I bought a new bike today.

And I'm so happy. It's weird. I am SO happy! I rode it home through a large part of Brooklyn (wearing my helmet, of course) and had the BEST time.

I've had a really nice mountain bike for a few years and I never ride it. Maybe a few times a year I take it out for a spin around the park, but the way it rides scares me. It's made to go REALLY fast... I don't like that. It's really far off the ground, I don't like that either. I fall a LOT and the thought of falling while moving at high speeds scares the shit out of me.

I grew up riding a cruiser with a butterfly motif through the streets of Boston (ugh... at least they had parks) and loving it. Now they make them for adults!

In particular, Electra and Schwinn. I highly recommend checking them out if you think you like to bike but don't find yourself doing it that much. My new bike, the Electra Cruiser "Gigi", makes me want to ride around Brooklyn all day. Seriously.

I rode my bike home to my apartment and then took it right out again to the organic grocery store a few blocks away to pick up some stuff for dinner. I'm getting a couple of rear-mounted baskets put on in a week or so so I can go to the store and not kill my back with groceries in a backpack on the way home.

I feel all relaxed now and happy and I EXERCISED ... not only did I exercise but it was FUN! THAT never happens to me. It's fun AFTER but not during. It's never fun during! Unless I'm really stressed out.

Cloud nine.
Here's a photo. Now I have to go take a shower because I stink. Hurrah!

Urban living - furniture for small spaces

Something I am a little obsessed with living in NYC.

Here's a bed that lives in your ceiling!

Here's another one!

Are you a crazy person? Then you probably need THIS.

IKEA "Fusion"dining table and chairs for a small space that is cute and economical!

Still Sick

I have been sick for weeks. I could bore you with the minute details, but I won't. This morning, the morning I have woken up to leave NC with my husband and family, I have a sore throat that feels like someone has been tenderizing it while I slept and a sinus headache that, each time I cough the last bits of whatever bronchial infection has haunted me for the last 10 days, I feel like my head is going to explode in a painful burst.

Jealous?

Now we have a 7-hour drive ahead of us to Washington DC where we spend the night and then a 5-hour drive back to New York City. The past three nights I have dreamt of my cats which I take to be homesickness. My poor husband will be forced to do all the driving if I cannot and I can tell this idea is very depressing to him.

This may be the longest I have ever been sick in my life and I don't recommend it. I will be rushing in to see my Dr in NYC when I get there, believe you me. I have taken more Dayquil, Nyquil, Theraflu, Sudafed, Emergen-C, Airborne, chicken soup, vitamin water, tea and Riccola in the past two weeks than in the past year.

This blows.

I can't wait for my doctor to ask me, 'So, how long have you been feeling like this?' and I get to say, '3 weeks'. Then I can watch HER head explode.

Shit I Love and Don't Need

Steel rod for drying clothes in small spaces.

Vertically aligned drying rack for small spaces.

REI's GoToob shampoo and conditioner bottles.

A bat house. No, I'm not kidding.

A DIY baby changing table.

Conserve water with a soaking tub for your dishes.

Stainless steel water bottles with cool art on them by Blue Q! I have one and love it.

Dust while you walk through your apartment!

Glow in the dark zombie finger puppets.

Need magazine storage? Say no more.

Shit I Love and Don't Need

Pedicure Gift Set (actually, I could really use this).

The Peacekeeper Handbag Will someone PLEASE get this for me??!!! How fucking cool is this? And SAFE? I'm all about safety first, especially when it's fashionable.

Herb Scissors (finally! someone thought it through!)

Pebble Runner Rug from Chiasso I have this and love it. A massage when you walk through your home.

Silver Leda Clutch Anything resembling chainmail I love.

NO.

More stones. Want and love.

I love Method handwash and will get on these refillable bags of soap when I get home.

Modern magazine rack - so cool and sleek!

Stone towel hangers. I want these so bad I could plotz. That's right... PLOTZ.

Ok, that's enough for now.