Stuff I Like

1. The Help

I finally had a chance to see The Help last night.  I really really loved it!  Sure there were lots of parts that were different from the book, but I think the small changes they made worked well.  Some of the more descriptive parts in the book wouldn't have translated as well in a film.  I just loved Celia!  Her character was dead on and just too funny!  Have you seen the film yet?

2. Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

via

I made these Red Velvet Cheesecake Swirl Brownies from the blog Baked Perfection last week.  They were a huge hit at my office!  The recipe is clear and easy to follow too.  The only place where I was lost was when deciding how long to bake it for.  For some reason dishes always take slightly longer to cook completely in our oven.  I'd never cooked cheesecake before but a quick call to my mom taught me that the cheesecake layer should be firm when the brownies are done.

3. Nadal

It's time for the US Open and I am cheering for my boy Nadal!  Not only does he play some beautiful tennis, he's always poised and a gentleman during his interviews, and he's pretty adorable too.  Did anyone see his interview on CNN yesterday when he talked about still being afraid of the dark?  Too cute!  If you haven't watched it yet, you can find it here.

4. Julie & Julia

I watched Julie & Julia over the weekend and it was such a great movie!  Meryl Streep was the perfect choice to play Julia Child.  She absolutely nailed all of her mannerisms.  I suggest watching this if you're looking for a light hearted, feel good movie.

5. Ninth Ward

We went to the Ninth Ward on Thursday to celebrate Shannon's last night in NYC.  It was AWESOME!    The bar is New Orleans themed and I seriously felt like I had walked into an episode of True Blood.  They also have a killer 2 for 1 happy hour deal.  Go check it out!

Weekend Wrap Up: Hurricane Irene Edition

Between celebrating the births of Jbunny and Rachel and braving Irene...this weekend was a fun one!

Friday

We started the weekend off in style with mani-pedis and happy hour at Lou's City Bar.  I discovered the deliciousness that is a Shandy...beer and lemonade together?  How could you go wrong!

Round 2 of the evening found us at Rocket Bar for an intense skee ball tournament.  I'm kinda obsessed with skee ball so I pretty much love this bar.  I won a few rounds, lost a few rounds, and watched a ridiculous guy jump up onto the skee ball lane when he beat his girlfriend.  You keep it classy.

Since I had to make my return to DC with a bang...we may have ended the night by swimming at a mansion.  It's fine.

Saturday

We started out our morning with bottomless mimosa brunch at Local 16.  They're running a special right now for all their Facebook fans...$15 gets you a brunch entree and a bottomless drink.  Can't beat that!

We then headed over to the lovely Tim and Christine's and got ourselves hurricaned in.  We had plenty of food, drinks, board games, and youtube videos to keep us entertained though.  Oh...and we were even lucky enough to witness a special live report from the BBC on their balcony:

Here I Am...Rock You Like A Hurricane

Idk about you, but I'm refusing to let a little hurricane keep me from enjoying some weekend shenanigans!  I got the heck out of NYC this morning and headed down to DC to celebrate two very amazing ladies' birthdays!  They've officially canceled all the buses to NYC for the rest of the weekend so I'm extending my vacation trapped here until Monday.  I'm not complaining since there's bottomless mimosa brunch, hurricane parties, and movie marathons in my future.  Plus, we're stormed in with a marine.  I think he's got things under control if there's an emergency.


Stay safe lovelies!

Warrior

Urban Girl Squad hooked me up once again with passes to see an early screening of Warrior last night!

Now we all know I am a huge girlie girl so I wasn't quite sure I was going to enjoy this movie.  I mean Mixed Martial Arts really aren't my thing.  However, I LOVED this movie!  The stories of the characters were so well created and the fight scenes were pretty cool.  It made me laugh, cry, gasp, and cheer.  A movie that can get you so involved in the story, is definitely a keeper.

The movie follows the story of two estranged brothers Tommy (a former marine) and Brendan (a high school physics teacher) who both decide to become fighters for very different reasons.  The movie chronicles their stories as fighters and also their struggles to deal with the fallout of growing up in a home with an alcoholic father.  Their father, Paddy, has since recovered, becomes Tommy's trainer, and delivers some hilarious one liners!

It also doesn't hurt that Tom Hardy, who plays Tommy, is pretty damn good looking.   We all know how I feel about bad boys and he is the definition of a bad boy in this role.

I definitely recommend going to see Warrior when it comes out on September 9th.  For all you ladies out there, it's a great movie to take a date to!  He'll love the fact that you agreed to see a movie about Mixed Martial Arts and you'll love the stories behind the characters...and yes, I promise you'll even enjoy the fight scenes.  This is truly a movie that can appeal to everyone.  Check out the trailer here:

Stuff I Like

1. Uncle Louie G's

During our Forest Hills adventure on Friday, we stopped in at Uncle Louie G's for Italian Ice.  They had any flavor Italian ice that you could ever dream of.  I opted for the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough ice cream and Ora opted for the rainbow.  It was fresh and delicious!  While most of their locations are in tri-state area, they have other locations on the East Coast.  I recommend checking it out if there's one in your area!

2. Life As We Know It

I finally saw Life As We Know It over the weekend.  It was adorable!!  The story was uplifting and I found myself smiling throughout most of the movie.  However, I will say that I was silently rooting for Sam the whole time.  Poor thing!  Even though I knew Holly would end up with Messer, I did think she and Sam made great couple.

3. Victoria's Secret Pink NFL Line

Victoria's Secret has released another line of NFL merchandise for the 2011 season!  I'm torn about this year's collection.  There are some cute pieces but on a whole it's just not as good as last year's.  One of my favorite aspects of the Pink collection is that it allows you to support your team and still look feminine.  However, this year's collection is a little tacky.  Shirts like "New England Patriots Love Pink" or "Pink Loves Sundays" make you look like a little bit of airhead that doesn't have the slightest understanding of the actual game.  They usually release a second wave of designs midway through the season.  I've got my fingers crossed they release some better quality shirts!

4. The Help

I finally finished reading The Help and I just loved it!  From the moment I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down!  The novel is absolutely captivating and I was moved by the stories of the strong female characters.  If you haven't read it already, go pick up your copy ASAP!

5. 16 Handles

Apparently I am completed obsessed with frozen treats this week!  I had the opportunity to check out 16 Handles this week and I think it's my new  favorite froyo place.  The shop features serve yourself froyo and you can mix and match flavors to your heart's content!  I sampled the coffee, cookies and cream, and graham cracker varieties.  The graham cracker was scrumptious!  Once you mix up your flavors, add your toppings.  They have all kinds of fruits and candies to add on.  Clearly, I wasn't in a healthy mood and I opted for graham crackers, brownie bites, cookie dough, cheesecake bites, and chocolate covered pretzels.  This place is a MUST TRY and I will definitely be going back before I leave NYC!

East Coast Earthquake: Through Facebook Statuses

I don't know about you but my Facebook just blew up with statuses about this earthquake.  It made me giggle a little bit.  We get it...there was an earthquake.

Whoa earthquake

Seriously, DC? An Earthquake?? WTF

HOLY SHIT EARTHQUAKE

What's shakin' guys?

Oh hi earthquake...way to make me question my sanity

Thought I was about to faint...turns out it was an earthquake

Just felt the earth shake....nicccceeee

Earthquake...haha...nice

uhhhh...was that an earthquake?

I survived the earthquake.  That's right, bite me.

I'm torn between THAT WAS KINDA COOL and WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE

If the coast is a rockin, don't come a knockin'

New York I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

Well New York, it's been a great 15 months but it's time to call it quits.  After trying to deny it for the past year, I've finally accepted the fact that I left my heart in Washington, DC.  I'm ready to embrace the fact that I'm more of a Georgetown and pearls kinda girl than a Lower East Side and leather jacket type.  I'm admitting that trying to live a fabulous life on a nonprofit salary just isn't working for me.  I'm realizing that I need to be closer than a 4.5 hour bus ride to my best friends.

I'll never regret my affair with this city.  I'm proud of myself for striking out on my own, in a place where I hardly knew anyone.  I learned a lot about myself and I fulfilled my dream of living in the Big Apple.  I'm not leaving because I couldn't make it here...I'm leaving because I'm not happy here.  Isn't figuring out what makes you happy exactly what your early 20s are about?

So in 2 short weeks, I'll be starting a new job and returning to this beautiful city:

Wish me luck!!

Weekend Wrap Up

I have been doing such a terrible job of knocking off items on my Summer in the City list.  In an attempt to make up for lost time, I took care of two this weekend.

1. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.
6. Attend a free concert


Friday

I woke up at the crack of dawn and headed to Rockefeller Center to see Enrique Iglesias perform at The Today Show!  It was so much fun and I'm really glad I went.

The Today Show Studios

Nick Cannon

Enrique!

Enrique!

Needless to say, I was absolutely exhausted and wasn't up for a crazy night after such an early morning.  Ora and I opted for a low key dinner and shopping excursion in Forest Hills.  I'm kinda obsessed with that neighborhood now.  So cute and everything's really affordable.

We had dinner at the Bonfire Grill and it was absolutely delicious!  There are few places in NYC where you can get a steak dinner and a martini for less than $30...and seriously it was one of the best steak dinners I've ever had.  If you ever stop by, order the Sliced Steak Frites and shell out the extra $2 for the sweet potato fries...delish!

Saturday


Melissa and I hit up Parked! Food Truck Festival.  Soooo much fun and such a great way to try out a bunch of different food trucks.

Parked! Food Truck Festival

A huge crowd turned out for the festival

Some of the food trucks

The delicious food!

Top Left: Maine Style Lobster Roll from the Red Hook Lobster Pound
Top Right: Dill Pickles from Grillo's Pickles
Bottom Left: Morticia Ice Cream sandwich from Melt Bakery
Bottom Right: Potato Teriyaki Balls from Teriyaki Balls

Teriyaki Balls was nothing to write home about but other than that, all the food was delicious!  The ice cream sandwich from Melt Bakery pretty much changed my life.  It was the best ice cream sandwich I've ever had!!

After our feast we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The very end of the night took an unexpected turn when we stumbled upon the weekly Salsa Party at the South Street Seaport.  I've never ever danced salsa before but one of the men there asked me if I'd like to be his dance partner.  I said yes and ended up dancing for over an hour!  I was terrible at first but by the end I had really caught on.  Sooooo much fun!

Sunday


I had a lazy day but I did cook this for dinner:

Gnocchi Mac and Cheese!  It was a big hit with my roommates and really easy to make.  You can find the recipe here.  I made a double batch so I could have left overs for lunch this week.  The recipe makes about half the amount pictured.

I hope you all have happy Mondays!

Saturday Silliness

Josh Groban: The Best Tweets of Kanye West....enough said.

It's Ok

I had so much fun linking up with Neely and Amber last week that I decided to do it again!






To be a little bit high maintenance

To admit a lot of your knowledge of American History comes from reading the Dear America series as a child

To not so secretly try to out do your coworkers and make the best dish for the office party

To think your morning coffee and blog reading is one of the best parts of the day

To be a huge girlie girl and a football fanatic

To eat fro-yo for dinner...adding fruit makes it more nutritious, right?

To wish you were internet famous (who wouldn't want to be the next Jenna Marbles or Bloggess?)

To curl up with a glass of wine or two after a rough day

To change your mind...and change it often

To dream big

Stuff I Like

Before I start this week's edition...remember last week's post where I talked about the Dunkin Donuts Make Your Mark contest?  Well...I won!  Apparently I am good at online gaming.  I can't wait to get my gift card.  It's not too late for you to win one too!


1. Bright Lights, Big Ass

Ladies and gentlemen, Jen Lancaster has done it again.  Bright Lights, Big Ass is completely hilarious and full of the sarcastic humor that first drew me to Jen's books.  She got it right when she said Carrie Bradshaw completely misrepresents what life in the big city is like.  It's not all glamorous cocktail parties and lavish shopping trips.  If you like The Bloggess, you'll love Jen!

2. Big Rich Texas

Has anyone else been watching Big Rich Texas?  Dish Network recently added Style Network to our plan and I have become addicted to this show.  These women have some scary big hair and some scary big attitudes to match!  Watching them battle for control of the country club is even better than watching the Real Housewives duke it out.

3. Peach Melba

My Aunt made peach melba when we were at her house over the weekend.  It was such a delicious summer treat!  And since fruit is one of the main ingredients, it leaves you a feeling a little less guilty once you're done eating.

4. Spaghetti Squash with Kale

Picture from A Blonde's Logic

I found this recipe on A Blonde's Logic, the lovely Becca's blog.  I'd never cooked with spaghetti squash or kale before but I've been wanting to give it a try.  This recipe was the perfect way to try both!  I absolutely loved this dish.  The recipe was easy to follow, the meal is delicious, and it's very healthy!  Tonight I was extra hungry and I added a little chicken sausage to the leftovers.  It made a perfect and filling dinner.

5. Bloc Party


I've been on a Bloc Party kick for the past few days.  I don't know why, but there's just something reassuring about listening to his voice.

Very Superstitious...

I confess, I'm a little bit superstitious.  While I don't necessarily believe something bad will happen if I violate a superstition, I sure as hell don't want to risk it!  Here are a few that I always stick to:

I never ever open an umbrella indoors.  I don't care if it needs to dry...I'm not doing it.

Shoes on the table=So.Much.Bad.Luck!!  Not to mention horribly unsanitary.

 If you drop silverware on the floor then you best be ready for company to arrive.

Always make a wish at 11:11

Speaking of wishes...never tell anyone what you wish for when you blow out your birthday candles.  If you do, your wish won't come true.

Lady Bugs always bring good luck.

Are there any superstitions you believe in?  Which ones?