Emily's Top 5 Spin Tips

WAIT! Don't keep scrolling because you don't spin.  I didn't either, and now I'm HOOKED! 

A little over a year ago my family + I joined the YMCA.  I've never been what you would call athletic and I tend to make a lot of excuses to avoid exercise, but after my husband dragged me to a spin class I finally found an activity I LOVE... cycle! When quarantine hit and the gym closed I drove my two kiddos to Ocala and back to pick up the last remaining affordable spin bike in the state because I couldn't live without it. Below are some different ways I enjoy working out on my bike - let me know your favorite ways to stay active! 

1. Peloton App- I don't have a Peloton (yet), BUT Peloton made their app free for 3 months when quarantine started and now I will happily pay because I can't live without my arms + intervals ride with Cody Rigsby.  I laugh, I dance, + I get a whole body work out. 

2. Les Mills RPM on Spotify- I am by no means a spin instructor, but after attending many classes I have an idea of what to do.  Let the music control your ride - climb when it's intense, speed up when the music does, + have fun! 

3. Music Videos- Always a good time!  Throw on some YouTube videos and do your thing!

4. Virtual Scenery- For a longer and more relaxing ride, try putting on a trail or mountain video with your favorite music.  I find having something to watch leads to longer rides. 

5. Classes- Gyms are open again, so if you feel comfortable sign up for a cycle class! I recommend the Y or CycleBar.  The energy is incredible, the music is loud, and the room is dark -- my perfect combo for a good workout.  

I'm here if you ever want to ride together, even virtually! 

Chelsea's Top 5 Summer Activities | Family and Budget Friendly

Although 2020 hasn’t gotten off to a great start, summer has now officially started, and it’s WAY too beautiful to stay inside! Here are my Top 5 Summer Activities that are budget and family friendly, while also practicing social distancing.

1) Kayaking - This is my husband and I’s favorite weekend hobby. Not only is it relaxing but its also fun! Enjoy peacefully paddling down a river / creek or enjoy some competition and race from point A to point B. It’s the perfect outdoor activity that’s great for family bonding on the water while also allowing you to work on a tan.

Favorite Spot: Amelia Island Adventures Kayaking

2) Gardening - Quarantine wasn’t ideal, but it did bring about new interests that also intrigued all 3 of my children. Gardening offers both a therapeutic and educational experience for adults and children alike. The most rewarding thing is planting a plant babe and watching new life sprout and grow.

Favorite Garden Plants: Herbs! I love them all so please don't ask me to pick a favorite. My 5 year old daughter on the other hand, says her favorites are the pumpkin seeds she planted a few weeks ago; 2 have already sprouted!

3) Hiking - Nature trails are one of my kid’s favorite adventures. We stop and look at all the plants, pick wild flowers, and play “I Spy” with the wildlife around us. It’s a great way to release energy and enjoyable for all ages.

Favorite Spot: Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

4) Bike Trail - While I may not be an avid cyclist, biking a few miles definitely gets the blood flowing. There’s just something about taking a bike ride near the water - maybe its the warm breeze coming off the shore or the large shaded oak trees that hang over the path, but whatever it is, it’s beautiful and highly recommended!

Favorite Spot: Little Talbot Island

5) Going to the beach - Is it really summer if you haven’t gone to the beach? While stricter guidelines are currently in place for everyone’s protection, the beach is still a go-to. You just can’t beat the much needed Vitamin D that you’ll receive while strolling down the beach collecting shells and looking for shark’s teeth.

Favorite Spots: Mickler’s Landing + Vilano Beach

Comment below with any other spots or activities that you love for the summer in JAX!

Jamily's Top 5 Favorite Cookbooks ( + Food Blogs)

There’s nothing like holding a cookbook in your hands. I love turning the pages and settling in on the couch with a new book. As I turn each page I read the recipe stories and funny anecdotes about how a particular recipe came to be and inevitably start creating a mental food map – basically routing how and when to make each and every recipe that calls to me. Reading recipes is something I do for fun believe it or not! These are my top 5 favorite cookbooks (+ food blogs), in no particular order. I hope I can inspire you to either get one of these books or follow some of these amazing recipe creators! You’ll be so glad you did! 

1.     Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines – If you know anything about Joanna & Chip Gaines you know they don’t cut corners, they give their all and it’s always 100%. I totally feel this is reflected in this cookbook! I’ve had it for over a year and I find myself reaching for it just as much as I did when I first got it. In my mind it’s the top breakfast cookbook. The stories Joanna adds and history behind the recipes are as beautiful as the book itself and it was such a success that she recently released volume 2! It will definitely be my next cookbook purchase. 

Favorite Recipes: Jojo’s Biscuits, The Best Ever Fluffy Pancakes, Three-Cheese Quiche, Chicken Spaghetti!

2.     Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard – Have you heard of her? She the super talented brains behind food blog “Half Baked Harvest”. I’ve been following her for so long I’d be surprised if you hadn’t made one of her recipes! She’s a total kitchen sensation – her ideas and flavor pairings are incredible and I find myself thinking “why didn’t I think of that combo?” a whole lot more.  You will find incredible recipes on her blog and recipe videos on Instagram but this book is just a treat for the eyes you have to have. The colors and recipes will inspire the chef in all of us!

Favorite Recipes: Crispy Chicjen Khao Soi Noodle Soup, The Meanest Greenest Pizza, Spinach And Artichoke Mac-And-Cheese Bake, Chocolate Mousse!

3.     Seriously Delish by Jessica Merchant – Another amazing food blogger turned cookbook author! Jessica is famous for “trashing things up” which basically means taking a classic staple and turning it on its head with something crazy and amazing. For example: adding grilled pineapple to guacamole! I mean, come on! She’s behind the blog How Sweet Eats which I’ve been following for almost 10 years.  Her love for glitter, Lisa Frank, neon colors and the word “totally” is so fun and I feel like you could never be in a bad mood cooking up one of her fab recipes! At the end of every year she posts recipes fails for the year and that’s just hilarious and reminds us all that it’s okay to mess up in the kitchen! Don’t take yourself too seriously. 

Favorite Recipes: Doing A Cheese Board Like Whoa, Vanilla Bourbon BBQ Sauce, Garlic Butter Roasted Chicken!

4.     Mastering The Art of French Cooking – Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle & Simone Beck. Oh Julia. Her passion for cooking is unmatched. She was brave and committed to the kitchen! I didn’t grow up watching Julia Child on TV unfortunately but I certainly learned about her in culinary school and as my culinary adventures grew. Did you ever see the movies Julie & Julia? I was completely mesmerized by it and Meryl Streep’s performance. I need to cook immediately after watching that movie, it never fails. This book is a classic, when my husband surprised me with it I spent hours reading and re-reading cooking methods and traditions. If you’re not well versed in the kitchen I recommend this book because it has so much knowledge and direction on every page. It’s such a joy each time I open the book!

Favorite Recipes: Coq Au Vin (chicken in red wine with mushrooms, onions and bacon), Fonds D’Artichauts Au Beurre (Buttered Artichoke Bottoms), Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew), Bavarois Au Chocolat (Chocolate Bavarian Cream)!

5.     All The Healthy Things by Ashlea Carver Adams – Okay, I’m cheating a little on this one. Technically not a cookbook but a food blog and it is incredible! I feel like cookbooks aren’t as popular as they used to be as technology pulls us farther away from paper. As I said before, I absolutely love a cookbook in my hands but if for some reason you haven’t published one I will follow you and cheer you on and make your recipes as best I can! This is new-to-me blog has sucked me in big time! Ashlea is a gorgeous lawyer turned food blogger, how incredible is that? Her recipes are colorful, healthy and delicious. I am planning on making one of Ashlea’s recipes tonight for dinner and I can’t wait.

Favorite Recipes: Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls with Spicy Lime Tahini, Crispy Baked Ranch Chicken Wings, Greek Chickpea Salad, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffins, Honey Sriracha Salmon!

Let me know which recipes you try in the comments!

Erica's Top 5 Local Food Trucks

One of the best parts of being quarantined these last few weeks - nightly food trucks near my neighborhood. If you didn't know, there are 100+ food trucks here in Jax (exciting, right?!) & my goal is to eventually try them all! I'm nowhere near that goal but we're slowly crossing them off the list when we can. 

I need to go on record and say that this was an incredibly hard to list to come up with by only being able to highlight 5. I want to know all of your must-try food trucks too!

Alright, here we go

And in no particular order

Drumroll please.......

1. Atomic Dog: Two words: Corn + Dog! The grown up version of a childhood favorite and they are mouth watering good. Fresh cornmeal batter and fried perfectly - what more could you ask for?! My current favorite is the street corn corn dog which is their original corn dog topped with spicy chipotle aioli, cilantro & parmesan cheese *chefs kiss*

2. Mr. Potato Spread: If you haven't tried Mr. Potato Spread, it's an absolute must. I've tried multiple menu items (so far, all are delicious) but OMG the Hog Heaven on french fries is goooooood. Pulled pork in a mustard based bbq sauce, bacon, & cheddar cheese over perfectly cooked fries. Fun Fact: They have a food truck that is out weekly and a sit down location in the Regency Mall food court & they have vegan options

3. Carolina Jax (formerly Cackylacky's): When it comes to burger's, I'm a pretty simple girl, which is why the "classic" (extra pickles, please) off the "simple burger" menu is my go-to! This award-winning food truck has options - "simple" and "signature" burgers, "sammiches" and loaded fries! The next burger I plan to try is the Tar Heel.....because, ya know, pulled pork and bacon.... I just can't resist it

4. Hapa Li: This is the first and only Hawaiian food truck in Jax, all made from scratch and award winning! I've only eaten here once so far but it was so good I couldn't leave it off this list. There were so many menu items that sounded right up my alley but ended up choosing the Nulu Bowl - Hawaiian bbq chicken served over teriyaki steamed veggies + noodles. Y U M! & they have a vegan option, too!

5. Pizza Brigade: First things first, they have chicken wings in bang bang sauce..... need I say more? Now that we got that out of the way, let's move on to the main attraction... Remember those Stouffer's french bread pizzas? Welllll, this is basically those but on a whole. other. level! If you love pickles like I do (see above #3) and agree that they add that extra bit of razzle dazzle to a dish, then the Southern Man french bread pizza will be your best friend! BBQ sauce, chicken, pickles, cheese, onions and a white BBQ sauce drizzle

Let me know your favorites in the comments!

Alaina's Top 5 Binge-Worthy Shows

Alaina is our go-to gal for so many things, including suggestions in the San Marco/San Jose area and tv shows you should watch! Binge along with her, then let her know your favorites!

1. The Affair- Starring Joshua Jackson, Maura Tierney, and Dominic West. Where to start? This show keeps you on your toes for FIVE seasons. It drags in season 3 for a minute, but Stick.With.It because the concluding seasons are absolutely riveting.

2. Big Little Lies- Oh SO binge-worthy! All star cast! There’s murder, there’s plot twists, there’s comedy- this show has it all! It’s been adapted from a book series by Liane Moriarty ,so if book binging is also your bag of chips (not mine) then this two-fer is for you, baby!

3. Six Feet Under- I have watched this HBO series in it’s entirety a dozen times at least. It’s a captivating drama about The Fisher Family who lives and works in a funeral home. The depth they go into with character development is really unparalleled. Fun fact: Rolling Stone named this show’s series finale THE BEST OF ALL TIME; you will NEVER experience more closure in a finale than you do with Six Feet Under’s... change my mind.

4. Dawson’s Creek- Listen, this is a binge fest then, now, and forever so blow up an inflatable chair and dive head first into the best 90s teenage drama around. If you haven’t watched this series yet I’m definitely judging you, but fear not there’s still plenty of time to catch up with The Capeside Crew!

5. Workin Moms- Ok so moms reading this review- you’ve gotta watch this Netflix Show. The episodes are short so you’ll fly through the seasons in no time at all! It captures the different seasons of motherhood SO well and really illustrates the struggles of #momlife like no other show really does. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll relate over and over again. Mamas, you wanna feel “seen” watch this one for sure! And as always, if you’re feeling alone in motherhood, reach out to me anytime! Helping mamas navigate the foreign waters is my true passion- You’re not alone!

#QuarantineTips Top 5 Dessert Spots in JAX

Danay lives in the Venetia/Ortega area with her husband and beloved otterhound. She's also expecting a baby boy soon! Danay definitely has a sweet tooth, so she's sharing her favorite places to satisfy your cravings in Jacksonville!

1. Dreamette - Such a classic! It's a favorite of my parents, and my grandparents before them, and the baby in my belly already loves it, too (I'm blaming him for the cravings, anyway). Originally named Creamette when it opened in the '40s, it's been a staple of my family for over 50 years; and I'm excited to add a fourth generation Dreamette junkie to the fold (when he's old enough, if my child doesn't love Dreamette - please make sure he wasn't switched at birth). I usually get a chocolate, peanut butter, and banana milkshake (it's not on the menu), but really everything is extraordinary. I don't know why their soft serve ice cream is so extra special; it just is.

2. Tuptim Thai - I LOVE mango sticky rice, and theirs is amazing! Along with everything else they serve. Eat a meal there, too, and don't feel bad if you order dessert first (wink wink).

3. Biscottis - Anything. Take the "tour" at the dessert window and just get any dessert. You will be so happy.   

4. 13 Gypsies or El Jefe for Tres Leches - They both probably have other great desserts, but I really don't care about anything else when an awesome Tres Leches is available.

5. The French Pantry - SO worth the wait in line (I have never not seen a long line) for dessert and food here! All the desserts I've tried are wonderful, but the Wedding Cake is my absolute favorite. The cookies have a special place in my heart, too, as my first encounter with The French Pantry was via a gift of cookies brought by the loveliest patient to the dental office I was then working for. Want someone to love you forever? Take them some French Pantry cookies. Warning- get enough cookies so that you don't eat every one of them on the way to the receiver of the cookie gift.

**Honorable mention/can't wait to try them: Mixed Fillings Pie Shop - I literally just found out today (while writing this list) that we have a new pie shop in Riverside! They are currently taking pick-up and delivery orders and will be fully open soon. My mouth is watering in anticipation. Move over cake, I'm ready for some PIE.