Looking for tips...

Does anyone else feel totally clueless about “the art” of tipping? For me, tipping is one of the most confusing and stressful transactions that I have to face on a regular basis. When to tip someone and how much is appropriate are mysteries which I have yet to solve and it makes me BONKERS! No matter how many manicures I go for, I always have a momentary panic as I stare at the bill and try to determine an adequate tip on the $8 service. And what about the guy who comes to fix your cable or the cab driver who got you to the airport ($50) in the same amount of time it took the last cabbie to get you downtown during rush hour ($15)? I’m grateful for set rules in places like restaurants because everything else seems like a discretionary free for all! I’m more than happy to tip well for exemplary service, but how do I figure out what “tipping well” is!?

Do you have any tricks (or tips!?) for determining when and how much when it comes to tipping? Do you agree with THESE suggestions? Until someone gives me a rule, the chick who washes my hair at the salon will continue making a mint off my visits… but honestly, those scalp massages might just be worth it :)

Image via Google

The Great Hill.

My bike was not this chic,  but it was a champion

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day in NYC. Dr. H announced that he wanted to go for a run in the park and I immediately decided to grab a bike and do some outdoor exercise as well. Though we once circled Central Park running together, it's been (only?!) eight weeks since my knee reconstruction and biking is all I'm "up to". Determined to enjoy the spring air, I took off on the 6 mile loop, including The Great Hill in the park's northwest corner. Initially nervous to leave the security of a timed ride on a stationary bike behind, I'm happy to report that I hauled my booty up that hill and have lived to tell the tale.

For me, yesterday was a mini-milestone. It's not that riding a bike up The Great Hill was particularly remarkable (just ask the people whisking past me!), but it was a small goal and a small victory and achieving it rocked. So, take a moment this week to find your own Great Hill and celebrate (with Tasti D-light?!) when you reach the top of it. It doesn't matter if anyone else thinks the milestone is a big deal, all that matters is how the accomplishment feels to you. Happy riding!

We're in a pickle (and we like it).

The cucumber's sexier cousin

Confession: Dr. H and I are addicted to pickles. And this isn't just a favorite snack or passing fad... we eat So. Many. Pickles. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, last weekend we went to the farmer's market on the upper west side (awesome stuff, check it out) and this happened:

Ooooh yeah.

The reason we needed two tubs was (a) these were actually purchased from two different pickle vendors; and (b) all pickle connoisseurs know that you cannot mix your sours with your half sours. It's a pickle juice thing.

We think pickles are great for lots of reasons: they are flavorful, healthy, cheap and can serve as a delightful snack or awesome side dish. Dr. H and I rock a little pre-dinner pickle while we cook (or wait for takeout!) nearly every night because its the perfect light nosh to hold you over until chow time. Most people either love pickles or hate them, but we no doubt  are lovers. So happy weekend, happy holidays and happy pickles to all!

Matzah, eggs, brunch and bunnies...

Egg for Easter = somehow associated with "hunting" (and a bunny?)
Egg for Passover = the only thing at seder I know I will eat

The spring time religious holidays have arrived and though they don't seem to garner the same excitement or fanfare as their winter counterparts (how come December is the "holiday season"?) that doesn't mean we can't have a little Passover/Easter merriment around here! Before you relax with your [4 cups of wine, marshmallow twists and Charlton Heston] OR [bunnies, baskets of chocolate and egg dying] check out these holiday inspired links:

A recipe for "k for p" potato gnocchi HERE
And check out the sweet potato version HERE

THIS recipe is for those looking to up their "matzah pizza" game
(Might be tasty with meat if you're like me and "keep" Passover but don't keep kosher!) 

Come day three of Passover, not only am I'm making "crumby" holiday jokes (you know what I'm talking about fellow matzah eaters!) but I'm also thoroughly stumped as to what to cook. It's not that I eat SO much bread, pasta and corn normally, it's that forbidding them suddenly presents an extra challenge. This year "lasagna" and gnocchi are definitely going to be on the menu.

Everything is better when it glows in the dark

In college I helped my roommate's parents set up an Easter Egg Hunt in our dorm room, but beyond that, my participation in this tradition has been fairly limited. So while I don't claim to be an expert, I'm fairly certain that adding a glow-in-the-dark element would be pretttttty fantastic.

I mean... this is just a great presentation idea

These little bunnies are Easter-awesome
and also baby shower/kid birthday party approved

No matter what you're celebrating this weekend, I recommend you start the day with this delicious (and totally genius!) breakfast idea.

How have I never thought to do THIS?

Hump Day Distractions

This cracks me up big time. 

Wednesday has arrived and your distractions await:

* The art of "photobombing", mastered. 

* This is why you should never tease a frog

* Definitely having flashbacks of my "Braids and Bows" book circa 1990 

* Sexy and he knows it (and you thought YOU wasted a lot of time on the computer!) 

* Why yes, I'd love to eat nachos and cheeseburgers at the SAME TIME!  

* The ballerina in me is amazed (and wishes she'd gotten the chance to perform to Radiohead). 

* Hump Day can be rough... THIS will make it all better 

First comes love, then comes marriage...

It seems that once a woman gets married, people immediately want to know when she’s going to start a family. I’m amazed by how many people have followed their marital congratulations with “when are you planning to have children?” The (extremely personal!) topic explodes in your face mere seconds after the volume on “what color are your bridesmaids dresses?” is turned down. Sometimes I just want to yell “WHOA there! One life milestone at a time please!!”

What’s really weird about my reaction to this question is that I actually think about having children all the time; but not in the “ohman I want one RIGHT NOW” sort of way (stay calm Dr. H), more like “someday when I do this baby makin’ thing it is totally gonna rock!” I love imagining what Dr. H and I will be like as parents: I love envisioning our little family adventuring in NYC and knowing I’ll have the perfect excuse to indulge in all the “little kid” activities I find so entertaining (arts and crafts, circuses, playgrounds!) I love the idea of being a mom. But I’m also well versed in known “lesser joys” of parenting - the exhaustion, deciding whether or not to leave the city I love and navigating how to be a career rock-star like my Dad AND a supermama like my stay-at-home Mom (can it be done!?) In the see-saw of my mind, couples getaways and date nights are still far more appealing than having any tiny 3rd parties join us. Is this normal? Is there a normal? I keep imagining some day I will wake up and magically “be ready”. Until then however, I will smile politely through the Baby Inquisition while mentally planning bicycling trips in France, boozy Tuesday nights and awesome Saturdays where I hide in bed with Dr. H until noon.

Image via Pinterest

Just another manic Monday.

Seriously.

Well this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's Sunday night and I'm staring at my computer screen all "uuuuuuhhh, what should I write about!?" Four months and eighty posts into my merry adventure, I am feeling a touch of writer's block (or maybe it's just my burning desire to watch SO MUCH tv? Frozen Planet, Mad Men, Family Guy, Shameless... my DVR is calling!)

I could remind you how much I love turtles and show you funny pictures I've found of them:

Like this.

And this.

Or I could tell you about this great new trick I play on myself to realize I'm not that busy and I do have time to get "undesirable" things done. (Instead of saying "I don't have time to _____." I say "It's not a priority to _____." and if that doesn't sit well, snap to action. I swear it works! I finally got my teeth cleaned!!) Read my full inspiration HERE.

Speaking of inspiration:

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Is this cheating? 

Something about this lunch is bugging me (hehe)

Probably, but thankfully the internet is here to distract and amuse you while I go watch tv :) Until tomorrow!