Hurricane Day

Well Hurricane Sandy aka Frankenstorm is blasting through NYC.

I have to admit, I was a little excited to witness a hurricane, especially one that was getting this much hype! I've always lived inland and hurricanes were never an issue, although the tornadoes I was in Kansas for were pretty exciting. So my first hurricane being a "hybrid" storm-- hurricane mixing with a winter storm front from the west and coming in at high tide on a full moon-- seemed like a pretty big deal!

I worked at Hill Country yesterday. I was the opening host and we ended up closing early (at 5) so I did all the closing work too. There was so much electricity in the air as we all rushed to get the place closed and get everyone home before the subways shut down at 7. 

Today the storm rolled in. I awoke to the sound of rain and wind, the wind getting worse as the day went on. I've been fortunate enough not to lose power or to have any flooding (something I was warned my ground-level apartment was prone to doing). With the subways being shut down, most of New York is too. Even the New York Stock Exchange closed for today and tomorrow, the first unplanned closing since 9/11.

Since I didn't have any hindrances, today was just a nice day off from work! (Well the buttons on my Cablevision box did stop working and since my remote has never really worked my tv is now stuck on Starz, which so far hasn't been too bad.) And hopefully tomorrow will be another nice break (praying that the electricity stays on all day!)

It was so nice to sleep in this morning and have a day where I had to stay home and mostly just relax! I like to wake up slow in the mornings. And make myself something delicious for breakfast of course :) In my quest for more mug recipes I found this recipe for French Toast in a Mug and thought it would be a perfect Hurricane Day breakfast (ok, brunch if we're talking time of day).

I made it for the first time a couple days ago and was impressed! Last time (when these pics were taken), I was fancy and used bread from a mini baguette I had gotten at the grocery but today I used regular bread slices and it was just as delicious!

Mug French Toast

1/2 Tablespoon butter

2 slices bread

1 egg

3 Tablespoons milk

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Few drops vanilla

Melt the butter in a large mug and tilt the mug so that the butter coats the sides. Rip or cut the bread into cubes and drop them into the mug, filling it up. In a bowl, beat the egg, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla together. Pour the liquid mixture over the bread, coating all of the topmost pieces.

Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until the egg is set (most of the egginess will settle in the bottom so pull the bread away from the sides to check that the eggs are no longer liquid-y in the bottom of the mug.) Top with syrup and enjoy!

I'd be interested in adding syrup to the egg mixture to get a maple flavor "baked" into the toast... Also in mixing peanut butter with the syrup as I love peanut butter on my French toast!

Rainy Day Music

It's been a rainy day here in New York, which, since it wasn't actually raining while I walked to and from the subway, I didn't mind at all! Rain has always been relaxing to me. It's clean and cleansing and fresh. I love the smell of rain, the sound of rain, watching storms roll in, and the sharp chill in the air right after a rain shower takes away the humidity.

Rain is very conducive to relaxing. I always imagine curling up near a window with a good book and cup of tea. However, since this rarely actually happens, I have to find other ways to bring the calming effect of rain into my daily schedule.

The best way I've found to do this is by listening to my Rain Music playlist. Yep, that's right--I have a playlist devoted to rain. This is because I identify music with emotions, certain events, people, or places, moods, seasons, and, yes, weather. Sometimes the songs actually mention rain, sometimes they don't. Rain music is mostly chill, lazy sounding music. I would say it's in the style of artists like Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, Florence + The Machine, and Train, but I am in no way exclusive--when a song speaks to me, it speaks to me :)

Some songs can go either way while others go into my Rain Music category as soon as I hear them. Here are 14 of my go-to rain songs (because I couldn't narrow it down to just 10!). These are songs that I can't listen to on a sunny day without wishing it were raining.

~ Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson

~ Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles

~ Boston by Austustana

~ No Rain by Blind Melon

~ Don't Know Why by Nora Jones

~ Bubbly by Colbie Caillat (also on my Morning playlist)

~ While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles

~ Wagon Wheel by Old Crow Medicine Shop (summer rain)

~ Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

~ Hallelujah covered by Rufus Wainwright

~ She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5

~ Stay With Me by Josh Gracin

~ In the Glass by OK Go

~ Love by Matt White

Does anyone else associate certain music with rain? I'd love to add to my collection if you have any suggestions :)

<3 Ash