More Restaurant Reviews!

Guelaguetza

Mexican Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen

www.guelaguetzanyc.com
This Mexican Place was perfect for my boyfriend, friend and me when we wanted a lowkey, cheap dinner. I left STUFFED and spent less than $10. First time I have had actually legit spicy good food in a long time! Downside, they didn't serve margaritas or have free water.
Healthy: 3 it was all made fresh in the kitchen where we could watch, and it wasn't greasy or anything, but definitely not calorie free...
Cheap: 4 $9 for two tacos (one lengua, one steak) and 1/3 of chips and guac!?! cheap.
Yummy: 4 not the BEST Mexican food I have ever had but pretty darn good.
Total: 11/15

Cafe Cello

Deli in Midtown West

Healthy: 2 I had a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich...
Cheap: 3 $7 for a sandwich is normal in NY
Yummy: 4 it was good! not as good as Captain Nemo's in Irving, but good!
Total: 9/15

More things later!

Stage Managing

So as promised, here is my post about Stage Management! These will be divided into different categories;

• ·   Tips
• ·    Templates
• ·    Tutorials

(I promise the T’s was not on purpose…)

The first tip is from the PSM I am currently working with. I made a comment about how now that I am not at a music stand, my book is not at the nice incline that I like and would get from a music stand or lectern. He said he also likes his at an incline and he found a cookbook stand with adjustable incline and uses that when he is calling the show from the tech table. GENIUS! Cookbook stand is now on my list of things to look out for when I am shopping. I imagine a nice collapsible, but sturdy would be ideal, so it can fit in my backpack, but not break on the job.

I love line notes. (weird I know) But I HATE writing them out by hand… ugh. Come on people! Modern Technology and we are still living in the dark ages writing out line notes!?! no. ANYWAY here is a typing format I have adjusted and use. Click to Download I put in BOLD the words/phrases in question and will crossout things that they said wrong. Then I convert the doc to pdf and email/print as necessary. This becomes a matter of cut&paste when a digital copy of the script is available. During the run I go through the hardcopy of my script and mark with my pencil and my own shorthand. Easypeasy and super fun!

EDIT 9/5/11: Since I can't figure out how to make the link work, here is a picture of what my line mote docs look like:

As I mentioned in a previous post I am making a backstage apron as my July Apron (yes, I realize it is already August…) well I need to buy a bias tape maker and then I will be able to finish the apron. But in the mean time I will post pics of what I have done so far and the plan for finishing it.

First I had to make a template for how I wanted my apron.

Then I cut the pieces out of a $1 black bedsheet from Goodwill.

Then learn how to do the zipper I wanted so I followed the tutorials on these blogs.

http://kotkarankki.blogspot.com/2011/07/zippered-pocket-tutorial-and-bird.html

http://www.creativecutie.com/2010/06/zipper-pocket-tutorial.html

Then I made the zipper pocket for the front piece. Then I had to stop, because I want to attach the straps (made out of my homemade bias tape) on and then bias the outer edge, but alas I want the bias tape maker which I think I might get online because I think it will save me some money. But if not I shall head to JoAnns or find a place that is on my way into my job in New York City, where you can buy anything.

Until next time!

I got pretty desperate today...

Yes this is what I pushed into the city. Here is a detail on the sign.

I am not actually homeless, but I had to take a lot of stuff in that cart and decided to make a joke out of it! I made some people smile. but alas, received no tips.

til next time, 

My first major fail of the summer...

And it was something fitting into sewing AND stage managing... Some black backstage pants.

I'm too embarrassed to even show the back.

Great idea, horrible outcome. I just don't wanna wear these in public, PLUS they scream, "HOMEMADE!!!" and that is not usually what I want to go for. I guess that is what I get for measuring from my natural waist. Oh well! PJs.

Places to go NYC

At the request of some of my followers (mainly my mother) I will review some more places I have been in NYC.

Magnolia Bakery

I got a "Grand Central" cupcake (I was at Grand Central Terminal)

Pretty, huh?

Healthy- 2, I mean it's a cupcake...

Cheap- 3 at $3.25 I'm not thrilled by the price.

Yummy-5 VERY yummy!

Total: 10/15

Next up

Junior's Restaurant

I had a sandwich and a piece of cheesecake. My review only reflects the cheesecake. 

Healthy- 2, again, it's CHEESECAKE. It took me two sittings to finish this rich slice

Cheap- 3 it was about $5 for a slice, but worth every penny...(but still not cheap)

Yummy-5 MOST. DELICIOUS. CHEESECAKE. EVER.
Total 10/15

Shake Shack 

I went to the one in Madison Square Park.

Healthy- 2 Hamburger, shake, fries...I've had healthier.

Cheap-4  I got a burger, fries and shake for about $11, not bad for NYC!

Yummy-5 I was skeptical since everyone I have talked to has raved about it, it lived up to expectations!

Total: 11/15

Last but not least for today, 

Yaffa Cafe

I loved the fun quirky atmosphere I went twice in 24 hours!

Healthy- 3 everything was fairly healthy, salad comes with things etc.

Cheap-3  Nothing too cheap, nothing too pricey. 

Yummy-4 some of the food was DELISH! some of what I had was okay. But still yummy overall

Total: 10/15

That's all for today!

Aprons

I made an Apron in December as an "I am at home and have no project" project but it was so Christmas-y that I couldn't wear it every day of the year! so I made it my New Year's resolution to make an Apron a month! Here is how it is going so far...

Made from an old skirt. 

February

Complete disaster. I gave up on this one. I may pick it up later, but for now it looks like a big pink heap of yuck.

Made from an old dress that was too small.

Made from a $2 hideous skirt. Pattern is reminiscent of a Reggae Band, "Watusi" I played with for a show.

Made from a window panel from Goodwill. $1.00. 

A "June Cleaver" Apron for June. Made from a Goodwill  bed sheet.

July

 I am doing something different by making an apron for backstage! More details to follow!

Meal on a Budget AND less than 300 Calories!

This week I made a really easy fast and yummy meal AND it cost me next to nothing!
It's no gourmet meal but I didn't have to shop for anything, I had everything in my pantry.

I didn't buy this it came with the house.  $0

Deal from last week $1

From a previous dish. $0.5?

Leftover from 4th of July. I used 3. $0.60

And Grand Total price: $2.10 ($0.53 a serving!)

4 servings at 279 calories/serving!

I am pretty proud of myself!

Couponing!

Living on a budget can be tricky, but I think it just makes me get creative with shopping and eating. I am cooking things that are on sale AND things that I have coupons for while still trying to keep healthy. Amazingly, cheap foods tend to be less healthy... like the infamous ,

380 calories and 1540mg of sodium per package?!? 

I might get desperate one day, but for now I will do some couponing to avoid this.

SO some of my happy returns from coupons! The trick is knowing what coupons you have, only cutting out what you would buy anyway AND most importantly, waiting until an item goes on sale, so I browse the circulars of CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and Stop&Shop. I picked those stores because they are all on the way in to work so I don't use extra gas. (I might add Wal-Mart to this mix it's not on the way, but not too far.)

Last week I spent $6.09 and got 5 items at CVS

Here's how it broke down:

• Chex-Mix SALE 2/$3 + $.50 coupon =$1.25/package
• Lucky Charms and Reeses Puffs SALE 2/$5 + $1 coupon = $2/box
• Milk (no sale, but I needed it and it went toward gas points)
• + $4 CVS Extra Care Bucks

The receipt says I saved $14.36 today! 

Yesterday at CVS I got a real steal!

• Skintimate shave gel SALE $1.99 + $1 coupon 
• I bought two of these because I had two coupons. 
• +$2 CVS Extra Care Bucks

FREE! I bought something else I needed that wasn't on sale because I needed it so I did spend $6 but I saved $8!

At Stop&Shop the other day

• Nature Sweet Cherry Tomatoes SALE buy one ($3) get one free! +$1 coupon= $1/package

More couponing adventures to follow!

Tiny Project

 Before I left Dallas, I bought a pair of Green Pants from the thrift store for $0.50. They were just my size AND green AND on the clearance rack! I had to get them. But who REALLY wears green pants? 

They are a little too loud, even for me...

So I decided a quick fix would be to make them into cute summer shorts! A few snips and a quick hemming job and...

voilà

I love them!

Perfect for summer! $0.50 shorts!

Something for your computer

I made a fun patriotic background for my computer screen and thought I would share it with you!
Enjoy! More postings soon, I have been busy and have a lot to share!

I made a skirt!

I know it's a bit "wintry" but I already had the fabric.

Aren't the buttons adorable?

I think the interfacing I used was a little too heavy and I still have to add snaps but I am super happy with it!

Opening night tonight! I can't wait to see how the audiences like the show!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

After I read the Novella Breakfast at Tiffany's, I had to watch the movie. I enjoyed it (even though I liked the book more) and I really loved seeing Audrey Hepburn in fun outfits and eccentric accessories. I am sleeping in an eastern facing room now and the sun wakes me up around 6 every morning (even when I get to sleep in!). Anyway I was inspired by Holly Golightly and decided to make a sleeping mask!

So the day I wanted to do this, Joann's was closed already so off to Walmart where I bought everything for about $5.  

Panties?!? I know... but they were the right color and bear with me.

First I cut off the back of the underwear to use, and attached some interfacing

Then I traced a face mask pattern

And cut out two 

Then I cut out the eyelashes out of some gold sparkly ribbon.

then I folded the ribbon in half and sewed it around the perimeter. 

Notice how I used the elastic from the underwear for the headstrap.

I sewed the two sides wrong sides together, flipped it right side out ironed on adhesive backing onto the eyelashes and then ironed it on to the front of the face mask and Ta-Da!