Nespresso CitiZ, You Complete Me

When our French press broke in November, we started considering a fancier machine. Daniel suggested something from Nespresso. I shot down his idea on the spot. I'm not even a big coffee drinker. I mostly drink decaf and have no problem downing a latte after dinner. Still, I can be picky about these things. Nespresso just seemed so mass produced. I didn't want to buy coffee in capsules for a machine called the CitiZ. That uppercase Z totally weirded me out. It still does. I cringed as I capitalized it for the title of this post. Oh, and George Clooney is Nespresso's brand ambassador. He's very handsome and all, but come on.

Then we spent Thanksgiving with our friends Doug and Karlyn. After dinner, Doug made each of us a homemade cappuccino using his cool Illy machine. They were wonderful, but he spent about a half hour on them. After cooking for us all day. It looked like a lot of work. Daniel just needs a quick jolt of caffeine in the morning and I'm happy with a cold glass of milk.

When December rolled around, Daniel hadn't replaced his French press and I was trying to think of a good Christmas present for him. Secretly, I started reading Nespresso reviews online. Almost everyone, people who seem to know a lot about coffee than I do, gave it rave reviews. One former barista turned food blogger even proclaimed: "The Nespresso CitiZ produces a perfect cup of espresso, one that rivals the depth and quality of the product that is served in European restaurants." Say whaaaaaat?

He went on to explain that the key to perfect espresso is the amount of pressure produced in the process. Most machines produce 15 bars while the pump-driven Nespresso produces 19. The result? A perfect cup of espresso with a golden layer of crema. Educating myself about the machine helped me swallow my pride. Quickly.

I decided to buy the Nespresso CitiZ D120. When Daniel tried to slip a small stovetop espresso maker into our cart at Ikea a few days later, I convinced him to put it back on the shelf. Dreaming about cappuccinos on Christmas morning, I forced him to open his present on Christmas Eve. We've been treating ourselves to fancy-pants drinks ever since.

Our mornings start early and are almost always a three-ring circus. Making a latte or cappuccino with the touch of two buttons is soothing. The milk frother is my favorite part of all and it's magical. It comes with two attachments: a whisk that makes a thick, puffy froth that needs to be scooped out with a spoon; the other one produces warm, foamy milk that's perfect for lattes or a cup of tea. Even Nico's a fan. I made this syrup the other day now that he regularly requests hot chocolate. There's also a cold froth option that will get a lot of use this summer, I'm sure.

I still don't know much about espresso, but during a rare moment of silence yesterday while Nico and Leo were napping, I started flipping through a manual called The Art of Espresso that came with our machine. I have a long way to go, but slowly, I'm learning a thing or two.

Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

 

For my friend Mona's engagement party Saturday night, I volunteered to bring dessert. I thought about trying a new recipe, but came up with a better idea: I'd transform one of my favorite cakes from Melissa Clark into a boozy batch of cupcakes. This was a celebration after all, not a formal sit-down dinner. And I've been to plenty of parties where people prefer cocktails to sweets. I always need dessert and was determined to make something that would fit in. 

As I suspected, dark chocolate cupcakes with a cup of whiskey, plus a little extra brushed on top for good measure, were perfect for a Saturday night engagement celebration turned dance party. All 24 were quickly snatched up and devoured after we feasted on two types of fondue, lasagna, pork tenderloin, braised cabbage and a salad with pomegranate seeds.

Before making them, I searched online to see what kind of guidance I could find. Even though I've made the recipe as a bundt cake countless times, baking needs to be so precise. I found this site where a chef recommended adding an extra 1/2 cup of flour to give the cupcakes "structural assistance" which sounded good to me. I also cooked them for a lot less time. After about 28 minutes in my oven, they were perfect—light and moist with a sophisticated dark chocolate flavor that's rich, but not too sweet, with a welcome burst of whiskey.

I considered sprinkling powdered sugar on top too, but Daniel made a glossy ganache using bittersweet chocolate, cream and some butter to help dress them up a bit.  After that, he made white icing so we could write Mona and her fiance Jawad's initials on top. Time was running out by this point and we ended up writing on the cupcakes before they had fully cooled. They looked kind of sloppy at first, and reminded me of the bubble letters I used to favor back in middle school. I met Mona in 6th grade, so I could have said that was the look I was going for. Or maybe that Nico helped decorate them? Sadly, he didn't. This handiwork was all our own. Slowly, they took on a life of their own, and by the time we brought them to the party, they looked kind of cute. Mona and Jawad knew they'd been made with love and no one paid too much attention to the letters. The words dark chocolate and whiskey were way too distracting. 

Whiskey-Soaked Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Glaze

Adapted from Melissa Clark via The New York Times

For the cupcakes:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
5 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/4 cup instant espresso powder
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup whiskey, more for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda

For the chocolate ganache via Heather Drive:
1/4 cup heavy cream
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line two cupcake pans with liners. In microwave oven or double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate. Let cool.

2. Put espresso and cocoa powders in a 2-cup (or larger) glass measuring cup. Add enough boiling water to come up to the 1 cup measuring line. Mix until powders dissolve. Add whiskey and salt; let cool.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat 1 cup butter until fluffy. Add sugar and beat until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract, baking soda and melted chocolate, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula.

4. On low speed, beat in a third of the whiskey mixture. When liquid is absorbed, beat in 1 cup flour. Repeat additions, ending with whiskey mixture. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 3/4 full. Bake about 25-28 minutes or until a cake tester inserted into center comes out clean.

5. Transfer cupcakes to a rack and using a pastry brush, brush each one with more whiskey.

6. While the cupcakes are cooling, heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, add the chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until smooth.

7. Transfer to a small bowl and once they've cooled, dip the top of each cupcake to thoroughly coat.

8. Allow chocolate ganache to set before serving and storing.

Little Piglet List: 25 Recipe Resolutions

I thought about posting my 2011 resolutions right here, but decided to keep them to myself. Except for one. You've probably already figured it out.

I want to write more this year.

I started This Little Piglet before I had kids. Back when I traveled a lot, planned parties and knew all the best restaurants in New York and abroad. I always wanted to write more. I just never got around to it. Eventually, I stopped writing altogether.

Life certainly isn't calmer now. Parenting is a different sort of busy and I have a lot less time for myself. Still, I'm trying to write whenever I can, even if it's late at night when I should be catching up on sleep. It's nice to have a creative space of my own. A place to share recipes, restaurants, inspiring people, sites I like, or stories about life in Brooklyn with two little boys.

Thanks to Sitemeter, the site I use to track stats, I know people are reading. Many find me via Google and probably just come for a certain recipe or restaurant and don't stick around. Others have subscribed through readers and seem to check in whenever I post something new. Even though most of you are keeping very quiet, it's nice to know you're out there. If you feel like commenting here or on Facebook, I'll be your best friend forever. It'd be so nice to hear from you.

So while I'm not going to share any personal, potentially embarrassing resolutions, I will tell you about 25 food-related ones that I recently shared on my blog for iVillage. I came up with the idea after frying a few strips of bacon—for the first time in my life—the other night. The bacon was for a very decadent quiche that I'll write about soon, but it got me thinking about all the other foods I've never made and cooking techniques I still must conquer.

I'll admit it's a pretty ambitious list. If I want to make some progress, I have a lot of work to do. Tons, actually. It's a good thing food resolutions are much more fun than personal ones. Plus, there's no real pressure to plow through them. It's best to check off promises like these slowly. One by one.

Calendar image from statingtheobvious via Etsy

Yellow Cauliflower, Purple Potato and Emmentaler Gratin

Sometimes, a sleepless night can have a silver lining.

This was mine the other day after a long night with Leo. Cooking has a way of helping me get through the day when all I want to do is climb back into bed.

Except this time around, I did climb back in. Daniel started cooking. He made pork tenderloin with leeks, a pot of brown rice, and this simple cauliflower gratin with salt, pepper, some cream and grated Emmentaler on top. When I woke up, I added the purple potatoes, tucking them into any little pocket I could find, loving the deep, dark color they added to an already pretty dish.

After about 30 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees, it was golden and bubbly with a crispy, melty crust. We were too hungry and happy to have such a wonderfully warm and comforting meal that we dug in and forgot to take more photos. We even forgot how tired we were, for a little while at least. It was that good.

Dino

On Friday, I shared a list of restaurants I was considering for a date with Daniel. At first, 'Fatty Cue was winning. Then I saw my friend Dria at Chelsea Market that afternoon and she changed my mind. I saw Kiefer Sutherland there, too. I saw him at Five Leaves just a few weeks ago. I think he's following me.

But back to Dria. She told me she had a reaction to MSG when she went to 'Fatty Cue. I thought almost all places, even the ones that put weird pictures of food in their windows, had stopped using MSG, but apparently, it's having some sort of revival. Dria mentioned David Chang of Momofoku fame and said that he claims to use it, too. Daniel and I managed to score a coveted spot at Momofoku Ko for our anniversary in October and while we loved our meal, I felt like ass after. It's true. Back then, I thought it was from the heavy food—snail sausage and frozen foie gras, for example—but now I'm wondering if a certain controversial flavor enhancer was responsible.

I didn't want to feel like crap on my first night out in a while, so 'Fatty Cue was crossed off the list. I still want to go. Some day. That left Del Posto, El Almacen and Dino. We didn't feel like going into Manhattan and weren't in the mood for Argentinian food. We decided on Dino.

We shared an excellent caesar salad made with organic black and green kale and anchovy croutons, pork milanese with a refreshing apple and fennel slaw, and a slow-cooked ragu of meatballs and sausage with ricotta and rigatoni. For dessert, we split a warm chocolate cake with a cranberry compote, half a slice of tiramisu (a dessert that's never been my favorite), followed by chocolate cake round two.

Dino was small and cozy and it felt wonderful to be out on a Friday night. I hadn't realized just how much I missed being in a restaurant. It didn't take long to feel like the old days when we had regular dates, before we became the tired parents of two little boys. Even the wine was really good. We both loved the 2008 Kuyen from Valle del Maipo in Chile. It's one of a few bottles that you can pay for based on the amount that you drink. We had half and a glass each of another wine before that. It was a BIG night out. (We were home by 10:30.)

We tried to take a photo as we were leaving, but it was too dark. I went back yesterday and snapped one from my car. I hadn't noticed that greenish building above the restaurant the night I was there. Reminds me of a turtle's shell or maybe fish scales. Whoever lives there is lucky to have such a beautiful facade and a great neighborhood restaurant right downstairs. Oh and don't you just love the font they used to write Dino? I have a soft spot for that swirly D. The owners named the place after their 2-year old son and I hear it's really kid-friendly. Probably best to go back with the boys during the day because they serve breakfast and it looks divine.

Dino
222 Dekalb Avenue
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
718-222-1999

Grandma's Crumb Cake with Cranberries and Oats

On Sunday, I found an old bag of cranberries buried in my fridge. My high hopes for holiday baking hadn't exactly panned out. Some day I'll make this Cranberry Orange Cornmeal Cake, a recipe I've had bookmarked since 2008. I should have just thrown the whole bag out. I was supposed to be packing snacks for a trip to my cousin's in Connecticut when I found it. Instead, I emptied the cranberries on my kitchen counter and started making a pile of the sad, wrinkly ones. I put those little guys in the garbage and kept the rest.

Inspired by a cranberry buckle from Bklyn Larder that I had on Thanksgiving, I decided to make Grandma's Crumb Cake, an old favorite. Since I was already changing the recipe by adding cranberries, I decided to keep going. I substituted white whole wheat flour, which I only recently discovered after making these cookies for the second time, and for the crumb topping, I used light brown sugar and added oats. I also baked it in a smaller pan to ensure each slice was thick.

By the time the cake was ready, we were rushing to get out the door. I had planned on bringing it to Connecticut, but my hands quickly filled up with birthday presents, a diaper bag, gloves, scarves, hats and other stuff. I knew better than to try and balance a hot cake, too.  Sadly, Grandma's Crumb Cake with Cranberries and Oats would have to wait.

It wasn't until 10pm that I finally had a slice. The cranberries added tart bursts of flavor to each sweet bite, but the white whole wheat flour fell flat. It had made the batter too tough and the cake came out dry. The crumb topping however, was perfect. Each piece was fat and crackly with a golden flavor and the oats made it feel hearty, and slightly healthy. The recipe says to sprinkle the cake with powdered sugar, but since I was rushing by the time it was ready, I skipped this step. The cake was sweet enough and I didn't miss it.

A pint of blueberries has been hanging out in the fridge for the last few days. As long as they don't end up in a smoothie, or a snack trap, I'll be making Grandma's Crumb Cake the old way again soon, with a new twist or two.

Grandma’s Crumb Cake with Cranberries and Oats

Cake ingredients:
¾ cup of sugar
¼ cup butter, softened
1 egg
½ cup milk
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh cranberries, washed and drained

Crumb topping ingredients:
1 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream the sugar and butter together. Add the egg and milk and mix well. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the sugar mixture. Fold in the cranberries. The mixture will be thick.

To make the topping, thoroughly combine the five ingredients, using your hands to help form big, round crumbs.

Spread the batter in an 8”x 8” x 5” baking pan. Sprinkle on the topping mixture and bake for 35-45 minutes.

Little Piglet List: 5 Restaurants

Starting today, I'm going to launch a Little Piglet List every week. I've always loved making lists. So much that my Mom once surprised me with "Lia's Lovely Lists" notepads. In college I carried a Filofax and scribbled random ones on blank pages in the back. Trips I wanted to take, places I'd been, books to read, future baby names. My blackberry now holds most of my lists. I even have one for Nico's funny sayings. How else would I remember gems like this: "It's nice to be naked sometimes. But only sometimes."

Daniel and I are going out to dinner this weekend. A night to ourselves is long overdue. I have lots of restaurant lists and my head is spinning with all the places we could try. Somehow I've narrowed it down to these five.

Dino
The owners of this Italian restaurant in Fort Greene named it after their 2-year old son. My Mom once said we should open a place and call it Cafe Nico. The manager and chef are both veterans of Frank, a restaurant I really like in the East Village.

Del Posto
I went to Del Posto when it first opened during my Food Network days. I thought it was so-so. The New York Times recently made it the first Italian restaurant to get 4 stars since 1974. I'm ready to give it another try.

Brucie
This Italian newcomer in Cobble Hill just crossed itself off my list. They're closed till January 11. I peeked inside while passing by a few weeks ago and it looks really cool and cozy. I remember when it was Cube 63 and a toy store before that.

El Almacen
The owner of Play told me about this Argentine spot, one of his neighborhood faves. I checked out their website and love its antique feel. Short ribs braised in Malbec sound nice.

Fatty 'Cue
This has been on my list for a long time. Fatty Crab is an old favorite and now they've brought Southeast Asian fermented funkiness and a whole helluva a lot of smoke" to Brooklyn. Sign me up! The bowl of noodles with meat juices, scallion and chili would be perfect on a snowy night.


Which would you choose? We're leaning toward Fatty 'Cue, but there's still time to decide, or to add more to this list.


Notepad image from LetterLoveDesigns via Etsy

This week, I'm Elephant

At my Mom's birthday last week, my cousin and aunt gave Nico two books.
One was called A New Home for Beaver.
It's about a beaver, a pig and an elephant.
It wasn't long before Nico started calling me Elephant.
He was beaver.
Leo was pig.
Daniel was at work.
When he came home, we called him zebra.
Nico decided to build his own beaver house.
Around my desk.
The blanket covering the computer was the final touch.
He asked for my help with that.
I wonder if he's trying to tell me something. 
He did everything else himself.
Last night, I took down his beaver house after he went to bed.
When he woke up today, he was not happy that I had "destroyed" it.
"My beeeeeeeeeeaver house!"
He built it again.
Just like the beaver in the book.
I get a kick out of his design choices.
Such as the socks.
And the paper towel wedged between two pillows. 
His books always work their way into our lives.
TV shows too.
His Curious George phase was tough.
A monkey is really not the best role model.
Characters from books are better.
Speaking of books, I wish we lived closer to Powerhouse Books in Dumbo.
They have the most beautiful selection of children's books.
The ones by Mo Willems make us laugh the most.
Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog is a family favorite.
Nico used to quote that a lot.
"Oh for Pete's sake!"
They're turning Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale into a musical.
We bought tickets last weekend.
After reading that, Nico changed his lovey's name from Bear Bear to Knuffy.
But back to the beavers.
Last night, Nico and Daniel watched a documentary about beavers together.
Leo kept trying to watch too.
Once the boys were in bed, Daniel told me about it while we ate slices of bacon and cheese quiche.
I promise to give you that recipe soon.
Daniel said the documentary was like a reality show for beavers.
Did you know that beavers change their surroundings more than any other animal?
Aside from humans, of course.
I had no idea.
I never spent much time thinking about beavers.
Until I had a little boy whose books spark his imagination.
And make him surprise me with little things.
Like this.

Three Little Pigs

It's a good thing I froze some of my sugar cookie dough from Christmas Eve. On Sunday, Daniel surprised me with something special. It wasn't long before I put it to use. Nico makes me tell him the story of The Three Little Pigs multiple times every day, so he got a real kick out of making these. He even requested a big bad wolf. For some reason, I have a lobster cookie cutter which came kind of close. We only made one of those and it's long gone.

My sugar cookies still aren't stunning, but I think these are pretty cute.

Ubuntu

After reminiscing about my favorite Brooklyn spots of 2010, I started thinking about other memorable restaurant meals I had last year. The one that stands out most wasn't in Brooklyn, or even New York. It's a place in Napa that my Mom took me to during a Christmas trip to California. Had I not been on a blogging break back then, I would have taken many more photos, scribbled notes, and written about it right away. It's been a year since our visit, but it looks like Ubuntu, a "vegetable" restaurant with one Michelin star is still just as good.

We were in Sonoma with my brother and his family. Nico was 20 months at the time and my niece Adriana had just turned 2. With two little ones, it was easiest to eat most of our meals at home, but my Mom managed to sneak in a few lunch reservations, including one at Ubuntu. At first I didn't think it was a good idea. Not only was the restaurant 45 minutes away, but she made the reservation right in the middle of naptime. Believe me, I know how lame that sounds. I'm cringing even as I type it. Yet there I was, the girl who went from planning international trips around restaurants to a Mom determined to preserve her son's midday snooze.

It's a good thing my Mom knows what she wants. She insisted we go and I learned that if there's ever a time to let schedules slide, it's when you're on vacation.



Ubuntu was incredible. A cool and creative place that transforms seasonal and local produce—a lot is grown in the restaurant's biodynamic garden—into a series of small plates that could make me swear off meat forever. The space is sleek and modern and didn't feel too kid-friendly at first. Attached to a yoga studio, it was actually much more laid-back than it looked.

Nico and Adriana were happy, too. How could they not be with almond milk smoothies and a velvety cream cheese mousse served in a jar? We even lucked out by going at a time when a yoga class wasn't in session. The steps to the studio were right near our table, so instead of taking the kids outside to burn off some energy, we went one flight up and let them romp around there.

Ubuntu
1140 Main Street
Napa, California
707-251-5656

                                                               

A Place to Play in Greenpoint + Good Food

For my latest Mommy Poppins post, I spent a few mornings at Play in Greenpoint. Nico's beloved G train drops us off just a few blocks away and for lunch or a coffee to go, Five Leaves is nearby. The owners Wade and Katja are a lovely, creative and very inspiring couple who also have a children's clothing line Phoenix and Nola, named after their 19-month old twins. Bloomingdale's now carries the line, but you can check everything out at Play, too. For Christmas, I bought my nieces soft sweatshirts in the sweetest shades of lavender and pink, plus grey leggings with buttons on the ankles. If they came in my size, I would have bought similar outfits for myself. They're that cute.

Wade's worked at a bunch of Manhattan hot spots and we spent a lot of time talking about restaurants and food. He's the one who reminded me that Five Leaves is practically next door, and Fiore and El Amacen are his two other neighborhood favorites. The next time Daniel and I are able to sneak away for a dinner alone, we'll be at one of those.

Brooklyn Food Favorites 2010

To kick off my first day of 2011, I'm remembering some of the Brooklyn spots I frequented in 2010. Many are old favorites and a few are new. Happy New Year!

Bklyn Larder
This is where I cheated on the Park Slope Food Coop and my favorite ice cream parlor a lot. Their toasted almond gelato is unreal and the first flavor I've liked as much, if not more than the strawberry from Blue Marble. It's also where I treated myself to the easiest—and most expensive—Thanksgiving ever.

Thistle Hill Tavern

The neighborhood place I've always dreamed about. It's affordable, kid-friendly, and the food is seasonal, often local, and downright delicious. 

Bark
Every time I got rid of old clothes and toys at Lulu's Then and Now, I'd walk a few blocks to blow my earning on high-end hot dogs.

Brooklyn Fare

The perfect place to splurge on a fancy 33rd birthday celebration with a big group of friends.




One Girl Cookies
It's rare that I eat breakfast anywhere other than home. But for my favorite bakery's homemade yogurt, granola and stewed fruit, I'll make an exception. Their coconut coffee cake is the last thing I ate before going into labor with Leo.

Cafe Pedlar
Where I go to get snacks before movies at Cobble Hill Cinemas—the pretzel sandwich with brie and butter is the best. It's also where I recently spent a rare afternoon alone with a chai latte, black forest braid and my new favorite cookbook.

Four and Twenty Blackbirds
The place I almost walked right by when it first opened because black bars on its window made it easy to miss. I'm forever thankful for my friend Karlyn who suggested we peek in. I've been back countless times for Brooklyn's best pie.

Brookies from Baked
A dessert I could eat every day.

Nunu Chocolates
The place where I led my first food tour. I love the handmade chocolates, cozy brown and blue space, and the friendly couple that owns it.

Mast Brothers Chocolate
I always keep a stash of these at home. Pricier than most, they're discounted at the Park Slope Food Coop. This makes my monthly shifts worth it.

Seersucker
Solid southern food makes this one of the best places to open on Smith Street in awhile. I visited a few times this summer and discovered two things: Red Hook rose, and that scallops and watermelon make a surprisingly good combination. 

The Double Windsor
A bar with really good food where Daniel and I shared a flight of beers and a salad with duck confit on our first night out after becoming parents of two.We saw The Swell Season in Prospect Park after.

Dub Pies
Decaf mochas with pretty froth designs make my day. Flaky meat pies are nice too.

Five Leaves
The place where I ate outside on a cold December day with a friend and two little boys, bumped into Kiefer Sutherland on his birthday, and must visit again before 2011 ends.

Staying In

New Year's Eve kind of snuck up on me this year. After such a hectic holiday, we don't have anything special planned. This has never been one of my favorite holidays, unless we're somewhere warm like Brazil all dressed in white. New Year's Eve is always a lot of fun when we're there. Here, it's usually too cold, everything is unbelievably overpriced, and don't even get me started on Times Square. I'd rather do just about anything than celebrate New Year's Eve there. Last year, we didn't do much either. I was pregnant and happy to stay home. Daniel, these pork banh mi meatballs and The Hangover made it one of my best ones yet.

Friends invited us over for ropa vieja in Ft. Greene tonight, but since our regular babysitter is on another coast at the moment, it looks like we're staying in. Now I need to think of something fun to make. Any suggestions? I have a few bars of dark chocolate and a fridge full of fruit, so there will definitely be a big pot of fondue for dessert. 

What are your plans for New Year's Eve? I'd love to hear!

Trail of Inspiration

Daniel and I bought our current apartment almost 4 years ago, transforming it from a very sorry state into a place of our own. Before having kids, I would pick pieces of lint off the floor and sweep our kitchen every night. Tiny scratches on our freshly painted walls made me freak out and I almost had a nervous breakdown after seeing a water ring on our wooden bathroom shelf. I even let my cousin convince me to buy a white couch. My friend Kristen intervened at the last minute saying this was a terrible idea. I'm prone to spilling, and she knew I wanted kids.

I'm thankful I listened. Times have certainly changed. The chocolate couch I went with has seen smashed blueberries, spit-ups and all sorts of other stuff. In most rooms there are legos, train tracks, cars, trucks, diggers, back hoe loaders—I could go on and on, but I'll spare you—scattered everywhere. EVERY FREAKIN WHERE. An exersaucer—an eyesore if there ever was one—in our kitchen, a jumperoo that we move around from door to door, and an army of winter coats smothering beautiful antique hooks that partially block access to our bathroom.

As much as I love this apartment and all of the memories we've made in it, I'm very happy that we've decided to move in a few months. I don't think Daniel and I have another gut renovation in us, at least not now. I'm already counting on not finding a kitchen I love as much as ours. More space is the biggest priority.

One thing's for sure: I'm getting the itch to redecorate. I don't have the funds for many big changes, but a girl can dream, right? Today I found Lulu de Kwiatkowski's blog Trail of Inspiration and am sure I'll refer to it a lot when we find our new place. My cousin might have convinced me to buy a white couch, but by introducing me to Lulu DK fabrics she redeemed herself. Together we picked out this one for two slipper chairs and this one for some pillows. If I had space and money to spare, I would have bought a lot more. In October, Lonny Magazine had an article about Lulu and I loved seeing her LA home. She has two little boys and it barely looks lived in, but that's the beside the point. With lots of white and pops of color everywhere, it's sophisticated and fun. I still have a few more months in very tight quarters and no need or desire to buy anything new. For now, I'll keep tripping on legos and just live very vicariously through Lulu.

First photo via Trail of Inspiration. All others by Patrick Cline via Lonny.

The Bright Side

Last night was perfect. For my Mom, and me.

For days, I'd deliberated. Taking two kids to the city at a time when they were usually both in bed didn't seem to make sense. Lack of sleep, stomach bugs, and a holiday without heat and hot water had me on edge. The snowstorm only complicated things. Our car was buried in a few feet of snow and taxi services were beyond overwhelmed. I considered going alone, but knew how disappointed my Mom would be. When Daniel came home from work, Leo and Nico had major meltdowns at the same time. We both started to feel very negative about the whole situation.

I escaped to the shower. As hot water drowned out the noise in the next room, I gave myself a little pep talk. I knew it was a special night. Maybe everything would go off without a hitch. Maybe the subway wouldn't take forever and we'd have no trouble finding a taxi to take us from Lexington Ave over to York. Maybe the boys would be fine going to bed much later than usual. Maybe they'd both behave and I'd have a much needed night with adults, good food, and even a little wine.

Being positive was a good idea.

Nico, my little party animal, was as happy as could be all night and still in good spirits at 11pm as we were getting ready to leave. Leo hung out with us at the dinner table for the first few courses before taking a nap on my Mom's cozy bed. The food (wild mushroom soup with a pear puree and cumin oil, mache salad with a goat cheese medallion, filet mignon with tomato Madeira confit, stuffed tomatoes, asparagus gruyere, wild mushroom bread pudding, and a gorgeous custom cake from Pink Cake Box) was excellent, friends and family made touching toasts, and my Mom looked more beautiful and exuberant than ever.

I even taught myself a little lesson. When something seems really hard, and I feel like I might crack, it always helps to look on the bright side and forge ahead.