Hey all you hurricane hipsters, hopefully Hurricane Irene will blow out to the ocean and this whole state-of-emergency situation will have just been the government’s effort to revitalize the economy through the mass purchase of flashlights (you know us Greeks love our conspiracy theories) but just in case here are some tips for staying storm styling during Hurricane Irene:::
If you’re like me and totally unprepared for any sort of emergency and don’t own a flashlight, shame on you! By now, all the flashlights are gone. Even finding candles in the drugstores is getting hard. Get creative. Barnes & Noble* is a tranquil oasis right now, and they just so happen to sell a wide variety of battery-operated reading lights. Just because it’s for reading, doesn’t mean you can’t use it to find your can opener if the lights go out.
While you’re there, pick up the Barnes & Noble* ereader the nook if you don’t already have one. Charge it up pronto and download some books. If the power is out for a long time, you’ll have plenty of reading material.
It’s still a good idea to have some candles on hand. If you can’t find any at the drugstore or grocery store, that’s okay. Class it up with some scented candles from Bath & Body Works. I picked up the Cranberry Woods one during the winter holiday sale and am loving it; right now their summer scents are on sale. (PS: I’m obsessed with the Black Currant Vanilla aromatherapy line, if you ever want to buy me a you’re-my-favorite-blogger gift. But that could be weird if I don’t know you. Hm, never mind.)
Speaking of scents, if we don’t have access to water that means you won’t be able to shower. I suggest some perfume or body splash to keep you smelling fresh. I’ve got Bath & Body Works‘ Plumeria body splash (which always makes me think of my Hawaiian friend from undergrad) and Zara‘s Creme (which my sister gave me). And remember, just because you can’t shower doesn’t mean you shouldn’t reapply your deoderant.
Now you may not be able to wash your hair but you can use an oil-absorbing dry shampoo. I’ve used the TRESemme dry shampoo with mixed results. That said, I do favor their regular shampoo and condition. And, they don’t test on animals.
Another great animal- and eco-friendly company is The Body Shop, where I’ve been shopping since middle school. I love the Tea Tree Oil line, and today stocked up on their cleansing wipes in case I won’t have access to water to wash my face. Bonus: there’s a buy 2 get 1 free sale on select lines right now at The Body Shop.
While at The Body Shop, I also picked up anti-bacterial hand sanitzers in my most favorite scents satsuma and pink grapefruit. I normally advise against these sorts of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers because I fear using it will lead to the creation of a resistant super-bug, but hey, you’ve got to have clean hands somehow if there isn’t good old-fashioned soap and water. Plus these ones smell amazing, unlike some brands that smell like rubbing alcohol.
If you wear contacts, keep your stylish glasses in an easy to locate place. In fact, make a to-go bag of all your critical necessities (medication, keys, cash, etc.).
Now in terms of food, non-perishables does not have to mean SPAM! The Village Voice published a great piece called “How to Stock Up for Irene: A Gourmet Guide to Hoarding.” And all you Gripsters (Greek hipsters) will be happy to know they call stuffed grape leaves (ahem, dolmathes) ” the queen of canned vegetable matter.” A shout out to my Swedish side, they also suggest Swedish hardtack.
I’m getting word via social media that the Trader Joe‘s line is crazy insane right now (which, really, is nothing new), but another great Greek food to have on hand is the Trader Joe’s Kalamata olive spread. If you get it fresh in Astoria like you normally would it will need to be refrigerated, which isn’t good if the power goes out. But the Trader Joe’s version doesn’t need to be refrigerated til after it’s opened.
Nutella!
Have some nuts on hand for protein. Unsalted is best so you don’t drink all your water.
Instead of potato chips, why not veggie chips? I got mine from Gourmet Garage.
I couldn’t find a single jug of water. But you know what I could find? Perrier. Now I can feel fancy during the storm. And to ghetto it up, before the storm hits, fill up your Brita water filter, travel mugs, coffee pots, flower vases, sauce pots, you name it, with tap water just in case.
I’ve seen a lot of people buying alcohol. Not to sound like your yiayia but I’d caution against drinking alcohol during Hurricane Irene. Not only will it dehydrate you, causing you to drink more of whatever precious water you have, but should you need to evacuate you need to be as clear-headed as possible.
You should indulge in something though. I recommend chocolate! My friend Sally gave me a milk-chocolate bark and a dark-chocolate bark from Jacques Torres Chocolate. Let’s not forget about the Greek American chocolate brand Chocolate Moderne I mentioned in my recap of the Gabby Awards after party. Gourmet chocolate won’t prevent the hurricane but if you’re stuck inside your apartment during torrential rains you might as well eat something sinfully delicious.
How are you staying storm stylin’?
*I work for a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.
Tags: Barnes & Noble, Bath and Body Works, Body Shop, Brita, Chocolate Moderne, conspiracy theory, ereader, food and drink, Gabby Awards, Gourmet Garage, Gripster, Hurricane Irene, Jacques Torres, nook, Nutella, Perrier, style, Trader Joe's, Zara
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 