Late to the Party

My daughter and I have very recently started watching Downton Abbey. So far we've seen the first three episodes of season 1 and we are already totally hooked and in love with the show. The sets, the costumes, the acting, the characters, the accent, the dialogue, the time and place... It's all just so delicious. We are a bit late to the party, but better late than never. This will be our guilty little pleasure for months to come. 

Playing Favorites

Some things are just perennial favorites. I just found this pic of me in my white Michael Kors poncho, and wearing the Gucci bag that has almost been attached to me since last summer. I find myself reaching for these over and over again!

The frog and toad

Yesterday, on our way to Astoria, Queens, we had to stop in Flushing, which is known as the Chinatown of Queens, and since we were there, I took the opportunity to pop into a Chinese market. I burst out laughing when I saw the frogs in the bucket. They were for sale, and I'm sure very delicious if prepared correctly. My daughter made sure to inform me that these were toads, not frogs...oh well...I don't know the difference, so I'll just keep calling them frogs. I did not purchase frogs, just some seafood and Chinese vegetables and fruit. I love going into those markets for the adventure!

Our final destination Astoria is a neighborhood that's changing a lot now that Brooklyn is getting too expensive. In Astoria we dined at a restaurant called Meet the Meat. Another chuckle moment there... But despite the tacky name, this is an awesome steak restaurant. Everything we ate was superb. There's nothing too complicated on the menu, it's very straight forward, but with the quality of the food it does not need to be anything but just exactly that. We had grilled calamari, filet mignon, porterhouse for two, a cheeseburger, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, and sautéed mushrooms, and everything was just amazing. 

I wore my winter white Michael Kors poncho, self-knit scarf, NYDJ jeans, Steve Madden boots and  shearling bucket bag. 

Boston

I went to Boston on Thursday for business and took this photo from a 31st floor conference center. I promised the family that we'd go to Boston in spring or summer and do touristy things! 

City Saturday

We tried a new place for brunch today at the West Village, Maison Kayser, a French bakery on the corner of Bleecker and Christopher Streets. A good addition to the brunch options close to the Finnish school. The food is quite "French" which I and my daughter liked very much. My husband was not that convinced...he only complimented the coffee which was excellent.

Scrambled eggs with avocado toast

Cocotte of spinach and goat cheese in béchamel sauce

Cocotte of smoked salmon, ricotta, capers & béchamel sauce

The best cup of coffee I've had in a long time... 

It was mild enough to wear my long cardigan instead of a coat. 

I had on old ripped boyfriend jeans with a green bejeweled sweater. 

This little girl is getting so spoiled - we can't help it...she's just too cute not to be spoiled! 

Art Inspiration

I am so happy that my 13 year old is finally interested in art. She has a great class "Studio Art" where they make art but also learn about art history and artists. She has made some cool pieces of art in that class which I should photograph... I can't wait for her knee to heal so that we can start making trips to the amazing art museums of New York City to see all the pieces of art by artists that she is learning about.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of my favorite paintings of Pierre Bonnard, a French post-impressionist painter. It's not hard to see why they should be my favorites... He loved to paint food and gardens!

Dining Room Overlooking the Garden, by Pierre Bonnard

The Dining Room in the Country, by Pierre Bonnard

FOOTY & Happy New Year

i.e. First Outfit of the Year    hahaha... (I'm amusing myself here, if nobody else!)

Anyway, I went to the mall once during my time off between Christmas and New Year and got myself this long plaid shirt dress from Urban Outfitters, and the gray long cardigan from H&M. I completely fell in love with both, and have been wearing them almost everyday since.

Yesterday I went with the hubby to see the new Star Wars movie and felt like a character straight out of the movie walking out of the movie theater in my long robe, ha!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

My best wishes for a year full of health, happiness, 

friendship, mindfulness, creativity, peace, 

joy and lovely surprises.