Beating the Winter Blues

It's March, and it snowed again today. In the frozen tundra of New England, we have at least one more month of cold and snow before we can even begin thinking about warmer weather. I'm a summer girl that needs warmth and sunshine, and right now I've got to tell you that I've got a bad case of the Winter Blues. So in an attempt to think about sunnier things, here's my plan:

1) Bake this beautiful Tomato Tart from The Endless Meal

Does anything say summer more than tomatoes? And as these tomatoes are roasted, the recipe is a little more forgiving when using sub-par winter tomatoes. Bonus Points: In the winter the house isn't so warm that I can't turn on the oven!

(photo from The Endless Meal)

2) Mix up one of these Sunburnt Margaritas

Using some beautiful in-season citrus in place of traditional lime, these look like summer in a glass.

(photo from What's Gaby Cooking)

3) Throw an indoor "Garden Party"

Why not turn up the heat, invite some friends over, throw on flouncy sun dresses, put out fresh flowers and colorful decor, and pretend we're having a garden party on a warm, breezy summer day? I totally want to make this happy garland and napkins for the occasion. 

(Photo from Project Nursery)

(photo from The Purl Bee)

4) Indulge in an At-Home Spa Day

How fun would this be? Make a homemade sugar or salt scrub (like this three ingredient Lemon Salt Scrub) for the shower, spread on a face mask, cozy up in a fuzzy robe, paint my nails with a bright summer color, the works!

(photo from The Beauty Department)

5) Buy more fresh flowers

Fresh flowers in a pitcher on the dining room table or in a vase in the living room do so much to brighten up a dreary winter day.

(photo from Gourmet Galley via Life of a Vintage Lover)

6) Light cheerful candles

In the winter, I'm usually drawn to bright citrusy scents. Two of my favorites right now are the Mandarin Lavender from Paddywax as well as their Pomegranate Spruce.

(Photo from Paddywax)

7) Start a craft project
Having a fun project to work on makes the days seem a little less dark and dreary. One I've been itching to start is this adorable cross stitch featuring one of my favorite Jane Austen quotes.

(photo from Gazette 94)

8) Curl up with a good book
I've been reading the incredibly dense Dr Zhivago. A story of people caught up in the tumultuous Russian Revolution, it is by no means "beach reading".  I'm pretty ready to get through the last 25 pages and start something a little lighter. Something perfect for spending a lazy morning on the couch curled up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea. I think I want to re-read Bradbury's beautiful Dandelion Wine.

(photo from The Kids Stick Together)

Medford Community Read Program: Bon Appetit!

Recently, I learned that Medford hosts an annual "Community Reads" project, courtesy of the Friends of the Medford Public Library and the Medford Arts Council. Each year a book is selected for participants to read, and events are held throughout town that coincide with the theme of the book. How cool is that? This year's selection is one of my favorites: My Life In France by Julia Child. Julia's memoirs are captivating, and it's such a beautiful read, filled with her joys and struggles and lots of cooking.

On Tuesday night, Bestsellers Cafe hosted this year's Kick-Off  event, "Memories of Julia Child." As they recently re-opened in Medford Center (quite a story in itself) I've been dying to stop in and check it out. Combining some of my favorite things under one roof (books, coffee, and food), it's a great little bookstore. It reminds me of a smaller community version of Trident Booksellers and Cafe on Newbury Street, which I've gushed about before.

For the Kick-Off, they invited Mark DeVoto, son of Julia's close friend Avis DeVoto, to come speak about his memories of Julia Child.  Julia and Avis began their friendship as pen-pals who had never met, and in each other they found their soul mates. Much of their correspondence is captured in As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto edited by Joan Reardon, which I'm currently reading. It's an enthralling glimpse into the hearts and minds of two fiery, magnificent women. Eventually, they became neighbors in Cambridge once the Childs moved back to the US.

Tables and chairs were set up in the back of the cafe, with Mark seated in the center. The back wall of the shop is lined with French Doors, allowing the light to flood in and offering a beautiful view of the Mystic River. I got a big mug of spiced cider and a few snacks courtesy of the culinary program at Medford High School.  I settled into a seat in the back corner, sharing a table with a woman who confided that she once went to a dinner party where Julia was present!

The talk was laid back, and Mark graciously shared his memories and conversed with the audience, speaking fondly of a Thanksgiving spent at the Childs, a soup Julia once made with all of the vegetables in his little garden, the fact that Julia loved McDonalds french fries (that got a good laugh), and memories of his mother.  I enjoyed the evening thoroughly, and I'm so thankful to the Medford community for organizing such a special event. What a priceless opportunity to learn more about a woman that I so love and admire.

Books and Brunch

Saturday, I spent a very girly morning in Boston for brunch, shopping, and frozen yogurt with my friend Jessica. We started things off at Trident Bookseller's and Cafe, a little shop with some of my favorite things all under one roof: books, food, and coffee. What more could a girl want?  We were seated up on the second floor by a bay window, winter sun streaming in, with a fine view of bustling Newbury Street below.

I ordered a steaming mug of coffee and their breakfast sandwich, offered with bacon or avocado. But to choose between the two is just plain silly -- I got both! This is brunch, after all. What came out of the kitchen was an open-faced sandwich. Toasted bread spread generously with avocado and topped with crumbled crispy bacon, beautifully runny sunny-side-up eggs, and molten cheese spilling over onto the plate.  To balance out the indulgent sandwich, I also ordered one of their vegetables juices, the Stress Reliever. This was my first all-vegetable juice, and it was almost grassy in taste.  I have to admit, I didn't love it, but it was fun to try something new.

After our plates were cleared, it was time to shop! Before stops at Zara and Anthropologie, we poked around Trident's bookshelves. I somehow managed to walk away with only two books, one of which I already have two copies of at home. I know that sounds silly, but it's my favorite. It's Jane Eyre. Sweet, passionate, principled, courageous Jane.

See, my first copy is tattered and frayed, the cover hanging on by brittle strips of tape. I can't bear to get rid of it, because it reminds me of the first time I read the story. The second copy is one I bought for my husband before we got married. He started it twice but never finished it. Somehow, I love him anyway. Why would I need a third copy? Well, have you seen these Penguin Hardback Classics? They're gorgeous, and I couldn't help myself.

While we're talking beautiful book editions, I also want these, courtesy of Mr. Boddington's Penguin Classics. Jane Eyre, with its lively yellow print and curling text, and the cheery and colorful Pride and Prejudice are hard to resist. Apparently Penguin is attempting to corner the cool book cover market.

Then there are these breathtaking embroidered Penguin Threads covers (another by Penguin -- this is getting ridiculous). I would love to have this version of Little Women, another favorite, on my bookshelves.

Am I the only person tempted to buy endless copies of their favorite books? Every time I see an ornate new edition or a tattered and well-loved copy, I want to bring it home with me. Someday, when we have our very own home, I dream of having a cozy reading nook and walls and walls lined with books. At this rate, I'll need a whole shelf dedicated to sweet Jane, the Bennet sisters, and the March sisters.

(Home Library spotted at To Die For Decor Tumblr)