Hitha On The Go | Living The Good Life, On The Go. (c) 2009-2011

April 13, 2012

Obsessions – April 2012

A few things I’m obsessed with this month…

As a major Gilt fan, I’m very excited to read the story behind the site – By Invitation Only was just released yesterday. What Remains is the memoir of Carole Radziwill, daughter-in-law of Lee Radziwill (sister to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) and the newest Real Housewife of NYC – the book is compelling and heartbreaking all at the same time, and fully worth reading. Curling up with a cup of tea and a glossy photography book has been my favorite afternoon break, and I love the portraits in Vogue photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank’s American Beauty.

My husband is an avid reader of The Economist, but I have a hard time reading it every week. Listening to it on the iPad version is much, much easier. The Naked and Famous is a recently discovered band, and their album Passive Me, Aggressive You is one I’ve been listening to on repeat. Sunny days call for bossa nova, and there’s no one who does it better than Astrud Gilberto.

I’ve outlined my love for The Daily Show here, and am still as addicted as before. MSNBC has been playing in the background during my work-from-home days. I’m newly addicted to Smash (way better than Glee) and Scandal – total brain candy goodness.

My vintage kick has resurged with a vengeance – I blame you, Mad Men. Whether it’s nightgowns or yellow clothes from the 60s, I’ve been buying it up like its my job. I’ve been wearing this necklace (in silver) nonstop – it goes with everything.

As spring has arrived, so has new bedding from west elm – loving the Lexington quilt and shams on my bed. These suction hooks are holding up my pots and pans above my stove, making my teensy kitchen even more functional. I’ve stocked up on these Diptyque mini candles and placed them throughout the apartment, making my home smell delicious.

As always, I have a wish list (ahem, husband – birthday is in a few months). Having no rose gold items, I’m looking to stock up with them in a big way – this Michael Kors watch and these Sperry topsiders are a nice start, I think. And how gorgeous are these Kendra Scott earrings? It’s the perfect piece of jewelry for summer, in my opinion.

What are you obsessed with this month?

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Tagged as 60's vintage, Aggressive You, American Beauty, Astrud Gilberto, Bauble Bar, By Invitation Only, Diptyque candles, Kendra Scott earrings, Michael Kors watch, MSNBC, Passive Me, Scandal, Smash, Sperry topsiders, Suction hooks, The Daily Show, The Economist, The Naked and Famous, vintage clothing, vintage nightgown, west elm bedding, What Remains

April 10, 2012

Tostadas, Two Ways

I have an unhealthy obsession with Mexican food.

Well, Mexican fast food.

Actually…Taco Bell (don’t judge).

But I don’t trust a single establishment in NYC. So as Cervantes said, “necessity urges desperate measures.” And I came up with my own, healthy, version – for breakfast, and for lunch/dinner. Enjoy.

Breakfast Tostada
Ingredients:
1 corn tortilla
1 can black beans, rinsed
Three egg whites
Salsa
Shredded Mexican Cheese

Directions:
Crisp the tortillas – place in microwave and cook for a minute, flip and cook for another minute.
Cook the black beans on a stovetop, and puree using an immersion blender or in a blender/food processor once cooled.
Scramble eggs on the stovetop.
Spoon and spread a layer of black beans on the crisped tortilla, add eggs, and top with salsa and cheese

Lunch/Dinner Tostadas
Ingredients:
Corn tortillas
1 can black beans, rinsed
Avocado, sliced
Salsa (or for an extra kick, Sriracha sauce)

Directions:
Prepare the corn tortillas and beans as outlined below
Spread black beans on tortilla, add avocado slices, and top with hot sauce

And enjoy!

At Home – Kitchen

Something I haven’t done much of, on this blog, is show my home – and that’s because there isn’t much to show. My husband and I live in a 600 sq alcove studio in New York City, and our kitchen is a part of a larger kitchen-dining-living-room-office that we spent the majority of our time in. That said, it is our little slice of Manhattan, and I love our little home dearly. The kitchen area is one of my particular favorites – especially all the grains and spices in their individual jars, the glassware and barware holding court in the open shelves, and my toys (appliances, gadgets, sharp objects, oh my!) I spent a lot of time puttering in this corner of our home, whether it’s to prepare dinner or a simple cup of tea. I hope you enjoy seeing it – I certainly enjoy spending my time here.

- I love this Lazy Susan – both the crazy pattern (fun) and easy access to all my condiments (function) -

- Small spaces have to be functional – tea resides near the kettle, and right near breakfast grains for early mornings -

- I have a random obsession with pigs – this little guy keeps me company in the kitchen -

- Every jar has its own chalkboard top – a fun DIY project for a rainy weekend -

Like every home, this room is a constant work in progress and has had more changes since I photographed it. But that’s what makes a house a home, right? Let me know if you’d like to see more photographs of our humble abode – I would love to share them!

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Tagged as Chalkboard DIY, DIY for kitchen, Kitchen decor, Kitchen organization, Kitchen storage, Spice jars

April 5, 2012

How To: Take a Great Passport Picture

I’m no stranger to getting my passport picture taken – especially as of late. Between having to get an expedited passport last December, get my OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) booklet replaced (multiple times, ouch) and apply for my Russian visa, I’ve been a regular fixture at my local CVS’ photography counter. And my many visits have taught me something I’ve been struggling with since I was 3 months old -taking a great passport picture.

- last year’s picture on the left, this year’s picture on the right -

Here are my tips:

Get your picture taken after a hair appointment. Freshly styled locks go a long way in getting a great photograph.

Go when the photographer isn’t busy – and don’t be afraid to get multiple pictures. Seeing as you have to live with your passport for 10 years, it’s worth the extra five minutes to take a better picture.

Keep your makeup natural. Who gets off the plane with a bold red lip and a smoky eye (and isn’t J.Lo)?

Bring a piece of aluminum foil and place it on your lap, or hold it at hip-level when your picture is being taken. The foil acts as a reflector and helps improve the fluorescent light’s unforgiving effects on the picture.

RE-TOUCH. I just discovered that my beloved CVS will do this – if you ask. So ask.

Wear a neutral, dark color – black, brown, or gray. White and pale colors blend into the background, causing you to suffer from floating head syndrome.

SMIZE. You are supposed to have a neutral, non-smiling expression (according t0 all the applications I’ve read recently). But a scowl is not exactly pretty – so smize. Relax your face and think about something funny (my favorite memory is my nephew’s Hindu Homies rap). And touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth – it firms the skin under your chin, helping alleviate multiple-chin-syndrome.

What tips/tricks do you have for taking a great passport picture? Share in the comments below.

DIY – Jeweled Heels

I’m a tough chick. I brush off scraped knees and quickly bandage cuts as they (too often) occur. However, I do shed a tear for certain things:

- when I find my peanut butter jar is empty (and still sitting in the pantry)
- when my favorite restaurants stop delivering to me (damn you Qdoba!)
- when a beloved pair of heels is all but dead.

In terms of the last – my beloved black Ivanka Trump pumps were pretty much dead. And while I have three other pairs, I wasn’t ready to send these to the Land of Soleless Shoes. Rather, I promptly purchased supplies off Amazon and got my DIY on a particularly gross Saturday afternoon.

A few hours later, my shoes were revived – as was my heart. Here’s how you can do the same: