Friday Favorites – January 8th, 2016

desk

Greetings and Happy Friday gang! I thought it’d be fun to start Friday Favorites off this week with a glimpse of my office and desk.  After a few tweaks during our staycation, this space has become one of my favorite spots in our house. That’s a good thing since I spend the vast majority of my time here either working, blogging or perusing the internet.

After a pretty draining week, I’m looking forward to the weekend. On the workout front, it will be a bit of a refresh weekend with a fun, 60 minute Soul Survivor class tomorrow morning followed by some gentle yoga practice on Sunday. Socially, it’s a busy one with activities both tonight and tomorrow night but I am definitely penciling in some time for ourselves on Sunday. Whether it’s reading a book or relaxing, I definitely need to keep some unscheduled time in my weekend and week.

Since it’s Friday, and the only thing keeping me from a nice glass of red wine is a few more hours of work, here is this week’s Friday Favorite. This year you will see more of these Friday Favorites posts as I really enjoy writing them and, based on analytics, it seems like you all enjoy them too!

So, as you count down the minutes until the weekend begins, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

Okay, serious life goals are not to look like either of the people in this amazing video but, instead, to make my friends and loved ones smile as much as they make each smile. The seem like the happiest, most in love couple and watching them just makes me happy.

These delicious, banana bread granola bars from Running with Spoons not only look amazing but also seem like they’ll be the perfect pre-workout snack or afternoon snack when paired with a cup of herbal tea. I love that they are gluten free and have an extra protein option in case I want to add some staying power.

If you don’t have time to bake your own bars this weekend, at least check out this Well+Good article highlighting the best and worst bars. Most of the good for you bars are widely available nation-wide so try upgrading your bar game next week.

I have no idea why this sweater is 60% off, as I have caught myself wearing it TOO much since buying it two weeks ago. It’s cozy, comfortable, flattering and goes perfectly with leggings and tall boots! If you’re a size medium, snag one before they sell out!

The new dietary guidelines don’t come as a great surprise to those of us who read a great deal about health and wellness, but I’m glad that the rest of America is hearing about the negative effects sugar has on the body and getting a reminder to add more fish to their weekly diet.

I think I’ve mentioned it before, but after using it every single day this week, I have to give the Magic Bullet another high five. While there is definitely a time and a place for a more high-powered blender, like our VitaMix, on a daily basis the Magic Bullet is able to whip up nut butters, blend smoothies and make delicious sauces. It’s frequently included in Macy and other retailer’s sales so keep you eyes peeled as we were able to snag it for under $70!

Speaking of smoothies, I’ve said goodbye to the plastic straws of my childhood and upgraded to these snazzy, stainless steel straws. Wide enough for the thickest smoothie, I just pop them into the dishwasher after using! Not only do they save on waste, but make drinking anything more fun!

If you somehow haven’t seen the multiple blog posts that some of my favorite bloggers shared this week about Victoria’s Secrets awesome deal, hop over to their site immediately. All I need to say is FREE workout pants, valued up to $75 when you purchase a sports bra! I was able to see the product first hand, during a Mile High Run Club workout with Theodora this week, and the colors are fun and the bra support and fit looked great. PSA: They are definitely running out of sizes and colors quickly!

If you think that eating healthy often forces you to spend more money, check out this helpful article from two dietitians who promise to help you eat healthy for less. I especially like tip #8! We just realized that we’ve been storing celery the wrong way and since making the change, it lasts 2x as long!

Huge congratulations to Jenna and the Green Blender team for launching the Los Angeles operations this week! It’s so exciting to see a young, female pursuing her passion and helping others get healthy! If you aren’t familiar with Green Blender, here’s an article from the LA Times, highlighting their success!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Friday Favorites – October 2015 Edition

It is a perfect Fall Friday in New York. I’m already dreaming of tomorrow morning’s run through Prospect Park and the pumpkin beers I’ll enjoy during our housewarming party tomorrow night. I can’t believe it’s finally here – our first party in our new home. We have a lot to do between now and then but first, let’s take a break for Friday Favorites.

gourds

Thank you PopSugar for testing out the best pumpkin spice candles! After reading this article I know which ones I’ll be lighting for tomorrow night’s party. Similar to their reviewers, I can’t stand a candle that is artificial or too sweet.

Wait, really? Did you guys see this article? We are comparing cheese to crack? While it may be equally as addictive, this is an addiction I fully support.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a new desk, add these workout moves to your weekly routine to counteract the damage that sitting does to your body.

joie kidmore snake skin shoe

Kristine introduced me to these comfortable and chic shoes when I was visiting her in San Francisico. Within minutes of seeing hers, I’d hopped on my iPhone and ordered a pair for myself. The black color will transition easily through the seasons and they are a perfect shoe for Bar Method commutes and leisurely strolls through the neighborhood.  While they aren’t cheap, they are often included in any sales, so snag them during Bloomingdales, Saks or Nordstrom’s next sale!

jetbluefarm

Talk about efficient use of space, did you know there is a farm at one of the world’s largest airports!? JetBlue has big plans for the crops but for now they will supply fresh food to the restaurants in Terminal 5.

JCrew Double Faced Wool Crepe Dress

Even though I work from home, on average of four times a month I need a good power dress. A power dress is my nickname for a dress that when paired with a cute pair of heels and chunky statement necklace, makes me feel like a million bucks. I debuted this dress yesterday for our quarterly meetings and received no less than twenty compliments! It is fully lined, fits perfectly, runs true-to-size, has a fun exposed back zipper, and is tailored perfectly for a flattering fit. A perfect three season dress, I love this dress so much that I have it in two colors!

Your turn: What should I know about this week? Any great fashion items or articles? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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This Week’s Favorite Things

Good morning from San Francisco!

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The first 24 hours were an absolute blast, filled with lots of good food, exploring and fun. I’m so thankful that we both decided to run the Nike Women’s San Francisco Half for fun versus putting time pressure on ourselves. Since our mentality is all about enjoying the course and having fun, we’re able to do things like Bar Method together and go bar hopping until well past midnight!

While we’re off sweating together and exploring the Marina area today, here is a round-up of this week’s favorites. Usually posted on Friday, these favorites include links, recipes, articles and other things that caught my eye this week.

I spiced things up this week by giving my morning yogurt bowl an autumn makeover with Siggi’s Pumpkin & Spice yogurt.  This Fall yogurt flavor has 14 grams of protein, a short list of clean ingredients, and a 130 calories.

This metallic pencil skirt gives the sometimes boring office wardrobe staple a bright, creative spin. I love that J.Crew has it in regular, petite and tall so ladies of all builds can sport it with a turtleneck, casual chambray or crisp white shirt.

As soon as cooler temperatures begin, I swap out the bright, Summer nail polish colors for rich, deep shades. Amy and I fell in love with CND Shellac in Masquerade, a rich, burgundy color.

Running before the sun rises or after it sets can be dangerous, especially when near cars. The Night Runner 270 shoe lights ensure that everyone will see you, regardless the hour. The lightweight lights clip on to your shoe laces and can flash in three different settings: white, red, or red flashing. These are a perfect gift for any runner, walker or cyclist!

While Bo and I are still loving Purely Elizabeth and Small Batch granola, Megan’s Salty Macadamia Nut Granola recipe has me motivated to make my own. Requiring only 10 products that you already have in your pantry, the salty sweet flavor combination will upgrade any yogurt or smoothie.

Sometimes, without realizing it, my dad aids in my shopping rationalization. He sent me this WSJ article which provides tips from stylish but economical women on how to navigate through the most fashionable of trends.

 

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