Hello friends!
Here’s my current situation: I’m laid up on the couch with a nasty cold. I’ve talked Beau into recreating the breakfast we ate over and over at our favorite coffee shop in Paris: softly scrambled eggs with black pepper and chives, buttered toast and a cortado (which is ever-so-adorably called a noisette, or “hazelnut”, in French). So I’m nursing my noisette and trying not to be too grumpy about being home.
I am happy to be back in our little house, snuggle my cat and see friends. But other than that I'm sort of hating the transition back to Seattle life: grey skies, having to drive everywhere, feeling isolated working from home, bills. I posted this sentiment on Instagram yesterday and received a ton of wonderful advice on how to get over my Seattle blues: jazz on the stereo, candles, nature walks, a trip to Coyle’s Bakeshop for pastries, and (because this is Seattle) lots of coffee.
I’m taking this advice to heart. I plan to give each suggestion a go. I especially liked the recommendations to get “an insanely cozy pair of fuzzy socks (even if they're ugly as hell)” and to head to the butterfly exhibit at the Seattle Center for a dose of pretty.
In the meantime, I decided to spend the morning editing photos I took during our trip to France and Portugal. First of all, for some strange reason I love photo-editing and it always puts me in a good mood. Also, this trip was an especially good one. I’m not exactly sure why. It might have had something to do with how much I liked everyone who came on the Paris culinary tour. Or it might have been the fact that Beau was with me for almost the entire trip. It might have been spending an evening at the beach in Portugal with friends watching an especially stunning sunset. Or perhaps the week Beau and I spent rambling through olive and oak groves in the Portuguese countryside, stopping at tiny villages to sample local specialties.
Whatever the reason, looking back at all the beautiful places we visited over the last month and sharing them with all of you is brightening my spirits already.
I’ll be back soon with some new recipes for you. Until then, I hope you enjoy these photos from Paris and Portugal!
XO,
Olaiya
