After whirlwind trips to Paris and London, I came home to properly celebrate my 30th birthday. A 30th birthday comes but once in a lifetime and I couldn’t have been happier to celebrate with friends and family. And, in the true spirit of such an occasion, the celebrating actually started over Thanksgiving and continued on until December 17, my actual birthday. From champagne, to cake, s’mores, thoughtful presents and cards, I’m grateful for all of the amazing people I have in my life. Here are a few snapshots from the occasion.
Browsing Tag
BOSTON
My love for unique watches is well-documented on this blog, so when the folks at Fossil invited me to a holiday preview at their Newbury Street shop, I was tempted. To be honest, though I walk by the store frequently, I hadn’t ventured inside. Would their watches be a fit for my somewhat eclectic taste? Let’s just say that I’m glad that I accepted the invitation, because the answer ended up being a big YES.
Snapped July 2012
Ever scroll through old photos on your computer only to discover a gem that you didn’t share? One look at this photo of the Boston Harbor Hotel during July 2012 had me nostalgic for Boston in the summer. On this particular night, I had treated my good friend Jake to a birthday dinner at LTK in the Seaport district and then went to meet friends by the Boston Harbor Hotel. In the summer the hotel has a variety of events, including live jazz and movies. On this particular evening, they were playing An American in Paris on a massive screen behind the hotel. It was one of those lovely warm summer nights and people were crowded around, sipping wine and relaxing. I turned around and saw what would end up being this photo.
Now that the weather is cold and we’re bundled up in layers, looking at this photo reminds me of good friends, warm summer nights and the hope that we’ll be back there soon.
Now this is what I call conference food!
During social media week in Boston, I was excited to have the opportunity to be the morning keynote on day two of GSMI’s Social Media Strategies Summit Boston. In addition to speaking at the event, I also attended most of the conference for the learning opportunities. I’ve said it before, but social media conferences offer an excellent opportunity to step away from your day-to-day, connect with and learn from other leaders in your field. True to form, this event was no different. Here are several highlights from the event:
‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin. Though my passion for pumpkin flavored coffee, baked goods and savory recipes is not limited to the fall, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of these special limited time items. Case and point – pumpkin beer! Recently, I met my dear friend Betsy, who was back in town visiting after (envious) jaunts in London and Hawaii, for a drink at the Pour House on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay. Definitely more of a beer place (in my mind, anyway), so I had my sights set on a very pumpkin-y flavored beer. I went for the UFO Pumpkin on tap and much to my delight, the waitress asked if I would like a pumpkin spiced rim to go with. Ummm…yeah!? The rim was a lot of fun and really added to the pumpkin beer experience. Sure, a little messy, but 100 percent worth it.
The great thing about pumpkin beer with a spiced rim is that you can easily replicate it at home. After a quick google search, I stumbled upon a super quick pumpkin spice and brown sugar rim recipe from a cute blog called Small Kitchen College.
Join me in raising your glass to all things pumpkin!
The Pour House is located at 907 Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay.