Happy Bastille Day!

Happy Bastille Day! Given my love of French culture and history, this holiday is one of my favorites to celebrate. In honor of the day, here's a tip for anyone interested in brushing up on their French: download the Duolingo app! Remember when I took French lessons in Brooklyn last year? I wanted a way to practice everything I learned, and keep my new language skills top of mind. Duolingo turns studying into a game with daily challenges and point values you have to earn to reach the next level. I love it! I practice on my subway commute to work.

For those not interested in French, the app offers other languages, too. 

Another fun way to celebrate? Eating macarons! :)

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! How was your week? It was a four-day week for me after the long weekend, and it flew. by. Now, I'm hitting the Jersey shore for some much needed R&R with one of my best friends. Wishing you a terrific and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

How to search for an Airbnb.

The glam ladies of Downton.

For the love of brussels sprouts.

The best trick for bikers who like to wear skirts.

A sweet take on relationship anxiety.

The coolest pilot ever.

Obsessed with this dress.

Tips for a novel-in-progress.

An extreme close-up of fireworks.

Words of wisdom (hang it on your wall!). 

Travel recap: Stockholm, Paris, Provence. (Next week, I'll be posting about Antibes and more from my trip.)

(Image via Wit & Delight)

Beat the NYC heat

This week, as I waited for the A train in the sweltering underground heat, I glanced over at another woman on the platform. She was dry as a daisy, fanning herself with one of these—a portable, battery-operated fan. I immediately thought of all the things that I carry in my purse to be prepared (a sewing kit, a mini-flashlight, Advil, Shout wipes) but it never crossed my mind to carry something as brilliant as that.

Now, I'm totally rethinking my summertime essentials and the things I carry to get through a hot day in New York. PureWow suggests Evian mist, Shine Control sheets, and this awesome cure for ponytail hair.

One thing is for sure: I'm definitely getting that fan!

PS: An ode to summer in the city.

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Endless summer

Lately, my weekend look has been limited to the following: white jeans, a lightweight tee (like this l'été sans fin shirt from J.Crew), my white Birkenstocks, and a dab of this Stila Convertible Color lipstick in Sweet Pea. It's so easy and mindless—and a great way to keep cool as the July temperatures start to hit 90...and up.

Do you have a signature summer look? Or a key piece that helps you beat the heat?

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Bits of the Weekend

How was your July 4th holiday weekend? Sorry I didn't get a chance to post before heading off to Massachusetts! The extra days off were so lovely and restful—and after Hurricane Arthur passed through New England, we were left with one of the most gorgeous weekends of the year. On Saturday, my parents and I headed up to Plum Island on the North Shore next to Newburyport. It was lovely—no greenhead flies, either, thanks to the breeze! We rounded out the weekend with these awesome sparklettes. 

How did you spend the holiday? 

Magic in the Moonlight

Remember when I first mentioned Woody Allen's next film, starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone? It comes out in theaters this month! Even better, it now has a name—it's called Magic in the Moonlight—and looks so fun. It's about an Englishman (played by Firth) who hopes to uncover a possible swindler (played by Stone). It's set in the 1920s in the South of France—oh la la! 

The clips I've watched make it look Great Gatsby-esque, at least in style. It comes out July 25th, so only a few more weeks to wait. :)

Will you see this film?

Watch the trailer here!

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July Page: A Toast!

Happy July 1st, my darling readers! I always look at this weekend as the official kick-off to summer. The 4th of July weekend happens to be my favorite holiday, too. There's nothing better than leisurely BBQs, sunshine, and enjoying it all with family and friends. Here are a few things I'm excited about this month:

• Picnics in the park, and dining al fresco
• Beach days—and sunscreen
• Sipping rosé
• Fireworks (so pumped that they're moving back to the East River this year!)
• Prince George turning 1!

How about you? What do you love about July?

PS: Another reason to celebrate summer!

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