memorial day weekend

i can't believe that it's already the end of may, and that memorial day weekend is upon us - this year is flying by! i am planning on using the long weekend to start organizing some things for the upcoming move, but i will also be taking some time to kick back and relax.

my weekend might look a little something like this:

a lobster roll 
i will stick to the basics, similar to this recipe, but this video from luke's lobster is adorable AND the roll makes itself!

chilled rosé 

i prefer rosés that are pale in color from either bandol or the cotes de provence region, and you can find good bottles for under $15 (please note: domaine ott is a rip off!)

strawberry tart

how festive does this strawberry tart from cupcakes and cashmere look? i can't wait to try it!

patriotic attire

i am obsessed with this chambray top. so comfy, and appropriately red, white, and blue when paired with a bright red mani/pedi (essie clambake, of course.)


happy memorial day weekend:
let us remember with gratitude all of the men and women who have bravely served our country.

trading places

[via]

i have some exciting news: the boyfriend and i will be moving in just a few weeks! now, normally moving is not high on my list of fun things to do, but this move is going to be easy-peasy because we are only headed to the apartment next door! 

our current space has been amazing for the past two years and i absolutely love it, but we have been yearning for some additional space. the new place has higher ceilings (which is great for the boyfriend!) and some additional square footage in a different layout (one bedroom instead of two, and each space is a bit larger than in our current digs.) also, two words: clawfoot tub.

one of the best parts? we have a private entrance down into the garden! we can't wait to get settled and to decorate the new place; i will chronicle the process with plenty of pictures for all of you to enjoy :)

scenes from the weekend

happy monday! we had an absolutely gorgeous weekend weather-wise, with two sunny, warm days perfect for playing outside. i went running twice (and i am loving my neon shoes!)
here are some other things i got up to:

first ice cream of the season! sea salt caramel :)

beach picnic dinner: lamb burger in a pita with tomato-fennel salad and sriracha
(recipe to come later this week!)

beachy date night

sunday dinner: coffee-rubbed flank steak with chimichurri (made from cilantro we grow in the garden!) served with that tomato-fennel salad and roasted potatoes.

there is one thing that i am particularly proud of: i mastered the art of poaching eggs this weekend! eggs benedict is one of my favorite brunch items, but until now i have been a complete klutz when trying to poach an egg at home. inevitably, the whites all dissolve into wisps in the pot and my egg looks more like a shredded mess than the uniform white mass that i was striving for.

i am going to share my tips with you, in the event that there are other frustrated egg poachers out there! the mastery came from combining the boyfriend's methods with my methods, and together we produced perfect end result!

tools:

kitchen spoon

slotted kitchen spoon

medium pot

ingredients:

eggs

white vinegar

two victims with my instruments of choice

heat water with a tablespoon of white vinegar until it boils, then turn the heat down to a simmer
(big bubbles will break your egg apart!)

crack one egg into the kitchen spoon.

lower the spoon with the egg gently into the water and hold for a moment until turning the egg out of the spoon and into the water. cook the egg to the consistency you want: for a runnier yolk, two minutes. for a firmer yolk, as long as five minutes.

 remove with a slotted spoon, making sure to drain all of the water.

serve - my choice was atop a whole-wheat english muffin with feta, salt, pepper, and sriracha :)

coca cola classic

i only have a quick second before dashing off to a very busy day, so i thought i would leave you with this picture of titus in his new favorite place:

yes, that is a cat in a case of soda; interpretations welcome!