Balance

~ What I dream of is an art of balance. ~

-Henri Matisse

[Palladio's Villa | Italy | Reverie-Daydream Image]

10 Things ~

Have you ever stopped to think about what you can't live without?

The lovely Paloma of La Dolce Vita asked me to share 

10 Things I Can't Live Without {here}.

[Paris | 27 Weeks Pregnant with the crumb]

The Academy

The California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite places to visit, and it makes me beam with pride knowing it is the largest public Platinum-rated building in the world, and also the world’s greenest museum.  The Academy's sustainability extends to all facets of the facility - from the bike racks and rechargeable vehicle stations outside the building to the radiant sub-floor heating inside the building to the energy-generating solar panels on top of the building!  Not only is this a place to learn about science, natural history and species from all over the world, but we can also absorb a few lessons about living more efficiently and eco-friendly.

We spend hours within these 'green' walls ~ moving from the planetarium to the aquarium, through the 4-story rainforest, pausing for penguin feedings, and getting lost in time as we stroll through the natural history exhibits.  Our minds race, our hearts pound, and our yearning for learning increases more and more.  The Academy is addictive, and their mission ~ to explore, explain and protect the natural world is one I believe we should all adopt.

[Image by Reverie-Daydream]

Enlightened Path

Dearest Gaia Miette,

The role of Mother was never part of my overall life plan,

but you, my sweet crumb, had a different blueprint in mind.

You entered my world and turned it upside down,

proving that life is full of unexpected and beautiful surprises.

I graduated from a top university, read thousands of books, practiced yoga with great teachers,

but you, and your wee self, have taught me more about life than any of the above.

You have shown me the importance of patience, the wonderment of simple things,

the liberation from selfishness, and the significance of living in the moment.

Oddly, I cannot imagine life without you,

And trust me, there was definitely a past filled with lots of extraordinary living.

However, your entrance into my world has only caused me to look forward,

ahead to all the great things you will do, be and give.

The moments we will share together for the rest of our lives,

the numerous times I hope we walk hand-in-hand through it all, the good, the bad, and the spectacular.

My heart is forever changed and filled with an adoration words cannot describe,

and I thank you for diverting my path and adding one of the greatest roles of my life to our story.

Love,

Mama

[Mama & Gaia ~ El Retiro, Madrid, Spain]

A Well-Rounded Treat

I'm always looking for healthy snack foods, and these delicious 'power balls' are filled with nutrient rich ingredients to give anyone a perky little boost anytime of the day!  And they are REALLY easy to make.

Well-Rounded Treats

1 cup chopped pitted dates

1 cup raw walnuts (or almonds)

1 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 teaspoons freshly grated lemon zest

1/2 cup unsweetened dried coconut flakes

Place dates, walnuts, sesame seeds, lemon juice and zest in a food processor.  Pulse and blend until completely mixed.  The mixture will be slightly sticky.  With dampened hands, roll tablespoons of the mixture into balls.  Roll in coconut and chill until ready to serve.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Wishes Come True ~

A very dear friend once told me that if you put your wishes out there, they will eventually come true.  I made a few birthday wishes this year, and they all came true and then some!

Celebrations continue throughout the month, but this weekend was especially wonderful because my Dad and Step-Mom were by my side for every special moment!  There is no denying that I am a total Daddy's Girl, so to laugh, talk, and just spend quality time with him was a birthday highlight. 

McDreamy pulled out the 'birthday carpet of love' with my special day planned perfectly from beginning to end.  Delivery of a huge bouquet of shiny silver balloons, a freshly baked gigantic organic pop-tart from Cibo, an afternoon at the Cartier exhibit, and a delicious outdoor dinner with great friends ~ all underneath the sunshine filled blue skies of a 70 degrees day in San Francisco. 

Remember when I mentioned this dream chair?  Well, it is mine!  One of the greatest people to ever walk upon this Earth and into my life gave it to me ~ I'm still speechless, but it's easy to be at a loss for words when daydreaming underneath this chair's beautiful canopy.  

My little brother surprised me with the gorgeous pair of antique French earrings from here (he obviously knows his sister very well!).  Gifts, cards, emails, calls and messages came pouring in from so many loving friends and family.  Truly, I'm not sure what I did to deserve all this amazing love and goodness that has been showered upon me ~ There are so many creative gifts and stories I want to share with each of you, and I will do so throughout the weeks ahead.

Until then, I'm going to go make some delicious lemon desserts from my birthday basket of Sherry's lemons!  My sweet mom just arrived, and we have a lot of fun things planned which includes some serious baking!

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Deep Within....

~ If you look deep within .... you will find a brilliant light ~

[Hagia Sophia, Istanbul by reverie-daydream]

French Essence

Last week while in Southern California, I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting this beautiful woman [who inspires me with her lovely words, incredible eye for French treasures, and ability to make everyday life feel like a fairy tale] and her equally stunning daughter [who creates exquisite masterpieces with the finest of French materials, adores all things great and small, and has the most endearing heart of gold] ~ it was a glorious gathering of like-minded souls who truly felt as if we had known each other forever! We shared personal stories, dreams, creative thoughts, travel memories and so much more, and we also discussed the power of blogging and its magnificent ability to connect people from all over the world along with the added life bonus of cherished new friendships.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that I adore all things French, so when the kind-hearted and always gracious, Janet and Noel, gave me a copy of French Essence by Vicki Archer, I seriously jumped for joy! I've been a huge fan of Vicki's ever since I picked up a copy of My French Life, and I've been anxiously waiting for French Essence to make its US debut. When I opened my new book friend, I didn't stop reading until I soaked up every single word from cover to cover. Vicki's writing has this special way of making you feel as if you are right there beside her as she describes her joi de vivre in France. She takes your hand and leads you through the beautiful chapters of her life entangling you with her love affair of France, an affair you never wish to end.

HEATH Ceramics

As if the San Francisco Ferry Building couldn't get any better ~ now Heath Ceramics has opened a new location within the beautiful walls of this historic marketplace.

Most likely, Heath Ceramics creations, with their signature style, doesn't need an introduction. Each piece is still made in their original factory in Sausalito, California and crafted in the same manner as it has been for the past 55 years.

This design driven, small-scale, family owned Bay Area company is a perfect fit with the Ferry Building's unique mix of artisanal, local retailers and restaurants ~ the ideal gathering of Northern California's best of the best.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Easter Traditions

When I was a little girl, my grandmother always baked a coconut cake for Easter. She decorated it with the green grass, jelly beans, and peeps. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world! It was a tradition that became synonymous with this Spring holiday.

Both of my grandmothers are incredible bakers, so I believe this is where I inherited the love for sweet creations. This year, I decided to start the Easter cake tradition for the crumb. Hand-painted blown eggs (a definite labor of love) set perfectly atop my double-layered coconut cake along with the crumb's squeal of "Pink Eggs!" would definitely make my grandmother proud!

I would love to know your fondest Easter/Springtime memories.....

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Sweet Friends

~ Life is sweeter when shared with friends ~

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

The Dog Walker

Being a pug-lover, you will understand why I adore this cover of The New Yorker. In fact, it is now framed and hangs upon the crumb's bedroom wall.

Wouldn't it be divine if dog walking was really this civilized and chic?

Green Goodness

One of my must-haves in life is greens ~ leafy, flower, herb, sprouts ~ all types of edible green goodness! Every week, my basket is always brimming with a variety of my favorites from the Farmer's Market. And now that Spring is here, almost every meal consists of at least one generous serving of these fresh vitamin and mineral packed superfoods.

It's hard for me to narrow down a favorite or two, but if I had to choose one leafy green that I couldn't live without, it would be wild arugula (with kale, watercress and mesclun mix as the runners-up).

Now tell me....what are your favorite greens?

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Culinary Confetti

Eating is a vital part of our lives, and it is very important to realize, 'we are what we eat'. I never put myself into a certain category when it comes to food consumption; meaning, I'm neither vegetarian, vegan, pescetarian, etc. I eat for my health, my well-being, my livelihood.

I'll admit, there are certain foods that make me feel better than others, but mostly, I focus on organic, free-range, local goodness provided by Mother Nature. So when I discovered the 21-day kickstart program in favor of veganism (which I could never fully commit to since I love cheese and eggs SO much), I took a peak because I knew there would be some really good recipes I could add to our overall culinary repertoire. The Couscous Confetti Salad didn't disappoint! It is full of flavor and an array of beautiful colors ~ a true party for your palate.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Plastiki

"What we have to do is eliminate dumb uses of plastic.

Thirty-eight billion plastic bottles went into landfill last year."

~David de Rothschild

Hence the premise behind Plastiki, to dramatize the message that plastic is evil and that sailing a 60-foot catamaran across the Pacific [with 68 percent of the boat’s buoyancy derived from a matrix of 12,500 recycled plastic bottles] will capture the attention of people around the world.

An engineering feat from conception, the stunt for an environmental cause has evolved into a new way to build. Design 'roadblocks' forced 'think-outside-the-box' solutions resulting in a boat constructed using self-reinforced plastics (no resins). The parts are heat-welded together, or in some cases they’re joined with a glue made from sugar cane and cashews. The boat’s solar panels are good for 600 watts, and a recumbent exercycle is rigged to produce 7 amps. A hanging hydroponic garden will grow chard, kale, spinach and other leafy greens. The boat's cabin [egg-shaped as a form of biomimicry] has been described as "the ultimate off-grid house". Plastiki is another 'role model' for our future proving once again that it is possible to use recycled goods and build with non-toxic chemicals.

On Saturday, we attended the traditional Polynesian christening ceremony which means the boat is blessed and ready to make its journey. David de Rothschild will, with a six-man crew, sail across the Pacific Ocean starting in San Francisco and ending his journey in Sydney. Along the way, there are planned visits of several sites of ecological importance such as the man-made disaster called the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating landfill located between California and Hawaii that’s twice the size of Texas. This is definitely a noble mission, and one I personally look forward to following.

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

~ FISH ~

Being a conscious consumer matters. It matters a WHOLE lot! We are fortunate enough to live in an area that takes sustainable, local, eco-conscious living to an important level of awareness, and my hope is that this awareness continues to spread like wildfire across the continents.

Food is an essential element in all of our lives, yet we must make a valiant effort of mindful consumption. Our existence, as well as millions of other species, on Earth relies upon it.

One of our favorite local restaurants is FISH. Not only is the food off-the-charts incredible (best tuna melt sandwich ever, warm the cockles of your heart chowders, and the most amazing fish and chips to touch a plate), but their commitment to the ocean and its inhabitants speaks volumes. It matters to them where the fish comes from and how and when they are caught.

The words written upon the chalkboard in this restaurant should become the adopted slogan for each and every one of us. Conscious sustainable living taken to a whole new level!

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Dream Dress

Ever since the divinely talented fashionista Dustjacket Attic posted this image on her fabulous blog, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it!

I'm in LOVE! Seriously, I would wear this dress (and shoes) every. single. day! Even to the market because that's how much I adore it.

[image Dustjacket Attic via Vogue Nippon '05]

Chocolate Ricotta Mousse

This year, we celebrated Valentine's Day by having dinner with our lovely friends. Each of us played a part in cupid's meal - mine was dessert! Of course, I had to come up with something decadent but healthy, so I decided upon Chocolate Ricotta Mousse. Let's just say, it didn't disappoint (and shhhh, it is SO easy)!

Chocolate Ricotta Mousse

4-6 individual servings

3 ounces of raw organic dark chocolate
1 pound organic ricotta cheese

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon of organic honey

Melt the chocolate in a double broiler. Stir the chocolate until it is fully melted.

Combine the melted chocolate, ricotta, vanilla, and honey in the food processor (or mix with mixer).

Process or mix until it is smooth.

If you prefer smoother consistency, add a few tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

and continue to process until desired smoothness.

***Also, I added ricotta cold from refrigerator,

this caused some of the melted chocolate to harden into tiny chunks,

I let it stay this way for an added 'nib' effect.***

Topping:

1 cup organic heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla OR 1 teaspoon of maple syrup

Organic Strawberries (or any seasonal fruit) cut into pieces

Beat the heavy cream with the vanilla or maple syrup until soft peaks form.

Add fruit to mousse and top with whipped cream (mint garnish optional).

[Reverie-Daydream Images]

Les Voyageuses

Whimsical, dreamy, fairy-tale worthy ... these are just a few words that come to mind when I look at the extraordinary illustrations by Maia of Verlicht Studio. She brings the magical essence of a child's imagination to life with her artistic flair!

A few months ago, I was the lucky giveaway winner of the Pirate's Daughter (on the left). You can only imagine my sheer delight to be a proud recipient of this incredible piece of art! I couldn't wait to get it framed and hung in the crumb's room. And then, I discovered Candace and the Clocks ... both of these smile-inducing, carry-me-away-to-another-world prints have become cherished works of art upon our walls. Shhhh....it's a secret, but I'm saving up for a custom heirloom portrait of the crumb because I just know Maia will capture her sweet, joyful, beautiful spirit in all its glory.

Maia's artistic soul shines through in everything she does. Her blogs, Les Voyageuses and Une Envie de Sel are filled with eloquent words, current works, and the delightful happenings of her adorable little Q! Bring a little bit of whimsical magic to your walls here.

One Sweet Little Crumb, Two Spectacular Years

To dance, to play, to enjoy every day....

This is how our beloved crumb adds

magic and sparkles in every way.

With her deep love for tutus, water,

animals, balloons and beads,
She always leaves behind a trail of smiles and joyful seeds.

She is the most spectacular fairy in all the land,

and together we will enjoy life's journey hand-n-hand.

~ Happy 2nd Birthday Gaia Miette ~

[photographs by Reverie-Daydream]