Back to School

We're on the cusp of September, the students have returned and there's a chill in the air. I nerded out this weekend and picked up the beautifully illustrated new edition of The Elements of Style.



It's the same old grammar manual that we love, peppered with a healthy dose of Maria Kalman pink.





Oh, how I love the Fall...

What Would Laura Do?

So there have been a few wedding setbacks... The event planner at the ceremony/reception location won't respond to any of our emails or phone calls. The flower girls dress arrived and is completely bizarre looking in person. It made my BB's gamine, willowy cousin feel like "a chunk monkey" and "a Christmas tree" alternately. And our budget is stretched to capacity.

But, on the bright side, the Mommies are happy. And we're making progress with the last minute-y stuff like programs and menus.

So I think that I will take this Friday off from thinking about the wedding and will, instead, re-read this illuminating article and ponder the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder...

Curious Boston

BB and I have been compiling a list of suggested itineraries for our wedding guests who are spending the long weekend in Boston. We've got the expected Historical Route (Paul Revere's House, The Freedom Trail, The Old North Church), the Sports Fans Route (Fenway Park, The Cask n' Flagon, The Garden) and even a Shoppers Route (Charles St, South End). But I'm mentally assembling a Route for those who want to see the curious, charming sometimes hidden sites of Boston. I'm thinking I'll call it the Curious Boston Route.

When I first moved to Boston ten years ago, the whole city struck me as curious and magical. And sadly, a lot of the places that made it seem that way are no longer around; I'm thinking of the Avenue Victor Hugo Bookstore and Deli Haus, specifically. But there is still certainly wonder to be found in Boston and here's what I have so far:

1. The Diorama exhibit in the Wiggins Gallery at The Boston Public Library


2. The courtyard at The Boston Public Library


3. Caffe Vitoria


4. The Boston Athenaeum


5. The Mapparium (More on the beaten path than off, but still worth the trip.)


There's plenty more, but I've just started thinking about it. I'll follow up with a more thorough list soon. Please feel free to contribute!

Good Weekend

I don't believe I forgot to write about this yesterday. I had the most fun weekend! It was brutally hot, so rather than turn on the stove BB and I went out to dinner at The Garden at the Cellar. They were holding a Restaurant Week Boycott and offering some really gorgeous small plates for $10 each.

To counteract the heat, I had a pickled watermelon and Lillet gazpacho and grilled Halloumi with tomato-peach jam and an icy cold glass of rose. I like to think of it as my pink meal.

Then we met up with friends and went to The Donkey Show at the American Repertory Theater.


It was fantastic. Even a sour theatre snob like me, who has walked out on more Boston theatre than I've sat through, had a grand time. I danced so hard that my feet still hurt today!

It was completely refreshing and rejuvenating and made my hard, little theatre heart grow three times in size.

Recipe Goals

I've set two cooking goals for myself this week. One, to make the Almost-Instant Sweet Wine Ice Cream featured on The Kitchn last week.



The second is to attempt the Zuni Pink Pickled Onions, also in the spotlight on The Kitchn last week, which apparently I'm the only person in the world who hasn't tried.



Nothing too taxing, but still exciting and new. I've started falling back into my hummus and pasta funk and need to snap out of it.

Modern Trousseau

The lovely Ms. Heather Ross is teaching her Modern Trousseau course at Purl Patchwork again in October.



And after my standard lamenting over the fact that I live in Boston and reminding myself that spending close to $1000 on train/bus fare and hotels to take the class is decidedly unwise, I headed over to Grey Likes Weddings only to be greeted by more beautiful embroidery.





Oh, Ms. Ross, won't you please teach this course closer to Boston? My trousseau needs modernizing.

Ruffly Shoe

Yesterday, I impulse purchased these Nayla Ruffle Flats to wear on my honeymoon:


I think that I may like the idea of wearing them with black tights, in Rome, more than I like the actual shoes.

In reality, I think the ruffles may make my feet look abnormally large. When I look at them now, all I can think about is Melanie from Gone With the Wind sewing ruffles into the bustline of her dress.

What do you think? Ruffly shoes, yay or nay?