COLD PICNIC AW15

Happy Friday everyone! In the spirit of the weekend, I thought I would bring you something fun today- like boobs! Boobs are fun, right?? Well, whatever your take on that, boobs must be trending because I've seen more than a few nips popping up on prints and textiles here and there. Most recently I came across Cold Picnic's AW15 line of goods, which include a hand-tufted rugs featuring outlines of our more intimate of body parts.

Cold Picnic is a Brooklyn based studio made up of Phoebe Sung and Peter Buer, a pair of friends, roommates, and now business partners, both with backgrounds in fine arts and corporate fashion design. Sung and Buer are influenced by "indigenous crafts, the dusty yet vibrant palettes of 1970s films, and the American natural landscape". Their line of products include handmade jewelry, leather accessories, macrame home goods, and textiles.

I love how they've effortlessly combined modern with bohemian, just following their passions and not taking a stance on one side of the line or the other.  

MOOD BOARD: FEBRUARY

Whoa, that month really flew by! Before it's completely over and we are into March, here is a mood board for the month of February. 

A CABIN IN NORWAY

I was just home for the weekend, where I got the chance to spend some solid time with my dad. We shared a few drinks, good laughs, and bantered back and forth about our dreams. Dreams including living on a boat in The Keys and one day building the perfect cabin. I was surprised to find out that we appreciated so many of the same things in architecture and design, and even a few interior design ideas. Like a couple of kids sharing youtube videos, we sat letting hours pass by, searching the internet and sharing images of little cabins from all around the world. This cabin in Norway was just one of those sources of inspiration from that night.  

CREAMY LEMON GARLIC HEMP SAUCE

I have to admit, this Creamy Lemon Garlic Hemp Sauce was a beautiful accident one day while experimenting in the kitchen. An accident that I now make weekly, eat daily and work into a variety of dishes including salads, noodles, and veggie-grain bowls. It's a great sauce to have handy to add to meals, and can also be used as a dip for snacking! 

Hemp seeds, once blended, add a creamy, smooth texture to things like smoothies, dressings and sauces. Which is just one of the reasons this superfood is so well loved by vegans and health nuts. So although "buttery" in texture, this sauce is packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids and really couldn't be any better for you. So go ahead, make up a batch of this sauce and indulge with pleasure and without guilt.

CREAMY LEMON GARLIC HEMP SAUCE: a healthy, detoxifying, versatile sauce. 

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 1/2 cup lemon, juice 
  • 3/4 cup olive oil 
  • 1/3 cup hemp seeds 
  • 2 tbsp water 
  • 1.5 tbsp tamari 
  • 1 tbsp raw honey 
  • 1 tbsp ginger, grated 
  • 1 garlic glove, minced 

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until thick and smooth. Store in a jar or glass container in the fridge. 

HEALTH BENEFITS: 

LEMON: a natural detoxifier, rich source of vitamin C, and contains limonene that promotes immunity and helps fight infection. 

GINGER: anti-inflammatory, contains antioxidants, and clears microcirculatory channels of the body which include the sinuses and throat. Also, ginger is a warming agent and promotes sweating, which is healthy when sick. 

RAW HONEY: contains antioxidants, and a rich source of minerals and B vitamins that help support the function of the heart, muscles and nervous system. 

OLIVE OIL: anti-inflammatory, contains antioxidants, lowers cholesterol and promotes heart health, rich source of vitamin E which is good for the skins and has an anti-aging effect. 

HEMP SEEDS: anti-inflammatory, contains antioxidants, packed with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, rich source of vitamin B complex and vitamin E and high in minerals, promotes heart health and circulation, high in fibre, and contains tryptophan which helps regulate sleep and improve mood. 

I will be sharing a variety of recipes that include this sauce, so make sure to tune back in for those soon! 

HEALTHY KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

Having the right items stocked in your kitchen is the first step to eating clean and maintaining healthy routines. It's so easy to get off track and off balance if you don't have the proper items to work with when it comes time to eat.

Cleanse your kitchen of the items that are holding you back, taking up space, and making the kitchen difficult to navigate. Then set yourself up for success by stocking the cupboards and fridge with these nutrient rich, whole foods items that are versatile and easy to incorporate into snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

 

HEALTHY KITCHEN ESSENTIALS: 

 

1. GRAINS + NOODLES: steel cut oats, rolled oats, quinoa, brown rice, wheat berries, buckwheat groats, buckwheat soba noodles, brown rice pasta, Sprouted Whole Grain Ezekiel Bread, white popcorn kernels (helpful for late night snacking) 

2. FRUITS + VEGETABLES: tomatoes/cherry tomatoes, avocado, pear, apple, orange, grapefruit, frozen blueberries, lemon, broccoli, celery, cucumber, zucchini, carrot, sweet potato, napa cabbage, kale, arugula, red or yellow pepper, beet, green onion, garlic, ginger root

3. SOY: tofu, tempeh 

4. SWEETENERS: raw local honey, pure organic maple syrup

5. MILK, YOGURT + EGGS: almond milk, coconut milk, goat yogurt, free-range eggs

6. DRIED HERBS + SPICES: cinnamon, cayenne, chili flakes, turmeric, marjoram, bay leaves, sage, oregano, basil, rosemary, black peppercorn, sea salt, Japanese Seven Spice, nutritional yeast (not a herb or a spice but used for flavouring like one) 

7. NUTS + SEEDS: raw almonds, raw walnuts, raw cashews, raw brazil nuts, hemp seeds, chia seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds

8. DRIED FRUIT: goji berries, apricots, dates 

9. BEANS + LEGUMES: black beans, white beans, lentils, chickpeas

10. OILS: olive oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil

11. VINEGARS: apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar

12. SPREADS + SAUCES: almond butter, hummus, tamari, tahini, dijon mustard, seeded mustard 

13. TEA: green tea, matcha powder, mint tea, dandelion tea and powder

14. CHOCOLATE: raw and/or organic dark chocolate

 

All of my recipes are based on some combination of the above ingredients- click here for a few of those and check back in for weekly clean eating inspiration. 

 

NOTE: This is a personal list of items that work for me. This list has not been developed for sensitivities to wheat, dairy and/or soy. 

COPENHAGEN'S ANN VEST

I recently stumbled across this SS 2015 collection by Ann Vest, a contemporary designer from Copenhagen. I was taken by the moody spread filled with structural lines and contrasting organic flow. A combination of things Ann describes as: 

 "A definition of a femme, proud and composed: Emotions lead us to interaction… Expression and mixing styles is encouraged, to challenge sartorial mannerisms within our modern wardrobes."

Minimalissimo points out how, "Anne Vest’s designs blend very natural and sometimes even classic material with contemporary and avant-garde silhouettes...In the end it all comes together in a perfectly coherent collection."

VALENTINE'S GIFT GUIDE: FOR HIM & HER

With Valentine's day a week away, it's easy to get distracted by all the commercial noise and struggle to choose a gift for the one we love. I've put together the following Valentine gift guides for both him and her to hopefully make this process a little easier this year. I've included some luscious, some indulgent and all quality crafted goods. With one of these simple gestures, we might just realize this holiday isn't so terrible after all. 

Tune in next week for a gift giveaway filled with essential oils and aphrodisiacs from one of my favourite brands- Province Apothecary!

FOR HIM: 

YEH Wall Table by Kenyon Yeh

I LOVE this YEH Wall Table designed by Kenyon Yeh, for danish design company MENU. It's the perfect table for small bedrooms with big beds and little space for a night table. The table top surface folds upwards so that it sits flush against the wall surface, and only requires two legs to stand on. It would also work well in a narrow hallway or in a small living room beside a sofa. With simple, clean and functional design, the YEH Wall Table is a total hit in my books.

MATCHA GREEN SMOOTHIE

I recently started adding matcha green tea powder to my morning smoothies. Not only is matcha packed full of nutritional benefits, it also contains caffeine and other properties that boost energy. So on mornings when I'm tight for time, adding a little bit of matcha to my breakfast feels like I'm killing two birds with one stone.

So what is "matcha" anyway?  Matcha is green tea leaves finely milled to form a fine powder. For centuries the Japanese have used matcha in part of a traditional tea ceremony that includes the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha. Buddhist monks have also relied on this powder to keep them awake and focused during long days of meditation.  

A few benefits of matcha: 

  • high in antioxidants 
  • detoxifies the body by removing heavy metals and toxins 
  • increases metabolism and helps the body burn calories 
  • improves cognitive abilities and concentration 
  • contains cancer fighting properties 
  • increases energy levels 
  • boosts immunity 
  • helps relieve stress 

MATCHA GREEN SMOOTHIE: a healthy and energizing breakfast or snack on the go. 


INGREDIENTS: (yields 1 serving) 

  • 1 cup of spinach 
  • 1 banana 
  • 1 cup of water 
  • ½ granny smith apple (core removed, chopped) 
  • ½ kiwi (skin removed) 
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds  (I added these in at the last minute so they didn't make the ingredients picture above) 
  • 1 tbsp raw honey 
  • ½ tsp matcha green tea powder
  • 2-3 ice cubes 

Wash and prep fruits and vegetables and add to your blender. Add water, chia seeds, matcha green tea powder, and ice cubes. Blend until smooth, pour and enjoy. 



CURRENTLY MUSING

Just a few things that have caught my eye lately.  

Happy weekend everyone! 

The idea of living in this loft space with these tall windows and a little fireplace. 

The idea of living in this loft space with these tall windows and a little fireplace. 

A wrap tweed jacket. 

A wrap tweed jacket. 

This pair of classy 3.1 Phillip Lim loafers. 

This pair of classy 3.1 Phillip Lim loafers. 

This long wavy hair. 

This long wavy hair. 

A brushed silver watch to add to the collection. 

A brushed silver watch to add to the collection. 

How brass and leather come together in these elegant stools. 

How brass and leather come together in these elegant stools. 

A beautiful set of ceramic tumblers and plates. 

A beautiful set of ceramic tumblers and plates. 

A functional oblique clothing rail. 

A functional oblique clothing rail. 

A playful confetti credenza.

A playful confetti credenza.

Some fresh looking sheets. 

Some fresh looking sheets. 

This little bear and those blue eyes. 

This little bear and those blue eyes.