Thursday, December 30, 2010

See You in 2011!

A yummy Christmas cocktail of vodka soaked cranberries and club soda.

I have many more pictures to upload from Christmas but they'll have to wait until after New Years.  This week has flown by, as has 2010 for that matter.  2010, although rewarding and great in many ways, was also one of my most challenging.  Which, in turn, makes those rewards that much sweeter I guess.  This blog has continued to be a place of respite, a source of inspiration, a release of creative energy, and so much more.  I can't thank my followers enough for sticking with me and I promise to keep writing and making lame jokes in 2011, that's why you came right?!

Anyway, here's to 2011!  Hope your New Years Eve will be sparkly, glittery, and a great night to ring in the new year.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas: Decorations

My mom continues to simplify her decorations each year.  I'm okay with this, as long as there's a tree. 
This year's tree was...interesting?  See below.

A simple silver star for the wooden bird.

Mom did the table, I did the floral arrangements.  We work well as a team.


Magnolia leaves from the front yard, red tulips, and silver for the mantle. 
Sorry for the washed out pic, they get a lot of light in this room.

Silver balls.

More silver.  Mom even wrapped all of the gifts in silver.  There's a little peek of the tree in this picture too...

The tree.  Well, I guess an LED pre-lit fake-o is still a tree.  I actually grew to like this quirky little guy.  Those are cards stuck into the iron wall hanging.

Christmas: Food

I have to say, I've become quite good at slapping people's hands away from their food, just so I can get a shot for this blog. Here are some food shots I took over the holidays.

 My Iroquois sandwich from Bread & Company, chicken salad spread on cranberry pecan bread.  If you don't have a B&Co. in your town, I feel for you, I really do.

Attempting to make Pioneer Woman's Orange Rolls (using her cinnamon roll recipe.)  These did not turn out so great unfortunately.  I think she may have left out a step or two in the recipe...
I swear it wasn't my fault.
 Marmalade on dough, at least it looked pretty.
 Icing for the rolls.  Trying to catch an action shot of the drip.

Rolling some dough.  Before going out at night, my mom told me I needed "a little color."  Meaning, blush or lipstick, or a week in Mexico.  Therefore, I've tried to spare you my paleness by turning this photo black and white, didn't help much, put your shades on please.

Christmas Eve dinner was short ribs, here is some bacon pancetta seasoning the pot. 
 Here, we've removed the pancetta, dusted the short ribs in salt and pepper and flour. 
They are about to get brown in the pot and the kitchen is about to smell amazing.

 These creatures wandered into the kitchen and did their best to trip me up
while holding the plate of cooked short ribs.

Don't you dare scrape that pot! Throw in your onions, carrots, and wine now.  Then put the short ribs back in, cover with a lid, and put into the oven for about 2 hours.

Results = fall off the bone tender super yummy rich salty short ribs.

There were just a few more steps involved in each of these recipes, please do yourself a favor and check here for them before attempting.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Only a few more days....

...and definitely getting into the spirit!

Shaping crescent cookies, don't know why these pics turned out so yellowy-green.
The cookies are actually an almond-y color with a powdered sugar coating.
They are simple, and yummy, and my favorite dude's favorite!


Star boxes from The Container Store

 
 My meager attempt at decorating, could've made a little more effort but it is quite cozy.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Scenes from a Saturday

Recently, KTW has made plans to move to Palo Alto for three months for work.  He leaves in January and I cannot wait to get out there and visit him!  Since this past weekend marked one of our last together in NYC for a while, I insisted we do something fun together on Saturday.  Here's what we did:

Big beautiful origami tree at the American Museum of Natural History,
preceeded by the yummiest pumpkin pancakes.

Ran into a few brown bears there...suprisingly docile...

Came across these big guys...

As I proclaimed aloud "I want one of these for my apartment,"
KTW slowly sneaked away from me confused and bewildered....

For dinner, we tried Fish Tag, a new spot on the UWS. 
Apologies for the picture quality, the cooler the place,
the more embarassed I am to take pictures with flash.
 Individual glass water bottles to pour yourself, great decor in this place.
 Bulgur salads on pedastals? Okay why not?
Things I failed to get a picture of at dinner:
1) Our bottle of wine described to have notes of "new shoes."
2) My tasty salmon.
3) His decadent sheeps milk dumplings.
4) Our dark chocolate ice cream, the richest, creamiest awesomeness.

 We finished off the night with Tron 3D. 
Word to the wise, save your $$$ for more dark chocolate ice cream at Fish Tag.  No bueno.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Cheers!

I'll be doing some of this tonight in order to stay warm in chilly NYC!  Hope you have fun weekend plans too!

Also, have you heard of Instagram
I took this photo last night with my iphone and then treated the pic in Instagram,
love the fun effects in this ap!

When You Have to RSVP "No"...

...you should do this:



Jordan Ferney sent this box o' balloons to her good friend Michelle and set up a tripod to capture the fun surprise.  Love it, and love Jordan's blog too, Oh Happy Day, check it out!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Drink it Up


It's no secret that Anthropologie does some incredible windows and displays.  These straws, sewn together straight down the middle make up one of my favorites.  I'd love to see someone do it with colorful pipe-cleaners, or maybe the blue striped straws below.  They would make a great twirly backdrop for pictures at a party, I'm thinking behind the bar area might be appropriate!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

YSL for your Wednesday


As temperatures continue to drop here in the City, I am faced with extreme wardrobe indecision in the mornings.  Apparently I've learned nothing after four years of NYC winters and am forever leaving the house without appropriate winter gear.  Why can't I be a YSL model, don't they look chic and warm?!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Fantastic

Love these lights for a party!  Cable and Cotton has them in every color combo you can imagine.  I'd decorate my tree with them too.


Found via Twig & Thistle

Friday, December 10, 2010

Is it 5 o'clock yet?


Wishing you a lovely, cozy, relaxing weekend (don't get too relaxed though, Christmas Eve is two weeks from today, TWO WEEKS PEOPLE!)  I have done zero shopping, how about you?

"Hey bartender!"

A few years ago, a guy I dated (who shall remain nameless) hosted a holiday party for friends and colleagues in his small one bedroom Union Square apartment.  On the top of his list was to hire a bartender and have some form of entertainment.  Apparently he had been hosting this party for years and wanted to step it up a notch.  He found a bartender off craigslist and I used my event planning Rolodex to find a fortune teller, both were a huge hit.


This article in the New York Times suggests the trend of hiring someone to sling drinks in your tiny 400 square foot space is growing.  People find it adds a touch of class and sophistication.  Although I very much agree with the idea, I must warn you, the pretentious attitude from people they interviewed made me slightly nauseous.  Regardless, if you're able to hire someone to handle the drinks, (this person can also hang coats and help you clean up at the end of the night,) you might be able to enjoy your event more like a guest might, rather than a stressed out host.  And if you can get Tom Cruise....

Yours Truly...

...is now featured in Effortless Style's blog directory!  Just, ya know, in case you forget where to find me...
I love Camila's DIY projects and design aesthetic.  She recently had a blog makeover and I'm loving all of her new features, check it out and thanks for the blog love!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Scenes from a Coooold Sunday

Went to Columbus Circle and gawked at BIG pretty stars...

Entered a contest to win this...please oh please oh please.....

Chowed on yummy pizza

 Saw Black Swan, was amazed, scared, and jealous of Natalie Portman all at once

 First time I've been to a movie theater with baked goods...

...and smoked salmon sandwiches, not sure how I feel about this...

 and KTW bought me a warm hat for winter, always looking out for me, thanks dude!