When I was in college, one of my closest friends was (and still is!) from Istanbul, Turkey. I remember having a conversation with her one night after watching When Harry Met Sally about how magical it is to see places like New York after seeing them on-screen from afar. She’s right—and her perspective on New York is exactly how I feel about Paris. I love to savor old and new French films and just take in the scenery and stunning locations where they shoot.

So, to get in the mood for our trip, Matt and I decided to watch Midnight in Paris, and I whipped up (!) a few French dishes from “The French Market Cookbook” by Clotilde Dusoulier (like this recipe for avocado and radish mini-tartines, which is delicious). That movie is probably one of my favorite examples of how beautiful and captivating Paris can be. I especially love the film’s opening sequence. As I watched, I made a mental list of all the places I want to see in two weeks!

Is there a film that makes you daydream about travel? Where does it take place?

(Image 1 and 2)

What are you reading this spring? I just stocked up, and these three books are at the top of the fiction pile. Pretty in Ink by Lindsey J. Palmer is a fun and zesty peek into the magazine world (and our next NYWICI book club pick!), while A Wedding in Provence by Ellen Sussman and The Vacationers by Emma Straub both offer a taste of travel and family dynamics. Love!

What books are at the top of your list this month?

PS: More books I loved here and here and here.

(Image 1, 2, and 3 via Amazon)

What do you think of wearing bright florals for spring? I just splurged on this (sorta bold) Photo Floral Dress from J.Crew. I love the structured fit and A-line skirt. The best part? It doesn’t really need to be accessorized. Paired with a neon yellow cardigan, I can just throw it on and go!

What do you think? Will you try this floral trend?

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Matt and I count ourselves lucky that Brooklyn Bridge Park is a short walk from our apartment. But we’re even luckier that we are close to Smorgasburg, too! It’s a summer ritual of ours to wake up, have a leisurely morning at home, and then head over and see what’s cooking for lunch. 

This past weekend, we tried the truffle french fries (with lemon garlic aioli) from Home Frite, and the infamous ramen burger. We’d ordered the ramen burger before when it was being served at a restaurant in our ‘hood, but it was much better coming straight from the source. We snagged a picnic table underneath a blue umbrella, and kicked it for a bit—our own pseudo BBQ. The perfect Sunday!

How was your weekend? Did you get outside in the sunshine?

PS: More Smorgasburg.

Friday at last! How was your week, my darling readers? Mine flew by—in fact, this month already feels like it’s flying by. Are you doing anything special for Mother’s Day? Sadly, I’m not making the trip home, but I’ll be there next weekend for a belated toast! 🙂 In the meantime, I’m wishing my mom—and all my friends who are (amazing) moms—a happy Mother’s Day! Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

The sweetest reaction to baby news!

Summer prep: How to beat a heat wave.

Mapping Manhattan.

It’s raining flower petals!

Avocado hummus.

Paris v. New York: Who eats better?

A private moon.

Rainbow carrots for your garden.

The cutest pup!

Casting call anxiety.

The book I’m reading next.

(Image via Kaylee Webster Designs)