I'm Going to Become Wonderful

She's not suave, she's not sexy, her personal life is perpetually in shambles and the highlight of her year is a free sandwich...how can you not love Liz Lemon? She is the Everywoman. (Except for the time she dated Jon Hamm. That was just unfair). I'm catching up on 30 Rock, and I know it's just TV, but it's making me feel better about my life. It makes me hope that, perhaps, one day, my misery will also make for great comedy (kidding). It does, however, remind me not to take myself too seriously. Also, it has given me some great ideas for what to do with my free time: "Donuts and then bed? What are you depressed about--or celebrating?"

Etsy Wednesday

I'm still feeling a little low on motivation, so I decided to dig around in my Etsy Favorites folder for some items to share with you. I hope you love them as much as I do...

These vintage brass owl bookends are cute without being kitschy.

How can you not smile when you look at this pinwheel photograph?

I am gaga over these gorgeous handmade earrings.

I would love to add this vintage map of Asia to my collection.

I have been on the lookout for a vintage leather purse like this one.

*****

Next week: Etsy finds (Petsy finds?) for our four-legged pals!

On Staying Motivated

"All young ladies are accomplished. They sing, they draw, they dance,
speak French and German, cover screens and I know not what."
-Pride and Prejudice

Five years ago, I was a recent college graduate, unemployed and living in a new state. For months, I was in a funk...sleeping late, watching hours of TV, and despairing of ever finding a job. Nearly five months out of law school, and I find myself in similar territory. I have applied for a handful of jobs but have been met with either silence or a form rejection each time. Of course, it is difficult to stay positive when you are not contributing to society (or earning a paycheck)...but I wish I could somehow motivate myself to be productive in other ways. If I were more disciplined, I could be using all of this free time to cultivate talents (I haven't touched my violin since March), learn languages, or at least do the simple things that I enjoy, like cooking and reading. Instead, I have done very little of any value in the past month. I have been feeling somewhat inspired lately by Eliza Bennet and other "proper" young ladies of old to spend my time bettering myself instead of watching eight episodes of Friends a day...but I'm not quite there yet. How do YOU stay motivated when your spirits are low?

An Ode to Gourmet

(A sampling of Gourmet's lovely photography)

I received my very last issue of Gourmet in the mail yesterday. I know I have already told all of you how heartbroken I am that the plug was pulled on such a wonderful magazine, but I am not quite ready to let go just yet. Browsing through the November issue (the annual Thanksgiving issue no less...thanks for nothing, Condé Nast!) was bittersweet. As always, the photos were gorgeous, the narratives inspiring, and the recipes mouthwatering. There was even a holiday menu featuring Pennsylvania Dutch-inspired dishes, which, as a born-and-raised Pennsylvania girl, made me proud. The recipe that I was most excited to see was for my all-time favorite holiday dish--corn pudding made with Cope's dried sweet corn (click here for the recipe). While I was in college and later in law school, I would call my mom every year in mid-November to make sure she had a box of Cope's in the cupboard. I simply could not imagine coming home for Thanksgiving and not having that sweet, creamy pudding on the table. It is a simple dish, made with just six ingredients: dried corn, eggs, milk, butter, sugar, and flour. The end result, however, is incredibly delicious and deeply satisfying--which is exactly what I want from a Thanksgiving meal. It also happens to be what I want from a food magazine. Gourmet, thank you for making me feel grateful to flip through your pages every month. You will be missed.

Photo Credits (clockwise from top left): Martyn Thompson, Romulo Yanes, Sang An, Henrik Knudsen, Marcus Nilsson, Romulo Yanes

Etsy Wednesday

Halloween is just around the corner, so for those of you who like to dress up for the big day, I thought I would find some vintage items on Etsy that would make great costumes. I haven't dressed up myself in many years, but with fun options like these--who knows!

This vintage baton girl uniform might be a little scandalous for the office
Halloween party, but it would be absolutely adorable after hours.

Throw on this faux fur vest with a pair of oversized sunglasses
and some sky-high platforms and go as fashion darling
(and Bravo star) Rachel Zoe. It will be bananas.

Take the "Mad Men Yourself" craze of a few months ago to a new level
with this sexy 60s cocktail dress. Just add red lips, a bouffant 'do, and
a cigarette holder, and you're good to go (vodka gimlet optional).

Channel Zelda Fitzgerald in this vintage red turban and you'll be
doing the Charleston and the Lindy Hop all night long.

Everyone will be kissing your grits when you show up in this adorable vintage
waitress dress. Plus you can walk around all night saying things like,
"Give me an Adam and Eve on a raft, and wreck 'em!"

*****

As always, check back next week for five more great Etsy finds!

Style Denial

The sudden burst of cold weather over the weekend made me realize just how unprepared I am for winter. I have two or three sweaters to my name, a pair of boring black boots, a pair of brown boots that are falling apart, and a coat that I bought last winter for $50 as a placeholder until I could find one that I really like. I have spent the past couple of days scouring the internet for clothes that will actually keep me warm, but unfortunately I have not found much of anything that has changed my opinion that winter dressing is a big snooze fest. I have, however, found a whole slew of the prettiest little dresses! Now if only I lived in a place where I could wear nothing but little ($600, gold-sequined) dresses year-round. It is quite possible that this place only exists in my head.

The beading, the shine, and the asymmetrical drape
at the waist of this Mint by Jodi Arnold number
add up to a festive look for a cocktail party.

The textured fabric takes this red mini
by Lauren Moffatt from tarty to flirty.

I love a great top-and-skirt combo, and this cute dress
by Lauren Moffatt does all the hard work for me.

I have absolutely no idea when I would have occasion to wear
a gold-sequined minidress, but...so sparkly!

This embellished little black dress by Tracy Reese will get you
through the holiday season (and then some).

*****

Sigh. I don't think my denial will survive another blast of frigid temperatures, so I guess I'd better keep shopping...

Remembrances of Meals Past

I have been meaning to get into the kitchen and do some cooking for a while now, but the motivation just is not there (not feeling motivated to do much at all lately...I blame the weather, the economy, and post-Europe blues). Luckily, I have obsessively photographed the most delicious things I have eaten over the past couple of years, so I don't have to leave you empty-handed today. This picture was taken in Sausalito, California in October 2007, and man...it makes my mouth water every time I look at it.

For about three or four years leading up to the taking of this photograph, I was on the hunt for the perfect fish taco. I tried a few specimens before this one, but these experiments usually ended in tears. There are three common ways that restaurants get fish tacos all wrong: 1) they bread the fish instead of battering it (or, worse still, they grill it instead of frying it); 2) they use flour tortillas, which are too thick and chewy for the delicate fish, instead of corn tortillas; 3) they top them with crazy things like lettuce, guacamole, or chipotle cream sauce.

My hunt for fish taco perfection finally ended the day I walked into the Sausalito Taco Shop. Their fish is batter-dipped and fried to light golden perfection, nestled inside of two warm, fresh corn tortillas, and topped with a mound of finely shredded cabbage. To prevent the fish from getting soggy, they bring the condiments (hot sauce and a squeeze bottle of crema) to your table and let you dress it up yourself. East Coasters take note--this is what a fish taco should look like.

Etsy Wednesday, Wedding Edition

As promised, this week's picks are brought to you by a special guest. My best friend Jess is getting married in less than eight months, and I asked her to share some of her favorite Etsy finds for weddings. Enjoy!

With my wedding coming up in May, I find myself turning to Etsy for all the special touches that will make the day memorable for my guests, my fiancé, and myself. Etsy enables even the least crafty of us to get our hands on unique and charming vintage and handmade goods. I love knowing that I have a source for finding that one item that almost no one else will have. For me, the best part about Etsy is the ability to customize almost anything. Ask most sellers, and they'll be happy to oblige, or just immerse yourself in all of the great stuff that's already out there!

Set the tone for your affair with these adorable invitations.
Don't like the font or color? Change them up!

The perfect dress for a small, garden party reception, or choose it
in another color for some very stylish bridesmaids.

Statement earrings that will make you smile when you pair them
with jeans and a sweater after the big day.

A gorgeous, fluffy flower for your hair, dress, or wrist.
Bridal white, but far from boring.

Colorful Pyrex bowls make a functional and fun shower gift
for the bride that loves vintage.

*****

Thanks for your great picks, Jess!

littlebits Guide to Paris

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Last week I shared some of my favorite spots in London, and now it's time to let you in on some great hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems in the City of Light. This was not my first time to Paris (and it certainly will not be the last), so I got to re-visit some old favorites as well as discover a whole crop of new ones.

1. 2. 3.

1. Fromagerie Véron - Located on the Rue Mouffetard (home of the popular Mouffetard Market), this shop is the perfect place to pick up a couple of cheeses for a picnic in one of the nearby parks. The best part of this fromagerie, though, is the owner, who was sweet and adorable and patient with my attempts at speaking French.

2. Cimitière Père Lachaise - The resting place of the likes of Colette, Chopin, Edith Piaf (and, most famously, Jim Morrison), this well-manicured cemetery on the eastern edge of the city is a peaceful setting for a leisurely, contemplative stroll on a cloudy day.

3. Le Comptoir des Archives - A nice spot in the Marais for a tasty, affordable weekend lunch and a bit of people-watching. I had the duck confit with fried potatoes and green salad, which at €11 was practically a bargain.

4. 5. 6.

4. Hôtel Biron Garden - For just €1 (it costs an additional €5 to enter the museum itself), you can stroll through the beautiful garden at the Rodin Museum. It is full of sculpture, including bronze casts of some of Rodin's most famous works (The Thinker, Gates of Hell, The Burghers of Calais).

5. La Grande Épicerie - If you are a foodie, plan on spending no less than two hours in this epicurean paradise. From chocolate to caviar, truffles to champagne and everything in between, this place literally has it all. I left with a kilo of hand-gathered grey sea salt, a bag of herbes de Provence, some Valrhona cocoa powder, and a small jar of intoxicatingly-scented truffle salt.

6. L'As du Fallafel - There are no less than five (and quite possibly more) places to get falafel on the Rue des Rosiers in the Old Jewish Quarter, but L'As du Fallafel is widely considered the best of the bunch (even Lenny Kravitz is a fan!). For €5 you get a fresh, soft pita stuffed to the brim with crunchy falafel, pickled cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, tahini, and a garlicky tzatziki sauce. So good.

7. 8. 9.

7. Arnaud Delmontel - Okay, I have to admit that I didn't actually eat anything from this bakery in Montmartre, but only because I already had my heart set on a cone of ice cream from the shop down the street (see number 10 below). I did scope out the goods, however, and they all looked absolutely amazing. Think whole-grain baguettes, jewel-like tarts, and the always popular French macarons.

8. Berko - I already let you in on the best cupcakes in Paris (even if they were the only ones I tried), but I couldn't leave Berko off of this list. I am still dreaming about the creamy coffee-flavored filling of the tiramisu cupcake...yum. Waiting until the last day of my trip to visit this place is NOT a mistake I will make twice.

9. Pont des Arts - Right around sunset, this pedestrian bridge in the heart of Paris turns into a meeting place for friends and lovers. Bring a blanket, a bottle of wine, and someone you love and watch the sun go down behind the Eiffel Tower. Ahhh...perfection.

And a few more for good measure...

10. Caramella - A great little ice cream shop on the Rue des Martyrs in Montmartre. The hours are a bit unpredictable (we happened to walk by around 2:00 when it was supposed to open, but it didn't actually open until about 2:45), but the light and delicately-flavored (think speculoos, coffee, and pear with cinnamon) ice cream is worth waiting around for.

11. Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves - Paris is lousy with flea markets, but the one at Porte de Vanves is generally considered to be the best. There is plenty to see here, from books to art to household items, but don't expect bargain prices. I picked up a few old black and white photographs, a rubber stamp from the 60s, and a couple of chipped café au lait bowls (the ones in better shape were way out of my price range).

12. Luxembourg Gardens - This popular park certainly isn't a hidden gem, but I never get tired of it. The flowers, the fountains, the sculpture, the palace...it's all gorgeous. I cannot imagine visiting Paris without spending at least one entire day here, just eating, drinking, reading, and taking in the beautiful surroundings for hours. This is Paris at its most beguiling.

(All photos by me.)

Chickpea Soup for the Soul

For those of you who feel the way I do right now, here are a few soup recipes from my archives that might help soothe your scratchy throats and ease your aches and pains. Even if you're not feeling under the weather, each of these soups makes a light, delicious dinner on a chilly evening.

Stracciatella (from Mark Bittman) - A Roman classic that is as simple to make as it is soothing to eat. You can add cooked chicken and chopped fresh spinach, as the recipe headnote suggests, and even some tiny pasta such as orzo or acini di pepe.

Mexican Chicken Stew (from Dave Lieberman) - Quick, hearty, and with just enough spice to help open up those sinuses. The leftovers are even better, especially when topped with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

Ultimate Chickpea Noodle Soup (from Heidi Swanson) - A delicious Italian-inspired recipe for the vegetarians out there. I like to garnish it with grated Parmesan and chopped Italian parsley.

(Pictured above is a simple chicken soup I made several months ago with egg crepes and lots of chopped fresh parsley, dill, and tarragon.)

28 Before 28...My Progress

Today marks my quarter birthday, which means I have just nine more months to make good on my 28 things to do before 28 (see original post here). My progress was slow for the first couple of months, but I've had a lot of time on my hands since I got back from my trip, so I've been trying to check off a few of the easier goals. This is where I'm at right now:

1 - buy an old polaroid camera (my mom gave me her old one, so now I just need to buy some film - check)

2 - start a blog (check)

4 - finally read The Sot-Weed Factor by John Barth (I'll be starting it as soon as I finish The Man Who Ate Everything by Jeffrey Steingarten)

5 - buy a bike (check)

6 - make an inspiration board (that's it at the top; you might recognize some of the pictures from my Nesting post - check)

11 - make a lemon meringue pie from scratch (I bought a copper bowl in Paris, so I'm ready to whip those egg whites!)

13 - sort through the stuff I have in my mom's attic (I did a pretty thorough sort-through about a month ago, and I'm constantly reorganizing and weeding things out - check)

18 - learn how to drive manual (working on it - had my first lesson on Sunday)

22 - back up my computer files (bought an 8GB flash drive over the weekend and copied all of my documents and pictures - check)

25 - run a 5K in under 30 minutes (thinking about running this one, but several weeks of indulging my sweet tooth and general laziness have left me pretty out of shape)

*****

I'll check back with you in another three months to let you know how I'm doing. Happy weekend!

littlebits Guide to London

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It's Tasty Thursday, and this week I've got some of the edible highlights (and a few other favorite spots) from my recent trip to London. London is a city with a lot to offer--world-class restaurants, museums, theater, shopping, you name it. This was my first time in the city, so I wanted to do and see as much as possible, but I was also on a tight budget. This is not an exhaustive guide by any means, but these are some of the (inexpensive) places that made me smile during my week-long visit.

1. 2. 3.

1) Victoria & Albert Museum - The V&A's collection is extensive, and there is something (from jewelry to fashion to antiquities) for everyone. They also have a lovely courtyard with a small café and a wonderful gift shop with beautifully-designed (and surprisingly affordable) items for the home. Plus, free admission!

2) Covent Garden Market - Shops and restaurants galore. Go on a Monday for the weekly antiques market in Jubilee Hall and grab a cupcake from Ella's Bakehouse or a cup of tangy frozen yogurt from Yuforia (pictured) for a little pick-me-up after you're done shopping.

3) Culture Grub - Place an order of pan-fried pork and cabbage dumplings for take-away from this popular Chinese spot and do like the locals and head to nearby Waterloo Millenium Green for an alfresco lunch.

4. 5. 6.

4) Spitalfields - A renovated market space that is home to lots of cute shops and inexpensive restaurants (including Square Pie!), plus an antiques market on Thursdays and a general market on Fridays and Saturdays.

5) The Golden Hind - Perfect fish and chips in a cozy, charming shop in Marylebone. After lunch, wander through the cobblestone streets and do a little window shopping.

6) Tate Britain - Located along the Thames in a quiet tree-lined neighborhood, the Tate Britain is a nice place to while away a rainy afternoon. Highlights of the collection include Elizabethan portraiture, paintings by Pre-Raphaelite masters Millais and Rossetti, and a huge collection of works by JMW Turner. Admission is free.

7. 8. 9.

7) South Bank Book Market - A daily used book market tucked right under Waterloo Bridge. Its location on the Jubilee Walkway makes it a great starting point for a late-morning stroll along the Thames.

8) VitaOrganic - I stumbled upon this place by chance on a rainy day. My feet were soaked, and their cozy atmosphere and tasty-looking buffet beckoned to me through the window. Though raw and vegan food is not really my thing, all of the dishes I sampled were very tasty. And at just under £5 for the buffet, it is one of the better deals in London.

9) Hyde Park - In my opinion, this is the best of the centrally-located parks in London. An oasis of peace and quiet in a hectic city, it is great for an afternoon walk or even a nap. My favorite spot in the park was the rose garden, which is bordered on all sides by tall hedges, making it feel like your own little secret garden.

*****

Coming next week, the littlebits guide to Paris!