Boston's Thinking Cup

Today some of us took a quick trip to Thinking Cup in Boston.  This little coffee shop right on the Commons is adorable inside and boasts a great variety of coffees, teas, hot chocolate and foods.  Like L.A. Burdick, the hot chocolate they serve is of the delicious, melted chocolate variety and their lattes are always served with a gorgeous, milky design on top.

I salivated over the glass cases filled with sandwiches on french bread and tiny, sweet delights.  Especially these individual cheesecakes.  It was only by sheer power of will that I didn't gobble one right up.  Instead, I got a large rooibus tea that was a touch too floral tasting for me, but still good.  So if you're looking for a cup of something hot, or a bite of something tasty, stop by the Thinking Cup!

Discovering History in My Backyard

The other day, Anjali and I were exploring Harvard Square and we didn't really have a plan so we decided to just walk and end up somewhere.  We walked along Brattle Street and suddenly we were in a whole new world.  We saw the perfectly groomed campus of the Lesley Divinity School, huge churches, and gorgeous old homes.  We ogled all the houses, daydreaming about what it would be like to live in them or have even a fraction of the money to be able to consider living in them.

Then we came upon this beautiful, old estate.  Anjali and I poked around and found a pamphlet and we were shocked to learn that this home belonged to Henry Longfellow and his family.  And George Washington lived there when he was a general in the Revolutionary War!  We balked at the fact that we didn't know about this historic landmark in our own backyard.  

I guess it just goes to show that when you live in the birthplace of America you never know what you'll find.  

John Boehner Doesn't Applaud Equal Pay for Women

In last night's State of the Union speech Obama stressed economic equality.  Mostly it was about creating a fairer tax code and reviving the American Dream, but he did throw us ladies a bone when he said we should also be entitled to equal pay for equal work.  It's a pretty mainstream position to take.  I mean it's not federal funding for abortion (don't get me started) or even, apparently, over the counter Plan B, neither of which Obama has gotten on board with.  It's just equal pay for equal work, one of the oldest and most innocuous requests of the women's movement since the right to vote. 

And yet, my buddy Boehner did not applaud the President's desire to ease entrenched sexism in the marketplace.  And clapping is what the State of the Union is all about.  Those people cannot stop clapping.  If they even remotely like something, they will clap.  So apparently Boehner does not even remotely like the idea of women getting equal pay for equal work. 

To give him a break he seemed kind of confused last night.  The parties did not sit on opposite sides of the (in this case not metaphorical) aisle as the often do; so it wasn't entirely clear in any case whether it was the Republicans or the Democrats clapping.  Sometimes Boehner would be seen clapping and then would quickly stop, like he had made a mistake.  And other times he would join in the clapping a little late, like Oops! I think I am supposed to support that.  The only time everyone knew exactly what side they were supposed to be on was any time Obama said the word "troops." 

So why didn't Boehner clap?  There are probably a few reasons.  The first among them being that unless not supporting the President will get him demerits (see: "troops") he's probably going to err on the side of not supporting the President.  But also, I think there is a reluctance among Congressional Republicans, and especially the white male members (okay, so most of them), to recognize the continued legacy of racism and sexism and instead to rely on the irrational belief that we can all overcome all of our obstacles, pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and become part of the elite.  If you have to do that on 74 cents on the dollar, well then you'll just have to pull those bootstraps 26% harder. 

What Mitt Romney and Kim Kardashian Have in Common

You all know I'm a fan of Kardashian reality TV, but I understand that some people don't get it.  Why is she famous? they ask me.  I say something about a sex tape, but really we all know she benefited from that elusive and magical Hollywood equation, famous for being famous.  How one achieves that status is difficult to know, and yet stars with no discernible talent at all continue to abound. 

But Hollywood is not the only mythical land (the land of all people beautiful) with such magical powers.  Wall Street (the land of all people wealthy) has some tricks up its sleeve too.  While Hollywood creates people who are famous for being famous, Wall Street manufactures people who are rich for being rich.  Because we've all heard that old saying that you have to have money to make money.  But then what about all of us who aren't already famous, or don't already have money?  Well, we are doomed to be destitute and ugly forever. 

Mitt Romney, and his super-rich peers are rich for being rich.  Let's be clear, I am NOT saying that all rich people came from money or that no rich people worked hard for their money.  But once they had it, the money started doing some of the work for them.  And unlike Hollywood's hocus pocus we know exactly why that is.  It's because the tax code, determined by legislators, favors money made from money rather than money made from work. 

And I don't even need study upon study that shows such a preference doesn't in fact stimulate the economy, entrepreneurship, or job creation to know that that just. isn't. fair.

*Thank you to US Weekly for this fabulous photo since I don't myself have Photoshop

Rafiki Bistro Can't Match Its Neighbor

Recently, there was a Groupon for Rafiki Bistro, a small restaurant in Cambridge right next door to our new favorite haunt, West Side Lounge.  So I scooped it up and Jake and I went to test it out.  Long story short: it's just like West Side except not quite as good and a bit more expensive.

We had a very delicious crab and avocado crostini appetizer and I absolutely loved my cocktail of gin, grapefruit juice and that now ubiquitous St. Germain.  And I enjoyed my entree of crispy cod, although the sweet potato gratin lacked flavor.  But Jake's steak frites was served medium to medium-well when he ordered it rare.  And we kept shivering every time someone walked through the door.

We're still not sure how these two stay neighbors when Rafiki is clearly losing the game of keeping up with the Joneses, but you'll find us next door at West Side from here on out.

American Idol Season 11: Phillip Phillips is the new Casey

In line with mid-season reality television premiers, American Idol already has me hooked.  I don't like the awkward moments with people who can't sing, but I love the sappy moments, the salvation stories, and the real musicians.  Like Phillip Phillips, whose father (also named Phillip Phillips) is so proud of his son he can't contain himself.  And Phillip himself who loves his music so much he can barely contain himself either.

But let's be real - why do I really love Phillip Phillips?  For the same reason that I loved Casey last season.  He's an adorable white boy with soul, people.  Flip flops and soul.

Mid-season Reality Televsion

Just when you were getting bored of re-runs and wondering when in the world new episodes of New Girl were going to come back, Mother Television rewards our patience with a nice helping of mid-season premiers of fabulous reality shows.  

Face/Off

Wednesday 10:00 on SyFy

This is the second season of probably the only show that I'll ever watch on the SyFy channel.  It's a great competition show for dramatic movie makeup.  Seeing the make-ups come to life is really fun, and it's totally unlike any other competition show out there.  

Project Runway All Stars 

Thursdays 9:00 on Lifetime

Tim Gunn's absence is deeply felt, but it's great to see some old favorites back designing for the red carpet again.  I'm especially excited that fan-favorite Mondo and the fabulous Austin Scarlet are back.  

Kourtney and Kim Take New York

Sunday 10:00 on E!

This show has more diva power than all the fabulous gays from Project Runway combined.  But let's be honest, we're really tuning in to watch the slow motion train wreck that is Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' 72 day marriage.  

West Side Lounge: Our New Neighborhood Restaurant

Thanks to a solid recommendation from Paloma, Jake and I recently checked out West Side Lounge.  It's a great neighborhood restaurant with good food, creative cocktails and a fun vibe.

They make their own house infused vodkas and one of my favorites is the ginger martini with candied ginger infused vodka.  There's also a French pear martini with St. Germain and a spicy tequila cocktail with cilantro.  

A couple weeks ago Jake and I went all out for dinner and had delicious truffle fries, fish tacos, and burnt sugar bread pudding, among other things.  Then this weekend we went and just sat at the bar and had cocktails and creamy deviled eggs.  Whether you're looking for a great way to end a night out or a great way to start one, this place is a really great choice.  

  

The Banana Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

I went into my freezer the other day and I came to a scary (but also hilarious) conclusion: I'm kind of a hoarder.  Not like a TLC special hoarder.  More like an "I hate waste, I think I'll need this as soon as I throw it away, I'm very nostalgic" kind of hoarder.  And let's just say I come by it honestly.  Anyone who has seen the basement or third floor of my childhood home knows that's true.  My parents aren't TLC hoarders either, they're the same type as I am, plus a little of the "this could be worth money some day, I could sell this on Ebay" kind.

So what was in my freezer?  Well (also like my dad) I don't like mushy bananas.  I like them best when they're still a little green.  And sometimes at the end of the week the last banana has gotten too spotty and brown for my liking.  I would never want to waste it, even though I wouldn't eat it, so I freeze them so I can make banana bread out of them later.

But it wasn't until I went to put another in there the other day that I realized I wasn't going to make banana bread, I was just crazy.  This is what I found -

Clay Painting in Boston

I love crafty things and I was so excited when all the NNAF ladies decided to go clay painting one day after work (thanks Lindsey!).

We went to the Clay Room, a great small studio with a nice selection and lots of perks.  Like free pizza on Tuesdays!  Wine and cheese nights on Wednesdays!  Flat studio fees and group discounts!  And BYOB every day!  That last one was my favorite.

After agonizing over what item to choose, the design came to me quickly and I turned it into my own unique Christmas present for Pam.

I can't wait to go back again with a couple girlfriends and a bottle of wine!

The Christmas of Unique Gifts

I have so many thoughtful, wonderful people in my life.  This year they bowled me over with unique Christmas gifts that I know I'll have for a lifetime.

Jake got me this beautiful stained glass window.  It's special to me for so many reasons.  It's a New York City skyline to remember the city we fell in love with and where we made our first home together.  He also commissioned it from my brother who made it by hand.

And Pam made me this amazing quilt out of all my old running shirts!  It reminds me of the off-track relay we ran together and came in last, the horrible race in the mud and rain in the Bronx, and our first ever invitational at Windham as freshmen mere days after 9/11.  She had to scheme with my mom to get all these shirts and then she turned them into this warm, sweatshirty quilt that I've had over my lap every day since I got back to Boston.

I love my gifts, and my boyfriend and best friend, dearly but now the pressure is on for each of their upcoming birthdays!

All that Glitters Isn't Gold

Sometimes it's black...

like this sequin dress I got from the J.Crew outlets

Sometimes it's silver...

like these glitter flats I got on Christmas Eve at Old Navy

And sometimes it's red...

like these adorable sequin scarves someone put on the ducks in the Boston Public Gardens

But it's always SPARKLY!

Amy's Beautiful Gingerbread House

We've already seen my sister's beautiful cakes and this Christmas she didn't disappoint with a beautiful gingerbread house.  It even includes snow dusted trees, a stone chimney, and candles in the windows.

But the best surprises were inside.  There was a licorice rug, a decorated Christmas tree, and even presents!

She also made beautiful sugar cookies: Swedish horses, golden sleighs, and embellished rocking horses. Her trick?  Patience and a tweezer.