Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Easy on the Ice

You'll have to forgive my lack of posting, but I road tripped it to Nashville, TN with my band Lucky Bitch and didn't have my laptop (major separation anxiety!).

A little background... Lucky Bitch is what happened when 5 of my best girlfriends and I decided to get together and rock. It started as an excuse to spend more time together and eat Mexican food (we are fiends) and turned into a legitimate debaucherous rock and roll show. With 3 of the ladies from the celebrated internationally touring Hip Hop band, Northern State (Robyn "Sprout" Goodmark, Corenne "Spero" Spero, and Katie Cassidy), the super talented Andrea Wulwick and Dana Klein and myself (previously a nationally touring singer-songwriter) Lucky Bitch is a powerhouse of creativity and energy...or as we like to pretend, a super group. So, after about 4 years we finally made our first record. It's still being mixed and mastered, but I'll give you some song titles to tide you over... "I Drink the Whiskey (All Night Long)," "Rock Ain't Free," "Fuck That Bitch," "The Lucky Bitch Blues," and "I Was so Drunk I Was Crying."

Easy on the Ice

It was a blast of a trip. 14 hour drive each way, 3 straight days in the studio recording everything live and tons of laughing. We did have time for one Nashville landmark, The Loveless Cafe.

This is where I feasted on the "Southern Breakfast" which included 2 eggs, 2 pieces of country ham, 3 strips of bacon, 2 sausage patties, breakfast potatoes and a heaping plate of biscuits and fresh peach, strawberry and blackberry preserves for the table.

Lucky, Bitch, Loveless, Nashville, TN, band, eat

Let me just say, I LOVE BACON. I know I am not alone in this love, so let me add that if you share a similar passion you need to eat at The Loveless Cafe. It was incredible...perfectly cooked, somehow both crisp and juicy and perfectly salted. Pure meaty joy. They had bacon for sale in the gift shop, but I had no way to transport it home. I was desperate to try the jalapeno and cajun styles, but had to walk away. Anyhow, the rest of the meal was incredible as well with a special shout out to the fresh baked biscuits and preserves - but let's face it, the bacon stole the show.

I must add... I just looked up the Loveless Cafe website to share the link with all of you and found out that the bacon and hams can last up to 90 days with no refrigeration. Now I feel like a real jerk. I guess I know what I want for the holidays...

Thank you Nashville, goodnight!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Amazing outfit of the week.

Did you get the memo? Track suits are not just for athletes anymore.

white, dude, track, track suit, F train, new york

Ok, so I realize that's nothing new...but I was so into this guys outfit and his luxurious nap that I had to snap a picture. I mean, even his shoes match. Go Red & White, go!

Maybe this is the beginning of a weekly "who I saw on the F train" column.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Agapantha jewel of the week.

I stand by the statement that everyone looks good in a hoop earring. Right now I can't get enough of the Sarah Dagger hoop earring. They are so easy to wear with anything and the shape of the inside stone is just so damn sexy.

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They hang just shy of 2" long and measure 1.25" wide.

Available in 14k gold fill or sterling silver.

They usually retail for $52 but you get 20% off when you order before 10/24. Just go to http://agapanthanyc.bigcartel.com/ and enter the discount code HELLYEAH at check out!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Wonders of the $0.99 store.

cheap charlies

Took a walk down Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint this morning and thought I'd see if there was anything in the ninety-nine cent world I couldn't live without. Here's what I ended up with:

Notebooks grrr

I bought 2 tigers (I had to have one for myself) and 1 dog. Those are definitely getting stashed in the gift drawer. I'm not sure if you're really getting the full effect from the photo - the utter glory of the 3D animal. Pure joy really. If you must know, they were not $0.99 as many things at the $0.99 store are not...but they were indeed a bargain at $1.29.

I didn't end up buying anything else, but here are some other glorious photos.

trimmer

The packaging is amazing, no? Somebody is drinking their milk!

flowers

So realistic!

pirate

I probably should have bought these. Who doesn't want to be invited to a pirate party?

lighters

I think I will be hitting Manhattan Ave soon for the holidays. The selection of office, school and art supplies are always plentiful and there are tons of hilarious stocking stuffers for um, cheap. And if you aren't too put off by the strange selection, you can usually pick up some decent closeout snacks and spices. Capri Sun anyone?

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Dreams in Eames.

LA based stationary company Dog & Pony Show sucked my brain out and put it on cards. How did they know this is what I had been dreaming...?

eames

I love to write letters and send mail. Yes, people still do that... Dog & Pony Show makes me want to do it all the time, for no good reason. Sure, there are birthday's and thank you's, but what about just saying hi?

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And as a New Yorker by way of Los Angeles I have a serious soft spot for the Let's Have Lunch card. Aah, the taco truck.

taco truck

Anyway, do yourself a favor and check out the amazing and always changing designs at Dog & Pony Show. Go write a note. Get off your I-phone and find a pen pal.

Monday, October 13, 2008

My rice will never be the same.

I love rice.mexican rice

There, I said it.

Last night was taco night and I decided to try a new recipe for mexican rice...Since I don't have the patience to follow recipes and I was missing a handful of the listed ingredients I looked up a few online and meshed them together to make my own. It was a hit and I may never have plain rice again.

In case you'd like to try it or doctor your own, here's what I did...

1 cup of white rice
1 can (approx 1.75 cups) of Muir Glenn fire roasted diced tomatoes w/ green chilis
2 garlic cloves
1 small onion
3/4 cup water
olive oil (i probably used about 4 tbls)
sea salt & pepper to tast

*Dice and saute the garlic and onions in olive oil for about 3-5 min or until lightly browned
*Add the rice and stir to give it a nice coating
*Add the can of tomatoes/chilis (these had an amazing flavor with a nice amount of heat)
*Add salt & pepper (you can always add more later)
*Add water, let boil and then simmer with covered pot for about 25-30 min.
*Fluff with a fork and add fresh cilantro to the top

You may want to try substituting the water for vegetable or chicken broth...always a great way to add a little extra flavor to your rice.