Thoughts of the Week

I don't think I could handle swimming with jellyfish, even if they don't sting. Eep!

A bright color should be a requirement for a summer cocktail.

It's not like I need more throw pillows in my life, but...

Sweet tributes to the fabulous Nora Ephron.

Pretzels in the pool that won't get soggy.

Art inspired by Mad Men. Zou bisou bisou.

I always choose limeade over lemonade. It just seems more special.

Nautical door knockers for that beach house I plan on owning one day.

Another reason to visit Seattle.

Happy Friday, pals! I hope you have lovely weekends in store. It's gonna be a hot one here.

Strawberry and Lemon Curd Pavlova

Mostly, I thought that lemon curd and strawberries would make a pretty color combination, turns out they actually taste really good together too. I decided to make a medium-sized pavlova, which will serve 4, so I halved this recipe from Joy of Baking. The directions are precise, and the pavlova turned out perfect. Then, I halved my favorite lemon curd recipe, which left me with curd to spare (no complaints here). That's pretty much all it takes other than whipping some heavy cream (about 5 ounces with 1 tablespoon of sugar) and slicing some strawberries. I love the tartness and sweetness in every bite and all the different textures from each layer. It's a light dessert with bright flavors, the ideal when it comes to summer sweets.

Also, a recipe for chocolate pavlova, which is pretty darn tasty too.

Flirty Skirt

I've bought into the pleated skirt trend hook, line and sinker. I love the breezy look, and they fit so nicely in that gap between casual and dressy. This ASOS skirt looks like a winner, and it comes in three colors that are perfect for summer.

Rainier Cherries

It's Rainier cherry season! These make me so very happy. They're lovely and sweet and remind me of my time spent living in the Seattle with its gorgeous summers and that one farmers market half a block away from my apartment. They rank right up there with watermelon and peaches on my favorite summer produce list.

Weekend in Photos

Thank goodness for summer treats that offer a little happiness in the heat. Jonah and I spent some time on The High Line over the weekend eating our favorite hot dogs and the prettiest popsicles from La Newyorkina. We went to a friend's going away party, another friend's birthday party, sweltered in the subway and paid a visit to Katz's Delicatessen. In all our time in New York, neither of us had ever been to the place with a long history, made famous by a very memorable scene in "When Harry Met Sally." So before seeing a movie on Saturday, Jonah and I shared a tasty pastrami sandwich ... which we ate quietly.

Classic New York: Russ & Daughters

When I'm on the Lower East Side, I like to pop in Russ & Daughters just for the experience. It houses all the classic New York Jewish specialities, and having been in business since 1914, it feels completely authentic. It's a pretty compact, usually crowded market filled with smoked fish, caviar, bagels, dried fruits, chocolates, nuts and sweets like babka and black and white cookies. I have a deep-seated fascination with those last two thanks to too many Seinfeld episodes, enough so to always bring home a big piece of chocolate babka.

Made in the Shade

I don't tend to splurge on sunglasses since mine eventually end up scratched or broken, or I just grow tired of the style. So every few summers, I'll spend about $40 on a pair from Anthropologie. They usually last me a few years, and it's not so terrible if something happens to them. They have a fair variety of styles and colors, classic and trendy, and I can almost always find one pair that suits my face. Here's this year's pick.

Lime Meltaway Cookies

I love a citrus cookie, and these cute, little lime meltaways are the perfect combination of sweet and tangy. They remind me of a cookie from my childhood, Byrd Cookie Company's Key Lime Coolers. Byrd Cookie has this great shop in Savannah where you can sample all of their cookies. I can't tell you how many times I went in there and tried every single kind. So there's a little nostalgia factored in, but these definitely fall into the "you can't eat just one" category.

Also, here's a recipe for some of my favorite lemon cookies.

[recipe courtesy of: Martha Stewart]

Summer Beauty: Fresh-Faced

I'm seeking out some summer beauty products since New York often means going from a hot, humid street to a hot, sticky subway station and back again. After reading some reviews, I decided to invest in a bottle of MAC Fix+ Spray. It's a light, watery mist, the scent is subtle and fresh, and it's great for setting makeup before you head out the door or for a midday refresher. I took the photo below after getting home from work. My makeup lasted all day and the spray gives you a little glow. It seems like a great solution for counteracting the face-melting heat that summer brings.

Weekend in Photos: Philadelphia Style

Jonah and I spent Saturday in Philadelphia, and while it was just a quick day trip, we had enough time for some good food, some exploring and some quality time spent with friends. The weather was beautiful enough for a yummy outdoor brunch at Honey's Sit 'n Eat. We wandered around the city, popped in an antique store, climbed the Rocky steps, cooled off in the Philadelphia Museum of Art and had some delicious gelato before heading back to New York.