This Week on Tap | March 13

I’m officially 37 years and 12 days old. Please don’t be too intimidated by my age + wisdom. Grace (with a little financial assistance + a chauffeur) organized a lovely unicorn princess party for me at the Cape. I’ve entered my 38th year on the planet with a bit of renewed energy, and several new throw pillows on the sofa. Because #noshopfeb is over (and I sort of nailed it). So there’s that.

March has always been one of my favorite months (August + December are on the list too)– partly because of the aforementioned birthday, but largely because of the change in seasons and accompanying shift in moods (Spring New Englanders are remarkably more lovely than Winter New Englanders– fact, not opinion). Which brings us to things to do this month with your lovely springtime energy.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

• Join Fat Face in Wellesley to celebrate their Life in Color summer launch from 10-3 this Saturday, March 16th. The event will feature live music in store from 12-2 and a build your own mimosa table so people can sip while shopping Fat Face’s newest styles. I’ll be dropping by on Friday + sharing some of my favorites on Instagram stories. The Wellesley store is located at 26 Church Street.

• The 2019 Boston Flower + Garden Show opens today at the Seaport World Trade Center and runs through the weekend. I always get great ideas and inspiration from this event (see my photos from past years here: 2016 2014/2015 2011 2010). I recommend buying tickets online to avoid waiting in line.

MEALS

A few of the usual suspects:

• Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Vegetables from The Kitchn: I make this at least once a week — with a few minor changes. I bake at 450F for at least 30 minutes (sometimes longer), omit the peppers (because I have a weird texture thing about cooked peppers), and quadruple the garlic (that’s just my MO #novampires).
• Lentil soup with avocado toast
• I’ve (finally) gotten into the habit of packing my own snacks and lunches alongside the kids’ lunch boxes. Some recent favorites: farro with cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, red onion, a slice of feta, a drizzle of olive oil and a wedge of lemon; rice crackers, grapes, a handful of almonds, and cubed pepper jack cheese; brown rice, pico de gallo, and black beans and/or lentils.
• Salad + tots… because why not…

WORKOUTS

I started a new workout program last week with Antoinette, founder of Mama Beasts (and basically, my hero). She just launched MB Metamorphosis (in addition to weekly classes all over Greater Boston — first class is free + so worth checking out if you’re in the area), an eight week program that includes tailored weekly workout plans and personal training sessions. The program compliments my usual class schedule, but provides the added accountability I think I need.

Each week, I’ll have three home workouts and will attend 1-2 classes, plus a rest day and something low key like a long walk or yoga. With the first week and a half done, I can honestly say I am loving it. The frequent check ins with Antoinette keep me motivated, and it’s been encouraging to hear from the other program participants too. The home workouts are tough– but so good. Antoinette is making use of all the equipment we have in our basement gym, which keeps things interesting but super accessible.

Here’s my schedule from the past week and a half:

• Sunday: Week 1, Workout A (2 circuits with weights, EMOM finisher)
• Monday: Week 1, Workout B (2 circuits with weights, EMOM finisher)
• Tuesday: Yoga (Peloton app — bedtime yoga)
• Wednesday: Week 1, Workout C (rowing + core), Peloton app — full body stretch
• Thursday: Quiet Beasts class
• Friday: Mama Beasts class
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: Yoga (Peloton app — bedtime yoga)
• Monday: Week 2 Workout A (2 circuits with weights, EMOM finisher)
• Tuesday: Week 2 Workout C (rowing + core)
• Wednesday: Week 2 Workout B (2 circuits with weights, EMOM finisher)

READING

• I had so much fun hosting one of the Mama Beast book club dinners on Sunday night (we split into two locations), and finished Little Fires Everywhere just in the nick of time.
• We visited the library in our new town last week (Grace got her own library card!) and we brought home some really great kids books: Who Eats Orange, Sugar White Snow and Evergreens and a Mo Willems book about a friendship between a dog and a frog that is so beautifully illustrated… but I think the frog dies at the end (I full on cried about this tonight after the kids were asleep). I reminded Grace that we recently learned that frogs hibernate under the mud at the bottom of ponds… but I am pretty sure she saw through that. Being a parent is an amazing and wonderful and bizarre adventure.

WATCHING

• Season 5 of Schitt’s Creek on Amazon Prime. You have to pay for this season, but if you’re patient (I’m not) you could always wait for it to hit Netflix.
• Jeopardy! and trying to not to cry (kind of the theme of my life) because Alex Trebec is my constant (speaking of constants + tv, if I could travel back in time I would unwatch LOST)

LISTENING TO

• A new workout playlist (will share later this week)
• The Hours soundtrack, composed by Philip Glass — one of my favorites for productivity.

CURRENT FAVORITES

I’m trying to get organized for Easter before, like, the day before Easter this year. I’ve also been making small-ish updates to the new house and found a pendant that I think will be perfect to hang over our kitchen table (likely in white rather than brass).

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Also On Tap for Today:

• Use the KonMari Method to Tidy Your Mind from Outside Magazine
• Surviving Instagram being down today 😉
• Looking forward to the end of the week warmup… spring is coming, my friends!

And that’s the week (and a half) on tap… I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!