On City Living

Magical Moments.

Yesterday, my oldest best friend (and BK-native) got engaged amidst a Brooklyn setting of Red Hook piers and hole-in-the-wall dive bars with her closest family and friends by her side (minus one).  Several hours earlier, a fellow Coloradan resident commented on taking the Big Apple in only the smallest of doses, due to its overwhelming energy and relentless dissonance.  And rather than retort with a NY-centric jab, I thought of other perfect moments in this city I call home – picnics in Prospect Park, coffee on front stoops, fireworks atop crowded roofs, and marriage proposals surrounded by familiar faces.  Enjoy and congrats to the happy couple!  (Enjoy.)

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On the Perfect Meal(s)

(On)the Perfect Day.

My fantasy matrimonial spread encompasses a range of foods that appease both the palates of the masses while simultaneously covering my own (and my would-be-fiance’s) preferential flavors from child-to-adulthood, and everything in between.  Whole Foods specialty-section, ten-dollar salami bites (my most recent in-house happy hour delicacy) would precede supermarket-brand, ricotta ravioli, without which my childhood would be incomplete.  Annie’s organic macaroni & cheese complimented with locally-appraised chicken wings would mingle between Sahadi’s homemade (spicy) hummus, lentil and onion salad, and grape leave platters for meat-eaters and beyond.  Enjoy!

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On Tantalizing Titles

Judging the Cover.

Whether or not the novel's title catches the initial eye, our eventual investment in its richness and depth inevitably links our minds and souls with those of its characters.  Book titles take on the moment's meaning and - later - the era's, intermingling memories of fiction and non-fiction alike.  Enjoy!
 
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On (Little) Siblings

Family Frenemies.

Siblings come in all shapes and sizes, from instant best friends to eternal worst enemies.  Whether we admire or admonish the ancestry we ended up with, familial ties are as thick as (shared) blood, with devotion and bonds as unwavering as the rivalries that ensue.  Enjoy!

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On Nostalgic Collections

Spring Cleaning.

With the changing of the seasons, and a quarterly apartment cleaning on the horizon, I find myself hard-pressed to give up collections-of-things I’ve spent portions of my life-time (thus far) investing time, money, and emotions into.  Childhood barbies, with ragged hair and faded dresses, occupy valuable space in my parent’s basement.  Forty (plus) key chains, ranging in quality and relevance, sit weighted on the bottom, right-hand drawer of my refurbished vanity.  And a myriad of magnets, from the travels of friends, family, and yours truly, decorate the overly-adorned and otherwise bland refrigerator, entertaining house guests and fellow chefs on a weekly basis.  Enjoy!

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On List-ful-ness

Crossing Things Off.

For those of us who thrive on making and breaking down daily lists for the sole sake of acknowledging accomplishments, even the most mundane tasks make it to the final edit.  Between necessary dental care and (hopefully) daily physical maintenance, even a much-needed, overdue shower can feel like a praise-worthy event.  Enjoy!


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On Constant Comparisons

Ummmmmm.

As the autumn season approaches, I continue my battle against any exercise that can keep me interested for more than one workout, and yoga keeps rearing it's flexible neck into my thoughts.  But every time I come close to committing, I'm flooded with anxiety related to the usual: inflexibility, lack of balance, and constantly comparing myself to the yogis on nearby mats.  If only...  Enjoy!

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