Dreaming Big: Part I

As I've alluded to in the past, I am a big (day) dreamer. In fact, dreaming is probably my most favorite hobby and what I spend the majority of my quiet brain time doing. Sometimes I dream about buying a house and painting each room, sometimes I dream about all the many careers I would love to try, sometimes I dream about my future little family.... always dreaming!

Last week, I had the best (sleeping) dream I've had in quite awhile, and it seems worth sharing.

In my dream, my mom and I decided to open a bed and breakfast in Vermont in my childhood home. We renovated, added a bathroom, redid the kitchen, created a warm common space, and painted and decorated each of the four bedrooms and bathrooms with a special theme.

We also built a beautiful traditional red barn out back. Two thirds of the barn was designed as warm, open, sunlit space. We partnered with local Vermont yoga teachers who rented the space to teach classes, classes that were then available to guests staying at our b&b. On weekend evenings, my dad used the open barn space as a venue for his band, The Usual Suspects.

The back third of the barn was built as a small scale commercial kitchen where I brewed kombucha, my dad and husband brewed beer, and my mom and I cooked up other special treats now and then. We sold all of these items at local farmer's markets and became an integral part of the local community.

When I awoke from the dream, I felt incredible grounded. Somehow my dream had combined nearly all of my interests into a relatively cohesive plan that involved all of the people I loved most.

Definitely food for thought.... Mom? Dad? Thoughts? :)

11 Things You May Not Know About Me

Have you all seen friends or family writing a list of things about themselves on Facebook? I don't usually partake in those kinds of things, but a distant family member who I hardly know asked me to, and I thought it could be a nice opportunity to do some reflecting. What would I share with the world if I could only share 11 things?

It took me over an hour to write the list below, because I wanted to be selective in what I shared. I wanted it to be meaningful but not heavy, and I wanted it to really reflect who I am. Although I was a bit self-conscious about posting it, I actually ended up thoroughly enjoying the thinking, writing and feedback I received after the fact.

I would highly recommend that everyone do this activity - it really makes you think about who you are! Assign yourself a number somewhere between 5 and 12 and see what happens!

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1. Christmastime makes me insanely giddy with happiness and joy. I love the spirit of giving; I love how strangers are kind to one another when they would normally overlook each other; I love the beautiful lights, the sappy music and all the special treats. Most of all, I love coming together with my family and friends to celebrate the year and our love for one another.

2. I studied abroad in Florence for almost a year and was nearly fluent. I interned at an Italian food magazine, took a class at the University of Florence, and lived with the best host family in the world. I miss it every single day and can't wait to go back.

3. My husband and I started dating when we were 16, back in 2005. He has been my best friend, biggest supporter and an all around incredible man every day since then! I feel so grateful and fortunate to have him in my life.

4. Earlier this week, I worked on a detailed antipoverty program description that was requested by the Obama administration in hopes that the methods my organization uses to help get families out of poverty can be applied universally. Kinda cool, no?

5. I started playing the violin in 4th grade. In 10th grade, my orchestra conductor gave me the opportunity to switch to viola. After only a few lessons, I was the principal (and only!!) viola player. Listening to and playing orchestral music will always put my mind at ease and bring a smile to my face.

6. I think the most important thing we can do is to wake up every morning, take a deep breath and make the decision to be happy and to enjoy every moment.

7. I absolutely cannot wait to be a mother - I am certain that it is the most rewarding, challenging, inspiring and beautiful job in the world.

8. I am completely tea-obsessed.

9. I somehow have the ability to be instantly enthusiastic about almost anything! For example, if I happen to go on a yoga kick for a little while, I'm suddenly determined to become a certified instructor. If I taste some kombucha that I especially enjoy, I decide that I should brew it at home and start a business. If I visit an elementary school, I remember how much I'd like to be a teacher. When I get acupuncture, I feel like my life calling is in holistic, alternative and complementary medicine. It is both a blessing and a curse, and makes life decisions a bit overwhelming!

10. I have fairly adorable toes.

11. My favorite form of stress relief is cooking and recipe browsing. I could spend hours in the kitchen, humming along to the music in my head, concocting new dinners and treats.

Vermont: The Magic of the Mad River Valley

The first thing I did this morning when I woke up was watch this video about the Mad River Valley in Vermont. I must say, it made my entire day!

I lived in Waitsfield, VT for a few years when I was little, before moving two towns over. I married my husband just three months ago in the Valley, overlooking Sugarbush resort. Some of my closest friends are from the Valley. The Mad River Valley holds a special place in my heart, especially as I get older and can better understand what a beautiful, welcoming, special place it is. That video genuinely epitomizes the Valley and all it is and all it means to those who live there.

Take the time to watch it and you'll see why Vermont, especially the area where I'm from, it such an incredible place!

Passion Brainstorm: Part I

I've decided that it's time to share something personal with the small group of blog followers I've accrued thus far... consider yourselves special!

For those of you who don't know, I am a big Google Docs user. I make grocery lists, plan the menus for the week, track Christmas shopping, plan upcoming events, and, most recently, have been working on what I like to call  my "Passion Brainstorm".When I come across an activity or job or idea that is especially appealing to me, I write it down. When I identify a specific quality in myself, I write it down. When I come up with one of my big dream crazy ideas, I write it down.

Why do I do this? Because it's actually incredibly empowering (although overwhelming!) to see everything I love and feel and think about life goals and aspirations all in one place.

So without further adieu, in the spirit of sharing this holiday season, I am going to share this brainstorm with you. Who knows, maybe it will trigger some great passion in you, or you'll have an idea for me! Pardon the lack of organization, it really is just a brain dump of thoughts and words!

Passion Brainstorm, Version 1.0

yoga

wellness

acupuncture

healthy eating

tea

food and cooking

babies and children

making people feel good

aromatherapy

writing

listening to music

relaxation techniques

traveling

Italy

tolerant

empathetic

positive outlook

problem solver

organized

strong writer

dual master’s in acupuncture and oriental medicine

midwifery

doula

yoga certification (focus on prenatal, postnatal, yoga with baby and kid’s yoga?)
work a part-time flexible job

later, get prenatal and postnatal yoga training, children’s yoga training

quilts?

kombucha - partner with vermont liberty tea? 

Thoughts from my mom (based on what I enjoyed as a child):

imagination

create worlds and happenings in which you were totally immersed

writer

children’s author

designer- baby clothes

playing house

taking care of babies

open day care

teach at private pre school

midwife

pediatric nurse practitioner

always played well with others

delighted to go new places

something to do with travel

italian

create an after school program to teach italian to young kids

Dreaming of Kombucha

Alright. As I think I've mentioned already, I have a new and growing desire to start home brewing kombucha (with the ultimate dream of selling it at farmer's markets around Vermont and Massachusetts!). I am planning on starting batch numero uno in January so stay tuned!

Now, I'm going to trust all of you with an important list I've been crafting for awhile... Please, I beg of you, do not read the following list and go start brewing and selling your own kombucha using all of my brilliant flavor ideas!!!!

Drum roll please.... Below is a list of the flavors I'm planning on testing out with my home brew kombucha. Some of them are genius, I know! I'm sure that some of them exist, but I haven't seem them around Massachusetts, and I've already found the perfect teas for all of them. Fingers crossed that a few of them come out as tasty as they are in my head!

• lavender mint (relaxing)
• vanilla maple
• classic coconut
• blood orange
• peach
• wild blueberry
• cinnamon chai
• coconut, ginger and lemongrass (energizing)
• cardamom, ginger, mint, fennel and clove (good for digestion!)

Thoughts? Suggestions? Feedback? I'd love to hear it all!

My Most Sincere Apologies for Being a Terrible Blogger!

I think the title says it all..... I am so very sorry for being the worst blogger ever! It's been weeks since my last post... and I don't even have a fabulous excuse. Sure, it's been really busy with Thanksgiving and now Christmas on the way, but that's no reason not to write!

Stay tuned for posts about holiday crafts and treats, big dreams and other various ramblings.... xo

Weekend Recap: The Great Central Vermont Beer Tour

Yet another wonderful weekend, this one spent in Vermont!

Over the past month or so, I have been talking with my dad about planning a brewery tour around Central Vermont and we finally did it!

We started in Waterbury, just a few miles up the road from where I grew up. First stop - The Alchemist! For those of you who are big beer connoisseurs, you've likely heard of the Alchemist's super hoppy Heady Topper, which has been making beer headlines left and right recently! While I personally am not a huge fan, we had to stop by since they'll be closing their retail store at least temporarily starting this week!

A bit of snow on the way up to Trapp Family Lodge!

Next up, the Trapp Family Brewery - one of my favorites! Nestled in the mountains of Stowe at the famous Trapp Family Lodge, the brewery is simple, rustic, and has picturesque views! All of Trapps' beers are great traditional German brews, each one better than the next. My personal favorites? The Dunkel and the Oktoberfest!

After Trapp, we made a quick stop at Crop Bistro and Brewery in Stowe. This a relatively new brewery and I hadn't tried any of their brews before. They had a great variety of their own beers, as well as some other good microbrews. If you like IPAs, the Idletyme was pretty tasty, at least according to my dad! For me personally, I LOVED the Weizenbock, a dark malty and slightly sweet beer.

Our next stop was Rock Art in Morrisville - one of my (new!) favorites! Their variety is incredible, and their prices even better! I was a big fan of the Extreme Pumpkin Imperial Spruce Stout which was surprising considering I don't like most stouts and I've never met an Imperial anything that I liked! This brew wasn't too pumpkin, or too spruce, or too stout, but it was delicious! I also enjoyed the Rock Art 2013 holiday beer. I was bummed when I learned that I had just missed their Maple Wheat Ale which sounds amazing! Next year!

The last stop on the beer tour was Lost Nation, also located in Morrisville. Although my hopes were high upon entering this cozy bar/brewery which was serving up tasty charcuterie boards and soups, they were quickly dashed. Of the six beers I tasted, 3 of them tasted exactly the same to me! And as someone who tends to love Oktoberfest brews, I was terribly disappointed in their overly hoppy version. The one beer I did find fairly tasty and definitely interesting was their Gose (goes-uh) which is another German style beer brewed with sea salt and coriander, with a bit of a citrus taste. Overall, I am very sorry to say that I won't be going back!

We had hoped to make it to Hill Farmstead in Greensboro, but we ran out of time! We later heard that lines to get into the brewery were 1.5-2 hours long! Phew, that would have made for a very long day. I'm hoping to hit up Hill Farmstead sometime soon, as their beers are top ranked in Vermont!

On our way back home, we happened upon a new little treat in Stowe - Stowe Cider! A brand new locally made hard cider company that will start hitting local bars and stores in January. Not as sweet as many hard ciders, it was the perfect end to a perfect day!

My New Mantra: How to Be Happy

Could it really be that simple?

At first I thought not. But then I started actively trying.

Every day for the past few weeks, when I first wake up - before I start grumbling and complaining, before I start running late, and before I let my commute get the best of me - I try to take a few deep breaths. I try to pause for a moment. I try to tell myself, "You are so lucky today! You just woke up next to a fabulous husband, you're headed off to work for a great cause with some of your favorite people and it's beautiful outside! Let's have a great day!"

I know it sounds completely cheesey and corny, but for the most part, that actually did the trick. Of course, there were a few days that proved more challenging - days where I woke up late and had to rush, days that were very busy at work, or days where I wasn't feeling well. On those days, I made a cup of my favorite tea, took a few extra deep breaths, and tried my hardest to stay focused on all things positive throughout the day. When I found myself getting down or frustrated over something small, I just took yet another breath and a step back, asking myself if it was really necessary to get so worked up. It rarely was!

I have to say, I think it's made a tremendous difference. I tend to be a little cranky in the morning because I never get enough sleep and I am always running late. This means that I often lash out at poor husband, whining, complaining, nagging.... you know how it goes. But since starting this morning happiness mantra, I've found myself feeling much lighter, much more carefree and much more loving in the morning, which tends to then last throughout the day!

Give it a try - I dare you!

Top 5: Pinterest This Week

1. I think this speaks for itself... This is something I've been struggling with - that is, putting things off because "I can do it someday". This applies to annoying or tedious tasks like cleaning, or getting back to regular yoga attendance, or trying new things that might seem scary, overwhelming or otherwise unachievable. But why not just do it now? What do you have to lose? 

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2. My winter go-to -- black on black on black with a flashy necklace or a great pair of earrings. Pair it with heeles, flats or boots and you're good to go. Perfect for work or a night out!

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3. I recently started a bit of a love affair with eggs. I've always liked them, but over the past few weeks, I've been craving them so often! One night last week when the husband was out, I made myself garlic rubbed toast smeared with goat cheese, topped with sauteed lemony kale and two fried eggs.... SO GOOD.

Which of the recipes below are calling your name? I could go for an eggs benedict burger right about now.....!

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4. I loved this list the moment I saw it! I have to say, I already use a good number of these words including beautiful, hullaballo, scrumptious, sleepy and skedaddle. During this special holiday season (I love November and December!) I think we should all make an effort to use some of the more positive words below. Thankful, for example. How often do you actually tell your friends, family, colleagues, etc. that you are thankful for something they've done? Go ahead, humor me and try it. I think we'll all feel happier at the end of the day if we give it a whirl.

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5. And, last but not least, to bring a little smile to this chilly Wednesday morning.... an adorable donkey. Yes, I do have a fluffy animals board on Pinterest. Why? Because who doesn't love looking at cute, funny animals! Who doesn't get a little rush of joy or a little giggle out of it?

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Weekend Recap: Full of Adventures!

Don't you just love those weekends that send you into your work week still feeling a bit high on life? I woke up this morning still glowing from the fabulously fun and relaxing I had with the hubs, and I'm hanging onto that good mojo for as long as I can!

Friday evening we decided to take a stroll through East Arlington (the opposite side of town from where we live), and check out the Day of the Dead Festival that was taking place. Turns out, it wasn't much of a festival - shops were open a bit later than usual, there was a mariachi band walking store-to-store, and a few shops were offering snacks like room-temperature quesadillas or chips and salsa.

Who doesn't love the toy store??

However! In our stroll through the area, we wandered in and out of a bunch of restaurants I've always wanted to try including Kathmandu, Ristorante Olivio, and Little Q Hot Pot. Although we ended up at Little Q, I can't wait to try the others!

Having never tried hot pot before, I was beyond excited. Little Q did not disappoint! We got half black bone chicken broth and half Mala (spicy) both, which were both heavenly and warmed us right down to our bones. For those of you who are new to hot pot like we were, the term mala is made up of two Chinese characters meaning "numbing" and "spicy", which is exactly how your mouth feels when eating this broth - not quite numb, but close! Mala broth is made with TONS of Sichuan pepper flakes, among other spices and herbs, and is incredibly flavorful (and the perfect thing to clear a cold right out of your system - just ask my husband!). The black bone chicken broth, on the other hand, has a more subtle flavor, much like the best chicken soup you've ever tasted!

Of course with hot pot, you need some tasty morsels to cook in the broth and being newbies, we decided to order a special meat platter and a vegetable platter. The meats included: sirloin, beef short rib, fish tofu, white fish, and shrimp. Veggies included: mushrooms, corn, watercress, spinach, baby bok choy, tomato, and cilantro. The short ribs, fish tofu, spinach, cilantro and watercress were undoubtedly my favorites! I am already dreaming of going back :) 

Here's my man!

After a wonderfully relaxing Friday evening (capped off with some Modern Family!), we started Saturday morning off with a bagel adventure. A family friend once told me that Kupel's in Brookline was the best Jewish bakery and had the best bagels outside of NYC. So off we went! Unfortunately, we failed to remember that it was Saturday morning and therefore, the owners of the bakery were observing the Sabbath. Next time!

Instead, we ended up at Bagel Rising with dozens of hungover BU students. Fortunately, they had great bagels! Unfortunately, they had no decaf coffee... so off we went to 4A Coffee, a fabulous local coffee shop that roasts their own beans.

A sunny morning in JP

Once I'd sucked down an extremely tasty cappuccino, we headed to the Jamaica Plain farmer's market, where we were disappointed to see that there were only 3 or 4 booths there! Onward we went until we landed at the Roslindale farmer's market which was much more robust! We strolled through until a little shop named Bob's Pita/Droubi Bakery caught our eye. Inside, we found our favorite Armenian string cheese, a huge bag of dried mint for $3 (to make tea!), a large container of cinnamon sticks for $4 (for the holidays), and some other really neat spices, like sumac, which my mom has been searching for! Such a great find! (For those of you who are wondering, yes, they sold lots of pita bread, too!)

After a few other stops and detours, we suddenly realized it was 4pm and we hadn't eaten lunch, and we were out of things to do! Fortunately for us, we happened to be near Legacy Place in Dedham where we discovered a rather amazing thing - the Showcase Cinema De Lux! (We don't get out much!) This Showcase theater is unlike any other movie theater I've been to. While you can certainly still purchase regular price tickets and munch your popcorn, you can also pay a bit extra to sit in the VIP area of the theater where you can lounge in your spacious, plush rocking seats and order food and alcohol off a menu and have it served to you while you watch the movie. SO COOL.

A prime view of Ender's Game

So that is precisely what we did. We sat back, relaxed, ordered burgers and drinks, and thoroughly enjoyed our viewing of Ender's Game (which, by the way, is an excellent movie!).

We spent Sunday doing typical Sunday things... cleaning, laundry, football, steak, beer... you know the drill! All in all, we had a perfect fall weekend which made Monday somehow more manageable. I got on the train to work feeling energized and happy, like I could handle anything the day handed me. What more could you ask for, really?

What's Cooking? A Special Fall Birthday Dinner, Part 2

When we left off, I had just finished sharing with you what I made for my mom's birthday dinner a few years ago. Back to this year!

This year, I once again took my inspiration from my time in Italy. 

Aperitivi:

A mix of Trader Joe's treats including quince paste, pumpkin cranberry crisps and apple cinnamon goat cheese

Primo Piatto:

Rigatoni with creamy squash sauce, sage and rosemary

Contorno:

Spring mix with gorgonzola, pomegranate seeds, dried figs, crispy shallots and nasturtium blossoms

Dolce:

Pear-ginger upside down cake 

For those of you who haven't made it to Trader Joe's recently, get off your computer and go. Go right now. They have some incredibly tasty seasonal finds right now! This blog does a nice job explaining some of the many treats. Among my favorites (in addition to the pumpkin soup and pumpkin biscotti...) were the items I picked up to serve my mom for her birthday aperitivi. (Side note: Items from Trader Joe's are still a bit f a novelty in Vermont since there isn't a brick and mortar store there, hence why I brought store-bought appetizers instead of making something!) The pumpkin cranberry crisps were super flavorful and a perfect match for the sweet and tangy apple cinnamon goat cheese. Read: goat cheese rolled in the best part of apple pie. So good. I'm not sure if the quince paste is a season TJ's item, but it sure was good! A bit sweet, a bit citrusy, and perfect with the goat cheese and crisps.

Next up: Salad. Who doesn't love a tasty fall salad? For this one, I wanted to go for a mix of textures and colors hence the dried figs, pomegranate seeds, crispy shallots and nasturtium blossoms. I used my favorite dressing from Trader Joes - a light champagne vinaigrette that blended perfectly with the sweet figs, tangy gorgonzola and tart pomegranate seeds. 

For dinner, I channeled my Italian host mother who used squash to make the most comforting pasta sauce I've ever encountered - and it's simple too! To start, all you need to do is roast two butternut squash (although I bet you could use acorn or delicata, too!) until they are very, very sweet and tender. Next, saute onions and garlic until they begin to caramelize. Then you'll want to mash the squash and add it to the onion mix. Add salt and pepper to taste. I then added finely minced rosemary and red pepper flakes, but that's up to you! You could also add sage. Finish off the sauce by adding cream (light, heavy, Italian panna, doesn't matter!) until the sauce reaches your desired creaminess. If it's still too thick, I like to add chicken or vegetable broth. Serve over your favorite short pasta with some freshly grated parmesan and some crispy fried sage leaves - voila! 

And finally... dessert! My mom has always loved ginger cake but I wanted to make something a little more special this year. After much searching, I found a beautiful photograph of a pear upside down ginger cake (thank you, Pinterest!). Unfortunately, the measurements were in grams and that's always a bit complicated and tricky! After much searching, I stumbled across this recipe on Epicurious. SO DELICIOUS! For once, I followed the recipe (almost) to the T! (I may have added a little extra ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves, and I would highly recommend you do the same!). Mine didn't come out nearly as beautiful as some of the photographs online, but it sure was tasty!! Next time, though, I think I'd like to try adding some chopped crystallized ginger for a little extra kick! 

That's all for now, folks! Check in soon for yoga studio reviews and a recap of what is bound to be a spectacular weekend! xo

What's Cooking? A Special Fall Birthday Dinner, Part 1

A few weeks ago, my husband and I traveled home to Vermont for a long weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday. Pretty much without fail, I cook my mom a special birthday dinner every year. 

For example, when I was in college, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy for a year. The following year for my mom's birthday, I made her an Italian inspired meal. The post below is from my (short-lived) food blog that I started in college: 

I decided that I would make her an Italian dinner using recipes I acquired in Italy as well as some newer ones I had found grazie alla Food Network.

Here's the menu:

Aperitivi:

Grilled rustic bread rubbed with fresh garlic and topped with cannellini beans and sauteed kale 

Homemade tuna-stuffed cherry peppers 

Primo Piatto:

Champagne risotto with asparagus and crispy prosciutto

Contorno:

Baby arugula salad with onions and goat cheese tossed in a homemade mock Caesar dressing

First, I prepared the aperitivi, or appetizers. Although I was hesitant, after trying tuna-stuffed peppers in Italy, I was hooked! They are so tangy and spicy and salty and delicious - just the right amount of salt counteracted by the sharp zip of the cherry peppers. Unfortunately (or perhaps not), prepared stuffed peppers are hard to come by in the United States so I made them from scratch. I purchased a jar of Italian cherry peppers, Italian tuna, Italian anchovies and then grabbed a lemon, some capers and a dash of olive oil. After slicing the top off the pepper and scooping out the inside, I prepared the tuna (mixed with minced capers and anchovies, a bit of lemon juice and a bit of olive oil to hold it all together), and I stuffed the peppers. I let them sit so the flavors could come together and let me tell you, one hour later, I had some INCREDIBLE, very spicy, perfectly salty Italian tuna-stuffed cherry peppers. Definitely a success. 

For a second aperitivo, I toasted some Vermont-made rustic farm bread, rubbed it with fresh garlic cloves, and topped it with some warm cannellini beans, finishing with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil. Given that my mom doesn't even like beans, this was risky, but she loved it! The warm beans atop hot garlic toast with just that hint of salt and olive oil makes for a very comforting and cozy snack! I had planned on using kale to create a second topping for the garlic infused bread, but after going through the entire kale cleaning process and sautéing it in garlic, oil and hot red pepper flakes, we found that we were just a bit too full and decided to save the kale for omelettes and lunch on another day. It was still pretty tasty though!  While we were digesting our delicious aperitivo, we ("we" being my  mom, dad and I, by the way!) shared a bottle of cava from Spain. We had tried to buy some Italian prosecco, but the cava was on sale and I'm not one to turn down a great bottle of bubbly when its on sale! 

Next came the fun, and most delicious, part - the risotto. Perusing the Food Network website, I had stumbled across this incredible recipe for Champagne risotto. I had to try it. Other than your usual risotto-making process, this recipe called for crispy prosciutto. I figured that would be pretty simple. Lightly oil a baking sheet, lay the prosciutto down, bake at 450 degrees F for 6-8 minutes. If only it were that simple! In order for that to work, one has to remember that when the timer goes off, it means that you need to REMOVE the baking sheet from the oven, not leave it until wafts of smoke start to fill the kitchen and you are left with a heap of black, unidentifiable objects on an aluminum baking sheet. Ooops! My dad promptly left to buy more prosciutto. The second time around I achieved the proper result - perfectly crispy, warm, incredible-smelling prosciutto to be crumbled on top of the creamy risotto mixed with blanched asparagus. 

Note: I can never EVER follow a recipe without changing at least one small thing, and unfortunately, once I've done it once, I never remember what I changed ever again! This time, I will tell you that I added about a tablespoon of lemon juice just for some extra kick. It was an excellent choice! The risotto was creamy, rich, subtle yet flavorful and just all-around delectable! 

Finally, I threw together a very simple baby arugula salad with onions, goat cheese and mock Caesar dressing (lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, fresh ground pepper and Dijon mustard whisked together and set aside for an hour or so). There's nothing like a crisp, green, fresh salad to soothe your palate and end a somewhat heavy, creamy meal! 

To be continued...

Try This: Candles for Every Occasion

Stressed? Overtired? Looking for some romance? Hoping to perk up your mood a little bit? Try lighting a candle!! I've recently discovered how powerful an effect candles can have on my mood and general sense of well being.

Quick background... I am a person who loves to save things. That special cheese I bought at the farmer's market last weekend? I might accidentally save that for a special dinner party that doesn't occur for another 2 months, at which point, oops! The cheese is moldy. The beautiful candles we received as a wedding gift? Those could sit unused for another 2 years, waiting for a particularly special occasion.

Ridiculous, right?

So I've decided to change my ways. Rather than saving things for days that may never occur, I am using the things I love, and I'm using them whenever I want!

Since the wedding, my amazing husband and I have been doing some serious cleaning, purging and organization of our apartment in hopes of making it feel larger and more like home. During this process, I found an enormous number of beautiful candles. I always love candles when I see them, so I've purchased quite a few over the years, plus I often receive them as gifts.

One night, I decided that the bathrooms should have candles in them. I loved it! The gentle scent of lemon or lavender floating through the apartment made it feel so comforting and relaxing, plus it instantly spruced up the feeling of the bathrooms!

A few nights later, I was doing some gentle yoga at home and decided that lighting a candle and dimming the lights could feel really wonderful. And it did! I could suddenly breathe deeper and easier, and by the time I finished my brief yoga session, I was more relaxed than I had been in weeks!

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Now, we not only read by candlelight and leave candles lit in the bathrooms, but we eat by candlelight and snuggle in bed by candlelight. Instant romance!

It may sound silly, but don't knock it 'til you try it! I think you might be pleasantly surprised!

Helpful advice: I often find the best deals on beautiful candles at places like TJMaxx, Home Goods and Target - or I buy small votives at the Yankee Candle outlet store!

Some of my favorite scents? Lemon, apple, mandarin, lavender, spruce (or any other form of fir tree that reminds me of winter in Vermont!), cinnamon, and light vanilla (not too sweet!).

Life Post-Wedding: 7 Ways to Get Back on the Wellness Bandwagon!

So let me just say... planning a wedding takes a lot out of you!

A quiet moment after my 9.14.13 ceremony
Photo courtesy Ember Photography, Vermont

Now mind you, I was a hyper-organized bride. Spreadsheets, color-coded lists, Pinterest boards galore. I'm not sure if being so organized made me crazier and more exhausted, or not, but I wouldn't have done it any other way!

Leading up to the wedding, I was very focused on eating well, sleeping, exercising, breathing and maintaining great overall well-being - 1) because I wanted to look my best and 2) because it kept me sane.

Somehow, in the weeks after our honeymoon (perhaps the honeymoon is the culprit!!), I've slipped into old habits that work against wellness in every way... I've been eating whatever I want, whenever I want; drinking alcohol at home during the week rather than just socially; and not exercising because I'd rather lounge on the couch....

It just isn't working for me anymore! I feel a little blue, a lot bloated, and I completely lack energy and motivation!

Here are the 7 things I'll be focusing on over the next few weeks to get back to my happiest, healthiest self:

1. Plan menus for each week in advance!
This has always helped keep my lunches healthy and balanced, and allows me to create a very specific, limited grocery shopping list (read: no aisle browsing... no unnecessary snack purchases... no produce going bad when I don't use it in time!). We have even started using Stop & Shop's Peapod delivery service which further cuts back on browsing and buying unhealthy and/or unnecessary treats!

2. Take the stairs.
We live on the 5th floor of a large apartment building with an elevator... As difficult as it is at the end of a long day after a long commute, I always feel better when I take the stairs! My commute to Boston involves a few subway stations and rather than take the escalator, I try to take the stairs when possible. I also try to walk the last little bit instead of hoping on another T car!

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3. No alcohol during the week! Fortunately, I'm a lightweight, so when it comes to social drinking out with friends, I can never have more than 1 or 2, and I'm okay with that a few nights a week if we're off having fun somewhere. Otherwise, there just isn't a reason to drink alcohol at home on a Tuesday, on the couch while watching re-runs of Glee! ;)

4. Get outside every day.
Take a walk at lunch. Go for a run after work. Something! I always feel a million times happier and healthier when I've had the chance to breathe in some fresh air, especially this time of year when it's so crisp and beautiful outside.

4. Drink tons of water. Enough said.

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6. No buying lunch!! 
I am lucky enough to work in Downtown Boston.... this means unlimited access to dozens of tasty, tempting lunch spots and food trucks. Instead of indulging, my goal is to bring a home-packed healthy lunch and snacks each day!

7. Yoga.
Before the wedding, I was doing yoga once, if not twice, a week. It made me feel so much less stressed and so much lighter and yet rooted at the same time. In addition to going out for a few runs each week before the snow comes, I am in desperate need of a little yoga in my life!

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Try it out - I bet you'll be feeling great in a matter of weeks!

xo

Top 6: Pinterest This Week

Perhaps now would be a good time to share a (not so secret) secret with all of you...

I am obsessed with Pinterest. Check out my (many) boards here.

Besides being incredibly useful for wedding inspiration and organization, I love the fitness inspiration, workout suggestions, home decorating ideas, DIY projects and recipes.

Therefore, I thought it might be fun to periodically post some of my favorite recent Pinterest finds, serious or otherwise

1. So true!

2. I love things like this! Try some of these pressure points out - you'll be amazed by how well they work!

3. I made this Mexican hot chocolate recently for a party.... it was heavenly!! You can find the recipe here, although I substituted and tweaked a few things! For one, I used skim milk instead of whole. I added a heck of a lot more chocolate, and then subsequently, more milk to thin it out after it thickened. And I might have added a bit more chocolate liqueur ;)

4. Castello Sammezzano, Tuscany, Italy. Wouldn't you love to visit this castle? Nestled in a lovely park, it was built in the 1600s and is now abandoned, but once served as a luxury hotel!

5. When I was a little girl, I adored Cinderella (okay, maybe this is still true...) so this pumpkin caught my eye!

6. Last but not least.... could you die? How sweet is this photo? Completely irrelevant, but what girl doesn't love a picture of a beautiful baby being kissed by a father?

What's Cooking? Sunday Soups and Muffins & Monday Asian Inspired

I love cooking. Maybe even more than cooking, I love browsing recipes and altering them ever-so-slightly to make them my own.

Over the past few days, I've been cooking up a mini-storm!

Sunday, I started with something I've been dying to make for months - thai chicken soup! For the most part, I followed this recipe from the Food Network, though I did make a few subtle changes. For one, I used jalapenos instead of Thai chiles, only because I couldn't find any of those. Secondly, I used less fish sauce (not a huge fan...) and a little extra ginger, garlic, lemongrass and lime leaves. My poor husband isn't a huge citrus fan, so he thought I went a little overboard, but I thought it was just right!

Photo courtesy MyRecipes.com

Next, I made some pumpkin spice muffins - easiest recipe ever! (But of course, I tweaked a few things!)

I took a box of spice cake mix and added 1 can of pumpkin, 2 eggs, a little vanilla almond milk, chia seeds and flax meal. I popped them into a 325 degree oven for about 25 minutes. That's it! They were moist (a little sticky, actually, but in a good way), and so flavorful! Definitely a hit in the office.

Photo courtesy Laurelism

To start off the week right, I made a light and super tasty Meatless Monday night dinner (does fish count??)!

We had salmon lightly marinated in a teriyaki glaze I picked up at HMart, our local Asian grocery. I am a strong believer in the high-heat method of cooking salmon - move your oven shelf up toward the top of the oven, pre-heat to 475 degrees, and cook for 8-12 minutes depending on the thickness of your salmon. This is a never-fail recipe for me - it always results in moist, flavorful salmon. 

To go alongside the salmon, I made my favorite soba noodles with peanut sauce - made with PB2! If you haven't tried PB2, you have to! It's powdered peanut butter, essentially dehydrated peanuts in powder form, with all the fat and calories sucked out! Check it out here. Side note: definitely try the chocolate peanut butter, too! It's amazing in a smoothie with a banana and almond milk!

Anyway - back to PB2 peanut sauce.... Mix about 10 tablespoons of PB2 with a small amount of water until it reaches a nice creamy consistency. Add 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon chili oil, 3-4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame seeds and sliced scallions to your liking. Cook the soba noodles per the instructions on the package and toss with the peanut sauce - ta da! 

To finish off the plate, I sauteed kale with garlic, oil, red hot chili pepper flakes, salt, pepper and lemon. Easy, tasty and full of such good nutrients! Side note: This is also not my husband's favorite meal.... :) Too bad for him because I absolutely love it! 

P.S. Despite this healthy meal, I may have ended the night with a scrumptious lemon-filled donut from the famous Gail Ann's in Arlington! Ooopsies ;)

Top 5: David's Tea

As promised, here are my top five favorite teas from David's Tea - I seriously recommend you go find a local David's Tea store or make an online order!

*****

Quick lesson in tea: Pu'erh, oolong, black and green teas are all made from the same plant - the Camellia sinensis. Though the same plant is used, each tea is made using a different process. Black tea is fully fermented, oolong tea is partially fermented, green tea is not fermented at all, and pu'erh is post-fermented. In other words, pu'erh is fermented and then aged in high-humidity. It is said that the longer a pu'erh tea is aged, the better it tastes. Rooibos tea is made from the leaves of the African red bush plant. Herbal teas can be made from fruits, nuts, flowers, and herbs. 

*****

1. Pu'erh Tea: moderately caffeinated; thought to lower cholesterol due to the presence of lovastatin which is also used in prescription medicine to lower cholesterol; recent studies show that pu'erh may also lower certain blood fats (triglycerides)

1st Place: Chocolate Orange
This tea is decadently delicious. The dark chocolatey taste paired with the sweet light citrus makes for a sweet treat that's equally wonderful in the morning, and at night for dessert (if you can handle caffeine before bed!)







Runner Up: Cinnamon Heart
Cinnamon Heart is warm and cozy and sweet - just like cinnamon candies! I love starting my day with a cup, especially knowing that cinnamon is said to kickstart your metabolism.






2. Oolong: lightly caffeinated; used to improve mental alertness, and prevent cancer, tooth decay, osteoporosis and heart disease; some believe that oolong can be used to treat obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and skin allergies, and to boost the immune system.

1st Place: Happy Kombucha
This oolong is made with powdered kombucha, another kind of fermented tea that is thought to have many wellness benefits that may include: improved immune system, digestive system, and joints, and a cleansing ability. Happy Kombucha is full of tasty mango and pineapple morsels, making it a refreshing tropical tea.







Runner Up: Citron Oolong
Citron Oolong is a soothing blend of lemon myrtle and jasmine blossoms, resulting in a somewhat floral yet lemony tea. Excellent with a bit of honey! A little birdy (AKA a David's Tea employee) let me in on a little secret - this tea is delicious as a cocktail with gin and a splash of seltzer!



3. Black Tea: Most caffeinated tea of those listed here; common counterpart to coffee; full of antioxidants; some believe that black tea can prevent cancer and reduce clogged arteries.

1st Place: Mint Julep
Having never had a true mint julep, the alcoholic kind, that is, I can't tell you how this tea compares. But I can tell you that's a deliciously refreshing combination of black tea, spearmint, pineapple and coconut and it's great both hot and iced!






Runner Up: Organic Blueberry Jam
The first time I had Blueberry Jam, it was in Tea Pop form. Tea Pop is what David's Tea calls their blend of concentrated tea mixed with seltzer, and boy, let me tell you - SO GOOD! Slightly sweet, and definitely blueberry flavored, this tea is a huge hit for me whether its with bubbles or not. I have a feeling this would be a good tea to try in concentrated form with a little champagne :)




4. Rooibos Tea: not caffeinated; full of antioxidants and minerals; encourages restful sleep; thought by some to prevent cancer and aid with digestion

1st Place: Mint Chocolate
Mint Chocolate tea... It's like a Girl Scout thin mint in liquid form, without the calories. Need I say more? Try it hot or iced with milk!








Runner Up: Organic Cinnamon Rooibos Chai
Like the Cinnamon Heart pu'erh, this tea is chock full of sweet cinnamony flavor. Add to that the cloves and orange peel and you have one tasty cup of tea!



5. Herbal Tea: not caffeinated; promotes digestive health, restful sleep, a calm mind or renewed energy depending on the ingredients; hydrating; aromatheraputic effects

1st Place: Midsummer Night's Dream
This tea is as magical as it sounds. It is as delicious as it is aesthetically stunning. Made from a blend of apple bits, spearmint, gooseberries, marigold blossoms, safflowers, and rose petals, Midsummer Night's Dream is both refreshing and comforting all at once. It's great hot or cold. Not in the mood for tea? Just smelling it will bring a smile to your face!




Runner Up: Bamboozled
I sometimes find it difficult to find herbal teas that I like other than the classic peppermint or chamomile blends. Thanks to David's Tea, I now have a a few favorites! Bamboozled is a fun, flavorful tea full of pineapple, peach, apple and bamboo leaves. Give it a try, and I promise you won't be disappointed!




I could go on for ages about dozens of other teas, but I'll leave you with this list for now. Feel free to comment or tweet me with questions about other teas!

Love,

Sera