welcome new readers! + 21 things about me

If you’re new around here, welcome! I’ve been so lucky to have so many new readers over the last few months, so thanks for stopping by!

And thank you so much for your emails or comments letting me know that my story on “follow my bliss” is something that resonates with you. Love to hear from you guys.

In the interest of all the new (virtual) faces around these parts, I’m gonna do a crash course “about me” rundown so you’re all caught up!

21 Things About Me:

1. I’m 29. I’ll be 30 in November. Yikes!
2. My boyfriend Kevin and I live near Prospect Park in Brooklyn with our two cats, Chawser and Kaia. I talk about those damn cats a lot on this blog. You can bet Kevin and I talk about (and coo at) them even more in real life.
3. I quit my boring desk job as a receptionist at a law firm last year to…well…follow my bliss, i.e. to pursue work that makes me happier.
4. I graduated from NYU Tisch with an acting degree.
5. I graduated two years late because I dropped out somewhere in the middle to..uh..see how much I could screw my life up before hitting rock bottom. It was a blast. That’s sarcasm.
6. I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD LIKE IT’S MY JOB.
7. I really want a dog.
8. I’m originally from the suburbs of Chicago.
9. I lost 115 pounds in my early twenties through diet and exercise. I’ve kept the weight off for almost 8 years.
10. Kevin and I have been dating for 3.5 years and we’ve lived together for 2. But we’ve been friends for over 8 years!  I guess I’m keeping him. 🙂
11. When I was 21 I punched an ex-boyfriend in the mouth, got kicked out of the apartment we were living and ended up essentially homeless on the streets of NYC with $12 to my name. That’s obviously a much longer story.

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daily dessert – sweet melissa

I had such a great weekend – I really needed it. I usually work on the weekends, but I decided to let myself off the hook so I could usher in the season properly.

On Saturday, we cleaned the hell out of the apartment, which always feels amazing. We collected five huge bags of shoes and clothes to donate and made some promises to each other about keeping up on our chores so we can maintain all our hard work.

Sunday was a day of complete leisure – a picnic in Prospect Park with my friends from The PIT, lots of drinking and eating and playing games. It was a blast. I slept hard Sunday night.

And today, Monday, I did some work in the morning, went to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in the afternoon (pictures later this week!), and met up with my friend Daniel for a stroll in Park Slope and a fantastic dinner in the early evening.

On our stroll, we walked by Sweet Melissa Patisserie – I’ve seen it a dozen times but I’ve never been inside. Today I left my real camera at home, but I snapped some shots with my phone – it’s such a cute little bakery.

We ordered two small bite-sized items: a delicious little Florentine and a thumbprint cookie. Both were excellent. I’d love to go back and sample some more of their yummy treats. Plus, they sell ice cream, coffee, have an adorable seating area AND a back garden!

Sweet Melissa Patisserie
175 Seventh Avenue (btwn 1st & 2nd Streets)
Brooklyn, NY
(They also have a Carroll Gardens location.)

I’m ready for June to begin tomorrow! I’m looking forward to a great week.

pret a manger coffee

The rain yesterday made me feel tired and water-logged all day long. After an appointment and some lunch, I stopped off at Pret A Manger for coffee and a sweet treat. Starbucks is right across the street, but I don’t really care for their coffee. It’s too bold for me. Or something.

I love Pret’s coffee, though. When I used to have a desk job, I walked by a Pret every morning on my way into the office and would often stop in for a cup of their “Less Strong” stuff. It’s so yummy. And it’s organic!

Sadly, though, I ended up tossing this coffee out after only a few sips! I was running late and had to take it to go, and when I tried to carry it along with my bag and umbrella in the pouring rain, I spilled scalding coffee all over my hand and had to suppress homicidal urges to get through throngs of people. So into the trash it went.

It’s not rainy here today, thank GOD! It’s still overcast, but we’re headed in the right direction. C’mon May! Let’s see what you can do!