Recipe for a Good Weekend

I think we all agree that weekends fly by way too fast. Often times, we get so caught up with doing chores and running errands that before we know it, it's Monday again! It's nice when you can press the pause button and do things you want to do instead of just things you have to do. It was a gorgeous, sunny weekend in NYC, the kind that reminds you of why weekends (and life in general!) is meant for living. My simple (and all too-obvious) recipe for a good weekend:

1. Spending quality time with the ones who matter most. After spending several frustrating hours on assembling an Ikea dresser, the hubby and I took a walk to Bryant Park where we enjoyed a nice drink...and laughed over our wobbly dresser back in the apartment. Cheers to that! :)

2. Soaking up the sun and stopping to "smell the roses" (cliched, I know, but it's the little things in life, right?).

 

 3. Indulging in a little bit of retail therapy...or perhaps just some window-shopping (it's also the frivolous things in life!).  This window display with clean and crisp color-blocking at Lord & Taylor on Fifth Ave caught my eye, but I kept on walking--must...resist...the...urge...to...shop!

4. Enjoying a good meal with family and friends. We enjoyed a delicious Indian-fusion meal on Friday night at a cozy little eatery in the Lower East Side called Grafitti. Pau bhaji burgers, eggplant tacos, green mango paneer? Yum!

 5. Reading a good book every now and then. I finally made the time to visit the New York Public Library over the weekend to pick up some good old fashioned books (remember them from before the iBook era?).

What are your favorite weekend activities?


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An Icelandic Getaway

Just got back from a short trip to Iceland and the only way to describe this place is "breathtaking". We tried to cover as much as possible over four days, driving around and exploring the rugged, natural beauty that Iceland has to offer. We got to see impressive glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, geysers, hot springs, and waterfalls. Each day was capped off with a hearty meal at one of Reykjavik's many restaurants and a dose of the vibrant city nightlife. We'll keep this post short and sweet and let the pictures do the talking. But suffice it to say that Iceland is a uniquely beautiful country that made for a memorable trip with friends!

Hello giant glacier!

The thundering Gulfoss waterfalls

The Blue Lagoon geothermal hot springs

A splash of color on an otherwise black and rocky terrain

Bundled up at the black sandy beach of Vik

Running careless and carefree

The misty Blue Lagoon nestled in the hills 

My Shopping Fix

With spring finally here, I’m so excited to shed off the bulky coats and jackets from the winter. Which means it is now time to fish into the depths of my closet for clothes better suited for the warmer temperatures coming our way. It’s also a grrrreat excuse for some spring shopping (do some spring cleaning to get rid of the old, make way for the new!).

      As someone who has had a mixed experience with online shopping, I’m generally a little wary of the whole process. But not too long ago, I learned about this unique online retailer called Stitch Fix. It took me a while to actually try it out from the time I first discovered it but now, I’m hooked. Stitch Fix is a service that offers customers their “fix” of 5 items of apparel and/or accessories in their mailbox upon request. It works like this:

1.  You start off by taking a detailed personal style survey on the Stitch Fix website. 
2. Soon after, a package is sent to you with 5 goodies based on your aforementioned size and style preferences. 
3. You try the items out in the privacy of your home and keep what you like, return what you don’t.

What’s fun about this service is the element of surprise associated with it. I get quite excited when I receive my Stitch Fix box because I don’t quite know what I’ll find in there! But I do know that I will find on-trend apparel and accessories customized to me and within my specified budget. In my experience, their selections have generally been pretty spot-on. Sometimes I’ll receive an item which forces me to give it a second look even though I wouldn’t normally consider wearing it. I also love the tags that are provided with ideas on how to pair each article of clothing to achieve different looks. Talk about an affordable online personal stylist!

Getting ready with spring colors - items from a recent Stitch Fix package

Stitch Fix tags that come with the clothes

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Katrina Lake, CEO of Stitch Fix. As co-founder of this startup along with Erin Flynn, Katrina is an admirable example of female entrepreneurs. Over a delicious lunch in SoHo, a small group of Stitch Fix consumers like me met with Katrina and had a lively conservation about the business. Katrina was keen on speaking to consumers and learning about their experience with Stitch Fix and how to improve it. From my end, I enjoyed learning the concept behind Stitch Fix, how it works behind the scenes, and the challenges of expanding a startup. It was also interesting to learn about the wide customer base, from a scientist in NASA to a writer for the TV show 30 Rock! Well, they can now add me, a medical writer, to their list!

If you’re curious to try out Stitch Fix, here’s the link to get you started: http://stitchfix.com/users/signup/?referrer_id=3004821. Happy Spring Shopping!

Spring in My Step

Hi Northeasterners! With temperatures spiking to 80 degrees in the last few days and with our clocks turned ahead with daylight savings, I think we can safely say that spring is upon us! This is one of my favorite times of the year – flowers are blooming, the temperature is rising, and colorful pastels start making an appearance in our wardrobes!

As a DC resident, my favorite thing about spring by far is the Cherry Blossom Festival! For those who don’t know, the Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees given to the US by Japan as a gesture of peace and goodwill. Every year, these trees bloom for exactly 2 weeks and transform the Tidal Basin area of DC into a beautiful landscape reminiscent of a Monet painting. When my friends and I went to check them out a few days ago, we couldn’t help but exclaim over the beauty and feel a sense of pride in living in such a beautiful city.

This year marks the Centennial anniversary of the Cherry Blossoms, and the city has planned a 5-week celebration that includes parades, cultural events, concerts, and more. Local businesses and restaurants are also offering Cherry Blossom Deals, such as cherry blossom flavored cupcakes, cocktails, and spa packages. Check them out here: http://www.giltcity.com/dc

While this can be a magical time of year, the cherry blossoms also bring with them some annoyances. For those who suffer from allergies like me, springtime and cherry blossoms are the equivalent of rolling around in a mound of pollen. As fun as it was to take pictures of cherry blossoms, I paid a high price the next day by suffering from swollen eyes, a scratchy throat, and a throbbing headache. Yikes! What’s more, all the tourists decide to visit DC at exactly this time of the year to take advantage of the weather and free events, only to crowd the metro and restaurants. For those weary of large crowds and lines, checking out the Tidal Basin may be preferable over the weekdays. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if you find yourself squeezed in a crowded subway, pushed over by moms with strollers, or have people walk into the frame just as you take a picture! ;)

Regardless of whether you’re taken away by the electric energy of this time or grumpy from the tourists and allergies, spring is here and I hope you all will be able to take advantage of the events and deals! Happy Spring!