Choker-Style Necklaces

Remember how I used to love long necklaces?

Well don't fret, I still DO! It's just that my mind has been opened considerably in the last couple of years. I've become a fan of gold, and Club Monaco, and shorter necklaces- which brings me to my latest purchase, this three tiered thing from Club Monaco that I'm absolutely besides myself over. It goes well with casual chambray but also with fancy Equipment shirts. It adds a bit of pizzazz even on the most lackluster of days and I've already received quite a few compliments on it. Huzzah!

I'm STILL PASSIONATE about things!

I'm just older, and ... wiser? Maybe. I still live in New York and wouldn't classify myself as a "recent" NYU Grad anymore. But like Elaine Stritch, I'm still here, and I wanna update with my new passions. Yay!

Tall People

Please enjoy this photo of one of my favourite tall people, Jeff Goldblum.
Women over five foot nine and men over six feet are my favourite kind of people. I'm not saying I won't be friends with or fall in love with people under those heights, but I'm just saying, it would be a challenge. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be taller, taller, taller. Standing at a very average height of five foot six in socks, I feel inferior and envious of those who see above crowds and look good in floaty clothes and cause everyone to look at them simply because they are endowed genetically with vertical assets. My friend Graham disagrees because "when you're tall you bump your head on things". Clearly he's an idiot.

Mames

My brother is a real butthead. He wears hats at the dinner table. He chews with his mouth open! We have gone to many foreign places together, including Shanghai, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Amsterdam, London, Andorra, Barcelona, Bruges and Edinburgh. We did not kill each other, amazingly. He is a pretty good brother, I guess. Right now he's eating chips with his yob smacking so enthusiastically at such a volume that my ears will never recover.

Holiday Spirit

We all know Halloween is my jam, and every other "important event" kind of falls by the wayside, even my birthday. But this year, for some reason, I was absolutely buzzing with holiday spirit! I was saying "happy holidays" to every customer service rep, I was smiling, not snarling, at people on the street, I was gawking at the lights on 5th Avenue, I was listening to Christmas songs non-stop. It felt great. I didn't get that much for prezzies on Christmas morning, but what I got, I loved. And I spent time with my funny brothers and silly parents. I don't know what makes the Christmas force so strong some years and so depressing others. But I'm glad this year was the former. Well, off to watch the last few episodes of Freaks and Geeks!

Today's Cafe- The Little Bird Bakery

The Little Bird Bakery on Avenue B is a homey affair, and having opened this past June, still feels like an East Village secret. You can easily set up shop with a laptop at the counter seating, or dally at the single window-front table. Prep yourself for a long day with their Counter Culture coffee($3 for the Iced Americano), guaranteed to keep you buzzing long after you’ve come and gone.

Feel virtuous without sacrificing good taste with their Bird Seed Granola ($6 to stay), topped with bananas and pears, speckled with pepitas and dried coconut and guaranteed to keep it’s crunch if you choose to take it to go for $4. Just be sure to floss afterwards! If you crave something sweeter and more easy to travel with, try the Walnut Spice Cookie, a super thick and aromatic cookie made hearty by a generous amount of oats.


Next time I’m going to try the perfectly seasonal sounding Pumpkin Apple Muffin ($3.50). I'm not of the gluten-free variety, but I'm sure friends who are will be glad to know there are many treat options to satisfy, including the Chocolate Cherry Bomb Macaron ($3.75)

Know before you go: The Little Bird Bakery is cash only.

The Little Bird Bakery
182 Avenue B between 11th and 12th st, New York, NY

The East Side Paths

I love running, I love walking, I love strolls. Nothing makes me feel better than fresh air, pretty scenery and music in my ear. I'm lucky because I live super close to the 10th St bridge to get over to the East Side Paths, which have been going through MAJOR reconstruction since I started running along them in 2008. It's absolutely gorgeous and new and paved with parks, tennis courts, baseball and track fields, the works. I have run off many a problem, hangover, worry, fear and Shackburger along the East River. It is particularly nice in the morning on weekdays when few others are around, or at sunset on a weekend when it feels like the entire city is there.