Friday Favorites – June 7th, 2019

Brooklyn Running Picture

Happy Friday! Since I was exhausted from the work week, I decided to blog during last night’s late flight back to New York. It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to share with you all my favorite things so, since this type of post is popular, I figured I’d share a few things I’ve been loving recently. In addition, if you’re a parent or preparing for maternity leave I highly recommend clicking to the post I shared earlier this week with tips for returning to work after maternity leave. I really enjoyed writing the post as it forced me to reflect on how much things have changed in the past 18 months.

This weekend I’m happy to be staying local and catching up on cuddles and relaxing. I’ve traveled 10 of the past 30 days for work which is far more than normal and more than I prefer to be away. Luckily I don’t travel for the next two weeks and look forward to spending extra time with Katie. In fact, I was supposed to run the NYRR Mini 10k in Central Park tomorrow but since I’ve been traveling I’m choosing to think of my registration as a donation and, instead, we are heading to the beach bright and early tomorrow morning for some sand and wave fun before Katie’s nap.

Now, let’s dive into this week’s edition of Friday Favorites. Also, if you want to learn more about my favorite things on a regular basis, follow me on Instagram and check out the Favorite Things and Beauty Favorites section on my Instagram highlights.

  • After reading a few heavier books such as Educated, Hillbilly Elegy, Bad Blood and Where the Crawdads Sing I have been enjoying a few lighter books recently. It’s fun to quickly read these Summer beach reads in the evening and work my way through multiple different books in just a week. Over the past few weeks I’ve read Normal People (3 stars), Daisy Jones & The Six (4 stars), The Unhoneymooners (4 stars) and All We Ever Wanted (4 stars).  After a few light reads, I’m starting We Were The Lucky Ones which is a highly recommended World War II book.
  • Recently my face has had some unruly breakouts along my chin due in part to stress and travel. During my facial last week, it was recommended that I start using a toner in that area as well as ensuring that I remove all my makeup each night before bed. But, the exciting part of my facial was that outside of that trouble zone, my fine lines and discoloration has improved greatly over the past few months.  The biggest change I’ve made is the use of Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing peel. I use it every other night and love the glow that I see the next morning. After washing my face in the evening I apply it under my moisturizer and eye cream. Make sure to apply it to a dry face and let it absorb fully before applying any moisturizer or facial oils. I know the name is confusing but this is not a mask or peel that is rinsed off or peeled off after applying. Just go to bed and let the formula work magic.
  • I finally ordered a pair of Rothy’s after having multiple co-workers and friends rave about them. While I still love my M.Gemi and JCrew flats for work, my Rothy sneakers are an evening playground and weekend favorite. The white color can easily be bleached or washed and the insoles and support make the shoes comfortable enough for long walks or park adventures. I ordered my true size for this style and then in the pointed style, which I just ordered, I went up a 1/2 size based on reviews.
  • I love wearing Birkenstocks all Summer as they provide support when I’m walking through Brooklyn or playing with Katie. However now that Katie is obsessed with playing outside and splashing in the water I quickly realized I needed something that could survive mud and water. Luckily Birkenstock’s new Arizona EVA Essentials sandals are the perfect option. They have the same, great support that my rose gold Arizona style has but now is a water-friendly EVA material and only $39.95! I bought the white color as I knew I could wear it with anything AND use a Mr Clean eraser to spot clean.  I wore them this morning to walk Katie to nanny share and was amazed how comfortable they were and that they didn’t need to be broken in at all!
  • Summer running has arrived and that means that I’m running in shorts and tanks 99% of the time. Once again, this summer my favorite running tank is the Brooks Hot Shot Tank which is lightweight and quick-drying which makes it a perfect fit for my sweaty nature. I wore the blue one this morning and received compliments from four different people including the guy who prepared my bagel sandwich!
  • Driving in Arkansas this week, I was able to listen to a podcast during my commute each day which was a fun treat. Right now, I am primarily listening to NEWS or PARENTING podcasts. My favorite parenting podcasts are UNRUFFLED and LIFE KIT. My favorite news podcasts that Bo and I both listen to daily are NPR News Now, Up First, and The Daily.

Have a great Friday!

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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February Favorites

It’s the second day of March and the view outside my window is a snowy, winter wonderland. Even though we only received 3-4 inches during the night, that is the most snow we’ve had since our early season snow in November.  Our Saturday routine is changing a bit now that Bo and Katie are enjoying father daughter swim lessons from 9:30-10 AM every Saturday for the next eight weeks. Since I found myself in a clean, quiet house with no errands on my list, I’m taking advantage of the few moments of quiet to check in with you all and share my February favorites. Brooklyn snow

If you want to learn more about my favorite things on a regular basis, follow me on Instagram and check out the Favorite Things and Beauty Favorites section on my Instagram highlights.

Becoming – Even though it took me almost the entire month to read this book, I really enjoyed it. I started reading it not knowing much about Michelle Obama and finished feeling like I’d just finished catching up with a good friend. I loved the insights to her emotions during the campaigns and then her perspective of the time in the White House. But, the part of the book that I appreciated most was the first half, which focused on her childhood and early adult life before she became the first lady. Regardless of your political affiliation or believes, I think this memoir is wonderful for everyone.

Paige Transcend Hoxton Skinny Jeans  – Since losing the remainder of my baby weight, I found that my favorite Jcrew jeans were now far too loose. While it’s a good problem to have, I quickly found that these jeans were no longer available in my size and therefore I felt like I had to start from scratch. The last thing I want to do with my spare time is go jean shopping, so instead I asked my followers and friends on Instagram to recommend their favorite jeans for tall ladies. The unanimous favorite was Paige brand and the most recommended style was the Hoxton High Waist in Moana wash. These jeans are the perfect dark wash for business casual or weekends. I can dress them up with heels and a blazer for date night or wear them with a sweater on the weekends. I’ve had them for three weeks and am so obsessed with the flattering fit and material that I just ordered a second pair in a lighter wash.

Dudley Stephens Cobble Hill Turtleneck in Terry Fleece – When the team at Dudley Stephens announced that they were restocking their favorite items and releasing a few new styles, I knew exactly what I wanted – a bright, vibrant top for spring. I actually regret ordering the Park Slope turtleneck in red as I rarely wear that color.  I tend to avoid  wearing primary colors and instead more frequently wear pops of bright color when I’m not wearing white, black or gray. As soon as I saw their new terry fleece style in the bright island coral, I knew it would quickly become my new favorite top. The top looks and feels like a chic sweatshirt. I wore it with makeup, fun earrings and makeup for a work conference call and had not one but two people ask me about the top. The lighter, terry fleece material means I can wear it throughout the year, on cool nights up in Vermont during the summer or out and about during the spring and early summer months. The fit is true to size, so I am wearing a large to accommodate my broad shoulders and longer arms. If I wanted something super fitted I could most likely fit in a medium but that isn’t the style that I want in this top. Yes, the top is worth the price tag as the quality is amazing and it will quickly become your favorite top in your closet – promise. If you’re new to Dudley Stephens, my favorite styles are the Cobble Hill turtleneck and the Park Slope if you want a bit more coverage. I have the park slope in red and gray and the cobble hill in white and pink.

Beautycounter Sheer Lipstick in Lily – This wearable pink shade of hydrating lipstick has been my favorite color for the past few months. It goes on easily and lasts all day. Even though I have three other lipstick colors in my makeup bag, I find myself grabbing for this one multiple times during the day.

Brooks Levitate 2My hot pink pair of Brooks Levitate 2 have quickly become my favorite running shoes. The flexible, mesh upper allows me to tighten them while the broad toe box gives my toes room to breathe during runs. The bright, fun colors make me smile while I’m running without compromising on support. The midsole is also extremely responsive, making me feel like I can spring through each step during both a short speed workout and a longer run.

Brooks Dash HoodieThis lightweight, cozy hoodie has been a perfect layer during my outdoor runs. The material is buttery soft yet still wicks away the sweat. During the cooler weather, I’ve been wearing this over a sports bra as the second layer before putting my heavy running jacket over it and gloves. The pocket at the wrist is perfect for a key and credit card while the hood was a nice option to pull on the other day when it started sleeting towards the end of my run. I’ve had the black version for over a year but recently the Brooks team sent me the bright purple as a fun new color to wear through the winter and spring.

What are you loving these days? 

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My Brooks #RunHappy Inspiration

Last month, Brooks gave me the opportunity to outfit one of my running inspirations from head-to-toe in new Brooks gear.  What a fun surprise and opportunity to share the gift of new gear with someone! There are so many people who inspire me to work towards becoming a stronger runner on a daily basis. How could I choose just one person?

Image result for brooks run happy

I took some time to jot down a list of people who help me find the energy to run, even after a long day, or push through a tough run. I thought of the people who make time for running while balancing far more than I balance. Then I thought about the people who inspire me with their speed and strength, often making sub-8 minute miles or long runs look easy. I thought about all the people who have been logging an increased number of miles each week, leading up to their next marathon.

But, at the end of the day, I chose someone who inspires me not from afar or via social media. I chose my friend Melissa, with whom I’ve been running once a week for the past few months. During the week, Melissa’s work schedule forces her to run before 4:30 AM.  Since her return to running after giving birth to her son Calvin, she has trained smart and has recently started running her fastest paces ever due to consistent cross training and efficient running workouts.  During our runs together, she has the ability to make me forget about the heat, humidity or weekly stress. Instead, her candor and dry humor leaves me laughing as we she everything with each other during those 60-80 minutes.  She has quickly become what the women on Another Mother Runner call a “best running friend.”

Melissa and Ashley Running

When I asked her why she runs, Melissa said that it is helps her find balance. While that may sound ironic to some, since it’s just another thing to fit into her busy mom schedule, it’s one of the only times during a chaotic week that allow her with moments to clear her mind and feel stronger and healthier.

Since Melissa is ready for cooler weather, she opted to choose items from the new Brooks fall line. The pieces will be perfect as she transitions to running and working out in cooler weather and, as she pointed out, many of the pieces can be enjoyed beyond running. The outfit, as styled here, can easily be worn for running errands, going to the park with her husband and son, or relaxing at home.

  • Top: Array Long Sleeve (Melissa said that she loves the top because it’s lightweight and the open back detail makes her feel more stylish than normal.) 
  • Bottoms: Formation Crop (She picked these crops because they are a great transition item for cooler weather. Plus, she was looking for a fun pattern to add to her almost all black pant rotation.)
  • Bra: Just Right Racer
  • Shoes: Pure Cadence

Brooks Run Happy Inspiration

Thank you so much Brooks for letting me gift Melissa with a new running outfit as a way to recognize and thank her for the running and mom inspiration she brings to my life daily!

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