friday favorites #7
Happy Friday, friends! It's always a relief to reach the end of the week, but this weekend I am especially grateful, as we are looking down the barrel of our first free Saturday in over a month (maybe of 2017)! I have elaborate plans to deep clean our home, grocery shop, use up some gift cards, and spend some quality time with the family. Cheers to the weekend!
And now, the main event...Friday Favorites!
1. Valentine's Day with Kids
I was always so cynical and dismissive when it came to Valentine's Day before I had kids. Even when I got married, my husband and I would maybe celebrate with a margarita, but we never invested our time in special plans, or our money in romantic gifts.
Now that I have kids, I find myself wanting to make the holiday magical for them, even to the point of feeling excited for this "made-up" holiday! Disclaimer! I am the world's farthest thing from a Pinterest mom. I hate arts and crafts with every bone in my body. But it truly takes so little to make the kids feel like they're having a special day. In our house, we made heart shaped pancakes with a 99 cent cookie cutter, pink magic milk (a tradition started by my own mother), and I saw fellow mama Dana create these adorable mailboxes for her kids, and totally copied her. (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?). Finally, my mom sent these adorable Baby Gap shirts for the kids for them to wear on Valentine's Day. All in all, I'd say the day was a success!
2. President's Day Sales
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Guys, I am in major need of a few key maternity pieces to make it until the end of this pregnancy. My pregnancies with Pippa and Teddy were during the Minnesota winter, so my summer maternity wardrobe is limited. And it's Florida, so it already feels like summer. I'm looking to stock up on a few pairs of maternity shorts, and one or two more solid color V-Neck Gap Pure Body tees. Teddy is also in need of a few pairs of shorts and t-shirts, so he'll get to take advantage of the sales, too. Pippa...doesn't need anything, but I might end up snagging her a cute Easter dress.
Gymboree - up to 80% off
Gap - up to 40% off
Old Navy - up to 50% off
3. Glucose Test - DONE
So the glucose test itself is definitely not a Friday Favorite, because sitting in a waiting room for an hour feeling nauseous and hungry while trying to entertain two little kids is not what I would put on my list of things I'd want to do again. (Although as evidenced by the picture above, the kids were rockstars in the waiting room, and did a great job. Plus I got that comfy recliner all to myself!) BUT the fact that it's done, and everything looks normal is one less thing to think about as this baby's due date draws ever nearer. Now this means I can have all the leftover Valentine's Day candy I want, right? Or is that not how it works?
4. Berres Brother's Coffee
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this in a Friday Favorites before, but we are still living off our stockpile from when we visited Wisconsin at Christmas. I have no affiliation with Berres Brothers in any way, but I wish I did! I will sing the praises of their Highlander Grogg from the highest mountaintop, and we will always make time to stop there whenever we're in Wisconsin. Until then I will be ordering online when we run out. Seriously. Order the Highlander Grogg. Like, when Justin and I pass each other at school, we can't help but comment on how good our coffee was that morning.
5. Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
I shared these on Instagram and my Facebook page already, but they're so delicious I'm going to add them to this list as well. I'll be making a batch this weekend for school lunches or snacks to grab around the house since Teddy never seems to stop eating. I was stuck on other healthy options to offer the kids, then remembered that I used to make these all the time! So simple, and so delicious. They really don't last all that long in our house!
I never follow a set recipe with protein balls, but here's a rough idea of what I throw together:
1 cup oats
1/2 cup peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)
1/3 cup agave or maple syrup
1 scoop chocolate whey protein
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1-2 tbsp flax seed
1 tsp vanilla
Optional:
mini chocolate chips
melted peanut butter drizzled on top
- Honorary Friday Favorite: helping friends get started on their new health journey! There was an amazing deal going on last week, and a few people decided to jump on it. By the time they finish their 30 day reset, spring will be coming, and they're be feeling and looking great!
That's it for this Friday! What's got you smiling this week?
Linking up with Carolina Charm and Hello Happiness for Five on Friday, and Andrea from Momfessionals for Friday Favorites!