Do you ever ask your guy for outfit advice? Before I lived with Matt, I loved consulting my roommates for their style opinions. You know what I mean: Which necklace looks best with this shirt? Should I wear heels or boots? Do you think I should add a belt to this dress? Yes, it sounds crazy, but there's nothing better than asking for—and getting!—fashion advice that I can trust.
Fast forward to now. If I ask Matt, I can tell that he wants to be helpful, but he's not as excited about the fashion decisions as I am. And when I push him to choose between a black dress or a navy dress (a HUGE distinction), he'll respond: "You look nice in both."
Sweet? Of course. But where's the definitive fashion feedback that I crave so much? I think this is just one of those differences between guys and girls. And it makes me totally appreciate FaceTime for the moments when you absolutely need to phone a friend. :)
PS: A hilarious Instagram feed of men waiting for their girlfriends to shop.
(Image 1 and 2)
Have you seen Austenland? I am a huge Keri Russell fan, and actually intended to see this when it was in theaters last summer, but missed it. It's such a sweet film! In it, Keri plays Jane, a woman who dreams of living in the fictional worlds that author Jane Austen creates. When she finds a vacation package that allows her to literally play the part, she drops everything to go and fulfill her fantasy in real life.
The film is quirky and romantic—and quite funny, too. I highly recommend, especially if you're looking for something uplifting to beat the winter blues. :)
PS—More Keri Russell here and here.
(Image 1, 2, and 3)
Last week, Matt and I decided to check out an after-hours chocolate tasting at the American Museum of Natural History, hosted by Mast Brothers. Have you ever tried their chocolate? It's incredible—and the pretty, hand-wrapped packaging that each bar comes in is one of my favorite things.
The tasting traced the history of chocolate (it dates back 4,000 years!) with a brief talk, reading and film by Michael and Rick Mast. Then, the chocolate. :) There was so much to sample and try! We even got to grind our own cacao beans.
The coolest part of the whole night was meeting Michael and Rick. We bought their brand-new cookbook, and are looking forward to trying this recipe for Hot Chocolate. Seems like the perfect way to get through the remaining snowy days, right?
PS: A Mast Brothers Chocolate tour!
(Image 1, 2 and 3)
Happy Friday, my darling readers, and happy Valentine's Day! What do you have planned for the long weekend? I'm looking forward to relaxing, and also to testing my photography skills with this Skillshare class I just registered for about shooting at night. Seems cool, right? Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead! Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:
Um, win a double date with Ben and Matt. (For a good cause!)
A Red Sox beard report.
Why you shouldn't run in the snow.
A pretty book cover for Lena.
In love with this pink dress.
DIY heart-shaped cutting board.
Did you know you should moisturize before you shower?
Here's looking at you, Valentine.
A beautiful ode to (apple) pie dough.
The worst fictional boyfriends.
(Image via I Dream Of...)
Thanks to my sister Alyssa, Matt got the best Christmas present ever: the Jerusalem cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi. We've been trying so many of their delicious, mouth-watering recipes, but our new favorite is for Roasted Chicken with Clementines and Arak. The flavors! You won't believe me until you try it yourself. The clementines are the genius ingredient that add a tangy sweetness to each savory bite.
The full recipe is available here, but make this dish soon: Clementines are only in season in New York for a couple more weeks!
(Image 1, 2)
I popped by the Greenpointers Valentine's Market on Sunday, and came across these adorable cards from Loveless Designs. Each card is pen and ink, and then hand-colored with markers by the artist (Bethany Robertson) herself. I thought it was such a sweet way to send spontaneous snail mail greetings to friends.
On that note, you should know: I've added a budget line for card shopping in New York. My addiction is getting worse! On a more positive note: Friends, check your mailboxes! :)
PS—An Instagram snap from the Market!
Have you heard about Almost, Maine? It's a delightful romantic comedy written by John Cariani and now playing in the West Village at the (fake snow-covered) Gym at Judson. Filled with sweet, mostly 2-person vignettes, the play illustrates the funny, awkward, cheesy, charming, and sometimes heartbreaking parts of love. The four actors in this performance (including the writer himself) cover 19 different roles, beautifully and seamlessly. And with Maine as it's backdrop, this show feels like winter comfort food.
I loved every hilarious reference to the state I adore. I highly recommend this show!
PS—More Maine here, here, here and here.
(Image 1, 2)
