Merry Christmas!

Greetings from terminal D. We got to the airport 4 hours early because last year was a debacle and we ended up missing our flight. This year, things seem to be running smoothly at Laguardia...so we wait. Oh well, better to be safe than sorry I suppose. Larry loves the airport because he gets copious amounts of attention. I am dissapointed in Terminal D's food offerings and I am sad that we aren't getting fed on the flight. I'm the only person I know that LOVES airplane food. However, am very much looking forward to Taco Bueno when we land.

The weather here is lovely. It's crisp and sunny. We are praying for good weather in the Midwest so that everyone can travel safely and as planned. We are very excited to be coming home and hanging out with our families for awhile. Happy Holidays Everyone!

Earwarmers

What's a girl to do when it's so cold you can't go outside without a hat? She cuts off all of her hair. That's right, folks. I finally did what I've been talking about for the past few months. My hair is shorter than my husband's now...which takes some getting used to. I like it. I think it suits me. However, I'm looking forward to a little more growth because dude practically shaved the bottom of my head. This was very uncool. I sort of wanted to cry about that. Luckily, my hair grows abnormally fast.

I made a not so smart decision by answering a craigslist ad for a free promotional hair cut. This guy owns and operates a salon downtown that specializes in short women's haircuts. I could have had a free haircut at many a high end salon as a hair model, but I wouldn't be able to afford subsequent appointments if I really liked the person. I decided to give this guy a try because his regular prices were reasonable. I mean, he specializes in short hair! How could I not feel good about that?

I had done a considerable amount of internet research and had learned that he would be socially awkward. He was. It was sort of uncomfortable though (and I usually do okay with socially awkward). I showed him a picture and he cut away...The resulting haircut is not horrible, but it is nothing like the photo. It's a good 2-3 inches shorter...which is a lot when your hair is only 1/2 inch long. Oh yeah, and the only thing I was adamant about was that it looked feminine. As I admired the the final cut in a handheld mirror, I exclaimed "Yeah, it looks cute." He responded, "Okay....(silence...)Uhh, yeah. It....it looks cute." WTF?

I feel bad because technically, it's a pretty good haircut. It's just not what I asked for. I would love to give this man some more business because he could obviously use it (he runs a new ad every day). I just don't want anymore creepy haircutting experiences.

Maybe I will post a photo when it doesn't look so boyish.

Unionized

I had the opportunity to join SAG (Screen Actors Guild), which is the labor union that represents film and television actors. This means that I will no longer be able to do projects that do not use a union contract. I joined recently joined AFTRA, SAG's sister union for radio and tv, and so I was unable to do most non-union projects anyway. It was somewhat of a difficult decision, because once go join, you can't really go back. Union contracts provide better compensation and help protect actors, and most of the films seen by the public and most of what you see on television is covered by either SAG or AFTRA. However, non union work is much more plentiful and therefore easier to get. You are potentially giving up many jobs by no longer having access to that pool of work. Many people hold off on joining SAG because the initiation fee is ridiculously expensive. After all of the paperwork was complete, the clerk said "welcome and congratulations." I felt like I should have been congratulating them for making so much money that day. I am glad to be a member, though. I feel like it's a good step toward making my career what I want it to be.

Winter Treats

Today we are going to play in the freshly fallen snow. I will post some pictures soon. I've been making a lot of treats lately (for holiday parties, etc). I am a huge of of the spinach dip recipe from the back of Knorr's veggie soup mix. It is amazing. Also, I love egg nog in the winter the way I love pumpkin in the fall. However, it is gross to drink a whole carton of it on your own (Daryl is not a fan). So far, I've tried two different cookie recipes and they have both been "meh". I'll stick to eggnog lattes I guess. I also made homemade marshmallows. It was fun but it was a little more labor intensive than it should have been. You are supposed to use an electric stand mixer but I almost burned out the motor on my immersion blender whipping the stuff to death. The resulting marshmallows taste great in hot chocolate, but they are too sweet and dense to eat on their own. I'll try again later.

I Love These Guys

...and they love each other.

Bad Habits Cost Money

I'm a nail-biter and cuticle picker. It's gross. I'm not so bad about it when I can get to the nail salon but this doesn't happen too often. It gets pricey! I bite/pick when I'm bored or anxious, but sometimes it happens in a mindless fashion. I've had this problem for as long as I can remember. I can't stop (and yeah, I've tried that no-bite paint on stuff and it doesn't taste bad enough).

My bad habit is unsanitary, unattractive and annoying, and yesterday, it ended up costing me a job. I got called in to do photo double work for a tv show. It's not glamorous but the pay is decent for what it is, and I could have used the check for sure. However, when the casting director asked me about the condition of my hands, I had to confess...."Uhh....yeah, they don't look so good right now." And that was that.

So I'm gonna stop (for real this time). Because this job could have paid for many manicures.

Cauliflower Soup

I've made cauliflower soup 5 times in the past 2 weeks. I'm not even sure what inspired me to seek out a recipe in the first place. In fact, can't really recall having cauliflower soup prior to now.
It is awesome because:
1) soup hits the spot in the winter (and it is finally feeling like winter here)
2) it's relatively healthy
3) it's inexpensive
4)it's easy to make
5) it tastes good

I basically looked at some recipes online and created my own. There is a lot of room for variation here:

Cauliflower Soup

2 T olive oil OR 2 T unsalted butter OR 1T of each
1 head of cauliflower
2 cups of chicken broth (or you can substitute water)
1 small onion
2-3 cloves of garlic
1-2 cups of milk
4-5 stems of fresh thyme
4-5 stems of parsley
1/2 cup cheese (I've used sharp cheddar, asiago, and swiss)
salt and pepper to taste

*I like to serve this with homemade croutons.
*If you don't have fresh herbs, you can substitute dried ones. You can also experiment with different herbs.
*You can omit the cheese or experiment with different varieties/amounts.

directions:
I cook all of this in 1 med/large sized pot:
1. chop onions and garlic and saute in olive oil/butter until cooked
2. add 2 cups of broth and bring to a boil, add cauliflower (chopped into course pieces) and herbs; cover and cook for 7-10 minutes (until cauliflower is tender)
3. remove stems of herbs, leaving the leaves in the pot (you have to shake the thyme leaves off)
4) puree ingredients using an immersion blender
5) add cheese
6) add milk until soup is of desired consistency
7) stir and enjoy!

Thanksgiving

This was our third Thanksgiving in Vermont. Our friends' parents have a cabin up there. They couldn't go because Zac got the flu :( It was a relaxing and delicious weekend. Daryl made the turkey and I made all of the sides. We had turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, baked mac and cheese, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cheesecake and apple pie. Everything was homemade (because that's how it should be when the only other alternative to cooking is football watching). I especially want to encourage everyone to make their own cranberry sauce. It is far superior to the canned stuff and sooo easy to make. I made it for the first time a few years ago and I will never buy the gelatinous ridgy version again.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 (12 oz) bag whole cranberries

Bring water and sugar to a boil, cook cranberries for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

That is it!!

Pictures to come...they are stuck on my camera at the moment.

Going to the Beach (whether I like it or not)

I've been a total glutton for a week straight. I normally try to to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet, but without deprivation. I treat myself often, but within reason. This week, my treats were not within reason. I was on a bakery kick (discovered 4 new ones) and literally ate 2-3 sweets/baked goods every single day. I had cheesecake, cookies, brownies, ice cream, slabs of sourdough bread, muffins, you name it. I also slacked off at the gym (when your stomach is jam packed full of carbs and sugar from the time you wake up until the time you brush your teeth at night...spin class is a bad idea). Whatever. I was pleased with myself for finding so many delicious snacks. It was totally worth it....maybe until an hour ago.

An hour ago, I got phone call to work a job tomorrow on a tv show. This gig will provide me with my third and final waiver, which will make me eligible to join the union. The only catch is, I have to wear a bikini.

I just wish they'd called me before bakery exploration week. Figures.
The gym opens at 5:30 tomorrow morning. I'll be there. Uggh.

A few of the calorific goodies I sampled this week:


L to R:
Black Sesame Frappe from Cafe Zaiya- Amazingly cheap and tasty Japanese joint near Bryant Park. This thing tasted like a peanutbutter shake and kept me full for 5 hours.
Mochi Donut: So good. It had a chewy texture and was covered in sugar and cinnamon. It tasted just like these Rosette cookies my mom makes.
Bread from Sullivan Street Bakery: I got a loaf of sourdough and made homemade croutons and sandwiches with it. It tastes so fresh.
TKO from Bouchon Bakery: The grown-up oreo cookie
Fluffernutter from Bouchon Bakery: A fluffy peanutbuttery cream sandwiched between two giant peanutbutter cookies. I bought this for Daryl (hardcore PB Lover) and ended up eating at least a quarter of it myself)

Wait, there's more!


L to R:
Cookies from Momofuku Milk Bar: Blueberry Muffin+Cornflake/Marshmallow+Compost Cookie= Sugar Coma
Yakimochi from Cafe Zaiya: Fried mochi filled with red bean. Mmmm.
Black Sesame Macaron from Kyotofu: Love macarons. Love black sesame flavored sweets. Love Kyotofu. Love that it's by my apartment.
Cereal Milk Soft Serve from Milk Bar: It tastes exactly like the milk at the bottom of your Frosted Corn Flakes bowl.

There is more....
This is all that I could find pictures of. And I need to go to bed so I can wake up and do some crunches.

Pixie

I have had many different hair cuts throughout the years: long hair, short hair, razored, layers, one length dos, bangs of all kinds, and different variations of a bob (I've been sporting a chin length version for a year now). I like my hair. It's manageable and healthy and dries stick straight. I've been getting great free cuts and products for years through hair modeling. The truth is, no matter how amazing the cut is, my hair is thrown up into a ponytail 90% of the time...even when it isn't technically long enough to be pulled back. My current one length bob only takes 5-7 minutes to "fix" but I just don't have the will to bother. I know that hair is often regarded as a woman's crowning glory, but I've never really regarded my own hair as a precious thing. After all, it grows back. Lately I'm obsessed with cropped hair and I'm itching to chop it all off. I've never rocked a style this short before:




Cute, cute, cute! I suppose there is a small chance that I could be mistaken for a boy, and I'd probably have to put on a little makeup, and supposedly men prefer long hair (don't know what lame poll this came from), but I don't care.

Unfortunately, I can't cut my hair off until I can afford new headshots. If I submit a photo with bob hair and walk in with no hair...I don't think that would go over so well. So until then, I will admire this short and sassy do from afar.

Marathon

November 1st was the NYC Marathon. I love being at race events because of the wonderfully positive and uplifting vibe that is present. It is so inspiring to see people from all walks of life come together and accomplish their individual goals. For this particular race, we're talking 26 miles! I can barely run a mile without feeling like I'm going to burst a lung. We went out to support our friend, Joe, who was running his 1st marathon. All of the runners wear a device so that you can actually track them online. It was awesome to see him coming down the bridge with hundreds of other runners. We cheered him on with a mob of supportive onlookers. Daryl plans to start training for a marathon this spring. While I do not aspire to run a marathon in my lifetime, I am inspired to work a little harder at the gym. Or maybe I'll just stop eating cookies for breakfast.

You can see some of the marathon crowd behind me. This is my mustard hoodie-coat. I wear it so much you could say it's my unofficial fall uniform.

Pantry Thief

At the request of certain family members :)

We have an insanely small kitchen...if you can even call it a kitchen. It's more like a cooking station. We're talking half-sized appliances, 1/4 of a counter top and maybe 5 cabinets. I like to keep the apartment well-stocked with ingredients, but there is not enough space to accommodate a portable pantry/food shelf. Fortunately, an old cd storage tower ended up being a great solution. It is perfectly suited for storing cans, bottles and other non-perishables. Here is a reference photo, to give you an idea:
Until this past July, Larry was not able to have free roam of the apartment while we were gone. While he was staying with my sister this summer, he proved that he could be left unattended so when we got back from Europe, we slowly let him have run of the apartment while we were out. It was nice to be able to leave the house without luring him to the bathroom. Plus, we didn't feel so guilty knowing that he could enjoy lounging on the bed or couch all day long. Nine times out of ten, we'd come home and find him in the exact (slothful) position we'd left him in. Larry enjoyed his freedom for a good 3 months. Then he discovered the pantry.

This makeshift food storage unit had been sitting peacefully in the corner for almost a year. One October afternoon, we came home to find the bottom shelves bare. Don't let his innocent looks deceive you. This dog is a ninja.
He somehow managed to drag a (full) bottle of canola oil to the middle of the living room floor, along with a glass bottle of olive oil. As you can tell from the picture, this dog has no snout. These containers are also bigger than his head, and they're heavy. Thankfully, the bottles remained intact. He also brought a (mostly empty) bottle of honey onto the bed and finished it off before turning it into a chew toy. Have I ever complained about how annoying it is to do laundry when you live in a 5 story walk up and don't have a machine in your building?
We had to wash the sheets again the next night after he lugged a brand new, unopened GLASS bottle of sweet and sour sauce to the bed and licked it clean.
The next morning, the sheets came off for the 3rd time in three days because he puked up all of his stolen treats. I was particularly angry because I didn't even get to try the sauce before he helped himself.
At this point, you're probably thinking it would be naive or just plain stupid to give him another chance. Call me a sucker, but I did. Consequently, our bed (and the whole bedroom, really) wreaked of vinegar for three days straight. Between the honey and the vinegar, he stole various other items from the trash/recyclables/pantry and proceeded to chew them apart on our newish white, wedding-gifted sheets. I'm sad to say that he officially can no longer be trusted. Once again, he must spend his alone time locked in the bathroom. He will get another chance when Daryl makes a door for the CD tower-pantry.

Cake Wrecks

Are you having a boring day at work? Are you feeling blue? Go to this website:
cakewrecks.blogspot.com
It's brilliant. I laughed so hard for so long.

Pigs in the Blanket

Pigs in the blanket





Pigs in the blanket
AKA cabbage rolls, stuffed cabbage, etc

I don't know the origin of this dish but I grew up eating these things and they are good! The other day, a craving kicked in and I made them myself for the first time. It's a little bit labor intensive, but it's an extremely economical and filling meal. I created this recipe with help from my Grandma. Daryl approved:

Ingredients:
1 large head of cabbage
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes (undrained)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 pound hamburger meat
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 cup cooked rice

Directions:
1.Cover the bottom of a casserole dish with a thin layer of juice from the diced tomatoes
2.Tear off cabbage leaves and boil them until soft
3.Mix all other ingredients (except tomato sauce) together and form into balls (approx. 2-3 inches)
4)Wrap tightly in cabbage leaves and place into a casserole dish, tightly packed
5)Pour tomato sauce over cabbage rolls
6)Cover and cook @ 350 degrees for 60-80 minutes

I had a little cabbage leftover so I'm going to invent some sort of cabbage soup, too. I'll let you know if it ends up being worth sharing.

Happy (Day After) Halloween

Halloween in NYC= an excuse for people to walk around without pants on.
I didn't wear a costume because was too lazy. Plus, I have to wear costumes for work (never as fun as some of the ones we saw tonight, however). This was Daryl's costume:


You probably don't know what he is supposed to be, huh?

Well, if you look carefully, you'll see that he has a small and strange looking mustache. According to him, this, along with the v-neck t-shirt, skinny jeans and converse high-tops makes him a hipster guy.

For those of you that are not aware of what means, here is description in a nutshell:

Hipsters are a subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's that value independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter. The greatest concentrations of hipsters can be found living in the Williamsburg, Wicker Park, and Mission District neighborhoods of major cosmopolitan centers such as New York, Chicago, and San Francisco respectively. Although "hipsterism" is really a state of mind,it is also often intertwined with distinct fashion sensibilities. Hipsters reject the culturally-ignorant attitudes of mainstream consumers, and are often be seen wearing vintage and thrift store inspired fashions, tight-fitting jeans, old-school sneakers, and sometimes thick rimmed glasses.

So basically, Daryl walked around last night looking like 25% of the dudes in NYC (minus the thick rimmed glasses).

We didn't really participate in any festivities. We went downtown, watched a play that Daryl had designed and ate a sundae. Yes, we are exciting.

Pumpkin

This is a blog dedicated to one of my all-time favorite flavors and scents. I'm all about the "fall" lines of candles, soaps, room fragrances, etc because they smell so yummy. In addition to pumpkin pie, I'll eat anything that's made with with the mushy orange stuff; Lattes, bread, cakes, milkshakes/ice cream and soup are some of my favorite pumpkin infused treats. Several companies offer pumpkin ale this time of year, as well. I've never tried it because I typically don't like beer. Maybe someone else can try it and give me a report. The other day, I passed a street sign in front of Jamba Juice (smoothie chain) that read: "The Pumpkin Smash is Back". I couldn't believe that I missed its debut- this was the first time I was aware of such a concoction. At 5+ bucks it's a pricey treat, and I have a feeling it's not very good for you (I forgot to look up the nutritional facts) but it is so worth it. It's like pumpkin pie in a cup.

Who's made pumpkin cupcakes?
We made a batch the other night. When my pants don't fit, I'll know why.







Pumpkin House
Madison Square Park

A Little Bit of TX: Cowboys

Okay, so I'll be honest here. I'm not a football fan, period. My uncle tried to teach me the rules of the game with a Nerf I was 12. Friends have tried to explain the game while watching high school games, college games and countless games on tv. I'm just not into it. On football Sundays, we go upstate to watch the game at our friends' house and it's fun because I get to see friends and eat Zac's salsa. However, I've never actually watched the game. I usually read magazines, talk to Leah or take naps. Daryl says he doesn't care, but it's hard to believe that it doesn't make him a tiny bit sad because he is a hard-core fan. Hard core. I suppose you could say that I am a fan by association. I definitely want this team to win. In fact, I love my husband and friends and care so much for their happiness and well-being that I need the Cowboys to win. As much as possible.

It's hard to be a Cowboys fan in NYC. It's hard to find team merchandise here and even harder to find a place that's airing the game if it's not airing on a major network. If Daryl doesn't go upstate, he'll look for a bar that has it on. They showed it at Hill Country BBQ this past Sunday (if you haven't read about it yet, it's in the next entry) so that's where we watched. The Boys won. I got to hang out with awesome people. I had some really great corn pudding and mashed sweet potatoes. It was a good day.

He wears this jersey on game days because his dad thinks it's good luck. I have my doubts. He enjoys wearing clothes, however, and does not protest.

A Little Bit of TX: Barbecue

I grew up (partially) in Texas, so I have a fondness for the Lone Star State. Whenever I tell people up here that I'm from Texas, they usually respond one of a couple of ways:
a) Me too! (there a tons of Texans here)
b) you don't have an accent
c) you don't seem like a "Texas Girl" (I guess the prototype is Jessica Simpson?)
d) So, are you like, a Republican!?

I usually answer accordingly:
a) Don't you miss Taco Bueno, Chik-fil-A, Jason's Deli, Jack in the Box, Steak and Shake, Spring Creek Barbecue, Pei Wei, Pappasitos, Cheddars, Black Eyed Pea, etc, etc, the list goes on...
b) As a matter of fact, many people in Texas do not speak with Texas accents.
c) Umm...I lived in North Dakota until I was ten? I also like being pale.
d) No

Back to Answer A. I really miss some good Texas Barbecue! While NYC isn't short on food options, bbq restaurants included, it's hard to find anything that comes close to the real thing. For one thing, I don't want my bbq joint to feel upscale. It should also be affordable. It should also taste like comfort. We found a place in Queens that was suitable but it's a trek to get to now that we don't live there anymore. This past weekend, we were introduced to Hill Country, a spacious place in the Flatiron district that airs Cowboys games...more on that later. I have to say that I'm a fan. When you walk in, you get a ticket and then you order everything cafeteria style at the counters in the back. The food is served family style and it was delicious. I can't really weigh in on the meat, as I didn't have any pulled pork (which is my quality ruler). However, the sides were fantastic.

Here is a blurry photo (three of some of my favorite people: husband, mom-in-law, Vincent) at Hill Country. Check out that star. Texans like decorating with stars. A lot. I think I'll write a separate blog about that sometime because it sort of disturbs me.

Larry + Throw Pillow= Adorable

Theft-Proof Soap

Apparently, soap is popular among thieves in my neighborhood because it's under lock and key at my local Walgreens. I've never regarded body wash as an item worthy of heightened protection. Pharmaceuticals-yeah. Razorblades? Sure. Cosmetics- seen it. It's not like my neighborhood is shady, either. I guess I won't be buying my suds here. It's too much work to flag down an employee to unlock my soap so that can do sniff/scent comparisons. Check out this nonsense:

Save Now

I love fall

This is why:
1) Leaves changing colors=pretty
2) Pumpkin Lattes. Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin anything...
3) Apple Cider
4) Crisp air
5) Butternut squash soup
6) Thanksgiving

Hmmm. I intended on creating a longer list but it seems that this blog would have been more aptly titled: "I Love Fall Foods"

This is one of my all-time favorite cupcake recipes (thank you Martha Stewart). I've made several batches and they have been amazing each time. If you don't have all of the spices, you can substitute pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cupcakes (makes 18)

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon course salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 can (16 oz) pumpkin puree

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Line cupcake pans with paper liners, set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices, set aside

2. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter and eggs. Add dry ingredients and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.

3. Divide batter evenly among liners (fill each one about halfway). Bake until tops spring back when touched/toothpick comes out clean- 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Let cool completely, then frost with favorite cream cheese icing.

Here is a simple cream cheese icing recipe:

Makes about 2 cups

• 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

I hope you love them as much as I do. I feel inspired to make some right now.

Sister Blog

My little sister has launched a blog about life in the Big D:365daysofnicoley.blogspot.com
She's kicking my blogging tail by writing a new entry every day. I lose.

There's Always a Better (Cheaper) Way

Last week I made my annual trip to the eye doctor. I still can't see the big 'E.'
Since my health insurance does not cover vision care, I ended up forking over 200+ dollars for a basic eye exam and a 6 month supply of contacts. After that, I did not feel like shelling out another couple hundred dollars for a pair of "emergency" glasses that I will only wear if I lose a contact/get an eye infection. Since my current pair of specs was 2 prescriptions behind, lopsided and etched with Larry teeth, I definitely needed new ones.
What's an under-insured-vision-impaired-gal to do?
Enter: Zenni Optical (zennioptical.com). I discovered this website after some internet sleuthing.
$12.95 and 2 weeks later, I get a shiny new pair of glasses in the mail, complete with a hard plastic case and a cloth wipe. They do not have a fancy designer logo printed on the temples, and I will admit that they are a bit too large for my face and make me look super nerdy. However, they provide me with crystal clear vision and did I mention...THEY WERE $12.95! Stick that, Over-Priced Optical Chain. At this price, you could order a dozen more and some of them would bound to fit perfectly. These are what my new specs look like:

These weren't even the cheapest pair. They start at $8 and there's a pretty decent selection. You can barely get dinner around here for 8 bucks...

Nerdy Food Blog

Happy Labor Day everyone! I celebrated by having a picnic in the park with friends and by not doing anything remotely productive.

As most of you know, I spend a good chunk of my free time eating or looking for things to eat. Some of my recent food kicks include cupcakes, french macarons, fro-yo, and lattes. My current gastronomical obsession: dairy-free ice cream products.

I am not lactose intolerant or vegan, I just happen to really enjoy many of the non-dairy alternatives out there (such as soy, rice, nut milks, etc). While they don't necessarily taste just like ice cream, these desserts have their own unique and satisfying textures and flavors.

I've visited two ice cream shops here that specialize in making dairy-free frozen desserts:
Lulu's Sweet Apothecary in Alphabet City and Stogo in the East Village. So good!

There is also a little Japanese dessert bar called Kyotofu that serves yummy soy soft serve. And it's in my neighborhood. Score.

If you can't make it to Manhattan, there might be something similar in your grocer's freezer. I just discovered a carrot cake flavored (rice based) ice cream from a company called Good Karma. It was just as tasty if not better than most prepacked ice creams I've tried.
I should note that this stuff is generally healthier/better for you (and therefore pricier...which is really messed up). But I encourage you to change it up and go find some soy/coconut milk/rice-cream and let me know what you think!

Blogless August

I've not been too busy to blog. I have been too LAZY. I will not be so lazy in September. By the way, my parents are celebrating their 30th anniversary today! Congratulations mom and dad! How cute are they?

I still prefer scripts

I've been taking an improv class at UCB (http://www.ucbtheatre.com/) for the last 4 weeks. My last class (of 8) is tomorrow. I signed up because I thought it would help strengthen my audition skills and because the very idea of it terrified me. It has indeed been terrifying, but it has also been a great deal of fun. I've also been able to see quite a few improv shows over the past few weeks, which has been very entertaining. For those of you unfamiliar with improv, basically it's when actors play scenes without a script. You are given a suggestion (or subject) and then you and your partner (or team) create characters and plots on the spot. It sort of feels like you're a child playing house or pretend, only your imagination is a little rustier and there's an audience. This means that sometimes it's fun and sometimes you want to crawl back to your chair in the middle of a scene. I'm not going to be the next Amy Pohler and you won't be seeing me on Saturday Night Live anytime soon, but I've learned a lot and I'm proud of myself for not chickening out! I have a "graduation" show coming up, but luckily it's during the middle of a Tuesday and all of my friends have to work. Darn :)

From the streets of NYC

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, so we've been able to take Larry for a lot of walks. On the way to Madison Square Park this evening, an elderly man stopped him in the middle of the sidewalk, looked him straight in the eyes and said, "You never call, you never write, all you do is e-mail me." Then he looked at us and said, "He (Larry) e-mails me all the time." I knew our dog was pretty awesome, but who knew that he was also literate and computer savvy!?

Honeymoon Part 2: Santorini

We were only in Santorini for one day but it gets it's own entry because it was ridiculously beautiful:


a) having a Marilyn moment
b) It's like being inside a postcard.
c) D jumped off this rock and then we went swimming in the sea below

a) These blue domes are all over the place
b) One of our favorite meals on the trip: feta and honey in phyllo, mashed fava beans, an eggplant tower and a tomato/mozzarella salad. Mmmm.


We watched the sunset on a rooftop in Oia.

Honeymoon Part 1: Paris

This is sooooo long overdue!!! For our honeymoon, we went on a Holland America cruise that started in Venice and then went to Croatia and stopped at several ports in Greece and Italy before ending in Barcelona. Prior to the cruise, we spent a few days in Paris. It was amazing! All of it. I'm going to have to break this up because otherwise I'll be here all day (in Starbucks).

Highlights of Paris:
French Macarons! I ate three boxes of them. In three days. They only keep for a few days or I would have bought one for everyone.
Our Paris trip was based on finding culinary treasures. While I appreciate architecture and history and art and all, I was most interested in finding the best crepe, croque monsieur, ice cream, etc. Daryl had been to Paris several years back, so he went with it. While discovering edible goodies, we also happened to check out your typical Paris-tourist-spots, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc. I also practiced speaking French. I took 4 years of French in high school, but that was a long time ago. My French seems to be at a toddler level these days.

Some of my favorite places/treats in Paris:
Pierre Herme: luxury macarons
Gerard Mulot: amazing sandwich and fantastic macarons
Laduree: most aesthetically pleasing bakery
Mabillon: out of this world goat cheese salad
Berthillon: ice cream worth standing in line for



a) Don't let my face deceive you. I was loving Creperie Josselin.
b) This is the beautiful bakery, Laduree. We stood in a long line to get some macarons and a fancy pastry for D. Totally worth it.
c) One of the boxes


a)I can't remember the flavor but in addition to being pretty (see iridescent rose colored flecks), it was GOOD!
b) We stayed at Hotel du Lion in the Montparnasse district. It was small but perfectly cozy, clean and convenient
c) There is an elevator, but we chose to climb to the top (well, almost) of the Eiffel Tower. When I think of this famous landmark now, I think "good glute workout"


At the Louvre. Daryl looked like the statues.

Hot Yoga

I was feeling slightly stressed and out of shape post-cruise, so I decided to take up yoga. I'd taken a few classes before and liked it but the yoga studios here can be on the expensive side. Thanks to Google, I found Yoga to the People. It's within walking distance from our place and it's $5 a class! That's a bargain. This class is called hot yoga because the room is 95 degrees...they literally blow heat into the room. The heat is supposed to help your muscles relax and rid the body of toxins. Hot yoga should actually be called wet yoga. Or sweat yoga. I hate to sweat. I hate sweating more than the average person hates sweating. Hot yoga makes you sweat out of pores that you've never thought about (your calves, for example). But it was oddly refreshing and relaxing. Daryl went with me and he was all about it, too. Today, we went back. I think we'll make this a regular thing.

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