What Waffle Shortage?

I had no idea there was a waffle shortage! Apparently, Kellogg’s Eggo, which controls 70% of the frozen waffle marketplace, has told people to brace for a nationwide shortage until next summer (!) because two of its four Eggo-producing plants had to shut down. One in Atlanta was flooded and was found to have listeria, and the other in Tennessee is closed for repairs.

So what’s a waffle-loving kid (of any age) to do?

I have two good options for you. Van’s makes a great frozen waffle, without all of the chemicals you can’t pronounce that are in Eggo. We’re partial to the multigrain, and they have plenty of fiber while tasting great. They have gluten-free and vegan options, too. Same easy cook method — just pop ‘em in the toaster. We buy ours at Whole Foods. (Around $3.50)

If you have a waffle iron, it’s actually pretty easy to make your own waffles. You can make a mix from scratch, but I really like the Belegem Waffle Mix from Williams-Sonoma. It’s simple to prepare, and the waffles come out light and sweet — just right every time. One secret is to let the batter sit for ten minutes or so before you make them. Somehow it gets a little thicker and even more delicious. ($9.50)

So don’t fret, Eggo-lovers. You may even come out of it with a better tasting favorite waffle!

Etc.

Such a packed weekend — lots of birthday parties. We were literally running from activity to activity, but it was all fun so it was worth it.

It was a wet, heavy snow last night in NYC that didn’t stick but did feel cold and wet coming down. Our friends invited us over and cooked dinner while the kids played together. It was such a nice way to spend an inclement evening, and reminded me that really all you need for a great night is some good friends, some tasty nibbles and a nice bottle of wine.

Right now my son is going on ten minutes of whining in my ear that he wants to use his new frog placemat that I bought him, so I must go and end the madness.

Until tomorrow!

Little Juicy Tidbits

I have a lot of one-off bits of info I wanted to pass along before we ended the week together, so here we go:

Apparently Liberty of London has entered into a venture with Target to create items using some of their iconic Liberty prints (think: floral). This is not part of the designer collections that Zac Posen and Rodarte are a part of, but is a separate collection that will range from clothing for men, women and children to housewares. No word on pricepoints (but it’s Target, so how bad can it be) — the line will debut in stores and online on March 14th.

Speaking of Target, I had high(ish) hopes for the Rodarte collection. The look book came out today and it’s underwhelming. Check it out. NY Mag’s commentary is pretty funny. Some of the stuff will be available in a pop-up shop Target’s opening from December 11 – 13 right in my ‘hood at the entrance to the High Line, at Gansevoort and Washington Streets, open daily 10 – 8. Apparently they’re going to have 50 different gifts, all pre-wrapped so you can grab, buy and go!

H&M, that other cheap bastion of fashion that I never really go to since it opened stateside, is planning on opening a bunch of home stores next year. This could be interesting, as in Europe I’m a fan of Zara home stores, which haven’t made it here yet. Inexpensive style is always a good thing!

Then, it seems JC Penney is going to start carrying MNG by Mango, the line from Spain that is hit or miss, but when it’s hit, they have some amazing stuff at good prices. This is good news, Middle America! I never shop at Penneys but with this, the new Olsen twins line (Olsenboye), and the fact that they’re going to be the exclusive place to find Isaac Mizrahi’s Liz Claiborne line, maybe they can turn around their 78 percent drop in profits! (No, that was no typo.) Good luck to them.

And finally, I’ve said little to nothing about the Tiger mess, but those text messages are dirty! Tiger — what were you thinking?! Never put it in writing…I also love that when he released his “apology,” millions of people didn’t know what the word “transgressions” meant. Hilarious.

Could it be Thursday already??

Why yes it is — so here’s Ken with the Single of the Week:

The French are annoying. Unfair, perhaps, but broad generalizations are easy and I am tired. The last thing you want a Frenchman to do is explain how something French is so great. What can you do? Shazam! The Single of the Week is at your service. If you haven’t checked out Saint Etienne, you should –  it’s Sarah Cracknell’s sweet, comforting voice on an atmospheric bed of electronica-lite. They’ve been dropping their beats since the early 90s, and their latest is really a remix by the French duo Air France. And, yes, apparently there are no trademark regulations in France.

Saint Etienne, Spring (Air France remix)

Etc.

This morning I shook the bottle of Eucerin Calming Body Wash (they are getting a lot of free publicity, btw) and it was a little better in lathering up.  I don’t think I’ll be buying another bottle. But I do appreciate Michelle’s feeling that it is a great product for those with sensitive skin. So thanks for writing in, Michelle!

I feel like this week is one of those weirdly off ones. I had a terrible day on Tuesday, and my subsequent ones haven’t been so much better. A lot of people’s kids are sick. Layoffs at a friend of mine’s company. Then another friend has some crazy family strife going on. It’s just one big OY. I’m just waiting for the weekend so hopefully I can break the spell.

But I also came home to find Austin’s poetry notebook, which he brings home on Thursdays. This week’s poem was “You Are My Sunshine,” which if you read it on the page is that much sweeter. Please don’t take my sunshine away!

I hope your week has been stellar, and your weekend is even better. Enjoy it!

In Praise of: The Clementine

Dear Clementine:

Oh how I love your little juicy self, your handy portability, the way your skin peels back in one or two easy pieces. While other fruits like blueberries and strawberries have  gone out of season, only available from far flung places that do who knows what to their soil, you, Clementine, hit your stride in December. Bringing sunshine into every lunch box you touch. It’s comforting to know that while other fruits are hit or miss, just about every Clementine is juicy and sweet — not like that apple, who might be mealy/might be crisp/might be bruised and battered underneath that deceiving thin skin of theirs.

You are not a tangerine. Oh no — there is a difference, right little Clementine? I know — you don’t all look the same, even if you are all orange.

And Clementine, I like that you’re not too, too juicy or seed-y or messy, meaning my children and I can eat you on the run without too much commitment to paper towels, napkins, bibs or changes of clothes. The vitamin C is an added bonus, of course, as is the fact that you come in your own handy wooden crate that sits up on the kitchen counter in a place of honor.

You give and you give, Clementine, and for that we praise you.

Rebuttal

So loyal Family Favs reader Michelle from Connecticut wrote in to let me know I am wrong about my thumbs down for Eucerin’s Calming Body Wash. She writes, “Wanted to let you know I LOVE the Eucerin Calming Body Wash.  This is the first fall and hopefully winter that I don’t have painful dry skin.  Yes, the fragrance free is kind of blah, but it really works!  For fragrance, there is always the cream you put on after the shower.  Also, did you read the directions?  You’re supposed to shake it.  Maybe that’s what gives the lather.” I had no idea about the shaking. I’m going to try it tomorrow morning and I’ll report back. Who knew you had to read the directions on shower gel? I just thought it was the old, “Lather. Rinse. Repeat if necessary.”

So there’s the point/counterpoint for you. If you have sensitive skin it sounds like you should give it a try, as it really seems to get results. Thanks Michelle! Always great to get another point of view.

Etc.

Who knew Alex P. Keaton’s mom was gay? Watching Meredith Baxter Birney come out on the Today show was a tad bizarre. Matt Lauer handled it fine, it just seemed so uncomfortable for the poor woman. All I kept thinking was, what would her ultra-conservative fictional TV son think?

I went by Lord & Taylor this evening — they were having a promotional event for Am Ex cardholders. In some not so good news, the store was pretty empty. It was a little depressing, especially for this time of year. Hope it picks up for their sake.

If you’ve noticed, I think I’ve gone a week without mentioning how bone tired I am. That’s because I kept falling asleep at the computer. Which I am doing again now, so I am going to to say see you…

Go Local

Just when you think you can go on autopilot to get through the craziness of the holiday season, Austin gets sick. I hate when he has to miss school (and swimming, and chess, and…) I hope he feels better soon!

Today I wanted to tell you about an American Express promotion that hasn’t gotten a lot of buzz, but it’s a great thing to know about if you have an Am Ex card: the NYC Extreme Local promotion. Basically, you go to this website (amexnetwork.com/extremelocal) and register your card. Then, if you spend $300 at at least 3 participating businesses between November 27th and December 20th of this year, you’ll get a $50 credit on your statement. Fifty bucks, no questions asked. You can search the site by neighborhood to find out what businesses are participating — there are restaurants like Pop Burger, 202, Union Square Cafe and Blue Smoke, museums like the Rubin, and stores including Auto, J. Crew and Kidding Around. So if you have an American Express card and you live in or plan on visiting the New York City area, register and reap the reward!

Apparently Am Ex has made a big effort to go local with its promotions. If you live in another major city, check out amexnetwork.com/travel and see what rewards you can get your hands on in Los Angeles, Chicago or San Francisco, among other places, on things like hotels, restaurants and stores. If they’re offering, you may as well take advantage!

Thumbs Down

I usually like Eucerin products, and I had high hopes for their new Calming Body Wash, but I was disappointed. It’s fragrance free, which just leaves it smelling kind of dull and oily, and it doesn’t really lather so it’s caught between a splash and a weak soap. I guess if you have really sensitive skin and your options are severely limited, you might want to give it a try. But there are so many other better body washes on the market. Better luck next time, Eucerin!

Etc.

Hard to believe it’s December already. This week is all about “truth and beauty” — mani/pedi, facial, cut and color, eyebrows…it’s exhausting trying to look passable! Ha ha.

Today was a really crappy day. But as someone once said, there’s always tomorrow…word.

Gray Day

OK, my favorite revelation of the day has to be that supposed domestic goddess/definite ex-convict Martha Stewart ATE OUT on Thanksgiving — and not one but two meals. Granted it was Per Se and then the Four Seasons, but even still, practice what you preach lady! I guess she had to give her minions the day off so she had no one to do everything for her.

Anyway…today is all about the color gray. (As an aside, I can’t decide if I like the “gray” or “grey” spelling better.) It’s the underrated cousin to black, but seems much fresher for winter. It’s an easy way to update your wardrobe for the season. And if you’re making your holiday wish list, put some of these on it:

Chunky gray knits at Banana

A gray sweater. Something cableknit, thick and warm. Longer styles are more flattering with a tie belt. Vince is a reliable (albeit pricey) sweater resource. Banana Republic has a bunch. For the ladies, I love it with red or eggplant-colored lipstick.

A gray cashmere scarf. Guys, this one’s especially for you. Something soft around your neck to keep you warm. Looks great with just about every colored coat.

Gray flannel wool pants. Pair them with a black turtleneck for simple winter chic. Nordstrom has a large selection, some on sale.

Gray nail polish. Update from your summer brights without going too dark and gloomy. OPI’s You Don’t Know Jacques is a good bet.

A gray wool blazer. One of the best things about gray is that it truly is a neutral that goes with just about everything, without washing people out (like beige). So a gray jacket is a good investment piece. Just make sure to buy a cut that’s timeless (i.e. don’t go double breasted or double vented). Simplicity rules once again.

A gray suede hobo bag. Gray suede in any kind of slouchy style looks good — goes with

Gray snakeskin flats from Cole Haan

casual and more stylish looks. I have one from years ago from Dolce and Gabbana that still works.

Gray flats in an interesting material. Rather than straight leather, gray tends to work better in an animal skin or suede — something with texture. Cole Haan and Delman make nice ones.

If you feel like you need some color with your gray, red, hot pink, turquoise and navy blue all go well with it. And silver, black onyx or diamond jewelery completes the look. Go gray and conquer!

Bullseye

When high fashion designers go lowbrow and design lines for Target, the results are hit or miss — some collections, like Proenza Schouler’s and Paul and Joe’s, were fab. Some, like Alexander McQueen’s, not so much. Today it was announced that Zac Posen will do a line for the big box retailer — in stores next April. So for those of you marking your calenders, Rodarte arrives in a few weeks, then Jean Paul Gaultier, and then Posen. Thanks recession!

Kid-Friendly Morsels

Last night we went to Blue Smoke again, Danny Meyer’s bbq joint. It really is incredibly child-friendly. The food is good and I love that the kids menu goes beyond mac and cheese. My kids had salmon and ribs. My only quibble is that there’s only one vegetable of the day — and last night it was mushrooms. Blah! A little greens, por favor? The pig-shaped cookie dough they give to kids early in the meal to decorate with sprinkles is a fab touch — it’s baked and packed to take home by the time dessert arrives — but my kids aren’t ones for delayed gratification, so they always eat it right then and there. The fluffer nutter peanut butter pie is a tasty ending for all. (116 E. 27th Street)

Etc.

I went to buy holiday stamps at the post office today and when I asked her what my options were, she goes, “Santa, Madonna, or some Jewish thing.” Uh, that would be a menorah. For Hannukah. Maybe the Post Office should do some diversity training. This is New York City!

I had the day off so I prolonged my Thanksgiving weekend mellowness. I got to pick Austin up from school, which is a treat for both of us, and he was excited.

Hope your Monday was tolerable!

Good News/Bad News

First, the good news: I realized today that I can once again fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans. This is cause for celebration because 1) I can fit into my jeans from 10 years ago and 2) after birthing 2 wonderful kids, not only is my weight on the scale back to where it was before their seeds were planted, but everything seems to have redistributed itself back where it belongs, if you know what I mean.

Now, the bad news: Iran has ten new sites where it can enrich uranium for a nuclear bomb in defiance of, well, just about everyone. So does anything else really matter?

Oh, I’ll just bask in my jeans glory a little longer…

And to keep all of my jeans and other pants neat and tidy, I rely on these space-saving hangers, which if you find yourself in a many-trousered way, you should give them a try. (This picture isn’t exactly the hanger I like, but I can’t find the exact one I bought, but it gives you the idea.) It essentially lets you hang five or so pair of pants downward, so you can fit more into a small space. I buy them at Bed, Bath and Beyond — a nice metal one runs $6.99. I have several and I do them by “type”: all jeans on one, all black pants on one, all cropped pants on another…you get the idea. It really is one of the more efficient (space-wise) things you can do in your closet.

He’s Just Not That Into This Movie

It takes a lot to get me to the movies — between the $14 ticket price, the $60 babysitter penalty, and the fact that you can’t really talk to one another there (oh, ok — maybe that last one is a good thing), I just can’t motivate to see 99.9% of the movies that come through. As for DVDs, well, I usually can’t stay up to make it through. But one night over the long weekend my mom, sister and I watched He’s Just Not That Into You, a movie starring a lot of people you know (Ben Affleck, Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Connolly, Justin Long, Bradley Cooper, Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Connelly) that just didn’t do very well. It got middling reviews so I really never thought about it, but my sister had gotten it from Netflix so we gave it a whirl, predisposed to not like it. “Low expectations,” my sister said, laughing. And you know what? It wasn’t too bad. It’s definitely a chick flick — don’t even bother to ask your husband or boyfriend to watch — but if you can grab a friend or family member who appreciates a good c.f., I’d put it in the above average. I mean, it’s no Love, Actually, but it’s a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. (The most implausible thing about it is that all of those good looking people would live in Baltimore…sorry, Baltimore.)

Etc.

Isn’t it great to have a long weekend? Oh yes it is. We had a lovely Thanksgiving — my favorite part of the day had to be the THREE HOUR NAP I took. Is anything better than that? So refreshing. They woke me up to come downstairs for the big meal and I just felt so much more present after getting some rest. Scary what little to no sleep will do to you.

I was happy to hear that no one was trampled to death on Black Friday. Maybe the recession has made people realize cheap crap is not worth dying over. Now if we could all just find out what really happened to Tiger Woods.

Nice to spend time with friends and family. The kids got to hang out with their little cousin, so they enjoyed it. Hope you all had a great one! Keep the holiday feelings going right through the new year…

Giving Thanks

I believe I’ve mentioned before that many nights we ask Austin the question, “What are you grateful for?” before bed, and he comes up with at least one thing that he’s grateful for that day. Sometimes it’s a predictable toy or sweet treat he got to eat, but other nights he talks about being grateful for being able to play with his sister, or for living in New York City. It’s a great exercise if only to teach him about the meaning and importance of being grateful, and feeling fortunate.

With Thanksgiving upon us, you might want to engage in an activity like this around your turkey table. Go person by person and have everyone state one thing that they’re thankful for. It’s a great way to remind people what’s most important to them, and it can spark some interesting conversations. Health is always big on my list, since without it, everything else is kind of irrelevant.

And if it’s not something you feel you can introduce at your Thanksgiving celebration, maybe try it yourself, before falling asleep. It’s a great way to end the day by focusing on something positive, and maybe even a bit inspiring.

Single of the Week, Three Days Early

Due to the holiday, Family Favs will be silent and eating pumpkin pie the rest of the week, so here’s Ken now:

Eat this, Boston. Tokyo, your crowds make you one big fire hazard. Philadelphia? More like No-thrill-adelphia. The sun has set on London. LA, call us when you’re solvent. Suck it, Chicago. Sao Paulo, do you even have running water? Jakarta? Why are you even on this list?

This island shows you how to do it right:

Little Cabbage Heads

I never really liked brussel sprouts — but Ken always did. And once in a while he would order them at different establishments. I would taste them and frankly, they weren’t half bad. So last week we got some from our CSA, and they come on these long stalks. I had never made them before, but I was up for the challenge. I plucked them, cleaned them and then simply roasted them with olive oil and salt. Delicious! I’d recommend them as a side dish for your Thanksgiving meal.

That night we took the kids and headed out for dinner at The Smith. The kitchen was nice enough to send out a complimentary dish — of brussel sprouts! Of all the days. Ken told me mine were better. I thought so too. But we appreciated the gesture!

Etc.

I love how everyone is trying to make a big feud out of the Martha Stewart comments about Rachel Ray. (Basically she said that the perky Rachel is a hack who recycles old recipes and is no threat to her.) On some level, you have to love that Martha says exactly what she feels. No bones. Which is so rare in public life. And kudos to Rachel for letting it roll. Can’t we all move on to…

The continuing Adam Lambert fallout from his American Music Awards performance. Apparently Good Morning America cancelled his Wednesday appearance, thinking it was too obscene for morning television. But CBS seems to be ok with it, because now he’s booked over with Harry Smith and the gang. Don’t tone it down Adam — alienate everyone!

If it’s not raining tomorrow I’m going to take Austin to watch the balloons for the Macy’s parade getting blown up on the Upper West Side. That and hot chocolate could be a fun afternoon!

I hope you all have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving filled with all the side dishes you love. I’ll be back next week with more fab recommendations and thoughts on the world around us…ciao!

Yes We Do Have Banana

Oh, the current woes of retail. In this economy, people just aren’t spending as much, yet you’ve got to stay ahead of the trends, lest your customer base tire of you. It’s no longer enough just to carry merchandise. Shoppers are looking for a whole consumer experience.

Disney is currently working with Apple to redesign its retail experience. Each Disney store will apparently get a $1 million high tech makeover…that’s a lot of Mickey. And Buzz. And Tinkerbell. One of the first is supposed to open in Times Square next year.

Banana Republic is also looking to change its shopping experience — they’re calling it a “concept store.” Some of the upgrades include checking out in the fitting room — while you get back into your clothes, an associate rings up your purchases. And if they don’t have the item you’re looking for, in-store computers will track it down and ship it to you for free. It seems the 21st century is all about customer service. One can only hope…There are five of these stores already open. The one in Las Vegas offers concierge service; the one that opened this month in SoHo has an entire second floor of men’s offerings. (The former men’s Banana down Broadway has reopened as a Gap.)

Now if they could just get people buying again…

Shock Us Harder

I haven’t watched the American Music Awards since I was like 14, but they were on last night and I only know that because one of my Facebook friends posted that Adam Lambert’s performance was “disgusting.” Intrigued, I checked it out on You Tube. Clearly he was going for shocking, but I wasn’t shocked. Although I did find it interesting that when he started sucking face with his (male) keyboardist, what had been a tight shot suddenly became a very wide angle pull back. At the end of day, I just don’t think the song is that great. That was the most offensive part to me.

(I was going to post a link to the offending clip, but Dick Clark had to go and have all of the clips removed from You Tube, so I can’t embed it. But search for it yourself — I’m sure they couldn’t have taken them all down.)

Etc.

Apparently Beyonce was in London this weekend and dropped $33,000 at Harvey Nichols. I’ve been to Harvey Nicks many a time, and that just doesn’t seem so crazy to me. I mean, one Alexander Wang bag and you’re off and running…

Addison was feeling a little better today, so that is encouraging. As long as I’m not scooping up vomit with my bare hands, I’m happy.

This is one of those weeks that feels long even though it’s short, because everyone wants to just get to Wednesday and take off for the long Turkey Weekend. In due time, I guess.

See you tomorrow!

Replacement Weekend

I saw Will Arnett in Buy Buy Baby this afternoon. He was buying a little Joovy play yard and various other baby necessities, presumably for Archie, his son with wife Amy Poehler. I find him hilarious (on 30 Rock and various other comedies) and for a split second I thought about telling him that, since we also have a friend in common, but then I figured the poor guy is defenseless in Buy Buy Baby and probably just wants to get what poor Archie needs and get the heck out of there. So I moved on to the portable toilet seats.

I was there because this became the weekend of replacing things that I had but had just gotten wrecked, stopped working, and/or were just plain old. And really, is there nothing more annoying than spending money on things that you already spent money on?

Padded for Comfort

So first up was a new toilet seat for Addison, and that potty-trained tush of hers. The one we had from when Austin was a babe was a little grody. Virtually every one Buy Buy Baby carried had some sort of character or logo on it. I much prefer something more understated, so I went with the Contoured Cushie Tushie seat by Mother’s Helper, with a few ducks on it. I like that it has a hook for easy storage on the back of the bathroom door when it’s not in use. ($9.99)

Next up were some new mattress pads for Addison’s crib. All of hers had been ripped to literal shreds, which is very disappointing considering we’re not doing anything more strenuous than washing them weekly. The truth is, although it’s something that I’d like to skimp on since it’s not exactly front and center, you really need to buy decent mattress pads so you’re not back to buy another one in a few months. Sealy makes a decent one for $19.99.

Then, in perhaps the most annoying replacement story of the weekend, we had to get a new mattress for Addison’s crib. Not exactly what I was planning to spend $175 on this weekend. (We discovered that the other one was ripping apart and leaking its innards when both of my kids projectile vomited last night, but I’ll spare you the story of me picking chunks of mussels and red velvet cake from their sheets so Ken could take them and wash them. OK, maybe I didn’t spare you the whole story.) What I learned is that innerspring is a little better for older kids, since it’s a little less firm than foam. Many people think you should have an organic mattress. I did not get one, as they started at $350 and I’m not entirely sure what it gets you since there’s a mattress cover and a sheet between the kid and the mattress…but I’m sure many people would disagree.

Microplane Paddle Graters

In the kitchen, I made a zucchini frittata for breakfast on Saturday, and realized that my grater was cracked. So I headed over to Williams-Sonoma and picked up a new Microplane Gourmet Paddle grater. I think they make the best, easiest to store graters. I have a zester from them that is excellent, too. I find the paddles work just as well as the box graters, but take up much less space. (Most run around $16.95)

Then I had a lovely stainless steel aerosol container to spray olive oil in a fine mist. It stopped working. When I told the woman working at Williams-Sonoma that I had bought it there and needed a replacement, she said, “Oh yeah, those never worked.” Which scared me, because then why were they selling it? I bought a new Orka by Mastrad brand, which seems to work so far. ($15.95)

Then my hand held milk frother had bit the dust. It had been an Aerolatte and frankly hadn’t gotten that much use, so I was not going to buy the same brand again. Williams-Sonoma carries one by Primo, so I decided to go with that. I haven’t tried it out yet. I’ll have to report back. ($19.95)

So hopefully now I’m set for a while and everything will stay in working order. Enough!

Be In the Know

Here’s a little Buy Buy Baby tip: they’ll accept Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons — you know, those ubiquitous 20% coupons — as long as they’re not expired. They’re owned by the same company, and the only other catch is that Bed, Bath and Beyond needs to carry the item online. In most cases, they do. So the next time you head there, bring your Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons! Every little bit helps, I like to say.

Resto Wrap Up

We had a nice dinner with Abby and Bruce on Friday night at Monte’s on Macdougal. I don’t even eat meat and the bolognese is delicious. They had it as a special with spinach fettucine. They also had a duo in for some live music, and they’re so nice there they didn’t rush us. We ended up having a great time for almost 3 hours.

This morning my friend Erica and her daughter Clio were in from Los Angeles, so Austin and I met them for brunch at Steak Frites, newly returned to Union Square. The food was good and they were super kid-friendly. They came over with french fries right away, and they offered Shirley Temples, although I turned them down. Plus they accommodated our off-menu requests. The prix-fixe brunch is $15.95 and includes coffee, tea, juice, a bloody mary or mimosa. I had moules frites and everyone else had omelettes and eggs — all were content. My only complaint was that I saw the Tropicana carton sitting on the bar, making it clear the OJ wasn’t exactly fresh-squeezed. We know it’s probably not, but don’t be so obvious!

Etc.

The weather was quite lovely here this weekend — very Fall, sunny with a chill in the air.

All Ken and I wanted to do was go to bed early last night when we were hit with some scene out of the Exorcist in the kids room. So instead he was up past midnight doing laundry. Oh well. Parenting is SO glamorous!

I have weirdly been craving pizza all weekend.

Is everyone ready for Oprah’s long goodbye?!

Hope you had a rootin’, tootin’ good time!

Bloody Good…Nail Polish

You know how I know I’m getting old? I could care less about Twilight. Anyway…

I should preface this recommendation by saying that I like things that are a little different — i.e., I’ve never been a French manicure kind of person. I wasn’t a huge fan of Chanel’s Vamp, which was all the rage a few years back. It was somehow too…dire. But OPI’s Lincoln Park After Dark is somehow just right. It’s kind of a mixture of deep purple, deep red and black, all mixed into an awesome color — kind of like what blood would look like if blood were somehow fashionable, infused with indigo and applicable to toes.

I love it for a pedicure — I think it would be a little much on fingernails. Winter is a great time to test it out since your tootsies come out to greet the world a little less often.

Sign of the Apocalypse

Or at least in a sign of consumerism gone mad, I noticed this year that stores like Banana Republic and Old Navy will be open on Thanksgiving. So need to wait til the day after Thanksgiving to spend all that money you don’t have — skip time with your friends and family and head to the store on Thanksgiving. It’s really kind of sad. I hope all of their hired help working that day get paid triple overtime. (BTW, I noticed that on ads they’re saying “some” stores will be open. So call before you go, if you’re so inclined, because your municipality may not have lost its mind…yet.)

Could it Be? Yes it is!

Why, here comes Ken with the Single of the Week:

Metal – that lazy-eyed, thick-skinned uncle with the self-conscious sneer – never really left the couch. As much as you’ve tried to mock him to death and deliver him to the curb, he’s managed to stay put, sustain himself and do just fine, thank you. Case in point: Megadeth. Their name, high-speed arpeggios and dystopian album covers are Cold War relics, but they play on, oblivious to the Predator-bombing, Glee-loving age we live in today. At least they still play well. “Dialectic Chaos” (shouldn’t it be “Dialectical?”) is the instrumental that kicks off the band’s latest album, “End Game.”

Etc.

I started wearing a pedometer today, because depending on how many steps you walk, you can win cash prizes at work. It’s so funny — I’m totally curious how much I walk every day!

Addison told me tonight that I am her best friend. So freakin’ cute.

Clouds over the city, obscuring part of the Empire State Building. New York City at night still beautiful…

Have a fantastic weekend!