Bootsie

1 half of iceberg lettuce
1 pear, sliced
1 granny smith apple, diced
2 strips of applewood smoked bacon, pieced apart
Half a cup of Ken’s Steakhouse Ranch Dressing
Add dried cranberries or walnuts for extra crunch
1 piece of small italian bread, toasted, no butter
Fresh homemade jam any fruit
Fresh mini blueberries

Before rehearsal, it’s important for me to get as hydrated as possible because our practice space isn’t air conditioned, and it can get up around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Dancing and running everyday can get really tiring, so I drink a flavored coconut water and eat as much as I can before to get energy. As much as I don’t like the taste of coconut water, it compliments a lot of foods and is extremely hydrating. I chose Naked for this meal!

1. Wash the iceberg lettuce, either keep it blocked or separate them.
2. Dice the apple, cut the pear into rounds and place on the lettuce.
3. Cook bacon, take bacon pieces while still warm and sprinkle on the lettuce before dressing.
4. Squeeze dressing onto salad in lines to make sure not too much gets placed to keep it nice and fresh.
5. Toast the bread, spread jam, put mini blueberries on top.
6. Enjoy!

This summer going into my senior year I’ve had a lot of realizations. I still love Coach New York, and Burger King onion rings… But my palettes are changing and only for the better. I’ve started getting into design again, thanks to the long drive from Ohio to New York, as well as create a design plan for my life. Thinking about the future stresses me out as it does for anyone, and thinking about my past couple of years just makes me upset. I realized I haven’t really done anything to push myself since I’ve gotten sick and stagnant. Anyone who knows me knows I love sleeping and eating. I’m trying to trade these in for the better. Smaller, more productive amounts of sleeping (usually); eating more healthy instead of less bad (my body needs me to), and working out in ways I don’t mind. For example, I started In the Heights this summer with my local theater group. I’m terrible at skillful dancing (I think), but I’m learning to hip hop, salsa, and all kinds of latin dance with my best friends in an environment that I absolutely love to be in. Also, it gets me a little more excited for my latin dance 101 class that I was terrified to take in the fall. These kinds of things better you everyday, even if you’re like me and are just getting the hang of it. I feel great! So these are some of the foods I have been making for myself. I figured if I were to share them anywhere, it’d be here. As I evolve, my blog does too! 5 years strong.

Above: Croque-Monsieur et Oeuf
Ham and Swiss Grilled Cheese with Fried Egg!

2 slices of thick or thinly cut french bread
3 tbsp of butter
1 thinly sliced ham deli meat
1 (or 2) slices of swiss cheese
1 egg

1. Melt 1.5 tbsp’s of butter on pan on stove and make sure it’s spread around evenly.
2. Spread butter on one side of each piece of bread, place ham and cheese in between sides not buttered. (Use remaining butter for when the egg is cooking)
3. Put whole sandwich on pan with melted butter, cook until all cheese is melted and bread is turning golden brown.
4. Take sandwich off the pan, but on a plate underneath a paper towel. Take egg and fry it in the pan keeping it semi soft in the center after melting the leftover butter.
5. Put the egg on the sandwich as soon as possible (to keep the heat). Can add sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
6. Cut the egg (so it’s still steaming) and the sandwich with the egg on top (so you don’t have to pull the melted cheese apart).
7. Eat with fork and knife or get down n dirty!
8. ENJOY

As a (somewhat) flaccid blogger, it’s easy to get discouraged by those with obviously better cameras, clothes, and more time to devote to the cause. I look at Chiara Ferragni, whom within two years of being an Italian blogger on the “Blonde Salad” became an even more wealthy Italian blogger, an entire company with her name as backing and like, what, 4 shoe lines now? I remember sitting on my bed, following her from her first post and just watching as if I was at a standstill. From my freshman year of high school, to graduation, to my freshman year of college, I had big dreams for myself. It seems now, as I’m about to be a senior, those dreams have flattened a little bit. My hair on the other hand has truly embraced Ohio summer humidity and I’m pretty sure the Dallas in me is coming out. My life is definitely a tossed salad if anything, it just doesn’t have the same ingredients as Chiara’s does. Figuring out that, that is okay has been hard.There have been countless ridiculous (and humorous) arguments with my mother, saying that if my sister gets a horse I should get a Birkin- for the sake of my career, obviously. In a world where people are given positions and power that they may or may not deserve because of their names, it’s definitely easy to feel anxious about the future. Luckily for me, I get random bursts of inspiration and feel empowered again. People like Joey DeSantis and his family help that cause. Joey, who has been my friend for about 7 years now, is like me in many ways. He too felt the need to get out of our beautiful (but slow) hometown in Central New York. I truly believe that a main reason we have been such close friends, not just because of our love for music, fashion, and culture; is because we both felt a need to get out. Frequent trips to the city and vacations were never really enough for us. Joey, even living right on the beach on Oneida Lake felt stuck in the sand more than ever. We would just sit there on his couch when it rained, sharing our dreams and aspirations like they were no problem, and the slightest glimmer of hope as the sun started to shine on the lake again. Now, Joey and his father have a different view overlooking the adorable brick buildings in Hudson, New York. A place I grew up in and am very fond of, the success that he has had there has made me the proudest of best friends. His father, David DeSantis, who is brilliant with iron molding, now has clients like John Varvatos and Genevieve Gorder buying and requesting his expertise. Joey has always been one to reach higher and higher, and for the work he has put into his family business I could not be more excited for. Both of us went through a time in the beginning of college where we just kind of felt like we were going through the motions, some experiences genuine, others not so much. I just had to share Joey and his family’s success with you all, it gives me so much hope for my future and it should for yours. On June 19, a bench that Mr. DeSantis created will be auctioned off at the Frederick E. Church Award Gala at the New York Public Library starting at $15,000. Dreams really do come true in small towns, you just have to think a little bigger than the geography to get there.

http://www.forgedartistry.com http://www.metalbydaviddesantis.com 608 warren street, Hudson, NY. Daviddesantis1@mac.com. Cell: (315) 264-4031. Shop: (518) 567-7354.

A link to an article about the bench/their business- http://m.chronogram.com/hudsonvalley/blogs/Post?basename=local-ironwork-auctioned-at-olana-gala&day=13&id=DailyDose&month=06&year=2014

Joey and I as seniors in high school, below.

Randomly online shopping one day, I stumbled upon these perfect Vince black leather perforated sneakers. I never thought that anything like this would grab my attention after my Vans days in 7th and 8th grade… but for some reason I pictured myself in a cute skirt and fedora walking along the river beaches in Upstate New York, or with matching leather shorts at summer concerts. Starting to realize that I was never going to spend the $200, I began to give up for an alternative. Until spring break- when I was shopping around Syracuse’s 3 story Forever 21, I found an almost identical pair for a fraction (and I mean fraction) of the price. If Forever 21 has them… Who else does? I went on my favorite website; and found an amazing, black, leather, perforated pattern. Behold: the new spring shoe, the black leather sneaker.

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like black, unless in the form of tight spandex that looks like it’s painted onto my booty. I don’t even really like black dresses, unless it’s a perfect black dress. And how many of those can one actually afford? I am a bright person, and therefore I like bright colors. I hate black so much that I even chose my second most hated color for my The North Face Metropolis coat- brown. The model in Nordstrom was blonde and I figured it would look better than black on both me and her, and Nordstrom thought the same too. I have recently started to turn my head towards black. No, not really for clothing (I tried not to buy a black blazer for as long as possible), but for two perfect spring/summer accessories that I would probably be willing to sell “Martha,” my Ford Escape, for. The Gucci Spring/Summer ’14 bamboo top handle fringe tote… Which would take a lot more than a few teeth and hair to purchase, sorry Fantine. (I’d be willing, though) And Vince perforated leather sneakers… They may look like Vans, but I can assure you if they have the name “Vince”‘on them they’re an automatic “CAN I GET AND UPGRADEEEE.” Tampon commercial anyone? Okay, I’m done for today. Anyone have a limb or heart I can sell on the black market to purchase these? If not, I will continue to think of the shade black the same as the black death.

Tote: Gucci, $2,997.00
Shoes: Vince, $198.00

Most of the time I would say that the best way to follow New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is either to be there, or next best thing follow, Vogue or New York Time’s Style coverage. Personally, I have the Time’s Style app, which makes my life on the go a lot easier. Like when I want to check out the runway shows of the strikingly Sochi inspired Tommy Hillfiger show, or the Chinese take-out box purses at Kate Spade. As a student though, I barely have time to keep up with social media, read the actual New York Time’s, and the Style section. I have found that by following the editors of fashion magazines in N.Y. on Instagram, I can check out what my friends are doing, receive funny new picture messages, and also keep updated on a personal view of NYFW through the lens of the fab editors iPhone’s. If you do not have much time, I suggest following them all as soon as possible. Although you won’t see every runway video or picture, you will get the inside scoop on many items not published (such as backstage events, pictures of gift bags, and what the view from the front row really looks like) as well as their personal opinions of the hottest clothes for 2014-15. It’s like having a personal stylist in your pocket, giving you the goods with the fastest of updates. It will also help you decide which designers new and old you feel the need to look at. Thanks to a post by Amy Tastely, the Editor In Chief of Teen Vogue USA, I would never have heard of Rosie Assoulin and her poetic garments. Models and bloggers also have great posts, so start following your favorite skinny minis for the best behind the stage, fittings, and street action! This won’t only come in handy to you during fashion week, it can be helpful (and extremely interesting) all year round. 

The boom of boots and leggings from a few years ago is starting to be surpassed  by spandex patterned pants and cushioned running sneakers. Perfectly fitted trench coats are hiding away in closets all over the East Coast while puffy, long, “mom” jackets are covering tight logo Lululemon sweatshirts and The North Face tee shirts. The athletic bonanza could not have began at a more perfect time for the Winter 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The merchandise sales for brands like Nike and Adidas are most likely to sky rocket above and beyond past games. Designers have been trying to work their magic on athletic wear for years, and even the famous Adidas for Stella McCartney was not exactly the most popular choice for women on the go. Now, brands like Athleta, Lululemon, Victoria’s Secret Sport, Lucy, and even Kate Hudson’s Fabletics are gaining momentum. I remember extremely well the Victoria’s Secret yoga pants trend of 2008 and on. Thankfully, the yoga pants are starting to stick to their roots in the yoga studio, and leggings are back. Victoria’s Secret leggings aren’t half bad either, with a soft cotton feeling that rivals the luon fabric of Lululemon. Women of New York are starting to agree. Instead of pairing my Paige denim with Repetto flats and my All Saints leather jacket, I traded the denim for leggings, kept the flats and the jacket, but added a Nike running zip up and a Victoria’s Secret Sport headband and a leather Prada tote. I feel more fabulous in that outfit, even if it makes no sense at all, for the following reasons: My butt looks the best in leggings than anything else, Repetto flats are like walking on a cloud, my All Saints leather jacket is so much cooler paired with something so unconventional, and I don’t actually have to do anything to my hair with a headband. I also wear baseball hats like crazy now, because they hide my forehead, I can go to the deli without makeup and it’s taking the whole menswear to pret-a-porter in a new direction. We can thank baseball, really, for the tight pants and hat fad. I at first was skeptical of the athletic wear look hitting hard working, fabulous women in the city, because those are the type of women you see in the N.Y. Times and want to copy. But living in such cold, unpredictable weather, I think myself and many others are letting it slide. Although I haven’t seen it on the blog sphere that much, I am comfortable knowing that it is okay to be comfortable for once. Comfortable is somehow cute couture now. I should have known once Wildfox Couture started showing up on celebrities all over the country, wearing baggy tee’s and logo sweats fit for Queen B herself became okay again. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Uggs resurfacing on the Upper East Side anytime soon though. Department stores and high end boutiques in Chelsea and Soho are witnessing women try on $1,000 stilettos in $40 sweatshirts with Evian in hand and yoga mat their sides. Lifestyle clothing has a whole new meaning and competitor now. I can understand how this could be concerning for the elite in daily life, but I think everyone should embrace it. Women feel good when they are in two types of clothing: the perfect outfit that fits like a dream and looks amazing, and when we are in pajamas at home with a tub of Ben and Jerry’s watching New Girl. Athletic clothing brands are seeking to accomplish a median between the two, and by the looks of it are succeeding. Hey, I’m not complaining!

Sandra Bullock in Lululemon, photo courtesy of Just Jared. 

So room keys are now obsolete; first thing I learned once we landed in Orlando, Florida for our somewhat annual family vacation. Disney is completely re-doing their system with these “bands,” that come personalized when you arrive, have different colors for different dining plans and park passes, are your room key and even credit card for your time there. It’s actually kind of convenient even it they’re ugly. (Shown below) Although I’m always up for the Mickey Mouse head shape anywhere. I love Mickey. After not having been in Disney for quite some time, it was actually really refreshing to get some of my youth back. In college you feel like you’re growing up so fast, it’s so fast you can’t stop it. I think that’s one of the reasons I hate roller coasters so much, even though you’re in a controlled space you’re not in control really, because they won’t stop the ride when you’re upside down and screaming if it’s going by too fast. So Disney is stopping my ride for a bit, and it feels nice to be under repair. Everyone needs a little bit of a detox sometimes. I got my first Movado watch in Orlando, 50% off at the outlet mall. Best find ever, although 50% isn’t actually that helpful in the long run. Either way, I’m very proud and I know Amanda Seyfried is somewhere looking down at her wrist into her Movado dial just as I am. Happy New Year to me.

Facebook decided to create this wonderful little collage of everything “major” that has happened to me in 2013, but it neglected to see what really went on. It actually made me feel bad about myself for a couple of minutes, until I looked behind the vail of social media. First off, I think I have grown a lot as a person. Not sure to where or what, but I know that on New Years Eve of 2012 I knew that I was going to survive and be okay after a horrible time struggling to maintain a healthy weight and a healthy body. I knew that I was going to have a long road of school ahead of me to make up for leaving for a semester, friendships I would have to repair, and even a failed relationship that broke me up all over again. But I knew I had to survive. I went to London, I was finally back on stage in a musical, I fixed relationships with friends that had diminished when I had to leave school. I am working on being me again. Although I was given up on in many ways, I learned in 2013 not to give up on myself. It’s very hard to remember to do, and it’s even harder to set resolutions for this next year. It’s amazing what a broken heart can really do. I hope that everyone else remembers what life is really about, because as I am learning it’s truth and beauty the hard way as needed, and it is so important. In many ways I am the luckiest girl on earth, for having my parents still here and still together, for having a job, an education, amazing friends, sisters and a sister, and for everything else. It’s just hard to remember. So for this New Years, I am going to focus on all the old that I have, and not so much the new. When I focus too hard on the future, I begin to feel disheartened and disappointed, worried and stressed. I am going to focus on the now, what I have in the now, and who I am. Below are some moments from 2013.