Roses, Petals and Elephants on a Holiday

Flowers make me so happy. And I always put petals in cards and presents when I am giving somebody a gift. Seem ridiculous? Yes, but I live for that kind of small detail.

I am drying petals to make cards for Christmas.

The pink rose matched my coca cola bottle vase so perfectly- I just had to!

And I cannot forget Ganesh who needed a bit of cheering up on this cold, dark Winters day in Paris.

How did you spend your day?

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Raw Kale and Beetroot salad with Tahini Dressing

This salad is just divine. So earthy and refreshing. When I finally got my hands on some kale thanks to The Kale Project here in Paris, I went a bit kale nuts. Kristen from The Kale Project and I made this last week for a big vitamin boost.

You’ll need:

• 1 bunch of curly, green kale
• 2 spring onions
• 1 large golden beet (or two medium) You could also use regular red beets
• 2 carrots
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 -2 cm (1 inch) of ginger
• 1 Tbsp Tamari
• 3 Tbsp Tahini
• 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 3 Tbsp of Coconut Oil
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• Juice from 1/2 lemon or lime

Wash and cup up the kale into very small pieces, otherwise it’s a bit too leafy.

Peel the beets and grate them.

Grate the carrots.

Mix everything up.

Blend the salad dressing in a blender and pour it over the salad.

Enjoy it! My J enjoyed it which is really saying something.

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Very Green Kale Smoothie

Why is kale so good for you?

One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K.  It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus. Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K .Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds.

Beyond antioxidants, the fiber content of cruciferous kale binds bile acids and helps lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when kale is cooked instead of raw. (I like it raw and cooked)

Because of it’s very high chlorophyl levels, it balances your PH levels and counteracts the effects of acidic foods like red meat, pasta, cheese, cream and processed foods. This is very important for overall health and long-term well-being.

This kale smoothie is so delicious and is a real kick start to my day.

Cut up the kale, add as much as you like, I generally cut up around 4 big leaves.

One ripe banana.

A teaspoon of matcha.

A teaspoon of supergreens (this can be spirulina, or any super greens mix you use)

Half a cup of frozen raspberries

A cup of freshly brewed green tea, cooled, or at room temperature

Honey to taste

Half a cup of organic natural yoghurt

Mix and voilà!

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A Sunny Afternoon in Aix en Provence.

On our way to get the boat from Marseille to Bastia we had an afternoon in Aix en Provence. It’s a city with many fountains, and the vibe and culture are polar opposites to Paris.

Being only thirty minutes away from Marseille, it really feels like a Mediterranean paradise. The apartments are precious and the cobble stones remind the people that walk on them of France’s long history.

I couldn’t resist, this olive and fig bread looked so good so I got some to snack on with fresh goats cheese.

An artist has no home except in Paris

I was so lucky to have been given the chance to visit this gorgeous apartment in Paris. It really feels like an apartment that is home to well-traveled people. There are objects and artifacts from all over the world, of all different religions which makes the overall style very eclectic.

This bookcase was custom made for the apartment.

Their balcony proves that you don’t need an actual garden to have a garden! This has given me lots of ideas for my mini balcony in Paris… I need flowers in my home to feel grounded. They even have an olive tree peering down on the Parisian streets.

Pansies and forget-me-nots.

This is such an original item to have in an apartment. The industrial look next to the orchids is perfect. The artwork is done by an artist called Noart, he uses old materials to make new pieces of art.

The fig tree adds a shady feel without blocking out the light

I love this picture of Marilyn Monroe by Peter Beard. What I would do for one of those!

More orchids. The delicate, exotic and graceful orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. In fact, Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate large, new orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl.

During the Victorian era, orchid symbolism shifted to luxury, and today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty. The 14th wedding anniversary flower, pink orchids convey pure affection, and the popular cattelya orchid represents mature charm.

J’s dad recently gave me two new orchids for our renovated apartment, one of them a rare minature variety. I will post photos of these soon.

I just love this Buddha. He is so peaceful.

For the chilly nights in winter, this fireplace would work wonders.

I think it’s great when there is lots of artwork in a small space because it gives it a more “homey” feel rather than a gallery vibe. Artwork by Druillet.

Mixes of modern and old.

Chinese vase, very pretty colours

I love that all these very different pieces of art are thrown in together. A beautiful disarray, what a home that is lived in should be.

Earrings from Kenya.

And, my favourite, good old Ganesha. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. Ganesha is a highly symbolic deity for Hindus. The head of Ganesha represents the Atman (the soul or ultimate reality), while his body signifies the world and earthly realm of human beings. The elephant trunk had the symbol of OM on it, which is the primal sound and symbol of the Universal reality. In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha’s left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse. What a man!

Can you tell that I really like Ganesha? I have a huge Ganesha that J got for me in India that we hauled back to France and he’s got so much charm!

I am so glad to have been able to visit this lovely home. What inspiration. Thoughts on the deco?

xxx bon jeudi!!