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Currently Loving January 2026

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It’s been a minute. But here I am. Happy New Year!!! Here is what I am loving in this new month and NEW Year! And back to regular programming this week — swear! On top of traveling, family, holidays, I had writer’s block too, and couldn’t think of anything that made sense to post. But don’t you worry, I have lots of unimportant things to share with you in the next couple of weeks! In the meantime, here is what I am loving now!

 

1. Golden Hof Pancakes

 

Golden Diner is a hot asian-fusion spot downtown that is impossible to get reservations and hours to wait in line. They recently opened up a sister restaurant in midtown, and you can get a reservation ANY TIME and they have all the same food. Different vibe, but so delicious. And these pancakes were 10 out of 10.

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Nutella Pastry Dough

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Easy peasy, and so delicious! Three ingredients! Pastry dough, Nutella, and egg (to wash on top)

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line the baking sheet with wax paper. Then roll out pastry dough. Add Nutella. Fold over the non Nutella side of the dough, make shapes, put on sheet pan, paint with egg wash, add some sugar, and voila, done!

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The Bumbys

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This past weekend, I went to a super fun Bat Mitzvah and one of the highlights was a duo that wrote first impressions about the guests. Yes, sounds totally weird, but it was incredible. This duo, The Bumbys, sit and look at you, but cannot talk or listen to you. Then, they type up their thoughts based on their examination of you.

 

The Bumby’s — noise canceling headphones, cannot talk, and just look at you, and then write on their typewriter.

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Balaclavas

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Balaclavas are all the rage!!!! (Humble brag — I have been in to them for over a dozen of years!) But I am so so so happy that they are back in fashion and I love them so much. They are not only warmer than a hat, but give off a different and fun vibe.

 

My poor kids wore them their whole childhood – mainly because it was so easy to put on and not have them lose it. This was almost 13 years ago!!!!

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Currently Loving December 2025 Part 1

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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.

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Turkey Trot (Shirts)

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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.

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Pasta Party

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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.

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NYC Marathon 2025

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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.

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Othership

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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.

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Nike Marathon Signs

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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.

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Currently Loving October 2025

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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.

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Magic Hour

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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.

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Hotel El Roblar

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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)

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Everyday Oil

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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.

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Trader Joe’s Fall Haul 2025

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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.

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Currently Loving September 2025

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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.

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Yaks on the 5

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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!

Currently Loving August 2025

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So basically, my August loves are the same as July’s loves. I mean, same same different. Same type of thing, but different at same time. But in the spirit of sharing (over sharing sometimes, too!), here are my loves for August.

 

1. Fresh Peaches

 

The problem is trying to figure out what to do with all the peaches. We had a bake off and had three different types of desserts with peaches — so delicious.

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Holbox + California Science Center

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Apparently all I do is eat, but when in Los Angeles last week, every activity was planned around where we would eat. My (extremely cute) 90 year old uncle is so adventureous and doesn’t just sit at home — quite the contrary, he is out and about all the time, in touch with the best restaurants and exhibitions, etc….So he suggested going to the ONLY MEXICAN RESTAURANT with a MICHELIN STAR (Holbox) which was right next to the California Science Center — and we jumped on both.  We LOVE science museums (interactive, fun, interesting) and we love Mexican food — so win win win!

First of all, this cliche view never gets old. But I loved it on this particular night because you could see a sliver of the moon — nothing makes me happier than pretty skies.

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Gjusta + Getty Villa

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Ok, so going with my theory of always doing something cultural and eating something delicious, we had a great day at Gjusta Bakery and visiting the Getty Villa (different than the Getty Center!) in Los Angeles. These are not next to each other, but it was a quick drive from the bakery to the villa. And we wanted to do both (and recommend both, too!)

 

GJUSTA BAKERY

 

Gjusta is the sister restaurant of Gjelina (which is forever my favorite restaurant in LA, and also has the best cookbook and best sticky toffee pudding you will ever eat). It is located in Venice and everything in it is just beautiful and delicious.

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George’s

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It has been a minute since I posted — not because I didn’t want to or because I didn’t try, but because I was having issues with the website and uploading images. All that to say, sorry! And I am back! And with so much content! In the past two weeks I have spent time in San Francisco area, Oregon, Los Angeles, and back to Oregon — and I have found some incredible things to share! So stay tuned and report back to the blog! In the meantime, I wanted to first share with you an incredibly tasty donut shop in San Francisco. So good that if you are anywhere in the area, you will want to go to George’s. They don’t just sell donuts, but also cocktails, champagne, and meals too. But we went for the donuts.

 

So cute — love George’s donuts and merriment.

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