May Coffee Chat
Getting "ma'amed", taking myself on a date, and what I found on the CDs I burned back in 2007.
Welcome back to my monthly coffee chat! This is where I share my life in a personal, unfiltered way that you don’t get on my primary recipe site Well Plated, or even on Instagram. No ads, no algorithms, no AI. It’s just me, your friend Erin, and I’m so happy you are here. Let’s catch up!
Recent Travel
Sweet (Damp) Home Milwaukee
We’ve been in Milwaukee for six days, and today is the first that it hasn’t rained. I opened our front door wide, even though it’s only 55°F. I’m so happy to see the sun again, I had to get personal with it.
It’s been an excellent week of discoveries, the first of which was how delicious donuts taste covered in Oreo cookie crumbs (see above), and the second of which was a cache of CDs I burned in the early 2000s.
Even though neither of our computers has a CD player, we figured out a way to listen, and I must say, the songs still hit. More in “Confessional” below!
Instead of closing our front door, I opted to bundle in my thickest, most oversized sweatsuit. (When friends ask if Ben and I ever get, um, distracted by each other while working together during the day, my current attire should end the speculation.)
“But Erin, you live in Milwaukee and Utah,” they say. “Aren’t you used to the cold?”.
I have a theory that everyone who asks this question probably doesn’t live somewhere with a long winter.
Unseasonable cold is not something one “gets used to,” or at least I haven’t figured out how during my 20 years living “up north.”
It is humbling to admit how much sunshine affects my mood. I should be stronger than relentless clouds or sideways rain, but my spirit can only take so much gray, it seems.
It’s been almost six months since we were in Milwaukee, and we’ve been squeezing in time with as many friends as possible. Our weekends and evenings have been mostly spent in living rooms, off of our phones, and deep into conversations, bottles of wine, and boxes of donuts.
Most of our friends have kids, and I laugh when I imagine their perspective seeing us all sitting around. Grown-ups are so boring. All we do is talk!
Dating Myself (Literally and Figuratively) in NYC
One of the funniest parts of getting older, something I’ve been thinking about a lot after turning 39 this month and sharing the 5 Ways I'm Closing Out My 30s, is realizing that when outsiders look at me, they don’t see a 22-year-old…or even a 32-year-old.
Case in point: I got “ma’amed” in my New York City hotel lobby last week during a quick 48-hour work trip.
It was 5:30 p.m., and I ordered a spritz to sip while catching up on some computer work.
A voice floated in from my left saying, “Ma’am, we don’t allow laptops in here.” I completely ignored it.
I wasn’t trying to be rude—I didn’t realize he was talking to me. Who the heck is Ma’am?? I am a Miss.
Aren’t I? (This is rhetorical.)
Admittedly, I was overdue for my Botox (an appointment I took care of immediately upon my return to Milwaukee, right after my haircut, dentist visit, and eyebrow wax—the joys of coming home), but still ma’am.
Here I am.
I had a free solo night and afternoon in NYC, which I spent taking myself on two “dates,” first for drinks and dinner, then for a Broadway matinee.
Whenever I’m in NYC, I make an effort to seek out food I can’t get in either Milwaukee or Park City, and since I was near Koreatown, it was an easy choice.
After a delish dill pickle martini at Little Ned, I headed to Her Name is Han, where I ordered dumplings, a curry salad, and ginger chicken noodle soup.
The server informed me I selected too much food for one person, and I informed her it’s ok, because I’m from the Midwest and we have big appetites.
In the end, I managed to finish all but one dumpling. I don’t know if she was appalled or impressed, but I did earn a respectful nod from the busboy as he cleared my plates.
On Broadway, I saw & Juliet, a musical about what would have happened if, instead of taking her own life, Juliet had decided to live on after Romeo.
The show music is entirely ‘90s through ‘2010s pop hits, which was especially appropriate since former N-SYNC star Joey Fatone played a male lead. I was VERY excited about seeing a middle school crush…until he walked on stage.
Let’s just say, my hopes for an older heartthrob did not come to fruition (he has not aged quite as well as JT), but it was fun to see him making a life for himself and being unafraid to poke fun at the boyband era.
I’ve been working tirelessly to update my New York City restaurant guide with dozens of new entries and photos. From bars, to bagels, to restaurants that are worth your time, money, (and calories!) this list has it all.
Like all my travel guides, my restaurant picks are meticulously researched, and I even include popular places if I didn’t think they lived up to the hype.
Erin’s Random Musings
I’m not sure if this is normal, but EVERYTHING makes me think of a song. Foam rolling after a hard leg workout? I’ll start singing John Mellencamp’s “Hurts so Good.” Pretty view? Taylor Swift’s “Gorgeous” gets stuck in my head. I drip peanut butter on my new PJs? My brain plays Noah Kahn’s “I’m a Mess.”
Do you have an unused gift card drawer? I just went through mine yesterday and need to sign up for about three massages, shop for several cookbooks at Barnes & Noble, and go out for a steak dinner. Challenge accepted.
It’s frustrating how expensive it is to choose healthier fast food. Our Sweetgreen bill was nearly $40 for two salads after tax and a modest tip. How much of that price is driven by the ingredients, and how much of it is driven by the fact that the sort of people who order a salad are also the sort willing to overpay for one?
Confessional
I have a fatal attraction to punk rockers. Adam Levine is on my list,1 and I had a crush on my high school boyfriend’s best friend because he could play Green Day on guitar.
I think it’s a combination of the charisma of seeing someone on stage and the persona of a rockstar being the opposite of my buttoned-up, Type A self.
Plus, let’s be honest—musicians are inherently hot.
Punk pop (think Yellowcard, Blink-182, Good Charlotte, All-American Rejects, etc.) was the anthem of my high school and college, a musical chapter I’m currently reliving after finding a collection of CDs I burned sometime between 2003 and 2008.
To this day, I can’t listen to “Ocean Avenue” without envisioning myself as Yellowcard’s electric violinist.
^^That sentence alone I’m pretty sure solidifies me as a ma’am.
The first CD I listened to (thanks to this external CD/DVD player) is called “Speed Limits? Suggestions! KS-WI Road Trip Part 5.”
Highlights include “My Own Worst Enemy” (by Lit), “I Want You to Want Me” (Cheap Trick), and of course “Ocean Avenue” (my boys and imaginary bandmates, Yellowcard).
Anyone interested in a Spotify playlist of the hits?
What I’m Cooking Off the Blog
Ben and I work most weekends (reality of owning your own biz), and I couldn’t remember the last time I cooked a big weekend breakfast for the two of us, just because. Nothing to me says weekend like WAFFLES, so I turned to one of our old favorites, this recipe from King Arthur Flour. They’re golden, unfussy, fluffy, and crisp.
Ingredients
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups buttermilk* (397g)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled (113g)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (210g)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar (25g)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Butter, pure maple syrup, jam: for serving
Instructions
Preheat your waffle iron. If you’d like to keep the waffles warm between batches, preheat the oven to 225°F.
In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients (it doesn’t matter which you pour into which bowl), stirring with a wooden spoon until the batter is nearly smooth with a few small lumps remaining.
Cook the waffles according to your machine’s directions, using nonstick spray if needed. If your iron doesn’t have a timer, watch for the batter to stop steaming. Enjoy immediately, or place the waffles on a wirerack set atop a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
Notes
*These taste their best with buttermilk, but I often swap “clabbered milk,” a popular substitute made by stirring regular milk with 1 tablespoon white vinegar; let it sit for 5 minutes, stir again, then use as directed.
Things I’ve Tried and Liked
Wide Headband Multi-Pack. (wearing above) Super soft and ideal for extending the amount of time between hair washes. No headaches and comes in every color!
Rothy’s Clogs (ON SALE!). These are super comfy, on trend, and machine washable. I wore them all over NYC.
Rainbow Stone Necklace. (wearing above) My sisters gave me this for my birthday (in color “Dawn”), and I’ve been wearing it almost every day. It’s so cute on its own or layered with other necklaces.
The World’s Best Waffle Iron. Through my job as a food blogger, I have tried many brands over the years, and this one is 1000% worth the pricetag. No sticking (even without spray), and the crispy outside to fluffy inside execution is flawless.
Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter. I’m still carrying a torch for the discontinued RX Vanilla Almond Butter, and this is a very close second. Delish on toast, mixed with yogurt, or let’s be real—eaten off of the spoon.
Lake Pajamas. OMG. I can’t believe how obsessed I have become. Super soft, not see-through, and no night sweats. They live up to the hype!
Discount Codes & Resources
Clean Simple Eats. Get 10% off with code WELLPLATED at checkout. They make my favorite protein powder. I also bring these greens packets with me when traveling.
Caraway. 10% off with code WELLPLATED, on top of lots of Mother’s Day promos going on right now. These pretty pans are a breeze to clean, non-toxic, and would make a lovely gift.
My Amazon Storefront. Ever wonder what products I use in my own kitchen? You can find them all in my easy-to-shop storefront.
Nutrafol. I’ve taken this daily for 2 years and see a noticeable difference in my hair volume. Get $20 your first shipment with this link.
Rent the Runway. I am a HUGE fan of monthly clothing rentals. I spend less overall, try fun trends risk-free, and always have something fun and new in my closet. Get 40% off your first month with this link.
Nuuly. Another clothing rental service I’ve used. It’s a little less expensive than RTR, and the selection is less formal/premium. It’s worth testing out if you have a more casual style or want fun, more casual pieces to wear out. Get $30 off with this link.
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*As seen in Friends, a pre-approved list of 5 celebrities for whom your significant other grants you a free pass for a fling.
Just ordered the PJs - appreciate the recommendation!
Loved the chat! You’re definitely not a ma’am!! No way! And glad to see the food you ordered and enjoyed at Her Name is Han. Looked wonderful & just the right amount to enjoy different dishes & flavors! Too many people are uncomfortable eating alone & just order in, but you got the whole experience!