You say to yourself that you would never fall victim to a cult. You would never be led astray by the promises of a charismatic shaman. Because you’re smarter than that, your will is impenetrable. We practice psychological distancing; we convince ourselves that people who fall prey to a cult’s message are “crazed lunatics,” […]

Over the next two weeks, you’ll find me pounding the pavement in an effort to bring you honest reviews of New York’s (and surrounding boroughs) consignment shops. Forget shopping retail when you can score already-altered slacks, luxe cashmere sweaters, beaded cocktail dresses, and designer shoes on the cheap. Drop me a line if you have […]

I never shop on “Black Friday.” You’ll never find me trampling a hardworking salesperson just to grab an LCD television. You’ll never see me biting someone at Saks just to score a pair of Jimmy Choos. Instead, I slept, ate leftovers, and ran six miles (and then proceeded to eat more magic bars!), and […]

I knew it was kismet sophomore year, 1994, when Liz brought back a tin of magic bars winter break. These are the simplest of cookies with the sweetest of traditions, and the always remind me of Martyrs Hall, Miss Liz, and the feeling of home from warm ovens. Yesterday, after we declared that […]

To have a relationship with a man I can call my father. To have a huge family make us part of their holiday tradition. To have another family I can wholly call my own. I’ve always longed for a big family, for the pitter pat of feet scampering on hardwood floors, for boisterous conversation, […]

Thanksgiving is upon us, foodie people, and I’m tickled to break out the bowls, pie dish, my spice carousel, and yes, OH YES, my old-timey apple peeler. Tomorrow my father and I are celebrating the holiday with an old friend, in Connecticut. And while she whips my favorite Portuguese stuffing, arugula pecan salad, I’m […]

If I could own one dress, it would be this: Oscar de la Renta’s Tulle & Organza Cocktail Dress, however, since I’m living on a fixed income and the idea of purchasing a $1800 is kind of laughable, I’m content with staring at the screen and imagining swirling around in all that tulle. […]

Lately, my forehead has taken a turn for the worse. Label it stress, hormonal changes, what have you - all I know is that one day I woke up after 32 years of clear, unblemished skin to find a platoon on my forehead. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit here, but I assure you that […]

From Grecian draping to flirty ruffles to plum jersey, I’ve scoured my favorite online shops for hot holiday wears. As a born and raised New Yorker, black is my mainstay, but I’m trying (desperately!) to rough it up a bit by incorporating color, beading and other splashes of minor opulence. Some of these […]

Imagine for a moment the perfect pizza. A thin, flaky crust. Piping hot mozzarella cheese and savory toppings like sausage, homemade basil pesto, creamy mushrooms. Now imagine this pizza is healthy. You heard right - a pizza that’s actually good for you.
Featured on the Food Network’s show, “Recipe for Success,” in 2006, twenty-something owner, […]

The chocolate chip pumpkin loaf has changed lives, I kid you not. My recipe and subsequent variations were adopted by a local coffee and cookie shop, it united coworkers who couldn’t bear to be in the same room with one another, and it’s a constant source of…well…yumminess. I debuted the recipe and my tinkering […]

For a long time, I had an idea of a novel. I clung to the idea and imagined characters speaking in my head - this elaborate flight of fancy. The book would be big, I told everyone. BIG!!! A satire of our technologically-dependent age. But the plot never realized and the characters were simply […]

Carolyn Hsu, extraordinary writer & fashionista is one of the most stylish people I know (save for Julia, the jewelry genius, and my chorus of brilliant sartorially-minded friends who will remain nameless). So when we attended a recent Redken event, I nearly gasped when she walked in the door. Believe me, my chintz camera […]