So Sylvie

Resting in My Nest

Thank you to all of my friends and guardian angels for your beautiful wishes and for "holding my hand" through this. It means the world to me. I am now home resting, and dreaming of what's to come.

Beyond Cancer

Lately I've been writing Sylvie BC, meaning Sylvie Beyond Cancer. Tomorrow, Wednesday the 28th, is my mastectomy surgery. It's after 9pm and I still don't have my bag packed...and I have to get up at 4:30am!!

The surgery waiting room at the Cancer Center, Stanford

It's a strange world. Strange times. Strange and surreal feelings wash over me. I am suddenly at a loss for words. Keep me in your thoughts. My loving wishes, Sylvie

Marcel, outside of Stanford

Marcel's photo of a sunflower at Stanford

Zippy Breakfast

So zippy in fact, that I almost made it disappear before I could photograph it. This is my variation on an acid-free recipe in the book The pH Miracle. It's organic basmati rice drizzled with olive oil and topped with avocados. I love the smell of morning now with the pot of rice cooking.

If you're just tuning in, I'm trying to maintain a low acidic diet for my health, including fighting off my cancer. It's a good path to follow if you're of a preventative mind. Western medicine for the most part follows the doctrine of Pasteur. That is, that disease is caused by germs that invade the body, therefore we must stop germs through hygiene and antibiotics. By great contrast the book The pH Miracle reveals that Antoine Béchamp, another Frenchman and contemporary of Pasteur, had been doing research which showed that unhealthy cellular conditions in our bodies could create bacteria from within, as well as make us more vulnerable to external bugs taking hold. This is why some people catch a cold and others don't; it depends on the environment in a given person's body. An acidic environment allows for ill-health and disease to thrive. Béchamp's was called The Microzymian Theory.

Béchamp's theory which is well-founded, was discarded in favor of Pasteur's, who was a plagiarist, master marketeer and lobbyist. I drive down Pasteur Drive to get to Stanford Hospital. medical centers are named after him. Western medicine builds monuments in his name. Med students are taught to accept his as the dominant theory. This, even after proof that on his deathbed Pasteur proclaimed that he  himself was wrong and further stated that Béchamp's Microzymian Theory was superior.

Enough of medicating the symptoms. Enough of blind faith in a system built on lies. I tip my glass of wheat grass juice to you Monsieur Béchamp.

Acid-Alkaline.....Angel-Devil

A customer came into the shop recently and started talking about how she was trying to achieve a healthy balance of the acid/alkaline in her body, and recommended it for my cancer. I have since been studying this subject, bought the book "The pH Miracle", and proceeded to try to cut the acidic foods from my diet. I say try because I do love vinegar -- cherry vinegar, grapefruit vinegar, pomegranate vinegar, and good old balsamic. I love olives, tea, wine, and beer (warm Guinness). But most of all, I love my COFFEE! I only drink one cup in the morning, but it's my religion. My ritual. My joy. I'm beginning to think that this pH thing is just a crock. What's wrong with a lil' acid?  Ph*ck pH! Just to show you who's boss, I'm going to insert another coffee photo...

To be serious, there really is something to this overly acidic condition. I've noticed a difference for the better in the short time since I've eliminated certain foods and ingredients from my diet. And I strive to eat more foods of an alkaline nature. Your emotions and thoughts can also be acidic. Beware. Be aware. Having said that, I can't quite bring myself to give up that one cuppa joe. Not yet. Maybe, if someone offers me a modest little farmhouse in Tuscany, I might reconsider.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey...cheers!

Sarah from Sunset Magazine

Merci beaucoup to Sarah Gaffney from Sunset Magazine for profiling my shop, Blossom Home, on Home by Sunset! I must also give thanks to Jess Chamberlain of Sunset, who visited the shop previously, and Victoria Smith, of sfgirlbybay blog, who let everyone know that I exist. Kisses all around.

My New Sister, Barb!

I'm overdue in shining a light on Barbara Blair of Knack Studios, the princess of furniture pimp! Happily we discovered each other online, complete with a six degrees of separation twist. Her style is undeniable and her workspace enviable!

From her inspired studio in a flatiron building in Greenville, South Carolina, Barb transforms pieces that had long since hung up their dancing shoes and gives them reason to live again.

She sands and strips tired old pieces, then refinishes them using lovely papers accents, animated knobs, and some commanding, and some subtle paint colors. She calls it "radically resurfaced furniture".

It's thrilling to have a new partner in furniture crime, Barb!

Designers with Heart

This past week marked the start of the 4th Annual Design on a Dime Benefit for Housing Works, presented by Real Simple Magazine. 30 of the nations top designers donated their time and talent for this charitable event -- co-chaired by Maggie Gyllenhaal (one of my faves!), designer James Huniford and Real Simple’s managing editor Kristin van Ogtrop:

James Huniford, Designer, Sills Huniford; Kristin van Ogtrop, Managing Editor, Real Simple; Charles King, President of Housing Works; Maggie Gyllenhaal, actress; Thom Filica, designer, Thom Filicia inc. (Photo, Demetrius Kambouris)

From the web site: "Housing Works [is] the nation's  largest grassroots AIDS service organization. Since 1990, Housing Works has provided life-saving services to more than 20,000 homeless men, women,  and children living with HIV and AIDS in New York City.
Design on a Dime has  raised over $1 million in support of Housing works programs."

There were room vignettes created by the designers whereby you could purchase items at 70% off retail. The auction part of the event is still happening; through the 22nd. Check out the web site for views of the objects for sale, set up in window vignettes at Housing Works thrift shops in New York City. Below are some objects to tempt you:

Be sure to check out their thrift shops any time you're in New York.