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For two years I lived in Miami, Florida and no disrespect to my fellow Floridians, but I really missed the change of seasons. Each one has its special attributes, but Spring happens to be one of my favorites. It’s all about change, new beginnings and rebirth. There is so much to look forward to in these coming months –the blooming of beautiful flowers, the arrival of endless days of sunshine and the return of pretty open toed shoes! With such hectic schedules, it’s sometimes easy to let this season quickly pass by. I try my best to make time for quiet moments to really take in the sights and sounds of this special season–sometimes it’s as simple as taking a slow walk in a park or stopping to watch the formation of a flock of birds returning from the South. But most importantly,I take these brief moments to remind myself of what’s really important in life and to reconnect and “reboot” in the way that nature had intended. Happy Spring!
It’s been almost ten years since Sweet Lily first opened its doors. In that time we’ve been exposed to many new gadgets, the advent of social media and the rise of reality TV. But the one significant change that stands out in my mind is that way people are now communicating. Years ago, clients visited Sweet Lily and used it as a gathering place. A sort of social sorority to catch up, share neighborhood info and most importantly spend time with friends and family. Today, sadly, more and more clients are booking group appointments, but when they arrive, not a word is spoken between them. They are fixated to their smart phones…clicking away, checking emails or texting a friend elsewhere. What’s the point? Can’t people just disconnect for one hour to engage in a person to person dialogue? This terrible social etiquette has even found its way into my home life too. My husband and I, well we used to talk, yes, talk, at night over a glass of wine. Now I feel like his I-Phone is his mistress and I’m competing with her on a daily basis. It speaks volumes about our new world order and with great sadness, the way of the future. I hope we all don’t get too lonely. But I’m sure if we do, they’ll make a Friend App for that too.
For the last year or so, my husband and I have been involved in building our dream house at the beach. In the process, we’ve been mindful to select eco-friendly building materials and products conscious of low VOC’s. Too often we only care about our organic food and all-natural beauty products, but forget about the importance of our indoor air quality, especially when it comes to our children. If you just put a little extra leg work into your home renovation, you can definately find reasonably priced replacements to unhealthy MDF and Formaldehyde based building products. Here are just a few I thought I would share….
- Eco-Friendly Insulation: Certainteed Greenguard Certified
- Formaldehyde Free Interior Doors: Masonite Safe n’ Sound Emerald Series
- Hardwood Flooring: Listone Giordano
- Wall & Floor Tiles: Nemo Tile Company
- No VOC Paint: Benjamin Moore Natura
- Opt for Real Pine window & door casings instead of ones made from MDF or a glued composite.
It’s never a perfect world…but every little bit helps!
Have you ever had a sandwich that looks good but tastes terrible? Or a cookie that sounds delicious but doesn’t quite satisfy your cravings? What is that missing ingredient!? Simple, it’s L.O.V.E. Our wonderful neighbors across the street, at what is now cutely named Cafe Clementine (formerly Columbine), seem to procure all their delicacies with much care and affection. It’s the special attention that the sole-owner Barbara and her staff give when selecting their breads, anti-biotic free chicken and rich chocolates that keeps us coming back for more. This is very apparent as we watch devotees line up along West Broadway on damp, rainy days just to get some of their home-cooked soup. If you haven’t tried Cafe Clementine’s food, it’s a TriBeCa must! And the next time you’re out and about, take the time to seek out small, privately owned cafes and specialty shops…Trust me, you’ll taste the difference!
