Productivity what??

Chelsea canceled our running date this morning, and I was secretly glad because I woke up feeling like death. I made peanut butter cupcakes because there wasn't chocolate in the house and I couldn't bring myself to leave the house for some.. how sad.
I worked on a sewing project and watched An Affair to Remember. I can't believe I have never seen this movie! It was so wonderful and romantic and at the same time really stupid. Terry seemed like such a confident, self-possessed woman, so why couldn't she just TELL him? And why couldn't they just bypass the 6 month waiting period and both get jobs? It seems silly. But I loved it. I loved the clothes and Cary Grant and the romance. If you haven't seen it, you should.
Now it's getting late and I'm wondering what I did today. I suppose I still have time to be productive, and tomorrow is a brand new day!

Art inspiring Life

Is it just me or was Bjork's infamous swan get-up from the 2001 Academy Awards definitely inspired by Leda and the Swan, a painting hanging in the Perelman Building of the Philadelphia Museum of Art?
via philadelphia museum of art
via styleguru
I visited the museum recently and the first thing that popped into my head after seeing this painting was Bjork. Can you think of other examples of paintings inspiring real life? Immediate ones that come to mind are Yves Saint Laurent's Fall 1965 Mondrian Dress, inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian. I'm sure there are a million more examples.
via wikipedia

via metropolitan museum of art
Have a great weekend!

Visitors!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of hosting my very favorite mom and one of my favorite aunts for the day in Philly. They arrived bearing hostess gifts (what manners!) of wine and ramekins (wonder why they thought I needed those???) After a little chatting and relaxing and fake arguing about who would drive, we went to Reading Terminal Market for lunch. We wondered around, checking out the extensive options while Katy took a bajillion photos. We made conversation with a few strangers sharing our table while we ate, and we helped brainstorm ideas of how they could get out of jury duty. For dessert we all shared a divine Nutella/strawberry/banana crepe, a delightful cup of mocha chip Bassets ice cream, and a delicious Termini Bros chocolate chip cannoli. DECADENCE. We walked off a few of those calories on South Street, exploring fabric stores, trying on hats, and nearly getting kicked out of a cigar store. When Joe came home from work we went to Umai, a sushi place we had been itching to try. All the plates were beautiful and the actual sushi was very eclectic. I enjoyed it but wouldn't recommend this place for someone craving traditional sushi. But if you're looking for something new and different and you want to try a roll with strawberries, macadamia nuts, and honey, this is the place for you. After an amazing dinner, Kate headed home and Mom slept over so we could have more fun the next day. It was so fun spending time with them and sharing stories (even ones that might scar me for life). I wish all our family lived closer so we could do stuff like this more often. But I guess being so far apart makes the times we do get to spend together extra special.

hello again!

Hello my darling three or four loyal readers! It has been quite awhile, hasn't it? My apologies for being negligent on my blogging duties. Well, our computer is officially kaput, so says our trusted computer genius. Joe bought a new one but in the meantime we've been getting by with my old laptop. It functions just fine but it is super slow and doesn't have any of my recent photos and files.

We have a lot to catch up on, but until I get myself organized, let me just give you a few little tidbits...

-I've started running early in the mornings with my new neighbor and long-time best friend Chelsea. Hope we can keep it up!
-I am hard at work on a super special secret project for a certain September wedding that I am SUPER looking forward to.
-Joe and I finally got hooked on True Blood, I am somewhat sorry to report. Our roommate and other friends love it and now we too are addicted to ridiculous vampire smut.
-I am also hard at work on an art project Joe concocted on an especially creative day. More details on that later.
-Yey for Greg, who designed his first magazine cover for Grid magazine this month!
-Cross your fingers for Andrew and Becky. They are anxiously awaiting the results of the PHS City Garden Contest they entered this year.

That's all I've got today. Come back and visit soon and I will have more about the goings-on of the last few weeks. Have a wonderful day!

creme brulee catastrophe

I'd just like to begin by saying that my title is a little dramatic... nothing got set on fire and no one died. I just wanted alliteration.

Yesterday I spent half the day cooking. I made a mild nectarine cilantro salsa and a spicy habanero chili salsa that made my fingertips burn for hours. I made mini fried eggplant parmigiana slices. I made an eggplant chorizo tomato casserole that looked like vomit but tasted not-too-bad. I made some raspberry lime puree to mix into some champagne thus creating a delightful and refreshing beverage.

I also made (healthy-ish) chocolate creme brulee. I quartered the recipe because I did not want eight servings. I also did not have ramekins or custard cups, so I crossed my fingers that my glazed pottery-like soup bowls wouldn't blow up in the oven. The recipe was surprisingly easy, just time consuming with all the cooking and chilling. Unfortunately, the result was a little ridiculous. The burnt sugar coating hardened upon contact so there was no chance for it to spread out on the surface. And there was about 1/2 an inch of dessert in each huge bowl. It was completely edible and tasted pretty good, but I was still disappointed with the presentation. Before I make these again, I think I'll get proper cookware. Here is my sister torching her badass creme brulee creations at Thanksgiving last year. Apparently I am the baking challenged one. I can live with that, because she's pretty much challenged in every other way. (!!)

Technical Difficulties

Our computer has been acting up for the last few days. Very irritating. I hesitate to say it's functioning properly now, because the last time I wrote that it crashed immediately after "now". UGH!
Last weekend was great. We went to a great Japanese tapas restaurant in Atlantic City and then played with money I don't have. Gambling is a funny business. The chandelier in the Borgata is amazing, though. Saturday we went to Sea Isle. It was a perfect, beautiful day for the beach. I almost got laughed off the beach for applying SPF 70 four times in five hours, but I care not. I didn't get burnt!

A few unrelated items:

Mark Bittman's list of 101 Simple Salads is basic but clever. It inspires me to eat more salads and get more creative in their making.

I saw Brüno the other night. Not a good movie. I'm wondering what the point was... social commentary? Were they making fun of middle America or of homosexual Austrians? Did he REALLY go to the Middle East in those get-ups? Is Paula Abdul REALLY as dumb as she acts? There were a few funny moments but a lot of it was legitimately offensive. Did anyone see it and enjoy it?

Amanda Blank is on the cover of City Paper this week. I had no idea who she was before I skimmed the article, but I really picked it up because the photo shoot for her article was at my very favorite ice cream parlor and chocolate shop, Scoop Deville! Anyone craving sweets in Philly should head here first. Contact me if you'd like me to wax poetic the wonders of Scoop Deville. I love it there.

Have a great day. Cross your fingers that my computer is still working tomorrow!

Wishful Thinking

We're headed to the shore this weekend. We haven't been all summer, and Joe is aching to go to the beach. I could live without it, but it is a fun way to occupy the weekend I suppose. Hopefully the rain holds off!
I am loving most of the Marc by Marc Jacobs swimwear line. They are just more unique than the other available suits.

Now all I need is a flat stomach and a lot of money...
Unfortunately I don't have either of those so I'll be wearing my old swimsuit and focusing on the importance of a good body image and self esteem. And sucking in my stomach.
Photos Marc by Marc Jacobs via Bloomingdales