lia!lia!

So…remember a few months ago all the hubbub about adult coloring as a fad sweeping the nation?

I have a somewhat embarrassing - but clearly not that embarrassing, as here I am talking about it - confession.

I…got into it.

My first finished pattern

What the media won’t be showing you.

It’s a hot, hot ticket and rightfully so - Larry David’s Fish in the Dark. 

I’m a fangirl of any comedian I really love, and so it was worth the price of admission for me just to see Larry David in the flesh. My boyfriend loves Larry David so much there’s actually a drawing of him in our kitchen - so overall, this was a no-brainer of attendance. Here it is:

There was a great segment on Larry David on CBS Sunday Morning where his colleagues described the fact that David is much more of an actor than his comedy - which is essentially David playing the self he wishes he could be in real life - would let on. And after watching Fish in the Dark I tend to agree. 

On stage, David gives it his all. His comedy is physical and powerful. Every joke lands. And with an amazing supporting cast - including Rosie Perez and Rita Wilson - the entire play is as funny as it is charming. And it’s 100 percent of both. 

I recently moved from the Upper East Side to Murray Hill, and one of the awesomest things about this neighborhood - besides being able to walk to work - is discovering Kalustyans. On Lexington  (between 28th and 29th) Kalustyans literally has everything. I know people use the word literally too much, but…it does. 

Case in point, this is an entire rack of cheese powders, underneath which is different gums for baking, underneath which is packets upon packets of vinegar powders (whatever those are.)

Here’s another image, an entire section of chili powders. 

And here’s another…just of stainless steel and copper kettles of all kinds.

And these are four photos of what is a two storefront-sized space, with an even bigger expansion happening in a few months time.

Confession: I’m a candle junkie. I love the soft glow they bring to a room. How they can fill a whole space with scent. Just how pretty they are. I am dying for a fireplace, not so that I can put actual firewood in it, but so that I can create the candle-in-a-fireplace look that seems to be the look du jour on every HGTV, BH&G, and Southern Living spread I see. (And that I love) I’d buy a house just for a fireplace I could put scented candles in.

Alas. I am still working on most of these things. In the meantime, I can  still enjoy pretty candles on my coffee table and this candle, far and away, is my absolute favorite:

I love, love orchids and this candle is the only one I’ve ever found that really captures the real scent of one. Plus it lasts forever and it comes in a pretty jar. Jackpot.

At $28, the candle isn’t cheap - but is cheaper than others on the market and does last a really long time (3-5 months at a clip in my experience, not burning it every day.) And added bonus - it’s a small price to pay to have your home smell like Hawaii. (I’ve never been to Hawaii but it’s how I imagine it to smell.) I also like that even if I haven’t burned it in a day or two, you can still smell it in the room/house the next day.

When we booked a trip to Italy late last year, it was only after we had reserved a room in Venice that we realized we’d be there during Carnevale. We were locked into the dates, but our fear was that we had just decided the equivalent of trying to be in Times Square at midnight on New Years Eve, or New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Large crowds, hardly being able to walk, overcrowded restaurants - the whole nightmare scenario that ensues when you put one million people in a small area.

Boy, was I wrong.

I had been to Venice once before, during a more quiet time of year and found it to be beautiful, charming and largely the type of place that when the sun went down, kept to itself. And I would say that didn’t really change during Carnevale, except the sun-filled streets were taken over by thousands of Venetians in elaborate, ornate costumes. Add to the fact that Venice already looks like a movie set, and you might start to appreciate how just amazingly gorgeous it was to walk around and snap pictures of the citizens in all their finery. And it is finery! Checking out the prices of some of the outfits in local shops, the costumes can run into the many, many thousands of Euros. But it’s worth it when you get to pose like this group of friends, who commandeered a balcony for picture purposes. I loved that you just can’t tell if it it’s women, men, or a combo of both under there:

For more on the beautiful history of Carnvele di Venezia, click here to go down the rabbit hole. For more photos of what I saw on the streets - keep reading!

If you ask anyone that loves me in this world, you’ll know that at my core, I am a meat-and-potatoes girl. Two nights ago at a restaurant, my best friend actually took one look at the menu and proclaimed “I know what you’re ordering before you even do” and sure enough, I looked and saw short ribs and potatoes on the menu and I closed the book.

The problem with meat-and-potatoes, right now though, is that when I’m trying to lose a few pounds (see here!) is that it adds those pounds right back on. But how to satisfy your cravings and your palette so as not to binge? This recipe  to the rescue.

I work off the assumption that no one ever gets fat eating fruits and veggies, so if I can sub in a veggie for the bad part of a meal - it’s win. Cauliflower, when blended, bears a remarkable resemblance to mashed potatoes in terms of both consistency and taste. BINGO.

Served sans bun, you get a meal that looks pretty and is delicious! The recipe after the jump.

With a job that often keeps me at work until 7 or so, during the week, I’m always looking for dinner recipes that are quick and delicious. Time-consuming dinners during the week? The immortal chorus to this song is how I’ve come to feel about that. I save those efforts for Sundays.

A few weeks ago, I spied some brats in a local butcher shop and I experimented on a recipe that turned out pretty damn good. So I tried it again this time with chicken sausages and it was an equally big success. So I wanted to share. I like this recipe because it’s really filling but not unhealthy. And it only takes about 20 minutes (maybe a little more with prep if you’re a slow Brussels sprouts chopper.)

The super-simple steps after the jump.

One of my favorite brunch spots in NYC is The Penrose on the Upper East Side of NYC. I recently moved downtown, though, which means that unless I find myself in the old ‘hood, getting there won’t be as easy. So I did what I had to do and I brought The Penrose to me!

One of my favorite dishes is one of their simplest - avocado spread on toast with chili flakes, served with two poached eggs. I redid it at home and I must say - it came out delish! Just in time for Sunday brunch, wanted to share.

The recipe - which only takes about 20 minutes - after the jump!

Tom Staggs, head of Disney parks and I guess the next in line for Iger’s job, now? (via davidcho)