Tag Archives: friends

Last weekend as a grad student!

Posted on May 19, 2013 | 3 Comments

So wow, this has been a great last weekend as a grad student—equal parts mellow and fun. I even slept in until 9 this morning!

  • Lunch with Mom when I was passing through NJ for a doctor’s appointment Saturday

    tilapia & funny little salad with lots of picked veggies

    tilapia & funny little salad with lots of picked veggies

  • A friend’s Bday dinner here (I will definitely be attempting to recreate the kale caesar salad I had as an appetizer—so good) and drinks here
  • Coffee at this new place, which kind of feels like an airport hotel lounge—in a good way
  • A surprise Neil Young binge that’s gonna take a few days at least to shake

Tomorrow I’m graduating with my MS in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics. In some ways, it almost feels like my first day of grad school was last week (it was actually 4 years ago today), but in others, it’s like it was a lifetime ago.

5 years ago, I moved to NYC to be with a guy I’m not even in touch with anymore, thinking I’d do my freelance writing and part time PR job until I found something in publishing. Hah! If someone had told me I’d feel compelled to seek out a job with an alternative health care practice and decide to go back to school to study clinical nutrition because of ghostwriting a Chinese medicine blog, I’d have laughed.

The main lesson I’ve learned is that when you follow your intuition to what feels good and what feels right, it’s hard to go wrong, even if it’s not always easy or doesn’t make sense right away. I can’t lie, it’s been awesome—lots of good surprises along the way. I love what I do, and even on the stressful days, I usually still feel like this: ice cream

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down, ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”

—John Lennon

Cheers to that. Thank you, thank you thank, you for all your support and encouragement along the way.

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What I Ate Wednesday #108: Messes in Bowls

Posted on May 1, 2013 | 6 Comments

Good morning and Happy Wednesday! Not only is it WIAW, it also happens to be the first day of a new month! And it’s not just any month—for me, this happens to be the Month of Big-Ass Changes. Between a new job and finishing grad school (after 4 years!), I can’t even pretend that May isn’t a big deal.

Big changes or no, a girl’s still got to eat, so once again, I’m linking up to the weekly blog party, hosted by the lovely Jenn of Peas & Crayons. Take a visit to see more WIAW from other bloggers!

Enjoying my last week of fake vacation has had me out and about quite a lot—making and photographing pretty meals hasn’t exactly been a priority. I’ve been more concerned with keeping my energy up to enjoy the fun. Monday was basically a day of messes in bowls. My first meal of the day was uncharacteristically late—well past noon—so let’s just say it started with a luxurious brunch. Ignore the fact that it was eaten computer-side as I checked work emails…Please pardon the horrendous photo quality. Like I said, priorities…

  • “Brunch”: Savory oatmeal with lots of veggies, nutritional yeast, egg whites, avocado, and a lot of hummus.
  • Snack: Plain Greek yogurt with cereal, blackberries, and sunflower seed butter.
  • Dinner: Post-yoga dinner with a lady friend at Jivamutki—I had the “yogi’s choice” with grilled tempeh, steamed veggies, quinoa, and turmeric tahini dressing. The food was okay, but the company was lovely.
  • Snack: (unpictured) sliced banana with PB2

Any enjoyable messes in bowls recently? 

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Girl talk and gelato

Posted on April 28, 2013 | 4 Comments

This weekend has been so lovely. After a fun yoga outing Friday night, I spent Saturday catching up with one of my best girls. We started off with brunch at Quantum Leap in the west village. I used to go here all the time—kinda miss it.

veggie egg-white omelet

veggie egg-white omelet

The rest of the day was spent walking and talking and walking some more and eventually stopping for gelato and later drinks and Okay okay okay I know I am way older than 12, but I can’t look at this picture and not think of Accidental Penis. IMG_2228

Whoops.

By the way, that’s a scoop of lavender-honey gelato on the left and raspberry sorbet on the right. Both flavors were delicious, unintentional phallic imagery aside.

But oh dear. I’m still blushing.

Anyway, it was a great way to spend a Saturday. It sucks sometimes that my friends and I are so busy we need to schedule hang-outs weeks in advance, but it’s always totally worth it.

How often do you catch up with your friends? What’s your favorite ice cream/gelato/sorbet flavor? 

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Pink Floyd Yoga

Posted on April 27, 2013 | 1 Comment

If you’ve been reading this blog a while, then you probably know I’m a big music nerd with a soft spot for artists from the 60′s and 70′s. You’ve probably also noticed that I love yoga. Last night, my friend Carrie and I went to Yoga Vida for a night of Chris Calarco’s Pink Floyd yoga. It was basically everything you’d expect—lasers, projections, 2 hours worth of Pink Floyd music…IMG_2218

While I wouldn’t call it the best yoga I’ve ever experienced, the whole thing was really fun. They played a lot of great songs (some of my favorite moments were this and this, and while I rolled my eyes at the “be both comfortable and numb” jokes during half-pigeon, it was a good-natured eye-rolling), and by the time they started winding down, I was more than happy to lay in savasana and listen to this song as the ceiling fans spun overhead. Hah, yeah. I told you I’m a nerd.

IMG_2217Since the event didn’t start until 8, Carrie and I caught up over dinner at nearby Dojo. I’m not a fan of eating a big meal before yoga, so I figured a salad would be a good bet. This has grilled chicken and portobello, and I asked for avocado on the side. This was perfect—it was the exact right amount of filling, though by the time I got home around 11, I was really hungry.

Aside from talking about all the stuff going on right now and coming up, Carrie and I had an awesome time reminiscing about college. It’s crazy to think we’ve known each other for 8 years. Or is it 9? I may not remember the year, but I do remember when my friend Anders told me, “I want you to meet her,” and we had dinner at this Chinese joint near their apartment. A few years later they were married : )

It’s funny, frat parties and the like were not part of my college experience—it was so off my radar, I didn’t even know we had sororities and fraternities until graduation. Though I have plenty of not-safe-for-blogging memories, I also have some really sweet, kind of innocent ones, at least from my freshman year (aka before I discovered whiskey, Tom Waits, and Bukowski—we all have our phases). That winter, we spent quite a few Friday nights going to the Pink Floyd laser light show at the Boston Museum of Science (where my aunt got married in 2011!) and then going for a late-night snack at the South Street Diner or cuddling (yes, cuddling) and listening to music in someone’s dorm room until the wee hours. Totally sober, too. Weird, I know.

Anyway…

Have you ever been to a “themed” yoga event? Any artists you’d like to do a yoga class for? Favorite pre-yoga eats? 

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How to Recharge for Friday Night

Posted on April 26, 2013 | 2 Comments
IMG_2215

Why use a glass when you can drink your wine from a jar?

Good morning and happy Friday! Anything good on the agenda? I have a yoga date with a friend later and plans to catch up with some other favorite people over the weekend. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep work-time to a minimum.

Coming across this Self blog post about 5 Energizing yoga poses to do before you go out at night made me think of some of my early clinical rotations where the only thing I had energy for on Friday night was laundry. I even stopped lying after a while. I’d just say, “I’m tired and I kind of just want to stay home and write/catch up Mad Men things/faceplant.” To be fair, I was pretty new to the clinical grind, but I eventually found ways to combat the end-of-week exhaustion.

Do you ever find that by the time you get to the end of the week, you’re too wiped out to even think of doing anything festive? While there are definitely times you should stay home and rest (and you probably know better than your social calendar), but sometimes getting out and catching up with friends is the best medicine for that dragging feeling. A few things I’ve found that work for me:

*Exercise—it can be anything from a 15-minute walk around the block, to a quick yoga flow in my apartment, to a Zumba class or cardio session. Endorphins are like a magic drug for tired. 

*A nap. Everyone’s different when it comes to naps, but I’ve found that a 20-30 minute cat nap perks me right up. Any longer and I usually wind up more tired, but that doesn’t always stop me from taking the extra 10 or 15 minutes because I can.

*Eat something—Even if I have dinner plans later, I’ll eat a well-balanced snack to keep my blood sugar levels stable so I don’t show up in crash-mode. Yes, I belong to the “never show up to a dinner party starving” club. I make sure I have something with both protein and carbohydrate to keep me going. A few of favorites:

  • Plain Greek yogurt with fruit and/or whole grain cereal
  • Non-fat or part-skim ricotta with fruit and a drizzle of honey
  • Dry-roasted edamame
  • Green smoothie
  • Scrambled or hard-boiled egg on whole wheat toast (scrambeld egg whites is great too)
  • Sliced veggies dipped in hummus
  • A mini Babybel cheese and an apple
  • A small baked sweet potato with goat cheese

*Hydrate—Never underestimate the difference a tall glass of water can make—when our cells are thirsty, it’s harder for them to do their thing, which makes us feel sluggish. Also important if you’re planning to drink alcohol later…

I have a feeling I’ll be relying on some of these tricks quite a bit in the summer months. It’s been nice to have a couple months without a regular schedule, but I’m looking forward to the change. I’m one of those nerdy people who thrives off routine, and I find that I enjoy my off-the-clock time more when I’m more aware of how precious it is. Haha that sounds kind of sappy. Oh well. There are worse things.

Any good weekend plans? How do you re-energize to go out on a Friday? 

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Roasted Chickpeas and Time Travel

Posted on April 23, 2013 | 4 Comments

Me visiting Central Park with friends, circa 2006

Me visiting Central Park with friends, circa 2006

When I was a senior in college, I was obsessed with the falafel salad at Whole Foods. I don’t even know if they make it anymore, but basically, it was falafel, feta, tabouleh, and roasted chickpeas over greens. I’d pick one up for lunch at least once a week and savor every bite. This was back when I was a total disaster in the kitchen and relied way too heavily on things like instant oatmeal, canned tuna, and Chinese food (at least I’d add frozen veggies to stretch the leftovers!).

Anyway, this salad was a small indulgence, but it felt like such a treat at the time. This is embarrassing to admit, but since I’d only just recently tried falafel when visiting a guy in New York City, it made me feel all cosmopolitan or something. That West 40th street falafel cart, man—totally the height of sophistication back in the days when I still wore American Apparel and silver cowboy boots on the regular.

All that aside, when it came to flavor, this salad kicked the ass of all those wimpy prepared salads at the convenience store on campus.  Over the years, I’ve learned my way around the kitchen enough so that I no longer have to rely on boxed salad, and when I eat falafel, I enjoy it in one of NYC’s many wonderful restaurants (but preferably this one). I’ve even attempted making my own at home. However, there are still a bunch of no-brainer foods that I mean to try my hand at—I just forget.

Until I remember.

IMG_2209These roasted chickpeas have been on the list for ages. When I finally made them yesterday, they reminded me so much of that last crunchy component to my beloved salad, that when I took the first sample bite, I swore I was back in my wood-paneled apartment on Westland Ave with the time-tamed green shag carpet listening to Elliott Smith—but in a good way. Total time travel food.

What you’ll need:

  • Chickpeas, rinsed and dried off (I had 1/2 cup left and used that).
  • Olive oil (I used ~ 1 tsp)
  • Spices of choice—I used cumin, chili powder, and black pepper

What to do: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 
  2. Toss chickpeas with oil and spices.
  3. Spread chickpeas on foil-lined baking sheet and bake 20-30 minutes or until crispy.
  4. Eat plain, over salad, or any other way that seems like a good idea in the moment.

And about that ridiculous apartment…

my moving-out party
Vintage Selfie

Do you have any time travel foods? 

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So I can play later…

Posted on April 21, 2013 | 1 Comment

Greetings from “Working now so I can play later” Land! This weekend, I’ve been kicking the ass of my to-do list. With the end of grad school looming, my work and social schedule for May are already filling up like crazy, so I’ve been taking advantage of some quieter days to get stuff squared away.

It hasn’t all been work, though. Case in point:

well, twist my rubber arm

well, twist my rubber arm

Saturday night, my friend Anna and I met for dinner and drinks at Ayza wine and chocolate bar in the West Village. I’d been joking earlier about the fact that when RDs get together, it’s, like, “Let’s each enjoy a glass or two of red wine and savor some organic dark chocolate.” When Anna suggested this place she’d found on an app called Savored, I laughed…Talk about culinary law of attraction—or maybe just a cliche in action. Either way, the food, drink, and company were all enjoyable.

I also met up with some friends on Thursday for dinner on the Upper West Side at Bettola. Do you ever walk by a place a million times, always saying you’ll make a mental note to check it out? Living in NYC, this happens to me a lot! Anyway, it was great to catch up and enjoy some good food.

IMG_2182Predictably, I ordered the roasted salmon, which came with veggies and potatoes—it was delicious. The chicken and ravioli dishes my friends ordered also looked—and smelled—fantastic. Their pizzas also sounded great. The prices were pretty good too. I think a return visit may be in order.

For now, though, back to the grind. Have an awesome day!

Enjoyed any good restaurant meals lately? Do you use apps to make reservations? 

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What I Ate Wednesday #105: Food Photo “Rules”

Posted on April 10, 2013 | 6 Comments

Good morning and happy Wednesday! This week is going crazy-fast for me, but I’ve been enjoying the nice weather we’re finally having here in the northeast, even if it’s going back into the 50′s later this week. So let’s do this What I Ate Wednesday thing, shall we? As always, thanks to Jenn for hosting. To see more WIAW from other bloggers, visit Peas & Crayons.

So far this week, I haven’t been photographing much, mostly because I’ve either been too busy to remember or not in the mood to interrupt a conversation with an iPhone camera or because I’ve been with people who don’t really know about the blog. I don’t like to be “that girl who takes pictures of all her food,” you know?  I’m curious—do any of you bloggers out there have any particular rules about food photos when you’re with others?

Though I’m exaggerating when I liken having a food blog to having kids or a dog, you do have to say at point, “Hey, I have this thing that’s part of my life, and I need to do things for it—are you cool being around that sometimes?”  Or like, “Hey, I need to go walk my blog—want to come with?”

It’s more than just being seen as “weird,” though. For example, what if someone reads into an implied intimacy because you show off a meal you enjoyed with them online? It’s a very subtle but powerful signal we bloggers use, often without even realizing it. Since the nature of sharing meals is an intimate act in and of itself (think way back to caveman days—you didn’t share your fire or meat with your enemies), posting those things for the world to see is a way of saying, “Look at these intimate things we’re doing together.” Even if the dining company isn’t fully conscious of this, it definitely alters the dynamic. It’s somewhat akin to saying, “Do you want to come back to my place?”

I’ve had to teach myself to really tune in to my gut feeling about someone before I whip out my phone or camera. I’ve also noticed that my desire to share photos of meals I enjoy with someone—or lack there of–says a lot about my feelings for that person. I actually once realized I needed to stop seeing someone because I was terrified that if I posted about meals I’d had with them, they’d start acting like they “owned” me. On the flip side, I’ve gone out with people (though very, very few) with whom I’ve had to keep myself from taking a photo on the first date.

Haha anyway, I’m just rambling. Whether it’s new friends, new more-than-friends, or new co-workers, I often wonder how best to approach it once I’ve gotten comfortable enough to do so. I find What I Ate Wednesday is actually the easiest ice-breaker because I can just explain, “Yeah, I do this fun weekly link-up…so that’s why I’m photographing my lunch tray/cocktail/dinner.”

Speaking of What I Ate Wednesday, let’s get to the what-I-ate part. Here’s what I enjoyed on Sunday.

  • Breakfast: Apple-spice oats with sunflower butter & bee pollen. 
  • Lunch: Poached eggs with avocado, mushrooms, and tomato, English muffin on the side
  • Snack: (unpictured) Hummus, crackers, and olives during a wine-tasting
  • Dinner: Steak with mango-cilantro salsa; side salad 
  • Snack: (unpictured) seaweed, cucumber salad

So I’m curious—do you have any food photo “rules?” What’s the best thing you’ve eaten recently?  

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Smonday

Posted on April 8, 2013 | 1 Comment

Happy Monday—how’s it going? Pardon yesterday’s radio silence. I spent a lot of time this weekend out enjoying the city: among other things, there was oyster happy hour, brunch, wandering around Chelsea Market, a wine-tasting class, dinner, and a movie.

Sometimes I complain about working from home and “having” to set my own schedule, but I’m truly grateful for days I can say yes to things and enjoy a Sunday-like Monday. After enjoying a late breakfast outside in the sun (without a sweater or jacket!), I’d definitely say this one is off to a good start. It’s back to the grind tomorrow, so I’m thankful to be enjoying such a nice day.

What was the highlight of your weekend? What are you looking forward to this week? 

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Signs

Posted on March 16, 2013 | Leave a comment

My (undiagnosed) ADD cracks me up sometimes. The other night, while dealing with the second burnt-out light bulb in two days, I totally forgot I put the old one down “somewhere” while I went to grab a replacement from the closet. Well, I found it this morning when I wasn’t even looking for it. IMG_1896

For whatever reason, I’ve always looked at light bulb burn-outs as signs, especially when several happen within a few days of each other (and not because I’d last changed them all around the same time). I see it as a hint at a new phase, or at the very least, “in with the old, out with the new.” A friend said that, considering the iconography of the lightbulb, it means I need to smash some old ideas. Valid.

It’s similar to how I tend to take things like the sudden (and isolated) appearance of mice and cockroaches, as signs of movement, if kind of unpleasant. I’m weird, I know, but it’s never steered me wrong.

IMG_1887

yay, carbs!

After a busy workweek, I’m feeling kind of wiped. I dragged myself to Zumba last night with my friend Anna. I’m glad I didn’t bail, but damn, my whole body hurts today. It was super-fun, though. I’d never had a male instructor before, and he totally killed it! And by “it,” I mean me. Afterwards we refueled with carbs (aka, wine & beer) and dinner at a restaurant that had just opened the day before. Things were a little chaotic, but the food was really good. I’d post photos, but there’s no real way to make sausage & mash or a veggie burger with fries look pretty.

I stayed up writing a little later than I meant to, but it was totally worth it. Now if only it was so easy to get on a roll with “work-work” and school projects…

Do you believe in “signs?” What’s are some other foods it’s hard to make pretty? 

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