♥ QII GIVEAWAY EXTENDED!

thank you to all who have entered the qii giveaway on a glimpse of glamour!

we have decided to extend one more week-

a winner shall be announced on february 5th.

see the original post for details on how to win!

good luck!

♥ INTRODUCING: QII (PLUS A GIVEAWAY!!)

happy 2018, dolls!

i know, it has been, like, a million years since i last posted-

so what better way to get into the swing of things than with an 

exciting introduction to the very first drink on the market 

specifically designed to take care of your smile?

brewed from organic tea leaves, and made with xyvita- a patented ingredient 

made from birch trees, qii natural tea (pronounced "chee") is an

 FDA approved/ non-GMO/vegan powerhouse- 

created to reduce the acidity in your mouth 

...while also freshening your breath. 

AND on top of ALL that, it tastes absolutely fantastic!!

light, refreshing, and smooth- this tea has no icky aftertaste and 

leaves teeth feeling squeaky clean, rather than sugary/sticky,

like most drinks do! i rarely have time to brush my teeth after a meal

-- this seems like a lovely (and tasty!!) alternative.

the packaging is bright and adorable, the cans are sleek and easy to hold,

and they are made right here, in the old US of A. 

can you even beat it? no, you really can't.

and now, it's time for the fun part! 

the giveaway!

this week, i will be offering one of my US resident readers a chance to win 

**a year supply of qii/ with free shipping/ no purchase necessary**

to enter, please:

1) follow @aglimpseofglamour_on instagram

2) follow @drinkqii on instagram 

3) leave a comment with your name and email address on the blog!

a winner will be announced on january 29th!
 good luck!

♥ ready to pop!

photos by lei ann

this past saturday, i met with my oldest and dearest blogger friends to

celebrate my burgeoning baby bump over endless rounds of dessert

at the langham hotel's chocolate bar! it was super delicious and such 

a treat to spend time with my favorite ladies.

at 38 weeks, my bump is on and poppin' and i have fully embraced
my round shape! this forever 21 dress is from my last pregnancy with henry,
and i was so glad to have an occasion to wear it again :)

i updated it with my favorite new kitty bag from aldo (similar!) as well as some
fabulous pink accessories: my faux gucci slides and quay sunnies!
my necklaces are a mashup old f jcrew cuts rhinestone collars as
well as a big heart from betsey johnson. all in all, i felt festive
and totally ready to taste all the yummy treats without
constriction! check out my instagram post
featuring what i ate and saw at
cafe fleuri!
xo

♥ tasting the spring menu at seasons 52!

on monday evening, after the snow had already come and gone, i hopped over to 

seasons 52 in chestnut hill to usher in the new spring menu with some fabulous 

local food bloggers.

each course (mine were vegetarian!) brought about a different array of seasonal flavors,

and were paired smartly with a variety of wines that brought out their essence. 

this flatbread pizza was as delicious as it looked and was chock full of artichokes,

 roasted red peppers, and feta cheese.

the spinach salad included strawberries, pea tendrils, pine nuts, gorgonzola and 15-year old

 balsamic dressing! i could have kept eating this salad for the rest of the night.

..instead, i ate my helping (as well as gluten free-gal, chelsea's) of this

out.of.this.world meyer lemon ricotta ravioli. what an unexpected flavor,

and so easy to eat six of them without blinking.

the modified vegetarian options included a delicious risotto with butternut squash,

paired with broccolini and the vegetarian tasting- which was, as seasoned foodie and

fellow vegetarian, molly described, "a smattering of vegetarian options."

in case you're wondering, that is a piece of wood beneath the two pieces of tofu on the right.

i thought it was an oversized cracker and tried to eat it! haaaaaa

lastly, seasons 52 sent us off with the big finale- coffee and mini indulgences-

i tried the belgian chocolate s'more, which is just as indulgent as it sounds :)

ps. here is what i ate the last time i visited seasons 52!

♥ one of many resolutions: eat more soup!!!

winter is the season of soup- or "choup" as henry calls it!

(it's a combination of "chip" and "soup"-- two of his favorite things to eat!)

with the cold weather actually here, i thought there was no better time 

to get down to cooking up a warm batch of delicious lentil soup.

one of my favorite recipe books is definitely isa chandra moskowitz's 

appetite for reduction, which has hundreds of easy vegan recipes made

with simple ingredients (most of which i keep on hand!)

this year, i want to get better at making soups because:

1) they're easy. duh! ( do i look like i have time??)

2) they're filling! (you can eat alot without feeling guilty/bloated!)

3) they pack a punch of vitamins when you fill them with vegetables!

4) my uncle made the best soups in the world, and i must do my best to honor 

his memory and keep the soup-making tradition alive in my family!

5) nick is a meat-eater (but is vegetarian by association!), and he will totally

 get on board with any soup that i try. and he's very good with spices :)

6) i still don't have a "go-to" recipe for anything. and it makes me feel like a bad mom,

maybe soup could be my thing??? 

7) did i mention how easy they are?

there you have it, my reasons behind why i will make the task of trying new soups 

more often (and share them with you!) and also, the recipe:

♥ what's good now at seasons 52.

most week nights are the same for me. i leave work, drive to my mom's and pick up henry, 

come home and eat dinner, spend time with the boys and fall asleep after a few episodes 

of thomas the tank engine or master of none (my new favorite show!)

but this past monday night was different!!! i spent my evening at seasons 52 in chestnut hill,

a wonderful upscale restaurant that changes it's menu--you guessed it--with each new season.

 celebrating "what's good now," means that diners are always offered exciting 

new dishes made from the freshest, of the moment ingredients.

 a few local food/wine bloggers and i were invited to bid farewell to the fall menu (yum!)

 as the winter menu would be switched over the very next day! 

as the manager explained, 95% of the time, seasons 52 likes to say yes to the customer-

and they did just that, accommodating my picky vegetarian diet, as well as others

with dietary restrictions. the blistered shisito peppers and hummus duo with

crisp hawaiian sea salt lavash (not pictured) were among my favorite

appetizers served that night! the flatbreads were light and flavorful,

and the drinks were plenty :)

lastly, i ordered the vegetables and pasta, which was delectable-

especially because it featured more vegetables than sauce, which

is something i don't normally encounter in my vegetarian travels!

lastly, the mini indulgences were a sweet way to wrap up a rather indulgent,

extra-ordinary meal. i tried the mocha macchiatto- which was sinful-in a good way :)

be sure to check out the new winter menu at seasons 52! 

your taste buds will thank you!

♥ a delicious fall soup.

with the weather already getting chilly-what better way to warm up

than with a hot and simmering soup, made with just about every veggie?

i tried a variation on this late summer vegetable minestrone by martha stewart and

i am happy to add it to my repertoire before things start getting really frigid in new england!

ingredients:

1/4 cup of olive oil

2 small onions chopped

3 large garlic cloves, minced 

3 carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch rounds

2 celery stalks, cut crosswise into 1/4 inch pieces

1 bunch of red swiss chard- leaves torn into 4 cups & stems cut to 1.5 cups

4 medium ripe tomatoes, diced

coarse salts and freshly ground pepper

2 medium zucchini or yellow squashes, diced

1 parmesan rind or 1/4 cup of grated parmesan cheese plus more for topping

1 can of butter or cannelini beans, drained and rinsed

directions:

1) heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. add onions and garlic, stirring occasionally

until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.

2) add carrots, celery and chard stems and leaves- stir and cook another 10 minutes

3) add tomatoes and 2 tsp of salt. cook another 5 minutes

4) add zucchini, 5 cups of water, parmesan and beans

5) bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer

6) cook until vegetables are softened, about 25 minutes

7) season with salt and pepper and serve immediately,

topped with parmesan cheese.

8) freeze for up to 3 months :)

* be aware that swiss chard has a very strong, singular flavor- so if you

are not a fan, you may want to swap them for greens with a more subtle flavor,

like baby spinach or kale!

♥ an easy summer salsa.

i love birthday parties- especially ones where you can come

and eat and eat and eat and no one notices because there are

so many guests and so much food to choose from.

last weekend, the boys and i attended a fabulous one year old's birthday party

and we fell head over heels in love with this delicious strawberry jalapeno salsa!

spicy and flavorful, this salsa proves that not everything with strawberries

has to necessarily be sweet. i wanted to dip a chip in it, slather it across a

veggie burger or even put it in a bowl and eat it all by itself! yum!

as soon as i got home, i had to re-create it.

here's the recipe i found- make it for your next summer party,

or if you're like me- for a party of one ;)

ingredients:

1 pint of strawberries, hulled and diced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced (keep seeds for more spice!)

1/2 small red onion, diced

zest from juice of one medium lime

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of pepper

directions:

1) add all ingredients into a large bowl and add salt and pepper to taste

2) keep refrigerated or serve fresh with lime tortilla chips

3) i dare you not to eat it all in one sitting ;)

♥ i scream, you scream.

thirty years ago, president ronald reagan declared that july should be

national ice cream month, with the third sunday in july being national ice-

cream day (yum!) 

in his proclamation, reagan "call[ed] upon the people of the united 

states to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities."  

done & done :)

♥ water, water everywhere.

i talk a lot about maintaining your health and natural beauty on this blog-

whether that means your skin, hair or body- but i don't think i've ever

touched on one of the most important things you can do

for yourself every day: DRINK MORE WATER!

here are some facts you might not know about water:

1) drinking water can help with weight loss, by speeding up your metabolism 

and regulating appetite.

2) drinking water can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. water flushes toxins out of your body and the few toxins in contact with your colon, bladder and other organs, the less

chance that diseases can develop.

3) water helps maintain a healthy smile; good hydration prevents tooth decay & cavities!

4) water makes up 70% of a person's body weight, drinking water helps maintain that balance.

5) water can prevent and alleviate headaches.

6) water can boost energy! we tend to fade in the mid-day due to dehydration.

7) while tea, coffee and soda contain water- they also contain caffeine. caffeine can act 

as a diuretic, which prevents water from traveling to necessary locations in your body.

8) water helps keep your skin glowing by purging toxins from your blood. it also 

increases skin elasticity and helps replenish skin tissue.

9) water helps lubricate your joints and prevents arthritis.

10) how much should you drink? just follow this calculation!

sources:

here, here & here

and while most of us are lucky enough to live in places where water 

is plentiful and potable, it must be said that not all bottled waters are created equal!

i was recently sent a pack of 1907 water, which springs from a natural aquifer in

paeora, new zealand. this high alkaline artesian water has a smooth and delicious

taste without the bite that other waters have. the bottles are made from100% 

recycled plastic and they are available now online and in a wholefoods near you!

♥ 'tis the season for soup.

hello dolls! it has been way too long.

i wish i could tell you i was doing something constructive

with my free time, but with the waning daylight hours,

the craziness of retail life, and taking care of the cutest baby 

on earth, i have been doing not much else.

one thing i did manage to do was cook a yummy soup,

perfect for cold nights like the ones we have been having

here in boston, as of late.

here's the recipe, if you care to try it!

vegetarian tuscan kale and white bean soup

ingredients:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 cup diced yellow onion

4 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped

(1) 32 oz box of vegetable broth

4 cups of chopped kale

(1) 4.5 oz can of diced tomatoes

(2) 4.5 oz cans of cannelini beans, drained and rinsed

2 large carrots, peeled and sliced

directions:

1) in a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat

2) add onion and cook 3 minutes

3) add garlic and cook 2 minutes longer

4) add broth, kale, tomatoes and carrots and cover

5) cook 5 minutes or until kale is tender

6) add beans and heat thoroughly

7) enjoy!!

♥ just vegging out.

 it's been a long time since i cooked for you guys!

i assure you- i haven't been living off processed foods-

it's just that, with an irresistibly cute baby that loves to be held 

every second of the day, i find it very hard to find the time to get in

 the kitchen and chop veggies. subsequently, nick and i have been eating a lot 

of grilled cheese and a lot of pb & j. and with the summer heat, 

a quick and easy meal like that is just fine with us. 

of course, "quick and easy" does not have to mean "right out of a box,"

which is why i must share with you my favorite new recipe for

black bean veggie burgers, which i totally copied from

my little sister, jennie.

ingredients:

(1) 16 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed

1/2  green pepper, cut into two inch pieces

1/2 onion, cut into wedges

3 cloves of garlic, peeled

1 egg

1 tabelspoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon hot sauce

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

directions:

1) preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2) in medium bowl, mash black beans with potato masher until thick and pasty

3) in food processor, finely chop green pepper, garlic and onion.

4) add chopped veggies to black bean mixture.

5) add egg, chili powder, cumin and chili sauce.

6) stir together and mix in bread crumbs until the consistency is enough

to form into four patties.

7) place patties on foil or baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes on each side.

8) add a bun, some ketchup, guacamole, pickles, etc & enjoy!! ;)

♥ food for thought.

as of yesterday, the cups and take out bags at your local chipotle will be 

decorated with the handi-work of some of the greatest contemporary

writers of our time: jonathan safran foer, toni morrison and 

george saunders, to name a few. 

under the series name "cultivating thought," spearheaded by safran foer,

each essay promises a quick and enjoyable "two-minute" treat that may 

be even tastier than your actual meal.

read some of the stories here.

♥ white out.

being on maternity has afforded me a bit more time to

enjoy classics like, the postman always rings twice (1946).

in this film noir, actress lana turner plays cora smith-

the unhappily married wife of an innkeeper, who falls

for a drifter named frank and together they plan to

murder her husband and make it look like

an accident.

throughout the film's many twists and turns,

the white costumes worn by cora remain consistently impeccable-

allowing her innocence to shine through in each scene,

no matter how devious her character is.

with summer just around the corner (fingers crossed!),

i am looking forward to wearing lots of white in the

coming months- here is a bit of inspiration:

costume designer:irene lentz
images via google

♥

this holiday season, i made a lot of yummy peppermint bark

for friends and co-workers as a delicious gift :)

not only was it easy to prepare, but also a sweet treat to give out.

here's the recipe:

ingredients:

8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tsp. canola oil

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

8 oz white chocolate chips

25 crushed peppermint candies/ or a box of candy canes 

(crushed inside a double zip lock bag)

directions: 

1) lightly grease 9x9 inch pan and line with waxed paper, set aside.

2) place the semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tsp canola oil in the top of a double boiler over 

just barely simmering water, stirring frequently, scraping down

 sides with a rubber spatula.

3) when the chocolate is melted, add 1/4 peppermint tsp extract. 

4) pour the melted chocolate into the prepared pan and spread evenly. 

5) sprinkle half of the crushed peppermints/candy canes over the chocolate layer.

6) refrigerate for one hour, until completely hardened.

7) place the white chocolate chips and 1 tsp canola oil in the top of a double boiler

 and repeat process again, sprinkling again with crushed peppermints.

8) enjoy!!! 

♥ pesto is the best-o!

i love me some good pesto--

but pine nuts are too expensive to 

justify making it from scratch.

which is why i must share with you

this fabulous recipe for edamame pesto-

which is packed with five times the fiber

and one-fifth the fat of regular pesto,

and an equally delicious flavor!

edamame pesto:

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 cup of packed basil leaves

1 package of frozen, shelled edamame-thawed

1/2 cup of vegetable broth

2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of salt

directions:

1) place the garlic and basil in a food processor and pulse a few times.

2) add the remaining ingredients and blend until relatively smooth.

3) add a little more vegetable broth if it seems to stiff and set aside.

add the pesto to the following:

1 package of linguine

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small red onion, sliced thinly

1/2 pound of mushrooms, sliced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 teaspoon of thyme

extra chopped fresh basil

directions:

1) put  on a pot of salted water to boil. cook pasta and drain.

2) saute the onion in oil for about 5 minutes. add mushrooms, garlic and thyme.

3) cover the pot and cook for 5 more minutes. 

4) add pasta to the pan and then add pesto. 

5) garnish with chopped basil. 

6) ENJOY!!

♥ the berry berry best in berry land.

this weekend, my other best friend, marykate turned 30 :)

and in honor of her summer birthday, i baked this strawberry cake

 to accompany the party that her sweet husband threw her.

although i was far too full to try the cake myself, i heard that it

was given thumbs up all around- which definitely

makes it blog-worthy, in my book!

so here is the recipe, 

(found originally here.)

cake ingredients:

1 box of white cake mix

3 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 small box of strawberry jello

1/2 cup water

1 cup of vegetable oil

4 eggs

1/2 a small container of frozen strawberries in juice (defrosted)

directions:

1) preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) mix all ingredients until well combined

3) grease and flour cake pans

4) divide batter into two eight inch cake pans

5) bake for 30 minutes or as long as it takes for a knife to be

 inserted into cake and come out clean

6) remove cakes from oven and cool 

strawberry buttercream frosting ingredients

1 box of confectioner's sugar

1 stick of unsalted butter

1/2 small container of frozen strawberries in juice (defrosted)

directions:

1) mix all ingredients until thickness you want is achieved

2) you may need to add more confectioner's sugar!

3) frost the cake (even in between layers)

4)  and garnish with berries

5) enjoy!

♥ i heart thug kitchen.

maybe it's because i enjoy vegetarian cooking with a side of profanity,

but i can't get enough of thug kitchen. i am sure you have all heard about it-

(with praise from the likes of gwyneth paltrow) but if you haven't--

 get ready for a little hilarity and a dash of inspiration 

for your next meal ;)

ps. good news: a thug kitchen book is expected next year! :)

♥ breakfast of champions.

bon appetit has a cute feature on their website called my morning routine, 

where they share the daily breakfasts and wake-up habits of some

of the most notable celebrities. not only is it visually appealing, 

but it also tickles me to picture any famous person 

actually eating anything!

what is your morning routine?

mine is a cup of coffee in the car on the way to work.