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 ;)