Only monogrammed breads for me, thank you very much.

Honeycomb Tumbler, $4 on sale, from West Elm

Technically this is for the bath. But I think it makes a cool vase. I am so tempted to get three of these. But why three? Well, because they're only 4 bucks. Yes, I'm passing along the savings to myself. And I think because they're small, they'd look good in a series, along the middle of the table. Or in a nice cluster. I definitely think three would come in handy. I don't know. I may buy none. But then again, I may buy three.

I started rereading Apartment Therapy for the 3rd time. It's a good New Year's-y resolution-y type read. I already took everything off two bathroom shelves, scrubbed & shined the shelves & put everything back before work this morning. It's working! Apartment Therapy & Domino make a big deal about your entryway. I am happy with ours. Shot from our green hallway this morning. I love our green hallway.

Looking up Broadway towards Times Square, January 2012

The days are getting longer, it's true, but it's always brighter than daylight when I get out of work. I like it. It's comforting.

These greens keep lasting! I got them, post-Christmas for 3 bucks. Score.

I got tired of buying hydrangeas. They lasted one day! Just one day! And then withered. It is definitely not hydrangea season anymore.

Alas, as of today, we can no longer do this on our George. Grill a sandwich, that is (nothing to do with the grapes). Time to buy the Griddler. (Sounds like the Grimace crossed with the Riddler.)

The Griddler by Cuisinart, around $99, has reversible plates
It's a combination panini press/griddle

I did a mini survey on FB, asking my friends if anyone owns/likes/dislikes this panini press? Or if they had another they loved, to let me know. Well thank you FB! Lots of people responded in favor of the Griddler. We've had the George (Foreman grill) for 11 years, and it is finally breaking. So sad. We use it so much for sandwiches (especially the simulated mozzarella in carrozza pictured above), heating up bagels,heating up Vietnamese sandwiches, grilling tofu sausage, making things on tortillas. We totally need a replacement, and fast.

Do you want to know the thing that finally broke on our George? The On Button! We then pulled the physical button out (it was rubbery plastic) and have been using a chopstick -- jabbing it into the "On Hole." But now the hole isn't lining up with whatever's underneath. I would love to excavate to deeper layers to get to the "Essential On Button," but fear electrocution. Thus a new model is in order. Really, I'd love to simply get it fixed. But you can't get anything fixed these days. Sad you have to throw the whole thing away. Whatever.

Summers get mighty hot in Brooklyn. The melting was gradual. But relentless. We tend to like Winter better...