Monday, October 27, 2014

Missing about Boston...

 There are many things I find myself missing about the happening city I called home for 5 years after college. Its a great city, in so many ways. In fact, I remember a few years ago, reading an article that called Boston one of the top 10 places to live in the country.

So now, for the things I personally am really missing about Beantown...

1. Newbury street. One of the most famous in all of Boston. So much fun to stroll down.

2. Boston Commons. Loved walking through here, at any time of year. Though especially loved coming in the summer with a book, snacks and a blanket. 


3. Harvard Square. So many interesting, trendy shops here, great restaurants and a fun New England atmosphere.


4. The Danish Pastry House in Medford. LOVED this place, with their authentic Danish pastries. Phenomenal. I also worked here and loved that too. 

This cake was SO delectable. Chocolate cake with walnuts inside and chocolate mousse in the middle. Heart. Stops. <3


5. Good Mexican food. One of my favorites was Rudy's Cafe. The combo plate was bomb, with a bean burrito, guacamole taco and chicken enchilada. 


Another great restaurant, Border Cafe.

Black bean empanas with spicy sauce.  One of my favorite dishes at Border Cafe.


6. Boston in the winter time. Super charming, pretty and romantic. 



7. Beacon Hill. One of my very favorite parts of Boston and my dream address :-) love the appeared-to-be-gaslit street lamps and cobblestone streets. 



8. Amazing cupcake shops sprinkled throughout the city. 



9. Closeness of a fantastic city like Boston to....

New Hampshire

The Ocean.
The White Mountains.
NYC!!

10. Good pizza, available readily. Like at Figs on Beacon Hill, or Unos.



11. The happening Boston Breweries and great bar food (such as, onion rings, southwestern egg rolls, spinach and artichoke dip, quesadillas, mozzarella sticks, etc etc).




12. Fun nights out, such as stand up comedy at Dick Dohertys comedy club, or out to a hopping bar with friends and yummy food.

Towne bar in Boston 

13. Aerial yoga. So cool. I read about this in Boston magazine a few years ago and then had to try it. Needless to say, I went back many times with different girlfriends/my sister in tow.


14. The Medford Public Library. My god, I loved this place. I was here every week picking up new books. Those who know me, get it ;-)


15. A good burger. So many good burger joints throughout the city. Boo yeah.

5 Napkin Burger.

Boston Burger Co

Tasty Burger

UBurger

16. The charm, beauty and fun of Boston, in general. I love it.





17. And obviously, these Boston based people :-D (or, close enough to Boston haha)






Saturday, October 18, 2014

Fall Fashion Fantasies

Being in Europe has definitly hightened my desire to dress better.  Not only do I see the increased attention to fashion details here as opposed to what I felt I saw back in the US, but I get the sense that Europeans (generally) put more effort and fun into their own personal dressing than the majority of my fellow Americans do, I am sad to report. 

I have always loved clothes and leafing through fashion magazines like In Style, circling the items I covet but am unlikely to ever actually own.  Yet I am bummed to say I never really put a ton of thought, planning or effort into how I dressed until beginning recently.  I felt like I dressed cute/decent enough, so that was just fine.

This past March while on the train riding back from Austria, I noticed a beautifully dressed, classy middle aged woman in the seat across from me.  She was reading a book titled "You are what you wear."  I checked the book out in Kindle Format from my library and read it. 

Out of all the catagories that were offered in the book as being fashion downfalls, the one I fell into somewhat would be "style boredome/laziness."  Therefore, I have decided I want to change this.  Unfortunately my finances will not permit this to happen overnight, but hopefully in the near future, slowly but surely.

Therefore, see below for my recently compiled list of fall must-haves:

Black boots like these.  Love the buckles, short height and studs.



Black Skinny Jeans

1-2 Blazers I can wear casually to spiff up Outfits!

 
Small cross-body bag.  LOVE this one.  The "Classic Q Karlie" by Marc Jacobs.

Plaid skirt with red in it.  This one is cute!

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Oreo Cookie Truffles! YUM!

Crush the Oreos up into small pieces.  I put all the cookies in a plastic bag and then smash it, either using my fist or some other tool in the kitchen I might happen upon ;-)

Cream cheese...

Meltable dark chocolate...

This is roughly the amount of cream cheese one would need.  I crushed up about 40 Oreos and used roughly 1.5 package of cream cheese.

Mix well until its a paste-like consistency, like this.

Form dough into balls, any truffle size you wish.  Put them into the fridge for 20 minutes or so to cool/firm up a bit.

Meanwhile...

Melt the chocolate!!

Then dip each ball into the chocolate quickly (be careful, chocolate will be hot!!), place back onto a plate and put them into the fridge again once all finished.  Keep them in the fridge for around 25-30 minutes to allow them to set/harden.  Then...

Guten Appetit!!!!  Enjoy! 

Be careful.  These things are super tasty and super addictive ;-)