Wise words

"Nine times out of ten, you probably aren’t having a full-on nervous breakdown—you just need a cup of tea and a biscuit."

— British writer Caitlin Moran in her hilarious, wonderful letter to her daughter

(Photo of me from a while back)

The Best Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

The first officially day of fall is September 22nd—less than three weeks away. Aren't you looking forward to cable-knit sweaters and orange leaves and cold noses? To ring in the season, Brenda of A Farmgirl's Dabbles is sharing her recipe for the best lemon poppy seed bread, all warm from the oven...Read More >

11 untranslatable words from other countries

Ella Frances Sanders illustrated untranslatable words from other languages, and they're so lovely...
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Home Inspiration: Big plants

How striking are these huge plants? They're like gorgeous green sculptures in each room. I've never met a plant I couldn't kill within a few days, but I'd love to try to grow one of these guys! The plant in the middle photo, above, is a fiddle leaf fig tree, and you can find similar ones at Home Depot. More photos below...
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Have a delicious weekend.

What are your plans for this weekend? My mom has been here for almost three weeks, and she's leaving this Sunday. We're so sad for her to go back to Michigan! I wish we lived closer. Anyway, hope you have a good one, and here are a few fun posts from around the web...

Am I too old to read this book?

Tomato sandwiches.

26 ingenious ideas for your home.

Commission your own painting.

What a cool apartment.

21 reasons to love IKEA.

The six years when parents are happiest.

The power of doing something meaningless.

A new airline class for the child-intolerant.

Wow, Europe and Russia aren't kidding around.

What a beautiful locket.

This woman lives in a garden.

A game about real life.

Haha, these are so weird!!!

Let kids help.

(Photo by Alexandra's Kitchen. American Dreamers link via Swissmiss)

Our fourth anniversary

Today is our fourth anniversary! Last night, Alex and I reminisced by looking through photos from when we were first dating...
This was the weekend he met my dad. How cute is he without a beard? (Although I'll never let him shave.)
Alex's old Brooklyn apartment had dark red walls in the living room, which I remember thinking was so cool and masculine when I went over there for the first time. We had a Friday night ritual of listening to music, watching movies and eating too much cheese.
Here we were at our friend's dinner party, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. How amazing was the view from their apartment?!
On our first trip together—to Berlin for ten days. I was so nervous that we'd run out of things to talk about! (We didn't.)
Visiting my grandmother in Cornwall...
...and on a walk with my family. (My grandparents' town is so small that if you send them a letter, you have to write "Polruan-by-Fowey" on the envelope so the mail carrier can figure out how to find it.)
Alex proposed on a sailboat in the Hudson River. The boat kept tilting from side to side, so I had to stick my hand into his backpack so he could put the ring on safely!
Saying our vows four years ago. Best decision I ever made.

Tonight we're sneaking away from the babies and going out to a neighborhood Italian restaurant, Gradisca, where the owner flies his mama in from Bologna to make pasta! And of course we'll meet there:)

Happy Anniversary, Alex! I love you.

What to say when there's an awkward silence

Fill the Silence is a tumblr of fun facts that you can bust out when you find yourself in the middle of an awkward conversational pause. Thumbs up.

P.S. Another dorky fun fact.

(Via Messy Nessy Chic)