It’s Back: Starbucks Pumpkin Latte

It’s back.

Yes, the true sign that fall is officially here.

It’s not fall until you smell it in the air, Octoberfest is on tap at all the local bars, the leaves start changing colors and, alas, the Pumpkin Latte is served at Starbucks.

Just thinking about it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside…

Go ahead. Get one. You know you want to.

it’s 80 degrees in Boston today. Ask for it on ice, & indulge my friends.

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Friday Favorites: Menage a Trois, PranaVayu Yoga & More

Happy Friday ladies! I’m one happy girl, as this will be the completion of one week living in the North End of Boston. So far, so good. I really don’t think living could get any better… Anyway, it’s Friday and you know what that means; time for Friday favorites. Here’s what made the cut this week:

1. menage a trois: No, not a threesome, silly! Rather, a blend of three red wine varieties. This week, I chose a California Menage a Trois blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and red Zinfandel. It was fabulous, and made for the perfect pairing with my homemade gluten free pizza.

2. The Charles: Living in Boston the past 2+ years, I’ve realized I don’t take enough advantage of what the city has to offer. Take the Charles River for example. While I’ve gone on a few runs/walks/journeys to the river in the past, I never made it part of my regular routine. Now that I live closer to everything, I’m starting weekly runs on The Charles in preparation for the Newport Half Marathon. This morning, I went for a long, slow 8 mile run along the river and it couldn’t have been more … Read More!

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A Lesson from My Yoga Teacher: Slow Down

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Yesterday, my yoga instructor said something to the class that really stood out for me. He was comparing our worries and anxieties to the clouds in the sky. They aren’t always there, but when they come they can clutter the clear blueness (i.e. clarity) of what’s really there. He challenged the class to let go of all those thoughts, anxieties and concerns and simply slow down; pause between thoughts and just concentrate on one thought at a time. In doing this, you will soon find clarity and feel more like yourself, rather than your distorted “cloudy” self.

I took his words of wisdom to heart, and am trying to carry them with me throughout the rest of the week. Although it is difficult to press “pause” on your life and simply slow down and let go, it’s something that comes with great gratification.

Slowing down to me means many things, both literally and figuratively. It means walking down the street a little bit slower, finding beauty in what surrounds you. It means looking at your watch/Blackberry/pager a little less often, and looking at the smiling faces of passerby a little bit more.

Slowing down means forgetting about Read More!

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A Gluten Free Pizza Extravaganza

To me, there’s nothing so relaxing (and yet oh so gratifying ) as taking the time to create a delicious dinner for yourself. Add a bottle of red wine and some soothing music in the background and call it a party. Last night I had my very own gluten free pizza extravaganza with me, myself and I, and let’s just say it was quite the experience.

I started off my evening with some Ingrid Michaelson on Jango, playing various artists like Snow Patrol, Cold Play, The Beatles and Cat Stevens as well.

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As I prepped the ingredients to make the pizza dough using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix, I opened up a bottle of a California Menage a Trois Red Wine. Although I am embarrassed to admit, this was the very first bottle of wine I ever opened. Let’s just say, I completely attacked the cork. However, I managed to pull through and the wine tasted absolutely fabulous nonetheless.

[next time I’ll leave the corking to my sister or The Boy]

Once the wine started kicking in, I began to prep the ingredients for the pizza pie! I chose to split the dough … Read More!

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Try Something New: Core Fusion Cardio at Exhale

you’ll be sure to feel the burn with these mountain climbers

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As you know, I’m a huge fan of trying new things. As long as it won’t kill me, I’m usually willing to try something new. This morning, I decided to take advantage of my membership at Exhale Spa and give Core Fusion Cardio a go. So far, I’ve tried Core Fusion Open, the Body Sculpt DVD, Thighs & Glutes, and Bootcamp but I had never dabbled with Cardio.

Let’s just say, it was definitely worth my while. I highly recommend this upbeat, sweat-inducing class to anyone who’s looking to challenge their body with a little extra spice! With everything from kickboxing movements to weighted lunges to hundreds of mountain climbers, your legs, thighs and arms will surely feel the burn.

I’m now going to dedicate every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. to this heart-pumping cardio class. You can hold me to it.

I dare you to try something new today. What’s one new thing you’re looking to give a shot?

XoXo,

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Quotable Sunday: An Italian Proverb

It’s official: I have moved to the North End of Boston and am absolutely loving it. I love the smell of freshly baked bread and marinara sauce as I walk down the streets, I love how everyone knows your name and is considered “family,” and I love the plethora of restaurants to choose from. I think I may have died and gone to heaven.

Since I just moved to my very own Little Italy, I thought this Italian quote was only fitting. Buon giorno!

XoXo,

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I’mmmmm Moving Out

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So, it’s official…I’m movin’ out of my cozy, teeny tiny abode that I’ve lived in the past two years in the outskirts of Boston. Thankfully, I’ll be moving on to bigger and better things, that is to the North End. Hello wine, cheese & Italian culture.

As excited as I am for the big move, it’s no lie that moving is a pain in the butt. Period. I am so sick of bubble wrapping valuables, slapping that sticky goo over all our holes and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Heck, I’ve barely had time for blogging with all this craziness!

September 1st is just around the corner, so here are a few tips to keep you sane when going through a big move. And if you’re not moving, I envy you.

  • Stock up on cheap wine. Perhaps Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s? Wine helps tremendously when things get a little tense in the apartment.
  • Toss all the crap in your fridge and freezer ahead of time. That’s the last thing you want to be doing on move out day. Keep some staples like whole grain bread, veggies and lean meats
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DMB Caravan, Hurricane Irene and Quotable Sunday

Good afternoon all. Hope you’re all staying safe from Hurricane turned Tropical Storm Irene. It’s pretty windy, rainy and eery here in Boston, but nothing too crazy just yet. Speaking of crazy, boy did I have a crazy weekend. I went down to NYC for The DMB Caravan Concert on Governors Island, which ended up getting postponed on Saturday and Sunday. Luckily, I still got to enjoy a full afternoon of live music on Friday, and the entire concert will be postponed to a later date. OAR, Citizen Cope, and Dave Matthews Band really played their hearts out, and we had the best of time.

Needless to say, leaving the city was an absolute mess. We had to reschedule our bus tickets four times, ended up getting stuck in NYC at 4:30 a.m. due to a last minute bus cancelation, and then slept outside Grand Central Station until 5:35 a.m. rolled around to train it back to CT. Twelve hours later, we were finally back to where we came from: Boston. Let’s just say, I’ve never been more relieved to be home.

Anyway, it’s Quotable Sunday and in lieu of the fabulous concert DMB put on despite Irene’s craziness, I … Read More!

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Super Clean Chickpea Salad with Tuna

So remember how yesterday I was talking about my “clean eating” plan? Well, I’m happy to say that after a day of eating just so, I feel good as new. Thanks to this recipe I created, I was able to have a clean, yet fulfilling lunch yesterday afternoon. It not only satisfied my taste buds, but also left me feeling energized, refreshed and fulfilled.

Alas, the Super Clean Chickpea Salad was born. Hope you enjoy!

[who said clean eating had to be boring?]

What Ya Need

  • 1/2 c. chickpeas, drained
  • 1 c. baby spinach or mixed greens
  • 1/2 medium tomato, diced
  • 1 small can tuna in water, drained & mixed with 1 TB dijon mustard (optional)
  • 1 TB olive oil
  • pinch of shredded parmesan cheese (optional)
  • lemon juice to taste
  • salt & pepper

1. Top salad plate with baby spinach or mixed greens. Add in chickpeas and diced tomatoes.

2. Mix tuna with a fork, and optional dijon mustard and add onto plate.

3. Top with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt & pepper. Shake on optional parmesan cheese.

~Serve with a nice big glass of lemon water… Read More!

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