Permission To Ramble

To feel multiple feelings at once
To change your mind

To say something without knowing for sure
If that’s what you think

To be full of contradictions

To take up space

To be heard
To have opinions
To be silly
To be serious
To ask for what you need
~Nikita Zook

“I cry at random things, like a flower, or someone giving me a present, or my sister giving me a nice hug.” ~Naomi Harris (Foodies, this is Posh Porridge from the Riccarton Farmers’ Market.)

Leighs Construction Outdoor Cinema (click for deets).

Attended my Xmas work function in a (heavily reduced) local-brand Tuesdays dress.

Rapaki Track desu.


Let me tell you something, Iranians LOVE foraging, it’s in our blood!

#couplegoals
Foraging (barefoot – Willem made sure I make note of that) in the Red Zone, only to be made into delicious plum sorbet by Utopia Ice!
Sam and George’s most beautifully simple yet elegant wedding at Trents Vineyard. 

Guest appearance of Rudolph the green/white nosed reindeer when the red pom poms ran out when making Christmas cards for each one of our littlies.


Merry Christmas from the Teacher/Entrepreneur flat!

Let’s Love Loud

Cheese testers galore in Geraldine. 

Isn’t my daddy hilarious? This one’s for you, Lifa!



Central otago peaches and cherries, banana, momma’s homemade muesli and unsweetened organic oat milk.

Guys, this is Queenstown in NZ and it is one of my absolute favourites. True, it’s super touristy today but it’s so so lovely always. Thank you Delaram and Andy for organising this trip. 
My 2017 resolution (gosh can’t even write “2017” without thinking “wtf”) is to read a book a week. Apparently that’s 52 books in total. Today i finished A Crack In Forever by Jeannie Brewer, a love story: honestly sad, truly sweet, overly sexy and incredibly hard to forget.
What A Crack In Forever taught me during its last tear-gushing chapters is to seriously appreciate each and every moment for a loved one can be taken away at any moment.

Our Japanese Guests’ Last Day

Breakfast at Strawberry Fare, walk at Taylor’s Mistake and afternoon relaxing at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. And just like that, we said sayonara.

Has the owners of Strawberry Fare changed? It wasnt as good as I remembered it…

One of Juri’s 10000 selfies.
My brother in law living on the edge. 
They said this pig reminded them of the Studio Ghibli animation, Spirited Away.Monkey love.

Leap And The Net Will Appear

Look auntie Pouneh(France), Dave and Maria(Spain) who love bicycles! This is my new ride for the summer.


Sweet strawberry picking with my sweet mama (and sweet family) in sunny Pleasant point.

That’s how you know you love someone, I guess, when you can’t experience anything without wishing the other person were there to see it, too. (Kaui Hart Hemmings)

Walnut flour crackers, Akaroa salmon and lots of Puhoi Valley NZ cheese. A throwback from our Persian-Kiwi Christmas lunch.

Much needed coconut water after a 9km ride after an 8 hour shift on a 30 degree day.


These last two are for baby Mia: Lifa and Aki’s beautiful newborn. My heart is overjoyed for you (especially OZ-kun).

My Wish For You Is That You Continue

…continue to be who you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. -Maya Angelou
Real-life fruit ninja.

It’s getting hot in here!
This is my gorgeous sis. She’s always “liking” and sharing my stuff (hint hint). 
So what do y’all think of NZ, then?


Back to my favorite ice-cream joint of all time (now serving various dairy-free options)! All hand-made and all with ample love. Now, I know this because I know the family behind the ice-cream. And believe me when I say they’re just as delicate and just as sweet.

There are so many new Christchurch cafes! I just can’t keep up but I am trying. This is Park Ranger on Riccarton road. When I drive past, it always seems busy. I wonder if it’s just a phase? Like as was Yoghurt Story? Anyways, mama and I truly did LOVE their coffee (and almond milk availability) but the biscotti..oh the biscotti it almost broke my teeth. Yeah, yeah, biscotti is always hard, you tell me. But this guys was extreme. 
Last but not least, vegan Thai green curry. Nothing like cooking for a loved one. Love you mommy xx

There Is No Beauty Without Some Strangeness.

My sister’s foxy dog – taken at Halswell Quarry Dog Park. 
The Persian Life chose me.
Sugar-free banana, turmeric and blueberry muffins. No recipe because I’m boss like that.Though if you’re looking for a muffin recipe you could try THIS or THAT.
Last of my Japanese sushi bandaids! 
G is for…Grapefruit. Had the opportunity of getting in on some behind-the-scenes action at C1 Espresso and proud to tell you that this shizz is hand-squeezed, people. Like, by actual human hands. No wonder it’s so delicious! I taste the LOVE, C1! I taste the love!
Almond milk drinks with my no1 bishes. Actually with my sister and mom…
Lovers in Paris. Or Riccarton Race course. Tomato, tomato, I say.
My sexy bestie and our 17 year old dog! 
One of these is not like the other…#problemsolving101
Chur NZ! Drinking Maori herbs!Last but not least, made my sweet mama spicy spinach, mushroom and black bean enchiladas. Guacamole recipe HERE.

Good Art Is Not What It Looks Like, But What It Does To Us.

Apologies for the spamming of posts – especially to my new daily growing followers (big thank you!!) but I needed to free up the storage on my phone.

Hey Rick, if candy-filled streets aren’t enough to lure you to my homeland, I don’t know what are!

I’ve always said we are so lucky to have Hagley <3


This one’s for you Randy!
Ducks chilaxing cos ’tis the season. 
Bircher bowls from Posh Porridge for breakfast with my darling sister. 
Takeaway healthy salads from BearLion Foods for lunch at home with my annoying parents <3

Love. What Is More Important?

Hi friends! I’m requesting prayers and positive energy for my family and friends back home (NZ) please. In saying that, I myself am not frightened of returning. Because tragedies can happen anywhere. If it’s not earthquakes, it’s storms, or fires or bombings or shootings. Life is to be lived not feared.

A beautiful day at Radnor Lake.
Beaver attacks! :O



Vegetarian burger: quinoa and black bean pattie, lettuce, cheese, tomato, avocado and jalapeños from Burger Up.How we do “His and Hers” (hehe) AKA meat vs veg.

A Man Sees In The World What He Carries In His Heart ~Goethe

And I see love love love!

Healthy french toast. Recipe HERE.

Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art.


I heart Japan.


Percy Warner Park.

What’s My Real Job?

What’s my real job? I am in the soul-growing business. As we all should be. -Elizabeth Gilbert.

Hey guys! How are you all? I’m in Nashville, Tennessee. Yes, I can’t believe it either. I wish I could write more but I’m tired and jet-lagged and I want to spend as much time as I can with my beautiful hosts. So, here are some photos:

Radnor Lake.

Calories count. Check then choose.
Left-overs from Frothy Monkey plus some fruit, and a quick guacamole from me

My very first squirrel!