Of the moment // 8.8.14
One of the reasons why I blog is simply to have the space to write: getting things “on paper” helps me to process my feelings and organize my thoughts. I also love having a record of my life over the past few years: a place that holds all of my stories, my photos, the ups and downs of travel. But sometimes, I also just want to remember and share the little things that brought me day-to-day joy. Every Friday, I’ll give you a peek into the book I currently can’t put down, a great restaurant discovery, a fun new product or an inspiring quote: a few things that I think you might enjoy before we all take off into the glory that is the weekend!
Despite celebrating my two-year New York City-versary (the photo above is from my very trip to New York City when I was 8!), it was a pretty low-key week. My boyfriend and I have introduced “productive dates” where we essentially exist next to each other on our laptops: I make dinner (my go-to recipe: quiche lorraine!), and then we both hunker down and work. Not exactly the most romantic or exciting of New York City date nights, but alas: I wrote so much! The other highlight of the week was the first meeting of my SECOND book club–I can’t say no to a reason to read a new book and drink wine with my girlfriends. We discussed The Confidence Code: lots of great insights from a collection of NYC twenty-somethings with varying levels of confidence and vastly different career paths. This weekend is chock full of activities: dinner dates, birthday parties, yoga classes and even the promise of a swanky rooftop pool!
Wanderlust
Even though I’m still not 100% sure I could place Estonia on a map, I’ve fallen in love with the fairytale-like city of Tallin via @zachspassport’s recent trip documented on Instagram. He attended Estonia’s Song Festival a few weeks ago; I met up with him to chat earlier this week, and he had nothing but wonderful things to say about the tiny but beautiful Baltic country. I can’t decide if the adorable cobblestone streets and colorful facades would be more magical during Christmas Market or Midsummer–thoughts?
Take Me Back
Earlier this week, I shared Wanderlust: Northern Europe edition (I think we can officially add Estonia to that list now!) and have totally had Stockholm on the brain. Even when our book club discussed The Confidence Code, I think I brought up the incredible gender equality and maternity leave options in Stockholm at least three times. There’s just something about those cinnamon rolls and saunas that keeps calling out to me!
- Postcard from the Woodland Cemetery
- Sometimes, I wish I were there (It was the joy of life in Stockholm that sparked the term “fixed life envy!”
- Logistics: what to do in Stockholm
- Postcard from Stockholm, Sweden
Reads
I borrowed Beautiful Ruins from my roommate’s bookshelf, and haven’t been able to put it down all week. It’s making me especially yearn for a visit to Cinque Terre: part of the story is set in a tiny town on the Italian coast, and it’s conjuring up all sorts of Italian Riviera wanderlust. Highly recommend–it’s the perfect late summer beach read!
Sweet Tooth
I met up with my dear friend Monica on one of those dog days of New York summer: so ridiculously hot and humid that you’re dripping with sweat the minute you walk out the door. Even though this melting ice cream cone wasn’t as delicious (or Instagrammable) as I had hoped, it was still an mid-week afternoon ice cream break with a friend–and that’s never a bad thing!
Fixed Life Envy
Now that I’ve committed to be in Brooklyn for another year, I’m sprucing up the place! I finally splurged on these fantastic CB2 shelves, these hilarious Can’t Stop/Won’t Stop pillows and a hand-drawn Brooklyn map.
California Love
One of my favorite things about New York City is that there is a bar for every single professional and college sports team. For San Francisco fans: that bar is Finnerty’s in the East Village. It shows all of the Giants and 49ers games, and it also organizes buses to the games whenever our California teams are playing in New York City. I saw the Giants play the Yankees last year, and checked out the Mets stadium for the first time last weekend. It’s a super fun way to hang out with all of my California friends–I went to Chico State with all of those crazy kids above!–and it’s great to cheer on the visiting team in a section with other fans.
Eats
My friend Katelyn only had one request for her visit to New York City: a walk through Central Park! My tried-and-true method for taking visitors to Central Park: take the express 4/5 train up to 86th Street, pick up fancy picnic goods at New York Institution Dean & Deluca, and then wander through Central Park until you find the perfect grassy knoll. Works every time!
New York City
I’ve been obsessed with red doors my entire life: I think I flipped through my feng shui book in elementary school, and got hooked on the idea of red doors to invite good luck into your life. I definitely begged my mother to paint our door red to no avail, although she did allow me to rearrange my whole room multiple times to maximize chi flow. I still have a soft spot for red doors, and when I spotted both of these houses on a wander through West Village one morning: I knew it was going to be a good day!
p.s. Forbes is currently accepting nominations for the 100 Best Websites for Women! If you’ve been inspired to take a trip, move to a new city, start a meditation practice, see more sunrises–or if you just enjoying reading C’est Christine!–I’d be so incredibly appreciative of any nominations. Merci!!!
