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Friday Favorites – April 8, 2016

jetting to savannah

Happy Friday friends!

This week was a whirlwind as I tried to finish as much work as possible before putting up my out of office for four lovely days! Bo and I are currently en route to Savannah where we’ll spend a long weekend enjoying relaxation with family while celebrating my mom’s 65th birthday. We’re hanging with his family today, enjoying time on their boat and grilling dinner before I dedicate the rest of the long weekend to all the quality “mom time” I can soak up in one trip. I hate that we live so far apart but after living abroad for two years, a 2-hour flight seems like a hop and a skip!

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.

Secrets for Saving Money at Whole Foods  – Love the shopping experience at Whole Foods but find yourself spending far too much of your paycheck there? These 9 tips will help you save money and shop smarter!

Top Morning Habits of Fitness Bloggers – Ask anyone and they will tell you that I am a morning person. Early, pre-dawn workout class? I’m the annoying person who is all smiles and giddy to see you. But, even though I’m already a morning person I love other peoples’ tips, tricks and habits. My favorite tip from the group is Kayla’s – prepare EVERYTHING the night before to make your morning easier!

Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats – When people tell me they don’t have time for breakfast in the morning I want to shake them and say have you tried overnight oats? So easy and it takes just minutes to prepare the night before. Even better, you can whip up a batch in individual mason jars and have breakfast ready for a few days. This blueberry muffin version is the perfect way to put the first berries of the season to good use!

7 Tips for Transitioning to An All-Natural Beauty Routine – I wish I’d had this article as a resource a few months ago when I started updating my skin care regimen with natural products. I never expected to make this switch, but after reading one too many articles that linked cancer and other illnesses with the chemicals found in many common beauty products, I decided to start learning more and doing my own research. Even though I wanted to clean up my regimen, I also didn’t want to spend a fortune replacing everything nor make it overwhelming. Therefore I started small, following many of the tips in this article. I bought face wash and a moisturizer from Whole Foods that is reasonably priced and works just as well, if not better, than what I used before. As I run out of the rest of my beauty items I’m slowly replacing them with smarter choices.

Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Greek Yogurt Waffles – Now that we FINALLY own a waffle iron, I have a desire to whip up a new recipe each Sunday to enjoy before church. This recipe packs in plenty of flavor as well as 12 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. Suddenly, waffles don’t seem like a Sunday indulgence but instead a great option to make ahead and freeze for easy breakfasts or even pre-workout bites.

Asparagus Salad with Feta Dressing – This would be the perfect side dish for a backyard barbecue or even a Spring brunch when paired with a frittata.  

Shrimp and Avocado Taco Salad – I’ll admit it, I’m not the best when it comes to recipe planning or making sure we have a stocked fridge when we return home from travel. But, knowing that the next few weeks are busy, I chose a few recipes and ordered the ingredients from Fresh Direct so they’ll be delivered Tuesday when we land. This recipe was the first on the list as really, what is better than taco salad, especially when it includes shrimp? I am going to add some extra lettuce, tomatoes and chopped cabbage to give it enough bulk for dinner but otherwise, the recipe sounds perfect!

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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Top Ten Picks from J.Crew 40% Off Sale

Happy Wednesday guys!

Even though the weather in New York City this week is below freezing and more like Winter than Spring, it is in fact Spring. As I spent a few hours cleaning out my closet and donating anything that didn’t fit or I didn’t wear, I realized that there were a few basics I needed to replace. Just as I started putting together my shopping list and perusing online, JCrew sent an email announcing their Spring sale. Like many retailers, their typical sale is 25% off so anytime a sale announces discounts of 40-50% off, I always take a few minutes to click to the site.

jcrew sale

Lucky for you guys, I did the heavy lifting and spent an hour last night sifting through the sale. My rule of thumb when shopping a sale is to make sure that is something I’d buy whether it was on sale or not. If you’d pay full price for an item then there is a good chance you’ll wear it often versus buying something just because it’s on sale and pushing it to the back of the closet.

Here are my top ten items to add to your closet this Spring to update your wardrobe. Each of these items are currently 40-50% off which means that they will sell out quickly!

JCrew Spring Sale Items

  1. Tippi Sweater – $35.99 – Available in 30 different colors, this flattering sweater is a perfect way to add a pop of color to any outfit.
  2. Silk Cami $29.70 – In the Summer I wear this silk cami with a blazer, jeans and heels for work then add a fun necklace and remove the blazer for rooftop and rose filled evenings out with friends.
  3. Striped Sweater with Side Snaps $47.99 – A sucker for navy and white stripes, this sweater is perfect for cool Summer evenings at the beach or in the mountains.
  4. Downtown Field Jacket $82.80 –  A Barbour look alike, this waxed cotton, water-resistant jacket can’t be beat for the price. The side snaps allow you to adjust the fit and the multiple pockets allow you to easily stow your keys, phone and credit cards, leaving your hands free for iced coffee and shopping bags.
  5. Vintage Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt – $15.90 – Most weekends during the Spring and Summer months, I can be found pairing this shirt with joggers, shorts or jeans. The v-neck and cut is flattering and the necklines pairs perfectly with a fun necklace or lightweight scarf.
  6. Tortoise and Pave Bracelet – $38.99 – The Pave bracelet has been a favorite of mine for the past few years and this update is a fun, updated way to wear tortoise shell.
  7. Sleeveless Silk Dress  -$83.99 – When I cleaned out my closet I realized that I desperately needed a new little black dress. This gorgeous dress looks far more expensive than it is and the draped back makes it an elegant choice for office or evening.
  8. White Matchstick Jeans – $66.00 – Once Memorial Day arrives, I tend to swap my dark rinse matchstick jeans with the white version. This jean style is straight without being skin tight and the thicker material means that it flatters your curves without leaving you worried about “see through wardrobe malfunctions”.
  9. Pleated Faux-Leather Mini Skirt – $44.95 – I bought this statement skirt on a whim last summer and was able to wear it all year long! In the warmer months you can pair it with a tank and necklace or a long sleeve blouse with the sleeves rolled and a fun bracelet.
  10. Denim Shorts in Dark Von Wash – $29.95 –  I have these shorts in two different rinses but this one is my favorite. A Summer staple, these shorts run a little big so you may want to consider sizing down unless, like me, you’d rather your shorts run loose versus tight. 

Your turn: Which of these items is your favorite?

 

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ClassPass Month In Review: January and February

Classpass-month-in-review-jan- feb 20

It’s time for another installment of the ClassPass Month in Review. As you may remember, four months ago Bo and I decided to give ClassPass a try after hearing wonderful things about it, realizing the two of us could leverage it together and a positive month long trial back in July.  It’s crazy how much can change in such a short period of time. Back in July I tried it for the first time and now, just a few months later, I’m an official ClassPass ambassador!  I’ve taken 89 classes through ClassPass and am one of their largest advocates! Don’t believe me? Try for yourself! Use this link to get $25 off your first month

Also, my friends are taking me up on this offer already, but if you guys have ANY questions about ClassPass, even if you’re not in NYC, feel free to email me! I’m happy to help and can also reach out to the team if you have specific questions. 

As promised, each month I will provide a brief recap of our experience including the number of classes taken, average cost per class and a brief recap of the studios where we sweat that month. In addition, if you’re on CLASSPASS feel free to follow my fitness schedule here. I love meeting readers so if you see me in a class, please say hello! If you want to check out my previous monthly recaps, click here, here,  here and here.

Month 4: January 21st – February 20th 

Number of classes taken: 11

Number of studios visited: 7

Number of classes missed or late cancelled: 0

Number of cities: 1 (NYC)

Average cost per workout based on NYC rate of $125 per month: $11.36

I’m not surprised that this month was a pretty  big reduction in the number of classes I took as we had people stay with us three weekends and we traveled to Tahoe for a ski weekend. Unfortunately, by March I felt this reduction in workouts and have made it a focus of mine over the past few weeks to get back to strength training, HIIT workouts and/or bar workouts. I just feel better when I have supplement my running with these workouts. A few people, including running coaches who I respect greatly, have suggested that I can easily enjoy yoga in the evening after a morning run, in order to allow me time on other days to focus on other workouts.

Last Month’s Classes

Brooklyn BodyBurn Cobble Hill (3)

This hard and humbling class will leave even the most in-shape students trembling and shaking after just the first few minutes of class. The class takes place on Megaformer machines, which resemble a Pilates reformer machine but are so much more than that. Most classes begin with planks and ab engagement then flow through multiple complex movements which engage the entire body. The classes are small, limited to less than 10 students, so the teachers can adjust and coach throughout the class. I can’t recommend Jason’s classes enough as he is hilarious, has a great playlist and motivates me through even the hardest of moves. Also, take a friend for your first class as there is definite power and safety in numbers.

Barry’s Bootcamp Chest, Back & Abs Tribeca (2)

I first tried Barry’s Bootcamp in 2012 during a Well+Good event. It was a love at first sweat experience. Since then they have expanded throughout NYC and cities across the world but the workout hasn’t changed. Walk into the dim lit room ready to work your butt off, sweat a lot, have awesome music pumping through the speakers and instructors motivating you through a mix of yelling, inspiring and supporting. While the workout isn’t for everyone, I definitely suggest snagging a spot on ClassPass and trying it out for yourself. The classes book quickly but I was able to squeeze into a 6pm class by booking the same day. The chest, back and abs class is actually my favorite of their offerings as it feels the most like a full body workout. When you’re not sprinting or tackling hills on the treadmill, you’re on the floor moving through pushups, planks and other forms of minute long torture.

High 45 at Mile High Run Club (2)

I’ve professed my love of Mile High multiple times (full review here). Their High 45 class is a great class for runners of all abilities. As you can guess from the class name, the workout includes 45-minutes of running. The running includes a five minute warm-up and five minute cool down. In between that you’ll sweat through 35 minutes of tempo work. A typical class includes half hills and half speed with most intervals ranging from three to six minutes! My favorite teachers are Jes Woods and Deborah Woods!

Sunrise Flow Bend & Bloom Yoga (2)

This Park Slope yoga studio has two large, bright, beautiful studios and offers more than 65 classes per week.  The Sunrise Flow which is offered on Friday mornings, is taught by the lovely Christine, a fellow blogger and runner. Her class is 60 minutes of flow which often includes lots of twists, stretches and restorative poses along with a fewer higher energy poses to wake the body. I love starting my Friday with this class as it puts me in the best mood and is a great way to release tension and stress from the body as well as shake out my hips and legs before my weekend long run.  While there aren’t showers, the studio’s private bathroom is spacious and would allow for a quick wet wipe bath and dry shampoo spritz before work.

WeFlowHard Vinyasa Yoga at Y7 

This studio isn’t for everyone, but man do I love it. Each class is a bit different but in the WeFlowHard classes, students should come prepared to sweat – a lot. The infared heated room is darkened so that students can focus on their flow versus watching others or feeling self conscious. The music is often rap or top 40 music which creates a very different vibe than you have at most yoga studios. Throughout the class there is time for free flow which allows students to complete a sequence at their own rhythm and pace.  The Flatiron location doesn’t have showers but both locations feature a “refresh bar” where students can blow dry hair, freshen up and apply makeup. If you want to read more about Y7 you can read my full studio review here.

Dash 28 at Mile High Run Club

If you’re newer to Mile High or running, this class is a great option for you! The 45-minute class includes 28 minutes of treadmill running followed by 10 minutes of strength training using body weight and kettle bells. The running portion includes a mix of hills and speed work, similar to the distance class, but due to the short duration, flies by quickly. I highly recommend Andia Wilson and Corinne!

Power Flow 60 Tangerine Hot Power Yoga

There is a reason this studios classes quickly sell out, especially evening and weekends when Brooklyn locals and Manattanites flock to Tangerine Yoga. The 60-minute class isn’t for the weak as it is a heated strong, power yoga class. But, don’t fear, instructors provide lots of adjustments and guidance to ensure everyone has the best session possible. The studio provides complimentary yoga mats and towels as well as selling juices and coconut water in the small boutique and lounge area. I’ve now taken five classes at this studio and grow more in love with it each class. They develop a great sense of community and each instructor is more supportive than the next. So far, my favorite instructors are Emily and Tamara.

Your turn: If you’re a NYC local, what are your favorite studios? Where should I sweat next? 

This post is not compensated nor requested of me via CLASSPASS. While it does contain affiliate links, as a CLASSPASS affiliate, I only receive a small compensation if you choose to purchase a CLASSPASS membership.

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