(Rhett is planning to be a lion this year! TBD on whether or not that actually happens. It’s all dependent on his mood and whether or not something from our costume bin calls to him more that day as he’s had about 10 different costume ideas for himself already at this point. Ha!)
We’re trying our best not to get burned out on Halloween before the holiday is even here so we may opt to do just one small Halloween activity and our preschool’s trunk-or-treat event with the boys and still build in some downtime this weekend. Two soccer games are on the agenda, too!
As for today, I’m volunteering in Ryder’s class and hope to head off to boot camp with Rhett to squeeze in a quick workout beforehad, so it’s time for me to get rockin’! I hope you all enjoy this week’s roundup of favorites and have a fantastic, festive weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
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Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
I signed up to bring pumpkin muffins to our small group meeting on Tuesday morning. Initially I planned to make my whole wheat pumpkin muffins but I’ve made them on repeat in our house so much lately that I was in the mood to shake things up. The muffins I ended up making are really more of a treat muffins (not exactly teeming with nutrition) but oh my gosh they were so indulgently wonderful. I followed this recipe from Once Upon a Chef for the base (it sold m when I saw the muffins called for butter versus oil because I adore butter) and the streusel topping from Broma Bakery (minus the pecans) and now I’m convinced all muffins must have a streusel topping.
(Joggers: Vuori / Pink Hoodie: Amazon / Sneakers: New Balance / Tank: Abercrombie)
Oh Vuori, you athleisure gem, you. Vuori first came on my radar a couple of years ago when I bought Ryan a handful of their athleisure and athletic-wear items for Christmas. He absolutely loved everything I gave him and I thought the fabric felt so luxuriously soft. I ended up buying a pair of their boyfriend joggers during our trip to Las Vegas earlier this year and received a second pair for my birthday. I ended up wearing both pairs of joggers nearly every single week because they are so, so comfortable, fit well and don’t look like sloppy sweats.
Cargo joggers: Vuori / Fleece sweatshirt: Amazon / Sneakers: Nike (but old)
Cargo joggers: Vuori / Sweater: Amazon / Shoes: Nike / Crossbody bag: Amazon / Necklaces: Gorjana Amour Necklace + Gorjana Poppy Gem Necklace + Amazon Heart Pendant
Cargo joggers: Vuori / Sweater: Amazon / Shoes: Reebok / Bag: Free People / Beaded Necklace: Amazon
Fast forward several months and I couldn’t resist adding their cargo joggers to my collection when I saw them on their site as I was browsing around for a birthday present for Ryan. (Oops.) I absolutely love the fit and the look of the cargo joggers as well and think they look great paired with a sweater and sneakers for a slightly more put-together (but still crazy comfy) look, as well as with a traditional sweatshirt for something extra cozy. I’ve worn the heck out of the other Vuori joggers I own so I know they’ll get a tooon of use and their DreamKnit fabric is simply the BEST. (Note: I’ve put mine in the dryer a million times and they’ve held up so well. Zerooo pilling and quality is still a 10/10.) Add these to your holiday wishlists (or keep them in mind for holiday gifting), my friends!
As a big-time chocolate lover with a serious sweet tooth, for years and years I’ve loved grabbing small handfuls of chocolate chips to snack on from our pantry. I’ve tried many different kinds of chocolate chips and have found most taste relatively similar… that is until I added a bag of Guittard Super Cookie Chips to my cart at Whole Foods over the summer. These chocolate chips exist on a whole different level than your basic chocolate chips. The uniquely larger and flatter shape of the super chips make them fantastic for cookies (they remind me of the chocolate chips in a Starbucks chocolate chip cookie and I mean that in the best way) but I eat them mostly by the handful as I love the rich, chocolaty flavor and the perfect little snappy crunch they still provide that I’d expect from traditional chocolate chips. So, so good!
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The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry, Illustrated by The Fan Brothers
When I shared a link to some of our family’s favorite Halloween Books for Kids on Instagram, I received two DMs recommending The Scarecrow to me. While not specifically a Halloween book, it has a autumn feel about it and the story is incredibly sweet and the pictures are beautiful. It’s a story about a scarecrow who lives a very lonely life until a tiny baby crow finds its way into his heart as a beautiful friendship develops. It’s been a great addition to our fall book collection and is a story all three of our boys enjoy listening to together.
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Outlive by Peter Attia, MD
I’m fairly protective over my evening reading time, as it’s something I look forward to at the end of every day. It’s my “me time” and something that relaxes me so it takes a lot for me to depart from reading my beloved fiction novels to dip my toe into something non-fiction. Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia is a book all about longevity and how we can best increase our lifespan in a way that preserves our quality of life along the way. It’s a books I’ve seen everywhere and I finally figured I should give it a shot when it became available after a months-long waitlist at my library. Outlive is science-heavy and parts of the book read like a textbook but it was a fascinating read with the author taking a very proactive approach toward health earlier in life (exercise! sleep! nutrition! mental health!) versus a reactive approach later when we’re struggling, in pain, battling serious health issues, etc. It was the kind of book that had me thinking critically about my life and my habits and I found myself taking notes and working to figure out ways to incorporate some of his tips into my life. (Worth noting, about 1/3 of the way through my library book, I ended up ordering a hardcopy because I wanted to be able to highlight, dogear pages and write in the book to reference in the future.)
From Amazon:
Wouldn’t you like to live longer? And better? In this operating manual for longevity, Dr. Peter Attia draws on the latest science to deliver innovative nutritional interventions, techniques for optimizing exercise and sleep, and tools for addressing emotional and mental health.
For all its successes, mainstream medicine has failed to make much progress against the diseases of aging that kill most people: heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 2 diabetes. Too often, it intervenes with treatments too late to help, prolonging lifespan at the expense of healthspan, or quality of life. Dr. Attia believes we must replace this outdated framework with a personalized, proactive strategy for longevity, one where we take action now, rather than waiting.
This is not “biohacking,” it’s science: a well-founded strategic and tactical approach to extending lifespan while also improving our physical, cognitive, and emotional health. Dr. Attia’s aim is less to tell you what to do and more to help you learn how to think about long-term health, in order to create the best plan for you as an individual.
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Friday Flashbacks
Easy Crockpot Chicken Chili (The easiest no-chop chili recipe that’s a big-time crowd pleaser.)
Winning Cornbread Recipe (In case you need a ridiculously delicious cornbread to go with that chili!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you’re loving this week?
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Fun! I hope you enjoy Halloween Weekend!
Would you recommend Outlive as an audiobook? I generally prefer to listen to educational books.
Also, Little Ghost Makes a Friend is a great Halloween book about a ghost being afraid to make friends and of not being accepted for being who they are, a ghost. It’s fun and heartwarming. I bought Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt after your recommendation and we love it in our house! This book is along the same idea.
Hey! Do you mind sharing your size for Vuori joggers? Also, do you think they would be good for during and after pregnancy? Thanks!!