Plants + Crystals: Homestead Apothecary

A trip to Oakland, California, would mean a long-haul flight and some additional driving for me. Or else a simple click on Edition Local, an online platform from Northern California building and supporting local communities and small businesses such as the Homestead Apothecary by Nicholas Weinstein. And I must admit I pondered a trip to Oakland when I saw and read the story of Homestead Apothecary.

Nicholas Weinstein opened Homestead Apothecary in 2013 after a long period of feeling sick and tired with no evident reason. Running from one doctor to another yielded no result nor cure. Only after he had decided to visit a naturopath his condition changed slowly to the better. Nicholas Weinstein started experimenting with his own herbal formulas for a sustainable and long-term healing and this endeavor eventually resulted in the founding and opening of Homestead Apothecary, a 'community space for all things herbal'.

The small but beautiful shop boasts with herbal blends, teas, tinctures, crystals, honey, vintage herb books and more. As someone who loves plants and crystals, this shop caught my eye immediately. But I loved Nicholas' story above all - a path commenced due to a personal need that could not be catered to. A path that turned interest, work and passion into a beautiful project and business. After all it is a story that reminds us that we should follow our dreams and create. For our own sake and the sake of the community. Read the full story on Edition Local.

Photography by Aubrey Trinnaman for Edition Local

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From Place To Space: More Paris Travel Tips

Whenever I travel to Paris I discover new, inspiring places. Recently I've started a photo series on Instagram called 'Paris Love Facts' (you can see all my pics on Instagram using the hashtag #happyparislovefacts) and I get often asked to share the tips and addresses. Well, I'm actually doing it all the time here which is why I've included a link in my navigation bar on the right called 'Paris Travel Tips' where you can find all my Paris related posts so far. And today I have one more post to add to this list!

Today I want to share seven Paris travel tips with you, all of which I have experienced and tested myself over the past few months. So let's go!

Paris Travel Tip 01: Holybelly Café
Holybelly Café is pretty new, pretty cool and pretty good! Plus it is located in the hip 'Grange aux Belles' quarter of the 10th arrondissement with many other Paris hotspots, just a stone's throw away of the picturesque Canal St. Martin. It is an excellent place for breakfasts. I went there on a Saturday morning to meet my friend Lindsey and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast with homemade granola, organic apple juice, great pour-over coffee and probably some of the best pancakes in Paris - the blackboard in front of the store was pretty right!

Paris Travel Tip 02: Liberté Bakery
This recently opened bakery is pretty much opposite of the aforementioned Holybelly café in the 10th arrondissement and enticing your eye not only with the delicious bread and French pastries by Benoît Castel, but also with its fantastic architecture. It is located in an old store and most of the interior has been torn down and the raw, industrial bone structure has been left over with traces of an old tiled floor. All this is juxtaposed with a huge marble countertop adorned by the most alluring pastries. Go, see, eat!

Paris Travel Tip 03: Davanh Zoo
This funky name is not a product of sheer fantasy, but the name of the tea salon's owner. But be aware: this is not a regular tea salon. It is a colorful and unique addition to the up and coming 20th arrondissement in Paris' east and combines an almost endless selection of refined organic and fair traded teas (plus homemade sweets) with comic strips. Now I am not a huge comic strip fan, but in France it is pretty hipster to read comics - many adults do in fact! And Davanh will not only offer the opportunity to smell every tea before ordering, but she will also bake you a cookie! What's better to your tea and comic strip than a warm, chewy cookie?

Paris Travel Tip 04: Scoop me a Cookie
If you happen to be a sweet tooth and love cookies, you must definitely head over to the 11th arrondissement to visit the new Scoop me a Cookie boutique. Run and owned by the charming Laura, this little boutique with only two tables offers a huge selection of the yummiest and chewiest cookies ever. Whether you like them with nuts, fruits, peanut butter, green tea or maybe Kinder chocolate - Laura has it for you. And if you have a very peculiar wish, just name it, I am sure you will be treated with your own cookie!

Paris Travel Tip 05: Artazart Design Bookstore
This is my favorite design bookstore in Paris. Located just along the Canal St. Martin in the 10th arrondissement, you will easily recognize it by its fiery red facade and shop windows filled with cool design books. Whether you are interested in photography, advertising, typography, interiors, art or anything else design related - you'll definitely find a book you want and it'll be a tough task to leave empty-handed.

Paris Travel Tip 06: Du Pain et des Idées Bakery
Another must visit (and must taste) bakery in Paris. A mere five minutes walk from the République Square you will arrive at this very traditional looking boulangerie. Its name is actually very well chosen because only by looking at the facade you will instantly have a plethora of ideas (idées) what you will find in there apart from bread (pain) and I can tell you - there's a lot! Their signature product is the so called 'Pain des Amis' and it is incredibly delicious - it's a flatbread featuring a thick crust and a nutty taste. Also not to be missed is the delectable 'Escargot chocolat-pistache'.

Paris Travel Tip 07: Cité du Figuier
The Cité du Figuier is a small residential estate that is centered around a cul-de-sac road in the 11th arrondissement and recalls past times with its cobbled alley and charming old facades of creative offices, workshops and private houses. The entire alley is packed with greens creating a real urban jungle and the main role belongs to a big fig tree who is actually the name patron of the entire settlement. Go there just for a short stroll to get a completely different idea of Paris - especially when you enter the Cité from the rather busy Rue Oberkampf. The entrance to the Cité du Figuier is at Rue Oberkampf 104.

I hope you enjoyed today's little virtual stroll through Paris and hopefully some of these tips will come in handy for your next Paris trip. For the time being, enjoy a great Monday wherever you are!

Photography by Igor Josifovic

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Happily Ever After: Introducing 'Presive'

Up to now I've usually presented stylists, interior designers and photographers in this Friday blog series. Today, I am introducing an online platform/shop named 'Presive' to you. I got in touch with one of the founders on Twitter and Facebook and we caught up in a chat where he explained the reason why Presive was born. And I really liked the idea. So here it is!

Presive is a Barcelona based project and founded by three smart minds who immersed in the Catalan design scene, finding the struggles of the average designer to be incredibly tough. The designers they had met had difficulties finding customers outside their area, and were battling in an industry that favors distributors not designers. Thus, local and good design is hardly ever accessible to a wider audience. In order to change this challenging situation, Presive was brought to existence.

The team of Presive believes that behind every authentic product there is a person and a story. However, gaining access to the millions of showrooms, galleries and websites around the world is difficult. This is where they come in - they work directly with designers to bring their products to the forefront, making them available for a limited time on their site. This keeps the online store fresh and allows designers to grow their business organically and sustainably. A great idea, isn't it?

I've picked a few favorites for you - most of them are on sale now, some will be featured soon! Check it out here. Happy Friday!

Photography via Presive

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