Gift Guide: Shopping Local

If you’re sitting by your computer shopping online, there may be someone bringing you a cocktail, and good cheer, but I bet it’s much easier to find by bundling up and skipping out your door to head to some of the local craft fairs, holiday strolls and some of my favorite little boutiques. We use Amazon.com…

Read More

Gift Guide: The Gift of Health & Beauty

It is true that for the holidays (or let’s face it any time) no one wants a gym membership or a gift basket of aluminum-free deodorant because it might be interpreted the wrong way.  On the other hand, so many people have too much stuff they don’t really need or use, so gifts that help…

Read More

Whiskey Guide: Behind the Bar

(A copy of The North American Whiskey Guide from Behind the Bar was sent to me for review.  As always all opinions are my own.) I never found myself behind the bar, well except for once serving drinks at a party hosted by my dorm, Royal Victoria College, at McGill and I don’t remember pouring too…

Read More

To Do Today: Cookies, Cyber Monday, Cocktails & Coughs

Today is usually what I call “my weekend”.  It’s the day that my home office transitions back from being grand central station to just being my home (with the usual home chores) and my office (with my list of assignments and projects).  I work on Mondays, but it feels like a bit of a weekly…

Read More

Chocolate Lovers Guide to Boston: The Langham Boston Chocolate Bar

The Langham Boston’s Chocolate Bar is an annual outing for some and others save it for special milestones.  I’ve brought pregnant friends out for this chocolate feast.  I’ve come for a mother-daughter outing with my 7 year old.  This year, I brought the whole family.  When we have guests in town who are true chocolate…

Read More

Enter to Win a Pair of Tickets to Boston Ballet’s Nutcracker

The Nutcracker is a story of battle, fantasy, sugary treats, Christmas gifts, wizardry, snowy scenes, and not only the magic of the holidays but also the magic of childhood.  It’s not just for dance lovers, it’s most definitely not just for girls or little dancers to enjoy.  Seeing a full snow flurry on stage indoors…

Read More

Hosting for The Holidays (Sponsored by ShoeBuy)

Over the years I’ve hosted cookie swaps, dinner parties, cocktail parties, and holiday brunches.  I enjoy hosting and I like to take the creativity and methodical ways of Martha Stewart, some recipes and the joie de vivre of Ina Garten, design and style from the world around me, my mother’s clever approach of making nothing…

Read More

Weekend Guide: Winter Wonderlands & Whatnot

This is it…  the weekend before the most exciting day of the year (for food lovers) Thanksgiving.  The horn of plenty, the celebration of the harvest, clinking glasses with family, Macy’s Day parades, football and all such indulgences.  Take time to enjoy the weekend.  If you’ve planned well you don’t have to stress about coming…

Read More

Come Winter…

Come winter, there is something other than a chill in the air. Morning light has magic.  The invisible becomes visible. We breathe like dragons, wisps and puffs of exhales dance before our faces. Our frozen vehicle slowly begins to thaw beneath us just as we pull into school.  After drop off, I sit at the…

Read More

Thanksgiving Prep: Pie Crusts & Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce and pie crusts are the first things I make for Thanksgiving. I always make the same cranberry sauce from my Classic Canadian Cooking book from Elizabeth Baird.  I carry this cookbook with me wherever I go.  When I was little I had my “pink Mickey”, which was my blanket that brought me comfort. …

Read More