Summertime is prime time for the Farmer's Market.  I mean, the markets are exploding with homegrown goodness like blackberries, peaches, blueberries, tomatoes, zucchini, squash and garlic. I could go on and on. Half the fun is discovering that special buy for the day like a particularly good batch of berries or a lively bunch of rainbow chard.  Last Saturday, it was this colorful assortment of tomatoes. I picked up two pints to bring home.  I do have tomatoes in my garden, but they have yet to ripen, so I sprung for a good local buy. Win-win. 

The next part of Farmer's Market fun is deciding what to do with your special purchases. I decided to oven roast my pint-sized buddies. Roasting tomatoes really concentrates their flavor and can be a great addition to any dish that needs a little something to make it sing.  I cut my tomatoes in half and spread them onto a baking sheet and set my oven to 350 degrees. 

Next, I tossed my lovelies in olive oil, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some evaporated cane juice to bring out the natural sweetness of the tomatoes and to help them caramelize. 

The tomatoes roasted for about 50 minutes. They will  shrink up and caramelize around the edges.  Notice the oily sludge on the bottom right picture. I couldn't help scraping some of the sweet, oily goodness off the baking sheet once I pulled the tomatoes out of the oven. 

These colorful buddies made it into a glass storage jar before landing in a summer linguine dish the next night. I cooked whole wheat pasta and tossed it with shredded zucchini and squash(from my garden), garlic, red pepper flake and parmesan. I gave a final toss with the oven roasted tomatoes and it certainly made all the difference. Party in my tummy. 

I can't wait to see what the market has in store for me this week. I look forward to sharing my finds and recipes with you next week. As always, please feel free to share your finds. I'd love to see your local buys. 

Collecting vintage clothes and purses has long been at the top of my  list of "things that make me happy."  There is something truly wonderful about discovering treasures in unlikely places and creating an individual style.  It's a creative outlet that really resonates with me. 

 I was trying to pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with vintage clothes and can trace it back to the garage of an ex-boyfriend's Argentinian mother who happened to be a hoarder and a little cuckoo. Her best friend was a bird and she hoarded everything from scraps of cardboard to fake flowers to receipts from the 1970's. She also happened to have insane treasures like vintage Emilio Pucci and Gucci handbags. I was able to pry the Pucci and a few purses from her grips which began my love for collecting vintage fashion and made the days  spent cleaning her garage and listening to Klezmer music on vinyl all worthwhile.  I wish I were making this up.  

When it comes to clothing, I  have always been a bit impractical. I gravitate toward statement pieces that would be far too obvious to wear repeatedly.  If I did, people would say things like-...."There's that girl with the red Hawaiian muumuu again!!" or "If I have to see those saddle shoes one more time, there's going to be hell to pay!"

For me, vintage pieces offer that "one-of-a-kind" quality without draining my wallet, which means I get more statement pieces (so I'm not always wearing the same thing) at a fraction of the cost.  I always wondered how broke New Yorker's managed to have impeccable style, pay exorbitant rents and still eat. Well, this is how.

I wanted to share some of my most recent purchases from my trip to Philadelphia where I stumbled upon the vintage boutique Puss in Boots. They were in the process of relocating so the items below were on sale for a grand total of $23.00. 
I mean, does it get any better? 

I hope to continue to share my finds with you and the outfits that come out of my shopping adventures. Please feel free to share your treasures with me. Leave a comment or send me a photo at keia[at]the-sunnysideup.com. Happy Tuesday! 

Hello! Summer is finally here and I am feeling the sunshine on all accounts. I had a lovely week visiting with friends, working on my short story, getting back to my regular exercise routine, cosmic thrifting, volunteering and enjoying the fruits of my vegetable garden for which I am very grateful. 

This morning I went for an early morning run on Fisher Farm, a family owned farm donated to the public for recreation. Then, I had the pleasure of joining my running partner at her farmhouse where we picked fresh bluberries and enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the country. Feeling pretty lucky today and it's not even noon! 

Before we get to today's very appropriate jam, I wanted to share a couple shots from the farm this morning via my Instagram app... 

I chose today's tune for its perfect slow groove and soulful cadence. The lyrics  express my sentiment exactly:
                              "Just gimme the sunshine. All bout the sunshine. Everything's better when the sun shines. "
At least, that's how I feel here on the Sunnysideup! 
Any good plans for your summer? Please share away.
Happy Friday!!

There is something so hopeful about this photograph by Youngna Park and, after the particularly challenging week I had last week, it is the perfect inspiration for this Monday. 

For the record, nothing tragic happened. My life was not turned upside down, nor did I lose anything close to me. Instead, my challenges came from within. Old insecurities reared their ugly heads and I spent an emotional week being painfully aware of their return. 

One of the mantras I hold dear to my heart is "Happiness is an inside job" and its weeks like this past one that remind me why that is so true.  It is also one of the reasons that I began this blog; to chronicle those moments and experiences that lead to a better me and happier lifestyle. 

Often, my moments of growth are not warm and fuzzy lessons candy-coated for easier absorption. My moments of growth are giant sucker punches of self-awareness that force me to either sit in a really uncomfortable space or change.  Every week, I have the opportunity to start fresh and let the sunshine in, just like this photo. 

This week, I'm focusing on small changes to nurture the inside job  like spending a few quiet moments in the morning to myself, eating nutritious meals and returning to regular exercise. I also bought this print for my office.  Two cheers for impulse buys! 

Anyways, I hope this week is a good one for you. I know it's gonna be a helluvalot better for me. Happy Monday! 

Last weekend, I spent most of Saturday giving the house a good scrub, dancing by myself and listening to some old school jams.  I made my way back to 1988 and found this gem by Inner City. Gotta love the soulful voice and feelgood lyrics. 
No more bad times, only glad times. Good life, indeed. Happy Friday! 

During a recent trip  and first time visit to Philadelphia, we made a special stop at the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP). It seems a bit of an oxymoron to call a penitentiary a sunny place, but for the record, the sun was out the day we visited ESP.  If you can't tell by the photo on your left, the place was fascinating and uber-creepy. 

ESP is where the movie 12 Monkeys was filmed, where Al Capone was imprisoned and one of the first places Charles Dickens came to visit when he came to America. ESP also made an appearance on Ghost Hunters. 

ESP sticks out like a medieval sore thumb in the contemporary urban landscape of today's Philadelphia.  It's haunting facade serves as a distinctive relic of a different time and place. Built in 1829, ESP was the world's very first prison and remained an active penitentiary for 142 years. 

The first thing you notice from the outside is the ominous castle-like presence which, we learned, was an intentional part of the design aesthetic. It was meant to evoke fear and dread much like the castles of old. When the prison was first built, it sat by itself atop a hill, its 40-foot walls a cautionary image built to remind citizens to abide the law.  Today, ESP sits smack dab in the center of one of Philly's distinct neighborhoods on Fairmount Avenue. 

At ESP, they give free one-hour long guided tours of the facility which sounded like the most informative way to go about the property.  Hmmm....not so much. Maybe it was the day, maybe our tour guide was new or maybe she was hungover,  I'm not sure.  Whatever the reason,  our tour lasted about 20 minutes and covered a fraction of the grounds. 

When asked if our group had any questions, I piped up and asked about a picture of a man that listed him as one of ESP's "Most Notorious Criminals."  That question led to a lengthy silence followed by more awkward and uncomfortable silence. We never did get an answer and soon after that,  the "one-hour" tour was over. 

Not to worry, we jumped on the audio tour which turned out to be THE way to go. The audio tour was narrated by Steve Buscemi, one of my favorite actors and led to a three-hour exploration of ESP. We had an amazing time walking the grounds and seeing this established ruin in all its ghostly glory. 

ESP was America's very first prison and quite state-of the-art for its time. It even had heated and running water before the White House did.  I learned that when the prison first opened in 1829, every inmate was placed in solitary confinement. Each inmate had his  own individual cell and small exercise yard. The goal of solitary confinement was penitence or regret for harms done. The prison was designed with sky-lit vaulted ceilings to evoke the feeling of a church or monastery where quiet reflection was the norm. ESP is touted as an established ruin today and inspires a sort of shock and awe as you take a look around and learn about its history. 

Inmates were often subject to cruel punishments and stints in solitary confinement so restrictive, it would make them  go mad or blind. When unruly inmates were placed in the "hole" they were often supplied only with a metal rack for a bed, no mattress and a bucket to use as a toilet. Prison guards would often serve only bread and water as meals to those inmates. We got to climb down into the dank "hole" and have a look. It almost makes prison life today look like a room at the Ritz. One time in the "hole" on a guided tour was enough for me.  Just sayin. 

In addition to the stunning grounds and well-kept ruins, ESP hosts a seasonal haunted house that would most likely make me pee my pants and had art installations weaved throughout the property. Well worth the meager $12 admission price. I didn't expect to enjoy going to prison as much as I did, but I'm so glad I decided to check it out. It was an unexpected bright spot on our vacation. 

I recently wrote a post leading up to my recent trip to Philadelphia reflecting on where I was a year ago and the intentions I set at the beginning of this year to add more joy  to my life. What I found was that I had already manifested a good chunk of those goals and a new list of intentions/goals were in order.  I found this feelgood piece of art and thought that this might be a good place to start. 

The more I travel down the road to happy living, the more I realize that my goals are based less on the material and more on my personal interactions with the world and how I react to it. That being said, my new list will, of course,  have tangible goals, but I wanted to share with you the umbrella under which they will sit. The above image is a starting point, a handy guide to making a list with the right motives. The goal of the list before the list is to distance myself from ego, a task much easier said than done but most certainly worth striving toward. 

Take a look at the list- Which one could benefit you? Where can you make improvements? What do you stand to gain by living the above statements? 

I'm looking forward to sharing my new list for the remainder of  this year with you and welcome you all to share yours  with me.  Send me an email at keia[at] the-sunnysideup.com or leave a comment here. Happy Tuesday! 

Summer is in full effect which means that the garden is reaping the benefits of full sun and my plants are happy. Plus, we just got some delicious rain last night. I have been steadily working on the addition of an herb garden (lemon thyme, basil, rosemary, cilantro, dill, parsley, lavender, oregano) in a small space on the side of my house and have recently begun my education in perennials. Which brings me to these lovely ladies.  Meet the Susans. 

One of the most rewarding things about gardening, for me, is being witness to the evolution of something beautiful. Forgive me if I sound like a fairy-dust snorting hippie, but nature is magical. I love watching the flowers bloom and grow, knowing that I contributed something small to these perfect creations. 

Love my ladies. Can't wait to show you the before and after pictures of the herb garden once all the work is done there. If you have some pictures of your garden, please share! I'd love to see what y'all are cultivating. Happy Sunday! 

Good Afternoon! Pardon the late post, but  I've had a seriously productive morning/early afternoon.  I hardly think you'll be disappointed after you hear this one.  I found today's jam while listening to this the other day and have been snappin my fingers and singing this choon much to the chagrin of the Mister and my cats ever since. That was four days ago.

I can't get it out of my head nor do I want to.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Sing along if you fancy it- you're not alone, I swear. 

"Noh-matta what I saaaaaaaaay or do......I'm so in love with you, woooooooo, yeaaa!" 
Happy Friday!!! 

Hello! I got back  Monday night from a much needed trip to Philadelphia where I  visited one of my bestest buddies, attended the 4th Annual Roots Picnic and explored Philly for the first time.  Besides perfect weather, Philly turned out to be the perfect city for my tastes. Not too big and marinated with history, Philly definitely showed me some love. 

I knew that Philadelphia was the central hub of our forefathers, but was surprised to learn just how many  of the nation's "firsts" came from this town.  Philadelphia was the nation's first capital, had the  first banking system, the first government and first ever prison. 

There is rich history at every turn, lovely architecture and culture embedded in each distinctive neighborhood. The Mister and I stayed with my bestie in her apartment building that was easily 100 years old. Inside there were hand-carved staircases, vintage tilework, tall ceilings and a "this place has GOT to be haunted" vibe that made the whole experience authentic. 

Our weekend included EATING, lots and lots of eating, sightseeing, dancing and meandering about the city. We got to experience everything from cheesesteaks to the Liberty Bell, the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP), a wicked music festival hosted by the Legendary Roots Crew and sweet vintage finds in between. Our trip to the Eastern State Penitentiarywas so spectacular that I have a whole 'nother blog post dedicated to it.  

Here's a look at our trip......

Like I said, we ate our way through Philly and took no prisoners. Here's a bite-by-bite account of our stops ...

Cheesesteaks: We quickly learned that the best cheesesteaks are almost everywhere in Philadelphia and that it really comes down to your preference and good bread, of course.  It's GOT to be soft in the middle.  There are are also two camps of firm believers- those that believe in the Whiz (Cheese Whiz, that is) and those who don't. I tried sandwiches with and without and enjoyed both.  We had sandwiches at Campos in Old City Phila and George's on South Street. 

Mama Veg's: The Mister and I found this gem-in-the-wall on our first walkabout in the city. You should know that I'm a sucker for falafel or anything slathered in tahini so, as soon as I saw a group of locals wearing yamakas inside this kosher, middle eastern eatery, I knew this was a real deal place to grab bite. It certainly did not disappoint. 

We opted for the vegetable latke sandwich which came in a whole wheat pita schmeared with hummus and a spicy sauce topped with one of their famous falafel, cucumber, lettuce and tahini- a vegetarian gutbuster. 

Mercato: We came here on our first night for a cozy dinner at this Italian-inspired eatery. The best part of this place is that their Executive Chef won an episode of the Food Network show, Chopped. Mercato had a killer octupus salad ripe with capers, olives and lemony-arugula. I had cioppino, a spicy Italian seafood stew, for dinner and we all had afogato for dessert which was perfect on a full stomach. An afogato is espresso with a scoop of ice cream and a couple ladyfingers for dunking. The espresso mixed with the sweet creaminess of the ice cream is a perfect pair and pick-me-up all in one. 

La Colombe: If you want a great cup of coffee or delicious espresso, you MUST come to La Colombe. The long line for coffee moved quickly and the service super friendly. They also serve La Colombe coffee at breakfast joints all over town. We had some at Day by Day and Sabrina's Cafe. 

Speaking of... Sabrina's Cafe was a fantastic breakfast spot! We strolled by this  sidewalk spot while shopping in the Italian Market and spotted some dope dishes, like the cream cheese and banana stuffed challah french toast, that made me do a double-take. We came back the next day to eat for ourselves. The portions were generous and obviously cooked from scratch with lots of love. They also had a brunch menu with dishes named after characters in the Neverending Story which scored points in my book big time!  

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant: We traveled to University City to meet a friend and eat at Abyssinia. We sat around a mesab, a traditional Ethiopian dinner table and sampled wat (spicy stews)  from all corners of the menu including Doro Wat (chicken), Sega Wat(lamb) and Beef tips. We loaded up on veggie sides like spicy lentils, collard greens and yellow split peas. Everything was served atop injera bread which soaked up all the delicious flavors. No utensils here- we all happily ate with our hands. 

Varallo Bros: Holy Italian Bakery! We came here for breakfast and fuggedaboutit! I had a cappucino and a sfogliatelle and the Mister instantly ordered half a dozen of their famous cannoli to go which we ate with our homemade pizza later that evening.  Say it with me in your finest NY Italian accent- "This shit is to die for."

I could go on and on about our trip. The food and the sights were only part of it. I can't even begin to tell you about how The Roots and Black Thought rocked my world or about my new music interest, Hank & Cupcakes, an indie duo from Crooklyn via Israel. 

 I've got a post coming up about our visit to the Eastern State Penitentiary and another on some of my vintage finds on South Street. Thanks for reading, especially if you made it this far in the post. Philadelphia is the biz. That is all.