Do Not Underestimate the Power of Groupon and LivingSocial

There are more things to do in New York City than there is time in the day, and, in most cases, more money that is in my wallet.  Unfortunately, I've realized that when you live and work in New York City, you gradually neglect to see, or become oblivious to, the "magic" that countless tourists flock to see from all corners of the world.  My indifference became apparent when I saw an advertisement to see Paula Dean speak at a Times Talks event.  I was actually excited to get out and see something.  The ironic part is that I had this sensation as I was dodging traffic while crossing the street looking down at all of the blinding lights from Times Square (my office is located only a couple of blocks away).

Although the talk itself was somewhat different than what I had expected (it focused more on her personal life and struggles rather than a talk about her cooking), the book signing after the talk redeemed my $50 ticket.  As it turns out her body guard (I am assuming that is his responsibility) is named Hollis.  Until that point in time I had never met a male Hollis before (it is, after all, traditionally a boy's name - the masculine version of Holly).  So during the wait in line to have Paula sign my cookbook, decided to introduce myself to Hollis.  It was truly a bizarre experience trying to introduce myself to...myself.  Paula overheard the conversation between the two Hollises, and was curious how I came about my name, and her husband Michael told me that I was the prettiest Hollis they had ever seen (which is not that great of an accomplishment when you consider that I was being compared to a very large and muscular man).  

As a result of this experience, I resolved to be a active tourist in the city on a regular basis.  There really is no excuse.  Take home lesson: one of the best places for super deals to get out and about in your own city is Groupon and/or LivingSocial.  I have used both several times and have always been satisfied with my deals (see also Blue Smoke BBQ for evidence as to how much fun you can have through these discount websites).

The line before the event (and that was 30 minutes early)

The stage - designed by Design Within Reach

Closeup of the stage - no photos were allowed during the presentation

When Life Gives You Lemons...

I am without a doubt an "outside girl".  Consequently, being forced to confine my movements to a bedroom, bathroom, and living/kitchen area in my apartment for two and a half days during the storm was as close as I have ever gotten to experiencing house arrest...and being driven to the brink of insanity.  After dusting, sweeping, and mopping every surface of the apartment, reading every magazine from the past two months that had been compiling dust under my chair, and finishing two books, turned my attention to a project that had remained unfinished for a year: knitting a winter scarf.

One of my favorite trends are chunky knits, particularly the infinity scarves.  Not only is the look versatile and can be worn (with the appropriate complimentary pieces) anywhere from the office to a night out with friends, but is very practical for a girl who, dating a hockey player, spends several hours on weekend in an ice rink.  In general I prefer to make something when I can, instead of buying it in a store.  Unfortunately, in the fashion world, this means that I am limited to scarves (maybe one day I'll attempt a sweater, or a hat). 

Point of the story is that, although my scarf may not have a great name tag, it cost me $5 dollars for the knitting needles and $15 for four bundles of yarn (I dare you to try and find a scarf that matches that price anywhere online).  Living in the city has taught me to be more frugal in different and unexpected ways.  As much fun as it is to walk a way from a store with a new purchase, there is an equally - if not more - satisfying feeling when you step away from a finished handmade piece (granted it may take a lot longer than a sweep of a credit card).

The end result

I sewed the two ends together to make an infinity scarf

Tip: it is much easier (and faster) to knit if you wind the yarn from it's original wrapped package into a ball.

    

Why are Hurricanes Almost Always Named after Women?

A: Because "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." ~ William Congreve

It is with incredible relief and gratitude that I report my apartment miraculously still has power and running water in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.  Looking at the news it is hard to believe that I survived, without any serious problems, the same storm that left a third of the island (every street south of 34th street to be exact) without power.  Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me during this time to see if I need any help. 

Fortunately, through the guidance of my mother, and access to Sam's Club through my boyfriend, was able to properly prepare to weather out the storm (no pun intended).  Once again, Princeton failed to teach me how to properly prepare for an emergency situation so have included a couple of vital survival tips below that I found to be most helpful.  Even though I did not have to use any of these supplies, it was worth the stressful trip out to Route 1 and surviving the crazies behind the wheel in order to have a peace of mind throughout the storm.  Hopefully you will never have to use these tips, but just in case:

An emergency supply set complete with a radio, emergency phone, compass, and flash light (no batteries required)

Fill your bathtub with water to fill the toilet in the event you lose access to running water

Powerful flashlight - it's always important to have candles and matches for a backup if your flashlight dies during a power outage

Bread, peanut butter, and toilet paper - get to the stores EARLY because people will clear the shelves as if preparing for the Armageddon

Buy lots of bottled water.  Also fill up every available water bottle with water before the storm hits

Batteries - most flashlights use AA (rather than AAA) batteries

A funny photo my cousin sent as we were both hunkered down in our own apartments during the storm

Patience is a Virtue

I will be the first to admit that when it comes to being patient, I am a total and utter failure.  It's not that I'm not capable of being patient, it's just that I'd rather not.  As a goal oriented person, nothing makes me happier than seeing results, and am accustomed to getting things down in a matter of days or weeks.  Unfortunately, this has not been the case with furnishing and decorating my apartment.

It took almost a year to fully furnish my apartment (see previous blogs for assembling my desk and bookshelf), and am STILL searching for artwork to adorn the walls.  Several headaches and numerous weekends filled with unsuccessful ventures to obscure stores and flea markets later, am delighted to report that my apartment is close to being finished.  Needless to say it has been a bitter pill to swallow, but have learned that the rewards are much more gratifying if you wait for bargains and that special piece to jump out at you, instead of rushing to buy an assortment of artwork in one weekend which, although covers the wall, doesn't get your blood flowing.

Your home is a sanctuary.  Make sure you treat it as one if you want to feel that way while living in it.

The Beginning

March 2012

April 2012

May 2012

June 2012

August-September 2012

The End (October 2012)

Sometimes the best pieces are the ones that can't be found in an art gallery

'Tis the Season

Nothing gets my blood pumping quite the same way like the woodsy smell of fall leaves mingled with the burning wood from a backyard BBQ, or old fashioned chimney.  Even the festive sights of a toothy grin from a neighbor's jack-o-lantern and a spooky cartoon cardboard skeleton suspended in a window never fails to bring a smile to my face.  The only thing better than free sweets and dressing up, however, is a trip to the apple orchard.  

After a week filled with work chaos and too many angry taxi drivers releasing their emotions through their car horns, desired nothing more than a weekend visit to the country where the chirping crickets and singing birds could replace all the industrial city noises.  I was unsure whether it was too early in the season for apple picking, but convinced Matt to fire up his truck and drive out to Terhune Orchards (http://www.terhuneorchards.com/).  Luck was on my side that day since the orchard happened to be hosting it's opening festival that day complete with mums, hay rides, and hard cider tastings.

My inner five year old was pure joy at the sights of pumpkins, wandering animals, and plethora of apple products.  I couldn't resist indulging and walked away with a half-gallon of apple cider, a couple of tester fresh apples, and an overall haul of 15 pounds of apples (the checkout boy was incredulous that we could pick that much).  What can I say, we got carried away!  Take away lesson for the day: always make the girl with no biceps whatsoever to speak of carry the apple bag instead of the ripped, 200 pound hockey player.  

Pumpkin picking

15 lbs. worth of apples...they really should give smaller bags

The domestic duck

Apples and Peaches (the orchard's puppies)

Flowers in front of the farm (you could pick a bouquet for $0.29)

Trying to decide which apples are worthy of our take-home bag

One of the many apple tree-lined rows

   

Dry Cleaning Woes

Practically beginning the day that I tumbled out of the womb, my mother's rule on clothes was that it could not be something that needed to be ironed or dry cleaned.  In other words, anything and everything cotton was cleared for purchase.  This proved to be perfectly fine until I joined the ranks of the working world of adulthood where every designer has conspired against all that I have ever known about clothes by producing office wear made exclusively of wool, silk, and collared shirts and skirts that ALWAYS and INEVITABLY wrinkle upon the slightest touch.  The price of these items only further worsens the situation since a good suit costs anywhere from $70.00 and up (70 probably being the lowest you would want to go without having some skepticism about the quality).

No matter what time of year, you are bound to sweat on the subway (in the summer either the air conditioning is broken in the subway car, or the heat of all the other bodies is overwhelmingly stifling, and in the winter when they turn on the unbearable heat).  Now I am the kind of person who likes to take care of my belongings, and consequently was unsure as to how to properly wash and care for my work clothes.  Not wanting to pay the exorbitant dry cleaning fees, once again turned to my mother for fashion device.  Her solution was simple: Dryel.

It literally is a lifesaver.  Done from the convenience of your own-home; completely idiot proof (the box tells you everything you need to know); and fast (each load of four items is done within 30 minutes).

Still, I'm holding onto that fleeting hope that one day a designer will come out with a line of office cotton wear.  Until then, I will continue to rely on the wallet-saving capabilities of Dryel.

Tip: I always check the label of a shirt before washing, and use Dryel on anything that says "Hand Wash Only" or anything that would normally be washed as a delicate.

This is the box to be on the look out for whenever you visit Bed, Bath, and Beyond, or (am guessing) your friend local grocery store

  

The Low-Down on Blue Jeans

True confession: there is NOTHING that I despise more in life than shopping for blue jeans.  It's quite the conundrum.  I mean I love shopping (nothing puts me in a better mood than walking away with some shiny new purchase fresh with that just-out-of-the-store scent...I just try to avoid balancing my checkbook and looking at my bank account for the next 24 hours), and similarly love wearing blue jeans.  It's when the two get put together that I cringe.  No more are the days when I could walk into the Gap, find my size, and walk out without even trying them on.  No, no!  Finding a pair of jeans that look great, and make you feel equally great, takes a lot of work.  This is particularly problematic considering that as the temperature is dropping my pants are becoming more and more essentially incorporated to my wardrobe basics.  Fortunately, I've amassed a succinct survivor's guide for other adverse blue jean shoppers.

Step 1: Go to the discount stores like Loehmann's, Marshalls, or T.J. Maxx (believe me, you're getting a great bargain).

Step 2: Try the jeans on with the fitting room.  If you don't like the way they look in the mirror, I promise they will not look any better with the cuter blouse back in your closet.  The deal breaker for me are the pockets, so make sure to do a 360 turn in order to ascertain whether you like the back as much as the front - saggy bottoms are never attractive.  Also, stay away from any bleach streaking in the hip area if you want to avoid a wider look. 

Step 3: Get the jeans tailored.  (A big part of the reason why I hate shopping for jeans is because they are so freaking long).  Until my friend recently taught me otherwise, I thought that fashion designers were playing a sick joke on me when sending out their denim designs...turns out the reality is that they make jeans exclusively for the .00001% of the woman's population who are actually tall enough to wear the pants out of the store.

Step 4: Consequently, (this is where everything comes together) you will need to take the pants to a tailor to be hemmed (make sure to wear them with the shoes you know you will want to wear for a casual day - i.e. don't wear heels if you know you will be wearing the jeans with your converses).  The good news is that you won't feel as bad putting the money down for a tailor thanks to those big savings on the designer jeans from shopping at the discount store. 

I'm currently loving Hudson Jeans

and 7 For All Mankind...yes, I did buy a pair of jeans with rips in them...go ahead and judge me ;)

If at first you don't succeed...

If, hypothetically speaking, none of my previous ideas of escaping the city sound appealing than I've got one more suggestion: go see a movie.  Granted prices for moviegoers have gone up substantially (especially now that the cashiers skeptically eye me when I claim to be a youth, but it does still work occasionally), nothing beats munching on salty movie popcorn while sipping on a slurpie and losing yourself in the cinematic action.  If you crave something more check out a drive-in theater, which (to this day) is one of my favorite parts about going home.  Otherwise check your local papers for special events, for instance I was able to catch Dirty Harry in Bryant Park, which was a really fun atmosphere - just make sure to get there early in order to get a good seat and bring a blanket!

Dirty Harry at Bryant Park - part of the HBO Summer Series

Let's Have a Ball!

Okay so in the event you don't have a car, or don't have the time to drive out of town, you may feel trapped and helpless in your mission to escape the craziness of the city.  Never fear!  The answer is surprisingly simple: baseball. Nowhere else, at least that I can think of, is it acceptable - albeit practically expected - that the main spectacle will be secondary to socializing, drinking, eating, and yes, even napping (just be forewarned that you do so at the risk of being nailed by a foul ball or, equally possible, a loose bat).  The best part is that it lasts for HOURS, and provides a pleasantly unexpected outlet for breaking up the banalities of the weekly schedule.  Even the players themselves partake in the festivities if you watch the dugout closely enough!  Overall, nothing beats the ambiance of a baseball stadium - and this is coming from a girl who isn't an avid baseball fan.  

Most stadiums that I've visited have been within short distance or some form of public transportation.  If, however, sports are not your thing, then I highly recommend passing the day lost in your own internal dialogue at a museum (the only place where you can go without talking for hours, and no one will inquire if something is wrong).

Case in point: I was able to go to a Mets game back in June.

Mr. Met signing autographs for the fans

Baseball is a great time for catching up or ,contrastingly, simply relaxing

Bonus: you might even get to witness some unusual sights

Relaxation in the City: Challenging (Yes), Impossible (Almost)

Over the past year and a half, have found one of the biggest challenges to be learning how to relax.  I mean this is New York City.  There is ALWAYS something to do, and always feel a twinge of guilt if I decide to curl up in my bed after a long day of work when really I should be out exploring all the innumerable culinary options, or at the very least plopping myself down on a bench with a cup of coffee from some hipster store and people watch.  Unfortunately, have learned that despite my best intentions to prove to the contrary, am not the energizer bunny powered by an unlimited reserve battery life.  So the looming question remained for a significant amount of time how to relax when you are living in the center of the financial (and arguably cultural) center of the world?  The answer: get out of town, go someplace quiet.

Fortunately, my boyfriend is still a student at Princeton and am able to fairly regularly pop on down to visit him on the weekends.  One day, however, we decided to be tourists in Philly for a day.  On a side note - I was resolute in eating my first cheese steak in Philly (it was so close it seemed absurd to not take advantage of the proximity).  Not surprisingly after four years of being trapped in the C-level of Firestone flew by, still had yet to taste one of these raved about treats.  It was one of the best things we ever did, and felt like a little kid again full of intrigue and excitement while exploring the various shops in the Antique District and staring with awe at all of the historic sites.

Moral of the story: part of living a healthy and balanced life entails making relaxation a priority.  Regardless of whether you live in the slowest backwoods country town or New York City, sometimes the best way to find that change of pace is to hop in the car (or potentially jump on a train or bus) and drive.  Philly was only 45 minutes away, and spent just a little above $100 between the two of us when considering gas, tolls, parking, and food.  And the best part...I finally got my Philly cheese steak.  The only problem with my master plan is that because I had set the bar so high, had no baseline with which to compare my cheese steak and am unsure whether I was truly able to savor the moment.  Then again it's bread, cheese, and meat - not sure how much there is to savor.

Beautifully displayed candies - I ended up caving into the peanut brittle

Front view of Independence Hall

Back view of Independence Hall

There's two competing steak houses that sit facing each other on opposite sides of the street-this one had the shorter line

I thought this day would never come

The sweet taste of victory

Some food for thought...

courtesy of the owner, Joey Vento