Quarantine Fitness: Staying Fit Within the Comfort of Your Home

What a difference a month can make.

That could be the understatement of the year, and if I had to wager a guess, I'd say that I'm spot on that no one anticipated the current "reality" that ushered in quickly and un-apologetically.  For me the impact from the Corona Virus was felt socially almost immediately, as I canceled standing birthday plans and began my duty to self-quarantine and practice physical distancing. A negligible concession against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

I know this shift to a “new normal” affects everyone differently, so I hope you will remember to be kind and gentle with yourself as you continue to adjust in the days ahead.  And about adjusting… If you were accustomed to a regular fitness routine outside of your living quarters, then, like me, you’re pivoting to online workout resources to keep you moving, fit (and, let’s be honest, sane.) 

Since we’ve been at this #stayathome thing for a few weeks now, I’ve scouted (both personally and by word of mouth) several programs and fitness masters that will serve us well now—and in the days beyond.  From yoga, to full body boot camps, cardio and more, you’ll want to add this round-up to your fitness arsenal.

Self-care has never been more critical than it is now, so be sure to incorporate #quarantinefitness into your routine and stay well and safe.

The Round Up~

 The Home Depot Backyard -- Now through April 18th, the Home Depot Backyard is offering a free live-stream fitness program that's available worldwide.  Workout sessions will stream live from the Home Depot Backyard Instagram account. 

Peloton – Known for their elevated bike workouts, Peloton is offering free 90-day trial subscriptions to its full fitness library, via the app, for new subscribers.

x28 Fitness -- Exclusive online training combined with tailored programs based on fitness levels, multiple nutrition plans, a Facebook support group, and more, x28 is a personal favorite for online training. 

Free Streaming Workouts -- Parade.com did the heavy lifting of rounding up over 125 (!!!) free workouts that you can stream. From Youtube, to Roku, Instagram, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, ios, the good ole' world wide web, and more, there is literally something for everyone--and no excuse not to jump in and get moving!

Happy (Quarantine) Living!


Photo Credit: Pinterest

 

{In Case You Missed It}: 2020 Highlights

Against the backdrop of everything 2020 brought to bear (the good, the bad, and the downright ugly), I'm thankful for the highlights--the special, often everyday, moments that still allowed for a memorable year, despite a global pandemic and its fallout.  And so, without any further delay, (where did January go?!), I'm thrilled to continue my perennial tradition of highlights and to cap off my recent 10 year blogiversary installments. (Woot, woot!)

2020 started like most other years, for which I'm grateful, allowing me to indulge in some of the my favorite things all over again.  I kicked off the year with a trip to my forever favorite New York City, to indulge in the perfect trifecta of food, fashion and travel.  On the food front, my timing allowed for yet another indulgence in NYC Restaurant Week, where I took in both new (Wild Ink) and new to me (Butter) restaurants for phenomenal dining (for less).  

My stay also included another press invite to cover the A/W Man Woman Show again on the cusp of New York Fashion Week.  Designer interviews, coupled with innovative and classic collections spanning menswear, lifestyle and home goods, was a return to a space and collective design talent that was nothing short of exceptional.  

Finally, there was also my attendance at the New York Times Travel Show, where I soaked up industry knowledge and expertise from travel experts, media and tourism representatives, fellow consultants and more.  Although travel would be soon be impacted (and largely restricted) in unimaginable ways, the investment was well worth it--and my knowledge hangs in the ready for when the world restores to a healthier landscape.  

And with it all, I couldn't come to town without experiencing long-time favorites like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, along with new discoveries, like the fabulous Hudson Yards and The Vessel.  As it turned out, that would be the extent of my travel before the Covid-induced quarantine began a month or so later, so I'm truly thankful to have scored that trip and those memories just in time.

More excitement came with my continued collaboration with exceptional, fellow Black food bloggers for the fourth annual Black History Month Potluck and my Vegetarian Chili recipe (so good!), along with more food and hospitality media for local restaurants and hotels.

I was additionally honored to have my work featured in MyDomaine, sharing my Elderflower Lemonade Spritz.  And as quarantined life became the norm, hearing from many of you looking for cooking inspiration, I hosted my first Instagram Live Cooking Class and kicked off a star ingredient series, rounding-up recipes centered around a star ingredient that's typically on-hand in the pantry or freezer/refrigerator.

And as collaborations go, I was honored to participate in a Juneteenth Virtual Cookout with over 60 fellow Black food bloggers and creatives to celebrate the history and significance of this important (but often forgotten) part of American history.  Our virtual cookout was featured across several food and media outlets, including the Washington Post, Food52, the FeedFeed, Blavity, and many more, while resonating the emphatic message that Black lives and Black history matter.

Continuing that theme here on the blog included posts on effective allyship, to supporting Black-owned Atlanta restaurants, to drive much needed aid to those establishments disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

And because it became clear that "quarantine life" wasn't leaving anytime soon, I dedicated more content (blog and social media) to helping us continue to adjust and thrive in our quarantined lifestyle, including more travel, lifestyle, fitness, beauty, self care, and arts and culture posts and sharing, along with recipes and cooking inspiration for keeping things delicious while staying home and staying safe.

The holiday season was met with my guide for a stress-free Thanksgiving, including a series of social posts on everything from recipes, to advance prep, to making the best turkey, and more.

Finally, I paused to take in the 10 year run that crescendo-ed in August and recounted my journey from then until now in a series of posts, culminating with this one (albeit a bit beyond the 10th year). :)

Which brings me once again to the heartfelt, resounding sentiment of: thank you.  For every post you've read, comment you've shared, recipe you've tried, travel tip you've taken on, lifestyle inspiration you've garnered, platform you've joined me on, cooking class or pop-up shop you've attended, collaboration you've extended, and just simply being here year after year, I extend a million thanks!

Although I was excited to live out my passions here and beyond, it is absolutely the people I share this with (known and unknown) that make it worthwhile and keep me coming back again and again. At the root of my love for it all, has always been my love of sharing it with those who are along for the ride. I'm truly thankful for the blessings that make this journey so rich and rewarding.

I'm praying this new year is a blessed, healthy and prosperous year for you and those you love.  Let's stay connected through it all and keep cheering each other on. The best is yet to come!

XO,

Dawn

P.S. See more of my 2020 highlights here!

{Culture Club}: Indulge Your Stay at Home with Travel, Broadway, Art and More!

Photo Credit: Departures

If phrases like, "climbing the walls" "going stir crazy" and "bored in the house" resonate with you these days, you're not alone.  While the impacts of quarantine life are affecting everyone differently, there are some effects that are likely universal.

Beyond the desire to gather, socialize, embrace and simply 'be' in uninhibited ways of days gone by, there's also the desire--dare I say need--to keep in touch with the creative sides of life.  And with that, I aim to help.

Travel and the arts have always been significant in my life and sense of personal fulfillment, so finding ways to fill the voids as best as possible from the inner sanctum of my home proffers a new infusion of life from the outside world, making the continued time indoors less escape-worthy and more stay-worthy.

If Broadway, the Opera, Museums, walks through Disney's Magic Kingdom, U.S. National Parks and the Australian Outback, Zoo Exhibits, Salsa Lessons, Hotel Scenes, and the like, suit your fancy, you'll want to take in some, or all, of the current offerings available to the public. Excited yet?

Opera~
I attended my first opera many, many years ago while vacationing in Nice, France--and it's safe to say I was smitten (and hooked) from that time until now.  Taking in the opera would continue to dot my travels during future stays in Florence, Italy and Paris, France--and I can't begin to tell you how excited I am to take in The Metropolitan Opera right from my living room in the days ahead.  Enjoy nightly opera streams from the Met, featuring classics ranging from Mozart to French masterpieces and more.

Broadway~
A child of the performing arts, who eventually dipped my toe in the community theater pond for an unforgettable (to me) stint, theater--Broadway, particularly, speaks to everything that I love about the arts: song, dance, acting, production, grandeur, storytelling and so on.  So now that my Broadway and local theater outings are on hold, watching from home has become the next best thing.  Cue offerings from iconic British composer Andrew Lloyd Weber that stream every Friday. Each full-length feature begins at 2 p.m. ET and remains accessible for the next 48 hours--just in time for weekend indulgence.  And there's more.  From BroadwayHD, to Netflix, to Amazon Prime, more productions are simply a click away.

Culture, culture and more culture~
I'm a card carrying member of the culture club (aka the art, travel, historical and beyond experiences that immerse the mind, body and soul in stimulating, exciting experiences.) And I happen to have landed upon a collection of 30 experiences ranging from purveyors such as Disney, U.S. National Parks, Tourism Boards, Museums, Zoos and more! Who knows? You may never want to leave your couch again. 

Museums~
There's no way to adequately describe Google Arts and Culture Museum at Home curation of art from museums spanning the globe; you'll really just have to see it for yourself.  And let me just say that as an avid museum lover and patron, you will see renowned exhibitions and art works that might otherwise require a near lifetime to digest in person.

Virtual Vacations~
If you're a travel lover, then it's safe to surmise that you'd welcome the opportunity to travel freely again--absorbing destinations, sights, scenes, and creating memories, that will linger long after you're gone.  If I'm right, then you're going to like what comes next.  From Italy, to Mexico, Malibu, Ireland, St. Barths, and Israel, take a (virtual) vacation to soothe your senses and reinvigorate your appetite for travel once the outdoors are fully reopen again.

Allow these experiences to make the continued days of quarantine more enjoyable (and durable), as we continue our commitment to stay home and stay safe.

Happy (and Safe) Living! 

  

Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Frozen shrimp has always been a go-to staple in my freezer--and especially so during the quarantine, shelter-in-place, days of late.  Besides going from frozen to thawed within minutes, there is something comforting about knowing that you've got seafood virtually on-demand and waiting to be transformed into as many delicious iterations as your imagination can muster.

So this past Sunday, after a morning walk, followed by an online worship service, and re-watching Hamilton (squeal!), my mind went to what's for dinner.  And in keeping with my already low-key Sunday vibes, I decided to keep it simple.

What resulted was simple in preparation, indeed, in that I had all of the ingredients on hand in my fridge, but by no means simple in final wow-appeal and delicious-ness.  Translation: it. was. so. good.

Grilled shrimp (I grilled my shrimp on my indoor smokeless grill for extra ease), lettuce leaves to serve as the bed and wrap, piquant scallions, juicy grape tomatoes, hothouse cucumber slices, and a punchy lime vinaigrette, made for one good 'til the last bite creation.  The lightness of the dish (perfect for Summer) x the big flavors made this an instant favorite.  It's a gorgeous meal-in-one that can double as appetizers or a main course, depending on whether you're hungry or hangry. :)

Enjoy--and join me in finding delight in the simple pleasures of...

Happy Eating!

Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients:
Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Kosher Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper
Old Bay Seasoning
Worcestershire Sauce
Tabasco
Olive Oil
Lettuce leaves (Boston or Bibb, recommended)
Grape tomatoes, halved
Scallions, chopped (white and green parts)
Hothouse cucumber, thinly sliced
Lime Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Flaked sea salt for garnish (optional)

Method:
Place shrimp in a bowl and season to taste with salt, pepper, Old Bay, Worcestershire, Tabasco and oil; toss ingredients to combine. Grill shrimp until just done about 2 minutes or so per side. While shrimp is grilling, prepare vinaigrette.  Once done, remove shrimp and drizzle with some of the vinaigrette.  Toss to coat and set aside.

Arrange lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, cucumber and shrimp on a platter.  Place remaining vinaigrette in a dish/bowl and add to platter.  Garnish with a light sprinkle of flaked sea salt to finish, if using.  To assemble, place cucumber, tomatoes, shrimp and scallions on lettuce leaf.  Garnish with a drizzle of vinaigrette to finish--and enjoy!

Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
Juice of 1 lime
Teaspoon of Dijon mustard   
1/2 teaspoon of honey
Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil  

Method:
Whisk together lime juice, mustard, honey, salt and pepper.  Drizzle in oil and whisk until emulsified and fully incorporated. (Cook's Note: I like my vinaigrette with a good acidic punch so I typically use less oil than is standard.  Feel free to modify with more oil, as desired.  And you can also double the original recipe for more vinaigrette. Store remaining vinaigrette in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.) 

   

 

Toast With This!: Dalgona Coffee

As weekends go, this past one was a satisfying mixture of productivity and chill.  Mind you it didn't come without some internal coaching to remind myself that it's okay to just. chill. at times.  The type-A, achiever part of my makeup needs reminders on this sort, occasionally-- remembering that it's self-love in motion when we can be gentle and extend grace--to ourselves! 

So somewhere in between a few house chores, indulging in walks outdoors, a training course, Netflix, catching up with family, online worship, cooking, and so on, I decided to finally give a nod to the trending whipped coffee that I've been seeing on social media.  Known as Dalgona Coffee, with origins hailing from India, Pakistan and beyond, this simple, but stunning, drink is worth the hype.  My rendition included the addition of allspice and cinnamon for a warm, subtle Chai finish.  And considering my picky ways when it comes to coffee drinks, I'm glad to report that it's a keeper. :) 

Easy enough to bring together (we're talking sheer minutes) and beautifully delicious enough to feel like the special treat you didn't know you wanted, it was a fun Sunday afternoon indulgence that I think you should add to your stay-at-home, quarantine ticking and tocking.  Besides giving certain popular coffee shops that will rename nameless a run for their (over-priced) money for similar drinks, this makes for a perfect breakfast, afternoon or dessert indulgence.

So the next time you're looking to enjoy a cheers or two, toast with this!

Happy Sipping!

Dalgona Coffee
Ingredients:
Two tablespoons instant coffee
Two tablespoons sugar
Two tablespoons hot water
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Milk of choice
Ice

Method:
Add coffee, sugar, spices and water to a mixing bowl.  Whisk ingredients together by hand or electric mixer until the coffee becomes frothy with a whipped texture.  Pour milk over ice and ladle in whipped coffee to top.  Enjoy!