Summer heat

We've tried to make the most out of summer- mostly on the weekends- despite the foreboding temperatures. Today is one of the first days the weather has been more moderate, but temperatures pushing 100F in a city where most people walk everywhere makes staying indoors the most attractive option. 

We've spent a little time on the roof deck, but mostly in the late evening when the sun is on its way down. The photo above is of the neighborhood, as seen from our roof deck. I've been considering making our common building roof deck a little more friendly by adding some planters, but gardening and maintaining it through the fall and winter can prove a bit of a challenge. 

Since getting a bike, we have both been biking as our primary form of daily transportation. We have also been taking Harry out for weekend bike rides in his new bicycle basket! You can read all about how much he (and Gregory) loves it in the post here.

This photo was taken from our bike ride last weekend. We mostly ride along the Esplanade. You can see the all-too-familiar Mass Ave Bridge in the background. 

Speaking of biking, it is somewhat of a new obsession of mine. I've been reading up quite a bit about biking and the more you read, the more you need. We both got brand new, stylish bike helmets last weekend, which we both love.  At the bike shop, I test-rode a gorgeous vintage-style bike and I am so excited about this new, red bike that is supposed to be shipping from the UK any day now.  There will no doubt, be more photos as we go for more 'stylish' bike rides in the upcoming weeks!

Packed summer weekend

This past weekend was a great one. Just what I always want out of a summer weekend: nicely stacked with short city jaunts, but not too busy to feel exhausting.

On Saturday, we drove to Cambridge (Central Square) to pick up some office supplies and necessities that Chris needed. We came home, and watched a great documentary on the restaurant Michelin star system. It made me long for more/any 2 and 3-star restaurants in Boston.

Sunday was a little more filled with a early morning search for delicious croissants in Cambridge (we're still searching for the best croissants but I'm not sure we will find them!). We then went on to Hingham to take Harry to a wonderful dog park (the picture from above and talked about here). We met up with friends for lunch, got coffee in Harvard Square, and went to a choir concert in Harvard Yard. All this on a weekend where temperatures were reaching close to 90 fahrenheit!

Sunday neighborhood stroll

Chris is on his spring break this week and it just so co-incided with a weekend off for me. Free time is pretty rare for us these days (especially free time together), so it's nice to be able to feel like there is nothing pressing to do and to just indulge in the weekend. 

We started off the weekend with lunch together on Friday afternoon. We also got up early on Saturday to get coffee and breakfast at Whole Foods, a nice luxury that we used to do more often. We stopped by the local library branch to pick up the books I had on hold (Celebrate, by Pippa Middleton has been great!) Most of the time, we just caught up on our show (Boardwalk Empire), played (mostly cuddled) with Harry, and just lounged around the apartment.

Today, we took a nice leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. Though I often feel that Boston is too small/too boring, I forget just how lucky we are to live in a beautiful neighborhood with independent shops and stores within walking distance. Really such a rarity these days! There is a beautiful little chocolate shop around the corner and we stopped by there today. We each chose 3 different chocolates. Mine were: lavender truffle, champagne, and Earl Grey (my obsession with tea- I couldn't leave the store without this one). We also stopped by the small neighborhood grocery to pick out some cheese. Finally, we found a delicately grapefruit scented soy candle at a neighborhood specialty gift store. 

Sunday Italian dinner with gourmet chocolates for dessert!

Blizzard white-out

The city has been completely shut down because of the blizzard and everyone is cozied up at home this weekend. Work has been canceled for the day and I am very happy about having a quiet, snow day at home (though there is definitely something very "The Shining" about the city being shut down!)

We took Harry outside to romp in the snow. He had a great time, playing with his squeak toy (The Egg, as we call it) After a very short time, he got much too cold and wanted to go back inside (thus why he is waiting at the front door in the picture!)

We saw many neighbors out and about while we were out there- some with their dogs, some just walking about in the middle of the streets since cars are not allowed on the roads right now, and even  one on skis.

We had a quiet pizza party last night and I think we might do the same tonight. Pizza, couch, some of our favorite shows- am amazing blizzard day, if you ask me!

Double blogging

It is tough work updating one blog, much less two! I've been spending most of my time updating the other blog, so head on over here to see what's been going on at at home...

In the meantime, stay warm!

The art scene

We spent yesterday afternoon at the Museum of Fine Arts  for the first time in a very long time. Every so often, they have a marvelous traveling exhibit that we feel we must go to (the last time was approximately 2 years ago for a 'Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese' exhibit- so really, a while ago!).

This time, it was fashion photography from the one and only, Mario Testino. Having an exhibit like this is really 'forward' for Boston, so we really wanted to make sure we did not miss it. The Testino exhibit was great and well executed, with lots of his famous prints of his favorites: Kate Moss, Gisele Bundchen, Gwyneth, Madonna- many photos that have made it to the pages of Vogue, W, and Vanity Fair. The picture above was one of Chris' favorites.

To top it off, there were also famous British Royal portraits that were shot by Testino. Now, you know how much I adore Kate Middleton, and of course the British Royals (and Royals) in general, so this was truly a treat. 

Yesterday, the museum impressed me much more than any previous trips.

I used to feel that the MFA was a bit stuffy, stale, with more or less the same artifacts and paintings that it's had in its possession  for years and years. However, with its renovations and what seemed to be an emphasis on cutting edge curations, the MFA has really become world-class, in my opinion. 

Enjoying a afternoon meal at the newly designed indoor courtyard cafe with a stunning glass tree

An older wing with ancient Asian sculpture

Enjoying European painting

We also joined the museum as members for the first time yesterday, so we will hopefully be returning soon and visiting far more frequently.

The days ahead...

While this past holiday time has been especially hard for us for various reasons, I want to focus on some of the less heavy, small, perhaps seemingly insignificant, but happier things. First, my beautiful new antique tea cups and saucers that I received for Christmas. They are a similar pattern to the other set I purchased a while back. It's amazing how much time can be spent perusing auctions for these little treasures.

I am currently enjoying a "staycation" and since it's been just too chilly to go out, I've browsed the internet on end, and did some baking today.  We made a marvelous spiced pumpkin and walnut bread. The amazing recipe can be attributed to one and only GP, here. The spices, together with the warmth of the fresh bread were perfect for a  frozen, icy day. 

This year, with some uncertainty as to how the New Year will be, I am especially hesitant (as always) to make any resolutions. I enjoy taking each day as is and having bigger, overarching goals to generally live by so that I don't tend to disappoint myself. Some ideas (big and small) I've toyed around with though, have been:

Eating more wholesome, delicious foods. Taking/consistency in taking our vitamins and supplements. Purposeful intention to everything, even seemingly small tasks during the day- what is meant by this I think I will have to figure out slowly, but I suppose the idea can be said as: living each day for just that- the day. As an astute (to a fault) planner, this is a very new way of thinking for me, but may just be what we need for the new year ahead.