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6.22.2017

this or that: bicycle edition.


this or that: bicycle edition.

shinola / schwinn

It's no secret to those who know me that my cycling skills leave a lot to be desired. I'm rather uncoordinated and unbalanced, so the combination of me + a bicycle often ends in disastrous results. This lack of coordination, however, hasn't been a deterrent: last weekend my dad and I ordered takeout and instead of driving to our little downtown eatery I hopped on my mom's bike and picked up our dinner in her wicker bicycle basket. I loved it.

So, now I want a new bike--I currently have a very fun vintage Schwinn that is great to look at but isn't super practical due to it being a one-speed. I need gear options while navigating the hills of my New England town.

I absolutely love Shinola's Bixby, but I'm having heart palpations from the sticker shock (the beauty in maroon above is almost $2,000)--I think I will ultimately go with a new (but vintage-looking) Schwinn Sprite. I'm willing to shell out a respectable $350 and you can't go wrong with the classic red. Throw on a basket and I'll be in environmentally friendly business.

Which would you choose? 

6.20.2017

ricotta, tomato and pesto galette.






My favorite fall recipe is Smitten Kitchen's Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Galette, but I wanted to experiment with a more "summer-themed" version because galettes are delicious 365 days a year. My only requirements were avoiding summer squash and/or zucchini because those are the two vegetables I really can't stand.

I ended up combining pesto, tomato and a variety of cheeses and it's definitely going to be a repeat recipe--the combination of three major ingredients can't be beat, and it's super easy (especially when you use pre-made pie crust). I had it by itself (by itself I mean with some wine), but it would be great with a salad for a more balanced meal. And while I used a variety of cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes would take this to the next level.

ricotta, tomato and pesto galette
{ inspired by smitten kitchen }

What you need:

  • 1/4 cup ricotta (I used whole milk ricotta, but part skim would also work)
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated mozzarella
  • 1 9-inch rolled pie crust (thawed according to directions)
  • Sliced tomatoes of your choosing (go for the heirlooms)
  • Pesto (homemade or store bought)
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper

What you do:
  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Combine ricotta, grated parmesan and mozzarella in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Unroll the pie crust onto baking sheet.
  • Spread a thin layer of pesto on the pie crust, leaving an inch (or so) border.
  • Add the ricotta mixture on top of the pesto, spreading evenly.
  • Arrange tomato slices on top of the ricotta mixture to your liking.
  • Carefully fold the edges of the pie dough inward so they overlap slightly on the pesto/cheese/tomatoes, leaving the center of the galette uncovered. 
  • Beat together an egg and splash of water, and brush the egg wash along the entire border of the galette.
  • Bake in the preheated oven 30-40 minutes, until the edges are nicely browned and the cheese is bubbly.
  • Enjoy.

6.16.2017

loving lately.

{ via
I recently got a sample of Maison Margiela Replica Beach Walk with my Nordstrom order, and I might have to spring for a bigger size. While my favorite summer fragrance will always be White Sand from Finn and Co., Beach Walk is a close second--I only wish it would last longer!

{ via
My sister gave me Cravings for Christmas last year, and I'm obsessed. I made the Basil Chicken and the Cauliflower, Feta, Orzo Salad this week and they were so delicious and super easy--and the Margarita Chicken Fajitas are my absolute favorite. I highly recommend this cookbook.


{ via
The Keepers on Netlfix is a must-watch--the documentary starts as a story about the murder of a Catholic nun but quickly evolves into something much more, and I've loved watching this series (despite the heartbreaking and disturbing subject matter). It's so good.

6.14.2017

hey boo boo.

Every summer I find myself wanting a picnic basket (for all of those picnics I go on) but I find that most of them are pretty pricey...until now. Land's End has a couple of great picnic basket options, and the prices can't be beat--especially since you can almost always get some sort of discount.

First up, the traditional:

English Style Picnic Basket

And then, for the wine aficionado:


Vino Picnic Basket 

Vino Picnic Basket

They offer two options--a traditional "English Style" full blown picnic basket with settings for four, and the Vino picnic basket with room for two wine bottles (and complete with a corkscrew and cheeseboard). Realistically, I didn't see myself serving three of my friends a full blown picnic so I went with the Vino option. I definitely plan on packing up some wine and cheese to savor Maine sunsets this summer. And, both are available monogrammed--the perfect treat for yourself (or as a wedding gift)!

*I tried searching the Land's End website for both of these but they didn't show up, but if you search the internet or use my links, they will take to the site. As of today, they're both available. 

6.12.2017

weekend.



After weeks of unseasonably cold temps and a ton of rain, we finally had a summer-like weekend in New England. I did a huge basement clean out with my dad on Saturday and felt very productive--although that feeling was very short-lived because I spent the majority of Sunday poolside getting a nice sunburn (despite frequent sunscreen reapplication). After way too much food and drink overindulgence, I'm ready for a reset and am planning on a healthy week. We'll see how it goes.

Happy Monday.