Limoncello & Granita di Limone

Limoncello is one of my favorite tastes and traditions from Italy.  What a delightful way to conclude a meal!  The Italians sure know how to indulge!

Limoncello Recipe; or, When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Limoncello!

Ingredients:

• Grain Alcohol or Vodka, 750 ml
• Sorrento Lemons, 8
• Water, 4 cups
• Sugar, 2 cups

Directions:

• Peel lemon rinds, carefully avoiding the pith.
• Combine lemon peels and vodka in a large, airtight jar.
• Reserve peeled lemons for Granita di Limone.
  
• Age for 1 week in a cool, dark, dry place. Shake contents daily.
• One week later, dissolve sugar in water by boiling. Let cool.
• Strain the lemon peels and combine the alcohol and sugar water.
• Bottle the limoncello and store in the freezer.
• Serve chilled and straight as a digestif.

Granita di Limone Recipe
(Recipe from Elizabeth David's Italian Food) Ingredients:

• Lemons, 6-8, enough to produce 1/2 pint of juice
• Water, 2 cups
• Sugar, 1/2 cup
  

Directions:

• Squeeze the lemons to get juice.
• Boil water and sugar for 5 minutes to create a syrup.
  
• Let syrup cool.
• Combine lemon juice and syrup.
• Freeze.
  

The Modern Woman

The End of the Arabesque, Edgar Degas

Last night my honey and I went to view The Modern Woman Exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The collection includes 100 drawings on loan from the Musée d’Orsay by nineteenth century French artists Degas, Gaugin, Manet, Pissaro, Renoir, Rodin, Seurat, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Feeling nostalgic for France, I picked up a copy of Paris to the Moon and started devising elaborate plans to stow away with these masterpieces on their return journey to Paris!

10 Pieces, 10 Looks

As Vivienne Westwood prepared to show her Fall Collection at London Fashion Week last winter, she shook the fashion world with her paradoxical entreaties to stop buying clothes. The designer and environmental activist urged consumers to purchase only what they absolutely need and to invest only in quality pieces that will stand the test of time.

I've always advocated investing in quality pieces, classic wardrobe items that you can rely on to take you anywhere season after season. For a little inspiration, I decided to put my less is more mantra to the test:

I took 10 pieces from my wardrobe...

1/ YSL Muse; 2/ Marc Jacobs Clutch; 3/ Miu Miu Clogs; 4/ American Apparel Skirt; 5/ Theory Blouse; 6/ J Crew Leggings; 7/ Banana Republic Trench Coat; 8/ Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti Dress; 9/ American Apparel Shorts; 10/ Petit Bateau Shirt

...and I put together 10 minimalist chic looks for fall:


Still, I'm not without a Fall Wish List and everyday I swoon over that beautiful Derek Lam shearling jacket! What are you going to invest in for Autumn?

Cherry Madeira Cakes

To toast a delectable Cherry Season, my honey and I picked up some fresh Okanagan cherries to make one of our favorites, Cherry Madiera Cakes! We used to make these with maraschino cherries, but they're all the more delicious with fresh, seasonal cherries! Plus, the batter turns a sweet blush color that makes you want to drink sparkling Rosé and frolic on the grounds of Versaille.

Ingredients:

• Unsalted Butter, 1 cup
  
• Castor Sugar, 1 cup
  
• Eggs, 4 large
  
• Vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon
  
• Flour, 1 1/4 cups
  
• Baking Powder, 1/2 teaspoon
  
• Cherries, 1 cup pitted and quartered + 12 whole with stems

Cherry Madeira Cakes:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Bowl 1: beat butter and sugar.
• Bowl 2: beat eggs and vanilla.
• Combine the contents from Bowl 1 and Bowl 2 and mix.
• Add flour and baking powder and mix.
• Add 1 cup pitted and quartered cherries.
• Pour batter into lined cupcake pans.
• Top with whole cherries.
• Bake for 25 minutes.
• Pair with a Sparkling Rosé.

Pamela Love Obsidian Arrowhead Ring

Obsidian Arrowhead & Pamela Love Obsidian Arrowhead Ring

My honey gave me this beautifully cut obsidian arrowhead. I'm hoping to fashion it into a ring similar to this striking Pamela Love piece. I'll let you know how it turns out post haste!

Zen Garden

Zen Garden

I've been reading some wonderful books on Tibetan Buddhism by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sakyong Mipham, Sogyal Rinpoche, and Pema Chodron. (They've got me dreaming about moving to McLeod Ganj to mingle with monks over momos!) Feeling very Zen, I enlisted the help of my honey, whose refined aesthetic, design sense, and building skills always impress (it's true what Napoleon Dynamite said, girls like guys with skills!) and set about making a Zen Garden. Look how beautiful it turned out!

Zen Garden DIY Instructions
(Click to Enlarge)

Fall Wish List

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting cooler- fall is around the corner and so is fashion week! But before I start thinking about Spring collections, I thought I'd put together my top picks for autumn. I'm all about neutrals, but for touches of color I'm feeling deep burgundy and egg plant, mustard and mushroom.

1. Derek Lam Taupe Persian Lamb Shearling and Wenge Leather Jacket: Derek Lam's homage to the mythical American West was my favorite fall collection. It's so hard to pick my favorite piece, but this jacket has got to be it! Reminiscent of the shearling vest Tall Drink of Water Clint Eastwood wore throughout The Man with No Name Triology, this jacket is beyond cool!
2. Lanvin Sheepskin Gloves with Buckle: I love this season's romantic return of the prim and proper 50's, especially the long leather gloves Marc Jacobs showed at Louis Vuitton. But perhaps even more romantic would be keeping you hands warm in your man's gloves on a walk through the autumnal woods at dusk with flask of hot brandy apple cider!
3. Proenza Schouler PS1 Wallet: The Proenza Schouler PS1 is already a classic icon, but if the price tag is too much, you can still get in on a piece of the action by opting for this wallet from their exclusive online shop.
4. Chanel Nail Poish in Gondola: I think I'll join Kate Lanphear with "indulging my vampire obsession by putting a goth twist on fall's minimalism."
5. T by Alexander Wang Classic Jersey Maxi Dress: (And really everything from T by Alexander Wang!) I love the 90's minimalism of the jersey maxi dress. Classic, sleek, and elegant, this dress will take you everywhere this fall.
6. Alexander Wang Cashmere Hat: One in every color, please!
7. Elizabeth & James Two Finger Bar Ring: This ring is boss!
8. Falke Over Knee Socks: Over the knee socks are the perfect way to transition your Spring/Summer wardrobe.
9. Kiehl's Silk Straightening Cream: The next best thing to a Brazilian Blowout.
10. Derek Lam Daphnee Wedge Ankle Boot: Derek Lam created some covettable accessories this season, like the studded and fringed Isla Handbag and the Daphnee Wedge Ankle boot. These striking shoes are destined to go the way of the famed Balenciaga booties from 2008. I love the detailed leather work and the wooden platform.

Kiehl's Canine

Bowie is a hardy pup who delights in being out in the wild, but she is not without her creature comforts. She loves to keep her beautiful coat soft and shiny with Kiehl's Cuddly-Coat Canine Grooming Products. Specially formulated from Chamomile flower extract, a calming and soothing natural conditioner, these products are ideal for Pup's sensitive skin. They leave her smelling of lavender and feeling all jazzy! And since Pup only requires but the smallest dollop to feel so fresh and so clean clean, these products will last well over a year! Bath time has never been so free and easy!

P.S. Wouldn't Pup just make the perfect model?! Bowie for Kiehl's like Marcel for Nars! She's ready for her closeup!

UPDATE: We took Pup to the annual West End Dog Show and she was a runner up in the softest dog competition!

Chocolate Covered Almonds

Chocolate x Almonds + Espresso x Dash of Cardamom + Watching the Sunrise from my Balcony = The Perfect Way to Start the Day!

Ingredients:
(Recipe c/o Martha Stewart)

• Almonds, whole & unblanched, 2 1/2 cups
  
• Granulated Sugar, 1 1/4 cups
• Water, 1/4 cup
  
• Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
  
• Chocolate, semisweet, 1 pound
  
• Cocoa Powder, 1/2 cup
  
• Confectioner's Sugar, 1/2 cup

Chocolate Covered Almonds:

• Toast almonds at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
• In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, water, cinnamon, and toasted almonds.
• Stir constantly until mixture becomes granular.
• Place almonds on a parchment lined baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.
• Melt chocolate in a metal bowl set over simmering water.
• Put chilled almonds into a large bowl and pour melted chocolate over them, fully coating almonds.
• Separate almonds out on parchment lined baking sheets and chill for 20 minutes.
• Toss 1/3 of the nuts in cocoa powder and 1/3 of the nuts in confectioner's sugar.
  
• Enjoy with espresso.

For more recipes with almonds, try my Toasted Almond Glazed Bundt Cake.

10 Summer Pastimes to Stir the Senses

The seasons naturally orient us in time and space and bring us closer to the natural world. For me, every season has a feeling- a taste, a smell, a sound, a look. Henry David Thoreau wrote: "Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each." For me, this is the key to living well. When I am attuned to the seasons, I am more receptive and joyous. When all my senses are engaged, I am more present because I am able to feel each moment deeply.

10 Summer Pastimes for the Mind, Body, and Soul:

1. Travel: Traveling is one of the most exhilarating experiences because it introduces our senses to a whole new set of stimuli. It doesn't matter where you go, beacuse anywhere new is exotic to your senses. Whether you venture half way around the world or over to the next county, you'll find new wonders awaiting you wherever you go!

2. Swim in the Ocean or a Saltwater Pool: Swimming is a gentle full body workout that is calming and meditative. Swimming in saltwater detoxifies and stimulated skin and is great for the sinuses. Cold water promotes healthy blood circulation, which is vital to transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout our body.

3. Soak up the Sun: With skin cancer on the rise, we've become wary of laying out in the sun, one of the most gentle and relaxing summer pastimes. But exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays is not all bad- it naturally produces vitamin D in our bodies. Vitamin D is essential to healthy bones and a healthy immune system. It also blocks the proliferation of cancer cell. Still, don't forget your sunscreen!

4. Relax in the Shade: Summer heat can become oppressive, but doesn't it make relaxing in the shade all the more enjoyable! Embrace the heat while it's here, lest you question your sanity come winter! Sitting in the shade is the perfect time to be still and receptive to the world around you. Don't hold up in an air conditioned room- sit out on your stoop with a popsicle and chat with neighbors as they pass by.

5. Drink Lemonade: Lemonade is one of the great joys of summer! Lemons help control high blood pressure and relieve respiratory diseases. Try adding fresh squeezed lemon juice to sparkling water and sweeten with agave nectar.

6. Watch the Sun Rise and Set: I try to follow my natural circadian rhythm and wake up as the sun rises and go to bed after it sets. At night, darkness sends a signal to our bodies to start producing melatonin, the sleep hormone, and in the morning, light halts its production and we wake up. This is the most natural way to sleep and you’ll never miss summer’s glorious sunrises and sunsets!  Summer boasts the longest days of the year and I for one want to enjoy every moment of them!

7. Connect with Nature: I love to be in nature and just breathe. Whether you sit on a bench in a city park or in a meadow of wild flowers atop a mountain, being in nature will help you find calm and peace

8. Go Berry Picking: As a child, I'd pick raspberries along the creek at the base of Mt. Cutler Trail in Colorado's Cheyenne Canyon. To this day, the taste of fresh picked raspberries transports me back there and I can almost detect the sweet scent of honeysuckles in the air and feel the cold water bubbling at my feet. Berry picking is a great summer ritual that reconnects us with nature. Berries are a potent source of antioxidants that fight cancer and promote mental health.

9. Connect with Your Inner Child: There's no better time than summer to recapture some of your childish wonder and enthusiasm. Children are naturally present and engaged, qualities we should all try to aspire to. Go ride a Ferris Wheel, build a sandcastle, and eat an ice cream cone!

10. Create Beautiful Art: Art helps you to see and appreciate how beautiful the world around you is. Doing art is a relaxing a rewarding activity that allows time for quiet contemplation. So set up an easel on the waterfront or grab your sidewalk chalk and hit the streets!

*Originally written for Calm and Present.