Effects of Little Women

Without fail, I always cry when Beth dies in Little Women. Seriously, how can you not cry?

Also, I tear up when Jo refuses Laurie, and then again when Jo finds out that Laurie married Amy.  It just seems so unfair.

Don't judge.

 

Photo credit 

This Makes Me Totally Want a Dog

I mean, come on. Look at these nom nom legs.

Weekend Reads

Happy weekend! I can't wait to claim my extra hour of sleep tomorrow morning. This week was long but productive. I finally finished and mailed out the last of our wedding thank you cards, and we've slowly been making small changes to our apartment so that it's more like a home and less like a tight space where we just stack everything we own.  It's been an unbelievable relief to cross several things off of the to-do list, and not just because I love lists so very much.

Here are a few of my favorite links from the week if you're looking for some light reading.

• Between media coverage of horrific accidents, murder trials and Middle East war zones, it was heartwarming to read about these newlywed couples in Minnesota. Love is truly all you need.

• I'm in love with these hangers.

• These are the prettiest ice cubes that ever were.

• Kettle corn at home? Yes, please.

• Anthony and I watched Bill Cunningham New York and I'm convinced that if I ever saw Mr. Cunningham on the street in Manhattan taking photos, I would probably freak out in the best way possible.

• Later this week, I'm headed to the Berkshires for a short vacation with a friend. Any suggestions for us? Right now, I'm particularly excited about a visit to the Mount and stopping at the Furnace Brook Winery.

Have a wonderful weekend, dearies! xo

Your Nighttime Dose of Muppets

How can anyone look at these photos and not be happy? Muppets are so much like real people to me that I forget that there's actually a person crouching down with his arm up a furry puppet. And this, my dears, is your Tuesday night dose of Muppets. xo

Photos courtesy of Buzzfeed

Weekend Recap: Fireworks, Birthdays and Extreme Heat

Fireworks, birthdays and heat are three words that truly describe this weekend.

Thursday was spent celebrating my best friend's birthday, her fiance's birthday and, of course, America's birthday. How adorable is this red, white and blue pom-pom garland?

Could Charlie the Mastiff be any cuter? He's actually trying to hide behind this bush.

Spotted at Target: Pillsbury Key Lime box cake mix. This was one impulse buy I couldn't pass up.

Saturday was my birthday and we met friends in the city for brunch. Afterward, we all headed up to MoMA to see the Rain Room exhibit, but the museum was super crowded and we were only able to observe from an area off to the side.  The effect of the rain falling from the ceiling is amazing, creating tiny prisms with every drop. There are sensors above that shut off the water when someone is below just that area so basically, you are standing in the rain but aren't getting wet. What a wonderful concept with an almost magical result, although I would never have waited two hours to actually experience the exhibit myself.

(Note to MoMA: you should seriously consider limiting the amount of time visitors have in the Rain Room. There was a group of ten people just standing there for twenty minutes talking about dinner plans. The rest of the time they were taking and re-taking pictures on their iPhones. The same group was there when we went in and was still there when we left. Everyone deserves a chance but without limits, people take advantage.  That is all.)

I will readily admit that these photos truly don't do justice to the beauty of the rain and the rainbow effect as the spotlight hits the sheets of water.

Finally, in order to cool off after spending the entire day at my grandparents' sweltering house, Anthony and I celebrated my birthday by sitting in our air-conditioned bedroom eating Crumbs cupcakes and watching Friends reruns. It was a perfect ending to one of the best birthdays that I've celebrated in the last ten years or so.

This photo below is from Wednesday night's fireworks display in Stratford. The bursts are always so beautiful in the sky but I can never fully capture that with a camera. This gives you a pretty good idea of the show though.

I hope you all had wonderful, relaxing, patriotic, popsicle-filled weekends. xo

Weekend Reading

Welcome to the holiday weekend, my friends! Most people had today off and celebrated with a four-day weekend, but I was at work, answering emails in my extremely quiet office.  The last few days have been so humid so we're doing our best to stay cool with our little air conditioner in our bedroom. Plus, my birthday is tomorrow, and it's one of my least favorite days of the year.  Our plan is to head into the city and just have a nice day in empty Manhattan. I have high hopes for the year ahead; then again, I try to be optimistic as possible. And if you're looking for some reading material, below are links to some of my favorite things this week. xo


Design Crush shared this unbelievable round-up featuring 108 recipes for ice creams and sorbets. I've never made ice cream before but if anything is going to make me try, it's this collection. Nom nom.

I want to make a gazillion of these Instagram-Poloroid magnets, cover our fridge with them and then hand them out to all of our friends.

This recipe for buttermilk cornbread looks great but the accompanying bacon-lime-chili butter looks even better.

This whale sprinkler is beyond kickass. I wish we had a backyard.

All twenty-five of these books are being added to my must-read list. What are you reading right now?




Photo courtesy of Gray Malin, who's aerial photos of parks in New York and Chicago are breathtaking; via honestlywtf

Food Hangover

Yesterday I woke up with a food hangover.  You know the feeling--it always comes after a day of eating way too much, but you don't really mind since you had so much fun doing it. On Saturday, a good friend from college came to visit and a group of us wound up on an all-day food quest. We kind of made up our own Fairfield county food crawl, and honestly, it was pretty great.

It all started at Dinosaur BBQ in Stamford, which is right by the newish Fairway Supermarket (according to the sign, it's the most 'unique grocery store,' whatever that means).  I'm usually a grilled chicken kind of girl, and I tend to stay away from beef and pork, but my brisket sandwich was incredible. The sides were delicious too; I mean, how can you trust a barbecue restaurant unless it has really great macaroni and cheese? In case you can't tell, I'd be willing to do one of those weird trust falls with Dinosaur BBQ at this point because their macaroni and cheese was that good.

The weather was supposed to be horrendous but it turned out to be a beautiful, mild day, which totally made the local meteorologists look like fibbers.  We headed over to the new beer garden at Harbor Point and each had a few drinks. I forgot how wonderful it is to sit with friends on a Saturday afternoon with some beer. The beer garden itself is actually an awesome place to visit on a warm afternoon and we all enjoyed the selection; based on the crowds coming in when we were leaving though, it's probably not the kind of place I'd want to spend my Saturday night. Dear Lord, I'm apparently an old lady. Also, I have never seen so many pastel polo shirts and shorts in one place. Most of the guys looked like giant Easter M&Ms.

Afterward, we headed back north to Valencia Luncheria for arepas and empanadas. We ate outside in front of the restaurant at a picnic table along the sidewalk. I seriously loved my chipotle pork empanada. My friend had been jonesing to try the place since he'd seen it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and he seemed pretty happy with his arepa too.  And I think the waitress who kept calling customers "lover" instead of "love" really made the trip worthwhile.

On the ride home, we stopped at the Shake Shack in Westport. Why not, right?

It should be easier for you to understand my food hangover now. I can't believe I didn't slip into an actual coma.  Way too much food, but the company couldn't have been better.  Aren't impromptu days the best? xo

Sprawling Art

When in New York, I always try to take a walk through Madison Square Park. I love how many different things are packed into this space.  There's a really cool playground along the north edge and at the south edge, there's always a snaking line for the Shake Shack. In between the two are paved paths, families with toddling children, lots of dogs, plenty of benches and always some kind of art installation. It's just such a friendly patch in the middle of the bustling Flatiron district.

The giant pieces that are display now are so beautiful and cheerful. The artist intricately wove thick painted nautical rope to form giant waves.  Don't they look like they belong in a Dr. Seuss book? So perfect for summer.

Sidenote: Does anyone know what kind of flowers these are? I love that they are basically large pompoms balancing on top of a tall, thin stem. If I'm ever lucky enough to have a yard of my own, I'm definitely planting some. xo

Sincerest Form of Flattery?

I quote from movies and television all the time.  Some of the popular lines in my rotation are from Friends, The Office and Seinfeld, along with such classic films as Empire Records, Sixteen Candles and The 40-Year Old Virgin. Obviously, these are movies that everyone has seen, and no one is ever confused when I spew out a random, seemingly unrelated quote mid-conversation.

Another fave of mine is the Tina Fey-penned Mean Girls. This morning, I actually said, "She needs to stop trying to make 'fetch' happen." And it was awesome because it totally worked with what we were talking about. I also love saying, "Go home..." and gesturing with my thumb, which is also a Mean Girls highlight ("I just have a lot of feelings!").

Yeah, I'm cool.xo

Funny Ladies

Last year, I fell in love with this little sitcom on NBC called BFF, written by and starring Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair. It was extremely funny with snappy dialogue and realistic, relatable characters.  Right after I saw the first episode, I started looking into comedy writing classes and rules for improv so that I could try to infuse my own work with a few laughs and maybe some day write something just as wonderful as BFF. That's how good it was.  And like all good shows lately, it was cancelled after a mere six episodes. 

I'm obsessed with funny ladies lately. It's so hard to create 'good' comedy and there is nothing more satisfying than witty humor and smart writing, which brings me to the most exciting news of my week: USA has just ordered a new pilot from Parham and St. Clair. That's right, a new show from these thoughtful, hysterical comediennes. Yeeeesss.

I can't wait for this show and I hope that USA ultimately picks it up. And yes, there is a little bit of me that is expecting to see little Q pop up with some new, awesome insights. xo



Via Splitsider

'Tis the Season

It's 'red cup' time again! I'm not sure why, but sipping from these cheerful Starbucks cups really makes it feel like the holiday season has arrived. And I don't even mind admitting that I enjoy the jazzy, peppy piped-in festive music that will start playing everywhere from supermarkets to gas stations. Now, it's time to start Christmas shopping...

Panda Cam 24/7

How can you possibly watch this panda cam, which is streaming live from China, and not feel 200% better? If I was still a tween, I'd put panda stickers all over my notebooks and not even feel embarrassed. xo

Nashville Is Killing It

Three episodes in and I'm totally hooked on Nashville. It's a modern-day country version of Dynasty, but with fewer shoulder pads and gorgeous actors who do their own singing.  I literally gasped at the end of tonight's episode.  I already cannot wait for next week's episode. xo

Target Finds

A trip to Target is never boring.  Here are some highlights from my last visit:

Halloween = Unicorn costumes for infants and toddlers
("My horn can pierce the sky." --The Office)

Next to the Halloween section was an emerging Christmas section. My favorite item? The glittering, light-up holiday lawn flamingo.

Method sprays and soaps with Orla Kiely-designed packaging were on sale. Irresistible.  I chose a practicable all-purpose cleansing spray with a ginger-pear scent.


Also, I bought a new conditioner that smells like fruit punch and I now find myself craving Hawaiian Punch after every shower.  All in all, good times.  xo.

A Little Music For a Wednesday Night

Have you ever seen Stranger Than Fiction? Anthony and I saw it a few years ago when it first came out and it's a movie that really stayed with me. As a writer, I'm half in love/half terrified of the theory that the characters I create in my fiction might actually be real.  There's a part that I think about often when Will Ferrell's character brings his love interest, Maggie Gyllenhaal, a box of flours because she's a baker.  Whoever thought that a box of flours would be more romantic than a bouquet of flowers?

P.S. This is a clip of my other favorite part. xo



It's Not Autumn Without a Trip to the Orchard

Every fall, Anthony and I go apple-picking.  It's a trip that I look forward to every year; we take our time walking the rows of trees, fill two large bags with apples, stop off at the farm store for cider doughnuts and then head home so I can make apple crisp, which we usually eat for dinner.

When we woke up on Sunday, it was overcast, but we decided to head to the orchard anyway.  Yeah, that's right. We apple-pick in the rain. 

Yesterday, I had three apples for lunch. And on deck for this weekend: apple pie.  Welcome, October. xo

Soup, Now With Spherical Carrots

So I love Panera Bread.  I can never decide what to get because I want one of everything on the menu.  Today, I tried the seasonal soup, which was Chicken Stew with a cheddar scone-like biscuit.  It was really delicious and filling, and perfect for fall, but as I was eating I noticed something odd: the carrots were spheres.  Are they pressed together bits of carrots, like a chicken nugget concoction but in vegetable form, or did someone use a melon baller on a bag of carrots? Perplexing, but still tasty...

Tea Time

I came across these cookies on Pinterest and I am in love.  They are shortbread cut into the shape of a teabag, complete with string detail for the tag.  They are just so creative and would be absolutely adorable for an afternoon party.  What do you think? 

It was really hard to find an original source for this but I think I tracked it down to this awesome French site.  (via Le Petrin)

Eternal Anthropologie Love

I'm not a huge shopper but there are a few stores that I just love.  At a visit to Anthropologie this weekend, I realized that I liked almost everything in the store, especially the kitchen section.  In fact, if someone offered to buy me one of every item that the company sells, I would gladly accept.  There was a latte bowl in a perfect shade of gray that I couldn't stop admiring, gorgeous drinking glasses with colored rims and a copy of the new cookbook Vintage Cakes.  There were headbands, adorable bookmark stickies, a floral comforter...I don't know how I made it out without buying anything (although it might have something to do with this wedding we're having in eight months...).

And the store was so beautifully decorated, too.  The merchandise was sectioned off and arranged in really interesting and creative displays.  Even the windows made it seem like you were entering a french cafe.

What store is your favorite? And can you limit your purchases if you have to? xo

Once Every Four Years

The Summer Olympics only happen every four years so why not take advantage and spend every possible second watching the best athletes in the world compete? At least that's what I told myself this weekend as I sat on the couch cheering on the Americans in swimming, basketball, volleyball, soccer and of course, gymnastics.

I know that I'm not alone in my passion for gymnastics.  For a few years in my youth, I actually dreamt that one day I could possibly be a 'late-bloomer' gymnast without having taken any tumbling classes.  And I may or may not have VHS tapes of the entire team competition and all-around competition from the 1996 Atlanta games, when the US women won team gold and Kerri Strug became a household name.  Yeah, you can call me a fan.

As an adult, I now fully appreciate the hours and hours of practice all of these athletes put in to perfect their sport.  I even find myself identifying more with the cringing parents in the bleachers.  It's a deep-down secret of so many people to compete in the Olympics; that's why so many people watch religiously.  I'm just excited to follow along at home, living vicariously through these inspiring individuals, unable to tear myself away from the television for ten straight days and tearing up everytime I hear an athlete's backstory or the National Anthem.