Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope your day is off to a good start!
I am flying off to Chicago this afternoon for a girls’ weekend with three of my best friends. I cannot wait to see Leah, Michaela and Carrie and spend the next three days soaking up every second of quality time with three of my oldest and closest friends. (We’ve been best friends since elementary school!) I’ll be sure to recap our weekend on the blog next week, but before then I must dive into your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post!
Below you will find a short roundup of a few things that are making me smile this week. As always, I’d love it if you shared something you’re loving this week with me in the comments section of this post.
Have a great weekend, my friends!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- BBC Shoulder + Biceps + Triceps Workout
You know the kind of workout that requires you to dig deep to get through it but simultaneously makes you feel strong? The kind of workout you just love because you leave the gym feeling powerful and a little jello-y from working your muscles hard? That was Thursday’s Burn Boot Camp Shoulder + Biceps + Triceps workout! After more than a week off of workouts due to a broken toe and vacation, it felt good to work my upper body this week (no pinky toe required!) with some heavy weights and get those endorphins pumping again.
The workout was a partner drop set workout with partner one working as the rep counter. While partner one tackled 12 reps of the first exercise in each pairing, partner two did as many reps of the second exercise as possible until they switched. Then it was time for partner one to complete 10 reps of the first exercise, then 8, etc. It was a tough one but I loved it. Heavy arm days are my favorite!
- My Parents’ Wedding Photo Collage
A few of you asked how my parents’ and sister and brother-in-law’s homes fared during Hurricane Matthew when I mentioned they were evacuating Jacksonville two weeks ago. (Thank you so much for thinking of them and checking in!) Fortunately they are safe and their homes only suffered minor damage, but my parents’ storage unit flooded and they ended up losing a lot of precious items.
My mom texted us pictures of some of the damage this week and when she texted a photo of my parents’ completely ruined wedding photo collage, I felt awful but something in the back of my mind started gnawing at me… I felt a glimmer of hope when I thought back to the days we spent cleaning out my grandmother’s house and specifically remembered looking at my parents’ wedding photos. When I arrived home from my small group meeting on Monday night, I did some digging and found a copy of their wedding photo collage I saved from my grandmother’s collection. YAY! I wish I could help my mom and dad salvage more of the items they lost, but I’m grateful this is one thing we could replace.
To those out there who were impacted by Hurricane Matthew, we are thinking of you and we are praying for those who lost loved ones to this horrible storm.
- Pumpkin Spice Puppy Chow Recipe Video
When I shared my first mini recipe video for my favorite banana bread protein pancakes, I promised you guys more fun videos to come and, as you may have seen on Facebook and Instagram this week, the second video is up! This video is for my favorite pumpkin spice puppy chow and if you haven’t made it yet, please add it to your must-make list this fall! It’s a crowd pleaser and a festive way to indulge in a sweet snack that’s a little less traditional that the typical pumpkin spice treats out there!
- Justin’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups
When a candy is considered “mini” in size, that means you can eat five billion of them, correct? I sure hope so because I’m having a hard time not inhaling a million of these mini peanut butter cups every day ever since Justin’s sent me a surprise peanut butter cup package in the mail earlier this week. They are so good and so, so addicting. When I first received the box of peanut butter cups, I thought they might make it to Halloween to share with trick-or-treaters, but at the rate I’m going right now, I’m not so sure…
- Ryan’s First Stitch Fix
Ryan’s first Stitch Fix arrived last week and, if we’re being totally honest, I was probably 10 times more excited than he was to open the box. Once he opened it, however, the tables turned and he really enjoyed trying on the tops and pants his Stitch Fix stylist selected for him. I tried to refrain from yelling “Fashion Show!!!” when he opened the box but we had a good time chatting about the items they sent his way and selecting the “keepers” from the bunch.
In the end, Ryan kept a blue and white plaid button-up top and a nice pair of gray chinos. He honestly liked every item they sent his way and the sizing was spot-on, but he sent back a handful of items because he either had something similar or, in the case of the acid-wash jeans, he wasn’t sure they would get a ton of wear. When I asked if he’d try it again, he said “definitely” so I’m excited to see what arrives in his next Stich Fix delivery next month!
- Whole Foods Tortilla Chips
I first discovered Whole Foods’ tortilla chips when they had a big bowl of the homemade chips at the end of the hot bar a few months ago. I loaded up and fell in love! (We also served them at Chase’s first birthday party!) I haven’t seen them for sale in a while but this week they were available again and I immediately scooped them up. The chips taste more like fried pita chips than tortilla chips to me and I can’t get enough of them! YUM.
- Friday Flashbacks
Total Body Pyramid Workout (Complete 20 reps of the five exercises listed in the 20 reps section before moving onto 40 reps of the four exercises in the 40 reps section and 60 reps of the final three exercises in the 60 reps section. Then go back down the pyramid and complete the 60, 40 and 20 rep sections in reverse order!)
Easy Party Food Recipes (Perfect for Sunday afternoon football snacks!)
- Around the Web
Fitness: 5 Best Podcasts for Running // Total Body Kettlebell Workout // Total Body Waterfall Workout
Food: Which Dessert Must Go? // Vegan Slow Cooker Corn Chowder // Gluten-Free Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes // Savory Breakfast Quinoa // 10 Minute Pumpkin Butter
Parenting: Raising Race Conscious Children // 11 Things Empty Nesters Want Parents of Little Kids To Know
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Mini Justin’s are the best. I prefer a more even chocolate to peanut butter ratio, so the minis are my jam. Such amazing luck that you have the collage of the wedding photos for your parents. Glad to hear they’re safe, but it’s sad to lose such precious things.
That collage of your parents is beautiful – sorry to here about the losses from the storm.
Today, I’m just lovin’ that it’s Friday…:)
Aw such amazing luck with the wedding photo collage, those memories are so special. It’s crazy that now I have all of our photos on my computer, flash drives, and dvd’s, but our parents didn’t have that. My grandparents actually don’t have a single picture from their wedding because they had a photographer, but they realized after the wedding they didn’t have film in the camera! And OH I need to find some mini Justines and those tortilla chips, they sound delicious!
Similar thing happened to my parents. The photographer didn’t sync the flash properly so all the photos are half blacked out. Luckily my grandfather is always taking photos so we still have record.
Enjoy your weekend! So sad about the photos–glad you were able to get a few! Ive seen those justins cups and i havent bought them yet! I need to! I wish they werent so expensive!
what is an equalizer fall through? I have equalizer bars and I love them. I’m always looking for new ways to use them.
Oh wow totally adding the pumpkin chow to my must-make list! That looks addicting! Speaking of addicting, those mini PB cups are basically heaven! Can’t stop at just one 🙂
Glad your family is ok and that you were able to save the collage!
Whole Foods tortilla chips are legit the bomb. They are exceptionally good with their homemade guacamole. Heaven!!
It’s so funny that you mentioned the pumpkin spice puppy chow because I just made it for the first time last night! I’m taking it to my monthly poker night with the girls tonight. My husband made me promise to bring home any leftovers because he just loved it! I’m sure the girls will love it too! 🙂
Yay!! I’m so glad you were able to find a copy of your mom’s wedding collage! That must have meant a lot to her!
I’m glad you were able to find the wedding photos for your parents. I bet they’re grateful they only had minor damage. From the pictures on the news it looked like there was a lot of devastation.
Could you provide an explanation or weblink as to what an “Equalizer fall thru” is?
I tried googling it, but couldn’t find it.
Thank you!
Happy Friday, Julie! Hurricanes are no joke – I was at home in Southwest Florida with my fam when Hurricane Charley came through and ruined our neighborhood. Glad to hear your peeps are okay. This week, I’m smiling because I went to see Amy Schumer stand-up routine last night, and it was the funniest thing in the history of EVER! 🙂 Enjoy your girls weekend!
Have an amazing time in Chicago! I just got back from visiting there last week and I had so much fun! Gino’s East has excellent deep dish pizza!=] Enjoy your time with friends!
I’m so happy you were able to save those photos, they are absolutely perfect!
This week the running trails have been making me smile! There’s nothing better than running through a trail with bright colored leaves all around me.
Funny you mentioned Whole Foods “pita” chips. I love them in the fall while watching a football game. We eat them with guacamole. 🙂 I was just telling my husband we needed to get some for the Monday Night Game! Now I am on a mission…
Justin’s peanut butter cups are THE BEST. They make you realize how other brands make theirs too sweet and don’t taste much like real peanut butter. Justin’s chocolate hazelnut spread is also amazing. They won my heart several years back and I’m a brand loyalist.
So sorry to hear about your parents’ stuff but glad they are ok.
Enjoy your time in the great city of Chicago and cheer on the Cubs to the World Series.
Hi Julie!
I’m thinking of getting Stitch Fix for my hubby. I cant remember…did you offer a discount to join in one of your previous posts? I tried looking for the post when you first announced about Stitch Fix for Men, but couldnt find it. If you did offer a discount code, and its still active, can you send it to me?
The workouts you’ve been posting lately have been phenomenal! I work night shift and often can’t get to a class at the Y during normal daytime hours. The posted workouts are just what I need to motivate me–not impossible, but they leave me feeling strong and accomplished. Thanks!
Don;t you just love those mini peanut butter cups?! So good.
Thing that made me smile this week – pulling 255lbs x 5 on the Rack Pull this morning after informing my coach I couldn’t do it! That man is ALWAYS right. (Don’t tell him I said that).
You love your upper body workouts, I love lower body – if only we could combine strengths!
Love thee Whole Foods tortilla chips. They always have them out to sample at the one by my condo and I can’t help but grab a couple handfuls every time I’m shopping around 🙂
Have so much fun in Chicago this weekend!! Even if I didn’t live here … I’d still think it’s the best city in the world!
A girls weekend!? Oh my gosh, that’s the stuff dreams are made of!! I can only dream someday I’ll go on a girls weekend somewhere swanky like Chicago! Cocktails, bunch, shopping, staying up late, wine, ugh. I’m jealous.
Oh i like that shoulder + arm workout – might have to take that idea for my next bootcamp!
Hi Julie,
I enjoy your blog but am driven crazy by the endless pop-up ads. Today it’s grapes, but there’s always something popping up on every photo you post. I have disabled pop-up ads in Safari but cannot figure out how to get rid of the pop ups on your site. Is it possible to view your blog without all the ads? Please tell me how. Thanks. Courtney
I’m reading this late obviously but the next time you are back in Chicago, let me know if you want to take a workout class at Sweat Chicago – I teach there and it seems similar to the boot camp classes you go to!
First of all, I have LOVED seeing your pictures on Snap and Insta this weekend. Being just a couple of years younger than you guys at Fremd, I love seeing people I looked up to stay close across the years.
But also, I am SO happy that you were able to find the picture of your parent’s wedding collage! My father lives down in Florida and we, very luckily, only lost random things outdoors and have a bit of damage to the exterior of our home. We feel so blessed, definitely thinking about the families that lost so much more!
Hope you’re having a fun trip!
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
So sweet! Your sister is a straight duplicate of your mother!
We had a house fire in 2013 and lost everything. The toughest part was losing the photo memories. I understand completely and am so happy you were able to replace something of your parents’. I’m sure they appreciated it more than you know!