Happy Friday.

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I'm not going to lie. I'm feeling a little bit exhausted. Starting a new job and acclimating to a new space, new energy, new politics. It really has been draining. I'm extremely grateful to be where I am, and I'm definitely learning new things, which is all I really was hoping for this opportunity to be. And it's only my second day. After being freelance/unemployed/underemployed since October, it is a bit of a harsh shift for me, not even considering the fact that I was very spoiled with a cushy position in my last job. This is a whole new ball game. 

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And, speaking of ball games, apparently it's the Super Bowl this weekend. I won't be watching this year (!) since Rob will be working and I'll be free to watch anything I want. Most years we have people over and serve up fun food, so at least I'm paying attention to being a hostess, instead of the sport: last year we did quesadillas to order, one year we did a big batch of chili, and one year we did wine and cheese pairings. Because of course wine and cheese go with football - in my house at least. If you're going to make me watch a sport I'd better get to enjoy what I'm eating and drinking. Honestly, I don't think I've watched more than a few minutes of football over the years - and I like it that way! Well, anyway, If you're watching the game, have fun! and don't eat too much junk if you can help it. Think of me - I'll be spending my weekend sleeping late, doing yoga, and relaxing. And not watching football.

Gift Guide: Valentine's Day, part 2

Here's some of the things that I would love to get for Valentine's Day this year. Just in case you're thinking of getting me something.

This dainty hearts necklace, $23. 

This necklace is definitely dainty but links a series of hearts together, keeping it from being too clearly a heart-shaped Valentine's Day gift. 

A beautyblender, $15.50

I'm expecting the rave reviews to be true - that this blender beats out the others with quality material, shape, and durability. For me to practice my HAC-ing for date nights.

Kate Spade reusable tote, $17

A cute reusable tote like this one - because we can all use more reminders that we deserve to be treated well, and most especially to treat ourselves well.

And for a little romance (since it is Valentine's Day and all), this collection of love letters between my favorite poet, Rainier Maria Rilke, and Lou Andreas-Salomé, described as "remarkably rich and dimensional in its entirety, each of the 200 letters revealing a different facet of Rilke’s exceptional heart and mind, and of the universal commonalities of love itself."

Making Cocktails: the Lemon Drop

The second in my series of cocktails for my internship with Queenofthequarterlifecrisis.com, The Lemon Drop, posted today! It's a refreshing and delicious vodka cocktail, and I highly recommend it. It takes a bit more work than the Paloma, because it requires either a hearty shaking in your cocktail shaker, or a simple syrup - but trust me, it's worth it.  

Shopping for: the White Button Down

Today's my first day in my new full-time job (hooray!) and of course I've already planned what I'm wearing for my first week, since it's already Wednesday and my week's only three days long. I'm dreaming of a new perfect plain white button down blouse, and I'm loving these:

Equipment Slim Signature $204 

Equipment Signature $208

I worry that the Equipment blouses are a little sheer for a corporate professional environment. I also think the Signature is a bit loose cut to plan to wear with a traditional suit jacket, but I'd love it or the Slim with jeans or on a casual Friday.

BR White Silk Utility Blouse $90

This white utility blouse from Banana is a decent budget silk option, and keeps the double-chest-pocket styling and has a cut that seems right in that perfect space between fitted and loose. BR blouses tend to fit me really well, but in my experience, you're looking at a few seasons at best, which means you'll need to replace it and end up spending more in the long run anyway. For something that's as classic and timeless as the white button-down, it would be worth it (imo) to spend the extra cash for a higher quality version.

Burberry Brit Basic Button-Down $225

If you're looking for a more traditional fit, this basic button down by Burberry Brit is a tailored, slim-fit style, and you're getting the quality materials and durability you're probably looking for in your white-shirt wardrobe workhorse.

Joie Marru top $208

I know, this one's not your classic button-down style, but I had to throw it in because I LOVE it. Such an update on the classic, with simple, clean lines and the perfect balance between fitted and loose. 

Eat happy - choose good vinegar.

Did you know balsamic vinegar is sometimes called 'wine' vinegar? That's because it's made from grapes and the juice is aged in wooden barrels just like wine - the difference being that vinegar is not allowed to ferment. The longer your balsamic is aged, the thicker and sweeter it will be, and yes, the more expensive it will be too. 

Balsamic in barrels

You'll know a true, traditional style balsamic - or 'tradizionale aceto balsamico' - by the price tag. It's usually well over $100 for one 100ml bottle. That's because it's been barrel-aged for at least 10 years, and sometimes much longer than that. It will be stored in a traditional bulb-shaped bottle, and it's usually stored in its own wooden box. This kind of balsamic is painstakingly created to be valued and savored in special moments. Not necessarily what you'd want for your regular salad dressing. 

For whipping up an everyday vinaigrette dressing, you'll want something that's much more affordable, while still maintaining the taste profile of the quality balsamic flavors - that perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. 

I'm partial to We Olive's aged balsamic vinegar. It's delicious enough that I can eat it alone on greens and be satisfied. It's a great compromise of excellent flavor and high quality - at a fairly affordable price. Plus it's made here in California, so I can feel good about buying locally. 

If you're not sure about the quality of the balsamic vinegars available to you, a decent shortcut is to try a balsamic glaze. Basically, the glaze is a cheap balsamic vinegar, reduced for thickness and sweetness. Be careful of added sugars! But a balsamic glaze is generally inexpensive (easy to DIY, too), and can be used just like the high quality aceto balsamico, without breaking the bank. 

Happy Weekend

What are your plans this weekend? I'm wrapping up a bunch of work, cooking and prepping for the upcoming week, and apartment hunting. Here's some interesting reads I found for your weekend:

Environment

This collection of photos is worth seeing - photographers traversed the Marcellus Shale formation documenting what they could of the effects of fracking. My father previously owned a house with a beautiful waterfall and river on the propery in Pennsylvania, and sold it right before the fracking boom there. It's too bad the photographers weren't able to get any shots of the workers, more of the industry and all the promise it does provide, in order to provide more of a counter to the arguments against the environmental devastation and health risks.

Yoga

After the NYTimes has reported so. many. times. on the perils of yoga, it seems other news agencies are trying to get in on the scare tactics. My advice: Listen to your own body, honor your limitations, and be patient with your practice. You can transcend boundaries as long as you're careful.

Feminism

This collection of covers comparing the Hillary Cover to images for other (mostly male) politicians basically speaks for itself. What were they thinking? Not that I'm a huge Hillary fan, but that's no justification for that type of absurdity.

Mike Huckabee (former Republican Arkansas governor) said the government shouldn't provide co-pay free birth control to women who "cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of government." He says this to argue that Democrats feel that women are "helpless and hopeless creatures" who just want government-provided birth control, and that women should be empowered to be "something other than victims of their gender." This isn't surprising considering he supported Akin's "legitimate rape" comments.

Food

This is an interesting article on intermittent fasting, a form of dieting which is touted as a healthy choice for dieting, the best lifestyle to stay healthy over time, but also a worrisome choice to those with possible histories of disordered eating. A scientist is currently doing an NIH-funded study comparing people doing six months of every-other-day dieting, as compared to six months of every-day calorie restriction. I'm curious to see the outcome.

Self-love and skin care

I'm starting a new full-time job next week (yay!) and so I'm planning on a bit of a spa session for myself today in preparation.

I got this sample of Shu Uemura's Fresh Pore Clarifying Gentle Cleansing Oil when I bought my eyelash curler, and haven't used it yet. I'm honestly not even sure that I know what to do with it, but all the reviews rave about how great this stuff is for oily/combination skin. I'm planning on doing some research and trying it out.

Got this Brazil Nut Beautifying Oil from the Body Shop for myself recently. I'm a HUGE ran of their Brazil Nut scent line of products, and I was so happy when they brought it back. I used to slather on the whipped body lotion on a daily basis until they discontinued it - I think that was back in 2011 or 2012. I've been waiting and waiting to get it back. The oil is not quite the same as the whipped lotion, of course, but I mix it with an unscented body lotion and it adds a gentle sheen and that lovely scent. I'm thoroughly enjoying it, especially because the combination allows a little to go a long way.

I think I'll treat myself to a mani-pedi, do some yoga, and try like always to hit the farmer's market. If you're not busy this weekend - Check in with me tomorrow for your dose of recommended reads.

Eat more salads.

Just a quick post today. I've been running around shopping for a new car - you definitely need one living here in California. And lately I've been craving and throwing together a Greek salad, and it tastes amazing for something that's just a simple twist on your traditional vinaigrette dressing.

For a single salad, start with one freshly chopped garlic clove, and a bit of grainy dijon mustard. Add the juice of half a lemon and a few dashes of white wine vinegar. Throw in about a half a teaspoon of dried oregano. Slowly drizzle in your olive oil and whisk together, tasting until you like the blend.

I threw in some leftover quinoa for protein, greek olives, and feta cheese. It really hit the spot today for lunch - so tasty, quick, and filling. 

Gift guide: Valentine's Day

Even though I don't usually get things for Valentine's day (the ultimate Hallmark holiday) it's still fun to think of excuses to buy things for the people I love. Here's what I'd get:

For my fiancé, this camo vest to keep him warm on cool nights (You know how much I love camo)...

By Levis, At Macy's, $80

...Or a pair of his favorite boots in a fun color to keep him from wearing out his other pair.

Cole Haan, at Zappos, $230

For my dad, who's stuck in the cold New York winter, these large mugs with a handle big enough to stick his whole hand inside, stuffed with his favorite Jasmine tea...

Marin mug at Crate & Barrel, $8

...Or a super warm sweater with a high neckline for when he has to shovel snow, in blue to bring out his eyes.

Hugo Boss, at Bloomingdale's, $215

For my mom, this rock-chic skull scarf by Alexander McQueen, for staying comfy in that unpredictable San Francisco weather...

At Net-A-Porter, $300

Or a fun new long-lasting lipstick, in a sultry shade.

MAC cosmetics, at Nordstrom, $20

For my quirky and stylish best friend, this perfect animal-print shoulder bag, to carry with her on a hot date... 

At Saks, $400

...Or these fun heart sunglasses to wear after a late night.

At Bloomingdale's, $200

Shopping for: Yoga mats

A studio I taught in once had a sign hanging that read, "When you commit to your practice, commit to having your own mat." 

Lots of mats

I totally agree. It's more sanitary to have your own mat than to rent or borrow one from a yoga studio, and it also means you're investing yourself mentally (and financially, of course) into the practice of yoga. It becomes easier to dedicate your time and energy to a practice when you care enough about it to commit to it on a regular basis.

It would be easy to commit to a practice with this view every day.

A lot of students who are new to yoga ask me what type of yoga mat they should buy - a good question, because there's a lot of variety, and it can be a bit overwhelming to the unprepared.

Here's important considerations before you buy:

Your style of practice
I personally have two yoga mats - a cheaper one I replace regularly (it gets smelly after a while) for hot, sweaty yoga, and a more sturdy, higher quality one for room temp classes. I would never use my regular mat for hot yoga, and I would never use my hot yoga mat for an Iyengar or a regular Vinyasa class either. If you're practicing outdoors on a regular basis, you'll want to consider that your mat will get dirt on it. If you're practicing at a studio, you'll want to consider the weight of the mat you're carrying around, which won't be as important as if you're developing a home practice. 

Yoga on the beach

Price
Yoga mats can range in price from a cheap-o mat under $20 you might find at Target to something that might cost well over $100. It's worth it to do your research to decide on one before making your investment.

Material 
Many if not all of the cheaper yoga mats are made from vinyl or PVC. PVC is a very inexpensive but hard plastic. To make yoga mats phthalates and other additives are commonly added to the PVC, making the material soft and pliable, but also creates carcinogens as manufacturing byproducts. Phthalates are suspected endocrine disruptors and these yoga mats can off-gas and leach during use. Not pretty when you're face down on top of one. These materials are also not biodegradable and are very difficult to recycle. This EPA page is a hazard summary for vinyl chloride, and is worth glancing at. If you can stomach it. 

Brands I'd recommend
There are two brands used by almost all students of yoga that I know: the Jade, and the Manduka. Both brands have various styles of mats ranging in price from around $50 to over $100. They're both environmentally friendly in different ways. 

Manduka offers a lifetime guarantee - and they're manufactured in Germany without emitting any toxic gases. The Mandukas are FAMOUSLY heavy, but they offer a lot of variety, so you could probably find one you'd be comfortable toting around if you wanted to. The traditional Manduka mats have PVC in them - but they do offer a rubber Eco style as well.

Manduka mats

All the Jade mats are 100% natural rubber, and are sustainably made in the US. Natural rubber is a renewable resource and their mats are made in the United States in compliance with all environmental laws. They contain absolutely no PVCs. Jade also will plant a tree for every mat purchased.

Jade mats

I personally have a Jade, and it's lasted years, wearing well without losing any stickiness or grip over time with steady, regular use. I liked the rubber smell, which has faded almost completely away. In future, if I needed a new mat, I'd most likely buy another Jade.

The Manduka Pro Squared mat

Unless I have a spare room in my new place to make into a private yoga studio. Then I might have to buy myself this giant square mat from Manduka. And then never leave the room. 

Making Cocktails: the Paloma

I'm doing a series of posts on cocktails for Queenofthequarterlifecrisis.com, and the Paloma posted today! It's a refreshing and delicious tequila cocktail that tastes almost like a sparkling margarita, with a great sweet-to-tart ratio. Highly recommended - and easy - drink recipe post by yours truly. 

Eat Happy Mondays - choose good olive oil.

Your choice of olive oil will make or break the quality of the vinaigrette you use it in. It can also have tremendous ramifications for your health. The better quality, and the fresher your olive oil, the better the health benefits you can gain from including it in your diet. 

A recent meta-analysis of 18 independent studies showed that conformity to the Mediterranean Diet (high in olive oil) confers consistent protection against cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and overall mortality.  This is clearly evidence to recommend this lifestyle to anyone who wishes to age in good health while enjoying their food. 

Beautiful olive tree

The Mediterranean diet is plant-based and full of antioxidant rich foods, which means a high intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and olive oil, combined with a moderate intake of fish and alcohol (usually wine), and a low intake of dairy, meat and meat products, and sweets. Basically how I try to eat!

But how your olive oil is made is so important. It's easy to buy a bottle without really knowing what you're getting. If you're in California, you can benefit from local growers and the California Olive Oil Council label, so you can be sure of where your olives were grown and where your oil was made. 

Wherever you live, your finest olive oils will be labelled extra-virgin, which means no chemicals or extreme heat were used in the production process. Ideally, the bottle you buy should provide a harvest date and a bottling date so you know how fresh it is - try to buy within 18 months from the harvest at the most, and consume within 30 days of opening for best taste and freshness.

Olive oil at the mill

Remember to store your olive oil in a dark bottle, away from light and heat to avoid oxidation and preserve it as long as possible. Want to learn more about olive oil? There's an International Olive Oil School  (that has webinars) where you can learn advanced tasting techniques, food pairings, and most importantly, how to know a high quality oil when you taste one. And here's a great quick online guide to tasting olive oils and what to look for. 

Happy weekend

Ayutthaya, Thailand, from my trip in 2008. 

A reminder of the impermanence of all things

I hope you have some time to set aside for yourself this weekend. I'm trying to get outside to relax and enjoy the sun for at least an hour every.single.day. no matter how busy I might be, and it's been nice to indulge myself in the sunshine. Here's some interesting reads I found for your weekend:

Fashion

Cheap-clothing giant H&M warned they might raise prices to pay higher wages to its factory workers. "Might" being the operative word. I don't shop much at H&M but I might consider it; I'll gladly pay a little more if I know it means a worker is no longer living below the poverty line.


Feminism

A Virginia Republican Congressman suggested that access to abortion should be restricted because more children = more jobs. People actually think like this! I'm frightened by people in power who seem to have the mentality that women's value lies solely in their ability to create babies.


Some good news: Out of all that abortion legislation I talked about last week, a North Carolina law that required doctors to display and explain ultrasounds images to women seeking abortions was struck down yesterday.


A Rothstein Kass study showed that women-owned and managed hedge funds outperform the market. A few pension funds and institutional investors have even created mandates to invest into these women-run funds, but those mandates are not the norm. Overall, the it seems that most investors don't expect to allocate more to women-owned or managed funds, but it's comforting to know that this guy was wrong.


Food

Wal-Mart joined the CIW's the Fair Food program. This is a BIG DEAL for organized labor. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida's tomato fields have been dealing with food industry giants for an extra penny per pound to go directly, which goes directly to workers. Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, Chipotle, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have all signed on, but this is certainly the largest private food buyer in the US. This is a great take on this historic moment.

Did you know the cashew shell is toxic? And cashews are never sold raw, since they contain an resin that can cause rashes and be toxic as well.


Random

An interesting article that questions the mantra "do what you love." I never really gave this idea a second thought - and in fact, felt encouraged my entire life to find something I'm passionate about to be the seeds of a career. I definitely look up to and envy those who have found their livelihood in a profession that they love. This article calls "Do What You Love" the ultimate anti-worker ideology - because maybe work should feel like work, so workers demand and receive fair compensation and benefits in exchange for what they do. So that work is not divided into that which is lovable (creative, intellectual, socially prestigious) and that which is not (the cubicle drones, manual laborers). I have been encouraged to stop focusing on finding love for a career - and start finding love for life, for the pursuit of knowledge, for the happiness I can find outside of work - and I find it interesting how fully this idea of "do what you love" has penetrated my philosophies and my life. So this is something I have never before considered, that I need to think deeply about.

Happy Friday

I didn't make it to the farmers market this Thursday, so I'll have to hit it today or tomorrow instead. The last time I went, there was so much local citrus fruit that I was really overwhelmed and I didn't end up getting any. I think this week I'll have to go in with a plan. 

I was so ecstatic when a student brought in some lemons for me fresh picked from her backyard tree on Tuesday, and I've been dreaming about a citrus tree of my own. 

Fresh from a student's tree! It smelled like heaven.

For now, I'll focus on trying to buy what's in season - and lucky for me, the main winter crop in California is citrus. Mandarin oranges are the ones that are seedless, sweet, and easy to peel. Tangerines are probably the only type of Mandarin I'm used to getting in New York, that have a thicker skin and a slightly darker orange color than other Mandarins. There's a huge variety in types, and I've been getting the Minneola Tangelos on the regular, which vary in size and sweetness but have a steady, bright orange color.  

These are mandarins

I've also tried the Cara Cara Pink Navel Orange, which is sweet and not acidic. It has a beautiful pink flesh. It's almost like a blood orange, without as much of the tartness in that signature tart/sweet blend. 

Beautiful fruit

I've even recently seen little kumquat trees in pots for sale. I thought long and hard about it before I decided I had to wait. Eventually I'll have my own space with my own yard (hopefully) and I'll be able to buy as many little fruit trees as I want. Patience! For now, my plan is to buy as many of the weird varieties that I've never seen before. I'm going to stay away from the familiar and go for the local varieties. Why not, right?

Sweat happy - with F21?!

I'm surprised to find these really cute racerback tanks at Forever 21.  They're made of Nylon/Spandex just like most high end workout clothes, and they're perforated which would be perfect for hot yoga. 

This one's only $12.80

And this one's $11.80

I've definitely gotten to the point where I feel ::too old:: to go into Forever 21 - but these workout tops have me reconsidering.  I'll just be sure to go to Williams-Sonoma afterwards and fondle some Le Creuset pieces to bring me back to feeling my age again. 

Words of wisdom.

I'm truly so happy to have moved to California. There are so many great things about being here - but there are so many things to worry about - getting a nice place in a neighborhood I like, securing a job, learning the traffic patterns, meeting new people. Adjusting to change is definitely not something that comes easily to me. I'm working on it!

Print from Holly and Olive Paper on Etsy

Some days I just need a bit of inspiration to help lift me out of a funk. Those days when I start to doubt myself, all the choices I've made, when the words of comfort from friends help a bit but overall just aren't cutting it. Most of the time I'm able to stay very optimistic, but every once in awhile, it helps to have some words of wisdom. 

Print by Lisa Congdon on Etsy

These cute prints I found on Etsy definitely fit the bill - uplifting but also cute to hang up in my (eventual) new place.

Shop and style - camo

I'm officially obsessed with camo. These ladies styled it with ease:

Camo and stripes on Kate from the Fancy Pants Report

Camo and leopard on Jen Knows Best

Camo with a teal sweater found on Pinterest

Thinking about shopping camo? Try this cute vest

from J.Crew

I might even try this cute boy's thermal henley

Also from J.Crew