef Ellie.'

Jason, Watsonville– ‘Anyone who likes chocolate, will love this class. Chef Ellie makes chocolate making fun and enjoyable as eating it!'

Teri, Brookdale – 'Today's class was so fun, educational & so full of love for food. Thank you Chef Ellie for your positive goodness & heartfelt joy in teaching!'

Vikki, Aptos – 'Ellie's classes are the best! What better way to spend the Saturday than learning to cook nutritious, Mediterranean vegan food. She is such a pleasure to spend the day with. Thank you!'

Amy, Ben Lomond - 'Ellie is the hostess with the mostest.  She creates the most artistic, flavorful, healthy food I've ever experienced. Her classes are uniquely orchestrated and everyone participates. So fun, great people/foodies.'

Linda, Santa Cruz – 'I learned so much today. It was the first time for me to make confections. I enjoyed the people and wonderful food. Thanks for a lovely day.'

Lisa & John, San Jose – ‘Chef Ellie's class was so wonderful. So creative and fun. She was warm and welcoming, the venue was rustic and perfect, and the lesson was engaging. Look forward to taking another class. Thank you.'

Jean, Santa Cruz– 'So fun! Chef Ellie is warm & sweet and includes everyone so we all learn, make & taste lovely chocolates, artisanal style. Thank you.'

To view the Holiday Artisan Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class Beautiful, please click here.

Thank you so much my awesome students for your beautiful testimonials! You are the center of my culinary world and a great inspiration!

Chef Ellie Lavender

Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef

Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor

Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information

on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Elevator pitch: 5 tips for creating a strong sales message!

How to Craft a Highly Successful Elevator Pitch That Will Land You Big Business! 

What is an Elevator Pitch? 

This is the 30-60 second business description of what you do and why people should do business with you. It’s called an ‘Elevator Pitch’ because it describes the challenge: ‘How would you explain your business and make a sale if fate placed you in an elevator with your dream business prospect and you only had the time it takes to get from the top of the building to the bottom?’

Why Is Having an Elevator Pitch So Important?

You only have 30-60 seconds to make a powerful first impression. The attention span of the average person is just 30 seconds before their mind starts wandering. The other reason is people have less time today. You need to grab them quickly or lose them forever.

Elevator pitch - 5 tips for creating a strong sales message:

1. Figure out what is unique about what you do - The whole idea behind a great elevator pitch is to intrigue someone. It's an ice-breaker and a marketing pitch — all rolled into one. Your elevator pitch must have a hook. 'I own a café in downtown' doesn't hold a candle to, but 'I own a café in downtown and offer gourmet vegan Mediterranean foods beautifully paired with wines' does!

2. Make it exciting - A superior elevator pitch increases your heart rate. It speaks to who you really are and what excites you about your business. It has integrity. What is it about your business that really motivates you? Incorporate that!

3. Keep it simple - A good elevator pitch doesn't try and be all things to all people. Rather, it conveys a clear idea in a short amount of time. It might be a few sentences, but no more than a paragraph or so. Keep it under 30 seconds.

4. Write it down - Use the guidelines above and take a stab at it. Write down your pitch, say it out loud, re-write it, and then re-write it again.

5. Practice,  practice and practice some more - The first few times you try out your elevator pitch may be a bit uncomfortable, but it gets easier. After a while, it will become second nature to you, and when it does, you will be glad you practiced. You never know what will come from having a great, natural, elevator pitch, but you can bet that you've just increased your chances that it will be good.

-                Elevator pitch opens the door to business

-                Elevator pitch is an intro – meant to open up a dialog

-                Elevator pitch is a work of art in progress

-                Elevator pitch is about why you do what you do

-                Every opportunity is a networking opportunity

-                What is the hook, why you do what you do and how you do it

-                Be yourself, everyone else is taken

-                Who you are and how you present yourself is your ultimate business card

-                Smile, smile, smile and smile some more

Happy Sales Pitching!

Ellie Lavender

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner

Interior Designer

Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

A Taste of Morocco on Your Plate Class Beautiful Testimonials!

Delicious time on Saturday August 17th with my fabulous student in my Vegan Cooking & Wine Pairing Class: A Taste of Morocco on Your Plate at the beautiful FlipJack Ranch, in the Santa Cruz mountains!  

Love to share their beautiful testimonials:

Kathleen, Los Angles – ‘How many adjectives can i use? I feel so blessed to have met Ellie in Santa Cruz  during a business trip to the Bay Area. I loved the entire experience. She ensures that everything is a 5 star experience. Of course the location, FlipJack Ranch in Bonny Doon was sheer heaven! I loved every minute if the day! Her class is a must experience. The foods, wine, guests, locations, perfection!!!'

Jason, Watsonville– ‘In her classes Chef Ellie does not simply teach you how to follow a recipe. She shows you how to enjoy and have fun creating and preparing meal out of fabulous ingredients to share with family and friends.’

Amanda, Santa Cruz – ‘This was my second class with Chef Ellie and it was even better than the last one! The food was fabulous, but what really stood out to me were the topics of conversation. We mainly talked about love and relationships and how foods ties everything together. As the youngest person there by a few years at 22, I was able to learn from those with more life experience. Some had been cooking  for year and some had cooked only 5 times for themselves. Still, as we sat and drank wine with each other at the enormous redwood table, we shared cooking tips between the clinks our classes. I always have a lovely time, and would love to experience Chef Ellie's class once more.'

Kristy, San Jose – ‘What a great experience with amazing people, cooking and then enjoying yummy meal together. True communities!

Heidi, Santa Cruz – 'I loved how simple the food was to make. It was nice that people from all levels of cooking could enjoy the class. I'm not vegan, but the food was delicious! Thank you Chef Ellie.'

Boris, Aptos – 'The recipes and preparation techniques were great! Other people in the class were very pleasant. The appetizer and drink were great. The class was very well organized and nice. Thank you.'

Carol, Aptos – ' Great experience, foods & people. Enjoyed being involved in cooking experience, meeting new people. Learned some great tips. It was lovely to have food & drink as we communicated with each other. Thank you.'

Teri, Brookdale – Today, was a very joyful experience for me, cooking with everyone & loved the healthy vibe. I love FlipJack Ranch! It is a perfect place for learning, growing and loving all things food.  

To view A Taste of Morocco on Your Plate Class Pictures, please click here!

Thank you so much my awesome students for your beautiful testimonials! You are the center of my culinary world and a great inspiration!

Chef Ellie Lavender

Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef

Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor

Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information

on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Vegan French Baking & Wine Pairing Class Testimonials!

Had a wonderful time with my fabulous students and would love to share their heart-warming and beautiful testimonials! 

Kendra, Seaside – ‘Chef Ellie Instantly makes you feel at ease, as if you are with your family cooking. She radiates joy and infuses everyone with her creativity. And food is delicious.’

Ernie, Walnut Creek – ‘What I love the most about taking Chef Ellie’s class is that I take time to enjoy cooking something new & taking time to enjoy the experience. Also, to meet new people & connect with other foodies. Thanks Chef Ellie!

Amanda, Santa Cruz – ‘Coming to this class was such a wonderful escape from the non-stop hustle and bustle of downtown Santa Cruz. The tarts were phenomenal and the techniques that I learned are applicable to many different dishes, even if you’re not vegan. The collaborative environment between everyone allowed us to form a group mentality tasked with making a fabulous meal that included a small bit of everyone’s personality. I would happily take another one of these classes as it is not just a cooking class but a gathering of people who will from now on be connected to this particular experience.’

Kerrie, Watsonville – ‘Awesome day meeting + cooking w/ new friends in the redwoods!

Tawny, Watsonville – 'Surprised and amazed at finding a vegan cooking class. It was wonderful, fun and everyone worked together as a team. All the foods we made were beautiful, colorful and delicious!'

Vegan French Baking & Wine Pairing Class Pictures!

Thank you so much my awesome students for your beautiful testimonials! You are the center of my culinary world and a great inspiration!

Chef Ellie Lavender
Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information
on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes and special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Declutter Your Office/Workspace: Advance Your Career, Business and Make More Money!

The path to living a more successful and prosperous life starts with a clutter-free, organized and mindfully (thoughtful and functional) designed office/workspace.

Right people and opportunities will be drawn to you and your business when you are fully present and not distracted.

Get Started Today! Apply these simple, yet effective decluttering and organizing measures to your office/workspace and watch your success and prosperity amplified in amazing ways:

1. Eliminate Clutter:

Clutter Inhibits efficiency and productivity | Clutter makes it difficult to concentrate and prioritize tasks and weakens the power of decision-making | Ultimately clutter limits paths to success and prosperity | Declutter your office/workspace

Step #1. Assess Your Possessions - Ask yourself when looking at an item:

Do I need it or use it regularly?

Does it energize or inspire me?

Does it enhance my efficiency and productivity?

Does it contribute to my success and prosperity?

Let go of those items that don’t pass.

Step #2. Evaluate Your Office/Workspace – Stand at the doorway of your office/workspace and analyze these areas:

Desk space– Keep what’s essential on your desk and let go of items that have no use or provide no benefit being there.

Desk placement - Place yourself in the Power Position. The Power Position allows you to see the whole room from your vantage point. Don’t sit with your back to the door.

Computer and communication devices – Declutter and organize: get rid of useless apps & programs desktop icons, old emails, and VMs too.

4. Organize Your Office/Workspace

Put everything in its logical place.

Set up Filing/Storage/Organization Systems that will enhance your efficiency and productivity.

Tackle Existing Paper Piles: Go Paperless and Store Electronically.

5. Get your career unstuck - Keep the underside of your desk completely clear. Don’t store things under your desk, they’ll obstruct the flow of energy in your office, hence your success and prosperity. 

6. Add life energy  - Bring in live plants, fresh flowers and get rid of artificial ones (stagnant energy).

7. Add images that inspire abundance, prosperity and wealth. It could be as simple as an image of a colorful, beautiful and thriving garden.

8. Cultivate a Clutter-Free Lifestyle

Sort and Classify – Divide everything in your office into these categories: necessary, unnecessary, discard, donate, sell, re-gift, etc. Go through your things and sort which ones are still useful or important to you. Sometimes we are afraid to let go because we feel that we might need them in the future, but the general rule is if you haven’t used an item in a year then there is a good chance that you will not be using it again in the future. In short, if you don’t need it or use it, toss it.

Set up a System - This means that you will have to create rules to keep your office/workspace free from clutter. For instance, in your office, you can implement a “Clear Desk, Clear Floor” policy. Success with this step can be supported with the help of some equipment like filing cabinets, labeled boxes, racks, and shelves.

Tidy up all Year Round –In order to sustain a clutter-free office/workspace, you need to declutter every day. It would also help if you set a specific time each day — a time which you are most likely able to fulfill. It can be after dinner or before going to bed. It is not necessary to spend hours tidying up; 10-30 minutes each day can be enough. The more frequently you do it, the less time you will have to spend each time you do it.

Don’t Procrastinate - “I’ll get to it later” are the magic words for clutter. It will begin with one pile of paperwork that you swear you’ll get back to and soon the entire top of your desk has disappeared. A good rule to follow: if it is going to take less than 5 minutes, just do it now.

Simplify Your Life – Living simply is a call to experience inner richness and show gratitude for the things we already have rather than constantly struggling to acquire more and more stuff, which we don’t need. The idea of “less is more” is never more applicable than when living simply.

Remove Distractions - Anything that impact your focus, your attention, your thoughts and feelings, which should be on the task at hand. Distractions can be as simple as pictures or gifts from family members, friends, past or present clients, co-workers, business associates, etc.

Say Goodbye to your Comfort Zone - Encourage, Embrace and Enjoy Change in your life! There's no room for adventure, excitement or personal growth when you stay in your comfort zone!

Lastly, your office is the hub of your success and prosperity, think of it as prime real estate. Keep it clean, clutter-free, organized, inspiring and beautiful!

Ellie Lavender 
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Aspiring Young Chefs Beautiful Testimonials!

Class 1 – Moroccan Couscous with 

Lavender Lemon Tahini Dressing  

Class 2 – Pear Lavender Parfait with

candied Orange

Class 3 – Tangy Veggie Wrap with 

Yogurt Ginger Dressing

Class 4 – Artisan Chocolates with 

Organic Herbs (lavender included), 

Flowers and Dried Fruits

Chef kids are awesome!

I had such a wonderful time cooking with Tierra Pacifica Charter School Young Aspiring Chefs and enthusiastic foodies. Over the period of 4 weeks they beautifully collaborated, took turns chopping veggies, sautéing, seasoning, plating, setting up the table, enthusiastically enjoying the delicious foods and chocolates they made and cleaned up the kitchen too.  

Classes Menu:

Class 1 – Moroccan Couscous with Lavender Lemon Tahini Dressing  

Class 2 – Pear Lavender Parfait with candied Orange
Class 3 – Tangy Veggie Wrap with Yogurt Ginger Dressing 

Class 4 – Artisan Chocolates with Organic Herbs, Flowers & Fleur de Sel  

Awesome Chef Kids Beautiful Testimonials:

Benito, 5^th grade – “The best thing about the class was, we got to make healthy delicious meals, and we all worked together to accomplish a food dish.”

Taj, 6^th grade – “The thing I loved about this class was that we got to do teamwork to make our foods.”

Rohan, 5^th grade  – “I really liked that we made food from different culture.”

Olivia, 5^th grade  – “the best thing about this class was chef Ellie taught us how to cut up veggies and fruits. We also got to work together and cool.”

Richard, 7^th grade  – “Eating, learning and flower tastes.”

Ella, 8^th grade  – “I really enjoyed the sense of comradery.  It was fun cooking all together.”

Crosby, 7^th grade  – “ What I enjoyed in this class was that I got to try foods not from the US. This has inspire me to cook more and in different ways.”

Carmen, 5^th grade  – “The class inspired me to be a chef because we used teamwork and collaboration. The food was awesome. Thank you chef Ellie.”

William, 6^th grade  – “The class was fun because we got to help out with making food and we got to eat what we made.  I mainly signed up because I wanted to make chocolate, but later, I also loved the other foods we made.”

Desiree, 5^th grade  – “I loved this class because I was with all of my friends and I got to cook delicious food with them. Thank you chef Ellie.”

Thank you awesome chef kids!

Chef Ellie Lavender 

Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef

Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor

Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive recipes and information

on upcoming chocolate, culinary & wine pairing classes, and special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

5 Easy Steps to Kick off Spring Cleaning of Your Home!

Spring will arrive on March 20th and it’s the season of renewal, manifestation and celebration. It’s the time to take bold steps and manifest your dreams. A good spring cleaning of your home can do wonders for your personal energy; it will nourish and strengthen you. The keywords are spring cleaning and decluttering and the goal is get rid of everything that does not serve you anymore.

Step No. 1: If you are looking to improve your health, get rid of all the items that are cluttering and blocking the energy flow in your kitchen (especially your cupboards, fridge and the freezer). The state of your kitchen is the state of your health, so do yourself a favor and thoroughly clean and declutter your kitchen!

Step No. 2: Bring three new pots with vibrant green plants to refresh the energy in your home. If you plan to place them in the kitchen, go for lush and aromatic herbs, such as basil, rosemary or mint. Focus on your front entrance, as well as your kitchen, as both are strongly connected to your health.

Step No. 3: Thoroughly clean and declutter your bedroom and bathroom, get rid of anything that you haven't used in the past 6 months. Clear the space under the bed (do not store stuff under your bed), clean all the windows, refresh and re-decorate your bedroom and bathroom.

Step No. 4: If you would like to welcome a new love relationship into your life, make space, and I mean actual, physical space, for this new person to be in your home. Clear out your closets for a better flow and more space. You literally have to create an open flow of energy in your home to be able to attract and manifest more of what you are looking for. Spring cleaning time gives you great opportunity to do just that!

Step No. 5: Now that your home is clean and clutter-free, ensure it stays that way. Use the one-in, one-out rule. For example, every time you buy a new item, give an old one away.

Happy Spring Cleaning & Decluttering!

Ellie Lavender 

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner

Interior Designer

Lavender Design + Cuisine

Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!

Copyright © 2019 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.