Nothing makes me happier than a citrus-y dessert — key lime pie, lemon tarts, YUMMMMMMM. So when I came across the recipe for strawberry lemon loaf cake, I knew I had to make it. Easy, delicious, summer in a cake, yes please.
Ingredients:
Fun
Brooklyn Drive In Movie
I always claim that we are a Manhattan family that spends more time in Brooklyn. For whatever reason, there are so many different activities and adventures to go on there! Last Friday night, we went to the Brooklyn Drive In Movie Theater, Skyline Drive In, and I cannot wait to go back again! It was a super fun adventure for everyone in the family (although I am a rookie at the drive in game, and need to step it up next time with what I learned). Skyline Drive Inn is located right on the East River in Greenpoint with killer views of Manhattan (if it is not foggy….) and plays two different movies on two screens — one current film and one old school film that changes daily.
Skyline Drive In.
Natori x Kasama Rum
This past week, we celebrated my mother-in-law’s 75th birthday, my daughter’s 10th birthday, and the launch of Natori x Kasama rum. YEP, you read that correctly — RUM! Natori is doing a collaboration with Kasama, a rum company!
Look at the gorgeous bottle!
My mother-in-law with my kids — wearing the same print as the bottle!
Even Stevie has a matching print Natori ouftit! And check out my mother-in-law’s tall heels in the background. I wouldn’t be able to stand in them.
The whole Natori family with the Kasama lady — another Filipina!
Ken with the Natori model.
Me and Tusia — unintentionally wearing a floral jacket — I had no idea!
Unique and fun collaboration — but love how two Filipino female brands came together to support one another!
The Hampton Grocer Granola
As someone who (1) eats granola all day every day and (2) can never go in to a grocery store without buying a new kind of granola, it is no surprise that recently I came across The Hampton Grocer Granola inside a store, and fell head over heels for it. It is so tasty that I ate the jar in less than a week.
I initially bought the lemon poppy flavor — so good — a different and unique taste.
Spring 2022 To Do Wish List
Although we are in already a week in to May, NYC has not been very warm or Spring like….better weather to come, here is what I am hoping to do this Spring (both in the city and in general).
1. Drive In Movie Theater in Brooklyn
I am dying to try out this Brooklyn Drive In Movie Theater where you not only watch the movie, but you have beautiful views of the city. Right now they are showing Clueless.
2. Visit The Whitney Biennial
I must go! I must go! I must!
3. Overall Spring Cleaning
I love Spring Cleaning – a fresh start to clean and purge and tidy everything.
4. See The Basquiat Exhibit
I love Basquiat and cannot wait to see this special exhibit.
5. Finish my Dr. Dre Needlepoint
Dr. Dre needlepoint — loving this creation but ready to move on to something new!
6. Enjoy a Show At The Forest Hills Stadium
Live music!
7. Devour Pizza
A newly opened Pizza restaurant in the Lower East Side, yes please!
8. Play MiniGolf in Williamsburg
A great family activity — mini golf in Brooklyn! It reopens May 16th!
One of my favorite adventures was glamping on Governors Island — different, unique, picturesque, and fun. A must do at least once in your life!
A new rooftop park to explore — sign me up!
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What are you looking forward to doing, exploring, engaging in this Spring? Do share!
Breathe Magazine
I have had a difficult 2022 where I have simply had to relearn how to breathe and stay still. It has not been an easy process but I am learning to try to stay in the present, breathe, and be kind to myself. As cheesy as it sounds, my mother sent me several issues of “Breathe” magazine, and I absolutely love reading them and having them remind me of these tools and meditations. I love to sit and read them (again and again and again) from cover to cover, or just a page here and there.
Three different issues, all with the same concepts and tools. It may be obvious and basic, but they are great reminders and terrific for anyone who needs and wants them.
Gratitude — so easy, yet so hard.
Breathe kindness.
Lots of tools to help with self growth and discovery.
Activities, essays, quotes — all great.
Love this.
So if you find yourself in need of activities, inspiration, a guide to wellness, self compassion, self care, I HIGHLY recommend these magazines full of ideas and care. Just little bits that help ever so slightly.
Currently Loving April 2022 Part 2!
Yes, another post with what I am currently loving for this month…I couldn’t help myself! Enjoy!
1. CODA
Best movie I have seen in a long time. Obviously, I had heard about it with all the Oscars, but I was never interested in seeing it, until this past weekend, we watched it as a family, and LOVE LOVE LOVE. Must watch (and not the most kid appropriate movie, but we all loved it nonetheless).
Mango Tapioca Pudding
For some unknown reason, I had this incredible desire to eat mango pudding. So, I made some! It tasted like summer and vacation!
Ingredients:
Jordan Nassar Exhibit
If you happen to be in NYC any time between now and May 7th, I highly suggest that you visit the artist Jordan Nassar‘s work shown at the James Cohan Gallery. And even if you DON’T make it to the gallery, I recommend becoming familiar with Jordan Nassar! Jordan Nassar is a 37 year old native New Yorker (The Collegiate School graduate) and his artwork is mainly hand embroidery.
I did a solo trek down to James Cohan’s gallery on Walker street in TriBeCa. As someone who needlepoints and has a mother AND a daughter that both love to embroider, I appreciate looking at other people’s creation. And Jordan Nassar is unbelievable — his creativity and colors blew me away.
Currently Loving April 2022
It’s unbelievable to me that we are almost half way through the year — I have been hibernating the past 2.5 months, so it feels a little surreal, and yet, here we are. Here is what I am currently loving!
A low carb version of a tortilla or a wrap and just as delicious! So good to eat as a savory or sweet snack.
Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace
As a die hard roller skater, it made me so very happy that NYC opened up its first Roller Skating Rink, Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace, this past weekend. So sure enough, the kids and I ventured to skate and dance on opening day. It was such a great hour and I cannot wait to go back — pure simple family fun. Located in the heart of Manhattan at Rockefeller Center, it is a great place to people watch and soak up the energy of the city.
Smack dap in the middle of the city! So much fun.
Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies
The other day when shopping at a bakery, I bought the most delicious sesame tahini chocolate chip cookie. And so of course, I became obsessed with finding best recipe to recreate my own version of this deliciousness. Sure enough, the NYTimes had the best reviews — and aw man, are they beyond! Run to get the ingredients and make these stat! I just ate TWO in half a second.
Ingredients:
Papier Journals
Check out this beautiful paper company, Papier, that makes customizable journals and notebooks with beautiful backgrounds! I love them all so much that I had difficulty choosing which ones I wanted. So many options — lined, plain, dotted, and hard or soft cover, and what to personalize them with! AHHHHH the choices!
My gratitude notebook and my journal.
Spring 2022 Running Playlist
Spring, here we are! Nothing beats running in nicer and warmer weather…here is what I have been listening to when I run!
(yes, I am not running in this picture, and it is me biking, but imagine I am RUNNING in this beautiful background with this fun playlist. And yes, I am not wearing earphones in this, but if I were, I would be listening to this…)
Boba Tea NYC
In my dreams, I am still very young, but even though I am not, I still love some of the fads that all the young people love….such as Boba Tea! I love it — it is sweet, milky, fun with the tapioca balls, and oh so delicious. And what better place than NYC to try all the different Boba Tea places. Thankful to google and eater, I found a bajillion boba places and they all look AMAZING. So, due to logistics and where I was in the city, I ended up at Raccoon Cave. It is very Tik-Tok crazy and an instagram moment, but the tea was delicious and I would absolutely return for more.
The window where the boba comes out…
Currently Loving March 2022
And just like that….April here we come! Here is what I am loving at the end of March
1. iphone Case with cardholder
A friend recently had this Australian Company phone case that stores 3 credit cards, and I am DYING for one….problem is that they dont have one for the current model of my phone…but I am obsessed and want to get a new phone just for the case!
I AM IN LOVE WITH LOOKING FOR SEAGLASS. Another one of my COVID hobbies (that, obviously, only works when and if you are on a beach). We had great luck when we were in Mexico, less luck in Florida. We have beautiful jars of it at home that store so many great memories of us walking and collecting. There is nothing like the simple joy of spotting a piece of seaglass on the sand and in the water.
3. Little Twig Detangler Leave In Conditoner
A friend who knows everything about non-tocic beauty products, swears by this for her children. It is mild, effective, safe, and actually works (one of my greatest pet peeves is brushing my daughter’s hair that is basically a dread lock most of the time)….
In March, I was able to see three different broadway shows — hands down, my favorite was MJ The Musical. My kids didn’t like it as much as I did, but I found it fun with incredible dancing and acting. Highly recommend (especially if you are my age and not my kids’ age)…
As an hip-hop lover AND an Eminem lover, I am obsessed with this song. It is great song to run to.
6. Friends from College — Season 2
I know that this series is old (2017-2019) but I recently binged the second season in two evenings and laughed out loud hysterically at every episode. I didn’t love the first season (I didn’t even finish it), but some reason, the second season was hysterical. I am very upset that the show has been canceled and will not have a third season….
Back in my Stanford days, I religiously watched American Idol every week with our best friends. Then, when I moved to NYC, I continued to watch religiously. But in the past 12 years, I have never turned it on….until now. And I LOVE IT. LOVE. A great family TV show and I love the judges (who are new to me) and the positivity, optimism and talent it brings. SO. MUCH. JOY.
My favorite new hoodie is my son’s Scotch and Soda (given to him by his fashionable grandmother). I love the embroidery on it — can’t wait to try to embroider on a plain sweatshirt and copy this!)
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That is what I am loving right now — well, that and love and care. Hope you are having a great week!
Mexican Beach Bag
My newest beach bag obsession is the recycled plastic woven Mexican bolsa! They are inexpensive, colorful, practical, and oh so fun. You can buy them anywhere in Mexico — from a high end store to the airport — all different colors and shapes, but the same fun look.
Not precious, but oh so precious.
Urban Remedy Sunsquares
HOLY cow, the best nut chocolate deliciousness, my gawd! These little squares are creamy, dairy-free, raw cacao sunflower butter squares — made with the best natural ingredients and none of the bad! The perfect bite of dessert!
LOOK AT THIS!!!!
Checkered Biker Shorts
Last summer, I purchased a (daring? brave? risque? bootielicious?) pair of checkered biker shorts and have been wearing them nonstop the past week. Yes, they are a little particular, but I love them — especially when I found on netaporter.com a similar pair for almost triple the price! So because now I see them on a more mainstream and expensive website, I feel the need to tell you all about them!
Me and the shorts!
Jones Road Beauty
Started by Bobbi Brown, Jones Road Beauty, is the newest clean beauty on the market. It is easy, natural, and cruelty free!
Great simple packaging.
McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil
Recommended to me by a friend who is the connoiusseur of everything and anything, McEvoy Ranch Olive Oil, is THE olive oil to use. She says it is the best of the best, and because I trust her with my life, I just placed a huge order of olive oil for my kitchen (and we go through a ton of olive oil, so I can’t wait for this order!) This olive oil is “Rooted in Italian craftsmanship with a bold Californian approach,” — and Italians and Californians, they know their EVOO!
A mixture of all the different olive oils.
Nothing Really Matters NYC Bar
A new hidden bar, Nothing Really Matters, in NYC has arrived — in a subway entrance! It is located between the entrance and the turnstile in the downtown-bound 1 train station at 50th Street and Broadway. Normally, I would not know of such a bar or have a reason to go to it, but recently a friend took me there and I fell in love with the randomness and beauty of the bar. I cannot wait to go back — so unique and different. And you will definitely NOT run in to anyone you know there….
Literally downstairs in the subway. Yes, gross and full of trash and rats.
Lost Stickers
In my walks and runs in NYC, I love to look at all the stickers posted everywhere — they are little signs full of joy, wisdom, hope, and mystery. My favorite current series is by Irish artist, Asbestos, who has created and posted street art everywhere since 2003. I love to see them as they are all in random places around the city — never making much sense but bringing a smile to my face.
Lost leek
Muse Full Fit Wireless Contour Bra
In my constant search for a new bra (even though I wear Natori Feathers 100% of the time), I decided to try the Muse Full Fit Wireless Contour Bra — and am so very happy with it! It is very different — a lot more fabric, fuller fit, but wireless and just as beautiful and comfortable as all the other Natori bras.
Botanical cross-dyed lace with feminine scalloped edging.
Needlepoint Chair
As you all know, in the past two years (thank you, pandemic hobby), I have become an avid needlepointer. I have made hundreds of coasters, pillows, sunglasses holders, and ornaments. I keep them or give them to friends and family. But this past week, I finally *SOLD* one of my creations and I am so happy. Yes, I made about $2 per hour, but I love the process and the creation, so the money in the end isn’t the important part. I collaborated with upholster, Chairloom, to make a beautiful chair and I am so proud of the final creation that I had to share with you all — thank you for letting me share! We worked together to find the right vintage chair, perfect fabric to match, and then Chairloom put it all together. Take a look!
The chair! I did the BIG needlepoint and then teamed up with Chairloom. The chair is actually a tiny small chair — which we loved — BIGGIE SMALLS in a tiny kings chair.
