A Healthy Twist on Shepherd's Pie

One of my roommates made the most outstanding Shepherd's Pie this week and I can't wait to share the recipe.  Not only did it taste AMAZING, but it is incredibly healthy as well.  Maybe not the easiest thing to make, but if you have some time I highly recommend giving this a shot!  Props to my roommate who essentially winged this dish -- it wasn't until after she made it that she went back and jotted down the recipe.  Impressive!

First, you will need to buy ...

For the filling:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 cup each: diced carrot, onion, celery, parsnip
• 1 pint sliced button mushrooms
• 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1.5 T minced fresh rosemary
• 1.5 T minced fresh thyme
• 1 tsp. smoked paprika
• salt & pepper to taste
• red pepper flake to taste

For the mash:

• 4 small to medium sized sweet potatoes
• 1/2 T minced fresh rosemary
• 1/2 T minced fresh thyme
• salt & pepper

Then, you will need to ...

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  
2. In a large saucepan, bring about 6-8 cups of water to boil.  While waiting for the water to boil, peel and cut sweet potatoes into large cubes.  Once water is boiling, add cubed potatoes and cook until soft.
3. While potatoes are boiling, prepare your filling.  Begin by browning ground beef in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat.  While meat is still raw, add onion, rosemary and thyme to flavor.  Cook meat completely.  Remove from skillet and set aside. 
4. Using the same skillet, add a small amount of olive oil to coat the pan.  Add carrots, celery and parsnips.  Once vegetables are cooked just about halfway, add the tomatoes and chicken stock.  Simmer over heat for about 5 minutes.
5. Return cooked beef to the mixture and fold in the sliced mushrooms.  Add the tomato paste, salt & pepper, paprika, and red pepper flakes as desired.  Simmer the mixture for another 5-10 minutes until vegetables are firm, yet still edible (they should be somewhat tender).
6. While the filling simmers, drain the cooked sweet potatoes and begin to prepare the mash.  Using a hand masher, gently mash the cubed potatoes.  Add rosemary, thyme and salt & pepper.  Mix well.
7. Lightly grease a large pie or casserole dish.  Add the filling and spread evenly across the dish.  Note: depending on the size of your pie dish, there may be some filling left over.  Rather than overfilling the pie dish, save the remaining filling for leftovers.  Spread potato mash over top of the filing, again evenly coating it across the dish.  
8. Once pie is assembled, bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until potato mash begins to brown.  Remove pie from oven and allow it to cool for about 5 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!

Gift Ideas Under $25

Looking for fun and unique gifts that you don't have to spend a fortune on?  Birthdays, graduations, breakups -- there always seems to be an occasion that needs a gift, and no one wants to buy things just to buy them.  Here are some gifts for any friend in your life that are sure to not break the bank.

For the sporty and fit friend // Flip Top Cap Glass Water Bottle // Everyone loves a nice water bottle, and it typically is not something you buy for yourself (unless you left your favorite one at yoga class and are desperately in need of a new one).  For $25 you can't beat this deal.

For the newly engaged/married friend // Latitude-Longitude Key Chain // Not only is this adorable and unique, but it is super personal for a friend who recently got married or is about to get married.  Even better if she is a new homeowner too!  Hurry and snag the Groupon deal, because after that's over the price jumps back up to $35.

For the whiskey-drinking friend (a.k.a. me, so to my friends -- take note) // I'd Rather Be ... Coffee Mug // If you know anyone who loves to drink whiskey (and coffee -- though not necessarily together), this is the mug for them.  $16.95 for one of these, and with promo code: TWENTYFORYOU you can score 20% off today!

For the fashionista friend // Sweet & Spark Earrings // Simple yet elegant.  These can be dressed up or dressed down and worn with just about everything.  Bonus: they're on sale right now for only $19.97 and they ship free!  If you've never shopped at Piperlime before, signup to receive e-mails and you'll receive 30% off of one item. 

For the friend who loves all things vintage // Moscow Mule Copper Mug // I don't even like the Moscow Mule drink, but I like to order it just because I love the mug.  One of these is sure to start a conversation with a guest and it's a fun thing to add to your kitchen.  Pick one up at Sur la Table for under $20.  

For the all-around friend // Jar Candle // You absolutely cannot go wrong with a nice candle.  Women are obsessed with candles and they make a perfect gift (we all know they can get pricey quickly).  I picked out the ocean tide & sea salt scent in turquoise, but Pink Pineapple Shop offers several other scents and colors as well.  At $22, this candle is perfect to add a bit of pop to any room.

My Last Six Months of 25 ...

Recently, I "celebrated" my half-birthday, and it has me thinking about how I want to spend my last six months on this side of 30 -- in other words, I want to end my 25th year with a bang and make sure I've gotten everything out of my system.  

There are certain things I feel like I won't be able to get away with once I cross the mid-20s threshold.  For whatever reason, 26 feels like it will be a hell of a lot more adultlike than 25 does.  Certain things just aren't "acceptable" anymore (not that they necessarily were at 25 either, but that is neither here nor there). 

So, I've got just about six months to get away with these 26 things ...

1.  Ask my parents to pick me up from the bars.  Sure, this may have been funny to them the first 30 times they did it, but now I think they're just getting annoyed.  And sleep-deprived.  Definitely both.

2. Get kicked out of a bar.  Can't remember if it ever has happened before, but I don't need to tell this story post-25. 

3. Spend entirely too much money on the weekends.  Maybe every so often I can treat myself to a getaway or big night out, but my money definitely should be spent on "adult" things rather than four rounds of Fireball shots.

4. Lose my phone.  Let's face it: regardless of your age, this actually is never good.  Nor is it okay.  

5. Work just to work.  I'm over that.  Time to do something I love and look forward to each day (which I am doing now fortunately!)

6. Blackout on a Wednesday.  Sounds fun to do this for about the first few months after getting out of school until it doesn't anymore.  It's just painful now.  In so many ways. 

7. Sleep away an entire Sunday (or Saturday).  Greasy food, Netflix binges and my bed for an entire day can't last forever.  I've got six more months to be lazy before I really need to start taking advantage of my weekends.

8. Leave my credit card at the bar.  It's going to be embarrassing if I have to go into a bar on a Sunday morning to collect my credit card and sign for the 20% tip the bar added because it's their "policy."  I just need to be responsible and put my card back in my wallet where it came from. 

9.  Try a new hair color and/or haircut.  I won't be able to experiment so much with my look as I get older.  I guess if I really want to dye my hair purple, now is the time to do it ...

10. Be friends with someone I don't actually want to be friends with.  I'm cutting out the friends I am basically indifferent about.  By 26, I want to feel confident that the friends I have and keep close are my best friends. 

11. Paint my nails black.  This one will be a challenge.  Is super dark purple or blue still ok?  People start to ask questions about women (not girls) who have black nails. 

12. Wear a skimpy/revealing outfit.  I don't even need an explanation here. 

13. Exceed the data limit on my cell phone.  For one, I don't want to have to pay the overage charges, nor do I plan on factoring that into my monthly expenses.  Two, if this happens, it is a sign that I am on my phone way too much anyways.  The second-half of my 20s will be spent focusing my time on more important things in life. 

14. Stay in a seriously-below-average hotel.  Slumming it on trips is not cute anymore.  I am learning that a successful trip means actually having to spend money on something better than a hostel. 

15. Get entirely too wasted at family functions/holidays.  The older I get, the more I appreciate my family and our get-togethers.  I used to love family events because it was an excuse to get hammered on my grandparents' dime.  Now I actually want to hangout and spend meaningful time with my family.

16. Steal something.  Guilty -- oops.  Sometimes I just really want that cool pint glass from the bar.  It's not really cool to do this at age 26, though. 

17. Post a 120-second Snapchat story.  Guilty -- again.  One, no one cares that much.  Two, I probably don't even remember half of what I snapped.  Three, this will avoid me having to explain myself and what I did the night before to all of my Snapchat friends. 

18. Ask my parents for money.  Seriously the worst.thing.ever.  I feel like a total loser and a failure as a daughter when I have to ask mom and dad for some money.  I mean, can I not even prioritize my life enough to make sure I can cover rent before I drop money at the bar?  Time to be fully self-sufficient.

19. Fight with my parents.  I think I pretty much stopped doing this when I got out of college, but now I really need to quit it with the little fights.  Besides, what have my parents ever really done to my anyways?!

20. Wake up and realize I have no F-ing clue where the F I am.  What used to be the punchline of a funny weekend story is now actually terrifying in more ways than one.  

21. Go on a date just to make a good story.  Time to quit the games and start getting serious about my future.  Plus, dates are really, really awkward.

22. Try a juice cleanse or some other unhealthy diet.  What is important is that I am healthy, not necessarily skinny and able to fit into the tiniest pair of jeans.  I don't want to starve myself or deprive myself of foods that I love and make me happy.

23. Apply for another store credit card.  Just needs to stop.  It's always the line, "want to save an additional 20% today by opening a store credit card?"  It's getting out of hand and I'm certainly not doing my credit score a favor.

24. Show up to work hungover.  This actually is the worst thing ever and I can't hide it anymore.  No matter how fun the night before was, a work hangover is NEVER WORTH IT.  Ever.  

25. Dance on a table/couch/chair/bar.  Nothing good ever comes from a story that starts with, "hey, remember when I danced on the bar at that club on my 27th birthday?"  It's embarrassing and everyone prefers a young hot chick instead anyways. 

26. Waste time having a relationship that clearly is a dead end.  All fun and games until I am on the only single one out of a pool of married friends having babies.  

Friday Favorites

Woooo!  So incredibly happy that Friday has arrived and I can put away the work for the weekend.  It is calling for more snow here this weekend, though I tend not to believe the weather much lately anyways, so we'll see what happens.  I don't mind the snow, but really I just want these temperatures to climb at least into double digits again.  Hopefully a few of my favorite things this week will get you dreaming about spring.  Enjoy! :)

One

This article titled "How to be the Perfect Woman."  This is so good.  I have read it a dozen times probably.  I find it funny, sad, perfectly true, embellished - really every type of feeling all in one.  Give it a read!

Two

Gahh I am swooning over this Tipped Tweed Sleeveless Dress from J.Crew!  So cute for work and definitely a year-round piece.  20% off right now if you use the code "SHOPPINGTIME" -- just saying ;-)

Three

You probably have heard/seen by now that jumpsuits are in right now.  I've always admired the chicks who totally pull off this look but never thought I would take the plunge to buy one myself.  Well, I finally did and I am O-B-S-E-S-S-E-D with my purchase.  I shopped around online A LOT because I had no idea what brand or style I really wanted.  Ended up finding this Rachel Roy Lace Jumpsuit in black on Macys.com and decided to give it a try.  It fits in all the right places and is the perfect length for me (I am 5'11" so finding anything long enough for these legs can be difficult).  Not sure why it is so marked down online right now, but original price is $139 and it's on sale for $52!  

Four

Sam Smith has taken over the radio ever since he basically swept the Grammy's a few weeks ago. Not surprisingly, "Lay Me Down," is just another vocal masterpiece by Mr. Smith.  Trust me, you'll be belting this one in your car before you know it.

Five

Is it still ok to be buying booties?  I don't know how I am supposed to ever decide on a pair because there are just so many cute ones out there!  These Brylee Booties from Banana Republic are adorable.  Unfortunately, they are probably out of my price range so fingers crossed they get marked down somewhat soon.  I love a great steal from BR!

Cheers to an awesome (and hopefully warm) weekend ahead!  

Spring Nails

All of this snow and these frigid temperatures have my mind dreaming of springtime.  Typically, I do not mind winter, but this past month or so has been entirely too cold and dreary for me.  

One thing I love (and regrettably don't have as much time to enjoy anymore) is nail polish.  My collection is somewhat out of control -- I counted how many bottles I have for purposes of this post ... 82!  Is that even necessary?!  Despite all the colors I have I feel like I always stick with the same five  colors: lavenders, mint greens, reds, nudes, and deep purples/navy.  Every so often I will throw in a pink or something bold, but for the most part I stick with a solid rotation of those five colors.  

So, I have vowed to switch up my color palette some this spring, which has led me to do a little research/shopping about the best polish picks for Spring 2015.  I am sure most of you wonder what color will be "in" for the upcoming season when you go to the nail salon.  Well, here is what I think it is ......... pale blue!

I am so excited to try some different shades this spring.  Here are my top five picks:

One : OPI // To Infinity and Blue-yond

Two : Deborah Lippmann // Blue Orchid

Three : Floss & Gloss // 95% Angel

Four : Laura Mercier // Attitude

Five : Caption // Come Up For Air

Now, don't hold this post against me if the "it" color of Spring 2015 is something completely different (like bright yellow or orange).  I certainly am not holding myself out to be any sort of a fashionista or trendy person when it comes to these things.  Even if pale blue isn't the "it" color, it's what I will be rocking this spring!

Friday Favorites

It's that time of the week again ... five of my favorites from the week!

One

Even though this "technically" is from this past weekend, celebrating my friend Jenna's birthday in Atlantic City definitely tops the list of my favorites!  I had never been to Atlantic City so this was a real treat for me and I had a B-L-A-S-T.

Two

You absolutely need to go pick up some of this Naobay lotion.  I know I post about lotions often, but this might be my favorite brand so far.  Texture is awesome - not too greasy or thick - and the scent is amazing!  I wish I could tell you what it smells like but I think it is its own unique scent.

Three

Oven baked chicken salad that is simple yet delicious.  This is one of my favorite meals and, as you can see in the picture, I am not afraid to serve myself hearty portions.  I'm not kidding about how simple this recipe is either ...

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken (the original recipe I used calls for cubed chicken, but I buy a rotisserie chicken and pull that apart so it is somewhere between shredded and cubed)
• 1.5 cups diced celery
• 1.5 cups toasted bread crumbs 
• 1/2 cu mayonnaise (I use 1/2 cup light sour cream and 1/2 cup mayonnaise)
• 2 tablespoons grated onion
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1.5 cups grated cheddar cheese
• salt to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and bake in a lightly-greased casserole dish at 325 degrees for about 35 minutes, or until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbly.

Four

Have you heard this one yet?  Holy amazing.  Feel like it's going to be a YouTube sensation pretty shortly.  Two of my favorite songs mashed together.  Hello, repeat.

Five

Sushi date with my wonderful dad last night!  We tried a new(ish) restaurant in McHenry Row in Baltimore called Umi Sake (note -- that link takes you to their other location in Cockeysville because the site for the McHenry Row location is not up and running yet.  Everything appears to be the same!)  Thought we were going in for just a few appetizers and a glass or two of wine and we ended up ordering $81 worth of sushi and drinks -- well worth it though!  They have great happy hour specials and I was thoroughly impressed with the sushi.  I'll definitely be going back soon!

Spin Away!

For those of you who might not know, I am a certified spin instructor and absolutely crazy in love with spinning (obviously).  I had tried a few spin classes in college and at various gyms when I was younger, but I really got into it when I went to law school.  I started to get a little bored with running and I had heard really positive things about the spin classes offered at the gym I joined when I moved to Baltimore.  I gave it a shot and quickly became hooked.  I don't know what it was about spinning that I loved so much - maybe the instructor(s), music, flashing lights, bikes - it could have been any number of things.  But I kept up with it until two of the instructors at my gym eventually convinced me to become certified myself.  Honestly, greatest health-related decision I have made by far.  

I usually try to recruit my friends to come to my classes when they can.  Some of them are excited and come every week, and others laugh in my face and say "I would die."  My response: "No, you will not."  One of the best things about spinning is you make it your own workout.  As the instructor, I cannot tell whether you are on the heaviest resistance allowable on that bike, or whether you have absolutely zero resistance on it at all.  Yes, I can see whether you are spinning fast or slow, but in all honesty, I really can't tell exactly how fast (or slow) you're going.  This is why it is your workout - it is up to you to add up the resistance, and if you don't then that is on you.  Of course, I try to explain this to my timid friends who fear they will lapse into cardiac arrest 10 minutes in, but some of them still don't get it.  

My roommate shared with me this awesome article (yes, another article) from Elite Daily, 23 Reasons Why You Should Date a Girl Who Spins, and obviously I am in love with it.  After reading that article I was inspired to post about some of the benefits of spinning that you may or may not know about.  I am doing this in hopes that, if you haven't already, you will give a spinning class a shot!  

1. Burn Calories (duh!) 

A 60-minute class (which is what I teach) will net you anywhere from about 600-800 calories, depending on the intensity of your workout (i.e. resistance on the bike).  Think of all the food this means you can consume after class!

2. Build Muscle Tone

It goes without saying that spinning will build and tone your leg muscles - hammies, quads and thighs.  But did you know you also are toning your core, too?  If you maintain proper form and position your abdominal muscles are going to get one hell of a workout!  Bye bye crunches!

3. Increase Cardio Endurance

Typically, a "regular" spin class will have an "endurance ride."  This could be 5 minutes or it could be 25 minutes (depending upon your instructor), and it typically is a ride on a semi-flat road.  This is extremely beneficial for people who feel winded after mild exertion, such as climbing a flight or two of stairs.  Unfortunately (maybe?), I don't do an endurance ride because my class focuses on high-intensity interval training, which means you haul ass for quick intervals at a time.  Regardless of the type of class you take, you're going to build up your endurance for sure. 

4. Low Impact

Unlike running, spinning is extremely low impact.  In other words, you don't put a lot of pressure on your knees and joints.  This is why spinning is especially good for people with knee problems or who suffer from arthritis.

5. Relieve Stress

Again, duh!  Yes, pretty much any type of exercise will reduce stress.  But, spin classes are unique in that you have to remove yourself from anything and everything outside of the spin room.  What I mean is, you actually have to put your phone away during class (I know, a-b-s-u-r-d, right?!).  If you are anything like me, you cannot stand the girls who talk on their phones wile on the elliptical or who text while walking on an incline on the treadmill.  Even though you are working out, you still have way too much access to your phone (and thus, work, responsibilities, life, etc.).  When you come into spin class, lights go off, phones go away, and we spin.  It is dark in these rooms for a reason - to make it super obvious and awkward when you pull out your phone and it starts lighting up.  Spin class is your chance to have one hour to yourself and only yourself - I promise you, you can manage to be without your phone for 60 minutes.

6. Year Round

The great thing about spinning is you never have an excuse based on the weather, time of day, etc. to not go!  Spinning can be performed at any time of the year.  Trust me, I am the first one to say, "I'm not going running ... it is too cold outside."  No excuses when there is a bike indoors!

7. Reduce Risks of Injury

Unlike some other forms of exercise, spinning reduces the likelihood of injuries.  Unless you fall off of the bike (I have seen it happen before), as long as you stretch and don't do anything wacky on the bike, you probably will be safe from an injury.  If you get hurt, sorry, but don't come back and quote this post and blame me!

8. Push Yourself Further

I guarantee you will push yourself further in a spin class than you will working out individually or without instruction.  I know this because I absolutely push myself beyond what I think is my "max" when I take a spin class.  Maybe it is because I feel like I am "competing" with the people around me, or because I feel pressure from the instructor at the front of the room.  Whatever it is, it works and you will find out that what you thought was your max really isn't your max at all...

9. Awesome Music (hopefully)

I know that a great workout is largely due to the music.  Most spin classes have killer music with a great beat to follow along with.  Everyone works harder when listening to music with a faster tempo.  And, who knows, maybe you will discover some new jams to add to your iTunes library :)

10. The Feeling of Leaving (ahh, the best part of class: the end)

Actually, it is more like the feelingS of leaving: accomplished, euphoric, energized - just to name a few.  I typically try to make the last song of class extra energizing and fun so everyone finishes on a good note and remembers it as they leave.  It is a great feeling to walk out of that room knowing you just got worked and oddly enjoyed it!

Choosing to take a spin class does not mean you have to (or should) give up your other forms of exercising.  In fact, it is good to mix it up with different forms of cardio and especially some strength training.  No matter what you choose, spinning in any capacity is great for you and will advance your fitness.  So, don't be scared ... give it a try!  Let me know how you did :)

Friday Favorites

We made it through the first week of February!!  Hard to believe it.  I have so many random life things (laundry, errands, cleaning, organizing, etc.) to catch up on over the weekend, but I have a busy and FUN weekend planned so those things will have to wait.  Tonight, one of my best friends, Elene, is visiting me in Baltimore from Boston and I am SO excited to see her!  I have not seen her since October, so we will have a lot to catch up on for sure.  Tomorrow morning I hit the road for Atlantic City with a group of girls to celebrate my friend Jenna's birthday.  I have never been out in AC so I am a little nervous but a LOT excited.  

Here are five of my favorite things from the week ...

One

Macademia Professional Flawless Cleansing Conditioner.  I will admit, I am VERY skeptical about 2-in-1 hair products because I worry they will leave my hair tangled and greasy.  Not this product.  In my opinion, this is more like a 4-in-1 product.  My hair is soft, less frizzy, more shiny, and I swear it dries quicker.  Super easy to use and WELL worth the $33.  Pick up a bottle at Ulta here.

Two

A surprise baby basket for one of my co-workers.  My fellow clerks and I each chipped in for this "grab basket" of baby gifts for our co-clerk and his wife, Kerry.  They are expecting their first baby, a girl (if you couldn't tell), due on St. Patrick's Day.  We had so much fun picking out all sorts of little goodies for baby Olivia, and Patrick & Kerry were thrilled and surprised with the basket.  We had trouble fitting everything in the pink polka dot basket we picked up, so it isn't the most "organized" gift I've ever given.  I love this idea way more than pulling something off of a registry.  You can find some amazing deals at places like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Target, etc. and get so many cute things for a great price.

Three

You probably have figured out by now that I am such a sucker for articles.  Sappy, inspiring, motivating - you name it, I like to read it.  My dear friend Lauren sent me this article this week when I was a little down on myself about some things, and it totally opened my eyes to the important things in life.  I realized that I have been focusing entirely too much on the negative things in my life when I really should be happy and grateful for the positive things and how fortunate I am.  It is a pretty short article so give it a read and I guarantee you will be counting your blessings by the end of it.

Four

Big fan of Imagine Dragons and I just discovered their song "Shots" this week.  They continue to release some great tunes.  Hope you enjoy this one!

Five

Sweater Flounce Skirt from Ann Taylor - a.k.a. the most versatile A-line skirt to ever exist.  I got this skirt for Christmas (actually, I got two - one in black and one in a deep maroon color) and I LOVE it.  It is the most comfortable skirt and you can dress it up or down with just about anything.  I am 5'11" and the skirt falls on me right about where it does in the picture of the model.  I have been wearing it to work with tights and pairing it with a blouse or a sweater (yes, I have worn it twice this week already - guilty!).  The cut/shape of the skirt is super flattering and I love the soft material.  Can you tell I can't get enough of this skirt??  You can snag one for yourself online for only $40 right now (reduced from $80!).

Hope you all have exciting things planned for this weekend, too!  Looking forward to sharing my crazy adventures from this weekend (I am sure there will be plenty) with you all next week.  Cheers!

The Row House Grille

The Row House Grille is somewhat of a hidden gem in Baltimore.  Located at the corner of Light and Gittings Streets, it is a little bit out of the way from the cluster of bars in central Fed Hill.  That is partly why I ventured over there this past weekend.  If you live in Fed Hill, you know that the bars/restaurants get very old, very quickly.  I am coming up on four years living in the area so I have exhausted just about every food and drink option around .... twice.  

I have been to Row House a few times in the past so I was excited to go back this past weekend when I went for lunch with a friend.  

Great things about Row House:

• AUCD mimosas, bloodies & sangria from 10-2:30 on Saturdays & Sundays for $14.  One mimosa will cost you $7, so it doesn't take a mathematician to realize this is a great deal.  Plus, these are no joke mimosas - they are served in pint glasses and there is no skimping on the champagne.

• Brunch offerings: their menu is pretty great and offers a little bit of just about everything.  I wasn't in the mood for breakfasty foods on Sunday, but fear not, they had something to cater to my lunch palate.  Plenty of options to please anyone.

• Buffalo chicken cupcakes.  These are new to the menu (not listed online yet).  Like most decadent brunch offerings, I was unable to try these but they sure did look delicious!  Cornbread "muffin" on the bottom, topped with shredded buffalo chicken, and then smothered with a blue cheese "icing."  My friend ordered these and pretty much was licking the plate by the end!

• Happy hour specials: Monday-Friday from 4-7pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 3-6pm.  Drinks are 2-for-1 and select appetizers are $7 - you really cannot beat that deal.  This worked out perfectly on Sunday because almost as soon as the AUCD brunch deal was over, the Sunday afternoon HH specials kicked in!  Theoretically, you could get drunk there from 10am-6pm on the weekend and probably manage to spend less than $30 doing so.  Additionally, they have daily specials each night that you should check out.  I think Mondays are Oyster night, Wednesdays are burgers & beer, and Thursdays are half-priced bottles of wine - but don't quote me on all of these.  You really can go any day or night of the week and manage a great deal!

The bartender was friendly and attentive (though, admittedly, I cannot recall his name) and took great care of us during our visit.  Two big screen tvs right at the bar made watching basketball and the Caps hockey game easy and enjoyable!

I don't have too many negative things to say about Row House.  I ordered the grilled salmon salad, which was a bed of baby spinach, topped with quinoa, carrots, broccoli, shitake mushrooms, and green peppers.  It was fresh and delicious but I was not a fan of the dressing.  I believe it was some sort of basil vinaigrette, but it tasted more like pureed grass to me.  I suggest ordering the salad with a side of the balsamic instead.  

If you catch yourself around Fed Hill anytime soon, stop by Row House and give it a try!   And if you think about it, let me know how your experience goes.  Cheers!