Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Recykeling

Checked out my colleague Silvia's and her boyfriend Paolo's new apartment today. Really cool style and I'm pleased to see that my and Stefano's three old 50's chairs ended up in the right place, around their dinner table :)



Happy times at Ivory



Aunt Eva and her cotton pads

Sometimes I'm just too girly. Couldn't help buying the colored cotton pads yesterday. They make me think of my old aunt Eva. I don't know if she really used them or if it's a memory that I've created my self, but now, however, I'll think of her every time I'll clean my face :)

Missing furinture

Need to fill up the empty space to the right of the window...

Thought something like this...
(pictures borrowed from pinterest)

My food philosophy

I think sometimes that we live in a sick world... Everyday you here about different diets, what to eat and what not to eat. I'm happy that in Italy you hear less about it but when I read Swedish blogs and newspapers it's just too much!
I think young people of today have a hard time to understand what is normal, we forgot how it is to eat when we're hungry and stop when we're full...

After almost 10 years working in the fashion world as a model I got even more allergic to this subject.
I have allways been a skinny girl but working as a model I was never skinny enough since I refused to starve my self, yet 6 years ago I had 5 kilos less than today. Whit my measurements I got booked for more commercial jobs where they wanted a healthier looking type and I was happy about it since the commercial jobs pay better :)

My food philosophy is simple. Eat a litle bit of everything, less of the unhealty things and more of the healthy ones. As much as possible of lokal and organic/ecological food and no fast food like frozen semifinished dishes from the supermarket. I never drink sodas and I never put sugar in my tea or coffe.
It's easy! I eat a lot but I eat good food!
I always start my day with ecological yoghurt, ecological musli, organic jam made from 100% fruit or a fresh fruit, organic green tea and an espresso. (Never got in to the italian way of having breakfast with brioche and a sweet espresso).
For lunch at home we almost always eat some kind of pasta plate or maybe a big sallad in summertime and for dinner we go for more proteins and less carbs, like fish with vegetables or chicken etc... Obviously when we are out eating there are no such rules and in general I never forbid anything. If I want an ice cream I eat an ice cream.
I try to go to the gym 3 times a week and we often take a walk in the evening.

The most important thing though is to love your self they way you are and try to find your very size, I found my "me size" and I love my self the way I am!

My breakfast. Love the Scaldasole bio yoghurt, it's my favorite!
 Back from the food market. Lokal veggies and salame :)

Monday, April 29, 2013

Easy asparagus

This is one of my favorite light dishes in springtime when the asparagus is good. It's so easy it's silly!

This is what you need:
Fresh green asparagus
Half lemon
Chèvre cheese
Pine nuts
Salt and pepper

Clean the asparagus and take away the dry end part.
Cover them with the juice from half a lemon, salt pepper, pine nuts and some chèvre. Put it in the oven at 175 C for about 20 minutes. Serve as a starter o as a light meal with some bread.

Buon apetito!





Cleaning day

After a plate with zucchine and gamberi pasta it's time for me to start cleaning the house.

Found the perfekt cleaning shoes at www.leila.se. Where can I found them? ;)


Fish

Got inspired... Will make some kind of fish dish for lunch today.
The funny thing with my pair of lovely metal fish napkin holders is that I found them in a range of a month but one at a flee market in Pavia and the other one at a flee market in Uppsala. They were made to end up in my very kitchen :)

Grey Monday

Woke up today hearing the rain against the roof. It always makes it even harder to leave the bed. Have to make something good out of this grey Monday... A good housecleaning is on the schedule for this afternoon, couldn't avoid to see the dust coating on this still life in our bedroom...


Sunday, April 28, 2013

Agriturismo

In Italy Sunday is equal eating day. Often you go with friends and family to the countryside to have lunch in an agriturismo. Basically it's a restaurant located in the house of the owners and they serve amazing plates made out of products from there own farm or from the neighborhood. Sometimes they give you up to 10 different small dishes and for sure you never leave unsatisfied.
Here I'll give you some pictures from today afternoon.











Saturday, April 27, 2013

Naked women in art

I can't get enough of the female body whe it comes to art. It inspires me so much and I have to fight with my self to not buy every art piece I find...



Above picturse borrowed from Google.

This is my favorite from our home, placed in my bathroom



White and Gold

Love creating small "still life's" around our house. This is just one of many. My white and gold corner in the kitchen relax area.

Friday, April 26, 2013

My tomato sauce

For lunch today I made my favorite tomato sauce. So easy to make and you can make lots of pasta dish variations out of it. Today I served it with spaghetti, home made meatballs and pecorino cheese.

This is what you need:
Good tomatoes
Garlic
Onion
2 filets of anchovy in olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil
Red wine
A small spoon of honey
Salt and pepper

Let 2 pieces of garlic, one chopped onion and the anchovy fry gently in some olive oil. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper and the honey and let it boil on a small fire with a bit of red wine for about 45 minutes. Make a purée and add what you prefer, like basil or chilli or serve it as it is with some Parmesan cheese. Out of the leftovers I'll make a lovely tomato and ricotta pasta an other day... :)

Buon appetito!











Desire

If I could only pic one piece from our shop right now...

Amazing late 40's / early 50's dress with bolero jacket in lavender blue.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Pics from yesterday

Yesterday turned out great with sun shine and relaxed minds. For lunch we bought fresh sourdough bread and filled them up with cheese, ham, salted pork and salame from a local delicatessen in Bobbio. Had a nice walk on the countryside and sat down by the river for a panino picnic. Stefano found two huge old iron nails that we brought with us. We'll probably use them as hangers in the house somewhere. Will show you when I've found the right spot...











25 Aprile

Today we are on holliday, Italy is celebrating the day of Liberation and all shops are closed. Stefano has taken the day off as well and together with a couple of friends we'll do a trip to the countryside.
Outside Piacenza there are amazing hills and the valley of the river Trebbia is according to Hemingway the most beautiful one in Italy! Trebbia is famous for its green and clean water and in summertime peolpe in Piacenza escapes the heat of the city and go there to swim.
The plan of today is to go to a small village called Bobbio and maybe find an old path to have a walk and a picnic by the river...
Val Trebbia and Bobbio.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Milano

At the lunch break today I had to hurry to Milano for a casting. I am never longing for the old days when I went there everyday but once in a while it's nice to be back. At least on a day like today with sunshine :) had time to go around a little in the Naviglio area, which is one of the most creative areas of Milano. In every corner there's a vintage shop or an independent designer store and the small bars and restaurants are numerous. For sure a place to see if you plan a trip to Milano...





Today's outfit. Black and white

Ballerinas Ghirba, bought in Verona.
Pants Hugo Boss
Chiffong shirt, 80's vintage
Earrings, 80's vintage
Hair, messy!