I spent most of the my work time on Friday doing blog updates and deleted some old pages and updated others that haven’t been touched in years. Yes, years! I was tempted to put off this task until I had more time to make the pages perfect, but I’ve been trying to remind myself that sometimes “done is better than perfect” and do what I can when I have the time.
Here are some of the pages that got some much-needed TLC:
- Blog Travel (Travel collaborations, blog-related trips, etc.)
- Travel (Personal travel)
- Blogging (Blogging tips, tricks and how-tos)
- Favs (An easy way to find my Things I’m Loving Friday favorites)
- Recipe Index (Easier to navigate and find past recipes by category and dietary preference)
Once Ryan was home from work on Friday, we decided to lay low and headed out to pick up ice cream to eat back at home after dinner.
I was SO pumped to find Ben & Jerry’s new Oat of this Swirled flavor after so many of you told me about it since it seemed pretty darn close to Ben & Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie Chunk, my all-time favorite and sadly retired ice cream flavor.
The verdict? It was pretty good. Honestly, my expectations were sky high because of my intense love for Oatmeal Cookie Chunk and while the new flavor is delicious (I mean ALL Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is tasty in my opinion), I missed the more intense cinnamon ice cream base of Oatmeal Cookie Chunk. Plus, the chocolate pieces were almost too big and too plentiful and took away from the ice cream in my opinion. So will we buy it again? Yes. But I am still dying for them to bring back Oatmeal Cookie Chunk!!!
Random side note: I have wanted to start an ice cream review blog for YEARS. Is that super weird? I loooove ice cream so much and really enjoy trying new flavors all the time. I have a feeling all of two people would read that blog, but maybe when PBF is done I’ll do something like that just for fun. Because yes, that is my idea of fun.
Saturday
Our morning began with banana bread protein pancakes for breakfast! We still had a few bananas remaining that were on their last leg after I made the pancakes so I also whipped up a batch of Paleo Blender Muffins before Ryan, Chase and I were off on our first adventure of the day!
We headed to the gym together around 9 a.m. and after Chase was settled in childcare, we worked up a sweat for an hour or so!
While I warmed up with 5 minutes of walking on the treadmill, I scrolled through my Pinterest Workout Board for inspiration and took myself through an old workout favorite, my Fast Paced Upper Body Cardio Workout. I omitted two of the cardio rounds to shorten the workout a bit and rounded everything out with a mobility stretch cool down that I followed on the Nike Training Club app.
Ryan and I finished our workouts around the same time and picked Chase up from childcare before popping into What The Cup, a new local coffee shop on our way home.
I ordered a peppermint latte because it was awfully chilly outside on Saturday morning and apparently cold weather reignites the holiday spirit inside my soul. Peppermint lattes are my fav and I loved every last sip!
We made it home in time to take Sadie on a 40-minute walk around the neighborhood before Chase’s nap.
Once we were back home and Chase was sound asleep in his nursery, I had some work I had to do and spent time flip-flopping between the kitchen where I prepared a couple of recipes to photograph and my office where I cranked out some work on the computer. Productivity for the win!
By the time Chase was awake, we were ready to get out of the house again and drove to Birkdale Village.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around, stopping for playtime with trains at Barnes & Noble and sweet treats at Kilwin’s.
We made it home a little after 6 p.m. and while Ryan took Chase and Sadie outside so Sadie could get some exercise, I threw together a quick dinner for everyone to enjoy before Chase headed upstairs to bed around 7:30 p.m. Ryan, Sadie and I spent the rest of our Saturday night relaxing at home before heading to bed on the early side which suited me just fine!
Sunday
Sunday morning began on an exciting note because we awoke to a light blanket of snow. The snow was still lightly falling when I woke up and even though March is a little late for snow in North Carolina, I loved the wintery surprise!
While Ryan headed off to the gym, I worked at the computer until Ryan was back home and Chase was up for the day. We had morning plans to pick up breakfast on the run and head over to Burn Boot Camp to snap some photos for upcoming workouts and a brand collaboration I have coming up soon.
(If you were wondering whether or not I could be any paler at the moment, the answer would be no.)
Even though I’ve been going to boot camp for more than a year, Ryan has never seen the inside of the gym so it was fun to show him my favorite workout space! I think Chase enjoyed showing Ryan his favorite childcare toys, too!
Once we were done with our photos, we headed home and bundled up for a family walk. The snow was quickly melting in the afternoon sun and we wanted to see as much of it as we could before it was completely gone by the end of the day.
We intentionally avoided walking by the park on our way out but looped back by the playground on our way home and immediately heard a chorus of “PLAY! PLAY!” from the stroller. Clearly we needed to stop for a little park playtime break for Chase!
It was 1 p.m. by the time we arrived home and after a quick lunch, we put Chase down for a nap, unsure how everything would go with the time change. While he slept, I began working on this blog post and prepped dinner to bring to a friend who is going through a hard time. I doubled everything I made so we had identical dinners of manicotti, chopped kale salad and chocolate chip brownie bars.
Once Chase was up, we piled into the car and delivered dinner to my friend before stopping to walk on a nature trail near her house on our way home. Dinner, fetch with Sadie and and early bedtime for all of us followed and rounded out our weekend!
I hope you all have a great Monday!
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When “PBF is done”!! That’s just crazy talk and needs to stop. I’m blocking my ears to that lalalalala.
LOL!!
The picture of Chase in the red sweater is just precious. Love!
thank you, heather! <3 trying to get some last-minute wears out of that sweater before it's too warm outside!
PLEASE write an ice cream post!! Honestly you should do like a once a month ice cream review of what you guys tried for the months. I am an ice cream freak and selfishly would love this!!
Also where is your hat from in the work out photos? Love that too!
Are you guys getting all the snow tomorrow that we are in CT? Over a foot. So sad.
yes! where is that baseball hat from that you’re wearing in the burn boot camp pic with Chase?! so cute!
It’s CALIA by Carrie Underwood & I just got it at Dick’s!
I love the roundup idea for ice cream flavor reviews! Ryan and I tend to try a new flavor every week, so it would be a fun one to write!! 🙂 And my hat is CALIA by Carrie Underwood and I got it at Dick’s!
What is your favorite flavor from Kilwin’s? I recently went for the first time (gasp – I KNOW), and loved the s’mores, but I’m such a sucker for anything s’mores. Also, thanks for sharing about What the Cup, I never would have known about them! Good to know Cornelius is expanding in the coffee game 🙂
YES! the marshmallow s’more is my favorite flavor at kilwin’s!!! followed by the toasted coconut and the salted caramel. YUM!
Blanket of snow on grassy areas that melts in the afternoon sun is my kind of snow! Sounds like a lovely weekend! I definitely crave peppermint when the weather is wintery too!
You should add in some ice cream reviews on here like once a month! I’d love if you tried dairy free ones too!
I’d love a post that reviews ice cream! Maybe your top 5 favorites? Or maybe you can review 5 different brands of the same flavor? I don’t know if you’ve ever tried Halo Top or Englightened – everyone around me seems obsessed, but I wonder if the flavor is really all that good compared to real ice cream?
ooooh! i love this idea for a post!
What a fun weekend! I wish we were just getting a little snow in Boston but it’s looking like at least a foot!
OMG THAT WAS MY FAVORITE FLAVOR TOO!!! The cinnamon ice cream was so so good. Nothing will replace it, but now I must try this one!! Thanks for the rec!
RIGHT!?!?!? i’m still bitter about them retiring it!!!
i’m an ice cream year round kinda gal like you (and it looks like many of your readers!). it might be a fun spring/summer feature on the blog. i’d love to see your favorites both local and more national. and cone vs. toppings….the possibilities are endless 🙂
Sounds like such a fun and productive weekend! Our weather here was the opposite of yours – finally warm and sunny! (I’m SO ready for Spring!) Have a great week 🙂
so glad you got to enjoy some nice weather this weekend! sounds wonderful!
I’d totally read an ice cream review site! lol!!
Glad you had a good weekend!
You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream (review blog!!).
I could definitely get on board with an ice cream review blog. 🙂
I vote for an ice cream review blogpost as well as a monthly ice cream review! I too am a huge ice cream fan and am always looking for new flavors to try!
Ice cream=best dessert ever. We have it every night in our house 🙂 All time favorite flavor: Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip. It is the BEST when you buy it from one of their locations, but they have it at Kroger grocery stores as well. One of the biggest things I missed when I moved away from the Ohio area. So delicious!
i’ll look for it!! thanks for the rec!
I’ll have to try that B&J’s flavor!!
Chase is looking more cute every day 🙂
I had a roommate for a year in university who loved ice cream. I’m pretty sure I ate more Ben and Jerry’s ice cream the year that we lived together than I have since then.
How thoughtful to take a meal over to your friend’s place. I’m sure it was appreciated!
The snow is so pretty! Glad you had a good weekend. 🙂 That coffee shop looks adorable.
I still haven’t gotten up the courage to try our gym’s daycare! I SO MISS my husband and I being able to work out TOGETHER so maybe like one Saturday morning we could try it. AH idk why it’s so scary to me, she goes to daycare during the week most days, ha! Love that that coffee shop’s name is What The Cup. I feel like I always have a running list of funny potential business names, and What The Cup definitely made me chuckle!
this is actually new for us, too! i usually do boot camp on saturday mornings and there is no child care then so we usually flip flop workout times. it has been nice to be able to do the gym together on the weekends again but i totally went through all of the anxiety surrounded with leaving chase at a new place all over again about a month ago when we started doing this again. it’s so hard to leave them but i’m constantly surprised and impressed with how well they seem to adjust. i honestly think it’s harder on the moms than the kids!
Snow is fun in small doses! 🙂 This said from a Colorado girl… I think I’m definitely ready for Spring to be in full swing.
The photos of you and Chase at the gym are so gosh-darn cute!
That ice cream looks incredible!!! Would it be wrong for me to load up on ice cream, even though we’re about to get a blizzard?!
I’ll go in on that ice cream review blog with you! I’m ALL about the ice cream!! 😉
I say go big and make your “entire blog devoted to ice cream” idea happen!! Let me know if you need guest posts : ) I can’t help but have at least 2 or 3 different flavors of ice cream in my freezer at all times. I think my record once was 5? Does that signify a problem? Haha.
I didn’t even know the time change was coming. I was appalled when I woke up Sunday morning to see it was 9:30. My boyfriend had to inform a very disgruntled me. But now I’m very happy about the later sunsets!
I used to read an ice cream review blog! I would love to read your thoughts on all ice creams, so I completely support. (Being very serious!)
Happy Monday!
Lol “perfect is better than done” is pretty much the theme of my life right now 🙂
I don’t like the cold in general, but I LOVE snow! Chase’s red sweater looks so cozy. I live in Austin so we never have too much winter, but it’s been exceptionally warm this year and I’m a little sad my little buddy won’t get to wear any of his adorable winter clothes. I just love the tiny old man sweaters!
That ben and jerry’s ice cream looks amazing – I will have to try that flavour!
Izzy | Pinch of delight
I ALMOST clicked on the link to your recipe index, but stopped myself. Probably better to wait until I’m not at work to fall down that rabbit hole. 😉
What a wonderful weekend!
Your blender photo made me think! We have a blender that has only been touched like twice in 6 years — I never thought to just throw all the ingredients in for pancakes before. Hope the pancakes don’t turn out as dense as I have been (haha). I think our blender is about to be used much more often now!
Ice cream blog! Hahah I’d follow along! 😀
Hey! I Love the Paleo blender muffins, any tips on blending? My batter seems too dry to blend nicely.
Interesting! Are you following the recipe exactly? I know coconut flour alone soaks up more liquid than almond flour so that’s the only reason I’m asking! The number of eggs usually helps make my batter nice and liquidy. This may be a weird tip, but sometimes putting the easier-to-blend ingredients on the bottom helps me make everything blend smoothly so it’s not all stuck at the bottom with the dry/harder ingredients.
Good idea! Yes except no coconut flakes.
my absolute favorite flavor is the smores! It is ridiculously chocolate which is just my style and i love the graham cracker crumbs. What the Cup is such a great name for coffee!! I honestly didn’t know if even snows in NC.. how nice. I’m sure your friend really appreciated that dinner, it sounds super delicious and healthy, very sweet of you!
Can you please start an ice-cream review section in your blog?? Haha I’d totally follow that!
Snow? Geez! I was in Chicago last week and it snowed too! But it’s warm here in the Bay Area. That’s so nice of you to bring dinner to a friend. I must say you guys are SO good at getting a ton of walks in on the weekend. So many steps!!! 🙂 Happy Monday, Julie!
once PBF is done???? 🙁
😮 I didn’t catch that. 🙁
definitely no immediate plans to be done! 🙂
Talenti caramel apple pie gelato is strongly close to Ben and Jerrys Oatmeal cookie on the cinnamon front! It’s the only good comparison I’ve found so far!
What kind of shoes does Chase have?So cute!
Ice cream blog = yes please.
I’m curious as to how you like Burn Boot Camp. I am in Louisville, KY and BBC is getting ready to open their first KY location. It will be less than 2 miles from my house. I’ve done 2 of their “pop-up” sessions and enjoyed both. I currently do crossfit 3-4 days a week and really love the workouts, however, it’s super competitive and that’s been a huge turn-off for me. I am contemplating leaving my Crossfit gym for BBC. Any thoughts, suggestions, insights would be appreciated. TIA!
You should totally start an ice cream blog! I love trying new ice creams too and would absolutely read it! Do you read any of the ones that already exist? There’s onsecondscoop.com and bigmuddyicecream.blogspot.com and many others. I read them all the time, they’re so fun.
It made me sad to read ‘once PBF is done’. I hope it never ends! Never commented before but I love your blog and you always inspire me to work out and have a positive attitude. And your kind spirit really shines through your writing. Thanks Julie!
Have I ever tried halo top ice cream? They have an oatmeal cookie flavor that is sooooooo good. I’m a fellow oatmeal cookie lover and I’m a big fan of that one. And it’s only around 300 calories for the whole pint!
I made your miso baked chicken thighs tonight and they turned out great!! I marinated them over night and it was so easy to just pop in the oven after work tonight. Thanks for sharing that recipe – I will definitely be making this again soon!
Julie, I feel you on being pale. I need some sun. I love the idea of a ice cream blog but hate the idea of PBF over!
Hi Julie!
Looks like you had a nice, low-key weekend. Those are my favorite kind too!
I’m due with my first baby in August and was wondering how you like your Chicco stroller? My husband and I are a little overwhelmed with all the options out there. I’ve heard Chicco is a great brand and they seem great in the store.
Thanks!
Jessica
I am always in awe of how productive you are – all day, every day – with a toddler!!
Though, what jumped out at me in this blog post was “when PBF is done”… and I couldn’t help thinking: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
PBFingers,
Where was the picture taken of you ziplining?? it’s one of the pictures that you worked on this weekend…
ThankS!
Navitat Zip Lining in Asheville this past October! 🙂
I love waking up to a light blanket of snow. We have a snow day today in DC but it’s actually mostly ice/sleet outside, so not as pretty. And I would most definitely read all about ice cream, my blog name came from my love of sweets and fitness. You should at least start with an ice cream page review and then when you travel find the best ice cream spots! OR start experimenting making your own at home and sharing recipes 😉
First, I hope PBFingers isn’t ending any time soon, as it is one of my favorite blogs!
Second, love that you delivered food to a friend going through a hard time. It’s the small things that make a difference, I have been on both sides.
Chase in the swing is so cute!
Hi Julie,
Long time reader no so often commenter. I was wondering about your chicco stroller. How do you like it and what do you mostly use it for? Have you had any other strollers and how did you like them?
Emma
Thanks for the reminder about the Nike App and that workout. Love the blog!