Pierogi perfection...

The weather in NY has been God awful the past few weeks. It is so cold that your nose can be running without you even realizing- gross, I know. Obviously I left my Christmas shopping to the last minute, but that's OK because it was an excuse to frolic around downtown with my fabulous BFF Deann.

I have been on super anxiety mode as of late due to the end of term at school. I teach 1st grade here in the city. I love my job more than anything in the world and could never see myself doing anything else (except maybe being a bathing beauty somewhere on the West coast), but It gets very stressful at times to control a room full of six year olds...needless to say when Winter break came I was running out of the door.

That's why I was so pumped when Deann said she would come play with me for an ENTIRE day to finish up some shopping. It was so cold and gross and the snow was now turning into gray disgusting mush all over the streets. I couldn't feel my toes by the time 1pm rolled around. I wasn't a happy camper and was being neurotic Nelly yelling at Deanna for being too loud, too impish etc., etc. I also hadn't eaten in two hours and that is a BIG, BIG no -no for me. I turn into the Incredible Hulk when my blood sugar goes low...if you ever witness this in the future, I apologize in advance. I was just about to lose my cool and Deanna was about to throw me into the next on coming cabbie when AHHHHHH like a real Christmas miracle we stumbled upon 1st avenue Pierogi & Deli. This place is the quintessential Polish old school home made foodstuffs shop.

::Located on 1st Ave between St. Marks and 7th st.::

yummmmm...I love me some pierogis. We decided to get some and make them at my apt for dinner. The second we walked in, I knew it'd be a scene worth watching. You know those New Yorkers that are like real, real straight off the M15 New Yorkers? The kind that have lived in Sty-town for 35 years and you can't find anywhere else. I love these kind of New Yorkers by the way. Well that is what was inside waiting for us at Pierogi & Deli...after listening to men bitching about their wives, ladies jumping for joy for finally finding a job in this economy and a polish couple planning their holiday dinner it was our turn to order. We chose the potato, cheese and onion pierogi...we ordered 2 dozen of those babies...all was going well until the cute little Polish man started speaking Polish to me and Deann...quickly we used our ever so graceful social skills to get out of that one...whew!

Back at home we sauteed the Pierogis with butter and dipped them into amazing thick and rich sour cream. After the first bite I felt like I was jumping on a soft, fluffy cloud in Heaven. This place is the best cure for the winter time crankies! Try it out my friends, I promise you will not be disappointed.

What is your favorite mom and pop shop to get yummy treats at here in the city?

Only me...

I have been needing a haircut for about 3 months now, but have been way too busy and poor to get one. So like any other annoying girl, I just kept complaining to anyone that would listen about how gross my hair was and not being proactive about the situation at all. Well that was until yesterday. I researched all morning a place to get my hair a much needed trim.

I looked up about 19 places all in the East Village by my apt because god forbid I go west of Avenue A. I am extremely lazy and it hinders my ability to function as a normal adult. Every place was about the same amount of money...60-100$...I know, I almost fell off the couch when I realized this was the price of beauty these days. Naturally I picked the cheapest of the ridiculously overpriced places. I tried to talk myself into believing that this is what everyone else does and I needed a little treat too. I literally was talking to myself about the reasons I needed this haircut so badly as I was walking out of the door.

I walk there in the blizzard, cursing the entire time and I think I might have even stepped in dog poop. I swear to God, dogs down here have some serious stomach issues and diarrhea you could write books about. I finally get there, all of 3 blocks away and am mad the second I walk in. First of all the receptionist does not speak English and not the "I don't speak English because I just moved here and am learning and am a nice person" type of I don't speak English, but rather the "I don't speak English because it's so much cooler not to. You're just jealous you're not Asian with a huge afro" type of I don't speak English. They insisted that I have some sort of beverage while waiting for my "stylist" to be ready for me and all I kept thinking was how much is this little drinky going to cost me. I hate being cheap and paranoid, but that's what happens when you are POOR people.

Finally my stylist chic is ready and if her hair is any indicator as to what is about to happen I will NOT be happy. So of course I got all neruotic on her and am like listen do not cut too much off, no silly bangs or whisps or whatever the kids call them these days. Keep it the same, just make it healthy and not like a small rat just died on my head.

long story short...I spent $80 God damn dollars on a haircut and when I walked into my apt my boyfriend says "I thought you were going for a haircut babe" JESUS IF YOU LOVE ME, KILL ME NOW!

Lesson I learned from this....invite your best friend over, get some cheap wine and cut your own damn hair...it'll be cheaper and I'm sure a lot more fun.