Drinking healthy

Lately I have been paying a lot more attention to what I eat and drink. I already cut soda out of my diet years ago which was hard to do but a big win for me. Lately I've been making a lot of smoothies. When it comes to drinking healthy you can never go wrong with a good fruit smoothie loaded with fruit and antioxidants. I thought I might share my favorite power smoothie with all of you. This one is loaded with everything needed to start the day. The only thing that I don't have in this one is protein powder.

Ipad apps

I recently decided to do some "Spring cleaning" with my apps. My Ipad is chalk full of apps I don't use or need. It seems like every time I find an app I like I download every app like it and never use any of them. I tend to keep my Ipad very organized. I have loads of folders that I keep everything in to make it easier to locate. Throughout this cleaning process I decided one of the easiest solutions would be to create a new folder containing my favorite apps, the ones that I use everyday.

Candy Crush Saga// This is probably my most used game app to pass time. My Ipad goes with me everywhere. Whenever I need to pass time and wifi isn't around Candy Crush is always there to entertain me. I love puzzle type games and I was always a fan of Bejeweled so naturally this app is one I truly love.

BBC News// I'm a huge news junkie. I read the local paper every morning as well as check about 4 different news apps. The BBC News app has become a staple in my life because it's an international news app. It curates news from around the globe and not just the USA.

Zite// This one is interesting, it's a news app of sorts. What this app does is allow you to follow certain tags kind of like a hash tag. You can favorite certain words or phrases and Zite curates all the articles both in print and online that came out within the past so many days for you and you can read them right there. You can like articles to help Zite better get to know what you do and don't want to read too.

Pinterest// An obvious staple in most peoples app collection but for me I just can't get enough of it. I love pinning to boards and scouring the Pinterest megaverse.

Netflix// I use Netflix everywhere, when I'm home on the TV, when I go to bed and even at work (when I can sneak some time in). I keep my instant queu fully stocked with things to watch. I love documentary's so I keep quite a bit on hand.

Treasure beach

I was out playing with my dog Maggie on the beach today when it dawned on me that the strip of beach my sister and I used to call treasure beach isn't as much of a "treasure" as it used to be. When my sister and I were kids we would walk the shoreline and fill our pockets with sea glass and pottery of all different colors. Blue was always the hardest to find, it made me feel special when I came running into the house with some sliver of blue that I managed to dig up only by chance. You could literally spot dozens of pieces without even trying, the stuff was everywhere. Over the years we managed to fill entire zip lock bags with pieces of sea glass and pottery. So much that we ended up getting these giant glass cylinders that held candles and filled them with the stuff. 

It's been a long time since I walked down there and looked for more but I never expected to come home almost empty handed. The beach was completely void of almost any sea glass or pottery. During my entire walk I only managed to find about 3 tiny pieces. It saddens me a little to think that the beach I grew up on is eroding away. You can see it all up and down the beach. The shoreline is recessed quite a bit from full moon tides and storms and the amount of trash and other debris has increased exponentially.

I do take comfort however in the fact that the ecosystem is still very alive and healthy on not just this beach but all the beaches across New Hampshire's coast. If you wake up early enough here you can see the fresh tracks of deer that litter the marshland near by before the ocean washes them away. In the Summer the seagulls and blue cranes are out in full force eating the fish that lurk beneath the surface of the water and the big clawed crabs can be found under almost every rock.

What is the wildlife like where you live?

Backpack

With the purchase of my latest Dooney & Bourke backpack I think it's safe to say with so many in my closet that i'm addicted to mini backpacks. I think smaller backpacks are great not just because their different but because their stylish and can hold lots of stuff. I tend to carry a lot with me so I like having the space without looking like i'm carrying around a big shopper all the time.

These are my current favorites:

1. Long Champ "Le Pliage" backpack (it also comes in a monogrammed version)

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs classic Q Mariska backpack

3. Tory Burch viva backpack

4. Elizabeth and James cynnie leather drawstring backpack

5. Rag & Bone pilot backpack

6. Madwell the transporter rucksack

7. Dooney & Bourke nylon flap backpack

My Spring top ten

With Spring on it's way I can't wait to break out my Spring wardrobe! I'm so Spring ready I've already reorganized my closet putting my spring clothes front and center. That said I always could use more clothes. I swear my shopping addiction is going to put me into debt if i'm not careful. I've compiled a list of the things I'm crushing on right now. This is my Spring top ten.

1. Kiel James Patrick scallop oxford "Bailey's cottage"

2. Vineyard Vines polka dot shep shirt

3. Kiel James Patrick monogrammed cape codder

4. Lemon & Line limited edition in navy

5. J. Crew Golden Bear Sportswear for J.Crew varsity jacket in grey

6. Tory Burch Caroline 2 stripe ballet flat in large stripe navy

7. Kate Spade Via Limoni Clara in vivid yellow

8. Loren Hope Carina necklace in crystal

9. Jack Rogers Regina flat in black/blush

10. Kate Spade Carlyle bracelet

Playlist No.1

I've been listening to a lot of Pandora at work lately. I'm trying to break this Netflix binge I've been on. All I seem to do is watch Netflix on my ipad and TV. With Spring in the air and nice beach walks now more enjoyable I thought it was time I put together a playlist of the songs I'm crushing on right now.

Coffee and a donut

D2 (D Squared) Java in Exeter NH hosted their 6th monthly latte art competition. I have never been to anything like this but have always wanted to go to one. So naturally I decided to go and check it out with one of my fellow coffee afishionado friend Zach. It was a pretty cool experience and I met some really cool people. we both drank a lot of coffee and I mean a lot of coffee like I had seven lattes. So the whole thing was set up like a tournament with one on one competition. After the judging for each pair they would ask if anyone wants one of the two lattes. Zach and I ended up taking most of them because they were delicious and free. The coffee at D2 is fenominal. The espresso is even better. This coffee shop is unique in that they brew coffee by the cup and you get to choose the method of brewing. They offer Chemex, aeropress, Beehouse and clever iced as methods of brewing the coffee. The list of coffee types and even their tea list are both very extensive as well.

After the competition we took a walk and explored some of the shops. We ended up finding ourselves in a bookstore where a local writer was giving a book talk and signing. Upon browsing the bookstores new additions on display I came across a gem of a book. Beyond Magenta is a book about transgender teens telling their stories about their lives and living as transgender youth. I thought this book would fit perfectly in my collection of LGBT informative readings. I can't wait to go through it. 

On the way home we decided to make a stop at Marty's Donut Land which was actually pretty out of the way as it's located in Ipswich, MA. Anyways this place is amazing! It opens at midnight which is actually it's closed time and closes when there aren't any donuts left. Confused yet? I was when I first went being as all the lights were off and we still went in. It works like this, Marty who owns the donut shop opens at midnight but leaves the place dark like it's closed. You come in the front door and go back into the kitchen and Marty is there making donuts fresh and big ones at that. Each donut is a dollar, he makes a lot of different kinds. You get to sit in the place and I have to admit it's pretty cool sitting there with the lights off drinking fresh donut shop style brew and fresh homemade donuts.