Of the moment // 3.11.16
One of the reasons why I blog is simply to have the space to write: getting things “on paper” helps me to process my feelings and organize my thoughts. I also love having a record of my life over the past few years: a place that holds all of my stories, my photos, the ups and downs of travel. But sometimes, I also just want to remember and share the little things that brought me day-to-day joy. Every Friday, I’ll give you a peek into the book I currently can’t put down, a great restaurant discovery, a fun new product or an inspiring quote: a few things that I think you might enjoy before we all take off into the glory that is the weekend! 
Spring has arrived in New York City! Sunshine, 70 degrees and the start of seasonal allergies HOORAY. I almost always mistake my first round of allergies for a cold: I load up on meds and can’t stop sneezing or blowing my nose, but generally feel fine. And then I realize it’s not a cold: it’s just my body reacting to that first wonderful bit of pollen in the air. That said, here’s to loading up on Claritin, dousing myself in Purell, and swapping boots for sandals: I’m so very ready for a new season!
New York City
This week, I had my “small group outing” at work: essentially, Vimeo puts together a fun evening activity for a group of people who don’t work directly with each other. Last year, we did Escape the Room (which I highly recommend for not only coworkers but also groups of friends!), and this year, we did a Museum Hack tour of Fraunces Tavern Museum. It’s supposedly the oldest building in all of New York City, and the spot where George Washington planned the American Revolution, NBD. You can also see one of George Washington’s teeth and a lock of his hair, which is tres bizarre but also weirdly fascinating. It was a fun night that included beer and plenty of quirky history facts (two of my very favorite things). p.s. Vimeo is hiring if you feel like this sort of work extracurricular is up your alley!
Listens
I’m still figuring out my podcast preferences and listening habits–aka I go on binges and then don’t listen to any for a while–but I’ve really been enjoying Sounds Good with Branden Harvey. In addition to being a talented photographer, Branden is one of the most positive people on the internet. Now he has a weekly podcast where he talks to other talented and happy people about how they remain so upbeat: it’s an interesting listen, and I’ve taken away a few good nuggets on positivity and productivity.
Reads
As a break between books, I occasionally like to dive into a glossy magazine: Vanity Fair is one of my favorites. There’s a good mix of longer form articles, pretty pictures and conversational snippets. This month’s issue had a fantastic piece on a group of senior citizen criminals, and I especially like this older piece on Joan Didion. Side note: nothing better than a mug of malted hot chocolate with a shot of whiskey to end an evening.
Words
“Feminism is the ability to choose what you want to do.” -Nancy Reagan
This weekend, I’m in Quebec City! I’m super excited to explore the old walled city, go dog-sledding and splurge on a spa day. Follow along on Instagram and Snapchat (cestchristine) for real-time updates!
