bananas...

that's what my life has been lately.  bananas.  well, my work life, anyway.  it was tiring me out!   that is the main reason i decided to give up sugar for a while and i must admit that, two weeks in, i feel better.  significantly less bone tired, less...spent.  i expected i would be cranky for a week or so as i adjusted to life without regular doses of mini Hershey® bars, but i am beginning to suspect that being a little miss crankypants is just an unfortunate aspect of my personality.  then again, in my own defense, i'm not entirely convinced that i'm not surrounded by these:

so.  tgif.  i hope your weekend is lovely.

tgif: orange

hey, it's friday already!  and, paradoxically, it's friday at long last.  this week was both tedious and fleeting and, ultimately, just plain exhausting.

so, in the spirit of the summer weekend, this week's tgif color is orange.  it's warm and happy and, among other things, orange represents enthusiasm, creativity, and attraction.  it also stimulates the appetite.  yeah, that would explain the po' boy, side of hushpuppies, and the spicy espresso chocolate bar that a couple of these photographs recall.

whether you toss the sunblock and a blanket into your favorite blue-striped, crab-adorned tote and head to the beach or visit a local museum to see an incredible collection of prehistoric wolf skulls, i hope you make the most of your weekend. (i plan to.)  may it energize and delight you and leave you hungry for more!

tgif: white

this week, i love the idea of white for the usual friday tgif theme.  it's crisp, elegant, summery.  it's also, based on my photographic documentation at least, sometimes quite sweet.  i am inspired to try to replicate those pillowy café du monde beignets in the last photo and am considering this recipe.  or, one could buy the mix (i won't tell if you don't).  note to self: stock up on confectioners' sugar.

thank you and welcome to my new visitors this week, too.  happy weekend, all!

tgif: beachy blues and greens

from a recent afternoon visit to the beach: a walk on the pier, an ocean the color of sea glass, a mosaic water wall, beach cruisers in happy jewel tones, and the aftermath of a lovely lunch featuring minty green tables.

bon weekend à tous!

tgif: purple

the jacarandas have dropped all their gorgeous purple buds, june is over, and suddenly, it seems like summer is really here.  could have something to do with the fact that i have been on vacation for the past week, traipsing all over LA with visiting family, and eating myself silly.  oh, and i may have had a glass of wine or two...

well, cheers to that!  see you next week.

tgif: pink

early-morning sky from my hotel room. new orleans, april 2011.

oh, the practical applications of masking tape.  at work.

hello kitty, 4 euro.  lyon, april 2011.

hot pink vespa!  (note the pink piping on the seat.)  french chic at its finest, non?

tgif: red

while i won't be visiting the eiffel tower this weekend, or eating lobstahs in boston, i will be giving some thought to a trip i am  planning for later this spring.  closer to home, there will be a visit to the farmers market, which is sure to inspire some serious cookbook perusal.

happy weekend!