Back in Bostonia...

I arrived in at around 9:30PM last night.

Flight was SIMPLY AMAZING. I have to say... British Airways has spoiled me now... I'll never be able to go back to Economy! Let me just give you a little run down of Club World, for those of us not wealthy enough to be able to fly it all the time.

So.

First.

I got to go through the fast track security section which literally was a breeze because there was no one in front of me at all. Walked up. Put bag/laptop/liquids on the belt, walk through and I was done. SO fast!

Then I went to the BA Club Lounge... While I fly BA a lot (I mean, alotalot) I still haven't managed to get enough frequent flyer miles to be a silver card member, which is what you need to be to get access to the Club Lounge. However, thanks to my spiffy upgrade I got FULL access! It was seriously neat. Huge comfy chairs, food, food and more food, free wine, cocktails, champagne, tea, coffee, espresso, free magazines and newspapers, free internet. It was like airport heaven.

I chilled out there for about half an hour. I grabbed some fancy finger sandwiches and some wine. I wasn't hungry, but I mean... If its free! I then noticed my flight had started boarding. I had a mild panic thinking I'd have to wait for like 500 years to board (because I'm one of those OCD people who is like 5 hours early and always the first in line to board.) However, when I moseyed on over, I noticed that there was a "Fast Track" lane which matched the "Fast Track" stamp on my boarding pass. I walked right up and bypassed at least 75 people in line to board.

Thats right.

Baller.

So I boarded and got settled into my little pod. In club you sit facing another passenger and you have a screen that goes up in between you. You also have a lie down bed! That's right.

Lie.

Down.

BED.

I mean... It was LITERALLY airline heaven. I had some champagne and water before take off. After we got into the air I placed my dinner order. You are given a menu and get to pick in Club World. I had a trio of tomatoes with pesto to start and steak diane for my main with a big glass of Pouilly Fume (aka one of my favorite wines). My dessert was some moussey stuff with pomegrante seeds. It was so nice... After that... I laid my seat almost all the way down, put my pillow under my head, started Toy Story (shut up) and snuggled underneath my blanket. I fell asleep for a few hours and then woke up when they put the lights on for our snack. I usually HATE the snack in economy/premium economy. It's almost always a wrap with frozen pasta salad and a mini kit kat. This time it was a ham sandwich and a cucumber and cream cheese w/ chives sandwich. Fresh. Not frozen. Delish.

I was one of the first people off the plane and the customs agent did not even ask me one question. My only pet peeve was that my luggage was on of the last off the plane. Um, it had a "Priority" tag on it for a REASON!

Mama and Humphrey picked me and my 100lbs of luggage up and dropped us off. Those who saw my tweets know my roomie from HELL moved out. It was SO nice walking into an empty, clean apartment. My new roomie is moving in this weekend and I can't wait to meet him!

Anyway... There is a rundown of my amazing flight. I've already been grocery shopping. Now... I just need to finish up some summer internship things, prep for our club fair tomorrow and order my books! Whew!

I am SO glad to be home!

I know Boston has missed me as much as I have missed it!

DVF's First Anniversary in Bostonia!

Since I am not able to attend this fabulous event and snatch up a new belt or sunglasses with the 20% off discount, I hope some of you lovely Boston readers will be able to take advantage of it! 

If you can't make it to the event you should still take a look at Diane Von Furstenburg's online store at the gorgeous line of accessories! 

Tell me all about the event and the fun treats you all pick up.

Make me JEALOUS!

One week left...

Today marks one week left in Boston. Next Friday morning I get up bright and early to fly down to Raleigh for my best friend's wedding. I'm also 2 weeks into Bar prep and I'm already 2 days behind. I blame Kaplan for starting the course before I had even graduated. I'm not sweating it. I'll make up one day this weekend and the next day at some point. I'm finding it grueling already. I've finished the "Foundation Course" which was a WONDERFUL refresher on all the big subjects and rules. Today is day one of discussing essays and it already is giving me anxiety. Anyway, my whining about bar prep was not the purpose of this post.

With one week left I find myself wanting to pack in all of my favorite things to do, see and eat in this last week. I realized that with bar prep taking up 80% of my day, the gym taking up 10%, that I really am NOT going to be able to do/see/eat everything I want. I've made a list of my "musts" before I leave. (As an aside, I realize I'l be back at the end of July for the bar exam, but frankly I won't get to do/see/eat anything fun until afterwards and I'll be on the other end of the state because I'm sitting for NY and MA. Then I'll be jumping back on a plane to London.)

1.) Ride the Swan Boats one last time. I absolutely *love* the swan boats. At some point this week I'm going to take 2 dollars and stand in line with the tourists for a spin around the public garden in the gorgeous old Swan Boats.

2.) Get an Italian sausage from a street vendor. If you know me then you know that any variety of hot dog-esque thing is my favorite. I literally DIE for the italian sausages from street vendors in Boston. I'm going to go get one with onions, peppers and a ton of mustard and sit out on the Common and people watch. Calories, be damned.

3.) Walk the Freedom trail. Can you believe that I never have done the Freedom Trail?! I know. I know. It's harder when you live somewhere to appreciate the history and the significance of things that are also deemed "touristy." At some point this week I'm going to exit the law school with map in hand and DO IT. (Or some of it at least)

4.) Buy a Red-Sox t-shirt (or two). Confession: I've lived in Boston for 3 years now and I have only ever been to ONE Red Sox game. Craycray ex-roomie's parents get season tickets and she was nice enough to take me once. I feel like I can't really call myself a Bostonian without  red-sox t-shirt, so I'm going to head over to Faneuil Hall and buy PB and I each one. (I'm currently on a no-clothes shopping diet, but I think an exception can be made.)

5.) Get a froyo from J.P. Licks. Only the best ice cream in Boston... I'm going to go one afternoon and stand in line, get the biggest froyo cone I can get and walk back up Newbury and sit in the Public Garden with it. British ice cream/frozen yogurt simply pales in comparison.

6.) Take a walk along the Charles. When I first moved to Boston I didn't join a gym immediately, instead I got an unlimited month at Exhale Spa for yoga, but I would supplement that with really long walks from the Hatch Shell around to Cambridge and then back across to Charles Street. It's beautiful, fun, and I love it. Before I leave I'm going to make sure I get one more turn around the Charles. (Maybe I'll even run it this time :))

7.) GET A CANNOLI. I don't care if you say that Mike's Pastry is a tourist trap, that they buy already pre-made pastries, and that they are NOT the best cannolis. Fact: I die for the cannoli with chocolate chips on the ends. Therefore, I shall have one before I leave.

8.) Go to the Aquarium. I must say goodbye to my Myrtle the Turtle. I love her. I've been going to the Aquarium since we moved to New England when I was in 7th grade. She is large and in charge and I want her as my pet. However, seeing as how we don't have room for a 500lb sea turtle at our house in Basingstoke, I'll have to settle on seeing her and waving bye here.

9.) Pigalle. I'm going to take myself on a date with my Groupon that I must use before I leave and get an order of the comte truffle cheese fries and a salad. Oh, and maybe a glass of wine. I mean... I MUST since the Groupon expires before we are back, right?!?!

10.) Finally, I'm going to my last Weight Watchers meeting in Boston. *Am tearing up as I write this.* I'm going to weigh in (eTools/membership expired a week ago and I didn't renew, obviously) because I haven't been weighing myself, tracking points, or anything for the past three weeks. (See generally law school graduation, husband visiting, law school events involving food, food, drinks and more drinks.) I've gone to this meeting for the past 3 years without fail. I adore my leader and firmly believe that if she wasn't my leader I would not have been able to lose 90 lbs (ok, more like 85 right now... methinks I've gained about 5) thus far and wouldn't have been able to make the "life change" (i know, gag me) that i needed to make to make this weight loss permanent. I'm going to the meeting to say bye to my leader (am giving her a card) and I am going to CRY though the entire thing! (If you read this and go to weight Watchers with me, do not judge me.) I don't know why this makes me so emotional, but honestly I'm more teary about leaving my Weight Watchers meeting than I am about saying bye to my Madre!

(I also might cry during my last workout at my gym... You have NO idea how depressed I am about leaving my gym.)

Is there anything else I should put on the to-do list before next Friday?

North River Outfitters G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y!

I've partnered with the lovely team at North River Outfitter to give one lucky reader a GORGEOUS makeup bag by Jon Hart.

If you haven't been to North River Outfitters you MUST go. It's arguably my favorite store in Boston. NRO as it is affectionately called, is a classic clothier for women and men. The company is every self-loving prepster's haven, stocked to the brim with labels like Lilly Pulitzer, Barbour, Tory Burch, Smathers and Branson, Patagonia and so much more. 

The flagship store is located on Charles Street in Beacon Hill and there is also a seasonal store in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard and an online store! (I'm personally ALL ABOUT the online store because they have free shipping on all items over $50 *AND* they offer international shipping! Perfect for my move across the pond.) NRO has a separate kids sections with clothes and toys galore. 

This preppy travel bag retails for $86 in the store. It's made of canvas with a soft leather trim. The winner gets to completely customize it! You pick your own color, monogram style and inscription. 

(I mean PERSONALLY, I'd go with the *PINK* makeup bag. Surprise, surprise!)

TO ENTER: For each of the following you get ONE entry!

1- Follow Me and @NROBoston on Twitter

2- "Like" NRO Boston on Facebook

3- Visit North River Outfitter online and tell us what your favorite Spring item is!

Leave a comment telling me which of the above you have done. The giveaway ends Friday at noon! I'll post the winner Friday evening. 

GOOD LUCK! 

(and many thanks to the kind folks at NRO for allowing me to do this fun giveaway!)

Toro Restaurant: A South End GEM!

PB and I went to Toro Restaurant in the South End on Saturday night. We originally had reservations at the new Max Brenner on Boylston Street but after reading some mediocre reviews and hearing rave reviews of Toro from this pretty lady and my friend Ilana, we cancelled Max Brenner.

First thing to note: Toro doesn't take reservations. I read almost all the reviews on Yelp, so this was no surprise. We left Anime Hell (aka the Marriott Copley Place where apparently 95% of the Anime Convention-goers were also staying) around 5:15PM and headed to the South End. PB mocked me wanting to get there so early (it only opened at 5PM) but all the reviews said the place fills up fast. We arrived around 5:30PM to find, surprise, surprise, the place packed! (Mmhmm. Mama was RIGHT.) Even though it was pretty packed we were seated right away at a high top family style table. I have to admit, when we sat down I wasn't feeling the "family style" seating. My favorite noodle bar in NYC has the same style seating and I actually didn't mind it then, but Bostonians being louder and slightly more crass than New Yorkers, I was concerned we might not be able to handle it. Turns out it was fine! We didn't even notice the people beside us, really, except to eye up their food when it arrived.

Since I'm an obsessive menu-reader before I ever go anywhere, I had already scoped out the menu and Marie & Illana had given us suggestions. I went in with a plan. The menu is all spanish tapas. They have three main sections: Pinchos (like appetizers), Tapas Frias (Cold tapas) and Tapas Caliente (Hot tapas.) After ordering a pitcher of sangria, which was highly suggested on Yelp, we started out with the Pinchos. We ordered:

* Datiles con Jamon: Dates stuffed with blue cheese & almonds wrapped in proscuitto

* Foie Gras con Champinones: Foie gras with chanterelles and Idiazabel cheese 

* Pate de Cerdo: Berkshire pork pate with whole grain mustard and hazelnuts

Dates were ok, but I wanted more blue cheese in them. They were super rich so on one hand I'm glad only 2 were served, but on the other I felt a little gipped! PB simply *died* for the Foie Gras. It was delicious. Seriously. DELICIOUS. The pate was tasty but it was more of a chunky pate and both PB & I prefer a smoother consistency. I loved the whole grain mustard, however. It had some major heat! I don't think we'd order the dates or the pate again, but it was nice to try them.

We then moved on to the Tapas Caliente. I seriously wanted to order everything on the menu but I refrained. We ordered:

*Gambas al Ajillo: Griddled garlic shrimp

*Mollejas: Veal Sweetbreads with cauliflower, blood orange and crispy oats

*Maiz Asado con Aioli y Queso Cojito: Grilled corn with aioli, lime, espelette peppers and aged cheese

The griddled garlic shrimp was BY FAR the best dish of the night, in my opinion (PB thought the foie gras was.) The sauce was amazing. I literally swiped the bowl with bread until I had gotten every last bit.  I want to go back SIMPLY for this dish! If you go you MUST try. PB nor I had every had sweetbreads so we decided to be crazy and try it, and we enjoyed it! It was pretty tasty and it was on a cinnamon honey that really made them exceptional. The corn was also delicious. I loved it! It came with SO.MUCH.AIOLI. Literally like huge heaping tablespoons on top. PB didn't love this... He thought the aioli was too much. I really enjoyed it when I scraped off all but a thin layer. They gave us two lime slices but we would have preferred more lime flavor. Next time we'll ask to double the limes!

At this point we were getting really stuffed. We decided to each pick one more dish before calling it a night. PB ordered another Foie Gras and I decided to try the Pato con Membrillo: Smoke duck drumettes with quince glaze. The duck was tasty! It was smoky and the quince glaze added just the right amount of sweetness. My only complaint is that mine seemed a little overcooked because they were a little dry, but the flavors were spot on. 

Another thing to note about Toro: They do not have a dessert menu! The only option is churros with a chocolate dipping sauce. We decided to order them and another glass of sangria each. They were delicious! Nice and fresh and hot with cinnamon and sugar galore. The chocolate was dark and melty and perfect. They even brought us spoons so that we could eat the leftover chocolate.

All in all it was a great evening! We really enjoyed it. I want to go back to try about 4 more things on the menu (including the paella!) If you find yourself in the South End and in need of dinner, I'd definitely head over to Toro.

The vibe is laid back and hip, the sangria is fantastic, the food is fresh and tasty and the service was excellent! Just remember to get there early to avoid long waiting times, and remember that it not cheap. If you're on a budget you can easily stick with the cheaper options but the good stuff is pretty pricey. Just pay attention to prices as you go or you'll end up SURPRISED at the end! (Not that it happened to me or anything... ahem.)

Toro is located in Boston's South End at 1704 Washington Street.