"Paris" used as a buzz word for cafes?

I love coffee. Good coffee. Finding a real cafe in Paris that is not simply a brasserie serving Cafe Richards, which I do not like at all, is a struggle. I think there are about 12 in the ENTIRE city. But, it has also been fun because when I finally walk through the front door I know that everyone else there has also made the effort to find these delights.

A few to note:
STRADA CAFE:  94 rue du Temple, 75003 (3ème arrondissement) 
 Good coffe, chill vibe, yummy food and friendly service. 

TUCK SHOP:  13 rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 (10ème arrondissement)
Fun, yummy great area. Have a lunch next door at Bob's juice while you are in the area.   

TELESCOPE:  5 rue Villedo 75001 (1er arrondissement)
Good coffee and cute space and I do love the area, however being completely honest, I understand the idea behind great coffee and being strict with measurements etc, but I waited about 25 minutes just to order and then about another 10 for my coffee. There were only 3 people in front of me. A little TOO much of a perfectionist.  

I have noticed lately while looking through city magazines, such as Toronto Life, that there are a lot of cafes deemed to have a Parisian vibe. If you sell croissants is that a Parisian vibe? I am not too sure. On one side I find it endearing because maybe they have never been to Paris and they have this fantasy about all of these lovely, warm and friendly cafes. But on the other side it is frustrating because I think of other cities that could be used as an example for great cafes - like Seattle, London and even Calgary.

That being said, I am excited to get to Toronto to check out the booming foodie scene updates and yummy and friendly cafes and bars.

Sip well,

Pippa

Eye karamba!

Did you do any of those exercises? Perhaps one of the most calming things I have ever done. The best part is you can essentially do them anywhere.

I have been thinking. Maybe I am overwhelmed by the idea that when you lose your sight, or any of your senses, your other senses become much more intense and particular. I am an extremely kinesthetic person. Could I handle the sense of touch being more intense? More important?

Another article for you.

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/129?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight&_wcsid=0421906D81CD6A64EF57C859FAF8E484346366295FBFDE51

From me to you. Eye to eye.

Pippa

Eye opener

I am not sure why, but all of a sudden I have been very interested in the eyes. More so than usual. I feel very lucky to have great eyesight and I have even been thinking about going into a career of Optometry. I wonder if I can find work in a shop selling glasses to get the gist of it to start?

As a child, and still now (to be honest) I am not a fan of being in pitch pitch dark. When I was recently in Portugal staying in a house I did not know well, I woke up in the middle of the night to head to the bathroom and I could not find the switch. I had a moment of panic.

I have always had an interest in the lives of those who are blind, or their vision is obscured. Perhaps it is my lucky opportunity to have been introduced to people, amazing people, who have lost their vision. Some were born with an impairment, others lost it later in life.


I have had the luck of meeting people like Miles Hilton Barber who has adventured his way around the world more than once. He came to visit my parents at our farm and I was so interested in him. His enthusiasm and determination. We sat beside eachother at lunch and I was so nervous about the fact he had a slab of chicken stuck to his cheek.... he could sense I was nervous, wiped the food away and told me to relax. Do yourself a favour and check out his site. But I warn you, be prepared to get inspired.

http://www.mileshilton-barber.com/

I met another amazing man while working in a store. He was shopping for winter jackets. I spent a lot of time with him to help him find the perfect fit - he could sense the colours of the jackets. My mother has a cousin in South Africa who lost her vision very young due to an illness - I have been told stories of her riding a bike around a pond and picking the best fruit ever. Her sense of touch was impeccable. And on a daily basis here in Paris I witness and try to help when I can, the vision impaired navigating the streets and non-accomodating metro system.  

During my 5 years of practising yoga a few teachers have mentioned the exercise of the eyes. Looking back, way back. Stretch the eyes. Open eye meditation. I was not sure how and if any of this meant anything. Anyone who knows me, or my family, would agree we are all quite wide eyed and have alot of expression in our eyes - our eyes have sort of been a defining feature of our family. I love it. I also love that I have always been taught the importance of looking in the eyes. Looking into someones soul. I find eyes amazing. So, this rant is basically me sharing this great article I found on exercise of the eyes and its importance.

http://www.yogajournal.com/health/79?utm_source=DailyInsight&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=DailyInsight&_wcsid=0421906D81CD6A64EF57C859FAF8E484346366295FBFDE51

I hope you find this interesting. I hope you appreciate your eyes. And more than anything, I hope you offer assistance to those in need of it. Some may accept it and some may not - do not take it personally.

Look at someone in the eyes today.
Test your tolerance. Test theirs.

Namaste,
Pippa

London Calling

I finally LOVE London. It has taken me a long long time to get into it, but I have recently had the great eye opening experience that I needed.

One reason I never liked London was because I always found it so extremely out of this world expensive. To solve that problem... live in Paris.
I also realized that all of my visits to London, with much thanks of course, were hosted by extremely wealthy people - which makes it much harder to keep up, and of course makes the visit a bit different to how I would naturally visit the city.

Rather than comparing and concentrating on my previous not-so-great visits, I just want to say this visit was amazing. Great coffee shops - of course the famous Monmouth Coffee. The markets - Borough market with a variety of fresh juices, oysters, Indian concoctions and licorice. The People - chippy and happy and a great amount of small talk. I experienced the proper after-work pub hangout which is a vibe I have missed - a bunch of people loosening their ties and loafers and hanging out with whoever is there. The food - a delicious variety of restaurants with good service, GOOD SERVICE, I have missed good service. From the Hole in the Wall Indian restaurants in the East, to the Asian Fusion in the West, organic/veggie options in Covent Gardens (Food For Thought) and even the fancy and trendy Hoxton Hotel and Waffle and Duck - great service, which can surprisingly make the price irrelevant.

Asking for directions on my extreme walking extravaganzas were always greeted with a desire to help and running along the river between the bridges with a bottle of wine and a few glasses to enjoy the view was easy and fun.

London has planted a bug in me. I wish I had been there more as from Paris it is a hop, skip and jump - but rather than regretting, I will simply be happy I can now plan great visits back to a great country.

On that note in regards to service.

There was one day where my feet were sore, the weather was cold and my cousin took the day off work. He suggested we go to his gym for a few hours where they have a spa and he has guest passes. YES PLEASE! So we headed to his FITNESS FIRST gym, where the guest pass was quickly denied as apparently this location doesn't accept them, they offered no form of middle ground and were extremely rude. We paid for me to enter because our day was planned around this - 15.00 pounds. The change room was nice and big and upon entering the spa area with steam, sauna and pool I was happy. Until, the water fountain was not working and the only other one was up in the weight room - a few times I asked for alternatives and well, there were none. No water while going in and out of steam/sauna is not a very good idea, but it was not THAT bad because the steam was broken. STEAM WAS BROKEN!!! That was the main reason I was there. So, rude service, no water and no steam - we asked for the money back and were told a quick and solid - you have to write to customer service. A total joke. 

I obviously took the EURO STAR which is quick and easy. Downtown station to station. When I purchased my ticket I asked for the "Print Option" to print my own ticket. In the 4am rush to get my bags and butt to the train, I forgot my printed ticket. When I arrived at the station I thought I could simply reprint it or atleast be able to show my email confirmation to have them print it out. NOT AT ALL. I was sent from Euro Star desk to SNCF desk, they would not print my ticket because it was paid with another credit card that I did not have on me. It was like those days where you left your plane ticket behind and couldnt fly... in 1985!!!!!! Finally, after a lot of eyelash fluttering, fake tears, and thankfully a picture of the credit card I used, she decided to push "print" on her screen and give me my ticket. This was after her trying to get me to purchase another ticket, go to an internet cafe to print my ticket and simply saying nothing could be done - there was 20 minutes to get to my train.

I finally made it to the train, and as much as the seat was fine, I cannot express how DISGUSTING the washrooms were. 2 were completely overflowed, 1 had no paper and the others were filthy. I felt like I was in a 3rd world country - or worse. When paying for a service I expect the basic necessities to be pleassant. To put it into perspective, if I had had my grandmother with me, I would not have let her use the toilet.

So, I am very thankful for the great London experience because the Euro Star was a nasty start.

Happy travels and thank you London and all those who made my trip amazing,
Pippa

Peppermint Oil to the rescue

I have an absolute obsession with Peppermint oil and I want to share it with you.

My simple uses are fresh breath, sore muscles, sore stomach, yummy bath and to help me wake up. I add it to everything... including my mint/chocolate smoothie. It is also easy to make your oil peppermint tea and oil with the leaves. Explore and enjoy.

See below for a detailed list. I found this on my favorite diynatural.com.
Refreshingly happy.
Pippa

1. Stomach Ache

Peppermint essential oil is great for taming tummy aches. Apply a few drops to the bottoms of your feet and on your abdomen, over the spot(s) where it hurts.

2. Breath Freshener

I carry a small vial of peppermint essential oil wherever I go and one thing I use it for is bad breath. If I’ve had garlic or a cup of coffee that’s left my mouth a little … unpleasant, I’ll put a drop on the tip of my tongue for minty fresh breath. (Just be sure you have 100% pure essential oils if doing this.)

3. Nausea

Peppermint essential oil is great for quelling nausea, too. This works best for me when I open the bottle and inhale deeply until the nausea stops. If it persists, I’ll usually put a drop on the tip of my tongue, which helps quickly.

4. Cooling

Peppermint contains menthol, which is very cooling. During the summer heat, I use peppermint essential oil to help me stay cool. I do that by diluting a few drops in a tablespoon of coconut oil and applying that to my chest and back of the neck.

5. Focus

When I need a little extra help focusing on a project, I apply a mixture of peppermint and orange essential oils to the back of my neck. I just place a drop of each in the palm of my hand, rub my hands together, inhale, then rub it on the back of my neck.

6. Lip Balm

Making your own lip balm is super simple and you need just 3 ingredients.

• 3 Tablespoons grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles (find beeswax here)
• ½ cup coconut oil (find high quality coconut oil here)
• 8 drops peppermint essential oil (find 100% pure essential oils here)

Melt the coconut oil and wax on low heat. Remove from heat and stir in essential oil. Pour into containers and allow to cool. Cap and label. Feeling more ambitious? Try this herb-infused, lavender mint lip balm.

7. Toothpaste

Making your own toothpaste is super simple! All you need is baking soda, sea salt and peppermint essential oil. Here’s a great homemade toothpaste recipe to try.

8. Energizing

Need a little pick-me-up? Inhale the aroma of peppermint essential oil. Peppermint is refreshing and energizing and can help give you feel more alert if you’re getting sluggish.

9. Headache

Got a headache? Use peppermint essential oil. Simply apply a drop or two to your temples, forehead and the back of your neck. You may want to dilute the oil first in a carrier oil, like coconut or almond oil, because it can be very strong around your eyes.
Speaking of eyes, watch out for those. Ouch! If you do get essential oils in your eyes or other mucous membranes, dilute with a carrier oil, not water.

10. Cleaning

When you whip up your own all-purpose cleaner, make sure to add some peppermint essential oil. Not only does it smell delicious, but it’s antibacterial and antifungal as well.

11. Muscle Relaxer

That pleasant scent of commercial muscle relaxing creams? Peppermint! Peppermint is great for relaxing sore muscles and can help soothe inflammation. Use 3 drops of peppermint essential oil in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and apply as needed.

12. Foot Refresher

Feet feeling a little tired? Give them some TLC with peppermint essential oil. Soak your feet in a basin of warm water and add a few drops of refreshing peppermint essential oil. For a little extra love, apply this ultra-moisturizing foot cream when you’re done.

13. Mood-lifting

Whenever I’m feeling a little blue, I like to inhale peppermint essential oil. I’m not sure if it’s the energizing properties or the bit of nostalgia, but it quickly lifts my mood. It can also be diffused in the air.

14. Congestion

Having a hard time breathing? Diffuse some peppermint essential oil in the air with an aromatherapy diffuser (one of my essential accessories for essential oils) to help clear congestion. (Find aromatherapy diffusers here.)

15. Ant Repellent

Use peppermint essential oils to get rid of ants naturally. Put a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a cotton ball and place in areas ants are crawling around to discourage ants from coming back.

OCD breakthrough?

NYT - OCD therapy

I know I am not a doctor, by any means. In fact, that is why I am shocked by this article. I, having ZERO training as a doctor, psychologist, therapist etc would make a guess, based on my day to day knowledge, that to help with a behavioural problem, like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, you would try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy before reaching for medication, especially antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, which have been proven to cause other serious problems, including suicidal tendencies - see below.

Suicidal tendencies - side effects



This "new finding" scares me, on so many levels.

What do you think?
Please share with me.
Concerned,
Pippa

Mouthwash delight

Good morning,

So, this summer while I was in Portugal I had a dental nightmare which was quickly resolved at the dentist, but I from the point, decided to take the absolute best care of my teeth. I will floss and use mouthwash, and of course brush, every single day.

I splurge on some fancy packaging mouthwash that guaranteed whiter teeth, cleaner teeth, prevention blah blah blah. The second I used it I knew something was not right. My teeth felt like they were coated in sugar. Similar to the feeling of drinking my favorite pure Maple Syrup, which I of course only did as a child.

I started doing some research and reading articles and ingredients and have decided that there is nothing good about store bought mouthwash. Some examples of what I have read:
-mouthwash containing alcohol can lead to mouth cancers
-almost all mouthwash contains fluoride, which when used effectively is preventative and we get enough of it in our water and toothpaste - too much is not good, at all - it can be toxic.
-many mouthwashes contain sugars and other chemicals which, really - do I need to explain why that is bad?

So, I made my own. I read a few different recipes and created my own - which is normally how my concoctions come about.
+2 cups boiled or filtered water
+dash of raw organic apple cider vinegar - breaks down plaque and bad breath
+5 drops tea tree oil - natural cure for bad breath, oral candidiasis, gingivitis, plaque, and inflamed gums. It also kills mouth bacteria prior to dental surgery and also reduces mouth irritation that is often caused by dental procedures.
+5 drops peppermint oil - freshens breath
+1 teaspoon baking soda - helps clean

I have seen some reciped with a tablespoon of vodka, personally I am not sure that is necessary.

Because of the tea tree oil, please make sure to not swallow this mouthwash and also make sure to shake well each time before use to mix oils and baking soda. 

I hope you enjoy this mouthwash. I find it so fulfilling to make these products ourselves, and the saving of money is a bonus!

Here is a great blog I found with a good variety of recipes.
http://frugallysustainable.com/2012/02/antiseptic-homemade-mouthwash-recipe/

Swish away,
Pippa

Career Change?

I have been unemployed for some time now, with small contracts here and there and I feel very lucky for everything that has happened along the way. Lessons learned, emotions tested and my confidence has been played with, I am going back and forth on an hourly basis about what it is I want to do.

My professional past has been in an industry that I like, but not for the right reasons. I like style, but I don't like the Fashion Industry. I see landfills, debt and misplaced happiness. All of my spare time is spent reading articles on health and wellness rather than following brands and new fashion blogs, I cruise health food stores rather than Hermes and Gucci and I attend yoga with much more ease than Fashion Week. I think I need to redirect my path.

I want to move into the Health and Wellness industry and will be looking at Nutrition Courses, ideally Holistic Nutrition. So, in following my love, desire and passion for finding great products, recipes and supplements, and being very conscious of our planet, I will start sharing my discoveries and feelings.

A new chapter in my life,
Why shouldn't I turn my passion into my career?

Happy health,
Pippa