Florence, Italy is my happy place. Yes, it’s inherently beautiful, but the people there put a premium on living beautiful lives in beautiful environments. Environments are created by objects, people, emotions, and so much more. When people are living from a place of ease and joy, and taking care of the places they spend time, that energy permeates other people who enter their worlds.
 
Vacations are always refreshing because you’re entering a new place that’s usually exists to foster pleasure. Your entire demeanor changes, and you soften and open, sparking creativity, productivity and ease upon returning to your daily life.
 
One of my favorite ways to create an environment is simply through food. When food is prepared with care and love, it hits all the senses and deeply nourishes us and brings us joy. Nothing slows down the frantic pace of 2014 like a beautifully prepared meal.
environments-2Environments create behaviors; behaviors have a domino effect, and ultimately, create a person. The spaces in which you live and how you feed and take care of yourself are a direct reflection of who you are. How you do one thing is how you do everything.

When you’re living from a place of beauty and joy, it lifts other people up. Your mental state creates your physicality. A light mind fosters a light body, and a light attitude, necessary in this competitive world.
 
New York is my heart and my home, but I have to be more intentional to create beautiful environments here, and notice the beauty that naturally exists around me. So many people power through their days with their heads down, never looking up to notice the natural magnificence and power that New York exudes, much less take time to create nurturing spaces for themselves.
 
Those people impact their surroundings, and the people around them, and sometimes it’s difficult to not get caught up in their craze, which can appear glamorous. When I succumb to this paradigm of pushing through to “make it happen” without enjoying the process, I notice a significant decrease in my happiness, productivity, playfulness and ability to connect.
 
When I stay true to my deep self-knowledge is when I’m at my peak. This means purposefully crafting my environment to support me, treating myself incredibly well through quiet time, baths and massages, and cooking beautiful food.
 
I intentionally and thoughtfully create my environments, from my bathroom to my office. I add elements that lift me up and deeply impact my psyche, and in my case, my physical body.
 
I’m incredibly psychosomatic, which means my feelings and external stimuli affect how I physically feel. The most well known example of a psychosomatic reaction is nervousness leading to an upset stomach.
 
Psychosomatic is defined as “(of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict and stress.” When you fall into this category, it’s extra important to cushion the impact of external factors like stress and others’ negative emotions by creating your own beautiful world around you.

Here are five primary areas I love to craft into nourishing spaces:
 
Restroom. Add a beautiful piece of art, lots of candles, and keep essential oils handy. I always have a huge jar of coconut oil in my bathroom, and my favorite shampoo, conditioner, face moisturizer and hair products. I keep things pretty simple, but my core essentials have become so important to me. Get luxurious.

Kitchen. Keep it clean. I can’t go to sleep without cleaning up my kitchen. It makes me feel like my day has come to a close, and I can go to bed with a clean slate for the next day. I also love to organize spices and grains in beautiful ball jars, and keep all my teas in a pretty, embossed wood box. Keep your fridge organized – a cluttered fridge translates to a cluttered mind and confused body. Keeping things in their place will help you see what you have, make ideal food choices and avoid waste.

Dining spaces. Sit down, light a candle, and minimize distractions. Put your fork down between bites, chew well, and think about the flavors and textures of your food. Digestion starts with your eyes then teeth – your intestines can’t do all the work. Imagine your meal nourishing your body beautifully, and enjoy every bite of it.

Office. Add a plant! Oxygen and beauty at your desk will totally up level your workday. Keep things organized, so you’re not scrambling to find things. Again, clutter at your desk will contribute to a scattered mind. Keep your favorite tea at your desk, and essential oils, such as lavender to relax you, and peppermint to energize you. I also love to keep a head scratcher or self-massager at my desk. Affirmations also work great here – get an affirmation calendar or write down your favorite ones on post-its to keep you centered and give you perspective throughout your day.

Bedroom. Reserve your bedroom for sleeping and sex. Don’t work or eat in your room. Make it a sacred place. Make your bed every day, and invest in a comfortable bed and luxurious sheets and pillowcases. Add flowers, and perhaps a Buddha or other spiritual icon that keeps you grounded.
 
This week, I have a beautiful recipe to share with you, to be enjoyed slowly and luxuriously.

Thai Noodles with Spring Vegetables and Seared Shrimp
 
Ingredients

1 bundle buckwheat noodles
¼ cup sliced red pepper
¼ cup yellow squash
2 radishes
1/8 cup chopped scallions
3 large shrimp
1 T black sesame seeds
1 T macadamia oil, or other high-heat oil
1 T toasted sesame oil
1 T brown rice vinegar
2 T soy sauce, or to taste
1 t honey
1 t sriracha

Method
 
Cook buckwheat noodles according to instructions on package. Keep in bowl of cold water after cooking, until ready to use.

Slice red pepper, yellow squash and radishes. Chop scallions. Add to bowl with patted-dry buckwheat noodles. Add sesame oil, brown rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey and sriracha and toss thoroughly. Taste and adjust seasoning to preference.

Bring macadamia oil up to high heat in pan. Add shrimp, salt both sides lightly, and sear for three minutes on each side. Top noodles with shrimp and garnish with black sesame seeds.

Bon appétit!

Photos: Jake Freeman