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Friday Favorites – February 10th, 2017

Orangetheory brooklyn

Happy Friday! Yesterday those of us in New York and the Northeast were in a Winter Wonderland with our first snow day of 2017. In Brooklyn we received ten inches of snow throughout the day. Luckily, Bo and I were able to enjoy a sweaty workout bright and early before I was snowed in for the day. After a cancelled flight, I am finally en route to Des Moines, Iowa by way of a layover in Detroit. As I’ve mentioned, I’m heading to Iowa for a 48-hour girls weekend with some of my closest sorority sisters. While we’ve texted, emailed and chatted over the years it’s been far too long since we spent quality time together.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught my eye this week.

  • Even though I only received these new Brooks Ghost Crops, which I’m wearing in the above picture, from my friends at Brooks on Monday, I’ve already worn them for two workouts this week. These lightweight, moisture-wicking crops feature a pocket large enough for my iPhone and a supportive waistband that provides some extra support to my back and stomach during workouts. I love the fun design on the aqua pair I received so much that I’ve already ordered the vibrant ones in a larger size to enjoy during my third trimester. While it’s still cold outside I’m wearing these for indoor workouts like OrangeTheory and Body Pump but I can tell they will also be a Spring staple as I start jogging and walking outside more.
  • After my friend Amanda lost all of her photos, I was inspired to make sure my phone photos are backed up to somewhere other than my computer. Luckily as an Amazon Prime member, I have free access to Prime Photos which provides free, unlimited photo storage and sharing. The powerful search algorithm allows you to quickly sort, filter and organize pictures while the easy-to-use interface allows me to send and receive photos and albums to friends and loved ones. I even organized my blog photos in one folder so I can easily reference them for use on social media!
  • I know I have a lot to learn and am currently very naive when it comes to work life balance since introducing a child into the equation changes everything. As I prepare to become a working mom, I loved reading these tips and tricks from mothers who balance multiple roles on a daily basis.
  • I received a sample of Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! conditioning hair mask from Sephora last month and immediately fell in love with the results. Not only is this mask free of parabens and sulfates, but it is also 95% composed of natural ingredients. I apply the mask in the shower after washing my hair and let it soak in while I shave, wash my face and body. My hair, which has been dry and cranky during my winter pregnancy, is soft and smooth after using this once a week for the past few weeks!
  • As I started dreaming and researching Spring fashion earlier this week, I fell in love with these chic athleisure shoes. Perfect for running errands and walking around town, the fun color of these shoes make them perfect for Spring. I can’t decide between the pink or Flyknit version. Thoughts?
  • If you’re a fan of the podcast Serial, you’re in luck. The creator announced a new podcast series that will air in March. The series, which is about an Alabama man who despises his small town and finally does something about it, will have seven episodes which will all become available on the same day.
  • Now that I’m going to my company’s WeWork office 2-3 days per week, I’ve started making food prep a part of my weekly routine. I pinned a number of salads and lunches to my Pinterest Recipe board this week which will make prepping and shopping easier. This week’s lunches consisted of homemade Chipolte-inspired salads, washed and cut berries, almonds and an apple with almond butter.
  • I realized that this JCrew Merino Wool Sweater blazer is perfect for everyone, including pregnant ladies like myself, since the material has more stretch than a typical blazer. The longer length and relaxed fit allows me to pair it with leggings while the feminine details make me feel chic and put together, even at 5:30 AM. Today I paired it with tall boots, black leggings, a black turtleneck and one of my favorite necklaces.
  • I’m all about working smarter not harder and therefore loved this Fast Company article which recommended first four things every person should do to start their work day. The Mark Twain quote which inspired their first tip is so true – if you start the day by eating a frog (aka doing the hardest task) you know that the day can’t get any harder.
  • Last but not least, I was surprised and delighted to find so many healthy food options at Cibo Express in LaGuardia Airport bright and early this morning. I was able to put together a healthy breakfast with Siggi’s yogurt, Purely Elizabeth granola, pasteurized orange beet juice and a banana!

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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Baby Diamond – Weeks 18 and 19

Happy Tuesday friends! Am I the only one who feels like it must be Thursday already? Even though this week has a been a great one, I still feel like I’ve put in four days worth of work in the past two days. This weekend I’m off to Des Moines, Iowa for a fun girls weekend with three of my sorority sisters. It’s been years since we were all together so I look forward to a weekend full of laughter and endless conversations.

Tonight I’m sharing my recap and thoughts from weeks 18 and 19 of pregnancy.

week 18

Baby Size: Bell Pepper (week 18) and heirloom tomato (week 19)

Weight Gained: I don’t have a scale at home but I feel as though I haven’t gained more weight, so about ten pounds in total.

Workouts: On average, I am working out five days per week. Each of these two weeks my workouts included: 1 Orange Theory workout, 1 XTendBarre class, 2 runs and Prenatal Pilates.

xtend barre

Cravings: I continue to be hungry non-stop especially on days I workout. In order to ensure that I’m fueling my body for healthy growth, I am increasing my protein and fiber intake, especially at breakfast and lunch. I also am never without healthy snacks. This week I fell in love with Siggi’s Icelandic Yogurt topped with berries.  In the evenings, I continue to crave Italian, Greek and Mexican which means that I’ve pinned lots of recipes and discovered some great new ones such as this healthy burrito bowl.

Food Aversions: I’m happy to report that all food aversions have gone away. While I don’t crave cooked vegetables, I am able to eat them again – even brussels sprouts.

Symptoms: My skin continues to be drier than I’ve ever experienced, especially my stomach. I lather on moisturizer and cocoa butter multiple times throughout the day but pregnancy growth and the cold, dry winter air aren’t doing my skin any favors. I started using two new products during this period, that really seemed to help with the dry skin and itchiness – Belli Elasticity Oil for Stretch Marks followed by Belli All Day Moisture Body Lotion. I also find that this brand absorbs better than what I was using previously, meaning that I don’t feel sticky all day. My only other symptom was continued breast tenderness.

Sleep: Even though I’ve been sleeping with my Snoogle every night, I inevitably wake up around 3:30 AM sleeping on my back. For the first few days this worried me, for fear I was hurting the baby, but my doctor confirmed that as long as I am spending more time on my left side than my back she should be fine.

Wearing: I continue to live in my AG Maternity Jeans, turtleneck and a flowy vest.

Other random things from the week: I’m not sure if it’s nesting mode or what but I’ve started deep cleaning the kitchen every night after we cook and eat dinner. I don’t think our kitchen has ever been cleaner. I also started switching our kitchen cleaning products to more natural items, especially our counter top cleaner.

Your turn: Any questions? Anything that you loved during your second trimester or any tips?

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January Favorites

January Favorites

Happy Sunday! I hope you all have enjoyed a wonderful weekend. Do you have plans to watch the Super Bowl? Since Bo and I are both from Georgia, we have hopes that the Atlanta Falcons will Rise Up and win tonight. Unfortunately, we just realized that since we got rid of cable this month, we don’t know how we can watch the game at home. Any tips? If your football knowledge is less than stellar, give this article a glance before you watch the game tonight.

Since I didn’t have a chance to share my weekly favorites with you this month, I decided to share a round-up of the things I loved during January. Now, let’s dive into this edition of favorites, including recipes, articles, posts and other things that caught or that I found myself loving this month.

  • Orangetheory – Since the new Park Slope studio opened in January, Bo and I have loved working out together at Orange Theory one to two times per week. As I mentioned previously, their coaches have been terrific in helping me make adjustments as needed due to the pregnancy and I love that each coach truly creates a motivating and supportive environment. The 60-minute classes fly by and so far I’ve really enjoyed the longer treadmill sets intermixed with the rowing and strength portion. The high intensity interval training has complemented my YMCA routine as well as the more gentle barre and pilates workouts I’m taking.
  • Acure Sensitive Facial Cleanser – The past month my face has become victim to the cold, windy weather and dry air. While I’m still using my favorite oil cleanser in the evening to remove my makeup, I’m using this sensitive, mositurizing cleanser in the morning and in the evening, following the oil cleanser. If you’re looking for an economical, natural skin care line, Acure can be found at Walmart, Target and Whole Foods and is a great way to transition your routine and experiment with different items.
  • I’ve been using this rich, hydrating, natural face moisturizer a few nights per week after exfoliating and have noticed a visible difference in my face. My makeup went on smoother and my skin feels healthier after just a few uses.
  • Even though my parents have been to New York many times over the years, it’s always fun to plan a few special activities during their visits. This month our plans include indulging in safe to eat cookie dough creations, high tea at The Plaza and spending time at our favorite NYC museum in between some maternity and nursery shopping.
  • While Bo and I both enjoy duck, I often find many of the recipes to be overly rich or complicated. Thanks to Serious Eats Dinner Tonight section, we enjoyed a simple and flavorful duck dish last night. We made a perfect winter meal by pairing the fig duck with homemade mashed sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts.
  • If the winter air has your hair screaming for help, I highly recommend Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Creme. I’ve been using it for the past six weeks as a styling cream before blow drying my hair and see and feel a noticeable difference. My hair is softer, smoother and has less frizz throughout the day.
  • Burrito Bowls – I’ve been craving Mexican food this week so after seeing Nicole’s burrito bowl tutorial post I did some research and ended up buying the ingredients to make a hybrid recipe this week including inspiration from Nicole, Damn Delicious and Ambitious Kitchen.
  • Looking for a few new running blogs or just some inspiration to get off the couch? I find Amanda’s posts to always be informative, but this round-up of running blogs was especially helpful for someone looking to update their blog and Instagram feed.
  • Julia’s idea to sip this green smoothie as an afternoon snack inspired me to buy the ingredients today and try whipping it up when I’m working from home this week. I love that the recipe includes a few items I’d never think to put in a green smoothie like collagen and sunflower seeds!
  • Since receiving this under eye concealer in last month’s Birchbox, I’ve used it daily and recently ordered the full-size version. It doesn’t crease, goes on easily and helps give me that well-rested look we all crave.

What is a recipe, product or post you loved in Janaury? 

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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