On The Bright Side.

Lim Heng Swee

Be positive. It's that simple. Problems are rarely as big or bad as they might seem. That sound your little car's engine makes whenever you turn on the ignition, closely resembling that of a truck as it splutters and wheezes through the cold mornings - which in your opinion is a catastrophe waiting to happen and will surely cost you an arm and a leg when you finally take it to the garage - might just be remedied with something as simple as a little engine oil. (Well in my case it was, but you get the idea). The solution is often obvious. Change the way you approach a problem, and the problem itself will change. It might even disappear completely.

Rain.

Falling asleep to the sound of raindrops... is there anything more soothing? Let the skies open up tonight, and let there be sunshine again tomorrow.

A x

Saving The World With Chocolate.

After making the transition to vegetarianism, and watching this video a few months ago, I have been on a quest to avoid dairy in my diet as much as possible. While the French side of me stubbornly refuses ever to give up cheese (vegetarian cheese is my compromise), I keep my eyes open for dairy alternatives wherever I can. Thanks to this pursuit I have recently discovered raw vegan chocolate. If, like me, you've ever been sceptical as to whether a dairy-free chocolate could taste like the real deal, the answer is a big, planet-loving, antioxidant-packed YES! And the fact that it is raw and unrefined means it is so much better for you. While it is not yet widely available, your local organic grocer or farmers market is likely to have a supply.

Alternatively, if you're partial to a bit of experimentation in the kitchen like me, you can try the following recipe, which I adapted from The Copycat Cook.

Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

the copycat cook

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups mixed raw nuts

1/4 cup ground flax seed (or linseed meal)

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

2 tbsp raw sugar or raw agave syrup

4 tbsp peanut butter (I use organic and 'cruchy')

4 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp raw honey

In a food processor, grind nuts until fine. Mix in a large bow with the flax seed, cacao powder and sugar.

In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the coconut oil and peanut butter together and stir until liquid. Take this off the heat and add the vanilla and honey, stirring to combine.

Put the liquid into the dry mixture and combine well. Press mixture into an ungreased loaf pan and chill in refrigerator until set (around 30 minutes). Cut into bars or smaller, bite-sized pieces and store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

The result is a beautiful dessert or snack which is gluten, preservative and chemical free, mostly raw, vegan, and packed with antioxidants and healthy oils. Raw cacao is a well-known superfood, making this a (relatively) guilt-free way to get your chocolate fix. Délicieux!

Words To Live By.

Such a simple truth, yet we're all guilty of forgetting it at times. One of the main reasons I love photography is because it allows me to see the world with new eyes, noticing colours, details, patterns and such interesting things around me that I wouldn't normally even see. Why shouldn't every day be like this? Why don't we always wake up with new eyes and remember how lucky we are for everything and everyone that's around us, or just for the fact that we're still here? Life is so short! Start saying 'yes' to new experiences more. Follow your heart and do what you love, not just what pays the bills. Seize the day! But most importantly, don't take life too seriously.

A x

Snuggle Time.

weheartit

I still managed to work up a sweat tonight at the gym, despite the cold and gloomy weather outside. But now, all I feel like doing is this. With a good book of course.

Savouring The Moment.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure that you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow."
- Mary Jean Irion

I love this quote because it reminds me to enjoy and live in the moment, and to stop thinking ahead and trying to rush to the next part of my day all of the time. Even if the day doesn't bring with it anything out of the ordinary, every day is unique and full of possibility and a 'normal' day is such a blessing because who knows what might happen tomorrow?
I chose to enjoy my day by taking comfort in simplicity and nourishing my senses and stomach. While the skies threatened rain outside I took shelter in the kitchen and created a silky pumpkin soup, warming my body from my nose to the tips of my toes.
My recipe is exceptionally simple, but I think that's what makes it so delicious. With just a few ingredients, a warm, golden soup can be steaming away on your stove in no time, filling the house with a delicious aroma:

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped
2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and coarsely diced
1kg butternut pumpkin, cut into 2.5cm cubes
1 litre vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
Salt and pepper to taste
120ml milk (can be replaced with soy or almond milk for a vegan version)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

Put the oil in a large pot and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the onion, ginger and garlic. Fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring consistently until the onion begins to turn golden in colour. Turn down the heat to medium and sauté for another 2 minutes or until the onion is light brown.

Add in the potato and pumpkin pieces and stir a couple of times. Add in the stock, bay leaves, salt and pepper and bring to the boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer gently for 45 minutes.

Remove the bay leaves and blend the soup to a fine purée. Add the milk and stir to mix well. Reheat when ready to serve, and garnish with parsley. Makes enough for about 6 big bowls.



When the weather gets a little colder, there's nothing I like better than a good soup to fight off the chill from the outside, and to leave me feeling happy on the inside.

The World Is Your Canvas.

As a lover of art, I have always had a great respect and admiration for those artists who are now forever ingrained in our culture, who pushed the boundaries of their time and created pieces that were unique and will always be an important part of art history. The artists who are celebrated in all the great galleries and cathedrals of the world, having left their mark for us to remember them through for generations to come.

While my love of art begins with these classics, I believe that art is everywhere to be found and I like to find beauty in often the most unexpected of places. Even better if there is some sort of message behind the paint brush (or spray can). Street art has been an interest of mine for some time now, because I love the idea of going beyond the canvas and bringing art into the world for everyone to see. Sometimes it's political, sometimes it's satyrical, sometimes it's just great to look at. Whatever the aim of the artist, these pieces create a little moment of unexpected joy in the day of a passer-by, and while their work may not yet have a place in the Louvre (or even be permanent, for that matter), there is some incredible talent out there on the streets.

One of the most famous of the street artists, and a favourite of mine, is the man and the mystery that is Banksy. I remember seeing an auction on eBay a while back where a piece of paper supposedly containing Banksy's real identity was going for an outrageous amount of money, before it was swiftly taken down. Maybe it was legitimate, maybe it wasn't. Personally, I hope it remains a mystery...

Below are just a few of my favourite recent pieces of street art:

You can find more great street art here.

The Mountain.

Just a little reminder, in case you ever forget how amazing our planet earth is. A reminder to step outside and look around you, because beauty is everywhere to be found. All I can say is... la vie est belle.

Eat. Pray. Namaste.

Yoga changed my life. Literally. Stepping onto that mat opened up a new world to me, one I had never really thought about previously. When I began to practise yoga more seriously I was driven to educate myself about its origins and teachings, and I liked what I found. Yoga literally means to 'unite' the spirit and the body, but it is much more than a series of postures on a mat. It is a way of thinking and a way of living. Not only was I leaving my classes feeling an amazing sense of calm that I hadn't felt in years, yoga got me thinking about my health and my lifestyle in a more holistic way. I was never particularly unhealthy and I exercised regularly, but I began to think about living my life in a way that demonstrated compassion towards others and towards the planet. I became a vegetarian after taking up yoga, and I haven't looked back. I have learnt to truly value my body and my health, and living a more sustainable lifestyle just makes me feel good.

lovemorefearless

Yoga has also taught me several lessons. I have learnt the importance of listening to my body. I like a challenge and I like to push myself, which is a good thing to an extent. But there have been times where I wanted to accomplish too much, and have ended up pushing myself to the point of exhaustion or even sickness. Through yoga I have learnt to stop and listen, and if it doesn't feel right I now know when I need to take a break and regain my strength, which always leaves me feeling better in the long-run.

Yoga has also taught me to breathe. In the business of day-to-day life, sometimes it's almost as though I forget to perform this simple act. It is amazing how much clearer your mind feels when you just stop, take a few deep breaths and remind yourself of where you are - bringing yourself to the present moment - and listen to how you are feeling. Try it!

Finally, yoga has made me aware of the power of the mind. Mental strength and a positive outlook work wonders towards achieving anything you want to achieve. As one of my yoga teachers said tonight, it's 1% physical and 99% mental. This mental strength has led me to accomplish things I may not have thought possible once upon a time.

There is also just something special about the benefits of yoga that can't quite be explained by modern science, a secret that has been passed on through thousands of years. I think I might know that secret. Maybe you should find out too...

Seven Henrietta Street.

This is the story of a charming girl

She laughs out loud, sings off key and believes in taking chances

She is quick and curious and playful and strong

She lets her imagination run away with her

She has never been one to stick to convention

She is fond of daydreams that take her places

She can order a cocktail in six different languages

She feels that understated is overrated.

Début

And so it begins. After thinking about starting a blog for longer than I care to admit, here I am finally writing my first post. Numéro un. I created this blog so that I could share my writing, my art, my goals, and things I love with the world. Many blogs have inspired me and entertained me, and I hope to do the same for others by bringing together some of the things that I like best.


I am a citizen of three nations, a writer, an artist, a runner, a yogi, a cook, a vegetarian, an animal lover, a creator, a hippie, a dreamer, a traveller, a wanderer... and that is just the start. This blog is a place where I can let my imagination run free and do what I love to do - so here's to beginnings.

A bientôt,
A x