In which I have a dilemma

I have an ideology when it comes to settling into a new place.  It's not exactly revolutionary, but it's my theory, nonetheless, and in the last week, it's been relatively hard-won.  

There are some things that you have to do in a new apartment right away - arrange the furniture, clean the bathroom, organize the kitchen - so that you feel at home.  It is then that you realize that there are a lot of items (those old Pottery Barn side tables, that desk chair you found on the street) that don't really fit into your new place.  You make do the best you can because, hey, moving is expensive, and while you may want to replace that chair or buy new side tables, you can really afford it right away.  Also, decisions like that may take kindly to a little contemplation.

Then there are some decisions you make after living with the space for a little  while.  Six months is a good amount of time to figure out where to put your favorite photos or if you need a garbage can that goes under the sink.

When I moved into my new place I felt a compulsion to do Everything right away.  I had to have the walls painted and pictures hung immediately.  After hitting the 6 month mark this month, I realized that there were some decisions that I may have rushed and some that I'm  finally ready to pull the trigger on.  I'll have more of that later.

For now, I have this:  My Alarm Clock Dilemma

This is my old alarm clock.  It's perfectly nice.  It has a radio and a digital display.  It has an (indulgent) 10 minute snooze button.  It also has an unsightly cord and a very large footprint that is taking up valuable real estate on my bedside table.

This is my new alarm clock.  It's the perfect size and the right color.  (See, it picks up these little orange accents on my new duvet cover!)  What it does not have is a snooze button or a light up digital display.  For some reason, someone wants to be able to see what time it is from the other side of the bed.  Sheesh!  And, well, I do love my snooze button.

I'm considering returning it, but I'm not sure.  Something so simple as an alarm clock shouldn't be this troubling, but I have quite a few requirements when it comes to The Perfect Clock.  I really would rather not settle for the beast that was taking up so much room before.

Can anyone recommend a relatively cheap, small, digital alarm clock that is also cute?  Please?

 

*sigh*

 

It's been a tough week, my friends.  The cold and rain has me down and I still haven't adjusted to the time change.  Last night I sat down with some perogies from my grandmother and my favorite (for the moment) vintage plate and all was right with the world.  More later.

Soul Crushing

Almost a month ago I had the privilege of going to see a see Adele perform on the Live on Letterman series.  I don't often go to see live music and I cannot remember ever being so excited to see an artist!

She was adorable, charming, self-deprecating, stunningly beautiful and soul-crushingly talented.  She ended the set with this song and it's been echoing everywhere I go these days.  I came across this link over at Girl From The North and thought it was the perfect item to pass along on this sunny Friday.

Happy Weekend, everybody!

It could be worse...

For me, that is.  I uttered this phrase, rather glibly, to a co-worker today, in reference to a project we were working on.  But then I realized that if only I applied that same thinking to most parts of my life, it would truly put everything into perspective for me.

I was scrambling to put together a post for this week, but everything I came up with just seemed to trite in the shadow of what is happening in Japan right now.  I'm taking this week to reflect on the wealth of small pleasures I have in my life that I take for granted every day and to offer up a silent prayer to all those affected by the tragedy in Japan.

The Japan Society in NYC has set up a really easy way to donate.  Go here and do what you can.

Spring is right around the corner

Can you feel it?

 

I bought daffodils last week and I was so happy that I did a little dance.  Seriously.  Is there anything I love more than Springtime flowers?  The blousy roses that bloom in Sunnyside during the summer are plain lovely, but nothing get my heart going pitter-patter like daffodils.  

The first sight of them at bodegas and in the tiny gardens in my neighborhood mean one thing, and one thing only:  Spring is coming.  You can feel it, that slight shift in temperature where 40 degrees suddenly feels warm and not cold.  Where the wind seems balmy and chilling.  Spring is coming.  It's daffodils first and then tulips and sweet, sweet hyacinth and then it's official.  Spring is in the air! 

The above photo was taken from bed with my iPhone.  Lord those flowers made me so happy all week! 

This is a better representation of my bedroom:

The moody gray walls and the mint-iness of the bedside table are all pretty accurate.  (The glass lamps are impossible to keep free of dust.  I look at it every night when I go to sleep.  "Goodnight dust!")

Oh dear.  So do you have any Springtime plans?  I for one cannot wait to start going on bike rides again.  Also on my list is a visit to The Cloisters, which is heavenly when the trees start to bloom and The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens for the Cherry Blossom Festival!

In which I take the 7 train to the end of the line

My friend Little Bunny has been raving about the food court at the Flushing Mall for-ever.  I mean forever.  To the point that I was really skeptical.  I mean, how good can it really be.  Really?

Well, circumstances collided a couple of weeks ago and Jeffery Tastes was sponsoring a trip out to the mall.  I asked Little Bunny and her bf if they were interested in going with me and their answer was a resounding, "Yes!"  (Again, too much enthusiasm?  Maybe.)

We arrived at the mall and saw the group forming for Jeffery's event, but decided to just go it alone, rather than joining in.  The Grazing Experience seemed like a lovely idea, but as Little Bunny put it, "I don't really like to share."  After our first plate of noodles, I knew what she was talking about.

Since they were old pros and it was my first time, I let them be my guide.  There are nearly an overwhelming amount of choices and it can be a little intimidating because not  much is really in English.  But if you are adventurous and courageous, you will have an amazing time.

We ate hand pulled noodles with spicy beef from this place, the weird gelatinous turtle pictured above, the biggest seafood scallion pancake I've ever seen, pork, seafood and scallion dumplings, Chinese lamb "hamburgers", green tea ice cream and fresh mango juice.  All that (which we did share) and I think my wallet was only $10 lighter at the end of the day.

Go hungry and go soon.  According to this article in the WSJ, the mall is being demolished in 2012.  And, yes, it really is that good.

Look What I Did!

I've had a bee in my bonnet about terrariums for some time now.  I even had a page bookmarked on my work computer and my boss was all, like, "What's with the terrariums?"  

I was all, like, "I just love them!"

I saw this little guy at one of my weekly visits to my secret, undisclosed thrift store.  He was so cute, but I honestly didn't need him, so I put him back and left empty-handed.  Then I saw this post and I thought, "Terrarium!" and I went back to the store after work and he was still there!  I was so excited!

Last weekend I set about getting everything I needed from the local Sunnyside florist and pet store and Home Depot.  Not in the picture is some moss (from the florist) and active charcoal (from the pet store).  I also painted the base of the cheese plate white.

I followed this tutorial kind of loosely because I had a really small container, but I'd seen shallow terrariums before, so I just went for it.  Of course it was adorable, but when I put the lid on, it totally squished my cute little plant.  Terrarium fail!

Surely I must have something else to put my plant in.  Some other container.   Yup.  Straight out of my Prop Closet (which I'll share with you someday).  Isn't it awesome?  I'm a little disturbed by the big pieces of perlite in the potting soil the plant came with.  I may change it later.

As for my little cheese plate, he got the moss treatment, which I actually kind of like.  I'm looking for some little toadstools on Esty to spruce him up a bit.

Not bad for my first attempt, but now I think I'm addicted.  Have you ever made a terrarium?  Was is a win or a fail?