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Friday Favorites – February 5th, 2016

snowy brooklyn pic

Happy, happy Friday friends! I am smiling like a kid on Christmas, once again this morning, as we were surprised with an overnight dusting of snow. It’s so fun to share this not only with Bo, but also my parents! As you can imagine, they never see snow in Savannah, Georgia so it’s a fun treat. Today we’re heading into the city for a full day of exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art, checking out the new dinosaur at the Natural History Museums as well as finally seeing The Lion King! Before the show we are going to share our favorite pre-theatre dinner spot with my parents – Casellula.  The cheese plates and small plates to share are terrific as is their wine selection!

As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the minutes 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.

  • I can’t start this week’s favorites off without recognizing the gorgeous snowy scene outside our window this morning. Waking up to find Brooklyn covered in a dusting of snow was such a welcome surprise. Too bad it’s supposed to reach 40 degrees today, which means the snow will only last a few hours.
  • We are finally hitting the slopes this month and I can’t wait to clip into my skis and enjoy some time outside skiing on both the east coast and out in Tahoe. In preparation for our trip, I’ve had my eye on two base layers from Sweaty Betty. Both the Clubhouse and the Flowline are vibrant in color and gorgeous for both the day on the slope as well as après ski! I love that they are both sweat wicking as well as slim fit which means that I can easily layer without feeling like the abominable snowman. Which one is your favorite? I think the Rio pop art top is my favorite due to the bold colors which remind me of my favorite statement necklace!
  • Did anyone else shed a tear while watching the Me Before You preview? My favorite book of 2014, this movie looks like it is going to do the book justice and quickly rank high on my list of romantic tear-jerkers along with Love Story and The Notebook.

jcrew coat pic

  • Speaking of clothing, a few of my favorite winter items are now on sale at JCrew. The leather pixie pant is dressy enough for business meetings when paired with heels and comfortable enough for weekends. These lean and flattering jeans have been a weekly staple since I bought them in October. They have just enough stretch to make me want to wear them daily but not enough to end up looking saggy in the butt. Seriously, now that these are marked down 25% I would buy these in black and the classic rinse! Anytime I wear the Cocoon Coat or feature it on social media, people immediately ask me where I bought it. This coat’s funnel neck, large pockets and looser yet flattering style is perfect for winter when you want and need to wear multiple layers but still want to look feminine.
  • Last night we finally tried Hometown Barbecue and boy did it live up to the hype. Brooklyn is home to multiple award-winning barbecue restaurants but none have been as creative as Hometown. If you’re visiting or a local, you must add it to your list of restaurants as I woke up this morning dreaming of their Chinese Sticky Ribs and the Texas-Style Queso Mac + Cheese. Oh, my word.
  • Since my parents are in town, we thought it would be fun to have a few friends over for a casual Super Bowl party. When I say casual I mean less than 10 people, leggings and jeans as acceptable attire and lots of time watching the game and judging the much anticipated ads. But, what is a Super Bowl party without good food? We are keeping things simple by making it pot-luck style but we have our eye on this delicious brownie recipe, this upgraded brownie recipe, and these homemade pretzels.

detox salad

  • After all the weekend indulgence, I know I’ll need a few days of vegetables and whole food in my life. You guys know I don’t support juice cleanses as I believe that we can reset our bodies with healthy, natural foods versus restrictive liquid diets. This detox salad is filled with delicious ingredients and when paired with the homemade dressing, will not only be a healthy start to the week but also one I actually want to enjoy, unlike a disgusting wheatgrass shot.
  • I’ve professed my love of smoothies more than once, but lately I’ve been looking for some inspiration. While I’ve never read Whitney Port’s blog before, when I saw Diana share this link on Facebook, I immediately jumped over. I love that each of these recipes packs a flavor and nutrient punch without filling the smoothie with unnecessary sugar.

Your turn – What are you loving this week? 

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 – January 29th, 2016

IMG_9745

Is anyone else ready to unwind from the week? This morning’s Rise and Shine yoga class was the perfect way to start releasing the stress of the week.  This weekend’s plans include a steak and red wine date night at home tonight followed by a long run tomorrow morning with Theodora and some quality time with my cousin who is in town tomorrow as well as a few of our friends tomorrow night. In between there will be a few baking experiments as well as a lot of sleep. I’m still feeling the effects of Wednesday night when I only slept 5.5 hours. This 32-year old can’t do that mid-week anymore and still wake up energized for the day.

As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the minutes 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.

  • Now that I have a bath tub at home, I love taking at least one relaxing bath per week. I fill the tub up with warm water, drop a few sprinkles of this heavenly coconut and vanilla bath soak, enjoy a glass of wine and read a good book.
  • During the Winter months, I tend to only drink red wine. There is something so soothing and warming about the rich tannins of a red wine that makes me want to sip it all through the weekend while bundled up in a sweater. The Josh Cellar’s Legacy is a well balanced blend of Merlot, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sarah. This bottle paired perfectly with everything we enjoyed last weekend, even the chocolate cake! An easy to drink and approachable wine, it is a perfect wine to stock for your next dinner party as every guest will enjoy it.
  • Speaking of comforting, Tina’s Light & Creamy Chickpea Salad looks like the perfect pairing for any meal! I always love pairing Brussels sprouts with Dijon mustard so I know I’ll love this recipe. In fact, I think I’ll whip up a batch on Sunday to enjoy for lunch throughout the week.
  • I’ve been inspired to improve my smoothie game this year thanks to Kristine, Rachel and the rest of the smoothie Instagram images brightening up my Instagram feed daily. The team at Well+Good continues to deliver with perfect articles including the 11 staples for a killer smoothie pantry, which inspired this week’s shopping on iHerb.com! I had no idea that you could get Goji berry and Acai powders.
  • The winter weather combined with this week’s client meetings forced me to swap leggings for tights as I donned dresses or skirts three days this week. Our team of ladies ended up joking about our favorite tights and it turns out we all agree that these are the absolute best! They hold everything in without making you feel like a sausage, stand up to my often jagged nails and are perfectly opaque!
  • I’m so glad hat the modeling world is starting to evolve from the “heroin-chic” days of yesteryear when models were idolized for their visible ribs and gaunt figures. I loved reading that Nina Agdal, Sports Illustrated cover model, likes to sweat with the best of them at some of my favorite NYC workout locations.  Maybe I’ll run into her at Y7 soon!
  • Are you one of the lucky runners who snagged a spot in the NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon? I can’t believe that the race sold out in just 52 minutes! I’m now some how signed up for three Spring half marathons including one which I’ll be running for fun with a bunch of other NYC blogger friends! If you’ve read my race recaps (here and here) from this race, you’ll know it’s never been my favorite due to the six miles of monotonous running towards Coney Island. BUT, the start is walking distance from our apartment and so many of my friends are running it that I just couldn’t resist.
  • Another week, another couple who is giving me and Bo some major #couplegoals. I loved Dax Shepard in Parenthood (BEST SHOW EVER) but I think I may love him even more in this video that he and his wife made together! Let’s go to Africa and dance with the giraffes and zebras, okay Bo?
  • The results of this I Side With survey scared me a bit BUT I loved the ability to click on each issue and learn more as well as getting more familiar with each candidates views. Take a few minutes, please, to become more educated in advance of the elections.
  • Dogs in photo booths – need I say more? There is nothing more hilarious than these images of pups cheesing it up in front of the camera!
  • If you love using scrubs to slough off the dry skin, you may want to toss out your coffee infused ones based on this latest finding that it can actually clog your drain. Good to know, especially since our brownstone’s pipes are definitely not new.

Happy weekend! What are you loving this week??

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Friday Favorites – January 15th, 2016

Nike top stretch

Happy Friday! I kicked off Friday with a sunrise yoga class before working from a neighborhood coffee shop with a friend. After working from the same desk and home office all week it’s a nice break to spend a few hours in a coffee shop, surrounded by people and the inviting coffee aroma. This weekend is shaping up to be a great mix of friends and relaxation. Tonight and tomorrow we’re pretty busy but Sunday and Monday we have nothing on the calendar. I’m thankful that we get to enjoy a three day weekend! Am I the only one who feels as if they holidays were months ago versus just two weeks ago?

As promised, in regular Friday fashion, here is this week’s version of Friday Favorites. So, as you count down the minutes 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.

I’ve decided that every Friday I need a five minute YouTube break to laugh and get over the afternoon slump. This week’s is Adele’s carpool karaoke with James Corden. My favorite part is her story about what she does when she’s drunk at a restaurant. Can I be part of her squad? Please?

During last night’s NYRR coached run club, I sported my Nike Pro Warm Printed Half-Zip. As you can see in the picture above, the top is bright and cheery while also featuring functional details such as thumbholes and a longer hemline. The brushed material kept me warm during the nighttime run while also wicking the sweat away. I bought this top for the pattern but it’s functionality has me wanting to buy another!

After reading the New York Times review of this book, I immediately downloaded it and proceeded to get lost in the authors beautiful prose. Even though he is describing such a horrible thing, the book is a wonderful and moving read.  I can already tell that this book will have an impact on me long after I finish the final page.

Since receiving the luxurious, fragrant Diptyque Baies candle for Christmas, it’s luxurious aroma has permeated our home each day.  It was such a perfect Christmas gift as I rarely indulge on Diptyque candles but now that I’ve been spoiled with this candle I may have to sample other scents by ordering their sampler pack or a few small sizes.

These healthy, portable and protein packed egg cups are a perfect breakfast option! Since the next few weeks are going to involve a few days at the office, I may whip these up on Sunday.

If you’re constantly trying to find a place to store your jewelry, this mirror idea from A Beautiful Mess is the perfect solution!

zoodles

Do your New Year’s resolutions include eating more vegetables? If so, check out these 20 spiralizer recipes that won’t disappoint even the most discerning taste buds.

While Gisele and Tom are quite the beautiful couple, I’ll happily take my weight and moderate lifestyle over their restrictive, healthy diet. Moderation is the key to life folks, am I right? This hilarious piece from Bon Appetit follows one person as she tried to survive their diet.

Your Turn: What are you loving this week? 

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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