New York Recap Part 4

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Katharina

So this is it folks. The last post of my recap, but like I said – I have a lot of exciting things to show you guys. Like different things I’ve concocted in the kitchen – and my roommate whipping some stuff up as well!

During my last couple of days, I purposely let my groceries dwindle down. What a better excuse to just go out and eat? “Uh there’s nothing in the fridge!”

I have been on a sandwich craze lately, and that started in New York. So I looked up vegetarian places around New York that have been dubbed incredible. One of the first places I hit up is this little place called Curly’s Lunch. For anyone who lives there or is visiting, I recommend going here. They have an extensive menu that will make you hungry just looking at it.

: Curly’s Vegetarian Lunch

Walls filled with art.

A lot of people feel weird going out to eat alone. But I was able to just sit, savor the food, and the people around me. It’s a perfect opportunity for people watching! Two guy friends were joking over a breakfast fit for kings! They barely had any space on the table, it was filled with delicious looking pancakes, their famous fries, and sandwiches.

: I had such a hard time deciding what to get. So I settled for the Fauxphilly Cheesesteak.

I read a lot of the reviews saying how the service was horrible, but it really wasn’t at all. They were very attentive and friendly.

After my lunch I just walked around. I went down Irving St., and Bleecker and somehow ended up in BCBG. Not that I’m complaining of course!

And I played dress up for a bit!

Then I headed over to St. Marks and went into this Indian store that was bursting with things.

So many colours!

And religious crafts.

I knew I had to be back in Brooklyn by 6, so I cut my time in Manhattan short. For dinner we were meeting up with one of Liz’s family members at her favorite Mexican restaurant, Vera Cruz.

Such a nice atmosphere for outdoor dining.

It was almost as if we were just hanging out in someones backyard.

I ordered a Veggie Burrito with the vegetables of the day stuffed inside. I remember it having cauliflower, carrots, and something else? It was delicious, and I’d never had salsa verde. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the sauce, but the burrito itself was yummy. I just wished I had remembered to ask for extra guacamole inside.

Veggie Burrito

Yummy strawberry daiquiri that gives you brain freeze right away!

After dinner we headed over to Pennylicks for some ice cream. By the way, their vegan cookie dough ice cream is so good!

Forces unite!

After hanging out with Liz’s cousin and watching her friend’s band play, we went over to this shop called Buffalo Exchange. If you’re in Brooklyn, definitely stop by this place! They have so many things, and it’s fairly priced. Which is surprising for New York because usually thrift stores are even overpriced. I guess you can find amazing and not-quite-so deals. For instance, $1 ice cream and $1 pizza?

You could get lost for hours in this place.

This had some crazy bead work!

We headed back home after walking through McCaren Park.

And Liz proceeded with her beauty routine.

Must dry!

Liz's roommate, Kelsea. She's very sweet!

Liz did some funny things when she had her mask on. Just missing the curlers and fuzzy slippers.

We stayed in that night, even though I wanted to go dancing. But I knew that we had a long day ahead of us. Our plan was to go to the Hamptons so I could meet some of Liz’s good friends – that’s basically where she grew up. Too bad we weren’t going to where Ina Garten resides.

Long Island Summe Ale

Knocked Liz's sunglasses off, my bad!

AWW!!!

Attempting to create a totem pole.

Mission accomplished!

Splash!

We buried Adam in the sand, and made him a lobster.

So we did this instead of participating in the sand castle contest. By the way, if you want to hear funny accents you should head out to Long Island!

Shaun turned into a drill sgt.

The boys reminded me of the lost boys from Peter Pan. They were bursting with energy and up for anything. It was really refreshing to be around them.

Starting a fire.

Getting super grimy!

Maybe this will work?

AH!

Success!

Then we used the sticks as flashlights and made cool light pictures.

My favorite.

With a lighter, and you can see Adam's shadow.

Liz the little magician!

It was so nice.

The beach was pitch black by the time we set out the fire and headed back. Walking barefoot seemed like a good idea, but once we got to the parking lot I wanted my shoes! However, it was so dark and cold I decided to suck it up. We went back to Adam’s place and hung out in his pool and ordered some good old late night pizza. Surprisingly, they chose peppers and onions as their toppings. Adam also had mushroom veggieburgers in his freezer that I happily accepted! Since his school is far from home, SUNY Purchase out in Cali, his parents gave him the poolhouse as his room.

It's so awesome!

There’s a ladder that goes up to… an attic? Not sure, but it’s a ton of extra space. We slept with all the French doors and windows open. What a nice last night in New York.

Shaun's wake up call!

Liz and I got ready and headed back to New York. I had a list of things I wanted to get on my last day.

First stop:

Sullivan St. Bakery

Liz got a mini rice pudding.

Yummy sticks with different things like tomatoes.

Steccas with different things like tomatoes and cheese.

Supposedly, Sullivan St. Bakery has some of the best bread in New York.

Off to the next stop!

Amy's Bread!

Unfortunately, they weren’t making red velvet cupcakes that day. But you know what? They had red velvet cake. So I got a slice of that. Amy’s Bread is known for their recipe! We walked around the Village for a bit. It might be one of my favorite areas – it ties with Gramercy Park. Afterwards, we headed to St. Marks because I wanted some damn good falafels. Where did we go?

Mamoun's! This was less than $3!

While I was enjoying this, a junkie came over to me and was talking about how much St. Marks had changed. I can imagine how rock-n-roll it use to be. Anyway, after a good amount of talking he decided to leave me and go take a nap. Sounded like a good idea to me… he was… definitely out of it.

After that, I wanted to make one more stop, which so happened to be near the bus that would whisk me away. Tucked away in busy Chinatown is a little…

Vegetarian Dim Sum House

Just thinking about their dumplings is making me hungry! I always wanted to try dumplings and buns, but they’re usually filled with pork or other things I don’t eat.

Spinach dumplings!

Sorry for the bluriness. This was on the bus back home.

Oh my gosh! How could I forget to tell you guys this! So when I was waiting for my bus back home there was mass confusion. I ended up overhearing that my bus was across the street. So I ran with my crapload of things and the bus started driving away. How depressing! Then I saw it was making a u-turn, so I ran back. I seriously must’ve looked really funny because I had a carry-on suitcase, a gym bag, my backpack, a Trader Joe’s paper bag, a big paper bag with my huge ass loaves of bread, and a yoga mat. Am I forgetting something? Well the bus was full so I had to wait for the next one to come. It wasn’t that big of a deal. Then I realized my phone fell out of my backpack. Oh. Shit! That’s right. Thankfully, some people let me use their phone. I’m glad I don’t give off a mischievous vibe! I shamefully called my dad and broke the news to him. I always call him when there are emergencies because he doesn’t freak out. Because in a freak out moment, who needs more of that? I patiently waited for the next bus and got on. I sat next to a really nice stranger and we talked about things, and he offered me his sweater since it was rather cold. But I had come prepared! We also made a bathroom break and I got myself some calming tea. The busride home was nice, even though I didn’t have a phone. I was so glad to get off the bus and see Kim there! I had so much to tell her. I was even more excited to see Matilda at the apartment. I missed her so much. Next time I go to New York I’m bringing her with me.

Hmm.. what could be in here?

Kims reaction to getting her a slice of her favorite cake.

Kim's reaction to getting a slice of her favorite cake.

I'm not a big cake person, but I can say that this was the best red velvet cake I ever had!

Kim agreed, and I’m sure she’s tried different slices of red velvet. I find that sometimes people get carried away with the sugar, and usually you just end up tasting that, rather than the flavors. But this was just right.

Crazy ass loaf of bread! Pane de Ruccia.

I also got a half loaf of their multi-grain pullman.

I can say that both of these breads were delicious! I’m still enjoying that ridiculous loaf of bread. I’m on a sandwich making craze, especially convenient now that school is back in session.

All in all, I had so much fun on my trip to New York. It was so nice to go exploring and do things at my own leisure. Just preparing myself for my future there. I plan on going there after I graduate. There are so many opportunities there, and right now I’m just working on networking and perhaps getting a few shows in before I graduate. Which reminds me – awhile back the lovely Gillian had asked for me to post some of my work. I’ll be doing more of that, now that my semester has started up again. I’m really excited, and I’m feeling inspired. Who knows what I’ll create? So far, I’ve been making mouth-watering masterpieces in the kitchen, which I can’t wait to share with you guys. Maybe you’ll feel compelled to recreate some?

I made this about a year ago in a flexible molds class I was taking.

So I’ll end on this note… this is an inspiring quote one of the instructors at Yoga to the People shared with us during savasana.

“Ring the bell that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.”

-Leonard Cohen

New York Recap Part 3

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Katharina

Since I’ve been lacking in the food photo department, let me start with something appropriate. There’s this place called Foodswings in Brooklyn that serves fast food and diner food but it’s all completely vegan. So if you’re ever over in that borough – check it out! Next time I go back I’m going to try The Seymour (Pistachio Ice Cream, Cookies & Peanut Butter). Sounds like an awesome “milkshake” doesn’t it?

: Vegan fish sticks with tartar sauce.

I haven’t had fish sticks since I was probably 8. It was awesome! I felt like I was reliving when I was still in ballet class and my favorite song was probably something from the Lion King soundtrack that had a crack on the case.

I remember that mid-week, there was a rainy day. I took that as a cue for me to just take it easy. My feet definitely were in need of some rest. However, I did want to do something. I looked up the classes at this yoga studio called Yoga to the People – they offer a donation based class.

So many people in such a tight space.

This was my favorite yoga class that I’ve ever been to. They offer a hot yoga, and honestly… I took the power vinyasa class and I started sweating from the first minute. I can’t imagine what the hot yoga class is like. I love how that time was really made into everyone’s own practice. They played great music and gave words of encouragement about life. How sometimes it sucks, but it’s up to us to make what we want of it. Oh! And never have I heard that many moans, groans, and orgasmic noises in one room. My favorite part was probably the happy baby. We all made sounds like a baby does, and someone ended it all with a delightful baby sigh.

Yup, I packed my yoga mat with me!

After that, I met up with my friend on St. Marks and we had to run a very important errand. Then we headed home but stopped by Foodswings, where I picked up my fish sticks. When we got home I just relaxed some more. I was in desperate need of a shower because after that yoga class, I was drenched in sweat. My friend went to go get a quick back massage while I showered.

Our "station" in the kitchen.

And she picked me up a candy.

I peacefully went to sleep that night. This was much needed because the next day I planned to go to the MoMa. So here’s part of my cultural experience for you guys to see!

A part of the Song Dong exhibition.

The idea was about the Chinese concept of wu jin qi yong - "waste not".

View from above.

It was very interesting, and there was so much to take in. For some reason I always find myself being drawn to Chinese artists. Maybe it goes along with the idea that Eastern religions also appeal to me. The philsophy of experiencing vs. intellectualizing.

Eyeballs scaling up the wall.

I feel like this is referencing so many things.

This is an example of why I create art: I strive to make the unimaginable present in our world.

Some works by Merce Cunningham.

Neat projection.

Broken dishes.

Hey there

Henri Matisse

Van Gogh

Ron Arad's No Discipline

Arad has created some stunning furniture. I think you can really see his fascination with technology through the amount of innovation his pieces portray.

I enjoyed my museum visit very much! I was able to look at the pieces for as long as I wanted to, or as little as I wanted to. I managed to spend a few hours there, and I felt like time was standing still. I wasn’t completely alone though. I had my friend PB&J Larabar help get me through! I usually don’t eat my friends though.

Afterward I headed to Chelsea Market.

They had a lot of bakeries with really cute cupcakes!

I went to Amy’s Bread in search of a delicious Red Velvet cupcake. Unfortunately, they weren’t making any that day. So I put that on my To-Do list: come back later.

I took a break and sat down in a tea lounge.

Enjoyed a nice cup of chocolate almond tea.

I also got some produce at the Manhattan Fruit Exchange, and went into this small shop called Chelsea Market Baskets. I talked to the store owner for a bit and he was so nice! Too bad I don’t live there because I recommend the Delouis Fils mayonnaise to him, and he added it to this inventory list. I tried various things, which I’m afraid I can’t remember! I also made a small purchase.

Oatmeal Lavender Biscuits

I’m going to buy goat cheese and chives to go with them. I tried making a dip out of sour cream, strawberries, and vanilla though – but I think goat cheese would be better.

I headed back to Brooklyn and met up with Liz and Sean.

Their friend Adam came too.

And he made the best calendar ever!

Crossing the bridge!

Subway passing by.

Look!

We were headed back to the SoHo area to checkout one of their friend’s play.

Liz putting on some finishing touches.

One of the bands that played, but they were a little too girly for my taste.

Surprise attack!

Attempt to seduce me.

...working?

Check please!

Say cheese!

Wish I could remember his name, but the guy on the far right was their friend that played.

It was late and we hadn't eaten so we stopped by Curry in a Hurry for some late night Indian goodness!

This makes me want to go back even more now! I have some tasty pictures for you guys in my next post. Actually, my next post will be the final recap, and then it’s back to reality! But don’t worry, that’s fun too. So far I’ve been loving the new place with my roommate. Life is good. All I need now is someone to cuddle with, now that fall is slowly making it’s way back. I hope you’re all doing incredibly well and living life to the fullest. I feel like so many changes are going on. Maybe it’s something in the stars? Nah, must be something in the almond buttah’!

p.s. To answer your questions: I just keep my hair in a loose bun when I put on the coconut oil. And, yes, I did buy the romper! It’s so cute and easy to dress up or down. Also, I’m not sure when the next time I go to New York will be, but I’m pretty sure it’ll be before the end of this year. Next time, I’m going to make a big announcement, then maybe I can have a few meet-ups. That would be nice.

p.s.s. What are a few of your dream cities? Either to visit or call home.

New York Recap Part 2

Posted on August 23, 2009 by Katharina

Drum roll please! Now the real adventure begins. Since my friend was working her normal hours, I was left to come up with things I could do to fill my time. As if that’s hard to do when you’ve got a city like New York at your fingertips… or should I say feet? Because I did plenty of walking!

I’m honestly having a hard time remembering what I did exactly, because it was a whirlwind of a trip. However, I do remember I did a lot of shopping around the SoHo area. I was a big girl and took the subway all by myself. I got lost a couple times, but no worries I eventually found the right way. Although, I did almost end up in Coney Island.

: Underground life.

Here are some things I tried on

: Cute black jumper… or whatever they’re called. So serious!

: Favorite new blazer!

: The pockets.

: Some color for you.

Everything I ended up buying was black! Of course you guys know me, and I will definitely dress those things up with some color.

: I made my way to Dean & Deluca.

: So much to cheese from!

The ceilings were high and the floor was a clean marble. The shelves were stacked high with gourmet treats, sauces, preserves, and whatever else you can imagine. They were also kindly offering samples of their assorted bakery breads. Oh how I wish there was one near me!

: I chose something that I knew I couldn’t find anywhere else: Creme of Dates with Almonds.

I also stopped by Top Shop and tried on things that were out of my comfort zone. The clothes was totally glitzy and glamorous. It was so much fun! Whenever I’m in New York I feel the need to step up my style a notch and live on the fashion edge. Before I headed back to Brooklyn, a store across the street had caught my eye. I stopped in Pearl River and totally thought of you Katie! They have so many cute dishes there. Before I headed out I stopped in the small food section to see if they had Lucky candy. Alas, they did not. However, I did find some interesting drinks and I decided to open one on the way back home.

: Banana Flavour Grass Jelly Drink

I honestly had no idea what to expect, but just hope that it tasted like banana atleast. I ended up enjoying this a lot, and I love drinks with chunks in them. Since I got in the refrigerated section, it was nice and cold.

: I also saw a bunch of these fancy looking ice cream trucks.

Their menu had illustrations of their flavors’ plants. Example: a vanilla bean for vanilla.

: Musicians in Union Square on my way home.

We took it easy that night, and just lounged around with the windows open. Definitely felt like summer the whole time. Sorry I didn’t really take very many pictures of my eats. For the most part, I was on a budget so they weren’t very spectacular. Just portable meals I put together. Plus I packed some super dense bars and bags of nuts to keep me going since I knew I’d be walking a lot. One of the bars I packed were the Nature’s Path Optimum Blueberry Flax & Soy. They were so good!

: Two thumbs way up!

The next day I got dressed and headed off to find some galleries. I was looking for Deitch, but it must’ve disappeared whenever I went near it. But while I searching for this mysterious gallery, I witnessed a robbery/police chase. Cuh-razy! I ended up just wandering around going into random stores. I walked into this Brazilian designer’s store and I spotted the most beautiful Brazilian guy I have EVER seen… then he spoke in Portuguese and I secretly turned into a puddle inside. I also hopped into Barney’s CO-OP, and an adorable shop with lingerie from Japan. I also managed to find this store with amazing things from the Far East. I was almost too afraid to touch anything because everything looked like an artifact. I love when you can tell that something was made with true craftsmanship. No worries though, I did get to see some galleries!

: I stumbled into this cute boutique with a ton of beauty goodies.

The girl working there said I could snap a picture if I tried one of their scrubs in that huge fountain set up in the middle. What’s the catch?

Dali at the William Bennett Gallery.

Some more.

A real character!

I found a bench by a park to sit down and enjoy my packed lunch.

I was walking to Gramercy Park when I spotted this little spot. Some Italian women were sitting next to me, and they seemed to know everyone in the neighborhood. It was really nice to sit there and make small talk with them. Especially since I’d been alone most of the day. After my little lunchbreak I just walked around with no destination in mind. I saw a doggy boutique and I noticed there was a crowd in front of the restaurant across the street. Apparently Mischa Barton was filming something there, and of course the paparazzi were on it!

I also stopped by this awesome bookstore called Strand.

Then Liz called and told me she was heading into the city. While I waited I went into Barnes & Noble and looked through brain game books, cookbooks, and fashion magazines. Finally, Liz met up with me in Union Square. We went over to Sephora and basically tried on makeup for about an hour.

Not a good day at work.

Before we headed back home we met up with Liz’s roommate and her friends for happy hour.

Cutest French bulldog I've ever seen!

I did manage to find some things I know you guys will love!

Can you guess where I found the goods?

I had been to this Whole Foods before, but I never really looked around. Previously I had just gone to the hot bar (which is incredible by the way), and upstairs to eat. But that day I ventured on downstairs in search of a couple things. It turned out that what I was looking for was by the cash registers, but I didn’t mind exploring the Whole Foods grounds – not one bit.

The only one I wasn't a big fan of was the German Chocolate Cake. So sue me!

I also tried another one of my finds from Pearl River - Basil Seed Drink, complete with actual basil seeds!

Later on, Liz had one of her friends over and we played Scrabble. It was my first time playing and I can see why so many people love it! I’m really into games that test your knowledge and perhaps teach you something new.

It’s so weird writing up these recaps because I have so many things in my present life that I want to share with you. When will I ever get you guys up to speed? Soon enough I hope.

Oh! And there’s plenty more to come. I have a feeling next post is going to be bursting at the seams with pictures.

p.s. I’m glad to be back and blogging! I missed you guys too. And to answer Brooke’s question: I sleep with coconut oil in my hair about 2-3 times a week, I don’t wash it everyday, natural shampoos and conditioners, I never brush only comb, and most importantly… eating fats with nutritive values really helps! Oh and my mom recommends taking a multi-vitamin for hair, skin, and nails.

New York Recap Part 1

Posted on August 20, 2009 by Katharina

Ladies and gents, and now what you’ve all been waiting for!

I took a break from posting any entries on my blog, but I’ve been trying to keep with all of you guys! So many things going on. Especially since my semester starts tomorrow. Ack!

Anyway, let’s get to the nitty gritty of this post, shall we?

: On the way to New York, stopping in DC.

So as I mentioned in my previous post, my trip started off on a crazy foot. Crazy indeed! Luckily, I was able to refresh myself when I finally arrived at my friend’s, Liz, place. After that, her loverboy came over and we just walked around her neighborhood in Brooklyn – Williamsburg.

: Liz is very lucky to have a backyard in Brooklyn – and it’s big!

: We walked to a nearby bakery.

: Buying some bread to break with friends.

As we were walking around, we just tore pieces off the loaf of ciabatta. So good!

: Walk, talk, and eat at the same time.

: Oh heyy! Check out the juggler to my right.

We walked through a couple parks and decided to sit by a softball game. Liz is in love with every dog in the world, so she was having a great time at the park. If anyone knows of any pet adoption agencies in New York, please let me know!

: They’re so cute!

After walking around and just hanging out till there was no more sun, we came home and Liz got to working on dinner. She’s Italian so of course she made pasta!

: Looking at Shaun.

: Looking in love!

: Stirring it all together.

: Sangria and a Jollyrancher!

: We had a candlelit dinner in the backyard.

: Penne with vodka sauce, broccoli, and cannellini beans.

After dinner Liz invited some friends over and we played this game called for Botticelli literally 6 hours. It’s this crazy guessing game, but we didn’t play it the “real” way. We didn’t use personal pronouns at all, but it could pretty much be any word we could think of. Later in the night, Liz’s friend – which she claims to be her hottest friend from the batch – came over. Oh my!!! He was so good-looking and reminded me of a hot pirate. I actually flirted a bit, which is unusual for me. I usually have a hard time even looking a guy I’m interested in, in the eyes.

The next day we headed to a free concert out by the Waterfront. But before I left, I whipped up something really fast.

: I added some Kashi cereal for some sweetness and crunch!

: And I used this bomb-ass dressing from Trader Joe’s.

: Liz and Shaun working it.

: Uh oh!

: We stopped by this place called Pennylicks.

You get a scoop of ice cream for $1. They have vegan flavors as well! I tried the vegan chocolate chip cookie dough since it’s Liz’s favorite. It was so good and the place’s decor was endearing. They had little funny signs everywhere.

: The Waterfront.

It was kind of annoying getting into this place. I had to dump out my water and we all ate our apples. Luckily, I was able to hide my bar at the bottom of my bag. When we went to get in again, one of the security guards swore he recognized me from somewhere. I told him I wasn’t from New York and then he introduced himself. Sounds like he was just trying to pick me up!

: Sitting by the water with the cityscape in front of us.

: Being cute once again!

: Meet Shaun!

We played Botticelli for another couple of hours. Shaun got us hooked! After we were over sitting, we went to get $1 pizza slices.

: At the pizza place.

Later on we went into the city and walked around Union Square. Of course we made a stop at Trader Joe’s. I’ve never seen a Trader Joe’s that was as busy! And I was also surprised that the prices were just as low as they usually are. So after we each got out groceries we headed back home.

So guys, that’s it for the first two days of my stay in New York. Trust me, it got more exciting as the week progressed. I did my fair share of exploring, and by the end of this trip I was ready to call this city my home! Thank goodness it’s not too far, so I can visit more often. That is… if school doesn’t get too crazy. Stay tuned for Part 2!

By the way for all you ice-cream lovers out there. Check out this vegan ice cream!

p.s. Zoe’s Food has a discount on Amazon

p.s.s. Checkout Katie’s amazing Spiralizer Giveaway

When Your Alarm doesn’t Go Off

Posted on August 9, 2009 by Katharina

So I’m posting from my friend’s apartment in New York right now. I swear, I feel right at home! Her new place is absolutely adorable and she actually has a backyard in Brooklyn. Lucky Liz!

I took the bus yesterday and the five minutes before my bus departed were insane. My departure time was 7:30 am. Kim walked into my room in the morning and asked if that was the time the bus was leaving, then she told me that it was 7:25. WHAT?! I rolled out of bed, threw some clothes, grabbed my food I had ready the night before and bolted out the door. I didn’t even say bye to Matilda! We definitely pulled a Little Miss Sunshine to make it to the pick-up spot on time. We were a bit late, but I still made it. Then I realized my shirt was on backwards. Now if you ever feel sleepy, this is a sure way to wake you up! The bus didn’t have a sink so I had to go almost the whole day without washing my face, brushing my teeth… nothing. I arrived in Chinatown and walked around for a bit with my luggage and yoga mat. It felt like I was starting a new life. Then I picked up a cab and it was a pleasant ride over the bridge into Brooklyn. The driver and I were talking about how nice of a day it was. We had the windows down and at one of the stoplights, there was a park right next to us and some people were laughing it up, then James Brown came on their boombox – it really felt like summertime. I told the cab driver that we stopped at the right time and both started singing along “get on up!”

I probably won’t be posting here, but who knows. My friend has a job, so I do have plenty of alone time. I sense lots of adventures in the very near future.

Moreover, thanks for all the compliments on my new place! It’s funny how I just moved in, yet I’m already out of town. I tried to get as much done as I could before I left. I can’t wait to get back either though to start decorating the common space. I’d also like to thank Holly for asking me to write a guest post on her blog. I seriously love this gal and she’s such an amazing person! It was so much fun writing it and reading people’s responses. I’m glad you guys enjoyed reading it, and I know I enjoyed reading the others’ posts as well.

The night before I went to New York, Richmond was having another First Friday. So I went with my roommate, friends, and Matilda to see what was going on in the galleries. I also ordered my bus tickets and packed my things!

The show I was mentioned in a previous post called Skull-a-Day: 365 days of skull artwork.

Check out that crazy, carved pencil!

Not only is there talent in the galleries, but on the sidewalks as well.

All girl band!

Some old guy said the word "titties" as soon as he saw this hahaha!

Cutest gallery called Quirk.

Super intense showing full of prints.

My favorite print: Be Blatent, Be Emotional, Risk Everything.

Here are a few things I’ve been doing in the new kitchen:

Fresh strawberries are so delicious! Especially with cream cheese.

Cinnamon raisin toast with various toppings. Yogurt with sliced strawberries and pumpkin butter.

My favorite combo with the toast was the peanut butter with extra raisins!

Now here are some snackies since I munch throughout the day.

A refreshing bowl of raspberries and pumpkin butter over yogurt.

My friend gave me a freshly baked scone.

So before I went to bed I had it with tea, and topped it with pumpkin butter, homemade blueberry jam and some vanilla fro-yo. Some more baked goods from a local bakery:

Half-eaten slices of zucchini and challah bread.

I LOVE coconut milk!

Some yummy cashews.

I tried some “exotic cashews” by Kazana Whole Foods. The flavors were Sweet-n-Sour and Himalayan Secret. Both are so good! I love cashews, but these cashews had some flavorful oomph to them.

I also tried some new condiments.

There’s this brand called Terrapin Ridge that makes some incredible sauces. I highly recommend their Carrot, Ginger, and Miso Salad Squeeze. The other day at the store I saw a bottle of their Brewery Mustard on sale, so I got one to try. Definitely tasted the beer, but I definitely did not mind! The jar of peanut butter for dipping my giant carrot in.

I was able to use the stove in peace as well and made one of my favorite things to go on top of pasta – lentil bolognese! I follow that recipe, but I didn’t add in the celery and I replaced the marjoram with tarragon.

The tarragon gave it an incredible sweet aroma.

Yum!

Boxes make for great impromptu tables, and kale chips make even better sides!

Leftovers are way better! I also added some coconut oil this time and it was awesome.

Some decorating I got done before I left for New York.

So my butt is sore from sitting, and I need to get my day started. I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend and the upcoming week. Take care friends!

Marks of a New Beginning

Posted on August 6, 2009 by Katharina

So ladies and gents, I have been a busy bee! I can say without a doubt that my life has changed for the better. I can already feel my stress level going down, and it’s making me feel like Bob Marley and the Wailers! What’s the cause of all of this? Well, I’ve been writing about it in my last few posts – I’ve finally moved! We’re almost done unpacking and we’re about to get to the fun part of it all… decorating! And in the midst of the chaos I was still able to document some of my eats. And some of them were actually incredible! I shared this with Holly in an e-mail:

“I told my current roommate that if I’m not cooking, then something is wrong and she should ask me what’s bothering me. And she said that if she’s not eating, something is wrong and I should do the same.“

It’s so nice to feel like I’m free to do what I want in my own home without having to worry about someone damaging my property, or taking something and not getting it back. I just don’t like to feel like I have to be territorial about my belongings. So this means you guys can look forward to more culinary experiments! Even homemade bread.

Here’s what I’ve been up to:

A friend of ours was stopping by to bid us farewell since he’s moving to Brooklyn to start his life.

But before I went, I tried something new, Zoe’s Peanut Butter Paradise bar. I thought the taste of the omega-3 was too overpowering, so I did the next best thing…

Maybe some agave will save it?

Eh, not really.

But do you know this means? I’ve tried all of Zoe’s bars! Out of all of them I definitely recommend the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bliss and Heavenly Apple. These were truly yummy, and I didn’t have to try to “save” them. I think if they upped the peanut butter flavor in the last bar I tried, it would be great! I’m writing them an e-mail with some praise and constructive criticism. I believe that companies really do listen to what their consumers have to say. If you ever feel that an item does just not taste right, or has something missing – write to them about it! They’ll listen. So that completes my review of Zoe’s Foods.

The farewell party:

: Obviously, this was just an excuse to have Christmas in July! Note the reindeer antlers my friend in the back is wearing.

: I think out of all of Matilda’s gentlemen callers, this is her main squeeze.

: We’ve got a new instrument to mess around with!

I don’t think that I’ve ever mentioned that I’m in a band… well let’s call it a music project. We have been on hiatus since the summer started, but we’ve jammed a couple times since I’ve been back. We just want to finish one whole song! But I guess we get kind of sidetracked.

Before the day of my move I went over to a very good friend of mine’s place, and we relaxed by the pool.

: Ahh sweet summer.

I had dinner at my friend’s house, and lucky for me they had veggieburgers! Since they’re like my second family, they gave me another one to take home with me. It’s a good thing I’ve got extended family because I was running low on groceries.

: I put way too many onions in this salad.

: Since the others had chicken parmigiana, I made something similar with a veggie patty, fresh mozarella, basil, and marinara.

We watched The Desperate Housewives of Atlanta, and let me tell you, some of those women are just out of their minds. I also got to catch the reunion show, which is even more entertaining than the show itself. That’s when there’s no hiding.

: I made a thick, creamy sauce with tofu.

In the sauce I blended together tofu, basil, nutritional yeast, sun-dried tomatoes, and salt. I don’t have any measurements for you guys because I just eyeball it, but it was so good! I had some leftovers so I saved that for later. So much green going on, huh?

: I used the leftovers for some pasta.

Now on to other matters.

The move!

: Involved a lot of this. How do we move this thing?

: My new room!

I promise I’ll show pictures when it’s all done and pretty!

Oh my goodness! So basically Kim and I did the almost the entire move ourselves. Some of our uber-strong guy friends helped us bring over the sofa, and our beds. But we did the rest. There was no way I had the energy to make something myself. So what’d we do? We headed over this local restaraunt that my friend and old professor work at called The Black Sheep.

: Kitschy but not trashy.

This place is till buzzing on a Monday night! We didn’t feel like sitting down because we were sweaty and gross from moving all day, so we got our food to go. Next time I’m going to order some of the sweet potato empanadas. They’re basically sweet potato turnovers filled with mole poblano, queso blanco, and Mexican style pickled cabbage.

: Matilda waited outside while we ordered.

: Then we joined her.

: Then Kim picked up something to drink at the corner market.

: I ordered the U.S.S. Wyoming.

Why is it called a U.S.S.? Well, these aren’t exactly subs, my friends. No, these are “battleships” as they like to call them. I only ordered a half because a) don’t have the funds b) just half of one of these is about the length of my super long forearm. They make these sandwiches with French baguettes! Anyway, mine contained pickled daikon radish, pickled carrot, cucumber, jalapeño, marinated tofu, cilantro & aioli, served cold. This was incredible! It almost felt like an event eating it.

Kim got the best sandwich she’d ever had! She got the Miss “E”: avocado, bacon, cheddar, tomato, red onion & horseradish served on buttered & grilled texas toast.

They said the sandwich bites back!

We ended up moving our stuff till 1 am and we weren’t done!

So what’d I have for breakfast at my new place?

I wanted to make French toast, but I was too exhausted.

So I just had a bowl of yogurt, blueberries, and honey almond cereal.

Snacked on this delicious combo... oops for the half eaten banana!

And thank goodness for bars because I was constantly hungry and I needed to go go go!

A favorite drink of mine! I love the little bits of aloe pulp in it too.

Sauteed mushrooms, three-layer hummus on awesome bread, yogurt + pumpkin butter + granola.

Sauteed mushrooms, three-layer hummus on awesome bread, yogurt + pumpkin butter + Zoe's granola.

Matilda doesn't always get her way.

Later on, we really hit the bottom of our groceries and headed to Wal-Mart. We also got some goods for the apartment and pantry staples. We didn’t get back till around 10 pm!

Can you spot the peanut butter with the spoon on top?

When we got back we were both hungry so we busted out our bananas (we got on sale for 29 cents a lb.), and our jars of peanut butter. It was just us girls hanging around the kitchen, talkin’ it up while eating good ole’ bananas and peanut butter.

Breakfast on day 2 at the new place had mangos!

I painted that mug in the back, and it’s got my favorite animal! If I remember I’ll take a picture of the little surprise I put on the inside.

My wonderful veggie patty creation.

I used a new vegan mayonnaise NatureNaise (which rules by the way), Old Bay’s blackened seasoning, a slice of tomato, mushrooms, onions, romaine, and provolone. I also topped it off with some ketchup! On the side I cut up some carrot sticks to dip into my peanut butter.

Bite in!

In other news, Justine was kind enough to pass this along to me. Thanks, girl!

What’s the award mean exactly?

“This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant. This award is about bloggers who post from their heart, who oftentimes put their heart on display as they write from the depths of their soul.“

There are three rules that need to be followed upon accepting this award.
1. Brag about it
2. Select 7 Blogs you find brilliant and link to them
3. List 10 honest things about yourself

Look what I got!!! Okay, rule number one – check.

Now for the 7 bloggers I find brilliant: Lauren, Mitri, Gillian, Mia, Sophia, K, and Neela. Through your honest and thought provoking posts, I get a sense of who you guys are. All of you are unique in your own ways and have a wonderful way with words. The ability to still make life sweet and acknowledge some of its woes is a gift. If you guys haven’t checked these blogs out, be sure to pay them a visit!

I’m going to cheat a bit (+ points for honesty hehe) and post part of a list I’ve made up before.

1. I think I’m a food snob in some regards.

2. I don’t like when vegetarians develop the “holier than thou” attitude.

3. I don’t want to have a cynical outlook on humankind in general. Although I do get disappointed a lot. I just don’t understand why people can’t just be positive toward one another.

4. I use to be kind of ashamed of my Colombian background because everyone thought it was the same thing as Mexican, and being Mexican has a bad stigma around it (although it really shouldn’t). But now I am proud of being German AND Colombian.

5. I’m very aware of things around me and my actions. Sometimes I wish this weren’t the case. I just want to relax and not obsessively rearrange things in their “set” order, but I am getting better about this.

6. I can’t imagine myself ending up living a mediocre life. I would be so sad, and probably constantly looking back on how things could’ve been. But I won’t let that happen. I believe in myself enough to know that I’m going to get to where I want to go.

7. I don’t want to get married. If I find someone that I could live with for the rest of my life, then I’ll live with them. But we’d just date for a very long time!

8. My New Year’s resolution is to really work on regaining myself. I’m trying to keep my chin up and be confident.

9. I wonder if I come off as an unapproachable prude or something, since I’ve been single for quite a long time.

10. When I dance, I don’t care what anyone else is thinking.

So I should be unpacking the rest of my stuff right now! I’ll catch you guys later. Tomorrow is Friday and that marks the beginning of another glorious weekend, don’t you think?

I’m strong, I’m tough, I still wear my eyeliner

Posted on August 2, 2009 by Katharina

Cute doggy boutique.

The other day I took Matilda on a search for a new harness. The one she has right now has been tattered and torn thanks to her crazy antics. I still haven’t been able to decide which one I should get for her. There are some that I’ve seen online as well that are just so darn cute! Anyway, here are some pictures of Matilda modeling.

Making herself comfortable? Not a problem.

Center of attention much?

Now on to some food!

More toast!

In the bowl is just some plain yogurt, banana slices, ground flaxseed, crumbled honey graham stick, and a spoonful of strawberry jam! I grilled the toast this morning with some more banana slices, cinnamon, and coconut oil.

After some walking around the neighborhood and visiting a gallery with my roommate, Kim, and Matilda I made my lunch. By the way, the exhibition at the gallery I went to is awesome. It was a 365 day project called Skull-A-Day. I’m going to go back and take some pictures. Not to mention that gallery is super cute and I die a little everytime I go there. In a good way of course.

Leftover basil rice, avocado, tomato, and white beans. All drizzled with balsamic vinegar.

Leftover basil rice, green pepper, avocado, tomato, onions, and white beans.

I season it with Adobo seasoning and black pepper.

After lunch I made my way over to the new local coffeeshop I was telling you guys about before.

I ordered a peach iced tea.

And Matilda wanted some of her sweet potato treats, or maybe just to sit on my lap?

Then I bumped into a friend who had been in Mexico for the past month. She told me about some of the crazy things that are happening there right now. She’s always been very concerned with the well-being of humanity and she’s like a super woman. Her and a friend are actually going to start a female co-op and they’ll be hosting all girl dance parties and such! Dancing? I’m there!

Matilda gets so much love! But that's because she gives it too.

Matilda gets so much love! And she's got a lot to give too.

She definitely gave Grace a big sloppy kiss on the chin after this picture was taken.

Afterwards, we headed home and I made some dinner. I knew what to do with the white beans I had, but the only thing missing was the pita bread! I tried to make a sort of “pancake” with my 10-grain cereal. I totally failed, so I just mixed it in with my beans.

10-grain cereal with the beans, pasta sauce and hummus, and locally grown green pepper!

10-grain cereal with the beans + avocado, pasta sauce and hummus, and locally grown green pepper!

I mixed the beans with red wine vinegar, basil, and some salt. I think I prefer the 10-grain cereal with savoury things, because whenever I try to make it for breakfast… it sucks! So now I know. A lot of you guys say how nice my meals look. Well truth be told, they do before I dive in!

Damage is being done.

Hey Mom, look what I did!

It’s going to be nice to actually have a designated eating area when I move into my new place. Where I currently live has no place to sit and eat besides my room. Well, there’s the kitchen and living room but they’re so messy… so don’t even get me started there. Oi vey!

Anyway, shall I squeeze in one more foodie picture? Okay okay if you insist! For breakfast yesterday I had…

Uncooked oats over rose water infused yogurt, sliced bananas, coconut shreds, PB&A nuts. I'm forgetting something... AHA! Cinnamon and some nutmeg+confectioner's sugar.

Uncooked oats over rose water infused yogurt, sliced bananas, coconut shreds, and PB&A nuts. I'm forgetting something... AHA! Cinnamon and some nutmeg+confectioner's sugar.

The other day I was walking Matilda and during my walk I bumped into my ex whom I haven’t seen in over a year. It was totally random and not awkward. It made me realize how I’m so past that whole situation… he and I had a weird and unpleasant history. I just am not over the fact of how random that bump in was. Some of my friends would see him around campus a lot but we managed to never cross paths until the other night. Anyway, it started drizzling, then raining so I headed back home with Matilda in my arms. I was also glad that I looked good that day!

When I got home, I turned on the stove to heat some water. Then I put the tea back on the top shelf and something fell. I looked behind the shelf to see what it was. I didn’t see what had fallen, but I did find my lost pan and my antique tea warmer that had mysteriously disappeared. Unfortunately, the tea warmer was broken.

It’s funny how things can happen.

Moreover, I’m going to be putting together a FAQ page. I’ve seen a lot of bloggers do that, and I think it’s a neat addition to someone’s blog. So if you have any questions… ask away!

E-mail: onthepolkadot@hotmail.com

p.s. I hope you all had an exciting weekend! I know for me the excitement continues because I’ll be moving into my new place tomorrow!!!

Katharina's Food Adventures

Monthly Archives: August 2009