3 on Thursday

I'm excited to be sandwiched between two great weekends.  I am fresh off a visit from Mark and Allison and leaving tomorrow for DC to visit Sliz.  Obviously I'm most excited to have some quality time with my college bestie but this trip is also exciting because I'll get to see what it's like to travel with my new iPad.  Bus trips and plane rides are pretty much what the device was made for so I look forward to seeing what it can do.

While walking in the West Village I saw a cute little book shop so adorably named bookbook.  It's like The Shop Around The Corner from "You've Got Mail," only the internet hasn't put it out of business.  I usually don't allow myself to go into book stores because I'm a Barnes and Noble member so it doesn't make sense to buy elsewhere, but the smell of a book store is too intoxicating that it's impossible to walk out empty handed - better to just not go in at all.  But this time I just couldn't resist.  It's a small shop, but they have all the best sellers as well as some lesser known NYC themed titles and the prices - on brand new books, mind you - were unbeatable.  I bought three books for myself plus two more for my nieces (that doesn't count - they're gifts).  I didn't want Barnes and Noble to think I was cheating on them so I went home and ordered three more from them to even the score.  The first step to getting better is admitting you have a problem.

I tried some new vendors at Smorgasburg while my Mom was here and found some goodies.  I had never really heard much anything about Bolivian cuisine but apparently they make these things called salteñas which are like empanadas but with sweeter dough and filled with stew instead of just meat.  It was absolutely delicious.  This stew pie from Bolivian Llama Party may have been the favorite of the day.  We also tried great fish and chips from Handsome Hank's Fish Hut.  My mom kept asking which one was Handsome Hank - they didn't mind; they loved mugging for a photo.  Fun service aside, the portion was massive, they battered and fried each filet to order, and they get bonus points for using some sort of mustard in their tartar sauce - not traditional but best tartar sauce I think I've ever had.

For months, I have stopped to admire the window of a small florist right by my apartment.  I envision their centerpieces at my fictional wedding and even told my Mom that if I ever did get engaged I would start taking pictures of my favorites and having the florist in Savannah replicate.  Last week, I told her I wanted to take it a step further and start a tumblr showcasing their floral art because these masterpieces should not be limited to my own fake-wedding dreams.  These flowers are too beautiful to be enjoyed only by those who live near 37th and 3rd.  So please check out Blooms on Third to get your floral fill.

3 on Thursday

Who's ready for the weekend?  ME.  It took far too long, but Spring has finally sprung and I can't wait to enjoy it.

I'm all about using social media appropriately.  Cole Haan has developed a great tumblr tracking Subway Style.  This links to their current branding with their logo in MTA-style lettering and their recent campaign around the NYC subway system.  Instead of just showing pictures of their own products, they focus on general NYC fashion, which is an entity unto itself, and encourage engagement with a "This or That" voting series.  They show that they "get" New York fashionistas - and that does way more for brand loyalty than any product shot.

I recently took a cooking class with co-workers in an amazing loft space.  At Miette Culinary Studio, Chef Paul Vandewoude assesses your skill level and tailors how much you do accordingly.  He was great about explaining why he took certain approaches and I walked away having learned a lot - but I would expect nothing less from a man who was the head chef at someplace like Tartine.  I also walked away full.  We started with a salad topped with wine poached pears and blue cheese, then moved on to perfectly cooked chicken with fresh tomato sauce over cauliflower almond puree, and finished off the meal with molten financiers and fresh vanilla ice cream.  There was a sommelier on site to pair everything with wine, but we also drank the whole time we cooked (which always makes the kitchen more of a playground).  The prices are actually quite reasonable so this is not a bad idea for an excursion with friends or a cute anniversary gift.

I'm not sure why, but today I just really felt like a New Yorker.  I was hyper aware of the fact that I was doing a NYC-style commute - much different from the car-bound commutes of other cities.  Maybe it's the change of the seasons (finally!) that makes everything more vivid and alive - every breeze that passes through my hair tingles.  Whatever it is, I feel like a city gal today and there are few things more quintessentially New York than the "we are here to serve you" coffee cup.  

3 on Thursday

Between now and Christmas break, I think I have one weeknight to myself.  Maybe two.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

My Mom has always been good with brooches and bangles.  I, on the other hand, tend to stick to one or two jewelry pieces and wear them every day.  I am too afraid I'll get it wrong when mixing and stacking jewelry so I don't even try.  That sort of meek attitude won't get me anywhere in life!  It's time I amped up my jewelry collection and Bauble Bar is the perfect place for me to stock up on fun, trendy pieces.  Not only is everything very "now," the prices are great.  They get even better when they offer their deeply discounted buried baubles each week.  When I decided to put together a pleated skirt/turtlneck combo I knew It needed a chunky statement necklace to complete the look and this is the best place to get it.

I'M TUMBLING!  I always thought tumblr was basically another blog platform (like blogspot vs. wordpress) so I assumed I was good to go with the blog I've got.  After reading an article about the year's best tumblrs I realized a blog and a tumblr are two different beasts.  While blogs are all about writing, tumblrs use more mixed media and typically feature snack sized content.  tumblr is also a more social environment.  While blogs are destinations, they're not usually viewed in a stream.  tumblr is all about streaming so you can see what your friends or favorite writers post constantly.  Because posts are usually small, they lend themselves to sharing more than a typical blog.  I am in NO way abandoning this blog.  If anything, I am more committed to posting regularly.  However, as a media professional, I see the benefit using different social media avenues.  Plus, I think it's cool.  When it comes to social media, don't just be there to be there.  I can't tell you how many companies use Facebook or Twitter without thinking how to best leverage those platforms for their brand.  In some cases, doing social media poorly is worse than not doing it at all.  While I could talk about best business practices for a while, I won't bore you.  I will, however, mention one of my rules of thumb.  (::Free advice!::)  Don't repurpose content.  Instead, play up the assets of each space.  For me, that means using this blog for [by internet standards] longform content.  As I'm sure you've noticed, this is basically a food blog, with the exception of book reviews and "3 on Thursday" (which still features lots of food).  It will remain so.  My tumblr, She's Mad, She'll Get Glad  is based on one of my Mom's best pieces of advice.  When someone is acting pissy for no good reason, her motto is "If she's mad, she'll get glad."  Basically, it means the brat's gotta buck up and put a smile on her face and we need to not let her get us down.  An example: "Mom, I put so much effort into this huge dinner but Jane is upset because I'm serving pasta instead of rice.....Well, Tess, if she's mad she'll get glad.  You've put too much time into this to worry about one person."  I try not to walk around like a Negative Nancy and don't like having any of those around me so my tumblr is going to have regular posts meant only to put a smile on your face.  It's a lot easier to go from mad to glad after seeing this stuff.  I don't plan on repeating what I've already posted on Instagram or Twitter so this will be something totally new - follow me!

When scaffolding went up right in front of the new, upscale florist by my apartment, he used it to his advantage.  I didn't even notice the pile of trash on the sidewalk after through this Winter Wonderland.

3 on Thursday

After a two day work week, I am currently relaxing in Savannah with the fam for Thanksgiving.  Could not be happier.

The last 5+ years in NYC have been great.  This city has nearly everything but has been lacking in the country music department.  If this weekend is any indication, the musical tide is turning.  In three short days I packed in not one but two country music concerts.  The first was Eli Young Band who turn out a more rock and roll sound when playing live.  They have recently started tearing up the charts and people have begun taking note.  Not sure if country is for you?  Well, if you're a Tom Petty fan, this group will be for you - we may make a country believer out of you yet.  Concert number two was Zac Brown Band.  I can't tell you how happy this concert made me.  First, I was just happy to see some boys from my beloved home state make it to the big time where even New Jersey kids are belting out all the lyrics to their down home tunes.  It was tough to swallow such an expensive ticket when I used to see them for $10 in Athens, but they deserve it.  Second, they put on a great show.  They are all incredibly talented, especially the fiddle player.  And finally, in addition to hearing all their great songs, I went nuts over the covers.  Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" led into John Mayer's "Neon" (a fellow Georgian whose first album was huge for me in high school...though I felt seriously old when none of the other people at the concert knew the song), "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was one of the best things our group could hear, and hearing "America the Beautiful" followed by Metallica's "Enter Sandman" just before "Chicken Fried" was a fabulous way to end the show.  As much as I love it up here, homesickness is inevitable.  Getting to see concerts like this is the best antidote.  

Elizabeth Banks is a great actress.  I think the world has figured that out by now.  Did you also know she's an Ivy League grad - magna cum laude, no less?!  Combine beauty, brains, and a sense of humor and the woman is bound to be unstoppable.  She's built a cute lifestyle website filled with recipes and social commentary.  It's a great place for a little mental health break.

Saw this magazine spread and could not help but audibly "awww".

3 on Thursday

I thrive in a busy environment, but after a month of living inside the belly of a whale of busy, I am ready for things to slow down a bit.  Things have become blissfully normal.

After I posted a picture on Twitter of me sipping my coffee (not the one pictured above), the coffeecupview tumblr asked if they could use my photo for their site.  Wary that this was a porn scheme, I checked out the site to make sure I wasn't getting myself into something I would regret.  Not only did I determine the site was legit, I got lost scrolling through the peaceful images of coffee cups all over the world.  I guess an addiction to caffeine is universal.  

A new favorite site is Design Taxi.  It aggregates news within the creative and design world and the breadth of topics covered is wide.  On Tuesday, for instance, top stories included designers' versions of Disney princess dresses, Jack Daniels' white whiskey, and a graphic designer's resignation letter.

I became a fan of Jennifer Westfeldt's movie writing skills when I first saw "Kissing Jessica Stein" in high school.  She's done it again with "Friends with Kids," this time taking on the additional role of director.  It's an unconventional love story between two platonic friends who decide raising a baby together is the best way to avoid the disintegration of fun and love they've seen happen within the marriages of their friends with children.  It is a funny and touching story that hits on the realities of family life both in general and in Manhattan.  Rent it.       

3 on Thursday

My parents came up for a few days to help me get my new apartment all set up.  It's like a totally new place.  There is still plenty to do, which means this weekend will be primarily business, not pleasure.  It's a little stressful, but it's worth it now that it's all coming together.  For once, I wasn't overly sad when my parents left.  That's because they'll be back 4 weeks from today - let the countdown begin!

Is there anything better than a guy in a suit/tux?  Nothing even comes close.  I'm not one to swoon over puppies, but show me a bunch of men all dressed up and I go weak in the knees.  A suit or tuxedo will make any guy look hotter, but the tumblr Guys In Suits takes celebrities who are already stunning and amps their hot factor by showing pictures of them in formal wear.  Sometimes the pics are from magazine shoots, other times they're snaps from the paparazzi, and every time they're very sexy.  Can someone pass me a towel so I can wipe the drool from my keyboard? 

I don't like apple juice, but when it's mixed with flavors like raspberry or black current, it goes down nice and easy.  Red Jacket Orchards is located in the Finger Lakes region and their juices can often be found at green markets around the city.  It's always nice to try something local.  What are some of your local faves?

I love stumbling past fun graffiti/street art and this #DontGoHome series is a great one to walk past when you're already tipsy.