TGIF: Weekend Links

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TGIF! I'm happy to see Friday this week. After living in NY for over 8 years, I finally made it to City Bakery to try their hot chocolate. I also finally watched "Frozen". I'm still in shock that Elsa wasn't the main character. This weekend I'm heading to my parent's house to celebrate birthdays. I'm in charge of bringing a cake, so I'll be looking at recipes this morning. I'm thinking of trying this one as a devil's food cake has been requested...

Here are some links I've seen this week:

There are 2 days left of Hot Chocolate Festival!

If you are in NYC, here is a list of places to get a cuppa.

So, what color is this dress? I definitely see white and gold.

This short video made me a bit teary eyed.

Who doesn't wear tights in this weather?? Oh. 

I always forget how to fold fitted sheets correctly! This is a great, easy-to-follow video.

Tricks for a Serena Van Der Woodsen ponytail.

Loft has had some cute dresses lately. I'm tempted by this  and this. This is cute too.

Thursday Covers: Siblings Performing Together

Do you watch Nashville?

I have been a fan of Lennon and Maisy for a while. heard this song a few weeks ago. Catchy and fun.

Also, if you haven't seen the below, it's worth a watch / listen:

The Coat that Every Woman in Brooklyn is Wearing

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Seriously. I cannot turn around without seeing someone wearing a parka from Canada Goose.  I've seen a ton of Kensington Parkas out there.

They're pricey, but they look warm. And they come in a ton of colors. Which would you go for? I'm kind of a fan of the grey.

Music for a Wednesday

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I was so excited to hear "Sagres", the new song from The Tallest Man on Earth, on NPR. I also love this. Both are worth a listen if you have time.

Leather Jackets

Leather Jackets by ruthieh80 featuring a biker jacket

Free People Sisii Jacket / Banana Republic biker jacket / J Crew biker jacket / Zara Leather Biker Jacket

I've wanted to splurge on a leather jacket for ages. I've been a long fan of AllSaints, but haven't found one that fits me right. I am loving how many different colored leather jackets are out there these days too. I've always worried that I'm not tough enough for a black one. Here are a few I've been admiring.

There are tons of faux and vegan leather jacket options that look great too. Though, I have to confess, I'm still interested in the real deal. 

Dream Bedroom

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Since I've always rented apartments, most of the furniture I own is from Ikea. It's cheap, functional, and generally not an eyesore.

Confession: I've owned 3 different versions of this couch. 

When we first moved to London, one thing I could not find was a cheap metal bed frame. When I started researching bed frames, the cheapest options were often several hundred pounds, and just not my taste. So, when I discovered the company Loaf,  I decided to splurge. Their mattresses were around the same cost as those at other companies, but their descriptions of the mattress (and their return policy) sold me on one. We ended up buying a bedframe from them too. It is the one piece of furniture I own that feels "grown up".

I'd love to have new bedding and their collections are so tempting. Now they just need to start shipping to the US.

Weeknight Meals

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After last week, I can officially say: I highly recommend Mark Bittman's cookbook, How to Cook Everything Fast. The soup we made was just okay, but the other 4 recipes were fantastic!

Here's what's on the docket this week:

• Veal Stew with Peppers and Olives* (Cold-Weather Cooking)
• Chicken Parm Meatballs ( Dinner: A Love Story for A Cup of Jo)
• Pasta with Broccoli Rabe and Ricotta (How to Cook Everything Fast)

Soup: Winter Minestrone with Garlic Bruschetta ( Barefoot Contessa: Foolproof)
Note: I don't love the butternut squash, so I used a potato or 2 instead. I also cut the noodles in half, as it's already a pretty thick soup. 

This winter minestrone looks delicious too.

*This is one of my favorite winter-time recipes, but I know not everyone loves veal, and it can be controversial. I've made this many times, and can assure you that it's just as good with chicken! 

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I was saddened to hear that Philip Levine died this past week. I read his poems in English class in high school, and then again in a poetry class I took in college, and yet again when I was studying poetry in graduate school. In every instance, I enjoyed reading his work. He often wrote about the grit of American working class life, and made it beautiful.

If you're interested, here's an interview he gave in The Atlantic some years back. And here are a few more of his poems.

TGIF Links

So, it is cold today. I'm hoping to do a lot of hibernating this weekend. Last weekend, when we were all feeling housebound because of the cold, we ventured out to the Brooklyn Children's Museum. It was such a welcome outing that we ended up going back on Monday and buying a Family Membership.

Here are some links I've enjoyed this week:

I love cookie monster, and the above video is perfect.

Banana Republic  designer, Marissa Webb, is supposedly launching a baby collection in the next few days?

I am craving a new (more permanent) living space, and loved looking at these bathrooms.

Speaking of living spaces, this blog post on West Elm was inspiring too.

I'm adding Charleston to my wanderlust list.

Thought this article on what tea looks like around the world was super interesting.

I wandered into Express this week in search of these jeans, and found this cozy dress that I couldn't pass up.

Weeknight Meals: February

I was recently given a copy of How to Cook Everything Fast. I've heard so many people rave about Mark Bittman's recipes, so I was excited to try out a few. 

Here's what's on this week's menu: 

Curry-Braised Beef and Eggplant with Sesame Noodles

Chicken Marsala with Lots of Mushrooms with Creamy Polenta

Spaghetti with Nearly Instant Bolognese with Salad

Stir-Fried Pork with Edamame and Scallions with Rice

Soup: Provencal Tomato Soup with Fennel

This book is enormous. Really. It's well over 1000 pages. 

Last night we tried the Curry-Braised Beef and Eggplant with Sesame Noodles. The consensus was that it was both tasty and fast. 

I made the soup this afternoon. I have to admit, it's not quite as good as I wanted it to be, but it's definitely edible, and just not to my taste.  In 1000+ pages, not every recipe can be a winner. I'm looking forward to Chicken Marsala tonight!

Valentine's Day Reads

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I love 3-day weekends. Such a treat to be able to spend an extra day with family, especially on Valentine's Day. I know people have a love/hate relationship with the holiday, but I have decided to embrace a holiday about love. Who says it has to be romantic? I received this lovely gift this morning. 

Here are a few things I've found interesting this past week:

A timely article on the meaning of every rose color. And I had always liked white and yellow roses!

Why you should stay home on the holiday. 

11 Breakfast in Bed recipes--for Valentine's Day and beyond! 

I liked this casual, beachy look. Not sure about the open back though. 

5 British TV shows to watch. My parents are obsessed with Doc Martin. 

J. Crew is having yet another sale with 40-50% off items already marked down. This is a classic popover. A Denim jacket b/c spring is just around the corner (I hope). Cozy.  Cozy x 2. 

I'm kind of psyched that flares seem to be back in style. 

We read these sweet stories before bed tonight: "A Kiss for You", "I Love You Through and Through",  "Making Friends: Just Like Us" and of course, "The Runaway Bunny".

Easy Weeknight Meals

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I am always on the hunt for fast and easy meal recommendations, especially during the week. Our latest strategy has been to plan out our weeknight meals over the weekend, head to a local supermarket (we love Fairway), and do most of the heavy cooking on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Our staple sources tend to be Real Simple and any one of Ina Garten's cookbooks. I have to admit, I'm partial to How Easy Is That? Also, my sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave us a subscription to Bon Appetit for Christmas last year, which was such a great gift, and often inspires us to switch things up a bit.  We're trying 2 new recipes from Bon Appetit this week.

Here's what's on our menu this week:

Skirt Steak with Shallot Pan Sauce (Bon Appetit)
Turkey and Roasted Red Pepper Meatloaf (Real Simple): We've had this countless times. It's always a hit.
Cacio e Pepe (Bon Appetit): We're trying this for the first time this week.
Sauteed Chicken and Peppers with Black Beans and Coconut Rice (Real Simple): Again, we've had this so many times. Plus, it only takes about 20 minutes to cook.
Lentil Vegetable Soup (Ina Garten): Great for lunches, and easy to swap out chicken stock for vegetable stock if you want a tasty vegetarian recipe.


If anyone has any favorite easy recipes, I'd love to know!

Weekend Reading

I'm so glad it's the weekend. This past week has been a bit nuts. I flew to Puerto Rico at the crack of dawn on Tuesday (for business) and came back Thursday afternoon. It was such a treat to get a bit of sun, even briefly. A highlight of the trip was a quick visit to Old San Juan where I was treated to a dinner at Marmalade . The food was yummy, and the town was beautiful. I think I need to go back at some point when I have more time to explore. Flights on Jet Blue were only 3 hours from JFK and less than $300. 

Here are a few posts I enjoyed this week:

I was so excited about the announcement that Harper Lee would be publishing a new novel, but this article is food for thought. 

On another book-related note, last monday was ALA Mid-Winter, when the American Library Association announced the 2015 Youth Media Awards. Lots of reading to do! I read, and truly enjoyed, this year's Printz winner, I'll Give You the Sun. The Crossover, which won the Newbery Medal is next on my list.

#SerialForever. I was excited to see this news about Adnan Syed from the popular podcast, "Serial". 

This post seems to be everywhere, but I love it. Great cover, and they are so cute and so good. 

I saw 2Cellos in concert in London a few years ago. They are so good. I was excited to see this post about them on Mashable.

I love a good cozy sweater, and this one  from Free People looks perfect. 

J.Crew has been having some amazing sales lately. I found these pants in store for only $14.99!

Zagats (Laithwaite's) Wine Club

Laithwaite's Wine Club

I recently went to some friends' apartment for dinner and couldn't help but notice how many bottles of wine they had in their kitchen. I was...jealous. I asked them if they were really into wine, and they said that they'd joined the Zagat wine club.

When I woke up the next morning, I looked into it and found out that though Zagat's is no longer affiliated with the club, Laithwaite's still runs the program. The first shipment is $69.99 and you receive 15 bottles of wine. You can choose from a case of red, a case of white, or a mix.

There's no commitment, so if you don't ever want to use them again, you don't have to. There's also a 100% guarantee, so if you don't like a bottle, you get a refund.

We've now tried a couple of bottles, and so far, so good! And while I love going to the wine store and perusing the aisles, it's nice to have some surprises I may not have chosen myself.

Etiquette Question: Thank You Notes

This weekend I finally got around to writing my post-holiday Thank You cards.

Do you write Thank You notes? It seems like it could be a dying art. Life seems so busy these days that email seems easier--and faster. I remember applying for a job several years ago, and mentioning to a mentor that I'd mailed a note post-interview. She seemed appalled that it could get lost in the mail, or arrive later than other candidates' emails. I eventually ended up sending an email mentioning the Thank You note, and noting that I'd be remiss to not send an email as well. But...I'm glad I sent the note too.

My friend Kaitlin always sends a Thank You note--even if she doesn't need to! I have to admit, I love getting snail mail, and these days sending letters feels like such an effort that it's always extra nice to receive them.

I wonder what Emily Post would say.