In Christina's (Fabulous) Shoes

Engagements are in the Air

2008-03-19T16:47:00.002-05:00

Don't worry, I don't mean me.... but I have had some friends say the big "YES" in the past few weeks. So, congratulations to Michelle (you all remember her, my junior-year suitemate) and her fiance David, and congratulations to Floria and her fiance Peter, who finally got engaged after 11 years and one month of dating. I can't wait to share your days with you (just try not to plan your weddings on the same day ;) ).

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

2008-03-04T21:08:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, I have been blessed with the world's worst sinuses. Besides for me constantly being sick (see previous posts), they've also contributed to my trademark 'foghorn' nose blow (as it was dubbed by a floormate during my sophomore year in Warren Towers), my nasal-y voice, and I'm convinced it's the reason why I sing so abominably. As a matter of fact, the only good thing that's come out of those stupid cavities in our skull is that I can muster up a pretty decent French accent if I need to. Over the years, I've pretty much become immune to every nasal spray and allergy medication out there, so today I did the unthinkable. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, I bought and tried out a NETI POT. For those of you that are unfamiliar, a Neti Pot is a little pot that looks a lot like a genie lamp. You fill it up with warm water and a sinus rinse (salt and baking soda). You then tip your head forward, stick the spout up one nostril, pouring the water into the nostril, and wait for water to stream out of the other nostril. At first, there's that sensation you get when water gets up your nose at the pool. But once the water starts streaming out, I have to admit that it's pretty cool. When I was all done, I felt some instant relief, mostly I think because some moisture got to go through my system (a good defense against the heaters on all winter long). Whether there will be some long-term improvement remains to be seen.... I will keep you all updated!

I'm Still Here...With Too Much Information...

2008-02-23T00:25:00.004-05:00

To trace the route of my new computer, it started out in Shanghai, then visited Anchorage, followed by Indiana. It is now sitting in a warehouse about 10 miles west of me in Jamaica, NY. The wait is unbearable, though impressive that a mere 2 days ago, it was on the other side of the world. Why why why did I not spring for the weekend delivery? Now I have to wait until Monday, with it so temptingly close to me. And of course, this begs the question: are we privy to too much information these days? Is it healthy to my psyche that I am able to check my package's whereabouts on FedEx.com every few minutes? Would I be better off if I was completely surprised by its arrival? Computers to track information, caller ID that now pops up on your television, media coverage of minor stories, thermometers to tell us what day to make babies, sizing up countless sources of information before we make any sort of decision --- when does it end? When do we as humans allow ourselves to put our faith and our fate to the test? When can we just BE?

I'm Going to the Other Side

2008-02-20T00:52:00.002-05:00

This post could possibly represent the end of an era. Specifically, the end of a Dell laptop / pc applications era. Yes folks, I am just days away from a brand-new macbook arriving on my doorstep. My reasons for needing a new computer are pretty basic: with mine approaching the 5-year mark, it operates slow at best. It has less than 10% of its disk space left. The wireless card is shot, red buttons keep flashing, I can actually hear the computer 'think' when I ask it to do something, it won't ever fully charge, and I've gotten the scary blue screen on more than one occasion. And why a mac do you ask? Mostly because it can better support my growing hobby of photography. The creative opportunities are endless, the new photo editing software pretty impressive, and let's not forget ease of use. I will never ever have to again upload photos to add to a blog, to share a photo album online, or to create photo books to be printed.

Don't you worry: I will come back one last time with a nice link for you to follow to get to my new mac website when I set it up.

My new favorite chicken recipe

2008-02-17T17:13:00.004-05:00

Growing up, my mother never really used the broiler. Inheriting most of my cooking habits from her, I never made use of the broiler either until recently. My first broiler experience didn't go too well--- my party appetizer of bacon-wrapped dates ended up burned. I've learned a little more about how my broiler works, and have recently found my new favorite chicken recipe:

Put boneless skinless chicken breasts in a shallow bowl; marinate in juice of one lime, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Let set for 10 minutes at room temperate. Broil 3-5 minutes on one side. Turn, add sliced onions, broil for 3-5 minutes more. I then cut them up and make fajitas from them, with all of the normal fixings. This chicken would also be delicious over a salad, or just on its own with some sides. I love that it's about 20 minutes from start to finish, and while I'm broiling I can make the side dishes (today it was sauteed mushrooms and an avocado).

Another Shoe Challenge

2008-02-10T11:12:00.001-05:00

I think I've hit an all-time level of obsession. This time, it's creating the perfect selection of shoes to take to Paris in April. The Challenge: Shoes that meet the following requirements - (a) can withstand hours of walking (b) enough of a heel/sole so my pants don't drag on the floor, and (c) somewhat fashionable and dressy enough for European standards as well as my own standards. In the past two weeks, I've bought a pair of shoes that meets requirements (b) and (c) - gorgeous handmade loafers in brown Italian suede with a great wedge of lightweight foam - perfect for museums and sight-seeing that will only be for a few hours. I've also bought a pair of adorable light green mary-jane style sneakers by Privo (see photo) that meets requirements (a) and (b) for full days of walking. I'm thinking I'd like to round out the collection with one more pair of shoes that are a cross between the two. I'm contemplating Clark's or Merrell, both of which are entirely new territory to me, who typically prefers more streamlined, dressy pumps. And I've realized that there's nothing in the exact middle of that cross - leaving me to decide between a pair of Clark's that's got a nice wedge heel to it (I'm including a photo here) and a pair that's completely flat. Decisions, Decisions. If anyone has any input or ideas, I'd love to hear!

News, Reviews, and Other Things

2008-01-22T20:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, so it's been over a month since I posted last; somehow the post-holiday season is turning out to be even busier than the holiday season itself. In the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to try out different places and explore different neighborhoods. Here are the highlights:

I met up with some friends for brunch on the UWS at Isabella's, where I had the most delicious french toast stuffed with caramelized bananas. A few days later, another friend and I found a great Indian restaurant, Indus Valley. Nice laid-back atmosphere, friendly staff, and most importantly, really delicious food. The tandoori chicken was incredibly tender and the vegetarian plates flavorful. Also on the UWS was this year's Restaurant Week pick: Compass Restaurant. New American food, refined decor, and catering to a more sophisticated palate, the food from this little-known place was refreshingly creative. My favorite was the first course of grilled fennel, mushrooms, ricotta, and Parmesian cheese. They also threw in little touches throughout: a ceviche tasting, petit fours, and a goodie bag of a coffee muffin for breakfast the next morning.

My Long Island excursions as of late have not been as positive: a crowded experience in a Cheesecake Factory; being rushed through a meal at Benihana's (the waitress took my plate away with my fork en route to my mouth....); a lowlife crowd in Dave and Busters to watch the Giants playoff game; restaurants that close down at 9pm in the town where I live. I did have a good lunch experience at my old tried and true place, Louie's in Port Washington, where I also happened to run into the retired principal of the school where I work.

Random Thoughts

2007-12-30T13:56:00.001-05:00

Here are some random thoughts I've meant to post, with none being substantial enough for its own post:

1) I am STILL sick. For those of you counting, I got sick the weekend before Halloween. It's all related to my sinuses, allergies, and a wonderful asthmatic cough that has developed. And let's not forget the antibiotics that destroyed my stomach as well as my sense of taste and smell. At one point I was on seven medications.

2) My newest favorite snack and/or meal: Greek yogurt with honey. I can't even begin to tell you how delicious this is. You can buy the pack with the honey on the side, but I just buy the huge tub of Greek yogurt (fage brand is my favorite) and add honey on my own. The whole milk yogurt is so creamy but fattening, so I go with the 2%. Don't try the fat free - it is too tart and thin. The greek yogurt is a little more like sour cream, so much better than the Dannon-type yogurts!

3) I am in dire need of a new computer, ready to chuck this one out the window. I have to suffer though until I have the funds. On the horizon: a MacBook. I cannot wait!

4) What ever happened to the Christmas Season lasting until the Epiphany? I'm so frustrated: they put Christmas stuff out by the end of October, and by 8pm on Dec. 25 there is an abrupt end to everything! Why not start the Christmas season later (i.e. after Thanksgiving like it's supposed to be), and then gradually fade out of it after 12/25 so that by January 6 it's all finished?

Merry Christmas

2007-12-23T18:21:00.000-05:00

Wishing Everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Wintry Mix

2007-12-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

In the past few years, it seems more and more that the metro area is getting hit with what is known generically as a "wintry mix." What is a wintry mix, you ask? Basically, it is a fancy way for the weather people to say, "you might get some rain, some sleet, some ice, maybe snow. Have fun on the roads." What strikes me most of all though is the relative frequency of these mixes. By far, these 'wintry mixes' are outnumbering good old-fashioned snow storms, and seem to be so recent an occurrence that we're puzzled by them. When we're little, we learn that it's sunny, cloudy, rainy, or snowy out. Within the first few weeks of learning a foreign language, you learn how to say "it's raining" and "it's snowing (il pleut; il neige). You don't learn how to say: we will be in the midst of an ice storm.

I grew up in the 1980's - that legendary decade that besides for terrible fashion and music sense, gave New York a series of mild winters. I rarely had snow days; snow was not a regular form of weather until the early 90's. Back in the early 2000's, I remember being hit with nice, big blizzards of SNOW. Now, for the past two or three years, it is just ice storm after ice storm after ice storm. It hurts and scratches my face - you can't even remotely spend time outside like you could if big soft flakes of snow are swirling around you. It's much worse on the roads than snow. It doesn't make anything look pretty. And the worst, we don't get snow days!

Review: Cafe Cluny

2007-12-10T21:54:00.000-05:00

In a city full of different characters, with different interests, tastes, budgets, etc., it can be tricky sometimes finding a dining locale that seems to be just the niche you're looking for. Some restaurants cater to a 'younger' (read: immature) crowd, others to a loud crowd, others to sloppy, casual beings, and still many others are filled with pretentious, snobby people. So imagine my enthusiasm when I stepped into Cafe Cluny and realized that I was amongst normal people just like me. People who put care into what they look like, but in a down-to-earth sort of way, people who are not obnoxious (something very important in Manhattan restaurants where you're crammed into a very small space with your fellow diners...). Just a nice change. A likely explanation is the restaurant's location: nestled in the sideways streets of the West Village, amidst cobble-stone streets, brick-faced buildings, and tree-lined streets.

The service was great; the waiter offered recommendations and was extremely attentive (he even came around regularly to pick up my empty sugar packets!). We were not rushed and allowed to sit back and savor our coffees long after our brunch was eaten. And of course, the food was very good too. Granted, we weren't exactly adventuresome, settling on a cross between a blt and an egg sandwich. But the egg was fluffy, the tastes melded together well, the toast was toasted to perfection. And the fries were delicious! I would definitely recommend Cafe Cluny for brunch.

A Milestone

2007-12-07T23:37:00.000-05:00

In about 15 minutes, I will be celebrating my last birthday in my 20's. Technically, I have almost 24 hours until I am 29, being born at 11:17 pm. Nevertheless, ahead of me I have only 366 days (thanks to '08 being a leap year) to answer "how old are you?" questions with the word "twenty---". No worries, I'm not entering some third-life crisis. It's actually the opposite: each year I find more happiness and confidence within myself, and I am certain that the years ahead will continue to get better and better. Looking back, I have very few and very minor regrets. And hey, the 40's are the new 30's and the 30's are the new 20's so I've got nothing to worry about! It's just strange to be edging out of my identity as a twenty-something year old and preparing for the thirty-something years. On this milestone, it seems appropriate for me to share the wise words of Bob Dylan - the very song that my Uncle Gerry would be quoting from if he was still here to guide me through my milestones:

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
Forever young, forever young,
May you stay forever young.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

2007-12-02T12:57:00.000-05:00

Today, we had our first snowfall of the season. Along with it came the inconveniences: icy roads, rescheduling plans, bringing out the snow boots. But of course, along with it also came the beauty of snow-covered trees and houses. There was a break in the snow, and I headed out with my camera to get some shots. Some of my favorites were seeing the colors of late summer and fall (flowers still in bloom, foliage) covered in snow. I hope you enjoy!

Why I Hate Computers...

2007-11-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

I would definitely describe myself as being bookmark-dependent when it comes to the web. Just like we don't memorize phone numbers anymore because our phones hold them, I don't bother to know web addresses anymore. Like most of you out there, I've spent hours upon hours browsing the web. Sometimes mindlessly, sometimes with a purpose, sometimes via links or recommendations from friends. Whenever I stumble upon something worthwhile, I bookmark it. I took bookmarking on with greater fervor in the past year, since switching over to Firefox - even spent some time organizing the bookmarks. Friends' blogs, shopping sites, great news/historical sites, local neighborhood info, places to visit on my next vacation, links to my hotel reservations, important documents, sites with materials for work - the list is endless.

So anyways, imagine my frustration and anger when I agreed to a routine firefox update, then went to my bookmarks only to discover that about 75% of them are missing. Yep. Just gone. I'm MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD. Ugh. So MAD. Did I mention how MAD I am?!?!?! I don't know whether to scream or to curl up in a ball and cry!!!!! HOURS of research gone OUT THE TUBES!!! So frustrated. Want to throw a tantrum. Someone should reimburse me for those hours of my time just totally wasted. Do I dare consider turning back to internet explorer?...

PS My tabs are also missing...... grrrrrr.....

Review: Bee Movie

2007-11-18T12:47:00.000-05:00

Cute, smart, and hilarious. See it!

Review: Wintuk

2007-11-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

On the way home from my first-ever Cirque du Soleil show, Wintuk, I turned to my parents and stated, "that was the first time in a long time that I felt like a kid again." Indeed, that was the magic of this show. With the simple story line of a city boy in quest of snow, I was told by my Cirque-frequenting friends that this show had more of a story line and more verbal narration than typical Cirque du Soleil performances. This, I'm sure, was due to it being geared towards children and marketed as a holiday family event. But whomever it was geared towards, and for whatever purpose, made little difference to me as I sat there, completely mesmerized and enchanted.

The set looked like pages of a storybook, complete with watercolor backgrounds, talking lampposts, larger-than-life marionette puppets, and monsters come to life. The first half of the program moved slowly at times as the story line was set and characters were introduced. The acrobatics were framed into the story, such as the skateboarders and cyclists, the 'construction worker' who balanced on an assortment of tubes and wood planks to 'fix' a broken lamplight, or a tightrope walker who performed on a clothesline. After intermission, we were transported into a magical ice world, where, similar to The Nutcracker, a showcase of various acrobatic acts took center stage. Included in these was a terrific and hypnotic contortionist; dressed in a blue leotard and dancing with several silver hoops, at times her human form was lost completely in favor of fluidic shapes. Another favorite was the Russian bars, and another still the dancers suspended on aerial straps. At times, the performances were anxiety-producing: mind-boggling acts of balance and gravity-defying movements. At other times, the performances were entrancing, with the movements, music, and lighting taking hold of my emotions.

I was left trying to remember the last time I smiled for 2 hour straight, the last time I had not a single worry for such a stretch of time, the last time magic actually took over. It was probably the last time I was sitting in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, watching Sesame Street Live as a 5 year old. The magic of Wintuk is not that it is a show for children. It is that adults become children, watching this show.

Fall's Quick Fall

2007-11-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

So, the summertime temperatures didn't leave us until about two weeks ago (and I'm being generous when I say that....) and now snow is in the forecast. So much for fall. I hope spring will last longer!

Water for Thought

2007-11-04T15:47:00.001-05:00

Next time you reach for bottled water, think about this (courtesy of EatingWell, Dec. 2007):

-In the US, more than 10 million barrels of oil are used to bottle water annually - and that's just the production. Consider the oil consumption (and emissions) required to bring water to the U.S., from Fiji, for example.

-Americans throw away 22 billion water bottles each year, over 60 million each day. It can take as long as 1,000 years for the average plastic bottle to biodegrade.

-Numerous studies show that bottled water is generally no safer or healthier than tap water, despite costing up to 10,000 times more. And, 40% of bottled water - including top brands Aquafina and Dasani - is simply filtered tap water, not water from natural springs or other "pure" sources.

Aware of the impact that bottling has on the earth's ecosystem, I have, for the past few years, only grabbed for the bottle of water when there are no other alternatives (i.e. when I'm out and about and couldn't lug around my re-fillable bottle). It's amazing the impact we could all make if we use our tap water, with filter systems if we don't like the taste (I have a simple pitcher one), and re-fillable bottles. Also, beware of refilling the bottles that bottled water comes in. They actually start to disintegrate after a short time, and you are likely drinking in the chemicals used in making the plastic! Instead, make the small investment into a bottle that's made for this purpose.

Greenkill

2007-10-30T12:42:00.000-05:00

Last week, I chaperoned the annual 3-day 6th grade trip to Greenkill. For those of you not familiar with Greenkill, it is an environmental camp in upstate New York. The kids learn about ecology and they also partake in Project Adventure activities. It's a great way for the 6th graders, who have come from different elementary schools, to get to know one another and to learn about teamwork and the environment. We chaperones had it pretty easy this year: no visits to the ER, no 'criers', no calls to home for kids to be picked up. The naturalists are with the kids for most of the day and all night long, so the teachers get to do a few different hikes of our own, including a midnight hike. We climbed up to "The Ridge" a little after midnight, guided by the light of a full moon and by our flashlights. Then we set up blankets, lay down, and stared at the stars. Lucky for us, a science teacher was there and more than willingly pointed out the constellations to us. It was so refreshing being back in nature for 3 days.

Breaking News?

2007-10-30T09:41:00.000-05:00

So, I'm home sick today with a sinus infection and I finally settle on watching Rachael Ray (the pickings are really slim in the 10am-11am slot....). Her guest, Michael Buble, is about to perform, when Eyewitness News cuts to its Breaking News. Like any New Yorker, since 9/11, my heart actually stops when there's Breaking News, just fearing the worst, having flashbacks to the nausea and horror of that day. The dreaded Breaking News music plays, the anchorwoman comes on, and the title of the story appears on the bottom of the screen: "Joe Girardi Accepts Offer to be Manager of Yankees." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! I am sorry, I don't care what fan of what team you are, under NO circumstance should sports warrant Breaking News. Especially in this day and age. I'm not just saying that because I am a Mets fan. As a matter of fact, I have no problem with the Yankees, will even root for them in the off-season, but I find myself more and more being absolutely disgusted by the media attention that this team gets. People wonder what happened to the bygone days of baseball, and your answer is right here. It's not about the game, the fun, the athleticism anymore. It's day after day after day of drama. Really now, maybe the team should consider moving to Hollywood. And don't even get me started on the media, who has perpetually ruined the sport as far as I am concerned....

Fall Trip

2007-10-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

Today Rina, Amanda and I headed upstate to enjoy the fall foliage (albeit in 70-something degree weather...). First, we visited the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, which is basically an apple orchard that also presses grapes into wine and apples, pears, and berries into ciders and spirits. We enjoyed a tasting of about 12 different alcoholic drinks (leaving us a little tipsy!), then wandered around their orchards. Afterwards, we went to Och's Farms, which is where I used to go with my family when I was younger for apple-picking. After paying for our all-you-can-fill bag, we headed into the orchards only to find a bunch of empty trees! It took us awhile, but we managed to fill up our bag, mostly with small apples. We also got some yummy pumpkin and apple bakery goodies in their shop.

It was great being in the fresh air. The foliage was beautiful - reds, oranges, bright yellows. It never ceases to amaze me what nature produces each year. The only way this day could have been better is if the weather felt like fall!

When Did I Get So Old?

2007-10-18T21:18:00.000-05:00

For some reason, AARP seems to think that I'm over 50. I get mail from them every week with exciting details about what's offered to me for simply being over 50. I've called them. I've sent notes in the business reply envelopes stating that I am 28 years old, but still they persist. Did my parents lie about my year of birth? Was I born in 1957, when my parents were 2 and 3 years old? It makes me so sad to think about the waste of paper and of postage - hey, we will need those trees when the ozone is shot, and we will need that money to put towards our social security when it's all depleted in another 50 years!!!

Sweet Home Alabama

2007-10-16T21:16:00.000-05:00

I'm a little upset I can't find a direct link to the news story, but lucky for you, I have dvr and was able to rewind this story a few times to type out the transcript... Here's how it goes, according to the CW11 news at 10:00 (yes, I know I should expect this from CW11, but there's baseball on Fox, so I can't catch the 10:00 news there)....

" "Grannie's Got a Gun." In Alabama, this 81 year old woman [camera pans to old woman rocking in a chair] took matters into her own hands when she caught an intruder in her house. He was in his underwear and he was washing his clothes in her washing machine [camera pans to a washing machine]. So she shot him."

It's times like this that I'm so thankful for living in New York. Not to say we don't have our fair share of bizarre (and too often upsetting) news, but, well, need I say more?... I'd so love to be in the interrogation room with the intruder so I could figure out why he was breaking and entering to wash his clothes!

Random Thoughts

2007-10-14T12:40:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have pretty much been routine, so unfortunately I don't have much to report in terms of things I've seen and done. I figured instead that I'd put together a list of random thoughts that have passed through my mind recently.

-This has been the first year since 1996 where I haven't moved out of one home and into another

-Starbucks has changed their apple cider drink. It's now made with bottled apple juice instead of cider and has a completely different name to fool us from the truth - "Caramel Spiced Apple"

-The ankle that I hurt in 1997 (falling down some stairs at the BU science building) is STILL hurting me. It's been really bad this weekend.

-I can't find my favorite pair of shoes. I've looked everywhere, including the car and under my desk at work. Where could shoes disappear to?

-I'm LOVING that autumn is finally here! I've got my candles going and got to wear some of my cute layering pieces.

-I went to my first Rangers game of the year in my dad's seats, where they lost 3-1, giving up 3 goals within a minutes' span (yes, you read that right). Fun fun. I think I was to blame for the loss because I sat in seat #6 instead of my usual seat #7. After the third goal, I switched seats w/ my friend and the Rangers let up no more goals.

-My newest addiction: Country Choice Organic's Ginger Snaps. They are SO good - so nice and spicy.

That's all for now. I promise there will be more exciting things to read and some more photos later in the month. I have an autumn trip upstate next Saturday, and then later next week I am chaperoning 201 sixth graders to the annual 3-day trip to Greenkill, in upstate NY. Until then, I hope you've enjoyed the little thoughts that, well, make me ME.

A Farewell to the Boys of Summer

2007-10-07T21:38:00.000-05:00

It's taken me awhile to overcome the heartbreak associated with the New York Mets' demise this season. For those of you who don't follow the National League, the Mets set a MLB record (and maybe even professional sports record) for worst fall from first place - specifically, losing grounds of being 7 games up on the 2nd place Phillies with 17 games left in the season. At least they set a record - I mean, if you're going to do something THAT bad, you might as well make it memorable, right?

What made it worse is that it was the Mets own horrible playing that caused them to lose! It wasn't due to inhuman efforts by the Phillies. It's almost like the equivalent of the 'nice' break-up. It's so much easier to just HATE someone and put all the blame on someone else!

Lucky for me, the Phillies were swept last night by the Rockies. I could barely watch the playoffs, thinking the whole time, "that should be the Mets." Now, with Phillie out of it, it's all even again and I can once again tune into the playoffs. Sure, my heart will still pang for David Wright, and no team is complete without the speed of Reyes or the heart of LoDuca. So, to my Mets: rest up and have fun golfing for awhile. I'll see you in 2008....

Now, which one of my teams will disappoint me next? I have a feeling it will be the Jets, following their terrible game today....