How to Have a Great Sick Day

 What I thought was my first common cold of the season turned out to be a full blown Strep infection, just in time for Thanksgiving! Luckily, my Wednesday afternoon rehearsal with the highschoolers I'm teaching was canceled (I adore them, but I was feeling so lousy!) and I finally got to relax. I bundled up in my snuggliest clothes, hopped onto my mom's gigantic couch, and let her make me some hearty chicken soup that I ate in front of the fire. Ahhh. I'll just  go ahead and say it, if I have to be sick, there's no better place than Mama's house. This is what my ideal sick day looks/feels like (the small comforts really do make me feel better, especially when there's a onesie involved!):

 1. Snuggly Onesie, Madewell 2.Cozy Socks, Madewell 3.Hot Toddy 4.Ginormous Fluffly Couch 5. Burt's Bees Honey Cough Drops 6. Season 3 of Bored to Death 7.Primavera Organic Cold Therapy Balm  8.A stack of comfy blankets  9.Chicken Soup by Real Simple 

Like Crazy

The trailer alone made me cry, so I should say RIGHT NOW, do not see this movie unless you are down with crying in public! But seriously, Like Crazy is a really good, terribly bittersweet first- love story. Long love story short: Timing is everything, location is everything, communication is everything...there are so many things that are everything! Can we make it work? Of course! I'm not sure! Gah, who knows?!  
Do see, do bring a buddy, don't wear mascara :)

Manifesto of a Winter Warrior in Training

I will not freeze.
I will not look haggard and worn.
I will not complain about the weather.
I will not let my body knot up and surrender.
I will learn to love the winter in all its quiet beauty.

  Photo by Jan Tik.

Puppy Love

I spent the weekend with a very special little love nugget called Henry Warren. He is a miniature long-haired Dachshund who belongs to my friend Sarah and I just cannot tell you how happy he makes me! I have wanted a puppy ever since my cocker spaniel, Matsy, died when I was 19, but hardly feel ready for the responsibility. I live with (wonderful) roommates in a (charming) little apartment, and I love to travel. None of these lifestyle choices are ideal for a dog-owner, so I've realized that raising my own is something I will have to do later in my life. That being said, I'm just gonna put it out there... I think I'm a pretty fantastic puppy- sitter. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Henry's lil tail wags his whole hot-dog body into a stupor when he comes over to my place. The feeling is mutual :)

Top photo by Carly Blitz.

Heirlooms

I got a little carried away with these at the Coop the other day, but I've always been a sucker for jewel tones and sweet juicy tomatoes! A perfect fall bouquet sans the gnarly decorative gourds.

Drive. Do it.

If bad boys, sexual tension, 80's jams, and Ryan Gosling holding babies are like crack for you, you should definitely not miss Drive. Just saying.

Q: Is there anyone as hot as Ryan Gosling in the entire world? A: Yes, Jake Gyllenhaal, it's a trick question. And now for some burning 80's musical fire:

Buddhism 101

My dad keeps telling me he's "rapidly becoming a Buddhist". This is a little chuckle-y 101 for Papa Bak, via Devika Bakshi, one of my favorite people.