Call me a lobster snob, that’s fine. I’ve from Maine, I’m lobster spoiled. I get it. But trust me, I’m not above eating a random lobster roll from a fast food sub shop in Boston. Nope.

Late Sunday night I had some me time, with my DVR, a cold beer and of course, some nail polish. I was going back and forth between a few of my favorite shades of pink, and landed on Enuf is Enuf by Essie. The color is a little bit pink, and a little bit red. Not a true orange, but not really a coral either.

However you describe the shade, I’ve decided that the Enuf is Enuf color by Essie is the perfect way to welcome the month of May. Here are a few other pieces I rounded up that will give your month a little burst of summery brightness. 1. Corin dress in Outrageous Pink (similar) / 2. Coral coasts top / 3. Rag and Bone Skinny Jeans (similar) / 4. Exploded Katie Bracelet, Marc by Marc Jacobs / 5. Baublebox Bib Necklace, Kate Spade / 6. Baublebox Clip Earrings, Kate Spade / 7. Dotz Bib Necklace, Kate Spade

I don’t know when or where I purchased this color, called Enuf is Enuf by Essie. And to be honest I don’t know that I’ve ever worn it. But come on, that must be a lie. Because just look at this color! It’s amazing.

Perhaps my new favorite polish color. What do you think?

We followed Joanna’s rule and met after work. We didn’t meet at the apartment, we didn’t get ready together. We didn’t take the T in town together.

It was date night last night. I worked all day, and went straight to the restaurant. Although technically he knew what I was wearing – because he was awake as I left the house in the morning, I didn’t know he’d be dressed in his fancy jeans. I didn’t know he would be wearing a collared shirt underneath my favorite blue sweater. I didn’t know he’d put on his new shoes.

We met at the restaurant for our date night. It was  a semi al fresco, Mexican tequila bar in downtown Boston.  The grin on my face as I crossed North Street and saw him standing on the corner… well it reminded me of when we first started dating. Just like Joanna said it would. I saw him dressed in his fancy jeans, wearing his new shoes and the sweater I love so much, and my stomach flip flopped as I crossed the street.

We ordered a pitcher of sangria and both laughed when it was delivered to our table. Far too large for two, yet we finished the whole damn thing. We split an appetizer and shared two entrees. We even decided to go for a dessert. After dinner we walked slowly through Quincy Market. Admired the Christmas lights, still strung through the trees overhead. We took the T a few stops out, did some quick shopping for an upcoming birthday, and rode the T home together. Back to our home.

We talked more last night than we had in weeks. We talked and laughed and connected in a way that’s been missing for a long time.

I like to think we live in a sweet-as-can-be neighborhood. It’s where city life meets quiet neighborhood. A little bit Boston, but technically Brookline. There are brownstones on one block, family homes with driveways and backyards on the next. The T runs directly to our apartment’s left, while an old stone church sits quietly on a grass lot to our right. There are restaurants, markets, convenient stores. Boutiques, coffee shops and nail salons.

But you know what’s even better? We live a square away from Kenmore and Fenway. So this is what we get to see on our morning strolls.

Now someone tell me about where you live. What things are in your neighborhood? What are your daily sights?

The past week was mentally exhausting, and physically draining. Multiple days spent home from work, sick on the couch and laid up in bed. Migraines, prolonged fatigue, new prescriptions. After too much time spent at the doctor, everyone in my support system came to the same conclusion. The doctors, my parents, my sister, my boyfriend. Everyone says I need more sleep and less stress. I need to add vitamins, add water, add protein. I need to decompress after work. I need to shut off at night. I need to relax on the weekend. And most importantly, I need to add fresh air and exercise to my life. So, this morning we woke up early and went for a long, long walk. And it felt… glorious.

I couldn’t help but come back and share one more photo with you from my trip to Brooklyn and New York City last weekend.

I already shared with you some of my favorite activities. How we brunched with champagne and people watched at the Smorgasburg, a Brooklyn flea market on Saturday morning. All of our delicious meals, from pizza at Otto to tapas at Tapeo 29, and to die for selection of drinks. Hello, half margarita half beer.

But there’s more. The bikes. Look at these bikes. And the hipsters, people. The hipster stereotype is no lie, and let me tell you, it’s the cutest, most fascinating stereotype I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Being in Brooklyn made me want to do a lot of things, like move to New York and have rooftop dinners and wear hipster eye glasses with hipster sneakers. But more than anything, it made me want a bike.

Despite having a fabulous weekend with friends in New York, my body was beyond thrilled to return home to my normal routine in Boston. For starters, I am not meant to stay awake until 4am every night! No. No, no, no. I need my sleep, thank you very much. But more importantly, my stomach was screaming to go home.

Here’s the thing. About 3 weeks ago the boyf and I decided to try a modified Paleo diet. Modified mostly because I’m a vegetarian, and I felt like I was being stripped of all my existing options for protein. And modified also because hey, we’re just being realistic here, and neither of us are known for our self-discipline.

Instead of following the Paleo diet exactly as is, we decided to (try our best to) follow these instructions:

• Eat foods that could be hunted, fished, or gathered back in the day (cavemen days, yo).
• This includes things like meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, tree nuts, vegetables, roots, fruits, and berries.
• Cut out all dairy.
• No more grains, sugars, legumes, potatoes, processed oils…
• Do you get the gist?

It’s only been 3 weeks, but I like where this is going. We buy fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, eggs, meat (for him), and then more fruits and even more vegetables. We’re thinking if we don’t stock the house with shit, we won’t eat it. No granola bars, no chips, no crackers, no bread. There’s no yogurt or milk in the refrigerator, or anything that comes in a package really. For breakfast I eat eggs or fruit. For lunch I eat whole vegetables and whole fruit. I snack on nuts and fruit. I try not to get to particular about whether the food is “allowed” or not, because as it turns out the rules are kind of confusing. Like why can’t I eat beans? Or corn? It’s easier to just look at a piece of food and ask – is this a good, whole piece of food item or has it been wildly processed?

I feel kind of like a little animal. Well, a non-meat eating animal I suppose. But my body loves it. I feel better. I have more energy, and things are moving smoothly, if you know what I mean. And in the end, that’s all that matters.

So when I go away for a weekend with friends, and eat and drink whatever I want to… especially cheese, and more cheese, and then more dairy, I don’t feel guilty. Because why should I? But I will say that my body is not too appreciative. So here we are, back in Boston and back on track.

Has anyone else tried the Paleo diet? Tell me what you eat! Please! I’d love to get some good recipes, ideas and even blogs to follow.

Growing up in Maine, my bedroom windows overlooked our front yard, the street, and one our flower gardens. And in the summer, when I was allowed to fall asleep with my windows wide open, my dad would sit in bed with me for what felt like hours. We’d talk about my day and read books and stare out the window counting the stars. He’d point out constellations and we’d watch for neighbors walking by. We’d get real quiet as they passed our driveway, and be able to hear bits and pieces of their conversations. I’d fall asleep to the sound of squealing crickets and neighbors taking family walks. And each morning I’d wake to the sound of birds and the smell of fresh flowers.

I think I always thought that smell, the one that takes me back to those summer mornings was from my parents’ hydrangea plant. I think I would have bet my life on it, until last week when I brought home a few bouquets of hycinths. It’s clear as day, now. My entire apartment smells like my childhood summers. And I love it.

I have a small vase on my bedside table, and another on the boyfriend’s side of the bed. I have a glass in the bathroom, and one more in our living room office. I can smell them from the hallway and the second I walk through the front door and I don’t ever want these flowers to die! If I could wake up every morning to the smell of fresh hycinths, I would be one very, happy gal.

Do you guys have a similar story? A childhood memory that you can’t let go? Or a favorite flower with a special meaning?

After Friday night in Brooklyn, we spent the rest of the weekend brunching and shopping and hanging with friends. Saturday night we met a group of ladies for dinner and drinks at Tapeo 29 and bar hopped around the Lower East Side until an hour far past my bedtime. We woke up on the Upper East Side to coffee and fresh bagels and before we knew it, it was time to hit the road.

Five hours of driving in torrential downpours later, and I found myself back in Boston. Cold and exhausted with a headache to show for the time in the city.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the weekend.

Aside from catching up with old friends, one of my favorite parts of the weekend was roaming around the Smorgasburg market in Williamsburg. New York friends, how did you keep this jewel from me for so long? The place was a food lover’s paradise. Also great for people and baby watching, and even better for photographing. All around jem that I can’t believe I’ve missed before.

What’s your favorite part of New York City and Brooklyn?