Have an inspiring weekend.

What are your plans for this weekend? We're flying to Chicago tonight (Toby is out of his mind excited for the plane) and are looking forward to hot dogs and ferris wheels. (And wouldn't these be cool at the beach?)

Next week, I'm thrilled to be featuring a second work/baby/life balance series. The first series was about mothers who work freelance, but now we'll focus on mothers who work full time in office jobs. The amazing women will share how they try to juggle everything, from babysitters and bedtimes to meetings and marriage. The interviews were fascinating, and I can't wait to discuss them with you.

Finally, this week's round-up is all about Nora Ephron (1941-2012), who was such a talent and inspiration. In her books and movies, she really captured the voice of a certain type of young woman--neurotic, imperfect, complex, loving. Everyone sees themselves in Nora, and she's the kind of person that you want as a best friend (and mentor). She will be missed...

"I have a theory that children remember two things—when you weren't there and when they threw up." –Nora Ephron.

What she will and won't miss.

Her most recent book, which I ordered immediately. (I loved her other books--Heartburn, I Feel Bad About My Neck...)

14 photos.

Funny wisdom.

Why you shouldn't be a lady.

“And then the dreams break into a million tiny pieces. The dream dies. Which leaves you with a choice: you can settle for reality, or you can go off, like a fool, and dream another dream.” –Nora Ephron.

Tom Hanks remembers Nora. (Love the last paragraph.)

Nora writes about her love affair with her Upper West Side apartment.

10 great movie lines.

How to live life to the fullest.

"Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." –Nora Ephron.

(Photograph by Linda Nylind for the Guardian)

Wes Anderson movies

Our friends saw Wes Anderson's new movie Moonrise Kingdom this week and said it was wonderful. (It has also been getting rave reviews.) Have you seen it yet? But my favorite Wes Anderson film was...
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First Position

First Position is a new ballet documentary that follows six young dancers on their way to one of the world's most prestigious youth ballet competitions. The ballet world, although beautiful, can be so brutal. It's amazing how hard even the youngest children work! Have you ever danced? Will you see it?

P.S. More ballet, and documentaries...

HBO's new show: Girls

This Sunday, HBO will premiere the new show Girls, about four broke twentysomethings trying to make their way in New York. Written, directed and starred in by Lena Dunham, and produced by Judd Apatow, Girls is "is a much scruffier show" than Sex & the City, says USA Today. I love that frank, funny, real girls are given a voice here, and the critics have been going crazy for it. Here's the trailer... Will you be watching on Sunday?

Our Weekend, on a Monday

Yesterday was about all things Easter, but the rest of the weekend was pretty awesome too. I know this is going to come across as sounding really silly...but once this time of the year rolls around I start to feel so ALIVE. Like "Sound of Music" singing in the hills alive. Not even kidding. I react a bit to seasonal changes, so as soon as it warms up and we're able to spend more time outdoors I always feel happier. Pair that with being sick for a couple of weeks and now feeling better, and then my wisdom teeth being done and over with, I'm positively giddy about just enjoying every day.



My weekend started early this week and on Thursday night Adie and I went and saw Titanic in 3D. It was magnificent. Really and truly. I'm already so in love with Leo and Kate, but to see them together once more on the big screen, and to experience one of my favorite movies in 3D was way too awesome. There were a lot of teenagers in there and Adie and I couldn't help but wonder if this was the first time they'd ever seen it, and if they thought it was beautiful or cheesy. I was so tempted to stop a group and ask them, but didn't want to be a weird stranger over-enthusiastically asking questions so I held back. ;)



Friday morning Henry and I met two friends and their little ones for a downtown stroll. It was such a good time and so nice to spend the morning chit chatting while getting in some exercise too! Afterward Adie came over and we hung out all day, and later that night we all met the Peters' family who was in town for the evening and had our usual Mexican food fest at Hugo's. After dinner I rolled our overly-full selves home, put Henry to sleep, and went to bed early myself while Hank went out for a wild night with his friends! It's funny to me because although he doesn't drink, his friends do, so he always has the best stories and memories from their nights out. It was our friend Dustin's 29th and as usual, craziness ensued, and I had a good time hearing all the details the next day.






Saturday morning I got up and met my friend for a 90 minute hot yoga class at a local studio I hadn't tried yet and ended up LOVING it. It's exactly what I was hoping to find, and I was really, really surprised. Later on I got to have a little afternoon date with Hank thanks to my in-laws. We finally saw The Hunger Games (see my excited pre-movie photo below), and we both ended up really, really loving it. I've read all the books but Hank had no idea what it was even about, and we both said "wow" at the end and truly enjoyed it. I thought it was so well-done and I am anxiously awaiting the next one. The rest of the day was spent running errands- Target and Trader Joe's- and it was another early night!





This weekend was just what I needed to snap me out of this weird mood I've been carrying around with me. I'd call it a funk but it was a bit deeper than that, so I am extra grateful I was able to spend time with so many people I love. That's always the thing that helps me the most when I feel down- I have to get out of the little box I'm in and remember that there's a whole world out there, a bigger picture, so many more important things to focus on.  I hope you had a great weekend too! And if you didn't, luckily there's another one right around the corner. <3

Ballet dancers in super slow motion

Have you seen this video? Two dancers from Staatsballett Berlin are shown in slow motion at 1000 frames per second, to the song Radiohead's Everything in Its Right Place. I actually danced ballet in junior high and high school, and it's a super precise athletic endeavor that's a million times harder than it looks. (Plus, the teachers are terrifying!) Bravo, beautiful dancers! xoxo

(Via Swissmiss)

Funny movie

Have you seen the trailer for Jeff, Who Lives At Home? Looking forward to watching it, and maybe sneaking in a pizza or giant burrito. (What do you sneak into the movies? My friends take mini bottles of wine!)

Sh*t Liz Lemon Says

This video made me laugh out loud.

(My only question is, what about "nerds!")

Wine documentary

This soon-to-be-released documentary looks amazing: Somm is the story of four sommeliers attempting to pass the Master Sommelier exam, a grueling test with one of the lowest pass rates in the world. The exam covers literally anything having to do with wine, including history, geography and blind tastings. The four guys, who have been preparing for years, say that they're truly obsessed, and you can feel their athlete-like tension on the screen. What a fascinating peek into a competitive, high-brow world that most people never see. Would you watch this?

P.S. The 10 best documentaries, and the dos and don'ts of drinking wine.

(Thanks, Michelle)

Happy Monday to ME!

I woke up, and thanks to a few of my Facebook friends, noticed that there was a new Hunger Games trailer available to watch. And unlike the first one that barely showed anything, this one sheds light on so much, and so many characters. I am beyond excited for this, and from what I can tell, it's going to be absolutely amazing.

I read the first Hunger Games book a few years ago and since then I've persuaded almost everyone in my life to read all three of them, including most of my students. I'm such a book-pusher.

Let me know what you think! Happy Monday!