A Journey With Jenna

Always take the scenic route

Stamford, CT

Today I’m excited to share some fun things to do in and around Stamford, Connecticut, as recommended by Kathleen of Grey Stripes & Denim. I love all of her recipe posts and am definitely planning to make some of them soon! She also posts lots of great positive, motivational and inspirational things, and has quickly become one of my favorites to follow. Here’s what Kathleen had to say about Stamford.

Tell us a little about yourself and your blog.
My name is Kathleen O’Reilly, and I started my blog, Grey Stripes & Denim in October 2018. It’s a lifestyle blog focusing on a few of my passions — beauty, books, food, fashion, and a little bit of fitness. I really wanted to create a community where I can share my love of living a balanced life, mixing highs and lows, yet still being true to yourself. I love a good meatless meal, but will never turn down a chocolate chip cookie — life is all about balance! I want to celebrate our imperfections instead of hiding them!

How long have you lived in Connecticut?
I have lived in Connecticut my whole life, and I am 31 years old. I lived in New York when I went to college, but for the most part home as always been Stamford, Connecticut for me.

What do you like best about living there?
What I like best is that you get the best of both worlds here, especially in Stamford. You can feel like you’re in a big city in our booming downtown area, but then there’s the suburbs where it’s peaceful and quiet. We have great bars and restaurants, and probably the most active nightlife among all the towns in Fairfield County.

What’s the best way to get around town for someone visiting?
Honestly, if you are staying in the downtown region of town, most things are either walkable or a quick Uber ride away. Harbor Point is a great part of town that is up and coming. There are tons of restaurants, and you’re right on the water, so in the summer it’s beautiful to just walk around down there!

What are the must-see or must-do things in your town that someone shouldn’t miss?
I think it all depends on when you come to town. In the summer, the Alive at 5 concert series is so fun (I explain more about this under outdoor activities). There’s always an art festival as well in the summer. Tons of vendors set up booths on this street right on the water, and you can just walk around all day looking at all these unique items. There are food trucks and usually live music. Honestly, in the winter everyone kind of hibernates here. Or maybe it’s just me!

What are your favorite restaurants in the area?
Two of my favorite restaurants are actually right next to each other conveniently — Bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar. Both restaurants feature small bites and tapas. The food at Barcelona Wine Bar is mostly from Spain (obviously) — the hanger steak is my favorite, and the sangria is to die for! Bartaco has the best tiny tacos around! If you want a quick, but healthy bite, this is the place to go. There are 13 different tacos on the menu — my favorite being the cauliflower taco or the chicken pastor taco. And I suggest getting a margarita — they have the best in town! If you’re not into Spanish cuisine, another great restaurant is Columbus Park Trattoria. They offer some of the best Italian food in town. All of the pasta is freshly handmade every morning by one of the owners Maria, who is from Italy might I add! This is definitely a restaurant to go to for a special occasion, as it can be a little pricey.

Bartaco
The delicious food at Bartaco
A cooking class at Columbus Park Trattoria

What are the best things to do outdoors?
In the summer, we have three beaches that are great to visit! There is also a concert series called Alive at 5 that runs every Thursday night from July to mid-August. It’s completely outdoors — they shut down a small park in the downtown area and set up a huge stage for acts to come perform. We’ve had Smashmouth, Pat Benatar, Gavin DeGraw and so many more great performers grace the stage. Local restaurants have tables set up to sell food. Lots of bars line the area so you can sit outside, eat great food and enjoy a cocktail while watching all of these great bands perform!

West Beach
Pat Benatar performing at Alive at 5

What are your favorite indoor activities if the weather isn’t great?
We are lucky to have great shopping in our town! Not only is there the mall with your typical big box stores, but our downtown area has great home decor and antique shops. If you’re not into shopping, we have a Chelsea Piers in Stamford. Like the one in NYC, they offer fitness classes, batting cages, hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, tennis and so much more! Also, we have restaurant week twice a year. For two weeks, local restaurants will offer three-course, pre-fixed lunch and dinner menus at affordable prices. It’s such a great way to try new places while staying within your budget!

In your opinion, what does a perfect day in Stamford consist of?
My perfect day in Stamford would be hanging outside with my dog, taking her to her favorite park (Scalzi Park) or down to the beach. Then having brunch at either Olio or Amore Cucina & Bar (bottomless mimosas anyone?). Stopping by our local library, The Ferguson Library, to pick up some new books is always on my to-do list! The latest and greatest books are always featured. Lastly, meeting up with friends for rooftop drinks at Sign of the Whale would be the perfect ending to my day.

Since Connecticut is a pretty small state, what other nearby places are fun to venture off to? And what kinds of things are fun to do there?
We are so lucky to be a 55-minute train ride away from NYC. It’s so easy to get in and out of the city. Going to see a Broadway show or just going to the city to have dinner is always fun. I try to take advantage of this as much as I can. There’s so much culture in NYC and so many things to do! I recently went there for the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibit at the New York Historical Society. Visiting a museum is always a great alternative and something different to do!

Kathleen gave such a great tour of her hometown! Stamford really has it all, and if you want to get out of town, NYC is so close by. It was really fun learning more about this area of Connecticut!

4 Things Friday (February 8, 2019)

It’s finally Friday — what a week! I hope everyone has fun plans for a great weekend! Let’s get started with Amy’s 4 things for this week from her podcast, “4 Things with Amy Brown.” Be sure to go listen to the episode!

  1. Huddled over grace. If you only listen to part of Amy’s podcast this week, please, please, please make it this part. Amy’s mom passed away from cancer a couple years ago, and in this segment she discussed a blog post her sister wrote shortly after where she compared a bottle of Pure Grace soap to the grace that we receive. Our grace, God’s true grace, is never empty.
  2. Positive affirmation. This was such a good reminder to begin each day by acknowledging something positive about yourself. It will really transform your mindset for the day. I know I tend to be critical of myself (I’m a self-admitted perfectionist), but it makes such a difference to think of the good things about yourself — your positive qualities, things you’ve accomplished, how well you’ve handled certain things.
  3. The perfect red lips. Amy had Kelly from Velvet’s Edge podcast on to discuss how to find the perfect red lip color for you. I always feel like red is too bold for me, but it really makes a difference if you pick the right shade of red. Someone with pinkish skin is better off with a plum or blue-red, and someone with yellowish undertones can do the brighter orange-y reds.
  4. Detox smoothie. Amy talked about what she puts in her glowing green smoothie. I love the fact that it can be made ahead in a bigger batch so it can last up to three days! The main thing is to make sure you’re using 70% greens and 30% fruit. Amy mentioned that she has a Vitamix and I’ve really been wanting to try one! I’ve had my Ninja for a while it’s been great, but it doesn’t really grind up veggies as smooth as I like them for a drink. Maybe eventually I’ll give the Vitamix a try!

Now, here are my 4 things for this week.

  • Open-faced hummus sandwich. Last week, I told you how much I’m loving Ithaca cold-crafted hummus. Well, this week I tried it a new way and loved it! I toasted a slice of Ezekiel bread, spread some of the lemon beet hummus on it, then topped it with sprouts, goat cheese and Trader Joe’s Everything but the Bagel seasoning. So good.
  • Skinny Pop microwave popcorn. I like the pre-popped popcorn that Skinny Pop makes, and the other day, the microwavable version caught my eye in the grocery store. There’s just something about fresh, hot, buttery popcorn. And what’s even better is that this kind is healthier, and I honestly think it tastes better than the grease bucket you get at a movie theater. The Skinny Pop pops in a box instead of a bag, too. It’s really buttery and I liked it better than any of the other microwave brands I’ve tried.
  • Ninja air fryer. I had been on the fence about purchasing an air fryer for a while. I don’t eat fried foods very often, so I wondered if it was something I’d get enough use out of. Well, I’ve only had it a week, and so far I’ve made cauliflower in it twice (the second time I did buffalo cauliflower) and I made spring rolls. I think it’s going to come in handy to roast smaller amounts of veggies without heating up the oven, too. In case you don’t know about an air fryer, it essentially “fries” your food using very little or no oil (just a spray of olive oil is what I used) by circulating hot air very rapidly around your food. It’s basically a smaller version of a convection oven. I’m really impressed with it so far, and it’s super easy to clean!
  • ESPWA star necklace. Amy and her friend, Meri, run The Shop Forward, which is a fun online shop that has lots of cute items, and each purchase gives back to a great cause. How cool is that?! This particular necklace has been a favorite of mine for a while. I love that it’s a shorter choker style, and you can layer it with longer necklaces. It’s also adjustable. Each necklace is handmade by women in Nashville who are given an opportunity to earn a living and would otherwise be living in poverty. Each necklace also makes a difference for families with special needs, including orphans.

That’s a wrap for this week. See you next Friday for more 4 Things!

Washington, D.C.

I always thought Washington, D.C. was the perfect place for history buffs to visit, and even though it probably is, I had no idea exactly how much more it has to offer!

Kathleen (Katie) from As Seen on Kathleen grew up just outside of the city in Alexandria, Virginia, in the same neighborhood that her mom grew up in, and has lived in the area her whole life! (I actually grew up in the same neighborhood as my mom, too!) She has some great tips on things to do in D.C. , so let’s get to it!

What do you like best about living near D.C.?
My favorite part is probably the food! I never really realized how diverse the restaurant choices are in this area until I traveled to other major cities and missed all the options here! I also love how there’s so much to do — you can literally never get bored. 

Speaking of food, what are your favorite restaurants in D.C.?
I have SOOO many favorite restaurants in D.C., but my top ones are Le Diplomate on 14th Street (get the beef bourginon and thank me later), Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown, and Cava Mezze for Sunday brunch ($35 all-you-can-eat tapas and 25 cent mimosas!). There are so many restaurants and lots of shopping in downtown’s CityCenterDC, too! 

The Georgetown district of D.C.
CityCenterDC

For someone visiting, what’s the best way to get around town?
If you’re visiting from out of town, the best way to get around is hands-down the Metro system. It’s super simple to use and very convenient! They’re doing some major renovations right now, so check their website to make sure there are no closures where you’re heading. And if all else fails, Uber or Lyft.

D.C. is known for its monuments and museums. There are so many, though! Which ones do you recommend?
It’s so hard to pick my favorite D.C. sites! If I had to narrow it down to a few, though, I’d say the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial are the best, and both are free to visit! Definitely check out the Washington Monument, too, but I don’t think it’s worth it to pay to ride to the top.
As for museums, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is amazing, as is the National Portrait Gallery. Those are both free because they’re part of the Smithsonian Institution, but I highly recommend the Newseum as well! That one you have to pay to get into, but it’s 100% worth it and so fascinating!

Jefferson Memorial
Washington Monument

Are there some nice parks to visit if someone wants to get their fill of nature?
If you want to get out and explore nature in the area, I recommend taking a drive out to Great Falls Park (about a half-hour from D.C. in McLean, Virginia). It’s a gorgeous hike, but if you’re not the hiking type and want something a little less intense, there are plenty of easier trails to walk along!

So many people talk about the cherry blossoms in D.C. When is the best time to see them and is there a good spot to see a lot of them?
The cherry blossoms are STUNNING and so worth seeing! Each year in the spring, they peak at a different time and it’s usually too cold for them to last very long, so there’s a very small window of time to see them at their best. I would recommend looking up their predicted peak and going during the week when it isn’t super crowded. You could also check out the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place for the first couple of weeks in early spring (usually late-March to mid-April). The most popular place to visit the cherry blossom trees is at the Tidal Basin, which provides great photo-ops near the memorials, and the shoreline of East Potomac Park is also a good viewing spot.  

If someone wanted to get out of the city, what are some areas you’d recommend?
I’m a bit biased, but if you wanted to get out of the city, Alexandria is so beautiful and has a lot to offer! It has a small, historic town feel to it and there are a ton of cute shops and restaurants. 

Thank you so much, Katie, for sharing so many fun things to do in D.C. I know I definitely want to add this to my bucket list! It sounds like there’s so much to do right in the city from visiting all the historical landmarks to strolling through the CityCenterDC. And I really want to check out the hiking at Great Falls Park and the cute town of Alexandria! The D.C. area truly has something for everyone!

4 Things Friday (February 1, 2019)

Happy Friday! It’s the start of a new month, and I don’t know about you, but February always seems to fly by in a flash for me. Here are Amy’s 4 things for this week from her podcast, “4 Things with Amy Brown.” Be sure to go listen to hear all the details!

  1. Weird ways to de-stress. Amy talked about some unusual things that can help us de-stress like washing dishes, de-cluttering your home, sniffing your significant other’s laundry (not clean laundry, either… kind of doubt many people would be willing to try that one!), exercising with a group, and reflecting on your failures to help learn from them. My favorite of these is de-cluttering your home. There’s something about a neat and clean house that really puts me at ease, and I love getting rid of things!
  2. Water like a plant. Amy’s son, Stevenson, was part of this segment, and it was so cute! She talked about how not drinking enough water can affect your mood. Water brings you back to life just like it brings a plant to life. She discussed several health benefits of drinking plenty of water, and did you know that the recommended amount of water we should be drinking daily has increased? I had no idea! Women should drink 90 ounces or 11 cups, and men should drink 125 ounces or 16 cups. Luckily, water is my favorite thing to drink, but I probably have a lot more to go to reach the new recommended daily intake.
  3. Shave your face. Aesthetic nurse specialist Keri, aka @thenashvillebeautygirl, joined Amy to discuss face shaving for women. Yes, that’s right. Amy has been shaving her face for five years (about twice a week)! They explained why they do it — it removes dead skin along with peach fuzz. And Keri said it’s a myth that the hair comes back thicker. It just feels like it because you get used to the smoothness. Amy and Keri also recommend some products you can buy if you’re interested in trying this. I have to say, my grandma shaved her face for years!! She was apparently way ahead of the trends!
  4. Table time. This was all about how important it is to sit down at the table to eat. It allows you to have quality time with your family and it slows you down as you eat. And if you’re alone, try scheduling time to have meals with other people, or just try to eat at the table rather than sitting on the couch in front of the tv. For some reason, I feel like I enjoy my meal more when I eat it at the table. Maybe it’s also a comfort thing for me because growing up, my family always ate dinner at the table together every night, and I’m really thankful for that.

Now that you know about Amy’s 4 Things, here are my favorites from the week.

  • Ithaca cold-crafted hummus. This stuff is the BEST! I just discovered it at my grocery store this week while it was on sale and bought every flavor. It has nothing artificial in it, and it tastes so fresh, like homemade. Cold-crafted just means they use cold pressure instead of heat pasteurization to keep all the ingredients fresh and more nutrient-rich. So far, my favorite is the fresh lemon beet, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them. To find out where you can find it near you, just go here.
  • Vegetarian lentil tortilla soup. I made this in the slower cooker on a cold, rainy day and it was amazing! I hadn’t used dried red lentils before, and they were pricier, at almost $6 for the bag, but they are worth it. They cook quicker, and more tender, and I thought they had a neutral flavor. Basically, they just thicken the soup and give it a little extra texture and lots of good protein and nutrients. These are the lentils I bought at my regular grocery store. The flavors in this reminded me of eating a Chipotle burrito bowl! I topped mine with plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheese, sliced avocado, cilantro and crushed tortilla chips. SO good!
  • Back with the ex. I just discovered this new show on Netflix the other day. It kind of reminded me of The Bachelor at first — it even has a similar opening, but it’s a much different concept with way less craziness! The show follows four different couples who were previously in relationships (some have been split up for a couple years, and for others it’s been a couple decades)! They reunite and spend three weeks together, and then have to decide if they want to try a relationship again. Seems like the most bizarre idea ever, but it works for tv! Don’t sign me up for it, though!
  • Door wreath. After taking down all of my Christmas decorations, I felt like my front door looked a little bare. I wanted a simple wreath that would work all year long. I ordered this eucalyptus one from Target and am really happy with it! It spruces things up just enough without being too much.

That’s all for this week! See you back here next Friday for more of mine and Amy’s 4 Things!

Herbed Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppers

I was in the grocery store the other day and saw that goat cheese was on sale. I always buy it when it goes on sale, and I was trying to think of a different way to use it this time. I suddenly remembered I had some mini peppers I needed to use, and this little snack/appetizer came together perfectly! These would be a great, healthy Super Bowl snack, too!

First, start by washing your peppers, cutting off the tops, slicing them in half lengthwise and removing the seeds. Toss them with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, and set aside.

Next, mix your softened goat cheese with the herbs. I used dried oregano, basil, garlic and a pinch of cayenne pepper, but you can use any herbs you like!

Now, you’ll fill each pepper half with the cheese mixture. I used a butter knife so that I could get into every nook and cranny! Then, place them on a non-stick or lightly oiled baking dish and pop them in the oven.

Once the cheese is bubbly and the peppers have softened, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly.

Lastly, drizzle some balsamic glaze over them. This part isn’t required, but highly recommended! Enjoy these as a side dish, appetizer or snack.

Ingredients
5-6 mini peppers, sliced in half lengthwise
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
salt & pepper, to taste
4 oz. goat cheese, softened
dried herbs of choice (use as much or as little as you like – I used oregano, basil, garlic and cayenne pepper)
balsamic glaze

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Wash peppers, cut off the tops, remove seeds and slice in half lengthwise.
3. Toss peppers with olive oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.
4. Mix softened goat cheese with herbs and then spread onto each pepper half.
5. Place peppers onto non-stick or lightly oiled baking dish and bake 20 minutes, or until peppers are tender.
6. Remove from oven and let cool slightly, then drizzle with balsamic glaze.

4 Things Friday (January 25, 2019)

I’m so excited for this new series on the blog! 4 Things Friday will be a weekly recap of my favorite podcast, “4 Things with Amy Brown,” followed by four of my favorite things from the week.

If you don’t know who Amy Brown is, you should! She is one of the co-hosts on “The Bobby Bones Show,” which is a nationally syndicated country music morning radio show. Bobby’s show is SO good, and that’s partly because Amy is on the show. Amy just started her podcast in November, and each episode is only about 30 minutes long, so go listen to this week’s and any previous ones you might have missed here. Now, let’s get started with Amy’s 4 things from this week!

  1. Crying is good. Amy talks about how crying can actually relieve stress, release toxins, lower blood pressure almost immediately and connect us to our emotions. If you have to, set aside a time to cry and just let it all out! I know I’ve had to do that before, and it really does make me feel better. Amy even gives a tip on how to hold back crying if you’re in a place where you can’t shed some tears (like at work). She says to drink water because you can’t cry and drink at the same time. Who knew?!
  2. Weights make pretty muscles. Amy had celebrity fitness trainer Erin Oprea on to discuss how important weight training is. Did you know the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn at rest? It’s important to use proper form when working out with weights, and Erin recommends starting low and building your way up to heavier weights. You can even use your own body weight to do things like lunges and push-ups. I know I’m definitely guilty of not using weights enough, but Erin gave some really great tips on how to make it easier and fun!
  3. Homemade deodorant. Amy went into why we should be using a natural deodorant, and she shared the recipe she uses to make her own. I’ve recently made the switch to natural deodorant because I just didn’t like what I was finding out about the ingredients in the traditional ones. I figured winter would be a good time to test some out since sweating isn’t quite as much of an issue this time of year. So far, I’ve had pretty good results, but will likely try a few different kinds and see what works best for me.
  4. Protein bars. When we want a quick, healthy snack, we often think protein bars, but so many of them are loaded with sugar and weird ingredients. Amy recommended her favorites that are good for you, and they’ll fill you up! I haven’t tried any of them yet, but I definitely want to get some of the Primal Kitchen bars.

Now that you know about Amy’s 4 Things, here are my favorites from the week.

  • Chickpea curry. I often crave Asian food, but I don’t have a lot of options near me, and I also try to avoid getting a lot of takeout. Sometimes Indian food can have tons of ingredients and be really complicated, but this recipe is so easy and doesn’t require a lot. I’ve made this several times and it never disappoints. Plus, the leftovers are great, too!
  • Purely Elizabeth granola. Just about every morning for breakfast, I have plain Greek yogurt with some granola sprinkled on top. I’ve been eating Purely Elizabeth for a while now because it’s one of the healthiest I’ve found, it’s free of refined sugars and it tastes so good! I usually buy the chocolate sea salt & peanut butter, but I recently found the banana nut butter and love that it’s grain free and so low in carbs and sugar! That’s hard to find in a granola.
  • Dr. Teal’s lavender and epsom salt bubble bath. I love using this right before bed. The lavender scent is so relaxing and calms me so I can easily get to sleep. The epsom salt in this is really good for sore, tired muscles, too. This bubble bath is inexpensive, and a bottle seems to last for a really long time.
  • Vital Proteins collagen peptides. As a vegetarian, protein is really important for me, but I’ve never really loved a lot of the protein powders I tried. This one is the exception! I’ve been using this for a few months now and it’s the best! Because it’s a collagen protein, it isn’t considered vegan/vegetarian-friendly, but I’m okay with it because of all the benefits found in collagen. It’s great for skin, nails, hair, digestion… the list goes on! What I like best about this protein is that it’s colorless, odorless and tasteless, so it can be mixed into literally anything! I tend to put it in my coffee each morning.

That’s all for this week! Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to check out “4 Things with Amy Brown.”