Summer Picnic Club

Brad and I are two for two weekends in a row that included picnics. We are hoping to go on as many picnics as possible as long as the weather holds out. Brad said that he was so surprised at how good it has been to just sit in the grass. I think our apartment is pretty quiet for being in one of the busier neighborhoods in the city, but I still feel like the constant buzz our urban life is more draining than we realize. Even only two weeks in, our picnic ritual feels like a meditation of sorts.
 

 Last week we were so lazy that we didn't even pack a picnic. Instead, we stopped at BoLoCo on Park Street and took our burritos and NUTELLA MILKSHAKE(!!) to the Boston Public Garden. We spread out our blanket in a nice sunny patch to watch the Swan Boats go by, and we even saw a wedding! Tres exciting!


This week we were a little more prepared (and we had the time to put something together, as it is a three day weekend for  Memorial Day). We went to a park closer to our apartment that turned out to be a nice quiet oasis. I think it added to the relaxing vibe that the meal required very little preparation, and even less equipment to tote to the park. We just reveled in the simplicity of it all.

Feel free to share some of your favorite picnic menus in the comments, or let me know what you think of this one!

My favorite part of The Hobbit Is...

Like all good nerds, Brad and I went to see The Hobbit when it came out in the theater last year. And yes, it was all the things everyone said it was (visually stunning, faithful to the books, entirely too long, etc.). But I think my very favorite part of the movie was the most innocuous moment, and probably not shared as a favorite by most people.

I just love the 20 second part towards the beginning when Frodo visits his uncle, and he takes an apple from a basket right at the front door, presumably meant to welcome, or to see off  visitors (obviously, of the most respectable type only).  Having a basket of fruit at the front door is just about the most charming, hospitable thing I can imagine! In addition to apples, I think bananas, oranges, plums, or nectarines that would normally be stored on the counter-top would be quite at home at the front door to encourage anyone using the entryway to take one for the road, thus avoiding the temptation to pick up one of those overly-sugared, half-hearted pastries at  a Starbucks. See? The benefits are endless!

Have you ever been inspired to take a part of a story or a movie and incorporate it into your real life? How so?

Lately I've been very entertained by youtube videos of re-imagined movie trailers. They are trailers of well known films presented as though they were for movies of a different genera. For example: Mary Poppins as a horror film.

Anyway, here is a round up of my three favorites. Enjoy!

Mary Poppins as a Horror Film

Harry Potter as a Teen Comedy

The Shining as  a Romantic Comedy ("Shining")

Quite Continental Charm School: Day 10

I know. I fell off the wagon. But that is no reason to not climb back on! So here we go with lesson #10: A Proper Foundation. 

I have minimal requirements as far as frilly underwear goes. I actually have a couple of pairs of plain old cotton Hanes cotton "Hipsters", that I love simply because they are a pretty color. My three favorites are a pair that are a gorgeous shade of plum, a demure shade of mint, and a feisty shade of cerulean.

As for bra's I recommend that every woman have a convertible bra in her arsenal. I'm really not picky about bras, but I do have one absolute requirement:  minimal padding. Just a little for modesty. I like a nice even lining not those push up types with about an inch in the bottom of the cup.

I'm not sure what more there is to say on the matter... any other thoughts would be more than I care to have floating around the internet.  Instead I direct your attention to the fabulous pinterest boards of Alison Rubke, one of the fine curators of Faire Frou Frou.  

A small sample of Alison's brilliant eye for glamour... via

Well, you see. What happened was...

Every week, I go to the farmer's market, and I say to myself,  "I'm going to buy these berries/cherries/whatever-gorgeous-seasonal-fruit and I'm going to bake something awesome with them."

Then I get home and I eat the lot in one sitting...


And that's why we're not having strawberry shortcake today. Because I ate a pound of strawberries in two days. Oh, Lord. 


But hey! Maybe it's because the fruit is not meant to be fussed with! Maybe, it's wonderful just the way it is, and it would be a crime to defile it with all that butter, sugar and heat! For crying out loud, it's Summer! It's too hot to bake! Maybe all these recipes were meant for times when you couldn't just enjoy them straight from the plant. 

Yes, I ate a pound of strawberries...and it was Summer. It was wonderful.

This lovely photo is from Warwikshire Living Magaizine, in a pleasant article titled "Strawberry Summer".  

Quite Continental Charm School Journal- Day 9

Today's Lesson: " A life lived with purpose".  This really is a central tenant of the philosophy by which I've chosen to live my life. In my 25 years, I have learned to always be doing one of three things at any given moment:

1. Making a determination-Deciding what I want my life to be.
2. Soul searching for the path to that determined outcome. This must be revisited daily for evaluation of the path taken so far, and for thoughts on what to do next.
3. Take action based on soul searching to make dreams come true. 

I will keep this one brief, because I think the Charm School post is quite good, and thorough. 

Quite Continental Charm School Journal- Day 8

Today's Lesson is "Family Jewels". I don't really wear jewelry. I've inherited a beautiful, delicate, gold bracelet from my grandmother who passed, had a charm necklace from childhood to the age of 22, and many pairs of pearl earrings. All of those things no longer belong to me. For some reason, I just cannot be trusted with jewelry, because I always break it or lose it...or both. Right now, I really only wear my engagement ring. So far, so good.

I think one advantage of the engagement ring, is it is more than a gift. It is a symbol for my relationship with someone I see every day. I never want him to think I take his gesture lightly. A lot of times, I sit on the train and admire my lover's declaration of commitment to me. Over 2 years after his proposal , people often mistake me for a newly engaged bride to be.

I remain ambivalent about jewelry. One of my personal philosophies is,"Things bring you down". So I'll continue to wear my ring with gratitude and pride, but only time will tell if I manage to accessorize further...