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I have a confession to make… I’m a yogi who has never meditated. Even to me, a certified yoga teacher, meditation has always seemed a bit intimidating. How exactly do you do it? I’ve read about moving meditation, and I’d like to think that my runs along the Hudson River fall into that category. And they can ! But what about good old-fashioned crossed-legged lotus-pose meditation?  My acupuncturist told me about meditation classes here in NYC, and I've been meaning to attend one. It’s on my “to do” list. (How American – and ridiculous – is that?!) In the meantime, I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open for tips, and I came across this newsletter from goop today. Gwyneth Paltrow recently picked up Andy Puddicombe’s book,  Get Some Headspace , and she was “inspired by his ability to demystify mindfulness.” If Puddicombe can demystify mediation, I’m all ears. I’m going to get my hands on Get Some Headspace ASAP. Until then, perusing Puddicombe’s site is already proving to be hel

This restaurant is really like no other. Its Soho outpost is adorned with pictures from India, and the place has a hippie/homey feel. It even seems yogic. A small handwritten sign next to the light switch asks employees to please turn off the lights in an effort to save energy and be mindful . Talk about good energy :)  The food is beyond good. The dosas (“large, crispy, sourdough crepes”) filled with seasonal fresh ingredients like butternut squash and roasted tomatoes are DELICIOUS. My favorite dosa is the #5 Avocado (with Fresh Tomato, Arugula & Jack Cheese). The dosas come with different flavors of chutney (hence the restaurant’s name) including cilantro and mango. I – ever the plain Jane eater – stick to no chutney. Other must-try menu options include the #22 Grilled Cheese with Tomato on Sourdough (with Avocado). My  coworker and friend Brian – a more adventurous eater – loves the #2 Calamata Olives dosa (with Tomato, Roasted Onion, Arugula & Goat Cheese), the #9 Cu

I’m ashamed to admit it but I once got upset at Justin for bringing me after-work birthday flowers from our corner bodega instead of sending me a “happy b-day” bouquet at work. It’s just more special to receive a little somethin somethin via delivery or through snail mail . So whenever I have a good excuse, I send something sweet. Literally. I love flowers but lately I’ve been into sending edible treats – For Anyone (Except Diabetics): Whoopie Pies You can’t go wrong with giving the gift of whoopie pies from One Girl Cookies . It’s now become a tradition for Justin’s b-day; I get them delivered to his office. Even his secretary knows whoopie pies are coming come October. And fall is the best time to send them because pumpkin is in season. For Bridesmaids: Custom-Made Cookies I stole this idea from my friend Nooshin. Instead of just asking my sisters and friends to be in our bridal party, I sent my maids and matrons cookies in the shapes of dresses. Everyone thought they were su

For the past few fall seasons I’ve really wanted to go apple picking but was unable to make it happen. This year Justin graciously planned an outing for us. He’s allergic to raw apples but he does like apple cider donuts, so we were both pretty psyched.  We chose Outhouse Orchards in North Salem, New York because it seemed relatively close to the city. We rented a car and hit the road, only to sit in traffic for an hour on the West Side Highway. Note to NYC readers:  Avoid driving out of the city on a Sunday when there are multiple charity walks and street fairs in effect… When we did finally make our way out of Manhattan it was worth it. The foliage along the drive was really beautiful, and just being outdoors in the apple orchard was refreshing. Outhouse Orchards, however, was unimpressive. In fact its name is quite fitting :) We paid $25 for an empty mesh bag, presumably to be filled to the brim with ripe apples. And we borrowed two apple-picking poles, which to me resembled tort

It has taken me YEARS to figure out how to “do my hair” in a way that I actually find attractive and socially acceptable. In high school I would wash my hair in the AM and let it air-dry curly. Then I would put it up in a ponytail or bun, sometimes with a glittery headband. In college I ditched the headband and the au natural look. Instead I took a flatiron to my hair, night after night. Sleek straight hair was my “going out” look. And so the hair follicle damage began…  After college I continued to abuse my locks. I got green highlights. (They were intended to be blonde .) I dyed my hair black. Then I went back to brunette. All the while I over-washed and under-treated my hair. Then with age came not only a few white hairs but also wisdom. I realized that for my thin, damaged hair a flatiron is THE DEVIL. Instead I now use this thing , straight from the 80’s. It gets the job done, and it doesn’t singe my hair like a Panini maker. I’ve also found the best of the best, Chris Lospallu

Birthday card for the toughest Logan I know (in real-life).

I’m constantly researching ways to self-improve and just feel good. My diverse team of gurus and go-to health authorities includes my physicians, my amazing acupuncturist, my eyebrow specialist and more. (Ladies: Haven’t you noticed that wax experts and beauty professionals in general provide more than just beautification services? Maybe I just attract it, but I’ve always gotten great advice, health food recommendations and more from these “healers.”) Anyway, I gather tons of self-care information from an array of people I know firsthand as well as from some trusted writers (i.e. my favorite Life Coach  Martha Beck ). Of course you should always check with your personal health care provider before ingesting anything you’re unsure of, but here are my drugs of choice lately – Omega-3 Fatty Acids I just upped my dosage of fish oil. Omega-3 Fatty Acids are known to help with mood and brain function. My virtual doctor, Andrew Weil , explains: Many studies link specific nutrient deficie

One of the perks of being engaged is that some family members and friends bestow generous gifts. Of course anything off a couple’s handpicked registry is a safe bet, but I’ve come up with a couple of creative gifts that I personally plan to give when my loved ones become betrothed. So allow me to introduce the a muse bouche guide to engagement gifts – Ring Holder My dear friend Fallon and her fiancé Evan got us (me  J ) a ring holder . Justin tries to forbid me from removing my ring EVER, as I do have a tendency to (temporarily) misplace things, but lately I’ve been taking off the bling before bedtime. At least I have a safe and really aesthetically pleasing place to put it. Personalized Stationery My mama-in-law to be suggested that we purchase personalized stationery, and I’m so glad we did! I wouldn’t have thought to buy anything custom-made before the wedding, but having our “Amy and Justin” note cards  is a treat. I think any couple would appreciate the gift of paper goods w

Cover by me , for DC/Mattel.

The one and only book club I ever joined turned out to be a debacle. Close to no one read the book, and close to no one showed up for the scheduled club dinner. Estrogen-fueled fighting ensued. The friendships have since been mended, but the book has been left untouched: The Marriage Plot . In my defense, I did attempt to read the book. It just wasn’t amazing. And with the little time we crazy Americans allow in a day for reading and relaxing and general non work related activities , spending time on an “eh” book is just not worth it. In the past few months I’ve been reading some page turners, and I’d be happy to share my recommendations. In recent days I’ve seen a few friends post on Facebook that they’re looking for reading suggestions. And now is the season for snuggling up on the couch with a good book… Middlesex I abandoned The Marriage Plot and instead picked up Middlesex , the novel that elevated Jeffrey Eugenides to Oprah’s Book Club status. For years I was uninterested in

As I’ve mentioned  before , my Grandma Elly never cooked. Instead, like any resourceful New Yorker, she used her oven for shoe storage. She and my Grandpa Riis went out to eat at the most fabulous restaurants, including  Elio’s . They dined at Elio’s at least bi-weekly and always shared the same tri-colore salad and two entrees: chicken parmesan and penne primavera. My Grandpa still goes to Elio’s on a regular basis, but now he takes me as his date. [Elly & Riis] There’s something to be said for having a fabulous local restaurant where everyone knows your name. Justin and I have found that in  Rosemary’s Enoteca & Trattoria . Rosemary’s is right around the corner from  our humble abode  and it has the Trifecta of important qualities: awesome ambiance, delicious food and great service. What’s more? It’s a lot more affordable than Elio’s : ) Rosemary’s opened in June and has been jam-packed ever since. Justin and I had stopped in when the restaurant first opened its doors, eager

When I first got engaged I couldn’t wait to get a neutral-color manicure. The day after the proposal  I said to my coworker Ally “My nails will always be plain and perfect from now on!” She (engaged a few months prior) knew better. After my initial post-engagement mani, the whole nude-looking polish appeal lost its luster. My nails have been chipped, bare, bright coral and even deep purple since… And now that’s autumn’s here, all bets are off. Bling or no bling, I’m wearing dark polish. It’s just me. A P.S. Check out these Essie colors for Fall/Winter. I love Power Clutch.  On a related note, I met   Essie Weingarten   while I was working at   Allure   magazine. Essie was lovely and all about   Baked by Melissa cupcakes . (The Allure mag sales reps made a   big deal  about getting lots of mini cupcakes for the Essie meeting.)

Why is silence always associated with negative events? “Let’s take a moment of silence to commemorate [insert devastating event].” I think silence is golden, and should be cherished. When I consider silence, rather than conjure up an image of fidgety fans at a ballpark before the National Anthem, I think of melting into a delicious savasana at the end of a yoga class. Recently I’ve been finding myself banishing Justin to the bedroom and/or forcing him to wear headphones to watch television, especially when I’m blogging, but even when I’m just relaxing and/or reading.  To be surrounded by noise, all day, is just too much sensory overload. I need some quiet time. Dr. Andrew Weil agrees: Sound has a direct and powerful influence on the nervous system and on our emotions… Most people are unaware of the effects of sound on the body and mind, even in the midst of the noise population so characteristic of cities and workplaces… The most obvious correlations are with anxiety and insomnia.