I’m back in Boston! And WOW! Spring is in the air, and its a tad chilly, but I am not complaining. We had a fantastic vacation in Naples, Florida with friends. Lot’s of beach, cocktails, restaurants and shopping. I have some fun pics to share this week. We just got home and the first thing we did was pick up our fur babies at the Grandparents house. Aren’t they the cutest ever! They also got a new gadget to play with. I am a little tired from the flight home and we are trying to showing the fur babies how to play with the iFetch. Take a look at this You Tube video, I can only hope the furs will learn how to use this gadget!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWZQwjFFYo

I am so thrilled to finally be heading to the beach! I love Naples! Great restaurants, shopping and beaches! I will be back soon to share what we did and where to go while in Naples, Florida!

I have been obsessed with Acai for quite some time. When I came across the Acai Bowl at the Equinox, I was in heaven. I couldn’t get enough of this healthy, clean living breakfast. It is so easy to make, and a great spring breakfast to get us ready for the summer! Give it a try!

All you need is a few ingredients and a blender.

2 packs of  Sambazon Acai puree ( you can get this at Whole Foods or a health store, even online)

1 Organic banana

4 oz of Apple Juice

Honey

Blend Apple Juice and Acai for 10 seconds ( you can add protein powder as well, I add a few tablespoons of vanilla protein)

Put into a bowl of your choice

Top with granola, chopped up banana, blueberries, strawberries, and honey (your choice)

And enjoy!!!

I am always excited about new restaurants in Boston. Living in the city, we find ourselves eating out quite frequently! When, Pastoral opened this past Friday I had my reservation and was ready to go. The place was packed! They have family style seating at the front by the open kitchen, as well as a large dining area and finally a great bar with a few T. V’s to watch the March Madness games. This is a great place for everyone. The Rustic menu, Neapolitan-pizza (Gluten-free) and homemade desserts were delish! Nick and I left very full and here are a few things that we sampled! Along with a quick snap shot below of the front of the restaurant.

This Garlic Knot was filled with tons of Garlic, Fennel Sausage and Ricotta…Yum bring your breath mints!

This was a yummy Neapolitan pizza with fresh Mozzarella, tomatoes and chicken meatballs. We had to try the ricotta filled dumplings with pistachios, and mortadella butter. This pasta was amazing!

And of course we needed warm cookies with homemade ricotta and chocolate chip gelato!

Wood-fired knots
Roast garlic/extra virgin olive oil
Mixed olives/anchovy
Fennel sausage/ricotta

Snacks
Octopus/parsley/chickpeas/saffron/orange
Chicken meatballs/pepper conserve/goat cheese
Albacore crudo/grapefruit/white mushroom/bonito
Pork chicharone & chorizo kabob/wood-roasted apple
Calamari/dried chili/green olives
Stuffed fried olives/Italian crumbs
Oven-roasted chicken wing/roasted garlic/lemon

Small
Prosciutto/fresh mozzarella/walnut pesto/crostini
Mantis shrimp a la plancha/anchovy butter
Butter lettuce & escarole caesar/white anchovy
Pastoral salad/8 vegetables/garlic milk dressing
Arugula/frisse/fennel/egg/smoked pancetta/evoo

Large
Amargnac chicken/shallots/prunes/wild rice cake
Hanger steak/ash roasted leeks & potatoes/goat milk butter
Shellfish pot/mussels/clams/lobster
Roasted acadian redfish/parsley root/garlic & lemon
Kurobuta pork collar/kale & onion/salsa verda
Salmon/tomato-mussel sofrito/sausage/artichoke chips
Veal & pork pojarski/mushroom crema/brussels sprouts
Oxtail & toulouse sausage/puy lentils/onion “gravy”

Veggies
Wood-roasted potatoes/garlic/potato rosemary mayo
Cauliflower/anchovy/green olive crumbs
Roasted big beet/feta/black sambuca/mint
Wood-roasted kale/jalapeno/garlic
Mashed brussels sprout/grana/olive oil
Artichokes/”alla guidina”/mint/orange

Pizza
Pomodoro/tomato/garlic/oregano/chile & olive oil
Peperoni/fresh mozzarella/tomato
Cured anchovy/smoked mozzarella/roasted red pepper/tomato
Blanco/buffalo mozzarella/fromage blanc/fennel sausage
Mozzarella/jalapeno/arugula/lemon & bonito
Prosciutto/green olive/buffalo mozzarella
Caramelized onion/gruyere/fromage blanc/bacon puree
Calamari/sun-gold tomato/lily’s pepper confit/arugula
Forest & field mushrooms/garlic/ricotta/truffle
Lobster/shallot/mascarpone/hint of garlic
Spicy sausage/fontina/ricotta/rabe leaves

Pasta
Ricotta dumplings/pistachio/mortadella butter
Radiatore pasta/tomato & milk-braised veal breast/foir di latte
Mushroom & walnut plins/escarole/amaretto
Chitarra pasta carbonara/prosciutto/lobster
Mezz rigatoni/sauce bolognese/foir di latte

Pastoral, 345 Congress St., Boston

I stopped in yesterday to scope out a new Blow Dry Bar at the Seaport that just opened yesterday, right down the street from my condo in South Boston. I was thrilled that they had time to show me the new place and also do a fabulous blow out before heading out with my ladies to restaurant week! Danielle was my stylist and she gave my hair great waves and bounce in minutes! I can’t wait to go back on Saturday again with one of my friends to do it all over again and also try out the nail bar they have as well with an array of services. All weekend long they have a great promotion: $25 dollar blow outs and $10 off all nail services.

Check them out at  http://www.blomedry.com they still have lots of openings for this weekend. 

A tragic day for Boston Fire. We’re remembering those who lost their lives protecting the people of Boston.
Our deepest condolences.

I have been a fan of Shellac on nails for a while now. I don’t have to take the time to sit in a salon week after week for a regular manicure. Shellac is convenient and looks great on my nails. Until NOW! I am not a doctor nor a chemical specialist of any sort but I started reading and talking to folks about the chemicals and UV rays used for Shellac nails. Immediately, I decided this was going totally against my clean living regimen. UV rays on the hands, harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene and or DBP are found in most Shellac formulas. I had to make a change immediately!

So, I found a new nail lacquer that offers similar results. It’s called Butter by London nail lacquer. The nail lacquer is nourishing, vitamin-infused and helps with both nail health and strength. Butter does not contain formaldehyde, toluene or DBP to any of its formulas.

Last week, I bought the non-UV gel Butter lacquer set as well as two nail colors to try out. So far I really am liking Butter. The gel nail lacquer isn’t as good as the bad UV shellac. But it does help the nails from chipping up to a week for me. I did re apply the top gel coat mid week to ensure no chipping. I am willing to do more work for less chemical expose to my body. Give it a try. The colors are amazing!Click on pic to get yours!