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Friday Favorites – Holiday Edition

Good morning and happy Saturday! How was your week? Any big plans for the weekend? We hosted friends for cocktails last night before heading out on a double date. Since our house is fully decorated for Christmas we thought it’d be fun to share the festive atmosphere with friends! Walking through the door each evening it makes my heart happy to see the bright, white Christmas tree lights, our Christmas village and smell the delicious, holiday candles!

I love this time of year!

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In fact, I got so caught up in last night’s merriment that I forgot to push publish on this post. Hence the reason that you’re getting a Friday Favorites on Saturday morning, unless you’re on the west coast!

Here’s a round up of things that I’m loving this week! I hope you’ll share something you’re loving in the comments section!

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Holiday Cocktails – Bo discovered this great article on Men’s Health yesterday which led to the creation of last night’s cocktail -  The Cinnamon Twist.  We followed the directions except that we substituted a small amount of Habanero peppers since we can’t find Serrano peppers in Geneva. In addition, making the cinnamon simple syrup  is super easy and makes your home smell amazing!

Holiday candles – Some people turn on the Christmas movies and holiday music the day after Thanksgiving but for me, I start lighting the holiday candles. My favorites this year have been cinnamon or pine scent. We’ve had the frasier fir and cinnamon chai Woodwick candles burning the past week. However, our candle collection received an upgrade last night when our friends Olivier and Lauren brought over this lovely seasonal Diptyque candle as a hostess gift.

Cinnamon coffee – Meghann reminded me how delicious a simple dash of cinnamon is when added to either a frothy cappuccino or a simple coffee. Since her visit I’ve added two dashes to my coffee each morning and love the warm flavor it provides without any extra sugar or calories.

Holiday throw pillows – My friend Kate has a wonderful business with her sister, Barefoot Décor. I’ve gifted most of my friends one of her baby items, but this year I love her holiday items more than ever! How festive and cute is this red & cream “Tis the Season” pillow cover? 

Mrs. Meyers Seasonal collection – We’ve used Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products for years, especially their dish soap and cleaning spray. The products are all natural and made with essential oils while still cleaning just as well as the leading chemical filled brands. Typically the lavender is a staple in our house but this seasons I’m loving their pine scents!

How about you? What are you loving this week?

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Biking Through Tuscany

Happy Thursday!  I have obviously been less than stellar about posting reviews of some of my recent travels and for that I apologize. I am still trying to find a balance between sharing TOO many travel posts and not enough. As many of you may know, Bo and I celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary with three nights in Florence at the end of November. While the entire trip was amazing – incredible renaissance art, amazing food and wine, and wonderful accommodations – one of the highlights was our bike tour through the Tuscan countryside with I Bike Italy. We booked the “Active Full Day Tuscan Group Bike Tour” and showed up at9am dressed in our bike shorts ready for action. When we arrived, we were greeted by Bill, the owner of the company an American, who has lived in Italy for almost 20 years and is an avid cyclist.

 

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We were expecting a group of people but, since it was off-season, we ended having an incredible private tour. Bill was the perfect tour guide. He began by asking us questions about our cycling experience and ability, in order to make sure he could cater the ride properly. He quickly concluded that we were there to not only take in the beautiful scenery, but also to break a sweat and burn some serious calories. He told us that once we hit the countryside we would just “hammer” for a while and see how far we made  it before lunch.

 

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The ride out of Florence was a little dicey as riding through a busy city often is, but once we hit the outskirts of town, the scenery changed and we immediately knew that this would be a special experience.

 

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We rode through the countryside and up into the hills and, since Bo is a more experienced rider; he rode ahead while Bill gave me a private lesson on how best to tackle hills on a bike. This was so helpful as I’ve never been fully comfortable shifting gears with changing terrain. Bill was a great coach, and I now feel completely comfortable riding aggressively on hills.  We rode almost 40 kilometer (add the mile equivalent)before lunch and, considering the fact that the entire tour is usually only 35 Km, we certainly felt like we earned the pasta that was soon to be on our plate.

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The lunch (included in the price of the tour) was amazing and ranks among the best pasta that either Bo or I have ever eaten. Lunch started with lots of water (the small water bottles that we brought with us didn’t really cut it), a local chianti, bruschetta, and chicken liver pate on toast (a very common Tuscan appetizer). We were ravenous and as we ate, Bill entertained us with some anecdotes about living in Italy – such as the difficulty of passing the driver’s test.  He also told us a few other great stories including how he met his wife.  Just as he was finishing that one, she showed up, and we met her, her mother and his beautiful daughter. This is one of the things that we love so much about Italy. Family and sharing are such an ingrained part of the culture that you can’t help but feel right at home (nothing against the Swiss, but it presents quite a cultural counterpoint).  After two types of pasta – a potato-filled ravioli with a rabbit ragu, and a vegetarian tagliatelle – we were loaded with carbs and ready to continue our journey.

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The afternoon was a bit more relaxing and included a visit to a local chianti producer that also makes its own olive oil, a nice, long downhill ride back into town, and at Bo’s request, a trip to the top of the Piazzale Michelangelo for the most stunning views of Florence.

 

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We ended up doing a total of 36 miles or 57 kilometers, which was most definitely a bicycle PDR for me.

 

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If you are planning a trip to Florence, make sure it includes at least a half day with iBikeItaly. The ride is a great way to learn about the region with a local while also getting exercise!

YOUR TURN – If you could take a bike tour anywhere, what would be your destination of choice?

 

*We were not compensated nor provided a discount in exchange for the review. We just loved iBikeItaly that much!

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Gift Guide for Runners: Starting at $10

Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful.

The cold, weather running season has arrived. It’s easy to make excuses this time of year whether due to holiday parties or bad weather. This gift guide features 14 perfect gifts for any runner on your list or even yourself. These are items that I love and use on an almost daily basis!

When I put this list together, I did my best to include items across all price points whether you need a secret Santa item for someone in your running club or you’re looking to spend more on your favorite person. Hint, hint family & friends, I would love 2, 4, 6 and 10!

Runners Gift Guide

1. GRID Mini Foam Roller – This little guy is the perfect foam roller for everyone. It’s cheaper than others, is small enough to bring on trips but still gets all the knots. Everyone, regardless their fitness or running level, can benefit from foam rolling!

2. C9 by Champion Women’s Leggings – My yoga instructor was wearing these bright, gorgeous turquoise leggings last week and I almost fell over when she told me they were a Target purchase during her last trip stateside.

3. Lululemon Run with Me Earwarmer (Final Sale) – I’ve used this earwarmer for 4 winter running seasons. While they’ve updated the style a bit it is a winter running essential. It holds hair back like a headband while keeping ears toasty!

4. SheaMoisture Lavender & Wild Orchid Dead Sea Salt – Oh how I miss warm, soaking baths with wonderful lavender sea salt. Back when I had a tub this was a regular in our household. For under $10 this is perfect for anyone who needs to rest and relax their tired muscles.

5. YurBuds Inspire Sport Earphones – These days I can’t run with anything except YurBuds. I never have to adjust my headphones or worry about them falling out.

6. Run Now Wine Later Tank Top – As soon as I saw this tank, I ordered it for three women on my Christmas list. It’s fun, light weight and the burnout style is super cute.

7. Enso Travel Roller – More intense than the grid foam roller, this little guy is crazy effective and is able to adjust based on your desired intensity level. The travel version is small enough to throw in your gym bag or suitcase and under $50!

8. Petzl Headlamp – Want your favorite runner to stay safe when they’re running before and after work? This lightweight headlamp will help ensure that cars and other runners see them. I’ve had a Petzl headlamp for years and typically wear it on a baseball hat for my early morning or late night runs. The hat helps keep it in place as well as keep my head warm!

9. GU Energy Gels – GU has stepped up the game these days with terrific new flavors such as salted caramel and macchiato. If the runner in your life swears by GU as their fuel of choice, surprise them with either their favorite flavor or a new one. These are especially great if they are training for a half marathon or marathon.

10. LED Wearable Lights – These are a cheaper and more flexible alternative to the Petzl headlamp. These can be attached to pants, tops, or even a Camelbak. They use regular batteries so replacing them is no stress. The bright colors make them a fun addition to any runner’s outfit while also keeping them safe!

11. Wunder Under Crop – I’ve sworn by these crops for 5 years. However, until last month, I’d only worn black. Now that I’ve moved into the colored crop territory I can’t remember what took me so long. The bright cranberry color is perfect for the holidays and brightens my mood as soon as I pull them out of my gym bag!

12. ProCompression Leggings – I wore these leggings for Saturday’s 10k race and fell in love with them.  The pockets held my phone and keys, the moisture wicking fabric kept me dry, while the wide waistband never budged. Made by ProCompression, these are awesome and have more benefits than your average crop!

13. Mizuno Breath Thermo Windshell Glove – If there is one item that every runner needs in order to survive the winter, it’s a great pair of gloves. These gloves feature a special windshell material that blocks out the wind and keeps your body heat inside!

14. Under Armour Fly-By Turtleneck  – My first winter running top was an Under Amrour turtleneck back in the days when I was braving Philadelphia winters. My six year old turtleneck was just replaced by this one and I LOVE the new style. The fun colors, thumb holes, soft inside and an extra high neck can protect your favorite runner from the elements in style!

Which of these do you want this holiday season?

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