Pink Thing of The Day: Abandoned Fancy Pink Shoe

Jul10

pink satin shoe photo by gail worley
All photos by Gail

People discard the most amazing stuff that, in any other lifetime, I might seriously consider picking up and taking home with me, if it weren’t for the Covid. I’m not sure if the Covid could live on a pair of Fancy Hot Pink Satin Pumps (with a rhinestone embellishment, no less) but I am not taking any chances.

pink satin shoe photo by gail worley

I spotted the shoe on Avenue B when I was in the home stretch of daily walk. With a bit more sleuthing, I found its mate close by.

pink satin shoe photo by gail worley

You can clearly see by the pristine, black heel-guard that these shoes have never walked even one step on a NYC sidewalk.  Adding to the temptation to snatch them: the box was also found to be close by. Sadly I had to leave them be; because, Covid.

pink heeled shoe photo by gail

These stunning pumps are made by Nina Shoes and appear to sell for about $79 — pretty reasonable, really. Sadly, the reason why they were just abandoned on the streets of the East Village will remain a mystery.

Product Review: Parma! Vegan Parmesan Seasoning

Jul9

parma vegan parmesan packaging photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

I will be the first person to admit that I am not the most creative home cook, so having seriously-restricted access to restaurant-prepared meals  means I am fighting food boredom. While I’m relying more than ever on the amazing frozen food section at my local Trader Joe’s, I’m also exploring my ability to make tasty rice and pasta dishes with minimal effort. When it comes to pasta, the more cheese, the better, so Parmesan cheese is always in my pantry. Now, vegans and others following a dairy-free diet can also enjoy the cheesy, umami flavor of Parmesan with Parma! Vegan Parmesan seasoning.

parma side by side photo by gail worley
See The Goodness. Left: Garlicky Green Parma, Right: Regular Parma

The folks at Sister River Foods, makers of Parma! recently sent me two different varieties of this versatile seasoning blend to review for the blog, and I can’t believe how much I love it. Parma is the original plant-based parmesan; a dairy-free, protein-rich condiment ideal for use on pasta, pizza, salad, vegetables, popcorn, avocado toast and most other main dishes and savory foods. Parma is made from only natural ingredients including superfoods such as nutritional yeast, Himalayan crystal salt, organic sunflower seeds (clearly identifiable in the above photo) and organic hemp seeds, among other healthy ingredients.

Parma! Comes in Four Varieties, Including:

parma original bottle photo by gail worley

Original Parma! – Featuring an irresistibly cheesey umami flavor. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds.

parma garlicky green bottle photo by gail worley

Garlicky Green Parma! – Distinguished by a cheesey umami Italian herb flavour complemented by nutritiously delicious kelp, pumpkin and sesame seeds. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Dried Garlic, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Kelp Powder, Organic Dried Basil, Organic Dried Oregano.

And two more I would love try!

Better Than Bacon Parma! – Voted Favorite Bacon Flavored Product by VegNews and featuring a smokey cheesey umami bacon flavor. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Walnuts, Ground Paprika, Organic Dried Onion, Natural Flavor, Organic Brown Sugar, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Smoked Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds.

Chipotle Cayenne Parma! – Blessed with a smokey umami flavor akin to the most popular barbeque potato chips, with a slight cayenne kick at the end. Ingredients: Nutritional Yeast, Organic SunflowerSeeds, Walnuts, Organic Ground Chipotle Pepper, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Organic Hemp Seeds, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Ground Cayenne Pepper.

pasta with parma photo by gail worley

A generous dusting of Garlicky Green Parma! on hot pasta elevates the flavor of your favorite sauce, and creates an exciting contrast of textures as the crunchy seeds mix with the tender pasta. Absolutely delicious.

breakfast with parma photo by gail worley

Here, I have seasoned my breakfast of a cheese omelet and a scoop of cottage cheese with Original Parma! The Parma! was especially helpful in adding much-needed flavor enhancement to the cottage cheese, because I had accidentally purchased the unsalted variety — which otherwise, honestly, tastes of nothing. Thanks, Parma!

Founded in 2004, Parma! has steadily grown to its current status as a leader in the dairy-free cheese alternative arena and a key player in the multi-billion-dollar global vegan food category. Looking back on the origins of the Parma! brand, Sister River Foods’ co-founder and CEO Shannon Schnibbe recalls that it all started as the result of her severe allergies and effort to find foods that might give her relief. Introduced to raw foods, she was soon inspired to begin making what is now Parma! for herself, friends and family. After moving to Oregon and becoming pregnant with her first baby, Shannon decided to combine her passion for healthy eating with her corporate experience and turn her hobby into an actual business. The vegan parmesan revolution had begun!

Find Out more about Parma! and Sister River Foods, plus get Delicious Recipes, at This Link!

veggies with parma photo by gail worley
Perk Up Frozen Veggies with a Dash of Parma!

Eye On Design: Steuben Glass Vase By Frederick Carder

Jul8

steuben glass vase photo by gail worley
Photos By Gail

This striking, six-pronged Green Glass Vase (circa 1931) is part of a small group of modernist art glass by Frederick Carder for the Steuben Division of Corning Glass Works. Carder was a glass blower, born and trained in England. He preferred traditional forms and elaborate ornament, but like many of his contemporaries active in the late 1920s, he responded to the international interest in abstraction and avant-garde experimentation by incorporating sharp angles, asymmetry, and bright color combinations into some of his designs.

steuben glass vase photo by gail worley
Installation View

Photographed in the Art Institute, Chicago.

T-Shirt Sale: The Distancing

Jul7

the distancing t shirt artwork

Oh, how timely is this T-Shirt parody of the undead Grady Sisters from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining? Designed by Boggs Nicolas, the shirt is shown here in dark (blood) red, but it’s available in over a dozen different colors, and in sizes and styles to please everyone. Best of all, The Distancing T-Shirt is here just in time for all of your summer quarantining needs! You can pick one up for yourself or as a gift for a fan, at This Link! Prices start at just $19.95!

the distancing t shirt artwork detail

Modern Art Monday Presents: Charles Sheeler, The Artist Looks at Nature

Jul6

the artist looks at nature photo by gail worley
Photo By Gail

Contrary to its title, this intriguing and enigmatic self-portrait, The Artist Looks at Nature (1943),  shows the artist ignoring the brightly lit landscape in front of him. Nature, as depicted here, is surreal, with inexplicable discrepancies of scale and perspective. The fields suggest the terrain around Sheeler’s Connecticut home, while the massive walls recall Hoover Dam, which the artist photographed in 1939. In the painting, Sheeler works intently on a monochromatic drawing of an antiquated stove, which is based on a photograph he took in 1917. Yet despite these deliberate references to his own work, the painting’s meaning is ambiguous. Perhaps Sheeler wished to evoke the many vistas open to an artist, the literal and figurative landscapes of the mind.

Photographed in the Art Institute, Chicago.

Pink Thing Of The Day: Abandoned Pink Cowboy Hat

Jul3

pink cowboy hat photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

Confession: there is often a hidden agenda with regard to my daily walks — I’m looking for stuff to blog about. Since I’m not going to any events, exhibits, restaurants, or shows I must seek inspiration from what I can photograph from the streets. I am rarely disappointed. Behold today’s Pink Thing, found resting amid a group of furniture that had been set out curbside for the garbage truck. I spotted this pristine and fancy Pink Cowboy Hat from the corner, and moved closer to investigate.

pink cowboy hat photo by gail worley

First Sighting

pink cowboy hat photo by gail worley

I certainly wouldn’t recommend taking anything from the trash in this current environment (#covidlife) but I’m glad I was able to preserve it for the blog!

pink cowboy hat photo by gail worley

Spotted on East 3rd Street Near Avenue B, in NYC’s East Village.

SwaddleDesigns Masks: Breathable, Fashionable and On Sale!

Jul2

swaddle designs mask

A few weeks into lockdown here in NYC, I realized that the KN95 masks I paid $10 each for (and waited weeks for them to arrive from China) would need to be supplemented with many additional masks that could also double as fashion accessories: because we are going to be wearing masks for a long, long time. Just being serious. I was able to find some colorful cloth masks while visiting the Berkshires a few weeks ago, but otherwise it seems like stylish, seasonally-appropriate masks are only available to pre-order, and who wants to wait for something you need right now?  The great news is that, just in time for the 4th of July, SwaddleDesigns has all of their Made in the USA face masks on sale, starting at the low price of just $4.99. What a bargain.

swaddle designs pink mask

Made from 2-layers of double-napped cotton flannel, these SwaddleDesigns non-medical Cotton Flannel Masks yield better particle filtration effectiveness than cloth masks made using cotton knit, cotton muslin, gauze, and polyester fleece fabrics. The double-napped cotton flannel (mechanical brushing on both sides of the cloth) increases the degree of randomness and enhances the filtration effectiveness. I probably don’t have to tell you that wearing a KN95 in the summer is like strapping a sauna to your face, but these cotton masks are going to keep your face cooler and drier.

swaddle designs mask

swaddle designs mask

With so many masks on backorder, the good news is that the SwaddleDesigns masks are available and ready to ship right now! Shop the above designs and more, all on sale, at This Link.

swaddle designs mask
Stopping the Spread of Corona Virus: You Are Doing It Right.

Eye On Design: Bench IIa by Max Lamb

Jul1

bench IIa by max lamb photo by gail worley
All Photos By Gail

The Bench I I a (2017) by designer Max Lamb is one of the first prototypes made from solid textile board, a material composed of waste cotton.  Lamb created this piece for Really, a Danish company that focuses on upcycling discarded textile waste.

bench IIa by max lamb photo by gail worley
Installation View

Really mills used textiles into small fibers that are then bonded together with a special agent. The dark blue color of this bench comes from the cotton material, which is discarded denim. The bench is at once a functional object and a conversation starter regarding the reuse of waste materials. The museum installation includes a video (iPad screen seen above) in which Lamb discusses the making of the Really collection of furniture.

bench IIa by max lamb photo by gail worley

Photographed in the Art Institute, Chicago.

Yoshiki-Inspired Yoshikitty Dominates Global Sanrio Character Ranking!

Jun30

yoshikittty wins awards

Yoshikitty Defeats Hello Kitty To Win #1 In France, Germany, And Brazil, #2 China, And #6 Worldwide

In 2020 Sanrio Character Ranking.

Here’s a bit of global news that will surely take your mind off the current troubling state the world, especially in you ar a fan of Japanese Rock Star Yoshiki and also Hello Kitty. The final results of the 2020 Sanrio Character Ranking (yes, it is a thing) were announced in early June and Yoshikitty has defeated Hello Kitty to win #1 Sanrio character in France, Germany, and Brazil, as well as, #2 in China. This is obviously a BFD. The Sanrio Character Ranking competition grows more intense every year, and the 2020 event allowed fans from all over the world to vote on a selection of Sanrio’s 80 most-popular characters. Yoshikitty’s massive international support brought the beloved character to #6 worldwide overall, placing in the Top 10 for the fifth straight year in a row. To view the full Sanrio Character Ranking voting results of the 80 characters, visit: This Link!

Based on Yoshiki, rock star, composer and the leader of heavy metal superstars  X Japan, Yoshikitty was created in 2009 by the original Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi as the first Hello Kitty character to be modeled after an actual living person.  Did your head just explode yet? Because mine did.

Yoshiki (who is a babe) commented, “Thanks to everyone who voted for Yoshikitty. I’m so happy to see the support from fans not just in Japan but also from around the world.” Yoshiki, who composed the official theme song for Hello Kitty, teased fans with the idea that “Maybe I’ll compose a theme song for Yoshikitty to say ‘thank you’ for all the support. Not only that, I would like to continue delivering wonderful music, so that I can give back to everyone as much as possible.”

Squee.

yoshiki and yoshikitty

Yoshiki and Yoshikitty, Having Some Fun.

Modern Art Monday Presents: Giorgio De Chirico, The Philosopher’s Conquest

Jun29

the philosophers conquest photo by gail worley
Photo By Gail

Giorgio de Chirico’s work represents an unexpected form of classicism in early avant-garde painting. The Philosopher’s Conquest  (1913 – 14), one of six in a series, combines a Mediterranean cityscape with familiar still-life objects that appear in many of the artists’s paintings, including a classical arcade, a cannon and cannonballs, a clock, chimney and a train. The stage set is an Italian piazza, virtually deserted except for the menacing, shadowy figures outside the edge of the scene. Rendered with a matter-of-fact — though intentionally crude — precision, de Chirico’s paintings seem rife with meaning but are resolutely enigmatic. Indeed, by juxtaposing incongruous objects, he sought to produce a metaphysical art, one that “resembles . . . the restlessness of myth.”

Photographed in The Art Institute, Chicago.