My mothers day treat

I had an exceptionally relaxing mothers day this year. Mostly because it was spent by myself with two friends. We had the brilliant idea a few months ago to get a hotel room for one night of the holiday weekend. Once that was decided upon, we added in extra treats like a massage and dinner reservations at Cherry - an Asian-fusion restaurant in Chelsea that was on our must-try list.

Now this would have never happened had I not been seriously motivated for some time away. The relief when we entered our rather decadent hotel room was palpable, and the time away was well spent with prosecco, trashy tv watching, and all-around general girl talk. We woke up at the luxurious hour of 9:30am and dawdled over a room service breakfast.

And then we walked home through the heady blossoms in Central Park to meet our husbands and children for the rest of mothers day. I somehow think the cherry blossoms are prettier when they come to the end of their lifespan, don't you? When they flutter down to blanket the earth in a thick pink petal carpet I can do nothing but stand still in awe when I see them (and instagram immediately, also).

So all I'm saying is that I hope all you mothers, mothers-to-be, and those who wish and hope to be mothers (now or in the future) took care of yourselves this weekend. We all deserve a little time to ourselves, in whatever capacity we can make it happen. I know that may seem counter-intuitive to the whole point of mothers day, but I say mothers day is whatever you want it to be. I know I returned home a more relaxed person for my night away. And a happier me = a happier atmosphere at home :)

That weekend we went to DC

That weekend we went to DC the trees were just beginning their gradual ascent to Spring. They were laced in a feathery green, a few weeks ahead of the New York City tree timeline. We were there for less than 48 hours, but enough time to see some of the sights, hang out in a few parks, have an easter egg hunt, and even enjoy a leisurely brunch at Founding Farmers - a place we had been told by at least 3 people not to miss.

And since I'm loving on DC today, I thought it would be appropriate to gather some of my favorite recent DC blogger posts, too:

DC mom of two, Alicia Sokol at Weekly Greens has a few rules about weeknight dinners: they have to be on the table in 30 minutes from prep to finish, and everyone has to sit down together and eat the same meal. If only I could be this disciplined! Perhaps with Alicia's thoughtful shopping list and advance preparation ideas I could be.

E of District of Chic has outfit posts that are chic with a little edge. Like flowery dresses with leather motorcycle jackets. 

One of the most well-known DC bloggers, Sydney at The Daybook is a sweet, thoughtful writer with a rather magical life. She brings a bit of rocker flair to her outfits that I always appreciate. She's currently pregnant with her second child and her maternity posts are lovely.

Emily a folklorist and writer of the DC pie blog, Nothing in the House has decamped to the wilds of New Hampshire for a two-month-long immersive writing program, and while there she won't be using a computer, cell phone, digital camera, or the internet! She's going to be writing posts longhand or with a typewriter and taking only film photos, follow her journey here.

I've mentioned Lauren Liess here before, but this DC interior designer and blogger at Pure Style Home always impresses with her airy designs. She's just about to start a house renovation, so you guys can jump in at just the right time!

Settling in

So, I'm settling in at the new job pretty well. The upside of leaving Chelsea, the neighborhood of bakeries and gourmet coffee shops, is that I'm eating healthier meals; opting for oatmeal in the morning instead of those insanely good chocolate croissants at City Bakery. What I'm doing in my 9 to 5 isn't so different from what I do here on the site. I'm reading food blogs at work and at home. I'm scouring the internet and the food magazines for foodies who inspire me and make me excited about what I can do in the kitchen, and what I can do with my life. I'm drooling over Cherry Bombe and Lucky Peach, and Saveur, and Food & Wine.

And here's what I've been loving during my internet hunts:

food

Thug Kitchen posted this goddamn asparagus risotto recipe last week, and it's all I want to make now. Plus, I cannot wait for their book!

I made orange chocolate banana bread recipe from White on Rice last week, and brought half of the loaf in to work the next day. It was honestly the most rich and flavorful banana bread I've ever had. I used very dark chocolate chips and a ton of orange zest.

Here's some coconut cashew granola from Katie at Yes, I Want Cake. Add that to my list of gorgeous breakfast options. Now if I can just prioritize things tonight, I'll make a batch.

Without fail, Beth of Local Milk always has the best recipes. Or is it the way she titles them? Either way, she has me running to the store to pick up ingredients for this soft, sweet buttermilk honey bread. Seriously, have more beautiful words ever been put together?

interior design

Bri Emery's bedroom makeover is seriously my dream come true. All white, airy, and fluffy, it has elements that I already have in my own bedroom (hello, fluffy white diamond rug!) but contains a ton of inspiration.

I'm on the lookout for white lamps to hang over my dining room table. I'm thinking about this Nelson bubble lamp or perhaps this gorgeous Ikea beauty. There's definitely some kind of huge bubble lamp trend going on at the moment. I'm seeing them everywhere! I love the thought of a white lamp above my dark wood table.

I want to share my new office decor with you guys, but it's not quite ready yet. Either way, it's never going to look quite as cool as Anna Dorfman's open plan office.

hard to classify

I think I found someone who stays up as late (or early?) as I do! This Design*Sponge profile on Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. makes me just love her even more.



We were in DC this past weekend, and I can't wait to show you my shots from that. It was a glorious weekend (and we got to stay at the W right around the corner from the White House!)

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Changes

Until last week, my days in New York City always started the same way, after family duties in the morning, I'd slough off that role quite easily and charge off to the subway, with some kind of hip hop or rock pulsing in my ears. My eyes barely had to lift and focus because without fail, my feet unerringly steered me every morning towards Chelsea. Stepping off the train at Union Square, this was my neighborhood. Here I knew where to get the best cappuccino and croissant; if it was to be a healthier morning, then the best places to get my green juice and oatmeal. I knew the best streets to take photos of the gleaming Empire State Building. I knew what time of the day the sun slants just so down 18th street so that it broke your heart just a tiny bit.

So I changed jobs last week ... and not just any job. A job I held for 10 years. TEN YEARS. That's the longest thing I've done ever. Longer than I've been married, longer than I've lived in one apartment, longer than I've had my dog. I started there as an intern, a baby really. A wide-eyed girl still getting her footing in New York City; still getting her footing in life. Sometimes I thought I would be there for my entire career in publishing, a mind-shatteringly naive thought when you think about how much people job hop these days, true, but a nice one nonetheless. 

And then suddenly, it was time. So I said goodbye to the hallways I'd walked and ran down for 10 years, goodbye to the office that helped me grow up, goodbye to the neighborhood that I knew like the back of my hand, goodbye to the office mates who had grown into dear friends. "It's just a job" I told myself. But it was more than that. So much more.

My new commute is one of gleaming beige marble, and a dark rushing river of people in suits. I find myself constantly wondering where they are all hurrying to so quickly? There's a new skyline to look at, a new set of buildings to marvel at. A new set of coffee shops to explore. A new set of office mates to hopefully become my friends.

That's my new sky, and those are my new buildings, and I know I'll find my coffee shop. And there's no eloquent way to close this post, because at its essence this really isn't a closing, but rather a beginning. 

On the first day of Spring (and I heart San Francisco, part II)

So, where were we? Ah yes, the rest of San Francisco. So we left off at Dolores Park, hanging out at what felt like a giant frat party. On Sunday, we walked over to Pacific Heights and Russian Hill to explore those neighborhoods. Mostly I was obsessed with the house colors and styles. I haven't seen anything like that since living in Ireland.

And then we made our way to the painted ladies at Alamo Square Park ...

I loved watching other people taking photos of the homes. And then, on to Noe Valley. Clearly I'm in love with colorful houses.

It's the first day of Spring. And it's my two year blog anniversary! I could bust out a bunch of cliches about growth, and change, and opportunity, but I won't. But seriously - there is a lot of change and growth going on in my world. And I can't wait to tell you all about them.

I heart San Francisco (part I)

We spent 48 hours in San Francisco last weekend. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but enough time for me to appreciate the way the western light cascades down the streets, the way time stands still when you sip that perfect almond milk latte, the way the streets hum with pride when the cable cars rumble by.

We stayed on a shockingly high floor in a gorgeous hotel. I live on the 25th floor in New York City, so I thought I was used to heights. But the view from the 40th floor was something to behold. 

On Saturday morning we walked down to Fisherman's Wharf to check out the huge farmers market - and gaze at the Bay Bridge in the early morning light.

Then we walked up to Coit Tower and down again through the city to Lombard Street. 

Then after a walk through Russian Hill and Pacific Heights, we made our way back around to Dolores Park and took in this party scene.

I didn't realize I took so many photos. That was the result of 9 

hours of walking on Saturday. I'm going to have to show you Sunday's shots (including the painted ladies)in the next post. What an amazing city, right?  

The New Boho Book

Sometimes, as a book editor, the earth, moon, and stars align and you get an author that you feel a close connection with AND a project that feels tailor-made for you. Justina Blakeney is someone I was personally inspired by long before I was lucky enough to acquire her book. Her posts on bohemian style and homes always left me happy and excited to drape my home in riotous color and plants of all sizes.

But, often when I work with an author or photographer who lives on the other side of the country, I never get to meet them in person (sadly). Justina was in town from LA for a book photo shoot last Friday, and we got to hang out.  And let me tell you, she's twice as lovely in real life as she already is online! Above, the book's photographer, Dabito, shot us clowning around in Tribeca after we wrapped an apartment shoot on Friday. Justina's book is coming out for Spring 2015 - I can't wait for you to see it!

• Follow Justina's instagram feed: @justinablakeney to see more behind-the-scenes shots for The New Boho Book!
• Check out Dabito's post about the NYC shoot on his site, Old Brand New.

I'd love to talk more about the work I do, and the adventures I get up to as a book editor. A new goal for March, perhaps?


Photograph of Justina and me by the amazing Dabito (who actually made me look like a normal person despite my giant puffer coat)
Photograph below of one of the amazing apartments we shot for the book from my instagram feed: @dervlakelly