Park Lane Pantry Granola

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A self proclaimed snob (and expert) on granola, I recently sampled Park Lane Pantry, and I can’t get enough! Wholesome, delicious, nutritious. And on top of that, the back story of how the granola was created is truly inspiring — read about Elaine here and how she decided to create her own granola after her experience with cancer.

 

Granola perfection. Small batch

Inspiring story! I love the ingredients (Made with real food ingredients: Unsweetened coconut flakes, Almonds, Pecans, walnuts, Maple syrup, Medjool dates, Unsweetened cranberries, Dried apricots, Monk fruit, Coconut oil, Whole grain gluten-free rolled oats, Water, Vanilla extract, Orange peel, Ground cinnamon, Kosher salt, Sea salt.)

Check out those chunks of deliciousness!

 

This granola is crunchy, fruity, nutty, and not sweet. It is truly the best combination of all things together. I am a huge fan of this granola and I can’t wait to try the other granola flavors. Additionally, I love supporting small and growing companies, especially when they create a delicious product.

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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My New Favorite Podcasts

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A New Year and a new commitment to listen to more podcasts instead of music. I love music and therefore listen to it on every run, workout, errand, subway ride, basically anytime I am in the house or walking somewhere out of the house. And although I love this, I also want to become smarter and interested in other things. Several years ago, I was a dedicated podcast listener, but then, I fell off. So now, it is time to get back on the podcast train! Here is a list of my go-to-podcasts as well as ones I want to start listening to more frequently.

 

1. Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

 

Every person Oprah interviews, no matter if I am interested or not, I leave feeling smarter and more informed. Yes, everything Oprah touches is gold to me, but this podcast is my ultimate favorite.

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Natori Obsession Convertible Bra

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You all know that my favorite bra of all times is the Feathers Bra — it is truly the perfect bra. Yet, in an effort to try something ew, I just purchased the Natori Obsession Convertible Bra. Although it is not an everyday bra like Feathers, it is a great bra and I am happy that I have it in my collection. So if you are looking for some va-va-voom and added oomph in your life, the Natori Obsession Convertible Bra is right up your alley!

 

Thank you, beautiful Natori model!

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Currently Loving January 2020

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2020 here we are! And here is what I am currently loving this month!

 

1. Lovers in Auschwitz, Reunited 72 Years Later

 

I read this article over a month ago when it came out and yet I still think about it. It is extremely powerful and moving — an incredible story that is worth the long read. Gotta love a good ‘ol love story.

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Paleo Style Muesli

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My favorite breakfast of all times is muesli. Whenever I go out to breakfast (usually when on vacation), I will never NOT order muesli (aka will always order). In hopes to eat a tad bit healthier at the start of the New Year, I made paleo muesli every day while on break. Instead of oatmeal based, this muesli is coconut based. Very delicious and easy to make — the key is the Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Style Muesli.

 

Grain free. You just add this with some fruit, cover it with milk, place in fridge and wait until the morning and VOILA, delicious muesli with less carbs.

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RESTORE Face Cream

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As most of you know, I am highly obsessed with anything from Dr. Roger’s RESTORE product line. I don’t leave my house without the healing balm and have a tub of it in every room. I use it on my lips, under my kid’s noses (to prevent bloody noses which they seem to get all winter long due to the dryness), on bruises and scratches (I had a bad fall last week and have been using the healing balm to keep it moist), and I even use the healing balm as a face cream when in super dry climates (high altitude). SOOOOOOOO, I am ecstatic that there is now a face cream that is available to purchase. And even though I just bought it, I feel like I am going to be equally obsessed with it and won’t leave my house without it. RESTORE face cream! Soft, pillowy, and rich!

 

These products make me so happy — they are made with natural ingredients and make such a difference on my skin.

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January 2020 Reading List

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HI! HELLO! HOWDY! Happy New Year! Back in action over here at josiegirlblog.com and ready to post on my regular schedule! I hope you had a great break and feel rested and ready for a new YEAR! Nothing better than starting the year off with some great books — so here are the books I want to read this winter (or year, TBH). Take a look! Most of these books (1-9) were recommended to me by a friend who works at Penguin Random House as a publisher…..

 

1. The Book of Unknown Americans

 

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They Called Us Enemy

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Please, oh please, immediately after you read this post, order the book They Called Us Enemy. It is an ever so powerful and important book and a part of our American history. The graphic novel is the story of George Takei’s personal story of the years he and his family lived behind barbed wires, prisoners due to his ethnic background. Although this story touches me personally due to my own connection to the Holocaust, I was unfamiliar with how the Japanese-Americans were treated in America during the war. It is crucial that we all know about this part of history and how this legalized racism existed, not so long ago.

 

MUST READ. NOW.

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Christy Schnabel’s Bike Path Photographs

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Thanks to friend and interior designer, Lucie Ayres, for the guest post! Always love hearing slash reading what she has to say! Take a look!

 

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Want to know a secret? An interior designer’s hardest job is finding good art for our clients.  It is a process that can take months or even years. Often more than one person is involved in the decision making which is what makes it extra challenging.

 

So, when I saw Christy Schnabel’s Bike Path images, I was floored.  Not only are the colors of the photographs so beautiful – but the characters and details are just perfect. I said we must collaborate! Our clients (and friends and family, I mean almost everyone) are always searching for stunning, unexpected art and photography pieces that can be rendered on a large scale and convey a strong sense of place.

 

To me, Christy’s work celebrates the diversity of Los Angeles in a simple, joyful, and strikingly original way – with the artist’s punk-rock spirit and sense of humor shining through – using one of the city’s most iconic locations as a backdrop. Several of our clients, including one of LA’s premiere fitness chains, have become fans and collectors of Christy’s work.

 

We had a launch event at her house where we framed and hung about 45 pieces and the feedback was tremendous – people engaged and discussed who these characters could be.  The breakout stars from the show were the athletic California woman and the young girl walker below. Both embody a clear female confidence with a good dose of intrigue.

 

Bikini Girl Star

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Suzie Kondi Velour Track Suits

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I am jumping back on the 1990s velour track suit look and I couldn’t be happier! But this time around, it is not Juicy Couture, but instead New York City designer, Suzie Kondi. The track suits come in a selection of color and I want them all. Not only that, but they also come in kid’s sizes, too, so you can match your daughter. It’s as if my dream came true — matching, velour, track suit, comfortable, and rainbow colors.

 

YUP. We are living the dream.

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The Coconut Cult

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Recently, I read about a $20 yogurt all over the internet — and of course, I was intrigued. This is not just any yogurt, but a special probiotic yogurt — more of a supplement. The Coconut Cult is full of probiotics and delicious, made in small batches with 800 billion highly active probiotics into every quart! That is a whole lot of probiotics; which is so good for you and your gut! This yogurt is unlike any other yogurt and you don’t eat it normally (with granola, berries, etc). Rather, you eat just 1-2 spoonfuls per day. It’s like medicine — but tasty and delicious! People are obsessed and rave about how it has changed their digestive system, sleep, headaches, and the way they feel…..I have yet to see a difference (Week 1….) but I am enjoying the sweet and creamy taste. It is like dessert but oh so healthy!

 

Delicious (and cute packaging, too)….

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Innisfree Masks

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Recommended by a friend, I stopped by Korean Beauty store Innisfree last week and FELL IN LOVE! I was so excited that I didn’t know what direction to look at. Finally, I decided that I was going to stock up on masks as they make great gifts (’tis the season of giving) and are affordable, fun, and different.

 

You can get them in a gift box right now, too! 13 sheets for 17 dollars! I plan on taking them out of the box and bundling up 3-4 of them together for little gifts to pass out to people.

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Zesty Z Popcorn

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I am a grazer and am constantly snacking and eat nonstop. My new favorite go-to snack is Zesty Z popcorn. It is flavored popcorn with the perfect amount of flavor and zest. Kind of like a healthy cheeto, but not cheese…but once you start, you cannot stop!

 

Big bag! Big flavor! It is air-popped Mediterranean Popcorn and comes in three different flavors — my favorite being thyme and herbs.  The popcorn has 47 calories per cup, 1g sugar, 2g of protein, and is both gluten free and Non-GMO. So it’s a healthy option for snacking and tastes delicious too!

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Uniqlo Heattech Turtlenecks

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I have always loved Uniqlo as the qualities and prices are unbeatable. And even more specifically, I love any of their Heattech products — they truly make such a difference and keep your body warm. Seems impossible that a tiny piece of clothing can actually keep you warm, but it works. Trust me. And all of a sudden, this Fall, I have been drawn to turtlenecks (a new thing for me) and you cannot beat the Uniqlo turtlenecks. They are actually magic. They are thin, weightless, inexpensive ($19), look great, and keep you so warm! I wear my striped ones all the time, so much that I just ordered two new ones (a yellow and a black one).

 

I love it as a base layer (under a sweater) or as the main top! Can’t go wrong. For sizing — I wear an XS and feel like it is the perfect fit. They are so good looking and can you believe that they cost 20 bucks. 20 BUCKS!!!!

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Natori Fine Jewelry: Indochine Rings

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Natori does it all — bras, undies, robes, towels, sheets, and now FINE JEWELRY! Like real gold and diamonds — a girl’s dream (pair it with feathers bra and you have the ultimate present)! I love this collection so much. Love. Love bold underline exclamation marks italic. It is so good and I want them all.  I ordered the Indochine Diamond rings and a pair of earrings (future post) and ever since I received them (yesterday), it is all I can think about. They are so beautiful and I love them so much! Check out all the Natori Fine jewelry here.

 

Bamboo rings.

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Roller Dancing

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I know it might be #oversharing, but last December, I picked up a new hobby of roller dancing and it has made such an impact on my life. I know it sounds so cheesy, but it is really true, and something I want to share with you all. When I look back on the past 12 months, what strikes me the most is how much joy, laughter and fun roller skating (specifically roller dancing) has brought me. Since January, I have consistently roller skated at least twice a week and I have loved every minute. When in NYC, I take lessons in my dining room (god bless my husband and his patience) and in the summer in Oregon and California, I would skate on the streets. There is something so freeing, liberating, joyful, and fun about it all. I have absolutely loved picking up a new hobby and seeing my weekly improvements, listening to music loud and dancing to it, working out (it is so hard),

 

Me and my teacher.

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Skating at Bryant Park

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This past weekend, we found ourselves with zero plans. We originally were scheduled to go up to Pound Ridge for a cozy and relaxed weekend, but after a change of orthodontist appointments on Saturday and Ken needing to go on a business trip on Sunday afternoon, we decided to stay put in the city. This gave us an opportunity to be a tourist in our own city — and I am so glad we explored! We discovered Ice Skating at Bryant Park which was a great family activity. Unlike other rinks in the city, admission is FREE (rentals cost money, but if you have your own skates, then it is FREE!) and it opens up at 8 am! We drove downtown for breakfast and on our way back uptown, parked right in front of the ice skating rink to do some laps!

 

Bryant Park Winter Wonder Land — lots of shops, food, people watching, ice skating — truly, a winter wonderland.

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Currently Loving November 2019

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Mid way through November dot dot dot…..which means only 1.5 more months until 2020. I have no idea, absolutely NO CLUE, how that happened. Seems like the days and weeks (and months and years) are just flying by…..In the meantime, here is a quick reflection at what I am currently loving this month. Of course, there is so much to love — family, friends, health, and connection — but here are the little tid bits and extras that I am loving.

 

1. Glossier mascara

 

I realize that I do lots of posts on mascara, but I can’t help not…..this mascara is the perfect inexpensive, non gloopy, not dramatic, everyday mascara.

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Corn Bread

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This past weekend (sadly) felt like Winter….so time to hibernate and cook. And that is exactly what we did. On Saturday night, we made chili, veggies and CORN BREAD. Years ago at our annual Sonoma trip, one of our friends made the most delicious and moist corn bread you have ever tasted. So that was the recipe I used — and it was just as good as I remember. Thank you, Katie Daly! Mind you — it is NOT healthy, but it is #WorthIt.

 

Ingredients:

 

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Nami Nori

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If you live in NYC, you have to RUN right now to Nami Nori, the newest Japanese restaurant in the West Village. Only one month old, it was created by three ex-employees from Masa (whose tasting menu costs $595 per person!!!!). This new restaurant is casual elegant with accessible prices specializing in Temaki (hand rolls). Absolutely everything about this restaurant is perfection: the zen Japanese vibe, the appetizers, the temaki, the desserts, the staff, everything! So if you live in NYC, make a reservation and GO! And if you don’t live in NYC, it is an excuse to come in to the city and eat!

 

The appetizers: FRIES, spicy tuna on crispy rice, shishito peppers, and nori chips (oh my god, the best).

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Zara Kids Paperbag Pants

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Zara kids FTW again! After realizing that my daughter had no clothes that fit her (thank you growth spurt), I went online to purchase replacements. I fell in love with the paperbag corduroy pants so ordered her two pairs. She loved them the minute she saw them, which is a huge success because she never likes anything I buy….and they were *so* good that I decided I need to buy a pair for myself. I couldn’t find them in the women’s section, so opted for the biggest kids’ size and they fit great! So comfortable and perfect for Fall and Winter! I have already worn them twice …..

 

Paperbag pants with elastic waist. Pockets in front and back.

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The Magician at the NoMad

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Recently, I heard a lot of chatter about the Magician at the NoMad hotel and how amazing the performance was. So, since I am on a big kick of entertainment-is-better-than-dinners-out, we went with some friends on Friday night. To say HOLY SMOKES is an understatement. It was absolutely incredible and a must see. HOLY SMOKES! Amazing, ridiculous, smart, and oh so magical. It was unclear what to expect, but I knew that the Magician, Dan White, is widely respected, and therefore, I was hopeful for a good show. And indeed, it was a good show. And has left me thinking about it since the performance. Regardless of how Dan makes the magic happen, he is a genius and oh so smart.

 

Not only brilliant, but also funny, charismatic and compelling. A+ performer. Would go again in a heartbeat.

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Madewell Rainbooties

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Although it is currently glorious and spectacularly perfect Fall weather in NYC, I know that soon enough, it will be raining and snowing and freezing cold…..and since I am a planner and like to be prepared for Plan A, B, and C (yes, I am OCD) , I bought rain booties for those future rainy days. And I love them so much that I kinda (sorta) want to wear them on non rainy days! They are the perfect Chelsea bootie look, but rubbery and waterproof. Madewell made (them) well! Check out these Madewell rainbooties!

 

Cute, riiiight?

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Storm King 2019

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Every year, I like to make a trip up to Storm King Art Center. A 500 acre open air museum in the Hudson Valley, it is beautifully landscaped with large-scale incredible sculptures. Everything about the property is breathtaking and it is truly a fun adventure with family and friends. This year, we were lucky enough to be invited to an intimate Harvest Party which included a private tour, blue grass band, picturesque snacks and cocktails (thanks to a college friend I was reacquainted with this summer who just happens to be the Senior Curator for Storm King). It was an incredible way to learn more about the museum and its works of art. Thank you, Nora!

 

The foliage! The leaves! The colors! It was the *perfect* day

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