Saturday, October 22, 2022

Simple and Practical Declutter Your Life Tips!



Clutter generates negative energy and has a direct impact on your physical health, emotional well-being, hence the quality of your life!

Make it simple and practical! Declutter your home and workspace, hence your life by choosing quality over quantity

If you find yourself having a hard time letting go, just ask yourself a super simple, straightforward question: Does this add to the quality of my life?

If the answer is no, it’s a clear sign that whatever the object is, it needs go. 

Get Inspired! Spend some time to declutter your home, office/work-space, hence your life from environmental clutter.  This singular action will cultivate Happiness, Health and Prosperity in the remaining of the 2022 and for years to come! 

Happy Decluttering!

Ellie Lavender 
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer

Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

 Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & interior design tips and information on upcoming workshops!

 

Copyright © 2022 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.


Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Immense Healing Power of Gardening!

 


Research has shown that spending time outdoors is good for our bodies and our minds. I'm sure you've experienced these benefits: After feeling stressed out or bored indoors, you step outside and your spirits lift. 

 

One great way to spend time outdoors is to garden. 

 

Gardening can improve many aspects of mental health, focus, concentration and Improves mood. Gardening can make you feel more peaceful and content. Focusing your attention on the immediate tasks and details of gardening can reduce negative thoughts and feelings and can make you feel better in the moment.

 

Further research on gardening found it improved life satisfaction and mood. Digging in the dirt really does lift your spirits. The digging stirs up microbes in the soil. Inhaling these microbes can stimulate serotonin production, which can make you feel relaxed and happier.

 

Some food for thought on gardening by Joe Lamp'l: 

 

1. Practicing Acceptance - Most of our suffering comes from trying to control things that we can't. The more we can accept the limits of our control and the unpredictability of life, the more peace of mind we can find—and gardening is a great way to practice. 'Every day is one more reminder from Mother Nature that I'm not in control,' Lamp'l said, which he finds helpful as a self-described "control freak."

 

2. Moving Beyond Perfectionism - If you're prone to perfectionism, you're probably well aware of the costs. Trying to make things perfect can lead to frustration, missed deadlines and opportunities, and strained relationships. It can also lead to not even trying to do something, with a mentality of 'why bother if it can't be perfect?'

 

3. Developing a Growth Mindset - The inability to garden perfectly is actually cause for celebration. Psychologist Carol Dweck developed the distinction between 'fixed' and 'growth' mindsets, and gardening is a great opportunity to develop the latter. With a growth mindset, we assume that we're constantly learning. When something doesn't work out the way we had hoped, we view it as a learning opportunity rather than as a 'failure.'

 

4. Connecting with Others - Few things boost our well-being like good relationships, and gardening offers ample opportunities to connect with others. Lamp'l noted that 'gardening is one of the best ways to connect strangers" and quickly become friends "because we have that gardening thing in common.'

 

5. Connecting to Your World - Gardening provides a connection not just to other people but to our world. Many people feel that connection in a visceral way when they eat food they've just harvested. 'We all have an innate connection to the earth,' said Lamp'l, 'and that connection manifests itself when we consume what came from the ground—which is where we came from and where we all end up.'

 

6. Bathing in Green - The Japanese expression 'shinrin-yoku' can be translated as 'forest bathing,' which nicely captures the experience of being immersed in green. A growing body of research has found all kinds of benefits from being in natural landscapes.

 

7. Being Present - Mindful presence is tied to a long list of positive outcomes, like relationship satisfaction and less emotional reactivity. The garden can be a protected place where we practice being where we are and actually doing what we're doing.

 

8. Physical Exercise - Moving your body regularly is an effective way to boost mood and lower anxiety, and gardening offers 'no shortage of opportunities for physical activity,' said Lamp'l. Even when he's not able to get to the gym consistently, he maintains muscle tone and feels good through daily work in his garden.

 

9. Reducing Stress - Not surprisingly, time in your garden can be a great way to release stress. There's something about feeling the life all around you, the warmth of the sun, the soil in your hands. As I sit in my own garden these days I see rainbow Swiss chard and lettuces shaking in the wind, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries ripening, and feel the breeze as clouds move across the blue sky.

 

10. Eating Healthfully - Last but not least, a garden can yield the freshest and healthiest foods available—the types of food that can have a significant impact on our mental health. For example, two studies showed that dietary changes can be an effective treatment for depression. 

 

Studies in this area tend to find benefits of the 'Mediterranean' (and similar) diet, which emphasizes consuming minimally processed whole foods—exactly the types of food that your garden will yield. Plus there's the added benefit of knowing you played a role in growing the food.

 

How to Get Started

 

Ready to start a garden of your own? Here are six quick tips that Lamp'l recommends for beginners.

 

Just start. Decide that you're going to get started, even though you don't know how it's going to go or even exactly what you're doing. "Try it, and so what if you fail?" asked Lamp'l. 'The worst that will happen is you'll learn something. And that's worth the price of a plant, every time.'

 

Start slow. Lamp'l noted that it's easy to get excited when starting out and plant too much, which ends up being hard to keep up with. As a result, you could end up feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. So get started, but don't overdo it. You can always add to your garden over time. A simple first step is to grow something in a container that you can put close to your house, so it's easy to take care of and enjoy seeing every day. 

 

Focus on healthy soil. Successful gardening starts literally from the ground up, according to Lamp'l. 'Soil is life. When you focus on that, good things happen.' He strongly advises gardeners to avoid synthetic chemicals and 'start feeding the soil with organic material.' That can include compost, the 'single best thing you can add to the soil because there's so much in it,' and anything else that nature provides, like shredded leaves, shredded bark, or aged manure. 

 

Grow what you like. Choose fruits and vegetables to grow based on 'what you want to eat or what you like looking at,' advised Lamp'l. 'Grow something that's easy and that grows quickly, like a radish or lettuce.' The ease and quick reward will be motivation to stick with it. 

 

Know your plants' needs. 'Learn something about the plant before you stick it in the ground,' said Lamp'l. 'Read the plant tag so you know if it likes sun or shade and wet or dry, and do your best to give it the environment it wants to thrive in.' After all, plants can't move themselves, so it's up to us to 'put the right plant in the right place.' Your plants will reward you for it. 

 

Pay attention to your plants. Spend at least a little time in your garden every day observing what's happening. That way you can ‘be proactive when problems arise and can circumvent potentially bigger problems,' said Lamp'l. Besides, there's really no downside to spending time in your garden, given all the benefits discussed here.

 

Garden is not only my ultimate refuge, but also inspiration for almost all the plant-based recipes that I develop or create. My culinary motto are garden-to-table and farm-to-table. The immense joy that I experience when planting and gardening herbs and veggies are simply indescribable. 

 

Start a garden or do some gardening this weekend!

 

Chef Ellie Lavender
Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor 
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!


Copyright © 2022 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.


Thursday, July 28, 2022

Decadent Chocolate Covered Figs Recipe

Figs Chocolate Arts

Figs Chocolate Arts

Figs Chocolate Arts

Figs Chocolate Arts

Ingredients 

Beautiful Mission Figs

Mission Figs Tree

Greetings Figs & Chocolate Lovers!

Fresh figs are in season and dipped in dark chocolate, they’ll make delectable treats and a decadent summer dessert! Perfect by themselves, but even better with a glass of dessert wine.

And, if you love fresh figs and dark chocolate as much as I do, you'll love making and enjoying these beautiful and decadent Chocolate Covered Figs! They are fun to make and delectable to devour. So, let's get started with the recipe. 


Ingredients:

3-5 Ounce organic dark chocolate bar (70% dark is best)
12 Small-medium size fresh figs (green, purple or a mix of both)
1/2 Tsp. Orange zest
1/4 Tsp. Sea salt flakes
1/4 Cup chopped roasted pistachios (love pistachios b/c of their beautiful green color, which beautifully complements fig’s purple color and dark chocolate).
1/2 Tsp. Organic lavender flowers
1/2 Tsp. Organic rose petals
1/2 Tsp. Organic calendula flowers
1/2 Tsp. Orange or Meyer lemon rinds

Chocolate Melting Instructions: Break or chop the chocolate bar into small pieces and melt over a water bath or in a saucepan over very low heat. Alternatively, you can put them in a bowl, microwave on high for 30 seconds; stir, microwave again on for additional 30 second and stir again until chocolate is completely melted. Allow the melted chocolate to cool for 1-2 minutes, add the orange zest and stir 2-3 times gently. 

Chocolate Covered Figs Instructions: Hold each fig by the stem, dip each fig in melted chocolate and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. You can also cut a few figs in half and dip into melted chocolate to create a varieties of chocolate covered figs, they’ll make your artisanal creation even more beautiful. Next, sprinkle with chopped pistachios, lavender flowers, calendula flowers or rose petals and then 2-3 sea salt flakes.

Cooling & Packaging Instruction: Place the figs in the fridge for 1-2 hours to allow the chocolate to cool and harden completely before serving or packaging as gifts.

Enjoy and have fun making Figs Chocolate Arts!


Chef Ellie Lavender
Vegan Mediterranean Personal Chef
Culinary & Wine Pairing Instructor 
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!


Copyright © 2022 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

 



 

Simple & Practical Decluttering and Organizing Tips for the Dining Room


Dining room is a crucial part of the home that symbolizes strength, power, unity and a community with family and guests.

If you find that you or your family don’t really like eating at the dining table, try to refresh the space into something that makes everyone feels good.

 

The fact is if a dining room (or any other room in your home) is not used regularly, it can easily become cluttered with a variety of items. 

There are many benefits to decluttering and organizing your dining room and below are just a few: 

1.        To encourage family dinner, interactions and conversation.

2.       To have a place to work from home (if you don’t have a home office desk).

3.       To have a place for children to do homework (if they don’t have a desk).

4.      To be able to host meals on holidays. 

5.       To be able to throw more dinner parties in your home.

6.      To make an organized home for items you regularly use in the dining room such as tablecloths,  napkins, placemats, candlesticks and candles.

 

Finally, dining room brings people together and makes better foods choices possible.

 

Happy decluttering, organizing, healthy & delicious eating and enjoyable gathering with family and friends. 

Ellie Lavender
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!


Copyright © 2022 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

 

 

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

3 Simple & Practical Kitchen Feng Shui Tips!

Vibrant Kitchen

Basket of Beautiful Lemons

Aromatic Fresh Herbs

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether it’s doing homework with children or preparing meals, almost everyone (guests included) gather in the kitchen. When the energy in the kitchen is positive, families are more inclined to want to eat at home and will enjoy better health and relationships as a result. 

If your kitchen has been stagnant for too long, is burdened with clutter, or needs a serious cleaning, by all means make a point of revitalizing it. 

Get Started Today! Apply these 3 simple and practical Feng Shui enhancements to your kitchen and watch your relationships, health, and wealth enhanced in amazing ways:

Tip 1 - Make cleaning a habit to improve health and prosperity. One of the most important things you can do for your kitchen is to keep it clean, clutter-free and organized – and the 3 areas that need it most are the pantry, freezer and the refrigerator. Why? This is where food, a symbol of health and wealth, is stored. Get rid of everything that is completely out of date. 

Tip 2 - Clear off countertops to energize your health, hence your life. It sounds counterintuitive, but when you have countertops that are covered with items such as small appliances, dishes, loaves of bread, bags of chips, or stacks of bills, it doesn’t inspire you to cook. On the other hand, when you have a kitchen with clear counters graced with a basket of beautiful lemons and a jar of aromatic fresh herbs, it just makes you feel like cooking.

Tip 3 - Discard damaged items to promote good energy in your foods. Start by decluttering your kitchen cabinets and drawers (one at the time, no need to tackle them all at once, pace yourself, so that you’ll have something to do daily). Hanging onto dented pots, pans and utensils, cracked or chipped dishes, glasses, cups; stained napkins and tablecloths and damaged kitchen appliances such as toaster, mixer, etc., ‘because they’re still good,’ gifts or for sentimental reasons, cause clutter, negative energy, not good for your health and well-being. Discard them all. 

Happy Revitalizing Your Kitchen!

Ellie Lavender
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer
Lavender Design + Cuisine

 

        Join my network on Facebook & Instagram to receive Feng Shui & Interior Design tips and information on upcoming workshops & special events!


Copyright © 2022 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.