January 1, 2024

December Dalliances 2023

by Liz Heather in Best of NYC, Family, Food, Movies, Personal, Products, Recipes, Television

Welcome to the last monthly post of the year! I would say that this felt like a fast year but truthfully it still feels like 2012 to me so my opinions might not be reality-based. Here’s what went down last month!

Here are the best tweets of the month.
The best Christmas tweets can be found over here.
I recapped how I did on my autumn list.
I wrote my winter list of things that I want to do.
I got drinks at The Peninsula, which was fun and Christmas-y but wildly overpriced.

Some of the department store windows in NYC this year were fantastic.

The New York Public Library, December 2023

I made these espresso martini cookies and they were really good.
Nathan’s special was named Best YouTube Special of 2023 by The New York Times (!!!!!!!)
Finally got dinner at Mel’s (in the old Del Posto space) and it was good! But I never need to go again.
We’ve needed new pots and pans for over a decade, so it was immensely satisfying to buy this set from Wayfair.
I made this apple crumb cake over Christmas break and I didn’t try it (!), but it wasn’t a big hit since it was only half eaten by the time I left for New York so I should remember not to make this one again. (Also I never want to become the type of person who doesn’t eat the things she makes for others, it goes against everything I stand for??)
Speaking of Christmas food, so much was made!
- Still obsessed with making homemade pizza with sausage and fennel.
- Two charcuterie boards: I will forever add candy to these boards going forward. And I finally made the ricotta jam jar and it was a a big hit. Absolutely should be on all charcuterie boards at all times. (The tip I use to make this faster: make the tomato jam yourself, but absolutely buy jarred pesto.)
- The mushroom loaf (that I learned about from this tweet) that I will absolutely make again, it was so good.
- The leftover turkey sandwich: always a winner.
- The Nutella cookies: always my favourite. Next year I won’t be so stingy with the amount of Nutella.
- Made the spinach & artichoke puff pastry Christmas tree for the second time and I absolutely love this recipe. It’s delicious, beautiful and actually not difficult to make.
- Not every recipe can be a winner, so the losers this year? The Christmas lunch roast beef sandwiches. The meat was overcooked and tough enough that it made me instantly decide to try a new lunch recipe next year. Also I’ve messed up shortbread on TWO different recipes this month. The Alison Roman ones I always make during the holidays AND a new recipe of chocolate pistachio shortbread cookies. Both doughs were beyond crumbly, and they just didn’t taste right. So I’ll need to take a long shortbread break.

I’m still learning how to create a good board

Spinach & artichoke puff pastry Christmas tree

Obsessed with the Mighty Patch nose patches.
Some things I watched:
- I started Office Christmas Party and stopped it after twenty minutes, it was so bad.
- I finished The Crown. Oof. Other than the fact that this was, by far, the worst season of all - it really made me focus on what a terrible show it truly is and how thankful I am that it has ended. I hate that it was based on all of these real people, but so much of it is fiction. If the writers/creators would have just committed to either being fully truthful or fully fictitious then I wouldn’t be left with this feeling of disgust. There’s so much to complain about, but I’ll let it go because let’s just be glad it’s done. But really… the ghost of Diana? God, this series was sick.
The egg nog flavoured Greek yogurt at Trader Joe’s is spectacular.

We didn’t have the whole family together this Christmas (which never feels right), but we made the most of it.

Did my annual skating night with some close friends that truly heals us all, haha.

Buying skates at age 38 was the smartest decision I’ve made in my adult life

Nathan and I spent the past few days near Baltimore in Maryland and went to The B&O Railroad Museum (yes the B&O Railroad from Monopoly), which is a must-visit attraction if you’re nearby and then I had a great crab cake from Alexander’s Tavern.

Fun clouds make a photo a thousand times cooler

I told Nathan that one of his resolutions will (not “should”) be “take more photos of Liz.”

Train museums are the best museums, fight me

Some things that I’m looking forward to this month: looking forward to seeing the Restaurant Week menus (it starts on January 16th), I’m going to start using this first-of-the-month checklist again and I’ll recap my resolutions from last year as well as make new 2024 ones.

If you have any interest in the other monthly roundups of 2023, they can be found here: November, October, September, August, July, June, May, April, March, February and January.

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July 7, 2020

June Jaunts 2020

by Liz Heather in Beauty, Best of NYC, Drinks, Family, Food, Ideas, Links, Movies, Personal, Products, Recipes, Television

Can someone just hit me in the face hard enough so that I wake up in 2021? As a favour to me? (Also I love that we’re all assuming that a new year means a completely fresh new slate and that none of the actions taken this year will affect the rest of our lives? It’s ridiculous, but it’s a type of logic that I can absolutely get on board with.) In any case, life is hell right now. Here’s what went on in hell this month.

I found a new streaming site for movies that is incredible.
My brother Gary made another gravy video (this time a Swiss Chalet one) and of course it’s perfect.
My Dad turned 97!

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Happy 97th Birthday to my dad, the one & only ♥️

A post shared by Liz Heather (@lizheather) on Jun 5, 2020 at 1:46pm PDT

I started doing Ipsy bag reviews again. The best find from the bag this month: a REALHER lipstick. Just amazing quality and I need to look further into their other products.
I watched Get Me Roger Stone and the man seems like a needy psychopath.
I rewatched The Disaster Artist: still great.
I tried hard seltzer (not White Claw, it was a brand called HOOT) and it was very okay, I just don’t see the big deal? I think we all have low standards for things being good.
God, I miss Jon Stewart. I find myself just watching old segments from his show which are sadly still incredibly relevant.
I visited this coffee shop in Astoria called Coffee + Cake that’s so lovely. They make freshly baked goods each day and homemade ice cream and I’ll definitely return. This is their tomato & parmesan focaccia bread.

I tried to eat the black stem for some reason too?? Not my smartest idea.

I started taking antihistamine eye drops for seasonal allergies and they’ve cured me completely. It’s insane. I love them.
I tried birthday cake Kit Kats because why wouldn’t I and of course they’re good. But they’re basically just… white Kit Kats… and that’s already a thing that exists… and look I’m not trying to hate on them, so I’ll keep my mouth shut about it from here on out.
If I became famous, the first thing I’d endorse would be Vicks (obviously), but the second thing? This dairy-free, almond milk yogurt DAH! Yes, the name is terrible. But the yogurt is heavenly. The madagascar vanilla will change you.
Finally made this ricotta jam jar with crostini and it was everything I wanted it to be and more.
I’ve been keeping a collection of photos taken of the city throughout the pandemic that are just gorgeous photos, here are a few.

March 12th, 2020, the first night of Broadway going dark - photo by Gretchen Robinette for Gothamist

June 2020, photo by Benjamin Norman for The New York Times

I watched the Holy Chicken! documentary from the Super Size Me guy and it was okay. I did know a lot of those chicken facts already since we haven’t been eating meat these last few months, so it wasn’t anything revolutionary. And then after I watched it, I was reading about it and then came across all the gross behavior by the creator of the film and uggghhhh I wish I hadn’t watched and supported it now.

I tried this New Orleans cold brew and whoa. Good stuff. I don’t exactly know the difference between cold brew and coffee and it’s such a boring thing to look up, so… here we are.
Will forever love the food at The Thirsty Koala in Astoria. Thank you Katie, Greg & Irene for gifting us so much of their food this month! Truly so sweet of you.
Favourite tweets of the month.

They criminalize the homeless so that they don’t have to house them. They criminalize drug addicts so that they don’t have to address substance abuse as a public health problem. They criminalize the poor so that they don’t have to address wealth inequality.
— antifa’s bus driver (@Lwrathofkhan) June 6, 2020

Nothing more insulting than your dog walking into the room you're in, looking around and then leaving.
— Craig Brown (@Crugland) June 8, 2020

White people have no problem pronouncing Daenerys Targaryen but start stuttering when tryna pronounce Ahmed
— amna (@amnaaxs) June 8, 2020

Me, a fat person, breathes.

Everyone: You are so brave and courageous! I wish I could be as confident as you are.

Me: pic.twitter.com/Fg29VGDO8i
— Evette Dionne (@freeblackgirl) June 11, 2020

yesterday i told my therapist that i feel terrible and i don’t know why and she laughed and said “you don’t know WHY???”
— Scaachi (@Scaachi) June 5, 2020

My 7 year old can't believe that police don't go to law school. "Their whole job is the law, that doesn't make sense." No shit kid, go to bed.
— Edgar Blackmon (@edgarblackmon) June 11, 2020

Do u ever mention someone in ur prayers then u feel bad for not mentioning other people then suddenly ur including the whole population
— ُ (@fmlbruv) April 14, 2020

It’s weird how “daddy issues” became an insult to women when it’s men who fail as fathers.
— 🧚🏼‍♀️ (@DeeRosee_) June 15, 2020

I hate that good news, lately, has felt like a trap.
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) June 15, 2020

ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ Me when I send mail

ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ Me when I get mail back
— U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) June 16, 2020

It's the simple things that can make one's day! ☺️ pic.twitter.com/xsBx1dPUiq
— Mojo Crowe (@MojoCrowe) June 15, 2020

few things as sickening men obsessed with the idea of “legal adults”
— nikki “cute trash” black (@nikkiblackcat) June 17, 2020

You think I care about losing followers? Buddy in my day we wrote a 3 paragraph blog post to NOBODY and we freakin loved it
— Pigeon Fancier (@isabelzawtun) June 17, 2020

do you know how common it is for women to genuinely be terrified to reject a man just incase he reacts a certain way?
— women stan account. (@jxssica_c) June 16, 2020

Took my husband grocery shopping.
We got home, took off our masks, and darn it I brought home the wrong husband.
Be careful ladies.
— RUTH BUZZI (@Ruth_A_Buzzi) June 19, 2020

can we pls start valuing good people over ambitious people
— cassie cao (@thecassiecao) June 20, 2020

How great would it be if the entire NFL kneeled this season. And they just kept kneeling. And also didn’t play football. Watching sports is boring.
— Kase Raso (@KaseRaso) June 13, 2020

The US has tried to get rid of covid the way I try to get abs - I try really hard for a couple months then I get annoyed that it’s taking so long and decide abs aren’t real.
— Taylor Tomlinson (@taylortomlinson) June 12, 2020

“Defunding the police is too extreme” We make little kids do pyramid scheme fundraisers to keep their schools open lmao
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) June 20, 2020

would anyone care for some free serotonin pic.twitter.com/oekWgZJwdr
— rae paoletta🍍 (@PAYOLETTER) June 20, 2020

Remember when Pizza Hut pan pizzas were basically a goddamn culinary delicacy? They’d bring them out in a real fucking skillet that was piping at about 700 degrees Fahrenheit right as your third song kicked in on the jukebox after you’d played a game of Galaga. We were kings. pic.twitter.com/G7dQBRd3qQ
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) June 20, 2020

i know you all think your dads are the best but when my dad moved to the US he literally named himself Kenny Chee bc he loves Kenny G 💖😂
— Karen Chee (@karencheee) June 21, 2020

How old were you when you found the bottom drawer is for keeping foods warm and not for pans, like I have? pic.twitter.com/9QNDfCF3zW
— Strudel_licious👩‍⚕️🇵🇷🤓🌊💉 (@OyeKaren17) January 6, 2020

UH OH it is becoming increasingly difficult for my wife and I to trade off who gets to be the “sad one” at any given moment
— averymonsen (@averymonsen) June 22, 2020

I just saw a TURTLE run from 12 .. I’m crying https://t.co/1cz4uCCSgf
— HIM HARBAUGH 〽️ (@Noahh_GH) June 22, 2020

2020 is what 2012 tried so hard to be
— Ali San 🪐 (@TheSanPlanet) April 25, 2020

I told my sister I was going through it and she said “well go around it”
— kt ϟ (@itsktle) April 20, 2020

Imagine someone u love is fast asleep in bed after a long day of working to help others. Imagine that while she is asleep armed strangers break down her door & shoot her in her bed 8 times. If this was ur daughter or sister, u would want justice. #BreonnaTalyor deserves the same.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) June 23, 2020

Youre not alive just to work, pay bills, and lose weight.
— please stop calling me queen (@NikkiCallowayy) June 23, 2020

He said “ BITCH RIHANNA TOUCHIN ME” https://t.co/uxHyzIcskk
— ℳ𝓊𝓁𝒶𝓃 (@iamshyana) June 23, 2020

anybody wanna get married for 30 years, travel the world, start a family, and fall in love as a joke lol just like be joking the whole time haha
— nope (@LilNasX) June 24, 2020

not everyone who has been sexually assaulted immediately recognizes that is what happened to them. it can take days or weeks or even years for someone to realize what happened to them was not okay. believe victims rather than questioning why it took so long for them to speak up.
— kayla (@baz00per) June 23, 2020

Is it “cancel culture” or is it just repercussions
— BLM | andrew kimler (@AndyKimy) June 25, 2020

My conspiracy theory is that time travel IS real & someone keeps trying to fix 2020 by changing something but every time they do, they unwittingly make it worse. How else do you explain the sudden disappearance of murder hornets? They saved us from those but at what cost?!?!
— Chantal KC (@NSLCpunk) June 24, 2020

I wish every woman was a comedian. Women are casually so fucking funny
— Kelsey Caine (@kelsey_caine) June 27, 2020

The word "muse" was invented to not pay women for ideas right?
— Hana Michels (@HanaMichels) June 25, 2020

me: i look good today
my body dysmorphia: you look like this pic.twitter.com/TipiGDhMXm
— gary from teen mom (@garyfromteenmom) June 25, 2020

me, sobbing: please stop, you can’t just call every single kind of dessert pudding
british person, pointing to a cake: pudding
— Will Kellogg (@Will_Kellogg) June 28, 2020

A subtle hint. pic.twitter.com/oHoXvfjC3N
— 🕹️Puggerz (@The_Puggerz) June 5, 2020

The way he looked at her when he heard his song was priceless 🥰😂 pic.twitter.com/705qBSGqHi
— 🇧🇧 (@rahm3sh) May 29, 2020

I’m beginning to think “hindsight is 2020” was some kind of message from a future time traveler that we all misunderstood.
— Victoria Guida (@vtg2) June 27, 2020

It’s mind-boggling to me that, due to the failures and incompetence of our leaders, we’re all effectively going to lose a year of our lives. At least.
— Alex Blagg (@alexblagg) June 30, 2020

sorry i didnt text back i dont care about anything anymore
— follow me if u sad (@gIocki) June 29, 2020

New favourite Health-Ade kombucha flavour: passion fruit - tangerine. Absolutely unreal.

I bought a ton of underwear from Aerie since I don’t feel comfortable going into any stores or on the subway yet, and they’re actually pretty great quality (I’m sorry I didn’t get on this sooner, Marla.) The sizing is a little off in that one medium doesn’t fit like another medium, but once you figure it out, you’re good.
This girl. She’s still breaking my heart with these renditions.
How do I set my Google Alerts so that these types of stories are the only news stories I read?
I learned how to make vodka martinis at home, so what I’m trying to say is that I’m better than you now.
Truly don’t know how I feel about this news, but I think I have to support it, right? I wish we could just leave good things alone. Why must we always want more.
I watched The Joy Luck Club and here’s my takeaway: don’t have daughters. And also maybe don’t have mothers? It seems like everyone is a disappointment to every character in this movie. I was expecting to love it, so when that didn’t happen I was a little disappointed.
I watched Dan In Real Life (mainly because of Steve Carell who was way too good for this movie) and it suuuuucked. Hated Dane Cook. Hated the plot. Hated the whole white, rich, we-dance-as-a-family type aesthetic of the whole movie.
I watched the first season of You and a few episodes of the second season and uuuuuuuggggghhhhhh what a garbage show. I don’t need to see anyone romanticize some pathetic Gossip Girl loser who I feel no empathy for. It’s actually just so badly written and how on earth did someone green-light this trash. Here’s a good piece written about it.
Also watched a bunch of reruns of 3rd Rock From The Sun and what an underrated, great show. Wish I remembered it more.

I’ve been on a real Harrison Ford bender lately and I can’t see it stopping anytime soon. I watched Sabrina (which was okay, the best part was seeing him play a nerdish, unlovable character). I also watched Working Girl (which is really not a great movie, but it was only watchable for Ford). Also saw Air Force One and what a movie. How on earth have I never seen it before?? Such a fox. If you haven’t seen it before, I shall entice you with this one line:

Rainier cherries are in season now and while I don’t particularly love a cherry, these are delightful.
I’ve been sucking down these Saratoga Springs sparkling waters for days and there’s no turning back, they’re refreshing in a way I didn’t think existed. Just pure magic.
The only summer salad that’s worth a damn is this panzanella salad, but make sure you add fresh mozzarella to it.
I never thought I liked biscotti until a friend recently made it, so maybe I’m just into chocolate biscotti?
What a great idea (below):

If you’d like to hear the birds in NYC right now, get on over here.
I started watching Insecure but couldn’t really get into it, maybe I’ll give it more of a chance, maybe not. I feel like if you’re not hooked into a show within three episodes, it’s not gonna happen.
I rewatched Clueless and it’s really just a perfect movie. I could quote every line in this movie at one point in my life and I think I might still be able to. Still looking to emulate this perfect outfit one day.

Cannot stop making this broccoli pasta with Banza and the Beyond Meat sausage.
Absolutely haunted by this moving front page of the Times.

I finished watching Fuller House and I’ll never know why I wanted to, it’s such a corny/actually-bad show and yet I still watched. Thankfully it’s over forever.
Incase you’re looking for an alternative site to Amazon for buying books: Bookshop.org
I haven’t read a book in what feels like forever, so I finally finished Glennon Doyle’s Untamed and wrote about it.
Excited to one day see the new LaGuardia.
I went over what I did from my spring list that I made in March.
I naively made a list of what I’d like to do this summer.
It’s been a harder month than normal and I found myself watching The Land Before Time and uncontrollably weeping onto my yoga mat (I like to watch movies in the background when I’m working out). A kind of cry that comes around every decade or so where you can’t really breathe and you’re blinded my tears and everything is too much to handle. I know it’s a sad movie, but I think it was the movie and the combination of this month that made me react that way. In any case, I hope kids today still want to watch that movie. It’s a hard one, but it’s really still so good.
My grandmother Ma passed away this month and since travel is not allowed, it was especially difficult for this to happen now. I felt helpless being separated from most of my family so I wrote a bit about how it made me feel. I could talk about the greatness of this woman endlessly, how it’s insane that you could live in this day and age and not read or write and still enrich the lives of everyone you know, there’s no way to sum her up as a person. I’ll just miss her. Her voice, her endless encouragement, all of it.

Some things I’d like to do this month: I’d like to not sink into an unending pit of depression (that’d be great), I’d like to keep going on our nightly walks with Nathan, I’m likely going to buy these bike shorts as soon as they’re back in stock and you can’t stop me (I already have an outfit in mind, trust me it’s gonna look good), I was looking forward to movie theatres reopening (the Regal near our house specifically) but the date’s been pushed again to the end of July (which will likely get pushed again), and I’d really like to start and finish another book this month.

If you’ve got any interest in reading last month’s roundup, you can see what went down in May over here.