stir crazy...

The winter leaves a rather dull sensation. My motivation to move is blackened by my desire to stay warm. This has by far been one of the worst winters in years. New York is covered in snow, barreled in corners, on sidewalks, and side streets. Piles of it line everything, and anything. I must say I often find some sort of pleasure in the first two snowfalls because there is beauty in the innocent way the flakes drop but after that it all loses its luster for me. I will be overjoyed to bid this winter adieu when the time comes. Being that I have been stuck inside on most days I have opened up my cookbooks and started stirring stews and baking bread.

I’ve always had a quiet passion for food but it wasn’t until a year or two ago that I began to read labels, pay attention to sodium intake (so many microwavable or heat in the oven meals carry so much that it is no wonder you are constantly asking yourself why you are bloated), and switched from white breads to whole wheat breads (cheating every now and again with trader joes  rye bread which I think is marvelously delicious). I discovered the joy of soups when I briefly gave up carbohydrates for a rather big audition (which I may add turned into a televised disaster). I had told myself that weight shouldn’t be much of an issue when it comes to work but unfortunately it is. I have been turned down for weighing too much, or too little. Once I became a vegan I found my relationship with food became a bit healthier. I don’t mind nor feel guilty for indulging every once and while.

The point of all this talk is that I had to leave my warm, cozy apartment today to pose for Juan Medina who I have grown to adore. I truly hope that we will work together for many years to come, not only is he an incredible talent but his work is only a slim embrace of the soul he carriers within. One of the perks of working with Juan is how close a whole foods is to his studio. I may be one of the few people who seem to have a bit of a food orgasm over the variety that they carry. I am not in awe of this particular ones food bar but everything else is as always a delight. I recently discovered their vegan chicken salad but of course they were all out today so we opted for their vegan turkey salad which was actually better in my opinion. Applied to a vegan roll, with some sweet potato chips on the side it is the perfect remedy to hunger pains. Also no animals were hurt in the making of this easy meal.