5 WAYS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT YOUR DAY

         Hello everyone! Today, I wanted to discuss with you all how to remember you. I, often, in my life, forget to take care, honor, and  respect myself: my best self, so here are 5 ways in ZOE'S HOW TO: REMEMBER YOU! 

My desk: a book Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Wolf, and a cup of tea

My beautiful breakfast: fried egg,
avocado, & Ezekiel toast 

FOOD. COOKING. BAKING. 

If you've already checked out my earlier post, you will know, I am an absolute foodie. I love everything about food, it is an experience involving all the senses. Being creative, I love trying new recipes from cookbooks; in this, I am totally and utterly engrossed in small tasks for a finished product. It allows me to be mindful of the smaller things, which in life, are truly the most important.

Tip #1: COOK SOMETHING TO MARVEL AT! 

BOOKS. ESCAPE.

I love reading, obsessed would be a better word. Books allow me to enter new world of fantasy, consider moral dilemmas, and inspires my present reality with art, language, and characters. Books have always made me world all the more richer- returning to a loved book, is returning to part of myself I might have lost temporarily in the chaos and confusion of life. 

Tip #2: READ. READ EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING. LET YOUR WORLD BE MORE COLORFUL. 

TEA. RELAXATION. 

This is the simplest thing you can implement in your day to remember to take care of you. My family loves tea, and I have drinking it since I have been a wee child. A cup of tea can relax you and lessen your chance of heart attack, carries bountiful beneficial antioxidants, and is supremely hydrating for the skin. Green tea can also contribute to weight loss. How about that? Take that ten minutes of me time, you deserve it.

Tip #3: DRINK TEA FOR ENERGY AND HEALTH! 

ART. CREATION.

        In the creation of art for fun and enjoyment, art is not hierarchy- it is for pure pleasure, complete create control of the imagination. In creating art, I remember my childhood- and let my self go, to create and innovate. Art is and has always been a form of therapy, even buying a coloring book or doodling can release harmful emotions and feelings! 

Tip #4: ART IS A FORM OF THERAPY! 

A hike up Mount Holyoke. 

EXERCISE.

Exercise is integral to my emotional, physical and spiritual well being. Whether yoga, my favorite, Zumba, cardio, BodyPump, resistance, hiking, biking, etc- I need that time to just sweat that shit out- that emotional garbage, shame, guilt- to get it out of my system to be that better person in tune with her emotions. My advice: find something you love, whether a class, working out on your own, and stick with it and TREAT IT LIKE THE SPA. This is you time- time to care and honor your beautiful self and all the wonderful things your body can do. 

Tip #5: SWEAT THAT SHIT OUT! 

WARNING. I am not perfect. I struggle just as much as the next person with finding that me time, honoring and respecting myself, & remembering that positive thoughts can shape my world into a more productive, warm and kind one. I wrote this post as a way to remind myself, as well as others, of the ways I remember I'm beautiful. At the end of the day, no matter what practices you use, self-love has to come from yourself and no one else. It is a journey I'm still on, but God I'm fighting for it. 

I love you all, if you enjoyed this post and others, make sure to go follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more inspiration, life hacks, and recipes!

Namaste,

Zoe 

SAVORING ITALY! (THE DINNER OF A LIFETIME)

      Today is a little bit of a different kind of blog post, however it combines both lifestyle and vegetarian food!! In spirit of National Sibling Day, I thought I would detail one of my life-inspiring moments in a slow food/Italian dinner which occurred just yesterday, with my best friend and twin sister Izabella.  I'm so lucky and grateful to have her in my life, and as my constant rock and support network. I love you babe! 

     For four months now, I have been taking a Savoring Italy course where I have learned about the various food and cultural foodstuff of Italy and its many provinces. In course of this class, we have learned about the slow food movement, which began in Italy with Perini in 1986: promoting sustainable food and agriculture of local small businesses. Perini focuses on specifically living a slower paced life and an age of constant growth, change, and technology. It is a cultural shift towards living life more mindfully, and listening to one's body processes and desires: self-care is so essential. 

On the right: Where some of our food came from, veggies from a local Slow Food farm in Massachusetts. 

       Italian food contains absolutely no-GMOS, as per governmental regulation, and it is not composed of typical heavy, dairy ridden dishes and heavy marinara that we associate with Italian-American food. Rather, authentic Italian food is served family style, with large bowls of food placed in the center a table, and each person gets a small portion in five courses. Of the courses, I had an entirely vegan Italian dinner. How do you ask?

Here is a look at our third course: chicken for non-vegetarian, beans, roasted vegetables, and homemade focaccia bread with olive tapenade. I'm a happy camper! 

      Our professor guided us, in this amazing dinner, to eating slowly; to simply taste and experience our food one bit at a time using all our senses.  It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life: one of the most fulfilling spiritually in feeding my soul and body food that fuels goodness and is healthful and kind to the earth. 

       Let me tell you about this food, I was crying. Full-out tears were pouring out of my eyes, as I savored the amazing delicacies that were before me.

This bean dish made me cry tears of joy. 

Then, something even more incredible happened; we were situated around a table with complete strangers, however we were chatting away like old buddies. 
Due to this proliferation of incredible, mind-boggling good food, conversation swelled: laughs and jokes were shared in a matter of minutes. In "breaking bread", we were breaking down barriers in our two hours dinner. 

No one left after two hours; we simply stayed for another two, with amazing cappuccino and homemade cannoli to celebrate this amazing communion of energy, flow, and mindfulness. My sister and I had one of the most meaningful conversations we have ever had, while sipping and savoring delicious food that is not artificial, non-GMO, hand-made, and organic. I can't find a better excuse to eat pasta? Can you? 
Love you all, and wishing you a peaceful week full of yummy food that fuels your soul and body!

Namaste, Zoe

Namaste,