Louise's Restaurant Picks - S'MAC

My eleventh featured Restaurant Pick is S’MAC:

345 East 12thStreet

(Between 1st and 2nd Avenues)

New York, NY 10003

http://smacnyc.com/home.html

Cuisine: Traditional; Macaroni & Cheese

S’MAC (Sarita’s Mac and Cheese) was a recommendation which I used as one of my Restaurant of the Month picks. Who doesn’t like Mac & Cheese?? And at S’MAC, there is a Mac and Cheese for just about everyone.

From their menu I have had the All-American (a tasty blend of American & Cheddar cheeses), the 4 Cheese (Cheddar, Muenster, Gruyere and a touch of Pecorino) and the Cajun (Cheddar & Pepper Jack cheeses, andouille sausage, green pepper, onions, celery, garlic and, of course, some genuine Cajun seasoning). So yummy! And so filling. Even their smallest size, the Nosh is hard for me to finish, but then again, I’m a small portion eater. I’m not sure if the Nosh would be enough for someone with a normal appetite. There are three other sizes to accommodate larger appetites; the Major Munch, the Mongo and the Partay!.

S’MAC is also an extremely budget friendly dining experience, which is one of the reasons it can be hard to find a seat in their cozy space. Not to mention how delicious their dishes are. But if you want to avoid the wait, you can place a Take & Bake order. Your Mac will be prepared by S’MAC and you take it home and bake it at your convenience. This is a great option for catering a party or for nights when you don’t feel like cooking.

I haven’t been to S’MAC in a while, but I plan on going soon and this time, trying something new!

Visit their website for more of their menu options.

Enjoy, and until next time, happy eating!

~Louise C.

“Like” me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CazleyLouise

Photos from smacnyc.com

What’s Your Number…?

A few months ago I read an article in Marie Claire titled ‘What’s Your Number?’. One of the women featured in the article, whose number was 100, stated that she wouldn’t want to date a man who had a lower number than hers for fear that he would be inexperienced.

I am not a man with a low number of sexual partners so I don’t know why I felt offended by her statement. I felt so offended that I emailed Marie Claire’s editor with my response to that woman’s statement.

Dear Marie Claire,

I had a comment about the young lady who was featured in your article ‘What’s Your Number’. She stated that she would be turned off by a man who had a lower number and would view him as inexperienced. I was turned off by her comment. Men who sleep around and have high numbers do not necessarily make better lovers. Men who have lower numbers, can still be great, amazing lovers. They may have a low number because they have been in long relationships and I would trust that they have more experience focusing on what a woman needs. Men with lower ‘numbers’ are more attentive and more doting. I am turned off by men like those on ‘The Jersey Shore’ who have a Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Ma’am attitude. I would bet my last dollar that none of the women who leave that shore house are sexually satisfied. Those types of men are just out to ‘get it in’ for the night. I can’t speak for all men, but for me, a higher number is a turn off and does not mean that he is experienced.

Thank you.

~Louise.

He-he, I am such a dweeb.

I think part of the reason I felt so strongly is because sex isn’t sacred anymore. It’s become such a casual thing and I think people (both men and women) are losing respect for each other and for themselves.

Sex isn’t something men have to wait for or work hard to get anymore and from the way I see women behaving lately, we could give street walkers a run for their money; only we aren’t getting paid. I know that’s a little harsh to say, but we have all become so ‘easy’. Sex has become something that is expected after two or three outings with a mere stranger. Or even after chatting at a bar for a few hours. People may or may not know each other’s last names, but they are okay with sharing their bodies in the most intimate way. Maybe I’m just too much of a prude, but I personally couldn’t bring myself to thrust my pelvis with someone I’ve only known for a few hours or days, to then thrust with someone new in the next week. Emotionally, I just couldn’t share myself with that many men. I just don’t feel like that many men should be allowed to see and touch all of this…

I may need to loosen up and change with the times, but I don’t want to. I’m okay with the fact that not too many trains have entered this station or that I only thrust with people that I love… or plan on loving.

I know that there is this sexual revolution taking place where it’s becoming more acceptable for women to sleep around as much as men do. But honestly are women really built this way? I have friends on both sides of the fence. The thrusters and the prudes. The thrusters can disconnect and say ‘it’s just sex’, and more power to them. I live vicariously through them; but as far as women go, I just don’t believe it. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I’ve seen that oxytocin kick in like a motha-jumpa. Women want to bond, we want to connect and we want to be in relationships.

I’m not a part of the dating world, but I know for a fact that women like me are becoming the minority. Do men think the same way as the woman featured in the Marie Claire article? Would they think that I’m inexperienced in the boudoir because my number isn’t up to par??

Either way, I stand by what I said in my letter. Having a higher number of sexual partners doesn’t necessarily make you a better thruster. In my opinion, the people with the most experience are the ones who have been in longer relationships because they have someone to practice (and experiment) with on an ongoing basis. And since when did sex become something academic? There shouldn’t be a manual or a degree you need to obtain. Just take your clothes off and do what comes natural. And do it often. (wink)

~Louise C.

"Like" me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CazleyLouise

Falling into Place Giveaway

Hello everyone,

If you haven't had a chance to read my first book, Falling into Place, you can enter to win a SIGNED COPY by visiting Danfredo Rivera and following Danielle's rules on how to enter!!

http://www.danfredorivera.com/2011/09/falling-into-place.html

Good luck!

~Louise C.

Luisa Crazy

Please forgive me for this vain and superficial post.

I wrote a blog last week about how much I love my hair and how after cutting it to a short length last year, I’m finally so happy to have it back to the length it is and how I’m never cutting it again, unless I’m trimming it…. bla, bla. I didn’t get a chance to publish the blog and it’s a good thing because what did I do after promising that I’m never cutting my hair again?? I took a scissors to my own hair to trim my bangs. I’ve done this numerous times and it’s always worked out well, but this time I went a tad too far with the snipping. Not too bad… bad enough, but it was fixable. Let me explain.

Besides Mercedes, my numero uno hair dresser, I don’t allow anyone else to style my hair. The hair salon I go to now is conveniently located around the corner from where I live. It’s so close that there are no streets to cross, I hardly ever have to wait and I am always home at a reasonable hour.

Mercedes’ salon is… um, (choosing my words carefully) it’s a little far, there is a lengthy wait and there is always a lot of ‘activity’ in the salon. And by ‘activity’ I mean whatever you want to call ‘activity’. If you can think it, I’m pretty sure it has happened at Mercedes’ salon. Just know that if you visit Mercedes’ salon your hair will look FABULOUS, no matter what sex or nationality you are. Mercedes can do hair!!

Anytime I have allowed someone else to cut my bangs, they have done a terrible job, so for years, in between visits to Mercedes, I have trimmed my own bangs and gotten compliments on the great job I’ve done. And although last week I proclaimed that I was never cutting my hair again, I now had to go to my lady around the corner to fix my mishap. I didn’t tell her what I’d done, I just asked her to trim my ends. But when she got to the short sections of hair extending from where my bangs should have ended, she asked, “Luisa, wha-happen?” in her Dominican accent. I could see that she thought I’d cheated on her with Mercedes again, but if she knew Mercedes like I do, she’d know that Mercedes would never do such a sloppy ass job.

I explained what happened and she replied, “Luisa, you no work en beauty parlor!” She fixed my hair, though. In between head shakes, sighs and calling me Luisa Crazy, she did damn good damage control.

Luisa Crazy… I think I like it. Funny thing is she doesn’t even know how close ‘crazy’ is to my last name.

Maybe I needed this hair mishap to allow me to trust others with my hair. Mercedes isn’t the only one alive who knows how to work magic with my strands. I know that, but in my heart of hearts, no one can hold a candle to Mercedes.

Here is the short version of last week's superficial blog:

My hair was like this…

(I'm not naked, I have a strapless shirt on, thank you very much...)

But I wanted a new look, so I cut it into a slanted bob, like this…

Although I love long hair, I wanted to try something new again.

So once it got to this…

I cut it shorter than I ever have, like this…

It was shorter than in this photo; and I loved it at first, but later ached for my longer hair and repeatedly asked myself WHY!!! WHY did I cut my hair to such a short length?!?!

It’s almost been a year since I snipped inches off my hair and I’m so excited that it's growing back! But that's what hair does. It grows.... Anyway, the same antsy itch that made me cut my hair last year came a knocking this weekend; but I made a promise to myself that I’m not cutting my hair again unless I’m styling or trimming it. So to satisfy my antsy itch, I bought a bottle of Semi-Permanent hair color in Copper Brown.

I love my original hair color so I don’t want to commit to a permanent color. Plus, I relax my hair so all of that coloring isn’t good.

The color isn’t Copper Brown to me. It’s more of a burgundy and because my hair was brown to begin with, you wouldn’t be able to tell that I did anything unless it caught the light. But for $4.99, I satisfied my itch. Next time, I’ll probably cut my bangs or something… I don’t know why I can’t just leave my hair alone...

That was my mistake right there; committing in writing to cutting my bangs at some point in the near future. She's right. Luisa is Crazy.

~Luisa Crazy.

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Louise's Restaurant Picks - Chip Shop

My tenth featured Restaurant Pick is Chip Shop:

129 Atlantic Avenue

(Between Clinton & Henry)

Brooklyn, NY 11215

http://www.chipshopnyc.com/

Cuisine: British

Chip Shop was also introduced to me by Daisy as one of her Restaurant of the Month picks. There are two Chip Shops; The Park Slope Chip Shop and The Atlantic Chip Shop. We visited the Atlantic Chip Shop.

Although I am British, I haven’t been back to London since I was eight-years-old (which I plan on changing soon), but I recognized most of the items on the menu from when I was in London. Items like the Steak and Kidney Pie and Ribena, brought back memories.

I also took my mom to The Atlantic Chip Shop one Mother’s Day because she is an authentic Brit who appreciated the experience.

From their menu I’ve had the Battered Cod and Chips and the Battered Haddock & Chips. The fish was delicious as is anything fried. I don’t eat like that all the time, so I needed a ginger ale after scarfing down that greasy deliciousness.

From their Dessert Menu, I've had the Spotted Dick with Custard…. I know, I felt funny saying the word ‘dick’ with my mom sitting right next to me, but she is a Christian woman so her mind didn't go where mine went. Spotted Dick is a steamed, sweet, sponge pudding with raisins or other dried fruits and it is served hot with custard.

The custard I grew up eating is called Bird’s Eye custard and it is served hot and poured over pound cake, chocolate cake, apple crumble…whichever you prefer to pour it over before you gobble it up. I almost lost my mind when I found Bird’s Eye custard in Whole Foods, so now I always have a supply in my cabinet.

I couldn’t go to a British restaurant and leave without having tea. British tea is right! And I also had to have Ribena, which is a black currant fizzy drink. Although you can find it anywhere in England, it’s not popular in America.

When you come from another country it’s always nice to come across a place that reminds you of your roots. And being that my mom is more British than I am, she really enjoyed her visit to the Chip Shop.

Visit their website for more of their menu options.

Enjoy and until next time, happy eating!

~Louise C.

“Like” me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CazleyLouise

Photos from Yelp

Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer

Besides mascara and lip gloss, I’m not a makeup person unless I’m going somewhere and I want to look fancy. In that case, I’ll watch a YouTube video to brush up on my eye shadow skills before I apply.

In the midst of my Proactiv trial and error, I attempted to use Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer (recommended by Gia) and LOVED IT! I stopped using it because I couldn’t figure out which product was causing me to break out only to realize that it was the Proactiv all along. But now, thanks to regular old Neutrogena and Clean & Clear (The stuff that has always worked for me.) I am acne free! But not without damage to my complexion.

I can’t fathom the idea of slathering layers of makeup on my face everyday and I’ve learned that putting too many products on my face only makes me look worse, not better. So, because I loved it so much, I decided to give Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer another try. It’s perfect for someone like me who likes things to be simple and easy to apply. It provides light coverage and although it claims to control oil, there is no diminishing oil on this T-Zone. I have to have one of the oiliest faces on the planet, so I can’t possibly hold this product responsible for not being able to control my oil. I don’t think there is a product that could control it and I actually don’t mind my oily face. It makes me look like I’m glowing… or so I like to tell myself. I just have to remember to take a tissue to my forehead before any photos are taken because I am one shiny bish.

If you don’t like foundation, Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer is perfect; but it aint cheap. For a 1.7oz tube it totals at $45 (with tax). I have a job so the price doesn’t bother me.

I love this product even more for being available in brown-girl shades. Mine is Walnut. Visit Sephora to find out yours!

~Louise C.

"Like" me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CazleyLouise

Spa Castle

This weekend I made a much needed visit to Spa Castle, a slice of paradise located in Queens, just 30 minutes away from where I live. If you haven’t been you have to go!

Spa Castle opens at 6am and for their general admission price of $35 during the week and $45 on the weekend, you can stay at Spa Castle all day and have unlimited time usage of their spa facilities until they close at midnight. Who wouldn’t want to visit this place!!

There is an extra cost for any ‘extras’ you might want to take advantage of. Some are worth it like the massages and body scrub sessions and some are for someone who has money to spend, like their manicure ($20) and pedicure ($40). I’m too thrifty for a $60 mani-pedi, but with just the general admission price, you have access to so much.

Most of the pools have massage force pulsing water shooting out at your body so if you wanted to call that getting a massage, you could.

POOLS

BADE POOLS

FOOT AND BODY MASSAGE POOL

 

SAUNA ROOMS

The first floors are all men or all women, depending on which sex you are. If you aren’t comfortable being naked in front of people or seeing naked people, this floor is not the place for you. But you have to go there to change into your bathing suit and the uniform that everyone is required to wear once they leave the first floor. I have no problem with my nudity or the nudity of other women, so I feel right at home with all the T&A… and V floating around the place.

In the woman’s (nude) area, there are hot tubs, massage pools, saunas and the showers. The second floor has more saunas, a food court, and lots of lounge relaxation areas. Between the second and third floors is a quiet room where you can take a nap if you are worn out from all of the relaxing you’ve been doing. On the third floor, are indoor massage pools, a pool bar area, outdoor pools and an outdoor hot tub; and on the fourth floor there is a Korean restaurant, a bar and the fitness center.

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I love any place that has food and drink. At the pool bar, I had my first Bahama Mama. It was STRONG. Just the way I like it. Working in the backwards fashion, after my friend and I got tipsy, we went up to the restaurant area and ordered a tasty, delish dish of Bulgogi: grilled marinated beef served with rice of your choosing. Before we left we ordered Mocha Bubble Tea to go. I should try another flavor of their bubble tea, but once I like something, I am totally faithful to it. I think they have vanilla bubble tea and coconut bubble tea and I promise to try them… maybe. The mocha is too damn good!

There are other Spa Castle locations opening up in Pennsylvania and Texas. Take a look at the Spa Castle located in the Pocono’s:

I know where I’m driving for my first road trip! But for a nice, easy mental escape, the Queens location is perfect! You'll even forget that you are in New York.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned all of the wonderful things this place has to offer, but my words cannot fully describe the greatness of Spa Castle. You just have to go and experience it for yourself!

Spa Castle:
131-10 11th Avenue
College Point, NY 11356
http://nyspacastle.com/eng/main/main.php

~Louise C.
"Like" me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CazleyLouise
Photos from Spa Castle