:: here we go, autumn. here we go! ::

Are the mornings getting a little chilly in your neck of the woods? They are here. The days are the perfect mix of coolness for the a.m. and lovely room temperature afternoons. I don't have to kick on the AC at night and can even leave the windows open. I prefer fresh air over air conditioning any day when it's this side of 75 degrees, anyway.

Happy Friday, happy Labor Day Weekend, happy FALL!

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linking up for #FridaysFancies!

:: another crazy good summer read ::

Here's another crazy good, if not exactly uplifting, summer read. I say it takes you three days to devour, tops. And with a lovely three-day weekend in front of us, what perfect timing!

From Booklist: Moggach’s taut psychological thriller opens with a video conversation between Leila, a socially isolated twentysomething, and Tess, glamorous and pushing 40. As the pages fly by, Moggach reveals that Leila has been recruited by Aiden, the mysterious owner of a website that focuses on philosophical discussion, to impersonate Tess online so that Tess can commit suicide without her friends and family being any wiser. Leila finds Tess to be quite different from her. She’s impulsive, worldly, more than a bit flighty, and genuinely determined to end her own life. After months of communication, Tess hands the reins to her online life over to Leila, and Leila crafts a fictional new chapter for Tess, thousands of miles away on a remote Canadian island. She also communicates with Tess’ friends via e-mail, but when an old boyfriend, Connor, makes contact to try to resume his relationship with Tess, Leila finds their correspondence chipping away at her impartiality with the most unexpected result. Moggach’s debut is a compulsively readable, complex character study.

:: guest posting over at justjacq ::

I'm posting over at Just Jacq today while she takes a little breather. We're talking all about the side tie. It's not just for summer anymore...lovely case in point:

 

Please come visit!

:: hazel, not just for eyes anymore ::

Way back when, I took a pottery class and was less than stellar at mastering the pottery wheel. But when the teacher helped me, I could make some halfway decent bowls that now serve as ring holders and salt dishes and change collectors all over my house. And they're all a color called "Hobbit Hazel". The kiln would burn it differently each time but it was always a variation of the glorious color you see here, apparently straight out of Middle Earth.

So, yeah, I'm pretty much in love with everything below. If I was more of a monochromatic girl, I'd make this my fall wish list. But I'll save that spread for another post. In the meantime, can I reiterate how much I love hazel? It's really a truly, truly transitional shade. Springy and summery in the warmer months and cozy and rich for fall and winter. AND, it's a color that you can not only wear, but also drape your house in. Just ask my kitchen.

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:: mouthwatering mondays: black bean tacos ::

Welcome to this edition of....

Black Bean Tacos

Does anyone else out there love Smitten Kitchen? I've been making this recipe for a few years and it's divine. I have to stop myself from eating two at a time. And cumin in mass quantities can't be good, can it? This is one healthy recipe I can't live without!
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Ingredients (serves 4):

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
1 teaspoon ground cumin
5 teaspoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons (or more) fresh lime juice
2 cups coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 white or yellow corn tortillas
1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
Hot sauce

Directions: 

1. Place beans and cumin in small bowl; partially mash. 

2. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 

3. Mix 2 teaspoons olive oil and lime juice in medium bowl; add coleslaw, green onions, and cilantro and toss to coat. Season slaw to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add tortillas in single layer. Spoon 1/4 of bean mixture onto half of each tortilla; cook 1 minute. Fold tacos in half.
5. Cook until golden brown, about 1 minute per side. Fill tacos with feta and slaw. Add hot sauce on the side, or if  you're me, dump it right into the taco.

I along with 8 other ladies have joined forces to bring you this exciting weekly linkup. Every week we will have a theme to follow. The schedule for the coming weeks will be posted at the bottom of the linkup so you can plan out your posts in advance. Find your favorite recipes to go along with the theme and be sure to take lots of pictures!!

There are only a couple rules to play by!

1. Follow all your beautiful hosts using at least one of the methods provided below.

Babies Bosses & Boyfriends: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Rhyme and Ribbons: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
A Beauty Moment: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Bailey Dailies: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Active spirit: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Campbell's: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Well Worn Soles: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Caravan Sonnet: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Lost in Boston: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

2. Grab a button, place it on your blog, and link up your post for your favorite recipe following the weekly theme!

<a href="http://babiesbossesandboyfriends.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Babies Bosses and Boyfriends"><img alt="Mouthwatering Mondays" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q764/Christin_Walker/mouthwateringmondays.jpg" width="150" /></a>

3. Check out some of the other fantastic links & Have a blast!

And it is as easy as that! So get your favorite recipe book out and practice up! NO strings attached just a fun and friendly weekly linkup for working moms, single moms, Stay at home moms, housewives, or even the single lady looking for a great idea!!

Link up your recipe below!!

:: a little blue jasmine on a friday ::

It has been a loooooong week. I'm cutting out of here at lunch time and walking over to Kendall Square to go get my Woody Allen on. Let's see if he does San Francisco as well as he does New York City. 

Happy weekend! 

:: kombucha, i love you but you scare me ::

Does anyone out there feel me? Kombucha (pronounced kom-BOO-cha) is a fermented drink (trace elements of both alcohol and caffeine) made of live bacteria and yeast. To me, it tastes like a cross between beer and vinegar and seltzer. Have I hooked you yet?? Just like the pomegranate and açai berry juices of the past few years, it's trendy now and is being hailed as the latest elixir of good health. From improving digestion and immunity to lowering cholesterol and fighting cancer, it's the latest darling of the beverage world.

It used to be hard to get, but now places like Whole Foods and my local Harvest co-op sell it, and even Honest Tea (owned by Coca-Cola) and Celestial Seasonings have their own versions, fortified with B vitamins, vitamin C and spirulina. There are even kombucha martinis and kombucha smoothies.

I'm into it for the probiotic and detox elements, but it can get dangerous. As in, don't-get-stuck-in-traffic-after-you've-downed-a-glass kind of dangerous. There have also been some negative reviews on it for folks with weakened immune systems.

There's a great tutorial over at Healthy Living How To if you're interested in brewing your own. But knowing how it's made kind of grosses me out.

Anyone else in love or in hate with Kombucha? I haven't made up my mind yet...

:: kiss me hard before you go ::

I've been talking a lot about fall lately, both on the blog and in person. I love it. LOVE IT. And this summer has been kind of a whirlwind. Not in a bad way, but in a "That was kinda fun, but can it be over now?" sort of way.

I know Lana here is singing about her lover, but I feel like we're connecting. Red dresses, high heels off, beauty queen hair...we're speaking the same language for sure.

Also, does Jaime King not age? Girlfriend is 34 and she looks 18 in this video. If anyone knows what she uses for skin cream, please pass it along.

:: move over, gone girl ::

I read a TON. But it seems like everyone, even non-readers, have devoured Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl. They're even planning to make a movie out of it with Ben Affleck playing the husband. Let me say now that I disagree with this casting choice, Boston boy or not. Plus, we all know the ending, so how's this gonna work?

Anyway, the book I'm currently reading is being buzzed about as the "European Gone Girl"...as in twisty and turny and uncomfortably uncomfortable. Just in a Dutch way instead of American. I have about 50 pages left, and it's all I can do to wait for my lunch hour.

:: mouthwatering mondays: bacon egg cups ::

Welcome to this edition of....

***

Bacon Egg Cups

I found this recipe last year over at Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body and have loved it ever since. Bacon is the one and only reason I'm not a vegetarian. Chicken? No thanks. Burgers? Pass. But bacon gets me every time. I can't live in a world without it. And I'll take it with eggs over waffles/pancakes/french toast every time. These cups are so easy and so good! And not that we're counting, but each cup is about 100 calories.

Ingredients (for 12 cups):

12 slices bacon
8 eggs
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
pinch of salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whip the eggs, salt, pepper and cheese with a fork.
3.Spray non stick spray in 12 muffin tins.
4. Wrap each piece of bacon inside the sides of each muffin cup.
5. Fill each bacon lined muffin cup 3/4 of the way with the egg mixture.
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until the egg cups are golden brown and don’t jiggle. Use a knife to scoop them out of the tins. Serve immediately.

 source

***   I along with 8 other ladies have joined forces to bring you this exciting weekly linkup. Every week we will have a theme to follow. The schedule for the coming weeks will be posted at the bottom of the linkup so you can plan out your posts in advance. Find your favorite recipes to go along with the theme and be sure to take lots of pictures!!

There are only a couple rules to play by!

1. Follow all your beautiful Hosts using at least one of the methods provided below.

Babies Bosses & Boyfriends: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Rhyme and Ribbons: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
A Beauty Moment: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Bailey Dailies: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Active spirit: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Campbell's: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Well Worn Soles: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Caravan Sonnet: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Lost in Boston: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

2. Grab a button, place it on your blog, and link up your post for your favorite recipe following the weekly theme!

<a href="http://babiesbossesandboyfriends.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Babies Bosses and Boyfriends"><img alt="Mouthwatering Mondays" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q764/Christin_Walker/mouthwateringmondays.jpg" width="150" /></a>

3. Check out some of the other fantastic links & Have a blast!

And it is as easy as that! So get your favorite recipe book out and practice up! NO strings attached just a fun and friendly weekly linkup for working moms, single moms, Stay at home moms, housewives, or even the single lady looking for a great idea!!

The schedule for the coming weeks:

• Aug 19: Breakfast Food for Dinner
• Aug 26: Healthy Meal (Ex: Gluten Free) 

 

Link up your recipe below!!

:: friday's fancies: my errand boy has the day off ::

If I had an errand boy, and if he had the day off, here's what I'd wear to take care of my own biz. Gray all over and a really bold lip. I can't decide if that scarf should be worn bandana style or to tie back my ponytail.

But I do know that that reddish Baggu bag is worth its weight in gold. It holds up to 50 pounds. That should accommodate all my fruits and veggies AND a few bottles of wine. Now, on to the weekend!

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Linking up with #fridaysfancies

:: kitchen kamakaze ::

We don't really have "happy hours" here in Boston. At least not the cheap cocktail kind of happy hour. Something about not wanting people drinking too much and having bad things happen...we're pilgrims, remember?

Anyway...Red Lantern in the Back Bay has a great after work deal. We got there right around 5:30 or so, and an hour later the bar was really hopping. For about $20, I had three drinks paired nicely with corresponding appetizers. I even successfully navigated a piece of sushi from the plate to my mouth using only chopsticks. This is sadly a first.

My recommendation from the Kaikaze menu: A Kirin with a (large-ish) tuna rice bite for six dollars. Can't beat that. 

:: feelin' massachusetts ::

Never been to Boston? Allow me to give you a little fashion tour. This is a collection of what I see on the subway every. single. day. Now, I'm not knocking any of these beauties. In fact, I have quite a few of them myself. And sometimes assimilation is good. It makes me feel like a native. Drop me in the middle of Texas/Florida/Colorado and who knows what might happen. Would I look like a tourist in this getup?

Linking up with the Friend Connect Bloghop!

:: druzy lust ::

So the technical definition here is "a coating of fine crystals on a rock fracture surface", but geology was never my thing. Soooo, I'm just calling them super pretty.

Despite all of my jewelry, I have nothing that could pass for a druzy right now. And that's gonna have to change. 

:: mouthwatering mondays: quinoa with veggies ::

Welcome to this edition of....

***

Quinoa with Veggies

I love this one because it's simple (obviously) and a ton of different vegetables
can be substituted in based on preference or season. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa

3 cups water

1 pinch salt

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Veggies! Here, I chose a bunch of chives, two tomatoes and a can of corn

Directions: 

1. Bring the quinoa, water, and one pinch of salt to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes. Once, done, drain and set aside

2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, and cook until the garlic softens, about two minutes. Add the veggies, and cook for about five minutes. Season with cumin and oregano, and cook for one minute more. Stir in the quinoa.

3. Serve hot or cold!

                                                  I along with 8 other ladies have joined forces to bring you this exciting weekly linkup. Every week we will have a theme to follow. The schedule for the coming weeks will be posted at the bottom of the linkup so you can plan out your posts in advance. Find your favorite recipes to go along with the theme and be sure to take lots of pictures!!

There are only a couple rules to play by!

1. Follow all your beautiful hosts using at least one of the methods provided below.

Babies Bosses & Boyfriends: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Rhyme and Ribbons: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
A Beauty Moment: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Bailey Dailies: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Active spirit: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
The Campbell's: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Well Worn Soles: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter
Caravan Sonnet: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter Lost in Boston: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter

2. Grab a button, place it on your blog, and link up your post for your favorite recipe following the weekly theme!

<a href="http://babiesbossesandboyfriends.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" title="Babies Bosses and Boyfriends"><img alt="Mouthwatering Mondays" border="0" height="150" src="http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q764/Christin_Walker/mouthwateringmondays.jpg" width="150" /></a>

3. Check out some of the other fantastic links & Have a blast!

And it is as easy as that! So get your favorite recipe book out and practice up! NO strings attached just a fun and friendly weekly linkup for working moms, single moms, Stay at home moms, housewives, or even the single lady looking for a great idea!!

The schedule for the coming weeks:

• Aug 19: Breakfast Food for Dinner
• Aug 26: Healthy Meal (Ex: Gluten Free)

 

Link up your recipe below!!

:: autumn in a glass ::

I realize this makes two alcohol-related posts in a row, but oh well. Really, it's a fashion post. IT IS.

I love the summer, but a few cool mornings up here have made me really start longing for fall. The earth tones, the leaves, the apple picking. True, I don't ever actually go apple picking, but I could if I wanted to. And I love that.

For now, I'll settle for a brunch with a glass of what's below, and this outfit.

:: aperol, pleased to meet you ::

I thought nothing could tear me away from my beloved tequila besides an occasional glass of prosecco, but that was before last Wednesday. A chance encounter with something called an Aperol Spritz at Teatro made me seriously question all of my cocktail choices to date. Lovely Italian aperitif, where have you been all my life?

I ordered another this week at BOND, and it looked like this:

It's light and refreshing and not too boozy or fruity, so you can have a few, even on a weeknight. Here's what's it's made of:

3 parts prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 part club soda

Seriously, it's the BEST. I'm putting it up there on my cocktail pedestal, just one step below the tequila.

:: she's up all night for good fun ::

I know that Blurred Lines is supposedly the song of summer 2013, but there's just something about it that really creeps me out. Sorry, Robin.

May I propose Daft Punk and the handsome Pharrell as a potential alternative. Because nothing says summer like lucite guitars and sequins.

:: scarves and scarves ::

I can't be the only one who sweats on their way to work only to enter a *very* air conditioned office. Since my summer attire of dresses and skirts doesn't mesh well with a layered fashion strategy, enter the scarf. It might be my favorite accessory of all time. And since I'm not a fan of patterns on my major items of clothing, scarves give me a chance to go a little bolder with print. All while keeping cozy at my desk.

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Clockwise from top left: C. Wonder ($45); Sperry Topsider ($30); River Island ($30); Les Pommettes ($415); Kate Spade ($128); Dorothy Perkins ($12); PoePoe Purses/Etsy ($25).

:: mouthwatering mondays: crockpot meatloaf ::

Welcome to the fourth edition of....

***

Easy Crockpot Meatloaf

I have been WAY neglecting my crockpot lately. But after putting this together in about 15 minutes and letting it cook overnight, I remembered why I needed the crockpot in my life in the first place. It doesn't get any easier than this one.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 egg
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup water
1 small onion (diced)

Directions: 

1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.

2. Form into a loaf to fit crock pot. Place a strip of foil under the meatloaf and place in crock pot, cover with 2 tablespoons ketchup.

3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.