Mac n’ Cheese Weekend for my Birthday

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I always like to celebrate my birthday with a special dinner. This time around, I was not interested in finding a place to safely dine-out or ordering in, I only wanted one thing: my dad’s mac and cheese.

When I was growing up, mac and cheese was one of the dishes that my family would make all the time. It is simple and delicious, but my dad has a “secret recipe” that makes it extra special. Mac and cheese is something that I can never get tired of, so I enjoyed having cheesy comfort food with my loved ones in honor of my birthday.

Weekend board game Fog of love

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My husband and I got married in September. One of the wedding gifts that we received was a board game from my friend Andrew. We decided to wind down from the hectic work week by giving the game, Fog of Love, a try.

It came with a bunch of colorful cards and chips. The objective of the game is to play out various relationship scenarios, adopt different personas, and go on pretend dates. It also comes with expansion packs to help switch things up. My husband Angel and I had a fun time playing the game. We highly recommend!

Gettysburg Battlefield, FYI the North Won!

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Back in October, while the weather was still bearable, my family and I took part in the Gettysburg Battlefield Tour. We wanted to have a mini vacation that was mostly outdoors because of COVID. The area we visited was beautiful, but the story about the land was tragic. So many people died on those grounds fighting for our freedom.

During the tour, we learned so much about how our country came to be.  Recognizing that our country only exists as it does today because of those who sacrificed their lives all those years ago, was a humbling experience. Within our tour group, there were people who wanted a new experience (like me and my family), history buffs, and right-winged patriots – quite the interesting mix.

Side note: my family and I were annoyed because President-elect Joe Biden was scheduled to visit the day we were leaving – missed him by just a few hours. Seeing him in person would have made the trip even better, nonetheless we had a great time.

Weekend Bath time with Dyson & bathbombs.

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I got a taste of what it is like to be an influencer. A brand called Bubbly Belle sent over some bath bombs for me to try. I love bath bombs and so does my dog, Dyson. He loves to see the splashing water and exploding ball of soapsuds.

I decided to incorporate Dyson into my sponsored post. Before I tested out the bombs, I snapped pictures that showed off the product and my adorable dog. After giving them a try, we both agreed that it was a great product!

Loving my plant babies and watching them thrive!

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Taking care of plants is incredibly wholesome and rewarding. I discovered my green thumb a few years ago when I began growing this [plant name in picture]. Three apartments later, it is still thriving!

I currently have nine other plants throughout my home. Nothing is more beautiful than looking around a space and seeing signs of life everywhere. Each one of my plant babies gets an equal amount of love and care. Maybe I can find room for a few more…

Weekend First Fall Hike in Westchester New York

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After spending the week working indoors, it was nice to get out and experience nature. This weekend, I went to the Baxter Preserve located in Northern Westchester. There was a beautiful combination of park land and open farm space.

Everyone was welcome to roam. There were people going for walks, riding horses, and running around with dogs. I even brought a long leash so my dog Dyson could explore the area more freely.

Right outside of the nature preserve were nice shops and places to eat. I met up with a coworker who lived nearby and we had a good time hanging out. This was truly the perfect weekend.

I have to give credit to Sarah Philips, pictured above, for the idea to come out here. It was the perfect escape during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Sleepy Saturday Baby – this bed is my bed

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Another ongoing photo series of mine—taking pictures of Dyson—is also an ongoing ode to him. Anything he does is worthy of commemoration. He’s just that cute! Look at that sleepy Saturday baby, all curled up and comfortable.   Here’s Dyson snoozing on our pillows and Parachute comforter. Like many dogs, he thinks our bed is his bed and prefers to take his naps there.

This is his typical “baby face” when he wakes up in the morning—sort of sleepy, sort of “hey, how’re you doing?” Sometimes he’s just too cute. He looks like he’s posing and showing his good side, but I can assure you, as his owner, every side is his good side!

Starting Weekend Whiskey Time

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One great thing about New York being a “melting pot” is the availability of products from different parts of the world. I was able to pick up some Nikka Whiskey all the way from Japan. Unlike most Whiskeys made here in the U.S., Nikka Whiskey has a nice and light taste.

To enhance the experience of a great alcoholic beverage, I poured the drink in my Tiffany’s crystal glass and added some Geo cube ice balls. The lighting in my apartment was especially beautiful on this day. I could not imagine a better way to wind down for the weekend.

Tatooine Over the Hudson : Forest Fires

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This past year has been filled with plenty of “pinch me” moments. Witnessing the sky turn orange was one of them. The widespread forest fires in California (and the west coast in general) were so bad that it affected the atmosphere on the east coast as well. This created a really weird sunset that I was lucky enough to snap a picture of #nofilter.

While staring at the foggy orange sky, I could not believe this was real life. I was immediately reminded of the Tatooine sunset from Star Wars. Experiencing this unnatural occurrence was creepy, but still sort of cool.

I’m blue and that’s ok

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Keeping with my “blue only wardrobe” theme, the latest update of my blog and complimentary emails carried through the same essence. If you are a first time reader and stumble onto this post, you may be unaware that several years ago I decided to curb my shopping habit and make my life easier by only wearing Blue clothing.

This year I have spent time to split out my brand of ZAMARTZ and my personal blog to this website. I was able to use this site to take a bit more creativity and really show more of my personality. I hope the blue on blue is not too monochromatic to some but I love the way this image turned out.

| Read Insta-comments -> https://instagr.am/p/CER-Z75FuGq/

Cherry Spelt Galette

Cherry Spelt Galette is my favorite kind of dessert: the sort that doesn’t ask for perfection, only a little attention. The dough is rolled out in whatever shape it wants to be. The fruit goes in like a small, bright heap. The edges fold up and over, as if to keep the good part from escaping.

Spelt flour makes the crust taste a little toasted and nutty, and it bakes into something sturdy at the rim and tender underneath. In the middle, the cherries go soft and glossy, their juices turning darker as the heat concentrates them into a jammy puddle. It’s messy in the best way—the kind of mess that proves you were here, that you made something real.

This is a weekend bake, meant for slow mornings or late afternoons when the kitchen feels like the warmest room in the house. If you can, let the galette cool just enough to set, then slice it while it’s still faintly warm. The crust will crackle. The fruit will hold, mostly.

Serve it plain, or with a spoonful of yogurt or cream if you like. Either way, it’s simple and generous: a rustic circle of spelt crust holding cherries in place, asking only that you sit down for a minute and eat.

Mexican Razor Blade

There’s a certain kind of weekend quiet that asks for a drink you can hold like a small, cold candle—something bright, something steady, something that doesn’t rush you.

The Mexican Razor Blade arrives pale and calm, a milky pool over ice, with ribbons of cucumber folded on top like a green note left on the surface. A few dark flecks—spice or pepper—float there too, as if the glass has its own weather.

I keep thinking about how a cocktail can feel like a room you step into. The wood of the table is warm under the glass; the drink is cool enough to fog the edges, cool enough to slow the minutes down. It’s not just refreshment—it’s a small reset. The kind you take when the week has been loud and you want the evening to live alongside you, not on top of you.

And the words on the glass—love is love—sit there without explanation. Not a slogan, just a truth you can see while you sip. Simple, settled.

If you make a Mexican Razor Blade this weekend, let it be unhurried. Let the ice crack softly. Let the cucumber keep its clean, green breath. Let the drink do what good rituals do: make the ordinary feel a little more spacious.

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