Chase started soccer on Monday (it’s not a real league or anything but just a way to introduce young kids to soccer) and he was all about it! Ryan and Chase play soccer in our kitchen and yard ALL the time, so Chase was beyond pumped to be able to put his skills to the test and actually kick a ball into a real goal. It was adorable and his enthusiasm for soccer was the best part!
As for the weekend ahead, we’ll be kicking off the fun with a birthday party today and then the rest of the weekend is up in the air. I’m hoping for fun activities during the day and early bed times at night. (<– This is motherhood, my friends.)
I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and I hope to see ya around here again next week!
Things I’m Loving
A while back, I mentioned my love for the How Not to Die Cookbook and while I initially ordered it on my Kindle, I realized last week I don’t like cookbooks on my Kindle. When it comes to cookbooks, there’s nothing like a hard copy filled with beautifully appetizing images of recipes to motivate me to spend some time cooking healthy food for my family and a Kindle version just didn’t cut it. I felt a little ridiculous paying for the cookbook again, but I wanted a hard copy and knew I’d use it a lot so I went for it and am already so happy I did! I’ve been referencing the cookbook so much more and the recipes are wonderful. They’re plant based and filled with colorful fruits and vegetables, delicious seasonings, beans and grains and we couldn’t get enough of the lentil shepherd’s pie in our house last night!
I also recently ordered another cookbook for myself after my friend Laura raved about the Whole30 Slow Cooker Cookbook since I’m a sucker for pretty much any recipe I can make in my slow cooker or pressure cooker. I’ll be diving into some of the recipes I’ve made and loved from this cookbook on the blog next week when I highlight last week’s weeknight dinners but suffice it to say they were a slam dunk!
Also, I’m just curious — When it comes to trying out new recipes, do you guys still frequently use cookbooks or are you all about finding recipes online? I do a mix and find new recipes all over the place but my favorite places to find new recipes to try in our house include food blogs, magazines (Clean Eating is my go-to!) and good old fashioned cookbooks.
During our quick trip to Gatlinburg last weekend, we popped into Savannah Bee Company to pick up some honey and a sample of their hand cream lured me into buying some to bring back home. I instantly loved the way the thick cream hydrated my dry hands and one of the women in the store told me the hand cream is particularly popular with nurses and doctors who wash their hands all the time because of the way it moisturizes and leaves hands feeling nourished. I’ve been keeping it on my desk in our home office and using it twice a day or so to give my dry wintery hands a little extra love and it feels wonderful.
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Burn Boot Camp Arm Workout
It’s been a while since a Burn Boot Camp arm workout has really put me through the ringer but this one did just that yesterday morning! Arm days are my absolute favorite and when I leave the gym with that tingly arm feeling it makes me oddly giddy. I knew I had to immediately write down this workout to share with you guys because it is a great one to keep in mind if you’re looking to hit your biceps, triceps, shoulders and chest in one workout. I also wanted to have it on hand to reference for myself in the future because I loved it so much!
The above graphic does not include the finisher which was smokin’ and looked like two rounds of the following: 40 second alternating bicep curls + 20 second bicep curl hold + 40 second alternating bicep hammer curls + 20 second bicep curl hold. Yes, it was just as killer as it sounds! (Note: You can easily find demos of all of the above exercises on YouTube!)
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Peppermint Flavor + Healthy Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothies
Anyone else a huge fan of McDonald’s Shamrock Shakes? The thick, sweet mint flavor gets me every time! Inspired by the seasonal treat, I’ve been making a healthified version of the shamrock shake at home but it’s more or less a mint chocolate chip version because it’s both chocolaty and minty. A winning combination in my book! The key to the smoothies Shamrock Shake-like flavor is a teeny (and I mean teeny) splash of Frontier Co-Ops’s peppermint flavor. (I bought mine at Whole Foods.) It’s made with only two ingredients — peppermint oil and sunflower oil — and a little bit goes a long way! It transforms an otherwise basic smoothie into a peppermint paradise!
My favorite combination for a healthy mint chocolate chip smoothie includes a base of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, frozen cauliflower, frozen banana, a scoop and a half of chocolate protein powder, two handfuls of fresh spinach, a spoonful of cashew butter, a splash of peppermint flavor and a small spoonful of cacao nibs. So darn tasty!
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A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams
My love for Beatriz Williams’ books continues on with A Certain Age! I finished reading this novel earlier this week and it was another winner. Though probably my least favorite of her novels (but still 100 percent enjoyable!), the book sticks with Williams’ usual format and follows the lives of two different women simultaneously, Theresa Marshall, a wealthy, married, high-society woman and Sophie Fortescue, the bright-eyed young daughter of a wealthy inventor, recently engaged to Theresa’s brother, Ox.
Set in the 1920’s, Theresa and Sophie’s lives become intertwined not only because of Ox, but also because of Theresa’s lover, Octavian, who serves as Ox’s cavalier and presents Sophie with the engagement ring, only to become captivated by the young woman. A love triangle unfolds and with it comes the potential destruction of two families, twists, turns and even a murder mystery.
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Friday Flashbacks
Total Body Pyramid Workout (I love a quality pyramid workout and working my way up the pyramid in this workout = A serious sweat fest!)
Chocolate Superfood Energy Bites (Sneak some superfoods into your snack time! You’d never know these fudgy bites contain superfoods like spirulina, wheatgrass and spinach!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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Another good hand cream.
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands!
It is the only cream that has helped heal my dry cracked bleeding hands!
Thanks for sharing!! This time of year I definitely need more heavy duty hand creams!
I’m hooked on Beatriz Williams thanks to you and I’m so, so happy to have a new author to binge on. Thanks for the book recs and please keep them up!
Yay!!! I am hooked on her books right now for sure and am glad you’re loving them right along with me!
I get 99.9% of my recipes from the internet. It’s just so easy to find things. But if I’m getting a cookbook, it’s going to be the physical book. I love my kindle but it just doesn’t cut it for cookbooks.
I’ve heard so many good things about Beatriz Williams and just started reading A Hundred Summers. I’m only one chapter in and I can’t wait to read more.
I have about 80 pages to go of A Certain Age. It is not sucking me in like her other books. I still can’t stop thinking about A Hundred Summers!
I’m hoping this book picks up in the last pages.
It definitely picks up at the end!! But I agree it was slower moving than her other novels.
I’m right about at the same point. I was worried I was going to give up on it in the beginning but I had to stick with it because I like her other books so much. Can’t wait to finish it because the murder mystery is really picking up!
Savannah Bee! We stopped in a store on vacation in Myrtle Beach. I am a huge fan! We have the Lemon & Spearmint hand lotion and oh my goodness! I can’t love this stuff anymore! I use after washing dishes, but am going to order another one to keep at work.
Tomorrow we go to my niece’s 10th birthday party at a roller rink! it will be my 4 yr old’s first time roller skating!
I just put The Glass Ocean on my library wish list! I love all of her stories, can’t wait to dive into this one.
Have a great weekend!!
Thank you for recommending the Beatriz Williams book! I just finished Along the Infinite Sea and am recommending it to anyone who will listen! It was one of those books that I didn’t want to end!
Isn’t is great!? If you liked that one, you’ll definitely love her other books as well!!
I use a combo of online and cookbooks. I agree that there’s nothing like flipping through pages of beautiful photographs, but my iPad takes less space on my counter while cooking! 🙂 I’d love it if you would try some of the whole 30 recipes and maybe blog about them.
Mmm that mint chocolate chip smoothie sounds delicious! I’m always looking for ways to use the peppermint extract in my pantry, so it’s great to have a healthier alternative than brownies, frosting, etc!
Yes, yesterday’s arm workout at my Burn yesterday killed me in the best way possible as well! My trainer was trying to show me something on her phone and I couldn’t hold it because my arms were so shaky haha. Super sore today, but I love that tingly feeling too!
Careful with peppermint and breastfeeding. It reduces supply. https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/herbs_to_avoid/
Also, I gotta tell you, a long time ago you told us about Mybreastfriend. Thank you!!!! Lifesaver, especially during newborn days.
I love Savannah Bee!! I ran into one in Charleston, and now I only use their chapstick, they are amazing!!
Saaaame with the cookbooks thing- I bought “Eat Feel Fresh” on my Kindle while I was traveling and then just re-ordered a print copy from Amazon. It feels silly to “own” two copies but I love print cookbooks SO MUCH more. Plus this one was very stunningly photographed and I knew I wouldn’t regret having it.
The only online food blog I religiously follow is Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (we are serious fans of hers!), but other than that, we mostly stick to hold-in-your-hands cookbooks! We’ve been loving the America’s Test Kitchen Vegetarian Cookbook lately, and I’ve also set myself a goal to cook my whole way through The Food Nanny Rescues Dinner cookbook, which has been such a fun little experiment for me.
Also, that mint chocolate chip smoothie sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love Savannah Bee! Their customer service and products are fantastic. I use their Royal Jelly Body Butter. Julie, I can’t tell you how much I look forward to Friday’s Things I’m Loving post 🙂 Thank you!!!
Even though they are ridiculously unhealthy, I LOVE the Shamrock Shake. Making a healthier version at home is such a great idea … have a wonderful weekend, Julie! 🙂
My trainer did the same BBC arm workout this week and it was SO good! The bicep curls, oh man!
My favorite hand lotion in the winter months doesn’t sound exciting but it really helps my dry hands – Gold Bond eczema relief! I don’t have eczema but I tried it from an old coworker and have been hooked since!
I also enjoy your Friday’s Things I’m Loving posts – keep up the good work!
Not related to your post today but I was following your Chase updates because he is just a few weeks olde than my daughter. Curious if you have tackled night time potty training yet? Would love an update if you are open to it!
Hi Holly!! Not yet! He still wears a diaper at night but he does know to call out if he has to go #2. 🙂
I am always looking for ways to mix up my morning smoothies. And I LOVED shamrock shakes and I haven’t had one in maybe like 10 years?! Will for sure try this!!
What protein powder do you use?
Hi Julie,
I’m curious what brand of frozen cauliflower you use in your smoothies. I’ve seen you mention it a number of times so I bought some myself, and realized when I got home it says on the package to cook it first, rather than use it frozen.
Does yours say this too? Do you just ignore it? (That’s what I’m thinking of doing!) Or do you get a kind that doesn’t say to cook it first.
Thanks!
Lisa
hi lisa! i’ve bought a bunch of different kinds and honestly have never checked to see if it says to cook but always just throw it in the blender totally frozen! i’m sure that’s totally fine as long as you’re buying just plain frozen raw cauliflower!
I’m loving the show Nurse Jackie (even though I’m way late)! Also I’m reading Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers and it’s sooo good so far. I still have a lot to go, but I get excited to read it!
I def prefer hard copy cookbooks because I feel bad just letting them sit on my shelves, unless I’m looking for a specific recipe that I’ll get online.
When it comes to recipes, my go-to source is without a doubt the New York Times Cooking section. You have to pay a small subscription fee, but it’s totally worth it. Their recipes are all tried and tested and easy to follow, they have great instructional videos and I love their What to Cook newsletter, too – something about the way Sam Sifton writes makes you believe you can cook anything … and that you should!