Hello, hello!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine was exhausting but super productive and peppered with some fun too.  My bathroom has nearly reached it's fab finished status.  The new sink and medicine cabinet are installed, shower and toilet have been re-vamped.  It's in need of some paint touch-ups and small decorative details.  But that's gonna be easy peasy.  Other than the bathroom work, the BF and I saw the Batman movie.

I'm under the heat of a deadline today, so head over to one of my favorite places (for one of my favorite posts).  101 Cookbooks author Heidi shared her favorites list a couple weeks ago.  It's always fun to click through. (Esp this link to Herb-infused clara con limón!)

Images from The Yellow House

Four for Friday

I haven't forgotten!  Have a fab weekend!

- Designspiration has the most beaut' places and spaces!  Plus, this cute pup and his bandanna are melting my heart.

- Check out Kitchen Konfidence.  It's an omnivore spot (and pretty heavy on the bacon) but I like!  Pictured here is plum tabbouleh.

- Read this interesting story about making friends (in your 30s & beyond) in the Times.  It's written by Joanna's hubby.

- Some of the prettiest mugs ever, at 3191.  Sip things warm & tasty, store pens and pencils.  Even plant a pretty flower in them!

Travel Tips?

Wonderful, lovely, dearest readers, I'm reaching out to you today for some advice.  Next week I leave for two (plus) weeks of European adventure.  My sister and I will be traveling mostly by train, staying in the city centers.  There are a few spots where I would love your travel guidance: Prague, Brussels and Luxembourg.  Markets and neighborhoods for shopping?  Museums and galleries?  Parks and gardens, palaces, landmarks, etc?  We are also hitting Leipzig, Dresden, Berlin, Rotterdam and Amsterdam; tips for those would be greatly appreciated too!  I'm soooo in need of referrals.  Please help me out by posting comments or sending emails, dolls!

Image from Wikimedia

Ballet Therapy

So... there's a lot going on at the moment; work is cray-cray, I jet off on a super-vacation at the end of next week, I'm trying to ready my apartment for a parental visitation, and I'm still desperately trying to catch all the fun social summertime activities plus make 'me' time.  Fingers crossed that I can sneak out of work this evening and make it to my dance class.  I need some ballet therapy.

What do you do to find your center?  Read? Jog?  Paint?  Drive your car?  Go shopping?

Image from Ballet Beautiful

Apologies and French Independence

I'm so sorry for my recent delinquency.  But, happy belated Bastille Day!  Over the weekend the BF and I missed the city's parade and instead opted for the festival in Brooklyn.  We chatted with friends, sipped cocktails and watched the petanque tournament.  It was a fab French fête!

Resort 2013/ Tucker

On Monday, Tucker was posted up on Style.  It's kinda kooky, kinda crazy in fact.  And, I kinda love it.

Summer Sippin'

I'm a picky drinker.  Fussy.  Peevish.  I like what I like.  But last weekend I went out on a limb* and ordered a huckleberry lemonade.  Besides the berry vodka and lemonade I think there was some lavender in there too.  Deeee-lishy!  It was one of the most wonderful earthy/sweet/tart concoctions.  Also- madly refreshing on that balmy evening.  The recipe is pretty basic: ice, cup'o lemonade, and shot'o vodka (but if you prefer to make your own lemonade check out this recipe ).

* A low sturdy limb.  I know, a spiked lemonade isn't wild but my boozy comfort zone is small.

Photo from Martha Stewart & Mama's Gotta Bake

Etsy Love/ Snug Studio

I found another fabulous-o Etsy shop full of wooden trinkets: Snug Studio.  Of course, I'm smitten with all the jewelry but there are lots of other sweet odds and ends.  Check out this adorable bear chopping block, fun geo magnets and these sweet birdie mobiles!  (The DIY necklace is still my fave though.)

Pretty Picture/ Jen Garrido

These pretty abstracted florals are by Jen Garrido.  Garrido also does great linear, almost architectural  gouache on paper paintings too.   

Discovered via Butter & Brass

Four for Friday

I saw this yesterday and cracked up.  I don't think I'll ever really, truly like or adjust to the heat and humidity on the East Coast.  Sigh.  I'm actually kinda dreading tomorrow, Accu Weather predicts a high of 98 and "strong thunderstorms".  Eep!

- Mmmm The Simple Lens.  So many great summer vegan dishes!  Note to self: must start planning picnics.

- Do you know about the Swimming Holes site.  YEAH.  It's like a treasure map. (River rock photo via Flickr)

- The Apartment is so much, too much pretty.  I'm feeling super inspired, clicking through their references.

- Instant fan of The Fashioneaters.  Read their "about" for a giggle.

Citrine Kisses

I hope everyone had a great (and safe!) 4th of July!  I'm back at work and kind of relieved to be in the ultra air conditioned office.  It's stinkin' hot out there!

In other news... Isn't Betty cute there on the left?  Very summah-time.  I love all these citrine pops.  Do you wear bright chartreuse?  Fluro yellow?  Acid green?  I definitely think there are easier neon colors to wear (namely pink) but lemon-lime hues feel right when it gets hotter than hot.  Hotter than hot is upon us.  In fact wish I was wearing this. 

Happy 4th!

Just a little post today, wishing all my American readers a happy Independence Day!  Enjoy your day off; I hope it's filled with friends, family, BBQ and lots of pretty fireworks!

Sparklers designed by Enjoy Fireworks.  Found via Grizzly Bear Modern.

Etsy Love/ Rachel Loves Bob

I feel like a fussy little kid... I found Rachel Loves Bob and I want everything.  Can't have it, of course.  But oooh!  I'd really like to clean out that Etsy shop.  It's deco meets ethic in a mash-up of pure perfection.  Can you pick a favorite? 

The bad news is my cold stuck around.  The good news is that the weekend was still pretty awesome.  Highlights: Moonlight Kingdom, biscuits & gravy brunch (complete with spicy soysage), lots of motor head entertainment on Netflix, cooling off with one of these every day, deputing some new neon jeans,  Like Crazy (Felicity Jones is so pretty!), sunsets at the Williamsburg waterfront and a peaceful evening glimpse of the just-opened McCarren Pool.

I'm still a little bummed to be sick, at work during this lovely holiday week.  Are you vacationing?  Planning some fun festivities for the 4th?  I'm not entirely sure what the BF and I will be doing.  Any suggestions?

Photo of the Manhattan skyline, from the Wburg waterfront park, by the (supper spiffy, one-and-only) BF