A few weeks ago, a close friend stayed over for a night in my apartment.  Despite our consumption of wine and late arrival home the previous evening, we both found ourselves wide awake by 8 AM.  Being morning people can be both a blessing and a curse.

Sprawled on the couch in my newly spacious living [...]]]> Storytime…

A few weeks ago, a close friend stayed over for a night in my apartment.  Despite our consumption of wine and late arrival home the previous evening, we both found ourselves wide awake by 8 AM.  Being morning people can be both a blessing and a curse.

Sprawled on the couch in my newly spacious living room, we cupped mugs of black coffee and continued the “life-catch-up” we had begun the night before.  Some time went by, the pinot-noir-haze began to pass, and we both got hungry.  I offered my friend the usual suspects: oatmeal [obviously], toast, cereal, eggs, yogurt.  She thought for a moment and finally said, “Why don’t you make me some of that famous oatmeal of yours?”

So out came the pot and the banana, the soy milk and the cinnamon, the raisins and the walnuts, the flax and the almond butter.  I stirred over a flame as I do nearly every morning, and I spooned the never-photogenic blend into two bowls.

We sat down at the new kitchen table, ate, chatted, refilled our coffee mugs.  Eventually, I scraped the final remnants from my bowl.  My friend’s was still half-full, and she finally said, “I don’t know how you finish all that – I’m stuffed.”

——–

Comments like these used to really get to me.  I would think I needed to change – if other people weren’t doing it, why should I?  In retrospect, I should have thought, “Why should I care about the needs of anyone other than myself?”

One of the many, many reasons I don’t believe in diets is because they provide blanket solutions to preferences and problems that are incredibly individualized.  It isn’t a bad thing to read advice or to experiment – but the issues arise when we start holding ourselves to everyone’s standards but our own.

Here are a few things I know about myself:

• I eat really large breakfasts.  I pack a lot into one bowl of oats: milk, fresh and dried fruit, nuts and seeds, assorted other random additions.  All the things the diets tell you to watch out for because you can’t “see” all the calories – I cram them all in.  When I don’t, I’m hungry an hour later.  I’ve been eating breakfasts this size for a long time, I’ve stayed the same size, and I’ve stayed satiated.  I don’t know if this works for others, but it works for me.

• 90% of the time, I would much rather be outside, walking through the city, than cooped up in a gym in order to be active.  When I need sweaty solitude, I have my yoga mat.

• I don’t crave “junk food.”  When I was little, I used to give away all of my Halloween candy except the Hershey’s bars.  With the coming of adulthood, I’ve upgraded to higher quality chocolate, but the fact remains: I am not deprived from lack of gummy bears, potato chips, and Snicker’s bars.  Some people are intensely irritated by this, but it’s the truth.

• I try to view exercise is a completely separate entity from the food I eat.  I don’t want to exercise to burn off calories; I want to do it to feel strong and healthy.  I know I’m not in the majority with this outlook, but that’s ok.

I am sure of my stance on these statements.  But there are so many other nuances of health, and I am still in the process of navigating my way through them.  I’m still discovering what works for me.

I know my friend wasn’t judging me with her comment; we’ve both come a long way in our relationships with and respect for our bodies.  She was simply staying true to her own needs, as was I.

I try to encourage everyone in my life to be open, to be adventurous, to explore.  Try going for a run and see how it feels.  Try a banana and see how it tastes.  Try eating more for lunch one day and less the next.  Try eating dessert.  Try something, anything new, and let yourself be the one to decide if you like it.

What are some of your health preferences?

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As a result, I woke up this morning feeling completely refreshed and ready for the first Monday of the new year. Wouldn’t it be [...]]]> After weeks of holiday celebrations, commitments, and general insanity, I spent the past two days doing…absolutely nothing. It was pretty glorious, not going to lie.

As a result, I woke up this morning feeling completely refreshed and ready for the first Monday of the new year. Wouldn’t it be nice if every Monday began that way?  It’s a good thing this one got off on the right foot though: it’s a big one for me.

While I don’t usually talk much about my professional life, I thought I’d share this because, well, work is a part of that fine life balance.  A couple months ago, I made the decision to make a switch in my career goals, leaving magazine publishing to head back to the arts, where I’ve always felt at home.  

How to achieve that two and a half years out of college?  I went on informational interviews, did lots of networking, and eventually decided to work on getting an internship for the new year.  In mid-December, I was thrilled to be offered my first choice internship at a major performing arts venue here in the city.  While an internship might seem like a step backwards, for me, it is actually a huge leap forward.  After a year of professional struggles and dissatisfaction, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin the new year.  

And so, today is the first day of the next four months of my life. 

I’m armed with fresh snacks for my first day: they all needed to be appropriate for storage in my purse, so I’m not that weird girl moving into the office fridge ten minutes after walking through the door.  This spread doesn’t include lunch, which I’ll have to buy somewhere due to the previous statement [there's a Whole Foods just a few blocks away, which could become dangerous to my wallet].

I put on some new makeup: Benefit primer and pink cheek stain, keeping my face fresh and bright.  Necessities, obviously.

I had a refreshing breakfast: I brewed peppermint tea in soy milk, then cooked my oats in the milky tea with a banana and a splash of vanilla extract.  Peppermint-vanilla-almond oats?  Thank you, I feel oh-so-refreshed.  [And yes, I still had coffee alongside - I didn't sleep enough last night [oh, nerves], so I can most definitely use the extra jolt of caffeine from both coffee and tea.]

I’ve got fresh ginger waiting in my fridge, which will be going right into freshly made carrot-ginger soup for dinner.

And new again:  a huge thanks to Zack from 18 Rabbits, who sent me their newest bar flavor, Belle Bananas Foster, a blend of caramelized bananas and dates.  Did you just die while reading that description?  Because I did.  Then I tasted it, and I died all over again.  Definitely my favorite!  This flavor hits store shelves today, and ps: if you ask at your local Whole Foods, they might just start stocking them.

Finally, I’m working on some changes to refresh the blog – nothing major, but my “about” pages are desperate for a rewrite, and I’d like to give myself a bit of an expanded focus.  Food will always be the driving force, but so is balance, and the latter stretches into aspects of life that go beyond the kitchen.  If there’s anything you’d like to see more or less of, please don’t hesitate to tell me!  I write for myself as much as for all of you, so please don’t be shy. :)

Happy Monday!

Do you feel refreshed this Monday morning?  What do you have that is fresh, new, and refreshing?

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I tend to shy away from the center of attention, so I’ve never subscribed to the “everyone bow down to my birthday” philosophy.  I’m happy to celebrate others’ that way; I’ve just never done it for myself.  So, I have to admit that writing a me-centric post feels a bit awkward.

In some [...]]]> Happy birthday to me!

I tend to shy away from the center of attention, so I’ve never subscribed to the “everyone bow down to my birthday” philosophy.  I’m happy to celebrate others’ that way; I’ve just never done it for myself.  So, I have to admit that writing a me-centric post feels a bit awkward.

In some ways, a lot has changed for me in the past year, and in others, everything is the same.  I suppose life is always like that?  

This year, I’m in the midst of a festive weekend, where last year I didn’t – and didn’t want to – do much celebrating at all.  And while as much uncertainty exists as last year, I feel much, much more confident that life is mine for the taking.  Every year does make us a bit wiser.

How’s that for ambiguity?

My morning began exactly as I wanted:

Someone needs a new yoga mat.  Or cleaner feet.

Last night, my sister took me out for wine and dinner at Counter, a 100% organic and vegetarian wine and martini bar in the East Village.  

I’ve been meaning to go to Counter for a long time now, as the restaurant basically sums up my philosophy on life.  It has a trendy atmosphere but lets you dine; it has an extensive wine list and creative cocktails; its menu showcases local and organic vegetables, changes seasonally, and is designed for sharing.  

Doesn’t this menu just make you so, so happy?

I was presented with champagne immediately after arriving [late, as usual] – my sister knows how to handle special occasions.

Sadly, the lighting was really not conducive to photography, but we did share four delicious small plates, including the likes of broccoli raab, sunchokes, endive, pears, eggplant, pomegranate seeds, sweet potato gnocchi, and chestnuts. [Everything was well-seasoned, flavorful, and delicious, except the gnocchi, which were too dense.  Disappointing, as I had not eaten gnocchi in years.  Years.]

We also split dessert with a candle:

Please excuse the grainy photo.  This was a pear semolina cake with chocolate ganache, oatmeal streusel, and vanilla bean ice cream.  All their desserts are vegan, and all the ice creams are nut-based.  I love.

I would go back to Counter in a minute.  I really, really loved it.

Thanks to each and every one of you for sharing in the end of my 23rd year.  I’ve got a weekend of calm festivities planned, exactly as I’d like, and I’ll be back with a recap of it all.  Enjoy your weekends!

What is something that has changed in the past year of your life?

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Resulting in quite possibly [...]]]> Recently, I have been honored to be tagged for a few “blogging awards” by some other bloggers I greatly respect.  I don’t normally indulge this amount of “me-talk,” mostly out of fear of boring my dear readers.  But, this time I decided, why not?  If you feel inspired to procrastinate, read on.

Resulting in quite possibly the longest post ever, I’ve included some recent meals amongst the awards, in order to keep things a bit more visually pleasing.  Ready?  

First up, the lovely Ellie, who also happened to be my lunching partner yesterday, wrote some incredibly kind words about me in order to Spread the Love:

I’d like to pass this on to:

Mia, of runs and rests.  Mia recently lost her father and has shown incredible strength and grace throughout a time none of us should have to go through.  I have always been in awe of her balance, bread baking ability, and capacity to find beauty around her.  How’s that for too much alliteration?

Danielle, of Around the World in 340 Days, whose positivity never fails to make me smile.  Her worldly outlook and clean eats very closely mirror my own, and I always love reading her introspective posts. 

——

Monday evening’s dinner:

Heather’s lemon-miso salad - I’d probably cut down on the lemon if I made this again, but it was still very enjoyable alongside a warm baked sweet p.

——

Award number two, from the eloquent and wise Gena, whose raw root vegetable salad is marinating for my lunch.  

This asks me to provide one word answers to the following questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? Kitchen
2. Your hair? Curly
3. Your mother? Compassionate
4. Your father?  Wise
5. Your favorite food? Impossible!
6. Your dream last night? Confusing
7. Your favorite drink? Wine
8. Your dream/goal? Contentment
9. What room are you in? Kitchen
10. Your hobby? Arts
11. Your fear? Loneliness 
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Satisfied
13. Where were you last night? Phone
14. Something you aren’t? Extroverted
15. Muffins? Hmm.
16. Wish list item? SLR Camera
17. Where did you grow up? Connecticut
18. Last thing you did? Breakfast
19. What are you wearing? Dress
20. Your TV? Sister’s
21. Your pets? None
22. Your friends? Wonderful
23. Your life? Work-in-progress
24. Your mood? Reflective
25. Missing someone? Friend 
26. Vehicle? Feet
27. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
28. Your favorite store? Anthropologie
29. Your favorite color? Gold
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Weekend
32. Your best friend? Beautiful
33. One place that I go over and over? Home
34. One person who emails me regularly? WordPress ;)
35. Favorite place to eat? Ogunquit

——

Breakfast this morning:

Pumpkin pear oats, made with vanilla soy milk, a Bartlett pear, pumpkin puree, dates, cinnamon, flax, almonds, and walnut butter.

——

And lastly, again from Gena:

This asks me to list seven random facts about myself:

1) I had eye surgery for a lazy eye in kindergarten.  Without contacts, I can’t make out the “E” on the eye chart with my right eye.

2) I have a degree in “Individualized Study,” which can be made to sound impressive (“designed my own curriculum”) or absurd (“couldn’t make up my mind”).

3) I never drank a drop of alcohol all throughout high school. That changed on like, the second day of college.

4) From the ages of 13-17, I ate a bowl of chocolate ice cream nearly every single night for dessert.  Took advantage of that teenage metabolism.

5) I’m still figuring out what I want to do in my career, and I may be starting an internship soon to go back to square one.  It’s ok though; I’m young, and I think indecision is more common than not.

6) Until I was 21, I despised running.  I used to walk two thirds of the mile run in high school.

7) Though I’ve been all over Europe, I’ve never been farther west than Pennsylvania.

I am copping out of choosing who to pass this to, but feel free to wax on about yourself if you have a blog of your own.  I’d love to learn about you!

——

Weird, random dinner:

Oat bran cooked in vegetable broth, alongside sautéed mushrooms, peppers, broccoli, and kale.  Topped by a fried egg, avocado, and tahini.  I opened my fridge without a concept of what I wanted, and this was the result.  It was odd.  But good.

——

Still with me?  Regardless, I’ll be back this evening with a simple meal.  Enjoy your Wednesday!

Now that you know all about me and my meals, I’d love to know a random fact about you, and a meal you had this week!

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First there was the trip to Jones’ Farm, the local pumpkin patch, where my father would lift my sister and I onto the the platform for a hayride, and I would successfully avoid exposure to fruit by turning down apple cider.  We’d come home with four pumpkins: [...]]]> Carving a pumpkin was serious business during my childhood.

First there was the trip to Jones’ Farm, the local pumpkin patch, where my father would lift my sister and I onto the the platform for a hayride, and I would successfully avoid exposure to fruit by turning down apple cider.  We’d come home with four pumpkins:  two miniatures for my sister and myself, a small sugar pumpkin for our mom, and one large, with a specific destiny: our jack-o-lantern.

ezekiel wrap, goat cheese, pumpkin, white beans, spinach

Our dad was the designated pumpkin carver.  Though his artistic skills were not exactly legendary, his role as man of the house gave him power over the hefty-sized pumpkin knife.

My sister and I always hid across the kitchen while the initial carving began.  We coined the gourd’s innards “pumpkin guts” and wanted a safe distance between ourselves and the slime.  In the meantime, we were busy with pencils and pads, sketching out amateur faces to compete for the official Halloween design.  The eyes on my paper always ended up misshapen and crooked; the lips often disproportionate from one side to the other.  I call it an early penchant for oddity; others would probably attribute it to lack of ability to illustrate.

pumpkin oats [oats, soy milk, banana, pumpkin, raisins, walnuts, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves]

Pumpkin guts successfully extracted and safely guzzled down the garbage disposal, our family would reconvene for a discussion on facial features.  Would our pumpkin have eyebrows?  Ears?  Teeth?  How much would Dad manage before his patience in hole-cutting wore thin?

The final product would be a combined effort: a blend of my sister’s and my designs, plus a dose of practicality from our father (read: hair or a moustache – not happening).  And though our jack-o-lantern was more Picasso than Da Vinci, it was a labor of familial love.  

brown rice pasta, mushrooms, and kale with pumpkin sauce [pumpkin, hemp milk, sage, nutmeg, salt]

These days, though I’d rather eat my pumpkin than let it go to candlelit waste, the seasonal treat always stirs childhood memories.  Halloween would arrive, I’d don a ballet costume from that summer, give away all my candy except the Hershey’s bars, and see our pumpkin brightly lit outside our front door.

Did your family carve a jack-o-lantern?  What’s a childhood pumpkin memory of yours?  

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Sometimes, it shocks me that I ever considered one packet of plain instant oatmeal, cooked in water, to be an [...]]]> Most of the time, breakfast is the largest meal I eat all day.  I believe strongly in that old adage: “Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper.”  It works for me.

Sometimes, it shocks me that I ever considered one packet of plain instant oatmeal, cooked in water, to be an adequate breakfast.  My oat-y bowls these days are quadruple that size.  And while that was initially a challenge, now I can’t imagine it any other way.  Logically, we haven’t eaten for an especially long stretch of time pre-breakfast, so it is only practical to fuel up with a substantial meal.  

Today was rainy and depressing – the perfect opportunity for a tropical-inspired breakfast.  If I have to zip up my leather boots and open my umbrella, I might as well spend the morning daydreaming of warmer, sunnier lands, no?

Mixed up in the pot:

• 1/2 c oats
• 1 c hemp milk
• 1 mango, chopped
• ~ 2 T thawed frozen cranberries
• ~ 2 T raisins

Sometimes I get a little crazy over the stovetop: I actually took out the potato masher to mash the mango as it cooked.  Extra creaminess.

After cooking, I added some more flavor:

• cinnamon, allspice, ginger
• ~ 1 T ground flax
• ~ 2 T chopped brazil nuts

Nut butter of the day:  cashew-pecan.  Such a cozy way to begin my day.

Do you eat a king-sized breakfast?  Is one meal usually the largest in your day?

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Throughout the past couple weeks, I have eaten a great host of delicious food.  I’ve had a glass of wine nearly daily, [...]]]> After ten days of beachside vacationing and a fully packed weekend in Boston, I have had some wonderful experiences away from home.  Now, however, I am more than ready to get back to normal.

Throughout the past couple weeks, I have eaten a great host of delicious food.  I’ve had a glass of wine nearly daily, which I don’t mind a bit.  I’ve gotten lots of fresh New England air.  I’ve hugged and laughed with my family and my best friend.  I’ve made new friends in Boston.  My summer is coming to a perfectly lovely close.

It’s time now for some comfort and some routine, some home cooking and farmer’s market foods.  I cannot wait to fill my week with my favorite “ordinary” things…

Stovetop oats covered in almond butter.  I was going through withdrawal.  This bowl was so good this morning.

Ridiculously-sized salads.

An opportunity to play with my vacation outlet purchases.

New thrifted items.

Avocados!  I am digging into one with a spoon at lunch.

A stocked and diverse fruit bowl.  I love having options.

Almond butter (courtesy of the swag bag!).  Nearly two weeks with no peanut or almond butter – far too long!

Some New York.

How do you get back to normal?

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