Shannon Ables's Blog, page 273

Why Not . . . Cook with Copper?

 

“Non-cooks think it’s silly to invest two hours’ work in two minutes’ enjoyment; but if cooking is evanescent, so is the ballet.” —Julia Child

Quality over quantity in all arenas of our lives rings true again when it comes to cooking delicious food consistently in our kitchens. If you are someone who loves to cook and continually wants to improve your experience as well as the experience of those who enjoy your food, consider adding or increasing the copper cookware in your kitchen.

Having cooked with inferior pots and pans in the past, a noticeable difference is immediately seen when a quality piece of copper cookware is substituted. However, quality copper cookware is expensive.

But before you become discouraged by the prices, let me share with you the seven benefits of welcoming copper into your kitchen. After which I will share a few details to look for when you go shopping, as well as how to care for your items once you make the purchase so that they can last your entire life, if not longer.

Benefits:
1. Food cooks evenly

My science experts out there will understand this immediately. Copper is a great conductor of heat; therefore, the thermal energy that is cultivated can be quickly and easily distributed to all areas of the pan ensuring that your fish or whatever you may book cooking will do so no matter where it rests in the pan.

2. Faster cooking time

Copper heats up quickly, allowing you to do what you need to do without the wait. According to Kitchen Sanity, it conducts heat “about four times as well — it boasts a thermal conductivity of 400 watts per meter kelvin difference versus iron’s 80.” I was amazed by this fact when I began cooking with  my first copper skillet from Mauviel. In no time, my egg was perfectly cooked, and it slipped right out of the pan when I served it without sticking.

3. Less likely food will stick to the pan

Again, due to being a great conductor of heat, hot spots are reduced eliminating the likelihood of temperature fluctuations on different spots of the pan.

4. Energy efficient

Due to its ability to distribute heat evenly, and its ability to heat up quickly, you are using less heat (because you’re not waiting for it to heat up), and the heat is used effectively ensuring you aren’t overcooking.

5. More success in the kitchen

When you begin cooking with copper, keeping in mind that the pan will heat up quickly, you will also notice more success. With more control over your cooking, fewer items will burn because of the elimination of hot spots and because your food cooks more evenly, you can trust that it is cooked as it should be throughout the entire item.

6. Versatility

Whether cooking on gas or electric, on top of the oven or placing the skillet in the oven to finish cooking, copper works beautifully.

7. A money-saving investment in the long term

Quality copper cookware, when properly cared for (we’ll talk about how to do this below), can last for generations. As you can see in the image below of the 19th century Waldorf Astoria copper pots sold at an antique shop in Paris, copper lasts and works wonderfully for quite some time. Yes, initially, quality copper from for example Mauviel is expensive, but so long as you know what you want, you will have a well-stocked and delicious food being curated in your kitchen for decades and not have to restock it every couple of years.

~rare 19th C. Waldorf Astoria Copper Pots~

How to shop for quality copper cookware:

1. Look at the thickness of the pan, bottoms and sides. You want copper on both, not just the bottom. Read this post on the availability of thicknesses from each brand and why Julia Child recommended 3.5mm, when in reality, even Mauviel (the leading brand in the industry), only has a thickness of 2.5 mm. If you choose thicker than 2.5mm, the cooking time will slow down.

2. Copper safe to cook with so long as it is lined with another, non-reactive metal (stainless steel, tin or nickel are the most common). Food52 points out however, that there are exceptions to using unlined copper mixing bowls that are entirely safe:

There are certain kinds of copper cookware, like egg white whipping bowls and jam pans, that actually harness copper’s reactive qualities to do their job more effectively—stabilizing the proteins in egg whites, and responding to to changes in temperature quickly, for extra precision while you’re cooking down your jams, respectively. For that reason, they won’t be lined with a non-reactive metal, but they are safe to cook with as directed.

Brands recommended by the experts:

Mauviel is at the top of most professional chef’s list and for good reason. Read this post to learn more about the French company that has been in business since 1830.
Amoretti Brothers – based in Italian, the four brothers founded a highly respected business, that customizes as well as offers the traditional items you are looking for
Ruffoni – an Italian copper ware company that is highly regarded for their craftsmanship. If you see one of these items on eBay or in an antique shop, scoop it up pronto.

Caring for your copper ware:

Daily use: wash and dry (completely so that any residual water doesn’t tarnish the copper more quickly) with soap and water.
To polish: use equal parts baking soda and lemon juice and rub any spots of tarnish with a soft cloth. Voila!
Another way to polish: Use white vinegar (not the most expensive). Soak a cloth in the white vinegar and rub the tarnished surface of your pot.
For even more tips and tricks, click here.

There are oodles of resources on copper, but knowing that it is indeed an investment worth looking into if you are someone who enjoys the time you spend in the kitchen will open a door to not only better food but to a beautifully styled kitchen no matter how large or small.

The first copper item I added to my kitchen was given to me as a gift, and I have enjoyed every minute I use it in the kitchen. The Mauviel M’héritage copper round frying pan (10’2″) has forever convinced me to continue building a cookware set of copper. You can shop all of the items I use, love and recommend in TSLL “Kitchen” Shop, as I regularly add to it when I add an item I love to my own kitchen.  As well, check your local antique shops and when you travel, if you happen to be heading to Paris, do not forget to stop into E. Dehillerin Cookware Shop (see below).

Happy cooking!

~E. Dehillerin Cookware Shop, Paris~

A Simple Statement: The Sweater

A beautiful sweater not only feels luxurious against our skin, keeping us warm, but is a decision that takes time because it usually involves some investment.  A beautiful sweater is made well and lasts for many seasons. A beautiful sweater is a statement piece, and the beauty resides in how simply it elevates the entire outfit by merely slipping it on. Choosing a flattering color, a fit that is oversized just enough or tailored just enough and a style that accentuates either our neck, our visage or an amazing blow-out, demonstrates how making a wise decision with the few items we have in our capsule wardrobe can make a powerful difference, not only in how we look, but in how we feel as we go out and greet the world.

Below are images of inspiration as well as an opportunity to shop a few hand-picked items available in shops now. Remember to save those that catch your eye to Shoptagr as they may just go on sale beginning December 26th.

 

~SHOP Sweaters below:

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~View and shop more Style Inspiration posts from the Archives here.

 

~Click on each of the images to shop and be taken to the original source.

Personal-Size TSLL Planning Pages

A third size has been added to TSLL digital downloadable planning pages. Initially, Franklin planner sizes Classic and Compact became available earlier this year, and now Filofax’s Personal size. Measuring 95mm x 171mm ( 3.7″ x 6.7″), as you may have noticed on IG, I have down-sized to a Personal sized planner. 

~my new down-sized planner, Ancicraft small leather binder~

After about a month of using my new planner and my own TSLL planning pages to see what worked best, I have made them available for TSLL readers. Personally, I love the smaller size (I had previously been using a Classic), as it fits in my handbag, doesn’t take up as much space on my desk and is easy to carry around. Lately, I have found myself down-sizing as much as possible in many arenas of my life, but no smaller than what I need to function and live well. And so far, the personal sized planner is a perfect fit.

Let’s take a look at the pages and what is available:

Available as single planning pages (Flower Market illustration – as seen below), a single illustration all-inclusive planning package, daily planning pages with all 12-illustrations, or the largest package with all 12 illustration day planning pages and the all-inclusive package, you can choose what you need and customize it to your preference. Take a look at the pages below as well as links to the variety of packages available.

~Flower Market, daily planning page~

~Monthly Planning Pages (included in the all-inclusive packages)~

PERSONAL planning pages available:

12 illustration (full color), day planning pages – $18
Flower Market day planning page w/all-inclusive planning package – $4:

Cover Pages (contact info, blank pages for inspiring quotes)
Monthly planning pages (a full calendar, personal & business lists for the month)
Goal planning pages
Capsule Wardrobe planning pages
Places to Visit planning pages (cities, plays, books, podcasts, music)


All-Inclusive TSLL Planning Package – $22

All 12 illustrations, day planning pages (one for each month)
Cover Pages
Monthly planning pages
Goal planning pages
Capsule Wardrobe planning pages
Places to Visit planning pages

Things to Remember with TSLL Downloadable Planning Pages:

After purchase, you have 48 hours to download your links (they will be emailed to you within 30 minutes of purchase).
You can download each link 3 times, so be sure to download and save to your computer so you can upload and print as many times as you want.
All pages for PERSONAL planning pages have a “Page 1” & a “Page 2”. If you want back-to-back pages they are designed to be printed back to back at your home printer.
Sometimes the email with the links are sent to your junk/spam folder. Check here if you still haven’t received them within 30 minutes.
If you still cannot find them, email Shannon at info@thesimplyluxuriouslife.com with your forwarded receipt of payment from Paypal.

Shop all sizes and options of TSLL Planning Pages here.

10 Life Lessons 2016 Taught Me

“It is within the boundaries of reflection we are able to become aware of insights that can lead us to understanding.” 

― Kat Lahr

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #135

On the first of January with each new year, twelve months stretch before us full of potential to progress and evolve and to observe the magic that we could never predict. The year 2016 has offered life lessons in abundance. Having filled three journals over its duration, as I was trying to decide what today’s topic would be, I had a long list of ideas I wanted to share, but seeing that it is the end of the year, I thought let’s take a look at the year that was and the aha moments it provided, all of which are life lessons that could help provide the magic for 2017 should they be applied.

1. Sometimes what we need is the one thing we think we cannot possibly do

In previous years I have shared the benefits of meditating, and most recently, written a handful of posts which included meditation as a practice worth incorporating into our daily routines. I know some, even my previous self, dismiss meditation, each for our own reasons. Mine in my twenties was that I couldn’t possibly be still with my thoughts – it was, to be frank, frightening. But as I contemplated this real fear as to why I wasn’t investing in the practice of meditation, I realized it was the most important reason to begin meditating so that I no longer had to be fearful of my mind, or frightened to experience emotions or ideas that I wasn’t comfortable with.

While I am by no means a guru or even a semi-proficient meditator, I do find I look forward to meditating (of which I try to do each day, but sometimes a few days each week are unable to find the time – something I am still working on). I also find that rogue thoughts (that still pop up from time to time) no longer scare me. I have come to understand how to use the tools of observing and then letting go all thoughts, as well as being more present rather than arrested by worries about the future or anguish about the past.

I had initially begun using Headspace a couple of years ago and then abandoned it citing no need for someone to tell me how to sit still with my thoughts. However, after I stopped using the app, I also stopped meditating regularly. So with the inspiration from a friend who uses it regularly, I re-downloaded it onto my phone (the first series is free and you can just loop the series again and again if you don’t want to upgrade), and have been meditating with the app for the past two months (this summer I meditated each day for 5 minutes, and now with the app I am up to 10 minutes – small, but significant growth).

There are other helpful meditation apps based on what you want, and one of my go-to podcasts, The Positive Psychology podcast shares three of them in episode #72 with a detailed explanation of what each offer (one is Headspace).

2. Practice physical exercise that you love and that loves your body and mind

Stepping back into a former method of exercise this past summer was one of the best decisions I made. For me it was yoga, and while I stepped away for about a year and tried Pilates as a replacement, I soon realized it was yoga that had not only helped my physical body, but my mind as well. Most important was having instructors that were inspiring, encouraging and warm. Since August, I have been taking a vinyasa yoga class one day a week from one of two different instructors depending upon my schedule. Not only have I seen a return of flexibility, but of calm and a quiet confidence that while not entirely due to the return of yoga, certainly was encouraged with my weekly practice.

3. True friendship is a slow blossoming fruit

As someone in her thirties having relocated to an entirely different town, the establishment of friends has been quite intriguing. On one hand, I find people are quite clear about what they can and cannot do as they have priorities, responsibilities, some have families, others busy careers as they hold top positions as they rise in the ranks, but due to these same reasons, finding the time to build deep friendships is hard. Some people already have their tried and true relationships, not necessarily wanting to exclude you, but not having the time to dedicate to an unknown entity as their time is limited as is their energy. In other instances, due to people as they reach their thirties and forties coming to understand what they want, who they are and how they enjoy spending their time, connections with others who do not share a similar interest dash the potential of a friendship almost immediately. In 2012, The New York Times shared an article on just this topic, forging friendship after turning 30. However, what I have also discovered about friendships in our adult years is that it is a lesson in quality over quantity and patience over expediency.

Let me explain. Initially meeting people can begin by attending events of genuine interest and striking up conversations with those who have a similar passion. But even if you do have a similar interest, or a common connection, the determination of someone as a friend (and there are a variety of different types of friends that enhance our lives, and not all will be a person you reveal your most intimate self to) takes time.

Spending time with others whom you have just met in many ways is like dating in that you need to give yourself time for the qualifying process. I don’t mean you are judging or comparing, but in many ways you are determining what you can share (remember the ping pong analogy?), observing how the neophyte relationship makes you feel while you’re with them and after you’ve spent time with them.

It has been my experience that it is not the initial meet-and-greet that will reveal if someone should be welcomed into your life, but rather a duration of experiences and in time, any masks or façades that were presented will be worn down, if they even existed, and you will be better able to determine where or if that new friendship will play a role in your life moving forward.

4. Embrace a healthy tension when it comes to your life fulfillment

A regular Youtube series I watch for inspiration and boosts of confidence and direction with the ever-changing tech entrepreneur path I feel fortunate to be on is Marie Forleo. And it was this episode that provided a significant aha moment after more than a year of contemplating a few big questions in my life.

The topic was lasting fulfillment and she reveals that while we need to feel accomplished and successful in some of what we seek along the journey of fulfillment, we need not have accomplished everything. In fact, it is the tension that helps provide the fulfillment as we come to understand that we have the power within ourselves to cultivate the fulfillment we seek. It doesn’t need to be external, in fact, it cannot be. Everything we need and are seeking already resides within each of us, we just need to discover how to tap into it. And with the help of experts in the fields we are passionate about, we can do just that.

5. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable

My first experience with the French meet-up group here in Bend required of me to overcome great trepidation. My first real date after truly being open to the idea of a relationship again was nerve-shakingly absurd beyond what even I thought I was capable of. But guess what, all went well. Not well in the fairy tale sense: I still do not speak fluent French or even hold a conversation beyond the basic hello, how are you, nor am I madly in love with another, but in the sense that I was reminded that my nerves were for naught. I had worked myself up for nothing, but because I was unsure of how it would go, the events that would unfold were out of my hands, it threw me.

Maybe it was partially because I had undergone so much change in the previous year with the new move, the new job, selling my house after having dedicated so much of myself into it, but it was also because it was out of my comfort zone. And as I wrote about a handful of years ago, we are all just one small adjustment away from contentment. Jennifer Aniston’s quote regularly dancing in my mind when I contemplate the idea of allowing myself to feel uncomfortable during the pursuit of something I desire, “Everything you want in the world is just outside your comfort zone.  Everything you could possibly want.” 

6. The mind is malleable

One valuable lesson I have discovered is that my mind, unbeknownst to me until now, was not being utilized in a manner that was conducive to the life I have been seeking. Not entirely, at least. And the beautiful reminder, after seeking out experts to help me understand more fully and completely was that I had the power to change the mental stories I had allowed to run on repeat for years and years and years due to conditioning, modeling and an unhelpful perspective.

The mind can either be our most valuable tool or our most destructive adversary. And if we don’t understand why our mind falls into ruts that are not helpful, choosing to investigate and then heal and redirect them is one of the best life investments we can make.

7. Old bad habits can be overcome

Speaking of falling into ruts. The ruts will always be there, but we can overcome them. Perhaps bad eating habits, maybe negative default comments or thoughts that pop up or are uttered without even thinking about it, whatever your unhelpful ruts are, we can reroute our behavior, but it must be conscious, and we must repeat the new habits again and again until they become engrained. In repeated posts, habits (how to cultivate, which ones are worth our time and investment for a better everyday life, etc.) have been discussed in-depth on the blog. Part of being successful with the shift in your habits is understanding that it is possible to overcome bad habits, but because those bad habits have such deep ruts, we need to be conscious that we don’t fall back into them when trigger-events take place. Simply being cognizant of this truth will help you avoid them.

8. There is a limit to planning our lives

As someone who is a planner and actually loves to spend an evening, morning or afternoon planning the next month, week or year, this life lesson had to repeatedly reveal itself before I accepted it as a truth. Now, not to worry, I am not going to encourage you to let go of planning. Absolutely not. In fact,when it comes to our financial stability, our careers, and our health, planning is an asset and the foundation of living well. However, when it comes to our personal lives, and even the journey our careers take us on, we have to learn to do our best and then let go of the result. And due to a handful of experiences that took place this past year, I have come to realize that we may read books about how things should work out if we do this or that, but in the end all we can do is be ourselves, do our best and then step forward when opportunities present themselves. I have found the key is to have a life, an everyday life of our own cultivation dependent upon no one else but ourselves, that we truly love living. Because if we love the life we have built for ourselves, we are better able to simply let go of the result when it involves other people. (Discover a handful of posts have been written about letting go.)

9. Bigger isn’t always better

Over the past 18 months I have lived in a significantly smaller house that I had prior to my move, and I honestly have never missed one square foot that I no longer have. I haven’t truly thought about it except to contemplate the goal of owning again instead of renting, but even then I am dogged in my pursuit of a small house (which is actually hard to find in Bend). The life I now have the opportunity to live is more alive, engaging and fulfilling than any other time in my life in part due to the fewer responsibilities I have to tend to if I lived in a larger space.

Again, what I find to be revealed as true again and again is that it is the quality of life that resides within the home and within the life of the individual, not the size of the house, that determines one’s true contentment. A clean home? Yes. A home that is curated to the comforts and needs of the residents? Absolutely. But just as important as a roof over one’s head that is warm, clean and inviting is understanding how to live fully and letting go of the unnecessary, the burdens, the false “have-to” beliefs and “must-have”s. Quality over quantity again and again and again.

10. Contentment resides within each of us

Each morning, I wake up and I pinch myself. No, everything in my life is not perfect. I still have doubts, fears and wonderings about the future, as we all do, but I don’t let them percolate and muddle the truth that the life we can each create, the life I am creating and doing my best to share with you as I make the journey, is something worth savoring each day. As was mentioned in #8, it is far easier to let go when we enjoy the life we’ve curated for ourselves. When we’ve tended to all that we do have control over. When we’ve realized that much of the angst we have about life is self-created and we are causing more problems and worry than is warranted. When we understand the true power we have within ourselves, we open a world of opportunity to live a more fulfilling and contented life.

It does take courage to apply some, if not all in some capacity, the life lessons shared today. And as we need to remember, courage is not eliminating fear, it is simply overcoming it. Fear will always want to step in and pull us back into the world of worry, doubt and anxiety, but we have the choice to not give it its power. We have the choice to step up to the plate, put in the hard work and dance with life, because as we also know, some years we learn a weighty amount, other years we have the opportunity to put it into practice and still other years are gifts to simply savor. It turns out 2016 involved a little bit of all three. So is life, unfolding its magic so long as we participate.

~The Simple Sophisticate is taking its yearly one week vacation beginning the week of 26th. The next new episode will be available on Monday January 2nd. In the meantime, peruse the previous 134 episodes or stop by the blog next week for a year in review where I will share the top five episodes of 2016.

~Stop by next Monday to discover the TOP 5 Episodes from 2016. 

~Peruse all of the past 134 episodes here.

EXTRA, EXTRA!

~Discover my list of the Top 10 Podcasts I listened to in 2016 here.

 

Petit Plaisir:

~love in lowercase: a novel by Francesc Miralles

An international best-seller translated from its original language of Spanish, Love in Lowercase tells the story of 37-year-old Samuel, a professor of linguistics living in Barcelona who while certain the new year will be more of the same hum-drum quickly sees the start of January begin with an array of opportunities all beginning with the arrival of a cat who makes himself right at home in Samuel’s apartment. In less than a week, this delightful novel was read and enjoyed, and with its short, topical chapters, readers who appreciate the liberal arts will find an appreciation of the thoughtful character who is more open to grasping onto opportunities when they present themselves than he ever was in the past, and that makes all of the difference.

Download the Episode

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate:  iTunes  |  Stitcher  |  iHeartRadio

Top 10 Podcasts I Enjoyed in 2016

Long drives, long walks, long flights. Whatever the holiday season has in store for you, sometimes a simple luxury to let go of the day, to savor an afternoon or an early morning is to add a worthwhile episode of a favorite podcast.

Many listeners of my own podcast, The Simple Sophisticate, regularly ask for recommendations of podcasts that I enjoy listening to, and while I have shared a few one at a time here and there, I wanted to compile a list of the top 10 I have enjoy during this past year. Some debuted in 2016 and some have been around for quite some time. Either way, I listen to them, I love them, and depending upon my mood, where my mind is at that particular morning or afternoon, at least one of the ten listed below will suit what I am needing. Organized by category, have a look below.

 

Foodies & Cooks

1. The Dinner Party Download

I first learned of The Dinner Party Download podcast while listening to another food podcast included in today’s list, The Splendid Table, and now I have become a fan. Involving not only food, but also vibrant, topical conversation on current events and culture, for an entire hour, you will feel as though you too are at a dinner party with different guests in each episode. A dinner party that perks up your mind, makes you wonder and tempts your tastebuds as well.

2. Splendid Table

Lynne Rossetto Kasper has shared more than 600 episodes and with at least two new episodes released each month on Thursday, if you are someone who loves food, preparing it or simply eating it, this podcast is for you. With a variety of short segments in each 50 minute episode, discover the latest cookbook, food trend and even hear answers to your most pressing cooking and food questions. Seasonal and delicious, each episode is a treat to listen to as I have walked away more than a few times with ideas for a recipe to try.

3.Bon Appétit

Another food podcast that always teases my tastebuds and corresponds with, but also offers more detail of the most recent issue of the partner magazine is Bon Appétit hosted by the editor Adam Rapoport. With now 90 episodes to listen to, each one is seasonal, and in some ways similar to Splendid Table, but offering far longer, more in-depth conversation with authors, chefs and top-names in the industry.

Style & Fashion

4. Unstyled

For the fashion and style lovers, be sure to put Christene Barberich’s Unstyled podcast on your playlist. As the Global Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of blog/website Refinery29, the site dedicated to offering “inspiration and tools to discover and pursue a more independent, stylish, and informed life”, the new podcast is worth tuning into as she interviews leading professionals in the world of fashion, film and the blogosphere. Having just debuted in November, tune in each week to discover stories about style, life and love. My two favorite episodes were Barberich’s interviews with Stacy London (What to Wear & now The View) and Leandra Medine (The Man Repeller). Each discussion was fun, casual and honest, offering much food for thought.

5. Pardon My French

I have frequently recommended and shared my favorite episodes from Garance Doré’s podcast which went live this past March (but she has many episodes that aired on Youtube from more that four years ago). My two favorite episodes were with Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge and one of her first episodes (#4 – which can’t be found on iTunes for some reason) with Caroline de Maigret and Isabel Marant. After perusing through her earlier episodes from previous years, I am looking forward to listening to her discussion with Jenna Lyons. The discussions are casual, relaxed, and if you have a fondness for the fashion industry, you will find it interesting as well as intriguing.

Life Advice

6. Dear Sugar

No, I will not be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as co-host of the podcast Dear Sugar did, and wrote about in her wildly enjoyed book Wild, but I will be tuning into her podcast. Why? While its logo is a bit dour – a show “for the lost, lonely and heartsick” – don’t be deterred. With co-hosts Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond, they playfully, but carefully and respectfully answer listeners’ questions each week, and invite experts in the fields of discussion to their regular conversation.

7. The Great Girlfriends Show

Offering both personal and professional advice, The Great Girlfriends Show is co-hosted by Sybil Amuti and Brandice Daniel offering inspiration and ideas on how to thrive not only on a personal level but to build thriving businesses as well. Currently 74 episodes are available to enjoy, and here are just a few of the topics you will discover: Money, Perspective, Balance, Handling Guilt Trips, Walking Away from your Day Job, and that is just the beginning.

Staying Informed

8. Pantsuit Politics

Be informed, have an opinion, but base your opinion on truly understanding both sides, all sides for that matter, of the issues in our world of politics. The Pantsuit Politics podcast is for my fellow politicos out there who want to know what is going on, want to understand the other side of where they typically find themselves and are willing to truly get involved in whatever way they can. The shows description in iTunes says it all, “A podcast where a woman from the right and a woman from the left accessorize the news with a fresh perspective.” Tune in and listen to co-hosts Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers bring a fresh perspective to politics and current events.

9. Nerdette

Hosted by Chicago’s public radio programming WBEZ, Nerdette is for the female listener who is curious about everything. Co-hosted by Tricia Bobeda and Greta Johnsen, listen to topics on science to decor (Grace Bonney was also one of their guests), politics and Gilmore Girls, food, as well as fertility and feminism just to share a taste of what you will discover.

In a League of Her Own – Life Inspiration

10. Making Oprah

Another wonderful and much anticipated podcast hosted by Chicago’s local public radio station WBEZ, a three part series titled Making Oprah. For any Oprah Show devotee who misses her daily talk show terribly, you will LOVE this podcast. Each episode consists of an hour of chronological examination of how Oprah Winfrey’s show became the mega hit that it did. With lengthy interviews of Oprah and clips that forever-fans will quickly recognize, this is the perfect podcast for that long flight or car ride you have during the holidays. The time will fly by and you too will be inspired to tap into your talents.

 

With more than 400,000 podcasts available to listen to, coming across a wonderful one is certainly something to share. I will continue to share what I discover in coming episodes of The Simple Sophisticate in the weekly Petit Plaisir, and if you have a podcast you would like to recommend, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comment section. Happy listening!

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio

~Peruse all episodes of The Simple Sophisticate here

 

 

 

For the Chef on Your List

Copper pans and Le Creuset Dutch ovens dance in our minds, while French linens and All-Clad cookware tickle our hopes. As someone who loves to step into the kitchen, with each quality utensil I add to my repertoire, I come to love my time spent even more than imagined. Why? Because once you’ve sliced a simple onion with a well-crafted and sharpened knife, you come to appreciate quality. No longer are you afraid of slicing off your finger. No longer do you doubt the temperature of your oven. No longer to you worry about your fish cooking unevenly in the pan.

Much like the clothing we wear, when we trust that it looks timeless and flatters our figure and lifestyle, the investment is worth it because we know it will last and that it will do its job each time. Our minds are eased, and that makes a significant difference when we step into the kitchen with new ingredients, a new recipe and perhaps a new guest or guests to serve.

If you still have some shopping to do for the holidays, I wanted to alert you to a sale going on this weekend at Williams-Sonoma with selected items reduced 50% (no code required), even up to 65%. Below are a few brands I highly recommend, and if you can find them on discount, be sure to snap them up.

Le Creuset
Mauviel copper pans
Wüsthof cultery

And if you do happen to find a gift that fits the chef in your life this weekend, W-S will ship for free ensuring your item arrives just before Christmas. Click here to begin shopping the sale.

Take a peek at a few items on sale:

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~View TSLL 2016 Holiday Gift Guide here.

~A Worthwhile Necessity, Disguised as a Luxury (Mauviel copper pans – why I will be forever a fan)

 

This & That: December 16, 2016

Books
—The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Douglas Carlton Abrams

A best-seller the moment it became available, two well-known, Nobel Peace Prize winning, beloved and revered spiritual icons sit down for five days and discuss just one question: How do we find joy in the fact of life’s inevitable suffering? The book is the transcript of all that was covered and shared through the stories they told, the experiences they revealed and the wisdom they shared. I cannot think of a better time to read such a topical book. Perhaps a stocking stuffer for the book-lover, introspective, determined-to-improve-the-world individual on your list.

—The New Garconne: How to Be a Modern Gentlewoman by Navaz Batliwalla

Jenna Lyons, Katherine Hepburn, Ines de la Fressange. Spotlighting the mixing of feminine and masculine style items to cultivate a modern, independent and stylish woman, released just last month, the book is full of profiles on women in the world of style who fit the definition of the “modern gentlewoman”, as well as tips on how to achieve the style and imagery to offer page after page of style inspiration.

—Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss

Perhaps you’ve tuned into or heard about the eponymously named Tim Ferriss’ podcast, but even if you haven’t (like myself), what he offers in his new book (released December 6th) are the insights shared on each episode from the myriad of wide-ranging guests who have dropped in to impart their lesions achieved through experience. With one to two hour interviews, Ferriss continues to ask for specific actionable tips from each guest about how they found or attained success. If you have ever been curious about how “they” do it, this may just be a book for you.

Broadway
—The Present

Cate Blanchett stars in the Broadway play The Present which was adapted by her husband, Andrew Upton. Based on an early, untitled play of four acts by Anton Chekhov in 1878, its arrival on Broadway invites both Blanchett and her co-star Richard Roxburgh’s to their debut on the big white way. Blanchett’s role takes the place of the original male Don Juan protagonist (Platonov), and as her husband shares in an interview with Porter magazine, he felt in the original play “the female roles were quite weak”, so in his version “Platonov is in his late forties, past his heyday, and Anna Petrovna (played by Blanchett) becomes central”.

The entire play evolves over the course of a weekend of celebration of Petrovna’s 40th birthday. All of the men that adored her when she was 20 and married to a general return to celebrate with her as her husband is now deceased and the passion and comedy come alive. Previews begin Saturday December 17th and the play runs for only 13 weeks. If you happen to be in New York City over the course of the next three months, be sure to catch this play. If I could attend, I would.

Decor
—Astier de Villatte candles

The scents of Paris, of Broadway, of Alger, Naples and many other real and imaginary destinations, come to life in French home decor brand Astier de Villatte’s candles. Twice the size of the classic tabletop candle (such as Diptique), as you can see below they are simple, but elegant and my new favorite brand of candles for the home. Peruse the entire selection here, and perhaps for a holiday gift or for yourself, purchase a touch of luxury.

Francophile Find
—The Parisian Diet: How to Reach Your Right Weight and Stay There by Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen

An older book that is worth taking a look at, one of France’s leading nutritionists, Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen reveals a diet plan and approach that assists in reaching an ideal weight without feeling deprived from eating well. With a three-prong approach (more than 300 recipes, helpful hints and checklists), the approach looks to be practical and doable.

Shopping
—Theory Wool-Cashmere Trench Coat (40% off)

Earlier in the weekly Style Inspiration post, coats were the focal point and readers were curious about where to find more camel trench coats, and I found one more I think you will love, as well, at a price not to miss. Theory just reduced the price of their wool-cashmere trench coat in palomino and grey by 40%. Still available in medium and large sizes, I could not recommend making this investment more highly if you’re in the market for this color and style. Theory is my go-to for the investment basics (blazers and silk blouses), and what a simple, classic piece this would be in a winter capsule wardrobe, no?

~recipe for Fresh Caprese Salad with a Twist~

Winter has truly arrived, and on Wednesday for nearly 24 hours the snow did not relent. As I look out on my driveway after having shoveled it four different times and seeing my dogs toddle out to their backyard through a tunnel of snow that is more than six inches higher than they are, I am reminded that Bend is indeed a town for winter enthusiasts. And I would definitely count myself amongst this group. No, I am not an alpine skier or someone who even likes to get cold, but I am not afraid to drive and explore amongst the piles of white powder.

During Wednesday’s deluge, the boys and I went out to a nearby trail and slowly made the first path with nordic skis along the two mile loop. The snow fluttered about and Norman bounded from side to side while Oscar dutifully trotted behind in the freshly made tracks stopping only to sniff here and there. Needless to say, it was magical and something that doesn’t happen in such calm severity as it did this week.

I hope the middle of December finds you well and gearing up for the holidays. Having just wrapped up my holiday shopping, now is the time to just savor, relax and light a crackling fire (or watch Netflix’s Birchwood Crackling Fire film). Below are a few articles that I think you will enjoy. Until Monday, happy weekend!

~Habitually Chic shared a beautiful home featured in Architectural Digest and I am agog over the master bath. Trust me, it’s worth taking a look.

~A wonderful, thoughtful and worth-reading list featured in The New York Times, Nine Ways to Improve Your Love Life (whether you are in a relationship or not)

~For fellow list-lovers! A list of the 26 lists you should definitely make!

~3 Important Life Skills Nobody Ever Taught You

~A simple approach to better health and longevity

~Mark Twain is a man of aphorisms and these nine offer tips on how to live a good life

~Say it’s not so! Why French Women are Giving up Pastries and Cheese

~10 Things Foreigners Should Know About France . . . first things first, it’s not all about Paris.

~From two of my favorite on-line life coaches . . . 3 Powerful Rituals for Building New, Healthy Relationships

Hues of Blue, Hydrangeas and Hints of the Sea

Arrange a few hydrangeas throughout a home, snap a photo and my eye has officially been drawn to the space. As seen on many of my IG pics, the simplicity and regality of even just one “pom pom” or flowerhead is one of my go-to and much beloved weekly rituals to add a touch of luxury to the everyday. And so it was perusing through interior designer Mark D. Sikes’ website that I came across a Montecito home that was generous with bundles of hydrangeas but also sprinkled the cool and calming hues of blue and touches of the sea, and you guessed it, I was entranced.

Recently Sikes released his first decor book which has already become a best-seller. Titled Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style, it demonstrates on each page his attention to modern traditional style offering comfort and touches from both American and European-inspired aesthetics. See more of his portfolio here and enjoy the tour below.

 

 

~Similar DECOR INSPIRATION posts you might enjoy:

~A Soothing Spanish Retreat

~Blue Rejuvenation

~A Coastal Sanctuary

Bundled in Wool & Cashmere

~Eliza J wool blend long military coat (black also available)~

~Eric Bompard 100% cashmere stiletto (look at the print!) stole~

~Victoria Beckham Denim flare jeans (60%)~

~The Row Teresa merino wool and cashmere sweater (50% off)~

~Rag & Bone Margot bootie (other colors)~

~Nashelle small hoop earrings~

~Rebecca Minkoff Avery textured-leather shoulder bag~

SHOP THE OUTFIT:

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Why Not . . . Transition from Busy to Balanced?

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.” —Thomas Merton

A paradox of a well lived life is that it in order to live a full life we must not allow our daily schedules to become full.

Superficially, such a statement sounds absurd, but upon closer examination, a life filled with some responsibilities, some opportunities to be productive, some time to rest and some time to play is the structure that enables a full life to come to fruition.

Being busy, as we’ve talked about before on the blog, doesn’t ensure efficiency; in fact, it usually undercuts it. The truth about our insatiable, often times, unconscious need to be busy is the product of a variety of possibilities, but here are four that top the list:

modeling what is exhibited as successful behavior either by our parents, employers, or society as a whole
not being clear about our priorities
seeking external validation that we matter
being fearful of what we might discover if we slow down

To understand why we are striving to forever stay busy is crucial, but to understand why we need to cure our fascination with busyness is because it is impeding our ability “to live a fully human life“. And the gift we all have been given is the ability to be fully human.

What does being fully human mean?

A beautifully penned article was shared in The Atlantic last year answering just this question. The recipient of the Templeton Institution’s annual award given to someone who excels in life’s spiritual dimensions was Jean Vanier, and the journey to understanding the answer to this very question began for him in France in 1960 where he voyaged to “Paris to think, and write, about the meaning of life.”

I encourage you to read or watch his entire explanation as he reveals his insights, but to briefly summarize exactly what he shares it means to be human, I’ve made a list of what points he highlighted below:

to discover who we truly are
to understand our fragility
to understand the unity between our head and heart
to understand the beauty we all possess
to be willing to open your heart to others, letting go of fear
to let down the barriers and open up
to resist the ego and refrain from competition and comparison

To be fully human is to understand that we all, each one of us is human, a human, and to let this understanding bring some calm, reassurance and reflection that we need to appreciate this life we’ve been given. We need to slow down, prioritize and savor. We need to understand our thoughts, come to terms with what runs around in our minds and then allow ourselves to heal so that we can then move forward, improving the quality of our lives and those around us, directly or indirectly.

Sometimes we have to make the mistake of being too busy to observe it isn’t possible to live well by never bringing balance into our lives. While I can speak from experience that there are time in our lives when our schedules are busier than other times in our lives, I also know that the two years leading up to the release of my book and the first few years TSLL blog began, I knew very well what my priorities were, and it made it all the easier to let go of other tasks and responsibilities. Looking back, it was worth it. Looking back, I know that my clarity of purpose enabled me to eventually recognize when I could slow down and find a better balance in my life.

Understanding that each of our definitions of balance will be different and that it will ebb and flow throughout the course of our lives is important to understand. Some years your definition of relaxing will appear to someone else like drudgery. Other years your definition of being productive will appear to others as being lazy. In both scenarios, it doesn’t matter how others define your approach to balance, so long as you are balanced. And you must be honest with yourself the quality of life you are living.

Sometimes it is hard to make the transition from a busy life to a balanced life. You might find yourself sitting on your sofa on a Sunday afternoon, schedule free and open, scrambling your brain to figure out what you should be doing, unable to relax and just appreciate the balance you’ve created. At that time you may allow your internal voice to berate you for not taking action as your goals are not yet accomplished and your life isn’t where you think it should be. I share this dialogue because I know this voice. I have heard this voice in my head, but now I can recognize it and dismiss it after sometimes a deep breath or sometimes an afternoon of reflection and a moment of meditation.

What I also know about that false motivation to remain busy is that a quality life is a thoughtful life. A quality life is a life that involves time to let go. A quality life involves knowing how to de-stress in a healthy manner in order to prevent your mind from turning a snowflake of doubt or worry into a snowball of destruction.

As you make the transition from busy to balanced living, find a practice of de-stressing that works for you. Here are a few options to consider:

turn off the television and read a book
leave your iPod or smart phone at home and go walking
turn on music that invites you to escape from the world and just let it fill your home
take a hot bath
meditate
practice yoga
enjoy a massage
take a nap
attend your favorite exercise class
step outside and hang out with Mother Nature (even if it’s in your backyard, lounging on a hammock)
sip hot tea and journal it out (my favorite)
eat well
turn off the computer, put down your smart phone, step away from the iPad or tablet
talk or spend time with a friend who can bring you closer to calm
partake in your favorite craft or artistic endeavor

Once you can recognize when you are stressed, and then the de-stressing activity that works for you and is readily available, you will come to experience the benefits of reducing the busy. And when you observe and experience how you feel in those moments of both busy versus the latter, you will hopefully find reason to banish the busy approach to living.

There are many benefits (of which I share eight here) that we can experience when we choose to let go of the habit of busy, but one of the most profound and life reforming benefits is the opportunity to live an examined life. And when we enable ourselves to live an examined life, we discover the path we want to be on, we understand what is actually okay to let go of, and we begin to find the permission within ourselves, rather than the outside world, to live fully. To be fully human.

“It takes more courage to examine the dark corners of your own soul than it does for a soldier to fight on a battlefield.” —W.B. Yeats

I’ll leave you with one last thought. Sometimes it is intimidating to try something we’ve never done or have observed others doing without success even if we know that the life we are currently living isn’t fulfilling. But within you is the courage you need, you simply need to choose to tap into it and the world you seek will slowly begin to reveal itself.

“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities . . . because it is the quality that guarantees all others.” —Winston Churchill

Thank you for stopping by today and may the balance you seek return and the busy be banished.

~SIMILAR POSTS FROM THE ARCHIVES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

~8 Benefits of Banishing Busy

~Stop Being Busy, and Start Being Efficient

~14 Ways to Bring Back the Calm