Hi friends! Happy Friday to YOU! Soon after this blog post goes up, Chase and I will be heading off to the airport and catching a flight back to Charlotte. We’ve had such a wonderful time with my family in Jacksonville but absolutely cannot wait to see Ryan and Sadie! Woo!
Before our day of travel gets going, I wanted to take a moment to share my reoccurring Things I’m Loving Friday blog post with you guys which highlights a few things that are making me smile every week. As always, I’d love for you to join in the fun and share a little but about something that is making you happy right now in the comments section of this post.
Have a great weekend!!
Things I’m Loving Friday
- Breezy Summer Outfit
(Major props to my dad for snapping the above candid shot during our trip to the zoo on Wednesday!)
I feel like I am always on the lookout for a breezy summer tank and now, thanks to a recommendation I saw on Tina’s blog, I found the perfect one! A couple of weeks ago, I ordered the most comfortable, lightweight boyfriend tank from Zappos.com that has quickly become a go-to top for me for everything from running errands or a trip to the zoo with my family to a comfy cover up over a swimsuit for a quick trip to the pool.
It’s long enough to tuck into shorts, jeans or joggers and the cut allows you to wear it with a real bra which I personally appreciate!
I paired the tank top with a new pair of drawstring shorts I also found on Zappos.com for Wednesday’s trip to the zoo and felt incredibly comfortable the entire day (and that’s saying something since Florida is H-O-T this time of year)!
The shorts are Vans Tropical Beach Denim shorts and feel like breathable pajama shorts. (If you have hips and and booty, I definitely recommend sizing up in these shorts for some added length.)
I’m beginning to realize more and more that my style as a mom has to be some kind of combination of comfortable and functional but I always appreciate it when I’m able to find something that feels feminine and somewhat trendy, too! Thanks so much to Zappos.com for this breezy and comfy addition to my summer wardrobe!
- Ocean Swimming
My dad swears the ocean has healing powers (he refers to it as the “salt water cure” for everything) and I truly believe there is something restorative about swimming in the ocean’s salty waters. The ocean was warm enough to swim in by the end of the week and I loved jumping in and out of the waves yesterday afternoon and feeling the salt dry on my skin. I only wish I could’ve sneaked in some scuba diving during my visit!
- Monday Morning BodyPump
I credit BodyPump for making me fall in love with strength training after college and jumped at the chance to take the class again this week! Even when I was doing BodyPump regularly, I always thought it was a challenging workout but taking months and months off made it burn even more! Though I wasn’t a huge fan of the songs in the release the instructor took us through, I still enjoyed the workout format but it made me nostalgic for some of my favorite tracks like Now You’re Gone and Ravers in the UK (<— both highly recommended if you’re looking for upbeat workout music)! Such a great class!
- Beauty and the Beast
I don’t think I’ve seen a movie in the theatre since before Chase was born but I really thought that would change when Beauty and the Beast came out! Somehow I missed seeing the latest remake of one of my favorite childhood Disney classics in the theatre but had the chance to see it on DVD with my mom this week. My dad called it an early night on Monday night after Chase went to bed since he had an early bike ride on the agenda for Tuesday morning, so my mom and I curled up on the couch to watch the movie together which felt like such a treat! I love Emma Watson and thought the remake was really good and very entertaining. It was hard not to belt out all the words to some of my all-time favorite Disney songs! Oh and speaking of Disney remakes, have you guys heard about the remake of Mary Poppins that’s set to release at the end of next year? I’m already excited to see that one!
- Friday Flashbacks
Tabata Workout (A sweaty four-circuit tabata workout that will spike your heart rate and challenge you to dig deep!)
Easy Marinated Pork Chops (A family favorite recipe in our house and is the perfect combination of sweet and savory!)
Question of the Day
What is one thing you are loving today?
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I saw the tank on Tina’s blog and instantly fell in love, too! My Aunt always says just standing next to the ocean will bring healing powers. I’m not sure, but it is powerful and stunning.
It really is! Love the salty smell of the sea, too!
Ah so glad you got in a bodypump class! You’re the reason I started seeking this class out and now I go at least three times a week! It’s my favorite.
So glad you love it!
I have yet to see the new Beauty and the Beast, but I am dying to see it! Glad to hear the good review 🙂 Something that is making my week extra sun-shiny is our local pool. I’ve taken my son there, twice now, and he loves it! I enjoy the change of pace and introducing him to the water! So fun 🙂
My husband has been saying the same thing about the ocean for years, so when I got poison ivy just before an OBX trip over memorial day weekend he made me promise to get in the ocean so I did despite it being cold and literally by the end of the long weekend it was all healed! I definitely agree with him and your dad now!! Safe travels!
whoa! that’s amazing!
I’ve been looking for a good summer tank that can be versatile with different looks. The one you’re wearing looks perfect!
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I totally appreciate when you can wear a real bra with a tank! I hate when a shirt is super cute and I’m like… but how do you support the girls?!
I loved Beauty & the Beast, I thought the remake was great.
The ocean is amazing. That is all 🙂
Happy Friday!
I can’t wait for the Mary Poppins sequel! (I miiiiiiiiight be a tad bit obsessed with Lin-Manuel Miranda).
Jealous of all the lovely weather where you’re at! We were in jeans and jackets last night at the kiddo’s soccer practice.
Have a great weekend 🙂
Love the tank top! Will the Aldi winner be selected today? Hope you have a nice weekend ! 🙂
Hi Ash!! Yes, the ALDI winner was selected and emailed directly! 🙂
I loved Beauty and the Beast!! You make me want to watch it again. You always look so cute in all outfits! Those shorts look great on you! Happy Friday, Julie!
I have been wanting to see Beauty and the Beast and I”m totally going to make my husband watch it with me, lol. And I totally agree with your Dad, the ocean has healing powers. Just sitting in front of it and hearing the waves is so magical! Have a great weekend and Happy Father’s Day to Ryan!
Somehow I haven’t seen the new Beauty and the Beast yet either! Time just slipped away! I’ve only seen a couple movies in the theater since A. was born, it’s so hard to get away and sitting in a dark theater without a baby usually just puts me to sleep, ha!
I’m planning to watch beauty and the beast with my sister tonight, so excited!
I am in LOVE with those shorts, girl! I have heard many good things about Zappos but have never checked them out. I think I will do that now! 😀
YAY! I love that you love Disney movies and belt out songs too, since this is an everyday occurrence for me haha! I am so excited for the Mary Poppins remake! I think they are going to remake a lot of the old movies! I love those shorts..I am going to Disney next month and I know it is going to be HOT so I need some comfy shorts to wear! I am definitely going to check these out! Have a great weekend! Xoxo
I saw that tank top over on Tina’s blog and now yours and it looks so comfy!
Re: BodyPump, I miss it a lot! My old gym used to offer it and then I switched gyms. The new one seems against it for some reason and I’ve been going to Pure Barre more than anything, but I would love to incorporate a class or two again someday.
I am loving the little deck on the townhouse my husband and I just moved into last weekend. It’s awesome how happy such a little addition to our lives can make us, but sitting outside in the morning and at night has been SO nice.
Have a great weekend! 🙂
What type of bra to you wear with a white tank like that? I can never buy white tanks because of the see through problem. I’d love it if you shared a tip! Thanks!
A super ugly beige bra haha!! I feel like a flesh-colored bra works well under lightweight white tanks!
I was wondering the same thing! It is hidden so well.
I love those shorts, thanks for the sizing tips. Hope you hae a great weekend!
i saw beauty and the beast in theaters and absolutely loved it!! the graphics were beautiful and i forgot how much i loved the music!!
the shorts you’re wearing at the top of this post are too cute – i need an awesome pair of soft shorts for hot days, i’ll have to check zappos! have a great weekend 🙂
Beauty and the Beast was one of my favorites that I saw in theaters! So good!
Super cute summer outfit! I’ve never ordered clothes from Zappo, but love what you found. YES to the healing powers of the ocean — and being in Northern California now, where the water is always cold, I don’t get to swim in the salt water as much as I would want. Also, as far as BODYPUMP – those are some OLDER songs, so your instructor of the day must have pulled out years past releases heheh. Happy Friday! Safe travels home to Charlotte! 🙂
I cannot wait for Mary Poppins! I’m such a fan of both Emily Blunt and Lin Manuel Miranda. It’s going to be amazing.
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I’m so excited about the new Mary Poppins! Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda–sign me up!
That tank sounds perfect, I might have to buy one!
I’ve heard really good things about Beauty and the Beast too. And I have to agree about Emma Watson, she’s a lot of fun to watch even if she’s not playing Hermione Granger.
Love your outfit Julie!
I’m excited because we just arrived in Venice today after spending 5 days in Rome. My husband and I are enjoying watching our 15 year old daughter fall in love with Italy.
Best comment today – maybe we can come back to Venice to take my senior year pictures ? She just finished her freshman year.
Going to enjoy our weekend in Venice before heading off to Paris on Monday. Feeling incredibly blessed for this time and experience.
I think being next to water, period, is just as healing! Lakes, rivers, oceans, seas, it’s all good. I’m lucky I have two lakes right next to my house – close enough to walk! And even if I’m listening to something on my phone, I find my mind wandering while I look out over the water. Sigh. Peace!
Do you think you’ll one day return to regular bodypump classes?
I just saw Beauty and the Beast for the first time earlier this week as well!! I loved it too, I thought they did a good job sticking to the original story but also giving more backstory and filling in a lot of holes that were in the original. Of course I still love the original but I love how the new one answered questions I didn’t realize I had. ? And I’m glad they kept all the original songs. ??
I just had to swing in and tell you that your Instagram story made my day! I don’t know what made me laugh more, Chase “swimming” or Sadie with the torn up mattress. I can relate a little too much with my 11 month old and 2 destructive (and lovable!) rabbits 🙂
Haha! Glad it made you smile! Chase “swimming” cracked all of us up — what a bathing beauty. 😉
I love this outfit! Can you share more details on your bag? I’m about to transition out of the diaper bag and have been looking for a good mom bag that isn’t just for diapers anymore lol! Thanks!
Ahhh Body Pump! It’s been to long since I’ve been to a class. The rec in the town next to us offers it and they have childcare, I think it’s time I checked it out!
ahhhh I’m watching Beauty and the Beast right now! (for the 3rd time) as I catch up on blogs! I was seriously obsessed with it! One thing making me smile is the pool!! Love spending my days off there 🙂