If you choose to stay in New England year round, there can be a lot of trade offs for seasonal availability of activities. In the winter, we turn our sites from ocean waterfront activities to mountain side snowbound adventures. Lost in the shuffle can be our favorite in between past times. One of my favorites I usually have to bid adieu to is horseback riding. The snow covered trails are often left until the spring flowers begin to appear again, depending on how hardy the breed of horse and trails men. So, it was with great delight that I discovered the heated indoor riding arena at Windkist Equestrian Centre in North Andover.

Though many may find it strange, I always seem to find myself judging a place by its bathrooms – be it a hotel room, a home or a restaurant. I think in the latter my thought is that if the bathrooms are not clean, I hate to see the conditions in the kitchen. For living spaces, I think it is because we are perhaps our most vulnerable in the bathroom. The more comforting, inviting and pleasing to the senses a bathroom space is the more I feel connected to the overall space. But, perhaps I am over sharing. I do so to…

While a hot cup of cocoa can really hit the spot on a wintery day, when I am in the mood for a more grown up way to warm up I just LOVE a cup of hot sake. Especially when the flakes are falling, it feels extra cozy to find my way to a small sushi shop with big windows and warm sake served in the cute little pinched pot with doll sized cups. Here are some of my favorite spots to warm up with a sake and friends.

While Boston is steeped in history, everyday Bostonians spend most of their time at the trendy new spots and leave the historically significant locales to the tourists. And while Faneuil Hall on a hot and crowded summer’s day may be one to avoid, there are many true Boston experiences that we are only short changing ourselves on if we skip over them. Case in point…

Even though we are pretty fortunate here in Boston to have three power house teams in the Patriots. Celtics and Bruins to carry us through the winter months, this is still baseball country and we miss our beloved Red Sox when the flakes are falling. We are also music hounds. So think how delightful it would be to get a dose of our baseball favorites, mixed in with our favorite music artists in the midst of the winter doldrums all to benefit a worthy cause. The folks at Hot Stove Cool Music have cooked up…

The harsh winter air and drying indoor heat can really do a number on your skin. If dry, flaky, itchy skin has you feeling more iguana than human, a good body scrub is a great way to shed those dry layers of skin and get back to your summer glow. Check out the top 5 scrub treatments option in Boston and be on your way to a more youthful vim (and perhaps even vigor).

How many people do you know that say they’re going to the gym only to find themselves walking aimlessly around the space not sure where to start, what to lift or how to lift it. You know having a workout routine set for you can make all the difference to make sure all your time spent on fitness is well utilized. After all, your time is precious, why waste it waiting for your turn on the next machine? Luckily, Haute Living has put together for you the top 5 workouts in Boston to get your backside in gear (hopefully the rest of your body will follow).

Perhaps you know your single malt scotches and consider yourself well equipped to handle a deep discussion with the best of micro brew beer connoisseurs, but, despite your impeccable breeding, you are still a little fuzzy on your wines. You know what you like but don’t know your delicate bouquet from your hints of vanilla. How can you hone your sommelier skills without revealing your dirty little secret? The Boston Wine Expo is a perfect opportunity.

Holy hangover! Whether 2010 ended with a bang or leaving you feeling like you were banging your head against the wall, today is a brand new year – and a brand new start. To refresh your wearied bones and ready yourself for the year ahead, it’s time to head to brunch. And, as always, your typical eggs and bacon will simply not suffice. To help guide you to the best of the brunch bunch, Haut Living has tracked down some with special offerings to help stifle the ringing in your head from ringing in the New Year last night.