A Slew of Swell Changes

Four months is far too long to ignore a living entity like this poor blog. If anyone is still out there to read and accept my apology, hurray! I'm sorry for such a long absence!

Since my last post in April, I've eaten my way through several cities including Budapest, Barcelona, and Bakersfield, to name a few, plus San Francisco and the Spanish island of Ibiza to name two more. I've had one vegetarian Paris-themed article published (in UK magazine Vegetarian Living), launched a travel+wellness+beauty lifestyle magazine for vegan-leaning women (Swell! is still in its infancy stage, but you have to start somewhere!), wrote a gluten-free vegan cookbook for Callisto Media, and just had my third book, Vegetarian Paris, published by UK publishing house Vegetarian Guides.

(Would you like a free copy? Yes, you say? Then mosey over here for a chance to win one!)

Change is definitely in the air, but I'm not sure what direction life will take me (or, to be more "in charge" and "proactive" sounding, which direction I will take life). I dream of a mobile lifestyle where I chase the sun and swim daily in the sea, eat healthfully every day and stay stress-free, surrounded by humans and animals I adore. That's a dream in progress! Meaningful work is another part of the life-quest equation, and I sometimes wonder whether all the stars will align in a way that brings deep, unbridled joy--or at least high levels of satisfaction!

Well, while I sort it all out, I'll leave you with a few photos snapped over the last few months. And what about you? What are you doing/eating/reading/thinking/loving right now?

Good eatin' in Budapest at Napfenyes Etterem.

Vegans can sniff these out from kilometers away.

Vintage in Budapest.

Dreams really do come true: The raw vegan cake edition. (@ Mannatural in Budapest)

Last chance at summer! Late August in Ibiza.

See where it says "Travel"? That's my piece!

An early mock-up of my newest book. In the final version, my name isn't so front and center.

Barcelona treats.

Barcelona, looking a lot like San Francisco here (except for those silly trees in the foreground).

Will the real San Francisco please stand up?!

A little vegan oasis in ... Bakersfield!

Goodbye, summer!

Derring-Do

One of the best things about being vegan in Paris? Bo bun!

Those who know me well know that I am impulsive. I'm known to leap off metaphorical mountain tops without excessive rumination, and while the regrets have been few, there are a couple of things I'd have done differently if I were given the chance for a do-over.

Vegan cheesecake from Cafe Ginger.

Moving to France wasn't one of my typically impetuous maneuvers. I planned everything meticulously and thoughtfully, taking into consideration every facet of such a big geographical shift. One of the aspects that required the greatest investment of time and energy was figuring out how to work here legally; not many countries freely distribute working visas, unless the person asking is highly skilled/educated, and the need for his or her particular talents is high.

Buying in-season produce at the marche is one way vegans can fully experience  la vie francaise.

Thankfully, I was able to pull it off by submitting a proposal for a Carte Competences et Talents, a visa that allows artists to live in France to work on a project of their choosing for three years, and to get paid for it while they're here. (If they can find a way to earn money from their project, that is.)

Did somebody say "organic wine"?

Two weeks from today, I'll finally be able to tick off one of the goals I'd outlined in that initial proposal when I teach my very first class on the subject of vegetarian living in Paris. The class is offered through WICE, a non-profit cultural organization for Anglophones and others who want to learn new things, meet interesting people, and enjoy the process in a language they understand.

Like Nutella, only better, since it doesn't have milk in it!

I'm excited to meet my students and learn why they're interested in vegetarianism. My greatest hope for this experience is that I'll be able to impart some of the wisdom and experience I've collected over the years and offer it in a way that will support them on their path toward compassionate living. That will require gentleness, a non-judgmental attitude, and patience, which I intend to deliver in the spirit of fun and adventure.

Does anything lift your spirits more than a flower stall erupting with springtime blooms?

And food samples, of course. That's the surest way to win someone's heart, in my experience! If you have teaching tricks, words of wisdom, or any suggestions for successful information sharing, I totally welcome them!