11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba
10 Temmuz 2012 Salı
9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi
Salem Willows
To contact us Click HERE
Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)Tank: H&MPurse:Fossil (Macy's)Shorts: Forever 21Sandals: Forever 21
As you can probably tell, B & I are having so much fun exploring our new surroundings in Salem. One of our favorite places we've discovered so far is Salem Willows Park. It's kind of an incredible place - absolutely beautiful with just the right amount of cheesiness.
Salem Willows sits on a peninsula, which juts out in the Salem Harbor. From the walkways & the pier, you can see beaches, boats, much of the coast of Cape Ann, and various islands belonging to the city. B & I spent hours wandering, dreaming of the day we'll own a house on the water.
The rest of the Willows has a bit of an old school boardwalk vibe. Think: arcardes, a carousel, and various food stands, which boast goodies such as pizza, popcorn, ice cream, and salt water taffy. I'm not embarrassed to admit I had to fight the urge to cash in a few dollar bills & try my luck at some of the arcade games (the skee ball machines were calling my name!). My little brother is visiting at the end of the month, and we'll definitely be bringing him back here for a day of childish fun.
The world's oldest & cutest fisherman. I mean, seriously. How adorable is he?
Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)Tank: H&MPurse:Fossil (Macy's)Shorts: Forever 21Sandals: Forever 21
As you can probably tell, B & I are having so much fun exploring our new surroundings in Salem. One of our favorite places we've discovered so far is Salem Willows Park. It's kind of an incredible place - absolutely beautiful with just the right amount of cheesiness.
Salem Willows sits on a peninsula, which juts out in the Salem Harbor. From the walkways & the pier, you can see beaches, boats, much of the coast of Cape Ann, and various islands belonging to the city. B & I spent hours wandering, dreaming of the day we'll own a house on the water.
The rest of the Willows has a bit of an old school boardwalk vibe. Think: arcardes, a carousel, and various food stands, which boast goodies such as pizza, popcorn, ice cream, and salt water taffy. I'm not embarrassed to admit I had to fight the urge to cash in a few dollar bills & try my luck at some of the arcade games (the skee ball machines were calling my name!). My little brother is visiting at the end of the month, and we'll definitely be bringing him back here for a day of childish fun.
The world's oldest & cutest fisherman. I mean, seriously. How adorable is he?
No Meat March
To contact us Click HERE
I really wanted to join Amanda and the Vegan Challenge for March, but I just don't know if I am ready for that step just yet. Don't get me wrong, I would love to try a vegan diet, and a month is great timeline - enough time to adjust to the way of eating and see some results (or changes in behaviors, mental and physical feelings, energy levels, etc...) - but I just didn't prepare like I needed to. I still had yogurts and cheeses I wanted to eat, I wasn't 100% ready to give up eggs and fish. So I am going to focus on just the meat thing this month - chicken, turkey, red meat, bacon, etc...
For the past 5 days I have maintained a pescatarian diet, and if you have been following me for a little while, you might remember me trying out this way of eating last summer - yeah, it didn't even last a week...and if I have to be honest, I tried a chicken sausage sample at Costco on Sunday....see meat is the hardest thing for me to give up. Meat has always been a part of my diet, yes I have (and still do for the most part) given up red meat completely, but chicken and turkey have been staples since before I can remember.
Why now you might ask? Is it because of Lent? Am I just trying to play along?
Well, I it is sort of in alignment with Amanda's vegan challenge, and although I am catholic, it is not something I am giving up for Lent - it is actually the beginning of a few allergy challenges I would really like to undergo (meat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free). I figure this will be the easier of the challenges I would like to undergo, and therefore a good building block for some diet control. Ever since I have gotten to a happier place with my eating, I have lost a lot of the regimented control I put on food. I still have fear foods, but I don't necessarily ban them - I eat them when they are in front of me, and then I feel bad afterwards. The thing is, I don't ever want to be back in that neurotic mindset, but I need to rediscover intuitive and thoughtful food habits.
I keep putting intuitive/thoughtful eating on my monthly goals (which I seem to have slacked on writing out), because it is still an area I need to work on. I think this "No Meat March" will be a great start to watching what I am about to grab on my plate and put in my body. I have always had some issues that I believe will be best dealt with on a gluten-free diet, and that I control by eating very little dairy (I almost always drink almond milk, but I enjoy some good cheese, skim milk in my coffee, and yogurts, which are not too bad on the stomach), so I am really excited to get into those challenges - but for right now, the no-meat is kind of like "base building" in marathon training - you need to train your mind and body to take the change before you can jump into more difficult workouts/changes.
So what do I hope to gain from all of this, besides a clearer mindset on food choices? Well I want to be putting things into my body, that will react well with my body, and there are a lot of studies out there toting the benefits of a no-meat diet protecting against diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and that a vegetarian type diet can lead to lower cholesterol and weight (quick read HERE).
All-in-all, I am curious to see if I notice any changes in my daily energy, physical feelings, mental feelings - will I feel more refreshed?
What have I been eating lately? I have been having tofu, tempeh, beans, yogurt, eggs, fish (salmon, swordfish, tuna). I am not noticing any real changes thus far, but I also didn't start until last Wednesday evening. If I concoct a recipe worth publishing, I will most definitely fill you all in.
------------------------------------------------------------Have you tried any 30-day challenges focused around food choices?
Are you vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian? What if your favorite dinner idea/protein source?
 |
| Would you be able to let these go bad in the fridge? I know I can't!! |
Why now you might ask? Is it because of Lent? Am I just trying to play along?
Well, I it is sort of in alignment with Amanda's vegan challenge, and although I am catholic, it is not something I am giving up for Lent - it is actually the beginning of a few allergy challenges I would really like to undergo (meat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free). I figure this will be the easier of the challenges I would like to undergo, and therefore a good building block for some diet control. Ever since I have gotten to a happier place with my eating, I have lost a lot of the regimented control I put on food. I still have fear foods, but I don't necessarily ban them - I eat them when they are in front of me, and then I feel bad afterwards. The thing is, I don't ever want to be back in that neurotic mindset, but I need to rediscover intuitive and thoughtful food habits.
I keep putting intuitive/thoughtful eating on my monthly goals (which I seem to have slacked on writing out), because it is still an area I need to work on. I think this "No Meat March" will be a great start to watching what I am about to grab on my plate and put in my body. I have always had some issues that I believe will be best dealt with on a gluten-free diet, and that I control by eating very little dairy (I almost always drink almond milk, but I enjoy some good cheese, skim milk in my coffee, and yogurts, which are not too bad on the stomach), so I am really excited to get into those challenges - but for right now, the no-meat is kind of like "base building" in marathon training - you need to train your mind and body to take the change before you can jump into more difficult workouts/changes.
So what do I hope to gain from all of this, besides a clearer mindset on food choices? Well I want to be putting things into my body, that will react well with my body, and there are a lot of studies out there toting the benefits of a no-meat diet protecting against diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and that a vegetarian type diet can lead to lower cholesterol and weight (quick read HERE).
All-in-all, I am curious to see if I notice any changes in my daily energy, physical feelings, mental feelings - will I feel more refreshed?
What have I been eating lately? I have been having tofu, tempeh, beans, yogurt, eggs, fish (salmon, swordfish, tuna). I am not noticing any real changes thus far, but I also didn't start until last Wednesday evening. If I concoct a recipe worth publishing, I will most definitely fill you all in.
------------------------------------------------------------Have you tried any 30-day challenges focused around food choices?
Are you vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian? What if your favorite dinner idea/protein source?
What Day is it?
To contact us Click HERE
I am re-dedicating myself to this blog, if it is the last thing I do (well it won't be the last thing I do, but you know what I mean). The only problem I have is, I couldn't figure out what day it was! I started writing a What I Love Wednesday post, until I realized, it is still Tuesday! I have had an eventful morning with a great interview and getting some online errands done this afternoon, so the day seriously flew by!
Things are starting to look up, and I am starting to come out of my cloudy haze of non-productiveness and lethargy. It could be due to the fact that I am finally seeing the sun and some warm temps here in Boston, or that I am getting some great interviews in on the job front, but I am seriously happy today.
I got some great miles in last night - I know I had planned on just running to the gym and hitting up an abs and spin class, but as soon as I stepped outside, I knew I had to just keep running. It wasn't a pleasant run at all physically, but mentally it was fantastic!! The weather was 70 degrees F, so I ran an honorary 7 miles, in just under an hour. There were quite a few stops to just breath and stretch and to take in the crowds of people that had flocked to the water on the first 100% gorgeous day of the spring. I kept thinking to myself, how lucky I am to have such a pretty running route along the Harborwalk, and so many more options around the city to explore.
Physically the run was tough due to what I would attribute to poor nutrition throughout the weekend and day, poor hydration and shock of a warm weather run after so many runs in the lower temps. I felt so, so good when I got back to my apartment though, like I had finally accomplished something with my day! I have been making healthier eating choices and stopped cheating on my No Meat March challenge.
Another positive thing to add to workout mix is that I have a fun run to look forward to this evening with Jessie, breakfast for dinner, and the Switched at Birth finale - plus, I have started running with Back on My Feet, here in Boston on Wednesday & Friday mornings at 5:45 AM (I would like to get into Monday mornings, but I am working myself into those). I just started last Wednesday, so my third run will be tomorrow morning, but I am already loving the feeling of not only supporting those less fortunate than myself with companionship and healthy habits, but I am also getting myself up and active before most of the city, which is an unbeatable high.
Off to meet Jessie for some Esplanade running and yummy eats!! Happy Tuesday everyone!
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Do you ever completely forget what day it is?
Since I have been out of work, I never know which day it is, it seriously messes with my head!!
Things are starting to look up, and I am starting to come out of my cloudy haze of non-productiveness and lethargy. It could be due to the fact that I am finally seeing the sun and some warm temps here in Boston, or that I am getting some great interviews in on the job front, but I am seriously happy today.
I got some great miles in last night - I know I had planned on just running to the gym and hitting up an abs and spin class, but as soon as I stepped outside, I knew I had to just keep running. It wasn't a pleasant run at all physically, but mentally it was fantastic!! The weather was 70 degrees F, so I ran an honorary 7 miles, in just under an hour. There were quite a few stops to just breath and stretch and to take in the crowds of people that had flocked to the water on the first 100% gorgeous day of the spring. I kept thinking to myself, how lucky I am to have such a pretty running route along the Harborwalk, and so many more options around the city to explore.
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| Aerial view of Pleasure Bay (Source) |
Another positive thing to add to workout mix is that I have a fun run to look forward to this evening with Jessie, breakfast for dinner, and the Switched at Birth finale - plus, I have started running with Back on My Feet, here in Boston on Wednesday & Friday mornings at 5:45 AM (I would like to get into Monday mornings, but I am working myself into those). I just started last Wednesday, so my third run will be tomorrow morning, but I am already loving the feeling of not only supporting those less fortunate than myself with companionship and healthy habits, but I am also getting myself up and active before most of the city, which is an unbeatable high.
Off to meet Jessie for some Esplanade running and yummy eats!! Happy Tuesday everyone!
-----------------------------------------------
Do you ever completely forget what day it is?
Since I have been out of work, I never know which day it is, it seriously messes with my head!!
Three Things Thursday: Boston Organics, Days at Home, and No Meat?
To contact us Click HERE
Happy Thursday everyone! Almost to the end of the week...almost! I am pretty excited for this weekend, as it is St. Patrick's Day weekend, which means lots of friends, good food/drinks/fun and even a race! I will be running the South Boston St. Patrick's Day 5k on Sunday morning with Tripp and our friends Jon and Tori - post race we will be getting our part on back at my place and catching the tail end of the infamous South Boston Paddy's Day Parade!
I will let you all know how that goes, but for now, a little bit of what has been going on this week!
1. Boston Organics: If you have heard of CSAs or crop sharing programs, this is not exactly one of those, but rather a delivery organic produce service. I can choose to receive a box of either global or locally sourced produce in the form of all veggies, all fruits, 50/50 freggies, 40/60 freggies - all organic.
I spend upwards of $30 a week on freggies, and almost always choose them based on what is on sale. This price does not include organic produce, it is mainly your run of the mill grocery store stalk. When I saw a freggies box for $29/wk or $29 every other week for ALL organic, and I wouldn't have to stress about choosing what I wanted that week - my ears perked right up! I chose the $29 50/50 box, every other week (although after the first delivery, I might have to change that to weekly), sourced from where ever they were bringing it in from (as locally sourced right now would leave me with mostly just root veggies - not that I don't love those, but I wanted some variety) and for my first delivery...variety I got!
I received broccoli, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, beets!, two types of oranges, apples, pears, kiwis, bananas, and romaine lettuce
I haven't cooked with beets in a little while, so I am excited to try one of the recipes they included with my box for beet and quinoa salad!!
2. Days at Home...are pretty boring to be honest. I know I have mentioned how in a funk I have been and feeling depressed. I am a very extroverted person, so to sit at home solo without much human interaction, first sends me anxious and then into a quiet depressive mood. I get to be always tired, sluggish and unmotivated. But this week I have vowed to turn that around, and I have been making a lot progress! To take advantage of the nicer weather (70s two days in a row!) this week, I decided to take my inbox and lunch outside on Tuesday.
I have found it is really nice to just breath fresh air, have some wind hit your face, and squint to see your computer screen in the sun...oh, just me on that third one?
I experimented with a curry recipe on Monday night, when I had time to myself all the way until 9 PM!! I had a bit of cabin fever and wanted something warm and spicy to match my mood....it also made spectacular leftovers (that I finally finished today at lunch!) - Red Curry Veggies w/ lentils and quinoa - delish! I have been serving the leftovers with some of that organic romaine I received from the Boston Organics box!
3. No Meat? Oh yeah...I was supposed to be doing a No Meat March, huh? Well I am happy to say that I stopped cheating on Monday, and I have been No Meat since...I attended a fundraiser and food show this weekend, both were full of delicious foods and several meat options. The meat options were so appetizing and the events were once in a lifetime (or in a long while) so I made the conscious decision to cheat on my No Meat March - then I was feeling horrible Sunday and Tripp got sesame chicken take out, and I cheated again...fully aware I was cheating.
I honestly felt horrible on Monday - too much alcohol, too much food, too little sleep, and a heavy heart that I couldn't stay dedicated to my current meatless challenge. I decided on Monday to work on cleaning my diet back up (and with the exception of some irish drinking indulgences on Sunday), including alcohol, meat intake, the works...
It has been noted on here, so I have to do it...right? :) If not, I will undoubtedly feel horrible again, because I am not letting myself down, but I am being untruthful to you guys if I keep cheating.
I am off to shower and get dressed for a fun (thoughtful) night out with some great girls, before the sears guys come to change out our washer and dryer in a little bit!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Are you (or have you already) running a St. Patty's Day race? How long? Are you dressing up?
Do you eat lunch outside when the weather is nice?
It is such a great dose of Vitamin D and I need to remember to do it more!
Do you get a CSA or produce delivery service?
I will let you all know how that goes, but for now, a little bit of what has been going on this week!
1. Boston Organics: If you have heard of CSAs or crop sharing programs, this is not exactly one of those, but rather a delivery organic produce service. I can choose to receive a box of either global or locally sourced produce in the form of all veggies, all fruits, 50/50 freggies, 40/60 freggies - all organic.
 |
| my 50/50 organic freggies box |
I received broccoli, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, beets!, two types of oranges, apples, pears, kiwis, bananas, and romaine lettuceI haven't cooked with beets in a little while, so I am excited to try one of the recipes they included with my box for beet and quinoa salad!!2. Days at Home...are pretty boring to be honest. I know I have mentioned how in a funk I have been and feeling depressed. I am a very extroverted person, so to sit at home solo without much human interaction, first sends me anxious and then into a quiet depressive mood. I get to be always tired, sluggish and unmotivated. But this week I have vowed to turn that around, and I have been making a lot progress! To take advantage of the nicer weather (70s two days in a row!) this week, I decided to take my inbox and lunch outside on Tuesday.
 |
| Loving the natural lighting!! |
 |
| red curry lentils and quinoa w/ some bubbly water and lettuce cups on the side! Yum! |
3. No Meat? Oh yeah...I was supposed to be doing a No Meat March, huh? Well I am happy to say that I stopped cheating on Monday, and I have been No Meat since...I attended a fundraiser and food show this weekend, both were full of delicious foods and several meat options. The meat options were so appetizing and the events were once in a lifetime (or in a long while) so I made the conscious decision to cheat on my No Meat March - then I was feeling horrible Sunday and Tripp got sesame chicken take out, and I cheated again...fully aware I was cheating. I honestly felt horrible on Monday - too much alcohol, too much food, too little sleep, and a heavy heart that I couldn't stay dedicated to my current meatless challenge. I decided on Monday to work on cleaning my diet back up (and with the exception of some irish drinking indulgences on Sunday), including alcohol, meat intake, the works...
It has been noted on here, so I have to do it...right? :) If not, I will undoubtedly feel horrible again, because I am not letting myself down, but I am being untruthful to you guys if I keep cheating.
I am off to shower and get dressed for a fun (thoughtful) night out with some great girls, before the sears guys come to change out our washer and dryer in a little bit!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Are you (or have you already) running a St. Patty's Day race? How long? Are you dressing up?
Do you eat lunch outside when the weather is nice?
It is such a great dose of Vitamin D and I need to remember to do it more!
Do you get a CSA or produce delivery service?
St. Patrick's Day 5k Recap
To contact us Click HERE
Where do I start?! This weekend was one I had been looking forward to for a couple of months now, ever since I signed up for the 5k in South Boston back in December (ok, who am I kidding, ever since I recovered from last year's debacle!).
If you have heard much about St. Patty's Day celebrations and Boston, you might have heard about or known about what goes down in South Boston (my "hood") on the weekend of green beer, funny hats, parades and more. South Boston has a very rich Irish background, and to this day a very Irish heavy population (most of the bars are Irish bars, with an Irish accented tend or two), so it comes as no big surprise that the parade day (not always March 17th) is one of the most anticipated holidays in the city.
This year marked my fourth experience with parade day, and third living in Southie, and this year did not disappoint. Despite having a fantastic "here comes spring head-cold" (which I am still trying to get through), Tripp and I were all ready to get a little 5k race on and then our party on! The South Boston St. Patty's Day 5k runs at 11 AM, the morning of the parade, along a portion of the parade route. It is a HILLY out and back from the South Boston Boys and Girls Club to the water and back.
Going into this race, I was feeling really drained, as I hadn't slept much the previous nights due to coughing fits and stuffed up head/nose, and I was still so stuffed up, I was forced to only breath through my mouth. I was not too excited for the hills that awaited me, all five of them (which is a lot, for a 3.1 mile race). Tripp and I dressed in a bit of green, pinned on our numbers and met up with our friends Tori and Paly, who were awesome enough to sign up and run with us!! Seeing as the parade started less than a quarter mile away, we waited until 10:50 and jogged over to meet the massive crowd of runners with 5 minutes to spare before guntime (1724 runners finished the race - and the race was sold out at 1750). We pushed our way to a mid-point in the crowd and waited for the herding to begin. The time spent dodging and weaving to get a small bit of personal space was an additional nice warm up, as it was up the first hill, and was tough to get into a groove on anyways. The four of us stayed together until the crowd started to break up and Tori and I were separated from the guys a little. On the first downhill was when I realized I was the one who pulled away from the group (#fail).
Once I realized I was going to be running the majority of this solo, I kicked into a comfortable race gear (not slow, but not pushing it) and gauged my breathing and energy levels. I felt good so I kept the cruising pace on and formed my one goal for the race, besides have fun and notice the crowds this year - beat Tripp :) I know this sounds selfish and foolish, but in last year's race, I was in front of Tripp until just past the turn around point and when I saw him I double backed to run with him for a little bit, we stuck together for most of the second half of the course, before he kicked it in three blocks from the finish and schooled me!! I was a little perturbed with last year's ending, so I wanted to see if I could beat him on my own, hey I am competitive.
I hit a slight wall on hill 4, about 2.5 miles into the race and contemplated walking up the rest of it, but instead I powered through it best I could and held down the vomit I could feel creeping up my sandpaper throat (thank you head-cold). I saw a neighbor on a portion of the homestretch, slapped him high five and checked the garmin - I had a chance to finish under 23 and I was going to jump on it!! I turned on the gas (whatever was left at least) and strided the next few blocks and up the final hill to the finish arch up ahead. I crossed the line in 22:59 (I can't make this up) and realized I was the first of the group to cross, which means I beat Tripp :) I held down another little heave and chugged a water (it was already in the high 60s and sunny - felt like 75) and waited until I saw the neon green of Tripp's shirt and the face of Tori and Paly.
There were some ice cream shake samples, powerade zero, pop chips and KIND bars at the finish (I raided the KIND bars table!), but we had our eyes on the prize back at the house - a keggarator (courtesy of our good friend Jeff) roaring to go with a keg of ice cold Bud Light (not my fave, but goes down like water on a hot day) and some great snacks to dig into.
My roommate and I threw a rager of a Parade party, and only a handful actually made it up to the main road to watch the parade, but it was definitely a success, no leftover beer, no leftover food - just some great friends, great times, and a fantastic St. Patty's Day celebration!
I found out yesterday that I ended up coming in 36/595 in my age group and 179/1724 total finishes, and beat last year's time (23:23) - not bad for some unseasonably warm weather, a horrid head-cold and some killer hills! Best was, I felt good enough after finishing to keep up with the party all day/evening long (didn't drink too much, but that only meant Monday morning was less painful).
----------------------------------------------------------
How did you celebrate St. Patty's Day weekend?
I laid low on the couch all day during St. Patty's, so I was ready for the extravagance that was Sunday!
If you have heard much about St. Patty's Day celebrations and Boston, you might have heard about or known about what goes down in South Boston (my "hood") on the weekend of green beer, funny hats, parades and more. South Boston has a very rich Irish background, and to this day a very Irish heavy population (most of the bars are Irish bars, with an Irish accented tend or two), so it comes as no big surprise that the parade day (not always March 17th) is one of the most anticipated holidays in the city.
 |
| Last year's get up! |
Going into this race, I was feeling really drained, as I hadn't slept much the previous nights due to coughing fits and stuffed up head/nose, and I was still so stuffed up, I was forced to only breath through my mouth. I was not too excited for the hills that awaited me, all five of them (which is a lot, for a 3.1 mile race). Tripp and I dressed in a bit of green, pinned on our numbers and met up with our friends Tori and Paly, who were awesome enough to sign up and run with us!! Seeing as the parade started less than a quarter mile away, we waited until 10:50 and jogged over to meet the massive crowd of runners with 5 minutes to spare before guntime (1724 runners finished the race - and the race was sold out at 1750). We pushed our way to a mid-point in the crowd and waited for the herding to begin. The time spent dodging and weaving to get a small bit of personal space was an additional nice warm up, as it was up the first hill, and was tough to get into a groove on anyways. The four of us stayed together until the crowd started to break up and Tori and I were separated from the guys a little. On the first downhill was when I realized I was the one who pulled away from the group (#fail).
 |
| Paly (Jon), Tori, Tripp, and I post-race, pre-beers (well except Tripp :) ) |
Once I realized I was going to be running the majority of this solo, I kicked into a comfortable race gear (not slow, but not pushing it) and gauged my breathing and energy levels. I felt good so I kept the cruising pace on and formed my one goal for the race, besides have fun and notice the crowds this year - beat Tripp :) I know this sounds selfish and foolish, but in last year's race, I was in front of Tripp until just past the turn around point and when I saw him I double backed to run with him for a little bit, we stuck together for most of the second half of the course, before he kicked it in three blocks from the finish and schooled me!! I was a little perturbed with last year's ending, so I wanted to see if I could beat him on my own, hey I am competitive.
I hit a slight wall on hill 4, about 2.5 miles into the race and contemplated walking up the rest of it, but instead I powered through it best I could and held down the vomit I could feel creeping up my sandpaper throat (thank you head-cold). I saw a neighbor on a portion of the homestretch, slapped him high five and checked the garmin - I had a chance to finish under 23 and I was going to jump on it!! I turned on the gas (whatever was left at least) and strided the next few blocks and up the final hill to the finish arch up ahead. I crossed the line in 22:59 (I can't make this up) and realized I was the first of the group to cross, which means I beat Tripp :) I held down another little heave and chugged a water (it was already in the high 60s and sunny - felt like 75) and waited until I saw the neon green of Tripp's shirt and the face of Tori and Paly.
 |
| A little blurry, but happy with the race :) Yes, we were those over-achievers who signed up on the first day of registration (50/1750 bibs) ) |
 |
| The highlight of the party, the keggarator. There were some carbombs consumed as well, but with Jameson, not the Jim and w/ Guinness, not the keg |
I found out yesterday that I ended up coming in 36/595 in my age group and 179/1724 total finishes, and beat last year's time (23:23) - not bad for some unseasonably warm weather, a horrid head-cold and some killer hills! Best was, I felt good enough after finishing to keep up with the party all day/evening long (didn't drink too much, but that only meant Monday morning was less painful).
----------------------------------------------------------
How did you celebrate St. Patty's Day weekend?
I laid low on the couch all day during St. Patty's, so I was ready for the extravagance that was Sunday!
8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar
Foodie Friday: Eggplant Gratin
To contact us Click HERE
Eggplant & cheese are two of my favorite things in the entire world. No joke. So when I saw this recipe in my One Pot cookbook, I obviously had to make it. Let me tell you: it did not disappoint.
Here's what you'll need (serves two):
Olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 eggplants, thickly sliced
3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
14 oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella
6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
salt & pepper
Here's what you'll do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat oil in flameproof casserole (or in a large pan) over medium head. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook for a few seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion mixture to a plate.
2. Cook the eggplant slices in batches in the same casserole or pan until they are slightly browned. Transfer to another plate.
3. Arrange a layer of eggplant slices in the bottom of a casserole dish or another oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with parsley. Then season to taste with salt & pepper. Add a layer of the onion mixture, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
4. Continue layering in this way, finishing with a layer of eggplants slices. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden and the eggplant is tender. Serve hot.
Eggplant & cheese are two of my favorite things in the entire world. No joke. So when I saw this recipe in my One Pot cookbook, I obviously had to make it. Let me tell you: it did not disappoint.
Here's what you'll need (serves two):
Olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 eggplants, thickly sliced
3 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
14 oz can of chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella
6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
salt & pepper
Here's what you'll do:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat oil in flameproof casserole (or in a large pan) over medium head. Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened. Add garlic and cook for a few seconds. Using a slotted spoon, transfer onion mixture to a plate.
2. Cook the eggplant slices in batches in the same casserole or pan until they are slightly browned. Transfer to another plate.
3. Arrange a layer of eggplant slices in the bottom of a casserole dish or another oven-proof dish. Sprinkle with parsley. Then season to taste with salt & pepper. Add a layer of the onion mixture, tomatoes, and mozzarella.
4. Continue layering in this way, finishing with a layer of eggplants slices. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until the top is golden and the eggplant is tender. Serve hot.
Best of Boston: Regina Pizzeria
To contact us Click HERE
Last week, my sister was feeling a little down in the dumps. To cheer her up, I took her out for pizza & beer at one of my favorite Boston restaurants, Regina Pizzeria. Regina's has several locations in & around the city, but I frequent the Allston location due to its close proximity to my current apartment.
Outfit Details: Sunnies: Ray-Ban (Husband's); T-shirt: Madewell; Purse: Charlotte Russe; Shorts: thrifted; Bracelets: H&M; Flip flops: Gap
I'm not really a t-shirt kind of gal, but I wanted an easy, cool outfit for a casual outdoor dinner on a warm summer evening. I like the pairing of a more androgynous top with these super feminine shorts.
Regina's was one of the first restaurants I discovered upon moving to Boston last summer, and it remains a favorite. Despite its sizable menu full of pastas, sandwiches, and pizzas, I almost always get the same thing: the Melanzane pizza. It's made with Ricotta & Marinara sauces, spiced with oregano, and topped with eggplant, red onions, basil, Pecorino Romano & Mozzarella. It really is one of the best pizzas I've ever had - and I eat a lot of pizza.
Another benefit to dining at Regina's: cheap beer. Sister & I split a large, cold pitcher of Rolling Rock for only $11.50. For those of you not used to Boston's beer prices, that is cheap!
So, to recap: delicious food, cheap beer. Need I say more?
Last week, my sister was feeling a little down in the dumps. To cheer her up, I took her out for pizza & beer at one of my favorite Boston restaurants, Regina Pizzeria. Regina's has several locations in & around the city, but I frequent the Allston location due to its close proximity to my current apartment.
Outfit Details: Sunnies: Ray-Ban (Husband's); T-shirt: Madewell; Purse: Charlotte Russe; Shorts: thrifted; Bracelets: H&M; Flip flops: Gap
I'm not really a t-shirt kind of gal, but I wanted an easy, cool outfit for a casual outdoor dinner on a warm summer evening. I like the pairing of a more androgynous top with these super feminine shorts.
Regina's was one of the first restaurants I discovered upon moving to Boston last summer, and it remains a favorite. Despite its sizable menu full of pastas, sandwiches, and pizzas, I almost always get the same thing: the Melanzane pizza. It's made with Ricotta & Marinara sauces, spiced with oregano, and topped with eggplant, red onions, basil, Pecorino Romano & Mozzarella. It really is one of the best pizzas I've ever had - and I eat a lot of pizza.
Another benefit to dining at Regina's: cheap beer. Sister & I split a large, cold pitcher of Rolling Rock for only $11.50. For those of you not used to Boston's beer prices, that is cheap!
So, to recap: delicious food, cheap beer. Need I say more?
#LBGDY
To contact us Click HERE
Outfit Details: Necklace, Blouse, Skirt, Clutch: Thrifted; Sandals: Forever 21
Last Thursday, I was lucky enough to attend the David Yurman Fall 2012 preview party at Lux Bond & Green in Wellesley. Those of us in attendance were the first in New England to see this David Yurman collection, which will be sold in stores this fall. The jewelry & the location were fabulous, and I had a blast playing with the pretty pieces, drinking wine, and chatting with my fellow bloggers. Here, I'm sharing a few of my favorite photos from the event.
My favorite quality about all of David Yurman's pieces is that they make a statement without being loud or gaudy. Case in point: these incredible necklaces.
I'm such a bracelet girl, and the David Yurman collection boasts many gorgeous bracelets. Prepare to swoon, ladies.
..and there were cupcakes, decorated with the event's Twitter hashtag. They were adorable & delicious, a winning combo!
Be sure to check back tomorrow; I have a giveaway for you!
Outfit Details: Necklace, Blouse, Skirt, Clutch: Thrifted; Sandals: Forever 21
Last Thursday, I was lucky enough to attend the David Yurman Fall 2012 preview party at Lux Bond & Green in Wellesley. Those of us in attendance were the first in New England to see this David Yurman collection, which will be sold in stores this fall. The jewelry & the location were fabulous, and I had a blast playing with the pretty pieces, drinking wine, and chatting with my fellow bloggers. Here, I'm sharing a few of my favorite photos from the event.
My favorite quality about all of David Yurman's pieces is that they make a statement without being loud or gaudy. Case in point: these incredible necklaces.
I'm such a bracelet girl, and the David Yurman collection boasts many gorgeous bracelets. Prepare to swoon, ladies.
..and there were cupcakes, decorated with the event's Twitter hashtag. They were adorable & delicious, a winning combo!
Be sure to check back tomorrow; I have a giveaway for you!
Harbor Walk
To contact us Click HERE
Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)Top: Old NavyShorts: Forever 21Bracelets: H&MPurse: Charlotte RusseSandals: Forever 21
B & I are lucky enough to live about a five-minute walk from the heart of downtown Salem. Along the way is this cute little path that leads to the Waterfront Historic District. It has quickly become one of our favorite places to take a walk, so you'll probably be seeing it often. On Saturday night, when we discovered said path, we took a nice walk along the Waterfront & ended up at the Seaport Cafe, where we enjoyed $2.99 draft beers & some excellent people watching.
Sunnies: Steve Madden (Macy's)Top: Old NavyShorts: Forever 21Bracelets: H&MPurse: Charlotte RusseSandals: Forever 21
B & I are lucky enough to live about a five-minute walk from the heart of downtown Salem. Along the way is this cute little path that leads to the Waterfront Historic District. It has quickly become one of our favorite places to take a walk, so you'll probably be seeing it often. On Saturday night, when we discovered said path, we took a nice walk along the Waterfront & ended up at the Seaport Cafe, where we enjoyed $2.99 draft beers & some excellent people watching.
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