Meditations, mocktails and more – this is quoi de neuf!

Bonjour and welcome to Wednesday. I’ve got all kinds of fun and exciting things going on this week. Even though I’m still on furlough, so not working, I feel there are still not enough hours in the day to do all I want to do. I’m thinking of meditations, mocktails and more – this is quoi de neuf!

Doing

The first thing I’m really excited about is beginning Boho Beautiful 10 Days of Meditation. I have listened to all of the guided meditations from Boho on YouTube, and just like Boho Beautiful Yoga, which I love, I think they are the most inspiring that I have found.

Speaking of yoga, and excitement, and fun, I can’t wait until later this afternoon (3 PM Eastern) for Gwyneth Paltrow & Eddie Stern: Ashtanga Yoga – live on YouTube, part of the In Goop Health Sessions. I love Gwyneth! I love yoga! Hourra!

Reading

I just began Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust. Remember, the one I picked up in NYC? It’s not your light summer reading, but I am already really enjoying it. I’m really going to take my time and study it, let it sink in. After I’m a little farther in I think I’m going to read How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton along with it. I’ve had it for a long time, but was waiting until I found a Proust translation. It’s going to be très cool I think.

Watching

This week YouTube recommended a charming video South of France from The Purple Palace. I was entranced and am looking forward to watching more videos from Shayna.

Inspired and excited by my readings on regenerative agriculture, I’m looking forward to watching The Biggest Little Farm, it looks beautiful. The documentary Kiss the Ground is definitely on my list to watch also.

I always love an Earful Tower video. His latest Door Tour was no exception. So fun, so cool, I so felt like I was there. Thanks again Oliver!

Listening

Just listened to the Goop podcast Why We Need to Talk About Environmental Racism. Very interesting and informative.

Also listening to Caroline De Maigret’s One Song a Day June playlist on Spotify. Très cool, mais oui.

Wearing

Tee-shirt Palais Royal in Off White from Maison Kitsune. I want the whole outfit – including the shoes!
Sweatshirt Parisienne. Très cool aussi. I purchased both of these during their big sale, mais oui. Now if only the yoga foxes would go on sale.

Drinking

Instead of Martini Monday, I decided to replace my cocktail with a mocktail. I chose the Spicy Cilantro Lemonade from Goop. What a great decision – I truly did not miss the alcohol! It was so good, I was inspired to do a whole week of mocktails. I can always count on Goop. Have I mentioned how much I love Goop, and Gwyneth?

Tuesday I wanted to use the watermelon and cucumber I had in the fridge, so I came up with a Watermelon Cooler mocktail (pic above), and it was delicious! The recipe is below. For the rest of the week? So many choices… for tomorrow this Blood Orange Spritzer from Brooklyn Supper looks awesome. I just bought some blood oranges at Fresh Thyme and I have a little bit of rosemary syrup left from making David Lebovitz’ Rosemary Gimlet. I’ve got several cans of coconut milk in the cupboard waiting to be used, so how about a Coconut Ginger Lime mocktail for Thursday? And let’s just finish off Friday where it all started with the Spicy Cilantro Lemonade from Goop again, because it was that good. Let me know in the comments if you have any good mocktail recipes for next Mocktail Monday! À votre santé. À bientôt!

Watermelon (Très) Cooler Mocktail

1 cup watermelon cubes
1 cup cucumber, peeled and chopped
3 basil leaves
juice of 1/2 a lime
salt

Blend the watermelon and cucumber with some salt and a little water (to help blend easier) until thoroughly blended. Strain into a cup. Meanwhile, in a rocks glass with ice, add 2 basil leaves and lime juice and muddle with small end of wooden spoon. Pour watermelon blend into rocks glass and stir. Top with one basil leaf, a thin slice of cucumber and a lime wedge, and what the heck, throw a slice of that serrano pepper you have left over from your Goop mocktail in too.