Monkey Business

With this impending hurricane and my dad making me feel all panicky, I felt like there was nothing better to do this morning when I woke up then to bake some good ol' comfort food. I decided to make monkey bread because I hadn't had any since I was a kid (well maybe once in college I think the track house boys decided to try their hand at baking) buttt anyway, I figured it would make me feel happier and it did. It actually served as another purpose, because the only thing I don't like about my studio is that the guy before me smoked. I feel as if there is this lingering smoke smell although some of my friends claim you "can't really tell." I've heard my studio smells like a "hotel room" oohh that's just what I wanted, niceee. So I figured the smell of cinnamon and brown sugar wafting through the small space might just freshen that "hotel room" smell into a homey one. I decided to keep it simple and tried Pillsbury's recipe. I didn't use the walnuts or raisins, and didn't have a fluted tube pan. Instead I used a caserole dish and baked them for more like 40 mins. (I'm just getting to know my oven, which just could be the reason I had to bake them longer). However, I realized halfway through that it makes the monkey bread that much more gooey and amazing if you move some of the middle stuff that isn't fully baked yet to the top. That way the outside doesn't brown as fast and you get a more even coating of brown sugar goodness--who wouldn't want that?

I couldn't help but include my lovely monkey piggy bank in this image. I think I originally had him in my nursery when I was a baby. But, there is something about tacky ceramic animals that draw me in. In 2009, when I decorated the kitchen of my apartment in Ridley Park I used a bunch of tacky ceramic animals and figureens to create a kitchenette type feel loosely inspired by Honey's Sit and Eat in N. Libs. In Manayunk, the ceramic creatures just weren't really going to function with our decor, but I decided to bring my favorites (monkey and unicorn) and a new addition of a zebra into my S. Philly place. Yup. My inner nerd truly comes out when I see ceramic animals.

Tzatziki Yummy

I'm really trying to be a good blogger, but I hadn't felt inspired to write about anything lately.  I guess it's because I've been spending every single second before school starts doing something that I won't be able to do once 7:30-6 something rolls around (school+coaching). However, today I went to the Race Street Pier, which I've done a couple of times throughout my residence in my new 'hood, and it totally made me at peace and relaxed and I felt the urge to blog. See below and you will understand :p

 

 

As far as this actual post, I'd like to talk about one of my all time favorite foods and the fact that I finally bought a food processor and can make my own! So for something that packs a punch of 23 grams of protein and only 130 calories in one serving, nothing really beats Fage Greek Yogurt (Total 0%). Nothing that is..unless you make it into Tzatziki Sauce.

All summer of been munching on pitas with either tzatziki or hummus and for whatever reason it finally dawned on me that clearly I wasn't a good cook if I haven't attempted to make my own. So I went out and got a basic Black and Decker food processor. I followed this recipe for Tzatziki Sauce and was very happy with my first results. However, I would advise, as some of the reviewers of this recipe do, if you are trying to create Tzatziki with a food processor I would suggest only processing the other ingredients and then folding them into the yogurt. I clearly was too excited to try out my processor for the first time to heed their warnings. I used the 17.6 oz Fage Total 0% and the taste was excellent. But, because I made the mistake of processing the yogurt, it was definitely runnier than I would have liked it. Even though it isn't the perfect consistentcy, the taste is impeccable and I now have a dipping sauce/spread packed with protein and yumminess. If you don't own a food processor get one, I double dog dare you. It's next use of course will be making hummus. <33

3 Things I've been loving about Summer and will be taking into Fall...

1) Foldable sunglasses

Credit: http://www.sunpocketoriginal.com/

Credit: Laura Dougherty, media.patch.com

 2. Al fresco dining












3. 1970s Teal-Green Giant Road Bike

1) So I bought my first pair of "sunnies" in early June. Sunpocket is a former French skiing/surfing sunglasses brand of the 70's that was relaunched in late April and is now a Swedish brand. They make sunglasses that literally fold up and go in your pocket. It took a while for the glasses to come, but the Sunpocket rep, Anton, that I spoke with via email, assured me my sunnies would arrive as promised and they did. I opted for the Sunpocket II Shiny White ($65.00): Sunpocket Webstore. I would totally suggest buying the retainers (I bought pink with these) because as functional as it is to have them hang around your neck, it also creates a nice necklace accessory as well! *See photo.

Other brands with these foldable sunglasses started to become popular this summer ranging from the American Eagle ($6.99) lowest priced/unreliable: AE Online to the more expensive RayBand Wayfarers ($155.00) Ray-Ban Online. I've heard Urban Outfitters has actual Sunpockets in their stores and one version is available online: Sunpocket Vintage Folding Sunglasses. I would definitely suggest stocking up on a few different pairs so you can rock this trend into fall and even bring them out on the slopes come Winter!

2) When the weather is nice out, why would you ever stay inside? That's my philosophy as far as Summer dining and I'll definitely be taking that same motto into Fall. Down the shore in Brigantine, New Jersey it was a great to be able to go straight off the beach and onto Laguna Grill's new outside deck which opened July 4th weekend. If you want a last taste of Jersey Shore craziness and don't feel like going all the way to Seaside, Whitebrier's (Avalon) Saturday happy hour can you give you that same feel. The inside sweltering hot/beerfoaming/fist-pumping is nicely contrasted with the relaxed outdoor seating and half price sushi. But this happy hour isn't for the meek at heart--be prepared to fight your way through a crowd inside and maybe witness a bro-brawl outside.

Back in Philly, Media has an amazing "Dining Under The Stars" (photo above) every Wednesday through the end of September. They close off State Street, place tables in the streets, and provide live entertainment. If you can't wait til Wednesday for your al fresco dining, a delicious Media restaurant that provides rooftop dining is the Asian Fusion, Azie. Also, if you are looking for another good roof-top dining spot, you can head over to University City, and check out City Tap House. Be prepared for a UPenn college crowd come fall, but the 60-beers-on-tap, updated regional bar cuisine, and beautiful terraces with firepits, overlooking Walnut Street, make it worth it. Lastly, if you haven't made it to the Piazza at Schmidt's in Northern Liberties yet this Summer for their 104.5 concert series, make sure you check it out come fightin' Phils playoffs. It is a great spot to grab some lawn chairs, have some outdoor refreshments, and watch the game on the big screen. (I'd also five-star recommend a PYT burger, and an adult shake!)

3) That's my new bike Betty. I actually bought her in good old Berks County, PA at Spokes. I got her for only $120 and was pretty excited to find a great condition (they think 70's) roadbike, with the awesome teal green color. This way I can use her to get around the city, and if I choose to do some tri's come next Summer (it's always a long-term goal but never happens)--she'll be the perfect transition without having to pay the grand price tag. I suggest investing in a good helmet. Mine actually cost about $40 (more than 1/3 the bike) but everyone keeps saying when it comes to your head it is worth it. I guess so. <33

Chevron Changes

I think I'm ready to share my blog with others after effectively making new changes to my studio. Like a lot of fellow D.I.Y.ers I wanted to incorporate the amazing chevron stripes in some way in my new place. I opted to try the daunting task of taping the stripes off and then painting over them with my chosen color of Behr's Heron Blue. I decided to use a flat paint because I figured the flat blue/grey color would allow the stripes to pop in their off white creme color that the walls were originally painted.

Here's how I did it:
1. Measured 6 feet up on my wall with a measuring tape, marking off spots about every 6 inches or so (yep totally eyeballed this--no level or anything) and then matched the points.

2. Decided a "pattern" would be easist, so I had a leftover particle board backing to a frame and used a kitchen knife to score the board on either side to change it from a rectangle into a square pattern. Note: a triangle pattern would work better if you have an exacto knife--I didn't so I went with the easiest shape.

3. Went across the entire wall lining up the points of the square (held like a diamond) to my line.

4. Took scotch blue with edgelock painters tape and lined over my triangles.

5. Orginally I thought I could just lower my 6 foot line by an inch and a half because that is the width of the painters tape; however, after I did that I could tell that my white and blue lines would not be even. It turns out I had to go 2 inches below my original 6 foot high line because I think it's due to something with the hypotenuse of the triangle and it being longer than the width--don't ask me I wasn't a Trig expert--but basically lowering your line 2 inches will work if you use 1.5 in. tape. I then repeated the previous steps 2 more times to create 3 taped off lines.

6. Painted. Waited. Peeled. Beautifulness.

I really can't believe it worked with my first time EVER painting a wall. I guess my go big or go home philosophy works with painting as well. If you decide to try this, it will take a while to measure and tape off, but I am really excited with the overall effect. The chevron stripes have made my studio feel so much bigger by using the 3 lines. I stopped with 3 because I felt more would be overwhelming, but if you have a bigger space, it definitely wouldn't hurt to do more.

Summer's Sweetness

So here are my six favorite photos from the whole 100 that I captured using Hipstamatic. I'm going to have to stop using the app or my phone won't have any more memory--it's addicting because everything turns out beautifully!! Currently, I'm in the process of painting a wall in my studio in Behr "Heron" blue. It's a darker blue/gray combo that I chose from my inspiration of houses down the shore that are painted this color. I have a lot of bright photos, paintings, and other artwork to hang so I feel like the contrast should work really well. Ohhh, and the largest challenge, I'm taping off chevron stripes. Will post the finished product as well as a how to when it is complete!