Finding Food, Making Food on the Go(!) Across Europe!

At the famed Soho Hotel in London, making the Glowing Green Smoothie!

Hi Guys!

I hope you had a wonderful week last week!

I had an unbelievable time in Europe working on a whirlwind press tour for a film. We were moving so fast, that when we got to a city I had to really hit the ground running. I called ahead to request certain food be sitting in my minibar in each of the hotels, but there was always shopping I had to do, and things I had to source on the go. It was incredibly stressful at times, and I slept about 2 hours a night- but what an experience!! So fun!! And crazy.

Here’s my mini bar in London. If I had 10 minibars, I’m sure I would have filled them all! I wondered if any of these 5 star hotels ever had as much food made in them?! Btw we flew on a commercial jet First Class to London, and I made food right there in my seat on the way as well!

Here’s my room in Dublin. The table where I would chop and assemble things, and desk area was Vitamix central!

Taken from my hotel window in Dublin…There was always a fleet of black cars taking us around from place to place!

The Dublin premiere was insane.  Hundreds and hundreds of people were lined up in the streets! I had to walk the red carpet myself as I got out of the car and went up ahead, and I have to say that I’ve never had an experience like that with so many people screaming behind a fence, while you are in a little clear passageway. I’ve been to lots of premieres in LA and NY- but none like this one!

On and off the private jet! No need to go through customs! What I really liked was that our bags were labeled and picked up in our rooms, and then delivered to the next hotel room seamlessly! I know they are not great for the environment, but it certainly wasn’t my call! And I don’t see how we would have been able to move around to so many different press events so quickly if not for flying on our own time.

This is my view from my hotel room on the beautiful island of Mallorca, Spain. Gorgeous!!! I’ve been to Spain, but Mallorca is definitely my favorite spot in the country! Also, you do get a bit spoiled traveling like this :).

Below is where the party and the press line were later on that night…

Over to the right is the little boat that took us out to the yacht in the distance… It was beyond magical to be in the Mediterranean on a yacht, surrounded by beautiful Spanish people. I love everything about Spain- the energy, the culture, their look. Well, everything but their cuts and slabs of red meat that are so prevalent! I did bring food on the yacht by the way!

This table became my main food-making station in my room in Mallorca.

Or on the floor! One of my biggest issues was getting the converters to work so I could use the Vitamix in all the countries… Okay after this I stopped taking a lot of pics.

Anyways I am now back in Chicago for a few more weeks working on the movies. Promise to get back to some real nutrition, beauty and health posts soon!

Oddly energized, even with so very little sleep…and of course Lots of love, Kimberly

Pranayama Saves The Day

Last Friday, pranayama (controlled breathing) saved my day.

I was invited to visit a movie set that afternoon to meet with the film’s producer, stars (including an Academy Award winner that I’m a huge fan of!) and makeup artists to discuss natural health and raw food. My excitement turned to stress as my plans appeared to disintegrate before my eyes. An hour before the meeting I stepped out of my apartment to torrential rain. It was the kind of rain that blows sideways (I’m sure you’ve had it happen to you), and my umbrella was painfully inadequate. To make matters worse, I was dressed in a nice outfit, complete with high heels. Not good!

In case you have never tried to hail a New York City taxi in the rain, suffice to say it’s no easy task. As I was about to find out, convincing a cabbie to take me to a movie set in Brooklyn wasn’t going to be much easier!

After some searching I was lucky enough to find an open cab. I had only an address, not directions. The driver pulled over, ‘tried to call his boss’ for directions, and ended up wasting 10 min. before telling me he couldn’t get there. So, I headed back into the rain in search of a driver who could. A cabbie with a grey beard down to his belt solemnly shook his head no. A dude with a moustache laughed at me and rolled past, then another gave me a blank look.

It was now 1:00, I was supposed to already be at the set, I was soaking wet, and I had been in the rain for almost an hour. Dammit! My wavy hair was turning into a frizz-mess – not exactly the kind of ‘do you want to see on a person you are trusting for beauty advice. I and my partner Adam even tried calling several car services, but none were available until 7:00.

I could feel the panic rising inside me and my breath was getting faster- a sure sign that I was losing my equilibrium. I started thinking irrationally- that I would not go to the meeting, that I would stay home and miss out.

I was still only a few blocks from my apartment so I walked home and sat down on a chair for a minute. I took off my heels and my wet coat. Then I closed my eyes, and did some of the simple pranayama exercises that I teach in my yoga classes- breathing for 4, holding for 4, and exhaling out for 4. I let my breath slow down, then did the same exercises but exhaling out of my left nostril only (Yogi Purifier Pranayama), since negativity more easily flushes out your left side.

I changed my clothes, redid my makeup and fixed my hair. I went online, got directions to the set and wrote them down. As I left my apt. I was breathing much more calmly, and what do you know! A cab pulled up to the corner with a smiling, happy driver from Morocco, where I’ve been. He gladly followed my directions, we had a smooth ride over, and I arrived composed and calm.

It turned out to be an amazing day!! The actors, makeup artists and other people were fantastic and more receptive than I even imagined. Pranayama really saved the day!

The Soho Apple Store

If I were single (which I am not) I would hang out at the Apple Store on Prince Street in Soho.  It has occurred to me on more than one occasion that it is the perfect place to meet someone.

If you don’t live in New York this post probably isn’t much good to you, but if you want to keep reading and are picturing a normal Apple Store, erase that image!  The Soho Apple Store is a huge, two-floor structure in the heart of Soho.  It was renovated from a cool old post office building and still bears post office markings on the side of the building.  Laptops and Ipods are on the first floor, and a huge staircase of almost see-through steps invites you upstairs.  It’s almost as if you are going to some magical kingdom, which you practically are. At the top of the stairs is an auditorium where Apple holds free classes on hardware and software, and even music concerts.  Yes, that’s right, free concerts right in the store!  I’ve actually been to some decent ones in there. 

I should probably mention that in spite of today’s posts I am not somehow tied in to Apple.  I’m not even a die-hard Apple proponent, though I do own one of their laptops.  I just happen to think it is a really cool store.  But back to my idea that it could be a great place to meet a special new “friend”…

First off, everyone in the Apple Store probably has at least one thing in common – they like Apple products.  Even if you don’t own one, you can at least appreciate their slick design and genius of the Ipod.  Second, easy conversation-starters abound!  Have you checked out this MacBook Air?  Is it cool?  How do you like your iPhone?  How does the typing work?  I can’t decide between this Ipod color and that one – what do you think?  Third, seeing as you are in the heart of Soho, you’re going to find some cool, interestingly-dressed, all around attractive people in that store.  These are people you may usually not walk right up to, but through the power of technology talk, initial meetings somehow seem much easier…and more natural. 

If you meet that special someone between the Powerbook aisle and the checkout counter I expect details! J