summer weekend.

what are you up to this weekend? simon and i are planning a quiet evening in, (since we splurged last night and devoured beef stroganoff at a french restaurant). i'm also looking forward to getting things done, going swimming in the lake and sleeping in on sunday.

have a wonderful weekend, and in the meantime, here are five things that i am loving right now:




1. this perfect summer song: mat kearney's hey mama

2. eco-friendly cork-topped nail polish bottles from megan miller

3. tina fey's book bossypants: interesting and funny.

4. lightweight summer shawls like this one.

5. and lastly, yogurt that tastes like red velvet cake. yes, seriously.




(photo credit: aivilo)

on my bookshelf: the happiness project.

about a month ago, a friend sent me a text message that read: "stuck at chicago airport, bleurgh. just picked up the happiness project and it made me think of you. have you read it?"

i was instantly flattered. never mind that i hadn't actually read the book, i had heard amazing reviews and it warmed my heart that my friend thought of me and happiness together.

needless to say, i picked it up, and read the whole thing in a matter of days. and i loved it.

as someone who believes that happiness is a choice, and requires daily effort, the book really resonated with me. that being said, i am, at my core, a generally happy person, so i loved that the premise of the book was that nothing needed to be particularly wrong in order for someone to seek more happiness.

the set up of the book is that author, gretchen rubin, spends a year experimenting with different happiness resolutions, and shares her insights along the way. they include singing in the morning, taking more pictures, meditating, eating more real food, and much more.

i loved the book so much, i'm even toying with the idea of starting my own happiness project... it would include resolutions such as spending less time online, (and also spending more time outside), being more patient, reading more non-fiction books, going (indoor) rock-climbing, and enhancing my dinner making repertoire. 

now i'm curious, have you read the book, or started your own happiness project? i'd love to hear about it.

markets of new england.

there is no doubt about it. i have the coolest friends. 

one of them, christine chitnis, recently published her first book, and i couldn't be more proud. it is a detailed overview of the fifty best farmers' and artisan markets in new england. 

as you all know, it is a subject i wholeheartedly believe in.* not only that, but markets of new england is the kind of book that catches your eye when you're strolling through anthropologie. when you get closer and start flipping through it, you realize you have to have it... the photographs are magical. 

on a personal note, christine is in many ways a role model to me. through hard work, determination and grace, she has created the life of her dreams, including this big one: becoming a successful, published author. she continually inspires me with everything that she accomplishes, especially because she stays grounded, humble and grateful in the process. 

christine has generously offered to give a copy of the book to one lucky reader of naturally nina. to enter to win, please leave a comment on this post, (tweet about it for extra entries!) and a winner will be chosen randomly on friday morning. 

* why are farmers' markets important? i look at them as a societal win-win. when we buy produce, dairy products, or bread directly from local producers, we allow them to maximize their profits (by skipping the middle men), we avoid processed food that is over-packaged and unhealthy, we can obtain locally grown, seasonally-appropriate organic vegetables, (which is better for the environment), and we can "shop" in a way that is more human, more interactive, and more fun. what's not to love? 

p.s. i wrote an official review of the book here, if you'd like to read it.


(photo credits: christine chitnis)

on my bookshelf.

imagine you're sitting in your local dive bar, drinking a pitcher of beer, and a struggling indie band is rocking out in the background. in walks mark oliver everett, front man of the band eels, and he sits down and starts telling you hilarious stories about his life. this is what the grandchildren should know.

unlike a lot of memoirs, this book is painfully real at times. there is no exaggeration, no pretense, no sap. it's just an honest portrayal of one man's life, told in a witty, thoughtful and fascinating way. the style reminds me of both kurt vonnegut and nick hornby, and you don't have to be an eels fan to enjoy it. highly recommended.

on my bookshelf.

upon the recommendation of a friend, i picked up room by emma donoghue about a week ago. it is quite possibly the strangest-- and most riveting-- book i have ever read.

the story is told from the point of view of five-year-old jack who lives with his mother in a room that measures 11 x 11 feet.  the kicker? he has never seen the outside world.

it is both disturbing and heart-warming, sweet and terrifying. if you're interested in learning more, check out the official book trailer. it's very well done.

have any of you read it? what did you think? 

getting through winter.

today is another snow day in boston. i'm beginning to forget what our sidewalks look like. so, in an attempt to stay positive, here are a few of the things that keep me sane during the cold, dark days of winter.

1. books. it goes without saying, but curling up with a new novel is one of my favorite things in the world. thanks to the suggestion of meredith, i am now hooked on indie bound. i also downloaded the indie bound iphone app that helps me keep track of all the books i want to read. love.

2. thick, wool socks. i wear them inside my boots, around the house, and sometimes even to bed. handmade ones are the best, although these look pretty cozy too.

3. hope in a jar. i'm not usually into expensive cosmetics, but this lotion is divine. it's light, non-greasy, hydrating, and smells really good. goodbye dry skin.

4. knitting. it keeps me busy when i'm cooped up inside, and the gratification of finishing something is nothing short of glorious.

5. tea lights. we have them all over our condo, and they make even the gloomiest of days feel just a little bit cozier. fun fact: did you know that they were originally created to keep tea pots warm? :)

6. crosswords. every night, simon and i climb into bed, turn on our bedside lamps, and try to solve the day's crossword puzzle. i have to confess that every once in a while, i fall asleep before we finish. but it's one of the best parts of my day.

7. messenger bag from moop. it's big enough to haul around all my winter gear: hat, gloves, extra scarf, tissues, book, and even a snack. i don't know what i would do without it.

8. pretty mugs. whether it's for my daily cup of coffee, my afternoon tea break, or a hot chocolate with marshmallows, i firmly believe that mugs should be fun to look at. this particular one is from here.

9. good radio. i feel so lucky to live in boston where we have emerson's station, "music for the independent mind" and another independent station called "the river". what else is there to do on a snow day, but listen to incredible tunes all day long? of course, there is always wait wait, don't tell me, too, which never fails to entertain.

so, tell me, what do you do to stay sane during the winter? 

on my bookshelf.

since i've become quite the bookworm in the last few months, i've decided to start a new series on the blog called on my bookshelf.  here i'll be able to share some of my recent favorites, and also get recommendations in return. :) yay! 

i'll start with the secrets to happiness by sarah dunn. this novel is reminiscent of chick lit, but it's better, and hilarious. i read the whole thing over the course of one plane ride, and i'd recommend it to anyone in the mood for a light and refreshingly honest story. 

so, tell me, what have you been reading lately? 

i'm still in my pajamas.

this morning i woke up in a terrible mood. does that ever happen to you?

luckily, simon went out in the snow and came home with breakfast crepes! he also got us a s'more dessert crepe. heaven.

my plan for the rest of the day = not showering. drinking tea. watching comedy. reading. knitting. and putting together a puzzle.

yes, we're pretending that we're snowed in. even though we're not. :) happy weekend!

(photo credit: broken skyline)

a good week.

this week, i...

• taught two yoga classes: one to a group of fabulous ladies who sent me home with banana bread, and one to a beautiful woman who happens to be my sister. (after this class, we partook in some whitewineasana.)

• skyped with a dear friend in germany. it made me just a teeny bit nostalgic for the year that i lived in munich. the holiday markets and snowy roads were incredibly picturesque.

• took a field trip to ikea and stocked up on a ridiculous amount of scandinavian holiday goodies. i swear, i will never tire of pepperkaker (ginger snaps) norwegian mulled wine, and kitschy scandinavian decorations.

• found some new places of inspiration on the web: a beautiful yoga podcast, wee textiles, and an inside garden diary.

• and last but not least, finished this book. highly recommended.

have a nice weekend, everyone!

out and about.

lately, i spend my days getting things done. so, today, i decided to play hooky from all my responsibilities and have a solo adventure around boston. and it was... divine.


it started with a brief walk: hat on my head and camera in hand.


then i went and voted! (and somehow, mysteriously, ended up in a secure area and got escorted out. seriously, how do i get myself into these situations? ha.)


i spent the rest of the morning reading and sipping coffee at athans cafe. (i particularly enjoyed eavesdropping on a couple nearby who were loudly daydreaming about their next vacation.)


a brief stop into a consignment and thrift shop left me inspired, but empty handed. that's probably a good thing. :)


then, i went to the library. what a concept, eh? books i can borrow for free... oh, the possibilities! (i ended up choosing a couple of titles from your suggestions; thank you so much!)


last but not least, i poked around a new antique store in the neighborhood. it was conspicuously empty and quiet, so i just tip toed around and smelled the old furniture.

and now? well, now i am going to try a recipe from julia child's mastering the art of french cooking.

i know, i know, it's such a cliche for a blogger to even so much as open her cook book. (but we got it as a wedding gift, and i can't help myself. the salade a la d'argenson sounds delectable).

wish me luck!

page by page.

maybe it's the crisp fall weather, or my free afternoons, or the fact that i am a book addict... but lately, i have been reading a lot.

i guess it makes me feel like i'm doing something productive (even when i'm not). some nights, when simon is away for work, i bring a book to bed and read until my eyes get heavy. i love nighttime stories.

my current book is the art of racing in the rain. have any of you read it? i'd love some more book suggestions too. any suggestions for a great crime/thriller? thank you!

xo.

(photo credit: alexis mire)

have a relaxing weekend.

(i've been braiding my hair a lot lately, but i still have a lot to learn. it's hard to see back there!)

i'm so happy it's friday. it's been a long week...

simon and i are excited to celebrate our niece's first birthday tomorrow. we bought her this sweet little book collection by amy krouse rosenthal and can't wait to scoop her up and give her some special birthday kisses.

we are also looking forward to a quiet night at home this evening. maybe simon will watch this is it with me. (it's on netflix instant streaming now, hurray!)

well, my dears, have a fabulous weekend. enjoy a brownie... or two!

xo.

(photo credit: susanna maaria)

a bedtime story.

i've probably mentioned this before, but i have the (annoying) habit of asking simon to "tell me a story". i tend to do this a lot at bedtime, because a part of me (still) loves falling asleep to the sound of someone's voice.

well, last night when simon wasn't home, i suddenly had the idea to load up an audio book onto my iphone and listen to it in bed. (i listened to it on the speakers. headphones and pillows = ouch.)

upon the recommendation of a friend, i got the book the girl with the dragon tattoo, (originally the swedish book män som hatar kvinnor). and well, an hour later, i was still wide awake in bed.

the book is not only vaguely familiar to me because of its swedish backdrop, but it's also incredibly intriguing and suspenseful. not to mention that the narrator, simon vance, has the perfect, british story-telling voice.

i can hardly wait to get back into bed tonight so i can hear more of the story!

tell me, have any of you read it? and do you ever listen to audio books at bedtime? it's so lovely; i highly recommend it.

decomposition notebooks.

good morning, friends!

i have always loved the classic black and white, marbled composition book. but have you seen these clever de-composition notebooks? unlike their predecessor they're made from 100% post consumer-waste recycled paper, produced using bio-gas, processed chlorine-free and printed in soy ink.

i have two: one of them is for late-night ideas, reminders and random scribblings... the other one remains blank and full of potential. (i love having empty notebooks lying around. there is something so exciting about prospect of putting a pen to the first page of a blank notebook...)

(photo credits and available for purchase at bookbinders)

books books books.

good morning, friends!

today i am off to new york city for 48 hours. in addition to seeing a dear friend and getting lots of work done, i have one priority: a few hours at the strand bookstore.

in case you've never been, strand books is a huge store filled with overstock, used, rare, and out-of-print books... in other words, heaven on earth.

when i was in college and living in downtown manhattan, i used to roam around the store for hours: smelling the old books, flipping through literary anthologies and looking for hidden gems.

i haven't been back in ten years, (let's ignore how old that makes me...) and i can't wait! now, if only i had an adorable little book nook like the one above to enjoy my books when i come home...

now tell me, do you have a favorite book store? if so, where is it and what do you love about it? i'd love to hear.

(photo credit: the selby, via sfgirlbybay)

committed.

today i picked up the latest oprah magazine and read an incredible excerpt from elizabeth gilbert's new book committed. i adored her previous book eat pray love, and so you can only imagine my excitement when i learned that her new book is all about love and marriage... it's as if the timing was intended for me. (ha!)
suffice to say, i can't wait to get my hands on the whole book, which is due out in january. here's one amazing review of it:

"told with gilbert’s trademark wit, intelligence and compassion, committed attempts to "turn on all the lights" when it comes to matrimony, frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, family tradition, social expectations, divorce risks and humbling responsibilities. gilbert's memoir is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails."

are you as excited as i am?
update: i hate to admit this, but i was highly disappointed in this book. i thought it was self-indulgent and patronizing. boo. anyone else feel that way?

(photo credit: veselina)