Fab Fit Squad

Here in Boston today is the first day of school for most kids. Every year at this time I feel like its time to reset the clock and refocus on my 2010 goals, with approximately 116 days left until January 1, 2011. I have plenty of time to make major headway. (more…)

I have worked in the Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood for a number of years and have always wanted to go to the Copley Square Farmers Market, but for some reason I never had the time.  Looking back it makes me laugh because the market is open Tuesdays and Fridays 11-6 so why couldn’t I sneak over and check out what they have to offer. Well I FINALLY made it over to the market and it was awesome. I picked up the best corn on the cob, the juiciest tomatoes and the best blueberries. I could go on and on and on.  Over the past few weeks, I’ve picked up some of the best and freshest produce I have gotten in years. The farmer’s market runs until November and according all the warm weather that we have been experiencing in New England has produced bumper crops this year.

The farmers market has had such an influence on me that I’m considering joining a CSA farm, community supported association. That means that each week during the main growing season and bi-weekly during the winter month I would receive local produce or meats.  Gotta go, it’s Friday and I want to make sure I get the best selection and a parking spot.

Not only is it summer on the calendar, but the temperature here in New England reflects it.  I say BRING ON THE HEAT!!! But with the heat comes the wardrobe malfunctions. Don’t get me wrong I agree, showing a little skin is fantastic, but there is a time and place for it.

When I first started my career, I worked for a very traditional company where ladies HAD to wear  nylons, hose, stockings, what you refer to them as regardless of the temperature. SERIOUSLY!! There were days I got so hot, I could have killed someone and probably gotten off for temporary insanity. I quickly learned to bring them in my bag and change into in the lobby bathroom. Did that make me appear Ghetto-fabulous probably, but I was a least cool.

I am no longer in corporate America, yet I still have a good idea what to wear when I do have to go in and meet with corporate clients. Frankly I’m surprised at what I see when I arrive, I feel over dressed and not even skin showing.  What do you think? Am I being a prude?  The Boston Globe wrote and interesting story about this today. Let me know what you think? http://ow.ly/21nXR

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and we all have visions of summer vacations dancing in our head.  Already this weekend, I’ve heard so what are your summer vacation plans. Which is funny because this morning I was watching one of my favorite shows Sunday Morning on CBS and they were discussing the concept of vacation. We all know as Americans vacations is a dirty word, in fact in these tough economic times how many of you have forgone your vacations so that it wouldn’t look like you weren’t a hard worker. I’m SO guilty of that. Instead of taking a 1 full week, I’ll take a long weekend so that I won’t miss THAT much work, but guess what we are only fooling ourselves.  The question they posed on the program is vacation a perk or a necessity.

I think vacation is a necessity. Personally I love to plan a vacation a few months in advance so it gives me something to look forward. I like thinking about  how am I going to spend my downtime.  When I’m not on vacation, I am a very structured person and my calendar rules my life and vacation is one of the few times that I wake and decided what am I going to do today. It could range from just sitting on my butt and being catered to or something active if the moment feels right, but hey I just follow my intuition.

It’s also one of the few times that get to spend a lot of time with my husband. For two people who live together we don’t get spend enough quality time together. Yes, after 8 years of marriage I still enjoy spending time with him. LOL. Back to the topic.

Bottom-line, I think if you work hard you deserve some well earned downtime and should be respected for knowing when you need to unplug.  When I say unplug, I mean UNPLUG — no email, voice-mail, nothing but enjoying yourself.  If you are doing any of those things you run the risk of seeing or hearing something that may cause you to be sucked back into the world of work. Remember you deserve and EARNED the downtime. I know when I get back from vacation, I’m more relaxed and focused and can’t wait for the next one.

This year, I’m taking a quick trip to Florida, then heading to Vegas for a competition and Block Island.  What are you vacation plans this year? You earned!!! Now plan it.

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Staycation

Not sure where you are but here in Boston we had the first taste of winter this week. Were you ready to come out from under ALL those winter clothes? I got tell I wasn’t I tried on a pair of pants and OOOps, not what I was expecting, So, if you are like me you’re feeling that Memorial Day is less than a month away.  Every day for the next 30 days, I will be giving you a small simple healthy tip you can easily incorporate into life. If you have any tips you would like to share, please let me know

Add 1 Fruit and 1 Vegetable to your every meal. Please keep the fruit fresh or canned without heavy syrup of added sugars.  Dried fruit may be tasty, but doesn’t count

Here are the list of Fruits and Vegetables that are currently in season:

May
Vegetables

• okra
• zucchini
• rhubarb
• artichokes
• asparagus
• spring peas
• broccoli
• lettuce

Fruit

• cherries
• pineapples
• apricots