36 Hours in Boston

Over the holidays, I had a chance to make it into Boston and show Matt around my old stomping grounds. We've been a few times before, but mostly for weddings or occasions where we're over-scheduled without much time to roam around. This time, we did it right. After spending the day in Harvard Square, we walked around Beacon Hill (my old 'hood!) and hit up Upper Crust (my favorite slice) for lunch.

We museum hopped, stopping by the MFA early so that we could be at the front of the line to check out the new Goya exhibit, which received a rave review from the New York Times. It's on display through January 19, so there's still time to go! The painting I'm sitting in front of above is a New England classic by John Singleton Copley—it was my favorite when I was a kid.

We stayed downtown, which meant that we could quickly pop over to Boston Common and the Public Garden—two of my favorite spots in the city. We had planned to skate at the Frog Pond, but since it was a rainy weekend, we people watched there instead. For dinner and delicious cocktails, we met our friends at Eastern Standard, right next to Fenway Park. I've blogged about this place before—I was shocked to see my signature drink (the Au Provence) is no longer on the menu, but they mixed it up for me anyway. ;)

So fun to go home again! (Can you believe it's been seven years since I moved to New York?!)

(Image 4 via The New York Times)

An ode to my houseplants

As I get ready to travel for Thanksgiving this week, I've been spending a lot of minutes thinking about the houseplants that I've been dutifully watering on my windowsill. For example, this pretty Boston fern: I'm worried it won't make it through the weekend! I water it twice a day right now since it has been so dry. My mom suggested this tip:

"Give your plants a good soaking, then place them on a towel in the bathtub. Next, fill the tub with 1-2 inches of water. They'll take care of themselves while you're away!"

Of course, this only works if you're gone for just a few days, but I think it will be perfect. Will let you know how it goes, but I trust my mom and her impressive green thumb. :)

Do you have any tips for taking care of houseplants when you're away?

(Image 1 via Apartment Therapy)

Travel Page: Southern California

A month late, but at last—a recap of my trip to California to see my little sister. It was so nice to be able to take a week and pop out for a visit and some road tripping around LA. I miss her! But man, did I run her ragged during my stay. Seven days seems like so much time, but there is so much to do where she lives. What I learned: All plans need to be made with LA traffic patterns in mind. ;) Still, we had such a fantastic time. Here, some pics if you'd like to see what we did...

Lemonade-inspired lunch

When I was in sunny CA two weeks ago, my sister Alyssa made the most delicious dinner! It was a variation on a recipe from Lemonade, a great lunch chain on the west coast that defines it's cuisine as Southern California comfort food. One word: Yum. :)

In their cookbook, they have a recipe for Avocado, Cherry Tomato, Pine Nut and Lime Vinaigrette. It's delicious—but to make it a bit more hearty, my sister serves the vinaigrette over quinoa veggie burgers from Trader Joe's. She also added a slice of extra sharp cheddar cheese and sautéed mushrooms. I'm planning on making this my new go-to dinner for the nights I have no energy/time to cook. The best part: the vinaigrette can be refrigerated for up to a week. 

Of course, during my week out there, Alyssa didn't want to deprive me of the real deal so we stopped into Lemonade on my second to last day. Totally wish this place would open in New York!

Hollywood Costume Exhibit in LA

When I was in California last week to see my sister, I had the chance to see the Hollywood Costume exhibit currently on display at the LACMA. Seriously, if you're in the LA area, go now. There are 150 movie costumes on display from so many favorite films: Pretty Woman, Indiana Jones, Mary Poppins and more. But as I wandered through the pitch black exhibit (very similar to a movie theater experience), my heart stopped when I discovered the banana yellow jacket from the film Dick Tracy.

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! I'm off on vacation for the next week to visit my little sister. Yay! We're planning a mini-detour from Laguna Beach to check out Palm Springs. I've never been and we've been eyeing the Saguaro as a place to stay. So colorful and fun, right? Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend (and week) ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Sad news about Squibb Bridge!

The right way to cuff sleeves.

OMG, this cover! 

My favorite Halloween classic, re-issued. 

Hilarious tee.

A cool exhibit I can't wait to check out.

Treat yo'self.

Swooning at this calligraphy workshop.

Love the modern take on French girl stripes (scroll down). 

Note to self: Learn how to knit.

(Image via My Modern Met)

How to be Parisian (wherever you are)

I know that I mentioned the books that I'm reading this fall, but my discovery of How To Be Parisian Wherever You Are, by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas, somehow trumped that list (I'll get back on track soon!). I couldn't help but wonder what these four accomplished ladies had to say about what it really means to be a Parisienne, including how to dress, entertain, go on dates, and have fun. Plus, the book had a promise: it's funny! So far, I love it, and find many parts that are worth repeating to friends, family, coworkers, boyfriends. :) For example, the book's guide to the city's signature colors, all defined by it's culture. I'll explain...

This bright orangey red is reminiscent of seats in a movie theater in Paris (and if you ask me some of the pretty café tables that brighten up a rainy day).

Going to Ladurée? You'll definitely spot this subtle, yet eye-catching hue. According to les femmes parisiennes (aka, the authors of this book), it's the color of a rose-flavored macaron. :)

But of course, this rich and decadent shade defines French color at it's best. It's the shade of a tall glass of Bordeaux, n'est-ce pas?

There are tons more cheeky color definitions where these came from, but what a brilliant idea to create a palette to describe such a unique place. In fact, the reds and greens and blues and yellows and pinks are one of the first things I think of when reminiscing about my travels there.

What are you reading right now?

PS: Another French book I read and loved.

(Image 1)

A reason to go to France

Not that I ever need one, but it seems like it would be worth a plane flight to see this "Sleepy Chick" (Poussin Endormi) in Nantes, right? It's so cute—especially the big belly and beak. You can find this larger-than-life topiary tucked away in Le Jardin des Plantes, one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in France. The bird was designed by children's author and illustrator Claude Ponti. 

PS: How sweet is the oversized alarm clock that's there to wake him up? Love it!

(Image 1 and 2)

Get out of town

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). 

(Image 1, 2, 3)

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the weekend? I'm headed out of town to see family and celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary. Four. decades. Amazing, right? :) Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

I don't care if you've already seen it. I'm sharing it again. 

My first massage. Hilarious.

Simple green pasta salad.

Love these fictional (and unforgettable) apartments.

The thought process of getting dressed.

Hair therapy.

Adorable party animals.

SJP's house for sale. 

Reasons to refrigerate tomatoes.

Jurassic Park sing-along. LOVE.

(Image via From Versailles with Love)

Travel Page: Padua and Venice

At last! The final leg of my European vacation this summer—three days in Padua and Venice, Italy. When Matt and I finally made it to Padua, we let out a small sigh of relief. We had trekked rom Sweden to our destination, and now we could truly kick back and relax. And since Matt had lived in Padua before, he was in his element playing tour guide here...

Jars dinnerware

When Matt and I were in Paris, we splurged on a fancy night out at Le Chateaubriand. The food was unreal (in case you're wondering, the top image is their cheese plate; the bottom image is part of the dessert course, strawberries served with a mix of Indian spices that tasted like anise)—but I couldn't leave without asking about their dinnerware. Every course came out on a different color plate! The waiter explained: They use Jars, a brand founded in 1857 in the South of France. The plates and bowls are all hand-crafted—and beautiful. It was such a cool part of the dining experience to curiously wait to see which plate color would be next. Can you imagine being the person in the kitchen coordinating that part of the meal?

The good news: I thought it would be impossible to find Jars back in the U.S., but the brand is sold at Williams Sonoma. 

Do you pay attention to restaurant details like this? Or is all about the food? :)

Travel Page: Cinque Terre

More from my European vacation! I know, I know—I'm really spacing this out. ;) A quick recap in case you missed it: I've already covered our time in Stockholm, Paris (Part 1 and 2), Aix-en-Provence, and Antibes. Now, Cinque Terre, Italy! After a bit of a delay due to a one-day train strike in Italy, we finally made our way to the colorful coastal town of Riomaggiore, the first stop in Cinque Terre. Even though the forecast predicted all grey and rainy days during our two-day stay, the weather completely cooperated, gifting us with loads of sun...

Travel Page: Antibes, France

At last: all about Antibes! For anyone who has been keeping up with my travelogue of my trip to Europe this spring, this was the next stop (links to the other places I visited are below). From Provence, we took the high speed train to Antibes—a gorgeous coastal spot in the South of France, just past Cannes. After checking into our hotel, meandering through the streets, and finding a delicious café for an al fresco lunch, I already knew: this would be my favorite spot of the entire vacation. Here's why...

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)

Travel Page: Aix-en-Provence

As I mentioned last week, I'm recapping my travels in Sweden, France and Italy. Next up: the South of France! After four hours on the high speed train, we made it from Paris to Aix-en-Provence. This was the one place we decided it was worth it to rent a car, since we knew there were so many wineries nearby that we wanted to check out and explore. I didn't realize how much I was craving that country air until I stepped off the TGV train from Paris. Whoa, what a difference! We made our way to our hotel, located just a 5-minute walk from the Cours Mirabeau, Aix's most famous street that's filled with cafés and shops once frequented by locals like Paul Cézanne and Albert Camus.

Train Travel Survival Guide

As I continue to chronicle my travels in Sweden, Paris (here and here) and Italy, I wanted to share something important: how to survive all those hours on the train! We took a flight from Sweden to Paris, but after that, we traveled on high speed and commuter trains from Paris all the way to Venice. The toughest parts? Juggling our luggage and knowing a few key differences between US and European train travel (for example, you usually have an assigned seat/cabin number; also, in Italy, you have to validate your ticket before you get on board). The best parts? Entertaining ourselves and watching the gorgeous(!) scenery whiz by. Here's how we passed the time:

• Matt taught me how to play poker—and I cleaned up. We played for real money, and I kept winning! First, he taught me Texas Hold 'Em, then he taught me the original game. It was such a fun way to relax and kick back. People around us in other seats kept tuning in to see who was ahead. 

• I used Day One, an awesome app that allows you to record details about your travels in real time. It's like a digital journal, but it also records the weather and location for you, and allows you to plug in pics, too. Since we had 3-4 hours on the train every 3-4 days during our trip, I used this time to jot down all the things I wanted to remember about the cities we were in.

• I carried "The Vacationers" by Emma Straub. It's a fun read about a family that travels together for a two-week vacation on the coast of Spain. It was nice and relaxing to read about someone else's vacation while I was on vacation myself. :)

The rest of the time, I listened to a lot of Carla Bruni and took in the pretty views.

Do you have any tips for surviving lots of train travel? What do you pack to pass the time? 

Travel Page: Paris, Day Two

I mentioned yesterday that even though we only spent the weekend in Paris, I had to spread it out over two blog posts. There's just too much to say about that city! Matt always laughs at me: I've been to Paris twice now in the last two years , but it still tops my list of places I want to visit next. There's something about it that always makes me feel at home. Plus, it was great to go back after refreshing my French conversation skills in Brooklyn last fall. I felt so much more comfortable chatting and making my way around this time. 

On Sunday, we woke up to sunshine, so decided it would be the perfect day to visit Montmartre, a place we missed on our last trip. We grabbed croissants at the boulangerie across from our apartment, and made our way to the metro...

Travel Page: Paris, Day One

It's hard to write about our weekend in Paris with just one post, so I broke it up into two separate entries so I had room to cover it all. :) It's just a two hour flight from Stockholm—so quick! Last time, we rented an apartment in St. Germain des Pres, so we decided to mix it up and stay in the 13th arrondissement this trip. There's nothing more fun than combing through the apartment listings on Airbnb to choose a place. We found an adorable 1-bedroom right next to Place D'Italie and knew in an instant, it was perfect for us.

Travel Page: Stockholm, Sweden

I'm back! My apologies for the lack of blog posts over the last few weeks. I've been playing catch-up after my vacation. What a trip! We made it all the way from Stockholm to Venice in 13 days. It was a lot of go, go, go, but so worth it to see so many sights. I figured I'd spend the next few weeks posting recaps of my trip (in case any of you are planning a Swedish, French or Italian getaway soon). So, to begin: Stockholm, Sweden! We arrived after taking a red eye from New York...