Sunday in the Park

Well hello there sunshine! Just got back to my apartment after the day in the park. The park is what the Big Dig got right so far. So beautiful, even amidst the heavy traffic on all sides. It truly is a little sanctuary in the middle of the city. Today was filled with essential park goodies: Liberte' yogurt (the Plum and Walnut genre is my personal favorite), the game of Boggle, David Sedaris' hi.lar.ious whirlwind of a book, "When You are Engulfed in Flames" and a fresh coat of lavender nail polish to top off the park-goer look. Though, with so many people walking around, the games and books are an afterthought to people watching. I've learned so much of people's personal lives today just by watching and hearing bits of conversations that I wonder who knows things like that about me?

A Very Veggie Easter

Today is Easter. It is also the first day that it truly feels like Springtime in Boston! Perhaps that is thanks to the gorgeous weather we're having, the incredible company and conversations we had, or the puppies I just got to hold in the park across the street! It is also the first day of baseball season, so one of my best and dearest friends is in "the best mood I could ever be in," so who could ask for more? For Easter I made lightly roasted asparagus piled high with freshly ripened cantaloupe and creamy mozzarella (one of my favorite combinations of food). Also included in the meal were roasted tomatoes, a huge Waldorf salad and spinach pasta with homemade spicy tomato sauce. A delicious feast topped off with cold bubbly champagne- Delicious! To please all of the guests, I made a vegan/gluten-free carrot cake. Almond meal in replace of flour is incredible and tofu cream cheese for the coveted cream cheese frosting tasted surprisingly just like real thing! Loads of strawberries layered atop my creation; The verdict- it was a winner! Going to basque in my veggie/ sun-kissed/ puppy love coma until my second wind comes to finish the leftovers!

The Greatest

Receiving letters in the old fashioned snail mail might just be my favorite form of communication. It's always such a treat to open up the mail box and have an envelope addressed to you (preferably with a variety of stickers and drawings on the outside). Letters are so much more satisfying than voicemails or texts, because you know the sender put some time and thought into writing it just for you! Another thing that is one of the most satisfying feelings in my world is walking into the Anthropologie store in downtown Boston. If I could live there, I would. It is the most pristine and magical place filled with the most beautiful clothing and even more perfect home goods. If there was one place I could raid, this would be it, hands down. Whole Foods would be a close second. I opened one of the drawers in the kitchen section the other day, and voila, a drawer full of timers. Who doesn't always need/want more time? Now I've got a drawer full of it. The sun is half shining and the wind is blowing my naturally straight hair into a giant tangle, but nothing brings this gal down after a stop at Anthropologie.

Ohh LA LA

My first impression of Los Angeles was that it was a big rushed mess. Flying into LAX after a 3 hour delay followed by a nearly 6 hour flight, bolting off the plane and down the endless corridors only to jump into the car, give my friend a gigantic hug and speed down the highway straight to a rave in downtown LA. After sitting in a plane for about nine hours, getting to the rave and dancing to electronic music was such a treat for my body. The birthday shots however, did not prove to be such a treat. After sleeping off the rave, it was off to the beach. Most of my time visiting LA was spent at the beach, which was a relaxing vacation from my usual Boston weather. It is such a beautiful place with so much nature in its abundance. The sun was shining every day I was there (proven by my new and, oh so weird tan lines). I found that it was the perfect place to visit, but I couldn't see myself living there. For a gal that is not too experienced with driving on the highway, this would be difficult seeing as the majority of the time, people are in the car getting from one place to the next. The perfect amount of time spent out west, and an exciting surprise of springtime weather now back in Boston!

22 and Fabulous

My twenty second birthday is looming around the corner and I am so excited! I've been told I will make a great 22 year old, so thats always good to hear. Hope I can live up to that. I am joined on March 14th with fellow Pisces genius Albert Einstein. I am heading out to Los Angeles to see some amazing friends for my birthday week (and yes, I will celebrate my birthday for the whole week). Looking forward to basking in the sunshine and returning my body to its summer glow. Happy Birthday to ME!

Bostonia

Growing up on a small island has absolutely made me sheltered. In the best way possible. I have never had a craving for McDonalds or wanted to go hang out at the mall on weekends. Moving into Boston a few years ago, I experienced many people who wanted to do these things and more. I have lived in two areas of Boston, Beacon Hill and currently, the North End. Both beautiful neighborhoods that most people say remind them of europe. I don't entirely see the comparison, but i'll go with it. The past week, Boston has taken off its many layers and embraced the sunshine! Many people believe this means they can comfortably walk around outside in pants and a t-shirt. Not the case, people! Let winter take its time, we'll be in the springtime soon enough! The two things I love about the nice weather are the flower shops that put their daffodils and hyacinth out in huge buckets on the sidewalks (with a soft breeze, the smell trails right to your nose. Delicious) and the restaurants that put up their outdoor seating (I live for Whole Foods outdoor lunches in the springtime). This year, I live a few blocks from Faneuil Hall marketplace, which is the perfect spot for people watching on lazy evenings or grabbing anything you could ever want to eat inside the marketplace.

Family Dinner

I was brought up always having family dinners. We didn't schedule a time that we had to be home for dinner, or make a big fuss over having to eat together every night, but it is just something we did naturally. Living on my own the past few years, I haven't really had a chance for family dinners, but I got the chance tonight. Its so much nicer to cook and eat together opposed to separately and alone. No good. Living with four people who have become like family to me gives me high hopes for a full fledged family dinner one day. Tonight, unfortunately, there were only two of us. I roasted tomatoes (enhances the lycopene=delicious and good for you too!) and ate them with fresh buffalo mozzarella, basil and beautifully made organic flax seed bread. Quinoa salad full of veggies and a heap of asparagus perfected the meal and with only two of us eating, we've got plenty of leftovers for the rest of the week. Yum!