We love you, Baltimore

We loved Balitmore! Literally, I woke up singing Hairspray. And the weekend was just that good.
It was a great trip filled with lots of seafood, ice cream and side-splitting laughter. Seriously, my abs still hurt (from the ice cream, and the laughter.) Just wanted share some of the weekend...

You know, just some ladies eating ice cream on the waterfront

They didn't win. This is Birdland.

Camden Yards, you did not disappoint!

Right

Stop it, already. Sky, we get it. You're awesome.

I decided if I can live in a studio apt, I can live on a boat.

Fits of Laughter, part 1

On the set, Baltimore Outdoor Bars

The cutest

I mean, come on...

Fits of laughter, part 2

Fits of laughter, part 3

Poor lil guy. Didn't stand a chance to Erin's mallet.

Charm city.

Life is a Narrative

So this morning when I got up, I saw a txt from Erin, sent at midnight, that Nora Ephron died. I have long, long-time been a fan of hers. Her humor, her brevity, her realness. I can honestly say part of the reason I'm living in New York is Nora Ephron. 

I fell in love with New York when I came to visit at 18, but it was Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail" that I fell in love with the Upper West Side and the idea of living in New York City (italicized for dramatic effect, of course). I know this is completely ridiculous. But, its true.

Then when I moved here, I started reading her essays. I fell in love with her wittiness.
I saw the play "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" and thought she was writing about my childhood. I just read “I Feel Bad About My Neck” when I was on vacation. And, at 30, understood her sentiments. I loved it so much (seriously, go read it now) that I watched "Heartburn" the following weekend.

Anyway, there are very few writers that I feel that sort of kinship with, deep understanding and association... (word up, Jane Austen)... So, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that I'm a little sad. Here are a few of my favorite Ephron quotes:

"Life is a narrative." (I Feel Bad About My Neck)

"I look out the window and I see the lights and the skyline and the people on the street rushing around looking for action, love, and the world's greatest chocolate chip cookie, and my heart does a little dance." (Heartburn)

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self." (You've Got Mail) 

"Insane people are always sure that they are fine. It is only the sane people who are willing to admit that they are crazy.”
 

“…the amount of maintenance involving hair is genuinely overwhelming. Sometimes I think that not having to worry about your hair anymore is the secret upside of death.” (I Feel Bad About My Neck)

Great NYTimes article

Some Monday Motivation

Friday's Five Favorites, Summer in the City

So, don't be jealous, guys, but my sultry Friday morning started with the melodic sounds of demolition, and the whistle blowing protestors to the hotel job site next door to me. This is the second week, and now there are two (!) giant inflatable rats on my block. Oh, God love you 39th and Park. Nontheless, I found somethings I'm pretty excited about... Happy Summer and Pride weekend!

I'm totally moving to the Upper West Side now. See you in September!

Summer is here. And that means I need to do some shopping.

With Summer, comes smells... this kills me. And I tell my friend's kids that Auntie Michele
lives in a far-far-faraway land like a princess.

So, Alyssa, Erin, Asti, Emma, Jamie and I
are hitting the train tracks this weekend and heading to Baltimore!! I'm so excited
to be an Orioles fan (Fancy Clancy, the cutest) for the weekend. I'm also looking forward to seeing
Camden Yards, and celebrating Jamie's new job offer!

Down to the Letter

So here's the deal. I've been having a bit of a hard time this week (more on that later). But I feel like whenever things (or life) seem overwhelming, I need to take a step back. Appreciate something. I just happened to stumble upon these motivational, non-cheese gems. They did the trick. Her name is Mary Kate McDevitt. I love her handlettering and her iceberg story.

Taste of Summer: Panzanella

Ever since I got back from Ireland, I've been trying to save money. Because, let me tell you, folks... Dublin did not kid around with the money. 

So, as such, I've started starting stalking food blogs. Far be it from me to deprive my cultured palette just because I have to save some cash. 

This weekend I ganked Sprouted Kitchen's Panzanella recipe, paired it with some Rose and a had a delightful 'lil easy lunch. 

To get you in on the game:

 
3 Cups Whole Grain Bread, in 1’ Cubes
½ Cup Roasted Red Peppers (make your own or use a jar)
2 Medium Heirloom Tomatoes
½ Medium Sized Red Onion
1 Cup Garbanzo Beans, fresh or canned
1 Cup Basil, Roughly Chopped
1 Cup Arugula
¼ Cup Toasted Pine Nuts
1 tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper

PESTO DRESSING // Pesto recipe found (here)

3 tbsp. Pesto
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice

Oven to 400’

Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet, drizzle with the tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and toss them around in the baking pan. Give a generous sploosh of salt and pepper and toast in the top rack of the oven for ten minutes. Toss them around half way through baking time.

Prepare your veggies. Give a rough chop to the roasted red peppers. Slice the tomato into cubes, leave them seeded. Slice the red onion as thin as possible either with your amazing knife skills or a mandolin.
In a large bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes (and some of their juices), red onion, red peppers, garbanzo beans, arugula, half of the basil and pine nuts.
Combine the pesto ingredients together with a small whisk. Drizzle desired amount onto the panzanella and toss. Serve immediately once tossed, soggy croutons aren't so good.

Daydreaming: Back at the Beach

Oh, reality.

Object(s) of Devotion

 

So often it happens, without realizing it, I catch myself going through the motions of life without really looking at what's going on. I try so hard to not let this happen. But sometimes the daily "grind" becomes, well, gggggrindingggg. 

Just getting from one thing to another, checking off one to-do to quickly to move
on to another, I lose the moment. I lose the day.
 

Being busy can be a blessing and a curse. And, lately, I have been going and going.
Then, last week I read this excerpt that kinda stopped me in my tracks:

Whether we realize it or not, at every moment we stand devoted to something—something which we cherish above all others.  It may be money, a job, a person, an ideal, or our own comfort, but whatever it is, it’s the thing to which we orient all our resources, all our interest, and all our hope.

What it is, therefore, matters a great deal, for studies show that what we choose to pursue in life strongly influences our ability to be happy.

Given how influential the thing to which we devote ourselves ends up being, it’s surprising that many people don’t even know what it is they’ve chosen. On the other hand, reasons are like the layers of an onion, one lying inside another, and if we never bother to peel back the outer ones, we’ll never be able to catch a glimpse of the innermost one.

So, I had to go back and look... what have I been devoting my time to?

Designing this new thing.

Working new business.

Trying new things.

Seeing new sites.

Experiencing new sounds.

Enjoying some nature.

Taking it all in.

Bucket-listing.