Currently Loving December 2025 Part 1

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

And just like that….here we are in December! I can NOT believe how this year flew by. Here is what I am loving:

 

1. Ruth Asawa at the MoMA

 

At the MoMA until February 7th — must go and see! Over 300 pieces of work — and each one so intricate and beautiful. As someone who weaves baskets, it made it even more incredible — they are BEYOND beautiful and take so much patience and skill. A must visit.

 

2. Supermoon

 

The Supermoon last Thursday night was breathtaking — and of course, more beautiful in person — but still gorgeous on the photo. I love looking at the moon….

 

3. Holidays in Stores

 

It is so breathtaking right now at Bergdorf — it is like a winter wonderland. Actually took my breath away!

 

4. Landman

 

My favorite show right now on TV. I mean, I still love Survivor and Loot, but I loooooove Landman.

 

5. Hill Art Foundation

 

If there is one exhibition you go to in NYC right now, it is at the Hill Foundation — the Igshaan Adams is the best best best thing I have seen in a long time. It is on display until December 20th — so RUN RUN RUN. Like SPRINT.

 

6. Joyce Theatre

 

Two weeks ago, instead of going to theatre with a friend (which I love to do), I went to a dance performance at the Joyce Theatre — loved mixing things up — and highly recommend doing something, anything differently!

 

___

There you have it! My loves of this start of December! What are you loving?

Christmas Wreath Workshop

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

There is nothing I love more than arranging flowers and being creative — so when I found a workshop on Christmas Wreath making, I knew I needed to sign up for it. It was SOOOOO much fun and I highly suggest doing something fun and creative like this in the Holiday Time. I loved every minute of it. This workshop was put on by Pop-Up Florist, a beautiful floral delivery service in NYC, at their new space, House of Three.

 

I didn’t take pictures of the actual physical space of the class — and I should have because it was gorgeous. Big, spacious, beautiful, welcoming. Then there were tables set up with all the items that we could use to make our wreath. All the different types of ribbons, ornaments, any kind of greens, etc…It was weaving AND creating at the same time.

I decided to go very neutral and make a eucalyptus wreath. Holiday but not very much. I loved the way it ended up.

Arrangements around the room done by Pop-Up Florist.

The table.

I loved the flowers in the individual vases.

My final wreath,

A little more of a close up.

On the door at home!

 

I hope you like it as much as I do! And highly suggest making one for your door!

Turkey Trot (Shirts)

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Sorry for the week off — Thanksgiving came and went — and I had sooooo much fun but it was jam packed with fun activities. As usual, we went to California to spend the holiday with our best friends. The best time was had and I miss them dearly (and California, too). One of the highlights was our turkey trot shirts. YUP, the turkey trot shirts. Of course, all planned and coordinated by my sister-from-another-mister (she is the most creative person I know). Take a look, take note, and get for next year!

 

Turkey Trot. I laughed when I saw these turkeys on the day after Thanksgiving. They were literally trotting down the running path.

Continue Reading →

Pasta Party

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

The past three weeks I have been taking cooking classes with some friends — it has been a highlight of the week. Fun, tasty, and a great way to break up the week. On that certain day, we decided to do a late afternoon class and include our daughters and make it a pasta party. It was a great night.

 

Flowers to have for the party! If I don’t have time to go down to the flower market, I like to get my flowers at Trader Joe’s — cheap, good quality, and great selection.

Continue Reading →

Cinnamon Roll Crawl

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

(Sorry for the silence last week — I fainted last weekend, hurt my head, and was dealing with that for most of the week. I rested a lot, and tried to not be on screens — hence my absence. But I am back!) For whatever reason, I decided that this weekend, I needed to do a self-guided Cinnamon Roll Crawl. I spent a lot of time (once my headaches disappeared) researching the best cinnamon rolls in the city and my plan to do it.

 

For whatever reason, I decided that the best way to get there was to RUN! So I ran along the West Side Highway to get downtown (because of course, the best bakeries are downtown).

Continue Reading →

NYC Marathon 2025

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

My favorite day of the year in NYC — and this one did not disappoint — The NYC Marathon. Actually, New York showed off in any way and it was truly a magical day. I did not run — but cheered for 5 hours — and it was absolutely glorious.

 

My preparation for the marathon started on Saturday by watching Kipchoge’s documentary — he is my absolute favorite runner (and maybe even athlete, close to Nadal) and this documentary is so inspirational and incredible.

Continue Reading →

Banh by Lauren

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Last week, the New York Times published “The 25 Essential Pastries to Eat in NYC,” which of course, I studied top to bottom and figured out when I was going to each one of them. So last Friday, after teaching, I decided to head down to ChinaTown for a long overdue massage (my favorite place in NYC is Renew Day Spa) and a stop at Banh by Lauren to get the Bahn Bo.

 

First of all, this bakery / cafe was incredibly gorgeous. Located far east of chinatown, it stood out immediately with its beautiful green hues and sophisticated look. Walking in felt very peaceful — almost like a museum.

Continue Reading →

Côte à Côte

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Fashion inspiration from New York City streets to California shores….Côte à Côte! Started by one of my besties, Eleanor, and her good friend, Ferebee, they created an online presence putting together outfits and ensembles with key pieces. Hands down, it is the best website / instagram / fashion inspiration you will ever find. So, go on instagram, follow them, and see their fashionable tastes.

 

Eleanor lives in California and Ferebee lives in NYC — they are both beautiful, smart, and incredibly fashionable.

Continue Reading →

Othership

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Last week, I decided to go to Othership, a sauna and cold plunge experience, and instantly fell in love with it. The first time I went (because yes, I went to two classes in 4 days), I attended a guided class. This class consisted of a 75 minute embarkment through the sauna and ice bath. It was 20 minutes in the sauna, with guided commentary, different lights, music, breathing techniques. Followed by cold plunge in groups, then back to the sauna, and then some tea. It was NOT what I was expecting, and took me a little off guard, but I loved it so much.

 

The sauna has three different levels — I was on the bottom and that was SO hot. I sweat BUCKETS. So much, that I was able to do the cold plunge. The actual sauna is HUGE and fits 64 people — it was packed. All places were taken. Even though it sounds like it could be a little gross, it wasn’t at all. Everything felt very clean.

Continue Reading →

Nike Marathon Signs

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

This past weekend, I ran my 24th marathon (my 10th Chicago Marathon). It was a great day and despite it being hard (all marathons are hard), I enjoyed the process, the journey, and the race itself. One of my favorite parts of the race were all the Nike signs posted along the course. They were HUGE, and EVERYWHERE and really, really helped. Here are a few of my favorite. They are creative, cute, and different! Enjoy!

 

I don’t remember this one — and not my favorite sign — but still a good one.

Continue Reading →

Suzie Kondi Socks

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

I love Suzie Kondi — both the person and the brand. And everything she sells is perfection — not just her sweats or her sweaters (I am obsessed with my new sheer skirt I got from her!) but also her socks. WHO KNEW? She currently does not sell them online (only at her store) but I am telling you all to be on the lookout for these socks online and go to her store to get.

 

The perfect ankle sock to wear with skirts and loafers.

Continue Reading →

Currently Loving October 2025

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

There is so much to love right now — and this is what I am loving!

 

1. Picnics in October

This past weekend felt like summer in the city. 80 degrees in October! I absolutely loved every minute. Toosh and I had a picnic and she did homework and I needlepointed. Loved it.

Continue Reading →

Magic Hour

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

Ojai, California is not only the home of Thacher (my son’s school), but also many, many cool stores, restaurants, and brands. Magic Hour is one of them that I happened to stumble upon last weekend. It is a tea shop — but not any tea shop — a beautiful, insanely gigantic, magical, incredible tea shop. It sells every type of tea that is made with love in Ojai. Their mission is to connect the world through tea ceremony and the simple act of sharing tea. And you can sense this goal the moment you walk in to the space. The space is beaaaaauuutiful, and the tea is even more special. I spent 30 minutes walking around the store, smelling every different type of blend, sampling, asking questions — it is a must visit if in Ojai.

 

I grew up with parents who drank tea every single night with their dessert before going to bed. It is something so ceremonial and special that I love to partake in. I bought a big bottle of mint and smaller of rooibos.

Continue Reading →

Hotel El Roblar

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

This past weekend, I traveled to Ojai, California, to visit my one-and-only-son, Cruzzie at school. It was a fun filled three days (will report more later) and I loved every minute of it (even though the red eye back was intolerable). I stayed at Hotel El Roblar, a brand new hotel in the area that opened up less than 3 months ago. Although it is newly opened, the building has been in existent since 1919. Now, it has been restored by Eric Goode (owner of the Turtle Conservancy and Bowery Hotel, etc…), Ramin Shamshiri, Warner Ebbink and Jeremy McBride. It is a 5- room hotel with two different restaurants, a pool, some giant tortoises, and a hipster vibe. I loved my time there and I cannot wait to return.

 

Picture of the outside — Spanish architecture. I love this picture (taken from their website)

Continue Reading →

NYC Bakery Run 2025

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

This past Sunday, I ran the first ever NYC Bakery Run. A half-marathon with 8 bakeries. Yep, the route covered 8 different bakery stops. All were incredible — and it was such a fun and different day! Thank you, Tipster, for putting together such a fun, successful and unique day!

 

The run was put together by Tipster. Tipster is a website and journal that is in the know of everything cool, hip, and new. This was their first issue in NY (It is based in Copenhagen) and it covered all the best bakeries. So it made sense that their big NYC start was a half marathon with 8 of these bakeries listed. We went to all of the ones listed above minus Apollo Bagel and Win Son Bakery.

Continue Reading →

Everyday Oil

Josie Girl 1 Comment

Everyday Oil. Of course I found out about this oil from my sister-from-another-mister, my best friend on the west coast. So of course, now, I have to tell you about it. Because it is so good. And your skin needs it. It is certified organic with botanical oils that are incredibly hydrating and nourishing for your body, face, hair, and EVERYWHERE. All the different scents smell amazing, and your skin feels even better than you smell!

 

The best oil. I leave it in the shower and then just put it everywhere post shower.

Continue Reading →

Trader Joe’s Fall Haul 2025

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

OK, call me a basic PSL lover (I actually don’t love pumpkin spice lattes, but I LOOOOOVE anything pumpkin), but when I went to Trader Joe’s recently, I was so excited by all the Fall goodies. So of course, need to share with you my haul (and yes, I am like my 13 year old daughter who loves to share hauls). And I am so happy (so happy that I have been back twice in one week to get more of some of these items).

 

So good so delicious. Can’t stop eating these.

Continue Reading →

Spotify Blend

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. If you like to listen to music at home — but you have different music taste than that of your family members or friends, you can blend your music taste and create a playlist that both accounts like. Enter, Spotify Blend. It is simply what you think — a feature that creates a shared, personalized playlist combining the music tastes of you and a friend. Amazing, right? (Apparently, this is an old feature, but I am just now learning about it, and I am so excited that I need to share with you, in case, you, too are old and out of touch).

 

Thank you, Spotify.

Continue Reading →

Natori Fall 2025 Wish List

Josie Girl Leave a Comment

With the start of the new School Year, I am dreaming of lots of new Natori items — undies, bras, pajamas, everything! Here is my wish list:

 

1. Bliss Serenity Cotton Slip Dress

 

I love anything cotton that Natori does — it is timeless, comfortable, breathable, and the perfect nightgown. I love this one — and it comes in black and white!

 

Continue Reading →

Currently Loving September 2025

Josie Girl 1 Comment

Sorry for my absence last week — back in New York, back to school (for both me and the kids!), back to figuring out the schedule and the flow. And hardest part — back to waking up so early! but now, I AM BAAAAACCCCCCKKKKKKKKK. Here is what I am currently loving this month.

 

1. US Open

 

Yes, the US Open just ended yesterday, but it is my favorite two weeks in the city. And my favorite night is always with my favorite lady, Mrs. Mason. This night is hands down, so fun, and now I get to enjoy it with Tusia who LOVES Mrs. Mason, and LOVES tennis.

Continue Reading →

Yaks on the 5

Josie Girl 2 Comments

Last week, we dropped of my son, Cruz, at his boarding school in Ojai, California. Per his request, he asked to drive down from Oregon. He had never been on a “road trip” before so we crammed 14 hours of driving in two days. One of the highlights of the drive was asking chatGPT to find the best spot for lunch in between Eugene and San Francisco. And sure enough, it found a winner (thank you, AI!) We had a truly enjoyable lunch, right off the 5 (Interstate 5) — Yaks on the 5.

 

The drive.

Thank you, Ken for driving! I made a basket. 🙂

We made it to California!

And finally to Yaks on the 5 — a burger place! The line was manageable and we were able to eat outside, so win win all around.

Cruzzie and his burger.

Ken had a pastrami sandwich.

All of it so delicious.

Toosh and the burger, too.

 

I had a salad with wings and ribs on it (picture didn’t turn out) and they were the best ribs I have. ever. ever. ever. eaten. So highly suggest Yaks on the 5 if you happen to be in that neck of the woods, and also suggest chatGPT for recommending such a great spot!