New Years State Of Mind

Good morning! I cannot believe it's the last day of the year! Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are wondering what you're doing tonight:



How cute is this video? First of all, any song is made better by a ukulele. Second, who knew Joseph Gordon-Levitt could sing? Major swoon factor. Third, if you read the description of the video on YouTube (written by Zooey) you can tell that they are actually great friends! The description reads:

"I have known Joe Gordon-Levitt for going on 12 years. We first met in the summer of 2000 while doing a tiny movie called Manic, where we bonded over a mutual appreciation for Harry Nilsson and Nina Simone and I have been lucky enough to call him one of my dearest friends ever since. When we did 500 Days of Summer 8 years later, we spent every lunch hour dancing to Marvin Gaye in the hair and make up trailer; we had loads of fun. I hope to do a thousand more movies with him because he's simply the best. But in the meantime, we made a little New Year's duet for all of you! The original by Nancy Wilson. ENJOY!"

While we're on the topic of New Years, I've been reading some great articles about New Years resolutions that I want to share with you.

• "30 Things To Stop Doing To Yourself" - This post is like free therapy. The author encourages you to embrace your flaws, learn to put yourself first and stop being afraid to take chances. Once you reach the bottom of the post, you'll feel a wave of relief wash over you.
  
• "Why Bucket Lists Are So Last Year" - This article, which appeared in Forbes, is about not just making resolutions and ticking things off the list, but about constantly working towards building your life legacy. It's a pretty powerful suggestion.
• "Kiki T.'s Astro Guide 2012" - Judge if you must, but I check my horoscope daily. I also subscribe to a weekly horoscope from TheFrisky.com which I personally think is the most dead on, which is why I was thrilled when they posted an astrological forecast for 2012! Find your sign and let the positive predictions begin!

With that, I wish you a happy New Years Eve! Whatever you're doing tonight have a blast and be safe!

Dining Out: Wahlburgers

A few months ago it seemed the whole Boston universe was a buzz with the news that Donnie and Marky Mark's brother, Paul, was going to open his second restaurant in the Hingham Shipyard, a burger joint called Wahlburgers.

I totally bought into the hype and could not wait to make the trip down 93 to experience Wahlburgers for myself. One week went by, then two, then three and eventually I found myself months out from the opening without an adventure planned.

Today ladies and gentleman was the day! I had the day off of work today (thank you!) and I planned to have lunch at Wahlburgers with two friends (and one of the girl's seven year old twins!). I was picked up at 12:00pm and the road trip began!

Forty five minutes later we arrived in the Hingham Shipyard. We hopped out of the car and I spotted that "W" sign and felt magnetized toward it. I felt I could hear that tune Ariel the mermaid sings, "Ahhhhhh ahhhhhh ahhhhh!" You know the one, when she gets her voice?

We opened the doors and there was a huge line! We learned there are actually two lines. One to be seated in an area where you are served by the wait staff and one where you order at the counter and fight for a table in the general seating area.

We opted for the counter/fight for seating option because it seemed to be moving faster. While in line I noticed the Wahlburgers Christmas tree, which was decorated with hamburger and hot dogs ornaments. But of course!

The menu at Wahlburgers is simple - four burger choices, a few hot dogs choices, a kids menu, four sides and a list of milkshakes. The four burgers on the menu are labeled as: Paul's choice (owner), Donnie's choice (NKOTB), Mark's choice (Marky Mark) and the vegetarian choice (we non-meat eater's don't get a Wahlberg brother).

There were so many fantastic choices for sides and milkshakes that we were having a tough time choosing! Between all five of us we strategized an order that maximized our ability to taste the most menu items.

After placing our order, the manager helped us find a booth in the general seating area.

Our booth had a very 50s diner feel, which I loved. From our booth we had a great view of the back wall, which tells the story of the Wahlberg family.

All over the restaurant there are photos of the brothers.

Hanging from the ceiling are incredibly cool, black and white pieces that have the names of all the brothers' albums, movies and TV shows. These were my favorite design element in the whole place. Chic looking, but very personal.

When our buzzer lit up we went up to the counter to pick up our trays.

One friend ordered the classic burger, also known as Paul's choice. She was really pleased with it. One of the twins also ordered that burger and gobbled it right up (even with a missing front tooth!).

Two of the ladies ordered the grilled cheese sandwich and they added tomato. One said the sandwich was a great comfort food staple, but the bread was overly buttered. The best part of the grilled cheese baskets were the french fries! They were a slightly thicker version of McDonald's fries, the ultimate compliment.

I ordered the vegetarian choice which was a portabello mushroom "burger" topped with caramelized onions, melted cheese and the Wahlburgers secret sauce. It was so unbelievably delicious! On most menus the veggie burger is a last minute addition (translation = obligation) and is usually underwhelming. This was a complete home run.

For sides we all split the tater tots, sweet potato tater tots and the onion rings.

I didn't even know one could make sweet potato tater tots! While the tots were quite good, the star of the entire meal was the onion rings. They were very thinly sliced red onions, breaded just right and fried to perfection. They were so light that they didn't leave you with that heavy, guilty, food coma feeling.

Of course we also had to try the milkshakes. Two of us decided to split the mocha milkshake and it was exceptional! I would drive all the way to Hingham again just for that shake! They also offer vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coffee and chocolate mint. Mmm mmm mmm!

Wahlburgers deserves every single moment of attention it's been given. It really does feel like a family run place and the food is outstanding. I think I'll be putting quite a few more miles on my car in 2012.

Shop: Birchbox

Growing up, my parents always used to throw a big Hannukah party for all of our family and friends during the holiday season. When my parents and sister moved to Miami in 2005 I found myself stranded on Christmas without my nuclear family unit to go to the movies with and gorge on Chinese food.

Upon hearing of my holiday orphan status, my aunt invited me to join her and her family for Christmas. My aunt is married to my wonderful uncle who is Irish Catholic and one of twelve siblings. Needless to say, Christmas is a big deal in their family. Having never celebrated Christmas, I was looking forward to participating in their traditions.

Now, many years later, we've developed some new holiday traditions together, one of which is Secret Santa. As our original group for Christmas grew to include spouses, fiances and babies, we decided this was the best way to still give someone a wonderful gift without going bankrupt buying for the whole group.

This year, I picked my cousin's wife for the third year in a row (lucky her!). I had such a blast shopping for her, but I had absolutely no idea who picked me. On Christmas Eve when we assembled for the big reveal, I was stunned to learn my cousin's husband had picked me! Last year he got my uncle a Flip cam, so I was feel pretty stoked that he drew my name.

I was handed a beautifully wrapped present that started with a tulle, green bow, followed by red wrapping paper, followed by a gift tin and inside the tin - a six month subscription to something called Birchbox.

I had never heard of Birchbox, so I had to read the fine print! Apparently Birchbox is a beauty club and each month you receive a box of five samples! My oh-so-generous Secret Santa had gifted me six months of this!

On the Monday after Christmas I got an email from Birchbox asking me to fill out my beauty profile. I answered all kinds of questions about how much time I spend getting ready, the color and texture of my hair, skin color and type, fragrance preferences, make up preferences and more.

After filling out the profile I was so excited that I tweeted Birchox (@birchbox) and they wrote back right away to say, "Welcome to the beauty club!" Very good customer service!

Today when I got home from the gym what did I spy with my little eye? A hot pink Birchbox!

I ran up the stairs and into my apartment and immediately texted my Secret Santa with a photo of the box and proclaimed, "It's here!"

I carefully cut open the box which revealed another box with a hot pink sleeve:

I slipped off the sleeve which had another message hidden beneath it, "Discover beauty better."

I lifted off the card and opened the brown box. There was yet another layer! The contents of the box were enveloped by white tissue paper and had atop them a card from the Birchbox team welcoming me to the club.

I peeled back the white tissue paper and low and behold, the contents of my first Birchbox!

The first item was a vile of perfume called Yogini which has a tag line that reads "The scent of liberation." Who doesn't need some liberation in there life?

Next was a travel size lotion from VMV Hypoallergenics that says on the bottle "an all over gently exfoliating lotion." If my face or hands seem to be glowing the next time you see me, it's probably because of this new treat.

The third gift in the box was wrapped in hot pink tissue paper and garnished with a silver bow.

Inside were three more items! First, a packet of EBOOST, a daily health booster that you mix in with water. Second, a mini bottle of ZOYA nail polish in a periwinkle color (I know this because it's the exact color of a bridesmaid dress I was once forced to wear). Third, a mini, Jouer, hot pink lip gloss! I can't wait to wear this lip color! It's so sassy!

Needless to say, Secret Santa, you nailed it! I am in love with every item in my first Birchbox and I feel like the luckiest glam girl in the world that I have five more months of this!

Have you ever tried Birchbox?

Dining Out: Lord Hobo

A week or so ago I made a plan to meet a high school friend for dinner. She lives in Inman Square and doesn't have a car, so she suggested a place walking distance from her apartment called Lord Hobo. I had been there once before, but I was several drinks in and chasing a boy, so my memory of the experience is a bit . . . fuzzy.

Last night I drove to Cambridge for our Lord Hobo dinner. The bar is located in a kind of no man's land between Inman Square and Kendall Square. I drove up and down Hampshire Street for a solid fifteen minutes in search of street parking, but no dice. I wound up parking in a lot in Inman and walking the ten minutes back the other way.

Lord H0bo is very unassuming. In fact, it's a bit scuzzy looking from the outside, much like Trina's Starlite Lounge in Inman.

Outside the front door there was a chalkboard sign publicizing a beer special and the drawing of the bottle had a gift tag on it that said, "To me, from me." Ha! Love it.

As soon as you open the door to Lord Hobo your first impression, your impression from the exterior, gets extinguished. Lord Hobo is warm, inviting and cozy with a dash of hipster.

On the back wall there are some very funky pieces of artwork.

One of the waitresses saw me taking pictures of them and said, "Aren't those cool! They are new. We just got them. They're hamburgers!" I hadn't even noticed the hamburger shapes, they looked completely abstract to me. Must be a vegetarian deficiency.

We took a spot at a high top table along the back wall. Our waitress, who was surprisingly blond and bubbly for such a hipster place, brought us each a menu. The menu is six pages - five pages of booze and one page of food. Now this is my kind of ratio!

She also brought us each a glass of water which came in a mason jar. Very cute presentation!

We each decided to start with a drink, Hefeweizen for her and a cocktail called Hot 4 Teacher for me.

My cocktail was Don Q rum, St. Germain, mint, lime and Prosecco and was garnished with a floating mint leaf. This drink was incredible. It tasted like juice. Dangerous!

We started off with two appetizers to share. I was immediately drawn to the polenta fries. Ever since my polenta fries at Big Pink in Miami Beach, I feel compelled to order these everywhere I see them.

This was an incredibly good decision! The polenta fries were fantastic! They were crispy on the outside, hot on the inside, garnished with freshly grated parmesan cheese and served with a garlic aioli for dipping. Needless to say, these were gone in thirty seconds.

Our second appetizer was the roasted asparagus was also served with freshly grated parmesan cheese. A simple dish, but winning flavors.

For dinner I selected something from the appetizer menu, the mushroom pizza. The pizza had the option of adding a fried egg, which I most certainly did.

I was disappointed with the pizza. The dough was way too chewy, there was no tomato sauce or traditional cheese on the pizza. The mushroom flavor was solid and the egg was delicious, but with every bite I missed the cheese and wanted a better crust.

My friend ordered the grilled kobe steak tips. There were three generous cuts of meat served over a bead of polenta fries (yes, more fries) and topped with a lightly dressed arugula and tomato salad. She said the salad and fries were excellent, but the meat was too chewy, the sauce was too heavy and the entire dish was too salty. In fact, she emailed me this morning to say she woke up at 1:30am completely parched from the meal! It took two full pint glasses of water before her body would go back to sleep!

Despite the so-so entrees, we wanted to give it a go on dessert (surprise, surprise). We ordered the item listed as: chocolate covered pretzels with peanutbutter mousse. I don't even like peanutbutter, but this sounded too good to resist.

The dessert arrived as three pretzels rods, dipped in chocolate and served with a pot of peanutbutter mousse. Since there were three rods and two of us, we each grabbed one and agreed to split the last one.

It was so yummy and we couldn't wait to snap that last one in half. She took a bite and then I was mid-bite when she said, "Is this . . . . bacon?" I heard the word and immediately lost my manners and spit the bite out onto my plate. "What?" I shrieked. We both pulled the rod closer to our faces, squinted and realized, this particular rod was in fact sprinkled all over with bacon bits! These are the dangers of mood lighting, people! We thought the texture on the pretzels was salt!

I was horrified. Then I was angry.

Earlier in the meal I had specifically asked our waitress if there was any meat on the pizza I was ordering and she assured me there was not. When we ordered the dessert she said, "Great choice, those are super delicious and the dish is the perfect portion size." Did it not occur to her to tell me there was meat on the dessert? I was seriously disturbed.

I was sad to leave Lord Hobo on such a bad note because the ambiance was excellent, the drinks were amazing and the appetizers were sensational. That damn bacon!

Before heading out we used the ladies room and by the sink I noticed this cheeky sign:

Oh, the hipsters.

Moral of the story: if you find yourself at Lord Hobo, enjoy the cozy, hipster vibe, but stick to the drinks and the appetizers.