Screen time

A few years ago, Evan and I gave up on cable and decided to subscribe to Hulu Plus and Netflix instead. It helps to have a techie husband - I only half understand the computer-as-television thing. There's a lot I miss about cable, like the Food Network and HGTV, but for the most part, it's made me a better television viewer. I only watch shows and movies that I love; I don't fall prey to whatever crazy reality show is on that night, and I don't get sucked into whatever movie TBS is airing for the millionth time.

Lately, though, there's been a drought. It's summer, so it's all reruns and America's Next Pickup Artist, etc. Instead, I've been watching a lot of Friends on DVD, and Evan and I have taken to rewatching Alias on Netflix on Demand (it's great, even the second time around). Still, I'd love to have some new shows in DVD rotation (god bless Friends, but I've watched each episode so many times that I feel like that doctor, in the one where Phoebe has the triplets, who is obsessed with Fonzie and...well, you see where I'm going with this).

Last night I remembered that the Writers Guild of America recently put together a list of the 101 best written television shows. Friends is number 24, and other favorites like the West Wing and Friday Night Lights are on there, too. Evan told me to put together a list of the shows I would like to watch, and he'd see what he could do about finding them (many of them aren't on Netflix, annoyingly). These are my top 10:

Thirtysomething

The Sopranos
MASH
Northern Exposure
Murphy Brown

Will and Grace
Moonlighting
LA Law
St. Elsewhere
Seinfeld

Of course, when I sent Evan the list, he made fun of me: "MASH?! Moonlighting?! Who are you?" Hmmm. Looks like I'm my parents...in the '80s.

Wouldn't it be fun to marathon these shows? Which would you want to have at your disposal?

P.S. Friends sometimes gets a bad rap - my brother recently chided me for saying it was just as good a comedy as Seinfeld - but I really do think it's a terrific, seminal television series. If you're a fan, here's an interesting article from the May 2012 issue of Vanity Fair.

P.P.S. Did the title mislead you? We generally don't have the television on in front of Jack and Nellie except for some news in the morning. I will, from time to time, play them "Elmo's Ducks" or "Elmo's Got the Moves" on YouTube if we're inside and it's after dinner and I'm starting to lose it a little. Nellie prefers the Ducks, but Jack likes the Moves because for a second and half there is a singing beach ball, and well, that just about makes his week.

P.P.P.S. The photo is not mine, I took it off a Friends fansite, and I'm pretty sure it's not theirs either. Anyway, it looks like they're watching television, right? Wrong. They're looking at Ross who's trying to settle the bet of who knows who better, the guys or the girls. I told you I need a new show to watch.

Searching for new bed linens

Lately, I've had the (re)decorating itch. But since we're hoping to be out of our apartment by the time the twins turn two (a house hunt is in full swing, more on that later!), we don't really want to put a ton of money or work in prettying up our pad right now. I'm hoping to satisfy the itch with some new bedding - it's a great way to freshen up your space without a major overhaul. Plus, a beautiful place to lay your head after a long day is the perfect way to pamper yourself, which is totally my mission these days.

Our bedroom right now has a lot of light blues, grays, beige/golds...fresh, serene, and spa-like (when it's not a mess). A few years ago, Evan and I stayed at the Hotel Vitale in San Francisco, and I fell in love/became obsessed with the look of their guestrooms. So, in keeping with that mood, here are my top picks:

Gorgeous and greige from Serena and Lily.

Subtle and sea-inspired from Pottery Barn.

Pretty and peaceful from West Elm.

Moody and rich, also from West Elm.

Or we could scrap the whole spa look altogether and go for this lovely, sunny ensemble from Serena and Lily.

What do you think?

Dinner tonight: Summertime slow cooker

I've had a head cold since coming back from Maine, so I haven't really been in the mood to cook this week. Thank goodness for the slow cooker. We haven't used it since winter, but after seeing this piece from Mark Bittman in the NY Times Magazine last week, I was completely on board with breaking it out in the consistently 90 degree heat. 

You've all heard me sing the praises of beans, and Bittman's non-recipe (more of a game plan) is perfect for making beans without rendering any heat in the kitchen. Just plug in the slow cooker and go on with your day. Here's the deal: pick a few items from the below, throw them in your crockpot, and in a few hours you have a delicious, healthy (especially after a week of fried clams and old fashioneds) stew. 

Last night, I tried lentils, kale, sausages, and onion - all braised in vegetable stock and white wine. It was a little on the wintry side, but it felt good and warming with my cold. Nellie and Jack were suspicious at first (Jack kept looking at the plate, then at me, then back at the plate, then at me - I'll admit, it's not the prettiest thing I've ever cooked) but once they tried it, they dug in. 

Later this week, I'm going to try the example in the photo...looks delicious, and a little lighter, yes? Would you cook with your crockpot during a heatwave?

*Top photo is mine (I need a new camera and a lesson in food styling). Bottom photo is, obviously, from the NY Times Magazine. Please click on the link to see the full-size photo, it's gorgeous.

Twin Tuesdays: Our 4th of July

About ten years ago, my parents bought a tiny, lovely beach house on Drakes Island, a tidal island near Wells, Maine. We'd been going to the area since we were kids, and it was so exciting to finally have a place of "our own." It's really the perfect little house to kick back and relax - and it's a seven minute walk to the beach!

Evan, the twins, and I hung out there all last week with my brother and his family, my sister, and my mom and dad. It's about a six hour drive from NYC, so we followed our first rule of toddler travel and left at night. When we woke up the next day, it was too hot to do anything other than lounge around, and that we did...along with plenty of laughing, drinking, and lobster eating.

The Island held a casual 4th of July parade, and my parents decorated the wagon for J and N. It was adorable!

They had a little bit of competition, but I think they held their own.

Jack's current list of things that "wow" him includes balls, dogs, and balloons. His mind was blown several times last week.

We gave our stroller a break, and the wagon became the twins' primary mode of transportation. (Also, how cute is Nellie's lobster dress??)

We had so much fun hanging around the house and catching up with everyone.

And then, of course, the beach.

We also spent last July 4th at the Maine house...look how much these kids have grown (though Nellie is still not amused)!

We miss everyone already and we're hoping to get back up to the house at least one more time this summer. It's no wonder Maine's slogan is "the way life should be." What a wonderful week!