Happy weekend, photos, and a friend's book!

I hope you guys all have lovely plans for the weekend, my plans are, well, plans to do nothing but soak in this last weekend of summer. It has been a full week: three sets of friends had babies and there was visiting and snuggling and marveling over new and tiny beings. So it's with a happy heart that I head into this holiday weekend. Here are a few snapshots of my week:

It's always a good day when you get the advance copies of a book you've worked on with an author, but it's an even better day when you get the advance copy of a book a friend has written! Words can't really express how delighted and excited I am for Luisa of The Wednesday Chef. I got my advance copy of her new book, My Berlin Kitchen, this week, and haven't stopped reading it since. I can't wait for you guys to read it. I know you'll love it as much as I do. It's packed full with memories from childhood all the way up to her amazing wedding in Italy last summer. I had the good fortune to attend that incredible event and I'll never forget the views from her mother's garden or the smells and sounds of the wind sighing through the trees as we celebrated. I'll write more about the recipes later as I plan to try some out and report back. But for now, check out that pretty jacket:

Enjoy your weekend!

Aaron Sorkin is in my head

Am I the only one watching Newsroom on HBO? Is anyone else out there enjoying it? I'm watching the season finale as I type this post. It's one of those shows (like West Wing) where the characters go into long, idealistic rants about life, morality, and politics; one of those shows that you listen to and think "oh, he just literally put my opinions and feelings into words - it's like Aaron Sorkin is in my head!" Are you guys watching it? What do you think?

Interior design:

I always thought I wanted a pure white kitchen with maybe pops of green, yellow, or red here and there. That is, until I saw this color saturated kitchen discovered by Erin over at House of Turquoise today.

Check out this super cute and unique house tour in DC on Apartment Therapy. The paint colors are really fun, but I'm having the most fun checking the comments to see how much she gets ripped apart for displaying the American flag as a curtain on her window.

Food:

This is the most decadent version of mac and cheese I've ever seen from Manger. It does involve a 3 hour braise of oxtail so I'll save it for a crisp, cold sunday in a few months.

I'd like to wash down the last few weeks of warm weather with this cucumber and mint gimlet from A Beautiful Mess.

Tim at Lottie + Doof does not like chocolate. Everyone knows this. So, when he posted this recipe for chocolate juniper cake I paid attention. I bet the juniper gives it a pine-y kick and I'm putting it on my list to try.

Win a copy of that Sprouted Kitchen book I mentioned yesterday on Love and Lemons.

Fashion/style:

This signature bar cart from Mrs. Lilien made me chuckle. I won't be spending $550 to buy one, but I still thought it looked cute.

Do you get girl crushes? You could buy a magazine about it! The site Got a Girl Crush has put out Issue 2 of their magazine featuring women in creative fields. This issue talks about Joy the Baker, among many other talented women.

Eye candy

Macarons make me swoon. With their dreamy colors and chewy texture, I'm transported to a special sort of sugar high when I bite into one. So, when I met an author at her office on Monday and she handed me a box of Maison Ladurée macarons to take home I was super excited to eat them, but excited also to get some food photography practice. I hope you don't mind.

Do-over

Some pretty flowers from an author's office today.

Can I get a do-over on the weekend, please? Can someone make this happen? We cannot seem to get rid of a tummy bug that keeps making the rounds in our household. Just when you think it's gone it strikes another member of the family. Luckily not all at the same time. I feel like we're slowly emerging from the haze and I'm hoping we've seen the back of this nasty virus.

Food:

Ugh, I don't really want to discuss food after that tummy bug intro, but there were some great posts out there today!

Some of the food bloggers are reviewing The Sprouted Kitchen by Sara and Hugh Forte. Those of us not lucky enough to get an advance copy will have to content ourselves with the recipes shared on the blogs: La Tartine Gourmande shares a recipe for toasty nuts, Canelle et Vanille reviews the ranchero breakfast tostada, Naturally Ella shares some roasted tomato soup, and Megan at A Sweet Spoonful cooks up some tasty almond meal cookies. I'm most excited about the coconut loaf that Jeanine and Jack at Love and Lemons posted today.

Here is the perfect recipe to pay homage to the sweet corn of summer and usher in Autumn: Andean Potato & Cheese Soup from The Kitchn.

I love this film by The Selby for NYTimes T Magazine on chefs cooking in the woods with morels they've just hunted with Connie Green.

QUITOKEETO is stocked and ready to go! Head over there for some raw honey, a gorgeous picnic knife, some sunflower oil, or even a vintage yellow dutch oven. Hurry up, things go fast (I'd suggest signing up for the newsletter so you're in the know).

Interior design:

Wow, check out this insane beach house from Rethink Design Studio (found via Young House Love). I'm in love with the white decor and pops of yellow and red. Yellow and gray have to be my favorite colors of the year. Also, there is a yellow desk in the bathroom!!

Win a beautiful print to decorate your home from Little Brown Pen.

Win a $750 store credit to spend at Bliss Home & Design! Just answer an easy question over at Young House Love to be entered to win.

Fashion/style:

Coveting these adorable Roald Dahl mugs found today on Cup of Jo. The BFG! Swoon.

Head over to Bonnie at Going Home to Roost to win a Sea and Cake triangle necklace.

You could win a $150 shopping spree at Shop Sosie, enter at A Beautiful Mess (you do have to create your own Pinterest board).

Win a cute camera bag from Bleubird.


That's it! See you tomorrow.

My day

I think all the bloggers must be at Alt Summit, because there is barely any action on the blogs today.  

So I'll just post some photos of my day instead:

It started with breakfast ALONE at Sarabeth's; an unimaginable luxury these days:

 Is it weird that I took a photo in Sarabeth's bathroom? It just had such nice wallpaper!

I saw a pretty amazing door on my walk near Central Park:

Then, there was lunch for a coworker at ABC Kitchen. Delicious, by the way.

Of course I had to browse a little at ABC Carpet & Home!

Oh, and there was some work in there between breakfast, lunch, and afterwards, but you don't really want to see photos of that, do you?

'Till tomorrow.

Can we talk about Bachelor Pad?

It's time to talk about it, you guys. It's time to stop playing around. I know you watch Bachelor Pad and I just know you're dying to discuss it with me. What? What's that you say? You don't like it and wouldn't touch the show with a ten foot pole? Well then, you'd better stop reading cause I'm going to talk about it...ANNNNNDDD here I go:

• First of all, can we talk about Kalon? What's up with his shiny, shiny face? His lips look like they are connected to his chin, and ugh, I need to stop thinking about it.
• Why does Lindzi have to spell her name that way? It's almost as annoying as her voice. And what does she see in Kalon? Why doesn't that shininess turn her off?
• Chris came out of left field for me as a villain. I didn't see that on Emily's Bachelorette season.
• And what about sweet Michael being parted from Rachel, their love having appeared to blossom overnight. I must admit, I almost shed a tear at the parting of the lovers. Damn you, Erica.

Okay, deep breath. I'm done now... until next week. What are your thoughts on this season?

Food:

Did you know that the White House brews its own beer? According to The Kitchn, President Obama carried several bottles with him on the campaign trail. The beer is made with honey from Michelle Obama's garden and now people are petitioning the White House for the recipe!

All of these summer memory posts are starting to make me sad, and summer isn't even over yet! But I still like this one by Mimi over at Manger. She also posts a recipe for chouquettes (sugar puffs) filled with chantilly cream. YUM.

Wow, this gorgeous focaccia bread with cherry tomatoes, olives, and thyme from Gourmande in the Kitchen looks like the most beautifully decorated piece of dough I've ever seen. To make it even better, it's a gluten- and grain-free recipe using coconut flour!

Interior design:

I love Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame. Her style is so easy and comfortable and doesn't feel too forced. She even has her own hotel in Round Top, Texas! Rachel lists her favorite summer things on Apartment Therapy today.

Lauren at Pure Style Home has a thing for botanical prints. She found hers at The Evolution Store in SoHo - a place I'm now planning on checking out. I hope I come back with some skulls (which would look wildly out of place in my apartment). It would be good to shake things up a little.

Fashion/style:

The Coveteur profiles actress Rachel Bilson and stylist Nicole Chavez, the ladies behind monthly memberhip shoe program Shoemint.

It was no big surprise to me that Australia took 4 of the top 10 spots in The Economist's World's Most Livable Cities. London and New York fall depressingly low at 53 and 56 on the list.

Tired day

Maybe, just maybe, I'm feeling that jet lag I thought I wasn't affected by. So I'm off to bed and I hope you enjoy the latest links for today.

Food:

Oh my gosh, have you guys seen White on Rice Couple bloggers Diane and Todd's new puppy, Lexi? She is a Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is seriously to die for. And while you're there check out this recipe for Brown Butter Pancakes with Glazed Peaches.

I'm not sure I'm totally ready for Autumn just yet, but when I am, I'll be reaching for this tasty looking Pumpkin Pie Granola to mix with yogurt or fresh fruit.

I have bowls filled to bursting with peaches and Caitlin at Roost has given me another way to use them with this recipe for Grilled Summer Squash & Peach Salad with Manchego and White Truffle.

To celebrate the imminent arrival of September, Joy the Baker has put together a really cute back to school giveaway. You could win everything from Joy's cookbook to pencils and notebooks. Even if you're not heading back to school you still deserve a cute package of school supplies.

Fashion/style:

I love this fall lineup of clothes from Miss Moss. Perfect for the upcoming colder months.

I've mentioned Sole Society before but now you could win 3 pairs of shoes if you participate in this giveaway from Jenny at Little Green Notebook.

Wowza, you have to participate in this giveaway for an amazing collection of favorite things from James at Bleubird. She has curated a wonderful grouping of everything from home goods to children's clothing. And her taste is incredible. What's even better? The giveaway is open to readers worldwide and is worth over $1700!

Interior design:

If you're looking for art to hang on the walls near your dining room table (I am) then heed the advice given today on Apartment 34. My favorite tip is about putting together a gallery so you don't feel all the pressure resting on one giant statement piece.