4 tools I use to follow my dreams (and you can too!)

FollowYourDreams_Bridge

You know those ‘out of body’ type moments?  When you suddenly “wake up” and see your life from an outsider perspective, even for just a brief moment?

That happened to me this week.

While visiting a good friend in southwest France, we were invited to a birthday dinner.  We arrived at a 1800s farmhouse in the French countryside – with a big, heavy table set outdoors, a bonfire, fairy lights, and (in true French style) copious amounts of good food and wine.

As everyone was bustling around getting food ready, I suddenly had this flash of perspective and gratitude.  How did I end up here at this moment?  After years (and years) of wanting to live in Europe and run my own business – I was finally doing it.  

Of course, it hasn’t always been this way.

Since I’ve left my corporate job and started my own business as a natural health coach, I’ve gotten lots of questions from readers, friends and people I meet asking how I did it.  So I thought I would share some resources and tools that have helped me along the way.

I am still in the early days of my business, so I can’t give you a recipe for success.  But here are 4 tools that I’ve used regularly to get myself onto the right path (which for many years seemed like just a fantasy …)  

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Vintage Savoir Faire has a new name!

vsf_namechange

In late 2009, I was living in a small flat in London (plus ca change…), still adjusting to this new country and a job that was less than inspiring.

I’d just taken an Introduction to Herbal Medicine Course and was fascinated at the rich history of using plants for health & beauty in England.  In less than a year I’d gone from a beauty product junkie living in central Paris to that moment in London when I realized that smearing hundreds of  chemicals on my body everyday wasn’t a very smart thing to do.  Hrm.

And I was desperate for a creative outlet.  New country, new city, newly living with my boyfriend, stuck in a cubicle all day and no friends – I had a burning need for change.

So Vintage Savoir Faire was born.

In the 4 years that followed, I’ve learned so much about natural health and beauty – which has completely transformed my life and my health.

I’ve become a certified health coach.

I’ve gotten engaged.

I’ve traveled more than I ever imagined.

I made friends and explored London.

I bought a real camera and learned how to use it.

And I’ve developed this active community of readers (and friends) through this website.

And now I’m so happy to announce another huge milestone moment in my life…

I’ve become a full-time entrepreneur.

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Travel light: wisdom for autumn

I believe that if you are paying attention, you will get exactly what you need, at exactly the right time.

This was the wisdom from my recent cup of tea:  ”Travel light.”

And I don’t think it meant about only taking one carry-on sized suitcase and coordinating clothes (although that is good advice too!)

This little gem felt perfectly right for the current transition into Autumn.    Seasonal transitions are a natural time to make small adjustments to how we live, so that our lifestyles are supporting us rather than overwhelming us!

To me, “Travel light” means:  how can we unburden our lives?  Reduce the clutter (mental and physical)?  Simplify?  Focus on what is important?

 

How can we travel through life with less stuff in our houses, and less stuff swirling in our heads?

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Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

For even more vintage inspiration (and a sugar overload) I was recently invited to an Alice in Wonderland tea party, hosted by the lovely Nicola of Rosie Ribbons.

I’m still discovering Britishness, and this tea party gave me lots of ooh-and-ahh about.

Warm scones with strawberry jam and fresh whipped cream.

Endless pots of tea.

Loads of decorations.  Unmatched vintage china.  A huge lemon cake.  And my favorite Cheshire Cat quote:

`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ 
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat. 
`I don’t much care where–’ said Alice. 
`Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat. 

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Goodwood Revival

Just when I was feeling uninspired and a bit overwhelmed, I got a free ticket to Goodwood Revival 2012.  Goodwood Revival is a vintage extravaganza / car race.  (OK, really it’s a car race … but the outfits! The vintage boutiques!  Vintage hair & beauty salon!  Vintage high street shops!  I could go on and on…)

Here are some photos from the day so you can share in the inspiration.  Most people were dressed up in outfits ranging from the 1920s – 1960s, including lots of 50s crinoline-lifted dresses, military uniforms, fabulous hats, gloves, red lips, and of course, back-seam stockings.

I’m already planning my outfit for next year, including pre-booking a vintage hair & makeup appointment to complete the look.  So fun!

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Meet my new medicine maker.

matstone juicer

Oh, how I love new kitchen toys!

Although my general food philosophy is that we should cook more, eat whole foods, and embrace our inner great-great-grandma, there are some gadgets that make life so much easier.  My food processor and Kitchen Aid mixer come to mind.

I’ve been ignoring juicing.  It seemed so … trendy.  And definitely not something that great-great grandma used to do.  I’ve been perfectly content (slightly obsessed, even) with making green smoothies and other blended nutrient-dense drinks which gives you the vitamin-goodness and also the whole-food fiber.

But then my friend Kate said something that changed my mind.  She referred to her juicer her “medicine maker.”  And suddenly juicing made a lot more sense.  

I believe that health is our natural state, and that our bodies want to heal themselves, if you just provide the right building blocks.

With our busy lifestyles, it can be hard to get enough nutrients every single day.  And if you’re feeling run-down or sick, you might need an extra nutrient boost that is gentle on your digestive system.  Juicing can do all of this.  Plus, fresh juice tastes amazing.  And ultimately, buying a juicer and juicing your own is way less expensive than going to a juice bar.  I was convinced.

But in this post, rather than teaching you something, I’m full of questions!  Juice-lovers out there, please read on, because I clearly have a lot to learn…

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Creating Community: Jenny from Nourished Kitchen

Creating Community

Our modern lives are often missing a sense of community.  We all need a community of people for support, for sharing and for learning.  Creating Community is a series on Vintage Savoir Faire where we have a virtual “cup of tea and a sit down” with a kindred spirit.  This week we meet Jenny from Nourished Kitchen.

Jenny is the creator of Nourished Kitchen, which is a site all about reviving traditional foods.  In her own words:

“Nourished Kitchen’s goal is to promote sustainable agriculture and nutrient-dense, whole foods in everyday kitchens.  The focus is on whole, unrefined foods prepared according to traditional methods that optimize nutrient density.  Cherish your body, nourish your kitchen.”

Jenny shares her recipes and experiences with a traditional foods diet.  She also offers online courses to learn to incorporate traditional foods into your own life!  Her new How to Cook Real Food course contains over 45 videos and 100 recipes to teach you how to prepare healthy, delicious meals for your family.

If you’re not familiar with Nourished Kitchen, here are some recipes to get you started:

Now let’s make a cup of tea and get to know Jenny including her Top 3 Simple Tips for having a Nourished Kitchen

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How do you enjoy life (even in the rain?)

rain and spiderwebs

Remember when I announced that it was Spring?

Yeah, that was a false alarm.  Here in London we seem to have gone backwards into dreary, rainy, cold winter!  And I’m not happy about it.

OK, it’s cliche, but I really struggle with the weather in London.  Gray, drizzly, moderate temperature year round.  Rarely really hot, rarely really cold, just on the chilly side of moderate.  And gray.

I know what you’re going to say #1:  ”But you’re from Boston!!”

Yes, I’m from New England where it was cold – but cold and sunny!  Blue skies and bright sun reflecting off freezing-cold glistening snow! Skiing! And then proper hot summers.  And gorgeous crisp autumn leaves.  (New Englanders, forgive me if my memory is getting rosier with the passing years of living overseas…)

I know what you’re going to say #2: “But the weather isn’t always bad in London!!”

OK true, when it’s warm and summery in England, it’s gorgeous.  Really, really nice. I love English summer picnics with jugs of Pimms, strawberries and cream… But that only happens a few weeks out of the year, and then the gray resumes…

So I get a bit sluggish, tired and cold, and start questioning why I’m living here again, and then I remember:

 

Even when you’ve chosen your path in life, there are things you can’t control, and things you won’t like.  C’est la vie.

The true art of good living is enjoying life as it is, not as you wish it could be.

 

How do you enjoy life, even when it’s not perfect?  Let us know your personal tips and reminders for appreciating every day in the comments.

Have you tried these 4 favorite projects?

Here are 4 of your very favorite Vintage Savoir Faire projects, in case you missed them…

Vintage Hair Rinse

Lissa:

“I’m actually doing this at the moment, only with spices: cloves and vanilla and cinnamon. Cloves is supposed to darken and bring out red highlights, and vanilla and cinnamon just smell so delicious!”

 

Hot Cloth Cleanser (aka Portable Oil Cleansing Method)

Carley:

“This is amazing!!! I have been buying a very well known product like this for a while now and costing a fortune! I tailored it slightly but kept to the 50g oil, 30g butter and 20g wax. I tried to recreate the expensive hot cloth cleanser by using.. 20g rosehip seed oil, 10g hemp seed oil, 20g borage seed oil; 30g shea butter and 20g beeswax. I then used 45drops of frankincense essential oil because it’s supposed to have amazing anti-wrinkle properties….Just perfect!

Thank you so much for this :D Carley XXXX”

 

How to Bake Bread – Step by Step Video

Maure:

“Amanda, this is a GREAT video!  I have tried several times to bake bread but I never found a recipe which gave the correct way to knead the bread. People mostly use bread machines and add a comment “if you are doing this by hand, knead for 30 minutes”… Which is discouraging and does not show the way to do it.  My homemade bread is currently rising…”

Maple Pecan (no bake) brownies

Amy:

“Hi!! Just wanted to say, Bravo!!! These brownies were everything you promised, and more!!
Thank you sooo much for your wonderful blog and this amazing recipe! Everyone needs to make this!”

 

Want more great projects? Here are 3 of the most popular projects on Vintage Savoir Faire.

What did I miss? What’s YOUR favorite project? Tell us in the comments!

weekend inspiration

My very favorite discoveries to creatively inspire your weekend

Happy Friday! Hope you’ve had a wonderful week.  Across Europe people are preparing for the month of May and its many, many holidays.  I’m a bit jealous.

I’m keeping busy this week with my Integrative Nutrition course, saw a hilariously vintage Fitzrovia Radio Hour show (if you’re in London, I recommend it!), am reading Wheat Belly and bought my next nutrition read: Primal Body, Primal Mind.

This week on VSF, I shared some of my experiences from Moscow, and spent a weekend on the Kent coast on a wild food foraging course! (More details to come about that soon!)

For now, here are some links for your weekend…

And finally, remember, you have more time than you think.  I forgot that this week and started feeling scattered and stressed.  Thank you, wonderful internet, for a gentle reminder!

Have a great weekend!

xx

Amanda

 

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