Earlier this month I received a Reader Appreciation Award from the lovely, Catherine over at “Sur les traces d’une gaspésienne gourmande…” Her blog is quite wonderful, and a place where she shares her various passions. It’s also a great blog to practice your French if you’re learning, or perhaps you already read it fluently!

1. Include the award logo somewhere in your blog.
2. Answer these 10 questions, below, for fun if you want to.
3. Nominate 10 to 12 blogs you enjoy. Or you pick the number.
4. Pay the love forward: Provide your nominee’s link in your post and comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been included and invited to participate.
5. Pay the love back with gratitude and a link to the blogger(s) who nominated you.

Les Questions:

1. What is your favorite color?

Hmm… somewhere in the green spectrum. For clothes I love off-whites and grays even though I know those technically aren’t colors.

2. What is your favorite animal?

Elephants! I don’t know why, but I’m just attracted to them.

3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?

Right now? Infusing water with fresh herbs, ginger, and lime… and just letting it chill.

4. Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter. It’s a lot more conversational, and I use it as a digital notepad sometimes too. Still got my handy dandy journalist’s pad though.

5. What is your favorite pattern?

I like delicate patterns… like flower prints that are sparse, small polka-dots, thin stripes. And rather than varying colors they vary texture and are monochrome in color. But I don’t really have a favorite.

6. Do you prefer getting or giving présents?

Giving! I really like the energy of being the giver. I appreciate if someone gifts me something as well though.

7. What is your favorite number?

Seven is a number that has repeated itself in my life, and I really like the number 648.

8. What is your favorite day of the week?

Mmm… I don’t have one. Maybe Saturday or Sunday because people are enjoying the day more.

9. What is your favorite flower?

White and the sort of faded blue hydrangeas

10. What’s your passion?

Oh boy! I’d say that it is my passion to share the human experience, and an understanding and appreciation for the universe. I do this through my art, writing, sharing recipes, conversation, and soon-to-be by also being a holistic health coach. I sense my greater purpose in being a part of something that is helping to preserve the things that are timeless, although sometimes forgotten. Like love.

Now who to pass the award on to… Melissa, Brittany, Gillian, Lauren, Kristina, Alexia, Natalie and Emily

Speaking of love, here are a few things I’ve been loving as of late…

I got fitted for proper running shoes, and after being on and off with running due to random injuries, it feels great to be back! Over the past couple of years I started to experience symptoms of plantar fascitis, and sometimes a pain in my hip. I never thought about my shoes being a possible culprit because I absolutely loved running in them. These new shoes though have a similar low-to-the-ground feeling that I like in running shoes, but with a bit of support. I’ve been running around the park during the days, but this week I’ve been enjoying street running during my prime running time: the night. It’s exciting to twist around and tactfully leap through the crowds of people that come up once in awhile. Like a cat.

I decided to make a raw-vegan brownie recipe that I had been wanting to make for over a year. I ended up eyeing exactly a cup of medjool dates from the bulk bin. Oh, and making this chocolate sauce during the midnight hour made me think I was seducing myself… or whoever was going to enjoy it the next day! The picnic was set for the later part of the morning, so I had a small breakfast… and it’s an example of how my intuition sometimes works. My intuitions also sometimes guides me to wear a blouse backwards and upside down.

Do you spy the incredibly chocolatey raw-vegan brownie on the right? It was very rich and was totally asking for a glass of chilled milk.

It was so clean, creamy, and delightful tasting, and not overwhelmed with herbs either. Le Roulé makes their cheeses in a traditional way, and has maintained their recipe since they started. Check them out, or better yet if you see their product in the store definitely try it.

I saw these when she posted them on Instagram. Also, if you’re on Instagram you can follow me under my username: mixoparthenos. Anyway, I told Brittany that these were like toasted coconut shreds, but on another level. They make for a great snack… or anytime really!

You can check out my variation of a Salade Niçoise here, and find out some interesting facts about artichokes over here.

I’ve been using them for salads, pestos, and mostly infusing them in water.

This recipe is a bit spicy, and has something addictive about it. Maybe the fact that it’s delicious?

Just let it chill in the fridge for some hours, pour yourself a glass, and be refreshed.

Soundtrack for a New York City Sunrise

This past weekend was the first time in awhile that I stayed up to watch the sunrise. Here’s a playlist of the songs (10 tracks for listening) we listened to as we were watching the new day come in. If you ever find yourself on a rooftop, watching the sunrise over the city that never sleeps… you’ll notice this is the quietest the city gets.

Enjoy!