Sarah Wilson

take a flanerie

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This is a wonderful French word. And it’s very Parisienne in nature. Flanerie: to take a wander around a city just to look and smell and absorb.

in love with the city take a flanerie
Photo via Vogue Japan

I’ve JUST today settled on my first apartment. The keys are sitting here on my table. It’s big. For me. The purchase is part of my latest experiment: getting anchored…so that I have a sturdier base from which to flit and fly. Which is what I like doing best.

You might find this odd. My apartment – in stark contrast to where I’ve been the past two years – is in the middle of the most densely populated suburb in Sydney (and, for that matter, Australia). It ain’t no tin shed in the forest!

I’m nervous about being around so much humanity and humming and freneticness and smell. But I feel it’s time for me to get cool with humanity and to be truly in and amongst it. Can’t go over it, can’t go around it, must go through it.

Which brings me to the beauty of flanerie. The French do this on a Saturday afternoon in Paris. They don’t wander around shops and buy shit they don’t need. The French have simple tastes. Excess is deemed vulgar. Instead, they wander the streets, dropping in for a coffee or an aperitif at cafes. Cafes, where the chairs face outwards

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14 things to do with fermented cream cheese

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Crikey I love curd. And blimey it’s the easiest way to get some probiotic love into your guts. A few weeks back I outlined 5 ways to use whey. Today I’m going to share what you can do with the other half of the equation: the curds. Because as you know, you make these two wonder stuffs by simply draining some yoghurt for a few days…for those of you who missed it,  here’s how to make cream cheese.

ENDIVE SARDINE 076 14 things to do with fermented cream cheese

Today, I’m going to share a few more things to do with cream cheese. Like whey, the curd, or cream cheese that you’re left with, is a fermented product teaming with life. Sally Fallon, who is the Dame of Fermented Goodness, says this: “These friendly creatures and their by-products keep pathogens at bay, guard against infectious illness, and aid in the fullest possible digestion of all food we consume. Perhaps this is why so many traditional societies value fermented milk products for their health-promoting properties and insist on giving them to the sick, the aged and nursing mothers.”

Fermentation with lactic acid bacteria increases the nutritive value of foods because of improved bioavailability and can enhance the absorption of protein and minerals, particularly calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and copper. Lactic acid bacteria can synthesize the vitamins folic acid, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B12.

Empirical research has identified a long list of health conditions that may be helped by consuming foods containing lactic acid bacteria, including colitis, constipation, diarrhea, gas, gastric reflux, heartburn, Crohn’s disease, gum disease and high cholesterol. Recent studies have shown a positive effect of probiotics on autism and obesity.

But to a few ideas I’ve been playing with…

1. Spread on crackers with Vegemite spread over the top.

2. Make some sardine and endive boats. The recipe is in my I Quit Sugar Cookbook.

3. A simple dip: Blend some cream cheese with garlic, finely shopped shallots, fresh herbs (I like thyme),  olive oil.

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My 12 days of Christmas giveaway!

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It’s exactly twelve days to Christmas. And so: a twelve days of Christmas giveaway seems entirely appropriate. Also, I’ve had a great year with everyone here. And it would be nice to share around a bunch of special prizes as a thank you. Feel free to spread them around as Christmas gifts for your friends … Read more

stay

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During my recent travels I visited Moustier St Marie in Provence. There I did a meditation on a hill overlooking the town and a crackin’ storm blew in. Now I realise this sounds very faux atmospherique, but I’m trusting that  you know I don’t drop such deus ex machina stunts into my stories very often. Anyway, as lightening flashed and warm raindrops thudded the earth, I suddenly got overwhelmed with the idea of “stay”.

photo2 stay

Which was funny, because I was about to take off again for another town, another country the next day. But, for some reason, on that hot afternoon in Provence, stay meant something else. I’ve been pondering it since. Playing with it.

Stay means to stick with exactly what I’m doing right at that moment, even if in that moment I’m moving onwards and upwards and outwards.

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three summer quinoa recipes…from the gorgeous Cannelle et Vanille

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I’ve mentioned before how Aran Goyoaga, the beautiful writer and chef behind blog Cannelle et Vanille, and I met online. We connected via our shared issues with thyroid disease. We’ve never met – she lives in Florida – but we write to each other on Twitter and emal. A modern pen pal kind of thing.

Zucchini Tart three summer quinoa recipes...from the gorgeous Cannelle et Vanille
Zucchini, Quinoa & Goat Cheese Tart (recipe below)

A while back Aran went gluten-free. Which made me happy, not just for her health, but for the planet. It meant some pretty special recipes were going to come our way.

And they did. Aran sent me her cookbook last week and I’ve shown it to a few people. Like me, they’ve been floored by just how creative her recipes are. And how pretty she can make the simplest of dishes look. It’s not lavish, nor holier-than-though food. It’s elegant and nutritious and you’re left wanting to have what she’s having. It was all good timing: Small Plates and Sweet Treats is out this week in Australia, with Hachette.

Many of her sweet treats contain sugar…but I reckon they’re easily able to be converted to sugar-free by substituting with stevia or rice malt syrup. Just watch me try…and I’ve almost convinced Aran to quit sugar, too! For now, I’m going to share three of her summery quinoa recipes, so you can get a feel for her style and flavour.

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We’re moving onwards…and I’d love your thoughts

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I have a Little Announcement on a Monday. In the New Year, you’ll notice a few changes to this site. They’re being made, partly in response to feedback you’ve given me over the year. I listen! I do!

22highway We're moving onwards...and I'd love your thoughts
Image by Christoph Niemann

In a snappy statement: the I Quit Sugar adventure, which has taken on a life of it’s own over 2012, will be launched in a fresh, bold, new direction in early 2013. It’s been estimated more than 60,000 people have done my 8-Week Program. Eleven months ago, when I first launched the program, I never expected it to penetrate so far. I put out that first ebook because YOU asked me to. Jo and I got repeated requests to have the tips and techniques set out in an all-in-one package. So that’s what I did.

A year ago I told those around me I’d be happy if I  could affect change in the health of a few hundred people. How rad would that be?! Well, it all got far more radder than I could ever have hoped for.

So I Quit Sugar will be branching out on its own adventure.

And I will continue to share all manner of other stuff here on this blog: my spiritual stuff, my political musings, my life detox efforts, my travel adventures and, well, whatever I get into next. While the new IQS adventure will see further support programs, meal plans and recipes to help more people quit sugar and realise real wellness. Again, YOU asked for it.

Speaking of Jo: I’ve assembled a little team who will be riding the train(s) with me. As of this week,

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my christmas gift guide

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This year Jo and I ummed and ahhed about how to do our Christmas gift guide. We get a lot of products thrown at us at Christmas time, and sometimes things can get grubby, with folk wanting to pay me to have their product in the list and sending me guff I don’t need to “try”. So, we decided we’d do a guide, but only include products that we know are authentic, and make life better. They’re bits and pieces that interest bike riders, foodies and people wanting a simpler, greener Christmas. Certainly not exhaustive.

26529085275086551 cf2RqSUn my christmas gift guide
image via All Things Australian

Instead of accepting  ad cash I’m inviting everyone who’s getting a guernsey in this guide to donate $100 to a woman I’ve recently met who could do with some help this Christmas. Belma cleans my friend’s house and I’ve got to know her while staying there the past two months. Belma recently suffered tragedy and is in a really rough position. You can read her story here.  The gist of it is below:

Sydney cleaner, Belma Wilson has lost everything in a fire that destroyed her home and left her husband with burns to 30 per cent of his body. Ms Wilson, 49, told The Australian Women’s Weekly she was distraught but very lucky to be staying in a friend’s tiny studio apartment with her three children. “We don’t have the documents. Our passports and everything … all gone,” Ms Wilson said. “The clothes we wore on that day are all we have. We’re back to zero again.” Attempts by The Weekly to assist the family failed last night as NSW Emergency Housing admitted that without any documentation the department, like Centrelink was unable to assist. Instead The Weekly was referred to Sydney Multicultural Community Services, a non-Government body set up to assist where families who did not speak English as a first language. However, at the time of publication they could not be contacted. The family, which is in shock, is living on the assistance of friends who have donated food but they have no possessions.

Many of the gift guide contributors have promised their support to Belma and her family and I’d like to thank them heartily for their care.

If you’d also like to donate gifts/food to make her family’s Christmas better, her account details are below. If it feels right. And, no, she’s no relation of mine! My friend Helen and I will be organising food for her Christmas day. I’ll be sure to follow up in the New Year with an update on Belma, too.

Account Name: Belma Wilson
Branch: ANZ
BSB: 012 395
Account no: 487605852

And now to the gift guide!

Screen Shot 2012 11 30 at 2.37.55 PM my christmas gift guide

For your mum:  the classic herb trio, by Green Thumb Gifts, for $65. This is one of my favourites. The classic herb trio of fresh rosemary, mint and parsley, in quaint pots. These can sit in the kitchen for everyday use. Green Thumb

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I’d hate to plan your funeral

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How do you make a man drink? As in, how does a woman convince a bloke of something that she cares about? You can lead him to the water, but getting him to imbibe is another matter. Which is a weird way to introduce a new TAC (Transport Accident Commission) campaign geared at getting women to tell the men in their lives to slow down.

The TAC have paid for an advertisement on my site. I said I would be happy to help spread their message in support because I feel it’s a worthy one. For more information on my advertising and sponosored features philosophy click here.

 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzAHsJYuTNM[/youtube]

It’s a good issue for us to be thinking about at this time of year when we’re all hopping in cars with the blokes in our lives, in a rush to get somewhere. The facts are these:

  • Male drivers aged 21-26 are 50% more likely to be involved in a car crash due to speeding.
  • Women can be a positive influence on male driving behaviour. If they can get through to them.

The TAC campaign is quite clever – it’s about getting women to talk to men about speeding by using social media, specifically Pinterest. The message is this:

“I’d hate to plan your funeral”

Are you on Pinterest? Here’s the link to their Pinterest board. Have a play and if you want to jump in on the conversation on Twitter, use the hashtag “#slowdown”.

But back to leading horses to water. How DO we get blokes on board? How DO we influence male driving? In my days at

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