Happy Friday and Happy Cinco de Mayo to YOU! I hope your weekend plans include some time outside (if the weather is nice where you are) as well as plenty of relaxation and fun with your favorite people.
We’re kicking the weekend off today with a baby sprinkle for my friend Dana in the early evening and chatted with some friends about getting together tomorrow for a casual Kentucky Derby cookout.
(How has it been a year since my parents’ Kentucky Derby party already!? Look at teeny tiny Chase!)
Whatever the weekend holds, I’m looking forward to hanging out with my little family and enjoying the sunshine.
In keeping with tradition around here, below you will find a short roundup of some things that are making me smile this week and I’d absolutely love for you guys to join in the fun in the comments section! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Chase’s Love for Snowball
Chase’s favorite stuffed animal of the moment actually used to be my favorite stuffed animal when I was little! I named the fluffy stuffed cat Snowball and it’s the one toy from my childhood I’ve kept throughout the years. Of course Chase randomly stumbled upon it in my office closet and it was love at first sight. The cat is so old and borderline gross at this point so naturally it’s his new BFF. I’m pretty sure I initially named the cat Snowball because it used to be white and now it’s some kind of off-gray color, despite several washings. It never ceases to amaze me what toys become kids’ favorites!
- Hot Coffee Blended with Coconut Oil and Collagen
(Yep, still loving my Koffie Straw!)
On Wednesday morning, I went to make my usual cup of coffee but realized we had only a tiny bit of whole milk left in the fridge. Since I wanted to have milk on hand for Chase when he woke up, I knew I couldn’t use it in my coffee like I usually do. Black coffee tastes like dirty water to me but I cherish my morning cup of coffee so much so I was determined to find a way to make it taste good without milk (or almond milk since we were out of that, too).
I opened up our pantry hoping to find a spare can of coconut milk but came up empty. When I saw a jar of coconut oil staring back at me, I remembered a conversation I had with my friend Danielle last weekend! She blends coconut oil into her hot coffee and raves about the flavor and the layer of foam on the top of her morning cup. I decided to give it a go and blended a little less than a tablespoon of coconut oil into my hot coffee, along with my usual two tablespoons of collagen. The verdict? It was wonderful! So much richer and creamier than I anticipated and the foam was a fantastic. I’m definitely a fan!
- Tangelo & Honey Glazed Salmon
The following shout out is sponsored by Blue Apron!
Earlier this week, I recreated a Blue Apron meal in our house by following a recipe card I stashed away a couple of months ago. We loved Blue Apron’s Tangelo and Honey-Glazed Salmon and I made it again but substituted one orange for the tangelo and we still thought it was fantastic! I followed the rest of the recipe exactly (including the sides) and loved that this dish is a very simple one that calls for ingredients I often already have on hand.
Just in case you want to give the salmon a shot, combine the juice of one tangelo (or orange) with 1 tablespoon of honey and set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high heat until hot. Then add two salmon filets (skin side down) seasoned with salt and pepper on both sides and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side until skin is browned and crispy. Flip the salmon and add the tangelo glaze and 2 tablespoons of water. Cook, occasionally spooning the glaze over the salmon for 2-3 minutes until the salmon is coated and cooked to your desired degree of doneness.
Another Blue Apron success! (Just FYI, all Blue Apron’s recipes are always available on their website if you ever forget to save the card of one of your past favorites.) Also, if you’d like to try Blue Apron for yourself, the first 25 readers will get three free meals on their first Blue Apron order! We’ve been loving it for years!
- “I Can Do Better Than That” from The Last Five Years
After exclusively listening to the Hamilton station on Pandora for months, I took a little break from my beloved musical for a few weeks and came back to it on Monday. As I was working, I noticed a song playing in the background of my computer that I remembered first loving when it played on my Hamilton Pandora station months ago. The voice sounded incredibly familiar and once I clicked over and saw it was Anna Kendrick singing, it all made sense to this Pitch Perfect-loving lady.
The song is “I Can Do Better Than That” from The Last Five Years and it’s so, so catchy. I realize the song is from the movie remake of the musical but since I personally had never heard of The Last Five Years or listened to any songs from the musical, it was totally new to me. I love the song and just had to share it here for my fellow musical fans out there!
- Friday Flashbacks
Avocado Pesto (Love tossing this pesto with whole wheat penne pasta for an easy weeknight dinner or using it as a healthy dip with fresh veggies!)
Tabata Upper Body Workout (At first glance this workout may seem easy since you’re only working in 20 second bursts but it’s deceptively hard because you’re essentially spending four minutes working one muscle group before moving onto the next one!)
- Around the Web
Food: Maple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars // Grilled Chicken with Strawberry Basil Sauce // Easy Taco Bake // Taco Quinoa Salad
Fitness: Towel Workout // Deck of Cards Dumbbell Workout // The Future of Fitness
Extras: BareMinerals and Petal Perfection Boutique Sales on Zulily (If you love feminine floral dresses and prints, check the Petal Perfection sale under the “Womens” tab out! So pretty!) // Hunter Rain Boots and Pandora Jewelry Sale on RueLaLa (<— Mother’s Day gift idea!!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing making you smile this week?
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Haha! Love Snowball. My son has this obsession with Hugg from the Baby First channel. If you are not familiar, he looks like an orange Gumby. I bought him the stuffed animal, and he insists on sleeping with it OVER HIS FACE every night! Which of course freaks me out.
Have a great weekend! We are actually heading your way. Visiting my sister-in-law in Charlotte and taking the kids to Lazy 5 Ranch tomorrow. Have you taken Chase yet?
No we haven’t been yet! PLEASE let me know what you think! I’ve heard amazing things! Are you doing the hay ride?
I will. We ARE doing the hayride….you have to make reservations for that part, if you were not aware. Also, I did not know this, but evidently the park is cash only, so be prepared…..(says the girl who had to write a check for a .75 toll in VA last month!)
good to know! i never have cash on me so this is a great tip! thank you!
I’ve been tyring to think of a healthy sauce for my 7 month old’s pasta and that avocado pesto looks perfect! (I’ll just leave out the nuts for now since he hasn’t tried them yet). That’s so, so sweet that Chase chose your childhood toy as his favorite 🙂 Have a great weekend!
I loved your pictures from last year’s derby, inspired me to do something like it! The one thing that made me smile this week was somehow managing to watch zero tv. Usually my bf and I will veg out at night but this week I spent my time at yoga or reading..which was a nice break! I’ll be getting back to Trial and Error soon though…
I was nervous to try coconut oil in my coffee, but instantly fell in love. It’s such a delicious cup of coffee with the creamy consistency and foam. Yum! I love to add cinnamon, too.
Ah the derby is this weekend! Totally forgot. You all look so adorable from last years! The new coffee combo you mentioned sounds delicious. I feel like coconut and coffee should be available in more coffee shops– it goes together so well!
That avocado pesto sounds delicious–definitely going to make it soon!. I’m also going to give that upper body tabata workout a try later today. I always get a great workout whenever I follow any of the workouts from your blog, so thanks for the ideas and motivation! Have a great weekend!
That avocado pesto looks amazing! I’ll have to make it sometime soon.
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Every child should have a favorite stuffed animal they hold on to. I think my mom has my Frosty bear that I loved so much. And I NEED to try that coffee recipe, sometimes I just drink it black because I’m in a hurry. But I love foam so I really think I’d enjoy the addition of coconut oil.
The Last Five Years, is so good! It’s n Netlfix if you want to check it out, Anna Kendrick is an amazing singer.
I’m super happy today because my hubby has been gone for work A LOT lately and is making a quick trip home to see me our our two little girls 🙂
Aw! Enjoy your time together!
I can’t wait to try that coffee recipe! I always have coconut oil so it will be nice to switch it up a bit! I fell in love with almond milk creamer (I think it’s Silk?), but it’s expensive! My husband makes an amazing pesto recipe with walnuts. So good!
Heading off to try that coconut oil trick and that avocado pesto!! Happy Friday!
Add a pat of Kerry Gold butter to your coffee too before you blend it. You’ll love it even more. 😉
I also add a little half-n-half & a touch of Organic Hazelnut Cream for a lil sweetness.
i seriously need to hop on this coconut oil in coffee wagon!! everyone has been raving about it, and though i’m skeptical, i think the 8 billion people who recommend it may have won me over 🙂 also that avocado pesto sounds amazing!! i put an avocado/lemon sauce on whole wheat pasta in the summer sometimes, but your version sounds way more flavorful!!
I use the “Bullet Proof Brain Octane” (it’s liquid) ~ I get mine on Amazon. But, you can go to bulletproof.com and get it also.
I love that future of fitness article on MBG from this week! So many things that I’ve always agreed with! Happy Friday, Julie! 🙂
Yum, my mouth is watering looking at that salmon and the avocado pesto. Think I know what I’m making for dinner on Saturday night 🙂 One thing that made me smile this week (actually, it made me laugh out loud!) was watching my little guys face when he *almost* stood for the first time. A mixture of terror and excitement haha!
Hello! Have you thought about bringing back the “Volunteer Stories” series? I have enjoyed the “Things I’m Loving…” series (Can’t believe it’s been 180+ weeks!) but miss hearing the great ways readers are giving back to their communities. I feel like the Volunteer Stories helped set you apart in the sometimes affiliate-link driven blog work and were overall inspiring.
Yessss! I should do this!! I loved featuring those amazing stories. Thank you for the reminder.
YAY! Thank you for being so receptive to the idea! Have a great weekend! 🙂
how exactly do you “blend” it ?? Like blender/coffee/coconut oil?
Yes!! Just put it all in the blender!
Sounds like a fun weekend line up! I’ve been loving more iced coffees lately! How sweet that Chase loves your old favorite too!
Hi, Julie! I love your blog and hardly ever comment but I needed to tell you that one of MY Friday favorites was the total body kettlebell workout you posted this week. I did it last night along with two sets of ten minutes on the treadmill (one before and one after) It was amazing and I’m definitely feeling it today. So, thank you!! I’m always looking for variety in my workouts and can definitely count on you to provide it!
Have a wonderful weekend!
YAY! So glad you liked it. And thank you for letting me know, Brittany!!
You have to listen to the revival recording of Last Five Years — that version of I Can Do Better Than That is SO good.
Ahhh I love The Last Five Years! I haven’t listened to it in years, but I definitely recommend the original cast recording! From reading your blog for years, I know you’re a musical fan, and it’s hard to beat the voices of the originals! They tell such a great story!
I shared the Koffie Straw in my monthly favorites post today. I had to try them after reading about them on here and I’m obsessed, since this toddler mom is not about to give up coffee any time soon!
Happy Cinco de Mayo. I am loving how I have nothing planned this weekend! I will be doing lots of meal prepping though! Happy weekend.
Gonna have to try your coffee trick AND the upper body workout this week! I always panic when I’m out of im out of 1/2 and 1/2 because I can’t handle black coffee!
I went to dinner with two of my grandsons–15 and 17 years old! They are growing into such sharp young men. Afterwards we had handmade ice cream sandwiches at The Baked Bear. Heavenly.
By the way, I love that your son’s favorite stuffed animal was passed down from you.
Happy weekend!
I love that Chase loves the toy from when you were a kid. I loved my mom’s Raggedy Anne doll from when she was little. In fact I might have loved it so much the arm came off.
That salmon looks amazing and that stuffed animal is the sweetest!
Chase with that stuffed animal is so sweet! My son is all about his “baby” recently, it just melts my heart.
Definitely need to try this avocado pesto! We love pesto so this would be a great variation from the traditional.
The Last Five Years is one of my all-time fav musicals. I highly recommend checking out the whole original Off-Broadway soundtrack with Sherie Rene Scott!
Chase is so adorable. Btw, I’m dying to try the salmon. It looks so great I want it right now.
I’ll give the Tangelo & Honey Glazed Salmon a try this weekend. Have a great weekend!