The Big Apple

What do you get when you have a population of over 8.2 million people,  the largest mass transit system in the world, 4000 street vendors, 24 hour everything, and fashion addicts on every street ? You get New York City, the center of all advertising, fashion, publishing, and radio broadcasting in the United States. The city that boasts some of the biggest, most amazing museums in the world. The historical city that dates back to 1624. The city that's richest in culture, cuisine, architecture, and arts and entertainment..... The city that never sleeps. 

In just three more days I will be on a plane to New York *sigh* Oh how I love that city. I didn't think I was going to be able to pull off a second vacation this year seeing as how I went to Guyana in April, but with the right flight deal, and a shorter amount of vacation time, I found that I would be able to do it (thank GOD because I need a mini-vacation now more than anything). Honestly, the last couple weeks have just been shit for the most part, so taking this vacation couldnt have come at a better time.......And what better way to get away from it all than to go to my favorite city, and spend some time with my beautiful cousin?!

So normally when I go to New York, I spend all my time with my cousin, doing random things in the city but also scratching things off of my To-Do-In-NY list, one by one (the list is ridiculously long as there are never-ending things to do there) But this time around I will actually have two days of taking on the city all by myself, and I'm super excited! See, my cousin couldn't get any additional time off outside her normal Saturday and Sunday off, so I decided that would be a perfect opportunity for me to go galavanting around Manhattan, get lost and stumble upon some cool little places, and just take in the whole experience in a new way (solo). I've been there enough now and I feel that I'm slowly starting to get familiar with a lot of the areas. Mind you, no matter how many times I go, I can never seem to fully comprehend the complexity and frustration that can sometimes be of  NY's complicated subway system. So rather than trying to walk around like a tourist with a huge fold-out map of the transit system in front of my face, I think I will just stick to relying on the good ol' locals and asking questions if I get confused. I love NY but I do not want to end up in Harlem. At all.

Like any city, there are good neighborhoods and bad ones. With NY, the bad ones are really bad, and with the good ones, they are really good! If I had to pick my favorite area, I don't think I could do it, to be honest. I love all of them for such different reasons, and I appreciate all the good, the bad, and the ugly.

One of my favorite spots is Greenwich Village. I went there for the first time last year as part of a Sex and The City tour we did, and I fell in love. It was so quaint but trendy, with a bit of upscale mixed with a casual laid-back attitude of the people there. If that makes sense. Apparently lots of celebrities reside there because its not as touristy of an area and its really quiet, but really pretty. It's got a lot of historic character and charm, and is filled with boutiques, theaters, cafes, and the historic Washington Square Park. I'll definitely be going back here again this time around.

I also have a soft spot for Brooklyn. I think there is a lot of misconception about Brooklyn, possibly due to movies on tv or even rap songs. Of course there are parts of Brooklyn where I wouldn't feel safe, but there are other parts of Brooklyn that are simply just awesome! Like Greenwich, it has a bit of that charm to it, but I feel that Brooklyn has more of a 'home' feel. Its the most populous of NY's five boroughs, and has a huge variety of ethnic groups. It used to actually be independent back in the 1800s and I believe that it still has a bit of that exclusive and proud feel to it. There are many neighborhoods within Brooklyn, and each seems to cater to whichever ethnicity dominates that part. For example, there's a Jewish area, a West Indian area, a Greek, Russian, Latin, and Chinese area. And with all these nationalities come all the different events, festivals, cuisines, and organizations. So it's almost like a whole different little world on the opposite side of that Brooklyn Bridge.

Those are only just a couple of my favorite areas that I like to see. But in terms of going to 'see things' in NY, I think the best way is to just wing it! I mean, definitely have your own little list of things you want to do, places you want to see, experiences you may want to try, but just know that the probability of you NOT getting all those things done because you had stumbled across something else along the way, and spontaneously decided to do it, is pretty high. I personally love when that happens - when you have a plan in mind, and you're on your way to go do it but then you come across something else really cool and decide to check it out! That's how I discovered this amazing place in the Flat Iron district called 'Eataly'. After getting home and looking it up online, I found out that it's actually a super popular and well-known spot. Its basically this huge, busy indoor Italian market right in Manhattan, that's full of Italian food, culture, restaurants, cooking classes, and cafes. It was amazing in there, and whether you were into Italian food or culture at all, you couldn't help but become interested and in awe over everything around you there. Super cool place.

I tell ya, there's just so much to do there, and so little time. Would you believe that out of all the times I've gone, I have never once been to a Broadway before? It's not that I didn't have intentions of doing so, it was because although it was in the schedule for that day, something else came up that we ended up doing. So random, so spontaneous, and so much fun.

There really are endless things to do there, and when people ask me why I love New York so much, that's one of the biggest reasons for me. I like being in a place that's not monotonous, but is full of variety and options. I like the diversity of the city, on all levels. I love the architecture, the history, the parks and river, and the fact that everywhere you go, there is always something new to be seen. I love the culture, the arts, the passion that you see on every street corner, whether its the passion that a Wall Street suit has in his billions of dollars, the passion of a young inspired woman trying to make it as a ballet dancer, the passion of a new cafe owner just trying to branch out with the big guys in the business, or the passion that that homeless man under the bridge has as he's playing his sax. Everywhere I go I see a unique beauty in all these different people from all different places in life, and I smile because the one thing they all seem to have in common is the love for the city. Yes, NY can be harsh, but that's what gives it it's edge I think. It has a lot to offer, and it's inspiring, It's also the type of place that creates dreams I believe.....because I see it in peoples eyes all the time. You can wear what you want, and be who you want. You can also do what you want. Really, you can. They even have actual outdoor trapeeze classes, for those who think they may have actually run out of things to do there, ha ha ha!

Really though, it's just a great city, and I'm obviously so excited to go! I've got a couple new things to hopefully cross of my list this time around, including some quick stops to see Hook and Ladder 8, and to see Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn)'s apartment from the oh-so classic Breakfast At Tiffany's. Above all, if you know me, you know that some serious shopping is right at the top of that list. New York fashion makes my heart skip a beat. They're just so stylish! And in between all my sight-seeing, and total randomness that is of NY, I'm just going to breathe deep, smile, and welcome any inspiration that may come my way. It's going to be so much fun and I can't wait to tell you all about it when I get back!

Road Block Ahead

So I was having a drink with one of my girlfriends in downtown Calgary at this upscale little restaurant patio along the trendy Stephen Avenue. Now Stephen Ave is situated right in the downtown core amongst all the big office buildings and shops. During the work week hours this street isn't open to vehicles at all, but rather all the busy corporate crowd frequenting the many restolounges and pubs lined along the street. Overall, it's a pretty little street with some beautiful historical buildings, fine dining, fashion boutiques, and the occasional street performer.

So back to Natalie and I ; we were enjoying some very strong gin and bourbon martinis at The Belvedere. It was nice. I had a rather shitty end to a day and so drowning my sorrows and frustration in a strong drink seemed like just the right antidote at that time.

It was really quite a beautiful night - the weather was a perfect temperature, we had some delicious food and we were seated at a pretty little outdoor table with white linen, and plush, cozy red throne-like chairs that were fit for a couple of queens!

So we're sitting there, chatting, drinking and such (as were the other few pairs of people who were out on the patio that evening). There was a man and a woman seated at a table together, next to us. They looked to be in their early 40s.....well him, possibly 50. They appeared to be on a date, but I wasn't sure at first anyways as we weren't even paying attention to them.............that is, until we heard a piece of their conversation that instantly set off both of our female red-flags-for-male-bullshit radars!

The line we heard was a classic, and oh-so typical line used by many men as their passport to panty land, also known as the empty promise :

Man : (enthusiastically spoken) Do you like to travel???

(Okay, really buddy? What kind of question is that? Who doesn't like to travel?. Easy panty access on that one I guess)

Woman : (spoken even more enthusiastically)  Oh my God, YES!!!!

(Perrrrrfect. She's already biting. Bra - vo. Bra.......vo. He deserves a gold star already don't ya think?)

Man : Tell me, have you ever been to New Orleans??

Woman: (huge smile plastered on her face) No I haven't!

Man: Would you like to go to New Orleans with me? Lets go to New Orleans!!! Lets do it!

Woman:  ( leaning so close into the table eagerly and with excitement) YES!! Oh my God YES!!! YES!!!

Man : Do you like jazz? Tell me you like jazz because I......

Woman : (cuts man off mid sentence almost shrieking with joy) Oh my God yes I love jazz!! (giggles) yes!!!!

.......at this point she's leaning in with so much happiness (oh you silly woman you) and the man is just loving it and feeding her his lines, full knowing in his head that this is his empty promise guaranteed to make most women weak at the knees at the thought of being whisked away for a fun and free spontaneous getaway with some new man in a suit.

Man : I'm serious, lets do this! I'll take you to New Orleans, and we should go to Chicago too! Have you ever been to Chicago?.

Woman : (still bursting with excitement at the seams) No! But I'd love to!!!!!

Man : Okay!! Great!! I'll take you there too!!

So this date (it was pretty obvious after listening to a lot of the convo that it was in fact a date and that they knew very little about each other) had gone from tame and reserved with a glass of wine to "Oh baby ill take you here....I'll take you there.....do you like jazz? Have you ever been to Chicago? Lets go!" with this woman hanging off of every word he said. Oh and the funny part that concluded their conversation? Ha ha ha.....well he smiles and gets up immediately to go pay/use the washroom (but really, we know its because he sealed his deal to panty land and they're gonna leave, they'll probably get more drinks just to ensure her female conscience doesn't kick in when he's topping up her glass of panty remover, and he's gonna get exactly what he wanted out of it ; sex. Easy sex. And all he had to do was feed her the usual empty promises) and he knocks over his glass of red wine all on the white linen table (real classy there mister moneybags Romeo) , and gives her a greasy little wink. I almost barfed when I witnessed that.

So they leave, and Natalie and I just laugh and recap the whole scenario. We found it hilariously entertaining but also we came to the grim realization that this type of thing happens at ALL ages. Men still lie and bullshit at ALL ages. And yes I know us women lie too, but that's not my point right now. Women lie for different reasons than men I believe. I think at the end of the day it's mostly because we lie on an emotional level, to protect our feelings. This realization shows that no matter what age we are in the dating world, one thing never dies or never becomes old, and that is the fact that men will say anything to try get in women's pants. Anything! Empty promises? You got it! Making you think you're the only one? Coming right up!

The truth is, people are gonna bullshit you for the rest of your life every so often, and being a hopeless romantic female myself, it can become quite difficult in romantic situations where you want to believe they are telling the truth and that you didn't just make up this whole fantasy in your head, but at the same time having a strong and precious heart of gold is something you want to protect with everything inside you.

So what's the best way to try avoid and foresee all these sweet-talkin' deadly road blocks ahead? Be smart, adjust your mirrors, put those headlights on high beam straight ahead and watch out for them. It's an epidemic, assholes in the mirror are closer than they appear. In fact, they're just friggin' everywhere.

Apple Crumble.....A Timeless Classic

It's only September 15th and already it's feeling like fall. Yes, the grass and trees are still green in some parts of the city, but in other parts you can already see the colors of the leaves changing to pretty oranges, yellows, and crimsons. The branches are starting to lose their leaves and there is an unmistakeable cool, crispness of autumn in the air. When the weather starts changing this time of year, that's when I slide into fall mode. The high heeled boots, leather jackets, sweaters and pretty scarves come out, and I start craving everything cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin flavored. So today I figured that a good way to end a crazy previous week and weekend would be to bake something reflective of this, something delicious and traditional, and something that would fill the house with a sweet nostalgic aroma. Our family's huge apple tree is overbearing in apple 'amazingness' right now, and so I thought 'what better way to use these fresh apples than to bake them into a mouth-watering classic apple crumble?'. So that is exactly what I did, and I also thought I would like to share the recipe with you too! It is absolutely delicious, and is guaranteed to make you salivate once you start to smell those tasty little apples baking amid a bubbly sweet mixture of golden brown sugar, fragrant cinnamon, nutmeg,  old-fashioned oats and real butter.

All you're going to need is seven simple ingredients :
4 cups                    sliced, cored, and peeled tart apples                             
3/4 cups                 packed brown sugar
1/2 cup                  all-purpose flour
3/4 cup                  old-fashioned oats
3/4 teaspoon          nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon          cinnamon
1/3 cup                  butter (softened)

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees farenheit, and grease an 8"x8" square pan (I prefer to use a glass dish).

So here is our apple tree, straight from the branches! Doesn't get much fresher than that,  does it?

Peel, core, and slice your apples however you want them. Ideally you want nice thin slices to that they bake evenly are sure to be nice and soft once you're done baking them. Since I used the apples from my tree, they are tiny ones therefore my slices are rather small and a bit irregular. This makes no difference just as long as the apples are sliced thin enough.

Next, arrange the sliced apples in the pan you greased.

Then mix the dry ingredients together and add 1/2 cup of the softened butter to create the topping.

Sprinkle it evenly over top the apples and pour the rest of the butter over the top of everything. Bake in the oven for 30 mins or until the topping is golden brown and apples are tender with a fork poked in to test.

Lastly, take it out of the oven, let it sit for 5 minutes, and then cut and serve hot or warm with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream!

Note that this recipe really can be used with different types of fruits in season such as peaches, rhubarb, fresh cherries, or pineapple slices. Get creative with spices and flavor combinations for this one! For me personally, I always add more cinnamon than the recipe calls for when it comes to apple crumbles simply because I love cinnamon! Or you could also try a bit of allspice, cloves, or maybe even a touch of ginger.

And if I may add just one more thing? As rule of thumb for me, when it comes to baking, I always double the recipe! Why? Because if it's really delicious and people really love what you've made, they devour it all, therefore you want to make sure you have enough. What if it's 'too much' you ask??.......Well.....this is probably the perfect time to tell you that there ain't no such thing! Honestly. You will always be able to find someone who is happily willing to take care of that for you. Take me for example; I'm always happy to satisfy that sweet tooth of mine - I've been that way since I was a little girl, and naturally Cookie Monster was my Sesame Street idol! I bake because I love to. I bake because I love sharing my tasty creations with others and making them smile. I bake because it channels my creativity, and I find it therapeutic. Lastly, I bake because I love sweets......... and I tend to find that life is just that much sweeter when you add a little sugar to it.

You're Only As Old As You Feel

You're only as old as you feel. This is a statement I hear all the time, usually by people who are generally considered to be of the 'older' population. Was this a statement evoked by the 'older' population to make themselves feel better about getting older? Perhaps. But regardless of where it came from and what it's original reasoning was meant for, the truth is that is really is the truth.
I am thirty. God, thirty sounds old as hell to me. I know it's really not old at all but when you're in your teens, you can't imagine being in your twenties, and when you're in your twenties, you can't even fathom being in your thirties. Don't even ask me about my fourties because I am sticking to my thirties I think, for a long time. So turning thirty this past May was really difficult for me. I think it was mostly because there is the preconceived idea we have all created that once you turn thirty you are supposed to have everything. Somewhere along the lines we have created this thirty year old status - have all your shit together at this point AKA be married or engaged, have babies or be pregnant, a mortgage, a great career where you're making a substantial amount of money so that you can have a nice home of your own, nice furniture, a nice car, all the wonderful embellishments and indulgences of life, and all the while being able to talk about all the lovely traveling you get to do in between. Okay maybe not necessarily all of those things, but at least half, and the rest you should be well on your way to. Honestly, is anyone really ever there at that age these days? Not really. Well I'll tell you something, I'm not married, nor do I have a mortgage, kids, nor am I pregnant. I enjoy what I do for a living as a RMT and a Make-up Artist, and will most likely be a renter for years to come still, as buying a home independently in this city is very difficult when you're not racking in serious dough. Sure I could succumb to working in an industry that pays me a lot of money, even though I would absolutely hate the job, but what kind of lifestyle would that be for me? Being miserable for more money in return? Nah, I don't think so. That would only age me, and that is not okay with me at all. I think that keeping the youth alive inside all of us is just so important. It's our souls that truly keep us alive! Sure, over the years as we all age, our bodies are going to slow down and things aren't going to work the way they once did, but a youthful soul never ages and never dies, unless you let it, in which at that exact point is when you will start to really feel your age.
I won't lie, some days I really do feel thirty. Usually those tend to be days where I'm surrounded by really annoying young people who are just straight up acting stupid and so it reminds me of what it was like when I was younger and those type of people in my age group. On the flip side though, there are times when I am surrounded by younger people who bring out my youth just that much more and remind me of all the good things about being younger, and all the things I enjoyed at that age, but most of all, that it's important to still take it back in time, from time to time to keep yourself feeling young.
I'm actually finding thirty to be not so bad. I don't miss my twenties at all,. Okay, we'll maybe twenty-nine, but that's it. I've learned so much from that period in my life, and its shaped me into who I am today. I find that by thirty I've discovered a lot about who I really am, what I'm about, and what I want and don't want in my life. It's a good feeling, and I feel stronger and better as a person. So I guess you could say that most days I feel my age, and no not the preconceived status of my age, but truly my age. Then the comes the days when you catch me in my twenties, or maybe as a teenager again, or even a 5 year old..........and those times are simply the best! Nothing like some good ol' nostalgia to remind me of the old school! My nephew here keeps me very young when we're kickin' it together and I love it! Hide and go seek, building forts, trips to the candy store, coloring with sidewalk chalk, playing with cars, and going to the park. Also last summer my best friend Yolanda came to visit me from Portugal (she moved back there after high school). We crammed in as much fun stuff as we could during her time here. We did things like shopping, going for lunch and martinis on patios downtown, but we also did things like taking a trip down memory lane, back in our old 'hood, to see our elementary school, hang in our old playground, see our old houses, and get our usual slurpees and five cent candies that we used to get together routinely as kids. Made me feel like a kid again!
I would also like to use my Dad as an example. He's actually, probably the most perfect example for what I'm talking about. That man is sixty-three years old, and acts like he's still in his twenties...in a good way of course. When I say 'acts like', I really mean 'acts like'. He works out five days a week usually (and no, not grandpa-style arthritic exercise classes) doing full blown cardio and weights. He also eats healthier than most people I know, and has the most awesome personality, wit, and the silliest sense of humor out there! Seriously, our fam dinners are served with non-stop laughing at all these stupid little things, jokes, story-telling, and my Dad usually inconspicuously making a face or an object with his food on his plate (especially in mashed potatoes, ha ha ha), in hopes that we all notice and laugh......and of course we always do as he makes it so obvious...ha ha ha! In addition, when he's not working or working out, he's always doing something ; fixing something in the garage, constructing something, gardening...anything really to keep busy and active. Never a couch potato, never likes going to the doctor for anything (he's so healthy anyways), and never caught dead shopping for clothing in the 'old men' section - he likes to be stylish, and loves his Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. So how's that for a sixty-three year old? Nothing sixty-three about that at all! He doesn't feel his age and certainly isn't doing it to impress anyone either. I think the key is to never stop, never give in to your age because the moment you do?...that's when you will age! Look at cancer patients for example ; these are some of the strongest people in the world who have to battle this disease on the daily, and some of them give in to it, throw up their white flag and sadly succumb. Then there are others who fight it every step of the way, and make it through because they have the inner strength and soul to do it. Their bodies are going through hell, and women have to sacrifice some of their femininity by losing their hair through chemotherapy, but that doesn't stop them from living, and keeping that youthful spirit alive. 
I never want to lose my inner youth, and I honestly don't think I ever could. Sure, there are days when I feel like what I imagine it would be like to feel eighty, but those days don't happen too often and when they do I give myself a reality check by remembering that I'm only as old or as young as I want to be, and I refuse to let anything age this soul of mine (hmm, I feel like I should be playing Jay Z's 'Forever Young' right about now, ha ha ha!). We're only as old as we feel, right? So how old do I feel right now at this moment? Well, given the fact that I'm drinking chocolate milk out of the carton with a straw, I'm wearing sweat pants with my Lite-Brite t-shirt and am about to go watch some Fresh Prince of Bel-Air............I'm feeling about thirteen years old. Life is gooooood!

Ode To Summer

Well here we are, September 1st, the end of summer, in my eyes at least. Being a born and raised Calgarian I value my summers just like everyone else here does, because the total amount of actual hot summer days that we have in a year? Well let's just say I don't ever need more than two hands to count them. Sad really. But if I may put a positive spin on things, I would say that I definitely don't take the beautiful hot days that we do have for granted. Like today for example, it is hella hot out and I am currently sitting on my deck soaking up the last of our summer rays. Sure I should probably be doing other things that need to get done on my 'to-do' list, but nahhhh........today I'm going to enjoy this! So I guess you could say this is my farewell ode to summer. Oh how you will be missed dear season, especially when I'm out in minus forty weather scraping the ice off my windshield.
Looking back and reflecting on these last few months, I would have to say that I had a pretty great summer. It started out with an amazing preceding spring where I got to experience my roots for the first time in Guyana with my Dad and brothers, so that was pretty darn amazing! Then everything just went so nice from there. No I didn't get to go camping (which I have been saying for years now that I want to start going again), but everything else in between was my definition of a perfect summer. I had spent some great times with my lovely girlfriends doing different things, trying new restaurants, The Running Of The Bulls in Strathmore, AB, festivals, incredibly fun concerts (Ziggy Marley being one of them) and also coming together to do some amazing volunteer work for the aid of the Calgary flood disaster that happened this summer.
I also of course kick it with the fam a lot whether its for a barbecue, drinking, garage time, and/or birthdays and holidays. The highlight of my summer? Well that one is easy.....my cousins from Toronto came out to Calgary for the first time ever, to spend a week with us, and it was a friggin BLAST! Revert to my "Is That A Sausage In Your Pants?" blog post for a hilarious story from the second night they were here! It truly was an epic time, and I cannot wait until I get to see them again!  Chris if you're reading this, next year right?? For Caribana!!
Ohhhhh summer, you really will be missed more than you know. I'm going to miss basking in those beautiful sun rays of yours, going for my runs outside in the mornings just before it gets too hot,  and hearing the sounds of everyone's sprinklers and lawn mowers. I'm going to miss spending my Sundays outside washing and waxing my car while having my tunes bumpin'. I'm going to miss all the gorgeous summer dresses and colors that come along with the season, the flowers, the smell of the grass and trees, and the delicious smells of barbecue floating throughout the neighborhood. I'm really going to miss the simple and lazy, hot summer days where I would do nothing but lounge outside with a cool drink, maybe a book, and just relax and take it all in. But I think the thing that I'm really going to miss the most is how everyone just seems so much happier during this time of year. Everyone is a lot more laid back, and less stressed out. Everyone seems to almost have this 'island mentality' - carefree, relaxed, positive, and all smiles, compared to all the other seasons where it's colder, there's busy and expensive holidays like Christmas, tax deadlines, snowy rush hour traffic, and basically people getting irritated easily everywhere they go. Ya know, those tropical countries are really where it's at it seems, because  how is it that in those countries where they have very little compared to North America, they are sooooo much happier and have a better quality of life when it comes to general happiness and satisfaction, and overall values and appreciation for the things they do have? Could it really be all that vitamin D? I'm sure there are other reasons of course as to why, but I strongly believe that there is definitely a direct correlation between the amount of sunshine a person gets and their level of happiness. I personally know I feel better when I have my dose of the sunshine vitamin, but for me, it's also the heat. Not everyone likes extreme heat of course, but the heat from the sun does help us relax and it helps to boost our immunity, so it's a win-win!
Nonetheless my sunshine days here are limited now as we welcome the fall season. It ain't so bad I guess - cozy knits, pretty scarves, high heeled boots and leather jackets, and the surroundings of gorgeous ambers, yellows, browns, and reds in the trees? Yes. I think I can do this. I also just remembered that fall time is when Starbucks gets in all their pumpkin flavored treats and lattes! Yes, I'm pretty sure I can do this now! Oh, and maybe in October I will just have to fly down to New York City to do some fabulous fall shopping in the sexy and inspiring concrete jungle that is Manhattan........with my pumpkin spice Starbucks latte in hand of course ;) Okay yes, I can definitely do this now! So long sweet summer......until we meet again xoxox