Have a Fun Weekend

Still only links to give, sorry to say. Some day there will be a return to longer posts but onward is the idea, today & every day. Have a wonderful weekend & if you're near or in snow, lucky you! (We say that until the third day after a snow & we complain like the rest of you.) xoxo

Fabulous video of the northern lights in Norway.

Beautiful snow (also via Norway).

More auroras. Gasp.

Now you need to warm up, so here's a favorite roast chicken recipe that feels just right for this weekend. Then promise you'll make these beets, even if you think you hate them. Read the post & then decide. So good.

Irish coffee sounds good right about now, too.

Here in North America, Downton Abbey's third season begins on Sunday. Get caught up or refresh your memory, here. And join the Twitter party on Sunday. The perfect reason to join Twitter. Yes. Do it.

(photograph of Hitchcock & grandchildren via Kottke)

Hello, November

This catching up business is taking longer than expected. That is the thing with plans, isn't it?

Meanwhile:

 Live longer with naps (the Greek way).

Poems for Veterans Day (or Remembrance Day for Commonwealth nations)

Pinterest introduces secret boards (finallly!).

Bring the outside inside.

"Tonight I Have to Leave It" Dance!

Have a lovely weekend. xoxo

(photograph by Liivia Sirola)

Calm

If only repeating the word would make it so. 

Meanwhile, you could:

 Listen to Peter Gabriel, live in Athens.

Look at beautiful migrating monarch butterflies.

Listen to a gorgeous reading of Ode to a Nightingale.

Play with Pusheen.

Remember Calm?

Have a lovely weekend. xo

(photograph by Julie de Waroqiuer)

Autumn Flowers

...are still here; don't despair. Dahlias, asters, & chrysanthemums to name three are at many farmers markets in our area & most likely yours, as well. Or maybe you know someone who has some in their garden & would like to share.

A few links:

Halloween. It's the same day every year but it does creep up. Start now (if you've not already).

An easy-ish fig tart.

 Bake or Break's new fall baking Pinterest board.

A Poem Guide for On Autumn by the lovely John Keats.

Thank you for the many kind messages of late. Have a lovely weekend. xoxo

(photograph uncredited - for now via Pinterest)

Breathless

...or À bout de souffle ... this describes the atmosphere chez nous lately. (No, we're not off on a crime spree, silly.) You can watch the film (for free!) via Google Video. We've been told it's accessible globally. Make sure to visit Open Culture's 500 Free Movies Online (& the links just below for more links/search tips).

Behind the scenes photographs of the filming of Breathless.

What it was like to work with Jean-Luc Godard by cinematographer Raoul Coutard.

Jean Seberg's Breathless style. 

Have a great weekend!

ciao/xo

(film still via IMDb)

Have a Beautiful Weekend

We're still not back to full-strength for posting. But a few links of interest:

The National Geographic photography contest is open now through 30 November. Do it!

A beautiful & sad Letter from Greece from the Poetry Foundation. The heart breaks.

Abbey's lovely New York apartment; she always has great ideas.

Chanel's pretty fall make-up.

If you're in the Washington, DC-area tomorrow (Sunday, 9 Sept.) stop by the Amnesty International table at the Takoma Park Folk Festival to say hi!

Ciao/xo

(photograph of Chet & Halima Baker by William Claxton)

Have a Lovely Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. To take your mind off of sad news (for at least a little while), here are some links:

The Underground New York Public Library. Love.

165 summer poems.

How about that epic kiss photograph?!

Make a better sandcastle (not for kids only!).

Plan a trip to the beach. It's not too late. In fact, plan one for autumn.

Beach waves hair tutorial.

Remember this Donovan song? All of us could use this today.

ciao-meow/xoxo

(photograph by the morning train)

Have a Relaxing Weekend

The hot weather continues (& will get worse) here in the States & Canada. Stay inside if you can & watch Wimbledon. That is the sum total of our weekend plan.

A few links:

Turn on Calm. (Also: make a playlist in iTunes of rain & the ocean. Cheap therapy.)

Spend two minutes to watch the month in photography.

Make these frozen (skinny) fruit pops.

A list of great children's books set in London (just in time for the Olympics). A library or bookstore visit on this hot summer weekend is always a good idea.

Tim Kreider's The Busy Trap - read it. The backlash is on but we aren't buying it. We agree with Tim.

xo/GGCM

(photograph by Julie de Waroquier)

Have a Lovely Weekend

It's already early evening on Saturday...so if you're not having a lovely weekend yet, get started!

A few links because not everyone plans their wedding a year in advance:

Wedding poems compiled by the editors at Poetry magazine.

If you're looking for wedding dresses & dislike meringues (ahem), try this one or this one. (You could have it made.)

Lots of wedding cakes are hideous so why go for the traditional? What about a Persian love cake (& a garden cake, too)?

Fifteen secrets to a good marriage.

Joanna & Alex & maintaining their spark. (Smart!)

(photograph by Elisa Mendes)

Have a Great Weekend

It's felt like we've crawled towards Friday afternoon...since Monday morning. We'll try to recover. Meanwhile, here are a few good links to start things off.

Illustrator Samantha Hahn's brave entry for "Things I'm Afraid to Tell You."

A personal Berlin guide (& melancholy farewell) by the lovely & amazing Emily. xoxo

Love this lamp design (even though friends have pointed out: it's made of paper, dude).

Use up that dulce de leche in these cookies.

It's strawberry season!

This Marimekko dress was pinned 20 times in a few minutes.

And always, always: dance. RIP Donna Summer.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(film still from Der geteilte Himmel)

A Spring Saturday

It's a bit mad here lately; hope to pick up the posting pace next week. Meanwhile, if you celebrate Mother's Day, there's still time to make a card & pick up some flowers (fair-trade is best, WFoods has tulips, lilies, roses, & more today & tomorrow). Remember that not everyone has a (living or available) mother or children; if you know woman who nurtures, maybe you should think of extending your celebration to include her.

Some links for your weekend:

Remember Dear Photograph? Love it. Now there's a book, too.

Wonderful essay on Finding Poetry in Illness.

Adorable (& hilarious) video Somebody That I Used to Know (By Two Kids in a Car)

A Paris Pastry hop with Dorie Greenspan

Can't stop thinking about this illustration.

The best Super Moon photo of all.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Le Portillon)

Happy Holiday Weekend

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, whatever you celebrate. If it's spring, that's good enough for us. We dye eggs, light candles, make a more elaborate recipe than usual (often baking, not our strongest suit), walk through blooming DC, watch movies. Who knows? Maybe this year we'll add burning sage & chants to the list in the interest of inter-religious pluralism. Have fun!

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

(The charming Sir Hopsalot available from Forest Blue)

Mad Men Prep

Giulia's editor has heard from more than a few people this last week, all confessing Mad Men ignorance. They want to jump on board but are afraid it is too late. People, people. It is never too late. It is good to catch up, though, because these are not cardboard characters; you will find their sometimes awful behavior less upsetting if you like them first. Like in real life.

So here's what you do. You catch up on Netflix, where the four complete seasons stream. (Or Hulu or iTunes. But seriously it is a much better deal via Netflix.)

If you don't have time or patience for that, catch up in your own time & follow these links:

AMC's Mad Men page for newbies.

Rolling Stone's Season 4 recap

One of the best Mad Men blogs is Basket of Kisses with cultural guides & episode reviews. We still loathe the new design but the material is excellent.

Vulture's Mad Men section. Go & read.

If you have some more time:

Ezra Pound Cake's Mad Men week with easy recipes (bonus: funny writer)

AMC's Mad Men Yourself for those avatars you keep seeing on Facebook & Twitter

Rolling Stone's Ultimate Mad Men Playlist

If you do not have a television or cable: do not despair. We watch it on iTunes the next day. The season pass is available now & individual episodes are usually available for purchase the day after the show airs.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(Betty & Don in Rome by Carin Baer for Lionsgate)

Have a Great Weekend

It's raining here but that's no excuse to be bored. Do something new or something you've not done in a while. Some fun links:

Amnesty International presents The Secret Policeman's Ball on Sunday. For the first time, it will be in NYC & guess what? You can watch the Radio City Music Hall show online. (The show begins at 7pm Eastern.)

To make this weekend: Pineapple Crisp (with ginger & lime). Bonus: low-sodium

The Red Balloon is streaming on Netflix Instant. How long has it been since you watched it? It's only 34 minutes.

How to draw elephants (for kids of all ages).

All the Downton Ladies (hilarious gifs)

Cute, fast, DIY mini salt & pepper shakers for picnics, your office.

Farewell, Davy Jones.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via IMDb)

Have a Lovely Weekend

While GG & her editor try to get out from under-the-weather (oof), there are some fun things to do right here at home. We hope you get out & about. If not, here are some links just for you:

The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show 48 years ago this week:)

Mad Men + Fashion Week advice

Informative & funny Downton Abbey recaps

The Grammy Awards are on Sunday night (go Adele!)

Twelve adorable piglets

Romantic movies for Valentine's Day

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph by Linda McCartney)

Love in a Cold Climate

Quick few suggestions for a Saturday afternoon (or evening, hi friends in Britain & beyond)/Sunday:

--Winter poems from the Poetry Foundation

--Three-minute Ice Cream from Anne in Sweden. (Ice cream maker not necessary.)

--Read (or re-read) a Nancy Mitford novel

--Watch Bob Dylan's tribute to Martin Scorsese from last night. It's great.

ciao-meow from Giulia. She's asleep in a sunbeam. xo

(photograph by Don Hunstein)

Have a Cozy Weekend

It's already Saturday early evening (here) but there's still enough weekend left to make plans with friends. In any case, you could:

--Make this quick cocoa cake (or anything on Bake or Break);

--Watch Dr. Zhivago on Netflix Instant (or watch the BBC series, they're both available)

--Join Twitter (yes!)

--Watch this terrific time-lapse video of a trip around the world (love)

--Read about Eve Arnold, the extraordinary photographer who died at 99 this week.

--Seek out a fireplace if you don't have one. (our favorite in DC)

Here in the States, Downton Abbey, Series 2 begins tomorrow. The excitement builds; so does the annoyance with friends who saw it last year (in UK) & think spoilers are amusing. Honestly, some people!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph via A Beautiful Mess)

Have a Romantic Evening

Take a break from shopping madness to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's; it's available on Netflix Instant (here in the States). We're under-the-weather here (both editor & redheaded cat) but we hope to pick up the posting rate soon. Cheers!

ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: Please remember Toys for Tots & other holiday collection activities in your part of the world.

(photograph via FanPop)

It's Been a Hard Day's Night

We're still sitting in the midst of a computer crisis so we'll not be able to watch A Hard Day's Night on Netflix Instant (tonight) but you can. Also, the National Museums Liverpool has a fun page, The Beatles Games. The big daddy of the sites is, of course, The Beatles. Have fun & have a great weekend!

ciao-meow/GGCM

(The Quarry Men by Mike McCartney)

Have a Cozy Weekend

Our weekend plans are in flux at the moment, hence the delay in posting. But one thing is for sure: we plan to keep warm & chase the cat! (There are many links on here & on bricolage for you to read.) Or join GG's editor on Twitter. Maybe it's time you joined, eh?

ciao-meow/GGCM

(lovely photograph by Le Portillon)