Parisian's Pure Indulgence

Here we are...

With Luci Weston

 

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder... BUT it is also created by one's approach to health & wellness. My guest, Kelli Parisian, founder of Parisian's Pure Indulgence, shares her timeless beauty philosophy to looking good on the outside while feeling great on the inside. From business strategy, beauty tips for looking your best at any age, to creating the life you really want, Kelli offers her expertise and insight so you can live it, too!

  Listen to Kelli and Luci discuss business and beauty and receive promo code for 20% savings on your next Parisian's Pure Indulgence purchase here.

The beauty of change

  For years I had a living room that was rarely used.  Christmas, and other Holiday dinners took place there, but that's it.  I do not have a formal dining room, so we decided it was time to make better use of the living room.  This year, Easter dinner was enjoyed in our new un-traditional entertaining room. 

 

 Our Easter table

  Our first course - greens topped with a roasted medley of golden beets, mini-sweet peppers, baby eggplant, drizzled with feta and vanilla fig balsamic vinegar

 

 Jeff did an amazing job on this room in a very short period of time.  To learn more about his work, visit  www.JeffreyKendallDesign.com .

 

You eat with your eyes first

 

Menu: Tangerine Maple Glazed Chicken

Courtesy of Bobby Flay, 2007

Recipe calls for chicken legs and thighs.  I used boneless, skinless breasts, instead.  I also used fresh tangerine and orange juice.  Be sure to taste your sauce at the end.  I added a little more maple syrup than recipe called for.

• 5 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 small red onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 quart tangerine juice or tangerine-orange juice, not from concentrate
• 4 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tangerine or orange, zested
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 8 bone-in chicken thighs
• Salt
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
• Grilled oranges and tangerines, for garnish

Directions

Heat the grill to medium-high.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium saucepan over high heat, add the onion and cook until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the juice and thyme, bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced to approximately 1/2 cup, 20 to 25 minutes.

Strain the mixture into a bowl and whisk in the syrup, soy sauce and black pepper and let cool to room temperature. Can be made 2 days in advance and brought to room temperature before using.

Brush chicken on both sides with the remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown on both sides and just cooked through. Begin brushing with the glaze during the last 5 minutes of grilling. Remove to a platter and sprinkle with the green onion. Garnish with grilled citrus.

 

Courtesy of  www.veggiebelly.com

Blueberry Mango Quinoa Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing Recipe

Serves about 2

I used jicama instead of cucumber.  It added a nice crispness to the salad.

For the quinoa
1/2 cup quinoa
1 cup water

For the fruits and veggies
½ cup fresh blueberries
½ cup cubed ripe mangoes
½ cup cubed cucumbers
1/2 tablespoon dried cranberries

For the lemon basil dressing
1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
10 Basil leaves, chopped finely
Salt and pepper

Place the quinoa and water in a medium skillet and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat, and simmer covered for about 15 minutes or till the quinoa is cooked. Remove the lid, and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Let it cool to room temperature.

While the quinoa is cooking, combine the fruits in a bowl and refrigerate till you are ready to serve the salad.

Whisk together all the dressing ingredients, except the chopped basil. Refrigerate till you are ready to serve. Chop and add the basil to the dressing just before serving. If you add it earlier, it will go black.

Add half the dressing to the quinoa and mix gently.

Assemble the salad just before serving – toss the quinoa, fruits and cucumbers together. Serve other half of the dressing on the side. Serve  immediately.

Blackberry Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Courtesy of Kelli Parisian

1 box Trader Joe's Vanilla Cake mix

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

*****

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cups pineapple (I used fresh, but you can used pineapple chunks in a can too)

3/4 cup fresh blackberries (plus a few for decorating the top of cake-you can )

 This cake was so easy!  I used a box of Trader Joe's Vanilla cake mix.  I substituted the milk for buttermilk and added an additional 1 tsp of some high quality vanilla I have in my pantry.  Make the mix according to directions. Butter the sides of a 10 in round pan.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 1/4 cup of butter in small saucepan and stir in 12 cup of brown sugar. Pour this into 10 inch round pan.  Mix fruits together, and place on top of butter and brown sugar mixture.  Pour cake mix on top of fruit.  Bake 30-45 minutes (depending on your oven), testing after 30.  When toothpick comes out clean, it's done.

This cake is even better the next day!

 

 

 

Japanese Brunch

I love entertaining and making my guests feel special.  The tea set you see pictured here, was purchased in Japan by my father in 1951, and given to my Grandmother.  Dad gave it to me after she passed away because he knew how much I would appreciate it.

Pecan coffee Cake

Cake:

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

2 tbls baking powder

pinch salt

1 cup sour cream

2 tsp. vanilla

Filling:

2 cups pecans, chopped

3 Tbls. butter, softened

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. pumkin pie spice

In a mixer, cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  In another small bowl mix flour, baking powder, and salt, add 1/2 the flour mixture to the butter and mix.  Add 1/2 cup sour cream, and mix.  Add the other half of the flour and mix.  Add remaining 1/2 cup sour cream and vanilla.

Grease bundt pan with butter.  Place 1/2 batter in pan (it will be very thick).

In a small bowl, mix pecans, butter, sugar, and flour.  Mix to form a crumbly meal.  Add spices. 

Top the batter you have in pan with the pecan filling, and remaining batter on top.

Place in 350 degree oven for 45-55 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool and then glaze cake.

Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1-2 tbls milk

The cake was decorated by filling the center with blackberries, and lining the cake plate with green apples, orange slices, kiwi, and flowers found in the garden.

 We discovered the image of a Japanese Geisha in the bottom of each tea cup by holding the cup up to the light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomato and Saffron Halibut - Perfect Valentine's Day Dinner

Healthy Valentine's Day Fare: 

At Parisian's Pure Indulgence Organic Skin Care, we believe in nourishing the skin from the inside out.  This recipe is rich in the antioxidant properties of lycopene, and vitamins A and C, found in the tomatoes.  Halibut offers a protein content of over 30 grams per 4 ounce serving, along with vitamins B12 and B6.  This recipe is very easy to make and one of my favorite recipes for a special occasion, like Valentine's Day.

3    pounds plum tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
2    cups red grape tomatoes, halved
1    cup yellow teardrop tomatoes, halved
8    8-ounce halibut filets (each about 1 inch thick)
 
½   cup olive oil
3    Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
2   Green onions, chopped (white part only)
1    Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro plus cilantro springs for garnish
2    Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
¼   teaspoon saffron threads
 
          Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place all tomatoes in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper, toss to combine.  Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper; place atop tomatoes.
 
          Whisk oil, vinegar, green onions chopped cilantro, basil and saffron in small bowl to blend.  Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.  Pour dressing evenly over fish.  Let stand 10 minutes.
 
          Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 10-15 minutes.  Cool slightly.  Place 1 fillet on each of 8 plates.  Season tomato mixturee to taste with salt and pepper.  Top fish with tomato mixture, dividing
equally.  Garnish with cilantro springs.  Serve warm.  Serves 8

Facebook contest

 

We are running a special promotion, from now, until February 14th.  Here's how it works:

1. Friend me, Kelli Parisian, on facebook.  If you are already my friend, skip this step. 
2. Go to the PPI web site, pick one of your favorite products, then click "write a review."  Tell us why you like the product.  www.ParisiansPureIndulgence.com 
3. Next, Click "Like" on the product.   
4. When I see it on facebook, you will receive a coupon code for a 20% savings the next time you order the treatment (1 only).  I will send you the special code.

 

 

What does your home say about you?

Read Helen Arabanos' book, "He's Into You...But is His Home?  What a Man's Feng Shui Can Reveal About Him."  

 

Beauty.  Outer beauty often catches attention, but inner beauty holds attention. The Ancient Chinese Practice of Feng Shui is often described as bringing the beauty of nature indoors; you could say, bringing outward beauty inward.  Doing so allows our inner beauty to shine and we carry that out into the world. It’s a circular flow of energy.

The Taiji symbol, often called Yin Yang symbol, represents the flow of energy.  Each side flows into the other. The two are very interrelated, much like how our outer and our inner beauty is related.

 

What we feel inside reflects from and onto what we see outside and what we see outside, reflects from and onto how we feel inside.  Let’s look at this another way.

Our home, for most of us, is a respite; that place we go after a long hard day to regroup,  renew and refresh. It is also that place we go to share with loved ones the joys we experience out in the world each day.

 

If you’ve ever lived with disruptive neighbors, or difficult roommates, or even family members that you didn’t always get along with, then you know what it is like to not have your home support you.  You know what I mean by that: Out in the world you feel relaxed and happy, but the moment you step in the door to that house, or that office you work in, you tense up. You may become angry, short-fused, or edgy; thus blocking your inner beauty from shining for the world to see.

 

What we see and experience in the world is a reflection of what we are feeling. Making sure your home is a haven for you is one way to help your inner beauty shine outward for all to see. Even if you can’t decorate your entire home the way you would if money were no object, you can make sure it supports you, your goals, and your desires. Here are some tips to help your inner beauty shine through with the help of your home.

• Consider removing any furnishings that you don’t like or are reminders of less than happy times in your past. They tend to generate a tensing reaction each time you see them which blocks your inner beauty.
• Make sure you have at least one object that you love in each room or area that you spend time, preferably in line of sight from where you most often sit. This will be the focal point for you which will keep you feeling happy.
• Contrary to common practice, your bedroom should be the loveliest of all your rooms. It is the last thing you see when you go to sleep and the first thing you see when you wake up. It is also where you spend most of your time. It’s the place where you rest and regenerate so be sure to surround yourself with relaxing and calming things that you love and that make you feel good.

 

Helen Arabanos

Owner, Author, Consultant

Learn more; visit www.FullBloomFengShui.com

Like us on Facebook FullBloomFengShui  [Here’s the link if you actually want to make it be a link https://www.facebook.com/#!/FullBloomFengShui]

 

Letter from Sharon

 
Dear Kelli,

    Every October I remember those people who were so special in helping me when I went through my chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries to overcome two battles with breast cancer, and, not surprisingly, you and Pure Indulgence always come to mind.

   The second time around, I was treated with a drug and, unfortunately, was blessed with a very rare side effect-the death of my fingernails and toenails.  My hands and cuticles were painfully dry.  I also had extreme skin dryness, on my chest area where I had previously undergone radiation treatments. 

   I started to use the Pure Indulgence Whipped Shea Souffle and saw results immediately.  I credit its use for alleviating the dryness around my cuticles and everywhere else that I used it. 

   If I had not had the extreme symptoms, I might never have tried the Souffle.  That is why I say I was "blessed" with the not-so-pleasant side effects-now I use the Souffle regularly and my hands, elbows and feet have not been this smooth since I was a teenager.

   Two of my cousins were diagnosed with breast cancer after I was, and I sent them both the Souffle.  It can really be the perfect gift for someone who is going through a rough time fighting the horrible disease, especially if you live far away and aren't able to lend a helping hand in person. 

   Thanks again for being there.

                                                                                Sharon St. Amand

Independence

by Eli Leichter

Independence...not everything it's touted to be.  We have been trained for the last one or two decades–don’t rely on ANYONE–not a single solitary person, to tout your own fulfilled and wholesome individual.  We make homes, We make children, We even make love….alone.
Think about this.
It’s become such an incredible influence to our deep rooted core, that we have forgotten the most basic human, loving and soulful aspect to our lives…..reliance. Have we become so intensely subordinate to our core values that we sustain ourselves above and beyond reliance ?
This is basic.
Our values as a society now dictate that people no longer NEED each other?...Cont. from PPI newsletter--We have no sustained efforts toward mutual honor and respect, that we forsake even the kindest gestures toward one another?
I cannot fathom the ideology here.
So much and so many of us have become entwined in this independence that we shout to the heaven’s, “I require no one to be or become, therefore, I am perfectly happy and content going it alone!”
It has become so incredibly acceptable to be alone, so many deeply concerned and loving people get lost in the proverbial shuffle of this so called independence.  All this leading us to a dead end curve of loneliness, longing and independence.
Oh, there may be success in monetary value within that independence, but at the end of the day, do you truly wish to be too independent (and alone) ?
I for one know, in the deepest aspect of my existence, I am NOT independent.  I will myself for lack thereof, for I truly know that happiness comes from union. That union reflects reliance on other’s. Reliant Honor, Reliant Respect, Reliant Admiration…even Reliant Love.
I have formed a unity of mutuality. My mind is filled with combinations of joined effort.  I seek that which would fulfill me most.
Reliance upon other’s.
I feel no worse for it, nor will I allow outside forces to facilitate a mocking gesture towards me.I am NOT independent. I am no longer to go it alone.
For within you, I not only seek a proverbial lack of independence, I seek solitude, with you, by my side. May respect and love attack independence. May the best word win.  My wish for the ages.
May you NEVER be too independent...again!

Coulda Woulda Shoulda Shuttapa!

  by Karen Salmansohn

Are you right now blaming your past for what’s missing in your present? If so, I say: Coulda woulda shoulda shuttupa! The time has come to stop blaming your past - and start blaming your present. What are you doing NOW to get the life you want NOW? With this in mind, I’ve got a few tips for how to better use your NOW to its fullest, so you can live your life to its fullest!
1. Next time you’re tempted to torture yourself with painful memories from your past, repeat this mantra: I am not my past behavior. I am not my past failures. I am not how others have at one time treated me. I am only who I think I am right now in this moment. I am only what I do right now in this moment!
2. Recognize if you ask depressing questions about your past, you will get depressing answers! For example there are no happy answers to "Why didn't I?" "Why did I?" "What if?" These are all time-wasters and downwardspiralers.. Hence, you must....from PPI Newsletter stop them and swap them with these new present-tense-oriented questions - which will make your present less-tense: "How can I learn from this?" "How am I better person from this?" "What can I do now to make my life better?" "Who can I surround myself with today to make my life happier?" "What can I do to relax?" "What do I have to look forward to that I should aim myself at?"
3. Step outside yourself. Volunteering is a great way to look outside your own problems and pain. Giving back makes you happier by giving you a sense of purpose and connecting you heart to heart to others. Plus, volunteering also helps to put your problems in perspective.
4. Remember - the part cannot be greater than the whole. It’s important to remind yourself that this hard time you’ve been through is merely a “slice” of your life, not your whole life. Think about your wide open future -- and remind yourself how you don't want your life to be defined by one circumstance from your past. Keep a gratitude journal to remind yourself of everything you do have in your life - rather than what's missing.

Follow Karen Salmansohn on facebook here.