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Friday Favorites – February 5th, 2016

snowy brooklyn pic

Happy, happy Friday friends! I am smiling like a kid on Christmas, once again this morning, as we were surprised with an overnight dusting of snow. It’s so fun to share this not only with Bo, but also my parents! As you can imagine, they never see snow in Savannah, Georgia so it’s a fun treat. Today we’re heading into the city for a full day of exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, checking out the new dinosaur at the Natural History Museums as well as finally seeing The Lion King! Before the show we are going to share our favorite pre-theatre dinner spot with my parents – Casellula.  The cheese plates and small plates to share are terrific as is their wine selection!

As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the minutes until the weekend begins, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • I can’t start this week’s favorites off without recognizing the gorgeous snowy scene outside our window this morning. Waking up to find Brooklyn covered in a dusting of snow was such a welcome surprise. Too bad it’s supposed to reach 40 degrees today, which means the snow will only last a few hours.
  • We are finally hitting the slopes this month and I can’t wait to clip into my skis and enjoy some time outside skiing on both the east coast and out in Tahoe. In preparation for our trip, I’ve had my eye on two base layers from Sweaty Betty. Both the Clubhouse and the Flowline are vibrant in color and gorgeous for both the day on the slope as well as après ski! I love that they are both sweat wicking as well as slim fit which means that I can easily layer without feeling like the abominable snowman. Which one is your favorite? I think the Rio pop art top is my favorite due to the bold colors which remind me of my favorite statement necklace!
  • Did anyone else shed a tear while watching the Me Before You preview? My favorite book of 2014, this movie looks like it is going to do the book justice and quickly rank high on my list of romantic tear-jerkers along with Love Story and The Notebook.

jcrew coat pic

  • Speaking of clothing, a few of my favorite winter items are now on sale at JCrew. The leather pixie pant is dressy enough for business meetings when paired with heels and comfortable enough for weekends. These lean and flattering jeans have been a weekly staple since I bought them in October. They have just enough stretch to make me want to wear them daily but not enough to end up looking saggy in the butt. Seriously, now that these are marked down 25% I would buy these in black and the classic rinse! Anytime I wear the Cocoon Coat or feature it on social media, people immediately ask me where I bought it. This coat’s funnel neck, large pockets and looser yet flattering style is perfect for winter when you want and need to wear multiple layers but still want to look feminine.
  • Last night we finally tried Hometown Barbecue and boy did it live up to the hype. Brooklyn is home to multiple award-winning barbecue restaurants but none have been as creative as Hometown. If you’re visiting or a local, you must add it to your list of restaurants as I woke up this morning dreaming of their Chinese Sticky Ribs and the Texas-Style Queso Mac + Cheese. Oh, my word.
  • Since my parents are in town, we thought it would be fun to have a few friends over for a casual Super Bowl party. When I say casual I mean less than 10 people, leggings and jeans as acceptable attire and lots of time watching the game and judging the much anticipated ads. But, what is a Super Bowl party without good food? We are keeping things simple by making it pot-luck style but we have our eye on this delicious brownie recipe, this upgraded brownie recipe, and these homemade pretzels.

detox salad

  • After all the weekend indulgence, I know I’ll need a few days of vegetables and whole food in my life. You guys know I don’t support juice cleanses as I believe that we can reset our bodies with healthy, natural foods versus restrictive liquid diets. This detox salad is filled with delicious ingredients and when paired with the homemade dressing, will not only be a healthy start to the week but also one I actually want to enjoy, unlike a disgusting wheatgrass shot.
  • I’ve professed my love of smoothies more than once, but lately I’ve been looking for some inspiration. While I’ve never read Whitney Port’s blog before, when I saw Diana share this link on Facebook, I immediately jumped over. I love that each of these recipes packs a flavor and nutrient punch without filling the smoothie with unnecessary sugar.

Your turn – What are you loving this week? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Five Things to Do Before Trying A New Workout

We’ve all had that horrible feeling. It’s the cold sweat or butterflies that start fluttering in our stomach as we walk through the door into a new workout class or studio. You have no idea what to expect, you become intimidated and suddenly forget everything you’ve learned during other workouts. You consider leaving or hiding in the back of the class during the 45-minute workout. You are miserable the entire class and regret the choice you made.

title boxing club pic

Last night as I walked through the doors of Title Boxing Club, I felt all of these emotions and more. The studio was larger than I expected, I was learning to wrap my hands for the first time and I was intimidated by the 60-minute class which was longer than other boxing classes I’ve taken.

Since moving back to New York City, it’s no secret that I love trying new classes and workouts. Thanks to ClassPass, I’ve had the opportunity to try over 65 classes in the past few months. But, trying new workouts and studios can come with a certain level of intimidation and fear. Trying something that you don’t know much about, especially if you’ve heard horror stories from other people about how hard and challenging the class is, can leave you wanting to stick with the studios that you know.

But, getting out side of your comfort zone can help you learn more about your workout style, improve your cross training, challenge your muscles and discover what could be your new favorite studio.

If you’re trying to step outside your comfort zone with a new class or studio, here are a few tips to help ensure you have the best workout possible even when you’re trying somewhere new.

  • Do your research ahead of time. Spend at least a few minutes doing some research on the workout ahead of time. I recommend going to the studio’s website, if one exists, as well as a review site like Yelp or Rate Your Burn. Make sure you can answer these few questions before you leave your home or work for the studio. There is nothing worse than showing up at a studio late because you can’t find it or assuming you can rent a towel or buy a water only to find out that this studio is barebones and doesn’t offer anything other than a water fountain.
    1. What do I need to wear?
    2. What do I need to bring (mat, towel, water, boxing gloves, wraps, etc)?
    3. Do they have showers?
    4. Where is it located? Is it upstairs or on street level?
    5. What time do they close the doors or can I show up a few minutes late?
  • Arrive five to ten minutes early. I know this can be difficult especially if it’s a before work class or directly after work but having time to get acclimated to your surroundings and speak with the instructor will help you feel more comfortable. I always recommend letting the instructor know it is your first time taking the class so they can keep an eye on you and provide you with a higher level of instruction or provide pointers.
  • Be honest with the instructor. There is a time and place for the whole “fake it until you make it” mentality. A workout class that you’re taking for the first time is not that time. Be honest with the instructor when describing your fitness level, experience and any injuries you may have. The last thing you want to do is get injured.
  • Convince a friend to join you! Walking into any new experience is more comfortable with a friend by your side. After signing up for the class, do your best to convince one of your friends or workout buddies to join you. Working out together is a great way to catch up and have new experiences together as well as providing you with someone to grimace or give the side eye to during the hard sets and laugh with during any awkward moments. You’ll set yourself up for even more success if you happen to find a friend who has taken the class or visited the studio before as they can provide you with first hand advice.
  • Don’t take yourself too seriously. It’s okay to take a breather, laugh or even skip a move if you’re not comfortable. When last night’s boxing instructor told us to jump on the bags and hang for as long as we could, I looked at Jess and laughed out loud. Trust me, during a hard or intimidating class, laughter can infuse you with the energy you need to push through the rest of class! 

title boxing with classpass

(Picture source)

Luckily, I ended up having a great first experience at Title Boxing last night due in part to the ClassPass friends who helped me push through the class, the instructor who gave me pointers during class and the research I did in advance which let me know that I’d need to buy wraps in advance.

What was the last class that left you feeling this way? Or, is there a class you’re thinking about trying but are too nervous to try? I’m definitely intimidated by the reviews I’ve read about Tone House but have promised myself that I’ll try it this month!

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Meatless Monday – Vegetarian Carbonara Recipe

This seems to be a week of firsts on the blog. Last night I shared my first StitchFix experience and today I’m sharing our first Meatless Monday recipe. A popular hashtag on both Twitter and Instagram each Monday, it inspires many people to eat less meat by experimenting with one day of meatless cooking or meals each week.  Over the years this movement has become quite popular as more and more research shows that reducing meat consumption can have many positive health benefits.

As I searched my blog, trying to see whether I’d previously shared a Meatless Monday recipe, I was surprised to not find a single Meatless Monday post. Maybe that’s because until recently, both Bo and I were of the mindset that a meal needed to have meat in order to be filling. Luckily, we’ve come a long way and now enjoy a meatless dinner every other week or so. Sometimes it is more simple, like spaghetti squash and marinara while other times it becomes a fun challenge which results in a delicious, often healthy recipe.

Tonight’s Meatless Monday recipe is the former. After a week of staring at the spaghetti squash just sitting on the counter, we knew we needed to put it to good use. An especially cold night inspired us to create a healthier version of one of our favorite comfort foods – carbonara. We ate our weight in carbonara when we were in Italy, our favorite of which was the fresh carbonara tossed table side in Rome during our meal at Felice A Testaccio. In fact, just thinking about it has my mouth watering. Can I please return to Italy immediately for wine, gelato and pasta? Until we can make our return, this recipe is going to be a regular in our rotation. It is healthy, at under 500 calories per serving, and it is full of rich flavor.

carbonara

We are very aware of the inherent contradiction in the term “vegetarian carbonara”.  After all, what is spaghetti carbonara without those deliciously salty hits of pancetta.  However, it is that luxurious egg yolk that coats the pasta that provides richness and makes the dish so luxurious.  For this vegetarian, carb-free version, we used spaghetti squash instead of pasta and a generous amount of sage for a rich, deep, flavor.
Worried this healthy, vegetarian dish won’t be enough to satisfy your appetite?  We paired it with a simple arugula salad to make a complete dinner for two.
Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Carbonara with Sage pic JPG
Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Carbonara with Sage
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage
2 garlic cloves – grated on a microplaner
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (If you are a strict vegetarian, make sure you buy a vegetarian approved Parmesan such as Trader Joes!)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
Extra virgin olive oil
2 egg yolks
1/2 Tbsp. heavy cream
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375, and roast the squash for about an hour; cut in half, scoop out the seeds and use a fork to scrap the meat into a bowl – set aside
2) Beat the egg yolks and cream and add a pinch of salt; set aside
3) Heat butter and 1 Tbsp. of EVOO in a skillet over medium heat; add garlic and soften for 3 minutes
4) Add squash, sage, and Parmesan and toss to mix
5) Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper
6) Take the skillet off the burner and allow squash to cool for a minute
7) Fold in the egg / cream and mix lightly for about 30 seconds; adjust seasoning and serve immediately.
If you’re curious in the nutritional information, see below for the breakdown.
Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Carbonara with Sage
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