One Improvtastic Day

My friend Erin flew into town for the day yesterday. It was a short trip because she had to attend a wedding in Connecticut today, but let me tell you, we packed as much fun as we could into 24 short hours. We started first after Erin arrived, with brunch at Miriam. I've heard nothing but great things about the place, and who knew it was literally only a block from my apartment? It absolutely did not disappoint. I was told to get the Mediterranean crispy bread w/ eggs, tomato puree and harissa by a friend. I happily obliged, and it was fantastic!! I requested poached eggs and they were perfectly done. Erin went with the challah french toast and said it was divine. Yahoo for cafe au lait as well.

Miriam's breakfast

After breakfast, as a special treat I just knew my Belgian friend would appreciate, we hunted down the wafels & dinges truck in Park Slope for elevensies. Clearly, another winner. Erin said it was possibly the only liege wafel she's ever finished, and my belgian with speculoos spread was just as awesome.

Wafels & dinges

After a quick pit-stop back at the apartment, we headed into Manhattan for a day of fun. We wandered around the Union Square area checking out art and drinking fresh juice, wandered into the Strand to browse, and then headed to the East Village for drinks at McSorley's Old Ale House. We managed to even squeeze into a table with some random strangers, where we proceeded to be the officiants of their chugging contests to determine who bought the next round. McSorley's is fun, and always a great experience. It doesn't hurt that it's in close proximity to Pomme Frites (don't worry, we partook) AND my first cupcake in the city! Chickalicious dessert bar again came well recommended, and anyone that has a key lime cupcake on the menu gets my vote. Erin said her lemon cupcake had particularly awesome frosting, and I can't tell you enough how full of fresh lime juice my cupcake tasted. Winner!

McSorley's Fun

Cupcakealicious

After we were full of food and fun (again), we headed over to the Times Square area to check out something that Erin was skeptical about, but that I've wanted to do FOREVER. We were going to partake in Improv Everywhere's 7th annual mp3 experiment. I've been reading about IE for just about all of their nine years now, and secretly, it's one of the reasons I've always wanted to live in New York. These guys are awesome! Their skits and antics are so creative, and I feel so inspired to be around people that are being respectful of their surroundings and just having some fun. You can head over to the IE site to get full details on how the experiment went, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I only snapped one quick picture near the end (the idea is not to take pictures at these events, but enjoy being in the moment) of the mummy dance, and it was a sight to behold for sure. So much more fun that words can describe.

IE Mummyness

P.S. There's a big smile from yours truly at about 1:20 remaining here as well.

We closed out the evening with tapa's at Bar Carrerra, which were also pretty tasty. At this point I was basically full from all the other stuff I'd eaten all day, but notable on the tapa's menu were the patatas brava's, the chorizo bocadillo, and the pan con tomate. I don't know how they made the powdered olive oil that was on top of the pan con tomate, but it was really cool. It looked like feta, but crumbled into nothing but air on the fork and in your mouth. Crazy. After tapas it was fairly late, and since Erin had been up since four am, we decided to head back to Brooklyn and get some rest. Overall it was a fantastic day with a good friend and I can't wait until she visits again! Until then, you'll have to visit yourself and have a stay in our Erin K. Fleck memorial guest room.

this, that, and an unintended KERF tribute

House nonsense continues, but today I'm moving on with things. Getting up and getting out there. It's a good thing too, because in my travels down 7th Avenue, I found a grocery store mecca! Back to the Land is everything I've been looking for and more. I went in just to browse, and ended up coming home with basically a tribute to all the things I keep reading about on KERF. They didn't have the garlic gold nuggets that I wanted, but this non-vinegar vinaigrette was on sale, so I said what the hell. Plus crofters! And coconut butter! My oatmeal is gonna be so happy.

Food Finds

Speaking of oatmeal, I found a new cute bowl for me to put mine in! Crate and Barrel had a "welcome to the neighborhood, please take 10% off your entire purchase" thing sent to me, and they had me at "hello and welcome." I picked up my new orange oatmeal bowl, shiny metal condiment tins, magnetic measuring spoons (ooooh fancy high-tech), and these orange stripe towels. I kind of have a thing for orange in case you hadn't noticed.

Kitchen Finds

I also went back to Ikea recently to get the handles for my kitchen cupboard, and stumbled across these cute metal shelves for only $15.99. STEAL! The Mister's been searching and searching for some small shelves to put next to our tv for speakers, and I think these were just the ticket. I'm hoping to accessorize with some off-centered wall shelves above the tv that will hold the final speaker and some random dvd's and picture frames, etc. The couch side of the room is looking pretty cozy as well. You can finally see the floor instead of a big pile of broken-down cardboard.

That'll do Pig

I also got the Mister to install my bathroom shelf on the wall this week. It's not exactly high quality (woooo Target $24.99 finds), but again, I think it can be classed up some with nicer pulls and some greenery and art and such. I'm happy with our new chocolate brown towels though. We haven't bought new towels since we got married!

Master Bath is shaping up

Finally, there hasn't been enough mini around here lately. So I present to you, mini samosa's!!! They are literally, the cutest things ever. I might go gobble them up right now with my hypercolor glass of wine.

Frantic Antic

Things have been pretty quiet around here lately. The Mister and I have been dealing with some home sale (back in Michigan) nonsense for the last few days, and consequently, I haven't been doing much exploring until the situation gets resolved. The weekend did find us out and about though. A Brooklyn Brewery visit in Williamsburg was involved, as was checking out the Atlantic Antic, Brooklyn's largest street festival.

Brooklyn Brewery with friends

Atlantic Antic, old buses, and Arepas!

In other news, while I've been stuck inside dealing with nonsense, I've also been bidding my time by shredding this GIANT mountain of paper (and eating fruit snacks). I'm only 1/2 done with the filing cabinet too. Watch out remaining papers, you're no longer safe while this Lady's still on a cleaning binge...

The Beudoir and Bonuses

Now that the kitchen is in working order, my focus has moved into our other "liveable" space, the master. The size of the room itself is not a problem, the closet-space however, is. Going from a walk-in closet in Milan to just one large closet here has been pretty damn tough. I donated two whole carloads of clothes and shoes to the salvation army before we left Michigan, and now here I've had to eliminate another three garbage bags. It finally all fits though! No more piles of clothes on the floor or shoes in baskets in the other room. Phew.

Closet reveal

My hidden shoe storage

The bed takes up the majority of the bedroom, along with our dresser and tv in the corner. It IS kind of random to have two tv's in such a small apartment, but we owned them already, and the Mister and I are both big babies when we're sick. We love to crash with movies in bed. The real exciting element of the bedroom though, is the fact that we have curtains! Yeah! Ghetto shower curtain begone. I also had to get creative and hang my purses on a wall. Artwork and picture hanging still pending as well, as obviously the space above the headboard looks a little barren.

Views of the master

In the bonus category, I've got two spaces that are coming along nicely. The hall closet and the entryway. The entryway currently includes the only piece of art we have hanging in the whole apartment! I found these super cool New Yorker covers at Union Square the other day, and I knew just what I wanted to do with them, since I had the frame and everything. I love when a good plan comes together like that. I'm pretty pleased with walking in the door of the apartment now too.

Entryway wall and Art

Finally, the hall closet isn't quite complete yet (gotta get a lot more stuff in there), but I was happy to find an over the door iron organizer. Add a few of my aprons, and wahla! It's as good as it's going to get for now.

Hall closet

Organizational Update

We're getting there. This place is still in no condition for visitors yet, but I made MAJOR progress these last few days. The Mister helped hang and build some needed shelving, and today I finally got the kitchen in such great order that you can see the counter. That's nothing short of a miracle these days.
I'll start off by giving you a tour of the now mostly complete kitchen, sparing any actual hanging pictures and what not. First up, is the new shelving unit we spent many hours at Ikea agonizing over and finally purchasing and getting delivered. It doesn't have handles (still have to make yet another trip to Ikea), but I'm pleased with it.

New cupboard, hello organization!

Then there's some pretty random things about our place in general. Like the fact that we have very little "usable" kitchen cupboards. So I have to store my pots & pans under the sink (it's the only space big enough!); don't judge. It works just fine, and the Mister checked it all out to make sure there will never be any leaks or drips onto my precious cookware.

Undersink storage

Next to my sink, is a cupboard to the left that is the only one deep enough for cutting boards. So that's where those live, along with other random pyrex dishes, and our plastic bags. Whatever works, right?

Random cupboard

Then I've got the majority of my actual "bakeware" above the fridge. Yes, for some of the major pieces I have to get out the stepstool in order to reach them, but again, such is city life.

Capitalizing on fridge space

Finally, here's a few shots of the kitchen cupboards proper. They do hold a surprising amount of our things, and frankly, I think we (read I) did a pretty damn fine job finding a home for the large amount of kitchen gadgets we own. Having 4 drawers on either side of the oven does help a lot.

Kitchen reveal


Drawer's galore

Our standard glassware and dishes fit into a couple of little cupboards to the right of the sink. I waited, and waited, and waited for a delivery from organize.com to get that stainless steel shelf you see! So thank goodness it finally came, hence the post.

Daily dishware

Lastly, here's my measly little pantry. Yes, it looks full already, and it mostly is, but you remember my giant Milan pantry right? How are you not beyond proud of me that I've managed to work my way down to just three shelves that are at most, only 10" deep??

Pantry space

I got so excited about being able to see the counters today, that I even stopped what I was doing this afternoon and baked a loaf of banana bread. Crazy times my friends. Tomorrow stay tuned for a bedroom & closet update, with a bonus entry and hall closet reveal.