Nutrition – Stylishly Zen

Five Faves

Published on August 19, 2024August 19, 2024 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

I hope that you are having a wonderful summer so far! I made an effort this year to get out and enjoy the warm weather more even if that is just in the form of a daily walk around my neighbourhood. While some days are easier then others to get out the door, I am grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a bit of fresh air and my deepening tan doesn’t hurt either.

Although it has been a while, here are my Five Faves that I am currently loving:

Slow Weekend Mornings – on the weekends I try to go for a walk as soon as I wake up, this allows me to get in some movement early in my day and sets the tone for a great day. As I am not so rushed on the weekends, I have developed a habit of picking up a croissant from my local spot and enjoying it with a good cup of coffee. It’s a simple routine but I often conquer the rest of my day with a sense of calm and nourishment that I don’t normally feel.

2. A simple manicure – I will let you in on a secret, I hate the process of getting my nails done but I love to have manicured nails so I suffer through it. While I have been getting coloured french manicures done for the past few years lately I am hooked on a blue French. So simple and clean yet a cool twist on a classic. Knowing how much I love it helps to make the suffering of getting the actual manicure worth it.

3. My love of podcasts has been well documented on this blog. Lately I love to listen to them on my walks in the morning. The latest episode of Building Billions with Natalie Dawson featuring Maggie Sellers was definitely my favourite from this past week. I am a huge Maggie Sellers fan – if you haven’t heard of her then I encourage you to check out her Hot Smart Rich newsletter. She is smart and beautiful and not afraid to show it. Exactly the type of motivation that I currently need in my life.

4. Japanese Risotto with Salmon – I rarely cook lately. I am not sure if I am distracted or if I am just being lazy but I can’t remember when the last time was that I cooked a meal from scratch. Yesterday though, I was browsing on Pinterest when I came across a recipe from Serving Dumplings (www.servingdumplings.com) for Japanese Risotto with Seared Salmon. It looked delicious and not overly challenging to make and I decided to give it a try. It was delicious and the act of cooking and nourishing myself was exactly what I needed. I will be keeping this recipe on rotation moving forward and I can’t wait to try other recipes from this site.

5. Reminders – the past few years have been a weird struggle for me. Nothing crazy has happened but I continue to find myself in situations where I don’t feel like I belong. I have often keep quiet to keep the peace and have more often then not felt like I am being walked all over. It always seems like it is up to me to be the bigger person, make others feel better all the while internally struggling to feel heard and respected. Needless to say, it has been a lot. Lately though my exhaustion has come thru and I find myself no longer able to just move on and make everything better at the cost to my own self esteem. Like everyone else on this planet I bring a lot to the table and I am tired of feeling like I need to justify my existence or expectation to be treated with respect. Reminders like the above often pop up on my Instagram or Threads feed and more often then not they are resonating with me. Reminding me that it is ok to expect fair and respectful treatment. I am worthy just like everyone else. I love these reminders and I am grateful every time one pops up.

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today, what are you loving lately? Let me know in the comments below. I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Prioritizing Health: 3 Simple Steps to a Balanced Life

Published on June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

To say that life has been quite hectic over the past few years is an understatement. Taking care of myself has at times fallen by the wayside at times when I have been distracted and focused on other things. Lately though, I am realizing just how unhealthy this is, and I no longer want to be that person. My health, both physical and mental need to be prioritized as I am tired of not showing up as my best self. While I am not able to do a complete life over hall at the moment, I am going to work towards building on good habits. Here are the first three that I am starting with:

Drink more water. While this one may seem obvious, my water intake over the past few years (especially the past six months) has declined substantially. I stupidly can’t seem to find the time to drink water – this is a ridiculous predicament and one that needs to be changed ASAP. The reality is that I am just not prioritizing it. I am now committing to drinking the three litres a day that I have been drinking for many years prior to this recent dry spell. Staying hydrated is important for may reasons including regulating your body temperature, delivering nutrients to your cells and keeping your organs functioning properly and it helps to prevent infections. If you feel that you are not drinking enough water, grab a glass and commit to increasing your daily intake with me.
Move. As the weather has gotten warmer, I have been walking a lot more. While these walks give me a sense of peace and gets me outdoors it is no replacement for a good stress relieving cardio session that I need when I am overwhelmed and stressed out. So while I still intend to continue walking I am also going back to the gym. It doesn’t need to be daily, but a few times a week will do wonders for both my physical and mental health.
Sleep. I am exhausted! While I used to be a relatively early sleeper, lately I have been caught up with other things and have been going to sleep quite late. This in turn has made it difficult to wake up in the mornings. Also, having gone thru a very stressful period in my life that only recently ended a few months ago, I was waking up in the middle of the night unable to shut off my active brain. This resulted in me getting an average of 3-4 hours of sleep a night. I am not the type of person that can function well with such little rest. Now I am recommitting to a more regular sleep schedule and prioritizing my rest. Aside from helping me to look and feel better, I am hopeful that getting more rest will also help to support better emotional regulation.

Well there you have it – the first three steps that I am taking to get back to being a more balanced and healthy individual. I intend to layer on more but I need to get back to basics first. Have you been feeling out of sorts lately? What steps are you taking to get back to feeling like yourself? Let me know if you have any tips in the comments.

Thank you for stopping my Stylishly Zen today, I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

my Top 4 Favourite Cortisol Lowering Foods

Published on February 23, 2024February 22, 2024 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

We are officially almost nine weeks into 2024 and already this year is surprising me in many different ways. I am officially free of a toxic situation that I have been miserably tolerating for the past couple of years, and I was reminded in the most dramatic way that health is wealth and must be prioritized. I studied health coaching and holistic nutrition for a reason, given recent events I am now going back to my roots and I am taking my readers with me!

In life, stress is somewhat inevitable. What is important is how we manage it and support ourselves during both good and trying times. Nutrition is a great way to help support yourself as certain foods can help you to decrease cortisol within your body. Getting your fill of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium (aka the stress lowering mineral) and zinc is important to maintain good health especially during life’s more challenging moments. Here are my top 4 cortisol lowering foods:

Avocados

Filled with heart healthy fats and helpful in balancing blood sugar, avocados are at the top of my list for a reason. Avocados are also source of b vitamins, magnesium and potassium. Including a quarter or half of an avocado into your meals is tasty way to reap the benefits of this delicious food.

Bananas

Admittedly, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with bananas. I love a good banana bread but when it comes to eating a banana on its own, unless it is slightly unripe (aka a little bit green on the edges), I find them a bit too sweet. Bananas are also a source of magnesium and potassium along with soluble fibre which helps to lower inflammation within the body.

Dark Chocolate

My favourite food on this list! Dark chocolate is a source of antioxidants and minerals including magnesium, copper and zinc. Just be sure to watch the sugar content, look for at least 70% dark chocolate to reap the benefits while avoiding spiking your blood sugar.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are often recommended to help heal adrenal fatigue. Rich in magnesium and containing healthy fats and fibre, pumpkin seeds are a great way to support your body nutritionally during challenging times.

As with everything, moderation is key. When including any of the above listed foods in your diet, it is important to exercise portion control in order to maximize the benefits without any potential side effects.

Happy eating and I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Disclaimer: Please note that the above is not intended as medical advice and are to be used at your discretion. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only and it not meant to substitute professional dietary advice or treatment.

Photo credit:

All images used in this post are from http://www.bbcgoodfood.com and http://www.healthifyme.com

Inspired by Wabi Sabi

Published on February 28, 2022February 27, 2022 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

There has always been something about Wabi Sabi inspired design that captures my attention. The term Wabi Sabi in design became popular thanks to the talented architect Axel Vervoordt. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, Wabi Sabi is a world view that is centered around the acceptance of imperfection and transience. It is often described as appreciating beauty in the imperfect and incomplete.

Located in the heart of Beijing and designed by Tianjin-based studio Touch Design, today’s featured project is a beautiful example of residential Wabi Sabi. With an inward focus, this home evokes feelings of a sense of belonging, rejuvenation and harmony throughout the home.

What makes this house so memorable is that there is not a single tile or stone used throughout the home. Instead, the main material used was micro cement.

There is a sense of calm and serenity felt throughout the home. With paired back furnishings, a bare colour palette and pops of greenery and natural light, the apartment is a beautiful example of elevated simplicity.

In lieu of art, one niche in the apartment houses circular windows. Paired with green plants and a simple but solid wood bench, the space feels thoughtful and fresh.

Another notable feature in this home is the backwall of the master bedroom. Designed to imitate the texture of stone, the designer painted over an artificial material with a stone coloured latex paint.

Aside from the use of micro cement throughout the home paired with green plants, I love the arched doorways as they add an extra level of warmth and design to this gorgeous space. Love it!

What do you think of this Wabi Sabi style home? Would you design your home in this style? Let me know in the comments below!

Thank you for stopping by Stylishly Zen today! I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

All images via http://www.design-anthology.com

Relaxing Reverie

Published on November 30, 2020November 29, 2020 by soreiyaLeave a comment

Hi Everyone!

Like most people, 2020 has been a challenging year for me. And with those challenges have come lessons that I am grateful to have learned or that I am in the process of learning and understanding. How to slow down has been the most important of all of these lessons as it has taught me patience and to understand what is truly important to me. It has also allowed me to get comfortable with quiet and stillness, two things that I have often struggled with. Lately though, I find myself enjoying simple and quiet moments which is why today’s Relaxing Reverie really resonated with me.
This simple concrete bungalow located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is the perfect example why bigger and expensive does not always mean better. Built with a budget of only $38,000(!) this retreat is simple yet sophisticated and seems like the perfect place to relax.

Designed by PALMA, as Mexico City based design firm, this 50 square metre building is functional and contemporary and blends well within it’s environment. I have always loved simple concrete structures as they perfectly showcase the beauty of brutalist style design and this building is no exception.

The bungalow is comprised of two cubic volumes, one which houses the bedroom and the other the living room and kitchen. The cubes are separated by a open patio. The brutalist style of the bungalow is softened with a thatched roof. This style of roof is quite common within the region as it is an efficient and inexpensive way to encourage ventilation which helps to naturally cool down the interior. Folding doors in both the bedroom and living areas also helps to enhance the ventilation further. Along with a circular skylight on the patio, the folding doors also help the residents to enjoy the views of the surrounding area.

Like the simple aesthetic of the exterior, the interior of the bungalow has been kept minimal with a muted palette of grey and natural wood with the exception of a statement red built in day bed. Stucco was used in place of paint in order to avoid any humidity build up within the walls (which I had never heard of before but I think that it’s genius!). Uncluttered and simple, this bungalow looks like the perfect place to escape, relax and rejuvenate and get back to a simple more thoughtful way of living.