Of the moment // 7.1.16
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!
To be completely honest: I’m exhausted. We knew that bringing a puppy home would be a shock to our independent, peace-and-quiet-loving systems but holy moly! It’s been a giant test in patience, and a big shake-up to my routine: I haven’t had the space or time to meditate, prep blog posts, read for pleasure, etc. And it’s such a test for a relationship! We joke that the Gert-monster is trying to ruin us, but in all seriousness, it’s tough to ensure that we’re always on the same page when it comes to training, rewards, etc. But we’re getting there! We know that she’s at peak cuteness AND difficulty right now, but we have to enjoy the cuteness while it lasts.
Reads
A must-read for serial new city seekers: This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live. There are a lot of little lessons that you can apply to your everyday life, like walking more or spending locally. One thing that I liked was the reminder that you have to spend money at the little stores that make up the character of your neighborhood if you want them to stay, even if it means you might be spending a little more. It reminded me that I should buy the flower arrangements at my local flower shop instead of Trader Joe’s, and get my keys made at the hardware shop down the street instead of Home Depot.
Pug Life
We went out to Jersey City on Sunday for a barbecue, and Gertie got to meet her cat cousins for the first time! She was pretty chill about it, but Tony the cat was nervous about this little unpredictable livewire, especially once we put them down and Gertie tried to chase his tail. Maybe they’ll be best friends in the future!
Blooms
Even though I missed peak bloom (it was last weekend), I still wanted to see the rose garden at Brooklyn Botanic in full effect. When I was biking around running errands one morning, I popped by for a quiet walk through the garden. It’s one of the largest collections of roses in America with more than 1,000 varieties: it was gorgeous!
Eats
Blue Apron has been our SAVIOR this week (close second goes to the wine shop right down the block). We usually only get it once every couple of months, but when we realized that we’d have to be home basically every night, we decided to increase our Blue Apron deliveries. It’s been really nice to have a delicious home-cooked meal, without having to put any brain power into deciding what to have or going grocery shopping. p.s. I have one set of three free meals to give away! First person to comment below saying they want it will get it–note that you have to live in a Blue Apron delivery area, etc. 
Words
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” -Maya Angelou
This weekend, we’re hanging out in New York City: I love staying close to home on long weekends! I can’t wait to meet a friend’s new baby, have friends over for dinner on our roof, and play with Gertie as much as possible.
