God, sometimes I’m so grateful for YouTube. I used to sing this song in the car with my Dad on the way to preschool and it’s insane that after thirty years the chorus is still burned in my memory.
February Feats
So happy that February flew by this year, although with no snow in New York it felt a little sacrilegious. I think this has been the least snow I’ve ever experienced in a winter in my life and it feels awful. There’s still a few weeks left of the season, so I guess that could change but I mean snow in March? Give me a break. Here’s what went down this month.
NATHAN DID THE TONIGHT SHOW! And it was amazing. So crazy proud. I got to go with him to 30 Rock and everyone was so nice and it was incredible.
I rewatched As Good As It Gets and what a terrible movie! No way in hell would Helen Hunt get together with Jack Nicholson. C’mon.
I started watching The Haunting of Hill House and I don’t think I’ll continue. Reasons? 1. I don’t think I like horror shows. Movies? Sure, that’s a fun time with an end date of a few hours. 2. What awful parents would keep their millions of children in a house like that? 3. Maybe it was a bad idea to start this in February, when it’s nowhere near spooky season, that might be my fault.
Saw Happy Death Day 2U with Nathan on Valentine’s Day because I wanted to see something and WOOF, what a nightmare of a movie. I knew it would be terrible, but it still shocked me.
Finally caught up to the end of season four on Broad City and goddam is that a perfect show. Excited to start season five soon.
I rebought Essie’s Apricot Cuticle Oil because I used to love it and then finished it and forgot about it. It’s such a great product but you do have to use it at least semi-daily to see a real difference in your cuticles.
Went to Charlie Palmer Steak for a Restaurant Week lunch and even though the environment is kind of stuffy, the food was really good. I love when pasta is offered as an appetizer, it’s always the perfect amount. The tagliatelle was really good and the steak sandwich was great (if not a little too bread-y). That sandwich is also the “official sandwich of Madison Square Garden” which everyone tells you a thousand times upon entering the restaurant, so that’s something too, I guess?
CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS SHOW TO COME OUT mainly because of how amazing the book is. Airs March 15!
Love that Trader Joe’s keeps putting out new candle scents. The Lemon Cookie one is fantastic.
Loved the Big Mouth Valentine’s Day special. Obviously over the moon pleased that the lady bug was in it.
So I tried Ree Drummond’s Caesar salad dressing recipe and I wasn’t a huge fan of her dressing itself (Teigen’s dressing is better but of course it is because of the mayo), BUT I loved the way she does her croutons. They turn out really crunchy on the outside, but still super soft on the inside, it’s genius and I’ll include how to do it below.
Ree Drummond’s Croutons recipe: Slice the (French or ciabatta) bread into thick slices and cut them into 1-inch cubes. Throw them onto a baking sheet. Heat some olive oil in a small saucepan or skillet over low heat. Crush-but don't chop-the garlic and add them to the oil. Use a spoon to move the garlic around in the pan. After 3 to 5 minutes, turn off the heat and remove the garlic from the pan. Slowly drizzle the olive oil over the bread cubes. Mix together with your hands, and then sprinkle lightly with salt. Toss and cook in the pan until golden brown and crisp. Add a little butter for more flavor.
Honestly, those croutons were so good that I had a few leftover that I put in a pappardelle tomato pasta the next day and… whoa. Have you ever put croutons in a pasta before? Holy fuck was it good. The crunch factor in an otherwise texture-less dish was unbelievable. How is this not a thing that everyone is doing? We all need to wake the fuck up.
I also made Ina Garten’s cauliflower toast and my god, IT WAS AMAZING.
A new bar opened in my neighborhood called The Huntress, so we went and it’s pretty good! It’s mostly a wings places and they were really tasty (and that’s coming from someone who does not enjoy wings - the bones are too tiny and gross and no thanks), but these were really good. They also have poutine (!) on the menu, and even though the gravy is much too salty, the beautifully authentic curds were appreciated.
I always forget about the one bottle of Tom Ford nail polish I have, but it lasts me a full week whenever I wear it. I mean, the price is stupid, but it does last a decent amount of time.
Have you heard of the site or the book Desserts For Two? Pretty self-explanatory, but it’s created by a woman who makes recipes specifically for two people. I tried her chocolate cake recipe for Valentine’s Day and it was delicious. The cake was so good, but I really didn’t care for her frosting, if you do try this one definitely find a better icing recipe online or better yet just buy the premade one they sell at grocery stores. Or even just top it with Nutella. Fuck, I’m hungry now.
Watched all of Difficult People and I mean… SUCH a great show, which everyone obviously knows by now, it just took me awhile to finally get there and see it. Other than it being a great show, I was completely in awe of Julie Klausner’s wardrobe. I wanted everything she wore.
This Lemon, Bacon, Kale, Cauliflower pasta blew my face off, I made it three days in a row.
I rewatched a lot of the last season (spoilers ahead) of Dawson’s Creek (does it sound like a don’t have a job? I do! I just don’t work very hard) and when Jen dies and then Grams says to her, “I’ll see you soon, child. Soon.” I fucking sobbed. BUCKETS. My god. I mean, see for yourself. (And if your reaction isn’t quite as strong as mine… look inside yourself, maybe.)
I have wanted to try this Serious Eats potato recipe forever so I did and it just didn’t work out the way I wanted it to. Some of the potatoes turned out the way they were supposed to, but you’re really supposed to do this technique with a real oven and not a tiny convection one like I have. The few that came out the way they were supposed to were really good and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, but the effort involved in this recipe was too next-level. Maybe as a Thanksgiving recipe it’d make sense?
I watched the Versace series on Netflix and holy heavenly fuck, it’s a bad one. I only lasted about three episodes before I just couldn’t go any further. SO terrible.
Had a slice at Scarr’s in the Lower East Side and it was very decent, definitely one of the most solid pepperoni slices in that area. UPDATE: Definitely don’t go late at night, they’ve been sitting around all day and they suuuuuuck right before closing.
I now know how to make a steak at home and there’s no turning back now. I’ve been forever intimidated by cooking steak at home because it seemed like such a hard thing to do properly. (I did it once a few years ago and, like, tripled the amount of cream sauce I put on top and felt so sick I didn’t ever want to do it again.) But I did it on two separate occasions this month and I think I’m maybe kind of a pro at it now? This Tasty video helped so much. The only tip I can offer is to use normal salt and not the course kosher salt that I did on steak #1, that baby was inedible because of that course salt. Oh! And for the sauce that you obviously have to serve your steak with, it’s best to grind your own peppercorns in a spice grinder. I don’t know why, but I feel like this was the most important step. I have a lot of steak thoughts. I’ll stop.
I tried the tacos at Empellon Al Pastor in the East Village and while they were pretty good, I found them slightly on the expensive side for a place on Avenue A. We can all calm down a bit.
I visited Sweet Moment in Chinatown for a latte and it was a pretty cute experience even if the service was a little salty. If we’re being real, people only come here because Instagram exists, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The cream art choco latte that I had was ridiculous good, which makes sense because I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s just melted chocolate in a cup.
I visited the Glossier flagship store again because I was in the neighborhood and I (finally) tried out their Boy Brow. And let’s get this straight, I tried it on even though I already had other eyebrow products on (ColourPop’s Brow Boss Pencil as well as a little Milani Easybrow) which was maybe a dumb idea, but I didn’t want to wipe my eyebrows off and try the Glossier one incase it sucked and then had to walk around the rest of the day looking like a psychopath. SO, that being said, here’s what it looked like using all three products.
They look pretty full, right? I kind of think too full. I don’t know, maybe I’m a maniac. I should’ve done a before and after photo, not just an after. I just don’t see the big deal about their products. I feel like every item Glossier sells is something you need to use in combination with something else so it’ll actually look like something’s working. In conclusion, I have no idea if this is a good product or not and that’s really irritating, even to me.
Chrissy Teigen just announced that she’s gonna start her own website with new recipes! Amazing news!
I ate the pepperoni slice at Mama’s Too on the Upper West Side and all the good reviews about it ain’t lying. Crazy good slices. Might even be better than Prince Street Pizza.
I tried the mini Thickening Spray from Bumble & Bumble in my continued attempt at hair domination (and may I suggest that you always buy the mini size of any new hair product you’re trying? It makes so much more sense and is much cheaper) and it worked out well! I’ve only used it once but I think it’s a good product, next time I’ll definitely try it on my roots as well to see what it can really do. UPDATE: Definitely don’t spray it on your roots, it works much better if you use it sparsely on the rest of your hair when damp.
I saw Waitress on Broadway and just wow. I haven’t been to a show in years and I forgot how much fun they are. This one was absolutely no exception. I went because a friend of mine that I met at the restaurant is in it, so I went to see her and not only was she phenomenal (Jessie Hooker-Bailey), the entire show was incredible. Joey McIntyre was great. Also? They had these mini pies for sale at intermission (genius) and the Salted Caramel Chocolate Pie is literally reason enough to go see this show. I need that recipe and I need it badly.
I finally ate at Sardi’s (which is something I’ve wanted to do for years) and sat at (in my opinion) the best corner booth under Dr. Ruth. And while I wish I had more to gush about, I… don’t. Ugh! I really think I just ordered bad. I only got the steak tartare and it was probably the most disappointing one I’ve ever had, which sucks considering it was also the most expensive. I knew I should’ve ordered the crab cake. That being said, I will definitely return mainly because the service was so impeccable that you’d have to return. Everyone was crazy nice and accommodating and pleasant, this one is just my fault I think. Also, I need to stop ordering streak tartare. I’ve already found the place that makes it the best (The Dutch) so why the hell am I still looking? I feel like a happily married man who can’t stop looking for something better to come along. STOP!
HELLO BEST MONTH OF THE YEAR, MARCH!
(If you have any interest in past monthly roundups, they can be found here: January 2019, December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018 & May 2018.)
Love this ad.
Kids Portraits in Brantford, Ontario
If you know anyone with kids in the Brantford area of Ontario, you should definitely pass this on to their parents!
My Squirrel Days By Ellie Kemper - A Review
Available at real bookstores and libraries everywhere (let’s take a break from Amazon)
Available at real bookstores and libraries everywhere (let’s take a break from Amazon)
Look, it was a very cute book. I don’t mean for that to sound as condescending as it does, but… I think she wrote this book too early in her career. She seems like a really nice, cool person with decent stories, but the woman doesn’t have a ton to say. I’m sorry! I really liked her on The Office and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. The best parts ahead.
I really like the fact that she still sleeps and travels with her childhood stuffed animal, since I do as well. We have an identical story about leaving him somewhere on vacation and somehow getting reunited with him. (See what I’m saying here? My stories are not stories that belong in a memoir, not yet anyway.) Although the line about her talking about his personality when she goes, “He wears a small white sailor’s cap that suggests he is not opposed to a good time” is really funny.
I appreciate and love how she prefers to write out “hahahahah” instead of lol. I have strong thoughts on this. Some things warrant a “haha” (although, that’s the meanest one of all, in my opinion, even meaner than “ha” for some reason). Other things deserve a “hahahahahahah” - and some even a “HAHAHAHAH.” Every situation is different! Why doesn’t everyone abide by these rules? They’re good!
She has about two full pages devoted to how great Tina Fey that is so wildly nice and sweet.
That’s all she wrote! I did enjoy the book, I just wish she’d waited a bit to write it. She’s only going to get more successful, so I feel like it could have been a meatier book if she’d have just waited.
January Jewels
Forgive the lateness of this post! Here are the highlights from January.
Still using the Origins GinZing Eye Cream and I think it’s working, so I’ll keep at it. It doesn’t leave those red circles under my eyes (that other eye creams have done to me) when I’m using it either, which is a huge plus.
I can’t remember if I’ve ever mentioned how good this ArtNaturals shampoo & conditioner is for hair growth. I’ve been using it for a few months and it obviously takes a bit to start working, but it definitely does. I’ve also tried their Himalayan salt scrub, which is also pretty great.
Again, I’m not sure I’ve ever mentioned it, but I’ve been in love with this perfect tinted moisturizer from AmorePacific for about a year now. I know that it’s too expensive, but I really try to make it last at least a year to make it worth it.
Nobody told me how good orzo is! I may have told Nathan it’s a kind of rice so that we can continue to eat it regularly?
I watched about three or four episodes of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo since every person on the planet did as well, and I think I’m good and don’t need to watch more. Although I did see this one Buzzfeed post about actually helpful insights from her whole deal.
Did you know that if you have an iPhone, you can literally shake it to undo typing? Layla just taught me that, so great.
I tried the burger at Beebe’s and it was good! Especially if you’re in the mood for something quick & tasty.
Read & loved Busy Philipp’s new book.
Sampled some of the donuts at Dough and… oh man. Too doughy! I know, don’t kill me. And there were barely any poppy seeds on a supposed “lemon poppy seed donut.” Go home!
I’ve been using Kiehl’s Buttermask For Lips for a few weeks and even though it’s pretty decent, I think the Laneige Lip Mask is a slightly better product in terms of how soft it makes your lips in the morning.
Finally ate at Emily in the West Village. Didn’t realize they took over the old Blue Ribbon location, it’s such a beautifully small spot. The food was fantastic, it’s still unclear to me what exactly a Detroit-style pizza is, but it’s lovely and weird and so good. The burger was great too, just definitely not worth $27, that’s insanity for meat on a bun, I’m sorry.
Oh! I tried this awful salmon recipe off of Half Baked Harvest, which usually has amazing recipes. I kind of like that that woman isn’t perfect now.
Had the best hot chocolate of the season so far at Boro Hotel.
My friend Dave Merheje has a stand-up special on Netflix that is crazy good and he’s the best and you have to watch it.
So I’m all caught up on This Is Us and man. It’s a lot. When William told Randall, “Take me to meet your father” and he starts talking to Jack at the tree? I haven’t cried that much at a scene since Tom Hanks lost Wilson. Good christ. I think one of the best parts about this show is that it covers all the years of a life of someone and I feel like no show has tried to do that, it’s so crazy good at times.
Tell me you’ve seen the Futurama episode Jurassic Bark about Fry’s dog. I wept.
I’ve been hearing about Xi’an Famous Foods forever, so I made it over there and ate the spicy lamb cumin noodles, which was huge and really good, definitely enough for two people. It was super spicy and the lamb was incredible.
Finally tried Smith & Cult nail polishes and they last a pretty decent amount of time. In love with the colours Stockholm Syndrome & Doe My Dear.
Also in love with Cara Cara oranges. Find them. Eat them. Love them.
There’s this wicked new pizza place in my neighborhood, Massa’s, which definitely has a hint of what is so good about Patsy’s in the city.
Obviously I watched both Fyre Festival documentaries because none of us are individuals in this age and while the Hulu one was good for showing the terrible-ness of the financial specifics, and the Netflix one was good for showing the bigger picture of what a scumbag he is and the specifics of people who were screwed over - BOTH really were the same fucking movie. Dick guy. Dick advertising company. Dicks all ‘round.
I’ve been watching this 100 Baby Sims Challenge (a new one comes out each week roughly) and they’re so addictive to watch. I don’t even feel the urge to play, it’s weirdly enjoyable just to watch.
Watched the Ted Bundy tapes and after seeing the whole “series” on Netflix, I’m officially on board with the death penalty. I used to be against it more or less, but definitely on board with it now. Another thing? I can’t watch these types of series anymore. Not because they’re too horrific to think about or because they’re such awful crimes (they are, both of those things), but it’s infuriating to watch these pieces that treat these vile human beings with such dignity, who are thoughtfully studied and analyzed while each victim simply has a name, a photo and how she was brutally murdered… and that’s it. It’s demoralizing to everyone who suffered as a result of those crimes and disgusting that these despicable men are treated as celebrities with any kind of rights. It’s sick.
Tried Cadbury’s Royal Dark Chocolate and I swear it doesn’t even taste like dark chocolate, it’s so good. It’s like what all other dark chocolate WISHES it tasted like.
Went to Tavern On The Green in Central Park for the first time! This place will forever remind me of Ghostbusters, it’s amazing that it’s even still around. The service was great, the light inside the place is so bright and lovely, the food was fairly average, but I am glad I went.
Finally ate at The Dutch (somewhere I’ve wanted to try for years) and it was perfect. Look, I have a soft spot for steak tartare and their wagyu one was phenomenal. Even the jalapeño cornbread with whipped butter that comes before the food was amazing. Although bad cornbread is hard to find. The kale Caesar wasn’t anything to write home about, but that’s okay. The service was stellar and the hostess even said, “Goodbye Ms. Heather!” on my way out, which I loved. I will definitely be back here.
I made two new recipes from Chrissy Teigen’s second cookbook: the salted maple granola and the cheesy spicy breakfast hash. Both were crazy good! Some notes: ignore the microwave instruction on the hash. And lessen the granola ingredient amounts unless you want to be eating this granola for a year (it also tastes amazing unbaked).
I returned to Augustine inside The Beekman for Restaurant Week for lunch and even though it was day 1 of having the flu, the food (that I ended up taking home) was delicious. A decent steak tartare and a roast chicken that would put all others to shame.
I was in Starbucks on my laptop recently and since I forgot my headphones, I had to listen to the Hamilton soundtrack that they had on for at least an hour. Aaaaannnndddd I feel like you know where I’m going with this. Hamilton sounds like it fucking suuuuhuuuucks. I promise I’m not just hating for the sake of hating something successful. It actually sucked hard. I can’t imagine sitting through the actual performance, good god the patience you’d have to have.
Read The War of Art upon Nathan’s insistence.
So excited for the Big Mouth Valentine’s special next week.
(If you have any interest in past monthly roundups, they can be found here: December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018, July 2018, June 2018 & May 2018.)
The War of Art By Steven Pressfield - A Review
Available online
Available online
I never read books like this (even though I probably should), but Nathan just finished it and said that I might like it so here we are. I have to be honest, though. Generally speaking I fucking hate self-help books. Not because I think I can’t benefit from them, it’s not that at all - it’s moreso the tone I can become increasingly annoyed at. This one seemed a bit different though in that it’s basically about how self-doubt is the devil and you must endlessly try and try again if you believe that you have something to share with the world. It’s obviously a great message and a good book if you’ve ever had difficulty with actually accomplishing any creative endeavor.
Best parts ahead.
“It is a commonplace among artists and children at play that they’re not aware of time or solitude while they’re chasing their vision. The hours fly. The sculptress and tree-climbing tyke both look up blinking when Mom calls, “Suppertime!””
“To labor in the arts for any reason other than love is prostitution.”
“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It’s a gift to the world and every being in it. Don’t cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you’ve got.”
Super short book, super short review.
The Songs of Riverdale
Yes, I’ve got Riverdale on the brain. Everyone knows this. This is was my phone screensaver for approximately 24 hours before I became too embarrassed and changed it back to Nathan & Baby Dog.
Anyway, the show’s been on my mind this week especially because yeah it returns tonight, but also? Are we all aware of how good the music in this show is? I’ve gotten so many songs from this series and didn’t really notice that until recently. Literally all of these songs (below) have been on repeat for months.
I mean, those are straight hits. So excited for the return tonight. Can you tell?
This Will Only Hurt A Little By Busy Philipps - A Review
Available on Amazon
Available on Amazon
SUCH a perfect book to start the new year. I knew so little about Busy Philipps other than the fact that she was great on Freaks & Geeks, so this was such a lovely surprise to learn that she’s actually such an incredible woman. Thanks to Marla for the recommendation! Best parts ahead.
The stories of her continuously dislocating her knee are so awful sounding but equally hilarious.
The part about how she lost her virginity is so powerful and terrible and brought up so much stuff from a specific occurrence in my own life from when I was a teenager. It isn’t necessary for me to go into it now, but it compounded how awful that experience was for me and how wild it is that it took years to finally understand how awful it is for any young women to have to go through any sexually damaging experience and think it’s just a normal thing to happen or that you deserved it in some way.
I love that she loved Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes as much as I now do.
Her abortion story is so fucking brave (which I hate that I even have to say that because it’s 2019 and it’s insane that abortion stories aren’t more normalized) and amazing, this woman is wonderful.
Love this part: “There are certain people who are what I call sparkly humans. These are people who have things just happen for them or to them because other people see them and seemingly inexplicably want to help them. Because they sparkle. From the inside out.” I know so many people like this!
The chapter that goes into detail about James Franco? Whoa. What a terrible man! Sure, it’s just one story in someone’s book - but ugh. I hate that I ever liked him.
Love the idea of her waiting until her daughter is thirteen to finally and fully watch Freaks & Geeks with her.
Small thing, but I hate it when people refer to cities in Canada and then say the city COMMA Canada. Example? “Calgary, Canada.” I hate it so much. Americans would either lose their shit or hysterically laugh at anyone who would say, “Hollywood, America.”
“Like how Franco carried Dante’s Inferno around on set. It’s like CALM DOWN WE GET IT YOU WANT US TO THINK YOU’RE HOT AND SMART.” - Hahahahah.
About when she first met Michelle Williams from Dawson’s Creek: “I liked her immediately. She talked quietly, as if the things she was saying were just for me.” - Oooooo, how I love that description.
Look, I know I shouldn’t have strong opinions (or opinions at all) about the people she writes about in this book, but her ex-boyfriend Craig can eat all of the dicks. Who the fuck tells their girlfriend that she laughs too loud in restaurants?! Fucking assholes, that’s who. Also, no birthday gift or card on her birthday?! Wow. Look, I’ve never met a Craig that was a good person, and I guess it’s impossible. And I know I shouldn’t criticize but it was just so frustrating for me to read about a young woman wasting so much great energy on a piece of shit. (Obviously I’m drawing parallels here to my past pieces of shit.)
Hearing a network executive say to her, “They just want you to feel your best!” as a way of saying that she needs to lose weight is so upsetting and disgusting and honestly it blew my mind for a second to think that this woman hasn’t always been viewed as thin. Horrifying.
I had NO idea that she co-wrote Blades of Glory! Amazing!
I will forever love any tidbits, however large or small, about Amy Poehler being great and perfect.
Absolutely in love with the tiny little drawings at the end of each chapter, of course Autumn de Wilde did them.
Love that she hated the movie Crash as much as I did. IT DID SUCK.
Love her “fuck that guy” sentiment about Quentin Tarantino! Man sucks and gets way too much love from people.
Definitely shouldn’t have an opinion on this (because people would vomit if they heard the nicknames Nathan and I call each other), but I hate that her husband calls her ‘buddy.’ Just bothers me.
Loved the chapter about after she had her first baby and the realness of her husband doing NOTHING when the baby arrived. This woman doesn’t hold back and I am here for it.
Ugh, and when her husband Marc-with-a-’c’ goes, “If we do this, it’s all on you” about having a second child, UUUUUUUGGGGHHHH. Go away, MarC, I hate you. Am I wrong?!
“It was hard to imagine living in a world where women are so truly reviled that a man can brag about abusing them and still get elected president.”
Honestly, such a great book. I know that I’m being rough about some parts, but you literally start to feel like you’re friends with this woman as you read the book. So, so good. Pick it the fuck UP.
2019 Resolutions
Read at least one book per season.
Go to the gym or do some kind of physically strenuous activity at least ten times a month.
Juice at least five times a month.
Take Baby Dog on an adventure at least twice a season.
Properly go on a date with Nathan at least once a month.
Go on an alone trip.
Clean makeup brushes on the first of each month.
Try at least one new restaurant each month.
Limit online shopping to once a month (exception being Christmas).
Write for at least two hours per week & submit pieces to publications at least five times each month.
Are these lofty resolutions? Yes. But I can do them. Happy 2019!
(UPDATE: To see how these resolutions went, come on over here.)