Boston Sweet Tea Party

Date Night In | Cheese Board for Two

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:50:00 +0000

Last weekend, I prepared an Italian feast for a cozy date night in. I stopped at Whole Foods, picked up some goodies and started with this absolutely delicious cheese plate. It was my first time preparing a plate with cured meet or preserves so I thought I'd share my secrets to a beginner's plate for two.

Here are what I believe to be great components of any cheese plate:

- Aged cheese like cheddar or gouda. I used some Cabot cheddar from our trip to Vermont a few months ago. Cheddar also adds a familiar component to the plate for those whose cheese palates aren't too adventurous.

-Soft cheese. I usually like a high-quality goat cheese, but all I had on hand was a cheaper version that is more of a spread than a main attraction which is why it is pictured in the accompaniments category in the picture above. Camembert or brie would also work in this category.

- Firm cheese. I used parmigiano-reggiano and pecorino. These are slightly similar and can be salty, so be sure to have something on the plate to balance it out.

-Blue cheese. I didn't use any for the plate above, but blue cheese adds a flavor variation that is nice to have. If you think you don't like blue cheese go to the cheese counter and just try them out! I'm a Stilton fan.

-Cheese garnishes and other accompaniments. Some cheeses just lend themselves to being garnished. Have you tried blue cheese with honey? Yum! In this case I dressed the pecorino with two garnishes that we picked up in Italy. One is a truffle honey (I'm a self-proclaimed truffle fiend) and the other is vin santo --or Holy wine-- jelly.

Other accompaniments I love include pickled veggies, roasted red peppers, or caramelized onions. I used a fig jam but also love a good fruit chutney.

-Meat. Just as a good charcuterie plate is made better with a few cheeses, a good cheese plate is made better with some charcuterie. But that's just one foodies opinion. If you're a purist, stick to one or the other. I went to the cheese counter at my local Whole Foods and the very knowledgeable butcher helped me with the cured meat, let me sample, and I walked out of there with a 78 cent serving for two. Yes, 78 cents bought me enough for this plate and it was plenty!

-Bread. Honestly, nothing is complete without bread to me. I used some sliced ciabatta bread that I had on hand. The combo of the fig jam and goat cheese on the bread was incredible! Top that with a slice of the bresaola (cured beef) that I had chosen and it was perfection.

What are your cheese plate must-haves? Or better yet, any restaurants serving a cheese plate or charcuterie that I simply can't miss?

Beachwear Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 22:09:00 +0000

This weekend I plan on spending some time in the coastal town of Rockport, Massachusetts. It's one of those classic seaside towns where sailboats bob around by the docks, the seafood is fresh, and New England charm abounds. Here are some beachwear items that I'm currently loving.

You may have noticed that I included two pairs of Warby Parker sunglasses. Well that's because I may be a little excited about these limited edition sunnies that they produced in collaboration with supermodel Karlie Kloss.

Designer shades have long been my go-to splurge item because they get so much wear. It makes me less guilty if I know they are going to last me for years. Not only are Warby Parker frames so classic that they could last a lifetime, their "buy a pair, give a pair" mission makes you feel good about your purchase. The best part about this collab with Karlie? A portion of each sale will benefit Edible Schoolyard NYC which provides kitchens and gardens to low-income public schools, giving students the tools to develop lifelong healthy habits. That's a charitable double whammy if you will. What are your favorites from the collection?

Long Weekend in the Big Apple

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:41:00 +0000

We spent Memorial Day weekend in New York City for a family wedding. Kevin and I have vowed that we have to make the trip more often. It's so close and there is still so much we have to see (and eat!), so hopefully there will be many more long weekends taken there in the future. The wedding itself took place at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. It was beautiful, and boy was a good time had by all. I have never been to a wedding where the dancing started before dinner was served (and between the courses)-- and I wouldn't have expected anything less from the amazing couple.

{Nha Khanh Hydrangea Dream Sheath Dress via Rent the Runway | JCrew Factory necklace | Steve Madden shoes | Franchi White Maya Clutch via Rent the Runway}

Besides the delicious food and desserts at the wedding, we pretty much ate our way through this trip, as we do most of our vacations.

The day after the wedding, we spent some family time in Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). We rode the carousel, snacked on whoopie pies, then rounded out the day at the New York Transit Museum so our nieces could see the trains. It was a great family-friendly tour of Brooklyn. Dumbo is a great little area of parks, food, and some great shopping.

So long for now, New York. We'll be back soon!

Where we stayed:
Sheraton Brooklyn- bonus: our room had a view of the Statue of Liberty!

Where we ate:
Empellon
The Clover Club
Hunter's
Spice Thai
Junior's- famous cheesecake spot just around the corner from our hotel
One Girl Cookies
Shake Shack

Boston Brunchers | Ride and Dine

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Fri, 30 May 2014 11:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I participated in a blogger event with the Boston Brunchers in Chestnut Hill Square. It was a double-header of an event, where we were invited to "Ride and Dine" --ie. attend a class at SoulCycle then sample the new brunch menu at Brio Tuscan Grille.

Those that know me, know that working out is not really my favorite. In fact, I never do it. It's more of a motivation problem than anything else which is exactly why my experience at SoulCycle was so amazing. The instructor, Molly, was the most motivational instructor I've ever had. She was high energy, positive, and said just what we needed to hear to keep us going. The class was hard, but it flew by.

SoulCycle's facilities are top-notch. They provide towels, clothes for purchase, and even have bathrooms filled with toiletries you might need to freshen up after class. It was a great experience, and I love a place that is so welcoming to beginners.

After our ride, we headed right next door to Brio Tuscan Grille for brunch. Brio has long been one of my favorite chain restaurants. There is one in my hometown and we have had several big family dinners there over the years. If you're ever in for dinner, do yourself a favor and try their Bistecca Insalata (Brio's version of the classic wedge salad). You won't regret it. But onto their brunch menu...

We started with plenty of fresh fruit which made all of us feel a little better about the fact that we had just worked out and were now stuffing our faces. If it has fruit on it, it's healthy right?

{Left: fresh fruit bowl, Right: mascarpone cream cheese stuffed French toast with honey, cinnamon, and fresh berry compote}

Next up was one of the most delicious items I've ever had: eggs benedict served on a biscuit! The fact that I have never thought of this was shocking to me. It was rich, buttery, basically a southern girl's dream.

I hope to recreate this menu item at home sometime soon so look out for that. In the meantime, I might have to make a trip or two back to Brio and luckily I know a good gym next door to work off all the extra calories.

Are you brunching this weekend? I'd love to hear about places I should try next!

*The cycling class and brunch were compliments of SoulCycle and Brio Tuscan Grille respectively, but all opinions are my own.

Around Town - Parla, Boston

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Fri, 02 May 2014 17:25:00 +0000

Last Friday we tried out one of Boston's newest restaurants, Parla. It's in the North End right on Hanover Street, and the buzz has been great so far. It has an Italian speakeasy vibe with some of the most thoughtful decor you every did see.

The cocktail menu is unique and ambitious and for the most part didn't disappoint. It should be noted that we had MANY cocktails on this particular night. Our favorites? The Bee Sting Julep (traditional with a habanero twist), The Bootleg Old-Fashioned, and The Rhuby Mule (grapefruit spin on a Moscow Mule).

First, we were served a little bite of beet salad and goat cheese compliments of the chef. Then we feasted on the oxtail arrancini which were some of the best I've ever had! For our entrees, we ordered the Squid Ink Gnocchi with Wild Boar Bolognese and New York Strip with Truffle. The gnocchi was the hands-down winner. It was light and fluffy and flavorful and beautiful to boot! The perfect contrast to the heavier bolognese.

While we didn't get a chance to see it, there is also a late night menu available that we will definitely be coming back to try. Thanks Parla for a great first impression. Here's to many more!

Parla Boston
230 Hanover St. Boston, MA

Ad Space Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Fri, 02 May 2014 15:31:00 +0000

I have teamed up with Simply Clarke and 24 other bloggers to bring you a MEGA Ad Space Giveaway. One winner will win 25 ad spaces on 25 different blogs for the month! That means a ton of exposure for your blog, FREE. On top of that, we tried to make it super easy to enter, so all of the links are Facebook pages. Enter below to win and make sure to thank all the lovely co-hosts - Good Luck!

Also, use promo code SIMPLY20 to get 20% off ANY SIZE ad space on Simply Clarke.

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Nordstrom Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 11:00:00 +0000

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Boston Sweet Tea Party | Dancin' With A Dolly | Bright + Gutsy | The Dwelling Tree

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Around Town - Giulia, Cambridge

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:34:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, a friend and I checked out Giulia in Cambridge. It was one of the last truly cold evenings of the winter and Giulia provided a warm, inviting place for us to indulge in some really amazing food.

Our first and only mistake in choosing this restaurant? We didn't have reservations. It was a Thursday night and this popular place was packed. We were told it would be 45 minutes but the wait ended up being much, much shorter. Happily, we took our place at the bar and started drooling over all of the yummy items on the menu.

The bar staff were friendly, knowledgable, and attentive. They sold us on the day's special crostini so we started with that.

We then shared a salad with citrus and fried fennel. All I can say is that fried fennel will be sweeping the nation one day because it was that good.

The entrees didn't disappoint either.

Neither did the wine or sides. Their spicy, citrusy take on brussel sprouts is so different and unique, making this trendy side seem new again.

If you love fresh pasta or (heaven forbid!) don't know if you've ever had it. Try it here. You won't be disappointed.

Giulia
1682 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.441.2800

#BostonStrong

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Mon, 21 Apr 2014 14:35:00 +0000

Despite the tragedy at last year's Boston Marathon, today will always be a day of hope, inspiration, and celebration.

Good luck and be safe to all of the runners, spectators, and volunteers today!

Weekend Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 15:20:00 +0000

This very special edition of weekend brunch is brought to you from The Big Easy.

Beignets and cafe au lait from Cafe du Monde. Pure powdered sugar-covered heaven.

Easy Plants for Indoors (No Green Thumb Required)

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 14:55:00 +0000

As I mentioned around this time last year, I was not blessed with a green thumb. I kill plants like it's my job. But I have found a few things that work for me in the home to keep things looking green and lively around here without much work.

{Tulips have to be the ultimate spring flower. I picked these up for cheap at a local florist and they still look great almost a week later. Plus even when tulips start to die, they look beautiful. They droop so gracefully.}

{This snake plant -- also known as mother-in-law's tongue-- requires such little water that I throw a couple of ice cubes in it once a month or so and it's good to go.}

{Fresh herbs are hardy and enough to keep alive as long as they are in a super sunny area. These stayed alive all spring and summer last year until the weather turned cold. They aren't planted inside but were close enough to our kitchen that I'll count it. They can also be grown indoors if desired.}

{This grassy little friend is a new edition that I just picked up at CVS. I love the look for Easter. It's pretty and perky even though I haven't watered it once.}

{Back to herbs. These hydroponic basil plants just need enough water to cover their roots and grow nice a full even in the windowsill.}

Do any of you have problems keeping plants alive? Which ones work for you? Succulents? Cacti? I'd love to hear!

Buy or DIY: An Update

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 11:00:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was asked about my kitchen cabinet DIY mentioned here,and I thought it was about time to provide an update for everyone on how they are holding up!

Remember when we painted our kitchen cabinet using Rustoleum's Cabinet Transformations Kit that we bought for an absolute steal? Well almost two years later, they still look like new! Now granted, we don't have any kids to bang on them with pots and pans or pets that might scratch them up, but we haven't been tiptoeing around them constantly worrying about messing them up either. On the contrary, we have added a backsplash and replaced the microwave since they were painted and they are no worse for the wear.

If you have ever considered painting your own cabinets, here are a few tricks that have kept these babies in mint condition:

We put in the time at the beginning, knowing that it would save us in the long run. Completing the project took us a lot of dedicated time and we followed the directions to the letter. We agree with the instruction manual that ideally one person should complete a whole step to avoid variations in color, pattern, or style. While this doesn't save you any time, this painstaking process now seems worth it ten times over because we have a professional, uniform look that makes us want to keep them in tip-top shape. They don't feel DIYed.
I wipe the cabinets down with a wet rag when needed and a little organic multi-surface spray if they're really dirty. I don't use anything that could damage or break-down the polyurethane or alter the color of the paint.
I use a wood finish stain marker to touch up any nicks or imperfections that might come up. It doesn't happen often but if I'm clumsy with a fork or saucepan, the marker takes care of the damage.
The clear, plastic rubber bumpers that we put in the corners of the doors and drawers seem to be preventing most dings. {If you're lucky enough to have slow close cabinets then you could skip this step of course}
If you do notice a larger imperfection that a stain marker might not take care of, think hard about how you plan to fix it. Once something is polyurethaned it's pretty hard to make touch ups that aren't noticeable.

Has anyone else used the kit? Any tips you've learned to keep your cabinets look new? We are so happy that we chose to give it a shot because we still love the results two years later!

Two Years

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 11:00:00 +0000

We have been in our home for two years today, and I thought I was the perfect time to share a little about how we landed this beautiful little gem in the city.

It was 2011 and we were "just browsing" the market. We were living in Charlestown and had decided to stick around more permanently. We wanted something with two bedrooms, an open floor plan, and outdoor space.

We went to so many open houses that summer. We saw some that underwhelmed us, some that didn't meet all of our criteria, and one that looked like it was made for a family of elves-- seriously that house was weirdly small. Then we saw the one. We had that feeling, and we compared every other house to it. Only problem? We weren't actually trying to buy anything yet. We were just looking. Bummer, someone else would snag "our" house and we'd try again next year.

Cut to the following year. We casually mentioned to a couple of friends that we were looking more seriously this time, but nothing really seemed to match this house that we had seen over the summer. As the conversation went on, we realized that they knew the owners of said house! And better yet, they had never sold. They were still living in it, but looking to sell ASAP in anticipation of a job change and out of state move. Score!

No matter that we were in the middle of negotiations on another place. "Our" house was about to go on the market and we needed to find away to get it! Next thing you know, we're emailing the owners, going over on a Sunday night to negotiate a price, and starting the paperwork the following day. It all happened so fast and we were learning as we went-- sans realtors mind you. Never in a million years did we think that our first home would be a for sale by owner situation that we bought from a friend of a friend without the help of a buyer's agent. But that is exactly what happened. It was a crazy adventure and we learned so much. Best of all we landed the house that we had been thinking about for almost a year.

This week I can't wait to share with you some thoughts on home ownership, buying a house, and some updates on home projects in celebration of two years in our current home!

Weekend Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 14:25:00 +0000

Everyone loves a good cocktail with their brunch and today I have exactly that for you. Best thing is that this one is as simple as they come. I give you, the Pink Grapefruit Screwdriver.

___________

Start with one part pink grapefruit vodka.

Add two parts your favorite OJ.

And a splash of grenadine.

Enjoy!

Pink Grapefruit Screwdriver

One part grapefruit vodka
Two parts orange juice
Splash of grenadine

Serve cold or over ice.

Weekend Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Last weekend, Kevin and I checked out Stephanie Cmar's (of Top Chef fame) new pop-up endeavor called Stacked Donuts. The first few weeks she held donut sales at The Butcher Shop in The South End, but last week she moved over to Cambridge and set up shop at The Commonwealth, a cute market and restaurant in Kendall Square.

Donning an adorable donut-emblazoned apron, Stephanie was front and center handing out her delicious creations and talking to patrons. She was so incredibly sweet and gracious.

Yum. Look at all of those sweet things. Stacks on stacks on stacks.

The featured flavors for the week were salted chocolate raspberry and maple crumble. She has mastered the glaze. There is something very Krispy Kreme about it, which makes this southern girl very happy and a little homesick.

Bostonians: have you checked out Stacked Donuts yet? It's well worth waiting in line for! Lucky for you, maybe the weather will be in your favor, and you won't freeze your fanny off before you get inside!

Spring Style: Citrus

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 13:52:00 +0000

Kate Spade scarf | August Salt tee | JCrew jeans | Charles David pumps | Rebecca Minkoff bag

Spring has officially sprung, and although this weekend I'll still be rocking my winter gear on a trip to Vermont, I certainly have spring styles on the brain. I took inspiration from this silk scarf to build a fun, casual outfit that I'd love to have for spring that includes a trend of the moment: citrus. And as an added bonus, the scarf would look totally adorable tied as a headscarf with the outfit.

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be posting snippets from our trip to Vermont on Instagram. And look out for my Weekend Brunch post on Sunday featuring a local chef and her donut pop-up shop!

Weekend Brunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 13:09:00 +0000

Today marks the beginning of a new series here on the blog. Every weekend I will be sharing something brunch related--recipes, cocktails, restaurant review, etc. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal, so on weekends we do it up big. I can't wait to share with you some of my weekend brunch favorites!

__________

This weekend, in honor of St Patrick's Day, I made Irish Soda Bread. In my family, we are big bread eaters, and this is one that I vividly remember my grandmother making. Traditional soda bread contains just baking soda, flour, salt, and buttermilk, but I wanted something with a modern twist so I looked to this recipe from Ina Garten. Unfortunately this one tasted nothing like my grandmother's, but it was an easy bread to throw together and had great flavor.

Am I the only one who starts a recipe and then realizes they don't have something? As usual I had to make a substitute buttermilk with lemon juice and regular milk, which tastes nothing like the real thing but works in a pinch.

Above is an example of what it looks like when your dough is way too wet. Wasn't it sweet of me to purposely mess this recipe up halfway through just to show you what not to do? Oh yes, I totally did this on purpose. Lesson learned: Be sure reserve a little milk or flour to adjust amounts as you go since dough is notoriously inconsistent depending on temperature and other conditions.

Historically, an cross or X is cut across the top to ward off evil, but as you can see mine mysteriously disappeared in the baking process.

Irish Soda Bread
adapted from Ina Garten

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoons kosher salt
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 1/2 cups cold buttermilk, shaken
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix on low speed until the butter is mixed into the flour.

In a small bowl, combine buttermilk, egg, and orange zest. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture until dough comes together. Combine the raisins with 1 tablespoon of flour and fold into the dough.

Place dough onto a well-floured board and knead into a round loaf. Place the loaf on the prepared pan and lightly cut an X into the top of the bread. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Serve warm with butter and/or honey.

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Have a great rest of the weekend everyone! Have a green beer and relax, you deserve it!

Foyer Update

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:55:00 +0000

Our foyer transformation is in its final stages, so I thought I'd share an update before the big reveal. It has taken a bit longer than expected because painting stairs and spokes is crazy tedious, but it's all worth it. So when I left you last, I showed you some before photos and our inspiration photo. Here are some photos of the project in progress.

So what went into this transformation?

As you can see, I used a TON of spackle and wood filler to repair these stairs. Call us naive, but we weren't expecting them to be in as bad shape as they were. That's what you get for living in a one hundred year old building I guess. I used wood filler in areas that actually needed to maintain structural integrity (ie. some of the steps themselves were split a bit) and the spackle was for the aesthetic issues only (ie. where some of the risers had been kicked repeatedly over the years).

Also there was plenty of caulking to fill cracks and spaces that we didn't quite notice until the paint went up. It's amazing what a big difference a little caulk can make.

As you can see, we go gloveless and tool-less when it comes to caulking and it seems to work well for us every time.

After the caulking, it took several coats of primer and white paint, but it finally started slightly resembling what we wanted it to look like. And once the black paint went on, the look really started coming together.

I know it doesn't look like much now, but it's a huge improvement from where we started. And now you've been let in on the little secret that we didn't paint the whole stair black, just the visible portions. I'm not about wasting paint on something that will never be seen. Next up, a carpet laying tutorial and the big reveal!

One Year Blogiversary

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000

Today marks one year since I started blogging. It was started as a place to document projects that we had done on our home since moving into our first condo, and is now a creative outlet for me to share a variety of things about my life. Moving forward, I intend on sharing even more projects, DIYs, and recipes as well as how I find inspiration in every day. So for those who have been following from the beginning or those who may just be stopping by.....
THANK YOU!

Del Frisco's Lunch

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a Blog and Tweet Boston event at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in the Seaport. We sampled from their lunch menu and let's just say no one went hungry. There was so much delicious food!

We started out with some signature cocktails: The VIP and Pomegranate Martini

The VIP (which stands for vodka-infused pineapple) was citrusy and not too sweet. The pomegranate was also delicious, but I'll be honest I'm sort a sucker for pomegranate martinis so this was a no-brainer for me.

We were seated in the Harbor Room, which is a beautiful private room surrounded by glass and the beautiful view that the Seaport area is known for. Then the food started rolling in.

Crab Cake with Cajun Lobster Sauce

This was one of the best crab cakes that I've ever had. Basically all crab with just the right amount of breading. And the sauce really complemented the dish.

Shanghai-Style Fried Calamari with Sweet Chili Glaze, Bean Sprouts, Cherry Peppers, Crushed Peanuts & Scallions

I love calamari. It's the go-to appetizer for me and Kevin when we go out to eat. This was such a nice spin on the same old plate of fried squid. It was tossed in a slightly spicy sauce, and the bean sprouts added a fresh crunch to each bite.

Beer Battered Onion Rings

The picture sort of speaks for itself. This stack of onion rings was an eye-catcher. Best of all, they tasted great. Plenty of onion and breading that stayed on, not at all greasy.

Ahi Tuna Tartare with Citrus, Capers, Kalamata Olive Spread & Crostinis

This tuna dish was served family style. It was so beautiful and the portion was huge!

Steakhouse salad with broiled prime strip steak, deviled egg, baby mixed green, watercress, avocado, cherry tomato, bacon, parmesan, blue cheese and horseradish lemon dressing

This salad of course was a winner because steak is what Del Frisco's does best.

Seared Ahi Tuna with shaved Napa cabbage, arugula, mango, chilled noodles, toasted almonds, tomato, avocado, ginger-sesame dressing

Definitely a lighter salad option than the steakhouse salad, but also delicious and filling.

Prime Shaved Steak with Au Jus, Horseradish Sauce, and Potato Chips

As much as I love steak, I never find myself ordering steak sandwiches. This one was great though and the house potato chips also scrumptious.

Sole Francese with Lump Crabmeat, Baby Arugula, Cherry Tomato, Lemon Chive Beurre Blanc

This fish was good, but if I'm at a steakhouse, I'm going to order steak. It's as simple as that.

Six layer lemon cake with lemon buttercream

Holy moly this cake was good. Dense but light, sweet but tart. Delicious and house made daily.

Overall, the food was excellent and I can't wait to try it out for lunch again when the weather is nice and the patio is open!

I had been to Del Frisco's once before and I have to say that neither time was I disappointed with the food or service. If it's your first time though, I will say that it's a different environment than other fancy steakhouses. It's best for a group outing or a fun celebration for two (ie. promotion, closing on a house, etc) rather than a romantic occasion. The vibe inside is more upbeat and youthful and less stuffy than other places in this price range. Which makes sense because this place makes some delicious cocktails, perfect for the after work crowd or fun night out!

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse

250 Northern Ave

Boston, MA 02210

(617) 951-1368

*Lunch and drinks were compliments of Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, but all opinions are my own.

Snowy Neutrals

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:38:00 +0000

This weather is bumming us all out. It is now blizzarding for the second time this week and to say that I'm over this winter is a huge understatement. Some people opt for bright spring colors to lift their spirits when it's bone-chilling cold out. But today I'm wearing some winter neutrals to match the scenery: gray, white, and black.

{Loft pants (similar) | Steve Madden shoes (no longer available but loving these booties with the same feel) | J. Crew Tee (on sale!)}

Linking up today with Style Sessions and Trend Spin

To Paris, With Love

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:00:00 +0000

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some of the romance of our trip to Paris back in September. It really is a city filled with love and lovers alike. A place for people to fall in love all over again-- with each other and with the city. I know what you're thinking...

{via}

And you're totally right. This list is as cliche as they come, but it's because these things are all so totally worth it! Things become cliche for a reason you know. Like eating a lobster roll in New England. Or drinking champagne on New Year's Eve. So here are the top five most romantic things that we did in Paris that I am recommending to all of you out there.

1. Visit the Eiffel Tower at night
Holding hands and waiting for that magic moment when the light show begins can't really be explained. You have to experience it for yourself.

2. Browse the goods at patisseries and chocolate shops.
Nothing is more romantic than indulging your sweet tooth with a macaron or truffle!

3. Eat a late dinner at an outdoor cafe.

4. Splurge on some fancy food.
This french toast from Bistrotters was worth every penny and calorie!

5. Put a lock on the "Love Lock Bridge" and throw away the key.
To see how many other couples have also left their mark on this place is nothing short of magical.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!

(Un)official Cocktail of the Sochi Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 15:02:00 +0000

The Olympics are always a really cool experience. I love totally immersing myself in sports that I haven't watched for four years and always find at least one that I didn't know existed. Speaking of which, I love watching the opening ceremonies and seeing countries that I've never even heard of. This is not just me right? I mean, there are whole drinking games devoted to this concept. It makes this "small" world feel so big and always feeds my need to travel more.

So what will you be sipping on as you watch the festivities tonight? Dare I make a recommendation? How about an icy Moscow Mule? I don't know what took me so long to try this delicious cocktail, but thank goodness a friend introduced me to it a couple of weeks ago. It's easy peasy and celebrates Russia's national beverage of choice: vodka.

{Copper mug from West Elm}

Moscow Mule Recipe
*Recipe adapted from Mr. Boston

1 1/2 oz. vodka
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
Ginger beer (store bought or homemade)
Lime wedges for garnish

Pour vodka and lime juice into a glass or copper Moscow Mule mug. Fill mug with ice (crushed or cubed) and top with ginger beer until mug just full. Stir. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Happy Opening Ceremonies everyone!

Superbowl Leftovers + Waffles = Dinner Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 23:25:00 +0000

Have y'all seen this yet? Serving chili on a cornbread waffle is the bee's knees. It's super easy and the perfect way to use any leftovers from your Superbowl party.

Have fried chicken this Superbowl Sunday instead of chili? How about chicken and waffles? If I haven't mentioned it before, I'm a huge sucker for chicken and waffles. Try pouring some bourbon maple syrup on top if you're feeling fancy. I promise you won't regret it.

So stretch the overindulgence that comes with Superbowl weekend just one more day. That resolution you made wasn't meant for holidays anyway. The day after the Superbowl is totally a holiday right? Happy Monday!

Boston Love

noreply@blogger.com (Lauren) — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 15:42:00 +0000

Today I am guest posting over on Stamp In My Passport about being a tourist in my own town of Boston. It's something that I've discussed a few times here and here, but I put a new spin on it, so go check it out. In keeping with that theme, I thought I'd post a few of my favorite pictures that we've taken over the years since we've lived here including some of our engagement photos that were taken around town. Enjoy!

*The last five pictures from our engagement session are by John Lo Photography