Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Everything Will Be Ok

One of the best things about my new place is that I have a bath again!!! I've bought so much bubble bath that it's safe to say I don't need any for at least six months. Weekdays, especially stressful ones are for long bubble baths. My essentials include turning off the bathroom lights, lit candles, tea tree sheet masks, G Eazy (I'm currently listening to Everything Will Be Ok featuring Kehlani on repeat) music playing in the background and soaking for twenty to thirty minutes. What is your bath time ritual? Do yourself a favor and take a nice long bath tonight, I know I will be! 

Friday, January 27, 2017

Friday Morning

Hey readers! How was your week, hopefully it wasn't too chaotic. Even though mine flew by, it was the best work week of the year. Remember that golden hour I mentioned in Tuesday's post, well whatever the reason, this was my week.  An entire year of programs and events, booked! A presentation I had been stressing over, done and out of the way. A massive weeding that has literally taken a month is finished! I could not feel any better than I am in this moment. Oh, that massive weeding of library material, I  counted roughly 650  items, buh bye books from 1977! I don't know about you guys but I've been working on my work/life balance over the last three weeks and I have to say, I feel really good. On top of the usual workload which is semi under control, I've been working on yet another pretty big and exciting project.  I plan on working over the weekend on this second project  (and attending The Writer's Festival, hello Lauren Groff) I'm also getting excited about my upcoming trip to Paris. There's a week (or two) worth of posts in preparation for the trip :) Have an excellent weekend and see you Monday!




Thursday, January 26, 2017

Take a Class



When it comes to exercising, I'm not exactly the type that likes to be others. I like to plug in my earbuds and go for a walk or hike, I actually prefer swimming laps more than anything else. I've taken a few yoga/pilates classes but everything else I typically do on my own. Not because I'm anti-social, I just prefer being in the zone and focus on my workout. If you're more of a social exerciser or think you'll be more active if you put money into yourself, sign up for dance classes, get a membership to a national park where you can hike and rock climb or join a water aerobics class at the local pool. 

(1,2,3)

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Read Harder

When it comes to reading, I spend way more time on children's literature. Adult and young adult books, not to much. This year I plan on doing two things when it comes to my year long book list. Read more adult material and read harder. And what I mean by reading harder is not picking out the usual pretty cover chick-lit paperback or bestsellers but substantial books. I'm not a sci-fi person and I'm just now starting to get into essays and short stories. Book Riot and the New York Public Library are the best places to find these read harder kind of lists. So I'm hoping to pass along this intention of skirting past the bestsellers and find something that you would not ordinarily pick up. Happy Reading! 

Save

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

31 Day Challnege - Week 4

Five Secrets to Master a Work/Life Balance

1. On making sacrifices. As much as I wish I could do it all, I can't. In reality, it requires prioritizing what's important to you. And what's important to you is completely different than the priorities of others. Figure out the five most important things in your life and master them, don't worry what other people are doing. We all have to make sacrafices.

2. On being in the moment. This may sound redundant but if you're at work, you should be 100% at work and when you are with your friends or family you should be with them and not checking emails or social media. 

3. On being disconnected. Part of my winding down ritual during the week does include scrolling through social media. I try to spend minimal time checking but I leave the weekends for completely unplugging (that is until Sunday evening). Weekends are for reading, getting out, being active and hanging with family and friends. 

4. On hobbies. I may have talked this one into the ground but it's very important to have hobbies. Who wants to live a life just sitting on the couch. Hobbies help us destress from the work week but also helps figure out what we're good at or enjoy. 

5. The Golden Hour. You know that time of day when you're just killing it. Use that time to tackle difficult tasks or work on that big project you've been procrastinating on. 

How do you balance your work/life schedule? 

Monday, January 23, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 how we do sundays...
 recent beauty buys.
watched and participated from the sidelines...
 what is currently on my desk.
feeling more and more like home.

(images via instagram)

Friday, January 20, 2017

Friday Morning

Happy Friday guys, how is everyone? As much as I dislike like talking politics on the blog, I think what everyone really needs is to just turn the television off for the weekend and enjoy just hanging out with family and getting outdoors. Between the rainy weather (which I love because we never get rain!), finding, buying and bringing a dresser home and re-purposing it over the weekend and celebrating my dad's birthday, I'm looking forward to a low-key weekend. What are your plans?




(image)

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Orecchiette with Spring Greens

A year ago I came across an orechhiette recipe that I loved from the cooks behind the magazine, Cooking Light. As I scrolled through all the recipes I've written about in the last seven years, I realized I hadn't included it. It's simple but delicious. So make it for yourself or serve it up for a Sunday night family dinner.

Ingredients:
8 cups (about 9 oz.) packed baby Swiss chard, baby kale or spinach*
1 tbsp. kosher salt
1/2 lb. (8 oz.) orecchiette
6 tbsp. unsalted butter

1 cup walnuts

a handful (about 1/4 cup) of grated Pecorino or Parmigiano
salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Directions: 
Place greens in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes to allow any dirt to settle. Scoop greens from water and place in a large colander to drain. Any water clinging to the leaves is just fine. 

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add the tablespoon of salt and stir in the pasta. 

In a large sauté pan (large enough to fit the pasta and greens) melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter begins turning brown and smelling nutty, turn off the heat.

Meanwhile, in a small sauté pan over medium heat, toast the walnuts until they become lightly browned and fragrant, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, toast the walnuts on a baking sheet at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes—watch closely to prevent burning.) Place the toasted walnuts in a tea towel and rub together to remove papery skin. Transfer walnuts to a sieve and shake again to remove any additional skin. I know this is fussy, but it makes a difference. Set aside.

Boil pasta till al dente. Reserve one half cup of the cooking liquid and set aside—you might not even need this, but it can be nice to have on hand. Drain pasta directly over the colander filled with the greens.
Bring the brown butter back up to temperature over medium or medium-high heat; add the pasta and greens to the pan. Add the walnuts and toss to coat. Grate cheese over top and toss again. Taste. Add more salt (if you have salted the cooking water with the tablespoon of kosher salt, you shouldn’t have to add too much more salt) and pepper to taste. If necessary add some of the pasta cooking liquid to the pan—it’s nice to have reserved pasta cooking liquid on hand if you make this ahead and need to reheat it, but just beware that the cooking liquid is salty. Serve pasta, passing more cheese on the side.

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Enjoy the Night


Quick, Easy and Structured Evening Routine to Enjoy The Night:

1. If it were my choice and my work day ended at five, I'd eat dinner between five and six in the evening. Eat dinner earlier.  Since I'm usually in bed by ten, my body needs time to digest. So make an effort to be finished eating by 8 p.m. That way your body will have two hours to digest and wind down before bedtime. 

2. Tackle your to-do list. I have a to-do list for everything - the day job, this blog, grocery list and the things I need to do around town. By the time I get in bed , that's inevitably when my mind goes into list mode. I keep a notepad, pens and pencils on my nightstand so when I think of something I write it down. I usually can't fall asleep until everything is written down.

3. I'm lucky that my job is located next to the grocery store and places like Target, my Dry Cleaner and the Post Office. Use your lunch for running errands. I like to get my shopping, phone calls and errands done on my lunch so that by the time I get home, I can relax and enjoy my evening without spending an hour and half on shopping or running around town.

(images)



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 although a pain in the butt, she's so cute.
 breakfast of champions...
 almost a complete living room :)
 mini bar.
preparing for the first ever palm springs silent book.
 
(images via instagram)

Saturday, January 14, 2017

this week's favorites...





Take a look inside the New York Public Library's last, secret apartments. There are only thirteen left, they're haunting, historic and a piece of of the city people are forgetting about. 

Friday, January 13, 2017

Friday Morning

Good morning readers! This week went by a little too quickly but I'm certainly glad to be enjoying a three day weekend. The apartment is starting to look and feel more like home and call me a crazy cat lady but I get so excited to see "The Girls" (as my sister and I coined the term for her two cats, Pepper and Minnie) after a long day at work. How are you, how's the beginning of 2017 treating you? There may be a day trip planned this weekend but other than that, I'll just be enjoying my apartment and a new arrival to add to the living room this weekend. Have a good one and see you monday morning. 




Thursday, January 12, 2017

Antiquing With Your Sister



My sister and I just moved into together for the first time since college and as friends, partners in crime and sisters, we are having so much fun decorating our apartment. It's only been a week and half of living in our new place, but it's clear our home is mid-century modern meets casual chic (we can't stop staring and obsessing over our blue velvet couch!). Now despite my sister's distaste for mid-century modern architecture and decor, I can tell she doesn't hate it as much as she used too. And just in case you didn't know, Palm Springs is the capital of everything mid-century and also home to some of the finest antique shops. So one of these weekends we plan on hitting up a few shops to see what's out there. Are you in the middle of a move or in the mood to go antiquing? Grab your sister or a friend and hit the town. 


Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Palm Springs: 3 Spots



Since I enjoy checking out new restaurants and trying new foods, I like to get out and see what's new in my town. And while Palm Springs seems to be all the rage at the moment, here's a list that includes a few of my favorite spots, bars and restaurants I want to try and places I can't stop talking about. Cheeky's has been a popular brunch restaurant for about five years now, every time I go (which has only been a few times) it's at least an hour wait. One of these days, I will go and report back on the experience. Palm Springs Ice Cream and Shoppe is a fairly new ice cream place but it is a favorite!!! Even though I technically in Palm Desert, I will make a special trip to just go and get ice cream from this mid-century modern ice cream shop. Birba is a very hip bar/restaurant. With only outdoor seating it is the place to go during the winter. So next time you come out to the desert, try these new places. Are you one who dines at the same place every time you go out or are you up for something new on the reg. This weekend go someplace you've never been!

(1,2,3)

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

31 Day Chllenge - Week 2



As I've mentioned many times on the blog, when it comes to free time I like to spend it somewhat constructively. I don't need every second planned but without being school, I don't want to waste my time scrolling through my Instagram feed for two hours every evening after work. Besides reading and watching a show, there's still a few hours before I go to sleep. So funding things has become a hobby all on it's own. I've recently gotten back into working on puzzles and when I came across The New Yorker puzzles, I stocked up. So check out your local Barnes &Noble or Amazon and buy yourself a few puzzles to start working on in the evenings.

(images)



Monday, January 9, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

starting to get settled in.
 this mirror though...
 room with a view.
kitchen details...
the perfect sunday morning.
 
(images via instagram)




Saturday, January 7, 2017

this week's favorites...



In 2011, Chicago artist Joseph Baldwin and volunteers decorated an El train with lush plants and more than 400 pieces of sod. The project, Art on Track was aimed to raise awareness about environmental responsibility. 

Friday, January 6, 2017

Friday Morning

Happy New Year!!! What did you and your family end up doing for New Years Eve?  Even though it's been a week since I've moved into the new place, I am really tired. Maybe from all the activities surrounding the holidays, being excited about moving into a new apartment and the physical work of actually boxing and unpacking everything, I've fallen asleep on my lunch almost every day this week. I don't have much planned other than settling in, finishing with the few boxes I have left, browsing furniture for a new dresser, night stands and a kitchen table, dealing with a few quick fixes around the place, reading my newest read and relaxing in the new digs. What are you up too this weekend? Any big plans or just lying low. See you Monday :)





Thursday, January 5, 2017

Day I

It's only a few days into the new year and everyone around me is talking about their resolutions. Since I'm focusing on an intention rather than a list of things I want to fix about myself, I'm happy with my year long goal of regaining strength, and I mean in every sense of the word. So if you're ditching the whole resolution idea, join me in another year of January's 31 Day Challenge. As someone who is constantly trying to lose weight, this always seems to be something I want to change every year. My problem, I always force myself to do something I don't like, like going to the gym. Find another way to reach your goal, if you prefer swimming, going for a walk or playing tennis as your form of exercise, do what you like.

I'm not ready to start hiking the trail next to my apartment complex but I'm down for a brisk walk! Download a podcast and walk for 10,000-13,000 steps a day. It’s the same amount of time you’d spend in the gym, but it’s a method of transportation! When I lived in New York, I never used taxi's or the subway, unless I was in a hurry. I walked everywhere I went and lost twelve pounds in a few months just from walking. And the best part, it's free!

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Knit for a Cause

Of the many reasons why I love Gilmore Girls, there's something so wonderful how the townsfolk of Stars Hallow care about their town so much, they are constantly putting on yard sales, bake sales and knitting to save the town bridge. I know close to nothing when it comes to sewing, which is slightly embarrassing but it's one thing I'd like to try out (post grad school life like trying to find things to fill my time) this year. And since my sister-in-law (and her sister) knit hats for kids, I'm going to at least try to help out. Whether you're a master at knitting or a beginner, why not give back in a fun way. 

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Weekend Wrap Up...

 kitchen details...
 a week of moving and unpacking calls for a bath.
 I so did not mind moving in the rain :)
 must order more sugarfina candies...
finally coming together.

(images via instagram)

Leading Ladies

Five Things to Know About Bernadette Marie: 1. Trained and completed two degrees, an AAS in Communication Design and BFA in Textile S...