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9.08.2021

an amped up caesar salad.

 

everything you didn't know your Caesar salad needed.



Judie's Restaurant in Amherst, MA was the best. Known for its giant popovers and extensive menu, it was the go-to spot for me and my sister the summer of 2016--we made a bunch of trips to western Massachusetts to visit my grandmother since she was sick, and Judie's was a comforting spot to get nourished and reset. 

I'm super bummed that they've since closed due to the pandemic, but I've been recreating one of my favorite things on the menu at home: the Caesar salad. Judie's Caesar isn't your typical Caesar--the basic version includes the addition of artichoke hearts and hardboiled eggs (which is delicious on its own) but I always loved to order the stuffed portobello with bacon version: it took the salad to the next level with the addition of grilled portobellos, roasted red peppers, bacon and warm gorgonzola. While definitely not traditional, this combo of flavors totally works together and will keep you full for a very time.

And if you're really feeling ambitious, make your our dressing: you can't go wrong with Julia Turshen's

9.07.2021

happy september.

 

my parents' house, with two small friends.

Happy September! I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by, but I'm honestly not mad about cooler temps--I put my air conditioner away this weekend and I'm hoping I'm in the clear for sleeping with my windows open and not overheating. I am, however, sad about how dark it is early in the morning and at night--this is not good for my sleep cycle.

It's been a busy couple of weeks with some work trips, and it's nice to mix things up a bit--I've done visits with my parents as a result because they're on Olive-watch when I head out of town (which I greatly appreciate).

I've been playing a bit of golf and watching a lot of tennis, and this weekend I did some serious shopping. I got some jeans from Madewell (this pair and this pair: skinny jeans for life) and I also got two shirts from J.Crew (in black and white). I also snagged these booties, which are a little bit tight in the footbed but I'm optimistic they'll stretch some with wear. I also stocked up on my favorite fall Nest candles and am going to try out the Necessaire shampoo and conditioner--I've heard good things. 

I'm really looking forward to the changing of a new season--here's to the unofficial start of fall. 



8.19.2021

the thursday special.

 

the laundress no. 723


Checking in on this Thursday with the best laundry detergent I've ever tried. I've been a skeptic of The Laundress for years (mostly due to the price), but my curiosity got the best of me during their recent 20% sale. I scooped up No. 723, the Original, and the Sport detergent to see if it was really worth the hype.

And it was.

I honestly love all of them, but I think No. 723 is my favorite--the scent is light and chic and it actually makes doing laundry an enjoyable experience--that says a lot. Also, because it's super concentrated you only need a little, which makes the price point a little more bearable.

Consider me a convert.


8.16.2021

oh, hi.

 

Hard to believe that it's been four months since I've checked in around these parts...and how are we halfway through August? Time is flying. Here's what I've been up to as of late:



Spent some moody time at the beach in April.



My sister and brother came to town over Memorial Day weekend and we had a great day in Portland, which culminated in the best dinner at my favorite place: Scales



Had an amazing trip to Fortland on our legal retreat--cannot wait to do an overnight in one of their yurts



My mom, sister and I flew to Chicago for a quick weekend in June--we stayed at London House (highly recommend), had an epic meal at Nobu, saw the Obama portraits at the Chicago Art Institute, and despite some tornado warnings and serious downpours, it was a super special, great trip. 



In July, my brother and I flew down to Pittsburgh to visit my sister and her husband--we had too much fun, and the I love the city more and more each time I visit.



At the end of July, my sister came up again and we spent a few days in Portland before heading to my parents' house for a week. We had the best meal at Street and Co. (their clam pasta cannot be beat). 



Olive turned 10, and spent a lot of time doing this.

And that's pretty much it--work has been busy and challenging but great. I had been going into the office a couple of days a week but with the Delta variant raging, I'm back to working from home, which Olive enjoys. I bailed on my 10 mile race that was originally scheduled for the spring of 2020--it was rescheduled to September 0f 2021 and training had not been going well. (I get overheated in the most mild conditions so throwing race training into the mix during a hot and humid summer was less than ideal). Hopefully postponing to April 2022 will be better. I'm also experimenting with a gluten free diet thanks to an esophageal issue that I finally went to the doctor about. As a wheat enthusiast, this has been a major blow to my pasta and bread loving lifestyle...but I suppose health = wealth so I'm going with it.

I hope your summer has been amazing.

4.12.2021

the past two weekends, in pictures.



   
an Easter celebration with a Milk Bar cake...


...and a peep.


 

 I lost internet one night which forced some pre-dinner reading, and I wasn't mad about it.


the magnolia tree behind my building is starting to bloom, and it makes me so happy.


Levain cookies (using this recipe) and they were amazing.



4.01.2021

the thursday special.

 

a really fantastic suit.

With swim season right around corner, this year I decided to be proactive. I usually wait to start looking for suits until we're in the throes of summer and by that point my size is sold out and I'm wearing the same sad suit of summers past. But not this year! I recently bought J.Crew's long-torso ruched femme one-piece (what a name) and it is absolute perfection. I dig the ruching, the long torso fits perfectly (no wedgies here) and it's also super classic and chic. 

If you're looking for the perfect one piece, this one checks all of the boxes.

3.29.2021

life lately.

 

a mood if there ever was one.


Hello! It's been a few months since I've checked in around these parts--I think it was pandemic fatigue, with some light depression sprinkled in. I wasn't doing too much and documenting that fact gave me the sads, so I didn't. But here we are--it's almost April, the snow has melted, temps in the 50s feel like a tropical vacation and it seems like we're rounding a corner--I know life won't fully go back to what it was before (at least for a while) but I feel hopeful for the first time in a year. There's something to be said for that.

Work has been nuts--I've been in my new role since October, and it's been challenging and stressful but also really good at the same time. I'm still working from home (which has been fine) but it's so hard to shut down at the end of the day when your office is right in front of you. I'm working on that for sanity's sake. At this point I don't think we'll be back in the office until the summer, and I'm definitely looking forward to some human interaction with colleagues.

Speaking of human interaction, I'm headed down to my parents' house this weekend for Easter: this will be the first holiday I've spent with them since Christmas of 2019. We're all vaccinated and it's such a tremendous relief and I'm feeling so incredibly grateful.

In other random news, I'm still loving the Peloton, I have a new obsession with Indian food (I've been getting it once a week and every time it's like a warm hug in a meal--the ultimate comfort food), Olive is her same snuggly self and will be turning ten(!)  this summer, and I finally watched the Queen's Gambit and I loved it. 

I'm looking forward to more family time over upcoming months, including a sibling weekend over Memorial Day weekend and some other domestic travel, golf season, light jackets/no more heavy sweaters, enjoying the great outdoors without freezing my buns off and eating out in restaurants.

I hope you're all doing well out there. 

1.21.2021

the thursday special.

 


It's no secret that my condo is rather small--it's definitely a one-person, one-dog space. Thanks to the super high ceilings, it doesn't feel that tiny, but the appliances in the kitchen are...not big--there's definitely no room for a french door giant fridge, which is actually fine because it makes me a little more mindful when I shop for groceries. When I do my upgrades, I'm going to be getting another small fridge (leaning toward the SMEG) but that means no ice maker, and I'm a lady who requires her beverages to be ice cold. In the past I've tried a variety of ice trays, but I recently picked up the lekue ice box which has become a total game changer. It saves so much space vs. the hodgepodge of silicone trays I was using before, and I love that the cubes are on the smaller side so they easily fit in my water bottles.

Although this is probably only of interest to the population of people who live sans automatic ice maker, I highly recommend the lekue ice box

1.19.2021

wanting a refresh.

 



I spent the weekend doing the usual (aka nothing), but I've got a serious itch to do a refresh in my condo. I'm already planning on replacing my kitchen appliances at some point and I also want to add a washer and dryer to my unit (there's laundry in my building's basement but it's kind of scary and I usually go to the laundromat that's two blocks away--I know, I lead a very glamorous life).

This weekend, I started small(ish)by ordering new bedding from West Elm--they were having a sale but it was still quite the investment. I bought a new set of their Belgian Flax Linen sheets and also got their European Flax Linen Linework Quilt and Shams. I'm excited for a more luxurious bedtime (and I seriously need a new mattress but that's a problem for another day). Another small change I'm planning is to add new hardware to my kitchen cabinets--I have my eye on the Massey collection from Rejuvenation...one thing at a time. 

Looking forward to a short work week--happy Tuesday!



1.11.2021

weekend things.

 



Jeez, that weekend went by fast--I'm constantly amazed that every weekend seems to fly by, but I don't really do much of anything. Friday was low-key with leftovers and on Saturday I ventured out for a quick Trader Joe's run and picked up a delicious breakfast sandwich from Ramona's, which is fast becoming my breakfast/lunch go-to (also, I'm officially on board with every breakfast sandwich containing broccoli rabe--so good).

Sunday morning consisted of laundry and exercise and I spent the afternoon with  a couple family FaceTimes and making The Best Bolognese Of Our Time. Honestly, I wasn't that mad about the quietness of it all.

So here's to Monday--I think I'm going to start the 3rd season of "Killing Eve" this week (speaking of series, I watched "The Undoing" last week and it was so good) and I'm definitely looking for the long weekend ahead...not that I'll be doing anything. 

1.07.2021

the thursday special.

 



The Thursday Special this week consists of the best purchase I made in 2020: the Peloton. And before I start, I would like to preface this by acknowledging that I have turned into that person--the person that gets all starry eyed and won't shut up about how amazing it is and who their favorite instructors are and how it has changed their life and all the little anecdotes that make you want to strangle someone until they finally shut up about a damn stationary bike.

Oh, how I used to cackle at the Christmas commercial from 2019 and roll my eyes at all of the converts and fanatics. 

How the mighty and self righteous have fallen.

Prior to this, I wasn't big on spinning--I had taken a handful of spin classes at my local CycleBar and I enjoyed them, but I wouldn't say I was obsessed: I thought it was a good workout and I appreciated the amount that I sweat.

Then, the pandemic arrived. I went from walking around 4-6 miles a day and taking Pure Barre classes to barely leaving the house and it showed--I needed something that would motivate me to workout, and it just wasn't happening with streaming workouts online or making myself go for a run. I ended up ordering it in the end of July and it arrived mid-September, and I've been riding it consistently ever since.

I think what I like most about it is the variety of the classes--not just cycling but strength and stretching. Also, the fact that it's in my bedroom means that it stares me in the face the second I wake up and there are literally zero excuses (and I'm the queen of excuses)--if I'm pressed for time I'll hope on for a quick 20 minutes and feel like I got a solid workout in.

All this to say: I love it, I used to be a major skeptic, and if you get one we can talk about it for hours. 


1.04.2021

hello, 2021.

 



Happy New Year! 2021, I'm happy to see you, although I know the next couple of months are going to be a slog. But that's okay--I mean, really, what can you do?

The past couple of months were very quiet around these parts. I spent the holidays by myself in Portland, and it ended up being...fine. There was a lot of family Facetime, delicious food and way too much champagne, and while I certainly would have liked to have been with my people in person, I was reminded of how lucky I am: I have my health and a job and a small and funny four-legged friend. Things could be a hell of a lot worse.

I'm starting this week with a clean condo and an almost empty inbox and I plan of focusing on not losing my mind (at least for the foreseeable future) because this is such a tough time of year--even without a global pandemic. Maybe that means spending a little more time in this little corner of the internet but given my track record no promises will be made.

Here's to a fresh start.