Latest Obsessions

*Citrus
Clementines, satsumas, grapefruit, oranges etc.
I cannot get enough. Does my body just want the vitamin
C or the acidity? Who knows but I can't stop eating them.

*Hibernating
need.more.sleep.

*Learning About Icelandic Christmas lore/traditions
Iceland has become somewhat of an obsession for me and I think
for the husband but he doesn't obsess over things as much as I do.
But yes, we love Iceland- it's the one place we can both agree on moving
to ,haha.  I am a regular reader of the blog I Heart Reykjavik, (very
helpful if you are traveling there) and for the month of December
she is doing daily posts of traditions or characters.
My personal favorite has been the Yule Cat.

*My Doula
My favorite way to describe doulas has been "they are like
wedding planners for your birth", which is the cut and dry version
but they really do so much more. They are there to teach you about
the stages of labor and how to prepare for it, act as emotional
and spiritual guides, keep you at home as long as possible before
heading to the hospital, and act as your voice when you are busy laboring.
It's been really nice to surround myself with supportive women who
treat this like a natural process rather than a medical condition.
It has made the whole pregnancy less stressful and more wondrous.
I could write tons more about doulas but maybe I'll leave
that for a bigger post.

*Christmas Mail
I love getting Christmas cards, it's the one time of year when you can count
on constant mail surprises. Of course I love sending them too, making
our card is always an important part of the holiday season and it makes
it more special( to me at least) to send out a work of art.

*Vive le Vent
French version of Jingle Bells, translation here
The beginning of this song is the only thing
I retained from high school French.

Home Stretch

28 weeks down, 12 to go (roughly).
The little stinker has rotated into proper birth
position this week, which has made me very happy,
Our path to natural birth can continue as planned.

I've definitely started to slow down in the past week,
most of which has to do with lack of sleep.  Hopefully that
will change.  I will say that the only good thing about being
pregnant around the holidays is that it makes you rethink
running around like a crazy person- because you just can't.

I'm really excited to park myself in one place once
we get to my parents house next week. No running around.
I want to sit by the fire with the 2 fat pugs and my entire family
and not think about anything else. It's such a magical time of year
and so often we are so crazed that we miss that magic.

Let Them Eat Ham.

And so begins the ham & egg breakfasts that will take me
clear into 2015. Not complaining, it's a favorite of mine,
but we do still have A LOT of ham leftover from the party,
despite the best efforts of our friends.

A few people mentioned that our party always feels
like the real kickoff to Christmas, and I have to agree.
We always get such a great crowd to come out for the
party, when everyone leaves the husband and I always
talk about how fortunate we are to be surrounded by
such amazing friends.

It's hard to stay connected in the city sometimes
between schedules and working in different places-
but it always means so much to have everyone make the trek
out to Sunnyside to eat, drink, and be merry.

Traditions: The New

Part of the excitement of building a life with someone
is creating all sorts of new Christmas traditions with them,
and finding a way to include them in your old traditions.

Our first Christmas tradition is going to pick out a tree,
it's NYC so it's not National Lampoons style, we just head over
to our local supermarket and choose the perfect tree and carry it home.
This year poses a small problem since I can't really lift anything at
this point.  But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Trimming the tree is always so much fun, our box is
filled with beloved ornaments from our respective childhoods
and some new ones that we've given to each other in the past 8 years.
We put on our Santa hats and listen to Christmas music- usually wine
is involved.  The tree gets topped with a hand sewn humboldt squid that
I made in college.

We also usually try to see a show together, over the years we've gone to:
*The McGarrigle Family Christmas  (Rufus, JGL, Antony,  Lou Reed
...it was amazing.)
*The Nutcracker (My secret is that one of my biggest life regrets is
that I never got to dance in a Nutcracker production. My studio
would sometimes do their own Christmas production-which was fine-
but I desperately wanted to be in the Nutcracker. )
*Christmas movies on the big screen at Museum of the Moving Image
(Muppet Christmas Carol was awesome, and this year it's Muppet Family Christmas)

This year we are seeing Over the Rhine on Sunday, a Cincinnati based duo
that is famous for their Christmas songs, the husband has been a fan for
awhile. Next weekend it's the Nutcracker at BAM, the last year for
Alexei Ratmansky's production which I happen to love.  Finally on the 28th,
as previously mentioned we will head to the Museum of the Moving Image
to see A Muppet Family Christmas on the big screen.

Our last tradition is our holiday party that we have every year.  Lots of snacks,
tons of wine/beer, and a whole house filled with dear friends. It doesn't get better
than that.

It's also nice knowing that so many new traditions are waiting for us.

Traditions: The Old

Christmas, more so than any other time of year, is all about
carrying on and creating new traditions. This post is all about the
old.

When I was little some of my favorites were when our whole family
would hop in the van and drive around to Freda & Fred's
and other Christmas-y shops - I can't remember if my parents ever actually
bought anything or we all just went to bask in aisles of
decorations and Santa lands.  Another was on Christmas Eve after
the festivities at my grandparents house, on our way home
we would drive around our development and look at all the
Christmas lights on all the houses.  My Mom also used to have us
put out our shoes on the night of the 5th so that St Nicholas could come
and leave us little presents.

Christmas Eve was also a really big event in the ways of tradition
and my cousin and I became obsessed with it.
We would call each other in November and talk on the phone
(for what seemed like hours) about every little detail
about Christmas Eve.  We knew exactly where certain
decorations would be, and what kind of snacks would be
set out where, the food that would be served, the conversations
that would happen- we knew everything.  And for whatever reason
it pleased us immensely to discuss it at length.

 The Christmas Eve event has since moved to my parents house
and the first year or two was a little odd, but we slowly got into
our own groove. Now that a few of the cousins are married,
myself included, it becomes harder to see each other every year,
but the feeling of that night still exists when we all can be together.

One tradition that has always existed and still exists is that
in the Chambers House, we do not do anything on Christmas Day.
That has always been a day for us to all just relax at the house together,
no running around trying to see people, that day is just for us.
We have a huge breakfast, snacks all day, and a big feast for dinner.
Many naps are taken, video games and board games are played,
movies are watched, and we all just enjoy being together.

This year we will be spending Christmas with my family
and I can't wait. It will also be an interesting year because it
is our last without little baby here. But, I guess it will only get more
magical once he arrives and we can bring him into our old traditions
and start some new ones.

Latest Obsessions

*The Official Beginning of the Christmas Season
Thanksgiving is over and I can freely decorate the house,
listen to Christmas music, and watch Christmas movies.
We'll be getting our tree next weekend-which always makes
the house seem extra enchanted.

*Cranberry Sorbet
It may sound crazy but the wedding present that I think I use the most
is the kitchen aid ice cream maker (thanks, life partner!).  Since I can't
stop buying cranberries I've had to become kind of creative with
how I use them.  My latest cranberry project is sorbet, and it is ridiculously
easy and refreshing. I highly recommend it.

*Peaceful Gocco-ing
I don't know if I'm super zen or I've just finally mastered my own medium,
but I've printed twice on my Gocco recently and both events were sans
extreme profanity and tears! The Gocco can be extremely finicky, sometimes
it felt like the stars had to align just to get a damn card printed- but not
this year. It was a good feeling.
I have one more screen left, we'll see if it can last.

*Without You, There is No Us by Suki Kim
A fascinating memoir about her time as a teacher in North Korea.
As you read you desperately want to see some spark of change within
the kids, it's heartbreaking and wildly interesting at the same time.
A small glimpse into a world that is so hard to even fathom.


*House decor overhaul
We've got a new couch on the way, curtains to cover the open closet space,
paints picked out, and we're currently looking at bedroom furniture.  I know,
it's hard to imagine me without my teenage furniture but I think
it's time to say goodbye.  We've got a lot of design projects happening
right now- it only took 6 years and a baby on the way to get us motivated!

* Paper Ranunculus DIY Project
I am obsessed with these paper flowers, they are so beautiful...
almost too beautiful. I doubt that I could make anything that looked
remotely similar but it's fun to dream. Maybe someday I'll give these a shot.

An Abundance

So much to be thankful for this year, it's almost
hard to put it all into words but I'll try.

I am so thankful for..

*My husband. He deserves something fancy for being
so supportive throughout this pregnancy.
I can't wait to see him as a Dad, he is going to be great.
We've got a lot of new adventures on the horizon

*This apartment- though I always call it our house- that
we were so lucky to find 6 years ago.  Now we are
creating a space for a little peanut to live with us.
And in NYC having the room to grow is a VERY
luxurious thing.

*Being able to travel. We soaked in the geothermal
pools of Iceland last January, and I was able to visit
dear friends in Albuquerque in March. We spent some
family time at the Jersey shore, and our anniversary out
in Montauk.  I cannot wait to bring this baby on adventures
with us and also to drop him at Gaga and Chief's for a
vacation of his own!

*A beautiful support system.  I was reminded last night of
how fortunate we are to have such amazing family and friends
near and far.  I don't know what I would do without them.

*So thankful for a healthy body, that is able to grow a tiny human.
And to have a very calming mother and mother-in-law that make
this process a bit easier to deal with.

*For this new job that I really truly love.

*For all of the little pleasures and creature comforts that I indulge in
and appreciate.  Mugs of hot chocolate, changes in seasons, shopping at
the greenmarket, eating biscuits every Sunday, being able to look out my
kitchen window and see a variety of animals, bedtime, Costanzo's Night Out,
living in NYC, huge bowls of ramen noodles, making art, hiding out at the Met,
fat pugs, good wine, and well made cappuccinos. Just to name a few.


Wishing everyone a very wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving <3

Latest Obsessions

*The Artist is Present documentary
Filmed while Marina Abramovic was putting together
her show for the Moma, it is incredibly moving.
Really shines a light on how disconnected our technology
makes us, and it shouldn't shock anyone but I cried a few times
throughout the film. Thinking back I know I went to the Moma
while she was there but I was so focused on seeing
the William Kentridge exhibit that I didn't check out anything else.
(streaming on Netflix right now)

*Fall Foliage
I took a walk through Central Park last Wednesday because the colors
on the trees were so enticing- I wanted to be a part of it.

It was so enchanting. It also helped that the park
was pretty empty that day, so I felt like I had a
whole forest to myself.


*Jacques Torres Hot Chocolate
I used to watch Jacques Torres on TV when he
had his show on PBS, he would make these epic chocolate
sculptures or candies and make it seem so simple-
you truly believed you could do it at home. Anyway,
one of his shops is about a half a block away from work
so I've been indulging in a lot of hot chocolates as the
temperature begins to drop. His is definitely the best
on the UWS.

*Getting the House Ready for Bébé
Our studio is kind of in shambles right now,
we'll be moving out the big ikea storage unit
(which is for sale if anyone wants it)
and making the room half art studio half baby room.
Is our apartment big enough for 3? not really.
Will we make it work? Yes.

*Fighting off the Christmas Spirit
I'm really not OK with the fact that you get
bombarded with Christmas ads and decor starting
on Halloween. To me, the Christmas season begins
the day after Thanksgiving and goes until New Year's Day.
That said I've been dying to watch White Christmas, decorate our house,
bake cookies, and plan our holiday party.
I actually feel mildly prepared for the holidays this year
so maybe that is why I'm so excited.
Only 12 more days to go until I can freely indulge in the
Christmas Spirit!

*Bob's Burgers
The husband and I have been watching this constantly.
There are very few shows that make us laugh as hard.
Tina Belcher is my spirit animal.

Prep Time

One of my favorite things is getting the holiday issues of
my magazines (Living and Bon Appetit), it sounds dorky
but I just love getting inspiration for gifts, food, decorations-
just everything.

Living came today and it's got all kinds of good things in there.
Especially all the party recipes! It's always exciting to add some
new things to the party spread.

I'm pretty sure I have this goal every year-BUT I plan to be
super prepared this time around. I want to have my gifts ready to go,
the cards printed, and cookie game plan all ready by December 1st.

My homemade projects are:
Beeswax candles
Peppermint Scrub
Vanilla extract
Notebooks
Ornaments
Peanut Butter Cups
Holiday cards

What are you working on??

So Much

I've been trying to write blog posts for weeks now.
There is so much going on it's hard to even put it all into words.

The husband and I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary 2 weeks ago. Our wedding
still feels like yesterday! I love this man more than I thought possible, and the
love continues to grow.  There's so much more I could say about this but that's
between the two of us.

I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant now,  I'm halfway there.  The little man has been
dancing up a storm (possibly an early sign that my fantasy of him being the
next Mikhail Baryshnikov or Fred Astaire will come true??)
Been back and forth with feeling overwhelmed by the whole thing, mostly
on the emotional front.  Creating life is mind blowing and so is carrying it
around inside of you. The occasional realization that the husband and I are
actually going to be someone's parents is a lot to take in.  On the flip side
there is the majority of the time that I feel completely OK with
all of these things. But like all gigantic life changes fear and doubt
creep in now and again.

The holidays are rapidly approaching and I'm excited for them.
I'm so ready to make our house cozy and festive and to spend
as much time with family and friends as possible.  There is something
magical about this time of year, I love the building momentum at work
and the planning of gifts, cards and decor at home.

Latest Obsessions

*Cranberries are back!
I'm such a dork at the market, when new seasonal things
start to show up my face lights up with excitement. I doubt
that many people get as excited over cranberries as I do.
I love seasonal produce and I don't care who knows it!!
These cranberries are destined for a pie.

*Binging on Horror 
It's October, the only time of the year when the husband will
agree to watch scary movies. So we are doing our usual
horror movie marathon, and throwing in a few shows as well.
Also in the mix (obviously) are my favorite old-school Halloween
cartoons/movies that are more of the fluffy sort, Grinch Night,
Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, etc.

*Biscuits
I've been trying to perfect my biscuit game for years, and it has
finally happened. Each batch in the last few months has been fluffy,
flaky, and ideally crisped on top and bottom. The summer was strictly
buttermilk, but for the fall I've mixed it up with sweet potato.
I should clarify that even though through facebook and instagram
it may seem like all of my baking and cooking endeavors go very well
it's only because I choose to leave out my horrible failures.
Which is why I am always extra proud of the things that turn out perfectly
because it doesn't always happen, but that is the grand adventure of the kitchen.

*The Glorious Second Trimester
Ladies weren't lyin' when they said it would get easier in the 2nd.
I finally feel like my normal self (albeit with a small bump in my midsection).
My energy is back, I can actually focus on projects  & cooking, and I can actually
stay up until midnight. Small victories.


* "And above all,  watch with glittering eyes the whole world 
around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden 
in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic 
will never find it." -Roald Dahl

Mantra

I started a book of mantras for myself,
something that I can read, recite, and believe in.
It acts as a lighthouse would for a ship stuck in a storm,
calling it back and guiding it to safety.

The nice thing about writing mantras for yourself is that they
can be anything.  Most of them start with "You will" or You are"
and just restate things you know to be true but can easily forget about.
They can be as epic as you want them to be which, for me, makes
them even more empowering.

Pregnancy truly puts you through tests of strength. Physical, emotional, spiritual..
It's intense.  I know that mantras aren't for everyone but they work for me.
And really, that's all you need to find. Things that work for you.

A Sour Sweet Wind Blows In

There is something magical about the transition
of summer into autumn.
The peaches and tomatoes slowly turn
to apples and pumpkins.
The air becomes crisp and light,
and our internal clocks begin to reset as
the sun sets earlier and earlier.
Richer smells of cinnamon spiced desserts
and hearty roasted dinners begin to fill the house.

I'm ready to decorate for Halloween,
 cozy up on the couch with scary movies,
eat these pumpkin brownies I just baked,
and welcome in a new season.

Latest Obsessions

*Mozzarella Cheese
All summer I've been splurging on this huge $9 ball of
Mozzarella at our farmer's market. I cannot get enough.
I think I've eaten my weight in caprese this year.

*Trying to make it October
I kind of treat Halloween like Christmas, I extend the celebration
to the entire month. I love decorating and watching scary movies,
drinking spiked cider (though this year I will just have a sparkling
cider, been dying to try the Aaron Burr stuff) Anyway, cider tangent,
I've already tried weaseling Hocus Pocus into my nightly going-to-bed
movie and the husband called me out on it.  Only 15 days to go,
I'll start my scary movie list in the meantime.

*This recipe
Really delicious, super easy. Definitely a keeper.
Also starting to file away really easy recipes for when
baby shows up.

*This basket
I rarely buy stuff for the home, I'd rather spend my
money on food, wine, and books. For some reason this basket just
called to me and I actually listened. I love the neon pom poms, and
I think it fits nicely into our living room.

*Noble Rot Zine
Finally, a magazine about wine that doesn't suck.

*Buffy & Daria
Hulu has a whole 90's show section and I've fallen down
rabbit holes with both of these shows. Thoroughly enjoying
the nostalgia trip.

6 months

That span of time sounds like both an eternity and no time at all.
About 6 months from now the husband and I will be welcoming
a new person into this world.  It's pretty overwhelming when you
think of it that way.. Someone who is an extension of you but
with an independent spirit, interests, and thoughts.

The first few months have felt like a mental training scene from
a martial arts movie. Strengthening your mind to prepare for what's coming.
I've been reading all of my natural pregnancy books, and doing visualizations
and mantras. That's my jam and that's how I'm handling this.

So I don't think there will be monthly photos charting my growth, or a general
play-by-play of what's happening.  This whole thing feels very personal
(which seems funny to say, because obviously it is) and for once in my life
I don't want to share everything. But that could change, everything could change,
this whole process is really about taking each day as it comes. So that is what
I'm trying to do.

I'm excited to meet this person and see what they are about.

A Part of the Sea

I woke up Wednesday morning and knew that I needed
to be in the ocean.  I couldn't explain this urgency,
but just like the day I woke up and needed to go to Berlin,
I had to make it to the beach.  Thankfully, the fare to Rockaway
is much less than the fare to Germany.

It took me 3 times to actually muster up the courage to go
under. The waves were surprisingly large and rough, and the
temperature was shockingly cold at first
-typical for the Northern Atlantic.

It was the kind of day when a dip in the ocean felt like
so much more than it was. I felt connected to the ocean on
Wednesday, and it was a beautiful thing.

Summer Daydreams

This is my favorite time of year.
I cannot get enough of the heat and sunshine,
the magical warm breeze that makes the leaves rustle,
a summer harvest that is always worth waiting a
whole year for, and the simple pleasures that summer always brings.




















This is just the beginning of tomatoes, which
means that all I want to eat are caprese salads.
I splurged on some fresh mozzarella at the market
last Saturday and I've nearly eaten all of it myself already.
No shame. This happens but one month out of the year.




















Our backyard at sunset.





















By the lake in Central Park, where I hide out during my breaks.





















Last week at Rockaway Beach. I found the most perfect
beach pebble to add to my collection of shells and things.

My boss brought me back some raw milk
from his weekend upstate. Had a glass as soon as
I got it home, there is nothing quite like it.  One taste
and you'll be hooked, it puts all other milk to shame.

Latest Obsessions

Hello again! I'm back from my 2 months of radio silence.
Much like exercising in the morning, blogging regularly
takes a certain amount of dedication.  I don't always have the
motivation or feel like I have interesting things to say- but
I'm going to just jump right back in and see where it goes.

Lately I have been obsessed with...

*My Central Park Spot.  On my break I rush over to the little rowboat lake,
and bask on the rocks for about 10-15 minutes. Staring at the boaters,
watching for turtles, and marveling at this beautiful space that
exists within a sprawling concrete jungle.

*Chats with Mom Mom. I was briefly in Jersey this week and those visits
 always include stopping by my Mom Mom's house.  Sometimes she will
rush you out, claiming that you have other things to do and she doesn't want
to keep you- but not this time.  We had a nice long chat about everything
from family history to the importance of taking the time to really
cream the eggs and sugar for cake recipes. And thanks to technology I was able
to use my newfangled  iphone to show her what I've been up to and what
the husband and I have been cooking. It's so nice to be able to share
those things, I'm extremely thankful for the time I get to spend with her.

*Summer Fruits. I wait for this moment all year long. When I can finally
gorge myself on cherries, strawberries and raspberries- not to mention
all of the fruits that have yet to appear at the market.
Is there anything more magical than the summer harvest??

*Creating. Collaging, stamping, cooking, baking- always want to be
creating something.  And nothing gets you out of your own head like looking
at what other people have done or are doing.  A few weeks ago I picked up
a book about my favorite artist-and biggest collage inspiration, Hannah Hoch,
and just looking at her images inspired me to be a little bit more free
with my own. I've also been going to the Met, letting whatever
catch my eye, and then coming home and making something
based on the new favorites. It doesn't always turn out so good
but it's been a fun exercise to get into.

*Wines from the Savoie. A small region within the French Alps
(not too far from Valle d'Aosta in Northern Italy) that seems to be
showing up more and more on by the glass lists and in
boutique wine shops. The common grapes are Jacquere, Altesse,
Roussanne, Mondeuse and Pinot Noir. The whites are fresh,
minerally, and dry. Sometimes they will have a salinity that feels
similar to Muscadet, and a savory quality that is reminiscent of
parmesan rind.  The reds are fairly light, with dark fruits,
delicate tannins, and a gamey quality. I like them best with
a good chill- yes, you heard right. Chill.yo.reds.  The best part
about these wines is that they are ridiculously budget friendly
and are generally between $13-20 on the shelf.

Latest Obsessions

*War on Drugs-Lost in the Dream
Put it on, open whatever window is closest to you,
and just enjoy (and dance a little).

*The L.I.C Flea
We've gone twice so far and always find some great food.
Our current favorite is the vegan soul food stand. It's pretty spot on.

*Asparagus
It's bordering on desperation. I really try to wait until everything
is available at the farmers markets and stick to my "eat seasonally"
campaign.  But the spring harvest is a few weeks behind this year so
 I bought it from the supermarket....twice.  Hi,  my name is Jess
and I'm addicted to spring vegetables.

*Celebrations
So many changes happening in 2014, most of them good.
But so many reasons to celebrate! Engagements, weddings, new jobs,
old friends, new friends, new dogs, babies, fresh starts, Sunday mornings- it's
all reasons to be grateful and happy and to celebrate.

*Doctor Who
This has been an obsession for awhile but the husband and I recently
watched through the David Tennant era. and my goodness, I definitely
cried for an additional 20 minutes after his regeneration. You become so
invested in these characters, and the end is just so overwhelming.  I'm back
where I began now, with Matt Smith.  Curious to see how I feel the second
time around after really understanding why people loved David Tennant so much.

The Epiphany

"We always remember it: an unusual moment; the temperature of the room
was just right; one was somehow more receptive, open to the unexpected;
 a moment when everything in the rush of experience is briefly stilled.
You taste and at that moment you know the difference between this
experience of drinking and all those that you have had before.  The senses
are dazzled. You are stunned by the intoxicating power of the experience;
the pleasure is exhilarating and hypnotic.  The velvet feel of the wine
in your mouth, the lingering flavours and aromas when you swallow.
It is an intensely hedonistic moment, an encounter with a fine and elegant
thing. There is a desire to be still and to focus on what is happening.
There is the swoon of something great entering your system.  The body has
no struggle in accepting this harmonious liquid-it feels good for us, like a
blood transfusion with several vital elements in it.  You delight in
your experience, and in that of those with who, you share the bottle.
The moment is fleeting, ephemeral and transitory, yet utterly memorable.
And you know, at that moment, that you want more opportunities like this,
not to drink this very wine again,  because this is an unrepeatable experience.
You want more opportunities to drink other wines as great as this because
now you know great wines exist and that you are capable of responding
to them. At that moment you learn something about wine and something
about you. You are astonished that wine can reach such great heights,
provide such a complex and yet harmonious experience, and in understanding
that wine can do this, you want to know more."
-Barry C. Smith- Questions of Taste: The Philosophy of Wine

Latest Obsessions

*Popcorn
We've been popping our own and experimenting with different
fats to pop it in. We used duck fat first and last night used a really
fragrant olive oil. It blows all microwave popcorn right out
of the water in terms of flavor.  Next step is to pick up some
truffle salt.

*Buttermilk Biscuits
I'm pretty sure that I made my finest batch ever this weekend.
I think they key was using my own buttermilk (which you get when
you make butter) and a little bit of yogurt because I was just short
of a cup of the buttermilk.  The yogurt added a nice tang to them and
they came out flaky and delicious.

*Seeing Green
I finally spotted some little green leaves sprouting
on some of the smaller trees and the first flowers breaking through
the ground.  I am so ready for spring, for shoes without socks, pretty dresses,
lively cocktails, bocce matches, and the delicious vegetable harvest.

*Getting to the Neue Galerie
I desperately want to see this exhibit, and a little
stop in the cafe is always welcome.

*Grand Budapest Hotel
I love Wes Anderson's style and whimsical world, this movie is
up there with the best of them.  Ralph Fiennes is fantastic.
I also found a recipe for Mendl's Courtesan du Chocolat,
which I will definitely make in the near future.

*"You are not IN the universe, you ARE the universe,
an intrinsic part of it. Ultimately you are not a person, but 
a focal point where the universe is becoming conscious
of itself. What an amazing miracle."- Eckhart Tolle

Minimal Continued...

I wouldn't say that I adhered to the rules of this
challenge, but I didn't really dismiss the whole thing either.

I've been slowly amassing a pile of items
to donate to Goodwill, and thrown away/recycled
a fair amount of things as well.  I didn't go along with the
certain number each day but tackled different areas
of the house and got rid of the unnecessary.

Some of the items for donation are:
*2 coats
*a huge bag of clothes
*rice cooker
*cupcake stand
*boots
*decorative pillows
*purses
*books

Some of the items I trashed/recycled:
*Cards (I hoard way too many of these, it was time to let some go)
*Numerous clothes/accessories that were way past their prime
*Sketches and studio junk.

The husband and I have decided that we'll continue to add to the pile
for the rest of March, and then take it all over to Goodwill in April.
It will feel like some serious spring cleaning once that pile goes!

The biggest things I've gotten out of this so far are:
- I own A LOT of stuff
-I need to start using what I already have

So in this next phase of the project I'll continue to subtract,
but I'm also making a point to be more mindful about
using the things that I already have.  (especially art supplies and
kitchen ingredients)

Has anyone else been doing the minimalist challenge?
How has it been working for you?

Latest Obsessions

*The Met
My heart beats for a few places in this big city and the Met Museum
is one of them.  I've been trying to go more often and leave with a few
sketches or photos of the pieces that inspired me on that trip.  The amazing
thing is that something different always speaks to me.  The most
recent trip I was taken by Matisse, Giorgio di Chirico, Picasso,
the Jewels by JAR exhibit, some of the architectural watercolors,
a Qing Dynasty vase, and some Paul Klee pieces.  Sometimes it's
so beautiful it moves me to tears and then there I am, a total weirdo,
lightly crying at the Met.  If I could live there I would.

*A 7th Grade Revivial
Lisa and I have been friends since 1996, in 7th grade we started
a journal that we would pass back and forth.  We ended up
with about 4 or 5 books filled with hilarious 7th grade thoughts
and when I read it now it partially makes me cringe (mostly at the
schizophrenic stream of consciousness style of writing) but even more
than that it makes me laugh hysterically. Lisa makes me laugh hysterically.
Our lives could not be more different at the moment but our friendship
has not changed. So for her birthday this year I sent a new journal for us
to start,with a couple pre-paid envelopes to send it back to me.  We've already
filled it with our normal inside jokes that have been standard since the late 90's
and that still make us crack up.  But it's so nice to read about her
day-to-day and what she's thinking about.
I hope this project lasts through several new journals.

*New Mexico
I am finally visiting my friend Lauren in New Mexico, she has lived there
for a few years now and a visit is long overdue.   I'm excited to explore a
new citybut also to sit around with her and Dan, maybe watch
'Play Misty for Me', eat snacks, and just catch up.
I miss seeing her on a regular basis.

*Pedralonga Do Umia
I have a lot to learn about Spanish wines, and I'm slowly finding things
that appeal to my palate.  Most recently I've fallen for this wine, a blend of
Mencia, Caino, and Espadeiro.  It reminds me of a Cab Franc from the Loire-
which is a serious favorite.  There is something so enticing and crisp
about this wine. It's soft, earthy, and perfect with a light chill. If you're
not typically a fan of Spanish wines I promise that this will change your mind.

*Plantain Tortillas
My tortillas did not look quite like the picture, but I'm blaming that on my
food processor more than anything.  The taste, however, was delicious and the
whole tortilla process took about 30 minutes from start to finish. I topped mine
with a guac, radishes, grilled cod, thinly sliced red cabbage and lime juice.
Super easy dinner, and a new way of thinking about tortillas.

*Erik Satie
I'm reading The Banquet Years by Roger Shattuck, it's about la belle epoque
in France between 1885 and WWI.  It focuses on Erik Satie, Henri Rousseau,
Alfred Jarry, and Guillame Apollinaire.  Naturally I visited a Rousseau painting
on my last visit to the Met, now I'm listening to a lot of Satie and Debussy.
I find it to be very soothing.

City of Change: 'inoteca

I don't think there is a single restaurant/bar in the city
that I have been to more than 'inoteca.  Seriously.
I can remember the first time that I went, and it was
actually by myself in that glorious summer of
2006 when I lived only a few blocks away.













photo credit

I had just come back from a Jersey visit and wanted
to treat myself to something in my neighborhood,
so I sat outside with a glass of prosecco and a meat platter
and people watched. It was glorious, I was 22.
Later that summer I had a birthday dinner there in
the basement,  I drank countless bottles of bubbles, and it
became this kind of home base.

I moved out of the LES that August but I never stopped going,
it stayed a staple for girls night dinners, a place to take out-of-towners,
and in the last couple years it has been a birthday lunch must-have
for when my Mom/sisters/nephew came up to celebrate.
I've never felt to gutted to learn that a place was closing.

I know that NYC is an ever evolving place of openings
and closings, but very rarely do you find a place that becomes
so a part of your life and so engrained in your history with a city.
I'm going tomorrow night for one more truffled egg toast,
one more girls night, and a few more bottles of wine.

Minimal

I often think about how I can change my life
in both large and small ways.  On one hand I
live in my own fantasy world-so there's that, but
on the other hand I try to look for different ways to
improve my quality of life.  Through Design*Sponge
I stumbled across their Minimalist Game and it made
me curious.  It's a topic that has been on my mind for awhile
and something I've started to put into slight practice.

Basically the challenge is 30 days of slowly eliminating
the unnecessary.  On day 1 you get rid of one thing, you
can trash it, recycle it, or give it away. The 2nd day 2 things
and so on-until you reach 30.

The Minimalist website has a lot of essays and one of them
touches on the sentimental and how you should get rid of
that stuff too.  If you know me at all, you'll know that I am far
too nostalgic and emotional to ever get rid of some of the
more sentimental items I've been hoarding over the years.

The question is, what does that mean? Do I need to let things go
in order to have a sense of freedom in my life?  Just because
minimalism seems appealing does that mean I have to go full force
and turn my house into an empty gallery space? For me I know that
the answer is no.  But maybe that is the nice thing about the challenge,
(and about everything) finding your own personal balance.

I think I will take the challenge and see how I feel at the end of 30 days,
please let me know if you are taking the challenge too. I'm always interested
to hear people's thoughts on this.

Iceland

An amazing thing about travel is finding different places
in this world that make you feel a certain way. Sometimes
you instantly feel like you're at home, or that you've been there
before.  Other times the electricity of the culture is so infectious
that you instantly feel inspired, and then there is a peaceful feeling
of no stress and a glimpse (no matter how sugar coated) of a way
of life that seems very appealing.

In Iceland I experienced the latter.

We spent 4 days and 3 nights in Reykjavik and celebrated
the husband's birthday during that time.  It was a magical trip,
and the best part was the lack of stress that we felt. But that's what
vacation should be, right?  A nice getaway, with a balance
of making sure you explore but not pushing yourself too hard.
















Reykjavik is small and very walkable, and with the exception of
Hallgrimskirkja (the epic church pictured above) there aren't really
a lot of tall buildings to make you feel trapped.  The city is open,
the air is fresh, and if you go down to the harbor you can see
all the way to the bottom. That's how clear the water is.
It's dreamy and invigorating- even in the dead of winter.















 I will say that any trip to Iceland,  should always begin and end
with a dip in the Blue Lagoon.  We arrived there first thing in the
morning and managed to catch the most amazing sunrise over the mountains.
Getting into a hot geothermal pool is truly the best way to recharge after
being on a plane for 5 hours and missing a whole night's sleep.




















I can't wait to visit again and see more
of the island.  What a magical place.

Latest Obsessions

*The Met
It is my perpetual safe-haven in this big city and some of the exhibits 
going on right now are truly worth checking out.  My favorites 
were Ink Art, tucked inside the asian wing, seriously some of the 
most beautiful (and inspiring) art I've seen in awhile. The second favorite
is of course William Kentridge's 'The Refusal of Time', an all-encompassing 
experience of music, film, and machines.  It's as if the room has a pulse.
I fought back tears a few times, the Met always makes me cry. 
(In the best way possible) It was such an inspiring visit, 
I came home and just wanted to create things- someday I'll post them.  
But for now, GO TO THE MET!

*Shake Shack Hot Chocolate
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine their hot chocolate 
would be so tasty! It was so rich- it had a salted caramel, milk chocolate 
flavors and it blew my mind.  Especially because I don't really like to 
eat milk chocolate anymore it's just too sweet.  But this had that great 
sweet/salty combo and I've been thinking about it ever since.

*Leaving for Iceland in 2 days
Can't believe this trip is here! So excited to celebrate the Husband's b-day
in Reykjavik, and a week away from work is pretty nice too.

*Telepan Local
This downtown outpost happens to be a short walk from work
and it makes me glad to know that delicious cocktails and bone marrow
arancini are only a few steps away.

*Mindy and Danny kissed!
I have to nerd out at some point and if you thought it was about the hot chocolate
you are so wrong because it's happening right now.  The tension between Mindy
and Danny on the Mindy Project has been slowly building and finally they
kissed-or well, totally made out in the service area of a plane.  Welcome to
the rom-com loving side of me.

Food Nostalgia

I've been sitting on Mom Mom's pierogi recipe
for about a year now.  Possibly too intimidated
to tackle it, or just didn't have the time.  I finally
made them yesterday, and the result was more
perfect than I could have ever imagined.

The first bite was like Christmas Eve, really!
Because that is the one time each year when the
family gets to have her pierogi. The cousins have contests
to see who can eat the most, I think the highest I ever
got to was about 8 of them. These little things pack
an intense nostalgia trip, and I love it.

One recipe makes about 50 so if you are at all curious
about these little treats, please stop by. I have plenty.
I'll serve them pan fried with some caramelized onions.

Goals: 2014

*Take care of my body and mind

*Create things as often as possible

*See the beauty in each day

*Be positive

*Be kind

*Appreciate time with family and friends

*Travel as much as possible

*Learn about and drink great wine

*Send letters