I’ve been doing a lot of philosophizing recently . It’s part of my nature – I think about the way things work, the way I view the world, the way others view the world.
However, I think it’s important to occasionally take things down a notch and zero in instead on the spots that make up the picture, rather than the big picture as a whole. So, some recent tiny pieces that have brightened my daily life:
1) Raw fennel. My mom and I threw together a quick salad as part of our Mom’s Day brunch spread that involved raw fennel, and I remembered instantly how perfect it tastes. Cool, smooth, crunchy, refreshing – I’ve been eating it on a near daily basis.
2) Smooth and spicy cocktails. I don’t do sweet, and I am really a wine girl at heart – but I can still always appreciate good flavor, be it in food or drink. Some recent beverages have truly topped any meals I’ve been making, with fiery additions like cayenne, ginger, or jalapeño. They’ve been sipped in enchanting atmospheres in the form of speakeasies, tucked away below ground or up above . I ended my evening last night with a glass of rum infused with celery bitters, arugula, and lime, and it was nearly life-changing.
3) Brown denim deals. Last weekend, my sister – the remaining member of our family in the fashion industry – asked my opinion on brown jeans, which she had just booked for the fall. I responded with approval, and not 24 hours later, what did I manage to thrift? $210 brown jeans in mint condition for nine dollars that fit like a glove.
4) Fiddlehead ferns. They’re only available for a short few weeks, and I must take advantage, even with their expensive price tag. It’s the same situation that occurs with sunchokes in the fall: they hurt my wallet, but really, how can I let their season pass me by?
5) The existence of Wednesdays . Enough said.
6) Muesli. Well, not today, as it is 52 degrees and my chilled bones are still recovering from yesterday’s monsoon. But I do love these cold, nutty, cinnamon- and ginger-infused bowls. [Key to muesli: soak overnight in equal parts yogurt and milk - I like to use Fage and vanilla soy. In the AM, add several more splashes of milk, then stir into soupy deliciousness.]
7) Morning email discounts . Sure, sometimes they spam my inbox with offers for Botox or cheap drinks at bars I know as stomping grounds for NYU sorority girls. [They exist. All 26 of them.] But the less-than-stellar deals are worth it when the right ones come along, and this week that has meant two yoga steals: an unlimited month of Ishta for $30 and an unlimited two weeks of mixed styles for $19.
8 ) The basics. I have to admit that I have been eating the most boring lunches lately, and truthfully, I don’t really care. The simplicity really hasn’t bothered me because all I’ve wished for have been meals to ground me . As I packed my third day of quinoa-chickpea-avocado-pumpkin seed-random vegetable-dulse-tupperware, it may seem dull, but I don’t mind. I’m simply thankful to have the intuitive habits that provide me with real nourishment without much thought. I’m sure I’ll get back on the creativity bandwagon at some point – it usually happens that way .
What are some little things that are brightening up your life right now?
I’ve been doing a lot of philosophizing recently . It’s part of my nature – I think about the way things work, the way I view the world, the way others view the world.
However, I think it’s important to occasionally take things down a notch and zero in instead on the spots that make up the picture, rather than the big picture as a whole. So, some recent tiny pieces that have brightened my daily life:
1) Raw fennel. My mom and I threw together a quick salad as part of our Mom’s Day brunch spread that involved raw fennel, and I remembered instantly how perfect it tastes. Cool, smooth, crunchy, refreshing – I’ve been eating it on a near daily basis.
2) Smooth and spicy cocktails. I don’t do sweet, and I am really a wine girl at heart – but I can still always appreciate good flavor, be it in food or drink. Some recent beverages have truly topped any meals I’ve been making, with fiery additions like cayenne, ginger, or jalapeño. They’ve been sipped in enchanting atmospheres in the form of speakeasies, tucked away below ground or up above . I ended my evening last night with a glass of rum infused with celery bitters, arugula, and lime, and it was nearly life-changing.
3) Brown denim deals. Last weekend, my sister – the remaining member of our family in the fashion industry – asked my opinion on brown jeans, which she had just booked for the fall. I responded with approval, and not 24 hours later, what did I manage to thrift? $210 brown jeans in mint condition for nine dollars that fit like a glove.
4) Fiddlehead ferns. They’re only available for a short few weeks, and I must take advantage, even with their expensive price tag. It’s the same situation that occurs with sunchokes in the fall: they hurt my wallet, but really, how can I let their season pass me by?
5) The existence of Wednesdays . Enough said.
6) Muesli. Well, not today, as it is 52 degrees and my chilled bones are still recovering from yesterday’s monsoon. But I do love these cold, nutty, cinnamon- and ginger-infused bowls. [Key to muesli: soak overnight in equal parts yogurt and milk - I like to use Fage and vanilla soy. In the AM, add several more splashes of milk, then stir into soupy deliciousness.]
7) Morning email discounts . Sure, sometimes they spam my inbox with offers for Botox or cheap drinks at bars I know as stomping grounds for NYU sorority girls. [They exist. All 26 of them.] But the less-than-stellar deals are worth it when the right ones come along, and this week that has meant two yoga steals: an unlimited month of Ishta for $30 and an unlimited two weeks of mixed styles for $19.
8 ) The basics. I have to admit that I have been eating the most boring lunches lately, and truthfully, I don’t really care. The simplicity really hasn’t bothered me because all I’ve wished for have been meals to ground me . As I packed my third day of quinoa-chickpea-avocado-pumpkin seed-random vegetable-dulse-tupperware, it may seem dull, but I don’t mind. I’m simply thankful to have the intuitive habits that provide me with real nourishment without much thought. I’m sure I’ll get back on the creativity bandwagon at some point – it usually happens that way .
What are some little things that are brightening up your life right now?