Sweet Success

One of my articles was recently featured on the award-winning site, bestsmallbizhelp.com. Read about the Philly-famous food truck, Bonjour Creperie, by clicking the link HERE.

The "Bella" crepe (nutella and strawberries)

Cake Cake Cake Cake!

Ladies and gentlemen, we've entered the Roaring Twenties! In the past, I've celebrated my birthday in beautiful, vibrant cities like Paris (16, 18) and New York (19), but this year I celebrated my birthday in the City of Brotherly Love. I can't think of a better way to ring in two decades of living than spending time with the people whose lives and friendships have made me a better human being.

The day began with a birthday brunch at The Dandelion pub in Rittenhouse Square. Friends came from New York, Philly, and my hometown to brunch-out like Brits at my new favorite restaurant. The day ended with a family dinner overlooking Spruce Street Harbor Park and a killer concert at Penn's Landing with my friend Kristen, who's more like a sister.

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday greetings! I'm humbled by the amazing individuals who prompt me to celebrate life. Cheers to 20 years!

Why birthdays are the greatest: people shower you with gifts,
candy, laughter, and more candy (thanks, Jessica). 

In two decades, not a whole lot has changed. Dress-up
is still my favorite activity (in close second: being a ham).
Pictured: Tracy Reese dress, MAC lipstick in 'Morange.'

Mandatory photo-shoot on the steps of Anthropology
in Rittenhouse. 

Me and my lovely Philly roommate, Jessica.

Six of my dearest friends joined me for a birthday brunch at The Dandelion
pub in Rittenhouse Square.

The food and decor at The Dandelion was perfectly British.

...and their scones are to die for.

Ciara, my roommate from school, came all the way from
NYC to celebrate with me! As always, she brought plenty
of giggles.

Me and my big, Chelsey, posing under the hanging urns
at The Dandelion.

The Dandelion gets everything so right, right down to the
end-of-meal birthday dessert: chocolate cherry ice cream and
a homemade butter cookie crown.

The Fray concert was the perfect end to an amazing birthday
in Philly. I've been listening to Isaac Slade (pictured above)
for the past decade, and seeing him perform live was surreal.

Birthday Adventures, Part One

Hey, you! I hope everyone had a lovely Fourth of July weekend. I spent mine in St. Mary's, PA at my annual family reunion, which is always a good time. My family is super-competitive, so the weekend is always packed with various athletic, strategic, and recreational activities. I REALLY thought this was going to be my year to win the bake-off (the only event I compete in--I always get third), but the winning entry incorporated lit sparklers. Yeah, it's that intense.

Baking bitterness aside (my dish had BACON in it--I thought I was golden!), it's been a wonderful few days off. My best friend turned 21 the other day, and we brunched like queens in the City of Brotherly Love. Since our birthdays are only five days apart (she's the 7th, and I'm the 12th), we have entered what we call our "birthday week." Today, I spent the afternoon thrifting and visiting with my mom and some close friends from back home.  I scored on vintage jewelry at Buffalo Exchange, and I found this incredible dress that I will most definitely be wearing to my birthday brunch on Saturday (can't wait to show you!). I'd say this week is off to a pretty stellar start...

Birthday girl (left), Kelly, and Birthday-girl-to be (right).

One of the thrift stores we visited had a Tiffany Blue rotary
phone. It was glorious.

I was content to feed my turquoise addiction today at
Buffalo Exchange on Chestnut St. 

The incredibly dapper "Wall of Churchill" at Duke & Winston.

The majestic Duke, of Duke & Winston. 

Early to Rise

"Early to bed and early to rise makes a [wo]man healthy, wealthy, and wise." - Benjamin Franklin

This lovely day off began with an early-morning bike to Race St. Pier for some FREE yoga beside the water. I can't believe this was my first time out! Though the idea of leaving my house at 6:30 a.m. and biking four miles to the river doesn't generally appeal, the idea of working out in the humid, blistering heat (high of 93 today!) is decisively less appealing. Plus, I'd never tried yoga before--only Pilates and similar work-out classes--and I needed an excuse to use my new yoga mat.

It was fun first class, and I can't wait go again. Next time, I'm bringing friends :)

There is nothing more relaxing than starting your day
watching the sunrise by the water.

Completely in love with the view from Race St. Pier.

As a friend humorously pointed out, I am an incurable
color-coordinator. Tiffany Blue for days and days :)

Food for Thought

Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that I know I haven't posted much lately. My brother is getting married in less than a month (so soon!), and I've been back and forth between Philly and home for the past couple of weeks doing bridesmaid shenanigans. It's been great, and I'm very excited, but it doesn't leave a whole lot of room for exploration.

My most recent adventure may not, at least initially, seem all that much like an adventure to some of you. I had the privilege of attending a wonderful lecture at U Penn the other night. I know, I know. But the topic--Philosophy and Food--is something that pretty much anyone can relate to, if not appreciate. Philosophy and food are two of my favorite things in the world, so when my friend Jess told me about the talk, it was a pretty easy decision.

The lecturer, holistic health coach and master whole-foods chef, Katherine Miller, has always had an interest in food, nutrition, travel, and people. She began her talk with a nod to the Epicurean school of philosophy. I'll be brief for the non-philosophers reading this post: What modern individuals often classify as "epicurean" involves a search for simple, yet deep, pleasure, with little to no negative repercussions. The capital-E Epicureans of Ancient Greece were a little more intense, but the same basic goal of pleasure holds constant. Unlike Hedonists, however, the Epicureans took a more moderated approach to pleasure-seeking.

In Katherine's lecture, she used the phrase "ripples of multi-demensional pleasure" to describe her approach to holistic living. She explained that she strives to preserve deeper pleasure in her life, which often involves sacrificing smaller pleasures. This mindset requires a great deal of self-awareness. We should always be asking ourselves, What do I value most? 

Katherine used the example of wine, something she enjoys a great deal. She explained that although she gains pleasure from smelling, tasting, and feeling the relaxing effects of wine, she moderates so as not to sacrifice the greater, deeper pleasure of waking up the next morning feeling refreshed, energized, and clear-headed. Consider the quality of the gasoline you use to fill up your car. While you may pay more for premium, your car is generally better off. And while is feels good to save money on gas, the long-term cost to your car's engine might outweigh the short-term cost of quality fuel.

Katherine went on to express her distaste for an overly-regimented, "puritan" food philosophy, which focuses way too much on denial--a big list of nutritional "dos" and "don'ts." In Katherine's approach, longevity is key. So while she sticks to a primarily vegan diet, she's not going to travel to Rome and not enjoy a steaming plate of hand-rolled spaghetti with a glass of red wine. Who does that?

As Katherine continued to share some of the wisdom she has gained from her food journey, I began to develop some of my own thoughts surrounding the role philosophy plays in our daily dealings with food. Food is such an integral part of life, so it makes sense that it would serve as the perfect analogy for every individual's pursuit of what philosophers refer to as "the good life," or "eudaimonia." The concept, first proposed by Aristotle, is, to use modern terms, happiness, purpose, or fulfillment in life.

Our relationship with food often serves as a strong indicator of our interpretation of what "the good" truly is for us. The philosophical assertion is that there is only one "good," which everyone wants, but we all have very different perceptions and opinions concerning how to reach a good that is robust, fulfilling, and lasting.

Some helpful tips Katherine offered for cultivating a healthy, happy "food life" involve the daily choices we make. She gave the example of swapping a white potato for a sweet potato--for many, a small trade-off with a greater return of benefits, which include essential vitamins and minerals. She also suggests being firm and confident in your food choices, not making excuses, and keeping your eyes on your own plate (who cares what your friends are eating?). Food, like philosophy, is such a personal thing, so while it makes sense to share helpful tips and delicious recipes with others, it can be downright repellent to try to shove your beliefs (literally and metaphorically) down someone's throat.

I hope this has provided some food for thought. I certainly walked away with a deeper awareness that I hope stays with me for the rest of my life.

Learn more about Katherine and her awesome company, Kosmic Kitchen HERE!

Bon appetit, bon week-end!

Since I intern at a news station, I'm constantly reminded of meteorological state of the city. This week, Philly was one giant rain puddle. One evening, when my roommates and I were out for a long walk, a cab came by a soaked us all--like in the movies. So gross. Needless to say, when I saw the weekend forecast--sunny and warm--I began counting down the hours until it would start feeling like summer again.

Enter, Saturday. I started my day early with a gorgeous jog around town while my roommates attended their last practice of the week (YOU DID IT!). As I mentioned in my last post, my new roommates are lightweight rowers. They've had three-a-day practices every day this week, and I am so amazed by how someone so small can endure such a rigorous routine. There is a downside though: trying to stay that size while increasing your activity exponentially.

Like anyone would be after a long workout, they get hungry, which calls for some added creativity in the kitchen. Little did they know, they were rooming with someone who loves healthy food, and jumps at the chance to try out new recipes on an enthusiastic crowd. One of my roommates, Marygail, has been craving Italian food all week, but she's way too disciplined and way too talented to cave. After spending a little time on Pinterest in search of a solution (follow HDOF!), I had found our loophole: spaghetti squash...and fresh tomatoes, and garlic, and zucchini, and eggplant, and a ton of fresh herbs and spices (<3). After trying our all-veggie Italian lunch, none of us could believe how satisfying and authentic everything tasted. A great start to a beautiful weekend :)

Have you ever thought about why it's easier to work out
on nicer days? For me, a beautiful day is something I want
to experience to the fullest extent. Sweat it out!

Sun peaking through the shade in Rittenhouse this morning.

This is actual squash--no cheating.
We couldn't believe it worked!

The prettier and more colorful your plate, the more
satisfied you will feel after enjoying your food.

The best part: seeing my roommates enjoying REAL FOOD!
It's crazy how people are blessed by the smallest things. 

Bon appetit, bon week-end!

Change of Plans

So many exciting things have happened since my last post, but since summer (and LIFE!) is about experiencing, and not just documenting, I've decided to be selective about which events/memories I share here. 

One thing that I'd definitely call a highlight is that I now have two roommates! Marygail and Jessica are collegiate rowers, staying in Philly for a summer of training on the Schuylkill River with the hope that they'll make the USA team for the 2014 World Championships. Not only are they super-talented, but they're really fun, and they love city adventures as much a I do! 

This past Sunday, we decided to meet up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (I, of course, was biking my way back from seeing TFIOS--so good!). On the first Sunday of every month, museum admission is free, which is awesome! We encountered one tiny problem, though: we were one week late.

So...change of plans! We ended up getting soft-served ice cream from a truck, posing with Rocky, and making a scenic trek around the Schuylkill. It was so fun and spontaneous! And who wants to spend a gorgeous Sunday afternoon walking around inside a museum, full of paintings that aim to capture the real beauty right outside its doors? Don't get me wrong, I love art, which is why I'll be back the next chance I get (probably at night or on a rainy day)...

Sometimes the best memories are the ones made when things don't go exactly according to plan. The next time life takes a an unexpected turn, embrace it! The detour is often better than the highway.

P.S. This new insight may or may not have been inspired by my recent TFIOS fixation. Sorry I'm not sorry...