A bit of last minute decision, but I just booked tickets to visit my little sis in California in a few weeks. Yay! I'm going for seven days and I can't wait. She lives an hour from LA in Irvine, but we're looking forward to doing some exploring and checking out some new (and car-accessible!) areas nearby.
At the very least, we definitely have plans to soak up some sunshine at Newport and Laguna Beaches, both about a 10-15 minute drive from her place. :)
So, now I need your help: What are your favorite things to do in and around LA?
PS: What we did on my visit last year; and on another visit before that (here and here).
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When I was home for the long weekend, my parents and I had a huge BBQ to celebrate July 4th. As usual, my mom made her signature garden salad—with most of the ingredients picked from our backyard. Sure, it's a basic salad, but somehow, it always tastes crisp and crunchy and looks fluffy and fresh.
I finally asked her to share her secret: she uses paper towels to dry off every vegetable she adds to the bowl after washing them. For example, after pre-washing the lettuce, she leaves it in a plastic bag with a paper towel to soak up any excess moisture. She also lets ingredients like cucumbers and tomatoes air dry on a paper towel before adding them to the salad. What a difference this makes!
Do you have any salad-making tricks?
Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the weekend? My sister is visiting from California and I'm SO excited. We're hoping to see a Broadway show, but spend lots of time just hanging in Brooklyn, too. Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
How I feel come Friday. (And Saturday...)
The Tonight Show time lapse.
Ode to Jackie O.
Perfect for a Derby party.
Another way to pot plants at home.
One (very real) NYC fear.
A new way to organize all your pics.
Strap hangers.
The best way to celebrate warmer weather.
Two words: Paul. Rudd.
(Image via Note to Self)
My cousin was in New York this weekend, and it was so fun playing tour guide for a day and taking him around the city. For brunch, we went to Five Points in Soho, one of our go-to spots in Manhattan. The food and atmosphere are both great: I had Eggs Rancheros, their take on the classic Mexican dish. So good!
After we ate, we did a bit of walking around—and hit up the new Ladurée shop on West Broadway for a sweet treat. Then, we hopped on the subway to Brooklyn to stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was such a gorgeous day to walk around.
What did you do this weekend?
PS—More awesome New York brunch spots here.
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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?
My dear readers, I'm so sorry for the radio silence last week! My sister came to town, and the days that followed were a bit of whirlwind with everything else. But I had so much fun showing her around my new neighborhood. In addition to seeing a Broadway show, going to Brooklyn Bowl, and more, we ended up on a 'sweet' tour of Cobble Hill. There are so many dessert places here (and nearby) to enjoy! We had a cupcake from One Girl Cookies; a hot cocoa from The Chocolate Room; a glazed doughnut from Dough (picked up at the Brooklyn Flea); and strawberry shortbread from Stinky Bklyn.
Sugar overload? Yes. Would we go back to each place and do it again? Absolutely. :)
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Happy Friday, my dear readers! How calming is this pic? Sigh. I thought it was the perfect way to kick off the weekend, especially with all this snow. I'm very excited because my sister is coming to visit all the way from the west coast. We've only got three days, but we have lots of fun things planned. That includes a trip to see the Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Gardens (can you tell I'm craving a climate that's a bit more tropical?). In the meantime, I'm wishing you a wonderful and lovely weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
A modern menagerie.
Pretty shoes.
Oh la la...ladureé.
Behind the scenes.
Simplicity rules.
Bunny love!
My next design idea.
Breathing space.
A funny story about guilt.
Babies saying om.
Bear aware.
(Image via Pinterest)
Yes — the weekend! What do you have planned? My little sister is back visiting again from California, and I'm venturing to Connecticut to meet her for dinner with my parents and aunties, too. I can't wait! Aside from the photo above — which is so ridiculously adorable — here are a few happy blog posts from around the web to get your weekend started right:
Give yourself credit.
It's like rain on your wedding day.
I want this skirt.
What do you see around your hood? She sees this.
Such a gorgeous clutch. (Plus inspiring words from Katia Kuethe.)
Excellence, by Dior.
All eyes on you.
Could there be anything better than Picnic Week?
Musical glasses!
Time to pause.
(Image via Celebrities Now and Then)
I did it! This weekend, I ran my very first 10K in New York. As a Christmas gift to my dad, I suggested we run a race together in the city. He runs much more than I do, so I figured it was a good way for me to get in shape and enjoy some father-daughter bonding, too. :) It was a success — and such a pretty route running around the perimeter of Central Park. The first pic is of me right before I crossed the finish line; the second is my dad and I post-run. I look a tiny bit tired, don't you think? But so happy to have accomplished one of my 2012 goals!
A toast to February 1st — and a moment to reflect that this month marks the fourth anniversary of my move to New York. Hard to believe I've lived here this long! When I left Boston, I reminded myself: just try it for a year. See how it goes! It's amazing how life just moves forward from there. Anyways, to mark the occasion, I thought I'd post a photo from my very first trip to the city as a kid. That's me with my mom. I love her effortless style and my Osh Kosh B'Gosh overalls. What a pair! Here's to another year in New York. :)
For my birthday this year, I went canoeing with my family and Matt on the Nashua River in Massachusetts. It was such a lovely day, and a reminder of what fall weather should be like — cool and crisp with lots of sun. Now that it's October, I hope the weather starts to turn around. Enough with the rain! I want to get in some much-needed time outdoors before the cold weather arrives and the snow begins to fall. But until then, I'll look back at these end-of-summer pics — such a fun and peaceful way to celebrate another year!
I'm in love with the family photo shoot above from Bleubird Vintage. The entire clan decided to celebrate the arrival of Frances, the pug, with lots of silly pics and poses. How cute! It definitely looks like this is one dog that better be ready for lots of love and hugs. :)
More dogs here and here.
(Images via Bleubird Vintage)
I'm in love with every single one of the gorgeous photos found on The Glow, a site that offers a glimpse into the worlds of inspiring and fashionable moms. The prints above feature moms including — from top to bottom — Jeanann Williams, Lauren Moffatt, Ramya Giangola, and Meredith Kahn. Each shot is so playful and sweet! Do you have a favorite childhood moment that you shared with your mom? Were you lucky enough to catch it on film? :)
(Via Seesaw.)
In honor of my dad's birthday today, I thought I'd post a few pics from his younger years. :) The first one is of him as a kid growing up in Massachusetts. I love the casual attitude he has while pausing to snap this pic for his mom. The second photo is taken with me as a baby on the beach in Maine. As a kid, we spent many summers there with all my cousins and aunts and uncles too. This photo is the perfect reminder — we need to plan another family trip there soon.
Happy birthday dad — hope you have a great day!
In honor of my little sister's 25th birthday today, I thought I'd share some creative party details as inspiration for celebrating the occasion just right. A cupcake with a sparkler is sweet and festive, don't you think? What great way to make a birthday wish!
(Via The Sweetest Occasion)
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