Somerville Winter Farmer's Market

The cafe lights are strung with care and roots vegetables fill wooden boxes.  If you don't get there late, like me, you might be able to pick up some fresh squid ink pasta.  In any case there's probably bread and cheese to go around.  And some fancy chocolate for dessert.

There's still one weekend left to enjoy the Somerville Winter Farmer's Market. Tomorrow from 9:30-2:00 at the Armory - I promise it will be much more pleasant than a Saturday morning at Market Basket. 

Three Little Figs

If you're looking for the most heavenly spinach pie this side of the Charles, look no further.  Three Little Figs is one of those lovely little ventures born out of the recession.  No traditional job?  Let's make something fabulous.  And fabulous it is. 

This tiny Somerville shop only has a few tables so get there early.  Or stop by to pick up some baked goods to go, like the zucchini cake or the goat cheese stuffed muffins.  It isn't just your standard bakery fare. 

Peach Perfect

I'm back with another Minted inspiration board.  There are so many beautiful color palettes to choose from when it comes to planning a wedding that it's sad you only get to do it once!  We're going with rose and grey, for Vassar, but when it comes to romantic hues, this one just takes the cake for me. 

Peachy Keen board by Sara. See more unique wedding invitations

Mid-Season TV Review

It's that dark and desolate time of year when the holidays are over, you still have three months of winter ahead, and there are no new episodes of your favorite TV shows.  Even though Santa's already made his rounds, I'm taking this time to reflect on who's been naughty and nice in the TV world, what's worth the wait, and what needs to be thrown out with the holiday leftovers. 

Now of course I don't, and can't, watch everything on TV.  So this is my opinion based on what I have been watching.  I did start off the fall TV season with 23 shows on the roster, so I dare say it's at least relatively comprehensive.

Best new comedy - Brooklyn 99
Funny and smart, I fear this comedy may go the way of many of my other favorites (RIP 30 Rock).  Andy Samberg is the clear star, but I enjoy the many funny lady cops who back him up. 

Best new drama - The Blacklist
While the serial aspect of the show can get a little tedious, the big picture plot is supremely intriguing.  Also James Spader is genius in it.  

Best returning comedy - The Mindy Project
I have a serious girl crush on Mindy Kaling and this show is hitting its sweet spot with new characters and lots of charm. 

Best returning drama - Scandal
If you work in an office with at least two female co-workers, someone is talking about this show on Friday mornings.  It just keeps getting juicer, flashier, and more outrageous and I can't get enough.  

New shows to drop
Hostages - This show might look shinier if it didn't have to compete with The Blacklist in the same slot.  Unfortunately, it just pales in comparison.
Super Fun Night - I wanted to like this show, but it just wasn't funny and I like my female characters to be, well, more than just characters (see: Mindy Project.)

Returning shows to drop
New Girl - If Nick and Jess don't make you gag, you  may need to see a doctor.  This crew just needs to grow up already. 
Glee - What is the plot/point of this show again?

Sad to see it go
Breaking Bad - It was epic. 

Excited for its return
Portlandia - Should be mandatory for anyone living in hipster meccas including Portland, Austin, and Brooklyn.  Let's hope they start off season four with a new "Dream of the 90's" ballad. 
The Following - Season one is on Netflix so get on it.  The creepy quotient is high and getting higher.  Like the best episodes of Criminal Minds, but so much better.

2014 - New Beginnings and Old Blooms

Happy New Year!  New Year's Day is all about new beginnings.  And while everything's covered in snow now, nothing makes me think of new beginnings more than my little garden.  I started "urban gardening" about a year and a half ago and I've since accumulated a nice little collection of pots and hanging boxes.  I usually do two plantings per year - one in the spring, and the other in late summer/early fall.  So as I'm dreaming of warmer months, here are some bright blooms to add cheer to your day.

Flox are pretty and colorful, but short-lived

These marigolds continued to bloom long after the first frost

Taking a vegetative turn with decorative cabbage and peppers

Nothing's prettier than flowers against a backdrop of fall leaves

Mums are my favorite fall flower

Journeyman - A Bit of New York in Somerville's Union Square

You know the highest compliment any restaurant could receive is that it's "as good as something in New York."  At least in my humble opinion. 

Journeyman is a true diamond in the rough.  Not only is it located off the beaten path in Somerville's Union Square, it's not even visible from the street.  Tucked away, you'll find an industrial space and an ultra-modern tasting menu ($75 for dinner or $40 for a late supper on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday).  It's the perfect place to celebrate the New Year or go to warm up on a cold night.  In addition to their unique fare, they are masters of the craft cocktail. 

They say you eat first with your eyes and these plates are true works of art. So feast your eyes on these delicious offerings and then make your reservation right away!

Lessons From My Facebook Hiatus

 

This time of year your social media feeds are probably full of people's holiday cheer, and it may be making you sick.  That's okay; you're not a bad person.  In fact, studies show, Facebook is bad for you.

Before I even read about this study, I was noticing that Facebook was not bringing out my best self.  Perusing Facebook made me feel at times jealous, but also superior.  Whenever I would post anything, I would constantly check to see how many "likes" it got.  It was a big game of comparison: who can best edit their life online to make it seem as enviable as possible.  I knew it wasn't reality, but it was damaging nonetheless.  While discussing this phenomenon with a friend, I made a spur of the moment decision to take a break from Facebook and pledged not to check it for one week.

The very next morning I logged on.  Out of habit.  Actually, to figure out what the free cupcake of the day was at Georgetown Cupcake.  But I almost immediately realized what I had done and logged off.  Over the course of the week I got notices that I had been tagged in photos and statuses and it was extremely hard not to check them.  What if I looked fat in that photo and I needed to untag it?  What will so and so think if I don't "like" the photo of the two of us she posted?  I felt compelled to curate my life, and anxious about the consequences of not doing so. 

I admittedly did use Facebook one other time during that week for a very practical purpose.  I was making a photo book of our family vacation as a gift for my parents and my sister didn't want to send over all her pictures so she told me to pick them from Facebook.  I made a point not to look at the newsfeed, and went directly to her page for the agreed upon purpose and nothing else. 

Facebook is a tool, and it can be a useful one.  I reconnected with my college roommate for a surprisingly familiar and friendly lunch once.  I've reached out to old colleagues to help connect them to jobs.  Some day it will be the easiest way to contact former professors about recommendations.  But for the most part, it's a black hole of narcissism and low self-esteem (oh how they go hand in hand!)

I wouldn't say I was "happier" for the week I went Facebook free, but there was a definite absence of bad feelings.  Now I've lifted my ban on Facebook, but I do interact with it differently.  I try not to aimlessly scroll the newsfeed; when I go on, I do so with a purpose.

This article on the motivations behind Facebook statuses made me think harder before I post something myself.  Does anyone actually care about this?  Why do I want to post this?  Is there someone else I can tell instead?  As a result, no one saw would-be statuses like "Enjoying a beautiful day on the North Shore - with Jake" or "Suddenly deciding to be a baseball fan during the World Series is not doing good things for my sleep."  I wanted to show off my fun life (and loving relationship); I wanted to be a part of a group (Red Sox fans).  I wanted to craft a life I wanted to live.  But it turns out, you do that by living it, not by posting about it on Facebook.