I Made a Poof!

I keep seeing these fabulous poofs or pom poms all over Pinterest.  In searching for how to make them I came across this great blog:  imperfectlybeautifulms.blogspot.com.  

Click here for the poof/pom pom "how-to".

Fun and pretty easy to do.  Mine is definitely not perfect, but I don't think it should be, that's the fun part.  Try one!

Great "Facebook Friday" Deal on a Martha's Vineyard Hotel

 

The Vineyard Square Hotel is running a last minute getaway special.  I love this hotel.  I've stayed here before and definitely plan to go back:  Our Escape to Martha's Vineyard
Here's the deal:
"Facebook Friday Deal: We're enhancing our Soap Drive Special for the last weekend in March - just for our Facebook friends. Stay in a luxury suite March 30 and 31 and get 40% off your stay PLUS a $40 gift certificate for a future stay – simply by bringing in a new or gently used bar of soap! Must book before noon on this Sunday (3/25). New reservations only. Call 508-627-4711 soon - these suites will go fast!"

Click Vineyard Square Hotel  to "like" their Facebook page to get this great deal or future great deals.


I was not paid for this post, just sharing my love of a great place.

Getting Back on Track with "My Fitness Pal"

Has anyone tried www.myfitnesspal.com? 

It is a FREE online fitness plan with tools that count your calorie/fat/carb/protein intake and track exercise.  You input your current stats and your goals.  Each day you enter what you eat and it tracks calorie/fat/carbs/protein.  You also input any exercise that you do and keep track of all the water you should be drinking.

"My Fitness Pal" has nutrition facts for over 1,000,000 foods.  For example, (on a whim) I started using it today.  I was at work and I usually eat out--I know, I really have to start bringing lunch, I know!  I ate a Dunkin Donuts multigrain bagel (no cream cheese) and then for lunch I went to Freshii and got a Vegan Wrap.  My Fitness Pal had both of these listed in their data base with all the nutritional info...here are my results before dinner or even a snack:

Eye opening isn't it?!  I thought I eat somewhat healthy today, jeez 78 calories left?  What the hell am I going to have for dinner?!  Carrots and lettuce?  I'll have to exercise or I will starve tonight!  When you input the exercise that you've done it allows you to consume more calories/carbs/fat/protein.

When I got home from work I went for 30 minute run/walk and got chased by the biggest German Shepard I've ever seen!  Does being scared shit less burn calories?  Eeek!

Anyway, after exercising (and having a heart attack) things looks a little better:

For dinner I had grilled chicken on a bed of baby romaine lettuce, boy am I stuffed (yeah, right).  I'm going to bed early so I don't think about ice cream, wine or chocolate...cry myself to sleep.  Hope I don't have a nightmare about that dog.

Here are my final numbers for Day 1.

 

Apparently I made some not so great choices today, seeing it spelled out and in my face will/should help me make different choices.  I think this is a great tool to get back on track...and hello, it's free!!!!

Check it out:  http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ they have an app for your iPhone and iPad too!  With the iPhone app you can actually scan food labels, pretty cool.

Pictures of Ireland -- Happy St. Patrick's Day

In honor of Saint Patrick's Day I thought I would share some pictures from a trip to Ireland Mike and I took in December 2002.  Before we had kids, before we were married.  We were only dating a few months and Mike took me to Ireland for my birthday.  It is the most amazing place I've ever been.  It is truly Heaven on Earth.

We rented a car and drove through the countryside for five days, staying at random bed & breakfasts along the way, it was quite an adventure.  These pictures are before I had a digital camera, some of the quality is lost because I scanned them...

Traditional Music Shop in Doolin - County Clare

The Burren - County Clare

cottage in Dingle 

sheep everywhere

more scenery from the Dingle Peninsula

Kylemore Abbey Castle

Cliffs of Moher

If you've never been to Ireland and have the chance to go, it is a magical place that you will find yourself daydreaming about years later...like I am today...

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Lunch and The City: Sorelle Bakery & Cafe

I have been dying to try Sorelle Bakery & Cafe on my lunch hour.  I walked by it a few times and it looks so inviting.
This past Thursday was a really nice day so I walked over.  This one is located at 282 Congress Street (Boston).

It looked like most people were taking their orders to go, but you could sit and eat, which if I wasn't in a hurry I would have.  The sun was shining in the big windows...soothing music playing...very nice atmosphere.

There was so much to choose from and everything looked amazing.

I decided to be somewhat good and got a Mediterranean Salad with chicken and it was really good, perfect actually.

But couldn't stop thinking about all of their desserts!

www.sorellecafe.com

Someday My Yoga Pants Will Make it to Yoga

Yup this is me.  My yoga pants have only seen the grocery store, the preschool, my couch and my bed.  They may have gone for a few brisk walks and a random Zumba class, but no yoga.

We finally joined the Weymouth Club so my yoga pants may finally make it to yoga!
Although, I think will need new yoga pants, as all of mine are quite faded,worn and stained from all my non-yoga activities.

Shopping and Bar Hopping in NYC

My favorite hotel, The New Yorker, is having special 35% off sale.  This is a great deal for a great hotel with a perfect location.  Book now for a stay from now until September!  Sale ends today 3/9, so don't miss out!  Check out their shiny new website www.newyorkerhotel.com

I've mentioned my love for this hotel in a past post, but I also went back to stay there again the week before Christmas with three of my very best friends.  NYC is exciting anytime of year, but Christmas time is magical!

Our Trip:
Words cannot describe how excited we mamas were to go on this little trip!
We took an (extremely) early Amtrak train from 128 Westwood Station.  I did this last time and it worked out great.  Not much traffic and really easy to park--$12 a day.

We were able to check-in early!  The New Yorker Hotel lobby was decorated for the holidays.  Once again this hotel was perfect.

We scored a "Cyber Monday" deal that was a steal for Christmas time in NYC.

Our room was very nice and quite spacious...and as I have mentioned before the beds are so so comfortable.

The view from our room

We freshened up and then walked to Times Square.

We had a few celebrity sightings...one was real...Nick Lachey

and one was made out of wax...lol

Heather and faux Tony Bennett

We decided to see the sights by way of a Grey Line double decker bus!  You could get on and off all over Manhattan all day.  We were bundled up so we sat in the open air up top, it was awesome.  Kerri was our photographer...

Me and Heather on the double decker bus

Here are some things Kerri captured along the way...

cool black and whites suitable for framing

Empire State Building

Washington Square Park

We got off the bus for a late lunch in Soho/Little Italy.  We happened upon this lovely place, The Grey Dog.  So cozy inside.  The wine was 1/2 off after 4...of course we stayed until after 4!  It goes down in history as one of the best lunches ever...so relaxing, lots of laughs, good food and of course wine.  

It was dark when we left, Little Italy was all lit up...

We bought dozens scarves and pashminas on Canal Street and in Little Italy.  We hopped back on the bus...very cool riding on the top or the double decker at night...a little chilly but worth it.

Housewives of NY fans?  This is Jill Zarin and her
 husband's fabric business

Rockefeller Plaza

Home of the Rockettes!

We got back to the hotel and got ready for a night on the town!

View from our hotel room at night.

We started with a fancy smancy dinner at Ruth's Chris.  Excellent!

From there we went to a few bars/pubs and ended up at The Mean Fiddler--dancing and foolishness ensued until the wee hours.  Our last stop of the night (morning) was the Tick Tock 24 hour diner...this city really doesn't sleep!  I shall not reveal what time we finally put our heads on the pillows.

The next day (later that morning) we got huge coffees, thankfully Dunkin Donuts was right on the corner.  We checked out of the hotel but were able to leave our luggage locked up until we were ready to take the train home later.

Our plan was to walk to Rockefeller Plaza.  We saw some landmarks and shopped/haggled with  various street vendors along the way.

In the Fashion District they were selling some dresses on the street.

I got this one for 20 bucks.

Rockefeller Plaza was bustling with holiday excitement.

Woody was a little creepy and smelled like pee--sorry, just a warning

After one last stop at the Tick Toc Diner we headed home on the train back to Boston.  We had an absolute blast, but we were ready to get back to our kids and get some sleep.

Maureen said it best on her facebook status that evening "heading home from the city that never sleeps, to get some sleep"

Some of my loot

scarves and pashminas