You guys. Remember about 7 trillion years ago when I quit my job? A lovely co-worker at the time got me a lucky bamboo to make my life so lucky. I mean, she obviously wasn’t a blog reader or she would know my history with killing all living and green things that come into my house… But, I mean, it’s bamboo: so I went ahead and took it in and stuck it in a corner of my bedroom and tried to remember to water it from time to time.

As you can clearly see though, we have run into an issue… This yellow leaf thing has been happening for about three weeks? I dunno, could be a couple months: basically, I am a horrible no good plant owner and I should be on the banned list at all plant places like you used to see back in the days when people wrote checks and the gas station would have a list of habitual check-bouncers out for all to see.

Per usual though, my solution is to re-pot the little guy because maybe he’s just bored and he really wanted to live in that sweet cat vessel I bought on sale at Urban Outfitters about three years ago. PS. did you know that’s what the bamboo roots looked like? I. Was. Horrified. I thought they were going to come alive and eat me.

Any advice is always welcome. I promise I have not been overwatering the little guy. I’m barely remembering to water the rest of my living brood and they’re all thriving… Long live the season of green things—I think I’ll stick to grocery store tulips.

It has been far too long since the ‘Rooms and I have hosted a good ole fashioned drinky-drunky brunch. We love hosting people, especially in this new apartment because it’s HUGE and yet we haven’t had a brunch since ummmmm, Field Day 2012? Sorry, I mean, life just got way outta hand this year and I guess we prefer to go big or go home. Literally, if we can’t do it right we’ll just stay home eating sale CVS cereal and watching reruns of David Tutera’s My Fair Wedding.

The only thing we ever require of our guests for entry is a bottle of champagne (André is totally fine). So all folks have to do is roll up in style, grab a mini quiche in one hand and a mimosa in the other and get to partyin’. The proper ratio is one bottle per person, significant others are always welcome but don’t go “we-ing” yourself into thinking that one bottle of champagne between the two of you is gonna cut it. Ya heard?

Pot lucks in New York City are just too hard. Who wants to travel an hour on a Sunday with a half baked strata on the N train? Plus, we’re both far too controlling/distrusting such wonderful hosts that we really do like to completely take care of the food ourselves. Over the course of our five years living and loving, we’ve really tried and tested what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to proper brunch foods so no one leaves hungry: even the straight boyfriends/husbands of our lady friends.

The Menu:

• mini quiche with spinach and cheese (Gluten Free)
• bacon egg and cheese biscuits (Can be made with gluten free biscuits)
• sausage balls
• gluten free blood orange upside down cakes
• coconut and cream cheese “bunny tails”
• Assorted fruits and juices for champagne bar
• Various veggies on a tray if you’re scared about the “healthy” to bacon/meat/cheese/carb ratio

Please note that all of these foods are in muffin/handheld form. We’ve sworn off silverware at Parkside brunches as it is just too difficult. We have no surfaces to eat on and no one likes awkwardly lap eating on a chair, plus YOU HAVE YOUR MIMOSA IN THE OTHER HAND AT ALL TIMES RIGHT? Enough said, hand foods are the way to go. Buy about ten of those disposable muffin tins from the dollar store, put everything in the oven at once and move on with your life. You’re welcome.

As far as “decorating” goes. We reprised the popular coffee paper flowers dyed in various of the moment pink ombré hues and pilfered a couple of bunches of twigs from Astoria Park. The ‘Rooms made some serious installation art by bringing home half of a small tree which I suggested he hang on the wall with some fishing line and then got the hot glue flower treatment: it was some real Anthropologie shit yo. Oh also, probably the best move to make your brunch real grown up and shit is decanting the juices in whatever vessels you have laying around and spending about $25 on fresh tulips and daffodils from the corner bodega – also put in whatever is handy. I think those “bud vases” are old artichoke jars that I hoard because I have a problem… Basically, if it holds liquid put some flowers in it k?

BONUS TIP: If you want to be super popular with your friends and encourage proper party length, set up a little charging station for cell phones and write out your apartment’s wifi name and password so no one has 4G battery drainage fears. Nothing will kill a party quicker than a bunch of dead cell phones. Plus, if your friends aren’t sharing live pics to Facebook and Instagram WHAT’S THE POINT?!!?!? We also had a brunch hashtag (obviously because I’m a nerd). I failed to populate to tumblr in time, but next time… next time… we will have a brunch tumblr for sure.

See you all soon for Field Day 2013! Thanks for playing.

In this week’s installment of ‘Tales of an Absentee Blogger’ allow me to distract you with a freelance project I’ve been procrastiworking on. I whipped up this little guy for a dear college girlfriend of mine whose day job is making prosthetic nipples and ears and other such missing people parts. But at night Colette put her art and theatre background to good use and started a little side biz making glittery fake nipples that will have the ladiez on RuPaul’s Drag Race clamoring YOU BETTAH WERQ SISTA. I mean really, how fun is that?

I put together a really quick simple web home for her. Just a nice uncomplicated homepage and an easy gallery page with product photos that also explains the process. That’s really all you need: photos, some copy, a little info, and a contact page. Somewhere down the line when she’s selling glittery nipples like hotcakes we’ve got the domain and framework set up so we can carve out a possible e-commerce space for her too. So check out her site, buy some nipples and see you back here for Niptastics.com 2.0!

This site was custom coded with Thesis on the WordPress platform. I’m an unapologetic internet pusher, so if you know anyone who needs a web home or some web help, send them my way.

Hi Everyone. Coming to you with a quick revelation from the depths of winter and a committed leggings as pants wearer. Brownies are infinitely better when made in one of those oversized muffin pans like this one from William Sonoma.

Round brownies are better because:

Fact, roundies are their own meal/foodgroup. So you can say to your roommate, “Do you want to have a roundie for dinner?” And that’s totally ok. Also, the only brownie mix allowed in Parkside Manor is that Ghirardelli kind. It will change your life and your waistline. Wash down with an extra cold glass of real milk. Cheers.

Bonus Brownie Vine:

Brownie vine vine.co/v/bJu7i6MJ0M5

— Beckie Stravers (@cubicle57blog) January 26, 2013

Guys, I totally forgot to tell you I was guest blogging over at Design Thoughts for my blogging/twitter gal pal who I met about a zillion years ago when we both went to this meetup event for Emily Henderson from Design Star. I work in social now and love it and sometimes I like to talk about it because I am a huge nerd. I think there are differences between social for something like this blog and social for something like a big corporate machine but at the same time the basics are the same.

First things first, be a human being.

A social account is an extension of your brand/person no matter how small or well constructed so remember to keep the human element in your internetz. FYI – If you suck at being a human being, work on that first, then get on twitter. Or hire someone, I’m available. read my guest post on Design Thoughts for more tips on how social media is just like real life.

Side note: I’m thinking about doing some writing here about social and tech and things. Who knows, we’ll play it by ear. I really like working with MakeYourMediaSocial clients but that kind of freelance stuff has taken a back seat lately as I get more involved with work-y work. I send out a social newsletter twice a month, but am thinking maybe that kind of content could have a place here. Or not, if you guys want all cat photos all the timez then I WILL BLOG ALL THE CAT PHOTOS. Maybe get Soph her own tumblr… Thoughts? Let’s chat in the comments.

Happy Holiday three day weekend if you’re lucky enough to have that today. In celebration of MLK Jr. day have a black and white sundae with whipped cream and a cherry. I cheated and had mine early because Sunday was kind of shaping up to be a no good day, and then we had ice cream for lunch at Eddie’s Sweet Shop in Forest Hills and everything was much better. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be having ice cream in the middle of nowhere Queens, but hey, I’m into it now.

Eddies Sweet Shop has been a staple on Metropolitan Avenue for over 100 years. Homemade ice cream, whipped cream, sundaes, floats, shakes and old school charm. Brave that F train and an appetite inducing walk and treat yo self. If you are nervous about venturing into actual Queens call me, I’d be happy to hold your hand and guide you there if you’re buying!

PS. They have no website (call me) but their Facebook page has almost 8,000 likes and lots of engagement with zero to no social media optimization. Which makes what I do all day seem hilarious and reminds marketers everywhere that you should um, probably have a great product first hey?

105-29 Metropolitan Ave Queens, NY 11367 in Forest Hills – See you there, what’s your favorite topping?

We’re back to putting comfort first Internet. If you’re in the middle of some heavy duty fitness New Year’s resolutions or if you’re maybe um, in the middle of some heavy duty maximum comfort and style New Year’s resolutions then this is the giveaway for you!

Bree from Nesh NYC emailed me after reading my 5 rules for wearing leggings as pants post awhile back. (BTDubbs this post has been extremely popular with google so HI new people, stick around say hello and stay awhile will you?) Nesh NYC is a local New York company that make super lux and awesome yoga wear with the entire purpose of being worn outside of the studio because ain’t nobody got time for lugging around their closet. Amiright New Yorkers?

Their stuff is awesome but $$$ (remember I said spending cash dollars on the right stuff is worth it) however, lucky for you they’re sponsoring a giveaway and you can win a pair of the super swanky tux stripe stirrup leggings for your very own!!!

How to Enter:

Entries on this giveaway are closed. The winner picked by my magic winner picker plugin is Amy H. Congrats Amy! Be sure to let us know how much you love them! If you didn’t win visit NeshNYC and treat yo’ self, you’re worth it!

*Cubicle57 was not paid or perked in anyway for this post, just sharing an incredible company and product for you guys because shopping local and supporting small biz is awesome. Entry & Shipping is limited to 48 contiguous states, sorry International & Alaska/Hawaii.

2012 was a big year. I’m sitting here contemplating how I could have done so many things and yet feel like I have accomplished nothing at all. Now, MOM, I know this is not true. 2012 was a big year of rebuilding and realigning myself for what I hope is a successful 2013. (Insert appropriate cliché; Rome wasn’t built in a day, you can’t win ‘em all, patience is a virtue.)

I took a good look back through the archives of this here blog, and here are my 12 favorite posts of 2012. Thanks for reading everyone, you all are the bomb.com for stopping by this little corner of the internets.

I’m not much of a resolution maker, but I guess my only resolution would be to get a job when my internship ends in January. So if you know anyone who’s looking for a community manager or social type ninja holla at your girl @cubicle57blog. Cheers everyone, stay safe and hydrate!

I joined Instagram a year ago when I got my iPhone (What, my true love and I have only been together that long?) and I never looked back. My very first Instagram was a cat photo, obviously. I took a little holiday time to review and go through all of my photos from the past year and I wanted to share some of the unsung heros of my Instagram feed that never made it around to the blog. These aren’t the most liked, or the most commented, or the most artistic, or have the best composition: these are just a few favorites that made me stop and smile as I scrolled through and felt a little pang of nostalgia for the moment that was captured. Feel free to click any of the photos and give ‘em a heart for old times sake. Oy 2012, here’s to 2013. (In no particular order…)

Favorite #selfie

Favorite #catstagram

Favorite #foodstagram

Favorite #mysterygram

Favorite #outfitoftheday

Hello all. Remember Peter, the laundry loving subletter cat that is staying with us? Peter’s favorite cat skill is fucking shit up and therefore Christmas is a bit different around these parts this year. I knew early on that a tree was completely out of the question and did a little soul searching as to whether decking the halls was even worth it, or if the hand-holding-man-friends tree would be enough. This is Christmas in a house when you have a ginger cat terrorizing your things 97% of the time. Out of stubbornness and pride I refused to sacrifice any of our beloved baubles in some kind of cat training/testing experiment for one who wasn’t mine and this is what I came up with. Washi tape. Lots and lots of washi tape.

This tree is about eight feet tall and probably took about two and a half rolls of washi tape total? I was using different stray rolls I already had laying around so that’s why it’s such an “eclectic amalgamation.” Also, I’m too lazy+poor to actually plan and purchase craft supplies anymore so… I guess we’re all lucky I don’t have a Christmas tree made out of ramen noodles and tears. If you are a planner you can totally do this better. For instance you could like, trace it on the wall first, measure for consistency, or um, look at a picture of a Christmas tree. I’m a big proponent of the eye ball method and well, it’s messy, mix-y, a little bit fucked up and “Hi, I’m Beckie have we met?”

The ‘ornaments’ are gold pipe cleaners leftover from Christmas’ past and kindergarten level tape shapes. Notice there are no pipe cleaner ornaments below the height of a stretched out eight month old kitten– hashtag protip. I’d like to say this washi tree is 100% cat proof but alas, about 2.5 seconds after I declared her ‘done’ Peter was all up in that corner trying to tear the tape off the walls. Yes he’s still living, but no we’re not speaking. However, sticking some tape back on the wall occasionally is a lot better than cleaning up shattered ornaments and pine needles every morning and night. I tried putting a fan in front of the tree when I was gone thinking the noise would keep him away, but our Peter here is fearless. Joy.

In an attempt to save Christmas I splurged on 15 feet of real pine garland and swagged that shit around the archway into the big empty room. I would of course have liked to have it extend all the way to the floor BUT WE DON’T ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT DO WE SANTA? Peter has yet to jump high enough to attack the garland so I’m calling that a success. The rest of the household surfaces higher than cat level are just a rearrangement of regular tchotchkes and dollar store Christmas crap. Nothing special to see here, moving along.

In a final display of holiday cheer I wrapped Myrtle, our street find dress form, in Christmas lights and put everything else away for next year. I like her standing in the corner all quietly illuminated and if Peter chews those wires and gets a little bit a electrocuted well, it probably won’t kill him. Happy Holidays everyone.