və rv e
A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you VERVE Magazine.
VERVE represents passion, vitality and originalilty. This month–November is a month of traditions. This month, we want to establish our very own, VERVE tradition. Its tradition of inspiring women through others’ stories. Its tradition of encouraging women. Its tradition of educating others on the unrelenting crisis of the environment. My mission for this magazine is to awaken the women of the future, in light of the current and persistent environmental issues, and innovatively amalgamate the two to form a great generation of women who will lead the world. I want to thank all my supporters for giving me incredible insight along the way and motivating me through my marvellous journey of creating this magazine. I also want to give credit to Kristy Lam, my friend and co-founder of this zine, and Rachel Tse who edited the streetstyle photos. We do hope you continue to read and delight in our mag. BRB, making fetch happen, Joy Lee
verve |vəːv| noun [ mass noun ] vigour and spirit or enthusiasm: Kollo sings with supreme verve and flexibility.
contents interviews
04 // miriam bakhuijen // fashion illustrator 10 // ÆTHER studios UK // preview feature 14 // denise landis // recipe taster & mother & cook 20 // alden wicker // preview feature 22 // cassandra postema // designer & illustrator
health
18 // recipes // healthy 38 // tabata workout // workout
affairs
40 // twitterific // latest sustainability updates 42 // #syria // information
photos
28 // verve gals // photoshoot 20 // alden wicker // streetstyle preview feature
q&a
31 // farah sadri // teacher 32 // amanda fung // aspiring global changer 35 // alexiane hubert // student
miriam bakhuijen Miriam Bakhuijen is a freelance fashion illustrator based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. We interview her on her job, art, and lifestyle. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
Joy: Tell us about yourself and what you do. Miriam: My name is Miriam and I live in Rotterdam, The Netherlands with my husband and our 2 year old son. I love coffee in all its forms, total magazine addict, and forever in search for the perfect holiday home. A dreamer who can loose herself completely in fantasies, but when it comes to it, is very down to earth. Over a year ago I started CLPG, this stands for “City Lights Painted Girls”. The name is an excerpt from the Laura Branigan song “Self Control”, which is one of my favorites. Under this name I started to show my illustrations to the world.
Joy: Why and when did you start drawing? Miriam: I’ve always loved to draw, but I was under the impression it was something only ‘real’ artists could do. Far from my world of accountancy and insurances for sure! I actually dreamed of becoming a bestselling author for years. As it turned out I loved the dream more than the writing itself. Staring at a flickering cursor for many hours isn’t my idea of fun. So I dropped this dream and decided I should do something I really love, if only just for me. CLPG was born. It felt really good right from the start, because when I draw I loose track of time, and I’m just so happy to have found my flow.
Joy: What do you try to convey through your illustrations? Miriam: That all depends on what a client wants, or wants to sell. For me, I never start with a plan, I just sit down and see what comes out of my hands. They say the hands have a mind of their own, makes me curious everytime. Many times I wanted to start over, but I always finish an illustration. The results of this are mostly interesting, to say the least. I learn everyday, and I would like to show I can be more allround. I used to scan my drawings onto my computer to wrap them up in Photoshop using a Wacom drawing tablet. Now I’m taking a digital break and found my watercolor brushes again.
Next up: gouache. I love exploring, it can be scary and daunting, but I always end up energized. So explore, explore, explore! Joy: What are your quotidian habits you follow to contribute to the environment? Miriam: We have green energy that comes from wind-energy, after all I’m Dutch. We eat and drink (mainly) organic. When I drive it’s in a car with very low CO2 emission. We divide our garbage for recycling. Now winter’s coming up, I wear big and comfy sweaters instead of turning up the heat. I love to take baths, so we go together and besides cosy and fun, it’s good for your relationship!
Joy: If you could give one piece of advice to young women around the world, what would it be? Miriam: Do what you love! Yes, it’s very simple advice, but I’ve wasted so much time on educations or courses that just weren’t for me. Not completely wasted of course, knowledge is power, and everyone has to walk a certain path to get where you need to be, but following other peoples dreams or just plain unrealistic ones, will only lead you astray and consume precious time. If you don’t know what this is for you, look inside and think of what you loved doing as a child. There must be a way you can take this to a higher level. Oh, and always always be nice to other people. Everyone’s fighting battles you know nothing about, by being nice you can make a big difference without even knowing it, and if not, no harm done either. You have the power to stop a negative butterfly-effect and start a positive one. So beautiful!
SITE
ÆTHER STUDIOS UK was founded by graphic designer and fashion photographer Paula Maso, and fashion designer Neliana Fuenmayor. ÆTHER revolves around timeless style, being a ethically and sustainably transparent brand.
ÆTHER will be featured in the December Issue of 2013.
Long time recipe tester for the New York Times Denise Landis announces a new magazine, The Cook’s Cook: A Magazine for Cooks, Food Writers & Recipe Testers. The magazine, scheduled to launch on February 3rd, 2014, will be in the format of an e-zine in conjunction with a website. The magazine will be free to subscribers and supported by advertising. It will be published every other month, with a blog and letters to the editor updated weekly. The target audience for the magazine is anyone interested in food writing, from aspiring writers and bloggers to professional chefs. There will be departments on food travel and cooking classes, cooking by and for kids, product reviews, how to write, edit and test recipes, foraging, wine pairing, and much more. sign up now and share her free magazine here! check out her cookbook here!
Landis
Denise
favorite edibles. Joy: The winters approaching, what is your go to comfort food? Denise: My favorite winter-time recipe is actually my favorite all-time recipes, and that’s a recipe from my cookbook. The recipe is called Bourbon Marinated Roast Pork. The reason that I love it so much, is that it’s a very interesting recipe. First of all, it’s very easy, the marinade has Bourbon, soy-sauce and brown sugar– just those three ingredients. The roast marinates over-night, and it’s a pork tenderloin – well you can do it with any pork loin – but I like to use pork tenderloin, and they marinate overnight, and you then just pour everything into a roasting pan. It’s extremely simple and it’s really a very nice hearty dish, and the kitchen smells good while it’s cooking. There are a couple of nice things you can do to serve with it, one of them is a chilled
white sauce, a spicy sauce, to get served with it, and you can take the pan juices and add a little it, one of them is a chilled white sauce, a spicy sauce, to get served with it, and you can take the pan juices and add a little water and stir them up, and pour them over the roast to make the sauce.
but then it could be warped, and you had to take a crochet hook and make little spikes, all over the outside of the chocolate. I had to make many of them– at least a hundred of them, dozens of them, and that was something that was very, very time consuming and would take less than a minute to eat.
Joy: What is the most time consuming – using all your skills – recipe that takes less than a minute to consume? Denise: I once tested a recipe for chocolates, that were supposed to look like real chestnuts. It might have been a nut in the center surrounded by some kind of fondant, or marzipan. Then there was a coating on the outside of that, and that was coated with chocolate. And then the chocolate needed to cool, just enough so that it was still soft
Joy: What is the best “date” food? Denise: The best date food, I would say, something that’s really delicious, sensual, that’s not too messy, and that does not give you bad breath. It really depends on who you’re cooking for, really! I think that you’d like, and go from there. So I don’t think there is really one particular date food, except that I think there are many foods. Each cuisine has its own wonderful, sensuous foods that would be perfect for date food.
Joy: Being from London and America, your palette is quite versatile. Have you wrote about any Asian recipes? What is one that you like? Denise: Well, because I test recipes for the New York Times, I’ve tested recipes from just about every cuisine there is. So I cook a lot of Asian food. I often cook Thai food, Korean food, Indian– you know, all kinds of Asian food. Well, I really like soup, and an easy one is a Tom Yum soup. It has a spicy broth, shrimp and lemongrass in it, and it’s really easy to prepare, and absolutely delicious. Joy: What are some quick and easy ecofriendly tips for women on the go? Denise: I would say: use plastic or glass containers, to bring your lunch, instead of disposable containers; to use your mug and bring it wherever you go, or to keep one at work and not to always travel with it, or to take it to class, to stash a mug in your locker, that way you’re not using paper cups. Instead of using
disposable bottles of water, to just use refillable water bottles, and to use leftovers whenever possible. Also, it’s really a good idea when to cook in quantities, you freeze your leftovers– because when you’re cooking something, or if you’re going to cook a large pot of something, it uses the same amount of gas as if you were going to cook a small amount.
my own herbs. I even actually have some things I use in the winter time – once, I got to buy some horseradish when I needed it for a class I was teaching in my own kitchen, and I remember where my horseradish was in that part of the garden, even though the ground was pretty much frozen, so I went out with a shovel and dug them up. In addition to composting foods, I recycle everything that I possibly can. I use cloths - I do use paper towels for some things - but I do use cloth towels whenever I can to try and save on paper. My kitchen is also heated with a wood stove, so that, of course, saves gas. I also do quite a bit of work with high school students, and so I am always trying to encourage them to be environmentally intelligent and aware. Another thing that I do - if I happen to buy any kind of soda,
I recycle everything that I possibly can.
Joy: What are some environmentally sustainable steps you take as a cook and a busy mother? Denise: Now my children are grown, and they’re out of the house, but I still do the same things as when my children were younger. I had a compost bin– it had deteriorated, and right now I take things and just put things in a part of my garden. I keep a vegetable garden, so I grow
be sustainable. be
or any thing that comes with the white plastic holders for the tops of the cans, I always cut them into pieces so that no birds can get caught, because I know that happens really often. Joy: How did an anthropology major become a successful cook? Denise: I always say there are a lot of similarities between the work that I used to do, and the work that I do now. When I worked as an archaeologist, everyday was different. There were many surprises. When you’re at an archaeological site, or even an archaeological lab – no matter what you’re doing – you really never know exactly what you’re going to find. There’s a level of high excitement, in that kind of work. I really enjoyed the surprises, and the daily changes in what I was doing.
That really is the same with the work I am doing now– I never know when the phone is going to ring, or when I get an email asking me to test a recipe and I never know what that recipe is going to be, or what kind of cuisine it’s from, and there are always challenges in trying to find the ingredients and trying to adapt to recipes– comments from professional chefs and adapt it to home cooks. So, there’s really a similar kind of excitement to those kinds of work, even though they are obviously very, very different.
Decide what is it you want... and how you’re going to get it.
Joy: If you could give one piece of advice to young women around the world, what would it be? Denise: I think the best advice that can
give to any young person, is to decide what it is that you want, and then decide how you’re going to get it. I tell this to the high school students that I volunteer with. Say you’d get a job working on a cruise ship, and first you think to yourself, at first I have to do this, at first I have to do that, and then I’ll think about that later on. I think that it’s much better when you decide what it is you want and then figure out how you’re going to get it. It really gives you a different attitude, a different point of view, and I think that you’ll have much more success if you approach things that way. Let’s say you want to get a job at the white house, so first, think about what qualifications am I going to need, what contacts might I need, how can I achieve that goal. It might sound like it’s the same thing, but it’s just a different attitude, and I think that’s important.
green. be healthy.
Smoked Trout PatĂŠ
From Dinner for Eight By Denise Landis (St. Martin’s Press)
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
Time: 15 minutes Yield: Serves 8 as an appetizer 8 ounces cream cheese 1/3 cup sour cream 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce 1 pound skinless, boneless smoked trout fillets (available from seafood markets, specialty food stores, and vacuum-packed in supermarkets) 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions (green part only)
1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, lemon juice, and Tabasco. Process until very smooth. Set aside about 1/4 pound of the trout fillets, and add the remainder to the cream cheese mixture. Process again until almost smooth. 2. Transfer the mixture to a bowl, and add the scallions, parsley and dill. Break the reserved trout into small chunks and stir into the mixture. Cover and refrigerate. Serve chilled, with toasted pita bread, crackers or thin slices of toasted bread.
recipes from
Involtini
From Dinner for Eight, by Denise Landis (St. Martin’s Press) Adapted from Nigella Lawson Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes Yield: 8 servings 3 large eggplants, about 1 pound each, trimmed and cut lengthwise into slices 1/4 inch thick (about 16 slices total) 3/4 cup olive oil, or as needed 8 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup pine nuts 1/3 cup raisins, soaked in hot water for 10 minutes until plump, then drained 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for drizzling 2 tablespoons bread crumbs 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 1-1/2 teaspoons dried mint 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley leaves 1 large egg, beaten Salt and freshly ground black pepper 2-1/2 cups drained canned crushed tomatoes 1 large ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a ridged castiron skillet or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, brush the eggplant slices on both sides with olive oil and cook, turning, until soft and (if using a ridged pan) crisscrossed with grid marks. Set aside and allow to cool. 2. In a large bowl, combine the feta, pine nuts, raisins, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, breadcrumbs, garlic, lemon zest, mint and parsley. Mix in the egg, and season to taste with salt and pepper. 3. Spread the eggplant slices on a surface, and divide the stuffing evenly among them, placing 1-2 tablespoons at one end of each slice. Roll up the slices tightly to secure the filling, and place in a 9 by 13 inch baking dish (or other shallow baking pan in which the rolls fit snugly in a single layer). Pour over the crushed tomatoes. Arrange the mozzarella slices in a line lengthwise down the center of the pan. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the pan, and season to taste with salt and pepper. 4. Bake until the cheese has melted and the eggplant is bubbling and fragrant, 25-30 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5-10 minutes. Serve hot.
theory heels; vintage peacock feather clutch; glasses by SOLO eyewear; tooth necklace from Sword-Smith in Williamsburg;
Alden
a founder, ed
check out her green,
Alden will be feature
H&M Conscious Collection dress; American Apparel belt: made in L.A.; handmade necklace: bought at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg; Solo bamboo sunglasses: funds eye care for people in need; Cambridge Satchel bag: handmade in England; Wolford tights; Trouve shoes.
hand piece by Mettle Fair Trade
H&M S/S 2013 Conscious Collection blouse; Cidenzi Mori pencil skirt with leather paneling: emerging designer; Wolford tights; Diane von Furstenberg shoes; earrings from a store in London; The Sway purse: upcycled leather.
Wicker.
ditor and writer.
, ecofriendly streetstyle.
ed in the December issue.
maxi dress from Buffalo Exchange; vintage purse, belt from American Apparel (approved store); necklace, Urban Outfitters (unapproved, but three years old); sunglasses by Summer Raynes Oakes eco.
fair trade striped top by LemLem, skirt by Topshop; leather necklace by Brooklyn artisan, vegan purse by Cornelia Guest, available at Compassion Couture; Fendi shoes; Aid Through Trade bracelets.
CASSANDRA POSTEMA Cassandra Postema is a Hong Kong based designer and founder of Emi&Eve, striving to exemplify beauty through her accessories and the stories that are told by them. She uses recycled brass melted from bomb shells and bullets, and hand woven fabrics, all which were made from local artisans and craftsmen in Cambodia and disabled creatives in China. Her work has been featured all around the world, in local boutiques and stores such as Anthropologie.
Emi&Eve spokesperson, Raven Tao
Joy: What inspired you to start Emi&Eve? Cassandra: Well, I’d always wanted to do something related to social enterprise. I was looking for something, and then when I met Chantha Thoeunthe, he had done something that I’d never seen before, kind of the ultimate thing I was looking for. The story–was so usable in lots of different angles, so marketable, a voice that needed to be heard. done something that I’d never seen before, kind of the
ultimate thing I was looking for. The story–was so usable in lots of different angles, so marketable, a voice that needed to be heard. Joy: When you started this brand, what sort of difficulties did you face? How did you overcome them? Are there any you face now? Cassandra: I think right now – well, financials is always a problem, but I solved that by crowd funding, well at least
temporarily – but I think with this particular project, the production line is still unknown, because I work with one person– he’s really good, but I need to expand to other people. I know there are other people, but I still need to go and frame them, and see how that’s going to work out. So in terms of supply, it’s still a little bit experimental. Joy: Have you considered using materials other than recycled bomb shells and bullets? Cassandra: Yeah, I’d love to use plastic bottles; I know there’s fabric made out of it, but all I know is that you have to order in huge quantities, because it’s made by factories, so I haven’t really figured that one out…
But, I’m open I’m open to anything: fabric, recycling fabric, patch working, recycling denim, that would be great. Joy: Have you ever had any problems with immigration by bringing your clutches overseas? Cassandra: Actually, all the brass comes via DHL courier, and if I carry anything – I had actually brought those bullets on the plane with me – it would probably be by hand luggage or something.
Joy: If you could give one piece of advice to young women around the world, what would it be? Cassandra: Find your thing, what you can be passionate about, so that you can set your goals with that in mind. Well, speaking for myself, for a long time I didn’t really know what my goals, specific goals, in life were; I knew I wanted to be a designer or do something in design, but even within that, it took me a long time to actually go: “Wait a minute. This is the direction I want to go in, because these are the things about me, that I need to address, that are not going to be addressed any other way. That would be my advice. Find your thing, and make your life meaningful.
Joy: Is there a way you recommend, to speed up this process of “finding your thing”? Cassandra: Try everything with a limit. I think everyone starts their own journey at a certain point, things can happen, and there’s often a transformation that goes on in your life which isn’t what you might have thought about as well. So find out, keep your mind open, and read good things. Read from the classics, like Napoleon Hill – he’s a great person to read, go back to those people, I’d start there.
cassandra postema.
meet our verve gals.
farah sadri. Born in: Temple, Texas, USA! Languages spoken: English, Spanish and some Farsi Number of countries visited: 12 Top 5 things to do before I die: Hot air balloon, have a mini me, see Iran, learn another language fluently, be totally at peace with myself Favorite movie of 2012: The Avengers or Argo My jam: Anything by Led Zeppelin I want people to remember me as: Somebody who put others first and loved them like Jesus... I recycle: Make-up containers from M. A. C. because 6 containers equals free lipstick! I recycle paper, plastic, clothing and other people’s jokes!
Born in: Canada Languages spoken: English, French and Chinese Number of countries visited: 30 Top 5 things to do before I die: Start a business, travel to South America, improve my Chinese, sing in front of a crowd of 1000s, learn to love well Favorite movie of 2012: Les MisĂŠrables My jam: Love on Top - BeyoncĂŠ I want people to remember me by: By my faith, my passionate pursuit of my dreams and my ability to release others to dream and realize dreams. I especially want to leave a legacy of love. I recycle: Paper
amanda fung.
Born in: Fontainebleau, France Languages spoken: French, English and German Number of countries visited: 5 Top 5 things to do before I die: Write a book, meet my idol, do something that changes the world, go to space, find true love Favorite movie of 2012: On The Road My jam: Currently, Skyscraper by Demi Lovato and all Ed Sheeran songs I want people to remember me as: Being honest I recycle: Everything I possibly can窶田ompost, my homework...
alexiane hubert.
tabata work Tabata workoutwas originally a fitness plan for Olympic speed skaters, created by Professor Izumi Tabata, a.k.a Prof T. He conducted an experiment which succeeded with flying colors. The workout has been adapted to suit many athletes, parents and adolescents alike to increase health, strength and fitness.
Prof T’s experiment consisted of a group of male university athletes who followed his routine of doing 8 sets of 20 second stationary bike maxed effort sprints, with 10 seconds rest in between. They did this workout 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and their aerobic fitness increased by 14%. In relation, an additional group completed a 60 minute, moderately paced ride (on the bikes). Unlike the first group, their aerobic fitness only increased by 10%.
Read a story about the workout here. More information about the workout here. Technological terms of exercise explained here.
You’re probably thinking, this will make me amazing. Yes, it will. However, to tone your entire body and be equally fit in all areas, you must do exercises that use your entire body. Obviously, a person with an average fitness level would not be competent enough to pass the Olympic speed skater’s workout. You would feel sick and vomit continuously if you did, and that’s because that workout was meant for Olympic speed skaters. Now we’ve found a workout that suits you. That suits your fitness ability. If it’s too difficult, make the rests a little bit longer. But always, always, maximise your effort, to burn those calories– this is, a high level intenstiy workout. Be ready.
kout:
only 4 minutes of fat blasting cardio!
#fit #health #body
the good news! we just want to take this time to celebrate the events, life and good things that are happening and have happened, in the sustainable and women’s rights world.
twitte
erific
need more info? here are some tweets with information that you may or may not have known about; we want to make you aware of more of the happenings that are currently being processed in the world.
#SYRIA
What is happening?
The Syrian Civil war has been going on for the two years and is still a current conflict in the country. The war has impacted over two million people, three quarters of which are women and children that have been transported out of Syria in the past 10 months as result of the war. The ongoing dispute between those supporting the government and those wanting to overthrow the government have had a huge effect on many lives. One of the women currently seeking refuge in Greece with her children has been separated from her husband and two of her other children. She was departed from Syria to find safety but has completely lost contact with her husband and has not heard from him since she departed Syria. This is only one of the many victims that have been affected by the Syrian unrest and many are facing situations just like this.
What can we do?
The constant increase in refugees being hosted around the world, impacting several economies; it is predicted that by the end of this year, FIVE BILLION US dollars will be needed to support the refugees. The amount of refugees will total up to half of Syria’s population, all of which have been driven out of their own country for the sake of safety. UNHCR has provided an extremely generous contribution to the cause, having raised close to two billion US dollars, all of which will go towards refugees who have been scattered form their own homes. We hope that you as an individual will donate to this cause, and to aid those who are truly in need. kristy lam