POCKET LINT.

NYC (& BEYOND): The Best Things To Pine Over As 2011 Comes To a Close

I know that right now I should be waxing poetic about a holiday season in the city.  And, since I relocated back to NYC about a month ago, I have been romanced by the crisp weather, the smell of pine wafting from Christmas trees for sale in bushels on the sidewalk, meandering walks with hot apple cider through Prospect Park and a close proximity to Bergen Bagels.  But here's what I'm really obsessed with: boots!

What??  You can take the girl out of LA or NY, but you can't take LA, NYC and 30+ years of fashion grooming out of the girl!

Here are the boots I want badly right now and yet may have to forgo in exchange for ... a couch:

These Isabel Marant Dicker Boots (above!) are AMAZING and the taller version is beautiful too.  My pal Z. says they're comfy too.  So comfy I could slip them off her feet and steal them maybe?  I wonder.  But she's kind of quick.

These Rag & Bone Newbury mofos are must-have (only for me they're S.O.L.) and I know they'll still be perfect come springtime.  And there are even versions on sale right now.  Boo hoo.  Where is Santa when you need him and you're a JEW?  I could steal them off the tootsies of my friend C.C.R., but we don't wear the same size.

But, hey.  I'm an artist (ahem), right?  My suffering sans these boots is only fodder for my deeply introspective writing about ... more boots.  And beauty products.

Still, I can at least drown my sorrows in vegan brownies from 'sNice nearby and the adorable monogrammed Lucky Bee cards by sent to me (sweetly) by one of my editors for the holidays, pictured above.  You know how you're supposed to write letters to people you're upset with and then never send them?  Maybe I should use my new cards to write notes to the boots about how I feel abandoned.

Dear boots. How could you?  Sigh.

Anyhoo, happy holidays!  May you get all the boots (and love and other truly good stuff!) that your heart desires.  And may you then send them to me.

xo - N.

BROOKLYN (& BEYOND): Shameless Self-Promotion & a New Type of Sushi Roll

This is very exciting for me.  This isn't just some regular old shamless self-promotion.  This is my book ... on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles!  And the cover above!  SEMI-CHARMED LIFE actually doesn't come out until this summer when I'll be doing all sorts of readings and such (July!), but it's available for pre-order as of last week.

Also, I learned via a Google Alert yesterday that it's up on Good Reads too!  I have no clue at all how that happens, which is the case for me with most of what goes on in publishing, but I'm totally pysched.  This might seem silly, all these small details, but each public announcement or step makes the whole thing seem a little more real.

Anywaaaay, what else is happening?

Well, during my first month back in NYC (Park Slope to be exact), I've discovered a new ingenius sushi roll invention: The Tempura Sweet Potato Roll.  Yup.  It's become a regular thing for me.  Well, as regular as something can be after 28 days.  Or, actually, more like 21.  Time flies when you're  ... unpacking boxes.  Whatever.  The roll is amazing.  What else can I say?

Also, I went without TV for four weeks and then wrote a story about it called "In Defense of The Boob Tube" for Huffington Post's new HuffPost TV section.  If you love TV like I do (and you all know I do), then I think you'll be nodding along with this one.

Some other highlights over the last few weeks?  An interview with my favorite pair of designer sisters from ELKIN on elle.com and a write-up of new antioxidant-rich line of beauty products, Radical Skincare, for Vital Juice.

Otherwise, I've mostly been on the road and all that implies (a.k.a. slightly broken out skin and a few extra fast food pounds).  Oh, and also the freedom of the open road.  That too.

Happy happy holidays to you all!  May the New Year bring you happiness, health, money and YES! a new season of THE BACHELOR.  It's baaaaaaaaack.

xo - N.

BROOKLYN (& BEYOND): Great Green Gobs of Coconut Cake

I've been a very very bad blogger.  Here I am posting about my inaugural experience with the whole "Cake Man" Cakeville phenomenon in Fort Greene and I've obviously stolen the above picture.  I mean, that is CLEARLY not my thumb.

To make matters worse, while we did try the above red velvet/cream cheese icing flavor, it was a bright green Coconut Cake (the color of toxic venom!) with white icing that rocked my world.

But I didn't take a picture.  Because I'm lazy.  And because sometimes I have impulse control: Eat first.  Think later.  You would too, if you tasted this stuff.

If you haven't been or aren't aware of this whole sitch, basically this is an amazing cake-specific bakery -- the kind of place where they remain open daily until they run out of cake (and they usually do) and where slices weigh more than a small guinea pig.

Back in the day at my elementary school's Spring Fair, I used to always participate in the "Cake Walk" to get a free cake.  For hours upon hours, I would buy tickets and walk in circles until the music stopped, just hoping to feel the elation of winning.  I never did.  Tragic story, I know.

That's the good news about being an adult and about the existence of "Cake Man."  Sometimes money does buy (at least culinary) happiness.

xo - N.

NYC (AND BEYOND): SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION

So, in addition to "Fit Like Us" for self.com, I've been working on a thing or two about a thing or two.  (I don't even know what that means.)

But anyway, I wanted to share this link to my recent essay about H&H Bagels closing its Upper West Side location.  If you've already seen it, my apologies.

Also, check out this story about brand new amazing clothing line ELKIN out of Downtown LA in C Magazine.

Happy weekend!

xo - N.

LA (THIRD STREET): Roasted Peeps Revealed!

I'll start out by apologizing: The above is obviously not an image of a roasted Peep.

The problem is that Peeps are cute and, once I started roasting one, it seemed a little twisted like I was melting a little smiling bird.  So, I decided to spare you all that and just describe the experience.

In a word: Awesome.  It turns out that roasted Peeps are just like elevated regular marshmallows.  The inside is all good and mushy like normal, but the sugary outside turns into this crispy shell a bit like the  top of creme brulee.

SIGN. ME. UP.

I totally recommend.  Jesus Christ, that's good.  (Get it?  Cause it's Easter.  Is that wrong?)

xo - N.

LA (THIRD STREET): EASTER CANDY INNOVATION [What happens when you roast a Peep?]

Okay, so here I was seconds from telling you all about my most amazing find: Chocolate-covered Peeps at Joan's on Third.  I was going to talk about being a Cadbury Cream Egg devotee with an occasional penchant for Peeps (only when stale).

But, then, I went in search of an image for this post because, per usual, I ate the entire delicious package before I remembered to take a picture and I discovered that Peeps themselves have had the same brilliant thought as my local gourmet market (though surely in a less upscale incarnation).

The whole investigation provoked some serious contemplation: If Peeps could be successfully dipped in chocolate than how else could we innovate them?  Their website posits recipes for Peeps macaroons (for the Jews!) and rice crispy treats, but those seem just to entail tacking the yellow and pink marshmallows on at the end.

Let's get serious and ask the hard questions: What in fact happens if you roast a Peep?

The bad news is that I have no idea.  The good news is that I plan to find out tomorrow and then tell you all about it.  Because that's the spirit of Easter, you know?  It's all about sharing!  (Or, not really, but that's a good message too, right?)

xo - N.

BROOKLYN (RED HOOK): GETTING BAKED [VANILLA AND CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOWS BY BAKED]

I probably shouldn't even admit this, but last night I watched First Daughter, which is that fiasco where Katie Holmes plays the President's daughter and the Commander in Chief is Beetlejuice.

Personally, I recommend you spare yourself that experience.  Don't even get me started on Katie Holmes' weird mouth. Yup.  I took one for the team and, I should mention, that it was only because of the above marshmallows.  My friend S. sends me yummy food baskets for every birthday and this year's included brownies and marshmallows (yup, chocolate flavored ones too!) made by a company out of Red Hook called Baked.

The Drewser and I have been roasting them on chopsticks over our old school gas stove, which is - I realize - a little college dorm room and a little low-end, but SO YUUUUUUMMMMY!

Just take a gander for yourself:

They're good.  So good, in fact, that I watched all of First Daughter in a contented stupor.  Isn't life grand?  Sad sad state of affairs.

xo - N.

LA/SF/NYC/EVERYWHERE: CHEAP EATS (& STUFF)

So, I was having lunch at Toast with some PR buds and some very interesting factoids came up.  You guys know I'm a fan of Lifebooker for beauty discounts.

Did you know that in addition to Groupon, you can sign up at BlackboardEats.com and get discounts on meals at restaurants all over town.  And not just lamo places.  Real spots. One girl said she got 30%-off at Street last week.  They even offer suggestions on what to eat and reviews.

Yup.

I just signed up.  I mean, for reals.  So, if you aren't quite sure, I'll try to keep you posted on any meal discount successes!

xo - N.

P.S. Speaking of discounts, starting today on Gilt HOME, D.L. & Co. goods are more than 50%-off (and I am obsessed with these, but they are usually SO out of the price range) and Gilt is having a sale on H2Pro flat irons too.

It's true what George Bush said.  The Internets are a crazy thing.

xo - N.

EVERYWHERE: THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS (OR AT LEAST FREELANCE WRITERS) [Special-K with red berries]

Happy November, folks.  This is the greatest month of all, in case you were wondering.  It's the month of my anniversary, election day (fingers crossed), my birthday (shared with Charles Manson and Tanya Harding), National Novel Writing Month AND the month that I make my first million.  Somehow.  Some way.  PLEASE!!!!

Thus, you need to start this month with a hearty breakfast.  That sounds like a joke.  Let's just say it is one.  I'm not even a breakfast person.  But anyway, the point is that I am newly obsessed with Special-K with red berries (a.k.a. dehydrated strawberries--my favorite!) and you will be too, if you have remotely good taste.  Yup.  I said it.

I actually haven't been a cereal person for years being lactard and all, but then R.L. introduced me to almond milk (the "original" flavor) and it's hurled me happily back into a world of Snap, Crackle, Pop and Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs.

Actually, I'm a fraud.  I've never even had Cocoa Puffs.  I had a childhood deprived of sugar cereal and somehow they brainwashed me, so that I don't even like it as an adult.  THANKS, GUYS.  For this and the tendency to sunburn.

Anyway, the Special-K is great cause the berries are tart, so it's not even that sweet.  It's just damn good.  Also, at Whole Foods they charge so much for those containers of dehydrated berries and such.  Why is it so much cheaper just to buy this cereal?  Huh?  Tell me that!  Special thanks to C. for tipping me off on the stuff!

Happy November!

xoxo - N.

LA (THE RANCH): THE SHOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT NOW [BIGGEST LOSER]

Okay, I have a problem.  I mean, beyond the usual insanity that rules my twisted mind.

Basically, I am a Biggest Loser lover.

That's not the problem.  You're so impatient!  Jeez.

The problem is that usually I like to watch the weight loss show, while inhaling massive amounts of junk food with Andre on the couch.  But he's starting production on a movie tomorrow and that means I'm solo in my viewing.

Apparently, he has more "important" things to do than watch reality TV.  So hoity-toity, that boy.

Anyhoo--I need to know that there are other LINT viewers out there that share my obsession, so I can dish weekly about the episodes.

C'mon guys.  Don't make me go it alone.  I think Jillian and I are about to have a break through.

xo - N.