Central Park

I wouldn't exactly call myself a "nature person" but sometimes there's nothing I love or need more than a walk in the park. I guess what I most prefer is manufactured nature, and is there any better place to experience a good, old-fashioned, man-made, fully-designed "natural" expanse than Central Park?

I've pretty much walked the entire park over the years, sometimes all in one day. This past Sunday was beautiful here — sunny, 40/50 degrees — and I'd heard so much about the impending, freezing doom that was headed our way, so I decided to spend as much time outside as possible.

I entered the park at the 81st street entrance, which is my favorite place to do so. This is where we entered the park at 4am to join the line for Mother Courage tickets in 2006, and it will always be a very special place to me. I usually pay my respects to the Delacorte, wander around the Shakespeare garden and take in the wonderful views from Belvedere castle.

On Sunday, however, my ultimate desitination was Bethesda Terrace, so I headed south, rambling my way through the Ramble. I stopped at the Ladies Pavillion, which funny enough, contained two actual ladies having a gossip-y conversation, which I imagine to be exactly the kind of thing that should be happening there, although in my head the ladies would have been dressed in far fancier attire, with maybe even a parasol or two.

This was obviously not what the Mall looked like last weekend, but isn't it heavenly in the summer? [source]

Anyway, I then exited the park at 72nd street, walking past the Dakota to check out 72nd street bagel (would you look at that logo??). I hadn't had a genuine New York bagel since I got here, and I had read good reviews of theirs, so I got one and took it to go. I went back into the park and headed to one of my favorite people-watching spots: the Mall, and ate while I watched people and hoped they weren't watching me back. I really hate watching other people eat, and I as a result I'm self conscious about people watching me, but more often than not my hunger trumps my social anxiety. Luckily, the bagel was everything a NY bagel should be — crunchy, chewy, soft and salty — and only $2.50.

Post-bagel I walked to Bethesda Terrace, which is one of the first places I remember visiting when my parents took 14-year-old me to the city for the first time. I just re-watched Angels in America, so I wanted to pay my respects to the Angel of the Waters on a "sunny winter's day, warm and cold at once." There was a long time when the underpass was closed for tile restoration, but thankfully it's open now, and it seems like every time I go there's a couple taking wedding photos, even in January.

I said bye to Bethesda, and kept walking south — passing Wollman Rink

(which is now apparently owned by...Donald Trump), Umpire Rock and Sheep Meadow. When I realized that I was in the same spot from which one of my favorite photographs had been taken, I tried to recreate it — it's pretty awesome to see how much the city has grown and yet stayed the same, even in such a tiny slice of the skyline. The only thing I'm missing is two dapper gentlemen and several inches of snow — I've yet to experience a New York snowfall, but I'm hoping it's every bit as magical as it looks in pictures (although in reality it's probably a nightmare, I'm sure I'll find out soon enough).

Of course now it's like not even degrees here, and the unseasonable warmth of last weekend seems like another lifetime. I probably won't get another chance to explore the park for at least a few weeks so I'll be looking for some (warm) indoor activities — a visit to the New York Botanical Garden's Tropical Paradise show sounds most appealing. What are some other things I can do in the city that won't cause immediate frostbite?

Are you as cold as I am, wherever you are? Probably not, because you probably look cute in a hat, unlike me, which doesn't matter anyway because there is literally not one decent winter hat left in all of New York City. Believe me, I've looked.

Is it spring yet?

Doughnut Plant + Magnolia Banana Pudding

I'm not above admitting that my New York to-do list should probably be called my "to-eat" list for how many bakeries, coffee shops and restaurants I have on it. High on my list was Doughnut Plant, and when I found myself a few blocks away from their Chelsea location on Saturday, I decided that it was time to try it out. Never mind the fact that I had just eaten brunch a few hours before — I'm not one to let a silly thing like a full belly get in the way of my dessert eating. Plus, as I've mentioned before, I have a separate dessert stomach and it wanted fancy donuts, so fancy donuts I got.

I realize that they spell donut, "doughnut", but they're not the boss of me, so I'll be referring to them as "donuts", thank you very much.

Anyway, I ordered two — cinnamon + sugar and black-out cake — because I couldn't really decide on just one. They have a ton of really delicious-sounding flavors and I'm not really sure why I picked those two, but when I went to order that's just what I got. The place is tiny, but they have an entire wall covered in donut pillows which is pretty adorable. There are a few tables, but I took mine to go and walked a few blocks to Madison Square Park to see what $5.50 in donuts tasted like.

Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. I'm not sure what I was expecting, although I was told (and have read) about how amazing the donuts are, and mine just... weren't. They weren't bad, certainly, but the black-out cake had dry, sand-like crumbs on top and the cinnamon + sugar tasted a bit stale and burnt. I'm not exactly a donut connoisseur, but having had my first hot-off-the-conveyor Krispy Kreme this year, I can say DP's didn't stack up. I ate half of each one and finished them the next morning because, meh or not, I wasn't about to let a donut go to waste.

I'd like to go back and try again, at least once, to see if I'm missing something. Maybe they were having an off-day or I just ordered the wrong ones. Is there a specific one I should try? I'm thinking creme brulee or maybe peanut butter and banana cream? Speaking of bananas...

In positive dessert news, I finally tried Magnolia Bakery's banana pudding, and it is a-may-zing. I've been going to Magnolia for almost ten years (before it was cool — and then not cool), and I still think their cupcakes are the best  — although Crumbs, Baked by Melissa and Billy's are on my list to try. I've always seen people go crazy over the little tubs of banana pudding and I decided to try it on Monday. It's so incredibly rich and sweet that I felt like throwing up after three spoonfuls, but I promise that's a positive thing.

A little definitely goes a long way — save yourself a dollar and a lot of queasiness by ordering the small tub. The pudding redeemed Magnolia after I had a less-than-thrilling red velvet cupcake the last time I went. I'll definitely be sticking to the original vanilla-vanilla combo from now on, that is when I'm not in the mood for another deliciously sickening (in a good way!) tub o'pudding.

Side note: I may be the only person capable of walking the entire island of Manhattan and living in a 5th-floor walk-up — while managing to actually gain weight. At least I have goals, right?

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

[source]

I'd been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art once before, but I decided to go again last Friday by myself. I'm working from the apartment while I'm here in the city, and apart from an hour at lunch I hadn't been out much. I don't want to become that girl who dies in her apartment and is discovered weeks later by the smell of her rotting corpse, and somehow a trip to the Met was my way of not being that.

The museum is open late (until 9pm) on Friday nights and I'm not much of a bar person (or a social person, for that matteR) so it was a perfect evening for me. I'm living on the Upper West Side and there isn't a great way* to get over to the museum (on the East Side), so I decided to walk. Of course whenever I decide that something looks "close" on the map and will be a "nice walk" I turn out to be comically mistaken, but extra exercise is never a bad thing right? It was pretty much freezing but the walk wasn't that bad — I did, however take the subway waaaay out of my way just to not have to walk back.

The lobby was crowded when I got there but when I got farther into the galleries, I often had them to myself. The Met can be a tad overwhelming, and I only had a few hours, so I focused on the things I really wanted to see. I started with the Egyptian art which I have always loved. I think it's the designer in me that appreciates the graphic nature of the hieroglyphics and any culture that appreciated, and even revered, cats is tops in my book. Their collection of artifacts is incredibly impressive — they even have an entire, recreated temple.

The Temple of Dendur was just as amazing the second time, although at night you miss out on the wonderful views of Central Park from the Sackler Wing.

I spent the rest of my time with the (in my opinion) greats — Van Gogh, Pissarro, Picasso, Dali, to name a few. They have some of my favorite Van Goghs (Wheat Field with Cypresses, Oleanders, Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat) but my new favorite is Shoes, which I had never seen before.

I've always loved Pissarro's The Boulevard Montmartre on a Winter Morning and it's a never-ending thrill in my life to be able to see my favorite pieces of art in person. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that I'm standing in front of a canvas that was painted by Van Gogh a little more than a hundred years before.

It's also amazing that I can see these things anytime I want. The Met is actually great, in that (unlike MOMA) it has a suggested donation admission policy, which means that I could pay a nickel if I wanted to. I actually paid the full student price of $12 this time because it's totally worth it to me, and they have a way of making you feel reallllllly cheap if you don't, but next time I'll probably do something more like $5.

I'm sure I'll be back at least a few more times — have you ever been? What should I make sure to check out next time I'm there?

*I'm sure there's an easy way, like taking a bus, but I'm stubborn and thought walking totally made the most sense. I was probably wrong.

Restaurant Week: Winter 2013

[source]

It's Restaurant Week here in New York, which this winter actually lasts for two weeks (?) and is basically a way for poor kids like me to eat at semi-fancy restaurants (relatively) cheaply. Tons of amazing restaurants offer three-course lunches and dinners for $28 and $38, respectively.

I'm actually a really picky eater, so I don't exactly consider myself a foodie (isn't that word just gross?), but when my friend Trent asked me to go to the David Burke Kitchen on Wednesday night, I said yes and I'm so incredibly glad I did — even if I am desperately trying to save money.

I looked at the menu beforehand so I wouldn't be surprised, and picked out my three choices. It was relatively easy because most of the first courses involved seafood (no thanks), so I went with the market salad. It was pretty good, but basically a standard salad, although the goat cheese was a little too feet-y for my tastes. Most other people at our table went with the burratta and prosciutto which looked (and tasted) pretty great.

[source]

For my second course I picked the short rib and oh my. It was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. It was such a tender, tasty little meat cube on top of cavatelli in a mushroom cream sauce, covered in extra mushrooms. I would pretty much be ok with mushrooms in everything I eat, so I was really happy about it. Very rarely do I find something to eat that doesn't have objectionable parts (i.e. carrots, basil, cilantro, etc. — I told you I was picky) but every bit of this was completely delicious.

The portions were generous too and I was full even before dessert. Luckily, I have a separate dessert stomach, which I gladly filled with an oatmeal and soaked-raisin cookie-type thing covered in a sour ice cream that was so, so good.

I had initially decided on the carrot cake (it was actually the main reason I went) but when we got there it was inexplicably missing from the menu. I may have to go back just to try it, but the oatmeal thing was so good it almost didn't matter.

Sure I've been eating egg-sausage-cheese bagels every day for lunch ($2.50!) to make up for the expense of the dinner, but it was totally worth it — I'm only sad that I won't be able to eat that short rib any time soon (it's $33 alone, normally).

What other restaurants should I try while I'm here? I'm the absolute worst when it comes to picking places to eat (or feeding myself in general), so your suggestions are much appreciated!

City, I Love You.

A week ago I moved to New York City.

I had initially been planning to come here in May, for a couple of months, to see what it was like to live here. Ever since I first came here with my parents when I was 14, I've been basically obsessed with all things New York. I've been here more than 20 times (4 times just last year) and I've worn a Subway token around my neck almost every day for the past three years.

It was time.

When an opportunity for the perfect place (perfect location, perfect set-up, perfect price) came up on Monday, January 7th, I expedited the whole plan (quite a bit). I am so incredibly lucky to have an extreme support system: Most important are my wonderful employers who trust me enough to send me 500 miles away with an iMac and the promise that I'll get all of my work done. I'm also lucky enough to be in a profession (graphic designer) that can pretty much be performed from anywhere with a reliable Internet connection.

Of course there's also my dad, who was more than enthusiastic and totally on board for a road trip to deliver me to the city, even though he only had a few days notice. Not only did he drive the entire way — in rain and fog, no less — but he helped me carry my things up five flights of stairs (that's 76 stairs, believe me, I've counted) and managed not to have a heart attack doing so.

As if that wasn't enough, I also have the most incredible family and friends who have done more than their share of cheering me on, checking in on me and just letting me know how very excited they are for me. I think part of their excitement comes from knowing that, at least for a while, they don't have to hear me talk endlessly about how much I want to come to New York. I'm pretty sure I even heard the rumblings of a collective "FINALLY" when I made my plans.

The apartment is awesome. I'm on W. 109th street and the Upper West side has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods. I'm one block from Central Park, one block from Morningside Park and super close to Columbia University and basically anything I'll ever need.

I've loved (and visited) New York so long that it doesn't really feel like I'm away from home, so much as that I'm finally home. I have a lot to figure out while I'm here, huge, lofty things like what I want to do with the rest of my life. I've given myself two months, that should be enough time right?

NO PRESSURE.

I'll be recording my adventures here and I apologize in advance that it's about to get real New Yorky up in here (even more than it was before), but maybe some of you are into that? I totally realize that I'm so incredibly lucky in nearly every single way and I don't intend to waste my time here.

Oh and if anyone knows of a totally awesome apartment opportunity here, let me know. Somehow I don't think two months is going to be long enough for this wannabe New Yorker.

Pinterest Treats

Mine|  Theirs

I've had a Pinterest account for some time, but despite my best intentions I haven't really made anything that I've pinned (I even have a board called "Things I'll Never Make"). I currently have 113 pins in my board "Tasty Treats," and I was determined to make something from it this Christmas. I actually got ambitious and made two tasty treats, and to my delight they were both a major success.

The first one I made was this Buckeye Bark. Ever since my epiphany for the city swap gift, I've been craving the Ohio-centric candy. But I also wasn't looking forward to rolling balls of peanut butter until my hands fell off, so the bark version was a perfect compromise.

It's so easy you really don't even need directions, but here they are anyway: layer the chocolate, peanut butter mixture, then chocolate again on a Silpat-lined cookie tray, popping it in the freezer to set in between layers. I was worried I would be waiting a long time for the layers to harden, but each probably took less than 15 min. Breaking it with my hands was a little difficult (and melty) and resulted in some not-so-photo-worthy shards, but it tasted so good no one seemed to care.

Mine|  Theirs

Emboldened by my success with the Buckeye Bark, I decided to make these chocolate cherry cookies. My mom and I had made a version of these (called Santa's Whiskers) back in elementary school for a cookie exchange, and I was so excited when I stumbled on this version.

I added twice as much cherry juice as the recipe called for, doubled the almond extract and added more cherries for extra flavor. I actually only put kisses on top of about half, and sprinkles on the others. I definitely prefer them without the kisses, but I was making them for family and thought they might like the option.

Some reviewers said these were bland because they're not super sweet, but I think they're absolutely delicious. I just ate the last of them today, and I'm already thinking about making more. The cherry juice turns the cookie a really pretty shade of pink that would be perfect for Valentine's Day, even if my man wasn't a huge fan. Luckily, I don't think I'll have any problem eating an entire batch by myself.

Friday Finds

1. Penguin Sweater |  2.Chalkboard Map |  3.Fox Mug |  4.Kazoo Cases |  5.Fossil Bag |  6.Cat Sweater

Despite the fact that I'm pretty much terrified of birds, I've always considered penguins an exception. Maybe it's because they can't fly, thereby eliminating my no. 1 fear when it comes to feathered friends (that they'll fly in my face and hair, The Birds-style). Plus they're just incredibly cool looking, and I would be too in this sweater.

I'm a wanderer at heart, always dreaming and planning trips, and this chalkboard map would a perfect way to map out routes, or show where I've been.

This fox mug from Starbucks is even cuter in person. The tail handle is perfectly adorable, and they surprisingly resisted all corporate urges to slap their logo on it, although anyone with eyeballs will probably recognize the cute critter from their winter campaign (I wish they also made a rabbit one, he's always been my favorite).

At 27, am I too old to have one of these animal cases for my iPhone? I kind of think I am, but I also kind of don't care because they're so incredibly cute. As a bonus, they also look like they'd really protect your phone — can that be my excuse?

I not-so-subtly asked my man for this cross body bag from Fossil for Christmas, and I'm not-so-secretly hoping that he got the hint. I've been coveting most of their vintage-inspired collection for a while, and my $25 purse from Target is finally on it's last legs, so I think it's time for an upgrade.

If I need to explain what's so wonderful about this cat sweater, then I'm curious why you're even reading my blog. You must have come here by mistake. Thanks for reading, and I'm sorry.

Christmas Vacation

I already revealed that Christmas Vacation was my all-time favorite holiday movie, but I feel like my love for it goes far beyond it's nostalgic Christmas charm. I'm kind of obsessed with everything concerning it, whether it's the merchandise, soundtrack or these amazing commercials from Old Navy.

1. DVD |  2. Dickey  |  3. Holy Shit Where's the Tylenol|  4. Moose Mug  |  5. Santa Hat  |  6. Ornaments  |  7. T-Shirt

Last night my friend Emily came over and we had our annual viewing while we sipped nog from my beloved moose mugs. Nothing puts me in the Christmas spirit like hearing the opening song ("Christmas Vacation...") or holding a cup by it's antler.

Some of my favorite quotes:

• Is your house on fire, Clark?  
• Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead? 
• Don't throw me down, Clark.
• Oh, Eddie... If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now.  
• I don't *know* Margo!
• Every time Catherine revved up the microwave, I'd piss my pants and forget who I was for about half an hour or so.  

Please tell me you've seen Christmas Vacation. What are your favorite parts?

How I Spend the Christmas Season

Stores start putting out Christmas merchandise in October and I'm like:

Then people start lining up weeks ahead of time for Black Friday sales at places like Best Buy and I'm like:

I hear about stampeding moms at Wal Mart and I'm the one person that's like:

My Uncle and I go Black Friday shopping in a heavily-Jewish area of town, which is usually deserted and we're like:

But then I see someone headed for the same thing I want and I'm like:

For the next week I get approximately two hundred emails containing the words "cyber Monday" and I'm like:

But then two people buy something from Blue Carrot Shop and I'm like:

Then I realize I have extra money in my PayPal account and I'm like:

I fill up online shopping carts only to be mere pennies away from receiving free shipping and I'm like:

Then I add and subtract items until I've spent exactly enough to get free shipping and I'm like:

Then I realize I've hit my spending limit for each person and I'm like:

Then I buy even more things because:

Then I decide that I'll just make cookies for EVERYONE, which ends up looking more like this:

Then I wrap my gifts and put them under the tree, and my cats are like:

Then Christmas comes around and while I'm hoping it looks like this:

Thanks to climate change it's been looking more like this:

Then I pass out my gifts and I feel like:

Until someone gets me something way less awesome then the gift I gave them, and I'm like:

 And spending time with our families always starts out like this:

 And ends up like:

And after eating ALL OF THE THINGS, I pledge to eat better for the New Year, which starts out like:

But pretty soon I'm right back to being like:

NEED MORE GIF RECAPS?

See how I spent election night

Christmastime is Here!

I don't go super crazy with holiday decorations, but I've been slowly accumulating things over the years and I'm really happy with my growing collection. I've tried to stick to a wintery, red and white type of feel — I'm pretty traditional in my Christmas tastes. I got the stockings from Target last year (hung by our bookshelf with care), including the two tiny felt ones for our cats.

I got these ric-rac trimmed towels last year at TJ Maxx, and this year I picked up the snowflake placemats (Target again). I've had my eye on these votive holders, but I haven't been able to quite justify the purchase yet (gimme some time, I'll think of something).

PS - Can you spy the cat portrait by Rachael? It makes me smile daily.

I was always a huge stickler for real trees growing up, but my man already had this faux tree when I moved in, and who am I to argue with something pretty, free, and incredibly easy to set up (it's even pre-lit)?

I've been collecting ornaments for pretty much my entire life, and I have a good mix of vintage, Hallmark and bulbs. It's always hard to pick favorites, but my Christmas Vacation ones make me smile every time I pass the tree. I wish I had the other two in the set (the RV and light-up house), and not only because they are bringing insane prices on eBay right now.

Lastly, one of my very favorite things in my house is this faux bois ceramic vase I got a few years ago from Anthropologie. I switch out the foliage depending on the season — lilacs for summer, Japanese lanterns for fall and holly for winter. Like the tree, I used to abhor fake flowers, but I've been able to find some really nice looking ones lately — a far cry from the dew-drops-on-roses that I will hate always and forever.

I'm really trying to enjoy Christmas this year because we were away for Halloween and Thanksgiving. I'm nearly done with my shopping, and soon it will be time for the annual viewing of Christmas Vacation, complete with rum and eggnog sipped from these mugs, but of course.

Presents for Me

So I finished most of my Christmas shopping today, including a particularly good haul on Amazon whereby a savvy combination of gift card credits ( thank you Key Bank Rewards, and Amazon Credit Card!) I ended up scoring more than a hundred dollars in gifts for a mere $11.38.

Which led to me looking for one last gift for my man on eBay, where I stumbled (aka I was searching for Meryl Streep posters, totally for my man, I swear) upon two posters from 70s stage productions starring Ms. Streep —Measure for Measure, with John Cazale, and The Taming of the Shrew with Raul Julia. So I made "best offer" offers on them, thinking, oh they won't be accepted.

But then they were.

So, I am now the proud (and broke) owner of these two amazing (and huge — 30" x 45") posters, and now all I have to do is find frames and a place to display them. There's something I love about them being illustrations, and I would imagine they didn't produce many of either.

One of my very favorite experiences in life was seeing Meryl at the Delacorte in Mother Courage, and I can only imagine how wonderful she was in her other performances. I actually know how amazing she was in The Taming of the Shrew, however, and so can you thanks to this video.

Now I just have to save my money for this one to complete the set.

Dream Team

[source]

By now I'm sure you've seen these photos of Meryl Streep and Hillary Clinton taking an iPhone photo of themselves at the Kennedy Center Honors Reception, but I haven't been able to stop staring at them in days. Aside from just being adorable, how amazing are these two women? And how approachable and fun do they look, despite being, like, the two most important women on the planet?

If Michelle Obama had joined in, I think I might not have even been able to handle the greatness of it all. I can't tell you what I would give to have a copy of the photo(s) Meryl took. Oh, to be able to flip though that picture roll.

Edit: My amazing friend (and fellow Streep fanatic) Trent has alerted me that I can, in fact, own this photo for the price of $200 (which goes to a charity of your choice). Um, does anyone want to get me a last minute Christmas present?

How I Spent Election Night

 I sat down on my couch, opened my laptop, turned on NBC's live coverage, and immediately was like:

There was stress eating.

And stress tweeting.

NBC kept declaring states "too close to call" and I was like:

The New York Times tentatively declared Florida for Romney and I was like:

And Justin told me not to worry and I was like:

Then Mitt's state of Massachusetts, Paul Ryan's Wisconsin and the home of Mitt's second home, New Hampshire, went to Obama and I was like:

Pennsylvania went blue and I was like:

 Then Savannah Guthrie mentioned that 200 lawyers' beepers just went off in Florida and I was like:

Meanwhile, at the Romney campaign "party" in Boston they turned off the network feed and began playing a biography video of Mitt and the attendees were like:

Meanwhile, at the Obama campaign party in Chicago everyone was like:

Then I saw the county in Ohio where I voted turn blue and I was like:

Then I spotted a widows peak in Iowa and I was like:

And when they cut back to Brian Williams who was like:

Then they declared Obama the winner of Ohio, and thus the election and I was like:

Then Fox News decided they wouldn't concede just yet:

And even though Florida still hadn't decided:

We finally got word that Romney would make his concession speech, eventually:

Which looked sort of like this:

But in my head it was more like this:

And then the Obama family took the stage and I was like:

And then Barack stared speaking and it was like:

And I was like:

And then I realized it was 2am and I was like:

So I went to bed and dreamed about 2016:

27 Going on 30

[25, 26, 27]

Friday was my birthday and I turned 27. I don't mind getting older (would it matter if I did?), and I don't ever intend to be one of those women who turn "35" year after year. But as I prepare to close out my 20s, I suppose I should start, like, setting goals as adults are often fond of doing.

So here are 30 things I hope to accomplish/see/do before I hit the big 3-0:

• Get my passport. I have the paperwork all filled out, I just have to take the plunge. Maybe I'll even do that today.  Applied for on 9/7/2012, received.
• Europe. There are so many places I'd like to travel, but Europe deserves the top spot. More specifically, Germany, Italy, France and the Scandinavian countries.Went on an epic Italy trip, 8/14.
• Run a mile (and more) without stopping. I know this seems lame that I can't do this now, but I'm not exactly a natural athlete. See: broken bones in both soccer AND softball.
• Live in New York City. I hope to cross this one off my list next year, when I try out being a resident of my beloved city for at least two months, beginning in May. Moved for two months on 1/11/13, and for good on 7/1/13.
• Actually meet Meryl Streep. Not that I'm not satisfied with eye contact and a wave, but a girl can dream.

[source]

• See a flower field - either in California or Holland.
• Get married.
• Create a human.
• Explore opening a real, live Blue Carrot Shop - in New York City maybe?

[source]

• See Cat Power live - luckily my wonderful man bought us tickets for a performance of hers in October (!) Saw her on 10/22/12 and 1/22/13 and a few more times since.
• Do the Charleston in Charleston while eating a Charleston Chew. Done!
• See Meryl Streep on stage (again). After seeing Mother Courage twice I only want more.
• Move somewhere else.Not exactly sure what I meant by this, but I've moved into three different apartments in two different boroughs since moving to New York, so I think that counts.
• Be a better teacher. I only got one quasi-negative review ("She's too shy and not strict enough") but the rest were very nice! Fall/Winter 2012

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• Make a really great iced coffee.
• Watch the entire Friday Night Lights series - I have it on good authority that I would love it, despite that fact that I know nothing about football and have little interest in Texas. But with the magical Jason Katims involved (Parenthood) it has to be good.
• Cook more, cook better. I've only made a handful of recipes from this hallowed book, but I'd love to try most everything in it (no thanks on the aspics, Julia). My wonderful dude has helped immensely with this.

• Eat a fresh lobster in Cape Cod.
• Be more adventurous in my food choices - I have been a picky eater since birth, and I've been trying to be more open to new foods as I get older but I could do better.I wouldn't even really call myself a "picky eater" anymore.
• Start a savings account, and actually fill it with money. This is how I got to New York on 1/11/13
• Hike through the Redwoods.

• Revisit Newport Rhode Island and take the Mansion Tour again.I crushed this goal and went back twice (with plans for more future visits).
• Do a wine tour through Napa Valley.
• Drive across the country.
• Pay off my credit card (and student loan) bills.I paid off one student loan, and all of my credit cards. 

[source]

• Do a New England fall foliage drive and attend the Hudson Valley Halloween festivities.Crushed this goal too and went twice, with plans to make it an annual tradition.
• Visit San Francisco.
• Cut down on my processed/junk food intake. I've eaten McDonald's breakfast for the last three days in a row. Baby steps.I rarely eat fast food in New York, although there's definitely still room for improvement I'm going to call this goal met.
• Grow a garden.
• Lay in a pile of kittens.

Bookshelf Reorganization

As I was dusting this weekend I decided to give our bookshelf a bit of an update. Although working for four years at a movie store made me a tad anal about alphabetizing, I decided to go rogue and organize my book collection by color. Turns out my collection of bargain novels assembled from Borders, thrift stores and garage sales isn't nearly as colorful as it is fun to read, so the effect is more subtle than I had anticipated.

I'm still happy with the change, and it gave me a chance to rearrange the other bookends and bookcase staples such as my mannequin feet collection, glass head, my man's mini Hamlet collection, Van Gogh bust, creepy doll head, oven timer, gargoyle and orange bomb. My favorite pieces, however are reserved for the top of the shelf — particularly our fantastic Mr. Fox and Alaskan Squirrel w/nut.

Half of the people that we have over love our critters, and the other half (i.e. my family) is continually creeped out. I love taxidermy (good-condition taxidermy, if it's damaged then it's just gross) and have dreams of owning an entire menagerie one day. If anyone has a lead on a quality badger for sale, I know a girl.

Six Years of Streep

Six years and 3 months ago, I began my summer of Streep. On June 22nd, 2006, Meryl was mere inches from me as she entered, and exited the Letterman studio. I was honored to see her on her birthday, angered by the mob of people screaming rudely for her autograph, and really, really hot.

On June 22nd of this year, I spent the day 3,000 miles away from New York but still found a way to celebrate the day — this time not with the actual Streep, but with her star on the Walk of Fame and her hand and footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theater.

I put my hands in her prints (a perfect match — we apparently both have carnie (small) hands) and attempted to squeeze my Sasquatch foot into her teeny tiny perfect print. I traced her signature with my finger and noted that as far as "penmanship" goes, it was as classy and beautiful as its creator.

Six years ago, on August 4th and 5th, 2006, my uncle Steve and I awoke at 4:30 am, walked to the 81st street entrance of Central Park and set up camp (camp = a picnic table tablecloth) outside the Delacorte Theater and waited patiently until the 1pm ticket giveaway.

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Meryl was performing in Mother Courage that summer, and we had made the trip specifically intending to secure the much-sought-after tickets. Not only did we secure tickets for both nights, but we were sixth, and fifth in line, respectively.

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On August 5th of this year, my friend Trent and I are headed to New York to see Meryl once again. He managed to snag a place (plus one!) in the tiny audience of Bravo's Watch What Happens Live, when none other than the Goddess herself will be a guest (filming Aug. 6th, to air on the 9th). She will be promoting her new movie, Hope Springs, and I will be doing my best to not, well, die.

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I also discovered today that Meryl, along with Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carrell and Director David Frankel, will be speaking about Hope Springs at the Apple store in Soho on August 5th, at 4pm. We get into the city at 7am, and we're basically going to drop off our luggage and spend the rest of the day camped outside of the store.

It's sort of strange how much 2012 is starting to mirror 2006, in terms of Streep-content, and I couldn't feel more lucky or excited. I'm also incredibly grateful that I have such wonderful friends and family to share my adventures with — look no further than my Uncle spending countless hours outside of Greta Garbo's NY apartment when she was alive, dying to catch a glimpse of the reclusive star, to see where I get my knack for obsession.

Also, if anyone has any advice for me on the following issues, it would be much appreciated:

• How not to sweat through my entire outfit.
• How not to throw up on an Oscar-winning legend.
• How to speak coherently and not creep out said legend.
• What should I wear???
• How not to look like a troll next to her if/when a photo opportunity presents itself.

When I saw her six years ago, I actually still had a film camera that I then took immediately to a one-hour (i.e. longest hour of my life) photo place to develop. I'm bringing at least two cameras this time (my phone + an actual camera), so hopefully I'll be able to properly document the events.

That is, if I don't die of anticipation first.

California Trip, Part 2: Delicious Things

Would you hate me if I said that my very favorite thing that I did/saw/ate in California was Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt? Because, that shit is fresh.

You know of my recent and ongoing Menchie's obsession, but I'm kind of glad that we don't have a Pinkberry nearby because then I'd really have a problem. I had my first Pinkberry (original tart with strawberries) in Hollywood, and ate it two more times during the trip (half peach, half original tart in Santa Barbara and back to tart w/strawberries in Santa Monica).

I've since tried at least three other attempts at tart (Menchie's, Sweet Frog and a froyo place at our local mall) that have paled in comparison.

But I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the California-based chain had expanded to most other states, including New York City, where I'll be twice (!) in August. I can't wait to be reunited — but they say you never forget your first (or second, or third).

One thing I won't miss from California is In-N-Out Burger. I was as excited as any carnivore could be to try the famed burgers and fries, but they let me down in a big way. Not only was it not a life-changing culinary delight as I had hoped, but my burger was, for lack of better words, not good.

The bun was so hard it may have been a crouton, and everything else was average at best. The thing I remember most fondly about my lunch was the fountain coke, which was everything a fountain beverage should be — cold, refreshing and sweet. But hey, we have those in Ohio too.

In Ohio we also have Swenson's, which by my scientific calculations is about one million times better than the In-N-Out burger I had, and I have to travel approximately 2,999 less miles to get one.

I did appreciate the cozy way they wrapped the burger and I have been told I should regret not ordering it animal-style. I'm willing to give it another chance, but I won't be going out of my way to do so.

On the sausage front, I had a wonderful hot dog from Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom, at the original location on the Venice Beach boardwalk. The staff was friendly and the dog was delicious — even if the spicy mustard did a number on my sinuses. Even the seagulls couldn't wait to get a hold of my scraps, although unfortunately for them I didn't leave any.

None of my other California meals were very memorable, although I can't exactly say that I sought out noteworthy food (we actually ate at an Applebee's, and yes it was just as crappy as it would have been in Ohio).

I did, however, try my first (and second) Doritos taco from Taco Bell, and my life hasn't been the same since. You can take the girl out of Ohio, but you can't take the Ohio out of the girl.

California Trip, Part 1: Hollywood Things

It's taken me nearly a month to digest my week-long, inaugural trip to California and I saw/ate/did so many things that I thought I'd break these posts into categories: Delicious Things, Pretty Things, Living Things, Signage Things, Things I Watched and today's post, Hollywood Things.

Since I was staying with my friend in Santa Monica, the first place we headed was Hollywood. After spending countless hours in my life reading trashy tabloids, it was sort of bizarre to actually be in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, as with most things you primarily see on TV, Hollywood was a bit disappointing in real life.

It was pretty much all downhill after our first stop at Meryl Streep's star on the Walk of Fame (the only one that matters), but highlights included her hand and footprints in the forecourt of Grauman's, a tour of the Chinese theater, an amazing cranberry breakfast bar at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (the first of many), a tour of the Dolby (formerly Kodak) theater,

and of course some major gawking and nerdy picture taking of the Hollywood sign.

We didn't get very close to the sign, but we drove along Mulholland Drive and stopped at the Hollywood Bowl Overlook, where I managed to take a photo wherein I point in the general direction of where the sign sort of is.

I recommend skipping the tour of the Chinese theater and seeing a movie there instead — I would imagine you get to see the same thing (you know, the theater) in addition to actually seeing a movie, for about the same price.

I do, however, recommend taking the Dolby Theater tour — you get to see a real-deal Oscar statuette and our guide had some great stories to tell about the big night (apparently being a huge celebrity doesn't guarantee that you won't forget your ID and be denied entrance to the event, ahem, Mr. Clooney).

You can't take photos inside the theater because if you do, they will be owned by ABC and then you'll be owned by ABC (or something like that), but they do give you a super cheesy, consolation postcard as you leave, so that's cool.

Lastly, we took the Dearly Departed tour, which I (like everyone else on the planet, or at least on their website) highly recommend. Our tour guide, Brian, really, really loves his job (i.e. telling sordid tales of Hollywood murder/last breath locations) and made the three-plus hour tour fly by. We were also lucky to catch glimpses of off-tour locations such as the Playboy and Spelling mansions, the former homes of Paul Newman, George Burns and the studio where they film Dexter.

I can't say that I was overly impressed by Hollywood (or Beverly Hills or even California in general), but I'm glad that I got to see most of the places I read about so often in my stories (i.e. trashy tabloids). I'm also disappointed that in two days we didn't see one single celebrity, so I may have to go back — maybe next time it'll be for the Oscars?