Sandwiches of New York #9

What is it? Cuban Sandwich.

Where's it from? Habana To Go, 229 Elizabeth Street, Soho. cafehabana.com

How much does it cost? $9.75 (plus tax)

What's in it? Roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickle, chipotle mayonnaise on a toasted Cuban roll.

Habana To Go sits next door to it's 'mother restaurant' Cafe Habana in the heart of busy Soho. Cafe Habana is an atmospheric diner selling mostly Cuban and Mexican inspired food. Cafe Habana is an informal spot that is always busy, it has been a  Soho fixture since 1997. 

Habana To Go has the same menu as Cafe Habana but doesn't have a liquor licence. It is a simple set up with a counter where you order your food and drinks, a long counter with stool seating in front of the window, a couple of tables and some benches outside. It's more of a take out spot than the cafe next door, with it's disposable dish wear, plastic cutlery and glasses, but it's almost always less busy and less cramped.

In the style of a diner there's an impressively large menu served from a small space including a good range of sandwiches, burritos, tacos, burgers, soups, salads and main courses along with side dishes, hot and cold drinks and homemade cookies.

The grilled corn here is famous and I love their iced hibiscus tea but the star of the show and their standout item for me is the Cuban sandwich. The marinated roast pork is delicately flavoured with herbs and citrus and is extremely tender and the other components complement each other perfectly. I particularly like the way the sweet vinegaryness of the pickle balances the richness of the meat and cheeses. 

I hate 'fluff' in the center of breads so I'm always very appreciative of a Cuban roll that flattens out and become all crust when weighted and grilled. My sandwich was nicely grilled so it was crisp and crunchy but not hard or dry. 

This is a hearty sandwich. There's a lot of meat inside and although I ate all of mine (because it was delicious!) you could easily split this between two people and have it with a side dish (or two). 

I'm not a regular customer here but I've been eating Habana's Cubanos a couple of times a year ever since they opened and I always enjoy them - I think that they are a bit of a New York classic. It's well worth stopping by here if ever you are in the neighbourhood looking for a casual bite to eat.   

   

Eggshells.

Eggshells is the story of Vivienne, a grown woman who thinks like a child. 

Vivienne is an adult orphan who has been bequeathed her Great Aunt's house in Dublin. She lives there alone and spends her days roaming the streets of the city center with her notebooks collecting words. Vivienne thinks differently from other people and is incredibly awkward in any social setting. Her quest for a friendship, a series of everyday encounters with other people, and her lists of words form the core of this character driven book.

I enjoyed the style of writing in Eggshells, it was very lyrical and it made great use of words and language but other than documenting Vivienne's daily outings and interactions nothing at all happens. What began as quirky and endearing soon became repetitive and the book lost it's charm.

There are a couple of very funny passages in the book and it was written in a way that was very unique but it's hard to write a convincing novel that has no real storyline or character progression.

 I had been in two minds as to whether I should read this or not and ultimately it disappointed me - Eggshells was a book that I was glad to finish. 

Current Skincare Routine: Evening.

As with my morning skincare, my nighttime skincare choices have become pretty, well, routine of late. I've been reaching for pretty much the same things most days, again partly because my skin is in a good place and seems to be happy with the current mix of products and also because in an effort to reduce my stash I'm trying to be consistent with what I use rather than having several pots of the same stuff open all at the same time as has been my wont in the past.

Here's a look at the products I'm reaching for most nights right now:

Darphin Eye Make Up Remover Solution.

I remove my eye make up with a separate remover before I cleanse. Always have done, always will, as I don't like it when my eye make up smears over my face. I'm pretty fussy about my eye make up remover: I don't want anything that stings or irritates my eyes (obvs), I don't want anything that I have to drag or scrub over my eyes (again obvs) and I don't want anything that dries out my eye area but I can't use anything that leaves a greasy film around my eyes and makes my vision blurry. This has been ticking all my boxes and, although it's not the cheapest, this bottle has lasted me for ages

Soap & Glory The Ultimelt.

Lately I've been trying to use something that isn't super expensive for my first cleanse/taking off my make up. The Ultimelt does a good job of dissolving make up, rinses off easily, doesn't irritate my skin, smells and feels lovely and is very affordable. This won't be for you if you have any sensitivity to essential oils but if you are good with them give it a try. I've been very impressed, sometimes even using this for my second cleanse as well.

Darphin Aromatic Cleansing Balm.

I've been using this exclusively as a second cleanse, It's far too good to waste on taking off make up, this is something I want directly on my skin. This feels truly indulgent - it smells divine and is a lovely consistency for facial massage, it leaves my skin feeling softened - even the packaging of this is luxe. Again it's not for those with sensitivity to essential oils and you do need to emulsify this with water to remove it properly but overall it's fabulous and a real treat for your skin.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Night Pads Extreme.

Once or twice a week I will use a stronger acid peel or mask but the rest of the time I have been happily using these. Don't mind their rather dramatic name, they aren't very extreme at all. With 5% glycolic acid they are mild enough for me to use everyday. I like the convenience of a pre soaked pad, along with the fact that I can easily pick these up at the drugstore for a very reasonable price.

La Roche Posay Serozinc.

After any sort of exfoliate or treatment I like to treat my skin to a hydrating spritz of something. At the moment it's Serozinc which feels soothing and refreshing and helps balance my oily t-zone.

Sunday Riley Good Genes.

I've written many many times about Good Genes. My skin looks smoother, brighter and somehow more illuminated whenever I use this as my serum. I almost always use this as my night time serum - it is probably my favourite ever skin care product. A couple of times a week I will use a retinol product instead, currently Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM, but I much prefer this to anything else.

Darphin Wrinkle Corrective Eye Contour Cream.

This is a lovely thick rich cream that sinks in readily without leaving my eye area feeling greasy. I prefer a lighter cream during the day when I'm going to put make up on top but at night I'm quite happy to use something a little heavier. This hydrates my skin well and makes my eye area look smoother.

Aurelia Cell Repair Night Oil.

This is such a nice facial oil! I like to use this on nights when my skin needs soothing or feels a little tight or dry. This is another wonderfully scented product (and again perhaps not for everyone as it contains lavender oil). As well as being a sensory treat I find that this absorbs very well and it leaves my skin feeling softer.

Zelens 3t Complex.

If I'm not using oil on top of my serum I'm using this! It's a truly luxurious cream (yes it's expensive!) with a whole host of ingredients (some naturally derived some not) that feels extremely nourishing. This plumps my skin and makes my face look radiant and sculpted. I'm sort of gutted that I like this so much as it is out of my normal price range but I'm enjoying using this immensely whilst I have it!

I'm sure that as the weather warms up and I finish products that my night time routine will change but for now I am loving this combination of products and my skin is too!

Current Skincare Routine: Morning.

I'm not the sort of person who does things habitually, I like to be quite spontaneous in all aspects of my life including skincare routines. Over the last few years I have become used to having a wide range of products on the go all at the same time and really mixing up my skincare on a day to day basis.

 Recently I have found my routines have become more standard and I have been reaching for the same things time and time again. Part of this I think is due to the fact that I am trying to work my way through my stash so I am trying to use a product up before I open something similar and part of it is due to the fact that I'm happy with the state of my skin right now. (Although there are inevitably days when somewhere there is something that is a little problematic and I need to swop out one of my regulars for something more targeted...)

Here's a look at what I'm using nine mornings out of ten right now:

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip.

Ceramic Slip is one of those products that I seem to keep coming back to. It feels lovely and refreshing in the morning and as someone who can get a little, shall we say, shiny as the day goes by, I find the clay in this very beneficial as it helps to balance my t-zone. It's not the cheapest cleanser out there but I find that a bottle lasts a long time. I will definitely be getting another bottle of this when this one runs out.

Dr Haushka Facial Toner.

I skip an exfoliating toner in the morning but I do like a spray or a swipe of something cooling to add a little moisture before I put on a serum. I'm not particularly loyal when it comes to this sort of toner but I'm currently enjoying this one by Dr Haushka which smells like geraniums.

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst Quenching Serum.

This is one of my favourite serums. It is very lightweight yet intensely hydrating as it contains hyaluronic acid. If your skin is extremely dry or if you are flying you can slather this on for a boost of hydration. This feels very soothing and gentle on my skin and never makes me break out.   

Somme Institute Eye.

This eye cream feels lightweight and absorbs very well, plumping the eye area without leaving my lids feeling greasy.  It's a good all round eye cream that's ideal for use during the day.

(I'm expecting this to run out any day now as I have been using it for some time - it's in one of those annoying pumps where you cannot tell how much is left. When it does I have Darphin Stimulskin Plus Eye Cream to use.)

Algenist Regenerative Anti Aging Moisturiser SPF20.

I've been using this to top everything off on days when it's not too sunny or when I'm going to be inside for most of the day. It's not at all greasy or heavy feeling and leaves my skin smooth and ready for make up.

Alpha H Daily Essential Moisturiser SPF50.

On sunnier days I'm using this as my daily moisturiser. I'm very fussy about the feel of sunscreen on my face and so many of them make me break out. This one doesn't and it has no white cast to it, it feels so much more like a moisturiser rather than a sunscreen. I love this and use it every summer.

And that's more or less my current morning routine.

Next up my night time routine...

The Keeper of Lost Things.

On the day that Anthony Peardew loses a lucky talisman his Fiancee dies in a tragic accident. Convinced that the two events are connected Anthony makes it his life's work to collect and catalogue lost things (however small) in the hope that their owners may one day be reunited with them. 

When Anthony dies his housekeeper, Laura, inherits his home and the collection of lost things with the understanding that she will try to find the owners of these objects.

The Keeper of Lost Things is complexly plotted with several intertwined story lines as well as what are almost short stories as the author tells the stories of how certain objects became lost. The story lines are well laid out and its impressive how they are all woven together.

 I have to confess to being a little conflicted about this book. I did find it to be an enjoyable read with a real 'feel good factor' and a happy ending. It is enchantingly written but at times it is almost too sweet and too twee. 

The story is not very believable but it's fiction so I'm willing to overlook that but what jarred when I read this was that it was (mostly) set in the present day and this present day setting didn't seem to fit in with either the characters or the story. I also found much of the humour in the book to be a little awkward which made it feel forced. 

Overall, The Keeper of Lost Things is a good book but I think it simply isn't the sort of tale that I would normally read. If, however, you enjoy quirky, light hearted love stories with a sprinkle of magic and mystery and a touch of nostalgia then The Keeper of Lost Things will be right up your street! 

A Small Beauty Restock #3.

February and March saw me topping up my already groaning beauty shelves as I took advantage of some great GWP offers and although I honestly don't need any more products there have been a few things that I spotted that were too much of a bargain to pass by and a Space NK gift card that was burning a hole in my pocket to redeem. Here's a quick look at some recent purchases...  

Diptyque Eau Duelle is a warm spicy vanilla scent that I love. I finished a bottle of this a couple of years ago and didn't restock it at that point but a few recent samples reminded me of just how much I love it. I find this to be very easy to wear, it lasts on my skin without being heavy or overpowering. It's soft but also a little sultry and I find it to be a fragrance that you can wear year round whether you are dressed up or dressed down. I'm very happy to have this back on my shelf!

Hourglass Girl Lip Stylo in the shade 'Activist'. I already have too many lip products but when I tested these new offerings from Hourglass during a rainy afternoon browsing in Sephora I wanted one badly! These are like Clinique Chubby Stick's grown up sister, a twist up soft lip crayon that glides on easily, supplies a good jolt of long lasting pigment and dries to a semi matte finish. They contain shea butter and jojoba oil so they feel comfortable and non drying on my lips. If you are obsessive about good packaging these will please you no end - hefty and solid feeling, they close with a deeply satisfying click.

Rodial Glamtox Cleansing Balm. I had a large sample of this lemony scented cleansing balm some time ago and liked it a lot so when I saw it in the sale section of the Space NK website I had to add it to my basket. It's a thick balm that breaks down make up very effectively and as it warms up it becomes the perfect consistency for facial massage. It rinses away easily which is one of my must have requirements for a balm and it works so well that you only need to use a tiny amount of it.

Rodial Glamtox Night. I spied this in TJ Maxx mere days after I bought the Glamtox Cleansing Balm so of course I had to pick it up and take it home! I've not cracked this open yet but it is a gel cream containing Vitamin C and Retinol that says it will firm and brighten skin as well as reducing the appearance of pores and deep set wrinkles. I'm excited to try this out when I finish up my current retinol product.

Korres Body Butter Cassis Fig is another item I picked up in TJ Maxx. Personally I consider these to be more of a body cream than a body butter. With a base of sweet almond oil this feels lightweight and absorbs easily leaving my skin soft and perfumed. I can smell both fig and blackcurrant notes in this cream but it's not too fruity, it has a powdery edge. I'm planning to use this whenever I wear Diptyque Phylsikos Perfume as I think that they will complement each other very well. 

Sephora Express Eye Make Up Remover Wipes. I bought a couple of packets of these wipes from Sephora as I find them to be so handy to use when traveling and they only cost $5.00. Packaged in individual sachets they are easy to transport and they do a good job of removing even waterproof make up. I don't get really excited by these but they are just so darn useful!

Smith's Rosebud Salve. How cute is Smith's Rosebud Salve? I love the packaging of this - retro and practical it reminds me of something that you would find in a country store. Basically it is petroleum jelly with a few additions that make it light in texture, pink in colour and scented of roses. I bought this when I was away and ran out of lip balm but I have been using it on my cuticles as well. I can see this becoming a repurchase!

Soap and Glory Ultimelt. I needed an inexpensive creamy cleanser to remove make up and saw a three for two offer on Soap & Glory at the drugstore so I bought my first ever tube of Ultimelt. It  contains essential oils and smells of lavender and chamomile which is a lovely relaxing scent at the end of a long day. I find it does a fantastic job of removing make up and rinses off easily leaving my skin feeling clean and soft.  I like the fun packaging of this - it looks like a giant tube of toothpaste. (Oh, and of course I didn't but three tubes of this! The other two items I bought as part of the offer were giant bottles of Rich and Foamous Body Wash and Smoothie Star Body Milk. They both smell delicious with almond based scents that have notes of vanilla, honey and sugar.)

 I'm all stocked up for present but the next purchase on my shopping list will be a new exfoliating toner, perhaps it's time to finally try out Biologique Recherche P50...

My Perfume Collection.

I wear perfume everyday and in the same way that I like to change my clothing to represent my mood and whatever I am going to be doing on a certain day I also like to wear different fragrances depending on my mood and activities. I don't think that I will ever be someone who has a 'signature scent' as there are simply too many fragrances that I love!

Most of the time I am happy experimenting with the numerous samples and minis that I have but there are certain fragrances that enchant me enough to invest in a full sized bottle and I like to use these at the weekend or if I am going out in the evenings. 

I'm aware that perfume is a luxury item, it's not cheap by any stretch of the imagination and it's something that you want rather than need. Although my collection is fairly small it's a somewhat decadent indulgence that I greatly enjoy.

There's a perennial best seller, a few more unusual scents and a trio from my favourite perfume house Diptyque. 

CHLOE Eau de Parfum.

This is by far the most conventional fragrance that I own, a well loved powdery floral scent that is very popular. It is a very feminine blend of rose and peony that is a little heady and heavy on application although I find that this fades away pretty quickly on me as it develops. This is my most 'everyday' type of scent and I will often grab a spritz of this on my way to work. I'd also reach for it if I was wearing a dress!

FRESH Patchouli Pure.

I've had this for quite some time, so long in fact, that I think it may not be produced anymore. I like this but it is very strong and it continues to wear strong even as it develops. I find I don't need to use much of this at all and I don't need to reapply it throughout the day. 

As it's name suggests it is pretty much a pure patchouli scent. It has the soap-y-ness that I like in patchoulis but it also has hints of mint and orange which makes it suitable for any time of the year. This is quite a masculine scent, almost after shave like but I like that about it!   

MIN New York Shaman.

This is another strong patchouli fragrance that lasts well on me but it's quite different from the Fresh one. MIN New York is a wonderful perfumerie in Soho, New York that sell a wide selection of niche fragrance brands for both the body and the home as well as producing their own perfumes. Hand blended in limited quantities these perfumes are unique and very special. Shaman is a magical mystical patchouli with notes of violet, rose and frankincense. It retains patchouli's signature soap-y-ness but this is a very feminine patchouli. It is pungent and sensual - a very sexy scent! 

Commes des Garcons Parfums Series 3 Incense Avignon.

I adore the scent of incense and this is a heady blend of frankincense and myrrh sweetened by a touch of vanilla. There's also a good whack of my old friend patchouli in here that I love! This fragrance is intensely smoky - an intriguing and unusual fragrance that smells very 'church like'. It's another one that goes on strong and lasts well on me. I particularly enjoy wearing this in the winter months as I find it to be very warm and comforting.

  

Diptyque Oud Palao.

Diptyque may well be my favourite perfume house! I have three of their fragrances and there are more that I covet. Oud Palao is their newest launch and as soon as I smelled it I was obsessed! I have been looking for an affordable oud fragrance for some time but I wanted an oud that had been softened a little, for as much as I love it, it can be a little too woody and heavy. Oud Palao is heavy on the oud but it has been softened by the addition of rose and vanilla notes. This is currently my most reached for scent, I find it to be deliciously smoky and very wearable.

Diptyque Eau Duelle.

I like vanilla accords in fragrances mainly because they are so good at softening the scents that I prefer such as patchouli, incense and oud. Eau Duelle is heavy on the vanilla but its not at all sweet or sickly. It is a spicy vanilla that feels warm. A little woody and a little musky I enjoy it's cardamom notes and find this to be very wearable. I wear it year round but it comes into it's own in winter when I want a softer scent. For me this is the olefactory equivalent of a cashmere jumper!

Diptyque Philosykos.

I love Philosykos, it's the perfect, summery, warm weather scent for me - it's light and refreshing but still somewhat unusual. It's a pure fig scent but it's not too sweet or fruity and somehow manages to be warm and woody yet sharp and green almost a little fizzy all at the same time. It's ever so slightly coconut-ty - there's a bit of a beach thing going on that makes it very wearable yet it is still grown up and sophisticated.

As you can see my collection definitely favours smoky spicy scents - most often with a dash of patchouli it seems. I don't have any plans to add to my collection in the near future but if I were to top of my list would be something that smells very summery almost like suntan lotion on warm skin - something such as Tom Ford's Soleil Blanc for instance. Following that I would like to buy a couple of things from the innovative perfume house L'Etat d'Orange Libre - their powdery floral Putain des Palaces along with Fils de Dieu a refreshing yet spicy blend of asian flavourings and florals would be good to start off with.

In reality I think that seven fragrances are quite enough to be going on with, my perfume collection is (hopefully) going to be a strictly one out/one in affair....  

Food Diary - What I Ate in a Week.

It has been a while since I recorded a food diary (aka What I Eat in a Week).

Last week I was at home all week so I thought it was as good a time as any to again write my very own version of New York Magazine's Grub Street Diet (grubstreet.com).

Friday.

(I realise it's a little odd starting the week on a Friday but next Friday I have a dental appointment and nobody will want to read about cold drinks and mushy food!).

I hardly ever eat breakfast but I always have a variety of drinks each morning - a liquid breakfast as it were. Currently I have a bit of a thing for Coconut Water so today as soon as I roll out of bed I have a glass while waiting for the kettle to boil. Once boiled it's a big mug of PG Tips Tea with half a sugar and no milk. (I'm very happy that I can now buy PG Tips easily on Amazon Prime at a reasonable price rather than having to get them smuggled in from England or pay an extortionate amount for them!)

A little later I have a mug of French Press coffee, no fancy blend or anything it's Choc full o' Nuts French Roast. Every time people come to our house and drink coffee they always say how good it is and I'm happy with it as my 'everyday coffee in a mug' too.

I returned home from a work trip last night and had a big steak and potato dinner so I don't want to eat anything before I go into the city to run some errands and buy food for what will hopefully be a lighter dinner at home tonight. 

When I'm heading home in the early afternoon I realise that I haven't eaten and should pick up something. I decide to indulge in one of my guilty pleasures and I stop at the Golden Krust Bakery on 14th Street and grab two of their

Jamaican spicy beef patties. They are almost always too hot to eat straight away so I save them until I get home when they are just right - so good! 

Later in the afternoon I have another French Press coffee and a Tunnock's Caramel Wafer which is a Scottish chocolate bar/ biscuit - wafers layered together with caramel then dipped in milk chocolate. I've made it sound more decadent than it really is, it's actually rather spartan but it's a favourite cheap British sweet snack of mine.

 Earlier I bought a mighty fine looking piece of cod in WholeFoods so after having a Six Point Sweet Action beer I portion it up and rub it with some jerk spices. (I'm didn't intentionally  set out to eat Jamaican all day today, it was just the first spice I grabbed from the cupboard!) sear it, pop it in the oven and make a simple salad of arugula and tomatoes, the whole thing gets a spritz of lime juice and some olive oil, it's a quick, simple, delicious dinner. Afterwards I have a glass of Cotes du Rhones and then I'm away to bed.

Saturday.

I have my usual mug of tea followed by a mug of coffee, no juice today. 

We go out for a walk and by the time I get back I'm so hungry I need to eat something right now or else! Lunch ends up being two bowls of raisin bran (except it has dried cranberries in it instead of raisins... craisin bran?!?) with cashew milk, a plain Greek yoghurt with a dash of maple syrup and a hard boiled egg.  

Early evening we go out to the cinema in Union Square where we see Trainspotting 2. It's hilarious and we love it. After the film we walk over to Taverna Kyclades on First Avenue which is rammed so it's a fair old wait for a table as it is Saturday night. We sit it out with a Mythos beer at the bar and when we do finally get seated we attack a plate of mixed dips, horiatiki salad, grilled octopus and sausages. It's all delicious, especially the skordalia dip and octopus and we have a bottle of Greek red wine with it. We pass on the free mini desert -it's too late and we are too full.

Sunday.

Tea and coffee no juice.

We are in downtown Jersey City around lunchtime and I'm craving something Asian so we stop at Sawadee. I order what I always have in a Thai place: Tom Yum Soup and Chili Basil Squid (actually I'm exaggerating, occasionally I will swap out the squid for Massaman Curry). We get served huge portions but flavourwise everything is a bit disappointing as it's a little bland. I feel as if I'm about to get a cold and I wanted a good blast of chili to get it out of my system but this didn't quite hit the spot.

For Sunday dinner I dry rub and roast a slab of baby back ribs and cook up a big pot of vinegary collard greens. While it's cooking I have a Sweet Action to ease into the evening. I crack open some PBR's to have with dinner and it's the perfect meal!

Monday.

I wake up stupidly early and have a glass of coconut water then go back to bed first with a mug of tea and then with a mug of coffee and read. I spend the morning running errands and doing a big supermarket shop. When I get back home I have another coffee and make a sub sandwich for lunch: ham, cheese, salami, roasted peppers, rucola and olive oil.

I spend the afternoon cooking and doing chores. At various times I stop for a can of La Croix (Lime), a coffee and a couple of Harrod's Peppermint Disks, which are chocolate peppermint creams like a very deluxe After Eight. They are lush!

For dinner we eat Aubergine Parmesan that I made this afternoon with a rucola and tomato salad. I drink another Sweet Action. Dinner hits the spot and I go to bed feeling virtuous after my meat free dinner - which sort of makes up for last night's rib feast.

Tuesday.

Coconut water, tea and two coffees. 

I'm off to Soho House for a facial and sauna late morning so I have a bowl of (c)raisin bran with cashew milk before I go. I have a glass of herbal tea between my sauna and facial and leave feeling dreamy and rested - which lasts for about five minutes when I hit the hustle and bustle of the street. 

I had planned to have a quick lunch somewhere but I can't decide what I feel like, so I run some errands and buy food for a couple of meals at home. I go to Eataly to buy some meat and I grab a piece of foccacia with sausage and peppers which I eat as a very late lunch when I get home. It's very good, spicy and greasy, like a reworking of those street fair sausage and pepper rolls!

Dinner is kind of sophisticated for a Tuesday. I mix up a Steak Tartare and we eat it with a simple green salad and a Baguette from Kayser. We finish up the baguette with a cheeseboard and drink a Spanish Tempranillo.

Wednesday.

It's the usual again: coconut water, tea, and two coffees.

I'm at home all day today.  Lunch is simple, a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with plenty of Dijon mustard smeared on. Whilst I'm waiting for it to get browned and melt-y I snack on a handful of salt and pepper flavoured crisps and a couple of pickled onions from an almost empty jar that I spy in the back of the fridge. It's almost like a British pub lunch without the beer!

Yesterday I stopped by Dizengoff in Chelsea Market and bought a pint of their unbelievably good hummus which we have for dinner with some spicy lamb meatballs that I made, a big Greek salad and a sheet of Markouk village bread from Damascas Bakery which I toast over the gas flame on the stove's power burner. I have a PBR with dinner and we finish up last night's red wine before bed.

Thursday.

Same again first thing: coconut water, tea and two coffees.

I'm planning on having a last night's leftovers for lunch with a fried egg but end up having to dash out the house for work stuff. No time to eat at home so I run into Pret and grab a Greek Falafel Wrap to go which I eat when I get to work.

I go back home for a couple of hours in the afternoon before meeting my husband and going over to Williamsburg. We stop off at Fornello for a quick beer (Brooklyn Pilsner) and pizza (large sausage). I've only recently discovered Fornello and while it's not a hip cool pizza place it's a good quick option, the pizza is good and it is inexpensive.
After our early dinner we walk over to Warsaw and watch the Sleaford Mods. I have a tin of Zywieck beer and a plastic glass of red wine whilst there. I don't know what the wine is but it's a fair sized plastic glass and it is reasonably priced as far as a drink at a show goes. Warsaw is a great venue, one of my favourites - I like seeing music in unlikely places, it's not expensive and they even serve hot food.
After the show we head straight home. I've an early dental appointment and a day of cold soft food to look forward to tomorrow after all...

Little Deaths.

Set in 1963 Little Deaths tells the story of Ruth Malone, a glamorous cocktail waitress. Recently separated from her husband she lives with their two young children, Cindy and Frank Jr in Queens. One morning Ruth gets up and the children are missing. It's not long before their bodies are discovered.

Both the police and the public see Ruth as the guilty party in the disappearance and deaths of her children. She is perceived as an unsuitable mother who wanted to be rid of her children because she is promiscuous and a heavy drinker.   

Pete Wolnicke is a rookie reporter on a New York tabloid and the story of the murders is the first big story assigned to him. Determined to make a name for himself he starts his own investigations and before too long he develops an obsession with Ruth. As Pete seeks to prove Ruth's innocence the police are looking to convict her. 

Little Deaths is based on a true crime story and Ruth's story mirrors that of Alice Marie Crimmins who was convicted and then cleared of murdering her children. I had read a lot of positive reviews of Little Deaths and it was something that I was looking forward to reading.

Ruth was a sympathetic character who was well portrayed. I also enjoyed the portrayal of the working class Queen's neighbourhood where she lived and it was eye opening to see how a single woman was judged so much by her behaviour in the not so distant past. 

Although I enjoyed the author's style of writing I found the book to be somewhat dull with characters (other than Ruth) who seemed a little one dimensional. There was little in the way of a plot and it was pretty obvious who had really committed the crime.

I was expecting this to be a fast paced novel but it failed to draw me in. Unfortunately I struggled to finish this and found it to be a very slow read.

Homesick For Another World.

Homesick for Another World is a collection of fourteen short stories from Ottessa Moshfegh who wrote Eileen which was my favourite book of 2016.

I loved Eileen so much that I ordered this book as soon as it came out and although it wasn't quite as good as Eileen I wasn't at all disappointed.

The stories aren't connected and don't overlap with each other in any way but many of them are about people who are disillusioned with their lives or people who are actively seeking a different sort of life for themselves.

Homesick for Another World isn't a light hearted book. Just like Eileen it's rather depressing, dealing with people who are living on the edge of society or who are in either desperate or simple dreary situations and, as in Eileen, there are plenty of lurid descriptions of things that range from unpleasant to repulsive.

However, I am so much in awe of the way that Ottessa Moshfegh writes. I've never encountered an author who describes horrible things so aptly and the way that she creates a sense of foreboding and suspense is truly eerie. I was so caught up in some of the tales in this collection that I could almost feel the filth and dirt and smell the noxious odours that she describes.

This isn't an upbeat or easy book to read but the writing is unique and it's a powerful book that I found myself drawn into more and more with each tale. If you like stories that are a little dark and twisted I am sure that you will love this volume.

Recommended.

I Hate Everyone Except You.

I Hate Everyone Except You is a collection of autobiographical essays from American TV host Clinton Kelly. 

This collection of lighthearted entertaining tales reminded me somewhat of books that I have read by David Sedaris, not quite as funny and not as well written but similar in approach and execution. The majority of the stories here concern Kelly's family, upbringing and career and whilst they didn't have me laughing out loud I found them pretty amusing. 

A couple of the pieces of writing were in different styles, one took the form of a script for an imaginary sitcom, the other was a transcript of an interview with the author. I found that both of these were unenjoyable, the script was actually so bad that it was kind of embarrassing and I'm left wondering why the editors included these two chapters here as they didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book. I can only think that as the book is quite short that they were left in as padding....

I didn't have ant sort of expectations for this book when I picked it up but overall I was pleasantly surprised. It was a quick entertaining read with the exclusion of the two more experimental pieces of writing.

If you are looking for something to read that is light and non taxing this fits the bill.

And I Don't Want to Live this Life.

Nancy Spungen was the girlfriend of Sex Pistol's bassist Sid Vicious. Aged just 20 she was found stabbed to death in their bathroom at New York's Chelsea Hotel where they lived. Although he was charged with her murder Vicious died before the case came to court so her death remains a mystery. 

And I Don't Want To Live This Life is written by Nancy's mother and it is an honest and soul bearing look at how the death of her child was both a tragedy and a relief. 

Nancy suffered severe birth trauma and was an out of control manipulative child prone to violent outbursts of behaviour. As a teenager she was diagnosed as a schizophrenic. This book is about her struggle with mental illness and how it affected her family at a time when her condition was little understood and socially unacceptable.

I picked this up after having read many good reviews, and while I can't say that I enjoyed it - it's the story of a sad life and a young girl's struggle - I did find that it was a fascinating case study.

It's very detailed and her Mother writes extremely objectively about her daughter. 

I do think that the book should have been edited quite drastically - there are some glaring mistakes in it, such as referring to John Lydon as John Lyndon - but it was an eye opening read that explains Nancy Spungen and her lifestyle in a way that goes much deeper than the sensational newspaper headlines that surrounded her.

It's not an easy read, in fact it is quite depressing, but if you want an insight into the life of someone and their family trying to live with mental illness this is a brutal and honest account and a brave book for any mother to write.  

Empties: March 2017.

I'm pleased with March's empties pile as I managed to finish thirteen full sized products (fourteen if you include a sheet mask) and sixteen samples. I even managed to use up four full sized make up items this month which I don't think I have ever done before!

Bodycare.

Nivea Creme Body Wash was a good drugstore item. It was pretty basic with a minimal fragrance but it left my skin feeling soft. 

I used up two body moisturisers. C Booth Honey Almond Body Butter is one of my favourite drugstore products, not at all sticky and it smells delicious. If you are looking for a budget friendly alternative to Kiehl's Creme de Corps Whipped Body Butter try this out! Space NK Life Ultimate Unwind Body Lotion is a lightweight glycerine based formula that does a good job of softening  skin, although the fragrance of this is supposed to be relaxing I find it to be very fresh and uplifting with it's notes of lime, green tea, cardamom and ginger.

I finished two tubes of Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. This is one of my favourite hand creams as it absorbs instantly to soothe hands without making them feel greasy or sticky. I also used up a bottle of Revlon Top Speed Top Coat which made my nails very glossy and prolonged the time of a manicure. I don't often do my own nails and I have had this for a very, very long time, so long that I'm sure it is probably discontinued!

Haircare.

I didn't use up any full sized haircare products this month, only five samples but I liked them all. Moroccan Oil Light and Obliphica Seaberry Serum both made my hair look shiny while taming any stray hairs and frizz. Philip B Oud Royal Shampoo smelt wonderful and paired well with Philip B Light Weight Creme Rinse. Gold Lust Shampoo was another impressive product from Oribe that smelt amazing to boot.

Skincare.

I used a whole box of Sephora Express Eye Make Up Remover Wipes which I find to be very gentle and effective. They are quite large wipes and I find that one wipe is enough for both eyes.

They also come packaged in individual sachets so they are ideal for traveling with. 

Babor Mild Cleanser has been in my travel bag for some time. It only did an okay (not great) job of removing make up and I found it didn't quite feel right as a second cleanse for me. There wasn't anything drastically wrong with it - I mean I did use it up eventually - but I just felt that it didn't do anything for my skin and it didn't feel special.

The Ginza Creamy Cleansing Foam (which wasn't actually foamy) and Energizing Lotion were a beautiful addition to my routine that left my skin not only clean but brighter and smoother. I loved, loved, loved these! (So much so that they will get a 'Brand Love 'post of their own sometime soon!).

I confess that I used my sample of Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Booster incorrectly using it as a serum rather than mixing it into a face cream. Despite my mistake I liked this very much, it absorbed well and left my skin looking plumped. I actually preferred this to Fresh Seaberry Oil, in part because it didn't smell as strongly.

 I feel that Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Serum firmed my skin mostly by hydrating it. I liked this but there are plenty of other serums that I prefer so I can't see myself getting this again.  The packaging of this was terrible btw. It had a slim glass dropped but the serum itself was too thick for the dropper to work. I think that it has recently been repackaged but things like this annoy me enough to put me off a product. I love Caudalie as a brand but have to say that some of their packaging is inexplicably bad.

Dermalogica Multi Vitamin Power Firm was an eye cream that made my eye area look smoothed but it felt very silicon like and I felt that it was more of a blurring product than a treatment.

I used another sample of Sunday Riley Tidal. It's a very nice gel moisturiser that's great for layering on top of other products.It's not my favourite gel moisturiser but its a good one and I like its cucumber fragrance.

I used two samples of Chantecaille Bio Lifting +. It was rich and slightly oily feeling but it absorbed well, my skin felt softened and smooth but I didn't notice that it was 'lifted'.

Finally for skincare, I used a Dr Jart Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask. I liked that this mask was saturated with product but that it wasn't at all drippy so it wasn't messy to use. It was very hydrating but my face did feel tacky when I took this off. This was one of the better inexpensive sheet masks I have used but I still haven't been converted and prefer traditional face masks! 

Make Up and Perfume. 

I only finished one sample of perfume, Clean Cashmere, quite a powdery scent that has a sharp chemical note to it when applied. It is quite a clean smell once that note dies down but it isn't my kind of fragrance I'm afraid.

I  can hardly believe that not only did I use up seven make up items four of those were full sized! Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara was supposed to strengthen and promote growth of lashes. I didn't notice any change in my lashes but it was a good formula that darkened my lashes without making them clumpy, I quite liked the natural look that it achieved. I also finished a mini mascara, Clinique High Impact Mascara. I love Clinique Mascaras, this darkened my lashes dramatically and gave them length and volume. I liked it a lot but must admit that I prefer the waterproof version of this one for it's superior staying power.

Another eye product I finished was Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Shadow Single in shade #104 Soft Clay. I love this grey toned pink eyeshadow, it's my go to for a minimal make up routine and I have already opened up a new one. 

I used two cheek products, a sample of Nars Illuminator in 'Orgasm' which I loved as it was sheer and blendable and gave my skin a natural sun kissed look. I also finished a full sized NYX Cream Blush in the shade CB11 Boho Chic. This cream blush looked bright and shimmery in the pan but was another sheer blendable product that gave a subtle pink blush to my skin, I'm upset that this has gone as it appears to be discontinued.

Finally two lip products. I have been trying to finish my tube of Laura Mercier Lip Glacee in 'Bonbon' for a very long time and finally succeeded. This gloss felt lovely to wear and it lasted really well on my lips, when the gloss did disappear it left a stain. Quite a bold pink, but one that I enjoyed wearing very much. I also liked its candy like scent. I have so many lip products at the moment that I won't buy this again right now, but if I did ever need a bold pink gloss I would definitely get it again. Lastly a half sized By Terry Baume de Rose in a lip gloss format. I'm still not wowed by this expensive lip balm, it doesn't appear to do much for my lips, but it was good to try it in it's new format.

March was a good month for empties for me, I'm especially pleased at finishing up so many make up products! I think that April is going to produce even more empties though as I have quite a few things that are already nearly empty...