Outstanding in the Field

I haven't blogged in a long while...so much has happened, the biggest thing being I started a new job which I love. But what also came with this was a major lack of time - and i stopped finding time for blogging among other things that constituted as "me" time. It's so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of everyday life and forget to take moments to just be....

The other day I suddenly decided to look at my blog and read through some of my posts. It made me smile to remember what i'd been thinking all those months ago, and all the wonderful things that i'd found to post on here. So I decided to start blogging again, because it gives me an outlet to put my thoughts down and share wonderful things!

So today i'd like to share this gorgeous project I just read about called 'Outstanding in the Field'.

Their mission is to re-connect diners to the land and origin of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans.

Outstanding in the Field is a culinary adventure - literally a restaurant without walls. Since 1999 they have set the long table at farms or gardens, on mountain tops or in sea caves, on islands or at ranches. Occasionally the table it set indoors: a beautifully refurbished barn, a cool greenhouse or a stately museum.

Wherever the location, the consistent them of each dinner is to honour the people whose good work brings nourishment to the table. Ingredients for the meal are almost all local and generally prepared by a celebrated chef of the region.

 I think this concept is so beautiful! It's so endlessly diverse with the range of chefs, ingredients and places it can happen and is a wonderful way of celebrating different ways of eating. I also love eating outside, so to get to experience dining against these magnificent backdrops is spectacular.

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Check out their website: http://outstandinginthefield.com

Al Fresco

{ Unidentified Style } 

Spring has finally decided to grace London with its presence. In the building where I work they have a verandah outside with a huge dining table where employees can go sit and eat. I had lunch out there this week lapping up the sunshine and remembered how much I adore having the opportunity to eat outside! I don't what it is? I just love it! Maybe I see it as a novelty because I rarely have the opportunity in London. It feels so free and organic. I especially love it at night; one day when I have my own home I would love a beautiful outside terrace with a dining table. There I would feast outside with family and friends and make it look soooo pretty decorating the table with gorgeous candles and flowers and putting lots of twinkle lights in the trees.

{ Unidentified Lifestyle }

{ Unidentified Lifestyle }

Where do I want to be in 5 years?

 {We Heart It}

 

I have had a zillion interviews lately (ok maybe i'm exaggerating maybe more like 25 but it FEELS like a zillion). After interning for about six months following graduation, I am now on the hunt for a permanent position. I'm not gonna lie, the eagerness and hopefulness I had early on are wearing thin and I'm feeling the pressure more and more every day that goes by and I still don't have a job.

On so many of these interviews they have asked me, "What do I want to be in 5 years?". At the interviews I obviously say something ambitious and career orientated. But if I had to answer that question honestly, no strings attached, the picture says it - I want to be happy in five years. Whilst I'm ambitious about my career, it isn't and I don't want it ever to be what defines me as a person. When I fantasize about what life might be like for me in five years, I dream of being surrounded by a loving healthy family and wonderful friends, having lots of new adventures, and at the same time appreciating the simple things in life, being passionate about whatever I'm doing, feeling inspired and constantly learning and growing. Hopefully, feeling a lot wiser and looking back at me now with a smile. I want to be defined my kind acts, being a good person and a person filled with love (both giving and having it). I will be the first to admit I'm idealistic and a romantic, yep I am, but hey whats the harm in some idealism in this crazy world we live in.

So I may be stressed out of my mind, but today I reminded myself how blessed I am with so many things in my life that give me so much joy and make me extremely fortunate. The job will fall into place sooner or later - I should be grateful that I am one happy girl - and I hope I still will be in 5 years, whatever I'm doing.

Japan

What has happened and is happening in Japan right now is almost too tragic to comprehend. On Friday I watched the events unfold with horror, but at the same time I was unable to tear my eyes away from this powerful act of nature. It made me consider how powerless we humans actually are. In the blink of an eye everything can be swept away and destroyed by something beyond the power of man.

In the worst of times I am always in awe of how people come together to help by any means possible. Whilst most of us cannot physically do anything to help rebuild the parts of Japan that have been devastated, or the lives that have been shattered, there is always a way to contribute something. Give a donation to one of the many websites that are taking them, there is a listing of these websites here. I am a firm believer that every little bit counts, no matter how small or how big. My heart goes out to all those who are suffering in Japan and I pray that they will have the strength to see this catastrophe through and rebuild what they have lost.

One of my favorite Jewish quotes is, "he who saves one life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world". The quote emphasizes the value of each individual human life, by donating to Japan who knows what or how many lives you'll be helping to save.

Technology Overdrive

On Thursday I was on my laptop and managed to catch a virus. My computer literally started imploding and as you can imagine it was pretty distressing. Thankfully, the computer guy managed to remove it and nothing on my computer was damaged.

It got me thinking how reliant I, (and probably most people) have become on technology. The first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone, which includes checking my e-mails, facebook, twitter etc. Once I switch on my laptop my blog and Flickr are added to that list too. If I ever leave my phone at home by mistake I feel completely disconnected from everything. Sometimes the thought of how many different means of communication there are now is overwhelming (and yes, I appreciate the irony - I am using my online blog to write about this). When I was a child I used to write letters, yes LETTERS to my cousins abroad and I still have them all in my memory box. Now, I don't remember the last time I wrote a letter to someone! E-mails and Facebook messages seem so impersonal and fleeting in comparison.

  Teenage Wonderland

I will always remember this quote by Drew Barrymore in the movie 'He's Just Not That Into You'. She is waiting for a guy she likes to get in touch with her...

"  I had this guy leave me a voicemail at work, so I called him at home, and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry, and so I texted to his cell, and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies. It's exhausting".

 What she says is so true! Whilst I could never live without my technology anymore, I can't help wondering what it was like when people didn't freak out because a virus is destroying their laptop because laptops simply didn't exist?

Monday Morning Pick Me Up (2)

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Yes, Weekend

Domis

I am so glad the weekend is finally here. It's been a long and tiring week; I am in the process of looking for my first permanent job after graduating university. I had a whole bunch of interviews this week, which for some reason I find extremely draining. But, I'm feeling positive - there have been a few really interesting opportunities come up and here's to hoping that next by next Friday I'll have some exciting job news!

I looove my weekends. What do I love about them? I'll tell you...

- We have huge family Friday night dinners and Saturday lunches every week with all my cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles - ever seen 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'? Yep, that's pretty much my family just mine is the Persian Jewish version.
-Spending hours reading all the weekend papers and catching up with my books which I never seem to find time to read during the week.
-Spending quality time with my boyfriend and friends.
-Not waking up to an alarm clock.
-Trying out new restaurants, bars, movies, cafes and not having to rush home because I don't have to get up the next day.
-My Sunday Zumba class - working out has never been so much fun!

Anyway to sum up, YES, WEEKEND.

Hope you all have a lovely one. I'd love to know what you love about your weekends?

XO

All You Need is Love

Feelings of the Heart

"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible" 

Billy Crystal in 'When Harry Met Sally'

This morning is a special morning because last night my best friend since kindergarten got engaged to her boyfriend! I have not stopped smiling since I heard the news and I am so excited for her and this amazing new chapter in her life. I thought it fitting to share this with you today as it is Valentine's Day.

As one of my closest friends and fellow blogger If You Love Me Feed Me told me, it's a beautiful thing that people everywhere are celebrating love in all forms on this day. I am blessed with so much love in my life from so many different people and I am so grateful for that. So here's to love in all its wonder and beauty!

Happy Valentine's Day y'all!

True Beauty

"Beauty tips: For attractive lips, speak only words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone." 

Audrey Hepburn

This has long been one of my favourite quotes. Lots of girls think their beauty lies in heavy make up, dressing or acting a certain way. But as cliche as it sounds, true beauty really does come from within - be it your kind acts or your goofy personality. I find people are most beautiful when they can allow themselves to be natural inside and out and embrace whoever it is that they are.
 

Last Words

Today I was watching the American show 'How I Met Your Mother'. (If you watch it this contains spoilers). One of the main characters' (Marshall) father died in today's episode. The episode revolves around the last words Marshall said to his father and vice versa. He is devestated because he feels that his last words were inadequate and he forever has to live with that. His situation stirs his friends to think of what their last words to their parents would be if something were to happen to them right now.

Now, this is not meant to be a morbid post. Rather, it made me think...I am incredibly close to all my family and love them very dearly. But like i'm sure many others also do, sometimes because I know that they will love me unconditionally no matter what, I say hurtful things to them, shout at them, release my pent up frustrations on them. In all of this sometimes I forget to take the time to tell them how much I love them, how I appreciate everything that they do for me, and how I really don't mean those things I say in anger. You take for granted that your loved ones will always be there, that there will always be a chance to say those things, and that they know you really don't mean it. This episode made me consider how heartbroken I would be if my last words to a loved one were in anger.

I know that we are only human and therefore inevitably flawed. Since we never know which moment might be our last, we can never really prepare the perfect "last words". So instead, those things that we put off doing or saying because we assume we'll have time...do it now. Tell your loved ones how much they're loved and appreciated, even if you are tired give a little smile, take the time to say thank you and do something thoughtful for the person you love. Who knows what the future holds? And in the words of one my favorite artists John Mayer, "its better to say too much, than never to say what you need to say".

My "me" day

It's funny, i consider myself a pretty open and optimistic person...and generally i am. But then there are times that for whatever reason i bottle things up in my sometimes crazy little head. At these times i can become a mess of negativity and confusion. One such time was last night; having finished university i am now faced with becoming part of the "real world", which for me and most people like me, means making important decisions for myself that will affect the way my life goes from here. Last night for various reasons this overwhelmed me a little. Luckily a very special person was there to comfort me which now brings me to this blog's title.

This person suggested that rather than get myself all worked up, instead, to take a step back, take some time, and do something to clear my mind to allow me to face these decisions with some perspective. And that is just what i did...something i will now fondly refer to as "me day". Today i decided to at least spend part of the day just letting myself take a breather and do something for me. I headed into central London and just let myself wander and window shop and bought a cuuute top...anddd to finish it all off i had lunch for one at a great restaurant called Carluccio's in the adorable St Christopher's Place. I had the Pasta Giardiniera which is just one of the most deliciousss dishes - penne pasta, with spinach balls and courgettes which i then drown in parmesan....its so yummy i cant stress enough.


I read my book and (a favorite past time) people watched. A woman was sitting across the table from me also dining for one, and i thought sometimes a little alone time can be just the medicine.

Now, though still faced with the same things, i feel better. So next time you feel a little lost take some time, and do something nice for yourself - a bubble bath, a lovely meal, seeing a loved one, whatever it takes. You'll be amazed what a few hours of time set aside for you can do for you.