This time of year always makes me think of my life icon, Julia Child (Julie & Julia is available on Netflix and My Life in France is a must-read, as is the follow-up, The French Chef in America). — This time of year always makes me think of my life icon, Julia Child (*Julie & Julia* is available on Netflix and *My Life in France* is a must-read, as is the follow-up, *The French Chef in America*).

Things that happened recently:

Our toddler-in-chief has been a bad mood lately, and honestly it’s the first relatable thing about him.

Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, was released this week, and everyone at Penguin Random House received a free copy so I’ve added it to my never-ending to-read list. This video of Ellen bothering Michelle while she signs books at a Costco made me LOL (“when they go low, we get high”).

I’ve finally gone full millennial and started eating avocado toast every morning (topped with Trader Joe’s magic Everything But the Bagel Seasoning) just in time for a drastic rise in the price of avocados.

Things to do in New York this week:

Get an early start on your Christmas shopping (I’m about half done already, no pressure) at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street from 11am-5pm.

Maybe this will be the year I finally brave the children at the New York Hall of Science to see Gingerbread Lane, the Guinness World Records record-holder for largest gingerbread village, on display now until January 21st (so I have time).

Next week is Thanksgiving, which means that on Wednesday you can see the Macy’s Parade balloons as they’re inflated in the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History. I’ve gone twice (here are my photos from 2017 and 2016), and the lines are long but it’s very worth the wait.

Things I’ve discovered lately:

I was very happy about yesterday’s first snowfall, even more so since I have new boots and a new coat that I love.

I’ve been watching (and rewatching) a ton of movies lately including Carol (more devastating every single time I see it), Ghostbusters (the female version, so much better than it got credit for), The Miseducation of Cameron Post (basically Boy Erased, from a female perspective) and I’ve fully committed to a rewatch of the entire Ally McBeal series (I was so obsessed when it originally aired, that I taped every episode on VHS—luckily now it’s available to stream on Hulu). Anything else I should add to my watchlist?

Because you probably need it, here are some photos of a cat in a tiny jean jacket.

I have plans to go to my favorite Brooklyn diner, Tom’s Restaurant, on Saturday and it’s been far too long since I’ve had their divine Danish pancakes (with cinnamon butter!). My mom and I are going to hit up another diner in Yonkers on Sunday and I plan on exploring while she checks out the casino nearby. There’s no more snow in the near future forecast, but I’m always happy to take what I can get. I’m hoping the weather cooperates on Thanksgiving for the the parade, and afterward Francesca and I have plans for two dinners, like good, over-eating Americans (and of course, we’ll be dressed for the occasion). I hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your short workweek and holiday!

Happy Friday!