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F:  What is the most touching thing that you saw or happened to you this week?

L:  Yesterday I had an appointment with a health care navigator at this organization. I was supposed to bring a form with me to prove I am no longer employed but I wasn’t able to print it out before our meeting and the online system that provided it did not offer an email option. The whole story is extremely administrative and overall pretty boring but the woman I met with was so pleasant during our entire encounter – over half of which she spent carrying her laptop around, trying to find her colleague whose work station she was temporarily looking to use to print out my form.  Our exchange wasn’t particularly deep or profound or personal but it was very pleasant and kind and those are two characteristics that can’t be underestimated.

F:  What do you do to “relax?”

L:  I’m pretty big into the concept of taking a bath.  I don’t have a bathtub though so the frequency of baths in my life is much lower than I’d like.  There’s also this place in Chinatown that offers a 30 min back rub + 30 min foot massage for $30.  It’s fantastic and a totally reasonably priced indulgence.

F:  Are you still painting?  If so, what?  If not, why not? 🙂

L:  I’m sorry to say that I haven’t painted since October.  With all my moving around it has been hard to feel stationary enough to dedicate space to setting up an easel, bringing out all the materials, etc.  It’ll happen though.

F:  What are your winter essentials?  Doesn’t have to be clothes.

L:  It’s gotten really cold in NYC.  I have two cashmere sweaters that are pretty much the only things I’ve been wearing since Thanksgiving.  This lip balm feels fantastic.  Also, I’ve been making little batches of Suz’s recipe for the smell of Christmas which has been really pretty nice – especially to give away.

F:  If you could manifest anything, what would your ideal year be like next year?

L:  One of love, prosperity, creativity, friendship, joy, ease and security.

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1) Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off to 1989 aerobics has had me cracking up all week. –Farrell

2)  How To: Mini Snow Globes is one of many such tabs taking over my browser.  Seasonal DIY fantasy life is in full effect.  -Lauren

3) Locating Yourself is a quick video about where you are.  Are you above the line or below? –Farrell

4) What Is the Meaning of OM? Did you know that there are four sounds that make up the sound OM and one of them is silence?!  –Lauren

5) The 10 Most Livable Global Cities for Balancing Work and Play.  I’ve only been to one of these cities (Berlin) but I’m waaaay into the concept!  –Lauren

6) Daybreaker is an early morning, weekday dance party that I partook in yesterday morning at 6:30am and it was SO fun.  I recommend to anyone to go! –Farrell

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The week after Suz died I remembered feeling an acute sense of the importance of art. There was something about someone’s life ending that really made me think about what is significant to do while we are here on Earth. Self expression came to mind, which then to me became art. This may sound heavy, or whimsical, but we are human beings having a human experience and there are times when it can be profound, frustrating, beautiful, enlightening, suffocating, etc. I don’t think any form of self expression is ever wasted. When I was younger, I secretly thought of myself as a poet. I sat in my room for years writing poem after poem. Of course at the time my poems seemed on the verge of award winning but looking back they are full of angst and confusion. I was feeling so much at the time that I needed to do something with those emotions, so I just scribbled words on page.

I don’t care what ways you choose to express yourself, whether it be through dance, jokes, fashion, speeches, writing, jumping – whatever it is that makes you feel free for just one second – do it. Those moments are not wasted. Somewhere those moments will last forever and you will leave an imprint.

[posted by Farrell]

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TRYING to drink as much water and green juice as possible before the Christmas holiday.

THINKING about the movie “Wild” and the kinds of journeys that grief will lead you on to find who you are again.  Thinking also about how powerful a mother can be.

BLOWING through so many books!  Right now I’m reading Traveling with Pomegranates, which was recommended to me by Lauren.  Once I am finished maybe we can both do a post on it.

 

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FEELING inspired to go all in on my personal style after watching the documentary Advanced Style on Netflix.

STAYING at home and working my space heaters on this very rainy day in NYC.

PRESSING play on the latest episode of StartUp podcast, which I’d highly recommend!

I’ve been back in NYC for the past week, catching up with friends and eating delicious meals all around town as New Yorkers are wont to do. I don’t think of myself as any real foodie but I just may have taken for granted the amazingness of the food here for the past 12 years. It tastes so good. Almost everywhere you go. In addition to the gourmet-level home cooked brunch I had on Sunday, these are some of the places I’ve been eating:

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Sauce Restaurant – This is my neighborhood favorite!  I will never turn down an Italian meal and the deliciousness pared with proximity to my apartment make it my regular go-to.  The Pecorino Kale salad and soft polenta “Plank” with bolognese sauce make me happier than any meal I can conjure in my mind.

Emmett’s – A tiny and tasty neighborhood spot is one of the only new (to me) places I’ve eaten since being back in New York.  The pizza was great, as was the playlist.

Satsko – If there ever was a bar where everyone knows your name, this is it!  Satsko’s was a mainstay of my early years in NYC and has hosted many boozy nights since.  The sake offerings are phenomenal, as is the Carriegiri sushi-esque roll of avocado, smoked salmon and melted mozzarella with a spicy mayo dipping sauce. Mouth-watering!

LIC Market – I don’t spend a lot of time in Long Island City, Queens, so after my first time at this restaurant, I make it my go-to when I’m in the neighborhood.  This past weekend I was there for brunch and the complimentary pastry plate, complete with mini-chocolate croissants, was just as delicious as the rest of the meal.

Motorino Pizza – Oh, my!  I wasn’t even this full on Thanksgiving!  This pizza is just amazing.  My friends and I split five pizza’s between four people and the flavors are fantastic!  The Cherry Stone Clam white pizza is particularly special.  This is some next level pizza.

And while I haven’t done much by way of cooking since I’ve been back but I did make a friend’s Blue Apron meal with her on Sunday night and it was also so good!  All ingredients, in exact proportion, are delivered right to your door for a really reasonable price.  This is the second Blue Apron meal I’ve helped prepare and I have to say, it’s pretty great.

[posted by Lauren]

Hey everyone! We hope you had a fantastic weekend! Here are this week’s pics:

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Farrell – Los Angeles, CA

Valley Cruise Press photoshoot.

Valley Cruise Press photoshoot.

Tony's bungalow birthday celebration

Tony’s bungalow birthday celebration

Celebrating my favorite little brother's 27th birthday!

Celebrating my favorite little brother’s 27th birthday!

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Lauren – New York, NY

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The winter-wear is out

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Insanely delicious Sunday brunch

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Sunny skies crossing the Williamsburg Bridge

California Sunrise

California Sunrise

L:  How has your week been?

F:  My week has been pretty crazy. Mostly all work related. We are doing a photo shoot this week for our website and other things and it has been pretty amazing. Also, I saw the comedian / motivational speaker Kyle Cease on Wednesday night.

L:  What are you most looking forward to about being home for Christmas?

F:  Oh there are so many things! I am so excited to see all of my little cousins and how much they have grown. I am looking forward to some quality family time – especially with my sister. Also, it is Albert’s first official Christmas with the Feighan family so that in itself is pretty darn exciting. I am not looking forward to the cold, but that is part of the whole experience.

L:  Did I tell you I bought a ticket to visit you for New Year’s?

F:  Did you buy it!? That is so exciting.  I am so happy you are coming to stay with me!  We will have to start planning.

L:  How’s your new haircut?

F:  I like it a lot. It is short but not too short.  You know how I feel about getting haircuts – I hate them.  This time around was such a pleasant experience. Let’s go while you are here!

L:  Who framed Roger Rabbit?  

F:  I don’t know anything about that or what that means.

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It’s already beginning to feel a lot like Christmas but before the holiday season kicks into full force, I am savoring the unique time in my life that was this fall.  The past few months have been a panoply of experiences and emotion.  There has been devastating loss and nothing short of magical moments.  I have felt intense joy, grief, gratitude, loneliness, inspiration, abundance, anxiety, anger, love, heartbreak, calm, relief, support, jealousy, inspiration, elation, denial, acceptance, freedom and ease.  All of life packed itself tightly into these fall days and with it came an incredible expansion of time.  And limitless beauty.

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[posted by Lauren]

I have always loved pictures. I love looking at them, taking them and receiving them. I almost always save my favorite pictures that people text me. Here are some of my favorite pictures lately. Thanks everyone who sent them to me. Keep ’em coming!

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From Dave

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From Dad

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From Jessi

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From Teddy

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From Mom

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From Mom

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From Lisa

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From Al

[posted by Farrell]

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Recently I’ve made a couple references to our family’s newly established tradition of making each other Christmas gifts instead of buying presents (minus stockings, which by way of compromise, our mother who loves to shop still puts together).  For our purposes “make” is a loose term and can span the gamut from handmade creations to custom ordered goods.  Each person comes up with a unique gift that can either be personalized for every member of the family, or replicated into multiple copies so everyone receives the same thing.  I think we have a $50 spending cap on all production costs; that is also loose but let’s just say the whole thing is meant to be inexpensive.  This will be our third Christmas making gifts and the things people have come up with already have been so thoughtful, creative and fun. So should you be interested in going more of the homemade route this year but can’t think of what you might do, feel free to snag an idea from the things we’ve given each other since starting this tradition:

  • A picture frame with four photos of our backyard at home, one from every season to rotate throughout the year
  • Personalized silhouettes
  • A bound children’s book of a story our dad always told us when we were little
  • Jigsaw puzzles of favorite personal photos
  • Personal domain names
  • An originally designed 2014 calendar
  • White chocolate peppermint popcorn
  • Family Rubix Cube (pictured above)
  • Curated road guide for your spiritual journey
  • Peanut butter buckeyes
  • Coins from our dad’s collection
  • Each person’s first initial made of cut, geometric paper

Have any other ideas for homemade gifts?  Let us know in the comments.  I think I already have my idea for this year but you never know…

[posted by Lauren]