If you have time to spare, go to hulu.com and watch this full episode. It's the one where Rudy wants to wear a summer dress to a party in the autumn and her mother tells her she can't. There's a whole sequence when she's in her room by herself that I am absolutely in love with. I remember seeing this episode for the first time when I was sixteen or so and immediately remembering how such small things in my life would make me so upset at that age. God, it's a really good episode. (And that really means something considering I always loathed Clair Huxtable - you probably hate me saying that, but she was a terrible television mother. I agree with her in this episode, but for the most part she was way too strict on her kids. Awful, awful woman.)
Coned Dog Goes Through Door
If any part of this video doesn't make you giggle, I feel sorry for your parents for having such a soulless child.
“Use some chicken broth in the pan when you’re cooking chicken. Makes it taste insane.”
In Defense of Marriage
I was originally going to post this as "Fury of the Day - Stop Asking Me Why I'm Not Married Yet" but quickly realized that's an overly negative way to talk about what I'm actually trying to say here. I'm gonna do a Q&A type thing ahead so turn away if disgusted.
Why do I feel the need to talk at such length about marriage? I feel like the majority of men I've dated have never expressed any interest in marriage (whether that was specific to a marriage to me or in general, I'm not sure, but the opinion is still relevant here). Other than being the biggest cliché of all time, I've become desensitized to hearing that thought. Personally I have never had the idea that I need to be married, ever. I've always seen it as kind of an ambitious dream, similar to winning the lottery or something. Maybe that's a naive thing to say. Anyway, my point is that I think it's as silly to say "I will never marry" as it is to say "I will be married someday."
Why should marriage be considered important (other than legal reasons) and why would anyone want to do it? The worst answers I've ever heard to this question have been "security" or "commitment." I don't care what any piece of paper says, there isn't a document in existence that can secure someone's devotion to you. The best answer I can think of to possibly want to marry someone would be because I would want to declare to the world that I love this person and I'm going to work my ass off to keep that love going. That's it. I think that might be the most romantic declaration that someone could make. It's so bold and full of faith, I think that's what marriage should be about. (Keep in mind that I know nothing of the matter since I'm not married.) And if you're reading this thinking, "This woman has no fucking idea what marriage is about." You're right! I don't! I only have my lofty ideas, which I think is probably a good thing.
Is it weird that people have such strong opinions about something they've never experienced? Absolutely. I feel just as much weirdness about someone who says they have to get married as compared with someone who absolutely knows they never want it. Both sides are such strange reactions to a completely alien topic. If you haven't done it, you know shit about it. How can you have such a strong opinion? Is it 'cause of your parents? You ain't them! And also, I'd love to hear the reasons why people would want it so badly or why they're so repulsed by the idea of it. I feel like if you're on either sides of those fences, you must have purely stereotypical reasons of what you think marriage is, which makes me (condescendingly) feel sorry for you.
If you believe in marriage, does that mean you have to be anti-divorce? God, I hope not. My parents have been together for almost forty years but that wouldn't have happened if my dad hadn't gone through two divorces before my mom came into the picture. I have to believe in divorce! I'm not saying that I would enter a marriage and expect a divorce, I'm not a maniac, but to be so naive in thinking you're amongst the few who exhibit equal parts hard work and luck? C'mon. Divorce is a reality. I understand now that your parents marriage does not dictate your own personal life. It's taken me a long time to actually believe that statement because growing up with parents who were in love made me think that it came so easily. It makes just as much sense to me why people who didn't experience my childhood have their own overtly negative views on it. But again, that doesn't determine your own choices and future.
Is it normal to get married and not say "forever" in your vows? I really fucking hope so. Instead can't someone just say, "I promise to love you to the fullest for as long as a time I'm given - but that's it. I can't promise your love to me, though. That's your choice. And if some day your love for me vanishes, I will leave you. I want that love. And I will find it from someone else." Is that too harsh for a vow? I feel like it is, but man it's all I could offer.
Are weddings the best? Yes. And I'm not saying this because all women want to get married. If anything, I hope you've never had that thought (otherwise: yikes). I will forever love weddings 'cause they're positive as hell. There's so much fucking optimism and love in that room, you can feel it. No matter what happens, in that moment - that day is fantastic. Even when I was single, I loved weddings. It's a celebration of a kind of faith in something that I've rarely ever felt, how could that not be a fun time? God, I love them.
This is way too long a post for someone who's never been married to be talking about marriage, so I'll stop. I just wish people could be a lot cooler about the subject. I think it's so strange that we're all supposed to have such great knowledge and strong opinions on a topic that we'll never really have any insight on until at least we're in our early eighties or something.
Grace Hair Design & Beauty Parlour
The only reason to go here is to get your eyebrows threaded. It's $4 and it's done perfectly every single time. I've been going here for roughly thirteen years now and whenever I'm in town visiting my parents, I get them threaded. I will purposely wait and not get it done anywhere in New York, since I know they'll do it exactly the way I want it done here.
And when you go, if you have a specific request (like "keep it as thick as you can" or "I want a higher arch"), then make sure to tell them otherwise they'll do what they want.
The place is usually rammed with people since they're so popular and good, but the most I've ever waited was around twenty-five minutes or so.
You can find their hours here (they're closed on Tuesdays), and they're less busy in the earlier hours of the day. Love this place so much.
Mom Says
Illustration by Andrew Hamm
Illustration by Andrew Hamm
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
I finally went to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and baby? You should go.
Yeah, it looks pretty basic, I'll agree. But the reason you need to go is because of their flavours.
Examples
- Almond Cookie
- Black Sesame
- Coconut Fudge
- Don Tot
- Chinese Egg Custard
- Durian
- Ginger
- Green Tea
- Lychee
- Mango
- Pandan
- Malaysian Leaf often used to flavor desserts & foods
- Pineapple
- Red Bean
- Taro / Ube
- Zen Butter
- Peanut Butter Ice Cream with Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Banana
- Cherry Vanilla
- Mocha Chip
- Oreo Cookie
- Pistachio
- Pumpkin Pie
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Vanilla Fudge
- Rainbow Cookie
- NYC Cupcakes
- Peaches and Cream
- Cherry Pistachio
- Chocolate Bacon
The lychee ice cream is out-of-this-world amazing. Please, please, please try it.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
Movie Wardrobe Sale - Saturday October 25th, 2014
'Member how I told you to go to this last year? Well, it's happening again and I'm urging you to go yet again. As I frequently say, it's EONS better than The Clothing Show. On their website, they're trying to make it seem like it's a great place to get a Halloween costume, which is odd since their regular clothes are way better than any of their costume garb.
Go, go, go if you're in or near Toronto!
Juicing
I know that I've mentioned my juicing to you once or twice before, but it's absolutely insane that I haven't done a post yet begging you to start juicing. I'm equally shocked and annoyed that I'm only writing this now. EVERYONE SHOULD OWN A JUICER.
I started making juices about a year and a half ago and there's no going back. Sure, I'll go through phases where I'll have one juice every two weeks. But there are definitely other times where you can't stop my juicing, and it'll happen at least six or seven times in one week.
Facts About Juicing
- You will never become bored with it since there are EONS of different things you can make.
- Whatever you're feeling - there's a juice for that. Tired? Sick? Skin issues? THERE'S A JUICE FOR EVERYTHING. Just Google it! You'll find so many options that (I SWEAR TO GOD) will help your mood/affliction.
- You'll rely less and less on coffee when you start having juices. Also, everyone needs to get off coffee. (Coffee Crisp on the other hand? That needs to become available outside of Canada already. The world needs to experience this perfect chocolate bar.)
- You instantly become better than your friends who aren't juicing.
Now when it comes down to choosing what juicer to buy? I've only owned two kinds and they're both great. The Breville was obviously better since it was more expensive and heartier, but the Jack LaLanne one? Sturdy as hell. JUST GET ONE, I DON'T CARE WHAT BRAND.
I post the juices that I intend to try over on this Pinterest board of mine, incase you're looking for something new. Oh! And if you haven't seen this movie yet, get on that immediately (I'm pretty sure it's on Netflix now, too).
(And if you think it's abnormal to still pine after a chocolate bar whilst blabbering on about how we all need to be healthier, well, you can go right to hell. It is my decision to better my life with juicing just as strongly as it is my decision to devour any Coffee Crisp in my line of sight, damnit.)