Homemade organic almond milk

 

The easiest recipe for homemade organic almond milk !

For those who know me, you know I always share super easy recipe and this one is no exception ! I see your face and you're like : homemade milk ?? this is gonna be a hot mess in my kitchen and I'm gonna need a thousand things I don't have... Sorry to say : You're Wrong ! :D

All you need is : almonds (organic preferably, duh!), filtered water, vanilla (optional), Medjool dates (optional) + a blender and THIS bag. Ok agree, this might be the only thing you don't own in your kitchen but : 1) just invest in one coz it's sooo handy 2) you could do without and use a fine mesh sieve, ah! see told you, easy peasy ...

So now onto serious things, here's the recipe :

INGREDIENTS :

• 250g (1 cup) raw organic almonds
• 1L (3.5 cups) of filtered water
• 3-4 medjool dates (if you want to sweeten your milk...it gives a beautiful caramel taste to it)
• 1 vanilla bean (the whole stick) or vanilla extract

HOW TO :

1. Soak the almonds in water overnight. If you're in a hurry, soak 1 hour in hot water. Rinse and drain
2. Put soaked almonds into blender with your filtered water, vanilla and dates (pitted! :p ). Blend for about 2 min.
3. Place your filter bag on top of a big bowl and pour your almond milk. Squeeze slowly until it is all drained.
4. Pour into a glass bottle and into the fridge ! Tadaaaaaaa you're done ! Told you, EASYYY !

You can keep your milk for about 3-4 days. Make sure to shake your bottle before serving.

Paris engagement photos | Breakfast in bed

Looking for cute ideas for your engagement pictures in Paris ? Why not skipping the Eiffel Tower and get a cosy Parisian breakfast in bed ?

Also featured on Wedding Sparrow, see more here :

Couple session in Seychelles Islands

This year I had the chance to escape to a little paradise named Seychelles islands while Paris was passing through a freezing winter. That's one of the perks of being a destination wedding photographer : being able to catch up with summer all year around ! 

I had the chance to stay at one of the most amazing hotels ever : Six Senses Zil Payson on Félicité Island. This unique resort has the whole island for itself! And offers an unique experience with their individual villas and private pool, spectacular views and amazing experiences such as moonlight outdoor cinema, private island snorkeling, yoga classes, spa, etc. In a nutshell, THE perfect honeymoon destination for you and your other half!

During my stay there, I had the chance to create some memories for Jenn and Thomas who were about to leave that Island to return to France, after two years living on that little paradise. 

The best summer smoothie recipe - The Blueberry cooler

Summer is here ! As much as I love this season, it's been scorching hot in Paris these past few days (hitting the 35°C aka 95°F, yep!) and getting wedding or engagement photos in Paris has never been so tough! Let alone working from home... I felt like a baking croissant in an oven while in front of my computer. So in between two - three cold showers per day and putting my head in the fridge to cool down... I've also been trying to find new summer recipes. Those who know me, know that not only do I love being a wedding photographer, but my other passion is food - both making it and eating it !

So with this kind of weather, been trying to cook nice food that don't make you feel bloated like a hot air balloon because as much as I love bread and butter... when it's a sauna outside, all you want is to eat something light and fresh - that is if you do want to eat at all.

So here's a super duper cooler recipe for your hot summer. It's fresh and light and yummy and super easy :) Lots of adjectives but once you'll try, you'll get it, believe me ! Scroll down for all the yummy details + all the nutrition facts coz it's always good to know what you put inside your body ain't it?

WHAT TO GET :

- 1 cup of frozen blueberries ( I buy them fresh and organic and freeze them) : Blueberries are full of antioxidants (pterostilbene and resveratrol - for the geeks out there). Blueberries are a super good source for vitamin K, vitamin C and manganese but also fiber and copper.

- 1 cup of frozen watermelon (fresh watermelon and freeze it, couple of hours is enough) : Watermelon has vitamin C. It is also a good source of pantothenic acid, copper, biotin, potassium, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids - for the geeks), vitamin B1, vitamin B6 and magnesium.

- Mint leaves - as much as you love : Mint is a ood source of Protein, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus and Zinc, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.

- Chia seeds - 1 tbsp : Do I even have to list down the magic of this tiny seed ? There are so many good stuff in there so here are a few : Dietary fiber, Protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-6 fatty acids, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamins A, B, E, D ... it's good for a healthy skin, reducing signs of aging, supporting the heart and digestive system, building stronger bones and muscles, etc - Just google it !

- Rose water - 1 tbsp : Just because it tastes super yummy some don't like floral fragrance in their food... so that's up to you

HOW TO :

Throw everything in your blender and mix it. Suuuuuuuper easy !! Told you !

If you didn't have time to freeze your fruits, just add some ice cubes.

Pour and driiiiink - with a straw coz everything just tastes better with a straw ! Right ?

Hope you'll enjoy this super easy and healthy smoothie ! Let me know what you think !

Have a great summer shinning souls!

C xx

Top 10 spots for Paris engagement photos

Sharing with you today the best spots for your Paris engagement photo session.

Are you looking at getting your engagement photos taken in the beautiful Pareeeeeee? Good choice !
It's best choice, Paris is the most beautiful and romantic background to ever get your engagement photos taken - I'm a little biased, I'm Parisian ! But I admit that I have travelled a lot and nothing really compares to Paris.
So I thought I'd list down for you the 10 best spots for your engagement or prewedding photos in Paris. Why the best ? Because I believe that photos especially the ones picturing your love for one another need to be timeless. And I always want to create those timeless keepsakes for my clients, so here are my 10 favorite spots to get your engagement photos :

1. Trocadero Esplanade :
This is a classic spots but so full of different angles that you could spend your whole photo session there. You'll get the best view over the Eiffel Tower and the gardens of Trocadero. It's beautiful in every seasons, but my favorites are Spring and Summer as the trees and grass are full of colors. I recommend getting there pretty early in the mornings to avoid the crowd of tourists.

2. Pont Bir Hakeim :
This is one of the unique bridges of Paris : passing over the river la Seine, it has this unique architecture where the Metro line is passing on top of it and you can walk under the arches. Made famous by many movies, for instance Inception.

3. La Seine river :
Another classical but oh-so beautiful spot is the Seine river. Crossing the whole city of Paris, you'll have many choices as to which river banks you'll prefer to get. My favorite spots are down the Pont Neuf, down the Pont Bir-Hakeim, and Pont Alexandre III.

4. Le Louvre :
Famous for its glass Pyramid, the Louvre is also surrounded with magnificent courtyard and arched alleys that will look beautiful on your engagement photos in Paris. Get there early to avoid the crowd or at dusk for its magical golden light

5. Jardin des Tuileries :
Located just behind the Louvre, you can use it as a combo with the Louvre museum in your engagement photo session in Paris. This garden is huge and offers multiple background for your pictures. My favorite seasons to shoot there are Spring for its colorful flowers and Autumn for its golden falling leaves.

See more of this session here

6. Jardin de Palais Royal:
Another option as combo with the Louvre is this garden located on the opposite site of the Jardin des Tuileries. It is usually less crowded and I love the arched architecture surrounding the garden. In the springtime you can catch the colorful flowered tress and some magnolia trees too. One of my favorites !

7. Pont Alexandre III:
One the most extravagant and decorated bridges of Paris. The deck arch bridge offers a spectacular view and spans the Seine river and connects the famous Champs-Élysées avenue with the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. 

8. Parisian Cafés:
How to have your engagement or prewedding photos in Paris without having a good croissant and café at one of the hundreds of Café/Brasserie in Paris? I love the ones that have a nice "terrasse" and beautiful writings on their walls. You'll find many in the Bir Hakeim area, Louvre area, and beautiful streets such as rue Montorgueil (1st and 2nr arr.), rue Mouffetard (5th arr.)

Also, here's the list of the 21 Best Coffee shops in Paris for you coffee lovers out there :)

9. Getting of the beaten tracks : Parc Saint-Cloud.
This is one of the most undervalued parks in Paris. To be fair, it's not totally in the city, but the metro will get you there! (Line 10 Pont de Saint-Cloud or line 9 Pont de Sèvres).
It is one of the most spacious, lush and beautiful parks you can get around the city. If you want that Versailles feeling without having to go amongst the crowds of Versailles, the Parc de Saint-Cloud is the best alternative spot for your French timeless and romantic engagement pictures in Paris. 

10. Getting comfy at home/hotel
Yes the city is gorgeous, and yes you'll have to get at least a few snaps in the city, but I do love a more cosy and intimate atmostphere too such as a "breakfast in bed" session. You can either choose to shoot in your hotel or Air bnb room, you don't need much, just lots of love, and croissants / baguettes of course ! :)

See more of this session here
 

Hope you found this useful, feel free to share with your other half to brainstorm some ideas! And if you need any more information about engagement sessions, hit me here :