Eat Your Veggies {Untraditionally Of Course!}

Despite the decade plus one of my life that I went vegetarian {my mom eventually guilted me into the whole "you're not getting enough protein" bit and I agreed to start eating chicken again. Breaded chicken...} I don't feel like I eat enough veggies. It's not that I don't like them - in fact, there are only very few I dislike, I just feel like I don't buy many, and the ones I do buy go bad quickly. And let's face it - it's way easier to just boil water for pasta.

With that in mind, I went for a pasta & veggie combo, but not the type you'd expect. I first tasted butternut squash sauce with gnocchi at a fundraising event with my mom. I can't even remember which restaurant brought it, I just remember going back for seconds. and thirds. and maybe even fourths. Later while cruising around online for recipes {I only pretend like I'm a master in the kitchen} I found this one for the sauce! I'm not exaggerating when I say it's so easy I can do it. I left out the salt {which I do with every recipe because I find I don't need it} but followed the rest of the recipe as instructed.

{Bonus Fact: all the ingredients are from my beloved Trader Joes}

{Getting steamy!}

{I admit - this part was a little weird}

{Gnocchi are done! Perfect timing!}

{Enjoy! Wine is not optional :) }

xAmy

Inspiration on Wheels

While I'm embarrassed that my own city can't boast this, I'm also very inspired..

As someone who has just recently given up having a car, this video really resonates with me. My reason for doing so wasn't largely environmental - it was more that I hardly used my car, it was expensive to keep, and to say parking in Boston is a drag would be the understatement of the century. I am delighted, though, with the environmental impact it has had, and the amount of exercise I'm now getting just by walking.

During the warmer months, I had a 3 mile roundtrip walking commute to work, which took me through the beautiful public garden and commons. Now with the dark nights and the cold, I've finally given in to taking the T, but I still feel good about my decision.

It has proven difficult to see friends, almost all of whom live outside the city. A few live near enough to the train that I can still commute, but for many, visiting them at home is almost impossible. I have grocery stores within walking distance, but to purchase furniture or other heavy items, I need to make arrangements beforehand.

Having a bicycle wouldn't completely eliminate these problems, but it would certainly make getting around easier and less time-consuming. However, I feel that riding a bike around Boston with the awful drivers {I can talk - I was one of them} honestly isn't safe. I've seen the attitude that motorists give to cyclists, and instead of respecting their decision, there is -as the video says- a feeling of two different species. There have been some changes around the city recently, with a bike lane painted onto Commonwealth Ave, but I still don't think my skills/senses are acute enough to get around safely.

I would love to see a movement towards Copenhagen's view on bicycling, for the environmental benefits, the health benefits, and a general respect and kindness towards others.

video borrowed from The City Mouse

Ex-Communication

My generation is living during a very unique time. Growing up, I played outside. I had Barbie, Lite Bright, and Legos. My toys required creativity and interaction on my part, and I only spent time on the couch when I was home sick from school. The greatest “technology” of my youth was found in toys like Teddy Ruxbin, Alfie, and the Easy Bake Oven.

I used to have to carry change around for Payphones, and on more than one occasion, I had call my mom Collect. When being dropped off at the movie theatre, I had to run inside and ask what time the movie was getting out, and then actually LOOK for my parents' car. When shopping at the mall, we had to FIND each other if we split up in the same store. It seems like the dark ages, but it was really just a decade ago.

Text messaging happened in high school, and I've sadly never looked back. Now it's possible to have an entire meal {with special instructions, no less} delivered to my apartment without speaking on the phone. Despite my job as an executive assistant, I hate answering the phone. To me, it's a little like being caught off-guard. A text message or email you can answer while multi-tasking, answer later, or ignore entirely. A phone call crashes in on your day and demands your full attention.

Facebook has seemingly eliminated even the need for interaction at all. I see about 10% of my friends list on a regular basis, and many people I'd turn down a dark alley at night to avoid talking to – but still track their life through photos. This situation happened a few weeks ago: I was walking back to work from a coffee break, and realized I was walking behind a girl I had danced with for years. I mean literally, I saw this girl in a leotard and tights 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 8 years. Evolutionarily speaking, shouldn't my first instinct be to run up to her and say hi? To greet her with a big smile and ask how she has been and what she's up to? Thanks to technology, I know not only where she lives and works, but also what she had for breakfast this morning. Instead of approaching her, I walked about 10 feet behind her {it figures she was walking in the EXACT same direction of my building} all the while praying she didn't turn around and see me. It was such a strange feeling, then. What was I avoiding? An awkward exchange? Nothing to say to each other? Old fashioned human contact?

For a social network, it sure has changed the way we communicate, though it doesn't seem for the better. I envy foreign cultures for their close-knit families, and their ability to invite friends over without any special occasion, but upon close inspection, there's nothing really stopping me from following suit. Not physically, at least.

A Healthy Dose of Humility

I have a minor OCD tick about getting dressed in the morning. Some days, I'm completely fine - especially if I've picked my outfit out the night before. If I'm going somewhere where I'll "be seen," or am going out with fasionista types with fabulous wardrobes, I'm always nervous about how I'll look. On a bad day, I'll change my outfit 6-7 times, wasting VALUABLE morning time that would be better spent eating breakfast, or say being on time for work.

Today isn't a remarkable day; I had an appointment at an artist boutique in the morning to check out furniture and then was going to my mom's house to sort though my belongings in prepation for my move. I lay in bed this morning, contemplating what I could put on that would transition perfectly throughout the day: casual for breakfast with my beau, chic for shopping, comfortable for sorting through boxes, and dressy enough for dinner with my mom later tonight. I also had to consider that fall is upon us and a sweater was vital.

I crafted the perfect outfit - for it truly was an outfit - of neutral striped trousers rolled up and playfully cuffed at the bottom with 4" leather strappy heels, a charcoal tank with an adorable flower pin, and my favorite pale pink cashmere cardigan. Paired with some makeup and a messy ponytail, it was sexy, casual & comfortable, without looking like I was trying too hard {which, after this post, everyone will know is a complete lie.}

Shopping was less than fruitful, but the pastries & coffee to-go were delicious. I kissed Max goodbye as he dropped me off to go finish my errands, and managed to pour my entire cappucino
all.
over.
myself.

And in that moment I could only laugh, because honestly - who cares what I have on? I love the way life gives you little reminders of the important things. Are you paying attention?

Bubbly

Anyone who has spent 10 seconds or more in my presence knows my love and loyalty for Trader Joe's. A lot of my girlfriends think it's weird, because while they make the trip to TJ's every once in a while, I do 100% of my shopping there. Literally. Paper towels, cat food, bars of soap. If Joe started carrying contact solution I'd no doubt start buying it there.

Once every 2 weeks {I hate grocery shopping} I battle for a parking space, inch my way through the aisles {why do people always gravitate to the section I'm looking in?!} and wait through long lines. I drive by approximately 12 grocery stores, one being another Trader Joe's, on my way to the Brookline location. Why, you ask? This one simple reason – the wine section.

My boyfriend and I have the whole shopping part down to a science, really. What we like, what we don't, and how to navigate efficiently. We always save the best part for last, and he knows to hang back near the cart as we approach the far right corner of the store. I inhale deeply, smile, and clutch my hands at my chest while my eyes drink in the selection. There are literally probably 20+ wines that I love for under $10 a bottle. I always have to hold myself back from going to crazy, and after about 5-6 bottles hit the carriage, Max starts giving me “the look.”

I got a lot of that look this summer as a stockpiled my favorite wine – Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine that costs an incredible $4.99 per bottle! It's been my go-to all season, when I need a lighter and more refreshing alternative to other reds. I've introduced many friends/family members to it with the same result – even those who aren't huge winos. After I received two phone calls last week from friends who were at TJ's asking for a reminder of the name, I figured it was something to share on a larger scale. So head to Trader Joe's, get a bottle of Lambrusco, {red!} pop the cork {my favorite part,} and enjoy!

Salud! Xx

*images courtesy of Liqurious & Curly Girl Design

Pick Me Up

I have a fear of elevators.

Not quite as extreme as a phobia, maybe more like an OCD tick. When I was young, I saw a tv show where some people got stuck on an elevator. They were trapped inside between floors, and the only person around to help was in a wheelchair and couldn't reach the emergency button. I think at that point in my life, it had never occurred to me that one could get stuck in an elevator. I'm not sure what made this show particularly horrifying for me, but for some reason, it stuck.

I generally take the stairs when faced with the option (yay trading bits of "exercise" for time at the gym) and for years, I would obsessively check the expiration date of the inspection of every elevator I stepped foot on. Over the past year living and working in the city, I've grown accustomed elevator rides, and don't give it too much thought anymore.

So today, up in my 31st floor office, I was falling asleep sitting up and desperately needed a cappuccino to keep me going. I got in the elevator w/ 2 gentlemen, and proceeded down. Somewhere between the 25th and 1st floor (it's an express elevator) we suddenly dropped quickly and then came to a stop. I tried frantically to collect myself, and the elevator started moving again. After charging out of the elevator and swearing to walk up all 31 flights of stairs on my way back, one single thought crossed my mind:

I don't really need that cappuccino anymore...

Happy {Holi}Days

When looking back on memories, the ones that most often stand out are those unplanned nights with unexpected results.

I was a little sad to be in LA for the Fourth of July, which is sort of funny to me, because it's not like it's my favorite holiday, and I don't even have any traditions that I follow that I would have missed out on. I guess it was just missing the chance to watch fireworks with loved ones that made me a little bummed. What I did end up doing though, was actually a lot of fun. I spent the holiday with WW, a friend of a friend whom I've hung out with a few times out here. He and some friends had planned to go to Venice Beach to watch the fireworks & party.

I leapt at the chance to explore another area of LA {because literally every day off thus far has been spent at the same beach.} I borrowed a bike and we rode the beach path from Santa Monica down to Venice. I couldn't remember the last time I had been on a bike, it was so refreshing and a great way to exercise! We scanned the scene, but were turned off by the huge crowd, so instead we got some drinks and pizza and had a picnic on the beach while we waited for the show to begin. After the great firework display {is there any better place to watch them than from a beach?!} we rode our bikes to this really cool bar in Venice for a few last drinks {had to take advantage of not being in the car!}

Riding back at midnight through the empty streets was such a cool feeling. It was so peaceful at that hour compared to the Fourth of July chaos we had just experienced. By the time I got home to bed I was physically and mentally exhausted, but had a great day. Although it would have been great to be home, I had such an enjoyable night with new faces, and experienced something I never would have done on my own.

I hope everyone had a Happy Fourth, cheers to our freedom :)