Of the moment // 4.10.15
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!
This week has been a bit of a weird one, and I’m blaming a lot of it on the weather. We had the most glorious sunny and warm springtime day on Monday: I biked to and from work, and took a nice long detour home via the Manhattan Bridge and watched the sunset over the Brooklyn Bridge and even took off my jacket! But then it was back to being chilly and overcast and gray, and that really takes an emotional toll on a girl. I feel so READY for spring: I want to wear skirts and flats without tights, plant flowers and herbs in my courtyard, have afterwork drinks dates at rooftop bars and just generally be outside in the sunshine all of the time. I have all of this springtime energy, but I still feel all cooped up inside–and because of that, my week has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Fingers crossed that next week is a bit brighter!
Looks
Last night, I went to the Oh Joy! book signing with my friend Jillian: we sipped champagne and flipped through all of the colorful crafts and get interior designing inspo from the West Elm Chelsea store. And then we popped next door for another glass of wine to just chat about all of things. As much as I love our morning coffee dates, it was nice to trade in the latte for something bubbly.
Blooms
Daffodils in mason jars might be my favorite way to make my house feel like springtime: get those $1.50 bunches at Trader Joe’s before they’re gone!
Eats
OK, I am still 100% obsessed with mason jar salads because 1) they’re super easy to prep a few in advance, 2) they look so pretty–just like a layered terrarium! 3) they’re healthy and 4) they’re versatile. Last week, I did Greek salads (balsamic vinagarette, red pepper, green pepper, feta cheese, cucumber, red onion and orzo) and this week, I did Mexican salads (pico de gallo, guacamole, cotija cheese, black beans, orzo, tomatoes and green salad). I’m constantly surprised by how much food you can fit in that not-too-big jar!
Reads
As a kid, one of my favorite regular outings was to the used book store: my mom used to take me to Almost Perfect books with a stack of books to trade in and I’d leave with a new stack. Last week, I popped into Alabaster Books on a rainy afternoon and in a beautiful stroke of serendipity, I found The City Gardener’s Handbook! I have grand plans to grow tomatoes, herbs and flowers in my little urban courtyard this summer, so I’d been hoping for some sort of reference and overview.
Words
“If you want to be happy for a short time, get drunk;
happy for a long time, fall in love;
happy forever, take up gardening.”
-Arthur Smith (I gave my grandmother a card with that quote once, and she loved it so much that she kept it framed in her room–it’s makes me so happy to think how proud she’d be of my gardening efforts!)
This weekend, we’re heading to Mystic, Connecticut! We’re staying at the Inn at Mystic, and my fingers are crossed it’s warm enough to fit in a few games of tennis on the property. We’re also going to wander the grounds of Connecticut College (my boyfriend’s alma mater!), check out the Mystic Aquarium and explore one of the prettiest seaports in New England.
