I definitely didn’t mean to go dark on the blog yesterday. In fact, I wrote a way-too-wordy blog post that I ended up scrapping at the last minute because it was a big-time Debbie Downer to read. I wasn’t sharing anything major and the blog post was simply a recap of my Wednesday but Wednesday, honestly, was just an all-around annoying day.
It was filled with phone issues that had me running to four different stores (and the issues still remain unresolved), pregnancy nausea that resurfaced with a bang, losing my car keys and more and it just felt like a big whine fest when I wrote about it on the blog even though it was simply a real recap of my day. I didn’t enjoy writing about it so I figured you guys wouldn’t enjoy reading about it, so I hit delete and now here we are today. A new day! A better day. FRIDAY!
So let’s dive into your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post, shall we? Below you will find a short roundup of some things that are making me smile this week, including a must-try festive St. Patrick’s Day recipe, a sneaky giveaway and more. I hope you guys have a fantastic weekend and enjoy the luck of the Irish on Saturday!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- 26-Week Ultrasound
(26-week ultrasound photos of our baby’s head and feet! <3 )
Hooray for a wonderful ultrasound and answered prayers! I had an appointment with a specialist yesterday morning to monitor our baby and look at my placenta and it went so well. We got to see our little one in enough detail to see fuzzy hair on our baby’s head and it was incredible. My doctor told me our little one is about 2.2 pounds already (I’m measuring slightly ahead – a big change from my pregnancy with Chase when I was behind the whole time) and looking great. Seeing our baby move and hearing our little one’s heartbeat is simply the best even though I think I’ve held my breath for the duration of every single ultrasound we’ve had so far.
Chase is still 100 percent convinced our baby is a boy and tells EVERYONE we’re having a boy with such certainty that even his preschool teacher said, “Congrats! You’re having a boy!” to me on Monday. I had to laugh and tell her that we don’t know and we won’t know until our little one arrives, despite Chase’s very vocal claims otherwise. He kind of has me drinking the Kool-Aid at the moment and part of me is leaning toward thinking we’re having another boy even though all of my physical symptoms seem to align more with the old wives’ tales for a girl this time around. We will see!
- High Protein Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate with Collagen
Thank you to Great Lakes Gelatin for sponsoring this shout out!
St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and if you’re looking for a way to celebrate with a little treat that’s actually pretty darn healthy, I have the perfect festive drink for you! It combines two of my favorite flavors – chocolate and mint – for a frozen mint hot chocolate that packs a serious protein punch thanks to the addition of Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate. The recipe is creamy, frothy and chocolaty but doesn’t taste like a total sugar bomb. It’s a high protein frozen hot chocolate you can feel good about drinking, whether you choose to enjoy it on St. Patrick’s Day, as a post-workout snack or a healthy sweet treat at the end of the day.
Print
High Protein Frozen Mint Hot Chocolate
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 1 min
- Total Time: 3 mins
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: dessert, sweet treat
Description
A high-protein, creamy treat to enjoy when you’re craving a combination of rich chocolate and refreshing mint.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk (a higher fat milk will yield a creamier drink)
- 3 tablespoons Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
- pinch of salt
- 1 heaping cup ice
Instructions
- Combine milk through salt in a high-speed blender until mint leaves are fully blended into the chocolate liquid.
- Add ice and blend until desired consistency is achieved. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cocoa powder if desired.
I’ve been buying Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate for about two years now and love it because it dissolves so easily in my morning coffee or tea and makes a great addition to smoothies without altering the flavor of my favorite beverages. You can read more about why I first fell in love with collagen and continue to use it regularly in this post: Benefits of Collagen. The short version: I love it for improved digestion and hair, skin and nail health as well as bone and joint health. And yes, I do use collagen pregnant! I feel like it was my primary source of protein for a while there when I was on an all-carb diet for nearly two months. Ha! My doctor gave me the a-okay to continue using it, but definitely check with your doctor, too!
***GIVEAWAY!***
If you’d like to give this recipe a try or simply wish to try incorporating collagen into your diet, I think you’ll like today’s sneaky giveaway! One PBF reader will win two containers of Great Lakes Collagen Hydrolysate and one of the 20-count single-serving packs of the travel-size collagen packets you can throw in your bag to enjoy collagen on the go. (These are great for adding collagen to coffee or tea when you’re out and about.) To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post telling me how you currently like to enjoy collagen or one way you think you’d like to try using collagen if it’s something new to you! I will randomly select a winner next Friday morning.
Good luck!
I never think of my car as “old” but it’s 13 years old so I guess it’s technically getting up there, huh? The only time I really feel like my car is getting older is when I want to use some kind of new(ish) technology like Bluetooth and it’s not compatible or when I check the maps function of my car’s GPS and half the highways around me don’t even exist. I wanted the ability to easily stream music in my car before my long road trip with Chase a couple of weeks ago and ordered this Bluetooth adapter from Amazon.
The adapter worked like a charm and the set up was a breeze. The sound quality is great and I highly recommend it to anyone driving an older vehicle without the ability to stream music from their phones. The adapter also has the ability to charge your phone at the same time, so that’s a huge plus! It let me jam out to the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and listen to my favorite NPR podcast (Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me) among streaming breaks of Pandora’s Baby Einstein station so I was a happy camper!
- Chilly Cow Chocolate Brownie Batter Ice Cream Bars
Purchasing these Chilly Cow ice cream bars was a valiant attempt at portion control on my part after downing my bodyweight in Moose Tracks ice cream a few weeks in a row. Though a big bowl of ice cream will always have my heart, I must give these bars rave reviews. They are incredibly creamy and chocolaty and seem to do a decent job of satisfying my sweet tooth at the end of the day. And yes, I’ve definitely downed two in a row a couple times now because I loved them so much but that’s better than half of a half gallon of ice cream, right!?
- Friday Flashbacks
Corned Beef and Cabbage Creamy Leek Soup (A comforting recipe to keep on hand if you have any corned beef leftover after St. Patrick’s Day!)
Upper Body Superset Workout (A strength workout that combines weights and resistance bands for an upper body burn!)
Question of the Day
Today’s Questions of the Day correspond to the sneaky giveaway above:
- For my fellow collagen fans: How do you currently like to incorporate collagen into your diet?
- For the collagen newbies: What is one way you’d like to try collagen for the first time? In your coffee? In a smoothie? Let me know!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I haven’t tried collagen yet, but I’d love to add it to my morning coffee.
I like collagen in my coffee first thing in the morning, but even more so as a fix for my 4pm slump.
So glad things are going well with your pregnancy. Keep in mind that the measurements they take during an ultrasound can be shockingly inaccurate. We were told our baby had interutarine growth restriction and she ended up being big for her gestational age (she came early at 29 weeks).
I love collagen in my coffee!
I’m so sorry you had a rough Wednesday-mine wasn’t so hot either!! I always worry when I don’t see a post from you (I’m sure that sounds weird), so I’m happy you had a wonderful 26 week ultrasound and that everything is fine with you other than the crummy day. I can’t wait to see what you’re having!!! I’m thinking it’s a boy too, but that could be because Chase has me convinced too. He is so hilarious. ? I used to stir collagen into my black coffee, but during my last pregnancy the filmy texture grossed me out so my husband and I started taking capsules. Im currently 4 months postpartum with baby number two, and I need to get back on the collagen train. I’ll probably just start putting it in my coffee again now that I’m not having any weird aversions, lol. I hope you have an amazing weekend!
Use collagen in my coffee everyday! Drinking it now.
I would be a collagen newbie! I would definitely try it in my coffee first since that is something I have every day!
I put collagen in my morning cup of tea (with some unsweetened almond milk). If I’m feeling kind of sassy, I add some vanilla extract.
Oh I’ve been wanting to try collagen!!
I add collagen and fiber (postnatal problems) to my morning cup of tea…seems to help!
I would love to try collagen because I never have! The hot chocolate or as an addition to coffee sound good, also for my family.
I add collagen to my travel mug as I’m filling it with coffee and heading out the door every morning! Makes the commute that much more pleasant 🙂
I was on a collagen kick drinking it in my coffee, but then it seemed to fall off my radar. I’m definitely going to get back into it now with the reminder!
I had never heard of collagen powder until I saw it on your blog and ordered some to try! I add a big spoonful to my morning coffee and hardly notice a taste or anything anymore. I can feel a difference when I travel or go away and don’t have the powder daily in my coffee (I didn’t know they had travel packs until reading this post!).
Have a great Friday!
I like it in my coffee and sometimes will put it in my shake too…..
So glad to hear your u/s went well…for some reason I am feeling boy too… 🙂
I’ve gotten a few samples of collagen but have yet to bite the bullet and purchase my own tub! I’ve only tried it mixed with milk or mixed into a smoothie, but I’d love to try it in my coffee!
I use collagen in my morning cup of tea!
I add a scoop to my morning coffee. Love it!!
Hi Julie!
Never tried it, but i would really like too. I think in coffee would be delicious.
I love Great Lakes collagen! I usually just stir in 2 T in my coffee before I go workout.
I love it stirred into morning coffee!
I’ve never tried collagen, but you’ve had me intrigued ever since you first mentioned it on the blog! Always looking for new ways to add protein into my diet! I’d probably add it to my morning cup of coffee!
I drink it in my coffee every morning, its something I have EVERY SINGLE DAY, so I never forget it!
I am a collagen newbie! I have always been intrigued by the collagen in your coffee when you mention it and I also still need to start drinking my coffee out of a straw. I would definitely try it in my coffee and I think once summer officially comes to Akron, OH and I’m drinking more smoothies–I will try it there too!
I am sorry you had a rough Wednesday but happy to hear everything looks well with the baby. We had a girl first and I was convinced we were having a boy the second time due to my symptoms and how different the pregnancies were. We ended up having another girl though. So, you never know. Haha.
I used to use Great Lakes collagen in my morning cup of coffee but I have been slacking. I need to start using it again though so this would be awesome to win.
I add collagen to my bulletproof coffee every morning! My hair has not been this thick or long since high school and my nails no longer peel, they stay put until I trim them.
I love it in my morning coffee!
I was in the habit of adding collagen to my coffee for awhile, but haven’t replenished my collagen supply in awhile. I’d love to get back in the habit!
I love to add collagen to my coffee and have added it to smoothies before. I’m glad to hear it is safe for pregnancy as we are hoping to get pregnant soon. I’ll be sure to ask my Dr. and see what he thinks too.
I love a good scoop of collagen blended into my coffee. Right now I can’t stand coffee at 15 wks pregnant, but I’m looking forward to enjoying it again with collagen!
I currently love adding collagen to my morning coffee, but I need to step out of my box and try new ways to incorporate it into my day.
I love adding it to my morning coffee!
I use Vital Proteins collagen in my hot tea every morning. I have only read about the Great Lakes brand on your blog and would love to give it a shot just to compare the two brands and see if I am using the “best.”
Those old wives tales were freaky accurate for my sister in law! She had all the symptoms that matched with having a girl, and sure enough, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in January!! 🙂 Have a great weekend!
This whole week seems to have a rough theme if you ask me! It’s been a tough one over here so far. But it’s Friday!!!
I’d love to try collagen in my hot tea in the morning! I use my tea to help get me moving and most of the time don’t eat anything until I finally get to work so I definitely think it’d help get me moving a little more in the morning.
I add it to my coffee every morning – I feel like it makes such a difference and my skin looks great!
I was into collagen for awhile and then ultimately fell off as I started grad school and bought only bare essentials. I enjoyed it in my coffee a lot!
A scoop in the morning coffee does the job…..great stuff!
Hello Julie, love reading your blog! I have never used collagen before but would be interested in adding it my tea, coffee, and smoothies. Also maybe in some healthy baked goods such as banana bread muffins if that’s possible and can be done?
Have a great weekend and HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY everyone!!
I have really been wanting to try collagen but haven’t gotten up the courage get! Putting it in coffee sounds like an easy way! I gave up acrylic nails and gel polish so I’ve been trying to improve my paper-thin nails and am hoping this will help!
I’ve used collagen in my coffee for about 6 months, and have seen a major difference in how fast my nails & hair grow
I have not tried collagen yet but would love to add it to my morning cup of coffee to see if it helps with digestion issues!
I use a blender to mix it in with my otherwise black coffee, it makes it so frothy! Seems like a treat!
I think your Wednesday recap would’ve been a hit! It reminds me of your, “One of Those Days” blogs which, trust me, we can all relate to. I think there is way too much perfection portrayed on the internet, which makes me think, “What is wrong with me?” when I have many “off” days as a mom. So please share them in the future!! Though I’m so sorry you had a rough day. Phone issues are so stressful for sure! Your baby is sooo cute already!
I put collagen in my hot tea in the mornings (when I remember!). Also thanks so much for all the easy quick strength workouts, I also check the archives when I need a new workout and I know I’ll find something great.
I love adding collagen to my breakfast smoothies!
I haven’t tried collagen yet, but I’m very intrigued! I drink a shake each morning after the gym, so I’d use it there or in my coffee. I love using mint leaves in my smoothies, and I can’t wait until the spring when my mint plant starts producing again in my garden!
So sorry to hear about your Wednesday. Hope the rest of this week and weekend are a little better for you! I put collagen in my coffee or in my smoothies. I use Vital Proteins but would love to compare the two brands! I find that it is a good source of protein since my pregnancy brain/body doesn’t like meat a whole lot and loves carbs!
I have collagen in pill form and would love to try incorporating into a beverage instead!
I love adding mine to my morning coffee 🙂