The Weekender…

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Jenna-Marie

fresh guacamole made tableside at Rosa Mexicano

Monday Mantra and a Few Great Gifts.

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

I had quite an eventful end of my weekend.

It started off with an amazing breakfast at Sound Bites.

Then to Cycle Loft for a new pair of spin shoes

Followed by a trip to lululemon, where I finally put my $50 gift card towards a cozy black Scuba Hoodie

Scuba Hoodie

it’s so warm!

You can pretty much always find me wearing workout clothes, so lulu’s flattering, comfortable, yet oh so expensive pieces are right up my alley. I want one of everything!

HINT: lululemon gift cards make great stocking stuffers for the yogi’s, runner’s, and athletes in you life!

A glass of red wine by the Christmas tree rounded out the evening perfectly, along with a few too many pistachios, and a delicious slice of Jubilee roll.

Matt and I have yet to put up our own tree, so my parent’s has filled the void for the time being .

As for today’s “Monday Mantra”, I chose one that I felt spoke to those of us who struggle with seeing the bright side in certain situations.

We all tackle obstacles and set backs that make us question ourselves, our motives, and our decisions in life. We just need to have the confidence to push through the dirt and grime, and come out on the other side ready to tackle anything that comes our way. Only then can we grow and really show the world what we’re made of

Dust the dirt off and keep pushing through.

xoxo

Seafood Festival 2012

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Matt and I are back earlier then expected, but we had an awesome time at Hampton Beach’s Annual Seafood Festival.

And it. was. packed!

On our drive up to New Hampshire, knowing that I may not find any stomach friendly foods, I made sure to have a protein rich snack to hold me over for a while.

And it’s a that good thing that I did.

Of course I expected the usual fried clams, lobster rolls and seafood chowder, but it being a festival celebrating Seafood, I thought I would see more fish options such as salmon, haddock, and scallop plates.

All of the stands pretty much had the same fried foods available, but I still searched long and hard for something I could eat that wouldn’t cause me to hobble back to the beach house with cramps and indigestion.

Enter Sesame encrusted Ahi Tuna skewers

And Grilled Shrimp and Swordfish

I also split a shrimp cocktail and corn on the cobb with Matt, while he enjoyed his fried clam strips and baked lobster mac and cheese

It was the perfect amount of picky foods before heading down to the beach for live music and drinks

The band reggae band, Hot Like Fire, brought one last taste of Summer as the cool Autumn breeze filled the beach front tent.

Everyone was having a great time dancing, drinking, and singing along to the familiar songs that the band performed.

As the evening rolled in, so did the down pouring rain clouds. This cancelled our plans of walking to the Sea Ketch for dinner, and instead, we took a drive to North Hampton to a lively Italian Restaurant, Ron Jillian’s.

We ordered one the best antipasto plates that I’ve ever had, followed by Herb encrusted Cod with a side of steamed broccoli, which I swapped in place of lobster cream risotto,

Matt also ordered Pasta Bolognese, a favorite of his whenever we eat out at an Italian restaurant.

It was a perfect “rained out dinner”, and we spent the rest of the night back at the beach house watching TV in our adorable loft bedroom

It feels like Fall today, and now it’s time for the Pat’s game and Sunday dinner at my parents.

Enjoy the rest of your day! xoxo

Sunday Things

Posted on August 13, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Breakfast in bed: Greek yogurt, Kashi, raw almond butter and fruit

The usual Sunday dinner at my parents, along with a coconut sprinkled fruit bowl and wine

Crazy rain storms

Followed by a rainbow

And a trip to Zinga! for some frozen yogurt

Dark chocolate and vanilla, topped with hot fudge, brownie bites, cookie dough bites, Oreos, Reese’s, and banana

Toppings > Ice Cream

A balanced diet > Food restriction

Beach. Wine. Food. Fireworks

Posted on June 24, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

There is nothing like a sunny Sunday morning at the beach.

I love this room, but whenever I don’t sleep in my own bed, I always wake up feeling tight and in need a good stretch.

I completed a couple sets of push ups, squats, arm circles and abs to warm up my muscles before stretching, and after about 20 minutes, I felt so much better.

Last week, I made sure to get ahead in my Insanity workouts by skipping the Fit Test and a jumping right into the next days workout. That allowed me to have two days rest while we’re away, and I could focus on light cardio and body weight exercises when I found the time.

Planning ahead pays off

We had a great day yesterday, and weather wise, we only suffered through a 1/2 hour shower around 6pm. Much less than what they got at home, but still a crazy sight to see.

Other than that, it was a perfectly sunny day, and a clear, comfortable evening

There was a HUGE kite collage on the beach, which made for a colorful backdrop overlooking to ocean.

We took several walks up and down the strip, snacking on Purple Cow frozen yogurt, my favorite, and Matt had his usual chocolate in a cone with jimmies.

Around 4:30, we started to get hungry, so we stopped by our favorite lunch spot South Beach Seafood. They have some of the best clam strips I’ve every had; very fresh, and not overly fried.

Their salads are really good too.

Whatever they use to season the chicken with is delicious.

If you are ever in the Hampton Beach area, try out this small beachside eatery. It’s one of the best on the strip for a quick lunch or snack.

We headed back to the house for our own “Happy Hour” before storm, and to get ready for a night out on the town.

Live band in the half shell.

Then it was off to the Sea Ketch for dinner; A 3 floor restaurant with delicious food, live music and two bars with a great view

It’s another must try if you’re in the area.

Seafood stuffed mushrooms

Caribbean jerk chicken with tropical fruit salsa and mixed veggies

And complimentary fireworks which take place every weekend at 9:30pm.

Beach. Wine. Food and Fireworks.

A winning combination.

It’s our last day here before heading home to Sunday dinner at my parents, so until then, you can find me in my beach chair doing absolutely nothing Smile .

Have a great Sunday! xoxo

Beachin’

Posted on June 23, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Matt and I arrived at the beach house around 9:30 pm, after stopping for dinner at Chili’s.

I ordered the Grilled Garlic and Herb Salmon with steamed broccoli, and swapped the loaded mashed potatoes for a side house salad.

Our adorable Beach House

The attic has been transformed into a loft bedroom, making it a cozy, unique and intimate space.

Breakfast this morning was a bowl of protein pudding with a chopped granny smith apple and a handful of blueberries.

1 scoop chocolate Sunwarrior with water added slowly to thicken mixture, and 1/2 T raw almond butter

We then took a walk along the beach to grab an organic coffee at McDonald’s (so strange), and to view the Master Sand Sculpting Competition.

These artists have some major talent, and it’s so inspiring to watch them at work

I am amazed at how detailed and stable these sculptures are. It takes a steady hand and a ton of patience to build such a masterpiece.

Give me a sand pail and shovel and that’s about as good as it gets with me.

Well, the sun is starting to show it’s face around here, so I’m off to enjoy the day!

Have a good one! xoxo

Satur-Date {The Painted Burro}

Posted on June 17, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Today is my day off from Insanity, so I decided to go for a light walk around the lake before heading over to my parents for a Father’s Day barbecue.

My dad and my beautiful niece eating ice cream in Aruba.

My dad has definitely played a role in my passion for health and fitness. He has always been into working out and eating healthy, and as you can see, it’s paid off!

Just goes to show that exercising and eating right will have it’s perks as we age.

Keep your body strong, fueled and stretched so it can carry you through life with ease.

There are no excuses.

Last night, Matt and I, along with some friends, headed to a Mexican restaurant/Tequila bar called The Painted Burro, in Davis Square.

I like to dress the part, so I wore the most festive shirt I could find

The Painted Burro is not your typical Americanized Mexican restaurant, so don’t expect an “On the Border” experience.

The eclectic dinner and drink menu is written in Mexican, and the atmosphere loud, hip and unique.

We had to ask the waitress to explain a few of the dishes, and she was very helpful and knowledgeable about how each meal was created.

To start, we ordered some drinks and nibbled on a bucket of perfectly baked corn chips with tangy, thick salsa.

Vodka, Soda Water, Lime Juice and Lemon

FROZEN BURRO COLADA: Goslings Black Rum, cayenne pineapple juice, cream of coconut

For appetizers, we ordered the “Pork Chicharron”, which is small pork wedges in a spicy-sweet tamarind glaze, along with the “Fundido” cheese dip and soft corn tortillas.

Amaaaazing! The combination of melty cheese, warm tortillas, and sweet pork tidbits made for the an intense burst of flavor and texture.

Not the most healthy, but delicious none the less

I also ordered the Romaine Salad, basically because of the dressing alone.

The smooth, creamy avocado was divine, and the spicy pepitas were the perfect addition the cool greens. It also came with anchovy’s, which I did not eat, and a tomatillo and agave vinaigrette.

As for our entrée’s, my dish won “Most Boring” at the table.

Spicy tomato Grilled Mahi Mahi with a string bean and jicama salad.

I must admit that I wouldn’t order it again. The “Veracruzana” sauce was a bit overpowering, and I found that it amplified the usual subtle taste of the white fish.

Matt ordered the DUCK LEG CAZUELA, which was out of this world. My fork spent more time in his dish than in my own.

Long Island duck, braised root vegetable & chile tamale, olives,
spring garlic, and oregano

It resembled a beef stew consistency, and all of the flavors complimented each other nicely.

The most unique entree at our table was the Yucatan Meatloaf, which is a ridiculous combination of spicy ground sirloin, chorizo, ham, chicharron, green olives and toasted almonds, topped with two fried eggs and guava ketchup.

So many ingredients that somehow worked to create this flavorful, mouth-watering dish.

From the décor, to the food, to the authentic and strong drinks, I’d recommend The Painted Burro to anyone looking for a fun night out with a spicy splash of Mexican flare. The fresh ingredients and love put into each and every dish, truly introduce eaters to the taste of a culture so full of life.

Well, I’m off! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

xoxo

My Sunday So Far

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Brunch at Stephi’s on Tremont

A.K.A: Best breakfast of my life!

Fresh fruit salad with yogurt and homemade granola

Egg white omelet with spinach, onions, mushroom and tomato.

Matt ate my home fries, and I ate his French toast Smile

Thick brioche in a light egg batter, topped with the perfect amount of marmalade cream cheese.

This is what French Toast is suppose to taste like; Melt in your mouth deliciousness!

Post breakfast, Matt and I had to shoot over to one of his jobs around the corner.

Welcome to the life of an Electrician’s Girlfriend

My Job: Wait in the work van, and don’t get towed.

Success!

Just call me the Boss.

Then it was off to Trader Joe’s for some weekly necessities, which included my raw almond butter, and Matt’s favorite Minestrone soup.

Love when my fridge is full

It’s been a successful Sunday so far, and since it’s my rest day, I’m parking it on the couch with a blanket, a movie, and cup of Hazelnut coffee with cinnamon and Stevia in the raw.

Perfection.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday Smile

Satur-Date {Hard Rock Cafe}

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

Warm nights in Boston are my favorite.

Especially when there’s fireworks.

The city was packed due to college graduations, but we got lucky and found on street parking. Score!

Speaking of college, this past weekend marks 4 years since I graduated from Suffolk University.

I officially feel old.

Matt and I walked through Faneuil Hall, along the Waterfront, and through the North End before deciding where to eat. Because Sunday’s at my house are always a buffet of Italian food, we often opt for other cuisine when we dine out.

We wanted a laid back atmosphere with a good bar and lively crowd, so we ended up at Hard Rock Café before meeting my parents and some friends for a drink later in the night.

Berri Acai Vodka, soda water with lemon

Veggie Burger topped with grilled Portobello mushroom, roasted red pepper, sliced zucchini, squash, lettuce and tomato. Side of steamed broccoli

After dinner, we walked back to the North End for a drink on Ristorante Fiore’s roof deck, which is the perfect spot on a beautiful night.

Plus, it’s close to Gelateria!!

Chocolate and Coconut.

. Hangover city has become a frequent destination of mine on the weekends. I’m hating that I can’t party like I used to

You MUST remember to drink water while you drink alcohol. It makes all the difference.

I got to the gym early Sunday morning for a torturous 45 minutes on the Stair Climber, followed by my 300 Rep ABS

Post Workout Protein Oats

1/3 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup AllWhites
1/2 scoop chocolate Sunwarrior protein powder
1 Tbsp ground flax
strawberries and blueberries.

The rest of the weekend was spent on Matt’s Harley, and if you think my 300 abs workout is bad, try riding on the back of a bike all afternoon.

Constant contraction of the abs

Love this boy

Satur-Date {Legal Harborside}

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Jenna-Marie

If you live in, or are visiting the Boston area, and looking for a place with great food, gorgeous views, and a lounge for after dinner drinks, then Legal Harborside is the place to go.

Located along Liberty Wharf, this 3 story venue has it all.

“You’ll find a nod to our heritage on the first floor hull, with a casual menu of seafood favorites with a twist, an oyster bar and an old-fashioned fish market. The second floor dining room offers cuisine prepared with sensible creativity for celebratory eating and private dining events. And those that visit the third floor promenade deck will enjoy a four-season rooftop lounge with a retractable glass roof and walls for cocktails and bites.”

Last night, Matt and I, along with two of our friends, dined at the bar on the first floor before heading upstairs to the rooftop lounge