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!
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I have never tried collagen, but I would love to try it in my coffee and tea! I have been wanting to give it a try!
Yes! I love Great Lakes collagen and use it every morning blended into my matcha latte. Not only does it give my morning beverage a protein hit, but it also increases the frothy-ness of the drink, win win 🙂
I have been wanting to try collagen for all the benefits, especially for hair growth!
I’ve never tried collagen but thinking about getting some to try out in smoothies!
Blogging question for you – how do you get those nice little recipe card inserts into posts? Is there a plugin for that? I can’t figure it out and I want to post more recipes on my blog!
Big congrats on the ultrasound. I’ve had a rainbow pregnancy and it’s so nerve wracking and emotionally draining. I’ve been a reader for years and am really wishing you guys well.
I have yet to try collagen yet. Although, it has been on my “radar” for several months. I would love to try it and see if it helps in my thinning eyebrows (already?! I am only 31!) 😉 and aging.
I would try it in a smoothie or coffee.
I would like it in my tea or a smoothie, I heard good things about collagen. Glad to hear everything is going good for you
I keep wanting to give collagen a try after seeing a lot of great things. I think morning coffee would be the simplest way for me. It’s an every day thing so easy to get it in and remember!
I started adding collagen to my morning coffee after seeing it on your blog! Great way to get some extra protein first thing in the morning. I also love adding it to smoothies and oatmeal. Would love to hear more about other supplements you’re taking while pregnant (that are safe!)
I LOVE collagen! I’ve been using it for a couple years now, and I add it to my coffee every single morning. I’d love to try the on-the-go sticks – they’d be perfect for mornings that I treat myself to Starbucks!
I use collagen in my morning coffee.
I’m already a smoothie lover (especially once it’s warm, although that still feels far away in Chicago) but I’d love to try adding collagen to my smoothies!
I love to put a scoop of collagen in my afternoon protein shake and I also love to blend it into my coffee!
i love using a scoop of collagen in my coffee and daily breakfast smoothies!
I’ve never tried collagen but I’d want to try it with coffee or a smoothie!
I have not yet tried collagen, but have been looking to since your last collagen post and just have not made the jump. I drink hot green tea every morning and think that would be the easiest way to implement into my routine. I also have a 13 year old vehicle and my adapter is my BFF!
I love putting a heaping scoop of collagen in my coffee every morning — it gives it a slightly frothy/creamy texture and it’s the best! I look forward to it every morning 🙂 And thank you for sharing that you got the ok from your doc to use collagen while pregnant! We’re currently TTC and I couldn’t for the life of me find any info online about whether collagen was ok while trying to conceive/pregnant…so thanks for sharing!
First of all, I don’t know what this “leftover corned beef” you speak of is…literally could eat (and usually do eat) POUNDS of that stuff at a time. You eat a whole pint of moose tracks, I eat a whole corned beef brisket. BUT REALLY.
And collagen, I love adding it to my morning coffee since my AM breakfast choices don’t always have as much protein as my body needs after a morning workout.
Happy Friday! I make collagen gummies for the whole family to help keep our tummies healthy and prevent leaky gut. I use collagen, fruit juice, and a little honey, and pour the mixture into silicone molds after heating on the stove to dissolve the collagen. The kids think they’re getting a treat! 😉
Collagen really helps my joints. I’m only 27 but my knees creak without it. My go-to is putting it in a smoothie.
Hope yesterday and today are much better than Wednesday, and I’m sure the ultrasound made everything better! That’s wonderful that Chase is so excited to be a big brother – and he shares his excitement 🙂
I used to use collagen all the time in my coffee, but I ran out of it and honestly kept forgetting to add it. I need to get back on the bandwagon because I think it had a definite impact on me!
I have never tried it but have been dying to. i hear collagen might be able to relieve some of my OA symptoms!
I use collagen in my coffee or tea throughout the day.
I’m glad your baby appointment went well and sorry that your Wednesday was no fun. Hope you have a nice weekend!
I love collagen in overnight oats! My hair and nails love it too 😉
I use collagen in my smoothies/protein shakes. I’m hoping it helps fight fine lines and wrinkles. Fingers crossed! The mint chocolate shake sounds SO good. Right up my alley.
I’m a collagen virgin but would love to start using it in my morning coffee!
You have had me hooked on Great Lakes Collagen the last year and I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my bones/muscles. I have had knee/hip issues for years but have had almost no issues the last year (took about 6-8 weeks until I saw improvement, but highly recommend it). If I won, I’d continue to use it on my morning coffee, and would love to use the travel gift for an upcoming trip I have scheduled (it’ not currently easy to travel with).
I hope your week has gotten substantially better, and I’m so glad to hear your pregnancy is going well – other than the bout of nausea. I was leaning towards Girl, but Chase’s conviction that it’s a boy has me ready to change my mind lol. Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
I’m going to have to find those bars ASAP! I love following your sweet tooth recommendations because lots of other bloggers I follow are savory snackers and that just doesn’t cut it for me.
For what it’s worth (as a reader who has never met you) I’m voting with the Old Wives and thinking girl for your new baby. Can’t wait to see!
I’d love to try sneaking collagen in my morning coffee.
Isn’t it funny how all those little things that go wrong throughout a day can have a lasting impact? I’m hoping this weekend is a good one for you and it goes better!
I’d love to try collagen in that frozen hot chocolate!
I have been wanting to try collagen for a while now. My postpartum hair loss is crazy and curious if it will help. I would put in my morning coffee. Congrats on your pregnancy and glad it is going well!
I have never tried collagen before but I would love to start adding it to my coffee in the morning.
I’ve never tried collagen before, but I’d love to add it to smoothies and coffee!
I’ve been wanting to try collagen but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I’d likely incorporate it into tea since I don’t drink coffee or maybe a smoothie (though I haven’t been making many the last few months cause it’s been too cold). Would it be ok in iced tea or would it have to go in hot tea only?
I love to mix a serving of collagen into my protein shake for that extra boost!
I am currently taking a collagen/biotin vitamin that requires you to take 2 capsules every morning before your first meal which I usually forget about. I would love to try Great Lakes collagen powder to add to my morning protein shake for more convenience.
I currently have a scoop of collagen in my coffee & one in a smoothie. The stuff is amazing! I notice how effective it is if I run out and stop having it for awhile.
I’m not a coffee or tea drinker, so I’m interested in seeing if I could incorporate it into hot chocolate, or even into cold options like a smoothie.
I would love to try collagen and see what it can do for my hair and skin!
I love adding collagen to my morning cup of green tea or coffee! Also a great smoothie addition.
I use collagen in coffee or tea, but just added it to pancake batter this morning! (They’re healthy now, right?) The individual packets are a game changer!!! I would love to try out throwing a few of those into my suitcase rather than a ziploc bag of white powder…
I put collagen in my morning coffee and sometimes in my smoothie.
I used to put collagen in my coffee every morning. But now that I have a new baby (does 6 months still count as new? Or am I milking the newborn excuse?) I often don’t finish my coffee so I kept wasting the precious collagen! If I don’t get it in my coffee, I’ll get it in a smoothie at some point in the day.
Sorry your Wednesday stunk!! Just saw your IG story and that weather looks amazing! Hoping the 60 degree days reach us in Massachusetts soon!
I have collagen at night in a cup of hot tea. It’s become a relaxing night-time routine!
I love collagen!! I put it in coffee or tea – you can hardly taste it 🙂 Happy Friday!
I love collagen in my coffee, it dissolves well and adds a little protein first thing in the morning.
I have never tried collagen but would love it start. thank you
I’ve been wanting to try collagen in my morning coffee for a long time. Based on your recipe, it might be fun to make a frozen coffee/collagen treat!
I add it to my smoothies or coffee!