Dear Cheese, I Like You

It's probably a love-hate relationship, like coconut. You either really love cheese or you don't. No room for ambivalence. If so, you've probably never experienced real cheese, just Kraft or some other fake processed stuff. This is an homage to the true delicious gourmet cheese that everyone should try.

Living in the U.S., you probably don't have a gourmet cheese shop right next door like, say France, for example. However, there is a precious gem in East Falls Church aptly named Red, White, and Bleu. We discovered this place after searching randomly and brusquely on our friends for something nearby. Little did we realize that we walked into one of our favorite shops! The outside of the store doesn't do it any justice. Don't judge the shop by it's storefront, just walk in. It's a small place but it's full of wine, gourmet cheeses, charcuterie (sliced meat for those antipasti appetizers), and knick-knacks like water crackers and jam. We were lucky enough to get a free wine tasting and lots of samples of cheese. Of course I couldn't help myself and bought about 2 lbs. worth when I left the store, but well worth it.

From my first expensive purchase I was able to really start appreciating cheese. I mostly had those fake gourmet slices of cheese for sandwiches, but never really knew the wide range of flavors cheese could offer. The most commonly tasted, brie, is creamy and salty, good with apples and honey (thank you roommate for that addictive combination). Another, cheddar has a more variable flavor and texture. It can be aged for a long time and be very flaky and sharp. On the other hand sometimes I crave that more mild sharp and creamy, less aged cheddar that is still that classic orange-y color. I don't think I've had a bad experience with cheddar. It tastes good with everything, especially wine. Red wine, stronger whites and any type of cracker. Then there's Beemster, the gouda masters. Beemster has a few types just like cheddar where there's the super aged, smelly, flaky and the less hard more soft cheese. I definitely prefer the hard, aged, flaky kind, mostly because the taste is so much stronger. Beemster XO is the best for that. However, just cutting it produces about forty flakes, so it can get a little messy.

So those are just three cheeses. There's so much more! What a world cheese can open you into. With crackers, apples, figs, fruity spread, jam, and crackers/bread. Did I mention that I try to add cheese to almost anything I cook? The grater is my best friend, after the cheese slicer. They are precious utensils in my kitchen. I feel like every cook has that easy wow you factor like add a pinch of paprika or pepper. Mine is a few ounces of grated cheese. I like to think that when I add cheese to something, it add its own cheesey flavor but also enhances and brings out the tastes of what it accompanies. Think about creamy jarlsberg wrapped around sauteed asparagus. Yes, I'm drooling too. Sometimes I secretly favor the recipes on allrecipes.com that feature some amount of cheese. I know it's bias, but we all have it when it comes to food. Mine just happens to be odd and about cheese.

Isn't it exciting to try new cheeses and pair them with wines and fruit? It's a great present to bring to a potluck or friendly dinner date. It's the go-to. I don't understand how anyone could not like wine. I hope this blog helps you, encourage you to try more wine. Go to your nearest shop and grab the weirdest cheese and wine. It'll be a great time.

Do other people feel the same as I do for cheese? If not, is it for something else? Meat, olives, prunes? I guess there are lots of types of meat but you have to prepare it and cook it with things. It's too complicated to be that easy wow factor to add with almost anything. I will say, meat is pretty great too. Actually, all food come to think of it, but I'm trying to heighten my relationship with my tastebuds. They tell me they like cheese and I give it to them. It's a great system. Now, let me get back to my wine and new cheese with chives and onions. So exotic!

Pet Peeves

I've spent a little while talking about things I enjoy, notably donuts, coffee, and reading, but in the honor of Kingsley, I'll broaden the spectrum of what I share. So pet peeves are those silly little details that really shouldn't bother us but they do. Some more than others affect us and they affect each of us in different ways. I don't know why but so many of these pet peeves occur while I'm at Starbucks. I'll limit myself to a few in my top 10. They are in no special order.

Pet Peeve #1: this might be more female-specific, but one of my biggest pet peeves is the absence of a hanger on the back of the bathroom door. No hanger in any part of the bathroom is a big deal. Where do I put my purse/jacket/whatever else that I'm carrying because more likely than not, I'm carrying something? Even if it's freezing outside, both guys and girls are probably wearing big heavy coats and would like a place to set them on a hanger. It's pretty silly to not have a hanger, but even more so, it's my pet peeve. Luckily, I don't own a $2,000 Louis Vuitton because if there was no hanger and I had to put that on the floor, I would be mad enough to punch the manager.

Pet Peeve #2: blasting the A/C when completely unneeded. First, it's a waste. Secondly, and more importantly, it makes me tremble which is incredibly distracting for myself and others. This happens at Starbucks so often. Maybe it helps the hot latte sales. I don't even know how because all that coffee and lattes they churn out should give the place a soothing warmth. Unfortunately, not. A little while ago I was at dinner with a friend at Sandia, and it was so cold inside, mind you it was about 80 degrees outside, that my teeth were chattering. For eating a nice dinner at a restaurant, that is not comfortable at all, and I probably won't go back there, ever, unless I'm wearing a parka. I couldn't even concentrate on conversation or eat my delicious handmade guacamole, I only thought about getting outside of that freezing igloo. I guess my body is comfortable with a very specific narrow temperature range because I also tend to break out if I sweat too much in high heat and humidity, thinking back to spring break in the Caribbean.

Pet Peeve #3: bad drivers. Yes, I've grown up in NOVA, so I really should be used to bad driving right? Since my New Yorker dad taught me to drive, I feel like I have a leg up over the majority of DMV people. I'm okay with people going slow too, except if you're in the left lane and going at or below the speed limit. Do those people not see those signs that say: slow people should not be in the left lane? No, because they don't pay attention to signs. I don't speed too much, but you should have the courtesy to not hold back the rest of traffic behind you since SO many in the DC area have a penchant for tailgating. Another thing I also hate. Although a friend has told me that I tailgate, that is mostly for a few seconds to let the person know that they are going too slow and need to move and I really don't get too close to the bumper - too dangerous. Should I perhaps turn on my left blinker (that they wouldn't notice) or my brights (wouldn't notice in daylight too well) and patiently wait? No. I don't ride people's bumpers. It's too dangerous and reckless for my Type A self to handle. I don't even get too close because I'm afraid the bad driver in front of me will stop short for some silly reason. The best bad drivers are those who feel like they are important enough to go through a red light at any time. I have a special angst against them because they are the kind of people who total good drivers' cars like myself. There's no warning and no time to react.

Pet Peeve #4: people who don't respond to e-mails. Really? Do you live under a rock? How do you function if you don't check your e-mail and respond? Most likely you've read it and are too lazy or too busy to write back. Please go to AT&T and pick up an iPhone so you can respond back in a timely fashion. I'm not saying you need to write back immediately after a Facebook comment - that's silly. Rather, I would like you to respond, so I know you're alive. If not, I'll have to go back to snail mail.

Pet Peeve #5: Dell computers. Yes, Michael Dell I'm talking to you. Your computers are so unreliable that I now associate Dell with the blue screen of death, the black screen of death, and all the other acronyms like P.O.S. That was my college computer's endearing name: P.O.S. My Dell was a pretty nice computer for about the first 8 months that I had it. Then, the battery refused to charge, ever. I had to buy a new charger. After having this pain in the neck machine for 15 months, it crashed, without any notice. I took it to the school computer people, who are as unuseful and unhelpful as Dells themselves, and they blamed me saying that I downloaded viruses. No, I had about 4 applications to block, prevent, and fix those problems. It was not my fault - they refused to acknowledge that my computer had faulty hardware. I actually considered all the ways I wanted to truly destroy it such as: driving it over, throwing it against the wall, and dropping it out the window.  About 5 months later after I had recuperated from the shock and stress of a computer crash, it crashed again! Dell refused to accept responsibility, so I gave up and just relied on a back-up hard drive. Oh, and I now own a HP.

I'm sure I've probably listed several of you in these pet peeve categories. By all means that doesn't mean I dislike you, just some of your actions peeve me. Most importantly, please don't blast your A/C. I have a mental list of all the places I despise because of over-A/C-ing: grocery stores, badly managed Starbucks, people who like to overspend on electricity bills, and pretentiously cold restaurants.

Being an Alumna

I remembered all the comments and facts people told me about their lives once they became an alumnus, a corporate robot, a person of the real world as we were driving down to UVA for homecoming, and then again for Rotunda Dinner III. I guess it didn't really feel that different, except things have already changed. Dunkin Donuts has opened (still upset that it had to come AFTER I graduated), Nuddhist has opened, and the coffee shops names/owners have rotated, again. Oh wait, they finally added a Starbucks. I suppose it's delayed opening has probably saved my bank account a couple thousand dollars a year.

Some people I still know are there, thank god, or else I don't know who I would visit. The 3rd years last year are not 4th years and partying their brains out now that they have job offers. The once new 1st years are more enlightened 2nd years working hard and praying to get into the Comm School/declare their major. People have moved around from dorms to apartments with all the trimmings of a wet bar and outside bbq. The Lawn is the same, except for the fact that there's a new South Lawn that nobody really uses. My old apartment is still there, however, new people occupy it. My favorite restaurants are still intact: Mas, Orzo, El Dente, Shebeen, Al Hamraa, The Nook, and of course the late night pizza places.

Somehow when I looked around I wasn't running into people from class or former hallmates. This is the sad part and this is how you know you're an alumna. It actually happens when the alumni all pile back in for their semester events: homecoming football game (but it's really not about the football) and then Foxfields. But of course coming back and seeing old friends, new friends who could have been old friends if you knew them better in college, and just people in general is a lot of fun. How great is it to come back and do all your favorite activities at school without the actual worries of studying, class, and group meetings?

I could go to Pancakes for Parkinson's without having to bring a backpack and then staking out a spot in the library for the next few hours. I went to the football game didn't worry about the homework I neglected to do that day. I made as many plans with friends that could possibly fit in a 24 hour day without giving a second thought to the midterm I had the next week. These are the trade-offs of college and the working world. The brief respite when visiting your alma mater for homecoming weekend then bracing for reality when you head back on the road waving goodbye to old friends.

Getting Tuned In

For those of you coffeeholics you probably already know that Starbucks has just introduced its digital network (SDN - see CNN story). It sounds amazing. For those of you not in the loop, Starbucks is not only offering free WiFi to its patrons but also a whole integrated network of news, entertainment, music, and local tidbits provided through the WiFi service. All those newspapers that Starbucks sells are now available online for free through the SDN: USA Today, WSJ minus a few pieces, and the NY Times.

Starbucks is aiming to amp up its "local atmosphere" experience. I don't know how much of a local atmosphere that Starbucks currently provides because it's such a nationalized chain, but this SDN seems like it's a step toward that experience. I mostly use the Washington Post, Washingtonian, and the coupon websites for local information, but a more streamlined, online grouping of neighborhood news will be much more convenient. Look out Washington Post! A free WSJ and NY Times I don't know if it would be worth getting it delivered anymore.

I can't wait to try the SDN. I'm a pretty big fan of Starbucks. I love coffee, therefore I love Starbucks. The local cafes are great too, and I prefer them because there is so much more effort and heart that goes into them. However, if you're seen the Arlington Rap video, you will understand that finding a unique, local cafe  is a little difficult compared to the Starbucks on every corner. Getting the free WiFi is pretty handy. Starbucks is perfect to hang out with friends, but even better, a good location to study, if you can find a seat. Music, business, news, etc would help with procrastination too! If people don't hang out at Starbucks  now, then they definitely will after the SDN introduction. Unfortunately, I don't know how many people know about this network. I was scrolling through headlines and caught this, so it was pretty random.

For some reason Starbucks is using Yahoo as the provider - I guess Google is too busy with their Androids? We'll see how it works. I'll write more on the SDN once I test it out. I'm looking forward to the music that Starbucks plans to share on its network. A good idea for Starbucks would be the more you use the SDN, the more free lattes you get. Do you hear that Starbucks?

Can't Visit Charlottesville Without Wine Tasting

The visit for UVA's alumni homecoming weekend was pretty busy but incredibly fun. Even though I've been an alumna for about 6 months, it still felt weird to return to grounds and getting accustomed to the changes. Dunkin' Donuts on the Corner, the South Lawn Project is done, finally, and there's a Starbucks so close to the Comm School that I could cry out of jealousy.

The Young Alumni event was awesome seeing so many drunk people dancing on stage and they rewarded us with a vat of Arch's. Halfway through losing, not unusual, the football game we left for a Charlottesville dinner at a restaurant that few other cities can compare to. Zinc uses herbs from its garden that is about two yards outside from where you dine, gets local meat, and orders the best quality seafood from around the globe. Needless to say, the roasted quail, butternut squash soup, and the Monastrell wine were like introducing a future musician to the songs of Mozart. My stomach was producing symphonies. On the last day and on our way out, there was no way we could renege on our most recent favorite pastime: wine tasting.

It was quite a burden to find out that UVA is in the heart of the Monticello Wine Trail. With only less than two years of being legal to wine taste, how could I possibly visit all those vineyards before I graduated? Being content with defeat I vowed to complete the trail at some future point in time. Nearing the end of our trip we decided to visit a vineyard on our way home. So many options! Within several miles of each other off Rte. 20 there's Barboursville (always a fantastic visit), Burnley, and Horton. Having no cell phone reception and only a vague idea of where Horton was on the map, we tracked over to the vineyard. It was gorgeous! It was like driving up to an estate with a massive building in the distance and beautifully manicured grapevines lined in rows.

The wine inside was just as promising as the view driving in. It had the usual wine tasting ambiance with a large tasting room, wines lining the walls, and the sounds of people tasting wine. Horton had a great variety of whites and reds. The whites included viognier, vidal blanc, and this unusual Russian grape called rkatsiteli. Definitely recommend the rkatsiteli. The reds included the Virginia native Norton and some non-native grapes like malbec, nebbiolo, tannat, and Touriga Nacional. My favorite white was a French-style blend called Stonecastle White that tasted like vanilla and nutmeg according to the wine description. The Touriga and nebbiolo were fantastic. 

Surprisingly, all the grapes are grown on the vineyard which is pretty unique among vineyards who import the grapes and outsource some of the wine making process. The whites and reds were great to try, and even better, they had a large selection of port wines as well. There were two types that tasted like chocolate: one white and one red. What could taste better than chocolate and wine? A wine that tasted like chocolate! I couldn't help myself and I ended up buying a bottle of the chocolatey wine port for only $16. Compared to ordering a glass at a restaurant, what a steal. At a rock bottom price of $0 for tasting and about thirty to forty wines to try, we definitely plan to visit again!

Fall Munchkins

I don't know how you do your errands, but I always make sure I find time for a treat while I do mine. A treat can be one of the new pumpkin spiced lattes at Starbucks or a cookie from a small cafe. Yesterday while doing the usual errand run, I treated myself to my favorite: donuts. I'm pretty sure every person has a love affair with a specific dessert/snack that started way back in the day. Here's my story.

When I just started playing soccer when I was a wee one, my dad encouraged me by offering me donuts for every goal I scored. There is no motivation better than sugar and fried dough. I remember after I scored a goal I would look at my dad in the stands with that face that said, "we're going to Dunkin' Donuts right after this game." Of course getting a little girl hooked on donuts is not the healthiest decision, but this was before the Atkins-no carbs-0 calorie Splenda-vegan diet days. Later as my dad knew that I didn't need donuts to motivate me in my soccer games, he turned it into a weekend tradition. The night before my dad would ask me which donuts to pick up, I always picked two: one classic chocolate covered donut and the other I rotated the specialties. Of course this obsession with donuts translated to other desserts like pies, cakes, pastries, etc, but donuts were my first love. And my dad did a good job of reconciling the two of us everytime I came back home from school breaks. Sadly, the nearest Dunkin' was about 25 miles away near Ruckersville (!), so coming home to a half-dozen of my favorite chocolate tire wheels, chocolate covered, marble frosted, and the specialty sprinkles (red and blue for 4th of July, red and green for Christmas, etc.) was the best "surprise" I could get. I knew that when I came home there would be a bunch of untouched, fresh donuts on the kitchen table for me, but each time I was still surprised to see them and the fact that my dad remembered to get them.

Keep this story in the back of your mind. Now, imagine my excitement when I realized that right next to the Fed Ex office store that there was a Dunkin' right next to it. I felt like some of heaven fell on earth and beckoned me using the splendid smell of sugary donuts. Heck, it was destiny. In my purse I had a free latte coupon for Dunkin' Donuts from my mom. I walked inside and was greeted by the same, unchanging, comforting display of jellies, kruellers, creme filled, and munchkin donuts. My mind raced as I forced myself to choose from the numerous options and, finally, decided on the seasonal fall munchkins. You really can't say no to sprinkles, especially when they match the season (or should be). I don't see any orange leaves yet, but I'm sure that buying those fall munchkins encouraged all those leaves out there to follow suit.

Just thinking of my delicious snack is making me want to drive to a Dunkin' right now. I know there are a lot of haters and naysayers out there who think donuts are not worth the hype. If it's Homer Simpson's favorite dessert snack and Dunkin' has created an empire off such a simple item, it's definitely worth it. Peeps, on the other hand, not so much. 

Taking a bite out of those munchkins threw me back to my childhood where almost anything can be forgotten or made better just by tasting this delicious donut. I can't believe this dessert has so much influence over me. Then I looked around at the other people in the store and realized that everyone munching on their donuts was making the same face of true satisfaction as I was. It was nice to be in such good company for those few moments. Like all yummy, small desserts, these two munchkins were gone way too fast. After my flavorful snack, I was all geared up to finish my errands and get back to studying. Donuts can be a great pick-me-up.

There are few foods that are so scrumptious that the taste stays with you. So few meals or snacks that when you think about them, make you want to re-experience the taste so bad that your stomach already starts to make room so it could eat more. Chocolate lava cake and paella are some examples, but these are definitely not things you can eat all the time. Donuts, though, are a more frequent dose of tastebud heaven, especially when they have seasonal sprinkles! 

The Basic Ingredient

When my sister told me that her bus was scheduled to arrive at 7 pm on Thursday, I knew the pie had to be ready by then. Cooking or baking a recipe for someone is a special thing to do, but it's even better when you make that person something she really likes. For example, my dad is not the biggest fan of chocolate desserts, but he loves chicken and pasta. Naturally, I'm inclined to make him a snazzy version of chicken and pasta that he hasn't had yet. I know he would appreciate a chocolatey dessert all the same, but it means even more when you make something he likes. It shows that you remember what types of tastes he likes and doesn't like. My mom doesn't even make me guess what her basic ingredient is. She suggests the same Thai dish every time. Funny thing is, I make it a little different every time. As for my sister, she loves dessert. Maybe not as much as me, but it's definitely a top preference.

I learned this lesson the best after I made an overload of desserts for someone and he couldn't finish. He didn't want to waste them even though he knew one of the desserts might have expired but ate it anyways to make me happy. I was upset that the dessert wasn't gobbled up within a few days thinking that my baking was way beyond sub-par and that he didn't appreciate it. I was wrong! Unfortunately, he got a little sick (please don't judge my cooking/baking from this one instance) from one the cakes, and ended up throwing the rest out. Feeling guilty, upset that the rest of the dessert DID go to waste anyways, and frustrated that what I made wasn't the "it" dessert present, I realized I shouldn't overload on the baked presents. A simple meal with that basic ingredient that person likes is the key. For him at least, that's usually meat, not tons of sugar.

I put my lesson to use when my grandpa visited from NYC, and my mom asked to make a home-cooked meal for his short stay. Instead of baking a ton of sweets, I made chicken stuffed with goat cheese (he loves goat cheese), orzo with sun-dried tomatoes and kalamata olives, and green beans lightly covered in a mustard vinaigrette. Now, if you think you know someone who eats healthy, you have not met my grandfather. The health guru himself was the one who introduced us to the heavenly Trader Joe's, almond butter, Pirate's Booty, and the wonders of dark chocolate bars. Who was it that warned me that the french fries and pasta on my plate held too many carbohydrates and I should add more veggies instead? My grandpa. When I was younger, I thought it was a little excessive to read the labels' ingredients of everything you buy, but his habits have proved to be quite smart. He doesn't buy the whole organic bit, but he does pick the healthy options, on his own. He has a more clever notion of just reading what's actually inside the box, and not becoming a victim of excellent advertising.

To make the most appealing meals to my grandpa's own tastebuds and include the basic ingredient that he likes, I enlisted my mom for some help. She told me: goat cheese, olives, and veggies! Hence, the 3 dishes, and I found them all at Cooking Light magazine's website. Cooking Light has some delicious recipes but finding the same recipe after searching for the second time is nearly impossible. Although I am a sworn loyal fan of allrecipes.com, my stray did lead me to some great options. My default option is to choose allrecipes.com before visiting any other websites, and 90% of the time, it works well. Food Network's website is way too complicated, and not enough people rate the recipes. The search feature is a little antiquated and it's the only comprehensible way to get around that website. You would think that since cooking is the name of the game for Food Network they would take greater pains to perfect their recipe searching functions. Unfortunately, it's pretty unnavigable.

With all this racing in my head, I thought about making five different dishes for my sister, but I decided on one well-made item: apple pie, not pumpkin pie because she hates the texture. I made the pie crust a day ahead of time, so I wouldn't get stressed out while chopping up the apples and thinking that I had the rest of the pie AND the crust to make. Way less stress to split up the steps. With the extra time I was able to make a lattice top (see picture one at the top) without worrying the whole thing would be ruined if the crust didn't work out. The pie turned out great, the house smelled like cinnamon apples, and my sister loved the dessert! Usually my baking doesn't turn out too hot, but in this case I consulted my favorite site. Another successful allrecipes.com recipe!

It's Kingsley Bitch

In the words of McDonald's, I'm lovin' it. Kingsley is wonderful. So many of my thoughts rolling out of his mouth. Thanks Emily for introducing him into my life. Take a step back, calm down, and enjoy his entertainment, raving comments, and rants. Every video I watched I couldn't stop laughing and agreed with most of what he said, except for Glee. Plus, anyone who likes Britney as much as him is good in my books. Just look at his username.

I don't know how people get famous or who chooses which YouTube videos to get popular, but he is definitely one of them. Emily doesn't know how she came across him, but once I hear about it, I'm pretty sure the rest of the world must have by now too. I even can't wait for the imitators because if they're even half as good as Kingsley, they'll be funny too. So my college roommate had Perez, maybe I can have Kingsley. He's like the gay friend I never had.

Everyone has that friend that rants. Just like the friend that has hilarious arguments with her sister, you need all of these people in your life. Where do you go when you want your pet peeves and anger validated? Your friend that rants. Everything that ever bothered you all rolled up into that rant with all those hand gestures. Yes, this friend is essential. I have one in real life, but the Kingsley online version is almost just as fun.

Yoga Before Bed

Yes, quite cliche but I have become a fan of yoga. No, it hasn't gotten me a rock hard six-pack (yet), but it is an amazing de-stresser. I discovered the wonders of how helpful yoga can be for the mind near the end of college, but didn't really have time for it in between finishing two majors, hanging out with friends, and trying each bar's daily happy hour specials. After graduating and trying to find a new stress reliever from the intensity of the post-grad exams, I found another Women's Health yoga workout in my e-mail inbox. Who wouldn't try it? So, the other night before I went to bed, I practiced a few of the poses, and before I knew it, I was all stretched out and relaxed enough to hit the sack. I woke up feeling more flexible and in a pretty happy mood after all my ohm-ing the night before. Overall, I approve of the yoga de-stress/before bed workouts (Click on the hyperlinks).

Some people like to meditate and not think about anything while they are yoga-ing. Well for me, I like to think about all the things I did that day, what went well, what was fun, and what annoyed me. I think about it, and then try to let go of them, so I can start the next day without the worries and distracting thoughts from the day before. All you insomniacs and people who go to bed stressing/reviewing and can't fall asleep, please do the yoga bedtime routine. Yes, I've recommended it to my dad, but he doesn't believe in exercise, so my suggestion fell on deaf ears. Going about my routine, my last thought was the annoying lady at Victoria Secret's badgering me to sign up for the amazing store credit card. Yes, I would love to save 20% off my free pair of cotton hip hugger panties. Bring over that application! Absolutely not. After 3 years of working at American Eagle and the Loft, the most valuable thing I have learned was never to sign up for one of those. Bad for your credit score and bad for your bank account!

Back to the yoga. Some of the de-stress positions look simple, but they actually require some amount of balance. Chances are that you have better balance than me. I like to blame my lack of flexibility and balance on my soccer career, but really I think it was because I quit ballet too early. I suppose at the age of 5, I believed I was either going to be a precocious Anna Pavlova or bust. I chose bust and finally picked up soccer, which at least for me, didn't require as much balance. After about a week of doing these poses and workouts, I definitely felt more relaxed, flexible, and balanced. You won't be able to bend over into a bridge like a gymnast, but you'll notice improvement, especially the bow and the crane poses which feel pretty ridiculous on the first try.

A lot of the poses are simply extended stretching, but somehow it just feels really good. I suppose compared to sitting in a desk chair for hours all day, anything feels better. If you're creative, unlike myself, add a couple more fun poses to the workout. I feel like a yoga instructor when I can come up with a pose that feels like stretching that I can incorporate into the routine. Regardless, don't overdo the ab cruncher ones. If I do too many that work the stomach, I can feel my back crying out as if it's saying, "don't forget about me!" That's what's so great about these workout poses - they work pretty much everything and you don't have to do a mental checklist: thighs, calves, arms, back, abs. It's a pretty inclusive routine hence part of the stress relief. Of course my Type A self would get stressed out making sure I stretched out everything through all of the poses. Another plus is a few of the de-stress poses helped stretch out my back. I felt the cracks up my spine as I twisted and bended. Even easier than getting someone to squeeze, lift, and crack your back for you, but always helpful if it's from a friend.

The most important thing is that the poses make you relax and de-stress. Yoga won't give you a cardio workout, won't give you the same strength training as dumbbells, but it will give you a great stretch, some tone, and a less stressful day! Yes, I'm trying all the fad exercises, but I would definitely choose yoga in my room over an early morning rowing session or biking in the cold weather.

The Big City

Sorry for the lag everyone. Now, back to business. So, the big city, quite the place to visit for two days. Not a minute to lose and always something to do. The problem is deciding what to do and how much to spend. There's Bobby Flay's restaurant across the street that's at least $50 just for the entrée or the adorable old French bistro down the block that's $20 for the entrée which means more to spend on wine, appetizers, and dessert. Oh the decisions!

Paying homage to the city I was born in but actually only lived in for three months sounded like an excellent idea when I bought my Bolt Bus ticket, knowing I'd have to fight the crowd just to get a seat on the bus that is packed but not overcrowded. My mom, the NYC guru, who grew up in the Bronx and lived in Queens reminded me several times not to leave Manhattan and make sure I don't venture to the other side of Central Park. These reminders were similar to the, "don't go anywhere 'east' in DC" warnings that my mom always gave me when I told her whenever I ventured into DC. Armed with my iPhone and Google Maps, I was pretty sure I wouldn't end up in an unusual area.

Taking the bus in at night surely beats coming during the day - all the lights and the number of people walking around/bar hopping at midnight. So different from DC! I made mental comparisons throughout the trip. For some reason I thought that it would be way less crowded at midnight, but nope, just as busy. Penn Station was full of people, the Sbarro and the Little Italy Eatery across the street were bustling with customers, and nobody looked phased that it was late at night.

The next morning, ready to explore, we headed to a recommended place for brunch: Elmo's in Chelsea. Delicious! Now, if you've been to Kramerbooks and Afterwords, here's the better version in NYC. Smaller portions (which is definitely okay considering the amount you get at Kramerbooks) and less expensive, the modern decor and the friendly service was a great way to start the NYC gastronomy tour. We tried their bagel and cream cheese as a side just to see what the hubbub was about with NYC bagels. Manhattan bagel and NY-style bagels all over the DC area were cues enough that we had to try them. And were they good. The toastedness on the outside with a light crunch and the soft middle makes me think if I can ever achieve this perfection with my own toaster. We'll see.

After brunch we did some exploring of the Chelsea area. A dog park here and there, lots of unique shops, and plenty of places to eat and not just the very expensive type. There's something for everyone including those delicious falafel stands. Gotta try one of those while you're there. One of my favorite things to do in every city I visit is check out the local coffee shops. No, that does not mean the local Starbucks. It means a coffee shop, maybe a local chain even, that you can only find in that city. They tend to exhibit the qualities of the town, like the one I went to called Guy & Gallard which has at least six or seven different flavors of coffee on hotplates that you can grab and add whatever milk/soymilk/cream-and-sugar blend you desire. Going with the NY tradition, there are plenty of desserts, including NY cheesecake. How can you resist? We walked to Central Park with our sustenance in hand: coffee and a peanut butter cup/chocolate chip muffin and sat watching people watching us watching the horse-drawn carriages.

A couple hours in Central Park did us good - saw a live performance by the Afrobats comedy/dance team by the big fountain, walked around, took pictures, and met some other tourists. We entered back into the hustle and bustle that is The City and headed toward the Apple store which is quite the landmark in itself. For every one person that leaves the store, there are about five more pushing down the frosted glass staircase to get in and buy another iPod to add to their collection. Lacking oxygen and some personal space we managed to escape the store without having bought a new iPod, iPad, or iBook. As for next time, I might not be as lucky.

We raced back to check into the hotel in the Times Square area to get as much time as possible to find a place for dinner. Scrolling through New York Times The Scoop app, the NY Guide, and OpenTable, we came across Maison, a quaint, small French bistro. Similar to Bistro Francais in Georgetown, it too is open 24/7. Why a nice French restaurant stays open 24 hours a day is beyond me. However, their entrees were French classics: steak frites, moule frites, duck confit, bouillabaisse, escargots, charcuterie, fromage, etc. Julia Child's memoir book prompted me to try the bouillabaisse to see if I can pick out the combination of flavors. It was a winner! Monkfish, mussels, shrimp, potato, saffron, fennel seed, fish stock, and green onions made the dish exquisite and not too heavy. The toasted bread with melted Gruyère cheese was the cherry on top and the four more servings in the massive pot was an encore. Definitely will be going back.

With full stomachs we walked to Times Square. Thank goodness - all that famous American fast food beckoning with neon lights and billboards of tasty food, I'm glad I finished that bouillabaisse first. Btw, Times Square is not a square, it has a radius of about 3 blocks. It's quite massive with a massive Barclay's blue building lit to help you find your way. The M&M signature store is there where you can even monogram your M&M plush backpack. A Dallas BBQ restaurant line stretching for a couple blocks, billboards advertising tv shows, movies, and anything else you can spend your money lining the streets, and crowds of people blinded by the lights grazing around the streets causing traffic jams at all times of night make this scene pretty unforgettable.

The scenes, food, people, pace and landmarks make this city so fun. It's not as expensive as you would think - just don't blindly walk into a restaurant or store without checking the prices. Make sure to have your Google Maps app and you will never have a problem with the subway or numbered streets. Don't dilly dally when people are pacing in front and behind you, and remember that almost every cab is probably full, so be vigilant! Eat all the NY bagels, pizza, and deli sandwiches you can find because I guarantee the ones outside of the city don't compare. Take tons of pictures, even if you are "that silly tourist taking photos of everything" because no one else is going to photo document your trip but you. Last of all, watch out for all the parades!