“If you want to up your fruit game, put a plum in the freezer for thirty minutes - then take it out and eat it. Can’t describe how magical this tastes.”
Orajel for Mosquito Bites
I think about this tweet maybe... once a week. Just love it.
Anyway, Pinterest/Buzzfeed/Tumblr have all been telling me for years to put Orajel onto my mosquito bites to make them stop itching. I finally tried it and - fuck. I've never found anything else that works like this stuff. Literally in a matter of seconds. I think it has something to do with the numbing ingredient in it - I don't know, let's not get technical. PLEASE carry this with you wherever there are mosquitoes looming near. This stuff is goddam magic.
Wood Watches by JORD
I've always felt that a person who wears a watch is an extremely well put together kind of person and I've been yearning to align myself in that category of people for many years now. (There's just something lame about someone having to look at their phone for the time.) When I came this to conclusion, I could have just bought the first watch I'd seen, but if you know me (and you do, by now) then you know that I like to wait until I find something that's just right and exactly what I want. And since I can be pretty picky about the things that I like, it's taken me awhile to find one that's good enough.
My favourite thing about this JORD watch is the fact that it's made of wood, not plastic since there's nothing more gross than having accessories stick to your warm body throughout any given day. And it isn't a heavy kind of wood, so you can wear it as long as you like without really feeling the weight of it on your wrist.
And maybe this doesn't have have anything to do with anything, but the box that it comes in? Man. That box is gorgeous. It's sturdy as hell and you'll definitely keep it to store it in when you're not wearing it.
You can see all of the different models they offer over here. Oh and also? JORD is generously offering the same watch I'm wearing above as a giveaway for one lucky reader - all you have to do is send a message with your name and email address by going over here. I'll randomly pick the winning entry on Monday June 30th, so send me a note if you're interested!
Mom Says
Illustration by Andrew Hamm
Illustration by Andrew Hamm
Michael Bolton in Concert
You're not a fan, you say? Well, get outta this blog, bud. Lotta bolt talk ahead.
I saw this fine man perform this week in Mississauga and if you ever get a chance to see him - GO. He, of course, plays the big hits - but even the songs he does "off his new album" are still covers of other songs from the past, so it's a win-win situation. The only thing I didn't enjoy was the fact that he has two women who come out and do duets with him at various times. And then when he leaves for an outfit change (of which there are three), one of the women would come out and sing a snippet from one of HIS songs! What the hell?! I paid to hear HIM sing it, not you, bitch! Anyway, hated that. But him? He's a gem. A real national treasure. Also, THIS reggae version is too fantastic not to pass on.
The two remaining tour dates he has lined up are in Snoqualmie, WA on June 15th and in Peachtree City, GA on July 26th and you can find information on them here.
“Men are only as great as they are kind.”
A Healthier Heinz Ketchup
I'm conflicted. I want to tell you to buy this ketchup, but the only place (that I know of) that sells it is Wal-Mart. So... I'm going to leave it up to you. If you can find this specific Heinz, please God try it. I also want to tell you that it doesn't really taste like ketchup, but... that's a good thing! We all need to get off this kind of sugary trash. I know that none of us are eating it by the bucketload, but still. There's so much garbage in regular ketchup and nobody needs it. And if you still crave ketchup in your life - then this is the stuff (above) to buy because it's so much better for you and you can literally detect the difference and it actually tastes good. I really should have bought twenty of them and just forced my loved ones to try them out and hopefully convert them forever.
I'm not surprised that this specific product is hard to find in stores (and even online!). I'd imagine that hardcore Heinz lovers aren't exactly searching for a "healthier Heinz," so I guess it makes sense. Definitely keep an eye out for it, though.
Fresh Food Dinner Kits at Union Square Subway Station
A startup called Fresh Routes will be stationed in the mezzanine level of Union Square (14th street) station beginning June 12th, selling "dinner kits" with all the ingredients to make a meal at home. Each kit will include "fresh vegetables, a bold spice blend and step-by-step instructions for preparing a seasonal entree." According to their website, the recipes are from local chefs, including alums of big kitchens like Jean-Georges and Momofuku Ssam, with materials sourced from local spots like Hot Bread Kitchen and Satur Farms on Long Island.
Some of the current kits available include a BBQ Chicken Skillet Salad with greens, avocado and other veggies; a SoHo Rice Bowl with black beans, peppers and DYI guacamole; and a Tuscan Cannellini Ragout with spaghetti, olives, tomatoes and white beans. Fruits and veggies don't come pre-chopped and you'll have to already own your own salt, pepper and cooking oil, but otherwise everything's included and is ready for the kitchen.
Until now, the kits could (and still can) be ordered online and delivered anywhere in Manhattan; the USQ pop-up will operate:
Monday to Friday, 8am - 9pm and Saturday from 10am - 5pm for the rest of the summer.
Kits average around $34 each and include four portions, so I'll assume that you'd buy these if you're cooking for more than just yourself (well, that or you love leftovers). Side salads, appetizers and desserts are also available to purchase and the company says there will be at least one vegetarian/vegan option available in each day's selection.
You might hear this option and think, "Why the hell would I pay $34 for one meal for a few people when I can just go to the grocery store myself and get anything I want for any recipe I want?" Well, I suppose that's a fair argument. But also, do you live in NYC and have that opinion? 'Cause in that case, I feel like you probably don't understand how hellish and time consuming it is to enter ANY grocery store between 4pm and 7pm on any weekday night. So keeping that in mind, this is a great option for this city. And when I try it, I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.
You're Eating Watermelon Wrong
You're welcome.
Coffee Crisp McFlurry at McDonald's
I will happily endorse almost anything that encourages more Coffee Crisp consumption in our everyday lives. I think you should know that by now. I'm not telling you to eat one of these every day or even one a week - but once in awhile? C'mon. It's not a big deal. And this particular treat IS FANTASTIC if you, obviously, like Coffee Crisp. I'm not sure if they're available in all of Canada, but they're definitely in Ontario at the moment so get on that.