Tremont 647: $2 Taco Tuesdays.

Definitely worth checking out, people...

Frogger sent me a message at about 4:30pm today, wanting to know if I was in the mood for Tacos. I, being of Mexican descent, am always in the mood for tacos. So we knew we had to check it out...



The only tacos on the menu of four (pork, short ribs, seafood, lentils) that I could eat was the lentil ones. (The seafood had shrimp in it.) We also had the veggie quesdillas and the lime margarita special.

Quite good. Not a bad for less than $30.

Passport Adventures: Canadian Visa!

Hooray!

After surrendering it at the beginning of the month to a lawyer in Toronto, I FINALLY have my passport back... Complete with my Canadian Visa in it.



Yay!

This is just a temporary one. Once I pass through Immigration in Toronto in May, I then have to give them all this paperwork - which I have to sign in front of them - and put in for my permanent Visa.

I thought immigrating to Canada would be easier. Like, I just fill out a form... Show that having my husband and me in the country would be financially beneficial to Canada (his job is moving there, and I plan to shop in Canada - 'cept for jeans)... And then I would get like a big smiley sticker or something in my passport to show I was "in like sin" with our neighbors to the north.

I was wrong. I had to fill out an ass-load of paperwork. Then get poked and prodded by a creepy doctor in Brookline. Then more paperwork. A surrendering of the passport. And all of this took about seven months to do.

And, a sigh of relief is breathed by me.

"Whew!"

Picture Of the Day: Books.

Moving day is getting closer and closer. I have less than two months left in Boston. And tomorrow, we have a moving estimator guy coming to estimate how much it will cost to move us from Boston to Toronto. So I decided that early this morning would be a good time to go through all of my books.

I have quite a few... Some I have never even read. Some that I read two chapters and decided, "This is shit." And some that were forced upon me because of work. (I'm talking about you, stupid Dale Carnegie books that I never read!)

Here is a picture of what I am getting rid of...



They are being packed up tonight and donated.

There's a lot of shit-tastic chick lit in there. I won't lie.

SHIT: Just noticed I have some sentimental books in the "to-go" pile. They have been removed.

Weekly Poll: Staycation or Vacation?

My friend Frogger, who is a travel writer, had a relevant question posted over on Twitter this morning. And I thought it would make a fun weekly poll.

With the Spring season now here, and Summer just a few months away... I can imagine many of us are itching to get away from our home turfs. So I was wondering, which would your rather do:

Staycation - A period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions

Vacation - Leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure... Usually requires planning and possibly long-distance driving, train ride, bus ride, cruise or a flight.

The poll is at the right.

Carrie's Vivienne Westwood Wedding Dress.

It's Monday, which means the new goodies that have come into Net-a-Porter are posted. In today's edition of "What's New," we have a shorter version of the Vivienne Westwood "Lily" wedding gown worn by Carrie Bradshaw in the Sex and the City Movie...



I wasn't a fan of the gown in the movie. It didn't feel "Carrie" to me. I thought she should have gone for the De la Renta or the Dior. But I am finding myself to be loving the shorter version of the Westwood gown.

Too bad I am married and it is "sold out" already.

I would make the dress super fun by going totally "1950s" with it... So I would pull my hair up into a high, bouncy ponytail... And I would get "virginal-vampy" with these candy-satin Dior peep-toes...



FUN!

Crystal Therapy: Gemstones To Heal.

Over the past few years, I began paying attention to jewelry that actually had a purpose beyond fashion. It's not enough for the pieces to merely make a statement or enhance my outfits. Now, I expect my jewelry to help heal me.

Many people, as do I, believe that wearing certain gemstones and crystals helps manifest and heal certain afflictions... From the serious to the mundane. I myself came to believe in this idea after visiting the Golden Door Spa in Carefree, Arizona for my 30th b-day trip two years ago.

At the spa, one of the treatments I had was a "Chakra Balancing." This required me to lie on a table, while a spiritual healer worked over me. She was a Reiki Master, and she was very kind. She used different crystals and gemstones as she cleared out each chakra. As I laid down with my eyes closed, she placed a corresponding-colored gemstone to each chakra in my hand... And then she shook various instruments (which sounded like "rain") and played various drums, all to help move the energy around within and out of me.

I walked away from the treatment, after 90 minutes, feeling very relaxed. And after that, I began studying crystals and gemstones with regards to healing properties. There are a number of books out there on the subject, my favorite is Angel Medicine by Doreen Virtue.

In Angel Medicine, she has pages at the back dedicated to listing out the ailments each crystal and gemstone can help heal. Here is a small list:

• Turquoise: Blood Pressure, Infections, Stress, Throat
• Smoky Quartz: Anxiety, Fatigue
• Rose Quartz: Broken Heart, Calming Feelings
• Moonstone: Decreasing Appetite, Child Birth, Menstruation Issues, Menopause Issues, Performance Anxiety, Fallopian Tubes, Pregnancy, Shock
• Coral: Child Conception
• Jade: Spleen, Money Issues, Legs, Kidneys, Creating Abundance
• Garnet: Child Conception, Dealing with Change, Gallbladder, Infertility

Here is my collection of crystals and gemstones...



I have some smoky quarts, turquoise, garnets, coral, rose quartz and a moonstone. I'd like to add some jade to my collection as well, just to have a well-rounded collection.

I Must Have Been Craving The Protein.

It's Spring... And I was craving Spring veggies - leeks and asparagus. So I made a crust-less quiche:



Yum... Eggs, asparagus, leeks, Gruyere. And I ate a good chunk of it. I think I needed the protein, so I don't feel guilty.

I love Spring veggies. Even more than Summer veggies.

REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask.

It appears, to my dismay, that Murad is no longer manufacturing the Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask To Go.

Dangit! I loved that thing! It was so perfect for exfoliating so much more than your face. And the little packets yielded so much more than one application... So you really got a great deal with them. (A four-pack was $10.)

But in my tears of sorrow, the Sephora sales associate was able to point me in the direction of (what appears to be) a far superior product:



REN Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask.

It's a fruit acid and enzyme mask... And it's supposedly pretty intense. So I will be very careful when I try it for the first time later today. It's paraben-free, contains no sulfates, petrochemicals, fragrance, synthetic colors or silicones. Additionally, it comes in a vacuum-sealed container, never having been touched by humans.

I will be posting a review of it later this week. But so far, it seems promising.

Numerology: Personal Year Calculation.

Someone wrote in asking how to figure out their "personal year." I have written about it a few times, but I figured it was worth another posting.

To get your current "personal year number," you combine your birth month, date and the current year you are in all together, until you have it down to a one-digit number. (Example, my birthday this year is 4/12/2009. Combined, those numbers equal 9.)

4+1+2+2+0+0+9 = 18

1+8=9

Once you have figured out what "year" you are in, here are the definitions to help you get an idea of what to expect:

#1 - Can be a difficult year You're starting in a new direction. You could possibly meet a strong male or female who will play a significant role in your life.

#2 - This year is all about partnership. Can be a difficult year because success depends on another person and well they cooperate with you.

#3 - The happiest and luckiest year to be in. People help you. You meet a lot of interesting people. Watch out for respiratory issues and communication issues though. You may take short trips or move a short distance.

#4 - The hardest year physically. Physical weaknesses will come out in this year. May feel depressed and trapped. Overworked. People around you are stubborn. Put your energy into your health and your job, as it is the best thing to do.

#5 - Anything from the previous year that was challenging is moving out of your life. You don't have much control in your life though... You may feel restless and bored. You want excitement. You could move and do some traveling. Easy to meet someone of the opposite sex.

#6 - Year of commitment, family and responsibility. Others depend on you. You are a "peacemaker." Society rewards you if you're responsible and playing your role.

#7 - Strange year. You may feel alone or abandoned. You feel you're not getting the attention you should. This is the year of studying and gaining professional experiences. You gain knowledge and spiritual wisdom. May have a spiritual revelation.

#8 - This year can be a money year or a year with big debt, depending on how the first seven years went. Possible conflicts with authority figures, family members, work, etc.

#9 - This is an end of a cycle. So something or someone leaves. You need an ending for a new beginning to occur. Could be a death of a loved one or a divorce. Long distance move and travel is possible.

It will be exactly two weeks from today (Easter Sunday) that I enter into my "9 Year." Woohoo!

Happy Birthday, Human!

Since it is now after midnight, it is officially the birthday of The Husband ("Human").


(FYI: This is, swear to God, the bobble-head version of Human that was made a few years back. And it looks just like him.)

Human is now 33 years old. In the past year, he has gained a few additional gray hairs - likely caused by "yours truly." I met Human eight years ago, when he was 24 going on 25. Other than the gray hair, the only thing that has changed about Human is that he is married to me. His wardrobe, personal style, spending habits and music tastes have all stayed the same.

So see, people, marriage doesn't have to change you!

Anyhow... With people near and dear to me, I like to post numerology information about their "Personal Year." And with Newman's b-day, he is now entering in to the "Personal Year 7" according to numerology.

I was in my own "7 Year" two years ago. It's a year of personal reflection and thought. It's a "strange" year. It can be a year where you feel depressed and a little alone. But it's really a year about gaining professional skills. It's also a year of gaining spiritual wisdom. Often, there is a spiritual revelation of sorts. You often have to "face yourself" in a year 7.

I find it interesting that The Husband is going into a "7 Year" right now, as a lot is changing for him at work... Though, for the better. He loves his job, and he is incredibly talented (though quite modest) with what he does. And he has "matured" into a position as of this week where he will likely need some time to marinate and get used to his new role. So this will be a pensive year for him, work wise at least.

More information on the "Year 7":
If you're thoughtful, quiet, meditative, studious and patient this year, you will gain from its energies, for nature designed the Personal Year (7) as a "time-out" from the grinding progression of life. It's a time to search your soul so you will begin to understand your place within the coming universal scheme of things. One shouldn't brood over the past, but learn from its mistakes. Try to relax, rest, wait and plan, rather than try to force the issues. Try to understand and accept the fact that the delays you confront this year are meant to aid you in understanding the self (to help you rechart your future course). Nourish your soul now, seek inspiration, take a personal inventory, create a new action blueprint and get ready to implement that plan during your (8) year in 2010.

Happy birthday, Human! I love you!

XOXO,
The Missus

Girlfriends Dinner: Mostly Vegan Mediterranean.

Since The Husband is out of town for the weekend, I had Bail and Frogger over for dinner, wine and "Earth Hour" this evening. I wanted to test out some new vegan recipes that I had in my repertoire...

Pizza with Walnut Sauce & Mozzarella (Which is the only un-vegan part of the evening).




Bruschetta Pizza.




Angel Hair Pasta with Spicy Marinara & Artichoke Hearts.




Macerated Strawberries.




We promptly turned out the lights at 8:30pm, in recognition of Earth Hour. We played our "Key West" mix of music from the laptop, operated by battery power.



It was a fun evening! I got to try out some new easy (and delicious) recipes... And I got to chat with my girl friends. Oh... And did I mention there was red wine?

God bless red wine.

Afternoon Snack: "Hot" Chocolate and Pinot.

I don't know if they should go together... But they tasted delicious together all the same!



It's a sliver of dark chocolate with chilies in it - "hot" chocolate. And I drank a few ounces of Pinot Noir with it.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Sherried Mushroom & Potatoes.

I am well into week five of my vegetarianism, and doing quite well... Thank-you-very-much! And with The Husband away, visiting his parents in Florida, this means I don't have to really consider what he wants for dinner.

Now, some of you may be wondering what kind of vegetarian I am... "Do you eat fish?" "Do you eat shellfish?" "What about eggs?" "Are you completely vegan?"

Here's how it breaks down, for me:

• I don't eat mammals. (Anything that has lungs.)
• I don't eat anything with feet. (So shellfish are out.)
• I do eat fish, but only certain kinds: Cod, Snapper, Tuna, MahiMahi, Certified Chilean Sea Bass
• I do eat eggs.

Today, though, I didn't have any fish or eggs for dinner. (Though I did consider making a "Spring Quiche" with asparagus and leeks.) Instead, I decided to use up some of the veggies I had lying around...



Mushrooms, potatoes and onions!

First, I sauteed (in some olive oil) quarter-inch sliced baby Yukon golds. When those were cooked and golden on both sides, I took them out and added chopped white mushrooms and a quarter of a (large) white onion into the pan with some more olive oil. When those were nice and soft, I poured in some really dry sherry and let that cook off for a few more minutes.

Everything got tossed together in a big bowl, and dished out. I have left-overs for lunch tomorrow. Healthy and vegetarian. Yum!

Dyson Ball DC25: Most Amazong Suction Ever!

"WHY won't this open?" asked The Husband.

He was grunting and struggling. He was in another room, but I could hear him from my front home office. He walked into it, moments later, carrying the detachable canister from our Dirt Devil upright vacuum cleaner.

"This won't open," he wailed. "I want to vacuum, but I am getting no suction. It needs to be emptied, and it won't open!"

I just looked at him with humor projecting from my face.

"This is why," I began, "we need to but a new vacuum cleaner. Just like I have been telling you for months!"

And I had been telling him for months that we needed to replace the cheap and lousy vacuum cleaner we had bought over two years ago. It didn't get all the dirt up. It was difficult to clean - and messy. It didn't work well on bare floors. And when you used it, it would leave an odor of burnt rubber in the air. (We don't know why it did this.)

The Husband is frugal (in a good way), and doesn't like to replace things too soon. He'll use something (jeans, tee shirts, gym bags, electric razors, jackets, vacuum cleaners, George Foreman grills that smoke when you plug them in) till it has completely fallen apart. He had now hit his "frustration max" with the vacuum cleaner... And he agreed to let me get a new one.

So I did. The very next day, after he left for a vacation with his parents in Florida.

I walked all the way to Best Buy and picked up the Dyson Ball DC25.



Have you seen the commercials for this thing? They make you go, "Holy shit! I want that!"

Additionally, I knew of at least four other people who had purchased this Dyson model. All were enthusiastically in favor of the thing...

• "The technology behind it is cool!"
• "It goes in any/every direction!"
• "It's easy to use!"
• "It sucks up EVERYTHING! It's orgasmic!"

When I got it home and snapped it together, I had the intention of only doing our living room carpet. But the thing is so amazing that I ended up vacuuming every piece of floor (carpeted or hard wood) in the house.

I loved vacuuming!

Now, this love does not come cheap. This Dyson model sets you back just over $500. I could have gotten the Jimmy Choo Hunter Rain Boots AND a new pair of Lululemon Yoga Pants. But we needed proper suction more than we needed designer rain boots and ass-enhancing yoga pants.

It Must Be The Bikram?

Monday, I hurt my calf muscle. Badly. I couldn't really walk. No swelling. Just pain while walking. And I had a cankle. Only one.

Tuesday, I woke up and still walked funny... But it hurt less. Still no swelling. The doctor gave me crutches and told me I had likely "torn my right calf muscle." He said it would "take weeks to heel." I was told to use the crutches. I used them only outside, not at home. By the end of the day, I was able to walk - funny - with no pain.

Wednesday, woke up. Went to Starbucks. Went to train with The Trainer. Walked around the Pru. Walked to dinner at Sibling Rivalry. Was mostly able to walk with no hobbling. Had no pain, except for the occasional "deep stretch" feeling when I walked to quickly.

Thursday, woke up. Went to Starbucks. Went to the movie theater - was too late to see the movie. Walked across the park, down Newbury Street, to Best Buy. Bought a vacuum cleaner. Carried it all the way home. Walked without a hobble. Walked with no pain.

I think the Bikram - which I haven't been to since last week - helps the body to heal faster.

Jimmy Choo Hunter Wellies.

I was casually flipping through the latest issue of Vogue the morning, while taking my early-day soy latte at the neighborhood Bucks, when I saw these bad boys on the last page...



Sure, they may look like your average Hunter Wellies... But holy hell, they are NOT! Wanna know what they are???

JIMMY CHOO HUNTER WELLIES!!!

This is serious shit, people! Jimmy Choo and Hunter paired up together to produce a freaking phenomenal pair of rubber rain boots that are "crocodile embossed," to give them that luxurious look and feel.

Wanna know the cost?

They are $395. For rain boots! But you know what? If I ever came across them in person at the local "Choo-tique," I would totally buy them.

Eff me gently with a chainsaw! I don't know if I could restrain myself around them.

Murad Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask.

Arghh!!!!!!

For weeks I have been popping in and out of Sephora looking to restock these in my home cabinet...



The Murad Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask.

But for weeks now, they have been out of them. So this week I went to the Sephora website and decided I would just suck it up and order the $10 mask packs. But even they are out of them!!!

Arghh!!!!!

I am DYING for a fruit peel... And not for my face. I love using these on the backs of my hands, neck, backs of my upper arms and shoulders. They're WONDERFUL for removing dead skin cells and getting things to turnover, looking younger.

Recession Chic: Creative Work Attire.

Amanda Dawn is a true creative type. Mom, graphic designer and professional photographer... The lady is mad busy! And she write me last week requesting some help for an upcoming event she has to shoot...

In the beginning of May, I have a fashion show I will be attending for a client. (http://www.ovationsforthecure.org/events/events_up_cmv09.php). I will be working (photographing) the show, but I have no clue what I should wear. A dress or skirt is out, and if I do heels, they will likely need to be kitten. Oh, and as you know, I am on a shoestring budget. I'd like to wear something with color, royal blue or a red or something like that. What would you suggest?

Now, this may sound like I am beating a "dead horse"... But, I still think the chicest outfit for us creative types is: Blazer, Blouse, Jeans, Funky Jewelry and Heels.

And because the event is at the Liberty Hotel in Boston, I think this outfit is even more appropriate! (I was just at the Liberty Hotel in February for an event myself... And the space is SWANKY! I wore this same type of outfit to my event too.)

Also, since the event is a charity one, I did some research on the designated "color" for ovarian cancer... And it's TEAL. So it would be really cool to bring the color into the outfit either through jewelry or through the blouse. Red and royal blue are fantastic... But I think since it is a charity event, wearing the charity color would be a great sign of solidarity.

So, here is a montage of what I think would be fantastic for a photographer to wear to this event:



The blouses and the blazer can be found at Old Navy. The white one is $20. The tropic blue one is $15. The black blazer is $39.50. Each of these items are "basics" for a professional wardrobe and can easily be worn again and again. The jewelry is basic and can easily be found at H&M. They have the earrings there, and they're less than $5.

With jeans, they absolutely can be worn in a professional environment. When I worked at The Evil Empire a few years back, EVERYONE wore jeans. They were very stylish when paired with a great top and shoes. Photographers wore them everyday, no matter where they were.

As an added bonus, I think the "teal" colors would really bring out Amanda Dawn's eyes... As she has soft blue/green eyes. And the sleeves of the blazer would be "ruched" up, giving it a funky but chic look.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Now I Have ONE Cankle!

I know, I've been absent the past few days. But I have a reason!

Most of Sunday was spent getting from Key West back to Fort Myers via the ferry boat in a very bumpy ocean. (Not fun!) I flew back to Boston from Fort Myers yesterday morning. And while unpacking in my apartment yesterday afternoon, something happened.

I was simply WALKING from one room to the other when I felt a "snap" in my right calf... And then some pain. I knew what had happened... I had pulled or torn my calf muscle.

I immediately wrapped, iced and elevated it. I could still walk on it...But I was moving very slow. And I couldn't move to fast, otherwise I would feel a pain in my muscle... Similar to a very deep stretch. This morning, after waking up, I went to the walk-in clinic at Mass General, and they gave me these...



I have to use my calf muscle as little as possible while it heals. The healing process will take a few weeks, at least. I'm not in any pain. And I can walk on it without the crutches without pain. And the muscle itself is not swollen... But my foot is...



Not pretty.

And now, I find my one of my legs to have taken on a "cankle" look.



No yoga, running or fast walking for a few weeks. I can, however, still train with the trainer. I can do abs, some lunges, squats and anything with my arms. I will just have to take it slow and light for now though.

On the bright though... Now that I have crutches, I will totally be taking them with me to Europe next month. I am thinking that if I walk up to the check-in counter with them, and ask for a seat change with "more room" that I may be able to get an upgrade to business class.

Woohoo!

An Afternoon On The Water.

Yesterday can't be called "life-changing" for me... Not quite. But it was an amazing day.

Because Frogger is working on an article here in Key West, we were both given VIP passes for activities on the island. When the PR company that gave them to her told us what they included, we didn't think we would use them. We didn't actually look at the passes, and we wanted to explore the island on our own.

However, we quickly learned that the island is not that big. And we learned that the VIP pass actually included some really fun stuff. And yesterday, we spent the entire afternoon and early evening out on the ocean, courtesy of the pass.

In the early afternoon, we hopped on a boat and went out to go view dolphins in the wild. Not only were we out there to view dolphins, we were out there to go snorkeling in shallow water over some sponge coral.

Way cool!

I had never snorkeled or seen dolphins in the wild before, and I was surprised by how relaxing it all was. We sat up on the front of the boat with our cameras, looking out for dolphins in deep water. We found five swimming together. We saw one of them shoot water out of his breathing hole... And we saw him flap his tail on the water. They played for a while for us...



After that, we then went and snorkeled...



I never thought I would ever go snorkeling in my life. I don't swim often, but actually do know how. I don't like getting water in my ears, so I have never been a fan of it. But once I was in the water with my fins on, I found it very easy and relaxing!

You just float on your belly and stick your face in the water!

I saw a lot of sea grass, baby fish and small blobby things in the water. At one point, Frogger swam over to me and pointed to a fish under the water that had some good color. It was the only one we saw that had some.

After the dolphin and snorkeling excursion, Frogger and I booked ourselves on an evening sunset cruise, courtesy of the VIP pass. This time, we were on a huge catamaran. And there were free cocktails...



And we got some amazing shots of the sunset...



Then, we noticed a storm off in the distance...



And we spotted some "rain funnels" in the clouds of the storm...



It was very cool.

The captain took the boat back to the dock, and we all got out.

The rain eventually rolled in, onto the island. And the amazing day continued But that's a story for later...

I Can't Get Wasted Away In "Margaritaville."

Okay.. I know Margaritaville is supposed to be a "state of mind"... But I am likening it to Key West, as this is one of the places Jimmy Buffet has chosen to open one of those Margaritaville bars...

I must confess... The drinks in Key West are WEAK. Even for me, the girl who gets drunk off two glasses of wine.

Seriously, today I had a pineapple margarita at lunch... And I had gulped down part of it before we got food in us.



I felt nothing after drinking this.

Then, we stopped off and got the mojitos for $2.



They were strong-tasting... But I achieved no euphoria with them.

Then, at dinner, I got a strawberry margarita...



NOTHING!

No buzz. Not warm tingling feeling in my hands. I could still feel my teeth.

The drinks are cheap in Key West, which is probably why they are weak. I don't think I'll be spending any money on any more drinks while I am here. I'm not looking to get drunk... But I was looking forward to a nice buzz.

Disappointment with tequila and rum? This is new... :(

The "Fry Guy" Of Key West.

While walking down Duval Street, back from our evening out, Frogger and I came across an outdoor bar that had a really great performer. We decided to pop in and have a Diet Coke.

Little did I know, the Coke I was drinking wouldn't be my only "coke" reference for the evening...

After we had been sitting down for a few minutes, we saw a guy walk in to the performance area with a cup of beer in his hand. He was swaying and really into his own "beat" with the music. He seemed harmless, so we just sat amused from a distance. But the distance wouldn't last long...

The guy decided to come over and tell us "not to worry" and that he had "only done coke once in his life" and that he "wasn't high on coke." A table to young guys near us told us they thought the guy was on LSD...

"That's totally what people act like when they're on it," the guy said.

I wouldn't know... Because Nancy told me to Just Say No. So I took the guy's word for it. But the "Fry Guy" on LSD was so funny, I had to catch some video of his weirdness...

Beautiful Sunset.

Frogger and I did what everyone who comes to Key West must do... Walk along the boardwalk and Mallory Square to see the sunset.



I couldn't stop taking pictures...

Key West: $2 Mojitos!

Frogger and I got into Key West just after noon today. We took a "high seed" ferry that not only lacked "high speed" Internet, it also lacked a fast trek from Fort Myers to Key West. It took over four hours to get here. Ugh!

But, we are here now. And the ferry was an excellent opportunity to catch up on some rest, reading and "Entourage" episodes I had downloaded into my iTunes. I'll be creating a podcast next week covering the trip. But I will say that so far, it has been a very cheap trip for me so far...

We've been able to find good deals on food and entertainment. Including an incredible "Happy Hour" deal: $2 Mojitos at the Island Dogs Bar.





They were strong and minty! And they got 'em every Monday through Saturday from 4pm to 8pm.

Hermes Motorcycle-Esque Boots - I WANT!

Ohhhh...

I have been on a mad hunt for a pair of really good, really cool, flat motorcycle boots for a while now. And my hunts have turned up nothing. At least, nothing in my searches have turned anything in a reasonable price range.

And while a the airport today, waiting for my flight, I saw these awesome bad-boys on Giselle in the new issue of Harper's Bazaar.



A closer look at them...



I love the buckles and the slouch they have. They are gorgeous! And $$$$. Even if I bought them at Hermes in Paris next month as a "when in Paris" indulgence, I still couldn't justify buying them.

Picture Of The Day: Taco Bell, A Modern Marvel.

Today's picture is from my Jet Blue flight from Boston to Fort Myers. Allow me to set up the scenario for you for a moment...

I am sitting in seat 21D. Frogger is in seat 6D. I am enjoying my complimentary Diet Coke and free small bag of chocolate chip cookies (only 130 calories!)... Watching DirectTV and indulging in a guilty pleasure of mine: The Real Housewives of Orange County.

All of the sudden, someone is bending down beside me. It is Frogger. It jolted me for a moment, as I wasn't expecting her to appear suddenly at my side.

She speaks...

"I came back here to tell you," she said, "that The History Channel is airing a show about Taco Bell."

She turned around and walked back to her seat. She understands what Taco Bell means to me.

I quickly moved up a few channels... But I was too late. This was all I was able to catch of the episode...



I really think Taco Bell serves far more tortillas than this.

Fort Myers...

Frogger and I have landed in Fort Myers, and we will be on our way to Key West (via a ferry) tomorrow morning.

Fort Myers is a lot like Arizona. At least it feels that way. It's easy to drive. There are superstores, like Super Target and Costco. And we passed about five different McDonalds on our drive from the airport.

We are now sitting in her parents backyard "cage," listening to the swimming pool and watching the golfers on the 16th hole yell at each other in their orange shirts. I've had a glass of red wine and made guacamole. And in a few minutes, we'll be going to an Italian restaurant for dinner.

PIZZA AND A SALAD!

Yum!

I'll write more later...

Picture Of The Day: My Packed "Hero."

I leave for Key West tomorrow morning.

Today has been a busy day. I had a training session, then had to grocery shop for The Husband (since I will be gone for almost five days), had to give myself a pedicure so that I will not have "skanky" toes while wearing flip flops... And I still have a Bikram class to go to at 6pm... But you know what???

I am all packed!



I was surprised by how much I was able to fit into my McQueen "Hero" luggage! The zebra-print drawstring bags really came in handy when packing my shoes, lingerie and clothes.

I am ready to hit Key West and have a few margaritas this weekend!

Petal Satin Evening Bag.

Wow!

I am so NOT the "fancy evening bag" type. I didn't even begin carrying a purse until I moved to NYC at the age of 23. But seeing this bag makes me wish I was the "fancy evening bag" type.



It's the Christan Louboutin Petal Satin Evening Bag. And it matches the Petal Sandals and the Carnaval Sandals.

But that's not the best part of the bag. No... The best part of the bag is the clasp at the top...



Squee!!!

I LOVE IT!

Picture Of The Day: Irish Red.

It's March 17th here in Boston. That means three things:

• It's the Denim Guru's b-day.
• It's Evacuation Day.
• And it's the holiest of holy holidays in Boston, St. Patrick's Day.

And in honor of the last one, but also in celebration of the first two, here is today's Picture of the Day...



An Irish beer, courtesy of a local brewer.

I snapped this while coming out of Bikram yoga this morning. There's a liquor store next to the studio (which I think is perfect - as who wouldn't love a wine, spirit or beer right after Bikram?), and they appeared to be stocking up for the day's festivities.

Moving Day: May 23rd.

The Husband came to me this morning, before he left for work...

"We need to decide exactly when in May we are moving," he said.

"Hmm," I thought for a second. I opened my Macbook calendar widget. "Let's do it Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. That way, whoever the new tenants are, they can move in a week early."

Decision done!

Picture Of The Day: Minutes Before Bikram.

Today's picture is of my towel and mat, just minutes before Bikram class began today...



Notice how nice, clean and deliciously dry the towel is?

Trust me, within 10 minutes of class beginning, there is a large damp spot on the towel, under my feet... Courtesy of the sweat dripping from my body... And by the end of class? You could wring the towel out with all my sweat.

A dry towel = torture awaiting you.

A wet towel = torture session done.

Random Thoughts Today...

A peek into what's on my mind today...

• Why was I able to squat really deeply, all of the sudden, when working out with The Trainer today? It was odd to be able to squat so lowly.
• Why do I always forget the kettle bells are in kilograms when I am forced to workout with them? I carried the equivalent of 52 pounds today while doing a circuit. And I had to carry it with one hand, walk 15 feet, while not allowing my core to tilt to one side of the other.
• Am I turning into my mother? I have had a few realtors bring clients through to look at the apartment... And every time they do, I always scramble around, thinking the place isn't clean enough... But really, it is.
• I would love for AIG to not to pay the bonuses they are contractually obligated to pay... But I do not think there is anything that can be done. Lawsuits will ensue, and we will spend more money dealing with it in court than it is worth.
• Anxiously awaiting the return of my passport... It should be back by the end of the week. Fingers crossed.
• Thinking dinner tonight will be pizza: a thin mult-grain crust, half plain cheese, half pepperoni and green olives.

Now I must get ready for yoga.

Key West On Thursday.

Yikes!

March is going by so quickly! It's been almost two months since I left my job, and almost two months since I was supposed to originally go to Key West with Frogger for a story she is working doing. We rescheduled the trip for this coming weekend, and I haven't given a thought to what to pack!

It'll be in the upper 70s and possibly a little rainy while we're there. So, I will definitely be bringing an umbrella. But what else? Here's what I will be fitting in my inaugural trip with the new McQueen "Hero" Carry-On...

• 1 Pair Jeans
• 2 Summery/Spring Dresses
• 1 Short-Sleeved Cardigan
• 1 Pair Black Flat Peep-Toes
• 1 Pair Bikram Shorts (Cuz you never know when you might need them!)
• 1 Bikram Tank Top (Did I mention that Bikram practice clothes also make excellent beach and pool attire?)
• 1 Pair Haviana Flipflops
• 4 Varying colored Tank Tops
• 1 Lululemon Hoodie
• 1 Fun Juicy Top, Black w/Ruffles
• 1 Fun Anthropologie Top
• 1 White Blouse
• 1 Cashmere Sweater Top

With my bag of face stuff and make-up, I think it will all easily fit into my "Hero"...

L'Oreal EverPure Smooth Shampoo.

I finally got around to washing my hair tonight. I wanted to give plenty of time for the color to stick from my hair coloring earlier this week. And when I washed it, I got to use the new L'Oreal EverPure Sulfate-Free Shampoo.



It'll be a few weeks before I know for certain if it is helping my color last. However, unlike with other sulfate-free shampoos I have tried, this one lathers really well... Which helps you spread it throughout your hair. So you only need a small dollop for ridiculously thick hair like mine, and you can cover your entire scalp with lather. And the rosemary and herb combination adds a nice aroma to my tresses.

Thus far, I give EverPure a "thumbs up"... It gets the hair clean, and you don't have to use that much.

Picture Of The Day: St. Paddy's Mint Tea.

A new thing I am starting today, on the Ides of March... "Picture of the Day" will be a picture I take each day and write about...

Today's picture is of my afternoon mint tea from Starbucks...



Hmm... Fancy, with the verdant, large green leaves and silk bag.

I didn't go to the St. Paddy's Day Parade in Southie this afternoon. I favored going to Barnes and Noble, drinking tea and reading a magazine. Then going to Bikram class.

It beats rowdy people, bad green beer and general obnoxiousness.

Pi Day: A New Beginning To Life.

Today is (was) "Pi Day." March 14. Or, 3.14.

Today is also someone in my family's b-day. And as I like to do with the people who are close to me... I like evaluating the "personal year" that they are entering into on their birthdays.

It's a numerology thing.

So, as I have mentioned before, it is easy to calculate out your current personal year. Today's b-day person is entering a "Personal Year 1" today. And that means new beginnings...

The current year is the beginning of a new nine year cycle for you. It holds the promise of being an exciting new adventure, with life taking on new challenges that pave the way for the next cycle of nine years in your life. This is a time to clarify your goals and it is a time to act on them. Hard work may be necessary to get a new venture moving. Your physical strength will be up during this year, perhaps higher than it has been for some time, as you have some special needs for this extra energy. If you are unable or unwilling to answer the call to change and make the move in your life the appears necessary now, your prospects may be delayed until the next cycle begins in nine years. Because of this, you feel like an adventure, a major change in your life, something new. New goals should be clearly set and worked toward, as this is really a new beginning of a nine year cycle and it is best not to dwell on the past at this time. This will be fairly easy for you to do because most of the problems and disappointments of the past will tend to disappear, leaving the way open for these new challenges. This is a great time; use it to its full advantage.

Because personal years run in nine-year cycles, entering into a "one" year sets the tone for your next nine years. It's usually a year where, if you manifest things properly, you can accomplish a lot... Mostly in the area of "attitude."

If you choose to pursue an "optimistic" outlook, the next nine years are really going to kick ass for you.

Happy b-day, Mum!

Pictures From The Past: Senior Year Cheerleading Days.

A friend of mine from high school uploaded this to Facebook a few weeks back...



It was taken almost 15 years ago. Sweet baby Jesus on Christmas morning! I am still as pale now as I was then! And I lived in ARIZONA then!

Stephi's On Tremont: Incredible!

Oh man! I wish I had brought my camera with me to dinner tonight, because it was one of the finest meals I had had in quite a while.

The Husband and I tried out the newly opened Stephi's On Tremont tonight... And while we are not fans of the dinner dining at Stephanie's On Newbury Street (only the brunch), we absolutely adored Stephi's.

AAAAAA-Dored!

I must confess... I find Stephanie's On Newbury to be quite tacky. During brunch, it's quite nice and fun... It's mostly families or couples. But the dining hour is a horrendous scene. I've seen many a great bag there (Balenciaga, Chanel, Botkier...) But the behavior of the people when you hit the joint after 8pm at night... It can be arrogant, bitchy, and just such a drag...

But Stephi's atmosphere was wonderful! It definitely had a feel of a serious foodie spot. The decor is dusky and comfy, and the lighting is far, far more romantic.The, of course, there's the menu.

It's pretty much the same menu as the Newbury Street location... But it just tastes better. Additionally, it's priced slightly cheaper too. By like a buck or two.

I think this is a situation where the atmosphere really does make the food taste better!

I started with a cocktail (the "5-0") of rum, vodka, lime juice and coconut... Which was perfectly light and well-blended. Then I had a basic green salad with shaved Parmesan and a lemon vinaigrette. Then dinner was a New England cod - which had a strong, rich sherry flavor in the corn chowder it was over... It was fantastic, despite me not realizing it had bacon in the chowder... And I had to pick all of it out.

Everything was so beautiful, I really wished I had my camera to snap some photos!

We were too full to have dessert, but we agreed that we may go back for cocktails and dessert one night - after a light dinner. They had sticky toffee pudding on the menu... MY FAVE!

Coconut Milk Ice Cream.

I have a new guilty pleasure. A new love. A new love made from an old love.

Coconuts.

Oh how I have loved coconut all of my life! Sweetened shredded coconut - I think it's one of the finest ingredients on Earth. Possibly THE finest! And about three years ago, because of Bikram, I discovered the joys of coconut water. (So good for you!) And now I have discovered the joy of coconut milk ice cream.



Made by the same company that makes the Soy Delicious products (yogurt and ice cream), the ice cream is made from coconut milk and is dairy and soy free... And it tastes amazing!

I brought The Husband home the Mint Chip flavor. There was no "coconutty-ness" to it... It just tasted like a light and delicious mint with crispy chocolate layers in it. It was a nice, healthy, dairy-free treat!

This will definitely be on my regular grocery list.

iPhone It Is! (Most Likely!)

It's still a few months away from being purchased (June at the earliest)... But I am thinking that I will be going the way most of you voted in last week's poll:



It was close. And I haven't completely ruled the Blackberry out yet. But it seems like the iPhone is much more in tune with my Internet style.

I like the application options. I like the interface and am used to it with my iPod Touch. I probably wouldn't use it much for music - most likely opting to only keep podcasts on it. Plus, it would sync with MobileMe, which I already have now.

I guess I am a pure Mac girl.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Very Veggie Burger Sandwich.

Now that I have time to, I like to make sure I eat healthy and yummy lunches. And one thing I have discovered since giving up meat for Lent is that it is easy to commit to it when you aren't rushed at lunchtime.

When I was working on Downtown, I would be starving at lunchtime. And as soon as I got outside and smelled food, especially meat, I would cave and get some. I had to quickly get back to the office, or run other errands during my lunch hour... And I knew a salad wouldn't fill me up or be satisfying. But now that I am at home, I can easily come up with a meat-free lunch option that isn't a salad...

Today's lunch: Very Veggie Burger Sandwich



Hmm... Look at the cross-section...



So many layers of veggies!

Ingredients:

• Two slices toasted sprouted grain bread
• One slice cheddar cheese
• One veggie burger (cooked in the microwave)
• Half a handful of shredded carrots
• Half a handful of sprouts
• Seven thinly sliced cucumber slices
• Half an avocado, sliced

Heart Rate: 204 BPM!

Holy hell!

I had my usual boxing session with The Trainer yesterday. Tuesdays we lift, Thursdays we box. Or rather, he makes me do boxing drills.

In case you were unaware, boxing drills are phenomenal cardio workout. It's more than just punches... We do kicks, punch-kick combinations, jump rope, jumping jacks and crunches. Or rather, I do them... All to the sounds of Eminem, Depeche Mode, Survivor, Run DMC, Madonna and other artists on my playlist.

The past two weeks, though, he has begun to torture me.

At the end of each boxing session, he sets the boxing studio timer for five minutes. He hands me the jump rope and tells me to, "Go." I then have to jump rope for fiveminutes straight. And each time I mess up with the rope, I have to do something called a "Burpee."

If you have never done a burpee before, be ever so grateful. They are called that because when you do them, you want to puke your guts our. My trainer makes me do a jump before I go down into the burpee.

And I don't have to do just one burpee for every time I mess up with the jump rope. No, he doubles them every time. So, the first time I mess up, I do one. The second time, I do two. The third time, I do FOUR. The fourth time, I do EIGHT. And so on... And in case you are unaware, I SUCK at jumping rope. And I am lucky to go a full 20 seconds without messing up!

So, as you can imagine, yesterday I had to do quite a few burpees. And with jumping the rope, then jumping up and down into burpees... Well, I got dizzy. Very dizzy. Which never happens. So I looked down at my heart rate monitoring watch and saw something very scary...

It read: 204

YIKES!

I am (almost) 32. That means my "target" heart rate for workouts is 132 to 169 for a vigorous workout. I stay perfectly in that range when we lift weights or when I do Bikram. But yesterday, I went up to 204... And that is almost 20 beats higher than my MAXIMUM heart rate recommendation.

The thing about me, though, is my heart rate will quickly drop back down to normal when I push myself in exercise and then rest. So after resting a minute, I was back down to like 135. But I can't believe it got that high!

I think my trainer may be rethinking the burpees in the future.

Marc Jacobs Patchwork Apron Dress.

Oh how I wish that the Marc by Marc Jacobs line was this much fun...



It's the Marc Jacobs (you know, the higher-end line) Shadow Plaid Patchwork Apron Dress... And I think it is a-dor-a-ble! I, however, am not willing to pay the $3400 it costs.

I could easily see myself wearing this out for cocktails.

Espresso Hair, Again!

Ahh!!!



I now have hair that is all the same color!



Hallelujah!

I got them all colored at Umi, a salon on Newbury Street. I've been going there for a couple of years now... And they don't eff up my hair when I go there. It's not that my hair is difficult to cut and color... Because it's not. But at at three other salons on Newbury Street, over the past six years, have effed up my locks. (I won't say which salons they are, because I have friends who go to them... And they all have enjoyed their experiences there. So it could just be me. And I am fully willing to admit that.)

After I had it colored and cut (which took over two hours - I have a lot of hair!), I went directly to CVS down the street and picked up that new sulfate-free "color care system" from L'Oreal.



I won't be washing my hair for a few days... But when I do, I will be using this stuff. I want to see if it helps me keep my color longer than using other "color care" shampoos and conditioners.

I only "wash" my hair twice a week, because it is so thick. I "rinse" and condition it almost every day - especially if I went to Bikram... But I only suds up the scalp twice a week. When you have thick and naturally wavy hair (like me!), you don't have to shampoo it every day. But despite only washing twice a week, I always notice my color is fading - and the gray is infiltrating - about three weeks after I get it colored.

So, I am hoping this new product will live up to its promise, and actually deliver. Expect a review in a few weeks on it.

Gray Hair (EEK!) & Sulfates.

Tomorrow I am FINALLY getting my gray hairs colored.

Yes, I have gray hairs... And lot of them!



I haven't colored my hair since early December. So it will be nice to have solid espresso brown hair again. No gray, no red, no blonde... All the random little strands of my natural color.

Such a nice treat! I can't wait! And I think I am going to pick up some of this new sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to see if it will help the color last longer than four weeks.

Nest Grommet Diaper Bag.

No... I am most certainly NOT knocked up. And normally, it's rare that a non-mother can legitimately get away with using baby accessories... But I have found one that I (or pretty much any woman) can use, sans baby...

The Grommet Diaper Bag by Nest.



I noticed this bag the first time I met Yummy Mummy, and for months I thought it was just a gorgeous bag she was carrying around. She's quite the trendsetter, and I figured she was not going to settle for carrying a plain old diaper bag for her young son. She's the kind of mum I could see carrying around a Birkin bag, secretly hiding juice boxes and crackers in it for the kid.

But today, when she opened up her bag, I noticed all the compartments and pockets in it. And the zippered "shelf" compartment on the bottom... That's where she hid diapers! I told her she was making good use of the bag for her needs... And that's when she told me it was, in fact, a diaper bag.

The leather... The grommets... The scarf... It has an "equestrian" feel to it. And it measures 15 inches long, 12 inches high and 7 inches deep... So you can fit gym clothes AND a laptop in there! And with all the pockets and compartments, well, this is in excellent travel bag!

I don't need a new bag... But man, if I did, the pearl-colored one would probably be my first choice!

The Missus Says: "WTF Spring?"

Forgive me Father (dear readers), for I have sinned... It has been two weeks since my last podcast. But I have been somewhat preoccupied... This weather has been atrocious!

Or rather, it was atrocious... And then it got really swell this weekend. And all of Boston was in the streets soaking up the warmth we were treated to. Then, this morning, horror...

I talk about it in this week's episode of "The Missus Says..."



Thanks for listening and watching! (And, sorry for the poor production quality. Still working on learning!)

Meat-Free For Two Weeks Now.

It's been two weeks since I had some meat.

(Pausing for perverted commentary and reactions...)

Seriously, though, I have been a vegetarian (not "vegan") for two weeks now. And it's gone quite well. I haven't caved once and eaten meat.

• Not when I brought home spicy sausage for The Husband to eat with pasta.
• Not when I made a pizza and added prosciutto (One of my favorite things in the world!) to The Husband's side.
• Not when I stopped at Qdoba for some tortilla soup without adding chicken to it, like I normally do.
• Not when I met Legally Brunette for lunch at The Marliave on Friday, and requested my "Mrs. Marliave" be made without the ham.
  
• Not even when I walked past B. Good the other day, after the gym, and encountered the fragrance of burgers in the air.

The ease of it borders on being "uncomfortable." Shouldn't it be harder to give up meat?

I'll shut up for now and just keep moving forward.

"Springing Forward" Is Killing Me!

I didn't grow up in a state where we participated in the whole "Daylight Savings" bit.

So when I moved from Arizona to NYC nine years ago, I was introduced to it... And really confused.

"Why do we do this? Does it mean it will be lighter outside later in the day? Or will it be lighter in the morning? How many hours ahead am I from my mother? When is too early to call her?"

I am now well-versed in how the whole DST thing works. But today I found myself waking up and struggling hard. My clock says it is 10:30am - and Meet The Press is on - but it feels like 8:30am to me.

Maybe a shower will get me motivated and wake me up?

Kikkerland Placemats.

About a year ago I was downstairs at what used to be Motley Home. It was a cute little store, much better than that Vessel that moved into the space. When the store (Motley Home) was getting ready to close down for good, I was able to pick up some adorable felt cut-out placemats. Rather than use them on my table, though, I put them on my desk...



They are by a vendor called Kikkerland. And the particular placemat I got was called "Fishes"... Because of all the little fishes cut into it.



A reader recently asked me about these placemats, after she saw them in a picture I took of my desk. I love them so much. I couldn't find a blotter big enough to fit on my desk, so these worked out perfectly. Only...

When we move to Toronto, and buy a house, I will likely have a much bigger office. And I will likely put a second desk in it, and have the two desks sit "back-to-back," creating one large square-ish table. So I knew I would need to find more of these placemats to cover the second desk.

They were easy enough to find online though. And I just sent out an order for six more. They were only $6 a piece... Which is pretty good for nice placemats. I just think they add a soft sophistication to the top of the desk.

I Love Hulu.

LOL!

Hulu is such a great place to see really funny shit I missed on TV.

Castillo De Molina Pinot Noir: A Case Ordered!

I love red wine. Specifically, Pinot Noir. And about a month ago, I discovered a great Pinot at one of the neighborhood wine shops... Castillo De Molina.



It's a delicious screw top Pinot from the Casablanca Valley in Chile. It's about $11 a bottle, when you buy it individually. But when you order a whole case, it drops to about $9 a bottle. So I ordered a case.

Scandalous!!!!!

I won't be able to take the wine with me to Toronto - or so says The Husband. So I have to drink all the bottles before I move in a little over two months. "Girls Night" in, with home made pizzas and pasta?

Exclusive Dior Runway Platforms.

Strappy, studded goodness!

Today, I received a photo of these exclusive Runway platforms available at Dior in the Copley...



Sweet baby Jesus on Christmas morning! These look so delicious! Like spicy licorice wrapped around your feet!

Yummy...

I Don't Think We Can Call It "Whole Paycheck."

Today was like most days lately... It was freaking cold. Too cold for me to walk all the way to Whole Foods by the Symphony to pick up the essentials for dinner tonight. So I went to Shaws instead.

Enchilada sauce... Corn tortillas... Green olives... And, for The Husband, cereal bars. Off to the "Healthy Foods" aisle I went.

The Husband isn't particular about what cereal bars he snacks on after dinner. So I tend to buy the healthy ones when I am at Whole Foods. They are $1.69 a box. And since everyone knows that Whole Foods is more expensive than the regular grocery store, I figured I would be able to find something cheaper than what I get there.

I was wrong.

In the "Healthy Foods" section, the cheapest box they had cost $3.99 a box. So I went to the "non-healthy" section of the store to get some cereal bars... And the cheapest I found them there was $3 a box.

This reminded me about a conversation I had with someone recently... Whole Foods can be pricey if you are busy buying all the prepared foods they offer. And the meat is nice and organic... And is pricey too. But everything else is comparable, if not cheaper, than what you would find at a regular grocery store.

Now that we are "leaping forward" an hour this weekend, and because it will be warmer, I think I will just walk to Whole Foods to shop each day... Rather than settle for Shaws. I want the better food and I want it cheaper.

Let's Talk "Calories."

I like to wear a heart monitor when I work out. Whenever I go to Equinox, you can usually spot me wearing my pink Polar heart monitor watch on my left wrist... And, if you saw me topless in the locker room, you would see me wearing a chest strap.

(Ooooh... Sexy! NOT!)

Anyway, I wear these things because I like to see where my heart rate is at any given point in any workout I do. I also like to wear them because they help me estimate how many calories I have burned during my workout.

The only workout in which I do not wear my heart rate monitor is during my Bikram class. Though, I occasionally do pop it on my wrist, just to gauge where I am at. I don't wear it (usually) in class because I like to respect my practice and not be distracted with checking my progress. Plus, some teachers chide you for wearing it.

I do know, despite not wearing it in Bikram, that I burn far more calories in a Bikram class than I do in a workout at Equinox. This is because Bikram is done in a very, very, almost ridiculously hot room. (In Boston, it's atleast 111 before class starts... Sometimes 115. And it just gets hotter when you start to move around in the practice.)The room is kept hot so that you can loosen up your muscles, and it also brings in an element of "cardio."

See, when you are doing certain poses, your heart rate SKY ROCKETS. Mine can get up to 171 beats per minute when doing Standing Bow, Balancing Stick and Triangle. And when your heart rate goes up, you burn more calories. Bikram is a very well-rounded workout.

But I often hear and read about people who don't think Bikram is a good workout. They think because it has slow-moving and pausing yoga poses, it can't possibly burn that many calories. Well, you know what? They are eff-ing wrong. And even my trainer at Equinox says they are. We talked about this very thing today, in fact...

"Wow!" I said. "I just burned 510 calories from your boxing workout! That's 200 more than I burned in that spinning class yesterday with that horrible instructor!"

He laughed.

"Yep," he agreed. "You took a lot of rests today though. Next week you get fewer rests and we will keep your body warmer for longer."

"I burn, sometimes, 800 calories in Bikram," I told him.

"I believe that," he said. "That's because you are in a heated room. And when you heat your body up, you burn more calories."

"That's what a calorie is," he went on to explain. "It's a unit of energy. And when you heat your body temperature up, you heart rate goes up, and you burn more calories from the exertion."

"So next week," I went on to request, "should we not turn the fans on in the boxing room?"

He laughed. But he is right. Why do you think people workout with lots of clothes on sometimes? And steam rooms and saunas? It's not just to heal and loosen up your muscles. The heat gets your body going, and it helps you burn through more energy.

So to all you "haters" out there who like to write and tell me that Bikram "is not a workout" and "there is no way you burn that many calories in one class" can BLOW ME.

And don't think that I think that Bikram is the only good yoga out there. I love how challenging Bikram is for me. That is why I practice it... It kicks my ass every single time. EVERY SINGLE TIME!

But I also practice slower and more gentle types of yoga. There is one teacher at Equinox who Yummy Mummy and I are currently crushing on right now. She has the most amazing shoulders, and all she does is practice yoga. I only burn 250 calories in her class... But that's not why I go to her class. I go to it for the soothing nature of the class.

And another thing about calories... Everyone burns calories differently. The lighter you are, the fewer calories you will burn in anything. Just because I burn anywhere from 650 to 800 calories in Bikram doesn't mean someone who is 100 pounds will burn that much too.

Blackberry Or iPhone?

I have been rocking the most ghetto phone for about six months now...



Look at the keypad...



It is quite ghetto, yes? And nearly impossible to text on.

Anyhow... I got this phone as a replacement for an older phone I had, which I spilled water on and ruined... Which was an equally ghetto phone that was a replacement for my original phone - which I lost. But I couldn't get a new snazzy phone, like an iPhone or Blackberry, because I would have to commit to a two-year contract with pretty much any carrier. And I, because of the move to Toronto coming up, had commitment problems.

I would be moving in 9 months (at the time) and wouldn't be able to do a two-year contract. So a ghetto phone it was for me! And, to be honest, I never answer my phone anyway. So I really didn't care what it looked like or what it did. But now I do...

See, now that I am not working (and not chained to a desk with a shitty computer) I am having "accessibility" issues. I am used to having my AIM, Gmail, work email, SKYPE all at my finger tips. But now when I leave the house, I have to pray I am within the range of a free network in order to get a signal for my iPod touch - in order to check my email. So, as soon as the plane lands in Toronto, I am off to the store to get a new phone. But there is my dilemma...

What phone do I get?

My aunt in Arizona emailed me just yesterday with this same issue. She is craving the new iPhone... But, as she pointed out, Apple is bound to have a new version of it out later this year. So should she wait till then? Or should she look at getting a Blackberry, because the iPhone not all it's cracked up to be?

And speaking of "cracked," I have known three people in the last two months who have cracked their screens on their iPhones. Additionally, I have heard that the batteries on the iPhone run out quickly when you use all the different applications on it, in addition to listening to music and using it as a phone.

Am I better off with a Blackberry for phone, email and messaging? And just keep my three iPods for my music needs?

This is where you people (hopefully) come in... Which should I get? A Blackberry (not even sure yet what version) or an iPhone? Voting is on the right!

Getting Your Hair Did.

Thank you, everyone, who voted in last week's "Hair" polls. (I finally have my hair appointment next week to get mine cut and colored after three long months, and I am really looking forward to it!)

It seems like most of you who voted do color your hair... About 67% of you, in fact. And most of you who do color it (30%), you wait every three months or longer - just like me.

As for who colors your hair, most of you (56%) are like me too... Opting to get the "magic" done professionally in a salon, rather than doing it yourself. And only 28% of you are "lucky bitches" who don't have to or want to color your hair yet. (I've had gray since I was in my teens. I had to start coloring it in my early 20s.)

I am putting a new poll up in a few minutes! Thanks again everyone!

The Healthy Life Kitchen.

About nine years ago, when I moved to NYC, I picked up a newly released cookbook in the hopes of eating healthier.

I never made anything from it though, because it called for a lot of ingredients that (at the time) didn't taste well. Like soy margarine, soy milk, soy yogurt... But now, I have developed a taste for these things, as well as a taste for eating healthier.

The cookbook I had long forgotten about? Healthy Life Kitchen...



Filled with recipes that are mostly vegan-based (though there are a few shrimp and salmon recipes - two things I do not eat), I am giving the book a second glance after many years of collecting dust on my shelf... And I am loving what I see written down in it:

• Blueberry Breakfast Frappe
• Spicy Guacamole
• Cilantro Corn Chowder
• Teriyaki Cod
• Lentil Tacos
• Chocolate Mousse

I am going to have to give these recipes a try.

Hotel?

I forgot - till I looked at my calendar today - that The Husband will be out of town for a few days soon. And I hate staying in this apartment alone when he is gone.

It can be scary in here.

Yes... I am almost 32, and this old 900 square foot apartment frightens me at night. I think it is because of the large windows and the glass door off of the bedroom in the back. So I usually either don't sleep or I curl up in a ball on my small office couch. And this is fine, for a day or two... But four whole days?

I am seriously thinking about camping out in a hotel for those days. If only I could get four nights in a nice hotel for a total of $200.

McQueen For Target.

The first thing I did when I got up today (rather than go to Bikram - I'll hit the 4:30pm class) was get online and peruse the new McQueen collection available at Target.

I love my McQueen... I think that is known. I have a special love for the skull scarves. And overall, the Target collection is very good. Here are my favorite pieces from the collection:

Cropped Blazer - $49.99




Mesh Cardigan - $44.99




TRS Short - $29.99




Zig Zag Dress - $69.99




Harness Dress - $44.99




I have my eye on the cropped blazer and the shorts....

Break-Up Places: Please Don't Listen To Boston.com.

I once had a boyfriend break up with me at a restaurant. He thought I wouldn't make a scene. And I didn't. But he chose to break up with me at the restaurant where both he and I worked. And when I got up and left before we even had dinner, our co-workers were curious as to what had happened that made me leave. He told them. And he was in the "shit-house" with pretty much everyone we worked with, including the general manager.

Let's just say, he "karma-ed" himself into some pretty shitty table stations for about a month. And I was given some really kick-ass ones.

In my opinion, there are things you just do not do in a very public place:

• Break-up with someone.
• Propose to someone.
• Tell someone they are fat.
• Tell someone you are pregnant.
• Tell someone that someone has died.

That's all I could think of for now... I am sure there are more. But the first one, the break-up, is the one we are addressing right now. And it looks like Boston.com has attempted to give their opinion on the best public places in town to break-up with someone. And all I have to say, people, is...

"Please don't listen to them. It is NEVER okay to break up with someone at Dunkin' Donuts. At least upgrade to Starbucks... Or an independent coffee house/cafe."

Get Some Self Respect, Ladies!

I haven't watched The Bachelor in almost six years... Since the second season, I believe. I never really understood why women (or men) would jump at the chance to "find true love" on reality TV, all while competing with a dozen or so other people.

How could a respecting and equal relationship come about between two people, when one of them gets to date around all through the courtship? I think it is high time we put this show to rest.

I am writing about this, of course, because of last night's season finale. I haven't watched this season, but I read the recap of last night's finale and after-show... And I am disgusted. Not as much at the bachelor as I am at the two women he had to choose from in the finale. My question to both of them is...

"Why do you think so lowly of yourself?"

Why would any woman (or man) fall in love - let alone agree to marry - with someone who is courting and kissing other people at the same time? When you fall in love with someone, and want to marry them, don't you want them to be only romantically involved with you?

I guess I am tired of, season after season, hearing about the un-chosen finalists being left in tears and the proposals that go to the winners... Only to be broken off in short course.

Please people... Band with me. Stop watching this dreadful show, which only serves to provide sensationalized and unrealistic story lines. At the very least, they need to stop calling it "reality TV" and start referring to it as "scripted outline TV." Because we now know it to be partially scripted.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Ratatouille.

One of my favorite animated films of all time (next to Aladdin - for sentimental reasons) is Ratatouille. If you haven't seen it, you should. It's about a rat who can cook. And he makes a dish of stewed vegetables (well, he does it like a casserole). And after a year and a half, I finally got around to trying my hand at ratatouille.

I researched and studied different recipes for the dish online and in cookbooks. I couldn't find a recipe that really spoke to me, so I just made up my own and served it on angel hair pasta...



It's really good. No lie. It's basically just a bunch of veggies that you saute up.

Ingredients:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1 tablespoon)
• Zucchini (1)
• Yellow Squash (1)
• Tomatoes (3 plum, seeded and chopped)
• White Onion (1/4 onion, diced)
• Garlic Cloves (2, chopped)
• Basil (1 handful, chiffonade)
• Pecorino Romano Cheese (Grated)

Directions:
Heat saute pan over medium high hear. Drop in olive oil. Throw in onion, cook for about three minutes. Next, throw in garlic for a minute. Then drop in the zucchini and squash, cooking and tossing for about five minutes. Next, toss the tomatoes in and cook for two minutes. Finish by throwing the basil in and heating for about a minute. Serve over pasta, top with grated cheese.

Frozen Yogurt For Dogs.

I don't have pets. The Husband and I haven't reached the point in our relationship where we have been blessed with having to care for another living creature. But If we did have one (baby or pet) we would probably spoil it rotten. And I can tell you for certain that if we had a dog, I would buy it frozen yogurt...



Peanut butter and banana flavor? Yum!

I had no idea they made frozen yogurt for dogs... Or that they sold it in the organic foods section of my supermarket, right next to the tofu ice cream.

No "Textual Relations" Allowed In This Bed.

I have a rule in the bedroom with The Husband... "No textual relations." Now, before you begin thinking that's something sexual... Please allow me to explain.

The Husband, like many people, has a problem with his Blackberry. But The Husband's problem isn't as severe as many people's problem with it. He doesn't obsessively check it every two minutes. He doesn't take it into the bathroom and scroll through it while shaving or peeing. In fact, the only habit he has with his Blackberry is that he likes to bring it into the bedroom... And it has to be the first thing he checks when he wakes up each morning.

Without fail, I am woken up each morning at about 7:15am by the sound of clicking. Annoying clicking. Click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click.

Click.

"If you're going to have textual relations in this bed," I scream at him, "You have to do it quietly! Click more softly!"

"But" he tries with a rebuttal, "You can't click softly with this thing."

"Then go do it in the living room!" I tell him. "I am trying to sleep!"

He huffs off, mumbling under his breath how it's "not his fault" and how he likes to spend the first 15 minutes of each day "catching up on overnight financial news."

I, on the other hand, happily roll over and fall back asleep. I do not stand for textual relations in bed. I may seem old fashioned... Victorian, maybe? But it was just the way I was raised*.

*And by "raised" I mean "it's just my rule."

True Religion Cut Off Shorts.

I love my denim. You know this if you read this blog regularly. I love denim so much, I am willing to pay a pretty penny for it... Because I know it will be a quality purchase and I will get a lot of wear out of it.

I must confess though... With my love of denim and all, I have a hard time understanding why these shorts cost what they cost...





True Religion Cut Off Shorts... And they cost $172.00.

But how can that be? This is what most of us will pay for a full two legs of denim... So why are the shorts just as expensive? Shouldn't shorts be cheaper?

I "Ease" Into Every Day.

That pretty much says it all. I do find myself "easing" into each day.

I get up, lately, anywhere from 9am to (like today) 11am. I don't usually have to be anywhere until later in the day, so I take my time getting ready as well. I usually don't get around to leaving the house till about noon on most days.

When I first realized I was doing this, I worried. "Am I depressed?"

I figured since I was sleeping long and late, I must be. But then I realized that back when I was working, I often didn't get out of bed till 8am. Then I would have to rush around the house, getting ready and packed up for the day... All so I could get to the office by 9am each day.

So I am still sleeping the 9 to 10 hours I have always been sleeping. I am just not rushing around when I get up each day. And I am going to bed later than I was when I was working. Back then, I was in bed and asleep by 11pm. Now, I stay up till midnight or 1am most nights.

So, I am not depressed. I just have a different schedule now. And instead of rushing, I ease into each day. This isn't a bad thing. But it does take getting used to.