Celebrating Simple Moments Everyday
chats at the table with kathleen pagan of endlessly elated
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO CELEBRATE SIMPLE MOMENTS EVERYDAY? WHAT ARE SOME EVERYDAY MOMENTS THAT YOU CELEBRATE IN YOUR DWELLING?
Life is worth celebrating. It’s worth being intentional about how you spend each day. The majority of our lives are made up of the small moments. So, I am incredibly mindful to truly LIVE out each day. I often say, we only get one chance at life, so it is certainly a cause for celebration each day, we get to wake up and see another day – truthfully my dad’s passing provided immense perspective on this.
Amongst my friends and family, I’ve certainly been known to turn heads at the things I have celebrated, but one of my favorite things is the celebration of quiet mornings, or a delicious home-cooked meal, or simply seizing the day. I truly sit in immense gratitude and embrace the happiness I feel in these seemingly ordinary moments. There’s something really special about that.
THE PRODUCTS THAT YOU CO-CREATE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY ARE SIMPLE, TIMELESS AND LUXURIOUS. DO YOU HAVE TIPS ON HOW CITY DWELLERS CAN CULTIVATE THESE QUALITIES IN THEIR OWN DWELLING?
Absolutely. I believe each of us has a story of home. One that is unique to us. One that carefully displays the things we enjoy. One that curates the way we live and how we spend our days. So, whenever I’m bringing something into my home, I ask myself three questions. Who am I buying this from? How was this made? And does it add to My Story of Home (It’s no coincidence that this why we made Your Story of Home – EE’s tagline)? These simple questions allow me to be thoughtful about how I make purchases. It gives me the bandwidth to only bring in things I find meaningful. Things that are timeless and meant to last a lifetime.
WHEN YOU’RE CELEBRATING A SIMPLE MOMENT, WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO ROUTINE?
I don’t know if this is so much a routine as it is more of a reminder. Two words – Thank you. Each celebration is meant to be had in complete thankfulness, in immense appreciation. However, on most occasions, this is usually followed by two more of my favorite words – Champagne and Coupes. In our Elated coupes, of course! Truly a beautiful symbiosis rooted in absolute celebration.
AS A FELLOW CITY DWELLER, WE ARE ALWAYS MOVING AS FAST AS OUR CITY. HOW CAN EVERYDAY CELEBRATIONS HELP US TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES?
Celebrating the every day does exactly that. It allows you to slow down and appreciate life. It makes you look at the world differently. It grants you the ability to experience life through the lens of gratitude. In these brief moments, the things we chalk up to be “normal” or “ordinary” are now lived in a way that makes them feel special and distinct. Celebratory living makes the journey all worth it and trust me, I lived both ways and this way is incomparable to the former.
YOUR FIRST HEIRLOOM, THE ELATED COUPE IS HAND BLOWN AND TAKES 30 DAYS TO CREATE. IT IS CLEAR THAT QUALITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. HOW IMPORTANT IS QUALITY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INGREDIENTS YOU COOK WITH IN YOUR DWELLING?
Extremely important. It’s all about being mindful. Quality ingredients deliver the true flavor profile of each food. They enhance and retain their natural juices and when cooking with them, they release the things we so often crave and perhaps don’t realize. That bite of freshness or that burst of bright flavors. I believe in preparing meals, with seasonally harvested vegetables, quality meats, and locally grown grains. Foods that haven’t been altered by preservatives.
MOST CELEBRATIONS ARE MARKED WITH CHAMPAGNE. WHAT OTHER COCKTAILS OR DRINKS DO YOU ENJOY CELEBRATING WITH IN THE ELATED COUPE?
Ahh, lots! Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and Old-Fashioned cocktails have made quite a few appearances in the Elated Coupes. I have also enjoyed the simplicity of a cocktail made of fresh, quality ingredients paired with a spirit, like a Gin and Grapefruit cocktail. The possibilities are endless. The important thing is that you enjoy the moment.
SAFFRON HONEY MAGARITA
INGREDIENTS
SAFFRON HONEY SYRUP
1/2 cup water
pinch saffron threads
1/4 cup city honey
COCKTAIL
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz orange liqueur
1 oz lemon juice
1 oz saffron honey syrup
DIRECTIONS
I. to make the saffron honey syrup, heat the water and saffron in a small sauce pot until simmering. remove from heat allow to cool slightly before stirring in honey. once honey has dissolved, allow to cool completely
II. to make the cocktail, rim the glasses with kosher salt (optional) then place all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. shake to chill and blend and strain into coupe glasses.
makes one cocktail.
