When Tara Met Blog: September 2006

Fat Burger

Friday, September 29, 2006

There is something freeing about the blatant name of the California burger chain, Fat Burger. Yesterday, on my lunch break, not only did I have my very first Fat Burger but my first turkey burger too. I had heard they were good there, so I had to check it out. Yum to both counts!
This place is definitely not afraid to lay on the seasonings and pepper either. I had to ask for it minus the relish and mustard though, not a fan. I did leave the mayo on and asked for cheese as an extra topping. The franchise claims to use Lean Ground Turkey for their turkey burgers, which are cooked to order while you wait and not before. The bun was dark in color, looking as it could have been wheat bread, but I'm not sure and nothing is mentioned about their buns on the website. The clerk had asked if I wanted skinny fries with my order--fat burger, skinny fries? Such paradoxes, lol.
Founded in LA in 1952, there are now 82 Fat Burger restaurants throughout Canada and the US and former professional basketball player Magic Johnson is currently one of the owners of the parent company. For my NY readers there is one in the Palisades mall. Also, all the Fat Burger locations have a jukebox where patrons can play songs for free. Oh and here's a tip, my guy recommends their Texas Burger with egg.
I can't wait to go to In and Out again too, I've only been once before when visiting San Francisco.

Going Postal: One of the boxes that I sent 2-to-3 day Priority Mail (the important one with my under garments, tennis racquet, cosmetics and USB flash drive) still hasn't arrived 10 days later. Yet all of the other boxes sent on the same day has, wtf? The post office said they can't put a tracer on it until 30 days and that they don't know where it is. All they know is that it left the post office on the 18th and has yet to arrive in Venice, CA. Grr.

Return of the Jetta

Thursday, September 28, 2006

I'm now the proud leaser of a black & chrome 2006 VW Jetta 2.5, fully loaded with leather seats and sunroof. It looks more like a beamer actually. It took all of Saturday to do the paperwork, select a color, model and haggle the MSRP and lease payments. I say that like it wasn't actually my boyfriend doing all the haggling and number crunching. We basically "played" bad cop and dumb blond cop. At one point the saleswoman held out her hand to collect my driver's license and I, misinterpreting the gesture, placed my hand in hers for a hand shake. She looked at my guy and said "she's cute." Lol, I felt like a flake.

I had originally wanted a red Jetta but apparently VW is no longer releasing Jetta's in that color, plus the only Salsa Red they had at the lot was leasing for the same price as a fully loaded model. So, basically it came down to whether a red car was more important to me than a better deal with sunroof and power seating. Is that a real term? Power seating? Did I just make that up? What I mean is that with the red car you'd have to adjust the non-leather seats manually by turning this big wheel as apposed to an automatic button that glides your seat into position and comes with three saved setting options. Although it's not my dream color, I'm extremely happy with it. It looks very ritzy, but now I'm scared as hell that I'm going to ding it or ruin its new detailed look.

It doesn't help that I haven't really driven on a regular basis for three years now and that I don't know where I'm going, which is shooting my confidence to hell. Plus, none of the street lights here have arrows--nope it's just a free for all when it comes to turning at intersections. As a result, I was reminded of a quote by Woody Allen in Annie Hall, "I don't want to live in a city where the only cultural advantage is that you can make a right turn on a red light."

It also takes three maneuvers to exit my apartment building's tight parking garage. Luckily the homeless guys that sleep in the garage are usually asleep in front of another tenant's car, located in the corners. It's still pretty freaky seeing their feet peaking out from the floor near the hood of people's cars.

My drive to work though is pretty sweet, only 20 minutes and no highways. I also get to pass the Pacific ocean and drive up and down palm tree lined streets. Sunroof open of course. Here are photos of my new ride (see the beach in the distance? That's my street):

I'm in the NY Times!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I only had to harass the feisty reporter and insult the paper on my blog here to have it happen. The reporter, Matt Villano, respected my gumption and equal feistiness though and included me in his piece and even added in the idea about companies encouraging blogging, which is what I originally pitched him. So sometimes it pays to speak your mind--even if you're in PR.

Check out the resulting story in the NY Times Circuits section page 5: Blogging the Hand That Feeds You

I'm mentioned in three graphs. I'm so stoked about it. The story also mentions that a blog is created every second, wow!

Here's the excerpt

"Another example of the evolution of business blogs is a site named When Tara Met Blog. It is a personal mouthpiece for Tara Renee Settembre, an account executive with the Horn Group, a public-relations company in New York. Ms. Settembre writes about all sorts of experiences, from buying lip plumpers to harassing feisty reporters.
When she recently decided to move to California, she broke the news on her blog. The site has the full endorsement of her employer, which links to it on the corporate Web site and mentions it to interested clients. As her blog has become more popular, Ms. Settembre has even received permission to bill some of the time she spends writing it as professional development.
“I can’t help but think it is pretty awesome and modern of them,” she wrote in a recent post. She added that the company continued to encourage her to write, despite the fact that the blog “isn’t industry-related and sometimes has questionable content.”

Shipping of Fools

Friday, September 22, 2006

So apparently 2-to-3 day Priority Mail means the post office will aim to get your stuff there in two to three days. They will try their "best," but there isn't a guarantee. Thus, even though you shell out the extra $$ for priority mailing your stuff can technically take up to two freakin weeks to get there.

Here I was, thinking that if I shelled out the bigger bucks my stuff could arrive before I started work on Monday and that way I could get settled in over the weekend and not worry about when my stuff would arrive and how to pick it up. Yet, that's exactly what I'm doing now. Only one of my four packages has arrived and it wasn't even the one with my shoes or pressed pants and dress shirts. I mailed them all on the same day yet...only one has arrived five days later. So riddle me this, why do postmen go postal? I would think it would be the people shipping and waiting to receive packages and not the deliverer. Oh well, what can I do but bitch in this post?

In the meantime (3 days), I have to lease a car and get an insurance provider, pick up a chest of draws found on craigslist and yes, have some fun. It seems I arrived on a good weekend, The San Gennaro Italian feast is going on here too and a Venice Block Party. I'll report back.

PS: How can Grey's Anatomy make me cry every episode?

The Long Goodbye

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

So you never realize how much crap one has until you actually try to pack it and ship it. Yeeks. Not fun and very stressful.

Besides the errand stuff that had to be done before the move, I made sure I did a couple of things before I left the City, like take in another Yankees game on home field while I still could; they beat the Devil Rays 8 to 4. Also, ate at Tao, since I had been wanting to since I moved here and luckily I wasn't disappointed, especially since I'm a sucker for ambiance. I hit up Florent for their fries-- the place has became a tradition for my friends and I to visit before returning home after a long night out, it's a definite hangover preventer too. Had dim sum again at Jing Fong, since the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy was way too crowded because we went right during the parade time.

I crammed in four back-to-back goodbye parties too: one long night out with my coworkers, another with my NYC friends, then with my girls in CT and a big dinner with family friends.

Here are some of the photos that are fit to post of all the goodbying:

Now I'm finally off to LA, but as they say, if I can make it here I can make it anywhere, so California here I come!

Photo opp: A few weeks back when I went to Boston I had gone to the lounge Sanctuary on State Street with some friends and I just saw now that I'm in their site's picture gallery (it's the fifth pic on the page).

Best Cupcakes in Manhattan

Thursday, September 14, 2006

So of course just when I'm leaving, I find my favorite cupcake spot in Manhattan.

Keep in mind that I live near the tempting Magnolia Bakery and their cupcakes are good, yes, but they aren't all that. Billy's, their spin off, is a little better and then there were some disappointments at Burgers & Cupcakes and Eleni's BUT now I've found ambrosia at Sugar Sweet Sunshine on the Lower East Side.

It was recommended to me by Nichelle, a blogger at Cupcakes Take the Cake. We were chatting at a pre-fashion week party and I eagerly asked the cupcake aficionado what her favorite cupcake in New York City is and she quickly replied, Sugar Sweet Sunshine--not to be mistaken with the fun independent film that I wrote about, Little Miss Sunshine.

So on a mission, two of my girlfriends and I headed there after work to try for ourselves. I admit I was skeptical but eager and very hungry. I ordered their sunshine cupcake ($1.50) which is a vanilla cake and buttercream frosting and their lemon cupcake. Sunshine was amazing. The cake was really moist and flavorful and the frosting was sweet and creamy. Way better than Magnolia's and without the line and a quarter cheaper a cup. My friends tried their red velvet cupcake and pumpkin spice instead of the lemon one, both of which were received with enthusiastic moaning.

The place itself has a relaxed coffee shop feel to it that invites visitors to stay and eat instead of taking it to go.

So forget the line and two dozen limits at Magnolia's and head to Sugar Sweet Sunshine on 126 Rivington Street. The NY Press agrees by the way. Enjoy!

News: Sorry, Cupcake, You're Not Welcome in Class

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

I'm moving to California. Yup, I figured the direct, rip the band aid off approach would be best. To Los Angeles' Venice Beach area to be specific, only a block away from the sand. I'll also be living with my boyfriend, who I met here on a subway platform but he moved out there two months ago (read more). It was on the E line stop, 52nd Street, in case you were wondering. I have a job there already too, its with my former PR agency's LA branch. And remember several months ago a fortune teller told me that she saw the west coast as a positive place for me and that was without me asking her that question, she just randomly said it.

Now, to address some of your concerns about When Tara Met Blog, a reader (like you) interviewed me:

Reader: Will you still blog?
Tara: Hell yeah, it has become too important to me to just stop and I hope to take you all along for the ride with me.

Reader: What will you write about now that you'll be on the West Coast?
Tara: Good question reader. The same stuff as I write about here, my observations about relationships and people, the places I visit, restaurants I eat at, films I see and the crazy stuff that happens to me along the way. Just minus the crowded subway stuff, but I'm sure now I'll have driving issues instead. It will be about me being transplanted to LA - with stories of the coast to coast differentials and of course my activities like it is now.

Reader: But you love NY!
Tara: I do, and it's going to be hard to say goodbye to "the City," but I won't really be saying goodbye because I'm a NYKer and I'm taking that with me. Plus, I'll probably come back eventually and of course will be visiting my family and friends here. Years ago, I went to live in London for 6 months and I didn't know anyone and that was a great experience, I'm hoping this will be the same.

Reader: Will you be able to sleep in a bed that's not 6 inches from the ceiling or located above your kitchen?
Tara: Hmm I've been asking myself the same question. It's definitely going to be a challenge not living in a bitchen. I'm very worried I might get lost in all that extra storage space.

Reader: Will you get a car?

Tara: Yes, I'm looking into leasing options now, I'll blog about my final choice and process. I have no idea what I'm doing. I was given my Mom's 91 Honda accord in high school when she got a new Volvo and then I was living in the City where a car wasn't needed so doing all the paper work and getting insurance should be interesting.

Reader: Near the beach, hmm, does this mean we get to see more bikini pictures?

Tara: Possibly, definitely some roller blading shots at least.

Reader: Are you going to be a vegetarian now and blog about Tofu?

Tara: I may be leaving the Meat Packing District but not my taste buds. I'm such a carnivore it's not even funny and you know I don't eat vegetables.

Reader: Will you be boring and uncool now that you're in a relationship?
Tara: Well, I've been in one for a few months now, have you been bored? Don't answer that. Besides this blog, I started a MySpace page as well to keep you all updated even more, shoot that just negated me trying to be cool, didn't it?

Now for some wise advice from Dr. Seuss for anyone trying something new and embarking on an adventure:

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!" (Full text)

Links: New York Magazine's guide to Los Angeles and 24 Hours in LA

Sept. 11, 3rd year anniversary. Port Authority Workers Remembered

Below is one of my more difficult stories to write during NYU J-School. I was too emotionally attached to be an observational writer. I didn't want to be there at the church for the memorial ceremony, I hated having to go up to those who were grieving and ask how they felt, which is why I got a lower grade on my resulting article. I simply refused to intrude on the personal moments of the mourners who lost immediate family during the terrorist attacks. I’ve lost people—not in the attacks, but I recognized their pain and anguish on their faces and I just backed away or cried when I attempted to even approach. Instead, like many others in the church, I hung on the words of our leaders for hope. The eloquent quotes from politicians like Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg still ring true on the 5th year anniversary as it did then and still give me chills. Here's what I wrote and saw.

Sept. 11, 3rd year anniversary. Port Authority Workers Remembered
By Tara Renee Settembre

(Photo Credit: Kimberlee Hewitt)

One block north of Ground Zero, as the city's church bells tolled in the background, hundreds gathered for a noon Interfaith Remembrance Service at St. Peter’s Church in Lower Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004

The service, at New York state’s oldest Catholic parish, which only three years before was covered with dust inside and out, honored the Port Authority employees who were killed that day.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey lost 84 of its members in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Three years later their memories are far from forgotten.

Among the crowd were family and friends of the victims, Port Authority police, firemen, as well as strangers paying tribute.

Before the service began, the St. Peter’s Church Choir performed patriotic musical selections, while many men and women in uniform bowed their heads in front of a blue banner displayed at the altar, which listed the names of the fallen men and women. Inscribed at the top of the banner was the following message: “We honor all those who distinguished themselves before the world on behalf of the Port Authority.” Two similar but larger banners were draped over the balcony in the back of the church.

As guests entered the church they shook hands with friends, patted each other on the back and extended warm greetings. People told stories of their 9/11 experiences, taking comfort in each other’s shared horrors. A couple of families wore t-shirts depicting the faces of the loved ones they lost.

The ceremony opened with the Port Authority Police Honor Guard marching down the center aisle, brandishing the American flag as well as New York and New Jersey’s state flags, while Port Authority Police Pipes & Drums played “America the Beautiful."

Rev. Kevin V. Madigan, the Pastor of St. Peter’s Church welcomed his visitors, saying “The terrorists took the person but they cannot take the love.”

Seated in the front pew were New York Governor George Pataki, New Jersey Governor James McGreevey and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Governor Pataki of New York, the only politician to speak at the event who was also in office during Sept. 11, thanked the Port Authority on behalf of America. He described the victim's heroism by saying how successful they were at evacuating people from the Towers and at leading FDNY and NYPD through the buildings.

“They saved tens of thousands of lives in just 90 minutes. They saved lives, even as they gave lives. They rose, even though the towers fell,” said Governor Pataki.

New York’s Mayor Bloomberg echoed the same sentiment saying, “They [the Port Authority workers] charged into the building, went back again, and again. Normal people run away from danger these people ran towards it.”

“We stand united in resolve and grief," said Mayor Bloomberg. "We owe it to them to unite in defiance against terrorism.”

New Jersey Governor McGreevey also spoke of the deceased’s heroism and added that, “as a community we should all aspire to their service, their love.”

Standing at the podium among bouquets of flowers, Port Authority Commissioner Christy Ferer Levin whose husband Neil Levin, Port Authority Executive Director, was killed on 9/11 offered words of comfort to the assembly. Levin spoke of continuing her husband’s work at Port Authority and the comfort of being part of the Port Authority family.

Valerie Webb of Jersey City, N.J., daughter of departed Port Authority Police Officer Nathaniel Webb lit two candles in a tribute during a moment of silence. One candle was for the uniformed loved ones that were killed and the other candle was for everyone else who died.

Among the mourners was Norma Manigan, Director of Public Affairs for the Port Authority, who knew and worked with several of the staff that died on Sept. 11.

“I thought the ceremony was appropriate,” said Manigan. “We want people to remember, we don’t want people to forget or to get used to the fact that 2,749 people died, that’s something you should never get used to.”

9/11

Monday, September 11, 2006

The toughest assignment that I had during journalism school was not the midnight cop ride-a-long in Washington Heights, nor was it attending public court and trying to get quotes from legal teams or stopping bikers on the Williamsburg Bridge at rush hour, it was covering the 3rd year anniversary of 9/11.

I was too emotionally attached to be an observational writer. I didn't want to be there at the church for the memorial ceremony, I hated having to go up to those who were grieving and ask how they felt, which is why I got a lower grade on my resulting article. I simply refused to intrude on the personal moments of the grievers who lost immediate family during the terrorist attacks. I’ve lost people—not in the attacks, but I recognized their pain and anguish on their faces and I just backed away or cried when I attempted to even approach. Instead, like many others in the church, I hung on the words of our leaders for hope. The eloquent quotes from politicians like Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg still ring true on the 5th year anniversary as it did then and still give me chills. Here's what I wrote and saw.

Sept. 11, 3rd year anniversary. Port Authority Workers Remembered
By Tara Renee Settembre

One block north of Ground Zero, as the city's church bells tolled in the background, hundreds gathered for a noon Interfaith Remembrance Service at St. Peter’s Church in Lower Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2004

The service, at New York state’s oldest Catholic parish, which only three years before was covered with dust inside and out, honored the Port Authority employees who were killed that day.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey lost 84 of its members in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Three years later their memories are far from forgotten (read more).
__________________

Working on Wall Street

Here are the views that I take in on my way to work in Lower Manhattan, I find them pretty inspiring and powerful, especially on this anniversary.

The Stock Exchange and its columns covered with a large American flag:

George Washington:

And sadly, the large dents on the side of this building on Wall Street are from the September 11th debris. I pass and look at these chunks each day:

The Color Purple

Sunday, September 10, 2006

I had three books glued to my cap when I graduated from Wheaton College (I majored in English) and Alice Walker's The Color Purple was one of them. I also remember being sick in elementary school and watching the film when I was home and became enthralled. I've seen it at least a dozen times now. Tonight though I saw the musical version of The Color Purple on Broadway backed by Oprah and loved it just as much as the the former two mediums.

The songs were great, the costumes timely and colorful, the story as inspirational and dramatic as ever and the cast was great. I was impressed with how the music really fit along with the narrative and wasn't forced or out of step at all considering it's the first time the story was adapted into a musical form. The leading actress, LaChanze, who played Celie, Whoopi's character from the film, won a Tony Award for best actress in a musical this year and I can now see why. Her singing gave me chills when it hit the high notes and oozed her passion. The musical followed closer to the book especially the relationships between Shug Avery, Mister and Celie. At times I was laughing and at others my eyes were glistening. Not once did I look at my watch or wonder when intermission was coming. The audience was cheering on the characters and rised to their feet at the end. So, yeah, I'd recommend seeing it. My friend Karen got us both rush tickets in the second row for $26, it felt like we were practically on the stage with the cast.

The film meanwhile just made AFI's 100 Years 100 Cheers list of inspiratonal films.

Dim Sum in the City

Friday, September 8, 2006

I originally heard of dim sum from the film Working Girl back in the late 80s, but I had assumed it was the dumplings she was passing around and not the actual cart that she was pushing full of a variety of Cantonese eats. Dim sum is a Chinese light meal or brunch served with tea. Over the last year I've experienced the real dim sum experience, but over Labor Day Weekend I found the mecca of Dim Sum eateries in China Town, Jing Fong. You have to ride up an escalator to reach the banquet hall filled with round tables and moving carts. It looked like I was attending a large wedding of strangers.

There was a 20 minute wait since we went on the most popular dim sum day, Sunday, and unless you have a big party you will most likely be seated with people you do not know. There were six of us, yet two other people were still seated with us.

The cart pushers try to get you to sample everything and that's also part of the fun, trying stuff that you have no idea what it is until it's in your mouth and even then you can still be left questioning. It may be intimidating but it's exciting to make random selections and eventually you'll remember the items you liked and didn't like. Luckily my friend Andrew was there this time and he knew some Cantonese and could be more selective, I was also with some other dim sum pros so I just got to sit back and eat trustingly.

Dim sum generally consists of a wide spectrum of choices, from sweet to salty or as Andrew said, savory. The steamed or fried choices have combinations of meat, vegetables and seafood in buns, sticky rice, dumplings and noodles. Generally none of the items are very spicy and there is usually a desert cart with custards, egg tarts and donuts as well.

For each plate or basket that is put on your table your table's card is then stamped with a smiley face, which are later counted up to calculate your bill. Despite having eyes bigger than my stomach, so far I've never paid more than $12 a person and that's with tip and tea included.

A dim sum custom: It is customary to pour tea for others during dim sum before filling one's own cup. I just read that a custom unique to the Cantonese is to thank the person pouring the tea by tapping the bent index and middle fingers together on the table. This is said to resemble the ritual of bowing to someone. It also curbs guests from saying thank you while food is in their mouths.

So for those who haven't had the real dim sum experience, be sure and try it with friends soon and especially keep Jing Fong on your to-do list.

Link: Pictures of common dim sum dishes

Pucker Up

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

My mom has thin lips as did my dad, thus mine are pretty unvolumptious. I had a friend in high school who liked seeing me purse them together and essentially make them look like they dissappeared, of course they didn't they just got even thiner than usual. They are plumper after a long make-out session though, lol, or after eating something spicy. And now thanks to lip plumpers they can have the same full look without collagen implants (not that I'd ever attempt that) or the above measures.

But which prouducts? Well, two weekends ago my trusted assistant and friend, Jacquie (pictured below), and I tested out a few of them. None come cheap though.

The most popular lip-plumping product on the market is probably Lip Venom ($16) by DuWop. I remember my friends buying the costly gloss years ago, since Lip Venom was the very first lip plumper on the market, creating the lip plumping category for the beauty industry and sparking lots of similar products. The tingly gloss uses essesntial oils (cinnamon, wintergreen and ginger) to enhance lips' natural color and shape by increasing circulation and causing blood rush to the surface of the lips, flushing and swelling them slightly. The result: fuller bee stung lips, their slogan after all is, "Get stung." Not that bee stung lips sound very appealing and yes, it does sting a bit, but it also works. My lips do look fuller, but also beacuse the gloss also aids in me licking them and rubbing them together. The gloss also includes jojoba and avocado oil that moisturize and give the lips instense shine. So yeah, with lip venom my lips do swell for a more noticable look without being ridiculous and it also makes them look very shiny and even more eye catching. Jacquie uses this product too, her complaint though is that even with their color glosses they don't provide a real shading as well.

For an actual lipstick with a lip plumping feature you can try Avon's BEYOND COLOR ($8) with SPF 15. I have it in several colors and I like the feel of the lipstick but not sure if it actually plumps my lips though. It's also reasonably priced and good to use for daily ware.

tarte's Rise & Shine ($21) waterproof lip stain & plumping gloss was our favorite though. It's a dual wand and has two steps. First you apply the lip stain (like you would a lipgloss), wait 15 seconds for the coloring to set and then apply the plumping gloss for extra shine and lip plumping enhancing. It's also water-resistant and their ingreditants of vitamin E, aloe and coconut oil help lock moisture in, while the lip plumping gloss portion is composed of a "cocktail of tripeptides." Overall, this product felt very glamorous and gave my lips fullness, color and shine. Too bad it's only offered in two colors, pink and cherry. Their slogan says, "Think of it as the ultimate wakeup-makeup for lips for a pout that's pretty, polished and plumped-up."

MAC also has a color tinted lip gloss called, Plushglass ($17.50), formulated to make lips look and feel like more. It gives a cool-warm, vanilla buzz to the lips. Contains vitamin E for added environmental protection.

Keep in mind: Lip plumpes can dry out your lips, so be sure and put some regular lip balm on after use.

Stat: Couples who kiss often are eight times more likely to be stress-and depression-free than those who never kiss outside of having sex(Redbook).

What I did Labor Day Weekend

Sunday, September 3, 2006

Went to the famous annual Barney Warehouse Sale and all I got was this lousy photo of a sign hanging on the wall, which I thought was fun

Had a facial and exfoliation for only $33.50 at the Christine Valmy school for beauty. Students get to practice on your skin and you get to feel pampered and clean for cheap. My face was glowing the rest of the day. I didn't fall asleep since I was practically interviewing the technician. I learned from her that you should only try to perform extractions (removing blackheads or popping pimples) after you opened your face with steam, otherwise you can bruise, scar and irritate your skin. Also, facial scrubs like Apricot Scrub can actually scratch your skin because the granules are too big. Thus, the thinner and gentler the scrub the better, I reccomend SkinMilk. I figured the harder the better, but my bad. Another tip learned was that Chamomile is good for relaxing tension. Because my shoulders were tense she suggested I try taking a hot bath with a cup of brewed chamomile tea, which is also good for your feet apparently.

Visited the MoMa to see the galleries of Warhol, Monet and Picasso along with a new exhibit called Out of Time. I took a up-close shot of Van Gogh's Starry Night (my favorite) with my camera phone and it's now my phone's wallpaper. Also snapped this photo:

Fainted before the weekend started.

Randomly met three Aussie's at one of my favorite restaurant's, Nero, after I jokingly jumped into their photo. Went with them to One, G2 (where we did shots of Sicilian Kiss) and Lotus (where I was able to have us all go to the front of the line via a complimentary card that I had; I got in free but the guys had to pay, either way though we didn't have to wait outside in the rain.) Hung over the next day and cried a bit that night (drama queen).

Found a new favorite red wine from the Valpolicella region, Solane.

Rode a NY Water Taxi for the first time and went to Long Island City to Water Taxi Beach, where I got schooled in volley ball but had a fun time playing. The views of the city from there were beautiful.

PS: Did I mention my baby is in town? Thus, all the fun.

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