Monthly Archives: December 2013

Take Me Back Tuesday – Newport, Rhode Island

I haven’t written a Take Me Back Tuesday post in quite a bit.  I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve run out of places to write about or that writing about places I’ve been makes me miss traveling….yup I think it’s the latter.

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This week I decided to tell you about Newport, Rhode Island, one of my favorite weekend getaways in both the summer and winter.  Newport is the perfect little nautical town that has something for everyone.  Fantastic restaurants with beautiful ocean backdrops, fun outdoor bars, gorgeous sightseeing, a bit of history, and even some fun adventurous activities!

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My Newport Favorites

Place to Stay

Rheas Inn: My family has been staying here for years.  The owners are super accommodating and friendly.  Rhea’s is set right across from the beach and is a 5 minute cab ride from downtown.  It’s a cozy place with about a dozen rooms and a common area that is stocked for a full continental breakfast (or late night snack).

Newport Beach Hotel & Suites:  If you are willing to spend a little more money, this place is really nice.  I stayed here for my sister’s wedding and had the suite.  It was definitely a 4-5 star experience.

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Beach

Easton’s Beach:  Often referred to as “First Beach” this area is right across from the above two hotels.  It gets pretty crowded in the summer, but that’s to be expected.  If you plop your chair in front of the Atlantic Beach Club you can expect some music and college kids enjoying being college kids.

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Restaurants

Midtown Oyster Bar: This restaurant was new this past summer.  Me and Andy loved it.  It had great food and a roof deck!

Red Parrot:  I think my family goes here every single time they visit Newport (and that’s at least a couple of times a year).  It’s kind of a Newport staple right in the middle of Lower and Upper Thames.

Brick Alley Pub:  Another staple restaurant on Thames street.  They have a great salad bar!

The Landing:  If you want a water view, this is a great option.  We weren’t blown away by the food or service but the view is worth it!

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Things To Do

Thames Street:  You can go to Newport and spend the entire day walking up and down Lower and Upper Thames Streets.  They are the cutest cobblestone streets with a ton of great small boutiques, souvenir shops, and of course great restaurants.

Concerts at The Newport Yachting Center:  This is a great small and intimate venue to go see a band.  It’s right downtown and has some great shows.  A fun way to start or end your night.

Cliff Walk:  I absolutely love going for a run or walk on Cliff Walk….I can’t believe I don’t have pictures from it!  Just take my word and go.

Ocean Avenue:  Take a drive on Ocean Avenue if you want to play the game “How much do you think that house is worth?” or “Which one would you buy?”.  The houses on Ocean Avenue are unreal.  A bit different from the old money mansions down the street, these are modern-day million/billionaire’s summer homes set right on the ocean.

Mansions:  I actually haven’t toured the mansions since I was younger but it’s definitely a must – do!  There is so much history and of course a lot to see!  If you want to go when the crowds aren’t there, go during Christmas.  They decorate a few of them for the holidays and they aren’t too busy!

Skydive Newport:  Andy and I went to Newport this past summer just for the skydiving.  It was absolutely awesome!

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Have you ever been to Newport? What’s your favorite thing to do there?  If not, where is you favorite getaway from home?

 

 

Grilled Apple and Bacon Pork Chops

Happy Sunday!  I hope everyone’s weekends were great.  Mine was pretty mellow and relaxing, which is always nice!  We had our first legitimate snow storm come through Saturday so it was the perfect excuse to get snowed in!  Before re-capping though, I wanted to share a recipe I made last week.

I was really missing the grill so decided to fire it up!  Even though it was about 25 degrees out it was definitely worth it (or maybe I should ask Andy that since he was the one who ended up doing the dirty work).  I wanted to grill some pork chops but didn’t want to make my barbecue and rosemary chops.

I came up with Grilled Apple and Bacon Pork chops. The apple and bacon is really just a saute that I topped the pork chops with once they were off the grill.

Grilled Apple and Bacon Pork Chops

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  • 3 Bone-in Pork Chops
  • 1 Gala Apple, diced
  • 1/2 Small Red Onion, chopped
  • 2 Slices of Thick Bacon, cut into small pieces
  • Coconut Oil
  • Salt, Pepper, Sage

Melt about 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave and pour over your pork chops.  Try to have them in a warm place so the oil doesn’t harden right away.  Sprinkle each side with salt, pepper, and sage.  Place the pork chops on grill over medium high heat.  Grill one side for about 8-10 minutes.  Flip, and cook the other side for 8 – 10 minutes or until cooked through.

While the chops are grilling you can prepare the Apple and Bacon saute.  Take a teaspoon of coconut oil and place in a hot pan over medium heat.  Put your bacon in the pan first and cook for about a minute so that your pan is nice and greased.  Add the apple and onions.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and sage.  Continue cooking and mixing around for 8 – 10 minutes.  Leave on low until pork chops are done.

Top your pork chops with the apple and bacon saute!  I loved this dish.  I hope you do too!

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How To Stay Fit Without a Gym Membership

Confession.  For about 2 to 3 years while living in Boston I didn’t belong to a gym.  Anyone living in a city can relate I’m sure.  Gym memberships are just too darn expensive! Especially when you have a rent to pay that claims half of your pay check.

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There is good news though.  You don’t need a gym!  I worked my way towards feeling the best I have in my life, without one.  Let me tell you how to stay fit without a gym membership…because I did it myself!

Go For A Run:  The best thing about running is all you need are your two legs!  Okay and I guess some shoes and gear.  The key to keep running fun and effective is to change it up or work your way towards a goal.  Some days do hills, other days to interval sprints.  Change up the route, or sign up for a 5k.  Running outside is one of my favorite ways to get my sweat on!

Drop-In Yoga Classes:  I was lucky to find a studio in Boston that had cheap drop in classes (only $10).  If you can’t find a studio with cheap rates like this, look for community classes which only ask for a small donation.

Work Out At Home:  For about a year I would do Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred videos (they are available on YouTube for free).  I still love them, and actually just did one tonight for the first time in a while!  They are only 30 minutes long but incorporate strength training and cardio.  Just make sure you have a set of dumbbells ( a great gift idea)!  I also just discovered Melissa Bender’s site that has short workout videos you can do at home!  Check it out!

Use The Park as Your Gym: I had a big park in my back yard when living in Boston.  It was a great place to work out in the mornings.  I usually would look up Crossfit workouts that didn’t require any weights.  Think lunges, burpees, sprints, squats, etc. I also recently found a great website called BodeeFit that sends you a daily workout that you can do at home.

Go For a Hike:  Find a trail near you.  Ask around or use Alltrails.com.  

Now that I look at this list myself, I might be re-thinking my gym membership!  The world is our play ground and there are so many ways to stay active without expensive equipment or machines.

How do you stay fit outside of the gym?

 

 

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