Biz Notes: Lose Those Negative Thoughts

October 31, 2012 by

Yesterday’s view from the Williamsburg Waterfront

It’s Biz Notes Wednesday! I’m feeling overly excited about that fact, likely because we’ve been cooped up for the past few days and I’m experiencing some cabin fever. Somehow, we were one of the lucky few in the NYC area that did not lose power- only internet for a brief period. So we’re feeling very thankful about that. But on to today’s topic!

Last week was a bit of an off period work wise. Out of nowhere I was flooded with worry and self doubt. I felt tired, unsure of what I was doing, hugely hesitant to move forward, and almost paralyzed at the thought of doing so. Everything came to a head last Thursday in a lovely mid afternoon tears session in which I word vomitted everything I was feeling to Brandon. And in a much needed tough love approach, he basically told me to put my head down and keep working. If I was focused on work and keeping myself busy, I wouldn’t have time to let these thoughts overrun my days. Oh, uuummm …. right.

Think about it. When you’re super super busy- facing deadlines, project due dates, and more- you have no time to think negative thoughts, drown in self doubt, or feel sorry for yourself. I remember having a conversation with the Chief Marketing Officer of the first company I worked at. Making small talk in his office one day, I muttered about how busy he must be during the holiday season/end of Q4. He immediately said that he was crazy busy, but loved it. And not in some disingenuous corporate way, but that he truly was a better worker when he had a lot on his place. It forces you to be completely intentional with your time, and highly efficient in all that you do.

October has been a bit of an odd month. It’s been a slower month in some respects, but a busier one in others, marking the beginning of some big next steps and investments towards my business. It’s this combination that sent me into my downward spiral last week. It can be so hard to keep yourself going sometimes, and not because you don’t want to do the work but simply because you’re unsure. But letting those thoughts of self doubt take over is even worse. Believe me- it made for one unpleasant week! And once I was reminded of the solution- to just keep going- everything came back into focus. It was unreal how quickly my mood shifted. But also unreal how quickly I forgot the solution. So take this post as your reminder.

Even though I’m on steady ground once again, I’m so curious- how do you combat self doubt? Any tips or techniques? One can’t have too many!

 

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Setting the Table: Cozy Loft Dinner

October 30, 2012 by Sarah

Maybe it’s partly Hurricane Sandy’s fault, but this is all I want right now. The coziest of dinner parties with close friends, red wine, and dishes like roasted butternut squash and caramelized onion lasagna. As inconvenient as small city apartments can be at times, I think they are the perfect setting for dinner parties such as these. I love the exposed brick, rustic wood, and layered elements of the table, incorporating sheepskin, linens, and knits. I imagine that curling up in a blanket and watching a favorite movie is definitely in the cards for the evening.

If you’re on the East Coast, best wishes for staying safe! Hopefully making plans for a gathering such as this will help the week go a little faster. x

1. cocotte, 2. plate, 3. pillow, 4. wine glass, 5. measuring spoons, 6. sheepskin

Image Credits: table, lasagna, knit, person

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Howl-A-Ween

October 29, 2012 by

Greetings from windy Brooklyn, guys! How are you all doing? Anyone lose power yet? Brandon and I are hunkered down in our apartment crossing our fingers we don’t lose power. I think we were a little late to get on the prep game, as by the time I got to the store last night there were no more flash lights. But I think we’ve got enough candles to light our 650 square foot home for the next few days if need be. I was, naturally, too busy thinking about the food, which we’ve got a ton of but will of course go bad should we lose power… hmm. Note to self: learn to better prepare for hurricanes.

Ok aside from the hurricane- this past Saturday we went to Howl-A-Ween at the Williamsburg dog park. No, we don’t have a dog, but  how could we miss a costume contest for all the neighborhood pups?? It was such a riot seeing all the doggies in their costumes, some of which were so creative! I can’t choose my favorite- I’m torn between the mailman and dinosaur. It definitely made me more inclined to dress up my future dog. Do you guys dress up your dogs or pets? Would you dress up your dog if you had one? They’re just so adorable!

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Weekend Wishes

October 27, 2012 by Sarah

HOLD : Your favorite mug (I have been a longtime admirer of these)

DRINK : A cup of tea (Even if you don’t think you’re a tea fan, give it a try! It’s the coziest thing I can think of for a fall day. Psst- on a related note – chai tea cupcakes actually exist and sound amazing)

MAKE : Homemade candy (Between yesterday’s caramel recipe, and last year’s peanut butter cups, it doesn’t look like you really have a choice here)

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Fleur de Sel Caramels

October 26, 2012 by

For Halloween last year, I made homemade peanut butter cups, which are as delicious as they sound- and an extremely dangerous item to have about 50 of in your freezer at one time. This year I contemplated making homemade Snickers or Almond Joy Bars- all good choices, but I was craving something more classic. Enter fleur de sel caramels. I am a caramel fiend, people. I really fear for my teeth when this stuff is around, which is why I decided to make them right before I had family come into town so I don’t find myself eating the entire batch! You could wrap these guys in wax paper or serve them on a platter. The flaked sea salt against the glossy caramel makes for a pretty killer presentation, so I went that route.

Are you making homemade candy this year? Any recipes I have to try? Send ‘em my way, and have a lovely weekend! xx

Fleur de Sel Caramels adapted very slightly from Ina Garten
  • Vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon fine fleur de sel, plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Line an 8-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing it to drape over 2 sides, then brush the paper lightly with oil.

In a deep saucepan (6 inches wide and 4 1/2 inches deep), combine 1/4 cup water, the sugar and corn syrup and bring them to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the mixture is a warm golden brown. Don’t stir — just swirl the pan.

In the meantime, in a small pot, bring the cream, butter and 1/2 teaspoon of fleur de sel to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat and set aside.

When the sugar mixture is done, turn off the heat and slowly add the cream mixture to the sugar mixture. Be careful — it will bubble up violently. Stir in the vanilla with a wooden spoon and cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches 248 degrees F (firm ball) on a candy thermometer. Very carefully pour the caramel into the prepared pan and refrigerate for a few hours, until firm.

When the caramel is cold, pry the sheet from the pan onto a cutting board. Cut the square in half. Starting with a long side, roll the caramel up tightly into an 8-inch-long log. Sprinkle the log with fleur de sel, trim the ends and cut into 8 pieces. (Start by cutting the log in half, then continue cutting each piece in half until you have 8 equal pieces.) It’s easier to cut the caramels if you brush the knife with flavorless oil like corn oil. Cut glassine or parchment paper into 4-by-5-inch pieces and wrap each caramel individually, twisting the ends. Store in the refrigerator and serve the caramels chilled.

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My Routine: Skin & Hair

October 24, 2012 by

Every once and a while I like to take you guys outside the kitchen and cooking realm, and share other parts of my life. Enter “My Routine,” a new series that will be popping up every other Wednesday, where I’ll be sharing my routine for different parts of my life- be it beauty, exercise, grocery shopping, healthy eating, relaxation, and more! I’m kicking things off today with my skin and hair routine since I feel like I’ve finally nailed the exact products that work for me.

1) Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub My skin is on the oily side, so I need something that can zap that without being too harsh. I’m hooked on this cleanser, and love using it with my Clarisonic.

2) Lancome Genefique True story? I received this product in a swag bag a few months back, and started using it. Had I not received it for free, I probably wouldn’t have purchased it in the first place- but now I can’t imagine my life without! I didn’t know my skin tone could be so even. It’s incredible. Do you use serums?

3) Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer I’m fairly easy when it comes to facial moisturizers- it just needs to be something oil free and with SPF. I love this one from Aveeno, and with the cost of the skin serum, it’s nice that this one is so affordable.

4) Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask Oh this mask! I can’t say enough good things about it. Years ago I got a free sample of this stuff at Origins and have since gone through several bottles. I use it once a week or so to get rid of all the grit and grime. It leaves me feeling like my pores can actually breathe again.

5) Tan Towels I’ve become a little tan towel obsessed. They’re the only self tanner I’ve found that doesn’t leave me feeling orange. I’ve been using them consistently since we returned from Capri and am really hoping to rock a darker glow and winter long!

6) Sachajaun Volume Powder Ok so this really should have been called my skin routine, because there’s only one hair product- but this one has been truly life changing. Oily skin, oily hair- so I’ve always had to wash it everyday. Then a few months ago my hair stylist threw this volume powder on when I came in for a bang trim. It immediately dried up all the oil and gave my hair body. It’s like a dry shampoo but better. I now only wash my 2-3 times a week! This product has saved me so much time.

7) True Blue Spa Super Rich Foot Cream I absolutely cannot stand having dry feet. It drives me insane. This foot cream is seriously thick. A few nights a week I’ll lather up my feet, throw on socks, and let this lotion do the work.

Do you use any of these products? Have any product recommendations? I’d so love to hear!

Image Credits: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

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Setting the Table: Halloween

October 23, 2012 by Sarah

Some years I just don’t know what to think about Halloween. It’s definitely not my favorite holiday (I’ll never understand why people like to be scared), but it can still be quite fun. When else can you pull out ALL your favorite Gothic accents without friends becoming concerned? With both dressing up and trick-or-treating out of the picture for now, it sometimes seems easiest to ignore the holiday altogether. I urge you not to do that, however. At the very least, Halloween is a great excuse to have friends over and eat caramel apples. And candy- always candy.

I dislike when things feel overly themed, but I think this dark setting has just the right touch. I find black and orange to be a bit jarring on a large scale, not to mention a little predictable, so I think black and silver is the perfect alternative. I love the idea of an all-black dessert table, with eerie candy apples, and the most gorgeous bottle of red wine. A black quinoa salad is the perfect antidote to all the sugar you’re sure to consume.

1. candle holders, 2. plate, 3. spoons, 4. garland, 5. skull

Image Credits: table one, table two, apples, wine, black quinoa

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Homemade Maple Pumpkin Cream Cheese

October 22, 2012 by

Aaaah… I am coming off of such a weekend high. The weather has been just gorgeous in the city. It’s definitely that time of year that makes me feel so incredibly lucky to call this place my home. Friday we met friends in the neighborhood for $5 cocktails and burgers. Delicious. Saturday we met up with out of town friends for an indulgent lunch at Noodle Bar, and then digested with a walk on the High Line and along the Hudson. Saturday night we hosted friends for dinner- I made my go to roast chicken and buttermilk mashed potatoes. And Sunday? A movie in bed, some apartment tidying, a manicure, and some gym time. Talk about weekend perfection!

I know I’ve been inundating you guys with pumpkin recipes- but I couldn’t resist this one! This cream cheese is so simple, and would the perfect complement to a fall bagel brunch. It’s the perfect topping for whole wheat or cinnamon raisin bagels, or these delicious Pumpkin Bran muffins from Friday.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Maple Pumpkin Cream Cheese

  • 1 8 oz package cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin purée
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 T pure maple syrup

Let the cream cheese cheese soften on the counter for 1-2 hours. In a bowl beat together all the ingredients until fully combined. Serve immediately or store covered in the fridge.

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Weekend Wishes

October 20, 2012 by Sarah

EAT : pumpkin pancakes (I can feel it- It’s time to start putting pumpkin into ALL baked goods)

ADMIRE : pretty Falconwright bags (I just discovered this brand this week, and am in love!)

MAKE : your own clutch (this project will surely be underway as soon as I pick up the supplies)

What’s in store for you this lovely fall weekend?

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Pumpkin Bran Muffins with Almond Streusel Topping

October 19, 2012 by

If you had read all my posts last week, it would have seemed like it was pretty smooth sailing over here. There was some killer pumpkin oatmeal, a drool inducing grilled cheese, some gorgeous candlelight inspiration, and the last of the photos from our recent trip to Italy. And everything was technically fine, I was just in a funk. A major funk. One night I got dinner with two friends and I shared with them my not so pleasant mood as of late, and how I felt like such a hypocrite because from the blog, it seemed like I was one chipper bunny over here.

I know I’m not the first one to experience this. But even though I am a blogger, I can easily forget that all bloggers have their bad days too, even if they aren’t sharing it. All of this is to say, that there are a lot of beautiful things on this blog- I love creating them, I love sharing them with you, and I love blogging overall, but I do have rough days even if it isn’t portrayed here. Days where I find myself welling up in tears for no particular reason. Days where I don’t feel like getting out of bed. Days where I have arguments with my boyfriend. And days where I feel frustrated by blogging. I just wanted to make sure you knew that. Ok? Ok, great.

On a more upbeat note, I made you muffins! Muffins packed with pumpkin and an addictive streusel topping, but that are still actually good for you. Make them this Saturday- you won’t regret it. Have a wonderful weekend! xx

Pumpkin Bran Muffins with Almond Streusel Topping inspired by Espresso & Cream
 Makes 18-20 large muffins

For the muffins:

  • 1 1/2 cups wheat brand
  • 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups pumpkin purée
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 T molasses (optional)

For the streusel topping:

  • 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners.

Mix together the wheat bran and buttermilk and let rest while you prep the other ingredients.

In a separate bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients minus the sugar. In another large bowl beat the eggs. Then mix in the oil, vanilla extract, molasses, pumpkin, and brown sugar. Using a rubber spatula, transfer the wheat bran mixture to the wet mixture and fold to combine. Add in the dry ingredients and whisk together until just combined.

Make the streusel: Toss together the dry ingredients. Cut in the cold butter with your hands or a fork until the mixture resembles the size of peas.

Using an ice cream scoop, fill the muffin tins almost to the top with batter. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of streusel on top of each muffin- you don’t need to measure perfectly. Bake for 20-22 minutes until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then serve immediately.

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