Harlem Protein Shake

current books:
Oooh – it’s been awhile since something hit me like this, but right now I am reading Me and the Devil by Nick Tosches.  It’s absolutely incredible – dark and nasty and exactly what I need right now.  So delicious I am rationing it out, which is super-rare for me. Since Iceland I’ve been teetering a bit, this book could set me right or push me entirely over the edge, guess we’ll see.    

current mood:
Not bored exactly, but still pretty antsy.  I’ve been far too sensible this year, I need some decadence, excitement.

current triumphs:
– I had a pair of tights with a huge hole so I cut off the legs, rolled the legs into a donut, and learned to do a sock bun.  It looks so nice!  
– Intense bootcamp week completed, eight sessions in seven days.  I never thought I’d be able to do a double but on Saturday we did a 10am class, went home, showered, I went to french class, then met up for another class before getting really glammed up for the night and heading out to see Cavalli’s "Eliogabalo" by the Gotham Chamber Opera at The Box.  One of my absolute favorite places in New York – I hadn’t been in ages and it really hit the spot.  The show was really exceptional too.  
– We watched the show, drank negronis, then headed to dinner at Saxon & Parole afterwards.  S took charge of the ordering and got me a "champagne negroni" which came in a cunning little bottle and replaced the seltzer with champagne.  We had a seafood tower, and shared the black bass with king oyster mushroom salad and potatoes.  No room for dessert but everything looked completely over-the-top.  One of those classic Manhattan nights.  Or Negroni nights, I guess.

current music:
Bootcamp mixes
 
current shame-inducing guilty pleasure/indulgence:
– Deep purple-y red lacquered fingernails.  And toenails.
– I went to the grocery store twice this weekend in workout clothes.  Not okay.
 
current drink:
Water
Absinthe

current food:
Chobani Bites fig and orange zest mini-yogurt.  So good.  I still remember the first time I ever had a fresh fig.  I was fourteen and babysitting for this very well-off Belgian family.  (They had a whole floor to their house they never even used!)   I remember so vividly – the mom was shocked I had never tasted fresh fig.  I thought the fig in Fig Newtons would be a preview but boy was I wrong.  So amazing.  Every time I eat the yogurt I flash back to that first bite in their kitchen.

current movie:
I know it’s been a while, but how great is Amelie?  We went to a "Film Feast" at Nitehawk Cinemas on Tuesday night – this theater is one with tables and they serve food/booze during the movies.  At regular movies there you get a menu and you order by writing down what you want but for this they had a five course fixed menu and servers came by with the food/drinks at certain times in the movie.  The chef was from the third season of Top Chef but either she was out early or I don’t think I watched that season.

First course was a croque madame with black truffles, served with champagne.  Second was pork rillete with baguette and apple chutney, served with a "Green Beast" – Pernod Absinthe, lime, and cucumber.)  I didn’t eat the pork but this drink was my fave, perfect absinthe taste.  Third course was mussels in a fennel and absinthe broth, the drink was called "Le Reve de Lucien" which was Absinthe, grenadine, orange liqueur, and gin.  Very strong, a little too sweet. Fourth was a crepe with orange, duck, radish, and foie.  Drink was a "Crysanthemum" – Benedictine, Pernod Absinthe, and dry vermouth.  Then dessert was angel food cake with absinthe whipped cream and plum jam – gorgeous.  It was served with a shot of plum gin, which was pretty good.  At the afterparty there were more absinthe drinks and ABSINTHE COTTON CANDY.  Yessss.

current fetish:
Muscles muscles muscles.  Skin skin skin.

current bane of my existence:

Got highlights this weekend and they are too blonde.  Still kind of debating what to do.

current color(s):
Black and oxblood

current excitements:
– Went to 21 Club and Broadway play Breakfast at Tiffany’s with my mom.  Show was not the best but we had sooo much fun. 
– Also….spring soon?  Maybe?  Then everyone will be in love, the flowers’ll pick themselves, and all that.  Cannot wait!

current wish list:
– Black Constance H belt with silver buckle
– Two custom made/fitted sheath dresses, jackets, and skirts(one grey, one black)
– New black wedge sandals
– Rick Owens black OTK wedge boots, but at something like a 99% discount
– New sneakers (I would like some very brightly colored ones this time.)
– New sports bras
– New slim black pants
– New flowy black pants

current outfit:
Black shift dress, silk equestrian print scarf, black tights, wedge booties, j12, nike fuelband, Essie "Berry Hard" nailpolish.
 
current scent:
Valentino Valentina.  I am obsessed with the bottle, and the fragrance – so perfect.

current inspiration:
Welcome to the Grind (I could care less about lacrosse/baseball so I like the words better than the video, your mileage may vary but either way I think it’s an excellent kick in the ass.)

Rise and shine

5am and your hand can’t make it to the alarm clock before the voices in your head start telling you that it’s too early, too dark, and too cold to get outta bed

Aching muscles lie still in rebellion, pretending not to hear your brain commanding them to move

A legion of voices shouting their unanimous permission for you to hit the snooze button and go back to dreamland, but you didn’t ask their opinion

The voice you’ve chosen to listen to is one of defiance

A voice that’s says there was a reason you set that alarm in the first place. So sit up, put your feet on the floor, and don’t look back because we’ve got work to do

Welcome to The Grind

For what is each day but a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way

10,000 streams fan out like a river delta before you

Each one promising the path of least resistance

Thing is, you’re headed upstream

And when you make that choice, when you decide to turn your back on what’s comfortable and what’s safe and what some would call “common sense”, well that’s day 1.

From there it only gets tougher

So just make sure this is something you want

Because the easy way out will always be there, ready to wash you away, all you have to do is pick up your feet

But you aren’t going to are you?

With each step comes the decision to take another

You’re on you’re way now

But this is no time to dwell on how far you’ve come.

You’re in a fight against an opponent you can’t see

Oh but you can feel him on your heels can’t you?

Feel him breathing down your neck

You know what that is?

That’s you…

Your fears, your doubts and insecurities all lined up like a firing squad ready to shoot you outta the sky

But don’t lose heart

While they aren’t easily defeated, they are far from invincible

Remember this is The Grind

The Battle Royale between you and your mind, your body and the devil on your shoulder who’s telling you that this is just a game, this is just a waste of time, your opponents are stronger than you.

Drown out the voice of uncertainty with the sound of your heartbeat

Burn away your self doubt with the fire that’s beneath you

Remember what you’re fighting for

And never forget that momentum is a cruel mistress

She can turn on a dime with the smallest mistake.

She is ever searching for that weak place in your armor

That one tiny thing you forgot to prepare for

So as long as the devil is hiding the details, the question remains,”is that all you got?”, “are you sure?”

And when the answer is “yes”. That you’ve done all you can to prepare yourself for battle THEN its time to go forth and boldly face your enemy, the enemy within

Only now you must take that fight into the open, into hostile territory

You’re a lion in a field of lions

All hunting the same elusive prey with a desperate starvation that says VICTORY is the only thing that can keep you alive

So believe that voice that says “you CAN run a little faster” and that “you CAN throw a little harder” and that, for you, the laws of physics are merely a suggestion.

So rise and shine.