Posts from — June 2011

I know what you’re thinking.  A 25 year old young professional surely cannot be serious about a Taylor Swift infatuation.  Right? Well, wrong.  As mentioned before, I’m obsessed.  I should be more embarrassed to admit that, but really, I’m over it. And a dear friend of mine seriously hooked a sister up.  Last night I was treated like a VIP, and you better believe that every ounce of this 25 year old young professional was eating. it. up.

From VIP parking, to incredible floor seats, a club level ticket (read: food and beer, plus a dry private suite for when it down poured), pit passes (yes, I jumped around like the best of them), a VIP all access badge (aka backstage), and even an exclusive ‘quick out access’ at the end of the night to avoid sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for oh, I don’t know… 2hours? Yup, I was home in 30 minutes.

The entire night was wildly amazing.  I can’t thank my bestie enough for going to great lengths to make my 25 year old dreams come true.  Taylor was incredible.  The set list was better than I could have imagined, and honestly, it was just one of the best nights I’ve had in a long, long time.

Tonight at 7PM I’ll be screaming and squealing like a 12 year old *NSYNC fan (I know, because I was one) at Taylor Swift’s sold out stadium concert.  I should  be more embarrassed by this statement, but… I’m not.  I love Taylor Swift.  Actually, no, I’m obsessed with Taylor Swift. And to top off my excitement, my tickets are 12th row floor seats, and I’ll be adorned with backstage access credentials.

Now to the wardrobe crisis. I should have thought of this months ago, weeks ago at least.  But my time to think the past few weeks has been limited.  My time to shop? Nonexistent. So here I am at 10:30AM about to head out for a day of shopping.  I need cowboy boots and a cute dress.  I think.  Jeans are more my type.  So, we’ll see.

PS: Suggestions on where to buy cowboy boots while not in Texas, are more than welcome.

Every Tuesday and Friday afternoon between May and November, the Copley Square green space in Boston is taken over by local farmers and bakers.  The farmer’s market is not huge, probably just 25 vendors, but the food is fresh, much organic, colorful and delicious.

I’m fortunate enough to work directly across from Copley Square, so come summer, my Tuesday and Friday lunches consist of crisp veggies, farm fresh cheeses and home made deserts.  Today I stopped by and picked up a bag of sugar snap peas, a mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwich on baguette, and a few cider donuts to treat the co-workers.

How amazing is this bedroom on the left?  Arax-Rae recently posted the picture, and I immediately fell in love.  This bedroom tugs on my emotions, it brings back memories of family vacations on the beach, summer days by the ocean.  The salt ridden air, the way each morning smells, fresh dew and fog banks.  It also makes me dream.  Dream of a future, with a husband and children and our own traditions and memories.  Our own trips to the beach, early morning walks on the beach, coffee and a newspaper on the porch, little hands and feet splashing in the waves.  Oh, the feelings that arise in my mind when I think the ocean – my childhood, my home state, my family.

On a side note, the photo also reminds me of a photograph that I took last summer, not surprisingly, it was taken one weekend while in Maine, on an island, by the ocean.

Beach bedroom photo
My photo

A girlfriend recently recommended that I (along with every other young female) pick up and read a copy of Eve Ensler’s I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World.  It took me a few weeks to follow suit and order the book, but I did.

I am an Emotional Creature arrived yesterday.  Today I finished it.  The book was a quick read – each chapter written in short poetry form – but it is an absolute must read for every female on this planet.

Eve Ensler did it again.  A provocative, enlightening, empowering read.  In case you don’t believe me, here’s how the book begins:

Dear Emotional Creature,
I believe in you. I believe in your authenticity, your uniqueness, your intensity, your wildness. I love the way you dye your hair purple, or hike up your short skirt, or blare your music while you lipsync every single memorized lyric. I love your restlessness and your hunger. You possess the energy that, if unleashed, could transform, inspire and heal the world.

This past weekend was Father’s day, so of course, we traveled back to Maine to spend some quality time with our dads.

Saturday morning with mom and dad meant an early breakfast at Porthole, an authentic Portland restaurant situated directly on one of the most active wharfs.  Now that it’s summer, it’s our favorite breakfast spot.  We sit on the deck, observing the fisherman, watching the boats get ready for the day.  We drink iced coffee out of mason jars and I always order my favorite: lobster Benedict.

Breakfast was followed by a busy day, one filled with car maintenance, errands, shopping and loads of last minute to-do items before mom and dad’s 2 week trip to France.  Later that evening, the parentals treated the boyfriend and I to a delicious dinner at Salt Water Grille.  Red wine, scallops and steaks – not to mention the view.  Just so happened that a cruise ship was leaving harbor Saturday night.  Another Maine restaurant, another marina view.

It was a true summer night.  After dinner we spent a few hours visiting one of my dear friends and her husband.  We joined them in their backyard, sitting around the fire, sipping on summer beers and enjoying great conversation.

Sunday finally rolled around.  Another early morning, as a girlfriend and I traveled to Yarmouth to watch my boyfriend and her husband play together in a men’s league baseball game.  I snuck away early in order to make it home in time for Father’s Day.  We saw my grandparent’s for lunch, and spent the afternoon on our boat with my dad.  It was a gorgeous day.  Warm and sunny, strong NW winds.

Welcome to Maine in the summertime.

I honestly have no idea why I subscribe to so many magazines, but I always have, and probably always will – which creates quite a serious housekeeping problem.  I have magazines, everywhere.  I used to keep them, intentionally, thinking that maybe, one day they would come in handy.  Perhaps one day, I’d think back to an idea, or an article, or a product that I read about in a magazine, and want to go back and find it.  Well… that doesn’t happen.

What does happen is that I read a magazine once, and instead of recycling it, I put it in a pile – I have one in the living room, one at the end of my bed, one on top of my ottoman – I have piles of old magazines, everywhere.

So thank you Apartment Therapy, for offering up this suggestion.  A make your own magazine stool!  I wouldn’t have picked brown leather straps, and I would pick a different pillow top – but the idea, is genius.

I will make one, or two, or three of these for my new apartment.

I took a mental health day from work yesterday.  At 8AM I emailed my team, spent two hours working from home, and then got in my car and drove.  Ice coffee in hand, windows down, music on loud.  No explanation necessary, after all they call ‘personal days’ personal for a reason, right?  I drove nearly 2 hours north, into the great state of Maine, and I swear, as soon as I crossed the state line, I already felt better.  Relieved, relaxed, excited… happy.

I spent the entire day, 7+ hours, by myself.  And it. was. glorious.  In Kennebunkport I walked around the village, took pictures of everything I saw, checked out every single tourist trap, sat by the ocean and to top it off – bought myself an ice cream cone.

A gift shop, a pile of buoys, a stack of Shipyard.

My favorite place, in the world – a breakwater and beach in Kennebunkport.

Yesterday was the best day I’ve had, in a very, very long time.  I can hardly stomach the fact that today it’s back to the office, back to the grind, back to work.  Fortunately, it’s Friday, and by 5PM I’ll be on the road once again, heading north, to my happy place for the weekend.  Another weekend in Maine, and I’m happy.

A delicious and easy way to mix up the menu on your next taco night – a meatless vegetarian friendly version with sweet corn and poppy seed dressing.

All you need:

• 1 cup brown rice
• 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa
• 1/2 sweet corn
• 1 large romaine leaf, chopped
• 1 tbsp taco seasoning
• sprinkle of cheese
• lite poppy seed dressing

Layer:

• Brown rice, mixed with taco seasoning
• Chopped lettuce
• Salsa
• Corn
• Cheese
• Poppyseed dressing

Is there anything better than this?  This morning at 8AM, no one else was awake, boyfriend went golfing.  A quiet Sunday morning, with coffee, magazines, nail polish and my computer.  Catching up on blogs, tumblr and all of my online errands.  It’s bright and sunny outside but won’t top 70 degrees today.  Perfect.  Not too hot.  I have a date with my sister around lunch, and a back yard BBQ this afternoon with friends.  The only thing ruining today is the thought of tomorrow, work.