I hope you are having a great Friday so far and that the weekend ahead is filled with the perfect mix of relaxation and fun. We have plans to attend our first NASCAR race and grill out with friends, so I’m really looking forward to the next few days. I have no idea what to expect at the race on Saturday, but I hope it’s a lot of fun! I’ll be sure to share a recap next week!
But now let’s keep up with our Friday tradition around here and dive into the weekly PBF Things I’m Loving Friday post roundup where we all share a little bit about what we’re loving most each week. Feel free to play along in the comments section!
Have a fantastic weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
As you may have seen on Snapchat, I hopped on the bandwagon and started adding gelatin to my coffee every morning. I initially purchased this can of gelatin last year when I was pregnant after stumbling upon this blog post but completely forgot about it until I started seeing it pop up everywhere again! I figured it was time to bust it out and started mixing it into my morning coffee. I put a tablespoon of the gelatin in the bottom of my mug and brew my hot coffee over it before whisking it together and adding milk. (You can’t taste it AT ALL.) I use Great Lakes kosher gelatin, but after a little more research, it seems like this version made by the same company might dissolve a little easier in beverages. (The Amazon reviews for both are amazing.)
Regularly consuming gelatin apparently comes with a ton of benefits and a few that stuck out to me include: Promotes hair/nail growth, reduces wrinkles, improved digestion, helps joint and cartilage health, provides a boost of protein and lots of amino acids and more!
I only started adding gelatin to my coffee this week, so I cannot personally speak to any noticeable changes yet, but if you guys would like me to report back on this stuff in a month or two, let me know and I’ll be sure to share any noticeable changes (or lack of changes).
- 10-Minute Evening Yoga
I’ve been trying my best to sneak in a quick 10-minute yoga session at night after Chase goes to bed to help relax my body and mind. I am not taking myself through any challenging sequences (nothing sweaty!) but prefer to follow beginner 10-20 minute videos on Grokker (there are a few bedtime/evening yoga videos that are quite relaxing) or 10-minute Yoga For Runners videos on SWORKIT. (I have both apps on my phone for easy access.) It’s a nice way to give my body a wonderful stretch and calm my mind a bit at the end of the day. (Okay, fine, I definitely did this while watching The Bachelorette on Monday night. Whoops.) I would love to continue to do this every evening, but so far I’ve managed to do it around three or four times a week for a few weeks now. If any of you out there do something similar and have videos/routines you like to follow, please let me know! I’d love to try some new ones.
- Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish
I have a giant collection of nail polish (and 98 percent of my nail polish colors are some shade of pink), but ever since Chase was born, I find myself reaching for the cheap-o Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes I’ve found at CVS and Target because they dry so darn fast… We’re talking 90 seconds, max! (I also really like the thicker brush. It’s the little things, right?) I love the look of painted nails but constantly smudge them while I’m waiting for them to dry, so this fast-drying polish works well for me. I almost always get the idea to paint my nails 10 minutes before we’re leaving to go somewhere, so these work well for me in a pinch. They do seem to chip within three days, but I’ll take it for a quick-drying polish I know I can slap on my nails in a hurry. Just wanted to share this with any of you out there who may be in the market for a quick-drying nail polish that’s rather inexpensive!
- Sesame Oil
Oh sesame oil, why have I waited so long to incorporate you into my meals? Actually, that question isn’t rhetorical… I know the answer. I was too cheap to buy it when a recipe called for only a tablespoon or two of sesame oil because I figured it wouldn’t make that big of a difference and would typically just substitute olive oil instead. Big mistake!! Sesame oil adds SO MUCH FLAVOR to a dish and I’m now kind of obsessed with incorporating it into marinades, salad dressings and one pot meals like my favorite chicken cabbage bowl. (I made a winning marinade for grilled chicken on Monday night with sesame oil, coconut aminos, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper. So good!) Big high fives go out to Blue Apron for making me realize that sesame oil is one ingredient you shouldn’t swap out for another kind of oil in a recipe. It’s so darn yummy!
- Evening Boat Rides
It’s that time of year again! Hooray! With temperatures climbing into the upper 80s this week, we couldn’t resist swapping our typical evening walks for evening boat rides on the lake. Getting out on the water at the end of a long day is simply the best and helps me leave some of the stress and frustrations from everyday life behind. I have always been a big-time water girl, so the return of the summertime boating season has me feeling way too excited!
My good friend Anne from Fannetastic Food recently teamed up with two fellow dietitians, Alex from Delish Knowledge and Rachael from Avocado A Day Nutrition, to create Joyful Eating, Nourished Life, a program that focuses on intuitive and mindful eating that I wanted to share with you guys! The Joyful Eating, Nourished Life program is a virtual 6-week group program created to teach you how to get healthy without deprivation, calorie counting, or stress about food or exercise. The program will not introduce restrictions into your life, but focuses on changing the way you interact with food and exercise and create awareness of the emotions behind those decisions.
According to the program’s website, Joyful Eating might be right for you if you:
Feel extreme guilt when eating certain foods
Struggle with lack of energy despite trying to eat healthy and exercise
Experience periods of uncontrolled or binge eating
Feel uncomfortable in your own body
Turn to food in times of stress or sadness
Are out of touch with your body’s hunger and fullness cues
Are sick and tired of calorie counting and following rigid diets that leave you feeling exhausted, depleted and like a failure
The first Joyful Eating program begins June 20 and you may find out more information here.
- Friday Flashbacks
Ginger Curry Roasted Cauliflower (A simple side dish that always seems to steal the show!)
TRX Workout (I initially created this workout for the TRX class I taught back in Florida. It supersets a TRX exercise with a non-TRX exercise that targets the same muscle to fatigue the muscle in a short amount of time. It’s a great one if you’re in a time crunch!)
- Around the Web
Interesting Reads: 19 Spot-On Tweets About Marriage / Thank You To The Woman Who Spoke Up During One Of My Lowest Parenting Moments (Love this: “If you are thinking kind thoughts, always share them. If you have something nice you could say, say it.”)
Food: Toasted Coconut Wild Blueberry Smoothie Bowl / Flourless Cinnamon Stuffed Pancakes / How To Make A Quick and Healthy Weeknight Dinner / Mini Chocolate Chippers
Fitness: Core + HIIT Workout / Yoga Poses For Runners / Kettlebell Workout
- Memorial Day Sales
Here’s a brief roundup of some awesome Memorial Day sales I found that might be of interest:
Fabletics – 50-70% off
Roolee – Extra 20% off with code REMEMBER (I am in LOVE with their moto leggings! They look like denim but are super stretchy. I have them in olive and black and think they fit true to size.)
ASOS – Extra 25% off with code HISUMMER (So many gorgeous maxi dresses!)
Reebok – 20% off 2 items, 30% off 3 items, 40% off 4 items + free shipping with code MEMDAY
Nordstrom – Up to 40% off
Macy’s – 20% off plus free shipping on orders $50+ with code MEMDAY
Neiman Marcus – Up to 40% off regular items and 60% off clearance
Lorna Jane – Up to 50% off
Pottery Barn – Up to 25% off with code SAVEMORE (If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, we have this stroller blanket and love it!)
J.Crew – Extra 30% off with code WEEKEND
Banana Republic – Extra 40% off with code BRTAKE40
Old Navy – 50% off select styles
Bloomingdale’s – Extra 20% off with code BROWNBAG
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving this week?
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I am loving the sunshine and warm weather this weekend! Excited to finally spend some time outside. I love Grokker videos and that’s a great idea to do 10 minutes of yoga at night before bed. I always find myself stretching while brushing my teeth because I feel tight, lol.
Another great post Julie, thank you! I’d love to hear what you think about the gelatin long term. Also, I love sesame oil! I used it recently to make broccoli beef and it took the sauce to a whole new level. This week I’ve been loving reading on the couch with my windows open. The breeze is wonderful!
Check out https://www.doyogawithme.com, you will find fantastic videos!
that sally hansen nail polish IS fantastic! my color choice for this summer is WHITE – i love it!!
Hmmmm, you’re making me think possible I can give the gelatin to my dog too….or maybe they make a doggie version?
Something I’m loving this week…….struggling, been a tough week…..I guess I’m really loving the encouraging music of Lauren Dangle =) Have a great Memorial Day!
I have been loving collagen! I started adding it to my water for my leaky gut, a recommendation from my ND. I just started but so far so good!
Just curious, do you add it to hot water and drink it warm or does it dissolve in cold water? And if it does dissolve in cold liquid, what brand do you use?
I totally relate to only remember to paint your nails when you’re on your way out the door (or just busy at home) – you should try Seche Vite top coat! It dries super fast and makes your nails look great, and then your whole nail polish collection will be open to you again because you can basically turn any color into a quick-dry! I usually get it for $5-6 on Amazon Prime so it’s a pretty cheap buy, too 🙂
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds fantastic!!! And anything on Amazon Prime is just way too tempting… Off to buy it now!
The Seche Vite topcoat is amazing. And if you ever want an affordable polish that has more staying power than the Insta-Dri, I highly recommend Complete Salon Manicure polishes, also by Sally Hansen. They have that same, great wide brush as the Insta-Dri and really good coverage.
I love Sally Hansen nail polish, especially the quick dry and the complete salon manicure ones. Also, I’m super curious about the gelatin thing. I definitely want to hear how it goes for you!
I’ve never heard about this gelatin thing! Interesting!
I went to a Nascar race once because my dad loves Nascar. I had no expectations and just wanted to do something he loved but i ended up having a blast. It’s waaaaay louder than you think though! You can feel it in your chest!
I hopped on the sesame oil fan club this year and i could practically drink it!! hahaha its so good in anything!
your comment about drinking sesame oil made me laugh out loud! agreed!!
you are going to be so happy you started taking collagen! I have been taking it for several months now and the rate that my nails grow is insane and they are so much stronger than they have ever been! The true reason I take it because I don’t want wrinkles when I get older so I hope that it is working it’s magic in that department!
Why’d you have to tell me about the Joyful Eating program?! It looks like just what I need, but I don’t know that I can afford it… ;/ Maybe I’ll ask for money for my birthday to help cover it. 🙂 Happy Memorial Day! Have a great weekend!
Since you live in the NASCAR capital, it seems like a must-do for y’all! I’m sure you’ll have a blast! My husband races dirt cars, so racing is 24/7 in this household..we have a lot of fun doing it. If there’s one thing I learned, it’s to wear ear protection. It gets loud during a local dirt track race, I can only imagine being at a NASCAR race.
What I would give to be on a boat right now! Enjoy the long weekend!
Thanks so much for posting the gelatin article! I actually posted a blogpost on this topic a few weeks ago and it was well received! I think I will finally test it out as I suffer with IBS and while trying to gain weight it can be quite the lil bugger so maybe this will help!
One thing I’m loving this week? The WEATHER!! OMG finally heat at last 😀
Hope you have a great long weekend, we had ours last weekend (Canadian)
Check out Bad Yogi (Erin Motz) and Yoga with Adriene on YouTube…love them both!!
Happy Friday, Julie! I LOVE Sadie’s collar by the way! My Rudy currently has a fabric stitched Gator collar. And I’ve heard the good things about collagen, but haven’t tried it yet. Enjoy your weekend! P.S. I used to go to the Daytona 500 when we lived in Orlando and we’d always tailgate with a big group before the race. Totally fun! If you bring Chase, make sure you have headphones to cover his ears!
I would love to hear how you like the collagen – I’ve been thinking about trying it myself and would love any feedback! I also try and fit yoga into my evenings and early mornings before my girls are up for the day. I use the Yoga Studio app and feel like it has great options (i.e. relaxation, runners yoga, strength/flexibility etc.) and offers beginner through advanced classes. Love it!
I love the idea of a 10 minute yoga sequence before bed. I used to do swork it workouts all the time, I may have to add that back in. Going out on Lake Norman to end the day sounds perfect. Enjoy Charlotte’s weather this weekend!
I started to add meditation to my evening routine. Just five minutes, but the practice helps me relax and calm down after a long, busy day.
a friend i haven’t seen in 15 years arrives tonight! we’re usually US and UK based but as i’m in Budapest for the year, she was able to hop over for bank holiday weekend!
that’s so awesome! hope you guys have the best time together!
I’m looking forward to the 3 day weekend, it’s been a long week! I’m currently obsessing over the song Let it Go by James Bay; so relaxing! been listening to it and similar music while working. less stress, I should get into more yoga, too!
I have a bunch of that nail polish and I love it! I just can’t justify spending like $10 on one bottle!
I need to try the 10 minute evening yoga. I never have time in the morning before work, but I need to stretch more and also mentally unwind more. Thanks for posting!
I wear cheaper nail polishes but will top them with an OPI top coat (which also dries quickly).
One thing I’m loving this week is Starbucks Cold Brew coffe! If you haven’t tried it you must! Just real simple with a tiny bit of sweetener and milk. So good!
I’m working all weekend, so y’all have a fun weekend for me! Happy Memorial Day everyone!
Enjoy the NASCAR race! My family loves them. I’ve also been enjoying a slow stretch before bed at night. I might as well do yoga, lol. Thanks for the nail polish recommendation! It can never dry fast enough for me. Enjoy the weekend!
The things I would do to have a boat! I love being on the water and it just brings me so much happiness. This week I’m obviously loving the return of the Bachelorette and I’m super excited to see some high school friends this weekend!
I think you’ll love the NASCAR race! I used to go to them every year here in CA until my parents moved out of state. The crowd atmosphere is a lot of fun and it’s a good social event. 🙂
Is there a discount for the Joyful Eating Nourished Life program? I was reading their website and it sounds like a great program, however I experienced some sticker shock at the price. 🙁 50 dollars per week is quite a commitment.
I really like Yoga With Adriene’s Youtube channel – she has some bedtime yoga routines available, as well as a tons others! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7SN-d4qXx0
Such a great idea to incorporate some yoga into the evenings – perfect way to relax and de-stress after the day!
We’ll be going to the 100th running of the INDY 500!! Although it’s definitely not our first race, as we’ve gone the past almost decade, stay in the same place every year, tailgate in the same spot, sit in the same seats… maybe we’re creatures of habit?
Hope you have fun and that you enjoy the racing world as much as we do. 🙂
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
Hi there ! I started reading your blog about a week ago and I have been LOVING it. I have been reading through your wedding recaps and it’s made me want to document and remember our wedding ( happening in July ). I love love love how you write.
Thanks for sharing the links for yoga. I am going to try to get into yoga in the evening too so that I can relax the mind. I swear women’s minds never stop running 🙂
Enjoy your weekend !
I work at the Club at the Speedway – enjoy your first race!
Trader Joe’s is the best spot for cheap sesame oil!
I like the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri top coat. 🙂
You are making me a lot more adventurous in the kitchen! I made your chicken cabbage bowl last night and just ate the leftovers for lunch. So so good! Do you have the quantities for your marinade? I am not good about guessing haha I was wondering what else I would use that sesame oil for. Did you happen to try the Paleomg spaghetti pie? I thought about trying it this weekend.
Also, love that nail polish with having a 14 month old!
I came down to Charlotte from Maine to watch the races this weekend and last weekend. NASCAR is so so fun! I hope you love it. Wear ear protection for sure- you can rent headphones and radios at the track and that’s the way to go- you can listen to the drivers or MRN (motor racing network) dyeing the race. It’s a good way to keep track of what’s happening. Have fun!!
I hate how fast regular nail polish chips, so about 1.5 years ago for my birthday I asked for this http://www.sallyhansen.com/nails/nail-color/gel-nail-color/salon-gel-polish-starter-kit and I LOVE IT! I never, ever use regular nail polish anymore. It’s basically an at-home shellac manicure system. The polishes are pricey, but each one lasts forever! I can’t say enough good things about this gel system, the polish lasts FOREVER on your nails without chipping – at least 7 days. The actual application of the polish and “curing” time with the lamp is pretty quick as well. Takes about 10 minutes … which is longer than a regular nail polish application for sure, but if you want a gel manicure that lasts, it really beats the 60+ minutes it usually takes to get out to a salon.
For the sesame oil– try sprinkling some onto some baba gannouj (eggplant hummus) and some Hungarian paprika for veggie dip… So good!
I loved the link you copied to for “Thank You To The Woman Who Spoke Up During One Of My Lowest Parenting Moments” it made me teary-eyed to read. While I personally do not have children, nor can I actually understand the difficulty in being a parent or raising a child, I can sympathize and understand how strong women are for all they do. Just asking since I’m not familiar in that territory – but if I spoke up and commended a mom for how she were raising her child, etc, would she possibly construe it as rude and to mind my own business? Sincerely asking only because I don’t want to speak up and then make them feel embarrassed, etc. Your personal insight would be appreciated, as there can never be to many smiles :)!
I use the Great Lakes Gelatin for Panncotta’s made with coconut milk and it’s great for making homemade gummies!
What recipe do you use for the gummies?
I am definitely interested in trying the gelatin. Do you know if it’s safe to consume if breastfeeding?
I’m all about the insta dry polish with two little ones! 🙂
I love the Insta-Dry polishes too! They’re great for when you’re busy, but want your nails to still look cute 🙂
Blessings,
Edye | http://gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
I’m also a big fan of sesame oil! I love the flavour and a little goes a long way. My favourite way to use it is when I made edamame for a snack. After I steam some edamame, I toss it with a teaspoon of sesame oil and some fleur de sel. It really makes it taste amazing!
Maybe it’s a stupid question, but is the gelatin you take vegetarian? I know gelatin often comes from animals. I am really interested in the product, but I don’t want to buy it if it’s not vegetarian. Have a nice weekend!
Hi Lauren,
I’m a vegan and take wheat germ flakes sprinkled over salads. It’s a great natural collagen boosting source as well as being packed with folic acid, vitamins B6, D, E and omega 3’s. You can also get it in oil form to add to smoothies, cooking etc. The smell takes some getting used used to, but I’m happy with it. I also use wheat germ oil with sweet almond oil and rosehip oil as an eye cream. Hope this helps!
Thank you for this information! I’ve been looking for a good alternative for a couple of days now. 🙂
I brew 2 pots of coffee on Sunday afternoon then refrigerate it in a pitcher to have (iced) throughout the week. Would the collagen work if I mixed it into the coffee while it was still hot then refrigerated it? Or would it lose its magical properties?
Hi! I have a new baby and we are also
Boaters. However, we’ve never had a boat with this small of a baby. Do you have an infant life jacket recommendation? Thanks
Sesame oil is the best! And yes, I’ve been too cheap to add it to my college apartment kitchen, but I think next year I’ll go for it. It’ll last a while and it adds so much great flavor to so many meals!
Who doesn’t love a sale!! Thank you for all the codes. The evening boat rides look so relaxing. Enjoy the holiday and the good weather. xo Lauren
That gelatin makes the best healthy jello! Grass Fed girl has some awesome recipes using your favorite juice. We make them and cut then out in super cute shapes. The best part is they don’t need to be refrigerated and have saved me from many a sour patch kid/gummy candy craving.
I’d go with the collagen in your coffee and save the gelatin for treats– should be WAY easier to blend.
I started using collagen by Vital Proteins last month and love it. I mix it in my oatmeal each morning and it is tasteless and I’ve seen great results so far. I have had it in water but adding to to my oatmeal bowl is so easy. Have a great weekend Julie!