Halli hallo! I hope all of you are doing well, and enjoying the last day of July. The last day of July? Yep! In two weeks I’ll be going back up to Virginia to settle in to my place (yay for not having to actually move this year), and then starting my final year of college. Yessssss! I’ve been doing wonderfully with taking care of my liver. It really hasn’t been hard. If anything, it’s been relaxing and rejuvenating. Ayurveda doesn’t just cover the topic of food (although it is key), but also helps us take notice of how our environments may affect us. For instance, what we smell can be aggravating, calming, or what have you. For my constitution sandalwood is suggested to pacify the excess Pitta. I’m a combination of doshas, and that’s quite common actually. What exactly does dosha mean? “It’s an essential biological energy or structure in Ayurvedic anatomy. There are three primary doshas, Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, which sustain all life. They move cyclically on a daily basis, and act as transporters and communicators between the essential tissues, and the bodily wastes. Their balance is a key to health. They also determine our physical constitution at birth.“ Vata-Pitta is mine, and I benefit from oils; so it’s even recommended that I rub coconut oil on my feet and legs before I go to bed. Am I reading correctly? Treat myself like an Egyptian queen? Why, of course.
I'll carry some sandalwood around, and Matilda can carry her skeleton leaf with her.
Now this was a real treat for my taste buds!
Remember when I tried the Coconut Bliss pint of ice cream? Specifically the cherry amaretto flavor, m’mmm! Anyway, I was also kindly sent a voucher to try their ice cream bars. You can choose from two flavors: dark chocolate or naked coconut. Oh gosh, speaking of flavors I just looked at their list of retired flavors. Ah so sad! Maybe a Dr. Frankenstein move can be pulled and some of these flavors can be revived! It’s ALIVE!!! Okay okay, so time to turn this frown upside down by giving my review for ze bar! Guess which flavor I chose? If you guessed naked coconut then you know me well hehehe. Ah yes, the review. Well, I LOVE COCONUT! So now that that’s clear, I also want to make it clear that these are the bomb.com. I loved the flavor; and the texture was so awesome because it was creamy, melt in my mouth (but not in milliseconds), and I spied the shreds of dried coconut too. Imagine a hot summer day (that is going to take little imagining as I just have to step outside) and all you want is something refreshing, tropical, and creamy. Yes, this bar would be my answer. “The pure coconut experience on a stick.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Sweet potato and yellow split pea dhal + flax seed oil & ghee
Watercress is a new vegetable I’ve been incorporating into my diet. I’ve had it before, and I use to just think of it as more of a garnish. Now I see that it can also make a delicious salad! Speaking of salads, I found a helpful guide on how to make a great salad with lots of side tips: salad days. “Try and get all the tastes at each meal, even if it is a salad: carrots/beets for sweet, greens for bitter, cilantro for astringent, fresh ginger for pungent, lemon juice for sour and rock salt for salty.“
Munching like a goat is easier
One of my favorite foods.
I think many of you can agree with me on this one: sweet potatoes are delicious… and happen to be very nutritious. They are a great source of beta carotene, which may explain why my palms and the bottoms of my feet look the way they do. The beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in your body, and may help slow the ageing process and reduce the risk of some cancers. And did you know that it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well? I’ve been having mine with a combination of flaxseed oil and ghee.
Last week I did some major re-organizing and decorating around my parents house.
It’s pretty cool that the black-and-white photo is of me with my film camera, and I’m in the mirror with another one!
Remembering vacations in South America.
Frames galore!
Rather than painting a wall.
Different colors for frames as well.
A diptych of little Matilda going on an adventure.
Some call this a pampering room, but for some reason ever since I was little I've called it "the emergency bathroom".
My "office" area.
I also decided to take out something I got when I went to London.
A fireplace in Florida? Indeed.
A combination of something I made, nature, and a thrift-store find.
Another fitting thrift-store find--except change the 'c' to a 'k'.
And one of my favorite thrift store finds!
I left a note by writing one of my favorite quotes.
Stay tuned for next post! I’m finally going to make a video, and share with you all that even while taking extra care of my liver, I was able to cook wonderful meals to share with my family’s guests.
According to the Ayurveda stuff, I’m a Vata.
Can you believe I haven’t had a sweet potato in almost 2-3 months?!
Can’t wait to see your video! Keep on caring for your liver, soul sista
I adore sweet potatoes! They are good in absolutely any way. Maybe I should get some more beta carotene in me, my tan would be better
)
That’s one of my favourite quotes. I love how you’ve decorated the simple walls with all those fun, vibrant pictures, it looks so lovely.
Glad the liver is doing well, apparently I’m tri-doshic (so a little bit of everything) but I can’t really figure out what’s supposed to be beneficial for me specifically according to Ayurveda….
Shame we don’t have coconut bliss over here but I’m sitting here right now eating a big mound of these Coconut milk braised greens (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=2431) so I’m certainly not missing out on the coconut altogeher. Delish!
Yummm I just ate a sweet potato! I LOVE coconut too. And shouldn’t we all treat ourselves like Egyptian princesses?!
I’m a mix of vata and pitta too!
Love sweet potato…and coconut:)
And all the inspiration I get from this post as well!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Amazing post as always. That ‘Leave a note’ thing looks lovely! Sweet potato looks great as well – love eating them. Looking forward to the video and hope you have a great evening!
Coconut is a lifelong love of mine. I’ll never understand why people seem to either love or hate it. My favorite popsicles are the ones with chunks of chewy coconut laced throughout.
i love that little desk nook area. it looks so cozy! you’ve got such an eye for design, it’s awesome
i want you to come decorate my place!
Love your decoration – especially the fireplace looks beautiful! I think my dosha once was vatta, but I think it can change, if you´re able to balance it out, doesn´t it? You really inspired me to read up on the books about ayurveda my step-mom gave me
it all seems to make perfect sense, although I can´t have dairy (I´m allergic), I think it can be very beneficial nevertheless.
Have a lovely day
xoxo Mel
i wanna figure out my Ayurvedic type! i love the idea of Doshas and that they can be combined to furthur refine certain body types and constitutions!
haha looks like u enjoy ur Luna and Larry’s <3 hehe.. my dad's name is Larry LOL, i told him im gonna buy him some of these
oh yea, how cool is that, taking a pic of u in the mirror beside an actual pic of u taking a pic. wow that could get confusing lol
xoxo <3
Those two dark wooden frames are so cute!
I recently borrowed a book on Ayurveda and found out I’m a Vata-Pitta. It’s so fascinating how ayurveda works!
Love all your deco photos. Your tea mug is so cute!
I need you to come help me organize my photos/decorations – I don’t have much of an eye for it! Love the combination of sweet potato & dahl – yum.
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i am vata-pitta too!
if you go to the website that i messaged you on facebook you can also click on the ayuverda section and it also gives you loads of information on the three different doshas.
one thing i wanted to note is that raw vegetables should only be consumed with loads of oil since it seems to make vata worse. just a little tip that i got here
hope you are having a good week love!
xoxo
I have an Ayurveda book…and still can’t figure out what my dosha is. I have a client that sees ans AMAZING Ayurveda doctor, she is an MD, left regular medicine to practice this..and she is like FREAKY, she knows what she ate, or whats going on as soon as she touches her…like, “you ate yogurt, didn;t you?” kind of freaky. I find it fascinating! I think I am def a mix between two doshas, b/c none of them describe me fully. I figured you needed to see a soecialist to find out what you truly are..at least in my case, b/c I can’t figure it out!!
You place is so pretty!!! Goof luck with your big move?!
Have a great day!
I’ve tried those Coconut Bliss bars and they are definitely luscious! Coconut anything is definitely the best.
Definitely not going to argue about sweet potatoes being amazing. I can’t remember the last time I went a day without eating one.. too good not to have daily.
btw i loved ur comment! i totally believe in the placebo effect, and thats what ive been discovering since adding wheat back into my diet. The rotation diet is so interesting, i love the concept. i just googled it and im gonna print out a few pages to keep- i believe in it totally! and since i havent been having pain, actually i feel better!, i think my body is back to as it was as a kid- free to eat whatever
xoxo
Thanks again love!
Sweet potatoes! Girl, you’ve got some good eats and also excellent taste in interior design. You should help me redecorate my bedroom… Your style is just incredible!
I know I am a creeper and I’ve told you this a million times, but I am pretty much fascinated by you and your positive energy. Period. I love you.
<3
“Am I reading correctly? Treat myself like an Egyptian queen? Why, of course.”
Hahaha girl i LOVE you!! AMEN to that! So glad you are doing well girl- you are so insightful and so interesting! I feel like i could LEARN SO MUCH from you just by having coffee or hanging out together!
im a vata-pitta or a pitta-vata, depending on how i answer the dosha questions as the time/years pass. I have always been either, or. I have never studied doshas as much as i would like to…it’s fascintating stuff!!!! and rubbing coconut oil on my feet and legs…omg i do that naturally with my hands already, i will defi be taking you up on that w/ my legs/feet
love the framed leave a note box…tooo cuuuuute!
and you starting your last yr of college…CONGRATS! What a milestone and how simply awesome!
Thx for your lovely comment today; you always leave the BEST and most thoughtful comments, i adore you!!!!!
i can’t wait till you get back to richmond!!!!!!!!!! i would love to have a yoga class buddy!
-rebekah
I love all of your unique factoids.
And sweet potatoes…
Oooh, for some reason I did not realize it’s your last year of college! Mine too. It’s been an interesting ride; here’s to the next chapter. *toast*
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Hello Doll!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE that leave a note find! So cute!!!!! Thrift stores seriously rock and I need to go to one soon! I love just going there and looking at all the unique things !
Love you to pieces, why do your sweet comments ALWAYS make my day??!! Oh because u are the sweetest and most positive human being ever! That is exactly why : )
Love sweet taters too! They are VERY nutritious and delicious!!!!!!!!!
I love the decorating you did, interior designer future? hmmmmmm!
Have a beautiful day love and even better night! xoxo