Obsession Song of the Week: Week Twelve

Sorry, I've been so busy with my own and a friend's music this week that I almost forgot about Song of the Week!!

To put a little dancin' in your morning....



Jump and jive on this one. I won't tell you that I didn't rock it out to this in my room, because that would be a lie. It was featured on Dancing With the Stars a while back and then last night on So You Think You Can Dance. Not that I ever watch those shows....

Also something I discovered from So You Think You Can Dance:

The Revels -Comanche. Amazzzzzing song and incredible choreography (1930's = incredible in so many ways) from So You Think You Can Dance. Check this out, it's amazing!!

If you are a Jehovah's Witness, you probably shouldn't read this post

In this city, it is rare for anything to perplex or surprise us. NY makes its residents jaded to the bizarre, insane, and the seemingly unreal. My roommate has gone to work to find camels outside her office, my friend (Shruts) has gotten unexpectedly (and quite unwelcome-ly) kissed on the cheek by a homeless man and kicked in the knees on the street, and I, well I've written about and will continue to relay many a funny story in this blog.

I have a vague perplexing memory from last year, in which I witnessed a mass of people dressed in full Santa suit from the window of my cab. This did make me do a double take, but I assumed that it was some kind of Mall Santa convention, as these things do exist. Moment over, wonder gone, and on to another bizarre encounter of the day.

The thought didn't cross my mind again until this year, when I continually saw a friend's Facebook status posts (hey Lindsey! It's been a while, but yes, I have kept up with your life via this pathetic method :) ) regarding her excitement for "SantaCon" and her purchase of her Santa suit. My first thought: "Lindsey is a mall Santa?! WHAT!? OMG that's amazing and hysterical and awesome and...!"

Then, I finally came to understand the phenomenon that is SantaCon. Somehow, and so sadly, I missed this amazing event in the five years that I have lived in this city. It is a convention, (but more of a bar crawl) but a "non-religious and not-for-profit" convention of Santas and "Santa minions," which apparently occurs in NY and some other lucky major cities. It also occurs in Hoboken, as my new best friend informed me that he had begun his day at 10 am in Hoboken, moved to Brooklyn, and I met him in Manhattan.

I stopped by the event on Saturday and was amazed and delighted at what I experienced. My God, I love that this exists and cannot WAIT for next year's event. From the full-suited Kermit-as-Santa to the full-suited reindeer, to Christmas sweaters and the full-suited Grinch, to about 7 gazillion full-suited Santas, this was incredible. And! a great cause (people are supposed to bring one or two perishable food items!) And! a great excuse to drink during the day. If you like that sort of thing. A more grown up holiday dress-up day just like we used to have in kindergarten, plus booze.

I wish I could say that I got as dressed up as I would have liked to, but sadly I had to work that day and I couldn't find my Santa hat or Liv's antlers as I dashed out the door!!! I'm already planning my outfit for next year, though, so DON'T YOU WORRY and you know I will go ALL OUT. My grandma offered me both a sequined Santa hat and a Santa hat with attached beard. Guess which I'll be wearing...

Simply Magical

I had the amazing opportunity to see the Nutcracker the other night with two of my favorite people in this city!!

Simply magical.

I saw the show when I was eight, but no matter how old you are, it never loses its magic. One of these two favorite individuals happened to be my five year old best friend. Since I am still a five year old little girl at heart, we're "besties."

It reminded me of the time my 23 year old "bestie" and I went to see the Little Mermaid, and I made myself view the musical through five year old little girl's eyes so I wouldn't critique any aspect of the production. Both are truly incredible shows.

We got to go backstage (!!!!!) and see the reality behind the magic, which was a DREAM!!! We saw the ballerinas up close and met Dew Drop and the Sugar Plum Fairy!!! The show was beautiful and it was the BEST Christmas in NY night.

Thanks Aislinn!!! :)

Holiday Parties, Carols, and Holiday Recipes!

Let's be honest. Most nights I stay in and watch my favorite television shows with friends. Monday tends to be Gossip Girl with the girls, Tuesday you can find my roommate and I unabashedly loving 90210, and Wednesdays are Glee with a smattering of fun people. I don't want to bore anyone, so here is an unusual event and highlight from this week:

Cody's Holiday Party!!

When it's winter in NY, it takes a lot to venture off of my couch and so much more to get me 200 blocks uptown to Inwood. I knew that the trip would be worth it, however, because the attendees would be among my favorites (they were) and this party would fulfill a lifelong DREAM of sitting around a piano singing Christmas carols. (IT DID).

IT WAS AMAZING and I felt like Judy Garland. With a glass of mulled cider in hand, we literally sat around Cody's piano and called out any carol we could muster and fervently desired to sing. Some died down after a few seconds once we all realized and defeatedly admitted that we didn't know the words to nearly enough Christmas carols, while others lasted for several satisfying verses (Baby it's Cold Outside- phenomenal party moment), thanks to Cody's delightful preparation of lyric sheets. (You're amazing). Night full of movie moments. Cody, an amazing pianist and composer, astounded me with his ability to play anything by ear, embellish, and improvise. I wish that I could do this. Thank you for this party, Cody.



And for that pie, Laur...

This party, in addition to holiday spirited mulled cider, featured an incredible pie from Momofuku that I am so psyched to attempt to recreate for my family over the holiday. Recipe below. Too good for blogging words, but let's just say I needed to pry myself away from the buffet table and use ALL of my willpower not to devour more than just a sliver.

My Jewish roommate and best friend: "Doesn't your family sing Christmas carols together every Christmas?" Oh, redhead how I love you and your Christmas movie skewed perception of how Christmas observing Americans celebrate the holidays.

I wish!!! Does anyone really do this?! Please let me know if your family does, because I will come over. Other than Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Regis and all of their friends? Maybe I should join a different family! (SO KIDDING. God, I love my family) Maybe I should institute this. We do listen to them a la CD and, luckily, they know better than to try to get me to sing.

I will be attempting this over the holidays and perhaps my signature peanut butter ball as well! I suggest you do the same :)

From David Chang's Momofuku Milk Bar

Crack Pie (Also known to some as a variation on the infamous Southern Chess Pie, but I think Crack Pie is all too appropriate a title for how addictive this pie is!! It's very rich, so can be considered "too rich" for some, but that just means that you'll get your roommate's piece.

Crack Pie

Makes two 10-inch pies
• FOR THE OAT COOKIE
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup light-brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• FOR THE CRUST
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon light-brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• FOR THE FILLING
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light-brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons milk powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 8 large egg yolks
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Directions
1. Make the oat cookie: Preheat oven to 350 degrees; line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all oat cookie ingredients until well combined. Spread cookie mixture in an even layer on prepared baking sheet. Transfer to oven and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly on a wire rack.
3. Make the crust: Using your hands, crumble oat cookie into a large bowl. Add butter, brown sugar, and salt; using your hands, toss until crumbly and well combined.
4. Divide mixture evenly between two 10-inch pie plates; pat into bottom and up sides. Set aside.
5. Make the filling: Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, salt, and milk powder, breaking up any lumps. Whisk in butter, heavy cream, and vanilla until well combined. Whisk in yolks until just combined.
6. Pour filling into prepared pie crusts. Transfer pies to oven and bake until filling is set, about 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 315 degrees and continue baking until top of pie is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. Transfer to refrigerator and refrigerate until cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Hilarious Twilight Spoof

http://www.cracked.com/article/230_if-new-moon-was-10-times-shorter-100-times-more-honest/

Read this if you love Twilight, or if you hate it. Either way, it's hysterical. I'm not a hater (obviously... do you know me at all?)

Voyeurism... again

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/weirdo_window_watch_kXr7XBMFcvVlz8tAX3TMmN

I kind of want to go see the exhibit and make sure I'm not in there doing anything embarrassing...

...remember when I told you about the tour bus yelling funny things to me while I got ready to go out? It's possible...

A friend of mine recently looked out his window to see someone photographing him (I wonder if it was this artist) and was neither surprised nor creeped out by this. I was, for him. He was fully dressed and just going about his business, so reasoned that it's just natural Manhattan voyeurism, nothing unusual or worthy of getting alarmed over, but I still find it invasive and unnerving. He seemed to think that people do this all the time. If I looked out my window and saw someone taking a photograph of me, even if just putting on a sock fully dressed or some quotidian activity, I would be completely appalled, enraged, and freaked out!!

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Eleven

Sweet Caroline, originally by the incredible vocal styles of Neil Diamond

As if you didn't already know that this was a great song.

...As if you didn't already know that Glee was a great show!!




I LOVE this guy's voice. Every cover song this cast does ends up being phenomenal! Check them out

Giddy Over My Music!!!

Obsession song of the week this week is literally my own. I am eccccccstatic over this. Alex and I had the most amazing song session on Friday and I am still giddy over it. We both had such a surge of energy together and felt like we needed a cigarette after it (ha).

We were just ON A ROLL and he helped me so incredibly much with this song that I have been struggling with the chorus melody of for WEEKs because I hadn't seen him in that long and then we worked together, and he helped me piece together what I wanted in an incredible way, and I have had my own song in my head and rocked out to it for the past few days!!!!!!

This will be blasted in clubs across the country and the anthem for a certain amazing demographic and their friends. I am so ridiculously excited and it all cannot happen soon enough!!!

So many people have been asking me when my EP will drop, and the date is not yet determined, as I am a perfectionist and do NOT want to rush it. This is my baby people. Would you expect a baby in under 9 months? You would not. It would not be fully formed and would have webbed feet. It's only been a few months. A few more to go... And I am LOVing every step along the way :)

I WILL, however, be performing live before then, and will absolutely let everyone know when and where!!!!

XX,

me

Deeeelightful

Was anyone else so surprised and delighted to see the new chocolate Pinkberry?!!?

It's been a while, so maybe I'm slow on the uptake with this one, but I went last night with Liv for the first time in a while, and as someone who used to go nearly every day... WHA!?

Amazing and delightful and made our night. That plus raspberries?! I don't know when they introduced it, but I hope it stays :)

Also, fun coupon that will have us going back sometime this week!

http://www.pinkberry.com/newsletter/Pinkberry_Nov_Newsletter_Coupon.html?utm_source=Pinkberry+Groupies&utm_campaign=571fa83bc1-PBR0103_039_Web_Newsletter_Nov&utm_medium=email

Also, FINALLY tried Tomoe (172 Thompson St. between Bleeker and Houston) for myself last night and boy, was the redhead right. Amazing, fresh, filled to the gills sushi. Brown rice tuna avo roll. I want it again today!!

...Off to Crunch to work it all off :)

Love,

Me

Veggie Tales

Update on my Health Kick:

As some of you know, I've been making a huge effort to get healthy and in better shape. I was never in bad shape, and have always had a love for exercising, but haven't ever consciously watched what I ate. I have an album in the works, and I wanted to do this for myself and for my music.

Thanksgiving can be tough, but if with every bite you find yourself thinking of how much harder that run will be the next morning (or dance class, or whatever), you find yourself following the traditional guidelines of half a plate of veggies, quarter of protein, etc, and saving that shockingly caloric cranberry sauce for your dessert. You can find a love of exercise, you really can! As someone who used to LOATHE running, dread it, abhor it, think it the worst thing on earth, and who now loves it, looks forward to it, and moves things around in her schedule for it, I know firsthand just how much you can find an exercise that you love or find a love of exercise through great, GREAT music.

Also, this may help anyone like me, who is of a perhaps fortunate generation that was highly conscious of how fortunate you were. Who oddly feel themselves compelled to finish things- like plates of food, because there are children without green beans somewhere and you are so blessed to have them in front of you. For some individuals, I find that this creates an odd compulsion to finish everything- tasks as simple as putting on makeup, that email, whatever you set your mind to. Once you start something, you desire to see it through. Even if its that leftover pizza.

So! If you make this personality trait an asset instead of a hindrance to health, your health fix or life revamping can start right at the grocery store! With that first purchase of that big bag o' spinach, you will hear your mom's words and feel so guilty if it spoils in your fridge, that you may find yourself either compelled to eat it, or getting creative - ie making spinach concoctions.

My favorite as of late: spinach and just a few tablespoons of salsa. It tasted so good that I found myself desiring seconds ! I never thought that I would see myself needing to make seconds of spinach, so really, if this all seems highly unlikely for you, I definitely understand and sympathize and encourage you to try and embrace a healthy lifestyle all the same!

Gosh I sound like my fitness coach... ! :)

I heart the NY Knicks

I'm still living off of the incredible high of my first time ever at MSG the other night!!

I got to catch the Knicks v. Suns game and am smitten with the entire experience!! The energy in that place was phenomenal as was my company! (So happy for a certain sports-loving guy in my life!! Love to Michael, my delightful British, responsible for the delectable fro yo of Eskimix bestie)!!!

I don't know how I had never been to Madison Square Garden before?! I've been living in this NY for five years, and was fortunate enough to semi grow up here, (Long lovely story) yet somehow no concert or sporting event had ever led me to those stands.

I hadn't been keeping up with the NBA as much as I have in the past, so hadn't known that Nash et co would give us that big of a fight until one of my students (I tutor, did I mention that?) warned me that the Suns were having a heck of a season. I feared a downer game.

BUT!!

Gallinari's string of three pointers led us to victory and the end of a painful losing streak!!!!

Danilo Gallinari, if you're reading this: I thought it impossible to love you any more, but 27 pts to victory and boy do I. I become such a teeny bopper over this guy. One pro sports crush and suddenly I'm that same 14 year old with the O Town posters (what...?! Yeah.). Let's speak Italian together and make Italian babies. Think I'm kidding...? Yeah... no.


Nate Robinson, my other love (he's an astounding player and only 5'9!!), did not play nearly enough. It would have been so incredible to see him play (and that jump shot!!) "in person" that I need to go back, and soon. Luckily, Gallinari's amazing game nearly made up for that.

I heart clothing as modern art

http://www.barneys.com/Sale/SALE04,default,sc.html

If your holiday wish list isn't long enough... fun to browse and an increddddible sale

Bronze Lanvin flats and the MJ tape dress for me... in case anyone's asking ;)

I'm constantly searching for great plain fitted, maybe cottton?, long sleeve dresses in great colors. This seems so oddly impossible to find. If anyone has any great designer/brand shout outs, let me know!

Marc Jacobs' homage to Dean Quigs?!?!

Apparently MJ has as much love for our old CC dean as Columbia alums did...

The Marc by Marc "Quigley" Sweater Jacket at Nordstrom.
I could see him sporting this, wherever he is right now.

We all know that I have my Yule Log ceremony outfit all picked out ;)

I find these things NY normal...

Here are two things that my friends find "NY odd" and I find "NY normal." Be your own judge. (Of me. Apparently, this is my open invitation for judgment. I'm writing a blog. That invites judgment. Who knew?!)

If I am freezing in mass transit, and I usually am under-dressed or poorly prepared, I will purposely sit between two normal looking people, and cuddle. Just subtly enough, so they will never notice, but it makes me warmer and just a little happier.

If you have a dog in NY, I have probably petted it. On the street. When you were not looking. Fluffy dog walking by, I put out my hand just to get a pat and to make my day. Or hour, because this happens a lot.

Call me crazy.

Weird! Crazy? Maybe, baby ;)

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Ten

I have been trying to remember this song for MONTHS. Seriously, it would be played somewhere, I would love it, and then it would be gone and I would find myself unable to remember the melody or lyrics or anything at all about it. I vaguely recalled it being about sisters? My sisters? My sistahs? No clue. On Halloween this year I heard it being spun by a DJ (Was it DJ Tanner? I so hope so. Best DJ name ever, hands down.), grabbed my nearest friend's hand (Not just the nearest... LOVE you Elias :) ), and headed to the dance floor. One of the best dance parties in a long time.

Yet the not so ingenious idea didn't occur to me to "write" it down in my Blackberry. I thought that my memory for songs was better than it was, and I awoke the next morning with that feeling again.



Then this past weekend after spending some amazing girl time with my mom and grandma, I had an intense craving to watch "Because I Said So." Yep. That's right. A Mandy Moore/Diane Keaton movie. Guess what, I love it and it's great, and I will never pee on your leg and tell you it's raining, aka that I don't love chick flicks, because I do. Though I am going to the Knicks game tomorrow night and so freakishly psyched.

...And there was the song. Shocking context, but yes, it's true. And if you don't love chick flicks, give the song a chance regardless. Specifically once it hella picks up the beat around 1 min.

Post Turkey Pump Up Workout Suggestions

Ate a little bit too much cranberry sauce or apple pie? I had the best post-Turkey Day run thanks (harhar) to these songs. I either start out with some of these or leave them until the end when I am seriously in need of some inspiration, and they completely revive me:

When I Grow Up (The Pussycat Dolls)

The Anthem (Pitbull feat. Lil Jon)

Krazy (Pitbull feat. Lil Jon)

Move, Shake, Drop (Also Pitbull. Okay, okay! Apparently I love Pitbull. This should surprise no one.)

Vertigo - U2

Love Today and Grace Kelly- Mika

Let It Rock- Kevin Rudolf

Happy Belated Thanksgiving... Jax's Newest Accomplishments

... or maybe just "My favorite moments of Thanksgiving."

This post is more for my family than anything else. :)

Jax's new things: Hiding. He would continually crawl and try to stand under the bar/counter where we have stools in the kitchen, after which we would whisk him away, for fear of him slipping and hitting his head on one of the stools. My parents eventually found that he was going under there and giggling... he then peaks his little face out and plays peak a boo!!! CUTEst ever. He did it completely on his own and loves it and it is the cutest. Also, when he sees his yogurt coming at him or gets the first bite of something great, he closes his eyes to savor it, as if in yogurt ecstasy. CUTEst. Also! He will dance if on his knees and music comes on (for instance to the sounds of Andrea Bocelli- ha! Amazing) or I start to clap. He'll bob up and down on his knees. Also! He'll do this shimmy backwards on his knees and push/slide himself backwards like he's reverse parking a car. The car being him. I taught him to high five this week and he is walking so much more!!! It makes him seem so much older. I only kind of like that... :)

Cute moments with my grandparents: When my grandpa was reading to him, Jax kept looking back and up at his face and then proceeded to grab his face, or when he kept saying ahhh and my grandpa responded with ahhh and they were conversing, and when we all took him to see Santa- sat him on his lap, noticed he was chewing on his lip, and proceeded to burst into tears!!! Hilarious to us/sad for him. (Last year he peed through his outfit right before going on Santa's lap). Apparently this morning he said "bye" to my grandma as she was leaving. I missed it :(

Proudest moment: There was one day when both of my parents got really sick and I ended up taking care of him for the greater part of the day. When he became afraid of something or a few times just because, he crawled up onto my lap for a hug and to cuddle. Warmed my heart more than anything else ever has in my life. I've only ever seen him do that to my mom! We do look and sound alike... ;)

Can you tell that I'm on my way home? :) Best week ever.

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Ten

Maybe you'll be as obsessed with the new Alicia Keys song as my baby brother and I are....

We had Clifford on and I was holding Jax in my arms, he started watching this video and his attention was completely and entirely diverted. Three times around. I then tested him with Elmo and Elmo won over Alicia, but Alicia over Clifford to a 13 month year old? Impressive.

At one point, Jax laid his head against me like "ahhh, she gets me right here." (Points to heart)

LOVE this title

"Chasing Pirates" by Norah Jones.

I might be a little late in discovering this, but as someone with a grandpa who regularly drinks rum and coke and has an entire room in his house (my old bedroom...yep.) devoted to pirates, I love this song!!! Discovered it on the Starbucks TV screen (love that this exists and can't wait to see a track of my own on there!!!), and am hooked. Haven't listened to it to know if I'm obsessed with it just yet, but you know I'll let you know if so ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTxythHY09k



Two more that I've decided go well with this...

LOVING the new Michael Buble album. Favorite so far... (I'm done obeying French accents. Studied and love the language, but don't know how to type an accent aigu on my Mac.)



Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr, Frank (obviously), and Norbert Leo Butz... I would make love to any of their voices in a second.

And a classic in a different sense, from my childhood and lovingly featured on Glee this week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Des5dWqikMk



Love, love, LOVE.

Woah face

A very different "Lady Gaga" from the one we know. In fact, not "Lady Gaga" at all... I think it's more interesting to see where people came from than where they are currently in the public eye. And then I found myself thinking, "Wow. She has (had?) great hair." Ha :)

I first thought that she sounded shockingly different from her current sound and very Nora Jones-esque!, which was reinforced by the end judge's (? I don't know who they are) comment. It's amazing what a great producer and some timely dance beats will do...

And then I think, wait, if she once looked and sounded more like me than I realized, could that mean that that might be where I'm headed...!??! It's weird and interesting to me that her path and mine seem to cross in a few ways from varying people in the industry that we have worked with...



A year later....



So incredible to witness the transformation. Yay to technology and our information day and age. Plus, I lovvve this venue.

I've been trying to figure out what dance beats I need or what beats or.... ??? It's so tough to know where I'm at, where I fit in with beats and genres and stuff. All I really know is my voice. And my lyrics. I had a huge (and so ridiculously helpful, thank you thank you Elias!!!!) talk with a dear friend of mine on a long subway ride home one night, and he assured me that this can only help me out. I certainly hope so... :) Leaving it up to my producer, but making sure I'm personally obsessed with every element. Dance beats? R&B? Strings? (YES). Time will tell... Alex thank God I'm seeing you tomorrrrooowwww!!!



.....And then a little while later, I found this. I'm done, I'm done, I swear!! I just found it amusing. I'm done.

You know those times...

You suddenly realize while doing dishes that that guy who took you on that rock star date was probably a prince and just not telling you...?

...The one your always reliable, always delightfully frank straight guy friend informed you that you probably came off as not being interested in, because you replied that to his post-date text?

...Yeah. Me too.

*You may think this is a cliché image, but this is actually the -Caley was looking for a cliché image and found this and couldnt stop giggling with giddy girlish delight -image. So take another look and delight in it with me, please. Just look at how happy this guy is in his frog costume.

Oh, life. Ohhhh, NY. At least every heel of hand to head experience makes a killer song hook, right? Just keep telling me that :)

This is why I can't listen to my ipod in public

There is a guy across the aisle from me rocking it out. Hard. Air guitar, lead vocals, et al. As much as I constantly have music playing in my head, currently Ella's version of "I've Got a Crush On You," and would love to fully focus on it, until this becomes publicly acceptable, I cannot. I would be shimmying and shaking and singing along with too many songs. Although I am currently thinking he's a wee bit insane, I actually admire him for it. (Is that weird...?) Dude has no shame. He feels like unabashedly reveling in his inspirations' creations, and he is. He seems so happy, you can't help but appreciate that joy for life and music. He's like a five year old. No shame, no qualms, just singing aloud in public. Sometimes music is just meant to be enjoyed. Who can blame him? I guess... I am socially inhibited, but apparently prefer being this way. I cannot focus on "radio Caley," or else I will start to sing. I will not. I will not.

Speaking of awesome little kids... I love my little brother. Maybe too much. It has become so painful to leave DC for NY that it took me an extra two days this time. I shouldn't feel badly for this, though, because in the end, family is the most important thing right? He is the sweetest, cutest, most loving little thing in the entire world and I have never loved anything in life as much as I love him. His new accomplishments (no quotations): pointing his index fingers, sometimes putting the tips of them together and staring at them, clapping (!!!), prolonged ahs and ehs and experimenting with d's and t's and what seem to be extended th's, and the other day he kept putting his giraffe wash cloth/tiny blanket over his face and excitedly kicking his legs while it remained there in anticipation of my noticing him in order to play peek a boo. His excited smile and guttural laugh and squeaks when he's excited or when we tickle him are the best sounds I have ever heard on this earth. How will I feel when I have my own children, because I cannot imagine loving anything more? I miss him already too much to write this and need to stop before I cry... again.



XOXO,
me

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Nine

I'm such a girl. My mom and I caught "Definitely, Maybe" on HBO this weekend, and of course, were completely unable to change the channel, despite many a protest from my dad. God, I love this movie. And this song. I had forgotten how much.



Ella, ella, ella. The Stacey Kent version is great too. Great voice.



So many great versions of this song. We often play the game "If you could remake one song on your album, okay maybe two... oh but this one's so good...!" And this is obviously a contender. If I could someday remake this and do a semi-classic homage with a modern twist in some amazing way... mmm.

Sometimes I wish I was Norah Jones. She could get away with any of this. Or Michael Bublé, but not as much. There is a market for this sound, but I have no idea how to get into it. I feel like it would be more difficult than the music I write... Maybe once already established. Reach ears that normally wouldn't go for that type of sound. Jay Z and Alicia Keys just made "Empire" state of mind... but then the originals are always better...

Sorry I've been so MIA!!

It's been a purposefully crazy week in order to get my mind off of how much I miss Jax and want to go home to see him!!! Unbearable, but yay for lots of planned and spontaneous work (tutoring mostly, with voiceover dashed in here and there) to take my mind off of it. I warn you, I get boring in the winter, because once I get home, it's so cold that I stay home, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear my can't miss weekly TV schedule. You don't...? Whaaaa? Weird.

I will say this- Watch Glee. Do it. It will make you so happy and make you like songs that you never thought you liked at all before. Like Rihanna's "Take a Bow." As if I didn't already want to trade lives with Lea Michele...

Cool thing: My vocal coach wasn't able to schedule a lesson with me a few weeks ago, because he had to work with Mick Jagger.

Also: I can't tell you what voice over jobs I get anymore, because I forgot about the whole confidentiality clause in my contract... Doodoodooo.... :) Let's just say it's been a fun and happy few weeks! The best was when my mom was visiting and she got to come to the studio that I've been telling her about and so jazzed about for months! She was my good luck charm :)

Bahhh I'm so excited to go home!!! It sounds like Jax has chanegd so much in three weeks!! Apparently now he's clapping his hands, almost walking, seems to have said nonono the other day, and last night fell asleep with the monkey I gave him for his birthday in his arms!! My mom and I are dying for him to get attached to something so keep putting things in his crib with him, and apparently it finally worked!! And he also apparently somehow removed his diaper by himself the other day. My mom walked in to find completely naked in the crib. Hahaha

Hours away from being with my fam!!!

The things we do for our craft...

I'm being facetious. I promise. I loathe those shirts, although that was a phrase uttered one too many times by me in the past. What I am referring to is the fact that I am trying to give myself awful skin for a casting tomorrow. Sick? Yes. At least this is difficult for me...? Sleeping with suffocated skin and inwardly cringing all night... I'm weird.

I Am Smitten

How in the world had I never been to the Cloisters before? No really, someone please explain this to me. I do not know how I have lived in this city for five years without experiencing this absolutely stunning museum. And I was an Art History major!! I think a paper topic along the way might have given a work within the Cloisters as a possible topic, but I chose a piece in the Met... The Frick might have just gotten replaced as my favorite museum locale...

Stunning.
As soon as I stepped off of the A train and found myself in an entrancing Eden-like garden overlooking the Hudson, I was mesmerized by the entire experience. I guess give me a cliff and a body of water and I'm smitten and reminiscing over Marin views, but seriously how do people not rave about this more?! You find yourself forgetting that you are even in Manhattan, which can be a much needed excursion and return to natural beauty. Especially on this beautiful fall day and after the museum closed, for the sunset on the water is as always my weakness. And the way the fall foliage set it off!! Amazing!!!

I was also wowed by the way the Cloisters incorporates architectural fragments into the framework of the museum space itself (built in 1938 in neo-medieval architecture), making me question what was modern neo-medieval and what was actually authentic Gothic and Romanesque art and architectural fragments. Even architectural elements as massive as church apses (12 century!) were combined within the building's design, blending in impressively and hauntingly with the modern structure. Such an impressive way to display this collection.

Such an incredible day!!, which was topped off by the company of two of my favorites and some feisty rounds of Scattergories to follow. That's all for now :)

Scrumptious City Sushi

...Okay so maybe I will still write about great restaurants.

Sushi Mambo- This is the place on Bleeker between 6th and 7th Avenues with a facade that looks like it belongs not in NY, but in Japan. If that wasn't reason enough to wander in, it's one of the few incredible places where I am able to find my obsession sushi- anything that has the option of brown rice and some kind of fruit. "Big Apple" roll has apples, another includes pineapples, and if you are like me, this is delicious. I know, I know, it's not authentic, but man is it good.

Citrus- Amsterdam btwn 75th/76th - Also incredible Sushi, although not typically known for it. Also includes fruit if you want/like. Spectacular. (This was also one of my favorite restaurants in the city for years and has incredible, fruit infused -try raspberry and pomegranate!- mojitos, and an amazing grilled chicken "margarita" salad. ...And actually great spaghetti with turkey meatballs. ...I should go there tomorrow night...)

Tomo-Thompson Near Houston. There is pretty much always a line, but it's worth it. Says my roommate, for I haven't yet braved the line or ordered in (ha, still here because everyone raves about it and I'm dying to finally try)

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Eight

I'm embarrassed to admit what displaced the Muse winner. I used to idolize this artist in second grade, then she changed her image to something a little more... well you know. But I have to admit, once I heard this song it stuck with me for too long and I found myself wanting to hear it more than I wanted to be anti-her. And no matter what you think of her ego, clothes, and image, she remains a legend and an inspiring vocalist.

Mariah.
"Why You So Obsessed With Me" (Which is one of the greatest hooks ever)



Real, not able to be embedded video here, with the better Mean Girls referencing intro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hpiwPXkbVc

Due to the reluctance in admitting that, I'll post what already trumped her this week for me: Beyonce's Sweet Dreams. Alex introduced me to this (Thanks! Can't wait to work next week, it's been too long!!) in order to show me an example of the faster vibrato I should aim for, and I'm a wee bit obsessed :)

Real Youtube video (Embedding disabled): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGV2_8Yqg4

Love the choreography as well. It's no single ladies, but this girl rules all the same. Catchy and the beat almost has a thriller feel to it... intentional?

Live puppies, baseball players, and flaming potholders

What ever happened to the live puppy feed? The internet needs another one. As do I. It used to be right here!!! http://cdn1.ustream.tv/swf/4/viewer.45.swf?cid=317016

I googled and found this

http://www.ustream.tv/SFShiba

Which taunted me by nearly working, but apparently no other live puppy feeds exist? Someone get on this. I miss my dogs and can't go home this weekend anymore because of this silly sickness! Really, I just want my parents to get a web cam.

I'm also sorry to have missed the ticker tape parade (apparently ticker tape parades originated with the dedication of the Statue of Liberty in 1886!! Just learned that... cool), but news casts showed that it looked fun and what a beautiful day for it (aside from the chilly temp, it's a beautiful Fall day)!! I'm bummed that baseball season is over, but now I can focus on the Knicks!! I also just booked my trip to LA and tickets to the Lakers v. Magic game!!! So stoked to be back in Cali, especially in January to escape what everyone warns will be a brutal NY winter.

Cool site for health nuts: www.FitDay.com. I'm on a health kick for the next few months, so won't be reporting of dining out as much as I used to, might report on my cooking mishaps, of which there are many. The other day I tried to recreate Mario Batali's "Caccio E Pepe" - amazing recipe from Lupa (clearly not part of the health kick, just for fun)- and failed. Hard. The olive oil started sputtering at me and I lit a potholder on fire. It doesn't help that our apartment's stove is crooked and when I put a pot of olive oil on the stove, it all flows to one side. This makes cooking exceedingly difficult, but I am learning to overcome it! Oh NY apartments...

Um...

Did anyone else realize that Gerald Butler was the Phantom?!?!!?!?

Watching old SNL's on Tivo tonight with friends... SHOCKED.

The Yankees win!! The Yankees win!!! The YANKEES win!!!!

Last night was incredible!!!!! SO many of the games this season have been incredible and I could not be more proud to be a Yankees fan and a NYer every step of the way!!!!!!

Absolutely magical night! And season!!! I've been a fan since my first game when I was 7 years old. I am NOT one of those fair weather fans that every Yankees-hater likes to proclaim any Yankees fan is. Especially when that fan is a female. With that first hot dog bite and sound of the cheering crowd, I was hooked. I love them all. Woot to Matsui for potentially extending his contract (hopefully!-they'd be crazy right!? Even though he's getting old and his legs and all... did you see him the past few games? MVP!!!)

I went out with a few friends to Firefly to watch the game on mega screens, and the energy in the place was positively incredible. Everyone in the bar truly made the place feel like we were all together cheering and chanting in the stadium. And! I found a new best girlfriend who shares my crush on Posada (Hip hip Jorge!!!!! Love him.) The fly balls from the last Phillies batter of the 9th inning were killing us, but then it happened!!!!! Jumping and cheering and screaming and amazing!!!!!!! And then, just when you thought it couldn't get any better, they played "NY NY." And everyone sang :)

A magical NY night.

**Frank, not JZ.

I'm not one to go to sleep angry...

On the upside... If self quarantined in my apartment, I get to focus on music all day tomorrow. I just bought a kids' keyboard with just enough octaves (5!- chill!) for my range and my NY apartment. Woot!

At least it's not the swine...

Also, I knew that the Yankees wouldn't win until Wednesday, the day on which I intend to be fully recovered and able to celebrate their huge win!! And! The day before which I intend to journey home to see the fam. I'm willing these bumps off of me and onto no one else by the time I want all of these good things to be able to happen :)

As If We Didn't Already Know That I'm a Five Year Old in Big Girl's Clothing...

I'm sick with something that only children get. That adults VERY rarely get. That adults so rarely get that my doctor asked my permission to allow his partner to come in and take a look at me as well, as he had never seen it before in adults. A 50 some year old man, not Doogie Howser, proceeded to enter the examination room. Look mom, I can spell examnination.

...WHAT?!

It's called Hand, Mouth, and Foot disease. It's not a big deal, but an annoyance and slightly painful in the aforementioned locations. I feel like a leper. I was so excited to go home and see Jax this weekend and now I won't, because I don't want to risk his health. I might have cried over this. I clearly got it from one of the kids I tutored last week. Wonk.

Conversely, very un-little-girl-like behavior: I found myself checking a man for a wedding ring today for the first time in my life. Yes, I said man. I usually say guy, but here I am typing about a real live man who did, in fact don a saddening gold band and then proceed to narrate his two year old's Halloween costume. Bam. It was my doctor. And there's another little secret for ya. :)

Voyeurism

I was reminded of this story when my mom came to visit the other day (best day ever!!)

My bedroom window looks out onto a major NY street, which apparently serves as a much traversed route for tour buses. I often get ready for nights to go out with loud music, solo dance parties (what?... yeah), and preparation in this very window. Sometimes I will have that window open. On one of those such nights a group of tourists on the upper deck of a double decker (apparently) caught sight of me applying makeup and began to yell "You look great!" "You missed a spot!" and other such exclamations. Ohhh NY.

At least they didn't catch me rocking it out to the Pussycat Dolls... :)

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Eight

I'm just getting started on digesting the full album, but I haven't been this Muse smitten since Muscle Museum. Thanks to NAK for doing an a cappella arrangement of this last week, which excited my interest in it!

Let me tell you a secret...

I tried out for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" the other day. I did. I went to take the test on a whim (and my grandmother's urging, not to let her down) and found myself in line behind a gentleman who regaled me with tales from each of the multiple past times he had tried out. I then sat next to a sweet older woman who divulged the fact that she had flown in from Maine that morning and was flying back that night. Just for the test. First gentleman then told me the procedure and how only four people had passed the night before. Because he had been there the night before.

Our whole table became buds and wished each other luck, picked up our scantrons and were off. I went in thinking, "I'm really not a trivia buff, and whether that guy was trying to psych me out or not, it worked. Though I do have confidence in my intelligence, I will not pass this." And then I did!!!

I couldn't celebrate with my new found besties, who I could tell pre-test underestimated my ability, for they were no longer my bosom buddies. I was so oddly proud of myself that this didn't much matter. I inwardly squealed and headed over to the second round interviews.

What will happen beyond that day, we'll see... But now I can say it: I passed the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" test!!! They made it seem impossible and intimidating, but heyo... Even if I don't get picked, I will still be oddly proud of this and can giggle to myself over the entire experience.

**Alex was more impressed and amused by this and is making me post it:

I was once on Cash Cab. It's true. People seem to find that show cooler than "Millionaire" for some reason. I don't know why. ? I was once at a party and met a guy who had been on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" that day, I consequently, and I think understandably, freaked out, as did surrounding others, but upon my "I was once on Cash Cab," the freaking out was much more intense and resounding. I felt disillusioned.

But yeah, my two guy friends wanted to go for the double or nothing question. I did NOT. (You can see me hesitating, no, begging them not to. On television). Shocking: we ended up not with the double, but with t shirts. (Still love you Ian and Philip).

I hope that this wouldn't disqualify me from appearing on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." So does my grandma. It was years ago, so I really hope not. Again, we'll see... :)

*** I love Regis Philban. So much. I know that he's no longer the host. I just needed to say it.

Great Site and Cool Band

http://www.myspace.com/lordclassic

I met their bassist the other day on the Bolt Bus to DC. Very cool chill guy and subsequent introduction to this band.

I like his whole Medieval vibe, lyrics like "come back to my lair," and the song title "Pleather." Who wouldn't be intrigued by a title like Pleather?

Also notable: http://www.baeblemusic.com/ - Great site that posts "just in case you missed them" concerts from various venues in NY


Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

Hilarious Parody Video

For anyone that can't tell at first look and knows him, because I would not have been able to recognize him if he hadn't sent it to me himself, this is Noam. For anyone that is not fortunate enough to know him, he is a brilliant, talented, and hilarious actor friend of mine.

*If anyone doesn't know the original video that this one is parodying, though this is rare (aka mom), I have posted it below!

I am officially a dorky alumna

... But at least I admit it, right?

I promise that I struggled to avoid this. I used to think alumni who returned to their old haunts were huge dorks. I'm not gonna lie, I judged. But now that I am one, I see the charm and understand that yes, though I am a cool person living in the real world, living "downtown" away from campus and all that, and I could spent my time going to "cooler" things downtown, there's nothing like coming home.

I went to see my old a cappella group perform last night. Yes, I was in a collegiate a cappella group. What up. And trust me, I get brutally mocked for it by every straighter than straight guy that I date.

As a singer applying to colleges, you inevitably get constantly and annoyingly asked by adults whether or not you will audition for an a cappella group. Of course you are. I was decidedly not that type of singer. I never saw myself bobbing and snapping and "doot dooing" in a group. Until I walked into one group's audition room in the very last five minutes of their auditions on a whim my sophomore year and found myself do wopping with the best of them. It never ceases to amaze me (and terrify me) how small decisions can shape your life in amazing and shocking ways, and I thank my fateful stars that that fearless whim did just that. I don't know where I would be without the experiences and memories that that incredible group of people and performing in that capacity provided for me, and I certainly don't want to know.

Congrats to everyone on last night's concert. You made me nostalgic, proud, and so very elated. Love love love.

Last year's group videos (I am not in these, but wish I was) :

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Seven

Yes Giantess- Tuff N Stuff

Great great band. Check them out. I won't lie to you and say that my friend from high school isn't a member, because I am so freakishly grandma buttons bursting style proud of him, that I just won't. Great group of guys and great music. I also won't say that I don't have a crush on the lead singer. Because I do.

I have had this song and others of theirs in my head all week!!! And I'm lovin' it

http://www.myspace.com/yesgiantess

Went to see them play at the Delancey the other night, fun, great music and lineup, great performance despite technical issues. It's all how you handle it and they did so admirably (aka Karl conducting). Great energy and great night. I feel like this venue needs an angled floor or more of a raised stage downstairs though, because I was stuck in the back at points and wished I could see more of the action!

Also incredible and check out worthy: Bear Hands

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Six

Say Hey by Michael Franti & Spearhead. What up awesome. I first heard a cover version of this song on none other but "Dancing With the Stars." Yes I do watch this with my grandma. But that's a whole other blog post. Couldn't find the song for months until hearing it on the radio in Jersey recently en route to a songwriting session with Alex. Kizmet? Oh hey. Great beat, fun song. I love it, I love it, I love it!

Birthdays for 1 Year Olds are really for Adults...

But are still SO GREAT. We went to Chuck E. Cheese all day and basically just had a blast. The five of us (plus one year old Jax) morphed into hyper sugar high adolescents and found ourselves running back and forth like banshees to and from our favorite games. I loved this day. At one point, I suddenly heard my grandpa exclaim "SKEEBALL!!!" to which we all flocked to the machines, scrambling for tokens and trying to one up each other in our awesome ability at this childrens' game. I wonder where my grandma is, and look over to find her quizzing a seven year old about where he got so many tickets. Like a true seasoned gambler, she observes his tactics and moves in on the electronic monopoly game when he moves on. I then round a corner to see my mom and dad giggling over their competing in a basketball game. I find myself trying to help my mom out, aka cheating, but actually hindering her efforts to beat him, because I'm inept at even sports games designed for children. At least I beat my grandma at Mario Kart. I can still hold my head high. No? What? Oh.

And where was Jax this whole time you wonder? After posing for pictures with "Chuck E." and each ride, for every time we attempted to put him on a moving anything he screamed uncontrollably, he contentedly chewed on his hand from the safety of our arms as we took turns romping and playing. He preferred to watch the jumbo TV screens to anything else in the place. One year old and easy to please. Angel baby.

(Pictures from visiting the pumpkin patch on my mom's birthday the week before. From carnival games and candy apples at the pumpkin patch to Chuck E. Cheese unleashing all of our inner children, I love my family :) )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAX!!!!

My little brother turns one today!!!! This is so weird for so many reasons. A year has gone by far too quickly. This time last year he was 4 lbs, 14 oz and so fragile. Now he pushes my face away every time I try to kiss him. I love him more than anything in the world. Happy Birthday Jax!!!

Addendum

Also... Who knew a little girl with a lisp and a thick Buffalo accent could make a living in voiceover? To overcoming middle school bully's cruel expectations. Cheers.

How have I not blogged about this until now?

I'm not sure!! So somehow I have managed to leave a huge part of my life out of this blog until now! My voice-over work!! In light of the job that I just got cast in, it seems like the perfect timing to elucidate this yet uncharted topic, something that I am a little bit obsessed with!

Around the time when one of my shows (musical- Booth!) ended this summer it was also the year anniversary of having graduated from school, which caused me to evaluate and reevaluate how the past year has gone. I knew that I felt some changes needed to be made and realized that I wanted to focus on my voice more than anything. Singing has always been more of a focus and more important to me, but somehow almost got lost in a year when I tried to gain experience in film and television work. I realized that using my voice, singing and speaking, was what I really wanted to do in life and what made me happier than anything. And why else are we alive, really, if not to find happiness? (Oh hey, New Age philosophy). Once I realized this, it suddenly felt as is everything was falling into place. I landed my voice-over agent, work that I have always dreamed of doing (one dream of mine is to voice a singing Disney character. Come on now, who doesn't want to be Belle?!) Right around that time, I auditioned for and met with Alex for the first time, and recording has taken off this this incredible direction since then. Odd coincidence? I think not. I won't say I haven't read and loved "The Secret."

Getting a voice-over agent has been one of my major accomplishments in my first year out of college, a year that I gave myself to learn about the real worlds of auditioning and music, make mistakes, and find my footing. Somehow I managed to find one that I am so thrilled over that every time I visit their recording studio for an audition or job, I am floating when I leave! Check out my demo at http://www.studiocenter.com/voice-over-talent/caley-rose.aspx. Most of my recent work is not on the demo yet. I am working on updating and obtaining copies of past jobs (A poodle, the voice of an acne ridden teen...) to posted on there as well.

Impromptu Book Review

I didn't expect to do this, but this author is so remarkable that I feel it necessary to spread the word about his works!

I just got over the internal paradox of dreading to finish a great book while simultaneously eagerly desiring to find out what happens at the end. Luckily, it is the third in the brilliant "Thursday Next" series by Jasper Fforde, and I will reprise this feeling soon enough. I highly recommend the entire series, and I am about to continue on reading this author's other works, which I assume I will be able to rave about immediately after.

I find that somehow no one knows about Jasper Fforde, and yet, everyone needs to. I began with the Eyre Affair, which interested me solely due to the fact that Jane Eyre is my favorite book and I figured that a plot that involved it would hopefully interest me. What I discovered was an incredible intelligent Harry Potter-type series for well read adults. It's brilliant.

If you are not a Harry Potter fan, do not immediately discount that form of praise, for I only mean it in the way that Fforde creates an entirely new ficitonal world. His is far more creative and brilliant, however, in that it is birthed from literature: English, American, the Classics, Science Fiction, the whole gamut. He takes the reader behind the scenes of reading! He invents a realm within our reality that is composed of the books themselves and links the different pieces of literature by the exploits of his detective protagonist, Thursday Next.

It's full of humor and a very meta concept, which is especially timely in what often seems like an uber (sometimes excessively and exhaustively) meta age. The works are also somewhat ostentatious, for Fforde flaunts his skill with constant literary allusions and by writing for some of literature's most celebrated and interesting characters. He assumes the role of the greats by writing in the voices of (and thus informing the characterizations of and expanding what we as readers know and think of) celebrated figures such as Heathcliff and Catherine, Edward Rochester, Uriah Hope, and so many more. He even emulates the Shaksepearean language of Falstaff, Benedict, Beatrice, and other favorites. You don't mind Fforde's self aggrandizement, however, because you are too busy delighting in the world he invents and the expansion of the familiar faces within it. The details of his works are so intricate and complex, you can only sit back and gaze around in awe of what he has created.

It's the kind of book and entire series that will keep you home and antisocial for weeks, as I know my friend agree certain others can certainly boast of (*cough cough Twilight cough cough Harry Potter*). I intend on suggesting that our book club reads some of his works in the future. Yes, I am in a book club. What up.

Obsession Song of the Week: Week Five

How about a few "Oldies but Goodies"? !







...All straight off of the throwback mix CD that I compiled for my mom's bday. Love 'em. "Lately" was originally and brilliantly done (of course) by Stevie Wonder, but I love this MTV unplugged version. (So incredible!- Check it out http://www.mtv.com/music/unplugged/) Classic late 80's/ early 90's childhood nostalgia music. This is so me and my mom cruising suburban streets or me idolizing her while watching her put makeup on and get ready for work. Shoulder pads, overly teased hair, and ice blue eye shadow, baby. As these trends come back this year, whether we agree with them or not (I can't do it. I just can't. Except for maybe a lil volume), these songs need to be re-heralded as well.

Blogging from the Fort

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

After one too many slices of too many different varieties of cake and one too many games of poker tonight, all I can say is, I love my family, I love my mom, and my mom is truly superwoman.

She is the strongest and most admirable woman that I have ever known, and just when I think I couldn't love her or be impressed by her any more, she does something so generous or creative or mindblowing (baby at 44? Why not?), that you realize that half of your incredulous appreciation lies in the fact that she still maintains mystique and can surprise you to no end. (Which includes her shocking penchant for Howard Stern and once claiming "Old School" was her new favorite movie. Probably while wearing Chanel.) She is my best friend in life and the only person I can spend days on end with and somehow it is never enough. She gave me the joie de vivre and carpe diem attitude that I am proud to exhibit each and every day, not just because of the life that she built for us and opportunities that she provided for me, but because she exhibits that admirable attitude each and every day. I strive to be half the woman that she is and to emulate her strength, compassion, and integrity. I respect her more than anyone alive. Even Obama con Nobel. She made such an incredible life for us both by working her way up from the worst high school in Buffalo to where she is today and provided me with every opportunity I could ever dream of and more than I ever even knew to imagine.

Thank you mom, happy birthday!! I love you more than I can express in a blog.

Blogging from Buffalo

My grandpa is out of the hospital!!!! Thanks for helping. That's enough of that. Focusing on the joys of being in my hometown:

Buffalo is a highly underrated city. Which explains why the economy isn't exactly thriving. And hasn't been since the dear Erie Canal days.

First fun thing:

Whenever I visit my grandparent's house now, even though my mom and I lived with them for about 15 years and each had our own bedroom, I sleep in a fort. I love forts. They are truly one of the greatest and most fun things in life. Never too old. Never. I even made one with a boy I had a crush on sophomore year in my dorm room. It led to kissing. Forts are great.

The fort is also preferable to sleeping in what my old bedroom has been converted to: my grandpa's pirate room. See photo, because you would not believe it if I only verbally described it. And the photo doesn't even do it justice. Believe it. My grandpa also likes to drink rum and coke in honor of pirates. I love this man.

My grandfather is in the hospital.

Please say prayers, think kind thoughts, and anything else.
Home to Buffalo for the weekend.

Is this some girl's online food journal?

NO. But I do find sharing some favorite spots in NY can be fun and informative, so I will consequently divulge tales of what I ate today. For a girl who usually lamely attempts to cook and settles for her George Foreman, I am allowed to get jazzed about my nights out. Let's call them mini and only favorable reviews.

The Smith - oh hey, delightful. Great decor and ambiance, while still maintaining a fun atmosphere. Great drink selection of cocktails, wine, and beer, and their daily specials made my friends and I vow to return on a Wednesday... and a Sunday... Try the beer batter string beans with a seemingly housemade ranch dip (and share for way more guilt free enjoyment) as well as the burgers. My friend is obsessed with their Mediterranean salad. Also good for dates, for conveniently located in walking distance from three different move theaters. Always a good experience, and they have a photo booth on the lower level near the restrooms!

Eskimix!!!!! - This is by far one of my favorite NY spots. It's almost still unknown except to locals and West Village tourists who happen to wander in because it's appropriately and cutely shaped like an igloo, but my delightful British friend and his brother own it, so it doesn't hurt to spread the word. We actually became acquainted though many a trip to his business with my friends, which attests to its greatness. I'm a big frozen yogurt lover. Pinkberry, Red Mango, 16 handles, love it all, but truth be told, I walked in here twice and chickened out, because the variety of possibility was overwhelming. It was just too much to handle. It took the company of a friend and a write up in US weekly (yes I do enjoy Us weekly on the elliptical every once and a while) that attested to Jennifer Aniston's love of the place to get me to actually buckle down and try it. Hence the subsequent daily visits.

Go there. Get the frozen yogurt artic swirl-style amazingness, and your happy frequent buyer card will get you a free treat someday soon too.

Oh, Whitney.

And then I found this. I can go to sleep happy now. If only she could always exist like this. If only in my mind :)

Just found this video while researching riffs... yes I research riffs...

I have never respected Beyonce more than right now in this moment