Bombay Bicycle Club is playing in the background as I work on a paper and procrastinate on other lab related activities…how am I give lab meeting again next week?
Later,
Nicole
28 Tuesday Feb 2012
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inBombay Bicycle Club is playing in the background as I work on a paper and procrastinate on other lab related activities…how am I give lab meeting again next week?
Later,
Nicole
27 Monday Feb 2012
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inSo no big party for me this year, actually it was quite the opposite. I had a broccoli, carrot, and chicken stir-fry with thai chilli sauce, drank some black cherry seltzer and vegged out watching the oscars.
What were your favorite looks? I loved the color of Michelle Williams’ form fitting red, but it was just too many ruffles for me…
But I loved these nude/pale dresses on Cameron Diaz and Kristen Wiig.
And Gwyneth Paltrow looked stunning in her all white gown and coat.
Brad Pitt rocked it for the men, love him with the longer hair.
As for the winners….so happy for Octavia Spencer, loved her in The Help, and her acceptance speech was just so genuine!!! After seeing all the wins for The Artist I’m curious to see the silent film, the same goes for The Iron Lady, and Hugo-especially now since I finished reading the book.
Catcha ya later,
Nicole
26 Sunday Feb 2012
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inDid I mention I really want a vacation? I’ve been searching the web for hours looking for a great getaway for the single traveler, but nothing has really sparked my interest…mmm.
For now I’ve been content with exploring New York.
Monday, Matt and I headed over the George Washington Bridge to hike along the Palisades.
Saturday we headed downtown to Cafe Orlin on St Marks for brunch-poached eggs and smoked salmon over a potato cake for me and pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon yogurt for him, though we both sampled from one another.
and while walking around the east village found a cute tea shop and had a nice pot of green tea.
And then after passing out and taking a nice long nap I headed to the gym, grabbed some groceries, painted my nails and watched my first episode of The Wire-why am so late to watch this show?
Oh and I made a yummy quinoa dish full of veggies with some guacamole and plain greek yogurt to top, yum!
Later,
Nicole
22 Wednesday Feb 2012
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inSo at least 3 days a week I’ve been watching the Today Show before going into lab, and since doing so I’ve seen healthy living advice at least 1x a week if not more. Of course it’s always the same, workout at least 30 minutes 5x a week, it can be anything even a brisk walk. No smoking, fruits, veggies, blah, blah, blah.
Then I realized as soon as I started to pooh pooh the repeated advice, I don’t always take it. I mean I exercise, don’t smoke, try to sleep enough, etc. but the fruit and veg thing, I need to work on that. So that’s my goal for the next 30 days, that and to actually document it a bit better than I have in the past, but we shall see on that last part 🙂
The fruit part isn’t so bad especially thanks to this new find. Almond coconut milk mix, ahhh sooooo goood!
Blend with a frozen banana, blueberries, strawberries, whatever, and it’s heaven, trust me, best milk ever!!!
Veggies in egg white omelets for lunch..blood orange and some olives on the side, ignore the broken up omelet, it was perfect until I went to flip it 😦Mmm, anyhow, that’s the plan, let’s make it work!!
Nicole
21 Tuesday Feb 2012
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inIt’s been quite sometime since I’ve gotten together with some of the girls in my program. We gathered together last Wednesday, a perfect date given that it was between important deadlines on all of our parts.
On my end I was going to make chocolate donuts with blood orange glaze, but then my new mini donut maker died after just making one batch, ever! It was the first time I went to use the device 😦
So I went with red velvet cupcakes instead, always a winner.
Especially with cream cheese icing and pretty decorations 🙂
In the end we had quite the spread. Blood orange margaritas, grapes, cheese, crackers, and popcorn. It was a fun night, and just great to have the time to catch up with friends.
Later,
Nicole
20 Monday Feb 2012
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inIt’s still odd writing 2012, I haven’t got the hang quite yet. I’m also behind in blogging, but again that’s nothing new 🙂
After a wonderful dinner on Sunday in part to celebrate good news regarding my graduate school progress we kept it intimate and at home for Valentine’s Day.
On the menu, mussels and clams to start. The recipe was based off Monk’s Petite Dejeanuer mussels which consist of oatmeal stout, goat cheese, baby spinach (we used watercress), and garlic. Tomato sauce as well but none for us thanks to my allergies.
The aroma in the kitchen was amazing, even if the photo doesn’t look so appealing, Mei thought so too:
By the way look who got a hair cut!
Before cut:
Also after destruction of the blue toy from the previous image, hence the stuffing on her face.
But, back to dinner, the finished product:
We followed up the clams with stuffed branzino fish, which was so good that we dug right in and I forgot to snap a photo 😦 Well, I remembered after we ate…
Nicole
20 Monday Feb 2012
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inOr perhaps I should say a show and dinner.
Last Sunday I went to see my little cousin in her school’s production of Anna and the King.I was amazed by the singing and acting abilities of these elementary school children! To memorize all their lines and the vocals, I was blown away!!I followed up the production with dinner at Blossom. After our visit to Candle Cafe a few weeks back Matt was interested to compare it to other vegan restaurants.
We started by sharing the parsnip cappelletti and I ordered the phyllo roulade for my entree. The roulade was quite filling, especially after having some of the appetizer so I only about half.
We then split a coconut based creme brulee which was incredibly delicious. What a great night!
-Nicole
19 Sunday Feb 2012
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inYesterday Matt and I met up for brunch at Prune. I had heard great things. After a trek downtown, I was greeted with a crowd outside and a warning of an hour wait, so I assumed it was indeed going to be pretty great.
After finding out that the first 2 vegetarian options I wanted had tomatoes I settled on the savory chicken and egg dish. Mmm, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. For me it was ok, but a little too rich, especially with the toast covered in butter. Matt thought it was great, but I just prefer lighter food I guess?
We then walked crosstown for the City Bakery’s Hot Chocolate Festival.
Yesterday’s was a peanut butter lover’s dream, but again incredibly rich so we split one, and even so I was on a sugar high for the next hour or so.
But seriously this was amazing, if you’re ever in the city in February, you have to go! This one was made particularly special by the peanut butter cookie immersed in the bottom….oh so good! I kinda want to go back tomorrow for Chili Pepper Hot Chocolate.
The rest of the evening was spent relaxing, I haven’t seen much SNL lately, but I loved last night’s episode with Maya Rudolph as host.
More of the same planned for today, I guess I’m having a staycation for now, at least until I figure where to take my next adventure.
Later,
Nicole
12 Sunday Feb 2012
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inAnd with that we lost another great talent too soon last night. Of all the big names we lost, I think this one has hit me the hardest. I mean she was the voice and I really wanted her to make it…ah, so sad.
I remember dancing around singing this song in my living room as a teenager.
In Memory of Whitney Houston (August 9, 1963-February 2012)
09 Thursday Feb 2012
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inHey bloggies,
After 8 years in the city I finally made it to a restaurant during Restaurant Week, except I forgot my camera. C’est la vie. In any case, I went to Blue Fin with my friend Crissy, where I had a wonderful salmon with swiss chard, cippolini onions, parsnip puree, and a blood orange vinaigrette.
I’ve also been doing quite a bit of cooking again. My most recent concoction was a pesto spaghetti squash with sauteed onions, peppers, and chickpeas.
Place half of a squash in a microwavable dish, cut side up, with a bit of water on the bottom. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the squash.
While the squash is cooking make your favorite pesto recipe. This time around it was a spinach pesto with walnuts.Next, I sauteed the onions, peppers, and chickpeas.
Tossed everything together, and ah, WOW. So delicious!! I need to buy another squash ASAP!!!
Nicole