Middle-men: YOU'RE FIRED

Because the middle-man-free model that awesome companies like Everlane use never gets old, I just had to gush about two new brands similarly striving to bring consumers honest products at honest prices.

Tuft and Needle
Avoid the deep depression otherwise known as Sleepy's by ordering your next mattress from Tuft and Needle. The stylish site promises well-crafted mattresses that ring in at just $200-$500. No creepy sales people, no shipping costs, no gimmicks. Just pure, wonderful slumber.

Petal by Pedal
There's nothing better than having a fresh cut bouquet light up your apartment. This new company sources their flowers from urban rooftops, Brooklyn gardens, and New York farms. As if that wasn't sweet enough, they deliver creations via adorably outfitted cargo bicycles, which has got to make even passersby happy. All that for only $60-$100. 

How to Spot an Uptown Soul Cycle Girl

Don't want to pay $35 for a 45 minute spin class? Why should you, when you can simply look like you just did. 

Spotted at [choose your fave:] Juice Generation/ Coffee Bean/ Bloomie's, it's the ubiquitous slightly flushed, messy ponytailed, "I-love-that-instructor" post-Soul Cycle girl.

Identify one of the said ladies–or steal their uniform–with this style guide:

[From upper left: The Lulu headband and the stretchy hair ties! The Soul tank! The cropped Lulu leggings! The high top fashion sneak! The cropped puffer! The metallic Soul bag! The monogram iPhone case! The SmartWater!]

                                                                                  EVIDENCE! 

UES Hummus + Falafel Face-Off

Which fine establishment churns out the best creamy chickpea goodness? To get to the bottom of the age-old question, Westsiderag.com recently invited the first eight responders to a hummus tasting.

I was number nine.

But that's ok, because I'm having my own fun over here. And by fun, I mean a personal hummus, falafel, and etc. face-off of my go-to East 80's spots.

Soom Soom
Is it bad that the staff at the 2nd Avenue location of this all-the-Middle-Eastern-salads-you-can-stuff-in-your-bowl bar knows me and has seen my wedding photos? As if amazing pita, seemingly healthy heaps of Israeli salads, and dense tahini-rich hummus weren't enough, this place hosts Wacky Wednesdays where you buy one overflowing falafel and get another free.
Deliciousness factor: Consistently good.
Stomach hurting factor: High. For me, Soom Soom is all or none. I can't help but walk away disgustingly full every time. It's unfortunate that that never stops me.

Beyoglu
With Beyoglu approximately 17 steps from my front door, it was impossible to avoid popping in for takeout any less than four times a week when we first moved in. After all, the reasonably priced mezze plates are solidly portioned with flavorful sauteed spinach, hummus, tabouli, and more. However, I do wish there were a whole wheat option to replace their fluffy Turkish bread so I wouldn't feel so bad indulging.
Deliciousness factor: YUM.
Stomach hurting factor: SEVERE. I don't know what it is, but something is either not kosher with my guts or Beyoglu's kitchen after eating here...

Francela
Haven't been to the small Middle Eastern prepared food grocer that opened right next to Beyoglu? I won't exactly tell you to run and try it. While the hummus they tout as "the best," "made with the highest quality ingredients," and "more authentic than Beyoglu," is certainly airy, smooth, and delightful, their staff is ridiculously pushy and prices are through. The. Roof. Even I, a truly serious hummus lover, has issues with such markups. 
Deliciousness factor: Very solid–if you can afford it.
Stomach hurting factor: Surprisingly none.

Hummus Kitchen
Of course you've eaten at this growing hummus-centric mini-chain. With super fluffy pita, insanely creamy (but not Sabra-gross) platters of hummus, well-seasoned mezze, and an easy atmosphere, it's a total crowd pleaser that I would venture to say revolutionized the definition of hummus in NYC. All that said, stay away from their takeout operation if you can. Portions always leave you scraping the containers for that last bite.
Deliciousness factor: Crowd-pleaser.
Stomach hurting factor: Significant.

Evidence: This Hummus Kitchen takeout was never touched and it's half full (as opposed to half empty!).

Approximately 19 Hours in Hudson, New York

For our biannual gerlz trip, my friends and I came up with a bunch of solid options for single night getaways within a non-carsick distance from NYC. After determining that North Fork would be too cold to enjoy in March, the new Jean Georges Inn was too booked up, and Beacon–though awesome–was too been-there-done-that for me, we decided on Hudson, New York.

Would the destination turn out to be closer to the "Hamptons of upstate," "hipster countryside," or "serene escape," proclaimed by various online publications?

Approximately 19 hours after our car left Manhattan, we would all soon find out. 

The Barlow Hotel

Our hotel-though quirky-had a perfect location right in the middle of Warren Street, the main drag in town

Helsinki Bar + Live Music Venue

First stop was drinks at Helsinki, Hudson's bar and live music venue. The place seemed well-loved by locals and staff was super nice. Too bad we couldn't stick around for the afro-jazz band playing later in the evening.

Swoon Kitchen

We got so many recommendations for this upscale farm-to-table spot that would definitely feel right at home in Brooklyn!

Swoon's menu? YUM. And way more sophisticated than we would have imagined!

A scrumptious kale salad.

...Ultra-fine shoestring fries. To follow were dishes including salmon pate in a mason jar and other delish bites that I drank too much to remember. Only con: tiny, insubstantial desserts!

The happy diners :)

Grazin' Diner

The next morning, it was off to the first place with coffee we saw, which actually happened to be the country's first Animal Welfare Approved restaurant.

They source everything from hyper-local farms.

I literally think this omelet was made with eggs that were laid 30 seconds prior. Also note that the waitress convinced this egg-white accustomed girl not to ditch the yolks, and I was very happy about it. 

Valley Variety

After brunch, we took a stroll to check out Warren Street's shopping scene. This interesting spot stocked everything from Imperial Shave products to high-tech music gear to vegetarian cook books. 

Verdigris Tea & Chocolate Bar

Later on, we made our way to this place, which had an impressive selection of loose teas plus a tea library where you could smell each flavor.

And the verdict is: Hudson had a little of everything. 

Between the upscale furniture and antique stores, serious farm-to-table culture, quiet countryside mood, and happy/ pierced/ skinny-tied residents, Hudson was a solid Big Apple escape.

Throw in a DIA, more happening hotel, and some warm weather, and I'd definitely give it another go. 

The Best Shopping App EVER

Do you, like me, find about nine million reasons a day to contact retail establishments? And then nearly have a panic attack when it takes more than 1.1 minutes for a sales person to check if that navy blue size small is in stock #rightthissecond?

TalkTo will literally save your life.

Use the incredible (free) app to text any store any question, and LIKE MAGIC, you'll get a *reasonably fast* response. 

Does TalkTo have mystery shoppers? Employees solely responsible for answering my insane inquiries, 24/7? A computer animated phone caller?

Whatever it is, trust me: try this thing. It will immediately become your new shopping BFF.

Online Shopping #choiceschoiceschoices

In the game of online shopping, everybody knows:

There's always one that stays, one that goes

So which metallic sneaker will grace my spring '14 toes?
 

VANS!

(just couldn't resist those)

NOT A-O-Clay: Week Whatever of Ceramics Class

Things I am learning about myself in my ceramics class:

1. I have zero patience. 
In this high speed internet age, why haven't they developed a faster way to kiln, glaze, blah, blah, blah? I've got places to go people!

2. The potter's wheel is WAY harder than it looks.
While waiting for my bowl to dry, my instructor gave me a lesson on throwing (that's pottery slang for using the wheel). Um, elbows positioned on thighs?? A tight grip on your mound of clay so it stays in the center? If I knew how much muscle this took, I would've skipped yesterday morning's bootcamp class.

3. I'm a quitter and I don't care.
Back in the summer of 2000, I had the chance to experience being in the Israeli army for five days at a base in the Negev desert. Less than 24 hours into the pure hell, I was outta there without a pang of guilt, something my friends tease me about to this day. WARNING: There definitely might be a repeat of all that in the very near future... #justsaying #srsly