fold, hang, done.

i have been on the hunt for a nice bathroom shelf for a while now.  the bathroom is nothing fancy, and it certainly isn't set up perfectly, but it's big enough i can turn around in it so that's a plus.  i just need a little extra storage- something simple, but not too generic.   with the exception of  this silly tan and white spider veiny tile in the shower and the black laminate counter, everything is a clean white.  i just discovered this is being made in single units as opposed to three... and i think i want.  now i just have to hunt down how/where i can purchase it.

summer treats

i was running errands the other weekend when i stumbled upon these really cute popsicle molds. i had to have them. i mean, i figured they would be a far better alternative to what was quickly becoming my night time routine: half a pint of ben and jerry's. eek. delicious, but eek. i quickly got to work googling fun and healthy recipes that i could test out and look at what i stumbled upon... spiked watermelon pops. ok, so maybe this recipe can't replace my ben and jerry's addiction without bordering on another addiction, but it still could be a totally great saturday in the park (with friends) treat!


Ingredients
1/2 (3 pounds) large watermelon, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup watermelon flavored 70 proof vodka (recommended: Smirnoff Twist of Watermelon)* see Cook's Note
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
Special equipment: 16 (1/4 cup) ice pop molds, 16 wooden pop sticks or wooden coffee stirrers at least 2-inches longer than the molds.
Directions

In a blender, combine the watermelon, sugar, and vodka. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Add the mint and pulse once to combine. Pour the mixture into the pop molds. Insert the wooden sticks all the way down the inside the molds. Freeze for at least 10 hours or preferably overnight.

To unfreeze the ice pops, insert the molds in hot water for 5 to 10 seconds. Serve immediately.

*Cook's Note: For nonalcoholic Watermelon Pops, substitute 3/4 cup orange juice for the vodka.

MBW

if you're walking through the city, chances are you've seen some of mr brainwash's "work".  he takes popular icons and puts some sort of twist to them.  like, spock turned into marilyn.  not knowing much about him, or street art in general, i decided to check out a show he was having in meatpacking.  i got there early with a few friends, and as a reward, MBW gave us a few prints.  awesome.  a few months later, banksy, another street artist, released a film called exit through the gift shop.  the movie documents a french thrift store owner and self proclaimed film maker who becomes obsessed with the underground world of street art. while documenting his obsession he decides to track down banksy. banksy agrees to be a part of his documentary, but when frenchie fails to produce a decent film, he himself becomes the subject of a film and you see how MBW is born. it's incredibly interesting, but really makes you question the validity of his work. i don't want to give too much away so... if it's playing near you, go see it.

brighter whites, white brite!

now that it's actually warming up a bit, i'm starting to get in the mood to wear my seasonally appropriate whites.  well, nyc isn't exactly friendly with my clothes, particularly my white jeans.  i wore them out last night and after examining them this morning i made a quick call to my mom to see what she'd recommend.  she suggested i get this  --->
it's just a powder you can throw in with your regular detergent.  no extra steps necessary.  it's kind of a miracle worker.  it even spruced up white t shirts and tanks i'd all but given up hope on.  yay! 

home sweet shoebox

so about two months ago i made one of the most stressful decisions i've made up to this point in my life.  the decision?  signing my life away for my very own shoebox apartment.  doesn't sound like a big deal to you?  well, you. are. wrong.  as if life in nyc doesn't move fast enough, try the real estate market.  it's a nightmare.  there's no real time to form the usual pro con lists, consult with friends, or compare multiple listings.  that's not to say you can't take your time.  you certainly can.  just don't expect the apartment that you've spent an afternoon dratfting up and comparing to two other apartments to still be there when you decide that it's practically perfect.  

now that i have the apartment i'm working on making it mine.  perhaps the biggest lesson i learned from my other apartment is that i don't want to buy things that are specific for this apartment.  i want my belongings to be flexible should i move in the future, but i also want this place to feel like the pieces in it are meant to be there.  basically this means my usual inability to commit is kicked up a few notches.  awesome.  but it should be worth it in the long run.  !!!