Posts Tagged ‘NYC’

How it all Ve-gan.

Today I went out to eat with a lovely lady after work to an Upper East Side restaurant called Franchia. Its touted as a Vegan Cafe and it certainly is tasty and presented very well. Also much to many a persons surprise, I’m sure, very affordable, no sticker shock here. Both of us chose to get the Tea Party (I think it was called that) Tray which included a tea at the beginning and end (a whole pot, you choose the teas) an array of small plates and two mini desserts (I was given a red bean mochi and a mango creamy sherbet drizzled with rasberry sauce!) Here are some delicious photos. Note* I always take food pictures, I appreciate what I eat (=

This place had a call button ! … ya… it was small and located on one side of the table near the partition we were next to and guess what? When you press it a server magically appears! Ingenius! It just makes sense, as a server you don’t have to check unnecessarily on your table and as a patron you can ask for assistance when you want it… as they say in the guiness commercial.. BRILLIANT!

$hop til’ you drop.. into a money pit.

Now when you think of a shopoholic or a compulsive shopper it seems silly….. YET they exist. ! In fact I believe I may have a touch of both, however I manage well enough that my bills are paid and my stomach is always full and I’m not pummeling other girls over at sample sales for a pair of Vivienne Westwood shoes or something like that. I would like to point out though that, yes, I am a girl, and yes I do like to shop (mostly online or at crazy nyc stores.. so. many. good. ones.) I generally hate malls and large department stores, the only exception is when I’m with my Mom because I have spent many a year in a mall with that woman. lol. Anyway the point is the main reason I shop so much is because I get bored.. also I am not as pre-occupied with creative outlets as I once was which results in me having a killer wardrobe but at a stand still with my debt. So what is the point of all this? Well I am sure some of you out there have or are experiencing the same thing. Solution ? Do anything but shop! please?!?!? I mean, once in awhile, but not frequently. I do things other than shop that I love to do all the time but I just need to do more of it. Much like the character in the movie Shopoholic, I too would like to point out how overpriced and overdone all that stuff is.

Example: Almost every Betsey Johnson item I have gotten with thin straps breaks or starts to tear… now do you know how much on average her dresses and whatnot run? $200 and up easily. Luckily I am a bargain Queen (not always) so have never paid full price so when a strap breaks, disappointing, but not devastating….I just get it fixed. Example 2: I was bored surfing the net today and I decided to look at some Alexander McQueen jewelry online.. the ring for 2011 on sale for $150 at Saks that was simply brass and enamel….ya… (made in china) How much do you think that costs to make? I will say that 80% of the time I shop sales but even so, I have spent a bundle. All its doing is making it take longer for me to reach my goals. I want to do things for not only myself (travel, more schooling.. etc) but others as well. As long as I continue my current frivolous lifestyle… that will be more difficult. -AND- just think… how good will it be to be completely (or nearly) debt free??? FREAKIN’ AMAZING ! so there you go. Join me in my pursuit of happiness and financial freedom and good health. You can only benefit ! If you have any stories or comments about this topic, please, DO TELL

Also if you get a chance to check out the MTV True Life (yeah I used to get sucked in when I had cable) there is one featuring two girls who are (extreme) examples of how gone unchecked this type of habit can turn into a downward spiral, of course these girls also happen to have some serious underlying issues (I suspect causing this irrational shopping behavior) but still… their stories might have a similar effect on your over-shopping as does showing a bunch of teenagers horrific pictures of STD’s to try and dissuade them from having sex……….ya… right… I thought so. Can’t say I didn’t try to help you…. ahahah

This girl ran up her parents credit cards to $10,000 ! Making it harder for an already struggling family.. (my mind was blown as to why she had their cards in the first place, the show kind of explains. meh) Also in this particular screen shot she looks super…um.. pissed *cough* bitchy *cough* … Guuurrrl those Juicy Jeans don’t do shit for your ass, why did you buy 5 pair??? DON’T BE HER!! AH!

This chick spent so much not only did she have a pile of unopened bills (too afraid to look/avoiding payment) rent-a-center (even her furniture on credit ?!? shit.) repossessed pretty much her whole apartment. Reality Bites. (good movie ! anyone? anyone?) DON’T BE THIS GIRL! AHHHH !

So in conclusion, find balance in everything you do because its ever so important. Extremes are never healthy.

Cheers!

P.s. I will be posting some DIY projects soon, how much more satisfying ! Really ! Trust me on this one.

[polldaddy poll=5314571]

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Good Morning.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkbpmFOuKrc]

At work, listening to this and drinking an organic mocha shake, Cheers to your health! Happy Saturday !   (I love this coat/outfit… Fall  is my favorite.) Xo.

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Tale of a Brooklyn Brunch

Today I enjoyed a much favored past time on a Sunday almost afternoon… the art of brunch! I met up with a few lovely lady friends and ate my last real food for the next few weeks as I will be starting my cleanse tomorrow (I was not supposed to eat any of this 24hrs prior so I broke the rules already basically(no caffeine, heavy carbs, etc just light meals aka healthy stufff) .. but just LOOK at these items and I’m sure you would have done the same…

Papacitos Brooklyn

Siberian Suntan: A Vegan White Russian topped with cinnamon with a slight tropical twist, interesting flavor mix

Chocolate encrusted french toast with pasilla and cinnamon maple syrup

Afterwards we went to a local health food store and bought some goodies and I spotted this babeh on the street, notice the “hood” ornament. Now I am home cleaning up and waiting for my delivery of the joulebody program to show up… Hope your Sunday is as relaxing as mine has been so far!

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Honesty is the best policy…

Not to be a Debbie Downer but a few if not a lot of questions have plagued me from time to time since I settled into Ny…
I am close with many people in my family and friends that I left behind in Michigan… at least I hope none of them feel I “left” them… anyway… I just saw an opening in the road to fulfill a long time daydream of mine and decided to take the chance. So far besides having a ridiculously nice apartment just fall into my lap as well as an amazing job/opportunity (not without much hard work of course) I do feel I was led here for one reason or another and I haven’t quite figured what that reason is yet. I miss my cousins (aka the closest to siblings I will ever have or want!) badly, my parents and best friend(s). I struggle with thoughts of feeling bad for not being around or participating more in their paths of growing ever taller and older.  I am not sure when I will be done with N.Y. … I never had a plan here, I just came.. jobless with little money and only a guarantee of a room to reside in, the rest I figured out along the way.. I’m still figuring it out. I am from time to time restless in thought and body.. I am a traveler at heart; an adventurer; a risk taker; (not always good) and I doubt that will ever wane from me. I always seem to learn the hard way (unintentional!) and dive right into the deep end, sink or swim. I can only hope this path leads somewhere on the up and up. Progress, thats all. At this point I am at the “What’s next?” and it feels slow and dragging. I aim to stay positive however and I generally am… I think a vacation is in order as soon as work allows. I need some space. Home is absolutely where the heart is. Where and who is your home?

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Justified.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBBGE7vz02s]
So I was bad, very, very bad. For some frivolous reason I have wanted just ONE pair of ridiculous designer sunglasses.. Why? I cannot explain. All I can say is I only ever buy gimmicky or $10 sunglasses that eventually stop fitting correctly, the lenses are so bad they don’t even block the sun or help me see effectively and/or the color/paint starts to wear off of them… SO I wanted one pair I would wear until they are completely destroyed or join me in the grave. I always thought.. Chanel.. classic. But then I saw this updated version with a modern twist of the cat eye by Prada and it was over. They are unique, they fit my face well, and I like them dammit. So ya I own these now and my irrational sunglasses lust is over. If your thinking of the doing the same and just cannot justify it.. just do it. You only live once and you can’t take anything with you. Is that reason enough? If you need to justify anything else e-mail me your questions, I can justify pretty much everything. I should have been a lawyer.

                                                           ~FIN~

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Lush Life

If your unfamiliar with Lush.. well.. get familiar! The products are amazing and smell great and aren’t full of preservatives or toxins. In fact when coming upon a Lush store you can smell it from across the street! Today I went to Lush in Herald Square and I thought I was heading the wrong direction -But- you know what helped me know I was on the right track??? The smell !! Its wonderful and not a smell derived from chemicals… I am on a new health kick inside and out so that includes skin care.. below is my haul and a Lush company statement.
A lovely lady that works there made me a flower out of the scarf I purchased and threw in some free samples. She has been using Lush a few years and does NOT look her age!
A list of the products I purchased:

  • Tea Tree Water Toner
  • Ocean Salt Face and Body Scrub (one of their top sellers)
  • Flying Fox Shower Gel (smells amazing)
  • Coal Face Facial Cleanser
  • Grease Lightning Spot Treatment
  • Gorgeous Facial Moisturizer
  • Dirty Toothy Tabs (toothpaste on the go!)
  • Brazened Honey Face Mask (detoxifying mask and you must keep it in the fridge, yes its that fresh!)                                                                                         
                                    (Click to enlarge/see more clearly)
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Found Objects

So as I was walking up the stairs at the subway stop this caught my eye…
Now I don’t condone touching anything on the subway, but this bright lavender paper I had to pick up…wondering what it was I opened it and this is what I found….
Apparently it was a modern religious tract. A tract is like a small comic or book related to a message involving the bible/church/ideas. I used to collect them from the people that would preach on street corners and my Grandma had a ton that were old and due to content/time changes, bizarre. My all time favorite is one from the 70’s called “The Rock Called Punk” emblazoned in white lettering against a flat black background, inside it talks against the punk movement of that era. If you’ve ever seen The Decline of Western Civilization Exene from X collects them too. Its just a weird thing. I am not religious by any means.. in fact I think religion is yet another thing man has F&#%ed up. Anyway this tract is from Jews for Jesus, apparently here in N.Y. they piss the Jewish community off. I just found this entertaining not to mention the illustrations are great !! Enjoy.
(Click on any image to enlarge)

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Pavement

Today I rode my bike about… 6 miles? I had to go to my motorcycle class at a nearby driving school, tomorrow I take a road test to get my Ny license… so nervous! Keep you posted on how it turns out. !
My route.. (click to enlarge) roughly 1.6 miles but I traveled it back and forth a few times today. I started around point A and the school (http://www.ferraridrivingschool.com) is #1
When riding under the subway tracks…. beware of pigeons.
Word to the wise.. get a U lock !
… watch out for cabs…. and don’t take pictures on your phone while riding either.. (guilty as charged)
.. 6 miles and 3 showers for the day later.. it folds into a nice little package for hiking up a flight of stairs with.. also as it turns out 5th gear works best on this one.

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