keep driving

One of my favorite things to do with Matthew is go on a drive. It's a time for me to ignore everything I have to do and pretend like we are escaping.

In Boulder, we have the beautiful mountains and loads of farmland. He asks me, where do you want to go? And I am either in the mood to look at the endless Rockies or the horses, cows, barns, and American land.
Summer is leaving very quickly here. It is crisp and cool during the day; you can feel autumn.

Yesterday, we drove through farmland and came across what seemed to be a never-ending field of sunflowers. Sadly, you can see them starting to wilt. In the background, is one of our many fourteeners...

break me down

I have too much on my mind, and I feel totally exhausted mentally and emotionally. Am I taking on too much at once?

 Yesterday, was one of those really good days.

1. I didn't have to work.

2. I was productive - booked all my hotels for Bali and cleaned my apartment.

3. Made an outrageously good smoothie: fresh peach, strawberries, blueberries, raw almond butter, and honey.

4. Found some amazing smelling bar soap - I haven't used it yet, but if I am as in love with it then, as I am now, I will tell you more about it.

5. Bought some cheeses from the new cheese store down the street, Cured. It really does deserve its own post, but I will do so once the coffee side of it is open - this dude makes the best espresso I have had in Colorado.

6. Walked around town all day! It is cooling down here, and the weather has just been perfect this past weekend.

7. Went to yoga.

8. Had pizza with Matthew at Pizzeria Locale, Frasca's sister restaurant.

9. Watched a movie and drank rosé.


Pretty good, no?

The almonds were spiced with herbs de provence, and I swear, they are the best almonds I have ever had.

love, perfected.

Over the weekend, one of my closest friends got married in Carbondale, Colorado. I could've stayed there forever. It was so so beautiful.

Congratulations, Laine and Cam. Love you.

Matthew, thanks for your help with the photos... and for putting up with me.

the market

finally arrived...

summer, that is. It's here. Full force. Miserably hot all day long.

I have mostly been making salads or just sauteing veggies with rice - nothing too crazy since I'm trying to save money and I'm on this detox.
But this morning, I cut into a pluot that I had bought at the grocery store, and I was so in awe of how beautiful it was! It reminded me how precious summer produce is.

So, tomorrow I have decided to treat myself and go to the farmers' market. I have the day off Sunday, and I can cook all day long. I will let you know what comes of it.

little indulgences

Because I'm doing this detox, all week long, I've had smoothies, every morning. Which, I don't mind, because they are so refreshing and yummy, especially during the heat of summer. Peaches, strawberries, bananas, chia seeds and coconut oil - sounds good, right?

I woke up today, and all I wanted was some eggs.

I love eggs, but I've cut down tremendously on how much I eat. According to ayurveda, the yolks are too "hot" for Pittas. But, every once in awhile, I indulge in some farm fresh eggs. Please, do yourself a favor, and buy local, farm eggs. They taste so much better. No, not all eggs are perfectly white. Look how pretty! Brown, white, and light sky blue. And, the yolks are so vibrant.

A week ago, it would've been a different excuse

I have not been to yoga in three weeks! I took a week off, and one somehow turned into three. Oops! I think it is great though to give yourself a little time off from anything. Then, when you come back to it, you realize how much you love it (or in some cases, hate it).

This morning, I finally got my ass out of bed to go to my favorite yoga class. It's a "Silent Hot" class, which means that it is 26 poses, for an hour and a half.  The room is heated to about 104 degrees. (Very similar to traditional Bikram, but you cannot call it "Bikram Yoga" unless you are a certified teacher by Bikram himself and follow his specific 26 poses in sequence.) The class is "silent", because the instructor only cues the next pose; they do not describe each pose in depth. It is a super intense class, which really challenges you not only physically, but mentally, because the voice in your head is the only one you hear.

I woke up ten minutes early, so I could do my ten minutes of meditation before class. I have been doing this each morning, as a part of my 8-week detox. I forgot to change the hour on my alarm, so I was sitting there, and realized that it had been a pretty long time. I opened my eyes, looked at the clock, and had missed the bus to yoga!!!
You win some, you lose some: I did miss yoga this morning, but I did have one of my best meditations this week.

For someone who has always been intimidated by the thought of meditation, it is much "easier" than I thought. Sitting in silence, listening to your breathe, and trying to let your thoughts pass you by, for ten minutes! Very scary. But, I am enjoying it. We'll see if I'm saying the same thing in a few weeks, when I am up to 30 minutes a day.

out in the open

You know how I have been desperately trying to save my money lately? Well, I have been doing a really good job, but not a great job. Unfortunately, in order to really really save and not be completely broke after I've put money away, I think I need to be a bit anti-social (when it comes to nightlife). I do not have an easy time going out with a friend for a drink and then going home. No, it usually turns into an escapade of emotions flowing over from one margarita to the next. Yes, I can go out and not drink, but it's just not as much fun! So, I will be spending my nights at home, drinking "Up All Night" - the most delicious chamomile tea blend from LAMILL, which just totally knocks you out. I should do an entire post just on LAMILL. They are incredible.

Anyway, I am finally ready and able to tell you all what I have been saving for (and by "you all" I mean my mother and my two friends who follow this blog): I am going to Bali. That's right. And I am going to complete my yoga teacher training, while I am there. Yes, yes I am! And right before I go to Bali, I am moving from the lovely little Boulder, CO, back to Los Angeles. Yeaaaah! 

Last week, I gave my notice to my boss, at Frasca Food and Wine, where I have spent the last two and a half years totally immersed in the world of fine dining, Italian wine and culture, and Friulian food. Frasca truly became my family, and it will be very difficult to leave them. But, I cannot express how excited I am for this new chapter.

In order to prepare for this training, the teacher suggests an 8-week detox, which includes cutting down a percentage each week of fatty foods, refined sugars, tobacco, alcohol, etc. And, replacing those with more greens, whole grains, etc. So, it will be quite similar to the cleanse I did a few months ago, but much longer and not so intense (I only say that since it's a gradual progression of cutting things out of your diet). I think this will be a great way to cut down on drinking and eating out. Also, smoking. What I am really excited about though is that the detox includes meditation everyday. For the first two weeks, I will cut out 25% of the "vices" and practice 10 minutes of meditation everyday, and progress from there. This is my little meditation setup:

I went to the grocery store today, got some fruits and veggies - only things that I needed to last me until I get paid again. I spent $30. I was estimating that I could do the shopping for $25, so I did pretty good.

I am also going to try and increase how often I do yoga. I am going to try for about 5 times a week. I would also like to go hiking! I have been saying that for months now, but I am actually going to do it. Just you wait and see.

This is what I have, so I will use it.

Since February, I have been looking for sandals for my dearest friend's wedding this August. The first pair that I had my eye on, was a beautiful wedge by Proenza Schouler. For a mere $800, they could have been mine. But, I held off, knowing that I could find something that I loved just as much and didn't cost me two months worth of groceries.
I have looked for countless hours online and in stores, for the perfect shoe, to go with my Zero + Maria Cornejo dress. From those hours, the months dragged on, and I have since then been put on a very tight budget (which, again, I cannot disclose what I am saving for quite yet). So, I thought of just wearing some great Joie sandals that I bought last year on sale. But, those sandals are worn, and I needed something a bit simpler. So, this morning, I was perusing Gilt, and I found a great, simple little flat sandal for $35 DOLLARS.

Then, I go on to read my horoscope:

There’s a simple principle for keeping your head above water, fiscally speaking, Earn more than you spend. Today’s cosmic influences shine a bright light on where you’ve been falling short of that ideal, and where you may need to trim back. For starters, it’s time to get real about the difference “luxury” and “necessity.” You don’t have to deprive yourself, but if you’ve got champagne tastes on a PBR budget, you need to either scale back a little or find a way to reel in more cash so you can afford the finer things that you crave.

This has been my biggest struggle/project/motto this summer: saving and living within my means.

Therefore, I have been eating out less, and trying to eat what I have bought from the grocery store, before it goes bad! I always buy tons of fruits and veggies, but by the time I get around to eating them, they've gone bad. So, I am letting myself buy a few fruits and veggies at a time, and I am not going to the grocery store, until I finish my perishables. We'll see how long this lasts, but it does mean getting a bit creative in the kitchen. Yesterday, for lunch I had a sammy with celery, buffalo mozzarella, dill, and mayo... I thought it was delicious and simple, just how I like my food. (Maybe not the healthiest thing, but I'll figure that out as time goes on.) 

And, this morning, I made a great smoothie with frozen blueberries and peaches, and a banana that was just  a bit too ripe to eat on it's own. 

I must say, that once I finally get the hang of saving my money, it is kind of fun, and a very rewarding feeling (and bank account). 

let's try simplicity.

I am on a saving money journey. Boy, is it a journey. Do you remember when I wrote about how beautiful it was to see the woman on the garden tour living within her means? I need to do that, big time. I am saving up for something, that I cannot share at this time, but I will so so soon! And, boy, do I need to SAVE! I don't have too much time either...

Okay, so, let's try simplicity. Let's try to be happy with what we have. Be content. I want to think about what I am spending my money on and be fulfilled with the things around me. 

My biggest expenditure is no doubt about it on food. And drink.

I have really tried to cut down on eating out. That helps a lot. Oh, how I love to eat out. 

Stop.

Right now, saving money is far more important than going out to brunch, lunch, and dinner all in one day (yes, brunch and then lunch). Time to focus on eating healthy, going to yoga, maybe even actually going on a hike (I told myself that I would go on a hike every other week this summer. Yes, it's now July. And, no, I have not gone on one). 

It's about having fun with what you have: trying new outfits with clothes, making new things for lunch before all the veggies go bad, being creative.

Be creative!

Goodbye Spring.

Happy solstice! In honor of the summer solstice, I said a farewell to my beloved spring vegetables last night. Fava beans and english peas, goodbye.

After work on Saturday night, there was fresh pappardelle and trenette left over that I stocked up on. I went to the market the next day and bought about 3 pounds of favas, definitely leaving few for anyone else, sorry! I made the fava bean puree one last time and took it to my friend's birthday bbq. Big hit! I made sure to stash some favas for myself, so I could make my last spring veggie pasta of the season.

I don't cook with favas very often. This was actually the first season that I ever had - I was always intimidated by them. But whoa, they are definitely now one of my favorites. And, super easy, just need a lot of love and time to prepare. So, since I am new to the fava world, I decided to cook them very similar to how they are done for the puree. Except, I doubled the mis en place (but used half the olive oil), added shallot, used far less favas, and obviously, didn't puree them. And, I added yummy english peas!

I reserved about 3/4 cup pasta water and added it to the fava and pea mixture.
Garnished the dish with some Pecorino Ginepro. nom nom.

Now, it's time for lima beans...

Paige, is that ayurvedic?

My dear friend Matthew, who I work with, constantly questions the ayurvedic lifestyle that I am experimenting with. He is always behind me, asking if what I am putting into my body is ayurvedic. It's a torture method to get under my skin, but he does help remind me to ask myself that question... constantly. So, thank you Matthew, for your snide reminders :)  And, no ice cream is not very ayurvedic.

But! I love ice cream so so much. My mom and I would go out for ice cream all of the time. She is always reliable to have at least one flavor (sometimes four!) in the freezer. There is a great old fashioned soda fountain in South Pasadena that reminds me of my childhood. It is called the Fair Oaks Pharmacy. Malts, banana royales, Rickey's Phosphate, egg creams, burgers, fries, I was obsessed.
I came across another old fashioned soda fountain, Soda Jerks, that used to be in Pasadena, but now relocated to the Santa Monica Pier. I worked at their old location in high school, and my love for ice cream really became intense. I would make milkshakes for breakfast, literally. Soda Jerks serves Fosselman's Ice Cream, which in my opinion is the best.

Needless to say, I really love the whole idea of old fashioned soda shops. It reminds me of the scene in The Music Man, when Professor Hill and Marian are in the ice cream parlor. A movie that my father introduced to me as a child and remains one of my favorites.

Being in Colorado, I have learned that people do not seem to share this same infatuation for ice cream. There are some great places, don't get me wrong, but an old fashioned soda shop is hard to come by. Yesterday, my boyfriend and I went on a drive to the little town of Lyons, to try out their ice cream parlor. Lyons Soda Fountain & Bakery was delicious and well worth the drive. I had a strawberry ice cream soda, "Soda in the Hay" and my boyfriend, Matthew (different Matthew than above!) had a banana royale. We will definitely be returning. And, they have patty melts - one of my favorite pre-vegetarian meals.

There's Matthew and I in the mirror!

I made Matthew get Mallo Creme on his sundae - yum!!

I think it's safe to say that I am desperately missing California. So many of my posts relate back to my childhood and places I love in L.A. - mostly revolving around food, but it's where I fell in love with food!

Eccentric Artists' Gardens

Poor me: living in my little studio in an alley, with no yard of my own. I have quite a few indoor plants to make up for my lack of yard, but it's just not the same! I want to sip my prosecco and eat my olives, surrounded by lush greenery. Since that is not the case, I decided to go on a garden tour of the eccentric artists around the little town of Boulder. It was so lovely! These gardens are a true expression of their inhibiter. It was a great way to spend a warm afternoon.

I just love this view: water-stained glass, weathered wood, bright sunlight. This picture was taken, looking out from Rebecca DiDomenico's greenhouse.

I complimented the woman who owned this home on her array of umbrellas. She had four or five of them overlapping one another. I could have sat there in the shade all afternoon. She told me how she used to be sad and hard on herself, because she couldn't afford a gazebo, so she saw the umbrellas as the next best thing. These umbrellas were one of my favorites on the tour. They made her yard so inviting and comfortable.  How refreshing and beautiful to live within your means.

This gate!

in a year. (in a nutshell.)

I started drinking sea veggies, just over a year ago. Yes, drinking.

I was asking my yoga teacher, Julie (lots of thanks to the inspiration in my life goes to Jules), what this drink called Body Balance was all about. It is sold at the studio, and I had tried it, but just had no idea what it was. She just so happened to be attending a Body Balance conference the upcoming weekend and asked if I wanted to join her. I accepted, having no idea what I was getting myself into.
Julie works for Life Force Int. and the conference was a very in-depth meeting of their amazing and beneficial products. I learned a lot about sea vegetables, to say the least. I also heard some inspiring stories about how this drink has really saved people's lives: removing cancer, treating depression, weight loss and increased energy.

But, seriously, look into sea veggies. The amount of nutrients that comes from these plants is crazy! Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, iodine, Vitamins A, B, B2, B6, B12, C, folic acid, niacin... to name a few! Even my ayurvedic book talks about how great they are. But, if I am looking from a Pitta perspective, I should have them only occasionally. Quick interjection: speaking of a Pitta perspective, I took another dosha quiz and it seems like my dosha is changing a bit; I could possibly now be a Pitta Kapha?! Does that mean that I am balancing out a bit more?? Does that mean that I am unbalanced even more? I must do some more reading. Anyways, so yes, I now drink Body Balance, which also has aloe vera in it, which is incredibly rich in nutrients/minerals/amino acids.

All that being said, about three weeks after I started drinking my sea veggies, I decided to stop eating meat. And, by stop eating meat, I should say that I significantly decreased my intake and changed which types of meats I was eating. This all came about from my ayurveda experiments. As a Pitta (if that really is what I still am?!), a purely vegetarian diet is recommended, but I can have chicken, venison, rabbit, and turkey, if I am going to eat meat. Tough change in my life! Being totally obsessed with food, I used to be the type of person that would put bacon into everything, overload on seafood when I would go back home to California, and yeah, you get it. But, now I like to think that I am obsessed with food in a totally different way: a way in which I use food to benefit my body, soul, and mind. Yes, I'm still working on doing that all the time - my chicken wing binge still plays a very avid role in my life. BUT, I'm working on it. Good.

Okay, so with the B.B., the "vegetarian" diet, wow, I feel so much better! I have noticed how easy it is for my body to digest food. My weight doesn't fluctuate like it used to, and I lost weight. My energy levels have definitely increased.

It's strange for me to say, but Body Balance really did change my life. It inspires me to take care of myself. It helps me take care of myself.

xo.