June 18, 2013 · 9:19 am

things to love: june 2013 edition

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June is halfway over already, which means it’s the perfect time for a Things to Love post. I’m not really sure where the time is going during this year of 2013, but being as I’m 2.5 days away from summer vacation, I won’t complain right now.

Without any further delay….

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#01) Dream Fresh BB Cream by Maybelline

I’m a little late to the BB Cream party, but after watching my friend Elle apply some in Sephora a few months ago, I definitely wanted to try some. However, being as my skin is a little sensitive, I wasn’t ready to fork up $50 at Sephora for a cream I may not really be in love with. My solution was to try a cheaper one from a drugstore. I’m not usually a fan of drugstore makeup, but I love this stuff! If you haven’t tried BB Cream yet, you must get on it immediately.

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#02) Bridesmaid Planning

It’s less than six months until my brother marries Kate, and I’m getting so excited for the wedding! I went to David’s Bridal about a week ago to find a dress, and I was amazed when I got this email the other day saying that it was ready for pickup. They’d told me to expect it late August! Talk about speedy.

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#03) Season 4 of MasterChef

While I’m slightly bitter that I didn’t make it onto this show after getting pushed to the VIP Section of the Boston auditions, I’m really enjoying watching this season. Connor and I are a little behind, so we’ve been averaging two episodes a night lately. I’ll probably change my mind about this several times, but as of right now, I’m Team Jordan all the way. Followed in close second by Team Beth.

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#04) Afternoon T-Storms (Followed by Rainbows)

I logged onto Facebook yesterday evening and my newsfeed was an array of rainbows and pink-purple skies. There was a really intense thunderstorm in the Boston area last night. Connor and I went out to dinner; it was sunny when we went in, but by the time we walked out of the restaurant, the sky was literally black. At 6pm. I don’t mind thunderstorms in the summer, because they are usually quick, and when they are followed by rainbows? Totally a win-win.

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#05) Teddy Grahams 

Every once in a while, Teddy Grahams are necessary. Especially the chocolate kind. I think we can all agree on that.

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#06) Leonardo DiCaprio Anything

I just watched the trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street, and I seriously cannot wait to see this movie. But here are some questions that I have: Why hasn’t Leonardo DiCaprio won an award already? Why is he always drinking champagne glasses and toasting? Why does he always yell in his movies? Why does Matthew McConaughey look so weird in this trailer? Such conundrums.

Reader Question(s):

  • Are you watching MasterChef? Who are you rooting for?
  • What is your favorite Leonardo DiCaprio movie?
  • Have you tried BB Cream? What is your favorite brand?

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June 17, 2013 · 10:18 am

weekend recap: koalas and a hair app

Another week begins, but this week is special because this Thursday is the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/WORK. In three days, I will officially be on summer vacation for two and a half months. There are not enough words in any language to describe how excited I am.

This summer is going to be a busy one, between Footloose rehearsals, running some theatre workshops, and so much travel. Seriously, there’s a lot of getaways in my future:

  • Outer Banks
  • Chicago for Kate’s bachelorette party
  • Cape Cod
  • Camping on the South Shore
  • Poconos

Whew! Maybe I shouldn’t ever unpack my duffel bag?

Yesterday, Connor and I took a morning trip to the Stone Zoo. There are two zoos in the Boston area – one south of the city, and one north. The Stone Zoo is in Stoneham, which is a suburb north of Boston. Our main reason for going? Koalas. As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, koalas are my favorite animal, and basically the biggest reason behind my desire to eventually travel to Australia. Totally normal, I’m sure. There are very few locations in the U.S. that have koalas, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out that I could actually see a koala just 20 minutes away from our apartment.

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There are two koalas at the zoo. When we first got to the exhibit, they were both up in the trees, sleeping. We watched them for a little while, but they didn’t move much, save for an instance where one woke up, bellowed, and then went back to sleep. We looked at a couple other exhibits and then came back. Shortly after we returned, both koalas woke up, descended their trees, and were probably the most active they’d be all day.

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This lil’ guy went right up to the glass window! I may or may not have squealed and jumped with excitement.

Connor got way better pictures than I did, which is expected under all circumstances, of course. I only grabbed a couple of pictures; I was too busy enjoying the moment of actually being in the presence of a koala.

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Seriously, LOOK AT THIS KOALA!

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This could have only gotten better if I was able to hold the koala, but I suppose I will have to go to Australia for that kind of experience. Still, this was a pretty awesome day.

In addition to the koalas, there were some adorable monkeys, a snow leopard, an energetic otter, and these lovely flamingos:

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Anything else I put in this post will pale in comparison, of course, but I wanted to share my latest cool web/app find.

Taaz is the website we all wish we had access to when we were 16 years old. After you upload a photo of yourself, you can edit accordingly to see how you’d look with different color hair (and/or eyes). For someone who is a hair-color fiend like myself, this is an amazing tool. I was skeptical at first, but the end result is fairly natural looking and not too computerized. There’s also an iPhone app that costs $2.99, but the website itself is free.

I played around with it this weekend; needless to say, anything I’d hoped to get done on Saturday afternoon was not accomplished:

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Considering my hair is currently a weird blend of grown-out red dye and leftover ombre from last fall, it’s time for a single-process color. I don’t know if I’d actually ever have the guts to go full blonde, but it sure is fun to think about.

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Who knows. Maybe I’ll just go crazy this summer and try it. Hair can always be re-dyed, right?

Reader Question(s):

  • What is your favorite animal?
  • What hair color have you always wanted to try?
  • Will you be downloading the Taaz app immediately after reading this post?  :)

 

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June 14, 2013 · 7:52 am

tgif: photo app love

This has felt like such a long week, probably because of the incessant rain. It has rained every single day since Monday here in Boston suburbia, and I’m sick of it. While I do admit that I have a super cute umbrella (a clear bubble umbrella from Tar-jay), I’m a little tired of using it. I like my umbrella to stay out of sight for the most part – folded up and tucked in the back of my Jeep. Who’s with me?

I know I may be late to join this party, but I need to share some love for my new favorite photo app.

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This is the A Beautiful Mess photo app, which is made by Elsie + Emma, the awesome ladies who write the blog of the same name. I love these girls’ blog and actually had no idea they made a photo app until recently. Bobbi, one of the gals I met at Blend, kept posting such adorable photos on instagram, complete with little swirls and hearts and doodles. I finally had to ask, “What app do you use?!” I downloaded it last night and after a few minutes of playing around with it, it’s definitely my favorite of all the photo apps I’ve tried. If you haven’t tried it yet, you definitely should:

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See how it jazzes up everything and anything? (And wasn’t today’s Universe note great?)

In other news…

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Although the 2012-2013 school year isn’t quite over, I’m jumping ahead to next year already and starting to plan the 2014 spring musical for my students.  I’m announcing it to them on Tuesday, and I can’t wait to see their reaction — they are going to freak out. It’s a very well-known show, with tons of characters, and lots of ensemble roles. I can’t wait to direct it. Details to come….

Last but not least, I need to share that in exactly two weeks from tomorrow, I’ll be heading to the Outer Banks with Connor & his family! I’m so excited.

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We’ll be there during 4th of July as well, and I’m so excited to see the fireworks festivities at Jockey’s Ridge (a huge sand dune national park.) I’m really looking forward to getting some time to relax after a long, busy school year. But don’t fret; while I’m gone, I’ll have lots of guest posts. So stay tuned.

Reader Question(s):

  • What is your favorite photo app?
  • What are you doing this weekend?

17 Comments

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June 13, 2013 · 8:23 am

ezekiel bread love

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I seem to be on a roll with food product reviews, so I’m going to continue the trend with a lovefest post for Ezekiel bread. A few weeks ago, I received a few sample loaves of this amazing bread in the original flavor. I was really excited because I’ve been a fan of their products for a while, ever since I tried their English muffins as a substitute for a veggie burger bun (try that, it’s amazing.) Here’s some information that I was provided with:

Ezekiel 4:9® Sprouted Flax Bread is 100% flourless and free of conditioners, additives, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It is also made with filtered water and no added fat and is low-glycemic, diabetic-friendly, pH-balanced and kosher-certified. Each slice of contains 90mg of Omega 3, 5g of protein, 4g of dietary fiber and 18 amino acids from vegetable sources.

Basically, it’s super healthy and why would you ever eat “normal” bread again?

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You know a slice of bread is good for you when you can literally see all of the grains and seeds in every square millimeter. (Fun fact – sometimes the little seeds make “popping” sounds in the toaster. If you hear it, don’t worry. Your toaster will not explode. Think of it as little fireworks; your bread is celebrating you for eating so healthily.)

When I woke up this morning, I realized that I’d forgotten to pack a lunch the night before, so I quickly whipped up an all-time favorite: peanut butter + jelly, using Ezekiel bread.

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If you didn’t already know, I’m essentially a 12-yr-old at heart. This PB is an organic creamy brand by Nature’s Promise, which is good, but not as good as my personal favorite nut butter: Barney Butter. I can only find Barney Butter in certain grocery stores. However, this particular jar of PB was the result of a 7-minute quest to find the appropriate aisle in the grocery store. Do the employees of stores try to hide their peanut butter? Are they peanut butter hoarders? Is it just me, or is it always really hard to find the PB aisle? These are serious problems.

Anyway, back to the point:

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Yum, and:

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Double yum. Look at all them seeds.

Most grocery stores carry Ezekiel bread, but it’s usually in the organic section, and always frozen. The loaves are more expensive than a generic loaf of bread, but definitely worth it.

Reader Question(s):

  • Have you ever had Ezekiel bread? What’s your favorite way to eat it?
  • What is your favorite brand of nut butter?

 

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June 12, 2013 · 8:37 am

the laughing cow summer-ready package, and a recipe!

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I’m really excited to post about the summer package I received from The Laughing Cow a couple of weeks ago. In addition to raving about their awesome products, I’ve also got a recipe to share. So let’s get started! (Note: The Laughing Cow® provided me with product for this review. However, thoughts and opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the brand.)

While at The Blend Retreat last month, I met a ton of cool people who represented the various food sponsors. One of the sponsors was Laughing Cow, which was super exciting because I’ve loved this brand of cheese since I was a kid. For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of trying these cheeses (and do you live under a rock?) let me elaborate. The Laughing Cow cheese wedges come in a variety of different flavors and are individually portioned at 35 cals/wedge, but taste super indulgent. It’s a win-win for everyone.

As you can see from the above photo, my Laughing Cow package came with a lunch tote, a water bottle, some carrots, a box of Wheat Thins, and three delicious flavors of cheese.

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I’d never tried the Queso Fresco & Chipotle flavor before, but it’s absolutely delicious. The Garlic & Herb has always been my go-to.

In addition to all these goodies, there was this great calendar with healthy snacking and fitness tips:

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Even before this package and Blend, I would eat one or two Laughing Cow wedges a day. I typically pair them with crackers or fresh fruit, but I’ve also used them as a replacement for cream cheese on a bagel or English muffin. After getting this package, I decided to try cooking with it, which was the greatest decision ever.

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This one little wedge transformed my dinner yesterday from delicious to super delicious. All day, I had been craving eggs, particularly with avocado and black beans. This was the result:

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Black Bean & Avocado Breakfast Bowl w/ Laughing Cow Cheese

You will need…

  • olive oil
  • 1/4 onion, diced
  • 1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • salt, pepper
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • sprinkle of red pepper flakes
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 avocado, sliced
  • 1 Laughing Cow cheese wedge, sliced

Method…

  1. Heat olive oil in a small skillet. Add diced onion and cook approx 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add black beans, and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add spices, stir to combine.
  2. Add eggs to the skillet, one at a time. Break them up with a spatula and stir frequently to scramble. When eggs are cooked through, remove from heat, and plate.
  3. Top with sliced avocado and sliced Laughing Cow wedge. Mix to combine and melt the cheese, if desired. Enjoy!

As a parting shot, and on a similar note, I finally found the cinnamon flavor in the grocery store!

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I tried this flavor for the first time at Blend, and have been looking for it ever since. I stopped at a different grocery store than usual yesterday, and was so excited to see it on the shelf. The whole wheel will probably be gone within the next week or so, I’m sure.

Reader Question(s):

  • What’s your favorite flavor of Laughing Cow?
  • Do you ever cook with Laughing Cow? What are some of your ideas?

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June 11, 2013 · 8:35 am

juice cleanse update, sangria recipe, and theatre news

In case you’re wondering how my juice cleanse is going, I thought I’d post this little graphic to sum it up:

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After one day, I gave up. My body just wasn’t happy. I think I’m either fighting the worst allergies or (urgh) getting sick, because I came home from work yesterday with a horrendous headache and slept for 3 hours straight. When I woke up, I was so hungry that I was contemplating eating anything in sight.

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All of that said, I think I am going to try again sometime during the summer, when I’m on break and not on my feet at work for 8 hours straight. I knew that I just needed to listen to my body. I wasn’t going to torture myself for three days – what’s the point?

I do want to review the Kaeng Raeng product itself, so here’s my thoughts:

The powder is an interesting concept, and works kind of like a protein powder. Although the directions tell you to mix it with water, there’s a note about blending it with ice and/or frozen fruit, which is recommended for first-time users. I would echo this recommendation. I prepared my second drink of the day with a blended banana, ice, and pineapple chunks — the texture was much better than the first. It’s cool that you can customize the drinks and add different flavors to suit your own tastes. I would definitely recommend it for first time juice cleansers, especially if you’re used to drinking protein shakes.

Let me segue into another beverage topic…wine. Or, more specifically, sangria.

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Homemade sangria is a mark of summertime in my household. Although my version of sangria is very sweet and fruity, it is also strong and packs a big punch. I personally like white sangria better than red, because white sangria often includes my favorite fruits – peaches, pineapple, or mango. Red sangria is sometimes made with brandy, which is too heavy and syrupy in my opinion.

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Sangria is at its best when it has a chance to sit for a few hours in a prepared pitcher, so all the flavors combine and the fresh fruit can absorb the alcohol. The flipside to homemade sangria is that it doesn’t keep very well (not much longer than a few days) so it’s best to make it when you have a crowd…or if you feel like drinking several glasses by yourself. No judgment.

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Here’s my recipe:

Berry-Peach White Sangria 

You will need…

  • 1 bottle (750 mL) dry white wine - I used chardonnay
  • 1 cup peach schnapps
  • 3/4 cup flavored rum - I used Parrot Bay mango. You can use more than 3/4 cup if you want your sangria to be super strong, but be safe! 
  • fresh or frozen fruit – I used peaches, strawberries, raspberries

Method…

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir well. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
  2. Serve over ice and enjoy!

In musical theatre-related news, I’m super excited to announce that I will be performing in a production of Footloose this summer with a theatre company a little south of Boston!

footloose

I’ve always loved the music from this show, but what I’m really excited about is all of the dancing!!!!! I’ve tried to refrain from writing about it in here for fear of jinxing, but I auditioned last weekend and then got a callback for this past Sunday. I had a good feeling about it because I made it through several rounds of the callback portion (dancing, reading scenes, and singing), and then found out the other day that I’ve been cast! More details to come…please prepare for lots of cowboy boots pictures and eighties hair.

Reader Question(s):

  • Do you ever make your own sangria? What are your favorite add-ins?
  • Have you seen the new version of the Footloose movie? Good/bad?

 

 

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June 10, 2013 · 8:47 am

back from D.C. and day 1 of my juice cleanse

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I think I’m still catching up on sleep from this past week’s trip to D.C. Being a chaperone on a trip that contains 250+ eighth graders is nothing short of exhausting, and contains more busride Adam Sandler movies than anyone should ever see in a  lifetime. That said, it’s also a lot of fun, and I enjoy all the sights and activities that we get to do. My two favorites are the Natural History Museum and the National Zoo.

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I saw this little guy in the Natural History Museum and had to take a picture because his ears are adorable. Adorable and slightly terrifying.

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At the zoo, this panda could not get enough of his bamboo stick. He was munchin’ away without a care in the world. I hope it was delicious.

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It may look like this lioness is licking her paws, but I am pretty sure that prior to this photo, she pounced on some animal parts or bones. (Meow.)

Luckily, a few days before this trip, I bought some new sneakers:

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These sneakers are by Nike, and they are super comfortable and offer a lot of support. Plus, I mean, they’re pink.

In other news, I’m starting my Kaeng Raeng juice cleanse today. I blogged about this a while ago, but hadn’t found a good time to do it. Now that I’m back from my trip and won’t be traveling for another couple of weeks, I figured it’s time to get started.

Here’s some information from the company regarding the cleanse:

Created by a vegan certified personal trainer Lindsay Reinsmith, Kaeng Raeng means “be healthy, be strong” in Thai. Each Kaeng Raeng pouch is a full meal replacement and contains more than a full serving of fruit and fiber, 15g of lean non-GMO protein, probiotics, essential amino acids and vitamins, so you can detox without depriving yourself of important nutrients —or of flavor.

Kaeng Raeng is vegan, gluten-free, caffeine-free, eco-friendly, and contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, laxatives or stimulants.

 You can also eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you like while you are on the cleanse (they recommend three days for beginners).

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My first juice of the day was a strawberry/raspberry/pineapple flavor. I blended the powder with some ice, water, and fresh raspberries and blueberries. It tastes very sweet and fruity. I think I may use more liquid for the next one, because this one tastes a bit too thick and powdery. The one thing I really like about this particular cleanse is that it encourages its users to also consume fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s good to know that if I get really hungry, I can eat something.

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I’ll post reviews of each of the days as I go! Wish me luck….

Reader Question(s):

  • What’s your favorite way to prepare a smoothie?
  • What juice cleanses have you tried?
  • Have you ever been to D.C.? What’s your favorite thing to do?

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June 6, 2013 · 6:00 am

guest post: tips for staying active every day!

Today I bring to you a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Allison! I will let her take it away and introduce herself. Enjoy, and go check out her blog!!

Hello to all of De’s lovely readers! My name is Allison and I blog over at A Realistic Life. While De is off having a blast, I thought I would talk to you all a little bit about some of the things I do in my everyday life to stay active, without technically “working out.”

01) I wear a pedometer! I know this sounds silly, but if you invest in a watch that tracks your steps, you’re going to be able to see how active you are during the day and either be really impressed with how many miles you walk or realize that you need to step it up (that was really cheesy…..). For example, today it is 4 p.m. and I haven’t worked out yet and I have walked 19,583 steps and walked about 9ish miles. That’s simply from going to the farmers market this morning with my mom, cleaning my room and car, and walking around the house. Sweet.

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02) I do 10 minutes of yoga every morning. Okay, so some may consider this part of a workout, but I don’t. Everybody can set their alarm 10 minutes earlier and do a yoga video off of YouTube. If you do this every morning, that adds up to over an hour of extra movement each week. I really like Tara Stiles. You can check her videos out at this channel.

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03) I play outside. Okay, so I know not everyone can do this for their job, but since I am a nanny I literally just get to play all day long. However, I see a lot of parents that just send their kids out to play and read a book inside and watch through the window. Why on earth don’t you get out there and spend some time with your children and keep yourself healthy in the process? I promise it will put you in a great mood, too, since being outside for just 15 minutes a day boosts energy levels and makes you smile. You can also just go for a short walk in the middle of your day outside to get a similar effect.

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04) I try to make plans with friends that involve some sort of movement. It honestly is much more enjoyable to go for a walk around a park for an hour instead of sitting awkwardly at a restaurant staring at each other. Sure, I love going to the bar and having a few drinks with friends, but that gets old when you do it day after day. Some of my favorite active things to do with others are going for bike rides, walking around an outdoor mall, playing wii, dancing at a club, and getting my nails done. Okay, I suppose a mani/pedi requires no movement on the recipient’s part, but you’re not eating or drinking and you’re getting a massage, which is VERY good for you :p

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05) Since summer time is coming up, going swimming is the best! If you don’t have access to a pool at your home, many gyms have pools for their members to use. Or I know that my town has a community pool as well. I would bet that most of you have a friend or two that has a pool if you don’t, too. Although I am notorious for just laying on a pool raft with a margarita and calling it swimming, if you actually get in the water and move around, you’re going to get a fantastic full-body workout without even trying!

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06) Walking places instead of driving. Now that the weather is beautiful in most parts of the country (and world!), it is so much easier to just walk to the store to pick up your prescription or walk to dinner instead of driving. Plus, you get that fresh air I was talking about and save gas in the process :p I hate being cooped up in my car and would rather walk or ride my bike any time I can.

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So those are just a few tips to keep you moving this summer and to save you time you may have otherwise spent on a workout. This way you get more social time and still get to do the activities you love. And who doesn’t want that?!

Reader Question: What are some of your tricks for staying active every day?

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June 4, 2013 · 6:00 am

a very successful pizza experiment

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Pizza nights are my favorite nights (aside from taco salad night). When it comes to pizza, I usually prefer making it from scratch to ordering takeout. Plus, making pizza with someone else is such a fun activity. I think that one of the first meals Connor and I ever cooked together was a pizza.

A few months ago, when we went to Cape Cod for a weekend, we went to a restaurant called Ember, located in Harwich Port, on a recommendation from my friend Jill. Also on her recommendation, we ordered the blueberry goat cheese pizza. We thought: This will either be amazing or disgusting.

To our luck, it was the former. A-mazing. We still talk about it, and so we decided to recreate something similar this past weekend.

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Just the act of editing these pictures is making me hungry! I ate a slice of it for lunch a couple days later and it was still just as good.

A recipe? Why sure.

Thin-Crust Pizza w/ Blueberries, Pears, Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Mozzarella

You will need…

  • 1 pre-made crust
  • olive oil
  • salt, pepper
  • 3/4 cup blueberries
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water combined
  • 1/3 cup white sugar (or truvia)
  • 1 pear, sliced thinly
  • 1 onion, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • pinch of brown sugar
  • 1/2 log goat cheese
  • 1/2 mozzarella ball
  • some turkey bacon, if you want it
  • fresh basil, chopped (just a handful)
  • 1/4 lemon

Method…

  1. Preheat oven 400 degrees F. Drizzle pre-made crust with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
  2. While the oven is preheating, start your blueberries. In a small saucepan, cover blueberries with water until just touching the top and heat over med-high heat. When the water starts boiling, add water + cornstarch mixture and sugar or truvia. Stir frequently until thickened. Remove from heat & set aside.
  3. When your oven is preheated, add the crust and pre-cook approx 15 minutes.
  4. While your crust is pre-baking, heat a large skillet over med heat and add olive oil. Add onion slices and season with salt & pepper. Stir frequently, until translucent. Lower the heat slightly and cook an additional 10 – 15 minutes. Add balsamic, brown sugar, and pears. Raise the heat to cook off some of the liquid, and cook another 5 minutes.
  5. In the last 5 minutes, start a small skillet for the turkey bacon if you are using it. (Or put it on half, if you’re part of a couple that is divided on meat!) Cook the turkey bacon until crisp, and then chop into small pieces.
  6. Your crust should be removed from the oven by this point, and your blueberry mixture should be thick. Spread the blueberry mixture on the crust, then top with the onions and pears. Crumble the goat cheese and mozzarella, and top with bacon if using.
  7. Cook the pizza once again in the pre-heated oven, approx 7 minutes. Broil at the end for an additional 30 – 60 seconds (but keep your eye on it.) Remove pizza from oven, sprinkle with fresh basil and lemon juice and enjoy!!!

Reader Question: What is the best pizza you’ve ever had?

 

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June 3, 2013 · 8:20 am

sneak peek of the week

In case there was any question, it is really hot in New England. Like, really hot. It’s important to note that I’m not complaining, because fairly recently, it was cold, and I didn’t like that one bit. But it’s definitely hot. Yesterday, we turned on our A/C for the first time this year. Today, however, I’m at work, where there is no A/C, and I literally feel like I’m existing in the midst of a tropical rainforest. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to straighten my hair this morning. Then I stepped outside, and mother nature was like, “lolz good try.” Such is life.

Tomorrow, I embark as a chaperone on an annual eighth-grade field trip to Washington D.C.

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This is my fourth time going on this trip, so I feel like a bit of a pro at this point. Despite the fact that a 10+ hour busride with 250 eighth graders is exactly what it sounds like, I actually enjoy this trip. I am mostly looking forward to the Zoo; last year, I was lucky to see two orangutans crossing overhead on wires, which was one of the coolest sights, hands down.

While I’m gone, I’m scheduling a few fun posts, as well as a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers.

Here’s a sneak peak of what is to come:

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A recipe for this berry-peach sangria I made over the weekend.

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A review of this Ombre Hair Chalk Set that I bought on a whim from Urban Outfitters yesterday. This is seriously my new favorite thing ever.

predec.pizzapizza

Another pizza recipe! This one was inspired by a restaurant on Cape Cod, and consists of a homemade blueberry jam, pears, caramelized onions, goat cheese, and some other delicious toppings. I know, the combination of blueberries and pizza may sound a bit weird, but trust me on this one. It’s amazing.

Lastly, I’m excited to share a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Allison @ A Realistic Life. I’d asked her for a guest post with the intention of putting it up during my late-June trip to the Outer Banks, but she was so fast that I decided to use it this week.

Stay tuned, and stay cool!

Reader Question(s):

  • What did you do this past weekend?
  • What are some ways you cool down during a heat wave?

 

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Filed under food/drink, life, travel