We will never, ever forget.
***
Hello my friends! I missed you guys yesterday! I didn’t have a chance to blog ahead of time on Wednesday like I had hoped thanks to Chase’s pediatric visit and a baby who laughed in the face of a long naptime, but we’re back in action today. The weekend is upon us and I am ready for some fun. Both of my parents will be here with us and I can’t wait for my dad to see how much Chase has grown since he first met his grandson when he was four days old.
Since today is Friday, let’s keep things consistent and chat about what we’re loving most this week in your usual Things I’m Loving Friday post! Below you will find a short list of things that are making me smile this week. As always, feel free to chime in as well!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Sadie Kisses
I’m embracing Sadie’s kisses even more than usual this week. During Sadie’s routine vet appointment, I asked her veterinarian to check out two little bumps on the left side of her body. One bump has been there for a little while but it was a tricky one. It would come and go and at first Ryan and I thought it was a reaction to a mosquito bite, but then it always appeared in the same place which raised concern, especially since Sadie has a history of fibrosarcoma. The vet checked it out and said it’s a mast cell tumor. We are having it removed on Monday, along with another bump. Sadie is getting extra love and attention around here in preparation for her surgery! We are hopeful the mast cell tumor is low grade and able to be removed completely through surgery. We love our little lady!
- My First Postpartum Pure Barre Class
Hooray for a return to Pure Barre! I put my membership on hold when my sacroiliac pain became so intense in the final weeks of my pregnancy, so I was a little terrified to return to the barre after a few months away. My first postpartum class was hard but amazing. I think it was also the first hour I’ve had all to myself since Chase was born and I came home feeling rejuvenated and ready to snuggle with my little man again. I know Pure Barre workouts will be hard to fit into my life right now so I’m treasuring any chance I get to take a class and feel the burn. My thighs were ON FIRE.
- Coconut Milk
I cannot get enough coconut milk lately! I’ve been using it in my smoothies and coffee and love using my hand mixer to turn it into coconut whipped cream to serve with strawberries and cacao nibs. It’s so darn delicious!
- “Perfect” by Doria Roberts
I was absolutely obsessed with this song back in college. When we were on the boat last Sunday, I popped in an old CD I burned years ago, not knowing what songs would pop up.. When this gem started playing, I couldn’t help but sing along! It’s girly music at its finest.
- Around The Web
Greatest Dad Wins (I told Ryan to always be readyyyy!)
Make It At Home: Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte (Pumpkin season is upon us! HOORAY!)
TOMS, Tory Burch, ErgoBaby and Under Armour Sales on Zulily Today
64 Snacks to Satisfy Hunger, All Under 150 Calories (The chocolate-covered banana almond butter bites look amazing and so easy!)
8 Tips For Your First Yoga Class From a Former Teacher
- Friday Flashbacks
Coconut Butter Salmon (This Paleo-friendly recipe became a favorite of ours after we learned how to make it during a cooking class back in January! This post also includes a delicious recipe for Paleo sweet potato noodles!)
55-Minute Treadmill Workout (This workout covers 4.4 miles and incorporates lots of incline walking. It’s sure to get your heart rate up!)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing you are loving lately?
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Congrats on your first barre class! I’ve been loving quick, efficient workouts but miss longer, more challenging workouts.
Your treadmill workouts are perfect for traveling! I don’t usually go to the gym (I’m more of a fitness class and outdoor runner 🙂 ) but often when traveling I’ll take advantage of a hotel gym and pull out a treadmill workout from my favorite health and fitness blogs! You ladies know whats up 😉
So glad you like them!! 🙂
Hope everything goes well with Sadie. And congrats on heading to your first class. You’ll be back at it in no time 🙂
Congrats on getting back into barre! I haven’t been to hot yoga in a few weeks and I’m definitely feeling a lot stiffer. I don’t have a good excuse like you do, though haha.
Crossing my fingers that Sadie’s surgery goes well Monday!
My dad has been pretty sick for a month and yesterday was the first day he was walking without a walker, so I’m very grateful about that!
<3 sending love to you and your dad!
Hope everything goes well with Sadie!! Congrats on your Barre class and getting some me time!
Prayers for Sadie! On a lighter note, glad to hear your first Pure Barre class was a success!
Love to Sadie!!!!!
Things I’m loving this week? Long hikes with our pup and the sneak peak of fall is in the air and trees are starting to turn slightly in west Michigan! Football, cozy blankets, and comfort foods are on the agenda for this weekend before we warm back up next week.
Question for you and followers – my hubs and I are celebrating our 2nd anniversary and I have NO clue what to get him! He’s an adventure seeking athlete so traditional gifts like a watch are out. HELP!!!!
Ryan is WAY more into activities than material gifts, so I feel ya! He has really loved it when I’ve planned a fun weekend away with him or when I’ve planned a fun date for us as a gift. Is there a fun town close by you could visit with a cute bed and breakfast you could stay at after a day of exploring?
I’m obsessed with coconut milk! Happy Friday girly!
Much love to Sadie, I hope everything goes well with her surgery!
Thank you! Me too!<3
Coffee. I’ve been getting up at 5 almost every day this week to get my cardio in before work (though today is my rest day, so I got to sleep in a teeny bit!), so I’ve been a huge fan of coffee.
Hope Sadie is going to be all right! <3
Hope it’s nothing major with Sadie <3 Awesome job going to Pure Barre! You need that time to yourself and rejuvenate, too! I must have missed it, but when did your mom leave? She was with you for a few weeks, right? Enjoy your weekend! I'm sure your dad is going to snuggle up Chase all weekend long!
I hope Sadie’s surgery goes well! Sending extra love her way 🙂
Whoop whoop! Congrats on being back to the barre. I bet your teachers missed you. Tell (the other) Julie I said hey! 🙂
Oh poor Sadie, I will be thinking about her on Monday! And that’s awesome you went back to Pure Barre. I went to a barre class this week for the first time in months as well, and you always forget how much it burns. Have a great weekend with your family, Julie! 🙂
loving lately: all the fall candles. I’m a bit sad that everything fall is becoming a social media cliche (so says the internet!), BUT I AM STILL HOLDING ONTO IT AND LOVING IT JUST THE SAME!!! 🙂
I hope Sadie’s surgery goes well! I know how scary that can be so I’m hoping for the best for you. I’m giving my doggie some extra love today too!
I was thinking about you last weekend when I was in Seattle for my cousin’s wedding. Incline walking at its finest! Every huge hill I thought…Julie would love this! Saying a little prayer for Sadie. Fingers crossed that surgery will take care of it. Have a great weekend!
I’m totally obsessed with this fall weather we are having and that today is the first day I have been able to wear flannel to work!
Prayers for Sadie!!!! Enjoy the weekend with your family in town! We have a lot of catching up to do around the house (outside mostly) before it gets too cold!
I”m going to hit the gym tomorrow while the hubs is engrossed in football, lol, and I’m totally going to do this treadmill workout! Great idea!
Sadie my love ♥ stay strong little one, we all love you! xx
Many prayers for Sadie! Any advice for someone who doesn’t excise and needs to start? Can’t seem to get the motivation to get out there! I know deep down if I start, Ill be hooked on the feeling. And I can’t help but think that is where your positive attitude that I love so much comes from! It really shines through on your blog and that”s why I keep coming back! Thought of you when I saw this on my blogroll…
LOW FAT / LOW CALORIE Peanut Butter Dip
makingniceinthemidwest.com
Also- did you do just one post about moving in with Ryan? My daughter is moving in with her boyfriend and want to give good advice!
Sorry this post is so long!
Have a great relaxing weekend and enjoy your family!
I’m loving the sunshine weather this week! As well as the feeling that Fall time is near!
After a week of 90+ degrees today is in the 60s and that means fall. Loving the more low key weekends now that summer is over. I love routine wayyyy to much.
Aww, poor Sadie! Hoping her surgery goes well on Monday! <3
I am loving that it’s almost pumpkin season!!
Prayers for Sadie!!
Congrats on your first Pure Barre workout! I cant even imagine the burn after being off so long 🙂
I am loving that my husband is such a hard worker. He works at his financial job fulltime, goes to school to get his Masters, and does yardwork at our home and our rental property we own. Oh and he manages our rental property! He is such a hard worker and after a long day he still makes time for me 🙂
Have fun with your parents this weekend!
Sadie!!! Will be sending positive thoughts!! I’ve been loving trail mix as a pregnancy snack to keep in my purse, is that so random??
I can’t stand “No Nap Thursdays”. 4 month old and 2 year old didn’t care mom had a good book to catch up on and dinner to make during the afternoon nap. Sheesh! The nerve!
Good luck to sweet Sadie!!! And congrats on your first barre class! I remember the first time I left my baby for more than a few minutes – it felt amazing to be “free” but then I couldn’t wait to get back to her! Those little ones sure take over our hearts huh? Right now I’m loving my 20 minute workout videos. I’ve been doing them on my lunch break and even though they are quick they feel amazing and I am always dripping sweat at the end. I just started exercising consistently about 3 weeks ago and feel so much better. I need to lose at least 50 lbs and I’m glad that I’m taking small steps to get there 🙂
You seem like quite the savy online shopper! I love online shopping but I’ve never tried Zulily. I get nervous about not being able to return something. Have you done a post about your favorite online retailers before? Thanks!
Pure barre was the first workout i got back into when my son was 6 months old! It’s the only hour I had (and still have) in the day to myself, and I love it!!
I will be sending prayers for sweet Sadie 🙂 Yay for being back at Pure Barre. I remember my first time working out after I had my little girl and I forgot how nice it felt to exercise without a sweet baby taking up all of the room in my tummy 😉
Puppy kisses are the best! Prayers for a safe surgery for Sadie. I can’t believe I have gone most of my life without coconut milk and cream it is so delicious!
I am currently loving puppy snuggles from my 4 month old adopted puppy Koda. 🙂
Hey Julie Congrats On the class. Can you tell me the diaper bag that you are using ?? Any suggestions?
I empathize with you about Sadie. Our sweet weimeraner/lab mix, Rosa, had a mast cell tumor removed last year, along with a benign bump on her leg. It was scary and we were so nervous. The vet got it all and she recovered well. It turned out to be low grade. The hardest part was waiting for the results of the tumor, which took about 5 days. The vet told us to monitor the site. I check her just about daily. She’s gotten more bumps, but they are just fatty lipomas that come with age. We still monitor all the bumps closely. Some dogs are just more susceptible, apparently. Thinking of you guys and praying for a speedy recovery and healthy Sadie!
I did a barre class for the first time in a while on Wednesday night and it BURNED!! Happy Friday! 🙂
I hope Sadie is alright! On that not, lately I’m loving the million puppy instagrams that I follow…
Hugs and kisses to Sadie!
We had to have my sweet princess put to sleep this past Sunday and my heart is broken. We had her for 16 years and was a huge part of our family.
Hi Julie! Glad you enjoyed your first barre workout since your bundle of joy arrived.
Yaye for big kisses from Sadie. My mums dog Lucy (choc lab) had the same surgery recently and everything was just fine. They removed them and results came back good so cast your cares and know Gods got it all sorted xx Isaiah 41:10
Lots of love to you from nz!!
That’s such a cute pic of you and Sadie! I’m hoping all goes well on Monday!
For some reason the canned coconut milk always turns me off in the grocery sore; maybe I’ll have to give it a try, seeing how much you like it. 🙂
Thinking and praying for your sweet Sadie! I love kisses from my dog too, they always make my day that much better! and thanks for sharing the treadmill workout! I am training for a half marathon, so I am trying to change up my running workouts a little bit, instead of doing the same mileage everyday. Have a great weekend!
Fingers crossed everything goes well for Sadie on Monday!
I actually just started a blog, and posted some of my favorites from the week, but another one would be college football. I’m so glad it’s back! Love this time of year.
Hope you & yours are having a most wonderful weekend!
your dog is too cute! x,kenz
http://sincerelykenz.com
Two recommendations for you momma!
1. For your little bouncer lover once he gets stronger with his head control the Graco Doorway Bumper Jumper will be a Godsend!
2. For a fast scrambled egg breakfast stock up on Creative Foodie Scramble veggie add ins! They have Leafy Greens, Mediterranean, and rancheros! Just add the eggs!
We have two labs and the older one has lumps all over, I hope everything goes well for Sadie! It’s hard watching your “baby” get older.
Best wishes to Sadie and you guys for her surgery. Our oldest, Casper, has had mast cell surgery twice so we definitely understand what you’re going through. Our girl came thru both surgeries well (although its tough to see them go through it all) and is now cancer free as of her last check-up.
One tip is to get a “soft” cone instead of the hard plastic ones they often give after surgery. The soft one let her sleep more comfortably it seemed but still kept her from getting where she shouldn’t.
My dog also had a mast cell tumor removed a couple years ago and it has not come back (knock on wood) so I hope Sadie has the same luck! And, I will be interested to see if your vet recommends a routine of anti-histamines after her surgery. Mine did and I did research on why and it was very interesting!
Great list 🙂 I’ve always wanted to try a barre class.
Xo,
Kara
http://www.fcnextdoor.com