MARCELLA HAZAN'S TOMATO SAUCE.

Last fall, I had the pleasure of hanging out with the legendary—and lovely—Italian chef Marcella Hazan and her family for an article I was writing for work. We spent most of the day outside, and it was perfect—the weather had just turned from hot to warm, breezy and lovely, and since the article was about Marcella's son Giuliano's newest cookbook, there was tons of delicious food on hand. One of my favorite sound bites from the entire day was Marcella saying, "I don't drink—except Jack Daniels." That is a direct quote. What an awesome lady.

Anyway, I am not Italian—I am 100 percent Irish, in fact—but I am a great lover of Italian food, both the kind that you order at restaurants and the kind you make at home. And Marcella Hazan's tomato sauce is seriously the best, simplest marinara I've ever made. Would you believe me if I told you there's only three ingredients? That's right: Three. And one of them is butter. How can that be bad?

I haven't made this sauce in awhile, for some reason—which is strange, because it keeps beautifully and you can easily freeze it—but I was reminded of it while doing some meal-planning this week. ACS is in town for the week, and one of our favorite things to do is make homemade pizza; we typically use store-bought sauce, but I think homemade sauce would make the pizza way better. I'm also making Ina Garten's fantastic spicy turkey meatballs, which are perfect with tomato sauce and pasta (maybe this homemade pasta, in fact!). So yes, this sauce is a multitasker, as well.

Would you like me to shut up and give you the recipe now? Yes? OK, I will. Here you go:

Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce

1 (28-oz.) can San Marzano tomatoes
5 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, cut in half and peeled
Salt, as needed

Combine the tomatoes (including their juices), butter, onion and a pinch of salt in a medium-sized pot over medium heat; bring to a simmer. Continue to cook, uncovered, at a slow, steady simmer for about 45 minutes, or until droplets of fat float free of the tomatoes. Stir occasionally, crushing the tomatoes against the side of a pot with a wooden spoon. (I do this quite a bit because I'm not a huge fan of chunky sauces.) Taste and salt as needed. Serve with the dish of your choice and lots of grated parmesan cheese for passing, if you are so inclined (I am).

Photo via

How to write letters.

File this one under the "love" category: How to Write Letters is a “manual of correspondence, showing the correct structure, composition, punctuation, formalities, and uses of the various kinds of Letters, Notes and Cards,” penned by J. Willis Westlake in 1876. I discovered this via the wonderful Brain Pickings, which is a site you should totally bookmark if you haven't already. There are tons of great excerpts from the book in Maria Popova's article on Brain Pickings, but here's my favorite:

"Take pains; write as plainly and neatly as possible—rapidly if you can, slowly if you must. Good writing affects us sympathetically, giving us a higher appreciation both of what is written and of the person who wrote it. Don’t say, I haven’t time to be so particular. Take time; or else write fewer letters and shorter ones. A neat well-worded letter of one page once a month is better than a slovenly scrawl of four pages once a week. In fact, bad letters are like store bills: the fewer and the shorter they are, the better pleased is the recipient."

In an era where we fire off emails, tweets, texts and Facebook posts without a second thought,  this makes me want to sit down with some of my favorite notecards and pen a handwritten note to all my friends. In fact, I just might do that. And I think that's a good thing.

Photo: My own. A few weeks ago, when I was at my parents', we were going through some old papers of my grandparents' and found a bunch of my grandfather's—my mom's dad's—old letters. I love them. 

Lemur love.

Every so often, I think that I want to leave Sarasota and go live somewhere completely different (like, hello, San Diego). I've lived in Florida my entire life and sometimes the urge for a change of scenery is so strong that I actually start to research other cities, trying to figure out what it would be like to live in one of them.

But then Sarasota surprises me with something like a stunning sunset, a perfect 75-degree day or an experience that you can't have anywhere else. Case in point: The Lemur Conservation Foundation lemur reserve in Myakka City, just a short drive from where I live. A few months ago, my boss and I were invited to take a tour of the facility and meet the lemurs living there, who are are in serious danger of going extinct thanks to the turmoil in their native Madagascar. It was one of the most unique (and uniquely Sarasota) experiences I've ever had, and really special since the reserve isn't open to the public. And surprise: Turns out, I love lemurs. They're laid-back but curious little creatures, and when we ventured out into the woods where they live, many of them came right up to us and some of them even tried to paw through our purses.

The entire experience was unforgettable, and it led to this story in our September issue, written by one of our regular contributors (who, side note, is also the author of a great book about coming of age in New York called The Frog King). The piece is a must-read, and if the last few paragraphs don't make you cry—or at least well up—well, then, you're dead to me. Also, the photography, by Kim Longstreet, is amazing; the little lemurs and their personalities are captured so vividly. I'm really proud of the quality of work our magazine produces and I think this piece is a fine example of it. If you read it, I hope you really enjoy it.

Photography by Kim Longstreet for Sarasota magazine

Ruby Sparks.

Ruby Sparks was one of those films I wanted to see in theaters, but I never got around to it. So I was excited when I saw that it was on TV the other night, and I'm really glad I finally watched it. The film is about a writer—Calvin (played by Paul Dano)—whose dream girl, Ruby (Zoe Kazan, who also wrote the screenplay), a woman he invented while working on his book, comes to life. The result is romantic, smart, touching and very funny, and if you haven't watched it, I highly encourage you to do so.

P.S. My favorite quote from the movie: "One may read this and think it's magic, but falling in love is an act of magic, and so is writing." Amen.

What are you doing this weekend?

This past week, a friend reminded me of my old LiveJournal, the web log I kept all throughout college. Reading it was hilarious—a total walk down memory lane that was riddled with both hysterical laughter and cringes (oh, that early-20s angst; oh, song lyrics galore).

It's funny how I remember almost everything I wrote about, though—from the school papers I was working on to the late-night IM conversations with friends; the sad times (my beloved uncle's passing) and the happy ones (graduation and my first "real" job). I also discovered that I tended to be a bit more creative in my writing style back in the day, something I kind of miss. Working at a magazine, particularly as an editor, will certainly force you to write more clearly and succinctly—a good thing—but there's something to be said for a long, semicolon-laden, Virginia Woolfian sentence, too. Hm. Maybe I should start telling more stories here...

Anyway, what are you up to this weekend? I'm finally feeling almost 100 percent back to normal again, and tomorrow I'm planning to take a trip out east to a new-to-me farmer's market I've been wanting to go to for months. The drive out is gorgeous—all green farmland—so I'm going to try to stop and take some pictures, as well. I'll share them here next week if they turn out.

Have a wonderful few days—and enjoy those extra minutes of golden summer sunlight the solstice is giving us tonight!—and I'll see you back here Monday. xoxo

Photo: My own, of a beautiful butterfly that was fluttering at my parents' house last weekend...and we all know how I feel about them.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! How were your weeks? After last week's seven days of celebrations, this week was spent readjusting to my normal routine and thinking about what's coming up next (travel plans and the like) and the goals I have for myself as we move into summer (more on those soon). And as far as this weekend goes, I'm taking a little trip to Central Florida on Saturday, but other than that there's nothing on the docket and I couldn't be happier. How about you? What are you up to?

If you're in the mood for some reading this weekend, here are three fun links:

This story—about a couple who got married after walking by each other for years on the street in New York City—is fantastic; a total heartwarmer. I loved it. (The whole Urban Gardener series is wonderful, in fact.)

Google's NYC offices have secret rooms (!) hidden behind bookcase doors that swing open (!!). As someone who grew up reading tons of Nancy Drew, this information makes me so happy.

I admit it: I'm a crazy cat lady. So I loved reading about this new book, and I particularly loved this quote: "You can never know your cat. In fact, you can never know anyone as completely as you want. But that's OK, love is better."

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here Monday. xoxo

Photo: Oscar and Zadie, my two fluffsters. I couldn't make a crazy cat lady reference without including a photo of them. 

A thought for Thursday.

Love this. So true.

Happy Thursday, friends. xoxo

Photo: Kelly Cummings/The Year of Lettering

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends—it's the weekend, yay! As you read this, I am likely prepping to interview Dylan McDermott (total pinch-me moment), which is really exciting to me, not going to lie. He's so cute!

And after Dylan, I'll be heading home to begin the Great Bakefest of 2013 for my BFF Kate's bridal shower, which is Sunday (you can see the menu here). I'll try to remember to post pics of the treats and the shower here next week, and you can follow along on Instagram, too, as I'm sure I'll be documenting the progress there. (My handle is pinkoclock.)

What are your plans for the weekend? Tell me—and if you're looking for something to read, here are three great links:

How Jenna Lyons transformed J.Crew into a cult brand. Love J.Crew, love Jenna Lyons, loved reading this.

The Time 100. Always one of my favorite reads of the year.

On a much more serious note, you should read this op-ed by Gabby Giffords. Really moving.

And there was a mixed bag of posts here this week, too, in case you missed any: Words to remember, hopeful thoughts for Boston, the dessert menu for this weekend's bridal shower, Rita Konig's amazing NYC apartment and thoughts on being assertive.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

P.S. Despite the fact that I'm having a really good week, particularly in terms of work opportunities, and posting happy things here, I'm well-aware that it's been a terribly sad week for the U.S.—especially for those in Boston and Texas, of course, but also all of those who are as disappointed as I am in what happened with the gun-control legislation. Let's all hug our loved ones—friends, family, pets—a little tighter this weekend, yes? xoxo

Photo: Pacific Coast Highway; credit unknown.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends. How were your weeks? What are your plans for the weekend? I had a really good week: I was productive at work and at home, I did a lot of yoga and spin, and this weekend I get to see one of my best friends from college—and we're going to our favorite college-town coffee shop/hangout, too. Hooray, nostalgia! It should be fun.

Oh, and if you're in a reading mood this weekend, here are a couple of links for you:

I was so sad to hear about the death of the remarkable Roger Ebert. This essay, "Roger Loves Chaz," is wonderful. (via Hannah)

I'm heading to San Diego this summer, so "36 Hours in San Diego" is right up my alley. (PS: Any travel tips are much appreciated!)

"Why I Left News": I tweeted this a week or so ago, but it's stuck with me. Even though I don't work at a daily, I can relate to at least some of what Allyson writes. Powerful and thought-provoking and a little scary (especially if you're in media).

And in honor of Mad Men returning this Sunday (yay, yay!), I loved this interview with costume designer Janie Bryant.

And from earlier this week: April flowers for you; the best local honey I've tasted; on being kind to ourselves; and books I've recently read and loved. (Thanks for all your wonderful comments, too!)

See you back here Monday!

Snowy egret photo, snapped on Sarasota's South Lido Beach, by Matt Cattell. I love this feathery little guy.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! What are you doing this weekend? I'm--wait for it--giving my apartment a major scrubdown. And it has to be done this weekend, because ACS is coming next week and I would like for him to be able to find a place to sit that's not covered in clothes, shoes or cat hair, so there's no excuse. If you need me, I'll be holding onto my Swiffer and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for dear life. (Of course there will be other activities, too, but this is the big one...sigh.)

Anyway, what are your plans for the weekend? If you're looking for some good reading material, here are three really great links:

Nora Ephron's Final Act. If you're an Ephron fan, like I am, this piece--written by her son, Jacob Bernstein--is a must-read. Warning: You may tear up a bit. (The New York Times)

I got to hear Clint Hill, Secret Service agent for Jackie Kennedy and the man who jumped on the back of JFK's convertible after he was shot in Dallas, speak this week in Sarasota, and it was incredibly moving. So I really loved reading this profile of Jackie's sister, Lee Radziwill, in T magazine. Make sure you watch the video footage shot by Sofia Coppola. (T magazine)

And these DesignLoveFest photos really stuck with me this week; I can't get enough of the flowers. So bright and beautiful. (DesignLoveFest)

And in case you missed anything here this week: The perfect spring sandals, delicious two-ingredient (!) healthy cookies, my ideal day and a magical dinner at King Family Farm.

Have a wonderful few days and I'll see you on Monday! xoxo

Photo by Francois Halard for The New York Times

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, everyone! My mom and I are in Charleston for the weekend, so this'll be a quick post, but expect lots of pictures from the trip next week.

How were your weeks? I hope they were fantastic. Oh, and if you need some reading material, here are three fun links from around the web:

Shameless plug: I wrote an article about how to plan an over-the-top party for our February issue, if you'd like to read it... (Sarasota magazine)

So interesting: What 13 people wore for an interview with Anna Wintour (one spent more than $5,000!). This is fascinating to me. (NY Mag's The Cut)

I am loving Jessica Dang's Single Girl Dinner blog. (This post, in particular, is so sweet and poignant.) Such a fun one. (Single Girl Dinner)

And bonus: The video above made my week. We can all use a little pep talk, right? Thanks, Kid President.

See you back here on Monday.

P.S. Happy February! xoxo

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday, friends! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm heading north tonight for a little last-minute getaway with ACS, and I'm really looking forward to it since January's shaping up to be a busy month so far (which, truthfully, is just how I like it). We're going to one of my favorite spots in Florida, so I'll be sure to post pictures on Instagram, if you'd like to follow along.

And if you're in the mood for some reading, here are three links from around the web for you:

Shameless self-promotion: I interviewed Walter Isaacson (he of the Steve Jobs biography, but also so much more) for work this week, and he was so great to talk with; his resume is amazing. (Sarasota magazine)

The Apartment Therapy "January Cure" has me intrigued, especially since one of my 2013/before-I-turn-30 goals is to get my house in shape. Are any of you doing it? Thoughts so far? (Apartment Therapy)

A place where (300 and counting) cats run free, and the sweet story of one woman's unconditional love for animals. (The New York Times)

Have a happy January weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday! xoxo

Photo: My own. Coasters from Rifle Paper Co., monogrammed mug (my favorite) from Anthroplogie.

What are you doing this weekend?

Happy Friday! What are your plans for the weekend? I'm going to a wine tasting tonight (not complaining!) and then tomorrow I'm heading out of town to meet ACS for a weekend of relaxation. We're staying in a hotel, which is one of my favorite things ever—something about the big beds and tiny shampoo bottles makes me really happy. How about you? What are your plans?

And if you need some weekend reading, here are three things I've read lately that I want to share (I'm going to try to do this every week—share three long-ish articles that I've read recently—and maybe you'll share some with me, too, in the comments?):

A great profile of the awesome Mindy Kaling. Are you watching The Mindy Project? (NY mag)

Online ethics. And this post, too. (Le Projet D'Amour)

What the wife of a Ponzi schemer knew—or didn't know. (Sarasota magazine)

Plus, a bonus: This one's making the rounds, but it's worth a read: Scientology, Tom Cruise...and Katie Holmes. I find Scientology fascinating. Kind of terrifying, but fascinating. (Vanity Fair)

P.S. If you're reading this post in Google reader or the like, pop on over to the blog itself—I gave it a little makeover and I'm pretty happy with the results. The pink, the polka dots...it just feels more like me, you know? (Plus I totally took inspiration from this fruit. No, seriously.)

Have a great weekend!

Photo of Mindy Kaling by Zachary Scott for New York magazine.

Things I realized while traveling last week.

Things I realized while traveling last week:

I could never live far from the ocean. (Nighttime walks on the beach reinforced that. Why don't I do that more here?)

That said, South Florida (i.e., Fort Lauderdale, Miami, etc.) is not for me. It's just...too much. Sarasota all the way.

Nothing beats wine on a patio overlooking the ocean. (Especially when it's complimentary wine.)

The Internet is truly The Great Connector. I've now been introduced to two real-life friends via Twitter (hi, Megan and Ashley!).

Staying in a hotel is so much fun, no matter how old you are. (Bonus points if your hotel room has a balcony overlooking the hotel pool and the Atlantic Ocean.)

I am perfectly capable of and happy to enjoy a meal alone. I still can't do it without having my phone/some reading material on me, but—like going to the movies by myself—I even kinda prefer it sometimes.

I absolutely, 100 percent chose the right career for me. This really hit home when I was listening to Pulitzer Prize-winning author/journalist Rick Bragg speak on Friday morning—I'm so glad I have a job that allows me to do that. (P.S., a tip for writers from Bragg himself, about writing with color: "The thing I've learned in my old age is that simple and powerful is probably better.")

Coming home from a few days of travel, especially when it's to your cozy apartment, soft bed and two happy, fluffy cats, may just be the best part of it all.

Photo: My own.