Well I’m clearly already in vacation mode and our vacation doesn’t even kick off until next Thursday! Ryan and I planned a long weekend away to Atlanta because we’ve been dying to take Chase to see the whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium and I am READY for it! We’ll likely be spending a portion of this weekend planning out next weekend’s mini vacation but other than that, our weekend plans are pretty darn clear.
The weather is looking hot, hot, hot so I’m hoping we’ll spend some time at our favorite lakeside beach and possibly grill out in our backyard one night. With fall on the horizon (hooray!!!), I’m determined to make the most of the end of summer.
Now let’s move right along with your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday roundup! Please feel free to chime in and share a little bit about something you’re loving in the comments section below.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Hope to see ya back here on Monday!
Things I’m Loving Friday
On Sunday last weekend, I skipped my usual morning cup of coffee and had a headache almost all day long. I’m not sure if my headache could be 100 percent attributed to the lack of caffeine or possibly related to travel and travel-related dehydration but it was pretty miserable and made me think about my caffeine consumption. I don’t like feeling like I need coffee every morning to feel human or to avoid a headache so I felt prompted to try to decrease my caffeine consumption.
I will absolutely still have regular coffee when I want it but figured it might be smart to switch to decaf here and there to hopefully decrease my dependence on caffeine. I immediately remembered my friend Gina raving about Four Sigmatic’s organic mushroom coffee and, particularly, their decaf blend. I texted her about it and then it didn’t take me long to place an order for my first bag!
A few things intrigued me about this coffee beyond the fact that it was decaf. I LOVE that the coffee is organic since conventional coffee is among the most heavily chemically treated foods in the world and yet I’ve still mostly been drinking non-organic coffee because I am a sucker for flavored coffees and it can be hard to find deliciously flavored organic coffee. I was also really interested in the mushroom aspect of this coffee since that’s it’s major selling point even though it sounds a little strange at first. (FYI, you cannot taste the mushrooms in this stuff AT ALL.) So why put mushrooms in coffee? The decaf blend has a combination of reishi mushrooms which can help support healthy sleep and reduce stress and chaga mushrooms which offer powerful immune system support. Sign me up!
Thanks to Amazon Prime, I had the decaf coffee in my hands by Tuesday and have been sipping on a cup of it every morning since. It’s smooth and rich and tastes fantastic mixed with a generous splash of coconut milk or blended with coconut oil and collagen. I’m already looking forward to another cup tomorrow!
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Clean Eating‘s Clean Living Column
I’ve professed my love for Clean Eating magazine on this blog for years now and it continues to be a favorite of mine for healthy recipes that are typically easy to make and don’t require a ton of obscure ingredients. (FYI, their website is a wonderful resource for meal planning inspiration, too!) The magazine keeps healthy eating simple which is just the way I like it! Another thing I like? The magazine’s new(ish) Clean Living column! I look forward to checking it out in every issue and love the way the author breaks down simple, homemade versions of everything from bathroom cleaners and laundry detergent to sea salt hair spray and more. Let’s just say this section of the magazine has inspired me to put my castile soap and essentials oils to use!
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“Too Also”
I am not sure why I find this so adorable but Chase recently began pairing the words “too” and “also” together. While I know it’s not proper grammar I can’t bare to correct him just yet because it’s too darn cute. “Mom, I’d like some crackers too also.” “Can we go to the playground too also?” It gets me every time!
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Skinny Dipped Almonds
I cannot stop eating these almonds! Skinny Dipped Almonds are coated in a thin layer of creamy chocolate which I adore since most chocolate covered almonds I’ve tried seem to be overpowered by a ridiculously thick layer of chocolate that so often tastes almost waxy to me. I was recently sent an assortment of Skinny Dipped Almonds to try and loved every flavor. The dark chocolate peanut butter is my favorite and reminds me of a crunchier, healthier version of Reese’s Pieces. They’ve been a go-to snack for me when my sweet tooth hits!
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Friday Flashbacks
Abstainers vs. Moderators (An interesting breakdown of the two personality types and how understanding which one you are may impact your overall happiness.)
Refreshing Green Smoothie (A naturally sweet and creamy green smoothie that’s packed with vegetables, fruit and fresh mint. A naturally energizing and delicious go-to snack!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
