The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? This is hard to believe, but Saturday marks one year since I made the move to Brooklyn. Crazy, right? Time definitely flies. Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Designer names 101.

The perfect red.

For the swimmer in your life.

The most sparkly bridesmaid ask.

A case for matching PJs.

Duchess Doolittle!

Signs we're over winter, a la Frozen.

Weekend wordspiration.

How to make guacamole without a recipe.

A genius tip for organizing your clutches.

Titanic, revisited via Jonah Hill.

The best scrambled eggs ever

Over the weekend, I finally made it to Colonie for brunch. This place has been on my list for a long time. I ordered their Leek and Gruyere Scramble, and it was incredible. So fluffy and flavorful! I have always loved cooking with leeks, but until now, I never thought about adding them to scrambled eggs. 

Now I can't wait to attempt it on my own: I found this delicious recipe for eggs cooked with carmelized leeks and Gruyere, served inside roasted Portobello mushrooms. Amazing. :)

How do you prefer your eggs?

PS—An egg taste test.

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Save the date

It's still a few weeks away, but tickets are sure to sell out fast: At the end of February, Film Forum is kicking off five full weeks of classic Alfred Hitchcock movies. I can't wait! My favorites are Rear Window and North by Northwest, but there are still several that I have yet to see (like Marnie and Dial M for Murder). The full schedule is available here. It seems so cool to see films like this on the big screen—and it definitely heightens the suspense. Plus, Film Forum serves up the best movie theater popcorn this city has to offer. Their secret ingredient? Sea salt!

PS—More movies at Film Forum here and here and here.

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A winter pick-me-up

I was so excited to come across this item over at Provisions by Food52. As a kid, hot water bottles were a cure for a stiff neck, but also a type of winter comfort food. I loved when my mom would take the time to boil water and fill it up, then tuck us into bed with it. There is nothing cozier than positioning one of these beneath your feet on a cold winter night. It's like your own at-home spa treatment. The best! 

(Images via Food52)

Family Google Hangouts

Do you ever set up Google hangouts with your family? It's something that my family seems to do a lot, especially during the winter months. One of us sends an email to set up a chat (usually my cousin Mark or aunt Diane) and then whoever is available—and near a computer—logs in to join. Within minutes, it's like we're all in the same room together, laughing and talking away. 

The funny part is that you'd think it would be really tough to coordinate a spontaneous meetup like that. More often that not, the last minuteness makes it work, and at least a handful of us are able to make the video call. My cousins' kids (and babies!) even get in on the action. :)

What's your favorite way to keep in touch with family that lives far away?

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? I'm excited for a pizza date with friends at Speedy Romeo's, a Brooklyn favorite of ours—now put on the map by Lena Dunham and the cast of Girls. Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Colorful DIY business cards.

Emma Thompson hates high heels.

Skip rocks from your couch.

Steven Alan, meet West Elm.

George Clooney pranks Matt Damon.

Eat a cupcake like a gentleman.

A ceramic pitcher, perfect for winter flowers.

Getting married in a lemon grove.

The prettiest fromage set.

Can I eat breakfast here?

(Image via Pinterest)

Modern love

Have you seen all the cute Valentine's Day cards over at Urbanic Paper Boutique? This card made me laugh. :) Here's another one that I love, with a video demonstration by Joy Cho. 

PS—Make your own Valentines.

(Image via Urbanic Paper Boutique)

The Price of Gold

In 1994, I was in sixth grade. My cousin (a year older than me) was learning how to figure skate, and even competed in local events. I was her biggest fan, and in turn, became mesmerized by the sport. Anytime there was a figure skating competition on TV, my sister and I would settle in to watch. We even pretended to be judges sometimes, offering our own scores for the skaters after each performance was complete. I couldn't wait for the Olympics to begin.

Then, Nancy Kerrigan was attacked. I was in shock over the brutality, and the unfolding details of the soap opera-style saga, all linked to Tonya Harding. I recorded every news report, saved every magazine clipping, and waited—with the rest of the world—to see if Nancy was able to bring home the gold in Lillehammer. 

Sure, my devotion may have been a little over the top, but at the same time, I remember how much of a hero Nancy was to me as a kid. She overcame so much to compete, and it's the first time I can remember absolutely idolizing an athlete or celebrity figure. It meant so much to me to see her do so well (even if her golden girl status was short-lived after that).

Now—20 years later—ESPN has released an awesome documentary about the scandal called The Price of Gold. For anyone who followed the events of 1994, it's a great recap, and also introduces a slightly different vantage point than the one that I had as a kid. I still think Tonya was in the wrong, but it is interesting to watch a story with such an obvious media bias unfold. 

What do you think? Is this a story you followed closely? Or am I the only one? :)

Watch Nancy perform here and here.

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What I'm reading now

This month, I have a few books in the mix—all equally hard to put down: 

1) The Most of Nora Ephron
2) Paris in Love by Eloisa James
3) Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York

I'm realizing that I'm reading a lot of short stories lately. Paris in Love is a novel, but it's written as a collection of quickie (and funny and beautiful) updates about the writer's year abroad, so it's easy to think of it in a similar light.

Truthfully, short stories are kind of perfect for my 30-minute subway commute. I can usually get through two to three, and when we arrive at my stop, I don't feel like I'm tearing myself away mid-plotline. Then, I can start fresh the next time I snag a seat on the train. 

What about you? What are you reading this month?

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next three days off? I'm looking forward to roaming around Brooklyn and catching a few Oscar-nominated films I have yet to see. :) Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Spotted! A Seinfeld reunion.

Crispy, heart-shaped potatoes.

Why we love Kate.

The Antarctic's Grand Canyon.

Shoe advice from SJP.

A reminder to dream big.

DIY wooden polaroids. So cute!

Revisiting Tonya and Nancy.

A pretty simple French twist.

Chocolate. Dipped. Mandarins. YUM.  

(Image via Note to Self)

A night out at the Carlyle

This week, I revisited my old NYC neighborhood to see Sutton Foster perform at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side. I'm a huge fan of her work—and loved her Tony Award-winning performance as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes last year—so it was a real treat to hear her sing in such a gorgeous and intimate space.

Accompanied by her long-time pianist/music director Michael Rafter, she performed a mix of Broadway classics (like "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes) to more nostalgic songs (like "Georgia on My Mind," an ode to the state she was born in and raised). But my absolute favorite tune was her hilarious and playful rendition of "Air Conditioner" by Christine Lavin. The lyrics detail the number one quality she looks for in a New York City man: "All you need is an air conditioner." :) I laughed out loud.

You can listen to the song here.
Sutton Foster's next role.
 
PS—A beautiful Carlyle Hotel wedding.

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Apartment hunting in Paris

Now that it's 2014, I'm getting so excited for my trip to France and Italy this spring—it's only five months away! Since we're bopping around to several cities this time, there's quite a bit of hotel research to do. To make it easy on ourselves, we've decided to use Airbnb again in Paris since it worked out so well the last time. The fun part: perusing all the gorgeous apartments there. Browsing through the listings, it's hard not to fantasize about living in Paris. There are so many charming little studios and 1-bedroom apartments with sweeping views of the city rooftops and the Eiffel Tower and the Seine.

Here are three apartments that are catching my eye:

- This artful spot in Saint Michel

- This cozy studio in Place D'Italie

- This beautiful home near the Champs Élysees.

What's your favorite neighborhood in Paris?

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Have you seen The Godfather?

On a rainy night in last week, Matt and I decided to rent The Godfather. Have you seen it? I was skeptical at first (full disclosure: I have a low threshold for watching even the tiniest bit of violence in films), but it was so good! I was mesmerized just watching so many acting greats: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton. And I couldn't take my eyes off James Caan. He reminded me of a young Ben Affleck, circa Good Will Hunting—so full of charm. 

What are your thoughts? Is there a classic film like this that you're long overdue to watch?

More classic films here, here, here, and here.

Plus, a fun read: 40 things you didn't know about The Godfather.

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Kate Spade's ode to Charles Street

 

Have you seen Kate Spade's latest line of handbags? It's called the Charles Street Collection. While I know this look is most likely inspired by New York's sweetest side street in the West Village, I can't help but reminisce about the three years I spent living on Boston's sweetest side street, also called Charles. I loved it there! I rented a tiny studio apartment, could walk to and from work in 15 minutes or less, and spent weekend days strolling along the Charles River, just a stone's throw from my front door. 

So, maybe this bag isn't based on MY Charles Street, but I am going to pretend that it is. :)

(Top image from here; bottom two images from here)

The weekend is here!

Happy weekend, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days? I'm so excited because I'm going to see Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner on Broadway in The Commons of Pensacola. I booked the tickets forever ago—I can't wait! Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

American Girl dolls, for sale!

An inspiring song for a chilly week in NYC.

How to stylishly store matches.

New Year's Eve missed connections.

Meryl Streep intimidates other actors.

Treating fairy light withdrawal.

A Royal selfie.

Love this pretty, flowy top.

DIY pizza fun.

Shake it like an Instagram picture!

New rules for Tina and Amy's Golden Globes drinking game. (Don't forget to watch Sunday night!)

(Image via Wit & Delight)

The coolest bookstore ever

I stumbled across this bookstore thanks to Bri over at DesignLoveFest. It's called the Cité du Livre, and it's located in Aix en Provence. Apparently, it used to be a match factory, and to get indoors, you have to go through three giant books! The titles that lead you to the entrance are Le Petit Prince, Le Malade Imaginaire, and L'Etranger. Don't they look so cool supersized? I've just added this spot to my list for my trip to Aix en Provence later this year! 

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DIY Valentine's card idea

Yes—Valentine's Day is still a more than a month away, but during the snowstorm this past weekend, I made a trip to one of my favorite Brooklyn card shops, and decided to get a little crafty! The main reason: Have you heard about heat embossing? It's what gives cards that elegant, raised, dimensional effect. All you need is a stamp of your choice (I chose this one), embossing powder, this heat tool, and watermark ink. You stamp your design onto the card, cover it with powder, dust it off (you can save and reuse the excess powder so it lasts a long time), and then seal with the heat embossing tool. Voila! A beautiful handmade card to give to your sweetie, your sister, or your friends. :)

So pretty, right? Would you try this craft?  

A winter walk

My devoted readers know: Brooklyn Bridge Park is my favorite spot in my new neighborhood, snow or not. Over the weekend, Matt and I decided to go for a quick hike and test out the new SLR camera(!) I got for my birthday. Nothing beats a winter sunset in New York. My toes were icicles by the time we made it up to Brooklyn Heights Wine Bar (the spot we chose to warm up), but it was completely worth the walk. A bonus: We got to check out the newest section of the park!

We learned something, too—the park's suspension bridge in the winter wind shakes. A lot. :)

Hope you enjoyed the snowy weekend!

More Brooklyn Bridge Park here, here and here.

January Page: A toast!

Happy New Year! I'm still in that phase where it's hard to remember to write the date as 2014. :) It's been quite a chilly start to January, but I always love how cozy this time of year feels. It's sort of fun to just hibernate indoors (although I know by March, I'll be ready to get outdoors again!). What are your favorite things about this month? I love the feeling of a fresh start, winter hats and coats, and also the thought that, in just one week, we'll get to watch Amy Poehler and Tina Fey host the Golden Globes again! 

I also always think carefully about my resolutions this time of year. My goals this year are:

1) To plan more frequent phone chats with friends and family (texting is great and all, but there's nothing as fun as catching up and laughing over the phone!).

2) To practice yoga at least once a week. There is an awesome studio in my neighborhood, and I love going, but need to make it a routine.

3) To write more—for myself. I have lots of ideas swirling around, but I need to actually block off time to put the pen to the paper. :)

4) To continue to work on my French. My vacation to France and Italy is just five months away!

What are you excited about this month—and in the year ahead?

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