Ginger-Chicken Meatballs with Chinese Broccoli

From Russia With Love (Pt I)

When I think of our time in St. Petersburg, I think of rain, intricate palaces, Easter eggs, stern customs officers, and our wonderful new friends we met through our tour group.

Ithaca Through the Seasons: Summer 2017

Adjusting to Ithaca was a task easier said than done. I missed my friends, routines, and environment at my old school. Starting over without knowing that I'd need to grow up and make my new school a home for myself was rough, but springtime in Ithaca brought more changes than just beautiful weather. Ithaca finally became home. Unfortunately, it was about time to leave!

Homemade Pasta

Homemade pasta with oven roasted tomatoes, homemade meatballs and tomato sauce, fresh basil and parsley

Sailing the Baltic Sea with Royal Caribbean

Today's the day! I'm so excited to finally share this video that I've been working on.

A Visual Walking Tour of Tallinn, Estonia

If you need some travel advice, Rick Steves is your guy. He's traveled everywhere. I first discovered him through his podcasts about Spain, and I knew to seek them once again when we were gearing up for Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Bits and Pieces

 Bits and pieces of the past month or so from my phone -  

Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Meatballs, and Crispy Kale

White Bean and Barley Stew

Stockholm's Sights: Gamla Stan (Old Town) and Sveriges Kungahus (Royal Palace)

It's so easy to say that the grass is greener on the other side. 

There's no denying that Sweden, 

with its 202+ years of peace, beautiful Old Town, interior design, gender-equality, multi-lingual and well-dressed (in the "Oh, I just threw this on", unpretentious kind of way) citizens, 

merits its position as the world's 6th best country.

But wait: just edge your finger over your trackpad/mouse a little bit more. Who's the 7th? 

Stockholm's Sights: Djurgården

The first full week of school - done! Whether it's having more things to do, waking up to 40*F mornings, or simply the strange, new familiarity from picking things back up where I left them, the school year's officially in full swing, and it feels like I've never left. But regardless of how much work needs to be done, I've been catching myself drifting into memory land: walking up the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral, my morning chats with my paulistano and Mauritian buddies, and of course, looking over the viewpoint at Skansen, Stockholm's open-air museum, and seeing beautiful Stockholm peek out from behind the canopy of the trees (first photo). 

Summer Squash: French(ish) Ratatouille and a Roasted Italian Vegetable Sandwich

Summer squash, two ways. The first, a Disney-inspired ratatouille that's easier to make than it looks (I promise). The second is an even simpler meatless sandwich that both vegetarians and meat-lovers will like.

life at sea

watching Beauty & the Beast on the lido deck with my mom, wrapped in a Royal (blue) Caribbean blanket
(protection from the wild Baltic winds and 50*F weather)

Summer In My Kitchen 2017 | a photo journal

Things I've cooked and baked that won't quite make it to having their own recipe post:

Wilson's graduation cake

Peach galette

For Your Soul || inspiration, self-care, places to wander

Mercer County Park. Photos from my summer at home here.

"Slow living" in a fast paced culture isn't easy because you have to define what "slow" means for you. Here are some of the things I've been loving (to see, to make, to visit) that help me slow down and take it easy.

Other recent recommendations: For Your Eyes (books to read and videos to watch) and For Your Ears (music and podcasts)

To follow:

On Instagram, I've been loving the poetry shared by @nayyirah.waheed and the designs created by @a.crouse

To make: Sour Cherry Apple Muffins (recipe here)

To see: Carlos Zinelli’s artwork at the American Folk Art Museum (free entry and you're greeted by the sweetest security guards!)

To visit:

1. Your local library!
2. Labyrinth Books, Nassau St, Princeton, NJ: a posher version of NYC's Strand Books
3. Strand Books, Union Square, New York City, NY: get lost with four floors of books to browse through
4. MOMA Design Store (Soho location): a spot that my mom has taken to me a handful of times
5. Mercer County Park (specifically the Blue Trail through the woods)

Is it obvious yet that I love books and bookstores? I was able to rekindle my love for reading with the start of 2017, but furthermore with extra time this summer. As much as I love owning a book, I have to be fully honest by saying that I rarely bring myself to reread most of the books already on my shelf (with the exception of The Prisoner of Azkaban...that I reread at least once a year) - that’s why I list the local library first!

At the same time, I live in a small town with an older library, so the selections aren’t as diverse and up-to-date as a university or city library. That’s when bookstores come in. I don’t often go to them to purchase books, but rather, to sift through the many options and curate a reading list! And since we’re on the honesty train, I feel compelled to admit that I’ve spent many hours silently gushing over cookbooks and travel memoirs at bookstores (if you get a chance, look through Tasting Rome and The Times' Melissa Clark's Dinner: Changing the Game).

A Summer At Home || new jersey photo journal

A summer at home in a nutshell.

Gil and Bert's with Rutvi - I have the most life-giving and meaningful conversations with this cutie!

For Your Ears || music and podcast recommendations

I'm sharing some of my recommendations for music and podcasts to listen to today! If you missed them, you can find last week's reading and video recommendations here.

The Daily Grind || a list and iphone photojournal

My favorite building to pass by on my walk to the office

Full disclosure: I wasn’t always fond of New York City.

Despite being born there and frequently visiting family living there, I’ve honestly never had a soft spot for New York City...that is, until recently. Prior to the past few years, I had really known the city only for Chinatown, whose novelty wears off quickly. The noise, the crowds, the smells - none of it compares well to the lush, green, calm forests of my hometown in New Jersey.

Other areas, like Brooklyn, Times Square, the Upper East and West Sides, occasionally Queens, FiDi, Soho, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, Central Park...we had been to those places, but I never truly experienced them despite the numerous annual trips to visit family. I’ve always wanted to see more, but these places didn’t seem all that accessible. Deep down, I wasn’t independent enough to take the leap and just go off on my own solo adventures.

My internship this summer gave me the opportunity to see the city in a new light. It took a handful of subway rides to master reading the signs, and I found myself wandering from Harlem and the Bronx to Elmhurst and Brooklyn. I didn’t realize how characteristically different each borough is from another, that you can get onto the subway in one place and take a 5 minute ride to another unrecognizable world. In addition to learning so much about the medical and social services fields, I was able to learn so much about myself - you get a lot of thinking and reflecting done when you're alone in new environments. Having to travel to different places for my internship further encouraged me to come out of my shell, to be more adventurous, to get lost and to learn to find my way. It was a growing process, one that was physically exhausting at times, but oh-so-fulfilling and life-giving.

If any of my coworkers are reading this, thank you for taking me under your wing and for patiently showing me the ropes! I've never worked in such a pleasant environment with the sweetest and most compassionate of people. You all treated me with so much kindness, graciously sharing your stories, advice, and recommendations. You all cared enough to take the time to get to know me, and I can’t express how grateful I am for the way you all welcomed me and showed me so much love!

Here's what I saw through my iPhone:

Wake up call

Penn Station