Morning, and happy Wednesday to you, friends! This is going to be a great day, I can just feel it in my bones. I have the day off work, and have packed it full with appointments and friends, and I can’t wait to get started!
Yesterday was an equally good day, despite waking up early for work. As you know, I work as a hostess in a restaurant, and believe it or not, I really like my job! My coworkers are real friends, and I couldn’t be luckier with my superiors (I’ve had some trying situations in the past). Despite it being a job in “the service industry,” most of the customers we see every day are real gems. Of course, every job has its ups and downs and I won’t be doing this forever, but for the time being, I’m in a pretty good spot.
I wanted to wait until I got to work to eat, so I munched on some dried fruit before hitting the mat for a quick 25 minute podcast. I loved your responses to how you exercise at home vs. the gym, and you’ve given me great ideas!
Breakfast was brought to me by two of the world’s best ingredients: Chocolate Oikos and my all-time favorite, LEMON CURD!
The lemon curd jar was almost empty, so the night before I stirred in 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup water, 1 tablespoon chia seeds and the Greek yogurt. In the morning, I sliced in a ripe banana. I forgot to add nut butter, but I don’t think the jar would have held anything else!
Work has been a little quiet lately, what with the holidays and the blizzard, so I’ve been doing a lot of boredom eating. I know the difference between being actually hungry and eating because there’s nothing else to do, and unfortunately the day was all about the latter. I had an apple + grapefruit:
And a Espresso Chip Gnu bar. I really don’t like this flavor… it’s very dry, and quite bitter.
Family meal was being served as my shift ended, but I had early dinner plans so I kept it small with salad and a mini veggie burger patty.
I met my friend Kalle at Columbus Circle, and we were both shocked as to how bad the snow situation is there- a popular spot for both tourists and NYC residents. There’s an incredible amount of slush, high snowbanks, and slippery surfaces, and there were many times I almost toppled right over. Not to mention my boots were soaked and my feet sopping wet! But we had a good time.
We tried out a new-to-us restaurant in the West 60s called Jalepeño, and decided to eat at the bar. I rarely sit at bars when my sole purpose is not to have a drink, but it was actually quite pleasant and Kalle and I could hear each other much better than we probably would have had we been sitting at a table.
We shared a bottle of green Spanish wine called Rioja Blanca, which we both really enjoyed. It wasn’t quite as sweet as Sauvignon Blanc, but had a nice light fruity taste.
As we usually do when we’re together, we ordered virtually the same thing, starting with house salads.
We both ordered syncronizadas: two flour tortillas stuffed with cheese, mushrooms and beans and drizzled with sour cream, guacamole and pico de gallo.
We were chatting with one of the waitresses there, who brought us a dish of mole sauce because it was too delicious not to try. I don’t know how I’ve lived for so long without trying mole, but it was one of the best sauces I’ve ever had. Served warm, it tastes of cinnamon and chocolate, but is delicious on savory foods! I spread the sauce on my syncronizada, and it was quite the tasty feast.
We’d been talking to our bartender for much of the night, commiserating about the service industry and finding out we’re from the same neighborhood! As we were paying, she brought us out shots of pineapple infused tequila, which we shot like champs.
Thanks again, Michelle! And always tip your bartender 
Even though we were quite full from dinner, we couldn’t end the night without a sweet. We headed across the street to Magnolia Bakery.
After much debate, I settled on a magic cookie bar. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of Magnolia cupcakes (the treat Carrie Bradshaw caused a frenzy for in Sex & The City); I don’t really like buttercream frosting or find the actual cake to have a lot of flavor. But magic bars are always a hit!
Since we’d started early, the night was still young when we left the bakery. We strolled a bit before parting ways, and I marveled, for the 15934th time, about how amazing it is to live in New York.
Each neighborhood is almost like its own city.
We have so many different cultures, cuisines, types of architecture.
Each of the 18,976,457 people are their ow history, their own world. It’s mind-blowing.
What is your neighborhood like? Who lives there? Is it urban or suburban?
Ha, that’s so funny! I literally live like right next to Jalapeno! I didn’t have a great experience when I went there, but it had only recently opened so maybe it’s better now. That sounds like the perfect NYC night, I’m glad you had a nice time!
oh man. there is much love in this post: mole, new york city, tequila and non-cupcake goods purchased at magnolia. all are wonderful things that i hold dear to my heart. sounds like a fun night!
I love my neighborhood now just because it has so many great restaurants and is so close to Boston. It’s definitely suburban, but having lived in the city, the quiet is nice
Mole is excellent stuff. I will HAVE to bring you to my faveorite place for mile in SLC next time you are in town (ski weekend???). They will bring you a mole tasting plate orf 6 or so moles, so that you can choose your fave for your meal.
And in response to working out at home, I am trying to figure out a way to do that, because I refuse to join a gym. We got a pair of bike trainers for xmas and we plan to set up a little cycling area very soon. Here’s hoping it melts away the large amount of weight that I gained this past year.
My boyfriend and I had a whole conversation the other day about how we really don’t get the fuss about buttercream frosting. Then we tried to google all the different names for icings and frostings trying to figure out what the one we both like is actually called. The things you talk about when sleepy and traveling….
Loved this post and the bits about life in NYC.
My neighborhood is really quiet. We live in a town of about 1000 people, but have a good group of friends who live nearby. The trouble living here is you have to drive pretty much anywhere, which I’m not always in the mood to do. But I love being surrounded by woods and nature, and go for a walk (or snowshoe, this time of year) almost every day.
I’m so jealous of you living in New York, I would love to live there! I live in a small historic city in the north of England, I feel pretty lucky really as we have so much so close – we live within walking distance of the city and a 20 min drive of a much larger city, we have the coast and the mountains and countryside very close by too. Hope your snow situation improves!
i love love love mole. probably my favorite thing to eat at a mexican restaurant, along with tequila, of course.
you know i share the intense nyc love. i will never tire of this city, even when we are stuck jumping over slush puddles and snowbanks to get around. it is mindblowing to think about the diversity of people here, not to mention what else the city holds – the art, the food, the business, the history. i feel so lucky to be a part of it all.
can’t wait for tomorrowww!
Pineapple-infused tequila? Um, yes.
I love mole sauce! So dark and rich!
I’m currently living in London, and sometimes I do the same thing – just stop and think “Wow! There are so many people and stories here!” The difference between neighbourhoods is similar to NYC – mine is quiet and quaint and very English. On the other hand, I work right in the City, so that’s full of suits and tourists. It’s amazing the contrast between the two! I’m moving to a shadier end of town soon – but it’ll be nice to learn more about another neighbourhood!
Also, I looove mole sauce!
You make me want to live in NYC! I have been living in St. Paul and Minneapolis for a while now, and it is cozy and fun, but I’d LOVE to live in New York for awhile. My bf lives out east, but he seems to prefer other cities like DC and Boston, which are great, but just not quite as culturally diverse as New York. Something about New York just seems so “real” to me.
I’ve been nervous to try mole sauce, but I think it’s time. Chocolate and cinamon flavor… what’s there not to love?
I’ve only visited NY once in my life (high school band trip), and would love to go back one day
I’ve never tried mole sauce, either! The mix of chocolate + cinnamon + savory sounds both wonderful and intriguing…I must try soon~
I would love to visit/live in NYC one day, looks incredible. I live in the middle of nowhere.
Jen
i can’t believe i’ve never had lemon curd! it looks so yummy and rich!
i live in suburbia to the maximus! too many dang cars for my liking haha i’m much more of a city girl but my wallet doesn’t allow me to be so until then i’m a burbia dweller
pineapple infused tequila?! YES PLEASE. i hatee tequila because it’s super dangerous haha but i think i would find a liking for it if its infused with my fav fruit!
Soo once I make it to New York…we’re going to this Jalapeno place (I mean, the name says it all! They MUST have spicy food, right?! ha!), ordering those same guacy tortillas and sipping yumo wine! I will learn to love wine this semester…I will, I will, I will. Hahah
But also, I wouldn’t worry too much about the boredom eating! Whatever your case may be, it seems minor and can’t really hurt a young, active, healthy, happy girl like yourself! xo!
My neighborhood is on the suburban side, but I’m grateful for its little gems: a killer sushi place nestled in a seemingly ubiquitous strip mall; an authentic taqueria w/genuinely friendly staff, and my pick of other selections (sandwich, noodle house, pizza, etc).
I love your pictures of NY! I get a similar feeling when I visit SF (about an hr or so from me)–there are definitely distinct flavors/designs/vibes for each neighborhood. Keep well in all of this snow!
You have me soooo interested to try mole sauce now. Why have I waited so long too?
Mmm that magic bar looks like it lives up to its name!
Love this post! I will admit that I’m a sucker for Magnolia cupcakes
I like my ‘hood (UES) ok – it’s kind of a mix of younger people, families and the stuffy rich folk. It’s safe and pretty quiet for the most part, and is “home” to me, for sure. The thing I love most about it is being close to Central Park, for sure.
i miss nyc so much! i loved our neighborhood (astoria). i like l.a. a lot too, it’s just so spread out!
magic bars, or 7 layer bars, as my mom calls them..are great!
“pineapple infused tequila, which we shot like champs.”–sounds great to me!
last post about at home vs. gym…I have an entire tab devoted to the 20 min at home workout that is easy and requires no really specialized equipment. Gotta make due with my garage, yoga mat, ball, and barney on dvr player for skylar
I would love to visit NY someday! I’ve actually never gone, but I’m always so jealous whenever I see pics of it.
what a small world!
glad you tried the mole – it’s incredible, isn’t it?
NY is really rich in variety culture people that always lead to the top . Yesterday I just saw our TV show reported NYC.It guided me to the Grand Central Terminal take a subway ,the beautiful classic architecture & special restaurants,of course they don’t miss Carrie loved cupcake bakery,even the house where Carrie lived at the sex & the city show. How attracted it is. I can’t wait until nest week’s show,keep following you will be more humanism.
I lived in Taiwan one small island of the Pacific Ocean,not so famous
sorry for some trouble to me.Here I lived place is peaceful natural small city far away the factory no air pollution.My neighborhood is friendly & kind.