I must be in an exploration-type mood this weekend. On Saturday, I went on a day trip to Segovia, and today, we’re going to check out another nearby, ancient town: Toledo. On Saturday, I got myself to Segovia early, at least, Spanish early, which means I arrived by 11am. This involved taking the subway, anContinue reading “Day Trip to Segovia”
Author Archives: The Next Dinner Party
Everything You’ve Heard About Madrid is True
Hola from Madrid! We’ve been here just over one week and we’ve settled into our spacious, wonderful apartment. Our “HHE” – government-speak for all of our stuff – probably won’t arrive until sometime in February. Until then, I spend about 50% of my brain power thinking about how I want to decorate the apartment. InContinue reading “Everything You’ve Heard About Madrid is True”
Best of 2013
I stared writing this post on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve from our apartment in New York City. The walls were white and bare, mildly pockmarked from the few posters we had hung for our three-month stay. You could tell we had lived here for a short time by the gray and orange catContinue reading “Best of 2013”
‘Better Than Sex’ and Other Beauty Product Lies
I like to think I am somewhat impervious to the hawking of overpriced beauty products. But every now and then I find myself in a Sephora-type place and within five minutes, a small part of me almost believes that I’d be prettier if I spend $100 on lip gloss made from the stingers of AlabamaContinue reading “‘Better Than Sex’ and Other Beauty Product Lies”
Five Things I’ve Learned About Writing a Novel
I just reached a major milestone that I set for myself: I’ve written 100 pages of my novel. Allow me a moment to have another sip of wine in celebration and give a little “Hooty Hoot!” My time in New York is seriously winding down and while I sort of wanted to have written moreContinue reading “Five Things I’ve Learned About Writing a Novel”
Dinner Was Served
The Dinner Party of the Season (my season, anyways) was a success! I arrived over to the Glamorous Lady’s lovely, art-filled apartment carrying many, many bags of groceries. I’d been preparing all week, so I was equipped with Tupperware of balsamic reduction, caramelized onions, pistachio pesto, and homemade ricotta. As a general rule, I needContinue reading “Dinner Was Served”
The Fall Dinner Party of the Season
I’ve been consumed by food thoughts as of late on account of a big dinner party I’m cooking for on Saturday. Through Mr.YemenEm’s job, I met this glamorous lady who has written for Vogue for years and years. She is hosting a dinner party for 25 of Mr.YemenEm’s colleagues in her Park Avenue apartment onContinue reading “The Fall Dinner Party of the Season”
Cake Wrecks, Yemen-Style
I was going through photos from the past several months (can you tell I’m procrastinating from writing my book today?) and I came across a few gems from Yemen that are too good not to share. Things have changed since Mr.YemenEm and I left Yemen in May. But when we were there, the kind peopleContinue reading “Cake Wrecks, Yemen-Style”
Know Thy Neighbors
Growing up, I loved having tons of neighbors to be friends with. Our subdivision was full of kids my age. There was the girl whose backyard was filled with McDonald’s playground equipment. And in addition to burger-themed slides, she had a trampoline, making her backyard pretty much the most fun thing in existence. Then thereContinue reading “Know Thy Neighbors”
Style in the City
Someone once said “It’s not what you wear; It’s how you wear it.” Well, many people have said that, including me, when I realized soon after arriving in New York City that street style here is 95% how you put an outfit together. (And maybe 5% that you’re wearing somewhat serviceable clothing, and not, say,Continue reading “Style in the City”