be back soon... and friday links

Kara Rosenlund's "Sea," via Cup of Jo

We are headed to the south of France and Berlin for two weeks, so the old blog will be neglected for a bit while we are away. I am excited to get away with family, and visit with dear friends we haven't seen in awhile, but I'm totally dreading the flights and traveling with a newly-walking toddler. When do vacations with kids become relaxing?

See you in a few weeks!

Pan-roasted chicken with harissa chickpeas.

My friends Melissa on SFGirlByBay!

Remember Sarah? Her site, Speed4Sarah, just launched. Consider donating to help find a cure for ALS.

One of Stella's favorite activities? Taking photos.

I'm not grossed out by armpit hair on women, are you? Truthfully, I often grow mine out, and I find it quite sexy on other women.

How Powerful Is Your Passport?

This pretty much sums up my daily uniform.

How a woman's plan to kill herself helped her family grieve.

Josey Baker Builds a Bakery. 

(Happy Birthday to my Dad!!)

reykjavík

This morning I'm living vicariously through these gorgeous photos of Reykjavík by Mr. & Mrs. Globetrot. So austere and beautiful, right? Iceland is on my list...

[All images © Julia & Yuriy Manchik]

happy friday, indeed

We're officially on vacation...
Have a lovely week!

[image: Tulum, Mexico via Rose Cecere]

straw hats

I'm still dreaming of warm weather and sunshine. No surprise there. It's a good thing we've got a trip planned with friends to Mexico in a few weeks. And, of course, when thinking of all that sunshine I can't help but think of straw hats. I love a good hat, and I've got quite a hat collection already... But I just can't stop myself from looking.

Goorin Brothers Macey

Roxy Swim In Straw Hat

San Diego Hat Company Straw Hat

Brixton Castor

Michael Stars Fedora

wanderlust: morocco

I am absolutely loving, and living vicariously through, M's Morocco travelogues and gorgeous photos over on Bits By Pieces. Have you been?

[all photos by Mary]

jiro dreams of sushi

You guys. Have you seen Jiro Dreams of Sushi? I've been blabbing about it to anyone who will listen since we watched it the other night. I went to bed dreaming about sushi, and a trip to Tokyo. Seriously, so good.

oh to be there...

So I've been battling a nasty sinus infection for almost two weeks. I'm really ready to not be blowing my nose every 5 minutes because a.) it's annoying and b.) the delicate skin under my nose is chaffed and raw and cracking. After multiple nights of enduring congestion so intense that my teeth were in pain, I cranked up our humidifier last night and snorted some homeopathic nasal spray. Being sick is not fun.

Also, it's cold in Oakland. Bone-chilling cold.

It's no wonder I've started daydreaming about being someplace hot and relaxing. This place is looking pretty dreamy right about now...

Am I right, or am I right?

[image via Tablet]

cities calendar

Rifle Paper Co. nails it every time. This Cities Calendar is going on my want list.

walloon lake

We're back from 11 relaxing days in Michigan. We spent some quality times with Jordan's Mom, and Mary and Ben came for a quick visit over the weekend. We sat on the dock, we got coffee in Petoskey, we browsed the shelves at McLean & Eakin, bought sandwiches and other sundries at Symons General Store, we brunched with Jordan's Mom at Stafford's Bay View Inn (a Sunday tradition), we stocked up on wine and beer and Jeni's ice cream (my favorite flavor was in fact the lemon blueberry frozen yogurt) at Boyne Country Provisions, we went for ice cream runs to Kilwin's, we grilled (Ben brought up some amazing meats from his local butcher), we hunted for produce at the Boyne City farmer's market, Stella dug in the sand and floated in her floatie, Jordan swam, we went for walks, and we took a few boat rides. One of my favorite things about visiting Walloon is going for boat rides in the evening when the sky and the air and the water are just magical.

We made sure to stop by McLean & Eakin our second day in Michigan to stock up on books. I went on a book bender and finished 5 books on the trip: Steve Martin's An Object of Beauty, Jo Nesbo's Nemesis, Kevin Wilson's The Family Fang, Charles Cumming's A Foreign Country, and Stephen Dau's The Book of Jonas (which I actually brought in my suitcase).

A lovely, lovely trip...

michigan

Off to Michigan. Be back soon!

df

Us in Mexico City, 2010

I've written a little about our travels to Mexico City here and here. I love photographing Mexico City with all its colors. I love the tree-lined streets of La Condesa and the cafes and restaurants that spill out onto the sidewalks. I love the tacos and the tequila and the music. The city has such a big heart, it's no wonder we got engaged there. It's no wonder we return again and again.

Today we are headed to DF for friend's wedding. I'm up early, awake with the knowledge that we are embarking on a scary and exciting trip. We are leaving Stella for the first time in her life. She will be in the loving and amazing care of my parents (two of her biggest fans) so I am not worried about how she will do with the separation. I will miss her little wiggles and her new words and her cuddles and her squeals. I will relish sleeping through the night and sleeping-in two days in a row, and eating out without an arsenal of stickers and mid-meal walks. I will relish two days alone with my love. 

Wish us luck!

beautiful dc

DC is beautiful. I didn't realize! The brick buildings, the tree-lined avenues...It really is a lovely city. We loved our visit with Mary and Ben. Some highlights: amazing dinner at Birch & Barley, our evening stroll around the monuments, refreshing juice from Yola, dinner at Hanks, brunch at Mintwood, book browsing at Kramers, visiting the Spy Museum and the Natural History Museum, morning coffee at Filter, pizza at 2Amys, a short trip to Charlottesville to visit friends Chad & Brooks (+ kids), and a quick tour around Monticello before heading home. A great, great trip.