Lucky Guy

As the Tony Awards get closer and closer, I'm trying to keep up with the Broadway shows I want to see most. There are so many! But if I had to pick one, Lucky Guy starring Tom Hanks is at the top of my list. It's the last play written by the brilliant and talented Nora Ephron before she passed away. I'm such a huge fan of her writing and am eager to see her last piece.

Are you planning on seeing any plays in New York this spring? In case Lucky Guy is on your list, a reminder: Previews are set to begin this week. :)

(Image via Boneau/Bryan-Brown)

Romance in the rain

Whoa, another cold and rainy day in New York! But all these end-of-winter showers bring plenty of opportunities for impromptu romance, right? :) That's why I love this heart-shaped umbrella from Obaz. What a cute—and stylish—idea! Besides, a pop of red on a dreary day is the best antidote to gloom. 

What do you think: Is a rainy day romantic or not?

More rain here and here and here.

Plus, my favorite rain scene of all time. 

(Image 1, Image 2)

DIY flowers at home

How often do you buy fresh flower arrangements to sprinkle around your home? It's a new tradition I've started since moving to Brooklyn—and a cheap investment that brightens up our entire space. I'm lucky—Edelweiss Floral Atelier is a new shop in Cobble Hill, and one that happens to be located along the route I walk home. The selection—and the owner's expertise—makes stopping in to put together a bouquet so much fun. 

Another option? Buy flowers at the supermarket. These tips for how to arrange a bouquet like a professional from Joanna over at A Cup of Jo are great and really easy to do.

Do you buy flowers for your home on a regular basis? What's your favorite bloom?

(Images via Instagram)  

Oscars recap

The Academy Awards: Let's discuss. :) The five ladies above—Jennifer Garner, Jennifer Lawrence, Jennifer Aniston, Amy Adams and Halle Berry—scored my vote for best dressed.  

Quvenzhané Wallace stole the show with her cutie personality. 

How elegant was Charlize Theron during Seth MacFarlane's opening monologue? 

And Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe were a hoot.

Plus, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner might be the sweetest couple ever (something I've always believed). Did you read about their pre-awards show mayhem? Plus, way to go Ben!

Last, two words: Jennifer Hudson. That girl can sing. 

Now, your turn: What did you love most about this year's show?

(Images via People Style Watch and Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! Did you have a good week? This one was a short one—but still, action-packed. Since most of my boxes are finally unpacked, I'm celebrating...with a girls' night out! :) I'm also hoping to get to work on an exciting new project: More details coming soon. In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely weekend. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

The best medicine.

A cute—and pink—coat!

Because I own at least three of these CDs.

A cool calling card. 

Don't forget: The Oscars! (Plus, a downloadable ballot.)

Adding spring in your step.

The most beautiful London bride.

When can I move in?

A candlelit supper.

Because we all need a reason to smile.    

(Image via Pinterest) 

Baby (bump) love!

Much like the rest of the world, I was so excited to see Kate Middleton finally reveal her baby bump this week at her first public appearance since her vacation last week with William. How stylish is her Max Mara wrap dress? This kicks off a few weeks of public appearances for the princess, and I, for one, can't wait to follow her every step. Perhaps this is because I have babies on the brain: Both my best friend and my cousin gave birth to their almost-born-during-Nemo babies in the last 7 days, and I am over the moon!

Are you keeping up with Princess Kate's royal appearances...or am I the only one? :)

(Image 1, Image 2) 

Mapping Manhattan

What if New York were a blank slate, and you could map it out the way you imagined it to be? That's what author Becky Cooper attempts to do with her new book Mapping Manhattan: A Love (and Sometimes Hate) Story in Maps by 75 New Yorkers. I first heard about the book when I saw postcards for it in Ted and Honey—my new, go-to neighborhood spot, and where Becky apparently works.

The book is an inspired idea. In 2009, Becky passed out hundreds of hand-drawn maps of NYC and asked the strangers she gave them to for one thing: To fill out the map with whatever best captures your experience in New York. A month later—and flooded with mail—Becky got exactly what she wanted: Beautiful self-portraits of New Yorkers providing their own artful definitions of the city they call home.

This past weekend, the New York Times' Sunday Magazine wrote about the book and reprinted a few of the maps featured in the book. I love this one, called "Met My Wife", and this one, which captures the geography of significant moments in one man's life.

Have you ever thought about how you would define the place you live? How would you do it?

(Images via The New York Times) 

A boy and his dog

Are you following the Instagram feed of this little boy—named Tasuku—and his dog, Muu? The adventures this duo share together, dutifully chronicled by Tasuku's mom Aya over in Japan, are too cute for words. It makes me want a puppy, like whoa.

Have you ever been this close with a pet?

Meet my family's dog here and here.

(Images via Yahoo)

The weekend is here!

It's Friday, already?! And a long weekend, too. What do you have planned for the next few days off? I'm having a re-do on last weekend since Nemo got in the way of the majority of my plans (although I did have fun!). This means, at long last: a haircut! I'm so overdue. I'm trying a new place downtown, and making it a special splurge. I'll try to share pics next week. In the meantime, wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

How to walk. (And eat.)

Feeling inspired by molasses cookies and a novel idea.

A foodie decorator's daydream.

Bride+Groom+Dog.

Dessert for breakfast.

Because everyone should play the piano like this.

Pretty shoes.

Bright blues and yellows.

Because you're a genius.

An ode to rom coms.

From the point of view of a six-year-old.

(Image via Pinterest)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, my darling readers! Are you doing anything special to celebrate? It's funny—Valentine's Day really isn't my thing. But Matt loves the holiday, and always finds a way to make it special. This year, we decided to compromise: We're staying in to cook! The plan is to rewind back to our third date when Matt whipped up these delicious mango, black bean and poplano quesadillas. They are delicious (but a lot of work to prepare)! So as a special treat, we're making these tonight, and bringing this recipe back into the mix. :)

After dinner, the plan is to go out for hot cocoa at the Chocolate Room, one of our new neighborhood spots.

What are you doing? Staying in? Going out? Whatever the plan, remember how sweet you are—and that you are loved!

(Image 1, 2) 

Books Page: What I'm reading now

What are you reading this month? Now that I have a longer commute, I love that I plenty of time to actually delve into a book. And maybe even get through a chapter or two! :) 

Right now, I'm juggling two books at once: "Where'd you go Bernadette?" by Maria Semple and "Wallflower at the Orgy," another Nora Ephron book. They are both so good! 

Do you ever alternate between books and read two at the same time? 

More book picks here.

(Image 1, 2)

Girls

Are you watching Girls? While I was packing up my Upper East Side apartment, I decided to do a marathon of episodes from season 1. Now, I'm hooked! It's just a fun, New York-y show—and I love the quirkiness of each of the characters. I'm up to date through season 2 so if you're watching, let's discuss. :) I'll start: Marnie is one of my favorite characters, but I also love Adam. That guy is a great actor! Do you agree?

(Image 1, 2 and 3)

Sledding in New York

For those who live in New York and New England, did you survive Nemo okay? With both my cousin and best friend in Massachusetts about to welcome newborns—and a parking ban in effect there—it certainly was eventful tracking the storm! Matt and I did fine in the city. In fact, we got up early Saturday and decided to take advantage of the fresh blanket of snow by heading over to Fort Greene Park to go sledding. As you can see above, we weren't the only ones with that idea. Those kids were fearless—and certainly owned the hill—but we had a blast. Definitely a fun way to weather the storm!

What did you do during Nemo? And how much snow did you get?

More of my snowstorm pics here. 

The weekend is here!

What's on tap for your weekend? I still have so much unpacking to do. But I am going to treat myself: I'm getting my hair cut and colored at a new salon (as long as the snow doesn't get in the way). After spending so much time packing and unpacking, I'm ready for a me-time splurge! :) What do you have planned for your weekend off? Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

A lovely pink dress.

Simple joys.

His mother-in-law is Meryl Streep.

Girl crush: Allison Williams. (Plus, how cute is her dad?)

I heart balloons.

New apartment flowers! 

Inspired by Virginia Woolf.

Schmidt as Monica (and other Friends comparisons).

A never-grow-up morning.

Wedding at the museum.

(Image via Pinterest)