Happy Halloween! What are you doing to celebrate tonight? Last weekend, my friends and I dressed up for a "costume-required" pub crawl in Cobble Hill. It was a hoot! I mentioned my plans to go with Matt as Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone, but sadly, Matt's costume arrived day of—about 10 sizes too big. There was no way to salvage it, so we had to improvise. I think it all worked out!
A few highlights from the night: My friend Joe was able to use the News 4 microphone I made, and go as Anchorman. And my friend Shalah's homemade Black Swan look won the prize for best costume!
Wishing you a spook-tacular night!
PS—Congrats to the Boston Red Sox!
Sad story: Last year, when Matt and I went to Paris, I lost the "R" necklace he gave me for Christmas a couple of years back (the same one Rachel Berry wears on Glee). I have no idea how it happened—I meticulously went room by room after packing our bags to leave our Airbnb apartment, just to make sure I didn't leave any jewelry behind! But, alas, the necklace was nowhere to be found when we got back to New York.
Fast forward a year, and after far too many "If only I had my 'R' necklace..." moments, I decided it was worth re-ordering. I received my new necklace this past week—and I love it! There's something so special about a monogrammed piece of jewelry. It becomes a piece of your identity (remember the SATC scene when Carrie found the necklace she thought she'd lost?), and one you can't live without.
Do you have any monogrammed jewelry?
Two more ways to personalize your jewelry:
- Lucky numbers.
- Home state.
(Image of Rachel Berry)
Since my friend Shalah was in town for a visit, we got to have an impromptu recipe session, just like old times! The dish she introduced me to? This delicious kale and brussels sprouts salad from Epicurious.com. If you like kale and brussels sprouts, this is a recipe you have to try. It takes about 30 minutes to make—including time to chop everything up—but it has just the right amount of zing and crunch. We served it with pizza, and it was a hit!
Do you have a favorite fall salad recipe?
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I consider myself a person that keeps up really well with TV, but lately, there's one show that makes me feel like I'm missing out: Scandal. Do you watch it? So many of my friends say it's the only show they never miss, even on the busiest of weeks. The way they talk about it reminds me of how I talk about The Good Wife, which—now in it's fifth season—is still my number one can't-miss show (did you see last night's episode? Whoa!).
I checked and season one of Scandal is on Netflix, so this week, I'm going to give the first few episodes a whirl. What do you think? Do you recommend this show?
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Did you see the pics from yesterday's Royal Baby Christening? Prince George is seriously adorable. Those cheeks! Even dressed in gold lace, he looks so lovable and cute. :)
What are your favorite hors d'oeuvres to serve when entertaining at home? My go-to is always a savory cheese plate—especially now that my sister gave me this gorgeous slate board, complete with soapstone chalk so that I can label every bite. :) This weekend, we have friends visiting and staying with us from out of town, and I'm already thinking about what I am going to include on my plate. To do this, I rely heavily on the expert recommendations (and generosity with cheese samples!) from the guys at Stinky's in Brooklyn.
Here, three things I've learned to better prep your plate:
• Always include a variety of textures and flavors. Serve one basic cheese, then mix it up. Add one soft cheese and one hard cheese; or cheeses from different regions (think one from France, one from the U.S.). You could even set out a range of milk types (goat, sheep, cow). The idea is that every cheese on your plate should be distinct.
• Take the cheese out of the refrigerator an hour before serving. It's most flavorful if eaten at room temperature.
• Serve with a selection of breads, and different-shaped crackers. Salty snacks pair well—or add a pop of sweetness (for example, try this Stonewall Kitchen spread) to brighten each savory bite.
More cheese here and here.
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Are you planning to dress up for Halloween this year? I can't believe it's next week! Matt and I are going as Ron Burgundy and Veronica Corningstone from Anchorman (and taking our cue from this super creative guy here). We're still piecing together our look—it's surprisingly hard to find a burgundy-colored suit! If it comes together, I will share pics here next week.
What are your costume ideas? I'd love to hear!
PS—How excited are you for Anchorman 2?!
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Two weeks ago, I had the chance to escape to Maine for my cousin's wedding—right at the peak of foliage season. I wanted to post a few scenic snaps from the weekend. It was absolutely breathtaking! There's something so therapeutic about time in nature. It's something that I always miss living in New York.
More pics from the wedding weekend can be found here.
Did you do any leaf-peeping this fall?
So, I have some big news to share! Matt and I booked a trip to Paris for the spring. I'm so excited! We'll actually only be in the city of light for two days—we're squeezing in a weekend en route to Marseille, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, Cinque Terra, and Venice—but I'm so thrilled that we are going back. I loved our trip there last year, and am already feeling overwhelmed at all that I want to do and see that we didn't see before.
I'm also taking French classes at a lovely little language bookstore in Brooklyn to prepare. Even though I studied French for 10 years in high school and college, I'm amazed at how quickly I've forgotten it! It's been so fun to meet once a week and practice conversation with a teacher, and 15 other students.
More updates to come soon on this trip, but I'm happy to cross two of my goals off the list for 2013. :)
PS—A peek back at my trip to Paris last year here and here.
As we continue to make updates to our Brooklyn apartment, Matt and I recently picked up a rather large frame for the living room wall. Now, the fun part: deciding what to put in it! We've been emailing links back and forth to each other with ideas, but it's a tough decision. Whatever we choose will be so huge, and the focal point of the room. The three options above are a few ideas we're considering. What do you think? Do we go black and white and keep it New York-y? Or bright and bold?
Would love to hear your opinion on this!
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Today's the day! The third installment of Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones book series (called Mad About the Boy) is out. Will you read it? The first novel—and the subsequent movie starring Renée Zellweger—has always been my cultural comfort food. I love to watch it in those moments when I need a quick pick-me-up. Or a good laugh. Or when I simply want to gaze adoringly at Colin Firth. :)
Yes, I'm devastated at the news that he's been cut from the third book. But I think I'll still give it a read to see how things turn out!
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Lately, I've been craving lemons. I add it to avocado to put with my eggs at breakfast, I spritz it over broccoli as a snack, and I've been seriously thinking about snagging this citron pressé set from Provisions by Food 52. Over the weekend, I decided to kick things up a notch and try a new dish: lemon spaghetti by Giada De Laurentis. It was delicious! With six ingredients (spaghetti, lemon, olive oil, parmesan, basil, and black pepper), it's cheap and ready in 15 minutes or less. The dish is a new staple I'm adding to my recipe box.
Slowly, but surely, I'm working on my cooking skills!
More of me in the kitchen here, here, here, here and here.
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Happy Friday, my darling readers! I hope you had a lovely week. :) Now that the weekend is here, what do you have planned? I'm excited to watch some football, and enjoy a cozy weekend indoors. It's chilly outside! Wishing you a fun and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
Tips for a fall picnic.
Desks for creative types.
Passport to Paris.
Make a Moleskin book.
Whodunnit dinner party.
Donut favors.
Say thank you.
When can I move in?
A pretty plate.
Ode to Cinque Terra.
(Image via Pinterest)
It's official: Fall has arrived in New York. More than fall, actually—we went from 70ish degrees on Monday to the mid-50s today. Plus, rain! And gusts of wind! I wasn't prepared at all. In fact, I dropped my tan trench off at the dry cleaners, thinking I was good without it for the next 3-4 days. Bad move! But yes, I really do think that yesterday was the last day I could comfortably get by wearing a dress without any tights.
How about you? Have you busted out your stockings yet? :)
(Image by Jamie Beck)
How cool are these designs from Etsy artist Inaki Aliste Lizarralde? He goes inside the homes of our most beloved sitcom characters—like Monica and Rachel on Friends—to provide detailed layouts of their fictional apartments. I love how New York-sized most of these places actually look (especially Seinfeld). Plus, according to Lizarralde, the famous Friends' roommates were quite short on closet space. :)
Check out more images from different shows here, and visit Lizarralde's Etsy shop here.
So clever!
(Floor plans via Business Insider; Image 1, 2 and 3)
I stumbled upon this pumpkin makeover idea over at Yesterday's Sweetheart—how cute! Matt and I have been talking about carving pumpkins this year. Our new apartment has a big, street-facing window, and we've been thinking how cool it would be to have a jack-o-lantern on display and lit up for anyone who passes by to see. This idea for adding glitter to mini white pumpkins is a different way to go, but I love it! I just might give it a try.
For more photos and full instructions, go here.
Will you celebrate Halloween this year?
(Images via Yesterday's Sweetheart)
Happy Friday, my darling readers! I'm skipping town for a wedding in Maine this weekend. My cousin is getting hitched in the mountains up there. Should be beautiful! What do you have planned for the next couple of days off? Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
Squash bowling.
Seeing red (+ where to buy).
In love with Joseph Gordon Levitt.
Scare tactics.
I'm a hugger.
Change your mind.
Gorgeous in gingham.
Confetti joy.
A weather diary.
First birthday bash!
(Image via Etsy)
Have you ever gone to a corn maze? Last weekend, Matt and I made a pit stop on the way back from our weekend in Montauk to check out Fairview Farm in Bridgehampton, New York. It's such a fun "fall in New England" experience. This place in particular is made up of 8 acres of corn, all 10 feet tall! It takes a little over an hour to complete the maze, and they give you clues to help you find your way.
Matt and I went to a corn maze in Queens last year—it's becoming a fall tradition for us!
What's your favorite fall thing to do?
Is it just me, or is fall on overdrive? As I mentioned yesterday, I actually can't believe we're already in October. Over the weekend, I accidentally wrote August when I was dating a check (!) if that is any indication as to where my brain is. Anyways, I came across this super clever (and pink!) mug from Ashley Brooke Designs, and I love it. Sipping tea from this, even on the busiest of days, would make me pause, take a deep breath—and laugh. :)
P.S. Over the weekend, I finally watched I Don't Know How She Does It with Sarah Jessica Parker. Her character could totally use this mug! Have you seen the film?
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Happy birthday, October! Fall is zipping by, don't you think? The season has arrived for jackets—I've been wearing mine almost daily now. But I do love this time of year. I'm kicking off the month with a wedding in Maine. I can't wait to see the colorful foliage up there. :)
What do you love most about October? I love breaking out warm and toasty blankets for the couch, indulging more in comfort food, and—of course—Halloween!
Wishing you a very happy start to the month!
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