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Friday Favorites – February 26, 2016

nyc

 

Friday has arrived and it’s sunny in NYC! To say I am excited is a bit of an understatement. Things have been crazy over here as Bo started a new job this week, immediately upon our return from Tahoe. The house needs cleaning, our Fairway shopping list is longer than I’d like to admit and I still have 10-miles to run at some point today. This evening Bo is hanging out with a friend while I indulge in a relaxing Friday night – hair cut, manicure, pedicure and a glass of wine while watching last night’s Scandal.  How about you? What is on your agenda this weekend? 

This is my fifth Friday Favorite post in a row and I this my blogging mojo is finally right where I want it! I’ve had a blast blogging this week and am excited about the content I have lined up for next week.  As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the hours 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.

Do you work from home? How many of these awful realities of working from home resonate with you? Number two, three and five hit home for me especially yesterday when I only left the house to buy a salad from our corner bodega because the only food we have is apples, almond butter and bananas.

Props to the Charles Schwab CEO, Walt Bettinger, for testing a job candidate’s character by putting them in a very typical, but stressful situation. After reading this, take a moment to think how you react when a restaurant or other service industry makes a mistake.

Just in time for Sunday night’s movie fest, this homemade popcorn recipe looks deliciously indulgent. How can you go wrong when something includes three of my favorite things – popcorn, peanut butter and chocolate? I think I’ll have to make some before Bo and I catch up on a few more Oscar-nominated films this weekend. Which one has your vote?

Thanks to Kristine, and the crazy work week, Bo and I jumped on the Munchery wagon last night. We ordered the pan seared albacore rice bowl which was delicious and reasonably priced. Having a healthy, delicious and filling dinner option delivered to our doorstep was the perfect way to end a 14-hour work day! Want to try it for yourself? Use this code  (HEALTHYHAP) to save $10 on your first order!

munchery

We brew our own coffee each morning and while we’ve tried a number of different blends and roasts over the past six months, I’ve finally found my favorite – Stumptown House Blend. It’s robust enough to wake me up in the morning but smooth and balanced enough to enjoy throughout the day.

Today’s windy weather really makes me wish I had an insulated running vest. I found this Brooks vest on sale! Since it’s insulated, wind resistant and water resistant it’d make the perfect Spring layer.

If you’ve followed this blog or my Instagram feed for a while, you’ll hopefully know that I’m very focused on improving my photography and content this year.  This helpful post from Paula provides inexpensive and easy tips to improve your photos. I just ordered the Lack side table since we have a convenient place to store it when I’m not using it for photos and props.

Last week’s ski trip left my lips seriously wind burnt. I have a tendency to lick my lips when I’m nervous which means that I spent half the time licking my lips on the slopes, only to have them battered and chapped from the wind and conditions. I’ve been layering on the new to me Sierra Sage lip balm multiple times a day this week to help with the damage. The refreshing mint flavor is relaxing while the vitamin E and natural oils have quickly repaired my lips.

How can I not include Fuller House on this week’s Friday Favorites! I remember watching Full House along with Step By Step, Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Family Matters on Friday nights with friends while we played Girl Talk and ate pizza.

We have a black tie optional wedding in Stone Habor, New Jersey this April which means it’s time to figure out a dress option. My amazing friend Theodora has offered her favorite Lilly Pulitzer dress but if that doesn’t fit, I’m eyeing this one and this one on Rent the Runway and this one at Nordstrom. Thoughts? Since it’s only $150 to buy a dress from Nordstrom, I can’t decide whether I should buy or rent. But when would I wear it again?

nordstrom dress

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 – August 2015 Edition

Happy Friday gang!

Do you guys have anything fun planned for the weekend? Bo and I get the keys to our new apartment tomorrow which means the moving fun begins. The movers don’t arrive until next Friday but this weekend we are going to start moving things from our temporary house to Brooklyn, finalize paint colors and start assembling some of our new furniture! If you want to follow the behind the scenes fun, follow me on Snapchat (healthyhappier). I am going to try and take some pictures and video of the apartment this weekend so I can share our before and after progress.

Grab your afternoon iced coffee or evening glass of wine, and enjoy this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

My love of Fhitting Room is still going strong after taking my fifth class last night. Bo and I are averaging one class per week and EVERY single class is different and leaves my body in a new level of exhaustion. I continue to love that there are two instructors for every class, ensuring that everyone keeps proper form and pushes themselves until the very last second. If you’re in NYC or visiting, check out their intro 2 for 1 offer for new customers!

In my new role, I’m spending more time with external customers which means I need some new business attire. Never one to ignore a good sale, I ordered this skirt 30% off! I can’t wait to pair it with a classic white button down, chunky gold necklace and these leopard heels!

jcrew skirt

After Kristine professed her love of Nola Bars on Instagram, I knew I had to try them for myself. These gluten free, soy free and syrup free bars are the perfect afternoon snack without any artificial, hard to pronounce ingredients. I’m not the only one in our household who loves the bars. Bo texted me as soon as he bit into his first bar and said, “Oh my gosh these are the best bars!”

Nola Bar

It’s no secret that increasing my protein intake over the past year has led to me feeling stronger, more energized and eventually weight loss. Amanda’s round-up of 97 high protein breakfast ideas is definitely a post to pin for future reference!

I ordered these candles during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and could not be more obsessed. In fact, I love them so much that I’ve almost burned through my favorite, Pink Citron.

Did you guys see the Sesame Street news yesterday? I still can’t decide how I feel about this move to HBO. Even more concerning than the move to HBO, is the fact that as a child I thought they made a new episode each day! Was anyone else shocked to read how few episodes they film each season?

sesame

I finally downloaded Snapseed after reading this awesome blog post about how to take better Instagram photos. I can tell it’ll take some time for me to figure out the best way to use it but so far I love the effects and improvements it’s brought to my past few images!

Last but not least, I can’t give a big enough high five and shout out to our interior decorator extraordinaire, Ashley Manfred. Not only is she helping make our new apartment feel like a home, but she is doing it on a budget! She has scoured sites like One Tree Lane to find rugs, linens, and more on sale. Having someone who is an expert help create a new vibe in our home is an investment we are so glad we made. Her help made choosing paint colors and investment pieces like a new bed a BREEZE and almost eliminated domestic arguments.

Okay kids, it’s time to peace out! I’ll see you guys again tomorrow for a check-in after our long run and possibly, a few pictures from our new place.

What are you loving?

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 – Under $100

There are just THREE days left to stock up on some of your favorite brands and stock your closet for the upcoming Fall season. Once the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale ends each of these items will immediately return to full price.  Since I know I’m not the only person on a budget these days, I thought it’d be helpful to feature a round-up of my favorite under $100 items that are still available.

Grab your cup of coffee and get shopping because many of these items are selling out quickly!  To make things easier, I broke my picks out over three categories: home, shoes and clothing.

Home

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale HomeI highly recommend snagging a pack of these candles for hostess gifts and then another pack for yourself.

This cozy throw is perfect for movie night and priced at $25 it won’t break the bank!

The perfect addition for any bar area, these Moscow Mule mugs are so fun!

Shoes

Nordstrom ShoesI fell in love with booties last year and since these are priced at just $80, I’m definitely adding these basic booties to my closet in taupe.

I’ve had these slippers for years and they are still in great condition! Now that I work from home, I may or may not wear them all day long!

I love adding a pop of color to an outfit with sassy heels. I just snagged these in red and can’t wait to wear them with jeans and a black tunic!

If you don’t want a bright color, these leopard heels are a great “neutral” heel option to add some fun to a classic black dress or jeans.

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a great time to finally buy a pair of Nike FlyKnits as they are $40 off and available in lots of fun colors!

Perfectly priced at less than $75, these flats are great for just about any day of the week.

Clothing

Nordstrom ClothingThe fun seams and detailing on this dress make it perfect for Fall especially when paired with the leopard heels!

I have this tunic in two colors and am definitely adding a bright color this year as it’s easily dressed up or down depending on how you style it.

This classic stripe long-sleeve t-shirt comes in lots of fun color combinations and is under $20, making it the perfect Fall staple.

My Victoria Secret bras have all seen better days and are over 4 years old. I am finally cleaning out my drawers and replacing them with this highly recommended bra.

This tunic is another fun option as the high-low design has a great drape to it and will work for weekday OR weekend fun. 

At this price, this Faux fur vests is a fun way to spice up any Fall or Winter look.

With over 2,000 positive reviews, how can I not want to add these to my wardrobe?

Bright and fun, these crops will be a bright, fun addition to my workout wardrobe.

This loose and relaxed sweater screams Fall and would be perfectly paired with skinny jeans, tall boots and a pumpkin beer.

When the weather gets crisp, this North Face vest is the perfect layer for workouts and errands, especially in the winter white.

I have this North Face quarter zip in two colors and practically lived in it last Fall and Winter.

Last but not least, one can never have enough classic black leggings and these have seaming detail and are heavy enough to wear in public without any see-through disasters.

Which pick is your favorite? Did you shop the sale? If so, what’d you buy?

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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