Scarfspiration

Turns out, this is hard.

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:12:37 -0400

I’ve been sticking with my new eating plan for about 3 1/2 weeks now, and I have say- I’m hitting a bit of a rough patch.

The biggest problem is that I’m hungry a lot. I was not expecting that. The idea is to eat as much as you need to feel full (no calorie counting, which I love), and I do that! I eat HUGE meals, and I eat an additional smaller meal between breakfast and lunch (how I”m eating 4 eggs plus half an avocado at breakfast and feel hungry after an hour is a mystery to me!). And yet- day after day I find myself rushing home due to the grumbling in my belly so I can start dinner.

I felt an initial burst of pride in my new habits, and I immediately could tell the difference in my mood and physical health. And now I’m feeling a little- now what? Is this worth it?

I have not lost any weight (I don’t weigh myself, but clothes fit exactly the same), which was supposed to be beside the point, but now that it’s decidedly not happening, I’m frustrated. I’m also frustrated at myself for being frustrated about that. I’m trying to gently remind myself that in all likelihood, this is probably where I’m supposed to be and not to worry about it.

But- what do about the hungriness? It SUCKS. Of course I could eat more meals, but who wants to eat 6 times a day? Also, “It Starts with Food”- I feel as if you have betrayed me!

I was at the post office today mailing a package to my mom for mother’s day. The place just...

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:04:24 -0400

I was at the post office today mailing a package to my mom for mother’s day. The place just oozes with stress and turns normal people into jerks in the blink of an eye, so imagine my surprise when a kindly older gentleman patiently held the front door for me and several others, including a woman with a stroller. Feeling touched by his benevolence, I made my way to the back of the roped off line and then watched him dart from the front door to the front of the line, cutting off everyone he just helped.

Every New Yorker I know swears that New Yorkers commit ordinary acts of kindess all the time. Maybe they just don’t stick around long enough to witness those same New Yorkers snatch those acts of kindess back. Another good lesson here is that acts of kindess never happen at the Myrtle Avenue post office.

Changes abound

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:48:31 -0400

Remember like two posts ago when I insisted I wouldn’t go on some crazy diet or try some new exercise regime in January, because who needs misery on top of misery?

Well, interestingly, once the weather changed, something snapped inside me and I found myself taking on some changes (well, some minor changes and one drastic change) to my habits. It actually partially started as an extreme emotional slump that lasted for weeks. I just couldn’t pull myself out of it. I had tried medication before, and I knew I didn’t want to go back to that (which is not to say I don’t believe in it; I believe firmly that some people truly do need it).

I needed something to be challenged by, I decided. So, I found a piano teacher with a studio within walking distance of my apartment and scoured eBay for an affordable digital piano. I felt better even just deciding that I would do this. After I spoke to my new piano teacher for the first time, it was like a weight had been lifted.

The next thing to change was my eating habits (probably about 90% grilled cheese sandwiches), which I knew in my bones were making things worse for me. I read this book, which prepared me for a drastic diet overhaul. The basic gist is mostly vegetables and no processed foods. For the past two weeks, I’ve been eating a ton of veggies, a ton of eggs, and basically an avocado per day (with some other protein added in there too). Again, I felt better almost immediately. What’s surprising about this way of eating is that missing ice cream isn’t the hardest part- the hardest part by far is the planning and cooking (and cleaning up after). Still, it’s something to master, and I’m mastering it. I decided too that I would not be quite as restrictive as the book suggests. On most social occasions I’ll allow myself to veer off course, and I can tell that’s a smart and good move for me. I’m not trying to replace my unhealthy eating habits with an unhealthy obsession. I told my friend Gena that as someone who ardently supports and tries to role model a healthy body image, I feel almost sheepish about being on a diet. This is much more about health than weight for me, so I hope I gain some confidence in that.

The last and probably most surprising change has been about alcohol. I am usually a glass of wine (or two or three or four glasses) per night type of gal. It would pleasantly take the edge off my day and well, as you saw back in January, I wasn’t willing to give it up. Before I even started changing my diet, I decided to experiment and give it up in advance. I was slightly floored that I hadn’t even been aware the of the effect it was having on me, particularly the next day (I always thought I was fairly immune to hangovers; as it turns out I had a very narrow definition of the word “hangover”). The next day, I didn’t need a nap at 3pm. I wasn’t sluggish to the point where I would seriously consider begging off of work and going home. Now that I’m more aware of this, I tend to only drink if I believe it’ll be worth it and I really want to. Which definitely has happened since I started.

I thought this would be much, much harder than it ended up being. I assumed I’d be white knuckling it, at least for a the first week as I got used to it. I think maybe what’s giving me a boost is that I’m proud of myself for doing it, and the benefits to my mental and emotional health were so immediately obvious that I can’t help but feel good about it.

So, will all of this last? At this point I can’t imagine going back, although I’m sure at some point I’ll slide back into some old routines, and that’s okay. I want a good balance between being healthy and enjoying my life and doing what I want.

Resolutions update

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:03:04 -0400

1- Haircuts. Just got one! My stylist laughs a little too heartily at my split ends, but at least she doesn’t talk my ear off too much. My dream is to find a hairstylist who basically refuses to speak to me.

2- Skin care. I just bought a tube of this stuff, and also dream of one day owning a Clarisonic. (Progress?)

3-Volunteering. The last time I volunteered was right after Hurricane Sandy, so I have some work to do on this one.

I’ve decided to add something, which is this: outside of my friends, going to brunch, and spending time with Lucas, I really don’t have any hobbies. I mean, I’ve always been a big reader, so I have that, but my problem is this: I don’t know what I actually enjoy doing. If I followed my instincts I would be at home every night with my nose in a book, but… I need something else. What is my thing? Do I even need a thing? I want to be purposeful about not filling my schedule just for the sake of filling it.

1- Get regular haircuts 2- Adopt a skin care regimen (I don’t really have one, unless you...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:54:23 -0500

1- Get regular haircuts

2- Adopt a skin care regimen (I don’t really have one, unless you count using Neutrogena facial towelettes once a day)

3-Volunteer more

In 2013, I will be a really good person who also has fewer split ends.

Deprivation January

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 14:16:51 -0500

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how I really tend to torture myself in January. January is basically deprivation month- I’m deprived of warmth and sunlight because it’s winter, cutting back on spending after my Christmas spending spree, and feeling like I need to diet because I just indulged myself over the holidays and my pants are fitting a little too tight for my liking. (It’s no wonder I tend to get especially depressed this time of year.)

Inevitably, all these changes I make become temporary, and I go back to my shopping addicted, wine swilling ways, and all that really happens is that I feel sadder in the month of January. So, why not pick another time (like for example, when the temperature is not in the teens) to torture myself, or better yet stop torturing myself altogether?

This year is going to be different. Now, I’m not saying that health is not important, because it is. I do need to cut back a bit and I’m pledging to eat more vegetables, as well as keep up my daily walks to work. But I refuse to go on a diet and I refuse to deprive myself in any way. Moderation is key and focusing on health and overall well being is important.

PS- There is no point to that picture of our Christmas tree, except to say that when I go on a diet I become so hungry I could eat a Christmas tree.

Yes to this!

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:06:14 -0500

Yes to this!

I am almost embarrassingly obsessed with audio books. Any time I’m off somewhere I just put...

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:33:00 -0500

I am almost embarrassingly obsessed with audio books. Any time I’m off somewhere I just put in the head phones and resume whatever story I was listening to. It’s so nice for long walks and for a crowded subway; no need to balance a book in your hand while gripping the railing. There is also so much noise on the train and I relish being able to just tune it out. It’s sort of awesome for my sanity!

A good story doesn’t always make for a good audio book; the narrator can enhance or detract from it a great deal. I’ve become quite choosey about what I listen to and often have trouble settling on the right book. Having discovered some real gems since I subscribed to Audible a few months ago, I wanted to share them:

The Handmades Tale, by Margaret Atwood (narrated by Clare Danes)- This is hands down my absolute favorite audio books, if not one of my favorite books ever. I was mesmerized by this book and I still am (I’m on my third listen). Clare Danes just kills it, and listening to it makes you forget that it’s a story; you believe that you are listening directly to the protagonist. With each listen I discover something new that I missed.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline (narrated Wil Wheaton)- You have to be a child of the 80s to understand half of what’s happening in this book, and if you are it’s delightful and so fun. The protraganist is such a hopeless geek, the narration is so good. I couldn’t wait to come back to this one.

Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter (narrated by Edoardo Ballerini)- I definitely would not have enjoyed this book half as much if I read it as opposed to listening to it. There is quite a bit of Italian in it, and hearing it spoken well is so beautiful. It made me want to hop a plane to Italy immediately. It’s is a lovely story, and it’s also unexpectedly hilarious.

So right now I’m halfway slogging through, halfway enjoying Cloud Atlas. There are so many dialects and the audio book has multiple narrators (six in total!) to cover them all. I’m not sure I would have the patience to read this one so it’s nice to be a little lazy and have it read to me (Lucas insists that it’s worth it, so I’m sticking with it).

I also just started a new book by one of my favorite authors, Shirley Jackson. We read “The Haunting of Hill House” for book club, so now I’m listening to “We Have Always Lived in the Castle” and it’s already spooky and awesome. I love a good scary story for the holidays!

Sorry for the kind of crappy quality, but I have watched this...

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:37:00 -0500

Sorry for the kind of crappy quality, but I have watched this video about a zillion times and I think it’s adorable! I took this with my phone when I was in Richmond a few weeks ago. It’s kind of hard to hear but in the beginning Lucas and Charlie are talking about facial hair, then Charlie tells Lucas about his “boo boo,” and then someone coughs directly in someone else’s face! You have to watch to find out.

A time for giving thanks and buying things for yourself.

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 20:02:00 -0500

I have been having a lovely time with my parents here in Texas for Thanksgiving. And of course, when my mom’s around that means there will be plenty of shopping. I always forget how right around this time of year I lose my mind from all the sales and new clothing (and I don’t even participate in Black Friday!). I get swept off my feet pretty easily by the right item.

When I’m in town my mom and I will always go to Bloom, which is owned by one of my favorite fashion bloggers. I swooned over everything in the store (nearly every fall trend represented and laid out beautifully), but I fell really hard for this pair of oxblood skinny chords, only to get them home and realize I needed the next size down. My size is nowhere- not in the store, not online, not anywhere! When I came to the realization that it felt like I truly lost something important to me, I was like dear god this is messed up.

Naturally, I recovered from this by finding $25 Minnentonka moccasins at TJ Maxx. I don’t even particularly like moccassins that much (I prefer ballet flats, natch), but these little guys are like hugs for your feet. Plus they are slightly more attractive than the dear foam slippers I usually wear around the apartment when it’s cold out (you’re welcome, Lucas).

So, now that I’ve spent so much time and energy (although not that much money due to the chords being out of stock) on myself it is now time to turn my energies towards buying things for others. If I know my family, they will return the favor. (And if you are reading this and can find me those chords in my size, I will pay you a million dollars).

PS- new mocs!

A 3 year old and an Iphone.

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 19:03:53 -0500

I belong to a book club. We meet every month and pride ourselves on actually reading the book...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 21:38:12 -0400

I belong to a book club. We meet every month and pride ourselves on actually reading the book instead of just using it as an excuse to sit around and drink wine (because, um, we don’t need an excuse to do that.) I was feeling particularly uninspired to go to book club on Monday; I never finished the book and had mountains of housework waiting for me. What tipped the scales in book club’s favor was this: Erin (the hostess) had just moved into a luxury building in Williamsburg and I had to see it, and Meredith was willing to offer me a ride in her car so I didn’t have to take the train.

It was an unusually small book club, only 6 of us, and since no one really cared for the book, we ended up just chatting away. We sipped wine and nibbled on grilled cheese sandwiches whilst lounging on Erin’s drool worthy CB2 sofa (I chattered excitedly to Lucas about it when I got home before remembered he doesn’t share my enthusiasm for furniture). It was nice. I’m lucky to have some very close friends nearby, but often it’s good to share some time with ladies I’m still getting to know. It’s a reminder that the making friends portion of life is far from over, despite everyone around me getting married, having kids, and moving on with their lives (and in many cases, that means not just moving on but moving away.

I’m surprised lately how little I truly feel like going out; often staying home and reading sounds like the more appealing option. That makes me a bit sad, but I also I can’t beat myself up over who I am and what my natural inclinations are. And often I just have to push myself a little and then I end up happy that I did.

PS- This is next month’s selection. Looks fascinating, doesn’t it?

Some cool facts about the new Barclays center via Instagram....

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:40:08 -0400

instagram.com/p/P72Lw9Oc7L/#frankgrecco

instagram.com/p/P2TvK8nK5Y/#yshx2

instagram.com/p/QAGh5XIOJ5/#ncastaldo

Some cool facts about the new Barclays center via Instagram. Love the top pic!

instagram:

Hello, Brooklyn Nets

Want to see more? Browse through the official stadium hashtag #hellobrooklyn or the Barclays Center’s official location page

The Barclays Center — a $4.9 billion dollar multi-purpose indoor arena — opened just one week ago and it has already gathered an extensive fan base spanning tech-lovers, architect aficionados, and basketball fans alike!

Presented as the most high-tech stadium in sports, and home to the first major league Brooklyn sports team since the departure of the Dodgers to Los Angeles in 1957, Brooklyn Nets fans will be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi designed to withstand the pressure of a full stadium, as well as an application designed to help patrons order & pay for food from the comfort of their seats.

The most impressive feature of the new stadium is the Oculus, a giant 360-degree outdoor LED marquee built into the structure’s latticework of 12,000 preweathered steel panels, a design meant to evoke the image of Brooklyn’s brownstones.

Sometimes I have to laugh at how I can never just be a real adult functioning in the world. I almost...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:03:00 -0400

Sometimes I have to laugh at how I can never just be a real adult functioning in the world. I almost get it right, and then manage to screw up at least one thing. Case in point: the $250 I recently shelled out for a teeth cleaning because I was unaware my insurance didn’t cover it. Lest you think my dentist failed me, they did leave me a voicemail, which I never bothered to listen to. See what I mean? A real adult checks her voicemail, even if it’s from an unknown number. A half fake adult is responsible enough to regularly schedule teeth cleanings, but is completely oblivious to when her insurance will cover said teeth cleanings.

Last night, I decided to engage in the responsible activity that is cleaning one’s bathroom. Our bathroom is a moldy little beast, fit for a college frat boy. We have to douse the bathtub in bleach to keep things from getting too gross in there. Lucas and I are hosting some guests next week, so I thought I’d better go ahead and tackle it while I have the time. As I stood back to admire my work after dousing and scrubbing, I looked down to see some white spots on my favorite pair of pink skinny jeans. Being the half fake adult that I am, of course I wore them whilst cleaning the bathroom, and now they are all but ruined. Observe-

To soothe my broken heart (because half fake adults become distraught over items of clothing), I hopped online and purchased a new pair. They won’t replace these of course, but they are a bit more fall appropriate.

A bit impulsive of me? Maybe. I attempted to enlist Lucas in the task of enabling this purchase (“Go ahead, why not?” being an appropriate response), but being the real adult that he is, he wouldn’t do it! That’s okay, though- being the fake adult that I am, I can enable myself just fine (30% off with free shipping, in case you were wondering).

Ransom note.

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:19:43 -0400

What happens when my friends (namely Elisa Benson) grab a hold of my birthday-

A new thing I discovered and am excited about.

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 15:39:51 -0400

I’m doing a ton of walking these days (to and from work, about a half hour each way), and the boredom has been tough to fight sometimes. I recently found a “This American Life” app for my phone so I’ve been working my way through those podcasts, and while I certainly love me some Ira Glass, one does tire of only hearing related stories in 3 acts day in and day out.

I had a forehead smacking moment today when I realized, duh- audio books! I signed up with audible.com and agonized over my first download for a while. I wanted it to be good! Finally I settled on “Divergent” by Veronica Roth, which I have heard my sister rave about. I’m going on a walk in the park today just so I can start it! I really have not been this excited about books since I got my Brooklyn Library card, which was quite a happy day for me. This will help me, hopefully, come back a bit to my love of books since I’ve had to give up my subway commute reading time.

One thing that audible and the BPL do NOT have in common, however- price. I scoffed a bit when I saw what audible costs- 7.50 per month for the first three months, and $15 per month after that. Your membership gets one you one free book per month and 30% off books beyond that. It’s probably going to be worth it for me, but of course I can’t help but think that for $15 I could buy a shiny new hardcover.

Do any of you fellow readers listen to audio books? Are there any that I just have to try? (I’m looking at you, Sarah Bolton!) Tell me!

Lucas and I recently found out that we have to leave our apartment, which we have lived in for less...

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:59:02 -0400

Lucas and I recently found out that we have to leave our apartment, which we have lived in for less than 6 months. To say that we are disappointed about this is a huge understatement; we love our place and it is our home. What happened was just one of those New Yorkey things that sometimes just happens if you live here long enough. Our landlord sold the building and the new owner wants us out, and that is that. (Don’t worry, he is paying for our moving expenses and then some).

I started the process of looking for and finding a new place this week, and my heart sank like a rock, just seeing these places. They just couldn’t measure up! Of course, our place is not perfect. Some people may even call it a dump. But to me, it is special, and Lucas and I recognized that, and it felt meant to be. We love it despite the leaks, the noisy neighbors, the missing pieces of parquet flooring here and there. That we have to leave so early is just wrong, and feels like the most unfair thing in the entire world.

In an interesting twist of fate, I have also become very attached to our neighborhood, a place I wasn’t even sure I could tolerate living in. It’s like a well kept Brooklyn secret; new shops and restaurants open all the time, there are tons of young professionals but not too many strollers. There is a grocery store, a wine store, a coffee shop, and some of the best margaritas I’ve ever had, all less than a minute’s walk from my doorstep. It’s not a trendy neighborhood, and that’s what I like about it. I’m trying to be flex since it will limit our options, but we are both attached.

This is how pessimistic I am currently: I believe we are going to end up paying more money for a smaller apartment that is farther from the train. (We are so close to the subway right now it’s criminal.) I know I need to snap out of it, but I’m feeling like I need some time to wallow. Or, what I really need is to see an apartment that I actually like and can see some potential in.

It’s been SO HOT around here. Mostly I have felt like being at home stationed directly in...

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 10:31:34 -0400

It’s been SO HOT around here. Mostly I have felt like being at home stationed directly in front of my a/c. It’s hard to feel motivated to do anything (seriously- how does my family in Texas do anything ever?). I have, however, managed to enjoy some New York summertime fun.

Lucas and I celebrated our 4 year (!) anniversary by seeing an outdoor movie in Bryant Park (“Wizard of Oz,” which we saw at another outdoor movie series on our third date). Seeing an outdoor movie in Bryant Park is one of those New Yorkey things that sounds 95% magical and ends up being 95% annoying. You have to get there crazy early, wait in a long line to get inside, and then deal with people crowding up your personal space as your foot falls asleep from sitting on the ground. It’s one redeeming quality, besides being a cool place to see a movie, is that they turn a blind eye to booze. I snuck in a delicious bottle of rose that made us both less ragey about the art students in front of us that kept getting up during the movie and blocking our view. I’m glad we went, and we had a lovely picnic as we waited for the movie to start, but when we had the chance to leave early to beat the crowds, we took it!

I had the 4th of July off of work, and ended up heading to Rockaway Beach with Bandy and her fiance, Mike. (Unfortunately, Lucas had to work.) Rockaway Beach was, in my book, the polar opposite of Bryant Park. It was totally easy, not crowded, and surprisingly awesome. We enjoyed a beer and some food on the boardwalk at Rockaway Taco (interestingly, the verdict is still out on whether or not they serve tacos..?) and hit the beach. Emilie and I even took a dip in the ocean (Mike was kind of a wuss and stayed on shore the whole time-ha!). Swimming is not something that always happens for me at New York beaches, for various reasons, so I was delighted when the water was clean and cold but not too cold.

A few days later, Lucas and I hosted our housewarming party… on the hottest day of the year. I was very worried people wouldn’t show, but they did! I even got to see some dear friends that I hardly ever get to see, like Brian Bird and my friend from grad school Josh, who lives a mere two subway stops from me. Mer brought the baby AND her bulldog Phyllis, which was a giant hit with everyone. We all took turns holding the baby and fawning over her. For the party, I whipped up some boozy white sangria and we served brats and vegetable kabobs from the grill, macaroni salad, my good ol standby ham and cheese sliders, and these blueberry crumble bars (which were ridic easy and so so good). Lucas and I were touched that so many of our friends braved the awful heat to be there. Success!

It sounds weird to say, but I feel like my summer is nearing its end. Since work amps up for me big time in mid august with the students returning, my summer always feels like it gets cut off too soon. I do have some fun things coming up, like Emilie’s bachelorette party (we rented a gorgeous house in the poconos on the lake!). And of course by this point I’m pretty much sick of every dress I own and ready for some fall weather, already!

New obsession.

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:27:52 -0400

Documenting Gwen’s newfound popularity.

Lucas and I braved the heat to take a little tour of Governor’s Island today. It has...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 19:27:49 -0400

Lucas and I braved the heat to take a little tour of Governor’s Island today. It has incredible views of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Unfortch, I do not have pictures because I forgot my phone (my heart broke every time I saw a missed instagram opportunity), but we saw sculptures, played in a tree house, toured this castle, and had a beer at Water Taxi Beach.

We had a lovely, peaceful afternoon, and as we were leaving Lucas raved, “I expected this to be more of a hassle!”