Do you guys have any good pranks in the works this year? I don’t have anything planned but I always get a kick out of hearing about some quality jokes that always seem to go down on this crazy day!
Even if your April Fools’ Day plans are minimal like mine are today, I hope your weekend is a good one! The only real commitment I have on my calendar for the next two days is a friend’s baby shower on Saturday morning (so excited to celebrate Amii!) but other than that, our weekend should be pretty laidback. Just the way I like it!
And now let’s get to the good stuff… Your weekly Things I’m Loving Friday blog post where we all chat about what we are loving most each week. Below you will find a list of a few things that are making me smile and, as always, I’d love to hear a little bit about what you’re loving in the comments section of this post.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Gretchen’s Facebook Shout Out
Early Tuesday evening, my day got a whole lot brighter because one of my all-time favorite authors shared my blog post! I have been a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin for years and seeing her share my blog post about Abstainers vs. Moderators was such a special moment for me. And I absolutely love the fact that she took the time to read your thoughtful comments on the post as well. Thank you to everyone who weighed in. I’m sure you played a huge part in why Gretchen actually noticed my post and I am grateful to you. As a Gretchen Rubin super fan, this was seriously one of the coolest things that has happened to me through this blog!
And if you enjoyed Tuesday’s blog post, this happiness-related post might also be of interest: Little Indulgences = Big Happiness
This book. Ugh. I’m not sure what to say about it. Did I like it? Yes. I read it over the course of three evenings so clearly it roped me in and thoroughly entertained me enough to recommend it but there was something about the last 100 pages or so that left a LOT to be desired. The built up to the ending was fantastic and had me turning each page with vigor, but the end of the book felt rushed and left me with a lot of questions. It’s an easy read and from the Amazon reviews, it seems like most people really enjoyed it so I’m curious to know if any of you out there read it and feel the way I do about the ending! Thoughts?
On that note, I’m now on the lookout for a new novel to read and am hoping for another page-turner with a little mystery. All recommendations are welcome!
My friend Cherayne and I have a similar body shape and when she wore these shorts to Theo’s first birthday party a couple of weeks ago, I think I complimented her a million times and then immediately ordered them online from NordstromRack.com. They looked so cute on her and were quite flattering for our shared body type of curvier hips with a more narrow waist. The shorts are high-waisted and the fabric is lightweight and flows over the hips in a flattering way. I just wanted to share these here in case any of you out there have a similar body type and struggle to find flattering shorts that aren’t too tight in the hips and too loose in the waist. (FYI, I think they fit true to size.)
I first subscribed to Clean Eating magazine years ago. I was bummed when it went out of publication for a while there but I’m so glad it’s back! I instantly subscribed when I saw it back on the market and really love the way the magazine features EASY recipes made with wholesome ingredients. I highly recommend this one if you’re looking for recipe or meal planning inspiration!
I recently had the opportunity to try The Crock-Pot® Brand’s Rustic Beef Stew from their new line of Crock-Pot Cuisine Ready-To-Slow Cook meals and I’m pretty sure it was one of the easiest meals I’ve ever prepared! Crock-Pot Cuisine meals are made for you by chefs so all of the prep work – the chopping, measuring and shopping for ingredients – is already done before the frozen meal kit arrives at your doorstop. The meal does not require defrosting before you place it into the slow cooker.
I simply put the two packages of frozen ingredients directly into the Crock-Pot slow cooker, added a combination of water and red wine and set the slow cooker to cook on low for eight hours. I had dinner cooking away in the slow cooker in less than three minutes!
I paid attention to some of the reviews on the site and seasoned our stew with salt and pepper before serving and we both thought it was delicious! The meal truly could not have been any easier to prepare and was perfect for us on a night when we didn’t have the time or energy to cook an elaborate dinner.
If you’d like to try out one of the new Crock-Pot Cuisine Ready-To-Slow Cook meals, Crock-Pot Cuisine is offering the first 100 PBF readers $10 off when you buy two or more meals! Just click this link and the discount will be automatically applied. Enjoy!
(Note: While I am not earning commission on any Crock-Pot Cuisine meals purchased, I was given a complimentary meal to try and that portion of the above post was sponsored by The Crock-Pot Brand!)
- Friday Flashbacks
Simple Ways To Make Vegetables Taste Better (If you – or your children! – aren’t the biggest fan of vegetables, this blog post gives simple ideas for ways you can make vegetables taste more delicious!)
Walking Workouts (A roundup of five walking workouts to try!)
Question of the Day
- What is one thing that is making you smile this week?
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Oh I’m so happy that Gretchen read, shared, and liked your blog post on abstainers vs. moderators! I’ve been reading your blog for soooo long that I feel so happy FOR you! What a treat!! And I commented that day, but that post was amazingly fascinating. Loved it!! It opened new doors of thinking. Cue “A whole new wooooorld….”
Book recommendation: The Rosie Project and its sequel. If you love SHELDON COOPER you’ll enjoy this book! And there’s a mystery of sorts involved, plus it’s going to be made into a movie starring J. Law as Rosie. I probably already recommended this, because I read it a couple years ago, but check it out if you haven’t yet!
i just had a quick peek at what that book was about and am DEFINITELY going to find it at the library 🙂 I love getting new recommendations, especially for mysteries!
I came out with my workout e-book today, so that has put a smile on my face!
Hi Julie! So cool you got a shout-out from Gretchen! Love that — definitely something to put a smile on your face. Enjoy your weekend, lady! 🙂
New books: I recommend anything by Liane Moriarty for you! She seems your speed with the little elements of mystery and they are chalk full of witty humor. I just read The Hypnotist’s Love Story by her, and loved it! Super quick and easy read that will engross you.
“Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty is fantastic!! I couldn’t put it down. I’m about to start her other book, “The Husband’s Secret”. I’ll let you know how it is!
I felt the SAME way about Reconstructing Amelia. I guessed the ending halfway through the book. It felt easy to see coming. Still, I was engrossed and read it in a couple of days.
I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes – mystery, action, thrilling, it’s a big one, but AMAZING!! One of my favorite reads of 2015.
I shared the Abstainer/Moderator post with several friends we loved it and so exciting Gretchen shared it! What a cool shout out 🙂
Fin and Lady by Cathleen Schine! You will not be able to stop reading it and once you do—you will be able to stop thinking about it!
Congrats on the Gretchen Rubin shout out! That had to have been so exciting! I am smiling because I have been on spring break for the past 2 weeks and although it’s drawing to a close, it was energizing, restorative and productive … hard to not be happy about that! Have a great weekend!
Awesome! What an exciting thing for her to mention your blog! Congrats!
You should read “After You” by JoJo Moyes which is the sequel to “Me Before You.” It’s great. It really shows the pain after losing someone close to you and working through that pain and being to move on. Anyways, your boy is precious and I always look forward to reading your posts!
Have you ever read any Douglas Coupland books? Hey Nostradamus! was amazing, I just finished it last night. I am now moving on to All Families Are Psychotic. Hey Nostradamus was a page-turner – it starts out with a high school shooting involving a girl and boy who have a huge shared secret. The story is told from the perspective of multiple different characters, male and female, which I loved. I found myself crying at the end. Don’t let the book’s cover and the Amazon quick blurb fool you – in fact, I never would have chosen this book if it weren’t for a friend of mine who forced me to read it lol. I would absolutely recommend it!
Also, fun fact – I LOOOOOVE Gretchen Rubin as well, and when you posted about her, I got uber excited. Jealous that she shared your post haha!!
The crockpot ready meals sound awesome! The crockpot is seriously the best invention ever!
As many above have recommended, I think you would enjoy big little lies! I just read it for a book club and enjoyed it!
I’ll have to say that I’ve been loving Gardenia protein lately! The cinnabun flavor = UHMAZING. I would love to look into the Clean Eating magazine too!
If you haven’t read Girl on a Train…it was great!
I just started reading Fates and Furies by Lauren Croff. It seems like it is the kind of book you describe wanting to read, but honestly it’s too early for me to tell. I’m enjoying it though!
Loved the Abstainers vs Moderators post and your pictures of Chase make me smile (my kids are all older and I really miss the baby phase)!
Have a great weekend,
Stacey
Home delivered ready to go crockpot meals?!? Seriously what will they think of next. But with so many food service options it literally leaves to reason for anyone not to eat a healthy home cooked meal.
I think I’m definitely going to pick up that book this weekend and start in on Sunday!
One thing making me smile this weekend: The fact that tomorrow is Game 1 for the Blue Jays! LOVE baseball!
I totally agree on that book! I loved the first 3/4 of it but then end was sort of – wah wahhhh. I want to recommend it to friends but I just feel like it ended on such a lame note!
I’m loving the warm weather this weekend!
I have a product recommendation for you! It’s the ezpz happy mat. Well really, I’ve been using the happy mat for awhile, but we just got the mini mat today. Our daughter is two months older than Chase, and we like to go out to eat. We’ve been doing more finger foods (BLW) while out and giving her chunks of stuff from our plates, but I hated outing it on the restaurant table. So we used the mini mat today, and I was totally geeking out! 😀 It worked perfectly, and fits right in the diaper bag. Sorry, I’m just obsessed with this thing. Oh how being a mom has changed what I find awesome.
And I just remembered that you’re the one who recommended the BLW_ideas Instagram, so you’re probably all over it. Ha! Ha! Still, recommend the mini-mat. 😀
Thanks! I bought Clean Eating! And then Eating Well, too, because it was only $5! Thanks for sharing.
Have you read The Thirteenth Tale or anything by Kate Morton (The Forgotten Garden is my fav)?
Hey
even i felt meh about the book..it didnt suck me in as expected
try behind closed doors by B A Paris..one of the most recent reads i liked best
You have usually liked the same books I have liked so I’d recommend the following: the book series from V.E. Schwab – Darker Shade of Magic and A Gathering of Shadows. Magic and mystery.. they’re both very good. I also really enjoyed the Lunar Chronicle Series by Marissa Meyer and the White Cat series by Holly Black if you’re looking for a couple book series. Crazy Rich Asians is also another fun fast beach read.