Synopsis: This novel tells the story of Billy's life as told by his relatives after his death.

Opinion: More like not-so-charming-Billy. I kept waiting for the story to start but it never really did. It just kind of told the story of Billy's life through the eyes of those close to him. In my opinion, he led a boring life as an alcoholic with a lot of excuses and not a lot of class. The book is also told from several different viewpoints and it took me until well past the middle of the book to realize who the main narrator was. All in all, not very interesting or worthwhile to me.

Recommend? No
​2.5 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: Memoirs of a Geisha is historical fiction that chronicles the trials and triumphs of Chiyo/Sayuri as she is taken from her village and sold to an Okiya, a geisha boarding/training house and tries to find her place there. 

Opinion: This book was gripping from the very beginning and I did not want to put it down. There are so many levels to the story and I was extremely invested in finding out Chiyo's fate. The fact this is historical fiction and the culture and current events surrounding the story are true make it even more compelling. This novel was an amazing journey through a dynamic and unique niche culture. I absolutely loved it!

Recommend? Yes.
​5 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: I think we all know the premise of the story. Someone (Hammond) thinks it is a good idea to built a theme park with Dinosaurs as the attraction and he hires several professionals to evaluate the park before opening it to the public in order to appease his investors. Turns out his controlled environment is not as controlled as he thought and the whole team is in danger.

Opinion: The beginning of the book was a little tedious and uninteresting to me but it does give context to the rest of the book. The book is a good deal different than the movie but they did get the gist right (for The Lost World, not so much - see below). Once the action started, however, it did not stop and I could not out the book down. I also liked how the book addresses philosophical questions about mankind and about resurrecting species that have been extinct for over 65 million years while staying relevant to the story. ​

Recommend? Yes.
4.25 out of 5 hearts

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Synopsis: Set during the Great Depression, the Joad family decides to leave for California after they are forced off their farming land in Oklahoma. They take the little money they have saved to try and start a new life with the hope of jobs, food and a future.

Opinion: I guess I can understand that this was an important story to tell and why it is maybe taught in schools but is there really not a better novel than this one? It is so boring and depressing and while it was tragic that people lived in these conditions during the great depression, telling it in a dry, droning voice is not the way to get my attention or empathy. There are profound events described in this novel that should have evoked more emotion than annoyance and boredom out of me but they did not. This surprised me since I read East of Eden by John Steinbeck and, while that also had a depressing undertone, the story was written in a much more interesting way. This novel does give insight into the lives of ordinary people during the great depression and the suffering my generation has been spared so far but it is just told in a lifeless and mundane way. ​

Recommend? Nope.
​1 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: Sage Singer is a baker who works the overnight shift at a bakery since she prefers not to interact with people. After forming an unlikely friendship with an old man named Josef Weber, he tells her a shocking secret that sets in motion her discovery of her family's past during the Holocaust.

Opinion: This was amazing. The level of detail and interweaving of characters and storylines was extremely compelling and added extra dynamics to an already fascinating tale. ​While I have read several books about the Holocaust, this was unique and original in its approach. I couldn't put it down.

Recommend? Yes.
​5 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: Outcast Miles Halter, who has an obsession with knowing famous people's last words, is sent to Alabama for boarding school where he meets Chip, Takumi and Alaska. The four become great friends until something happens that turns their lives upside down.

Opinion: This is an easy and quick read that seems simple on the surface but actually has a lot of elements and substance to it. I like that events in the book are not addressed as black and white but instead are deep and complex. There is a sense of mystery blanketing the story which kept me engaged and I liked that the book was set up starting 136 days before an event and ending 136 after that event. It was a great read.

Recommend? Yes
4.5 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: After an accident left Will Traynor as a quadriplegic, Louisa Clark is hired by his family to keep him company for six months. These six month end up not being what she expected as she tries to get Will out of his depression and remind him of the living he is still able to do.

Opinion: This was an extremely captivating story. It was unconventional, intense, interesting and cathartic. I was hooked right away and did not want to stop reading. The dynamic between Will and Louisa is fun and profound at the same time and the journey this book takes is amazing.

Recommend? Yes
​5 out of 5 hearts

Synopsis: Six years after the events on Isla Nublar, a rich, cocky paleontologist named Richard Levine tells Ian Malcolm about the concept of a Lost World - a remote corner of the earth where ancient species may have survived. He eventually finds about about the mysterious "Site B" and Ian Malcolm and several others go after Levine after he goes missing.  

Opinion: If you've seen the movie you probably think you know what this book is about but not really because the movie is way different. The book is a LOT better because there is a reason for everything whereas the movie is erratic and just seems like an excuse to show more dinosaurs. Also, Dr. Sarah Harding, the animal behaviorist who basically saves everyone's lives in this novel and is a strong force to be reckoned with is completely diluted into a disappointing female damsel in the movie. Anyway, the book took less time to get in to the action than Jurassic Park did and it stayed interesting throughout. I also enjoyed the behavioral and analytical elements of the book, making it seem a lot more realistic.

Recommend? Yes.
3.5 out of 5 hearts

World's End by T.C. Boyle

Synopsis: The book explores the stories of Walter's past from the time of Dutch settlement in America all the way up until the present, which is where the past finally catches up with his family.

Opinion: I had high hopes for this novel since it features Dutch settlement and names. However, it was a huge disappointment. The story itself is pretty well-written but it was a little too parallel for my liking and the protagonist is a major loser and jerk. He does some messed up things I really could have done without and they were just passed over like they did not even matter. It also was not as interesting as I had hoped. I felt myself lose interest a few times because there are so many different story lines taking place and it is not identified when the voice changes to a different person or time period. All in all, a bummer.

Recommend? Not really.

I went to the Manus x Machina fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and it is the best fashion exhibit I have visited there to date. It is not held in the Anna Wintour Costume Center so there is a lot more space to the exhibit. There are several well-known gowns as well as lesser-know, underrated amazing works. It was breathtaking. The name of the exhibit means Hand and Machine and represents the use of technology in fashion. The exhibit consists of two levels and many beautiful works. It is definitely worth the trip!

Here is the featured piece of the exhibit from Karl Lagerfeld:

Dresses made of feathers and hair:

A stunning piece by Dutch designer  Iris van Herpen:

These are beautifully sculpted Dior skirts. See how these skirts are made in this cool video here.

More exoskeletal 3-D printed work by Iris van Herpen:

Enjoy your visit!

Happy friday! It's been a crazy busy time lately with visitors and making someone's prom dress but I'm back! Right after George and I got engaged, I, off course, started going on Pinterest to look for wedding ideas. We are not having a traditional wedding but it has been fun figuring out what we want to do. I came across this Kate Spade heart bag and, befittingly, fell in love with it. I'm a cheesy person and I have loved hearts since i was a kid. That is not a joke. I used to draw hearts around the correct answer instead of circles. So naturally, I couldn't resist this bag.

I'm wearing it with a dress I made years ago to attend George's cousin's wedding. Very befitting, don't you think?

Everyone is familiar with the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue shopping but there are many unique places to visit in New York City that are off the beaten path. After showing around visitors several times and having lives int he area three years, I have come across some less familiar places that I think are worthy of a visitor's time. Here are some suggestions in no particular order: 

1. The Dominique Ansel bakery. This is where the famous Cronut is made. If you would like a Cronut, make sure to get there early to ensure you get one. When I have been in the past I have gotten there by 7:30am but I believe they now make 600 instead of 300 so you can probably get there around 9. When my uncle was visiting last month they still had Cronuts at 11:30am but choose a time at your own risk. They are delicious. However, if you do not want a Cronut, the bakery has many amazing pastries. It is a small bakery but they have a courtyard in the back where you can sit peacefully to devour chef Dominique Ansel's artful creations.

2. The Plaza Food Hall. I had no ice this existed until I happened to go inside the Plaza to see how beautiful it was as realized there is a whole downstairs area with food vendors. There is not that much seating but there are great food choices and you can say you've been to the Plaza Hotel.

3. The Back Room. This is an old speakeasy from the 1920s which still serves all of its drinks in teacups - the way to secretly drink during the prohibition. It is not a big place and gets crowded on friday and saturday nights but it has a unique vibe that transports one back to the 1920s and delicious cocktails to boot.

4. Eataly. This is a market-slash-restaurant across from the Flatiron building. I go here for their delicious foccacia bread and their amazing gelato. Aside from the counters of food like the gelato, pastries and paninis, Eataly also serves as a market for top quality Italian-style ingredients and has little restaurants in different areas. They also have a rooftop I have yet to visit.

5. Get a rainbow bagel from The Bagel Store in Brooklyn. New York is famous for its bagels (for a great lox bagel check out Ess A Bagel) but I had never had a more colorful bagel than I had here. The bagel dough tastes like a regular bagel but it just looks a million times more fun. The funfetti cream cheese has pieces of cake in it and is magical on this beautiful bagel! Their Nutella cream cheese is also amazing!

6. Korean Barbecue - Jongro BBQ. Korea Town is on 32nd street between 5th and 6th avenue ad has a lot of great food places. Jongro is a great Korean Barbecue place located on the second floor featuring great decor and delicious food. The way Korean Barbecue is served is that you choose the type(s) of meat you want and they are grilled right in front of you on the table. You get many sides to go with it and it is family style. 

7. Fraunces Tavern. I stubbled upon this place by accident when friends of mine were in town and we really liked it. This is a tavern open since 1762 where apparently George Washington bode farewell to his officers of the continental army after British troops evacuated New York. It is a national historic landmark that has a lot of character and history and is worth a visit.

8. 230 Fifth Rooftop. This is a nice rooftop in midtown with a view of the Empire State Building. 

9. Smorgasburg in Brooklyn if the weather is nice. This is a flea market in Brooklyn with food and art vendors.

10. Seeing a Broadway show without paying full-price for a ticket! I absolutely love Broadway shows. I was in theatre in high school and never cease to be amazed by the talent on the broadway stage. However, I do not have the means to be buying a bunch of full-price tickets to shows. Instead, I seek out different options like standing room, lottery or rush. I HIGHLY recommend doing this. Depending on your time in New York and how badly you want to see a show, different options might be best for you. For example, you may want to get to the Eugene O'Neill theatre an hour before they start lottery at the Book of Mormon to get in the standing room line so that, if you do not win lottery, you can still see the show in standing room because you got there early enough to guarantee a spot. You can find a breakdown of all of the shows and the methods to get cheaper tickets here. Good luck and enjoy the show!

And yes, that is my beautiful sister with ALFIE BOE - A.K.A. The best Jean Valjean ever.

Basically, New York has a LOT to offer. I have lived in the area for over three years now and I still keep discovering new places. There is something for everyone! Now if only I could get some Hamilton tickets...

If you have ever flown Delta, you have probably had those delicious Biscoff cookies. They are basically Speculaas/Speculoos cookies and they are delicious. You may also be familiar with Speculoos Cookie Spread from Trader Joes. It is basically just as addicting and delicious as Nutella and I found a recipe here for a pie using both of these!

I left out the powdered sugar because the pie was already sweet enough.

Smashed Biscoff cookies and butter make up the crust.

If you want, you can top the pie with whipped cream, 2 crushed cookies and melted cookie butter/Biscoff spread.

​Enjoy!