Outer Borough Experience - The Bronx, Part I

As a city girl, I think it's important to learn about different parts of the city you love, not just the ones you're used to. Yes, I can go on and on about all the great things there are to do in Manhattan (and believe me, I will) but I thought it would be fun to let you in on a couple of things going on in the outer boroughs. So, for the next 3 days, I'll be taking you to "Da Bronx".

Why The Bronx you ask? Well, let's see...

I grew up in The Bronx.

After college, I moved back home, to The Bronx.

After living on the west side of Manhattan for years (yes, I miss you too) and moving back from F-F-F-Florida (eeek), I ended up back in Riverdale, which is also in The Bronx.

So, The Bronx it is.

This week was my brother-in-law's birthday so one night we were all having dinner together and the topic of his birthday, and more specifically, his CAKE came up. You have to know my brother-in-law. He is very, very, VERY particular about his food!!! My sister mentioned she wanted to make him his favorite dessert - tiramisu.

At first, his eyes lit up with excitement.

Then after about a minute, his crazy pickiness set in. That didn't take too long.

"OK, but you know, I like it a certain way. I don't like it with too much cake, and the cream has to be a certain way, and what kind of coffee are you going to use and..." Blah blah blah, on and on and on.

My sister and I just looked at each other and said "fuh getta bout it!!" (yes, sometimes The Bronx in us does slip out)

So, the next day we decided to head on over to Arthur Avenue. We'll definitely be able to find tiramisu there!! The question is, will he like it?

If you're a Food Network fan, you've more than likely heard and seen it mentioned on quite a few of their shows. It's a small Italian section of The Bronx, known for all of their great food.

When we first approach, we see they still had their holiday decorations up. It struck us both odd to see a menorah hanging up since it is such a predominantly Italian neighborhood.

But then again, it is NY, right?!?

This area is still old world - nothing modern about it. The streets are lined with lots of little markets and restaurants.

Everyone seems to know each other also. The people living and working there have very heavy Bronx accents and then the next minute they switch to fluent Italian. It almost feels like you've stepped into a Godfather movie. (one of my favorites! - Part I and II, of course)

We have certain stores we like to hit up when we're there. Our "favorites".

Our first stop is Madonia Bakery where they have the BEST olive bread!

I'm telling you, this thing is LOADED with olives!! Not just a little here and there, but every bite!

And, it's only $5. Cash only please.

They have lots of different breads and cookies, but this is our olive bread place.

Next we head over to Teitel Brothers. - a small Italian market (ironically owned by Jews, hence the menorah)

jam packed with lots of Italian meats, cheeses, fresh pasta from Italy and tons of other delicacies.

My usuals here are fresh mozzarella, freshly grated Parmesan Reggiano, olives, pine nuts, pasta and canned San Marzano tomatoes. They calculate how much you owe them by adding it up on a paper bag. Once in a while they'll break out the calculator.

There was a couple there that stopped by on their way back to Florida! It's becoming very touristy. I probably looked like a tourist as well with my big ol' camera hanging around my neck!

Then we head back to this big indoor market. I don't even know the name of it but it is close to Madonia Bakery and it doesn't look like much from the outside but when you go in, there are lots of smaller open markets in one. This is where we go to get our veggies.

This place to me, in particular, is a trip! When you walk in you feel like you've stepped back at least 60 years. You can picture your grandparents shopping here. There's even a guy rolling out cigars!

Our next stop, and the main reason we came here was to another bakery down the block called De Lillo Pastry Shop. This is where we get our sweets.

It's also a very narrow bakery with cakes in one case, then the pastries, then cookies.

Score! We found it! Tiramisu! They even had chocolate mousse cake, his second favorite, so we got a portion of each. I couldn't leave without getting something for my family so I got the mini cannolis and the rainbow cookies. You know the ones - kind of cake-like with different colored layers and has a marzipan kind of taste to it. I think the real name is Venetian cookies, but everyone always calls them rainbow cookies. These are one of my favorites. The hubbs also. We even ordered them from here for our wedding!

So, that was our excursion to Arthur Avenue. If you're a foodie, I highly recommend you head on over. Try one of the restaurants while you're there also. If you live out of town and can't make it, no worries. There's even an Arthur Avenue cookbook!!
Yes, I do own it. I love cookbooks!

Oh, and my brother-in-law had a VERY happy birthday.

He sure better have!

Snap Happy, Scrap Happy - Weekly Photo Book Project - Week 1 of 52

As I mentioned previously, I decided to come up with a creative challenge for myself for 2010. I love making books - particularly accordion style photo books. You can see some of them on my ETSY shop. I also love photography and am constantly taking lots of photos.

I decided to practice what I preach (imagine that!) and instead of having all of my photos hang out in some folder on my computer, I'm going to make a different photo/scrapbook a week. I think it will be really fun! Each week, I'll have to first make an actual book, decide on the design, take more photos, and design a layout and final book. Some I'll keep, others I'll give as gifts to friends and family. Lucky them!

So, for my first week, I'm going to make a bowling themed birthday book. My nephew had his bowling party just before Christmas and I got some really cute shots from the event. I think my sister will really like it as well.

So far, I have my cover paper picked out and cut,

(By the way, this was the same paper I used to make the toppers for his gift bags.)

the chipboard is cut for the covers,

and some bowling enhancements that I bought at Michael's.

I still need to select and cut the cardstock I'll use for the inside pages, select the photos I want and have them sent out to print, (I like to get them professionally printed at a lab) assemble the whole book and start creating the layouts.

Lots to do but it will be worth it! (let's see how I feel when I'm at week 25!)

If you'd like to join me in this challenge, I have a few blank books on my ETSY Shop and will be adding more this week. To see some samples of custom books I've created, you can look here.

I'll also be having a giveaway soon so check back often! I'll keep you updated on my progress during the week and show you the final version next Monday.

Happy New Year

Wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and following me on my creative journey.

2009 was a great transition for me. It may sound silly but fulfilling my goal of moving back to New York was the highlight of the year!! (although technically we moved back at the end of 2008) Being able to be back home and reconnect with all of my friends and family has meant everything to me.

I now live in the same building as my sister and her family so our kids get to play and develop close relationships on a daily basis. My mom is only about 5 minutes away also, so they get to see Grandma all the time as well.

Even though I would much prefer to be living right smack in the middle of Manhattan again, at least I know it's only an 18 minute drive away to the west side and I can get my fix whenever I want. I know that NOTHING can drag me out of New York again! It's a relationship I'm just not willing to compromise on. :)

I have some fun plans in store for Total City Girl including a new website design, new blog design and making it more of a community for other "city girls" out there.

I'll also be working hard to add more items to my ETSY shop, and sharing with you more creative cake and cupcake designs that will hopefully inspire you to be more creative as well. I will also start posting recipes again. I love sharing with you food that I make for my family.

I have a fun resolution, or challenge (whatever you want to call it) to myself that I'll share with you in the next few days. Here's a little hint in the meantime:

I would love to hear what you have planned for yourself for this coming year!

Map, Schmap!

Let's say you're visiting NY and you're looking for some fun activities to do.

How about checking out a zoo? The Bronx Zoo in particular.

Need to get some extra info to plan your trip? Forget your traditional map. Try a Schmap!

What's a Schmap you say?

It's a fun online guide that gives you tons of info including maps, reviews and photos. Which brings me to my point. Yes, there is a method to my madness.

Usually.

If you go to Schmap.com and look for Bronx Zoo, this is what you'll find:

Do you see that photo? How could you miss it?!? I purposely circled it in purple so there wouldn't be any confusion.

It''s one of mine!! (of course there are other photos, but we're talking about mine right now) How excited was I when I received an e-mail from Schmap saying that they'd like to include my photo in their newly released edition of the Schmap New York Guide!!

There's even a mobile version so if you have an iPhone, you can still check it out. It'll look something like this:

There's even a link to my flickr account which takes you directly to my photo.

No - I'm NOT getting paid to tell you this, or even for my photo. I just thought it was so cool that someone wanted to use one of my photos for something!

Yes, it's these little things in life that make me happy.

That, and dill pickle potato chips.

Bowling Party

Last week my nephew turned 4. He's a Christmas Baby, which to many people may seem like the most special day of the year. Unless of course, if you're Jewish. Then it's just a day dedicated to going to the movies and eating Chinese food - which isn't a bad thing.

Unless it's your birthday.

Poor kid never gets to have his party on his actual birthday. No one is around. So this year, it was on Christmas Eve day, right before the holiday rush.

My sister wanted to surprise him with a bowling party and I of course was in charge of the cake (or in this case, cupcakes) and party favors. I had to make them extra cute to try to win him over. We'll always have a special bond (even though he doesn't know it yet) because I came up with his name. He doesn't like me though. Maybe after this he will.

I had a lot of fun coming up with cute bowling designs for him.

I'll start off with the cupcakes.

His favorite color is blue so I had to somehow incorporate blue into the design. I started by making cupcake toppers with blue circles and I found bowling clipart and personalized it with his name.

I baked up a batch of lemon vanilla cupcakes and when they cooled, the fun decorating part began!

I decided to tint the icing (buttercream) the same color as the blue in the cupcake topper. I also wanted to make little bowling pins and bowling balls to go on top of the cupcakes. Nothing is too cute for my nephew.

Using fondant, I first molded the pins. Once the bowling pins were dry, I added the red lines using edible marker.

While the pins were drying, I started on the bowling balls

I have to say, I think they came out so cute!!

I was just hoping my sister and more importantly, my nephew would like them also.

There's the smile! "Wow, I have the best aunt!"

Next on the list was to design the party favors. The main attraction to the goodie bags were these personalized chocolate bars.

They were perfect since they coordinated with the whole bowling theme. I customized the wrapper with a personalized message on the front and each kid's name on the back.

My sister had a few extra items she wanted to include so I made up goodie bags with the 3 items, and created a bag topper with bowling themed cardstock.

The whole event was a success. I think I hit a strike with this one!

Oh don't worry little one, your birthday is next!

I'm making a lion cake for you. Unlike your brother, I don't even need to score points with you.

You already love me.

Right?!? Right?!?

Snap Happy In Columbus Circle

Yesterday I was able to escape to the city BY MYSELF for a few hours just to hang with my friend Pam, walk around leisurely, shop and have some lunch. A perfect afternoon.

I even decided to drive in. This is major for me! I normally NEVER drive in and always take the subway. I have to say, I LOVE the subway. Cheap, fast and easy. Always works for me! Today however, I knew our time was limited and I had to get down there rather quickly. Even quicker than a subway. So, I braved it and drove down. 18 minutes later, I was where I needed to be.

My "city girl" friends and I all have one major thing in common - we don't like to drive. Which is funny considering I lived in Florida for a while (still can't believe it) and had to drive at least 2 hours a day. We'll do anything to avoid it. Subway, bus, taxi, walk, bike - you name it. As long as it doesn't involve getting behind the wheel, we'll do it.

Normally the parking lots in the city are outrageous! I did however discover this really cheap lot on 62nd off of West End Avenue. I used to refer to it as "the $12 lot". I think it's the only place that is actually lowering their prices rather than raising them. Today it was $10 for 12 hours!

It is now officially "the $10 lot".

Of course I had my camera with me so I thought I'd share some random shots of the day.

We wanted to go to the holiday market at Columbus Circle but when we got there, we discovered there was no market. Must have ended right after XMAS. so instead we started out at Williams-Sonoma. UH! I just love this store!!

Look at this great mixer. I have one in black but as soon as it goes, I'm definitely buying this green one.

I liked this display also.

I think they were even on sale.

Then some random shots from walking around.

I'll be back down on Wednesday. This time with my girls.

Do I dare drive in again? My MetroCard might get jealous.

First Big Snow In NYC

Last night the news kept saying there was going to be a big snowstorm overnight. Well, they were right! When my girls woke up, this is what they saw outside

I love how trees look with snow on the branches.

You know what snow means, right?!? Time to break out the sleds! Good thing I bought the girls snow boots yesterday. Good mom.

Too bad I forgot the snow gloves. Bad mom.

So, we head over to our nearby park and get ready for some fun. I figure the hubbs can handle the sleds while I handle my camera. Someone's gotta capture these moments, right?!?

Ready, set, go!

"This is fun!"

"Weee!"

"Hey, where'd my sled go?"

"Beats me."

"Got it!"

One time down was enough for them. Time to build a snowman.

Or in this case, snowhead.

Good thing they came prepared - chick peas for the eyes, carrots for the nose and string beans for the... mustache?!? What happened to the nose? Guess they got hungry.

In an extra whiny voice I hear "We want to go home. Our hands are freezing!"

Like I said before, bad mom.