My dad always tells me he wishes he had done as much as I am doing as a young adult. In some cases, I feel like I’m not doing enough, but then there are times where I look at where I’ve come and am really impressed with myself such as yesterday when I passed the Google Analytics certification test.
Have any Google Analytics questions? You know who to call!
Marilyn Monroe coined the lyrics, “Diamonds are a girls best friend” in her performance in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. While I agree with this notion, diamonds cannot easily be made, nor can you have them every day. French toast, on the other hand, is a different story.
A few days ago, I received the April edition of Food Network Magazine. Boy was I ecstatic to see a spread of french toast. If you know anything about my food preferences, I could probably live forever happy on french toast and pasta bolognese.
What I liked most about this spread was that the french toast really surpassed the norm of its usual egg battered presentation. Photographs, taken by Andrew Purcell, highlighted 6 different breads that were incorporated for this tasty dish:
{Strawberry Rhubarb Stuffed French Toast}
{Caramelized Sourdough French Toast}
{Cornflake-Crusted French Toast with Bananas}
{Chocolate Hazelnut French Toast with Raspberry Syrup}
{Baked Croissant French Toast with Orange Syrup}
{Rum French Toast A la Mode}
I’m going to try the Rum French Toast first. Which would you try first??
This Saturday, Luis & I took a stroll through Harvard Square to have a change in pace. Our first stop was the Harvard Book Store. It was heaven to peruse through books. The line was surprisingly long, wrapping through the aisles of books.
Then we stopped in Urban Outfitters for some laughs:
Having had a fabulously filling brunch at Paramount in Southie, I was way too full for any large goodies, but it didn’t hurt to window shop. Some of my favorite finds were:
Cupcakes at Crema Cafe.
Macaroons, Pastries, and Chocolate at L.A. Burdick Chocolates.
We even indulged a bit and tried the Pavé Glacé:
Where did you spend your weekend??
Although it is not that far away from my apartment, I never really go to Brigham Circle. Recently, however, a friend of mine was in town for a conference at the Harvard School of Public Health and we took the opportunity to catch up. As I was not familiar with the area, I sought recommendation from a near and dear food guru: Yelp. The highest rated coffee spot in the area was Green T Coffee Shop, and I can definitely attest to its acclaim from my experience there.
When you first walk in, you’re instantly transported to a cozy living room filled with local artists’ work. A makeshift furnace by some of the seating enhances this notion.
At first, I was going to go with my regular skim cappuccino. There were an array of coffee syrups near the menu bar and one caught my eye: toasted marshmallow. Sounds weird right? Wrong. In speaking with the lady behind the bar, she pointed out some special coffees that they had, one being S’mores. I was sold from first mention. The best part about this place, aside from its great selection, was the fact that a small size incorporated 2 espresso shots instead of the usual one, but priced the same way. Can I get a hell yeah?
Veronica, on the other hand, was ramping up for St. Patrick’s Day by ordering everything green: iced green tea and pistachio muffin.
I didn’t taste the tea, but I did have a bit of the muffin. While it was pistachio, it had the taste of marzipan. It was yummy, but not my style.
I’ll definitely be coming back soon.
I’ve recently been trying to get into a health-mode kick – unfortunately, chocolate is a current weakness, but overall I’m doing well. One thing I like to incorporate into my meals is chia seeds. They are high in omega-3, a fatty acid that must be ingested from food source. Your body cannot produce it itself. There has been positive correlation with reducing inflammation and may help lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.
The top 5 things I see on the interwebs these days are:
1. Oatmeal Chia Bread from Hope for Healing
2. Chia-crusted Salmon with Asian Greens & Tamari Dressing from Crave by Random House
3. Circus Burgers from Food.com
4. Mango Chia Pudding from Healthier Steps
These last two weeks have been really emotional, long, and busy for me. But even in the craziest of times, there can be some amazing little things that really brighten your day.
Last week, I received a Stella & Dot bracelet from a giveaway I won on Girl Meets Life. Upon opening the box, it told me how gorgeous I was- the perfect compliment upon receiving a stellar bracelet.
Yesterday, I got a fabulous cookie dough cupcake from Crumbs. It was JUST what I needed. Also, it is the best cupcake I have had in Boston so far. (Any other places I should try out??)
What little things have really brightened your day??
Last week, The Boston Ballet invited me to the opening night of All Kylián. This invitation was quite exciting, as I had never seen any shows out of the scope of Nutcracker and Swan Lake. I was looking to experience something different, and boy did the three powerful works set the stage for just that. I must admit, I was quite confused at the progression of the acts; however, its avant-garde nature kept me intrigued to find out what was going to happen next.
The first act, “Wings of Wax”, debuted in 1997 at the Nederlands Dans Theater. The scene details an allegorical journey under a suspended tree from the stage’s ceiling. This ghostly tree is orbited by a mechanical “sun” (spotlight). Dancers come onto the stage in black leotards and move in such rhythm that it looked like their bodies are flexible, similar to the swaying branches of trees. This made me reflect on whether Kylián had envisioned the tree to be positioned that way – it falling from the sky and landed as it came into earth – or if we, the viewer, were we looking at the roots of the tree and the branches were simply stubs.
Words cannot describe how I felt during “Tar and Feathers”. You must see it to believe it. The backdrop to this act is very neutral but accompanied by the grandeur nature of a piano sitting on 10-foot stilts played by pianist Tomoko Muakaiyama. The scene begins with a roar – which sounds like a vicious dog – from a ballerina that looks serene and gentle: it seems out of place. Next, a voice recites the Samuel Beckett’s poem, “What is the Word.” It was quite a haunting sound and added to the unconventional nature of this act. As the act came to a close, men and women in plastic skirts and bare chests shuffled in in response to the recitation of the poem itself. Their bodies irked to the recitation. As it ended, a single ballerina exits the stage while stepping on bubble wrap that was positioned on stage left. You can’t help but look to the person you came with and let out a chuckle.
The show concludes with “Symphony of Psalms.” Unlike its predecessors, this act has a vivid backdrop: Persian tapestries become a visual focal point. Its vibrant nature is paired with a Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned Stravinsky score.
There are two nights left of this showing. Don’t miss your chance to see All Kylián’s work before The Sleeping Beauty comes to the Opera House. Can’t wait for that show!
In Italian, Coppa means the neck of a pig. The boar’s head at the entrance of Coppa interweaves the metaphor between decor and name. In my opinion, it should mean delicious. Last night, I joined my bella best friend Miriam and some of our friends in a celebration of her day of birth. This could not have been more perfect of a venue: dim romantic lighting, eclectic but fun beats, and amazing service. (I must note that we were seated past our reservation time, but the staff was so friendly and helpful you forgot that that was the case. That being said, if you’re a big party, make sure to make a reservation – this location is tiny, but adds to the intimacy of this spot.)
We received our first appetizer, some pork crostini, on the house as a token for having us wait longer than expected. We were not expecting it, but happily chowed down as we were starving. Upon sitting down, we ordered the Meatballs al Forno and the Tuscan Steak Tartare. As I mentioned, we were starving, so I couldn’t snag photos of these two appetizers. I did, however, get a picture of another complimentary appetizer: the striped bass ceviche. I wish this picture would last forever, as it is a rarity to find good ceviche in the city of Boston.
With all the deliciousness of the appetizers presented before our eyes, I could not WAIT for my main dish: Cavatelli con Pollo / Whole wheat pasta with chicken sausage and slow cooked broccoli. This homemade dish was utter perfection. It had the perfect combination of sauce, paired with some pieces of brocoli and chicken. What I liked was that it had a kick of spice in it. It was a very a-typical to my usual magnet attraction to any pasta similar to the bolognese.
I was so pleased, I will definitely be back soon. Keep an eye out for me!
There are many days where I come home and want a healthy meal but don’t want to put too much time and effort into what I cook. My go-to dish is broiled chicken tenderloins. It is quite fabulous and so simple.
All you need is a pack of chicken tenderloins and oil, salt, pepper. I also add garlic salt, but that’s a preference.
I like to pair the chicken with cous cous or salad, but if you want to spice things up, cut up the chicken and place it in a pan with a simmering sauce.There are many amazing flavors such as red curry, green curry, tikka masala, etc. The chicken is already cooked so it’s just a matter of letting the sauce get hot.
What are your go-to meals?
Those of you who follow my Instagram know that I went on a lovely run today. It finally feels like Spring and I cannot be happier. I hope we continue to have days like today in the future. No more snow please! You’ll find some of my favorite photos from the path I took below.
With every run, I make sure I take a few necessities with me:
1) Nathan Sports Hydration Belt – Hydration is key to a long run.
2) Lululemon Headband – I have so many frillies that are growing in. A headband ensures that they don’t whip into my face on my run – they can get quite distracting.
3) Belkin Armband – Let’s be honest- no one wants to have a sweaty hand and hold your iPhone and have it slip. This badboy nestles my cellular and ensures that I have steady music stream throughout the my entire run.
4) Polar Heart Rate Monitor – I recently got a heart rate monitor. It is pure genius – it really helps me gage how I am doing on my runs.
Also, don’t forget to take the key necessities (all of the below fit in my Nathan Sports Hydration belt):
What do you take on your run???
Please feel free to send me an email at littlemomentsofhappinessblog@gmail.com with any comments or suggestions. I would love to hear from you!
Little Moments of Happiness 