Following Rabbits Blog

I think I catch something in my Twitter feed every day that I'm super excited about-- whether it's an event or new exhibit in NYC, a cute outfit or something fabulous to buy online. Last week, my score of the day was a link to Sweet Lydia's online sweets shop. Based in Lowell, MA (big ups to my home state!) Lydia makes s'mores and other marshmallow treats. Being a huge s'mores fan myself, I often resort to toasting marshmallows over my gas stovetop... but there's a better way! Lydia makes s'mores in fabulous flavor combos that you can enjoy without the mess and meltiness (don't see what you want? you can create your own!).

stacked from top to bottom: caramel, peanut butter, white chocolate, and original

I ordered a few flavors because I couldn't decide. I wound up indulging in a bite of each washed down with an enormous glass of milk. Caramel is my favorite of the four I tried... caramel marshmallow with milk chocolate- YUM! These would be amazing as favors for your shower, wedding, birthday party, dinner party... whatever. Lydia customizes favors, so she can work with you to make the perfect treats for any occasion! My batch got shipped to my office and after cutting one of the originals into 4 pieces and delivering them to my co-workers' offices, they came back looking for more. I was stingy with the remainders, and brought 'em home with me. They're sure to be my go-to for late-night sweets cravings! 

After writing about the decorating I have planned for my apartment, I was really amped to get to IKEA this weekend to start shopping. I got out of work early on Friday and headed straight for the Pier 11 ferry to Red Hook. What a nicer way to get there than the shuttle bus from downtown Brooklyn! 

taken with my special fx camera app on my phone from the ferry

I spent 2 hours roaming the showroom with my list, checking out everything in person after scoping it out online. The warehouse was a bit daunting since I was on my own, and I'm really not the biggest or strongest person. After struggling with a couple 90lb boxes and snagging a giant canvas print of Paris on impulse, I paid to have it delivered the next morning to my Astoria apartment. (The extra $100 was sooo worth it to have them bring everything up to my apartment... getting it on the cart by myself was enough of a struggle.)

My delivery window was 10a-2p, and they called at 8:30a saying they were in the neighborhood! I jumped out of bed and had just enough time to put on some pants and wipe off my eyeliner from the night before. 

I spent my whole day on Saturday putting together furniture. I've done entire rooms of IKEA furniture before, so I knew what I was in for. It still didn't stop me from being overwhelmed every time I opened another box and found this:

I was so excited about my new desk and bookcase! Such an improvement over the POS I've been using.

my new TV stand was a big relief more than anything. My flatscreen has been on a shoe rack for 2 1/2 years that was buckling under the weight. I was dreading coming home one day to a busted TV on the floor.

Today I was in Jersey all day at a birthday party. (Last night in the midst of the IKEA storm in my apartment, I managed to make mac n cheese for 40 people... go me!) Was a fun afternoon, but man, I'm exhausted! I managed to get everything assembled except my dresser, which will have to get done tomorrow. Can't wait to share photos of my finished apartment! I'm so unbelievably happy that it's finally all coming together. Living in a huge apartment by myself with nothing more than a futon and a rickety desk was a drag. Yay for a pretty apartment!!

WATCH IT: videos I peeped this week that you should too
The Black Keys' video for Tighten Up (pictured above) is adorable and hilarious. Watch it.

Mashable compiled 10 crowdsourced music videos-- too cool! I LOVE the ideas behind these videos... as a creative person, the prospect of having tons of people participating in your art project is so amazing. (#9 is incredible!) Check 'em out!

HEAR IT: songs I downloaded this week
1. Slowly by Max Sedgley 2. New York to California by Mat Kearney 3. All I Need by Radiohead 4. Lamentations of the Heart by Philip Wesley 5. Leave Me Alone by Natalie Imbruglia

 Sesame Street Film Festival at BAM

DO IT: things to add to your calendar
BAM kicks off their animation film festival today with animation block party programs all weekend. Check their schedule for show times!

Tonight is round 2 of Starbox in Bryant Park. I haven't seen any word leaked on who was in the box last Friday, but I did hear that at 8:30p they disassembled the box and the star was gone, to the amazement and confusion of the crowd. Curiosity may get the best of me tonight. 6:30-8:30p.

Saturday head to the Guggenheim at 5:45p and pay-what-you-wish to explore the museum until it closes at 7:45p. I can't wait to check out Haunted.

On Monday, BAM is hosting a Sesame Street Film Festival! Anyone who grew up in the 70s and 80s really must check this out. Showing at 3 times throughout the day, each one will be introduced by Craig Shemin, Muppet historian and vice president of the Jim Henson Legacy. (The fact that there is such thing as a "Muppet historian" makes me giddy...) I really hope that the Near/Far bit and Teeny Little Super Guy are included.

For those not keeping record, I've been living in my apartment for 6 months already... and stuff is still in boxes. My bedroom wasn't even being used until I got my bed from my mum's house 2 months ago, and it's still so empty it echoes in there. I've been procrastinating decorating, for lots of reasons. The biggest reason is money... or rather, the lack thereof. I was supposed to be sharing this space, and was only counting on paying half of the monstrosity that is my monthly rent. The space is much bigger than I would ever really need for myself, but who am I to complain about too much space in a NYC apartment? I've been searching for some inspiration, rather than buying stuff just for the sake of filling space. I've finally got some sense of an Alice in Wonderland theme going (and thankfully a bit of cash) and am planning a fantastically indulgent shopping trip Saturday! I can't wait to share photos of the finished bedroom, but here are the pieces I've been collecting:

dresser, nightstand

vanity, mirror

vinyl tree, butterflies to rest on it

ace vinyl wall decal, birdcage that will house potted flowers

giant jax, chess pieces

7-piece bedding set

Whatcha think? I'm hoping I have enough of an eye for design that I can incorporate all of this into a cohesive bedroom theme, rather than it look like a funhouse exploded in my apartment. Got any suggestions for me before I go shopping Saturday? I'm always looking for design advice, so lemme know!

I've been stressing lately... and when I stress, my face pays for it. This week I've been feeling like I'm in high school again... so not cute. While I'd love nothing more than to jaunt up to Bliss for a No Zit Sherlock facial, $165 is way out of my budget. Google to the rescue! I spent my lunch break looking up homemade facial scrubs, and after reading up on what's good (and not so good) for your face, I went home with a mission.

I already had everything I needed to make this stuff-- a fresh lemon (on hand for my sun tea), sugar, and honey. Mix together 2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp honey, and juice from half a lemon. The sugar exfoliates and gives you a rosy glow, the lemon is an astringent and reduces redness, and honey is naturally antibacterial and a great moisturizer. Honey is also used in cosmetics to help reduce the signs of aging, as its antioxidants help eliminate free radicals.

My skin tends to be pretty oily. If you have dry skin, you can add a bit of olive oil as a buffer from the lemon. I was a little apprehensive about the lemon given that my skin is sensitive and prone to redness, but I balked at slathering any type of oil on my already-breaking-out face. Once mixed together, this stuff was so tasty! (Of course I had to stick my finger in it...) Wash your face with your regular cleanser, then pat dry. Apply the scrub, massaging into your face and neck for a few minutes before letting it sit for 10 minutes. The lemon didn't cause any irritation at all, and it definitely made my skin softer. (Just keep your eyes shut, ladies!) The general redness I had before was replaced with more of a glow, which is nice. I wound up having enough to basically cover myself head to toe in this stuff, which was kind of deliciously fun. I'll give the olive oil version a try to battle my dry skin when it's wind-whipped in January. 

Any homemade beauty products you swear by? Tell me about 'em!