So the school district I used to work for has a town website with a talk forum.  People get on there to post and discuss happenings within the town.

I like to go on the "schools" talk forum, mostly to see if anything I'm involved with (or, i guess, was involved with) is being talked about.  Mostly, it's just a gripe session board with the same 5 people posting negative things about pretty much anything possible regarding the schools.  This school district is in the Top 10 in the state overall, so I don't really know how they can find things to complain about, but they do.

So the big HOT issue today is how far kids have to walk to meet the bus in the morning.  One parent is all riled up because her kid has to walk 1/3 mile and she thinks that is "excessive".  Yikes.

I grew up in a house that had a long driveway, 1/10th of a mile long.  So this kid is walking 3 of my driveways to meet the bus.  That's really nothing.  I remember having to walk to the end of my street to catch the bus when I was a kid...all the neighborhood kids walked there to be picked up.

1/3 of a mile?  Am I crazy, or is this not a big deal at all?  what is wrong with a 5 minute walk to catch a bus?

DrinkCraftBeer.com chooses three great beers for summer and gives them a review.
Beers include:
Offshore Amber Ale
Clipper City Red Sky at Night
Victory Golden Monkey

These beers will be available to taste at Bauer on Newbury this week! Get yourself down there!

read more | digg story

Well, I broke out of my little city bubble this weekend and hit the woods for some wilderness workouts.  Man, am I sore today!  It was great to get away from the hustle and bustle and create a little commotion of our own.

Saturday we drove out to Tewksbury to Action Painball!  I had never done anything like this before, and it was a blast.  I wish I could say that I
looked as hot as this:
but that would be a huge lie.  All the equipment was 90 sizes too big on me and I spent the day fogging up my goggles that banged against my forehead so bad when I ran I got a huge bruise.  After 6 hours of running around in Extra-large camo, crawling through brush and the forest floor, and firing around 750 paint bullets, I was exhausted.  I came home to find tiny, round red-black-blue spots all over my body where I'd been shot.  A huge concentration of these bruises were on my ass! 

Then on Sunday I woke up and climbed to the top of this bad boy:

The Boston Pops, the Hatch Shell, the great city of Boston!  And a million visitors on July 4th!  Thankfully, I have friends with roofdecks that I will be spending my Boston July 4th on and watching the fireworks from.  But for those of you heading to the Esplanade for some Pops, Picnicking, and Fireworks, here are my tips for you.  These are based on my Hatch Shell experience a few years ago.

Before the Big Event:

1.  Go to Home Depot a few days before (like tomorrow).  Buy some plastic fencing-enough to go around your picnic space when you head to Boston's Hatch Shell on the fourth.  The plastic fencing is about 2 feet high and comes in lengths of about 4 feet.  Trust me, you'll need it.

2.  Make up a big batch of sangria to bring with you in the biggest thermos you can bring.  Make sure you have plastic cups to pour in.  You know, those big red ones from keg parties in college.  Plan/buy/make your picnic food.  There are food vendors there, but the sheer volume of people make it hard to get around.  You'll be glad you have your own stuff.

July 4th, Boston :

1.  First of all, if you wake up and it's raining, take a minute to seriously consider if you want to go.  I imagine the grounds of the Hatch Shell and Esplanade get pretty messy when it rains.  And with all those people walking around, it might be pretty bad.

2.  Get your bad self into Boston EARLY.  Be in line at the Esplanade by 7:00 am.  You won't get the best seats, but you'll be just fine.

3.  Get your wristbands and stake out your spot.  Set everything up and put your little fence around your stuff.  As people continue to pour in, they will overlap your stuff if you don't have the fencing. 

4.  Make friends with your neighbors.  That's right, even in Boston.  Chances are, you'll be near a family who's making a day of it and can keep an eye on your stuff.  Don't worry though, you can leave your stuff without worry.  Just don't leave any valuables! 

5.  It should be around 9am or 10 am now.  Go spend the day in the city if you're not from Boston, or if you live in Boston, go home and take a nap!

6.  Around 6 or 7 pm, head back to the Hatch Shell and get ready for the Pops!  Find your fenced in area, dig in to your cooler, and pour some sangria!  There's great people watching to be had.  The Flyover starts around 8:30, and the Boston Pops start shortly after.

7.  Enjoy the Pops, but about halfway through, pack up your stuff, leave the Hatch Shell area, and get close to the Charles River, or on a bridge.  (You can't see the fireworks from the Hatch Shell).  Warning- it will be VERY crowded from this point on.  Once you get your perfect spot, make an exit strategy with your group for the end of the night.  After the fireworks are over, it's VERY late and VERY dark and people are pushign and shoving.  It's easy to get trampled, it's unorganized, and to be honest, it's a little scary.

8.  Enjoy the Boston fireworks show-the best in the nation!

Happy Birthday, America!

So my new job in the Pru has me Urban Workoutting more than ever.  Who knew the joys of a 1 hour lunch break?!?!  I like that I can look down into Fenway Park from my desk (well, from afar, but still) and I LOVE the new commute.

For all you health nuts, you must get to B.Good if you haven't already.  Love those oven-baked fries!  But if the Back Bay and Harvard Square locations aren't convenient for you, don't despair.  Two new locations are coming soon!

First, one in an old Texaco in Coolidge Corner (I think this is right on Harvard Ave- closer to Allston?)

and, even better, a new NEWBURY STREET location!!    Welcome to The Newb, B.Good!

Enter their contest for a chance to win a chance for B.Good to grind and grill fresh burgers at your house for all your friends!  Rock.

Today is Summer Solstice!  That means free live music tonight and tomorrow night starting at 5:30 at the BCA, a part of the South End's Solstice Celebration!

That also means free pedicabs today and tomorrow to shops in the South End, all of which are holding fabulous raffles.

AQUITAINE Offer: Free dessert when seated for dinner after sundown. Raffle Prize: Brunch for four people (max. value $100)		PARLOR Offer: 20% off entire purchase. Raffle Prize: $25 gift card.
THE BEEHIVE Offer: Complimentary dessert with purchase of entrée after 5:30pm. Raffle Prize: $100 gift certificate.		POPS RESTAURANT Offer: Serving Brazilian Caipirinhas. Raffle Prize: $75 gift card.
DESIGN WITHIN REACH Offer: $50 off a purchase of $500 or more. Raffle Prize: Jonas Wannfor's Kristall Chandelier designed in 2003, valued at $1398.		POSH ON TREMONT Offer: 15% off any purchase. Raffle Prize: Picnic basket for 4 - wine included.
DEVI HOME Offer: 15% off any purchase. Raffle Prize: $150 Gift card.		SARA CAMPBELL LTD. Offer: 10% off already reduced merchandise (clothing and shoes will be 40-60% off). Raffle Prize: $100 gift certificate.
etant - A SPA FOR WELL BEING Offer: Complimentary paraffin hand treatment with purchase of service. Raffle Prize: Spa gift basket.		SOOKI Offer: 20-60% savings. Serving chips & salsa and sangria. Raffle Prize: $100 gift card.
GARDEN OF EDEN CAFE Offer: Complimentary fine pastry with purchase of entrée after 5:30pm. Raffle Prize: Cheese and wine tasting for 6 people ending with coffee and pastry.		TADPOLE Offer: 20% off all tees. Raffle Prize: Tadpole gift basket filled with goodies.
HUDSON Offer: 15% off any purchase. Raffle Prize: Vintage feed bag pillow by Hudson.		TURTLE Offer: 20% off all tees. Serving free smoothies. Raffle Prize: Cheng Lin Essential Tee in a choice of colors.
MICHELE MERCALDO CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY Offer: 10% off any purchase. Raffle Prize: $100 gift certificate.		UNION BAR & GRILLE Offer: Free dessert when seated for dinner after sundown. Raffle Prize: Brunch for 4 people (max. value $100)
MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS Offer: 10% off any purchase. Raffle Prize: Autographed "Let's Get Comfortable" hardcover book by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.		VOILA Offer: 11% off one pillow, 22% off two or more pillows. Raffle Prize: $100 gift certificate each night.
NAMI SPA Offer: 15% discount on all services. Raffle Prize: Gift certificate for a one hour massage.

The Upper Crust is opening a store on Tremont St. in the South End! 

Watch out Emilios, Mangia, and Nicole's!  It's expensive, but hands down my favorite place for pizza in the city. 


I remember being excited when I saw this as they expanded to Newbury Street not too long ago:



And now, a new location (opening late summer) is sooooo many blocks closer to home!  I absolutely love the delivery boys who ride around the city on their bikes with the wooden pizza box holders on the back of their rides. 

I love me a good thin crust pizza.  The more cracker-with delicious-toppings-like, the better.  Favorite toppings?  Fresh Mozzerella, hot peppers, basil, garlic, and sliced tomatoes.  YUM!

Cooking Light, my all time favorite magazine that is sent to my house each month, is hosting a cooking demonstration/wine tasting/four course tuscan meal in June!

MAY 28- Learn simple techniques for creating dishes appreciated for their beauty, savored for the skill that created them, and appreciated for bringing family and friends together each day.  Dinner is at 6PM sharp, and includes a cooking demonstration, and a 4 course dinner.  Each course is paired with wine.

$60.  RSVP to 1-800-366-4712 ext. 8551

Westin Copley Place, American South Ballroom.  10 Huntington Ave.

Ummm...all you poshies out there....don your best attire and head down to SHAW'S this Sunday from 4-6pm for  a whiskey tasting.

That's right, Shaw's.  You know, the supermarket?!

Seriously though, it should be a good time.  Who knew getting bombed at the grocery store could be so fun?

Shaw's Supermarket, Prudential Center , 65 Huntington Ave, 617-262-4688

Urban Workouts come in all kinds of varieties!  Here's how I hope to "workout" this week:

Urban Workouts for the Body

MAY 13TH -Healthworks for Women is having a Mother's Day Open House with free admission to their gym....Special classes including Partner Yoga and Belly Dancing will be offered.  Also, they're having a Contest with over $3500 in prizes.  You're supposed to enter for your "someone special" (ahem, your mother), but since mine lives so far away, I just entered for myself. 
441 Stuart Street (617) 859-7700

Glass to Lips Urban Workouts

EVERY FRIDAY- I hope to make it to Aujourd'hui this Friday for their "Bubbly Bar Fridays".  Every Friday, from 5:30-7:00, they offer several champagnes and sparkline wines by the glass.  They are accompanied by complimentary nibbles from the kitchen.  The food offerings change each week, but have included truffled popcorn and other gourmet goodies in the past!

Anyone who knows me at all knows I literally crawl under a rock during winter time.  I go to work, come home, and sleep.  That's it.  I may have that SAD thing or something.  I did take up Vinaysa yoga in a heated studio, which was a great cure for the winter blues and kept me (a little) connected with the outside world during winter.  I was doing that about 5x a week, and that's about it.

Now that all is green again, and that heated studio doesn't seem so appealing in 80 degree weather, I've been out and about again.  Seen a naked man on one of my recent jaunts through the city.  Good Lord. 

But mostly what I've been doing is bending elbow, lifting glass, and tippling into mouth.  I was invited to TWO open bar soirees this week!  Yikes! 

The first was at Match Lounge on Mass. Ave.  I attended a Yelp  Elite Squad event.  For those of you who don't know about Yelp yet, check it out.  It's a restaurant/bar/shopping/anything else review website. 

This pretty much sums up the night:


We were treated to free martinis and delicious treats to eat, such as these mini-burgers.  I had a "Pop Culture Martini" which had strawberry vodka and the glass was rimmed with POP rocks.  Very fun.  And free, thank god.  At $11 a pop, I'd never be able to afford a night out here on my own.

On Thursday, a few girlfriends and I went to StyleFixx in the South End for a night of shopping and cocktails, and free stuff in our VIP goody bags.  The problem here was that we didn't eat dinner before we left and ended up ruining our fabulousness by getting stinking drunk.  Oops.  I must say though, that I've made it all year without getting inebriated once, so I'm doing ok.  I'll let it slide, but I cringe at the thought of me swaying down Tremont Street on my way home with my arms full of bags and a wobble in my step.

We were guests of the event, and treated as such.  I bought a ton of cards from Lola Says, and probably could have sent myself this one the next day:



Oh, well.  Lesson learned.  Always eat BEFORE you go out, don't rely on others to provide your food!  Be well everyone...

k, is it really that bad to throw about 100-150 ungraded papers that are sitting in my school bag in the trash?

I'm doing it (it's nothing too important anyways).  What parent is going to want to sift through a bunch of papers right before the holidays?

Well, at least I'll recycle them.  That will make me feel a little bit better about it.

done.

Just thinking of how great the weather has been here in boston lately and all the Urban Workoutting that has been going on by me lately, which is a good thing.  I am on a serious cheese binge lately, and can't stop eating it with pears and apples that my father-in-law sent us from Harry and David.  Then there's all the Martha Stewart Radio I've been listening to on my commute about food and, oddly enough, a strange amount of pieces on cheese.

I think I'll throw a cheese party after the holidays. 

We had a brunch last weekend, which sounds all fancy and posh, and it was, it guess.  That is until we got down to the core group of about 8 people and proceeded to feast on food and all the extra champagne we had laying around.  It was hilarious, and so much fun.  People stayed till 11:00, which is late considering everyone came over at noon, and it was a sunday.  The next day it didn't seem like so much fun, as my alarm went off at 5:15 and I dragged myself to work teaching 9 year olds all day.  I felt like death, and probably smelled like it too.  I tried as hard as i could to eat listerine breath strips, obsessively drink water, and stay away from all adults for fear of them smelling the alcohol escaping through my pores.  gross.  but still good times.  i know i'm probably getting a little too old to be acting this way, but it felt good to blow off some steam with all that's been going on family wise lately.

Now, on to my depressing sighting of the day.  This was sad.  After work today, i went over to the little cheap-o nail salon near where i work to buy a gift certificate for someone i have to do Secret Santa for.  I generally despise anything in a suburban strip mall, and I'd never been to this place before, but thought it would be a nice little gift, because the girl has these ridiculously long and ugly fingernails that she obviously gets done like every other day.  So I thought a little GC would do the trick and be an easy way to wrap up my shopping.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the overpowering stench of nail chemicals.  You know, remover, and acrylic stuff.  It literally took my breath away when I walked in.  There was no ventilation to be found, the place was extremely crowded and dirty. 
(of course none of this deterred me from buying the GC or anything, i think all nail places in the sticks are like this).

So anyways, I look to my right and there's a group of about 6 girls there, for a birthday party or something, and a young but haggard-looking mom serving them all Diet Coke and droopy slices of pizza.  The girls had to be about 8 years old, probably in 3rd grade.  They were crammed around a makeshift table in the front corner of the place, eating pizza and inhaling the putrid chemicals and acting like they owned the place.  They probably were all about to get their nails done in rainbow colors or some shit.

So there they are, all Hollister-ed out, eating slimy saggy pizza while the mother looked so tired and i see peeking out from the back area, two little Vietnamese girls, about the same age as the mall rat-Domino's loving-brat pack.  They were staring at the group of girls, no doubt wishing they could join them and actually enjoy being in the tiny crowded nail salon instead of hiding in the back, napping and doing homework every day after school.

The group of girls paid them no notice.  I wanted to grab the two peekers, take them outside, and take them on a good Urban Workout to show them that there's more to life than what they were wishing for and staring at.  But of course I didn't, and couldn't.  I paid for my gift certificate and left a few minutes later, but that scene hasn't left my mind.  There's something a little sad about all parties involved-the bratty girls (who even KNOWS about manicures at age 8?  where are they headed if they are doing stuff like this now?) ,
 the tired mom (probably trying so hard to make everyone happy, but never satisfied with her efforts and completely neglecting herself,) and the nail salon owners, who rang me up (wishing they didn't have to have their daughters with them at work so they could play more, resenting waiting hand and foot on entitled 8 year olds).

feh.  such is life i guess. 

Oh, this is so cool! 

An auction (for a good cause) to have lunch with Ellen Pompeo!

Bidding is at $4000 right now.

Lunch with Ellen Pompeo

I wonder what she eats!  Or does she eat?

Well, I've been UrbanWorkouting all over town this week getting ready for the holiday brunch i'm hosting on Sunday.

Tonight after work I got out the old grocery cart and walked over to Crate and Barrel to pick up a few more champagne flutes, some serveware, some spreaders, and this:


Which I've been coveting for years now!  There's something about Deviled Eggs that makes it a party.

Here's my menu:  does it sound like enough?  Am i forgetting something?  We are expecting about 25 people and it is buffet, open house, style.  It starts at noon.

First, drinks: 
Coffee,
Kahlua for coffee,
sparkling grapefruit and sparkling lemonade,
Bloody Mary bar,
Mimosas,
champagne,
red and white wine,
OJ, water.

Food: 
Deviled Eggs,
Quiche with canadian bacon and gruyere,
Quiche with veggies,
Fruit Salad,
Bagels with cream cheese, Smoked Salmon or jelly,
Standing rib roast with nice rolls and sandwich fixin's
Simple mixed green salad
Vegetarian Chili
Mixed Berry muffins
Pumpkin Bread
Pasta Salad
Pickled Eggs (a friend is bringing these W00t!),
Crudite
Nuts
Chips and Dip
Olives

I also bought glass ball ornaments and decorated them with sayings like "joy", "peace" "love" and "faith".  I am putting them in a big basket with a little sign that says "What's your wish for 2007?  Please take one.  Thank you for coming!" for favors when people leave.

Is this enough?  i'm worried about the food.  I'm worried about where we are going to put everyone! 

it's that time of year when daylight is pinched on each cheek by darkness and the days seem so short.  We've been blessed in boston with great weather, but i can feel myself pulling into winter hermit mode.

I celebrated (not the right word, this year at least) my 27th birthday last week with parent teacher conferences at work, my husband flying to California for business all week, and my MOTHER coming to visit for 4 DAYS.  Just the two of us.  I thought I'd get some good Urban Workoutting in but I forgot how s-l-o-w non-city people walk and how insistent they are on taking cars everywhere.  I also forgot how much i drink when my mother's around.

I mean, we spent more time trying to park and running back to the car to feed the meter on newbury street than it would have taken us to walk there.  I live only about 10 minutes away.  it's a beautiful walk.  heck, we could have even cut through the Prudential Mall to get there to avoid the cold a little.  but no.  i spent my weekend driving around downtown boston, fighting for parking spaces, and almost hitting pedestrian jaywalkers.  Oh, and fighting with my mother and hearing all about how my life is so meaningless and my priorities are all a mess.  it was awesome.

in better news, i had jury duty today, and walked to the courthouse this morning and also walked home when they let us go at 11.  It was freezing cold, especially at 7:30 this morning, but byt he time I was through with the 35 minute brisk walk, I was sweating under my bundles of coat and scarf.  The way home was more pleasant, I walked on the sunny side of the street, stopped by my dentist to pay a bill, and peeked in windows to get christmas shopping ideas.

after hearing my mom talk all weekend about how heavy my sister has gotten, i have been kick started to get out and do something, anything everyday again.  i do not want her talking like that about me when i'm not around!

ok, so it's been raining or gross out on the days i'm free, and gorgeous on the days i'm stuck inside until crazy hours of the evening. not much Urban Workouting has been going on here.

But there have been a few things I've been doing that qualify as something. 

So, I lugged a case of wine from Trader Joe's up the stairs on Wednesday.  Then I carried up two bags of other TJ goodies including 2 heavy 6-packs of beer.  There is something wonderful about buying 12 bottles of wine, 12 beers, a huge thing of good coffee, and some snacks for $77.  I love Trader Joe's!  I don't get to the Brookline store (which has the vino) as often as I'd like to and I noticed all sorts of new stuff when I went. 

I borrowed a Baron Baptiste Yoga video from the Boston Public Library.  Don't ask if I've tried it out yet, but I borrowed it.  That's a start.

Last weekend I was walking all over the place taking pictures to capture the progression into fall.  Last weekend, things were pretty green and summery still, but I hope to get out again to take more pics this weekend.


Here is a pic of the park near my house.
    Another shot taken on my way to the grocery store.

  After the shot above this one, I turned around in place, and took this one.

So i haven't been posting because I've been doing all these little Urban Workouts that are so mundane.  Definitely not post worthy.  But then I thought about it and reminded myself that's what Urban Workouts are all about.  The daily, routine things we city dwellers do everyday by foot instead of by car.

So my various Urban Workouts have gotten me about 10 miles of walking in this week, doing things like going to the packie for a desperately needed bottle of wine (hey, I power walked that one!), going to the grocery store twice, ATM'ing it about a thousand times, and a couple of relaxing leaf and people watching walks after dinner just for the fun of it. 

But ugh.  One Urban Workout I hate is my weekly bus ride/walk from Cambridge into Boston every Wednesday. 

I work an hour's drive away in Northern Massachusetts suburban hell and have to drive there everyday, which I hate.  Unfortunately though, it's where I work, and I love my job, so I'm pretty much stuck with it.  But I digress.  My husband and I have 1 car, that I take into work everyday.  The hubby walks and rides public transportation, like a good little Urban Workoutter.  I am so jealous.

So on Wednesdays, he needs the car for a class he is taking.  So I have to leave work early at 4:00, drive 1 hour to Cambridge to drop off the car, then ride the #1 bus into town.  It's a total of 3 hours of commuting for me on Wednesdays, which stinks.

I try to remember to bring comfy shoes to work on Wednesdays so I can get off the bus as soon as possible and walk the rest of the way, but this week I forgot, and there was no way I was hoofing it any further than i had to in 3 1/2 inch pumps and a huge bag full of work and computer.  So no Urban Workout for me. 

Instead, I stood on the bus as it inched (literally!) down Mass Ave.  A two year old was shreiking at the top of her lungs the entire time.  And I somehow was lucky enough to be standing in the middle of a group of  about 8 pimply high school boys who were eating chocolate and talking and laughing with each other.

HAVE YOU EVER SMELLED HOW NASTY SOMEONE'S BREATH IS WHEN THEY EAT CHEAP CHOCOLATE?  It is putrid, stale, and gross.  I was directly in the line of fire and no matter what way i turned my head, it was all I could smell.  I wanted to wretch on the floor.  I was contemplating getting off and walking barefoot home, but reconsidered.  A seat opened up, and I took it, but now was directly at eye-level of the overweight high school boy's gut and penis area.  and I still smelled the chocolate.  To make it worse, they were all cutting on white people wicked bad, and yah, I'm white.  Just a little uncomfortable.  I got off that bus 45 minutes later, and was never so glad to smell the exhaust and homeless people stench of Mass Ave and Tremont. 

Sweet relief!  Lesson learned:  An Urban Workout is always better than the lazy alternative.