SNACKS AND THE INFLUENCE OF ROXANNA

Now, don't get me wrong...I love my co-worker Roxanna (hereon in being referred to as Roxy) very much, but she is a bad, bad, superbad, muy malo influence on me when it comes to food! 

Roxy is not one to shy away from all those calorie-filled goodies that most women steer clear of on a day-to-day basis, and for that, I salute her! And SOMEHOW, she still manages to look great. Makes me wonder where she hides it all. Haha.

In the nine months that I've known her, these are the sugary/salty delights that Roxy has got me hooked on...for weeks at a time, so dangerous:

1. Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino

So good, it should be illegal. And I tell myself that I'm being good by adding "no whip" to my order, as in no whipped cream, thank you very much. I must admit that I ventured off and tried a number of the other frappuccinos that Starbucks has to offer, but none tasted as good as this.

Duration of addiction: 3-4 months

Status of addiction: O-V-E-R (phew!)

2. Kellogg's Strawberry Pop-Tarts

For some GENIUS reason, my office decided to stock our vending machine with Pop-Tarts of the strawberry persuasion...and for some GENIUS reason, Roxy decided too eat them. Every morning*. And because Roxy is so amazing, she decided to split one with me one lovely, spring day. Needless to say, it was a real throwback to the good ol' days (it had been what, ten years since my last Pop-Tart?) and I started to save up dollar bills so that I, too, could indulge in all that warm, ooey gooey goodness every morning. Preferrably toasted.

*exaggeration used for effect purposes

Duration of addiction: 1-2 weeks (safe)

Status of addiction: O-V-E-R (but Roxy just bought a whole new box recently, so I've been craving the old friend...)

3. Chifles Platanitos

More commonly referred to as, PLANTAIN CHIPS! I have nothing to say about this one, besides the fact that I am munching on them as I write this blog entry. All the fingers on my right hand are greasy, and I can't stop reaching into the bag! Help!

Duration of addiction: ONGOING

Status of addiction: No end in sight!

I leave you all with this message: GO OUT AND EAT!

OCTOBER IN NOVEMBER

Okay, so it's November now, but let's backtrack a teeny bit and talk about October for a second...

OCTOBER. My favourite month of the year. Why? Because it means fall weather. Changing leaves. Comfy sweaters. The smell of apples and cinnamon and pumpkins...

...which brings us to HALLOWEEN! Kids trick-or-treating in their cute little costumes, ghosts and goblins and everything scary, and, again, PUMPKINS! Carving pumpkins, baking pumpkin pie, roasting pumpkin seeds, even all those pumpkin-flavoured drinks and foods that start appearing on menus everywhere!

Oh, and I was born in October. Just saying.

Anyway, for what has become an annual tradition, I go to Washington Square Park (note: I've gone alone these last couple of years...creepy? Not really, if you look around and take note of all the old guys with digital cameras...eep!) for the annual Greenwich Village Children's Halloween Parade.

So without further ado, here are some of my faves from this year's batch of babies in their amazing, double amazing, triple amazing, and of course, ADORABLE costumes:

1. BUMBLEBABY

One of the more popular choices, I noticed. Apparently, bugs are IN. Specifically, bumblebees and ladybugs!

2. DADDY'S LITTLE PRINCESS

But of course...which little girl isn't daddy's princess?

3. BABY GIRAFFE

Comes complete with a puppy knapsack! Aw!

4. DON'T I KNOW YOU?

First of all, I'm pretty sure I photographed this SAME little boy at last year's parade! Secondly, as most of you know, I am a huge softie for Eurasian bebes, so naturally, I love him.

5. NO CLUE

Help. Who or what is this special little guy supposed to be?

6. THOMAS AND TEDDY

Japanese brothers. Thomas the Tank Engine was holding their puppy on a leash. Unbelievable. I wanted to steal them BOTH. By the way, they're watching the NYU Marching Band go by...mesmerizing!

7. LITTLE MISS POLAR BEAR

She was so easy to photograph because she never took her eyes off of me! Love the tongue.

8. COW DO YOU DO?

Love the soft baby wave he is giving me...hello there!

9. SCOOBY DOO

Kudos to this guy's parents for picking out such a sweet costume...so cute!

10. WALL-E

...and if there was a prize for best costume, it would have gone to Wall-E over here. He was the HIT of the parade, no joke. Every little kid that walked by him would tug on their mommy's hands and then go, "Look, it's Wall-E!" AND his mama was dressed up as Eva! Ahh, I know!

IT'S ELECTION DAY...

...and the world is abuzz.

In the spirit of American politics, here is a photo of my pride and joy, OBAMPKIN: