A big hard sun

Two amazing artists and performers- Glen Hansard and Eddie Vedder came together last night at the Providence Performing Arts Center- I was so lucky to be there to witness. This video doesn't do it justice- but still amazing :-)  

So important to appreciate the little things, like the sound of a voice singing to you, even if its you and a whole venue of other people.

Love this hair

Every once in a while, Jane sports a look that makes me wish I had her amazing resources! The hair style below is my latest crave. Love it Jane!

Effortless Cool

I'm heading out on a work trip soon, the purpose of which is to scour the marketplace in search of the coolest prints, innovative materials, and new ways of mixing old favorites. With all that time spent shopping, each trip I inevitably come home with more than I packed. This time around, I'm on the lookout for a few pieces to help with a look like this: effortlessly cool, a little sexy, and at the end of the day, still comfy.

IOU

IOU is a clothing company for a great cause.They even put a code on each item of clothing! Entering the code online allows you to find the source of your fabric and even a photo of the person who handmade your new piece of clothing. It's nice to see a humanitarian company appreciate good design in & out. -Meg Lewis Via Apartment Therapy

I want a garden

Like this one shown on ApartmentTherapy today. Click here for a tutorial on what to plant and how to use it.

Health Nut

Bathing suit season is quickly approaching and I'm down right terrified! It was a very long, very cold winter and my pasty skin and ever changing shape did not fare well. Over the last few weeks I've tried the "cutting back" approach, but to no avail. Finally after some consideration and experimentation, I've chosen a low sugar, vegetarian, and low gluten diet for my work week (because who wants to be "that girl on a diet" on the weekends?) So, I've gotten back in touch with my favorite veggies and have been having a great time mixing greens in different combinations, and trying out new things like Quinoa (which is awesome!).

So today I'm so excited to have found a recipe for Quinoa Pumpkin muffins! It's been a while since I've baked anything (see "cutting back" above) and I'm so up for the challenge. Every time I make a pot of quinoa I think, "this would be cool in corn muffins". It could be the carb deprivation setting in, but I think these protein packed breakfast treats are going to be great!

The recipe is below if you'd like to make them for yourself. And please check out CarrotsnCake...where I found the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
• 4 tbsp butter, softened
• 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375*F
2. Coat muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray or line muffins cups.
3. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl; blend well.
4. Pour batter evenly into muffin tins.
5. Bake for 35-40 minutes until muffins are cooked through.
6. Allow to cool before enjoying.

Makes 12 muffins

Spring back to Service

The Service-learning Alumni from Bentley is really ramping up its efforts to stay connected to the community and one another. The group met this past Saturday to represent our center and our alums at Accepted Student's Day for the class of 2015, and then headed over to the Chesterbrook Housing Development in Waltham for a service project. It was the perfect day for outdoor work and the group did a great job spring cleaning at Chesterbrook! We finished up the day at John Brewer's- an old favorite of Service-learning and pretty much anyone who went to Bentley. 

Happy Habitaters

So excited to see this years class of Habitat for Humanity Alt. Break students make it to the news again!


I had the good fortune to participate in Alt Break in 2007 and 2008 while an undergrad at Bentley University. I heard Morgan and team had an incredible week and I'm so proud of them all!

Tea Mixy

I've been doing this for about a year now, and just started sharing the idea with friends. I've been mixing green tea with Tazo Passion tea. The flavor is bold, fruity, and earthy all at once. It's a great replacement to my "second cup of coffee" (in quotes because its technically somewhere around cup number 5 that I stop). Also a great afternoon warm up!

Wednesday Pizza

Since last night was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent, I made a veggie loaded pizza to avoid any meat. Normally I'm not much of a carnivore- only eating Chicken and Fish- but since I grew up on Pizza and Pasta during days of abstaining for lent, I figured I'd keep the tradition. Last night I used Whole Foods pizza dough, Whole Foods organic pasta sauce and Whole Foods shredded mozzarella. Toppings included carmalized onions, sauted peppers, and fresh basil leaves. I also added a ring of pesto just before the crust (a tip my Uncle Joe gave me), and lots of oregano, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic!

This year- as in the past, I'm giving up my favorite treat: ice cream. It'll be a struggle, but it makes the first cone after Easter really special :-)

A Lovely Night

A few photos I snapped before my Valentine and I devoured our take out dinner from Tangierino in Charlestown. We decided a low key night with a nice meal at home would make the best Valentine's day this year. I set up a little cafe table and used my desk chairs and an old silk red sheet to cover the table. It turned out very quaint and left us plenty of extra to really splurge on an amazing vintage bottle of chateauneuf du pape. We ate lemon chicken with vegetable couscous and Moroccan eggplant. Everything was fantastic! I made red velvet cupcakes with vanilla cream cheese frosting for dessert and my sweetie brought a bottle of dessert wine for us to sip on. It was perfect. 

please forgive the ugly cable wires!

my favorite mirror- made of recycled fashion magazines

our cute little cafe in the corner of my bedroom....

Eu Amo Voce

( I love you my dark eyed sweet one)
Happy Valentine's Day!

Below are a few things that made me feel loved today.

a french manicure I was able to fit in last night

red velvet cupcakes (not yet frosted)

18 red roses sent to the office from my Valentine

Cole Haan OTK boots in Grey Suede- a gift to myself :-)

Spread blush across the sky

Just picked this one up from Nate's Valentine's Day Mixbox: Alexander Ebert Million Years. It'll be on repeat this weekend as my sweetie and I hit the slopes.

Dedicating this one to my valentine <3 

Keep a Friend

Not a new song, just some new feelings for Dr. Dog's  Keep a Friend

Even rich men ask for more,
Well I ain't poor
But I'm a beggar for your love
And enough it ain't enough
You can call me crazy
You can call me anything you like
Even gluttons got to eat,
Well I ain't weak
But I hunger for your love
And enough it ain't enough
Well I'd pawn my heart if I thought you'd break it
Sell my soul if I thought you'd take it
But every smile and conversation lets me know that you're only in it for love
I intend to keep a friend in love
Please remember, I don't pretend in love
Even kings they ask for more,
Well I ain't sure
But I'm a pauper for your love
And enough it ain't enough
You can call me crazy
You can call me anything you like
Even rivers ask for rain,
Well I ain't sand
But I'm a desert for your love
And enough it ain't enough
Well I'd pawn my heart if I thought you'd break it
Sell my soul if I thought you'd take it
But every smile and conversation lets me know that you're only in it for love
I intend to keep a friend in love

Welcome Home Griff!

My roommate Griff, the most adorable and loving little guy, has been vacationing in Maryland for the past few months, and finally came home to keep us company through the long winter ahead! So glad to have him back, and those sweet eyes to greet me when I get home :-)

Isn't he the cutest?

Woopie Pie Wednesday!

We have been having food themed days at work this week to keep us all sane while we are busy with Holiday 11 briefing. Today was Woopie Pie Wednesday! I made these little darlings last night. They weren't as cake-y as I would have liked, but still very delicious! Recipe to be posted. In the meantime here are some photos.

Tabitha's Magic

In love with these heels by Tabitha Simmons on TheOutNet.com

Adorable!!! They remind me of some I'd found in in Hong Kong last year and didn't splurge on....maybe now is the time?

Back to the Blog

The weather is getting colder, and with that comes more baking for me! After a great apple picking trip with some of my favorite friends- I tried a new Apple Pie recipe. This pie is not your traditional Apple Pie, but it has so many of the same elements, just used differently. It was received very well by co-workers and family members, and they keep asking for more.

Here is the recipe for Grandma Ople's Apple Pie:

INGREDIENTS:

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie 1/2 cup unsalted butter 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white sugar DIRECTIONS: 1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off. 3. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes. Side note: I was nervous about the apples in there all by themselves, so I added about 1/3 of the sugar/butter mixture to the apples before pouring them into the pie crust.. Then I topped with the lattice crust, then topped as directed with the mixture. I also added a touch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice to the apples. Warning: your house will smell like heaven when this is baking! Caution: When this first comes out of the oven, its very liquid inside. Allow to cool before cutting! ENJOY <3

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup water 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Garden Party!

All of my friends are growing up. This summer alone I will be attending 5 weddings for friends- 3 of which are some of my best girlfriends! In addition to weddings, we have new babies on the way and homes being purchased. I'm headed to a house warming party this weekend and was trying to figure out an outfit when I came across these babies- Valentino Floral Patent Leather Wedges. So pretty. Sadly, at $295 on sale, I will probably not be planting my stems into these this weekend. But its lovely to dream...

Locals vs. Tourists

As summer approaches and tourism in Boston rises, I thought it would be fun to take a look at some maps which show tourist vs. local photos taken of the city. check out the source of the image and more cities here.