It’s so hot and sticky in the summer, there are so many nights where all I crave is a delicious salad for dinner. Lately, Matt and I have been making variations on this recipe from ABC Kitchen. There’s something so tasty about roasted carrots, avocado, a lot of fresh lemon juice, and a little salt and pepper. It is so filling, too! The roasting can take about 30 minutes, but otherwise, it’s a pretty fast and easy dish for the nights we don’t feel like cooking a lot.

Do you have a go-to summer salad that you like to whip up?

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My grandmother Jane on my dad’s side was always incredibly artistic. She did a lot of oil paintings—mostly of the pretty beaches in Maine—but she was also a calligraphy pro. Her illustrated, hand-written poems hang on so many walls in my home. I’ve always had an interest in it, but had never really pursued it. When I saw that Paper Source was offering a class for beginners, I immediately signed up.

It was so fun! There were only eight of us in the class, which made it easy to get lots of one on one time with the teacher and really learn. It was also really cool to see the other students’ calligraphy styles—everyone had their own take on the practice strokes. I like that calligraphy requires you to piece each letter together. For example, did you know that to write an R, you use four separate strokes?

I was also impressed at what a difference the type of pen you use makes—and how quickly my hand would start to cramp up from writing. It’s harder than you think!

I’m practicing with these pens for now before I graduate to pen and ink, which is apparently much more challenging. (My teacher recommended this pen as a middle ground.)

What do you think? Have you ever tried to learn this writing style?

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for this weekend? I’m taking a calligraphy class! My grandmother always used to practice this art form, making beautiful prints that still hang on my parents walls today. I’m excited to give it a try. 🙂 Wishing you a lovely and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Saturday-inspired nails.

Revisiting the South of France.

Pretty Kate Spade swimsuits. With bows!

How to properly pack your toiletries. (Bonus: What to bring for two weeks of travel!)

A DIY project I can’t wait to try. (Thanks, Joy!)

Before the website re-launch, a few New Yorker favorites like this one and this one and this one.

Origami picnic boxes.

Summer hair.

Royal families on vacation.

Kristen Bell as Mary Poppins. Love.

(Image via The Daily Muse)

My love of Brooklyn pizza has gotten very serious over the last year and a half since moving to my new ‘hood. Even better, I’ve gone on many a pizza taste test with my pizza-loving pals Dominic and Shannon. This weekend, our efforts will continue with a visit to a relatively new joint called Emily’s in Clinton Hill. I can’t wait!

In honor of the occasion, I thought I’d pay homage to my top five Brooklyn pizza spots. Of course, Emily’s has a real shot of nudging someone off this list—but they’ll have to work very hard to do it. 😉

Here goes:

1) Di Fara: I call this destination pizza. Even though I live in Brooklyn, it’s a hike on the subway. I’ve actually been twice, but only after renting a car each time. This pizza is life-changing, from the sauce to the olive oil and hand-snipped basil leaves.

2) Speedy Romeo: Great pies and great service. That’s a tough combo to find. And despite being a backdrop for the recent season of Girls, I’ve still never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a seat. Impressive.

3) Roberta’s: The Bee Sting isn’t on the menu anymore, but this specialty pie is my go-to order here. It comes with honey. Need I say more? Plus, the backyard bar area illustrates Brooklyn at it’s best.

4) Paulie Gee’s: Delicious pizza, but an even better late night scene, given that Paulie himself visits the tables to check in and make sure your pie is perfect.

5) Fornino: You know my love for this place runs deep. This spot is all about pizza with a view. What slice won’t taste great when it’s enjoyed next to the Manhattan skyline under pretty globe lights? 🙂

Honestly, it was tough to narrow the choices down—and I’m totally open to debate. What is your favorite Brooklyn pie?

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Do you have a go-to summer nail polish? I keep going back to an Essie color I discovered last year, called “Under Where?” It’s a soft, orchid-like purple, and with two coats, it goes on opaque, but still nice and light. It’s also one of those colors where you don’t notice polish chips as easily, something that makes it easier to extend the length of time between manicures—an ideal situation for summer. Anyways, I love it so much, I’m still wearing it a full year (and a few months) after it first came out!

How about you? What color do you paint your nails during the summer?

PS: Another nail polish trend.

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