The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! How was your week? Mine flew by! Now, I'm Massachusetts-bound for a quick getaway to catch up with this adorable little guy. Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

See every Oscar gown worn by a Best Actress winner. Ever.

The fastest way to find Girl Scout Cookie sales.

5 ways to fail gracefully.

The antidote to more snow.

DIY gifs!

An easy recipe for elephant ears.

24 hours of happy.

Love these hot pink monogrammed notebooks.

Antique wallpaper in an antique home.

Gorgeous shades.

How delicious does this book cover look?

Poor, Niagara!

The magic of Paris in Spring.

A very clever candle.

Um, I heart Paul Rudd.

(Image via Pinterest)

Crepes, Brooklyn-style

When I was in Paris, I had a nutella crepe every. single. night. We stayed in St. Germain des Pres, and there was a creperie that stayed open past midnight located right beneath the apartment we rented on Airbnb. It became my late night fix, and the sweetest way to end each day. 

Fast forward to now—in Brooklyn—where a creperie just opened on my block. I'm talking footsteps from my apartment. The only thing they serve? Crepes. Judging from my time in Paris, I'm doomed. ;)

What's your favorite way to eat a crepe? I love nutella and strawberries. Yum.

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Oscar predictions

I don't know about you, but every year, I get so excited for the Oscars. I love the fashion, I love the speeches, I love the clips from the films—all of it. But this year, I can't decide which films should win, especially for the best actress and best supporting actress categories. The competition is steep! I'm going to go on the record and say that I think that Cate Blanchett should get Best Actress for Blue Jasmine (she basically played 5 different roles in one, with a different personality in every scene), but I also loved Amy Adams in American Hustle (The accent! The clothes!) and Sandra Bullock in Gravity (to basically be alone in a film for 90 minutes and be that captivating is beyond impressive). 

I'm feeling fairly certain that Jennifer Lawrence should get the Academy Award for American Hustle. I was blown away by her performance in that movie.

How about you? Who do you think should win?

There are still a couple of films I haven't seen (I'm hoping to squeeze them in this week), so please let me know if I'm leaving anyone remarkable out. Either way, I'd love to know your picks!

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Books page: What I'm reading now

What are you reading right now? I just finished Party Girl, a fun and juicy read by my friend Rachel Hollis (check out her fabulous blog, The Chic). Now, I'm rotating between two new books: One More Thing by B.J. Novak (his fiction writing is terrific), and The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (the next pick for my NYWICI book club). Whenever I start a new book, I'm so thankful for my longer subway commute from Brooklyn to work. It's one of my favorite places to zone out and read.

Now, your turn: What book is at the top of your list for March?

PS: My January book picks.
PPS: For help choosing your next book, check out Critics & Writers (Matt's site!).

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Food Page: Di Fara

A few weeks ago, I checked out the Greenpointers Valentine's Market. Zipcar had a booth there with a wheel of fortune, and a chance to win a driving credit. As luck would have it, I won the grand prize: a $60 Zipcar rental! The catch? We had to use it in less than four weeks. So, this past weekend, Matt and I grabbed our pizza-loving friends, and made the trek out to Di Fara in Brooklyn. What a treat! We had been once before (en route to Niagara Falls), but have been dying to go back ever since. 

We waited outside in line for an hour (note: for anyone checking hours on the website, it opens on weekends at 1 p.m., not noon, as listed there), then were second in line to order our pies. We opted for a "regular" and a "square," enough to make sure a slice or two remained to take home as leftovers. :) Forty-five minutes later, we were staring face to face with the most delicious pizza pie in New York. The fresh basil, olive oil, and tomatoes—perfection with every bite. And the chance to watch Domenico De Marco make pizza the same way he has done for over four decades? Worth the wait, times a thousand.

What's your favorite place to go for pizza in New York?

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! A four-day week always flies by. What do you have planned for the weekend? Matt and I are going to check out this show tonight about the Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding scandal. He surprised me with tickets, which I think is so sweet, considering my childhood figure skating love. :) Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

How to get the perfect blow-out.

A clever way to send a birthday wish!

Fold towels the hotel way.

The most delicious Mexican dish.

Dress like a fashion editor.

Amelie-inspired art.

Easy ways to make fresh flowers last.

A DIY lighting solution. So pretty!

The most hilarious book trailer.

(Image via Pinterest)

Asking men for style advice

Do you ever ask your guy for outfit advice? Before I lived with Matt, I loved consulting my roommates for their style opinions. You know what I mean: Which necklace looks best with this shirt? Should I wear heels or boots? Do you think I should add a belt to this dress? Yes, it sounds crazy, but there's nothing better than asking for—and getting!—fashion advice that I can trust.

Fast forward to now. If I ask Matt, I can tell that he wants to be helpful, but he's not as excited about the fashion decisions as I am. And when I push him to choose between a black dress or a navy dress (a HUGE distinction), he'll respond: "You look nice in both."

Sweet? Of course. But where's the definitive fashion feedback that I crave so much? I think this is just one of those differences between guys and girls. And it makes me totally appreciate FaceTime for the moments when you absolutely need to phone a friend. :)

PS: A hilarious Instagram feed of men waiting for their girlfriends to shop.

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Movie Page: Austenland

Have you seen Austenland? I am a huge Keri Russell fan, and actually intended to see this when it was in theaters last summer, but missed it. It's such a sweet film! In it, Keri plays Jane, a woman who dreams of living in the fictional worlds that author Jane Austen creates. When she finds a vacation package that allows her to literally play the part, she drops everything to go and fulfill her fantasy in real life. 

The film is quirky and romantic—and quite funny, too. I highly recommend, especially if you're looking for something uplifting to beat the winter blues. :)

PS—More Keri Russell here and here.

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Mast Brothers chocolate tasting

Last week, Matt and I decided to check out an after-hours chocolate tasting at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Mast Brothers. Have you ever tried their chocolate? It's incredible—and the pretty, hand-wrapped packaging that each bar comes in is one of my favorite things.

The tasting traced the history of chocolate (it dates back 4,000 years!) with a brief talk, reading and film by Michael and Rick Mast. Then, the chocolate. :) There was so much to sample and try! We even got to grind our own cacao beans. 

The coolest part of the whole night was meeting Michael and Rick. We bought their brand-new cookbook, and are looking forward to trying this recipe for Hot Chocolate. Seems like the perfect way to get through the remaining snowy days, right?

PS: A Mast Brothers Chocolate tour!

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers, and happy Valentine's Day! What do you have planned for the long weekend? I'm looking forward to relaxing, and also to testing my photography skills with this Skillshare class I just registered for about shooting at night. Seems cool, right? Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Um, win a double date with Ben and Matt. (For a good cause!)

A Red Sox beard report.

Why you shouldn't run in the snow. 

A pretty book cover for Lena.

In love with this pink dress.

DIY heart-shaped cutting board.

Did you know you should moisturize before you shower?

Here's looking at you, Valentine.

A beautiful ode to (apple) pie dough.

The worst fictional boyfriends.

(Image via I Dream Of...)

My darling Clementine

Thanks to my sister Alyssa, Matt got the best Christmas present ever: the Jerusalem cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. We've been trying so many of their delicious, mouth-watering recipes, but our new favorite is for Roasted Chicken with Clementines and Arak. The flavors! You won't believe me until you try it yourself. The clementines are the genius ingredient that add a tangy sweetness to each savory bite.

The full recipe is available here, but make this dish soon: Clementines are only in season in New York for a couple more weeks!

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With love, from Brooklyn

I popped by the Greenpointers Valentine's Market on Sunday, and came across these adorable cards from Loveless Designs. Each card is pen and ink, and then hand-colored with markers by the artist (Bethany Robertson) herself. I thought it was such a sweet way to send spontaneous snail mail greetings to friends. 

On that note, you should know: I've added a budget line for card shopping in New York. My addiction is getting worse! On a more positive note: Friends, check your mailboxes! :)

PS—An Instagram snap from the Market!

Theater Page: Almost, Maine

Have you heard about Almost, Maine? It's a delightful romantic comedy written by John Cariani and now playing in the West Village at the (fake snow-covered) Gym at Judson. Filled with sweet, mostly 2-person vignettes, the play illustrates the funny, awkward, cheesy, charming, and sometimes heartbreaking parts of love. The four actors in this performance (including the writer himself) cover 19 different roles, beautifully and seamlessly. And with Maine as it's backdrop, this show feels like winter comfort food. 

I loved every hilarious reference to the state I adore. I highly recommend this show!

PS—More Maine here, here, here and here.

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The end of a really good book

Last week, I finished reading Paris in Love, one of my January book picks. Then, I stumbled across this clever pin quoting J.D. Salinger. It's so true, and exactly how I felt reading Eloisa James' book. The second to last chapter—describing her reason for packing up her life to move her family to Paris—gave me chills. I wanted to call her up and hear more and more.

Have you ever felt this way about a book?

(Image via Pinterest)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? I'm excited to check out this Valentine's Market in Greenpoint. Looks fun, right? Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Recreation, Florida-style.

A winter, citrus salad. YUM.

Olympic drink stirrers.

Anna Wintour in GIFs.

Explaining salt.

Valentine's Day cocktail hour.

The art of a true Parisian.

Bite-size romance, in the form of a macaron.

How one family got through the polar vortex.

Delicious, heart-shaped pancakes.

(Image via A Suit a Day)

Channel Beyoncé at Brucie

I'm all for staying in on Valentine's Day and avoiding the pricey prix fixe menus that pop up at every single dinner spot in New York, but Brooklyn restaurant Brucie may be changing my tune. The tiny (and delicious) eatery just unveiled a Beyoncé-themed special menu for the holiday. The best part: You can order a la carte. Dishes include Jay-Ziti and I am Pasta Fierce—there's even a starter that's called Blue Ivy. 

Will you stay in or go out this Valentine's Day?

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Lisa Kudrow in The Comeback

Last week, I totally got knocked out by whatever cold/flu horror show has been going around New York. There really isn't much in terms of daytime TV to watch, so I decided to give The Comeback, an old HBO show starring Lisa Kudrow, a whirl. Have you seen it? The show is a hoot! Lisa plays Valerie Cherish, a one-time sitcom star, who attempts to move back into the spotlight, and allows a camera crew to film her progress. It's hilarious, and Lisa is terrific. 

With my weekend spent in recovery mode, I cruised through the first (and only) season—and now I'm sad that's all there is! I did read rumors that they might possibly shoot more, but so far, no plans are set.

Are you a fan of this show?

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Pretty heels for spring

Now that it's February, I'm having a hard time *not* pining away for spring. It's at this point every year that winter starts to drag...and drag. That's why I'm so happy to see bits and pieces of spring collections starting to arrive in stores. Case in point: this gorgeous stiletto heel (called the Nora in Spot Dot) from Madewell. It's so retro! And I love the delicate ankle strap. Can't you just picture wearing this with a light and airy spring dress on a warm and sunny day? I can. :)

Are you starting to shop for spring?

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February Page: A toast!

Happy February, my darling readers! What do you enjoy most about this month? I love that it always feels so cozy and romantic—plus, it's so short and sweet, it makes me feel like winter is really starting to cruise by (despite what this guy has to say). I'm looking forward to watching the Olympics in Sochi, Valentine's Day (and sending out my homemade cards), and getting a sneak peek at the fall collections during Fashion Week. 

Now, you go: Why do you love February? :)

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