RADIANT LIFE
RADIANT LIFE Cultivating a healthy mind, body, and spirit
Petal Power The rarest garden roses
How to Breathe Better VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 6
Summer
LIVING
BEAUTY OF THE BRUSH
The sumptuous art of hand-painted wallpapers
Fun trip ideas, craveable salads, and cool wines
LADY CARNARVON ‘Downton Abbey,’ King Tut, and More!
JUNE 2022
INSIDE THE STORIED WORLD OF HIGHCLERE CASTLE
CHINA BEFORE COMMUNISM
“An extraordinary experience... Exquisitely beautiful!” —Cate Blanchett, Academy Award-winning actress
When was the last time something was so beautiful, it changed your life?
the breathtakingly beautiful Shen Yun performance is at once exciting, moving, and inspiring—like nothing you’ve ever seen. The secret? Shen Yun’s works are steeped in a classical aesthetic and timeless virtues. Its art transcends the trends and tastes of our day. Shen Yun is your ticket to the world of classical Chinese culture that you don’t know. Discover a new realm of divinely inspired beauty and artistic mastery.
ShenYun.com
Table of Contents
60 12
Inside ‘Downton Abbey,’ Highclere Castle
The charmed world of the Countess and Earl of Carnarvon.
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24 A Poet’s Prayer
With immense compassion and grace, Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave’s poetry brings healing to grieving souls.
40 Michelangelo’s Masterpiece
The Sistine Chapel, painted amidst unimaginable turmoil and hardship, is a testament to the artist’s faith and perseverance.
60 Wallpaper Whimsy
De Gournay’s hand-painted wallpapers bring lush gardens and faraway lands to life, one brushstroke at a time.
80 Midsummer Reverie
Finland’s summer celebrations exalt the sumptuous gifts of nature’s bounty. Food photographer Viola Virtamo captures the magic.
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24 80
66
Table of Contents
18 6
Summer Living
June is here! Fun gifts for dads, memorable trip ideas, treasures for a Mediterranean table, and cool wines for a hot summer.
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California Bloomin’
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The Art of Tchaikovsky
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Grace Rose Farm’s rare, old-world blooms boast up to 175 petals each.
The composer’s powerful melodies forever transformed Western classical music and dance.
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Born of Lava and Ash
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Your Perfect Mascara
66
At Home in Nature
70
Mood Boost
78
Urban Oasis
98
Bull’s-Eye
88
Eat the Rainbow
102
Inhale, Exhale
94
Fashionably Fit
104
Putting the Glam in Camping
Santorini’s overlooked treasure: its wine, grown from varietals that taste like no others.
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Expert picks for definition, length, and volume.
A cherished childhood memory inspired a dynamic cabin design that blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors.
Happy houseplants make happy humans.
Grow the tiny home garden of your dreams in the middle of the city.
Summer’s most craveable salads.
Home fitness equipment that turns heads.
The art of Japanese archery trains the body and the mind.
How to breathe better.
Nature escape meets luxury retreat.
RADIANT LIFE PUBLISHER Dana Cheng
E D I TO R I A L EDITOR-IN- CHIEF LIFEST Y LE EDITORS
Channaly Philipp Cr ystal Shi Joy Ye
A RTS EDITORS
Sharon Kilarski Jennifer Schneider
MIND & BODY EDITORS
Matthew Little Chrisy Trudeau
EDITORS -AT-L A RGE
T ynan Beatty Maria Han
STA FF W R ITERS
Tara dos Santos Brett Chudá Skylar Parker
C R E AT I V E CR E ATI V E DIR ECTOR DESIGNERS
Laure Fu Justin Morgan Sunny Lo
ILLUSTR ATOR
Linda Zhao
C O N T R I B U TO R S Sandy Lindsey, Florian Godovits, Pete McGrain, Jeff Perkin, Eric Bess, Tim Johnson, Emma Jones, Kellie A nn Bourgault, Hazel Atkins, David Dudley, Jennifer Margulis, Jessica Colon, Erin Tallman, Patrick McKeown
O F F I C E & C O N TA C T Bright Magazine Group 5 Penn Plaza , 8Fl., New York, N Y 10001 General Inquiries: editor@radiantlifemag.com Media & Adver tising: ellen@radiantlifemag.com
Announcement
Radiant Life Is Closing
T
his month at Radiant Life brings us some bittersweet feelings. You are holding in your hands the last edition of Radiant Life. After carefully considering factors beyond our control, the Bright Magazine Group has decided to cease its publication. Unfortunately, supply chain challenges over the last several months have caused a massive paper shortage and affected the printing industry across North America. All of us who have worked on Radiant Life are honored to have shared this journey with you, our readers, as we explored the wisdom and beauty of our world, delving into topics ranging from wellness to the arts. Going forward, we will concentrate our efforts on our sister magazine, American Essence. We invite you to join us in celebrating the creativity, enterprise, and achievements of the American people. Please make sure to see the details below, which explain your options as a current subscriber. We are saddened beyond words to end the publication of Radiant Life. We sincerely thank you for your support throughout these past several months. In the spirit of gratitude, we hope you will enjoy this last issue. We invite you to be recharged and inspired, as we travel the globe. Take tea with the Countess of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle in England (page 12), and get a glimpse of the world that gave rise to “Downton Abbey.” Stop and smell the roses at Grace Rose Farm in California (page 18), where stunning, old-world blooms delight the senses. And enter the richly layered world of Viola Virtamo (page 80); through her food photography and recipes, she captures a dreamy Nordic sensibility that celebrates nature. With our deep and sincere gratitude, Channaly Philipp
Next Steps for Radiant Life Subscribers: If you are a current subscriber, we’d like to offer you the options below: 1. We invite you to change your current Radiant Life subscription to American Essence with an additional 3 months free. If you already subscribe to American Essence, we will add the remaining Radiant Life terms to your American Essence subscription with an additional 3 months free. No further action is required from you. 2. If you do not wish to switch to an American Essence subscription, please call our customer service at 1-833-699-1888 by June 3, 2022, to cancel your Radiant Life subscription, and we will refund the remaining balance to you.
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hen visiting Via Coquina in Palm Beach, Fla., we’re immediately transported to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea—to dolce vita days in Capri and al fresco summer nights in the Greek islands. The emporium’s expertly curated fine goods, from jewelry to home accessories, are crafted by master artisans, designed to be passed on as heirlooms for years to come. We couldn’t help ourselves—we picked out a few treasures for this summer’s intimate outdoor gatherings. 32 Via Mizner, Palm Beach. 561-300-4012, ViaCoquina.com R
Under the
Mediterranean Sun 8
RADIANT LIFE JUNE
To preserve their health-giving properties—high levels of polyphenols and oleocanthal—Oracle cold-presses 100% organic Koroneiki olives within 24 hours of harvest from seaside olive farms in Greece’s Peloponnese region. The low acidity and well-balanced flavor profile make this extra-virgin olive oil perfect for everyday use. The eye-catching blue bottle, designed by LA artist Alejandro Cardenas, prevents oxidation from light exposure. $40 - 500 mL / 16.9 ounces
From their 17-foot-long punts (narrow, flat-bottomed boats) on the River Great Ouse in Bedfordshire, England, cutters harvest bulrush in the traditional way. During the process of drying, a beautiful variation of colors ensues, eventually taking on warm honey tones. These handwoven oval placemats offer a backdrop that showcases colorful tableware and napkins. $57
Hand-printed in Italy on 100% linen, beautiful Poseidonia indigo linen tea towels are produced by a team of 20 artisans working for the family-owned Stamperia Bertozzi. Since 1920, the company has used traditional block-printing techniques, using hand-carved pearwood stamps and vegetable dyes, an ancient art. $39 - 22 by 27 inches
Themis Zouganeli, the designer behind the Themis Z lifestyle brand, and a designer for Maison Dior and Atelier Swarovski, has infused the serene blues and whites of Greece into her Maze Blue collection, including this hand-painted salad bowl in fine porcelain. $194 - 25 cm diameter by 13 cm tall
Linen napkins made by Charvet Éditions are available in marine blue, red, and natural. $65 for a set of six - 18 by 18 inches
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Lady
Castle of the
The chatelaine of the real-life ‘Downton Abbey,’ Lady Fiona Carnarvon, digs into the famed castle’s past By Florian Godovits
Lady Carnarvon isn’t only a published author, she also publishes recipes and videos and has her own podcast.
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he year 2022 is quite a busy one for Highclere Castle and its owners: The second “Downton Abbey” movie, shot on location on the lavish estate in Hampshire, England, debuted on May 20, 2022, in the United States. November 2022 will mark 100 years since Egyptologist Howard Carter and the fifth Earl of Carnarvon discovered the Tomb of King Tutankhamun in Egypt—an anniversary celebrated in an upcoming book by Lady Fiona Carnarvon. We spoke with her about her love for history, gardening, traditions—and how she chose
the color for the new wallpaper in the castle’s famous library. The rain pours over the scenic grounds as my cab stops at one of the many forks in the road, leading up to what is probably the most viewed castle of our times: Highclere Castle, where the uber-successful TV series “Downton Abbey” was shot. A man directs visitors to the different parts of the estate owned by George Herbert, eighth Earl of Carnarvon, and his wife, Lady Carnarvon. The splendid mood I’m in due to the fact that I’m overly punctual
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Coming Up Roses Behind Grace Rose Farm’s extraordinary blooms are old-world roots, California sunshine, and a husbandand-wife team in unabashed pursuit of beauty By Brett Chudá
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oses with so many petals, they’re mistaken for peonies. A natural fragrance so heady and heavenly that brides dream about it. Has there ever been a bouquet that brims with more beauty than one from Grace Rose Farm? These are roses you won’t find in a grocery store, or even in most florist shops, says Gracielinda Poulson, who runs the 50-acre farm in Ventura County, California, with her husband, Ryan. “We grow heirloom varieties that typically wouldn’t be cut flowers,” Poulson says. These are old-fashioned garden roses, treasured for their distinctive beauty and exquisite perfume. Some have citrusy scents, others are deeply floral, and some smell sweet as candy. Their globelike silhouettes, ruffled petals, and ombre hues
evoke images of the English countryside or grandma’s garden. “When you see these blooms with 100, 150 petals, and you put your nose into them, and you get their aroma, I think just the whole experience is so different from any other flower,” Poulson says. “They really leave this lasting memory.” Commercial roses, by comparison, usually have 25 to 30 petals each, and are grown in faraway, high energy-consuming greenhouses. They are bred for uniformity and to withstand long journeys overseas. Look closer at Poulson's roses, and you’ll find even more to love. From ethical stewardship of the land to a deep respect for the workers who tend its bounty, these bouquets are beautiful every step of the way. 19
A HEALING DOSE OF COURAGE Author Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave says a grieving heart can begin to heal when it’s surrounded by comfort and warmth. Her touching poetry provides just that By Brett Chudá
With all the world in disarray, one tender blossom survives; In the deepest crevasse of the human soul the kindness of heart still thrives. —From “Reveries” by Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave, 2021
Garden of Light May each day of my life be like a drop of rain That touches the earth with no intent to gain. May my ideals be like roses in a garden of light That extend to the sun with true valor in sight. May my actions be as bright as a buttercup of gold That grows in green fields, small yet bold. May my heart be like the pine in a forest of trees That stands steady and whole despite pain that bereaves. May my soul be like a star shining aloft in the sky To radiate beauty and love beyond the day I die. —From “HEALING LIGHT: 30 Messages of Love, Hope, and Courage” by Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave
Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave, during an interview on Oct. 11, 2009, in Cairo, Egypt.
“
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everies: In Search of Love, Hope, and Courage” is a book of poetry by American writer and photojournalist Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave. Within, a trusting and compassionate hand seems to coax our fears and sorrow out from their dark prisons, and transform them, page after page. Villard de Borchgrave is the author of six books of poetry and a biography of her great-grandfather, railroad magnate and financier Henry Villard. She grew up all around the world and worked as an international journalist in the 1960s and 1970s. But her spiritual and artistic faculties were only pressed into service in the aftermath of 9/11, when she sought to help victims heal by offering comforting poetry. Since then, readers, from terminally ill patients to grieving family members, have called her poetry profound, uplifting, and healing. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Egyptian-born former Secretary General of the United Nations, contributed a forward for one of her collections, describing it as “an
RADIANT LIFE JUNE
oasis of compassion and inner calm.” John C. Whitehead, the former chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, sent her first book, “Healing Light: Thirty Messages of Love, Hope, and Courage,” to 9/11 survivors’ families. Her encouragement continues to comfort people in hospitals and hospices through books gifted by her organization, the Light of Healing Hope Foundation. Radiant Life: Please tell us a bit about your background, your creative vision, and your work. Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave: I was born in Washington, D.C. and spent my formative years in Norway, Libya, Switzerland, and Senegal. Even at a very young age, and in going to Sunday school, I believe I was given a mission to bring comfort through kind words and beautiful images. I think my books are a reflection of many of my life experiences, including the 16 years I spent as a photojournalist covering events, starting in 1968, throughout the Middle East and Africa, where I witnessed war, suffering, and poverty as well as hope.
A feeling of empathy with those who were suffering then led to a desire to record the emotions and events I observed. I did not know then how deep that desire would run. Radiant Life: It seems you have a strong sense that physical healing often comes through spiritual means. What informs your beliefs about that? Mrs. de Borchgrave: I believe with all my heart that when someone is able to feel comfort, there is a special space of warmth that opens within and encourages the healing process. Forgiveness also allows one to release feelings of hurt or anger, opening a pathway to heightened compassion and healing. Radiant Life: Did your time in countries like Senegal, Libya, Switzerland, and Norway influence how you see spirituality and healing? Mrs. de Borchgrave: Living in different cultural environments exposed me to diverse spiritual beliefs about life and the healing process. It was a fascinating, although somewhat confusing, experience to wake up as a child of 2 amid the sparkling snowcapped mountains of Norway amongst a Christian people of courage and kindness, and then to wake up three years later at the age of 5 in the hot desert wind of Libya amongst a Sunni Muslim people of ancient Berber traditions with a strong sense of hospitality. As a small child, I benefited from being treated with kindness by everyone I met, and I believe that kindness is one of the greatest ways of healing those in pain. Perhaps the most significant moment that influenced the whole of my life came when I developed glandular fever in the space of an hour. We were staying at the Uaddan Hotel in Tripoli, as the residence was not yet ready for my father, who had been newly appointed as the first American ambassador to Libya. I had just turned 6. My mother had gone to call on Queen Fatima one afternoon when I fell into convulsions with a fever of 105. Not knowing what else to do, my lovely young Norwegian governess wrapped me in a sheet and took me down to the lobby of the hotel where she hoped to find a doctor. None was available. I had made friends with the engaging Italian concierge who I could see was making frantic calls to find one. Just as things were reaching a critical point, my mother returned and immediately took me to the American hospital at the Wheelus Air Base. I was acutely aware of my mother’s love enfolding me as she held me in her arms, but I also felt I was slipping away from her. We sped toward the base at breakneck speed with our driver, Ramadam, doing his best to weave in and out of the traffic as we were rocked back and forth on the
back seat. I must have lost consciousness at one point as I do not remember the doctors taking me from my mother’s arms to care for me. As I grew up, I believed that coming that close to losing my life meant that every extra day was a gift that might be taken away at any time, making me somewhat fearful of participating fully in life for fear of falling ill again, which I often did, but at the same time making me desirous of expressing love and gratitude to those around me. Radiant Life: The origin of your organization, Light of Healing Hope Foundation, and of your books, appears often in your materials. You prayed for a way to bring comfort to those who suffered in 9/11 and who lost loved ones. Can you please tell us the full story? Mrs. de Borchgrave: A week before 9/11, I was having dinner with my dear husband Arnaud [journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave], who was preparing to leave for Bulgaria for an interview with King Simeon. I happened to look out the window and saw a plane landing at Reagan National Airport and I felt my whole body go cold with an inexplicable feeling of dread. I turned to my husband and said, “You know, darling, I am getting a really bad feeling, and I don’t want to be here alone if something bad is going to happen.” Arnaud reassured me and said, “Don’t worry, darling, I will be back in a week and I’m sure nothing will happen.” I hadn’t forgotten that Arnaud had warned in a recent article about terrorists using planes as weapons of mass destruction. I couldn’t shake the premonition of dread I felt right up to the day he left. On the morning of 9/11, I was watching Charlie Gibson interviewing Fergie on ABC at 8:45 a.m., when suddenly he said, “There is something happening at the World Trade Center.” And then we all witnessed the second plane go into the tower. I knew immediately that this was a terrorist attack. That night, as anguish hung in the air like a veil of tears, I began to pray for a way to bring some small measure of comfort and healing to the families who had suffered the most devastating loss of their loved ones. I prayed that same prayer every night for a year, but I could not find the right way to bring comfort to those who had suffered this unspeakable tragedy. Then, on the first anniversary of that terrible day, as I watched the children call out their parents’ names at Ground Zero with great courage, I was once again overcome with sorrow for them. The next morning, I woke with a strange pressure in my heart, and I knew something was going to happen.
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Finding Wisdom in the Past
Michelangelo’s Sistine Ceiling By Eric Bess
By Eric Bess
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ur artistic traditions are full of wisdom. We can look to the past and, with curious minds and open hearts, absorb the lessons of our cultural history. The Italian Renaissance is filled with great stories that resulted in great art, and the story and art of Michelangelo are an enduring example. The story begins in 16th-century Rome, which was quickly becoming the cultural center of the Western world. At 33 years of age, Michelangelo was summoned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo was not a painter—he was a sculptor—and when asked to paint the ceiling, he replied, “Painting is not my art.” Why then did Pope Julius II ask Michelangelo to paint instead of sculpt? According to Giorgio Vasari’s “Lives of the Artists,” Michelangelo suspected that Bramante, a highly respected architect who worked for Pope Julius II, wanted to ruin his reputation by having him paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel: “In this manner it seemed possible to Bramante and other rivals of [Michelangelo] to draw him away from sculpture, in which they saw him to be perfect, and to plunge him into despair, thinking that if they compelled him to paint, he would do work less worthy of praise, since he had no experience of colors in fresco….” It is true that Michelangelo did not know how to fresco, but this did not deter him. Dr. William Wallace, a leading expert on Michelangelo, observes that “at the time of the Sistine, Michelangelo is still trying to be the greatest artist of all time. He’s acting more like the artist that carved the “David”: ‘I’m the best sculptor. Now, I’m going to be the best painter. I’m going to be the best artist of all time.’ He’s still suffering the hubris of youth.”
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Volcanic Signature The island of Santorini, famed for its sunsets, hides an ancient secret in lava and ash: wine By Tim Johnson
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t doesn’t matter where you go on this small island, you’ll find a feast for the eyes, like the clusters of white buildings that cling to the edge of plunging black cliffs, or the fire and fury of the ancient volcano, its remnants still steaming out in the middle of the caldera. You can walk on black beaches and swim at red ones, and dine on octopus at small restaurants in Fira, Santorini’s capital, your table just inches from a sheer drop. And at the end of the day, you will probably gather with the masses to revel in the late-day glow of the waning sun, a ball of fire ever redder as it drops to the sea past the blue-domed roofs of Oia.
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Looking at the arid soil and rough terrain, there’s one thing that you’d never expect possible: growing grapes. These are not the lush, verdant benches of Napa or the gracious, gently rolling hills of Bordeaux. Still, 40 grape varieties are grown here. Some are unusual or even unique to this island, where spring and summer bring almost no rain and the soil bakes under the Mediterranean sun, causing the vines to dig deep into the mineral-rich soil.
Eruption
There’s really no place in the world like Santorini. Set in the southern reaches of the Cyclades, a Greek island chain in the Aegean Sea, most of its recorded history was unalterably shaped by a single event—what’s known as the Minoan eruption, around the year 1620 BC. One of the most powerful volcanic events in history, its violence split the larger, unitary island into a series of smaller ones, creating an archipelago, with the middle, the caldera, filling up with the sea. You can get a glimpse of life on Santorini before Thera’s eruption at Akrotiri, an archaeological site on the southern end of the island. Lesser known than but similar to Pompeii (predating it by 1,700 years), the site showcases a busy, so-
phisticated, wealthy Bronze Age city that gained wealth through international trade. Now, it’s frozen in time by a catastrophic event. “Here, they lived like kings and pharaohs,” said a guide as they led me through the site, which winds through a passage past stone houses that had as many as 30 rooms, with walls adorned with paintings.
Grape Growing
One thing the volcano created is a really interesting place to grow grapes that will eventually become wine. While grape cultivation predated the eruption—vines arrived with Phoenician sailors and traders, and this is one of the oldest wine-growing regions on Earth—it’s the aftermath of that cataclysmic event that still affects what they put in bottles today. While harsh, the soil here is mineral-rich, containing lava, volcanic ash, and pumice stone. The vines were never affected by phylloxera, an insect that wiped out most of Europe’s vineyards in the 19th century. Their roots plunge more than 100 feet below the hard crust of the ground. On the surface,
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Beauty
MASCARA
SMALL TUBES BIG RESULTS By Kellie Ann Bourgault Photography by Bao Qiu Model Tatsiana Moon
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Kellie’s Top 5 Mascaras
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et’s face it: Most of us don’t have a lot of time to spend on our beauty routines. The products we use need to be fast and easy to apply, and must make a big im-
pact. One thing I have learned in my 10-plus years as a makeup artist and beauty industry professional is that if you were to ask makeup artists and consumers the infamous question, “If you could only choose one makeup product to use for the rest of your life, what would it be?” most people would probably choose mascara. Why? Because even with no other makeup on, mascara instantly makes you look more awake, opens up the eyes, and draws more attention to them, which can also make the angles and dynamics of the face pop. The problem I hear from a lot of my clients is that when they go to shop for mascaras, the selection is overwhelming. Also, the perfect mascara is different from one person to the next based on what they are looking for. There are a lot of different options: Do you prefer mascara that is volumizing because you have a good amount of length already in your lash, but need more thickness/density? Do you have full lashes but wish for more length and prefer a mascara to define and lengthen? Do you have sensitive eyes (like me) and need mascara that won’t irritate your eyes? Do you have a small budget? Do you want to try something new and exciting? Well, here are my top five tried-and-true mascaras. All five are bestsellers, makeup artist favorites and cruelty-free.
For Volume
Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara Full size $29. Mini size $15. Available at Sephora and Ulta.
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As I mentioned above, if you are looking for mascara to really add volume/density and drama to your lashes, this one is for you. The formula does not make the lashes clumpy or give that “spider lash” effect. The amazing, patented 4D Amplifier brush perfectly coats each lash from root to tip. This formula is also vegan.
Overall Rating Clump-Free Volumizing Lengthening Eye-Opening Effect Flake-Free Curling Ease of Application 1
5
10
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If
Walls Dream Could
Each of de Gournay’s elegant, whimsical wallpapers is painted by hand with care, keeping a nearly lost Chinese art form alive By Hazel Atkins
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ith the right decor, a room can be an experience, breathtaking and transportive. The master artisans at de Gournay, the world-famous British luxury interiors company, delight in curating these experiences. Delivering exquisitely hand-painted, custom-made wallpapers that fit a room like a couture dress, they’re reviving a pre-industrial Chinese art form—the laborious process that produces the world’s most beautiful and evocative wallpapers.
The Therapeutic Effects of Houseplants
Create a beautiful, healthy environment in your home without spending a fortune By Jennifer Margulis
J
ust after she had a baby, Jennifer Lauck received the gift of an orchid. She was secretly taken aback. “Look lady,” she wanted to tell her friend, “don’t give me an orchid right
now.” As Lauck, a bestselling author based in Portland, Ore., described in “Show Me the Way,” her memoir about parenting, she wanted to confess, “I can’t keep this slice of floral perfection alive. I can barely keep my kids and myself alive. What in the world are you trying to do to me here, break my back under the weight of yet another demand to keep life going? How much more life can I be responsible for?”
Transplanting your houseplants is a soothing task, but just looking at the greenery in your home or office will help you feel less anxious. Houseplants beautify any space. They filter the air. They give us a sense of serenity. But if you’ve rarely or never had one in your home, you probably
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feel unsure or even a bit of stress when you think about owning a plant. Like Lauck, you may think a houseplant is the last thing you need. Or perhaps you’ve told yourself that you “don’t have a green thumb.” Maybe some have died in the past. In any case, you may believe that that you can’t keep any houseplant alive. What if you’re wrong? What if you can add greenery and calm to your home, office, or other space with thriving, happy houseplants? When you get yourself some living, breathing houseplants, you won’t just be adding beauty to your indoor spaces, you will also be embarking on a journey to improve your mental and physical health.
Mental and Emotional Benefits of Having Houseplants
Other research and my personal experience indicate that houseplants can help you:
Alleviate Anxiety
Transplanting your houseplants is a soothing task (see sidebar), but just looking at the greenery in your home or office will help you feel less anxious.
Lift Your Mood
Your green babies, once you have some, will help improve your mood. “I love having that green and sense of life and energy in my indoor space,” says Debra Owensby, a real estate agent based in Greenville, S.C. “I hate walking into a dead space. Plants really lift me up.”
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Best Dressed Lifestyle
Stunning summer salads make the most of the season’s bounty Recipes by Elena Silcock Photography by Chloe Hardwick
Grilled Greek I strongly advise serving this with toasted pitas, because spreading the charred feta across a pita wedge and topping it with the tomatoes and cucumbers is a joy I’d hate you to miss out on. Subs: Use vegan feta-style “cheese” or firm tofu and swap the honey for maple syrup. Get ahead: Make the dressing in advance. Nice on the side: Filo pies, whole baked fish, or oregano chicken
Serves 4 • • • • • • • • • • •
2 pounds tomatoes 2 cucumbers 1/2 red onion 2 (7-ounce) blocks feta cheese 4 thyme sprigs 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons clear honey 6 ounces pitted kalamata olives 2 teaspoons dried oregano Salt and pepper Optional: Pita chips or pita bread
Dressing •
Lemon and Olive Oil (recipe follows)
Toppers • •
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un, don’t walk, to your nearest farmers market— the stands are about to burst with a rainbow of glorious, summer sun-ripened produce. There’s no better time to turn it all into a big, beautiful salad. For inspiration, we’re turning to chef, author, food stylist, and seasoned salad guru Elena Silcock, whose newest cookbook, “Salads Are More Than Leaves,” offers a cornucopia of dazzling examples. (We’re convinced.) Follow her expert tips and recipes for salads that will refresh and impress, all summer long. 88
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Pinch of dried oregano Handful of mint leaves
Slice the tomatoes and cucumbers into chunky wedges. Put in a large mixing bowl along with a big pinch of salt, toss gently, and set aside. Preheat the broiler to high. Whisk up the dressing in a mixing bowl. Peel and finely slice the red onion, then add to the dressing and set aside. Line a baking tray with foil and place the blocks of feta. Top each with 2 thyme sprigs, drizzle with the oil and honey, and season with a little black pepper. Slide under the broiler and broil for 5 to 7 minutes, until the feta is softened and golden on top. Remove and set aside to cool a little. Toast the pita bread, if using. Drain the tomatoes and cucumbers—salting them in this way maximizes their flavor—then return to the bowl. Add the dressing and red onion along with the olives and the 2 teaspoons dried oregano. Toss well, taste, and season. Transfer to a platter or bowls. Top with the feta, either breaking it up or slicing each block in half diagonally and adding it in whole pieces. Finish with an extra pinch of dried oregano, the mint leaves, and a crack of black pepper. Alternatively, serve the feta on the side for people to break into as they eat. Serve with the pita chips or toasted pitas.
Lifestyle
Triple Tomato I could have filled my book with tomato salads, but I held back and instead chose a couple that I feel really hit the spot. This one is packed with cherry, chunky, and sun-dried tomatoes. I like to serve the pecorino in big fat wedges, but feel free to shave it over the top if you prefer. Subs: Use a vegetarian hard cheese. Use vegan Parmesan-style “cheese,” or omit. Get ahead: Salt the tomatoes up to an hour in advance. Make the croutons and dressing in advance. Nice on the side: Pastas, focaccia, or grilled meats.
Serves 4 • • • • •
1 pound large tomatoes 10-1/2 ounces cherry tomatoes 7 ounces sun-dried or semi-dried tomatoes 3-1/2 ounces pecorino cheese Salt and pepper
Dressing •
Lemon and Olive Oil (recipe follows)
Toppers • • • •
9 ounces bread, such as sourdough, torn into 3/4- to 1-1/4-inch chunks 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt Handful of basil leaves
Cut the large tomatoes into wedges. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Put both in a large mixing bowl and season generously with salt while you make the rest of the salad. (Salting your tomatoes removes some of their water and consequently intensifies their flavor.) Make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the croutons out in a roasting tray, drizzle with the oil, and season generously with salt. Toss well, making sure that the croutons are well coated with the oil. Roast for 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool before using. Whisk up the dressing in a large mixing bowl. Drain the salted tomatoes in a sieve and add to the dressing. Add the sun-dried or semidried tomatoes to the bowl. Toss, taste, and season with extra salt if needed. Transfer to a large plate. Cut the pecorino into triangles and tuck into the salad, then top with the croutons, basil leaves, and a crack of black pepper. 89
Return to Nature in
Style By David Dudley
Glamping offers families the freedom to explore the outdoors without the hassles of roughing it
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FAR BELOW
The ranch has glamping cabins that suit couples as well as families with kids. Pioneer wagons are also available, where guests will find a king-sized bed and twin bunks.
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f you’re wondering what “glamping” is, you’re not alone. Glamping—a compound word that combines “glamorous” and “camping”—has exploded in popularity over the past two years. It offers people the opportunity to enjoy nature, while also living in luxurious accommodations. As families grew wary of being cooped up during the pandemic, they began looking for ways to get outside again. Factors fueling glamping’s popularity are the pursuit of wellness, settings that encourage natural social distancing, and a return to the wonders of slowing down and exploring the natural world. Many glampers are also trying to make up for time lost. They’re celebrating weddings, anniversaries, and family reunions at sites across the United States. Here are four glamping sites for those who are curious:
The Ranch at Rock Creek
Jim Manley found his dream ranch in Philipsburg, Montana. After a group of friends stayed at Manley’s 6,600-acre ranch, they urged him to share it with the public. So, Manley and team had 10 canvas cabins built for glampers. They’ve also devised a series of immersive experiences that include fly fishing and respite spots, so that guests may enjoy all the ranch has to offer without feeling the effects of vacation burnout. “We want folks to slow down while they’re here,” said Carol Ann Kelley-Elwell, vice president at Victo-
ria King Public Relations, Inc. The Ranch also offers horseback riding “in the spirit of play.” That means they’d rather see you on a horse. They also offer guided sapphire mining at the base of Sapphire Mountain for you and your children. “It’s become extremely popular,” Kelley-Elwell added. “We sold out last year, and it’s almost sold out this year. So, if you’re interested in joining us, check us out as soon as possible.”
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Photo Credits
On the Cover Photo: Courtesy of Highclere Castle Pictured: Lady Fiona Carnarvon 4 Cristofer Maximilian/Unsplash 6 Courtesy of each product’s brand 7 Left, top to bottom: Polo Werk, Carol Waller, Smithville Dekalb Co. Chamber of Commerce Right, top to bottom: Steve Dondero, Karli Cadel, Travel South Dakota 8–9 Courtesy of Via Coquina 10–11 Courtesy of Luca Meloni, Charles Heidsieck, Princess and the Bear Wines, and Oceano Wines 12–17 Courtesy of Highclere Castle 18–23 Courtesy of Grace Rose 24 Linda Zhao for Radiant Life 26 Courtesy of Alexandra Villard de Borchgrave 28 Clockwise from left: J.R. Bonnotte, Joan Marcus,
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Harry Naltchayan 29 Left: UPI Right: Peter Strongwater 30 Colleen Dugan 31 Linda Zhao for Radiant Life 32 Public domain 34–35 Public domain 36 Top: Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock, Bottom: Igor Bulgarin/Shutterstock 37 A_Lesik/Shutterstock 38–39 Public domain 40 RPBaiao/Shutterstock 42–48 Public domain 50 Courtesy of Mystique 52–53 Center: Sven Hansche/EyeEm/ Getty Images Others: Courtesy of Mystique 54 Viaframe/Stone/Getty Images
55 Top: Dean Mitchell/E+/Getty Images Bottom: PeopleImages/E+/ Getty Images 60–63 Courtesy of de Gournay 64–65 Bottom right: Carmel Brantley Others: Courtesy of de Gournay 66–69 Courtesy of Cabin ANNA 71 Dmitry Marchenko/EyeEm/ Getty Images 72 Jamie Grill/Tetra images/Getty Images 73 onurdongel/E+/Getty Images 74 Apisit Hiranpornpan/EyeEm/ Getty Images 75 Nadiyka U/Shutterstock 76–77 jcomp/freepik 78 Left to right: Catherine McQueen/Moment/Getty Images, Grace Cary/Moment/Getty Images, Tetra Images/ Tetra images/Getty Images
79 Left to right: Maximiliane Wagner/Shutterstock, rawpixel, fotografixx/E+/Getty Images 94 Courtesy of NOHrD 95 Courtesy of WaterRower 96–97 Courtesy of NordicTrack 98 JGalione/E+/Getty Images 100–101 Left: Public domain Bottom: duncan1890/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images Right: JGalione/E+/Getty Images 102–103 Linda Zhao for Radiant Life 104–105 Courtesy of The Ranch at Rock Creek 106 Courtesy of Dunton Hot Springs 107 Courtesy of Zion Wildflower Resort 108–109 Courtesy of Brush Creek Ranch 110–111 Public domain
SHEN YUN SHOP
Fine Jewelry Collection
DIVINE GRACE Keep it close to your heart
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R ADIANT LIFE Cultivating a healthy mind, body, and spirit
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n this modern world, we can get lost in ever-changing new trends. Too often, we keep looking for novelties in life, but never feel satisfied. What are the basic elements that can keep us grounded and help us live more meaningful lives? Radiant Life is a practical, inspirational, and enriching lifestyle magazine that empowers readers to cultivate a healthy, noble, and graceful lifestyle.
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BRIGHT Magazine Group