For all of you New Yorkers out there, I have one question. Has anyone seen the pianos? A fabulous new art installation has taken over New York City. Thanks to the artist, Luke Jerram, about 60 scattered pianos have flooded all of the boroughs. Jerram has partnered with charitable organization Sing for Hope to install these colorful instruments in public places throughout this large city. Each piano has “Play me I’m yours” painted on it somewhere. A lovely sentiment if I do say so myself.

I was wandering around the big apple, following my feet back home per usual. When among the blaring car horns and people talking, the sound of a piano rose above it all. I kept walking towards a small crowd of people hovered around a man playing a green, orange, and purple painted piano. I squinted to see who was playing this divine music. Bet you can’t guess who was sitting on the stool pounding away at the keys. Yup, you got it. I heart NY boy.

Was this a mirage? No it was definitely him, I’d recognize that impish smile anywhere. As he finished his piece, he stood up and took a bow for his clapping audience. He quickly spotted me through the crowd and beckoned me to step forward.  He patted the spot next to him signaling me to sit. Here we go, I thought to myself, my musical debut! (Insert earplugs now.) Of course to my embarrassment, all I could remember was chopsticks. Yet I figured it was better then nothing, so I started to tap the keys. When people actually started to walk away, my knight in shining armor chimed in and turned my sad chopsticks into a lovely duet.

Well, he has outdone himself yet again. Once we finished, people chatted with us and offered congratulations on a great collaboration. Just call me Mozart! Then without another word, he grabbed my hand and we walked.

When spontaneous things like this happen in a massive city where everyone is constantly in a rush or stressed out, it seems like a sign saying “Whoa there self, slow down. Look around. Enjoy the moment.” So the bottom line is thank you Luke Jerram for not only helping out my rather boring love life but for adding something unique and rather mischievous to NYC.

It’s amazing how a simple thing like a piano can interrupt the daily rush and flow on a city.  It turns the pavement into a stage, city workers into entertainers and strangers into friends.

As for me, I can’t wait to tell I heart NY boy to, “Play me, I’m yours.”

My weekend was drab. The weather was indecisive and Spring was being elusive. I filled the days with long walks and made-from-scratch meals but by Sunday morning I was itching for a mini-adventure. My personal prescription for blah moods is simple: treasure hunting at a flea market. So I headed out the door, my old-fashion Polaroid in tow: a conquest from my last expedition.

I love moving from table to table, sorting through other people’s forgotten things. I’m drawn to knick-knacks, antique pictures of strangers, mismatched china, last centuries bifocals. I was rustling through a box of $2 goodies when a boy came up and started picking through the selection next to me. He was pulling out exclusively forks and spoons. I began chatting him up and discovered that he was an artist, making sculptures out of silverware. He needed three-hundred pieces. His concept was very intriguing: reusing recycled pieces to make something new. I told him I would help him in his hunt if he would send me pictures of the finished work. He enthusiastically agreed. So that was that: Sean and I spent a couple of hours searching for thrifty and interesting forks and spoons.

Throughout the process, I got all sorts of ideas of my own. I saw an old bird cage and thought about filling it with plants. WWII pin-ups could make for lovely (and cheeky) decoration. The list goes on and on. So I’m challenging you to recycle something old into something new! Let me know what you come up with!

With love and mischief,

Cherry Girl

PS I took the pictures with my NEW old Polaroid. Let me know what you think!

Hey there, Cherry Girl here. I hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine and hanging outside. I decided to take it upon myself to add a little adventure to my daily routine so I ran off to NYC for a bit. Life is about the journey, right? The month of May was Bike Month, so of course I had to show off my cherry red bicycle and peddle around town with my fellow bike fanatics.

Riders were decked out in everything from professional biking attire to business suits to bikinis. But this got me thinking, what is appropriate bicycle chic? According to this cherry girl, it doesn’t matter if you are on a bike you must look S-E-X-Y at all times. Ditch those unflattering spandex shorts and put on what is cute yet comfortable. If I can rock my red patent leather pumps you can lose the padded bum pants. I mean, let’s be serious, the invention of the bike seat is painful but suck it up. Feeling lost in the world of bicycle couture? There are even websites dedicated to inspiring you for what to wear when going for a jaunt on the old bike. These sites are from all over the globe. For example, Copenhagen, London, and Los Angeles each have websites dedicated to keeping an eye on bicycle trends. http://bicyclechic.com/ Check out what people from different parts of the world are wearing in their neck of the woods.

Or one could go the rebellious route and just ride naked. Yes, naked. In fact, the annual World Naked Bike Ride is coming up on June 12^th. Will you strip down and show your stuff? Ooh la la, maybe I heart NY boy and I can make a date for such a scantily clad occasion. I can picture it now, a bicycle built for 2 in our birthday suits. Doesn’t get much better then that. Send me pictures of what you wear on your bicicletas! But don’t send pics from the naked ride, keep those puppies to yourself. Continue spreading the bike love.

Tata for now.

This cherry girl recently had to surrender and become employed once again. I now have the most wonderful of occupations…. I am officially the new architect of pastries.  I sculpt Danishes, design strudels, engineer pies, mold éclairs…. And well you get the idea.  The Patisserie is a perfect place for moi.  Each time I hand deliver these delectables to a customer I know without a doubt that nothing short of supreme satisfaction will be the end result.  Each day I see fifty plus smiles walk out the door and I know I have done a good day’s works.

However, one thing about my new headquarters of employment makes me a little restless…. the mess.  No, this hedonist is in no way a clean freak but I do hate to see things go to waist.  Hundreds of napkins, plates, forks, spoons you name it all end up in the trash.

This got me thinking, what if we could eat our dishware.  I couldn’t let the thought go…. It just seems too obvious! Could you imagine your plate being part of your meal?  The thought of eating my cup after a refreshing lemonade is enough to make me salivate!

One of my favorite movies of all time is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (circa 1971). Although it sounds gluttonous, I have always hoped one day ‘The Chocolate Room’ where everything was edible would one day be a reality.  What a delectable existence!

After doing some research I found plenty of innovative projects in the works.  I found edible straws to enhance your milk drinking experience, a cookie cup, spoons made from bread and other utensils made from ginger!

The following day I put my new fixation and my baking skills to the test. Using a basic dough mix for breadsticks I made myself yummy utensils.  As a matter of fact made myself a whole months worth!  Hopefully my very understanding manager will share my passion because I used all of the flour~.

I also decided that from now on, when I leave my abode I shall bring with me my own utensils and use them as opposed to using plastic.

Just some food for thought if you will….

Until next time xoxo

It is that time of year again. Time to dust winter out of your abode and bring in the spring!  I rode my bike to the farmers market to pick up some fresh gifts from mother earth.  It was the perfect weather as it wasn’t too hot but the sun was shining bright with a warning of what to expect this summer.   My eyes first fell on the freshly plucked strawberries and cherries.  I picked some up as well as an array of other fruits and vegetables.  As I walked my bike through the market I saw a beautiful display of daisies.  The colors were so bold and captivating that it instantly made my day even brighter.  However, I knew that if I bought a bouquet they would only brighten up my home for so long…. That’s when the idea hit me.  Of course!! It is time to finally implement my new year’s resolution and start a garden.   I explored the market and through my search found a variety of hydrangea plants ready to be potted as well as seeds for mint, chives and rosemary.  Next stop, the hardware store for my supplies and then I was on my way home.

Spring Cleaning Agenda:

Opened all of the windows
Gathered every rag I could find
Pulled out my lemons, tea tree oil and vinegar (I like to keep things au naturale)
Put a pot of water on to boil to clear the drains
SCRUB SCRUB SCRUB!!

Although it was exhausting work (insert long sigh here) it was worth it.  The cherry on top of my productive day was sitting down, potting my flowers and planting my seeds.  The hydrangeas filled my residence with a sensational aroma and now I also have my herbs to look forward to.

Until next time….. xoxo