Oh, French macarons – how do we love thee? The way your delicate meringue shell crunches down to reveal a soft frangipane-like texture inside, separated by a smooth layer of buttercream or jam, custard or ganache. The way we can choose from a rainbow of colors and flavors, and be delighted anew every time. Macarons may be finicky and demanding in the baking process, but the end result of all the sweat and tears is a little piece of perfection that is worth it every time, and today we’re celebrating the joy they bring.

So the question is: how to celebrate French macarons properly on National Macaron Day? If you’re feeling especially bold and have the day off to work with, take some time out to bake a batch of macarons all your own. If you’ve never tried baking French macarons before, check out a macaron cookbook (we love I ♥ Macarons by Hisako Ogita or Macarons by Annie Riggs), find a cookie-filling combination that piques your interest, and have at it.

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If you’d rather skip the baking and get right to the celebrating, get out of the house and find some macarons to sample. Even if you’re not lucky enough to live walking distance from Pierre Hermé or Ladurée in Paris, chances are you can still find a quality macaron in your city. Today the Los Angeles Times posted a list of their favorite French macaron hot spots, and there are sure to be some waiting for you at your local bakery.

But if you can’t make it out of the house today, indulge your eyes by checking out one of the many websites dedicated to macarons – just typing “macarons” into a Tumblr search reveals hundreds of tantalizing photographs, from sites like macaronsinabox that compile nothing else but these delightful little treats.