This Is For My Homies

Because my boyfriend travels for work during the weekdays and is home on the weekends, I have had little time with my girlie-friends....Courtney, Molly, Kat, and Megan. I miss them dearly, and because of our busy work week and agenda-filled weekends, we do not have a lot of time together. The funny thing about this group is that we are all very different in many ways, yet we all get a long like peas and carrots.

Although our time together is sparse, we know how to make the best of it. We can sit on the couch, drink some tea, eat some snacks, and STILL have the time of our lives together. Because of them, moving to New York was not a hard transition for me. I have such wonderful friends here, and I am truly blessed for that.

Confucious says, "Have no friends not equal to yourself."

Brrrr

(Above: A Max Brenner "hug mug" filled with hot dark chocolate with cocoa crisps...Mmm)

It is officially COLD outside. Today was rainy, windy, and bone chilling. My co-worker had his window cracked open today and I kept getting big whiffs of winter. That crisp smell actually made me feel warm inside, warm at the thought of the holidays. Now don't get me wrong, I hate being cold. I would actually be hot and sticky than cold. However, this time of year gets me all excited for my birthday (November 18), Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I am fed up with winter by the time the ball drops at midnight. Man is this year going fast!

Comme des Garcons for H&M

Like Target, H&M has been teaming up with high end designers, like Roberto Cavalli, to create a line for commoners such as myself. That being said, they don't compromise their design aesthetic just to meet the price point. And just my luck...two H&M's within a block or 2 from my work will be carrying Comme des Garcons on November 13, and I plan on sneaking out of the office to check it out. I look forward to their avant gard designs and hope to pick up a few pieces of my own.

Frankfurter!

My boyfriend's brother just purchased a little puppy by the name of Frankie. We think he is a beagle/chihuahua mix, and boy is he cute. However, he does have a pee/poop problem.... which a my reality check that I should not get a dog.

Soup!

I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and thought soup would be just the cure. I headed to Whole Foods after work, bought some ingredients then went home to make a pot of goodness.

Ingredients (sorry...I don't measure things):
- Box of low sodium chicken stock
- 1 zucchini (sliced)
- dried mushrooms (chopped) - purchased previously at Chinese grocery store
- 5 frozen veggie dumplings (also purchased at Chinese grocery store)

Instructions:
- Poured box of chicken stock into pot to boil
- Once I turned the heat up, I added the dried mushrooms to gain moisture while stock was boiling
- Added slices zucchini shortly after adding the mushrooms
- Added roughly a tablespoon of Hoison sauce
- Dropped in the frozen dumplings
- Waited for the soup to boil up again
- Secret ingredient: organic ginger soy vinaigrette from Whole Foods - added a splash for flavor
- Let it simmer until mushrooms and zucchini are cooked to your liking

VOILA! Delicious Asian-inspired chicken soup

Fall Feast

My lovely lady loves and I enjoy our time together, whether it be for tea, or to a nice dinner, or for a walk after work, we just try to make time for one another whenever time allows. My favorite friend activity are our dinner nights, where we collaborate or recipes and ideas to put together a nice meal. We don't have them as often as we should, but when they happen, they are a ton o fun! More recently, we had an Early Fall Feast that consisted of sweet potato salad (with green olives, pearl onions, white onions, cumin, lemon juice, salt, and pepper) and a caramelized onion and goat cheese pizza, then finished off with chocolate whoopie pies. These evenings are filled with laughs, good music, good wine, and wonderful company. I can't wait for the next one!

Hip Hipster

(Above: Got a close glimpse at the DJ masterminds working their magic)
(Above: They released massive white balloons for the crowd to toss around)

Rob and I went to see the electro DJ duo MSTRKRFT at Webster Hall last Friday, and man was it CrAzY! Just imagine 1000 young people stomping the floors, pumping fists, shaking mop-top haircuts, and rocking checkered scarves and skinny jeans. Of course I participated in all of this at the beginning of the show...until other people's sweat was dripping on me, a girl decided to crowd surf right on top of me, and the gangly boy next to me kept jumping on my toes. I definitely lost my energy and became annoyed during the rest of the show. Am I an old mee-maw in a 23 year old body?

At times, I consider myself a slight hipster....into non-mainstream music, thrifting, and culture....but when I roam the streets of Willamsburg, Brooklyn, or attend shows such as MSTRKRFT I see that I'm not at all a hipster. I'm too conservative and self-conscious to be one! I do care what others think, and I fall into pop culture just as easily as hipster culture. I'm still cool right?

Indian Summer or Early Fall?

The weather has been surprisingly warm these past few weeks....give or take some days in the 60s. I stocked up on some jackets over the summer (you find the best jacket deals when no one wants to wear a coat!), and have yet to wear one. I believe today is the last day in the 70s, with the next few days in 50s-60s. Anywho....I love the warm weather and am enjoying all that I can.

Nonetheless, it is technically Autumn and Fall is in the air. 

Living in Manhattan, I forgot about the leaves turning color until I was in Jersey last weekend. Makes sense since I haven't seen a patch of grass in ages, let alone a tree. Ok, I lie, there are tree-lined streets, but you don't look at those the same way you look at a tree in your front yard in Indiana. They blend into the brownstones and street, thus you hardly notice them unless you look up. 

Well I got a big reminder of Fall this morning when I walked out my door and looked at the spread outside a flower shop beside my apartment (see photo above).

Sudafed, the Wonder Drug

I get sick a handful of times a year, all of which is the same, sinus/head cold that includes a box of tissues and being in a daze. When this happens, I automatically go to the only drug in my medicine stash, Sudafed Cold and Cough. Unlike it's red forefather, the cold and cough version not only knocks out congestion, but aches, cough and fever. I took 2 today and am feeling better already. This is a wonder drug indeed!

Harry Goes to Broadway

Daniel Radcliffe, AKA Harry Potter, is going the theatrical route by starring in the Broadway show Equus. For $100+ you can see Radcliffe starring as a young man who has a strange connection with horses and a psychiatrist who is trying to figure out the meaning behind this oddity....and you will get a bonus for your buck as Harry is in the buff for a part of the show. I've always thought of Radcliffe as a good actor (despite his primary role as Harry Potter), and I'm glad he is showing the world he is more than just a wizard. All I can say is...."Go Harry!"

Dylan McKay

Just when I thought Luke Perry was a "has-been", he pops up all over TV! Over the past month he has been on Law & Order: SVU, Criminal Minds, and the new 90210 (as himself). What's this big jump in job offers?

P.S. He's not as hot as he used to be, and is resembling JLo's hubby Mark "Skeletor" Anthony.

California Love

I just got back from a weekend in L.A. for my cousin's wedding and man was it wonderful. Most of my mom's family lives in Southern California, who I have not seen in 8 years. Eight years have gone by since I've seen my grandpa and other family members. I am totally appalled at this, and have vowed to never let this much time come in between us.

My mom is one of 7 children, 5 who live in California, as well as my only living grandfather. Not only do the 5 siblings live in Cali, but they live in the same neighborhood! I was able to spend time with my family this weekend, and it made me regret all the time I have missed with them. We have all aged, and the older I get, the more appreciative I am of my wonderful family. My grandfather (called 'Ong' or 'Ong Ngoai' in Vietnamese) is now walking with a cane. Although he is physically much older than I remember, he is still mentally alert and clearly aware of everything around him. This 87 year old man still takes walks to the beach and eats extremely healthy. He is probably healthier than I am!

Overall, I am still in "bliss" mode after seeing my family and believe I am truly blessed!