Lindsay Meyer

::: The Single Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:26:53 +0000

As I've admitted on a few previous occasions, February 14th just might be one of my favorite days of the year. Flowers, chocolate, pink hearts, and cute little cards? It's no surprise that this holiday is an excuse to celebrate all of my favorite things. This year, despite my enthusiasm for Valentine's Day, I've also been feeling a tad sad. My self-restraint has gone right out the window. If you're celebrating your relational status of n=1 like I am, consider a few of these pick me ups. Or treat yourself to all of them!

1. Lucy X-Back Tank in Tart/Tart Print. The queen of hearts, she made some tarts, and in a weak moment, I bought myself a new tart-colored top for pilates. If you act quickly, you can score the same one for 25% off on the Lucy Red/Pink Valentine's Day Sale.

2. Twistband Hair Ties. A couple of months ago, I found myself sans hair tie at the Bar Method. They sold me a pink hair elastic for $3. Pretty pricey for a hair tie, but I've become obsessive with this non-denting hair band, using it every day for two months straight. Twitter alerted me to a Twistband sale at Refinery 29! I just ordered a 4-pack. They make cutesy bracelets on the weekends, too.

3. Tory Burch Tumbled Leather Thora Sandal. I mentioned that I've been feeling impulsive lately, and my latest episode in retail therapy was a ridiculously expensive pair of flip flops. They were out of this world comfy when I slipped them on in the store (next to a hot guy buying a $500 bag for his wife - nothing like watching a hot guy shop for a bag for his wife to make me feel mopey) and they were cheaper than the metallic Lurex Caroline Ballet Flats in bay leaf. Let's face it. I probably would have bought those too, but the store was out of my size. My wallet is appreciative.

4. Baking cookies for my co-workers. I'm sure the office will be a better place if I bring perfectly iced cutout cookies to work on Tuesday. It also affirms my reputation as the front runner for Martha Stewart's successor.

5. Frozen yogurt. I've splurged on frozen yogurt no less than THREE times in six days. It's really, really embarassing. I should go to fro yo hell for my latest lack of self control. There was orange with rainbow sprinkles at Cultive, there was vanilla with butterfinger (!!!) and caramel at YoCup, and there was cookies and cream with sliced almonds and (more...) caramel at Wildberry Yogurt. Hopefully I'll be sick of fro yo by next week. Or next month. Next year?!

6. Lake Champlain Chocolate Square. Since I don't expect to be on the receiving end of any boxes of chocolate, I'm entitled to buy myself some, right? Fortunately, Whole Foods sells them in individual squares. The milk sea salt and almond was heavenly. And perfectly portioned.

7. Aura Cacia Argan Oil. While cupid won't be around to offer any massages, I have been reading more and more about the benefits of argan, the healing, moisturizing, and anti-aging Morrocan tree oil. Rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, argan is being used by beauty-conscious women everywhere to moisturize tired skin, promote hair follicle health, and glisten up dry hair.

8. A new pedicure. A monthly treat, and one that I will be tending to this weekend while I page through my new San Francisco Magazine, headline story, "Cupid Gets Real."

::: An Outfit for Olivia

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:55:22 +0000

The text message arrived at 6:14 pm on January 28th. "Olivia Leeann Stasik. 7 pounds, 13 ounces, 20.5 inches and 2 pushes!"

The day Olivia came into the world, I spent my Saturday in San Francisco. The morning began with pilates reformer class in the Financial District. I met Erin for lunch and a stroll through the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. In addition to clementines, Meyer lemons, Judy's eggs, nettles, sesame oil, and Frog Hollow cherries, I came home with a bunch of fragrant lavendar. A nap at home preceded dinner with Yan at Wo Hing General Store. I fell asleep and had a strange dream about being in prison.

2500 miles northeast, my high school dance team best, spent the day at the hospital, meeting daughter number #2.

When Sunday morning came, I arose for my hatha class at the Presidio YMCA. There was church, brunch at La Boulange on Union, and an easy neighborhood stroll. Heading home, I found myself in Baby Gap on Chestnut, searching for the perfect baby gift. I ended the day at Janie and Jack, the upscale baby boutique where a tiny dress can set you back $80.

Analyzing the selection of sale items, I spotted the perfect simple white sweater set with pink flowers. Perfectly feminine and probably bound to get spit up on. Best for the doting friend to buy the white clothes than for Mom to shell out for fancy baby clothes that end up puke stained, right?

I saved a swell $41.00 on this adorable attire. I contemplated 0-3 months, but settled on the 3-6 month size. It will be cool enough in Minnesota to wear this light sweater into May. Maybe the threads will make an appearance in the Easter photos? I assumed that Olivia might even fit into these doll-sized shirts before April depending on how quickly she grows. And if she stays tiny like her sister Amelia, she might even wear them into the late summer.

The colorful card came from Snow and Graham, one of my favorite Chicago-based stationary purveyors. The fabulous packaging was perfect. I carefully wrapped the delicate gifts and placed them into the polka-dot paper. The gingham green box had a lilac colored floral top. A grosgrain ribbon wrapped carefully around the center was the perfect presentation. With double sided adhesive, I tacked the card into place and wrapped the box in clear cellophane.

Tomorrow I'll drop off the package at the post office. I hope it's treasured and enjoyed in the precious months ahead.

Congratulations, Kristy, Dave, and big sister Amelia!

::: Wish List '11

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 21:56:18 +0000

(Or the post alternately called, "Lindsay's Expensive Taste"...)

Two weeks til Christmas Eve and I still don't have a plane ticket to Minnesota. $700+ is just not sounding very palatable for a roundtrip that normally costs about $300-$350. So I'm waiting this one out. On Thursday I saw a price drop to $560, but even that seems overpriced.

While I wait patiently for airfares to fall (go ahead, tell me I'm foolish), I thought I'd at least show you what's on my wish list this year...

1. Patagonia Classic Retro-X Vest (size: XS, color: turquoise). $149.00, plus free shipping for orders over $75.
This is the perfect vest for the office and for weekend errands in the city. Bonus: it's from Patagonia, so it's made tough enough to wear to the ends of the earth.

2. Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera (with 18-135mm lens). $1,078.99, on sale now at Best Buy.
This is pretty much my dream camera. I've mastered my Canon PowerShot 780IS, and I'd like to take my photography to the next level. Bonus: the camera also takes HD video!

3. Steve Jobs, the book (by Walter Isaacson). $17.87 at Amazon, $35.00 elsewhere.
I've heard nothing but rave reviews about one of the most significant new biographies of 2011.

4. Adobe Lightroom 3 (for Mac iOS). $193.00 on Amazon, $299.99 elsewhere.
Fancy new camera needs fancy new photo editing software, don't you think? iPhoto is good for storing photos, but it's not good for editing.

5. 1950's Smith-Corona Typewriter (in PINK). Prices vary.
I have massive typewriter lust. I've been searching for something vintage (in good working order) for the last month or two. The pink ones are so fabulous. An awesome conversation piece for any room and a fun accessory for a DIY-girl.

6. Jawbone Up (size: S). Currently recalled and unavailable for sale.
Yes, that's right this product is full of bugs and the company recently started offering full refunds to all customers while it sorts of some technical problems. But when version 2 hits store shelves, I want one of these most-amazing bracelets that connect to an iPhone and offer health data (sleep, activity/calories, GPS/exercise tracking) galore.

7. Lululemon Wrap Tank (size: 6, color: white coal tinted canvas)
I've been on a Bar Method binge. While I "tuck, tuck, squeeze" my way to a beautiful body, I at least want to do it in great style. The uniform at Bar seems to be Lululemon, and I've always been one to conform. Ok, the conformity part is kind of a fib, but Lululemon is a fabulous brand anyways. In fact the girls in my Bar class actually go hang out at the Palo Alto store after class. It's definitely a cult.

In case you're curious, here are my lists from 2009 and 2010!

::: The Coast with the Most

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:37:50 +0000

Last weekend my parents came out to California. We did lots of fun things including dinner at the Slanted Door (which was full of Notre Dame fans), a stop at Ocean Beach, the Notre Dame game at Stanford (at least the nachos were good...), Santa Cruz, Highway 1, Cirque de Soleil (outstanding), Pacific Catch (Mom's favorite fish taco eatery), Union Square, and Za Pizza. I managed to end up with a bout of food poisoning at 2AM on Sunday morning (which prevented me from enjoying anything anything except the hotel bed). Mom and Dad alternated driving back to the city the next day while I reclined in the passenger seat, snuggled under my ballet blanket.

The weather was perfect for the sunroof and we enjoyed a leisurely drive through coastal towns. One of the highlights was a photo stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Dad kept gushing about how similar it looked to Ireland (to be fair, the rocky shores did have a striking resemblance to the Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland). Pescadero was pretty and would make a great place to have a picnic (though the last thing I wanted was food after a night of nausea). We passed plenty of roadside stands selling everything from honey and jam to Christmas trees (tis the season, after all!).

::: Holiday Party Picks

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:21:03 +0000

Kate Spade is my bad habit. My drug addiction. My abusive boyfriend. My handful of peanut M&M’s at 3:00 pm in the afternoon even though I vowed to stop hitting the peanut M&M’s because (1) they aren’t organic, (2) they aren’t even that good and (3) they aren’t worth getting fat for.

Yet I somehow manage to keep going back for more.

Even when they disappoint me (like the time they sent me the wrong sized dress the night before the Symphony Gala and I was forced to go on an emergency shopping trip to Macy’s… the horror!) I can’t help but come crawling back for more.

It’s not a cheap habit.

If we could study my brain when looking at images of glittery shoes and colorful cardigans, I’m sure it would look like the same activity generated when a crackhead shoots up.

I get high looking at katespade.com. True story.

Only recently have I actually been able to afford Kate. My first purchase was a pair of camel striped flats in 2008. Next came my 2010 wallet, an iPhone case, sunglasses, metallic peep toe flats, and then two tops. Now don’t go jumping to any conclusions here. I work very, very, very hard. Kate Spade is my reward for working hard. And I always buy things on sale. Because my budget doesn’t otherwise accommodate $200 blouses and $300 flats.

But let’s just say… hypothetically… that I was going to a super swank party and I had cart blanche. Just in case I pinch myself and it turns out I’m not dreaming (heyyyy... don't blame me for taking a page from the Boy Scout "Be prepared!" book), here’s what I’d wear:

1. Putting on the Ritz Large Studs. $98.
2. Mademoiselle Dress in African Violet. $395.
3. Crystal Kaleidoscope Necklace. $295.
4. Charm Heels in Silver. $325.
5. Live Colorfully Patent Lacey Wallet. $195.

And yes, I would make darn sure that my cocktails matched my cocktail dress. And yes, (flashback to reality) I have tried the Mademoiselle dress on. And yes, it makes me feel like a Mademoiselle. And yes, if you want to donate to the purchase-a-dress-for-a-needy-25-year-old campaign, I take cash, check, and credit card. Yes, yes, and yes.

::: Gala Dinner with Ty Flo

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:36:13 +0000

I made damn sure that I was close to the door.

I wanted to be right up front to watch *the* Tyler Florence prepare a seasonal meal on the Alexia demo stage.

When the doors were opened, I fought my way to a table, front and center. For the next thirty minutes, Ty Flo made pan seared pork with a brown sugar-apple cider brine. There was cabbage. And spätzle. All from scratch. Prepared with beautiful California produce by a Food Network superstar. Right in front of me! So close, in fact, that I could smell the pork beginning to carmelize in the pan.

While he cooked, we took photos. We took notes. We drank wine. It was a very good night. Our three course dinner was good, but I found it odd that we weren't eating what Ty Flo was cooking. (It was an opportunity for Chef Florence to plug his San Francisco restaurant, Wayfare Tavern, where the dish is on the menu...)

Here are our eats...

What a fun event!

Here's the finished product...

Already looking forward to Foodbuzz Festival 2012!

::: Who Needs Walgreens?

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:55:37 +0000

I am doing some re-organizing this weekend. I hit up my basket of medications. It turns out that I could open my own pharmacy. The next time I have any sort of affliction, I'm pretty sure that I'll be covered. My current inventory includes:

Allergy: Benadryl, Sudafed, Clarinase (purchased in Istanbul), Clarinex, Claritin-D, Allergra-D, Veramyst and hydroxyzine.

Antibiotics: Cipro, Bactrim, doxycline, Clindamycin 1% lotion, and triple antibiotic cream

Antivirals: Tamiflu

Cold/Cough: Mucinex-D, Dextromethorphan

Migraine: Maxalt

Pain: Vicodin

Travel: Malarone

Steroids: Prednisone, Hydrocortisone 1%, Hydrocortisone 2.5%

OTC's: Tylenol EZ tabs, Tylenol 8-hour, Advil Liquigel, Tums

Vitamins: B with Folic Acid, Calcuim with Magnesium, D, and E

Supplements: Wobenzyme, Cox2Tame

::: green

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 23:17:17 +0000

Earlier this fall I fell in love with a DIY post on Design Sponge that detailed how to turn an unused pallet into a vertical garden of waxy succulents. Being that I don't have ready access to any pallets, I filed away the post in the back of my brain for later attempt.

But the post came to mind yesterday when I spotted something similar...

(Totally normal to carry around a hand mixer in one's bag, right?!...)

Wonder if I could rent these for an afternoon? They are after all, transportable. Check out the wheels!

::: happy taste buds

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:15:10 +0000

This has got to be the best Saturday afternoon of the year. For three hours, vendors from across the country converge atop of Metreon in a gorgeous event space called "City View." And for three hours, Foodbuzz Featured Publishers and their friends get to taste everything from goat yogurt to chocolate stout.

Vivian brought her A-game appetite and together we made it our #1 priority eat our way through the afternoon...

Our first stop was for Kikkoman's mango ponzu salsa. Next on the to-do list was cocktails! Skyy had a trio of unique flavor combinations. Vivian fell in love with her witch hazel from the first chocolatey-almond sip. I enjoyed the sicilian sunset, a bubbly-blood orange delight. We hit the Sabra station next, picking up pinwheels, hummus cups, and salsa to go!

I lost track after the hummus. It might have been the Biscotti Bari or the beautifully bottled Bloom Gin libations mixed by the DIY cocktails guys. There were the California endives (grown in the dark and served with a blue cheese, walnut, honey spread) and the grass-fed beef bites.

Between the sustainable seafood trifecta, the walnut bruschetta, and endless dips, I saved room for Three Twins ice cream and Mission Minis cupcakes. There was Jarlsberg cheese, Sargento cheese, Redwood Hill farm goat cheese, and Bellwether farms sheeps milk cheese. I had a Dry Creek zinfandel flight to balance the cheese, but I also had Bison Brewery beer, Fentiman's natural soda, Honeydrop tea, and Vignette Wine Country Soda (a non-alcoholic favorite!).

I was honored to meet Emily from Foodzie, who kindly invited me to their upcoming tasting room party! I loved their featured vendors and I was particularly delighted by the sweet and savory chutneys and confits from Sonoma restaurant The Girl and the Fig.

It was fun to see Tiny Urban Kitchen and take what has become an annual photograph! Between pictures with friends and pictures of food, I nibbled on toffee, salsa, BBQ meatballs, BBQ beef, fudge, and Godiva truffles. It sounds weird when I list them in that order. And yes, after a couple of hours, I eventually started to feel full. I think the TCHO chocolate tasting sort of put me over the edge!

At home, I assessed my "haul." Kids might get trick-or-treating on October 31st, but grown ups get Foodbuzz Taste Pavilion's the first Saturday afternoon of every November. Look at the loot! I swooped plenty of 18 Rabbits goodies, Ticings, black truffle 479 popcorn, a four-pack of Cascal's fermented soda, and an awesome OXO hand mixer (which will come in handy when I get around to trying that new triple chocolate cake mix)! Thanks to the awesome sponsors that make dreams like this come true...

::: InstaFoodbuzz Welcome

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:43:32 +0000

Sabra sponsored one heck of a Welcome Reception for us lucky Foodbuzz Festival attendees. I tried roasted pine nut, roasted red pepper, and basil pesto hummus with pita crisps. I also sampled four of the passed appetizers including the dungeness crab louie, bruschetta, chicken salad puffs, and jalapeno hummus mini pizzas (which were by far and away my favorite item of the evening). Bonny Doon provided the wine and I chatted up some friendly faces from the winery that gave me cards for free tastings, which will be perfect for Thanksgiving weekend.

While the past two Foodbuzz Festivals have focused Friday night events around San Francisco's incredible street food vendors, this year's opening night was the blogger awards dinner. I may have had two too many appetizers, so I exercised restraint when it was time to walk the line. The buffet line that is.

I grabbed a ceviche shooter, a spring roll, kale/leek/ricotta tart, baked four cheese macaroni, and butternut squash risotto. The broad variety of items ensured that even the most particular and picky eaters discovered something delightful. While 400+ enthusiastic eaters enjoyed their dinner fare, Jen (who writes Tiny Urban Kitchen) provided an altruistic account of deciding to donate her $10,000 Project Food Blog prize to a Boston area charity.

Dessert came out after the awards were handed out. I hedged my bets by selecting something sweet (licorice macaron... incredible), something chocolate (valhrona chocolate ganache bites), and something fruity (pomegranate cream with candied kumquat).

Tomorrow I will attend three sessions in the morning covering everything from a featured publisher panel to a lo-tech photography workshop and effective social networking discussion. In the afternoon we'll convene at Metreon for the Taste Pavilion before heading to the Hyatt for a cooking demo with Tyler Florence and a four-course surf and turf gala dinner.

::: Foodbuzz Festival, Take 3!

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 00:15:43 +0000

It's the first weekend of November, which means that it's time for the premier foodie event of the year, the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival! From now until Sunday, it's safe to say that I will not be hungry. The events kick off tonight with a Welcome Reception and Awards Dinner at the Terra Gallery. The menu for this evening features 10 appetizers over cocktail hour, 2 small plates, 12 dinner selections, and 9 desserts. Talk about the paradox of choice!

Thanks to very generous sponsorships, I walked away from the check-in table with a fabulous gift bag...

Everything from Godiva coffees, chocolates, coupons, an OXO veggie peeler, Cascade, Duncan Hines new Decadent Chocolate cake mix, the new Federated Media "DIY Cocktails" book, and a Lollihop mini. What's Lollihop? This hot new SF startup is signing up subscribers for monthly snackboxes of select organic surprises. Essentially they combine two of my favorites: getting mail and healthy snacks!

I've already broken into the Godiva chocolates and the little madecasse milk chocolate square. Seems like the perfect prelude to an incredible weekend! Looking forward to meeting many new bloggers and reconnecting with friends from 2009 and 2010.

If you wish to live vicariously through the Festival Program, you can do so here!

::: haunted snacks

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:09:20 +0000

On Thursday afternoon, I got a spot-on e-mail from Vivian:

"I feel like you're always very festive and into the holidays, so will you be decorating things and baking Halloween-themed treats? I feel like making holiday-themed-things is such a Lindsay Meyer activity, and I always look forward to your blog posts about holiday stuff afterward!"

It's true. I can't let a holiday go by without putting up decorations. Any excuse for themed baking gets my heart racing. As for this year's repertoire, I settled on brownie pops covered in white chocolate and dipped in pecan pieces and crushed Reese's Pieces. When Aunt Mary sent a package with Halloween funfetti cake mix and the most adorable cupcake liners, I knew that I was also on the hook for cupcakes. (I say that like it's a problem, but honestly, I REALLY like to bake cupcakes).

The last time I made Brownie Pops, they were a huge hit. The recipe wound up on the homepage of Wordpress.com and my co-workers were delighted to eat the leftovers.

The Monster Mix of Jelly Belly's in my candy corn shaped dish rounds out a fabulous trio of treats. I finally feel fully festive! (In case you're in doubt, I'm even listening to the Monster Mash while I type this...)

::: Steve's Apple Store

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:26:07 +0000

The news came via NYTimes. "Oh, noooo..." I said audibly as my heart sank. Steve Jobs, Apple's iconic leader, had died, at his Palo Alto home, a few miles away from my Menlo Park office. Within minutes, twitter was processing over 10,000 tweets per second.

iSad, read facebook posts. Jobs' famous 2005 commencement address was pinned to many walls.

I went home that night and cried.

I grew up watching Pixar films and coveting one of those candy-colored iMac computers. In 2004, I got my first iPod, which was followed by a yellow iPod nano in 2008. My first foray into Apple computing was in 2009 when I forked out $1200 for a MacBook Pro, a purchase I've never once regretted. In 2010, I bought my parents an iPad, enabling them to get news, weather, e-mail and most importantly, Fruit Ninja, all at the tap of a finger. Most recently I made the brave transition from BlackBerry to iPhone.

For three days, I woke up in the middle of the night, my mind racing. I struggled to break the sadness, turning to the media blitz and many eloquent obituaries. I marveled the most at the images of tributes left at Apple Stores around the world.

By the time I made it to the University Avenue Apple Store in Palo Alto, there were thousands of neon PostIt notes covering the glass windows. People passing by stopped to photograph the makeshift memorial at the same Apple Store Steve Jobs would often walk to with his family. The messages left with marker were deeply deferential.

There were bags of apples, bitten apples, and even apples carved into pumpkins...

People stood quietly outside of the store, reading messages, and writing their own on the notepads left on top of newspaper boxes.

I think Steve would be pleased with the colorful displays left in his honor.

Thanks, Steve, for everything. I didn't know you personally, but your products have changed my life and the lives of so many others around the world.

::: Five Dollar Fall Decorating

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:07:37 +0000

This morning I stopped by the market for some post-yoga Happy Dumplings. (Yes, I'm quick to negate the namaste with fried food!) I couldn't resist the peachish-orange dahlias. Forking over five dollars, I carried the bouquet like a baby.

I always love wandering along the waterfront with fresh flowers. For whatever reason, this weekly splurge brings me great joy.

Once home, I snipped the stems and placed them in a quart-sized mason jar with a simple twist of twine.

Quite charming, yes?

::: Gnarly Barley Breakfast Bowls

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 21:15:37 +0000

There were 4.9 million metric tons of barley grown in the US in 2009. In case anyone's keeping score, that makes the US the seventh greatest barley producer on planet earth. Barley has eight essential amino acids and can regulate blood sugar for up to 10 hours after consumption.

Good stuff, right?!

It turns out that barley makes an excellent "glue" for on-the-go breakfast bowls. Scramble some egg with rosemary, toss in some dry roasted cherry tomatoes, and chop a bunch of bright green chives.

Add carmelized shallot...

smoked salmon for protein...

and a nice crumble of fresh farmer's market cheese. I like this creamy "Foggy Morning" cheese made by the friendly folks from Nicasio Valley Cheese Company. They usually set up shop two stands away from my egg guy. Aren't these pretty eggs? I like to buy brown eggs, mostly because those are the kind that Giada always uses on her Food Network show. Priorities, people!

I've found that Sunday mornings are a great day to prep food for the week. My recipe will partially fill five Ziplock Twist 'N Loc 16 oz. plastic containers. (Side bar: I LOVE these containers. They don't spill a drop! And they resist tomato stains. Come over and open my freezer and you will see that the SC Johnson company has profited handsomely from my patronizing of their plastic containers.) Breakfast has become a brainless activity in the morning. I grab a bowl from the fridge, warm it up on the way out the door, and dash out with a fork in hand. Call me a distracted driver, but if I have to sit and suffer in traffic in the morning, at least I will have my barley bowl. And at least that barley will get me a good 10 hours of glucose control.

Now that I've inspired you to embrace the benefits of barley bowls, here's the recipe. You'll thank me later. I know you will!

Gnarly Barley Breakfast Bowls

1. 1 c. dry barley
2. 3 c. water
3. 3 eggs, scrambled with salt + paper (optional: add dried rosemary)
4. a few ounces of smoked salmon, sliced (I like the Whole Catch Alaskan smoked salmon available at Whole Foods)
5. 2 shallots, thinly sliced and carmelized in butter with a pinch of brown sugar
6. 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, sliced and dry roasted for 2-3 minutes with salt in a hot skillet
7. 1/2 a wheel of foggy morning cheese (or comparable)
8. chives to your liking, chopped

To cook barley, bring 3 c. water to a boil. Add barley (rinse it until the water runs clear) and simmer covered, on low, for 25 minutes. Remove cover and allow remaining water to boil off (additional 5-10 minutes depending on humidity in your area, watch carefully to prevent barley from burning/sticking/drying out). Add three wooden spoonfuls to each container or bowl until barley is evenly distributed. Top with scrambled egg, smoked salmon, carmelized shallot, dry roasted cherry tomatoes, soft cow's milk (foggy morning) cheese, and chives. Serve warm. Makes 5 bowls. (I keep two bowls in the fridge to get through Tuesday and freeze the remaining three. On Tuesday morning I transfer two more bowls from freezer to fridge, and on Thursday I move the last bowl into the fridge for Friday consumption.)

::: Baby Steps

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:50:52 +0000

Last Tuesday night, the evening that I came home acutely aware of my sudden deafness, I used a free Starkey iPhone hearing test to measure the extent of my hearing loss.

As you can see, the right ear was normal... and the left ear was a different story altogether. But today, after noticing a pitch change in the tinnitus (ringing) and crackling sounds in my left ear (much like the old fashioned VCR static... if you can rewind your brain to the early 1990's) upon being exposed to common sounds (like wind blowing through a car window) I bravely decided to try the test again.

You have no idea how excited these bar graphs make me. I still can not distinguish any speech from my left ear (a Siemen's iPhone hearing test confirmed that), but to see improvement makes me want to shout from the rooftop. If you look closely at the gridlines, you will see that I went from 5.1 to 5.8 on low pitches, from 3.3 to 5.2 on mid pitches, and from 3.4 to 5.1 on high pitches.

Similarly, here is a plot of frequencies. Last Tuesday my right ear was normal. My left ear was a different case. All frequencies (low to high) were poor, even at the loudest levels.

Now here's tonight...

Again, you can observe the improvements across the board. At 500 Hz, I went from a scaled score of 1.1 to 1.7. At 1kHz, I went from a 0.4 to a 1.0. At 2 kHz I went from 0.8 to 2.7 and at 4 kHz I went from 0.8 to 1.8. By looking at the red band at the bottom, you can see that on three counts, I am still experiencing severe hearing loss, but that at 2 kHz I have made great progress. (For reference, this is a 2 kHz sound...)

The improvements make me excited because if I don't make a full recovery (and while I may sound pessimistic to admit this, I don't reasonably expect to go from "profoundly" deaf to 100% recovered in this lifetime) I may be able to use a hearing aid. It's amusing to admit that the potential of getting a hearing aid at my age is exciting, but let me tell you, it sure would beat the alternative in the event that I don't recover all of my ability to hear. Profound deafness can not be aided by a device, which is part of why I felt so much despair and hopelessness after the initial diagnosis. For analogies sake, I felt like my leg had fallen off without explanation and that the option of getting a prosthetic wasn't even a possibility.

I really have no idea what's helping in my situation. It could be the steroids, it could be the variety of vitamins, the diet change, the rest/relaxation, the prayers, or simply the course of time. Whatever it is that's making this better, I selfishly hope and pray for more. I have two more doses of steroids and a follow up ENT appointment on Wednesday afternoon, when the next seven days (and beyond) are likely to be plotted.

As for what might be to blame, I've been thinking about the doxycycline that I was on for a couple of weeks this summer when I was struck by a nasty gram-negative skin structure infection. It wasn't obvious to me that a drug I took three months ago could become ototoxic three months later (since presumably it has been completely eliminated due to an 18-22 hour half life) but some informal searching yielded an interesting post about the tetracycline family.

On the diagnostic front, I donated a nice nine vials of blood to the hospital lab this weekend and will be anxious to get the results. My firm has again been outstanding through this ordeal, offering to foot the bill for my MRI (if insurance prior authorization was going to slow down the process). I received insurance approval today, but somehow an "urgent" imaging procedure still has to wait for a week. The women scheduling almost had me in tears. I know it's not always all about me, but it's hard to wait an extra week when one is desperate for answers.

Alas, this experience has been one of intrepid growth. Learning to navigate "the [medical] system" and seek solutions has been mentally exhausting and highly time consuming (I spent an hour today trying to process paperwork and receipts from the various visits I've been to in the last week). It sure gives me a unique reference frame for seeking new efficiencies as a healthcare investment analyst. But perhaps most importantly, I've also allowed myself to let down the front, talk about "feelings" and be scared in front of friends. The support and messages of hope are really what is keeping me going through a tremendously tough time. To everyone that has stopped by, baked banana bread, listened to me talk, replied to me on twitter and sent notes (and trust me, they are coming from near and far... including some from distant connections or total strangers), please know that I have saved every one of them. I read them multiple times a day.

I suppose I shall end this update with an ironic anecdote. Last Tuesday I received a call from the CEO of a biotech company in Oregon. I met the company at a conference earlier this year. The company is developing novel therapeutic peptides for treatment of... you guessed it, hearing loss. Their science is new, exciting, and emerging. And the timing of their call to poll for interest in joining an investment syndicate? Man, they couldn't have picked a more appropriate day. I guess that proves that God has a sense of humor.

::: Jamming Out

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:24:25 +0000

The last post was kind of heavy, wasn't it? I will probably post another update in a few days, but in an attempt to lighten the mood a little, I think it's time for a recipe...

After getting hipster in Minnesota a few weeks ago, I had. to. make. jam. I wanted to do jalapeno jam (think spicy-sweet-savory-subliminal and most certainly inspired by a certain vendor at the Mill City Farmers Market) but I forgot to buy apple cider vinegar. Raspberry-jalapeno jam it would be. Armed with a $10 flat of perfectly ripe late-summer raspberries, I sliced and de-seeded five jalapenos. Playing with pectin proved a bit of a new challenge and I have to admit that the first time I boiled my jars, half of the lids didn't seal.

Alas, I made amazing jam. I had a few warm spoonfuls after I had poured the contents of my batch into Mason jars. It was sweet and bright, like ripe summer fruit. The jalapeno added a soft warmth with beautiful contrast. The texture was just right - soft to spoon and spread, but not the least bit runny. I've been selectively passing it off to people who come over to visit.

It's perfect on an almond-based cracker with a smear of lite cream cheese...

Raspberry Jalapeno Jam

1. 1 three-carton flat of farmers market raspberries, very ripe (about 2 c. of raspberries)
2. 5 jalapenos, de-seeded and finely diced
3. 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter
4. 2 cups of sugar
5. 2 tsp orange juice
6. 2 tsp of pectin powder (with associated amount of calcium water)

Wash and mash the raspberries. Place in a Le Creuset (or other heavy boiler) with diced jalapeno, butter (butter helps to prevent foaming) and sugar. Stir constantly on low heat until mixture boils. In a small separate pot, combine orange juice, calcium water, and pectin powder. Whisk vigorously on gentle heat. The goal is to avoid the pectin forming gelatin-like clumps. Once the fruit mixture boils, stir in the pectin mixture and boil for one minute. Remove from heat and continue stirring. The pectin should cause the mixture to thicken immediately.

Wash four half-pint Mason jars. Heat a skillet with a few inches of boiling water and place jars mouth-end down in the hot water. Remove, wipe away moisture and fill with warm jam. Reserve 1/4" on top. Place a lid and a ring on the jar and seal tightly. Repeat until all jars are filled. Now boil a large pot with water and place jars in boiling water for about 15 minutes. Remove and allow jars to cool on a towel. Lids should pop inward as contents cool and a seal is formed. If jars don't pop, re-boil the mixture and try again with new lids (rings can be re-used, lids can not). I found that my lids didn't seal for over an hour, which was disconcerting.

Recipe will make 4 half-pint jars of jam, plus a few spoonfuls of leftovers for instant gratification :-)

Now let your inner creative get and go to work on fun labels. I had a raspberry stamp (yes, it's true... I own fruit-themed rubber stamps) that I colored with watercolor pencils and labeled. I sealed it on the jar with mailing tape (which makes for great laminate - I use it all the time) Plain brown parchment cut with wavy scissors and tied with twine was the finishing touch. For cuteness, I had these little spoons from World Market that I tied into the twine.

Your friends will be happy to jam out with you... or to just enjoy the finished product!

::: Unplanned, Unexplained, Unfortunate

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:40:47 +0000

This is the post that I never planned to write. Writing is one mechanism that I've used to cope with unplanned life events in the past, so I'm turning to it again as I struggle with what I characterized to a co-worker in an e-mail as "yet another unplanned, unexplained, and unfortunate events of my 25th year." Posting this publicly also allows family and friends to tune in for the full report, so here goes.

On Sunday morning I met some Notre Dame alums at Mt. Tam for a hike from the Mountain Home Inn to the West Point Inn. On select Sunday's throughout the year the West Point Inn hosts pancake breakfast. On 9/11, a half dozen of us assembled around 8:30 am. The drive up Mt. Tam was very foggy. When I pulled into the parking lot (early) my left ear popped. I tried to equalize it by swallowing, yawning, and plugging my nose while blowing. I assumed that the issue would resolve when we finished hiking and I went back to the city.

Not one that deals well with things like a "plugged" ear, I laid down and took a nap, hoping that I'd be okay when I got up again. No such luck. When I awoke, I had tinnitus (ringing) in my ear. I went to church and I couldn't hear myself singing. Very annoying. I apologized profusely to Eileen (the Bay Area Admissions Counselor at Notre Dame) when I met her for dinner on Sunday night at Wayfare Tavern. When I got home, I took a Claritin-D, hoping that the pseudoephedrine would help.

On Monday morning, I was concerned enough to call my doctor in SF to ask for a nurse consult. They called back and asked me to make an appointment. A nurse practitioner said I had tinnitus (duh!), gave me a prescription for a steroid nasal spray (Veramyst), and instructed me to continue the Claritin-D. On Monday night I went to a SF Giant's game with several partners in my office to entertain a limited partner. At this point I still had tinnitus, but I had partial hearing in my left ear. My right ear was totally normal.

On Tuesday I decided to consult an ENT. Menlo Park Clinic, a few miles from my office, was able to accommodate me the next morning. Meanwhile, the Veraymst and the Claritin were not helping, so I sensed something more serious. When on a conference call, I realized I was completely deaf in my left ear. I heard no sound - no dial tone - no conversation. Later, a free Siemens hearing test I downloaded to my iPhone showed the same. I had normal hearing in my right ear... and no hearing whatsoever in my left ear. On Tuesday night I represented Notre Dame at a College Info Night in Oakland. In the crowded gymnasium with considerable background noise, I strained to hear from my normal ear. I couldn't hear anyone standing to the left of my body. I went home upset and went to sleep.

When Wednesday morning came around, I went right to the ENT. He simply said that I should start prednisone 60 mg the next morning. He scheduled a 3:00 pm hearing test at Pacific Hearing Service. The test was about an hour long. As suspected, the results came back as follows:

Profound sensorineural hearing loss from .25-8kHz with no speech understanding.
Normal middle ear function; mobile tympanogram with normal static admittance, peak pressure, and gradient. Reflex testing was attempted but patient was extremely sensitive to vibrating sensation despite lack of auditory perception.
Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions tested and absent from 1-6kHz, suggesting poor outer hair cell function at those frequencies.
Patient was extremely sensitive to the physical sensation of loud sounds despite lack of auditory perception.

After the hearing test, I picked up my prednisone and headed to the city for a board meeting. On the way, the ENT called to deliver the results. He was neither optimistic or pessimistic, but rather noted that some patients re-gain hearing spontaneously (or with drugs) and some don't. Since I am in the "profound" category of hearing loss, the likelihood of recovery is diminished, particularly relative to someone with mild hearing loss. I inquired about bloodwork and MRI, but he indicated that even the results would not change the course of action right now, which is prednisone. Concerned about weight gain, acne, blood pressure, and blood sugar changes, I asked how long I would need to stay on oral steroids. The doctor recommended a week to start, then another hearing test, followed by additional weeks if indicated. Another option is direct intratympanic steroid injection. This is over 500 times more costly than the oral meds, not to mention painful and not demonstrated to be any more efficacious.

Pulled over on the side of the road, I started crying. People were staring at me, probably wondering what awful news I had just received. I called my Dad to give him the updates. He consoled me, admitting that the news gave him a "knot in the stomach."

I managed to pull myself together during the board meeting and drove home a friend, admitting to her what was going on. "I feel like I am falling apart," I admitted. She expressed concern, offered to have dinner, and gave me a hug. It was really kind and in that moment, it was a relief to have someone so caring.

At home, I e-mailed the partners I work for to explain what was going on and request Thursday and Friday as "work from home" days. Worried about starting 60mg of prednisone and how that might make me feel, I wanted to be at home in my sweatpants. I'm now on day #2 of the drugs and seem to be doing as well as could be expected.

My "fix-it"/"do something" personality type has made me thirst for information about idiopathic (unexplained) sudden sensorineural hearing loss. I sought statistics about outcomes, literature comparing oral to intratympanic steroids, and other complementary therapies. I called integrative medicine practices associated with CPMC and UCSF... both were booked until October. Dismayed I sought out other alternative practices. At 2:30 yesterday I drove across town to San Francisco Preventive Medical Group (SFPMG). I paid out of pocket for a consult and came home with a litany of information on a low glycemic diet to stabilize my blood sugar as well as a hair mineral test.

The supplement schedule I was given is as follows:

Cox2Tame (to decrease inflammation) - 3 at breakfast, 3 at dinner
Wobenzyme (another anti-inflammatory) - 4 upon rising, 4 mid-morning, 4 before bed
Vitamin E 400 (to work in tangent with the prednisone) - 1 at breakfast
Vitamin B12 (for nerve regeneration) - 1 at breakfast, 1 at dinner
Food-based Multivitamin - 2 at breakfast
Vitamin D3 (a supplement I normally take) - 1 at dinner
Calcium-Magnesium (another supplement I usually take) - 1 at dinner

My kitchen table is covered in bottles. I feel like an apothecary! I have no idea if these supplements are going to help, but I am willing to try. The osteopath at SFPMG that I saw also recommended several blood tests:

C-reactive protein
Homocysteine
CBC w/ diff
Vitamin D
FT3, FT4, TSH

Today I am going to visit my PCP, who will hopefully decide to order some bloodwork and possibly an MRI (to rule out acoustic neuroma). On Saturday I will visit an acupuncturist. I've put the wheels in motion for hyperbaric oxygen therapy, another alternative that has been used with some success. The San Francisco Institute for Hyperbaric Medicine has treated some patients with sensorineural hearing loss and is familiar with the science. I am waiting for a telemed consult via Skype and may be able to start oxygen therapy on Monday. Studies suggest that if initiated within the first week, the treatment has the best likelihood of helping.

What I am struggling with more than anything is the unknown. Will I ever again be able to hear from my left ear? If not, how will that impact my life? I realized on Tuesday that being in situations with background noise (essentially any group setting, or even at home when there are noises outside) renders me unable to differentiate almost any sound. Part of my reason for sequestering myself a home right now is because being in public is challenging and scary. It reminds me of what I'm facing... and I worry about how that spirals into other areas of my life. How will I handle work events (including the upcoming Health 2.0 salon dinner that I mastermined), or social situations? What will people think of me? Will I be able to go to grad school, if I choose? Will I ever be able to explore dating relationships if I can't hear when I go out and find myself in social situations? How will this affect my learning ability? Am I going to be perceived as dumb, slow, or stupid?

I grieve the ability to hear, I detest the ringing that hasn't let up for days, and I am just plain scared. I am young. 25 year olds aren't supposed to go deaf without explanation. Why would God let this happen to me? Why when everything else could be so right, could this be happening? Why can't we figure it out, treat it, make it better, make things okay?

I need to find something to hold onto that helps me stay optimistic. The mind-body connection is something I believe in and right now my mind is overreacting to what my body is experiencing, leading to a crazy imbalance that is difficult to manage. I'm mildly comforted by the stories and experiences of others, who admit that the psychological burden is tremendous. I refuse to take anxiety meds, so I will try to do some yoga, go for walks, rest quietly and listen to relaxing music with my "good" ear. Fortunately I am sleeping well.

If you find yourself asking what you can do to help, please know that I don't "expect" anything from anyone. The last few days have been, as the subject of this post suggests, "unplanned, unexplained, and unfortunate." Thanks for reading.

::: InstaWeekend Part 1: InstaFarmersMarket

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:25:12 +0000

Last weekend I hopped on a plane for the wedding of a long-time friend. It was a quick trip to Minneapolis and my biggest accomplishments included getting my Mom's FitBit synced with the home computer and installing Words With Friends on my parents iPad. Slow tech-ification of the parentals? Maybe. Don't say I'm not trying!

Recently I saw a shocking headline that Minnesota has been awarded the title of "Most Hipster State in the US." Now I may not have lived in the state anytime within the last seven years, but "hipster" is so not the Minnesota I remember. Seeking to put that to the test, I requested that Saturday's pre-wedding activity involve a brief visit to the Mill City Farmers Market.

I have to admit, the hipster quotient was elevated. Between the pedal powered smoothies and the organic baking mixes, pastas, and sweets... this market was more hipster than I normally deal with on an average night in the Mission. (If you're not from San Francisco, forgive me for my sarcasm...)

The one thing I really wanted was a creamy avocado. Of course there were no avocados on the premise. Just my luck! However, there was fresh pressed juice... plus pork, purple onion, and pie. On a stick. Because Minnesotans like it like that.

Acting as if I didn't spend the first 18 years of my life in Minnesota, I took dorky tourist photos on my iPhone. I felt it was very hipster of me, all embracing Instagram and everything. Later, I even hijacked my mothers facebook account and posted an Instagram photo that garnered three "likes." Too bad she isn't signed up for Klout :-)

I have to admit, this market made my beloved Fort Mason Farmers Market look like Sunday morning skimpy. However, one would expect the most hipster state in the US to put on a show that would rival the famous Saturday morning Ferry Plaza Farmers Market on San Francisco's Embarcadero.

It was a bit of shame that I had helped myself to some cinnamon french toast and salsa-scrambled eggs for breakfast at home. Upon my return to this fashionable farmers market, I will certainly bring a ravenous appetite. On the list to try: crepes, and curry. Yum, the warm wafting smell was tranquilizing.

Despite a lack of hunger, I nibbled on some jam, which inspired a little jam-making of my own. I'll be back with the recipe soon. But before that, look for a post called "InstaWeekend Part 2." I won't spoil the surprise, but if you remember what I did last summer in Minnesota, then you'll probably be pleased to see the same event make an encore performance on the blog.

Until then, stay hipster...

::: Operation Sparkle

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:30:46 +0000

Pop quiz! What's the difference between this...

and this...?

If you said $275, you are correct! But if you said "glitter" or "pink bows" then you are also correct!

Sometime around the age of ten, I received a large jar of multi-colored glitter. Looking back, this simple object became the hallmark of my young life. I loved crafts and if there was any way to include rhinestones or glitter then all the better. Between ages 11 and 16, one of my favorite things to do was spend lazy summer afternoons adding glitz to t-shirts collected at dance competitions and sporting events. On my first day of high school in August 2000, I wore my student council t-shirt. I was certainly the sparkliest student council member wandering around the building that day. (In case you don't believe me, come over and I'll show you the shirt. It's still in my closet, still full of glitter.)

When I stumbled upon a blog post by the girls of "We are Not Martha" about how to make your own glitter flats, I was fixated. I left work promptly at 5:45 to head to Target and find a cheap pair of flats. Fortunately Target is next to Michael's, where I purchased glitter (yes I have glitter at home, but any excuse to buy more still makes my heart beat fast), Krylon acrylic sealant, and a foam brush.

Everyone who knows me well knows that I love glitter. When I revealed my latest project to my Dad, he literally said "I can hear the excitement in your voice you when you talk about glitter!" While he has always been a good sport about my affinity for glitter, I could hear the relief in his voice that I would be all the way in California this time. I'm 100% sure that there is glitter still wedged in the basement carpet thanks to some of my past pursuits...

I started by using PVA (polyvinyl acetate) adhesive. I've had a jar of this around for a couple of years and while it is sold at Paper Source as a book binding material, the reality is that it's purposes are many. If you want to make your own glitter flats and you don't have a Paper Source store in your city, most craft or hardware stores sell Modge Podge (which is also PVA). I blended 9 colors of glitter with a small amount of PVA in a plastic cup (easy clean up later - just throw it away!).

I covered my desk in the Wall Street Journal and got down to painting glitter glue on my shoes. My 12-year old self was so so so happy! I ended up using about 3 and a half coats. I put two of the coats on before falling asleep around midnight. (Bonus: I woke up so excited to see how the first two layers dried, I felt like a kid on Christmas bouncing out of bed at 7:30 am). This morning I added another thick coat and then another half coat filling in any places that seemed uneven. If making glitter flats in one session you could probably get by with three coats in 30 minute intervals. The PVA is white (like glue) but will dry clear.

Here's what the shoes will look like when the final coat of PVA dries! Now head outside with the acrylic finishing spray to give the shoes a final gloss. (Think of it like top coat for your mani-pedi!) PVA dries a bit rubbery so the top coat is important to make the shoes a a bit smoother. The acrylic layer should dry quickly. I put tissue inside the shoes when I sprayed them to make sure the acrylic only coated the outside of the shoes.

But we're not quite done. Now it's bow-making time...

I used some beautiful fuschia colored satin ribbon from Paper Source. After looping the ribbon to make a double bow, I stitched it together. Then I used another small piece of ribbon to cover the stitching and to secure the bow. I also used a small button (lips facing out) to secure the back. It was a bit tricky to stitch the button on without going through the top layer of ribbon but no one ever said arts and crafts were easy! Having the button on the back side allowed me to use a nice dot of PVA to tack it on top of the shoe.

Now leave your bows to dry for several hours. You're finished!

I am extremely satisfied with my new shoes! I can't wait to wear them to the office on Monday. I spent $10 for the shoes, $0.39 for the foam brush, $12.99 for a 12-pack of glitter, $7.95 for the ribbon, and $6.99 for the acrylic spray. I already had buttons and PVA. Not the cheapest project ever, but much cheaper than spending $285 to buy the Kate Spade "nell" glitter flats at Nordstroms! Plus, I have enough glitter and ribbon to make potentially 6-8 more pairs of shoes. Not that I need that many pairs of glitter flats, but if you'd like to pay me to make you some... leave a comment with your e-mail address and we can negotiate :-)

I'd say Operation Sparkle was officially a success! Now go forth and glitter!

::: Hampton's Flashback: Summer Corn Salad

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:24:55 +0000

A few weeks ago I hopped on the SFO to JFK overnight flight. The trip was not without it's challenges. Two days before leaving, my Kate Spade sunglasses went missing. When I arrived at the airport, I opened my wallet to pull out my license which was... gone. (Fortunately I had my passport in tow.) Sans drivers license, the rental car agency would not honor my car rental reservation, so I forfeited the entire pre-paid amount. That night after checking in to our gorgeous rental (see here for photos), one of my housemates started an oil fire. My $1000 security deposit check was cashed three days later.

All of this expensive misfortune aside, I had an absolutely fantastic weekend lounging by the pool with watermelon vodka drinks. I snagged a new Vineyard Vines sweater and pink whale flip flops (on sale!). I picked up new Mark Jacobs sunglasses. We ate lobster rolls, we sunned on pristine Atlantic Ocean waters, we slept 10 hours each night. We drank summer beer from Brooklyn. We grilled steak. We made guacamole from fresh avocados. We snacked on grilled corn salad...

The corn salad wasn't my idea. All the credit goes to a co-worker. But ever since the Hamptons, I've been thinking about how amazingly fresh and simple this salad is. It's amazing how sometimes we associate tastes with memories of a place. For all of the trouble I encountered in the Hampton's, I'd go back in instant for another lazy weekend. But the best I could do for this weekend was to re-create that perfect corn salad. Crunchy corn, soft avocado, tart lime and the sweet spice of jalapeno with just the right amount of salt...

Summer Corn Salad

1. 3 ears of corn on the cob, grilled or boiled then cut off the cob
2. Zest of 1 lime and the juice of half the lime
3. 2 jalapenos finely diced
4. 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes, ideally of the heirloom variety
5. half a super ripe avocado, cubed
6. handful of chopped cilantro
7. as much red onion as you'd like
8. olive oil to coat the salad
9. sea salt, to taste

Allow the corn to cool before cutting off the cob. Add the jalapenos, tomatoes, avocado, red onion, cilantro, and lime zest. Pour in a liberal amount of olive oil. Squeeze in the juice of half a lime. Toss in some sea salt. Stir with a wooden spoon. Serve at room temperature. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 2-3 days. Serves 6-8 people as a side.

Safe to assume that I'll be happily snacking on this summery corn salad for the next few days.

Oh! And the sob stories have mostly happy endings. My sunglasses were returned upon my arrival back to the office. My license was in a pocket of a pair of jeans in my dresser drawer. My rental car payment was reversed since I didn't use the reservation. And now I'm just waiting for the insurance policy to cover the damage from the fire so that my security deposit will be refunded.

Here's to more corn salad and another rental house in Montauk next year!

::: Are Networking Groups for Young VC’s Subtly Shutting Women Out?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:52:34 +0000

Several weeks ago, one of the associates at my firm passed along an e-mail from the Young Venture Capital Association (“YVCA”). I rolled my eyes when I saw the subject line. “YVCA invites you to skeet shooting,” it read. The body of the message elaborated on sporting clays (aka: “golf with a shotgun”) and informed invitees that “at each field, participants attempt to shoot airborne clay targets simulating game bird wing-shooting and even a couple of bouncing rabbit targets!”

I “fired” (pun intended) my response back immediately. “I wonder how many women are going to show up to this?” My male counterpart on the technology investment team expressed more enthusiasm. “This is awesome! I've wanted to do this.” Since he will be trucking to the shooting fields when the YVCA convenes, I will let him report back on how many females trade their slingback shoes for firearm slings.

Women are already underrepresented in the field of finance. A September 2010 Wall Street Journal article cited a decade-long exodus of 315,000 women in finance between ages 20 and 35. During the same period, men in the same age bracket saw their ranks swell by 93,000. Among my female classmates who went to Wall Street after graduation, a cursory survey of facebook shows that one-quarter to one-half of them have already forfeited a future as a financier for a diamond engagement ring and a less time-consuming career in another field.

Yes, some of us will self-select for motherhood, entrepreneurship, journalism, law, product marketing and other deeply satisfying careers, but I still can’t help but wonder if it’s some of the professional networks meant to encourage career development that are actually contributing to the lack of women in finance moving up to managing director or progressing to partner.

Last week, another e-mail popped into my inbox, this time from another pre-partner VC networking group called NextGen Partners. The subject this time? “Invitation to VC Poker.” Now in its 10^th season, this group of CEO’s, investment bankers and VC’s gets together on the second Tuesday of the month for a Texas Hold’em tournament. Sponsors chip in food and drink and the attendee list is drawn from a list of “hundreds of VC’s and CEO’s.”

Now I don’t mean to draw any generalizations, but given that there were only two women on the 2011 Midas List and that in 2010, just 15 of the Fortune 500 CEO’s were women, I am cautious to conclude that many women turn out for VC poker. I have nothing against poker (in fact I was happy to spend a recent Saturday night playing poker by the pool of our Hamptons rental) but as a junior female investment professional, making an appearance at VC Poker sounds almost as miserable as skeet shooting.

The problem with skeet shooting socials and monthly poker tournaments is that they’re unintentionally catering to men. In the venture ecosystem, most of the deals that get done are referrals from former portfolio executives, attorneys, bankers, and other VC’s. When women don’t show up at “VC Poker” they are at risk of missing opportunities to learn about emerging new deals. They miss the socialization that cements networks and the forum to exchange ideas.

While I don’t expect male-dominated networking groups to start organizing yoga sessions or seasonal cooking classes, I challenge the firms that sponsor events like “VC Poker” to consider who they are most likely catering to when they underwrite chicken wings and beer as “business development.” I challenge the networking groups to balance activities perceived as undesirable to women with social events of a gender-neutral association. I also challenge myself to stop hesitating when the invites come around for networking events. There will be no progress made if we don’t occasionally find the courage to feel uncomfortable. Just don’t expect me fire any rifles.

::: Summer

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 19:07:21 +0000

Summer

tastes

amazing.

::: Detox Dinner

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:44:02 +0000

After spending eight nights away from my own bed (one in an economy seat on the cross-country SFO to JFK flight, two in the master bedroom of our charming weekend Hamptons house, and five at the W New York Union Square) I am home.

And ewwwww do I feel lethargic. Too much alcohol, too much pizza, too much exhaust-filled city air. Brown rice bowl to the rescue!

Taking cues from a delicious dinner a few months ago at Samovar Tea Lounge in Yerba Buena Gardens, I picked up some shiitakes at the store and googled "how to poach an egg." (Thanks, Smitten Kitchen!) While the Samovar rice bowl came with smoked salmon, I went for simple sauteed mushrooms with olive oil and garlic. I even made a ginger-soy dressing. Taking cues from my experience at Samovar (tea lemonade... so refreshing!) I sipped a Sokenbicha oolong tea.

For heightened effect, I set my new Spotify desktop app to a 17 minute "spa" song while I took thoughtful bites of my brown rice bowl. After dinner, I slept for 10 hours, got up and logged a sweaty session at the gym, then stopped at the Farmer's Market. It's good to be back in California. It's going to take a few more detox dinners to get all of the New York impurity out of me, but being that I had a fabulous time, I'm not exactly complaining. Besides, it's kind of fun to poach eggs! Plus, I have an excess of brown rice...

Ginger Soy Shiitake and Poached Egg Bowl

1. 3/4 c. cooked long-grain brown rice (for cooking tips see here)
2. 6-8 medium shiitakes, stems removed and sliced
3. 2 tbsp olive oil
4. 1 clove of garlic, minced
5. sea salt, to taste
6. sesame seeds
7. 1 tsp. organic ginger-soy vinaigrette
8. 1 tsp. soy sauce
9. dab of roasted red chili paste
10. pinch of brown sugar
11. 2 eggs
12. black pepper

Cook the brown rice. Toss in some sesame seeds to flavor the rice. Sautee shiitakes in garlic and olive oil for 5 minutes. Toss with sea salt. Poach eggs individually, remove with slotted spoon and remove water with paper towel. Top with black pepper. To assemble, add brown rice and top with shiitakes and two poached eggs.

To make ginger-soy dressing, combine ginger-soy vinaigrette with soy sauce, roasted chili paste, and brown sugar. Shake in a small mason jar and toss in a few sesame seeds. Serve next to assembled rice bowl.

Serves 1.

::: Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:54:42 +0000

Ok, so I’m not quite cottontail, but I hopped all the way home to Minnesota for Easter this year. After arriving on Thursday evening, I spent the weekend playing with the dog, designing my brother’s graduation invites (second career in design?), and tending to the important traditions. On Friday Dad boiled some eggs for me to dye.

And this morning, the Easter bunny delivered some treats. My Hello Kitty Easter basket was filled with a cupcake book, some new silicone brownie-pop molds, a new dress for Ms. Bear, and chocolate peeps. My very generous aunts gifted me with Milky Way bunnies, money and a pastel Longaberger basket filled with Jelly Belly’s (replenishment for my desk at work!).

After church we hosted some family for a delicious lunch of spiral cut ham, grilled kebabs, and plenty of yummy sides.

We also used the occasion to celebrate some April birthdays…

And to take some family photos outside.

For many years, the Cadillac of Easter traditions has involved a bunny Jello mold procured by mail order nearly two decades ago. Typically the bunny is orange. The addition of a pint of softened vanilla ice cream provides a creamy opaque finish. This was the bunny in 2009…

And for your entertainment, this version was from 1994. I've certainly aged in the last 17 years!!!

This year, I wanted a pink bunny. And this year, Dad got in on the decorating action. I took most of the credit for the finished product, but his effort was integral to the outcome.

The finished product was quite impressive. Seventeen years the later, the bunny has sure gotten a nice facelift. (Or should I say a “hare-do”? :-))

For archival purposes, I must include this time-honored recipe on the blog!

Creamy Bunny Jello
1. Eight servings of Jello (any color/flavor)
2. 2 c. boiling water
3. 1 c. cold water
4. 1 pint softened vanilla ice cream

Boil 2 c. water. Pour into gelatin powder and stir until dissolved. Add 1 c. of cold water and allow the mixture to cool 15-20 minutes. Stir in 1 pint of softened vanilla ice cream. Pour into mold and refrigerate overnight. To unmold rabbit, immerse in hot water (do not get water onto JELLO) and run a dull knife along the outside. Invert onto a cookie sheet and decorate. Serves 10-12.

Happy Easter, friends!

::: Gift Ideas for Mom & Dad

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:46:42 +0000

Birthday wishes to Mom, who turns another year older and wiser this weekend. Last Saturday, I went on a little hunt for her birthday gift (item #2 below), which inspired a post about some of the great gifts I've given my parents in the last year.

1. SodaStream
Description: Turn water into soda!
I loved that the syrups were natural and that it had the potential to replace all of those aluminum soda cans! I sent this to Mom for Mother's Day last year. A few days later, Dad called to report that he over-carbonated some "Dr. Pepper," which ended up all over the kitchen. I think the SodaStream has been relegated to the closet, but it is still a great idea if your parents drink lots of carbonated beverages or enjoy "do it yourself" kinds of things. Plus, it is very environmentally friendly (think: less waste when you make your own soda at home!) in case your parents live in Portland and drive a Prius :-)

2. FitBit
Description: Track your fitness and your sleep!
I heard about this little gadget at a conference I was at recently. The device senses movement in three dimensions, tracking calories, steps taken, and sleep patterns. It wirelessly syncs to your computer when you're within 15 feet and has an online portal for progress checks. Ironic enough, once I decided to send one to Mom for her birthday this year, she called and left a voice message about a similar device that she saw on the news!

3. Hanging Canvas
Description: Expensive-looking wall art!
Last year, Mom insisted on no birthday gift. I had already ordered her a canvas of one of my favorite photos of the two of us (taken at my 24th birthday party!) which fortunately didn't break the bank at around $30 including shipping for an 11 by 14" wall hanging. These look so professional and the upload process for a high quality digital photo couldn't be easier.

4. iPad
Description: Apple's magical tablet computer!
In 2009, I used some of my remaining stock option profits to finance an Ireland trip for Dad (who had previously never been outside of the US) and I. We had a great time traveling around the country in our rental car, drinking Guinness (not while driving!), and experiencing the local culture. In December, I decided that part of Dad's Christmas gift should be a compilation of our trip photos and videoclips. And what better way to present it than on the magical Apple device known as the iPad! In the ten weeks since Christmas, this device has been a big hit at home. The keyboard dock is in the kitchen and my parents are now using this for everything from e-mail to music, Facebook updates, weather forecasts, and internet browsing. Did I mention that I also downloaded Fruit Ninja for them?... The iPad is truly an amazing gift - and very intuitive for middle-aged parents who didn't grow up as part of a tech-savvy generation.

5. Summer CSA
Description: Organic veggies delivered every week, all summer long!
Last summer for Dad's birthday, I purchased a CSA from an organic vegetable farm in Minnesota. In case you're not familiar with a CSA, it's a commitment to purchase a portion of a local farms bounty for a continuous period of time (usually a season), hence the name "Community Supported Agriculture." Now Minnesota has a very short growing season, so their farm shares are not 52-weeks/year like they are in Northern California. This summer, nearly 10 pounds of items like peppers, carrots, cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, corn, onion, garlic, squash, herbs and lettuces were delivered each week. There were always extra items that neighbors, friends, and family benefitted from!

::: sneak peek: my little marina studio

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:56:01 +0000

My favorite series on Design Sponge are their home tours, also known as "sneak peeks." In honor of three years at my Marina apartment (that's right, I moved in over President's Day Weekend 2008), I prettied up my place and snapped some photos.

Above is the built-in-bookshelf, one of my favorite features of this 500 sq. ft apartment. The clock is from Target, the lamp is from Lowe's. The sofa was purchased for $400 at an estate sale, plus $100 for two strong men to carry it three blocks down the street! The throw pillow cases are from Ikea, Target, and Pottery Barn.

The "laundry line" in the entry way is comprised of momentos from "funemployment" aka summer 2009 (a map of Oslo, currency from Poland, ticket stubs from Turkey, a post card, and a newspaper clipping from my grandmother about having fun). On the opposite wall is where the phone box used to be operated. Today, it holds my keys, chapstick, running watch/heart rate monitor, perfume, and a few furry friends that I've adopted over the last few years.

There are a several things you should know about the place I call "home":
1. I rent.
2. I've paid $60,350 in rent in the last three years, including security deposit.
3. I have no dishwasher, no garbage disposal, no thermostat, no air conditioning, and no screens in my windows.
4. This neighborhood is erected on landfill, which makes it a "liquefaction zone" during earthquakes.
5. Despite 1-4, my soul is in this tiny apartment.

My bookshelf, bed, and dresser are from my childhood. Some day, I'll definitely need to upgrade. But for now they're serving me well.

My linen closet is the perfect resting place for my luggage, my craft cart/gift wrap, my red wine collection, my handbags and totes, and my extra linens. I love having an entire cart of ribbon, rubber stamps, glitter, glues, and pretty paper. I wish I had more time to utilize all of the fun arts and crafts supplies that I own.

My main closet is large enough to serve as a separate bedroom, but I choose to keep my shoes, clothes, laundry hamper, and dry cleaning bag in here. My vacuum cleaner, wheeling garment bag, leather ottoman, and holiday decorations also stay in the closet. I get dressed in here every morning, aided by the full length mirror on the inside of the door.

The bathroom is fairly average as far as bathrooms are concerned. I've tried to brighten it up with a glass shelf and a basket of hotel soaps. I dated a guy that had a massive soap collection, so I started bringing them home with me to remind me of my (business) travels. Currently, the basket has soap from Boston, New York, Orlando, Palo Alto, Westlake Village and Krakow. I use the towel bar to hold hair clips and small appliances (hair dryer, straightener, curling iron).

I'm fortunate to have a small eating area off of the kitchen. The fire escape borders the eating area and provides the perfect source of natural light to for my food photography. (It's also good for getting fresh air in the kitchen when ~~the smoke alarm goes off~~ I overcook bacon!). I don't eat here very often, opting to sit at my desk and surf the internet.

There are more built-in-shelves in the eating area and I've nestled my six-foot light-up palm tree in the corner for those special dinners. (I'd pick light up palm tree over candlelight any night!) Bordering the eating area is another built in cabinet that I store paper towels, garbage bags, and cleaning supplies. I've tried to implement the black cast-iron spirals throughout the kitchen, and as you can see, the napkin holder, chandelier, and photo easel all fit this motif (as does the wall sconce).

The poster hanging over my sink was hung in dorm room all throughout college. I remember the afternoon I bought it with my Mom at Linen's and Things in 2004. The beach scene fits in with my palm tree :-)

I love being in the kitchen. It's small enough that I can pivot ninety degrees from the oven and be in front of the pantry, and then pivot another quarter turn and be at the sink. I also love that many of gadgets that fill the drawers are passed down from family members. My cheese grater, silverware, hand mixer, ice cream scoop, can opener and knife block come from my grandmother. I like to think that even though she is no longer alive, she lives on through my cooking. Half of my tupperware and my ceramic crock are from an aunt, and practically all of my kitchen towels have been sent by my Mom. I was thrilled to get a Le Creuset French oven for Christmas and it does wonders for my otherwise boring stovetop. The color even matches the heart on top of my cupcake hot pad!

My refrigerator is covered in baby pictures, wedding invites, and an article about waiting for "God's Perfect Timing." And while I wait for my turn to send "Save the Date" magnets, I am thrilled with life in my little apartment. It's not much, but it's my command center. While plenty of twenty-somethings cycle through apartments on a near-calendar year basis, there's something comforting about staying put. It's impossible to know how long I'll be here, but there is one thing I should mention. My rent is going up $50 (!!!) effective March 1st, 2011. It's a good thing I like this place............

Bye Bye, BlackBerry (A Letter to RIM)

Sun, 20 Feb 2011 10:11:15 +0000

Dear Research in Motion (aka "RIM" - the company that makes BlackBerries),

This week, you lost a very loyal friend. I'm sorry to report that I've converted to an iPhone. For over three years, I've had the "World Edition," a phone that truly went all over the world with me. Let's count the countries: UK, Ireland/N. Ireland, Russia, Poland, Norway, Germany, Poland, Japan, Taipei. For years, I slept with you every night. Your flashing red light let me know that I had a message! This red light made me feel important. A message!

When I was offered the choice of new devices upon acceptance of a new offer of employment last month, I picked you. A shiny new BlackBerry Bold was mine, overnight. But then you began to annoy me with your new trackpad that seemed to have an usual propensity to "Make Emergency Call" while in my bag. I became 911's favorite repeat customer with the frequency of your faulty calls.

The timing of the iPhone's debut on my network of preference (Verizon Wireless, in case you're keeping score) proved too tempting. In no time at all, I had in my hands, a beautiful new piece of technology. What happened to the Bold? I returned it to the store. I grieve the loss of your keyboard keys, but if it means that I have to cut my nails to utilize the touchpad on Apple's rival device, then that is exactly what I am prepared to do.

Last week also marked a milestone for my 53-year old Mom, who decided to raise the stakes and become the proud new owner of an Android. This prompted my decision to remove my beloved World Edition from the "Family Plan." I switched devices to a simple LG flip phone to keep my near decade-old phone number for $9.99/month.

This should alarm you, RIM. You're quickly losing consumer market share. The iPhone is no longer for hipsters. Half of my office (particularly the tech team) uses an iPhone - a robust demonstration of the Apple device's appeal in the workplace.

Good luck to you, RIM. My advice? Take whatever steps you must to ensure that you don't become as irrelevant to mobile computer as AOL became to internet browsing!

Lindsay

::: Holiday Sparkle

Sat, 04 Dec 2010 19:17:28 +0000

I haven't gone too crazy with the Christmas decor this year. Not sure why. Normally I love to decorate. This year, both Halloween and Thanksgiving came and went without digging out any holiday accessories! This fall has been a bit of a whirlwind, I guess. But Christmas is special and it wouldn't be right to neglect the glitter. So here's a quick look at the small flourishes of festivity seen 'round here.

(Above) Last year I snagged two dozen glass bulbs from Target on the 75% off sale the day after Christmas. They look colorfully chic in my tall glass vase. Meanwhile, my Mom's old Christmas towels are gracing my shower bar. Isn't that reindeer cute?

For years, I helped hang these glittery snowflakes from fishline in the kitchen. I left home with most of them a few years ago, so now they grace random shelves.

And finally, what would Christmas be without my tinsel tree? For the third year in a row, I've decked out my signature tree in pink. A bunch of bows, bulbs, and ballerina ornaments provide the sparkle. I hope my neighbors like pink, because the hot pink lights can be seen all the way down the block!

The weather in San Francisco is definitely feeling wintery (brrrr, temperatures dropping into the 40's at night!) and yesterday my office hosted its holiday party. Afterwards, my group went ice skating at Union Square. Considering that I hadn't been on ice skates since I was about 4 years old, I didn't do too bad. I only fell about five times :-)

::: On the List

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 06:00:00 +0000

My mother has been calling me to ask for a Christmas list. I've been fresh out of inspiration and this year, just a few things come to mind.

1. Vineyard Vines Patchwork Beach Tote. The preppy girl's must have bag of cutesy nautical pastels. A cute bag for running around town on the weekends. This could easily go from farmer's market to pilates class to afternoon picnic in the park.

2. Clarisonic Mia. My esthetician has been pleading with me to get a Clarisonic, the skin cleansing wonder brush. Finally this last time I said, "I'll put it on my Christmas list!" She thought that was a good idea. Besides, every girl that I know with one of these swears by it.

3. 4-pk of Bag the Habit Reusable Produce Bags. I've always wanted these mesh bags for the market, but I never wanted to pay $15 for them. So instead, I've been reusing brown paper bags until they get wet or break.

4. B lack Suede Flats with Feathers . I tried these on in September at Banana Republic and ever since, I've been hoping they would go on sale. I wear black flats to work pretty much every day and my last pair has seen better days. I can't believe they're still full price. Who wants to bet they'll finally get marked down after Christmas?...

5. Le Creuset French Oven. Le Creuset makes me weak in the knees. Those beautiful colors! I am desperate to upgrade from the cheap aluminum $15 stock pot for making soups, rice (and rice based dishes like jambalaya), and braises. The Le Creuset French Oven is a classic home cooking piece right up there with the Kitchen Aid Mixer!

How To: Criss Cross the Country in Style

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:00:15 +0000

Making a cross-country trip in a weekend is not for the faint of heart. Below, I reveal the method to my madness. Yes, you can go from California to New York, go shopping, go to a football game, eat cupcakes, go to brunch, see friends, do yoga, even go to church and remain cool/calm/cute/collected all in 56 hours. It just takes some strategic planning!

Packing list: A very versatile jacket (that dresses up and down), a pashmina (doubles as a blanket on the plane), gloves, 2 pairs of skinny jeans (wear the more forgiving pair, pack the other), black flats, running shoes/socks, yoga pants, cotton pajama pants, two t-shirts, one thermal weight long-sleeved top (for exercise and layering), a cardigan, a half zip pullover, a cotton wrap, a silk camisole (to wear under the cotton wrap), black tights, and a cute dress for brunch. Don't forget your Macbook, BlackBerry chargers, wallet, camera, toiletries (in a <1 qt. clear bag for your TSA friends to inspect), granola bars (for snacking), and your teddy bear (I never go on overnight trips home without it).

Getting there...
Fly "next generation" business class between SFO and JFK on American Airlines.
Business Class is your best bet for getting quality sleep on a red-eye, which is a good play if you're planning to maximize time at your destination and minimize time away from the office. I was blown away by the quality of cuisine and on Sunday the dinner menu featured: cocktails with warm mixed nuts, prosciutto with parmesan cheese and cantaloupe puree, a mozzarella and cherry tomato salad with Sapori d'Arte balsamic vinegar, baked cheese tortellini in romano sauce, and a Ben & Jerry's ice cream sundae. After dinner, I slipped on the noise canceling Bose headphones, reclined my seat, and took a three hour nap on a real pillow, snuggled under a fluffy quilt. I came home feeling rested and refreshed, even after a very busy weekend. Best of all? I was treated like a person in business class by a flight attendant named Leo who addressed me by my name and made sure that my wine glass was never empty. Oh, and there were warm chocolate chip cookies distributed an hour before we landed...

Where to stay in Midtown...
Check in at the Hotel Elysee (60 East 54th Street, New York, NY 10022).
Featured in the 2010 Michelin Guide, this quiet and refined hotel is a warm and elegant respite from the hustle and bustle of Midtown. Located at what could possibly be the center of the universe, the Elysee offers great proximity to the best of Manhattan. Their complimentary breakfast buffet features a wide selection of pastries (including my all-time favorite: chocolate croissants!), bagels, cereals, yogurt, fruit, and juice, and from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, a wine and cheese cocktail hour takes place in the club room. I absolutely love the sophisticated details found at the Elysee, including Belgian chocolate bars, free bottled water, Gilchrest & Soames toiletries, Turkish towels, cotton waffle bathrobes, and flat screen TV's. The service is truly unparalleled and despite being fully booked the previous night, I received a room key to a great room on an upper floor within 30 minutes of my early morning arrival. I suspect that I was the youngest guest at the hotel by a decade or two, but I'd choose the Elysee over the loud, modern, and young W Hotel any day. It's impossible to not be impressed by this place. Have I mentioned the free wireless internet? The amenities at the Elysee go on and on!

Where to stay in the Flatiron...
Spend a night at the Hotel Giraffe (365 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10036).
A sister property to the Elysee, the luxurious Giraffe offers a similar suite of conveniences including complimentary breakfast, evening cocktail hour, wireless internet access, in-room Belgian chocolates, bottled water and passes to New York Sports Clubs. I lucked out and received room keys to one of the nicest rooms on the 8th floor. A balcony overlooking Park Avenue and a wonderfully comfortable king-sized bed awaited me. The sage-scented conditioner perfumed my morning shower and the staff was quick to respond when my Macbook when missing. The pink lemonade in the lobby was refreshing and the great proximity to the subway made getting around town a cinch. The hospitality fairies must have noticed how delighted I was to receive a bottle of cabernet at the Elysee upon arrival, because sitting in the living room of my suite was a bottle of the same Robert Mondavi! My preference for modern sophistication was was indulged at the Giraffe and I only wish that I had more time to enjoy all that this boutique hotel had to offer. I guess that's what next time is for!

This concludes my "Perfect Weekend in NYC" series. To read the other posts see:
The Perfect Weekend in NYC
Central Park, Haiku Style
Notre Dame in New York
Picks for the Perfect Weekend in New York

*FTC Disclosure: My stay at the Elysee, the Giraffe, and my upgrade to AA Business Class were complimentary.

Picks for the Perfect Weekend in NYC

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:00:12 +0000

Because last weekend's trip to New York was rather punctuated, I had to fit fun into a condensed amount of time. I thought I'd showcase the highlights here with some suggestions and information.

Friday afternoon: My first Yoga to the People experience at the East Village location!
Location: 12 St. Mark's Place, New York, NY 10003.
If you go: Yoga to the People is a donation-based yoga studio in New York and the Bay Area. Even at a mid-day 2:00 pm class, there were nearly 70 people in a studio the size of my studio apartment. The teachers were very granola and encouraged a type of exhaling that involved audible moaning. (They don't teach that at your neighborhood YMCA!). I "donated" $8 (it was either a $5 and three $1s or a $20, and I'm not that generous...) even though the recommended donation was $10. They had mats available for use with a recommended donation of $2. Yoga was the perfect antidote to the red eye jet lag and I made it through the day without a drop of caffeine! Be prepared to change behind a canvas curtain if you arrive in street clothes and need to slip into your Lululemon.

Friday evening: Retail therapy at the Shops at Columbus Circle.
Location: 10 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10019.
If you go: I bought some overpriced but totally fashionable tights for $55 at Wolford. The sales clerk needed a Prozac like a fish needs water. I made my purchase and quickly moved on to J.Crew, where I assaulted the sales rack and sheepishly tried on two full-priced sweaters that I couldn't really afford (that thankfully didn't look good on me anyways). J.Crew was offering an extra 30% sale items and I got the goldenrod cotton shell and the grey zip up sweater for $87 (full price would have been $178; Lindsay wins again!). Holiday hours at the Shops can be found here.

Friday night: Hypnotized by the glam holiday display at Henri Bendel.
Location: 712 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10019.
If you go: Henri Bendel candles were always sort of a luxury item, growing up. I still covet their quality candles, but I was mostly in love with the ballerina display, which is how I ended up inside snapping photos like any tourist would do. Henri Bendel would make a convenient one-stop-shopping place to purchase gifts for your girlfriends, nieces, cousins, and trendy (female) co-workers.

Friday evening: Imitating an amazed child seeing Christmas lights for the very first time!
Location: Various.
If you go: New York (like London...) gets uber fabulous this time of year. Boutiques and department stores alike go all out on lavish window displays featuring thousands of lights and hundreds of feet of holly. If you want to feel festive, just stand across the street from Fendi and admire the icicle-adorned belt buckles. Pretty flashy!

Friday night: Why bother to eat dinner when you can have cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery?
Location: 1240 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036.
If you go: San Francisco's bake shops really ought to take cues from its more worldly cousins in New York that stay open late serving cupcakes, cakes, cookies, coffee, pie, and bars. A chocolate cupcake with pastel-colored rainbow sprinkles will cost you $2.75. Want to bring home some sweetness? Ask for your order to go and you'll get your baked goods in a white paper box. Subscribe to the hype and purchase a Magnola Bakery t-shirt or tote. You'll look cute and feel even cuter supporting the bake shop popularized by the girls from Sex and the City.

Saturday morning: Buying cookies for my co-workers at Crumbs Bakery.
Location: 501 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
If you go: Consider yourself warned... these cupcakes are too big to eat in one sitting! After purchasing four turkey cookies (which were ~~loved on~~ "gobbled up" at our weekly Monday afternoon meeting) for $10, I decided to try another of New York's famous cupcakes. Decision paralysis crept in when considering the number of options in front of me. At long last I selected peanut butter cup, a "rich chocolate cake filled and frosted with peanut butter cream cheese frosting and topped with peanut butter cup wedges and edged in crushed peanuts and chocolate chips." I sequestered myself in a Starbucks and started shoving this in my mouth. A valiant effort, but I couldn't finish this gourmet delight. Crumbs Bakery - 1, Lindsay - 0.

Sunday morning: Brunch at Maialino at the Gramercy Park Hotel.
Location: 2 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
If you go: Maialino was the perfect place to rendez-vous with a college friend in grad school at NYU. The interior is gorgeous and the Sunday morning sunshine flooded the windows and provided beautiful natural light that made everything seem surreal. The bread bar in the center of the restaurant was fascinating. What fun it must be to slice such splendid loaves of foccacia. I ordered the $12 salame indiavolato panini with pickled peppers, salame and pizza bianca. Note to sophisticated brunchers: NYC laws prohibit the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays. (I was dismayed to be denied a mimosa at 10:30 am...)

Sunday afternoon: I love New York and I love Ray's Pizza!
Location: 811 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10065.
If you go: New York knows pizza! Ray's has several locations throughout the city. Choose your slice based on what pie appears to be the freshest. Don't worry if it's been sitting out for awhile, they'll gladly warm up your $3.75 snack. Grease has never tasted so indulgent! Have I mentioned that the crust is so crispy that it almost tastes like it has been deep fried? Mmmmmm. :-)

Notre Dame in New York

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:30:51 +0000

Fly clear across the country for a football game? Some would call it crazy. But not for Fighting Irish football fans, who relished the chance to make history as the 50th game between storied rivals Notre Dame and West Point took place in America's largest and most amazing metropolis: New York.

Notre Dame is an establishment deeply attached to its traditions and to see these traditions take rise in Manhattan was an experience I'll remember for a long, long time.

The first dose of formal festivities occurred at Friday night's pep rally at Lincoln Center. Meeting up with a friend from my dorm and her family, we huddled together with Starbucks seasonal drinks (peppermint hot chocolate, anyone?!) to cheer along as the band regaled thousands of fans on the west side of Central Park. Tim Dolan, the archbishop of New York City was introduced on stage. Must have been quite an honor to have so many cheering Catholics all gathered in one public place outside of Rome.

On Saturday morning, the masses gathered again to celebrate the Eucharist at "the Yankee Stadium of Cathedrals" named after the most famous of all Irish saints. Having been by St. Patrick's Cathedral numerous times over the years, I was excited to have a reason to get inside. Good thing I arrived a few minutes early. When Notre Dame fans comes to New York, the crowds at mass (even on a Saturday morning...) are bigger than Christmas or Easter! I heard many concerned whispers about fire code as people pushed into aisles and packed into pews.

On Saturday afternoon, the tradition continued, this time, on a friends rooftop tailgate in NoLita. I ran into a few classmates I hadn't seen in a couple of years and enjoyed a hot bowl of Texas chili served over Frito's and topped with cheddar cheese and cornbread! Check out the views from up here...

Whoever says fun doesn't come cheap didn't ride the subway to Yankee Stadium with thousands of other excited Fighting Irish fans at 5:00 pm on Saturday. Getting on the train all I saw were people in Notre Dame hats, jackets, sweatshirts, and the like. It was a comforting sight (and so much friendlier than the Wall Street crowd I'm typically surrounded by every time I find myself on New York public transit).

The term "subway alum" has always referred to Notre Dame fans who didn't attend the university, but have a great fondness and attachment to the University. Many of these "subs" are Irish Catholics from places like Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, and Chicago. It's safe to say that there were plenty of subway alumni taking the subway to the stadium with us for a chance to see this storied football team play. Hearing the chatter from lifelong fans who recall specific scoring drives from games that happened decades ago was really special. It broke my heart a little to sit down on a bench outside the stadium and hear the two guys next to me freaking out that the $200 tickets they purchased were counterfeit. I was almost tempted to give away my two tickets to these guys (who were clearly not alumni, or they would have realized their tickets were fakes) who paid 2x face value to see a team that I've seen play close to 50 times.

Inside the stadium, I was mesmerized with the super high definition jumbotron. In fact, I found myself watching plays that were happening 25 yards in front of me. My seats were right above the band in the bleacher section and I lucked out to sell my extra ticket to another alum also from San Francisco that I ran into at JFK on Friday morning. I must admit, now that my blood has thinned, I was terrified of four hours in the cold. I layered myself in two long sleeved shirts, a sweater, a jacket, a scarf, and gloves and then tossed a merino throw into my bag. By time we were singing the alma mater, it was around 40 degrees.

But I survived.

And Notre Dame won.

And it was a fun-filled experience, and the first college football game that I've ever been able to consume alcohol at (since it was not on a University campus). Did I mention there was New York pizza also involved at halftime? And that when I was standing in line to buy pizza I ran into two classmates? Or the fact that Yankee Stadium is absolutely gorgeous? Okay. I'll stop there and just sum things up by saying that I had a GREAT time in New York and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have attended Notre Dame and become part of this community of tradition.

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Central Park, Haiku Style

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:16:55 +0000

The Perfect Weekend in NYC

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:52:57 +0000

Bon matin from Manhattan!

As you may know, I'm in New York for the weekend. In the last four and a half years, I've made about ten trips to New York City, the most recent of which was in April for the Future Leaders in the Biotech Industry conference. Two years ago to almost the exact date I stayed at the Hotel Elysee while attending the Rodman & Renshaw Global Investment Conference. I fell in love with the charm of this boutique hotel on E 54th between Madison and Park. When I realized that my travels were bringing me back to NYC for the first time ever for a purpose other than business (hallelujah!), I knew where I wanted to say... the Hotel Elysee... with its luxury toiletries, European chocolates, wine and cheese hour every evening from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

So here I am, with the help of the welcoming team at the Elysee. I have a quiet room on an upper floor with two beds - one for Ms. Bear and one for me! The manager was already kind enough to send up a bottle of California cabernet with a petite box of chocolates. I think they know how to make a girl happy!

While I could be content locking myself in this spacious room for the next 24 hours to drink wine and watch movies, I have plenty of other plans! On the docket for the weekend...

Friday (accommodations courtesy of Hotel Elysee)
12:00 pm - Lunch at Time Cafe East with Erin (my long lost from San Francisco)
2:00 pm - Yoga at Yoga to the People in the East Village
5:30 pm - Notre Dame Pep Rally at Lincoln Center
8:30 - Corby Society Event at O'Briens, Midtown

Saturday (accommodations courtesy of Hotel Giraffe)
10:30 am - Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral
12:00 pm - Notre Dame Band Concert in Times Square
1:00 pm - Rooftop "tailgate" at friends place in NoLita
5:00 pm - Young Alumni Pre-game Event at Billy's Sports Bar, Bronx
7:00 pm - Kickoff at Yankee Stadium

Sunday
10:30 am - Brunch at Mailano
12:00 pm - Museums/stroll through Central Park/shopping/manicure?
4:00 pm - Back to JFK

Let the fun begin! :-)

...I Want to Ride it All (Day) Long (Part 2)

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:00:05 +0000

(Continued from Part 1...)

Brave and ambitious tourists that we are, we decided to drive to the end of the Hana Highway, 45 minutes South of Hana and into Haleakala National Park - the location of the Seven Sacred Pools (also known as O'heo Gulch). These waterfalls and pools are fed by the Pipiwai Streams, about two miles inland. They flow all the way out to sea.

I wasn't in much of a mood for swimming (sunburn will do that to you...) although it was a refreshing afterthought to an otherwise sweaty (but lush) National Park in August. Have I mentioned that we got lost on the way to the Seven Sacred Pools? It seems difficult to do on a one-lane road, but we managed to drive a couple of miles past the turnoff into the park. The upside? Finding more beautiful black sand beaches with perfect palm trees.

Sometimes mistakes surprise you like that! On the return trip, we did as tourists do. That is, we took more photos. The sun came out from behind the clouds to grace us with its presence. Or rather, to make me fret about UV rays some more. While I kept cover in the car, Tara was more adventurous. I preferred to take pictures from the comfort of my plush, air-conditioned car seat.

Growing weary, our final stop of the trip was at Hana Farms, where Tara sampled the award-winning chocolate chip banana bread. While I sipped on coconut water, I admired the colorful selection of tropical fruits, including some growing on a tree by the side of the road.

We headed for Kaanapali, roses made of palms, cameras full of photos, and were in bed by 8:00 pm. A long day of driving will do that to you. So will a three hour time difference. Speaking of sleepy, by the time this post publishes, I'll be on my way home. I have a fun weekend ahead (dinner with Kelly at SPQR on Friday, Outside Lands on Saturday, and some airport chauffeuring on Sunday for guests from Minnesota), which somehow makes it less of a travesty to tear myself away from paradise.

Alas, it has been a fabulous week in Maui :-)

Life is a Highway... (Part 1)

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:40:31 +0000

On Tuesday we picked up a Pontiac and headed east on the Hana Highway. After hearing about the multiple hairpin turns, blind approaches, one-way bridges, and unrelenting traffic, I definitely had my druthers. A 55 mile trip was going to take 8 hours?...

The Hana Highway embodies the notion “journey, not a destination.” Hana itself is not terribly remarkable or interesting. But along the way? Bamboo forests, amazing ocean vistas, waterfalls, and roadside fruit stands. Getting there was way more than half the fun. It was all the fun! One of our first stops was at a roadside stand where local crafts (beaded necklaces, musical instruments) and a wooden cart spilled with starfruit, mango, papaya, passionfruit, mango, and banana.

Approximately 6 miles from Hana, we stopped at a roadside bazaar that promised fish tacos. Since it was only 10:00 am there were no fish tacos but as a consolation prize, one of the local merchants offered me a sample of the coconut “candy” (oven dried coconut with local sugarcane and Madagascar vanilla) he was preparing under a canvas canopy. I left with a $5 ziplock bag of the candy. Naturally crunchy and satisfyingly sweet, I demolished the bag in no time flat.

Just 4 more miles up the road, we arrived at Wainapanapa State Park. Beautiful black sand beaches awaited. Nestled among lava cliffs, the black sand is made of cooled lava rock.

While the black sand was novel, I was much more fascinated with the small sea arch, sea caves, and seaside lava tubes located in the beach area. The lighting was very conducive to shadow pictures!

We also stopped to photograph some gorgeous roadside waterfalls. It's a mystery to me where the water comes from, but the stream eventually makes it way out to the ocean. This famous stop provides income for some very enterprising locals. Bolly Helekahi made intricately woven baskets of palm leaves and was kind enough to give us roses made of palms. I snapped a photo with Bolly and promised I'd give him some blog love. Thanks for the flower, B!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Maui, Wowie!

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:21:07 +0000

I'm all for sunshine. Vitamin D does the body good. Except when too much sunshine leads to the lobster effect. Yes, sunburn. Ouchie! Quick, someone get me a blended drink!

Alternately, opt to wander to the pool shack and inquire about paddle board rental. Turn to walk away and flirtatiously respond when the rental guy remarks about your sunburn. Accept his offer of $16 "Absolutely Natural" Recovery Gel. Wonder for a second why he's giving it you for free in front of a line of other guests. Walk away, lotion in hand. Pass pool shack #2. Inquire about paddle board rental. Absolutely freak out when the guy eagerly tells you to, "enjoy your lotion!"

Stop. Laugh. Think, what's up with this lotion that these pool shack guys are NOT telling me? Consider that "Absolutely Natural" may be deleterious to your already lobster-ized epidermis. Continue on...

Visit the koi pond. Say hello to the multitude of oversized white, yellow, orange, and red fish.

Eventually, retreat to the room to apply Absolutely Natural Recovery Gel. Ahhhhh, muuuuch better. Thanks, pool shack guy(s)!

Hi from Haleakalā

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:18:46 +0000

The day started early, thanks to a three hour time change and a bit of favorable jet lag. Since Hawaii doesn't observe Daylight Savings Time, the sun rises (and sets) early here. And when this Californian woke up at 6:30 am, the sun was already up. I started the day on the balcony where the view is the photo at top. I mad a yummy honey wheat bagel with peppered turkey, smoked gouda, and avocado. A virgin mimosa (orange juice and Pellegrino) started the day. Feet up, pajama pants and flip flops. This. is. the. life.

I insisted on going for an early morning stroll on the beach. Figuring that the temperatures were heading north, we went out for a 2 mile walk on Kaanapali beach.

We saw some scuba divers coming up after a morning dive. We didn't end up snorkeling today, but I am absolutely hell bent on going paddle boarding sometime this week. A two hour lesson is $135... so I might just go out without instruction ($100 less). The word on the street is that you can see sea turtles! I can't wait. In the meantime, I'll be plenty busy sunning myself on these gorgeous beaches.

On the walk back, I kept myself entertained by photographing the various flora. Around here, the hibiscus are stunning and so far I've seen yellow, white, and red. The plumeria are absolutely delicious (smelling) and are in bloom at every resort.

This afternoon I procured a minor case of sunburn, even though I was in SPF 50 and only outside for 2 hours. Good thing we're going on a little road trip to Hana, tomorrow...

Playing With Dirt

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:00:55 +0000

If you're at all cognizant of cultural phenomena, I don't need to tell you about the comeback of terrariums. According to www.terrariums.com, the history of terrariums dates back to 500 BC, when the Greeks grew and displayed plants in transparent containers. Now, fast forward some 2500 years to modern day. Terrariums have recently gained notable traction in the press, with multiple mentions on Design Sponge (see here, here, and here) and the cadillac of newspapers, the New York Times (see here).

The New York Times article ran on June 2nd and pushed me over the edge. I wanted a terrarium. Scratch that, I needed a terrarium. It was more than a passing urge, it was a pre-programmed desire deep in my heart. I immediately began Googling some options. The most intriguing option was sourced through a Yelp review that mentioned a DIY (that's "Do It Yourself") terrarium class at a place called Workshop SF. It was just my luck that there was a Glass Jar Terrariums class occurring that day! Of course, it was also just my luck that said class was sold out.

Not to worry though, because the class is in high demand right now (shock!) and I was able to register for the June 16th class. I must admit that I secretly still wanted to run out and purchase a terrarium ASAP, but I practiced restraint. I mean, I dished out $30 to learn this art form, and before throwing in the towel, I might as well try my own hand at this miniature gardening thing, right?

Despite a pounding headache and a growling stomach demanding dinner, I went to class last night. My moment had come and I was battling myself to find the motivation to attend this long-awaited occasion! I popped an Advil and drove up Divisadero to Workshop SF's studio at Baker and McAllister. I found street parking with ease and took a few deep breaths of cool summer air. Once inside, Katie, the instructor, gave a cheerful welcome. "This is not the Gap!" she replied, when I asked if I could take photos. I wasn't really concerned about that being an issue (after all, this is San Francisco where the per capita number of blogs probably exceeds one per city resident). I took a full 10 minutes to wander around and marvel at the unique decor. What a design junkie's paradise!

As class started, Katie did a short demo and let us get down and dirty. Leveraging her witty humor, she noted the "dirty" innuendos inherent in terrarium-crafting. Phrases like, "dig a hole and get rough," and "get a pencil and push it in" went from innocuous to raunchy the second she alluded to the dual nature of the instructions. If that wasn't going to break the ice, nothing was! In no time at all, we were filling glass jars with soil and selecting succulents.

Some notes on terrarium-making:

Glass jars can be purchased at Goodwill for $1, Michael's, or Pier 1.

Plants are cheap - about $2-3 for succulents and $4-6 for a six-pack of grasses or leafy plants.

A layer of charcoal helps to counteract formation of mold.

A spray bottle is useful for watering and for "cleaning" off the plants (they get dirty as you plant them).

Moss or pebbles/small rocks is useful for covering up blank spaces but be sure not too overcrowd the terrarium.

Now that I've inspired you to try making a terrarium, follow these easy steps and you'll be running your own botany factory in no time at all!

Making a Home Terrarium:

Fill rocks in the bottom. Depending on height of jar, a thicker rock layer can be visually interesting.

Next layer is charcoal to prevent mold growth.

Now add at least 2" of dirt (remember that the plants must have somewhere to take root in).

Spray the dirt with a spray bottle. Use a pencil eraser to make cavities to insert grasses, plants, and succulents.

Remove any grasses, plants, or succulents from packaging and break up the soil at bottom. Insert into wet soil.

Super moss and small pebbles can be used to fill in any gaps.

Add woodland creatures of your liking. Spray the inside of the jar clean with water.

Water finished terrarium about once per week and place in the sun. Expected life is approximately 3 months, but considerably longer with good care.

Currently accepting: name suggestions for my plastic gnome!