Pop of Color
It’s a simple effective way to spruce up old shoes.
I got some colored laces from J. Crew for only $4 a pop.
Spend a Couple Minutes »Colored Laces
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Spend a Couple Minutes »Dark Sky
iPhone App
No weather forecast is more annoying than a 30% chance of rain all day. It basically means nothing.
Optimists could get caught in the rain while others could plan a whole day indoors (particularly if you’ve got a little one) only to realize after the fact that you could have gone outside after all.
Dark Sky, which I heard about on NY1, puts an end to the doubt.
It does one thing and one thing only: accurately let you know if it will be raining where you are in the next hour.
It’s been quite useful to me and is well worth the few dollars.
See more: Spend a Couple Minutes Apps Reference
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Posted on May 15, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Spring Onions aka Green Garlic
Spring Specialty
Everyone goes wild for wild ramps this season, but spring onions (young garlic) are equally worth the excitement.
I’ve been having them with scrambled eggs for a most delectable breakfast. The taste is a cross between a scallion and garlic.
Look for them at your local farmer’s market.
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Posted on May 7, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Educo My Creative Cookery Club
Perfect Toddler Kitchen
A couple months ago I started to notice that Van wasn’t as interested in his old toys. As he makes his way into toddlerhood, things that rattle just aren’t as cool as grown up gadgets. So, I started to look for some play grown up toys.
I found this adorable wooden kitchen from Educo that is as lovely to look at as it is enthraling for Van.
Great for small spaces and small kids, it’s not as elaborate as some I’ve seen but perfect for our needs.
Van hasn’t been as involved in playtime as is with this for a while.
It comes with toy utensils, dishes, and food and is relatively easy to assemble.
See more: Spend a Couple Minutes Children’s Toys
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Posted on April 25, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Carved Candles from Enchantments
424 East 9th Street
You might be surprised but one of the coolest purchases I’ve made in the city came from an East Village magic/witch/head shop called “Enchantments“.
Like any subculture establishment, you may feel out of place when you first arrive or at least as though you might be intruding (like the familiar feeling of a woman entering a gaming shop, hearing the Magic the Gathering game come to a screeching halt as she patters by in high heels).
But the key, as really in any place you expect costumer service, is to be polite and respectful.
I was looking for a magic candle. I burned one for good luck while pregnant with Van from the Pharmacia Millionaire in Los Angeles and he turned out awesome so, of course, I wanted one for my new pregnancy.
Unlike my experience in LA, Enchantments will hand carve a candle for you, depending on your needs. It is then decorated (in my case with gold glitter and bronze) an encantation is performed (mine involved pennies, honey and inscense) and you walk away with a pretty sweet looking item for your house and superstitious mind.
Skeptical at first, my accompanying friend decided she may like one for herself to bless her upcoming wedding. It’s a much more satisfying experience than I had even hoped for.
Enchantments is also your source more any witchcraft needs including herbs and talismans.
See more: Spend a Couple Minutes East Village Occult Shops
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Posted on April 22, 2012
Movies,Spend a Couple Minutes »Rear Window
directed by Alfred Hitchcock (1954)
Some of my absolute favorite movies have never been recommended here because:
A. I assume everyone has already seen them and
B. They’re such known classics that there’s not much left to say except “It’s awesome”.
But I am recommending Rear Window regardless because no one needs me to say much anyways and I am always surprised at how few people have seen what I think are major classic films.
Hey, let’s make a week of it – I’ll call it my Top Best Movies You’ve Probably Seen But If You Haven’t You Better Get On It Marathon.
And if you are already a fan of Rear Window and don’t need me telling you to watch it, check out this stunning time lapse video of the amazing set piece.
See more: Movies,Spend a Couple Minutes 1950s Mysteries Thrillers
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Posted on April 4, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »5 Umami Paste
by Laura Santtini
Even though I don’t have to disposable income I once did, it’s still hard to walk out of The Meat Hook without one impulse buy.
This time it was 5 Umami Paste, a potent tomato based paste that was perfect atop a bowl of spaghetti for a quick delicious lunch.
I know “umami” has risen quickly to be the latest arguably obnoxious foodie term but it’s actually a century old Japanese discovery and considered the 5th sense.
You could also call it savory if you wanted, but I was much more drawn to “Umami paste” than I would be to a “savory paste”.
The taste is up my alley – all anchovies, sundried tomatoes, garlic and porcini. The uses are undoubtedly endless and I look forward to discovering them all.
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Posted on March 25, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Yummy Keychains
from Kid Robot
I have a thing for cute, smiling food with googly eyes, so I can’t resist Kid Robots’ Yummy key chains.
I love that your purchase is random and you don’t know which one you’ve gotten til the box is open (even if I have gotten the blue muffin three times!).
Which kind of leads me to my only complaint – short life spans. I’ve gotten so many of these key chains because they either break, fall off or otherwise corrode with wear.
The adorable cake key topper pictured, for example? Already fallen off the chain twice.
Yet, it’s a cycle, and the fact that they do die leads me to eagerly go in search of its replacement. So I’ll keep buying them as long as they make them.
See more: Spend a Couple Minutes Electronics/Gadgets Toys
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Posted on March 21, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Draw Something
App
Welcome to my latest dumb obsession, Draw Something. Sure, like all game apps I’ve recommended here, I’ll tire of this Pictionary-esque game in the not too distant future but for now draw some is awe some.
(Oh, and for the record, just writing the word is cheating and beside the point and I end games with such swindlers.)
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Posted on March 16, 2012
Spend a Couple Minutes »Caribou Baby Turns One
272 Driggs Ave
It’s been one whole year since friends, neighbors and all around greats Adriane and Greg opened Caribou Baby!
In that time it’s become an invaluable resource for local moms.
Stop by this weekend to say congrats!
We dropped by today to get Van bigger shoes (the kid’s got gigantic feet) and tried them out on the dance for at the WNNS Beach Ball party at Warsaw where Greg was spinning. (Hence photo of Van doing his signature squat dance).