what's up, wrap up

Oh hey, didn’t see you there.

Before I come back and just dive into some random post about this or that I thought we could start with what I’ve been up to lately and why maybe I’ve been M.I.A. 

On love: well, I feel into it. Actually I got up and looked for it and happened to find someone doing the same thing. We shared pizza with an egg on it, potatoes and exchanged phone numbers. That was 7 months ago. Additionally, my sister got married. It was beautiful and I’ll never be able to not tear up when I think about her dancing her heart out swinging her dress from side to side and us screaming lyrics out loud at her reception. 

On life: Yoga, meditation, healthy and clean living. New trending eating habits and then falling back into eating an average of 10-15 mini candies a day. I mean I don’t do drugs and I rarely drink so what’s a few candies a day and a 2-3 cups of coffee. There are worse things. I also had my hair cut very short and colored ‘mocha’ and have been eating approximately 4 avocados a week.

On work: Where… do… I … start…. 

So that’s a snap shot. I’ve been reading, perfume designing and smelling, drinking lots of coffee and slicking back my hair. I’m going to try to get back to writing. Because I miss having this outlet for thoughts. Plus I think my guy would appreciate if he could have one moment of silence from me. Especially when I request he sit in the bathroom with me while I shower and spill my guts about all the things bouncing around in my head. This usually ends with, “Tone I have to open the door, it’s so hot in here.” What am I supposed to do, I have a lot to say.

the trees

"I feel very uncertain."

Amanda, October 30th

I feel very uncertain about this new stage of my life. I feel supported and loved in a way that I've never experienced before and I'm so blessed for that. But it's difficult right now. Everything is changing right? The weather and all. It's like all summer we were more free and open and now we're going inside. We're going inside physically and emotionally. It feels like we've lost something maybe? Do you feel like that? Like something's missing and there's this loneliness? Yeah.

Take the trees right? In the spring they blossom and everything has buds and little leaves. Come summer they are so full and shady and beautiful and lush. They come fall they change drastically into these insane colors, right? And it's just so amazing. And then all of a sudden fall comes and they give it all away. They just let their leaves go and it's like a gift. A gift to everyone with the colors and just shedding off and down. Maybe if we think of it more like a gift we are giving away and less like a loss it won't be so difficult to deal with? So as we go inside and start to spend more time in ourselves with the change of the season think of it like the trees. Because what comes after winter? Spring. We'll all bloom again.

wind down

Let's wind down. I know the past entries have been intense or at least they feel like that to me. So let's take a break from my super charged mind where everything is flying all over the place and settle on what's been filling my days lately. First off, yoga - so much of it. I practice at Greenhouse Holistic located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I've been going off and on for a year now. I had tried yoga in the past but now am a full believer that it does a lot of good, mind and body. Everyone in the office has a summer flu so I've been drinking a GT's kombucha daily to help warn off the bad bacteria floating around. With all the yoga and sick kids, the Fresh Sugar Face Polish has been keeping my skin aglow. I started reading, "Where'd you go Bernadette?" by Maria Semple on Sunday and am half way through. I had mentioned to my roommate that I was going to get a new book when she pulled this from her pile, it was the exact book I was going to pickup that afternoon! I'm smelling like Balenciaga L'Essence lately. I went through a very long trend of wearing Chloe Eau de Parfum but settling back into L'Essence which has woody notes blended with violet. Hope everyone is having a nice Tuesday. I'm feeling much more positive today with the sun out and shining. Much love.

apples to apples

I made my first apple pie back in October when inspired by Blue Stoves own homemade pies. I've been perfecting my skill since then for Thanksgiving, Chris's Birthday and just for the sake of the smell filling the apartment. Tonight I made apple cake as requested by the apple king himself, Chris. As we wait for the cake to cool, I thought to share the two recipes for those of you who are looking to fill your own kitchen with the amazing aroma of baked apples. Happy Sunday to everyone. Cheers.

apple pie

crust

2 1/2 cups of flour

1 cup butter, chilled and diced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup ice water

Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles crumbs. Stir in water, a tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Refrigerate while you prep the filling. Roll out half the dough to fit a 9 inch pie plate. Place crust in pie plate. Fill the pie with your apple mixture. Roll out the other half of the dough and either lattice 1/4" wide strips or cover it fully and slice small slits into the top.

filling

4-5 baking apples

3/4 cup fine sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon cinnamon

Peel and core the apples. Dice them into 1-inch cubes. Place in medium bowl with sugar, flour and cinnamon. Mix together and empty into pie curst. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

apple cake

ingredients

3/4 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

4 large apples (a mix of varieties)

2 large eggs, at room temperature

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons dark rum

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 tablespoons butter, salted or unsalted, melted and cooled to room temperature

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch pan. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Peel and core the apples. Dice them into 1-inch cubes. In a separate bowl whisk eggs until foamy. Whisk in sugar, then rum and finally the vanilla. Add in half of the flour mixture and half the butter. Add the rest once it blends together. Fold in apple cubes little by little until they are well coated in the batter. Scape everything into your pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

less is more

I awoke from the sun beaming in from outside. A cool fall breeze from the window and in the arms of a man who loves me very much and all I could do was whine and complain.

I had no makeup, deodorant, clean clothes, face wash, comfortable shoes. My head hurt, my arm hurt from a flu vaccine days prior, my jaw sore from my apparent teeth grinding sleep. I could hear how annoying, bratty and selfish I sounded but I kept going on and on. Why was the sun so bright and why did the landlord choose Saturday morning to replace the siding (this was the only fair complaint since they began hammering at 8am). Chris, my boyfriend who spoiled me with a movie and dinner the night prior, listened and didn't interrupt as I went on and on. After a pause in my banter, mostly because I was probably looking for other things to bitch about he simple said, "Maybe you need too many things."

I fired back that I didn't think clean underwear was too much to ask but throughout the day and entire weekend the question stuck with me - do I really need so much?

With the change of the season I've found myself wanted more things. Hats, shoes, gadgets, beauty products, jewelry, everything really. I want these times but what is more alarming is that I feel I deserve these things. Why a $60 candle? Well because I earned it. I work hard goddammit so if I want my room to smell like one big fancy rose, so be it. When I come back down to earth I realize how stupid that line of reasoning is. You know what I really need? A big reality check.

I need the basics. Food, water, shelter and a job. I do not need $25 lipstick, $60 candles or an $800 watch. I have plenty of clothes to layer for the fall and winter, a heavy jacket, a hat, a cabinet of soup and to be honest, too much lipstick already. Having all I need is a blessing I seem to lose touch with all too often. My ego gets the best of me and the situation, convincing me that these things will somehow improve my life quality. What will however is wanted less. A current yoga lesson brought up the idea of taking less. Taking only what you need so there is more for everyone around you. Why does that sound so simple and easy but when I'm standing in the middle of Bloomingdale's I have this incredible pressure that if I do not have that DVF scarf that would mean no groceries for two weeks that I can't keep it in the front of my mind?

So it begins - the constant mantra of needing and wanting less. Taking what I have and seeing it all as blessings rather than burdens. And most of all to stop whining so much. No one wants to hear that.

i fall for fall

And just like that, summer is over. I've been in a blissful state now that things have cooled down. Sleeping with the windows open with the cool air coming in has left me rested and ready to start the day each morning. With fall comes a change of weather and some fun additions to my lifestyle. The Balenciaga buckle ankle boots are an ideal wardrobe staple but let's face it, I need to pay rent instead. (A girl can dream) Alexander Wang coin purse for my metro card, more film for my mini polaroid camera, MOR candle to scent my room, ck one pure color lipstick in lip lock for a perfect berry pout, cider donuts which I can not say no to at every flea market, a Movado watch in rose gold and gold stamped Kate Spade note cards to write well wishes to friends and family this season. Rock on fall, I love you.

a day away

  80 some minutes outside of the city in the Hudson Valley is Beacon, New York. By taking Metro-North out of Grand Central Station you can take the east line towards Poughkeepsie, get off at Beacon and find yourself a short walk from Dia:Beacon. Taken directly from the museums brochure;

Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries opened in May 2003 as the presentation facility for the collection and a series of exhibitions and performances. Dia:Beacon occupies a former Nabisco box-printing factory build in 1929 and offers 240,000 square feet of exhibition space, most of which is illuminated by natural light. In collaboration with the architecture firm OpenOffice, artist Robert Irwin designed the interior spare, the building vestibule and forecourt, as well as the surrounding landscape.

Assembled during the 1970s and early 1980s, Dia's original collection includes artworks by Joseph Beuys, John Chamberlain, Walter De Maria, Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Imi Knoebel, Blinky Palermo, Fred Sandback, Franz Erhard Walther, Andy Warhol, and Robert Whitman.

I know being a graphic designer that most would think that I adore art museums of all sorts and visit them on a frequent basis but it's quite the opposite. I enjoy all art but don't mind admiring it from afar, say a website or a book. I appreciate it but it needs to be something pretty absurd and interesting to get my butt in front of it. The trip to Dia:Beacon was spur-of-the-night-before and promised a pretty train ride and a cute town to boot. The town is more or less a drag but I recommend the museum to everyone who has the time. Go when it's bright and sunny out so you can appreciate the great sky lights and naturally light artwork. Walking through and being able to really grasp the space the collection took up made each exhibit special and exciting. The museum's interior design caters to each artist. It fits comfortably in the space. I was so affected by the light that while I was left feeling a bit down after a walk through main street (think sad, slow forgotten town) that I was almost instantly snapped back and energized to go through each and every part of the space.

My personal favorites was the Agnes Martin and Michael Heizer collections. Quite different but equally engaging I found myself thinking about the entire trip to Dia:Beacon for the rest of the weekend. So if you have the time and want to get out of the city for a few hours I highly recommend the trip.

hats off

 I never wore hats growing up. My sister jokingly told me I looked weird in hats in middle school and it stuck with me. I always trusted her word so every time I put one, on my mind would reiterate her voice. I'd think, "it does look weird," take it off and place it back on the shelf.

Come fall while lingering around Soho one day I came across a black felt hat that didn't feel too weird. In a good mood, accompanied by a new fellow I decided to go with my gut. He gave me the thumbs up and in my "you're too cute to disagree with" mood I handed over my debt card. The fellow didn't last but the hat did. Certainly an impulse buy that was worth the price tag. I haven't been back to the shop since but there were two left, one camel and one hunter green. If you need a push here's one from me- indulge a little and hats off to you.

november

Always. Every year I think that I'm going to get through the entire month without falling into a sinkhole of bitterness and angst but November has proven me wrong again. It's been months since I've had the hole-in-my-chest-the-world-is-falling-apart feeling but I awoke with it Saturday night and haven't been able to kick it since. I felt it creeping in last weekend and tried to run it out of my system. 4 days and 20 miles later all I ended up with was extremely sore feet and an absurdly painful calf cramp. I almost made it the entire month. See you in December.

scrumptious scone

I've been busy catching up on my New York life since I've returned from my month of travels. Playing catch up means that I'm back to cooking and baking, or at least trying to. I'm good at pulling and saving recipes but that's often as far as it goes. This past Sunday I set out to make scones. I'm a breakfast/brunch fanatic so it only seemed fitting to learn how to bake the perfect scone. Originally the recipe came from Epicurious.com. With minor tweaks and a whole lot of mess, my scones came out semi-perfect. It is of my own belief that they would have been 100% perfect if I had more counter space to work in and an oven that wasn't comparable to Barbies. The recipe is below with my added changes. This weekend I hope to try a vanilla, blueberry batch. Cheers!

Lemon Cream Scones
Bon Appétit, May 1996

Ingredients
*revisions/tweaks I made
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt
*3/4 cup chopped dried peaches (originally apricots)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 1/4 cups whipping cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
*1/2 lemon to squeeze into dough
   
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Stir in apricots and 1 tablespoon lemon peel. Add whipping cream and stir just until dough forms. This is where I squeezed in some fresh lemon juice to add more lemon flavor. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Knead gently just until dough holds together. Form dough into 10-inch-diameter, 1/2-inch-thick round. Cut into 12 wedges.

Transfer wedges to large baking sheet, spacing evenly. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon lemon peel in small bowl. Brush scones with melted butter. Sprinkle with sugar mixture. Bake scones until light golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool slightly. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool completely. Wrap in foil; store at room temperature.) Serve scones warm or at room temperature.

lavender longing

Whenever I see a familiar scent listed as a food item on a menu I am always intrigued. For example, lavender. This strong, cozy scent is a favorite of mine that reminds me of home. While out to dinner this weekend at the legendary 21 Club in Manhattan, I ordered a Lavender-lime rickey which was simply listed as a combination of Tanqueray, fresh lime and lavender syrup. I've had food before that's been infused with lavender but never anything so strong. I highly recommend visiting the restaurant if you're visiting or live in the city. The "rickey" would be a perfect drink to serve with brunch.

fall break

As much as I love summer in the city, fall here is like no other… well with the exception of the amazing falls I used to have at Penn State. With college football, cider, crisp air and beautiful colored leaves to look forward to, I've already been putting my fall wish list together. All combined makes the perfect look for a stroll through central park, a state game with college friends or a casual date with someone special. Hopefully you'll find something you love here too! From top left, moving clockwise: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Parfum, Tory Burch Selma riding boot, Tarte LipSurgence natural matte lip tint, West Avenue Small Monogram Necklace, La Perla Vintage Plissé lace soft-cup bra, J Brand 620 Super Skinny Denim, Ralph Lauren Blue Label Megan Solid Oxford Shirt and S'MORES (the biggest must-have of the season)!

no_vember

I wish I had a better excuse but I don't. I haven't been here for a long time and the truth is, I shut down in November. I hate everything about this month. It's childish and immature but I want to stomp my feet and stay in bed for a 30 days until it's over. With the change of weather and daylight savings I struggle everyday getting out of bed, with finding motivation all day and then at night I'm overwhelmed with anxiety because I don't feel like I accomplished anything that day. There's a good chance this will be one of my only posts for November. I even hate this post. See you in December.

blonde ambition

I've been a busy bee the past few days and haven't gotten to post anything. I'm just checking in, saying hi, passing along a photo of two blondes (inspired by Mallory and I of course). I'm so pumped about her coming to visit tomorrow. Everyday since then has been filled with getting ahead at work, cleaning, shopping, freelance design and working my ass off at the gym. I'll have plenty to chat about after the weekend. Catch ya'll later! ;-)

let me tell you bout my best friend

I have a ratio of 2:1 with guy friends versus girl friends. This weekend though my best friend Mallory flies in from Chicago just in time for cider, halloween and fall frolicking in the city. While summer holds strong at my first favorite season in Manhattan, fall is a close second. I've been scouting out vintage shops for the past few weeks and writing down all my favorite coffee shops to make sure we gas up at all of them. I love my down time with the guys but am looking forward to some serious gal time with Mal. I plan on trying to seduce her with the beauty of Manhattan so that she'll move here with her amazing boyfriend Lorenzo. Fingers crossed! Photo credit to wildfox couture.

a precious pout

Some say that lipstick was first worn by Greek women who crushed semi-precious jewels and adorned their lips with them. When I was younger lipstick meant dance recitals, halloween and playing dress up at my mom-moms. Today it's an essential part of my daily routine. It's the last thing I do before I leave my apartment and the first thing I think about when putting an outfit together. Like I previously posted about my love of solid black with a pop of color, this is another way I achieve that look. I have little lips but color boosts them up and makes me feel confident and much like a classic movie star. Above are some of my favorite colors from NARS. Their matte lipstick is the best. It stays on forever and doesn't smudge or bleed to your skin. Left to Right: Funny Face, Jungle Red, Love Devotion, Manhunt, Roman Holiday

anything you can do, i can do better

I see it in magazines and on the street. I do it in my apartment but always chicken out last minute. I'm talking about shorts with tights! I love the look on everyone else but never thought I could pull it off myself. Today is a new day and I was feeling quite adventurous while getting dressed this morning. After a quick phone google of 'shorts with tights' I found my inspiration, threw together an ensemble and out the door I went. Olivia Palermo twist back hair to polish off the look! Happy Thursday. I'll try to follow up with a photo of my own outfit! :)

gob versus whoopie

Gob: Western Pennsylvania slang for Whoopie Pie
Whoopie Pie: Eastern Pennsylvania slang for Gob

I can't deny my fall obsession with everything pumpkin. The lattes, the pies, carvings, beers, and the list goes on. You haven't fully taken the pumpkin plunge though until you've tasted Martha Stewart's Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cream Cheese filling. Like the lemon bars that were previously posted, these have been taste tested and approved by my family and office. I first sunk my teeth into these at work when my coworker and friend Erin brought them in. The recipe does take some time to complete but you get a hefty serving and it makes your whole place smell amazing. The link is below, let me know how they turn out!

http://tiny.cc/pumpkin_woopie