Frozen Pizza Taste Test ~ Red Baron v. DiGiorno

DiGiorno vs Red Baron pizza taste testThe wind is blowing like a freight train outside and the snow has started falling. Inside, the heat is turned up and I am feeling nice and cozy. I finally have some time to blog and I’m listening to a Jess Lively podcast. Life is good!

I had brunch with some friends this morning and will hopefully blog it within six months. I have to stop fooling myself and pretend like I can blog like I could before. I just don’t have the time and have to accept what I can do. I have a seafood post from this summer that I still cannot believe I haven’t written yet. *sigh*

This post wasn’t even planned, but just happened. G came home with two frozen pizzas and asked if I wanted to try them. Today I’m carbo loading like a marathoner, but I’m not a marathoner. Good thing I did some walking to and from the T! Maybe I can do a yoga session today too.

Anyway, the pizzas are Red Baron and DiGiorno. Both pizzas are the same flavor, Supreme, so I removed the sausage and pepperoni. I don’t eat meat, unlike G.

Both of us had similar reactions to these pizzas. Red Baron has a nice crispy crust, but DiGiorno has a better flavor.

G asked me which one would I buy. I told him Newman’s Own. It’s the truth! He said that the others are cheaper, which may be true. But it’s only by a few dollars. I don’t buy frozen pizza very often, so when I do, I want it to be an all-around good experience.

A favorite flavor is White Thin & Crispy Pizza with spinach. I wrote about it before and how I had a “What Would You Do?” moment in the grocery store. My preference for Newman’s Own also is because I like that their profits goes to charity. It makes me feel even better about buying it.

So there you have it. Newman’s Own wins!

Free Yoga Boston: The New Year

new year yogaHope you’re enjoying the new year so far! Over the last few years, it’s been very exciting watching the expansion of free yoga classes in Boston. As I read about trends taking place all over the United States and the world actually, I share them on the Free Yoga Boston Facebook page. Seeing these trends in other locations, what I’ve found is that it’s only a matter of time before that trend pops up in some form in the Boston area. Sometimes the trend starts here and expands elsewhere.

Offering free yoga classes in different types of spaces is going full steam ahead everywhere. When I first read about classes taking place in libraries and museums, I was wondering when that would happen in Boston. Well, the time is now!

This week starting Tuesday, January 12th, the Boston Public Library’s central location in Copley Square will be offering free yoga classes taught by Rebecca Pacheco! I’ve added the class to the current “Big List” of free yoga classes in Boston, so you can see the time of the class in context with the other classes and plan your schedule accordingly.

Unfortunately, I can’t make it this week, but hope to attend before they end on February 16th. Maybe they will extend the time or pop back up in the summer. These winter classes will take place in the Abbey Room of the McKim Building. It would be really nice to have summer classes in the courtyard. Who knows?

Besides free yoga classes in Boston’s iconic library, the Museum of Fine Arts is going with the free yoga trend in the new year as well. On February 13th, Namaste Saturday with Daniel Max will take place in Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard. The class is free to museum members, but $25.00 for others. From what I know at this point, this class is a one-off event. The event is already sold out, so hopefully the museum will offer more classes in the near future. Based on the trends, I can definitely see this as a possibility. One more reason to become a member!

Another trend that I’ve read about is yoga classes springing up in airports. Airports in Chicago, San Franciso, Dallas/Fort Worth and our New England neighbors in Burlington, Vermont are offering yoga classes to passengers in need of some Zen time.

Wouldn’t it be great if Logan Airport welcomed this trend as well and added some yoga classes? Maybe 2016 will be the year. If so, then you’ll see it here!

Subway Stories: Girl Scout Cookies


As I left work last night, I was considering baking this weekend. When I walk, I find my mind creating recipes and the idea of rosemary shortbread was swirling in my head. Then I arrived at South Station to catch the train and saw a table with Girl Scout Cookies.

Talk about a mind shift! I literally stopped in my tracks and frantically started rummaging through my pocketbook to see how much cash I had. I hadn’t made it to the bank, so there wasn’t much. Was I only going to be able to get one box of Girl Scout Cookies?!

Luckily, the Girl Scouts have evolved with the times and they take bank cards now. I got three boxes of cookies: Lemonades, Shortbread and Thin Mints. G and I devoured the Lemonades yesterday. They are so perfect!

Today, I need to lay off the cookies and burn some of those calories off. But I’m looking forward to eating the rest. Maybe I’ll pick up some more as this cookie season continues. The Girl Scouts hit the jackpot of locations being inside the T and certainly helped make my commute much sweeter!

Happy Weekend to you!

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Screenshot: Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts

Quote of the Week: Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton quoteHappy New Year!

As I welcome 2016, I’ve been thinking about this quote by Dolly Parton.

Figure out what you want to do. Then do it on purpose. The difference between a wish and a dream is you wish for things, but you work on purpose for a dream.

I wrote about it before on my old blog, but thought it was the perfect quote and reminder for stepping into the new year.

Ever since discovering this quote, I started thinking differently and being more strategic about my dreams.

Currently, I’m in the middle of reading a wonderful book and clearing space to bring more of my dreams to life. I’ll write about the book soon and hope you have a wonderful first day of 2016!

Kwanzaa Culinarians 2015

Kwanzaa-200x200In case you haven’t checked out Kwanzaa Culinarians yet, now is the perfect time!

There are new food stories and recipes to see. Plus you can read the archives as well.

My latest post is called On Community, Connection, Balance and Breakfast.

Click here, if you’d like to read my previous posts and more. Also, be sure to “Like” the Facebook page. I hope you’ll take a look!