May 31st 2010 07:39:07 pm

What a fun long weekend! June (my mother-in-law) came for a short visit from Kansas on Wednesday and we spent the weekend touring around the city. We hit many of the usual sights, like the Metropolitan Museum and Prospect Park, but we also did some new things. The main new adventure was going to see the Today Show taping in Rockefeller Center. Previously, I was never motivated enough to wake up as early as you need to in order to get to the taping in time, but June loves the Today Show so we knew it had to be a part of her trip. It was actually a lot more fun than I had anticipated. I thought the crowd would be too big and we wouldn’t be able to see anything, but we actually got a place by the fence and June got to shake Meredith and Matt’s hands. She even had a short conversation with Ann Curry. It was exciting and they were all very nice.

On Wednesday night, we met Travis after work and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I always love doing that – there are such great views! We ended the walk as usual, at Grimaldi’s Pizzaria in Dumbo. It was really hot on Wednesday and we were afraid that the entire weekend would be that way, but the weather actually turned out to be perfect for most of the trip. On Thursday, June and I explored Chinatown and the Lower East Side. We met our friend, Sarah, for dinner at Frankie’s Spuntino, but not until after June and I went on a tour of a stranger’s LES apartment. It was huge and I think the owner wanted to show it off. She just invited us right up! She also happened to have a life-size nude portrait of herself in the bedroom! Bizarre! At least we made it out alive!

On Friday, (after the Today Show) we explored 5th Avenue and then I got exhausted. Walking around the city for a couple days straight can wipe a person out! We rested at home for the remainder of the day. Saturday included the doggy park with Crusher, waffles from the waffle truck, a stop at ABC Carpet & Home, ‘wichcraft for lunch, and then the Metropolitan Museum. I had really wanted to see the new Bambu installation on the Met roof. It was definitely interesting, but I liked the Roxy Paine installation from last year better. On Sunday, we fit in brunch at Rose Water here in Brooklyn before June had to head to airport. Whew! It was a packed visit. We had a great time.

4 Comments » Categories: Brooklyn, Family, New York

May 24th 2010 11:48:35 am

One of my favorite food stops in Park Slope, Brooklyn is Blue Apron Foods. It is a little gourmet grocery store that has a wonderful selection of fine meats and cheeses and other fancy foodie goods. Travis and I mostly go there for their amazing sandwiches, and every once in a while we also pick up a cupcake, or two.

The cupcakes are not baked at Blue Apron, but are delivered by two Brooklyn bakeries: Baked and Robicelli’s. Baked has a cafe location in Red Hook that I would love to visit for a future tasting, so for this installment of my cupcake review I chose to focus on Robicelli’s Cupcakes.

I purchased the following flavors:

THE BLUTH- Chocolate banana cake studded with chocolate chips and walnuts, topped with chocolate buttercream, chocolate ganache and roasted walnuts.

PECAN FRENCH TOAST- Maple custard soaked cinnamon cake with maple cinnamon buttercream and candied pecans.

CHOCOLATE GRASSHOPPER- Mint chocolate-chocolate chip cake with mint buttercream and ground chocolate.

My intention with these cupcake reviews was to be quite strict with my ratings, but that is difficult when there are so many amazing cupcakes in New York City! Robicelli’s Cupcakes have received my second perfect cupcake score (the last one was for Crumbs), and it is well deserved. Travis and I both loved all three flavors.

First, I was impressed by the extremely unique and inventive flavor selections at Blue Apron and the lovely cupcake garnishes, like nuts and drizzled chocolate. But the nice presentation is barely worth noting compared to the amazing taste and texture of these cupcakes! All three were perfect and extremely light and airy. They icing was exactly how I like it best, very light with a nearly whipped consistency. The cake was moist, yet fluffy. The gourmet flavors were decadent, but they were not too rich, and I think that is what makes Robicelli’s cupcakes so special. You can taste all of the distinct flavors, like the maple and cinnamon in the Pecan French toast, but nothing is too sweet or too intense. Often, mint flavored desserts can be overpowering and far too minty, but this Chocolate Grasshopper cupcake had just the perfect taste of mint combined with delicious chocolate. Travis and I finished all three excellent cupcakes easily!

Even though I gave Crumbs Bake Shop a perfect score, Robicelli’s cupcakes are better. Their smaller size and more unique, but reserved flavors made them easier to enjoy than Crumb’s giant size cakes. I will definitely be stopping by Blue Apron Foods in the near future to try more of the flavors! (Check out the Robicelli’s website to read about all the available flavors and to find the other locations where you can find their cupcakes.)

7 Comments » Categories: Food, NYC Cupcake Review, New York

May 21st 2010 12:37:29 pm

I am a terrible athlete. Absolutely terrible. I can’t throw or catch a ball, bench press 100 lbs, do a yoga handstand, or even run very fast… but that didn’t prevent me from joining the cross country team in high school. Ever since then, running has been the most effective form of exercise for me.

My enthusiasm for running has varied over the years, but it has always been a part of my life. In every place I have lived, running has helped make it home. It has been my way of exploring my neighborhood and making it my own. In Kansas, I ran the safe streets and bike trails around my parents’ suburban home. In Iowa, I ran the gravel roads around the farm land and waved to the Amish. In Oregon, I ran the forested hiking trails of Hendricks Park and Skinners Butte. And, In Brooklyn, I’ve finally felt at home while running the crowded city sidewalks and Prospect Park trails.

Ten years ago, when I was just a freshman in college, I signed up for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training with my friend, Jody. We both enjoyed running and I guess we thought it would be “cool” to run a marathon. We were attending school in Lamoni, Iowa, and in addition to our individual training, we had to wake up at a terribly early hour each Saturday to make the over-an-hour drive to Des Moines to do our weekly training with the TNT group. It was intense and I truly can’t believe we did it. In June, we both crossed the finish line of the San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon – a full 26.2 miles run by two 19-year-olds far from home. It was more challenging and more fun than I can describe! The 21,000-person crowd running the marathon went on for miles on the roads of San Diego and the number of spectators was even larger. It was such a wild party atmosphere for the entire five hours it took me to finish. (Jody finished much faster and actually placed in our age group!) The experience of that marathon is one of the most vivid memories of my life.

So… why did it take me ten years to do another? Well, it is mostly because of the training. Marathon training is demanding. I have attempted to do it on my own in the past and failed miserably. I know that I need a group to help motivate me to complete the hours and hours of running that is required to prepare for a full marathon, and… I am extremely excited to announce that I have joined The Leukemia and Lymphoma Soceity’s Team In Training (TNT) program for the second time and I will be training for the New York City Marathon on November 7th, 2010! Getting into the NYC Marathon is not easy – people from all over the world apply to run in it – and I feel that running it with TNT is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am excited, can you tell?!

Part of being a member of TNT means raising money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. There are many different charity endurance training programs to choose from now – many more than when I first discovered Team In Training in 2000 – but I chose TNT again because of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s commitment to research, education, and patient services. Seventy-four percent of every dollar raised goes directly toward these activities. I have set a daunting, yet exciting, $5,000 fundraising goal for myself and I plan to meet it. Click here to visit my TNT fundraising website. I would be more than thrilled if you would consider making a donation. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is a wonderful charity that not only provides funds for cancer care and research, but has also made a huge impact on thousands of lives through TNT. I am proud to be a part of it.

I plan to improve my TNT fundraising page over the next few weeks, and also write weekly blog posts about my training experience. Please check back to follow along on my adventure!

9 Comments » Categories: Exercise, Feeling Happy, Health, New York, Team In Training

May 19th 2010 02:50:03 pm

Recently, I have been reading/viewing the blog Kind Over Matter daily. It is sort of a combo of feel-good indie crafts and positive inspiration. They share hopeful illustrations and quotes multiple times a day. I really like that it is sweet and uplifting without being super-cheesy or specifically religious.

I have been wanting to post my own version of an uplifting illustration in Kind Over Matter style. While I was thinking about what I wanted it to say, the song “Secret Crowds” by Angels and Airwaves kept going through my head. It is a song I listen to often when I run and it always gets me pumped up. AVA (the band name abbreviation) is a side band created by Blink-182 guitarist, Tom DeLonge, and here is a perfectly descriptive quote from my sister-in-law, Chelsea, one of their biggest fans: “AVA is AWESOME!! They’re an amazing punk bank spreading a postive message!” Right on. (Plus, they just came out with a new album, LOVE, that you can download from their website FOR FREE! sweet.)

That is probably too much description for something that was meant to be a quick snippet of inspiration, but just listen to the song. I love how the lyrics use such urgent and aggressive words (violence and fire) to express the imperative of spreading hope and love.

spread hope like fire; spread love like violence

2 Comments » Categories: Feeling Happy, Just for Fun, Thinking, music

May 16th 2010 12:21:05 pm

Travis and I were out strolling around Manhattan yesterday. His recovering knee is feeling better and he is now able to walk without crutches. We didn’t have a strict agenda for the day, but we did have a cupcake place in mind for a stop on our journey so that I could complete another installment of my Cupcake Review. Unfortunately, we got a little lost and/or we were misinformed by Google Maps and we never did find the cupcake place… And yet, fate works in mysterious ways because our path led us to Madeleine Patisserie on 23rd Street in Chelsea.

I had assumed that I’d tried a macaron before, but I must have been mistaken. In my head I imagined them as hard cookies filled with icing – sort of like colorful oreos. I was wrong!

From Wikipedia: “A macaron is characterized by its smooth, domed top, ruffled circumference, and flat base. Connoisseurs prize a delicate, egg shell-like crust that yields to a moist and airy interior.”

They are made with almond flour, egg whites, and sugar with flavored, cream fillings. Supposedly, the French do them best and the girls working behind the counter at Madeleine Patisserie had French accents – score!

We ordered a sample of four macarons: chocolate, caramel, cassis (grape?), and pistachio. They were incredible! Truly. I was blown away. Probably because I was not expecting to like them very much, but also because I think we stumbled on a very excellent bakery. The macarons were slightly crispy on the outside, with soft, moist insides. The fillings were all amazing, especially the caramel – very smooth and full of flavor. Yum!

I have heard that macarons are going to be the next cupcake in terms of popularity. After trying them I’d be inclined to agree except for one major difference between the two pastries… I would think it takes much more talent to make an excellent macaron than a cupcake, but I hope I’m wrong. I would love to be able to get macarons at more bakeries!

(p.s. I have been a little obsessed with my new Hipstamatic iPhone App lately. It allows you to take old-timey, analog appearing photos using your iPhone. It is what I used to take the photo above. There are a whole bunch of different settings and you can also buy additional “film” and “lens” styles. It is a lot of fun!)

6 Comments » Categories: Food, New York

May 10th 2010 01:58:07 pm

Some insight into my random mind:

playing –> Angry Birds – It is an iPhone game and it is so fun.

wanting –> Midnight Blue Birkenstocks – for walking around the city and Disney World in July!

wishing –> for this lovely Wiliams-Sonoma Home mirror.

practicing –> Sexy beach hair techniques – I am so terrible at hair styles…

watching –> JUSTIFIED!!! Omg, this is my new most favorite show ever! Timothy Olyphant is the best gunslinger in the world!

———-

6 Comments » Categories: Just for Fun, Shoes, Television

May 8th 2010 01:33:53 pm

This article first appeared on

The Swap-bot table was located right across the aisle from the Communal Table food booth, which was selling all of the wonderful treats you see above. This was a very good thing, because I forgot to pack snacks! We bought banana bread, pumpkin whoopie pies, and chocolate chip cookies over the course of the day. All of which were awesomely delicious. Deena Lebow, owner of Communal Table, does some catering and fair sales (like Handmade Cavalcade), but her real mission is hosting group dinners that bring “art, ideas, activism and food right to the table.” They sound like amazing events.

There were so many exceptional artists selling their wares at the event. I snapped photos of a few of my favorite booths (after asking permission, of course!). This colorful table belongs to Jen Pepper of Peppersprouts. She is a graphic designer who makes brooches, necklaces, trivets and more featuring laser-cut silhouettes. Her instant-film brooch is ingenious!

Above is Nguyen Le of KnitKnit. I first met Nguyen at an Etsy Labs Craft Night that she hosted on needle felting. She is extremely sweet and talented. She knits and felts everything from handbags to earrings with an artistic edge. I especially love her needle felted cameo necklaces.

No Comments » Categories: CraftCritique.com articles, Crafts, New York, Swap-bot

May 7th 2010 10:35:35 am

I needed an escape from the world of email today, so I spent some time fantasy shopping for summer…

• Kate Spade Alberta 2 sunglasses
• Tory Burch Rattan Clutch
• Chanel Brilliant Lip Shine in Laser
• Moroccan Oil Glimmer Shine Spray for pretty summer hair!
• Bobbi Brown Brightening Spot Treatment Corrector SPF 25 for pretty summer skin!
• J.Crew Breezy Dot swimsuit
• Banana Republic Heritage Zebra Top
• Anthropologie Wavelite Hoop Earrings
• Sigerson Morrrison Belle sandals

I could live my entire life in a blue and gold palette…

3 Comments » Categories: Clothes, Fashion, Just for Fun, Make-up & Beauty, Shoes

May 1st 2010 06:31:09 pm

Another big craft show this weekend, but don’t worry, Swap-bot was not a sponsor. This weekend it was the Brooklyn Food and Craft Market at the Brooklyn Lyceum, which is very near our apartment. Since Travis is still stuck at home with his hurt knee, I strolled down to the Lyceum by myself to check out scene. The Lyceum is huge and there were craft and food vendors on two levels, plus a mezzanine. There was a lot to see! I was already familiar with many of the craft vendors from previous fairs, but I was blown away by the number of food vendors. Each table seemed to have samples of cookies, and brownies, and jams, and spices. I sampled a lot of tasty things! I ended up buying some pear and chipotle jam from Anarchy in a Jar and some dark chocolate and sea salt caramels from Token Confections.

Last week at the Handmade Cavalcade I met Karen Eiger, the author of Markets of New York. Her book was pre-launching today at the Food and Craft Market and I was eager to pick up a copy. It is a small, but beautiful book full of info and color photographs from many of the flea markets, farmers markets, and artisan markets in NYC. I have only taken a preliminary peek inside it, but I have already discovered new markets that I need to visit. As a bonus, some of the market vendors were giving a discount with the purchase of the book. One such vendor was Nguyen Le of KnitKnit. I’ve met Nguyen previously at Etsy Labs Craft Nights, but last week at the Cavalcade I fell in love with one of her knit and bead necklaces… but I refrained from purchasing it. Thank goodness it was still there this week! I purchased (with the nice discount, of course!) the pink and green necklace in the middle of the photo above and I adore it!

It was a fun and successful market day and there are sure to be many more. Summer is definitely craft fair season! Will you be attending any markets or fairs in your area?

8 Comments » Categories: Accessories, Books, Brooklyn, Crafts, New York