"The Devil Drinks Red Juice" and More Frothy Vogue Fun in SoHo

I am always happy in a fashion situation. 

The only Prada I own is hand cream, lip balm and the modern lipstick I love (shown).

I drove to Spring Street from Montclair this afternoon to check out the first-ever Vogue Café pop-up in New York, open for three days ahead of the Met Gala this Monday. It is for fashionistas and also passionistas like me, for whom the Gala is out of reach, and is perfectly timed with "The Devil Wears Prada 2" movie release yesterday. Here are the details: https://www.vogue.com/article/vogue-cafe-new-york-announcement-may-2026.

Lucky me, I found a free parking spot across the way, while town cars and big black SUVs lobbied for position. I took fun photos and aim to post them on Instagram but for now, I misplaced my iPhone charging block, and my phone is dead. So I'm blogging.

I'm fighting a dark mood--dark as my best Majestic Filatures boatneck top in Noir, dark as my coal-black mascara--and going into the city was an excellent antidote, as usual.

Was it worth the Lincoln Tunnel weekend toll and tapping my debit card on the reader for cleverly named Vogue Devil-themed, blood-red juice and Glacial Pace coffee and a couple of treats from Hani's Bakery? Yes. No different from the time I paid to attend a Saturday fashion event led by uber editor Carrie Donovan from The New York Times, or the day I saw fashion icon Iris Apfel at the Montclair Film Festival's screening of Albert Maysles documentary "Iris." 

The ether around Vogue and "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is electric. So many details swirling, so much activity, that part of me, the mother and writer in me, has been wondering how Chloe Malle will manage it all. I hope she has a lot of support. She is Vogue's new Head of Editorial Content and co-host of The Run-Through with Vogue podcast--second in line to the queen, Anna Wintour.

The very capable and captivating daughter of Candice Bergen and Louis Malle, Chloe has two young children she talks about on the pod--Arthur and Alice. She is candid about trying to balance it all in her New York City life, to craft valentines with the children, have a good marriage, take family vacations, go to fashion shows, make time to see her mother and not bring her cell phone into the kids' bedrooms so she won't be distracted by work. On top of that, she seems to be constantly working, reviewing content, conducting interviews, running events, reading, writing--and looking very pretty and stylish, from head to toe.

The highly anticipated Devil Wears Prada movie sequel opened yesterday (Dan and I caught a premiere Thursday in Montclair). 

Style notes from today's event at Altro Paradiso:

• The flowers. Fat pink peonies in short vases, and a French-looking cart where we picked a bouquet of three blooms (with proof of a Vogue subscription). Exotic tulips, ranunculus (aka Persian Buttercups), roses in the muted tones of fragile antique dresses.
• The crowd. A young blonde Vogue staffer wore faded vintage Levi's blue jeans with a nubby pink Chanel-style collarless jacket. You know the look.
• The charm bar! Oh, I longed to select a leather cord with beaded dangles and such, but it was $295, so I couldn't. Did you see this Vogue story about NYC shop cats and pendant necklaces? The second is a tassel necklace from Don’t Let Disco, the Brooklyn brand that ran this charm bar. The sterling silver Keeper Collar looked so good in person. Want.
• Swag to buy. I got a white ribbed tank with VOGUE in black. Not too pricey, size XL.
• Coffee bar. "Can You Spell Cappuccino," "The Glacial Pace Iced Coffee" and a bottle of vibrant "The Devil Drinks Red Juice." Smart nods to beloved "Devil Wears Prada" lines. A stylish man in a blue trench coat next to me on the flower cart line said the "Cerulean Blue Matcha" was good. 
• Dream pastry case. Instagram-worthy treats from Hani's Bakery in New York. Chic, layered Carrot Cake with Pineapple Ginger Jam and Brown Butter Buttercream, sea salt-dusted, saucer-size Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies that will not help you zip up your designer dress. Also: Cookie Butter Fudge Brownie. I got to chat with Miro Uskokovic, Hani's executive chef/owner. 

Remember, flowers, jewelry, coffee and desserts may not be Prada, but are all quite fashionable, too.

Fun with Celia in the Greatest City in the World

SMØR Bakery in the East Village, so close to where my friend Celia lives, in Stuyvesant Town, and just doors away from my brother John's apartment*. Who knew? Thanks, Celia, for taking me there. Photo by Karsten Moran for The New York Times. 

I took the train into Penn Station (the Moynihan Hall renovation is finally coming along) to meet my friend Celia for lunch in the East Village.

It's late, so I will do a punch list:

• Round trip NJ Transit train ride from Mountain Avenue Montclair only $7.15 for a senior. Bargain.
• Two subways, the E and the 6. Good to be back in the midst of things. Police presence, two friendly officers helped when I doublechecked that the uptown E would go to Astor Place.
• We ate at Little Poland, a restaurant not far from the Ukrainian hotspot Veselka (which was packed) on Second Avenue. They had little, freshly baked loaves of Easter bread by the register, $6 a pop. I got one for my family. I had Swedish meatballs, steamed carrots, red cabbage, potato pancake.
• Celia and I went to PlantShed on Second Ave. Gorgeous flowers (fat fuchsia roses on long stems), heavenly candles and lotions, tiny flowerpots, a nice cafe with good-looking pastries, such as  teddy bear financiers, and matcha coffee drinks. We just browsed, but I would like to go back.
• I realized my oldest brother, John, lives a block away. I called him, and then Celia and I popped by. He couldn't come out, but he looked much better than when I saw him last, in the hospital. I really like his neighborhood. We will be talking soon.
• SMØR Bakery on East 12th Street! Oh my goodness. I can't wait to return. Nordic, with hearty loaves, sandwiches, pastries etc.! The sesame sourdough rolls are SO GOOD, chewy and thoroughly seeded. Scandinavian-inspired space, shelves stocked with jarred herring, imported licorice bears and rich chocolate spread (like but not Nutella). Here is NY Times report. Smör/SMØR means "butter" in Swedish.
• Celia (who is Jewish) took me into Immaculate Conception Church on First Avenue. I think I've been there once before, but had forgotten. Good Friday liturgy....we caught a glimpse of the holy service, the procession, the crucifix swathed in crimson cloth, full pews for the 3 p.m. service. We didn't go in past the glass doors but saw beautiful statues in the alcove.
• MTA crosstown bus. Liked it.
• Dan had a poker game here with Michael, Dean, John and Gary tonight. It looked like fun. Dan is always happy when surrounded by his friends or his four older brothers.
• After driving Punchy to Fort Lee for a birthday party, I motored over to Whole Foods in West Orange for Easter basket treats for my family. Also pink tulips, lavender epsom salts, oat milk creamer, vegan butter, etc., delicious-looking mango-filled vegan cookies for Easter dessert that I can tell everyone will like.
• Car wouldn't start when I left Whole Foods. I had to call AAA; thank God we have it, and cell phones, too. Anthony came fast and towed our car back home, while I sat in the warm cab on a cold night. We also had to pay (a lot) to Uber Punch back from Fort Lee. We are hoping to get a new car soon. Figgy and her car were at her new apartment Friday.
• High stepping, with those subway steps, the NJ Transit train and getting up and down from Anthony's tow truck. (Back home, Dan was there to help me.) I am getting older. And for all the truth and beauty of life, that is sobering.

Good night to you.

*My other brother, Will, lives in a NYC apartment too. I am the baby of four.

Trying to Raise a Healthy Eater--When I Remember

 

This photo popped up in files on my laptop. It's from Punchy's first Thanksgiving in Maine after coming back to live with us at age 6 1/2. IDK why the flurries are moving, but I love that effect. I think it really was snowing that day. Punchy looks so cute but gosh, I look tired and I don't like my hair. Oh well, can't change the past.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET 

Items of interest

On Saturday morning, I took Punch for a quick sweep of the

Montclair Farmers' Market

• Ester's Treats--I preordered 2 generously sized vegan empanadas and 2 large, freshly made veggie burgers ($23) to try out for Figgy and Dan. Long, socially distanced line at Ester's table. Punch chose a brownie, a muffin and 2 smallish cookies. I put the muff and cookies in freezer. Total, $33.
• Pickle Licious, 1 quart crunchy new pickles, $8 + $1 tip jar, $9. 
• Coffee beans--Fair Trade and they smell sooooo good, one pound, $15. I really haven't been buying coffee out much anymore--between the pandemic, the price, the tip and the cup/lid wasting, I've been mostly brewing at home. I like to grind and brew the best beans, and enjoy with half and half or organic whole milk.
• Valley Shepherd Creamery, quart of chocolate milk, $4.
• Spoon Me Soups, large frozen Thai carrot coconut soup, I think $13.
• Microgreens, $5 for a tray of broccoli sprouts. Punch remembered loving how they were served on the avocado toast at Joyist....she put them on that and in a fruit smoothie. 

Catch-up--and Then Must Flatten/Punch Down the $$Dough Curve

Boy, this is a lot of info to record.

This food tracking reminds me of when I was a teenager on New Year's Eve--and, incidentally, slim, wearing slender brown jeans [yes, brown, I think a hand-me-down from my brother Will?]--and vowed to stop eating desserts/chocolate for the new year.

It was mainly a wish for better, Bonne Bell skin, no breakouts. Then, after the clock struck midnight, sweets would appear at the Bergaminis' lovely family party in New Rochelle, New York and my resolve was fleeting. The main attraction in the dining room was a local bakery treat that the Bergaminis, who had nine kids, called a meltaway--a Danish pastry with  a thick, buttery crumb top.

It would be easy to lose my resolve in recording all of this diary tracking on my blog, too. It is a big commitment.

Here is Wed/Thurs/Friday

TCOY

1. Figgy colored my hair.
2. Good facial care.
3. Taco night, thanks to Dan. Included fresh tomatoes and onions, ground turkey.
4. Thursday afternoon, sat in backyard for my call with therapist [Private Benjamin]. I was trying to emerge from a dark place and really didn't want to make the call at 3:30  pm. But I found wisdom, calm, perspective and compassion in that hour. And he and I heard the birds calling from the trees.
5. Walk with Dan, Sug and Punch on Thursday eve.
6. Spoke to P's counselor for help.
7. Walk in rain by myself on Friday eve.
8. Bought prepared vegs at good Italian store--broccoli w garlic, grilled and marinated artichokes.
9. Hot shower with Caffé Cacao Cellulite Scrub from Vesta! Felt good. Vesta brings local deliveries right to your door. 
10. Sitting on this couch for two+ hours and writing this post.

FOOD [really hard to remember the days after--jotted some down on Wed.]

Wednesday

• Iced coffee w half and half.
• Breakfast? oh, had to test one chilled lemon panna cotta in wedding china cup.
• lunch, leftover flounder, broccoli, rice.
• Individual Cozy Shack rice pudding.
• Some dark treats.
• Taco shell, ground turkey, cheese etc.
• Dark bark with low sugar, etc.
• Forget what else

Thursday

• Iced coffee w half and half.
• Split a prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula sandwich with Punch--curbside pickup from Sal's Gastronomia Cafe on Walnut Street.
• Made vegan beet brownies for Fig, with brown rice flour, pure maple syrup, dark cocoa. Had a couple with glass organic whole milk.
• Made broccoli-Swiss quiche for late lunch.
• Breakfast for dinner; 3 small pancakes, 3 pc. bacon, butter, pure maple syrup.
• Ritz crackers, cheese.
• Glass of organic whole milk.

Friday

• Coffee with whole milk.
• Late breakfast, 11:30, 4 small pancakes with butter and syrup.
• Late lunch, early dinner: Roast beef, melted Provolone, hot pepper sub.
• Some pasta with greens and sausage.
• Some sourdough bread with butter and some dunked in very good Italian pesto.
• Small chocolate croissant.
• Half of a small eggplant rollatini.
• Second coffee w whole milk.
• Another piece of beet brownie.
• Plan glass of local whole milk for nightcap.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

I received two payments. I paid the dentist a lot {we are still paying down a VERY BIG family bill, don't ask}. I caught up with payments to my therapist, which felt good. And of course a lot of the money went to our family bill account.

1. USPS.com, 2x Forever Earth Day stamps and some things I need as I plan Fig surprise, $44.
2. Sephora.com, 

Givenchy

Le Rouge Perfecto Beautifying Lip Balm in

01 Perfect Pink and  Lancôme HYPNÔSE DRAMA Instant Full Body Volume Mascara Excessive Black  I haven't worn makeup in about 8 weeks? except lipstick or lip balm. Want to define my eyes again. With free shipping, $68.77. 3. Araks.com, pretty white floral face mask for Sis, with 10 percent new shopper discount. Total with steep $10 shipping to Stamford, CT, $46.  I liked and Sis will like: In an effort to contribute to frontline workers’ safety and well being, for every face mask purchased, a medical-grade mask will be donated to a healthcare professional.  4. LottaJansdotter.com, two pop-of-color pillow covers from her pop-up sample sale shop, $59.71. Since Lotta lives down the block, curbside pickup. All profits go to a local Initiative here in Montclair called "Shield Our Heroes " Visit online shop: www.jansdotter.bigcartel.com 5. KINGS, I had an offer for free first delivery and filled my cart with 21 things the family will enjoy, from vegan to nonvegan to no-sugar-added, also large jug of Woolite and fancy Stonewall Kitchen Black Raspberry Jam, but with $8 tip, $182.06. Should arrive by early next week. 6. Rosario's, this place in town where foodies go for great Italian food and organic meats. I got a large organic marinated turkey flank (right word?); 4 organic housemade chicken sausages; large container mascarpone; broccoli w garlic; grilled and marinated artichokes; gnocchi; eggplant rollatini; large excellent housemade pesto; roast beef/hot pepper sub; large wedge imported Provolone; jar of capers. My family really enjoyed it, and plenty left for tomorrow. It was like eating out,--plus stocking up on ingredients--but a definite, infrequent splurge. $140.13. 7. Sweet Laurel in California, 3-pack of 100 percent cacao [no sugar] craft chocolate bars, plus shipping,  I love this label and this brand and have been waiting months to place an order. I love the bakery's aesthetic--roses on the labeling, flowers on the cakes. The shipping was really steep, $11, total $47.19. The Cake Shop is located on Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades....wow. 8. VESTA Chocolate, jar of homespun cacao cellulite scrub, other dark treats, free delivery, $53.31. Honestly trying to keep my fave Montclair small businesses afloat with orders here and there.

Total spend for 3 days: $639.11.

Ongoing monthly spend as of May 8: $859.25.

Avg daily spend: $107.41.

________________________________________________

Keep an eye on/compare to previous months:

April: Total monthly spend: $2,143.19.
Avg daily spend: $71.44.

March--the effect of coronavirus quarantine and not working in NYC for now

Total monthly spend as of March 31: $1,916.15.

Avg daily spend: $61.81.

February

Total monthly spend as of Feb. 29: $2,480.34.
Avg daily spend: $85.53.

January

Total monthly spend as of Jan 31: $3,063.60.

Avg daily spend: $98.83.

December 2019 [Christmas and all that entails]

Total monthly spend as of Dec. 31: $3,998.16. 

Avg daily spend: $128.97. 

November

Total spend for November (30 days): $2,979.03. 

Average daily spend: $99.30. 

October

Total spend for OCTOBER 31 days: $2,495.36.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $80.49.

September

TOTAL SPEND FOR SEPTEMBER (30 DAYS): $2,214.43.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $73.81.

August

TOTAL SPEND FOR AUGUST (31 DAYS/PLUS VACAY IN HERE): $2,895.06. ⬆️

AUGUST AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $93.39.  ⬆️

Friday & Saturday Spend

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET, two days

• Duane Reade, small Vaseline and one 3 oz. dark chocolate bar, $10.
• Cafeteria lunch, $7.50.
• Berries from street fruit man, 3 half-pints raspberries, 1 half-pint blackberries, $8. Much less than ordinary price I pay at supermarket, and still in good fresh shape.
• One pint heavy cream from NYC corner deli, much more than ordinary price I pay, $5. I was just glad they had it so I could get everything on the way to work and put it in the fridge. I got off bus in rainstorm in the dark and whipped up berries and cream for Friday-night Christmas party.
• Refill subway MetroCard, $6.
• Bus ticket, about $7.85.
• Joyist, back to my Joyist, fresh hummus; tall cup strawberries w vegan chocolate sauce to bring Fig; one Hu dark chocolate mint bar, which I got for free, thanks to rewards card, $13.
• One slice pizza and one Diet Snapple, plus tip, $7.
• Little Daisy Bake Shop, five large, rich  brownies, each cut into 4 squares, to bring to CCD class tomorrow for holiday party, plus $1 tip, about $19.70.
• CVS, lavender epsom salts and toothpaste, $9.75.
• 212 Salon, Christina's best blowout, $35, and Kim's perfect pedicure, $35, this time with silver glitter over red, plus tips for Christina and Kim and Ani, shampoo person, $90.
• Money to put toward coat, PJs, sweater, scarf set for our adopted families, $75.

TOTAL SPEND OUT OF POCKET FOR 2 DAYS: $258.80.

ONGOING SPEND AS OF DECEMBER 14: $2,140.93.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $152.92.

TGIF, in a Big Way

TCOY

1. Been loving Gwyneth Paltrow’s pink Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo in jar. Goop.com. Natural, and scalp and hair are so clean. The whip smells so good and feels invigorating. I was not paid or enticed to say that.
2. Water.
3. Shorter walk. Tired by Friday.
4. Big, generous Thanksgiving feast at work. Had 2 small portions homemade desserts but skipped store-bought even though they looked v. good. So now tomorrow is clean sugar start again. The food was abundant and delicious.
5. Going to movie w Dan. [Mimi got Punch after school today.]
6. Planning to learn how to master bread. Hot Bread 🥖 Kitchen Cookbook arrived and I’ve been reading it on bus.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Bag of Bugles snacks, $2.99.
• Friday's, drinks with Dan before movie started, plus tip, $25.38.

Total daily spend: $28.37.

Ongoing monthly spend with all except coat added now: $2,340.28.

Average daily spend: $106.38.

This is high. But since Oct. 21, my monthly spend has included round-trip daily bus fare of $13.90; subway fare one or two ways per day [I try to walk back but am sometimes too tired or need to get home to Punch faster]; and some work accessories, such as Wolford tights; a modern lipstick; and better-quality reading glasses.

COMPARE TO 3 PRIOR MONTHS:

TOTAL SPEND FOR OCTOBER (31 DAYS): $2,495.36.🍎 ⬆️

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $80.49.🍎 ⬆️

_____________________________________________________________________

TOTAL SPEND FOR SEPTEMBER (30 DAYS): $2,214.43.🍎⬇️

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $73.81.🍎⬇️

_______________________________________________________________________________

TOTAL SPEND FOR AUGUST (31 DAYS): $2,895.06. ⬆️

AUGUST AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $93.39.  ⬆️

Back to Day 1 Again/The Cakes Called My Name

I didn't post last night because I was so tired. It was our block's 45th annual party--the first was in 1974. I was a teenager living north of here in Dumont, where I didn't know of block parties. Dan and I bought our home 25 years ago, in November 1994. Figgy was born nine months later. Punchy came into the picture in 2007.

I've been running the bake-off for years, and people count on it. Since I've chosen to detour from the Sugar Road, we did pizza this year. (Party planner Heather's idea.) I also try to avoid that, but planned to indulge--you have got to see this stuff.

Nick finished his pizza on his backyard grill; Nate brought a prosciutto/fig jam/goat cheese/balsamic glaze wonder. We had Punch and Vaurie's Tropical Storm Dessert Pizza, a pineapple upside-down number that caught their eyes online; Beth's grilled veggie; Iam's two deep dish, one with meat, one with veggies; John's vegan [amazing]; Lee's veggie with pesto; young Sam's two, one with capers and olives; and Liliana's cauliflower crust with soy cheese and her adult-entry winner, Best of Montclair, a rectangular "grandma" pie with fresh mozzarella from Rosario's, sauce from Cucina 98 on Walnut Street, her husband Michael's homegrown basil, and dough from Whole Foods. 

Punch and Vaurie won for ages 13 and under and were proud. Their apple crisp didn't take the prize last year in our APPLE OF MY EYE contest.

Picture floral tablecloths, fresh garden flowers, shiny kitchen tool gifts for every entrant, cute pins made by neighborhood artist Maiko for four judges and me/George/Catherine. We three coordinated the event and our pins said UPPER CRUST. George tallies the numbers. Catherine cut the portions and brought a pitcher of ice water for the judges. Dan and I donated two $15 gift card prizes. Our neighbor, Peter, pitched in the great stainless-steel utensils for entrants. They were from his business and included kick-ass pizza cutters, spatulas, spoons, etc.

Our house is up the hill, so it's a lot of trips up and down with supplies, etc. Dan and Fig helped, but it was still tiring. And my friend Amalia made two trips up for me!

The bake-off is a highlight; kids and adults enter. But we also have an ancient tug-of-war rope that's been passed down, barricades to close the streets so kids can run free, pinatas, a bubble machine and music!  And this year, two nice new neighbors, a married couple--both young, handsome men--hired a bounce house. It was amazing.

Those two generous fellows, Mark and Derek (sp), also brought a chocolate layer cake with thick vanilla frosting in a white bakery box from Little Daisy Bake Shop. Meg brought a rich chocolate on chocolate layer cake with the words BLOCK PARTY on top. And someone baked an excellent rich yogurt pound cake. I decided on the spot that I would indulge and start my day count again today. I don't think I regret this decision--if it can remain an isolated incident.

It was the little girl in me, the one who helped her mother bake Duncan Hines cake--the one who had her own miniature cake pan. Cake was honored in our family, a treat when we had it.

Onward. That's over, as my friend Jane would say. It doesn't help that I saw a picture of myself. I hadn't taken time to do hair and makeup. I looked heavy--and doughy. Did not like that.

After the party, Punch always says, I think we should do this twice a year.

TCOY for yesterday and today; Monday is new Day 1 off Sugar Road 

1. Mass.
2. Oats with fruit before bake-off. Probably filled me up a bit but not enuf to crowd out cake!
3. Water. If I drank alcohol at party, would have been even more off course.
4. Asked for help--from Dan, Fig, Punch, Amalia, Catherine, others. And requested clean-up help ahead of time on neighborhood list serve and Facebook group. Many people pitched in.
5. Biked to and from bank Monday.
6. Cleaned up my act. Fresh peach; Greek salad; chicken cutlets; artichokes.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Sunday, Kings, fresh pineapple and maraschino cherries for girls' Tropical Storm Dessert Pizza; dog treats; and paper plates for bake-off. $19.19.
• Monday, Kings, freshly breaded chicken cutlets, Greek salad, Palmolive dish soap, dog food x2, 1/2 pint heavy cream and 1/2 gallon whole milk [dairy products not organic, since only had $20.50 on me]. $19.91.

TOTAL DAILY SPEND Sunday: $19.19.
TOTAL DAILY SPEND Monday: $19.91. 
RUNNING TOTAL FOR MONTH AS OF SEPTEMBER 23: $1,714.86.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND SO FAR: $74.56.

Compare to last month:

TOTAL SPEND FOR MONTH OF AUGUST: $2,895.06. ⬆️

AUGUST AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $93.39.  ⬆️

Big-ticket 🎟🎟 September spends:

🎟 Citarella at Hudson Yards, NYC, dinner; plus fresh fruit, etc. to bring home, $35.

🎟 Whole Foods, groceries, including present for Fig and big yellow mum plant, $84.

🎟 Whole Foods, groceries, including salmon for dinner and an iced coffee from the barista, $63.

🎟 ShopRite, groceries, laundry detergent etc., $50.

🎟 Sky Zone [worth it, Punchy went with her nice friends], $25.

🎟 Joyist, $29.

🎟 Kings, groceries, $46.

🎟 Piazza della Sole, comfy, high-end shoes, half-price, $90.
🎟 Gasoline, twice, $52.
🎟 Chinese lunch with Sis, $33.
🎟 Grocery shopping in Connecticut w Sis, $48.
🎟 CPAP dr. co-pay, specialist, $50.
🎟 Whole Foods again, including 3-pack soy candles, pound smoked salmon and Hydro Flask for Punch, $166.
🎟  Jackie's Grillette treat, casual dinner and soft drinks for three, plus tip, about $45.
🎟 Salon 212 blowout plus tips for job hunting Friday, $45.
🎟 Kings, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella for women's group platter, $58.
🎟 CVS, melatonin gummies, milk, Listerine, $30.
🎟 Kings, 1/2 gallon organic milk, 1/2 gallon oat milk, yellow baby potatoes, teriyaki sauce, Cabot shredded cheese, fresh black figs, 1.38 lb flank steak, etc, $48.
🎟 Kings again, groceries, $39.
🎟 Chez Josephine dinner with Candy and Allegra, $60.
🎟 Duane Reade, emergency makeup in Port Authority, $25.
🎟 Prize donation for pizza bake-off, 2 gift cards, total $30.
🎟 ShopRite, bake-off ingredients for girls plus a lot of groceries, $84.
🎟 Healthy Friday afternoon Joyist for Punch, Figgy and me, plus metal straw with cleaning brush, $33.
🎟 Kings, coffee beans x 2 plus other groceries, $34.

Update, Hospital Food [Carb Loading] & Shopping

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• NYU Medical Center Cafeteria: crustless round quiche, $5.50; 2 small sausage links, $2.50; everything bagel, $1.75; smoked salmon [they gave me A LOT], $4.40; cream cheese, $1; tomato, 30 cents; and then back a second time for large coffee, $2.60 and bag of Financier Patisserie brand mini Coconut Rochers, small macaroons dipped in dark chocolate, $5.50. I saved half the bagel with lox--and of course half the bag of Coconut Rochers--for later. Total for two bills, $25.44. Please note, assuming this is the same size bag as the one on the patisserie website, the hospital gives a discount. On the website, $7.85. It's nice to know a hospital gives a discount on something. Though I have to say this place seems impeccable--in terms of service, staff, organization, branding [including purple color], cleanliness, comfort and more. Sis worked for NYU [prosthetics research] for more than 30 years.
• Amazon, as I sat in the waiting room. The Jackie Kennedy book for my next boot camp book club [book camp] meeting; Ruth Reichl's latest memoir about editing Gourmet Magazine [required reading for a magazine staffer and magazine lover like me]; monogrammed Lilly Pulitzer case for my iPhone 6 [my case is ragged]; and a Maida Heatter book that looked like a must. Total, $65.16. Here are the items. Check that phone case! 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hospital gift shop. Beautiful low rose arrangement in small stoneware vessel for Sis; card; box of Li-Lac French Chocolates in lovely lavender floral box; a pair of Peepers reading glasses for me; and bag Australian black licorice, including steep NYC local sales tax of 8.875 percent [$9.01], $110.51. Flowers, card and chocolates for Sis from me, Dan, Fig, Punch and Sugar.

• Cafeteria, bottle of water, cup of ice, dark Toblerone bar, muffin, small bag chips, Illy coffee made from freshly ground beans, $13.40. 

TOTAL DAILY SPEND: $214.51.

MONTHLY SPEND AS OF MAY 9: $1,012.35.

AVERAGE DAILY SPEND: $112.48.

Money thoughts: Geez, I am tired and spending the night in hospital with Sis. We rose 5:15 a.m. and left 6:30 a.m with me driving from CT; got to NYU on First Avenue by 8 a.m. You can see that I bought a lot of carbohydrates, I think partly for fuel and partly an attempt to buffer stress. But the surgery went well, good outcome.

I also took my waiting-room opportunity to pay the $400 balance owed for Punchy's week of summer camp at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, but not listing that here. The week of day camp for $450 in my favorite place on earth would normally be $500 total but since we are Audubon members, $50 savings.

Digging into April

Busy with work assignments for two magazines....

Tricky to job hunt and meet writing deadlines, but balancing as best I can when I can....

Drove with my friend Rach to lovely Chatham, NJ to pick up her repaired car....couldn't resist checking out a highly rated coffee place/gluten-free bakery in nearby Short Hills. Squirrel & the Bee Grainless Bake Shop was a 10 min. drive from the garage.

As always, fun to explore another town or neighborhood.

Signing off early here, but not from my work.

$ MONEY SPENT OUT OF POCKET

• Starbucks app, grande iced Mango Dragonfruit Refreshers beverage for Punch, free with rewards earned on app.
• Joyist, nice organic latte with fabulously thick, spoonable foam on top, free. That's because in February, I signed up for the fundraiser to support women-owned businesses and paid $40 for a week of unlimited coffee. I'm entitled to as many cups as I can drink for 7 days, and have a cool card that says so.
• Squirrel & the Bee, book called Wheat Belly, by William Davis, MD--I want to read about this, since I often think I have a baker's white flour belly. The book also includes some great-looking recipes for GF baked goods that I look forward to trying. With tax, $14.96.
• Same place, breakfast sandwich for me and pack of delicious vegan, chocolate-covered Sweet Potato Bee Bites that Fig, Rach & I loved. Together, w $1 tip, $16.50.
• I don't think I'm going to include this in my monthly total....but maybe I should, since I did include Sugar's vet visits last month...Fig and Punch have Mochi, that tiny hand-me-down hamster they love, and he developed a lot of bald spots....the vet appt, counting meds and bloodwork, was $187.19. Vet thinks he has ringworm. Oh hell, I guess I will be scrupulous and include it. But we intend to collect some money from both girls for this astronomical fee for a baby fur puff. So when we do, will subtract from here. Ok, Fig quick-paid me $30 day later so I'm reducing our vet payment to $157.19 so far.
• Parking meters, Short Hills and Montclair, $3.25.
• Raymond's, classic club sandwich and large ice water plus $3 tip, $18.46.

DAILY TOTAL: $210.36.
MONTHLY SPEND AS OF APRIL 2:  $235.02.
AVERAGE DAILY SPEND SO FAR THIS MONTH: $117.51.