Monthly Archives: January 2017

January 2017: In a Nutshell.

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stellabella2017Before I talk about the rest of the month, I just want to take a moment to pay my respects to my cat, Stella- who passed away Saturday night after a brief battle with an illness. Stella went quickly- surrounded by her favorite toys, her treats, and the people who loved her and took care of her for the past 5-6 years. I buried her in my backyard yesterday morning, in a spot where I plan to grow a flower bed come Spring- and I’m going to miss her terribly.

Stella originally belonged to my friend Sam, who had adopted her when she was just a kitten and who kept her for a couple of years until an unexpected change in Sam’s living situation brought Stella into my home while pet-friendly accommodations were sought out. What was supposed to have been a brief stay- lasting only a couple of weeks- turned into months and eventually years. Stella wasted no time in acclimating herself into my home and within my family- and it took us even less time to embrace her and fall in love with her.

Having pets can be one of the most fulfilling and wonderful experiences in a person’s life- but when you lose them- it’s absolutely brutal. I’m going to be feeling this loss for a long time, and I appreciate my friends and my family for being so kind and supportive in the aftermath and while I work through it.

Apart from this recent tragedy casting a shadow on the final days of this month, January was a lot of fun overall. I started the month (and year) off with a relaxing weekend in rural Vermont, I celebrated my best friend’s birthday- as well as my own- and I recently had a spontaneous day off in NYC in-between working and getting political with the recent Women’s March (and I have a feeling I’ll be doing a lot more protesting in the coming months) as well as on social media where I refuse to back down to anyone who promotes or perpetuates sexism, racism, xenophobia, bigotry and intolerance. While the news continues to get more and more insane, depressing and infuriating with every passing day- the one constant is that I continue to stand up for the rights of others and myself. It’s a trend I hope to see more of throughout 2017.

I recently offered my experience as a paralegal to any attorney within my state that may be in need of assistance- free of charge- who were attempting to help refugees or citizens affected by Trump’s newly implemented travel ban. My grandfather risked his life in WWII fighting the Nazis because he believed in democracy and wanted to keep the country he loved safe from tyranny and oppression. His family before him immigrated here looking for a better life and opportunity knowing there would be struggles and plenty of hard work ahead of them- but that was the American dream. Watching people who have that same dream and/or simply want to raise their families in a safe environment be turned away because of the color of their skin, their religion, or where they originated from absolutely breaks my heart and I want to help them in any way I can.

I think Cher said it best in “Clueless”:

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But politics and protests aside, I’m thankful that January was- up until the night Stella died- pretty calm and laid back amid international upheaval. I feel like I really needed it after a crazy holiday season and an even crazier workload and schedule at my office. It was nice to have more downtime than usual to spend either on my own or in the comfort of friends and family. It gave me a lot of time to decompress and even more time to prepare for February.

So what’s in store for the coming month? Well, I’m kicking things off by getting in the Super Bowl spirit, planning another trip to NYC, doing some layout/long overdue maintenance on the blog (as well as my place), checking out a couple of new restaurants in the area, getting ready for the return of “The Walking Dead”- and continuing to spend more time with my family and friends.

But first things first. This morning I have an early meeting at work- so I should probably be heading off.

Enjoy the last day of January 2017, everyone!

xx

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Pre-Pizza Party: 1/29/17

January Hits List!

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Happy Saturday and Chinese New Year, everyone! If you didn’t know, today marks the beginning of the Year of The Rooster (specifically, the Fire Rooster)– and if that’s not another reason to get out there and have yourself a wonderful and celebratory day/night- then I don’t know what is! The Chinese Zodiac is fascinating, and if you haven’t checked out all the associations with this coming year (or even your birth year) like lucky numbers, colors, etc., then I highly recommend it. You just might learn something new about yourself!

I’ll be celebrating with friends tonight, more than likely digging into some Chinese food (as is tradition) and snapping some sparkler and Chinese lantern selfies- but before I get going on my day- I wanted to share some of my favorite odds and ends from this past January. In what has become a monthly tradition here on “Legally Redhead”, it’s my Hits List post: a re-cap of all the things I’ve been loving/using/wearing/watching/eating/etc. over the last few weeks.

I always start these posts off with the things/items I could easily photograph before I divulge other random and assorted bits and belongings that aren’t quite as easy to capture with a snapshot. January was chock-full of great stuff, so this post might be a little on the long side. Sorry in advance!

Without further delay- here’s what I adored in January 2017!

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January was all about self-care- inside and out- and that included freshening up my skincare and makeup, too. I’ve been sticking to and continually using some of my long-time favorite scrubs and cleansers, but I also integrated a couple of newer products into the mix to keep my complexion looking bright and radiant during these harsher Winter months. Without a doubt, my new favorite face mask is the Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask- which I reviewed earlier this month HERE. I use it once a week and still get the same, amazing results- and it’s just as fun to use as the first time I tried it!

At night, I’ve swapped my more oily, plant-based serum for something that will moisturize and tighten my skin without ruining my pillowcases. I’m really liking the ‘Rejuveness’ cream from POND’s lately. My mom had given me a jar of the stuff a little while back when I was in-between moisturizers and needed something to keep my skin hydrated until I could make it to Sephora- and I really liked it. Loaded with Vitamin E, collagen and AHAs- this cream is lightweight, non-greasy and doesn’t clog my pores. I wake up with softer, smoother skin every morning.

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Of course, self-care also includes getting a good and undisturbed night’s sleep, too- so I’ve been utilizing this eye mask from Pier 1 Imports to shut out any light while I’m snoozing. I know there are super fancy masks available out there that help reduce puffiness around the eyes or offer cooling sensations and whatnot- but this one does a fine enough job for me. The elastic is adjustable so it’s never too tight or loose, the satin fabric is soft on my skin- and I’m a sucker for zebra print.

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I picked up some new makeup in January, too- bold shades to brighten up my more neutral-toned wardrobe pieces this time of year. One of my favorite new additions to my collection is this golden/brown long-lasting liquid lipstick from Sugarpill. Accurately named “Pumpkin Spice” (with the matching scent to boot!) this color glides on effortlessly and dries to a smudge and fade-proof sparkling finish that doesn’t budge for hours. I am absolutely in love with the shade, and often pair it with my copper-colored eye shadow I’ve been wearing on the regular.

When MAC Cosmetics announced they were creating a line of makeup inspired by the Queen of Tejano- Selena- I knew I was all in. I loved Selena growing up, and wanted to get my hands on some of the collection (if not all of it!) After browsing the makeup- which was GORGEOUS– I settled on three products that I felt would better compliment my fair skin tone. There’s the purple “Selena” eye shadow- which is a spot-on match to the singer’s purple disco outfit from her last concert at the Houston Astrodome. Then there’s “Coma La Flor”, a vibrant red lipstick with a shiny finish- and “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”- a bubblegum pink lip gloss that doesn’t feel sticky or tacky on my pout.

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It’s a weird New Year’s resolution- but I’ve wanted to start wearing some of my perfume collection more often in 2017. So many friends and family have bought me gorgeous bottles of lovely fragrances- and I’ve worn them maybe once or twice before tucking them away where they have unfortunately been overlooked. One of those perfumes, which has stayed in mint condition- is a Prada fragrance (the “Amber” Eau de Parfum) my father bought me while he was away in Las Vegas a few years ago. It’s heavy with sandalwood and Patchouli- and perfect for this more frigid time of year. I forgot how much I loved it and cannot stop wearing it.

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Also new this month? My weekly planner. This coral and gold colored notepad is a lifesaver and is already filled from cover to cover with my appointments, engagements, meetings, blog post schedule, vacations, trip details, etc. etc. I check this thing nearly every other day to keep track of all the important happenings and due dates in my life- and I cannot thank my mom enough for picking it up for me. It was a lovely Christmas present last month! She knows how busy I can get.

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And finally- I am so, so SO excited that chokers are making a comeback. I used to wear them all the time with my friends in the 90’s and then during their brief resurgence in the early 2000’s. I have to admit that they are much prettier now than they were back then- and lately I’ve been sporting this ultra-sparkly one I picked up at H&M recently. It goes with pretty much everything and adds a nice touch of bling to even the most basic of ensembles. Here’s to recycling more trends in 2017!

That’s it for the stuff I was able to take photos of. Time to get into the random things that also made the list this month!

– MUSIC/MOVIES/TELEVISION –

  • “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia…” – One of my favorite shows of all time, the latest season kicked off earlier this month and it has held no punches. It’s been brutal, offensive-and-funny, and just as hilariously over-the-top. How I needed these five awful, terrible characters back in my life to make me laugh so hard I cried again.
  • Dropkick Murphys: “11 Short Stories of Pain & Glory” – I am always going to have a special place in my heart for the Dropkick Murphys. The guys are gracious, funny, and have given so much back to their communities and to the city of Boston over the years. I was thrilled when they released their ninth studio album earlier this month. It’s got the fast-paced and clever stuff I know and love, like ‘Rebels with a Cause’ and ‘Kicked to the Curb’- but there’s also a couple of slower and more somber songs, too- such as ‘Blood’ and ‘4-15-13’. My favorite so far has been the closing track, ‘Until the Next Time’- and I’m hoping to catch them live soon!

– TECH/APPS/GAMES –

  • “Resident Evil 7” – Out of all the video game franchises, the ‘Resident Evil’ and ‘Silent Hill’ series are by far my favorites- even when the games get ridiculous with their plot lines and character development or when they inspire awful movies. While I don’t personally own a VR headset (yet…), some of my friends do- and we have all been waiting anxiously for the latest installment in the RE series to be released. I’ve played a bit of the demo- which was absolutely terrifying- and later on tonight my friends and I are going to attempt our very first run-through together. If you follow me on Instagram– expect our results to wind up in my feed/story!

– MISCELLANEOUS –

  • My “2017 Keep Calm and Quote Movies Daily Desktop Calendar” – Another Christmas present to keep me organized, I had actually wanted to snap a photo of this tear-away daily desk calendar that I’ve been using at work- but accidentally forgot it in my office for the weekend. You can see some of the calendar HERE through Amazon- but basically every day features a different and popular movie quote, all designed similarly to the famous “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters. I’ve been having a blast reading each one every day- and some of the quotes have inspired me to re-watch some of my favorite classic movies or seek out the ones I haven’t seen yet.

And I think that’s pretty much it for this month. There were so many new and exciting things to make these first few weeks of 2017 wonderful and I can’t wait to see what I discover in February!

As always- if you have any of your own personal favorites for January 2017 to share, feel free to leave me a comment or drop me a line!

xx

Dirty Thirties

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Surprise Party Birthday Cake. Hay baaaaes!

When it comes to making plans, I’ve never really been one to painstakingly organize every single detail down to a T. Sure, my work schedule, my fitness regimen, my travel arrangements- all are carefully coordinated and carried out because I do need SOME structure and control in my routine- but hanging out with friends? Going for a mini road trip? Grabbing dinner? Seeing a movie or just walking around town? I like to keep those ends loose and the planning as lax as possible because I’ve come to find that by not micro-managing my free time down to the last second has left room for the unexpected and the exciting to happen.

I’ve had so many adventures by simply taking a different corner while out for a walk or visiting an attraction/restaurant/neighborhood I’ve passed by or through a hundred times but never actually stopped to take a really good look before.

Such was the case with this past weekend- which was also my birthday weekend and one I extended into Monday with a planned day off from work. While there was an outline of potential plans- dinner with friends, time with my family, and a day trip to NYC- nothing was set in stone because I didn’t want to stress about anything and risk dampening my celebratory mood and I certainly didn’t want the people in my life stressing about making my days enjoyable, either.

But they went above and beyond, anyway!

Saturday night, after treating myself during the day to some hair color refreshment with my stylist and a jaunt to downtown Boston to show my support for the Women’s March (and by now I’m sure most of you saw how HUGE that crowd was! Whoa!) I met up with my friends in Melrose for a lovely evening stroll downtown and a pre-birthday meal at Giacomo’s. It was my first time there but certainly won’t be my last. I love a good plate of Italian food- and not only did I practically lick my plate clean- but I picked at my friends’ plates, too. So, so delicious.

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After dinner, I thought we’d order dessert and be on our way- but my friends split the check among themselves and were quick to usher me back to their apartment around the corner- where they had the above-pictured red velvet cake waiting for me. I won’t say what I wished for when I blew out the candles- but I have a pretty good feeling it’s coming true. I was so touched and had such a lovely night. It didn’t hurt that the weather was gorgeous, too! I was outside with just a sweater and was perfectly cozy!

Sunday, my actual birthday- was spent getting plenty of birthday calls, texts and social media alerts while kicking back throughout the afternoon and evening with my family where we had a home cooked meal courtesy of my mother (lobster and scallops- which is our special occasion food!) and watching The Patriots beat the Steelers to become the AFC Champions and head to the Super Bowl in a couple of weeks. It was such a relaxing and laid-back day and was just what I needed to get me amped up for my post-birthday visit to NYC this past Monday!

Bright eyed (after some much needed coffee)– Sean and I headed out Monday morning to catch a train into Grand Central. We got into the city early in the afternoon where it was rainy/sleeting and a bit colder than we would have liked. We didn’t waste any time ducking into a couple of shops to look around and grabbed a quick lunch at Eat Here Now– a hole in the wall brunch/lunch spot in the Upper East Side that made just about everything you could ever want to order. I grabbed a tuna melt to warm my bones and it didn’t leave me disappointed.

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Not far from our lunch spot was Sprinkles Cupcakes, where I insisted Sean try out their cupcake ATM since he had never seen it before. We picked out a German Chocolate Cupcake (with whipped vanilla and pecan frosting) to share with the coffee we planned to have later on that afternoon before we headed back towards our train.

With the winds picking up and the rain coming down a little harder- Sean and I found ourselves at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’d never been, and always wanted to go- but there was one problem- we got there an hour before the place closed. Now, an hour is not nearly enough time to see everything this museum has to offer- and it’s certainly not worth the full $25 admission price to see one wing before having to leave- but here’s a fun surprise: if you show up to the museum before they close- you can name your own price of admission. I’m serious. Sean and I got to explore the Egyptian and Contemporary wings for $5.

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I’m already planning a trip back to NYC in the coming weeks specifically to go to The MET just so I can see the rest of the museum. The place is gigantic and quite beautiful- and I know there’s a lot I missed out on during my quick walk-through!

Before racing back to Grand Central to beat an impending ice storm that was set to hit Massachusetts on Monday night, Sean and I stopped at Joe’s Coffee to grab a couple of cappuccinos and enjoy our cupcake while we charged our phones and dried our coats as best as we could. The place was small, warm, smelled like freshly ground coffee beans and was playing some drum-heavy music (which was a nice change of pace from the usual smooth jazz I hear in most coffee shops) so I enjoyed our brief stay immensely- and the caffeine gave me just enough of a kick to not only RUN to the subway back to the station- but practically hurdle myself onto our train just as it was pulling away from the platform.

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Overall, my birthday weekend was pretty great. It was spent with people near and dear to me and was about as spontaneous and roll-with-the-punches as you can imagine. I had an incredible time and I’m looking forward to getting back out on the town this coming Saturday and Sunday.

And thank you again to everyone who reached out to me to send birthday wishes and good vibes. It meant the world to me and I truly and honestly appreciate it so much! You all helped make my special day even better!

xx

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Evening Lattes and Long Weekends

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cafenerojanuary1Happy Friday (and honestly- it couldn’t have come fast enough for me!) I hope you’re all ready for the weekend!

My birthday is this coming Sunday, and since I worked through this past Monday- which was a holiday for nearly everyone else that I knew- I’ve taken this coming Monday off for a personal day in order to extend my getting-older-celebration another 24 hours. I believe the plan is to head to NYC for an afternoon- but you never know what will happen! Either way- I’m very excited for a long weekend that I hope is filled with good friends, plenty of cake, and a Patriots win over the Steelers.

And if anyone asks- I’m turning 29. Again.

I digress- while I’ve been working a lot this past week- I did take some time to catch up with friends over coffee at Caffè Nero in Jamaica Plain the other night. I really like the atmosphere in the place. It’s nice to sit back and talk in big leather chairs and be surrounded by hundreds of books that stretch up to the ceiling. Any cafe that has it’s own personality is a place I like to pass the time and keep warm.

The cappuccinos were delicious- although it was a little late in the evening for me to partake in any of their incredible-looking desserts.

Next time, for sure.

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Next week I’m going to have the full birthday weekend re-cap up (which may or may not include a review of whatever movie my friends are bringing me to tonight to kick off the festivities!) as well as post detailing my monthly favorites and maybe another recipe post or two- but before I get too ahead of myself- I just wanted to say not only THANK YOU SO MUCH to those who sent me early and warmest birthday wishes- but also that given today’s political undertones- I hope those of you who are angry, afraid, uncertain and/or upset about Trump’s inauguration take some time for yourselves today to do something that makes you happy, makes you smile, and makes you feel safe.

Always try to balance your days with equal measures of positivity and self-love. You deserve that.

Stay safe out there, everyone. Have a good weekend!

xx

Quick Eats: Parmesan Truffle Fries

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Last week, I had mentioned dinner plans I had made with friends at Grass Fed JP in Jamaica Plain- and how their Parmesan truffle fries were so good that they had made me want to try my hand at whipping up a batch of my own. Well, this past weekend- in preparation for the Chiefs/Steelers game (and I’m still pretty bummed out about the Chiefs losing!)– I picked up the handful of ingredients I needed to make my own version.

But here’s the thing- truffle oil is kind of a pain to get. I checked three different stores around where I live and none of them had the stuff. The closest place, a good twenty minutes out of my way- had some priced at about $35 for a small bottle. The oil is apparently like liquid gold and twice as hard to track down.

Fortunately, the internet had plenty of helpful suggestions when it came to substituting other oils for truffle oil that would still keep the fries tasting good. Below is a recipe I scrounged up that originally included truffle oil, but I added some notes for anyone else who has trouble finding some and/or doesn’t want to spend a small fortune to get it.

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

  • 3 large russet potatoes (about 2 ½ pounds)
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2-4 tablespoons truffle oil (**or substitute extra virgin olive oil)
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

OKAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F

2. Leave the skin on the potatoes. Cut each potato in half the long way, then each half in half the long way. From there, slice the wedges into strips- the width of your choosing depending on how thick you want the fries (I kept mine on the thinner side, but you can cut them into bigger wedges or shoestring pieces if you have the patience!)

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3. In a bowl, toss the cut potatoes with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Lay out flat on a sheet pan and roast in the oven for 15 minutes. Turn each wedge over and roast for about another 15 minutes or until browned and tender.

4. Remove hot fries from sheet pan and place in a large bowl and toss with truffle oil (or extra virgin olive oil), chopped parsley and grated Parmesan.

5. Serve the fries hot and with your preferred dipping sauce on the side.

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Even without truffle oil- these fries tasted so good! They were crisp and full of flavor- and were the perfect pre-game snack to reach for instead of the usual chips, pretzels or crackers. What I like best about making these, apart from the fact that they don’t take long at all to prepare and cook- is that you can be pretty lax with the ingredients. You can substitute oils, add more or less cheese/parsley/salt and pepper/etc. and they’ll still taste great.

Of course, if you have any suggestions for these fries for the next time I prepare them (which will be in like a day or two, probably!) feel free to share! I’m always open to new ideas and suggestions!

xx

POPSUGAR Must Have Box: January 2017

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Good Morning and Happy Monday, everyone! I hope you all had a phenomenal weekend. I’m still recovering from celebrating Saturday night’s Patriots victory- but that’s another story for another day. Before I head off to my office to start another busy work week, I wanted to share what I received in my first POPSUGAR “Must Have Box” of 2017- which arrived a few days ago via USPS.

For those of you who may be new to these types of posts from me, allow me to explain. I was previously enrolled in three monthly subscription box services that I would thoroughly review each and every month. In mid-2016, in an attempt to save myself some money and better budget my finances- I opted out of two of the services and remained enrolled in the one I liked best- POPSUGAR’s “Must Have Box”.

What I love most about the “Must Have Box” is that it isn’t limited to one particular thing/type of product, but instead incorporates all sorts of luxury items each and every month- ranging from beauty, food, home decor, fashion & accessories, books, etc. etc. You never really know what you’re going to get until you open it- so it’s a lovely surprise every month!

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Every month, the items in the box revolve around a selected theme/inspiration- which is detailed (along with descriptions and price points for each product inside the box) on a postcard. January’s items, for example- were inspired by the words NEW, FRESH, DETOX, MOTIVATION, HEALTHY and REVITALIZE.

It sounds perfect for a new year, doesn’t it?

Let’s take a look at what I got!

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The first product I picked up from January’s “Must Have Box” was this lovely tin of peppermint loose leaf tea from Dean & DeLuca. While I’m very much a coffee bean type of girl- I have been slowly but surely trying to incorporate more tea into my diet as a means to cut back on those espresso-withdrawal headaches and late-latte shakes/jitters. Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors, too- so I’m sure I’ll be enjoying this shortly!

Side Note: I checked out Dean & DeLuca’s website to see what else the brand had to offer- and I’m gonna’ need an order of their Champagne Biscuits Roses De Reims as soon as possible.

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At work, I am pretty much a note-taking fiend. I’m constantly jotting things down, writing myself reminders, scribbling down thoughts/times/numbers/etc. so receiving some inspirational stickies from Happy Notes to decorate my (or my co-workers’) desks with was a fun treat. Each note features a cute pick-me-up message and a little decorative doodle on it to help break up the repetitiveness of each day.

Dibs on the “Fiesta Time!” one, though. That has me written all over it.

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And the award for the most amazing scented candle ever goes to… When I first unwrapped this soy candle from Glade and caught a whiff of it’s warm, coconut fragrance- I immediately thought of my last trip to San Diego and couldn’t help but grin. This affordable (and you best believe I’ll be buying more of these!) jar candle seriously smells so lovely- and it’s such an unexpected but pleasant fragrance to have around my home during these chilly months.

I swear, I feel a little warmer every time I light it because it just takes me back to my last weekend at an ocean-side paradise near the Pacific!

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At $85 a bottle, this acid resurfacing peel from GOLDFADEN MD SKINCARE might be one of the most expensive products I’ve ever received in a POPSUGAR “Must Have Box” and I’m very intrigued by it’s super effective- but still gentle on the skin- description. The combination of Lactic acid and Multi-Fruit Enzymes are supposed to provide some serious exfoliation while simultaneously smoothing out the complexion, fine lines/wrinkles, pores and imperfections.

Given how tough the Winter is on my face- I’ll be giving this a try in the coming days. Who knows? It might even make my January Hits List near the end of the month if it works well enough!

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Of course, if I’m going to be using a peel on my face- I’m going to need to keep my hair away from my skin and eyes- and this wrap towel from Daily Concepts is definitely going to come in handy! I’ve had a couple of similar towels like this in the past, and they are terrific and very helpful- especially when applying masks or makeup. I have a lot of curly, unruly hair- but the microfibers in these towels helps reduce frizz and fly-aways while it gently dries my ends and scalp.

Best of all? it doesn’t budge once you wrap/tuck it into place- so you don’t have to do that weird and uncomfortable head-tilt maneuver while you’re getting ready to keep the towel from falling off and ruining your progress.

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I actually got a new yoga mat in a POPSUGAR box last year, and I’ve been using it a lot lately- so this slip-proof and absorbent towel from Manduka is the perfect add-on to cover my mat when I go to get my stretch on and start to sweat but don’t want to slide all over the place while I’m trying to hold my balance.

I’m not exactly graceful by nature, so anything that can help keep me steady (and dry) is always appreciated!

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Like post-it notes, I also rely heavily on calendars- and this floral calendar/notecard pack from May Designs is a beautiful way to keep track of the days. Each card/month features a colorful hand-painted flower pattern, plenty of space on the back to jot down important dates/times- and comes with two plastic holders to keep the cards in place on your desk/tabletop.

I’ve been keeping this particular calendar in my kitchen- and the patterns definitely brighten things up!

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Each month’s POPSUGAR “Must Have Box” usually comes with some additional online perks/coupons, as well. This month’s deal featured a 15% voucher off of any order from Dean & DeLuca (the code itself was digitally covered by me) which means I’ll be getting those Champagne Biscuits Roses De Reims after all!

Overall, I really enjoyed January’s “Must Have Box” and I thought each item I received fit the month’s theme/inspiration perfectly! It was a great collection to kick off a brand new year with- and if this is any indication to the quality POPSUGAR is going to put into their boxes for the remainder of the 2017- I’m very excited to see what’s next!

xx

Bundling Up and Burgers…

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Jamaica Pond, 1/8/17

When you live in New England, making concrete plans between the months of late November through mid-March can be a tricky thing. Our weather is unpredictable, to put it mildly- and snowstorms/blizzards can delay even the most local of get-togethers. If walking along Boston sidewalks is stressful enough- then NOBODY wants to brave driving or public transport to get where they’re going. Nobody.

Such was the case this past Saturday, when Winter Storm Helena rolled through the Northeast and left highway pileups, plow/sanding delays, and dangerously cold temperatures in her wake. The storm seemed to be a surprise birthday present for my best friend Sean- who had made dinner and drinks plans with a large group of us to commemorate his special day well before anyone even knew the storm was coming.

Sadly, Helena hit earlier in the day than expected- leaving me trapped in Central Massachusetts where I had been running some errands until early Sunday morning when the roads were finally clear. I had attempted to get back into Boston in time for Sean’s party- but after the third or fourth time my poor Elantra began fishtailing on the ice was when I eventually gave up and turned back.

That doesn’t mean we didn’t celebrate in our own way, however. Once I was back in the city on Sunday- Sean and I (as well as our friend Stephen) made dinner arrangements at Grass Fed JP, an all-natural burger joint on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain that cooks up some of the best burgers (and truffle fries!) I’ve ever tasted. I went for The Cali Burger and have no regrets. It was delicious.

They also offer up some tasty sounding alcohol-infused milkshakes, but since I was driving- I opted to save trying those for another time (and also it was way too cold out for milkshakes!)

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I’m actually tempted to try my hand and making my own truffle fries this coming weekend- so be on the lookout for a recipe post at some point next week! I doubt they’ll be as awesome as Grass Fed’s, but it’s worth a shot.

After dinner- Sean, Stephen and I popped around the corner to grab our caffeine fix (although I stuck with hot chocolate since I was still running on a jet fuel level espresso I had earlier that afternoon) at 7 Pond Coffee Bar. It’s a cute, quaint, and tiny hole in the wall that you may miss if you blink as you pass it- but if you’re ever in the area- you have to drop in. Their cocoa is some of the best around- and Sean couldn’t get enough of his cappuccino, either!

With hot drinks in hand and Stephen heading off to meet up with his family- Sean and I braved the arctic tundra temperatures to take a quick stroll by Jamaica Pond before eventually retreating to the warmth of my car and then the apartment after we returned to Melrose for some much needed video games and binge-watching on Netflix.

My birthday- the next in line- is a couple of weeks away, and I’m just now picking a place for my friends and I to gather for some food and a couple of cocktails. I have a few ideas in mind- but here’s hoping Mother Nature doesn’t intervene and disrupt everything again!

As part of my “blog more/create more content” pledge for 2017- I’m going to start highlighting more of my favorite local eateries, too. Whether they’re old favorites or new finds- I’m always looking for recommendations for good food and enjoy sharing them with others, too. Grass Fed JP & 7 Pond Coffee Bar are just the tip of the iceberg of excellent places to check out in the Boston area!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

xx

Review: Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask

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For 2017, I made a list of products- skin care, hair care, makeup, nail polish, etc.- that I’ve been meaning to try and review in detail as part of my resolution to blog more often and include more content. For inspiration and assistance with compiling my “To Try” list, I turned to my social media and fell down the YouTube beauty blogging rabbit hole. If you ever have a snowy or rainy Sunday afternoon to get lost in that part of the limitless (and sometimes downright weird) vlogging world- I highly recommend it. There’s definitely a lot to see.

I digress. One product has been on my radar for a few months now- arriving at my door from Amazon last week- and I finally got to try it this past weekend in-between shoveling my way out of the aftermath of Winter Storm Helena (and I’ll post about that later on this week!)

Elizavecca, a South Korean skincare company- has a long list of masks/serums/creams/SPFs to detoxify, nurture and brighten the skin- almost all of which feature an adorable cartoon pig on the packaging. I’ve been fascinated by Korean skincare products for quite some time now- especially since they seem to work really and ridiculously well based on every review I’ve read and every video I’ve watched.

Out of all of Elizavecca’s products, however- the “Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask” was the one that not only looked the most effective for someone with occasionally problematic skin like mine- but the most fun, too!

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I can’t speak/read/write Korean, so figuring this out for the first time could have been intimidating to someone like me had I gone into this without doing any research, first. Thankfully, though- Amazon’s order page included detailed instructions on how to use the mask- and I felt confident enough after watching countless YouTube reviews/tutorials on the product that I knew what I was doing and could pull this off without incident or injury.

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I didn’t want to leave the product uncovered for too long, since I think part of it is activated by being exposed to the air- but the texture was definitely bizarre. It was almost like tapioca pudding in that it was bouncy and jiggly- but had little bits of coarseness mixed in it, as well. The mask came with a tiny spatula to apply it with so that potentially germ-ridden fingers wouldn’t contaminate the product that remains in the jar in-between uses- although I did find the spatula a bit tricky to use at times- especially when it came time to get the mask around my nose and temples (where I usually see the most blackheads/breakouts).

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The mask should be applied to a cleansed, dry face. It might be hard to tell by the picture above since I don’t have a lot of visible acne- but prior to putting this mask on, I had some serious blackheads around my nose and forehead. Winter has been pretty brutal with my skin these past few weeks, especially in New England where the weather is just as unpredictable as our driving- drying me out with frigid temperatures and causing my skin to overcompensate with excess oil one day and then the next day leaving my face dewy and shiny from humidity and even warmer weather- and when combined with my heavier serums and moisturizers I typically use this time of year? I see a lot of little blemishes and pimples spring up and they drive me absolutely crazy.

I washed my face as usual and patted it dry with a towel before I slicked my hair back and began applying this mask. I’ve heard different amounts of time to leave it on- ranging from anywhere to 10/15 minutes to 45 minutes- so I decided to settle halfway and use the Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask for a half hour.

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Immediately, this stuff started bubbling up- even as I was still applying it! Once I had it covering as much of my face as possible (where I could still breathe normally, of course)– I set the timer and sat down to wait it out. The mask definitely tickled as it fizzed, but it didn’t hurt or itch or anything. As the minutes ticked away, I did have to use a cotton swap to move some of the foam away from my eyes and nose since the bubbles were starting to overtake vital senses and functions- but I admit I was having a lot of fun watching my face look more and more like the moon emoji.

And you bet I took selfies. How could I not? Look at it! For those who follow my Instagram– you may have caught my Insta-Story where I was laughing so hard that the bubbles went all over me.

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After 15 minutes, I rubbed the foam/bubbles into my skin to let the product set and further clean my pores. It began bubbling again- just as big as the first application in certain areas- but already my skin began feeling very refreshed and thoroughly cleansed. My face tingled, but there was no discomfort at all. It actually felt really nice.

I let the mask bubble and set for another 10 minutes before I finally rinsed it off with lukewarm water and patted my face dry with a towel.

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To my amazement, my blackheads were gone. Not smaller, not “less noticeable”- but completely and totally cleaned out. My skin felt INCREDIBLE and had a really nice glow to it. It was soft, refreshed, and not dried out at all. I followed up with a quick sweep of my micellar water on a cotton pad to take away any of the mask I might have missed while rinsing my face and a couple of pumps of a lightweight moisturizer/sunscreen so I could go out and face the day and the post-snowstorm temperatures- but I was head over heels in love with this mask and blown away over how well it worked. So much, in fact- that I raved about it for a good ten minutes during brunch later that day.

Anything that causes me to stop stuffing brunch into my face long enough to discuss it at length is worth the attention. Trust me. I take my brunching very seriously.

While I typically use sheet masks 1-2 times a week to replenish and treat my skin after a long day at work, I think I’ll be keeping this mask’s usage to a once a week minimum- because it cleans SO well that I wouldn’t want it to dry out my skin by applying it more than necessary.

I give this mask two thumbs up for sure and cannot recommend it enough to those of you out there who have blemish-prone skin like mine or are just looking for something quick, fun, and easy to give your face a really deep clean and get any and all oil, dirt and makeup out of your pores.

I think I’ve found my new Sunday morning beauty ritual!

You can purchase Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask HERE

xx

Hello, 2017…

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New Year’s Eve, Vermont. 12/31/16

Good Morning and Happy (Belated) New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend ushering in 2017! I’ve been preoccupied at my office the past couple of days, staying busy and on top of my first-of-the-year workload- but before I dove into that, I spent an exquisite weekend in Springfield, Vermont savoring some much needed peace and quiet at one of my favorite New England getaway destinations- The Hartness House.

The Hartness House is a former Victorian-style mansion (which belonged to James and Lena Hartness) turned inn that is a popular destination for locals’ weddings, formal functions, and for skiers and snowboarders to lay their heads for a night before hitting the slopes in the early mornings. My first trip to The Hartness House was when I was about eight or nine years old. My parents brought me up for a weekend during the holiday season and I quickly fell in love with the house, the surrounding gardens, and the underground tunnels that lead to the gigantic Hartness Equatorial Turret Telescope on the property (James was a big fan of astronomy, as it turns out.)

One of my most vivid memories of my first trip to the inn, however- was sitting in front of the fireplace and a massive Christmas tree in a large library area and reading a book undisturbed while my parents sat nearby and played board games. And then, of course- was the food. The inn boasted an impressive menu and talented kitchen staff. My family and I were so thrilled with our first initial visit that we ended up making a few more stops there throughout the next few years.

So when it came time to make plans for New Year’s Eve, and the idea of doing anything other than fall off the grid for a few days and relax was enough to make my head spin- I thought of re-visiting one of my fondest childhood memories and booked Lena Hartness’ suite for the New Year’s weekend. I had heard the inn had gone through some renovations and a change of ownership in recent years- so I wasn’t sure what to expect- but my mind was immediately put at ease when I first walked in and saw the main hall in all it’s splendor (and still decorated from Christmas!)

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Every room- including mine- was adorned with Christmas trees. It was such a nice treat to walk into- and right away the staff were so unbelievably friendly and accommodating. On New Year’s Eve, as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight- I crept down to the inn’s tavern to grab a drink and a bite to eat. Not only did I get those things, but I got some funky 2017 glasses, a tiara and a confetti popper from the ladies who were bartending, too! By the time midnight rolled around- most of the kitchen staff had gathered together with those of us lounging at the bar- including a few locals who had dropped by- to celebrate and share a toast with us. I could not imagine a more pleasant group of new faces to drink champagne and ring in the New Year with!

By the end of the weekend, we were all on a first name basis with each other. Even though I had gone up to the inn solo- I never, not once, felt lonely. Everyone went above and beyond to make me feel welcomed and comfortable during my stay. I’m so grateful for their hospitality and laid-back natures. It was so refreshing.

And remember how good I said the food was when I was a kid? It was even better this time around. The head chef, Nick- is AMAZING– as made evident by my delicious NYE dinner and the follow-up brunches and breakfasts I had during my remaining days there. I couldn’t help but snap a photo of the menu and one of my meals before I dug into it- because it even photographed incredible:

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And while I caught up on plenty of rest at The Hartness House, I did take some time to explore some of the surrounding towns, as well- Charlestown, Rockingham, and Bellows Falls- where I did some antique shopping and marveled at the mountains while I sipped a hot cup of coffee.

I also discovered a lot of abandoned places around the section of Vermont I was traveling around, too- which is going to make for a nice follow-up trip to photograph them once the warm weather rolls around and I don’t have so much snow blocking my views!

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I returned home on Monday, the 2nd- but not before making a pit stop in Melrose to meet up with Sean, grab some Mexican food and catch up since we hadn’t had the chance to see each other since right before Christmas. His birthday is tomorrow- and we’ve got some big plans I can’t wait to get to!

Overall, my New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and Post-New Year’s Day were wonderful and very chill. If anyone reading this should ever find themselves in Vermont- I strongly recommend you make a stop and take a night to rest at The Hartness House. Being there is an experience in itself and you won’t regret it! I promise! Every room is unique and gorgeous in it’s own way, the staff are an absolute joy, the food cannot be beat- and it’s the perfect spot if you just want to get away for a little while. I came home feeling positively refreshed, radiant- and ready to take on the new year!

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Not a bad start to 2017, if I do say so myself!

xx