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When a Friend brings Treats

| #pillsburyminis #pillsburydoughboy #kloutperk
| My past few Klout perks have been fun! Honestly thought, Pillsbury is not the normal snack of choice I go after. However, I received these little minis in the mail with a Pillsbury Doughboy of course. You wouldn’t believe it but they are pretty fresh and tasty! My final thought, if you were going to step into the darkside for a treat these little guys wouldn’t be a bad option.
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Manhattan Bridge Boy

| #manhattan #bridge #nyc

With such tepid weather it was the perfect day to go for a walk. I decided to walk the Manhattan bridge along side a wonderful guy from Japan, Junior. I want to throw in a “pro-tip” for everyone. If you walk the bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan you will have a great photo op of the Brooklyn bridge. Once you are over the bridge you can stop in and visit the largest Buda in NYC.

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Snow Day Bond Marathon: Shake Up a Vesper Martini

Feeling like a sophisticated spy (in cozy slippers) this snow day? Channel your inner James Bond with a classic marathon and the signature Vesper Martini, his drink of choice. We’ve curated the perfect 007 film lineup to keep you on the edge of your seat, interspersed with breaks to savor this iconic cocktail.

Your Mission (Should You Choose to Accept It):

  1. Dr. No (1962): Start with the origin story! Witness Sean Connery’s iconic debut as Bond and be transported to the sunny Caribbean for a thrilling introduction to the world of espionage.
  2. Man with the Golden Gun (1974): Roger Moore takes the helm in this globe-trotting adventure featuring Christopher Lee’s menacing Scaramanga. Prepare for laser guns, exotic locales, and a killer theme song.
  3. Golden Eye (1995): Pierce Brosnan brings a modern edge to Bond in this high-tech thrill ride. Famke Janssen shines as the unforgettable Xenia Onatopp, and the iconic opening sequence remains a masterpiece.
  4. Skyfall (2012): Daniel Craig delivers a powerful performance as a Bond grappling with his past in this visually stunning film. Javier Bardem steals the show as the chilling Silva, and Adele’s theme song is an instant classic

(watch on Amazon)

james bond 007 dr no
james bond 007 The Man withTheGolden Gun
james bond 007 golden eye
james bond 007 SKYFALL

Fueling Your Mission: The Vesper Martini

Invented by Ian Fleming himself, the Vesper is a potent mix of gin, vodka, and Lillet Blanc, shaken to icy perfection. Grab your cocktail shaker and follow these steps:

Ingredients:

  • 3 oz. gin (Beefeater is my preference)
  • 1 oz. vodka (Skyy is my preference)
  • ½ oz. Lillet Blanc
  • Lemon peel, for garnish
vesper martini ingredient beefeater gin
vesper martini ingredient skyy vodka
vesper martini ingredient lillet blanc

Instructions:

  1. Run water over martini glass and place into freezer.
  2. Combine Liquors into cocktail shaker with a generous amount of ice & shake. (you can also stir)
  3. Remove martini glass from freezer and pour in the liquid.
  4. Garnish with a lemon twist
  5. Enjoy Mr. Bond
vesper martini chill martini glass
1. chill martini glass
vesper martini ingredient mix, stir or shake
2. ingredient mix, stir or shake
vesper martini ingredient poor
3. vesper martini ingredient poor
vesper martini ingredient lemon garnish
4. ingredient lemon garnish

Bonus Round:

Pair your Vesper with themed snacks like caviar on blinis, smoked salmon rolls, or roasted nuts for a touch of elegance. Don’t forget the martini olives, shaken not stirred (of course!).

So, settle in with your blanket, Bond playlist, and Vesper Martini in hand. Let the snow fall and prepare to be shaken (not stirred) by these classic 007 adventures. Just remember, with great cocktails comes great responsibility – drink responsibly!

Snowed in Saturday & Winter Wonderland Walk

| #blizzard #snow #lovely | ❄️??
| I wake to a quiet and snowy morning, grind some beans, and make myself coffee. Snow has clung to my summer window screens, making it appear that it has accumulated up to the first floor of the apartment building. After washing some dishes and taking a shower the rest of the building starts to stir. At the front of the building my landlord bickers with a kid from the block about the height of the snow and where best to measure it. They haphazardly plan the best approach to clear the length of sidewalk and barter the cost to shovel the snow.
 

$20 for a path, $45 to clear it all – it’s the same for every house

[image_frame url=”7388″ action=”open-lightbox” rel=”snow”]They spot a snow drift on the roof, its reaching off into the sidewalk, they compare it to Mount Everest or a Snow Sculpture of a bird. They worry if it will fall and hurt someone, admittedly it has me curious. I cannot decide if it is funny or sad, the futile effort or the lack of actual effort they have in shoveling snow so early. After a while it is quiet again, then a guitar slowly plays a rambling melody downstairs.[image_frame url=”7380″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”Snow on my bedroom window” rel=”snow”][image_frame url=”7379″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”Neighborhood Kid Shoveling” rel=”snow”]I decide to venture out and layer up to a snowy wonderland. The snow drift on the roof is microscopic compared to the rest of the neighborhood. The hilarity of it all, my building’s sidewalks are some of the best.

A man with a snow blower, cross-country skiing, sounds of tires spinning to nowhere; are a wintery mix of sound and white light. Like two ships in the night, my friend Mikey and I pass each other in the park , never knowing until we are both too far away to meet.[image_frame url=”7384″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”Snowy track of McCarren Park” rel=”snow”][image_frame url=”7386″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”McCarren Park Building 1″ rel=”snow”][image_frame url=”7387″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”McCarren Park Building 2″ rel=”snow”]I arrive home, snow crystalized over my M-65 field jacket and creating a cuff on the bottom of my jeans. As I walk into my apartment the snow quickly begins to melt and I can almost hear that small crackling of ice melting on my hat. It’s time for something warm, a cozy blanket and some brainless internet entertainment. The light is pale and blue in my living room, the wind is howling, and the city appears calm, if only for today.[image_frame url=”7395″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”m65 jacket snow melting” rel=”snow”][image_frame url=”7398″ action=”open-lightbox” image_caption=”the back yard snow” rel=”snow”]| Read Insta-comments -> http://bt.zamartz.com/1WDZzY7

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Thank You Martha Stewart for these farm fresh eggs

| #farmfresh #eggs #pantone2016 #bestofstarrett
| ???
| I have had some pretty interesting celebrity sightings in NYC… This one just adds some more fun to the list. Around 1:00 today Hannah Biddle and I decided to get a snack within the Starret-Leighigh building in NYC. Due to some elevator issues we ended up getting something sweet from the Martha Stewart Cafe in the lobby. On our way back to the Club Monaco offices we mistakenly shared an elevator with Martha Stewart. Hannah commented on how lovely the eggs were in the bin Ms. Stewart’s assistant was carrying, to which Mis. Stewart responded

“Please take some. You can have 2 eggs each.”

Eventually, we made it to our floor within the building, after a bit more elevator trouble. We have 2 theories on the eggs – 1. Easter Segment or 2. Pantone Color of the Year 2016 ~ ROSE QUARTZ #f7cac9 & SERENITY #91A8d0
 
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A good night for a Hot Toddy

Capping off a chilly week calls for something warm and relaxing. The spirit of the evening: a Hot Toddy—a classic hot cocktail built around whiskey, hot water, lemon, and honey, with optional spices for extra comfort. 

This is my current version using Knob Creek, with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. The small upgrade that makes a big difference: I let a lemon round sit in the mug with honey and whiskey while the water heats, so the base starts melding before the hot water hits.


Hot Toddy Recipe (Knob Creek + Lemon + Honey + Winter Spices)

Time: ~5 min.

Yield: 1 Drink

Ingredients (1 serving)

  • 3 oz (89 ml) whiskey/bourbon (Knob Creek here)
  • 1–2 tsp honey (to taste) 
  • 1 lemon round (plus an optional extra slice for garnish)
  • 4–6 oz hot water, just off boiling (adjust to taste) 
  • ½ tsp cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2–4 whole cloves (start low—clove can take over) 
  • 1 star anise pod (optional but excellent) 
  • Optional: a small splash of lemon juice if you want it brighter

Directions

  1. Start the mug base (while the water heats): Put honey in the bottom of a heat-safe mug. Add whiskey, then place one lemon round on the bottom of the cup. Let it sit while you heat the water (this gently “pre-infuses” the base).
  2. Heat water in a kettle/tea pot until steaming hot (just off boiling). 
  3. Add cinnamon, cloves, and star anise to the mug.
  4. Pour in the hot water (start with 4 oz / 120 ml) and stir well to dissolve the honey.
  5. Steep 2–5 minutes, then sip.
    • If spice gets too aggressive (usually cloves), add a little more hot water or strain into a fresh mug.

Notes that Actually Matter

  • Clove warning: 2 cloves is subtle; 4+ gets intense fast. 
  • Want it brighter? Add a small squeeze/splash of lemon juice right at the end (lemon can flatten if it “cooks” too long).
  • Want it sweeter? Add another teaspoon of honey—toddy balance is personal.

What I used

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