snapshots: it's all in the details

This weekend, I'm looking forward to finally getting a much needed haircut! My bangs - which don't even qualify as bangs anymore - look like floppy dog ears.

And since NY weather is going to be warming up soon, I'll also be on the hunt for a good air conditioner, so if you have any brand recommendations, please feel free to share. 

Oh and this is so random, but did you hear about Alicia Silverstone pre-chewing her son's food? Weird or acceptable? Doesn't it look like a bird regurgitating worms in her baby's mouth? Just my observation...

On that note, have a happy weekend all!

inspiration corner

I'm currently working on a creative project. I won't say what it is because I believe in showing, not telling. And I don't know when it will be completed. It could be five months from now. It could be five years from now.

I can't say what the future holds for me.

But I might pass failure on the way to success and will probably endure a few, if not many, rejections. So if/when that happens, I need something that's going to lift me up. Words and stories that at one time made me feel excited and open to new possibilities. To remind myself that even when I'm feeling down on myself - which will most certainly happen - there was a time when I felt confident in my abilities. And I need to keep on.

I collected some clippings and printed articles I found around the web that truly motivate me. And I put them in a designated "pick-me-up corner". My pick-me-up corner is exactly as it sounds. It's meant to give me a boost when morale is low. A light push saved exclusively for the times when I absolutely need one. It's only natural to have feelings of doubt, but I don't want that to hinder my judgment as I've let it in the past. I'm too old to let negative thoughts defeat me.

I work on my state of mind every day. I try to keep my attitude positive yet realistic and my drive strong. But it doesn't hurt to have another back-up system.

So this is what I've done. My own little corner. A different kind of support, if you will.

If you find yourself wavering from your dreams and goals, what do you do? How do you keep yourself from throwing in the towel?

what to do with leftover celery

Though I like the flavor in small amounts, celery’s not such a common ingredient in our household. It’s more of a soup flavoring for me. Whether I bought too much or it was sold in a pack of several stalks, I always have some left over. I try not to waste food, so freezing them is the logical thing to do, besides snacking on them (I don’t much care for raw celery though).

What you’ll need: 

Celery, roughly chopped into 1 to 1 ½ inch pieces
Plastic bags that seal tight
A bowl of ice water

Bring a salted pot of water to a hard boil.
Throw in the celery chunks and cook for about a minute (you don’t want them to get too soggy or lose flavor).
Immediately place in a bowl of ice water and let cool down for a few minutes.
Strain.
Put about a handful or two (I used about a heaping handful and a half) in individual plastic bags.You can use specific measurements, if that's more your thing. I like to eyeball it.
Freeze and use as needed.

Once blanched and frozen, the celery will no longer be crunchy. At this point, it’s best to use for soups and stocks. It will keep for several months to a year.

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BUT, if you absolutely insist on using up your celery right away, here are some very delicious-looking recipes to try:

• Braised hearts of celery vinaigrette
• Puree of celery soup
• Braised celery (à la Alton Brown, whose tips I follow as gospel)
• Italian mushroom and celery salad

vacation planning

I'm going to Paris!

I was initially decided on  a trip to Barcelona. But last week, I received an email with an incredible travel deal to Paris that I could not pass up.  After mulling it over and researching the hotel (which is located in Montmartre), Bob and I decided to book it.

As a person who has never visited Paris before, I'm in total research mode and trying to plan somewhat of an itinerary. The process is kind of overwhelming, so I'm looking to you for help! I know a few of you have been, so I'd love it if you could give me some advice. I'm open to anything:

• Restaurants/bakeries to try.
• Places/sights I absolutely must go to.
• Tips on French etiquette/language.
• Anecdotes from your own Paris trip.
• Links to your own Paris trip blog posts.
• What's the best travel guide book/website?

Like I said, any words of wisdom or recommendations you can share would be so much appreciated. I'm excited to hear your thoughts. And even more excited for this trip!

friday fillers

• Downton Abbey name generator. You can just call me Lady Eugenie, Baroness of Throcking. Don't I sound like a haughty aristocrat from an old romance novel?

• I'd really like to try this trick for peeling garlic in less than 10 seconds. It's normally such a tedious task.

• Organizing solutions for your kitchen (perfect for small kitchens).

• Topshop debuts a Clueless lipstick. As if!

• Dial a D-list celebrity for $10 - $20 per minute. I can't believe this actually exists! Anyone care to chat with Dina Lohan? Or Tila Tequila?

• Are you planning on taking a vacation this year? Check out some of the great travel deals here. I actually just booked a trip through this site and got an amazing deal! I'll tell you all about it next week...

For now, a very happy weekend to you.

Or Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor.

new season, new lips

I was sweet on sheer lipsticks for the past year, but lately I've been back on colored glosses and matte lipsticks. I guess you can call it spring fever because I feel renewed and ready to come out from the winter funk with some new fun colors.  I'm like, hello world I'm ready to feel pretty again!

I recently picked up two glosses from Revlon, one in Strawberry (a bright pink with just a hint of sparkle), the other in Coral Reef (a peachy-coral that I think would look great on girls with warm undertones). Then I splurged a little for Mac's cult hit, Russian Red. It's a classic red matte that I think would contrast perfectly with a little black eyeliner, a plain tee and jeans. It applies impossibly smooth and looks like velvet on lips. I can't wait to wear it.

What colors are you into this season? Trying anything new?

refreshing limeade

What do you do when you see a sale for seven limes for only $1?

I’ll tell you what I do.

I buy the limes.

I make limeade.

Limeade (adapted from Simply Recipes)
makes about 1 quart


5-7 limes
Grated zest of 1 lime (about 1 tbsp)
3/4 to 1 cup of sugar
3 cups of water


In a small saucepan bring to a boil the sugar, one cup of water, and the lime zest. 
Once the sugar is dissolved (which it should be by the time the water boils), remove from heat and let cool for for a few minutes. The amount of sugar is a guideline, it depends on how sweet you like your limeade and how tart your particular limes are.
Place a strainer over a bowl and pour the sugar syrup through it, straining out the lime zest. 
Add the lime juice and 2 cups of water. Taste for sour/sweet balance. If too sweet, add a little more lime juice.
Chill, or serve immediately over ice.

It might be a little early for this cool, satisfying summer drink, but I always get a little ahead of myself once that warm weather hits. Kind of like those people who, at the first sign of spring, break out the shorts and flip-flops – on a 55 degrees (F) day. You know who you are.

adventures in weekending: gallivanting in the village

I had every intention of just getting a slice of pizza for lunch and making a beeline for the Bowery Kitchen store, and though I did fulfill my goal (and got myself a brand spankin' new skillet!), there were a few unexpected stops along the way. What was supposed to be a two hour outing ended up being eight hours of long walks, talks, impromptu concerts in the park, Japanese barbecue, cheap Guinness, bumping into familiar faces, gelato on a stick and cool street art.

With the hoards of rambunctious people in green celebrating, it was hard not to catch that infectious energy. I could blame it on the magic of St. Paddy's Day. Or the beautiful spring-like weather. But it was probably a combination of the two. I'll stick with that.

friday fillers

• Unusual ways to make extra money.

• The scent of rosemary can make you smarter?

• A blogger's dream: fun things you can do with (and for) your blog that doesn't require writing a post (I spent an hour just clicking through everything!).

• Bob wrote an article for Humor Times for the Faux News section, that pokes a bit of fun at hipsters. It's amusing and clever...just like him.

• This is the recipe that turned me on to lentils.

• I'm looking to this site as somewhat of a guide for my next trip.

a place for ideas

I thought of this post in the shower.

And that's precisely what this is all about. Ideas. And in what kind of environment in which they were born.

I do some of my best thinking in the shower. I've come up with creative projects, ideas for dinner, formed strong opinions on what was the best year in movies at the Oscars, a checklist of goals to accomplish before Friday and different backgrounds and templates for this blog (more on this later). On the other hand, I've also done some pretty good thinking in the bedroom, whilst sitting up in bed, the covers over my legs, television on mute and pen and paper within arm's reach (I've been known to keep writing supplies under my pillow). Of course, I can't forget those light bulb moments - when an idea forms unexpectedly.

An acquaintance, who happens to be a writer, once told me that she likes to think and brainstorm at her desk, in complete silence, no pictures in front of her, no distractions at all. Another friend told me she likes to be in her bedroom and listen to "mellow music" when she writes poetry. I found it fascinating. How a person's creativity thrives in different environments. For the most part, I can't think when music's on - I like it too much to just ignore it. And sitting behind a desk feels too forced.

Think about this. Do you have any spots where you do most of your creative thinking? Or are you more of a free-spirit in that you can't be contained to just one type of environment? I have to admit, I'm a little bit of both, although I lean towards a quieter space. It depends on my mood. What about you?

no fuss, recipe-less dinner: chicken and vegetable stir-fry

This chicken and veggie stir-fry is one of those meals that don’t require a specific recipe or strict measurements. This is why I make it so often for dinner. It comes naturally to me.

It took a while to perfect the flavor. There were variations that included brown sugar and honey, but it wasn’t until I found the right balance of lime juice, ginger, soy sauce and garlic that I knew this was a tried and true thing. I learned in order to preserve some of the crunch and color of the vegetables, it was best to cook some of the ingredients before adding the rest. And a splash of lime juice is all you really need -  anything more is kind of disastrous. A bit of cornstarch to thicken up the sauce doesn’t hurt either.

Are there any meals that you improvise? Is there at least one where you need only your eyes and taste buds as measuring spoons?

adventures in weekending: janey's birthday party (and a little good news)

We helped celebrate my sister's birthday this weekend with not one, but two birthday cakes, close family and friends, a huge tub of Magnolia's famous banana pudding, a special gift from Jimmy Choo, some silliness here and there and excited talk about The Hunger Games (eeeeek!). Party animals were certainly in attendance, but one of them knocked out before the first guest left (while his little brother mischievously jumped on the bed right next to him).

And although many people didn't know it, the boyfriend and I were also celebrating his acceptance into the NYU grad program with a few toasts of our own. Yeah Bob!