Tag Archives: food and drink

daily dessert – sweet melissa

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I had such a great weekend – I really needed it. I usually work on the weekends, but I decided to let myself off the hook so I could usher in the season properly.

On Saturday, we cleaned the hell out of the apartment, which always feels amazing. We collected five huge bags of shoes and clothes to donate and made some promises to each other about keeping up on our chores so we can maintain all our hard work.

Sunday was a day of complete leisure – a picnic in Prospect Park with my friends from The PIT, lots of drinking and eating and playing games. It was a blast. I slept hard Sunday night.

And today, Monday, I did some work in the morning, went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the afternoon (pictures later this week!), and met up with my friend Daniel for a stroll in Park Slope and a fantastic dinner in the early evening.

On our stroll, we walked by Sweet Melissa Patisserie – I’ve seen it a dozen times but I’ve never been inside. Today I left my real camera at home, but I snapped some shots with my phone – it’s such a cute little bakery.

We ordered two small bite-sized items: a delicious little Florentine and a thumbprint cookie. Both were excellent. I’d love to go back and sample some more of their yummy treats. Plus, they sell ice cream, coffee, have an adorable seating area AND a back garden!

Sweet Melissa Patisserie
175 Seventh Avenue (btwn 1st & 2nd Streets)
Brooklyn, NY
(They also have a Carroll Gardens location.)

I’m ready for June to begin tomorrow! I’m looking forward to a great week.

brooklyn margarita happy hour

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I had a meeting this morning (Harvard Sailing Team met with some movers and shakers to discuss a new project) and now I’m home catching up on blah blah blah before my next meeting.

Except this next meeting isn’t quite a meeting so much as it is a HAPPY HOUR WITH TWO-FOR-ONE MARGARITAAAAAS!!!! I couldn’t be more pleased about this. My friend Michelle Ward (the delightful When I Grow Up Coach lady) and I have been wanting to get together for a while now. And today we’re making it a reality.

First we thought we might do lunch, but when we rescheduled for the late afternoon Michelle suggested Pequena in Fort Greene. She told me they have a margarita happy hour special and my head exploded. I love margaritas, okay?

I’ve actually been to Pequena for dinner once before with a friend – good food and booze, if I remember correctly. I’ll give a more official report after today’s experience.

Alright, I’m off for my happy hour margarita meeting. Tough life, right?

Update: The food was delish and inexpensive, the drinks were, indeed two-for-1, and we had a lovely time! Great place for lunch, happy hour, or dinner.

something to keep in mind…

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Last week I wrote a post called “feed yourself – a word about diets and cleanses” and I told you about my friend Fitzalan, who discovered, after getting her resting metabolic rate tested, that she hasn’t been eating nearly enough calories to keep her body healthy.

Well, she has a new post up this week where she shares how things are going since she’s been increasing her daily calorie intake. She’s trying to eat more (while still making healthy choices) under the guidance of a nutritionist and has been doing so for a week. Guess what? SHE LOST TWO POUNDS. BY EATING MORE. Amazing…

Of course it doesn’t always work this way. Often we have to eat less to lose weight, but not in Fitzalan’s case. And it makes me wonder how many women are stunting their body’s natural processes by eating too little. Because they’re afraid to eat too much, because they think eating less is always better?

Now, F’s goal isn’t necessarily to lose weight – she wants to maintain her weight while being healthy. But isn’t it interesting as hell that she was eating less than 1400 calories a day forever and now she’s eating around 1700 calories a day – and she lost weight? The body is a fascinating machine. And it likes food.

Something to keep in mind…

vinnie’s pizza omg

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I had some of the best pizza of my life last night from Vinnie’s Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I don’t know what drew me into the little shop, but when I walked out with this slice of sun-dried tomato, bacon, beef, jalapeno, cheddar, RANCH PIZZA (!!!!) I was in heaven. It was SO. GOOD.

I ate it on the subway platform because I couldn’t stand waiting any longer.

Apparently Vinnie’s does amazing Vegan pizza too.

this guy

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Just before I quit my job back in October I got an email from my good friend Geoff, who has a 5-year-old goofball son named, Otto.

Geoff told me he and his wife, Jenny, were in a bind. They needed someone to pick their kiddo up from school once or twice a week, hang out with him for an hour, and drop him off to one of his parents. Geoff was very sweet and told me he realized this might not be how I wanted to spend my time now that I wasn’t working at a desk job, but that if the commitment was of any interest to me, they could really use my help because they were having trouble finding someone.

Little did Geoff know, I love kids so I jumped at the chance. A little extra cash + play time with a munchkin? YES. I was so down for that and flattered that he trusted me.

I’ve spent the last seven months hanging out with little Otto a couple times a week. We go to the park, we go to the bookstore, we get ice cream, sometimes we get french fries or pizza. (Shh! Don’t tell the parents.) He loves Artichoke Pizza, which means he’s one bad ass New Yorker.

Basically, we have a great ol’ time together. He has a lot to say about life, and I love to listen.

Next week will be my last week with the little guy! Geoff’s schedule is changing and he will be able to pick his kid up from school every day – a delightful revolution in the world of a Dad, I’m imagining.

I will miss Otto, but I hope to get to see him from time to time. If only so he can play my “phone game.” He’s obsessed with Brickbreaker on my Blackberry. “I don’t know why I’m so curious about that phone game! I just love it!”

Yesterday he said out of the blue, “I know why you’re sad.”

And I said, “Am I sad?”

He said, “Yeah my mom told me we’re over soon.”

“Oh yeah,” I said, “I am really sad about that.”

Then he got distracted. “Hey! My name is on that building!”

And just like that, our sentimental moment was over. 5 is a fantastic age.

pret a manger coffee

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The rain yesterday made me feel tired and water-logged all day long. After an appointment and some lunch, I stopped off at Pret A Manger for coffee and a sweet treat. Starbucks is right across the street, but I don’t really care for their coffee. It’s too bold for me. Or something.

I love Pret’s coffee, though. When I used to have a desk job, I walked by a Pret every morning on my way into the office and would often stop in for a cup of their “Less Strong” stuff. It’s so yummy. And it’s organic!

Sadly, though, I ended up tossing this coffee out after only a few sips! I was running late and had to take it to go, and when I tried to carry it along with my bag and umbrella in the pouring rain, I spilled scalding coffee all over my hand and had to suppress homicidal urges to get through throngs of people. So into the trash it went.

It’s not rainy here today, thank GOD! It’s still overcast, but we’re headed in the right direction. C’mon May! Let’s see what you can do!

work + coffee

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Tuesdays are usually run-around days for me.

Today is a rainy, miserable mess. Schlepping around from appointment to appointment has been a big ol’ hassle.

But there’s always a silver lining, isn’t there?

I’m up by Columbia University (116th St. & Broadway) and I found myself a lovely little indoor/outdoor cafe with free Wi-Fi AND an available electrical outlet. (Score!)

So I’ve got myself a cup of decaf and I’m settled in doing some work before my next meeting. I can see, hear and smell the rain, but I can’t feel it. (Also score.)

Rainy days are so wonderful when you’re inside.

p.s. Next meeting is for Harvard Sailing Team – we’re Skyping with Chris and Rebecca, the two members who have moved to California! Can’t wait to talk to them.