As friends head back to school and summer’s last-hurrah holiday is upon us, I’m savoring the final bounty of hot-weather produce before getting ready for fall. Two trademark fruits of this season are, of course, tomatoes and peaches, easily found at any local farmer’s market in the mid-late summer. And this peach and heirloom tomato caprese is as easy to make as it is delicious to eat.
Archives for August 2014
6 Ways to Love Someone
My husband and I became best friends about six years ago. And though we’ve only been married for two and a half months, I have some wisdom (and photos!) to share with you all. By no means do I do these things perfectly; but every good relationship requires hard work and, of course, offers immense amounts of joy. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!…Continue Reading
The Voices in our Heads
Some call it self-talk. Others consider it our attitude. Regardless of terminology, we all are aware of the voices in our heads that challenge us, work against our values, make us feel worthless, and confuse us about our deepest commitments. What is this really about?
How to Develop A Signature Beauty Look
Audrey Hepburn had her eyeliner. Jane Birkin had her bangs. Cara Delevingne has her brows. Taylor Swift has her red lipstick.
How To Start Writing (Again)
Whether you’re composing an application essay for college or graduate school, or trying to produce a blog post that just isn’t working, or coming back to writing after a multi-year hiatus, personal writing can be intimidating. It is an undertaking that exposes the author more ruthlessly than many other modes of expression (e.g., poor little Kyle). So how can we get over the initial trepidation to the land flowing with eloquence and insight?…Continue Reading
Easy Treat-Filled Mason Jar Gifts
I’ve recently written about how we can become generous with our resources, not just with our stuff. I’m a huge fan of giving great gifts (no, not gift cards, gifts)– and will spend hours looking for the perfect present. And despite the absolute over-commercialization of the winter holidays, I cannot help but adore holiday window decorations; actually, I’m already excited. So no matter how minimalist I become, I’ll never surrender the joy of gift-giving….Continue Reading
New About and FAQ Pages!
Behind every piece of writing is a story. In the case of Simplicity Relished, there’s both an immediate story and a slightly grander vision. The former was focused on my needs of the moment, and the latter has been constructed over a longer period of time. Despite having started this blog as a personal writing oasis about 6 months ago, I hope that it will serve as much more than that in the months to come….Continue Reading
Delicious Homemade Granola
Back when I worked as a cook in an addictions-recovery community, I made our breakfast granola from scratch. This stuff is incredible! It’s a cheap, healthy and delicious way to start off your day, not to mention the easiest recipe ever. The process of making granola also just happens to make the kitchen smell wonderful.
Denim, Yellow, and Red
When I embarked on Project 333, I had very few pieces on hand to start. Most of my things were in boxes and I was already using a restricted wardrobe. Naturally, I picked my best pieces and was determined to wear them all month long….Continue Reading
How to Start Giving Radically
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”
We’ve all heard some form of this commandment– invitation, if you will– attributed to Jesus himself. The problem many people face with this concept is in the details: sell my possessions? sell all my possessions? give away the profit? to all types of poor? I myself confess to thinking: I don’t have that much; in fact, I don’t have a regular income right now (because I’m a student), so this doesn’t apply to me, right?…Continue Reading
Seven Reasons to Shop at the Farmer’s Market
There’s a problem with our food.
And the multifaceted movement towards slow-paced, farm-to-table, ethically raised, seasonably available and downright delicious food has its own niches,too. There are individuals who emphasize each characteristic of this anti-industrial eating complex, with books, websites and campaigns to boot; but follow any of them down their path a bit too far and it is difficult either to stay budget-friendly or keep up with the busy lifestyle that many of us have no choice but to live. I have said it once before but I’ll say it again: Michael Pollan’s seven-word eating mantra,“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”…Continue Reading
5 Ways to Make Your Home More Inviting
Those of us who live in small spaces know that it can be terribly difficult simply to fit ourselves and our stuff into our home. Since my husband and I moved into our 500-square-foot apartment, we have driven to the Container Store a handful of times already. Finding a place to store everything is in itself a challenge; how then are we to be generous with our space? How can we share it with others?…Continue Reading
Petals and Pink in Pasadena
Here is my third outfit for my take on Project 333— Courtney Carver’s minimalist wardrobe challenge! Every few days I am sharing an outfit put together with the 11 items I selected for the month….Continue Reading
The Inadequacies of Transition
Despite the liberated schedule and uncluttered calendar that often come with a period of transition, I must confess that transitions are still hard for me. Having returned to San Francisco from Cambridge, Massachusetts in May, traveled internationally in June and July, and finally moved down to our temporary-permanent residence in Pasadena, I feel it’s about time I settled down– body, mind and heart. But I can’t seem to sit back and feel it….Continue Reading
Asparagus Omelette with Comté and Fresh Herbs
Part of the challenge of cooking for one (or two) is creating new delicious meals you can finish in one sitting. Of course I am also a fan of stocking the fridge with great homemade dishes I can heat up at mealtime– tomato sauce bolognese, chicken curry or pork carnitas– but every once in a while we prefer to feast on something fresh off the stove….Continue Reading
