Greens Water

It’s sweatpants masquerading as jeans, folks. The gold standard, the Rag & Bone Miramar denim sweatpants, were on sale at the Nordstrom Anniversary, the nSale, (still going on now!) but I could not justify the price point. Or drag myself to the Rag & Bone store in the Meatpacking district to try them on before buying them. My new $50 Gap pair is a low‑risk entry point to the trend of denim sweatpants. I could justify getting the similar, lower-end Gap pair given how casual my lifestyle is now.   Post‑pandemic comfort dressing, designer irony, travel practicality. The look, the comfort, the trend — without the $200+ price tag. Popularized around 2022–2023, they’re no longer a trend, they’re a category. The “3‑D print” effect is what makes these pants look like jeans from a distance. Rag & Bone’s version is more dimensional — the print has depth and shadowing that tricks the eye. Gap’s version is flatter but still convincing enough for casual wear. While “3-D print”...

Ice Pops or Paletas. First try, without following directions. 😐 I used a Trader Joes organic berry mix, defrosted it, and blended it with Nutpods Original Unsweetened Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer. You could also use:   365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Berry Blend, 10 oz, Frozen:   https://amzn.to/4gZvS63 Poured the blend into three of the molds. Don’t pour all the way to the top of the mold. Made a second blend with the berry mix, cacao and plain Greek yogurt. Poured those into the rest of the molds, total six. Let the molds freeze with their lids (pictured) on top of a frozen food base (not strictly necessary, see picture) in the freezer. Just position them with room around them in the freezer. Froze overnight. Tip: when you remove the ice pops from the freezer, a shower or bath in a little hot water for a moment makes the pops slip out of the mold easier. Mine are a little crystalized but provided inspiration:   Gazpacho ice pops for dinner parties?   Ic...

#vespa #weekends  

Food sampling at Whole Foods, Jersey City Relaxed food shopping and sampling in the middle of the day.   If you’re looking for ways to up your veggie amount. Plant People Wonder Greens Veggie Gummies, Super Greens & Probiotics, 60ct | Veggie Gummies with Super Greens, Probiotics & Multivitamins Gut Health, Energy & Wellbeing Curb cravings. One for kids, too. https://amzn.to/4bbhPqm https://www.plantpeople.co/  

For the curious, the Plant Stand that went home without me at the Estate Sale held at a store.

I finally bought a bottle of Graza olive oil ( https://amzn.to/4fLEVGy ) when it went way on sale. It tasted grassy to me — fine, not life‑changing. Now that Trader Joe’s has a near‑identical dupe, the craze is receding, late‑cycle phase. You don’t need to blame Millennials for food trends, such as this one. Because food trends have been an inevitable part of American culture for years. We have survived Sriracha sauce , Everything‑but‑the‑Bagel spice, Gochujang, tinned‑fish and many, many more. To preface, I use a lot of olive oil and other oils almost every day (pictured). I’ll use a regular, low-budget one for cooking, a neutral, inexpensive oil that doesn’t fight the food’s flavor, and a better quality one for salads, sauces and pesto.   I rotate a few brands that I like.   The Millennial-coded Graza makes for an interesting case.   It became popular due to the intersection of several pressure points:   1. The Aesthetic Era of Kitchen Signaling - “shelfie” dis...

My lovely neighbor had an abundance of Asian Pears and gifted some to me. Asian Pears have a gifting history across China, Japan and Korea as symbols of respect, purity, good fortune, longevity and abundance. All of these are qualities in short supply and you can send them in my direction, for sure. What’s more, they encouraged the preparation of a healthy lunch – since I have time to prep during the day. If you haven’t tried them before, Asian Pears are like a cross between an apple and a water chestnut.   The skin is very al dente but prepping them in thin cuts or with a mandolin highlights how fresh and crisp the flesh of the fruit is.   I planned an Asian Pear salad with sliced endive and walnuts. Wouldn’t you know, I had some Gorgonzola Dolce in the fridge. The rich indulgence of the cheese being the perfect contrast to the cool, water dense fruit.   Toasted the walnuts. And made a dressing of: olive oil, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar, rice wine vinegar, amino a...

Where people beat me to purchasing a black Mission-style plant stand for my computer area.😐 #estatesales   #goearly   

#weekends  

“Replacing your PSE&G gas meter will not directly lower your gas bill, because the new meter itself does not consume less gas. However, the upgrade can indirectly help you lower bills by ensuring you are billed for your exact usage rather than older, often incorrect, estimates.”  

For the overly curious, a confluence of events led to Greens Water blog’s monetization. Here’s a peek behind the curtain: The algo suddenly pushed my numbers up, seemingly toward food and lifestyle content in general, which was a surprise. It seemed there were some significant lurkers with much larger followings. That’s cool. Felt the vibe, though it cannot be confirmed. AI says that it’s a common experience. A great many creators have my admiration so maybe the love is “much”. That’s slang for mutual and is used in spoken English.   There were rumblings of Greens Water imitators. Imagine that, given that the coverage is a spontaneous, boutique experience harkening back to an individual, personal story.   Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We’ll leave it  be.    There is a stockpile of content, from divine to cringe, to pull from, in order to sustain the blog.   The one rule I had when starting Greens Water: I would make mistakes, removing...

A chilled, spicy, cold vegetable soup for the summer — Jersey tomatoes are a natural match up with Spain’s most storied soup during World Cup fever.   Ingredients 2 heirloom or in season Jersey field tomatoes, sliced 1 cucumber, cubed 2 Dorot garlic cubes or 2 garlic cloves 1/3 cup olive oil, such as:   https://amzn.to/4aROroR 2 tablespoons honey to taste (optional, but great for balance) Salt + pepper Ice Water Method Combine tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, honey, salt and pepper in a blender. Add ice and a splash of water. Blend until you reach a cold, pour-able soup consistency. Definitely Chill. Serve cold with a drizzle of olive oil. Notes My addition:   Honey works as a natural thickener and counter point to bitter vegetable notes. Whole Foods prepared version uses wheat as a thickener; traditional Spanish gazpacho uses bread — I prefer honey, and honestly, it works, e...

Most people see the brick wall, texture, repetition. But with even a hint of visual acuity, the surface becomes a field of saturated pigment, more like a Mark Rothko painting field than construction material. Color becomes part of the atmosphere rather than an object, a quiet sensory event unfolding in plain sight. Outdoor materials accidentally participate in this expression. Sunlight shifts across the brick, the flowers amplify it, and suddenly the entrance reads like a painting in motion or, at the very least, a pleasantry. You can see the same logic behind color‑block costuming — Harry Styles during this summer’s “Together, Together” tour, onstage in single, minimalist, saturated hues that turn his silhouette into a moving color field. Color becomes an identity and an art history continuum. (Harry might not know that this is a nod, to the eighties, to the use of color blocking in art and fashion, though his art team most surely does.) The pleasure of noticing. The moment yo...

This trend is for you if you have spare time and no friends.   Have you had or heard of La Fermière’s ceramic-pot yogurts?   The brand sells its full-fat yogurt in little pots that are difficult to throw away. Their colorful Provençal terracotta and clear container packaging is aesthetically très belle, durable and intentionally reusable.   You are getting a ceramic or clear glass pot for the price of a yogurt.   The internet has therefore turned the containers into a small décor and upcycling viral trend with brand encouragement. Check out the creativity online, people make mini vases or planters, candle holders, espresso cups and drinkware storage jars, lots going on, blowing up the socials.   A win for sustainability culture, French Indulgence packaging and DIY/home‑décor.   But there’s a catch!   The container s  are not recyclable and they don’t feature an actual lid.     Practical souls take another route.   Silicone, ...

Summer baby? Caused your mama trouble from the start? This is the elixir for all that. When the Northeast summer finally delivers local fruit, it’s your chance to make a smoothie that isn’t built from a store‑bought tropical mix. Use whatever stone fruit looks best at the market. Add greens if you want. And if you have leftover fruit, roast it with a pinch of salt — it becomes a perfect topper for yogurt, ice cream or oatmeal. A dreamy blend to start planning on your Manic Monday for the weekend.   Blender Note: The Vitamix VX1 Blender is an upgrade from a basic model — maybe on a Prime Day: https://amzn.to/3QTN0j6 Yogurt Base: Cocojune Organic Plain Unsweetened Protein Yogurt (10g protein, vegan, cup). Ingredients 1–2 small peaches, peeled if you prefer, chopped 1–2 nectarines, chopped 1–2 apricots, chopped Splash of vanilla Splash of coconut creamer Collagen powder (optional) Oatmeal (optional) Touch of lemon Sprinkle of salt Honey early in the season; later, th...

#happy4th

Looks like we’ve got a run on Ranch Dressing in these United States of America. The World Cuppers could beat customs and get these handy ranch spice packets . Simply Organic spice mixes are great with their relatively clean ingredients.   Simply Organic Ranch, Certified Organic, Gluten-Free: https://amzn.to/4ghGg93 .   To use the packet, simply add Greek yogurt , a little mayo , and lemon . It also works beautifully as a spice rub for proteins . A healthier ranch, no bottle required. And if you want to make your own — no dairy, no mystery ingredients — here’s the vegan version to keep in the fridge. Suitable for salads, bowls, roasted vegetables, or on a favorite application: cold seedless red grapes dipped in ranch . The silken tofu version keeps it light and creamy; the vegan mayo version gives you that classic ranch richness. Add your own spin, with jalapenos, chives, dill, amino acids.   Yummy ranch dressing for the people no matter what or where it accompanies....

In her novel about restaurant life, Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, ( https://amzn.to/4w5c3P1 ), the narrator casually mentions that the chef at the restaurant she works at cooks bitter greens in the winter, like escarole. Food mentions like this in novels are enticing to the reader, but since the food isn’t the main focus, they simply provide background and help push the narrative along.   From what I could tell, there was one mention of food in the entire Elena Ferrante Neopolitan Novels series, when the main character, the fictional Elena, brings her prospective husband home to her economically poor family, her mother makes some type of potato cake. Meet the fictional Elena:   https://amzn.to/3QWS6ek . While food can help anchor a story, in real life, preparing meals can become a daily grind. Which is why the Farmers Market serves as weekly inspiration. To be free to go to the Farmers Market before the hoards arrive from work on a beautiful day means first choice advan...

Always looking for better materials not just with clothes.   100% Recycled Cotton, Garment District NYC, Woman Owned Deborah Connolly Designs Upcycled Kitchen Towels: https://amzn.to/4xZ9G24  

Original content. Independent vibes.   Photo by Tatyana Rubleva on Unsplash