life lately: end of summer reflections - so thankful!

It's already autumn, but I'm still not quite over summer. (Still trying to sneak in some sundress + denim jacket outfits!) It was such a great season for so many reasons, but I'm particularly thankful for the weekend adventures and family visits. Also, living in New York in the summertime is just the most glorious experience ever-- it's my seventh summer this year and I still can't get enough. Will the giddiness ever fade? (I hope not!) Here are a few fun things from July and August...

Andy and Christine's wedding in Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I cried buckets at Ben's best man speech, which was so sweet and genuine. What a wonderful, creative couple and dreamy wedding ceremony. Congrats again Andy and Christine!

Ben and my first trip together to Chicago! We liked Chicago, but loved its food even more; we had some incredible dinners at Publican and a great BYOB Ruxbin-- and we also discovered our new favorite red wine, Menage a Trois. I'm grateful for our little long-weekend adventure, B.

Biking everywhere. Now that I have my own bike, we've been biking almost every weekend.... along the Hudson river to and from the Cloisters (a whopping 26 miles!), along the beach and woods in Sandy Hook, and of course, out and about in Manhattan.

First rooftop urban garden experience at Brooklyn Grange! My mom and sister came to visit, and we had a great time exploring the urban farm, with its chicken coops, countless veggies, and the best heirloom tomatoes I've ever tasted.

And of course... summer's shining moments are often the little ones, just being outside, having a great drink, and enjoying life's simple joys. I'm already looking forward to next year :) What's your favorite summertime memory?

summer highlights... I can't believe it's July already!

Is it just me or is summer passing by way too quickly? I have so many things I want to do this summer, like watch films outdoors, go biking in Governor's island and hiking upstate, the list goes on... but it's also important to remember (and appreciate) the fun things that have already happened this summer. So here are five of my summer highlights from the past two months...

...An amazing July 4th long weekend in New Kent, Virginia with friends. We stayed over at a beautiful river house on the Pamunkey river and spent plenty of time floating in the river, driving a golf cart around farm fields, star gazing, drinking Crabbies ginger beer (my new favorite summer drink), and exploring Colonial Williamsburg. Such a great four days enjoying nature and great people. (Thank you Sarah for hosting!)

...Adventuring in Brooklyn with my mom, sister, and Ben. We spent a full Saturday exploring Smorgasburg (in Williamsburg), Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the greenmarket in Park Slope, and bits of Chinatown. My favorite part was devouring pizzas at Julianne's and then ambling across the Brooklyn Bridge.

... Nashville trip to visit Emily in May. I love, LOVE Nashville and how green and lush everything looked. It was so fun to experience both classy Nash and Nash Vegas (honky tonk Broadway, I'm looking at you.) Thanks so much for hosting, Emily.

...Shakespeare in the Park with Ben - my first time! We saw Much Ado About Nothing, which was more hilarious than I expected. So much fun. Watching a play in Central Park while drinking a beer... couldn't ask for a better experience.

...Weekends visiting my family in Philly and friends in neighborhood cities, like D.C. for Anna's masters graduation from GWU. Thank you, amazing parents for cooking up lobster and all my favorites whenever I come home. Thank you Anna, for being one of my oldest and dearest friends.

What are some of the highlights in your summer so far? Remember to take it easy and enjoy life as it comes!

3 swimsuits that look like art

I'm so ready for summer (and for the beach again). I'm trying to organize a rental home in the Hamptons this summer with 10+ girls, which has been upping my cravings for more swimsuits and sarongs. (And I was just talking about trying to be minimal - urgh!) Currently, I'm really smitten with suits that have beautiful textiles like works of art, which Asos happens to be carrying a ton of inventory of right now! Here are a few of my favorites...

Seekers Floral Halter Bikini Set With Double Strap (Just bought this one!)

Minkpink Spring Break Bustier Bikini (Top and Bottom)

Seekers Red Floral Bikini Set 

a moment, a break: new york summers

Sorry it's been awhile since my last post-- you see, I've been distracted with a series of summer breaks! When was the last time you felt like you took a true mental break? Maybe your latest vacation? I don't meditate, but I definitely think taking a break needs to be a daily exercise: placing yourself into a state of mind where you are fully relaxed in whatever life hands you. Here are a few "breaks" from summer that I still relish in hindsight...

Moments of quiet, like watching the sunset from a Lower East Side rooftop, sunbathing in Central Park, or thinking about the inspiring quote on a park bench while people watching. 

Moments of activity where you feel "all in" on that bike ride in Governor's Island, that hike in Central Park, that awesome yoga class that makes you feel like you're on fire (in a good way), that big day cheering for a friend, or that soccer game with your co-workers. 

Moments of culinary indulgence... enough said on this one. Trying new, spicy drinks in different cities, girls' dinner over lambchops and wine at Rustic LES, eating too much BBQ at Mighty Quinn's (and then getting a stomach ache), and trying as many flavors of gelato as the cup can hold. 

 

Last but not least, vacation time! Spontaneously spending a week in Miami for Independence Day to nap on the beach, take evening bike rides down Ocean Drive, feast on Cuban food, and splash in the W South Beach's pool. What a treat!

What are some of your summer break highlights? A walk around the neighborhood? An impromptu vacation?

summer lists: boys edition!

We only have one more month of summer, can you believe it? As promised, I asked some more friends for their summer lists. Here's what a few of my best guy friends had to say...

Perry's list:

- Write more screenplays

- Pick up on surfing (he's from Newport Beach, CA!)

- Take more photos

Dan's list:

- Read Radetzkymarsch (and more books in general)
- Go to the Red Bulls v. Galaxy match

- Buy a briefcase in chocolate or cognac

Justin's list:

- Make a good first impression at work

- Start going to yoga classes at least 1x per week

- Figure out what it means to have a boyfriend

Stephen's list:

- Learn to play scales on the harmonica

- Finish final two CPA exams

- Try to relax before work starts in September

Thanks for your lists, boys! I'm going to be checking in on your progress.. fair warning :)

PS: Check out the previous summer lists post.

xoxo

your summer to-do lists

Heading off to Europe tomorrow, but be back in a jiffy! Before I go, I wanted to ask: do you have a summer to-do list? Any specific projects or tiny wishes to carry out before September? Big or small, I'd love to hear! I asked a few of my friends, and here's what they shared:

Eunsan's list:

- Purchase a venus fly trap

- Learn how to cook macaroons

- Make more gourmet mac & cheese

Alex's list:

- Start a baking blog

- Pick up on boxing again

- Volunteer at horse stables in Long Island

Little sis Jessica's list:

- Memorize a Debussy song on the piano

- Finish reading the entire Bible

- Be less stressed about starting high school

And lastly, my summer list:

- Make progress on sewing

- Learn 3+ traditional Chinese dishes from mom

- Write more letters & thank-you notes

Hearing everyone's amazing goals and wishes = so fun. I challenge you to ask 5 friends for their list. You'll love the surprise/motivation/inspiration that will follow! (PS: It's no coincidence that all of the pictures above have food in them. My intense crab-eating action photo is from last summer. I love me some om nomz.)

I'll be posting up some more summer lists from friends, until the summer ends. Hope you enjoy this new installment!