April 2011 Desktop Wallpaper

Tomorrow is April! Update those desktops!

(first click on the picture to view it larger
then right click and select "set as background".)

"...and I am a rebel, in a wolf's hat." -KK

...or bunny ears.

Oh, and the snake-skin shoes

are in honor of the missing Bronx Zoo cobra.

until next time,

g

Kendall Rose Ink

Kendall was my favorite classmate in Greeting Card Design at Parsons. Her cards were always so inspiring and I absolutely adore her script - and I am very particular when it comes to handwriting.

I was so inspired by her calligraphy that I spent my flight home from Jamaica (where I had to sit in a separate row from my friend) writing the alphabet over and over in different styles with a calligraphy pen. The couple next to me must've thought I was nuts, particularly since I did this only after I awoke from my nap - my nap that abruptly ended with me smacking my head against the airplane window and jolting in a startled delirium. Anyhoo, I'm still learning how to even hold the pen! It's a lot harder than it looks and I applaud anyone that can do it so well.

Check out Kendall's Etsy shop here. She provides custom lettering and calligraphy service for weddings, save-the-dates, envelope addressing, place cards, menus, programs, table numbers, birth announcements, party invites, thank you cards, custom stationary or letterhead, and business cards.

all images via

Isn't she talented?

until next time,

g

For the Sweet Tooth

I have been on the hunt for the best dessert in NYC since 2007.
Ladies and gentlemen of the sugar-rush community,
I have finally found it.

ABC Kitchen's sundae is out. of. this. world.

I'm not kidding, it is like a bowl of love.

Forgive me, it IS a bowl of love.

Imagine salted caramel ice cream topped with candied peanuts and popcorn with a dollop of whipped cream swimming in a generous pool of chocolate sauce.

Have a looksie.

image via

image via

image via

Warning: Consuming the sundae may cause you to melt into a puddle on the floor.

ABC Kitchen is located at 35 E. 18th Street near Broadway.
Go wipe the drool off your face, ping your sugar bff, and call ABC Kitchen at 212.475.5829 and make a reservation.

Who needs dinner when you can have a bowl of love?

until next time,

g

A Monday Smile

TV Shows come and go, but in my opinion,

 nothing compares or will ever compare to Friends.

While *any* Friends rerun is an instant pick-me-up,

 I also have a secret weapon for a guaranteed smile...

Friends bloopers!

Thought I'd share some to brighten your Monday.

until next time,

g

Playtime!

It's still a little chilly to enjoy all of the outside activities this city has to offer. I've recently had two really fun outings in NYC that involved playing inside, though. Ping pong and bowling, that is! Check out these great spots.

SPiN

all images from here

Location
48 E 23rd Street
tel: 212. 982. 8802

Court Rates
Before 6pm: Walk-ins - $10 for 1/2 hour
                     Members - $5 for 1/2 hour
After 6 pm:  Walk-ins - $20 for 1/2 hour
                     Members - $10 for 1/2 hour
(great prices if you share with a group)

Hours
Monday: 11am - Midnight
Tuesday: 11am - 2am
Wednesday: 11am - 2am
Thursday: 11am - 2am
Friday: 11am - 4am
Saturday: 11am - 4am
Sunday: 11am - 10pm

SPiN was designed by Todd Oldham and is owned by Franck Raharinosy, Andrew Gordon, Jonathan Bricklin, and Susan Sarandon. (I've now seen three times since living in NYC - I love her.) The space is 13,000 sq. ft with 16 ping pong tables, a full bar, a restaurant called Duck's Eatery, and a private room. For more information, click here.

Bowlmor Lanes Times Square 

(also one in Union Square)

all images from here

The Stadium Grill restaurant has 4 levels of seating, 29 HD TVs, and an 80 foot bar. For bowling? 45 lanes / 7 themed lounges to represent different places & time periods in NYC - Times Square, Chinatown, Central Park, Art Deco, Prohibition and Pop, and Coney Island. To see a Flickr photostream of celebs enjoying Bowlmor, click here. Looks like we missed Miss Lohan by just a few days.

222 West 44th Street (btwn 7th & 8th)
tel: 212.680.0012

Bowling Hours

Monday1PM - 1AM

Tuesday1PM - 12AM

Wednesday1PM - 12AM

Thursday1PM - 12AM

Friday1PM - 3AM

Saturday11AM - 3AM

Sunday11AM - 12AM

Stadium Grill Hours

Monday4PM – 11PM

Tuesday4PM – 11PM

Wednesday4PM – 11PM

Thursday4PM – 11PM

Friday11AM - 12AM

Saturday11AM - 12AM

Sunday11AM - 11PM

21+ after 8PM

They offer great specials. For example, every Monday for $24, you get unlimited bowling, drink specials, and live music. Happy Hour (5-7pm M-F) specials at Stadium Grill include 1/2 off well drinks, $4 domestic draft beer, and $6.95 appetizers. Different party packages are available. Reservations are advised - to plan yours, click here.


Enjoy!


until next time,


g

Spring Organizing: Your Desk

Despite Mother Nature toying with our hopes right now, it is indeed spring -
and therefore time to do one of the things I love most.

Organize!

No seriously, I love it. You can ask any roommate I've had in boarding school, college, NYC. I take great pleasure in removing everything out of my closet/shelves/bookcases and re-folding/re-organizing. It's very therapeutic. If I were a character on "Friends", I'd be Monica. And just like Monica, I probably drove those aforementioned roommates absolutely crazy.

I make a million lists and I insist on having a place for all items in my life; I require many boxes, folders, bags, pouches, other spaces in which to store things. I realize that this is a sign of perhaps over-compartmentalizing my life in some obsessive compulsive way, but let's be honest, we're all a little screwy.

First thing on the list to organize? Your desk. Having an organizational system on your desk is conducive to productivity, but it's also important to really enjoy and find inspiration & happiness in your work area. Here are some favorites to help organize and brighten your desk. They also make great gift ideas!

Russell & Hazel

shop here

acrylic collator - $40

pencil set - $35

jotters set - $16

 mini binder - $16

one day at a time - $30

quips + queries set - $24

signature three-ring - $24

all images from here

Dabney Lee
shop/personalize here

monogrammed catch all - $40

                personalized desk pad -$65                         

                          

personalized fill-in planner - $55

personalized rolodex - $75

all images from here

Container Store

shop here

large sliding drawer organizer - currently on sale for $5.99

semikolon document box - $17.99 ea

stainless steel magnetic wall pocket - $21.99

synchronicity stockholm magazine file - $10.99 ea

acrylic desktop file - $24.99 ea

all images from here

Sometimes it's helpful to see other offices/desks for inspiration. Check out the office of one of my favorite bloggers, Jen Ramos, here. It's so cheery! I would love to have a room like that one day. Please note the card on her inspiration board:

"Life is too short to dance with ugly men." :)

Happy spring organizing!

until next time,

g

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

I'm backkk.

Where did I go?
 Here.

image from here

And it looked like this.

And it was absolutely wonderful.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel to Jamaica, go.

I want to return as soon as possible.

I miss everything about it.

And the fact that I was applying aloe to my "sunkissed" skin this morning right before walking through snow flurries?

That totally didn't help.

One of the little huts on the beach in the resort served delicious jerk chicken for lunch.

It's all I want right now.

I would make it...

...if I had time to go grocery shopping, if it wasn't snowing, and ya know, if I owned a grill.

 For now, I'm just going to drool over the recipe
and share it with you.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken
recipe from here

ingredients:

1 tbs. Ground allspice
1 tbs. Dried thyme
1 1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1 1/2 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. Ground sage
3/4 tsp. Ground nutmeg
3/4 tsp. Ground cinnamon
2 tbs. Salt
2 tbs. Garlic powder
1 tbs. Sugar
1/4 cup Olive oil
1/4 cup Soy sauce
3/4 cup White vinegar
1/2 cup Orange juice
Juice of 1 lime
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 cup Chopped white onion
3 Green onions, finely chopped
4 Chicken breasts (6 to 8 oz)trimmed of fat (with bones)

directions:

In a large bowl, combine the allspice, thyme, cayenne pepper, black pepper, sage, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, garlic powder and sugar. With a wire whisk, slowly add the olive oil, soy sauce, vinegar, orange juice, and lime juice. Add the Scotch bonnet pepper, onion, and green onions and mix well. Add the chicken breasts, cover and marinate for at least 1 hour, longer if possible. Preheat an outdoor grill. Remove the breasts from the marinade and grill for 6 minutes on each side or until fully cooked. While grilling, baste with the marinade.

until next time,

g



Lots to Tell You Before I Go

This little lady is going on vacation (woohoo!) -- but I have lots to tell you before I go.

1. I'm pretty sure an opera singer moved into my apartment building. She sings. All the time. At a pitch that causes my eyebrows to permanently leap into my hairline. Help.

2. St. Patty's Day is Thursday! You better have something green picked out to wear. Here is a list of all of the many activities going on in NYC this week/month to celebrate.

3. I think this is an absolutely adorable gift idea!

4. Dear Banana Boat/Coopertone/Neutrogena/Blue Lizard/other sunscreen people,

  

I would greatly appreciate it if you would make travel-sized sunscreens that can be purchased in a variety pack. One needs a range of SPF levels for different days and also a special oil-free kind for his or her face. Small enough to meet 3 fl. oz. plane requirements? In a waterproof zipped case? Team up with the aloe people and put some of that in the pack, too? Why yes, yes, and yes! 

Alas, you do not supply this. Why you have not thought of this, I do not understand. Chop-chop!

Regards, 

LL

5. If you need a pick-me-up while I am away, here is something that always cheers me up.

6. Bethenny Frankel might be the funniest person alive. If you like her as much as I do, check out her website. It includes everything from recipes to her list of favorite NYC restaurants to lifestyle advice to "show and tell" about what you see on each episode.

7. According to Google, Little Lady reached 10,000 page views last night. And according to their general audience statistics, my most frequent readers are from the US, Canada, Germany, UK, Denmark, Australia, Slovenia, Singapore, China & India. That is a small triumph to most bloggers, but a big deal to this little lady. I just want to say a big THANK YOU! I know many of you stumble upon my site when you're searching for something I've discussed, but I hope you return. And if you do, please become a follower by pressing the "follow" button on the righthand sidebar. I'd love for you to join me. Thank you again!

8. And now...sunshine awaits!



iPhone day-dream doodle during commute

There I am. 

Lying in the sun. 

Without my sunscreen variety-pack...

Ah well, I shan't complain! :)

(Shan't. Why do we not use this word more? Let's bring it back.)

until next time,

g

Breakfast-time!

I've recently discovered three new favorite breakfast places in my neighborhood. They're wonderful -- and if you have the opportunity, you must give them a try!

1. Cafe Minerva

304 W. 4th Street

no menu available

amazing coffee

images from here

2. De Santos

139 W. 10th Street

click here to view website
great food & service -- and a cute little outdoor garden

images from here

3. Golden Crepes

262 W. 15th Street

click here to view menu
one word: delicious!

image from my iPhone
(banana & nutella crepe)

P.S. I saw this fella on my street and I just have one question.

Where do you have room to keep such a dog in this city?!

images from iPhone

until next time,

g

Must-have for Spring & Summer - Tkees!

Tkees (pronounced T-keys) are leather flip-flops made in Brazil that can be dressed up or down. They're more sophisticated than rubber flip-flops and they go with everything! Advertised as "cosmetics for your feet", Tkees come in the following shade categories:  liners, foundations, highlighers, shadows, lipsticks, blushes, glosses, creams, and polishes.

My personal favorite? The foundation colors that are designed to match your skin tone. They come in seashell, sunkissed, coco butter, beach bum, & mocha -- and they're $46/pair.

Here's what they look like (the last one is black):

image from here

Tkees are also a celeb-fave.

all celeb photos from here

Warm weather will be here soon! And you know you want a pair.

~wink~

To see their main website, click here. To order from their online retailer, click here.

until next time,

g