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Hello! My name is Monica Schwartz, and I currently live in the Northern California Gold Country. My two "piglets" (yes the ones in the photo) used to be with me, but alas, they left me for the rainbow bridge in 2022. They are still very much with me in spirit though, and we are still very much a team.
Besides being the driving force behind Life Out Of Bounds, I am also a photographer, artist, writer, chef, forest therapy guide, and dabble a bit in design. I am also a world explorer, time traveler and aspiring teleporter. If I were turning eleven next week, my choice of school would be Hogwarts!
Born and raised in Italy, I moved to Hawai'i in 2002, where I lived for eleven years, until I came down with island fever. That is when I moved to California in order to have more territory to explore in my Mini.
Hawai'i remains the home of my heart.
Thank you for visiting
May you be happy, may you be blessed, may you prosper in all things.
Monica
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Oops, I just realized that yesterday was World Chocolate Day! 🤎
How did I miss that?! 😄
Do you know that Hawai’i is (possibly) the only place in the world where cacao can both be grown and turned into chocolate?
I have a photo rich post on the blog where this story follows the chocolate making process from bean to bar starting in a cacao plantation on the North Shore of O’ahu.
You can find it among my links in my profile, or if you prefer, you can comment CHOCOLATE here and I am happy to send you the link directly.
Happy rest of this Tuesday (for some reason it felt like Sunday this morning), and happy rest of the week!
xoxo
M
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#loob_experience #chocolate #cacao #Hawaii #Oahu #hawaiichocolate #hawaiilife #hawaiinei #northshoreoahu #alohaspirit #oahulife #lethawaiihappen #foodguiltnomore #earthenergy #naturehealing #ichliebefoodblogs #wholefoods #mindfulfood #foodphotography #foodstyling
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©Monica Schwartz - all rights reserved. Please do not reproduce in any way without written consent.
🍓 PASSION FRUIT TARTLETS WITH SUMMER BERRIES 🫐
as July’s new Calendar Wallpaper!
Happy July everyone!!
I had made these Lilikoi (Passion Fruit) Tartlets with Summer Berries for a 4th of July potluck party with my neighbors in Honolulu.
The brightness and summery colors of the images called to me, so I decided to feature them in the July Calendar Wallpaper. Of course the recipe is also available on the blog. I hope you will enjoy both wallpaper and recipe!
Download the wallpapers at the link in profile, or if you prefer, you can comment TARTLETS and I will be happy to message you the link directly.
May your July exceed your best expectations, and I wish a fantastic 4th of July weekend to all who celebrate!
xoxo
M
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#loob_food #theartofslowliving #calendarwallpaper #ilovesummer #summertime #summerfood #summerfruits #berries #summerlife #fourthofjuly #4thofjuly #passionfruittartlets #tartlets #fruittartlets #bakingforthesoul #bakedfromscratch #summerrecipes #foodstyling #foodphotography #berriesseason #mindfulbaking #bakingblogger #afternoontea #crostatine #italianfoodbloggers #dolcivisioni #summereats #mindfuleating #foraging #mindfulbaking
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© Monica Schwartz - all rights reserved. Do not reproduce in any way without written consent.
Happy 30th Birthday to my nephew Massimo, aka Max!!
Sorry I am not there to celebrate on the day, but such a big birthday wants more celebrations so we can do it again when I get there.
Also, as I prepared these images to be shared, I realized that: not only is it time for new photos, but that it is loooong time for new photos of his sister, my niece Greta.
So be ready, both of you, as I am putting this in my schedule for when I return.
🩵🥳🎂
M
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#loob_people #portraiture #environmentalportraiture #italianlife #portraiturephotography #peoplescreatives #portraitlegacy #artofportait #portaitshoot #makeportaitsmagazine
For al Orchid Lovers like me!!
I have just found out that, on July 26-27 San Francisco is hosting another wonderful Orchid event featuring glorious artistic displays, workshops and plant sales.
I have been to several of these events and love them. I even shared a photo-rich post on the blog for your pleasure, if you would like to get a preview. You can find it at the link in my profile or, if you prefer, you can comment ORCHIDS below and I will be happy to message you the link directly.
Orchids in the Park will take place at the SF County Fair Building, at 1199 9th Ave, SF and is organized by the San Francisco Orchid Society. You will find links to purchase tickets at the top and bottom of my post.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
🩷M
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#loob_nature #orchids #sanfrancisco #california #sfbucketlist #ilove_sanfrancisco #sanfranciscoworld #onlyinsf #mysanfrancisco #visitcalifornia #sanfrancitizens #sfbay #citybythebay #sfgate #igerssf #explorecalifornia #womenwhoexplore #solotraveler #girlslovetravel #thetravelwomen #cntraveler #summervibes #orchidlovers #naturephotography #flowerphotography #gardenphotography #gardentherapy #naturetherapy #flowersmakemehappy #moodforfloral
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©Monica Schwartz - all rights reserved. Do not reproduce without written consent.
🌟 NEW POST ON THE BLOG! 🌟
“My Foray Into Home Baking As A Business”
In this new post I share my personal experience between 2023-2024 when I found myself selling my baked treats like hotcakes and, for a while, seriously considering home baking as an actual business.
I share how it all happened, what I learned, the fun parts, the exhausting ones, what worked and what didn’t.
Whether you are thinking of starting a home baking business or not, I hope you will find it interesting. Besides, there are lots of drool-worthy pics in there to lift the spirits and tempt the taste buds.
You will find the link in my profile, under “Latest Post”, or you can comment BAKING under this post and I will be happy to send it to you directly.
Happy Wednesday everyone!
💗
Monica
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#loob_food #homebaking #homebakingbusiness #baking #bakingforthesoul #cookielover #italiancookies #bakersofig #bakingblogger #cookiemonster #cookies #amaretti #shortbreadcookies #afternoontea #foodandwine #cakelover #foodgawker #afternoonteaparty #teatimepoetry_ #italianfood #biscotti #cantucci #biscottidinatale #dolcettidinatale #mindfulbaking #mindfulfood #food52 #inmykitchen #cottagefood #bakedfromscratch
