Adapting, Ep. 6

Loving, laughing, and leaving the apartment.

While it’s still very cold, the sun sets slightly later, which is worth celebrating. I enjoyed a perfect mix of cozy nights in and social nights out this week (something this winter has not been inspiring me to do!).

Here’s what’s been getting me through February -

Pasta has always been my favorite food, so now that I have my dream job working at an Italian pasta brand, I eat it more than ever. After trying it all, my pasta nights consist of 4 simple ingredients that I will forever love and recommend -

1. The scene surrounding Carbone in NYC annoyed me (so silly, I had never even gone) until I went to Carbone in Miami on a bachelorette and ate the most perfectly cooked pasta I had ever had. I came home, picked up the Carbone Sauce from the grocery store, and never looked back.

2. I know I work for Brami, so I may seem biased, but this pasta has become such a staple in my life that I must share it. To throw some stats - Brami Pasta has 70% more protein, 25% fewer net carbs, and three times the fiber of traditional pasta...but more importantly, IMO, it’s a real Italian pasta that tastes even better than regular pasta (semolina wheat + lupini beans for the win).

3. I love trendy products that live up to the hype, and Graza Olive Oil is one of them. Sometimes, I will eat Brami with just olive oil, salt, and pepper, but even when I use sauce, I will drizzle some Graza on top for that extra flavor.

4. Simply, Maldon Sea Salt Flakes should be sprinkled on everything.

5. The girls trekked from BK and Manhattan to Pizzeria Panina in Queens this past weekend, and boy, was it worth it. The food was delicious - I had a vegan pesto potato pizza and a perfect cocktail, followed by a great red wine. The staff was also incredibly sweet, which was the cherry on top. I will be making the trip back over there again ASAP.

6. After dinner at Pizzeria Panina, we stumbled into Cassette, which happened to be having a drag wedding in the basement. It was the perfect NYC night.

7. Anaïs is a favorite café and wine bar, so my friend and V-Day date this year, Emily, and I were excited to see they had cake and special bubbles for Valentine’s Day. The wine was delicious, and the vibe was so cozy.

8. Not a far walk from Anaïs, Congress Bar was having a Valentine’s Day party with great cocktails and an even better DJ. Why is it so rare to find a DJ that hits the spot, song after song?!

9. The intensity of the charm necklace trend has relaxed, but I think a custom piece of jewelry should be enjoyed whether or not it’s especially trendy. I had this Etsy Custom Charm Necklace made last year. It came fairly quickly after ordering, and the woman was so helpful in choosing and correctly placing the charms. I get compliments on it constantly!

   The charms I chose are: a shamrock (because I’m proudly Irish), a moon in a heart (as a Cancer, my heart is ruled by the moon), a bow (I’m just a girl), a shell (for my beloved Breezy Point), and E (self explanatory), a pearl (June birthstone), and a tulip (honoring my Dutch roots).

10. My Secret Santa this year, my cousin Maeve, and my Godfather, my Uncle Patrick, gifted me this Aritzia sweatsuit in December, and I have been living in it since. I’ve worn the “Cozy Sweatfleece Perfect Hoodie” and the “Terry Sweatfleece Mega Cargo Sweatpants” around the apartment, to bed, to the movies, grocery shopping, and to friends’ apartments, and it fits in every situation.

11. I purchased these Sam Edelman Heels in nude for a wedding two years ago and have since purchased multiple other colors. As a 5’10” woman who sometimes wants/needs to wear heels but is also not very comfortable walking in heels, this pair has been my go-to. There was no time needed to break them in, and they look just as great paired with a dress as they do with jeans and a blazer.

12. I don’t find most bras comfortable to wear (shocking), but I like the support. Especially during WFH or casual days, I wear these Fruit of the Loom Sports Bras under regular clothes or to work out. Cheap and comfy, what else can you ask for?

13. While I’m saving up to be a Flamingo Estate girlie, I have been using the Mrs. Meyers Tomato Vine line. It smells delicious, and as cleaning products go, you can always rely on Mrs. Meyers.

14. Something about living in a very white apartment (white floors, walls, and ceilings) has made me lean into color decor more than ever. I found this Verloop Mini Rug and use it as my sink mat. I wish my cats didn’t love it as much as I do (it always seems to be covered in orange and white hair…), but I love how incredibly soft and bright it is.

15. Even before their TikTok stardom, I have used Scrub Daddy around the house. Scrub Mommy is my favorite of the line, especially for dishes, as it has both a soft and rough side. I have this caddy in my sink to hold it.

16. Anyone who has dated me or lived with me knows that cleaning the dishes is my least favorite task. In all my NYC years, I’ve also never lived in an apartment with a dishwasher, which makes this distaste a real pain. I thought a fun dish rack would make the whole thing more appealing, so I splurged on this Dish Doctor Dish Rack. It’s made in Italy and was designed by Marc Newson in 1998. After ordering, I felt guilty ($100 for a dish rack feels insane), but it adds a cool vibe to my kitchen and looks way better than a normal rack, so no regrets.

17. I’ve struggled with acne for 20 years now, and finding something that helps has been a major struggle. Enter Apostrophe. I started using the online dermatologist (good to get meds/products, but make sure to get screenings IRL) to try spironolactone - the only medication that has made a major difference in stopping my breakouts. A major pro for me is that it’s not an antibiotic. Other antibiotics I’ve used for my acne have caused major stomach issues.

    I also started using retinol, tretinoin from Apostrophe for acne and anti-aging. While adjusting to it is rough (lots of peeling), I have received so many compliments on my skin that I feel I can push Botox off even further (not ready to start paying for it!).

    I also LOVE their SPF (which they are soon discontinuing due to ingredient sourcing, so get your hands on it now) and the topical clindamycin, which soothes my body acne and scarring. All this to say, I'm a big fan of Apostrophe!

18. We all need a laugh this year more than ever, so the timeliness of SNL 50 has been great. Everything they’ve done to celebrate so far has been the perfect medicine.

    “SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night” is a four-part documentary about different aspects of SNL. My favorite two episodes are “More Cowbell,” about the famous Will Ferrell sketch, and “Five Minutes,” about the auditions. It's awesome to see clips of your favorite SNL cast members auditioning over the years.

    The three-hour concert was incredible. As a HUGE Nirvana fan, I lost my mind when they came out with Post Malone stepping in for Kurt. They were amazing. Robyn and David Byrne had the coolest performance afterward, they’re chemistry was incredible.

    Another three hours worth watching was the SNL 50 special that aired this past Sunday night. I laughed the whole time. All can be watched on Peacock!

19. Arguably the trashiest of the trash TV in my life, Love is Blind, is back, and I am watching. Everyone is terrible, but I can’t look away.

20. In these dark news times, The Daily Show has been the only way for me to get news that doesn’t also make me want to cry. I go to bed before it airs, but I watch it every morning with my breakfast on Amazon Prime.

Thank you for reading, friends! Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions <3

xx Erin