A love letter

Judy Berman at Flavorwire explains:

How do you keep the romance alive in a long-distance relationship? Frequent visits? Marathon phone calls? Love letters? Well, a creative guy named Walter C. May has upped the ante for sweet gestures with “I Hope This Gets To You,” a song and music video he made with the Daylights. The tune is catchy, and the video is simple but cool (and a bit inexplicably creepy): hands come together to form faces mouthing the lyrics. May is hoping the clip makes it to his girlfriend, who’s away at grad school, solely through the power of the viral internet. Since we heartily approve of the project, we thought we’d help him out.

It's definitely kind of creepy with the hand faces but I think it's wonderful. Maybe someday someone makes me a viral love video ::sigh:: While I'm being all sappy please weep with me while watching one of the best best best engagement videos. I know I've posted this before but it seemed fitting. I get the chills everytime.

I think the cold weather is getting to me, who wants to keep me warm? Now accepting applications.

Baw chicka baw wahh

I'm baaaaaaack and out of my food coma! Did you miss me?

Here's an adorable stop motion video starring the writer of my all time favoritest happiest blog.

goodmorning my poodles

via gawker.tv

via huffington post

via you probably already watched this 2 years ago

ZA

Reasons I love New York #12

It's that tye-dyed kind of evening...

Pre-turkey toast up

Kid Koala says:

This is the video to Fender Bender off the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Album. It was also animated by Monkmus. My mom taped the MTV world premiere of it in all of it’s 1 minute, 50 second glory. After it aired, she immediately called me on the phone. the conversation went something like:

“hello?”

“son.”

“hi mom.”

“That video is strange. That thing that crawls out of the man’s back is a koala, no?”

“I guess so… you should ask [Monkmus]… um, but sure, yeah… it’s a koala.”

“Oh… okay, I get it then.”

Oddly enough, because the video was so short it actually got a reasonable amount of airplay. The different video networks would program it at the end of shows as a bumper before a commercial or an emergency time filler. So it would get programmed at the end of cooking shows as well as at the end of hair-metal hour. Now all of these Chefs and Headbangers turn up at my gigs. cool.

Gobble gobble

morning inspiration

AND THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS.....

5

MORE

HOURS

'TILL

BENNNNNYYY!!!!!!!!!

FML

I fell asleep (while standing up) on the very crowded train this morning and was jolted awake to the sound of my own voice saying the words "social circumcision" out loud.

Social. Circumcision.

Out loud.

Needless to say, the 15 people who were pressed up around me in the jam packed car looked at me like I was completely crazy. Even the homeless man (who was only wearing one shoe, obviously) looked at me like "guurl what are you smoking? Can I have some?" I have absolutely no idea why I said that out loud and I don't remember dreaming about anything being social or circumcised. (But sounds like a party?)

THEN about 15 seconds later, the train came to a stop due to an accident ahead and we had to sit underground for 40 MINUTES (the commute usually takes 10). The homeless man didn't take his eyes off of me the entire 40 minutes- I think he was waiting for me to say something else crazy. Or maybe he just wanted a hit of my crack?

And the entire time, I had the word circumcision stuck in my head. Like on repeat.

Circumcision.

Is this post making you uncomfortable yet? Ya? ME TOO.

Don't stop whip it whip it

To follow my extensive WMH coverage here at GMT click here here and here.

4 years of journalism school not for nothing, people.

Bite

brisk

crisp

bitter

As the wind hits my face

step

step

run

Now my feet pick up the pace

tuck

tie

wrap

My scarf around me tight

soon

close

near

Winter's impending bite.

Neon city

On Melancholy Hill - NYC Lights from Chateau Bezerra on Vimeo.

Gawker.com says:

Chateau Bezerra used the neon signs around New York City—and his deft editing skills—to make this stunningly simple music video scored to the Gorillaz track "Melancholy Hill." Midtown Manhattan never looked so good—or sad.

Midday inspiration

He put a ring on it :)

There are defining moments in a family’s life- from the births and deaths to the weddings and bar mitzvahs. They shift the family and define the family and ultimately weave the narrative that becomes our lives.

This weekend a chapter in my family narrative was written and I think it's just now hitting me. My cousin Matt proposed to my good friend Rachel and we truly TRULY couldn't be happier. Their union feels like what we all should strive for- they are a continuation of themselves when they are together. They bring out the best in the other. They radiate happiness. They complete each other.

The couple has known one another their whole lives (well all of Rachel’s life, Matt is much much older) but they just started dating a couple of years ago. After we got over the initial shock of "whoa, they’re dating??" we realized that they are a perfect pair and their relationship makes complete sense. Within a month of my move to New York, Matt moved here too. (Half to take an amazing job at Madison Square Garden, half to be near Rachel who lives here…I pretend he also secretly wanted to be near me but that’s neither here nor there).

Living in New York has bound us together as a family, I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to watch them together and hang out with them together and get grossed out by them constantly PDA-ing together. The best part of our countless amount of time spent together is that I find myself happy when I’m around them because they’re so happy.

Andy and his lovely wife Anna his brother Matt and Rachel:

The next generation of Goodmans

Matt is my suave, gorgeously wavy-haired cousin who could do no wrong and Rachel is my beautiful, brilliant friend from college who I’ve always looked up to. My Grandma Letty left Matt with her engagement stone to give to his bride. It’s not a secret that I’ve forever been mildly obsessed with making sure the recipient be well worthy of such an honor. On Friday night, Matt proudly proposed with the precious diamond (beautifully set between two large sapphires) to Rachel Lauren Darrow- the rightful and perfect recipient. I just can’t stop smiling.

The night of the browned butter

I'm going to give you some advice: make what I made for dinner last night...seriously make it...like tonight. I know, 2 semi-lame food posts in one week and 2 significantly-more-lame iPhone pictures to document it. But alas, I've been eating yummy things lately and you get to hear about it! Everyone rejoice!

Liz, Emily and I had ourselves a real treat last night with this bad boy. This recipe was so good that I stretched dinner out for like 2 hours. I didn't want it to end. I even saved one lone ravioli on my plate to eat later as a dessert.

I'm pretending it was healthy, it probably isn't but hey! Give it a go!

My picture

Framed's much more beautiful picture

Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage (adapted from Framed) WITH balsamic browned butter asparagus (adapted from Cooking Light)

Ravioli recipe taken lovingly from Framed:

1 package cheese ravioli

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 medium shallots, sliced thinly

20 fresh sage leaves

Salt and fresh ground pepper

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook ravioli according to package directions.

2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium low heat until it foams. Add shallots and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the sage and cook until leaves turn slightly crisp, another 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add cooked ravioli to the skillet and toss gently. Add 1/3 cup parmesan and toss gently again. Divide among dishes and top with remaining parmesan and another grinding of fresh pepper.

AMAZING asparagus recipe taken from my head (aka this might be mildly off)

1 bunch of asparagus

2 tbs butter

2 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper

Lay the asparagus flat on a foil lined, pam-sprayed cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook on 350 for around 12-15 minutes. Right before it's finished put the butter in sauce pan and cook on medium heat until it turns a delicious color brown. Remove from heat and add soy sauce and balsamic. Put the asparagus on a platter laying flat. Pour the steamy hot sauce over it. Yum.

Texts from Bets Vol. 4

On the phone with the mother this morning as she drove to work:

"Oh shoot I just made this light! I never make this light and this is when I normally do my lipstick! I’ll just have to do it in the parking lot."

Wise words Mom, wise words. PS. for the record, our conversations are much more intellectually stimulating than I like to record and publish for the public to read. These bits of joy just make for way better content :)

1, 2, 3 , 4 Get your booty on the floor

In response to the wildly popular post on Friday (I might have made that up), and because I appreciate when you guys leave comments!!... here are a couple more hilarious vids of babies dancing to popular tunes courtesy of commenter #1 Miss Emily Squire and commenter #2 Mrs. Paulina Bucko. I really think there is no better way to start out your Monday, don't you agree?

Happy Weekend!!

Flashback Friday

I thank Betsy Wilinsky for giving me many things in life. A mother's undying love and devotion, fierce party planning skills, compassion for others, an amazing margarita recipe and above all else...she gave me Wilson Phillips.

And for that, I thank you.

Warm, healthy lunch options #1

Because I know you care...I've been on a quest for winter lunch at the office options. This yummy in my tummy lunch comes courtesy of Trader Joe's. The butternut squash soup is warm and creamy and totally hits the spot. Definite bonus points for the re-sealable container that makes this the perfect keep-at-the-office option. I heat the soup up and put a couple of croutons in the bowl (I say bowl but in reality I use the cups that come attached to the water cooler- super ghetto) Delish! Combine this with a side of sauteed veggies (made at home and brought into work) or a piece of fruit and this is a definitely a warm, crunchy, filling lunch! My only problem is that I had to give Adele, my officemate, the bag of croutons to hide from me because I started eating them like chips. Mmmm.

Butternut Squash soup: 90 cal, 2g fat- per 1 cup

Croutons: 25 cal, 1.5g fat- per 2-3 croutons

Lovely!

I like 'em big, thick and juicy

I'm referring, of course, to my giant black puffy coat. This week I experienced the monumentous day of the year when the puffy coat was worn for the first time of the season. Ohhhh boy. I was so warm. It was so puffy. I was invincible. I felt like bumping into things like a human pin ball machine solely for fact that I probably wouldn't be able to feel it.

Urban pin ball in the puffy coat, I like the sound of that. Small child. 5 points DING. Cutting through a crowded subway car. 2 points. DING DING. Wall Street person in a rush to go to work 10 points DING DING DING. I win.

I know my coat looks ridiculous. It's puffy and knee length and has a hood. I DON'T CARE. The pockets are lined with a heavenly, warm lining and it has a cool angled zipper and it only weighs 2 oz and I am in love. Pair my coat of puffy perfection with my giant cold-blocking headphones, big mittens and a huge scarf and I'm one winter-loving man repeller.

Because who needs a man when you have a big puffy coat?

PUFFY

Glitt'o Pup of the Day

Here is my nephew, Sebastian being perfect as usual. With that said, here is an open letter to my Mom:

Dear Mom,

I know you get mad that I don't feature Sophie more as my Glitt'o Pup and that Sebastian gets the honor much more than she does. But you don't email me videos like Jackie does. Mom, you have an iPhone now so...it's time to get crackin! I expect at least one video and/or picture a day from now on so that me and the rest of the GMT community can bask in the glory that is my furry-haired sibling. No, I'm not talking about Ben...

"As opposed to planet Look At Me, Look At Me"

Please read that title above in the sassy voice of a one, Juila Stiles, for it to be fully effective.

That quote kept popping up into my head when thinking of a title for this post. I know this post is very much "look at me, look at me." But I guess that's kind of what this whole blog is about? Ugh, whatever, you like it.

Without further ado, look what I made this week! PS- our embedded video kind of sucks. If you want to watch it bigger (cause I know you do!) watch Weekly Dose here and NYC4Free here.

Weekly Dose:

NYC4Free:

Not trying to toot my own horn but....toot toot.

Flashback Friday

I don't think there has been a Flashback Friday that has warmed my heart as deeply as the following post.

2 words for you: Lisa. Frank.

Bam! Childhood! Bam Bam!

Folders, pencil erasers, TRAPPER KEEPERS, backpacks. I credit Ms. Frank for my love of all things jewel-toned and glittery and for that...I am eternally grateful.

I KNOW. JUST STOP. IT'S TOO MUCH. Remember these stickers? Yup, I do too. I specifically remember putting the melting pizza slice on a mirror of my little brother's and I put the hot dog on a pencil box I had.

Then I probably painted his fingernails and played with my hamster, Nelly (who, unfortunately, met her untimely death after she ate her way out of her plastic cage while we were on a trip to Disney World and ended up 3 floors away in the basement...dead and surrounded by VHS tapes. (Ya..I have no idea either but I'll save that story and other theories on pet afterlife for another time).

And the grand finale....

Because nothing screamed "I'm in 3rd grade and love my life" more than twin, rainbow-spotted, artist, Dalmatians.

Cold and hungry brr

I had my summer lunch routine down pat. For those warm summer months, I kept spinach, shredded carrots, turkey slices and spray dressing in the fridge at work. Throw some almonds on and mmmmm. Weirdly that little salad was completely satisfying each day.

Sidebar: This is totally unlike the eating habits of my father. Not only will he not repeat the same meal, he will not even repeat parts of the meal. If he ate chicken for lunch he can't have chicken for like 2 days after, even if it is prepared totally differently. This drives my mom crazy. She'll want to cook a delicious dinner of..say.. barbecued chicken and my Dad will come home and nicely tell her that he had sesame chicken for lunch. Blink blink. Um, yes? What's the problem? Cue (loving) eye rolling and reconfiguring of menus. I've been told he's gotten much better. Dad, can you please leave a comment and defend yourself?

With the recent change in weather, my food mood has started to shift and I can't get a good lunch routine figured out. Sure, I can bring canned soup or even heat up a nice, warm Lean Cuisine... but both are lacking a certain je ne sais quoi. Let's be honest, I'm starting to crave a diet consisting only of pizza and hot apple cider. Clearly that's a problem (or is it?)...I desperately need to come up with some good, filling, healthy solutions.

$9.99 Dave (his new official name) has the lunch situation totally figured out. Please feast your eyes (pun?) on the most awesome purchase ever.

It's like a sandwich trapper keeper and I think I need one.

Candy corn? Well done, my friend.