In and out

Arrived have the weeks, when I almost forget, that interiors are my foremost passion. 

I am occupied with all the others: my family
(as always), the garden in spring, cooking, reading and writing. I feel like these busy birds in my backyard: RUSH to make it all happen, before the season ends....
I have planted roses and enjoy the lilacs, which are at the height of their splendor, as are the azaleas. 

The young oak tree has grown another foot or two and stretches way above the fence. 

Blackbird singing in the bush under my window at 5 AM

I wake up at 5 in the morning and watch the cardinals flit between the branches of the Japanese maple, the robins with their youngster hoping on the lawn, test flying....

And the neighbor's cat needs to be kept in check, I watch out for him all the time, last year he ate the nest full of chicks when I wasn't looking. : (

But still, I have been also silently watching the interior design books at my local store and online and, as always, I find some, which have drawn me in....

I have had again a late night affair with  Susanna Salk's 'Be Your Own Decorator', a book which I have had for a while and always go back to. It so encircles my own design philosophy and style. A wonderful mix of old and new, precious and mundane, flee market and heritage pieces. Fabrics and wallpapers. It's like finding a soul sister, again.
Could that be my house? Yes.... but a little enhanced, I have to admit : )))

Well, I've got the tulips....

And another enticing one, which I am waiting for, being on route... Nicky Haslam's 'Folly De Grandeur'! I feel like flying to England and spending the summer in this house.

What else have I been reading?
Gwyneth Paltrow's latest cook book, which has gotten already much use:

Her recipes are largely vegan or vegetarian based, often gluten and dairy free. There are a couple of great meat dishes and splendid deserts. But all are so appetizing and the book is also wonderfully written.   

I just met Alexandra Aldrich at a book reading in my neighborhood and have been devouring her unusual story of her childhood, filled with memories of the faded glory of the once grand Astor family. At least her family branch is the faded one....  It is very interesting. 

Another find is this one, 'The Camomile Lawn' by the British authoress Mary Wesley. I am fascinated by her writing. She began in earnest to publish when she was over 70! Yes, you read that right. She died at 90 in 2002 and had more then 9 novels out in the years between.

And the latest RH catalog arrived at my doorstep, weighting a ton, but having a few treasures of it's own, worth a post by itself. But since I am so very busy, I will send you here, and show you a few images to wet your appetite.

There are different sections, for which I am grateful, like Small Spaces (which still seem rather large...) and Objects of Curiosity. Which I love! Check it out...

So long, I am off to shop for our cooking session this afternoon: My daughter  and her friend will make Gnocci
from scratch.... Hmm. I'll give them a hand...or two!


xoxo





Images by V.Zlotkowski and the RH website (last four).

Mother's Day

Guitar play woke me this morning and the smell of freshly brewed coffee. There were beautiful tulips blooming on the breakfast table and my lovely mother-in-law and I share this day together, which is rare and I appreciate it the more for it. There were phone calls and hand written notes, hugs and kisses...
Being a mom has taught me so many things:
To love without conditions, to take myself back and let my children lead, to trust, that my work as a mother has done something, which has bloomed, just like these tulips have grown seemingly without help from the soil.

This is how I feel:  It's my job as a mother, to give my children the support they need to face the world, a world, which feel so much more demanding and challenging then when I grew up. It's a world, which surprises me and sometimes scares me too, a future which seems more uncertain and  often feels frail, yet full of adventures for them to discover and to conquer.

It's the love I give, which is the fertilizer to make them grow, make them believe in themselves, which makes all the difference. 

Life is uncertain and as I grow older, I realize how much the strong, loving bond means between parents and their children, something I only begun to see, when I had my own. 
My childhood was overshadowed by events, which unfortunately altered my relationship with my parents permanently, yet I still feel connected and miss them in my life...This is irreplaceable and I am so aware of the importance of being there for my children, despite huge distances, continents away, despite different opinions about the choices they make and to know that they are strong and smart and capable, and being young and inexperienced is not a handicap, but a wonderful chance. The power of youth is to dream and hope, I see myself as their biggest fan.....

My guidance, the teaching is often half hidden, yet my life and my own dreams are what helps my children live their own life. We teach by example and I strife to be an example they can look at sometimes and feel inspired, but mostly deeply loved! And I learn from them as much as I hope they take from me....

As long as I shall live my children will have a harbor with me, a safe place to land, a hand to support and an open heart, a cheerleader and a dream catcher, a base and a jumping board!




Happy Mother's Day...




Image by V.Zlotkowski

My week in pictures

On some weekends I look back on the just passed days and I wonder what I have been doing. These are the weeks where I routinely cover all the necessary spots, drive more then I walk, run errands, pass out meals on accord and, washing the piles of laundry my family regularly produces, makes one day look like the next anyway.
And yet I still look back with satisfaction: This is our regular life, peaceful, all the steps are needed and I wish I could record the fleeing moments, the days we often look back and do not remember.
I take pictures all the time of things I love, things I want to remember, things which fill me with joy...so here is the week which just has passed.
Do you record the passing of time in your life? 

In Patricia's studio

Sunday began with a visit to my dear friend Patricia of PVE, who again took part in the annual
Studio Tour of the river towns on the Hudson, Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley and Irvington, NY. A wonderful institution which I have been looking forward to visit for a few years now. It was again more then inspiring to see so many artists displaying their works of their own creative year.

Roses, given to me by Beryl

My wonderful friend Beryl, whom I see not too often due to her traveling schedule and her life split between India, Ireland and the US, came over for a Sunday afternoon filled with stories and laughter and later shared dinner with us all. Together we cuddled up on the sofa and watched 'Call the Midwife'  and 'Mr.Selfridge', TV series we adore. We both have  worked as midwifes in our lives and being addicted to the BBC masterpiece classics, the last one is just a delightful must. Sunday nights are booked for time being...

Country home

Monday, Tuesday: Spring has finally arrived in our part of the country and I absolutely adore this little country scene of a red painted tiny house not far from us and its lovely little garden, tulip filled and adorned with something like a remnant of a mill stone. 

I pass it often and each time I smile and thank the owners in my mind for this moment of beauty in my day.

My miso soup

Miso soup is something I make regularly, its super healthy and quick to make, at least once a week. I use Brown Rice Miso Master Organic, using water, some carrot slices, broken up wakame (a type of seaweed) and scallions, simmer this for 5-6 minutes and then add some firm tofu (do not boil) and my miso paste, stir and eat. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of raw almond butter and a squeeze of fresh lemon. Yum!

Rolling out the green carpet

Wednesday: A part of our front lawn needed replacing after two years of fighting a nasty infestation of fungi and weeds. We care for our greens organic, but this was something we could not seem to manage anymore, after the winter everything was pretty dead! So we decided to take the plunge and get roll out grass and it looks splendid. Now I water the land twice a day for a good 1/2 hour. I think we will eventually need a sprinkler...

Unbelievable green

Which reminds me that we also have planned a second Zelkova tree to match the one planted two years ago. It is a fast growing shade tree, resisting common tree disease and we had gotten this one free of charge by the  town after the large, earlier existing tree needed to be taken down. At the time we felt bereaved and were happy to learn, that upon request the town would replace a cut  town tree. They did it within a few months and actually an arborist came and discussed the options with me. I was very impressed. Together we decided on the Zelkova serrata. (Japanese Zelkova) And although this tree is not the flowering beauty I had originally in mind in front of the house, I am very happy with this quiet beauty now growing. So, a second one will be planted, hopefully this autumn.

Pink explosion

 Decorative cherry blossoms?

Thursday, Friday: These amazing clusters of pink blossoms can be found on some trees along the Aqueduct, a historic walkway above the Hudson between Yonkers and Croton-on -Hudson. It is a well preserved path, sometimes narrow, sometimes wide, tree covered and leading along parks, back yards and quaint neighborhoods. Walkers, joggers, bikers, kids and dogs share the space and it is almost like a secret garden, where, on a weekday morning, only the initiated find themselves alone with the birds... at least the lucky ones not to be in an office at that time.

I walk with my friend Paola, I walk with Patricia, I walk with my husband and alone, and apart from the exercise it is a wonderful place to brainstorm plans for the future and hatch out ideas which would perhaps otherwise never see the light of day....this place always opens one up in unexpected ways.

I meditate while walking. The most wonderful experience.

My thirsty boy

Saturday: Seeing my youngest boy out and about on his bike, the trampoline and with his friends playing soccer and basketball after the long winter months is priceless. 

Today is soccer practice, tomorrow another game and hopefully the boys win another round, the team has been doing great so far.

Picking up my son's lunch sandwich

I also chatted with one of my older sons in Berlin, such a lovely thing to have Skype and to see him, all into his studies and plans for the future. 

I enjoy the little moments, the connecting moments, the time we can spend together, even if it's thousands of miles apart, sitting opposite each other, sharing a cup of coffee and stories of late.

I had also time in between, while waiting in the car in the school pick up line to read the latest in Architectural Digest, beautiful homes I would like to share with you to, this being a Design blog....

AD magazine

This is the bedroom of Vogue Brazil style editor Donata Meirelles, designed by the South American tastemaker Sig Bergamin... Ahh. Such delights in color. Pick up a copy, this or any other, I usually have a moment at the bookstore....

The best of everything

Now I am sitting on my deck, feet up, sipping on a green machine juice, freshly made and I will read some of the  New York Times, Wall Street Journal and have another look at Gwyneth Paltrow's latest cook book, It's All Good.

Indeed!

This has been my week, nothing breathtaking, but just a quietly fulfilling one, with all the good things in life:

Family, friends, health, good food and work.  I am so thankful!

Wishing you all the same, happy weekend!

All images by V.Zlotkowski apart the last via AD magazine.

Any more news?

March: Husband's big birthday....

Life is exciting around here. There have been important birthdays and still our house is filled with family, my in-laws visiting from overseas, the sweetest folks imaginable.

My darling parent-in-law

I am working on some  new ideas and I have been approached by Diana Stobo's team to film a segment on juicing. That unfortunately has been put on hold again and again, and here I am, half waiting and half giving up on the idea to spread the word on her site to regularly eat lots of raw food and drink freshly made juices and smoothies. 

here

Such is TV business. They need some, they use some, they drop the rest.
There are, of course, many more sites out there, promoting their own approach to healthier living habits. But not all of them are good, some are very extreme and many feel a little one track minded or simply concentrating on selling supplements.

I haven't found too many places online simply dedicated to share experiences without making any money and to incorporate raw food habits into our widespread, typical Standard American Diet. SAD!

Slow cooked oat meal: Here still with soy milk. Jan. 2012

Something I see as more and more important, since I have realized over the last year of my own journey into healthy living, how hard it can be to be rigorous, disciplined and sticking to this lifestyle. Many of my friends, which have witnessed my transformation almost in disbelief, simply feel not able to do the same, or they do not want to. No matter how wonderful the results, for them it seems too extreme, to far away from the common, many might try a little, but give up after a few days. Or do not even give it a try.
And yet, wherever I look, I see such a tremendous need to improve the All American Diet.

Our go to breakfast for a year now: Smoothies, fruity, rich and satisfying. Non dairy!

Overweight children, unhealthy adults, everywhere. Surly, I am not alone with the thought that change is needed.

Baked Acorn squash with maple sirup

So here is my idea: To help people, who want to give it a try, to incorporate healthier food options into their more regular choices. I want to help you to exchange the pre-prepared with the fresh, some cooked with raw. This instead of that! And I will do my best to keep it simple and manageable. I'll teach a few tricks and some easy ways to "raw cook".
Making some small changes can add up to great improvements. Not all needs to be eliminated, many things just need a little tweaking and some big changes might be easier to manage, if you only do these and keep everything else. I often have experienced, that people, who start slow, are more ready in the long term to keep up with healthier choices and even might go for more.

Flax milk papaya smoothie

I am not an extremist. I like to enjoy different cuisines, love to enjoy parties and the food which is prepared by my friends or family. I do not want the special treatment, I adjust, try a little of this and that, after all it won't kill me to have some of the foods I normally do not eat. I do make exceptions.
 Only my lactose intolerance needs to be observed by me  and I need to stick to a dairy free diet. Otherwise I hurt.

A book after my own taste....

I have that theory that most people like to stick to diets they are familiar with, the ones they have been growing up with, what their parents, grandparents of wives (husbands) prepare. I like it too. We live in a country with so many culinary influences, it is actually impossible to come up with a generalized eating plan. This is one of the points I always stress when being critically towards all these "diets" out there. I feel they simply do not work, while they only for a short time reduce your caloric intake and later folks go back to their old eating habits. This is the reason for so many failed attempts.
What I suggest is a permanent change of habits, some of which need to be radically followed and some, which can be tweaked to your lifestyle and heritage.

April: our daughter's sweet 16 cake!

But is supposed to be fun and easier then you think.

There are a few simple guide lines, which I follow and for more then a year now the results are lasting, I can only see improvements and no sacrifices.
But again, this is my life and my own ways of finding the best possible for me, you need to find your own equilibrium.
But I would love to help, make suggestions and share my knowledge I am daily gathering.

A few things:

Less is more. Do not fall into the trap of the American serving sizes. If you eat out, take half home. Right away. Split meals, share the deserts. Or skip it!

Do not drink sodas, period! It's not good for you, neither the regular, nor the diet options.
Drink water, water, water and water thinned juices ( or full strength fresh if you can get)
Or, (over 21 year old) once in a while a glass of wine for dinner.
Avoid other alcohol. It's loaded with calories, nothing really good for you. If you like the taste, make it a weekly special occasion and then enjoy it!

Avoid pre-cooked super market or frozen meals. Unless home made.... ; )
They are loaded with preservatives and other chemicals.

A wonderful walking path near our home

Walk a lot. Even if you never set foot into a gym, walking and bicycling are the best available options for the exercise phobic. Like me. I walk, I do a little yoga. I mean it. A little, but I walk a lot. Every day. 

Begin your day with a glass of lukewarm water with 1/2 a fresh squeezed lemon. Every day! It turns alkaline in your stomach and conditions you away from acidity!
Eat  at least two fresh fruits a day, best in the morning, before anything else.
Eat at least 4 large servings of vegetables. Fresh and cooked. Green juices help with the amounts you should consume. You can mix them with apples for taste.
Eat legumes and beans.
Eat sweet potatoes instead of white ones.
Eat brown rice instead of white.
Eat quinoa instead of couscous.
If you eat meat, not daily. Twice a week is plenty. Count the cold cuts as meat too. 
Eat fish. But watch out for the ones which are loaded with heavy metals. No swordfish, less tuna. More white fish and wild salmon.
Reduce your dairy intake. Fermented is best. Kefir and yogurt. No milk shakes.....and less ice cream. Try the almond based ones, they are super delicious and much better for you.

Drink flax, almond or coconut milk. Make smoothies with these, not dairy milk.

Eat less refined sugar. Agave or Stevia are better choices.

Make fresh juices. 

Eat plenty of mixed salads. Add seeds, seaweeds, veggies.

Use olive oil and lemon juice for salads.

Use coconut oil for cooking and frying.

Avoid soy products, unless fermented. I do not use soy milk other then in my occasional soy latte. But I make miso soups with tofu and seaweeds.

The better choice: Sprouted spelt bread.

Avoid wheat as much as you can! It has been changed over the last 50 years or so from the original wheat our grandparents knew. So much so, new protein strands developed and many people are allergic to them without being aware. Many avoidable health risks are connected today to wheat, but guess what: The grain lobby is strong, it will take long to become mainstream knowledge. That means also whole wheat!!! 
Reduce, reduce, reduce your consumption. Read the labels. 
Wheat is everywhere, from cereal to cooked soups, breads and cakes. Gluten free is the better option. And many alternative grains. 

Raw breakfast cereal, really yummy

You need less protein then you are made believe. But plant based protein is better for your body then animal based.

Recipe here

Pick your choices, try out what tastes good to you, go slow and avoid too much at once.
Soon I will begin a completely new blog, dedicated to these new ways of eating healthy and to living fulfilled, happy and hopefully long. 
If you want to join me there, I will be happy to share my experiences! There will be recipes, a daily food log, options for special needs, things to learn and things to discover!
And links to like minded chefs for you to discover!

Last night's dinner. Check out my FB page.

Have a happy Sunday, relax and enjoy life! No matter where you are, some beauty can be found, just look!

xoxo

Life is an adventure!

All images by V.Zlotkowski unless indicated.

In the driver's seat

Yesterday our daughter turned 16. A wonderful day, filled with reminiscence and my sometimes wistful thoughts on time, growth and the speed of it all.

Talking of speed, this morning she is taking her test to receive her learner's permit and she has been waiting and looking forward to this day for years.
As this  day approached, my heart sunk a little, some of my motherly fears and apprehensions collided with my pride and conviction that she will be a good and safe driver. My little girl out there on the roads, where I witness almost daily the fast and the fury? Where often the laws of the road are overlooked, overturned and ignored? How will she manage the maze of possibilities and all the lurking danger?
As with all new challenges in my children's lives, I will let them lead and I will support.
I will try not to scare her off with too much advise, I will trust she will manage just fine as we all did and hope - hope - her sound judgement, attention and her guardian angel will always be with her!
She will practice safe driving with us and I cannot think of a better guide then her father, a safe and careful driver and myself, without major accidents and a spotless record otherwise. Our example hopefully has given her the base layer, the subconscious code of behavior, something she might recall in moments of danger. 

I am happy for her, my lovely girl, to master yet another skill for living in the adult world.
May she always be safe out there! 

PS: She just passed the test successfully! 






All images private. Do not use unless my permission is given.