So, today is my birthday! To celebrate, I had the perfect (early) gift. A weekend in my favorite place in the world: Maine. Matt and I headed up there for Labor Day weekend to hit the beach, go fishing, read and relax. We had great weather and great company—so many of my cousins and their kids ended up making the trek north for the weekend, too. It was so much fun to see everyone and catch up on each other's lives.
Also, has anyone else played cornhole? This was only my second or third time. My dad built the boards above himself so that everyone in the family could play. On Saturday night, we had a family BBQ—and a high stakes tournament! The great part is the game is fun for all ages. For example, when the kids stepped up to throw, we had them take 10 giant steps forward to make things fair against the adults. :)
Did you have a nice long weekend? What did you do?
Happy September, my darling readers! Did you have a nice Labor Day weekend? I can't believe how quickly summer came and went. It was filled with so many fun things. For example:
- Delicious salads
- Farmer's Market finds
- Summer blockbusters
- Weekend excursions (like this one and this one)
Now, I can't wait for fall to arrive. I've mentioned before on my blog: It's my favorite month! Maybe that's because my birthday falls within it, but it's also when everything starts to feel a little bit cozier, we get back on track with goals and projects (even if we're not going back to school), and there's a feeling of a fresh start. And let's not forget, the return of fall TV! ;)
What about you? What do you look forward to most in September?
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I've mentioned before that Matt and I tend to trade off on the movies we see. This time, it was his pick, so we saw Guardians of the Galaxy. Marvel movies are hit or miss for me (unless of course they star Robert Downey Jr. Swoon.), but I loved this film. (I had an inkling I would like it after reading my friend Rachel's review.) Chris Pratt is an amazing superhero. The film is hilarious. I left feeling nostalgic for my mix tapes—and even downloaded the movie's soundtrack.
Seriously, it might be the summer's best blockbuster film. Have you seen it?
PS: Another summer flick I loved.
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Over the weekend, Matt and I took the ferry over to Governors Island for the first time this summer. I can't believe it's taken us this long to get out there this year—especially given all the new things to do! On Saturday, the weather was perfect. The ferry was crowded. :) But we had a blast. Here are my top three favorites of everything that's new:
1) Hammock Grove. This place is awesome. All hammocks. The crazy part—we found a free hammock right away! I wished I had brought a book with me. I could have lounged in my hammock reading all day.
2) Food trucks. There used to be ZERO food on Governors Island. Trust me. We went out there about four years ago for the Jazz Fest and failed to eat before boarding the boat. We were starving! And hangry! Now there are so many choices for lunch. You can even get Blue Marble out there. Yum!
3) More bike paths. A major plus is that bikers are the first to board the ferry. Better yet, with all the new green spaces that are open, having a bike on Governors Island makes it easy to whip around and see it all. Like the furthest point past Hammock Grove: The view of Lady Liberty from there is incredible. And costs nothing to see!
Have you been to Governors Island this summer?
Do you have a go-to summer nail polish? I keep going back to an Essie color I discovered last year, called "Under Where?" It's a soft, orchid-like purple, and with two coats, it goes on opaque, but still nice and light. It's also one of those colors where you don't notice polish chips as easily, something that makes it easier to extend the length of time between manicures—an ideal situation for summer. Anyways, I love it so much, I'm still wearing it a full year (and a few months) after it first came out!
How about you? What color do you paint your nails during the summer?
PS: Another nail polish trend.
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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?
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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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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Now that it's officially summer, I keep daydreaming about escaping the city heat and spending as much time as I can by the ocean—or poolside. For the days when I can't get out of town, this water series by Max Wanger seems like the perfect alternative. Just looking at these photos, I instantly feel cooled off and refreshed.
It's the best antidote to New York City heat waves, don't you think?
PS: More wall art.
PPS: More Max Wanger.
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What do you wear to protect your scalp from the sun? I have a big, floppy straw sun hat that I love, but for plane travel, it's a challenge to pack it without crushing it's shape. (Although I did find an awesome tip that you can stick it inside your suitcase and stuff all your socks into the cap to prevent it from getting damaged.)
As an alternative, I'm considering the small brimmed sun hat above from San Diego Hat Company. It seems so low maintenance and easy—I just need something to wear so that I don't get sunburned!
What do you think? Do you have any tips for shielding your scalp from the sun?
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What books did you read this summer? As I gear up for the next meeting of New York Women in Communications' Young Professionals book club (check us out here and here), I thought I'd look back at some of the books I read this summer. Truthfully, Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple might be the best book I've ever read. It's unique—and fun.
Now, I'm on to my next book: David Sedaris' Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls, which I'm enjoying so far.
What's next on your reading list? Would love to hear your picks!
PS—More recent books here and here.
On the last week of August, I'm rewinding to a few weeks back—Matt and I escaped for a beach weekend in Greenport, New York, courtesy of our friends Erin and Brian (thanks, guys!). It also happened to be one of the most perfect summer weather weekends—crisp, breezy and blue skies. We hit the beach, we BBQed, and we spent a few hours at the Greenport Harbor Brewery. All awesome.
But the best part? Together, with our friends, we re-discovered the joy of Jenga. Do you remember this game? I used to play it all the time with my family, but forgot about it somewhere between the end of high school and now. It is a great game to play with friends—and high pressure, too!
Remember my trip to Greenport from last year?
As I do my best to eek out the remaining days of summer, I can't help but set aside more time to wander down and explore Brooklyn Bridge Park. Just like in Manhattan, every week, they offer movies outdoors with a view. Don't get me wrong: I've watched films in Bryant and Central Park. But there's something about seeing the skyline at night and the Statue of Liberty in the distance, while a classic film plays. Last week, I caught a showing of Rocky starring Sylvester Stallone. Tonight, Vertigo—the Alfred Hitchcock film—is the plan.
Have you seen either film? For a complete schedule of the films that remain, click here.
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Last year, I mentioned that Shakespeare in the Park is one of my favorite summer things to do in New York. This year, I feel the same way. On Friday, I got to see the musical version of "Love's Labour's Lost", penned by Michael Friedman and Alex Timbers (the guys behind "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson"). This modern take is hilarious—and features splashy, boy band-inspired dance numbers, too. In 90 minutes, it delivers a ton of fun, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Central Park. If you plan to see it, tickets are available now through August 18. I highly recommend it!
(Images via Theater Mania)
With this New York heat wave, I'm constantly on the hunt for something refreshing to sip or eat. Macarons are perfect for summer and such a sweet, light bite. Especially if the flavor is lemon! Leave it to Rue magazine to provide an easy recipe so that you can make them yourself. Learning how to make my own macarons is something I've wanted to try for a while now—despite my limited ability when it comes to baking.
What do you think? Would you give this recipe a whirl?
(Images via Rue)
A pedicure is one of my favorite summer indulgences—and gorgeous strappy sandals make it all the more fun to put perfectly polished toes on display. That's why I love this Instagram feed by the ladies over at Glitter Guide. Among other summer-inspired shots, they always capture summer feet that are ready for all things: the beach, the pool, or just lounging around.
Inspired to do the same, I snapped the pic above of my own feet, pounding the sizzling pavement in New York. It's not as glamorous a locale as a hot and beachy spot, but it will have to do for now!
Snap a photo of your own summer feet, and share a link to the pic in the comments below.
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Ever since I moved to Brooklyn, I've been looking forward to going kayaking on the East River. Over the long weekend, I finally did it! It was slightly risky to bring my iPhone out on the water with me, but I couldn't resist since I knew how incredible the views would be. That said, every time a giant ferry or speed boat went by, I crossed my fingers that my phone would stay dry as we navigated the choppy water.
It's true what they say: The water offers the absolute best look at the city. If you're in Brooklyn this summer, I highly recommend you give this experience a try.
PS—Don't you love the selfie I took of me and Matt? :)
For anyone who spent the past weekend in New York, you know: It has been hot in the city. Ice cream is usually the best cure for climbing temps, but this weekend, I discovered an even better antidote: Strawberry basil lemonade. I was in Brooklyn Bridge Park when I found it, made fresh by a company called Lizzmonade. It was delicious—the basil and strawberries help prevent the sugary lemon juice from tasting too sweet. Try this recipe from Food 52 and make it yourself. As a garnish, fill your glass with thin slices of strawberries and basil leaves. Yum!
(Image via Kitchen Meets Girl)
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