Brunch at Bleu Evolution

...What the very best Saturday mornings are made of. I'm now fantasizing about moving to my sister's neighborhood and making this a regular weekend tradition.

Can we all take a minute to raise the roof for that orange knit hat? I stole it from Emma with the promise to return it tonight ('Cause she's in a show! And we're going to see it!).

I'm taking a break from "Scenes From the Weekend" because I feel like it was becoming stagnant. Maybe in a few weeks I'll feel differently. For now, let's shake things up a bit.

Happy Monday. Go get funky. (Or not. Whatever floats your boat).

On Cliché

Can we talk about saltwater sandals for a minute? I was so hesitant to purchase a pair despite needing a quality summer shoe and admiring them for years. They've recently become super trendy, which annoys me. Trendy things often annoy me. Especially blogger trendy things. Especially because I often like those things.

But guess what. I freaking love them. Almost as much as I love mason jars. And macarons. And kittens. And stripes. And peonies.

Cliché? Totally.

Do I really care? Nope.

I like what I like.

Raise your hand if you're also a (sometimes) blogging cliche.

(Photos from my instagram stream)

Scenes From The Weekend

This weekend was simple and indulgent: I never changed out of pajamas on Sunday and loved every second of it. On Saturday, we woke up early to drive upstate to visit with my Nana for the day. She was chatty and chipper, which reminded me how special grandparents are, and how lucky I am to have them. We returned late and managed to squeeze in a few errands along the way, so we could enjoy Sunday free from any sort of chores or obligation. I scored big at Michael's (sparkly everything--and cinnamon pinecones!--mostly for projects with the kiddos this week). Sunday was characterized by ginger snaps and holiday gift shopping from the comfort of my bed. The house is so warm and Christmas-y right now. December, you pretty thing, you.

Below, a handful of instagram snaps--keeping warm whilst en route to Nana's; cozy twinkly lights in the bedroom; Sunday morning coffee in bed; and classic New York Holiday spirit (aka, Macy's facade).

Also, a few things worth exploring:

1). This uplifting TED talk on gratitude & happiness by Louie Schwartzberg.
2). This adorable promo video for Epouse Moi Cocotte, a french event styling company.
3). These quotes by Paulo Coelho, because they're true:
       "I urge you to express joy when you are happy, so other people may understand that happiness is   possible."
       "I will spend this day with love in my heart, compassion in my mind, and faith in my soul."

Hope your week is off to a delightful start.

Lately...

Light summer dinners, leisurely evening strolls and quiet sunlit mornings spent putting thoughts onto paper...

 ...Quality time with my sister, birthday celebrations, topknots and breakfast in bed.

 ...Reading in the afternoon, a farmer's market packed refrigerator, coffee in fine china, and seeking beauty in function.

Spa dates, NYC in the summer, lunching with friends, and happy additions to our art collection.


Can't complain right now. I'm doing my best to cherish the slowness of summer as we merge seamlessly into its finality with the arrival of August.

Speaking of which, I'm having a bit of difficulty creating a work-from-home routine that keeps me both inspired and productive. The new school year is less than five weeks away and while I'm keen on maintaining this slower pace, there's a lot of prep that needs to get done between now and then. Tips? I'm easily distracted, especially in my own living room.

(All photos taken with Instagram for iPhone. You can find my full feed here).

And We're Off...

Sayonara for a bit, my little love ducks. We're off to explore Paris and Prague and (nearly) the entirety of Bulgaria. I'm pretty sure I won't be blogging for the duration of the trip. It comes at a time when a good-old-fashioned internet detox is in order. (Although, I'm not so certain I can avoid popping up on Twitter and Instagram every once in awhile). We shall see.

Have a wonderful couple of weeks. Can't wait to catch up with all of you sweet thangs after July 16th!

P.S. Feel free to enter the "I love you, 'cause you're the bomb diggity" give-a-way for one of my summer paintings and a yet-to-be-determined surprise treat from our travels. I'll randomly select a winner upon our return. xo.

P.P.S Scoop St recently interviewed me for their "NYC: In the Know" series. Check it out, especially if you're interested in finding out where to find the best bagels and how I almost died on the D train.

Scenes From The Weekend

(the $15 shoes I will live in for the next three months)

(new favorite mug. much bigger than it looks)

(picnicking in Central Park)

(one of two evening jaunts to the ice cream shoppe)

(beautiful window in Riverside Church, where my graduation ceremony was held)

(window boxes in the center of town)

(quintessential summer snacking)

There was a lot packed into this long Memorial Day weekend. As I mentioned last week, I am now the official recipient of a duel master's degree! I am so happy to be done with graduate school; just a twinge of nostalgia lingers as I bid adieu to three incredibly formative years. 

Friday and Saturday truly exemplified summer's induction. The temperatures shot up to the high eighties, and we were stoked to spend some quality down time at Elizabeth & Grant's apartment on the Upper West Side (Elizabeth is my former roommate and dear friend). Lots of goodness ensued, including yummy food and drink at a local beer garden, a Saturday morning bike ride around the entirety of Central Park, and an afternoon picnic complete with boxed wine and watermelon. Tiho and I dragged ourselves home in the evening and after installing the air conditioners, sought ice cream for dinner, and promptly fell fast asleep.

On Sunday, we scoured the entire house with cleaning products and the vacuum cleaner, now that the bee situation is finally under control. Three hives were found in the pipes upstairs, so pest control did their best to remove the bees without harm, as several varieties are actually endangered. I'm just glad to be able to walk barefoot again! After a day of cleaning, we walked to the ice cream parlor for the second time and saw Bridesmaids at the local cinema (laugh out loud hilarity).

Today, I am enjoying a bonus day off with plenty of relaxation before the final two weeks of the school year commence tomorrow. I feel like everything is happening so fast, including the change of season. Didn't spring feel like it just made its appearance yesterday?  

Scenes From The Weekend

 (waiting for brunch)

 (fire escapes & white sky)

 (subway art, 1 train at 34th street & 8th avenue)

 (lemon yellow)

 (a beloved book, newly signed by the author)

 (brunch locale, Greenwich village)

 (scent)

 (flower bottles on the windowsill)

(more west village)

Sometimes I feel like flowers are all I share with you. But, I'm totally okay with that. They make me happy and I can't ask for much more than that, right?

Speaking of happiness, this weekend was really special for me: I attended an intimate discussion and book signing at an Anthropologie store in the city with Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project. I read the book about a year and a half ago and was significantly influenced by it. I continue to follow her blog and encourage you to read her book if you aren't yet acquainted. Needless to say, meeting her was awesome and uplifting. I also met and mingled with several other women at the event, with whom I exchanged email addresses. It's always neat to unexpectedly make new friends.

On Sunday, Tiho and I ventured down to the west village to catch up with some friends and enjoy an early afternoon brunch. After eating and drinking too much, we came home and went for a run in the rain, where we encountered three(!) friendly bunnies and a bunch of squawking ducks. I wish the weekend didn't have to end, but it was lovely and fulfilling, so I can't complain. How was yours?

P.S. I updated my Wisdom page (favorite quotes) and thought you might like to see.

Scenes From The Weekend

(quiche, coffee & mimosas in Brooklyn)

 (hot pink Gerber daisies)

 (color spectrum: veggie edition)

 (Derby ready)

 (two good things: beer & blossoms)

 (I have crafty friends)

(spring dresses)

(a friendly visitor) 

It was a pink weekend, which is a very good thing. There was: a post-work pedicure and (minimal) retail therapy, a day jaunt to Brooklyn for homemade brunch with Emily & Alex, a Kentucky Derby party on the Upper West Side (big hats and crab cakes and mint juleps, oh my!), sunshine and blue skies, a late morning run, a cleaning rampage resulting in a sparkling house, and an afternoon void of commitment and filled with bird-watching from the kitchen window. 

So far, the month of May has been good to me. The next several weekends are slowly but surely filling up with plans for an assortment of gatherings, and I couldn't be happier about it. Tiho and I both woke up grinning, which says a lot about the influential nature of good beer on Saturday night and forgiving sunlight on Sunday morning. I'm all about celebratory indulgences, especially after a long and onerous winter. Spring is here in full-force, and you know what? So am I.