I Heart NY

Best dressed subway entertainment, ever.

I'm a Little Dinosaur

Does anybody know that song?  It's great. 

Also, here is a little card I made for a friend - we happen to be going to Dinosaur BBQ for a bday dinner (yum!) so I thought this worked. 



(BTW: How cute is Jonathan Richman in this video? )

Summer Side Salad Delight

I could eat pasta every day for dinner.  In fact, I usually do. 

Last night I mixed it up a little, kind of, and tried this Weight Watchers recipe - it was pretty good!  (Yes, I know Orzo is technically a pasta, but it looks like rice so I'm considering it Rasta.)  I think its meant for a side dish and would be great at a BBQ if your guests are adventurous/tired of the same old noodle salad. 

Orzo-Chickpea Salad, via WeightWatchers.com

POINTS® Value: 5 (if you're into that sort of thing)
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 15 min

INGREDIENTS
8 oz uncooked orzo (half a 1 lb box)
cooking spray
2 small zucchini, chopped
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/4 cup(s) parsley, leaves, firmly packed, chopped (I used basil, since I didn't have parsley)
15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup(s) dried cranberries (I used golden raisins since I had them on hand)
1 tsp olive oil, extra-virgin
1/4 cup(s) red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste

DIRECTIONS
Cook orzo according to package directions; set aside.

Meanwhile, coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Sauté zucchini, lightly salting it as it cooks, until slightly crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes; allow to cool.

Place zucchini in a large bowl and add remaining ingredients (including orzo); toss to combine. Allow salad to marinate in refrigerator for at least half an hour before serving. It may be served cold or at room temperature.

(I ate it pretty much right away and it was still good, without marinating.  Am having it for lunch today too - so it should be even better!)

Tomato, Tomato

Check it out! 

I was SO excited to finally see fruit on my tomato plant!  I thought I'd share the little guys with you, and update from this post a while back. 

The hardest thing with this plant has been weeding out and getting rid of healthy sprouts so the rest have room to grow.  I feel so bad ditching perfectly good plants that I raised from seeds!  I haven't done a great job of it either, I could probably get rid of a few more.  I am so proud to have my first real little tomatoes shoot out - can't wait to eat them up. 

Baby Shower Fun!

Here are some cute favors I helped put together for a baby shower this weekend!   Pretty simple - just get some cute little containers like these, fill them with candy (we used jelly beans), and tie a little ribbon on with a note/greeting thanking people for coming!   

I designed the little cards with the baby's "stats" and a thank you  - I just copied and pasted a cute pic and typed on top of it, using a word template for labels. 

I printed them out on card stock, cut them up and hole punched them to tie the ribbon through.  Pretty cute, and very easy!

Woah Baby

Another little treat I made for the baby shower I'm going to this weekend - I saw this tutorial at

The Creative Place and thought it was a perfect little simple gift!  Mom or Dad can keep this on the door handle to let everyone know baby is snoozing.

I used wonder under and fabric for the letters, instead of embroidery, but its the same idea.  Very easy and cute!  Next time I might cut the two front squares with pinking shears to prevent fraying/add some zig zag but I'm happy with how it turned out. 

Thanks Ashley, for the great idea!

Totes Toasties!

I've just added a new bag to my Etsy Shop - check it out!

I used two of the same fabrics I used for the quilt - I like how it came out. 

The inside - navy with white polka dots. 

I've realized (duh) that its takes just as much time and effort to make two of the same item and sew them together as it is to make one.  I make a little assembly line and off I go!

I put together this little brown tote with lime interior for a gift, and made the other for my shop while I was at it!  Hooray efficiency! 

Pretty Pictures

Some quick pics I took on Sunday on the way home from upstate New York with the family - its so pretty!

The blur is because I took them out of the car window as we were driving (don't worry, Mom was at the wheel).  I think its kind of a cool effect though, no?

Beautiful Norwich, NY. 

My First Quilt!

Ta da!  I finished my first mini quilt!  Here it is. 

I used this free pattern from one of my favorite sites for great gift ideas - Sew For Home. 

You may be wondering what is with the weird seams - this is a rag quilt, so the seams are exposed on purpose.  As you wash it, they fray to give it a relaxed look. 

Here Dorian models it for me - look how fun!

The front side is cotton, the back is grey flannel with pink stitching.  It is for a baby shower I'm going to this weekend - a light little quilt for a summer baby.  I hope she loves it! 

A Good Snack

You know what is so great to eat?  Frozen grapes. 

Good and good for you, especially in the summer.  Have you tried this before?  I love it - I buy a bag of grapes from the fruit man (I like the green ones), rinse them off and stick them in the freezer.  Soon they are done - like little frozen candy popsicles!  Delightful. 

Mail Call!

My roommates and I get a lot of mail, and it all seems to pile up on the table.  So!  I made this little thing, from One Yard Wonders (my fav craft book) to keep things sorted and free up some counter space.  Yay organization! 

Thank You, Govna'!

(Title Said in a Cheesy British Accent)

More on my epic visit to Governors Island!  Here I am on one side of the isle - as you can see, the views are amazing!  That's the statue of Liberty in the background, along with the Staten Island Ferry (which is blocking Ellis Island in this shot, but it is there, believe you me!) 

This weekend there was a festival called Meatopia - a combination BBQ and Beer celebration.  My two favorite things, right?  (No, not really).  But it was very popular as you can see - and the island is large enough to accommodate such a big festival and still have plenty of space for non brew loving vegetarians like myself.

The old buildings where army and coast guard were stationed are just lovely. 

Some are from the 1960s - not as pretty architecture, but man I wish I lived on Bear Road!  (How would the bears get there?  I don't know, can they swim that far?) 

A pretty archway, and another cool building. 

Lots of open space, too.  You can rent or bring your own bike - its a small island and flat so even if you're not a hardcore biker its a lot of fun!  We walked it this weekend, but next time I'll bring my bike back.  They have little trolley shuttles too. 

This is picnic point - great place for a picnic, as you can see! 

Also, gardens!  There is a little farmer's market near picnic point - so cool!

And good old Jersey, of course. 

OH - they did move the ferry location from last year, on the Brooklyn side.  (Mom and Dad are waiting happily at the WRONG location in this pic, thanks to my poor planning).  Its a pier 6 now, which is walkable but pretty far from the old location on a super hot day, anyway.  You can find info on how to get there (or to the Manhattan terminal) here.  Did I mention the ferry is free?  GO!

Hi Mom!

Governor's Island Art

Sparkle Sparkle! 

On Sunday my parents and I trekked to Governor's Island.  It is a little island (made larger when the dirt filling the subway tunnels was heaped there a hundred years ago) so close to Manhattan - literally, a 5 minute boat ride, but it feels in another world! 

I will share more about the island later, but I wanted to show you the amazing art exhibits they had on display in old, empty homes.  The island was an army base and later a Coast Guard station, and has some lovely architecture and buildings, all empty now.  UNTIL.  A great Not For Profit organization, No Longer Empty, organized art to fill the space - you can see some here!  These pretty ones above are by artist Wendy Wischer.  I love how she incorporates the art into the space itself. 

This piece is called Wave in the Wall (for obvious reasons) by Adam Cvijanovic.  Quite stunning, and it works for the island and its architecture and history too.

A few other more avant garde exhibits - I loved how diverse the works were! 

There were plenty of more traditional watercolors and oil paintings in addition to the more modern installations. 

Something for everyone!  You can even take painting classes there - that would be so awesome!

All of the above art was housed along Colonels Row.  There was plenty more outside, with sculptures abound! 

Even the mini golf course was artsy. 

A delightful afternoon - and even more to share!  Stay tuned :)

Weekend with Mom and Dad

I never get tired of looking at this.  The Brooklyn Bridge is stunning, no matter what time of day.

My parents came to visit me this weekend and I took them down to the newly renovated (and work in progress) Brooklyn  Bridge park.  Its so lovely!  Fantastic views of downtown Manhattan, the water, the bridges, and plenty of space to relax. 

These areas are newly opened this year with more to come - including ball fields, tidal pools, free kayaking, a beach, a picnic area and more. 

Its such a beautiful vista its prime location for wedding pictures - it down poured on our way over, but the sun was peeking out when we arrived, so all of the well dressed revelers came out and snapped away!

Here is my Dad, posing. 

Ah these views are just nuts!  I love my city. 

More to come!!!