“Wearing new pajamas on Christmas Day is extremely lucky.”
The Polar Express Book
I can't accurately describe how it feels to look at that book cover above. I'll never be able to because it's too magical to express. I suppose it makes sense that I love it so much since Chris Van Allsburg can create such beautiful things.
If there's one book that I need to make sure your kid grows up with, it's this one. I might feel especially linked to it since it was released the year that I was born - or maybe it's just that image of snow at night. I will never fall out of love with the act of snow falling at night.
We're all aware of the (somewhat creepy) animated version of the story that was made into a movie with Tom Hanks - but is it a good movie? That's up to you. I'll forever prefer the book. Please don't forget about the book!
(Sidenote: Keep an eye on your pets tonight.)
“Beauty is an enormous, unmerited gift given randomly, stupidly.”
Happy Birthday, Ma
Usually I don't devote an entire post to someone's birthday - but if you're my grandmother and you're turning 96 years of age? Get real. I gotta let the people know about that.
Look at this woman! She's amazing. The woman cut cane in the cane fields in Trinidad for decades! This woman had thirteen children! What the hell have YOU done?!
In any case, I'm lucky to know this woman and to have her give me so much love throughout my life. She spoils me more than anyone and tells me in private that she loves me more than my mother does. Simply put, she's the best there is. I'll live out the rest of my life trying to be as good as her.
Little Drummer Dog
Yes.
Backblaze Online Backup Service
If I ever have a kid, I will constantly tell him/her these three things.
- Don't smoke - your grandfather will love you less if you smoke.
- I'm putting you on birth control at 16 (or I'll start buying you condoms at 16).
- As soon as you own a laptop, back up every four weeks.
There really isn't more to life past those statements.
I've had my external hard drive for a few years now and I back up at least once a month. And even though I own that device, there's always the thought in my mind that something could happen to it.
I recently learned that there are ways in which you can back up online now (I realize I'm probably the last one on earth to lear this, calm down) and I'm likely going to make this my next move. The one that I hear about the most has been Backblaze since it's $5/month or $50/year. Maybe it's just me, but that seems amazing. Definitely gonna do this.
You can find out more about it over here.
The Hot Chocolate at City Bakery
All I can say about the hot chocolate at City Bakery is this:
It's one of the most horrendous drinks you'll ever have the displeasure of putting into your body. The taste will linger within you for hours. Even if you get the small!
If you're wondering why I'm narrowing in on such a seemingly insignificant seasonal item in such a large city, well, you obviously haven't had to listen to the masses upon masses declare this concoction as the "city's greatest hot chocolate." I've heard that statement for years now and finally tried it for myself yesterday. Here are the reasons it ruined my day.
- A small sized cup costs $5. That's five American dollars. (And if you wanted a housemade marshmallow* - that would be an extra $2.)
*A housemade marshmallow? Are you fucking kidding me? I'm not six. I will never want that. And if you're an adult who wants a housemade marshmallow? You need to reassess your entire life. You either have too much money and/or questionable eating habits. Either way, figure it out.
- I literally drank 1/4 of the whole cup and felt sick to my stomach. And I didn't even gulp it down! Drinking that 1/4 took me twenty minutes! I had to take breaks! Breaks that, ultimately, made me angrier and angrier that I'd wasted good money on this agony.
- What's so terrible tasting about it? IT'S LIQUID FUCKING CHOCOLATE. It tastes as though there's no water or milk or anything in that cup! It's 150% sweetness. And not the good kind of sweetness. Listen, I love chocolate. It's my second favourite thing to eat. But this was unholy - and not the good kind of unholy.
- I was thinking about who would possibly enjoy this drink - and came up with the answer that it would have to be children. Children make terrible decisions, food-wise. It must solely be for them. But then I thought that no child could afford $5 for a mere beverage. Maybe an NYC-raised child, sure, but that's another issue of its own. So does this drink only exist for parent-tourists who'll pay anything for something their kid wants? It has to. And if that's the case? Fuck you, City Bakery. That's garbage. I'm never a fan of gouging tourists.
- Look, I know I hate this drink. And I know it's too expensive. And I know I threw it out when it was 3/4 full. But LOOK at how small it actually is. (See below). For that kind of money, shouldn't I get something a little more human sized?! Yes, I know I'm complaining that they shouldn't be selling them at all, but since they are - can they get a little more decent with the cup size? C'mon!
Please never try this hot chocolate for two reasons: 1) If you try it and hate it, you'll regret losing that $5 and 2) If you try it and love it, there are way deeper issues going on inside of you that need to be addressed and treated.
(And if you didn't know my first favourite thing to eat is fries - well, that's disappointing 'cause you should know me by now. I know it doesn't make a lot of sense to bash a hot chocolate and then boast about the beauty of french fries, but I'm a complex woman.)
“Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t wear heels out to dinner. Keep that in mind.”
The Chocolate Babka at Breads Bakery
Photograph: Niko Triantafillou
Photograph: Niko Triantafillou
If you're unaware of what a babka is, let me break it down for you. It's essentially chocolate, hazelnut and bread BAKED INTO PERFECTION.
They are sold by the loaf at bakeries around the city, but the best I've had so far is the one they have at Breads Bakery. And they're aware they have the best one.
They bake about a million a day since they're so popular - you HAVE to try one. And I don't care what anyone says, the chocolate is eons better than the cinnamon.